Binder1monday, february 3,2014

Sanctity of Truth www.newtelegraphonline.com

Facebook.com/newtelegraph twitter.com/newtelegraph1

Monday, February 3, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 1

N150

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

E dito r ia l

T

wo thousand and fourteen is a milestone for Nigeria as the country celebrates its centenary. Fortuitously, it is the year the New Telegraph newspaper keeps a date with history and destiny. A destiny that is

For the Sanctity of Truth full of hope and noble aspirations for Nigerians and Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with overwhelming human and natural resources.

For us, it is the beginning of a journey in which we will play a significant role in defining the future of Nigeria in the next 100 years and indeed be-

yond. Certainly, we intend to play an aggressive part in ensuring that our dear country takes a road different from what has been, for all intents and purposes, the wrong path for most of the last century.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Nigeria’s break-up: Why I’m not afraid, by IBB

Page } 6

Speaks on Obasanjo, Jonathan’s letters Five ‘rebel’ PDP governors Jonathan’s re-election, Buhari’s ambition Bamanga Tukur’s ouster, Mu’azu’s emergence Gusau’s ministerial nomination Mohammed Babangida’s governorship ambition 5 QUESTIONS FOR PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN are 10 1. There presidential jets.

Does Nigeria need another?

is the Federal 2. Why Government

underfunding antigraft agencies?

is your 3. What administration

doing to stop oil theft?

4. What are security

agencies doing about the spate of killings in the land?

5. Now that PHCN is in

private hands, why the epileptic supply?

Response to these questions should be sent to: info@newtelegraphonline.com

BUSINESS

Category 1: United States Federal Aviation Administration to audit Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority on February 17 Page 21

NEWS

AT A GLANCE

Buhari, Atiku, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso battle for All Progressives Congress presidential ticket Page 7

METRO

Artisans, rodents take over Federal Government’s abandoned 17-storey building in Lagos Page 19 - 20

INSIDE INVESTIGATION

A tale of two stadia: National Stadium, abandoned, dilapidated; Teslim Balogun Stadium, alive and kicking Page 39 - 41

News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Opinions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Metro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Investigation. . . . . . . . . . .

Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LAGOS 6 11 18 19 21 39 43 51

Partially Cloudy

34O | 24O For subscription, advert and story tips, please call +234 (1)221 9496, 08033392655, 08023010222

2

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

Monday, February 3, 2014

3

4

Monday, February 3, 2014

Monday, February 3, 2014

5

6

NEWS

INSECURITY Ex-Military President says with government’s determination, insecurity will soon become history Ike Abonyi, Suleiman Bisalla and Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

F

or mer Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, has said he was not afraid of the report from a group based in the United States (U.S.) that Nigeria would break-up in 2015, saying: “I am not disturbed by such reports. I am confident it would make us stronger. 2015 will make us stronger”.

He also declared that the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the North-East is an inevitable part of nationbuilding, which will always be with us, one way or the other.

He, however, stated that with strong determination, the current security challenges posed by the activities of the sect would be eliminated.

In an interview with New Telegraph in Abuja, Babangida, who left office in controversial circumstances in 1993, following the annulment of the presidential election of that year, noted that practically, every dispensation in Nigeria

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

Nigeria’s break-up: Why I’m not afraid, by Babangida since independence, or even before then, has had one crisis or the other to contend with but that the country has always come out of it all stronger.

“You see, I will look at it from my own experience. We had elections in 1963, 1964 and 1965…a lot of problematic elections.

Remember the Tiv Riots, the riots in Western Nigeria, Isaac Boro crisis and eventually the civil war.

So, we are all products of military operations in this country. To me, these things are not new because they are things that all developing countries have to go through in the course of nationbuilding,” he said, adding: “But, the important thing is that when you have a problem, you find a solution to it and move forward and such a problem, we hope, will not occur again. We are facing some problems right now but with strong determination, I think we will be able to put the problem of insecurity behind us.

But that is not the end of the problems of nation building. In the future, other things may crop up.

It could be in the economy, it could be natural disaster or something else.

But, such problems are part of nation-building.”

Babangida would,

Babangida

however, not be persuaded to comment on the prosecution of the war against insurgency by the Jonathan administration.

According to him, as a man who spent more than three decades in military service, he would rather not offer his advice publicly.

But, when asked to comment on the general performance of his party, the PDP, in power since 1999, Babangida said the party has performed creditably, at least to the extent that there has been peace in Nigeria

since the PDP government came to power in 1999 and “we are not at war with any other country.”

“That is an achievement and we should give them credit for that,” he said.

Ironically, Babangida inveighs at what he considers as the lack of democratic norms among political actors in this dispensation, under, of course, the guiding hands of the ruling party.

“I think the whole concept of democracy is good, but the practitioners have not yet shown

that they have fully embraced democracy.

I think that a lot needs to be done. The whole essence of democracy is about law and order; it’s about elections; it’s about the freedom of the individual. We have not reached that ideal level of democracy we all crave for in our political development,” he said.

Commenting on the high profile defections from PDP, Babangida noted that it is not only the constitutional and democratic rights of some of the PDP governors and legislators who have defected to the rival APC to do so, but also that by that singular act, they have practically demonstrated that democracy in Nigeria is taking roots.

“The constitution guarantees you the right to hold an opinion, to hold and express an opinion if you want. So, those of them who felt aggrieved had the right to change, the right to take their own decisions. It is democracy that makes this possible. So, we have no cause to be worried.

Some stayed back, others defected…May be some of you were still very small when it happened in the past but defection is not a new phenomenon in Nigerian politics.”

NSIA commits N1.6b to enhance agriculture SUPPORT The fund is meant to provide equity, debt capital and technical support solutions Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has provided $10million, about N1.6billion, to enhance agricultural productivity, value-added processing and market

linkages.

The fund was provided through the authority’s Fund for Agricultural Financing in Nigeria (FAFIN), also known as The Fund.

NSIA is one of the three collaborating sponsors of The Fund, alongside the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the German governmentowned development bank, Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW ).

The Fund, according to a statement from NSIA, is an innovative

initiative, designed to transform the agriculture finance landscape in Nigeria.

With a $100 million target, FAFIN will provide tailored equity, debt capital and technical support solutions to commercially-viable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and intermediaries across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of NSIA, Uche Orji, the fund would be dedicated to catalyzing an agricul-

ture-led inclusive economic growth in Nigeria.

He stressed that the $100 million target would be reached through further contributions from private sector investors.

Orji added: “The participation of the NSIA in this initiative is a firm demonstration of its agriculture strategy as one core area of focus alongside power, housing, healthcare, motorways, etc. Through this strategic act, the NSIA hopes to support the realisation of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Agri-

culture Transformation Agenda and facilitate Nigeria’s food security.

“Agriculture is a sector of strategic importance to the NSIA and an area we see opportunities for significant growth and profit through the facilitation of the enhancement of Nigeria’s critical agriculture infrastructure.”

He said Sahel Capital, an indigenous agriculture-focused investment and advisory firm, was selected by the Fund Sponsors to be the Fund Manager for FAFIN.

Babangida also spoke on former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s controversial letter to Jonathan.

While acknowledging that Obasanjo discussed some of the issues in the letter with him before going public with it, the former military leader hinted that he did not exactly agree with Obasanjo on the publication of the letter.

Said he: “He (Obasanjo) said he discussed some of the issues with me and the answer is “yes.” Again, this is the good thing about us as elder statesmen, which is that we agree and sometimes we disagree. But he’s got a reason why he had to go public with the issues and I can’t question that.”

See the full text of the interview on pages 12, 13, 16

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST ABUJA

35o 23o Partially Cloudy

PORT H/COURT

33o 23o Thunder Storms

KANO

32o 16o Partially Cloudy

ENUGU

36o 25o Very Cloudy

IBADAN

36o 22o Partially Cloudy

CALABAR

33o 23o Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

34o 21o Mostly Sunny

ONITSHA

35o 23o Very Cloudy

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

7

2015: Buhari, Atiku, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso battle for APC ticket

Ex-VP announces formal defection CONTENDERS A tough battle lies ahead for APC’s presidential flag Ayodele Ojo

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has zeroed its presidential ticket to four major contenders for the February 14, 2015 elections.

Impeccable sources in the party told New Telegraph that former military head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal are the major contenders for the ticket.

Atiku on Sunday formally defected to the APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing the ruling party of abandoning Nigerians.

An aide of the former vice president said, “the Turaki Adamawa is definitely going to seek the presidential ticket on the platform of APC. I can assure you that in a few days’ time, the whole world will hear about his next move.”

In an interview with New Telegraph at the weekend, Atiku said he had consulted widely on his political future and “the product of the consultations will be made

L-R: President, GE Worldwide, Mr. Jeff Immelt; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. OIusegun Aganga; and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, during the signing of a $350m power financing deal with GE, in Abuja

public shortly.”

The 2007 presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC) had met a couple of APC governors on his movement to the

opposition party and his presidential ambition. He had held meetings with Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Ad-

25%

202,586

39%

of people in the UK are bored of their new smart phones within a month Source: O2

the number of people who have so far applied for Bas Lansdorph’s one-way mission to Mars Source: Emarketer

the amount of space in Burj Al Arab, considered the world’s most luxurious hotel located in Dubai that is UNOCCUPIABLE Source: T3

Controversy trails oil blocs’ allocation ALLOCATION Some investors believe the Federal Government is wooing politicians with oil blocs ahead of 2015 elections Adeola Yusuf

T

he Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has been accused of flouting guidelines on new marginal fields allocation.

Some investors believe that the DPR is being used by the Federal Government to woo politicians with oil blocs ahead of the 2015 polls.

For the first time in 12 years, the federal government kick-started the process for the second

marginal field licensing round, offering 31 onshore and off-shore fields.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, had announced on November 28, that the bid round would be completed by March, 2014 but less than a month to the date, the DPR is yet to make available the lists of oil fields that are available for sale, putting prospective buyers in the dark on the oil fields allocations and eroding transparency in the process.

As at the time of filing this report, none of the foreign and local investors, who have interests in the bid round, is aware of what is going on while some of them alleged that a list of the fields for bidding is being circulated among oil companies in

which politicians in the opposition and the ruling party have larger stakes.

Among the 31 fields are Uzuaku field on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11 in Ogoni land, the Egbolom field on OML 23 that was previously operated

by Shell in Rivers State, three offshore fields on OML 100 (Usoro, Ikong, Ibiom) and two on OML 67 (Amaniba and Ekpat).

Spokesperson for the DPR, Paul Osu, who confirmed his agency’s failure to make the list available as promised, added that this delay was caused by some reasons, which he declined to mention.

“The list will be uploaded on our website when it is ready,” he said adding that it “was not made available by January as promised,” by the DPR Director “because

it is yet to be ready for some reasons I do not know but all I can tell you now is that anytime that it is ready, it would be made available on our website.”

Asked whether he was aware of the existence of a list, which is being circulated among influential companies, Osu told New Telegraph in a telephone interview that he did not know anything outside DPR website and that he would not make comment on it.

“Anything outside the DPR website, I do not know anything about that,” he declared.

Executive Vice Chairman, Terra Energy Services Nigeria Limited, Akin Adetunji, however, said that the DPR should explain why the list has not been published.

ams Oshiomhole (Edo).

Buhari, a serial presidential candidate (2003, 2007 and 2011), is taking a shot at the presidency for the fourth time.

“We have not reached that bridge. We are still doing membership registration after which other things will follow. So, it is too early to conclude that Buhari is contesting for the APC presidential ticket,” Yau Doraso, Buhari’s media aide said.

But Buhari’s associates believe his candidacy will determine the extent of APC’s progress in the 2015 presidential

election.

“Don’t forget that Buhari has a cult followership in the North and the success or otherwise of APC depends on a Buhari candidacy in the presidential election,” a former minister, who is an associate of the former military ruler told our correspondent.

The only snag to Buhari’s candidacy is the reluctance of the Bola Tinubu camp in the APC to support his aspiration. They feel that Buhari is too independentminded.

CO NTINUED O N PAGE 50

Keshi tips Uzoenyi, three others for Brazil WORLD CUP Eagles coach Stephen Keshi learns a lesson or two from CHAN

S

uper Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has expressed confidence in the ability of Ejike Uzoenyi, the Most Valuable Player of the CHAN 2014, and three other players to make his 40-man preparatory team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

While addressing the

players, Keshi singled out Uzoenyi, for special mention, noting that at a point the player’s form dropped drastically but he listened to advise to improve and today, he has become the MVP of a major championship.

He said, “It will be to my delight if four players from this team to CHAN can make it to the World Cup in Brazil, but you must be dedicated, respect your club coaches and make discipline your watchword.”

He thanked all his technical assistants for their cooperation.

8

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

APC ’ll prevent more defections, says Oyegun Defection

APC will do everything possible, address every disaffection, to keep members

Temitope Ogunbanke

C

hairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) mediation and reconciliation committee, Chief John Oyegun, has vowed that his party will do everything possible to prevent its members defecting to other political parties.

His reaction followed the defection of former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and his Sokoto State counterpart then, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, from APC to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking to New Telegraph, Oyegun, a running mate to Shekarau on the platform ofn the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) during 2011 presidential election, said that the party is aware of issues in some APC states between the founding members of APC and those who defected from the PDP and therefore necessary measures would be put in place for APC not to lose its members His words: “We are sad to lose anybody, but there were issues and the earlier these issues are resolved, the better.

It is better to have somebody who is not with us to go where he wants to go than to have a disaffected person within causing endless instability. So that is the way we look at it. It is not nice to lose

anybody but if somebody is not happy in the company he is keeping, it is better that he goes rather than staying and becoming perpetual source of problem.

“We are doing everything humanly possible without turning the party upside down to keep those we have within our fold. Every single area of disaffection that we had is being attended to. We are doing everything not to lose a single man but just as we are doing that, we are also aware that PDP is working very hard to get some of our people. So, at the end of the day personal the decision is; whether policy and principle is more important to him than the sight of resources that are being made available. It is choice of the individual.”

PDP’s case against Amaechi, others resume Thursday CONTINUATION PDP wants the court to declare the five governors ineligible to remain in office

A

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja will on Thursday, February 6, hear a suit filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to unseat Governor Chibuike Amaechi and four others who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The other four governors are Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Alhaji Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).

At the last hearing, Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed the date to enable defendants who were neither present nor represented in court to enter appearance.

The court also ordered that a fresh hearing notice be served on the defendants and the Independent National Electoral Com-

mission (INEC).

PDP had through its counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN) instituted an action in which he cited section 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a ground for the court to declare them ineligible to remain in office as governor having defected to APC. The party wants the court to declare that by the combined provisions of section 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) the 2nd - 6th Defendants who were elected under the platform of the plaintiff cannot continue to enjoy the mandate given to the plaintiff by the people/electorate of the respective states as the 2nd - 6th Defendants have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It wants a declaration that in the absence of any division known and recognised by law in the Plaintiff, the 2nd - 6th Defendants who were elected under the plaintiff ’s platform have vacated or forfeited their seats forth-

with upon their defection to All Progressives Congress (APC).

It further prays for declaration that having combined provisions of section 87 of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended), section 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) the 2nd - 6th Defendants defection from the Plaintiff to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the offices of the 2nd - 6th Defendants have reverted to the Plaintiff.

In addition, the party wants a declaration that by combined provisions of section 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) upon the defection of the 2nd - 6th Defendants from the Plaintiff to the All Progressive Congress (APC), the mandate reverts to the deputy Governor or Speaker of the State Houses of Assembly of the respective states or any officer next in rank who is still a member of the Plaintiff to function and assume the office of the Governor of the respective states in question.

Friends in the House

L-R: Sunday Editor, New Telegraph, Emeka Madunagu; Deputy Editor, Politics, Ayodele Ojo; Managing Director, Bolaji Tunji; Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Managing Editor, Felix Abugu, Daily Editor, Gabriel Akinadewo and Saturday Editor, Laurence Ani, during the management’s visit to the governor in Lagos.

L-R: Deputy Editor, Business, Ayodele Aminu; Felix Abugu; Media Aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mallam Garba Shehu; Bolaji Tunji; Atiku’s Media Consultant, Paul Ibe; Gabriel Akinadewo, and Ayodele Ojo during Atiku’s aides’ visit to the newspaper’s office in Lagos.

L-R: Felix Abugu; Director General, Ekiti State Broadcasting Corporation, Mojeed Jamiu and Bolaji Tunji during Mojeed’s visit to the newspaper’s office in Lagos.

Members of the Newspapers Distribution Association of Nigeria (NDAN) with management of New Telegraph during the visit by NDAN to the newspaper’s office in Lagos.

PHOTOs:SULEIMAN HUSAINI, GBENGA OLAJOBI

9

Monday, February 3, 2014

l obal G r u Ou O

t lo

ok

SALT

10

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

Rivers State: A CRISIS FORETOLD I was angry with my friend I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe; I told it not, my wrath did grow.

William Blake, in Songs of Experience, 1794

F

or more reasons than several, it would be inappropriate to assume that Rivers State is daily in the news in Nigeria because of the size of her budget which even the governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi says is almost that of Ghana or because of her relevance to the Nigerian economy or the unity of our dearly beloved country, Nigeria. Something unwholesome has been happening and silence cannot still be fashionable.

January 1st, 2007, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi came to visit me at my small hide out in Port Harcourt. In his company were eminent sons of Rivers State but for the purpose of this reportage, I beg to mention just three of them, namely Hon. Chidi Wihioka, popularly called Elder, Hon. Andrew Uchendu, three time member of the Federal House of Representatives and leader of the Rivers State caucus of the hallowed House, and Hon. Azubuike Nwanjoku, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

It was early afternoon and the city of Port Harcourt was rather quiet belying the violence and brigandage of the past months and days preceding the visit. In addition to his dignified presence and that of the persons with him, I was honoured with a new year hamper. My visitors graciously accepted to sit in the discomfort of my small living room, and my friend, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly at the time and who had only a few weeks back won the PDP gubernatorial primaries of Rivers State but had been refused the flag of the party by then President Obasanjo on a warped k-leg logic, said he was just paying routine visits to friends in the spirit of the season. He nonetheless felt obliged to tell me as a co-aspirant in that gubernatorial primary election that he was still working on the discomfiture of President Obasanjo’s alleged k-leg.

I told my friend, Rt. Hon. Amaechi and his entourage that I know he will be governor of Rivers State, k-leg notwithstanding. That, in the interest of Rivers State, he should please open the political space when he becomes governor. I began to explain that our leader, Dr. Peter Odili, governor of the State had made the mistake of closing the political space which usually happens once a group of persons who have political headship and control of an area decide that they would hold and rotate control of that area for several more years among themselves and their cronies to the exclusion of all others. Once you decide to close the political space, as a corollary, you would also consciously work to close the economic space because you know that in a democracy, especially the type practised in Africa, only those with economic muzzle can crack your political fortress and wrest political headship and control from you.

During the reign of Dr. Peter Odili whom I hold dear for several other reasons, the political and economic life of Rivers State was open only to a few friends and allies resulting in the politics of hate, killings, and brigandage at every election season. The law of survival meant that politicians resort to all sorts of unlawful acts to gain the recognition and acceptance of the governor because as a deliberate policy of state, politicians who were not part of the accepted political equation and hegemony had their economic fortunes scuttled. Even though Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi was speaker and adopted first son of Dr. Odili, and heir apparent to the headship of that political hegemony, I urged that once he had the opportunity, he took deliberate steps to break down the barriers erected by his benefactor. My friend and now governor nodded very approvingly, or so I thought, and Hon. Andrew Uchendu promised to always remind our friend and brother.

Soon after, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi’s long walk to the political headship of Rivers State continued in the wilderness of Ghana, culminating in the judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on October 25th, 2007, heralding his reign as the Executive Governor of Rivers State. As a unique creation of the judiciary and the political vicissitude in Rivers State, his place in history and the enormous responsibility his latest crown put on his head were not lost on him. His success or otherwise would be determined by his own next steps. And so, rising above prejudice, and pleased by the fortunes of the South African example, he would set up a TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION in Rivers State, headed by the late Justice Kayode Esho.

If Justice Esho helped to unearth some truth in Rivers State, he was not to take responsibility for the reconciliation needed to unite a people, the people of Rivers State, and the urgent actions necessary to “lift artificial weights from the shoulders of men and clear the paths of laudable pursuits for all, to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance in the race of life.” That was the expected directive principle to guide state policies in Rivers State, and only the deliberate, very conscious steps of the governor of Rivers State would have been strong enough to steer us on that path.

The converse rather informed government actions following the completion of the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as the administration of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi took the “government of a group, by a group, and for a group” to a ridiculous new height in Rivers State and made it the abiding principle on which government actions rest. The deep divide, the grossly grotesque polarization of a once comely, convivial and fraternal people is a direct consequence of the actions

and inactions of their government. The setting up of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a recognition of a malady that must be conquered, let alone allowed to fester, and this case, to directly cultivate.

Never in our history have we been as polarised as we are today; have we been as hateful of the other as we are today; have we been brazen in our effort to put the other down as we are today; have we been so locked up in our own self-demeaning prejudices as we are today; have we been led by our fears rather than hopes as we are today. Where is the Truth and the Reconciliation? There now exist a strong threat to our sense of a common future. But we must move from the old to the new and Rivers State must again find her soul. The truth, of course, is that we have no right to aspire to govern our people if we cannot love our people as we love ourselves.

The governor of Rivers State says at almost every gathering that the people opposed to him are thieves and are very hungry. He also says the Supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike, was nominated by him to Mr. President for appointment as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Please ask the question yourself but first be informed that Barrister Nyesom Wike has been a close ally and confidante of our governor since 1999, as two time Local Government Council Chairman from 1999 to 2007, and as Chief of Staff to the Governor from 2007 to 2011. Let me help with the question: Did the governor nominate a thief for appointment as minister of our dear country? Perhaps the minister became a thief as he became opposed to his governor.

Governor Amaechi says Mr. President and the First Lady are also opposed to him because he refused to allow them ‘macro manage’ Rivers State from Aso Rock. We have been waiting with bated breath for one such instance to be cited but we know it is going to be an endless wait. Mr. President who works more than 18 hours daily, to get our beloved Nigeria out of the woods would hardly find time to macro manage his own Bayelsa State.

Today, because of the works of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria along with Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey are called the emerging economic giants and the World Bank and Goldman Sachs have projected that by 2050, going by our current growth rates, Nigeria will be the 13th largest economy in the world, ahead of Italy, Turkey and Canada. Therefore, the statement that the opposition to the governor are composed of thieves, hungry people and a meddling presidency is precisely the way the Holy Roman Empire was holy, Roman and an empire. It has been the unfortunate lot of Rivers people that our governors have not been able to resist the allure of very active national politics, often misconstruing their mandate as licence to seek to conquer greater Nigeria for self. In that pursuit of self-satisfaction, the attention of our governors become divided initially into 30, but now 36 states and Abuja. Unfortunately, only the resources of Rivers State is available to our governors and we are thus forced to share it with all of Nigeria. That further explains why as very prosperous as Rivers State is today, over 90% of Rivers people are not part of that prosperity. We have it so rich, yet we are so poor and a very oblique reflection of our blessings from God. I will not readily join those who say the governor has done nothing of note but I will be quick to dismiss even those gains because they were built of very shaky foundation.

No house divided against itself can stand. We must begin to find oneness. We must throw away our complacencies or despondencies depending on which side of the divide we stand and “live in the inspirations of the pressing reasons of this present times”. We must swear eternal fidelity to the just causes and pursuits of every Rivers man, woman and child. Politicians are peddlers of hope, but a time comes when they can no longer even simulate an affection that they do not bear for their people. It is no longer fashionable to engage in facts embroidery. Fortunately, “no problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking”. It was Alhaji Adamu Ciroma who said in 1995 that “We cannot monopolise prosperity and expect to enjoy it in a depressed surrounding”. We, therefore, have to overcome the ‘crippling legacies of bigotry and injustice’ and balance the competing interest of peace, justice and reconciliation.

“The most important war is the one going on even now and whose battlefield is the Spirit, where Good and Evil, Courage and Cowardice, Love and Fear face each other”.

Borrowing from former President Bill Clinton, I implore that as Rivers people, let us all strive “to focus on creating a genuinely unified, multi-ethnic state in the 21st century.

In that connection, we have to foster a dialogue, we have to promote education and to explicitly expose myths that are not true and salient realities that are. And to have concrete actions that come but out of this endeavour. We will have to demonstrate that “Rivers State” is still capable of rising to a new challenge. That we are not going to disintegrate in the face of it but we are actually going to be more unified by learning how to respect and indeed celebrate our differences and be bound by common values.”

We have to reintroduce elegance into the things we do because that was what Rivers State was known for. “The gazelle when it runs is elegant even when it is merely fleeing from a lion.” A very concerned citizen accused some of our leaders of displaying attitudes that lower the altitude of governance. “From the errors of others, a wise man corrects his own.” The people cannot continue to endure the vanities of the elite and their rulers. It is time to put people first and in Rivers State, that must mean service that translates to opportunity for all and responsibility from all. There is always a little more toothpaste in the tube.

CHIEF (BARR.) DUMO LULU-BRIGGS

is the current Chairman, Management Board, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.

NATIONAL Confab debate begins / PAGE 14 | 2015: Booby trap for PDP/ PAGE 15

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

ayodele Ojo Deputy Editor, politics

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

Jonathan's re-election tussle 'll be resolved –BABANGIDA }P-11,12&16

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Govt shutdown: How far can APC lawmakers go?

T

he mainstream opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), penultimate week, raised its game in the contest for political power. Its Interim National Executive Committee (NEC) directed members of the party in the National Assembly to block all executive proposals to the parliament until the Presidency resolved the political crisis in Rivers State.

By this directive, APC lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives are expected to do everything within their powers to frustrate all executive bills including the 2014 Appropriation Bill. It also gave the opposition lawmakers matching orders to obstruct President Goodluck Jonathan's request for confirmation of ministerial nominees and ratification of the appointment of military service chiefs.

The message was delivered

by Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

No doubt, the announcement of the proposed action hit the polity with a bang. A lot of Nigerians did not see it coming.

They knew that the opposition had an axe to grind with Jonathan but they did not expect that the confrontation would get as fierce and direct as to hit sensitive issues such as the budget, composition of the cabinet and national security.

Initially, some Nigerians dismissed the announcement as one of those threats by the opposition to seek the attention of the public. Soon after, many Nigerians began to see the danger lurking in the corner as the ruling party raised the alarm that APC was heading towards shutting down the government.

It dawned on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the opposition had drawn a battle

The recent directive by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to its members in the National Assembly to block all executive proposals has caused a lot of ripples in the polity. In this report, ONWUKA NZESHI examines the controversy trailing the move and what the parties may do if they mean business. line, too bold to be ignored.

Demonic directive National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, described the move as unpatriotic, demonic and an attempt by the opposition to sabotage the efforts of the Federal Government at stemming the tide of insecurity and transforming the economy. Other opposition parties such as the Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) also condemned the directive of the APC to its lawmakers in the National Assembly.

