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Wednesday, February 26, 2014 Vol. 1 No. 8

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Swiss deal: NNPC denies $6.8 billion loss

Sanusi sues Jonathan, Adoke, IGP

lSays crude not sold below market price lVitol, Transfigura lift only 9% of crude Philip Nyam, Abuja

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corpora-

tion (NNPC), yesterday, denied ever conniving with a Swiss Oil Trading Company to rob the nation of $6.8 billion

by selling crude below international market price.

NNPC Group Managing Director, Andrew

Yakubu, an engineer, made the clarification when he appeared before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating allegations

of connivance between the NNPC and Swiss oil dealers to rob Nigeria of billions of dollars.

Yakubu also clarified

Page } 5

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Investigation

Ministerial nominees paid ridiculous taxes to states, FG

lGusau paid zero tax in 2011 lObanikoro paid zero tax in 2011, 2012 lBoni Haruna paid zero tax for three years lAdesiyan paid N6,000 tax in three years REVELATION

Onwuka Nzeshi Abuja

Documents show that the taxes paid may not be commensurate with their status

T

here are strong indications that some of the ministerial nominees recently con-

firmed by the Senate as members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) may have shortchanged the nation through concealment of their business inter-

ests, under-valuing of their actual income and under-estimation of their personal income taxes.

The minister-designates all paraded

Personal Income Tax Clearance Certificates (PITCCs) duly issued by either the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) or the Board of Internal Revenue in their respec-

tive states of origin.

But some of the prominent names among them, including former National Security Adviser (NSA), General Aliyu CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

43 students killed in Yobe dawn attack

lJonathan sad lAtiku weeps MASSACRE

Fundamentalists strike again, killing scores of students in another orgy of violence Ibrahim Abdul and Kunle Olayeni

T

he appeal by President Goodluck Jonathan to members of Boko Haram to allow

INSIDE

News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Metro . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Opinions. . . . . . . . . . . 20 Business. . . . . . . . . . . 31 Education. . . . . . . . . . 21 Sport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

peace reign in the NorthEast, once again, failed yesterday.

In an early-morning raid, suspected members of the sect stormed the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Gujiba Local Government, Yobe State, killing 43 students.

Buni Yadi is 60 kilometres from Damaturu, the state capital.

Lagos

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Isolated Storm O O

32 | 25 For subscription, advert and story tips, please call +234 (1)221 9496, 08033392655, 08023010222

L-R: Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Generals Abdulsalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida when they paid a condolence visit to the family of Minna billionaire businessman, Alhaji Labaran Kago, who died yesterday

AT A GLANCE

NEWS

POLITICS

BUSINESS

EDUCATION

Ondo Speaker, Samuel Ajayi Adesina, dies in Lagos after a protracted illness Page 4

Obasanjo plotted against my nomination as Buhari’s running mate, says Tunde Bakare Page 14

Boko Haram pushes Chad Basin exploration’s budget to N41.28 billion Page 31

LASU VC: I have addressed all issues raised by lecturers Page 26

2

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Ministerial nominees paid ridiculous taxes to states, FG CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Gusau (rtd); former Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, Musiliu Obanikoro and former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna, had unexplained gaps in their Tax Clearance Certificates, an indication that they may have been evading tax under various guises.

The nominee from Osun State, Alhaji Abduljelili Adesiyan, who was until recently a Commissioner for Education in the state, claimed to be a farmer earning below N100,000 for two consecutive years.

According to the Income Tax Clearance Certificate issued by the Osun State Board of Internal Revenue, Adesiyan earned a total income of N61, 250 in 2010; N67,500 in 2011 and N294,643 in 2012.

Consequently, the nominee paid N1,500, N2,000 and N2,500 respectively for those three years.

Above all, Adesiyan may have beaten the system and tendered an expired tax clearance document when he appeared before the Senate for the screening.

The Income Tax Clearance Certificate he presented was marked No: 148293 of September 13, 2013 and had an expiry date of December 31, 2013.

New Telegraph investigations revealed that apart from those in the employ of the government, many of the nominees claimed they were either traders, farmers or businessmen but gave no specific details on the nature of their businesses. They also did not provide their business names or location in the event that the parliament may want to verify their claims.

Confidential documents exclusively obtained by New Telegraph showed that some of the nominees hid under the cover of being retired public servants living on pension and, therefore, did not pay taxes.

The Senate had in response to President

summary of the personal income tax clearance certificates •Obanikoro Musliu Olatunde (Lagos) Source of Income: Farming *Year 2011: Total Income: NIL Tax Paid: NIL *Year 2012: Total Income: NIL Tax Paid: NIL *Year 2013 Total Income:N3,892,860 Tax Paid: N500,000

• Lt. Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd)Zamfara Source of Income: Pension *Year 2011 Total Income:N19,885,301.16 Tax Paid: NIL *Year 2012 Total Income:N3,400,000 Tax Paid: N417,200 *Year:2013 Total Income:N4,500,000 Tax Paid: N608, 000

•Boni Haruna (Adamawa) Source of Income: Pension *Year 2011 Total Income:N4,881,600 Tax Paid: NIL *Year 2012 Total Income: N4,881,600 Tax Paid: NIL *Year 2013 Total Income: N4,881,600 Tax Paid: NIL

Tax Paid: N333,230.07 *Year 2013 Total Income: N2,900,179 Tax Paid: N333,230.07

•Tamunobabo Danagogo (Rivers) Source of Income: Employment (Salary) *Year 2011 Total Income: N1,755,107.88 Tax Paid: N148,776.39 *Year 2012 Total Income: N9,035,958.57 Tax Paid: N1,478,904.03 *Year 2013 Total Income: N5,128,620.84 Tax Paid: N955,753.30

•Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger) Source of Income: Salary *Year 2011 Total Income:N4,562,901.50 Tax Paid: N844,580.30 *Year 2012 Total Income: N4,562,901.50 Tax Paid: N844,580.30 *Year 2013 Total Income: N4,562,901.50 Tax Paid: N844,580.30

•Mohammed Wakil (Borno)

•Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom) Source of Income:Business *Year 2011 Total Income: N235,000.00 Tax Paid: N26,000.00 *Year 2012 Total Income:N250,000.00 Tax Paid: N27,250.00 *Year 2013 Total Income:N775,000.00 Tax Paid: N34,200.00

•Laurentia Laraba Mallam Source of Income: Trading *Year 2011 Total Income: N364,000.00 Tax Paid: N50,000.00 *Year 2012 Total Income: N1,000,000.00 Tax Paid: N54,000.00 *Year 2013 Total Income: N1,383,400.00 Tax Paid: N100,000.00

•Abduljelili Adesiyan Source of Income: Farming *Year 2010 Total Income: N61,250.00 Tax Paid: N1,500.00 *Year 2011 Total Income: N67,500.00 Tax Paid: N2,000.00 *Year 2012 Total Income: N294,643.00 Tax Paid: N2,500.00

•Khaliru Alhassan

Source of Income: Employment (Salary) *Year 2011 Total Income: N872,742.96 Tax Paid: N48,412.14 *Year 2012 Total Income: N2,900,179

Source of Income: Business *Year 2011 Total Income: N213,750 Tax Paid: N20,000 *Year 2012 Total Income: N670,460 Tax Paid: N25,000 *Year 2013 Total Income: N784,090 Tax Paid: N35,000

Source of Income: Salary *Year 2011 Total Income: N4,846,176.00 Tax Paid: N76,553.92 *Year 2012 Total Income: N4,896,176.00 Tax Paid: N79,418.31 *Year 2013 Total Income: N4,896,176.00 Tax Paid: N79,418.31

Goodluck Jonathan’s request commenced the screening and confirmation of the ministerial nominees on Wednesday February 12, 2014.

The exercise, which was carried out at the Committee of the Whole, was in accordance with Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

Six of the nominees were screened and asked to take their bow and leave while the remaining were made to take questions from the lawmakers. Those who were screened on the first day and got the preferential treatment included former Senator Musiliu Obanikoro (La-

gos), former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mohammed Wakil (Borno) and General Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara).

The other nominees were, thereafter, quizzed by the legislators to ascertain their eligibility for the cabinet job. They included Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali (Kano), Mrs Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom) and Mrs Lawrencia Laraba Mallam (Kaduna).

By virtue of their confirmation by the upper chamber of the National Assembly, these ministerdesignates will join the league of the powerful and influential political

elite whom the state will cater for all their needs using public resources including taxes paid by other Nigerians.

In the documents submitted to the Senate by Wakil, the ministerial nominee from Borno State was identified as a businessman but failed to indicate the nature of his business.

However, his Income Tax Clearance Certificate issued by FIRS showed that Wakil earned a total income of N213, 750 in 2011; N670, 460 in 2012 and N784, 090 in 2013. Consequently, he paid N20,000, N25,000 and N35,000 respectively for those three years.

•Ambassador Aminu Wali (Kano)

In the same vein, Mallam, a female nominee from Kaduna State claimed to be a trader.

According to her PITCC, she earned a total income of N364,000 in 2011; N1 million in 2012 and N1.38 million in 2013.

Out of these, she paid taxes worth N50,000, N54,000 and N100,000 respectively.

In 2011, one of the nominees and a former NSA, Gusau, earned a total income of N19,885,301.16 but paid no taxes. He, however, paid N417,200 and N608,000 as personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Gusau, who identified himself as a pensioner, claimed to have earned N3.4 million and N4.5 million in 2012 and 2013.

Former Nigerian envoy to Ghana, Obanikoro claimed his source of income was farming but he neither declared his income for 2011 and 2012 nor did he show any evidence that he paid taxes on his income for those two years.

However, his Income Tax Clearance Certificate (No: ABJ/PIT/179756880001) showed that he earned a total income of N3,892,860 and paid a tax of N500,000 for year 2013.

For mer Gover nor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna, earned a flat rate of N4.8 million each for three years and did not pay any taxes.

He simply filled that he was a pensioner and the tax authorities gave him a clean bill of health.

A lawmaker, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, expressed dismay at the trend where neither the Tax Authorities nor the Senate was able to ascertain the real business profile and income of the ministerial nominees before they were confirmed.

“You see, some of these men and women are high net worth individuals many of whom have been in public offices before and established business empires.

They are coming again to public office where they would have a lot of fantastic financial privileges besides their normal pay

packet.

“But look at what they are declaring as taxes because they really do not want to pay taxes. There is really no way one can take these figures as authentic because we all know what happens when you go to the tax office to get tax clearance.

It’s just a formality.

“Honestly, I can tell you that they would not have even paid anything if the law did not compel them to produce these tax clearance certificates for the screening,” the legislator said.

In another breadth, there were some ministerial nominees whose particulars showed they were on paid employment at the state and federal levels. Their personal income tax clearance certificates showed their taxes were deducted at source under Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and are believed to be correct.

Efforts to get the FIRS to comment on the authenticity of the various claims in the tax clearance document did not yield positive results.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST PORT HARCOURT

31o 22o Storm

ABUJA

38o 24o Partial Cloudy

KANO

37o 13o Sunny

ENUGU

36o 24o Cloudy

IBADAN

34o 25o Very Cloudy

CALABAR

34o 23o Isolated Storm

MAIDUGURI

39o 20o Mostly Sunny

ONITSHA

37o 24o Storm

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

3

Vitol, Trafigura lifted 9% of oil in 2013, says NNPC

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

that the two Swiss companies, Vitol and Trafigura, accounted for 30.7 million barrels out of the total of 341.07 million barrels amounting to only nine per cent and not 36 per cent of the total oil disposed by the corporation in 2013 as claimed by the Bernes Declaration.

Testifying before the committee, the GMD said: “We note the claim by the “Bernes Declaration” that the NNPC, in collaboration with Swiss Oil Trading Companies, dispose Federation crude at prices lower than market value.

“We submit that our pricing strategy is aligned to international best practice in the industry. Our prices are based on a reference to the bench mark crude Brent whose prices are published by Platts for the international trading community, a premium/ differential for individual crude grades and the selection of an option.

“Overall, our assessment of the OSP (differentials/premium) has matched or even exceeded the market value of Nigerian crude grade published by Platts, Argus and LOR as exemplified in the following in the historical performance of the Bonny light since 2005”.

On Vitol and Transfigura, he submitted: “We note the claim that Vitol and Trafigura account for over 36% of the total volume disposed by the corporation. By our re-

cords, Vitol and Trafigura account for 30.7 million barrels out of the total of 341.07 million barrels disposed by the Corporation in 2013 lifting. The lifting of Trafigura and Vitol in 2013, therefore, represents 9% of the total lifting as against 36% reported by the Bernes Declaration.

“Nigerian traders collectively account for 98.2 million barrels during the same period. The other international traders, including the Swiss Trading Companies, account for 61.2 million barrels while off-shore and the Nigerian refineries took 36.2 and 38.3 million barrels respectively.

“The NNPC trading companies account for 83.5 million barrels. There is also the bilateral arrangement that account for 23.6 million barrels”.

He explained that the selection of buyers of Nigerian crude are done on transparent and competitive basis that seeks to establish financial and technical capabilities, promotion of Nigerian Content and general quality and safety assurance.

Speaking further on the alleged loss of over $6 billion by the country through the Vitol and Transfigura deal, Yakubu insisted that the selection of traders has standard criteria which evaluate buyers’ facilities, volume of transactions, turn-over and financial health of the companies which is applicable to all, including Vitol and Trafigura.

“In view of the above, we see no remote possibility of the loss of $6.8 billion from sales below market value to the companies described by the petitioners as Swiss Trading Companies, he stated.

He said the 2012/2013 Term Contracts have a preponderance of Nigerian trading companies with 23 out of the 40 regular buyers. This excludes the 10 Bilateral GovernmentGovernment contracts.

Over the years, there has been a significant rise in Nigerian traders’ participation in the disposal of Federation crude oil as

shown in the chart below.

The GMD explained that “Contrary to the claim by the “Bernes Declaration” that the NNPC does not sell directly to the international market, Duke Oil and other NNPC affiliated trading companies participate in the disposal of Nigerian crude oil and account for 24.5% of the total disposals”.

Lying on the NNPC Act, which mandates the Corporation to supply petroleum products to the Federation as supplier of last resort, the GMD said: “In order to meet this obligation, 445,000 barrels

of crude oil is assigned to the Corporation at international price for domestic refining. The Corporation disposes unrefined portion of the assignment through direct export or other secondary arrangements including “Swap” to ensure procurement and delivery of refined petroleum products.

“The “Swap Arrangement” referred to by the Bernes Declaration is a known practice in the industry where equivalent value of product is exchanged for crude oil off take” It will be recalled that

a Swiss NGO, Bernes Declaration, had alleged that 100% of Nigerian crude are disposed through Private Trading Companies rather than the NNPC selling directly to the market with attendant loss of trading margins.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon. Muraino Ajibola (PDP, Oyo), assured stakeholders that considering the strategic role played by oil in the nation’s economy, the committee would be thorough, fair and just in its investigation and recommendations.

L-R: Chief Martins Agbaso; chairman of the occasion, Prof Anya O. Anya; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, AMCON, Mr. Mustapha Chike Obi; Special Guest of Honour, Dr. Oba Otudeko, and Publisher, Hallmark newspaper, Prince Emeka Obasi, at the Hallmark Public Policy Forum lecture entitled “Emerging market challenges and the imperatives of Economic Reforms” in Lagos… yesterday

8,754,000

1.78m

$112.29

The total number of people living in Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of Congo (the most populous city in Africa).

Source: factmonster.com

The total crude oil export (per day) in October 2013.

Source: Cenbank.org

The price of crude oil per barrel in October 2013.

Source: Cenbank.org

43 students killed in Yobe dawn attack CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The students were sleeping when the fundamentalists struck around 2 am, hurling explosives into their hostels and shooting at some of the students who initially survived the bomb attacks.

An eyewitness said: “It was a terrible scene from hell. They had no intention of sparing anyone.

Their mission was to kill everybody. They hurled bombs into the hall and the premises, then, some of them started shooting students who were running helter skelter. With long knives and swords, they also hacked students who were trying to run away. This is terrible.”

A senior medical official at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Damaturu, said the gunmen only targeted male students and that female students were “spared”.

“So far, 43 bodies have been brought from the college and are lying at the morgue,” said the source The state Police Commissioner, Sanusi Rufai, confirmed the killings.

A businessman, Babagoni Musa, said four ambulances carrying dead bodies drove past his shop, which falls on the road from Buni Yadi.

“They had tree branches on them which is a sign used here to signify a corpse is in a vehicle,”

he said.

Hundreds of parents and guardians were seen at the hospital yesterday trying to ascertain if their wards were victims.

To restore calm and order, soldiers had to take over the hospital premises.

In a similar operation in September last year, 40 students of the Agriculture Training College were killed.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, yesterday condemned the attack.

A statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, says the president received with immense sadness and anguish,

news of the callous and senseless murder by terrorists of scores of students at a college in Yobe State in the early hours of today.

“On behalf of himself and the Federal Government, President Jonathan extends heartfelt condolences to the parents and relatives of the murdered students.

“The President wholly condemns the heinous, brutal and mindless killing of the guiltless students by deranged terrorists and fanatics who have clearly lost all human morality and descended to bestiality.

“He assures the nation that his administra-

tion will not relent in its ongoing efforts to end the scourge of terrorism in parts of the country which has sadly claimed more innocent lives today.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies will continue to prosecute the war against terror with full vigour, diligence and determination until the dark cloud of mass murder and destruction of lives and property is permanently removed from our horizon”.

Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday broke down in tears when he got news of the killings.

The former Vice President, who is also Grand

Patron of Federal Government College Okigwe Old Students Association, said in a strongly-worded statement by his media office in Abuja that all the Federal Government had been doing about addressing the security situation in the North-East amounts to mere chasing of shadows if school walls cannot be protected from armed attacks.

Atiku particularly frowned at the impression given by President Goodluck Jonathan at his Presidential Media Chat on Monday that the government has been successful at pushing armed attacks to the fringes of CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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NEWS

DEAD Adesina dies in Lagos hospital after a protracted illness Babatope Okeowo, Akure

S

peaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Samuel Ajayi Adesina, yesterday died after a protracted illness.

The Oniparaga, Odigbo Local Government-born politician was 52.

Adesina had been battling with sickness that had kept him away from both the plenary session and official functions in the past six months.

At several points during his absence, he was rumoured to have passed on. This was denied by both the House and the government.

Towards the end of last year, he had to come out and denied that he was bedridden or has passed on.

He was also absent during the presentation of the annual budget of the government presented by Governor Olusegun Mimiko on December 31 last year.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Ondo Speaker, Adesina dies at 52 However, Adesina, a third term member of the Assembly gave up the ghost in the early hours of yesterday.

He died at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos.

The state government, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Rotimi Adelola, confirmed the death.

The statement reads: “The Ondo State Government has announced the death of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adesina Samuel Ajayi, representing Odigbo Constituency 11.

“The speaker, during his life time, was a bridge builder, a man of integrity and a reliable team player who placed the interest of the state above personal consideration.

“The untimely death of the Speaker occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 25th February, 2014 during a protracted battle with the Cancer of the Urinary bladder.

“The Ondo State Government received the news with rude shock and

disbelief and commiserates with the family of the late Speaker, the state legislature as well as the entire people of the state on this irreparable loss. It

is our prayers that God will grant everyone of us the fortitude to bear this loss.”

When New Telegraph visited the Assembly complex, it wore a mournful

look while members and staff of the Assembly were seen in groups discussing the sad development.

At his official residence in Alagbaka area of Akure,

the state capital, the gate to the house was under lock and key, while the policeman manning the gate refused any enquiry from reporters.

L-R: Chairman, PAN Nigeria, Alhaji Munir Jafar; Executive Director, Commercial Relations, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Monsur Ahmed; Chairman of the occasion, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd); Special Guest of Honour, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, and Managing Director/CEO, PAN Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Boyi, during the formal unveiling of series of Peugot cars at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos…yesterday

PHOTO:SULEIMAN HUSAINI

1bn

510,072,000sqkm

151

The total number of world population in 1804.

Source: Infoplease.com

The total area (land and water) of the world.

Source: worldfactsandfigures.com

The population density per sq. km in Nigeria.

Source: Infoplease.com

Interior Minister blames politicians for insurgency CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

the country.

“My heartfelt condolences go to families of the slain school pupils. It is unfortunate that innocent school children, will become victims of armed attacks.

“This will not be the first time in recent times that school children are being attacked, and it is particularly disheartening that the Federal Government is yet to devise a strategy of keeping our schools safe from terror attacks. If our counterinsurgency strategies are not strong enough to keep our children safe inside their schools, then one must wonder if such a strategy isn’t mere chasing shadows.

“It is important that the Federal Government ups its counter-insurgency strategy and desist from taking credits in pushing armed attacks to the fringes, as the president would like to put it. No

Nigerian’s life is less in value to another.”

He said it was imperative for the government to ensure security in schools, in particular, Federal Government Colleges because of their unique role in forging national unity among pupils from diverse backgrounds in the country.

In Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, accused the political class of aggravating the nation’s security challenges and called on traditional rulers to assist government in engendering peaceful coexistence.

Moro, who spoke against the backdrop of renewed Boko Haram activities in the North-East, dismissed claims that the dreaded sect was gaining upper hand over the Nigerian Army.

He, however, observed that members of the terror group have changed tactics, thus hampering

counter-insurgency measures being executed by the federal government.

The minister spoke when he paid a courtesy call on the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, at his palace shortly after commissioning the administrative and residential blocks of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) College of Security Management in Abeokuta.

At the inauguration of the buildings, Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the NSCDC CommandantGeneral, Dr Ade Abolurin, called synergy among security agencies to improve internal security in the country.

Moro bemoaned certain pronouncements

by Nigerian politicians, stressing that such had unsettled the nation’s polity at the expense of the ordinary citizens.

