Binder1 march 28th 2014

Sanctity of Truth Facebook.com/newtelegraph

Friday, March 28, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 38

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Court: Toll collection on Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge illegal NIS test tragedy: Abba

lLagos heads for Appeal Court Joseph Jibueze

T

he Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday declared as illegal the

collection of toll on the Lekki-Ikoyi bridge.

Justice Saliu Saidu held that there is no law in Lagos State authorising the

collection of toll on the bridge by the government.

By implication, further tolling on the bridge will stop until any appeal against the ruling is deter-

mined.

A human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, filed a suit challenging the power of Lagos State CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Moro accepts responsibility lWe were sidelined, says Compt. Gen. Chukwu David Abuja

rade Abba Moro, yesterday accepted responsibility for the tragedy that occurred

Minister of Interior, Com-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Confab, waste of time –Reps

lSenate to block N8bn funding of delegates, logistics Philip Nyam and Muhammad Kabir

T

he House of Representatives, yesterday, declared that the ongoing National Conference and its outcome may be an exercise in futility.

The House stated that unless the 1999 Constitution is further amended to make provision for referendum to ratify the outcome of the conference, the exercise would be a mere waste of time.

Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, Hon. Victor Ogene (APGA, Anambra), made the posiC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2

L-R: Former Ekiti State Governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Bisi, at the flag off of the second term campaign of Fayemi at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

Police corporal kills self, wife, six others TRAGEDY

Police chief begs angry residents as trigger-happy cop storms landlady’s house, leaves eight dead

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

A

police corporal, Sunkanmi Ogunbiyi, went berserk yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, kill-

ing his wife, a two-yearold girl and five others in cold blood.

Ogunbiyi, who reportedly battled domestic issues before the incident, killed himself immediately after snuffing lives

out of his victims.

The bizarre shootings, which ignited pandemonium among residents of Obantoko area in Abeokuta, also left three people sustaining severe injuries.

The injured were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta for treatment while the remains of the dead were deposited at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeo-

kuta.

According to eyewitnesses, the police corporal arrived at a six-room apartment at No. 67, Ifelodun Street, Akingbala area of Obantoko in the C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4

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Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

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

L-R: Senator Zaynab Abdulkadir Kure; former President Ibrahim Babangida; Chief Judge of Niger State, Hon Justice Fati Lami Abubakar; Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu; former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar; and the Emir of Lapai, Umar Bago Tafida, during the official commissioning of Lapai-Gulu Road & Abdulsalami Abubakar General Hospital, in Niger State…yesterday.

Confab: No provision for referendum in constitution CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tion of the lower chamber known at a press briefing.

Delegates to the National Conference have disagreed on what to do with the outcome, whether to subject it to referendum or to the National Assembly for ratification. The conference consists of 492 delegates across the country.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

30o 26o Storm

PORT HARCOURT

33o 23o Thunder storm

ABUJA

37o 25o Cloudy

KANO

42o 24o Partially cloudy

ENUGU

34o 24o Thunder storm

IBADAN

31o 24o Thunder storm

CALABAR

31o 23o Storm

MAIDUGURI

42o 28o Partially cloudy

ONITSHA

31o 24o Thunder storm

Ogene also assured that consideration of the 2014 Budget proposal would begin in earnest by the beginning of next month.

Speaking on the outcome of the National Conference, Ogene explained that there is no provision in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) that provides for referendum.

He said the only document that the legislators are statutorily bound to invoke and act upon is the constitution.

“The only document we swore to uphold is the constitution. For any section to be altered, you need twothirds of both chambers of the National Assembly and

two-thirds of state assemblies,” he said.

According to Ogene, unless this is done, the issue of referendum will not sail through, as there is “nothing on referendum before the House.”

On the delay in the passage of the 2014 Budget, he said: “Often times, a minister defending his/ her ministry’s budget estimates may write to seek re-scheduling of an appearance thereby taking the committees back by days.”

He, however, assured that work is being concluded on the fiscal document and it is going to be concluded by the first week of April.

Responding to insinuation that the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also uses private jet for his trips and should be investigated like the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Ogene asked: “Is there any allegations that any money is missing in the coffers of the National Assembly?

If not, there is no need to worry.”

The House deputy spokesman emphasised that the House would continue to exercise its powers in line with Section 88 of the Constitution, which “gives powers to the legislature to conduct probe to ensure accountability.”

He also allayed fears that the House has jettisoned work on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), saying “the PIB is an important document. Once passed, it would go through the process. Every single law is as important as the other. That is not to say the PIB is in the cooler. It is still undergoing the process.”

Meanwhile, Senator Ibrahim Gaya yesterday gave indication that the National Assembly might consider denying the conference funding.

The confab is expected to gulp N8 billion.

The former governor of Kano State said this is C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3

Court: Toll collection on Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge illegal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to collect toll on the bridge.

Nullifying the toll collection, Justice Saidu held that the power to control the Lekki Lagoon and other Federal Navigable Waterway lies with the Federal Government.

He said although the Federal Government has given some authority to the state to construct the bridge, there is no law authorising or permitting the collection of toll fee on it.

According the judge, the bridge is not a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) initiative for which the collection of toll can be allowed.

Justice Saliu said: “The question is: Has the third respondent, Lagos State

Government, made appropriate law to enable it collect toll on the bridge?

“The third respondent only cited Section 27, 28 and 29 of the Lagos State Public Private Partnership Law 2011 as making provision for collection of toll.

“There’s nothing before me to show that the subject matter in this case was as a result of the Public Private Partnership Law. “The fact before this court is that the bridge was built with the third respondent’s money.

I agree and uphold the construction of this bridge as of right.

“The third respondent has power to generate revenue from the subject matter, but the existing law does not cover it.

“The third respondent

can only give a law to that effect before it can collect tolling on the bridge.”

Adegboruwa told reporters after the judgement that he would challenge any law the state may make to validate toll collection on the bridge.

“For now, everybody in Lagos State should be free to pass through that bridge without paying any money.

“It was build with the peoples’ money. We cannot pay tax to build a bridge and pay another money to use it. It was not built through concession.

“The court said they cannot apply the PrivatePublic Partnership Law to a bridge that was build with state funds.

“This judgement is a warning to all statutory

and government agencies, because our people are burdened. The economy is bad.

“On behalf of the people of Nigeria, we must continue to challenge all impunity and all taxation that have no backing in Lagos.

“We’re going ahead to challenge other imposition of taxes on our people,” Adegboruwa said.

Lagos State, represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Ade Ipaye, said the state would appeal the judgement “immediately.”

He told Justice Saidu: “We are grateful for the judgement and we hope to get the full reasons soon.

There is actually a law, but C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3

AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

3

Fulani herdsmen use chemical weapons to kill 17 Tiv farmers Waku upbraids Suswam over incessant trips Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

C

lear indications emerged yesterday in Benue State that the invading ter-

rorists masquerading as Fulani herdsmen have resorted to the use of chemical weapons to kill Tiv farmers.

The new twist became known when some killers,

believed to be Fulani cattle rearers, opened fire on Sengev community in GwerWest Local Government area of the state, leaving no fewer than 17 people dead without gunshots wounds

but with foam oozing from their mouths.

According to one of the inhabitants of the affected area who preferred to remain anonymous, one of the victims’ elder brother

L-R: Chancellor, Gregory University, Uturu, Dr. Gregory Ibe; Director General, National Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs. Sally Uwaechue Mbanefo and Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, during her courtesy visit to the governor in Umuahia…yesterday.

4

The number of fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of developing countries in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

N248.7bn

The IGR realized from direct assessment sources of Adamawa State in 2010.

Source: National bureau of Statistics

N12.4bn

The internally generated revenue of Ogun State in 2012.

Source: National bureau of Statistics

Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge: Lagos seeks stay of execution CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

this is not the place to talk about it.”

Adegboruwa had challenged what he said was “the attempted imposition of toll fee on the Lekki Admiralty-Ikoyi Suspension Bridge by the Lagos State Government.”

The lawyer sought a declaration that under the National Inland Waterways Authority Act, the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and other prevailing statutes, the state government is not conferred with jurisdiction, authority or power of control or management over any federal navigable waterway in Nigeria, and in particular, the Lagos and Lekki Lagoon, as to entitle it to impose toll fee.

The lawyer said the imposition of N500 (which was reduced to N250) per trip, per vehicle, for an indeterminate period of time, “is arbitrary, exploitive, oppressive, inhuman and callous in the circumstances of the economy of

Nigeria, and is, therefore, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”

Adegboruwa said the government did not carry him and other Lagosians along or consult with them in the process leading to the proposed imposition of the levy, and that most people who live and work within the Lekki and Ikoyi axis, including him, are opposed to the levy.

Later at a press briefing in his office, Ipaye faulted the judgement.

He said contrary to the verdict, Section 29 of its Private Public Partnerships Law allows the state to collect toll on any public infrastructure.

Besides, the government said the claimant never sought any declaration to the effect that there was no law to cover the collection of tolls on the bridge.

“The pronouncement made in this regard was not one of the nine declarations sought by the applicant,”he said.

To him, the judgement

“contained, at least, two or three fundamental errors.”

“We are, therefore, filing an appeal as well as an application for stay of execution immediately,” he said.

Ipaye said the court was wrong in holding that the N10million payment made by Julius Berger to the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) before building the bridge amounted to a concession that NIWA was the only authority to regulate inland waterways in Nigeria.

“With utmost respect for his Lordship, Lagos State Government never made such concession.

The payment of N10 million was made by our contractor when NIWA was stalling the multi-billion naira construction.

“In fact, we expressly indicated to the court that we filed the proof of payment by our contractor without prejudice to our very comprehensive arguments on the right of the

state to control its inland waterways. It was not a concession to the applicant’s claim,” Ipaye said.

The Attorney-General said there is no constitutional requirement that for any tolling, there must be a separate law backing it.

“Tolls chargeable under the law can clearly be on any public infrastructure or asset, not necessarily on those built with private sector partnership. In any case, the maintenance and tolling of the bridge is, in fact, by a private sector company to which a concession was granted by the Lagos State Government.”

Ipaye said the verdict did not contain any specific orders. “The judgement did not specifically address many of the questions raised by the applicant, neither did it grant any of the declarations sought.

“No order was made.

However, the pronouncements are capable of being interpreted as court orders, hence our decision to appeal and seek a stay of execution immediately.”

was found dead outside the house but after critically observing his body, he had neither a cut or wound on him.

Our source said residents noticed the invasion of the village by strange people and they started scampering for safety.

He believes that the terrorists might have resorted to another tactics of killing.

The Chairman of the local government, Mrs. Eunice Abajwa, who confirmed the invasion, opined that she has so far recovered 10 corpses without wounds and has taken them to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi for autopsy.

When contacted, the hospital authorities said they are yet to receive the corpses for the test as claimed by the council boss. But the State police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Daniel Ezeala, confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Senator Joseph Waku, has taken a

swipe at Governor Gabriel Suswam, accusing him of globe-trotting while his state is on fire, following the daily killing of farmers.

Waku described the governor’s frequent diplomatic shuttles to Abuja and overseas as frivolous, particularly now that the killing has worsened, saying it was wrong for him (Suswam) to be following President Goodluck Jonathan abroad as if the state is safe.

To him, the attack by the Fulani marauders is politically induced, adding that for the governor to have left the state when the heat on it was unbearable is a clear demonstration that he, as chief security officer of the state, does not have the people, whom he swore by the constitution to protect, at heart.

“Makurdi, the state capital, was attacked, some nearby villages were also attacked and the governor of the state, because the people did not give him the mandate, he did not bother about them”.

‘Confab composition lopsided’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

based on the fact that the exercise is meant to cause confusion in the country.

Gaya said with a functional National Assembly, there was no basis for the conference.

Specifically, the senator said the voting pattern at the conference, revenue derivation and religious imbalance of delegates are signs of trouble for the country.

Gaya said: “Nigeria has enough crises at hand from Plateau, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and many other places. So, there was no need to set up the conference by the simple facts that you have 109 senators, 360 members of the House of Representatives and the state Assemblies who also confer on what the National Assembly agreed on. So, the conference is uncalled for.

“I knew the trouble is coming. This is the beginning because issues like voting pattern, revenue derivation and sharing for-

mula, and so many things that would have been ordinarily discussed by the National Assembly are part of the confab agenda.”

He expressed worries that the composition of the National Conference is lopsided. “Even with 17 states from the South and 19 states from the North, the South is still having more numbers than the North. This is not good not to talk about the issue of religion which is more volatile and the President overlooked all these problems,” he said.

The senator advised his colleagues in the National Assembly to block funding for the conference so that all the delegates should go back to where they come from.

Gaya also faulted the screening and confirmation of the new Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor as there is still a court case between the Federal Government and the suspended CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

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Friday, March 28, 2014

Obiano: I’m in a hurry to develop Anambra Nnamdi Amadi

G

overnor Willie Obiano of Anambra State yesterday said that he was in a hurry to make impact and take the state “to the next level in our development stride”.

The governor, who is

just 11 days old in office, told journalists in Abuja that his swearing in was one of best in the history of the state and the enthusiasm of the people could be gauged in the way and manner they turned out in their numbers to welcome him.

He said that he intend

to roll out an economic enablement programme that would anchor on security, power, youth empowerment and women development.

According to the governor, he intends to purse wealth creating opportunities through a broadbased agricultural policy

that would be mechanised.

This programme will also help in job creation for numerous youths in the state.

Another area he also intend to give priority attention is oil and gas.

He said that his administration would encourage policies that will attract oil and gas industries to the

L-R: Director, Government Relations, P&G Nigeria Limited, Temitope Iluyemi; Acting CBN Governor, Sarah Alade, and CBN Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Suleiman Barau, during the World Oral Day and National Oral Health Conference in Abuja.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

N11.9bn

The IGR realized from other revenue sources of Ebonyi State in 2011.

Source: National bureau of Statistics

80.6%

The male percentage of internet users of Australia in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

90.6%

The male percentage of internet users in Qatar in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

Police corporal kills self, wife, six others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

early hours and opened fire on his wife, Oluwatosin Faremi, who was also a police corporal.

The late wife, already dressed in her uniform, was said to be preparing for the day’s work when her killer-husband came calling.

In the ensuing melee, Ogunbiyi also shot dead a commercial motorcyclist, identified as Kunle, who until the incident often conveyed the policeman’s wife to work.

The motorcyclist was about to pick the policewoman and her two children dressed up in their school uniforms in front of the house.

The rampaging police corporal, however, spared his two children and proceeded inside the apartment, killing the landlady identified as Iya Basira who had yet

to wake up from the mat.

After killing the landlady, Ogunbiyi also shot dead three occupants of the house who were alerted by the unusual gunshots and wanted to find escape route.

The victims included Basira and her two-yearold daughter, Jesutofunmi as well as the landlady’s two sons, Taofeek, a Senior Secondary School Two student of Nawarud-Deen Grammar School, Obantoko and his elder brother, Sikiru.

Residents claimed that Ogunbiyi had previously issued several warnings to the landlady to desist from harbouring his wife and children whenever they had any misunderstanding but the landlady ignored the policeman’s warnings.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, was said to have

visited the scene of the killings yesterday and ordered further investigation.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police command had commenced a thorough forensic investigation into the incident.

Adejobi said the police commissioner had assessed the situation and sympathised with the relations of the deceased and members of Akinbola Ifelodun Estate Eleweran area of Abeokuta where the incident took place.

He said: “The unfortunate incident occurred this morning Thursday 27th March, 2014 at 0758 hours when the said Corporal, who had been having domestic conflicts with his wife, shot and killed six persons,

with his rifle, including his wife, woman corporal Oluwatosin Faremi, the landlady in the house, a two-year-old girl and two males and one female, while another three persons sustained injuries and receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.

“The said corporal, having killed these persons, shot himself dead immediately.

“The Commissioner of Police, however, appeals to the general public to perceive the incident as one of the unfortunate social mishaps and not to judge the police with the incident, as the police command is committed to protection of lives and property and will not tolerate any act capable of trampling on fundamental human rights of the citizens in Ogun State.”

state for exploration of the oil wells.

He disclosed that the refinery of the state-based oil company, Orient, is over 50 per cent completed and may be completed in one year.

Obiano also said his administration plans to modernise markets so that visitors will feel comfortable.

In addition, e-commerce will be introduced so that the traders can transact business digitally.

NIS test tragedy: Abba Moro accepts responsibility at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment aptitude test and Physical examination centres in some parts of the country on March 15, 2014.

He, however, explained that the tragedy occurred while the Ministry and the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prison Board (CDFIPB) were trying to institutionalise a formidable, transparent recruitment process that would engage Nigerians of all classes in legitimate employment.

The minister stated this before the Senate Committee on Interior, investigating the tragedy that resulted from stampede which ensued at the various examination centres.

In his presentation, Moro said: “Mr. Chairman and Distinguished Senators, we are deeply grieved and saddened about the way events turned out. We express our sincere regrets once again.

“We sincerely made appropriate and adequate preparations for a hitch -free exercise, but as most things in administrative and human conditions, the yield curve of expected outcome is mostly undefined.

“As the Minister of Interior, under whose purview this unfortunate exercise took place, I cannot abdicate my responsibility. The buck stops at my table.”

The Minister also told the committee that at one of the board meetings held months before the recruitment, the ministry distanced itself from the decision of the consultants engaged to collect N1,000 as registration fee from applicants.

He pointed out that the decision to charge N1,000 was entirely that of the consultants, Drexel Technologies Limited, engaged to handle recruitment through online application process on the portal.

He said following the placement of advert by the ministry in several newspapers, 710,110 applications were received and 522,625 shortlisted for the test and physical examination.

The representative of Drexel Technologies Lim-

ited, Theodore Mayaki, had earlier explained the decision of the company to fix an application and processing fee.

He said the fee was carried out sequel to the company’s compliance with other sections of the agreement it reached with the Ministry of Interior.

Mayaki said that the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Service Board had, prior to the recruitment, placed a demand for N201,844 as remittances for the conduct of what they called e-recruitment.

According to him, both parties agreed that since there were no provisions of funding for the execution of the exercise, Drexel would be able to find a way out of it, one which led to the company approving the sum of N45 million to the board.

Speaking earlier, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr. David Parradang, told the committee that the NIS was left out altogether from the recruitment.

According to him, the Immigration Service got hint of the recruitment date last month at a budget defence session while appearing before the Senator Abubakar Atiku Baguduled committee, thus making it impossible for it to stop the exercise since the NIS was not the driver.

“Why we could not stop this exercise is that we were not the drivers of this process at all. So, the decision to stop it would never have come from me. I was not the driver of this process and my position had been very clear on this.

“We didn’t talk on that occasion when we came before this distinguished committee on the 20th of February. The issue we were invited for was strictly for budget and the presentation the NIS made was strictly on that issue.

I believe that it was during question and answer session that the minister was asked pointedly and he answered and said it was 15th March. It was not in the agenda of that day,” he said.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

5

2015 elections: APC shops for N108bn It is unrealistic, says Lai Mohammed PROPOGANDA Opposition party says enemies behind campaign of calumny Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

o effectively prosecute the February 14, 2005 presidential election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in dire need of N108 billion, New Telegraph can authoritatively report.

To raise this amount, the party, it was exclusively gathered has levied all its 36 state branches N3 billion each while Lagos and Rivers states are to fund states not under APC governors.

New Telegraph gathered that the issue of finances for the next year presidential election dominated the meeting of Strategy Committee of the party held on Saturday March 22 at the Lagos State Government House.

The meeting was a follow up to an earlier one held in Abuja by Malam Nasiru el-Rufai, Saliu Lukman, the Director General

of the Progressive Governors’ Forum among others on how best to coordinate and prosecute the 2015 Presidential election.

The party also identified stakeholders at the various state levels across the country who would coordinate the next year poll.

Ten participants that included Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, who is also the Chairman of the party’s Strategic Committee; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari;

former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir elRufai, among others, were in attendance.

At the meeting, Fashola noted that funding is most paramount and of immense importance to the successful prosecution of a presidential election.

He reiterated the importance of adequate and appropriate funding for such election, adding that the APC is up against those that have allegedly stolen Nigeria’s oil money for elections.

Members of Joint Action Front (JAF) in solidarity protest against youth unemployment in Lagos…yesterday.

NJC suspends Rivers Chief Judge Court acquits House Leader, Chidi Lloyd Tunde Oyesina and Charles Onyekwere

T

he National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday suspended the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice P. N. C. Agumagu, from office as a Judicial Officer with immediate effect.

The council hinged the suspension of Agumagu on grounds that his appointment by Governor Rotimi Amaechi did not follow the Constitutional provisions for the appointment of a Chief Judge.

The council further issued a query, asking Agumagu to explain in writing within four days, why he should not be removed from office as a Judicial Officer for his failure to abide by his Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution

The model for raising the fund, New Telegraph learnt, was mooted by Fashola who suggested that the committee was looking at a minimum total sum of between N2 billion and N3 billion per state.

He was also quoted as saying that Lagos and Rivers states governments have agreed to also fund states that are not under APC governors with the same amount of money on the governorship and presidential election.

While speaking at the

and Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to NJC spokesperson, Soji Oye, the council arrived at the decision at its 10th Emergency Meeting which was held yesterday in Abuja.

“At its 10th Emergency Meeting, which was held on the 26th March, 2014, the National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar, GCON considered the purported appointment, confirmation and Swearing-in of Hon. Justice P. N. C. Agumagu as the substantive Chief Judge of Rivers State on the 18th Day of March, 2014.

“In the course of deliberations on the matter, Council noted that it

is expressly provided in Section 271 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) that: *The Appointment of a person to the Office of the Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State”.

Meanwhile, Justice Letam Nyordee of Port Harcourt High Court yesterday discharged and acquitted the Leader of the House of Assembly, Hon. Julius Chidi Lloyd, of criminal charges in a case instituted against him by the Commissioner of Police on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

meeting, el-Rufai noted that President Goodluck Jonathan has no confidence that he would win the presidential election but relying on the Military, Police and State Security Services (SSS) personnel.

The former FCT Minister alleged that Jonathan has been calculating on how to rig the presidential election.

He envisaged that based on the direction of politics in the country, the next 10 to 11 months would indeed be very challenging to both the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) and APC. In his reaction, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the report as untrue.

“This is unrealistic.

Where did you get the information from? Definitely, this is not true.

Absolute rubbish. This is nothing but part of the choreographed campaign of calumny against APC. No such campaign can stop us winning the next elections convincingly. Does it make sense to ask each state to contribute billions of naira? Are we prosecuting a war?”

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

FRC halts investigation over Sanusi’s legal action Sunday Ojeme

A

legal action instituted by the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido, yesterday prompted the suspension of investigation into the activities of CBN by the Financial Reporting Council.

Sanusi was expected to appear before the panel alongside former Deputy Governor (Operations), Mr. Tunde Lemo; Acting Governor, CBN, Mrs. Sarah Alade; Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, Alhaji Suleiman Barau (CBN Deputy Governors) and the Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Ms. Evelyn Oputu.

At the resumed hearing, the Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer,

FRC, Mr. Jim Obazee, was, however, presented with a letter from the suspended governor’s lawyer stating reasons Sanusi could not make it to the hearing.

The letter, which referred to the pending court case before a Federal High Court, Lagos by Sanusi, pointed out that in view of the pending application for interlocutory injunction dated 26th March 2014, and in line with the provision of the law, where there is a pending action before a court of competent jurisdiction, an application for an injunction, that status quo be maintained pending the interpretation of the injunction.

Obazee, however, said the investigation would continue at the CBN office, which is an administrative

procedure of the FRC. He said because of the documentations that had been sent, the panel would wait for the court papers and study the court papers before the next invitation would be extended as appropriate.

On CBN’s investment in BoI, he said apart from the fact that there was no management approval for such, the content of the debenture certificate was not also understood.

He said, “The reason we didn’t understand the debenture certificate is because we do not believe there was a debenture issued. We also want the Bol to confirm whether they are in custody of the N500 billion because we can still see monies coming out from the CBN.”

6

NEWS

Friday, March 28, 2014

photo news

NEC raises food shortage alarm over herdsmen, farmers clashes Anule Emmanuel

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Kano State Governor, Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso (left), and the Turkish Ambassador, Mustapha Pulat when he paid a courtesy call on the governor at the Kano Governor's Lodge in Abuja. …yesterday.

he National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday met at the presidential villa for the first time after six months, raising an alarm over possible food shortage in the country following the frequent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, who also briefed state house correspondents after the meeting, said the Council was

quite worried and that if something was not done urgently, farmers may not be able to work on their farms, which could result in food shortage in the entire country.

"The displacement of farmers is a matter of great concern to both the federal and state governments and, as a matter of fact, Council was quite worried about this and we feel if something is not done immediately, our farmers may not be able to work in their farms and that means shortage

of food in the entire country," he said.

He noted that NEC also mandated Vice President Namadi Sambo, who is the Chairman of the Council, to consult with the President so that an emergency meeting of all the affected states could be held to find immediate solution to the problem.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio who coordinated the briefing, said that seventeen states have been identified as flashpoints of the crisis.

Lagos drags FG to Supreme Court over allocation deduction Muritala Ayinla

T L-R: Former Deputy governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tunde Lemo; Deputy governor Operations, Kingsley Moghalu and Executive Secretary/CEO, Financial reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr. Jim Obazee, at the hearing and investigation of CBN top managements held at Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

he Lagos State Government has finally dragged the Federal Government to the Supreme Court to challenge the deduction from its due allocation from the Federation Account.

The Lagos State Government had decried the deduction of one percent from the due allocation by the Federal Government for the purpose of

funding police reform.

The state Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, at a special briefing with the members of the state’s House of Assembly, had also vowed to challenge the continuous shrink in the state allocation, which he described as unlawful.

He had argued that the one per cent deduction had also contributed to the state’s declining allocation and affecting

the state negatively.

In a notice, tagged: "originating summon for a declarative judgement in the Supreme Court of Nigeria", obtained by the New Telegraph, the state government is challenging the power of Federal Government to deduct from its revenue and that of its local government Council from the Federal Account under the allocation revenue.

Take up PDP’s challenge on Jonathan’s scorecard, group urges APC

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L-R: Director Large Tax Department, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Vincent Ohagwa; Coordinating Director, Direct Report Group (DRG), Queensly Scheghosime, and President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Solomon Yagba, during the FIRS Day at the Nigeria Centenary Trade Fair in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

pressure group, The Strategic Team ( TST) has asked the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) to pick up the challenge on the debate of the score card of President Jonathan thrown at it by the Peoples Democratic Party and desist from what the group called "an unwarranted indecent attacks on the office and person of

the President of Nigeria.”

A statement in Abuja by the Director General of the group, Engr. Daniel Ohiomoba said it was unfortunate that the APC has misconstrued vitriolic attacks and destructive criticism of the Federal Government as an engagement rule and a measure of its responsiveness as an opposition party.

Asking the APC not to

make destructive criticisms its trade mark, the group said the opposition could still keep the ruling party and its government on their toes without necessarily trading in halftruths and outright lies, arguing that using foul means to create relevance, exposes the emptiness of the opposition and could cause restiveness in the polity.

$310m contracts: NNPC secures UK court's judgement in 10-year dispute

A L-R: Author of the Book, Mathew Eigboboh Okoduwa; Chairman, Leadership Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah, and Chairman, ABG Group, Dr. Bawa Garba, at the launch of "Broadcasting and Politics In Nigeria" in Abuja…yesterday.

Commercial Court in London, United Kingdom has ruled in favour of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in a suit filed

by IPCO Nigeria, a subsidiary of the IPCO Group, a turnkey contractor and investor in energy infra-

structure projects, over a dispute that arose from a contract to build an oil terminal in Port Harcourt.

A statement signed by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim explained that

the case, which stretched for a decade, initially arose from a dispute following IPCO’s claim that NNPC should bear the cost of variations (alterations to the scope of works in the original construction contract), which caused a 22-month delay.

NEWS

Friday, March 28, 2014

7

Your executives’re my supporters, Bamidele tells Fayemi Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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governorship aspirant on the banner of the Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, yesterday dropped a bombshell, saying more than half of the cabinet members in the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi, are backing his ambition.

Speaking at a rally in Ido-Ekiti, he said the commissioners and special advisers, among others, were not only supporting him, but that they were doing so financially.

The member of the House of Representatives said the decision of the people, who are still in the All Progressives Congress (APC) was because they believed in his cause and had seen the deception the current administration stood for.

On the claim by Governor Fayemi that his second term bid was unstoppable, he said the governor would immediately withdraw from his second term struggle, if he knew the support he (Bamidele) was enjoying from members of his (Fayemi's) cabinet.

We’ve not sold Sketch newspaper, says Odua GMD Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

T

he Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Odu'a Investment Company Limited, Mr. Adebayo Jimoh, has debunked claims that the moribund Sketch newspaper had been sold.

Sketch, founded over 50 years ago by the defunct Western Region government, was a subsidiary of the Odu'a conglomerate owned by the six states of South-West.

But speaking in Ibadan while playing host to executives and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, Jimoh said

the moribund newspaper would soon bounce back to the news-stand.

The Odu’a boss added that the conglomerate had already entered into partnership with a consortium of veteran journalists and some investors with a view to reviving the paper.

He said some of the former staff of the newspaper had been paid their entitlements, except those who had yet to come forward to claim their entitlements.

According to Jimoh, the newspaper will commence publication from the Odu'a Printing and Publishing Company in Ibadan on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Zakzaky calls on Jonathan to release his members Muhammad Ali Kaduna

A

n Islamic group, the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan, to use his good office to release two of its members and all Nigerians that are being detained without trial.

The group, under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, alleged that two of its members, Haruna Abbas Ali and Ibrahim Husain, have been in detention for over

a year without prosecution.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Shiite Islamic sect alleged that Abbas Ali was arrested on March 16, 2013 at the Aminu Kano International airport by security agents.

According to the group, Abbas Ali’s family has been denied access to him.

“In an effort to enforce his fundamental right, a case was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where he was being detained,” the statement said.

Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda (right), receiving the embedded licence for Yankari Power Holding Company from the Chairman/CEO of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, at the commission's headquarters in Abuja,… yesterday

Abdulsalami commissions N4.9bn projects in Niger PROJECTS

Former Head of State impressed by dividends of democracy in Niger Dan Atori MINNA

F

ormer Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, yesterday commissioned two new projects in Niger State.

The projects were the General Hospital in Gulu and the Lapai-Gulu road,

all in Lapai Local Government of the state. The projects were at a cost of N4.9 billion.

General Abdusalami said at the ceremony that he was impressed by the two projects, especially the general hospital, which was named after him.

According to him; “I am impressed by this project of humanitarian magnitude, it will last long in the memory of the people.”

He commended the Niger State governor for his developmental strides in the state over the years.

The General used the oc-

casion to admonish Nigerians to pray and work for peace as the 2015 elections approach.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Governor Babangida Aliyu said his administration has, over the past six years, fulfilled all its campaign promises to the people of the state in the area of provision of dividends of democracy.

Aliyu said there was no part of the state that has not benefitted from his administration’s development strides, adding that the approach to

governance since 2007 has been people-based and result-oriented.

“I can go to any ward in this state and feel free to move around, because of what we have done for the people in the last couple of years,” he boosted.

Aliyu singled out the Ward Development Project (WDP) programme, in which N1 million was released to each of the 274 wards across the 25 local government areas as a policy that has assisted the administration in fast-tracking the tempo of development in the state.

Ekiti governorship election is about freedom –Fayemi ELECTION

Govervor blows own trumpet as he launches election campaign Temitope Ogunbanke And Adesina Wahab

G

overnor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State yesterday charged the people of the state to see the forthcoming June 21 governorship election in the state as one of freedom for the state.

The governor therefore urged the people

to embrace freedom by voting him for a second term to enable him complete the foundation of good governance in the state.

Speaking at the flagoff of his election campaign at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the governor urged Ekiti people to be vigilant and be ready to use their votes to prevent criminals and troublemakers from assuming office as the governor of the state.

He said he has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the state through many laudable projects

his administration has carried out in the last three and half years.

The governor implored the people of the state to use his performance in the area of infrastructure, education, health, job creation, elderly care programmes and many others, as a yardstick to vote for him during the election.

In his address, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, urged the people of the state, including Ndigbo in the state to cast their votes for Governor Fayemi during the gover-

norship election.

Meanwhile, Governor Fayemi yesterday debunked the rumour making the rounds that he was going to sack teachers in the state's employ, if voted in for a second term in office.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the governor said the rumour was being peddled by the opposition to discredit his administration.

He said he would also not stop commercial motorcyclists from plying their trade, adding that those peddling such rumour were the enemies of the people of the state.

8

ACROSS THE NATION OYO Ibadan

Oyo PDP council chairmen endorse Jonathan Thirty-three council chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyo State yesterday give President Goodluck Jonathan greenlight to fly the party’s flag in the 2014 presidential election.

At a meeting held in Ibadan, the spokesperson of the chairmen, Alhaji Aliyu Balogun, said the party’s stalwarts’ decision had been endorsed by the state chairman of the party, Chief Yinka Taiwo.

The chairmen noted that Jonathan had performed creditably well and, therefore deserved a second term to complete all the projects he started in his first term.

Friday, March 28, 2014

ADAMAWA

FCT

Yola

ABUJA

Adamawa has one of lowest (IGR) profile in Nigeria-Economic Summit A Communiqué issued at the end of a three-day Economic Summit on Revenue Deficit in Yola has yesterday, revealed that Adamawa State was among the states producing the lowest Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the country.

The communiqué ex-

11m

pressed worry about the prevailing poor revenue generation in the state despite the many revenue sources that were still untapped.

The document which was signed by six out of ten members of the Communiqué Committee reveals that for the government to be able to meet its developmental strides there was urgent need for review of revenue policies in the state.

The total number of internet users in Nigeria in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

JAIZ bank to expand branches to all states by 2014 Jaiz Bank Plc, foremost non-interest bank in Nigeria plans to have presence in all states of the federation before the end of 2014.

The expansion drive plan which has already kicked off with the opening of additional branches in Sokoto , Bauchi and Kano recently has grown JAIZ bank branches to 13

1.6

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Africa in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

OYO Ibadan

. The total branches in Kano has come to three with the recent addition.

A statement issued yesterday by the bank's Head of Corporations, Idris Salihu listed Gombe, Maiduguri, Katsina and Gusau (Zamfara state) as amongst states where the bank has branches. The bank has three branches in Abuja, located at Kano House Central Business District, the National Assembly and Wuse District.

10.1%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Africa in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

ABUJA

Abuja Trancorp Hilton to witness 1hr darkness

Ikeja

UBA Foundation intensifies campaign on prostate cancer

fct ABUJA

Court didn't stop new number plate, FRSC insists The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has said that Wednesday's judgment of Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos did not vacate its statutory powers to design and produce the new number plate.

The FRSC pointed out that what the court, through the verdict, said was that Corps lacks statutory authority to fix deadline for the enforcement of the number plate.

President, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Professor Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, has blamed the series of unwholesome practices in the profession on insufficiency of trained professionals in government establishments across the country.

The don disclosed this in Ibadan yesterday, during a sensitization workshop on improvement of veterinary practice in the South-Western Nigeria, held at the Jogor Centre, Oke Ado, Ibadan, saying, only five veterinary doctors were employed by Bayelsa State.

fct

LAGOS

UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, weekend intensified its awareness campaign against Prostate Cancer through an initiative tagged ‘Cycling for Prostate Cancer’.

The cycling event, which is the fourth edition of the Foundation’s annual prostate cancer awareness initiative, held in conjunction with ‘Jogging to Bond’; the employee engagement of UBA Plc in Nigeria and across the continent in the 19 countries where UBA has presence.

Insufficient vet doctors, causes animal diseases

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Media Craft Associate, Mr. John Ehigwese; Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem; Representative of the Jury/Former Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos Chapter, Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun and Corporate Media and Brand Relations Manager, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, Mr. Ndem Vindah, during a media briefing on the 6th Nigerian Breweries (NB) Golden Pen Award held in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI.

lagos

lagos

KWARA

LAGOS

ikeja

isolo

Ilorin

ikeja

Lagos 2015: APC caucus splits The race for who succeeds Governor Babatunde Fashola may have started in earnest with the factionalisation of the Justice Forum, which is a major caucus within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Addressing newsmen yesterdayin Lagos at the unveiling of the New Justice Forum, the coordinators of the group, Taiwo Ayedun and Tunji Folami, said that the platform is an amalgam of various interests within the APC who are tired of the old order in the caucus.

Rights issue: Evans Medical holds completion board meeting Evans Medical PLC, a leading healthcare company in Nigeria, is set to roll out about 500,000 ordinary shares of fifty kobo of the company at two naira fifty kobo to existing shareholders at a ratio of one ordinary share for every share currently held.

Already a Completion Board Meeting of the Rights Issue of 486,472,800 ordinary shares of the company has been held at the company’s head office board room in Isolo, Lagos.

Kwara probes N212m NUT Coop loan fraud Kwara State governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed has directed an investigation into a case of alleged fraud running into millions of naira by some members of a Multipurpose Cooperative Society run by the Offa Unit of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

The State’s Head of Service (HOS), Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed who revealed this while holding a stakeholders' meeting on Offa NUT/CTC in his office, said the governor was determined to sanction any civil servant indicted in the alleged misappropriation of funds.

LASU holds matriculation today As the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, is set to hold its matriculation exercise for the new students for the 2013/2014 academic session today, the management has issued stern warning to all concerned students that those who do not meet up with its registration deadline, which was slated for midnight yesterday, would not be allowed to take part in the exercise.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the university recently and signed by its information officer.