In response to the outrage that greeted the move, the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi

Gbajabiamila, told journalists that the essence of the directive was for the lawmakers to put the government in power under pressure and compel it to redress the tense political atmosphere in Rivers State.

According to Gbajabiamila, the outrage was unnecessary because what the APC had proposed to do was not sabotage but filibustering.

“We will do what we need to do to ensure good governance in our country. Government shutdown or filibustering is nothing new in party politics world over. When government isn’t shut down and successive budgets have been passed of what benefit has it been to the common man.

“The end justifies the means and the end in this context being good governance and that means extraordinary measures such as this,” he said.

But some observers have disagreed with this theory of filibustering for good governance.

Some analysts believe that this action may have been a ploy by the leadership of the APC to divert the attention of Nigerians from the internal crisis facing the opposition party and to discredit the Jonathan administration.

A retreat However, the APC was forced to beat a retreat from the frontCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

POLITICAL NOTES NRC as safe haven for PDP chair The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), arguably one of the oldest institutions in Nigeria, is gradually turning into a safe haven for former national chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Unlike in the past where the party’s former chairmen chaired boards of other federal parastatals, it seems President Goodluck Jonathan has preference for NRC for his party men.

Within two years, two national chairmen of the ruling party have become NRC chairmen.

Jonathan first appointed the former acting national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, as NRC chairman in 2012 after the emergence of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the party boss during a national convention.

Baraje pulled out of the NRC board in the wake of the crisis rocking the PDP; he was the chairman of the splinter group, the nPDP. Now, the president has again brought on the NRC board, the immediate past National Chairman of the PDP, Tukur, who was forced out of office on January 17.

The President had promised to compensate Tukur with an appointment. “I am going to give him an assignment that is tougher than PDP chairman,” he had declared shortly after accepting Tukur’s resignation.

One is tempted to ask Mr. President: Is chairing NRC more tasking than superintending the behemoth PDP? At 79, one only hopes that the railway would be a safe haven for Tukur, at least since the National Working Committee (NWC), state chairmen and governors of the party would no longer demand for his removal.

Well, if this trend is anything to go by, then Adamu Muazu need not worry himself at all about tomorrow. For, as is now obvious, whenever the former governor of Bauchi State is done with his new job, he already has another waiting for him!

12 POLITICS|MONDAY DIALOGUE

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

Jonathan's re-election be resolved ­– Babangida Nigeria's former military leader, Ex-President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) is probably the most interviewed elder statesman in the country. Whenever journalists need someone to unlock certain controversies in our polity, they go for the man who ruled Nigeria as a benevolent dictator and presided over the longest political transition programme in Nigeria's history. The trio of Ike Abonyi, Suleiman Bisalla and Onwuka Nzeshi caught up with the enigma many Nigerians choose to call 'Maradona' for his deft political manoeuvres while in office.

Our team of editors took IBB to task on the forthcoming general elections, the proposed national dialogue, Boko Haram insurgency, crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), life in retirement as well as his relationship with present and past Nigerian leaders. On every issue, IBB had an answer. He was serious, witty, frank and sometimes evasive, depending on the issue and his perception of what responses an elder statesman should give in a polity already turbocharged ahead of a crucial election year. Here, we serve you excerpts of the encounter.

What was your relationship with the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha?

It was good. We went into the military together; we started as young officers together; we grew up together and we became what God wished us to become and we still remained together up till the time he died.

You mean there was no friction between the two of you even after you left office and he became the head of state?

I have never told anybody that I had any problems with Abacha. It was you, the media, that created the impression that we had problems. The media and other people outside us thought there was friction but there had never been any friction between us.

But when he was in power and he retired some military officers who were then known as 'IBB boys', people said he was after you. Was this not an element of friction?

No! No!! No!!! In fact, after he did that, we spoke with each other. He rationalised to me why he had to do what he did and since he was the one in the saddle, I had no option but to accept what he told me in good faith.

Do you regret leaving office at the time you did?

No! I think I am fulfilled and happy.

I am back to my roots. I am back to live among my people, brothers, sisters, cousins, colleagues and friends. I am back to where I started from and I think it is the most enjoyable thing to do in life. I mean, I have every reason to be grateful to God. I left for the military

profession; spent 32 years outside and now I'm back to Minna. I think it is wonderful.

While you were in service, were you missing your friends and relatives?

Of course, while I was away, I lost contact with the people I grew up with; I also lost contact with some of my relatives - my cousins and even some of my uncles. We were a closely- knit society but suddenly, we lost contact for 32 years. Now I am back with them.

I consider myself part and parcel of them and I will continue to be part and parcel of them. They are also proud that I am one of their own.

You supervised the most comprehensive political transition programme in Nigeria. Now looking back at what we have today as democracy, are you satisfied with what you have seen in the last 14 years?

Ehmm, I think the whole concept of democracy is good, but the practitioners have not yet shown that they have fully embraced democracy. I think a lot needs to be done. The whole essence of democracy is about law and order; it's about elections, it's about the freedom of the individual. We have not reached that ideal level of democracy we all crave for in our political development.

In a recent encounter with the media, you described the defection of five PDP governors to APC as a positive development in our democracy. As a member of the PDP, are you not worried that this defection is impacting negatively on

Babangida

Babangida

your party?

No! No!! No!!! The constitution guarantees the individual the right to hold an opinion. You can express and spread such an opinion if you want. So, those of them who felt aggrieved, they have a right to change. They have a right to take their own decisions. It is democracy that makes this possible so we have no cause to be worried. Some stayed back, others defected and this is not the first time in the political history of this country that we are having this kind of thing. Maybe you guys were still very young when it happened in the past but defection is not a new phenomenon in Nigerian politics.

One of the reasons the aggrieved governors gave for their action was the continued stay in office of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman of the PDP. Now that Tukur is gone and a new chairman has taken over and a new structure is in place, do you think these governors will come back?

That new structure you are talking about is just seven days old, so let us wait and see. The new chairman, at least from what I have read in the papers, I think he is trying to build bridges across the old divide and I wish him

The whole concept of democracy is good, but the practitioners have not yet shown that they have fully embraced democracy well because he is genuine.

Are you willing to give the party and the new chairman, Adamu Muazu, the needed cooperation to rebuild the party ahead of the 2015 elections?

As long as I remain in PDP, he is my chairman and I should be loyal to the party and my chairman. But if he goes wrong, as an old man, I can always call him to say: 'Look, why don’t you do it this way?' I know he will be ready to listen to me.

Do you think PDP will survive after the 2015 elections?

First, the 2015 election is about one year away, so it is too early to talk about it. On the Nigerian political scene, everything is possible.

One of the demands of the aggrieved

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

tussle 'll

governors before their defection was that President Goodluck Jonathan should drop his second term ambition.

What is your view about this demand?

There are two issues- the people and then the President. This, I think is not the kind of problem that warrants people making such demands. It will be resolved when the time comes.

How do you feel about the letter Chief Olusegun Obasanjo wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan? Your name was mentioned in the letter and Obasanjo said he discussed the issues with you.

Were you really privy to the contents of that letter?

Ah! Ah!! He did not mention my name in the letter. It was in the postscript. He said he discussed some of the issues with me and the answer is "Yes", he did. Again, the good thing about us as elder statesmen is that we agree and sometimes we disagree. But he's got a reason why he had to go public with the issues and I can't question that.

Do you think Obasanjo was right in going public with such issues?

The constitution guarantees him the right to write letters to express anything on earth either in writing or

verbally. This is one of the things that the constitution allows him to do.

In the last four or five years, Nigeria has been grappling with the Boko Haram insurgency and other issues of insecurity. What is your impression of the way these issues are being handled by the government of the day?

You see, I will look at it from my own experience. When I joined the military way back...we had elections in 1963, 1964 and 1965... Nigeria has had a lot of problematic elections.

Remember the Tiv Riots, the riots in Western Nigeria, Isaac Boro crisis and eventually the civil war. So, in a way, we are all products of military operations in this country. To me, these things are not new because they are things that all developing countries have to go through in the course of nation building. The important thing is that when you have a problem, you find a solution to it and move forward. Such a problem, we hope, will not occur again. We are facing some problems right now but with strong determination, I think we will be able to put the problem of insecurity behind us. But that is not the end of the problems of nation building. In the future, other things may crop up. They could come in the form of economic crisis or natural disaster. It is part of nation building.

How would you rate the performance of your party (PDP) since 1999 that it has been in power?

Well, there is peace in Nigeria and that we are not at war with any other country today, is an achievement. So you can give them credit for that.

What kind of peace? Peace of the graveyard?

Provided it is not a graveyard! (laughter) What I know is that there is peace (laughter). Honestly, I think that we have to appreciate the peace that we have in this country. I still maintain that every developing country is passing through some difficulties. If you look at the world today; go to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Thailand, Turkey - these are all developing countries and they are having one challenge or the other.

The important thing is our ability to come together to confront the challenges that our nation is facing. Once we agree to solve the problem, we will move forward.

Some Nigerians are not comfortable with the way the government is tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, particularly with the reports of the insurgents allegedly having superior fire power over men of the Armed Forces. How would you rate the performance of our security forces in the war against the

POLITICS|MONDAY DIALOGUE 13 insurgents?

As a man who has been in the military service for almost 32 years, that question should not be discussed publicly.

The Federal Government recently proposed a national dialogue in which they want all Nigerians to sit at a round table to discuss the future of the country after 100 years of living together. What is your view on this proposed dialogue?

Well, again this is the good thing about democracy. Dialogue is part of democracy. But I am probably happy about what I read from what you guys dish out to us. There are still some disagreements among the Nigerian people, among the media and among the ordinary citizens on the way to move forward on this particular dialogue. What I am interested in is how we would resolve it. Already, before its take-off, there are a lot of divergent views and that is Nigeria for you. It is healthy.

In your days as a military ruler, you had a penchant for appointing young and competent professionals into the cabinet. But today, the party in power seems to be recycling old and tired people. A typical example is the recent nomination of an old war horse, General Aliyu Gusau, as minister. What is your view on such nominations? What is a man of almost 70 years coming to do in government?

You could be 90 years, but as long as the President has decided that he needs a man like you. I am sure he must have set some criteria for getting him there and he is doing it in the interest of the country. So be it.

Has Gusau discussed with you whether he would take the job?

I would avoid that question because it is personal.

It is generally believed that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is warming up again to fly the flag of the All Progressives Party (APC) in the coming election. Would you advise a person of that age to undertake such a venture?

Is he running for the presidency?

At least he has not said anything to the contrary.

You have just answered your question. He has not said whether he is going to run or not, so why should I tell him not to when he has not said anything? I would wait until he says something before I can advise him. It is either he says he will run or he will not run. And when I'm going to advise him, it will not be in public.

In 2011, you were among the northern leaders that championed the cause of having a consensus presidential candidate from the North. Are we going to see a repeat of that agitation in 2015?

I think that it is much clearer now than it was during our time. In most of the political parties, the principles are different. We have the PDP and the APC, so you have an option and you don't have 60 presidential candidates though you have 61 political parties.

So, somehow people will find accommodation and that makes things easier for every one.

The constitution guarantees him the right to write letters to express anything on earth either in writing or verbally. This is one of the things that the constitution allows him to do You seem to be pro-PDP I have not said anything that portrays me as pro or anti any party. I have spoken neither for the PDP nor for the APC. I am an elder statesman.

Does the perennial problem of North/ South dichotomy in our politics worry you?

No. You know why?

Why? Before the amalgamation in 1914, there were people travelling from Baga to Lagos; there were people living in Enugu or Port Harcourt from all parts of the country. So, there's been a cross movement of all ethnic nationalities in the country. People from the East moved to Baga and Borno before 1914.

People were trading in cowries and fish. So, the basis of Nigerian unity had been established before 1914. The fact that somebody in the name of Lord Lugard formalised it is just part of history.

Does it mean you are also not disturbed about the prediction by a group in the United States that Nigeria may split in 2015?

No. I am not disturbed by such reports. I am confident it would make us stronger. 2015 will make us stronger.

Now let us get down to your home, Niger State and the politics of 2015. Your name is being mentioned and there are speculations that you may be preparing the grounds for your son to contest the next governorship election in the state? What is the true position?

He is not running.

Your son is not running for the governorship?

Yes, he is not. When I say he is not running, I mean he is not running for what you are advocating for him ; he is not running for the governorship seat. He could run for the chairmanship seat in his local government (laughter).

Why is he not running? Is he too young to run?

No! No!! No!!! He is developed enough but maybe he has something more important to do at this time than running for the governorship.

How would you rate the performance of Dr. Babangida Aliyu, the incumbent governor of your state?

Aliyu happens to be my second cousin. At least, there is peace in Niger State. So, he has succeeded in keeping us together. We are not killing ourselves, ethnically or religiously. So, to that extent, I will give him credit for that.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

National Confab debate begins Despite the various platforms of discourse provided by the present democratic dispensation, Nigerians unanimously clamoured for a national conference.

FELIX NWANERI writes that the agitation has forced the Federal Government to set machinery in motion for the commencement of a discourse that is expected to address the imbalance in the nation’s polity.

L-R: Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Senator Femi Okunronmu; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and the Secretary of the committee, Dr. Akilu Indabawa at the unveiling of the modalities for the National Conference.

T

he Federal Government has set the ball rolling for the planned National Conference with the announcement of the modalities for the discourse that will see the convergence of 492 delegates in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for three months to discuss issues of national importance.

Although no date has been fixed for the conference’s take-off, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, who announced the modalities, said nomination of the delegates would be between January 30 and February 20.

Reiterating government’s position that the conference would discuss any subject matter, except the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria as a nation, Anyim said the decisions reached by the delegates would be by consensus.

He added that where consensus was not achievable, it would be by 75 per cent majority. The conference is expected to advise government on the legal framework, procedures and options for integrating its decisions and outcomes into the 1999 Constitution and other laws of the country.

According to Anyim, the conference shall advise the government on the legal framework, legal procedures and options for integrating the decisions and outcomes of the national conference into the constitution and laws of the country.

The SGF said a Conference Management Secretariat shall be established to manage, administer and run the affairs of the Conference while the confab shall have a chairperson and a deputy chairperson of unimpeachable integrity.

Why the confab Nigeria’s fragmentation predates independence from colonial rule given her over 300 ethnic groups. However, while successive administrations made efforts to cement the crack, the country is still seen by many as nations within a nation.

The argument of some stakeholders in this regard, is that the unitary constitution/system of government presently in place under the guise of a federal system

has failed to solve the country’s numerous problems and therefore, the need for a dialogue to address agitations from almost every section of the country.

Some of the burning issues In the polity which stakeholders feel should be addressed include: the quest for some measure of autonomy for the federating units (states) against an all-powerful centre; need for fiscal federalism to pave the way for resource control by the states; equality of states and local governments among the six geo-political zones, state police and indigeneship question.

It was against this backdrop that notable groups such as the Patriots, National Summit Group, NSG; National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo persistently called for a Sovereign National Conference devoid of the present political affiliations, to achieve the much-desired political stability needed for economic growth.

Another school of thought, however, argued that the National Assembly was the best platform to resolve all contentious issues, as any other means could threaten the country’s unity.

Such fear partly explained why past and even the present administration foreclosed the idea of a conference before President Goodluck Jonathan in his Independence Day broadcast on October 1, 2013, informed Nigerians that he had set up a 13-member Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue under Senator Femi Okurounmu.

Committee’s report The committee, which was inaugurated on October 7, 2013, was mandated to advise government on the framework of a national dialogue by consulting widely with Nigerians as well as to come up with an appropriate name/nomenclature for the proposed national dialogue.

A total of 6,650 Nigerians participated in the interactive sessions; 421 presentations were made and 607 memoranda received at the interactive sessions, while 57 memoranda were received online and 47 by direct submission to the committee’s secretariat.

HIGHLIGHTS •

Name: The National Conference

•

Venue: Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

•

Duration: Three months

•

No of delegates: 492

•

No-go areas: Indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria

•

Decisions by consensus

After various sessions, the committee recommended among others: that the national dialogue be called “National Conference” and should have no no-goareas; that majority of the delegates to the conference be elected directly on the principles of universal adult suffrage, and that the size and structure of the conference should be in accordance with the 360 constituencies of the House of Representatives.

Despite Okurounmu’s insistence that the report was the unanimous decision of all members of the 13-member committee, a minority report was prepared by and forwarded to the President by a member of the committee, Chief Solomon Asemota (SAN).

The report acknowledged the reality of fears of ethnic domination in Nigeria, which it attributed to the existence of an “invisible and shadowy power structure” that breeds corruption and insecurity.

Knocks for report Most stakeholders and groups faulted the majority report on the premise that its recommendations failed to recognise the submission of the various ethnic nationalities.

Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere, in its reaction said the report fell short of the aspirations and expectation of the various nationalities in Nigeria.

The Concerned Igbo Leaders of Thought, led by foremost constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, rejected the recommendation that the decisions of the conference would be incorporated into the 1999 Constitution.

Both groups were unanimous that the confab should have equal represen-

tation of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria against the recommendation that delegates should be elected on the basis of the federal constituencies.

Recognition of nationalities The Federal Government, apparently to avoid playing into the hands of those who said the conference would end up as a mere talk-show, announced 15 slots from each geo-political zone for all sociopolitical and nationality groups while the five political parties that have representation in the National Assembly – Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; All Progressives Congress, APC; All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; Accord Party, AP and Labour Party, LP will get two slots each.

Several other interest groups are also expected to be represented.

Mixed reactions Despite government’s effort to ensure that the various interest groups were accommodated, some stakeholders still maintain that the confab is a bridge to nowhere.

Former Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, who spoke on the issue, told New Telegraph that the conference is a waste of time and resources.

Musa said: “The modalities announced by the government confirm that the conference is a waste of time, a political maneu tt ver and a waste of resources. The President has no moral justification to call for a confab. He is the president of the country and he is expected to right the wrongs of the past, but he has failed to do so. Therefore, I call on all Nigerians to shun the conference.”

Second Republic parliamentarian, Dr Junaidu Mohammed, who expressed similar sentiment, told the newspaper that “the conference is not going to achieve anything because it was conceived to enhance the personal ambition of one man. If the President wants an extension of his tenure, let him go ahead but we cannot be taken for a ride.”

CO NTINUED O N PAGE 15

POLITICS 15

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

C

ountdown to the 2015 general elections, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stepped up efforts to reconcile with its aggrieved members and put the party on a sound footing to face the rigours of elections. One of such moves was the meeting between the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, with members of the House of Representatives where the lawmakers canvassed for automatic tickets to contest the next elections.

In other words, the lawmakers are calling on the party to shelve primaries and instead endorse them by disenfranchising prospective aspirants who may want to challenge them in their constituencies. However, while he appreciated their concerns, he was quick to declare that the party would not continue with the culture of imposition that has balkanised it in recent times. But he assured that the party would conduct transparent primaries where candidates would emerge through popular votes based on their credentials and acceptability.

2015: Booby trap for PDP The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has turned down the request of its members in the House of Representatives demanding for automatic tickets to contest 2015 elections.

PHILIP NYAM takes a look at the scenario and its likely consequences.

Booby trap

The request The House leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, who conveyed the demand of the members in her opening address at the meeting, had told the party leadership and the 11 governors in attendance that the request was hinged on the party's promise to the lawmakers.

According to the House Leader, the issue of automatic ticket was part of the promise made to the legislators by the executive arm of government, which did not fulfill the promise, thereby leading to a frosty relationship between the lawmakers and the party. She maintained that the lawmakers “would want to be assured of automatic ticket in the forthcoming elections and the opportunity to nominate membership of various committees in their constituencies as the need arises.”

In his pursuit of an automatic ticket for President Goodluck Jonathan, the immediate past chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur had promised the lawmakers return tickets in the 2015 elections.

The demand for automatic tickets is hinged on the fact that the Nation-

Muazu

al Assembly is most hit in the large turnout of politicians that fail in reelection. In 2003, more than half of the lawmakers could not make their way back to the House. There was also a repeat in 2007. In 2011, only 100 members managed to get re-elected.

Mu’azu kicks However, Mu’azu shot down the request. He noted that “automatic tickets are given by parties that are

National Confab debate begins CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 4

On his part, National Chairman of the United Peoples Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, said: “Ethnic nationalities would have been better representatives of the people. That is a major minus to the conference. Another concern is the method of arriving at consensus.

Simple majority would have been a better method at arriving at consensus,” he told New Telegraph.

Okorie also faulted the government’s resolve to incorporate the decisions of the conference into the constitution, saying: “Incorporating the decisions of the confab into the constitution is not

of them have not performed and their constituents are threatening to recall them or replace them in 2015. So, without automatic ticket, the possibility of returning to the parliament would remain a mirage hence the only way to reclaim it is by getting the party to endorse them.

Besides, some of the lawmakers are at loggerheads with their governors and as far as the governors control the party’s structure at the state level, only a blanket directive from the national secretariat to return them would save them. A number of PDP governors have indicated interest to vie for senatorial seats.

what we are talking about. There is no constitution in the first place because the 1999 Constitution is an aberration.”

The spokesman of pan Yoruba group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, however differed. To him, “apart from the effort to get state governors to nominate some delegates, we have for the first time, the recognition of nationalities,” he said.

While the debate is expected to get more interesting in the days ahead, most Nigerians are of the view that the various interest groups should look beyond personal gains in taking positions on the issue, as there is an urgent need to restructure the country and save it from further fragmentation.

Automatic tickets are given by parties that are undemocratic; we have a democratic process and we will go through that.

Those that deserved it will surely be there. undemocratic; we have a democratic process and we will go through that.

Those that deserved it will surely be there.”

The new chairman claimed ignorance of the “promise”, but pleaded with the members to remain focused and stay put in the party. He said: “It is a pity that things have gone the way they have gone; the disconnect between the party and the members of the House will be a thing of the past.

If the party gave you a platform, you owe it a responsibility to remain in the party.”

But how far can Mu’azu defend this democratic practice in the PDP? This is likely to cause disaffection between him and the lawmakers because many

The issue of automatic ticket is a booby trap which must be handled with a lot of political dexterity to avoid a backlash.

For now, Mu’azu seems to be threading cautiously but there is every tendency that the party’s strongman may derail along the line because he must bend the rule in some circumstances to accommodate the agenda of the governors. It is clear that the governors who fought Tukur to a standstill over the control of party machineries in their domains are now in firm grip. Mu’azu has promised that he has no intention to interfere and if this stance is maintained, the lawmakers would continue to press for automatic tickets.

In fact, Governor Godswill Akpabio, who doubles as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, at the meeting decried the gap between governors and legislators but also, gave a warning, which lends credence to the resolve by the governors not to concede their continuous control of the party. He said: “The outcome of this meeting will determine to a large extent the return or exit of some of you because your governors are here since you don’t relate much with your governors and get disconnected from state functions. But this meeting would straighten all that out. Whatever is decided here would become the Abuja accord.”

Whichever way one looks at the unfolding development, the proposal of automatic tickets by members of the House is undemocratic as described by the PDP chairman. Besides, automatic tickets is no longer a guarantee to winning election considering the level of awareness in the polity now and the emergence of a mega opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) to checkmate the ruling party.

If automatic ticket is offered to anyone, Nigerians will definitely raise alarm. Therefore, this proposal may not see the light of day but it has the potency to further strain the sour relationship between the party and its members in the lower House.

16 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

'Amaechi, Nyako, others have right to defect' CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

What is your relationship with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo?

You mean General Obasanjo? He was my boss. So, what kind of relationship are you talking about? The relationship is that of a superior officer and a subordinate officer.

What about your relationship politically?

He is in Abeokuta; I'm in Minna (laughter).

What's your relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan?

Good, cordial and as a relationship between the President and a citizen.

Does he consult you before taking major decisions?

We talk.

You have not attended the Council of State meeting for some time, is there any problem?

It is because of the distance. I travel from Minna to here (Abuja). I am an old man and the road is bad. They are fixing it any way (laughter).

A lot of Nigerians believe that there is corruption in the country. They also believe that if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. What is your view about this?

Say it again (Laughter). Why don't

you say if corruption doesn't kill Nigeria, Nigeria would kill corruption?

(Laughter). If you say it the other way, then there is hope. Well to kill this corruption that everybody is talking about, we must know what it is; we must know how it is and we must know the places where it could be found before we can start attacking it. Let me give you an example. If you were wise enough during my time. You know the amount of corruption that went on let's say in import licence. We came and stopped it; any citizen could feel free to import anything but must pay import duty. People must feel free to import without going to seek the favour of some persons who grant licences.

You convince the ordinary farmer in the village that he can sell his farm produce without going through an intermediary who assesses it and in the process, you bribe him to assess it correctly. Now, if you create a situation where the end user of farm produce goes to the farmer directly, checks the produce and pays the farmer directly, you would have blocked corruption.

So, identify all these areas of corruption and do something to block the loopholes.

Sometimes, I get crazy about some of the things you write - about some-

Babangida

body who has a billion naira under his bed. The first question is: How did you get it? Maybe the rules, regulations, general orders and instructions are not being followed and where they were being followed, sanctions were not applied. So, there are so many things we can do to curb corruption. We would kill corruption when we are able to identify it.

This discussion will not be complete until we have found out how you have been coping since the passing away of your dear wife, Maryam, in 2009. How has it been?

It has been tough. It is not easy but life must continue. She is gone; I will go and others will go as well when the

time comes. So that spirit of accepting the wishes of Allah is very dominant in our culture and environment. Before I reached the age of 15, I had lost my parents, but life continued.

At 70, you are still strong, are you thinking of taking another wife?

(Laughter) I may look strong, but it doesn't mean that I feel strong.

But you look as if you feel strong. What is the secret?

It looks like. Looks might be deceptive.

What would be your advice to our politicians as they prepare for the 2015 general elections?

Transparency, honesty and love for this country. That's all.

Govt shutdown: How far can APC lawmakers go?

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

line when many Nigerians expressed anger and disapproval with its planned shutdown of government business.

Many Nigerians could not understand why the crisis in Rivers State should be transplanted to the national stage.

As the National Assembly resumed plenary, the nation waited in apprehension to see if the APC lawmakers would indeed make good their threat to frustrate executive bills in the parliament. A coalition of the lawmakers drawn from the PDP, LP and APGA mounted a strong opposition to the APC in the House of Representatives. The new group equally threatened to hit back at the APC if the latter attempted to hit the government of the day below the belt.

Alas, the APC senators were the first to back down. They defied the directives of their party and sat with their counterparts from other parties to screen the service chiefs nominated by the President.

They also sat in the chamber to participate in the debate on the 2014 budget.

Subsequently, their counterparts in the House of Representatives also followed suit – considering the budget and participating in the screening of the ser-

We will not support a budget that does nothing for the people we represent. We will not rubber stamp a budget that seeks to borrow more money at ridiculous rates... vice chiefs.