He said: “Certain events that are unfolding

in Nigeria are alien to our country. Today, we are confronted with militancy in the South, insurgency that have assumed the dimension of terrorism in the North-East, conflicts, communal clashes. And so, from one part of the country to the other, we have stories of challenges to the very foundation of this country. This is not in line with the dreams of our founding fathers.

“But the most worrisome aspect of the challenges that we face today is the challenge of the untold activities of the politicians. While government is taking deliberate steps to contain the situation of insurgency and insecurity, some of the activities and pronouncements of politicians, serving and not serving or retired, especially from politicians that have occupied very high offices in this land, are unsettling the polity of this country at the expense of the ordinary person.

“Nigeria requires peace. Nigeria as a diverse country requires harmony. It is only in peace and harmony that development can take place. The attitude of the Nigerian politicians to do politics all the year round is having negative effect on the development of this country.

“The world over, one of the tenets of democracy is that party politics takes place prior to election.

After election, it is governance and governance ordinarily is supposed to be for everybody irrespective of party affiliation.

But today, our politicians have thrown decency to the dogs and make pronouncements that shake the very foundation of this country. This is not patriotism. This is not nationalism.”

Fielding questions from reporters, Moro said the federal government was determined more than ever before to tackle the

insurgency in some parts of the country.

He noted that if the Nigerian military had not taken deliberate steps to contain the insurgency, the casualties being witnessed in the country could have been unimaginable.

Moro said: “Let me tell you that in recent times, the insurgents have changed tactics. They have started wearing camouflages of the soldiers. They have started claiming to be certain organisations like welfare organisations, Red Cross organisations and infiltrate the local communities.

“In the process, they mingle with the local communities, they assume the colour of the vigilante groups and security outfits. And once they mingle with civilian communities, it becomes very difficult for the military and security agencies to identify very quickly who is a civilian or not.”

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

DANGER Because of the imminent rise in price of cement, block makers may ‘cut corners’, leading to building collapse Joseph Onyekwere, Ahaoma Kanu, Sola Adeyemo, Babatope Okeowo, and Biodun Oyeleye

B

arring any meaningful intervention from relevant stakeholders, especially cement manufacturers and distributors, prices of the various brands of cement in the market may hit N2,000 in the coming days.

A survey by the New Telegraph shows that the prize of the product which sold between N1,250 and N1,550 in some areas of Lagos has increased up to N1,800.

The chairman of Ifelodun Block Moulders’ Association in Ijaiye, Lagos State, Mr. Jamiu Alabi, had raised fears that the rising cost of cement may force some manufacturers of building blocks and other related commodities to cut corners in their production and thereby endanger the construction industry.

He called on the government to look into the cause of the sudden increment in the price of cement which has been witnessed within the last few weeks.

“Last week, we were buying a bag of cement for N1,250 but as of today, it sells for N1,850. We don’t know what the price will be tomorrow,” he said.

According to Alabi, some block industries have reduced the volume of their production since

5

Cement price may go up soon the price increment as demand has dropped.

“Before this situation, we used to produce 3,000 blocks a day with 78 bags of cement but with this rising cost, we have reduced our production by 50 per cent. We now produce 1,500 blocks using just 38 bags,” he explained.

Also, the price of the products has gone slightly up by 25 per cent. Before the price instability, a sixinch block was sold for N120 but it goes for N150 as at press time and there are fears the price may go up.

“The price of blocks will increase because we sell according to what we buy. If cement increases, we will put up our price and this goes for all related products, interlocking blocks, fancy blocks and so on,” Alabi said.

He attributed the sudden price hike to the breakdown of factory machines at Dangote Cement, located at Ibese, Ogun State.

New Telegraph could not independently confirm the report.

In Ibadan, many of the retailers in the urban areas sell a bag of Elephant cement for N1,620 while Dangote Cement sells for N1,570. Burham cement sells for N1,500.

In the rural settings and developing areas of Amuloko in the Ona Ara Local Government area of Ibadan, Elephant cement sells for N1,700, Dangote for N1,650 while Burham sells for N1,580.

Among the distributors, Elephant cement was selling for N1,600 while Dangote sells for N1,580.

Portland cement is now scarce in the market, while Burham, which is the cheapest, according to a retailer at Olorunsogo area of Ibadan, was losing patronage because of its package.

Expressing some challenges they face in the cement selling business, a distributor at Orita Challenge area, Alhaji Biliaminu, said: “Transportation is one major problem we have and it dictates the price from the factory to our centres and where we supply”.

In Ondo, the story is not different. The price of cement shot up from the previous N1,600 in the last one month to N1,800 last week, thereby affecting construction activities in various parts of the state.

By first week of Febru-

ary, prices of two brands of cement, Dangote and Elephant, were sold between N1,600 and N1,650.

A major cement dealer, Mr Ayo Ogunleye, said the dealers did not influence the price of cement.

He said it was what they bought from depots that they sell to their customers.

The price of six inches block was sold for N120 while that of nine inches was sold for N160.

Although the increase in the prices of cement which were sold between N1,750 and N1,800 has not affected the price of blocks, it has, however, affected artisans particularly bricklayers who are not jobless as a result of the price increase.

Many of the artisans, who spoke with New Tele-

graph, complained of low patronage as a result of the increase.

Meanwhile, it appears there is no scarcity of the product on the streets of Ilorin, Kwara State.

Most shops visited around Muritala, GaaAkanbi and Tanke areas still had the product for sale.

However, talks with cement dealers indicated they have been experiencing shortage in supply in the last few weeks. The situation has also led to a slight increase in price although this does not cut across all the shops visited.

A middle aged man, Taofeek, who makes interlocking stones around Agba Dam area, expressed concern over the development when the issue was

broached to him.

To confirm the situation, he put a call to his major supplier in the town. To his dismay, he was told that he could no longer get direct supply at the hitherto price of N1,580 per bag as it now goes for N1,650.

Alhaji Aduanigba, a dealer at Muritala, said the excuse manufacturers gave for the shortage is the need to put their production lines through routine maintenance.

“But what is surprising is that both Dangote and Elephant Cements are making this claim at the same time and we wonder how come the two of them will be repairing their machines together”, he said, noting that the situation was not like that in the past.

Editor, New Telegraph, Gabriel Akinadewo (second right) giving a copy of the newspaper to the Head, Legal/Public Relations, Promasidor, Mr. Andrew Enahoro, when he led the management team of the company to the corporate office of the newspaper in Lagos. With them are the Managing Director, TPT International, Charles Igbinedu (left) and the Deputy Editor, Sport, Adekunle Salami.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

11,821,876

2.23m

98,313,739

The total city population of Sao Paolo, Brazil (highest in South Africa).

Source: factmonster.com

The total daily domestic production of crude oil in October 2013.

Source: Cenbank.org

The total number of Active Mobile (GSM) in the second quarter of 2012 in Nigeria.

Source: National bureau of statistics

Suspension: Sanusi sues Jonathan, Adoke, IGP Tunde Oyesina, Abuja

T

he suspension of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, took another dimension yesterday as he approached a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, asking it for an interlocutory order restraining President Goodluck Jonathan, the Attorney General of the Federation and the

Inspector General of Police from giving effect to his purported suspension from office as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, pending the determination of his suit.

The suit, which was filed at the registry of the court yesterday evening, is yet to be assigned to a judge.

Sanusi also wants the court to make an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants

from obstructing, disturbing, stopping or preventing him, in any manner whatsoever, from performing the functions of his office as the governor of the CBN and enjoying in full, the statutory powers and privileges attached to the office of the governor of CBN. The plaintiff, through his counsel, Kola Awodein (SAN), told the court that his interlocutory application was necessary be-

cause of the issues raised in the suit and that delay might cause irreparable and serious damage and mischief to him in the exercise of his statutory duties as the CBN Governor.

He, however, urged the court to exercise its discretion in his favour by granting the interlocutory injunctions, saying that the president’s continuing unlawful interference with the management and administration of

the apex bank, unless arrested, posed grave danger for Nigeria’s economy and justified the court granting his application which would result in maintaining status quo ante bellum, that is, for his return to his office as the governor of the CBN. In the affidavit deposed to in support of his application, Sanusi averred that in the course of his duties as the CBN governor, he discovered certain

discrepancies in respect of amounts repatriated to the federation account from the proceed of crude oil sales between the period of January, 2012 and July, 2013 and that he expressed concern in respect of the said discrepancies and had cause to inform the National Assembly of the said discrepancies because they affected the revenue of the federation and the national economy.

6

Senator accuses Maku of lying about N800m water scheme l It is not true – Minister

BRICKBAT Senator tackles minister over 'factitious' water project Chukwu David Abuja

T

HE Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District in the National As-

sembly, Domingo Obende yesterday accused the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Labaran Maku of promoting a fictitious N800m water scheme at Okpella, within his senatorial district.

Obende, who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, made the accusation at the National Assembly, during the 2014 budget defence of the

Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

The federal lawmaker had sought clarification from Maku on why he allegedly went on air, telling Nigerians and Edo people in particular that the water project had been completed, paid for and commissioned, whereas work had not started at the project site.

But Maku totally denied promoting the said project, stressing that it was not within his official schedule to commission projects executed by

Military incursion in politics marred Nigeria's value system – Ajimobi KNOCKS

Governor lambasts Military's incursion into Nigeria's politics Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

G

OVERNOR of Oyo state Senator Abiola Ajimobi has blamed military incursion into the Nigerian politics as being responsible for the erosion of the nation’s value system.

To regain the glory in the democratic dispensation, the country needs a visionary leader, who is willing to take it out of the woods, the governor said during an interactive session marking his 1000 days in office, held in Ibadan, Monday night.

He described Nigeria’s constitution and democracy as prototype of the one adopted by the United States. But added that “The parliamentary system that was truncated by the military rule was another form of democracy. While we practised it, there was value system but the army came and introduced force and survival of the fittest into the system. Then everybody started looking for money and material things which brought in chaos. That

was the time that Nigerians' psyche changed.

“For a country like Nigeria, we need a strong and visionary leader to make our presidential system work. We need a leader with the intellect to visualise and the will to implement. Until we have such leader, it will be difficult to make real progress.

My little experience with party politics is that people fight for themselves instead of the masses”, he stressed.

Ajimobi discountenanced the idea that only a strong and autocratic leader could bring about the desired change in governance, saying, “Strong leader is not necessarily autocratic. We should not equate a strong leader with dictatorship or absolute ruler. A great leader will take the people to where they ought to be.

Leadership is not about spending money but knowing what the people need. I favour strong leadership because that is what Nigeria needs to change because of our nature,” said the governor.

He nevertheless disclosed that the peace being enjoyed in Oyo state was on the verge of being ruptured as some politicians were allegedly planning to cause chaos to rubbish his achievements.

50%

other ministries Challenging Maku to explain the role he played in allegedly misinforming Nigerians on the project, Obende said, “Mr. Minister, the Okpella N800 million Water Scheme was assumed to have been completed and money paid and commissioned.

You spoke about it during your good governance tour of Edo State.

“I also want to know when you get information from Ministries, Departments and Agencies whether you verify and

The total percentage of Islam in Nigeria.

Source: Infoplease.com

cross-check such information before you inform Nigerians.

“I am concerned about this project because it is located in my Senatorial District and I have received petitions upon petitions about this project which is far from being completed. I want to know what happened”, he said.

Responding to the allegation, Maku also made it clear that he did not go to Edo State to commission projects as claimed by the Senator.

The Minister, who was

57.24

The life expectancy (in years) in Ghana.

Source: worldfactsandfigures.com

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

not comfortable with the allegation, further told the Committee that time constraint did not even allow him to reach Okpella during his tour of Edo state.

He explained that after his tour of government projects in the state, there was a forum in the state capital where people were given opportunity to ask questions, observing that nobody raised the issue of Okpella and wondered where the issue of Okpella Water Scheme emanated from.

70

The total number of airports (2007) in Nigeria.

Source: Infoplease.com

L-R: Chairman, South South Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State Forum, Sunday Ekanem; Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lagos State, Capt. Olatunji Shelle and Former Federal Minister For Works and Housing, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, at the Declaration/Mobilization of Support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid by South South Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Forum, at its Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO:TONYEGUAYE.

2015: South-South PDP endorses Jonathan, vows to win Lagos guber Wale Elegbede

T

he South-South Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to declare for second term before the commencement of the national conference, saying that his declaration would kick start and pilot the affairs of the conference smoothly.

Addressing members of the forum at a mobili-

sation ceremony held in support of Jonathan's second term in Lagos yesterday, the Chairman of Board of Trustee, PDP South-South, Lagos, Chief Vincent Amadi, said the forum's endorsement of the president is predicated on his massive and impeccable performance in the past three years.

Amadi, who reiterated the commitment of President Jonathan to a united Nigeria, enjoined other

zones in the country to support the president whenever he declares his ambition for a second term in office.

In his address, the chairman of the forum in Lagos, Engr. Sunday Ekanem, said the proven quality of Jonathan as a well groomed democrat and his accession to the demands of the people from all zones in the federation for a convocation of a national conference is legendary.

"What spurred us to endorse and support him for a second term come 2015 is first his sterling performance, then his humane democratic nature and, more importantly, he has a right to contest for a second term.

"In Lagos, we are mobilising all South-South people to vote massively against the APC and we are sure that the PDP would win the governorship election in the state by 2015."

NEWS

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Minister wades into NNPC, NPDC ‘missing’ $6 bn oil revenues’ controversy Adeola Yusuf

M

inister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke, has waded into the $6 billion oil revenues’ controversy between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), New Telegraph gathered on Tuesday.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke, a source at the ministry of Petroleum resources said, ordered the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu and Managing Director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Mr. Victor Briggs to a closeddoor meeting where “they

must compare notes and address reports on the controversy.”

“The GMD of NNPC as well as the MD of NPDC were at the close door meeting on the order of the minister here at her office,” a source at the NNPC towers’ office of the minister told New Telegraph.

The minister, New Telegraph learnt, jerked up efforts to mitigate the cold blood, which the controversial $6 billion has caused in the Nigeria’s multi-billion oil and gas industry.

The NPDC on its own described reports that it denied receiving $6 billion from NNPC as incorrect.

Briggs, Managing Director of NPDC who said this, maintained that “the reports are misleading and do not reflect the contents of what was sub-

mitted to the Senate Committee on Finance” “For the avoidance of doubt, NPDC, in its submission, stated that the funding relationship between NNPC and NPDC provides for proceeds from Hydrocarbon sales to be paid into an NNPC/ NPDC account.

“NNPC, as the parent company of NPDC, reviews and approves NPDC’s annual budgets and performance and disburses funds on periodic basis as per the approved work programme that covers both NPDC’s capital and operating expenses.

“This approach also provides for NNPC to critically monitor and control costs as part of strict financial discipline and make direct payments on behalf of

NPDC for Royalty and Taxes while deducting costs in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT) as amended,” Mr. Briggs disclosed.

The NPDC boss reiterated that $6 billion was remitted to the NNPC/ NPDC account which warehouses all of NPDC’s revenue earnings from its operations.

Releases from this account are in turn disbursed into NPDC-only accounts for the execution of its operations.

“We, therefore, want to restate that NNPC funds NPDC adequately for the effective conduct of its operations and meets the NPDC’s statutory responsibilities for royalties, taxes and other exactions as necessary,” he said.

7

Sanusi talks too much –Chekwas Okorie Julius Toba Abuja

N

ational Chairman of United Progressives Party (UPP), Chekwas Okorie, has described last week’s suspension of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria as in order and necessary in saving an ugly situation.

In a chat with New Telegraph on Tuesday, Okorie attributed Sanusi’s misfortune to his “too much talk” despite his office as CBN governor.

He said there was no where in the world where a Central Bank Governor or his equivalent engages in partisan activities like Sanusi did during his tenure.

He also urged the National Assembly to investigate all accusations raised against Sanusi and some independent auditors, and make them public in due course.

According to him, “I’m not going to delve into too much legal details of what the President did but I know he did not do something out rightly illegal. My attitude is that Sanusi as governor of CBN has not carried himself with the dignity of the office he held. In all the

economies of the world, whether developed or developing, the governor of CBN is a very critical individual in the economy and he must weigh what he says.

“They are known to be taciturn and when they speak, they speak with extreme circumspection and whatever that comes out their mouth affects the economy one way or the other. And people like foreign investors and those in stock exchange want to know what the body movement of the CBN Governor will be.

“But here we have a CBN Governor who is so loquacious. You won’t even know the difference between him and those in partisan politics. Sometimes he is in the opposition. I don’t see a CBN Governor being a traditional whistleblower, this is not the role of a CBN governor.

“It does not make him a saint. If I were him and I have given certain expert opinions and advice but government refuses to take them, I would resign. And when I resign I can then come out and give the world reasons why I left. And that move is capable of bringing a government down.

NERC appoints dispute resolution Counsellor L-R : Speaker, Taraba House of Assembly, Josiah Sabo Kente; Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar; Senior Manager, Govermental Relations, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Austin Iyashere and Commissioner for Health, Mr. Oliver Wubon, at the MTN Foundation Y’ello Doctor official flag-off ceremony in Jalingo …yesterday

Reps query agency over solar lights Philip Nyam

Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday queried the management of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) on the quality of solar lights provided as constituency projects for the members of the National Assembly.

Chairman of the House committee on science and technology, Abiodun Akinlade (APC, Ogun) issued the query

at the budget defence session with the Ministry of Science and Technology and its agencies in Abuja.

He lamented the dysfunctional solar-powered street lights and boreholes constructed by the agency, saying “the complaints about low quality projects delivered by your agency are not particular to the members of the committee but has become a source of major concern for all the members of the National

Assembly. The projects, instead of adding to members’ political profile only end up diminishing them in their constituencies.”

The chairman also expressed displeasure over the poor implementation of the 2013 Budget by the Ministry of Science and Technology and its agencies.

He threatened that funds would only be appropriated to MDAs based on their actual performance in their core mandate, adding that it

was the determination of the House to ensure that implementation of the 2013 Budget were reasonable.

The lawmaker particularly expressed displeasure with the practice whereby agencies implement the recurrent expenditure fully but perform dismally in capital projects which are supposed to benefit the people, adding that the committee frowned at this developme nt because it was like wasting money.

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

N

igerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday approved the appointment of Dr. Mamman Lawan as Dispute Resolution Counsellor for dispute resolution in the sector.

According to the statement from Dr. Usman Abba Arabi, Head, Public Affairs of NERC, it is in keeping with Rule 42.3.1 of the Market Rules for transitional and medium term stages.

He said, “The assignment of the Dispute Resolution Counsellor is to evolve a system of alternative dispute resolution for market participants

in the System- and Market Operator-controlled Nigerian electricity market; thereby providing regulatory and commercial certainty in the fair and speedy resolution of disputes that arise among these participants.

“The engagement of the counsellor cannot come at a better time as there are a number of disputes that have arisen between operators and the Market Operator, and System Operator. These disputes are mainly to do with load allocation and inconsistencies in invoicing. The Counsellor is to work with a Dispute Resolution Panel, soon to be constituted

by NERC.”

8

ACROSS THE NATION

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

BORNO

BENUE

OGUN

MAIDUGURI

MAKURDI

Benue agric ministry workers predict acute food shortage

SURE-P in Borno engages 4,000 people in

Some workers of the Benue Ministry of Agriculture have said that unless something was done urgently to get farmers back to their farms, the state might experience acute food shortage in the near future.

The workers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi, expressed their fear because of the alleged incessant attacks on farmers by the Fulani herdsmen.

No fewer than 4,000 people in Borno were engaged in community-based development activities under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in 2013.

The SURE-P Coordinator in the state, Malam Wakil Kalanga, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri yesterday.

KANO Kano

Sanitation: Commissioner warns youths The Kano State Commissoner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, has warned youths

against playing football and other sports during the monthly sanitation period.

Abbas issued the warning while speaking with newsmen in Kano.

Abeokuta

24,207 inmates in Ogun prisons in 2013, says Comptroller The Ogun Comptroller of Prisons, Mr. Adams Babatunde-Lawal, yesterday said that no fewer than 24,207 inmates lived in prisons across the state in 2013.

B a b a t u n d e - L aw a l told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta that the figure represented inmates in all the five prisons in the state.

According to him, the inmates were made up of 23,794 males and 413 females.

OSUN Osogbo

Osun Assembly promises speedy passage of LCDAs bill The Osun House of Assembly has promised speedy passage of the bill seeking the creation of 27 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

Mr Wasiu Adebayo, the House Committee Chairman on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,

said this during the committee's tour of headquarters of the proposed new councils.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Rauf Aregbesola had on December 16, 2013, presented a bill for the creation of 27 LCDAs. Adebayo noted that the bill was part of government’s efforts at bringing development closer to the people at the grassroots.

ZAMFARA

NASARAWA

GUSAU

LAFIA

Zamfara assists attack victims with N20m

Nasarawa State Govt reinstates sacked workers

The Zamfara Government has distributed more than N20 million as assistance to victims of a recent attack in Tungar Rakumi Village of Maru Local Government Area.

The villagers were attacked three weeks ago by unknown gunmen, who killed 25 residents, burnt down houses and foodstuff and injured many others.

Alhaji Sani Mayanci, Chairman of the committee set up to distribute the money, said it was meant to serve as assistance to families of the victims.

He said the families of those who died would receive N300,000 each while others affected by the incident would be given N100,000 each.

The Nasarawa State Government has directed the immediate reinstatement of 46 people living with disability who were sacked from work in various local government areas of the state.

The order was contained in a statement signed by Hajiya Zainab Abdulmumini, the Secretary to the State Government in Lafiya.

Those to be reinstated are from Doma, Lafia, Wamba, Jenkwe, Keana and Loko councils.

