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Friday, April 4, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 45

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Court orders FG to pay Sanusi N50m

Intending couple, pregnant women among casualties of boat mishap

Foluso Ogunmodede

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or violating his fundamental human rights to freedom of move-

ment, a Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday ordered the Federal Government to pay suspended Governor of the Central

Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, N50 million.

The police and officers of the State Security Ser-

vice (SSS) were also restrained from arresting, detaining or otherwise harassing him without following due process of law.

The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, also restrained the government and its agents from interC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 5

25 Fulani insurgents die in clash with military

lNHCR probes alleged use of chemical weapons lGemade angry Ike Abonyi, Suleiman Bisalla, Onwuka Nzeshi Cheke Emmanuel and Muhammad Ahmad

T

wenty-five armed Fulani herdsmen were killed yesterday in a gun battle with the military on

Giza-Keana Road, Nasarawa State. New Telegraph gathered that the Fulani insurgents opened fire upon sighting the military in one of their hideouts, but were overpowered by the superior fire of the soldiers. No soldier was

injured in the exchange of fire.

The soldiers were said to have gone in pursuit of the remaining armed men who, however, took to their heels. The bodies of the dead insurgents were conveyed in a police

truck to the mortuary at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia, the state capital.

Keana Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Oshegba, confirmed the death of eight persons but said he was

yet to get briefs from the operational command responsible.

“There is crisis in my local government and it is a military operation, so I am trying to get information put together before I will know exactly what happened. For now,

I have eight (bodies) in the specialist hospital, Lafia.” The Secretary of the Nasarawa State Miyetti Allah Association, Muhammed Hussaini, however alleged that the soldiers killed over 30 Fulani for no reason.

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2

Confab: Bode George absolves military of blame over 1966 coup CORRECTION PDP chieftain says the military should not take blame for the January 1966 coup

Louis Achi, and Onwuka Nzeshi

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Senator Emmanuel Onwe during a courtesy visit by Kalu to Ajimobi in his Agodi, Ibadan office...yesterday.

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delegate at the National Conference and former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),

AT A GLANCE

Chief Olabode George, yesterday absolved the military of blame over the nation’s first military coup on January 15, 1966.

George, an ex-Navy Commodore, recalled that the problems in then Western Nigeria went out of control and the military stepped in at the invitation of the civil authority.

“The problems we had in the South-West C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2

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Friday, April 4, 2014

Bode George absolves military of blame over 1966 coup CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

that was not contained expanded beyond our control and engulfed this country. Can we sit back and recall, I think it was the deputy chair of the Senate at that time who invited the military to step in.

“The military did not just wake up from their barracks and head out to take power. Let us tell ourselves the truth so that we can learn from the truth and prevent such occurrence in the future,” George declared.

The then Senate President, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, handed over power to Major-General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, following the uncertainties trailing the failure of the initial putsch by the five majors led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu in 1966.

George, who took exception to the incessant flaks against the military who are being blamed for the woes of the country, said the military incursion into politics was not responsible for the problems of the nation’s development.

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His words: “The military incursion into Nigerian politics is not the problem that we are facing today. Those facts have been half-truths. Let us tell the younger generation what happened.”

According to the PDP chieftain, “I have listened carefully here to a lot of people who have spoken.

Some comments have been extremely good and very educative.

“Some have some halftruths in them. Some are blatant lies. But that is the essence of democracy.

We must all be allowed to have a very robust debate.

“But what I want to plead is that as we are here, when you are bring-

ing out your facts, please recheck them.”

Switching to the President Goodluck Jonathan presidency, George said it was unimaginable 100 years or even 10 years ago that an Ijaw man could become president in Nigeria, crediting the PDP for the milestone.

“Who could have imag-

ined either a hundred years ago or even 10 years ago that the man who will be Nigeria’s Centenary president would be an Ijaw man? Nobody. That is the joy of the Peoples Democratic Party which has ensured that in the sharing of power in this country, no minority will be left out,” he said.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

L-R: Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada; Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyeama and Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Mr. Ike Chioke, during Kogi State official Bond Listing Forum & Bell Ring on the NSE floor in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

DIG: We’ve not confirmed use of chemical weapons CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Hussaini accused the Federal Government of complicity in the killing, saying that the organisation would sue the Federal Government.

“I am presently in the mortuary receiving corpses. They killed over 30 of our men for no reason; this is genocide and we will approach the International Court of Justice (ICC).

When contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Umar Ismaila Numan, said he was yet to be briefed over the incident, adding that the command would address the press after getting full details on the matter.

Efforts to get reactions from the army was unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

The Federal Government had deployed soldiers to flush out insurgents disguising as herdsmen to attack farmers in Benue, Nasarawa

and Plateau states.

Meanwhile, allegations that chemical weapons have been deployed in the armed conflict between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in Benue State is beginning to draw the attention of government and human rights watchers.

Governor Gabriel Suswam had alleged that the corpses recovered from the scenes of some attacks recently suggested that they died not as a result of gun shots or machete cuts but from suspected chemical substances.

“They had no gun shots, no matched cuts and there was foam coming out of their mouths,” he said insisting that a laboratory analysis be conducted on the victims and some canisters recovered from the scenes of attack.

Already, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Bem Angwe, has mobilised the commission to Benue to

commence preliminary investigation to asertain the veracity of the claim.

Speaking with reporters in Makurdi yesterday, Angwe said: “We are in Benue to assess the human rights situation, particularly as it affects the recent killings of innocent citizens by unknown gunmen. We are more concerned when the commission monitored media reports last week that chemical weapons are being used in some of the killings. We are concerned because this constitutes a direct threat to humanity.

“The use of chemical weapons is condemned by the international community. The use of such weapons is today not only a violation of human rights but it amounts to crime against humanity.

So, the commission was alarmed because of the the potential threat to the nation.

“Therefore, we are on a mission to verify the truthfulness or otherwise of claim that chemical

weapons had been used so that the commission can invoke its mandate of having our international (body) to come and verify the situation and analyse the weapons being used to see if these are actually chemical or biological weapons.”

The Deputy Inspector General of Police leading the Federal Government’s peace and security committee, Michael Zuakumor, however, said while in Makurdi on Tuesday that the allegations of use of chemical weapons in some of the attacks had not been verified.

Also, National President of the Fulani umbrella organisation Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Badejo, dismissed the allegations, arguing that Fulanis reared their cattle using sticks not AK 47 riffles, not to talk of deploying chemical weapons in any circumstances.

“They always say suspected Fulani men, let C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 6

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Lagos: Join the Global Thought Leaders

His Excellency,

Babatunde Raji Fashola Governor of Lagos State

(HOST) As Governor of Lagos State, Fashola’s resolute pursuit of the renewal of the infrastructure of Lagos as a critical strategy for economic growth and poverty alleviation has won several accolades in Nigeria and internationally. He is the Chief Host.

and other distinguished speakers at

Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili

Pedro Verona Pires

Barth Nnaji

Former President of Georgia

Former President of Cape Verde

Former Minister for Power Federal Republic of Nigeria

Former President of Georgia. At age 37, he was the youngest national president elected in Europe. Under him, Georgia achieved significant development in power and became a major exporter of electricity in its sub region.

Former President of Cape Verde and 2011 winner of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. As a result of his visionary leadership, Cape Verde made strong improvements in its power sector.

Nigeria’s former Minister for Power. In 2003, he built Geometric Power Limited (GPL), a 140 MW integrated power generation and distribution company. As Minister, he made huge contributions to the ongoing power sector reforms in Nigeria.

Aliko Dangote

Anil Kumar Sardana

Theme:

Powering the Lagos Economy:

Real Opportunities, Endless Possibilities.

Date: April 8th -10th, 2014.

Matthew Futch

Industrialist & Founder, Dangote Group

Managing Director, Tata Power

Global Policy Director, IBM Energy & Utilities Industry

He is Founder and President of the Dangote Group and a stakeholder in Nigeria’s power sector with plans to invest in the construction of a 2,000MW power-generation facility. He is listed by Forbes magazine as the richest African.

Managing Director of the Tata Power Company Limited. He has tremendous expertise in energy development in emerging economies as he has also been Director at Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited since 2011.

Global Policy Lead at IBM Energy & Utilities Industry where he focusses primarily in the areas of energy and government relations. He has worked professionally within the renewable energy, smart grid, and regulatory policy domains for over six years.

Wale Tinubu

Venue: Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Get 10% discount on group registration

For registration and sponsorship details visit www.lagoseconomicsummit.org

Scott Desmarais

Lazarus Angbazo

C.E.O, Oando Plc

Partner, Mckinsey Company

Managing Director, General Electric Nigeria

Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Africa’s leading indigenous energy solutions provider. He has recieved several accolades for his contributions to the development of the African Oil and Gas industry and he’ll be sharing from his vast experience in the energy business.

He is a principal partner at McKinsey, a global strategy and management consulting firm. He brings over 20 years of experience working with leading global corporations, governments, and social institutions.

President and CEO of General Electric (GE) Nigeria. Lazarus has been a key member of the GE team driving Africa’s growth.

He promotes good governance, economic and infrastructure development through his board membership of Partners International, Inc. and Opportunity International, Inc.

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Mobile subscription: Airtel recaptures second position from Glo Jonah Iboma

L

Managing Director/CEO, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, Mr. Peter Ashade; Chairman, Chief (Mrs.) Eniola Fadayomi; and Company Secretary, Mr. Musa Bello, at the 1st Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos...yesterday

N219.2bn The internally generated revenue of Lagos State in 2012.

National bureau of Statistics

115m

The number of immigrants that live in developed countries.

Globalissues.org

16.4m

The total population of Cairo, Egypt (Africa’s most populous metro area).

Blatantworld.com

atest figures released by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) puts the subscription figures of Airtel Nigeria ahead of Globacom, thereby making the firm Nigeria’s second largest mobile phone company in terms of subscribers.

In the report published on the website of the NCC, as at February 2014, Airtel Nigeria recorded a total of 26,194,336 while Glo is 24,490,650. This means that Airtel now has 21 per cent of the mobile phone subscriber base while Glo has 20 per cent.

MTN continues to lead the market with subscription figures of 57,183,745, representing about 45 per cent of the market as Etisalat finished with 18,119,397 representing 14 per cent.

The development means that Airtel has

recaptured the second position in subscription figures it lost to Glo a few years ago in the mobile phone industry.

The Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Christian de Faria, said: “This is a remarkable feat for Airtel, demonstrating that our investments, aimed at ensuring a superior experience for our customers in Nigeria, are bearing fruit. It is also a clear indication of the trust that a growing sector of the population have started to have in us.”

He added: “This achievement has not come easy and I must congratulate the Airtel team in Nigeria. Nigeria continues to be a very competitive telecoms market and our intention is to ensure that we continue to innovate and make life easier for our customers.” The findings by NCC have corroborated indepenC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 5

Jonathan deserves commendation for performance, says Kalu Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

F

ormer governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday, applauded President Goodluck Jonathan over his performance, saying he deserves commendation for performing creditably to the best of his capacity.

The commendation came against the scathing criticism of the president by some Nigerians.

He also berated former President Olusegun Obasanjo for his deceit on generational change and corruption.

“The president deserves commendation for the progress the country is making under him in the face of daunting challenges from every direction.

Governing a complex nation like ours is not a picnic,” Kalu said.

He made the assertion in Ibadan, the Oyo State

capital, during a Centennial lecture he delivered at the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Press Centre, Iyaganku.

The former governor spoke on “Nigeria: A Nation in Quest of Credible Leadership.”

Lauding the attributes of some past leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, among others, who still remained in the minds of Nigerians as credible leaders, Kalu said: “Going by media reports and criticisms, a lot of Nigerians have misconceptions that President Goodluck Jonathan is not doing very well. The enormous task of ruling this country is not a child’s play. If you ask me, President Jonathan is performing creditably to the best of his capacity.

“Of course, if it were not so, you know me, I would tell you without fear or favour. I am in position to know whether he is do-

ing well or not. Overall, he deserves commendation for the progress the country is making under him in the face of daunting challenges from every direction.”

On leadership credentials, the guest speaker said: “Nigeria needs credible leaders who will ensure justice, equity and respect for human rights.”

He appealed to Nigerians “to join hands to salvage Nigeria through election of credible persons to lead the country.”

Talking about the need for a robust interface between the opposition and ruling parties as one of the criteria for guaranteeing credible leadership, Kalu stressed the essence of credible leadership as ensuring “a better and secure life, a peaceful environment and prosperous future for the citizenry. We need a credible leadership that will foster the country’s unity. Such leadership will connect the

people with the resources and harness our potential while ensuring the betterment of the Nigerian society.”

Insisting that President Jonathan is a very liberal man to everybody; not a wicked man like ‘the past one’, Kalu enumerated qualities of a credible leader to include: accountability, transparency, honesty, level-headedness, objectivity and fairness.

“Any leader who is guided by these characteristics is unlikely to go wrong.

All that will be required are firmness, consistency, and uprightness in managing the quality variables,” he said.

To achieve these values in political office holders, Kalu tasked journalists to keep a tab on the three arms of government. “In carrying out this function, the press holds the other estates accountable to the public. For me, this is a major role that should be taken seriously,” he ad-

vised.

The former governor noted that many journalists, who are supposed to be neutral, allow extraneous and counter-productive factors like ethnicity, religion and political affiliations to influence their professional practice.

He, therefore, advised journalists against gratifications which he said could diminish their reputation and cast aspersion on their integrity, stressing that they should “retrace their steps and toe the line of professionalism so that credible leadership can be well rooted in our country and institutionalised such that it becomes an integral part of our national life.”

He listed benefits of credible leadership to include enjoying “a stronger presence in the country and wield more power of influence than their less credible colleagues.”

He concluded that: “Nigeria does not have a dearth of credible leaders.

We have not identified the right persons yet. What we lack are altruistic leaders who are not driven by crass opportunism. What we need are leaders who can make a difference, touch people’s standard of living by poverty reduction.”

He said that Nigeria needed leaders who can live exemplary life, while describing Awolowo as “an epitome of good leadership, who walked the talk, even though not a saint.”

Kalu did not hide his contempt for some leaders like former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who according to him, always deceitfully tell the youths that they are leaders of tomorrow, when indeed they are living the future of the next generation now.

“We must stand up to ask what belongs to us from the older ones.

Obasanjo claims to be an angel and Orji Uzor Kalu is a devil. What becomes of the $16 billion C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 6

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

5

Confab delegates reject monetisation of lunch Onwuka Nzeshi Abuja

D

elegates at the National Conference yesterday in Abuja rejected that their lunch be monetised.

Some of the delegates had complained over the quality and the inability of some of them getting lunch during break.

Shortly before adjourning for lunch, a delegate representing the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, Mr. J.I. Ebinum, moved a motion for the lunch to be monetised.

Ebinum’s motion was not seconded.

At the resumed plenary after lunch, Mr Dan Nwanyanwu, representing Labour Party (LP), drew the attention of the Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, on the lunch issue.

Nwanyanwu cautioned delegates to be careful of how they clamour for the monetisation of their privileges to avoid mem-

bers of the public reading negative meanings into it.

Similarly, Mr Musa Elayo, representing House of Representatives Forum, cautioned delegates to be careful of discussing sensitive issues on the floor of the conference.

Elayo said that the media would capture such issue and make it available to members of the public.

He, therefore, suggested an executive session at the conference to afford delegates the opportunity to discuss sensitive issues.

However, Akinyemi said that the attention of the leadership had been drawn to the issue but that the secretariat was addressing it.

Chief Josephine Anenih said shortly before the adjournment of plenary that provision was made for 500 delegates.

According to her, some non-delegates have been eating at the canteen and this has reduced the food ration for the delegates.

Anenih said: ``the issue has been sorted out and the food has improved. So,

Mobile subscription: Airtel recaptures second position from Glo dent research from Credit Suisse, a global financialservices group, which in July last year showed that Airtel’s market share has improved in Nigeria growing by 21.3 percent, in the ten months leading to April 2013.

Importantly, Credit Suisse noted that Airtel has the advantage of growing its market share using the existing, unutilized capacity on its network.

Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Segun Ogunsanya, said: “The recent report from the NCC is a glowing testimony to our collective commitment of delivering value to our customers and also becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians in line with our corporate vision. We are extremely pleased that Nigerians are expressing confidence in our network and we will continue to ex-

cite and delight them with innovative and affordable mobile telecommunications solution.

“For us at Airtel Nigeria, this is, indeed, the beginning of a new journey to reclaiming market leadership in the highly competitive telecoms landscape and we are totally committed to our quest of offering the best network experience as well as bespoke value offerings,” he said.

Since the launch in 2010, Airtel has invested over $1.7bn dollars to expand network capacity and deepen quality in Nigeria, in a bid to achieve world-class service quality.

The company’s launch of its market-leading 3.75G service in March 2012 and the subsequent roll-out, has offered unparalleled, highspeed mobile Internet, across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.

we don’t want to discuss it.

“We want to eat and the reason we want to eat is that it affords us the opportunity to interact.

“If the leadership asks

us to go home to eat and come back, we will not enjoy this conference again.

So, please we want to eat here.”

However, Chief Ayo

Adebanjo, also representing the elder statesmen, observed that the situation had not improved much.

“The situation has not

improved much. I am not in support of anybody monetising anything, whatever it is, I will only urge the secretariat to improve on the service.”

L-R: Prof. Femi Okunrounmu; Erelu Olusola Obada; Chief Segun Osoba; and Pastor Babatunde Bakare at the National Conference... yesterday.

Photo: Timothy Ikuomenisan.

100m

The number of immigrants worldwide.

Globalissues.org

14

The total number of possible trans-continental nations.

Blatantworld.com

44.8

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of developed countries in 2007.

Itu.int

Court orders FG to pay Sanusi N50m CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

fering with or violating the applicant’s right to personal liberty, freedom of movement and right to personal dignity.

The court further ordered the immediate release of Sanusi’s international passport forcefully withdrawn and seized on February 20 and that the government must tender a public apology for the unlawful seizure of his passport, an action which the court described as a reckless show of power.

Sanusi had gone before the court on February 21, a day after he was suspended from his post as the CBN governor, seeking from the court the protection of his fundamental human rights.

Joined as first to third respondents in the suit are: The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the SSS. After listening to his lawyer, Kola Awodein (SAN), Justice Buba granted an interim injunction, restraining the

respondents from arresting, detaining, or harassing the applicant, pending the determination of the main suit.

But the government, in a preliminary objection filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), insisted that the matter of the suspension is a labour, employment and industrial relations one and it is only the National Industrial Court (NIC) that has exclusive jurisdiction to hear the case.

In a judgement which lasted about two hours, Justice Buba first assumed jurisdiction on the matter that issue raised by the government is misconceived and lacking in merit.

The court after reviewing the case and the relevant sections of the law punctured the claim that the suit is a labour-related one, saying that it was a fundamental rights issue since Sanusi was not complaining of any employment dispute.

The court also held that

from the pleadings and averred to of the applicant, the case is clearly a fundamental rights enforcement suit which the court has jurisdiction over.

“The averment by respondent that the matter is labour related is far from the truth. The first respondent is trying to set up another case for the applicant. It is a case of “shifting the goal post” and making a case for the applicant.

“The facts deposed in the applicant’s originating summons and his affidavit speak for themselves. It is a suit for enforcement of his fundamental rights which is recognisable by the Federal High Court.

“The court allows any person who perceives that his rights are likely to be infringed on, to approach the court for redress” the judge held.

On the allegations of terrorism financing made by the Federal Government, the court upheld Sanusi’s argument that the allegation was an afterthought.

The judge said a careful

look at documents put before the court showed that there was no evidence provided by the government to substantiate the allegation.

The court also held that it is unlawful for security agents to arrest and detain a person first before looking for evidence.

“The mere suspicion of a commission of crime does not give security agents the authority to arrest and detain a citizen”.

The court also held that it is only the Minister of Internal Affairs that has the power to withdraw a citizens passport under section 5(1) of Passport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. “The law specifies that the Minister can so act when it is established that the passport was obtained by fraud or that it has expired. Following the withdrawing of such passport, the law says that the act must be gazetted.

“Also where a person holds more than one passport, the Minister can, in the interest of public safety publish such a persons name”.

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Don’t worry about World Bank’s poverty report, Okonjo-Iweala tells Nigerians Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

C

o-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that instead of Nigerians getting upset with the World Bank report which listed Nigerians among the extremely poor people of the world, the ranking should be seen as a push for solution searching.

The global bank in its latest report listed Nigeria and nine other countries which included DR Congo,

Tanzania, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, China, Indonesia, Pakistan and Kenya as harbouring extremely poor people.

The minister spoke yesterday while commissioning Global Distance Learning Institute (GDLI) in Abuja built with $20 million World Bank assisted fund.

In what looks like Nigeria’s first official reaction by a high ranking government official, OkonjoIweala said that poverty is not exception to Nigeria, saying more developed countries like Brazil, India have poor people.

“India is a middle income country and it’s one of the largest in the world and Nigeria is also a big economy but the highest number of poor people in the world are in India and China and other places. Most middle income countries even Brazil have large numbers of poor people and that is the reality and Nigeria is not exception and when the World Bank president is talking he also talked about these countries.

“He mentioned that India is doing well but

it has a large number of poor people. So we should not try to single Nigeria out, the phenomenon we have in Nigeria whereby we are growing but have poor people is everywhere and what we have to do is focus on the answer. What are other countries doing that we can also learn from and do? Nobody says that everything is fine but we are learning and when we make some progress like other countries we should also acknowledge it.

“I have been to India and I can tell you that the

situation of some poor people there if you compare it to Nigeria, you will be happy to be a Nigerian,” she said.

Giving a bit of background of the project, she said a former President of World Bank in 2005, had a dream to connect the world through knowledgesharing and he was looking for countries to cite the project and she quickly submitted Nigeria as one of the countries because the institute would be supported by World Bank with $20 million.

As part of the mandate of the institute to train Nigerian youths and provide jobs for them, the government decided to partner with the private sector.

According to the minister, about 75 companies went through the selection process and at the end, AfriHub emerged the best.

The minister also noted that about 1.8 million youths enter the labour market every year and the government had provided jobs for 1.6 million while about 200,000 youths are not yet employed.

Amosun tasks security agencies over oil-rich Tongeji Island

O

gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has tasked security agents on the protection of the deserted oil-rich Tongeji Island in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.

He gave the charge while receiving the newly redeployed General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Tamunomeibi Dibi, in his office yesterday.

The governor expressed concern over the lack of government presence in the oil-rich region, noting that it made the area vulnerable to militancy

and likely displacement of Nigerian residents by desperate insurgents.

“If we, as a nation, allow our oil-regions to be taken over by intruders, we may be seen to be nonchalant about proper management and utilisation of the commonwealth of the nation and this is not good for our posterity as a government,” he stated.

Amosun noted that though the Army should be defending the nation as a whole from external aggression, the overwhelming security threats to lives and property necessitated their involvement in civil unrest.

Kalu praises Jonathan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

power money? Somebody that brought money into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is now being hounded with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) when somebody that had just N20,000 is now a saint. It is a deceit for any leader to be saying that youths are leaders of tomorrow when 37 years after, the leaders are still ruling over the youths,” he lamented.

Earlier, the NUJ Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Opadotun, had said that the country had been facing

the challenge of leadership since 1960 when Nigeria got her independence.

“From one government to another, it had been coups and counter-coups.

The problem persists to the extent that today virtually all the infrastructural systems have collapsed,” he said.

Kalu was accompanied to the event by some of his aides including: Senator Emmanuel Onwe, Mr. Bayo Fatunsi, Hon. Edozie Madu, Frank Osita Duke, Prince Kunle Oyewumi, Hon. Chibuke Jonas, Akinniyi Babatunde, and Tunde Adeniyi.

Secretary to the Government of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who represented Governor Godswill Akpabio (middle) commissioning a civic centre in Nsit Attai local government, while the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert (left), and others watch.

33%

75%

33m

The percentage of immigrants of the world’s total immigrants that live in Europe.

Globalissues.org

The percentage of immigrants worldwide that live in just 28 countries.

Globalissues.org

The total number of immigrants that wound up in industrialized countries.

Globalissues.org

Gemade: Benue killings must end now CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

them arrest anyone they see with gun. We rear our cattle with sticks not AK 47, “ Badejo declared.

Zuakumor told New Telegraph that the peace and security committee had achieved a lot in the effort to end the conflict by getting the warring parties to hold talks and sign a memorandum of understanding.

“We have done the first step to achieve peace. After our agreement, those who love peace will not want to attack, but there are some who may want to do it again. I must say that anyone who does not want

to cooperate with us and wants to take the law into his hands, will not find it easy, “ he said.

He said the achievement recorded at the meeting between the warring communities in Benue had encouraged a similar agreement in Nasarawa State. Zuakumor headed for Taraba yesterday for a similar meeting between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

In a related development, the Senate has been urged to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons.

Senator Barnabas Gemade who made this

proposal yesterday said the investigation had become necessary given the reported impact of the attack on the people living in those communities.

In a statement made available to newsmen, Gemade said that the attacks have become very rampant in Guma, Gwer West, Logo, Jatsina-Ala, Kwande and Ukum areas of Benue State.

He called for immediate action on the issue to put an end to the killings and ensure that the tens of thousands that had been displaced are returned to their homes and farmhands to forestall the

looming famine as a result of the abandonment of the farmlands.

Gemade commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the deployment of the military to Benue State to counter the activities of bandits who have been terrorising communities in the state.

He also called on the military to ensure a high sense of discipline in prosecuting the war against insurgency in parts of the country. Gemade appealed to the military to demonstrate professionalism and impartiality which has been the all mark of the service.

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Bode George carpets Fashola over comments on Aganga Anule Emmanuel

F

ormer National ViceChairman, South West, of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Chief Bode George, has carpeted the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, over his recent comment on the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga.

George berated Fashola for bringing up again the long settled issue of whether or not Dr. Aganga is an indigene of Lagos State.

It will be recalled that Governor Fashola had, on Wednesday, accused the Federal Government of marginalising Lagos State in representation

at the national level despite the state’s support for him during the 2011 elections.

According to Fashola, in spite of recording 1.2million votes from Lagos State, the Federal Government does not give the state equal representation in the appointment of ministers into the Federal Executive Council.

The governor said Mr. Aganga does not represent Lagos.

Responding to Fashola’s claim, Chief George, who spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, said he was shocked that the Lagos State governor was just waking up from his sleep over the matter.

IYC seeks release of abducted Edwin Clark’s son Chris Ejim Yenagoa

T

he Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has condemned the abduction of Ebi Clark, the son of the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, asking that he be released forthwith.

This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesman of the council, Eric Omare and made available to journalists in Yenagoa, yesterday.

“The IYC understands that the son of the Ijaw national leader was kidnapped and whisked away through the Kiagbodo River, which connects with the Ramos and Forcados in Delta and Bayelsa States.”

The IYC in the statement called on all clan heads in the riverine communities of Ingbelebiri, Oporomor and Seimbiri, to trace and fish out the kidnappers.

Kalu urges Oyo politicians to support Ajimobi Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

F

ormer Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on politicians across various political divide in Oyo State to support Governor Abiola Ajimobi in order to promote good governance and leadership in the state.

He made the call during a courtesy call on Governor Ajimobi in his office in Ibadan yesterday.

According to Dr. Kalu, Nigerians should shun party sentiment's in the process of choosing leaders, stressing that political parties should no longer be

the focal point in the selection of leaders in order to move the country forward.

"There should be no party differences in leadership.

Whatever name you may give a party, whether you call it APC or PDP, what Nigerians need are leaders that will give them access to good water, electricity, good road network and good food on their table. "I call on all politicians to stop making parties to be a focal point in choosing leaders. Once election is over, members of PDP should support Your Excellency very well to run government because government is not a personal thing.

L-R: Secretary, Anambra State Government, Oseloka Obaze; Governor Willie Obiano; Chief Field Officer, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Mr. Charles Nzuki and HIV specialist, Dr. Femi Adeyemi, after the signing of the Programme Implementation Agreement between UNICEF and Anambra State government in Awka…yesterday

62.3%

The percentage of households with a computer in developed nations in 2007.

Itu.int

COMMUNIQUE Party condemns opposition to critical national issues, describes it as frivolous Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the decision of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) not to participate in the ongoing National Conference run contrary to the over a decade long campaign by its leaders for a national dialogue.

The party, at the end of a two-day national retreat for its zonal and state publicity secretaries in

52

The average life expectancy (in years) of Africa.

Blatantworld.com

21

The number of fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of developed countries in 2008.

Itu.int

PDP carpets APC over boycott of national confab Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, also condemned APC's opposition to critical national issues, describing it as frivolous and unnecessary grandstanding.

In a communique signed by former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali and Nwachukwu Ngige, however, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for remaining focused in his commitment to his transformation agenda despite unwarranted attacks and distractions from the opposition.

The communique fur-

ther commended President Jonathan's steadfastness to bringing a lasting solution to the lingering insurgency in parts of the country as well as his determination for a strong, united and peaceful Nigeria through the on-going national conference.

The retreat, which was declared open by Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson challenged the publicity secretaries to continue projecting the achievements of the Federal Government, which according to him, were largely under-reported.

Accordingly, the com-

munique recommended that the publicity secretaries should be integrated into the cardinal organs of the party, adding that all publicity secretaries at different levels should be empowered and properly positioned for an effective discharge of their responsibilities while calling on the national leadership to further organise similar retreats at other levels .

It commended the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh for the proactive manner he has been handling the publicity of the party.

36-year-old Warri Refinery grounded SHUT

Refinery stops production as there is no crude to refine Adeola Yusuf

F

ew weeks after refining activities at the Port Harcourt refinery were grounded, the same fate has befallen the 36-year-old Warri Refining and Petrochemicals

Company.

New Telegraph investigations showed that the 125, 000 barrels capacity facility stopped working because there was no crude to refine.

General Manager, Public Affairs of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Farouk Ibrahim, could not be reached for his comments, but a source at the corporation told New Telegraph that the

refinery is currently not functioning.

“Yes, the refinery is not functioning, this is all I can tell you now,” he said.

This setback, according to him, was caused by the inability to transport crude to the facility due to attacks on pipelines.

“As at the moment, the refinery is starved of crude oil and I don’t know how it would be functional without oil,” the source said.

It will be recalled that the 210, 000 barrels per stream day (bpsd) capacity Port Harcourt refinery had also suffered the same fate, making the total shut-in oil barrels to be 335, 000 barrels.

The Port Harcourt refinery is starved of crude, a situation that had already made it to, in just 82 days, beginning from last year; lose a cumulative of 17.22 million barrels.

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Fulani/Tiv crisis: Reps seek compensation for Benue farmers Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday called on the federal government to compensate farmers who lost their farmland and crops during the sustained attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.

The House also advised security agencies to imme-

diately evacuate herdsmen from ancestral lands and houses of indigenes of the state.

The House made the call after adopting a motion moved by Hon Christiana Alaaga (PDP, Benue) on the need to stop nomadic herdsmen from attack, occupation of ancestral farmlands and alleged use of chemical weapons on defenceless farmers in

Tambuwal

Agena, Mbatsada and Sangev communities in East/ Gwer West local government areas of Benue State.

In passing the resolution, the lower chamber also condemned in clear terms, the killings and maiming by the headmen and called on security agencies including the Nigerian Army, Police and DSS to arrest the perpetrators of the violence, especially those who allegedly used chemical weapons to attack farmers and bring them to book.

Foreign medical trips: FG moves to checkmate public servants Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

T

he Federal Government has decided to put a stop to public servants’ penchant for seeking medical treatment abroad, President Goodluck Jonathan said in Port Harcourt yesterday.

President Jonathan

dropped the hint while speaking at the 36th Annual General Meeting and International Scientific Conference of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Jonathan stated that medical tourism is one

of the inevitable fallouts from globalization that has transformed the world into the global village, but lamented that it (medical tourism) was being misconstrued by many Nigerians.

“While some of our compatriots look at medical tourism out of Nigeria from the perspective that it is in-

dicative of inadequacies in our healthcare delivery system, a recent analysis by the federal ministry of health brought to light that majority of the conditions for which Nigerian public servants sought healthcare (diagnosis and treatment) abroad for a three-year period, can adequately be handled in Nigeria,” he said.

FG commends DMO over $1b EURO bond utilisation Anule Emmanuel he Federal Government has commended the Debt Management Office (DMO) for ensuring the effective utilisation of the proceeds from the issuance of the well subscribed one billion dollars Eurobond (US$1 billion) issued last year.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is also the Chairman of the DMO board, gave this commendation at the 15th Supervisory Board Meeting of the DMO, which held yesterday at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The Vice President expressed optimism that the proceeds would impact positively on the growth of the Nigerian economy, especially as it would provide the much needed funds in the areas of power generation, distribution and transmission, as well as in the agriculture, gas and aviation sectors.

He charged the DMO to continue with its good works as it was a key institution in the Transformation Agenda.

Earlier, the DirectorGeneral of the DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo had briefed the meeting on the utilisation of the proceeds from the issuance of the Eurobond, which he noted was being disbursed to targeted sectors of the economy as directed by government.

Dr. Nwankwo also narrated the efforts of the DMO in addressing institutional and capacity challenges being faced by Debt Management Departments in the 36 States of the Federation, noting that in order to surmount the challenges the Office had organised workshops and special training programmes for top policy makers and debt managers, aimed at institutionalising international best practices.

T

ACROSS THE NATION Edo

Ogun

FCT

Niger

Benin

Abeokuta

Abuja

Minna

SSS arrests eight kidnap, internet fraud suspects Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) in Edo State have arrested eight kidnap and internet fraud suspects in the state.

Four of the suspects are university undergraduates, out of which two of them are final year students.

State SSS Director, Mr. Bello Bakori, who paraded the suspects before Governor Adams Oshiomhole and newsmen at the com-

mand’s headquarters in Benin City, said the suspects had confessed to the crime.

Two of the suspects had earlier kidnapped an American citizen.

He said; “Three of the suspects were kidnappers.

Two of them kidnapped an American citizen while the other five were Internet fraudsters whose stock-intrade was to dupe unsuspecting members of the public through various scams."

EFCC tenders 26 exhibits against Daniel An Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta yesterday admitted 26 title documents against former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as the latter’s trial continued.

The exhibits, comprising Certified True Copies of Certificates of Occupancy of Daniel's residence, his father’s church and an hotel in Sagamu, among other buildings,

were obtained from the state’s Bureau of Land and Survey.

Daniel, who ruled the state between 2003 and 2011, is facing a 38-count charge bordering on fraudulent conversion of land and diversion of public funds.

The former governor had failed in his bid to quash counts 1 to 13 before an Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan.

Kaduna

Edo

Kaduna

Benin

Kaduna govt relaxes Kafanchan curfew The 24-hour curfew that was imposed on Kafanchan town, headquarters of Jemaá Local Government area of Kaduna State last Wednesday, has been relaxed yesterday.

In a statement issued yesterday, the local government authorities said the curfew will now commence from 4.00pm to 6.00am, following the gradual return

of normalcy and the need to allow students to write their Senior Secondary School Examinations.

It will be recalled that armed hunters allegedly on their way to Nassarawa State, were arrested and handed over to military authorities for further interrogation.

News of the arrest raised tension in Kafachan as youths threatened to take laws into their hands.

Brewery workers protest unpaid 28 months’ salaries Unable to wait any longer, aggrieved workers of Bendel Breweries Plc, yesterday trooped en masse to the Dennis Osadebay Government House in Benin, the Edo state capital, to express their grievances and demand for their 28 months unpaid salaries owed them by management of the company.

The workers, who expressed their frustration, appealed to the state government to rescue the once bubbling company from going into extinction.

Chairman of the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employee (NUFBTE), Comrade Osabuohien Mike-Horace, during the protest complained bitterly that they were being owed 28 months salaries.

INEC moves to curb election violence

Niger approves N2.9bn for Baro Port road

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday moved a step further towards finding solution to incidences of electoral violence when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Union Commission and the International IDEA. Under the terms of the agreement, the Election Risk Management (ERM) tools will be deployed for the purpose of identifying the possible triggers of election related violence before it occurs at different stages of electoral circles and help to devise measures to avert it.

The MoU is in furtherance of the INEC-AU-IDEA workshop held in Abuja in December last year where about 15 selected INEC officials were trained on the use of the ERM tools.

The ERM tools, according to the International IDEA group, is customised to meet different countries’ electoral needs.

In order to ease access to the popular Baro Port, the Niger State government has awarded a N2billion contract for the construction of Badegi-Kpakeko-Katcha road.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Adamu Jagaba, disclosed this after the state council meeting in Minna yesterday. He said the contract was for 12 months and it will be financed from the state's N12 billion bound.

Jagaba said it is a total construction project of 38.65 kilometres awarded to Soject Nigeria Limited that has executed many contracts to standard in the state.

He assured that the project would be completed and commissioned before the expiration of the present administration of Governor Muaazu Babangida Aliyu come May, 2015.

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Reps approve N200, 000 fine for exam cheats EXAM CHEATS Reps move to guarantee standard of examinations in Nigeria

Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday passed for second reading, a bill seeking to amend the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Act, 2004 increasing the fine for examination malpractice to N200, 000.

Leading debate on the

1.9

general principles of the bill, the Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat AkandeAdeola (PDP-Oyo), said that the bill, if passed, would further guarantee the standard of examination in the country.

She said because of the high incidence of examination malpractices, WAEC has thought it fit to amend the whole of section 19 of the principal law by providing offences that constitute such malpractices.

The House Leader said such malpractices include: illegal possession of examination papers and having fore-

The number of fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Arab States in 2010.

Itu.int

knowledge of the contents of an examination paper.