It then became clear that the APC had done some soul-searching and found that its public rating had crashed tremendously in the few days it attempted to justify filibustering. But the party would also not want to concede that it had shifted ground to avoid a backlash.

At a news conference on Wednesday, the APC Caucus in the House said it did not call for a boycott of parliamentary proceedings for its members but a reasonable force to compel positive response to its demands.

In a terse statement that appeared to be a renewal of faith in filibustering, the APC said: “Let us be categorical, we in-

tend to continue to protest the culture of impunity, immorality and illegality this government insists in entrenching in our system….

“On the budget itself, we will not support a budget that does nothing for the people we represent. We will not rubber stamp a budget that seeks to borrow more money at ridiculous rates and further impoverish the country. Indeed, we refuse to support a budget that comes in with a huge deficit.

“More importantly we will not be party to the appropriation of funds and taxpayers money to a police force that will turn around and use same to maim and kill the same taxpayers. No we will not.”

The PDP should take whatever it gets from the APC as food for thought and make adjustments where it can, knowing that criticism is part of democracy.

It should also know that as the party in power, other parties would certainly want to challenge it to prove its worth or step aside.

Like a typical opposition in Third World democracies, the APC appears to be making the right noises to keep it in the consciousness of the populace. It has effectively deployed the instruments of propaganda to sway public opinion in

its favour. But its desire to make itself a credible alternative to the party in power would be largely dependent not on crying wolf every day but on the quality of alternatives it is prepared to provide for Nigeria.

So far, it does appear that the APC is prepared to go the whole hog of running the political marathon. As a party that wants to be regarded as a “government in waiting,” the APC should by now have constituted a shadow cabinet so that when it criticises the 2014 Appropriation Bill, it would present an alternative budget proposal to convince Nigerians of its readiness to take over power.

No matter how long it filibusters, the APC may not go far until it goes beyond threats and does things that could convince Nigerians of its readiness to take over power.

So far, the party appears fixated on running down its main rival, the PDP, and hoping that by so doing, it could run the old gang out of town.

On the whole, the filibustering card has become a game changer. It has indeed raised the ante in our political development. The party in power can no longer carry on as if government was its birthright. It is now the survival of the fittest.

EDITORIAL 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: balance reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

Sanctity of Truth www.newt e le g r aphonline .com

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

Monday, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

For the Sanctity of Truth CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1

For almost 15 years, our country has practised democratic mode of government. The returns have not been self evident and our political leaders have got away with a slap on the wrist.

We believe in democracy of the rule of law and that the exercise of political power should not be to the detriment of the people.

In exercising political power, we dare say it is incumbent on politicians to respect the law, the constitution, and the will of the people in all they do. Without people, there would be no democracy, therefore, the people are sovereign – they are the highest authority – and the government is or should be based on the will of the people. We shall, therefore, as a matter of duty, demand for accountability, probity, transparency, and responsiveness from the elected and appointed representatives of the people at all levels of governance. Our democracy should approximate such where all citizens are equal under the law; no one should be discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, ethnic group, political affiliation or gender. We also recognize the need to respect diversity and promote gender parity.

In recognition of the competitive nature of the journalism profession, a team of media

managers and technocrats with combined media experience of over 100 years has been assembled to bring their experience and expertise to bear on the daily operations of the paper. To achieve set goals, it will work cohesively as a team, each person doing his best to the best of his ability and knowledge with a view to upholding the common standards of journalism ethics of professionalism, reliability and public accountability.

The New Telegraph's leadership cadre will have a sense of order, a sound mind and the ability and capacity to discern good from bad, right from wrong. Strongly, we believe in our inalienable right to inform, to comment on issues and events of the day. But we also recognize an obligation to be responsive, objective, sensitive and fair. We have no preconception that we alone hold the ultimate truth about anything and everything, but we will be driven by higher values.

It is a common knowledge that the newspaper industry has un-

Our democracy should approximate such where all citizens are equal under the law

dergone enormous changes in the past few years with the explosion in online publications. This newspaper will not just be part of the change; it will be the change.

We will not promise to reinvent the wheel, but we will surely bring about a new set of direction quickly while employing and utilizing available technological and intellectual resources to accomplish the objectives.

There was time when the media could check on the powerful and interrogate the establishment.

Then it could command public opinion, interrogate the establishment, and shape public opinion.

Although change is sweeping through every part of journalism, presenting diverse challenges from technological revolution to ethical relevance, the influence of the media in society has not changed. The Nigerian society, more than ever, needs accurate information, relevant values and progressive ideas. Thus the enduring principles of journalism will be our cornerstone.

It's a given that the opinion/ editorial pages of the New Telegraph newspaper will be a “marketplace of ideas”, where all manner of views, opinions, and commentaries on public policy issues are analyzed and vetted to engender robust debates for the good of all. As Fredrick Siebert

wrote in Four Theories of the Press: “Let all with something to say be free to express themselves. The true and sound will survive. The false and unsound will be vanquished.” We stand on this principle.

Truth, credibility, and integrity will be our watchword and, in carrying out our duty, the highest possible level of professionalism will be maintained, and we will be guided by unrestricted openness. In other words, truth will remain sacrosanct. To this end, we are inspired by Charles Prestwich Scott, a British journalist, publisher, and politician, who wrote in his famous essay to celebrate the century of the Guardian and his 50th anniversary as editor, ‘A Hundred Years’ in 1921: “…Neither in what it gives, nor in what it does not give, nor in the mode of presentation must the unclouded face of truth suffer wrong. Comment is free, but facts are sacred.

“Propaganda,” so called, by this means is hateful. The voice of opponents no less than that of friends has a right to be heard.”

We believe that as in the past, so too today that responsible and professional journalism empowers the individual, improves society and is the life-force of every democracy. For the sanctity of truth, The New Telegraph is for the people!

BOLAJI TUNJI Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief IKE ABONYI Deputy Managing Director FELIX 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 USMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board BIODUN DUROJAIYE News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

18

Monday, February 3, 2014

OPINION

Anti-gay law: The godly act of President Jonathan Gabriel Olaoye

I

t is of great concern to read on the screen that a party in UK suspended a Counsellor for blaming the flood that occurred on the Government’s legalisation of Gay marriage. Whatever scientific explanations Britain has for abnormal manifestations of nature, she has being a nation that projected God so much and cannot deny the inspiration in Psalm 29. The Brits need to be reminded that nature is the launch pad for the expression of God. Let a natural disaster happen but we will do well not to bring about decisions like the gay marriage that may hinder God’s favourable intervention. “A nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. Jeremiah 7:28.

In time past, Nigerians were predominantly traditionalists, it was an innocent spiritual effort to survive and dominate a stuck-up environment on the one hand, and to accord divinity his rightful place on the other hand. Embracing the latter religions, Christianity and Islam, is a further proof that there is God’s place in Nigerians that is yearning for fulfilment.

It goes a long way too to show that we Nigerians have a good foresight for life after death in the celestial. Minus the religious

excesses that is epileptically in manifest in some areas, this nation has felt God and benefited divine fellowship with him and with fellow human beings. This pivot of harmony has enhanced an enduring unity in diversity. On this regard, we stand taller than those who initially proclaimed: In God We Trust. Nigerians do not only have their trust in God; in Him we move, and live and have our being.

It is by His grace alone that this nation survives all socio political turbulence.

We are so blessed by God and we shall remain grateful to Him by protecting a sane order of creation, which is God’s essential interest. We shall uphold, as ever, a morally sound family system; a society with gender repute and responsibility; a godly respect for procreation ethics.

Thus far, shortfalls notwithstanding, we have to a large degree lived disciplined to uphold these.

The recent President Goodluck Jonathan’s final signature on the legislation prohibiting same sex marriage in this country, notwithstanding the unfavourable stand of the United States of America and the EU, is noble and godly.

Let the entire world out there frown at it; we don’t have to go down the ditch of immorality with any bloc of the world.

One is tempted to suspect that those worlds in favour of this evil are unconsciously warming up to consider man-

animal marriage in the public not too long from now. Satan has definitely not reached the final bus stop. Lesbianism is definitely happening in the secret in those places. It is insignificant that some hooked fellows are as a result on exit from this country to places where their immoral addiction can be accommodated. It is hoped that none of them will remain within the boundaries of this land. Since my childhood, I had wondered why cockroaches run to hide at the shining of the light. This legislation answers it; it is a flushing beam of light which no human cockroach may withstand. I pray that an anticorruption law of the same capacity will happen in Nigeria and culprits will run to wherever.

Homosexuals are a people that the Holy Book strictly warns that we should “have no fellowship with, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11.

Same sex marriage is a basket of unhatchable eggs; an experiment of hell, and a cultural devastator of the first order. Even the sexually stormy dogs maintain some restraint. Two male fowls at cross are only out to fight it out with the other to have control over the female fowls in that territory. Even if science defines all living, even themselves, as animals, should humans go lower than animals?

Let it not sound embarrassing to say that God still followed issues up when the first crime was committed in Eden; Cain killed his brother Abel and God sought him. God wished that Cain would realise his sin but he however failed. As regards the sin of sexual immorality conversely, God reformatted the world; he wiped off the entire human race except Noah’s family where probably sexual sanity found place.

It is pertinent to say that worse dehumanising temptations than same sex marriages await nations that either believe absolutely in scientific exploration above the recognition of the personality of God the creator, or exonerating religion in defence of God and levelling human beings in the name of God. One wonders why God has come to exist at the mercy of human defences.

Homosexuality is as blindfolding as religious sexism. They both constitute a halt to human continuity. Today, many people are attacking gay marriage from the religious point of view; but it is sad to state that the same religious factor is a primary basis for dehumanization.

We are sold to religious imperialism than influencing lives positively. The world socio-spiritual equilibrium is not just off balance.

Rev Olaoye is of Kingdom Class Ministry, Ilorin.

2015 elections: Northern elders as scare mongers Constance Okechukwu

I

n African culture, elders are the custodians of truth.

They are the moral guide to the society and they do all in their wisdom to engender peace and preserve the interests of the larger society. Unfortunately, the various elders’ groups in Nigeria–in the East, West, South-South, Middle Belt or North -are different; they observe this rule in the breach. The most typical of them is the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) which has been in the news in recent times, for its strident pursuit of sectional and parochial interests to the detriment of the well-being of the larger Nigerian nation.

The elders, at the end of its meeting in Kaduna last month, alleged that the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika, and some other top military officers were involved in extra-judicial killings and strangulation of civilians by soldiers in Bama and Giwa Barracks in Borno State, using an underground detention centre. The Forum’s threat to drag the former Army chief to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, is not only seen as a campaign to fan the embers of ethnic discord –with its potentialities in Nigeria-it is also a campaign to diminish Nigeria before the international community. More grievous is that it is a malicious attempt to portray President Goodluck Jonathan as a violator of human rights.

At a different forum, the group and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC) accused the President of masterminding the mass redeployment

of heavy military weapons from the North to the South. As if the issue is not worrisome enough, their meeting chaired by no less a personality than the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, in Kaduna, alleged that the reason for the arms relocation was to aid the plan to rig the 2015 elections. Weighty accusations, I dare say. However, they are allegations that are as curious as they are baseless.

While the spokesman for the first group, Professor Ango Abdullahi, did not mention the six other persons he alleged were involved in the Borno human rights violations, the Sultan’s group did not in any way substantiate its allegation on arms relocation. The questions that arise are many, but only two will suffice here: Why did they hide the allegations in their large babanrigas, until shortly after Ihejirika was removed as Army Chief ?

And where were they when Odi, Katsina-Ala and Zaki Biam faced worse action, or are Katsina-Ala and Zaki Biam no longer part of their North?

While several groups have denounced the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) for openly discouraging the military’s efforts in containing terror -- for that’s what its posture amounts to-prominent Igbo leaders say it is an attempt to tarnish the image and sterling performance of General Ihejirika as the nation’s army chief. My worry is that the attack on the former army chief is ill-conceived, coming at a time that the military, and indeed the nation, was counting the losses in human and material terms of the war on Boko Haram.

According to Ihejirika himself, in the entire com-

mand chain of the Army, directives are issued from higher commands down to the issuance of operational orders, but at every level of adherence, the rule of engagement is emphasized with special emphasis on the preservation of human rights. Therefore, to accuse the army, such a highly organised institution that does not condone indiscipline, of human rights abuses within the Nigerian territory, is to be uncharitable, considering the challenges they have had to face and the risks they have borne in the Boko Haram ‘war’. Besides, to single out Ihejirika for accusation, smacks of hidden agenda, and fuels the belief

by Ohaneze Youths, that it was an attempt to blemish the records of their kinsman who broke all records to rise to the top position of the Nigerian Army.

We have always known the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) as the modern version of the old Kaduna Mafia, but when did they transform to military tacticians?

Their tale on relocation of military hardware must therefore, be seen as unnecessary scare-mongering. To allege too that it was part of a grand design to rig the 2015 elections is utter claptrap coming from hawkish politicians out to score some cheap points. NEF must appreciate the impact of the ongoing reforms in our electoral system, for which President Jonathan has received acclaim and commendation from local and international organisations. Such glib allegations are senseless in a country that has increasingly widened the democratic space and moved away from shambolic elections.

Okechukwu sent in this piece via Constanceokechukwu1999@ yahoo.com

metr

19 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/education

WAHEED BAKARE Deputy Editor, SATURDAY 0811 675 9812

waheed.bakare@newtelegraphonline.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Artisans, rodents take over FG's abandoned 17-storey building If it were four or five years ago, you would not have been able to get close to this building

The building.

Photo: Suleman Husaini

A 17-storey building abandoned by the Federal Government brings to the fore the country’s culture of waste. Abiodun Bello reports

A

bule Era, until recently, was a rustic community in Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. It has had its fair share of provision of social amenities.

The community has in the last couple of years become popular but for the wrong reason – crime. And that is because it houses one of the biggest and tallest buildings in the country.

The 17-storey building, called Ile Nla (big house) by the residents of the area, is regarded as a monumental waste.

The building is aptly named Ile Nla because of its sheer

size. It has two wings, A and B, with extensions on both sides that rise to about fifth floor.

The building also has sporting facilities, including a basketball court, other extensions as well as smaller structures. It has its water treatment plant and a borehole, which now serves as a source of water for those using the premises.

The building, whose worth is conservatively put at about N2.5 billion (current market value), is situated on about three acres of land. A greater percentage of the land was ‘sandfilled’ because it is a swampy area.

However, land grabbers, popularly called Omo Onile,

have sold some plots to private individuals. This explains the springing up of houses on the land.

One of such houses, which has been fenced, has been sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), for encroaching on the land.

Some churches and Islamic organisations are also using the building for religious functions. Some of their banners are hung on the building while a church has erected a structure attached to the building.

Some youths of Abule Era and the adjourning Adaloko community have also converted a part of the land to a football ‘field’ (sandy pitch). These youths, who erected poles on the ‘pitch,’ play football every evening, during weekends and public holidays.

Yet a part of the land has

been converted to a refuse dump by the residents of Adaloko community, particularly those living near the building. Dangerous reptiles such as snakes and rodents have turned the building to their abode.

Perhaps those making the most use of the premises are the artisans such as panel beaters, auto-mechanics, plumbers, among others. These artisans, who have turned parts of the premises to their workshops, also form monitoring committees to keep criminals away from Ile Nla. However, despite keeping the place clean by clearing the bush, they claimed some miscreants in the area collect monthly rent from them for the use of the premises.

The structure, which can be seen several kilometres away, especially immediately after

Okokomaiko Bus Stop on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, has also brought pains and misery to the residents of Abule Era and Adaloko.

The hope of a speedy development which the indigenes envisaged that the construction of the 17-storey building would bring to the area soon turned to despair after it was abandoned.

In the past, the building was a no go area because it had become the abode of criminals, where rape, robbery and murder were committed almost on a daily basis.

“If it were four or five years ago, you would not have been able to get close to this building. You cannot even get Okada (commercial motorcycle) from Iyana Era junction to this place. The Okada riders (motorcyclists) would either ignore you or gather to beat you up, thinking you wanted to go to Ile Nla to commit crime,” Mr. Ahmed Oladele, one of the artisans, said.

His views were corroborated by another artisan, Mr. Niyi Apebola, who said he had lived for more than 12 years in the area.

According to him, some of the artisans sleep in the building to keep criminals at bay.

The notoriety of Ile Nla has also caught the attention of Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

The governor, who spoke at a Town Hall Meeting on Security in Lagos in December 2012, regretted that there were many Federal Government structures which had been abandoned in the state, CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

20

METRO

Sanctity

Monday, Feb

Lagos CP orders arrest of five policem MURDER The era of impunity seems to be over as five policemen may soon be arraigned for murder

Juliana Francis

T

he Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Umar Manko, has ordered the arrest and detention of five policemen for the alleged murder of two civilians.

The policemen, attached to Ijora Badia Police Station, were arrested by homicide detectives from the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.

Among them is the officer in charge of operation (Ops one), Ijora Badia Police Station.

It was gathered that the policemen were not only arrested for the murder of the two civilians identified as Moses Ayeniro and Iyke, whose surname is unknown, but were also arrested for trying to deceive the police authority.

After the two men were killed, the policemen had repeatedly denied seeing, let alone

shooting the victims.

However, an autopsy result proved otherwise, which led to their arrest and detention at Panti.

Trouble started for the five policemen last December, after a community member at the Ijora Badia area, identified as Mr. Kayode Omojuwa, Managing Director of Dele Hotel, organised a party which degenerated into a free-for-all.

Omojuwa was marking the fourth anniversary of his father’s death. The party was held on December 14, 2013.

Witnesses claimed that the victims were shot by police in the wee hours of the next day, during a fracas between two youth gangs in the area, identified as Badia and Railway boys.

Youths and women in the area, who protested the killing, marched on Badia Police Station.

One of the victims was later identified as Moses Ayeniro, a relation to the Managing Director of Chicko International Hotel, also located in the area.

During the party, members of the two gangs, who attended the party, had a confrontation and had attacked one another with dangerous weapons.

Some policemen on duty

One of the youth, identified simply as Baba, from the Railway boys’ faction, was said to have been inflicted with severe machete cut on his shoulder.

It was in the heat of the fracas that the police received a distress

call and raced to the scene.

But rather than welcome the police intervention, both gangs were said to have attacked the policemen, forcing the policemen to open fire. Two of the youths were shot and killed on the spot.

17-storey building CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 9

which now serve as hideouts for armed robbers and hoodlums.

He said, “An example is a 17-storey building abandoned since the 70s by the Federal Government in the Okokomaiko area of Badagry Expressway, which has become a hideout for criminals who terrorise residents of the area.

“The security agencies have conducted a number of joint raids on the property but as long as it remains standing and unutilised, it will always attract criminal elements and remain a constant security issue.”

However, one of the residents, Mr. Abiodun Babatunde, told our correspondent that the report of crime being committed in the building was exaggerated.

Babatunde said the residents of the community had raised a vigilance group, monitoring the building to prevent criminals from using it as a hideout.

He said, “It was true that crime was being committed in the building but that was in the past. The community has raised a vigilance group and this has reduced crime in the building and its environs.”

Babatunde, however, agreed that a man was killed in the vicinity of the building in 2012.

He appealed to the Federal Government to hand over the building to the state government.

Another resident, Mr. Ismail Adejumo, who works with one of the leading petroleum companies, also wants the Federal Government to hand over the building to the state government.

He said, “Let the Federal Government leave the building for the state government. The state should thereafter convert it to hostel for the Lagos State University.

“But for the artisans here, this place used to be dreaded. In the past, by 6pm, no one could pass here again. A few years ago, one lady was raped in the building. So, it is better to put this building to use.”

The Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, told New Telegraph that the state had appealed to the Federal Government to hand over the building to the state.

He said, “We have approached the Federal Government on the possible handover of the building to Lagos State Government but at a stage the Federal Government developed cold feet.”

Ayinde said the building was meant for a Federal Government agency, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, which used to be the National Provident Fund.

A security expert, Mr. Richard Amuwa, urged the Lagos State Government to intensify efforts on its war on criminals hiding in abandoned buildings.

Amuwa, who is the executive director of Fountain Guards, a security outfit, said abandoned buildings constitute a whole lot of dangers to the residents.

“In other climes, what government does is not to take over such abandoned buildings but to protect such structures and prevent them from being used for criminal purposes.”

A source said, “When the policemen arrived, the youth became more hysteric and teamed up to fight the policemen. Sensing that their lives could be endangered, the policemen opened fire on the youth, killing two of them

Group empowers 400 with N65m Waheed Bakare

A

group, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, has empowered over 400 people with N65m worth of equipment in Lagos State.

Part of the money was also expended on those who have health challenges and need to undergo surgeries either in Nigeria or overseas.

The group raised the money through wealthy individuals for onward distribution to the needy.

Speaking at the event in Lagos, the Emir of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, said the easiest act of worship apart from the five daily prayers observed by Muslims was giving alms to the poor.

He said, “As leaders, it is our responsibility to educate Muslims on their religious obligation. If we don’t, it means we are shying away from our

responsibility. Let us educate our brothers and sisters on the importance of paying zakat.”

The Sultan advised the beneficiaries to utilise the equipment given to them so that they could also empower others in future.

“These are equipment that can go a long way to sustain the family if well utilised. It (foundation) should be supported by even non-Muslims because where you have so many brothers and sisters of different faiths, you must relate with one another as brothers and sisters,” Abubakar said.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaib, said the foundation did not discriminate on the basis of either religion or tribe against those seeking its assistance.

He said, “We have wiped away the tears of many, put

BUSINESS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/business

New CBN governor won’t change our reforms –Lemo }p-24-25

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, Business ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

What's news Telecom operators to rake-in $1bn from tower sale Major telecommunication operators in Nigeria are set to raise well over $1bn from telecommunication transmission tower sales this year, investigations by our correspondent has revealed.

US to audit Nigeria’s aviation February 17

}p-22

Contractor stalls N5.1b NPA head office project Three years after the N5.1billion contract for the rehabilitation and expansion of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) head office in Lagos was awarded, investigation has revealed that only 50 per cent of the jobs were completed.

}p-22

Islamic Insurance: NAICOM probes applicants The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has launched a probe into the identities of individuals and corporate organisations that applied for Islamic insurance licence.

}p-23

'Nigeria loses N136bn to cargo diversion' Nigeria has lost N136billion in 2013 due to the diversion of cargoes to other neighboring ports in the year 2013, data from Union of African Shippers Council has revealed.

}p-27

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) BAYO KOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance)

R-L: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Bank Limited, Mallam Ahmed Kuru, the bank’s Board Chairman, Sir. (Dr.) Ogala Osoka MFR, directors of the bank, Dr. (Mrs.) Asmau Sani Maikudi, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe and Alhaji Lamis Dikko at a meeting of the bank in Lagos..weekend

CATEGORY 1RATING The rating, which is reviewed every three years, allows Nigerian aircraft to fly direct into the US destinations without any inhibitions Ayodele Aminu

T

he United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will audit Nigeria’s civil aviation authority (NCAA) on the 17th of this month with a view to ascertaining whether Nigeria is still qualified for its Category 1 certification, New Telegraph has learnt.

Category 1 rating, which is under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme, means that Nigeria complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ICAO is the United Nations’ technical agency for aviation that establishes in-

JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

ternational standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance.

Nigeria had in 2010 became the sixth 6th African country after Ethiopia, Cape Verde, Egypt, Morocco and South Africa to attain the certification, which is renewable every three years.

The certification, which paved the way for Arik Air to be the first Nigerian carrier to be issued a new Air Operator’s Certificate in line with Category 1 certification, allows Nigerian registered aircraft to fly direct into the United States destinations without any inhibitions.

An IASA Category 1 rating means a country has the laws and regulations necessary to oversee air carriers in accordance with minimum international stan-

But media reports on Nigeria’s air safety may colour US FAA's conclusions

dards, and that its civil aviation authority – equivalent to the US FAA for aviation safety matters – meets international standards for technical expertise, trained personnel, and recordkeeping and inspection procedures.

The assessments determine whether or not foreign civil aviation authorities are meeting ICAO safety standards, not FAA regulations.

The US FAA officials are expected to scrutinize the activities of the NCAA to establish whether appropriate laws are applied; requisite personnel were employed to carry out the necessary surveillance; whether the necessary safety/inspection procedures are in place and whether the airlines are complying.

A top official of the Aviation Ministry, who confirmed the February 17th FAA audit date to New Telegraph, however, said that Nigeria is likely to shift the date because she appears not prepared.

“The US FAA has indicated that they are ready to conduct their audit on February 17th,

2014. But it appears that Nigeria is not prepared and we are likely to shift the date.

“But media reports on Nigeria’s air safety may colour their conclusions, she added.

Last October, an aircraft belonging to the Associated Airline conveying the corpse of former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Agaga crashed in Lagos, minutes after takeoff at the local wing of the Lagos Airport, killing 13 people. Some 10 months earlier, the nation was again thrown into mourning with the news of the death of four persons, including Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser to the President, General Owoeye Azazi. They were reportedly burnt in a helicopter crash that occurred in the forest of Okoroba community in Nembe local government of Balyesa State.

Importers of used, new vehicles to pay more Bayo Akomolafe Nigeria Customs service (NCS) is to implement new import duties and levies on used and new vehicles from March 1, 2014.

The Federal Government had in October 2013 announced new duties and levies payable on imported tyres, used and new vehicles.

But it was learnt that importers of vehicles opening letters of credit before Oct. 3, 2013 can still clear their vehicles at the old rates until Feb. 28, 2014.

The new policy stated that a fully built car would attract a duty of 35 CO NTINUED O N PAGE27

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE December 20...........................8.00% November 2013.......................7.90% October 2013...........................7.80%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate. . . . . . . . . . . 10.75% Prime Lending Rate. . . . . . 17.01% Maximum Lending Rate. .24.90%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Jan. 31)

USD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N282 Euro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N233

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Jan. 31)

USD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N255.75 Pounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N256.50 Euro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N211.01

22

BUSINESS| NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

Telecom operators to rake-in $1b from tower sale TELECOM Telecom operators are set to sell their transmission towers and rake in as much as $1billion Jonah Iboma

M

ajor telecommunication operators in Nigeria are set to raise well over $1 billion from telecommunication transmission tower sales this year, investigations by our correspondent have revealed.

According to recently released details, Airtel Nigeria and Etisalat Nigeria, two of the leading mobile operators, are expected to raise the funds through the sales of their transmission towers in 2014 under a sales and leaseback arrangement.

Currently, Etisalat is estimated to own about 3,000 towers in Nigeria, according to network

expansion details released by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Steve Evans in 2012, while industry watchers say that Airtel has about 7,000.

Thus, with a combined total of about 10,000 towers that both firms plan to sell in Nigeria this year, the firms could potentially raise about $1.5billion in total given that towers are often valued at around $150,000 each.

Sources told Reuters recently that Etisalat had invited bids for its telephone tower operations in about 10 African countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania and Ivory Coast. They said that of the nearly 4,500 towers owned by the telecoms company in Africa, about 3,000 of them are located in Nigeria.