Others are in Kokona, Karu, Awe, Obi, Panda, Nasarawa Eggon and Gadabuki development areas.

JIGAWA HADEJIA

Farmers demand support for sugarcane production

Nigeria's High Commissioner to Mozambique, Mrs Matilda Kwashi (left), exchanging pleasantries with the Chairman of Slok Group, Dr Orji Kalu, during Kalu's visit to the High Commissioner's residence in Maputo…yesterday.

0m

44%

250

The lowest point in Nigeria (Atlantic Ocean).

The percentage of permanent pastures in Nigeria.

The number of ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Source: worldfactsandfigures.com

Source: worldfactsandfigures.com

Source: worldfactsandfigures.com

KEBBI BIRNIN KEBBI

Kebbi Govt. to computerise land administration The Kebbi Government said yesterday it would computerise land administration to end multiple land allocation and racketeering in the state.

The Commissioner for Land and Housing, Alhaji Hussaini Raha,

said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi.

He said the computerisation would affect land allocation in Birnin Kebbi to ensure that it was in line with the city's masterplan, adding that the

exercise would be conducted in phases.

The commissioner said consultants would be engaged for the computerisation programme. ``The ministry has presented a memo for executive approval on this plan," he said.

ABIA UMUAHIA

Southern leaders’ forum to foster unity, says Gov Orji Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia said yesterday said that the Southern Leaders' Forum was designed to foster greater unity among the ethnic nationalities in the region.

A statement issued

by Orji’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Ajunwa, said the governor made the remark in Umuahia after his return from the two-day forum, which took place in Calabar.

Sugarcane farmers in Hadejia, Jigawa, yesterday called on the Federal Government to extend the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme to sugarcane farmers.

A cross-section of the farmers made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Hadejia.

The GES scheme is a critical component of President Goodluck Jonathan's Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA).

BAUCHI BAUCHI

Cooperative societies to get N10m loan each Alhaji Mohamood Isa, Zonal Coordinator, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), yesterday said that some cooperative societies would receive N10 million loans under the National Entrepreneurship Development Programme (NEDEP).

Isa, who is in charge of the North East Zone of the programme, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.

He said that the programme would be supervised by SMEDAN, ITF and Bank of Industry.

LAGOS Lagos

Commuters commend LAGBUS operations Commuters plying the Oshodi-CMS route in the Lagos metropolis, yesterday, commended the operations of the LAGBUS Asset Management buses on the route, describing it as `unique’, among all routes.

Some of them lauded the LAGBUS services in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

They advised the state government to strengthen its public transportation

system across all routes, to enhance easy movement across the state.

According to them, however, LAGBUS operations are poor in other areas of the state, as commuters waited endlessly to get buses, while some of the buses were in poor conditions.

A commuter who plies the Oshodi route, Mr Olanrewaju Dunmiju, said that he was satisfied with the operations of LAGBUS on the route.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Sanusi is a voodoo statistician, not a whistle blower, says Maku Chukwu David Abuja

M

inister of Information and National Orientation, Mr. Labaran Maku has described the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as a voodoo statistician, for changing, severally, the figures of the alleged unremitted oil fund by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. He also said that the embattled CBN boss was not a whistle blower as was being painted by the members of the All Progressives Congress, APC,

and his other sympathizers across the country.

Maku, however, blamed the media for portraying Sanusi as a whistle blower, saying, “Sanusi is not a whistle blower, but Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. That perception is fed by negative reports from the media”.

He expressed serious concern that the Governor of the nation’s apex bank could be described as a whistle blower, warning that such development

was inimical to the country’s economy.

The Minister blamed Sanusi for opening his mouth wide to make some damaging statements that could scare investors from coming to invest in the country, or make those who had invested to consider withdrawing their investments.

“I have not heard in any nation where the Central Bank governor is a whistle blower. He is the manager of the nation’s monetary

policies as an adviser to the president of Nigeria on those issues. So, the fact that he has moved from being the CBN governor to whistle blowing is a problem in itself.

“But the reality of what has happened is that there are issues with the account of CBN of 2012 as the president explained. The Financial Reporting Council has said that there are issues that should be addressed.

So, the president returned it back to the council and

the council again returned it with some of the items with questions.

“CBN is the nerve centre of the nation’s financial system. If there are problems with it, it means that it can generate a lot of problems in the banking system and the economy and so the president has been trying to sort this out and between him and the CBN governor there have been communications since April 2013.”

OUR ERROR

A wrong caption was mistakenly used for the photograph on Page 11 of the Tuesday February 25, 2014 edition of the New Telegraph.

The caption should have read: Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission Prof. Attahiru Jega; Director, Women Affairs, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Iran Ajufo and INEC Commissioner Hajia Amina Zakari during the Nigerian Women Stakeholder Dialogue Session with INEC in Abuja.

Managing Director, New Telegraph Newspaper, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, playing with the baby of one of the newspaper vendors, Madam Nkechi Okore (left) during a meeting with the newspaper distributors and vendors, in Abuja…..yesterday. With them are: Deputy Managing Editor (North), Mr. Suleiman Bisalla (right) and Deputy Circulation Manager, Mr. Anthony Agbetuyi (middle).

PHOTO :TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Fuel scarcity artificial, say PPPRA, PPMC Let’s reconcile two factions Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja.

T

he Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), yesterday in Abuja stated that there was enough premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to last for days.

The agencies made the clarification in Abuja as result of queues at major petrol stations in the metropolis of the Federal Capital Territory.

They described the queues at the filling stations across the country as artificial and uncalled for.

The spokesperson for PPPRA, Mr Lanre Oladele, who spoke to some journalists in Abuja said

there was no basis for the purported scarcity being experienced by motorists in Abuja and other parts of the country.

Oladele, who said there was enough stock of products to keep the country going for days, noted that with the release of allocation license to marketers last Friday, there was no reason for prevailing scarcity of fuel.

The Oil Marketers had earlier warned of looming scarcity as result of delay in release of import by PPPRA. However, Oladele yesterday described the claims in some quarters that the prevalence scarcity was due to the delay as falsehood that could not be substantiated.

He stated that the al-

location of last quarter was enough to sustain the market till when the next one is released.

He said, “PPPRA had released the first quarter of 2014 fuel import allocations to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the private marketers which he said would automatically end scarcity.

According to him, the marketers created the impression that allocation was delayed for over one month and they engaged in hoarding products to create false impression.

He, therefore, advised Nigerians not to engage in panic buying stressing that, “what we have is artificial scarcity we have enough stock to keep the nation wet for days”.

of NGF, Aliyu urges govs Dan Atori Minna

N

iger state Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has called on his colleagues who are in the two factions of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to swallow their pride and reconcile for the betterment of the country.

He said he is worried by the continued bickering among members of the Forum which has cost a fortune, calling for urgent reconciliation.

Aliyu, who is the chairman of the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) spoke in Minna during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Biennial confer-

ence of pro-chancellors of state owned universities which took place in Minna, the state capital.

Due to the existence of two factions, some Governors today find it necessary to keep malice with one another, a development, Governor Aliyu said is not healthy for the NGF, Nigerians and the country in general.

Aliyu was apparently reacting to a remark made by the Chairman, Committee of pro-chancellors, retired Justice Karibi Whyte who had during the occasion lamented constraints faced by pro-chancellors of universities in reaching out to Governors to discuss some of the challenges they are facing.

9

NLC faults process of Sanusi’s suspension Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday formally reacted to the last week’s suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by President Goodluck Jonathan, declaring that the process of his removal was patently flawed, ridiculed due process and contemptuous of the Act establishing the CBN. The NLC, in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Ibrahim Omar, maintained that the suspension of the CBN Governor was capable of discouraging future whistle blowers in government as well as casting a pall on government’s fight against corruption.

None of these, the labour union said, is good for the image of the government at the moment.

The NLC, which said it held Sanusi accountable for not doing his home work properly before going public on an issue as sensitive as this, especially considering the sum involved, stressed however that the government’s action is negatively preemptive and malicious by virtue of the fact that full investigations into the allegations had not been concluded before it removed Sanusi and also the fact that it had sent the name of his successor to the Senate for confirmation.

The statement by the NLC President reads, “… Sanusi had quoted three different figures as the alleged sum not accounted for by NNPC, earning him a quiet rebuke by the Senate which is investigating the alleged fraud.

10 NEWS

Gundiri, Marwa will soon dump APC, says PDP chief Ibrahim Abdul, Yola

T

he Adamawa State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Joel Madaki, has declared that two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state , Markus Gundiri and General Buba Marwa will defect to the PDP soon.

Speaking to reporters in Yola, International Airport, Madaki said that former military administrator of Lagos and Borno states, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, was already consulting his teeming supporters before finally decamping to the PDP. Madaki said the former gubernatorial candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state Gundiri, has officially written the PDP intimating it of his intention to dump APC.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

APC faults Jonathan over comment on Borno Gov BOKO HARAM Threat to withdraw soldiers from Borno angers APC

Julius Toba, Abuja

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday faulted President Goodluck Jonathan over his com-

ments on Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, during Monday’s presidential media chat.

In a statement released by the party’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, it described Jonathan’s reaction to Kashim’s remarks as unwarranted, unpresidential and petty.

It said the president was wrong to have threatened to withdraw troops

from Borno over Shettima’s statements last week that the military’s firepower was inferior to that of the Boko Haram.

It urged Jonathan to apologize to the people of Borno and to all Nigerians over what it called his presidential indiscretion.

According to the statement, President Jonathan lacks a full grasp of what is expected of

L- R: Business Development Director, Hand Held Products, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Daesung Ra; Director, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas and Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim, at the Samsung Galaxy S5 Global Unpacked Event in Barcelona …yesterday

8,850 26,444,000 773km

The height of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in Asia and the world.

Source: worldfactsandfigures.com

SUBSIDY SCAM Court directs EFCC to execute bench warrant issued against marketer

Joseph Jibueze

J

ustice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, yesterday dismissed an application by an oil marketer, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo, seeking to quash criminal charges against him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Com-

him as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. ‘’Mr. President, your most important duty as President is to ensure the welfare and security of all Nigerians, irrespective of the criticisms you may face or whether or not they voted for you Therefore, you are not doing anyone a favour by performing that duty. It is the role you swore an

The total number of people living within the urban agglomeration (surrounding) of Tokyo, Japan.

Source: worldfactsandfigures.com

The land boundary between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

Source: worldfactsandfigures.com

Oil marketer loses bid to quash fuel subsidy fraud charges mission (EFCC) charged him and three others with alleged N4.4billion fuel subsidy fraud.

He was arraigned along with Mamman Ali, Christian Taylor and their firm, Nassaman Oil Services.

Justice Onigbanjo dismissed the application for lacking in merit.

Ogunbambo, through his lawyer Mr Ajibola Oluyede, had prayed the court to quash the charges for lack of jurisdiction.

However, EFCC’s law-

yer, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to dismiss the application.

He said it was an abuse of court process as Ogunbambo had taken his plea and trial had begun.

Oyedepo said the charges’ validity could not be raised at that stage as the prosecution had already called three witnesses.

In a short ruling, Justice Onigbanjo upheld the prosecution’s submissions.

The judge directed

EFCC to execute a bench warrant issued against Ogunbambo in another subsidy case before him.

He adjourned till May 6 for continuation of trial.

Meanwhile, the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit by Ogunbambo seeking to stop his arrest.

He is seeking an injunction to restrain SFU from arresting him on the basis of a fresh N1.3billion fuel subsidy fraud charges.

oath to perform. ‘’Also, even if you feel that the governor should not have made the statement he made, it is incumbent upon you, as the President and the father of the nation, to take the higher road, instead of choosing a public forum to air your grievances.

Wittingly or unwittingly, Mr. President, you have played into the hands of the insurgents who must by now be gloating over the discordant tunes in government over the battle against them,’’ the party said.

The party argued that removing the Borno governor as being suggested in some quarters will also be wrong: ‘’President Jonathan should know that a leader cannot afford to be taking decisions on the basis of a perceived slight or criticism, because such decisions are most likely to be wrong and counter-productive.

He should also use his enormous powers as President for the benefit of the people, not to their disadvantage.

Akwa Ibom plans maiden cultural festival Tony Anichebe, Uyo

I

ndications have emerged that the first ever Ibom cultural festival will take place in Akwa Ibom State this year.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Mary Ewah, gave this indication while presenting her ministry’s score card in Uyo yesterday.

She said the proposed festival would open up the cultural potentials of the state to investors, adding that investment in the cultural sub-sector of the state would boost the state’s internally generated revenue profile.

Mrs. Ewah said

other projects and programmes earmarked by the ministry in 2014 include the development and implementation of the state tourism plan, identification and development of tourist sites, participation in NAFEST and other cultural exchange programmes, development and expansion of activities at the Ibom Unity Park, to generate more revenue for the state, encouragement of museum development, erection and maintenance of historical monuments and relics in the state.

She also added that the ministry will re-awaken the state cultural renaissance, promote arts and crafts programmes and entrepreneurship.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

11

Awolowo’s ideas on federalism, others for debate at confab AWOLOWO’S BIRTHDAY Foundation to discuss Awolowos ideas to mark 105th posthumous birthday Mojeed Alabi

L-R:Secretary, National Youth Soccer Association, Mr Aliu Ganiyu; Publicity Secretary, Afenifere, Comrade Yinka Odunmakin and Executive Director , Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu during a Press conference on 2014 Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Events in Lagos…yesterday

Anambra: Tribunal throws out suit against Obiano

l Coast now clear for his inauguration on March 17, says Umeh DISAPPOINTMENT Court ruling dashes the hopes of Obiano’s adversaries

Uwakwe Abugu, Awka

I

t was a bad day yesterday for the opposition parties in Anambra State which are challenging the declaration of Chief Willy Obiano as the winner of last November governorship election in the state.

The Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Awka ruled that it has no jurisdiction to entertain issues relating to alleged offence of multiple registration levelled

TEST

Teachers kick against competency test despite public support CAJETAN MMUTA, Benin

S

takeholders in the education sector in Edo State have endorsed the comptency test for teachers in public schools proposed by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Speakers at a town hall meeting held at the Ima-

against the governorelect.

Obiano, who was declared winner of the election, had run on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The tribunal’s pre-trial ruling on Obiano’s application on aspects of the petition of Chief Tony Nwoye, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election, was delivered yesterday by Justice Akintola Akiniyi, member II of the panel.

The tribunal also struck out the application of Obiano’s rival on the road to his emergence as APGA candidate, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, seeking to be joined as a party in

the petitions before the tribunal on the grounds that he was the validly nominated candidate of the party before the election since his name was submitted by Chief Maxi Okwu’s executive of the party.

Most of the petitioners who are challenging the emergence of Obiano as governor of the state are said to have been hinging their hope of success on the prospect of the tribunal nailing the governorelect on the allegation that he was involved in double registration which is a criminal offence.

It was gathered that part of the petition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candi-

date during the election, Senator Chris Ngige, has raised issues on the said multiple registration allegation against Obiano.

However, ruling yesterday on the application of Obiano praying the tribunal to strike out aspects of the petition, including the paragraph on the said multiple registration, filed by governorship candidate of the PDP, Mr. Tony Nwoye, the panel held that “the current averments on the issue of multiple registration have already been determined by a High Court in the state,” a situation that currently bars the tribunal from reopening the matter as the applicant prayed.

A

head of the longawaited national conference scheduled to commence on Tuesday, March 18, and as part of activities to mark the 105th posthumous birthday of the former Premier of the old Western region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation is organizing a symposium to discuss the submissions of the late sage and make recommendations for the delegates to the confab.

The symposium, which is scheduled to hold by 11am on Tuesday, March 4, at the NECA House, Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos, is titled: “The Nigerian Con-

Ekiti South leaders’ consensus bid flops, candidates obtain forms Adesina Wahab, AdoEkiti

T

he bid by the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to choose a consensus candidate from the area for the coming gover-

Stakeholders endorse Oshiomhole’s competency test for Edo teachers guero College yesterday in Benin, the state capital, who gave their support for government’s proposed test said the exercise would help reposition the education sector in the state.

Among the speakers at the town hall meeting were traditional rulers, traders, civil society groups, market women, traders, educationists, youth groups, leaders and

members of the ruling All Progressives Congresses (APC) drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state as well as actors and actresses.

However, teachers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) boycotted the exercise organized to decide the future of Edo children, offer critical suggestions towards a sustainable de-

velopment in the education sector and the welfare of teachers in the state.

The NUT leadership in the state had on Monday in a widely circulated radio announcement directed its members not to attend the town hall meeting, which they earlier said was designed to witch-hunt them. But stakeholders at the meeting unanimously urged

stitution: The Awo Road not Taken.” Aaccording to the Foundation, it is expected to feature young and dynamic Nigerians with ability to dissect the subject.

Speaking yesterday at a media briefing to announce the programme, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, emphasized the relevance of the symposium to the forthcoming national conference, and why the thoughts of her late father would be relevant to guide the delegates at the conference.

“As the institutional custodian of Chief Awolowo’s intellectual legacy, the Foundation has decided that Chief Awolowo’s prescriptions on the matter of the Nigerian constitution should be placed before intending delegates to the conference and, indeed all Nigerians, so that those descriptions could be rigorously and rationally reexamined,” she said.

the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole to sack teachers who refuse to write the competency test.

Oshiomhole said the state government had invested enormous resources in raising the standard of education through the provision of physical infrastructure, adding that such positive step must be matched with quality teachers.

norship election, failed barely 24 hours after it was launched.

Investigation by our correspondent in AdoEkiti yesterday showed that a lot of misgivings trailed the panel set up to hunt for the consensus candidate.

The situation led to some of the aspirants going all out to obtain the Expression of Interest Form and the Nomination Form at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

Sources told the New Telegraph correspondent that no fewer than four aspirants from the zone have obtained the forms as at press time yesterday.

Among them are Ambassador Dare Bejide, former Deputy Governor, Bisi Omoyeni; Senator Gbenga Aluko and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye.

metr

WEDNESday, February 26, 2014

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Ejigbo sodomy: They threatened to behead my mum -Victim IN THE NET

suspect.

But Mba said that the Force would work with Interpol to confirm the veracity of Juliana’s death.

He promised that the police would work with other security agencies to distribute the pictures of the wanted four, so that people could alert the nearest police station wherever they are seen.

However, Odumakin said she had gone to Benin Republic and visited Juliana’s burial site.

She said: “We also wanted to prove a point that jungle justice does not pay.”

The Director of the Office of the Public Defenders (OPD), Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, said the case file would be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

She said: “We’ll ensure justice is done in this case.”

12 suspects who dehumanised three women in Ejigbo last year not in police net.

Juliana Francis and Taiwo Jimoh

T

he victims of the Ejigbo torture in Lagos State yesterday relived the horror they were subjected to for allegedly stealing N50 pepper.

They spoke at the office of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos.

This was as the police paraded 12 people arrested in connection with the incident.

The police also declared four suspects wanted.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Mr. Chris Ezike, paraded the suspects at the Adeniji Adele Police Station, Lagos Island.

Sometime last year, Mrs. Ajoke Agoma and her daughters, Nike Salami and Juliana Agoma, were arrested by security men attached to Oba Morufu International Market, Ejigbo.

The women were subjected to inhuman treatment. They were tortured, beaten and sodomised.

One of them, Juilana, reportedly died in Benin Republic where she was taken to for treatment after the torture.

It was said that the deceased might have died as a result of the torture.

Speaking with journalists yesterday, 16-year-old Nike recalled how the late Juliana, who came from the village, saw N50 pepper and took it.

Nike spoke of how they were tortured and beaten as well as how one Isiaka Waidi, otherwise known as the Baba-Oja of the market, repeatedly kicked her mother, after others had

Some of the suspects

stripped the woman naked.

She said: “They said they would cut off the head of my mother. They told our landlord to give us quit notice, that we were thieves. They sent us out of the area and we went to live at my mother’s village.”

However, Waidi denied any involvement in the torture and the inhuman treatment meted out to the women.

Waidi said he was at home when security guards attached to the market called him that they had discovered the people behind the missing pepper and tomatoes in the market.

He said: “When I got to the market, I was taken to their home. I found out that it was a little girl. I left instructions that they should hand them over to the police since I was rushing down to Alausa, Ikeja, for a meeting.

“I didn’t even know the extent of what the security guards did to the woman and her children until I saw the video. I was not the person that committed the crime, it was the security guards.”

Mrs. Ajoke Agoma, however, said she was already beginning to get over the nightmare,

Nike

when justice came in the form of Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, who had relentlessly pursued the case.

Last March, a video uploaded on the Internet, where the three females were being tortured and sodomised, went viral, arousing the anger of Nigerians.

Many people and groups, especially the civil society organisations, then called for investigation into the video and the arrest of the perpetrators.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said Waidi was said to be the mastermind

of the dastardly act which culminated in the arrest, debasement, torture and extortion of N50,000 from the victims.

He said: “Another suspect is Haruna Abdullahi and Buhari Yusuf who mixed the concoction of pepper and alcoholic spirit that were applied on the bodies, including private parts of the victims.

“Others are Saheed Adisa, Lateef Tijani, Ahmed Adisa, Oloruntoyin Daud (Iya-Oja), Adekunle Adenuga, Jimoh Busari and Azeez Akinosun.”

Those declared wanted by the police include Tiri, an alleged member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), who was captured in the video footage and alleged to have stripped Mrs Ajoke Agoma naked.

Others are Otepa Oluranti, Akeem and Michael Abolore.

Ezike said the arrest of the suspects would not have been possible but for the assistance of civil society groups and the Office of the Public Defenders.

Mba explained that the suspects were picked out from an identification parade by eye witnesses, who went further to reveal parts played by each

Police not liab death in custo GAME OF DENIALS The police have denied they did not know anything about a banker’s death addning that they were not present when he slumped and died.