Nigeria's prestigious Abuja Hotel, Transcorp Hilton is to witness total blackout from 8:30 p.m.

- 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday in commemoration of 2014 Earth hour.

The hotel, in a statement made available to the New Telegraph by its spokesperson, Shola Adeyemo said the hotel will be joining hundreds of Hilton Worldwide’s more than 4,000 hotels and timeshare properties by switching off lights, as well as organizing other projects for guests in demonstration of their commitment to live sustainably and take action by caring for the planet in the year ahead.

FCT ABUJA

Minister charges ports operators Minister of Transport, Idris Umar has directed operators and concessionaries to support and cooperate to Nigerian Shippers' Council in its regulatory role to sanitize the excesses at the Ports.

Umar gave the directive while playing host to a group of maritime stakeholders who visited him in his office to solicit for cooperation and support for the newly appointed Economic Regulator in the Nations Ports- Nigerian Shippers' Council.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

9

Gani Adams faults Lamido on secession WARNING OPC chief cautions eminent Nigerians on utterances at the National Conference

Wole Shadare

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member of the delegate to the on-going national conference in Abuja and the national coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Con-

l Nobody can threaten Yoruba Nation with breakup ference, OPC, Chief Gani Adams has cautioned about the utterances of eminent Nigerians, adding that such utterances by delegates could truncate the noble objectives of the conference.

He stated that the Yoruba nation could not be threatened with secession as championed by some groups of people, maintaining that the unity of the country was what

should be safeguarded.

This is just as he expressed disappointment with the utterances of Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Bakindo Aliu Musdafa on the floor of the conference on Wednesday.

Speaking with reporters on arrival from Abuja at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Two (MMA2), Lagos, yesterday, Adams said the Yoruba nation could develop indepen-

dently without relying on the Federal Government, but noted that the nation would only move forward as one entity.

He recalled that the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo with funds realised from agricultural produce developed the South-West, adding that 80 per cent of developments in the South West were due to individual efforts and not govern-

ment.

Adam also emphasised that he was ready to die, rather than betray the Yoruba course at the ongoing National Conference and challenged the Yoruba people to put their delegates on the watch list, alleging that a few of the delegates from the region were there for selfish interest.

According to him, “We the Yoruba people want to remain in Nigeria, but we

shouldn’t be threatened. We didn’t have oil in 1954 to 1959, but we all knew what the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo did for this nation through the Western Region Government. And when you study the Yoruba very carefully, our developments usually come from 80 per cent individuals and not government. We don’t rely on any development from government and we will not rely on the government for developments.”

EFCC v Fayose: Lawyer pleads for time because of election Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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L-R: Head, Brand Management, Keystone Bank Plc, Mrs. Omobolanle Osotule; Divisional Head, Lagos Island 2, Mrs. Helen Eriyo; Executive Director, Lagos and West, Mrs. Yvonne Isichei; Acting Head, Products and Market Support, Mrs. Obiageli Ibennah and Acting General Manager, Mrs. Yetunde Kakulu, at the bank’s 2014 Annual Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Forum held in Lagos...yesterday

Nasarawa youths give NASIEC 48-hour Strike: No money to meet teachers' ultimatum to announce election results demands, says Benue Gov Muhammad Ahmad Lafia

T

housand of youths yesterday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, gave the state Independent Electoral Commission NASIEC 48 hours to announce results of Akwanga Local Government Area in the last Saturday's council elections. The youths who came from all the eleven electoral wards of council area, took over major roads in the early hours of yesterday, chanting solidarity songs.

They queried the state electoral body for going against the Electoral Act which states that only the tribunal can quash elections results announced by returning officers.

They said that the inability of state’s elector-

al body to announce the chairmanship election result of the area along others last Sunday, gave an impression that the commission had compromised. The Youths who carried leaves and placards barricaded and obstructed traffic for so many hours. It took the intervention of the former Chairman of Akwanga LGA, Awolowo Illiya, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who addressed them to bring the situation under control.

“Electoral Act” provides that results should be announced at the polling unit, wards and local government levels by the presiding officer, ward and local government returning officers, respectively.

Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

T

here appears to be no end in sight for the six months old strike embarked upon by primary school teachers in Benue State. Governor Gabriel Suswam said yesterday that the strike could continue because there was no money to implement the teachers’ demands for wage increase.

The Governor's Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Solomon Wombo who disclosed this at a news briefing in Makurdi, said government could not borrow money to run its machinery and could only administer with available resources at its disposal.

Prince Wombo expressed dissatisfaction with the dwindling allocation accruing to the state in the last couple of years, stressing that what the state received from the federation account could not accommodate salaries of primary school teachers in the state.

He explained that over N2.2 billion was required to meet the demands of the over 24,600 teachers, assuring that plans were in the pipeline for the teachers to call off their strike so that the pupils could return to the class.

The Special Adviser said about N5 billion meant for the payment of their cumulated salaries within the period of the strike was lying in a fixed deposit account.

he issue of when to continue the trial of former Governor Ayo Fayose over alleged misappropriation of funds earmarked for poultry project during his tenure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was almost stalled yesterday over when the adjourned date trial should be.

The stalemate arose because counsel to the former governor, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), drew the attention of the court to the fact that his client had become the flagbearer of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming June 21 governorship election in Ekiti State.

The issue generated a hot argument between Raji and the lawyer to EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) following the crossexamination of the two witnesses called by the EFCC. The presiding judge, Justice Adamu Hobom, had asked the counsel to pick a date for adjournment after listening to the two witnesses. Raji told the court that his client, being a contestant in the coming election, would need time to concentrate on the electioneering.

APC blasts Saraki’s ex-deputy over comment on former boss Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

A

cold war between former Kwara State governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his Deputy while in office, Chief Joel Ogundeji blew open yesterday with the state’s chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) carpeting Ogundeji over a recent comment that condemned Saraki’s decision to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ogundeji, who was deputy to Saraki through their eight-year tenure, had expressed dismay over the decision by his former boss to join the APC and alleged

that he was never consulted before it was concluded. He bared his mind while addressing a group of PDP youths at his hometown, Owu-Isin, headquarters of Isin Local Government Area of the state.

But the Interim Secretary of the APC in the state, Prince Yemi Afolayan, carpeted the former deputy governor and expressed concern that he could so turn against his well-known benefactor.

The state government has not responded to the development but a Government House source lamented yesterday that, “Ogundeji was so trusted by the former governor."

10 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

We returned N3bn assets to Bayelsa govt – EFCC RECOVERY

EFCC says N3bn recovered funds from former governor had been returned to Bayelsa government Emmanuel Onani Abuja

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday

said it has returned assets worth over N3 billion to the Bayelsa State government under the administration of Chief Timipre Sylva in the state.

Though, the antigraft agency only mentioned Chelsea Hotel, it nonetheless put the value of assets returned at N3, 128, 230, 294. 80; $441, 000; €7,000 and ₤2,000.

All of these recoveries, the commission added, were property

seized from convicted and pardoned former governor of the state, Chief D. S. P. Alamieyeseigha.

T his disclosure was made in Abuja by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, during a press briefing held at the commission's headquarters, to intimate the public on the strides recorded by the anti-corruption agency.

Specifically, Uwujaren said the clarification be-

came necessary in view of a recent suit instituted against the commission, which has seized assets as its subject-matter.

According to Uwujaren; “There has been an issue in the media regarding the assets recovered by the commission from a former gover nor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

“It is indeed unfortunate that some people decided to stir a need-

less controversy in an otherwise settled matter...in 2010, precisely July 10, 2010, when the assets recovered from Alamieyeseigha were handed over to the Bayelsa State government.

Timipre Sylva, then

Akwa Ibom spends N2.2bn on MDGs' projects

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L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan; Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada and Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwanbo, during the National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja… yesterday

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

N8.82bn 128.9m N3.35bn The internally generated revenue of Enugu State in 2010 Source: National bureau of Statistics

The total population of Middle Africa region (representing 1.87% of the world’s population) in 2010 Source: Blatantworld.com

The IGR realized from PAYE (taxes) in Anambra State in 2010 Source: National bureau of Statistics

Outrage as armed policemen Bayelsa sets up volunteers invade NUJ Secretariat to boost security Chris Ejim Yenagoa

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here was outrage ye s t e r d ay by journalists in Bayelsa State following the armed invasion of the state secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) by policemen attached to the Ekeki Divisional Command of the police, disrupting scheduled monthly congress of the union.

Scores of journalists, including state correspondents of various national dailies led by the chapel Chairman, Comrade Samuel Ese and the leadership of the National Associa-

tion of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), were not spared the ordeal as armed policemen who ordered that the presidential campaign visit of an aspirant to the council be stopped.

Trouble started at about 2.54pm, when members of the Bayelsa NUJ sighted a suspended member of a faction involved in the crisis against the elected leadership of the union led by Comrade Tare Akono.

A policeman said to be under the directive of the suspended member, shot teargas near the gathering at about 3.00pm when the scheduled congress was to kick-off.

T

he Bayelsa State government has set up a Volunteer force, to boost security in the state.

Announcing this in a statement, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the Bayelsa Volunteers, which is backed by law, was approved by the Bayelsa State Security Council after its meeting earlier in the week.

Markson said, “To this end, Governor Seriake Dickson has approved the appointment of CSP Idowu Asufi, to serve as its coordinator, while Hon. Enekiyou Boni Ayah will

be the secretary.”

He explained that the Governor approved the appointment of a retired senior police officer to take charge of discipline and control in order to be part of the security architecture of the state.

Accordingly, he said, approval has been given for 500 youths and another 50 graduates, who must be between the ages of 18 and 35 for the initial recruitment.

He added that the leadership structure at the State and Local Government levels will be announced later for inauguration.

governor of the state was on hand to receive the assets.

“In all, assets valued at N3, 128, 230,294.80; $441, 000; €7,000 and ₤2,000 were returned to Bayelsa State government,” the commission stated.

he Akwa Ibom State government yesterday said it has spent N2.2 billion to execute Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) projects in the state.

Special Assistant to Governor Godswill Akpabio on MDGs, Mr. Steve Akpan, made this known yesterday in Abuja.

Akpan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the money was spent on the provision of water, health care and education.

He said the state had witnessed transformation in the area of education, healthcare and water, adding that the office was able to mainstream the MDGs goals.

“We wereable toconstruct 42 solar powered boreholes; we have renovated more than 30 primary healthcare centres. Also, more than 20 classroom blocks were renovated across the state.

“The projects listed in 2012 are the ones we just completed. Those for 2013 were brought forward to 2014.

“Between January and March, we are preparing to embark on first line survey to be able to identify the areas we have not been able to cover,” he said.

He said the inventory would enable the office intervene in providing basic social amenities to the people under the 2014 programme.

‘We’ll push PDP out of Cross River in 2015’ Clement James Calabar

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chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Dr. Ntete Duke, has bragged that his party will ‘flush out’ the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the state in 2015.

Duke, who is one of the eight contestants to the position of state chairman of the party, spoke exclusively to New Telegraph yesterday in Calabar.

He said the people are tired of the PDP in the state “and this clearly showed in the last registration exercise conducted by APC.” We noticed in the last registration exercise that people are tired of the ruling party

and they are clamouring for a change. I assure you that you are going to see a new APC in Cross River State,” the former United Nations staff boasted.

He said the state congress of the party, which will commence on April 5, 2014 is expected to produce the best candidates to run the affairs of the party at the state level, adding, “and because of my experience locally and internationally, I have no doubt that the people will line up behind me,” he said.

Duke is a cousin of the formergovernorof thestate,Mr. Donald Duke and the senior brother of Nkoyo Toyo, the member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

NEWS

Friday, March 28, 2014

MDGs: FG says basic education funding is yielding results EDUCATION

FG releases funds to implement programmes on girl child education Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

I

n its bid to attain the mandatory targets of of the Millennium Development Goals-2 (MDGs) framework that bothers on the delivery of Universal Basic Education to children of

298m

school age in the society, the Federal Government said that its deployment of proceeds of the Debt Relief Gains (DRG) to fund basic education was yielding great result.

It also said it has made available over N113.75 billion of debt relief to the Federal Ministry of Education from 2006 to date to implement various programmes and projects bothering on girl child education.

This was revealed by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the

The total number of internet users in China in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

President on MDGs, Mrs. Precious Gbeneol, in the course of its distribution of three million copies of MDGs branded free exercise books to indigent pupils across the country.

Clarifying issues to New Telegraph on telephone, Desmond Utomwen, the Media Aide to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, said that in achieving Goal-2, government had deployed the DRG largely to fund projects and initiatives in education with a focus

6.4

The number of fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in Asia & Pacific region in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

on the issues of quality, capacity, access and relevance.

According to him, through the DRG released under the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) of the MDG office, "in 2011 and 2012, a total sum N26.1billion was invested in 261 Local Governments Areas with the execution of more than 15,000 high impact MDGs related projects across the country in the education, income generation, agriculture, health, water and sanitation sectors"

74.2%

The percentage of households with a computer in Europe region in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

Obiano solicits FG's support on road construction

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he Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Willie Obiano, yesterday, in Abuja, solicited the support of the Federal Ministry of Works on road construction and rehabilitation in the state.

He said that it was a matter of great importance that his state synagised with the Federal Government (FG) in the area of road constructions to make travelling safe for the people of the state.

Obiano made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Minister, Mr. Mike Onolememen, in Abuja in what he said was to familiarise with

Ikechukwu Ucheoma

T

he Abia State Government has suspended, indefinitely, the commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Chief Chisom Nwamuo, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Transport, Chief Ikechukwu Emesobum.

In a terse statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo, on behalf of the state government, the two commissioners were told to proceed on an indefinite suspension.

Food importation without agriculture threatens national security -Don AGRICULTURE

Prof. calls for urgent diversification of agric production Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

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university don and a Professor of Agricultural Economics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Christopher Chiedozie

Eze, has called for urgent diversification and specialization in agricultural production in the country, warning that a nation that relies on importation of food and exportation of oil and gas without agriculture is living on a keg of gun powder.

Eze, a research scientist and practical economist argued that to achieve a meaningful agricultural leap, the nation’s land use policy should be

reformed to make it easy and cheaper for farmers and prospective farmers to acquire and use land for agricultural purposes.

The professor said this in a lecture titled “Agricultural Finance – a panacea for agricultural and rural development” he delivered at the 24th Inaugural Lecture of the University.

He said that with unemployment put at 23.9% in 2013, Nigerians must

discard the perception of farming as a tradition and take it up as a business to enhance the realization of the nations real potential as the giant of Africa.

“You cannot commercialize agriculture on a less than one hectare farm (which is a dominant land holding pattern in Nigeria) especially crop farming that needs large expanse of land for viability and profitability”.

the ministry and thank the minster for the good work he had been doing in Anambra state’’.

"I thank the ministry for the good work being done in Anambra and for the support given to my predecessor; I also solicit that the same be extended to me. "He said that the state would continue to support Federal Government’s activities in Anambra, adding that `` I look forward to working with you.”

Responding, Onolememen congratulated the governor on his election and assured him of the FG’s support.

Abia govt suspends two commissioners Umuahia.

L-R: Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano; Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, during the National Economic Council Meeting, at the presidential villa, Abuja …yesterday .

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

11

The statement which expressed the displeasure of Governor Theodore Orji over the illegal practice of multiple taxation and levies in Aba and other parts of the state, as well as, the intimidation and harassment of citizens of the state by hoodlums parading as revenue agents hired by parastatals of the Ministries under the control of the two suspended Commissioners directed that, henceforth, all revenues for the state government would be collected by the Board of Internal Revenue which is the only agency authorized to collect government revenues.

N’Delta group raises alarm over abandoned projects Dominic Adewole Asaba

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pressure group, the Niger Delta Christian Political Front (NCDPF), yesterday, threatened to carry out protest in Abuja should the Federal Government refuse to sack the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Muhammed.

The group is angry over Dr. Ado’s ineffectiveness in handling the affairs of the agency and

for allegedly masterminding the diversion of projects in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta state.

In a protest letter signed by National Secretary of the group, Comrade Alaowei Dorgu Ebifa and made available to New Telegraph in Asaba, the state capital, yesterday, the group among other things accused the Executive Director of abandoning all Federal projects cited in Ndokwa East axis of the oil rich state.

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Friday, March 28, 2014

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We know NNPC pipeline vandals –Ikorodu residents FILTHY LUCRE An elder in Ikorodu says every youth in the area is a potential pipeline vandal because of free money coming from the illegal act Juliana Francis

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he residents of Ilare/Imagbon in Ikorodu area of Lagos have promised to help police arrest those behind perennial vandalism of petroleum pipelines in the area.

The residents made the pledge while helping the police to arrest two persons believed to be among those behind the fire outbreak at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline at Ilare/Imagbon axis in Ikorodu area of Lagos on March 20.

An elder in the community, Baba Toyin, one of those who assisted in arrest said: “If all the security operatives are willing to guarantee that these men will be prosecuted, we will assist them in fishing them out in this area.

“Over here in Ikorodu, our children are no longer interested in going to school.

Every other child is a potential vandal because most of those involved in this illicit trade are building houses and driving big cars.

“Our waters are polluted because of their activities and most especially incessant fire outbreaks have killed a lot of our people.

“We know who are into this business but because our security is not guaranteed, no one wants to speak out. They are heavily armed and can wipe out your family if they discover that you are the one who reported them to the police.”

The Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit, Lagos command, which made the arrest, identified the suspects as Rotanna Ifeanyi and Soji Omomoyesan.

The suspects, with others still at large, allegedly caused the outbreak of the fire, while attempting to extract Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The vandals fled before security operatives and fire fighters reached the scene, but not without receiving severe burnt from the fire.

The suspects said that they embarked

on the illegal trade after fuel scarcity started in Lagos.

It was gathered that the suspects were apprehended with the help of members of the community who trailed them to the house of a herbalist where they ran to receive treatment for their burns.

The 22-year-old Ifeanyi said his best friend, Tony Olabanji, convinced him to join in the pipeline vandalism.

He said: “My best friend, Tony, said that we should go to Ilara area to help some vandals. We left about 2am.

“He told me that security men no longer visit the area since they believed vandals no longer attempt to vandalise the pipeline.

“When we got there, there were a lot of people. There were men and women, numbering over 20. We were later contracted by one Mama Beji who agreed to pay N200 for each jerry can that we moved to her vehicle.

“It was while this was going on, that we saw smokes coming from the site. I tried to turn away but the smoke and heat were too much. I collapsed and when I recovered, I was in much pain. I rushed to Baba Seriki’s house where I met Soji who was already there.” Ifeanyi explained that the community members stormed the herbalist home, beat him and Soji up and alerted the police.

The suspect added that one Jide caused the fire outbreak.

He said: “It started because there was an argument over who was to fetch before the other. Annoyed, Jide unknowingly threw the cigarette in his hand down.”

On his part, Omomoyesan praised God that police rescued him.

He said: “I am alive today because the police came to my rescue. The entire community wanted to set me on fire before the police arrived.”

Omomoyesan said he was an engineer and that the vandals desperately needed, adding that he knew he would make ‘cool money’.

He said: “At my age, I cannot carry 50 liters, so I was employed as a canoe paddler.

When we got there around 2am, everything was moving on smoothly till they started arguing.

“I was heading back to help solve the problem when the fire started. I was able to escape being roasted completely but the heat got me and peeled off my skin.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin, in charge of the Task Force, said that they got information that there

Ibadan

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olice yesterday promise earth, arrest and prosecu behind the killings at the pers’ den in Soka forest in Oyo State.

The Assistant Inspector (AIG) in charge of Zone 11, M Omolaja, said this when he the site with the state Polic missioner, Mr Mohammed In Omojola, who controls Oyo, O Ondo states, said the visit wa orders of the Inspector Gen Police, Muhammed Abubak He said: “We promise to d anybody found in connecti this heinous crime. We app the people of the state for t operation.

“Thorough investigation ing and we don’t want to disc identity of those arrested i not to hinder our investigat Omolaja urged the peop sensitive to whatever goe their environment and rep

Herdsman ha Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

The suspects

was a fire outbreak at the NNPC pipeline at Ilare/Imagbon axis as a result of the activities of vandals and dashed to the scene.

He said: “I encourage other communities to do same to bring a permanent end to pipeline vandalism.”

A

n Ilorin Magistrates’ Co remanded a 35-year-old herdsman, Mohammed K prison for allegedly hacking h year-old son to death with a m

Two escape death as car crashes in Calab LUCKY ESCAPE Two men cheated death when their car crashed while driving against traffic Clement James Calabar

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wo men escaped death yesterday when the vehicle in which they were travelling crashed into road divider in Calabar, Cross River State.

They, however, sustained injuries. The car, a Nissan Maxima 35 SL saloon with registration number 22 CC 26 said to belong to the Cameroonian Consulate crashed on Marian Road, opposite Marian Market.

The car, which was driven by one Abubakar, was damaged beyond repairs. The driver was with an unidentified man, said to be his friend.

When our correspondent arrived the scene, the two occupants of the car were said to have been

taken to the hospital. because this is not the type But a witness said Abubakar cident they would have sur was driving against the traffic But driving against the traff when he rammed into the pave- serious traffic offense. So, w ment holding the railings, forcing take this vehicle to Akim P the car to “almost tumble”.

Station,” One Chief Okokon Ita, who The accident caused a se was at the scene of the accident, hold-up on the ever-busy M said the driver was driving on the Road. left side of the road trying to force other vehicles off their way when the car suddenly swerved and hit the road divider, leaving him and his friend with serious injuries.

He said: “The driver was on speed and driving against traffic.

It was madness. Others were giving way because of the way he was driving until he hit the pavement and the vehicle almost tumbled.”

A traffic policeman, who gave his name as Mr Etah, said the police would investigate the cause of the accident.

Etah, however, warned against driving against the traffic, saying it was a serious offense as it could pose a threat to lives and property.

He said: “Imagine that he did not get to where he wanted to go in a hurry. They were just lucky The car

‘Voting procedure’ll render confab useless’/ PAGE 14 | Ikedife: Nothing’ll come out of confab / PAGE 15

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ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

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Friday, March 28, 2014

POLITICAL NOTES

Jonathan’s $1bn for oil theft

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Jonathan

Despite efforts by President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State emerge through a consensus option, former governor of the state, Ayo Fayose, picked the party’s ticket through primaries. ONYEKACHI EZE reports on the failed bid

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embers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West seem to have phobia for competitive primaries as a means of choosing their candidates in elections. The national leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan is equally averse to this, especially as it concerns party members in the geo-political zone.

Last year, President Jonathan held a meeting with party leaders and PDP chieftains in the zone. The meeting centred on the need for candidates of the party at every level to emerge through consensus. The president’s argument

Mu’azu

Fayose

was that primary elections often weaken the party and render it ineffective to face the opposition at the main elections.

Earlier this year, the president held another meeting with governorship aspirants of the party in Ekiti State, and equally expressed the desire for whoever that will be the PDP flag bearer in the June 21 governorship election to emerge through a consensus.

The fear of PDP and its national leader is however understandable. Out of the six states in the South-West, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in control of five while the Labour Party (LP) has one, leaving PDP with nothing.

In the National Assembly, PDP has only one member in the Senate and five in the House of Representatives. The PDP, therefore, needs cohesion and unity if it hopes to regain its lost ground in the

zone.

It is not surprising that all the 18 aspirants but one, who obtained the PDP governorship nomination forms for Ekiti State supported the consensus arrangement. There were even rumours that one of them had been adopted as consensus candidate for the election even before the party started the issuance of nomination forms. This generated crisis within the state chapter, necessitating a meeting between the aspirants and the party leadership in Abuja 48 hours to the commencement of the sale of the nomination forms.

At the meeting, the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, reportedly told them that the issue of a consensus candidate had not arisen since the party had no record of any of them. According to a source at the meeting, Mu’azu told them to first of all obtain the nomination forms and go to Ekiti and work because governors are not made in Abuja but in the states.

Not a few people were surprised at the position of the national chairman, which however ran counter to that of the president.

Mu’azu, had, shortly after his emergence as the leader of the party, promised to entrench internal democracy within the party. He also promised that whoever

Ekiti: PDP’s failed consensus option

CROSSFIRE

The most recent prophecy of violent deaths and destructions in 2015

by Nasiru El Rufai are not slips from elements at the periphery but snips from characters who know more than ordinary Nigerians -Olisa Metuh

The PDP government offers excuses or blames others for its glaring failures...

Yet every attempt by it to politicise and trivialise its abject security failures merely reminds everyone that it is not governing -Nasir el Rufai

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

resident Goodluck Jonathan on his recent visit to the Netherlands stated that Nigeria will spend US$1billion (N170 billion) to implement a comprehensive programme, to check oil theft and vandalism of oil and gas infrastructure that has cost Nigeria hundreds of billions of dollars.

With the advent of militancy in the Niger Delta, Nigeria lost a lot of resources to the activities of the restless youths who disrupted the flow of crude oil and foreign exchange earnings to government coffers, hence the decision to grant them amnesty, as a means of curbing their activities.

Since then, government had told Nigerians that the youths had been re-oriented and trained to be of better use to themselves and the society at large. Some were even awarded contracts worth billions of naira to guide the same pipelines they had once vandalised.

Asides that, government also set up a Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta to enhance security in the oilrich region. Now, another huge sum is to be committed to securing the industry infrastructure.

But the question over the new initiative is: Why is it that government never call its agencies, officials or partners to question on why vandalism still goes on despite the resources that have been committed to preventing same?

If government calls them to justify their activities, and, or resources committed to them, then there should be enough resources to cater for many other pressing needs that would impact on the lives of the people, instead of the double appropriation for the same purpose, or is it intentional.

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

OPEN FORUM ...FURORE OVER CONFAB VOTING PROCEDURE, REFERENDUM

Odumakin: Voting procedure’ll render confab useless Mr. Yinka Odumakin, National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere and spokesman of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), is a delegate at the National Conference

There is no country in the world today where you have 75 per cent as the threshold for majority. So, this defeats the whole idea of consensus... it would render the conference useless

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y position clearly is the fact that I have three fundamental issues about the 75 per cent voting procedure. One, right from childhood, what we always heard is that in democracy majority have their way while minority have their say. But this rule is trying to change to majority having their say while minority having their way.

What that creates is the fact that a minority that is opposed to an issue does not have to persuade or lobby the majority; all it needs to do is to mobilise 26 per cent to stall any issue. Because once 26 per cent says no, 74 per cent have wasted their votes. That is undemocratic tenet.

That was the affliction of the League of Nations, with the issue of unanimity that every member must agree to a decision before it is taken. That was why the League of Nations could not fulfil anything on its objectives because a nil vote renders every resolution useless.

That was why the United Nations corrected that mistake by having threshold of either simple majority or two-thirds majority.

Odumakin

There is no country in the world today where you have 75 per cent as the threshold for majority. So, this defeats the whole idea of consensus and that is why many delegates have rejected and kicked against the idea because it will make the conference a nullity and it cannot achieve anything. To get twothirds is even a problem and now the conference rules says that one-third is what we need for quorum. For us to even change the rule of the conference, we need two-thirds. Now to agree on a decision, you are now saying 75 per cent. It is undemocratic, obnoxious and therefore it is not conducive.

In fact, it would render the conference useless. The pattern that has emerged; if every section comes with a basket of demand; we can begin to say yes, we

would be able to trade issues; you want this, we support you, do you want that, we support you. But what we have seen that is emerging, is that there are people who have come to the conference with things we must agree on to move Nigeria forward. Also, there are people who have come to the conference with the sole aim of bringing no demand but just to stall this conference, so that we can move to the next election.

If this 75 per cent is allowed nothing would be achieved. Like I have told you people would have to trade off and negotiate, if everybody is coming to the table with demands and items they want to pursue. If you read the paper Baba Ahmed presented at the Kano Summit of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), he made it very clear there that they are not coming to this conference with any agenda. Therefore, they are just accompanying other people’s agenda. It means that they want to stall other people’s

agenda. Because you have no agenda at the conference; all you want is to get this conference stalled, so that we can move to the next election. But they are making a mistake. The mistake they are making is that of standing on the way of Nigerian people from having issues discussed that would move this nation forward and you think you want to put up a candidate for presidential election in 2015 and you expect people to vote for such a person. If you cannot show that you have the mood to sit down with the rest of the country and dialogue on issues and also give and take, and you want people to trust you to take power in 2015, then you are making a big mistake.

On the issue of referendum, a referendum is a Yes or No voting on issues not a vote on person. And some of us believe and the President also mentioned it that if the need for a referendum arises, the National Assembly should speed up what it is doing to incorporate a referendum in the constitution. The essence of it is that, it would make the constitution autonomous and we believe that the best way to end this conference is that the decision of the conference should not go to the National Assembly; it should rather go for the referendum of Nigerian people.

It is nothing new. In fact, those who coupled us together, Britain, by September this year they would also have a referendum in Scotland on whether Scotland want to continue to be part of Great Britain or they want to be out. Look at Egypt with all their crises and the rest; they have been able to hold referendum on their constitution. So, why are we afraid; why are some people afraid of having a referendum?

Interview by AYODELE OJO

Abdulmajeed: Consensus ideal for conference Comrade Abdullahi Abdulmajeed, President of National Youth Council of Nigeria, is a participant at the conference

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ooking at what we heard from the President’s speech on the day he inaugurated the National Conference, he made it clear and he did not mince words that what he expected was for the national conference with delegates from different parts of the country to have a consensus over critical issues that would be discussed.

In the event that we cannot have a consensus, we should have a mere consensus. And for implication, he was talking about a three-quarter, 75 per cent. But the rule of procedure that was to govern or guide the proceedings of the conference was released by the conference management. It was also included there that the basis for deciding on any issues was going to be by consensus. So, to achieve the

We must withdraw primordial sentiment and agree to work together as a country. We must sacrifice for Nigeria to work. We should put politics and sentiment aside and project one agenda consensus, we should achieve the threequarter of the majority.

The wisdom behind this in my own opinion if you will look at it critically, there is no way you can get 75 per cent consensus for an issue in Nigeria and these issues would still be go along regional lines. It must have cut across the interest of all regions. And since the interest and the basic desires of Nigerians and the government from this National Conference is to further unite Nigeria, then it means that it is important that

Abdulmajeed

we uphold the sanctity and guide that decision formula, so that at the end of the National Conference, Nigerians would be more integrated, harmonious and indivisible than it was before the conference.

The truth of the matter is that we have gathered at this table to take a decision for Nigeria based on sacrifices; base on give and take, understanding and for

Nigeria to work together as a country.

So, each region, ethnic group and interest group must be able to do a give and take to achieve success. We must all be ready to work together and make necessary sacrifices for the interest of the country. We must withdraw primordial sentiment and agree to work together as a country. We must sacrifice for Nigeria to work. We should put politics and sentiment aside and project one agenda and that is pan Nigeria agenda.

On the issue of subjecting the outcome of the conference to a referendum, Nigerians want a situation whereby a new constitution that is capable of moving this country forward would emerge to take this country to the next destination.

So, many Nigerians are very clear that they have reservation about the activities and the political will of the National Assembly to push the recommendations. So, having the referendum will give Nigerian people the power to affirm their consent to the outcome of the conference.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

15

OPEN FORUM ...FURORE OVER CONFAB VOTING PROCEDURE, REFERENDUM Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre and spokesperson of Transparency International in Nigeria, is one of the delegates at the confab

W

hat is clear is that in this conference there cannot be any issue that can be discussed without any proper agreement or concession reached by different groups, regions and individuals. It means that on every issue, you must be able to convince delegates to vote for you in order for you to get what you want. It shows that there must be give and take; there must be dialogue, negotiation and proper consultation before you arrive at any decision.

I think clearly that is what this is telling us, that you cannot simply have an issue and then just have particular number of people and then you just have your way. It means that you must have successfully convinced every other person to agree with you or to disagree with you on a particular issue. If we want to thinker with the current constitutional provision, it is very clear that every delegate must have been convinced to vote or not to vote on a particular issue. It can’t just be on the basis of sentiment. It means that there must be proper dialogue and negotiation on every issue.

If you look at the statement from Mr. President, he clearly advised the conference to discuss on issues that will unite and address the problems that we have in this country. In fact, he spoke against those people that are coming with selfish agenda that would not bring unity to the country. So, already from the body language of Mr. President, he has

Dr. Dozie Ikedife, former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Chairman, Anambra State Elders Council, is a delegate at the National Conference

Rafsanjani: Nigerians must have a say through referendum If there is sincerity from the delegates, I don’t think we would need to worry ourselves with the 75 per cent procedure because everybody knows that there is a problem in this country and we are coming to this conference to provide solutions already dismissed groups that would come up with a selfish view, regional or tribal agitation, which would be difficult to scale through now.

When you look at the voting percentage, it means that for you to be able to win the confidence of every other delegate there, you must have successfully convinced them and if you are actually coming with an agenda that might not really be useful or productive, it means that you will find it difficult to get supporters across the delegates irrespective of where they are from, whether they are Northerners or Southerners, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. I think this is also going to make it difficult for people who have either religious or ethnic or regional agenda to have their way.

If all the delegates come with free mind to move this country forward and address any injustice or any wrong thing in the way and manner we run this country, I think the voting

pattern and procedure of 75 per cent should not be a stumbling block. It would be a strength that many people are convinced that a particular issue is not properly done in this country.

For example, if you are talking about federalism, it should be clear to many delegates that the way and manner our federal system operates is not really helping to deepen democracy and giving sense of belonging.

A situation whereby the third tier of government, which is local government, is practically being undermined, I don’t think any delegate will stand up to argue in favour of continuation of undermining the local government. If you also look at the issue of citizenship and indigeneship, which is also one of the major controversies and source of

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

Ikedife: Nothing’ll come out of confab

I

don’t think the 75 per cent voting procedure is a good one. Conventionally, in a matter, you either arrive at consensus or you do simple majority or two-thirds majority. But if you hike it to 75 per cent or above, it means that you are just on mere total consensus, in which case you may not be able to decide on many things. You just talk and nothing will change. If you want to make any change, two-thirds majority is adequate and it is the universal practice everywhere; simple majority or two-thirds majority. I don’t know how the mathematics of 75 per cent came about. It is unconventional. If you want to achieve some changes in

Rafsanjani

problems that we have in this country, I don’t think any reasonable and sensible delegate will stand up to continue to promote the idea whereby some people are regarded as strangers irrespective of how many years that their parents stayed in a place. I don’t think any reasonable person who wishes Nigeria well will continue to agitate that that should remain. Likewise, on the issue of diversification of the economy, I don’t think any reasonable delegate there would continue to argue that there is no reason for us to diversify our economy.

Agriculture is dead, industrialisation is dead. I don’t think there is any reasonable delegate that would argue for the status quo to remain.

In terms of resource control, I think the whole issue is the question of injustice and misapplication. I don’t think Nigeria will continue to advocate for extension of the revenue sharing formula where the Federal Government virtually takes the larger share and the state and local governments are left with virtually not enough to be able to handle issues they have at hand.

I think Nigerians are interested in seeing how such initiatives are going to be democratised and giving more to state and local governments to enable them deliver good governance and dividends of democracy.

I don’t think anybody would oppose the injustice and misapplication of the resources. I think the totality of the whole thing is that we must

Ikedife

the structures, governance and everything and you hike the voting procedure to 75 per cent or close to 100 per cent, then it means that you don’t want any change. That is what it means; you don’t want any re-modification and you don’t want alteration.

I don’t know how the mathematics of 75 per cent came about. It is unconventional. If you want to achieve some changes in the structures, governance and everything and you hike the voting procedure to 75 per cent or close to 100 per cent, then it means that you don’t want any change The question now is that with the 75 per cent voting procedure, how would it be possible for some critical issues and agenda being taken to the conference by delegates to be resolved? There are areas

we know what we have on ground is not the best and we should change them. The President said he wants a change but if the present 75 per cent arrangement is anything to go by; then it means that they don’t want any change.

On the issue of subjecting the outcome of the conference to a referendum, if the National Conference is being done for the people, then the people must have a say. And the way people can have a say is by referendum, otherwise, it would just be an imposition and once they start imposing then it means there is no democracy.

We are just at the beginning of the discussion, stating the rules that will guide the discussion and conclusion, and it is important that it is set right from the beginning, and I am confident that once we go through these critical issues there would be prospects in many other things.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

16 POLITICS

Leading

Woman How has your involvement in politics been?

It’s been a bag of mixed feelings. It’s been both good and challenging. I will not say totally bad but challenging, particularly for a woman, it’s been more challenging than for a man. The terrain is not so fantastic in Nigeria of today, but then it can get better. I will not say because the terrain has been a little bit rocky and now chicken out. No. Like I have always said, as a woman, you must work twice as hard as a man to take the space from him.

I am somebody that believes in merit.

I’ve never believed in a reward system just because one is a woman. Not at all.

I want to prove my mettle, work very hard so that when I’m demanding for that space you willingly give it to me.

You made an attempt to contest for a seat in the House of Assembly. Why didn’t you make it to the House?

That was an eye opener for me. I contested against seven men and I was the candidate to beat. But the leadership of the then Action Congress (AC) thought otherwise. If they had allowed the primaries to hold, I’d have beaten the seven guys hands down, because my constituency was just five wards and clearly I had three wards in my kitty. So, I was the trailblazer and people that I thought should believe in me and my capability, they still didn’t believe in me. They felt after all she is a woman but I proved my mettle; I stood my ground. By the time they realised it, I was far gone. They came back telling me stuff like ‘oh we thought you were just here to make a mark we didn’t know you were serious.’