Other malpractices include making use of an examination paper or the contents, without lawful authority.

“Mr. Speaker, the bill will further guarantee the standard of examination which is at its abysmal level at this point in time,” she said.

She added that there will be examination standardisation in Nigeria through effective supervision by WAEC, which hitherto has been eroded.

Akande-Adeola said

N244.2bn

The internally generated revenue realized from road taxes of Delta State in 2012.

National bureau of Statistics

Nigeria is a heavy contributor of funds to the council with considerable number of representatives on its board.

The lawmaker, however, said that the country was yet to domesticate the 2003 convention even though it has ratified it.

She said Nigeria was the only country out of the five English-speaking West African countries constituting the council membership that has not domesticated the convention.

She urged the House to support the bill to bring Nigeria in line with other subscribed countries to

153.1m

The total population of Central America region (representing 2.2% of the world’s population) in 2010.

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the WAEC convention, and bring the country to domesticate the conven-

Akpabio flags off new 28km road in Oruk Anam

A

new 28-kilometre road to link Ikot Ikara and Ikot Ibritam has been flagged off

by Governor Godswill Akpabio in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Governor Akpabio, who flagged off the new road during his visit to Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency on Wednesday, expressed disappointment over the state of roads in the two local government areas.

He attributed the poor state of roads in the area

Onitsha

M

Hearing in APC leadership suit stalled LEADERSHIP CRISIS

Court to hear case filed to remove APC national leadership April 14 Tunde Oyesina Abuja

H

earing in the suit filed by a group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Conscience Group, seeking to sack the interim national executives of the party

was yesterday stalled before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over lack of service.

The court, however, adjourned till May 14 for report of service.

Conscience Group, which had just elected a new leader, Chief Tony Ojemba Chigbo, had approached the court praying it to sack APC’s Interim National Chairman, Bisi Akande and other executive members.

The group based its prayer on the ground that

the party’s constitution empowered the present executive council members to act in the interim for six months, after which substantive executives would be put in place by a congress.

The plaintiffs, Iheke Solomon and Nnamdi Olebara, who sued for themselves and on behalf of the Conscience Group, submitted that the six months period provided by the constitution had elapsed on January 31, 2014; hence all the interim

executive officers should have vacated office.

Cited as first to fourth respondents are APC, Akande, Tijani Tumsah (as representatives of the National Executive Committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The plaintiffs, through their counsel, Iheke Solomon, want the court to give an order restraining Akande and Tumsah from managing or running the affairs of the party.

to persistent neglect by successive governments in the state.

The governor harped on the importance of the road, announcing that the Utu Nsehe axis of the road was to be awarded to Setraco Construction Company for immediate completion.

He had previously commissioned the Abak-Obio Akpa-Nsehe road with three bridges, also later commissioned the NseheIkot Akpa Nkuk axis of the road with another bridge.

Traders seek redeployment of Customs officers over extortion Dililonye Dilibe

L-R: National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar; Minister of Labour, Chukwemeka Wogu; National President Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, (MHWUN), Comrade Ayuba Wabba and others at the commissioning of Medical and Health Lodge in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

tion in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.

embers of the Amalgamated Market Traders’ Association and importers in the South-East have called for the immediate redeployment of a Customs officer over extortion.

They said the officer, simply called Mr. Dimka and others like him, of the Owerri Customs Office, should be redeployed over an act they described as extortion against traders and importers in the South-East part of the country.

In a communiqué released by the South-East

Amalgamated Markets Traders Association (SEMATA), importers and other stakeholders, which was signed by the President-General of association, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo and his Secretary, Hon. Temple Udeh respectively, the group accused Mr. Dimka and some other officials of culpability in the delay of their consignment in the nation’s ports.

They also accused the customs officers of deliberate delay in the clearance of their goods which often leads to avoidable demurrage all in an attempt to extort millions of naira from them.

Fuel scarcity: Reps move to end IPMAN crisis Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Labour to intervene in the leadership tussle in the rank of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) in order to stop its adverse effect on the distribution of petroleum products.

The resolution was

taken after the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance, sponsored by Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources, Hon. Dakuku Peterside (APC, Rivers).

change of name

Idoko

I formerly known and called Joy Fati Okanlawon, now wish to be known and called Joy Fati Idoko, all former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

10 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Mbakwe’s legacies will not suffer in my time - Okorocha PLEDGE

Gov promises to restore abandoned projects in Imo Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

G

overnor Rochas Okorocha has declared that contrary to perception in certain quarters, that the legacies and projects of

the late former Governor Sam Mbakwe will not suffer neglect in his time as governor.

He made the statement while on a project inspection tour of Obowo, the home council of Mbakwe.

“Mbakwe’s legacies and projects will not suffer in my time. And perhaps most of you do not know that work has already commenced in Avutu Modern Poultry, with a view to restoring it to optimal ca-

pacity. We are rebuilding it and no effort will be spared to reclaim that ingenious legacy, abandoned by successive governments after Mbakwe.”

According to Okorocha, the Avutu Modern Poultry would be re-commissioned in the next one month.

He re-echoed some of his achievements to include the free education policy, the 305 ultramodern schools, 27 General hospitals, massive road

construction, payment of stipends to pupils, and provision of school uniforms and other educational materials to primary and secondary school students.

Okorocha however expressed regret that PDP had in the last 12 years stalled development in Imo state, stressing that within the last 2½ years, his administration had made tremendous impact on the state.

28.7

67.2%

351.7m

The number of active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of developed countries in 2010.

Itu.int

The percentage of female internet users in Spain in 2012.

Itu.int

The total population of North America region (representing 5.09% of the world’s population) in 2010.

Blatantworld.com

Friday, April 4, 2014

APC accuses Presidency of aiding PDP on violence Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State yesterday accused the Presidency of aiding the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) to foment trouble.

Addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the Director General of the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Bimbo Daramola, said members of the APC were attacked

on Wednesday evening while coming to the state capital after a series of political rallies in Oye Local Government Area.

He said those who attacked his men were supporters of former Governor of the state, Ayo Fayose.

According to him, some Fayose's supporters attacked one of the buses conveying APC members while some security men attached to Fayose shot at the vehicle wounding one person.

Fayose, Adeyeye unite, preach unity among members Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

A

major move was made yesterday to strongly position the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the coming governorship election with former Governor Ayo Fayose and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye reconciling after party's primary.

Fayose, who emerged winner of the March 22 congress, led some of his supporters to the campaign office of Adeyeye, a leading governorship aspirant in the state.

While addressing the large crowd of PDP supporters, Fayose said all L-R: Special Guest of Honour, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim; President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Alhaji Kabir Alkali Moham- hands must be on deck to med and Vice President, Mr. Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu, during the Institute’s 12th conferment of Fellowship Awards ceremony in Lagos... ensure victory for the paryesterday.

PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE ty in the election, saying

the party could not afford to stay in the wilderness for another four years.

Fayose, who said Adeyeye remained a formidable figure in the PDP and should not be ignored, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint the former Afenifere Publicity Secretary as minister to fill the vacancy created with the exit of Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade from the Federal Executive Council.

Fayose said he was not seeking re-election as the governor of the state to take vengeance against anybody, saying his task, large if elected governor would be to unite all members of the party and the state at large.

"I am not coming back to Ekiti to be vindictive."

Anambra govt recruits 3,400 We succeed because we respect Bamidele pledges not to traditional institution, says Fayemi collect salaries as governor primary schools teachers kiti State Governor, Dr. of the obas through vari-

T

he Anambra Government yesterday in Awka said it recruited 3,400 teachers to meet the manpower needs in primary schools at the beginning of next academic session.

The Chairman, Anambra Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Mr Nzeemeka Olisa, made this known when he spoke at the finals of a drama and quiz competition for primary schools in the state.

He said that 3,000 of the teachers were drawn

from the mass recruitment done by the government while an additional 400 were from the national teachers’ scheme.

The ASUBEB chairman stressed the need for moral rebirth in the society, especially at the primary school level which involved the pupils.

According to him, pupils in the state primary schools have been engaged in moral reforming activities in the past weeks preceding the quiz.

E

Kayode Fayemi says his administration has been able to attract God's blessings and approval because of its respect for the traditional institution and elders.

Speaking in Ijelu, Oye Local Government, during his re-election campaign, which entered the second day yesterday, Fayemi said rather than desecrate the traditional institution as was once witnessed in the state, his administration had, instead, elevated the social status and the well-being

ous perks, some of which are the health outreach to palaces and the brand new cars distributed to all of them.

"We are going to win, we are a successful government. We are not chased away on account of electoral fraud or statesponsored terrorism. We don't lock up traditional rulers in the booth of cars, and we don't treat our elders with disrespect.

"We take care of our elders by giving them social security stipends every month."

T

he Labour party governorship candidate in Ekiti, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, yesterday pledged not to collect salaries or emoluments throughout his tenure if elected.

He made the vow while campaigning at Igede-Ekiti in Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Bamidele, a member of the House of Representatives, said he would rather open a special account for his salaries and emoluments to cater for vulnerable persons in the society.

He said that his salaries and allowances at the National Assembly were being utilised to give succour to the needy and vulnerable in the society. ``I have been blessed

by God in all my areas of endeavour. ``The best way to appreciate God is to give back to the people,’’ he said.

Bamidele also pledged not to seek a second term if he wins the election, adding that four years was enough for anyone to implement his programmes.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

11

Anger as police invade community over land issue LOGGERHEADS Police and community at loggerheads over handling of land matters Dominic Adewole Asaba

T

he people of Idumuyase community of IsseleAsagba in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State are angry with the state police command over trumpup charges concerning a landed property.

The community was angry that men of the command detained its son, Comrade Okwudili

Maha and members of the Issele-Asagba Land Committee, after they failed to extort N2 million from them.

Okwudili and some of his kinsmen were arrested and allegedly detained for two weeks, over a petition by Messrs. Muanya Okafor and Emeka Jideonwu, accusing them of illegal land deals.

In a petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, the community, through its counsel, Elunor, Eregbuonye and Partners, in Asaba yesterday, wondered why police continued to incarcerate their son, despite a court order to the contrary.

Our students are adequately trained – Lagos Poly Rector Kayode Olanrewaju

T

he Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, Dr. Abdulazeez Lawal, has said that the 14, 920 graduating students of the polytechnic have been trained and equipped to face the challenges of the labour market.

He said the students were exposed to entrepreneurial programmes under which they were trained in various vocations with the collaboration of small scale enterprises that has positioned them as job creators and not job seekers after graduation.

The rector spoke yes-

terday during the institution’s pre-press briefing for the 22nd convocation ceremony billed for April 10, at the polytechnic’s convocation ground.

While announcing activities lined up for the ceremony, Lawal said the convocation lecture; “National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) as a new Deal for Nigeria’s Skills Development: The Role of the Polytechnic,” will be delivered by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr. Masa'udu Adamu Kazaure, on April 8, at the Engineering Lecture Theatre, Ikorodu campus.

We’re ready for ward congress in Rivers – APC Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

T

he All Progressives Cong ress (APC) rounded off its seven days fasting and prayers session on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, declaring its readiness for the party’s state ward congress, just as the women were asking for more slots in governance.

The APC had last week,

declared a seven-day fasting and prayer session in celebration of the reported endorsement of Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesome Wike as the PDP governorship choice in the state in 2015.

The party jubilated that the choice of Wike signaled a smooth victory for APC in 2015 as Wike was presumed to have little or no support in the state.

L-R: Corporate Affairs Manager, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Dr. Sam Adenekan; Managing Doirector/CEO, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon; Business Manager, Maggi Chicken Cube, Mr. Guy Kellaway and Marketing Services Director, Mrs Iquo Ukoh, at the Maggi Chicken Seasoning press launch, held at Nestle Nigeria's corporate headquarters, Ilupeju, Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

60.9%

The percentage of male internet users in Italy in 2012.

Itu.int

N3.89bn

The internally generated revenue of Sokoto State in 2010.

National bureau of Statistics

38m

The number of immigrants living in the United States of America.

Globalissues.org

2015: Forum cautions PDP over Rivers' governorship seat ETHNICITY

PDP wary over flunting of ethnic cards ahead of 2015 Rivers' polls

Joe Ezuma

Port Harcourt

T

he elders’ forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has called for moderation and maturity among the many contestants jostling for the state governorship seat in the 2015 elections.

The forum said civilized conduct, more than anything else, should prevail among the contenders and their followers.

The forum, apprehensive of the destabilising effect of ethnic politics for such a sensitive position less than 12 months to the election, advised members of the party interested in vying for the governorship of the state to ensure that their campaigns are conducted in a matured manner.

The body said such is necessary so that it does not affect the consolidation of the party in the

state and the support such could get for President Goodluck Jonathan as the PDP presidential candidate in general elections.

In a release, signed by Chief Ferdinand Ngogo Alabraba and Chief Maxwell Tasie Amadi, on behalf of the forum, the elders frowned at a situation where people are fanning the embers of ethnicity in their jostling for the gubernatorial slot in the state.

They said such could become divisive and detrimental to the unity of the party in the state.

The elders warned that although PDP remains the preferred party in the state, the threat to party unity as a result of parochial sentiments, arising from ethnic group campaigns and endorsements for the governorship cannot be ignored or underestimated.

The elder statesmen also warned ethnic groups in the state to guard against surreptitious infiltration by the opposition into their rank and file in the pretext of supporting their quest for the gubernatorial slot in the PDP.

Group accuses PDP of diverting relief materials in Benue Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

A

coalition of NonGover nmental Organisations (NGOs) in Benue State has raised the alarm over alleged diversion of relief materials meant for displaced victims of Fulani

attacks by top members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

They called on relevant authorities in the state to wade into the matter to ensure immediate reversal of the trend.

Chairman of Bengonet, Justin Gbagir, who made

the startling revelation on behalf of other NGOs in Makurdi at a media briefing, said the displaced persons were compelled to walk long distances before getting the materials.

He stressed that “some people who were not part of those displaced, overpowered the victims and col-

lected the relief materials.

Gbagir also noted with concern the inability of the state government to create what he called formal camps for the victims, who according to him, are presently staying in unhygienic conditions that are susceptible to all kinds of diseases.

metr

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/metro

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

0802 393 8212

Friday, April 4, 2014

Crowd in front of the house

Vehicles burnt inside the house

Mob sets ablaze ritual killers’ den in Abeokuta TENSION Temper rises as another ritual killers’ den is discovered in Abeokuta Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

A

ngry youths yesterday set ablaze a duplex suspected to be a ritual killers’ operational base in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

This came barely 24 hours after a ritual killers’ den was uncovered in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.

Items recovered from the duplex yesterday included a blood-filled basin, coffin, mortal, calabash, effigy, assorted charms, clothes, live scorpion and other suspected fetish items.

While residents of Akinremi Estate, Adigbe in Abeokuta said the duplex was being used for rituals, the police said the building was a baby-making factory.

The Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, who spoke with journalists, disclosed that three pregnant ladies and five kids were rescued from the base.

It was gathered that the den was uncovered on Wednesday night when one of the victims escaped and ran into a nearby building, pleading with the occupants to save her from assailants.

The pregnant victim, who claimed to have hailed from Abia State, was said to have disclosed that her elder sister sold her to the ritual killers for N100,000.

The shocking revelations compelled oc-

cupants of the nearby building to carry out a raid on the suspected ritual killers’ den at 11pm and subsequently alerted the police at the Adigbe divisional station.

But yesterday morning, scores of angry youths, most of whom were suspected to be students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, stormed the duplex and carried out a thorough search, which led to the discovery of various fetish items.

Also discovered at the scene were international passports, identity cards of students of Sacred Heart Catholic College, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta as well as white garments.

As a result, the youths set ablaze the building and two vehicles parked within the premises, including a Toyota Camry car marked Lagos EKY 942 AJ and a Mitsubishi car with registration number Lagos AGL 971 BH. However, men of the Ogun State Fire Service, who raced to the scene, put out the fire.

Policemen drafted to the scene, with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), shot sporadically into the air, apparently to scare away the mob.

Okoye later made an on-the-spot assessment of the area and appealed to the residents to remain calm and be vigilant, adding that thorough investigation would be carried out.

The state Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.

He disclosed that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the

incident.

According to him, one Muibat Yusuf and her brother who are both indigenes of Kwara State, were arrested.

Oyeyemi, however, said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta for thorough investigation.

100-year-old Iroko tree falls, des Ikechukwu Ucheoma Umuahia

S

everal people escaped death in Amaozara, Umuenyere Alayi community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State when a gigantic Iroko tree fell after a downpour.

The tree, which the villagers said was about 100 years old, pulled down several houses in the process.

One of those whose houses were destroyed, Rev Ndukanma Uche, told our correspondent that the ancient Iroko tree, in the centre of the community, fell a few minutes after he left his house for his normal daily activities.

Uche added that he was happy that no member of his family or the community lost their lives in the incident.

When our correspondent visited the village, the villagers were discussing the development in clusters. The community’s women leader, Mrs Florence Elendu, expressed

joy that the tree had fallen.

According to her, evil people in the community usually meet under the tree in the night to perpetuate their atrocities.

In an interview with our correspondent, the President General of the community who is also the Dean, Students Affairs of the Abia State University, Uturu, Dr Udo Nwokocha, described the development as God’s divine

intervention.

He said members community had mad eral unsuccessful at to cut the tree in the Nwokocha said fro on, good things wou gin come to the comm According to him destruction of some has highlighted the d in allowing big tree residential buildings He added that th

One of the buildings destroyed by the tree

Agbaje: Those calling for secession are free to go/ PAGE 15 | ‘Confab not a platform to talk about secession’ / PAGE 14

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

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ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

How we uncovered certificate forgery in Delta Assembly –Kachikwu

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ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

Friday, April 4, 2014

p-17 POLITICAL NOTES

NATIONAL CONFERENCE The representation of the South-East at the national conference has been done along party line with apparent division between the governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo over the leadership of delegation to the confab from the zone. LEO SOBECHI reports

Division over Igbo representation

I

t remains a rhetorical question whether the republican characterisation of Igbo is a virtue or vice in political organisation. The ongoing national conference has tended to echo that sentiment once again. The leadership question has continued to embarrass Ndigbo of the South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria. The assertion that Igbo Enwe-Eze (Igbo has no King) has become an acceptable notion to the people. The lack of unanimity on various issues of statecraft dogs the political mobilisation of Igbo in Nigeria. It is against this background that the various evident sore points in Igbo representation at the conference could be appreciated.

A lot of political considerations influenced the choice of the delegates. As the configuration of the delegates list showed, it was more of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) affair. Consequently, a big chasm opened between professional cum technical experts and partisan political actors. What is more

Nwachukwu

Nwabueze

is the cloud of legitimacy over the place of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the umbrella socio-political association of Ndigbo rubbed off on the choice of representation.

While the governors of the five South-East states see the present Ohanaeze leadership as the cre-

ation of the Presidency through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ohanaeze chieftains thumb down the governors being less proactive on issues concerning the welfare of Ndigbo.

No other indicator more than

CROSSFIRE We are blessed with a learned Chairman (Justice IdrisKutigi) with impeccable integrity and we have a Vice Chairman (Prof.

Bolaji Akinyemi) with intellect and integrity.

So, let us confound all the critics –Atedo Peterside

If these are the kinds of characters that we put as numbers one and two, you can see clearly that there is no hope to a fair representative national confab and everything is being pre- determined -Junaid Mohammed

the choice of the leadership of the delegation mirrored the division within the Igbo ethnic nationality. Though Ohanaeze wanted to nominate the leader of the South-East delegation, the state governors resisted the move. In fact, at a meeting of South-East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) in Enugu days to the commencement of the confab, the four governors present were said to have resolved to insist that they and not Ohanaeze will nominate the leader of the delegation. At the end of the day, the governors, apparently on account of their hold on the purse strings of funding; had their way. There were subdued CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Belittling the confab

H

ardly had the National Conference put together by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan taken off, than some Nigerians have begun to trivialise the process, using it as another opportunity to score petty business, political and social points with their friends and associates.

On Monday March 17, the day the president inaugurated the conference, signaling the takeoff of deliberations, which should culminate in a working document that may very well reveal the direction the nation’s future may take, a company took a full page coloured advert to congratulate one of the female delegates to the confab, Hajia Bola Shagaya.

Trust Nigerians not to let an opportunity for sycophancy pass them by, nor a chance to curry favour slip by. Surely being a member of the 492 delegates that have been chosen to chart a new course for the nation is a rare and delightful opportunity. But should it be a chance for revelry, even before the job is done.

It’s not enough to be a delegate to the confab, given that a great number made the list on political considerations, not on strength of anticipated intellectual or moral contribution that would enrich discourse.

For example, what has been the contribution of the delegate being celebrated? How has she presented the position of her constituency, defended or promoted it to ensure acceptability?

Considering criticisms trailing the convocation of the conference, the least friends and associates of delegates can do, is not belittle the three-month process that could determine the future of the nation or even waste precious time participating in unnecessary frivolities that will portray the confab as a jamboree.

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

OPEN FORUM

...lamido adamawa’s threat of secession

Ofehe: Confab not a platform to talk about secession Comrade Sunny Ofehe is a human rights activist and Founder/Executive Director of Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC).

Lamido of Adamawa’s statement is a big threat to the unity of our country and must be resisted. I am quite sure that this threat doesn’t usually get the support of the ordinary people in those areas

F

irst, I must state my position as far as Nigeria is concerned. I am a strong believer in a united Nigeria. We cannot continue to blame our economic, political and social failures on the diversity of Nigeria. There is strength in diversity. The national conference as I want to think is not a platform to talk about secession by issuing threat, like the Lamido Adamawa threatening to secede to neighbouring Cameroon if anything happens to Nigeria. The conference allows regions and ethnic groups to express their grievances in an articulated form and give reasons for their grievances.

The danger of such threat particularly from a Northern state will not help the current security situation being faced by the nation and it will also give people from the South-South an opportunity to seek autonomy. The delegates must realise that as far as the conference is concerned, they are still Nigerians and must defend the unity of the country no matter how sad their situation is. The country can never split at the end of the conference and as such they will all leave the conference as Nigerians.

Certain threats should not be allowed to rock the floor of the conference and incite those watching events as they unfold.

It is only when a country faces total anarchy and become governable that such comments can come from individuals

Ofehe

or groups. Despite the threat from Boko Haram, Nigeria is still very united and peaceful. The national conference should rather address the social and political issues and the security threat facing the country right now rather than focus on splitting the country.

We should take example from Sudan that is our neighbour. They went into a protracted civil war and eventually settled for a referendum and separated to become an independent country called South Sudan. Today, South Sudan has been plunged into civil war. The people have not been able to enjoy the dividends of autonomy and independence. It is only when a country’s internal sovereignty has been threatened by ethnic, religious and social issues and becomes ungovernable that we can call for a referendum to decide whether we want to stay together as one country or split.

Nigeria is currently far from that situation. The people of the country are still law abiding. The day to day governance and our enduring democracy

is steadily improving, so we shouldn’t clamour for secession. We should rather use the conference to address the concerns and fears among all the ethnic groups and find a lasting solution on how we can be united for good and live together within the ambits of our constitution.

Lamido of Adamawa’s statement is a big threat to the unity of our country and must be resisted. I am quite sure that this threat doesn’t usually get the support of the ordinary people in those areas. The conference can address the issue of secession and everyone is free to make their contribution and express their mandates as agreed by the people of the region or ethnicity that they represent. In doing so, the delegates must be aware that they are addressing the people of the whole country and as such, threats and statements that can raise negative incitation should be avoided.

There are better ways to express regional fears and worries without flaring anger from your neighbour. We must know that every statement or comment from any region during the conference will be written in history and some can affect some regions negatively without

any further opportunity to clear any seed of discord that may have been planted in the minds of other regions being targeted.

I know many of my people from the South-South who do not agree with my position that living together as Nigerians will benefit them.

The biggest problem we even have in terms of development in the Niger Delta region is majorly caused by corruption on the part of our own Niger Delta leaders. The question we must ask ourselves as people of the oil-rich Niger Delta is: Should we become a country, what will change in terms of political leadership in the area?

Every ethnic nationality and group is free to kick start the ember of disunity and dismemberment because in doing so, you must give a good reason why you want to secede. It is the reason that will be given by these groups that the conference should look at and find a recommendation that the government should implement. Once you are able to tackle the problems of those regions, I see no reason why they will not agree to the current marriage of Nigeria. The conference is a platform to air regional and group grievances, give reasons for those grievances and the conference should proffer solutions to those grievance according to the region affected.

Contrary to the opinion of many people, I still believe that there is no region in Nigeria that can live in isolation.

Thanks to God, every region is endowed with natural and mineral resources capable of taking care of its own people. It is the government’s focus on oil as the mainstay of the nation’s economy that has reduced the potential of many regions to discover and harness their God given resources. But with issues proper implementation of true fiscal federalism, the government of all the regions will discover their true endowment to sustain their economic needs.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

Salvador: Secession threats, part of Nigeria’s problems Hon. Moshood Salvador is a former member of the House of Representatives and a delegate to the National Conference.

W

hen Lamido Adamawa made the statement that he could lead his people from Nigeria to join Cameroon, it was more of a personal statement. It’s not the general view of his people, or people from that part of the country. And I think since he made that statement, even the people of Adamawa State have withdrawn it. Other Northern leaders have said he was talking for himself.

So, we should not dwell on his statement since others are not of the same

This issue of secession is part of the problems of Nigeria, and that is part of reasons we are at the conference; to be able to sit down and talk as one family to find a solution to the issue view. This issue of secession is part of the problems of Nigeria, and that is part of reasons we are at the conference; to be able to sit down and talk as one family to find a solution to the issue, and other issues bedevilling us as a people. We want to sit down to right the wrongs.

On whether any group within the

Salvador

country is justified to make a call for secession, I personally don’t think there is a need for that. You know you can wake up in the morning and not be happy because of what your wife has done to you.

And say you want to divorce her.

But you may change you mind later

when you consider certain things. So, everyone from any part of the nation has a right to voice their opinions, it’s not a matter of whether the country is structured in one way or the other. It’s an issue of how the person is feeling at that particular time.

For me, at the beginning of this national dialogue, I was a bit sceptical on its success. But when we started and I saw people from other parts of the country, and got to understand their views and feelings, it seems we all have similar agenda.

You’ll see that people want a change; actually it’s as if they want more change than yours, because nearly every part of the country is yearning for one form of change or another. It’s a general phenomenon, a general interest.

Interview by etAGHENE eDIRIN

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

OPEN FORUM Fred Agbaje is a human rights activist and constitutional lawyer.

T

here is freedom of movement and anyone that feels they want to leave should leave. Nigeria is too big for anyone to start insulting our sensibility. Anybody is free to run out of this country, they can go. It is even better if they go. I will advise the confab to grant the wish of anybody that comes to that conference and make such request. If they leave Nigeria, the country will still stand. It is not one entity or tribe that makes up Nigeria.

They are free to go to Cameroun or wherever they want to go. Let them go, they will come back after suffering.

I believe in the conference and I don’t know those who are pro-Jonathan, but I know he nominated some of them.

Seventy per cent affirmation is okay.

We have been practicing two-thirds in our constitution and legislation since independence but where has that twothirds taken us? The argument by some people that two-thirds is the accepted norm democratically worldwide, yes it is, but we must not forget that we have our own peculiar circumstances in Nigeria. Our culture, language and composition differ, that is why two-thirds has never worked in this country. In

15

...lamido adamawa’s threat of secession

Fred Agbaje: Those calling for secession are free to go If they leave Nigeria, the country will still stand. It is not one entity or tribe that makes up Nigeria...

They are free to go to Cameroun or wherever they want to go. Let them go, they will come back after suffering any case, when you go for 70 per cent, you will give opportunity to minority, and what is bad in giving opportunity to the minorities. Have you asked why the confab was set up? Was it not to further accentuate and address the issues of the minorities? Has the majority not being dominating the minority all along? If the confab decides to stop that and make the minority to dominate the majority, I have no issue with that. Anybody who has quarrel with that should

Agbaje

go and look for panadol.

I come from the minority and where I come from is not even represented, they have been marginalised. The majority tribe has always run it on the minority tribe in this country. So, if the 70 per cent would ensure that the minority have a say on the majority that has been enjoying their security votes since

independence, what bad has the minority done? That is one of the spirits of the confab.

The issue of resource control is one of the issues to discuss. How many of the majority tribes in Nigeria have resources in their backyard? All they have is cocoa, rubber, oil palm, groundnut, yam, pepper, coal and others. The people that have the oil are the Niger Deltans and they are in the minority. This voting procedure would give an opportunity to the Niger Delta to dictate how their oil should be explored and how much they are ready to give to the Federal Government. Left to me, the derivation should be reversed; the Federal Government should be given 13 per cent and the remaining percentage should be given to the owners of the oil, that would have come in the spirit of equity and fairness. Those who are saying the oil in the South belongs to the North should come and share in it, then we will know how a Kanuri man is related to an Ijaw man.

Interview by Wale Elegbede

Yakasai: Nigerians want development not dissolution Alhaji Tanko Yakasai is an elder statesman and one of the delegates at the ongoing National Conference

Was he mandated by the people of Adamawa to say what he said?

Don’t ascribe what he has said to the people of Adamawa... What he said is not the view of the people of Adamawa because they did not send him to the national conference to say so

L

amido Adamawa is a Nigerian and he is free to express his opinion on any issue. He is at the conference as an individual and whatever he says is his personal opinion and that does not mean that he is speaking for any segment. The issue is a small matter.

Lamido Adamawa is an individual not Nigeria? Why can’t you allow individual to express their views? He is an individual. Was he mandated by the people of Adamawa to say what he said? Don’t ascribe what he has said to the people of Adamawa. He is an individual and whatever he said at the conference, is his own personal view. What he said is not the view of the people of Adamawa because they did not send him to the national conference to say so.

I believe in the unity of Nigeria and I have been fighting for the unity of Nigeria in the last 60 years. I have been committed to Nigeria unity because I was brought up in this country. I have 21 children and several grand children. So, I believe strongly in the unity of Nigeria.

Yakasai

I am an ardent supporter of the National Conference, I have never been sceptical of it. Before the conference, I was the chairman of the Nigeria National Summit Group (NNSG), which advocated for a national conference. We believe in Nigeria holding a national conference but what we were opposed to was a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) because it is not practicable when a country is under democratic governance. All those who conducted a Sovereign National Conference did it under military rule. Even then, the

military conducted election on delegates, they were not appointed. They were elected by the people. It is out of the mandate of the people to hold a SNC. So, you have to elect those who will represent you. That is why we opposed the SNC; it is not because we are afraid of anything but the long procedure may be a waste of time.

I was a member of the 1994/95 constitutional conference organised by Sani Abacha’s regime and before the conference, Sani Abacha appointed a commission to go round the country to hear public opinion and there was no single memorandum submitted to them asking for disintegration of Nigeria. This time around when Jonathan appointed the Presidential Advisory Committee on National

Conference, they went round to seek public opinion and no single Nigerian out of about 180 million wrote to them asking for the dissolution of Nigeria.

Before the conference, the advisory committee held public sessions in all the six geo-politico zones of the country. Not a single Nigerian submitted a proposal to them for the dissolution of Nigeria. Every Nigerian was in support of a united Nigeria. It is also good that the President has also said that the issue of dissolution of Nigeria is a no-go area during the conference.

What Nigerian want is not dissolution, all they want is development.

What the North is saying about resource control is that in the constitution, mineral resources, including oil is the property of the Nigerian nation. My good friend, Edwin Clark, we have been friends for over 50 years, can’t tell you that his grandfather brought oil there. We all met it there.

No individual brought oil, not even our great grandfather. Certainly, we can agree that given the degradation the land in the area is experiencing, that they were entitled to compensation. This is the reason why the 1994-1995 constitutional conference recommended 13 per cent derivation for them, even that recommendation has been altered by Justice Niki Tobi.

Interview by Wale Elegbede

16 POLITICS

Leading

Woman

A

lhaja Aminat Irawo, a human rights activist with over 20 years experience in activism, has traversed courageously where men fear to tread. She was actively involved in the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Since the annulment of the election, Irawo’s passion for a better Nigeria has made her to be part of several protests organised by civil societies. She has been harassed on many occasions by security agents. She was among those dispersed with teargas during the protest against deployment of soldiers to Lagos during the January 2012 subsidy removal led by renowned lawyer, Prof.

Ben Nwabueze and elder statesman, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite. But despite all to these, her spirit has never been damped as she has continued to fight for the course she believed in.

When the late MKO Abiola made known his decision to run for presidency in the 1993, one of those that gave him support was Irawo. This led her to form a group known as “Women and Youths for MKO Abiola for President” to canvass votes for Abiola. But the June 12 election was annulled by Ibrahim Babangida military regime. Till today, Irawo still feels bad about the annulment and how Abiola was prevented from governing Nigeria.

“MKO played a crucial role in the life of many people during his lifetime and it was his determination to touch the life of masses that made him to venture into politics. I will forever remember MKO Abiola because of what he stood for. During his lifetime, he touched the lives of the masses and many people benefitted from him.

“It was as a result of his good gesture that many people voted for him when he contested the presidential election. I was the president of Women and Youths for MKO Abiola during June 12 election and the purpose of forming the organisation was to support the June 12 struggle, which we did passionately.

“I felt very sad that the June 12, 1993 presidential election was annulled and Abiola was denied being Nigerian President despite the fact that he won the election, which till today remains the freest and fairest election in Nigeria. I felt sad because Abiola was not allowed to implement many of the programmes that he had for the masses. He was not allowed to fulfil the promises he made to the common man, which was encapsulated in his ‘Hope 93’ and ‘Farewell to Poverty’ messages.

“It is a pity that despite sacrificing himself for Nigeria’s democracy, which we are enjoying today after so many years of military rule, many people, including those in government today don’t remem- Irawo

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Aminat Irawo: I’m still sad over June 12 annulment

Alhaja Aminat Irawo, a human rights activist, is the chairperson of ‘Women and Youths for MKO Abiola for President’. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, she speaks on why she is passionate about fighting for the masses. ber Abiola again.

“Since the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, I have been in the vanguard for a better Nigeria by allying with many civil societies to champion the cause of the masses, especially on issues bordering on welfare and better living conditions for the masses.

My activities as the president of Women and Youths for MKO Abiola for President during the June 12, 1993 election annulment saga marked a significant leap in my foray into activism and till date I have not looked back. I will continue fighting for the masses until we have a credible government that cares about the masses at all levels,” she told New Telegraph.

After the June 12 saga, rather than dissolving her group, ‘Women and Youths for MKO Abiola for President,’ Irawo turned the group to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and she has been using it as a platform to f i g h t for the masses and to put smiles on the faces of many Nigerians.

Her words: “I thank God for how He has been helping me to push my NGO. As part of my way of remembering Abiola and the struggle h e

died for. I am using my NGO to touch the lives of people. I am using my personal money to run my NGO and I enjoy impacting the lives of people around me positively, especially the needy.

“I am fighting for three things in Nigeria; qualitative education, employment for the youths and helping the widows.

Widows are suffering in Nigeria because people don’t care about them. And many of our graduates are also rooming the streets without good employment. I don’t know the kind of country we have today but my prayer is that God will intervene and change things for better in Nigeria.

“I hate to see people suffer and my passion for activism was as a result of my love for the masses, especially the common people on the streets. I am not into activism for selfish reasons but I am in activism because I want to champion the cause of the masses. I love making people happy and anytime I see people in pain, it saddens my heart. I have put smiles on the faces of many people and I will continue to do so with the little capacity God has given me. I believe strongly in the cause I am fighting for and nothing can make me look back until I achieve the purpose of going into activism.

“To the glory of God, I have touched many lives. I believe the best legacy somebody can leave on earth is making people to laugh and

to contribute immensely to the success of his or her neighbours. Apart from taking part in many protests organised by various civil society groups on any antipeople policy by the government, I have helped many young women and boys through empowerment programmes.

Presently, I have about 25 students that I am paying their tuition fees in tertiary institutions.”

Considering the sacrifice, she and many others have made for Nigeria’s democracy, Irawo told New Telegraph that she is worried about the state of the nation and also sad about how public office holders are inflicting pains on the masses. She also expressed her dissatisfaction over the high rate of unemployment and the level of corruption in public offices.

Her words: “I am not happy with the present state of education in Nigeria. In Nigeria today, tuition fees being charged by many tertiary institutions are very high. Where would a petty trader get about N250,000 to send a child to school?

And the most painful thing is that after the struggle, many of our graduates are roaming the streets without being gainfully employed.

“It is saddening that politicians have failed to deliver on the promises they made to the electorate during their campaigns. Public office holders rather than putting smiles on the faces of the masses are inflicting more pains on them through anti-people policies. The people at the helms of affairs are too far from the people and that is why the masses are suffering in Nigeria today. With the way we are treating our youths, the future of this country is very bleak.

“I will appeal to public office holders to be closer to the people because if they get closer, they would know people’s need in terms of qualitative education, health care, good roads and others. I want to appeal to them that this time around they must ensure that they get closer to the people. If they are able to do this, the people will have the opportunity of talking to them and asking questions about their policies and programmes. Getting closer to the masses would also give opportunities to people in office to know where the shoes are pitching the masses.

“Politics is a means to serve the people and not an avenue to enrich one’s pocket. Therefore, people in public office must know that people voted them into office to serve and not to enrich themselves and their families. We are where we are today because of corruption and bad leadership. I want to appeal to our leaders to be accountable to the masses who voted them into office.”

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Leading

Woman Barrister (Mrs.) Josephine Ada Kachikwu is the chairperson of the Delta State House of Assembly Service Commission. In this interview with DOMINIC ADEWOLE, she speaks on the certificate forgery rocking the commission.