Although the firm has not finally confirmed the planned sales, a statement released by Etisalat however, indicated that such a plan was in the works.

It read. “Etisalat, like other telecoms operators in Africa, is constantly evaluating good

The move by the telecommunication companies to sell the towers is hinged on the heavy debt burden faced by operators business opportunities, which include, but not limited to, infrastructure sharing with other operators. No final decision has been reached at this point in time as to selling or sharing towers.”

Additionally, Etisalat, has reportedly hired Standard Bank as an advisor for the planned sale of its transmitter towers in Nigeria.

The move by the telecommunication companies to sell the towers is hinged on a number of issues principal among which is the heavy debt burden faced by operators and

the need to free up funds to enable expansion projects in the country in order to deliver services to more people across the country.

According to Roland Janssens, Deputy Head, Frontier Markets Fund Managers, “There remains a significant need for further telecom investment in Africa for basic mobile services and especially data/high bandwidth servicesboth static and mobile where 4G may add to solutions. Consequently, there remains significant opportunity.”

Sources also stated that discussions have begun between Etisalat, Airtel and independent tower companies as well as consulting firms that is expected to lead to a tower sale and leaseback agreement.

Two leading tower companies, Helios Towers Nigeria and IHS Nigeria, have been reported to be in advance talks with Bharti, the parent company of Airtel Nigeria for its tower busi-

ness in the country.

According to sources, Helios Towers could be backed by Provident Equity Partners under an arrangement that will involve the provision of $200 million finance by Provident. On the other hand, IHS is said to be backed by Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers.

Sale and leaseback of towers has been growing steadily in African countries in the past few years. Investigations revealed that mobile operators on the continent sold off some 7,000 towers in 2010 in deals worth almost $1 billion.

Nigeria was not left as a number of tower sale and leaseback deals were also concluded. For instance, Visafone sold and leased back 459 telecoms towers to IHS in a deal reportedly worth $67 million in 2010. Similarly, Starcomms also concluded a sale and leaseback agreement with Swap. The deal involved 407 towers and was worth $81.4 million.

Contractor stalls N5.1b NPA head office project CONDUIT PIPE Construction of NPA's Head Office has been described as another conduit pipe for successive management to siphon money.

Bayo Akomolafe

T

hree years after the N5.1billion contract for the rehabilitation and expansion of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) head office in Lagos was awarded, investigation has revealed that only 50 per cent of the jobs were completed.

It was gathered by New Telegraph that the N5,001,785,839.05 contract was awarded to Messrs.

Sageto Nigeria Limited on December 22, 2010 with an 18 months completion mandate, while Messrs. AIMS Consultant Limited bagged the consultancy job for the project.

A source at NPA alleged that the rehabilitation project had been be another conduit pipe for successive NPA management to siphon money.

L-R: Registrar/Chief Executive, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Rotimi Omotoso, Chairman, ICAN Fidelity Bank Chapter and GM, Lagos Bank, Emeka Obiagwu, President, ICAN, Alhaji kabir Alkali Mohammed, ED, Lagos and South West Bank, IK Mbagwu and President, Society of Women Accountants in Nigeria (SWAN) and ED, Risk Management, Fidelity Bank Plc, Onome Olaolu at the Investiture of Executives and Patrons of ICAN Fidelity Bank Chapter in Lagos…weekend

He alleged that the rehabilitation and expansion project plan was altered, explaining that a mosque had been planted inside the corporate head office by the current Managing Director contrary to what was in the plan.

He said: “This was a contract that was awarded at a time the former Managing Director of the NPA, Engr. Omar Suleiman

came into office. The project outlived Suleiman and it's not even near the concluding stage under the new Managing Director.

“They keep reflecting the money for the project in the annual budget of the NPA whenever it is time for the budget presentation at the National Assembly, yet rehabilitation works has dragged at a snail

speed three years after it was approved.

Indicting the members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, the source said, “Members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and House Committee on Marine Transport have always raised questions anytime they are on oversight visit. It is gradually

becoming an embarrassment to them anytime they are around.

A visit to the NPA headquarters in Lagos revealed that not much had been done as regards the construction.

The management of the authority had claimed that capital projects being undertaken by the NPA may suffer setback as the Federal Ministry of Finance refused to release over N18 billion that accrued from the seven per cent port development levy since 2012.

The seven per cent levy is collected on all goods imported through the seaports. It is officially collected by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and usually redirected to the NPA for rehabilitation and development of the ports.

In June 2008, the Nigerian Ports Authority building located on Marina street in Lagos caught fire. It affected major parts of the building excluding the sixth floor and the office of the managing director.

Efforts to reach the Spokesman of the NPA, Capt Iheanacho Ebubuegou prove abortive as at the time of filing this report.

BUSINESS |MON£¥ line

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

Islamic Insurance: NAICOM probes applicants Sunday Ojeme

licences.

“Now we are receiving applications from a cross section of individuals and corporate bodies. But it will not be proper for me to disclose the number of applicants and names now because the commission has to carry out investigations and do proper due diligence on them before disclosing their names to the public. The commission would not in any way issue out licences to individuals or corporate bodies that do not possess the expertise or capacity to sustain the project.”

He said that the outcome of the investigation would determine the names and numbers of those who would be issued licences to operate, adding that the inflow of applications was a reflection of how successful the insurance model will be in the country.

Salami, who also disclosed that some Christians were equally enthusiastic about Takaful, however, lamented the wrong perception earlier held in some quarters that the insurance model was strictly

T

he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has launched a probe into the identities of individuals and corporate organisations that applied for Islamic insurance licence.

The release of guidelines for the full operation of Sharia compliant insurance, Takaful, otherwise known as Islamic Insurance, was effected late last year by the commission.

Reason for the investigation, New Telegraph learnt, was to ensure that none of the applicants had a criminal background and also to ascertain their expertise and competency level to sustain the project.

Takaful insurance is estimated at $3billion in terms of world contributions, comprising 60 per cent General Takaful, and 40 per cent Family Takaful.

Head of Public Relations, NAICOM, Mr. Razaq Salami, who confirmed the probe, in a telephone interview, also said applicants had been besieging the commission to pursue their

for Muslims.

He said: “The first thing I have to do is to lecture a section of the public on what Takaful is. It is not entirely an Islamic Insurance. It is called Takaful.

It is not only for the Muslims, Christians also patronise it.

That is why it is very successful in the United States and South Africa. The difference is just that it is Shariah compliant. For instance, the money in the pool cannot be invested in an alcoholic beverage brewing company or invested in the shares of that same organisation. So it is not entirely about religion but a way of sharing risks among the policyholders.”

Prior to releasing the guidelines, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel, had said that the insurance model would be taken as a concept and not just a product.

He said, “The reason we are taking Takaful insurance seriously now is because the insurance gap in our domain is endemic, problematic and we seemed not to have a solution."

Economic Indicators External Reserves Bonny Light Broad Money (M2) Credit to the Private

US$43,160,464,044.2 US$ 109.9 N14,737,618.74m N16,509,472.5m

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

1.22 2.54 3.24 5.41 7.99 16.48

As at 1/28/2014 1/20/2014 December 2013 December 2013 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.25 99.20 103.60 108.60 113.60 76.80

Offer Yield 12.82 13.42 13.66 13.69 13.55 13.55

NIBOR Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Yield 12.67 13.35 13.55 13.61 13.49 13.50 Bottom of Form

NITTY

Rate (%) 10.5000 10.8333 11.3750 11.7500 12.0417 12.3333 12.6250

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 24-Apr-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Price 90.40 99.35 103.90 108.90 113.90 77.10 Rate (%) 12.1342 12.1748 12.2906 12.7388 13.1584 13.8996

Money Market

Bid 12.00 11.90 12.25

Offer 11.75 11.65 12.00

Rate (%) Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 10.22 Overnight (O/N) 10.33

Bid 162.31 Bid 162.3500

Offer 162.41 NIFEX Offer 162.4500 Bottom of Form

FX Spot ($/N) Spot ($/N)

Source: FMDQ

23

Nigeria, Turkey’s bilateral trade hits N368bn

T

he volume of bilateral trade between Nigeria and Turkey has risen from $2 billion (N320billion) in 2012 to $2.3 billion (N368billion) last year..

Association of Businessmen and Investors of Nigeria and Turkey (ABINAT) President, Yauuz Zemheni, disclosed this in Lagos. He said that the improved trade relationship between Nigeria and Turkey would be further manifested this year going by the disposition of stakeholders from both countries to further expand their respective business profiles.

“Our focus is on production of quality goods for which Turkey is widely known. We are not going to be merely importing goods to Nigeria. Rather, we are planning to establish more production plants in this country, to provide more jobs for the people and also enhance the productive capacity of Nigeria.

“Consequently, a Turkish firm is establishing five textile plants in Imo State very soon.

Processes in this regard are ongoing. Each of the plants is estimated to cost $10 million.

He said ABINAT has concluded plans to host the second edition of a three-day ECOWASTurkish Export Products Fair in Lagos from March 3.

The ABINAT boss, who declined to disclose the identity of the new investors in Imo State, said the textile mills would produce “high quality fabrics

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga

for which we are known for in Turkey.”

According to him, Turkish investors’ investments in Nigeria are expected to provide 4000 new job opportunities in the country, mostly in the productive sector.

Nigeria’s exports to Turkey include liquefied natural gas, sesame seed, charcoal, cocoa and wood, while the European country imports construction materials, textiles, power generating components and vehicles, among other goods, to the country.

ABINAT expects over 90 exhibitors at its Lagos fair and has projected over 10 investors staking interest in Nigeria’s business environment after the trade and commerce forum.

Turkey had earlier enlisted interest in Nigeria’s steel sector. Indeed, a 30-man delegation from the European country had visited the country and held discussions with top government officials and some local businessmen.

Access Bank Joins WEconnect Int’l Advisory Board

W

EConnect International - a global non-profit organization committed to sustainable economic growth by increasing opportunities for women-owned businesses, has appointed Access Bank Plc to its National Advisory Board.

This appointment by the organization, according to a statement from the bank, is in recognition of the Bank’s numerous contributions to the development of women entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar to some of the objectives of the Access Bank Inclusive Banking strategy, WEconnect International identifies, educates, registers and certifies women business enterprises that are at least 51 per cent owned, managed and controlled

by one or more women. The organization is the only non-profit connecting women-owned businesses with multi-nationals corporate purchasing organization.

Its network extends beyond the United States to connect women to opportunities in different parts of the world.

By this membership, Access Bank according to the statement becomes the only financial institution partner of the international womenempowerment organization, which draws its membership from over 70 countries across globe. The Bank said it is set to continuously leverage its alliances, partnerships and collaborations with reputable international organizations to promote women entrepreneurship across Africa.

24 MONDAY INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

New CBN governor won’t

Lemo

With barely five months for the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to complete his tenure, the question on the lips of stakeholders in the financial sector is what the policy direction of his successor would be. No person is more qualified to answer this question other than the immediate past deputy governor of the CBN in charge of Operations, Mr Tunde Lemo, whose two terms of five years expired few weeks ago. DEPUTY EDITOR, BUSINESS, AYODELE AMINU, cornered Lemo at the World Bank/ International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Washington D.C, the United States(U.S) and he spoke on a number of issues, including banking reforms, fiscal dominance, sterilisation of government funds, lending to agriculture and his ideal CBN governor.

The current leadership of CBN has made a lot of sweeping reforms in the banking industry and the payment system.

What structure has the CBN put in place to ensure that these reforms are not upturned?

First is to let you know that whatever reform you find in CBN is well thought out. These are reforms that

will be inter-generational because they are well thought out. They say if it is not broken, why mend it? Even when leadership changes, the new leader will come and see the beauty in a reform and because of course the reform would have transformed the economy for the better, nobody will unwind such a thing. I give you an example.

When the former leadership ( under Prof. Chukwuma Soludo) came up with consolidation, the banks moved on and became bigger, even though much later because of global financial crisis, there were issues with some of them, but of course, the new ( the current governor of CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) leadership didn’t come to say that banks can now become small. There was progress. The present leadership built on that reform by now saying it is not only the size but also the soundness, and that is for me, what public policy is all about. You come up with a reform to develop public life, to make life better, to develop public policy; the new leadership comes in the light of the dynamic economic environment. Some other innovations can come but they are all to reinforce and to strengthen the existing reform.

And when you look at the reform that has taken place in the last four years, first is the reform around the financial institution; they are actually to make the banks sound. You talk about macro-prudential issues, concentration, ensuring that the banks have sufficient capital to look at the risks they

the new governor should build on what has been achieved. ensure financial system stability, make sure that he keeps his eyes on ensuring macro-economic stability, low inflation and fairly stable exchange rate are undertaking to address the risks they are undertaking. There are also issues around governance, qualification, approved regime, so on and so forth.

These are all to ensure that financial institutions govern themselves better.

Nobody will come in newly and unwind that. These are very good policies.

When you look at the payment system, the entire world is going e-payment. So, all of the reform we have seen around the payment system is to modernise the Nigerian economy, to make sure that we remain competitive, to ensure that we are in sync with the policy of ensuring that Nigeria becomes an

MONDAY INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

25

change our reforms –Lemo economic hub come 2020. So, these are time-tested reforms that would last, that would be fine tuned as we go along, that would be strengthened as we go along. But definitely, the trajectory is where we are heading.

Banks are still not comfortable with this sterilisation of government deposit.

Does it mean that this policy has come to stay or the CBN may still have a rethink?

I think we should look beyond banks and what the banks want. We should look at the macro-economy generally.

There is no doubt that in Nigeria, there is what we call fiscal dominance. In other words, the level of economic activities around government is huge relative to the size of the Nigerian economy, and it is structural. This is because the private sector is really not where it should be. We have embarked on aggressive structural reform and government is leading on that, and then of course the CBN is supporting. May be over time when the private sector becomes big, of course public sector will be diluted. Why did we do what we did? It is liquidity surfeit. The volume of liquidity that we see in the vault of banks from government sources is so high. And we felt that government on the one hand, cannot have surplus cash and be borrowing such a large amount of money. Government would be shooting itself in the foot. It is like using somebody’s wrist watch to tell him what the time is. And recall that prior to former president Obasanjo’s regime, such monies were in the vault of CBN anyway, and so we just used that blunt instrument ( sterilization of public funds) to rein in excess liquidity. if we continue to have excess liquidity, that policy will continue.

The policy can come in many forms.

It can come through increase in Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) generally, it can also come through increase in CRR as it affects government, but I think this one is more friendly in the sense that we try to look in granular terms the composition of the bank deposit and we said instead of raising CRR generally, since we know that this is the major source of liquidity surfeit, why not let us address it that way.

But banks are saying that this generally will increase the interest rate given the fact that they have to source for new funds. What is your take on that?

Banks are rational economic agents.

I don’t believe it can spike up the rate on the short run, but in the medium to long term, not necessarily so. Why am I saying that? For me, even this new policy will force the banks to actually perform the role of intermediation properly. Afterall, banks are not only supposed to be looking for govern-

ment deposits. They are supposed to be looking for deposits from across the sectors of the economy. Some are already doing that. Some banks are already focussing more on ensuring that they open branches where they can mobilise deposits and savings and where they can source funding. And that is basically what banks are supposed to do. Banks are supposed to actually rein in deposits from within and outside of the government sectors.

There is the Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), which makes it possible for banks to conveniently lend to the agric sector, although from records, there has been a little bit of increase of credit to the agric sector. Why have we not seen enormous increase in that?

The increase has been phenomena.

If you check your statistics before 2010, total bank credit to agriculture was just one per cent, just a little over one per cent, and that was when total credit was just five/six trillion. Today, total credit is far more than that and it has grown in percentage terms. The base had widened and even in percentage term, it has gone up more than four times. It is now about 4.5 per cent. That is huge. If you imagine within a period of three years to four years, if you had

BIODATA Previous Job: MD/CEO,Wema Bank (20002003) Schools: University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Pennsylvania, Warton College, University of Boston Degress: BA Accounting (First Class) Experience: Over 27 years Hobbies: Reading, Listening to music

I think we should look beyond banks and what the banks want. We should look at the macro-economy generally quadruple the size of your lending and meanwhile, that lending size had also more than doubled, you will then see that lending to agriculture may have actually gone up in absolute terms eight fold, and that is actually significant. In an industry where you need to develop capacity, in an industry where you have to groom expertise in agriculture, banks have had to invest in training and capacity building for their officers for them to understand the business of agriculture. Why were banks not lending to agriculture before? This was because the bulk of agriculture activities that we had was subsistence. Agriculture revolved around little plots in cultivation and beyond the little surplus your family would take to the market place. So, commercial agriculture was not there because it was not profitable, which is the whole essence of the value chain agriculture. This has brought a new idea on how you improve seedlings, how you do agriculture such that it will be commercially viable, and that is only when banks can lend. That is the whole essence of the partnership the CBN had with AGRA when we came up through the institution called the NIRSAL on the value chain agriculture. That has actually led to a dramatic improvement on lending to agriculture. We are not there yet. We set a target for ourselves for about seven per cent and we have gone more than half way. I think we need to

celebrate that. So, it is not a marginal increase, it is a quantum leap that we have achieved in the last three four years.

Since the current CBN governor has indicated that he is not seeking a second term, what would be your ideal kind of central bank governor?

For me, I think the appointment of central bank governor is the prerogative of the President. I think the new governor should build on what has been achieved, ensuring financial system stability and making sure that he keeps his eyes on ensuring macro-economic stability, low inflation and fairly stable exchange rate. These are very important for sustainable growth while not forgetting the role of central bank in the real sector, especially the developmental role around agriculture, real sector lending, and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). For me, it is important we get someone who will continue the stabilisation role that central bank has done in the last three years. Three major things. How do we ensure we maintain financial system stability? How do we ensure that we maintain macro-economic stability?

How do we ensure that we continue to drive growth in the economy through the developmental effort of the CBN? Once a new man comes and those three things are achieved, then we would have a strong central bank.

What does the future hold for you?

The future belongs to God. For me, it is an opportunity in the last 10 years to have served one's fatherland. It is a privilege. I was not the most qualified but it pleased God to have chosen me, through the grace of God and the grace of the leadership of the country then.

And of course, I would look up unto God also for what next, afterall, nobody can beat his chest and say he would be alive tomorrow. So long as everybody’s future belongs to God, everybody’s career also is in the hands to God. What do you cherish most in life?

I am very very glad when I improve people’s lot, when I see my action contributing to improvement of some people’s lot. My experience in central bank has been most challenging. We sat down there seeing very tiny fragmented banking industry. We saw deals in the upstream energy sector being discussed and no Nigerian bank participated. Now, we see where such deals are discussed and Nigerian banks are taking up 70, 80 per cent of the amount required. Now today we sit down we see a global giant in a Dangote Group, and Nigerian banks are helping to make that happen. I am so excited, not because I am earning money but because I see myself as part of that change process.

26 BUSINESS | financial Market NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

to inaugurate premium Zero allocation to SEC costs NSE board for listed firms Nigeria N2trn –Analyst N Chris Ugwu

T

he exclusion of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the 2013 budgetary allocation might have cost the nation’s economy over N2 trillion, a financial analyst has said.

The analyst, Mr. Mike Opara-Eze, managing director, Crane Securities Limited, who spoke to New Telegraph, feared that unless the National Assembly reverse its decision on exclusion of SEC from the 2014 budget, the economy may incur more cost that may lead to grave consequences.

He said the zero allocation to SEC by the National Assembly is impacting negatively on the effectiveness of SEC's regulatory supervision of the Capital Market.

Following a face-off that ensued between the lawmakers and the Director-General of the commission, Ms. Arunma Oteh, last year when the House Committee on the Capital Market investigated SEC, the House of Representatives had

refused to allocate any money to SEC in the 2013 budget.

The director general had accused the committee of being unnecessarily harsh on her because she refused to release money for the conduct of the probe and bribe some of the members.

The committee subsequently found her guilty of serious infractions and recommended her sacking, a position that was endorsed by the whole House, which passed the recommendation to the Executive.

The refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan to fire Oteh, also strengthened the lawmakers not appropriate any money for SEC in the budget.

But Eze added that Primary Market remained inactive throughout the year possibly because several Issuers were encountering setbacks in processing of their applications.

“With the recovery of the Secondary Market, one can easily admit that the action of the National Assembly cost the Nigerian economy

over N2 trillion of equity capital that would have been formed last year by the Capital Market,” he said.

In its 2013 Market Recap & Outlook for 2014, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) noted that while the number of listed companies and the number of listed equities at the end of 2013 were 190 and 198, respectively, the market for initial public offerings (IPOs) and new equity listings was flat with no IPOs recorded, and only two new listings on the Main Board, while six companies were delisted in 2013.

He said: “If in one year, only two companies were listed and the market capitalization of listed equities grew by 47.33 per cent to hit an all time high of N13.23 trillion, which in no way came near in the highest point of the boom in 2008, then it means that the economy has lost trillions of naira. This is because if a company is listed it does not only influence the capital market but the economy as a whole. That is why the market is referred to engine room of the economy.”

igerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has concluded plans to launch a Premium Board on which select listed companies currently on the Main Board and qualifying incoming companies may be listed between March and April, 2014.

The companies are those that adhere to the highest corporate governance standards based on the ratings and rankings from the Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS).

The Chief Executive Officer of NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, dropped the hint at a briefing session in Lagos.

He said the Exchange and the Convention on Business Integrity (CBi) had formed alliance to boost investors confidence by improving corporate governance among listed companies.

The objectives accord-

ing to him, is to raise overall corporate governance standards in the country, by providing companies with an incentive to develop global best practices.

He described the alliance as one of the critical fundamentals for ensuring a healthy investment environment and maximizing investor returns for sustainable growth of the nation’s capital market.

The chief executive officer, who was represented by the Executive Director of Business Development at the NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, listed other factors to be considered for Premium Board qualification to include a market capitalization in excess of $1billion as well as whether the listed company being considered for the Premium Board meets the applicable threshold fixed for market liquidity of its shares.

BUSINESS | financial Market NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, January 27, 2014

'Nigeria loses N136bn to cargo diversion' Bayo Akomolafe

N

igeria has lost N136billion in 2013 due to the diversion of cargoes to other neighboring ports in the year 2013, data from Union of African Shippers Council has revealed.

The President of the Lagos Shippers Association, Rev. Jonathan, said that over N800billion went into private hands through invisible transactions at the port in 2013.

He added that the country loses N24billion yearly to vessels clearance delays at the port.

Jonathan said that total duties and levies paid by shippers was N1, 113 trillion excluding shipping and terminal fees, transportation and invisible transactions.

He said that N30billion was

Abuja

T

he Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI) has rated the Nigerian Export-Import Bank

Importers of used, new vehicles to pay more CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 7

L-R, Executive Director, WEConnect International Nigeria, Miss Comfort Sakoma, Group Head, Inclusive Banking, Access Bank Mrs Ope-Wemi Jones, Country Director World Bank, Dr Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly and Head, Inclusive Banking, Access Bank, Mrs. Titilola Familoni at the WEConnect International Nigeria Launch in Abuja

paid to service providers by the Nigerian Shippers during this period.

Nicol stressed: "Everyday a vessel stays at the port unattended; we lose $30,000 a day per

vessel. The amount of losses we suffer as a nation is more than expected, how much did the shipper make? We believe this will be corrected very soon" He explained his asso-

ciation was compiling losses from clearing of cargo in the Nigerian ports, lamenting that shippers are always ravaged by government agencies with different laws.

NEXIM Bank rated best performing African DFI Simeon Ogoegbulem

27

(NEXIM) as ‘Best Performing African DFI.’ AADFI conveyed the award on NEXIM at the just concluded ‘2013 Annual AADFI CEOs Forum of African Development Banks and Finance Institutions held in Mombasa, Kenya.

The Forum marked the conduct of the 3rd Peer Review of DFIs with the AADFI Prudential Standards, Guidelines and Rating System (PSGRS).

According to AADFI, the Peer Review Exercise with

the AADFI PSGRS was not a competition but an approach to evaluate DFIs in the various areas of governance, finance and operation in order to identify areas of weaknesses for self-improvement and strengths for consolidation.

per cent and a levy of another 35 per cent of the cost of the vehicle, raising the tariff from 20 per cent to 70 per cent.

Dealers of imported vehicles estimated that the new rate would translate into an increase of 60 per cent on prices of imported cars.

They also noted that cars currently being sold between N3 million and N5 million would be sold at between N4.8 million and N8 million respectively, while tokunbo vehicles selling for N800,000 would rise to N1.28 million.

But Customs’ Public Relations Officer, Mr Wale Adeniyi said the proposed new tariff was meant to discourage the importers of used vehicles in order to encourage local manufacturers through the proposed tariff. He said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated that Federal Government has not banned importation of used vehicles.

Adeniyi said: “The proposed automotive policy seeks to encourage the growth of the local industries by discouraging the importation of tokunbo vehicles through high protectionist tariff rates.”

He said the implementation of the new tariff was yet to commence, as the service had to wait for the February 28 deadline, as announced by the Federal Government.

The Director-General, National Automotive Council, Aminu Jalal, had said that some foreign automotive manufacturers had indicated interest to invest in Nigeria’s automobile industry.

28

Sanctity

Monday, Feb

of Truth

bruary 3, 2014

29

30

BUSINESS | financial Market NEWS

Sterling Bank initiates new business scheme

I

n a bid to facilitate real growth in the Nigerian economy, Sterling Bank Plc has resolved to invest in new business initiatives and nurture them to become viable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola, who said this in a statement, explained that national economic development prospects in any country was hinged on the entrepreneurial energy of vibrant SMEs as most big business concerns grew from small scale to become big icons.

He noted that small businesses remain the catalyst for real economic development anywhere in the world.

“Many economies, developed and developing have come to realize the value of small businesses. They are seen to be characterized by dynamism, witty innovations and efficiency as their small size allows for faster decision making process. Small businesses are believed

to be the engine room for the development of any economy because they form the bulk of business activities in a growing economy like that of Nigeria,” Atilola said.

He noted that a team of seasoned consultants were engaged by the bank to carefully scrutinize proposals received from members of the public.

The bank he said, decided to launch the project in order to support those who have come up with business plans as part of their new year engagement’.

Already, 50 contestants have qualified for the second round of the on-going “Meet the Executive” Project sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc, he added.

Atilola noted that over 1,000 business plans were received from Small Business Owners (SBO)aspiring to become Big entrepreneurs.

He added that the top three business plans would subsequently be selected as winners of the exercise.

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

Mixed reactions trail NSE’s proposed new rules Chris Ugwu

D

ivergent views among operators in the nation’s capital market have trailed the proposed new rules by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

While some operators believed that the proposed new rule would boost investment climate and protect investors, others thought the policy would dampen the morale of operators.

The new rules were introduced to boost investors’ confidence in the market and to attract more participation in the nation’s capital market.