So, I said look guys I’m damn serious.

If the primaries were allowed to hold, I would have beaten the seven guys. But the leadership of the defunct AC stopped

Olatunde-Bruce

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Olatunde-Bruce: I wept when Adebayo stopped my aspiration Mrs Bolanle Olatunde-Bruce, a journalist and public relations practitioner, is the Director of Media and Publicity, Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State. She has been active in both private and public sectors. She was the former vice chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and later Diaspora, to Governor Segun Oni. She shares her experience in politics with AYODELE OJO me midway when they realised that Bolanle was winning. They stopped the primaries and decided they were going to give the ticket to someone else. That led to my exit from the party.

How did you feel when your ambition was punctured?

I felt very bad; extremely bad. I wept. I went to the then leader of the party in my constituency, former Governor Niyi Adebayo. I knelt down in his front and said, ‘Your Excellency, we must finish the primaries. I will win and will not disappoint you.’ He said to me, ‘look Bolanle, we have to stop the primaries. I could see you are winning, but we have to stop the primaries, please.’ He said, ‘I have spoken to Kayode [Fayemi],’ ‘who was just elected as the candidate of the party then.’ ‘You will be in his cabinet when he becomes the governor. We realise that you have spent so much money.’ I said no, give the cabinet portfolio to Churchill Adedipe whom you are planning to give the ticket to. We went on having series of meetings with Adebayo and Fayemi in Ibadan. I stood my ground. Eventually, they said the powers that be in my constituency wanted to give the Assembly ticket to that guy. And I said too bad. For more than

one and half years before the other aspirant entered into the race, I have been working hard in the grassroots for the Assembly ticket. The result was there for people to see. I was the candidate to beat.

So, I felt very bad because I had worked for this ticket. They took the ticket away from me for no just cause. That is why I didn’t look back and I left the AC. I didn’t regret leaving.

Why didn’t you make any attempt to vie for the Assembly seat in subsequent elections?

The next dispensation, I was already serving in the Segun Oni administra-

The leadership of the defunct AC stopped me midway when they realised that Bolanle was winning. They stopped the primaries and they decided they were going to give the ticket to someone else. That led to my exit from the party

tion and I was enjoying my work. My preoccupation then was to ensure that Oni succeeded. So, my preoccupation shifted from striving to go for an elective position to appointive position. That was why I didn’t contest for the seat again.

In the last few years you have changed parties; from the Action Congress (AC) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now Labour Party (LP). Why the frequent change of parties?

It is very simple; it is the people that make the party. For the AC, PDP and LP, it is a matter of nomenclature. I found myself in AC because the people of likemind I could work with then were in that party. And when injustice in the party was too much, we all moved out. As at then, PDP was the only party that was ready to accommodate us and be fair. I was in the PDP, and in all fairness, the PDP was fair then. The national leadership of PDP is still fair. But the PDP in Ekiti State today has gone bad. In PDP, if you are hardworking and you know your job, you will be well compensated. What is going on in the PDP, I saw it coming.

When I saw the dimension in the party, I moved to LP in November 2013.

It is not because I just like moving from one party to the other, no. The same people that were the real progressives are still together. I want to really serve my people. And I need to be where I will be opportuned to actually serve the way I wanted. That is the reason I’m in LP. The same progressives are still together.

How do you cope with male politicians?

One thing with the Nigerian man is that he respects a hardworking woman; a woman with integrity, humility, comportment and intelligent. To be modest, these encapsulate me. The challenges are there.

The men want to shrug you off, put you aside. But when you stand your ground, they will respect you. If any woman wants to come into politics, and you don’t want to accept that those challenges are there, you will not go far in politics. You must continue to work towards removing those obstacles on your way. The key word is don’t be deterred, just forge ahead.

What is the hope of LP in the June 21 governorship election?

The LP is the best and most credible alternative to the current government in the state. You can see the crisis in the PDP in Ekiti State and the people are fed up with the All Progressives Congress-led government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi. The LP is made up of people of like-minds that are ready to provide genuine development to the people of Ekiti State. The LP is the coalition of parties in Ekiti; you see people from PDP and APC. Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele will ultimately be the next governor of Ekiti State, by God’s grace. He is experienced, intelligent and means well for the people of Ekiti.

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Leading

Woman Engr. Doris Uboh-Ogunkoya caused a stir in the House of Representatives when she was engaged in a brawl with her male counterparts in 2008. She was manhandled and dragged out of the floor of the House. Now, she wants to return to the House she left in 2011 to represent Ika Federal Constituency. In this interview with AYODELE OJO, she speaks on her foray into politics, experience and her aspiration to return to the House.

What motivated you to join politics?

I joined politics to contribute my quota to nation-building and to be part of the solution, not a complainer. Together we can take the dividends of democracy to the grassroots and better the life of our young people and give them focus and a future; let them believe in their hearts again that there is hope in Nigeria. There are people who go into politics not for themselves but for the people.

Have you been able to give back to your constituency?

Absolutely yes. When I was in the House from 2007 to 2011, I did a lot of constituency projects. I made sure that my politics and projects are people-driven, people-oriented; that the communities can see and benefit from them, not just making law which is the number one reason any legislator should be in the legislative arm of government. Yes, we need to pass bills and make law for the good of the nation, but second to that is making sure that dividends of democracy get to the grassroots and constituents. And I did a lot of that in the areas of health, education and even access road. I think I did my best.

You have indicated interest in returning to the House of Representatives; why are you going back to the House?

I will start by answering your question: why not? I say why not because everybody says we must build Nigeria.

What I am trying to do is contribute my quota to nation building. I do not think because I was pushed off the horse once, I should stop learning how to ride a horse.

If I do that, then I will not know how to ride a horse. I believe anything worth doing is worth doing well. I believe that the journey of a thousand mile starts in one day. There might be pitfalls, but if you say because of that pitfall you go back, then you will never see light at the end of the tunnel.

There are so many things to be done in Nigeria. Our education sector is lagging.

As a matter of fact, any sector you want

Uboh-Ogunkoya: I’ve learnt my lesson

the bills were merged together to become one. Eventually, it was accented to law.

I think that is the singular thing I can say I am really proud of and I will like to be given another chance in the House to even do more because we have a lot of issues in Nigeria that need to be attended to. I think it was a rather positive thing for me that I was able to stand up for what I believed in, and also say this is how I feel even if it takes me being dragged on the floor of the House to have my voice heard. That was what happened.

Are you satisfied with the outcome of the bill?

I’m not satisfied with the implementation. I think it needs to be amended. If you compare our minimum wage bill, the way it stands today, to most West African countries, it is still not enough.

They should have included how often they want the increment to be. Things like that should be included in the bill.

That way, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will not be coming to argue about increment because it has been embedded in the bill. But it was not done, it ended up being a one liner and I think that needs to be looked at again to serve the purpose it was expected to serve.

Uboh-Ogunkoya

to put your finger on is lagging. And it is only people like you and I that can turn it around. If some of us do not blaze the trail, ignoring all the pitfalls along the way, and to actually take up the mantle, then that power transformation from the older generation cannot happen. So, I want to be part of the solution and not one of the complainers that Nigeria is not good.

So, going back is just to continue from where I stopped; to continue to serve my country, my constituency and bringing more dividends of democracy to them.

The experience I had, I don’t see it as negative.

It is a learning experience on how to do it better next time when I get there House of Representatives in 2011.

Is your aspiration to return to the House being driven by your constituents?

It is from them. They would have wished that I’m part of the 7th Assembly.

They have seen the difference. And because they are urging me to come back, that is why I have taken it upon myself to try and fulfil that dream of theirs by returning to the House.

What was your experience like in the House under the leadership of Dimeji Bankole?

I think my experience is out there for everybody to know. It was good, bad and ugly but I took it all in strides. I did not expect it to be all rosy. Dimeji Bankole led us to the best of his capacity, though to me, his best was not good enough, but he did what he could and it was an experience. Rightly or wrongly, it was Anifowose an experience, I have taken it and I am learning from it.

You were in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, what lessons have you learnt in politics?

I have learnt a lot of lessons. It is possible you win your elections on the field but you might not actually get your seat. My experience has been a terrible one. Like I said, it is one that did teach me a lot of lesson; that you must follow your votes not just at your ward level but all the way to collation centres, because if you fail to do so a lot of things are bound to happen. Eventually in my own case, results were manipulated and that caused my inability to return to the

How did you see your involvement in the minimum wage bill?

I sponsored the bill all by myself. Not because other members did not want to, but because a lot of people want to stay away from controversial bills. If you look at the controversial bills, they are usually the ones that belonged to the underdogs. To me, the common man is the reason we are in the House of Representatives. We are there to represent them.

The minimum wage bill was something I started and it went all the way to third reading in the House. Coincidentally, an executive bill came to meet my bill and

As a woman, and given your experience in politics, are you not threatened by the male counterparts?

If women run away from every profession because they are being threatened by their male counterparts, you will not have female professionals; engineers, doctors, lawyers. It is a way of life and we are used to it. In trying to get something, you have to be part of it. Some people are pacesetters for others to follow. So, some of us have to bear the brunt so that it will be better for young females who are yearning to be politicians in future. So, we are going through the situation so that in future other women would not go through the same experience.

Are you deterred given your rough and bitter experience in the House?

Absolutely not. Every experience is a good experience. If you don’t have the experience you won’t have the platform to move forward. The experience I had, I don’t see it as negative. It is a learning experience on how to do it better next time when I get there.

So, if you are faced with similar situation, you won’t act the way you acted the other time (engaging in a brawl)?

I don’t know, I can’t predict. I need to get there first.

Since you left the House in 2011, what have you been doing?

I’m a professional electrical engineer running an engineering company. That was what I was doing before going into politics in 2007 and when it didn’t favour me, I went back to my work. This is why every politician must have a source of livelihood outside politics.

What is your advice to fellow women in politics?

They should continue to strive. It is not easy, but a journey of a thousand kilometres starts somewhere.

18 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Ekiti: PDP’s failed consensus option CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

will fly the party’s flag in any election will emerge through an open, competitive and transparent primaries. He did not minced words and consistently told every state chapter which paid him solidarity visit that: “I am here to deepen the dynamics of internal democracy within the party. Every member who has interest to contest the forthcoming elections and indeed the primary elections should go back to their villages and towns and contest…

I would ensure that democracy is deepened in the party and the country generally.

“For those of you who know me, you would know that I am a beneficiary of democratic process otherwise I would never be governor of the Bauchi State.

“Go back to the people and appeal to their sense of judgement for them to elect you. There would be no imposition of candidates from Abuja. Those claiming that they know the president or know the national chairman would be disappointed.

“You will certainly not get anywhere, if you believe that because you know the president or the national chairman, you will be imposed from Abuja,” he counselled.

Despite the sermon, Ekiti governorship aspirants did not relent in canvassing for a consensus arrangement. One of the aspirants, Senator Gbenga Aluko said the conduct of primaries would split the party and lead to the emergence of five governorship candidates. “In Anambra, three candidates emerged at different primaries, and it was only two days to the election that a candidate of the party emerged. In Ekiti, five candidates will emerge. That is why the president’s suggestion was the best,” Aluko sermonised.

He added that he could not imagine that some of his colleagues could disregard the honest and fatherly advice by President Jonathan to adopt a consensus option in picking a candidate, saying this was not healthy for the party.

Another aspirant, Navy Captain Caleb Oluoboade, who until he joined the gubernatorial race, was Minister of Police Affairs, also subscribed to the idea of a consensus saying: “The party is supreme and I am a disciplined person and so I subscribe myself to the decisions of the party. If consensus is being canvassed they have their point. If the party says it wants to go a particular way and someone thinks otherwise, it is better we ask such person to try and be a party man and tow the party line.”

Former Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Tunji Odeyemi, expressed the fear that the conduct of primaries will rock the PDP boat in Ekiti State. He described agitators for primaries as desperate politicians who have no regard for Mr. President.

The former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele

Aluko

Fayose was however, the lone voice among the governorship aspirants against consensus. Fayose argued that even if President Jonathan has any mindset, it is only through the party that such will be communicated to the aspirants. He said: “And the mindset the party is telling us today is that there will be primaries, no more no less. This new chairman has repeatedly said he wants to entrench internal democracy. And they have reiterated it by their statement today. And I stand by what they say.

They are honourable people who will not go back on their words.

“I have been anti-consensus and I have maintained the same position because the party has repeatedly said they wanted internal democracy. If you defeat me on the field, I will shake your hand and leave. I will support you financially and any other way.

“If I defeat you, there will be less acrimony. You

I have been anti-consensus and I have maintained the same position because the party has repeatedly said they wanted internal democracy. If you defeat me on the field, I will shake your hand and leave

will know that you were defeated in a free and fair contest. So to me, I have made my position known.

Whosoever wins the primaries becomes a candidate of the party and I want to tell you, there is none of the aspirants that is not qualified. They are my brothers irrespective of the contest, we will still be brothers and Ekiti people. So, I will do all it takes to ensure PDP comes first, then our interest.”

Even though Mu’azu promised to entrench internal democracy in the party, in the case of Ekiti, the PDP was not completely averse to a consensus arrangement. The position of the party was expressed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh after a meeting between the leadership of the party and Ekiti gubernatorial aspirants on March 17 in Abuja.

Metuh said it was the desire of the party that its candidate in Ekiti State should emerge through a consensus but with a proviso that it must be unanimous.

“By chance, if one or two persons disagree, we must respect the constitution of the PDP by concluding the exercise. We have sold forms and we will go for the election accordingly. We are in Abuja, we are not looking for governor of Abuja, we are looking for governor in Ekiti State and Ekiti people will participate in choosing their governor,” he stated.

But with the protest that trailed the conduct of the primaries last Saturday where Fayose emerged as the party’s candidate, the fear expressed by President Jonathan may likely befall the PDP. Thirteen other aspirants had boycotted the primaries on the ground that there is a subsisting court case seeking for Fayose’s disqualification.

This means that PDP may go to the election not as a united party. Incidentally, the party is seeking to dethrone the APC, which is the ruling party in the state.

The challenge PDP will be facing is how to appease the other aspirants and win their support before the June 21 election. In Anambra State, the party’s failure to manage the crisis, which followed the conduct of its primaries, was one of the factors that cost the November 2013 governorship. This may likely happen in Ekiti unless the party puts its house in order.

In the meantime, Fayose has promised to reach out to the other aspirants in a bid to reconcile with them. The party leadership should take the initiative. The party is in a better position to appease the aggrieved aspirants because it controls the Federal Government. All it could do is to distribute patronage to the aspirants to enable them recoup what they had spent so far in their failed ambition. Each of the aspirants paid the sum of N11 million for the Expression of Interest (EOI) and nomination forms while the women paid N1 million.

Rafsanjani: Nigerians must have a say through referendum CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

come with open mind to see how we can sincerely deal with the problems that make it impossible to move this country forward.

Corruption is one of the major problems that has made this country difficult to progress and I don’t think any reasonable person would stand up to continue to support a process that would allow people to continue stealing with impunity with the way we are seeing.

If there is sincerity from the delegates, I don’t think we would need to

worry ourselves with the 75 per cent procedure, because everybody knows that there is a problem in this country and we are coming to this conference to provide solutions. So, if you think you can come and argue in favour of the status quo, I think you will just be alone.

I believe that if there is sincerity among all the delegates, every issue would be treated on its merit and therefore it would not be a difficult thing to get the vote of every delegate, because we are interested to move this

country forward.

The issue of referendum is very important and Mr. President has again in his speech alluded to the fact that, he pleaded with the National Assembly to fast-track the constitutional amendment so that the referendum can have a stay in the constitutional provision. Currently, we do not have that constitutional provision and it would be important before this conference rounds up, the National Assembly amend that constitution so that Nigeria at larger level can have

the opportunity to validate what we have done. Any attempt not to give Nigerians opportunity to validate what we have done would amount to shortchanging Nigerians because the delegates here cannot be the only voice, and they cannot speak for the entire Nigerians. I think the referendum is what would make Nigerians participate actively even though they are not delegates. Any attempt to shortchange them out of this, I think, it would be counter-productive and it would not make our work useful.

19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 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.

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FRIday, MARCH 28, 2014

Water and energy critical for development

T

he importance of water and energy reverberated on Saturday, March 22, 2014, when Nigeria joined the rest of the world to observe the annual World Water Day (WWD). Celebrated annually since 1993 after the United Nations General Assembly declared the day formally in 1992 during a United Nations (UN) Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), this year’s World Water Day theme was “Water and Energy,” aimed at facilitating the development of policies and crosscutting frameworks that bridge ministries and sectors, leading the way to energy security and sustainable water use in a green economy.

Considering the role water and energy play in the lives of human beings, agriculture and economy the theme could not be better as these form part of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose deadline is 2015 when representatives of countries will meet to give account of their stewardship. The campaign for safe drinking water has been on-going for many years, but this is the first time water is paired alongside energy to show the relationship between the two resources and how partnership can impact the economy and the population. The point that is established is how water and energy are interconnected.

According to UN-Water, it takes a significant amount of water to create energy, and it takes a significant amount of energy to treat and move water. Energy and water are both basic components of life and economic progress. Energy is used to secure, deliver, treat, and distribute water, while water is used to develop, process and deliver energy.

The absolute lack of both resources in Nigeria is unpardonable. In the 70s and 80s, there was steady supply of pipe-borne water in the country. The situation has deteriorated as several communities lack potable water and people, mostly women and children, today trek long distances to use the same streams and rivers that cattle and other animals drink from. Throughout the country the story is the same. Several households in the urban centres do not have access to clean water, while a greater number depend solely on private boreholes or water vendors for domestic needs. The scarcity has had a devastating effect on the health of a lot of Nigerians who are exposed to water-borne diseases.

On the other hand, apart from the fact that there is insufficient supply of electricity where communities are connected to the national grid, several Nigerian women have lost their lives in the course of looking for alternative sources of energy for cooking.

This is the sad reality thrown up

by the inelegant style that governments have chosen to manage the water and energy sectors. What does it take to give Nigerians safe drinking water and uninterrupted power supply given the enormous wealth in the country? The essence of bringing global attention to the water- energy nexus, particularly as it concerns the “bottom billion” who live in slums and impoverished rural areas and survive without access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, sufficient food and energy services, is to see how combined efforts can solve the water and energy crisis. That is why Nigeria must set her priorities right and not just observe the day as a matter of routine, but walk the talk. For the synergy for safe drinking water, energy services, and overall wellbeing is incontrovertible.

The UN says 783 million people do not have access to clean water and 2.5 billion people do not have access to proper sanitization and more than 1.3 billion do not have access to electricity, and 2.6 billion use solid fuels (mainly biomass) for cooking. These figures are the root cause behind the deaths of 6 to 8 million people each year, who die from water-related diseases.

The Multi Indicator Cluster Survey published in 2013 by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals that 70 million Nigerians did not have access to safe drink-

ing water in 2011, making Nigeria the third ranked globally in terms of the number of people without access to water, who are often the ones without access to electricity.

Efforts should be tailored towards phasing out indiscriminate drilling of boreholes and unwholesome well water as well as eliminating the health implications created by water vendors whose sources of water remains unknown. Resuscitation of pipe-borne water is long overdue and should interest governments to invest in water schemes that would ensure increased water coverage.

It is not in doubt that water and sanitation as recognized by the UN are a human right issue and as a result places certain responsibilities on governments to ensure that every Nigerian has an unhindered access without discrimination as inequality of access is indicative of extreme poverty. We hope governments would draw inspiration from the words of Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization “lack of access to water, sanitation and sustainable energy is aggravating factor for poverty,” adding “we need to adopt more integrated policies and innovative strategies to tackle the issues.” The challenge, therefore, is for government at all levels to put their acts together and do what is needful for the survival of the vast majority of people.

BOLAJI TUNJI Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director/DEIC FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU Managing Editor, South SULEIMAN BISALA 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 Junaid: Just like Judas “P

lease convey this to every Igbo man on Nigerian soil.That there wont be state creation from this Confab. No Igbo state or other state will be created. If the Igbo are claiming parity with the Yoruba,that since the Yoruba have six states,they must have six states as well,they are talking nonsense.” This sounds like a missile.

“In the former structure of the country, we had the East,North and West. The West has been split into Six states.

The East has been split into five Igbo states and six Southsouth states. The two are now eleven. So these people are talking about parity,they want to be equal with the Yoruba.

There will never be another Igbo state again.”

No sane person will believe that these strong words are coming from a Nigerian,created by God. Someone who saw the jet-age 20th century and still breathes in the mega 21st century.

Junaid Mohammed claims to be a compatriot.I thought if i ever saw him in Greenland, we could call ourselves brothers from the same country in tropical Africa.If for instance,this same man was maltreated on account of race or religion,i would rise to defend him.That is all over now. I feel betrayed. Junaid Mohammed has murdered sleep.

I am so very proud of my background.I call myself “a pure and applied Igbo man”.However, i do not detest the Hausa, nor do i demonise the Yoruba. There are Hausa who can die for this country,so many of them.And that is why i have to tell this Junaid Mohammed off.

It is highly offensive to say i am talking nonsense because Ndigbo want a fair deal.You mean Dr. Alex Ekwueme sounded nonsensical when he called for equity.Chief Mbazulike Amechi,Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife,Dr. Dozie Ikedife,

Chief Mike Ahamba.These are elders.Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Mr. Peter Obi and other prominent Igbo who have been clamouring for an additional state for the South-east are great men who have contributed so much to peace in the country.And somebody wakes from the wrong side of his Kano bed to start blabbing.

Let us look at Junaid Mohammed’s terminological inexactitudes once again.Number one lie-the former structure was not West, East and North.Prior to the creation of states in 1967,we had four regions ,Mid-western inclusive.Lie Number two, the Eastern region was never split into five Igbo and six South-south states.Delta and Edo were never part of the Old Eastern region.

Then we go back to history,if Junaid Mohammed needed some education about parity. When the British came up with the idea of Country Nigeria,there were three distinct administrative units.The Colony of Lagos was under Sir William MacGregor. In the Province of Southern Nigeria,Sir Ralph Moor held sway,while Lord Frederick Lugard was High Commissioner for Northern Nigeria.

When eventually,Nigeria was born in 1914,it comprised the Southern and Northern provinces under Lt. Govs. A.g.

Boyle and C.C. Temple respectively.So from Day one, it was one south and one north.

The creation of regions changed the equation.The north remained one,the south got two.The gap widened with the creation of Mid-western region in 1963 by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa government.At that time,the north was one and Junaid Mohammed was probably too young to understand that.

General Yakubu Gowon drew the North level in 1967 when he created 12 states.Six in the north, and six in the south.It was an exercise aimed at killing the Igbo and Biafra.

The young general was seen as a hero.

Then came Gen. Murtala Mohammed.Maybe, he acted like a soldier, but he disfigured the balance.From 12 states, he increased the count to 19. For the first time,the north overtook the south at 10-9.The imbalance was so glaring.

When Murtala came in 1975, there were 12 states.What he

Friday, March 28, 2014

did was to appoint seven governors from the north and five from the south.It got worse with the creation of states.Of the 19 governors, the north, had 11, leaving the south with eight.

Ever since,nothing has changed.When General Ibrahim Babangida created two more states in 1987,it was one up north,another down south. IBB widened the gap in the next exercise.Nine more states were created,North got five,south four.It thus became north 16,south 14.That was in 1991.

General Sani Abacha did not rock the boat.Six more in 1996.It was 3-3.Here we are today, with 36 states.North 19 south 17.That is the dream of Junaid Mohammed where we all do not stand on equal footing.

And in our climes,revenue is shared according to States and Local Government Areas.The South-east is losing out every year,in trillions of dollars.In population,the Igbo man is as uncountable as the sand in the savannah.

In education,literacy rate is high.This is the country they live in.

Junaid Mohammed should not be confused with the north. He is just on his own.Let no one be deceived. Junaid Mohammed is not more Hausa -Fulani than the former Emir of Gwandu, Al- Mustapha Jokolo.He is not more visible than Al-Hamza Mustapha.These are modern Nigerians from the north who understand the dynamics of nationhood.

I think we should not even listen to men like this Junaid Mohammed.He is most irrelevant,speaks for Junaid and has nothing more to offer the new generation.Maybe, we should just send him to Damaturu to tell the world why the Igbo should not have one more state.Yes,two days in Damaturu,two days in Potiskum.three nights in Maiduguri will convince me that Junaid Mohammed loves the north so much.

Definitely,this one is not sure of himself.And when he speaks again,i think delegates could just ask him to take a break.He is of no use to the Nigeria project.We know he is an embarrassment to the Kano of Alhaji Ado Bayero and Aliko Dangote,great Nigerians who are busy building bridges instead of walls.His words must also have embarrassed the Yoruba nation. What a shame.

Oluwole Akanni Awolowo: One year after (1) Kola Johnson

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bout 50 years ago, when Segun Awolowo, the scion and a most precious jewel of the Awolowo family died, the pang of that tragic occurrence was such that devastated the mind as one death too many.

This was because for one thing, not only was Segun the first break offspring of the family, but the first son for that matter.

And as a Cambridge educated lawyer, Segun with a naturally endowed intellect, and a striking physical similitude of his illustrious father, was every inch, a chip off the old block.

And to worsen things, was the tragi-comic humour of the merchant of death, which in the omniscient wisdom of its timming, had chosen to unleash its “happy tidings” at an epoch of acutely dire strait in the life of the family, when the distinguished partriarch of the family (Chief Awolowo) languished in the gulag of indefinite detention courtesy of the authoritarian power cabals of the day, as he awaited their verdict on the phoney charge of treason foisted upon him, by the

same leviathan of state authority.

While Papa, enamoured in the manly steel of philosophical equanimity, was wont to take things in their stride, animated by the magisterial unquestionability of mother fate – it was not so for the mother – whose emotional defences could not but succumb to an unfettered cascade of invading tears.

When at a point in time, Papa’s brilliant and beautiful daughter, Dr. Tokunbo Dosunmu, possessed by the progressive idealism of her father, sought to construct the same path of pursuit that defined her fther’s trajectory in political activism – hitting out as she did at that time, with a campaign for the Lagos guber seat – the rebarbative sarcasm from certain cabal of vested interest as openly pronounced then to popular public knowledge – was A O le sin Baba tan, ka tun maa wa sin omo.

It was not unlikely that at this point, Mama had quickly read between the line and took measures that only fell short of asking her children to swear to an oath binding them to steer clear of the vocative pursuit of politics that had fetched their father a national and continental fame and acclaim.

And do you question, Mama’s logic of action in the face of the hobbesian savagery, defining the creed of politicking in such peculiar clime as ours.

This action becomes all the more unassailable in the face of the rumour which increasingly dominated grape vine discourse, to the effect that there was more that meet the eye than sheer stroke of happenstance to Segun’s death – which in point blank explication – boils down in interpretatively poignant relief – to the fact that Segun was a victim of the diabolical sadism that if you cannot get the father, then you would have done well, to settle the matter by getting him, by proxy of his most prized offspring.

Going down the memory lane, precisely May 7, 1987, when the world was greeted with the devastating announcement of the death of the great Awo – 1 remember as if it were yesterday, how one illiterate next door neighbor friend of my mother burst into our apartment, where we then resided somewhere in Ebute-Metta behind the popular Oyingbo Market : “Iya Kola, abi eeri bi tira awon Fulani se pa pa wa mu Baba yi ba le nigbeyin”, the cow-leather meat seller,

who hailed from Ilorin Kwara State, remarked before my mother.

To be sure, that remark was undoubtably laughable because one knew for sure, that no magical talismanic contrivance be it of the Hausas or Fulani’s, would have fallen the great Awo – but only a fool, would have failed to take away from that message – the viciously depredatory sadism epitomized in the voodoo politics then extant at the period in reference.

Only recently, a writer, and an Ibo man for that matter, Emma Okocha, seemed to have corroborated the weird but possibly realistic influence of the supernatural power of the unseen, in his cognitive discernment, underlined in the expression that Segun Awolowo died on the same spot where Adegoke Adelabu a.k.a “Penkelemesi”, the Ibadan born stormy petrel and enfant terrible of NCNC – the opposition party in the Action Group led government of Western region, died. He went further to express that even Wole Awolowo died still on the same spot.

OPINION

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

21

Of tragic failure and great potential (1) Doug Bandow

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rriving in Abuja, Nigeria results in an almost simultaneous impression of poverty and potential. After decades of economic disappointment, even collapse, much of Africa is growing. Yet even its leading states—such as Nigeria—remain locked in an impoverished past and fail to live up to their extraordinary potential.

I’ve arrived with a journalist group organized by SLOK Holding Co., chaired by former governor Orji Uzor Kalu, a potential presidential contender. In Abuja the airport looked more appropriate for a small American town than for a capital city. While less chaotic than some other airports I have suffered through—Dhaka and Islamabad, for instance—it hardly befits what seems destined to be Africa’s leading nation. I changed money at an “exchange” with two men sitting at a small desk, cash in one drawer. The parking lot was cramped and disorganized.

Although cities such as Abuja, Lagos—Nigeria’s most populous urban area—and Port Harcourt—dominated by the nation’s oil industry—enjoy significant development, poverty is never far away. There are paved sidewalks, but usually in disrepair, and dirt roadsides remain common, even the norm, depending on city and district. Trash

litters many streets. Most urban buildings are solidly constructed, some even stylish, but most are simple.

In Lagos wealth has created a genuine skyline on Victoria Island. Yet crowded streets filled with poor street vendors sit in the shadows of these fine structures. And the majority of residents live in vast expanses of simple homes crammed together. In Port Harcourt, shacks on overgrown lots dot the city, sometimes adjoining even the best buildings, such banks and hotels.

Driving in we passed a pen filled with horses.

Electrical outages are constant, requiring any serious enterprise to maintain a generator. Riding an elevator is especially suspenseful; you find yourself plunged into darkness and brought to a jerky stop for what seems like an eternity, before the brightness returns and you continue on your way.

Traffic gridlocks can be worse than Los Angeles, New York, or Washington—in Port Harcourt my group took a couple hours to go a few hundred yards at a particularly bad time.

Rural Nigeria is much poorer. Even the main highways lack even minimal maintenance, while burned and rusted wrecks, stripped of anything useful, litter the sides and medians. Trash is tossed alongside or piled in medians.

Roads off the main drag are dirt, always rutted, often muddy, and barely adequate. Most shops are shacks built

on dirt just feet from traffic. At times it appears that half of the population subsists by selling merchandise in traffic.

Still, hope remains. Everywhere in Nigeria I saw enterprise. People sit for hours under primitive lean-tos by the highway to sell drinks and food to travelers. Open-air markets, which seem to occur every couple miles, are bustling, with people dashing hither-and-yon selling most everything you can find in a department store or supermarket. At major intersections and along busy streets people sit in the median and walk into traffic hawking fruit, drinks, sim cards, picture frames, newspapers, magazines, cell phone chargers, cigarettes, sunglasses, watches, tools, socks, mops, cooking utensils, and even triangular hazard signs (quite appropriate given Nigeria’s traffic!).

Intellectual capital also is growing.

Citizens of this former British colony typically speak English, the global commercial language. I visited a university filled with bright and engaging students hoping to make better lives for themselves and their country. What is desperately needed, said one business executive, a Nigerian who worked in America before returning to help manage his family’s business, is an “enabling environment” for enterprise.

In this the government fails miserably.

One problem is insecurity. Nigeria has suffered dictatorship, civil war, insurgency, militant violence, Islamic extremism,

and crime. Kalu said “internal security is critical,” because without a police escort you cannot move throughout much of the country. One newspaper editor cited the risk of robbery in driving papers for distribution at night. Business executives, political figures, and expatriate workers routinely travel with armed escorts, especially in the Niger Delta in the south.

Corruption is rife. One expatriate worker observed: “Nigeria’s not a country. It is an opportunity.” Mundane economic mismanagement bears even greater blame. State enterprises, especially the National Nigerian Petroleum Corporation, are particular founts of abuse. The World Bank ranks Nigeria among the bottom third of nations in its Doing Business report.

Average Nigerians are commonly—indeed, uniformly—frustrated. The young especially crave the opportunities that the country’s dishevelment precludes. A third of adults under 25 are out of work.

It’s one reason Nigeria sports a diaspora of millions. The driver of my cab to the airport to start this trip was a Nigerian.

Even the more optimistic Nigerians with whom I spoke say much more has to be done, despite the progress they see. Public involvement is essential to create a freer and more honest business environment. . Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and the author of a number of books on economics and politics. He writes regularly on military non-interventionism.

Subomi Balogun: Toast to a trail blazer Tola Adeniyi

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arch 9 this year Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, a reputable Ijebu Prince, the Olori OmoOba Akile Ijebu and Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians turned 80, and the crème de la crème of the Nigerian community and the entire Diplomatic corps converged on Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos to register their presence.

It was a gathering like no other gathering because the Prince being celebrated was a man like no other man.

Prince Subomi Balogun, a scion of the Tunwase Ruling House has become a mythical figure. He has in his 80year sojourn on the Planet Earth created an astounding image of a Board room Warrior, Board room conqueror, an astute banker, administrator and innovator.

Otunba Olasubomi Balogun was a student at the prestigious Igbobi College Lagos before he went abroad to study at another more prestigious institution, the London School of Economics where he studied and graduated with a Law degree. He worked briefly in the United Kingdom before he returned to join the then best Civil Service in Africa, the Western Region Civil Service where he functioned and distinguished himself in the Ministry of Justice.

Thereafter he went to work with the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank where fate competed with circumstances to make him chart a course of action for himself which exposed the uncommonness of his character trait.

It was his voluntary exit from the NIDB that equipped him to create a new definition to Self Determination. Balogun’s definition of Self Determination did not involve guns, cutlasses and cudgels. His weapon of Self Determination was his huge brain, his peerless courage, his faith

in his Creator, and his creative genius. He chose to tread a path which no Nigerian before him had ever trodden!

Subomi created Stock Broking firm and First City Securities with his eyes on the ultimate: to own a Bank!

Thus in 1983, the creativity and excellent enterprising talent of Michael Olasubomi Balogun saw him at the head of First City Merchant bank, his own hundred percent indigenous Bank!

The monumental achievements of Subomi Balogun in Law, Banking, Finance, Real Estate, and more, were not the only reason for his being celebrated nationally and internationally. Otunba Balogun possesses in his character kit most uncommon traits which make him extremely outstanding, astounding, astonishing, and golden.

Subomi’s nose for details knows no comparison. His eye for order and orderliness is unique and peerless. His taste for beauty and elegance is matchless. And his energy, capacity and capability for work have no parallel.

For Subomi, a day contains 36 hours, and in each man, there are two, three or four men. He is truly the two fishes in one, the symbol of his Pisces sign.

At his Talk-of-the-century birthday bash his life long friend Bashorun Kola Daisi, an industrialist and billionaire in his own right, spoke of the Oredebi [friendship turns into family member] in glowing terms. And all that he got to say are very true of Otunba Balogun. Having come a long way for close to 60 years, no one was better equipped to speak authoritatively about Uncle Subomi Balogun than the eminent Bashorun. Perhaps the ninetyyear old billionaire and pioneer in many fields who is himself Subomi’s mentor Chief Chris Ogunbanjo may share that intimate knowledge , more from the vantage of an elder, who watched and tailored the growth of a youngster. The duo rendered excellent accounts of the

essence of Subomi and what make him tick!

It is okay to have brains. Quite a number of people do. It is okay to have ability. A good number of people do. It is okay to have eye for details. Quite a number of people are so blessed. But to have assembled in one man all the golden attributes that distinguish one individual from another is a very rare phenomenon. And this is where Subomi Balogun is distinguished. He also has to boot a royal background which is responsible for his towering carriage and deliciously enviable gait.

Tantalisingly handsome, Subomi Balogun exhibits a carriage and debonair gesture that were peculiar to the Kings and Emperors of yore when kingship was rated as next to God. Balogun is supremely self confident, bold, daring and always in control of his faculties. He chooses his words, chooses his company, and prioritises his daily engagements. All his life, and up till now, Subomi is not known for frivolities and mundane preoccupations.

When he embarks on a journey or project, he must see it to its completion. Life to Subomi Balogun is a very serious business believing that the creator of this beautiful Universe must have attached dedicated seriousness to His creations.

A philanthropist of no mean order, Subomi Balogun has lived an entire life of giving and sharing.

He has put his entire stupendous wealth at the disposal of all, especially the deprived and the down trodden. His gift of Iye Subomi Paediatric Ward in University College Hospital Ibadan and another at the General Hospital Ijebu Ode, plus the ultra modern huge medical edifice on Sagamu-Benin Express Way at Ijebu Ode are some of the legacies bequeathed to the health sector in Subomi’s ever expanding philanthropic chart.

FAMILY AFFAIRS Page 22, FRIDAY, MaRCH 28, 2014

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Much ado about aso ebi W

e have tackled this issue right from our courtship period, and have both agreed never to bother anyone with that for any of our events. We even went as far as agreeing we would not allow any of our friends or loved ones talk us into the idea, during our wedding preparation; and we were glad it worked out just that way. Though we were amused to see some set of people in uniform colours on that day, but whoever was behind that was never our worry.

It had been like that between us for years, though it is not like we don’t have uniform wears, but we did not buy any of them as group Aso-Ebi. At the initial stage, some people could not just understand us, and quite many disagreed with our stand on that. But after so many years, some left us alone with our policy, while some still bother us with ‘you must buy, or wear a similar colour.’