What is your commission’s terms of reference?

The commission was established by law in April 2004. This law was accented to by the then governor, Chief James Ibori. It provides for a seven-member commission, one of whom shall be chairman. The law also provides for a secretary, who is the accounting officer of the commission.

The commission is charged with the responsibility of recruitment, promotion, training, and discipline of staff, among others and it is made up of three departments, namely: Discipline, Promotion, Recruitment and Training (DPRT), Administration & Finance (DAF), and Planning, Research & Statistics (DPRS).

By Promotion, we elevate suitably qualified employees from their present positions to positions of higher authority as and when due in consonance with public service rules. Two, recruitment; here we find and attract suitably qualified candidates for employment into the services of the commission and develop interview techniques for the selection of the best candidates and issue employment letters to successful candidates in accordance with public service rules. Three, training; we identify training needs of the commission, design suitable training programmes and conduct the training of personnel and re-train staff members to keep them abreast with new technological changes and managerial trends and by discipline, we ensure that employees who violate the commission’s rules and regulations or fall short of the commission’s expectations are sanctioned in accordance with the public service rules.

What necessitated the inauguration of the present commission?

At the end of the tenure of the first commission in 2011, a new commission was inaugurated by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, with myself as the chairman while the six members, including, Sam Ogrih, John Idogun, Mrs. Cordilia Onya, Roland Kemefia, Benedict Etanabene, and Prince Mike Oputa.

Since your commission came on board, what achievements can you point at?

In our drive to provide an efficient and effective service delivery in the legislature, we have carried out a faithful implementation of legislative policy of motivation of employees. Promotion, being one of the key elements of moti-

Kachikwu: How we uncovered certificate forgery in Delta Assembly ees over seniority that resulted in protests.

Those protesting claimed that some of their colleagues presented fake certificates so that they would be upgraded far and above their equals. What did we do?

The commission engaged the services of a firm of external auditors to carry out certificate verification. The firm has since submitted its report and every case was subjected to further re-verification to remove any possible human error. So far, 26 employees have been dismissed from the services of the commission for parading fake certificates; two are on interdiction, while pending cases are about 20. This goes down in history as the most painful decision taken by the commission.

Kachikwu

vation, was carried out as and when due.

In 2012, about 200 members of staff who were eligible for promotion were duly promoted. It is very important to state that the commission has set a standard whereby every eligible staff for promotion is subjected to a refresher course and subsequent examination before being promoted. Staff are always promoted based on merit. The 2013 promotion exercise for about 135 eligible staff has just been concluded. In the area of training of staff, the commission in order to motivate workers to higher productivity has organised training programmes in the nation’s best management, administrative, legislative institutions including the Centre for Management Development (CMD), Lagos; Administrative Staff College of Nigerian (ASCON), Badagry; National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), Abuja; Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Abuja; Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Benin City and Warri and a few technical consultants. The commission broke an all-time record in 2012 when it successfully trained all the staff in the commission and the Assembly in these institutions in one fell swoop.

We wish to register our appreciation here to Governor Uduaghan for his magnanimity in approving the funds for the training. In 2013 alone, training was based on seniority due to financial constraints and the training is still in progress. The investment on training has paid off handsomely as we can now boast of a workforce that can deliver on our core mandate of providing personnel that will assist the legislators to make good laws for the good people of Delta State. It is a thing of joy to say that the numbers of staff that can put in extra effort willingly and enthusiastically in the commission are on the in-

So far, 26 employees have been dismissed from the services of the commission for parading fake certificates; two are on interdiction while pending cases are about 20. This goes down in history as the most painful decision taken by the Commission crease. In the area of discipline, a lot have been achieved to maintain our flagship position as the best House of Assembly Commission in Nigeria. We blazed the trail by introducing a scientific method of checking lateness to work and absenteeism. It is called the clock-in clock-out machine. It captures the biometric information of each employee as he clocks in Anifowose and clocks out daily. It also gives graphically the number of days and hours of attendance of each worker. It is fraud proof as nobody can clock in or out for another person, not even a twin brother or sister. This is because it is biometric. The machine has been programmed to check employees who cut corners by clocking-in and going home. It will mark them absent for the day for failing to clock out at the end of the business day. This has tremendously helped the commission to improve on the level of discipline.

The certificate forgery crisis that rocked the commission recently, how did you deal with it?

It was the in-fighting by some employ-

What are you doing about the welfare of workers?

We have worked assiduously to improve on the working conditions of staff and inculcate organisational goal-oriented behaviours in our staff. The commission has, through the magnanimity of Governor Uduaghan, procured five brand new air-conditioned saloon cars for the secretary of the commission, three directors and the accountant, a 35-seater air-conditioned costal bus for staff and a hilux van for utility. To further provide improved working condition, the commission operates vehicle, bicycle and housing loans scheme to motivate the workers. The scheme came into operation in 2010 and 46 staffers have so far benefited from vehicle and bicycle loans, while four workers have been given housing loans as at December 31, 2013.

We don’t joke with the payment of our outfit allowances. As an incentive package, the commission pays a handsome outfit allowance to all staff annually to enable them maintain the corporate and dignifying looks of parliamentary staff.

This commission has ensured that there is continuity in governance and have annually paid this allowance. This is aside the Christmas bonus the commission pays. We have our own way of thanking the staffers for job well-done at the end of the year. This we believe will give the workers inner self-satisfaction and satisfy their psychological well-being. We give this peck annually by giving them annual Christmas bonuses. Besides, we have provided a labour-friendly climate for a robust workers’ union; the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN). It has in addition to training programme to sharpen the skill of the employees on the very job, they do organised training for the labour leaders. This was in an attempt to make them to be more conscious of themselves and their duties. The commission has enjoyed industrial harmony inspite of the downsizing of the departments in the complex from 16 to eight in consonance with the amended law, the dismissal of certificate forgers and the introduction of the clock-in clock-out machine. The commission is still managing the change resulting from the clock-in clock-out machine.

18 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Division over Igbo representation

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

protests over the choice of Senator Ike Nwachukwu, by the governors. Some Ohanaeze chieftains, who did not want to raise their voice in public, complained that it did not make sense that Abia State which has the chairman of the Governors’ Forum should also produce the leader of the delegation. Perhaps, in a bid to douse such bickering, Chairman of SEGF and Governor of Abia State, Mr. Theodore Orji, who presided over the meeting where the delegates list was unfolded, disclosed that the SouthEast governors and delegates agreed that the former Minister of External Affairs, should be assisted by renowned Catholic priest, Monsignor Obiora Ike, from Enugu State. And as if to rub in the supremacy of the governors, other state leaders of delegations were handpicked by their state governors. They included Dr. Sam Egwu for Ebonyi; Senator Ken Nnamani, Enugu; Dr. Dozie Ikedife for Anambra and Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu for Imo. Former Nigeria’s ambassador to United States of America, Prof. George Obiozor, was selected to manage the secretariat of Ndigbo created for the purposes of the conference in Abuja.

As things stood, it was evident that Ndigbo were divided on the lines of moderates and radicals, with the governors and Ohanaeze leading the moderates while eminent constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze remained at the commanding heights of the radicals.

In the evolving setting, many observers held the view that the haste to please President Goodluck Jonathan more than the dire need to ventilate the Igbo interest and concerns was the impelling force behind the governors and Ohanaeze leadership. In fact, Governor Orji disclosed that the delegates from South-East were “enjoined to co-operate with other Nigerian delegates to the conference and among themselves” stressing that “they are to protect the interest of South-East while taking the unity and prosperity of Nigeria as a core priority.”

But those who kicked against Nwachukwu’s leadership of the delegation contended that the need to pursue conciliation and ensure that deliberations were not torpedoed midstream are the basic reasons that informed the choice of the former senator, who has a mixed parentage. Sources within the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and South-East Governors’ Forum confided in New Telegraph that the choice of Nwachukwu followed the tough stance of northern leaders at the meeting convened by elder statesman and Dan Masanin Kano, Dr. Maitama Sule, where the delegates were asked to walk out of the conference if northern interests were endangered. “There appear to be rigid posturing by some ethnic groups and zones which we felt could jeopardise the opportunity offered by the conference. It was therefore the collective decision of some leaders of

The haste to please President Goodluck Jonathan more than the dire need to ventilate the Igbo interest and concerns was the impelling force behind the governors and Ohanaeze leadership Igariwey

our zone that we should go to the conference as stabilisers and conciliators; the idea of establishing a common secretariat for the zone was also to have a situation room to analyse and proffer strategies to stabilise the course of the conference,” the source, a prominent Ohanaeze chieftain from Anambra State, stated.

The source noted that the Jonathanpleasers saw the confab more of a boost for the President’s scorecard than its potential to right the wrongs against South -East in the political structure of the country. The source stressed that there was no doubt that certain issues critical to the survival, political stability, economic development and unity of the country would be thrown up at the conference remarking that a lot of interest groups want to make the best out of the climate of openness and honesty demonstrated by the present Federal Government. “When that happens,” he went on, “the atmosphere may become charged and nerves could be frayed; so Senator Nwachukwu is expected to bring his wealth of experience and connections to reach out to northern elements that may adopt extreme positions that could lead to a point of no return.”

But another source who pleaded not to be named in keeping with the code of conduct issued at the Enugu meeting, stated that Ndigbo are going to the conference with great expectations, pointing out that the issues of equality of zones, creation of an additional state in the South-East, fiscal federalism and reparation among others rank highly in the hierarchy of their talking points.

However, Nwabueze and his Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) pooh-poohed the proceedings at the conference, saying that the lack of representation on the basis of ethnic grouping robs the confab of credibility. Rising from an emergency meeting in Enugu, recently, the group explained that based on the many notable flaws discovered about the much-talked about conference, the exercise would end up as a celebrated failure and waste of taxpayers’ money. While insisting that the confab had derailed at take-off, Nwabueze noted

Orji

that the 75 per cent majority and other controversial ground rules that marred full commencement of the conference wouldn’t have arisen had the organisers been diligent and consulted properly.

He remarked that despite its confidence that the conference may not achieve the expected objective, “we still believe that something good could come out of it; ethnic nationalities are the best suited to solve Nigeria’s problem”. “You can’t achieve anything except the ethnic nationalities come together. We all individually belong to an ethnic nationality.

We cannot run away from that; it is a sociological reality.”

The constitutional lawyer outlined the problem facing the conference to include how to coalesce 389 ethnic nationalities, stressing that “the day you find the answer to this question, then Nigeria’s problem will be solved”, since according to him, at a meeting of ethnic nationalities conference recently organised, only 58 ethnic nations attended.

His words: “The 75 per cent is impossible to achieve; Muslims already, not the North as a whole, are over 190 (about 34 per cent). They have equally created Northern Delegates Forum. And the other day, the Sultan led a delegation to the president where they complained. I would have said let them try and achieve a consensus, but where it fails, they should go for absolute majority, not necessarily on percentage.”

The former Education Minister said that even the 70 per cent said to have been agreed on by leaders of the delegation, will still be difficult to achieve. According to him, “absolute majority, meaning majority of 492 delegates and not simple majority, which is majority of delegates present at a particular sitting; would have taken care of the problem.”

He said ILT has decided to remain focused as a permanent advisory body to provide advice to the government and Ndigbo on national issues from time to time, recalling that the group came into being after President Jonathan’s announcement during his independence anniversary broadcast last year to con-

voke a national conference. Denouncing claims suggestions in some quarters that his group was being bankrolled by governors in the South-East zone to spite Ohanaeze leadership, Nwabueze declared that members of ILT, himself and a member of World Igbo Congress, Dr. Obi Thomson, bore the cost of printing the books and other resource materials distributed free of charge to Ndigbo, both at home and in the Diaspora.

With noticeable pain in his voice, he said: “This meeting is a crucial one for us; all the time we have not settled the objective of Igbo Leaders of Thought, but today we have defined it. The objective is how to achieve a new, better and united Nigeria.

The first step in the pursuit of the objective is the production of the position of Igbo Nation for the National Conference for a renegotiated constitution, and we have accomplished the first step.

“The production has cost us millions of naira. The money was provided by me and Obi Thomson of World Igbo Congress. No governor is funding the Igbo Leaders of Thought as being erroneously speculated. As at today, no governor has given us one kobo. The second part is about the national conference as constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The question now is whether the conference as presently constituted will lead us to the realisation of the objectives, which is a new, better and united Nigeria? Though it appears a waste of time, I think something good might still come out from the exercise.”

There are those who rue the apparent divisions of Ndigbo in their articulation and participation at the conference. Former Ohanaeze National President, Igwe Ezebuilo Ozobu, regretted that constitution making experts like Nwabueze were not given prominent roles in the articulation of the issues for the conference.

It is believed that as the conference progresses, the real issues will reveal on which side the South-East delegates would be found. Would they obey the governors and Ohanaeze or respond to the perspectives of the matters at issue? Only time will tell.

19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

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

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

Sanctity of Truth w w w.new telegraphonli ne.com

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

FRIday, APRIL 4, 2014

No to further privatization of public properties

T

he Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki recently announced plans to privatize several public institutions. They include the refineries, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC), Skypower Catering and Hotels Services and Commodity and Exchange Commission. As part of the plans also, the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture will be partially privatized while the National parks will be commercialized.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed serious reservation about the intended exercise.

In a statement, NLC declared that “the haste with which government seems determined to sell off public properties to members of the ruling class and their cronies under the guise of making them more efficient is alarming,” adding that “there is the need for caution because these properties belong to the Nigerian people as a collective wealth and the people have never been consulted and their interests considered before the sales.”

The Privatization and Commercialization Act of 1988 and the Bureau of Public Enterprises Act of 1993 defined privatization as “the relinquishment of part or all of the equity and other interests held by

the federal government or any of its agencies, in enterprises whether wholly or partly owned by the federal government.” Privatization essentially transfers ownership of production and control of enterprises from the public to the private sector.

Privatization in Nigeria was formally introduced by the Privatization and Commercialization Act of 1988, under which the Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization (TCPC) chaired by Dr. Hamza Zayyad, was set up. TCPC had a mandate to privatize 111 public enterprises and commercialize 34 others. In 1993, after privatizing 88 of the 111 enterprises listed in the decree, the TCPC concluded its assignment and submitted a final report. And based on the Committee’s recommendation, the Federal Military Government promulgated the Bureau for Public Enterprises Act of 1993, which repealed the 1988 Act and set up the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) to consummate the privatization programme in the country. In 1999, the federal government enacted the Public Enterprise (Privatization and Commercialisation) Act. However, privatization in Nigeria has become a badly managed government programme, indeed a fiasco. The Senate in 2008 set up a committee to investigate the exercise in the country since 1999. It revealed that between 1973 and 1995 about $100 billion were spent to establish

public enterprises but so far after more than a decade of privatization just a meager $1.6 billion has been realised as gross earnings from the exercise.

More than 80 percent of public enterprises that have been privatized apart from being sold at giveaway prices, no longer function or have been grounded. Many of them have had their assets stripped and sold off, their workers sacked while jobs are scarcely created, wealth is not generated and economic cum commercial activities are grounded. Needless to say, they are unable to contribute positively to national growth and development. Thus, the very purpose for embarking upon the privatization exercise in the first place has been roundly defeated.

So, for the Jonathan administration to plan to start another round of privatization exercise is to demonstrate a certain insensitivity to the failure of the earlier exercises carried out by previous governments. And yet, as has been widely proclaimed, the problem with public enterprises in Nigeria has never been ownership but poor management made worse by unbridled corruption. The companies are usually carved out for those appointed to run them as their own share of the spoils of public office.

We advocate that privatized companies should be returned to the public, under a management arrangement which places workers, consumers, communities and relevant

professionals in control.

The way privatization has been executed has made it an unpalatable option in the quest for a more effective and profitable management of public enterprises in Nigeria. Government should not abdicate its social responsibilities by selling off everything that delivers services to the people. We are, therefore, completely on the same page with the NLC, which rationally submitted that, “our national economy depends largely on the oil industry and if we allow the industry to be handed over to private individuals, it would then mean the entire economy would become private property run by private individuals, mostly cronies of those in government, against our collective interests”.

It is unacceptable that the same government that has always promised to use the gains from the petroleum price increases to reactivate existing refineries and build additional ones now wants to privatize the refineries, after billions have been expended on Turn Around-Maintenance (TAM) over the years.

If, indeed, the government is elected by the people as we know it is, it should be able to take decisions in the best interest of the people at all times and not succumb to the whims and caprices of self-serving elite. We reiterate that privatization, as has become executed here, is not the solution to Nigeria’s economic adversity and is not in the national interest.

We should try other, better option.

BOLAJI TUNJI Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALLA Managing Editor, North GABRIEL AKINADEWO Editor, Daily LAURENCE ANI Editor, Saturday EMEKA MADUNAGU Editor, Sunday LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, Brussels MARSHALL COMINS Bureau Chief, Washington DC SAM AMSTERDAM Editorial Coordinator, Europe EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board BIODUN DUROJAIYE News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION Ow! Owoh, Ojulope, Ogedegbe!

G

eneral Muhammadu Buhari is not really my kind of hero.He does not claim to be a saint either.I think saints are only seen in the Holy Book.However, my opinion is that he is the most qualified northerner ,infact, their best material for the Presidency, after 2019.

I took a close look at the man in 2009,that was in Lagos, as Prof. Tam David West launched a book on the Head-of -State who gave him[West], a first ministerial job. Buhari looked dinky in his simple Fulani kaftan. With him were the bearded Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, i also saw Comrade governor Adams Oshiomole , in Aswani native wear,and of course,Gen. Zamani Lekwot. Buhari and Senator Ibikunle Amosun,i guess, rode in the same vehicle.

That day, Buhari wore white. In a matter of seconds, i remembered his black spot.As a politician, he looks clean.But he could also have acted in ‘the road from Kandahar to Kabul’, as a soldier.Fighting during the Civil War and leading the assault on Chad were purely military jobs.

What i call murder, is the execution by firing squad, of three young Nigerians at 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday April 10, 1985, in Lagos.Bartholomew Owoh,26, Lawal Akanni Ojulope,30, and Bernard Ogedegbe,29, were shot for reasons based on hard drugs.

The Buhari junta hurriedly promulgated Decree 20,set up a Military Tribunal headed by Justice Adebayo Desalu, which condemned the young men to death.It was painful because the trio were nabbed before the law came into effect.They never knew

cocaine would send them to the Kirikiri shooting range.

“I did not pray to die like this”, Owoh lamented.”This is a terrible death. But there is one thing, i am not a fugitive. I die only to abide by the government’s decision.May God forgive Nigeria for spilling the blood of young people. It is a pity i am dying for not touching my fellow man’s property.I have never been with the police before,nor have i broken any law since i was born”.

That was not all. “If i knew this was going to result to my death, God knows i would never have had anything to do with it.That is why i am going to him [God] with all courage and faith,that i don’t have to regret because he knows much better than i do”, Owoh said, just before his death.

Ogedegbe was bitter with his death warrant. “ I was convicted without reasonable doubt. I was charged for being in possession of cocaine. But now the warrant of death reads ‘dealing in cocaine’. This is very unfair.”

It was such a bloody act. Owoh wore snow white shirt, with black tie in place, atop blue long pants.

Ogedegbe was in blue jeans and jacket. Ojulope did not care for shoes,he held tightly to his muslim rosary as he thought about the four children and their 72-year-old granny.

Six marksmen, two for each of them.Gory business. Ojulope fell to the ground,dead,yet the soldiers continued to fire.His cap fell off. Ogedegbe slumped to the right,Owoh fell with head bowed.Unbelievable! A mobile policeman who could not stand it all collapsed.

Prof. Wole Soyinka cried murder.” I feel that i have been compelled to participate in a triple cold-blooded murder,that i have been forced to witness a sordid ritual, that i am horribly degraded,permanently mutilated”. To Gen. Yaku-

Friday, April 4, 2014

bu Danjuma, “execution is less painfull”.

The Desalu Tribunal went ahead to sentence 34year- old Gladys Caroline Inyama to death.And Attorney -General Chike Offodile was part of the day of the jackal.

The 19-member Supreme Military Council[SMC] comprised men like Tunde Idiagbon, Ibrahim Alfa, Augustus Aikhomu, Ibrahim Babangida, Etim Inyang, Mamman Vatsa ,Domkat Bali, Sani Abacha, Mohammed Magoro, Paul Omu, Larry Koinyan, Gado Nasko, Yohanna Kure, Ebitu Ukiwe, Tunde Oni,Grey Longe, Offodile and Secret Service chief Rafindadi.

It is now 29 years since that sad event.I do not know who voted for, or against the execution. What is clear is that this will continue to be Buhari’s burden,his baggage.And whenever i see him,i remember the blood of the innocent trio.

More disturbing is the sad reality that those young men, full of life, were denied the right to exist because Buhari and Idiagbon wanted to show Nigerians how serious they were.And at the end of the day, no more executions took place.

Scape goats were made of humans.

As strict as Buhari and Idiagbon were,they could also have flouted the laws they made. Recall that the duo had decreed that minors should not embark on pilgrimage to Mecca with their parents.The day Nimyel Dogonyaro announced the Babangida coup, Idiagbon was in the Holy Land with his little boy.

Do as we say, not as we do.Little wonder they say the law is an ass.Rich men rule the law,the law grinds the poor.The Buhari government turned the law to a monkey.I know it is hard to say sorry. Only General Yakubu Gowon was man enough to say sorry for past mistakes.For the Daura son, i do not think it is too late.

A future without oil Ladi Ayodeji

F

or Nigeria’s indolent political class, there could be no future without oil; the black gold at the centre of our dysfunctional polity and socioeconomic disequilibrium. It is the quest to control this extractive asset that has drawn greedy men and women to the political arena, making politics the nation’s biggest industry after crime and insurgency. Apart from oil, there’s little left for the governing elites to steal. For them, there’s no future without oil.

But many experts don’t think so, as history also proves. Some countries like Japan, Israel, Singapore and Taiwan, with little or no natural resources have developed remarkably. The emerging knowledge economy has proved beyond reasonable doubt, that high level human resources is key in the modern development equation.

In sharp contrast, Nigeria and some oil-exporting countries in the OPEC cartel are considered victims of “resource curse,” a euphemism for an ironically in-

verse situation where, rather be a blessing, oil asset becomes a problem for a country so endowed. Venezuela, which has the world’s largest gas reserves is battling street protests over poverty and rising cost of living.

For the benefit of my readers, the following excerpt from the March 17, 2014 edition of Time magazine, contributed

by CNN presenter, Fareed Zakaria gives a clear, concise summary of what seemingly barren nations without hope could achieve when led by visionary leaders.

“When Singapore was expelled from Malaysia in 1965, the experts said the small, swampy town in the middle of nowhere could not survive as an independent country. It is now one of the world’s great trading hubs, with a per capita income higher than that of its erstwhile colonizer, Britain. That’s because its founder, Lee Kuan Yew, thought less about the disadvantages of history and more about the advantages of the future.

“When Paul Kagame took over Rwanda, the country was more deeply ravaged than almost any other nation in history;

When Singapore was expelled from Malaysia in 1965, the experts said the small, swampy town in the middle of nowhere could not survive as an independent country scarred by genocide at a speed never seen before in history. Rwanda is also landlocked, with no geographic advantages at all, and a bloody war in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. But Kagame looked to the future, not the past.

The result is a small African miracle, a country that is healing its wounds.”

Prominent Nigerians are gathered in Abuja at the National conference to try healing our wounds and fashion out a formula to move Nigeria forward. My prayer is that they succeed; but my concern is that if we truly want to remodel Nigeria, we need people with new ideas. The Abuja

conference delegates that we see, I dare say, are the same old faces who have been part of the country’s governance problems since independence. These people may not be able to shift the paradigm.

As it were, we are still looking at the past, not the future. A national conference ought to be set up with a bright and beautiful future in mind. But if its key participants are tired old horses, how can they win the race to launch Nigeria on a path of development with all the speed and energy required? A National Conference dominated by young, vibrant men and women, supported by experienced men with observer status, would have been more ideal. But one should not dismiss this effort yet, until we see the final result and the impact on the future of the country.

One thing is certain; Nigerians must begin to shift the emphasis on national resources to human resources, if we are to have a future without oil.

Ladi, a media consultant, writes from Lagos. Email: ladiayodeji@yahoo.com. Tel: 07064380621.

ARTS FRIDAY, April 4, 2014

Jos Repertory Theatre in performance.

Tony Okuyeme

T

21

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

Movies will make you famous; television will make you rich; but theatre"will make you good. ― Terrence Mann

THEATRE

Package theatre productions well to attract funding –Ayakoroma

o attract funding and revive the theatre-going tradition in Nigeria, theatre practitioners have been charged to package theatre productions very well. This call was made by the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, in an interview last Thursday during the celebration of this year’s edition of World Theatre Day in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. you say, Genevieve Nnaji and Richard Mofe-Damijo The event, which had as its theme, “Theatre and (RMD) are starring in the production, of course, Nia Culture of Peace,” was organised by the gerians will come and see it. You know very well that Abuja Chapter of the National AssociaNollywood has made quite an impact. There tion of Nigerian Theatre Arts Pracare Nigerian movies that are screened here titioners (NANTAP), at the Ocean in Silverbird Galleria and people come Basket Hall, Silverbird Entertainto watch. It shows that if you package a ment Centre, Central Business live theatre production very well, people District, Abuja. will come and watch. Once our theatre Noting that live theatre is productions are well-packaged, funding not doing very well because the will come in and Nigerians will enjoy practitioners have not really reour performances. It is the theatre practitioners that have to actualize that.” strategized and re-focused their performances to attract people, Dr. Highlighting the importance of theatre Ayakoroma Ayakoroma, who is a member and paand its potentials, Dr. Ayakoroma iterated that tron of the Association, underscored the theatre can serve as a melting pot in tackling the issue importance of a well-packaged production saying, of peace in the country. His words: “Taking theatre to “Everything boils down to packaging. If people are the people, ensuring that people share in the messages not doing very well in live theatre, it is because the prac- of the theatre. Of course, government has to key into the titioners have not really re-strategized to make these potentials of theatre because once there is that shared performances acceptable to the people. For example, dramatic experience, people will have a rethink, whatif you are doing a production here in Silverbird, and ever the situations concerned, whatever the messages

are. If we have plays that are looking at the issue of peace, the culture of peace in the society, Nigerians will take a second look at the peace question and the situation is very likely to be ameliorated to a large extent.”

On the theme for this year’s WTD celebration, Ayakoroma said it was apt and commendable with respect to the security challenges Nigeria is currently facing, stressing that drawing attention to the ‘Culture of Peace’ was very pertinent because Nigerians are craving for peace in the face of the various crises the country is experiencing.

He also commended the organisers of the event, NANTAP and its sponsors for a job well done, noting that it was the first time NANTAP was using a highbrow venue and that it was a good starting point, hoping that the event will definitely come out better next year.

Two categories of awards were given at the event: Award for Immense Contributions to the Association and Award of Excellence and the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), under the leadership of Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, was one of the recipients in the second category.

22 ART

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

WTD: NANTAP honours Mabogunje, Adaji, Ajai-Lycett, Adenuga, others

Eboigbe (2nd left) presenting award to Mrs. Mabogunje.

Ebere Ameh

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or their contributions to the development of the theatre practice in Nigeria, poet and art patron, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, Artistic Director of National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Martins Adaji, veteran actress Mrs. TaiwoAjai-Lycett and television drama producer Mr. Wale Adenuga were last Thursday honoured with various awards by the Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP).

The investiture and culture awards programme was the climax of a twoday programme put together by NANTAP Lagos to mark WTD and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the association. The two-day celebration with the theme ‘The Past, The Present, Our Future: The Renaissance of Nigerian Theatre in the 21st Century’, began on Wednesday with Advocacy walk from NTA Victoria Island to National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, culminating in the unveiling of Queen Amina Statue and the nurturing and tagging ceremony of the 1st Entertainment Tree. The unveiling and tagging of the entertainment tree event had in attendance the General Manager of the National Theatre, Mallam Kabir Yusuf; Deputy President of NANTAP, Mr. Steph Ogundele who represented the president of the association, Mr. Tunde Obalana; chairman NANTAP Lagos, Ms. Faith Eki Eboigbe, vice-chairman NANTAP Lagos, Mr.

Crown Troupe of Africa in performance at the event.

Williams Ekpo, among others.

Held at the Banquet hall of National Theatre, the investiture and culture awards which was marked with series of performances by the Ayo Orobiyi led ‘Adunni and the Nefertiti group’, House of Dance and Crown Troupe of Africa, had intellectual aspect to it, as there were lectures by former president of NANTAP, Mr. Greg Odutayo. He spoke on ‘The Landmarks, Achievements and A New Direction’ while the address by Mrs. Mabogunje was on the topic, ‘Nigeria @ 100 How Theatre can help Foster Unity and Reorientation’.

High point of the evening was the investiture of Mabogunje as the WTD Distinguished Personality 2014, presentation of Culture Ambassador Awards to Adaji, former president of NANTAP, Mr. Greg Odutayo, Hon. Mohammed Danmole, Ajai-Lycett among others.

Arts Patron awards were given to Mr. Theo Lawson, Mrs. Funmi Ladele of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Mrs. Patricia Jibunoh, Mr. Olu Ajayi, Mr. Edi Lawani and others while the Certified Thespians awards went to Mr. Niji Akanni, Segun Adefila, Mr. Shuaib Husseini, Ms. Nkiru Ifeaju, among others.

The climax of the evening was the launching of the endowment fund for the NANTAP Community Theatre Project. Many responded to the call in both cash and kind, even as Eboigbe intimated the people that the Lagos State Government has promised to give the

A man without a culture is not alive. The culture represents our beliefs, values, behaviours and material objects. It is the only necessary tool to work with at the conference, if we must succeed. For a people without values are lost! association an abandoned building to renovate for the purpose. Establishment of cottage theatres has been the main agenda of the present administration of NANTAP as they are positive that it would help to curb crime, keep the youths actively engaged as they discover their talents and entertain the people.

NANTAP has continuously marked the celebration of WTD as a platform to project policy directions for the Nigerian Arts and Culture sector.

“As we recognize the salient role of NANTAP as the moral conscience of the society,…we are poised to play our part,” Eboigbe said in her welcome speech.

Eboigbe noted that the main focus of this year’s celebration is “‘The Artistes’, their resilience, persistence and commitment in showcasing their skills in an environment where policy makers are not cognizant of the creative

Artwatch Africa: Project takes news strides

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he first planning meeting of Artwatch Africa project ran from 11-12 March 2014 to 12 in Johannesburg with the Swedish Human Rights Foundation, Mimeta, the Goethe Institute and Arterial Network. This was an opportunity to discuss approaches to freedom of cre-

ative expression in Africa and the training modules which will be held in five regions of the continent.

Among the topics discussed was culture, artistic freedom and the limits of this freedom. Case studies were examined on the African system of human rights

and cases of repression faced by artists.

A first Train the Trainer workshop will be held in June in Tanzania to educate cultural actors on human rights issues and on creative freedom of expression, too often suppressed and poorly defended in Africa. 20 par-

ticipants will be selected for this first step of Artwatch Africa, which aims to be at the forefront of defending creative and artistic freedom of expression in Africa. The training will be giving by the Swedish Human Rights Foundation with some high level cultural actors.

sector as veritable tools for the nations sustainable development.”

In his own speech, the National President of NANTAP, Mr. Babatunde Obalana dwelt more on the present insecurity in the nation vis-a-vis its effect on arts and culture, the artistes and the populace in general. “‘Art is life,’ that is what we are told.

Therefore, when more than 85% of the citizenry of any country live in constant fear, and are perpetually in awe of threat to their existence, then it is time to act. Life they say, is precious and should be protected. No Thespian should take this sort of situation with a pinch of salt. ...it is not only our lives that are being threatened, our very source of existence – our ART also is under siege!” Obalana said.

The President of NANTAP, Mr. Obalana in his speech, read by Mr. Ogundele, dwelt more on the present insecurity in the nation vis-a-vis its effect on arts and culture, the artistes and the populace in general. “‘Art is life,’ that is what we are told.

Therefore, when more than 85% of the citizenry of any country live in constant fear, and are perpetually in awe of threat to their existence, then it is time to act. Life they say, is precious and should be protected. No Thespian should take this sort of situation with a pinch of salt. ...it is not only our lives that are being threatened, our very source of existence – our Art also is under siege!” he said.

Mr. Odutayo in his address commended the present administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan for succeeding in convening the national conference when previous administrations failed, and urged the delegates not to forget our cultures.

“A man without a culture is not alive. The culture represents our beliefs, values, behaviours and material objects. It is the only necessary tool to work with at the conference, if we must succeed. For a people without values are lost.”

ART 23

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Sony Neme

“Y

our beginning does not necessarily dictate the end of your journey. Sometimes, opportunities are disguised as roadblocks” Success is about overcoming these roadblocks and sticking to the mission. Born in Sierra Leone to a polygamous chief, Patrick Lukulay grew up under challenging circumstances with his twenty-five brothers and sisters. In a lifestyle devoid of basic comforts, uncertainty is the only constant that looms over his future as he toils in the rice fields and walks to school without shoes.

However, good fortune and others’ generosity enabled him to leave the village to pursue his education, and ultimately attend prestigious western universities. Hurdles challenge his subsequent climb in corporate America, but he relentlessly journeys along, drawing upon important value systems that earn him success and respect.

The Executive in You is the captivating true story of Dr. Patrick Lukulay, a man who refuses to let his humble beginnings determine the course of his future.

The book reveals hurdles that challenged his quest for education and subsequent climb in corporate America, while sharing the important value systems he applied to discover the executive in himself.

The book covers topics including self-discovery, corporate diversity, emotional intelligence, asset development and cultural tolerance- content that provokes dialogue relevant to today’s global environment. “The Executive In You inspires”, motivates, and serves as a reminder of our innate ability to reach for the best.

A pharmaceutical executive, Patrick Lukulay has become a globally revered champion in advocating for access to good quality medicines in developing countries. With an impressive academia background, he epitomizes his vocation through and beyond his role as Vice President of Global Health Impact Programs at United States Pharmacopeia (USP), to sustainably strengthen quality assurance systems in Sub-Saharan Africa by building human resource capacity in pharmaceutical quality assurance and quality control.

Early Years Born in Potoru, Sierra Leone, as the son of a polygamous chief in Sierra Leone with his 25 siblings, Patrick witnessed firsthand, the poverty, uncertainty and challenges many children in developing nations face. Patrick’s determination to persevere against all odds, paved his way to obtain a formal education at Christ the King College (CKC), before heading to Prince of Wales School.

Having developed a keen interest in chemistry, Patrick furthered his academic journey by securing his masters degree in analytical chemistry at Aberdeen University, Scotland, then his Ph.D. at Michigan State University.

Dr. Lukulay is currently the Vice President of USP’s Global Health Impact Programs and program director for the USAID-funded Promoting the Quality of Medicines program at the United States Pharmacopeia. Prior, he held several leadership positions at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer as lead scientist and group leader of analytical teams involved in research and development.

He has authored numerous publications in reputable peer-review journals and is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on pharmaceutical analysis, quality control and quality assurance systems for medicines.

Lukulay, Vice President, USP’s Global Impact Health program, GIH, and author of the ‘Executive In You’ was in Nigeria to present the book.

Dr. Lukalay, an American based Sierra Leonean, and a motivational speaker had in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph said, the book is targeted at the whole world, particularly the young ones.

You know your country is the largest country most populated country in Africa. So if I want to deliver a message to my fellow Africans, I have to come to Nigeria, at Ikoyi, Lagos said his reason for choosing Nigeria is because with the size of the country and its sophistication, any issue embraced by Nigeria will receive the attention of most African countries.

Global Impact Health boss launches The Executive In You in Nigeria What is Global Health Impact program about?

It is a a program at the United State that helps in building capacity in developing countries to improve on the qualities of medicine in the market. It is a technical program that trains NAFDAC as an institution, train local manufacturers to make good quality medicine. So, we have chemists, we have people with business degrees that go round the world, helping to train institutions in Africa to improve on the quality of medicine in the market.

What is the book about?

I titled the book The Executive In You, my journey from an African Village to corporate America, because I believe that every human being has an executive quality. The issue is that some people never get theirs nourished. So they end up not living out their potentials.

But the truth is that people have inate qualities. And those qualities we have to draw up for them whenever opportunity presents itself. We have God given capacity to know that as human being we have no limit to what we can achieve in life.

What were your qualities?

I knew I had executive qualities but other people helped bring out those qualities out of me. For example, my father was a chief of a village. He had eight wives and 25 brothers and sisters. My father was a leader, and I watched him lead my village. I was able to get from him what leadership is. And I took some from him as I lead other people in my current profession.

Surely with that pedigree of your father as painted, he didn’t achieve that on a platter, what were the clip sides?

I didn’t get mine on a platter also because my father was barely educated up to high school, while my mother never went to school. She was an illiterate. But my elder brother took us to the city where we went to school. His generosity ensured that I left the village setting to the city and attained a university education. But I remained confident that I had a role to play in the world. I was never disturbed because I know that in life there are always detours. You should never allow it to derail you from your goal. There will always be an obstacle and people must always see obstacles for what they are. You go over them and move forward. You don’t fall and don’t get up. There were several challenges in my life that I could have said, this is it. But that is not me, because I know God has a role for me to play in this world. I remain through to my call to overcome challenges.

Now that your book, The Executive In You has been

launched, what is in place to attract African youths to read and absorb the message in; knowing that poverty has driven so many of them into survival of the fittest, as reading is not one of them?