Juliana Francis

L

agos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, yesterday said his policemen were not responsible for the death of the Ecobank worker, Babatunde Oke. Oke died under controversial circumstances in custody after Ecobank called policemen from Falomo Police Station to arrest him for allegedly embezzling N1.2 million.

Manko, who spoke with journalists in his office, also gave reasons why he did not allow family members take away Oke’s body.

He said: “The deceased had already confessed to the crime, thus there was no need to touch him, let alone torture him for anything. Nobody touched him. He died right in the presence of his family members.

“The deceased said that he was thirsty.

A member of his family bought him soft drink. He was the person who used his teeth to uncork the bottle. He put the cork

I wasn’t paid to defect to PDP –Gusau / PAGE 43 | Amosun’s N19bn loan re-ignites crisis / PAGE 42

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Obasanjo plotted against my nomination as Buhari’s running mate –Bakare

p-14-15

WEDNESday February 26, 2014

How opposition parties fared under Jonathan

In most advanced democracies around the world, the opposition parties are regarded as the bastion of criticism. They don’t only point out flaws of the ruling party, they also provide suggestions, having made objective corrections where necessary. The case in Nigeria is not expected to be different. But can it be boldly said that this has happened since return of democracy in 1999? JULIUS TOBA asks

B

efore the election of President Goodluck Jonathan to office in April 2011, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had maintained its control of the Federal Government since 1999. The party, described often as the largest in Africa has produced three presidents and one acting president. The party has also controlled simple majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly until recently.

The merger of the four political parties out of 25 others in February last year gave a noticeable leap to the opposition. The parties; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) seem to have turned things around. A little departure from what it used to be in the past where most of the parties are built around individuals or along tribal agenda.

Yet, some still remain sectionalised or mere extension of the PDP. Almost three years after inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan government, how far the Nigerian opposition parties have faired?

APC The APC, to many, is no doubt the current arrowhead of Nigerian opposition politics. Before its emergence, some parties that eventually formed it have been very critical of Jonathan government. The loudest of this criticism show was done by ACN and its South-West state governors. Shortly after 2011 elections, the ACN began to hurriedly look for support of other three parties to form a more formidable force against PDP and the Jonathan government. The APC counter efforts have been serious checks on the government. The highest point of

its criticism was in January 2012. The party joined forces with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other stakeholders to kick against the sudden increment in prices of petroleum products arising from the removal of subsidy on fuel. APC took the shine as the impact of such government policy was seen as anti-people and an economic suicide for ordinary Nigerians.

Outcry of APC on several other policies introduced by Jonathan since then were seen as synonymous with popular demands. These include the condemnation in use of brutal force against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East. As a result, early 2013, APC leaders stormed Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to sympathise with victims of the violence. A situation which prompted President Jonathan to visit the state few weeks later. Another one was the APC’s condemnation of the Federal Government’s composition of a committee for National Dialogue on October 1, 2013. The main opposition then had expressed worries that the conference may have been a political gimmick to divert attention from the 2015 elections. But the criticism that followed later reshaped whatever agenda the CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

POLITICAL NOTES The fall of Sanusi

T

he suspension of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi may have come as a surprise to ordinary Nigerians, but to those who have been following his career at the apex bank, it seemed long overdue. This is because he had been committing one sin after the other, which made those in government circles very uncomfortable.

Sanusi pictured himself as a king, with the CBN as his domain, feeling untouchable.

Even with a president whom he was answerable to, Sanusi still felt bold to challenge those who made him head of the nation’s financial system. At a point, he was asked to resign gracefully, but he refused. Now that he has been suspended, what next, asides going to court?

Sanusi as the controller of the nation’s financial system called into question many expenditure of government, as well as raised posers over the inability of some government agencies to remit funds into the government’s coffer. The last of such puzzle was his revelation that about $20b was missing from the account of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

As the import of his revelation began to dawn on Nigerians, many of whom began to ask questions, government eased him out of the CBN. But even at that, the curiosity of citizens has been aroused, and they have begun to see his suspension as being politically motivated. If not many wonder, why are the accusations being made against him now, only just coming to light, after he had exposed what he felt was fraudulent practices at the NNPC. If the suspension of Sanusi is not politically motivated, and government does not want to make his whistle blowing seem like a heroic feat to Nigerians, then government also needs to address, and put to rest the issues raised by Sanusi concerning the missing oil money.

14 INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Obasanjo plotted against my nomination as Buhari’s running mate –Bakare Vice presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections and Convener, Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, at a public event in London recently gave an insight into his sojourn in Nigeria’s politics. He also shared his thoughts about the 2015 elections, the implications of President Goodluck Jonathan winning or losing the election and other salient issues. TAI ANYANWU presents the excerpts: North-West, South-West merger If you recall, I moved the motion for the merger of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) with Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). It was because of what we always understood that all these smaller parties will never be able to win a presidential election in Nigeria. Except there is a hand-shake between the North-West and South-West, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will remain in power forever.

I’m not saying that all those who are in PDP are devils, and all those in CPC and ACN are saints. We are looking forward to a merger between the North-West and the South-West, the bulk of voters are in those groups. The whole of South-East and South-South equals South-West in terms of number of voters.

So, if you take the North-West and South-West together, if they can vote en bloc for one party that is the end of the game.

My encounter with Buhari The first time I ever saw Gen. Muhammad Buhari was in my office. He was led

by Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, who was going to run on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) as Lagos State governor. By the grace of God, I taught Afikuyomi in Sunday school at Yaba Baptist Church. And they asked him to lead them to Christian leaders who they know have influence. He brought General Buhari to my office. That was the first time I saw him in life. The second time I would see him physically, was at the instance of

Bakare

Bola Tinubu. Tinubu sent Lai Mohammed to me. Mohammed sent me a text: ‘We need to see you urgently. So that you can help us persuade General Buhari to run on our platform then AC/AD’. And I accepted the challenge and I book an appointment to meet with General Buhari. I called him that I wanted to come and discuss with him.

I am giving you this background to show that the merger was not an overnight success. It had been on behind the scene.

And the day before we left, Jimmy Agbaje, Yinka Odumakin and I were to go on their behalf to discuss Buhari’s running on the platform of the ACN. I asked Lai Mohammed who will be the running mate and he said Bola Tinubu. I said ah! I can’t broker a Muslim/Muslim ticket. What would the Christian community do? Or if they find out what would they say to me?

How I became Buhari’s running mate So, I called General Buhari back and said I would not be coming anymore. And we didn’t see again. But then the General called me and said I would like you to be my running mate on January 15, 2011.

Apart from calling and telling my daughter, who was in the house with me, I called my wife, Pastor Enoch Adeboye. And Tinubu was the next person I called that day. I said Asiwaju, this has happened; this man has called me to be his running mate. Do me a favour, give me one Christian from ACN I could take to him and that will still bring him to your platform. He thanked me and said my respect for him goes to

high heavens. I’m more or less quoting verbatim what is in my book. He said, I will get back to you. He never did. So, I invited Niyi Adebayo, former Governor of Ekiti State, and my class mate. We were in the university together. I got to Nigerian Law School before him; but we started in the same Faculty together. And Niyi came to my house and I said look, persuade Asiwaju, you are a Christian. I will take either you or Prof. Femi Oshibajo to General Buhari to run with him. Niyi said if I wanted him to stay alive, I should not do such a thing except Asiwaju would suggest it, it cannot come from any of them. I didn’t know what to do anymore. I still did not accept.

I took Nasiru El-Rufai, Jimmy Lawal and Yinka Odumakin to the General to ask him why he wanted me to be his running mate. I have never been a politician; I’m not a member of your party. I hold no party card, what is your reason? And that was the day he mentioned what I shared there, that when he was matching for Nigeria, that was the time his heart picked me; that I could mobilize such a large number of people at a short notice. Then I must have some followership. Politicians think in terms of number.

And number two, he said he is an old man. Supposing he died in office, he wants someone who can hold Nigeria together, someone who will not let Nigeria disintegrate and that he has checked me out. He had checked that I have integrity, hence we can work together. I still did not accept. We left that place and told Nasiru, I don’t want to work with this man except you guys are

They said I should resign as Vice President of Nigeria and post-date the letter June 7. And I told them that my mother did not raise a fool. I cannot commit forgery; I have not occupied the office you are asking me to resign

coming with me. Nasiru was in PDP then, that was a tall order; and he said because of what we have done with arrowheads he was persuaded I’m a leader to follow. So he decamped from PDP and joined CPC. How Obasanjo moved against me The night of the afternoon that I signed that Vice Presidential thing was the last day that the form would be submitted. The night before, the three of us were in the same hotel. Unknown to General Buhari and I, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was also there. We were in three different presidential suites. He sent for Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai to speak with him that if the General could drop me and take Ngozi OkonjoIweala to run with him; that he had called former President Ibrahim Babangida and Aliko Dangote to support him so that he could win this election.

Early in the morning, El-Rufai was in my suite and he told me what happened; and I said praise God, I have not signed the form. Let us go. So, we went straight into General Buhari’s room. You will find out in about five minutes the reason for this background. At this time, the General and Nasiru were not in speaking terms. They had been at war about what Mallam told General Buhari about him during Senate trial. That was the day I brokered peace and they saw eye-to-eye. I then relayed what Obasanjo had said to El-Rufai. I appealed to General Buhari and gave five reasons why you must take Okonjo-Iweala as a running mate. The sixth reason I kept to myself. The five reasons for which he should prefer Okonjo-Iweala were: One, she is Delta Ibo; that would solve the South-South, South-East problem. Two, she is a Christian, that would solve the faith balance ticket, Christian-Muslim.

Three, she is a woman; that will solve the gender equation. Number four, she was the Finance and External Affairs Minister – that is experience which I don’t have.

And number five, her status as the Managing Director of the World Bank. That is international exposure. She more or less singlehandedly secured debt cancelation for Nigeria.

If these five reasons appealed to you, please take her. I have not signed the form.

So, I brought it out. Those are stories people didn’t know at all. There will not be any complications. I will just address a press conference.

General Buhari said: ‘thank you very much.’ Honourable Minister, I’m glad you are recording this because of the future.

Honourable Minister (that is the way he addresses El-Rufai), “what do you think since he spoke to you directly? You have worked with Obasanjo and I have worked

INTERVIEW

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

15

them you can have any position. I think it will be wicked to step down because he didn’t ask for it. I pleaded with him and I knew what we went through before he eventually signed. I can’t do that; you can take Finance Minister; you can take any ministry but I will not accept that.

Bakare

with Obasanjo. What do you think is Obasanjo’s catch 22 here? And he said, ‘General, we both have worked with him.

You know that Obasanjo would not do anything except he has an interest to protect.

But nonetheless, let’s play along and see where this will end.’ And General Buhari said ‘I don’t do that.’ I called Pastor Bakare because my heart picks you; and if you say No, I will look for a substitute within the next 15 days. You can leave the form with me. And Nasiru said, ‘Pastor please, fill this form.’ I told them thereafter that the reason why I didn’t want to fill the form was that I was not ready to die before my mother. Every assistant General had died before him -Tunde Idiagbon, Chuba Okadigbo, Ume Ezeoke - they are all dead. Do you understand? People didn’t know what transpired back then at all. But I said Okay, I signed, here it is and he took the form

to INEC. Those 15 days were 15 days of death, burial and resurrection. I did not hear God speak one moment to me. I prayed, I turned to Pastor Adeboye twice. Pastor Adeboye reminded me that when I said that he knew I will be the person. I said Sir, okay. I called him a second time and he said; ‘Don’t be like Moses, whether you are going to win this election or not, go there and go stand for God’s Kingdom there. And so I led General Buhari to him eventually; and my wife was there. And he said look, he has never felt any pain in his heart except the time when Buhari was overthrown, because he was bringing some order into Nigeria. But now that his son has joined him, he would pray his heart out and may God bless us. That was what he said to me there privately and publicly. Whatever was said elsewhere I don’t

know because I have heard other things thereafter. So the campaign began. And at the tail end, Tinubu came that he would like an alliance, there cannot be a merger anymore between ACN and CPC; and on two conditions that they are dropping their presidential and vice presidential candidates that General should drop me and they would produce the Vice Presidential candidate.

Three days before they met, an emissary had come to me from Atiku’s camp because Atiku Abubakar was part of their configuration. Atiku, IBB, Muhammadu Gusau and Tinubu were the ones that met and said; ‘We can’t have Buhari and Tunde Bakare, in case they win this election, they will be too tough. Let’s look for someone else. So, General took one of our Board of Trustees (BoT) members whom I brought into BoT to that meeting. And he said to

Post-dated resignation letter But I have gotten information from two sources, from an emissary of Atiku with the offer that will come from it in terms of cash compensation and building and what have. And they actually brought the form forward just to sign. And the second informant was a senior Oba in South-West who called me that Tinubu and my older cousin and my former Governor Olusegun Osoba were with him to say this was their mission to Abuja and he had told them not to touch me. And I told the Oba that I’m willing to resign to move the nation forward but I will resign as Bakare and at that time it was too late to resign. To resign the person will not run.

So, they said I should resign as Vice President of Nigeria and post-date the letter June 7. And I told them that my mother did not raise a fool. I cannot commit forgery; I have not occupied the office you are asking me to resign. I may be willing to resign as Bakare which I did and gave them a letter but not as the Vice President of Nigeria because I have not occupied the office which will be forgery; and they said it will not get to the press. It would be with the parties. The following day, it was front page of Vanguard newspaper thinking I had signed the letter. But I didn’t sign the letter, and so we had to go through that election and the rest is history.

Why did I say the rest is history? Because they know they didn’t win that election. Justice Ayo Salami ordered at the Court of Appeal that all the ballot papers be brought for forensic investigation. When we paid the money to bring the experts and the machinery, they removed Salami, disbanded that panel and formed another one. Even if they had won that election we would have had to do a re-run, because CPC was registered in December of 2010, and CPC only came out that December and within three to four months; they had more than 12 million votes. If you had gone to any of the campaign with us, you would have found reason why Obasanjo said that Buhari is a spirit. Only a spirit can organise a party in four months that have this kind of followership. You have not seen a sea of heads in life. Those boys would run into a moving plane. His name just invokes all kind of passions and enough. When we did the first public campaign, the flag off in Kaduna, I stood up and said ‘Oh! My God, how did I get here? What have I done because if there was a stampede here I will die and everybody will die? It was so much and then we got home.

Misunderstood Buhari General Buhari scattered and he said Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and I was almost angry. I thought he was just using it as a curse. I said General what did you just say?

He said pastor you don’t have monopoly of Jesus. These are things many people C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 1

16 POLITICS

T

he idea of injecting some new blood into the Federal Executive Council has been on the drawing board for a while. President Goodluck Jonathan had a few months ago sent some members of his cabinet packing and there were obvious gaps to be filled. Then came the public outcry about the conduct of some of the serving ministers and the demand for more changes. Four weeks ago, a list of 12 nominees was sent to the National Assembly for consideration and confirmation as ministers.

Those whose names were submitted for the approval of the parliament were former National Security Adviser, Gen. Mohammed Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara), Senator Musiliu Obanikoro ( Lagos), Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Abduljelili Oyewale Adesiyan (Osun), Amb. Aminu Wali (Kano) and Hadjia Hamilla Salik (Kano).

Others were Mrs Akon Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom), Lawrencia Laraba Mallan (Kaduna), Dr. T. W. Danagogo (Rivers), Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger), Mr. Boni Haruna (Adamawa) and Dr. Khaliru Alhassan from Sokoto State. Salik was later withdrawn It came alongside the list of the newly appointed service chiefs and the Senate was roaring to do justice to these requests when the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised a red flag and directed its members in the National Assembly to block all presidential requests using the weapon of filibustering.

Filibuster However, by the time the screening exercise kicked off, the APC had succumbed to public pressure and were only prepared to provide some feeble resistance to the business of the parliament. Although, Senator Babafemi Ojodu (APC/Ekiti Central) proposed that the screening of the ministerial nominees be suspended for two days to enable legislators study the documents submitted by the would be ministers, the delay tactics failed as he was ruled out of order.

In a similar manner, Senator Anthony Adeniyi raised a point of order, arguing that the nominees ought to have been referred to appropriate committees of the Senate for close scrutiny rather than conducting the exercise at the Committee of the Whole. His argument was premised on Rules 118,119,120 and 121 of the Senate Standing Rule which reads: “When nominations have been made by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the nominations shall be referred to appropriate committees or committee of the whole for consideration.”

Adeniyi also cited Section 120 (a) of the constitution which requires that nominees must not only declare their assets, but also undergo security screening with the nation’s relevant security agencies. According to him, it was not clear if these safeguards had been met since the evidence were not attached in the documents distributed to senators.

He, therefore, demanded that the exercise be put on hold. Again, the Senate

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Ministerial screening: Going beyond ‘Bow and Go’ syndrome The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recently concluded the screening and confirmation of some ministerial nominees sent to it by President Goodluck Jonathan. Ideally, the exercise was designed to conduct due diligence on the nominees and confirm their eligibility to join the federal cabinet. However, ONWUKA NZESHI reports that as usual, it turned out a mere ritual laced with political intrigues President, David Mark, ruled him out of order and counselled that any legislator desirous of knowing about the nominees was free to pose questions to them.

tearful ADESIYAN

The ritual With the coast cleared, the Senate commenced the screening of the nominees.

Six of them were screened on the first day. They were Obanikoro, Wakil, Wali, Eyakenyi, Mallam and Gusau. Although the likes of Obanikoro and Wali were given the floor to make a few comments about their previous stints with the government, the screening soon turned into the ritual of bow and go.

When the next batch of nominees came up for their screening the following day, Adesiyan, the nominee from Osun State stole the show with his denials of alleged complicity in the murder of the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige. Ige, a former governor of Oyo State, was brutally killed by unknown gun men on December 23, 2001 at his Bodija home, Ibadan.

The confessions Adesiyan, who was put to task to defend his involvement or otherwise in the murder of Ige, explained amidst tears that he had a harmonious relationship with the deceased and could not have been part of those who killed him.

“It was all political blackmail because I knew nothing about the death of Chief Bola Ige. I was detained for three and half years for something I knew nothing about.

I stand here to say that I know nothing about the death of Chief Bola Ige,” the nominee said.

Adesiyan described Ige as his political mentor whom he had no reason whatsoever to kill.

There was murmuring in the chamber as Adesiyan appeared to be emotional in his conduct. Some legislators who appeared not satisfied with the denials of the nominee requested him to swear by the Quaran to confirm that he was telling the truth. This request further provoked more rowdiness in the chamber.

Adesiyan said: “I do not know whether I can be availed with a copy of the Holy Quran. But I maintain and say that I did not kill Chief Bola Ige. I did not have any reason to kill Chief Bola Ige but I was wrongly fingered to have killed him.

“Chief Bola Ige sent me to United States for education; he was my mentor.

I am saying it today if Ige gave money to anybody, it is my family and I. “The reason I was fingered was because as Assistant Secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD), I defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Because of that, I was fingered and punished as having something to do with the assassination of Ige. “When I was in detention, I used to pinch myself whether I was dreaming because I had nothing to do with the death of Ige. It was all calculated political blackmail.”

Corruption allegations Another nominee and former governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna was also taken to task on allegations of graft levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while in office.

Haruna told the Senate that a court of competent jurisdiction had delivered a judgement absolving him of corruption allegation. He said he had been vindicated by his belief that a man could go into public office and remain free of corruption.

The Senate also screened other nominees, namely Alhassan (Sokoto), Danagogo and Ahmed.

The confirmation The confirmation of the 11 nominees by the lawmakers was not devoid of drama as Senator Olusola Adeyeye raised a point of order, seeking to prevent the Senate from confirming Adesiyan, who had earlier tried to extricate himself from the allegations of murder levelled against him.

Adeyeye cited Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rules and raised objections on a matter of privilege. He said that all the three senators representing Osun State were opposed to the nomination of Adesiyan.

“This is the first time that we are opposing any nomination brought before this Senate. This opposition is not brought frivolously. This opposition is not being brought on the grounds of partisan politicking.

“We oppose this nomination on two grounds. One, we do not believe that the president or the country will be best served by the appointment of Mr. Adesiyan. When he met the three of us from Osun, he told a long story about his being accused falsely of the murder of the late Chief Bola Ige. Mr. President, there is a serious issue, that if you have this albatross around your neck, are there no other C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 4

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Suleiman Ajadi: Challenges before a parliamentary advisor

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resident Goodluck Jonathan recently made several appointments designed to fill vacancies in his cabinet and give the administration a new lease of life. Apart from the 12 ministerial nominees, Jonathan has nominated a number of other heads of government agencies and special advisers.

Among these was the appointment of Senator Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi as the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters.

Ajadi was a member of the Senate between 1999 and 2003 during which he represented Kwara South Senatorial District. He was elected to the Senate on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports and Youth Development.

Ajadi returned to the Senate for a second term after the 2003 parliamentary elections but his mandate was later upturned by the Election Tribunal. He was forced to vacate the seat for Senator Simeon Ajibola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who defeated him at the tribunal. Ajadi later joined the PDP and was the gubernatorial aspirant of the party in Kwara State during the 2011 elections.

This adventure was unsuccessful and sent him further into the political wilderness.

The appointment of Ajadi came barely five months after the exit of Senator Joy Emodi, the last occupant of the office.

Emodi was relieved of her appointment on September 20, 2013 amidst accusations that she had not managed the relationship between the executive and legislature satisfactorily.

In spite of her matronly diplomacy and goodwill among the parliamentarians, her tenure was characterized by a lot of antagonism between the two arms of government.

During this time, the National Assembly, particularly the lower chamber turned itself into an opposition even though it was and still is dominated by legislators from the ruling party. At some point, the radical spirit of the House began to infect the Senate, a chamber long known for its moderate views and conservative posture.