To those who insisted we must buy, we asked if it was about the money, and where the answer was in the affirmative, we gave them the money as our contribution to their wedding. And that never stopped us from buying them a proper wedding gift. I mean if one can afford it, why not!

But just last week, after so many years of our peaceful agreement on Aso-Ebi, I was faced with a seemingly difficult one.

Husby came home with a souvenir bag that contained some fabrics, mint combined with the loveliest orange colour I have ever seen; I fell in love with it at once.

I looked at him and said, ‘honey, a gift for me?’ He held my hands and said ‘This is for us.’ ‘For us? But this looks quite feminine! Then he brought out another one from the same bag, which was of a darker shade of mint, no orange colour in it, and it was a brocade; not voile material.

He explained to me that his younger sister sent it to him at the office, through courier service, that it was the Aso-Ebi for her wedding coming up in June.

I laughed, and said, ‘this girl and her tricks.’ Then I asked my husband about the cost implication. He gave me the figure, and because it was far on the high side compared to some others we have had to pay for, I said; ‘All that, and we won’t even wear it?’

But I was shocked at his response.

Then I said in my mind, ‘this man must be joking.’ As if he was reading my mind, he said, ‘You see dear, let us just bend the rule for this people for peace to reign.

At that, I was seriously disappointed. I mean, don’t they say what is good for the goose is also good for the ganders? My people have accepted that as our policy, and have never persuaded us against it; so why can’t same go for his people. In

Attention!

• Is your Dad indeed your hero?

• Is he always there for the family?

• Does he deserve to be celebrated for some outstanding qualities?

Then send in your story, enumerating such qualities which could qualify him as our SUPER DAD of the year.

To participate, interested persons should send in recent sharp family picture(s), and another of their Hero, followed by the story; summarised into 10 key points.

Aso ebi on display

other cases, we just gave the money, and did not collect the Aso-Ebi, so as not to be tempted or be persuaded to wear it.

Maybe you will find it interesting to know it was that same sister of his that caused the problem that made us decide never to buy or impose Aso-Ebi on people for any of our events.

It happened that we ran into her at a friend’s wedding (who was her sports mistress in school) at the early stage of our courtship. The Aso-Ebi for the ladies was far more expensive than that for the men (just like her own now) and that was my offence.

She went back to the other family members, and painted some ugly pictures to them. I was called a gold digger who was not ashamed to appear at an event expensively dressed, while her fiancé wore a kampala up and down, as if he was a driver. The issue was so overblown; it nearly caused a break-up, save for the mutual love and understanding between us.

Since then, we agreed never to buy or wear group Aso-Ebi for any occasion. If

The Aso-Ebi for the ladies was far more expensive than that for the men (just like her own now) and that was my offence

we want a uniform wear, we would go to the market and get one.

So right now, it has happened! Would my husband prevail on me, or are we going to stand our ground as in other cases?

Anyway, just like the other hurdles in time past, we will cross this. But for my sister-in-law, I think she should be made to know whatever goes round comes round.

Till next week again, let love be the motivation for every decision you have to take in your home.

Note: The entry with the highest number of votes will emerge as the winner for each quarter, while one of such winners will finally emerge as the SUPER DAD of the year. Hence, participants are to encourage their family and friends to vote.

There are prizes to be won at different levels, while the overall prize is Super.

Voting begins from day of publication (Fridays) and ends 8:00pm on Tuesdays. Send your story with the photographs to the e-mail address above.

NOTE: READERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO START SENDING IN CONTRIBUTIONS. ALSO, DON’T HESITATE TO SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE COUNSELLOR.

COUNSELLING My 16year old daughter has suddenly changed; she hides her phone from me, whispers when on calls, and now prefers to stay alone. I am sure she is hiding something, and I am suspecting it could be she now has a boyfriend. Please, how do I confront her with this, because I feel she is too young to start dating?

Well, I don’t know if she is still in secondary school or in a higher institution, but truth is, at 16, many girls would have either started having crushes, or are already into dating.

Don’t even bother to ask me if this is wrong or right, because I cannot give a straight answer to that, due to many factors. One of which is Parental involvement, which goes a long way in ensuring both of them are properly counselled.

Above all, instil the fear of God in them, and let them know even if they have your support, their education is paramount. Though, I have heard cases of people who started dating at age 15, another 18, and eventually got married.

Another angle to your daughter’s issue could be beyond what you think, so this is no time to start guessing, but the time to take action. Tell her your observation, and get her to open up to you. My worry is she might need a confidant (which should be you) now, more than ever before.

When teenagers start keeping to themselves, and showing other signs as you have listed, it could mean several things. From bullying, to peer pressure, drugs, cultism, and so on.

LIFE

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FRIday, MARCH 28, 2014

South Africa: Cheap, painless abortion in a jiffy Abortion is procured in almost every street in major cities of South Africa, CHARLES OGUNDIYA, who was there, reports

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ajor urban cities in Nigeria, especially Lagos, are usually flooded with posters of different sizes and colours on how to pass examinations.

The posters, on which many printers depend to make money, always promise a minimum of six credits at a sitting in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and 270 points in the University Matriculation Examination (UME). The examinations usually hold at special centres.

The so-called ‘special centres’ assure students aiming to gain admission to institutions of higher learning of success and sometimes promise to aid them in securing admission.

That is, after the candidates part with cash for the examinations and admission processing.

It is also common to see people by

the roadside, inside major markets, etc distributing handbills for job opportunities.

But in South Africa it is a different ball game.

In South Africa, this reporter was handed a handbill, advitising quick and painless abortion.

Many of the posters on the walls in Johannesburg, Randburg, Rustenburg and other major cities in South Africa, or handbills given out on the streets, are actually advertisements of doctors asking ladies to come for a guaranteed abortion or that of enlargement of private part for both male and females.

“Quick same day abortion,” “Painfree Abortion,” “Abort cheaply,” read some of the posters at different streets

Every abortion stops a beating heart. How can we condemn child abuse in society when we allow the ultimate child abuse by abortionists?

in Johannesburg.

In South Africa, abortion is legal and practitioners are not shying away from competing for the wouldbe clients.

“Call Doctor Tessie on… for guaranteed abortion,” “Call Mama Npoh for a painless abortion in 30 minutes,” “Dr Abdul & Rose, Same Day Results, Treatment,” others read.

In the case of Dr Abdul and Rose, the handbill expatiates further about their services such as “breast, hip and buttock adjustment, termination of unwanted pregnancy, gain and lose weight, reduce and increase virginal fluids and virginal tightening.”

And for men they offer “penis enlargement, more sex rounds (3-8 per sex night), boost sexual feelings, sex round time (20/30/45+ mins) and strong erection.”

But in Nigeria, abortion is illegal and carries a jail sentence of up to 14 years, unless it is done to save the life of the pregnant woman.

It is almost a taboo to hear people discuss abortion openly, not to talk of advertising it.

But things are different in South Africa. In Johannesburg and other cities, abortion is offered almost in every corner.

Though the law directs that only medical doctors and nurses who have received special training may perform abortion, the ‘street doctors’ perform abortions illegally. There are a number of illegal abortion clinics and centres all around South Africa, according to local reports.

The abortionists advertise on street lamp posts, electric meter boxes and the walls of some stores, leaving their contact numbers.

However, it is said that most of these ‘unauthorised’ abortionists are not South Africans, but immigrants from several countries such as Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria.

Some of them charge as little as R100 (equivalent of about N2,100).

While it is illegal to terminate a pregnancy at six months, some of these ‘doctors’ indicate that they can offer the service even to eight-monthpregnant women.

Abortion is free at certain state hospitals or clinics in South Africa, if the woman is referred by a health worker.

But if a woman goes through her own private doctor or a private hospital, she will pay some fees.

Recently, a waitress at a restaurant C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 4

24 LIFE

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Abortion advertised like JAMB, WAEC C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

in Sandton went to procure an abortion in a Johannesburg clinic.

The Sowetan said it took her only 30 minutes to get rid of her 10-week-old pregnancy.

She said: “I went there only to find about five women on the queue. When it was my turn, I entered the room where the doctor asked me a few questions and gave me some pills.”

According to her, she was given pills which she took in the presence of her ‘doctor’ and other supposed cleansing pills to take once the abortion was completed.

“I started bleeding after two hours when I got home, the flow was not strong though, and it stopped after about two and a half hours. Then, I took the cleansing pills as I was advised by the doctor,” the lady, who refused to give her name, told our correspondent.

In about five hours, her ‘mission’ was completed.

Under the law legalising abortion, the Termination of Pregnancy Act, which was passed in 1997, a woman of any age can get an abortion if she is less than 13 weeks pregnant.

The law also states that if a woman is between 13 and 20 weeks pregnant, she can get the abortion if she has a backup of some genuine reasons like poor physical or mental health, or pregnant because of rape or incest.

If a woman is of the personal opinion that her economic or social situation is sufficient reason for the termination of pregnancy, she can also choose to abort.

“When a woman is raped or maybe the man that impregnated her denied the pregnancy, instead of facing the problem alone, the law gives her freedom to choose whether she needs to have the baby or not, especially putting into consideration the way the pregnancy came,” said Ntombi Gemede, a teacher in Durban.

According to Mitchel, a worker in Randburg, unprotected sex, which leads to unwanted pregnancy and subsequently abortion, is a result of the low esteem of some of the locals.

She said due to some ladies’ low confidence, they take to drugs after which they become helpless.

“Some of these ladies have nothing they are doing. You find them in pubs and clubs; you see them drink and smoke joints. After taking alcohol and drugs, they are unconscious of what transpires around them again.

“The guys, seeing them in this condition, take advantage of them which leads to unwanted pregnancy.

“The country has recorded so many deaths caused by abortion. Hence, the need to legalise it so that they can easily find qualified doctors to carry out the job for them,” Mitchel said.

Also, a student of the University of Johannesburg, Tholah Ngcongo, said

Dr.Jim’s poster

Akech Aimba, an abortion survivor who heads Pearls and Treasures Trust, a Kenyan organisation that provides post-abortion care for women affected by unsafe abortion

abortion had to be legalided in the country because of the experience in the past where young ladies died due to abortions conducted by quack doctors.

According to her, pregnancy remains tricky for university students who accidentally become pregnant before completing their studies.

She said: “I know some clinics in Braamfontein where most students have successfully procured abortions.

“A good number of them were foreigners; they could not go back to their home countries with the situation they got themselves into. Those clinics helped them get rid of their pregnancies and they are back in class.”

According to her, many women in urban South Africa prefer abortions because raising a child alone is pretty difficult.

Lack of jobs in competitive cities like Johannesburg, where South Afri-

cans and immigrants fight for better paying jobs, has made women reluctant to have children early.

South African men are also said to be good at ditching their girlfriends whenever they find out that they have conceived, while some of the pregnant ladies cannot even point out the person that impregnates them. Some happened after being ganged raped.

But it is not everybody in South Africa that supports the abortion practice.

While some women believe their religious or spiritual beliefs do not allow abortion, however legal, others think that it is a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate a pregnancy or not.

Since the practice became legal, the health service is struggling to cope.

Nearly 13,000 abortions were performed at state hospitals in the first

A man and a woman walk pass an abortion signpost

A poster advertising abortion on a pole

six months of the passing of the law.

Almost half were undertaken in Johannesburg’s hospitals, which have met only half of the demand.

A number of nurses have been discouraging women from procuring abortion, by either refusing to help them with the requisite referral, or by giving them information about alternatives to abortion.

South Africa’s new pro-abortion law allows women to sue a nurse or other medical professionals for denying them an abortion or abortion information. Someone charged could face a fine or a prison term of up to 10 years.

But the church has not yet accepted the matter fully.

“Life begins at conception. Every abortion stops a beating heart. How can we condemn child abuse in society when we allow the ultimate child abuse by abortionists?” asks Jeremy Mbalala, a priest in Johannesburg.

However, the church’s stand seems to have no power at all since the law has given green light to the abortionists.

Statistics show that over 90 per cent of the abortions done in South Africa happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Under some circumstances, abortion can be done up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, but the procedure is safer and simpler if undertaken early.

The figures also show that women from neighbouring countries where abortion is either not easily available or illegal are going south to take advantage of South Africa’s pro-abortion legislation.

It is not clear how many women have died following abortions in the informal clinics in the streets, since after being given the pills they go home and whatever happens there remains a secret.

Entertainment

NEW TELEGRAPH

25

www.newtelegraphonline.com/entertainment

SOny Neme Entertainment Editor

sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com 0811 181 3096

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

Bayelsa ready for AMAA 2014 … as Governor Dickson Mobilises Private Sector Support

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stories by sony neme

ll is now set for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, that is billed for April 26 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. This much was disclosed by the state governor Hon. Seriake Dickson on Saturday at the Civic Centre in Lagos, when he mobilised the private sector leaders to support the prestigious pan-African awards.

The Governor did not waste the opportunity presented to him with major investors in attendance, as he regaled them on his achievements in office. He said in the last two years, his administration set out to develop the economy of the state beyond oil with tourism as a major economic driver for the non-oil sector economy.

The governor said: “With AMAA, which is our flagship entertainment event platform and other entertainment events we are promoting in the state, Bayelsa is gradually becoming theentertainment headquarters of Nigeria.”

While soliciting for their support, Hon. Dickson stressed that, “I appeal to leaders of private sector to support AMAA and support our efforts in Bayelsa to enhance the capacity of our youths in the creative industry. Investment in AMAA is an investment into the future of Nigeria.

We are committed to promoting Nigerian talents in movie, music and fashion. Bayelsa is building a film city where filmmakers from all over the world can come and shoot their films. We are also developing

Ebizi

our tourism infrastructures to make Bayelsa the leisure capital of Nigeria.’’

Earlier in her speech the Director General of Bayelsa State tourism Board, Mrs. Ebizi Brown urged the private sector investors to come and invest in the state as the state has generous incentives for investors. She added that the history of AMAA with Bayelsa in the last 10 years has been one of partnership for development.

In the same vein, the Chief Executive Officer of the awards, Ms. Peace AnyiamOsigwe recalled the history of AMAA with Bayelsa since 2005 and thanked former Governor Diepriye Alamyesigha and President Goodluck Jonathan for their support for AMAA from inception till

Peace

date.

She said, “I want to appeal to corporate Nigeria to support us in the creative industry. Nigerian young men and women should be supported to grow. Nollywood and our music are great cultural exports from Nigeria that almost the entire world has embraced and respected.”

She recalled that three presidents that came for Nigeria Centenary event few days ago in Abuja described Nollywood and Nigeria music as hugely popular around the world and in their countries.

“There is money to be made in this sector with right support and investment. By sponsoring AMAA and other events in the industry you will get return on your investment. AMAA working with our me-

dia partners has developed multi-channel media platforms that will give your brand right exposures pan-Africa and globally,’’ she said.

Mr. Ladi Balogun, who presided over the sponsors’ dinner as the Chairman was assisted by Mr. Tunde Ayeni, Chairman of Skye Bank Plc, who called his friends such as Mr. Albert Okumagba, Managing Director of BGL, Mr. Timi Alaibe, former Managing Director of NDDC, Mr. George Anyiam-Osigwe, Group Executive Director of Anyiam Osigwe Group, King A.J Turner and host of others to commit to sponsoring the awards this year with various sums of money. Arik Air, Cool FM and Ebony Life TV also pledged to sponsor.

iREP film fest defines Rhythms of Identity T

Bright Gain

he recently organized four-day iREP film festival themed ‘Rhythms of Identity – Africa in self-conversation’ held at cultural hotspot Freedom Park and climaxed with a NAIJAZZ show produced by Inspiro productions.

The show, which presented some of the leading Jazz and Jazz related music performers in the country had kicked off with Adeh, a fast rising Afro Jazz guitarist who played cover songs from classic and contemporary Nigerian musicians.

Before the next act came on, there was a brief presentation as the iREP organizers, Femi Odugbemi, Theo Lawson, Makin Soyinka and Jahman Anikulapo addressed the audience and gave their vote of thanks. It was also a surprise

birthday presentation for Theo Lawson whose birthday coincided with the closing day.

Next on was the 12 piece Eko Brass Band, a big band ensemble by two-time Grammy award co-winner and master percussionist Lekan Babalola. Their energetic band got the crowd dancing as they play popular Lagos music in the agidigbo and Fanti style, with several Afrobeat tunes by Fela to spice the event.

Then came SPAN academy of Jazz and Contemporary music director, Bright Gain, an accomplished musician with over 100 compositions to his credit. He featured with students of his academy.

Their set was pure Jazz in the straight ahead and bebop style with Bright lead-

ing on a rarely seen instrument in these parts, the electric upright bass. Their performance included moments of almost celestial surrealism and rapturous solos that enthralled the audience who responded with a loud applause The final two acts for the evening were no less engaging. Segun Awe of the Afritonas fame who recently returned from the US, presented a set that was a blast from the past. He led his 10 piece band and played original compositions from his past albums.

A veteran in the trade, his energetic stage performance, singing, dance steps and dexterous guitar playing was reminiscent of the God Father of Soul James Brown of blessed memory.

26 Entertainment

Friday, March 28, 2014

K1 supports education, says ‘books develop me'

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COSON’s 4TH AGM is on MAY 20

T

he full board of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) rose from a two day meeting in Lagos last week with some far reaching resolutions.

Among the many important decisions taken is that May 20, 2014 be set aside for the 4th Annual General Meeting, AGM, and that the meeting would be held in Lagos.

We gathered that some of the decisions were taken to ensure that COSON continues to thrive as Africa’s fastest growing collective management organization.

Interestingly, the AGM will coincide with the celebration of the 4th anniversary of the approval of COSON by the Federal Government as the nation’s sole collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings. It is a development that unleashed the revolution in copyright royalty collection and distribution in Nigeria.

A statement sent to New Telegraph, and signed by Ms. Mayree Uket, revealed that, “At the AGM, the report of the auditors to members of the society will be reviewed, just as elections to vacant positions on the board will be held.”

The statement continued: “During the board meeting, the relationship between COSON and the broadcasting institu-

tions in Nigeria was also reviewed. The Board commended COSON members across the country for their steadfastness and commitment to the mission of the society during the recent events related to the payment of copyright royalties by broadcasting stations in Nigeria.”

The first day of the COSON board meeting was dedicated to training of the members of the Board on modern trends in Collective Management and Related Governance Issues. The training was conducted by Mr. Robert Hooijer, one of the most respected experts on copyright collective management in the world.

Mr. Hooijer, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Paris based International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) was for a long period Chief Executive Officer of Africa’s biggest CMO, Southern African Music Rights Organization (SAMRO).

“Mr. Hooijer was in the country for the second time in one year to provide the COSON management cadre with a one week intensive training program through different aspects of modern collective management including Licensing, Membership, Distribution, Tariff Setting and Accounting,” Ms. Uket further explained..

Among those who attended the

management training are Ms. Bernice Eriemeghe, Head of Finance and Administration; Mr. Vincent Adawaisi, Head of Membership; Mr. Isa Aruna, Head of DataTech; Mr. Chibueze Okereke, Head of Licensing; Mr. Efe Enahowo, Senior Executive, Licensing and Ms. Mayree Uket, New Media.

COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji reportedly said, “The events of last week emphasize the core values of COSON. The 4th AGM in four years apart from several Extra-Ordinary General Meetings in between is evidence of an organization that is totally dedicated to complying with the rules and regulations and keeping the membership informed on every subject.”

To buttress his point, Mr. Chukwuji said, “Ask the agencies that regulate us and they will tell you that at COSON, transparency and accountability are at the heart of our corporate personality.

And we take every measure to maintain a world class standard. Our continued investment in the training of the members of our Board and our operatives is because we are focused on being the best in the world. Knowledge is power.

A COSON leadership made up of very knowledgeable people is a huge asset to the creative industry in Nigeria.”

uji icon, Wasiu Ayinde Omogbolahan Anifowoshe, aka K1 The Ultimate, has boasted that he is a caring father that loves education and is ready to give it to his children at any cost.

K1 disclosed that his ability for his music to have developed overtime has been a result of constant reading. ‘I am a collector of books that is what helps my music because I read them’.

The Fuji maestro's main happiness is that he has four lawyers in his family.

‘Three of my daughters namely Bolaji, Aminat, and Sekinat, will be getting married. I am happy they are all graduates and I am also happy that I have been able to do what a lot of people don’t know I can do for my kids’, he added.

Iyanya To Headline 'One Mic Naija' April Edition

S

tar singer and first winner of MTN Project Fame, Iyanya has been penciled down to perform at the April edition of 'One Mic Naija'. At the previous edition, Efya, Temi Dollface and Reminisce dazzled the audience with five star performances.

Information available to us reveals that the April edition of the show is going to surpass the past editions and for that reason, this edition has been tagged ''One Mic Naija Shut Down'.

Abel’s ‘Unquestionable God' for UK release Abel

M

ic Abel, a gospel artiste currently on a musical tour of the United Kingdom, is poised to release his much-anticipated album,

Unquestionable God. The new album produced by Abel in Nigeria-was recorded in London.

It will be released by Godfather Music Incorporated, (GMI) in the UK and distributed in Nigeria by Golden Point Music, Alaba, Lagos. . The effort is a follow-up to two previous releases - Alayo Ni Mi and Ayo Igbala Abel, who cut his musical teeth as a member of the

choir at the Celestial Church of Christ, Mokola, Ibadan, disclosed that his experience abroad has immensely rubbed off on his career as an artiste.

He went through the tutelage of music veterans like Victor Ashaolu, Wale Adediran, Bayo Adegboyega, Segun Martin and Micho Ade, "The new album is a reflection of my numerous experiences as an artiste and my

encounters while on tour of South Africa, Ghana, Republic of Benin and the United Kingdom. These tours are eye-openers for me, and they have gone a long way to tremendously improve my brand of music.

Losing my younger brother in a very tragic accident, and this has totally changed my view point about life", he said.

Abel started off his career as a juju singer, as he was at-

tracted to the limelight associated with it; but his calling is to becoime a gospel singer. To actualize his dream, the young man formed High Class Band and started living life as a fullfledged juju artiste in 1992.

This was however shortlived as he later switched and faced the gospel music genre squarely years before becoming a "born again". Christian.

Hear him: "I was mesmer-

Entertainment

Friday, March 28, 2014

10 years after, Anita and Paul of PSquare ties the knot …their love story

2Face

Omotola

Basketmouth

“I

’ve decided, I’ve made up my mind. I have decided. It’s about time for one to settle down”, was Paul Okoye resolution after a decade of romance with Anita Isama. “We are ready to make this official finally after 10 years. It’s been a long time. I am really excited, and I love him,” Anita Isama Those were love testimonies that heralded the colourful wedding of PSquare’s Paul and Anita at the Aztech Arcum in Port-Harcourt on Saturday, March 22.

Expectedly, it turned out a convergence of the cream of Nigerian entertainment. Those present were Uti Nwachukwu, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ini Edo and Funke Akindele. Others are M.I., Naeto C, Banky W, Darey ArtAlade and Julius Agwu, as well as Uche Jumbo, Phyno, Mike Ezeruonye, Vast & Smash of Bracket and a host of others.

Apart from the Nigerian entertainers, others inattendance were, politicians and other celebrities.

A day earlier, the Lagos local airport (MM2) witnessed an upsurge of Port Harcourt bound travellers as the stars came out in full force to celebrate with one of their own.

Though the year is still within the first quarter, you can safely describe the event as the wedding of the year.

Paul did not disappoint as his family friends and fans converged as he joins his twin brother in the marriage institution.

His twin brother, Peter Okoye, brought the music industry to a standstill last year November when he married his longtime partner.

It was another best of showbiz when on March 22, 2014, all roads led to the oil-rich city for Anita Isama. It was indeed a grand event of the most epic proportion: a love story that was expressed in sparkling and romantic details.

We gathered from an insider that it was supposed to be an exclusive affair, as only Hip TV had the right to cover from the romantic behind the scenes build up to the epic wedding ceremony.

As a foretaste to the main event, Hip TV had exclusive coverage of the prewedding shoot which took place at Raddison Blu, Victoria Island, Lagos. At the shoot, Paul and Anita reminisced on when they first met and spoke about their love for one another.

Paul enthused thus: “We’ve married since. It’s just now that we want to make it official. We’ve known each other for 10 years. That was when in my final year. She was a Jambite.”

It is interesting to note that, back then Anita posed as his manager when P Square didn’t have a manager. She

was collecting small fees on behalf of the twins, and the two love birds would split most of the cash between themselves.

Anita confirms some of the mischiefs they were involved at in school thus, “It was fun and exciting. We had plenty adventures back in school, young and very dubious. She further reveals when she fell for Paul during her first year at the University.

He was actually after her friend.

When Paul came to their room and saw Anita, he told her she looked like Britney Spears. Anita thought it was a corny line, but that didn’t stop them from talking. As their friendship continued, Paul fell for her. It was after he sang 2face’s classic ‘African Queen’, that Anita also caught the love bug.

After 10 turbulent years, the two are now man and wife. “We had trying times but we had to wait for the right time when we are both ready” confesses Anita before the wedding. For Peter, “I’m glad that finally we are doing this, and she gave me a lovely boy. The boy is my everything for me. I’m glad and happy that I am finally settling down.

It’s all good.”

27

LYRICS for the week D’PRINCE Ft Don Jazzy & davido

Gbongbonropo Yanpororonpo Chorus – D’Prince Hey, see this beautiful lady o wey o o Oya come follow me Cause me I be gentleman o wey o o Eh eh You my beautiful lady o wey o o Oya come follow me (Don baba J Cause me I be gentleman o wey o o It’s Davido Gentleman….Omoba Na me go marry you baby o o wey o o You too fine girl I can’t believe o wey o o Only me go dey run this your body o o wey o o Baby come closer to me o wey o o Verse – D’Prince I found my own! Go find your own Na she be my first lady I count my blessings! Count your own The lord has been so faithful I made choice long time ago Na you I’ll be loving Her love dey sweep me off my feet Girl I cannot deny it It gives me joy in a me soul In the night and the morning I love my girl o I love my girl Na for you I dey sing this song I dey sing my love on a microphone You shine bright like a morning sun And I love you the way you are Baby mo! Chorus – D’Prince Hey, see this beautiful lady o wey o o Oya come follow me Cause me I be gentleman o wey o o Eh eh You my beautiful lady o wey o o Oya come follow me Cause me I be gentleman o wey o o Gentleman Na me go marry you baby o o wey o o You too fine girl I can’t believe o wey o o Only me go dey run this your body o o wey o o Baby come closer to me o wey o o Verse – Davido Just believe And don’t desist Na me and you go join body Enter overseas You dey feel my speaks Say na me be this Na me wey dey count e the money Come make I spend for you Eh ah! Oya baby girl Give me dance Where you at Where have you been I’ve been searching Searching so bad Oya weko, weko, weko Show your love o Show your love o Chorus – D’prince Hey, see this beautiful lady o wey o o Oya come follow me Cause me I be gentleman o wey o o Eh eh You my beautiful lady o wey o o Oya come follow me Cause me I be gentleman o wey o o Gentleman Na me go marry you baby o o wey o o You too fine girl I can’t believe o wey o o Only me go dey run this your body o o wey o o Baby come closer to me o wey o o Oya baby girl, I’ll make you my lady Oya baby girl, I’ll make you my baby Oya baby girl, I’ll make you my lady I’m a gentleman, I’m a gentleman Oya make we go dance for mommy Oya make we go dance for daddy Oya make we go dance for mommy I’m a gentleman, I’m a gentleman Oya..dance! O ya..daddy Oya make we….mommy Gentleman gentleman gentleman Omoba…omoba.

28 Entertainment TELEMOVIES

Friday, March 28, 2014

Half Of A Yellow Sun premieres with Etisalat

E

Winnie Mandela shuns a movie about her

L

ate South African President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s ex-wife, Winnie Mandela, has reportedly disassociated herself from a movie that portrays her life.

In a supposed statement issued to this effect, she expressed her reasons for rejecting the move, as she said, “In my life’s struggle I have seen and heard many things said about me. I understand that my story, alongside that of my people is one that will continue to be told for many generations. In an attempt to ensure that my truth was reflected, I reached out to the film makers of Winnie Mandela, and my advances were rejected. I imagine the basis was to allow the creative process to occur organically– a concept I try to understand”.

The film Winnie Mandela looks into the personal and political life of Winnie and is scheduled to be released in South African cinemas soon. It was directed by South African award-winning filmmaker, Darrell Roodt.

Winnie Mandela

tisalat Nigeria, Shareman Media and FilmOne Distribution, distributor of Half of a Yellow Sun, have announced that the feature film will be released in all Nigerian cinemas on Friday, April 24. The Film is a beautifully crafted adaptation of the international bestselling novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The highly anticipated film had its world premiere at the 38th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada to great applause, and subsequently premiered in Europe at the BFI London Film Festival, London recently.

Directed by the Nigerian playwright, Biyi Bandele, Half of a Yellow Sun stars the BAFTA Award-winning and Oscar- nominated actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), and another B A F T A Aw a r d winning a c t o r Thandie Newton.

Other supporting cast includes Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu, O. C. Ukeje, Zack Orji and Anika Noni Rose.

Set in 1960s Nigeria, Half of a Yellow Sun is an epic

love story, weaving together the lives of four people caught up in the turbulence of the Nigerian civil war. it is set to strike a special chord with movie goers nationwide.

Director, Brands and Communication at Etisalat Nigeria, Enitan Denloye was quick to express joy with their involvement.

Denloye said, “We are delighted at the success of this movie so far and are proud to be sponsoring the Nigerian premiere. Etisalat is pleased to be identified with this unique work of art that places Nigeria proudly on the world map and promotes the movie industry in the country. We invite movie lovers to enjoy a great movie experience at the premiere”.

The film was shot in the Tinapa Studios in Calabar and in various locations in Creek Town. It achieved an objective of employing several hundreds of local residents. The technical quality of the Film demonstrates that it is possible to make a high quality production in Nigeria with the appropriate budget and technical input.

The Film was officially invited to screen at several high profile international film festivals in recognition of its ground breaking quality.

The Film is directed by a Nigerian and based on a book written by a Nigerian about events that occurred in Nigeria. The bulk of the funding came from Nigeria, and the film was shot in Nigeria, with large numbers of Nigerian cast and crew. The success of the Film will require the support of all Nigerians, to ensure that many more projects that “tell our own stories” can access the required funding.

Aunty Sabinus unveiled P

aula Muji Otu, better known as Paula O2 has been with Naija Television as a presenter since 2011. She encores the Aunty Sabinus segment of the station. The versatile young lady who is also an actress and musician hails from Duala Arongba in Boki, Cross River State, has since 2011 held her own as she thrills her growing fan base on the 9jaTV segment. The cable TV is affiliated to most African countries as it is a free to air station.

Her growing popularity stems from how the 2008 University of Calabar graduate of Soil Science presents the family programme with panache.

In an exclusive chat with New Telegraph, Paula O2 said the her talk show is centered on family. Her words “My show is centered on family because that is the only unit in this world where messages on love, moral, socials and a bit of politics can be passed. We take a look at the day to day issues within the neighbouhood .“ Apart from presenting the television talk show, Paua O2 who served her NYSC at Osun State is also into acting, music and catering. “I com-

Otu

bined them well because they are a part of me. I love catering well for people at major functions through my Pauprin Catering Services. As for acting, I started that since 2002 with Wisemen that was directed by Martin Obazie.”

She has worked with top movie producers, especially the Ejiro brothers, Zeb and Chico in movies like Cry for Husband, Computer Girl, A Night To Remember, as well as Strip by Olu Olumole Afe. “I have also done soap operas such as Gwatala, Tarima Season

2 by Peter Boyo. I was also in Omo Oduduwa, by Next Movie Star producer, Shola; Storm with Raph Nwadike. While my journey into music has been from the word go. i have always loved miming and acting music, and I am songwriter. I have over 25 songs presently”, she further said.

She had hit the road running with Scatter Head, a debut she single handedly footed the bill as she is yet to attract the kind of label and marketers she can work with.

Her words: “I have recorded Dance and Scatter Head on my own.

I have Fred Amata to thank for his financial assistance. I source for my market also. My only set back is having a good management because my hands are full. I am someone who believe in details. For me to reach my dreams I need someone to take off most administrative matters off me, so I can be my creative best. That is why I am still searching for the kind of an outfit that I can leave my future on music and movies with.”

Her kind of music is dancehall, Afro pop, rap and R & B. For her leisure, Paula O2 spend most of her time writing, because as she puts it, “I am an indoor person.”

Entertainment

Friday, March 28, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide)

Coming Soon

GOtv Launches in Jos with Special Offer

G

…winners commend GOtv for GOcarry Am promo The final batch of winners have emerged in the GOtv GOcarry Am promo.

They commended the digital terrestrial television (DTT) pay-TV operator for rewarding its subscribers with free grocery shopping at SPAR and other select supermarkets across the country. As at the final

Nigerian Student Fashion & Design 2014

A

re you a professional student model in any Nigerian University? polytechnic? Colleges of Education? A freelance model? Celebrity Fashion blog owner? Fashion writer? Analyst? Or a Fashion enthusiast? Then come see what collaboration between BlackNBold Fashion House, Africa Fashion week London, and Mahogany International partners together to bring u new talent in the Fashion industry!

For enquiries contact Uche Benjamin 3310232B. Or uchebenjamin61@gmail. com Date: june 7th & 8th, 2014 Time: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm daily Venue: Indoor Sports Hall, University of Lagos Total Siyapaa (PG) Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily THE NUT JOB (PG) Rating: Ozone Cinemas

Mrs. Amkpa

Otv is rapidly expanding its coverage across Nigeria as it rolls-out its services in Jos, Plateau State.

From Thursday, March 20, intending subscribers have been purchasing GOtv decoder with a month subscription for N5,300; while the GOtenna (outside antenna) are purchased at a standalone price of N1,600.

This was v revealed to New Telegraph by the General Manager , GOtv, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa. She further said, “GOtv is the best option to join the digital television revolution delivering great family entertainment at a price everyone can afford. The launch of GOtv in Jos has been strategically scheduled to coincide with the Analogue Switch-off pilot soon to commence in Jos. We at GOtv are poised to ensure that Jos residents experience the digital television revolution in their own homes”.

Mrs Amkpa said. “GOtv is delivered to homes in Nigeria via the use of the latest DVB-T2 technology, which guarantees a one-off migration to the digital age. This means that when the analogue switchoff happens in Jos, subscribers will not require a new decoder”.

She added that GOtv was launched in Jos with a special introductory offer, giving the first 1,000 subscribers to purchase GOtv an exciting goodie bag. “In addition, one lucky subscriber stands the chance to win an uninterrupted Pay TV viewing experience from GOtv” says marketing manager GOtv, Mr Dare Kafar, who further revealed that “GOtv will be giving away a 32-inch flat screen TV, as well as a home theatre system and a 2.5KVA generator to one lucky customer”, he added.

29

Ejiro, Taiwo and a staff of GOtv

draw of the promotion, 34 families were rewarded across Nigeria.

The winners from diverse walks-of-life that included lecturers, drivers, students, and traders among others, hailed GOtv for its credibility, quality and affordability.

Mr Adeleye Taiwo, a lecturer at the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun Campaus in Ijebu-Ode and one of the lucky winners of the GOCarry Am promo shopping experience at SPAR in Lekki, described the experience as rewarding.

His words, “I bought my GOtv decoder in December 2013 and I have been very pleased with the experience, the signal quality in my area is excellent. Today’s shopping experience has also been an exciting one; I thank GOtv for the opportunity. I purchased my GOtv decoder in December when the promo started and I am proof that GOtv stayed true to its promise to reward both new and existing customers”.

Another winner Mr Ridwan Iyanda said he has been a GOtv subscriber for about 18 months, describing GOtv as a value for money service. He said he came for the shopping experience out of curiousity.

“I did not know about the GOcarry Am promo so when I received a message telling me I had won and inviting me for the

shopping experience, I didn’t believe it but decided to come and see if it is real.

I am very impressed with the shopping experience”, said Ridwan Iyanda.

Mr Kelechi Osoka a building contractor who lives at Mowe bordering Ogun state is another new GOtv subscriber who was lucky to win a shopping experience in the GOcarry Am promo. He purchased his GOtv decoder in January 2014 and Kelechi said he loves GOtv for the AfricaMagic channels.

General manager GOtv Nigeria, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa, says GOtv is pleased to have lit-up 100 families with the food shopping spree and thousands more who received the food baskets. “We at GOtv are very happy with the outcome of the GOcarry Am promo. The fun continues with our exciting and quality family entertainment” she said.

“GOtv families will be spoilt for choice with movies such as Hancook and The Da Vinci Code billed to air on Sony Entertainment TV in April. Channel O Volt is one show to also look out for in the coming month as budding Nigerian female artistes Chidinma aka Ms Kedike and Seyi Shay will come under the spotlight”, she concluded.

The GOCarry Am promo shopping experience is still airing on Channel 99 on GOtv.

Daily 10:00am, 11:45am Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 10.20AM, 12.15PM Silverbird Cinemas Ikeja Daily 10:30AM Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 12:00PM, 3:45PM The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily 12:10PM, 2:00PM, 4:15PM, 6:10PM, 8:25PM Ride Along (PG) Rating: The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily 6:15PM Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (PG) Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 8:25PM Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 9.25PM Ozone Cinemas Daily 3:30pm, 7:15pm

300: Rise of an Empire (PG) Rating: Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 10.00AM, 12.15PM, 2.30PM, 4.45PM, 6.05PM, 7.00PM, 8.20PM, 9.15PM Ozone Cinemas

30 Entertainment TELEMOVIES

Whoopi Goldberg now a great grand ma at 58

I

n what may find a space on Guinness book of records, American actress Whoopi Goldberg is now a proud great grandmother at the age of 58.