One way is to change the mentality of our young once. People want instant gratifications, they want to go out there, make a deal and become a millionaire next minute. This is not how life works. You have to build on dedications on things that you go forward and try to use and leverage assistants from others.

In the book I try to deliver the message that, ‘If we are in position of authority in power, we are really there so that we can bless and help other people get up. This is how things work. If you keep everything to yourself, you are going to have a lot disgruntled people who are not going to have any opportunity in life. Always look at yourself as a change agent to somebody else’s life, and help bring them along. That is how I was able to get to where I am. A lot of people gave me a helping hand that is why I thought I have to give back to others. In my own way I am doing that.

What inspired you to write this book?

I will describe the whole campaign is inspirational.

That when you read it, it will motivate you to know that you have a lot of innate power in capacity building yourself. But you should draw up on. You should not look at your circumstances as who you are as a human being. They are just cirmstances. You have more than that to draw up on to the next stage.

For those in the corporate world, I share some thought on how you can rise to your zenith. A lesson on being humble is important, having leadership qualities and not just relying on your intellectual capacity to make a diference. You have to know how to work with people. You have to be flexible and you have to be emotionally intelligent irrespective of people.

Those are qualities that can make you advance in corporate world.

Back to the issue of your targets who are more into social media than prints, how do hope to get their attention to all these lofty ideas?

It is a colonial legacy. Both Nigeria and Sierra Leon were colonies of Britain. The educational system that they hoisted on us is such that you have to have an educational track. Either you are an engineer, medical doctor or a lawyer among others. And if you don’t fall on these track, you are a failure in life. So if you don’t have the right grade you drop out of school. We don’t teach entrepreneurial skills. We don t teach vocational studies.

Everybody can be successful because you are good at something. We have to create lots of avenues for people to bring out the skills that they have. And not just define for them what they have to be. That is the difference between the American and the British system of education. Within the American system of education, everybody can succeed because there are avenues, and there are entrepreneurial skills that are taught in vocational schools, community colleges and in the universities.

People come out and they great jobs for other people. I think we should reform our educational system in such a way that people are taught how to solve problems. And not taught how to read, pass an exam and be a lawyer or an engineer.

What are views about Nigeria and Nigerians?

Nigeria is a great country. You are good in celebrating success, you are a proud African country and you like life in general, which is admirable. Politically, your government is alwys keen towards helping smaller African countries. Like in Sierra Leone during the civil war, Gen Babangida, late Gen Sanni Abacha and other leaders sent soldiers to Sierra Leon to protect them against rebels attacks that helped to change the course of the war in Sierra Leon.

24 TOURISM

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Abuja Bantaba: We want to create marketing platform for tourism in Abuja, says Uko Andrew Iro Okungbowa

C

ome April 25, the Nigeria travel and tourism industry would be enlivened with a celebration of sort as the organisers of Abuja Bantaba are set to celebrate and honour various individuals, organizations and government agencies, thay have in different ways contributed to the development and growth of the industry.

The list of honourees comprised 100 persons, which according to the organizers, is part of also focusing on the centenary anniversary of the country, held last month and the 100 years existence of the industry and those who have in the last one hundred years contributed to its nurturing in a pioneering capacity.

Besides, Abuja Bantaba, which is a travel and tourism trade exhibition, would this year take on a new format as it is billed to hold at the Ladi Kwali Hall of Abuja Sheraton Hotel beginning from 4pm and ends at about 9pm with a dinner and the award ceremony headlining the five hours event.

Head of the organizing team, ATQ, Mr. Ikechi Uko said about three hours would be devoted to speed dating and high level networking by the trade exhibitors. According to him, the year’s event, the fourth in the series will be strictly on invitation and that it had been elevated to a professional level as all the invited guests and exhibitors from across the Africa continent are interested in networking and completing deals with their colleagues.

Uko speaks more on the event, which is expected to attract key government officials: Why the 100 persons’ honour list?

We think that out of the hundred years of Nigeria, the economy growth has been aided mostly by the travel and tourism industry and that without the transport sector of this economy, it was not possible for the economy to have grown this far. But nobody has accorded the travel and tourism industry the respect that it needs and even the pioneers honoured.

In the centenary list, only two people came from travel and tourism and they

Former DG of NTDC, Otunba Segun Runsewe (fourth from right) with other guests at last year’s Abuja Bantaba.

are Louis Ojukwu and Captain Chinyere Kalu. We felt that we deserved to have more people on that list. So what we are also trying to do Abuja Bantaba is to put together our history of travel and tourism. These are people that we want to recognise but it wouldn’t be an open ended list. It is a huge thing as we can’t remember or honour everybody, but we are looking out for some of these stars and innovators to honour.

What other things are featuring at the event?

Basically it is bringing together the best players in the travel industry.

There will be the networking session and there will be the dinner session where we will recognise these people.

We have invited some royal fathers to also join us. So this year’s Abuja Bantaba will be the best so far.

We already have international hotel chains that are coming; we do our normal speed dating and thereafter we go into dinner. So it is an opportunity for any organisation in the industry because the biggest names in the industry will be there. So getting to know them is actually 50 percent of doing business.

How challenging it is hosting a travel event in Abuja?

Abuja has been a difficult venue for a professional travel event from my own experience and we tried to look around to see if anybody has really had any successful travel event in Abuja, and it hasn’t been so. First the environment is not set up professionally but we can see signs that things are changing and we give the credit for that to Hotel Owners Forum of Abuja (HOFA) and the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) who are our partners.

They are trying to create some level of professionalism in Abuja, which the industry will benefit from because without the organisation of this kind of thing it is difficult to do the marriage between travel and tourism.

If you have a NANTA event and only travel agents and people in aviation turn up or you have a HOFA event and only hoteliers turn up you are never going to build a travel industry. A travel and tourism industry grows with the inter play of these various players and we are actually providing that platform and we expect that this year’s event would be better.

What are your expectations for Abuja Bantaba?

(Inset: ikechi Uko)

We haven’t met our expectations so far but having nurtured Akwabba for 10 years at least we understand what challenges that we are facing and we know how to get round it.

We want to create a marketing platform for marketing tourism where buyers meet sellers in all the aspects. We don’t just want to have only airlines or only hotels. No, we want to bring the whole gamut of the industry together, which is what we have done half way with Akwabba.

We want to create such a marketing platform and make it available for people in Abuja and the north who will not come to Lagos. We know that there are steps that you have to take – first to build credibility, build reputation and network, get the database to play with and things like that.

In Abuja, most of our clients want to meet only the professionals, and most of the professionals want to meet with their colleagues and want to meet the leaders of their industry; they also want to be in a place where things concerning their industry are being discussed.

It is in the interest of the professionals to meet with these people and we are making it an elitist event.

...Celebrates Imoke as tourism person of the year

zz Carnival Calabar troupe to display

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A scene from last year carnival in Calabar.

gain, Governor Liyel Imoke would be on song at the Abuja Bantaba event as he would be honoured as the ‘tourism man of the year’ just as the Carnival Calabar would also be showcasing for the first time at the yearly travel trade exhibition.

For the people and government of Cross River State, the event would afford another opportunity to celebrate

as they are expected to accompany their governor and the Carnival Calabar troupe to the event.

Governor Imoke is being honoured as tourism man of the year for his various achievements in tourism, especially in not only keeping faith with the tourism agenda of his predecessor, Donald Duke but for envisioning a new path and entrenching the tourism dream of Cross River.

Entertainment

NEW TELEGRAPH

25

www.newtelegraphonline.com/entertainment

SOny Neme Entertainment Editor

sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com 0811 181 3096

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

A

stories by sony neme

s faithful across the world prepares for the celebration of Easter this month, Sunday, April 20 has been set for comedy fans. This is courtesy of the Maltina, AY and Gbenga Adeyinka collaboration.

Relentless in its drive for sharing happiness with Nigerians, Maltina has unveiled plans to sponsor two exciting comedy shows as part of the Maltina Laugh.

Out.Loud (LOL) activation. On the bill is that annual AY Live show and Gbenga Adeyinka’s Laffmattaz that are billed to thrill consumers this Easter in Lagos and Ibadan respectively.

The Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Kufre Ekanem, revealed this at a well-attended press parley at Wheatbaker, Ikoyi Lagos. Ekanem spoke on the motivation behind Maltina Laugh.Out.Loud and the partnership with the AY live show and Gbenga Adeyinka’s Laffmattaz.

He gave his reason while recalling that, “Three years ago Maltina was relaunched with the payoff line ‘Sharing Happiness.’ This gives the brand more leeway to ensure that more consumers get to feel the brand at various consumer touch points. Now, Maltina is broadening its message to a broader audience by embracing comedy, a very relevant and widely accepted entertainment platform through its new campaign tagged ‘Maltina Laugh.Out.Loud’.”

For that reason he enthused that, “We are pleased to announce that we are partnering two great comedy shows in happiness: AY Live anchored by AY and Laffmattazz anchored by Gbenga Adeyinka 1st.”

The media briefing offered both comedians the opportunity to reinstate their pedigree in the Nigerian entertainment industry while also maintaining that

Maltina, AY, Gbenga Adeyinka to share happiness this Easter

Gbenga Adeyinka 1st

AY

Maltina LOL would heighten the relevance of their shows.

Ekanem while harping on the relevance of the two shows said, “That AY Live has been voted the comedy event of the year for the last three years, and has gained a large following on social media.

Also, Laffmatazz, the Gbenga Adeyinka & Friends Comedy and Music Concert is an experiential platform for the whole family which features notable Nigerian entertainers in its fourth edition, tagged ‘The Evolution.’”

He further stressed that the Nigeria’s

premium non-alcoholic drink, will play host to AY Live Happiness edition slated for the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites.

“AY will be joined by other comedians and music stars like I Go Die, Gordons, Elenu, Apkororo, Helen Paul, Funny Bone, Osama, Pencil, Ajebo, Shina Peters, Tiwa Savage, Kcee, Davido, J. Martins, Oritshe Femi, Harry Song and others will be performing live in Lagos. GbengaAdeyinka1st on his part will be rocking Ibadan at ‘The Kings are coming’ with Ali Baba, Tu Face Idibia, Julius Agwu, 9ice, M.I, Laffup, Okey Bakasi, in a package that

promises to thrill consumers.

According to the Marketing Manager, Non-Alcoholic, Sampson Oloche, Maltina LOL is an extension of the Maltina brand’s wish to share happiness to consumers. ‘‘This comedy show is our continued effort to put smiles on the faces of our teeming consumers. We are happy to be identified with AY Live and Laffmatazz. The comedy show just makes the bubbles of sharing happiness even bigger.”

In his remark, AY expressed happiness for the sponsorship of Maltina and promised a bigger and better comedy show this Easter. ‘ Hear him: ‘The AY Show has been received warmly by Lagosians but I have laboured frantically behind the scene in the previous editions to make it a success.

However, with Maltina LOL coming to my rescue, I can assure my fans of nothing but pure happiness. I have prayed and waited for this opportunity because we have not had corporate sponsors in the past. The AY Live can only get better with Maltina in the mix.”

Same sweet song came from another paid clown, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st, who remarked that the South West of Nigeria should expect more exciting moments with Laffmatazz. His words: “It is my desire to take comedy to an uncharted course in the South West of Nigeria. This year is going to be awesome as 32 artistes will be on stage in Ibadan. I am pleased with the collaboration of Maltina Laugh.

Out. Loud.”

Ayo Bankole’s entertainment treasure in Surulere

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yo Bankole Jr. is poised to help fun seekers who are desirous of serene hangouts in Lagos. The good news for such people is that the showbiz impresario is presenting them with an entertainment treasure in Surulere. It is called The Ayo Bankole Centre for Arts and Cultural Expression, ABC, and tucked at the end of Yesufu Sanusi Street, off Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, Surulere..

Bankole in a statement explained that the ABC “Was established primarily as an arts centre with the aim of promoting music in particular and the arts in general. It is going to be a vehicle for influencing youths and the society positively.”

The centre, he further stated,

is named after his dad, the late Ayo Bankole who during his lifetime achieved national and international recognition as a composer, organist, and ethnomusicologist.

The statement reads in parts, “Ayo Bankole, who passed on in 1976, was active as a broadcaster on radio and television. He was a lecturer at the University of Lagos, from where he championed the cause of music in many schools and churches.

He was a key figure in the 2nd all Africa Games (1973) and FESTAC 77. And he was also involved in research on Yoruba music and the music of people of the then Rivers State.”

Based on the pedigree of the man that the venue is named

after, he said, “The ABC accordingly aims at promoting the various aspects of musical endeavour that the late Ayo Bankole excelled in during his lifetime.”

A visit to the lounge reveals class and Ayo Bankole Jnr., who interjected that, the ABC is not the usual lounges dotting Lagos.

His words: “In order to be able to run various ABC programmes with minimal recourse to external venues, we invested in a multi-purpose hall with the necessary infrastructure to make it suitable for a range of performances, workshops and exhibitions.” Largely as a result of the flexibility of the hall, both the British Council and the Goethe Institute have run programmes

in the ABC within the past year, he further intoned.

For jazz lovers, you don’t need to travel far to savour pure, undiluted jazz music every Wednesday. According to Bankole Jr.,

Ayo Bankole

“The ABC runs a mid-week Jazz event that currently features saxophonist Olu Jazz. Every Friday the ABC stages a cabaret gig that involves singing different genres of music."

26 Entertainment

Friday, April 4, 2014

Zmirage emerges technical partner for AFRIMA

Regional DirectorCo-Producer, Micheal Strano, Chief Executive Officer, PRM Africa and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, Co-Producer, Petra Seseli, and Director, Brand Communication and Sponsorship, Matlou Tsotetsi.

Photo: AFRIMA

T

he All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, has on Monday, March 24, formalised a partnership agreement on the forthcoming Awards project with Zmirage Multimedia Ltd. Zmirage is a Lagos based indigenous premier supplier of event lighting and technical production firm, and AFRIMA will be hosted

by Nigeria in October 2014.

AFRIMA was unveiled by the International Committee of AFRIMA on October 5, 2013 at a world press conference in Lagos.

We reliably gathered that soon after the unveiling, offi-

cials of PRM Africa, the company producing AFRIMA went into discussions with renowned African production companies.

And after series of deliberations, the final decision was taken at Zmirage’s office in Lagos to finalize terms and conditions of the collaborative partnership on the iconic awards project that has the potential of promoting Africa in a positive light to the world In a statement made available to New Telegraph, organisers revealed that Zmirage will fill the slot provided for local technical partners in the AFRIMA production structure.

“The firm is expected to collaborate with a production team, which already includes production experts, professionals and organisations from South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt and Kenya. About 232 crew members are expected to work on the award’s production alone,” it read in parts.

It further stated that their decision was made easier with, “The facts on the excellent antecedents of Zmirage in theatrical technical production, robust local knowledge and supply of creative live event lighting.”

AFRIMA Country Direc-

tor Nigeria and Co-Producer, Kingsley James had described ZMIRAGE boss, Alhaji Teju Kareem as a respected professional in event production with over three decade experience in the industry and, “AFRIMA is happy to have his company on this historic journey that will prove that a world-class event can be produced by skilled African talents”.

Mrs Petra Seseli, South African Co-Producer and Member, International Committee of AFRIMA, also expressed optimism at the prospect of working with Zmirage, thus, “I’ve had the opportunity of previously

T

he on-going Nigerian Idol Season 4 has continued to live up to its characteristics as contestants gear up to the top 12 bracket. It has continued with mixed feelings, tension and surprises as Lisa Omoregebe, Jesse Okonkwo and popular Elvis Ejiro emerged as the first three to the Top 12 in the Etisalat-sponsored show The trio got the audience’s nod among the first group of 10 that slugged it out last weekend during the first Top 30 stage performance. A results that left judges Dede, Dare and Nneka Egbuna mouth agape. That is the much they can go because it is the audience’s right to vote out contestants.

In her reacting on behalf of the judges on the evicted contestants, Nneka said that the eviction is the biggest surprise she has witnessed so far on the show.

Her words, “Frankly speaking, I am very surprised with the result of the votes gathered.

I am really shocked seeing some

Nigerian Idol Season 4: Tears, excitement as contestants get to top 12 L-R: Nigerian Idol Host, Ill Rhymz; Manager, Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu; Nigerian Idol season 4 Top 3 contestants to make it to Top 12 stage, Jessy Okonkwo, Lisa Omoregebe, Elvis Ejiro and Manager, Events, Etisalat Nigeria, Ufuoma Dogun, at the Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idol season 4 Top 30 1st result show, held at Dream Studio last Saturday.

real good contestants leaving the show today because they got few votes. We will do all we can to bring some of them back using our wild card.”

She further charged the audience to vote for their favourite talent as this is a critical stage for the contestants.

The second set of 10 contestants in the top 30 stage per-

formed on Sunday. There were impressive performances from Jahtell, Eye-D, Shola, Henry McJohn, Nex2, Xolani, Joy, Victoria, Dawn and Miss Oge. The judges urged the performers to exercise more enthusiasm with their performance. Those singled out for commendations were EyeD, Henry, Xolani, Victoria and Jahtell for their impressive per-

formance.

With the Sunday contest by the next batch of ten contestants from the top 30 group, the decision on which of the three moves to the next stage is left for viewers to decide. To vote, viewers are advised to simply dial the number of their favourite contestant on an Etisalat line or send the contestant’s number to 33680 via SMS.

working with Zmirage on a continental platform and I’m looking forward to working with the group alongside other colleagues in Africa on AFRIMA”.

For Teju Kareem, the technical production expert and philanthropist, “My company’s decision to take up the AFRIMA project is informed largely by his faith in the award project’s objectives of celebrating and lifting the creative talent of Africa for global competiveness which aligns with Zmirage’s mission statement”.

Alhaji Kareem further hinted that, “Our mission at Zmirage is to lift the technical aspect of performing art, to do things that would rival anything anybody does in any other part of the world. I see AFRIMA as a platform –a bigger avenue if you like- to extend our wings and further show our capabilities in the global arena”. Zmirage had remarkable productions outing with All African Games, 2003, Gateway Games, 2006, Saro the Musical, 2013, Calabar Carnival, CARNIRIV, Felabration, KORA Awards and Commonwealth Business Council Conference (UK) amongst others.

Lil Ashh, another kid on the block

M

unuonye Ebube Elisha otherwise known as Lil Ashh is poised to remain true to his art to survive in the Nigeria music industry. This was hinged on his determination to excel in a competitive industry that has seen even the most talented give up. He is not going on this alone as he is encouraged by his parents.

Lil Ashh reportedly started singing at the tender age of 9; but his parents insisted his education must come first, even as they never failed to encourage his hobby in music. Born in December 1994, Ebube 20 says his ultimate dream is to be one of Africa’s famous rappers. “I want to be recognized as that rapper with a meaningful message in his lyrics” he said.

According to him, “My parents were at first skeptical, wondering if truly, I had a calling in music. But like the good guardians that they were, they encouraged me anyway. I had a lot of moral and financial support from them which was indeed key for me to ensure that I take my music talent to a whole new level”

Entertainment

Friday, April 4, 2014

27

LYRICS for the week

I

t was an exciting and memorable Friday for thousands of curious Nigerians who trooped to the Eko Atlantic (Bar Beach) for the unveiling of the BlackRealvolution mystery.

For several weeks, various social media2Face was agog with the BlackRealvolution buzz, which was first presented to the public as a movement, spearheaded

by Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, scion of late Afro Beat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who is immensely popular, both as a world-class musician and as a social crusader that has canvassed against corruption, nepotism and oppression amongst other things, and a couple of other notable Nigerian artistes, including multiple award-winning artiste, Tuface Idibia.

Nevertheless, it was a pleasant surprise for majority of stout lovers to find that the launch of the #BlackREALvolution movement turned out to be the re-launch of Legend Extra Stout, manufactured by Nigerian Breweries Plc. Legend Extra Stout now adorns a Staniol cover and metalized labels with the Monde seal of quality.

The event kicked off with ace comedian, Gordons, dishing out rib-cracking jokes to the delight of the audience.

Legend Extra Stout, however, chose to express its readiness to wrest the reins of leadership out of the hands of the market leader through a theatrical performance delivered by Span Fest, a renowned dance group.

The play was titled ‘First vs Real’. It depicted a lady – the consumer – who

Femi Kuti at the legend relaunch

Music, theatrics, comedy heralds Legend extra stout’s BlackREALvolution was being wooed by two men, Legend Extra Stout and a fierce competitor.

When words could not sway the lady’s heart in either contender’s favour, the stage was turned into a battlefield, with the first competitive event being dance.

There was a smooth transition from the stage to the screen, and the lady consumer still remained torn between which of the contenders to give her heart to, even after an intimate relationship with both parties. After several battles of wits, brains and brawn, the fierce competitor was chosen over Legend Extra Stout.

But then, the lady consumer soon experienced brutality in the hands of the fierce competitor, until Legend Extra

Stout delivered her from the shackles of the fierce competitor’s violence and won her heart over.

Mr. Hubert Eze, Sales Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., soon mounted the stage to shed more light on the Legend Extra Stout staniol re-launch. He said: “What we just unveiled today is the culmination of one of the most successful social media campaigns which kept Nigerians guessing for weeks. We also had a tour bus traversing the length and breadth of Lagos, creating awareness about this unique packaging re-launch.

We presented the BlackREALvolution as a movement; and it is indeed a movement for consumers that yearn for more in terms of satisfaction and quality.”

Obesere releases picture of rape accuse

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opular Fuji musician, Abass Akande, aka 'Obesere', is not done with the intent to vindicate himself in the ongoing rape scandal involving him and Nike Olaiya. As promised during the heat of the matter, he recently released a video titled, 'Rape Scandal'.

The video was reportedly released on Monday, March 17, 2014, and according to information, it is selling like hot cake in the market. It contains Obesere's interview as well as that of his witness, Alhaja Bolatito Omo Owo. Speaking to the media recently, Obesere said: "I want people, especially my fans, to get a clearer picture of what really happened between myself and Nike Olaiya.

Also, the inclusion of Alhaja Bola Omo Owo's interview in the video is to let the public know that I have nothing to hide."

"I am sure everybody can recognize me, but I want people to also see the face of Al-

haja Omo Owo so that they will all know she's not a fake person. 'Rape Scandal' was produced to explain everything in detail. It wasn't for monetary reason, but all of a sudden, everybody keeps requesting for a copy."

"By now, Nike should just come out and defend herself. Her picture is also on the jacket of the CD. Everybody knows that Papa can never rape and that will never happen. I believe that won't be the first time Obesere Nike will be swindling men. It's God that exposed her. That's why she is running up and down. Everybody has seen the face of a scammer. Very soon, she would show up or be fished out."

Few weeks ago, Nike accused Obesere of raping her and inserting a ring into her private part at his Okota residence in Lagos, an incident which occurred in February, according to her.

Soon after, Obesere vowed to shoot a Olaiya video in relation to the case.

(Verse1) I wrote a luv song I sing it to ma true luv Eleyinju ege Showrty be ma girl She is so fine She is taking ova ma mind Beyond this dance all 'm asking for a chance Jst to rape u in ma arms To be luvd Ma baby,pasero mi,ma dalyn,olomi (Chorus) sokoyokoto olobe loloko (Verse2) U 're beauty redefined When I set ma eyez on u Roses 're so fine Buh ma baby beautiful Ninu eye nigbooo Otoni taye tokin When I take the throne Baby be ma gueen Heaven on earth is what I pray for U n I as one will leave long Ma baby,paseromi,ma dalyn olomi.

(Chorus) Sokoyokoto olobe loloko (Verse3) What u dey fear? (dat I knw oo) Say I no go care? (time will show) That I go leaveee u n run? (rare kojo) Have made a vow To love u till I bow Baby no doubt I tell it all about Heave on earth is what I pray for U n I as one will leave long Ma baby,paseromi,ma dalyn,olomi (Chorus) Sokoyokoto olobe loloko

Star Trek 2014: Music stars storm Makurdi

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an’s favourites; Tiwa Savage, 2Face, Timaya, Wande Coal and M.I will tomorrow be mounting the stage as the Star Trek roles on at the IBB Square, Makurdi, Benue State. It is the second concert of the 10 cities for 10 weeks in one of Nigeria’s most vibrant music events. The first stage of Star Music Trek took place on Saturday March 29th at Local Government Stadium Nsukka, with a large turnout.

The fans are truly in for a real deal if the words of some of the artistes are anything to go by. For the first lady of The Trek, Tiwa Savage, “I’m bringing Eminado live to the city of Makurdi, and I am so happy to be back here performing for my fans. Just be sure that we’ll be holding that stage down in Makurdi from start to finish, so don't miss out!”.

For Wande Coal, “I don’t know any other place anyone would rather be on April 5th. me and the crew are going to shut it down at IBB Square on April 5th.” Dr SID said, , “Expect everything you’ve ever wanted in a concert like this.”

Artistes on the Trek this year include 2Face, Tiwa Savage, M.I, Olamide, Davido, Wizkid, Wande Coal, Sound Sultan, Pasuma, Mr Raw, Timaya, Dr Sid, Naeto C, KCee, Sean Tizzle, Phyno and May Star Music Trek 2014.

28 Entertainment TELEMOVIES

Friday, April 4, 2014

have to work for this Garlands as Patience ‘We country to change’ –Bongos Ozokwor clocks 56 T

P

atience Ozokwor aka Mama G clocked 56 on March 25. With over 200 movies to her credit, Ozokwor has continued to thrill her numerous fans across the world.

As part of the celebration, she unveiled her multi million naira plaza at Enugu. The event, which was held 29th march 2014 had a celebrities, mainly from the movie industry in attendance.

Among those present were John Okafor Mr Ibu, Stan Amandi, and the Aneke Twins.

Also present were Angela Okorie, Ejiro, Charlse Awurum, Hon Commissioner for Tourism Enugu State, Naijaplayboi, Montee, Roberto, Onye Eze Productions and Kazz Man among others Despite her modest achievement in the industry, the lady who was born at Enugu to a humble family inNgwo has remained her humble self. The thespian, who is not wicked in real life, has succeeded in carving a niche for herself in the movie industry. She attended Abimbola Gibson Memorial School, Lagos, and gained admission into Methodist Girls, Yaba in the heat of the political crisis that later culminated into the civil war. A result of that she had to relocate to Enugu.

Her father insisted that she was too young to be in the secondary school and that she should go back to Elementary five, that see her two steps backwards in her education and she later re-wrote the Common Entrance Examinations that she had earlier passed in Lagos.

Ozokwor got admitted to Girls Secondary School, Ngwo, where she had her entire secondary educationand on completion, her results were not good. She took the private G.C.E and passed all her papers, and got married immediately afterwards.

Later on, she attended Teachers Training College in Afikpo from where she proceeded to IMT Enugu where she studied Fine and Applied Arts, specialising in Graphics.

But she never practiced for one day.

Mama G was a teacher by training and she taught for about four years before venturing into broadcasting as an announcer with FRCN Enu-

…unveils Enugu multi million naira plaza

Patience

gu, and was later retrenched when they closed down all the medium wave band stations.

That was when she went into business.

During her teacher training days in Afikpo, she had a competent Literature teacher who made them present a play each term. When it was the turn of her set to present a play, she was given the Role of Hamlet in William Shakespeare’s play of the same title and the production came out fine.

She gained instant popularity, and was nicknamed Hamlet. But after the teachers’ training, she forgot everything about drama until she went into Radio Nigeria.

It was Chika Okpala (Chief Zebrudaya of New Masquarades) that invited her to take part in a commercial in which she played the wife of Pete Eneh. The commercial was a mass orientation promo by the Anambra State Government to encourage her citizens to acquire education before venturing into trading.

After the promo was shot, there was this positive reaction from the people, and Chief Zebrudaya was so impressed that he said, “what have you been doing with yourself, where are you, I am so impressed.”

Patience has acted in many movies with notable thespians such as Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Rita Dominic, Pete Edochie, Genevieve Nnaji,

Ramsey Nouah, Ini Edo, Van Vicker, Mike Ezuruonye Oge Okoye, Kanayo O. Kanayo and Chioma Chukwuka among others Mama G had lost her husband to a terminal disease. She was a teacher, broadcaster and owner of a fashion institute before fate brought her into acting.

She is a proud and caring mother of two sons, and two daughters

he chairman of Nigeria Film Corporation, NFC, Bongo Ikwe, has harpd on the need for Nigerians to help in building the country instead of presenting it look like it’s the worst country on earth.

He bared his mind when he spoke recently with New Telegraph. The celebrated music icon, said, “I think the time is right, and the people who want to go to heaven, should clean up their streets right. I have a 2-line philosophy, the only sin is laziness. The only religion is work.

Those are my two lines of philosophy. And I believe in that.”

He further stressed that, “We all need to work, work and work for this country to change.

Nothing can change a society more than work. If the house is clean, somebody cleaned it; if water is running, somebody is pumping; and if there is light then somebody is generating electricity. Nothing can take the place of work.”

To buttress his points, Ikwe said, “First and foremost Nigerians must know who they are.

They have to truly, sincerely and honestly feel proud of being a Nigerian. I am a great believer in Almighty God but I am not a religious person. I don’t believe He made a mistake when He made us Nigerians. What I am talking is very serious. Why will an organization like CNN come to interview me and I begin to tell him something bad about Nigeria. if the federal government of Nigeria has not paid

me, it will be stupid of me to talk to CNN. " "I am only going to be washing my dirty linen in the public. They cannot pay me. If I am aggrieved, I will go and knock at the door of the president of this country with a poster, on it I will say, ‘this is my problem.

Do this for me and my country.’

When we grant interviews to these foreign media, it is unintelligence of us. There is no American talking to any Nigerian news organization about their problems.

“Somebody must take seriously what I am talking about.

At the end of the day you have wasted your time, washed your dirty linen in the public and you have insulted yourself and your country. I think the time is now for us to completely look inwards and believe in this country with absolute totality. For me this is the biggest message that I have. And I believe in it.

Bongos

Bob Ejike out with Darijimi

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ward-wining multi-talented Nigerian artiste, Professor Bob Ejike, has just dropped three singles from his 22 track album entitled ONLINE. The tracks are Darijimi, African Girl, and Online.

The album which was recorded in the Bob Ejike Studios in Surulere, Lagos over a period of two years will soon be released. Meanwhile, the hit track Darijimi is already a radio favourite, trending on all

major radio stations, and a dj favourite. He followed this feat immediately by shooting the video with ace video director Matt Max. The powerful video that features a collection of young and talented Nigerian musicians, actors, models, and dancers, promises to revolutionize the Nigerian music industry. But Bob Ejike is no stranger to revolution, especially in the act. Ejike is the founder, creator, originator, patriarch and pioneer actor, producer and director of Nigeria's Nollywood film renaissance and the artistic technocrat that crafted Uganda's Ugawood.

He is currently the Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of the National Edifice Magazine in Lagos. He was in Uganda in the last five years helping to develop indigenous film and music has transferred to Dubai from where

he will release his next album.

Ejike, pioneer of Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, is a lecturer, a singer and lyricist, an actor, a novelist, art critic, columnist, biographer, TV presenter and personality, model and product advertiser and endorser, translator, film and video producer, director, editor, and Nollywood international promoter.

Ejike who is known for his column in the Sunday Sun, his presentation of NTA Tropical Rhythms, his music, films and his pioneering role in the creation of Nigeria's film industry Nollywood, said this move is in consonance with his current contract.

During his stay in East Africa, he created the Professor Bob Ejike Foundation for Performing Arts (Probe), which owned five recording studios that aided indigent artistes.

Entertainment

Friday, April 4, 2014

29

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide)

GOtv Highlights for April 4 - April 11

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Otv brings you a fun and entertainment-packed week with local and international movies, reality shows, kiddies entertainment, the best of local, international music and informative documentaries for the whole family. Here is some of what you can look forward to this week: M-Net MOVIES ZONE (Channel 2) - GOtv PLUS ONLY TRUE JUSTICE: DARK VENGEANCE An elite team of cops work around the clock to find a killer working in the strip club underworld. With the killer allegedly using black magic, a cop goes undercover as a stripper hoping to lure him in. It airs on Saturday 5 April at 6:30pm.

BLACKBELT (Channel 12) SHAOLIN ABBOT International favorite David Chiang portrays the great Chih Shim, who must go on a quest to rebuild the Shaolin Temple and avenge his fellow monks.

It won't be easy, though, with Shaolin renegade Pai Mei, played by Lo Lieh, standing in his way. Watch this action flick when it airs on Tuesday 8 April at 3:30pm SONY ENTERTAINMENT (CHANNEL 20) – GOtv PLUS ONLY CADILLAC RECORDS This Golden Globe®nominated musical biopic charts the rise of legendary label Chess Records and its stable of successful recording artistes, including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry. Set in 1950s Chicago, the film follows label mogul Leonard Chess’s (Adrien Brody – The Pianist,

King Kong) journey from selling records from the boot of his Cadillac to building a legendary empire. Also starring Beyoncé Knowles. Watch it on Wednesday 9 April at 20:00 CAT. SONY MAX (Channel 21) MAX KNIGHT: ULTRA SPY This sci-fi action film was nominated for an Australian Screen Sound Guild Award.

It stars Michael Landes (Burlesque, Final Destination II) as superspy Max Knight, who is the last hope to save mankind when he goes head to head with a computer super-genius who is plotting to destroy the world and achieve immortality in cy-

berspace. Watch it on Monday 7 April at 21:00 CAT. AL JAZEERA (Channel 40) FAULT LINES: IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING Tune in to this weekly, 30 minute programme which examines the detail behind the headlines.

It explores how decisions made at the highest level shape the experiences of ordinary people across the world. Hosted by Josh Rushing, Zeina Awad and Sebastian Walker, Fault Lines travels into risky environments, often gaining unique access, in order to unpick the complex facts behind world events, and ask the difficult questions. Watch it on

08 April at 9:30pm.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WILD (Channel 51) GOtv Plus ONLY WILD GABON Mike Fay and Enric Sala are on a quest to protect the rich coastal waters of Gabon. Full of hippos, sharks, and humpback whales, these waters are some of the last healthy oceans in West Africa. Twelve years ago, the country of Gabon became a conservation pioneer in Africa when its president, Omar Bongo Ondimba, created 13 National Parks protecting 11% of the country. Mike Fay was instrumental as an advisor, and now he has returned to save Gabon’s oceans and coastal wetlands. He and Enric put together an ambitious expedition to determine how healthy the waters off the shores still are. Their goal: to convince the current Gabonese President, Ali Bongo Ondimba, to extend and create new marine protected areas. It airs on Tuesday 8 April at 5:00pm Channel O (Channel 70) Chidinma: Winning the 3rd season of Project Fame West Africa, a reality-singing competition series. After releasing the music video for her "Emi Ni Baller" single, she became the first female musician to peak at number 1 on the MTV Base official Naija Top 10 chart. Don't miss Volt “CHIDINMA”. On 10 April 21:00 CAT. MTV BASE (Channel 72) - GOtv Plus ONLY It’s Pharrell Williams’ birthday on the 5 April so to celebrate tune in to MTV Base on 5 April at 17:00 CAT for a countdown of Pharrell’s Base Top 20 music videos of all time. Later on in

the evening, check out the Base Top 10 for Neptunes Productions - the dynamic production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who’ve produced hits for everyone from Britney to Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé and John Legend.

For more information on these and other programmes on GOtv, log on to www.gotvafrica.com

Coming Soon

Submission for BON Awards 2014 commences

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rom Today Tuesday 1st of April 2014 producers may start submitting their movies to the centers nearest to them, pls ensure you ask for a form to fill in your movie details Submission Centers:

Arewa film producer’s association 83/84 SHY plaza BUK road, Kano State 53, shonola street Aguda-ogba, Lagos state No 14 agbaoku street of opebi road, Ikeja (Laughter Inc), Lagos state Prince Zango Company Ltd trade fair complex, Kaduna State 95 bode Thomas Surulere Lagos State 39, Suez crescent Zone 4 Abuja behind Sheraton hotel FCT Abuja Delta state broadcasting Service (broadcasting house) DBS road off okpanam road Asaba Delta state (contact Cynthia on 08129412781 ) La-Nic Suites 1day suites 1day road garikki Enugu

No violence or infidelity in my marriage - Joseph Benjamin

A

ctor Joseph Benjamin was a guest on Rubbin Minds on Sunday March 30th where he opened up about his divorce. When the host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, asked him if he was finally divorced, the father of two said he was 'working on it.'

Ebuka also took him up on rumours of violence and infidelity being the reason for his separa-

tion, Benjamin said it wasn't true.

What he said below...

"A lot was misconstrued and I will not hold anyone responsible for it because everyone is entitled to their opinion and for me I believe that when you embark on a journey like that, it is something that, it requires the two people involved to have a certain form of understanding. Let me go a bit spiritual with you here, the Bible says can two work if they do not agree? So there should be some form of agreement. Continue...

You guys should have this certain joint that kind of links you up together and if to an extent its

not there and one feels that there is a need for you to like maybe, move on, lets be matured about this, let things go in a very calm and subtle manner. So that's basically it. I would say that (this is on a bid to being very particular of what I say) because that is how it was misconstrued. So for me that is what informed the decision and I would say because I am on national television that there was no form of violence. There was no report of infidelity. She is an amazing person, I give her that credit, I would always say that because I am not one who would talk down any human being" he said.