Although, Emodi made frantic efforts to build bridges of harmony between the Presidency and the Parliament, the turbulent and frosty relationship between the two parties did not abate. Mutual suspicion reigned and it was rather difficult for them to cooperate with each other.

Emodi was accused of inability to exert her influence on the legislators. She was also said to have failed to attract the support of the lawmakers for the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The last straw that broke the camel’s back was when the disagreement at the hierarchy of the PDP crept into the parliament and polarised it.

Then came the visit to the National Assembly of Alhaji Kawu Baraje, the leader of the breakaway group called the New PDP. It was a visit that the Presidency felt

Ajadi taking his oath of office.

For about five months, the Presidency has been searching for a suitable candidate to fill the vacant post of Parliamentary Advisor. It recently found one in the person of Senator Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi. However, the puzzle is whether he is the right man for the job or not. ONWUKA NZESHI reports should have been prevented or better managed but it degenerated into a disgraceful outing. Soon after this embarrassing incident, some hawks in the Presidency decided that the growing influence of anti-Jonathan elements in the National Assembly could no longer be tolerated.

They were also displeased with the seeming helplessness of Emodi at checkmating these elements. They felt that Emodi’s style of parliamentary diplomacy was not the solution and they simply showed her the way out.

Since her exit, the Presidency has been on a head hunt for a suitable hand to manage the relationship between the executive and the legislature. All along, it had been speculated that the Presidency was looking for a “bold and fierce” male personality to fill the position. The job description was also narrowed to a geographical region. It was argued that given the rising activism amongst legislators and the regional slant to it, wisdom demanded that an influential figure from the North be given the assignment of being Jonathan’s ambassador at the National Assembly.

While the search lasted, there were also speculations that the names of former Senate President Ken Nnamani, exDeputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu and Senator Tunde Ogbeha were submitted for consideration. These are of course, big names because of the roles they played

while serving at the National Assembly. It was a surprise therefore, that Jonathan has chosen a less known figure and a name not many could readily remember.

Some analysts have said that Ajadi was not particularly vibrant during his days in the parliament. In some quarters, the choice has been hailed but in others, it has been described as an attempt by President Jonathan to rehabilitate a loyal party man who has been left in the lurch for a long time.

Obviously, Ajadi’s nomination signals the end of the head hunt. It has however put him on the spotlight. The questions on the lips of many watchers of political developments in the parliament are: Is he the right man for the job? Would he be able to wield the kind of influence expected of him and rein in the “rebellious” lawmakers? Does he possess the clout and confidence to navigate the landmines that are usually laid on the floor of the parliament? Would he have the ears of the leadership of the National Assembly while being the eyes of Mr. President? Like the disciples of John the Baptist once asked when they had doubts about Jesus Christ, Nigerians are asking: Is he who is to come or shall we look for another? Time will tell.

As Ajadi’s basks in the euphoria of

returning to the hallowed chambers as an envoy of the executive, it would be pertinent to take a look at some of the challenges that the he would likely face.

The National Assembly is usually a hotbed of political intrigues and manoeuvrings given its configuration. It is composed of people from diverse educational, ethnic, religious and political backgrounds. It is polarised today more than ever before because of recent realignment of political forces ahead of the 2015 elections. It would require a man of wisdom, intellect, tact and diplomacy to serve in the capacity Ajadi has been so nominated.

He must put on his thinking cap to understand the game and devise ways of winning the hearts of the lawmakers.

The pendulum of defection has been swinging against the ruling party in both chambers and it requires some kind of horse trading and lobbying to save the PDP from losing its more than a decade old grip on the mace and the gavel.

Ajadi must also be prepared to wade into the budget row currently raging in both chambers of the National Assembly.

Although, the budget is a financial document, debates on it often take the colours of politics. The new Presidential Adviser should be able to engage constructively the opposition as well members of the ruling party in both chambers to achieve an early passage of the budget.

In addition, Ajadi has the onerous task of rescuing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) from the jaws of death. This all-important piece of legislation stands the risk of being abandoned again unless the right steps are taken.

Soon, the season of real politicking would come up and lawmakers would certainly become more concerned about the next election than about law-making.

Beyond the budget and the PIB, there are several other executive bills that would require the attention of the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters. He must be prepared to work closely with the parliament on issues such as the amendment of the constitution and the Electoral Act while being on the alert to follow the report of the national dialogue if it eventually gets to the National Assembly.

No doubt, the task ahead is great and requires an experienced politician who is firm, savvy and influential. It’s a position that demands working round the clock to ensure that the bridge between the Villa and the Dome is cleared of all obstacles to ensure a free flow of traffic. It is in the interest of the two power blocs to build mutual trust and maintain a robust communication channel at all times. The die is cast and the Presidency would be relying on Ajadi to work the miracle and succeed where his predecessors may have failed.

18 ARTS

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

CBAAC holds Public Lecture for Black History Month Tony Okuyeme

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AN-AFRICANISM and the Challenges of Global African Unity is the focus of this year’s edition of the annual Public Lecture organized by Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) to celebrate Black History Month.

The lecture which will be delivered by renowned PanAfricanist and Director, Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS), Cape Town South Africa, Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah, is scheduled to hold tomorrow Thursday February 27, 2014, at the International Conference Centre (new), University of Ibadan, at 10.00am.

Director General of CBAAC,

Babawale

Prof. Tunde Babawale said the choice of the theme was informed by the need for renewed attention on the part of Africans and the African continent to work as one on the need for the African continent to take its unity more seriously “Our hope is that we are going to use the Black History

Month celebration to call for renewed attention on the part of Africans and the African continent to work as one on the need for the African continent to take its unity more seriously, to take its integration more seriously, because in unity you have strength and through integration we are not only going to have a stronger continent politically, we are also going to have a stronger continent economically.

“One of the reasons why we are not developing is the fact that we have been existing as individual entity, jealously guarding our sovereignty and nationality, forgetting that the entire world is changing. Globalization has now made the entire world

a global village, and boundaries are being broken down on a regular basis. Geography is no longer an impediment. But the way we have taking sovereignty and nationality in the continent has been part of the reasons why we have remained where we are.And we want him to examine it and look at how we can use Pan-Africanism as a source of check, and as a way of forging a united front with brethren in the diaspora to be able to make the continent stand with the other continents of the world, the black race to stand head to head, shoulder to shoulder with the other races of the world. That is what this year’s Black History Month celebration is about,” he said.

Nwokolo celebrates Nigeria's Centenary with 100 short stories Ebere Ameh

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t was a full house at Quintessence book and art store at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, penultimate Saturday when Chuma Nwokolo read from his latest collection, How to Spell Naija in 100 Short Stories.

How to Spell Naija is a commemorative anthology that portrays the intrigues, the drama, the deprivation and survival in Nigeria today.

Written in his characteristic humorous style, Nwokolo portrays the struggles and wiles of the average Nigerian, bringing out those qualities, including the language that depict them, as distinctively Naija.

Amidst the occasional chuckles and outright laughter from the audience, Nwokolo held the audience spellbound as he read from one of the short stories titled ‘Ransom Letters of Sisi Eko’.

In the story, he comically discloses the common knowledge that kidnapping is not only happening in Nigeria, but that it has become commonplace.

Sisi Eko calmly and calculatedly exchanges letters with the kidnappers of her husband, cajoling and scolding them in turn for their action. These lead to the revelation of age-long secrets that eventually leads to the end of their marriage. The story subtly and comically portrays the futility of kidnapping, and the secretive and adulterous nature of Ni-

Nwokolo

gerian men, which causes Sisi Eko to abandon her husband to his fate, when she realises that he intends to abandon her for another woman who is poised to foist a son on him even when medical report says he cannot father a child because of impotency.

Reading ‘The Ram-selling Truth Angel of Zambaputu’ also from the same book and excerpts from his other books - The Ghost of Sanni Abacha and Diaries of a Dead African, he left the audience enthralled and asking for more but for time.

Nwokolo, while entertaining questions at intervals during his readings, explained the reason for his love for short stories. “I’m inspired

by almost everything. Inspiration sentences one to a period of imprisonment to incubate the inspiration.

I love short stories because that period of imprisonment is always shorter when it is a short story. So when inspiration comes, I persuade it to become a short story,” he said humorously.

Nwokolo, who is known for his trademark humour that stands out in his fictional narratives, gave his reason

I write stories that are redemptive, inspirational and outrageous so we can make a change

for infusing so much humour in his stories, saying, “My life is not very funny all the time, so I try to make myself laugh.

I try to look at the world from a funny perspective. I don’t want to die young. I write stories that are redemptive, inspirational and outrageous so we can make a change”.

Nwokolo has been described as a master short story writer who is very consistent. A lawyer by training and a writer by choice, he wrote the How to Spell Naija in 100 stories to commemorate the Nigerian Centenary anniversary. Presented in two volumes of 50 short stories each, it has been described as ‘a buffet of Nigeriana’, served with wit and understanding...

The lecture which will attract scholars, literary giants, culture administrators, artistes, among others, will be spiced with cultural performances, African music, with exhibition that would promote the topic of the lecture.

Ifowodo headlines empowerment writing workshop in Warri

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SSISTANT Professor of Poetry and Literature at Texas State University, San Marcos, U.S., Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, will lead a three-day Youth Empowerment Creative Writing Workshop for secondary school students selected from 10 schools in Warri and its environs—including his alma mater, Federal Government College, Warri, from February 26 -28, 2014. The workshop is supported by the International Institute of Education’s small grants programme in collaboration with the Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

It will be declared open by the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, while a representative of the state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof.

Patrick Muoboghare, will give the closing remarks and present book prizes to the participants, including the literature teachers from the 10 schools with whom Ifowodo will have a roundtable on the third day to discuss problems in, prospects for, and approaches to, the effective teaching of literature at the secondary school level.

Ifowodo will be joined by the fiction writer, journalist, culture advocate, and author of the recently released book of short stories, Indigo, Molara Wood. Ms. Wood, whose story ‘The Last Bus Stop’ is part of the workshop readings, will not only be a guest writer and facilitator, but also participate in a Question-and-Answer session with the students.

The choice of venue and participants is informed by two major considerations.

First, as a deliberate attempt at extending writing workshops beyond Lagos where they always seem to take place—and only for practising or aspiring professional writers at that.

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EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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

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

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

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

WEDNESday, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

Checkmating the devastating annual cholera outbreak

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he recent outbreak of cholera and its attendant mortality rate, confirms the United Nation Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) claim that it is an annual occurrence across the country. Since September 2013, there have been several reports of cholera outbreak in Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Plateau, Oyo, Sokoto states, among others. The latest is Benue, and no fewer than 30 people, mostly nursing mothers and children have died even as scores are said to be hospitalized in various hospitals in the state.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with bacterium called vibrio cholerae.

It is an extremely virulent disease, affecting both children and adults and can kill within hours. The symptoms include profuse diarrhea, vomiting, leg cramps and even kidney failure. The rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock, which could result in death, if medical intervention is delayed. On the other hand, while it is always advisable to seek medical attention, it can be managed by the administration of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) – a simple water, salt and sugar solution to replace lost body fluids.

It is shameful that this disease which can be easily contained with the appropriate political will is allowed to fester unhindered.

Between September and October 2013, there were 2, 771 cases of cholera with 124 deaths, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. Consequently, the country needlessly loses hundreds of precious lives to water-borne diseases, which by estimation of health experts, are preventable, treatable and even avoidable if citizens’ right to sanitation is guaranteed. Yet, many are wont to ask: what does it take to give Nigerians potable water and good health care facilities? We ask this question advisedly because it appears appropriate authorities in the health sector are bereft of functional ideas that are capable of fast-forwarding the primary health care services in the country to the next level.

Some decades ago, it was rampant in many countries of the world, but with increased knowledge about its mode of transmission, it has become a thing of the past. Today, developed countries have almost zero incidence of cholera because their populaces have access to widespread water treatment plants, food preparation facilities that are compliant to sanitation protocols as well as access to toilets, and an ingrained culture of basic hygiene.

According to UNICEF, no fewer than 100 million Nigerians lack access to toilets, while more than 45 million still defecate in the open with all the attendant consequences. Corroborating

the agency’s report, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said recently in Abuja that the “outbreak of cholera in Nigeria could be checked if the citizens had access to improved toilet facilities.”

As unbelievable as it may sound, nearly 100, 000 children under five are dying of diarrhea every year as a result of poor sanitation and water. It is shameful that while other countries in sub-Saharan Africa are making progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on sanitation, Nigeria, the giant of Africa, is still sitting on the fence in spite of billions of dollars earned from crude oil since its discovery in commercial quantity in 1958. Sadly, access to potable water is still a mirage to many citizens as 42 percent of Nigerians still take water from unwholesome sources.

It is imperative to state that frequent outbreak of cholera in the country is a failure of the public health system and government’s insensitivity to the plight of citizens. If current interventions are not functional, whatever was obtainable in the past must be revisited. In the past, sanitary inspectors routinely supervised sanitation in towns and villages to ensure clean environment at all times. This important effort is no longer common and needs to be reintroduced and reinvigorated, especially in cholera-prone ar-

eas of the country. Local governments that are constitutionally charged with this responsibility must take the task very seriously once again.

Furthermore, there is need for public enlightenment by government on preventative measures.

Enlightenment of the people, especially in rural areas and high-density sections of the urban areas, should be a matter of priority for the authorities. At the individual level, despite government’s failure to provide social amenities, people should not take this as an excuse to engage in unhygienic practices.

Hand washing is like a “do-ityourself vaccine” aimed at reducing the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illness; regular washing particularly before and after certain activities is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of diarrheal. Community efforts must be galvanized to end open and indiscriminate defecation.

After several years of living with the disease without adequate provisions to prevent its outbreak, Nigerian government must as a matter of fact, understand the ramification of abandoning its basic responsibility to the people.

The government in addition to being proactive should provide the people of Nigeria with treated and drinkable water as it is a right derived from the right to adequate standard of living, which is recognized in several international treaties, which Nigeria is a signatory.

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 EMMAN SHEHU (PhD) Chairman, Editorial Board BIODUN DUROJAIYE News Editor PADE OLAPOJU Production Editor TIMOTHY AKINLEYE Head, Graphics ROBINSON EZEH Head, Admin.

20

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

OPINION

Niger: For their tomorrow....

Danladi Ndayebo

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he dynamics of modern development weigh heavily on effective planning and management of resources in the attainment of developmental objectives. Gone are the days when development is measured by immediate gains at the expense of future benefits. Gone also with those days is the culture of unrestricted spending of government funds by state officials.

There is a new thinking that governments at all levels should save for future generations as well as diversify their revenue sources. United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is investing in other sources of revenue from its oil earnings is a good example of countries that have embraced this venture.

Empirical evidence abounds to buttress the fact that states create and set aside funds as security against economic volatility and a savings mechanism for future generations. The existence of Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) across the globe in the last 150years, starting with when the US state of Texas in 1854 deliberately focussed on fund public education through this initiative, called the Perma-

nent School Fund (PSF). At the time, an appropriation from the State legislature ensured that endowed public lands and saved funds by the state of Texas ran the school system on a roller coaster.

Perhaps relying on this well-thought out prognosis, Nigeria at the twilight of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration saw a window to set aside a certain percentage of its oil revenue earning and commenced a process of stocking excess crude revenue with multilateral agencies for future infrastructural development. Though there are contentious legal issues surrounding its implementation, the moral aspects of saving for the rainy day are infallible.

The logic behind this global venture endears entails setting aside a fraction of our today’s earnings for future generations of Nigerlites. Encapsulated under a programme of action, the Niger State version of the Sovereign Wealth Fund considers the welfarist option of ensuring that no matter how meagre the resources available to the State may be, a certain proportion of it must, as a matter of law, be invested in anticipation of our children’s future need.

The premise is simple. Niger state

The Niger State Commonwealth Fund is being managed by an amalgam of political thinkers and financial whizkids cannot continue the “feeding bottle” system of expecting money solely from the federation account which is based only on revenue from oil that has its peculiar challenges with more countries that hitherto relied on our oil now becoming oilproducing nations themselves. Equally, disturbing is the system that sees many states incapable of solving its problems if something radical is not done to save the future for the unborn generation with the manner successive administrations empty the treasury when leaving or even live on borrowed times while in office.

Determined to chart a new path of fiscal prudence and discipline in the management of scarce resources, the Niger State government decided to thrust the management on the professional cadre of the State civil service.

It is an ingenious way to prepare for

a new wave of economic transformation at this most critical trajectory of the State political evolution. The Niger State Commonwealth Fund is being managed by an amalgam of political thinkers and financial whizkids, including the Governor, representatives of the Senatorial districts and officials from the ministries of Justice, Finance, Investments, Commerce& Cooperatives, as well as representatives of women, civil society, youths, the academia and the council of traditional rulers.

It has been done in a way that the present does not suffer either. With a dedicated financial stream of 5percent of the gross internally generated revenue, 2percent proceeds of monthly revenue, 30percent of proceeds from excess crude revenue accruable to the State and the local governments from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, 30percent of extraordinary savings or income due to the State and LGAs from time to time and investments portfolios in all companies it has shares, as well as those from assets of MDAs. Unlike in the past, the Babangida Aliyu is concerned about tomorrow’s Niger.

Ndayebo is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State

Murtala: The good, the bad and...

Emeka Obasi

C

hange was in the air.

Everyone expected it, just a matter of time. To fathom a guess as to the plotters and beneficiaries was a tough task. From the skies emerged Brigadier Murtala Rufai Mohammed, War time Commander and erstwhile Federal Commissioner for Communications.

General Yakubu Gowon had reneged on his promise to return the country to democracy. Winning the Civil War was not going to be the same as surviving it. Having achieved the aim of keeping Nigeria one, more was expected in terms of governance.

It was a coup of Colonels.

Abdullahi Mohammed, Ibrahim Taiwo, Alfred Aduloju, Anthony Ochefu, and Lt.cols Ibrahim Babangida and Shehu Musa Ya’radua. They tried to be bloodless. Gowon was in Kampala, Murtala Mohammed in London. The General could not return to Lagos, but his successor enjoyed a smooth flight back home even with all air and sea routes shut.

Murtala Mohammed’s speed was lightening and he struck like thunder. There was mass retrenchment all over the nation. The new slogan was “with immediate effect”. Retirees had no time to clear their desks.

Everything fitted in. New states were created, Abuja was chosen as the new Federal capital ,not just to decongest Lagos, but because of its central location. All the grandeur that followed the Gowon years at least, in government, gave way to a less attractive strings.

And for the very first time, there were made in Nigeria Three-star generals.

From the previous Twelve states, emerged Seven more to add up to Nineteen. Highlight was the balkanization of the core Igbo and Yoruba. The Southern minorities gained nothing. In the North, advantage was obvious.

From the Middle Belt to the Lake Chad Basin, new entities sprang up. That of course ,stemmed from recommendations by the Justice Ayo Irikefe Panel.

Moving the capital to a central location was to make it a kind of free zone, No Man’s Land ,where

Mohammed was a hero even if critics insist he ruined the Civil Service with his reforms unity could make more meaning.

It was not going to be as far as Lagos to the man from Ngala, nor was it going cost the man from Nsukka as much in fare like Lagos.It was the task of the Justice Akinola Aguda Panel to do just that.

Perhaps Gen. Mohammed’s greatest achievement was out of the country. Pursuing a vibrant foreign policy, he called the bluff of Nigeria’s traditional allies in the Angolan war of independence.

Toeing Soviet lines, Mohammed backed the Popular Movement for Liberation of Angola[MPLA], led by Agostino Neto against Holden Roberto’s National Union[FNLA].The regime was so committed that Defence Headquarters could have sent Civil War heroes Benjamin

Adekunle and fighter pilot John Ikokwu Chukwu to battle. And the support was worth it. Neto became the first President of independent Angola.

In Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria showed it could bite. Not in any mood to toy with the welfare of citizens, the regime sent a warship to Santa Isabel ,after terse words to maximum ruler Marcias Nguema. The objective was to bring back enslaved Nigerians who constituted that country’s labour force.

Placing Mohammed in history could be a difficult task.

Murtala the soldier,and Mohammed the statesman. One thing is clear. The General clearly alluded to this when on assumption of office July 29,1975 ,he dropped his middle name Rufai for Ramat[Mercy].

As a Statesman, Mohammed was a hero even if critics insist he ruined the Civil Service with his reforms. But in military history there is nothing but disaster to qualify him.It sounds strange that the young officer who emerged as the best in tactics in Emeka Ojukwu’s class in Teshie, Ghana could turn the River Niger into a mass grave,

losing all his soldiers in futile attempts that irked such subordinates as Alani Akinrinade and Alabi Isama.

It did not also sound tactically correct when Danjuma was appointed Army Chief and promoted above Iliya Bisalla who was not only Danjuma’s Commander in 1968,but had also served briefly as Army Chief during the war. Mohammed ,Bisalla, Mohammed Shuwa and Ibrahim Haruna were course mates as Intake 27[1959-61] Sandhurst.

Well, the change to Ramat could be a form of atonement.

The massacre in Asaba was atrocious. The creation of Imo and Anambra states could be a way of saying ‘I am sorry’.The appointment of Ndubuisi Kanu as the First Igbo member of the Supreme Military Council[SMC] after the war sounded as much.

Loved by friends and subordinates,he did not fail them. A Jubril Aminu named his first son Murtala because he and the General entered Barewa College Zaria same day 1952.Hailed by countrymen, hated for his bloody role in Asaba. General Mohamed will surely be a big part of Nigerian history.

I inherited liabilities, says LASU VC

a new hope for Osun pupils

}p-26&27

}p-22

EDUCATION

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/education

KAYODE OLANREWAJU, Editor, EDUCATION

kayode.olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com kayolanre@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014

Pupils in the classroom

CONCERN There is no national curriculum.