The actress’ granddaughter, Amarah Dean who is 25 years old welcomed a baby girl on Saturday, March 15.

The ‘Ghost’ star made the announcement during a Monday episode of ‘The View’, ”I have a crazy announcement. I am proud to tell you all and introduce you to the newest addition to my family.

This is my great-granddaughter and she came into the world on Saturday,” she said while holding a picture. In addition to the newborn great granddaughter, she has a daughter and three grandchildren.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Coming Soon Daily 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:15pm, 8:30pm, 9:15pm Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 12:40PM, 2:45PM, 4:50PM, 7:00PM, 9:00PM Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 12:20PM, 2:25PM, 4:30PM, 6:45PM, 8:40PM The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily 12:40PM, 2:10PM, 2:55PM, 4:20PM, 4:55PM, 6:20PM, 8:15PM When Dreams Fall Apart (R) Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 10:40AM, 7:00PM POMPEII (PG) Rating:

Whoopi Goldberg

50 Most Popular People in Nollywood Diaspora

Dr. Victor Olatoye

L

ast week, we ran a list of 100 most influential Nollywood personalities that has Genevieve Nnaji topping the table. Today, we have the pleasure of revealing 50 Nigerians that have distinguished themselves from the Diasopra perspective. They are listed below: 1. Dr. Victor Olatoye (CEO Nollywood Film Critics USA & African Oscars-NAFCA 2. Michael Blackson (Actor & Comedian) 3. Pascal Atuma (Actor & Film Drirector) 4. Tony Abulu (Film Direc-

tor &

Binta Goudiaby

Producer) 5. Chet Anekwe (Actor) 6. JJ Bunny (Actress & Film Producer) 7. Koby Maxell (Singer & Film Producer) 8. Eva Banks (Actress & Film Producer) 9. AY (Comedian) 10. Chisom Oz Lee (Actress & Producer) 11. Beverly Naya (Actress) 12. Bertin Sarodj (Model & Actress) 13. Moses Efret (Actor & Singer) 14. Best Davis (Actor & Film Producer) 15. Robert Peters (Film Director) 16. Binta Goudiaby (Actress) 17. Oliver Mbamara (Actor & Director) 18. Soliel Diva (Actress & Singer) 19. Bethels Aguomoh (Film Director) 20. Chima Austin (Film Producer) 21. Gugu E Michaels (Film Director) 22. Merlisa Determined (Actress) 23. Uba Onwudiwe (Actress & Singer) 24. Sana Kanu (Actress) 25. Tim Wilson (Cinematographer) 26. Emmanuel Mensah (Actor) 27. Don Okolo (Film Director) 28. BJ Winfrey (Actor & Film Director) 29. Montel Swaray (Actor) 30. Veeda Darko (Actress) 31. Syr Law (Actress) 32. Tracy Obonna (Actress & Model) 33. Clara Fernaldo (CEO Fernaldo Fashions) 34. Fatima Jabbe (Actress) 35. Egor Efiok (Producer) 36. John Uche (Film Director) 37. Obi Emelonye (Film Producer & Dir) 38. Diamond Sompon (Actress) 39. Prinze Wyhee (Film Dir & Producer) 40. Papa Gee (Film Producer) 41. Mohamed Bah (Actor & Film Producer) 42. David Vandy (Radio Persornality) 43. Ify Hollywood (Actress) 44. Dr. Claris Kulah (Film Producer) 45. Fred Idika (Film Producer) 46. Ejike Okoye (Actor) 47. Bertini Huemegni (Actor & Director) 48. Omar Rafik (Celebrity Photographer) 49. Kelechi Eke (Actor & Director) 50. Chris Onyeka (Director)

Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 2:35PM, 6:45PM, 8:50PM The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily 12:20PM, 4:10PM, 6:20PM, 8:15PM Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 4.15PM, 6.30PM, 8.45PM SHAADI KE SIDE EFFECTS (PG) Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 3:50PM Anchorman 2 (PG) Rating: Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 5.00PM, 10.00PM Ozone Cinemas Daily 2:20pm, 4:40pm, 7:00pm The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily2:15PM, 8:55PM Silverbird Cinemas Ikeja Daily 11:25 AM,8:20 PM Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 11:20AM, 4:00PM, 6:40PM The Lego Movie Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 11:00AM 12:50PM, 2:45PM, 4:45PM Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 11:30 AM,3:40 PM,4:35 PM Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 10.30AM, 12.40PM, 2.50PM Ozone Cinemas Daily 10:00am, 11:50am, 1:40pm The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily 10:30PM, 12:30PM, 4:20PM Honeymoon Hotel (PG) Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 1:00 PM Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 10.00AM, 11.40PM Silverbird Cinemas Lagos Daily 2:50PM, 8:30PM Deep Inside (PG) Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 11:30AM, 4:20PM Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily11:45 AM, 6:45PM Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 12.25PM, 5.05PM, 7:25PM Highway -Bollywood movie (PG) Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily

No Shows Ozone Cinemas Daily 3:40pm, 6:10pm A New York Winter's Tale Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 12:00PM 6:45PM 9:00PM Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 4:10 PM,6:30 PM Ozone Cinemas Daily 2:15pm, 6:45pm, 9:00pm The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily 12:00PM, 4:30PM Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 10.00AM, 6.00PM Labor Day Rating: Ozone Cinemas Daily 00:00pm The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily 10:15AM, 6:45PM Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 12.50PM, 3.10PM, 7.15PM The Monuments Men Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 1:25PM, 6:35PM, 8:30PM Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 2:05PM, 6:25PM, 8:45PM Ozone Cinemas Daily 12:30pm, 8:00pm Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily No Shows The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily 2:05PM, 4:20PM, 6:35PM, 8:50PM About Last Night Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 2:15PM, 4:15PM, 6:45PM, 8:45PM Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily No Shows Ozone Cinemas Daily 2:40pm, 4:45pm, 5:45pm, 7:00pm The Filmhouse Cinemas Surulere Daily No Shows Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily No Shows RoboCop (PG) Rating: Silverbird Cinemas - Lagos Daily 8:45PM Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 12.30PM, 2.55PM, 10.00PM Ozone Cinemas Daily 1:10PM Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 6:00PM Brother's Keeper (PG) Rating: Genesis Deluxe Cinemas - Lekki Daily 12.30PM, 2.55PM, 10.00PM 12 YEARS A SLAVE (PG) Rating: Ozone Cinemas Daily 10:00am Silverbird Cinemas - Ikeja Daily 3:50PM THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (PG) Rating: Ozone Cinemas

BUSINESS FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

WHAT'S NEWS Maritime academy suspends lecturers over certificate fraud The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, has suspended some lecturers involved in certificate racketeering. Their suspension is to last six months.

}p-32

How not to do agribusiness We kicked off this debate last week and called on readers to participate. You will recall we said 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.

}p-33

Curbing food wastages Post-harvest losses are largely responsible for Nigeria’s senseless dependence on food imports. More than any other time now is the time to question the nation’s huge spending on food imports.

}p-35

Ill-health-ravaged pensioners appeal to FG As the Federal Government continues to delay the harmonisation of their pension with that of their colleagues from other agencies, retirees of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), who are being ravaged by different forms of ailment have cried out for assistance to save their lives.

}p-38

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

}p-37

AYODELE AMINU, DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

AGONY Federal Government has shortchanged Nigerian Railway Corporation retirees for 21 months.

Sunday Ojeme

F

ollowing the report of the Ministerial Committee which endorsed the demands made by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) pensioners, the Pension Transition Arrangement Department has been urged to expedite action on the payment of over N34.8 billion arrears owe the retirees between April 2011 and December 2012.

In a letter to the DirectorGeneral, 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.

New Telegraph gathered that the railway pensioners, who are currently the least paid in the country, 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 dated January 15, 2014 and signed by the Director, Human Resource Management, Oqua E. Eta, on behalf of the minister.

It was written on the heels of a previous circular from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHCSF) directing all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to forward all pension matters to the office of PTAD. It will be recalled that the railway pensioners have been

L-R: Vice President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Soboma Ajumogobia; Head, Post Clearance, Audit and Fast Track, Zone A, Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Abubakar; President of the Chamber, Remi Bello and Director, APM Terminals, Neil Fletcher, during the stakeholders' Forum on the challenges of cargo clearance at Nigerian ports held in Lagos . PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

deploying every instruments in their arsenal to ensure that their pension is harmonised with that of their colleagues in other Federal Government agencies. Currently, some of them earn as low as N4,500 as against N8,000 minimum earned by their peers from

other agencies.

The clamour for harmonisation also took the president of the railway pensioners, Mr. Rauf Balogun, to Abuja last week to find out how far those handling it had gone.

Speaking with New Tele-

graph in his office, Balogun said the committee did everything before arriving at the conclusion that the pensioners actually deserve a better deal, adding that everything now depend on the CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Hotel investors focus on Nigeria, Ghana Target $12bn, 400,000 jobs Bayo Akomolafe

H

otel investors and operators, finding growth slowing in matured European and United States markets have shifted focus to Africa.

In the last two years, hotel rooms have increased to 186,000

from 99,000.

It was learnt that domestic tourism revenue in Nigeria was targeted to triple to $12 billion within a decade, creating over 400,000 jobs.

In addition, the investors’ relied on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast this

month that economic growth in Nigeria would accelerate this year from an estimated 6.4 per cent last year, driven by services, trade and agriculture.

Also, the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development, Sally Mbanefo said: “If just 20 per cent of Nigeria’s approximately 160 million population spend 10 per cent of their percapita income of over $2,000 on CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor ABDULWAHAB ISA, Finance Editor

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

N34.8bn arrears: Pensioners tackle pension department

WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

NEW TELEGRAPH

GROWING PENSION ASSETS STIR MORE INVESTMENT DEBATES

INFLATION RATE February 2014......................7.70% January 2014 .......................8.00% December 2013....................8.00%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . 10.75% Prime Lending Rate. . . . . . 17.01% Maximum Lending Rate..24.90%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Mar. 21)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N171 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N239

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Mar. 21)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N157.74 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N260.47 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N244.47

32

BUSINESS | NEWS

RACKETEERING Lecturers suspended for aiding illegal students' admission Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, has suspended some lecturers involved in certificate racketeering. Their suspension is to last six months.

This was disclosed by the rector of the academy, Mr. Joshua Okpo, who accused the suspended lecturers of conniving with some students to gain ad-

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Maritime academy suspends lecturers over certificate fraud To spend N900m on students’ training mission with fake certificates.

Okpo lamented that some students who were expelled from other universities due to certain social vices found their ways into the academy.

He noted that such students had attempted to exert certain negative influences on others.

The rector further disclosed that the academy will spend N900 million for overseas training of 250 students in seafaring

at the cost of N3.6 million per student.

The rector said that this was as a sequel to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Turkish Government for students to attend one year on-board sea training outside Nigeria.

He explained that 150 students from Nautical Science Department are expected to go for

the sea- time training while 100 others would come from the Marine Engineering Department.

Okpo noted that the school aimed to prepare the students for actual marine engineering as they would be going round various countries in a ship that had been prepared for them for one year before going onshore.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Marine Transport has asked the contactors handling

various projects at the academy to complete all abandoned jobs.

The committee was worried over the projects which dot the academy’s landscape.

Its Chairman, Hajia Zainab Kure, lamented the cost of the abandoned projects to the economy, noting that the projects were still in the same position they were met when the committee visited two years ago.

The rector was directed to summon the contractors and resolve whatever the problem is.

Pensioners tackle pension department CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

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, 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 and they constitute 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. You know there is a statutory difference between salary and pension and if you maintain that statutory difference then you are in order. But where the salary is far more than the pension it becomes a problem. So what the committee did was to harmonise it with the current salary structure of the workers so as to bridge the gap.

“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.

L-R: Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh, Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services, Mr. Garuba Zakawanu and Chief Executive Officer, Bestman Games, Mrs Nimi Akinkugbe at Centenary edition of the Capital Market Committee meeting in Lagos.

PARTNERSHIP Hope of improved electricity rekindled as Nigerian and Chinese investors partner on power projects

A

consortium of companies in Nigeria and a group of top Chinese investors have signed a Memorandum of Un-

Hotel investors focus on Nigeria, Ghana CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

domestic tourism, we will have an annual domestic tourism market of $12 billion. Improvements in the nation’s economic outlook are motivations to investors.”

The investors are expanding in Africa as the continent is buoyed by increasing trade with countries including China and rising demand for services such as lodging.

The Director of Sales, Marketing and Revenue for Protea, Danny Bryer said: “Protea currently has 10 operational hotels in Nigeria and around 115 in

seven African countries, with two more scheduled to open in Ghana and Rwanda.”

He noted that Protea’s expansion plans in Nigeria focus on Port Harcourt in the oil-rich Niger Delta, Abuja and Enugu.

Protea would open a 130-room hotel in Takoradi, Ghana in the country’s western region later this year, he said.

“For the moment, we’re focused on Nigeria and Ghana, but further expansion into other West African countries cannot be ruled out,” he said.

Also, Marriott International, owner of Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance, is strengthening its

position in West Africa as economic growth in Nigeria and Ghana boost travel and tourism.

Bryer said Protea Hospitality Holdings, which Marriott agreed to buy for $186 million in January, was building five-star and three-star hotels in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, adding 400 rooms to the 700 it had in the country.

He said: “With the surging Nigerian economy resulting in companies around the world seeking to do business, demand for quality hotel rooms is expected to increase substantially over the next few years.”

Nigerian, Chinese investors seal power projects deal derstanding (MOU) on power plant projects, including the assembly and manufacturing of pre-paid meters.

The agreement, which was facilitated by the Nigeria – China Business Council (NCBC), was signed at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in Abuja.

The companies involved in the agreement include: Skydeep International Limited, Mattek Oil Services Limited, Temps Engineering and Gestric Limited and Craag Nigeria Limited on the Nigerian side. The Chinese companies are JMET Corporation, Jiangsu Sainty International Group (for China Nuclear Industry 22nd Construction Company Limited), Shaanxi Jsbound Technology & Trade Company Limited and Xian Marine Equipment Engineering Research Academy.

Specifically, the MoU covers the financing, procurement

and operation of independent power plant projects, local assembly and manufacturing of pre-paid power meters, assembly and manufacturing of recharge cards and setting up of skill acquisition centres for capacity building as well as oil and gas pipes.

Addressing the investors, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abdulkadir Musa, said Nigeria and China had been consistent in their bilateral and investment relationship, which he said had been mutually beneficial.

He said that President Goodluck Jonathan had made industry and investment policies the driving forces that would propel Nigeria to greater heights through the effective implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP).

Agric

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Hard Facts

As at October 2013, over 1 million farmers had mobile phones-linked and over N3 million with farmer-ID-linked wallets.

Government did not meet its goal of distributing N10 million phones in advance of 2013 growing (farming) season.

Before 2012, only 11 per cent had access to subsidised fertiliser; this is expected to rise.

By 2011, livestock sub-sector accounted for 25 per cent of agriculture GDP and 5.83 per cent of total GDP of total GDP with poultry showing great potential.

Nigeria is No one egg producer and 4th broiler meat producer in Africa.

But smuggled chicken remains a problem.

Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava in the world with 40 million tons of cassava.

Nigeria plans to have all bread produced in the country made with 40 per cent cassava flour by 2015.

Reaching half of the goal would save the countryN254 billion in import costs according to FMARD projections.

First cassava bread sold in February 2012.

That year, commercial bakers announced 20 per cent version.

Government mandated 10 per cent cassava flour in bread by July 2013.

There are complaints from bakers that they cannot provide similar quality products with the new blend.

And millers are struggling to cope with production processes.

Big bakers like UTC and Leventis have responded but local bakers have not.

Federal Agric Ministry (FMARD) established a training programme; has trained 385 bakers as at May 2013.

Data base has been established for farmers.

In concert with CBN, government is putting in place several schemes to provide loans at below-market rates.

There are long term plans which include establishing commodity boards to help set prices and promote crops and agribusiness clusters called Staple Crop processing Zones (SCPZs).

BUSINESS 33

Imported rotten fish

How not to do agribusiness Private sector’s badeggs are out to scuttle Federal Government’s Agric Transformation Agenda by smuggling not only fish into the country but also unwholesome fish, reports SIAKA MOMOH

W

e kicked off this debate last week and called on readers to participate. You will recall we said 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 recommen-

dation. Our allocation hovers between 1.7 and 2 per cent!

We dare say that government must show its seriousness by rethinking this important aspect of ‘agric for business’ if it must be taken seriously.

Yes, the private sector is taking the lead as represented in the advocacy role that the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) is playing and the investment of private sector players in the sector.

The 19th Nigerian Economic Summit which was wholly dedicated to agriculture is proof of the seriousness that this subject is being handled.

Recent events have shown that there are some bad eggs in the private sector throwing spanners in the works

The summit witnessed robust discussions by industry stakeholders on growing agriculture as a business.

Bad eggs Recent events have shown that there are some bad eggs in the private sector throwing spanners in the works. These bad eggs are doing agribusiness the bad way. One of them was exposed a few days ago in Lagos by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Ad-

esina. The culprit was an Indian company, Bexolac Foods Limited. The company is one of those importing goods into the country, unwholesome and rotten fish.

These enemies of the Federal Government’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda not only bring in rotten fish, they under declare the tonnage of fish they import.

Speaking to newsmen while on inspections tour of the Indian Cold Room in Lagos, AdCONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Unwholesome fish

FG registers 2,000 cassava farmers in Niger

T

he Federal Government said last week that it had registered 2,000 cassava farmers in Niger State under the Growth Enhancement Sup-

Cassava tubers

port scheme.

The state Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Bello Salihu, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna, the state capital.

“We have registered 2,000 cassava farmers in Niger State this season to benefit from the GES programme of

the ministry, to ensure enough cassava for both domestic use and export,” he said.

He added that the ministry would register more cassava farmers in the state to benefit from the programme with free high yielding cassava stems and fertiliser.

“This is because cassava has become a major crop under the value chain which is used for domestic and industrial purposes and for export,” he said.

Salihu said that through

the Bank of Agriculture, the ministry assisted the association in accessing loans for its members, adding that for now, all direct acquisition and disbursement had stopped.

The director said the ministry was collaborating with Cassava Growers Association in the state to register the farmers.

He said that the ministry was partnering with the private sector to develop the country’s agriculture sector.

34

BUSINESS | AGRIC

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

esina said that importers are under-declaring the volume of fish they are bringing into the country. Said he: “We have a situation where the importers of fish declare they have brought in 1.6 million tons of fish between 2010 and 2012 but the evidence by the Customs shows that 16.3 metric tons of fish was imported within the period.”

He said going by the volume of fish they declared during the period, it means about 14.7 metric tons were not declared to government.

Importation of rotten fish He explained that these importers bring rotten fish, overstocked rotten fish and they sell back to Nigerians, sacrificing health, cheating government and making sure they dump fish on Nigerians.

“This administration will not allow such illegal act to continue because they are killing Nigerians. They are economic saboteurs and rotten fish causes cancers and that is why this government will cancel the licence of anybody selling bad fish,” Adesina said.

For the minister, importing rotten fish is criminal. “The facilities of any company selling rotten fish or bad fish in the country will be sealed off and the stock confiscated.” He assured that they would also pay the price of destroying the fish “and people who are involved in bringing in bad fish will be blacklisted and prosecuted.”

Illegal fish importation The minister lamented that about 16.3 metric tons of illegal fish was imported into Nigerian market as against the 1.6 metric tons declared between 2010 and 2012.

The minister has declared war on importers of unwholesome and rotten fish in the country, having sealed the cold room of Bexolac Foods Limited for importing rotten

SHOWERS Blessings for midcrop cocoa.

A

long-lasting rainfall on Sunday in Nigeria’s largest cocoa-producing region will stabilise the growth of the midcrop cocoa in the region with the prospect of a good harvest, traders said on Monday, according to Dowjones report.

“The midcrop is no longer in danger in the southwest cocoa region because recent rainfall and Sunday’s new

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

How not to do agribusiness fish into the country.

Said he: “I have been directed to take inventory of every single cold room in the country to know what they have in stock, the cost, where they got their products and the status of the fish they have.

Port Harcourt case Only recently too, spoilt frozen fish worth over N2 million was destroyed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Port Harcourt. The Rivers State co-coordinator of the agency, Mrs. Mercy Ndukwe, who led NAFDAC team to 12, Agip Road, Port Harcourt, said that the 200x20 kg cartons of frozen croaker fish was imported into Nigeria from Cameroun by one Mr. Godswill Akahara of C. G. Global Resources. Ndukwe said that the cold room where the fish was stored was inspected by the agency and samples taken for laboratory analysis following complaint

Nigeria spends an estimated N125 billion importing 1.9 million tons of fish to meet demand

lodged by the Consumers Protection Council (CPC).

Nigerians are large consumers of fish, the main source of animal protein. Only around 20 per cent of demand for fish is currently being met by local supply. The fisheries sector is estimated to contribute 3.5 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and provides direct and indirect employment to over six million people. Nigeria has many rivers and water bodies which would serve as good locations to set-up fish farms.

Nigeria spends an estimated N125 billion importing 1.9 million tons of fish to meet demand. It currently produces 800,000 tons of its 2.7 million tons fish needs, creating the need to meet the deficit through imports.

But Nigeria’s goal, according to the minister, is to be selfsufficient in fish production.

Said Adesina at a fisheries stakeholder’s interactive forum: “We will achieve this by promoting greater investments in aquaculture, improving artisanal, inland and marine fisheries.

“Our four-year target is to increase the production of fish fingerlings by 1.25 billion per year; the production of fish feed by 400,000 metric tons per year and increase table-size fish production by an addi-

tional 250,000 tons a year. In addition, we will produce 100,000 tons of value added fish and fisheries products, annually.

We expect that within four years, we will add one million tons of fish to our domestic production and reach 67 per cent self-sufficiency.”

For health reasons, the Nigerian government classifies port clearance for fish landings at Nigeria’s ports as “priority.” Importers are allowed to transport their consignments to their warehouses even upon a partial payment of duty and port charges (usually 80 per cent) -- the remainder to be paid later at an agreed time.

Meanwhile, a ban is hanging on the importation of fish into the country going by government’s directive in a letter of October 29, 2013, that all fish importers should ensure “all Bills of Lading must carry

2013 and the fish cargoes (consignments) must arrive the Nigerian waters not later than December 31, 2013.”

This is been done to promote local production. It is expected that fish importers should by now be looking inwards for their fish business.

The EU is the dominant supplier of frozen seafood products with over 70 per cent of market share in the country.

Other supplying countries include China, Korea, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, USA & Gambia, Mauritania, Namibia, Angola and Morocco.

Suppliers in the EU countries arrange frozen seafood products from different loading ports around the world and are therefore, able to sell larger quantities shipped in large river vessels of 3,500-4,000 MT reducing ocean freight costs significantly.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina and ministry officials at the offending fish warehouse in Lagos

Unwholesome fish

dates not later than October,

Rainfall: Midcrop cocoa growth to stabilise rain downpours have provided enough moisture to stabilise the crop’s growth,” said Biodun Oluwole, a trader in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State.

Sunday’s heavy rainfall, which lasted over four hours in parts of Oyo State had been reported in other southwest states of Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, he said.

A dry spell in the region in January and most of February had posed a risk to the midcrop cocoa and there had been concerns that a lack of

rainfall may result in poor harvest of the 2013-14 midcrop in the region, he added.

“The midcrop isn’t in any risk again, the recent rainfall has provided enough water for the crop and it is developing well,” Oluwole said.

Harvesting of the midcrop, he said, had started in Osun State, the second-largest cocoa producer in the southwest while other states in the region will start the harvest next month.

Robo Adhuze, an analyst

with the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), said Sunday’s rainfall was heavy and widespread in Ondo State. “The rainfall would result in the survival of more midcrop cocoa pods on the trees, give the cocoa more weight and there will be increased production if farmers take advantage of the rainfall,” he added.

Ondo is the largest cocoa producer in Nigeria and accounts for 40 per cent of annual national production of 250,000 metric tons. The

state and the other four in the southwest account for 70 per cent of the country’s cocoa production. The midcrop cocoa accounts for 30 per cent of national production, CAN said.

The southwest is currently in the dry season which began in November and lasts until April.

The midcrop beans are smaller than those of the main crop and it is usually harvested between March and August, according to CAN.

business | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Curbing food wastages LOSSES In search of strategy for checkmating food losses

Stories by Siaka Momoh

P

ost-harvest losses are largely responsible for Nigeria’s senseless dependence on food imports. More than any other time now is the time to question the nation’s huge spending on food imports.

Nigeria spends over N635 billion on wheat importation, N365 billion on rice, N217 billion on sugar and N97 billion on fish, annually, when it loses an estimated one-third of its annual harvests in some major produce to poor storage management.

About 50 per cent of cashew fruits produced in Nigeria annually, for instance, go to waste due to lack of storage facilities.

Post-harvest losses are largely caused from multiple sources such as pests and diseases, natural disasters, and inadequate storage and processing. Most importantly, there are

WHEAT Importation growing at an alarming rate

I

ncreased consumption of wheat by Nigerians, coupled with high population growth, rapid rate of urbanisation and consumer preference for easy-to-prepare foods, are responsible for the continuing upward swing in importation of wheat into the country, New Telegraph can confirm.

And the now traditional love of Nigerian consumers for imported wheat-based products is stalling the Federal Government’s drive to ban imported wheat and replace this with locally produced wheat.

According to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Akinwunmi Adesina, who spoke at the Wheat Farmer’s Field Day held at Kadawa, Kano, on Tuesday, “goday young Nigerians have become hooked on Indomie and pasta, all made from wheat. Even the older generation who eat pounded foods, traditionally made from yams

not enough storage facilities in Nigeria for harvested products.

Currently, 12 silos are available across the country, with a combined storage capacity of 300,000 tons for variety of grains, beans and garri, while 20 additional silos are being planned to further raise the joint storage capacity of the nation’s silos to 1.3 million tons.

Not only that this is inadequate, a good number of food staples are not catered for. Storage facilities for agricultural products such as sweet potatoes and cashew nuts, for instance, are not provided for, whereas, in other lands and climes, seasonal and perishable goods are processed and stored for use during off season.

Moreover, Nigeria’s weather is not kind to food preservation without the use of refrigerators, but instability in supply of power is not helping matters.

The role of the Abuja Security and Commodity Exchange (ASCE) as it is currently is not helping matters too. The ASCE has designated warehouses. Developing a robustly-regulated and trusted warehouse receipt

system that encourages intraseasonal storage in well-run third-party facilities is required.

This will make it possible for the Exchange-designated warehouses to attract, stock products, deposits, especially as it will make inventory financing more attractive to the banks. It will also make it possible for the

Exchange to issue and promote trade in standardised contracts, thereby attracting more market participants including investors.

However, the development of such a system will require specific warehouse legislation to clarify the rights of third parties to whom receipts are transferred by trade or a pledge

35

as well as the authority of warehouse regulators.

Total expressed demand, in the form of bids, for the major traded commodities from buyers, was over 7,000 tons in 2007 and about 10,000 tons in 2008.

However, in 2007, only 25 per cent of their demand was met while the Exchange recorded no significant trade in 2008.

Indeed, while the volume traded in 2006 was 986 tons and rose to 1,877 tons in 2007, there was no recorded trade in 2008 and by the end of the first quarter of 2009, only 11 tons of groundnuts had been traded. In 2007, one buyer placed an order for 500,000 tons of cassava chips but no offers were received. At this very low level of operation, the ASCE is unlikely to be financially sustainable.

The bottom-line is that there is dear need to build more storage facilities to curb post-harvest losses. This is a venture that is largely unexplored, private investors will therefore find it a profitable business.

And it is good news that ASCE is about to be sold to a private sector concern. With this we hope that the existing gaps relating to issues of legislation and integrity would be rectified so that the Exchange warehouse infrastructure can attract more agric produce.

It now looks that we are on our way to finding a solution to unnecessary food waste.

Why Nigeria’s wheat importation is on the rise and cassava, now eat pounded foods from wheat flour. There is an intense battle to shift the tastes of consumers away from local foods to those made from wheat. Such over-dependence on imported wheat will pose significant risks to Nigeria’s future growth. Nigeria must grow a lot more of its own wheat and reduce the national, economic and political risks from depending on other nations for our food supply.”

He said that today, Nigeria’s wheat import is about four million metric tons per annum and estimated to grow at an alarming rate of 5 per cent per annum. “At this rate, the country will be importing 10 million metric tons of wheat per annum by 2030, spending $15 billion annually on wheat imports alone,” he said.

But government is not throwing up its arms in desperation.

Said Adesina: “A silent revolution is already happening on farms across Northern Nigeria. This revolution is be-

ing sparked by the release of two high yielding improved wheat varieties, Norman Borlaug and Reyna-28 produced

by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre

(CIMMYT) and International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in collaboration with our own Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Mai-

duguri. These varieties give average yield of five to six tons per hectare. In addition to high yields, these varieties have excellent milling and bread making quality.

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 484.50 705.50 402.00 15.37 1,421.75 461.50 40.92 453.90

Change -2.00 -2.75 -0.25 +0.04 -6.25 -2.20 +0.18 +0.70

% Change -0.41% -0.39% -0.06% +0.23% -0.44% -0.47% +0.44% +0.15%

Contract May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14

Time(ET) 07:30:39 07:31:47 07:02:33 07:14:20 07:31:46 07:31:47 07:31:22

Units USD/mt USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb.

USd/lb. cents/kg USD/tbf JPY/kg USD/gal.

Price 2,951.00 174.40 17.14 148.40 95.85 1,027.00 330.80 236.00 2.64

Change +2.00 -0.90 +0.17 -2.85 +1.74 0.00 +0.20 -1.90 -0.02

% Change +0.07% -0.51% +1.00% -1.88% +1.85% 0.00% +0.06% -0.80% -0.86%

Contract May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 May 14 Apr 14 May 14 Aug 14 May 14

Time(ET) 07:30:15 07:30:44 07:31:40 13:59:55 07:31:21 01:05:28 07:18:25 05:59:57 14:45:37

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

36

BUSINESS | AGRIC

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Why we must use water efficiently According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 47 per cent of the population could be living under severe water stress by 2050.

Danielle Nierenberg

W

ater and agriculture are inextricably interlinked and interdependent. Agriculture is a major user of both ground and surface water for irrigation, accounting for about 70 per cent of water withdrawal worldwide.

Modern irrigation practices, including center pivot irrigation systems, can help improve crop productivity and yields. Unfortunately, irrigation is also the source of excessive water depletion from aquifers and can cause erosion and soil degradation.

But using rainwater harvesting practices, zai pits, microirrigation, bottle irrigation, gravity drip buckets, rotational grazing systems, and other water-saving practices can all help create diverse landscapes, supporting wildlife and culture.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 47 percent of the population could be living under severe water stress by 2050. “The world is thirsty because it is hungry,” reports the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

We all consume around 3,800 liters of water every day and

92 per cent of that is used to produce the food we eat, making sustainable practices and reducing water consumption in food, also known as “virtual water,” even more necessary.

Europe uses, on average, 44 per cent of water for agriculture. In the United States, agriculture accounts for around 80 per cent of consumptive water use. And in Western U.S. States, such as California, over 90 per cent of water use is for agricultural purposes.

California is also facing the worst drought since records began, 100 years ago—approximately 95 per cent of the state remains in a drought, with about 23 per cent experiencing “exceptional” drought. The state also happens to be America’s breadbasket, supplying nearly half the country's fruits, nuts, and vegetables, and is a major producer of almonds, artichokes, grapes, olives, and other products.

But all over the world, farmers are using innovative practices to utilise water more efficiently and in lesser quantities to produce more nutritious foods. And eaters can profoundly reduce water waste and consumption through the food choices they make each day.

In Syria, in the four regions hit hardest by groundwater

shortages, the FAO helped the Ministry of Agriculture improve irrigation technology and management techniques.

The project benefited 2,750 farmers by providing drip irrigation systems and training farmers on their installation.

Drip irrigation saves both water and fertilizer inputs by allowing water to drip slowly through a network of tubing to the roots of plants. And it’s something that can be used on both small large farms all over the world.

Drip irrigation was also introduced on Cape Verde, helping boost the island’s horticultural production from 5,700 tons to 17,000 tons over an eight-year period. And now more than 20 per cent of the country’s irrigation has been converted to drip irrigation.

Rethinking crop production has helped conserve water

resources as well—farmers on the island converted their sugar cane plantations, which are water-intensive, to more diverse crop production, including cultivating peppers and tomatoes that require fewer resources and are more suitable to the region’s climate.

In Israel and Spain, farmers have started re-using drainage water from urban areas mixed with groundwater for supplying water to crops. And in California agricultural waste water from irrigating crops is being reclaimed and treated for re-use, benefiting the environment by avoiding discharge of chemicals into surface water and helping retain soil nutrients by preventing them from being washed away with the run-off water.

Across India, the Watershed

Organisation Trust (WOTR) regenerates watershed communities by harvesting rain water, organising communities to sustainably manage the land, optimising irrigation, and planting crops based on water availability. WOTR has reached more than 300,000 people in 300 villages, rejuvenating 200,000 hectares of land.

And eaters and consumers can all do their part to save water by incorporating more native foods into their diets, eating more locally grown foods and less meat, steaming vegetables rather than boiling them, reducing food waste, reconsidering lawn and garden irrigation methods, and supporting family farmers that use less water intensive practices.

Danielle Nierenberg is President, Food Tank.

Water is life

Ivory Coast mid-crop exports at risk

I

vory Coast cocoa exporters said recently they will limit their purchases of mid-crop beans despite a better price discount offered by the country's marketing board, accord-

Cocoa beans

ing to Reuters.

Under a sweeping reform of the cocoa sector aimed at improving farmer incomes and encouraging reinvestment in ageing plantations,

Ivory Coast forward sold the bulk of its 2012/13 production.

The Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) then set a government guaranteed farmgate price of 725 CFA francs per kg,

representing 60 per cent of the CIF (cost, insurance, freight) export price. The Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) is offering a 40 CFA franc/kg reduction in the CIF price of the mid-crops, compared with a 30 CFA franc offer in December.

But the new discount offer designed to incentivise exporters to buy beans from inland regions - is still less favourable than last year when exporters received 58 CFA francs. “The grinders already have full stocks and will only pay if there is a better bonus," said a director of an exporting firm in Abidjan. "We won't be able to pay for everything under the current scheme.

Part of the volume will stay

with the growers or the middlemen," he added. Beans from the mid-crop are typically smaller and fetch a lower price on the international market.

According to exporters, the production of the mid-crop is estimated to be between 350,000-375,000 tons compared with 378,000 tons last season.

As a result of the weak demand from exporters, stocks held by intermediaries are expected to swell in expectation of higher farmgate prices in 2014/2015.

The reform, a pre-requisite for IMF-backed debt relief, has been fraught with difficulties from the onset. Exporters initially boycotted the auctions when they were launched in early 2012.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

TURNOVER Experts clamour for more instruments to plough increasing retirement funds.

Sunday Ojeme

Pension

Growing pension assets stir more investment debates

T

he growing assets of the Contributory Pension Scheme have continued to generate more investment interests as stakeholders and investment experts believe the time has come to grow the funds bigger by moving part of it into areas not originally considered while planning the investment guidelines.

After series of successful investments in the instruments sanctioned by the Pension Reform Act 2004, the Pension Fund Administrators are moving further to locate more investment opportunities to channel the funds currently put at N4.09 trillion as at February 2014.

Besides the PFAs who are statutorily in charge of taking investment decisions as sanctioned by the National Pension Commission, other experts are also indicating interests in how the funds could be invested to enable it grow further.

To crack some of the nuts, even with the success recorded so far, the fund administrators recently held a parley with the United States Agency for International Development in a bid to plough some of the assets into energy.

The discussion with the international agency, according to reports, stemmed from the fund managers’ fear of inadequate and reliable investment instruments with the belief that in the next few years if no new instrument comes up, investment returns might be hampered.

For now, they rely mostly on government bonds.

According to one of the administrators and the Managing Director, ARM Pensions Limited, Mr. Sadiq Mohammed, the issuance of bond in the Nigerian market is reducing and yields also would begin to taper with time, so there might be drought of investment instruments going forward.

He said: “From the capital market, we expect new issues to come up as stakeholders including the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) are working on the background to woo more firms to list in the market, and that we expect will bring liquidity.

He also hinted that alternative assets were coming into the market to access pension funds, expressing hope that all of these would offer investment opportunities for the Pension Fund Administrators.

According to the details of USAID project that stirred the PFAs’ interest, the international agency, through its initiative, Nexant, in January 2013, signed a memorandum of cooperation with African Biofuel and Renewable Energy Company for the promotion of Clean Energy Financing in West Africa.

Obviously, the discussion with USAID is seen by observers as a positive step by

BUSINESS 37

Acting Director-General, PENCOM, Chinelo Anohu Amazu

the PFAs to move part of the fast-growing funds into another reliable entity for safe keeping and profit.

Current investment record as revealed by the PFAs shows that a total of N609.8 billion had been invested in shares, making up about 15 per cent of the entire pension funds as at the end of the 2013 financial year.

According to the breakdown as at November ending, N558.17 billion or about 14 per cent of the pension assets had been invested in domestic ordinary shares, while N51.67 billion or one per cent was invested in foreign ordinary shares.