9) Proshot 22a Elelewo street GRA phase1 PH Rivers State (contact Tonia: 08135137238 or Ayo: 07068474766) 10) Parrot Extra magazine 1st floor, oomor house, oni & sons Bus stop, beside the high court, ring road Ibadan Oyo state. Kindly note that FIVE DVDs/CDs per movie should be submitted (Directors cut only)

30 Entertainment TELEMOVIES

Friday, April 4, 2014

Coming Soon to the cinemas Silverbird Cinemas

Muppets Most Wanted 18 Apr 2014 Captain America: The… 04 Apr 2014 The Amazing Spider-m…

02 May 2014 Godzilla 06 May 2014 April Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Movie Of The Week) Rating:PG Viewing Time - Friday 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Saturday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Sunday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Monday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Tuesday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Wednesday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Thursday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Featured Actors Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Cobie Smulders Genre Action/Adventure • Running Time 128min Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

300: Rise of an Empire (Rating: R) Viewing Time - Friday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Saturday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Sunday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Monday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Tuesday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:30PM Viewing Time - Wednesday 12:00PM, Binta Goudiaby 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:45PM,9:30PM

Viewing Time - Thursday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:45PM,9:30PM Featured Actors Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Hans Matheson Genre Action/Adventure • Running Time 102 Greek general Themistokles leads the charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (Rating:PG) Viewing Time - Friday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:30PM Viewing Time - Saturday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:30PM Viewing Time - Sunday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:30PM Viewing Time - Monday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:30PM Viewing Time - Tuesday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:30PM Viewing Time - Wednesday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:30PM Viewing Time - Thursday 12:00PM, 2:20PM, 4:30PM, 6:30PM Featured Actors Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Lauri Fraser, Guillaume Aretos •Genre Comedy •Running Time 100 min The time-travelling adventures of an advanced canine and his adopted son, as they endeavor to fix a time rift they created.

Winter's Tale (Rating:pg-15) Viewing Time - Friday 12:30PM , 3:30PM • Viewing Time - Saturday 12:30PM, 3:30PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 12:30PM, 3:30PM • Viewing Time - Monday 12:30PM, 3:30PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 12:30PM, 3:30PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 12:30PM, 3:30PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 12:30PM, 3:30PM • Featured Actors Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Russell Crowe • Genre Drama • Running Time 118min A burglar falls for an heiress as she dies in his arms. When he learns that he has the gift of reincarnation, he sets out to save her.

Devil in the Dress Featured Viewing Time - Friday 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Saturday 9:20PM

• Viewing Time - Sunday 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Monday 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 9:20PM • Featured Actors Nse Ikpe-Etim, Adjetey Anang and Ecow Smith-Asante • Genre Romance • Running Time 120 MINS the movie is centered on a suspicious affair which ruins an almost perfect marriage as husband and wife take a wild goose chase into the world of sex, lies and betrayal, risking everything in one of the craziest love triangles ever.

About Last Night (Rating:R) Viewing Time - Friday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Saturday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Monday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM

While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by aKermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.

Director: James Bobin Writers: James Bobin, Nicholas Stoller Stars: Tina Fey, Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell Captain America: The Winter Soldier Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus (screenplay), Stephen McFeely Stars: Chris Evans, Frank Grillo, Sebastian Stan

• Viewing Time - Thursday 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Featured Actors Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall • Genre Romance • Running Time 100 min New love for two couples as they journey from the bar to the bedroom and are eventually put to the test in the real world.

RoboCop Rating:PG Featured • Viewing Time - Friday 12:00PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Saturday 12:00PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Sunday 12:00PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Monday 12:00PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Tuesday 12:00PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Wednesday 12:00PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Viewing Time - Thursday 12:00PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM, 9:20PM • Featured Actors Joel Kinnaman, Douglas Urbanski, Abbie Cornish • Genre Action/Adventure Muppets Most Wanted

Godzilla A giant radioactive monster called Godzilla appears to wreak destruction on mankind.

Director: Gareth Edwards Writers: Max Borenstein (screenplay), Dave Callaham Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston The Amazing Spider-man 2 • Date of Release 20 August 2013 Peter Parker runs the gauntlet as the mysterious company Oscorp sends up a slew of supervillains against him, impacting on his life.

Director: Marc Webb Writers: Alex Kurtzman (screenplay), Roberto Orci(screenplay) Stars: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx

BUSINESS FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS Nigeria seaports records 76.9m tons of cargo from 5,185 ships Nigerian seaports recorded cargo throughput of 76,886,997 million metric tons in 2013 from 5,185 ocean going vessels with a total Gross Registered tonnage (GRT) of 131,674,337 gross tons.

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Palm oil draft roadmap looks on 2025 for selfsufficiency The palm-oil draft roadmap recently put together by stakeholders in the sector is looking at 2025 for the country to attain self-sufficiency in crude palm-oil production (CPO).

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Improved varieties boost cassava production –AADL Allied Atlantic Distilleries Limited (AADL), Africa’s biggest maker of ethanol from cassava, says improved varieties and bestbet agronomic practices in the production of cassava almost doubled the yield of the root crop, making it possible for farmers to supply more of this raw material to the industry than earlier expected.

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CBN enlists two more pension fund custodians Two additional Pension Fund Custodians(PFCs) have been added to the list earlier released by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

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BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) SIMEON OGOEGBULEM, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) SIAKA MOMOH, Asst. Editor (Industry) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

CHUKS ONUANYIN, Energy NNAMDI AMADI, Reporter

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AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

PROTEST Aggrieved pensioners accuse union executives of conniving with the Federal Government to deny them due benefits Sunday Ojeme

A

gitation by some Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) retirees over alleged inequitable payment of pension has pitted a group of pensioners against the leadership of the National Union of Pensioners (PHCN chapter).

The tension, which got to a head last week at the secretariat of the NUP at Ijora Olopa, Lagos, was calmed by officers of the Nigeria Police Force, who intervened as the elderly pensioners attempted to manhandle some of the union executives.

New Telegraph gathered that the pensioners were unhappy with the executives over their inability to ensure an improvement in their welfare, especially after the Federal Government paid out huge sums as severance package to PHCN workers who were laid off as a result of the privatisation exercise.

Although a source among the warring pensioners said that the agitation was as a result of inequitable payment of pension, an official of the union said "the aggrieved pensioners were asking for an outright payoff, which is not constitutional."

The retirees also alleged that the union executives were conniving with the management of the Nigerian Electricity

L –R: New Managing Director/CEO, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola; Divisional Managing Director, Dr. Nino Ozara; Former Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Babatunde Odunayo; Executive Director, Supply Chain, Mr. Rotimi Fadipe and Executive Director, Marketing, Mr. Benson Evbuomwan, at the valedictory board meeting for the former EVC/CEO in Lagos.

Management Company led by Mr. Samuel Agbogun, to deny them due benefits because of what they derive from the Federal Government in the name of overseeing the welfare of the pensioners.

In a chat with New Telegraph, one of the retirees, Mr. Olu Ayeni, said there have been series of manipulation by those

handling the benefits as some of the retirees who retired on the same grade level earned more than their counterparts.

He said: “Let’s take level 6 officer Step 12 as an example; some recently experienced higher payment of pension than other officers who retired the same year on the same grade level, which is strange. This is

exactly one of the manipulations we are complaining about.

They claimed to have paid off those who retired from 2004 but as you can see, many among us protesting right here before you today are those who retired before and those that retired between 2004/2005. We are yet to CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Agric inputs: Four million farmers now have phones Jonah Iboma

T

he Growth Enhancement Support (GES), a Federal Government’s agricultural programme designed to use technology to facilitate access of farmers to farm inputs and other forms of government support, has recorded a 40 per cent success rate in terms of farmers with valid telephone lines.

According to a report ob-

tained by New Telegraph, with the number of registered farmers currently put at about 10 million, the 40 per cent success rate means that four million farmers have valid phones through which they can be reached by government and given information on how to participate in various GES programmes.

The ownership of valid telephone lines by farmers is central to the success of the GES scheme because the programme

is designed primarily for small scale farmers to be turned into commercial farmers. This initiative has been uniquely designed to identify and reach this category of farmers across the country.

New Telegraph gathered from a report presented to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that the figure marked a huge CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Agitation for pay-off tears PHCN retirees apart

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

NEW TELEGRAPH

BETTER DAYS AHEAD FOR PENSIONERS

INFLATION RATE February 2014......................7.70% January 2014 .......................8.00% December 2013....................8.00%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.50% Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Maximum Lending Rate..25.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Mar. 28)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N170 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N282 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N238

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Mar. 28)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.74 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N258.93 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N213.90 Source: CBN

32

BUSINESS | NEWS

IMPORTATION Vehicles importation are still on the rise.

Bayo Akomolafe

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igerian seaports recorded cargo throughput of 76,886,997 million metric tons in 2013 from 5,185 ocean-going vessels with a total Gross Registered tonnage (GRT) of 131,674,337 gross tons.

It was an increase of 0.042.6 per cent over the 2012 figure of 76,855,754 metric tons.

Also, 291,824 units of vehicles were handled at the ports,

Nigeria seaports record 76.9m tons of cargo from 5,185 ships showing an increase of 8.9 per cent over the 2012 full year figure of 268,026 units.

In a data released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the container traffic was 1,010,836 twenty equivalent units (TEUs), showing a growth of 15.2 per cent over the 2012 full year figure of 877,737 TEUs. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipment handled was 19,341,663 metric tons, indicating a drop of 12.7 per cent from 22,146,908 metric tons of 2012

Global property investment to hit $1tn Dayo Ayeyemi

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

T

he global property investment volume is expected to hit $1.33 trillion in 2014 according to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest International Investment Atlas, forecasting a 13 per cent increase in investment globally to N968 billion, with the US and Western Europe predicted to drive the uplift in activity.

According to the publication, the global property investment market delivered N859 billion of transactions in 2013, a 22.6 per cent increase on 2012 and the highest since 2007 It stated that global real estate investment turned a

corner in 2013 with market activity and values pickingup as recessions ended, business sentiment rallied and increased liquidity affected most global markets, noting that the strong annual performance has also helped to push prime yields back down to pre-crisis levels.

Projecting into 2014, “the Slovak market is also expected to perform well with both international and local buyers.

Some deals, such as TAM’s acquisition of CBC 3,4 and 5 have recently been concluded and many transactions are expected to conclude or move into due diligence in the next weeks,” says Andrew Thompson, Head of Capital Markets at C&W Slovak Republic.

Agitation for pay-off tears PHCN retirees apart CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

receive a dime of the acclaimed pay off. If those that retired from 2004/2005 were not paid off, what then is the hope of those who retired before then? It is all tricks, manipulation and fraud.

“Personally, I have no trust in whatever their plans are about pay off. In April 2012, I attained 45 years and the documents were forwarded to NELMCO to implement my payment from January 2013, while PHCN compensation and benefit were to pay my arrears from April 2012 to December 2012. The document was forwarded to NELMCOM. Ironically, instead of effecting payment from January 2013, they deliberately effected payment from May 2013, leaving behind

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

four months unpaid till date.

“Despite letters of complaints to Agbogun substantiated with bank statements, nothing was done. Many of us were affected.

Mine and many other severance packages were left unpaid. These are the people who have been struggling to pay arrears of pension even though we never experienced tentative and inequitable payment when PHCN was handling our payments.”

On the privatisation of PHCN, he said it was highly underestimated and sold to those in charge and the facilities shared among them, stressing that with the sale, the Federal Government shouldn’t be struggling to pay off the retirees like it did for the workers.

He also alleged that rather

full year figure.

The ports also handled 19,416,043 metric tons of refined petroleum shipment, an increase of 9.5 per cent over 2012 full year figure of 17,730,727 metric tons.

According to the authority’s Assistant General Manager, Public Relations, Mallam Musa Iliya, dry bulk cargo handled at the ports in the year was 9,537,447 metric tons, showing a decline of 6.5 per cent from 2012 full year figure of 10,205,339 metric tons.

He said: “General Cargo handled at the ports in year 2013 was 11,964,978 metric tons, indicating a drop of 5.8 per cent from the 2012 full year figure of 12,702,826 metric tons.

Iliya explained that Lagos Port Complex (LPC) recorded a Gross registered tonnage of 34,466,291 gross tons, showing an increase of 9.4 per cent over the same period of 2012 which was 31,513,987 gross tons. A total of 1,498 vessels were handled in the period under review at the port.

The NPA spokesman added: “Tincan Island Port recorded a gross registered tonnage of 42,758,161 gross tons indicating 23.2 per cent increase over the corresponding period of 2012 which was 34,703,547 gross tons while 1,725 Ocean going vessels were handled at the port within the period.

“Calabar Port complex recorded a total GRT of 2,792,488

gross tons, showing a marginal decline of 2.8 per cent compare with 2,871,622 gross tons, leaving the port with 197 Ocean going vessels in the period under review.

“Rivers Port complex recorded a total gross registered tonnage of 6,394,270 gross tons, 7.9 per cent drop compared with 6,929,179 gross tons, in the corresponding period of 2012. 447 ocean going vessels were handled within the period under review. Onne Port complex recorded a GRT of 38,967,131 gross tons, reflecting a decrease of 7.4 per cent as against 42,062,351 gross tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2012 with 820 vessels in the year under review.”

L-R: Manager, South West, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Mr. Demola Bilesanmi; Deputy General Manager, Mr. Isa Omagu; Executive Director, Mrs. Tola Omotola and wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun, during the fourth annual GTB Autism week seminar organised by The Orange Ribbon Initiative in Lagos.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE.

than pursue the pensioners’ case, the union leaders chose to conspire with the management of NELMCO to deny them their benefits because of the N1,500 deductions they collect from the pensioners at the end of every month.

“I think there is a mix up. Our union is not doing anything to help us. What they are interested in is the deduction of N1,500 from each retiree monthly. The retirees are about 25,000, so you can see how much they make from the deduction. That is why they don’t want us to be paid off, so that they can continue with the deduction. They don’t want that to stop,” he added.

When contacted, the Administrative Assistant to the secretariat, Mr. Anthony Magnus, said the agitation by the retirees was not necessary as their demand for an outright payoff was unconstitutional and unheard of.

Agric inputs: Four million farmers now have phones CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

improvement in the success of the scheme, especially attempts to ensure that actual farmers benefit from GES. It was also gathered that the scheme would be assisted by the National Identity Number (NIN), which the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has embarked upon since 2013. The NIN is expected to be a unique number that every Nigerian will have.

The need to ensure that small scale farmers have phones and that government also captures such data was the basis upon which the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, stated that government intended to give farmers telephones in 2012.

The minister said govern-

ment would not commit itself to direct purchase of the cell phones for farmers but would only subsidise the phones through a partnership that would involve telephone service operators, Ministry of Communications Technology and other stakeholders.

According to him, the decision by government to subsidise the purchase of cell phones for farmers is tied to the distribution of fertilisers directly to the farmers without the involvement of third parties who had allegedly been ripping them off.

He said: “Government policy must always be based on evidence and well analysed data.

We carried out an analysis of our GES work based on a large sample of 426,000 farmers from various local government areas in 13 states.

Agric

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Hard Facts

Weeding requires up to 500 hours of labor per hectare to prevent economic losses in cassava roots in Nigeria There are 5-6 million cocoa farmers worldwide. 40-50 million people depend upon cocoa for their livelihood.

About 90-95 per cent of all cocoa is produced by smallholder farmers.

The typical size of a smallholder farm is about three hectares, with a very large proportion of the farms in the size group of two to five hectares.

As of the year 2009, the global market value of the annual cocoa crop was $5.1 billion (US dollars).

As of February 2010, the price of cocoa was $3,325.60 per ton (USD).

70 per cent of global cocoa production comes from West African countries (70.4 per cent in 2007).

Cocoa is the main ingredient used to make chocolate.

To make one kg (2.2 pounds) of chocolate, about 300 to 600 cocoa beans are processed, depending on the desired cocoa content. Cocoa beans are also used to make soaps and cosmetics.

Over forty per cent of the world’s cocoa beans are consumed in Europe (42.7 per cent in 2007). In the last few years, a dramatic switch in consumer preferences from chocolate with a low cocoa content to chocolate with a higher cocoa content resulted in considerably more consumption of dark chocolate.

This switch has occurred, in particular, in the mature markets of Europe and North America. These developments in demand have contributed to an unprecedented rapid increase in world cocoa grindings over the past five years.

Under the free trade deal the EU would give the 15 members of ECOWAS and non-member state Mauritania immediate full access to its markets. In return, ECOWAS would gradually open up 75% of its markets to Europe over a 20-year period.

BUSINESS 33

Palm oil processing plant

Palm oil draft roadmap looks on 2025 for self-sufficiency Stories by Siaka Momoh

T

he palm-oil draft roadmap recently put together by stakeholders in the sector is looking at 2025 for the country to attain selfsufficiency in crude palm-oil production (CPO).

According to the draft, the palm oil sector is favourably positioned to potential investors due to some traits.

It lists the traits as including its rich and natural oil palm endowments and existing infrastructure which represent attractive investment opportunities; Nigeria’s over 160 million plus population which represents available labour and market for domestic and industrial uses of oil; exports to regional markets like ECOWAs and select developed markets like US via AGOA

tariff regime also present attractive opportunities and significant improvements in yields are very feasible with marginal investments.

According to the draft, the aspiration for the Nigerian oil palm industry is to become self-sufficient with end-to-end integration and be number one in Africa.

It reads: “We expect that by 2020, local production is expected to reach five million tons per annum, driven

We expect that by 2020, local production is expected to reach five million tons per annum

by plantation expansions; improvements in yields and processing efficiency of the entire value chain that will satisfy domestic demand, replace ageing plantations and contribute surplus production that can be exported.”

It states that the strategic thrusts required for reviving the sector are hinged on increasing the area under oil palm for both the integrated large estate and smallholder farmers with the aim of increasing production.

Roadmap objectives The main objectives of the national palm oil value chain roadmap are to achieve the following: Protection of local players in the palm oil value chain, Complete palm oil value chain development,

Competitive palm oil value chain operations, Palm oil value chain integration, Sustainable (social, economic and environment) palm oil production, Self-sufficiency in palm oil production, Employment generation, wealth creation and poverty reduction, Robust community social responsibility programme, Create reasonable awareness towards the development of the sector, Encourage a demand drivenResearch & Development, Encourage investment and funding to the sector, Develop small holder schemes Enable policy framework on machinery/inputs requirements for palm oil value chain development.

Succession plan for Nigeria’s ageing farmers

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igerian farmers are ageing just like cash crop trees such as cocoa are ageing too. If nothing is done quickly to address this problem, we must be ready for a killing food crisis. This is perhaps why the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has come up with Nagropreneur, an initiative created to address the challenge of ageing farmers and the insecurity that this poses.

Nagropreneur is meant

to grow a new generation of young commercial farmers that will help transform the agricultural sector and feed Nigeria today and well into the future.

The programme is a product of the Federal Government ‘Youth in Agric-Business’ project and it is designed to raise one million young farmers who will take agriculture as a profession and business by 2015. It is serious business.

This is why it is not just a

government thing. The 19th Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) discussed the initiative inside-out. How did they go about it? This is the starting point of our debate this week.

But let’s have a quick flashback. We have been discussing Agric-for-business – the programme is Agric-for-Business-Debate. You will recall we said that government is seriously pushing rethinking agriculture and that the private

sector is taking the lead in the robust drive to change the face of agriculture in this country.

You will recall too that we said it is regrettable that Nigeria’s budget allocation to agriculture still falls short of the 10 per cent Maputo recommendation. Our allocation hovers between 1.7 and two per cent!

We argued that government must show its seriousness by rethinking this important aspect of ‘Agric-for-Business’ if CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

34

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

‘Northern governors are not sincere about agriculture’ Mahmud Mahmud, an engineer, is the chairman and Chief executive of Ummu Khalid Farms, a 437-hectare farm estate located in the outskirts of Sokoto. In this interview with YEKEEN NURUDEEN, Mahmud speaks on the attitude and approach of northern states governors to the development of agriculture in the region. He also laments the conditions attached to securing loan from commercial banks by farmers. Excerpt: You are an engineer and now a full time farmer. What attracted you to farming?

I was born in a family of farmers; our father is a prominent farmer. He always encourage us to be with him whenever he is going to the farm. So I learnt the basics of farming while I was with him even before I went to school to become an engineer. At the end of the day, I don’t see much difference in the approach; it is all about methodology, putting things to action and what do you have? It is basically an engineering work as well if not for the calculations.

How will you describe Ummu Khalid Farms?

It is about 473 hectares in size with all the title documents granted for agriculture and I have paid the inheritors of the late Garkuwan Sokoto, Alhaji Abdullahi and it is now fully in my possession.

When I came, there was nothing going on, the farm was virtually abandoned.

Thank God we have started. Our dream is that it will become an integrated mechanised farm. We started with the cassava nursery, we also established a small orchard and have also gone into the normal wet season farming of rice, maize, millet; we have also tried planting sugar cane, potatoes and so on. We have some little free-holds on livestock - cows and sheep of various types in the farm. This is basically a description of what we have on ground.

What is the annual output of your farm?

Sincerely, I cannot give you an estimate because I have not touched even 10 per cent of the farmland as of now in terms of cultivation. I believe that where I have cultivated so far if it should be taken in the context of the land hold, we have not touched 10 per cent of the land mass. And as of last year's production, we have had about 1, 700 bags of guinea corn, 600 bags of millet, 150 bags of rice, the list is endless. In short, we go along because there are a lot. We have harvested all of these including groundnuts, beans and so on.

But I can assure you that we have not utilised 10 per cent of the hold.

Have you considered joining any farmer’s

groups or association in order to pull resources together to increase production?

Yes, I have been incorporated into the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAM); they, on their own, seeing the hold I have and work that I have been doing, insisted that I have to be a member.

So we are trying, we are working, we are doing what we can, to see what help or intervention can come from government. But for me, I will say that the northern governments are not sincere in their drive to revive agriculture. I am sorry that I have to repeat myself over and over again because the whole thing boils down to finance because for now I have to employ those workers that I can afford to pay.

If I can have the resources to pay, I would have employed much more staff. But what I have now are mostly staff that I would say are associated with the farm from the beginning because I inherited some people who have been around, then again I brought in some others.

Where do you procure your seedlings?

We have a lot, especially the hybrid seedlings. I travel out; I bring in improved seedlings from some other climates trying to see if they can marry into our climate. I try to use the improved seedlings that are produced in places like the Institute of Agriculture in Zaria. I have been liaising with people in VOM vetinary institution in Jos on cattle production and so on. So as of now, this is my own way of going after the inputs.

But have you been consulting with the federal or state ministries of agriculture for any form of support?

We have been in consultation with all of these people, but I can assure you that they don’t have a single department where a farmer can go and sit down and discuss these things with them. What they normally have are facilitation desks whereby they have their policies

Mahmud

and if the policy happens to fall on your field or whatever, like the cassava bread initiative, they may likely take you in; just like the state government here is also trying to do. But those policies are not sufficient for large scale farmers like me. The Sokoto State government is doing its best by supporting small scale farmers with N210, 000 each. But what we are saying is that the federal and state governments should do more to support large scale farmers. They can start by coming in to inspect and value what we have and then make an estimate of what they can give us that will facilitate what we are doing.

What about the commercial banks?

The commercial banks I can assure you are no-go areas for a small farmer like me.

First, the lending rates. No commercial bank is giving agric loan in the country as of now because the rates are beyond the capacity of the average farmer. What they are giving is what they call CBN assisted agric loan.

You wouldn’t know the difficulties you are going to face until you get there. I started the process, I consulted my bankers - about three or four of them, but midway I got frustrated and abandoned the whole idea because of the difficult hurdles. The first thing they would always ask you is the C of O but thank God we have passed that because we have a lease hold on this land with over 66 years of the tenure still valid. Then they start asking what security you have but what more security would I have more than a holding on a 437 hectare land. Suppose I decide to sell this land per hectare given the cost of land in Nigeria today, how much am I going to generate? You can only imagine how much. But all I need is a loan of two to three hundred million

business | AGRIC

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Friday, April 4, 2014

35

Collaboration between small farmers, big business viable LINKAGE Need for linkage between small and big business.

C

Mahmud's farm

to produce food for millions of Nigerians.

But the Federal Government says its transformation agenda is an open programme for all farmers to benefit from. What is your take on that?

Maybe we farmers do not understand what government is talking about, because I have a personal friend who is even a director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. I have consulted him not once, not twice, not thrice, there was nothing. It is not that there are no policies, but the problem is that of implementation. The civil servants are having their own idea about what is called agriculture but the truth is that it is those of us in the field that know what agriculture is all about. For example, I have just shown you the sample of a tomato breed from just a small nursery bed from which I harvested a bucket load every day. I don’t find this type of tomato in any market in Sokoto or anywhere in Nigeria as of now. If you see this kind of tomato it would be in a supermarket that they are importing either from South Africa or some other countries. That is why I am saying that my own dream of this farm is that it would become the nerve centre of the supply of those kinds of fresh farm produce to the Nigerian markets.

In a nutshell, how would you summarise the challenges you are facing and how do you intend to overcome them?

As of now, the basic problem I have is financing.

The lackadaisical attitude of my fellow farmers in this state is a major problem in the sense that they find it easier to lay back rather than fight on.

So finally do you have any plan to bring in local and foreign partners?

Yes. We have already started having discussions with internal and external friends who are interested in this large scale farming business. I know in China I have held discussions with three or four people but the only problem is the usual negative stories they are hearing about Nigeria. And that is the major reason that I invited you people from the media to tell the world that Nigeria and indeed Sokoto State is a safe haven for investors.

ollaboration between agribusiness and small farmers is becoming economically viable and the time is right for partnerships and new initiatives.

This was one of the conclusions reached during the Small Farmers, Big Business brainstorming session at the European Development Days (EDD13) forum in Brussels recently.

The small farmers, big business platform, initiated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Dutch SNV, the German GIZ, the French AFD and the COLEACP network, organised the session to discuss how innovative public-private partnerships can benefit from synergies and create up-scalable business models that promote inclusive agricultural growth, as well as food and nutrition security.

Participants included Jean-Pierre Halkin, Head of the Rural Development, Food Security, Nutrition Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation – EuropeAid; Steffen Kaeser, Chief of UNIDO’s Quality, Standards and Conformity Unit; and Apollo Owuor, Director for Agriculture and Corporate Affairs at the

COLEACP. The discussion revolved around agreement that so-called ‘inclusive business models’ with smallholders have created considerable interest, not only amongst donors and in the field of development cooperation, but also amongst the private sector. However, the available models, including contract farming schemes, joint ventures, management contracts and new supply-chain relationships, still have a limited impact and reach.

During the session, the perspectives of smallholders were given lengthy consideration. Conclusions drawn from the discussion include recognition of the need for farmers need to organise themselves to access services, for capacity to be built up, and for farming to be promoted as a profitable business and shown to be a viable option for young people.

In terms of developing value chains, participants agreed that

A young farmer in his poutry

stakeholders need to be sure that collective action will bring results, that certification tools are costly and should be combined with other tools to improve product quality, and that while public-private partnerships are the way forward to scale up, they must be market-driven and underpinned by a strong business model.

Access to finance was another key issue. Recommendations included the need for specific financial services, both short and long term – including insurance guarantee schemes and affordable loans.

Book-keeping and technical assistance should be made available and rural areas need mobile and e-banking services.

During the EDD13, the small farmers, big business platform also organised the High Level Panel titled ‘Feed the change: Boosting resilience, food and nutrition security through innovative partnerships.’

Organised by the European Commission, European Development Days is one of the fastest-growing international forums on global affairs and development cooperation. Its aim is to win the hearts and minds of all stakeholders, fostering engagement and facilitating the implementation of the agenda for greater aid effectiveness.

Agricultural Commodity Prices - Grains Commodity CBOT Corn CBOT Wheat CBOT Oats CBOT Rough Rice CBOT Soybeans CBOT Soybean Meal CBOT Soybean Oil ICE Canola

Units USd/bu.

USd/bu.

USd/bu.

USD/cwt USd/bu.

USD/st USd/lb.

CAD/mt

Price 507.50 685.25 414.25 15.70 1,483.25 482.30 41.40 481.60

Change +5.50 -12.00 +15.25 +0.10 +19.25 +3.00 +0.98 +5.10

% Change +1.10% -1.72% +3.82% +0.64% +1.31% +0.63% +2.42% +1.07%

Contract May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 Nov 14

Time(ET) 14:14:59 14:14:58 14:14:58 14:14:58 14:14:59 14:14:59 14:14:59 14:14:57

Units USD/mt USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb. cents/kg USD/tbf JPY/kg USD/gal.

Price 2,943.00 175.25 17.18 150.90 92.08 1,027.00 341.00 234.00 2.79

Change -12.00 -2.65 -0.59 -4.10 -1.44 0.00 +5.20 -0.50 +0.08

% Change -0.41% -1.49% -3.32% -2.65% -1.54% 0.00% +1.55% -0.21% +3.11%

Contract May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 Apr 14 May 14 Sep 14 May 14

Time(ET) 13:30:00 13:44:28 13:11:45 14:00:00 14:16:31 01:05:28 14:14:57 05:59:55 14:15:18

Units USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb.

Price 136.70 177.00 127.85

Change -1.65 -2.50 -1.73

% Change -1.19% -1.39% -1.33%

Contract Jun 14 May 14 Jun 14

Time(ET) 14:17:04 14:16:42 14:17:12

Softs Commodity ICE Cocoa ICE Coffee "C" ICE Sugar #11 ICE Orange Juice Conc ICE Cotton #2 SFE Greasy Wool CME Lumber TOCOM Rubber CME Ethanol

Livestock Commodity CME Live Cattle CME Feeder Cattle CME Lean Hogs

Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price.

Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

36

BUSINESS | AGRIC

INNOVATION Doubling the yield of root crops, the farmers' robust choice.

A

llied Atlantic Distilleries Limited (AADL), Africa’s biggest maker of ethanol from cassava, says improved varieties and best-bet agronomic practices in the production of cassava almost doubled the yield of the root crop, making it possible for farmers to supply more of this raw material to the industry than earlier expected.

Commissioned on January 30 in Lusada, Ibese community in Ogun State, the ethanol factory will produce nine million liters per annum of extra neutral alcohol, requiring approximately 250 tons of cassava per day.

Already, over 8,000 farmers located within 70-km radius of Igbesa covering Ogun and Oyo states, southwest Nigeria, have been engaged and the factory is providing over 40,000 indirect jobs to people in the area, Mr. Ola Rosiji, Chairman of AADL said.

“With the support of IITA, our farmers have doubled their yields from an average 12 t/ha to 22 t/ha; our farmers now earn double what they would have earned,” he added.

Commending the board and management of the company, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

it must be taken seriously.

Nagropreneurs Nagropreneurs make up the successor generation of Nigerian farmers. They will run agricultural enterprises. They are not subsistence farmers like my father farmer was. The NESG event which held in Abuja had Ndidi Nwuneli, Coordinator AACE Foods as moderator and as panelists were, among others, Mosunmola Umoru of Abira Agribusiness Support Initiative, Kofo Adegoke of Koop Global Farms Limited, and Manfidi Isa Tafida of Famag Jal Farms.

The panel agreed that the current curriculum in Nigeria educational system does not portray agriculture as a business capable of creating wealth and providing employment. Consequently, majority of young people are not encouraged to get involved in agriculture. It was therefore recommended that agriculture science curriculum, be-

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Improved varieties boost cassava production –AADL Dr. Kenton Dashiell, IITA Deputy Director General, Partnerships and Capacity Development, representing Director General, Nteranya Sanginga, said that the inauguration of the factory was indeed a good opportunity for Africa, and especially cassava growers, who now have more markets for their produce.

He said that the factory would create jobs, attract foreign investment and create wealth for the people, adding that IITA is willing to partner with the private sector to lift 11 million people out of poverty and also reclaim and put into sustainable use 7.5 million hectares of degraded land.

Collaboration between IITA and AADL, a subsidiary of the Lexcel Group, began in the early 2000s when the project was conceived and IITA provided inputs to the feasibility study of the investment. Also under the Cassava Transformation Agenda, which is being coordinated

by Dr. Richardson Okechukwu, IITA is again linking farmers to the factory. In addition, the institute is also providing training and improved planting materials and technical advisory

support to the firm.

HarvestPlus Country Manager, Paul Ilona, said the factory would change the outlook of cassava from the global perspective of “a poor man’s crop” to an industrial crop.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, com-

mended IITA for the good work it has been doing to improve the lives of people in Africa.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is one of the world’s leading research partners in finding solutions for hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Its

award-winning research for development (R4D) approach addresses the development needs of tropical countries.

IITA works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks and generate wealth from agriculture.

New variety of cassava

Succession plan for Nigeria’s ageing farmers ginning at the primary school level, should be reviewed to include value positions that will stimulate and promote interest of young persons in agriculture.

The panelists were concerned about the dearth of practical, technical and entrepreneurial skills in the agricultural sector. This, of course, is not a problem exclusive to the agricultural sector alone. It cuts across the entire economy – the real sector es-

A farmer at work

pecially. They argued for the creation of agricultural technical and vocational training centres and that youths need to be encouraged to attend these training centres to attain skills for successful participation in agriculture.

They agreed that there is the need for government to provide inventives for the exportation of agricultural produce. They noted that some farmers find it difficult to access foreign markets which can be a major source of

revenue to them. This reminds me of the ordeal Baba Ilori (this writer’s father) went through in Ikare, collecting payment for his huge tons of cocoa sold to Alabilogbo, a popular local buying agent. And that which his children went through paying school fees.

Baba could not read or write, yet he kept records of his produce in a ledger. Baba had no knowledge about the market – he was dumb about Market Information System (MIS) – doubtful if there was any then.

We are talking about the 1960s.

And Baba Ilori’s children had no access to the books. It was top secret. Not these days when children can’t ask their parents questions. Alabilogbo dictated the price – payment was made at his own time. His word was law. And we all had to wait until he paid before we could pay our school fees!

They also asked for the review of microfinance policies for nagropreneurs targeting easy access to affordable fi-

nance. Since farmers have problem accessing funds, it was agreed that there was the need for government to assist farmers to have easy access to finance at an affordable rate.

They also asked for the establishment of mentorship programme to engender interaction between nagropreneurs and successful farmers and the provision of incentives to the private sector to elicit their full support for agriculture and nagropreneurs.

Sustaining interest/ investment/employment The panelists asked for the following: Simplifying of access to affordable funding for agricultuiral initiatives; Enabling collaboration between government and private sector with tertiary institutions to domesticate technology for agriculture; Delivering specific infrastructural projects to target nagropreneurs.

Pension

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

BUSINESS 37

2014 First Quarter Review... 2014 First Quarter Review... 2014 First Quarter Review...

Better days ahead for pensioners

Chinelo Anohu Amazu.

GOOD START First quarter activities by pension regulators reveal potential growth in payment, welfare and other benefits.

F

or Nigerian pensioners and potential retirees, activities in the first quarter of 2014 appear to be a signal for better things ahead. In both the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and the non-CPS, managers of both schemes have worked hard to ensure a hitch-free implementation of additional inputs into the system.

Non-Contributory Pension Scheme In the non-contributory scheme, Nigeria Railway Corporation pensioners made headlines with the verification exercise organised for them by the management of the corporation. The pensioners, who form the bulk of retires to have suffered most over the years, have been reassured of better welfare package that is commensurate with that of their peers who retired from other agencies.

Specifically, the issue of harmonisation of their pension has been in the front burner with the leadership of the union calling on the Federal Government to increase the minimum paid pension from N5,000 to N8,000, which is what pensioners in other agencies receive. Although the agitation has been on for years, the manifestation is gradually playing out with the endorsement of the relevant documents by government officials.

One of the officials of the union was actually enthusiastic when he said things had improved for them, better than it was in the past.

He said: “We are now being paid as at when due. We are grateful to the president and the minister.

“The monthly pension is regular but the general complaint is harmonisation of the pension with other Federal

Sijuwade

Mimiko

Amayo

Government agencies. The minimum a railway pensioner earns is N5,000 compared to N8,000 earned by his peer in other agencies.

“Even if the 33 per cent increase is eventually approved, we will still be underpaid. We have written series of letters to the minister and he set up a committee and the committee believes that we have a case, so they are working on it.

“We are over 18,000 spread across the country. We cannot give government any ultimatum, we are only appealing but we are hoping it will come on time. We want the harmonisation done before the 33 per cent increase otherwise we will still end up being underpaid.”

During the verification exercise, which took place in February at the Lagos headquarters of the NRC, the pensioners were informed by the Managing Director of the corporation, Mr. Adeseye Sijuwade, that the Ministerial Committee set up to look into the harmonisation turned out a positive report to fast-track the process.

According to him, “having worked for the corporation for many eventful years of your life and now that you are senior citizens, you deserve nothing less than a retired life of bliss and plenty.

“As you come out to participate in the 2014 verification exercise, I share in your joy of having another opportunity in the land of the living to visit your former place of work.

“I am sure that some great and nostalgic thoughts of yester-years will be running through your hearts as you come into the warmth and beauty of a new Nigerian Railway.

“I must thank you for serving the corporation so dutifully well to the end and for sustaining it for my generation to meet to work in.”

In the meantime, the Pension Transition Arrangement Department has been called upon to expedite action on the payment of over N34.8 billion arrears owe the retirees between April 2011 and De-

cember 2012 following the report of the ministerial committee.

In a letter dated January 15, 2014 and addressed to the Director-General, PTAD, by the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, the agency was also advised to defray the additional outstanding monthly pension of N19.8 billion owed the pensioners for year 2013.

The railway pensioners have had their pensions shortchanged by about N17 billion as only N3 billion was being remitted to them out of the actual N20 billion.

The letter was signed by the Director, Human Resource Management, Oqua E. Eta, on behalf of the minister.