The proposed rules titled: ‘Rules and Regulations Governing Dealing members (Amendments and additions)’ if approved, will have each dealing firm obtain biometrics of all its individual clients and shall continuously update the records of all its clients in that regard. But in cases of corporate entities, the dealing member shall obtain the corporate information of the company in addition to the biometrics of the authorised signatories to its share trading account, among others.

It will also mandate stockbroking firms to adopt KnowYour-Clients (KYC) management procedures and to render monthly financial statements to clients.

The Biometric identifiers in-

DG, NSE, Oscar Onyema

clude finger prints and iris recognition and the information collected shall be applied towards confirming clients’ identities.

But the Managing Director, Crane Securities Limited, Mr. Mike Eze said the rules, if given regulatory approval, would help checkmate the excesses of operators in the market.

Eze noted that the rules would also enhance the investment climate and ultimately protect the interest of investors.

He said: “When investors feel protected, they will introduce more investors to the market. By and large, the rules are geared towards increasing the frontiers of the capital market, it will help to reduce impersonation and increase market confidence.”

Speaking in the same vein, the President of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Sir Sunny Nwosu, who described the plan of the exchange as a welcome development, said investors have lost confidence in the market because of fraudulent activities being perpetrated by stockbrokers.

Nwosu added that the use of biometrics would help to a large extent, reduce insider dealings on the exchange and regenerate investors’ interest in the local bourse.

However, the President of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie said the proposed rules were short of standards to help improve the market.

Okezie, who described the policy as an over regulation that is meant to mitigate the market growth, said the cost of obtaining biometrics of clients of stockbroking firms would at the end of the day also be passed to the same clients.

“I don’t think they will improve the market, if the regulators are short of ideas, they should look for another way to improve the market.

The market is already in confusion.

We need to shore-up investor’s confidence not to dampen their morale.

Stockbrokers cannot police the market. The KYC policy already in the market is enough to police the market,” he said

ENTREPRENEUR S TORI E S OF B U SI N ESS S U CC ES S ES

NEW TELEGRAPH

31

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

BIODUN DUROJAIYE biodun.durojaiye@newtelegraphonline.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

TAYO SONUGA | Founder, Haven Homes

I always do more than I promise – Sonuga THE GURU He got to the United Kingdom with a degree in Accounting, but became a cleaner and cleaned so well they gave him the keys to the office so he could clean anytime he wanted. And within years of joining the London branch of Banco do Brazil, he applied the same diligence and doing more than is required, to become European hub Administrator of the bank's global network. Tayo Sonuga, Managing Director of Haven Homes, builders of affordable luxury homes, tells BIODUN DUROJAIYE his story of how he became known as 'The Guru', and much more.

Let us start with your background.

Where you were born, where you grew up and the schools you attended.

I was born in Lagos, grew up in Lagos, attended Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School in Maryland, Ikeja. From there, I did part of my A-levels, before going to the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro (Ogun State) to study Accountancy. After my HND, I did my Youth Service, and then went to the UK. Tell us about the jobs you have had and the places you worked along the line.

My first real work experience was during my Youth Service when I worked as External Auditor with Z.O Ososanya firm of Chartered Accountants in Ibadan. After that I proceeded to the UK. I was offered a permanent job with Z.O Ososanya. But I got attracted to the UK due to what happened during about two weeks holiday visit to the UK. At that time, being my first experience of travel, I struggled to get a Nigerian passport. I had to go from Lagos to Abeokuta, my uncle had to assist me and call somebody he knew. It was like a nightmare. Eventually I got the

Sonuga

passport and I travelled. So I thought to struggle for what is entitled to you is normal. Until I got to the UK and saw a different system.

I was told that anything I bought I could reclaim Value Added Tax (VAT) back on it. So I kept my receipts. Everybody was telling me, don't worry when you get to the airport just show them the receipts and they would send the money to you.

I said, but I'm leaving the country how would I get the money? They said don't worry they would send the money to you. I said , ummh 'you people.'

Truly within two weeks of my arrival back in Nigeria, my uncle in the UK called me that I had a cheque. That got me thinking that this is a system that I did not have to go and lobby anybody. I didn't know where the VAT office was.

All I did was to fill a form, and they sent me money. So, I compared the two systems, and concluded that one was better than the other. That was my attraction for the UK. I left for the UK immediately after my service year.

What jobs did you do in the UK? I had been told that if you are there and you are not a British citizen you just had to do whatever job they offered you. I was prepared.

I did what you call menial jobs. I cleaned offices. I would wake up 5am in the morning in the cold. Many times I asked myself, which one is a better system now?

Anyway, I got settled in the UK after a while, and fortunately I was at an age where I could apply for what is called a 'working visa' for two years, which entitled me to work and to travel.

Eventually, in UK, my experience with Accountancy and proficiency with the calculator, gave me the edge to become what used to be called a Data Input Clerk. So I registered with one of the agencies as a Data Input Clerk.

They sent me to various offices to work.

So I had an office job during the day, but I would still do the cleaning job at night and in the early morning.

I did one of the cleaning jobs so well, they gave me the keys to the of-

fice. That you can come and clean for as long as you want to clean and just lock the office when you are done. So, I turned that place to my second home.

I'll resume there 6pm. Because I had the keys, I knew all the alarm codes.

When I finish cleaning at about 8pm to 9pm, I'll just switch on the alarm, and passed the night there. First thing in the morning, at about 6am, I'll switch off the alarm, and hand over the key to the janitor. Then I would go and resume my other job. I did this for about six months. I would leave my home on Monday morning and won't return until Saturday evening. Then on Sunday morning I would go to Church, and afterward prepare for the rest of the week. It was interesting.

Did you do some other jobs before setting up Haven Homes?

During the period I was a cleaner and Data Input Clerk, I just kept telling myself all this is temporary. There was a goal in my sight. Even though I was doing the cleaning job and they CO NTINUED O N PAGE 32

32 ENTREPRENEUR

Monday, February 3, 2014

'I always do more than I promise'

One of the houses built by Sonuga's company CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

gave me the keys, I never saw myself as a cleaner. I saw myself more as an entrepreneur, who was in a system to understand the system and make the best of it.

During the period I worked as a Data Input Clerk, I got posted to a bank, the Bank of Brazil (they call it Banco do Brazil).

I was only meant to do the work for two weeks because somebody was on leave. But the Manager I worked with, Mr. De Mello, liked me so much, he sent message to the head office in Brazil that there is one 'black boy' that the company had to employ. I was the only black person in that whole company.

This was a company that had thousands. So, I was employed as a Data Entry Clerk.

But again I didn't see myself as a clerk. I saw myself as somebody who had a goal. By this time I had stopped one of the evening jobs.

After all the staff of the bank had closed for the day, I started using the time to do my studies. I started learning Computing.

After about two years in the bank, I had learnt computing enough to apply it to the job I was doing.

My job then was such that the head office in Brazil would send a list of names of Brazilian students in the UK who they would need to pay money to. Maybe their parents sent them money from Brazil, or they were on government scholarship. They would send that list to my department, which would input the payments into the banking system, debit and credit accounts as appropriate. My job was to type out the cheques, and post the cheques to the recipients. All this, from receiving the list to posting out the cheques, could take about a week, sometimes two weeks. But in my study of computing, I developed a program for the bank that inputed the names

and printed out the cheques automatically. So what ought to take a week to process started taking one day.

Again my boss recognised it, saying 'this black boy is doing wonders'. So, they sent me to the computing department, and I became a Computer Programmer with the bank.

As God would have it, at that time as well I started learning Portuguese.

Just because it was free. They speak Portuguese in Brazil. The bank said any staff who wanted to learn Portuguese should just stay behind. And of course, I was used to staying behind.

Some staff preferred not to stay behind. So I stayed behind and I learnt some Portuguese.

Then there was an opportunity in the head office in Brazil. It was the time the 'Frame Relay' Network was just coming in. There wasn't Internet as we have it now.

They came up with a decision in Brazil that they wanted to network all worldwide branches, using the technology known as Frame Relay.

We don't use that any more. They selected three hubs. London hub to take care of Europe, Tokyo hub to take care of Asia, and New York hub to take care of America. They needed an administrator in each hub. And the requirement for the administrator in each hub was that the person must understand computing and speak Portuguese.

I was the only person in the whole bank (in London) who understood computing and spoke Portuguese. The white folks in the computer department started learning Portuguese, but were too lazy to stay behind. So they didn't qualify. By God's grace I was the one prepared for the opportunity at the time. So, I was made the European hub administrator.

My first trip to the United States was by the company. They sponsored me for training to New York and Califor-

nia. For the first time I went to Brazil.

I stayed in Rio de Jenairo and Brazilia.

I had the opportunity to travel all over Europe because all branches had to report to me. If there was any issue in Europe, I'll just pick a flight. Amsterdam became a day flight. I'll go in the morning and come back in the evening.

That was my entry into computing. I then became a Computer consultant because I took exams. This was around year 2000, when the y2k (millennium) bug became a panic.

But those of us in the Computing profession became so well sought after to the extent that they were paying us per hour to do the work.

Sometimes some jobs I go for could earn up to ÂŁ600 a day, just for showing up. But what I did then was, rather than spend the money the way it was coming, I started investing in properties.

And during my banking experience, I took time to understand the mortgage system. How it worked. I started using my understanding of that system as a leverage to invest in properties.

Were you still at the bank then?

No, I left when I became a consultant. And I was doing contracts. After the y2k bug, that was about 2001, I had built up enough portfolio of properties, I left consulting to fully managing properties in the UK. By that time I was called 'The Guru'.

I then set up a seminar company, and we started training other people.

Because when Nigerians see that you are successful at something, everybody would come and ask. We set up a seminar company, Property Wealth Ltd, to train other people on how to raise the finance, how to buy the properties and how to manage the properties. Because there are laws you have to understand.

Tenancy laws, eviction laws, etc. That became another income generation company.

Did you start Haven Homes in the UK,

or was it when you came back to Nigeria?

When people ask me how this whole thing started or how did you grow to this extent, my response is usually that I was just following the direction of God. It is where He leads me. Having built up a huge portfolio in the UK, my General Overseer, New Covenant Church, Rev. Paul Jinadu, a very vast man, advised me that 'Rich men don't keep assets, they turn them over'. That I should start selling my properties. I said 'Sir, what do you mean?'. He said that that is the way to grow wealth.

That wealth is grown, not just kept.

Fortunately I heeded the advice. And I started selling the properties.

Now, this is where God's leading came in. I sold the properties, not realising that there was a burst around the corner. So, I had sold my properties before the burst in the UK. And by that time also, I now discovered opportunities in Nigeria.

So, I came back to Nigeria and started Haven Homes. This was in 2005. The burst was 2006, 2007. I started building, and completed my first building in Nigeria in 2007.

This concept of luxury homes, why did you decide on that niche? Why not the normal homes companies in the business were doing then?

Way back then in 2005, 2006, I discovered an opportunity in the property market to deliver quality. I went to one of the top hotels, and I went to the bathroom, and I saw the shoddy work that was done. And I thought if this is what the bathroom of a major hotel in Nigeria looks like, how would normal houses look? I started observing. I would enter a house, and the door would seem to be falling apart. Things were so badly done. The quality of construction was so horrible. But in the UK, they take these things for granted.

At this time, I met with an Architect friend of mine in the UK. He also had the same passion, the same idea, the concept of luxury homes. Affordable.

Not the palatial mansions you see that nobody can afford. But build it for average person to live like a king. That was when the concept of Haven Homes started.

My friend and I came together. He was designing, while I was a developer.

Most of our initial developments we titled them to reflect the palace names in the UK. My friend is Mr. Ladega, who runs Play in Architecture, a firm of architects, now based in Nigeria.

The concept is to build homes that are fit enough for kings and queens to live, but not as expensive as the palaces there are.

Tell us some Nigerians who have bought houses from Haven Homes.

(Shakes head) At least I know one or two...

Yeah... you know TuFace, and you know AY, the comedian, and many more like that.

Did you have anybody as a mentor, or you just did it all by yourself?

I think maybe I just grew to being the mentor to many other people, rather than having a mentor. Ultimately God has been my mentor.

Monday, February 3, 2014

33

34

BUSINESS | entrepreneur

Monday, February 3, 2014

Monday, February 3, 2014

BUSINESS | entrepreneur

35

36 BUSINESS | entrepreneur

Monday, February 3, 2014

METRO 37

of Truth

bruary 3, 2014

men for murder Baker sells boy, 13, for N100,000

Source: ecowastribune.com

on the spot.

“The policemen immediately ran away from the scene when they discovered that the two men had died.”

While investigating the matter, the police

initially arrested Omojuwa, the organiser of the party.

When the dust over the death of the youth had settled, Omojuwa petitioned Manko, demanding to know the true cause of the youths’ death since the police claimed they did not touch them.

Manko was said to have instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of Panti, to investigate the matter.

Just when the five policemen, who had allegedly attempted to conceal the crime, felt that the case was dead and buried, autopsy examinations carried out on the corpses at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), revealed that the men were shot dead.

Also, the bullets extracted from the corpses were traced to the policemen’s guns.

A police source said, “The CP was embarrassed by the outcome of the autopsy and ordered that the five policemen should be arrested immediately. I can assure you that there won’t be any cover up. As soon as investigations are conducted, the police authority will take the next appropriate step.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, neither picked her calls nor responded to the text message sent to her phone.

L-R: Executive Director/CEO, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Abdullahi Shuaib, a beneficiary, Mr. Abdurafiu Onibudo and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, during the presentation in Lagos.

PHOTO:SULEIMAN HUSAINI

food on the tables of thousands of families that were hungry, assisted others to break the circle of poverty, saved lives and supported the educational needs of indigent Nigerian students within and outside the country.”

Acknowledging that the challenges of meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015 was enormous for a country like Nigeria, Shuaib said the foundation was determined to complement governments’ efforts to reduce poverty.

“To demonstrate this commitment, over N84.8million is being distributed for the year ended 2013 to over 1,900 beneficiaries across the SouthWest, South-East and SouthSouth geo-political zones of the country compare to N41.1million distributed in 2012,” he added.

Some of the equipment given out were 10 deep freezers, 19 generators, three tricycles, three printers, three shoe-making machines, photo printers and photocopier machines.

KIDNAP The selling of a boy to a ritual killer has backfired

Taiwo Jimoh

T

hirteen-year-old Lekan Olawuyi, a Junior Secondary School pupil from Ibadan, who was in Lagos to spend the holiday with his mother on Tuesday narrowly escaped after he was sold by a baker for N100,000 to a ritual killer in Onikan Stadium area of Lagos State.

New Telegraph Metro learnt that Waheed, an apprentice baker, at 14, Akodu Street, Mushin, had asked Lekan, who was waiting for his mother at the bakery, to accompany him to a friend’s house in the neighbourhood.

Not sensing any trouble, Lekan agreed and left the bakery with Waheed.

When Lekan’s mother got to the bakery, she asked after her son and was told by some of the employees at the bakery that her son left the bakery with Waheed.

“After waiting endlessly for Waheed and her son to return to the bakery, Lekan’s mother and some of the employees became apprehensive and subsequently a search party was raised to look for the duo.

“The search party went to the nook and cranny of the community till 4am on Wednesday without finding them. So, we reported at Alakara and Olosan police stations,” one of the employees at the bakery said.

The employee, who craved anonymity, said the search party later went to Akala area of Mushin where Waheed was found and questioned about the boy’s whereabouts.

But the suspect denied taking Lekan out. This, New Telegraph learnt, infuriated some youths who beat him to a pulp.

It was learnt that after much beating, the suspect owned up and was handed over to a combine team of police and soldiers who arrived at the scene.

Lekan’s mother, Mrs. Sha-

kirat Olawuyi, said, “I hawked bread every day for a living. Whenever I am going to hawk, I leave my son at the bakery because he knows nowhere in the community.

“When I was told Lekan had gone out with Waheed I had no cause to be worried. After all, I know Waheed as an employee at the bakery and I thought my son was in save hands.”

Olawuyi also said she reported the matter to some soldiers whom she sell bread to in Mushin, adding that the suspect confessed that he had sold Lekan to a ritual killer identified as Akeem in Onikan area of the state.

She said while Waheed was being persuaded to reveal where the boy was, some policemen in a van arrived the scene with Lekan.

A police source from Alakara Police Station said the boy was brought to their station by policemen from Bode Thomas Police Station.

“A team of Rapid Response Squad who was on patrol saw him and kept him in their care for safety,” he said.

During interrogation, Lekan told the police how Waheed lured him away from the bakery and took him to a ritual killer.

The victim, who later spoke with our correspondent, said, “I was in the bakery wait-

Olawuyi

ing for my mum, when Waheed called me that I should accompany him to somewhere and I obliged him.

“We left Mushin for Onikan.

When we got there, he called one man on the phone to come and look at me. When the man arrived, he saw me and nodded. I was scared when I saw the man.

“They later took me to an apartment and I was kept in a very dark and dirty room separated from where they were sitting. I also overheard the man telling Waheed that he can only afford to buy me at N100, 000. It was then I knew I was in danger.

“I forced one of the windows of the apartment opened and jumped out of the room before they came.

After I had left their den, I have no knowledge of the area and it was late in the night. I was wandering in the area and some policemen saw me and asked me where I was coming from.

“I narrated my experience to them and they brought me to Alakara Police Station and reunited me with my mother.”

When contacted, the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, promised to get back to our correspondent as soon as she had details of the case but she had yet to do so as at the time of going to press.

38

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

INVESTIGATION

NEW TELEGRAPH

39

newtelegraphonline.com/business

GEOFFREY EKENNA, Editor, INVESTIGATION geoffrey.ekenna@newtelegraphonline.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

A tale of two stadia...

A front view of the stadium

Photos: Tony EGUAYE

The National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, once a pride of the Nigerian sporting world, is abandoned and dilapidated.

While the Federal Government is still thinking about what to do with it, the Teslim Balogun Stadium, owned by the Lagos State Government, directly opposite it, is alive and kicking, as Geoffrey EKENNA reports A tussle for national treasure

A

t about 3.05pm on Saturday, January 27, a fight broke out at one of the Lawn Tennis courts of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Husky and shouting voices were heard; shoves were exchanged, while beer bottles and chairs were raised by some of the men involved. The fight was between some elderly men from the Mainland Tennis Club in Lagos and some professional Tennis players of the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF), led by its number five ranked player, Samuel Omoyele. Also involved were a serial medalist at the National Sports Festivals in Rivers State and Lagos, Albert Bikom, and the Assistant National team Coach of the Wheel Sports Tennis arm of the

Federation, Kayode Savage respectively.

The members of the Mainland Club, led by the president of the “Committee”, Sola Taylor, had told the younger professional players not to play at the front lawns, directly opposite the broadcast centre of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). Rather, the club members, who sat under the umbrella and shades, in the hot afternoon, drinking and chatting, wanted the players to go to the back lawns to play their practice matches. But, the players could not understand why they had to be barred from the lawns, which the club members claimed to be maintaining. They also wondered where they would practice to represent Nigeria in future competitions. The fracas left Bikom with a small cut on his neck.

Just minutes after that fight, another

one almost broke out under the NTA stands. A lady, who had brought a set of three mobile toilets for a church programme the following day (Sunday), was engaged in a shouting match with some officials of the broadcast outfit and some other journalists sitting under the shed.

The lady, who had just taken delivery of the mobile toilets from a van, made to position her stock just near the NTA centre. She was cautioned by the journalists that the place belonged to NTA. “But this is where the church told me to place the toilets,” she responded in frustration, though, to no one in particular. The Pentecostal Church had already placed a giant tent on an empty space, just before the main entrance of the stadium. The lady, a contractor, had to move her toilets to another location, after making some phone calls to some unknown people.

The two scenarios above illustrate the state of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, which was once the pride of the country, when it was commissioned in 1972 by the then General Yakubu Gowon military administration.

During the All African Games hosted by Nigeria in 1973, reporters from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had marvelled at the glittering edifice, the

landmass it occupied and the functionality of the whole process and christened the stadium, ‘a sports city.’ The name stuck from then. But since 2004, when the last match, an LG cup was played in the stadium, the sports city has been in a massive state of decline. For starters, Nigeria last played an international match in the stadium in 2001; an African Nations Cup qualifier against Zambia.

Welcome to the abandoned edifice A first time visitor to the ‘dying’ edifice would wonder at the rate of degradation and neglect of the once popular stadium and pride of the nation. From the lofty heights of first-class sporting facility, the National Stadium is today, a big beer parlour, where thousands gather to drink until late nights. Parts of it have also become a car park for those who are looking for space, venue for hire for Christian and Islamic programmes, funeral services, town union meetings, and love nest for lovers, car wash and anything that tickles the fancy of its managers. It is also a home to prayer warriors, who gather CO NTINUED O N PAGE 40

40 INVESTIGATION

Monday, February 3, 2014

National Stadium: A story of neglect, decay CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 9

there to make supplications to God. Yet, there are the homeless and destitute, who have found a home in the stadium.

The rot starts from the gate, where staff of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and its agents collects N100.00 per car entering the stadium.

Only officials of the NSC and Journalists are exempted from the toll. But on entering the stadium, the picture that confronts a visitor is that of neglect and filth. A Photo Editor with one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers told New Telegraph that the story of the stadium was one of regret. “It shows why things are the way they are in Nigeria. If the country can abandon this stadium the way it is, then, you can understand why many things in the country are generally in decline. It is painful! I have been in sports reporting for a long time but I have not seen a thing like this. There is nowhere in the world an edifice of this nature is allowed to rot away. This stadium tells a lot about our maintenance culture,” he said.

A senior Sports Journalist, who also spoke to this reporter but declined to be named, pointed out that the stadium has become a home for destitute and young men and women, who engage in illicit sex. “Come here in the evening. You will see what I am saying.

There is no type of characters you will not see here. The whole place has been turned into a drinking joint. You will be shocked at what you will see,” he quipped.

A big beer joint Indeed, it was a shock on Friday January 24, when New Telegraph visited the stadium. It was a big beer parlour that was sitting in front of the main bowl.

The beer parlour, which starts around 6pm, is operated by O’Jez, a Chinese restaurant and fast food outlet. It also operates a night club. From 6 pm through the wee hours, beer drinkers troop to the joint to drink. It was gathered that the place is a popular relaxation centre for actors and actresses in the film industry.

But on this Friday, when Arsenal Football Club played against Coventry in the English FA cup, the place was filled to the brim with football enthusiasts. “My brother, we gather here every evening to enjoy ourselves. No be we tell government to abandon this place”, a man, who identified himself simply as Azuka, told this reporter. He had with him, a young girl, who strapped her hand around his waist.

Though, O Jez is just one out of the many beer selling joints there, sources said it has acquired the whole portion between the two flood lights in front of the main bowl. There is also the Old

dium. Despite the poor state of the stadium, new shops are being constructed, while a mechanic workshop, car wash and similar small businesses have taken over the environment. Shop allocation prices hover between N32, 000 and N100, 000, depending on the available space.

Now, a big beer parlour

A place to drink and relax

There is nowhere in the world an edifice of this nature is allowed to rot away Skol, just in front of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Secretariat. While O’ Jez serves its drinks and food without much fuzz, Old Skol appears more daring. At the back of the secretariat, women gathered, cooking on firewood. Rice, pepper soup and other edibles are dished out from the kitchen.

Ironically, a church located inside the SWAN headquarters, Christ Life Church International, is sandwiched between the kitchen and the drinking area of Old Skol. Thus, while the church engages in praise singing and worship with its loudspeakers blaring, the music from the other loudspeakers of the Old Skol

wafts into the air, mixing with the husky voices of beer drinkers and the praise singers in church. It is just a cacophony.

Around the main bowl of the stadium are shops of different sizes and shapes.

They are selling various wares to the multitude that troop in daily for one need or the other. One of the shop owners told New Telegraph that the shops were allocated to them by the stadium management. “But the woman is a more straightforward person. If you go to the Stadium Manager, Engr. Alanamu A.A, he will start asking you about agency and other fees. But if you go to Mama, Mrs. Tayo Oreweme, the Zonal Co-coordinator of the NSC, she will just take the exact price. She does not demand any other thing,” she told this reporter, who posed as a shop seeker.

It was gathered that while the Federal Government is still thinking of what to do with the stadium, (it announced two weeks ago that it would concession the stadium soon), Oreweme and Alanamu have been running the rules at the sta-

Getting worse everyday But if you think the real tragedy of the National Stadium is outside, you may be mistaken. For right inside the 55, 000 capacity main bowl is the real image of decay. The seats on almost the whole section at the uppermost part of the Surulere end of the pitch are gone.

Gone with the winds also is the electronic scoreboard, installed in 1999 before the World Youth Championship hosted by Nigeria. The time on the scoreboard stood permanently at 3.40 with no indication or whether it stopped in the afternoon or morning. The floodlights, installed at the same time are all there, lying in waste. In some sections of the stadium, grasses have taken over, while the Tartan tracks have also disappeared.

On this particular Saturday, a group of Chinese nationals, made up of families were playing football inside the main bowl. They are the only persons allowed into the pitch on regular basis. A security man at the main entrance gate said he was on orders not to allow any other person into the stadium. “Oga, na my job I de do please. If my oga (boss) sees you people near here, I will be in trouble”, he said.

In 1972, when the stadium was built, it had a capacity of 55,000. The capacity was then reduced to 45,000 in 1999. The record attendance remained 85,000 and was taken in the final match of the African Cup of Nations in 1980 between Nigeria and Algeria. There has been no concrete reason adduced for why the stadium was abandoned. Sources said that while the abandonment was not unconnected with the alleged hostility of Lagos fans to the Nigerian National teams playing there, when they are not doing well, it was, however, discovered that the building of the Abuja National Stadium by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration compounded the woes of the Lagos National Stadium.

Add that to the issue of money within the Nigerian Football Federation, matches of the National teams have been rotated among Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Calabar, Benin and anywhere a state offers to host matches. Some senior sports journalists, who spoke with this reporter, stated that it was not enough to accuse Lagos fans of hostility. “There is nowhere in the world where the fans are not hostile.

You only manage them. I have been to major tournaments all over the world.

CO NTINUED O N PAGE 41

INVESTIGATION

Monday, February 3, 2014

41

…And Teslim Balogun shines CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 0

The story is the same. It is how you manage the fans that matters”, one of them said, adding, “is that why Association of Tailors would take over our national stadium for events? Is that why funeral programmes will hold here? Is that why town union meetings will be held here?

Ask the officials of the NSC what they do with the money they collect here. That is the starting point. The Federal Government is now talking about concession.

I hope that will revive this place. It will take three years minimum to bring this place back to life. But one thing is clear: if the concessionaire can get sporting events to hold here, that will go a long way.”

New Telegraph also gathered that pleas from individuals and groups to several Ministers of Sports to turn the stadium into a Sporting University, using the facilities of the National Institute for Sports within it, have met the brick walls. “You know, these people don’t do anything they have no gain”, said a source. But the stadium has remained a source of sorrow for athletes and sporting enthusiasts, who daily throng there for various activities.