A total of N1.7 trillion or 44 per cent of the funds was invested in Federal Government of Nigeria securities; N643.45 billion or 16 per cent in treasury bills; while N407 billion or 10 per cent was invested in local money market securities.

Also N205 billion and N192 billion were invested in state government securities and real estate properties respectively while N83.3 billion went into corporate debt securities and N65.7 billion invested in cash and other assets.

About N8.7 billion was invested in private equity fund, while the balance of about N736 million was invested in foreign money market securities.

With the assets prudently spread across the instruments stipulated by the extant law, some experts still believe that more could be done as regards locating other profit-yielding investment areas

that more of the funds can be channeled into.

Among those thinking along this line is a United Kingdom-based group, Africonomie, a boutique marketing and communications services business outfit specialising in Africa and emerging markets investment funds and asset management industry.

The group, which assist capital owners, sovereigns, corporates and investment managers establish contacts, communicate their corporate strategy as well as make effective business decisions, believes that the growing pension assets should be pushed further into some other instruments in order to give it a higher leap in returns than it is currently witnessing.

During a recent launch of the industry-led forum, a partner at Africonomie, Mr. Stanley Austin, highlighted that with the pension assets now close to N4 trillion and still growing, there is now ur-

Recent market activities by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority have increased investor appetite as well as enhanced the global perception of Nigeria’s investment landscape

gent need for the PFAs to look beyond traditional investment instruments, and proactively engage local, regional and international investment managers in creating investment products and implementing investment strategies that would maximise the growth potential of asset under management.

The group with partnership in major African countries also believes that recent market activities by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority have increased investor appetite as well as enhanced the global perception of Nigeria’s investment landscape.

To underscore its seriousness in ensuring that more investment instruments are open to the PFAs, Afroconomie has concluded plans to bring together investments and pension management eggheads under the Africonomie 2014 Nigeria Forum to discuss contemporary investment, management and administration issues impacting pensions and sovereign fund investments. The forum will also discuss private equity and real estate as an asset class for institutional investors.

According to Austin, this is the only investment series that truly takes a global perspective to addressing contemporary issues impacting investment fund and investment professionals doing business in Nigeria.

He said: “The Nigeria Forum will focus on two key themes Pensions and Sovereign Funds and Institutional Real Estate Investments. It is part of an annual investment series bringing together high profile delegates in transatlantic locations – Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, Swaziland, Nigeria, Ghana, East Africa Community, London, New York and Dubai.”

However, for the PFAs, where to invest has never been a problem. But the need to play by the rules has been the issue.

The reason for this is not far-fetched as the Federal Government in setting up the new scheme ensured that right investment decisions were taken in order to safeguard the funds and also avoid the current status of the troubled non-contributory pension scheme. It is on this ground that the PRA 2004 stipulated the guidelines that must be adhered to by the PFAs. In the words of the Managing Director of Premium Pension Limited, Mr. Wilson Ideva, “The guidelines allow for infrastructure investment but it must be done through structured instruments.

We cannot gamble with the pension assets. The industry is going to wax stronger and stronger. The industry does not have problem with investment in infrastructure but we must go for safety first because we can’t come back to tell people stories.”

38

BUSINESS | PENSION

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Ill-health-ravaged pensioners appeal to FG ABANDONED Sick retirees demand Federal Government's assistance to eke out a living and buy drugs.

Stories by Sunday Ojeme

A

s the Federal Government continues to delay the harmonisation of their pension with that of their colleagues from

other agencies, retirees of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), who are being ravaged by different forms of ailment have cried out for assistance to save their lives.

Some of the sick pensioners, who spoke to New Telegraph during the week, said the paltry pension they were paid monthly was not enough to feed, not to mention meeting medical bills. They said if only the Federal Government could shore up the stipend

by effecting the long overdue harmonisation, there would be enough for them to buy drugs, take care of their families as well as do some other things to keep body and soul together.

One of the retirees, Mr. Christopher Adegbenro, told New Telegraph that he had been suffering from partial stroke since 2010 and that the meagre amount he receives as pension monthly was barely enough for him to feed and also buy drugs.

The 72-year-old retiree, who

L-R: Head, Benefit Administration, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju; Pension Desk Officer, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Aderemi Adebayo; Director of Contributory Pension, Ogun State Bureau of State Pension, Mrs Taiwo Adebiyi; and Executive Director, Operations, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Steve Elusope at the commissioning of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers' Abeokuta Office.

CPS: Mimiko galvanises Ondo workers’ future GUARANTEED Civil servants' pension now in safe hands.

T

he signing into law of the Contributory Pension bill by the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Tuesday, has opened a new vista of hope for the state’s workforce.

Through the gesture, the governor has done nothing short of placing the workers’ destinies in their own hands contrary to the dreary retirement experience they would have had under the government-funded pension scheme.

Although the workers had protested against the bill a fortnight ago, reasons have, however, prevailed as the governor endorsed the bill, which will now see the workers contributing some percentage of their remuneration into their various Retirement Savings Accounts

to be managed by select Pension Fund Administrators.

About two weeks ago, the state’s civil servants had caused a stir when they disrupted activities in the state as they suspected foul play in government’s attempt to begin the process of implementing the CPS. Their grouse was, however, not with the scheme but lack of confidence in government’s sincerity in contributing its own percentage to the funds.

The workers, who shouted solidarity and war songs as the state’s lawmakers were due to hold a public hearing on the bill, said if the bill was passed into law it would make them poorer as government may not only fail to make its own contribution but would also end up embezzling what the workers had contributed.

Leader of the workers in the state, Comrade Samuel Oluwole Adele, reminded the lawmakers and his colleagues that the law

establishing the CPS afforded it to be well domesticated by each state after consultation and input from concerned stakeholders who mostly must be civil servants in the workforce of the state.

He said: “The government needed to show proof it was fully prepared to pay its own monthly share of the contribution. They should give us a written document indicating government payment of its own percentage to the scheme."

However, while signing the bill into law, the governor said it was done in the interest of the civil servants who would benefit immensely from it.

Blaming the initial disruption by the workers on ignorance and poor sensitisation on the benefits of the bill, he said the CPS was a matter of law which every worker in the state must key into, adding that it was not another means of taxing civil servants.

joined the services of NRC in the 60s, said he was currently living in his father’s house somewhere at Alagomeji in Yaba where he walks to the corporation headquarters in Ebute Metta on a daily basis.

Adegbenro, who could not recall exactly when he joined the services of the corporation as a result of memory loss, said although he had been taken to the NRC Hospital for treatment, he was still unable to meet certain financial commitments due to his ill-health and paltry pension.

He said: “I live in my father’s house with my brother and some tenants. I don’t have any other means of getting money apart from my pension. My wife is late. I have had partial stroke since 2010. My pension is not enough for me so I am appealing to the Federal Government to effect the harmonisation so that I can always have enough money in my possession to take care of myself. They should quicken the harmonisation and make it be at the same level with that of Nigerian Ports Authority pensioners.”

Also speaking about his frustration, 55-year-old Chinenye Egu from Abia State said he only spent 10 years in the service of the corporation before he was told that the World Bank could no longer support his employment.

The diabetic retiree, who shuttles between Takwa Bay and the NRC headquarters everyday to find out if the welfare has improved, said his state of health had compelled him to send his two children to his parents in the village as the N4,500 he earned monthly was barely enough for him to feed and buy drugs.

He said, “I was married with two children. My wife is late so I have to send the kids to my mother in the village. I am diabetic and the N4,500 I earn as pension is not even enough for me to feed. Government should intervene in our matter by harmonising the pension to correspond with other retirees. I can’t get another job because of my state of health. I have searched everywhere but nothing is forthcoming.”

For 51-year-old Osadebey Blackson who joined the corporation at the age of 15 in 1976, he said the aftermath of the strenuous job he was made to carry out while in service had affected his legs.

Blackson, who was retired at the age of 43, attributed his fate to those he said didn’t like his face.

He said: “I joined the railway at the age of 15 through the assistance of my brother. Then I was moving from one department to another before I went to training school and then resumed at the electrical department. I was not due for retirement but got sacked because some people hated me.

“The government has not been fair to railway pensioners. Imagine, when I retired I was paid only N425,000 whereas someone in another agency on the same level with me collected over N3 million. I had Okada accident that affected my bones and I have been looking for money to treat myself.

“I am a member of the Obj group that went to court over gratuity. We were asked to withdraw the case and we did but up till now we have not seen any money. We are appealing to government to hasten our matter since we have done verification.”

Stanbic IBTC Pensions opens Abeokuta office A s part of its expansion drive to reach more contributors, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers has opened a new office in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The PFA said in a statement that the new office was in fulfillment of its commitment to broaden service channels, encourage participation in the Contributory Pension Scheme and avail many Nigerians the opportunity to have quality pension fund administration and financial management services.

The statement added that the new office was to enable

the PFA meet the pension and retirement needs of its clientele who were already familiar with Stanbic IBTC through its branches in Ogun State.

According to the statement, “The initiative is expected to reinforce the company’s promise of convenience and value by bringing quality service to the people.”

The new office is coming on the heels of a recent launch of the PFA’s service channels campaign to enlighten Nigerians on how to conveniently access the company and its services.

CRIME

39

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

JULIANA FRANCIS juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

‘I get charms for my Yahoo plus from Benin Republic’ Juliana Francis

Y

ahoo plus is what is trending in the cybercrime world today. It’s an off shoot of YahooYahoo.

According to some cyber-fraudsters; Yahoo plus came to be because, “white people are no longer falling victims and getting dollars from them has become very difficult!”

Yahoo plus is the fusion of black magic into cybercrime, which is supposed to spell bind the white folks wherever they are, to cough out dollars.

A few sceptics may not believe this, but many Nigerians apparently believe in the efficacy of black magic in cybercrime, to the extent that it inspired several Nigerian movies.

CRIME QUOTE “The enemy we face in corruption is huge and we are stronger when we stand together to fight it. Nothing will resonate with our hapless, longsuffering peoples better than when, from all direction, as in our societies of old, there is a massive communal clean-up effort by one and all, from the North Africa to Southern Africa and from East Africa to West Africa.”

– EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde.

An internet fraudster, arrested in 2013 by detectives at Adeniji Adele Police Sta-

tion, who identified himself by different names; Joseph Sarumi, Akeem Ahmed

and Femi, said: “ Yahoo plus is the use of juju to make the white people to fall and pay money. There’s no money in YahooYahoo anymore. Any Yahoo person you see driving expensive cars and making it big on internet scam, is into Yahoo Plus.”

An internet fraudster, who wishes to be known simply as Chidi, said he had to call a halt to the life of crime in October, 2013, after he went with some friends deep into the heart of Benin Republic, to meet a juju man, who gave them power to be able to milk white folks through the internet or phony phone calls.

Chidi said that they were three young men that embarked on that journey. They had heard about Yahoo Plus from other CO NTINUED O N PAGE 40

40 CRIME

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

‘Yahoo plus boys use girls for ritual’ CONTINUED FRO M PAG E 3 9

fraudsters and did not know how to go about it.

Another internet fraudster in Benin Republic soon introduced them to it.

In October 2013, very early one morning, the three friends went to Benin Republic. They met their Benin Republic contact.

The following day, the friend took them to an aged man, who took them deep into a village, where they met another aged man, later referred to as the juju man.

Recalling the event at the village, Chidi said: “All I can remember is that we spent a lot of money at that shrine. We bought three life chickens and other items, which were used to prepare concoctions for us. I remembered there were a lot of incantations. Each of us was brought in front of the shine, for the juju to check us out and know if our luck would work in Yahoo Plus.

When it got to the turn of our third friend, the juju man wasted a lot of time on him, chanting incantations. The juju man said that someone cursed our friend against becoming successful in life. It took a lot of spiritual work before his luck turned around.

We got there in the morning and left late in the night.”

Before they left the shrine, a bottle of honey, strange looking concoctions and soaps were given to them.

“We were supposed to put the honey in our mouths and type or say anything to a white person and the person would do whatever we wanted. Our words would sound, truthful and convincing to them.”

According to him, he became restive after he got home. He couldn’t sleep and eat. He was physically, spiritually and psychologically disturbed.

“I kept asking myself how on earth I would serve Almighty God and then another god in a shrine. They had told us that we should be coming often to pay homage to the juju in the shrine.

We were supposed to take an oath and pledged with anything.

We were also supposed to bring money to the juju man anytime we hit!”

He later threw all the items away. “I had never been a spiritual person until I embarked on that journey. That journey made me realise I was getting too deep into this YahooYahoo crime.”

After a while, one of his friends called him, screaming with joy that he had started making it.

TITBIT Fleeing prisoner checks into hotel with prison ID

A

Yahoo plus is when you use black magic or any spiritual powers to get victims.

It’s supposed to compel a victim through remote control to pay money into a fraudster’s account “That my friend had bad luck when it comes to YahooYahoo.

But after that journey, he started hitting 3000 dollars and more. He also later threw away his items after I told him my fears. If Devil gives you one thing, he would collect three from you. There’s always a price tag!”

He further revealed that the charms could come in different ways, depending on the medicine man someone was using.

He recollected that one of their friends did one with his laptop.

“Nobody was supposed to use his laptop except him. His brother used the laptop and died. Another used his lover, who started menstruating for days until she died. Some would make an incision on their chins or tongue and speak to the white person,” revealed Chidi.

A Human Right Activist and Anti-Corruption crusader at Shomolu Bariga, Mr. Olatunde Vincent, said YahooYahoo thrived, until victim became aware of the fraudsters antics and business waned.

“It now became a problem for the boys. Money was not flowing. The boys went occult and into rituals,” said Vincent.

He added: “Yahoo plus is when you use black magic or any spiritual powers to get victims. It’s supposed to compel a victim through remote control to pay money into a fraudster’s account!

These boys patronize herbalists, prophets, mediums. They sleep in grave yards. They do all sorts of spiritual cleansing.

Another form of Yahoo plus is armed robbery. These boys go into robbery but make people believe they are into yahoo.

“There are many of them who have benefitted but the pains they undergo cannot be explained. Sometimes, every night they receive flogging from unseen spirits. Sometimes they go to grave yards every night.

“Do you know most of these Yahoo plus boys use girls for rituals? They sleep with the girls and collect the semen from the girls’ private parts.

Suddenly, the girl will become

sickly and emaciated and later die while the yahoo boy becomes richer.

“Most of these boys die sudden death or later go insane.

Kids no longer believe in the dignity of labour!”

Miss. Ngozi Osuji, a University of Lagos, Geography graduate, said that Yahoo plus had been in existence for long.

She revealed that a family friend, living overseas once received a phone call, with restricted number. After some incantations from the unknown caller, the man rushed to send money, equivalent to N200, 000, to details given to him. After he came to his senses, he ran back to the bank, but it was too late.

The Nigerian Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) spokesperson, Mrs. Ngozi Isintume-Agu, said she had not heard of Yahoo plus, but would find out from the Officer in Charge of Cybercrime and get back to the journalist. But as at press time, she was yet to call.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Head of Media, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said that he would also find out from the Head of Cybercrime, Mr. Chukor, but what he finally came out with, was the literal meaning of Yahoo plus, not the occult it had become.

prisoner walked away from a Dauphin County correctional facility on July 4, but his independence did not last, thanks to an alert hotel employee.

Shane Betts tried to stay at the Comfort Inn in Harrisburg. He paid cash for his room.

When guests pay cash, they must show photo identification. The only identification he had on him was his identification card from the Department of Corrections.

Wil Koonse, the hotel’s general manager, said that alone didn’t send up a red flag, but the woman working behind the desk noticed something else.

“She was going through, looking at all the registration cards, and making sure everything was correct on them.

“She noticed the name and recognized the name and realized he was the one who walked away from the halfway house,” Koonse said. Police were then called.

State police went to the room and found a woman, but no Betts.

“He went out for a beer run, and they were actually in the room waiting on him when he got back.

“He did try and run, but he didn’t get very far,” Koonse said.

Betts was serving time at the Harrisburg Community Correction Center on Cameron Street for burglary.

He wasn’t there when room checks were done July 4.

“This is a nonsecure facility. It’s a prerelease facility.

There are no bars on windows.

‘The purpose is to come here and get ready to go to work and go on parole,” said Paul O’Connor, acting director of Community Corrections.

Now Betts is behind bars at the Camp Hill Prison and faces more prison time.

Koonse told News 8 the hotel plans to honor the employee who called police.

ARTS FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

41

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come " from and where they are going. ― Rita Mae Brown

CULTURE

I studied Accountancy, but drumming is my calling –Irawo When at a young age, Oluwakemi Famugbode-Adetula started beating on tables and other surfaces producing various sounds and familiar beats, she had no inkling that she would be a professional drummer that she is today. A graduate of Accountancy, she is not only an expert in beating all kinds of drums, she wants to take the talking drumming to a whole new level, writes EBERE AMEH.

S

inger, dancer, song writer and drummer, Famugbode-Adetula is indeed a multi-talented artiste who is in tune with and enjoys what she is doing.

Popularly called ‘Irawo’, from her stage name Irawo Drumline, she neatly conceals her talking drum in an elegant hand bag and is ever ready to play whenever and wherever occasion demands it.

Explaining the meaning of her stage name she says, “‘Irawo’ means ‘star’. It means somebody that is different. When the Three Wise Men needed to see Jesus, they were led by a star to where He was. What happens now is that people say ‘obirin mluilu’ (a woman is drumming) and they all come out to watch me. My drum is the Irawo because that is what is bringing the people to see me. I also call myself Irawo because I am different. I decided to add drumline to make for better identification.”

A graduate of Accountancy from the Onabisi

Irawo

Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Irawo was doing well as head of audits in a financial institution before she decided to find her way back to music, her first love.

“I studied Accountancy for my parents, especially my dad. He is a Quantity Surveyor and one of those who insist that their children must be Doctors and Lawyers. We did his bidding, but none of us practices what we read. I have no regrets though, because I have my own accounting firm now and I remain an accountant, even though I have decided to go professional with my music.”

Call hers a family of talents and you won’t be far from the truth. While she is into music, her younger sisters Tolulope who studied Business Administration and Ibilola who studied Law, are now big time jewelry and embroidery designer; and jewelry designer, fashion consultant and business marketer respectively.

Her sons are not left out. Oluwademilade, her first son plays the piano, the conga and guitar, while the second son Oluwaferanmi is a drummer, and the youngest of them all, Olaoluwasubomi,

loves to sing. However, in the midst of all these tale n t s , ‘my husband loves to sing off key most of the time,’ Irawo said humorously.

Wondering where all that rich artistic talent

Irawo

came from, Kemi explained that her mother, despite being a Nurse was also a fashion designer who did other crafts at her spare time too.

“Even now that she is retired, she has become a celebrity jewelry designer, making jewelries for celebrities such as Empress Njamah, Kate Henshaw and Stella Damasus under her jewelry label, ‘Mason D’ Accenture’.

Talking about her husband who is a Public Relations practitioner, she said he is yet to fully support her foray into the music industry. “He’s still on the fence because he feels that all married musicians are promiscuous who end up with marital crisis. But I want to prove to him that not all married women musicians are having marital crisis and not all of them are promiscuous. I have promised him I will be scandal free. I have told God that I want to eat my cake and have it. I want to keep my marriage and also be successful in my music career,” she said enthusiastically.

From beating on the tables and other surfaces, Irawo progressed, learning the use of other musical instruments. Now she is the founder of Irawo Drumline, an eight-man band that boasts of other western musical instruments in addition to the talking drums.

“It was an adventure for me to pick the drum and learn it. I started with the table, then the Conga drums, then other percussion instruments. After my Secondary School, I joined the Boys Brigade, I joined the matching band and I played the snare drum. I could play all the drums but I liked the snare drum because of the versatility it gave me, I could do different things with it. From there, I moved on to other kinds of percussions like ekwe and gembe but the last I learnt was the talking drum.”

From a historical perspective, the talking drum also known as Dundun or Gangan in Yoruba language was beaten by griots, who were normally men. One of the most ancient musical instruments used by the Yoruba and a few other tribes in West Africa, the talking drum mimics the sounds of human speech and could be used to converse and reproduce songs. A knowledgeable audience could understand the songs or conversations with a talking drum. With globalization and the attendant civilization, coupled with the realization that whatever a man can do, a woman can do it better, a couple of women have dared the tradition to venture CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

42 ART

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

There is need for domestic investment, interest in Nigerian art, says Madubunyi

F

or Madubunyi, Nigeria may still have a long way to go in terms of truly understanding that there are huge opportunities in the domestic art market, the good news however is that there is a rising interest in contemporary African art and it will continue to grow as more private art collectors, investors, art lovers, institutional buyers etc are beginning to learn that contemporary African art is indeed a really good investment.

“There is now an incredible growth in art in Nigeria as opposed to say five years ago when it was a bit tricky. There is definitely an investment angle in Nigerian contemporary art as the indigenous local and foreign art collectors are realising. Ultimately what is needed is more domestic investment and interest from Nigerians in buying art. I believe many positive changes will take effect for a wellestablished art scene in the future. This is because people are now thinking outside the box and showing great enthusiasm,” she said.

“The buying and collecting of Nigerian art is on the rise as more exhibitions open. There have been a number of openings of art fairs and galleries exhibiting contemporary African art in London and other parts of the world. I am confident that with Africa’s increasing presence on the international art market, things will gradually come together in the current Nigerian arts sector. There is still room for growth and the recognition that indeed there is a fulfilling career in the creative business.

The domestic art market is just beginning to blossom and the art scene is being resurrected in this current boom and so it is still early days. There is speculation that Nigerian art may be undervalued compared to Western art. I strongly believe there is a lack of structure in the Nigerian art business and there is a need for transformation and greater importance needs to be attached to this niche market. What I do find positive is that African countries are getting more and more involved in promoting art and they are using their art to promote their country. I have learnt that Nigerian artists are becoming increasingly mobile, visible and exhibiting internationally.

Therefore, it is safe to say that if the art market is better organized there would an enormous increase in investors both local and foreign. “ The idea of creating a specialized art market intermediary, she added, was originally conceived in Paris, where she noticed that there was a lot of interest in African art but very few people who knew much about it or who could help buyers navigate the market. “I studied law, gaining my undergraduate degree from the University of Kent in the UK, after which I went to study french at the University of Sorbonne in Paris. It is in France that the idea of an art intermediary was conceived. More recently, and to

Rosemary Madubunyi is the founder and CEO of BlackPearl Collections, an outfit that specializes and deals in brand development of contemporary African art. Last year she hosted an exhibition titled New Traditions in Contemporary Nigerian Painting to formally launch the company’s engagement with modern and contemporary Nigerian art. The exhibition featured Sam Ovraiti , Pita Ohiwerei, Olu Ajayi, Gerry Nnubia and Ndidi Emefiele. In this interview with TONY OKUYEME, she talks on her assessment of art on the local scene, and the idea of creating a specialized art market intermediary and why she believes that there is growing interest in contemporary African art.

Madubunyi

support BlackPearl Collections, I have been engaged in the study of African art and History of art.

“In fact, in those days, there really wasn’t much of an African art market at all. I then successfully established the company when I moved to London, and I am now following the success of BlackPearl by launching in Abuja. Creating the name for my company was rather an easy one. It was a term of endearment which I adopted when I was living in Paris, ‘la perle noire’.”

For Madubunyi, Art consultants are also a curious breed. They’re a mix of agent, private dealer, gallery dealer, interior designer, curator, and traveling salesman-- all thrown into one. “But what they all have in common is that they buy and sell art, sometimes a lot of it. This means

The domestic art market is just beginning to blossom and the art scene is being resurrected in this current boom and so it is still early days. There is speculation that Nigerian art may be undervalued compared to Western art

they have a broad range of skills.”

According to her, the most obvious skill is to have an aesthetic eye for a good piece of work, not just in terms of the work’s technical composition, but also its artistic value and, at the same time, market potential. “This has been supported by natural business acumen, which has required being able to be focused, methodical and organised in the planning and execution of exhibitions and the handling and transport of valuable pieces of art. I probably got this from my father who has been a very successful businessman and from whom I learnt many of the core principles and mental discipline required to run a good business.

In this business, people skills also clearly matter and, luckily, I have always been very good with people - listening more than talking and trying to understand what they are trying to achieve and how their vision can become a reality.

Inter-personal skills are very important.

As for my natural attributes, I can identify four that have proven to be extremely valuable. The first, and I think the most important, is my sense of integrity. I think it is important to not just profess strong values of honesty and fair dealing, but to also live them. The art business, unfortunately like any other, can be one where people try to exploit uninitiated buyers or uncommercialised artists.

However, I try to make trust and honesty key features of the way in which I run my business and they underpin the manner in which I give advice and support, particularly to some of the new artists coming on the scene. Second, is quite simply my natural drive and sense of ambition.

I was brought up in a family of hardworking achievers, so it only came naturally for me to assume that if I really put my mind to something, I will succeed at it. It is this drive combined with a relentless energy that has transformed BlackPearl Collections from just an idea I had going to galleries in Paris and discussing issues of art and identity and thoughts of an African renaissance, into what it is today. Third is an attention to detail and refusal to take short cuts. I tend to work with typically successful clients, most of whom are high net worth individuals, with extremely discerning taste and who are used to first class service. Similarly, engaging with some of the best artists in the profession and handling works that either are or will one day be extremely valuable, requires a greater level of focus,” she said, adding that her tenacity and ability to focus on the most important things, and not be distracted by issues that are often not relevant or critical, have proven to be essential qualities, particularly in navigating the market in Nigeria given the obvious challenges of operating here.

ART 43

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Tony Okuyeme

“Y

orùbá Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency” authored by Wale Adebanwi, Associate Professor at the University of California-Davis, USA, will be presented to the public, April 17, 2014, at the Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre, Lagos.

Published recently by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (UK and New York, USA,) the book “is a definitive text on the political movement and parties led by the sage and premier of the Western Region”.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd), will lead eminent Nigerians to the venue of the presentation ceremony which will be jointly hosted by The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) and the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Lagos.

“Yorùbá Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency” investigates the dynamics and challenges of ethnicity and elite politics in Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy. It is the first au-

Book on Awolowo political movement for presentation Yorùbá Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency investigates the dynamics and challenges of ethnicity and elite politics in Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy thoritative, scholarly book on the political elite of one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. In its examination of how Chief Obáfemi Awólowo re-made Yorùbá history in modern times, the book combines the perspectives and disciplinary methods of anthropology, historical sociology and political

Awolowo

science.

Wale Adebanwi, who was a public affairs journalist in Nigeria for many years, demonstrates how the corporate agency of the elite transformed the modern history and politics of one

of Africa’s largest ethnic groups, the Yorùbá. The argument is organized around the ideas and cultural representations of Obafemi Awolowo, the central signifier of modern Yorùbá culture. Through the narration and analysis of material, non-material and interactional phenomena – such as political party and ethnic group organization, cultural politics, democratic struggle, personal ambitions, group solidarity, death, memory and commemoration – this book examines the foundations of the legitimacy of the Yorùbá political elite.

Using historical sociology and ethnographic research, Adebanwi, formerly a lecturer in Political Science at the University of Ibadan, takes readers into the hitherto unexplored undercurrents of one of the most powerful and progressive elite groups in Africa, tracing its internal and external struggles for power.

My adventure with drumming –Irawo CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

into the use of the talking drum. No longer is the talking drum played by men alone, for deities and used only for traditional ceremonies, these ladies are revolutionizing the talking drum.

“The talking drum is a cultural musical instrument which signifies the rich culture of the Yoruba people and I want to promote it. That is why I am incorporating into the kind of music I do. I call my genre of music contemporary jazz. The jazz fusion that I do is a combination of different kinds of music like rock, reggae, pop and the rest, but the main thing about my music is that it is done with the accompaniment of the talking drum. I also use the talking drum to sing classical music. My aim is to promote it beyond the African setting. I want it to be a universal musical instrument just as we have the guitar, the violin and all that,” she said.

Irawo got so fascinated with the talking drum when she listened to fuji and juju music, juju but according to her, the one that really fascinated her the most was when she listened to songs by Majek Fashek. He has a way of infusing the talking drum into his reggae and Irawo believes that if he could do that successfully, the talking drum could be used to accompany and enrich any genre of music.

“Initially, the reception was very poor for me because people didn’t understand what I was up to. I got a rejection from a couple of managers who wondered how I could do soul, pop and even reggae and infuse the talking drum into it. They felt I should rather get a guitar and piano and all that for my kind of music. They also suggested that I left song writing and dancing and focus on drumming to folklores, ewi and all those Yoruba

poetry, but that was not what I wanted.

One told me that the talking drum is too local. Now, people are beginning to appreciate my kind of music. When I do jazz and pop and all that with my talking drum, the youths get excited and encouraged.”

Irawo has all the while used her multiple talent to raise money for charities.

She is involved in a program called Touching Lives with Aunty Wunmi. She dances sings and drums to raise money for charity. Now she has gone professional and gets requests from individuals and organizations to play or compose songs that would capture the theme of their events and perform for them.

“I just finished a project with Mr. Larry Williams. I did the percussions on his poems Eko Lagos and Barrack Obama. I am partnering with some cultural centres in Lagos to treat corporate organizations that come for their retreats with something different. We want to entertain as well as teach them to play. Different individuals and organizations invite me to perform for them and I can say that people are beginning to accept my kind of music. Knowing that the song of music is an all-time clas-

It was an adventure for me to pick the drum and learn it.

I started with the table, then the Conga drums, then other percussion instruments.

After my Secondary School, I joined the Boys Brigade, I joined the matching band and I played the snare drum

sic, people appreciate it when they hear the tune.”

Irawo who studied Music at the Pencils Film and Television Institute (PEFTI) of the Wale Adenuga fame,in 2007 on scholarship and graduated with distinction said she knew she was doing the right thing when she started receiving awards and acclaims.

“I won the Magic Contest organized

by Art Colony International at Muson Centre in December 2012. I competed with four other instrumentalists, a pianist, a quartet of clarinet players, a vocalist, a violinist, and I was the 5th person. We were to perform a classical and a jazz piece and winning it made me know I was doing the right thing.”

Irawo

Talking about her plans for the future, Irawo says, “I plan to have travelled wide, propagating and teaching the talking drum. It is a unique instrument, which can only be played live.

People have tried to put the sound online but it was impossible. Full-fledged Americans came here the other time to study the Yoruba Language. Fascinated about the talking drum, they said they would come back to learn it. All these show the uniqueness of the drum and I am set to promote it.

By nature, I am a go-getter. I set out to achieve results and would not be discouraged by obstacles in my way.

I believe that with God, all things are possible,” Irawo said.

44

TOURISM

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Akinboboye calls for investment in tourism Stories by Andrew Iro Okungbowa

F

ollowing the death of over 20 unemployed Nigerian graduates and various injuries sustained by others, recently resulting from the poor management of Aptitude Test conducted by the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) in some of the stadia across the country, the Founder of Motherland Beckons, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, has called on the government to pay serious attention to the tourism industry to avert such incidents.

Speaking against the backdrop of the gale of condemnations that have continued to greet this incident, Akinboboye who has spent over 30 years in the tourism industry with a number of his tourism related outfits providing jobs

for hundreds of Nigerians, called on the government to focus its attention on the tourism industry as the key to solving the growing unemployment in the country.

According to Akinboboye who is the owner of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Lagos, tourism is the fastest growing industry and largest employer of labour in the world with one person out of four employed persons working in a tourism related outfit.

But in Nigeria, he laments that over the years successive government have failed to develop and invest in the industry, which should had provide employ-

ment for the people. Tourism, he says creates a level playing field for all as it accommodates the least qualified to the highest qualified and skilled to none skilled person.

He says what is needed is for the government to invest massively in infrastructure that would attract development and tourists to the country. While agreeing that the present focus on agriculture is a welcomed one but the yield, he says is nothing comparable to what tourism generates.

For instance, he says while a ton of cocoa, which takes about five years to pro-

duce attracts about 1, 000 euro a tourist spend for one week is about 2, 000 euro.

Apart from the tourist spend; he also says that the possibility of the tourist investing in the economy is very high.

Akinboboye calls for the immediate setting up of a Tourism Development Fund (TDF) by the government to enable genuine investors access to fund for investment in the industry while also urging the private operators and other sectors of the economy not to see the creation of employment as that of the government alone but something for everyone to get involved with.

Infogem anchors festive centenary of Olubadan

C

ome April 14, Ibadan would be agog with cultural activites as the centenary celebration of the Olubadn of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Osundiran Odulana, holds in the historic city. The event is expected to climax on Saturday April 19.

The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII0, which is spearheading the historic commemorative event has promised to make it a festive and tourism event as it has appointed Infogem Limited, the marketers of Osun Osogbo Cultural Festival, among others to market and promote the event.

The Aare Mayegun of Ibadan Land and the Chairman Organizing Committee, Olubadan Centenary, Chief Adebayo Oyero, made this disclosure a media event in Ibadan where the marketing firm was unveiled. Represented at the event by Oloye Lekan Alabi, Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadan land and Chairman centenary celebration Publicity Sub Committee, said that Ibadan decided to celebrate the Centenary birthday of a historical king of a foremost historical city in a historical way. ‘‘It calls for celebration with drums, cymbals and flutes; and what we are celebrating a royal father with distinguishing features of private and public life which is not only a Nigerian affairs but also an intercontinental personality who was a soldier during the World Wars, hence we are making it a global event by engaging Infogem to market it to the world in conjunction with Kingsize Entertainment, he said.

The managing director of Infogem, Mr. Ayo Olumoko, said his company is poised to make the event a classic and memorable one as it would put its wide experience and expertise at the disposal of the people of Ibadan to ensure that every Ibadan indigene across the world and others are not only attracted to the celebration but are made to make various contributions to its success.

Nelson Mandela’s statue

Madiba-inspired tourist attractions map launched

N

elson Mandela may be dead and buried but his name and image remain an inspiration to his country, South Africa. This point was driven home with the recent launch of a tourism map, tagged ‘Madiba Inspired Attractions Map, which is dedicated to the live and times of the father of modern day South Africa otherwise known as the ‘rainbow nation.’

While launching the tourism map, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, said that the travel map is to encourage tourists from around the world to come to South Africa to walk in former President Nelson Mandela’s footsteps.

“The passing of South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, in December 2013 sparked a global outpouring of grief. The world paused as we collectively reflected on the life of this phenomenal man, and celebrated

what he had achieved, not only for South Africa but for mankind. Most of the places associated with his life’s journey teemed with visitors who dedicated private notes and flowers as tokens of respect and remembrance, as South Africans and indeed the world, tried to come to terms with the loss of the founding father of the nation,” said Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

At the event, which held at the Drakenstein Correctional Centre (formerly Victor Verster Prison) in Cape Town, the last place that Nelson Mandela was held captive before he took his first steps to freedom on 11 February 1990, the tourism minister said that “to make it as easy as possible for people to personally experience Mandela’s story, we have developed the ‘Madiba Inspired Tourist Attractions’ Map, that encapsulates the key points of his life’s journey.’’

Developed by South African Tourism in partnership

with the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, the map highlights tourist sites as well as general places of interest in the four main provinces that defined Mandela’s life.

These include: the Eastern Cape, where he was born, grew up and attended Fort Hare University; Gauteng, where he worked as a human rights lawyer and became instrumental in South Africa’s political struggle; KwaZuluNatal, where he was captured and the Western Cape, where he was imprisoned and ultimately freed.

Some of the other places captured in The Madiba Inspired Tourist Attractions Map include well-known attractions such as UNESCO World Heritage Site, Robben Island, where Mandela was imprisoned and Mandela’s house on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, the only street in the world to have had two Nobel Peace Prize winners as residents, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

It also features some of the lesser known attractions such as the Kliptown OpenAir Museum, also in Soweto, which marks the spot where the Freedom Charter was adopted by the Congress of the People. The Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre in Mandela’s childhood home, Qunu, where he was buried is also featured in the map.

According to van Schalkwyk, “Mandela’s integrity, spirit of hope, reconciliation and love has touched the lives of millions of people. This year we celebrate 20 years of democracy and freedom and we look forward to welcoming many tourists from around the world to share our story and Mandela’s legacy with us. Not only was Nelson Mandela an incredible man and leader, but he is a truly global icon and his name alone put South Africa on the map. Since 1994 visitors from all corners in the globe have come to South Africa to seek out the places that shaped his remarkable life.”

METRO 45

Friday, March 28, 2014

or: Police will fish out perpetrators – AIG

ed to unute those e kidnapIbadan,

General Mr Femi e visited ce Comndabawa.

Osun and as on the neral of kar. deal with ion with preciate their co-

n is ongoclose any in order tion.” ple to be es on in port any

suspicious movement to the security agents.

The AIG warned the public against taking laws into their hands whenever they suspect any one, mad or not, but should report to law enforcement agents.

On the stoppage of the demolition of the controversial warehouse where ritual killings were allegedly taking place, Omojola said it was a strategy to allow thorough investigation on the matter.

He said that after the forensic experts’ visit to the site, it would be

demolished.

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Olabisi Ilobanafor, disclosed that since the site was discovered, members of the public had been lynching madmen suspected to be ritual killers.

Ilobanafor disclosed that the police rescued 10 madmen, but two were lynched. She also disclosed that eight people suspected to be connected to the site of horror had been arrested, while investigation was still ongoing.