The President, National Union of Pensioners (NRC chapter), Mr. Rauf Balogun, also said the committee did everything before arriving at the conclusion that the pensioners actually deserved a better deal, adding that everything now depended on the DG, PTAD to ensure quick payment of the arrears.

He said: “The railway pensioners have been suffering for long. They are earning peanuts compared to their counterparts.

As a result of that, a committee was constituted to look into the matter. The committee comprised of representatives of the minister and other stakeholders. The committee went round and discovered that it was true that the railway pensioners were the least paid in the country where a pensioner receives N5,000 per month, and that constitutes majority of the pensioners.

“Their pensions range from N5,000 to N20,000. We are very much convinced that this poverty level contribute largely to their early deaths even though some of them are of age. Many of them are sick and it is quite pathetic. So the committee discovered all these and went ahead to review the pension rate to be in line with the current salary structure of the railway workers.

“Secondly, there is a decision by the Senate that pension should be harmonised so that those who retired long ago would be earning the same pension with those who are just retiring provided they retired on the same salary level. The number of years is immaterial. So the committee took all these into consideration and arrived at its decision.

Having worked for the corporation for many eventful years of your life and now that you are senior citizens, you deserve nothing less than a retired life of bliss and plenty

PHCN retirees Shortly before the end of the quarter, retirees from Power Holding Company of Nigeria caused a stir when they invaded their union office at Ijora to demand that they be paid off like the workers who were given huge severance package after the successful privatisation of the organisation.

The elderly men who numbered over 70 were said to have physically molested their colleagues who oversee their union secretariat, accusing them of conniving with the Federal Government through the Nigerian Electricity Management Company to shortchange them.

Also, in some of the states, there were pockets of protests by pensioners. In Edo State, one Denis Amayo took it upon himself to do it solo by threatening to commit suicide on February 14, 2014, if the state government failed to pay his eight months arrears of pension. He, however, reneged on his decision even without receiving the payment.

In Oyo State where some officials are currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes ComCONTINUED ON PAGE 38

38

BUSINESS | PENSION

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

CBN enlists two more pension fund custodians COMPETITION Central Bank of Nigeria names more Pension Fund Custodian to work with PFAs Sunday Ojeme

T

wo additional Pension Fund Custodians(PFCs) have been added to the list earlier released by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The latest entrants are Standard Chartered Nominees and

Nigeria International Bank Nominees. Their entrance has brought the number of PFCs in the country to eight as six others had earlier been adjudged fit to be in custody of the pension funds.

New Telegraph recalls that the CBN had earlier released names of six licensed pension custodians. They are First Pension Custodian, UBA Nominee, Stanbic Nominee, Zenith Pension Custodian, Diamond Pension Custodian and FCMB Nominee.

The Pension Fund Custodians are expected to collabo-

rate with the Pension Fund Administrators in managing workers’ contributions as stipulated under the Pension Reform Act 2004.

Whereas, the primary functions of the PFAs include opening of retirement savings accounts for all employees with a PIN attached, investing and managing pensions funds and assets and keeping proper books of account of all pension fund transactions managed by it including a data bank for same, it also include receiving directly from the

employers, the total pension contributions on behalf of the PFAs and advising the PFAs within 24 hours of the receipt of each contribution, holding pension funds and assets in safe custody and in trust for the employees and his beneficiaries, in a retirement savings account as well as assisting the PFAs in the settlement of claims and in the administration of the pension funds’ investment including the collection of dividends and other related activities.

The Federal Government took the decision to separate the functions based on the wrong management and non-

maximisation of previous pension schemes.

The Pension Act also provides that any individual or corporate body that carries on business as a PFA or a PFC without a licence from the National Pension Commission commits a criminal offence.

The penalty for an individual is a fine of not less than N5 million or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.

For a corporate body, the fine is not less than N10 million with a fine of N2 million for each Director or officer of the PFA or PFC with an imprisonment term of not less than five years

Q1 signals better days ahead for pensioners CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

Retirees at the pre-retiree workshop organised by the National Pension Commission in Lagos recently.

Premium Pension, Delta move to strengthen alliance

T

he collaboration between Premium Pension Limited and Delta State government was further strengthened recently when management of the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) held its periodic customer forum in the state as part of further awareness campaign throughout the South South region.

The visit, which is in line with the company’s policy of operating in close collaboration with its customers, was led by the Managing Director of the PFA, Mr. Wilson Ideva.

The team also went to Calabar in Cross River State, Port Harcourtin Rivers State and Benin City in Edo State.

The forum is aimed at feeling the pulse of customers regarding the contributory pension scheme and sensitising them on the company’s renewed resolve towards unassailable service delivery and custom care.

While delivering his address in Asaba, the Delta State capital, Ideva reiterated the importance of keeping in constant touch with customers especially in an industry that is still unfolding.

He said: “There is the need to interact with our customers to, among other things, identify how to serve them even better.

While the company has recorded tremendous achievements, it is important that these giant strides are communicated to the customers to bolster their confidence in us and the industry and also identify where there are challenges and seek improvement.”

He revealed that Premium Pension Limited currently had 12,288 retirees across the country and is unequivocally committed to timely payment of all their entitlements to avoid unnecessary hardship during retirement.

In his reaction, the Permanent Secretary, Delta State Local Government Bureau, Mr. Sunday Okoh, said the state government was overwhelmed with the progress made so far

by Premium Pension especially with the level of transparency displayed and cutting edge technology it also deploys.

He said: “We are overwhelmed by the services of Premium Pension Limited which is marked by transparency, cutting edge technology, timely and regular payment of pension benefits and prompt delivery of quarterly statement and SMS alerts.”

He described the occasion as unique and first of its kind where the chief executive of a PFA was physically present He noted that they were highly encouraged by CEOs who empathise with retirees in the state as exemplified by Premium Pension Limited.

mission over N2.5 billion fraud, pensioners also protested over delays in the payment of their pensions.

Ondo State was, however, a different case as the protest by the workers bordered on the state government’s transistion from the non-CPS to CPS. The workers had thought that it was a ploy by the government to defraud them in the long run. Reason, however, prevailed after the Governor of the state, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, assured them that the new scheme was meant to actually secure their future.

Contributory Pension Scheme For the CPS, save for the preretiree workshop organised in Lagos by the National Pension Commission, there were no much activities from the regulator. The workshop, which has been scheduled for the six geo-political zones, is meant for retirees to get back to the commission as often as they can.

This, according to the Director-General of the commission, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, is to enable the commission work harmoniously with all the stakeholders in the sector.

She also used the ocassion to disclose that the pension assets had increased to N4.09 trillion as at February 2014.

On the part of the Pension Fund Administrators, the February annual general meeting in Lagos provided an opportunity for them to reassure contributors that the pension fund was not only growing fast but was also very safe.

The chairman, Pension Fund

Ideva

Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Mr. Misbahu Yola, said despite some teething challenges the operators had continued to make progress with the growing number of registered contributors.

According to him, this has become even better with collaboration of other government institutions, for example, the Bureau of Public Procurement which has made compliance with the Pension Reform Act a precondition for participation in Federal Government contracts; there is also a condition to comply with pension law before you are given tax certificate, among other collaborative efforts.

He said: “We shall continue to adopt moral suasion to encourage and bring in other corporate organisations particularly smaller organisations covered under the scheme to join the contributory scheme.”

In spite of the progress made during the quarter, the individual PFAs were silent on their activities except for Premium Pension Limited that has been fully engaged in various events and promotion of the industry including participation in an educational summit in Lagos.

CRIME

39

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

JULIANA FRANCIS juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Leave us alone, kidnappers warn police boss on phone

The six suspects

Juliana Francis

T

he Officer in Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos, Mr. Abba Kyarri, was shocked to his marrows after his phone recently rang, he picked and heard the voice of a kidnapper he had been trailing, yelling that he should leave him and his gang members alone.

The kidnapper had yelled: “Leave us alone! Is the man we kidnapped your father? Is he your family member? What is your own in the matter? Why are you chasing us up and down? Are we armed robbers or is the ransom your money?”

A few hours after receiving the strange call, Kyarri gathered his men and they began restrategising on how to nab the notorious suspect, known as Peter Samuel a.k.a K boy.

Incidentally, Samuel was part of the notorious China kidnappers’ gang, which terrorised Lagos citizens for long in 2013 until their defeat by SARS men.

China’s gang was part of the gang that kidnapped Ejigbo Council boss, Kehinde Bamgbetan, a Briton, an Eastern High

CRIME QUOTE “We saw a police van and policemen inside the van were sleeping. Odun suggested we attack and collect their rifles, I obliged. We drove a Sports Utility Van and approached them, opened fire on the patrol van and it veered off the road. We went after it and killed all the policemen in the van and collected their rifles. After that operation, we went to Alfa Beach to cool off.” Abiodun Ogunjobi alias Abey Godogodo, leader of a notorious robbery gang, arrested in Lagos.

Court Judge and a Chinese national, amongst others in Lagos.

The gang had and still has connections in different parts of Nigeria and its tentacles spread to Benin Republic and Ghana.

After the phone call from Samuel, SARS traced him to Owerri, Imo State, in a hotel.

SARS detectives were able to monitor his movements for two weeks through his lover in the state.

According to reports, when he sighted the police detectives, he had bolted from the hotel and made a beeline for his car.

He had attempted to reverse and speed out of the hotel premises, but his every move was countered by the vigilant police team who were in another car.

Sensing that reversing was as difficult as going forward; Samuel chose the lesser of two evils. In front of him was an entrance, permanently padlocked by

the hotel staff. Behind him was SARS men in their car, just waiting for him to make a move.

He rammed into the locked gate, crashing it and also succeeded in damaging his car. He was alleged to have stepped out of the car with a smoking gun and attempted to bolt.

Orders to halt from policemen, fell on deaf ears. Worried that he might escape, police were said to have returned fire. A bullet was said to have got him and he died days later from the gunshot wound in a hospital.

After the death of China and other six members of his gang in 2013, it was thought other gang members, who fled, would learn and cease from crime. But not Samuel, reputed to be China’s second in command.

When he knew China had fallen, Samuel recruited new members and teamed them with old ones, to form the new gang, terrorising Nigerians.

But their reign of terror was as brief as a candle in the wind.

CO NTINUED O N PAGE 40

40 CRIME

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Girlfriend helps police nail suspect CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 3 9

When Samuel was killed, Kyarri’s phone number was discovered among his phone contacts. One locally made gun and five cartridges were recovered from him.

The subsequent death of Samuel, led to the arrest of six other suspects.

The suspects have been identified as Ugochukwu Ezeoma, Sunday Oha, Obioma Onuoha, James Emoh, Habeeb Garba and Bernard Okoro.

The end of the road began for the gang after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police; Umar Manko received reports that the gang kidnapped a victim returning from work at the Agbara area of Ogun State.

A police source said: “On February, 9, 2014, a man who work with GSK Company was kidnapped at Agbara area. His wife, after a long wait for him to return from work, raised the alarm. She reported to the police that her husband was missing.”

While the search for the supposed missing man was on his distraught wife received a call from the gang that she should pay a ransom of N100 million, if she ever wanted to see her husband alive.

Investigators later discovered that the victim was kidnapped and kept in one of the kidnappers’ dens in Ogun State.

SARS men, who were already working round the clock to rescue the victim, tracked his car to the Ajegunle area of Lagos.

The car was parked in a street. The plate number had been changed. Kyarri ordered his men to keep vigilance on the car, with the hope that any of the gang members might come for the car.

The policemen, who were in mufti, pretended to be residents.

After seven hours of waiting and killing time, the men had almost given up when two men strolled to the car and attempted to start it. The police swooped on them.

One of the suspects, who identified himself as Obioma Onuoha, a car dealer, said that Samuel gave him the car.

Although he denied being a kidnapper, he admitted to have received stolen vehicles from the gang, which he sells. Onuoha was used as bait to catch the other five members of the gang.

Onuoha, who sells cars at Berger, Mile 2, said: “I know the vehicles they brought to me to buy were stolen ones. I have bought five vehicles from them.

TITBITS Woman arrested for slapping horse

I

Samuel’s damaged car

We used to operate in Lagos before, but we relocated to Ogun because the heat from SARS men was too much for us I was trying to change the plate number on one of the cars when the police arrested me.

“A guy called School boy linked me to the gang. I had bought two End of Discussion cars from them. Later, I bought two Highlander Jeeps and one CRV Jeep from them. It was the last one, a Hyundai car that got me in trouble.

“I bought the Highlander Jeep for N600, 000, CRV for N700, 000. I sold the Highlander for N1.5 million and converted End of Discussion to my own use.”

SARS investigators discovered that the gang leader, Samuel, had escaped to Owerri, Imo State after the two men were picked up at Ajegunle. The team trailed him to the state and placed him under surveillance for two weeks.

On the day they finally confronted him at the hotel, he made futile attempts to escape, but died trying.

Another police source revealed: “Samuel’s lover was used by the police to monitor his movements until the fateful day he drove his car into the

hotel. As he was driving in, he didn’t know that the jeep behind him was filled with SARS men.”

SARS team had to go to the east three times and Cross Rivers State, before they were able to arrest Habeeb, another gang member.

Habeeb said: “We used to operate in Lagos before, but we relocated to Ogun because the heat from SARS men was too much for us.”

Meanwhile, two of the arrested suspects had taken SARS to the original camp where the GSK staff (victim) was detained, but he was not there.

The suspects believed that Samuel’s second in command and another fleeing member, are with the victim.

Narrating the part he played in the kidnap of the GSK staff at Agbara, Ugochukwu said that the kidnap was carried out by four members of the gang and others from the eastern part of the country.

He explained that Samuel and another gang member, presently on the run relocated with the victim on hearing that SARS had started apprehending their members.

Ugochukwu, a generator mechanic who later veered into commercial motorcycle operator and plied Mile 2 Expressway, said: “I was arrested in connection with a kidnap case. I was also involved in the kidnap of a Briton some time ago. The leader of my gang is Sam but we call

him K boy.

“He asked me to drive them along Oshodi road in his Jeep.

It was there we kidnapped the Briton, brought him out of his car. Four of us did the job and we used CRV Jeep to execute the operation. We took him to a warehouse where we keep victims, along Ago Palace way.”

He said that he had gunshot wound which he sustained during encounter with the police.

“I went to collect ransom with motorbike and the Police started shooting. The bullet hit me. I treated it at Alaba Rago.

The man that treated me was a doctor, but not in a hospital. I paid him just N3, 500. I lied to him that I was shot by a cult group.”

Oha who said that he joined the gang to raise money for his journey to India, added: “We were six in number, on three motorbikes. We used our motorbikes to block the man, Samuel showed him gun and the man cooperated. I drove the car to the warehouse.

“We used military camouflage cap during operation to fool the victim that we were military men.”

Bernard Okoro, 24, said he was arrested because he was Samuel’s half-brother.

Okoro said: “We are of the same father but different mothers. I was arrested in his house while police were looking for him. I’m not part of the gang.

I did not know he was into kidnapping business.”

n real life, however, taking a swing at a horse is generally frowned upon... but police say this woman, 29-year-old Stephanie Six, slapped one last week in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Not just any horse, either -- but a police horse.

Six denies slapping the horse.

“A horse was literally right in my face all of a sudden, so I put my hand up into his face as a reaction,” she told Central Florida News 13. “They’re saying I slapped this horse when that’s not the case. I was basically getting it out of my face. I just moved his face out of my face, I did not hit him.”

One of her friends was tased by police after an altercation, so it seems like this may have been one wild night out on the town.

Especially for the horse.

Six has been charged with battery of a police horse.

Man beats up inmate for insulting Michael Jackson

J

effrey Salery, a 50-year-old inmate at the John Latorraca Facility, pummeled another, putting him in the hospital, all because he insulted Michael Jackson.

Salary told correctional officers that a 21-year-old-inmate “disrespected Michael Jackson,” according to the Modesto Bee. The inmate’s exact words were not specifically clear.

He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Salery is expected to be charged with aggravated assault and battery.

Priest accused of selling cocaine

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Catholic Priest at the University of Illinois faces charges of selling cocaine from his church office and rectory. Rev. Christopher Layden, 33, pleaded not guilty to two counts related to selling cocaine. He was arrested at St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, and has been suspended by the Catholic Diocese of Peoria.

FAMILY AFFAIRS Page 41, FRIDAY, April 4, 2014

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PRINCESS ODUNAYOMI OKE

WOMAN EDITOR odunayomitide2010@gmail.com 0909 124 6811 (sms only)

Domestic violence fast becoming endemic In recent times, Nigerians are becoming familiar with headlines like: ‘Man kills banker wife, in Lagos’, ‘Father guns down son in Anambra, in an attempt to kill wife’, ‘Police corporal batters wife in Benin City,’ Police corporal kills self, wife, six others in Ogun state. All these show the spate of wife battering/killings. But is this how some men would just continue to kill women? President Women Arise Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei - Odumakin, in this interview with ODUNAYOMI OKE, speaks on how domestic violence is fast becoming endemic in the society.

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s a woman advocate, what can you say about the rate of domestic violence in the society?

Domestic Violence has reached alarming rate in our society. The most alarming is the increase in the rate of domestic violence among couples aged 25-40. Young Couples who are said to marry for a reason of love and affection and expected to live together in love and therefore experience less or zero violence but the reverse is the case these day. The case of domestic violence is so high that I in every 5 women experience one form of domestic violence or the other. The most common domestic violence in recent time is battery, physical aggression, sexual coercion, physiological abuse and controlling behaviors.

Every day we open the newspaper not less than 5 cases of domestic violence are reported.

These are only a little out of the incidences of domestic violence that happen on a daily basis.

Some research report has it that not less than 20 women experience one form of domestic violence or the other, every day.

What do you think should be done to curb this problem, especially those leading to murder cases?

I think the most important thing is for women who are mostly the victims of domestic violence to be more alert and guard against violence.

Women/girls should speak out the moment they experience any form of domestic violence.

Also, we need to review some of our laws that are related with domestic violence such as the criminal code etc.

Furthermore, the federal government needs to pass the bill on Domestic Violence. The bill if it becomes a law will curb the incidence of domestic violence because it will prohibit all forms of violence against human persons.

The police will also need to be more proactive on the issue of domestic violence against women who are in marriage. The police should not treat such cases as ‘family matter’ which they often refer to the family to settle.

Lagos State Government in 2007 signed into law the protection against Domestic Violence Bill to prohibit Domestic violence the adoption of this bill in other station of the federation will help in no small measure to curb domestic

violence.

Traditional and community gatekeepers also need to be observant and proactive in reporting incidences of active in reporting incidences of domestic violence before it degenerate into murder.

What advice do you have for women, especially those who are presently witnessing domestic violence or harassment?

My advice to women especially those who presently experiencing domestic violence is that they should learn to speak out immediately, and not to suffer in silence. Silence is no longer golden in this instance. They should move out and seek help. There are quite a number of support centers for victims of domestic violence.

They should look out for these centers and report incidence of domestic violence.

They can come to Women Arise for Change Initiative or call any of our hotlines for immediate attention. The Lagos State Government also have some support centers such as: The Office of Public Defender (OPD); the citizen mediation center of the ministry of justice and the public advice center (PAC) at the national level, victims can report to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in their zone.

The police should not treat such cases as ‘family matter’ which they often refer to the family to settle

Joe Okei - Odumakin

Joe Okei - Odumakin

42 FamilY AFFAIRS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Busy, but guilty - A reflection on parenting

Traders

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his may somehow sound contradictory, but truth is some Parents are actually busy, but guilty. Especially these days, where what obtains in developed countries is being borrowed without our value system been taken into consideration.

The trend now is that once a baby is a year old, he is ripe enough to start school; whether a proper school, a day care centre or some so-called home school. Reason, ‘So the mother could concentrate on other things’. Irony of it is that even women who sit at home or those who engage in trading from home (on-line or off-line) also join in the trend.

Though I am strongly of the opinion that parenting is a joint responsibility, but fact remains that mothers are the care-givers and home-makers. Even when a man is there to support, it will be an aberration to expect a man to sit at home nursing a baby while the woman works. Even our society with all the empowerment talks on role or is it gender-equality, frowns at that.

That is why though it is no longer news to have women as Board Members, CEO/ Chairmen of big organizations, it is still counted as news when a man is found on the street early in the morning; with a baby strapped to his back while holding two other children in both hands; leading them to school.

Sometimes ago, I came across a mother who felt her children who were just in primary school were coming between her and her business. So she pleaded with the school authority to put a boarding facility in place for pupils whose Parents were too busy to attend to them daily.

According to her, she would concentrate better on her business, when she had to think less of them daily. Also she would

be free to travel far and wide, and she would only bother herself with them only during holidays. She was so serious about it that one would conclude she either did not see anything wrong in that, or she just cared less about the consequences.

An incident I witnessed recently was another one that convinced me that some mothers, though busy trying to make ‘ends meet,’ are guilty of being careless. The time was about 11:47pm, and all alone in the midst of some men at a motor park, was a girl of about 14 or 15years.

The reporter in me would not just leave the scene without trying to find out what business was going on there at that time of the day. A closer look at the girl showed she had fresh make-up on her face, which could mean she got to the place not too long before the time, or she had just re-touched the make-up.

I moved closer and pretended as if I wanted to buy something, and i used the opportunity to engage her in a discussion. I asked about her mother, and she casually said ‘she is not here yet.’ At about 12midnight, I pondered in my mind. ‘So how would you go home now?’ At that she laughed and said ‘Our day has just started, as we will be here selling till day break, so my mother could still join at any time, and if she does not show up, I could manage alone.’

Also, just few days ago, some teenage secondary school boys were caught with charms and ammunitions in the dead of the night, holding occult meeting. I wonder where their Parents would say they were at that time they were meant to be in bed at home. Well, maybe in their hostels in school.

Now, if the elites feel such carelessness is peculiar to the illiterates, maybe this story will interest you. Recently, an incident hap-

pened in Lagos at a filling station, where many cars were on queue waiting to buy fuel. Then it was noticed that the driver in a fully air-conditioned car with a little girl, refused to move when it got to his turn. Others were horning for him to move, still there was no movement.

It was at that instance that a concerned woman decided to move closer and peep from the windscreen, only to discover that the driver had been carried completely away. She then noticed the innocent girl of about eight years old was bent over the man, sucking his manhood.

She raised an alarm, but the driver drove away from the scene to avoid the wrath of the people around. But some people managed to copy the plate number of the car carrying the sticker of a Pentecostal Church in Lagos.

The Sunday following, the woman headed to the Church and requested that the man with that plate number should come out to re-pack. But to her surprise, it was a different man who showed up; the little girl’s real father. Still, she narrated the story, and the Parents were shocked. The driver was later arrested, but could that ever correct the wrong?

That led to many shocking testimonies of how carelessness on the part of mothers in particular, has led to all manner of abuse on children; by drivers, teachers, house-helps and even some people close to their family.

The conclusion is that this situation is not peculiar to a class of people. It is therefore the responsibility of Parents to ensure they don’t get too busy to be there for their children. Parents are therefore encouraged to pay the price today, so as not to face the pain tomorrow.

COUNSELLING My sister-in-law, who is about 40years old, has stayed with us for over six years. But in recent times, she has been showing signs of acute depression, and this situation is affecting everyone in the house, particularly the children. Will it be fair to ask her to excuse us for this reason?

Depression is an enemy that keeps down its victims in selfimprisonment. Irony of it is that it magnifies a situation beyond its normal proportion, so anyone in this state needs not just help, but love and acceptance.

Though you did not indicate whether your sis-in-law is single, widowed, divorced, married, or if she’s your wife’s elder or younger.

But whatever the case, a 40year old lady would never be happy squatting under someone else’s roof; rather she would prefer a place to call her own.

You may not like to hear this, but it will be very unfair ‘to tell her to excuse you for this reason.’

No, not right now! Instead, show her more love, and try to ignore her manners, as this could help you get to the root cause of the sudden depression.

If it is the ‘obvious,’ then she is just been human, and showing that she has feelings. But does she work? Does her job or whatever she does for a living gives her joy and fulfilment? Is she in good terms with her sister? Have you ever spoken with her about getting an apartment of her own? Or what effort have you made to assist her, in case fund is a constraint?

Carefully look into these areas, and you will sure get direction as to how best to handle the situation.

As for the children, though I don’t have their age range, but the moment the adults in the house decide not to make an issue of the situation; they also will flow along. Children are that wonderful.

If she’s ‘thrown out’ in that state, she could get mean and do the unthinkable. And I am sure you don’t want that.

Talk to us What are you worried about?

Your Health, Career, Children, relationship with Spouse, Partner, or in-laws? Do you have a question you want to ask, but you are embarrassed about? Why must you remain worried, sad or depressed when you could talk to someone?

Feel free to talk to the counsellor on this page. You will be glad you did!

NOTE: We will not publish your name or contact, for any reason.

FamilY AFFAIRS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

What women should know about placenta previa Placenta previa, though an anomaly, could be very delicate to manage. In this interview, Dr. Owonikoko Kola Musliudin; a Senior Lecturer/ Honourary Consultant, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, shares on the situation with ODUNAYOMI OKE

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s an O&G specialist, what can you say about a delivery situation where the Placenta threatens to, or in some cases, comes out before the baby?

This is PLACENTA PREVIA, a situation in which the placenta is partially or wholly implanted in the lower uterine segment. It is a major cause of bleeding from virginal in pregnancy after the age of viability (28weeks) that is, antepartum hemorrhage. It classifies basically into minor or major depending on the amount of placenta found in the lower uterine segment.

Is there a particular cause, or what are the factors responsible for this?

Placenta Previa is seen in about 1 in 200 births.

About 90% of patient with this condition are women with 2 or more previous pregnancy i.e. multiparous women. The particular cause of this condition remains unknown. However, certain risk factors are implicated - increasing maternal age(>36yrs), previous placenta Previa, previous uterine surgeries like C/S, dilatation &curettage, large placenta as found in multiple pregnancy, smoking and intrauterine adhesions.

Is it an anomaly and how true is it that it could claim the life of the pregnant woman during delivery?

It is an abnormal situation which is responsible for painless bleeding in

Women with above mentioned conditions are expected to book their pregnancy with OBSGYN doctors as their condition requires such attention

delivery for ALL cases of Placenta Previa. This is to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality.

In a situation whereby a woman has experienced such twice or more, is it advisable that the woman still get pregnant again?

In situation where a woman has had placenta Previa twice or more, it is likely that future pregnancy(s) will still be Previa and at each case there is associated major Previa and repeat C/S. With each episode of repeat C/S more likely complication occurs than the previous one. Especially is the postpartum hemorrhage which account for 70% of maternal mortality. Thus, in situation of repeat placenta Previa patient are advised to limit the number of the desired pregnancy.

Kola Owonikoko

pregnancy usually in the second and third trimester.

It is responsible for about 20-30% of maternal death, which results from hemorrhage.

If detected on time, can it be corrected?

NO! This condition could not be corrected. However patient with this condition usually present with "warning bleeding" in the second trimester or it could be accidentally found during a routine ultrasound during pregnancy. The warning bleeding is usually a bright red blood. The management of this condition depends on the amount of vaginal bleeding, the maturity of the pregnancy and fetal viability.

Then, what delivery option could be recommended as best for the expectant mother, to avoid complications?

Immediate delivery is recommended for cases with non-profuse hemorrhage at term or those with profuse life-threatening bleeding at any stage of pregnancy; after initial resuscitation and stabilization of the patient. McAfee regimen is recommended for patient with non-profuse non-life threatening bleeding before term (37weeks). It involves admission into a hospital that is capable of handling emergency C/S, and availability of blood transfusion services/facilities to care for preterm babies. It aims to conservatively manage the pregnancy till term when a mature baby will be delivered.

Is it true that women with this case may not have contractions, and must be induced to get the baby out when due?

Caesarean Section(C/S) is the standard practice of

In this age of enlightenment, and as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, what other important things do you think pregnant women should know about this condition?

All patients with placenta Previa will be delivered by C/S as earlier discussed, but attempt are often made to conserve the pregnancy till term where a matured baby aimed to be delivered.

Women with this condition are not allowed to go for spontaneous labor i.e. having uterine contractions because the placenta comes before the baby.

Women with above mentioned conditions are expected to book their pregnancy with OBSGYN doctors as their condition requires such attention.

Early booking for antenatal care after 2 missed periods should be encouraged so that necessary screening would be feasible.

It is important to note that early report of any bleeding per virginal in pregnancy will assist to rule out this condition.

43

SEXUALITY EDUCATION As we all know, sexuality is not an easy topic for parents to deal with, particularly once their children reach adolescence. But below, are some well mapped out ways to introduce the topic to pre-teens.

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR PRE- TEEN •You should talk to your child about sexuality before she goes through puberty.

•Be an approachable parent so your child feels like she can talk to you about anything.

•Answer questions simply and directly. Give short, honest, factual answers.

WHAT YOUR PRE- TEEN NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT SEXUALITY Talking to Pre-teens about sexuality begins with a foundation of good communication. Your preteen will feel more comfortable asking you questions about sexuality if they have been able to ask you other difficult questions while growing up. Make yourself an "ask-able" parent (someone who is easy to talk to) and they will learn to trust that they can approach you about topics such as sexuality later on.

Before talking with your pre- teen, you can prepare by: •Learning and using the proper names for body parts and functions.

•Getting facts from reliable sources of information.

•Thinking through your own feelings and values about love and sex, and then sharing them with your pre-teen in your conversations • Finding out what your child already knows, or thinks she knows.

TIPS ON HOW TO TALK TO YOUR PRETEEN ABOUT SEXUALITY: •Make the discussion about sexuality an ongoing conversation. Use everyday events to talk and take advantage of teachable moments.

•Use a friend's pregnancy, a news article, or a TV show to start a conversation.

•Be approachable. Reassure your child that she can talk to you about anything.

•Listen more than you speak. Talk with, not at, your child.

•Don't worry about seeming out of touch or being embarrassed.

TIPS ON HOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS: •Don't make a big deal of your child's questions. Let sexuality be a normal topic of conversation.

•Understand the question before answering. Repeat the question and then ask your child if that's what she meant.

•Answer simply and directly. Give short, honest, factual answers. If possible, answer questions when they are asked, even if you need to do it quietly in a public place. If this isn't possible, say something such as, "I'm glad you asked, let's talk about it on the way home." to b e C O N T I N U E D

E X H O RTATI O N

44

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adeolaomoyusuf@yahoo.com 0803 438 0340 APRIL 4, 2014

NO FACT A Sharia Court sitting in Bauchi State struck out a gay sex charge for lack of evidence Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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wo men accused of having gay sex and belonging to a homosexual club have been set free by a Sharia Court in Bauchi State, North-East Nigeria in a case that shows the magnitude, which Islam gave to provision of facts by prosecutors.

“There was a lack of evidence to convict the young men,” the judge ruled.

Court clerk Abdul Mohammed told Reuters news agency

Islamic court acquits men of gay charge that the men were acquitted because no-one saw them having sex.

"He [the judge] said sodomy is punishable with death and requires the testimony of four witnesses to the act and in the case of the two men, no-one saw them committing sodomy," Mr Mohammed is quoted as saying.

These are the first acquittals since Islamic courts in Bauchi city began trying a group arrested late last year for alleged homosexual offences.

Homosexual acts are ille-

NASFAT shops for new president, 23 other executives TRANSITION NASFAT inaugurated Shura for the selection of National Executive Council for next two years

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he Nasrul-Lahi-Fatih Society (NASFAT) has started a Shura process for the selection of the National Executive Council, which will presided over the global affairs of the association for the next two year.

The society, which made this announcement on its website disclosed that the Shura was inaugurated on Sunday March 9, 2014 at the Headquarters, Alausa, Lagos.

The new NEC will replace the outgoing 24-man executive led by Alhaji Sheriff Yussuf as President.

“The Shura Nomination Form is hereby presented for download below to nominate deserving members for any of the positions listed in the form.”

It would be recalled that the out-going NEC was inauguration on Sunday August 26, 2012

"O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew!"- Sūrat l-Jumuʿah (Friday), Qur'an Chapter 62 Verse 9.

at the NASFAT International site, Mowe, Ogun State.

They are Alhaji Sheriff Yussuf, President; Engr. Muhammed Mijinyawa Abdullah, Vice President 1; Alh. Abdulwasiu Bolaji, VP2; Barr Luqman Folorunsho, General Secretary; Alh. Nofisat Arogundade, Women Leader; Alh. Mustapha Bello, Assistant General Secretary; Alh. Oduyoye Muftau Bola Gbenga, Finance Secretary; Bro. Lukman Adekunle Akande, Welfare

gal in Nigeria under Islamic and secular law - the latter was tightened in January.

Same-sex marriages, gay groups and shows of samesex public affection are now banned throughout Nigeria.

The men were arrested after residents raided a home in Bauchi, finding one of them wearing shorts while the other was fully clothed, Reuters reports.

Five people have been convicted of homosexual offences by Bauchi's Islamic courts since January.

They were sentenced to 20 lashes each.

The cases of five other suspects are pending, including that of a Christian who is expected to be tried in a secular court.

Most states in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria have adopted Islamic law, known as Sharia, since the end of military rule in 1999.

Nigeria is a deeply conservative country, where the majority of people - Christian and Muslim - are opposed to homosexuality.

Secretary; Alh. AbdurRasheed Adebola Onanuga, Project Secretary; Bro. Kamaldeen Bakare Akinjide, Legal Secretary; Bro. Ayodeji Abdulwaheed Abdulrauf, Business Secretary.

Others are Alh. Usman Monsurat I.F, Children Affairs Secretary; Alh. Animashaun Muniru Adeniyi, Membership Secretary; Dr. Yusuf Ademola Amisu, Medical Secretary; Alh. Adebiyi Basheer Bamgbose, PR Secretary; Alh. Suwebat Aduke Kupolati, Empowerment Secretary; Bro. Amusa Abdullateef Olatunde, Treasurer; Alh, Moroof Ajiroba Adedokun; Auditor, Capt.

Abdurrahman Adisa Alashe, Security sec; Bro. Tiamiyu Mutiu, Youth Sec; Alh. Rafeeat Ajoke Oginni, Education Secretary; Bro. Daud Sunmonu, Ex-Officio; Bro. Kamaldeen

Badmus, Ex-Officio and Alhaja Titi Bakare, Ex-Officio.

In the same vein, the General Manager of the newly constituted NASFAT Agency for Zakat and Sadaqat, Alhaji ABIBU AHMED, has assumed duty on Monday, 3rd March, 2014 at NASFAT WORLWIDE Secretariat.

“He takes charge of the Agency who takes over from the efforts of the Zakat Committee and has the following objectives: To provide credible platform for the collection, distribution, administration of Zakat and Sadaqat and to create awareness on Zakat and Sadaqat by organizing, sponsoring and promoting enlightenment, informative and sensitization programs on the virtues Sadaqat and calculation of Zakat.

Holly Ka'abar in Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH QUESTION

I am a young Muslimmah who knows how to observe Solat quite well, but I'm baffled on how and when to observe Nafilah's.

I don't know whether nafilahs are to be observe before each solat or after each solat.

Moreso, I don't actually know how to recite the aniyan.

I've being reciting it using my dialect, but I will be glad if you can enlighten on how to say it the normal way.

Thanks.

ANSWER

First of all Niyyat (your intention for offering the specific Nafilah) is said silently in your mind without uttering it loudly, for any prayer.

And you can say it in your language also, it is acceptable.

As to Nafilah prayers, some are said before and some after the obligatory prayers, and in some both.

This is the number that are generally agreed upon by authentic sources of Sunnah. Fajr- Two before and none after (audible to your ears only as a lady).

Zuhr four before (silent), and 2+2 after. Asr - four before (silent) and none (0) after, Maghrib - none (0) before, and 2+2 after, and Esha - four before (audible to your ears only as a lady) and 2+2+3 after, (last three is shafa'i and witr).

It is recommended highly that one actually perform Nafilah regularly as they move him from an ordinary believer at the entry point of Islam, to the second level Iman (strengthening of faith) and with more recommended action and piety you can then reach the third and highest level for non prophets (Ihsan).

May Allah assist us all to reach the highest level by such additional recommended ibadah (Amen).

METRO 45

Friday, April 4, 2014

Intending couple, pregnant women, die in Lagos boat accident STRANGE A man and his wife-to-be die a few days to their wedding Muritala Ayinla

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n intending couple, two pregnant women and a young girl were among the eight passengers who lost their lives in a Lagos fresh boat accident.

The intending couple’s wedding, according investigation, had already scheduled their wedding for this weekend.

The body of the bride-to-be had been identified in the morgue while the groom-to-be is still missing.

Twenty-eight passengers were said to be on board the boat belonging to Bell Marine which capsized about 6pm on Wednesday at the Third Mainland Bridge – Oworonsoki axis on its way to Majidun area

The car allegedlly parked by one of the victims

of Ikorodu.

Apart from those who drowned, other their valuables, including

cash, were lost in the accident.

Investigation shows that most of the victims were residents of Ikoro-

Bendel Brewery workers protest unpaid 28 months’ salaries

House, Benin, the Edo State capital, to demand their 28 months’ unpaid Benin salaries.

The workers appealed to the state ggrieved workers of Bendel Breweries Plc yesterday invaded government to rescue the once bubthe Dennis Osadebe Government bling company from going under.

The Chairman of the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employee (NUFBTE), Comrade Osabuohien Mikemunity would take immediate Horace, said they were being s of the steps to bring down standing owed 28 months’ salary arrears. de sev- trees of similar stature to avert He said: “Salaries need to be tempts disasters in the future. paid to keep the workers’ morale e past.