What we have is what, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council from Abuja writes out what should be taught in every nook and cranny of the country Kayode Olanrewaju and Mojeed Alabi

O

luwafimihan Dolapo, 10-year-old Primary Five pupil of a private school at Agbado, a suburb of Ogun State, offers 20 subjects.

She returns home by 6 p.m daily from school after the afternoon lesson and spends four hours every Saturday in school for extra-lesson in preparation for her common entrance examination.

Eleven-year-old, Aisha Oladayo, a Primary Six pupil of Al-Akeedat Model School, Ajah, on the outskirts of Lagos, takes an average of 16 subjects, while her daily closing hour from school is 4 pm.

She stays back at school after the normal 2 O’clock closing hours for lesson.

Zainab Olateju is a Primary II pupil of

CAMPUS UI student raped, murdered

}p-30 “A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” - Nelson Mandela

Concern over overloaded school curriculum NASFAT Nursery and Primary School in Osogbo, Osun State capital, whose parents are yet to come to terms why their nine-year-old daughter could offer more subjects than her other siblings in high schools.

Like her other contemporaries in private primary schools, Zainab takes 16 subjects including Verbal Reasoning, Civic Education, Quantitative Reasoning, Creative Arts, Computer Science, English Language, Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Social Studies, Physical and Health Education, Home Economics, Literature-In-English, Basic and Technical Drawing, Writing, Islamic Religious Studies and Arabic Studies.

In her school backpack, which is always filled with books, there is a copy of Advanced Learner English Dictionary that she carries to school every day.

The weight of bag is already making her uncomfortable.

Today, the pupils, New Telegraph investigation revealed, offer between 16 and 20 subjects, depending on the class, while their counterparts in the public primary schools, otherwise known as Government Schools, take between 11 and 13 subjects.

The picture painted above is that the pupils nationwide are weighed down under the burden of overload of school subjects and several hours in school learning, without cognizance to their age.

But the development has continued to generate concerns among experts and stakeholders in the education sector, who blamed the “poorly designed school curriculum” on the lopsidedness witnessed in the school system.

The teachers, who exonerated them-

selves from the blame, are insisting that the development should be blamed on those who designed the curriculum.

Mr. Funso Olateju, Zainab’s father told New Telegraph: “My brother-in-law who is based abroad visited us recently and was shocked at the heaviness of Zainab’s school bag. In fact, he instructed that we should find a means of reducing the content to avoid health hazard.”

Worried by the development, Aloy Ejiogu, a Professor of Education Management and Planning, and former Dean of Faculty of Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, condemned the school curriculum, which he said, was not well designed as it does not allow for critical thinking, innovation, creativity and deep communication on the part of the pupils.

CONTI NUED ON PAGE23

22 EDUCATION

T

EN-YEAR-OLD Samuel Davies, a pupil of Blessed Dove Nursery and Primary School, a private school located within Ilare Quarters in IleIfe, Osun State has one thing in mind: to change his school.

Davies had refused to attend school penultimate Tuesday, as he removed his uniform and tucked it in his backpack apparently to hide his identity, joined other pupils from other schools at the opening ceremony of the neighbouring Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, which had newly been reconstructed by the Osun State Government.

The boy, who could not hide his feelings, had recalled how he told his parents that he wanted to change his school, because he prefers the new school to his former private school.

“I had told my parents that I would prefer the new school to my “former” school, because this is more beautiful than our school,” he said.

Davies, New Telegraph investigations revealed was not alone in this agitation: several other children also in his shoes had sneaked to the school compound that day to witness the commissioning of the new school building with a vow not to return to their “former schools.”

As if the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola was reading the minds of the children, he had said in his speech that his administration’s mission is to restore the lost glories of the public education system “through provision of a conducive learning environment that will become a subject of envy to children in private schools and their parents and teachers.”

Faced with the level of rot in the system, resulting in dilapidated infrastructure, dearth of facilities, shortage of quality teaching staff, inadequate and overcrowded classrooms, absenteeism and dwindling school enrolment, poorly motivated teachers and waning moral values in the public schools sub-sector in the State of the Virtuou, Aregbesola’s administration had on assumption of office embarked on aggressive move to transform the schools and making them more learning-friendly.

Prior to the assumption of office of his administration, private schools have taken over in the state as citadels of learning, and thereby further widening the already existing educational gap between the children of the rich and the poor.

But with the commissioning and handing over of the state-of-the-art Baptist Central Elementary School building to the excited pupils, teachers and their parents, that has become a deviation from the norm in the state.

The new school building structure, which accommodates about 1,000 pupils is an architectural masterpiece with 22 well-ventilated classrooms, and equipped with requisite furniture and fittings. Other facilities provided to make learning more friendly to the pupils and their teachers include 16 modern toilets, 2-No of well-equipped laboratories, one audio-visual room, two staff rooms, headmaster’s and assistant headmaster’s offices, one dining room, one big hall, recreational facilities and

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

A new hope for Osun pupils

The school building

It was a dream come true for pupils and teachers of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, as Governor Rauf Aregbesola open the state-of-the-art school building complex. MOJEED ALABI reports. a five-a-side football field.

Aregbesola, who dressed in the elementary school uniform, had in his address to the mammoth crowd who had defied the scorching weather, entitled: “We Are Unstoppable,” said the education of Osun children should not be a subject for petty squabbles and that his administration's efforts at revamping education in the state never had any religious motive.

The governor, who noted that his administration has invested N14.4 billion on capital projects, and N21 billion as recurrent annual expenditure on elementary schools, said the government was passionate in ensuring that pupils and students who graduated from the state’s public schools are among the best anywhere in the world.

Recounting his administration’s achievement in the education sector in the past few years, Aregbesola said: “It is a train on a one-way journey that is programmed for one destination only the attainment of world-class and high quality education for its beneficiaries.

This is our driving vision; and it is the noble purpose to which all our efforts and actions are directed.

“For instance, we have added 10,407

L-R: Wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola; Aregbesola; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; State Acting Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Adelowo Adebiyi and others, during the commissioning.

new teachers to the list of public school teaching staff in Osun. Thus, we now have 12,715 teachers in our primary schools and 7,848 teachers in our secondary schools. This amounts to a 54.8 per cent increase in the number of public school teachers we inherited. The same applies to non-teaching staff whose number has also increased by 564. As a result, the salaries and pensions of our primary and secondary school teachers now cost the government N16.8 billion and N10.3 billion respectively on an annual basis.”

According to the governor, “on the free school uniforms, we spent N900 million, while the elementary school feeding programme costs the government N3.6 billion yearly”.

He added: “On the supply of furniture to our schools, we have committed N2.5 billion so far, while we have spent N503 million on instructional materials which were not part of public school education before we assumed office. We have similarly increased school grants from N122 million to N856 million. Under our administration, WAEC fees have also shot up from N38 million to N400 million. We have also expended N1.2 billion on our pace-setting e-learning tablet, Opon-Imo.”

The education of Osun children should not be a subject for petty squabbles

The governor commended the Chief Executive Officer of AstroTurf Company, the manufacturer of synthetic field and a grandson to one of those who founded the school in 1925, Prince Aderoju Ademoroti, for supporting government initiative.

Welcoming guests to the ceremony, the Deputy Governor, Otunba Grace LaoyeTomori, also listed some of the facilities in the school building complex to include uninterrupted supply of pipe borne water.

She said; “The school is well-fenced for effective security and access control.

This will reduce the burden of teachers on security issues.”

Speaking of the school project, some of the teachers told the New Telegraph that the new teaching environment would not only boost their morale to work harder, but would also propel them to offer quality service.

According to the Coordinator of the head-teachers, Mrs. Margaret Adediwura, it was a dream come true, saying it might take some days for the pupils to concentrate in the class considering the “distraction” the beauty of the new environment might create to both the students and the teachers.

In his remarks, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, lauded Aregbesola and his team for the project, which he described as “wonder of a school.”

The monarch expressed satisfaction with the school project, scoring the governor high in his performance in his last three and half year’s administration.

EDUCATION 23

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

According to him, the curriculum is designed to only teach for examinations, sake, because the nation’s education policy emphasis from primary school to the university level is more on acquisition of certificates.

The don said: “That is not education. In fact, it is far removed from the real essence of education. At the primary school level, how many subjects are we exposing these little kids to; about eight, nine or even 12, talkless of 18 or 20 subjects? When are these children allowed to be children that they are? When are they allowed to develop as normal human beings and not to ram information into their little skulls, which they regurgitate after examinations through rote learning and we think we have educated them?”

While, alluding to the system of education in Finland, which today is the world’s number one country with the best national education policy system, the expert noted that in Finland, there is no statutory examination until a child reaches age 16, and that is when they are prepared to be admitted into the university system.

“The children are allowed to grow and they see learning as fun,” he added, stressing that what is being done in that country is not just teaching, but to nurture the children both mentally and physically.

Ejiogu, who expressed dissatisfaction about the method of teaching in our schools, wondered that what the schools do is to pour in information on the children as if they are filling drums of water, which is referred to as the banking system.

He added: “This is a system in which we pour knowledge into the pupils’ brain and ask them to regurgitate them through rote learning. Of course, by doing that we don’t allow them to be creative and innovative. They are not allowed to ask questions and even do what pleases them.”

To this end, the don hinted that the designing of the curriculum should be revisited, insisting that the Finland model, in which teachers are allowed to design curriculum following national guidelines and suitable to the environment should adopted.

He said: “There is no national curriculum where from the headquarters in Abuja, someone writes out what should be taught in every nook and cranny of the country. With the system we operate now, the children are overburdened and as a result of this, many of them hate learning because we have made them

Row over school curriculum

to see learning as punishment.”

To the Head-teacher of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Mrs. Olusola Adediwura, the aim of introducing the pupils to many subjects

It is observed that pupils in primary schools nowadays offer between 18 and 20 subjects. Is this ideal for proper learning and their age?

Let me begin by saying that when university teachers, under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) went on strike, people were saying so much, criticizing them that the strike was basically about money. I was forced to publish an article in the national dailies to say that even if the government pays a minimum of N1 million to a lecturer in the country, that does not guarantee quality education in our school system. I agree that good remuneration contributes greatly to delivery of quality services, there are several other factors attached which are very important.

What are these conditions?

Here in Nigeria, we only teach for examinations sake, because the nation’s education policy emphasis from primary school to the university level is more on acquisition of certificates. That is not education. In fact, it is far removed from the real essence of education. At the primary school level, how many subjects are we exposing these little kids to; about eight, nine or even 12, talk-less of 18 or 20 subjects? When are these children allowed to be children that they are? When are they allowed to develop as normal human beings and not to ram information into their little skulls, which they regurgitate after examinations through rote learning and we think we have educated them?

Finland today is the world’s number one country with the best national education policy system. I am not talking about this university ranking thing, but education in its totality. So, in terms of national system of education, Finland is number one and followed by Denmark, while the United States of America is even number 13 on the list.

The reason for this is so simple. While other countries are talking about examinations, in Finland, there is no statutory examination until a child reaches age 16, and that is when they are prepared to be admitted into the university system. The children are

at that tender age is to broaden their knowledge and horizon.

This view was shared by the Lagos State Education Commissioner, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who said though nine

subjects would be the ideal for the pupils.

She, however, expressed belief that the experts who designed the curriculum and introduced the subjects must have

taken a holistic look at the pros and cons of the situation.

Sharing UK experience, a teacher in Oldway Primary School, Southwest England, CONTINUED ON PAGE24

Curriculum doesn't allow critical thinking, innovation, creativity - UNILAG don Aloy Ejiogu, a Professor of Education Management and Planning, and former Dean of Faculty of Education, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, speaks with MOJEED ALABI on the bloated primary school curriculum, which to him has overburdened the pupils.

Ejiogu

allowed to grow and they see learning as fun. Children in primary schools have two hours of recess everyday when they are allowed to be freed as birds. In Finland, these little children are offered free quality meals and the teachers too. What they are doing there is not just teaching but to also nurture the students both mentally and physically. But here, all we are doing is just pouring in information as we are filling drums of water which is referred to as the banking system. This is a system in which we pour knowledge into the pupils’ brain and we only ask them to regurgitate them through rote learning. Of course, by doing that we don’t allow them to be creative and innovative. They are not allowed to ask questions and even do what pleases them. Even we choose the courses of study for them and that is why we have graduates in Medicine who are not practicing Medicine. Our lawyers are not practicing Law and what they do after graduation is to turn businessmen and

women while the Engineers become politicians or sports administrators. We forced the professions down their throats.

I was at a primary school sometimes ago, and it was the time for Introductory Technology lesson. The teacher wanted to teach the use of various tools used by a carpenter. Hammer was the first tool to be taught by the teacher. He just pasted a picture of hammer on the wall and only asked them to spell hammer, and they were asked what hammers are used for. Is that education?

But how would you have expected the teacher to have taught them?

The first question is that have the children seen a hammer before? Have they used it?

The pupils were not allowed to use the hammer and possibly introduce new ways of using it either consciously or unconsciously. There are two ends to a hammer; what is the usefulness of the two ends? By listing the uses of hammer, you only say these children should also list them in examinations. Is there

anything these children can construct with the hammer?

Also, our education system encourages individualism.

There is no collaboration and each student pursues his or her personal agenda even secretly.

That is not what we call education at all.

What will you expect in our curriculum?

Our curriculum should be so designed in a way that it will encourage not only creativity but also encourages critical thinking. For instance, children should be asked on what other ways hammer could be used and instead of hammer, what else could be used. But this idea of a teacher asking; “do you understand?” and they also respond; “yes” is not teaching and learning process. There must be adequate communication. The children must be allowed to talk, ask questions and write. There should be more to the telling method which our teachers are currently used to. The children should be allowed to engage in discussions.

So, our curriculum is not well designed because it does not allow for critical thinking, innovation, creativity and deep communication on the part of the pupils. In fact, there is what we call life skills, which are skills that will make a child live a life that is devoid of untoward behaviours, insecurity and so on. For instance, which side of the road should we take while walking along the road?

What is expected of us during emergency? Should we just run or find out sources of the crisis or what is happening?

But are these issues all about the schools alone?

Obviously, the homes are also very important to education, and not all houses are homes. Homes are places where parents, children and all family members relate, discuss and children are able to ask questions. But today, what we have are shelters where parents no longer stay at home to attend to the children, not even at the weekends. So, most children do not come from homes.

24 EDUCATION

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Overloaded curriculum ensnares pupils PRY 5 SUBJECTS IN A PRIVATE SCH.

l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l

Wike, Education Minister CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

Charlie Bryan, who was in Lagos on an exchange programme, said UK pupils also take similar number of subjects, but that the timetable is managed in a way that it does not create negative effect on the children.

However, experts have decried the situation, saying the development actually hampers the children’s growth and development.

The Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Mr. Olawunmi Gasper, an engineer, condemned the development, saying the number of subjects offered by the pupils is too much.

Miffed by the development, Gasper recalled how the situation has forced the management of technical colleges in the state to introduce what he called ‘inclusive curriculum” to address the environmental peculiarities and needs of Lagos residents.

However, Mr. Babatunde Atambala, Head-teacher of Master Piece Schools, Ekera, Agbado in Ogun State, differs in his views.

He said the number of subjects offered in the schools portends no danger to the children’s learning.

He said some of the subjects offered in the schools are interrelated, unlike in the old days, when most of the subjects were combined, and not taught separately.

For instance, Atambala cited Mathematics and Quantitative, and English and Verbal, which presently are taught separately,.

They were taught as single subjects under Mathematics and English.

“The mental alertness of the

children is high and we want to channel such to their academic development, as we believe that at this stage they can learn easily and able to retain what they learnt,” he said.

Rather, the head-teacher expressed optimism that the high number of subjects would assist the pupils more and prepare them for their secondary and tertiary education, since they would have imbibed the skill of self-learning.

Meanwhile, the only aspect in which Atambala expressed concern and sought policy makers’ attention is the style or method in which the messages are being passed across to the children.

According to him, the school syllabus should be designed to be tight and streamlined but to contain the broad details of what the pupils are expected to be taught under a particular subject, without unnecessary creation of different subjects that could have been part of one.

The Director of Winneba University Centre in Nigeria and lecturer at the Federal College of Education (Technical), FCE, Akoka, Lagos, Dr. Afolayan Olaoti, insisted that much still needs to be done in the nation’s education system, saying such review requires experts to be brought together to pattern the curriculum after educationally successful countries of the world and not the bandwagon system of absorbing anything UK is doing hook, line and sinker.

Initially, in the Nine-Year Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) the curriculum designed by the Nigerian Educational, Research and Development Council (NERDC) for the nation’s

Mathematics English Language Quantitative Aptitude Verbal Aptitude Story Telling Diction Vocational Aptitude Spelling & Dictation Scripture/I.R.K Moral Instruction Physical & Health Edu. Elementary Science Civic Education Yoruba French General Knowledge Agricultural Science Home Economics Music Computer Studies Art & Handiwork Handwriting

primary and junior secondary schools, pupils in Primary I – III were expected to offer 10 compulsory subjects, including English Studies, Mathematics, one Nigerian language, Basic Science and Technology, Physical and Health Education, Religious Studies (Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Studies), Social Studies, Civic Education, Cultural and Creative Arts and Computer Studies/ ICT. The pupils are expected to offer at least one elective subject from three options of Agriculture, Home Economics and Arabic Language.

Besides, pupils in Primary Four – Six were to offer the same subjects with those in Primary I – III, expect the addition of French Language, while in the Junior School I – III, the subjects are similar except Business Studies which was an optional subject, but today had been made compulsory.

Faced with the burden of overloading the curriculum, key stakeholders, including the NERDC, commissioners of education and chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards, representatives of Federal and State Ministries of Education, key parastatals and private school owners brainstormed at a forum for two days, where they brought a great relief to the pupils.

To this end, the forum collapsed the subjects offered to

Prof. Obioma, NERDC Scribe

only seven subjects, including English Studies, Mathematics; one Nigerian language, Basic Science and Technology, Pre-vocational Studies, Religions and Values Education and Cultural and Creative Arts, with Arabic Language as optional.

Under the review, panel succeeded in merging Computer Studies/ICT and Physical and Health Education under Basic Science and Technology, while Religious Studies, Civic Education and Social Studies were compressed as under Religions, Values Education and Security Education.

In the teaching methodology, it was agreed at the forum that emphasis should be on the understanding of basic concepts and explanations of the subjects, while teaching and learning should also be creative, innovative and practical.

According to the NERDC boss, Professor Godswill Obioma, the streamlining of the curricula is done without reducing the contents, even as he explained that Kenya has seven subjects; Tanzania (eight); United States (six); Malaysia and Indonesia (nine) each.

But despite the review, private schools do not key into the government’s curriculum policy.

A parent, who preferred anonymity, lamented the huge number of subjects offered by children in private schools, saying the private school owners are doing so in order to justify the

The school syllabus should be designed to be tight and streamlined but to contain the broad details of what the pupils are expected to be taught under a particular subject.

exorbitant school fees they are collecting from parents.

“During our school days we offered between seven and eight subjects and our education was total. We received quality education that made us what we are today,” he said, stressing that what is the justification for a 10-year-old child offering about 18 subjects.

He argued further: “Will this not pose a great danger for the children; as a way of reducing their life expectancy, when they put too many things into their brain at this tender age.”

While expressing concern, the parent urged policy makers, especially those saddled with the management and provision of education to address this issue of overloaded curriculum.”

Echoing him, Mrs. Mariam Idowu, a parent, who has two children in private primary school, wondered how the pupils are subjected to such academic hardship in that tender age.

She berated the government and curriculum planners for such lapses, which according to her will negatively affects the children.

Her words: “I often wonder how these children less than 10 years of age cope with 18 subjects at a stretch. They have no time to rest or relax their brain. The mental work is just too much for them. We all passed through primary school in this same country. I agree there must be dynamism in the system, but as parents we do not have alternative.

I pity them a lot. The curriculum planners and private school owners should do something about it. We don’t have to load the children’s brain with too much subjects at this their

NEWS 25

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

FUTA VC tasks engineers on power sector

500 pupils for spelling competition

P

S

iqued by the erratic power supply, Electronic and Electrical Engineers in the country have been challenged on how to solve the problems of the power sector.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adebiyi Daramola made the call when the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) visited the management of university.

Daramola, who lamented the incessant power failure in the country, a situation that has led to the folding up of a number of industries, while some relocated their businesses out of the country, said members of NIEEE by their training are better positioned to play a pivotal role in the current efforts by the Federal Government to ensure adequate power supply in the country.

He said: “There are many other alternatives to power generation apart from hydro power. Your institution should strive to make use of all available alternatives to fix the problems associated with power generation and distribution. I am sure if this is done, Nigeria will become an industrial giant

in Africa and globally. You are key to our operations. Let us work together as partners to transform the energy sector.”

The Vice-Chancellor, represented by his Deputy in charge of Academic, Professor Adedayo Fasakin, who lauded the body for partnering the university, restated FUTA’s leadership position in cutting-edge technology and training of needed manpower.

While commending NIEEE, an arm of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) for its role, Daramola insisted that a university could not exist in a vacuum; rather he hinted that there must be interface between the university and the industry since the Ivory Tower is expected to proffer solution to the myriad of problems in its environment.

“Based on this fact, the university has keyed into the plans of the industry by training graduates for them and we are proud that our products, including your National President are doing wonderfully well all over the world,” he said.

In their remarks, the duo of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development), Professor Tolulope Akinbogun and Dean,

School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Professor M.O. Alatise reiterated the importance of NIEEE to national development, saying Electrical Engineering and other engineering courses are like Medicine because of their importance to the economy.

Responding, Mr. S. A Makinde, the National President of the institution, lauded the effort of the Vice-Chancellor and his management for the giant strides the university has attained, even as he assured him (Daramola) of the readiness of NIEEE to identify and partner with the university.