Mrs Amosun (left), giving some relief materials to one of the victims, Mrs Fatimah Rashidi, during the donation

Amosun’s wife donates cash, items to Ijebu-Igbo rainstorm victims

S

Omojola addressing journalists at the site

hacks own three-year-old son to death

ourt has d Fulani Kariya, in his threemachete,

bar

of acrvived. fic is a we will Police

erious Marian

contrary to Sections 248 and 221 of the Penal Code, LFN. The court also remanded a 43-year-old driver with a commercial bank, Hycent Oguwu, in prison for allegedly killing a pedestrian.

The court, presided over by Noah Ajide, was told that Kariya, of the Gwasoro Fulanmi Camp, allegedly went to the camp where his wife, Hada Mohammed, was residing on March 10, at about 2.30pm and descended on his son with a cutlass.

The police First Information Report (FIR) on the case indicates that the accused did the same thing to another three-year-old boy in the camp, Ahmed Usman, and caused serious injury on his stomach which brought out his intestine.

The prosecutor, Biliksu Adu, objected to bail for the accused on grounds that the offence carries serious weight and for which the court

lacks the power to allow bail.

The other accused, Oguwu, committed the crime on March 22, at 5.30pm along Sango, Old Jebba Road, Ilorin while driving in a dangerous manner without regard to other road users, contrary to Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act.

uccour has come the way of over 3,000 victims of the recent rainstorm in Ijebu-Igbo area of Ogun State with the donation of relief materials by the governor’s wife, Mrs Olufunso Amosun.

The governor’s wife also donated N1 million cash to the victims to cushion the effect of the disaster.

Amosun, who expressed shock while inspecting the affected areas at Oke-Sopen and Atikori, empathised with the victims.

Making the donation during a programme within the premises of Ijebu North Local Government in Ijebu-Igbo, she said the relief materials were to assist the people to take care of their immediate needs.

She said the welfare of the people was paramount in the agenda of her husband’s administration, adding that it would always do its best to create conducive environment for the people to live.

According to her, the relief materials jointly do-

nated by the government and her pet project, Uplift Development Foundation, will help in supporting the victims.

Materials donated included cloths, school sandals, school bags, baby products, food items, mats, bedspreads, towels, Ankara fabrics and slippers.

The recipients included pregnant women, the aged, youths and children.

Responding to the gesture, the council Chairman, Otunba Olajide Osifeso, commended the governor’s wife for her readiness to help the needy.

He said the donation showed her commitment to improving the quality of lives of the people of the state.

In her remarks, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Fatimo Rashidi, expressed appreciation to the governor’s wife for her responding to the call of the victims.

Complete Calabar referral hospital, Imoke begs Navy Clement James Calabar

G

overnor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has appealed to the Nigerian Navy to ensure that the Naval Referral Hospital in Calabar, which construction began about 35 years ago, is completed and put to use soon.

Imoke made the appeal when the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command

of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral O. C. Medani, paid him a courtesy visit in Calabar.

The governor lauded the commitment and zeal demonstrated by the Navy towards the completion of the project, noting that it was in line with his vision of making healthcare delivery readily available to the citizenry, especially the less privileged.

He said: “Quality health has been the problem of our people

and my administration has been doing all within our means to provide quality healthcare to the teeming populace. I am excited about this project because it is line with my administration’s commitment to providing quality healthcare delivery system.”

Imoke expressed satisfaction with the quality of work at the hospital and gave kudos to the leadership of the Navy.

The governor, who under-

scored the importance of the facility to improved healthcare delivery in the state when completed, promised to provide the necessary assistance to the Navy to ensure that the hospital is inaugurated before he leaves office.

Imoke also congratulated the FOC, who he described as a home boy, on his elevation.

Earlier in his speech, Medani lauded the giant strides recorded by the Imoke-led administration.

Compensation: RCCG landlords appeal to Adeboye

L

andlords of the villages where the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s new auditorium is being built have appealed to the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to help ensure prompt payment of the additional money on acres of land purchased from the communities.

This, according to the land owners, is to avoid clashes between the displaced villagers and heads of the communities.

The landlords also appealed to Adeboye to increase the money payable to tenant farmers (Elebuko) on the acquired land for

their damaged crops from N20,000 per acre to N50,000.

Speaking in Lagos on behalf of the Agunfoye and Oso villages, Baale of Agunfoye land, Chief Yekini Babatunde Agunfon and Chief Sikiru Ososanya said the appeal became imperative, as a series of letters to the general overseer had not been responded to.

The spokespersons for the villages said the displaced villagers and farmers were becoming restless, as they believed the heads of the families had been settled by

the church.

Agunfon and Ososanya, however, assured the church that this would not hamper on-going development on the land.

The communities are demanding additional N200,000 on every acre of the land purchased by the church as well as N50,000 per acre as compensation for damaged crops on the acquired land for the New Auditorium.

The spokespersons said that the families had to get a court injunction against hoodlums who were trying to disrupt the

building of the auditorium to show their commitment to the project.

However, Agunfon and Ososanya expressed surprise over the rumour that the church had paid some money accruing to the communities to these hoodlums instead of the heads of the villages who will ensure the people get what they deserve.

Based on this rumour, the families said they had been inundated with demands and threats from the displaced people on the land who reasoned they had collected money from the church.

46 BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

27-Mar-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

0.26 0.51 1.07 2.39 3.09 3.33 3.43 4.18 5.26 5.58 7.84 9.97 14.67 15.15 15.65 16.32

13.36 14.04 14.49 14.04 14.06 13.92 13.91 13.85 13.84 13.80 13.91 14.02 13.73 13.71 13.69 13.71

12.76 13.71 14.32 13.97 13.94 13.79 13.79 13.75 13.77 13.70 13.85 13.96 13.69 13.66 13.62 13.65

98.89 97.75 89.89 98.00 102.50 89.40 87.88 90.21 107.80 74.14 111.55 100.95 107.85 92.24 66.85 76.00

99.04 97.90 90.04 98.15 102.80 89.70 88.18 90.51 108.10 74.44 111.85 101.25 108.15 92.54 67.15 76.30

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

0.60 1.16 1.52 2.70 3.07 3.28

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

15.12 17.08 16.58 16.00 15.43 14.92

91.70 82.68 100.94 89.75 86.88 85.39

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

0.36 0.55 1.43 0.80 1.33 1.34 3.06 1.89 3.76 2.54 4.52 2.74 2.74 3.32 3.21 5.66 3.35 4.06 6.67 4.07 4.11

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

18.41 20.07 18.79 17.55 18.85 17.86 19.53 21.76 15.67 15.82 14.82 14.99 15.20 14.92 16.39 15.74 16.65 16.60 14.82 15.30 15.81

98.38 96.94 92.40 95.99 94.71 97.61 78.76 88.34 95.31 96.24 97.34 99.13 105.91 99.01 97.89 95.41 95.43 94.84 94.48 103.29 102.95

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

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Nil

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto

*FLOURMILLS NAHCO

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

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

UBA

BBB-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

*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

#

UBA

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*TOWER *TOWER

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

0.53

1.00

15.06

98.24

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.73

5.21

19.46

96.05

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.76

8.71

23.00

95.90

17-Aug-10

10.00

15.00

17-Aug-15

0.91

4.88

19.31

92.68

09-Dec-10

12.00

37.50

09-Dec-15

0.99

1.00

15.51

97.01

06-Jan-11

14.00

1.50

06-Jan-16

1.07

2.63

17.12

97.38

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.51

1.00

15.03

95.88

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.58

1.34

15.36

97.68

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.51

4.52

18.42

86.41

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.94

30-Nov-17

2.13

1.88

15.98

104.64 97.33

09-Apr-11

16.00

8.01

09-Apr-18

2.04

3.48

17.60

09-Sep-11

18.00

3.63

09-Sep-18

2.45

5.20

19.24

97.88

09-Sep-11

16.00

1.00

09-Sep-18

2.45

5.06

19.10

101.83

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

4.49

3.06

16.89

91.16

18-Oct-13

15.75

3.00

18-Oct-18

2.31

2.29

16.36

98.96

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.54

17-Feb-19

2.65

6.11

20.12

94.29

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.64

2.76

16.58

94.72

11-Feb-18

3.88

1.00

14.87

86.56

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

5.43

106.61

107.44

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

18-Dec-09

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.62

4.41

101.95

102.75

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

01-Apr-10

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.91

5.79

103.29

104.18

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

3.83

3.24

113.44

114.59

GTBank PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.19

4.66

104.59

105.69

GTBank PLC II

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.33

6.08

98.68

99.69

B+/S&P

Access Bank PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.18

6.67

100.19

101.68

B/S&P; B/Fitch

Fidelity Bank PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.54

8.06

94.32

95.92

B/Fitch

Afren PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

5.23

4.63

114.11

115.38

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.27

6.83

103.57

105.25

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.37

6.06

101.02

102.28

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

2,960.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 42 49 56 63

FIXINGS Maturity 3-Apr-14 10-Apr-14 17-Apr-14 24-Apr-14 8-May-14 15-May-14 22-May-14 29-May-14

Bid Discount (%) 12.10 11.90 12.00 12.10 12.20 12.40 12.20 12.25

Offer Discount (%) 11.85 11.65 11.75 11.85 11.95 12.15 11.95 12.00

Bid Yield (%) 12.13 11.95 12.08 12.21 12.37 12.61 12.43 12.51

Tenor CALL 7 DAYS 30 DAYS 60 DAYS 90 DAYS 180 DAYS 365 DAYS

NIBOR

Money Market Rate (%) 10.7500 10.9583 11.3750 11.7083 11.9583 12.2083 12.5417

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

10.50

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

164.89 165.13 165.39 166.00 167.16 168.22

164.99 165.40 165.77 166.74 168.52 171.47

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25 11.25

(Yrs)

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

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

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

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

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

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

Market sustains bullish path with N118bn gain The Nigerian Stock Exchange remained bullish

17.00 05-Aug-14 0.36 6.00 15-Oct-14 0.55 8.50 31-Aug-15 1.43 16.50 30-Sep-15 0.80 13.00 30-Jun-16 1.33 18.50 30-Jun-16 1.34 57.00 19-Apr-17 3.06 50.00 30-Jun-17 1.89 25.00 31-Dec-17 3.76 50.00 30-Sep-18 2.54 9.00 04-Oct-18 4.52 20.00 09-Dec-18 2.74 ement Company of North12.00 12-Dec-18 2.74 27.00 ern Nigeria 14-Feb-19Plc (CCNN), 3.32 20.00 one of Nigeria's 02-Oct-19 top cement 3.21 80.00 22-Nov-19 5.66 makers has 12-Dec-19 declared a 70 3.35 kobo 30.00 11.40 30-Sep-20to its share4.06 dividend payout 87.00 27-Nov-20 6.67 holders for 31-Dec-20 the financial 4.07 year 5.00 ended 2013. 06-Jan-21 5.00 4.11

T

he Aa/Agusto Nil

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 1.00

15.12 17.08 16.58 16.00 15.43 14.92

91.70 82.68 100.94 89.75 86.88 85.39

LAFARGE WAPCO

Nigerian GTB Stock Exµ change (NSE) NGC continued Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC on its bullish*FLOURMILLS trend yesA-/Agusto BB+/GCR terday as the*CHELLARAMS principal A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO indicators, the NSE ASI and A-/Agusto FSDH market capitalisation A/GCR UBA rose by BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING 0.96 per cent.

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA# Gains from most blue# chip A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER # AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR companies lifted the market *TOWER A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA capitalisation

by N118 bilBbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA # lion as investors’ appetite reBBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR mained positive. NAHCO TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Consequently, at the close of Supranational Bond transactions yesterday, market AAA/S&P IFC capitalisation increased by TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUEbillion 0.96 per cent or N118 from N12.148 trillion traded Rating/Agency Issuer on Tuesday to N12.266 trillion FGN Eurobonds . on Wednesday Also,B+/S&P the NSE All Share InBB-/Fitch; dex (ASI) appreciated by 366.71 BB-/Fitch; FGN BB-/S&P basis points to 38,186.93 basis BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P from 37,820.22 points points TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE day. recorded in theprevious Further review of yesterCorporate Eurobonds day's trading showed B-/S&P; B/Fitch Afren that PLC I inGTBank PLC I vestors bought 406.1 million B+/S&P; B+/Fitch PLC II in shares worth N6.5GTBank billion B+/S&P Access Bank PLC 4358 deals against.

B/S&P; B/Fitch Fidelity Bank PLC On the price Afren movement B/Fitch PLC II

Chris Ugwu

C

567.90 The

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 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 Onyema 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS 17-FEB-2019 chart, UPDC ReitII Plc led gain-

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 ers’ table, appreciating by 10.20 per cent to close at N11.02 per share. Learn Africa followed 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 with a gain of 9.76 per cent to close at N1.80 per share while Ashaka Cement added 7.53 per Description cent to close at N16.99 per share.

On the other hand, Berger 6.75 JANlosers’ 28, 2021 chart, Paints Plc topped shedding 5 per cent to close at 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 N9.12 per share, Paint Com6.38 JUL 12, 2023 pany Plc trailed with a loss of 4.74 per cent to close at N1.81 per share while RT Briscoe FEBcent 01, 2016 Plc lost 4.4411.50 per to close MAY 19, 2016 at N1.29 per7.50 share.

NOV 08, 2018 Further 6.00 analysis showed 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 that financial service 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 sector 10.25 APR 08, activities 2019 led daily trading

B/S&P; B-/Fitch

First Bank PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

B+/S&P; B+/Fitch

Afren PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

07-Oct-11

11.50

18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10 17-Aug-10

13.50 17.00 10.00

09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11

12.00 14.00 13.00

25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10

14.25 13.00

30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11

18.00 16.00

09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11

18.00 16.00

22-Sep-11

14.00

18-Oct-13 the day, 17-Feb-12 14-Nov-13

15.75

47

4.88 18.41 98.38 5.99 20.07 96.94 4.44 18.79 92.40 3.23 17.55 95.99 4.46 18.85 94.71 3.48 17.86 97.61 5.59 19.53 78.76 7.60 21.76 88.34 1.79 15.67 er’s 2013 audited report95.31 shows 1.80 15.82 96.24 that grew 1.00profit after 14.82tax (PAT) 97.34 14.99 as it reported 99.13 by1.00 19.06 per cent 1.21 15.20 105.91 N1.424 billion compared with 1.00 14.92 99.01 2.46 97.89 N1.196 billion16.39 in 2012 full year.

1.94 15.74 Also, profit before tax95.41 (PBT) 2.74 16.65 95.43 increased from billion 2.74 16.60 N1.653 94.84 14.82 indicating 94.48 an to 1.00 N1.970 billion, 1.44 15.30 103.29 increase of 19.18 1.95 15.81 per cent.

102.95

CCNN to reward shareholders with 70k dividend

70 kobo per share dividend declared amounts to 35.7 11.80 07-Oct-14over 45 0.53 per cent growth kobo 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.73 paid in the company's 2012 full 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.76 year.

15.00 17-Aug-15 0.91 37.50CCNN said 09-Dec-15 0.99 in its corporate 1.50 06-Jan-16 1.07 action to the29-Sep-16 Nigerian Stock Ex15.00 2.51 5.53 25-Oct-16 change (NSE) that the 70 2.58 kobo 20.00 30-Sep-17 3.51 per share dividend was subject to 0.94 30-Nov-17 2.13 shareholders' approval after its 8.01 09-Apr-18 2.04 3.63 09-Sep-18 2.45 annual general meeting (AGM) 1.00 09-Sep-18 2.45 in the second half of year 2014.

35.00 22-Sep-18 4.49 at Investment2.31 One 3.00 Analysts 18-Oct-18 0.54 17-Feb-19 2.65 Financial Services affirmed 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.64 that the 70 kobo per share divi175.67 dend translates to a dividend yield of 8.0 per cent.

12.00 11-Feb-18 3.88 A review of the cement mak-

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Chris Ugwu Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

0.60 1.16 1.52 2.70 3.07 3.28

Price

BUSINESS | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

BULL RUN

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

Yield (%)

1,304.32

Sub-National Bonds Friday, March 28, 2014 KWARA 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

978.35 24.56 6.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

(%)

for exchanging 388.6 17.00 15.25 million shares valued at N2.8 billion in 2610 deals. Banking sub sector was the toast of 11-Feb-13 10.20 investors in that sector as it recorded 226.3 million share 12.00 worth N2.5 billion traded in Issue Date Coupon (%) Issue Value ($'mm) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) 1,778 deals. Shares of Ecobank AC of Nigeria Plc yesterday Transnational Inc, Zenith announced it has proposed a 6.75 28-Jan-21 5.57 Bank07-Oct-11 and Access Bank were 500.00 N1.75 kobo dividend payout to the most traded that activated 18-Dec-09 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.62 shareholders of the company the sub sector. for its 2013 audited financial 01-Apr-10 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.91 Insurance sub sector also year end. of financial service sector 1,500.00 This is contained in a notiboosted by the shares of Hall- fication by the company to the 01-Feb-11 11.50 01-Feb-16 mark Insurance Plc followed 450.00 3.83 Nigerian stock exchange (NSE) 19-May-11 activities 7.50 having 500.00 19-May-16 5.19 in trading In the notice signed by Godwin 08-Nov-13 6.00 08-Nov-18 6.33 accounted for 74.6 million 400.00 Samuel, the25-Jul-17 company’s secre25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 7.18 shares valued at N39 million 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18the company 8.54 tary/legal adviser, 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 in 141 deals.

5.23 said the payment of the N1.75

However, CCNN recorded a slight increase in revenue as it declared N15.787 in 2013 1.00 15.06 billion98.24 5.21 19.46 96.05 audited year end compared 8.71 23.00 95.90 with billion posted 4.88 N15.12619.31 92.68 in 1.00corresponding 15.51 97.01 of the period 2.63 17.12 97.38 2012; dipicting an increase in 1.00 15.03 95.88 revenue of 4.37 1.34 15.36per cent.

97.68 4.52 18.42 86.41 The company's share price 1.88 15.98 104.64 had gained N1.12 kobo since 3.48 17.60 97.33 Wednesday when 5.20 19.24 the announce97.88 5.06 was as bargain 19.10 101.83 inment hunters 3.06 16.89 91.16 creased appetite 2.29 16.36 on the shares.

98.96 6.11 20.12 price, 94.29 The share which 2.76 16.58 94.72 opened at N8.75 kobo before the results were announced the previous day, closed on Thursday 86.56 at 1.00 N9.87 kob. 14.87

UAC declares N1.75 per share dividend

U

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.27

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

6.37

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

2,960.00

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

kobo dividend per ordinary share Prices & Yields of 50 kobo each will be made on 5.43 106.61 107.44 June 27, 2014 to shareholders 4.41 names 101.95 whose appear on102.75 the register of members at the close of 103.29 5.79 104.18 business Friday May 02, 2014.

The N1.75 kobo dividend declared in the review period is 3.24 113.44 a 9.4 percent increase114.59 in divi4.66 104.59 105.69 dend payment to investors of 6.08 98.68 99.69 the when compared 6.67company 100.19 101.68 to 8.06 the N1.60 94.32 kobo paid 95.92 in year 4.63 114.11 2012 financial year end.115.38 6.83

103.57

105.25

6.06

101.02

102.28

27-Mar-14

**Treasury FIXINGS Money Market 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 Bid Discount (%) Statement. the FMDQDTM OTC PLC Terms ofMaturity Use and Disclaimer

7 14 21 FGN Bonds28 42 49 Rating/Agency 56 63 70 84 91 98 105 112 133 140 NA 161 252 287 301 315 329 343

3-Apr-14 10-Apr-14 17-Apr-14 24-Apr-14 8-May-14 Issuer 15-May-14 22-May-14 29-May-14 5-Jun-14 19-Jun-14 26-Jun-14 3-Jul-14 10-Jul-14 17-Jul-14 7-Aug-14 14-Aug-14 NA 4-Sep-14 4-Dec-14 8-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 5-Mar-15

12.10 11.90 12.00 12.10 12.20 Description 12.40 12.20 12.25 9.20 29-JUN-2014 12.60 9.25 28-SEP-2014 12.50 4.00 23-APR-2015 12.70 13.05 16-AUG-2016 12.90 15.10 27-APR-2017 12.40 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.10 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.05 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.10 16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.10 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.00 16.39 27-JAN-2022 13.00 13.10 14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.05 15.00 28-NOV-2028 13.10 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.15 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030

Offer Discount (%) 11.85 11.65 11.75 11.85 11.95 12.15 Issue Date 11.95 12.00 29-Jun-07 12.35 28-Sep-07 12.25 23-Apr-10 12.45 16-Aug-13 12.65 27-Apr-12 12.15 27-Jul-07 12.85 31-Aug-07 12.80 30-May-08 12.85 29-Jun-12 12.85 23-Oct-09 12.75 27-Jan-12 12.75 12.85 14-Mar-14 12.80 28-Nov-08 12.85 22-May-09 12.90 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10

Bid Yield (%) 12.13 11.95 12.08 12.21 12.37 12.61 (%) Coupon 12.43 12.51 9.20 12.91 9.25 12.87 4.00 13.12 13.05 13.36 15.10 12.86 9.85 13.65 9.35 13.70 10.70 13.79 16.00 13.90 7.00 14.28 16.39 14.48 14.69 14.20 14.71 15.00 14.85 12.49 15.00 8.50 10.00

NIBOR

Tenor Rate (%) CALL 10.7500 7 DAYS 10.9583 30 DAYS 11.3750 60 DAYS 11.7083 Outstanding Value 90 DAYS 11.9583 Maturity Date (N'bn) 180 DAYS 12.2083 36545.00 DAYS 12.5417 29-Jun-14 100.00 28-Sep-14 535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 327.47 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 12.1090 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 12.4708 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 12.9129 300.00 30-May-18 6M 13.9603 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 14.4135 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 15.0048 600.00 27-Jan-22 50.00 14-Mar-24 75.00 NIFEX 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 200.00 20-Nov-29 BID($/N)591.57 164.8000 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 164.9000

Bonds

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,132.04

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

10.50

Spot 7D 14D Offer Yield 1M (%) 2M 3M 12.76 6M 13.71 1Y 14.32

O/N

REPO

Tenor TTM (Yrs)

(%)(%) BidRate Yield

Call 1M 0.26 3M 0.51 6M 1.07

10.25 11.25 13.36 11.92 14.04 12.17 14.49 2.39 14.04 13.97 NOTE: 3.09 14.06 13.94 3.33 13.92 13.79 :Benchmarks 3.43 Bond 13.91 13.79 * :Amortising 4.18 Bond 13.85 13.75 µ :Convertible 5.26 Management13.84 13.77 AMCON: Asset Corporation of Nigeria 5.58 Government of13.80 13.70 FGN: Federal Nigeria 7.84 Mortgage Bank 13.91 13.85 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria IFC: International Finance Corporation 9.97 14.02 13.96 LCRM: Local Management 14.67Contractors Receivables 13.73 13.69 NAHCO: 15.15 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 13.71 13.66 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 15.65 13.69 13.62 UBA: United Bank for Africa 16.32 13.71 13.65 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

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

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

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets

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† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR

<3 KWARA 3<5 NIGER >5 KADUNAMarket *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO

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 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn)

1,265.97 14.00 KWARA 1,048.00 5-AUG-2014 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 449.59 12.50 KADUNA2,763.56 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

1,315.27 951.30 591.57 2,858.14

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 Weighting 06-Jul-12by Outstanding Vol

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

164.89 Price 164.99 165.13 165.40 165.39 165.77 Offer Price 166.00 166.74 Bid Price 167.16 168.52 168.22 171.47 98.89 99.04 171.83 176.51 97.75 97.90 178.91 188.60 89.89 90.04 98.00 98.15 102.50 102.80 89.40 89.70 NA :Not Applicable 87.88Rate Bond 88.18 # :Floating 90.21 coupon bonds 90.51 ***: Deferred 107.80 108.10 †: Bond74.14 rating expired 74.44 111.55 111.85 100.95 101.25 107.85 108.15 92.24 92.54 66.85 67.15 76.00 76.30

Coupon (%)

Issue Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

0.00

978.35

0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 Weighting

by Mkt 0.00/16.50 Value

112.22 116.70 Bucket66.49 Weighting

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 % Exposure_ 06-Jul-17 Mod_Duration

0.60 1.16 1.52 2.70 3.07 3.28Yield Implied

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.49 Implied 1.00 Portfolio Price

15.12 17.08 16.58 16.00 15.43 14.92 INDEX

91.70 82.68 100.94 89.75 86.88 YTD85.39 Return (%)

0.00 24.56 FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX 17.25 6.00

1,304.32

46.02

45.81

0.46

22.35

12.82

05-Aug-09 33.28 15-Oct-09 20.70 31-Aug-10 100.00 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

14.00 37.92 14.00 16.27 12.50100.00 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50

17.00 0.33 6.00 0.21 8.50 1.00 16.50 13.00 18.50 57.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 9.00 20.00 12.00 27.00 20.00

05-Aug-14 38.49 15-Oct-14 39.16 31-Aug-15 100.00 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

0.36 13.89 0.55 13.71 1.43 13.58 0.80 1.33 1.34 3.06 1.89 3.76 2.54 4.52 2.74 2.74 3.32 3.21

101.0911 4.88 118.5216 5.99 82.8152 4.44 103.1100 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 7.60 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 1.21 1.00 2.46

1,022.58

2.2585

18.41 1,003.60 20.07 1,002.54 18.79 1,003.40 17.55 18.85 17.86 19.53 21.76 15.67 15.82 14.82 14.99 15.20 14.92 16.39

98.38 0.3595 96.94 0.2545 92.40 0.3402 95.99 94.71 97.61 78.76 88.34 95.31 96.24 97.34 99.13 105.91 99.01 97.89

48 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

UN to Africa Central Banks: Use reserves for region’s growth

PARADOX African countries hold more deposits abroad than they receive in loans from abroad.

other developing regions of the world, African countries hold in aggregate more deposits in Bank for International Settlements (BIS) reporting banks than they receive in loans from them.

To prevent this unwholesome trend capable of stunning Africa growth, Lopes suggested Africa should "enter into a discussion on how reserves can be considered by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while making them work for Africa’s development and not just through deposits in developing countries’ financial vehicles."

In her remarks, the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and host of the caucus, Dr (Mrs) Sarah Alade noted: "One major issue in Africa is whether the attention of central banks should focus on price stability and financial stability only or should central banks in the region be concerned about developmental goals."

Focus on price and financial stability she said, had served central banks well "in contain-

Abdulwahab Isa ABUJA

T

he United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has enjoined African Central Banks to put to maximal use, their accumulated reserves to prosper Africa growth as against stocking them abroad.

UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of ECA, Mr. Carlos Lopes, gave the advice yesterday in Abuja while addressing caucus Meeting of African Central Banks’ Governors.

Condemning the trend of keeping reserves abroad at the detriment of home growth, he said such trend "suggests that the bulk of revenues from exports of African oil and commodities are not intermediated by local banks. Instead, they remain in overseas banks which recycle about 60 per cent of these deposits as cross-border loans back to African banks and the non-bank sector ".

According to him, unlike

ing inflation and deepening the financial sector. It has not been able to bring down unemployment or achieve inclusive growth on the continent."

Ayodele Aminu

I

ndications emerged yesterday that Unity Bank Plc has strengthened its management team with the appointment of Alhaji Lamis Shehu Dikko as substantive Chairman.

Two new Executive Directors - Bakwunye Sunny Obijieze and Oladimeji Ogunlana have also joined the bank.

New Telegraph gathered that at the Bank’s Board meeting, which held in Lagos on Wednesday, it was unanimously agreed that Dikko’s name be forwarded to the Central Bank of Nigeria for approval as substantive chairman of the institution.

Dikko would be replacing the former chairman, Alhaji Numan Dambatta, a career civil servant, who recently the resignation from the board.

This newspaper gathered

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

Abdulwahab Isa

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

that the arrowhead behind the restructuring of the bank is the new Managing Director/CEO, Henry James Semenitari, who was appointed last year.

Two Executive Directors, Arese Alonge and Abubakar Abba Bello had earlier joined the bank.

Besides, the lender had also acquired the services of Anyalenkeya Benedict Uzoma, who is now Head, E-Business after relinquishng his former appointment as Head, Channels of FCMB. Ogunlana, who was former Head, Remedial Assets of Access Bank comes on board as Head, Loan Recovery while Obijieze joined the Bank as Head, Treasury. He was until taking up this new appointment, the Treasurer at United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from 2010 to 2014.

Dikko, a professional seasoned banker who has vast and extensive banking experience and financial background and who was also an intricate part in the consolidation process that led to the establishment of the Bank, is expected to bring to bear his many years of experience and wide contacts to the

current re-organisation and rejuvenation of Unity Bank.

Until his confirmation by the apex bank, Mr. Thomas A. Etuh a Non-Executive Director of the Bank we learnt, will hold fort as the Interim Chairman.

Alhaji Dikko holds a B.Sc. Degree in Economics from Queen Mary's College, University of London. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School for Management Development.

He is currently Chairman of Infrastructure Bank, a Director at Enterprise Bank and Legacy Pensions among others.

He has several years of banking experience. He worked in Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd for more than 14 years where he rose to the position of General Manager.

He then moved to Intercity Bank Plc (one of the legacy banks of Unity Bank Plc) where he rose to become the Managing Director in 2001 until it merged with eight other banks to form Unity Bank in 2005. At Unity Bank, he was first, Executive Director, Credit Risk Management and then Group Executive Director, (Central) before he left the Bank in 2010.

World Bank boosts Lagos reforms with $200m

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

gether to solve this problem”, noting that, developmental role must be part of the agenda of Central Banks on the African Continents.

Lamis Dikko, two others join Unity Bank mgt team

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

This she added, "has led to many social problems and general restiveness."

Alade said Central Bank ”must find a way to work to-

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

ABUJA

T

he World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has announced a budget support of $200 million to Lagos state to support it in prosecuting reforms in fiscal sustainability, budget planning, budget execution, and the investment climate.

The financial support by the global bank is first in a proposed series of two development policy operations; it builds upon the policy reforms initiated under a previous Bank supported programme, a statement by the bank said.

Over the last decade, Lagos has undertaken a wide range of reforms that have improved governance, reduced crime, and helped to bring millions out of poverty.

The goal of this programme, the bank said in a statement, is to assist Lagos State in sustaining the strong momentum it has achieved in improving public services, facilitating inclusive growth, and reducing poverty.

This includes measures to monitor and manage financial risks more effectively, ensure adequate growth in revenues, get better value for money in public expenditures, and improve institutions and processes for land registration and development permits. “Lagos State has sustained rapid growth and achieved what many would not have believed possible, and has managed to reduce its poverty headcount from 57 per cent in 2004 to 23 per cent in 2010” said Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria.

BUSINESS | CAPITAL MARKET 49

Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014 Sanctity of Truth

Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015

Friday, March 28, 2014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at March 27, 2014 Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014 Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015

Daily Summary (Bonds)

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals Current Price 5 42.00 21 40.00 26

Quantity Traded 17,788 437,739 455,527

Value Traded 709,741.20 17,515,447.00 18,225,188.20

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals Current Price 23 3.27 23

Quantity Traded 583,752 583,752

Value Traded 1,952,142.06 1,952,142.06

1,039,279

20,177,330.26

Quantity Traded 49,120 17,499,861 282,544 17,831,525

Value Traded 69,255.74 63,939,278.34 16,208,718.48 80,217,252.56

17,831,525

80,217,252.56

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014 Diversified Industries Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

49 Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals Current Price 5 1.40 193 3.70 51 59.36 249 Daily Summary (Equities)

CONGLOMERATES Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY SERVICES Printing/Publishing PRESS (NIG) PLC. © Published by STUDIO The Nigerian Stock Exchange UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

249

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNIC INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014

Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015 Micro-Finance Banks

NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Symbol STUDPRESS UPL

No. of Deals 1 14 23

Current Price 2.40 3.85

Quantity Traded Page 500 2,109,722 2,350,262

Value Traded 1 of 11 1,140.00 7,790,370.70 8,223,119.70

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.90

Quantity Traded 115,000 115,000

Value Traded 103,500.00 103,500.00

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 2 22 24

Current Price 2.60 5.25

Quantity Traded 4,000 176,966 180,966

Value Traded 9,880.00 925,229.84 935,109.84

63

2,791,157

9,495,643.68

4,358

406,179,122

6,563,133,410.09

4,358

406,179,122

6,563,133,410.09

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014 Equity Activity Totals Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015

Nameas of 27/03/2014 Daily Summary Exchange Traded Fund NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015 Name VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF PublishedExchange

by The Nigerian TradedStock FundExchange Totals ©

ETF Board Totals

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD Symbol VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 No. of Deals 8 9

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary ETP Activity Totals on Board EQTY CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 2,073.00 Current Price 17.12

Quantity Traded 101 Quantity Traded 122,580 Page 122,681

122,681

2,306,942.60

9

122,681

2,306,942.60

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 1.42

Quantity Traded 186,898 186,898

Value Traded 267,104.75 267,104.75

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 71.25

Quantity Traded 1,702 1,702

Value Traded 115,208.38 115,208.38

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 59 59

Current Price 21.00

Quantity Traded 758,557 758,557

Value Traded 16,101,173.42 16,101,173.42

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 30 30

Current Price 11.02

Quantity Traded 671,863 671,863

Value Traded 7,149,321.46 7,149,321.46

1,619,020

23,632,808.01

Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY Beverages--Non-Alcoholic CONSUMER GOODS 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

112 Symbol GUINNESS

No. of Deals 53 8 200 261

Current Price 185.00 24.20 151.00

No. of Deals 18 No. of Deals

Current Price Current 90.00 Price

Daily Summary (Equities) INTBREW NB

Symbol 7UP Symbol

18

21,848 Page

No. of Deals Current Price 16 8.90 67 9.80 52 65.00 33 3.75 18 12.00 3 0.56 189

Quantity Traded 45,612 731,828 482,565 1,214,650 159,195 505,000 3,138,850

Value Traded 388,625.60 7,110,089.30 31,274,782.93 4,367,425.47 1,906,620.00 282,800.00 45,330,343.30

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals Current Price 66 80.00 64 1,025.00 130

Quantity Traded 20,022,850 117,878 20,140,728

Value Traded 1,600,752,371.38 120,346,041.29 1,721,098,412.67

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals Current Price 12 4.25 1 1.66 13

Quantity Traded 217,000 1,000 218,000

Value Traded 899,172.38 1,580.00 900,752.38

No. of Deals Current Price 54 31.10 36 45.15 90

Quantity Traded 376,120 203,882 580,002

Value Traded 11,685,755.08 9,230,849.40 20,916,604.48

34,151,085

3,323,713,515.47

Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014 Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015 Household Durables

VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.EQTY Personal/Household Products Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol PZ UNILEVER

CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER GOODS Totals

701

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

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 AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AIICO INSURANCE PLC.

Page

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

No. of Deals Current Price 161 7.46 54 6.31 122 13.00 120 2.25 343 25.98 111 3.68 240 2.50 150 7.00 32 10.00 2 0.50 31 0.98 412 19.60 1,778

Quantity Traded 38,282,034 2,976,608 61,764,870 8,425,626 16,872,928 5,101,437 42,944,787 5,757,696 187,702 23,500 986,448 43,020,203 226,343,839

Value Traded 287,297,519.66 18,774,903.42 803,305,830.53 19,281,724.20 437,307,438.39 18,882,847.96 109,118,228.13 40,273,049.72 1,895,276.00 11,750.00 958,162.27 846,731,830.08 2,583,838,560.36

Symbol AFRINSURE AIICO

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 22 0.80

Quantity Traded 2,000 1,230,781

Value Traded 1,000.00 981,630.49

HEALTHCARE Totals

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014 CAP PLC Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Activity Summary on Board LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. EQTY Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Published byPackaging/Containers The Nigerian Stock Exchange © BETA GLASS CO PLC.