The community leader, Mr high. Early this year workers om now Okoronkwo Uche, who sym- said they would no longer continue to work without salary.” uld be- pathised with the owners of munity. the affected buildings, said Mike-Horace noted that m, the it was a good thing because, agreement reached with manhouses according to him, some peo- agement of the firm had been dangers ple have made the tree their breached and urged the governes near shrine where they make s. sacrifices to their gods on a he com- regular basis.

Cajetan Mmuta

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stroys houses

ment to intervene to save their lives, the company and their families.

He said: “The management appealed to us that we should go back that money would be sourced to pay us. On February 28, we went back to work, till now nothing has happened; the agreement was breached.”

But Mike-Horace expressed optimism that the state government’s timely intervention would douse the tension in the company.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Stephen Idehenre, who addressed the protesters on behalf of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, urged them to be patient as government was taking steps to address their plight.

According to him, very soon the outcome will be communicated to them.

du who chose to travel by water to circumvent the perennial traffic gridlock on Ikorodu Road.

They were said to be returning home from Ebute Ero Jetty, where they boarded the boat.

But 12 passengers were lucky to be rescued by the emergency agencies, while a few of the passengers died on their way to the hospital.

Some of the survivors said they lost valuable items. One of them said she lost N200,000.

The management of Bell Marine claimed the boat hit a rock before it capsized, claiming that no one was missing.

Emergency agencies, including local divers, marine policemen, Navy Marine, police disaster rescue unit, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) had a hectic time trying to recover more

bodies.

There were, however, conflicting reports from the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Lagos State Inland Waterways Authority (LASWA). NEMA claimed two pregnant women died in the incident while LASWA argued it was only a pregnant woman.

But a car belonging to one of the victims was still parked at the Bell Marine Jetty. The victim’s body is yet to be found.

One of the survivors, Mrs Abimbola Bunmi, said 25 passengers were on board. Bunmi is a trader on Lagos Island who deals on shoes at Ebute Ero market.

Another victim, identified as Isaac Akere, was declared missing.

Meanwhile, LASWA said in a statement that the accident involved a passenger boat belonging to Bell Marine and has 21 passengers on board when it capsized.

Driver rapes teenage sisters Dominic Adewole Asaba

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randy driver, with the Delta City Taxi, identified as Robert Ojeru, was arrested yesterday for sexually abusing pupils of Ozigwe Primary School, Asaba.

The driver was apprehended after defiling two girls, whose mother claimed are 13 and 14 years old.

The girls were rushed to an undisclosed public hospital for prompt medical examination and the necessary laboratory tests.

The driver, it was gathered, at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Okpanam, was using an uncompleted building to commit the crime.

The girls’ mother was suspicious when she noticed the unusual behaviours in the children after closing hours two days ago.

Narrating her ordeal, the woman said “my daughter told me that the bus driver took them to an uncompleted building behind the popular private school at Okpanam town, Marble Hills Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, where he forcefully removed their clothes and threatened not to carry them again if they told anybody.”

The woman added that the driver would force the girls to remain in the bus after dropping other unsuspecting kidsandzoomedoff totheusualuncompletedbuildingwhereherapedthemserially before allowing them to go home.

Bewildered, the parent raced to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Okpanam, to report.

She said: “I want justice on this matter for the sake of other innocent children.Letthestategovernmentstepinto this case. I want to appeal to the police to do a thorough investigation and charge the driver to court.”

Tricycle operator stabs man to death over face Chris Ejim Yenagoa

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tricycle operator has allegedly stabbed a 28-year-old man identified as Twanton Weke to death in Bayelsa State.

The deceased, worked with the Ministry of Education, was killed because of disagreement over fare.

The incident occurred in Gbarantoru in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the deceased, who is also the grandson

of the paramount ruler of the Gbarantoru Kingdom, Chief Benjamin Weke, was stabbed three times.

The autopsy report, according to a police source, showed that a deep cut in Weke’s chest led his death. The source said yesterday that the incident occurred while the deceased was returning from a late night party hosted near the Gbarain/Ubie Oil and Gas Gathering Facility near the Gbratoru community.

However, two versions of what led to the scuffle emerged after the

arrest of the Delta State-born tricycle operator.

While one version claimed that the deceased had, after the party, boarded the tricycle popularly called Keke NAPEP with two girls and gave the driver N1,000 as fare asked for his balance.

The tricycle rider insisted that the money covered the three persons. Attempts by the deceased to get his balance led to the stabbing.

But rider reportedly claimed that the deceased was with two other boys who tried to beat him

up and snatch his tricycle. The rider claimed that he stabbed the deceased in self-defence during the alleged attempt to dispossess him of his tricycle.

Members of the state security outfit known as Door Akpor were said to have arrived the scene after Weke had been killed arrested the tricycle operator.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident.

He, however, said investigation was ongoing.

46 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

3-Apr-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement.

Bonds

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

Description

Price

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

9.20 9.25 4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

45.00 100.00 535.00 327.47 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 50.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

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

0.24 0.49 1.05 2.37 3.07 3.32 3.41 4.16 5.24 5.56 7.82 9.95 14.66 15.13 15.63 16.30

13.57 13.77 14.04 13.54 13.57 13.47 13.48 13.52 13.66 13.55 13.55 13.64 13.54 13.53 13.53 13.58

12.93 13.43 13.87 13.46 13.45 13.35 13.36 13.42 13.58 13.46 13.49 13.58 13.49 13.48 13.47 13.52

98.91 97.94 90.46 99.00 103.70 90.52 88.99 91.21 108.50 74.98 113.40 103.00 109.17 93.32 67.61 76.70

99.06 98.09 90.61 99.15 104.00 90.82 89.29 91.51 108.80 75.28 113.70 103.30 109.47 93.62 67.91 77.00

9.20 29-JUN-2014 9.25 28-SEP-2014 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,132.04

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.58 1.14 1.75 2.69 3.05 3.26

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

14.82 16.63 16.00 15.51 14.95 14.47

92.11 83.34 101.81 91.03 88.23 86.73

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.34 0.53 1.41 1.01 1.31 1.32 3.04 1.88 3.75 2.72 4.50 2.72 2.72 3.30 3.37 5.64 3.33 4.05 6.65 4.05 4.09

4.88 5.99 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46 1.94 2.74 2.74 1.00 1.44 1.95

18.10 19.78 18.32 17.28 18.38 17.40 19.05 21.28 15.29 15.30 14.54 14.50 14.71 14.47 15.93 15.49 16.21 16.25 14.53 14.95 15.47

98.55 97.18 93.01 96.24 95.26 98.17 79.78 89.05 96.37 97.31 98.26 100.18 107.56 100.12 98.95 96.31 96.48 95.79 95.67 104.73 104.38

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto A-/GCR

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

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

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

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

567.90

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR

*UPDC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

*FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO

Nil

A-/Agusto

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

UBA

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR BBB-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

*C & I LEASING # *DANA

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA # *CHELLARAMS

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.51

1.00

14.78

98.44

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.71

5.21

19.10

96.37

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.75

8.71

22.62

96.23

17-Aug-10

10.00

15.00

17-Aug-15

0.89

4.88

18.88

93.13

09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11

12.00 14.00

37.50 1.50

09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16

0.97 1.05

1.00 2.63

15.04 16.67

97.47 97.85

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.49

1.00

14.54

96.87

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.56

1.34

14.87

98.69

30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12

13.00 18.00

20.00 0.94

30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17

3.49 2.11

4.52 1.88

18.00 15.48

87.43 105.52 98.13

09-Apr-11

16.00

8.01

09-Apr-18

2.02

3.48

17.10

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.63

09-Sep-18

2.43

5.20

18.75

98.80

09-Sep-11

16.00

1.00

09-Sep-18

2.43

5.06

18.61

101.86

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.47

3.06

16.60

92.01

18-Oct-13

15.75

3.00

18-Oct-18

2.29

2.29

15.86

99.87

17-Feb-12 14-Nov-13

17.00 15.25

0.54 2.05

17-Feb-19 14-Nov-20

2.63 6.62

6.11 2.76

19.63 16.29

95.22 95.84

11-Feb-18

3.86

1.00

14.50

87.58

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

175.67

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Rating/Agency

12.00 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value ($'mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.57

5.41

106.63

107.54

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.68

4.47

101.71

102.51

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.96

5.84

102.92

103.80

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

Corporate Eurobonds Afren PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

3.81

3.20

113.34

114.51

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.37

4.54

104.19

105.90

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.24

5.95

99.07

100.18

B+/S&P

Access Bank PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.98

6.58

100.78

101.94

B/S&P; B/Fitch

Fidelity Bank PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.41

8.03

94.77

96.04

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.21

4.74

114.08

115.06

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.22

6.70

103.74

105.74

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.18

5.91

101.79

102.88

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

2,960.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 35 42 49 56

FIXINGS Maturity 10-Apr-14 17-Apr-14 24-Apr-14 8-May-14 15-May-14 22-May-14 29-May-14

Bid Discount (%) 11.70 12.00 11.10 12.00 12.10 12.00 12.10

Offer Discount (%) 11.45 11.75 10.85 11.75 11.85 11.75 11.85

Bid Yield (%) 11.73 12.06 11.17 12.14 12.27 12.20 12.33

Tenor CALL 7 DAYS 30 DAYS 60 DAYS 90 DAYS 180 DAYS

NIBOR

Money Market Rate (%) 10.7500 11.0000 11.3750 11.7083 11.9583 12.2083

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

10.50

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M

163.78 164.08 164.34 164.92 166.10

163.88 164.35 164.70 165.64 167.44

Tenor Call

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25

16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10

16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00

600.00 50.00 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30

7.82 9.95 14.66 15.13 15.63 16.30

13.55 13.64 13.54 13.53 13.53 13.58

13.49 13.58 13.49 13.48 13.47 13.52

Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds Sanctity of Truth

AMCON

Friday, April 4, 2014

FMBN

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds

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

RESOLUTION

West African Capital Markets have agreed on uniform obligation for listing

T

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

14.82 16.63 16.00 15.51 14.95 14.47

he West African Capital Markets Integration TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Council (WACMIC) has Corporate Bonds the harmonisaapproved A+/Agusto; AA/GCR LAFARGE WAPCO tion of listing requirements Aa/Agusto GTB µ and minimum standards for NGC Nil Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC corporate governance among A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS BB+/GCR member countries.*CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO The approval was part of A-/Agusto FSDH A/GCR the council's resolution at its UBA BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING 4th meeting held in Abidjan, BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA# Cote D'Ivoire.

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER# # AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER In a communiqué issued A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA atBbb+/Agusto; the end of the*LAmeeting, BBB+/GCR CASERA # BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS members also recognised the A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO importance of not only harTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE monising minimum listing Supranational Bond requirements to ensure that AAA/S&P IFC they are at par with internaTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE tional best practices, but also Rating/Agency Issuer aligning corporate governance FGN Eurobonds standards of listed entities with the Organisation for EcoBB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch;Cooperation and Develnomic FGN BB-/S&P opment BB-/Fitch; (OECD) principles.

BB-/S&P To this end, jurisdictions TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE will set minimum requireCorporate Eurobonds ments, which will be enforceB-/S&P; B/Fitch Afren PLC I able by the regulators.

GTBank PLC I B+/S&P; TheB+/Fitch council also adopted GTBank PLC II B+/S&P Access Bank PLC the guidelines for the issuance B/Fitch Fidelity Bank PLC ofB/S&P; common passports for Capi-

05-Aug-09 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

14.00 KWARA 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

Onyema 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

talMPR+7.00 Market Operators (CMOs) DANA 9-APR-2018 9-SEP-2018 toMPR+7.00 trade TOWER across the region.

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 The meeting recognised the 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA need toCASERA have 18-OCT-2018 minimum profesMPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 sional qualification standards.

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 To this end, Council urged countries without training and certification institutes to imme10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 diately come up with some form of acceptable regime for qualiDescription fying and admitting brokers in the short term with a view to JAN 28, 2021 developing 6.75 a curriculum for training its CMOs. Thereafter, 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 a short training programme 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 would be organised.

The meeting also recognised the increasing importance of 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 standards and the need to have 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 a body responsible for ensur6.00 NOV 08, 2018 JUL 25, 2017 ing that all 7.25 training and cer6.88 MAY 09, 2018 tifying institutes within the 10.25 APR 08, 2019

#

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

W’African Markets to harmonise listing requirements NA

Chris Ugwu

113.70 103.30 109.47 93.62 67.91 77.00

4,132.04

Rating/Agency

A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto A-/GCR

113.40 103.00 109.17 93.32 67.61 76.70

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

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.58 1.14 1.75 2.69 3.05 3.26

47

92.11 83.34 101.81 91.03 88.23 86.73

Stock market sustains bull run

1,304.32

BULLISH

17.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00 80.00 30.00 11.40 87.00 5.00 5.00

05-Aug-14 15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

Market sentiment sustains positive trajectory

T

0.34 0.53 1.41 1.01 1.31 1.32 3.04 1.88 3.75 2.72 4.50 2.72 2.72 3.30 3.37 5.64 3.33 4.05 6.65 4.05 4.09

he Nigerian equities market remained bullish yesterday as investors’ sentiment on equities remained green following a 0.20 per cent gains recorded by the twin market indices -NSE All Share Index and Market Capitalisa567.90 tion.

Consequently, at the close 07-Oct-11 11.50 11.80 07-Oct-14 0.51 of business18-Dec-14 yesterday, 0.71 mar18-Dec-09 13.50 13.17 01-Apr-10 17.00 2.00 capitalisation 31-Dec-14 0.75 ket increased 17-Aug-10 10.00 15.00 17-Aug-15 0.89 by 0.20 per cent or N25 billion 09-Dec-10 12.00 37.50 09-Dec-15 0.97 06-Jan-11 14.00 1.50 06-Jan-16 1.05 from N12.356 trillion traded 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.49 last Wednesday to N12.381 tril25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.56 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 30-Sep-17.

3.49 lion on Thursday 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.94 2.11 region maintain a harmonized Also, the 30-Nov-17 NSE All Share In09-Apr-11 16.00 8.01 09-Apr-18 2.02 curricula and standardised exdex (ASI) appreciated by 76.55 09-Sep-11 18.00 3.63 09-Sep-18 2.43 09-Sep-11 16.00 1.00 2.43 amination. basis points09-Sep-18 to 38545.88 points 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 22-Sep-18 4.47 The council reiterated its from 38,469.33 points recorded 18-Oct-13 15.75 3.00 18-Oct-18 2.29 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.54 17-Feb-19 2.63 commitment to the integra- in the previous day.

14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.62 tion of capital markets in West 175.67Further review of yesterAfrica, and to finalise prepara- day's trading showed that intions11-Feb-13 for the commencement vestors bought 463.7 million 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.86 of Phase 1 of the integration 12.00 shares worth N4.3 billion in initiative.

3941 deals.

Issue Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) The meeting, which has Neimeth Plc led the gainmost of the director generals 07-Oct-11 28-Jan-21 of Securities and 6.75 Exchange 500.00 5.57 Commission and Chief Ex18-Dec-09 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.68 ecutive Officers of Stock Extanbic IBTC Holdings, a 01-Apr-10 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.96 changes of member countries, unit of South Africa's Stan1,500.00 reinforced the importance of dard Bank, said yesterday its having an integrated capital 2013 pretax profit rose to 24.62 01-Feb-11 11.50 market and expressed commit- 450.00 billion, an 01-Feb-16 increase of3.81116 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 5.37 ment08-Nov-13 towards accomplishing per cent from N11.41 billion 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.24 25-Jul-12 within the 7.25 sched350.00 25-Jul-17 6.98 set targets a year earlier.

6.88 300.00 02-May-18 8.41 uled09-May-13 time frame.

Gross earnings grew to 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19

ers’ table, appreciating by 204.88 per cent 18.10 to close at98.55 N1.45 5.99 19.78 97.18 per share, NPF Microfinance 4.44 18.32 93.01 3.23 17.28 96.24 Bank followed with a gain of 4.46 18.38 95.26 8.99 per cent to close at 97 kobo 3.48 17.40 98.17 5.59 19.05 79.78 per share while Oando added 7.60 21.28 89.05 4.97 per cent to close at N16.48 1.79 15.29 96.37 1.80 97.31 per share. 15.30 1.00 14.54 98.26 1.00 14.50 100.18 On the other hand, Cad1.21 14.71 107.56 bury Nigeria Plc topped the 1.00 14.47 100.12 2.46 15.93 98.95 losers’ chart, shedding 37.52 1.94 15.49 96.31 per cent to close at N73.00 per 2.74 16.21 96.48 2.74 16.25 95.79 share, Continental Insurance 1.00 14.53 95.67 and International Breweries 1.44 14.95 104.73 15.47 a loss of 104.38 Plc1.95trailed with 5 per cent each to close at 95 kobo and N26.41 per share respec1.00 14.78 98.44 tively .

5.21 19.10 96.37 8.71 22.62 96.23 Further analysis showed 4.88 18.88 93.13 that the banking sub sector 1.00 15.04 97.47 16.67 services 97.85secof 2.63 the financial 14.54 96.87 tor1.00 was toast of investors as 1.34 14.87 98.69 4.52 18.00million 87.43 it recorded 169 shares 1.88 105.52 worth N1.0915.48 billion traded in 3.48 17.10 98.13 1,527 deals.

Shares of Fidelity 5.20 18.75 98.80 5.06 18.61 101.86 Bank and Access Bank were 3.06 16.60 92.01 the most traded.

2.29 15.86 99.87 6.11 19.63 95.22 Other financial services 2.76 16.29 95.84 sub sector boosted by the shares of FBNH Plc followed in1.00 trading activities, having 14.50 87.58 accounted for 36.8 million shares valued at N303.9 milOffer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price lion in 664 deals.

Prices & Yields

Stanbic IBTC Bank's profit doubles

S

106.63

107.54

4.47

101.71

102.51

N111.22 billion during the pe102.92 5.84 103.80 riod, compared with N91.86 billion in 2012, it said in a filing with the Nigeria Stock 3.20 113.34 114.51 Exchange (NSE).

4.54 104.19 105.90 Stanbic IBTC proposed a 5.95 99.07 100.18 6.58 dividend of 100.78 10kobo per101.94 share, 94.77 the8.03 same amount it paid 96.04 in 2012.

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

4.74

114.08

115.06

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.22

6.70

103.74

105.74

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.18

5.91

101.79

102.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

5.21

5.41

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

2,960.00

3-Apr-14

The FMDQBills Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to **Treasury FIXINGS Money Market Statement. the FMDQDTM OTC PLC Terms ofMaturity Use and Disclaimer Bid Discount (%)

7 14 21 FGN Bonds35 42 49 Rating/Agency 56 63 77 84 91 98 105 112 119 126 133 NA 140 154 245 280 294 308 322 336

10-Apr-14 17-Apr-14 24-Apr-14 8-May-14 15-May-14 22-May-14 Issuer 29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 24-Jul-14 31-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 NA 21-Aug-14 4-Sep-14 4-Dec-14 8-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 5-Mar-15

11.70 12.00 11.10 12.00 12.10 12.00 Description 12.10 12.00 9.20 29-JUN-2014 12.20 9.25 28-SEP-2014 12.30 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.00 13.05 16-AUG-2016 12.10 13.00 15.10 27-APR-2017 13.00 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.00 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.75 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.10 16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.00 7.00 23-OCT-2019 12.90 12.60 16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.85 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.85 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.70 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.70 8.50 20-NOV-2029 12.80

10.00 23-JUL-2030

Offer Discount (%) 11.45 11.75 10.85 11.75 11.85 11.75 Issue Date 11.85 11.75 29-Jun-07 11.95 28-Sep-07 12.05 23-Apr-10 12.75 16-Aug-13 11.85 12.75 27-Apr-12 12.75 27-Jul-07 12.75 31-Aug-07 12.50 30-May-08 12.85 29-Jun-12 12.75 23-Oct-09 12.65 12.35 27-Jan-12 12.60 14-Mar-14 12.60 28-Nov-08 12.45 22-May-09 12.45 20-Nov-09 12.55

23-Jul-10

Bid Yield (%) 11.73 12.06 11.17 12.14 12.27 12.20 (%) Coupon 12.33 12.25 9.20 12.52 9.25 12.66 4.00 13.44 13.05 12.51 13.51 15.10 13.54 9.85 13.58 9.35 13.34 10.70 13.76 16.00 13.68 7.00 13.64 13.76 16.39 14.26 14.20 14.33 15.00 14.22 12.49 14.30 8.50 14.51

NIBOR Tenor Rate (%) CALL 10.7500 7 DAYS 11.0000 30 DAYS 11.3750 60 DAYS 11.7083 Outstanding 90 DAYSValue 11.9583 Maturity Date (N'bn) 180 DAYS 12.2083 365 DAYS 12.5417

Bonds

45.00 29-Jun-14 100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 327.47 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 11.8657 452.80 27-Apr-17 2M 12.1992 20.00 27-Jul-17 3M 13.2293 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 13.6706 300.00 30-May-18 9M 14.1442 351.30 29-Jun-19 12M 14.5384 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 50.00 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 75.00 28-Nov-28 Current Price ($/N) 150.00 22-May-29 BID($/N) 163.3900 200.00 20-Nov-29 OFFER ($/N) 163.4900 591.57 23-Jul-30

10.00

TOTAL VALUE *from the OUTSTANDING Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON NA

FMBN Modified Duration Buckets

***LCRM

<3 3<5 >5 KWARA Market

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto Nil A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

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

Description

Issue Date

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 Porfolio Market 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016Total Outstanding Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 793.75 780.27

1,061.56 453.73 14.00 KWARA 2,309.04 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

O/N

10.50

Spot 7D 14D Offer1MYield (%) 2M 3M 12.93 6M 13.43 1Y

REPO Tenor (%)(%) TTM (Yrs) BidRate Yield

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

163.78 Price 163.88 164.08 164.35 164.34 164.70 164.92 165.64 Offer Price Bid Price 166.10 167.44 167.22 169.37 98.91 99.06 171.15 175.32 97.94 98.09 178.71 187.33

Call 1M 0.24 3M 0.49 6M

10.25 11.25 13.57 11.92 13.77 12.17

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%) 1.00 2.63 2.27 Implied 2.00 Portfolio Price 1.49 1.00 108.9964

14.82 16.63 16.00 15.51 INDEX 14.95 14.47 1,035.24

92.11 83.34 101.81 YTD91.03 Return (%) 88.23 86.73 3.5244

120.2681 83.7160 107.1746 4.88

1,018.38 1,013.45 1,016.95 18.10

1.8384 1.3449 1.6947 98.55

19.78 18.32 17.28 18.38 17.40 19.05 21.28 15.29 15.30 14.54 14.50

97.18 93.01 96.24 95.26 98.17 79.78 89.05 96.37 97.31 98.26 100.18

1.05 14.04 13.87 2.37 13.54 13.46 3.07 13.57 13.45 :Benchmarks 3.32 13.47 13.35 * :Amortising Bond 3.41 13.48 13.36 µ :Convertible Bond 4.16 13.52 13.42 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 5.24 Government of13.66 13.58 FGN: Federal Nigeria 5.56 Mortgage Bank 13.55 13.46 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria IFC: International Finance Corporation 7.82 13.55 13.49 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 9.95 13.64 13.58 NAHCO: 14.66 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 13.54 13.49 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 15.13 13.53 13.48 UBA: United Bank for Africa 15.63 13.53 Company 13.47 UPDC: UAC Property Development 16.30 Africa Portland13.58 13.52 WAPCO:West Cement Company NOTE:

90.46 90.61 99.00 99.15 103.70 104.00 NA :Not Applicable 90.52 90.82 # :Floating 88.99Rate Bond 89.29 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 91.21 91.51 108.50 †: Bond rating expired 108.80 74.98 75.28 113.40 113.70 103.00 103.30 109.17 109.47 93.32 93.62 67.61 67.91 76.70 77.00

4,132.04

#

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

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

951.30 591.57 2,323.14

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 Weighting by 09-Dec-11 Outstanding Vol 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12 33.59

0.00 0.00 17.25 Weighting

by Mkt 0.00/16.00 Value 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 34.38

978.35 24.56 6.00 Bucket112.22 Weighting 116.70 66.49 0.34

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 % 09-Dec-16 Exposure_ Mod_Duration 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 17.55

0.58 1.14 1.75 2.69Yield Implied 3.05 3.26 13.56

40.95 25.46 100.00 05-Aug-09

45.97 19.65 14.00100.00

40.84 41.61 100.00 05-Aug-14

13.58 13.58 13.58 0.34

15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50

0.41 0.25 17.00 1.00 6.00 8.50 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18

0.53 1.41 1.01 1.31 1.32 3.04 1.88 3.75 2.72 4.50 2.72

1,304.32

#

5.99 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

48 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Seven Energy, FBN Bank, Ecobank in $170m gas deal

FINANCE Nigerian banks are now playing key roles in financing multi-million projects

Oando Plc with the intention of constructing and operating an 18-inch, 128 km gas pipeline that connects with the ObigboAlscon pipeline at Ukanafun to supply gas to an industrial offtaker located in Mfamosing, Cross River State, and to meet the needs of other industrial users in the Calabar region.

“Seven Energy’s acquisition of EHGC is in line with its strategic plans to expand its gas infrastructure assets in the south east Niger Delta,” the statement said.

Through its assets and subsidiary, Accugas, Seven Energy according to the statement, has a number of infrastructure projects in the region, including a gas processing facility at the Uquo Field and a gas pipeline network, which will have the capability to supply gas in the Port Harcourt, Aba and Calabar areas. In consolidating the gas infrastructure assets of Accugas and EHGC, Accugas aims to strengthen its distribution platform, increase efficiency and broaden its geographical reach, furthering Seven Energy’s intention to create a leading gas distribution business

S

even Energy International Limited and its whollyowned subsidiary Accugas Limited have closed a US$170 million 5.5-year medium-term acquisition finance facility with FBN Bank (UK) Limited and Ecobank Nigeria Limited.

FBN Capital Limited, according to a statement, acted as structuring bank, sole initial mandated lead arranger, financial modelling bank and global facility coordinator. Aluko & Oyebode acted as lenders legal counsel, Royal HaskoningDHV Nederland BV represented the lenders on environmental/ technical due diligence matters. UUBO and Addleshaw Goddard acted as the borrower’s local and international legal counsels respectively.

The facility, according to the statement, part-finances the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of East Horizon Gas Company Limited for a total consideration of up to US$250 million.

“EHGC was established by

in Nigeria.

Commenting on the transaction, Phillip Ihenacho, Chief Executive Officer, Seven Energy said: “This is a landmark transaction for us. We are delighted to expand our midstream operations in Nigeria with this investment. It is a perfect fit to our strategy of investing in core midstream infrastructure assets in the south east region of

T

he National Pension Commission (PENCOM) issued 401 compliance certificates to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in the third quarter of 2013.

PENCOM status reports was contained in latest edition of the commission’s quarterly publication known as “Penlife’ and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

According to the publication, 467 applications were received for the issuance of compliance certificates, while 66 applications were turned down.

It said that the rejected

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

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

Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

of which 401 certificates were issued, while 66 applications were turned down due to various inadequacies.

“These inadequacies included issues such as nonremittance of pension contributions for the appropriate period and non-provision of Group Life Insurance Policy for their employees,” it noted.

Naira rises to six-week high as oil firms sell dollars

T

he naira advanced to the strongest level in six weeks as oil companies sold dollars to the market.

The naira is the continent’s best performer today after the Zambian kwacha and Guinea’s franc. Oil producers, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are the biggest source of US currency after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which offers foreign exchange at auctions on Mondays and Wednesdays to maintain local-currency stability.

The naira gained 0.3 per cent to N163.51 per dollar by 5:18 p.m. in Lagos, the highest since

February 18 on a closing basis.

The currency has climbed for three days, the longest stretch of gains since January.

“The exchange rate has firmed up in recent days on the back of foreign-exchange sales by oil companies,” Samir Gadio, a London-based emerging-markets strategist at Standard Bank Group Ltd., said in e-mailed comments yesterday.

“Additionally, the market expects NNPC foreign-exchange flows to hit the system soon.”

The naira has dropped 2 per cent this year, the most in West Africa after Ghana’s cedi among 24 currencies from the continent tracked by Bloomberg.

Fidelity Bank shareholders to get 14k dividend

F

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX

applications were due to inadequacies which included non-remittance of pension contributions for the appropriate period and non-provision of group life assurance for their employers.

“In the third quarter of 2013, the commission received 467 applications for the issuance of compliance certificates, out

Chris Ugwu

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

dedication to ensure that the completion of the EHGC acquisition process was in line with the sponsors’ timetable.

Kayode Akinkugbe, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of FBN Capital Limited said: “FBN Capital is very proud of the instrumental role it played in assisting Seven Energy to structure and arrange the financing for the acquisition”.

PENCOM issues 401 compliance certificates to PFAs

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

the country. I would also like to thank the entire team for their achievement in bringing this important financing transaction to a close.”

Commenting on the transaction, Bruce Burrows, Chief Financial Officer, Seven Energy, commended the lenders, FBN Bank (UK) Limited and Ecobank Nigeria Limited, for their support, and in particular, their

idelity Bank Plc has proposed a 14 kobo per share dividend to its shareholders for the financial year ended 2013.

This is contained in a notification by the board of directors of the company to the Nigerian stock exchange (NSE).

Though the company recorded a dip in its bottom line, the lender has been consistent in dividend payout for a considerable number of years.

The bank recorded a profit

of N9.03 billion for the financial year ended (FYE) December 31, 2013, representing a 57.7 per cent decline from the N21.35 billion recorded in corresponding period of the previous year.

Gross Earnings increased by 6.5 per cent to N126.92 billion from N119.14 billion while the net interest income dipped by 16.3 per cent to N30.81 billion from N36.81 billion.

The company attributed the dip to tightened monetary conditions, which increased cost of funds.

Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 Sanctity of Truth

Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 Friday, April 4, 2014

Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET 49

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at April 3, 2014 Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary (Equities)

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 2 4 14 20

Current Price 0.50 42.00 42.00

Quantity Traded 155,000 10,275 81,065 246,340

Value Traded 77,500.00 409,972.50 3,456,351.90 3,943,824.40

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 3.19

Quantity Traded 645,035 645,035

Value Traded 2,071,737.02 2,071,737.02

891,375

6,015,561.42

Quantity Traded 26,279 100 10,547,982 1,864,733 12,439,094

Value Traded 37,892.13 481.00 38,294,177.30 101,755,977.08 140,088,527.51

12,439,094

140,088,527.51

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 Diversified Industries Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

40 Symbol AGLEVENT SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 2 2 134 70 (Equities) 208

CONGLOMERATES Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

208

OIL AND GAS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Current Price 1.40 5.06 3.62 54.80

Page 5,757,916

259

1

of 12 74,418,456.98

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 1.16

Quantity Traded 386,647 386,647

Value Traded 459,167.95 459,167.95

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

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 7 24 31

Current Price 4.47 2.36

Quantity Traded 42,000 935,643 977,643

Value Traded 186,400.00 2,171,614.52 2,358,014.52

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 58,974 58,974

Value Traded 29,487.00 29,487.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 0.60

Quantity Traded 560,144 560,144

Value Traded 336,131.20 336,131.20

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 5 5 11

Current Price 1.80 2.04 4.38

Quantity Traded 3,000 52,100 36,060 91,160

Value Traded 5,130.00 101,199.00 150,420.20 256,749.20

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 0.97

Quantity Traded 27,500 Page 27,500

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 2 35 37

Current Price 2.58 5.26

Quantity Traded 43,500 376,711 420,211

Value Traded 107,010.00 1,939,946.79 2,046,956.79

111

2,522,279

5,512,976.66

EQTY Board Totals

3,941

263,740,989

4,319,707,225.24

Equity Activity Totals

3,941

263,740,989

4,319,707,225.24

Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 Hotels/Lodging Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC Activity Summary PRESS on Board EQTY UNIVERSITY PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals SERVICES Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Published by The Transportation Nigerian Stock Exchange Road Totals © Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Totals

Activity SummaryBanks on Board EQTY Micro-Finance

Value Traded 26,470.00 of 12 26,470.00

10

Exchange Traded Fund

ETF Board Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Daily Summary (Equities) Daily Summary (ETP)

ETP Activity Totals on Board EQTY Activity Summary

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE

Current Price 2,037.00 17.33

Quantity Traded 80 10 90

2

90

163,133.30

2

90

163,133.30

Page

11

of

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

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 1.35

Quantity Traded 187,554 187,554

Value Traded 254,260.90 254,260.90

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 70.85

Quantity Traded 31,308 31,308

Value Traded 2,107,943.18 2,107,943.18

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 87 87

Current Price 26.00

Quantity Traded 672,105 672,105

Value Traded 17,509,947.16 17,509,947.16

890,967

19,872,151.24

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. BREW. PLC. EQTY ActivityNIGERIAN Summary on Board Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals CONSUMER GOODS

110 Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Symbol CHAMPION

No. of Deals 1 46 45 98 190

Current Price 13.79 195.00 26.41 150.99

Quantity Traded 20,000 237,424 882,224 10,448,419 11,588,067

Value Traded 262,200.00 46,080,770.18 23,302,871.84 1,577,631,700.43 1,647,277,542.45

Daily Summary (Equities) GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UTC

No. of Deals 36 34 68 22 19 11 190

Current Price 8.40 9.70 70.50 3.67 11.86 0.51

Quantity Traded 261,356 408,978 374,486 397,550 122,722 1,298,647 2,863,739

Value Traded 2,202,770.06 3,975,742.73 26,260,436.04 1,461,560.50 1,442,229.85 678,309.97 36,021,049.15

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 36 77 113

Current Price 73.00 1,050.00

Quantity Traded 7,384,196 68,872 7,453,068

Value Traded 539,094,867.34 78,510,044.73 617,604,912.07

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 4.05

Quantity Traded 165,588 165,588

Value Traded 664,649.05 664,649.05

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

Quantity Traded 539,728 137,670 677,398

Value Traded 16,734,448.05 6,380,459.91 23,114,907.96

CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services

Page 22,766,723

613 No. of Deals 158 70 40 197 279 86 189 160 91 1 19 237 1,527

Current Price 7.49 6.41 13.19 1.93 26.05 3.70 2.50 7.10 10.49 0.50 0.90 21.40

Quantity Traded 31,546,696 8,824,320 257,395 73,484,530 10,514,726 3,566,004 17,584,492 10,971,500 928,768 2,310 521,603 10,988,845 169,191,189

Value Traded 236,529,039.78 57,152,085.52 3,389,551.73 143,104,735.87 273,590,866.25 12,985,067.41 43,832,894.58 77,445,141.43 9,723,720.58 1,155.00 474,663.20 232,856,771.98 1,091,085,693.33

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals Current Price 52 2.90 39 2.20 1 0.99 310 12.50 61 3.58 4 0.62 64 21.01 133 2.46 664

Quantity Traded 1,680,538 1,855,674 100 17,742,168 5,767,809 403,746 1,536,539 7,831,480 36,818,054

Value Traded 4,874,317.08 4,098,039.76 95.00 221,744,191.95 21,125,737.37 246,830.82 32,339,429.14 19,505,122.05 303,933,763.17

214,515,051

1,400,350,220.32

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

INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL GOODS GOODS Building Building Materials Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAPNigerian PLC Stock Exchange © Published by The CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 & CONTAINERS BETA 14:31:30.030 GLASS CO PLC. Printed 03/04/2014 Packaging/Containers Totals

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals Activity Summary Board EQTY B.O.C. GASESon PLC. Chemicals Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Mining Services Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © MULTIVERSE PLC Mining Services Totals Paper/Forest Products THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. Paper/Forest Products Totals

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Page

4

of

12

2,350

823,350 Page

5

775,513.00 of 12

Symbol EKOCORP

No. of Deals Current Price 1 3.72 1

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 354.00 354.00

Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals Current Price 16 2.90 6 70.00 3 1.45 1 1.57 26

Quantity Traded Page 384,478 7,630 21,500 2,220 415,828

Value Traded 6 of 12 1,106,155.48 535,908.60 29,670.00 3,330.00

27

1,675,064.08

415,928

1,675,418.08

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals Current Price 9 0.55 9

Quantity Traded 320,190 320,190

Value Traded 175,019.60 175,019.60

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 1

Quantity Traded 200 200

Value Traded 100.00 100.00

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 1

Quantity Traded 500 500

Value Traded 250.00 250.00

320,890

175,369.60

Daily Summary (Equities)

11 Symbol Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PAINTCOM WAPCO

No. No. of of Deals Deals Current Current Price Price Quantity Quantity Traded Traded 44 16.20 534,326 18 9.00 115,104 Page 21 38.62 120,700 14 9.70 145,290 42 235.00 946,669 2 1.16 575 4 1.64 843 46 109.30 970,325 191 2,833,832

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals Current Price 6 1.88 6

Quantity Traded 118,075 118,075

Value Traded 221,988.00 221,988.00

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS

No. of Deals Current Price 5 1.41 4 19.95 9

Quantity Traded 217,924 10,835 228,759

Value Traded 309,203.00 216,160.75 525,363.75

3,180,666

345,066,353.58

206

Value Value Traded Traded 8,606,137.69 1,033,868.84 74,660,153.00 of 12

1,386,739.70 222,404,432.92 662.25 1,412.46 106,225,594.97 344,319,001.83

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals Current Price 4 6.66 4

Quantity Traded 30,000 30,000

Value Traded 189,900.00 189,900.00

Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 1

Quantity Traded Page 100 100

Value Traded 8 of 12 50.00 50.00

Symbol THOMASWY

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.79 1

Quantity Traded 10,000 10,000

Value Traded 7,600.00 7,600.00

40,100

197,550.00

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

6 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals Current Price 13 0.50 13

Quantity Traded 2,273,800 2,273,800

Value Traded 1,136,900.00 1,136,900.00

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals Current Price 136 16.48 136

Quantity Traded 3,278,274 3,278,274

Value Traded 53,542,135.87 53,542,135.87

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL TOTAL

No. of Deals Current Price 10 51.90 6 3.99 59 101.29 9 125.00 26 181.45 110

Quantity Traded 21,207 30,419 94,798 11,233 48,185 205,842

Value Traded 1,045,717.17 115,592.20 8,904,297.44 1,405,575.00 8,268,239.30 19,739,421.11

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary (Equities)

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

3 of 12 2,326,334,639.85

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

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

19

Activity Summary on Board EQTY ICT Totals

Value Traded 121,651,529.17 of 12 2 of 12 1,651,529.17

31.03 46.10

Value Traded 8,425.00 11,257.50 100,000.00 119,682.50

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Quantity Traded 18,763Page Page 18,763

45 40 85

Quantity Traded 16,850 7,030 200,000 223,880

Computers and Peripherals Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 OMATEK VENTURES PLC Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 Computers and Peripherals Totals

Current Price 90.00

PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals Current Price 4 0.50 5 1.64 1 0.50 10

HEALTHCARE Totals

No. of Deals 19 19

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Products Board EQTY Personal/Household Totals

Symbol ASOSAVINGS INFINITY RESORTSAL

GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Symbol 7UP

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 Household Durables Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Pharmaceuticals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC ©

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic

BOTTLING COMP. PLC.© Published by 7-UP The Nigerian Stock Exchange Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Value Traded 3,874.00 771,639.00 Value Traded

Quantity Traded 650 822,700 Quantity Traded

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers Activity Summary on Board EQTY EKOCORP PLC. Healthcare Providers Totals HEALTHCARE

12

Value Traded 1,750.00 36,883.66 344,700.00 481,617.00 104,750.00 5,500.00 97,088.29 5,000.00 5,000.00 42,394.00 5,050.00 620,721.96 3,500.00 2,152,248.00 3,729.40 5,000.00 5,000.00 42,000.00 473,636.01 4,435,568.32

No. of Deals Current Price 1 6.27 18 0.97 No. of Deals Current Price

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Value Traded 162,960.00 173.30 163,133.30

Quantity Traded 3,500 46,908 360,100 963,234 209,500 11,000 165,039 10,000 10,000 19,800 10,100 827,148 7,000 4,064,900 6,430 10,000 10,000 84,000 639,919 7,458,578

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK Symbol

FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Micro-Finance Banks Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Daily Summary (ETP) Daily Summary of 03/04/2014 Nameas Daily Summary as of 03/04/2014 Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals Current Price AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AFRINSURE 2 0.50 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 7 0.78 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 9 0.95 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 2 0.50 GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GNI 4 0.50 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. GUINEAINS 2 0.50 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 8 0.59 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LASACO 1 0.50 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION 1 0.50 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 6 2.11 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT 2 0.50 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 22 0.76 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 2 0.50 OASIS OASISINS 18 0.56 Daily Summary as ofINSURANCE 03/04/2014 PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 2 0.56 Printed 03/04/2014 14:31:30.030 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS 1 0.50 UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNIC 1 0.50 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNIVINSURE 2 0.50 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC 38 0.74 Daily Summary (Equities) Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals 130

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50 FOREIGN

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Ukraine accuses ex-president and Russia in sniper deaths T he Ukrainian authorities said yesterday that ousted President Viktor Yanukovich was involved in drawing up plans under which police snipers shot dead dozens of anti-government protesters and hinted at a Russian role in the violent crackdown.