According to him, one of the key mandates of the institution is to make power, telecom and other allied services more functional in the country.

While identifying power as a major challenge facing industrialisation in the country, he said the body was not relenting on improving the power sector.

As part of strategies to improve the sector, Makinde recalled that NIEEE organises regular specialised lectures, workshops and training to proffer solution to the challenges faced by its members, especially on how to improve power, allied products and sciences.

OME 500 students in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos are expected to participate in the maiden edition of a spelling competition organised by AchynMedia Limited.

The competition, which holds on March 22, are for only pupils in private schools in Egbe Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA); Ayobo Ipaja LCDA; Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA; Mosan-Okunola LCDA and Igando Ikotun LCDA, the Local Council Development Areas carved out of the old Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.

The organisers of the programme, AchynMedia Limited, a non-governmental organisation, said the decision to limit the competition only to private schools in the area, was borne out of fact that the pupils are in most cases left out in the other similar spelling competition.

A statement by Mr. Akintoye Waliu, Head of Creative/Project Coordinator said that the main objectives of the competition are to increase and improve the use of English vocabularies of the pupils, as well as provide a forum for pupils from different schools to compete with one another.

According to him, only pupils from Basic Four to Basic Eight will be eligible to participate in the competition.

Winners of the competition will go home with various prizes ranging from laptop computer, television set, desktop computer, palmtop, calculators, and dictionary to mathematical sets.

VC lauds students' intellectual engagement L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Mac-John Nwaobiala; Chairman, Governing Council, University of Lagos, Prof. Jerry Gana; Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Vice-Chancellor, UNILAG, Prof. Rahman Bello during the foundation laying ceremony of a 15-storey female hostel held on the campus last Friday.

Obasanjo, Speaker, others for lecture Mojeed Alabi

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloma Mukhtar; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, as expected to be the guests at the maiden edition of the Lagos chapter of the Alumni Association of the National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, (AANI) lecture series billed for next month.

The title of the lecture, which will be chaired by Obasanjo and hold at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on March 11, is “Building Credible Electoral Process for Democratic Sustainability, "and will hold.

Legal luminary and Constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) will be the lead speaker, while other eminent Nigerians including the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega; former Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Mr. Fola Adeola, are other discussants.

According to the organisers, association was formed in response to the need for government and the society to constantly tap from the rich mix of high-level manpower nurtured at the institute.

Established in 1979 as the nation’s foremost policy think-tank, the primary objective of the institute is to develop a crop of top-class technocrats of high intellectual capacity, who will conceptualise and anchor the implementation of innovative

and dynamic policy initiatives and strategies critical for national development.

The Chairman of the chapter, Mr. Victor Banjo, said of the formation of the association: “Due to the general concern, AANI feels duty bound to work with other Nigerians to draw attention to the issues and create a forum for public discourse which should lead to solutions necessitated our collective experience and desire.”

The Chairman of the Planning Committee of the lecture, Mr. Muyiwa Odejayi, disclosed that the event is expected to have in attendance top government functionaries, diplomatic corps, politicians, members of the academia, organised private sector, labour, armed forces and para-military institutions and other corporate Nigeria, as well as the media.

V

ice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, has lauded the students for engaging in intellectual activities.

Professor Femi Mimiko gave the commendation during the students’ Judiciary Day Public Lecture organised by the Student Judicial Council, SJC, in honour of Oba Olateru-Olagbegi, the Olowo of Owo. The theme of the lecture was: "Judicial Activism Vis-à-vis Social Justice: The Nexus."

Mimiko, who was represented by his Deputy, Professor Rotimi Ajayi, expressed delight over the students’ intellectual exploits, even as he pledged the management’s support for them.

He said the students' initiative is in tandem with the aspiration of the university to produce globally comparable graduates that would solve societal problems, noting that: "The university public lecture series is a forum where topical issues can be debated for societal benefit."

26 EDUCATION | INTERVIEW Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Lagos State University (LASU) are threatening to embark on a strike if their demands are not met. What step is the management taking to avert another job boycott, after the five-month nationwide strike by the national body of ASUU? To the best of my knowledge, virtually all the issues raised by the union have been addressed. With such agitation, I am beginning to perceive a different thing entirely. I am privy to comments and write-ups on social media by some members of the academic staff, including the Chairman of ASUU himself, that a section of the media got them wrong and that there were plans or threats to go on strike. They said they were merely intimating the public with some of their issues and not to embark on any strike.

So, the perception that LASU is about to commence another strike is not completely right.

In any case, we have resumed academic activities since 23th of December last year. We have a new academic calendar, and new time-table, and of course, we expect that this second semester will terminate by the end of February, by which time we would have completed our examinations and the results would have been out. And indeed, the university would have been ready to move into a new academic session.

Having said that we expect that as a result of this, our convocation which usually comes up in February will now take place in March.

By and large, on the question whether there are concerns about ASUU, or whether there are issues on ground? I will say yes. There are issues and I can say that they had been addressed at different fora. I mean at the level of management, governing council, and even at the level of government. Also, I can recall vividly that there were about four or five levels of discussion with the Chancellor of the university on these issues and they were resolved amicably. The last meeting with the union, following that of the Chancellor there was a communiqué that came out of the several rounds of meetings. After that, the final meeting was that of November 29, in which the ad-hoc committee set up by the executive arm of government addressed an array of issues ranging from earned allowances, that have already be discussed; promotion based on vacancies; retirement age, to duration of tenure for principal officers of the university. These

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

I inherited liabilities, says LASU VC

Obafunwa

John Oladapo Obafunwa, a Professor of Forensic Pathologist and ViceChancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), speaks with KAYODE OLANREWAJU, on the level of development in the institution and the urgent need to change the university’s image and public perception. are some of the points raised by ASUU, and like I said all these have been addressed.

Apart from ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) is currently on strike, citing lack of promotion as one of their grievances.

The issue of SSANU, I must say is a little bit surprising.

Don’t forget that initially the union was said to be on sympathy strike with the national body of ASUU, and suddenly there was this strike about local issues, especially the issue of promotion.

But, I need to quickly correct something: it is not true that LASU workers have not been promoted over the years. And, it is not also true that the workers have not been paid their promotion arrears. Records

are there to show all these. Of course, these are issues I inherited and this administration is making up for these payments.

As for 2011/2012 promotions, that has been effected, while that of 2012/2013 was actually stalled by the members of the union themselves when the process was on. Even when the governing council said that the management should go ahead, the union still stalled the process. So, it is not that the management refused to promote them. It might also interest you to know that the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and NAAT were particularly of the same view concerning the strike, but by the time we went through all the series of meetings and discussions to educate ourselves on the issues, NASU and NAAT realised that there was nothing

Now, the contention is that whether the workers should be promoted en mass or on the basis of available vacancies

really to quarrel about. And, the unions went back to work immediately. Also, I can say that the leadership of ASUU even benefitted from the promotional exercise of 2011/2012.

That is just the fact. They benefitted on merit.

Now, the contention is that whether the workers should be promoted en mass or on the basis of available vacancies. And what the unions are saying is that vacancy or no vacancy, everybody should be promoted, which is what has been happening in the university in the past. This is contrary to the condition of service that came into effect in LASU in June 2008. Of course, this condition of service applies to every worker both the junior and senior members of staff. However, this administration did not manufacture that condition of service. It clearly states that promotion would be based on available positions. That is the bone of contention, which has been addressed several times by the management, govern-

ing council and even the state government, the proprietor of the university.

Going by your statement, I want you to be more concrete.

How were the issue addressed?

At the last meeting with the unions in Alausa, it was said that we should provide the names of all those workers involved in the promotion issue.

That has been complied with, and their names have been compiled. You can verify this from all the unions. That is, those affected by the “no promotion, no vacancy policy.”

In summary, it is not a question of the workers not being promoted, as it only affected the 2012/2013 academic session, which we would have been done, if the promotion examinations and interview were not stalled by the unions.

One of the reasons why the process was stalled was that the unions didn’t want the exercise to be conducted by an independent body outside the university. That is, a consultant, the Public Service Development Corporation (PSDC) in Magodo.

At that point, the management in agreement with the Council, then said instead of using a consultant to conduct the exercise, we would now conduct it internally. Despite that, the unions are still stalling the process, insisting that they should be promoted en mass.

About two years ago, the Lagos State Government ordered the scrapping of external campuses of the university. How has this affected the funding and running of the university?

One of the best things to happen to LASU in recent times is the scrapping of the external system, that is, LASU School of Part-Time Studies. I can say that with confidence because we shouldn’t just be talking about generating money, but what about the quality of whatever we are doing. To start with, there are a lot of internal issues surrounding the programme.

Things were not being done in a proper way and government felt we had to do away with it.

However, the government said we should finish training those already within the system and see them through to graduation, but that we should not admit fresh students. It was even after that had happened that CONTINUED ON PAGE27

INTERVIEW | EDUCATION 27

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Scrapping of satellite campuses, LASU's gain CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 6

the National Universities Commission (NUC) took its decision.

Apart from issue of money, there was the need for us to ensure quality control. That is, the quality of education we are given. And indeed, ever since this administration came in, we have done a lot to improve on the quality of our education and training, the university’s accounting practices, as well as the release of results on time and issuance of certificates because these are very germane points to us.

In 2012 alone, we graduated about 20,000 students from the external system and in 2013, the university also graduated another 7,500 students. It is not just a question of graduating students; we also ensured that their certificates were produced on graduation.

Our administration pays a lot of premium on the quality and also in ensuring that students’ transcripts and certificates are produced. The truth is that we’ve done a lot to turn this place (LASU) around. And, what might have appeared to be a financial loss to the university would at the end of the day turn out to be something of pride to the university and residents of Lagos State.

I want to assure you that we are going to do things properly so that even if we are given the opportunity to resuscitate the programme, we would be operating by guidelines dictated by NUC. How are you able to cope with the running of the university given the fact that most of the income is from the external programme, which is no longer forthcoming?

Of course, that means that despite the dwindling resources, the state government is investing huge amount of money on LASU in terms of provision of infrastructure. That is why you can see all those infrastructural developments on campus. The projects started between December 2011, when the contracts were awarded, and early 2012, when the actual construction work began. The projects include the new central library (a massive four-floor building); Senate building (a sevenstorey building); refurbishment of the 3-in-I lecture theatre; the new faculty of Management Sciences (which has just been completed by the government); School of Transport building complex; Faculty of Law twin lecture theatre building (a storey); the newly completed Teslim Elias Law Library, which is about the best law library in the country today. In addition, construction work is ongoing on the Faculty of Sciences complex; there is a massive Students’ Union Arcade just completed, and about six months ago, a philanthropist commenced work on LASU Radio station.

Let me tell you that the state government budgets about N2.5 billion yearly towards infrastructural develop-

We’ve been working on results in order to get the outstanding done.

It is that ridiculous ment in LASU. So, you can see that it is not a question of waiting for money from the School of Part-time Studies or other sources including school fees before anything gets done in the university. For this, I want to say a big thank you to the government of Lagos State, and of course, the legislative arm of government for this robust assistance. But of course, we still have a long way to go. There is no doubt about that. There is the faculty of Engineering at Epe campus and other departments in the various schools that are yet to come up; we have facilities that we need to further develop at Agagun in Badagry, where we have the LASU Foundation, which we are trying to develop. Besides, we still have other areas where the government is spending money. We should not forget the College of Medicine in Ikeja, where we have the new Faculty of Basic Health Sciences building coming up.

What are your challenges as Vice-Chancellor?

It is normally said that people inherit both assets and liabilities. To me, I said to people that I did not really inherit any asset, but what I inherited was liability. Of course, that is no problem. That has been the story of my life. When we came in, the first challenge I had to deal with was the issue of school fees. That was when the students were going on rampage.

But, thank God we were able to get over that.

Another challenge is the image and perception of LASU. And, one of the things the administration is doing is to change that perception. You talk about cultism and gangsterism. It all happens in virtually all the universities, but unfortunately the one in LASU has been over blown by the media. It is also unfortunate that you hear every now and then in a section of the media that a LASU student is caught in armed robbery. But by the time you investigate it you will discover that the person is not a student of LASU. This present administration has been trying to do a lot in terms of getting our students project good image of themselves so that potential employers can smile at them when they go out to the job market.

Incidentally, next week when we will be having our screening exercise for fresh students I will pick on few of them on mode of dressing. We want to change their orientation and imbue in them qualities of good leadership.

Obafunwa

Another challenge this administration encountered has to do with outstanding results and backlog of certificates. It is difficult to believe that I have to sign certificates dating back to 1994, which had since not signed.

We’ve been working on results in order to get the outstanding done. It is that ridiculous. We, also at the January 3rd Senate meeting dealt with certificates of 2001. There are allegations of alteration of results by some lecturers, which we have to deal with.

There is also the challenge of infrastructural development confronting the university. But now the government is assisting us in tackling this with massive infrastructure ongoing in the university. We are moving LASU from the old perception of a glorified secondary school to a 21st Century University. This is evident in the various developmental facilities springing up on our campuses, as well as other academic development and accounting system.

Of course, this administration is also confronted with the challenge of non-residential status of the university. However, we are planning to make LASU a residential institution this year. Last year, the State Tenders Board met to discuss this and how to make LASU a residential institution for both students and staff members.

By and large, I want to thank the Almighty God that we are getting over these challenges.

More importantly, the issue of probity and accountability has been a major challenge of our administration.

In the last one year, we have cut down considerably close to 100 per cent on our various excesses. I want to say that racketeering which permeates all the sections of the university has been nip in the bud. Most of the workers’ agitations today are not unconnected with this singular management’s action in ensuring proper accounting practices.

You won’t believe that some workers came to me saying that now that I have blocked all the avenues in which they

made money, what next. It is no longer business as usual at LASU, and some sections are not comfortable with our action, hence the agitation.

Accreditation is one of the challenges of the university system. What is the situation at LASU? Incidentally, the first accreditation visit to the LASU College of Medicine took place in 2009, while I was the Provost of LASUCOM and we got a fiveyear reaccreditation. Nigerian Medical Association came back last year and they gave us approval for another accreditation. Not only that, we were also given approval come next admission to increase our quota to 100 students.

Originally it was 50. When I was the Provost we got approval to increase it to 75 students and now it has risen to 100.

Having said that, this administration inherited de-accreditation of several courses in LASU, but when we assumed office, we swung into action by representing 17 programmes to NUC for accreditation, of which 16 scaled through. That was in early 2012. The approval was obtained in 2013. Again, we represented another 19 programmes that were due for accreditation, and in which we are still awaiting the NUC response. The reason for the delay is not unconnected with the prolonged ASUU strike. We are expecting that we will get the result this year.

In regard to accreditation problem we inherited, I will say that we are already sorting them out.

I remain very optimistic that the 19 courses we put up last year for accreditation will receive favourable results, though one should not preempt the judgment of NUC on this.

More importantly, the issue of probity and accountability has been a major challenge of our administration

28 EDUCATION | LECTURERS FORUM

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Patronage and university education system in Nigeria Yemmy Ade

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atronage and clientilism are typical of politico-economic system in Nigeria.

It has become a common practice in Nigeria for merit to be considered second in matter of importance if considered at all. Whenever there is need for recruitment, quota system or federal character are considered as the most important criteria for appointment into offices and as such mediocrity is rewarded at the expense of merit. Such has been the situation and partly responsible for why the country has been fumbling and wobbling on its road to becoming a developed nation.

For any country to be developed, its educational system must be solid and its universities considered as the ivory tower, where the highest of human ideals, comportments and social behavior is celebrated and considered the norm. It is expected that the institution portrays both in theory and practice the right way to behave and more importantly paving the way in all endeavours of man from the sciences, arts, humanities and social sciences. Thus, the respect that the institution commands is borne from the sterling qualities and the conspicuous features. Therefore, if the same anomaly that is associated with life beyond the academic environment becomes evident in the ivory tower, it points at the need to identify and address the problem before it wrecks total havoc on the remaining institution of excellence.

An aspect that is quite appalling is recruitment. Hardly is recruitment done on merits and character in many of our higher institutions of learning any longer, rather, it is on the basis of lobby and selfish interest, and aggrandizement on the part of those involved

in the process. An example is that of a particular department in the Sciences of a reputable university in Southwestern Nigeria where recruitment exercise had just been done. While I, as a matter of principle and confidentiality, would not mention the name of the university, it will be evil not to expose such charade and jamboree in one of our celebrated higher institutions of learning, as well as a supposedly beacon of hope for a better tomorrow. The manner in which the short-listing was done was nothing short of disappointment. Whereas some qualified individuals who were not the graduates of the university were eliminated not on the basis of what they possessed, but on the basis of ‘ours’ and ‘theirs’ without reference to their qualities for the job. The processes ensured that those who are potential candidate who possess intimidating qualifications/work as evidenced by their resumes, are often denied the opportunity of being interviewed. This is traced to the fact that, those who are saddled with the responsibility of doing the paper work of recruitment may feel endangered by the entrance of those coming with far more impressive resume and also to ensure a chance for their candidate(s).

At the interview, a 55-year-old man was selected for the position of Assistant Lecturer and the younger interviewees (mostly in their early thirties) were eliminated. On a closer investigation, it was gathered that the choice man had obtained his Masters Certificate in 1992, and that he belonged to the same class as the current Head of Department of that department and, as you may have thought, he is his friend.

The most appalling situation however was not the appointment of the man as it was the fact that a university was supposed to be insulated from the bastardi-

Prof. Okojie, NUC Scribe

sation that has characterised the Nigerian society. Another eyesore, however, was the fact that the H.O.D was a provincial pastor in one of the Pentecostal churches in the country.

A 55-years-old man’s productivity is without doubt fast nose-diving because he has far surpassed his height of performance. In academics, the retirement age is set at 65 years for Senior Lecturers and now 70 years for a Professor. Thus, if a man of such age enters a profession at second tier level, it means there is only ten years of productivity at its lowest ebb left for such individual. Academic is a profession for the bright, personate and young individuals who distinguish themselves during their undergraduate and postgraduate studies. A million questions abound in mind to be asked concerning the man appointed as Assistant Lecturer at 55 years of age. Where has he been plying his trade for the past twenty-two years? Why has he not obtained a PhD since those years? Is academics his passion or simply to put food on his table? These questions could go on without an end in sight; however I will try to use some of these questions to probe into the injustice committed against his fellow applicants, the students and the entire Nigerian society.

It is a common knowledge that in matter of admission to

Nigerian universities, the Senior School Certificate Examination, which is ten years old, is not admissible to qualify intending student(s) for admission. In a similar vein, it is difficult to get job with a stale certificate (10 years and beyond). This is because there is a belief that the holder of such certificate, except he has been working in similar capacity must have lost touch with new developments in the field/job. Coming back to our subject matter, the choice man appointed must have lost relevance as far as Physics is concerned. I doubt if he could successfully remember simple practical conducted in the laboratory during his postgraduate studies. Also, it is probable that the man may find it difficult to be familiar with his Master’s thesis written 22 years ago. I pity the students of the department who are probably going to experience firsthand the consequences of the manipulations perpetrated by those who are suppose to place merit above petty interests and selfaggrandizement. The quality of lectures/lessons to be given by the recruited Lecturer is better imagined than experienced.

The above is also not in the best interest of our country that hopes to be technologically sophisticated and compete with the developed world. Whereas in the developed countries, we see many young scholars breaking new grounds in sciences and space technology. These feats are due to the commitment and transparency of those in charge of the system. The scenarios that played out above may suggest to Nigerians why partly our higher institutions of learning have been incapacitated in making any meaningful strides towards having significant impact upon the development plans of the country. If Nigeria is to have its place among the developed

economies of the world, this evil practices and injustices must stop. Also, the selection of a man that has far surpassed his prime in productivity robs the other more qualified candidates of an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the development of the university and the Nigerian society at large.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) should, as a matter of principle, be concerned with the age of those to be recruited as lecturers and their qualifications, particularly for the position of Graduate Assistant and Assistant Lecturers so that the foundation of our educational system can be solid.

A man smuggled into the system at age 55 would probably benefit more from such manipulations to become a Senior Lecturer or even a Professor. One bad egg will contaminate a crate of eggs.

It is expected that the NUC will also examine the qualifications of new recruited academics into our university system so that our university will stand alongside the best in the world. There is no way our universities can be world renowned, if the attitude of sacrificing merits for patronage and clientilism continues to be the criteria for selection. A journey through our universities today will reveal a stark reality that the same problem that pervades our public service has also crept into our ivory towers and is more entrenched in the system. There are many instances where in the name of gender and geopolitical consideration and ethnic balancing, First Class Honours Students and Second Class Upper Division Honours have been left and less preferred to Second Class Lower Division graduates. This is clearly a problem that portends increasing decline for our society and the extent to which our country is growing increasingly on a part of destruction.

EDUPEACE with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji

Osun School: Let parents be Omoluabi

I

n “Return to the Roots”, an address delivered on August 6, 2013 by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdul Ganiyu Ambali, at the public presentation of the “Handbook of the University of Ilorin Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit”, we have a good definition of the term, “Omoluabi”. By the way, the former Ambassador of

the United States of America to Nigeria, Walter C. Carrington, said last October that the address under reference is one of the best speeches he had ever read.

According to Prof. Ambali, who is also a Board Member of the International Association of Universities (IAU), “An Omoluabi is someone of excellent character and s/he is someone

Aregbesola

who is hard working, diligent, responsible, serious-minded, fair, honest, trust-worthy, kind, respectful and Godly in all his activities. An Omoluabi values good name more than gold and s/he is a symbol of everything good and admirable.”

It was probably having these noble qualities in mind that the Government of the State of Osun adopted the term as its

cognomen, proclaiming itself as “Ipinle Omuluabi” or the State of Omoluabi. It is apparent that the dream of the leadership of the State is to have responsible citizens, who conform to social order and promote public peace.