We are disappointed Bikom won Gold medal in Lawn Tennis at the National Sports Festival in Rivers State in 2011. He also won Gold and Silver medals at the Lagos version of the event in 2012. The same year, he won a brand new car in Delta State for his prowess. From Cross Rivers State, Bikom, who stars for Delta State and has represented Nigeria in international tournaments, was full of regret for what has become of the National Stadium. He does not understand why with his array of medals and accomplishments as a national representative, he would find it hard to train at the National Stadium or why an outside body like the Mainland Tennis Club would be laying claims to a national facility to the detriment of the players.

He pointed out though that the NTF chairman, Engineer Sani Ndanusa, had told the club members to allow professional players and Nigerian representatives to use the facility at any time they deem fit. “He (Ndanusa) even threatened to shut down the lawn, if we are not allowed to play here. But you can see what has happened here. It is a shame that the whole stadium is in this mess. It looks so bad. It is not maintained and shows how bad things have gone in this country. This place is supposed to be open for all who want to play. But it has been taken over by individuals,” he said.

Savage, who was among the callisthenics team at the Nigerian 99 FIFA World Youth Tournament, held at the stadium was also aghast at the rot. Now an Assistant National Coach of the Disable Tennis Team, Savage, who has spent about 18 years around the stadium said it was surprising that Nigerian representatives cannot train there because of some

private interest. “What happens eventually when this place is concessioned?

A facility that is meant for Nigerians is where people now raise chairs and bottles to chase away genuine players?

Look at the whole stadium; it is now for whoever that can grab whatever. Since two years now, we have been deprived of using the facilities here. I don’t think that is the plan of Nigeria,” Savage pointed out in frustration.

It was the same with Omoyele, Nigeria’s Number Five Tennis player. He pays 10 per cent of his earnings in any Central Bank of Nigeria’s sponsored Tennis tournaments played on the lawn tennis courts annually. So, if they (Mainland Tennis Club) claim to maintain this place, what happens to the 10 per cent money I pay them after every tournament?” he asked.

When contacted on the telephone over the management of the lawn tennis courts, Ndanusa, who promised to investigate the claims, said the lawn tennis courts remained a public place for players to train. He said that he expected the club and the boys to cooperate with each other since the relationship NTF has with the club is symbiotic (use the facility and maintain). Ndanusa said, “Nobody should chase the players away.

The arrangement we had with the club is a partnership. It is a symbiotic thing, to ensure that a little maintenance is made of the courts. Though, the junior players should also be respectful. But that place remains a public place.”

But Oreweme and Alanamu refused to speak on either the state of the stadium or who is responsible for collection of money or the maintenance of the facility.

When New Telegraph visited Alamanu in his office three weeks ago, he said that he was not in a position to talk as his job was just to manage the place. Oreweme, who was contacted on the telephone, insisted that it was her bosses in Abuja that should speak about the stadium. “I am the Zonal coordinator. I am not in charge of the stadium. Please let my DG in Abuja be the person you will ask. I have no comment,” she said.

A call to the media aide of the Minister of Sports and Chairman National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi, did not yield any positive result. One of his aides, Julius Ogunro, said that the Minister was travelling to South Africa, where Nigeria featured in home-based edition of the African Cup of Nations.

Though, he confirmed that a committee was set up for the concessioning programme and as such, the Minister would not be able to give full details of activities for the national Stadium until the committee reports back.

Sport city's loss, Balogun's gain Incidentally, what the national stadium has lost remains the gain of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, just opposite it. The Lagos State-owned stadium, inaugurated by former governor of the

A cart pusher takes a nap inside the National Stadium

Teslim Balogun Stadium. (Inset, the mainbowl)

Look at the whole stadium; it is now for whoever that can grab whatever state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has, for some years now been the host of the Nigerian Federations Cup. The event was almost the birthright of the National Stadium.

At an athletics meet two weeks ago at the stadium, officials of the NSC were seen complaining about the treatment they received and how things are run in the stadium. “This couldn’t have happened in Abuja,” one of them was heard saying. The Teslim Balogun Stadium has also been hosting major sporting events, which originally would have been held inside the National Stadium. That may well be reasonable.

A visit to the Teslim Balogun Stadium revealed an active stadium, with sporting activities, sparkling facilities and all round maintenance going on daily.

On this Friday, when the New Telegraph visited the stadium, it was abuzz with

sporting activities. A scrabble championship was ongoing. A Lagos International Athletics meet had just ended. From the football pitch through the volleyball court, Mobolaji Okoya Thomas indoor Sports Hall, to the Handball courts, all appear in good order with cleaners and other stadium staff busy at work. The stadium, maybe because it is active, is even more relaxed, security-wise than the National Stadium, where access is not allowed into the mainbowl. An official of the stadium told New Telegraph that major events billed for the National Stadium are moved to the stadium. “But we plead with the Federal Government to do something about it. The National Stadium is suffering serious neglect. It is only maintenance that is lacking. We say so because the National Stadium is in Lagos and we want to see it maintained.

We have managed Teslim well because it is a Public-Private sector management.

The general manager is from the private sector. All we need is funding to keep this place running well,” he said.

But pending when the Federal Government sorts itself out with the concession arrangement, the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos will remain what it is, a national shame.

42 INVESTIGATION

Monday, February 3, 2014

Four years after, who abducted NPC director?

Four years after Samuel Adelana, an Assistant Director at the National Planning Commission, NPC, was abducted in Abuja, nobody has heard from him or his abductors, as LATEEF IBRAHIM reports.

W

here is Mr Samuel Oluwole Adelana? Is he dead or alive? That is the question on the lips of his family members exactly four years and one month after the Assistant Director with the National Planning Commission (NPC), was abducted in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Nothing has been heard about him from his abductors.

There has been no call, no demand for ransom and no news whatsoever on his whereabouts. Are his abductors still keeping him alive or have they killed him? That is the question that family members and friends have been asking with no answers coming.

When Adelana left his home town, Idoani, in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, on January 3, 2010, after the New Year celebration for Abuja, where he was working, he never had any premonition or inkling about the unfortunate fate that was waiting to befall him. Adelana, an Accounting graduate of the then Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ago-Iwoye and a Chartered Accountant, was an Assistant Director with NPC headquarters in Abuja.

Before the incident, Adelana was said to have had high hopes, tall dreams and was full of expectations. But these hopes, dreams and expectations seem to have collapsed like a pack of cards.

Although, the Chartered Accountant successfully made that journey from Idoani to Abuja on that faithful day, he was not that lucky to make it to his house at Block 2, Flat 2, Lafiaji Close, Area 2, Garki-Abuja. He was allegedly abducted by some unknown gunmen along with his Toyota Camry 2010 model as he was coming out of the house of a friend, whom he visited in Area 1, Garki.

Adelana, according to reports, was abducted at about 10.15pm in front of the house by the gunmen, numbering about four, as he was about entering into his car. One of them, it was gathered, was said to have demanded for Adelana’s car keys as he emerged from the house and he was said to have replied, asking: my keys? His abductors, armed with guns, were thereafter said to have commanded him to enter into the back of his car, with one of them taking over the driver’s seat, while two

others sandwiched him at the back seat with guns pointed at his head from both directions.

That was the beginning of a journey to the ‘unknown destination’ for this father of three. Before 8.30am of the next day (January 4, 2010), his vehicle, it was learnt, had travelled as far as YobeMaiduguri road. Findings showed that Adelana’s abductors, apparently out of anger, set his Toyota Camry ablaze, after being demobilized with the aid of a tracking device system.

It was gathered that the friend, an Igala by tribe from Kogi State, later contacted one Engineer Dele (a close friend of Adelana) who, in turn, informed his (Adelana’s) wife and other family members of what happened. Thereafter, the matter was reported at the Garki Police Station, where the family members of Adelana were immediately referred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in the nation’s capital for thorough investigations. The signals that were sent to the various neighboring Police Commands by SARS, it was further gathered, later led to the discovery of the carcass of the burnt Toyota Camry belonging to Adelana.

The lady friend was arrested, detained and quizzed by men of the SARS after which she was released and told to be reporting for questioning subsequently.

It has, however, been very difficult to actually unravel the source of the fate that befell Adelana. Speculations are that he might have been a victim of high wire office politics. This became rife in view of the alleged disagreement over the administration and the utilisation of a huge sum of money (recurrent expenditure running into about N6 billion) in the MDGs office at that time.

But, there are other insinuations.

One of which is the belief that Adelana’s abduction might have been masterminded by one or two of his business partners, who, apparently, were aggrieved over a business dealing that did not go as expected. However, these assumptions have so far led to nowhere as Adelana’s whereabouts has remained a mystery as police investigations on the matter still have not revealed anything tangible.

Before his transfer to NPC, Adelana had variously worked in the office of the Accountant-General of the Federa-

The four years of the abduction of Adelana have, however, been agonising and trumatic for his family

Adelana

MD Abubakar, Inspector General of Police

tion and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) headquarters in Abuja.

The Chartered Accountant and holder of Masters in Business Administration (MBA), popularly known as Samento by his friends and admirers, was among the Accountants recruited into the Federal Civil Service in the year 2000 under the scheme tagged “the Millennium Accountants”.

Before joining the Federal Civil Service, Adelana had, among other places, worked with the Cooperative Bank in Ibadan, Oyo State, as a Senior Manager.

The four years of the abduction of Adelana have, however, been agonising and trumatic for his family. His friends have abandoned and deserted them. Like the late Chinua Achebe’s popular novel “Things Fall Apart”, things have, indeed, fallen apart as the centre can no longer

hold in his family.

Findings by the New Telegraph in Abuja showed that Adelana’s wife, Taiwo, has since relocated to the United States where she was living before the unfortunate incident that befell her husband.

Adelana’s house in Lafiaji Close, Area 2, Garki, Abuja, it was learnt, later became a serious issue of legal dispute between his ex-wife (who had three children for him) and his extended family members. The house, findings showed, has now been rented out to take care of the education and upkeep of his children.

None of the members of Adelana’s family was willing to say anything on the matter. They maintained that there was nothing cheerful over the issue to necessitate their comment on it. His cousin, who lives in Abuja, Mr. Duro Aderobagun, could not comment also when contacted. His reason was that his comments four years ago over the same issue were misinterpreted by other family members.

The matter, according to investigations, has been transferred from SARS to the Assistant Inspector General (AIG), office in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), of the FCT Police Command, DSP Altine Daniel, said that she could not collate any information about the case because those who were around at the time the case was reported have been posted out.

Daniel, however, pleaded for time to enable her see what information she could gather concerning how far the matter has been handled.

LAW

‘i took after my parents but...’

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/law

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE Editor, judiciary

foluso.ogunmodede@newtelegraphonline.com FEBRUARY 3, 2014

}p-45

'Judiciary’s self-cleansing will restore confidence in 2015' Despite the many controversies that have dogged the nation's judiciary, some Senior Advocates of Nigeria are optimistic of a rebirth ahead of 2015. Judiciary editor, Foluso Ogunmodede, reports.

L

awyers are unanimous that despite various allegations of bribery and corruption, dearth of fund and slow justice system, the nation’s judiciary would no doubt rise above all odds to administer justice without fear or favour especially on any electoral disputes that may arise from the 2015 general elections.

The lawyers, Chief Mike Ahamba, Chief Niyi Akintola, Ahmed Raji , Akinlolu Kehinde, Chukwuma Machukwu Ume, Abiodun Owonikoko, Chris Nwaiwu , all Senior Advocates, insisted that the judiciary was more than ready to settle any disputes arising from the 2015 general elections as it would not shy about its primary responsibility to dispense justice in regardless of any challenges facing it with a view to stabilizing the nation’s fledgling democracy.

Although they agreed that a section of the Electoral Law needed a review, judiciary was more than ready to stabilize the nation’s democracy to address any electoral disputes as its role was sacrosanct in nation-building.

For instance, Chief Akintola said:"Out of the three arms, the judiciary is the most prepared as far as 2015 is concerned.

"Going by the judgement of the apex court in the case between Ohakim and Okorocha, the Supreme Court has made pronouncement that will serve as yard stick in determining any election matters come 2015.

"The judiciary is prepared, especially at the appellate court, it has been doing self cleansing which other arms are not doing. Only last year, several lawyers were derobed having been guilty of corruption".

"Our judiciary is ready, it is the other arms that are not ready, that may tend draw back the judiciary".

Akintola

The judiciary is prepared, especially at the appellate court, it has been doing self cleansing which other arms are not doing. Only last year, several lawyers were derobed having been guilty of corruption In his view, Ahamba said: "In whatever we do, we must consider the efficacy of those sections about the limit for hearing petitions and appeal against them. We must revisit those sections before the next election otherwise there will be problems in our hands.

"The period of hearing a matter has been decided by the Supreme Court, it should however not be controlled by the legislature because you can never say how many witnesses a party needs to prove his case.

"For instance, if you are doing a Presidential petition and there are 200 witnesses to call, tell me how it can be done within 180 days in a tribunal that has about 20 other cases. In other words, the petitions die on arrival.

"Apart from that, we allow the interlocutory matters to interfere without removing it from the 180 days and

Ahamba

Judiciary should be ready, because they are empowered by the law. Whether an individual judge will decide not to be ready is a different thing the court have refused to use its powers to do so.

"All people need to do is to file unnecessary objection and if it is sustained and the Court of Appeal returns it to the tribunal, it says time has expired. What type of justice is that one?"

In his view, Raji said that the judiciary is more than ready for 2015 given what it went through in 2011.

He said further: "In a year, the Supreme Court of Nigeria attended to almost 400 matters, this is not so in the United Kingdom, where the Supreme Court barely takes six cases in a year.

“Nigerian Supreme Court delivered over 400 judgements and as we are moving forward , I believe the electoral system will be getting better and cases will be reducing. The number of cases in 2007 was more than 2011.

To Kehinde "our Justices and judges, though severely underpaid as compared to their counterparts in other jurisdictions like South Africa,

Kehinde

our Justices and judges, though severely underpaid when compared to their counterparts in other jurisdictions like South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom and other jurisdictions, they are brilliant minds Uganda, United Kingdom and other jurisdictions, they are brilliant minds who are always ready to embrace new challenges and make the necessary sacrifice for the survival of our nascent democracy.

"I recall that in year 2013, the Justices of the Supreme Court had to be recalled from their well- deserved vacation to come and adjudicate over some election matters.

"Although, it will not be harmful too, if they are still given opportunities to attend special trainings and development forum, it will only add to their already overflowing fountain of knowledge. I also still emphasize, as a matter of utmost importance, that the support staff of the judiciary be trained. Training and development opportunities must be made available to these people if the best is to be gotten from the judiciary".

44 LAW | INTERVIEW

Monday, February 3, 2014

President, N'Assembly can't organise National conference, says Ahamba judiciary. The comfort of the judiciary should not be left to the whims and caprices of one of the contesssants before it. Money comes for the purchase of cars to the governors, they use it to buy cars and they will start announcing that they have donated cars to the judges, and judges respond that they are very grateful for the donation. An independent man watching objectively will assume that the judge whom a car has been donated to, cannot seriously stand up against the donor. That is why there must be independence. This is an area, that I believe must be ironed out. Implementation of the very letters of our constitution and not necessarily new ones.

MIKE AHAMBA, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria bares his mind on the modalities released by the federal government for the proposed national dialogue and concludes that the confab's focus and purpose are ill-timed.

TUNDE OYESINA, met him.

A section of the country has faulted the timing and the purpose of the planned national conference, what is your position on this?

There should be a confab but it should not be rushed. I don't believe that any decision taken at the confab this year, will be available for the elections next year. I believe Confab in Nigeria should not be over time constrained, it is something that a body will be created and left to discuss for at least two years so that everything can be taken care of once and for all, so that there will be no question of another issue arising tomorrow. I am worried about a confab without a legal frame work because implementation will be difficult.

Under the Constitution, the President does not have the power to create confab, National Assembly does not have power to create confab. The law to enable one of them to do it must be put in place before confab will be created.

And whatever confab is created should be independent of the executive and the legislature, if it is going to be realistic and useful to the people of Nigeria.

Let us not rush into confab, without first of all, agreeing on the frame work that makes it useful for us all.

How would you look at the readiness of the judiciary to handle electoral disputes as 2015 itches close?

Judiciary should be ready, because they are empowered by the law. Whether an individual judge will decide not to be ready is a different thing. I believe that the laws in this country have made the judiciary ready for any situation. There may be some reasons here and there but that does not mean that the judiciary is not ready. I believe in the present revolution going on under the present Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN) and I expect an improvement in next year's election petition trials. But before we go into any election, the issue of 60 and 180 days for tribunal and the rest of them should be taken care of, otherwise we are creating boxes of confusion.

In whatever we do, we must consider the efficacy of those sections about the limit for hearing petitions and appeal against them. We must revisit those sec-

Ahamba

tions before the next election otherwise there will be problems in our hands.

This is my humble opinion. The period of hearing a matter has been decided by the Supreme Court, it should however not be controlled by legislature because you can never say how many witnesses a party needs to prove his case.

For instance, if you are doing a Presidential petition and there are 200 witnesses to call, tell me how it can be done within 180 days in a tribunal that has about 20 other cases. In other words, the petitions die on arrival.

Apart from that, we allow the interlocutory matters to interfere without removing it from the 180 days and the court has refused to use its powers to do so.

All what politicians need to do is to file unnecessary objections and if it is sustained and the Court of Appeal returns it to the tribunal, before coming back to the appellate, time would have expired.

What type of justice is that one?

somebody, the NJC sitting as council should not discuss it. It must go straight to an independent panel. This is my view.

How would you look at the call by some lawyers that the office of the CJN should be separated from that of the NJC? I mean, would you support such call?

The CJN should head the body that looks into the affairs of the judiciary, just like the other arms of government take care of their own situation. I believe that is not a problem but where there is an issue to determine a complaint against

President does not have the power to create confab, National Assembly does not have power to create confab.

The law to enable one of them to do it must be put in place before confab will be created

What is the implication of underfunding the judiciary?

Definitely, there are negative implications. If you make the judiciary subservient to the executive, he who pays the piper is expected to be calling the tune and some insist on calling it and some who resist it are usually punished one way or the other by being starved of funds. So, that provision in the Constitution, that money for the judiciary will go to the NJC, and the NJC should distribute it to the various heads of courts, is the only answer that will be consistent with the democracy. This is what I advocate because whatever is happening now, sending money to the governors to give to the CJs is not an enhancement of our democratic independence of the

There have been clashes between the NJC and the state governors on the appointment of Chief Judges, constitutionally who is responsible for the appointment of Chief Judge of a state?

There are certain basic provisions.

One is that, once there is a vacancy, the most senior should be appointed as the acting CJ. That is what is in our constitution. Then, a recommendation is made from the local judiciary commission to the governor and this is sent to the NJC for determination. I believe that the process of sending the name to the governor is the biggest mistake made, but it is there, and the governor should realize that he is just a conduit for it and allow the judiciary people to take their decision. For a governor to insist on a particular person, at any particular time is not very healthy. And he should remember that he will not be there forever, so you do not because of the few years you will serve as a governor, insist on a particular person who has been considered incompetent and not eligible at a particular time to become the CJ, thereby creating serious division in the judiciary. I think we should save that institution and do everything to maintain its sanctity. We must stop throwing politics into it, because whoever is appointed is holding the whistle to blow when disputes arise between two parties.

Do you support the agitation that special courts should be established to try corruption cases?

I don't agree. All these special arrangements, special establishment and so on have caused more problem than they have solved. For instance, EFCC and the ICPC were created on the grounds that police cannot handle corruption cases but what difference has it made? I used to see more corruption cases in court when police was handling it, but now that there are specialized bodies, there is no difference. What I think is the empowerment of the people and training.

If you are going to have a specialized body to handle this, then there must be CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

LAW | Dynasty

Monday, February 3, 2014

HE is President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Young Lawyers’ Forum. Paul Daudu, scion of Joseph Bodunrin Daudu law dynasty, studied law at the Queen Mary University of London in the United Kingdom and was called to the Nigerian Bar about six years ago. His father, Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daodu, a Senior Advocate, led the NBA as its president between 2010 and 2012.

Paul spoke with TUNDE OYESINA on his choice of career, challenges of young lawyers, state of the nation and sundry issues

F

athers do have them and mothers too. In the name of the father, you may add. Not exactly so, even if it appears that way. This young man is also working hard to make his own name.

'Although people expect much from me as a young lawyer, there are millions of advantages I derive from being born into a family of lawyers, says Paul, son of a former president of the lawyers’ umbrella body, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

The younger Daudu is of the opinion, that the advantages of being a lawyers’ son out-weigh whatever obstacles he has encountered since his call to the Bar a few years ago.

His words: “It is just like our legal profession, the best lawyer is the one that looks at precedents, and the good thing about being born into a family where they are lawyers is that you have someone you are looking up to.

You have someone, you can use as a reference point and people you can easily consult. It does help a lot. One is not starting at the same level with those people who are first generation lawyers. I must confess, there is an advantage.

Paul went on:“ In everything that has an advantage, there is also a challenge because people expect more from you than someone who is the first lawyer in his family. For example, in my own case, whenever I am appearing for a matter, people want to see J.B Daudu giving a submission, but they have forgotten that I am also a young lawyer making my way in the profession. There is an added pressure on me because they look at my background and believe there is an oracle of knowledge around me and I must be like them. That is not always the case. Interest matters too, if interest is not there, there is no way someone can flourish”.

Paul said his decision to study law was not by happenstance as his background played a pivotal role. His parents are lawyers , hence his love for the noble profes-

45

'I took after my parents but...' sion was the beginning of his foray into the profession.

He said: “Yes, they are one of the contributing factors to my studying law but not the sole factor. Well, in school, I was an art student and out of the humanity courses, I have a flair for law, also the acceptance of my father and mother who are lawyers too, paved the way for my career choice. So, right from SS 3, I never looked back.

Also, Paul, who is the president of the Young Lawyers’ Forum of the NBA,spoke on the challenges facing ‘Baby Lawyers’ in the country, citing unemployment as number one challenge. On this, he said efforts were on to nip in the bud the challenge so as to alleviate their sufferings.

He said: “Well, I can categorize the challenges young lawyers face into two. First, in terms of welfare, many of our young lawyers lack the means to professionally develop themselves, due to the high rate of unemployment in the country. It is difficult to get a job in law firms, and when they eventually get one, unfortunately, the pay is nothing to write home about.

This act makes young lawyers resort to sharp practices which is not justifiable and over reliance on clerical works. For instance, with the Corporate Affairs Commission and land registries because that is the fastest way to develop themselves.But the fastest way is however, not the best way in terms of law profession.

He, however canvassed a review of quality legal education as panacea for the socio-economic problems confronting the nation’s legal profession.

Paul said: “We have canvassed in several conferences, for quality of our legal education at the entry point needs to be reviewed. The accreditation of Universities that have law faculties needs to be streamlined. I would have loved a situation where the National Universities Commission gave way to the Council of Legal in the area of screening. Many Universities are not considering the output of the students. They are just out to make profit, so they admits as many students as possible and some of them don't have any interest in the development of their students. And as you have said, it has a "knock on" effect on the number of lawyers. In actual fact, a lot of lawyers do not meet the standard to work in a good law firm. There is need for a revamp in the entire system by the Council of Legal Education in that regards.

On what the Young Lawyers’ Forum is doing on ‘Baby Lawyers’ welfare, he said: “the young lawyers forum which is a branch of the NBA has the mandate to organize programmes and conferences that can improve the young lawyers and we have been doing so. In terms of welfare, the President of the NBA has just introduced a welfare scheme for lawyers. It is not fully in place, but there are plans on ground where young lawyers can take loans to buy books, cars and

Daudu

A lot of lawyers do not meet the standard to work in a good law firm. There is need for a revamp in the entire system by the Council of Legal Education in that regards other needful things. By the scheme, they will need to make contributions every month. So, you will give a little, you will get a lot. I hope before the end of my tenure, this welfare scheme will be implemented.

Paul went on: “On the minimum wage, this has been discussed severally at NBA conferences. We have said repeatedly that there should be a minimum wage but the problem with the applicability is that, a senior lawyer who is unable to pay cannot be forced to pay what he does not have.

That has been the challenge of setting a minimum wage, for young lawyers. It has always been an issue, but I totally agree that there must be a minimum wage for young lawyers. Although, there are seniors who can pay but decide not to, we speak against it and ensure that young lawyers are being cared for.

On the judiciary, he said:” Well, the judiciary is a reflection of the society we live in. There are times we

get judgement in the court that does not go with the popular opinion but the judges are trying their best, given the available resources they have. I really salute the courage of the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Muhktar. She has tried to ensure that the judiciary is rid of corrupt and indolent judges.

There is now a performance index for judges, this makes them to sit up, knowing that they have a lot of cases to attend to.

I believe, these are positive strives towards the improvement of the judiciary.

But I am not saying, we are in utopia yet, things could be better as I can see improvement in the way the judiciary is being managed”.

However, he counseled young lawyers to always demonstrate high level of perseverance; ‘they should know their onions. They should be patient with senior lawyers, because they shall one day become seniors in this profession.

They should also be ready to learn and always maintain decorum in and outside the court realizing the fact that the legal profession is a noble one. Some of us are technologically inclined , this should help us to go higher in the profession.

On what he envisions for himself,Paul says ‘I see myself learning and contributing more to the Bar . This is a passion and eventually, I see myself trying my best to excel in the profession and becoming a good lawyer, that is all I want’.

46 LAW

Monday, February 3, 2014

President, N'Assembly can't organise confab –Ahamba CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 4

some specialized training for those to handle it. It is not just because somebody is a policeman or a lawyer, he can prosecute for EFCC, it is not true. There should be a programme of training for them to know what it is to prosecute. The way they dramatize accusation without dramatising conviction, is part of their problems and they create it themselves, so people are accused of a cover up. How would you arrest somebody so dramatically and yet you don't see that person in court later and you don't make a statement that the man is innocent. These are the problems we have to look at. Proper investigation is necessary. In Nigeria, we have adopted this wrong process in criminal proceeding. We arrest, punish, then investigate and try or release. We should first of all investigate, arrest before trial but we go the other way round which does not present us as a civilized society at all. Abroad, when somebody is identified as a possible criminal, he can be watched for one year, while the people collate their evidence. So, when they pounce on him, the man surrenders because he knows he can't escape.

But the moment we see a petition, even anonymous ones, you will go and arrest the man thereby giving opportunities, if he is guilty, for those involved to start covering up the holes. We must change our methods. This is my opinion.

The anti-graft agencies are gradually losing the battle against corruption as most of their cases in court are being struck out, what do you think is the way out?

Training and proper usage of professionals. You don't just throw somebody to court because you have told the world

Ahamba

that the person is guilty. If at any point you discover that you don't have the fact to prosecute an accused person, you should also tell the world why you don't have the fact.

When you accused a person, the onus is on you to prove the guilt of the man. The man has no authority to prove his innocence.

That is the law, you and I have chosen. The accusatorial, not the inquisitorial. If somebody is brought to court wrongly, the judge has no option than to throw it away.