The head of Ukraine's security service blamed the killing of more than 100 protesters in mid-February on the 'Berkut' riot police, a turning point in the Moscow-backed leader's

ultimately doomed struggle to keep power.

He also said representatives of Russia's FSB security force had been seen at the Ukrainian security service's headquarters during the protests that began in November and that a Russian plane had flown a large amount of explosives into Ukraine.

The hints of Russian involvement could further strain ties with Ukraine's former Soviet master, which annexed the Crimea region after Yanu-

kovich's removal from power in what has become the worst East-West standoff since the Cold War. "The former government of the country gave criminal orders and a huge number of people suffered in the 'mincer'," Interior Minister Arsen Avakov told a news conference in Kiev at which details of an inquiry into the killings were announced.

Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, head of the state security service

(SBU), added: "It was intended as a counter-terrorism operation, but effectively the mass murder of people happened directly under the leadership of former president Viktor Yanukovich.

The new government has been under pressure to identify and punish the killers, although Yanukovich has denied ordering the killings.

In the final bloody days of the protests, rooftop snipers picked off protesters and medical workers on February 20. Many died on the spot

from shots to the neck and scores of bodies were left strewn on the ground in central Kiev.

One day after the killings, which followed three months of mainly peaceful protests over Yanukovich's decisiontospurnclosertradeandpoliticaltieswiththeEuropeanUnion, the president fled Kiev. He was deposedbyparliamentonFebruary22.

Earlier yesterday, the prosecutor general said 12 members of the Berkut had been detained on suspicion of shooting peaceful participants in the protests.

South Sudan on verge of Africa's worst famine since 1980s â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UN

W

A picture taken on March 6, 2014 shows Chadian soldiers serving with the African-led MISCA force praying in Bossangoa

AFP Photo/Sia Kambou

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 search won't stop, leaders vow

L

eaders of the two countries heading multinational efforts to solve the mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 pledged yesterday that no effort would be spared to give the families of those on board the answers they need.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak flew to Australia for briefings on the search for the missing plane and talks with his Australian counterpart, Tony Abbott, whose country is overseeing the hunt in a huge and remote patch of the Indian Ocean.

"It is a very difficult search â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the most difficult in human history. But as far as Australia is concerned, we are throwing everything we have at it," Abbott said in a media appearance with Najib.

No trace of the Boeing 777 has been found nearly four weeks af-

ter it vanished in the early hours of March 8 on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

Ten planes and nine ships were involved in search operations yesterday, scouring the ocean far off Australia's southwest corner where investigators believe the plane may have ended up after unknown events occurred on board.

Najib, whose government has been harshly criticized by some victims' families for giving sometimes conflicting information about the flight and for the slow pace of the investigation, said everyone involved in the search is thinking of the families of victims who are waiting desperately for news.

"I know that until we find the plane, many families cannot start to grieve," Najib said. "I can-

not imagine what they are going through. But I can promise them that we will not give up.

"We want to provide comfort to the families and we will not rest until answers are indeed found. In due time, we will provide a closure for this event," he said.

Najib met with Abbott at the Australian base near Perth that is serving as the hub for the multinational search effort. They were briefed by Angus Houston, the head of a joint agency overseeing the search.

Although Australia is coordinating the ocean search, the investigation into the tragedy ultimately remains Malaysia's responsibility. Najib said Australia had agreed to be an "accredited representative in the investigation," and would work with Malaysia on a comprehensive agreement on the search.

ar-torn South Sudan could become the scene of the worst famine catastrophe in Africa in decades without more aid and a ceasefire to let farmers reach their fields, the UN warned yesterday.

"If we miss the planting season, there will be a catastrophic decline in food security," Toby Lanzer, the UN's top aid official in the country, told reporters in Geneva.

"What will strike that country, and it will hit about seven million people, will be more grave than anything that the continent has seen since the mid-1980s," he warned, referring to the massive famine in Ethiopia that shocked the world's conscience.

South Sudanese farmers usually plant their fields in April and May, but they have been unable to start this year amid a raging civil war.

"We've got 3.7 million people who are already at severe risk of starvation," Lanzer said.

If people can't make it to their fields in the next two months, he said, "it doesn't take much to

imagine what will happen when the harvest is due in November and December: There won't be one".

Making matters worse, the violence has meant UN agencies are having huge difficulty pre-positioning food stocks before the onset of the rainy season, when downpours will make already challenging roads even more difficult to navigate, he said.

The violence in South Sudan erupted last December between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and fighters loosely allied to former vice president Riek Machar.

A ceasefire signed in January is in tatters.

More than 800,000 people are displaced inside South Sudan, while almost 255,000 have led to the neighbouring countries of Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Sudan, the UN says.

Lanzer insisted on the need to quickly ensure enough security for people to feel it is safe to head to their fields, and to bring in far more aid in the form of seeds and tools to help get things started.

Chad withdraws from peacekeeping force in Central Africa

T

he Chadian government announced yesterday it was withdrawing from the African peacekeeping force in Central African Republic, denouncing "a wanton and malicious campaign" against its troops.

The government said Chad decided to withdraw its contingent from the MISCA force af-

ter having informed the president of the Central African Republic, the African Union and the UN Secretary General.

At the weekend, Chadian troops killed 24 people after firing into a crowd in the capital Bangui, amid claims they were responding to a hand grenade attack.

Diogu wins NBA D-League monthly accolade Ifeanyi Ibeh

N

igerian national basketball team star forward, Ike Diogu, who plays in the NBA Development League for the Bakersfield Jam, has been named the D-League’s Player of the Month for March.

It is the first Player of the Month award for the 6ft 8in tall Diogu, who led Bakersfield to 10 wins from 13 games during the month, including seven wins on the road and a seven-game winning streak between March 12 and March 26.

The former New York Knicks and Phoe-

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

51

nix Suns player averaged 21.4 points, 12.3 rebounds and a block per game. He also recorded double-doubles in 12 of his 13 games in March, notching two 30-plus point outings.

For the season, Diogu is averaging 18.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.5 assist per game.

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

FRIday, APRIL 4, 2014

Did you know?

That Luis Monti is the only person to have played in two World Cup finals for different countries, representing Italy in 1934 after playing for Argentina four years earlier

Kanu, Okocha’s epl impact massive – Muamba }p. 55

Re: Keshi’s stand on Ik Uche, Osaze

‘I struggle without Emenike’

}p-53

}p-54

Quadri, Offiong qualify for Spanish open main draw }p-54

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Dele Ayenugba

SportL

Friday, April 4, 2014

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/Sport

WITH Tobi Emmanuel

0805 400 5669

princetobby@yahoo.com tobi.emmanuel@newtelegraphonline.com

ifestyle

Super Eagles goalkeeper

in & planta d - Rice Best foo k – Coca Cola rin Best d – White olour c st Be na ris ity –Pa - Barcelo Best c ported p u S lub Rover Best C - Range r a c Best r - D&G esigne Best d e – D&G m el songs erfu Best P c - Gosp Musi e perry Favourit Actor - Tyler s e y Adam Favourit Actress - Am ed - World Cup e nd Favourit etition Atte p m Co Best ike oot - N Best B o-1 rsey N Best je

TURNING Playing for Stores was POINT

Charles Ogundiya

“W

hen I started my football career back in the 80s, things were quite difficult for me, so much that a number of times I wanted to call it quits and focus on something else. Little did I know that I would someday hit the limelight through the game.

“I was very young when I joined Stationery Stores; less than 18 at the time, and playing with several established players; some of them in the national team. And a lot of pressure on me for playing for one of the biggest clubs in the country, especially from the fans. When you do well, fans will applaud you, and rebuke you for the slightest mistake.

“There were instances where they would hold us to ransom; sometimes they would even beat us up whenever we fail to meet their expectations. But if I hadn’t played for Stores I doubt if I would have played for the national team, and so stores move was a key the turning point for my career.

key -Ajibade Babalade

“The first time I was invited to the national team was in 1989. I had only made a handful of appearances for Stores when Paul Hamilton, who was in charge of the team after Manfred Hoener left and returned to Germany, invited me to the national team. But I was unable to join the team because Stores fans felt that I would not get to play for the national team because of the presence of the likes of Sunday Eboigbe, Andrew Uwe and a few other established central defenders.

The fans felt that I would develop better playing for Stores rather than going to the national team and be used as a training material.

“And they were probably right because I was still learning the ropes and back then if you weren’t already an established player, or playing overseas, it was near impossible to play for the national team. But the coming of Clemens Westerhof to Nigeria changed everything.

“I owe my success to God and to Westerhof. He gave me confidence when I needed it and believed in me despite

the presence of much more established players.

“There was a time when I found it difficult coping with life in the national team’s camp, especially as the senior players were making it difficult for the younger team members. So I decided to pack my bags and head back to my club.

However, Westerhof knew about my plans and was waiting for me.

“How he got to know remains a mystery till date, but he caught me while I was trying to sneak out of the hotel and,

rather than scold me, called me aside offering words of encouragement. He told me that the national team was not a bed of roses; that it wouldn’t be a walk in the park.

“He encouraged me to fight for a place in the team and, thank God, I listened to him because, even though I wasn’t able to make the team to Algiers ’90, I was two years later selected for Senegal ’92 along with the likes of Stephen Keshi, Austin Eguavoen, Uche Okechukwu, Rueben Agboola and Nduka Ugbade.

“By then I had left Stores for Shooting Stars but about seven us playing in the Nigerian league made the final 22-man squad for the tournament. Players like David Ngodigha, Ike Shorunmu, who was still playing for Stores back then, Finidi George, John Okon, Abdul Aminu, late Thompson Oliha and my Shooting Stars club mate, Dotun Alatishe.

“Except for the goalkeepers, Ngodigha and Shorunmu, the rest of us all got to play in Senegal as Westerhof had confidence in us. He was confident we were going to win the tournament after finishing second two years earlier in Algeria, but unfortunately we lost to Ghana 2-1 in the semifinals and finished with a bronze medal after beating Cameroon 2-1 in the third-place match.”

sport fan zone

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

53

Re: Keshi’s stand on Ik Uche, Osaze The debate on whether coach Stephen Keshi should take Osaze Odemwinge and Ik Uche to the World Cup is unending.

Our correspondent spoke to followers on football on this dicey issue.

Coach should do his job

L

et’s leave the coach to do his job without any distractive interference from the NFF. Let’s respect the opinion and judgments of the coach on these players because after all the bucks stop at his table.

As long as we are sure that Keshi does not harbour any personal grudges against the players, let him decide whether or not the two will fit in his World Cup plans.

WaheedMajekodunmi,University lecturer

They deserve to be back

I

really don’t know what they had with the coach and why they haven’t played for Nigeria for quite a while, but based on their current form, they deserve to be recalled to the squad. Making the final 23 is another matter, but I believe they deserve to be recalled.

-Victor Itotoi, Businessman

Keshi has no reason to deny Uche

H

e has no reason to shut out a player like Ik Uche. If a player is doing well, he should be given the opportunity to contribute his own quota for the good of the team. The problem with most of our coaches is that they are very petty. They keep malice over small issues, ironically those coaches who find it difficult to tolerate the smallest shortcoming from a player were the most recalcitrant during their time as players. Keshi should dump sentiments and take those who can deliver to Brazil. We need results!

-Julius Okorie- Journalist

Coach is in charge

H

e should not be forced to pick any player for the World Cup. He is in charge, though as Nigerians we can suggest, but he is the coach, NFF should allow him pick his team, so that he take the glory for success, and if it is otherwise, he takes the blame solely so he won’t say player A or B was forced on him and that he why the team failed.

-Olusola Alao, journalist

Don’t recall them

Attitude comes first

I

don’t think they should recall them. I think they should leave them out of the team because he doesn’t have the right attitude. If you don’t have the right attitude then he can’t add anything positive to the team.

-Ijeoma Nwoke, IT Consultant

Coach has final say

C

oach Stephen Keshi has the final say as long as he remains the coach.

He knows what he wants and takes responsibility for success and failure. So if he decides to pardon any player and leave others, it is his right and as such, he cannot be questioned.

IK Uche is an attacker and I’m aware that there are so many options at the top of attack, and i believe that is his understanding too.

N

o player is bigger than the country, please be realistic with suggestions. Attitude comes first. We don’t need anyone to disrupt the team. It’s up to Stephen Keshi to pick players he deems good for the World Cup. He has tried to redeem football in Nigeria, let him complete the good job.

-Olusola Orelaja, UK

Leave Keshi alone

I

Yes to Osaze, no to Uche

O

urbackboneconsistsofbenchwarmers, so we need people that are actually playing regular football. Osaze is doing that at Stoke City. His work rate will be important for us at the World Cup where we will need to ‘pepper’ our opponents. But Ikechukwu Uche has in the last two years been playing at an irritating level. He was fantastic a couple of years back but he has a problem replicating his club form when playing for the Super Eagles. So, if the coach still has problems with his discipline, then he can go on holidays and watch the World Cup.

–Ernest Umeike, Banker

Don’t recall them

I

don’t think they should recall them. I think they should leave them out of the team because he doesn’t have the right attitude. If you don’t have the right attitude then he can’t add anything posior me, why do we appoint tive to the team. a coach for the national -Ijeoma Nwoke, IT Consultant team when we won’t allow the gentleman to do his job? are all coaches in this Forget Osaze, bring We country and we tend to beIK Uche lieve we know everything in ost of the people calling for football. Stephen Keshi unthe recall of Osaze work in an derstands the dynamics of organisation, do you want to tell the game. So, we should give me that after abusing your em- him a breather to do his job. ployers you can turn around and -Bunmi Ogunyale, sports say you are sorry and you should journalist

F

M

just be taken back? If you can’t do that, then that’s just the simple case of Osaze, let him remain the best for his club, Nigeria don’t need him. For IK Uche, I hope Stephen Keshi can soft pedal on him. He should bring him back.

- Olayinka Elebute, Journalist

strongly believe that Keshi I support Keshi knows what he or me, I will support keshi , he is doing and he want to instill discipline into should be left the national team, probably be-Moses Kpakor, a former Super alone to handle the team. cause of what he saw in Christian -Olabelurin Alex, UK Eagles player Chukwu time who lost total control of his boys. since he worked with his own team without external influence and won the Nations believe that Keshi stand on the duo of Cup, qualified for the for World Osaze Odewingie and Ike Uche is not Cup, I will support his stand on right because this is World Cup were Osaze and Ike Uche , Keshi should all the World football stars converge to be allowed to try out his new boys showcase their talents in view of this let see how far they can go in the we need our best legs I don’t see why Keshi should World Cup. dump them out because presently they are doing -Adeseila Henry, trader very well in their various clubs.

-Kalu Maduabuchi, journalist

We need our best legs

I

Let’s respect coach’s decision

I

f a coach says no to a player no matter how well that player is playing, we should respect his decision because he is the one that receives the praise if they do well and the blame if they failed.

Keshi has said that Ike Uche and Osaze are not discipline so why must Nigerians be clamouring for their inclusion in the team.

-Emmanuel Teteh - Coach

Allow Keshi do his job

F

Uche, apologise

O

saze has apologised to Keshi and I think that is the reason the coach might him back, IK Uche should do same to earn a recall. But apology should not be the only prerequisite to recall of players who the coach has a row with, I think the coach should be given free hand to choose his squad.

-Willy Akwaowo, Tennis player

The crew Chimaobi Uchendu Ifeanyi Ibeh Ajibade Olusesan Charles Ogundiya Mercy Jacob

World Cup for best legs

Nigerian both home and abroad deserves Eforvery a call up to the national team. World Cup is best legs. IK Uche, Osaze Odemwingie are both described to be indiscipline by Stephen Keshi, what about Balotelli with Italy? Keshi should know he’s not just a coach but a manager who is the father.

-Oni Afolabi, Radio presenter

54 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

Ideye confession:

Flying Eagles coach wants more goals ...after 12-0 massacre of Lugbe Utd

I struggle without Emenike

Charles Ogundiya

M

N

igeria striker Brown Ideye has admitted that he cannot handle the pressure of leading the national team’s attack without strike partner, Emmanuel Emenike.

The Dynamo Kyiv marksman pointed to his struggles at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where he failed to score despite getting numerous opportunities, as proof of this.

Ideye

The Super Eagles failed to progress beyond the group stage of the competition, but Ideye believes things might have been different had he played alongside Emenike.

“Maybe if Emenike

had played at the 2013 Confederations Cup, I would not have faced as much pressure as I did,” Ideye explained to SuperSport.

“Since Emenike was not there, the other per-

ost coaches would have expressed satisfaction with their side after scoring a dozen goals in a match, but not Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, who has called on his team to be more ruthless in front of goal despite winning 12-0 in Thursday’s friendly against Lugbe United.

“We’re just starting, this

son people looked upon to perform was me.

“When a lot of people put pressure on you to deliver and you don’t, you feel like you are the worst footballer on earth,” he added.

I know what Keshi wants – Osaze

N Osaze

igeria striker Peter Odemwingie says his relationship with coach Stephen Keshi has been patched up after talks.

The pair fell out after Odemwingie was omitted from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations squad and took to Twitter to vent his frustration.

“I have been speaking with the coach, it’s the only right thing to do,” the Stoke striker told BBC Sport.

“I had to be humble and make a step for-

ward towards my senior colleagues,” added the 32-year-old.

“You can’t continue to stay in that angry state of mind. Staying in that state, it’s not the right thing to do. It’s never helpful for anyone,” Odemwingie said.

“Coach Keshi can do without me at the World Cup and my life will go on as well, but the most important thing is mutual respect.

“Now I know how he does things and how he wants things done and vice versa.”

Falcons test might against Golden Eaglets Mercy Jacob

A

s part of preparations ahead of the qualifiers for the African Women Championship, the female senior national team, the Super Falcons, will test their might against the U-17 male football team, the Golden Eaglets, Friday morning in Abuja.

According to Falcons head coach, Edwin Okon, the friendly match

billed for 7:30 am at the FIFA Goal Project pitch Abuja will serve as a good test for the two games against Cameroon and Rwanda next month.

“We decided to organise this friendly so that some of these girls will not think here is jamboree house.

The friendly is a wake-up call that here is not where you will come relax, sleep, eat, get up and jump to training and then come back to camp.”

“We are not thinking of the goals, we just want to see what we will do with the boys, because as we all know the boys are faster than the girls, we want to see how they can match up with the tempo of these boys.”

“Even if we play 30 or 40 minutes for each half, the friendly will be all encompassing because we will use it to train, screen and watch their pace” he said.

Quadri, Offiong qualify for Spanish Open main draw Ajibade Olusesan

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igeria’s Aruna Quadri and Edem Offiong have qualified for the main draw of the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation World Tour in Spain.

Quadri will be playing in his first main draw of any ITTF World Tour after beating homeboy – Spain’s Carlos Franco11-4, 11-4, 11-5, 12-10 (4-0) to top Group 10 of the preliminary round.

Although, the last meeting between Quadri and the Spaniard was at the European Table Tennis Union Cup this year but it was the Nigerian that won at 3-2.

Before the victory against the Spaniard, Quadri had on Wednesday accounted the routing of Jersey’s

Quadri

Joshua Band.

Offiong on Wednesday lost 12-2, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (4-1) to the Russian but on Thursday, she ensured that her debut did not end early as she fought well to beat England’s Hannah Kicks 14-12, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5, 12-10, 6-11, 11-5 (4-3) in her second match of

the group to make the last 64 of the championship.

In the main draw, Offiong will face a Herculean task, as she will battle the competition’s number two seed, Japan’s Sayaka Hirano, on Friday on table seven.

Unlike Quadri that made it to the main draw in the men’s singles, Makanjuola’s good start in the competition came to a sudden end on Thursday after he bowed to Spain’s Alfredo Carneros in the second group game that ended 13-11, 8-11, 15-13, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (4-2).

Also the Nigeria’s duo – Quadri and Makanjuola-still has a date to keep on Friday against Denmark’s pair of MikkelHindesson and Kasper Sternberg in the men’s doubles.

was our first match since we came together,” said Manu.

The match against the Nigerian Nationwide League side came up at the Area 3 Sports Ground, in Abuja, and was part of the Nigerian team’s preparations for next week’s tour of Morocco where they will take on the Moroccan U-20 side in two international friendly games.

Hat-tricks from the pair of Alhassan ‘Muazam’ Ibrahim and Taiwo Awoniyi, and strikes from the likes of Ifeanyi Matthew, Bulbwa, Mustapha Abdullahi, Abubakar Lawal and Sulaiman Abdullahi handed the Flying Eagles a comfortable win over the amateur league outfit but Garba, like Oliver Twist, has demanded for more from his wards in subsequent games.

Kanu,Okocha’seplimpact massive –Muamba Ifeanyi Ibeh

T

wo Nigerian former international players; Nwankwo Kanu and Austin Okocha; have been hailed due to their massive and evergreen impact on the English Premier League.

Fabrice Muamba of DR Congo who featured for Arsenal and Bolton in the EPL said on SuperSport on that the two Nigerians could best be described as ‘special gift’ to the round leather game.

The midfielder who was speaking during a focus on African players programme stressed that Africa showed the world through players like Okocha and Kanu that the continent was also blessed with talents in football.

“Kanu is a great gift to the EPL and was one of the few players who added flair to the game in England.

His impact was so massive which gave Arsenal a huge followership in Africa,” said Muamba on Kanu who, in his opinion, is second only to Didier Drogba in his ratings of the top Africans to have graced the English top flight.

“After Drogba, I think Kanu is the greatest African player to have played in the Premier League.”

Kanu, during his time in England played for Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth, making 423 appearances for these clubs, including 198 for the Gunners.

The former Ajax and Inter Milan player also scored 81 times in the colours of the three English clubs he played for, including 44 in all competitions for Arsenal.

Three of Kanu’s most

memorable goals came in Arsenal’s 3-2 comeback victory over fierce rivals Chelsea in October 1999, and Muamba recalled those goals with nostalgia.

“He scored a lot of great goals but his hat-trick against Chelsea will always be memorable in the heart of Arsenal fans,” continued Muamba. “He went on to contribute towards helping West Brom and Portsmouth achieve great success but he will always hold a special place in the heart of Arsenal fans,” On Okocha, who made 145 appearances and scored 18 goals for Bolton between 2002 and 2006, Muamba, who joined Bolton two years after the Nigerian had played his last game for the Trotters, said: “He (Okocha) likes to pick up the ball and take on the entire defence.”

He added; “He was so supremely gifted and knew what to do with the ball when he had it. And he played the game in the right way.”

Other than Kanu, Okocha and Drogba, Muamba also paid glowing tributes to other Africans who have graced the EPL including Drogba’s Ivorian teammates YayaToure and Salomon Kalou, as well as Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor and legendary Ghanaian striker Anthony Yeboah, who scored 27 times in 50 EPL appearances for Leeds United.

Yaya Toure of Manchester City and Samuel Eto’o of Cameroun were also mentioned on the programme as Africans who are currently doing well in the EPL. Toure is the reigning African Footballer of the Year.

NEWS 55

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, April 4, 2014

FROM THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

T

he organized labour and civil society groups at the national conference yesterday opposed decision of the conference secretariat to appoint chairmen and deputy chairmen of committees that would be constituted to aid the work of the conference.

The delegates had earlier voted to allow the secretariat constitute the committees while members of the committees would elect their leaders.

However, this decision was later upturned after the Adhoc Committee of

Labour group opposes Kutigi on committees chairmanship 50 delegates which helped to break the logjam over voting benchmark reviewed it and gave the principal officers of the conference, the powers to appoint chairmen and deputy chairmen of the committees.

Addressing newsmen yesterday at the Media Center of the conference, leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Civil Society

Organizations represented by Comrade Abdulwahid Omar, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Femi Falana respectively, distanced itself from the decision and accused the conference leadership of manipulating the exercise.

The group said the press conference became necessary after a letter of protest by the organized labour to the National Conference, objecting to

the change, was ignored.

According to Comrade Omar, the protest letter which was forwarded by the organize labour, ought to have been read before the delegates, but it has not.

“The committee of 50 acted in violation of their brief since their mandate was to determine what should constitute a majority vote in the absence of a consensus and not to do other things. Yet, the same

committee acting in concert with the conference leadership reversed the decision on the election or selection of committee chairmen and their deputies.

“The committee’s recommendations on the issue of presiding officers of the committees therefore cannot, and should not, stand.

“This scenario of a few privileged people tinkering with the decision of a whole House is nothing but dictatorship and tyranny of a few. If it is allowed to stand, it may become a feature of the conference.

One of the reasons for convening this conference is to deepen democracy and not to reinforce impunity.

“The reversal of the right of the committees to elect/select their offi-

cers directly is an affront to democracy as well as a violation of the right of delegates to freely choose their presiding officers.

“We must warn that this seemingly innocuous act sends out dangerous signals and is capable of raising credibility issues in subsequent decisions,” he said.

It could be recalled that the issue was tabled before the whole house after the meeting of the committee of 50 met on it.

Conference chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, had at the review session explained that the change became necessary after it was observed that there was need to ensure that committee headship achieved geo-political and gender spread.

He also said that the review would create room for the conference secretariat to appoint leadership of the committees taking into cognizance their areas of specialization and competence.

Women delegates less than 15 per cent – Fashola’s wife

M L-R: Ambassador Ladan Shvni; Alhaji Tanko Yakasai; Ambassador Hassan Adamu and Alhaji Adamu Aliyu, all delegates at the National Conference…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

National Assembly lacks power to give Nigeria new constitution, says Falae Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

F

ORMER Secretary to the Government of the Federation and delegate to the on-going national conference in Abuja, Chief Olu Falae has declared that the 109 Senators and the 360 members of the House of Representatives in the present National Assembly do not have the constitutional power to make a constitution for the country.

Chief Falae, who was the joint presidential candidate of the then All Peoples Party/Alliance for Democracy in the 1999 elections, equally made

strong case for the country to be returned to its former political system of regional system of government as against the present presidential system of government being practiced.

The erstwhile Minister of Finance under the regime of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida pointed out that the presidential system confers too much power on the President and as such makes room for abuse.

The National Assembly had recently described the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigiled national conference as a sheer waste of time,

while another former Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, rtd, described it (the conference) as a waste of national resources.

While however responding to questions from Journalists in Abuja yesterday, Chief Falae insisted that the current National Assembly lacked both the constitutional and political powers to make a new constitution for Nigeria and Nigerians for two specific reasons.

He equally dismissed the notion, in some quarters, that the conference is a waste of time, stressing that he would not have been part of the

conference if he had considered it a waste of time.

In the words of Chief Falae, “The National Assembly is not competent to give Nigeria a new constitution because when the members of the House of Representatives and Senate were seeking election, they did not seek for constituent powers to enable them make a constitution. They only were given legislative powers to amend the constitution, make laws and pass the budget.

“They cannot smuggle constituent powers into their mandate after election. So, they have no constituent powers at all.

rs Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Lagos State Governor, yesterday said that women did not have enough representation at the ongoing National Conference.

Fashola said at a rally organised by the Lagos State Government to mark the 2014 International Women's Day in Ikeja that the disproportionate representation was disappointing.

According to her, the number of women at the conference is a reflection of the importance the government pays to the role of women in national development.

The governor's wife noted that the issue of gender equality was one of the items on the conference agenda for discussion.

She urged the nation to accord women the right recognition and advocated their adequate inclusion in national development efforts. ``We must go beyond

talking about gender equality and equal opportunities for women.

We must make conscious efforts to include women in national development. ``It is not good enough, for example, that at the ongoing conference less than 15 per cent of delegates are women. We need to do better as a nation,’’ she said.

Fashola said that no country would reach its full potential if its citizens did not enjoy full equality.

She asserted that the empowerment of women had been proven to lead to economic and all-round growth of nations.

"It is an empirical fact that countries with gender equality are making better progress than the ones without it,’’ Fashola said.

The governor's wife urged governments to invest more in girl-child education to bridge the gap between men and women.

World Record

On Marble Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly

– John F. Kennedy

Sanctity of Truth

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha FRIday, APRIL 4, 2014.

I

t all started in that garden with its beautiful trees and delicious fruits.

An earthly paradise for the couple, they had just one rule to contend with. They were not to eat the fruit of a particular tree. It sounded so simple and straightforward. Keep to that one rule and enjoy an eternity of bliss.

Then came the intruder who encouraged them to discountenance the rule.

The couple did exactly what they were told not to do. Faced with the reality of their decision, the couple began the blame game. Adam blamed Eve and she in turn passed the proverbial buck to the intruder, the Devil. Since then, blaming the devil has become a convenient excuse for wrong decisions, especially those with catastrophic consequences for which we do not want to take responsibility.

Nigeria’s Minster of Interior reached for the same buck passing strategy last week, as he faced the Senate Committee on Interior. On March 15, 2014, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), one of the parastatals under the Ministry of Interior, conducted a nationwide recruitment exercise that ended with fatalities.

At least not less than 15 participants died as a result of the stampede that ensued at some of the venues.

Until he made his appearance at the two-day public hearing, the Minister had conducted himself with a sickening arrogance. He kept blaming the deceased and would not apologise for the shoddy arrangement and scandalous self-serving scam associated with the ill-fated exercise. The public had hoped that a closed-door meeting with the President would get all involved in the outrageous mess, including the Minister, to tow the path of honour. It turned out to be a misplaced hope. So it was a surprise that on appearing at the public hearing, there seemed to be a change of attitude of the part of the Minister.

It is not unlikely that at this point, it had dawned on him that the decibels of public outage were not receding. The President’s promise to set up a committee to investigate the unwholesome incident, the briberylike offer of employment to three members of each family of the deceased, offer of appointment to those injured, and cancellation of the exercise, did not douse public anger.

The President’s actions seemed more like another opportunity for political mileage than taking far-reaching transformational decisions. The Minister’s rear-guard action of discreetly monetising some journalists to give him a good press also backfired as it became public knowledge.

Ahmed “Iron Monkey” Kerigo performed a flying push-up using stacks of small benches 1.36 meters high. He is the founder and CEO of the calisthenics group Team Physix-Zero Gravity.

N150

The Minister and the Devil

Graffiti EMMAN USMAN SHEHU

Perhaps the reality sank in when the sordid revelations of an entrenched manipulative process farremoved from the established conduct poured out like a river of dross at the public hearing. The Immigration Service Boss, the Secretary of the Immigration Service Board, and some Immigration officials opened the dam of nasty and shocking revelations with the Minister as the Culprit-In-Chief.

Thus when he took his turn, for once he appeared to have shed his toga of shameless arrogance. His family, in what can now be perceived as an orchestrated move, cued him in by offering a public apology. He then spoke of taking responsibility for the disastrous recruitment scam: “As the Minister of Interior, under whose purview this unfortunate exercise took place, I cannot abdicate my responsibility. The buck stops at my table.” Almost in the same breath, without as much as a pause, he then blamed the Devil. Even then he has failed to do the next honourable thing, which is to resign from office.

It really is no surprise that he has not resigned. The Minister obviously has no plan. Clearly what he did at the public-hearing was simply to reach into the bag of political tricks and continue with the deviousness that has become an entrenched habit with public office holders in Nigeria. In one breath he was claiming the buck stops at his table, but at the same time he was craftily passing responsibility for all that had happened to the Devil. A classic sleight-of-hand of insincerity and deception.

This is what leadership and public service has degenerated to in the country. Leadership demands several strong positive qualities including accountability, integrity, vision and honour. The Minister’s actions thus far, consistently provide further proof that our leaders desperately lack all of the aforementioned qualities.

Accountability implies being re-

sponsible for outcomes of actions, whether good or bad, because the buck stops at the leader’s table. These decisions most times are based on a vision to make things better for society, and propped on the pillars of integrity to ensure every decision is all about public service and not self-service. In the words of Michael ray Hopkins: “Integrity is one of the top attributes of a great leader. It is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, reasons, principles, expectations and outcomes. It connotes a deep commitment to do the right thing for the right reason, regardless of the circumstances. People who live with integrity are incorruptible and incapable of breaking the trust of those who have confided in them. Every human is born with a conscience and therefore the ability to know the right from wrong. Choosing the right, regardless of the consequence, is the hallmark of integrity.”

It is not only the dead applicants and their families that the Minister has betrayed by proving to be untrustworthy. It is not only those who took part in the recruitment exercise that he has betrayed. He has betrayed the generality of Nigerians for dismally failing to uphold the trust that comes with his office as a leader, in this case a Minister.

Whether in public or private service, whether as leaders or followers and even as individuals, a single standard of behavior cuts across board.

It is not one standard for some, and another standard for others. It is not one standard for the leaders and another for the followers. A society that encourages double standards can only nurture crass behavior. This mutating culture of crassness is evidence of how low we are sinking.

The Minister’s shameless arrogance and manipulation is not unexpected given what our society has become. Allegedly a long time political enforcer (read thug) for the Senate President in their home state, and

most recently the President’s campaign manager in the same state, he has been rewarded or all his loyalty with a ministerial appointment. In keeping with our perverted reward system, he is unperturbed about public outcry, the rule of law, or even the decency that is the foundation of public service.

He knows too that our descent into clannish sentimentalism over objective reasoning will work to his advantage. A fellow clansman and former Minister of Education has already rushed to his support, stating that the Interior Minister’s resignation will not bring back the dead. A brazen insult to enlightenment, decency and accountability.

For the Interior Minister, all that matters is his political ambition.

Having become an expert political enforcer, he has graduated to minister and sees on the horizon the possibilities of being a governor and subsequently a senator. This is the choice career cycle. A cycle that refuses to take into consideration the public service capabilities of the so-called leaders. In saner societies, the best cream rises to the top, here it is those spreading the virus of dishonor.

Whatever the Minister’s religious persuasion, the truth is that like Adam and Eve, he is directly responsible for his distasteful actions.

It had nothing to do with the Devil.

However he may get away with it because the nation has sold its soul to the Devil.

OmoBaba DEAD WORKERS, RETIREES STILL COLLECT SALARIES IN ADAMAWA - News

- Soon, dead politician will contest and win election!

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