Packaging/Containers Totals

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Value Traded 253,518.61 353,000.00 1,500.00 50,000.00 32,500,000.00 63,593.60 82,020.00 1,061,005.27 22.50 1,399,039.06 64,980.00 1,050.00 25,000.00 2,216,402.78 39,053,762.31

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.78

Quantity Traded 938,752 938,752

Value Traded 716,585.22 716,585.22

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

Value Traded 140,625.00 140,625.00

UNHOMES

5 5

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014 OANDO PLC Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. OIL AND GAS TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Products Distributors Petroleum and Petroleum

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

2,610 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals Current Price 9 2.22 11 2.90 12 70.00 13 1.97 3 1.52 48

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

11

48

281,250 281,250

Quantity Traded Page 4,850,161 1,464,531 7,908,309 16,654,464 17,000 67,404 5,521,561 36,483,430

Value Traded 5 of 11 14,060,713.71

2,975,640.50 98,176,232.76 56,542,526.85 10,370.00 1,384,206.09 13,894,996.65 187,044,686.56

338,649,627

2,810,794,219.45

Quantity Traded 87,100 284,400 273,483 100,607 31,600 777,190

Value Traded 186,699.29 821,004.00 19,143,810.11 194,843.77 45,820.00 20,392,177.17

777,190

20,392,177.17

Symbol COURTVILLE Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.67 No. of Deals Current Price 1

Quantity Traded 170,000 Quantity Traded 170,000 Page

Value Traded 113,900.00 Value Traded 6 113,900.00 of 11

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 1

Quantity Traded 12,000 12,000

Value Traded 6,000.00 6,000.00

182,000

119,900.00

Quantity Traded 2,114,629 134,102 8,230 287,150 500,481 166 2,050 1,604,500 20,000 413,092 5,084,400

Value Traded 34,418,710.29 1,226,736.24 351,832.50 2,795,670.84 116,940,618.08 196.56 1,025.00 2,904,145.00 84,000.00 44,992,337.70 203,715,272.21

2 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ASHAKACEM 86 16.99 BERGER 10 9.12 CAP 5 45.00 CCNN 34 9.87 DANGCEM 60 235.00 DNMEYER 2 1.22 FIRSTALUM 1 0.50 Daily Summary (Equities) PAINTCOM 7 1.81 PORTPAINT 1 4.10 WAPCO 63 109.50 269 Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals Current Price 3 19.00 3

Quantity Traded Page 100,441 100,441

7Value Traded of 11 1,907,677.81

CUTIX

5 5

2.07

277

51,898 51,898

102,521.29 102,521.29

1,907,677.81

5,236,739

205,725,471.31

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals Current Price 10 0.50 10

Quantity Traded 480,069 480,069

Value Traded 240,034.50 240,034.50

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals Current Price 173 16.91 173

Quantity Traded 3,264,127 3,264,127

Value Traded 55,218,376.78 55,218,376.78

Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 2 51.90 6,500 2 3.83 8,033 34 92.00 132,954 12 118.01 4,472 1 54.44 20 13 159.00 5,325 No. of Deals Current Price Quantity Traded 64 157,304

Value Traded 320,515.00 29,240.12 11,681,138.28 543,296.90 1,034.40 831,456.20 Value Traded

CONOIL Daily Summary (Equities) ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL Symbol

Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © OIL AND GAS Totals 11

0.50

No. of Deals Current Price 63 2.90 29 2.03 396 12.44 66 3.39 1 0.62 19 21.00 107 2.53 681

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

247

Page 3,901,500

13,406,680.90

8 of 11 68,865,092.18

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals Current Price 1 1.29 1

Quantity Traded 50,000 50,000

Value Traded 64,500.00 64,500.00

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

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals Current Price 5 4.47 3 2.37 8

Quantity Traded 29,000 3,689 32,689

Value Traded 125,975.80 8,777.14 134,752.94

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 1

Quantity Traded 60,000 60,000

Value Traded 30,000.00 30,000.00

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

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.60 2 4.08 3

Quantity Traded 1,240 1,000 2,240

Value Traded 781.20 3,880.00 4,661.20

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA

No. of Deals Current Price 1 1.80 7 1.80

Quantity Traded 4,700 235,340

Value Traded 8,037.00 423,572.00

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Quantity Traded 259,039 706,000 3,000 100,000 65,000,000 108,456 40,750 1,386,739 45 2,616,739 114,000 2,100 50,000 2,982,707 74,602,356

ICT Totals

2 1,891,486.92 of 11

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UTC

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC Daily Summary as of 27/03/2014 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. Printed 27/03/2014 14:36:15.015 MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

Computer Based Systems ICT COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Computer Based Systems Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Value Traded 1,891,486.92 Value Traded

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Other Financial Institutions Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC

ICT Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded Value Traded 1,157,952 209,092,128.74 Page 11 of 11 108,467 2,640,755.65 8,785,238 1,321,843,031.33 10,051,657 1,533,575,915.72 Quantity Traded 21,848 Quantity Traded

Current Price 0.99 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.60 2.08 0.77 0.50 0.52 0.55 0.50 0.50 0.75

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Value Traded 209,373.00 Value Traded 2,097,569.60 102,306,942.60 of 11

9

No. of Deals 6 7 1 1 1 8 4 26 1 12 5 1 1 44 141

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR GNI HMARKINS INTENEGINS MANSARD NEM NIGERINS OASISINS PRESTIGE STDINSURE UNIC WAPIC

Page

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11

50 WORLD | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Storm grounds search for MH370 flight Sylva Okereke

with Agency Report

F

T

hunderstorms and galeforce winds yesterday grounded the international air search for the wreckage of Flight MH370, thus frustrating the efforts of searchers, just as new satellite images of floating objects sparked hopes of a breakthrough.

It marked the second suspension within three days for the planes from several nations along with ships, losing battle against fierce winds and mountainous seas in the remote southern Indian Ocean as they hunt for hard evidence that the plane crashed.

“Today’s search operations have been suspended due to bad weather,” the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which is coordinating the search, said on its Twitter account.

The agency initially said ships were leaving the search area along with the planes, but later announced the ships would stay to continue

Supporters of Afghan Presidential candidate, Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf listen to his speech during an election campaign in Herat, Afghanistan.

PHOTO: AP/EPA/Reuters

the search. “Bad weather expected for next 24 hours,” it tweeted.

Malaysia had said on Wednesday that images taken in recent days by a French satellite showed “122 potential objects” adrift in the vast area, but nothing has been recovered, yet that would confirm the plane’s

fate.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 is presumed to have crashed on March 8 in the Indian Ocean with 239 people aboard, after mysteriously diverting from its Kuala LumpurBeijing path and apparently flying for hours in the opposite direction.

Malaysia believes the plane was deliberately re-directed by someone on board, but nothing else is known.

AMSA had said earlier the new satellite images were in an area authorities have pinpointed as a potential crash zone some 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) southwest of Perth.

US plans next-generation missiles

U

S Navy yesterday launched an open competition for the next-generation missile, reassuring weapon makers of brighter future, after a separate deal with weapon makers, Lockheed Martin Corp for 90 air-launched missiles sparked protest.

Navy Acquisition Chief, Sean Stackley told reporters that the Lockheed programme was limited in scope as the future bigger missile development programmes would be open to all potential bidders.

“That will be competed.

That is 100 percent competition,” he said, after a hearing held by the House Armed Services Committee’s seapower and projection forces subcommittee.

Stackley defended the Pentagon’s decision to order 90 long-range anti-ship missiles from Lockheed that were developed under a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

He said the move was justified given the urgent needs of military commanders and said the initial DARPA research contract with Lockheed was awarded after a for-

US landslide: 25 killed, 90 missing

mal competition.

“The way to get it out there as quickly as possible, is to take this system that DARPA has developed with Lockheed and build a limited number (of air-launched missiles) to get it out into the fleet’s hands by the 2018 timeframe,” he said.

Stackley said the decision required a special “justification and authorization” by the Pentagon’s Acquisition Chief since it was a sole-source deal

and that move had sparked a protest by a rival company.

He declined further comment, but said he wanted to make it very clear that the larger procurement would be competitively bided.

Contract award protests have grown more common in recent years given the shrinking number of new weapons programmes available.

Raytheon Company has spoken publicly about its concerns

about the Pentagon’s backing for the Lockheed missile, arguing that its Joint Stand-off Weapons-Extended Range (JSOW-ER) weapon would offer comparable capability at a far lower cost.

Stackley said the Navy would follow up on the solesource deal with Lockheed in coming years with a full competition for surface-launched missiles, but gave no further details.

Egypt: Mursi’s ex-army chief guns for presidency

T

he general, who ousted Egypt’s first freely-elected leader, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi yesterday declared his intention to run for the forthcoming presidential election in the country.

Sisi toppled Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood last July, after mass protests against his rule and emerged as the most influential figure in an interim administration that has governed since then.

“I am here before you humbly stating my intention to run for the presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt,” Sisi said in a televised address to the nation. “Only your support will grant me this great honour.”

His presidency would mark a return to the days when Egypt was led by men from the military, a pattern briefly interrupted by Mursi’s one year in office, after his 2012 victory in Egypt’s first democratic presidential election.

Among his supporters, Sisi is wildly popular. Many see him as the kind of strong man needed to stabilize a country in crisis.

But he is reviled by the Islamist opposition as the mastermind of a coup against a freely elected leader.

Dressed in military fatigues, Sisi vowed to fight what he described as a terrorist threat facing Egypt, a reference to mili-

tant attacks that have spiraled since he ousted Mursi.

“True, today is my last day in military uniform, but I will continue to fight every day for an Egypt free of fear and terrorism,” said Sisi, 59, who had to resign his posts of army chief and minister of defense, so he could run in the election.

General Sedki Sobhi, formally chief of staff, replaces Sisi as head of the army.

Seeking to cap sky-high expectations, Sisi warned he could not perform “miracles” in a country of 85 million that is steeped in poverty. “I cannot make miracles.

Rather, I propose hard work and self-denial,” he said.

our days after a rainsoaked hillside collapsed near the tiny town of Oso, cascading over a river, a fire official said, death toll had risen to 25 people, including nine bodies still trapped in the debris.

Officials had earlier said, additional remains had been found in the devastation zone, about 55 miles northeast of Seattle, but declined to say how many until they had been removed and sent to a medical examiner’s office.

As hope faded that any survivors might be plucked from the muck and debris that blanketed an area covering about one square mile (2.6 square km), residents of the stricken community and nearby towns braced for an expected rise in the casualty count.

“My son’s best friend is out there, missing,” said John Pugh, 47, a National Guardsman, who lives in the neighboring village of Darrington.

“My daughter’s maid-of-honor’s parents are missing. It is raw. And it will be for a long time.”

Asked whether he expected the death toll to rise significantly, Governor Jay Inslee said, “Yes, I don’t think anyone can reach any other conclusion.”

“It’s been very sad that we have not been able to find anyone living now for probably 36 or 48 hours. The most discouraging thing is we were hopeful that we would find folks, who might be protected by a car or a structure, but the force of this landslide just defies imagination’, he said.

About 180 people were known to have lived in the path of the landslide, although not all would have been home at the time of the slide on Saturday, according to Snohomish County’s emergency management director, John Pennington.

Authorities, who whittled down a list of missing from about 176 people to 90 have said, the victims could also include people from outside the community, such as construction workers or passing motorists, who were there at the time of the mudslide on Saturday morning.

The fate of up to 35 more people not counted officially among the missing remained uncertain, Pennington said.

Handball crisis deepens as parties refuse to shift ground Mercy Jacob

T

here seems to be no end in sight in the crisis rocking the Handball Federation of Nigeria as warring parties have again refused to shift ground.

Director General of National Sports Com-

mission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, attempted to mediate between the Mega Handball Veterans and embattled President of the federation, Yusuf Dauda, but his efforts have been unsuccessful.

The group wants fresh election to be conducted into the board of the HFN, a demand

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

51

which has been repeatedly rejected by the Dauda group.

On Thursday, both parties were in court for hearing on Thursday but the case has been adjourned till May 5.

However, speaking to New Telegraph CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

That when Lucien Laurent scored for France in the 19th minute against Mexico in 1930, he became the first player to score a goal at the World Cup

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

FRIday, MARCH 28, 2014

Yobo ’ll stabilise Eagles defence – Udeze Yobo (left)

Ifeanyi Ibeh

F

ormer Super Eagles defender, Ifeanyi Udeze, believes the presence of Joseph Yobo in the national team’s backline will go a long way in helping the side out of the group stage at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Not that Udeze had much doubt over the ability of Stephen Keshi’s side to get into the knockout rounds, but the former AEK Athens of Greece star is now much more confident about Nigeria’s chances especially as it is looking likelier by the day that Yobo will be in the team to Brazil.

Yobo, who is on loan at Norwich from Turkey’s Fenerbahce, was handed a recall to the national team for the first time in over a

year prior to Nigeria’s encounter against Mexico.

Although the defender failed to turn up for the game against the Mexicans owing to an injury he picked up while on duty for his English Premier League side, signs are that the former Everton star will be in Brazil, and Udeze feels that can only mean one thing for the Super Eagles: a ticket to the knockout rounds for the first time since 1998.

“We have not gone beyond the group stage after France ’98 but with

someone like Yobo running things at the back I am confident we can qualify from our group,” said Udeze, who was part of the Nigerian team that failed to get past the first round at the 2002 World Cup. Udeze added; “It’s not that I don’t have confidence in the other defenders but experience matters

Udeze

CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Should Agbim go to World Cup?

Odemwingie eyes World Cup

How I changed Mikel’s attitude –Keshi

}p-53

}p-55

}p-55

52 SPORT

SportL

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/Sport

WITH Tobi Emmanuel

0805 400 5669

princetobby@yahoo.com tobi.emmanuel@newtelegraphonline.com

George

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Abbey

ifestyle

Former Super Eagles defender

Best food - Mexican rice & prawns Best drink – Amarreto Best colour – White Best Holiday Spot – Miami Best Club Supported - Manchester United Best car - Bugatti Veyron Best designer - Versace Best Perfume – Versace Favourite Music - Tupac greatest hits Favourite Actor - Anthony Anderson Favourite Actress - Eva Mendes Best Competition Attended - Nations Cup 2004 Best Boot - Nike Best jersey No - 15

Ifeanyi Ibeh

“I

n 1989, I was still a rookie footballer in my first season in the Nigerian league for Ranchers Bees of Kaduna. I was born in Kaduna and grew up supporting Ranchers Bees. It was a team every young footballer in Kaduna wanted to play for, so I was happy to have been picked to play for the club that time, even though my appearances were mostly limited to home matches because I was combining academics with football.

“I was preparing for my O-levels that year and my father, who was in the military, left strict instructions that I shouldn’t travel with the team for away games while school was in session. So my appearances were limited but our coach, Alex Dominguez, an Agentine, had faith in me as he often used me in our home matches. I was like an impact sub, coming in when we needed to push for goals, and I guess I was good at it.

“But I got my big break when we came up against ASEC Mimosas in the final of the WAFU Cup. The first-leg was played in Kaduna, and I was surprised to find myself in the starting-11. When Coach Dominguez, a few days earlier, told me that I might get to play against ASEC I just assumed that he meant that I was going to

Daniel Amokachi come in and do my usual thing from the bench. But I got to start and we won 3-1 and I was named Man of the Match.

“After the game, he (Dominguez) walked up to me while I was celebrating with my teammates and told me someone wanted to have a chat with me. He introduced me to a whiteman who introduced himself as Clemens Westerhof and said he wanted me to come and play for the Super Eagles. In my excitement, I didn’t realize right away that the whiteman Coach Dominguez had just introduced me to was the coach of our national team, and that Super Eagles, and not Green Eagles, was the new acronym of our national team. I

The flight to Lagos was my first time aboard an aircraft and the drive from the airport to Otta was my first experience in a traffic jam.

I had never seen so many cars packed together and moving that slow

TURNING POINT

just naturally assumed that this man (Westerhof) was coaching a foreign club and that he wanted to take me overseas.

“It was after he left that Coach Dominguez told me that Westerhof wanted me to accompany Tajudeen Oyekanmi and Ayo Ogunlana to the Super Eagles camp in Otta; that he (Westerhof) had actually come to Kaduna to watch both of them but had been impressed by my performance against ASEC, and felt I should also come to camp and fight for a shirt.

“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing; that a small boy like me, who had only just

finished secondary school, was going to the national team’s camp. My parents and siblings couldn’t believe it as well until they saw my name in the newspapers.

“The flight to Lagos was my first time aboard an aircraft and the drive from the airport to Otta was my first experience in a traffic jam. I had never seen so many cars packed together and moving that slow, and it took us over four hours to get to the camp in Otta.

“I was the youngest in camp and after training I had the task of gathering the balls and everything that was used during our training sessions. I even washed the jerseys of some of the more senior players in camp, but Westerhof took special interest in me and made sure nobody intimidated me.

“I wasn’t the most skillful player but he told me that he liked my dedication and fighting spirit; that he dreams of taking Nigeria to the 1994 World Cup and needed someone like me to make it come to pass. He told me that he knew I wasn’t yet ready but that in four years I would be good enough to play at the World Cup. “And he was right because by 1994 I was on top of my game, playing regularly for my country and playing overseas in Belgium with FC Brugge where I became the first player to score in the UEFA Champions League against CSKA Moscow. “

Vox Pop

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

SPORT 53

Should Agbim go to World Cup?

After a rather disappointing outing at the African Nations Championship, Eagles goalie, Chigozie Agbim, is unsure of gbim is rusty, the World Cup is a bigger stage making it to the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil. Nigerians than CHAN. I will rather opt for Alampasu to spoke to our correspondents on this development

Omogbemhe Ezzy

A

gain experience or Keshi should invite Femi Thomas of Enyimba.

Olusola Daramola, Businessman

I

don’t know much about players in the local league but I know we can get better goalkeepers from the league. Instead of Agbim, it is better to take Alampasu to the World Cup.

Emmanuel Yunusa

C

Paul Udochi, IT specialist

higozie Agbim is a no for me; any one of Femi Thomas, Chijioke Ejiogu or Okemute Odah of Warri Wolves will be ideal.

A

gbim was terrible in South Africa but I think the third goalkeeping spot should be reserved for a younger keeper.

Enyeama and Ejide are getting old and will likely retire at about the same time, and Agbim isn’t that young. So I think they should take Dele Alampasu so that the young man can gain some valuable experience.

I

don’t have any problem with Agbim going to the World Cup, but if they put him in goal against Argentina, many Nigerians will suffer heartaches and even stop watching football because we will lose woefully.

I

don’t really know what to say about Agbim.

He didn’t do well in South Africa but there must be something about him that the coaches like, and if they decide to take him to the World Cup they should be ready to accept responsibility for any mistake he makes there.

Oluwaseyi Aliu,Trader

I

s Agbim one of the three goalkeepers they want to take to the World Cup? I hope not oo! He was very bad in South Africa. But we still have Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide so, if they decide to take him to Brazil, there is nothing to worry about.

Krunmu decide who will be the third

eshi knows best, let him and Ike Sho-

choice goalkeeper.

Duasimebo Hilary, Basketball Coach

Agbim

Ugochukwu Ananaba, Engineer

Fuahd Yamarita, Recording artiste

Adeboye Ademola, Businessman

Bode Adeleye Akinfaderin

I

f they take Agbim to the World Cup then they better pray that nothing happens to Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide because if something happens to those two, then we are in big trouble.

Femi Akinola ,Businessman

C

higozie Agbim was terrible in South Africa but I don’t know if there are others that can take his place. I’m just glad that we have Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide, and I pray there won’t be any need to use Agbim if he makes the team to Brazil.

Hannah Okoro, Youth Corp member

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aking Chigozie Agbim to World Cup will amount to waste of resources he was a flop at CHAN 2014, another person should be given opportunity and I think aside Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide the next Goalkeeper I will prefer is Dele Alampasu.

Odeh quits Jigawa Golden Stars

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igawa Golden Stars technical adviser, Rolandson Odeh, has resigned from the Nigeria National League side.

The former Super Falcons coach joined the Dutse-based side in week seven of the 2012/13 NNL season when the side were battling for survival, but steered the side to safety as they finishing the season fifth on the log.

Odeh said he decided to call it quits with the side in order to preserve his hard-earned name in the industry that spanned over several years following

management’s undue interference in his job.

“I’ve tendered my resignation to the Jigawa Golden Stars management today (Thursday) due to unnecessary interference in my work on the part of the management as well as lack of commitment on the management towards the wellbeing of the side.

“I’ve left the team for good, I’ve already thanked the management for the opportunity given to me to serve and I’ve wished the side well in their endeavours.”

Demola Omowaye, Civil servant

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d o n ’ t k n o w why Keshi is even thinking of taking Agbim to the World Cup when there are better keepers he can pick from?

Maybe he is already thinking of leaving Nigeria after the World Cup otherwise I don’t understand why he would want to go to the World Cup without his best players.

Maurice Chukwuma-Worker

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gbim miss use the opportunity Keshi gave to him even when he was not the best goal keeper in the Nigerian league through his woeful outing during the last African Championship in South Africa ,he did not deserve another chance.I think Daniel Akpeyi will do better if he is fit.

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t’s not as if Agbim will get to play even if he makes the team, so Keshi can take him if he wants to. But he should pray that nothing happens to the other goalkeepers otherwise he should not even bother to come back with the team.

Odus Oluremi, Ibadan

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very coach has their favourite player, Keshi might be having personal interest in Agbim or maybe he is carrying out someone instruction by inviting Agbim. As a third choice goalkeeper, he is okay for me as long as he won’t come near our real Super Eagles post but rot on the bench. Let him continue to learn from Enyeama and Ejide

Micheal Agbai, Businessman

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higozie Agbim has no business in the World Cup, I prefer Dele Alampasu to him because from what I saw at the last CHAN in South Africa, Agbim does not have composure, his reflexes are not sharp.

Shina Okeleji, Journalist

Tolulope Ilelaboye he decision lies on the coach, – Medical Doctor

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but if I have to make the call, I will say there are other fantastic goalkeepers in the Nigeria Premier League, Femi Thomas is a fantastic goalkeeper and others like that in the league, and if you feel like spreading the net wider, we have Dele Aiyenugba doing well have been following the in Israel, we have Greg Etafia who is doing wonderfully well in Nigeria league and I don’t South Africa league, we don’t have to restrict it to just Agbim see Agbim as one of the alone, I don’t have anything against Agbim as a player. top five not to talk of him as the best in the league.

Femi Thomas is one of Chris Echo gbim is never our best goalkeeper, taking him to Brazil the best goalkeeper in the is like wasting a slot in the team. I will rather allowed a league and I will be happy player like Dele Alampasu, atleast let him go there gain the if he is given a chance to stake a claim for a shirt. experience like Enyeama did in 2002.

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54 SPORT | INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Hamilton’s confession: Keshi, others gave me nightmares He is a Nigerian football legend whose name may not be prominent now but in his hey days; he was the rave of the moment, little wonder he was addressed as ‘Wonder B’. In this interview with Mercy Jacob, Paul Hamilton reflects on his past and the game in general, Excerpts: What have you been doing after retirement?

After my active football years, I was appointed as the coach of U-20 team and in 1989, I was hired as the Green Eagles coach after which I was given the Super Falcons job and I took Nigeria to her first ever FIFA women World Cup. You have coached male and female teams, what was your experience like?

Oh, it was a great experience and I enjoyed every moment of it. I was with both teams and will like to do it over and over again if given the opportunity.

Mere seen those players and what they have become makes me happy.

Talking about your players those days, was Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, among them?

Yes he was, in fact they were many; Tarila Okoronwata, Samson Siasia, Etim Essien, Henry Nwosu and the late Samuel Okwaraji, to mention just a few.

Who is Keshi to you?

Keshi was an outstanding player and my skipper in the Green Eagles then, I started tutoring him from the junior team and he did not give me problems.

Are you saying that he did not at any time cause problem for you in the team?

He did not give me problems maybe he felt that I have also played the game and made a name for myself, even till date he still recognises me as his coach.

But was he controversial then?

What do you mean by been controversial? well whichever way, Keshi that I know right from his playing days was not controversial, I have told you that he was my skipper until I resigned in 1989.

The information I got was that he was the one that introduce this ‘mafia thing’ into the Super Eagles Till tomorrow, Keshi remains a good player; I did not have any ugly experience with him as player. The only problem I used to have with him and the rest of the players from Benin those days was the way they leave camp to go back to Benin after each game. I was not comfortable with it though all effort to stop them proved abortive. I have no choice than to leave them so long as they would report back to camp the next day.

In Benin, there were plenty of women to frenzy around with, I think some of them ended up getting married from there, they not only cruise around the city with friends, at times they also go clubbing.

And you were comfortable with that?

Initially, it gave me lots of worries, but when I discovered that it was not affecting their performance and that they were keeping to their promise of returning the next day, I did not allow it to disturb me again. But I must admit, It was tough for me because I had plenty of them in camp.

In your team then, there were some stubborn players, how were you able to tame them?

Sure, but all you do with such stubborn players is to talk to them. If not, no matter how talented Okorowanta was then, he would not have smelled the national team. Tarila has a very funny character though outstanding on the pitch. What he does mostly after each match was to zoom off, he was the type that usually breaks camp rules, but for the sake of his quality, I retained him in the team. Most times, I took time to talk to such players, because you are not only teaching them the art of football, you are also moulding their character as well.

Coach, I remember Samuel Okwaraji was also one of your boys Oh yes, he was one of the players under my tutelage when I was the Green Eagles coach.

Who was Samuel Okwaraji?

Samuel Okwaraji was one of the Eagles players who featured prominently in the team; he took part in one of the qualifying matches we played in Enugu for the Seoul Olym-

Hamilton

pics.

Keshi

I am quite sure you were on the bench the day he died; can you tell us more about what happened?

The night he died, I was on the bench as usual; it was a day that breaks like any other day without any premonition that anything of such would happen. That night while on the bench, I noticed that the players were beckoning on the medicals for attention; I never knew that it was Okwaraji that slumped until he was rushed to the hospital. He gave up the ghost at the hospital and that was the last I saw of him.

What was the mood like after the incident?

The players managed to end the match without knowing he will pass on, that night there was a lot of confusion and wailing and it was difficult to control the players who were shocked about what happened.

Do you have any regret?

No regret whatsoever, I am grateful to God for the strength he gave me as a player and coach, my joy is that most of this players are now coaches and are doing well, for instance when I saw Florence Omagbemi as match commissioner in one of the matches at the FIFA U-17 women World Cup currently going on in Costa Rica, it gladdens my heart that my efforts were not in vain.

Ekiti open tennis championship gets date Charles Ogundiya

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he maiden edition of All Nigeria Open Tennis Championship will serve off on April 27th at the Ekiti State Tennis Centre, the organisers have announced.

The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Yemi Owoseni, said that the competition would gulp a whopping sum of N10m.

What did they go there to do?

Owoseni who is also the PermaThey were always going there to enjoy nent Secretary, in the state’s sports themselves. ministry said preparation is in top gear.

What kind of enjoyment are you talking He said the state is poised to stage a about?

successful tennis championship due to the importance of the competition to the players and other stakeholders in the racket game.

The former NTF first vice-president said “We are targeting N10m to organize this championship in Ekiti.

The state government under the administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi has raised the standard of sports in the state, so the government is firmly behind this championship. It has also received backing of the NTF because it is going to be point ranking championship; this is going to be our own version of Nigerian Grand Slam.”

Query: NFF waits on Keshi’s explanation

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he Nigeria Football Federation is unhappy with aspects of Stephen Keshi’s conduct and the body has asked the Super Eagles coach to explain his actions.

The NFF is annoyed that Keshi attended a media function organised by TomTom without its permission on a day he was billed to meet with the footballing body’s technical committee. They also want clarity on why Keshi travelled to the United States without their authorisation earlier in the year when President Goodluck Jonathan was set to host the national side after their African Nations Championship campaign.

“It is important we draw your attention to previous actions whereby you travelled out of Nigeria without NFF’s express permission,” read a NFF letter addressed to Keshi.

“Specifically you travelled out of Nigeria before February 13, the day President Jonathan received the Africa Nations Championship (Chan) team, causing us huge embarrassment.

“Your request for leave approved by the NFF was from 15 February to 10 March 2014 but you left before 13 February and returned March 26.

“The technical committee meeting on 25 March was called off because you said you had flight hitches from USA. As a responsible organisation, we have no other option than to issue you a query to explain how all these events unfolded.”

The query, which was signed by Emmanuel Ikpeme, was issued to Keshi on Wednesday, and the former coach of Togo was expected to respond on Thursday.

SPORT 55

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, March 28, 2014

Yobo ’ll stabilise Eagles defence – Udeze CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

a lot at tournaments such as the World Cup and not going to Brazil with our most experienced defender won’t be a good idea.

“We went to the (2002) World Cup together along with Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide and if you take away these three you’d notice that our team is relatively inexperienced. So it is a good thing that Keshi is considering him (Yobo) for the World Cup.” The Super Eagles are in Group F along with Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina.

Handball crisis deepens as parties refuse to shift ground CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

the Public Relations Officer of the group, Ayo Joshua, said his group was ready for out-of-court settlement if Dauda would agree to the terms.

“We have the interest of this sport at heart, we are not happy with its decline. We have not gone to court for selfish reasons, all we want is for handball to move forward. We are ready to settle out of court but our demands must be met,” he said.

The embattled president of the federation, Yusuf, said he was also ready for out of court settlement but he won’t accept the call for a fresh election.

“It is high time we move forward for the good of the sport. I am ready for settlement but I will not agree with the call for fresh election. Elections into various sports federations were done at the same time including that of handball, so why should we have fresh one in handball? Just like what the NSC DG told them when we met the last time, let them forget about fresh election and prepare for another one. That is where I stand, I have said it before that I am ready to work with them,” he said.

Mikel (left) and Keshi

How l changed Mikel’s attitude –Keshi Emmanuel Tobi

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uper Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has explained his role of inspiring his players to give out their best for the forthcoming World Cup in Brazil while revealing how he changed the attitude of Chelsea of England midfielder, Mikel Obi, for the better.

Keshi gave this hint following wild speculations that he can’t manage big players which is being attributed as the reason for excluding the likes of Osaze Odemwingie, Joseph Yobo and Ikechukwu Uche from his team.

“When I wanted to bring in Mikel Obi, I left him out. I told him he had problems with Nigerians, he had the bigplayer mentality. He called me and said he’d like to come back to the national team but I refused and hung up, Keshi told www.aljazeera.com.

“Mikel called back again and asked me to hear him out. I told him I was trying to build a team and these players were respectful they gave their hearts out. They wanted to play for Nigeria and ensure the team does well. You won’t do that for us, we don’t need you, and I told him that.”

Leon Balogun Odemwingie eyes World Cup drops crutches AjibadeOlusesan

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uper Eagles defender, Leon Balogun, has revealed that he has dropped the crutches he was using to aide movement since he got injured in the international friendly between Nigeria and Mexico earlier this month in Atlanta, United States.

Speaking from his base in Germany, Balogun declared that the rate of his recovery since the injury has been quicker than expected, expressing delight that he will be part of the Super Eagles pre-World Cup party in the United States in May if he is invited.

“It’s been quite exciting for me and I have been in touch with the federation and Coach Stephen Keshi, they have been very nice too. I can’t wait to rejoin the squad when we reconvene for the World Cup”. The doctors confirmed that I had a broken toe but it was not fully broken and that is why I have been healing quicker than we even expected.”

S

toke City striker, OsazeOdemwingie, would welcome the chance to represent Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup. The striker has been out of the Super Eagles since 2012 when he fell out with Coach Stephen Keshi after he was dropped from the Africa Nations Cup squad.

The coach announced midweek that the player has apologised for his twitter outburst and could be available for selection for the World cup.

And the player said he’s seen his career back on track at Stoke Cityafter a turbulent couple of years and an appearance at the Brazil showpiece will cap an interesting 2014 for him.

A swap deal involving Cardiff City and Kenwyne Jones took him to Britannia Stadium in January, and he has responded with four goals in eight appearances for his new employers.

He told a British newspaper, The

Osaze

Sentinel: “I had a stressful 2013. Now I just take it week to week. I have a son who will be born in the summer and I have another already making me really happy.

“It’s how I think now after last year, that things can always be worse. Today I already have more than I wanted three months ago.

“Everything else is a bonus, but every player would love to go to the World Cup. “If things seem right for me and, most importantly, I am made to feel like I could help the team, then why not? We will see.”

Keshi maintained that he had to maintain a strong stand if he needs to instill discipline into the team considering the fact that African players don’t always respect African coaches.

“His agent called and I refused to talk to him. So Mikel called back again and I said let’s talk. At that point, almost 80% of Nigerians didn’t want to see him in the national squad. And I told him that. But I also took the risk and he agreed to the conditions.

“Ever since then, he’s been a great professional with great attitude in training. He’s a different Mikel and I told him to enjoy his game and have fun.”

Zenith B/ball League: First Deepwater, Sunshine Angels march on Ifeanyi Ibeh

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irst Deepwater continued their impressive run of form with a resounding 83-30 victory over Oluyole Babes on Thursday in Abuja following a two-day break at the on-going Zenith Bank Basketball League.

The break period also did little to dampen the enthusiasm of Sunshine Angels as they also recorded a win on Thursday, ending the winning streak of IGP Queens with a narrow 63-61 victory.

In the day’s other games, Delta Force defeated Immigration 60-48, First Bank ran out with a 48-41 victory over Dolphins, Customs edged FCT Angels 47-45, while Benue Princess secured a narrow 30-29 victory over AHIP Queens in what was one of the lowest scoring games in the history of the 10-year-old Zenith Bank Basketball League.

Action continues on Friday in the Zenith Bank League with six more games.

There will also be a similar number of games on Saturday to mark the end of the first phase of the season.

World Record

On Marble Why grab possessions like thieves or divide them like socialists, when you can ignore them like wise men?

– Natalie Clifford Barney

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, MARCH 28, 2014

Annual Guinness World Records Book was first published in 1955 and has become one of the biggest-selling copyright titles of all time.

N150

A country that fears history A Graffiti recent demise in the country went largely unreported by the media and unnoticed by the public. So there were no screaming headlines or a flood of outlandish obituaries. No commentaries or special editions of programmes to say a couple of nice things about this suddenly departed personality. Not even one expert was summoned to any of the studios to feature on those flagship call-in programmes to pontificate on the recently deceased. This very important Nigerian personality died by official choice, struck off by the whims and caprices of some deluded power elite.

For some of us who believe in the Nigeria project and have more than a sleepless night about the country’s drift towards the ruinous whirlpool of despicabilities, the death of this particular personality had long been predicted. It was only a matter of time. History died recently, struck off the syllabus of secondary schools.

The ailing signs had been pointing to this inevitable outcome, from the time it suffered a curious demotion to the optional category.

The writer Ukamaka Evelyn Olisakwe moaned on her blog: “Whoever came up with the plan to scrap history in our schools didn’t just wake up to take that decision; they thought it out, knew its implication on the future generation. They wanted us done with. They hated us, even before we were born.”

It is befuddling that a country’s Ministry of Education would take such a far-reaching decision without a whimper of protest from academia.

That even the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has been more engrossed in the conclave of its contract awarding rituals, and not even raising a gallery-pleasing query on the death of history tells a lot about the mindset of our leaders. In the same period that they have been administering lethal blows on our history, the British and Americans have been doing the complete opposite.

As part of its plan to rejuvenate history within its education sector, Britain has decided to scrap the subsisting syllabus and replace it with one that would give the citizens, especially children, a deeper understanding of their history. The new syllabus would also include aspects of international development and relations from the past to the present.

EMMAN USMAN SHEHU prohabe@hotmail.com - 08051614969 (sms only)

Over in America, with the growing realisation of the place and importance of history in the education of the students, there is a growing desire to improve on the quality of the subject right from the elementary level. An advocacy document argues its position thus: “The reasons (for the advocacy) are many, but none are more important to a democratic society than this: knowledge of history is the precondition of political intelligence. Without history, a society shares no common memory of where it has been, where its core values are, or what decisions of the past account for present circumstances. Without history, we cannot undertake any sensible inquiry into the political, social, or moral issues in society. And without historical knowledge and inquiry, we cannot achieve the informed, discriminatory citizenship essential to effective participation in the democratic processes of governance and the fulfillment for all our citizens of the nation’s democratic ideals.”

From the moment Nigeria’s Ministry of Education decided to make history optional, the death knell for the subject was sounded. But it also showed a gross lack of understanding of the dignity, significance and importance of history. The benefits of history are immense. History has a nexus with other disciplines such as archaeology, fine art, religion, education, sociology and several others. It is not a coincidence that every discipline begins from a historical perspective, detailing the evolutionary process and the advancement of knowledge in that

Our history vividly shows that the various communities have had shared meaningful interactions long before the Lander brothers landed

area of human endeavour.

A people’s cultural identity is intertwined with their history. The unmistakable irony is that at a time we are lowering our history into a sarcophagus, so much money has been expended on the debauchery celebrating the centenary of our amalgamation by the British. This penchant for spending without thinking, just to empty the national treasury, has blinded us to an important undercurrent of the amalgamation. We are more than an accident of the British amalgamation.

Our history vividly shows that the various communities have had shared meaningful interactions long before the Lander brothers landed.

From that position therefore, we should be maximising history in nation building. We should be interrogating our collective history to see those commonalities that would assist in reducing the fears engendered by our differences, purging our system of the divisive viruses implanted by the colonialists, and working towards a purposeful national integration. All over the world, there is recognition that history lays the foundation for the stability of a nation.

The other advantage of history is that it teaches truthfulness. This is not to say that history is not imperfect and limited in presenting the truth. However historians know how critical it is to present facts, no matter what side of an argument they are pursuing. A nation that does not know the value of facts and truthfulness in every situation, will only be encouraging the enthronement of a dangerous ethos of deception and deceitfulness. No wonder the evidence of such an ethos is beginning to stare at us from every angle on a daily basis.

Record-keeping is part of the heartbeat of history. As a people we are notorious for poor record-keeping, which is further proof that we do not think much of history. Dismal record keeping is a national malaise capable of destroying us as we court the stultifying

embrace of vacuousness and ignorance.

It is worthwhile to echo a stinging observation by the Vanguard, the only media to my knowledge that mourned the death of history in Nigeria: “People in knowledge enterprise struggle to eke out a living for themselves and their families because we have substituted knowledge, as embodied in history, for insatiable quest for material gains. Those who succeed in the crass race for material acquisition are society’s heroes and heroines because the sense of the past with its value of honesty, intellectual achievements, and hard work have been lost.”

It is frightening that a Minister of Education who claims to be a lawyer cannot even fathom something as basic as the nexus between history and the evolution of judicial systems. It is no secret that judicial systems borrow heavily from historical circumstances in developing laws aimed at delivering justice and establishing fairness in society. Possibly his sanctioning the death sentence on history, while irreparably damaging our entire curriculum, could be traced to his being part of the country’s devious power elite that mortally fears history. They know the knowledge of history would empower the people to resist having the wool of deceit being consistently pulled over their eyes, and collectively fight mediocrity, injustice, impunity, lootocracy and the virulent cancer of corruption. So our power elite prefer that we descend into the Dark Ages, and the sickening values of such an age are taking over.

OmoBaba

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