Are you in support of capital punishment?

I am an advocate of capital punishment when it is necessary. There are certain circumstances that capital punishment should be implemented. But I am not talk-

EFCC and the ICPC were created on the grounds that police could not handle corruption cases but what difference has it made?

ing about an eye for an eye but if somebody has gone to murder about 20 people, why should he stay on this earth? If someone has gone to murder another person gruesomely, why should such a person be kept here? If the term given to any convicted person is to be reversed, it should be by the governor under the prerogative of mercy. Feeding people for the next forty years because, you don't want to execute capital punishment, imposes economic hardship on the community. Capital punishment will discourage people from doing some certain things. All the same, I believe in prerogative of mercy because some people commit murder under circumstances beyond their control, this must be taken into consideration. This is my position but I am not in support of abrogating it.

Do you think that our criminal law should be reviewed?

Yes, it could be reviewed. And that is what we are trying to do through the EFCC and the ICPC Act and so on. But we have to watch carefully in order not to make a mistake. Creating a particular court to sit on corruption cases will not solve any problem ,rather, it will just create a new set of problems.

How do you unwind in view of your tight schedule?

Well, I enjoy soccer and boxing but unfortunately, boxing is no longer what it used to be. I am a fanatical fan of any team wearing 'green, white, green', whether it is under 17, 20 or Super Eagles proper. Even the female teams are not left out. When they play, even if it is 1a.m , I wake up to watch them. I do watch English premier league, when some teams

are playing, those that have our boys and those who play well. But I think something needed to be done to get people back to the stadium to watch our domestic leagues. I remember as a young lawyer, I used to go to Enugu stadium to watch Enugu Rangers play. I once accompanied the Spartans to Enugu to play Rangers.

So, I enjoy soccer. I intend to write a paper soon to make Stephen Keshi recognize that he could win the World Cup. I believe we can win the Cup, I believe 2014 World Cup is ours. It is just the question of having a proper frame of mind.

Identify why we failed in the previous ones which is the mistake we made in the past. We never do any post mortem, we only blame only those who perform, we don't find out why they failed and that is why we keep failing when we are about to succeed. If we could go back and find out why we failed in 2002, 2006 and 2010, we will be in a position now to look at how we can succeed in 2014. Is the matter of the executors or administrators? I believe that if we put our house together after watching the Confederation Cup played in Brazil, I have come to a conclusion that, even though we lost, we can still , because, in that game, we did not have our best strikers and they came with their best and we were not too easy for them. I believe if we had our strikers in that match against Spain, we would have beaten them in the first half before they knew that we are good. We don't need a foreign coach to win, all we need is a good coach and we have gotten it is Keshi.

Apart from soccer, I am also a Nollywood fan. I know all the major characters in the Nigerian movie industry because I watch them with keen interest.

Three youths face hangman's noose for robbing housewife of N50,000 EXECUTION Three robbers to die by hanging as plea of innocence collapses at Supreme Court Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

hree men face hangman’s noose for robbing housewife of N50,000 SEVEN years after they robbed a housewife and businesswoman, Mrs. Ruth Alabi of N50,000 with offensive weapons, three youths are to die by hanging.

The youths- Kayode Babarinde, Akeem Haruna and Yusuf Nurudeen, were sentenced to death by hanging by the Supreme Court following their role in the robbery carried-out by the trio on August 18,2007 at Baba Oloya Street, Jebba in Kwara state.

In a unanimous judgment, five justices of the apex court upheld the concurrent judgment of both

I find no reason to disturb the said finding and conclusions of the lower court. In effect the appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed the Kwara State High Court and the Ilorin division of the Court of Appeal, following their satisfaction that the criminal case had been proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The convicts were charged before the Kwara state High Court in Ilorin on a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery contrary to Section 97 of the Penal Code and Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap. R 11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Specifically, the trio of Babarinde, Haruna and Nurudeen robbed the housewife and businesswoman, Alabi of the sum of N50,000 while

Mukhtar, CJN

armed with a locally made pistol about seven years ago at Baba Oloya Street, Jebba.

Although each of the accused persons pleaded not guilty to each count of the charge, they were nailed by the evidence produced by the state, which established a prima facie case against them.

However , the state which pros-

ecuted them, called three witnesses and tendered exhibits while the appellants each testified on their own behalf without calling any witness.

They were found guilty as charged by the trial court on September 26, 2009 on each of the counts as they were sentenced to two years of imprisonment on the count of conspiracy and death by hanging on the count of armed robbery.

Dissatisfied , the convicts headed for the Court of Appeal in Ilorin.

But their appeal collapsed like a pack of cards as the appellate court described their appeal as lacking in merit. Still dissatisfied, they appealed to the Supreme Court.

In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the apex court dismissed their appeal, describing it as unmeritorous.

"I find no reason to disturb the said finding and conclusions of the lower court. In effect the appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed", the apex court said.

FOREIGN 47

Monday, February 3, 2014

Central African rebels flee Sibut escape Disarmed fighters escape from African Union's custody over fear of revenge attacks

A

round 200 rebel fighters in the Central African Republic who surrendered to African Union troops at the weekend in the key town of Sibut fled overnight, a military source said yesterday.

"Unfortunately they fled in the night. They've gone to Kaga Bandoro," an officer in the African Union force (MISCA) told AFP. Kaga Bandoro is some 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Sibut, the town which had been held for several days by former members of the mainly Muslim Seleka rebellion -- causing terrified residents to flee -- before it was recaptured by MISCA troops on Saturday.

It is thought the rebels fled because of fear of revenge attacks by

members of the anti-Balaka Christian militia. They had initially agreed to be held by peacekeepers.

According to Colonel Abdelkader Djelani, a Seleka officer who was part of the group which fled Sibut, the rebels were concerned about the lack of security around them.

"We want solutions and really secure camps. In Bangui, Seleka confined to camps... (were) attacked by anti-Balaka."

He added that the former Seleka rebels were "ready to disarm" depending on the conditions.

Some of the residents of the town were cautiously thinking of returning home after news that African Union soldiers were now in control.

One resident, Innocent, said however there were still fears among the general population because the "Seleka were very violent with us".

A Gabonese contingent from MISCA entered the town on Saturday.

The taking of the northern town was the latest challenge faced by

peacekeepers struggling to maintain order in a country the size of France with a long history of coups, attempted coups and army mutinies.MISCA is supported by a French contingent of around 1,600 troops, and the European Union has committed a further 500 troops.

However, the interior of the country is a lawless zone ruled by warlords, with few or no foreign troops present, and newly elected transitional President Catherine Samba Panza has said more troops are needed.

The capture of Sibut came on the same day that the peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic received pledges of $132 million from other African states.

"We will be judged and measured by our efforts to protect the people of the Central African Republic," UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliassonhe said.

"We must not let them down... we must not fail to prevent another huge tragedy in Africa."

New gay rights party to stand in S. African elections

A

new party that will defend gays and lesbians against violence and persecution will stand in South Africa's elections this year, its spokesman said Saturday.

"We need a voice in parliament to protect women from being raped because people want to cure them from being lesbians," Michael Herbst of the Equal Rights Party told AFP. "We need someone in parliament when boys are bullied at school because they are thought to be gay," said the retired professor of health studies at the University of South Africa.

"South Africa has one of the most beautiful constitutions that guarantees the rights of the people who are lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, et cetera.

But in reality, it doesn't work well," he said.

While homosexuality is widely accepted in mainly white parts of

Johannesburg and Cape Town, it remains taboo in many rural areas and in working-class black townships.

While gay marriage has been recognised since 2006, gays and lesbians are regularly killed because of their lifestyle.

Lesbians in the townships are often victims of "corrective rape".

Herbst also said lawmakers for the new party would have a platform for speaking out against violations of gay rights in countries such as Russia, Nigeria and Uganda.

Asked what he thought the party's chances were in the elections slated for the second half of the year, Herbst said: "We can definitively make it."

The National Assembly's 400 seats are awarded proportionally, and the smallest party in the current parliament won fewer than 36,000 votes -some 0.2 percent -- in 2009 elections.

Shi'ites overrun rival strongholds in north Yemen; 40 dead

G Opposition demonstrators carry posters of imprisoned protesters during a protest rally in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. Several thousand Russian opposition supporters gathered for a protest yesterday, venting anger against the Kremlin and demanding the release of political prisoners.

AP Photo

Egypt says it killed 13 'extremists' in Sinai airstrikes attack Military hits group loyal to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood in night strikes

E

gypt's military launched airstrikes in the country's Sinai peninsula, killing 13 people who the military called "extremists" loyal to the Islamist group Muslim Brotherhood, state media reported.

The Thursday night strikes hit four homes in the northern Sinai, state media reported Friday, citing military spokesman Col. Ahmed Mohammed Ali.

Details about what led to the attacks weren't immediately available. The strikes follow at least two recent deadly incidents on the peninsula.

On January 25, an Egyptian military helicopter crashed in the Sinai, killing five crew members.

The military, which said the crew was targeting militants, did not comment on what caused the crash. The organization Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, which the United States has designated a terrorist group, claimed responsibility on several al Qaeda-linked websites.

The next day, unknown armed

men attacked a bus carrying Egyptian soldiers, killing three troops and wounding 11 others, the state-run Middle East News Agency reported, citing a military official.

Egypt's interim military-backed government has blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for many bomb attacks and shootings that have taken place in recent months.

There was no immediate comment about Thursday's airstrikes from the Muslim Brotherhood, which has publicly denounced violence and called for a peaceful revolution against the government.

un battles continue in Yemen as rival groups continue to unleash mayhem.

The fighting compounds the challenges faced by U.S.-allied Yemen, which is struggling to stabilize a country that is home to one of al Qaeda's most active branches.

One of the poorest countries in the Arab world, it has been in turmoil since mass protests in 2011 forced long-serving President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down.

Tribal sources said Houthi fighters and their allies from the Hashed tribal federation seized control of al-Khamri, the al-Ahmar family tribal region in Omran province. An al-Ahmar family home was burned.

The Ansarullah website, run by the Houthi group, said its fighters and allies from Hashed were "pounding the for-

tifications of the militias of the al-Ahmar sons" in al-Khamri and Zu Anash areas in Omran province.

"The al-Ahmar militias and the religious hardliners are fleeing from the two areas, along with military hardware and equipment," it said.

Tribal sources said that at least 30 Houthi rebels and 10 fighters from the Hashed tribe died in the fighting.

There was no independent confirmation of the figures.

The latest fighting was the most intense since clashes erupted in October. Shi'ite Houthi rebels, who control much of the northern Saada province on the border with Saudi Arabia, moved then against Sunni Salafis allied to the al-Ahmar clan in Dammaj town.

The Houthis accuse the Salafis of recruiting foreign fighters to attack them.

48 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Monday, February 3, 2014

2015: Jonathan may officially declare re-election bid April ON YOUR MARKS President to lay speculation to rest as he declares intention Philip Nyam, Abuja

T

here are strong indications that President Goodluck Jonathan may officially declare his re-election bid in April, just as it was learnt that Nigeria’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Alhaji Aminu Wali, will be appointed the Director-General of the President’s campaign organisation for 2015.

A source close to the Presidency, said with the release of the election time-table by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Jonathan is expected to declare his re-election bid by early April.

The source told New

L-R: Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari during the monarchs' traditional homage to the governor in Ilorin.

Telegraph that Wali, a ministerial nominee, had been shortlisted for the 2015 project before his nomination as minister.

According to the source, the president had nominated former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Umar Ghali Na’abba, to take the slot of Kano in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) but Wali pleaded with the president to give him a chance

to serve as minister even if it is for one day.

“Actually, former Speaker Ghali Na’abba was the one shortlisted but Alhaji Wali came and pleaded with Mr. President to allow him serve in the capacity of minister for now, then he can take up the appointment of DG of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation.

In fact, Na’abba’s name had been on the list from day one but because Mr.

President has a lot of respect for Wali, he obliged him” The source also said the decision of President Jonathan to recall Wali to serve as minister before assuming the role of campaign manager is to enable him “establish strategic contacts” and be at home with the issues at stake.

Wali may also combine his role as campaign DG and minister because

92% 422,381,578 $3.2m the percentage of the overall revenue of top-selling Android apps that is generated solely by games. Source: DISTIMO

the number of smartphones in China, which is 34% of all mobile phones in the country Source: ASYMCO

the amount in assets expected to be held by someone to qualify to be called wealthy.

Source: business-management-degree.net

Why Atiku dumped PDM for APC NO DEAL Former Vice President didn't want to be sole financier

Suleiman Bisalla, Abuja

F

ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday formally announced, through a statement, that he was leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the opposition All Progressives Congress and not

the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) which he helped to facilitate its registration as a political party in August last year.

Atiku, who held a meeting with some clerics in Kaduna yesterday is billed to visit Sokoto today and fly to Yola, the capital of his home state of Adamawa, later in the day for a massive rally of the APC where he will be received into the party by Governor Murtala Nyako and other party leaders.

Barring last minute changes, APC leaders Muhammdu Buhari and

Bola Tinubu will be in Yola to receive him into the party.

New Telegraph investigation revealed yesterday that Atiku shunned the PDM for three main reasons. First, he was said to have reasoned alongside his strategy committee that as a new party, the PDM will not be able to build the structure he needed to prosecute his 2015 presidential campaign.

Second, the former vice president was said to have sensed that he would be the sole financier of

the PDM, a situation that will exert enormous pressure on him. Third, he considered the fact that in the APC, he will be with other money bags, including governors to provide enough funding for the party.

Besides, a source close to the party told our reporter that Atiku was not happy that after hundreds of millions in the PDM, the party is still characterised by inactivity. "I can tell you that he has suspended funding for some time now", the source said.

there is precedence. “Remember in 2011, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida was Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK yet he was made DG and after the assignment, he went back to his job. Maybe, there is an understanding with the president for a similar arrangement. Except something happens, the president will soon declare his intention to recontest and Wali would be named as the DG”

Editor shot by suspected robbers dies, NGE furious

D

eputy Editor of Saturday Newswatch, Mr. Toyin Obadina, who was shot twice in the stomach by suspected robbers in the early hours of Saturday while on his way home after the day’s work, died yesterday in the hospital.

Obadina was attacked and shot by the suspected robbers along the Itoikin-Old Ijebu-Ode Road, at about 1.am on Saturday, while driving in his Toyota Yaris car to his residence in Parafa area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

He was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), while his condition was believed to have been made stable by doctors as at Saturday night. He, however, died early Sunday morning.

His death drew a sharp reaction from the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), which described his death as not only agonizing and horrendous, but quite sickening.

APC: I'm not under pressure to defect, says Marwa NO RIVALRY Ex-Lagos Administrator says no plan to form 'New APC' Onwuka Nzeshi, Abuja

F

ormer Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, has debunked speculations that he was contemplating leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), following the crisis rocking the APC in Adamawa State.

Marwa, a former military administrator of Lagos State, also said

that he had no plans to form any splinter group called “New APC” as being speculated in some quarters.

The APC in Adamawa State has been enmeshed in crisis following the defection of Governor Murtala Nyako to the party late last year.

Nyako is one of the five PDP governors who defected to APC following their disagreement with the leadership of their former party.

In the course of the disagreements in the ruling party, the APC lured the aggrieved governors to join the opposition party, assuring them that they would become the automatic leaders of the APC in their respective states.

ACROSS THE NATION

Monday, February 3, 2014

LAGOS

GOMBE

EBONYI

LAGOS

Kwadon

Abakaliki

Gombe records drop in leprosy cases

LASG shuts 250 firms over tax evasion

The Gombe State Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control at the weekend said that leprosy cases dropped from 100 in 2012 to 47 in 2013 in the state.

The Project Manager, Dr Mustapha Musa, made this known during the commemoration the 2014 World Leprosy Day at Kwadon village, Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of the state.

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) at the weekend said that 250 companies were shut down in 2013 for not remitting their workers’ personal income tax to government.

Mrs Folasade CokerAfolayan, Head, Distrain Unit of LIRS, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the companies withheld N2.7 billion personal income tax of workers.

ABIA

A woman gave birth to a baby boy at 1p.m. in Aba, Abia, last Wednesday aboard a tricycle conveying her to the hospital.

An eyewitness, Mrs Chika Onyedikachi, said the woman had gone

The Ebonyi government has called for the inclusion of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS).

Gov. Martin Elechi, represented by Chief Chukwuma Nwazunku, the Speaker of the state house of assembly, made the call in Abakaliki at the weekend

during a one-day sensitisation workshop.

Elechi noted that the state government made budgetary provisions for the scheme in the 2014 Appropriation Bill.

The wife of the governor, Mrs Josephine Elechi, whose office organised the workshop in collaboration with the ministry of health, noted that the inclusion of the OVC was important as they could hardly access the services due to their plight.

ANAMBRA ANAMBRA

Anambra businessmen laud Obi's achievements

ABIA Woman gives birth aboard a tricycle

Ebonyi govt wants orphans, vulnerable children captured in insurance scheme

into labour at home and thereafter boarded a tricycle to convey her to the hospital.

Onyedikachi, a nurse, said that ''the woman's water broke on the way to the hospital and that when the vehicle got to Tonimas Junction, Aba, the baby's head began to emerge".

Onitsha (Anambra): Some businessmen in Anambra have lauded Gov. Peter Obi for the rapid industrialisation of the state during his tenure.

Speaking separately with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the businessmen said the state never had it so good.

In his contribution,

an Onitsha-based industrialist, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, said Obi had created an industrial cluster by making the Ozulubu Industrial Estate a reality.

He said the recent ground-breaking for the N8.5 billion Distell Beverage Plant at Ozubulu Industrial Estate was commendable.

KANO

KWARA

KANO

ILORIN

Kwankwaso wants religious leaders to join fight against street begging

Ahmed challenges civil servants on regular exercise

Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano has appealed to Imams and other religious leaders in the State to support government’s crusade against street begging and child trafficking.

The appeal was contained in a statement issued at the weekend by the Director of Press and Public Relations to the Governor, Malam Halilu Dantiye, in Kano.

The statement said Kwankwaso made the plea at a meeting with members of Kano State Council of Imams at the Gover nment House.

"He reminded the clerics that people relied heavily on their utterances more than any other persons.”

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara at the weekend in Ilorin, promised to make the welfare of civil servants in the state a top priority.

The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the state government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, said this at the flag off of the maiden civil service games.

Gold, who promised to participate in the Badminton event of the games, challenged the civil servants on regular exercise saying it would make them healthy.

He said the governor was happy about their performance and noted that no state in the country treated their civil servants better than Kwara.

EKITI ADO-EKITI

Ekiti poll will be violencefree, says Fayemi’s campaign team

250

the number of companies shut down by Lagos State government in 2013 for not remitting their workers's personal income tax Source: NAN

$2m

the amount Nigeria is providing to support reconstruction and development in African countries emerging from conflicts Source: Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed (Minister of State, Foreign Affairs)

95%

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Brig-General Osamudiame (rtd); Executive Vice President, School of Management and Security (SMS), Mrs. Vicky Ekhomu and Managing Consultant, Quatet Security Limited, Dr. Femi Adegbulu, during the Inaguration of Certified Protection Officer Training Program course Lagos 13 (L13) in Lagos….at the weekend.

PHOTO:SULEIMAN HUSAINI

of Facebook users log into their accounts daily Source: Social Media Today/ AllThingsD

Despite fears that Ekiti State may witness a violent run of events to the governorship poll in June, the campaign outfit of the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has given the assurance that all will be well.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend at a prayer session by the group, the Director General, Hon. Bimbo Daramola, said his team and party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) would ensure a volence-free contest.

He added that the campaign would be issue-based and that there would be no need to spill human blood.

KADUNA

ONDO

ZAMFARA

SOKOTO

Kafanchan

AKURE

Gusau

SOKOTO

Yero condoles family of 7 killed in attack Kaduna State governor, Ramalan Yero at the weekend visited the people of Kaura local government area of the state following unidentified gunmen attack which left a family of seven dead.

The attack, which was randomly launched on the people of Ugwan Kajit in the Manchok Chiefdom, also left five houses and vehicles burnt.

Quack nurse, 21-year lover boy remanded over abortion death A quack nurse, Favour Adebiyi and a 21year old lover boy have been remanded in Olokuta prison in Akure, the Ondo State capital over the death of 19year- old Miss Omolayo Afolabi who died during abortion. The accused were docked at the magistrate court sitting in Akure at the

weekend.

They were charged with three-count offence of conspiracy, unlawful administering of injections with intent to procure abortion and killing of Omolayo.

The police arraigned the duo for conspiracy and administering E.P Forte and menstrogen on the teenage girl which eventually led to her death.

Yari commends FG establishments in Zamfara Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara at the weekend in Gusau commended the efforts of Federal Government organisations based in the state towards developing the north-western state.

Yari gave the commendation when he received delegation of the Association of Federal Government Establishments in the state.

49

Wamakko pledges partnership to promote accountability Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State said he is willing to partner with organisations to promote transparency and accountability in his administration.

Wamakko expressed this willingness while declaring open the Mandatory Continuing Professional Workshop 2014 and Induction of New Certified Financial Analysts in Sokoto at the

weekend.

"I am fully aware of the activities of your association and the State Government will render any support when necessary’’, he said.

The governor, who was represented by Alhaji Mujitaba Ahmed, Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, said ``this is required to put the Nigerian economy on a sound footing.’’

50 NEWS

Confusion in Edo as Mopol kills truck driver

SHOT DEAD Incident elicited protests and caused gridlock Cajetan Mmuta, Benin

T

ension heightened in Benin City, the Edo state capital at the weekend after a mobile policeman shot dead a truck driver.

The driver, identified as Aisagbonbua Osagie, was allegedly shot by the trigger happy policeman along Ikpoba hill area of AduwawaAuchi road in the ancient city.

New Telegraph gathered that the deceased Osagie, aged 35 years, in company with his wife was driving against the traffic when he was accosted by the angry officer attached to the Police Special Protection unit after which an argument that led to the ugly incident at about 7:30pm on Saturday.

The sudden shooting of the deceased, who was driving a diesel truck with registration number (DELTA) AYB 601 XA, was said to have elicited wild reactions and protest from members of the public including motorists. This development caused hours of gridlock along the route.

Some motorists who were embittered by the action of the mobile policeman had quickly blocked the entire stretch of the road around Upper Mission while leaving hundreds of passengers stranded within the town.

Monday, February 3, 2014

2015: Battle for APC ticket begins CO N T IN U E D F R O M PA G E 7

New Telegraph findings show that Tinubu has preference for the Speaker of the House, Tambuwal. The calculation is that Tambuwal will be paired with Governor Oshiomhole for the APC ticket.

Though Tambuwal is still a member of the PDP, he is expected to defect to APC as soon as the opposition party gains substantial control of the House.

Governor Kwankwaso is being tipped as candidate of the APC by Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).

The five governors de-

fected from PDP to APC last year.

Former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, and publisher of Leadership newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah have also shown interest in the APC ticket.

Already, Tambuwal – Tinubu campaign banners were strategically displayed across Lagos at the weekend.

Justifying his defection to APC yesterday, Atiku said the PDP has failed to provide the needed leadership for the country.

His words: “The PDP continues to be beset with many crises, mostly leadership-induced crises.

It has since lost touch with Nigerians and efforts made by many well-

meaning members and stakeholders to bring it back to the vision of the founders have been rebuffed. To demonstrate the seriousness of the challenges and bring public attention to it I and some other leaders and stakeholders staged a walkout during the party’s last convention in Abuja.

“As I speak, most of the issues that led to that walk-out are yet to be addressed. Many founding members of the PDP, I included, continue to be marginalised and excluded from the affairs of the party. For instance, as a former Vice President, I am by virtue of the PDP constitution, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees and its Nation-

N368bn N150,000 the amount to which banking sector lending to the agriculture sector has risen within two years of commencement of FG's Agriculture Transformation Agenda Source: Daily Sun

the amount paid to a 14-year old, out of N4 million ransom collected by kidnappers, for participating in abduction of his grandmother Source: Vanguard

al Executive Committee.

However, I am not invited to the meetings of those organs nor consulted on their decisions, apparently because I dared to exercise my right to contest in the party’s primary election for a chance to be its flag-bearer in the 2011 elections.

“We have, therefore, concluded that that party cannot be redeemed.

In short the PDP has abandoned Nigerians, the very people who gave it life and many electoral victories.”

Atiku said he had embarked on nationwide consultations to aggregate the views of his supporters. He, however, noted that “my decision may not satisfy some of my friends and associ-

75% the level to which Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on public sector deposits with commercial banks has been raised. It was formerly 50% Source: Vanguard,

L-R:Executive Director, Business Development, Bank of Industry (BOI), Waheed Olagunjun; Managing Director/CEO, Ms. Evelyn Oputu; Executive Director, Operations, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali and Chairman, Mohammed Dikwa during the 2013 Annual General Meeting at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Three killed, 15 injured in Ibadan auto crash DRUNK DRIVING Driver of one of two vehicles which collided was drunk Sola Adeyemo, Ibadan

A

N auto accident involving two vehicles on Sunday claimed three lives in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, while at least 15 people were also injured.

Two commuter buses, which collided at Awolowo Road Junction, Bodija area, Ibadan were re-

sponsible for the deaths, New Telegraph learnt.

According to investigation, a Lagos-bound Volkswagen bus with Lagos State number plate LSR 945 XH, and a Toyota bus with Oyo State number plate AJ 91 MNY conveying passengers, were involved

in the collision.

Confirming the accident, the Oyo state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olabisi Ilobanafo, said the injured persons were receiving treatment at the Emergency Care Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Eyewitnesses said the accident was caused by over-speeding on the part of the Lagos-bound bus driver. According to a guard with a bank opposite the scene, the driver of the Lagosbound bus was drunk while bottles of beer were found in his bus.

ates. In the end, however, I have to put the interest of our country first.”

“Following this extensive consultative process, I have, therefore, decided to cast my lot with the APC, a party of change committed to the improvement of the lives of our people and to the continued existence and development of Nigeria as one indivisible country. My resignation letter as a member of the PDP will be delivered to the party tomorrow (today),” Atiku said.

The former vice president noted that challenges lie ahead.

He said: “The process of building a nation, of securing and deepening democracy is indeed difficult."

Jega justifies election timetable

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has justified the timetable for the 2015 general elections, saying the decision was informed by “rational and logical considerations, not sentimental or ulterior motivations.”

The commission’s chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in a statement made available to New Telegraph through his spokesman, Kayode Idowu, denied insinuation that he was put under pressure in the design of the election timetable.

The timetable announced two weeks ago

by INEC schedules National Assembly and Presidential elections for February 14, 2015, and governorship as well as State Assembly elections for February 28, 2015.

Jega spoke on ‘2015 Elections in Nigeria: Expectations and Challenges’ at a forum held at Chatham House, London.

“Nobody has put us under any pressure. We did these things logically and rationally, in terms of what we considered best for our country,” he said.

Commonwealth Games Ajibade Olusesan

F

ormer national boxing coach, Obisia Nwankpa, has predicted doom for Nigerian boxers at the forthcoming Glasgow 2014 Com-

Obisia predicts doom for boxers monwealth Games.

National boxing coach and Olympic medallist, Tony Konyewachi, had said Nigeria can win about four gold med-

als at the games but Obisia insisted it was not possible.

The retired coach told our correspondent in an interview that the country’s preparation

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

FEBRUARY 3, 2014

for of the games could best be described as a platform for failure.

He said though the country CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

That the LMC has introduced electronic pitch panels at various league centres in Nigeria

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com

Budget delay hinders Eagles World Cup plans } p 55

In-form IK Uche still on Keshi’s radar

NTTF officials face probe

}p-53

}p-55

Obisia

Eagles' midfielder, Mikel Obi, challenging Spain's Iniesta during the Confederations Cup last year.

Chelsea dare ruthless man City }p-54

52 SPORT | Nigeria Leagues

NNL clubs rue league postponement CONFUSION

Africa: Enyimba, Pillars, others seek redemption

Mixed reactions greet announcement of new kick-off date Charles Ogundiya

C

lubs campaigning in the Nigeria National League have expressed their disappointment in the league body due to the sudden postponement of the 2014 season.

The NNL management announced the postponement of the new league season from January 25 to February15, 2014 less than 48 hours to the opening match of the new season.

In separate interviews with New Telegraph, the club officials maintained that the sudden postponement would hamper their preparation for the new season.

Kogi United coach, Fatai Osho, said, “This is not good for our league. If we look at the amount invested by clubs into preparations both in cash and human resources, then you will understand where I am coming from.

“They should put the clubs into consideration when planning their program, because the experience is not a palatable one.”

Yinka Owolewa, the Media Officer of Kwara United, said that the experience was terrible considering the fact that they were already on their way to Sokoto to honour their league opener against Sokoto United.

Owolewa said, “It was not a fantastic experience at all, especially after travelling for more than ten hours to Sokoto for our opening league match against Sokoto United.

We expended N6m on that journey and all is now a waste.

“I will just advise the NNL/NFF to improve on their plans and strategy so that such will not happen again.”

Similarly, Tunde Shamsudeen, Media Officer of Prime FC of Osogbo said the club was very disappointed in the league body.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Kano Pillars' Kingsley Udoh tackling Enyimba's Abubakar Bashir during the pre-season final in Abuja last week.

REDEMPTION After a woeful outing in 2013, Nigeria's continental teams are on the march again Chimaobi Uchendu

K

ano Pillars, Enyimba, Warri Wolves and Bayelsa United will represent Nigeria in the Confederation of African Football's club competitions this season. Interestingly, these clubs are not newcomers on the continent.

Though Enyimba are the most successful of the four clubs, they had in the past few years struggled to qualify for continental football.

Pillars are the reigning NPL champions but remain rookies in African club football as they have not been able to hold their own at crucial times.

The only time they made impact was when they played in the semifinal of the CAF Champions League but were

stopped by Heartland.

The Nigerian champions crashed out of the CAF Champions League after drawing 4-4 over two legs with Congolese club, AC Leopards, last season.

Pillars won the first leg by a crushing 4-1 score but crumbled badly in the second leg. They crashed out on the away goals rule after losing 3-0 to the Leopards.

The country’s second representatives in the competition, Enugu Rangers, had better luck in the second round, overcoming Burundian Club Vital’O 2-0 over two legs.

In the CAF Confederations Cup, Lobi Stars were scandalously beaten 7-1 by Mozambican club, Liga Muçulmana, in the second leg of their first round clash.

Lobi Stars had won the first leg 3-1 but it was rendered purely academic following the heavy beating they suffered in the return fixture in Matola.

The country’s other flagbearer, Heartland, also failed to advance to the second round in a dramatic circumstances.

Heartland defeated Gabonese club, US Bitam, 2-1 in the first leg of their first round encounter at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

Due to financial problems, the Nigerian Cup champions failed to travel on time to Gabon for the return fixture.

They were duly walked over by the

League players angry over sign-on fees abolition Chimaobi Uchendu and Charles Ogundiya

P Irabor

layers in the Nigeria Premier League are not happy with the decision reached between the League Management Company and Premier Clubs to abolish players’ sign-on fees.

The LMC recently agreed with club owners in the Nigeria Professional Football League that the yearly sign-on fees to players should be abolished and an enhanced salary of N150,000 as minimum

every month be introduced from next season.

The players, who would not want their names in print, while expressing their displeasure to New Telegraph, said they have been robbed of a source of investment for capital projects.

A player said he would love to get his sign-on fees and as well as the salary.

“My brother, I will love to be getting the two. Imagine since the end of last season we have not received a kobo as salary from my club and this on going

Anyansi

Gabonese and the Naze Millionaires’ aspiration of becoming the first Nigerian club to win the CAF Confederation Cup was dashed.

Nigeria’s poor display in continental competition was underlined with Enugu Rangers crashing out of the CAF Champions League in the second round following a 1-3 aggregate loss to Angolan club, Recreativo de Libolo.

Rangers however had a chance to redeem themselves on the continent as they dropped to the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup. Enugu Rangers were thrown out of the Confederation Cup by CAF, despite beating CS Sfaxien over two legs in the playoffs the previous month.

Daniel Emmanuel, a goalkeeper, had just joined Rangers from Shooting Stars and played against the Sfax club before getting the proper registration for the season. However, a Shooting Stars complaint over the same spurred CAF into action, and it found him ineligible.

Bayelsa United and Warri Wolves will play in the CAF Confederation Cup where they received bye into the first round without kicking a ball.

Kano Pillars who have won the last two editions of the league and runners up, Enyimba, have more challenging tasks in the CAF Champions League where they have preliminary games in the first week of February. for four months now. Some clubs will not pay salaries during the off season. But if there is a sign-on fees, then you will know you are entitled to a huge sum of money every year,” he stressed.

A defender with one of the clubs representing the country on the continent said he would prefer the salary option explaining that: “when your salary comes as at when due, you can plan with it.”

“For example, if my salary is N400,000 monthly, and I am working on a project, I can easily invest N200,000 on the project and manage the remaining on other things,” he explained.

SPORT

Monday, February 3, 2014

Odunlami, Uzoenyi, Ali make CHAN Best XI Emmanuel Tobi

T

hree Super Eagles players - Kunle Odunlami, Ejike Uzoenyi and Rabiu Ali – were on Sunday selected by the Confederation of African Football among the best 11 players at the just concluded Africa Nations Championship.

Sunshine Stars’ Odulami was chosen for his aggressive style of defence while Uzoenyi who was also voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, was instrumental to many of the goals scored by the Eagles. Kano Pillars’ Rabiu Ali whose presence upfront was always a threat to opposing teams, marshalled Nigeria’s attack as well as contributing three goals to the team’s success.

2014 CHAN champions, Libya, beaten finalists, Ghana, and Zimbabwe, who finished the tournament fourth, were also represented in the Best XI team.

Brazil: In-form IK Uche still on Keshi’s radar

V

Ifeanyi Ibeh

CHAN Best XI at a glance

Goalkeeper: Mohamed Abdaula (Libya) Defenders: Ali Salama (Libya), Partson Jaure (Zimbabwe), Odunlami Kunle (Nigeria), Joshua Tijani (Ghana) Midfielders: Kudakwashe Mahachi (Zimbabwe), Mohamed Elgadi (Libya), Jordan Opoku (Ghana), Ejike Uzoenyi (Nigeria) Forwards: Rabiu Ali (Nigeria), Seidu Bansey (Ghana)

NSC warns federations over foreign events

T

he Director, Sports Federation and Elite Athletes Department of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba, has warned sports federations to desist from entering for international competitions without the approval of the NSC. He stated that the NSC’s endorsement is required for international competitions, describing the action of some federations as a breach of established sporting procedure.

Ojo-Oba said the commission would henceforth consider sanctions for erring federations.

The FIFA match commissioner was reacting to the controversy that has trailed the camping of Nigeria’s volleyball team preparing for an international competition.

“The NSC was unaware that that they were going for any competition. We do not have any written request for funds from them,” he said.

Ojo-Oba explained that many factors determine Nigeria’s participation in international competitions. “These include availability of funds, sports development goals, rating of the team and others,” he said.

“Federations should not just wake up and say they are participating in international competitisons. When they enter for such competitions, it is under the banner of Nigeria and so the NSC, should be fully aware.”

53

Ike Uche... on national duty.

illarreal striker, Ikechukwu Uche, is very much in Stephen Keshi’s plans and looks set for a recall to the Super Eagles ahead of the national team’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup. Uche has not featured for the Super Eagles in over a year, following his not too impressive outing at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, but he appears to have in recent times rediscovered his lethal touch.

Villarreal only made a return to the Spanish top flight division at the start of the season. The Spanish club have defied the odds so far this season, pushing for a top-four finish that will guarantee them a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Their impressive form has been aided in no small measure by Uche’s goals, and with Keshi keen on improving his team’s forward line before Brazil 2014 hostilities get underway in June, the former Getafe player looks set to get another chance at adding to the 44 caps he already has for Nigeria.

The former Granada hitman said, that the Super Eagles coach has been keeping in touch with him since he last wore Nigeria’s famous green and white jersey 12 months ago.

Uche said, “Of course Coach Keshi does keep in touch with me regularly. He calls to congratulate me whenever I do well. That’s the kind of person he is.

“It doesn’t mean I am guaranteed a place (in the team) even though I am happy with the way I have been playing, but it feels good whenever he or the other officials get in touch.”

Uche, who made his Super Eagles debut back in 2007, has scored 17 times for Nigeria.

CHAN: Eagles celebrate bronze Ajibade Olusesan

S

uper Eagles were delighted to mount the podium in their first appearance in the Africa Nations Championship after beating Zimbabwe in the third place match on Saturday.

The Nigerian team beat Zimbabwe 1-0 to win bronze and defender, Bright Esieme, said that the players have had incredible experience in the competition and would cherish the bronze medal even though their target was the title.

He said, “We thank God for everything. We are happy that we are going home with something.

This bronze medal is good even though our target was the trophy. We were just unlucky in the semifinal, we were better than Ghana but God said we won’t make the final. We told ourselves that we have to work harder and win the bronze.

“Personally, I am a better player. This is my first international competition and so I have started my career in the Super Eagles. My experience will help me grow as a footballer and I thank Coach

Stephen Keshi for this opportunity.”

Though Keshi played down the credential of his side before the tournament, the home-based Eagles raised hope as the competition progressed.

Eagles opened their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Mali, came back from two goals down to beat Mozambique 4-2 and whipped South Africa 3-1 in the group stage. The team dramatically came back from 3-0 deficit to beat morocco 4-3 in the quarterfinal but lost to Ghana in the semis 4-1 on penalties as score stood at 0-0 after 120 minutes.

However, they redeemed themselves in the third place match with a 1-0 win over Zimbabwe to claim bronze.

Apart from the bronze medal, Nigeria produced the tournament's Most Valuable Player in Ejike Uzoenyi while the Eagles also bagged Fair Play award.

Keshi

54 SPORT | Euro Leagues

Monday, February 3, 2014

Bayern to hijack Arsenal target, Draxler

S XXXXXX

Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero (middle) trying to dribble past Chelsea duo of Fernando Torres (left) and Ashley Cole during the first encounter in the Barclays Premier League match at the Stamford Bridge in London, England. Chelsea won 2-1.

Chelsea dare ruthless Man City battle Two of the Premier League's title contenders go head-on in tonight's big game Ifeanyi Ibeh

said Sherwood, who was beaten for the first time in the league since taking over from Andre Villas-Boas in December. "Unfortunately for everyone they play, they don't just score one, they keep coming.

"If anyone is going to win the

league you want a team like this to do it because they entertain. It's not great for an opposition manager, believe me, but they just put you to the sword. That's how football should be played in my opinion. They've got to win it now.”

C

helsea will be hoping to make amends for last Wednesday’s goalless draw at home to West Ham and put a stop to Manchester City’s perfect Premier League home record when they visit the Etihad Stadium tonight.

Jose Mourinho’s side were left frustrated at the end of last Wednesday’s game against the Hammers with the self-acclaimed ‘Special One’ going as far as accusing Sam Allardyce’s men of playing "football from the 19th century," weeks after deploying a similar tactic in a goalless draw against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

But there will definitely be no such accusations from the Portuguese at the end of tonight’s game against a Manchester City side fresh from a ruthless 5-1 demolition of Tottenham at White Hart Lane on the same night Chelsea struggled against a West Ham team that were recently on the receiving end of a 9-0 aggregate drubbing at the hands of Manuel Pellegrini’s men in the Capital One Cup semifinal.

Pellegrini, at the end of Wednesday’s win at Tottenham, described his side’s performance as "maybe the best we have played all season" while Spurs coach Tim Sherwood wasted little time in declaring his side’s conquerors this season’s champions-elect.

"We've played the champions, without question in my opinion,"

Hazard

Toure

Anichebe stops Liverpool

V

ictor Anichebe came off the bench on Sunday to grab a well-deserved equalizer for West Bromwich Albion in their 1-1 draw against Liverpool in an English Premier League game played at the Hawthorns.

The visiting Reds shot into the lead in the 24th minute through Daniel Sturridge, who stole in unnoticed at the far post to tap in from a Luis Suarez cross for his 14th league goal of the season.

Anichebe, a 64th minute replacement for the floundering Saido Berahino, however, came to his side’s rescue three minutes after his intro- Anichebe

duction with a ferocious drive from the edge of the area which Simon Mignolet, in the Liverpool goal, had no answer to.

It was the second goal of what has been an injury-plagued season for the former Everton player, and he was delighted to get one over his former club’s fierce rivals.

"It's always nice to score and I was itching to get on. I had a text from one of the Everton players to say do us a favour against Liverpool," said Anichebe, at the postgame interview.

Anichebe’s last goal came almost two months ago against Manchester City in West Brom’s 3-2 loss to the Premier League frontrunners.

chalke have admitted they turned down a 'decent' bid for Julian Draxler last week, but suggest it wasn't from Arsenal.

The Gunners were linked with the 20-yearold throughout January, but the German club's director of sport Horst Heldt has hinted an offer wasn't forthcoming from north London.

The asking price was £37million - an amount Arsene Wenger was never likely to sanction for the second time in six months

Draxler

following the capof Mesut

ture Ozil.

They seemed to have missed the boat, with Bayern Munich primed to take Draxler at the end of the season.

Heldt confirmed there had been a bid but revealed only that it 'came from a club to the north of us'.

Busquets rues Barca’s loss to Valencia

S

ergio Busquets concedes that Barcelona's 3-2 defeat to Valencia is "an untimely slip-up".

The Catalans took the lead through Alexis Sanchez but goals from Dani Parejo, Pablo Piatti and Paco Alcacer ended a run of 25 straight league wins at Camp Nou for Barca, who earned a consolation through a Lionel Messi penalty shortly before Jordi Alba was sent off.

"It had been a long

Cannavaro 'forced out of Napoli'

S

assuolo signing Paolo Cannavaro admits he “wanted to end my career at Napoli, but I wasn’t given the chance. I stayed silent.”

The native Neapolitan is the little brother of Fabio Cannavaro and was captain of his hometown club, but left on transfer deadline day after Rafa Benitez made it clear he was not part of his plans.

“It hurts my heart to leave Napoli, as I wanted to end my career here, but I wasn’t given the chance,” he told Radio Crc. “I go forward and remain proud of what I achieved. In the last six months I stayed silent.

time since we had lost here," the 25-year-old midfielder told reporters after the game.

"It's an untimely slipup. Valencia made the most of their weapons and we were unable to do more. They're in better shape under their new coach and they have really good players.

"We started well. We played well for the first hour and created a lot of scoring chances.

Then they played their hand and we didn't play well. It's unfortunate.

"You have a hard time of it when you concede three goals, of course."

Premier League Results

Arsenal West Ham Cardiff Everton Fulham Newcastle Stoke West Brom

2–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 0–3 0–3 2–1 1–1

C/Palace Swansea Norwich Aston Villa S’ampton Sunderland Man Utd Liverpool

La Liga Results

Granada 1 – 2 Barcelona 2 – 3 Levante 0 – 0 Getafe 0 – 0 Malaga 3 – 2 Elche 1–0

Celta Vigo Valencia Vallecano Valladolid Sevilla Almeria

Premier League Results

Braunschweig 1 – 2 Dortmund Augsburg 3 – 1 Bremen Hoffenheim 3 – 0 Hamburg Leverkusen 2 – 1 Stuttgart Mainz 2 – 0 Freiburg Schalke 2 – 1 Wolfsburg Hannover 3 – 1 M’gladbach

SPORT 55

Monday, February 3, 2014

Budget delay hinders Eagles World Cup plans BUDGET Super Eagles preparation for the mundial hangs in the balance Adekunle Salami

T

he delay in the release of the 2014 budget is affecting Nigeria’s preparation for the World Cup holding in Brazil between June 11 and July 12.

Authoritative sources in the sports ministry told our correspondent that it was difficult for the apex sports ruling body to be categorical on the World Cup budget of the Nigeria Football Federation until President Goodluck Jonathan releases the 2014 budget.

“It is what we have in the budget that determines the allocation that sports federations, including the NFF. The World Cup is a big project but it will also be contained in the budget.

It is a general issue that affects all spheres not just sports or football,” the source said.

Nigeria is billed to take on Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Group F of the Brazil 2014 World Cup and the NFF is working towards a great outing for the Super Eagles.

Sources at the NFF also said the body had big plans for the World Cup but was still looking up to government to carry out some of its programmes aimed at boosting the outing of the country in Brazil.

NFF’s Assistant Director, Communications, Ademola Olajire, told New Telegraph that the body was not disturbed about the budget delay.

He said, “We have no fears about it because it will still come. Our proposal for the World Cup was sent in

Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba (Orange Jersey) battling Nigeria’s Ogenyi Onazi during the 2013 Orange African Cup of Nations quarterfinal match in South Africa.

October but we also appreciate that so many other things are there for the attention of President Jonathan. We know he loves sports and will always support us.

“It is expected that the World Cup budget will come under special votes.

For now, we are banking on our sponsors for some of the things we need to do. We are hopeful that everything will be fine.”

As part of preparations for the World Cup, the Super Eagles are to play Mexico in an international friendly game in March. The team is also expected to play two more friendly ties in FIFA windows plus a possible home game, if there is money to stage it.

A member of the technical committee, Paul Bassey, said the budget delay was a systemic problem in the country.

Bassey said, “There are plenty things to be done but I am happy we already have a camp site for the team. I expect the World Cup funds to be in an extra-budgetary allocation. I expect the NFF to have a plan B while waiting on the government for funds.

“It is good that CHAN is over now because we need to focus squarely on the World Cup. We are not panicky because of the delay. We are used to the situation but we need to work hard to break all the barriers hindering a good preparation for the team.”

Commonwealth Games: Obisia predicts doom for boxers CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

is blessed with talented boxers, it will be difficult for them to shine in major tournaments because of shoddy preparations.

The former Commonwealth lightweight winner said the country might record another dismal outing in Glasgow just like the last Commonwealth Games in New Delhi when the country’s boxers returned home without any silverware.

Obisia said,“We don’t do anything

when other countries are working hard towards games like this. You will agree with me that most of our athletes who did well in major tournaments did so out of personal efforts and not through support from government.

“Boxing in this country is at zero level. And as far as I know, our preparation is poor and unfortunately it has been like this for about 15 years.

Tell me how many national competitions were held last year? Tell me

how many international competitions we attended last year? How many championships did we attend?

At least, we have about four world championships in boxing every year.

"We don’t have what it takes to win anything in Glasgow. I will bet with anybody who believes Nigeria can win four gold medals in Glasgow; I will give such a person a cash reward if that happens. Who is fooling whom? How can you pass an exam you did not prepare for?”

NTTF officials face probe ...over missing equipment Ajibade Olusesan

T

he Nigeria Table Tennis Federation has launched an investigation into alleged equipment racketeering in the federation.

Our correspondent learnt that some past officials of the federation allegedly diverted equipment received from the International Table Tennis Federation which were meant for the development of the game in the country to private use.

President of NTTF, Waheed Oshodi, said the federation had set up a panel to probe the allegation and identify the culprits.

“This is still a mere allegation. As far as I know, the allegation is there but it has not been confirmed one way or the other. We have set up a committee to look into it and investigation is still ongoing; we have to wait for the outcome of that process.

“When consumables like rubbers and balls are given, the players can use them up but in terms of tables, they are hardware, which should not get missing,” he said.

Oshodi promised that his new board would make the process of receiving ITTF equipment transparent and forestall any possibility of manipulation.

He said, “It is something we have to look into critically. We have been discussing with ITTF and we have to agree on a method. We have been speaking on how to bring anything that is given to us home directly and account for it. I think the proper thing to do is that if things are allotted to Nigeria, we must make it public that certain things are meant for us and that would also help the public to ask questions and make us accountable for these things.

“But for me, we’ve done it in Lagos. We partnered with international brand, Joola which supplied all the equipment and all of them have been accounted for. My reputation speaks for itself; we have to account for whatever we are given.”

Ojo Onaolapo

On Marble You are either part of the solution, or part of the problem. There is no middle way about it . – Jerry Rawlings

World Record Sanctity of Truth

w ww. n ew te l e g r ap h on l i n e . c om

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

VOL. 1 NO. 1

Monday, FEBRuary 3, 2014.

Tony Nesty of Suriname became the first black swimming Olympic gold medalist in 1988

N150

Democracy and development jide Ayobolu

GOVERNMENT Democracy is not and cannot be the best form of government

Jide Ayobolu

D

emocracy has been defined as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. In fact, the advocates of democracy have postulated that, it is indeed the best form of government; they contend that, it guarantees liberty and freedom as well as protect the fundamental human rights of the individual.

To them, democracy is the best thing to have happened to mankind since creation. Irrespective of the variants or nomenclatures of democracy; be it democratic welfarism, democratic centralism, democratic socialism etc, they affirm that, democracy is better than dictatorship. However, we shouldnot deceive ourselves thinking that the only alternative to military dictatorship is democracy, for between a military government and a constitutional democracy properly so-called; there are several variations, models and sub-models of societal management.

There may not be a once and for all understanding of democracy itself. It is in this regard that Professor Julius Ihonvbere argued that, "let us be clear about the notion of democracy at issue here. It is not the Western kind of democracy where rights are largely formal and participation is expressed mainly in voting. What is at issue here is concrete democracy in which the objective interest of the society at large is the measure of all things and the burdens and rewards of citizenship are shared equitably".

It is imperative to underscore the fact that, the definition of democracy depends on the person defining the concept and the socio-political milieu in which democracy is operated as well as the motive behind such an operation. In the so-called advanced democracies of the world, democracy is no more than the dictatorship of the majority, that is, why democracy has

been described as a game of numbers.

Conversely, in our clime, where the electoral process is not transparent and elections are strewn with all kinds of anomalies and irregularities; democracy is the enthronement of a ruling oligarchy, who preside over the affairs of a social formation to advance and protect the vested sundry interests of the ruling class. After all, the votes of the electorate do not count, and those elected are not the true representatives of the people. They protect their selfish interests and not the collective interests of the people, that is, why they have been referred to as political entrepreneurs and in other instances, politric(k)ians.

Democracy is not and cannot be the best form of government. This is because democracy does not automatically guarantee development, good governance and steady improvement in the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

Curiously, in this part of the world, democracy has engendered the development of underdevelopment, unbridled corruption and pauperisation of the downtrodden. Democracy has become a buzzword for trampling upon the right of others, in a very atrocious manner.

Even, in the United States of America and countries of the West, democracy is a vehicle through which the various interests of the business class and circulating elite are surreptitiously protected, this game plan is internationalized around the global (neo-colonialism or modern slavery), which they have slyly christened globalisation.

And the Bretton-wood institutions are in place to help implement or democratize the misanthropic policies in the third world countries and systematically tie

After a long arduous and exhausting struggle, the return of democracy in 1999 heralded much hope.

However, what happened in May 1999, on a proper reflection, is just a mere transition from one class of ruling elite to another, without fundamental changes in modus operandi of governance

them to the apron strings of the international finance capital. Hence, democracy has become a deadly booby-trap for hoodwinking people and stunting growth in peripheral capitalist enclaves.

In Nigeria, it is germane to point out that, most of the infrastructural developments in the country today were done under military rule. The military makes no pretentions of the fact that, they are authoritarian and despotic, but they impacted positively on the country's development, in spite of whatever shortcomings. In fact, it has been said that what we had in the past was diarchy and not military rule. Some have said that, this was done with oil money, yes, but the question is, what have the politicians done with the immense resources at their disposal?

Some are of the opinion that some governments are performing, but this is neither here nor there, if we take a critical look at the funds that are available to them, their claims of performance of any kind, pale into insignificance.

It is very important to point out that, I am not an advocate of military rule neither am I a military apologist, I am a realist who have consistently argued that, the best form of government is that which makes the lives of the generality of people better and more meaningful, more rewarding, more fruitful and ensures economic prosperity across board; and that can be any form of government.

Therefore to reason that a particular form of government is no longer fashionable or not in vogue is part of the international conspiracy to continue to make the less developed countries the wretched of the earth.

Democracy in Nigeria since 1999 seems not have real meaning to the people; it does appear that it only exists in the imagination of the people.

Democracy has been very abstract, and has been more of an illusion than reality. Democracy has been described as the best form of government, but the people unfortunately have not really felt the positive impacts of democracy, because government has been in abeyance and governance has become a disappearing phenomenon.

It is very evident in our situation that that democracy has become a byword for the personalization of public office, for self- aggrandizement and lining of private pockets with public funds.

Prior to 1999, the military had ruled for decades and Nigerians had campaigned ceaselessly for a return to

democracy, believing that democracy would provide lasting solutions. After a long arduous and exhausting struggle, the return of democracy in 1999 heralded much hope. However, what happened in May 1999, on a proper reflection, is just a mere transition from one class of ruling elite to another, without fundamental changes in modus operandi of governance. We are still obviously groping in the undemocratic wilderness. Perhaps some other forms of more workable and cost effective system of government and societal management should be tried, with new sets of dramatis personae.

It is even worrisome and nauseating that the government at the center wants to hold on to power at all cost, in spite of its obvious fiasco.

This is because, what we have in Nigeria is democracy of private pockets and the belly. Unfortunately, for Nigeria and Nigerians, the so-called opposition is not any better. And the people are hopeless and bemused; what a shame!

It is instructive to note that, China is a communist country but through determination, discipline and homespun socio-economic and cultural policies, it is a force to be reckoned with in almost all spheres of human endeavor, the world over. ooayobolu@gmail.com

OmoBaba Katsina celebrates 24.5% pass in WASSCE – NEWS

Celebrating failure?

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos.

Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Telegraph House, Ministers' Hill, Mabushi, Abuja, Nigeria. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: GABRIEL Akinadewo.