However, the recent saga in Baptist High School, Iwo, State of Osun, by which school children appeared in a sandwich CO NTINUED O N PAGE30

EDUCATION | CAMPUS

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

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dekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Ondo State host community has given kudos to Professor Femi Mimiko-led administration for transforming the university from a ‘glorified secondary school’ to a modern Ivory Tower.

Leader of Akungba community and spokesman, Chief Dele Olowogorioye gave the kudos when the delegation of the community, led by the new Regent, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, a visited the university management.

While taken a tour of the university to make on-the-spot assessment of its developmental facilities, Olowogorioye was quoted as saying: “AAUA is no more a glorified secondary school that it used to be.

Things have changed and now it is a university of the 21st Century, properly called. This present administration led

by Professor Femi Mimiko, as the Vice-Chancellor has transformed the institution tremendously.

“It is indeed fantastic. The university is already a community on its own. The structures are there and all other things you can think of in a university are present. There is no doubt about it. It is what you can see with your eyes.”

Olowogorioye, who had earlier noted that the community

Varsity's host community thumps up for VC

Mimiko (7th from left); DVC, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi (6th left); Registrar, Mr. Bamidele Olotu (5th left); and the University Librarian, Mr. William Akinfolarin (4th left), in a group photograph with members of the delegation including Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon (8th left), shortly after a tour of the university.

leaders were in the university on a solidarity visit and to tour the campus, however said of their visit: “We are here to show our solidarity to the management that the Akungba people are solidly behind the Vice-Chancellor, the management and the entire university community.”

He appealed to the manage-

ment to amicably address any issue relating to staff unions as it concerns their welfare.

In his remarks, Mimiko expressed delight at the visit, saying it demonstrated the level of love the community has for the university, even as the Vice-Chancellor praised the community for its hospitable disposition towards the

university and its activities, especially the students and pleaded that such gesture be improved upon and sustained.

He, however, told his visitors that the university has grown tremendously in the past 14 years of its existence, noting that “four years ago, when I assumed office as ViceChancellor the major chal-

29

lenge we had was space. But today, I can say, with all sense of responsibility and modesty, that more than 90 per cent of that space challenge has disappeared to the glory of God, and we are hoping that by this time next month, when our Senate Building should have been delivered, the challenge of space constraint would have completely become a thing of the past.”

He thanked the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led government for being the architect of the transformation of the university, saying: “We have the government of Ondo State to thank. No matter how passionate you are as an administrator, if you do not have the support of the proprietor of the institution, you probably will not be able to go too far.”

The Vice-Chancellor assured his visitors of the university his administration’s determination do everything possible to sustain the peaceful co-existence among the management, members of staff and students, on one hand and the community on the other.

He said: “We are a family staff and students. We (staff and students, unions and non-unionists) will bend over backward to ensure that we continue to remain in peace and to deliver the best quality education that our people deserve.”

UNILORIN students’ union First Lady urges unions to embrace dialogue honours Belgore, launches journal Alamu Ibrahim UNILORIN

ALL is set for the launching of the Second Edition of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Students’ Union Journal – The Erudite – and the honouring of the quintessential Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Salihu Alfa Belgore.

The theme of the journal: “Perspectives on Leadership, Development and National Building”, seeks the contributions from interested students across the nation’s campuses, with a caveat that all papers, which must have a link with the theme, will also cover all areas of human endeavor including Arts and Culture, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Education, Law, Sciences and Technology, Politics and Religion, among others.

According to the President of union, Comrade Abiodun Lawal, “Only papers which cater for the local reality of Nigeria

in terms of contents and meet up with the international standards will be accepted.”

“All papers must bear the name and institutional affiliation of the author and must be segmented into the abstract; while the keywords must also be typed under the abstract, with the main content of the paper and the bibliography well stated,” he added.

The submission of the papers, Lawal noted, will be judged blindly on correctness, originality, technical strength, logical presentation and organisation of points relevant to the themes of the journal.

According to the union, the words for an abstract should be between 150 and 250, while the word count for the body of the paper should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words, excluding the footnotes and bibliography.

“The article must be submitted through the electronic mails; jimoh_rasheed@unilorin.edu. ng, talk2alao@gmail.com.

Stakeholders in the nation's education sector have been advised to employ dialogue in resolving any contradiction that may arise within the sector.

The advice was given by the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan during the foundation laying ceremony of a 15-storey female hostel at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

The hostel is named after her.

While appealing to the university workers’ unions to embrace dialogue, she said that education was so important to national growth and development for it to suffer endless season of strikes.

Dame Jonathan, who did not make any statement about the controversial renaming of the institution after Late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, as announced in 2012 by the President, commended the management of the institution and leadership of the parents' forum for naming the project

after her.

The First Lady pledged her commitment and support for the hostel project, saying she would ensure the building is handed over the students on schedule, even as she challenged the parents on contributions to the training of their children, as girl-child should be trained up to university level.

The female hostel, an initiative of the university's Parents' Forum, is expected to accommodate about 2,000 students both undergraduate and postgraduate and it is scheduled for completion within the next two years.

The turning of sod, which was attended by the Chairman of the university's Governing Council, Professor Jerry Ghana; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Marc-John Nwaobiala, among others, was described the First Lady as the first of its kind in the country, saying UNILAG is a university of first choice and

the nation's pride.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rahman Bello, said the hostel would go a long way to ameliorate the accommodation challenges facing the institution, noting that the 8,500-bed space currently available on the campus could not meet the accommodation needs of the 40,291 students in the ivory tower.

The Chairman of the university's Parents' Forum, Mr. Babatunde Majekodunmi, thanked the parents for the support and promised that the project would be properly monitored.

Bello

CAMPUS | EDUCATION

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

UI student raped, murdered

Students hold conference on women Hameed Muritala

UNILORIN

WOMEN from diverse backgrounds and the nation’s political turf will converge on University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in April to share thoughts on how to tackle the level of marginalisation and reluctance of the female gender (women) to participate in governance and political activities in the country.

The conference, initiated by the institution’s Students’ Union, according to union, is to stimulate discourse aimed at educating and encouraging the women to participate actively in governance, build a top class career in any endeavour and at the same time, keep a good marital life.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the trend of apathy of most Nigerian women to participate in political activities in the country, Comrade Hassan Oluwakemi, the Vice-President of the union, in a statement made available to Campus journalists, said the programme would provide a platform for the students

to interact with and learn from women who have made a mark in their career, as well as maintain a worthy marital life.

Tagged: “Women of the 21st Century”, speakers at the conference, include Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; member House of Representatives and Chairman House Committee on Diaspora; Dr. Joe Odumakin, a human right activist; and Joke Silva, a veteran Nollywood actress.

The main theme of the conference is: “Women participation in governance: How do you manage your career and home front?’’

However, a member of the organising committee, Titilope Anifowoshe, insisted that the programme would among others encourage female students not to feel reluctant or discouraged on the basis of gender in aspiring for excellence in their chosen fields and in participating actively in politics.

The high point of the conference, which is one of its kinds in the institution, include presentation of awards to the guest speakers.

30

Hammed Hamzat, UI

l Hassan

It was a gory scene to behold last Wednesday in Gbagi, a suburban community in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, when a 500 Level student of the nation’s premier university, the University of Ibadan (UI), was found in the pool of her own blood after being allegedlly raped by a yet to be identified assailant.

Taiwo Omolara Shittu, 27-year-old, was until her cruelsome murder, a student of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management.

She was said to have left the campus on the fateful day to her sister's house located at Opeyemi Street in Gbagi.

The sister, whose identity the Campus Journalist could not ascertain as at press time, had returned home from work around 5:30p.m on that fateful day to find her sister (Omolara) already hacked with a machete and her pants pulled down to her ankle.

The machete, allegedly belonging to the gardener who tends the compound was said to be stained with Omolara’s blood and dropped on the bed in the room where the victim was murdered.

The gardener, whose identity was not disclosed by our source, was immediately arrested and he is currently being detained at Alakia Adenubi Police Station in Ibadan.

The suspect, who is in his early 30s, has reportedly denied knowledge of the crime but the case had already been transferred by the police to the Criminal Investigation Department in the Iyaganku Police Station, Ibadan.

Miffed by the delay in its investigations, students of the university were said to have mobilsed themselves at the weekend and protested to the CID office, calling on the police to speed up investigation and release its reports.

LECTURERS FORUM

Osun School: Let parents be Omoluabi CON TINUED F R O M PAGE28

of (ir-)religious attires and costume, is a serious source of concern. The ugly incident was a desecration of education and a betrayal of the concept of “Omoluabi”. This betrayal has cataclysmic implications for education and peace if not nipped in the bud. Fortunately, the Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has taken actions in that direction.

The conduct of those who manipulated and still manipulate children who should be focusing on their studies is antithetical to the letter and spirit of Omoluabi. It beggars belief that those who parade themselves as role models or men or God could mastermind the disruption of public order, including asking non-Muslim students like Mary Ezekiel to wear hijab (head covering) to hoodwink the public.

This is anti-Omoluabi and unGodly.

There are three parties involved in the Osun school saga: the government, the parents and the students. The Government introduced an educational re-

form which in its wisdom it felt would rejuvenate education in the state. The education summit that heralded the reform attracted bigwigs such as Prof.

Wole Soyinka and the likes and the outcome cannot be easily dismissed. Though, the reform has generated its own ruckus, those who feel strongly against some aspects of it, like this writer, have the right of challenging the Government in court. They do not have the right of disrupting public order.

On the part of many parents, they want the provision of Section 38 (i) and (ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guarantees freedom of religion and its practice to Nigerians. Some parents, however, because of sheer religious intolerance and paranoia do not want Muslim pupils to have their Constitutional rights in public schools.

They therefore mounted stiff opposition and dubious resistance to the use of hijab, a religious requirement. The students are thus the pawns in the dangerous chess game being played to

advance the narrow interests of those who appear to be opposed to the Governor.

But come to think of it, in Governor Kayode Fayemi’s Ekiti State and many parts of the civilized world, the use of hijab in schools has never caused anyone any headache. It is however intriguing that in a school populated by 69% Muslims, 29% Christians and 2% others, a religious requirement of a small scarf for those who wish to use it was deliberately politicized and sensationalised. This tendency should not be allowed to endure.

Iwo community has always prided itself in its culture and peace. Growing up in the town was wonderful. Though largely a Muslim town, called “Iwo Ilu Alfa” or “Iwo the town of Islamic scholars”, it has been immune for years from the hydra-headed monster of religious intolerance and hypocrisy criss-crossing many areas of the nation due to the maturity and spirit of live-and-let live that abounds in the city.

I attended St. Anthony RCM

Ile Idisin Iwo, a Catholic school and sang Christian songs without anyone raising any eyebrow. I led mass as Senior Prefect at St. Mary’s Grammar School, Iwo, and there was no opposition whatsoever from my family, though my late father was a prominent Muslim leader and scholar.

That Catholic nuns were our teachers and their heads that were covered did not bother anyone. What mattered was education and education was the focus, not berets that the girls wore. For all we cared, we were attending public schools and everyone lived in peace and harmony. What type of Omoluabi are the trouble makers behind the ugly drama of early February? Zero Omoluabi they must be!

The political landscape of Nigeria has been hyped religiously because of the desperation of our narrow-minded leaders. To them, it is good game if religion is politicised and politics is negatively theologised. The lives of people do not count.

Our educational institutions and schools should be insulated from the divisive politicking premised on crooked calculations by our political gladiators in whatever guise they appear.

Let schools continue to perform their educational roles and let children have their Constitutionally- guaranteed rights that are given in civilized countries.

Let sanity return to the conduct of affairs and let religious leaders stop meddling in school activities and allow students to focus on their studies.

All hands must be on deck to restore sanity to Baptist High School Iwo and all other schools in Nigeria. Those who masterminded the shame of February 3 and 5, including teachers and parents, should be brought to book with a view to avoiding a recurrence of the ugly scenario that put the school in the limelight for the wrong reasons. At all cost, let peace reign!

Dr Adedimeji is the Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Ilorin.

BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, February 26, 2014

What's news BAT sacks The Quadrant The British American Tobacco (BAT) Company has severed relationships with The Quadrant Company, the company’s Public Relations agency, New Telegraph has learnt.

}p-32

Ex-presidents meet to resolve division in marketing Ten years after the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) was divided between two groups, there are indications that the age-long battle for the soul of the institute might be a thing of the past

}p-35

FG appoints Shippers' Council port regulator Eight years after the ports were concessioned, the Federal Government has finally appointed Nigerian Shippers' Council (NSC) as official commercial regulator of the Nigerian seaports and terminals.

}p-37

Senate angry over N5.1bn NPA head office project The senate committee on Maritime Transport is angry with the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over the N5.1 billion rehabilitation and expansion contract of its head office building in Marina, Lagos.

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BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) JONAH IBOMA, ICT Editor DAYO AYEYEMI, Property Editor

}p-33

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

REVENUE Federal Government targets more cash from Chad Basin exploration Adeola Yusuf

T

he federal government has concluded plans to raise its budget for oil search in the Chad basin, NorthEast Nigeria, to $258million (N41.28billion), following upsurge of insurgency by Boko Haram in the region, New Telegraph has gathered.

Boko Haram, is an extremist Islamic sect in the country that has created havoc across the north. Its violent attacks on government offices, the United Nations, and churches threaten to destabilise the country.

The initial budget was $175million (N28billion) but had to be increased by $83million (N13.28billion) to secure the Phase 6 of seismic acquisition programme with the enrollment of the services of over 2, 000 youths and local contractors.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who had earlier said that oil prospecting in the Chad Basin was yielding promising results, and may lead to commercial exploration of oil and gas this year, disclosed that the project had gulped about $75 million (about N11.9 billion) in 2012, while another $100 million (or N15.8 billion) was earmarked for it in 2013.

The Boko haram insurgency has however, caused major setback for the exploration - a situation, which led many foreign and local geologists staff of the Nigerian national Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to turn down posting and redeployment to the troubled area.

ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor

L-R: Divisional Head of General Services, Wema Bank Plc, Mr. Fola Ajanlekoko; Head of Commercials, Leadway Assurance Company , Mr. Tunji Amokode; senior special adviser to Lagos State Governor on Justice, Mr. Lanre Akinsola; Group Managing Director, Cryslad Group, Mr. Banjo Onanubi and General Manager, Cryslad Group, Mr.Kunle Olayemi; during the commissioning of trucks, warehouse, and launching of Kasstul Water in Lagos.

The Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) however, said that it would forge ahead with its plans to find oil at the basin despite the insurgency.

The agency, a subsidiary of NNPC confirmed in a statement that over 2,000 youths and local contractors have been actively engaged to provide various services including provision of boat and canoes in swampy terrains.

NAPIMS in a statement said it had continued with seismic acquisition activities in the Chad Basin frontier area despite the security challenges currently being experienced in the area.

“The acquisition project being handled by Integrated Data Services Limited, a subsidiary of NNPC, in partnership with BGP, a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation, is a part of a 12-phased 3D seismic data acquisition programme cov-

ering 3,550 square kilometres, of which Phase 5, covering 252 square kilometres, has just been concluded. Currently, Phase 6 of seismic acquisition programme covering 266sq. km has commenced,” Obateru said.

According to him, from “Phase 1 to date, a total of

1,437 sq.km of seismic data has been acquired. Of this, 1,096 sq.km of seismic data has been duly processed and is ready for interpretation.

Preliminary seismic data interpretation has produced some leads that will be further investigated to establish drillable prospects.”

Killer whales invade Nigerian waters INVASION Some whales have taken over Nigerian and other countries’ shipping lanes in West African waters, impeding ships’ movement Bayo Akomolafe

N

igerian and other countries’ shipping lanes are now dangerous for mer-

chant vessels and tankers to navigate as whales are gathering in the major shipping routes and offshore oil platforms.

Some of them are big and powerful enough to capsize vessels.

It was learnt that some of the animals have been mating and giving birth in the shipping routes.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard

CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor

INFLATION RATE

Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor

January 2014 ...........................8.00% December 2013.......................8.00% November 2013..........................7.90%

Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Boko Haram pushes Chad Basin exploration’s budget to N41.28bn

DELE ALAO, Brands/Marketing Editor

Chuks Onuanyin, Energy

NEW TELEGRAPH

Market operators' recapitalisation

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Feb. 21)

USD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N171.20 Pounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N284 Euro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N236

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Feb. 21)

USD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.75 Pounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N259.7 Euro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N213.5

32

business | BRANDS & MARKETING

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

BAT sacks The Quadrant FIRED After a-seven-year romance, the relationship between BAT and The Quadrant went sour Stories by Dele Alao

T

he British American Tobacco (BAT) Company has severed relationships with The Quadrant Company, the company’s Public Relations agency, New Telegraph has learnt.

The relationship lasted seven years. The Yomi Badejo-Okusanya-led CMC Connect had also worked on the BAT account.

In an exclusive chat on the development, the managing director, The Quadrant Company, Bolaji Okusaga, denied

that his agency was sacked from the account.

He said: “we are exiting the business after seven years. It is not sack. The client thinks we are not providing adequate coverage and we think we are not getting adequately paid. The disengagement is mutual.”

Also, Okusaga said that it was not a case of underperformance on the part of the PR firm.

“Under-performing? That will be a subjective position.

The industry is a very sensitive one and given that we have stayed this long on the account, you should know that we must be doing a lot right,” the Quadrant boss said.

He added: “Essentially, I think the client has the right to make a change so as to try

something new and I wish the client well in its endeavour.”

Also, spokesperson for BAT, Soromidayo George, said: “It is a natural process for us in BAT to continuously re-structure or redefine the way we work as the need dictates. Therefore, recently we took an in-house decision to re-structure our way of working with PR agencies.

This re-structuring exercise means that our contract with the current agency, Quadrant, will come expire at the end of March 2014. Quadrant in the last 7 years had been the sole service provider for BAT Nigeria’s PR services.”

“The relationship remains cordial. It is expected that though the contract will expire, if the need arises, the company may from time to

time call on Quadrant to work with us,” she added.

She said that whilst a pitch has recently been conducted, the form of the new structure will be announced in the near future as soon as all deliberations on it are concluded.

The Quadrant Company, affiliated to Fleishman Hillard, has had a turbulent period with some of its clients in recent times.

For instance, Guinness Nigeria Plc, managed by the agency, has had a regulatory issue with the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), over exposure of one its advertisement without vetting.

Also, the agency, the PR arm of Troyka Group, lost GE account to TPT International.

L-R: Incoming Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo; outgoing Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi; Chairman, Dr. Christopher Ezeh and past Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Nebolisa Ara, at the reception held in honour of Reginald in Lagos.

Revenue in automation software to hit $1.9bn by 2020 –Study

D

riven by the growing need to optimise returns on campaign investments, a new study indicates that global marketing automation software revenue is expected to reach $1.9 billion by 2020.

The latest analysis from Frost & Sullivan’s Global Marketing Automation Software Market research, also pegs the current market at $550.7 million in revenue.

It also touts that marketing automation tools are able to provide a full view on how the solutions are driving growth for firms globally.

The study also shows that

almost half of the 2013 market was dominated by three competitors: Marketo, Eloqua and Silverpop, with over 80 per cent of the activity concentrated in the U.S. Eloqua was purchased in 2012 by Oracle for $810 million, while the other two remain independent.

A digital media industry analyst for Frost & Sullivan, Hiral Jasani, said that the market growth is being driven primarily by marketers who want to know as much about their audience as possible, even before a campaign begins.

“Additionally, measuring the

ROI on marketing campaigns across multiple channels is an essential function of today’s marketers as customer interactions span several devices and media,” she said, adding: “Smarter companies that want to take charge of their lead generation and lead-nurturing efforts across all relevant channels are increasingly using marketing-automation software for a strong competitive edge in the market.”

Ms. Jasani noted that the availability of free solutions such as email marketing tools and Google Analytics has limited the adoption of marketing-

automation software, and that many traditional marketers have been overwhelmed by the steep learning curve of the technology as well as the amount of data generated on digital channels, including social media and mobile networks.

“Establishing a repository of successful case studies with vertical specific use cases will help vendors accelerate the deployment of MAS globally,” Jasani said.

“There is a huge demand for extremely powerful, yet easy-touse marketing automation tools with advanced analytics capabilities,” he added.

Killer whales invade Nigerian waters CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

A joint study by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the American Museum of Natural History and several leading universities, revealed that the waters of Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, Angola and other African countries are hosting the animals.

The researchers found that the whales spend 76 per cent of their time within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of the affected countries.

Miffed by the development, Captain Adewale Ishola, a Master mariner and former President, Nigerian Master Mariners Association urged ship owners and charterers coming to the country’s ports to exercise caution along the shipping lanes.

He said the animals could cause havoc to ship sailing to the ports, stressing that a full grown whale is bigger than 10 elephants put together.

To him, such an animal could capsize smaller vessels and feast on the crew.

Ishola stressed: “The animals are dangerous. If they capsize vessels, the importers and ship owners would incur losses and the lives of the crew would be in danger.

Once they smell blood, they would attack and feast on the crew.

“Whales traveling north from Gabon spent an estimated 41 per cent of their time in the presence of oil and gas platforms”.

Researchers claimed that they used satellites and tracking devices to detect the location data with the locations of major shipping lanes and oil exploration projects.

The study stressed that the researchers were able to quantify the overlap of the whales’ position with the location of human activity potentially hazardous to the whales.

“Throughout numerous coastal and offshore areas, important whale habitats and migration routes are increasingly overlapping with industrial development, a scenario we have quantified for the first time in the eastern South Atlantic,” said Howard Rosenbaum, director of WCS’s Ocean Giants Programme.

BUSINESS MONEY

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

33

Alade, amazon of monetary stability steers CBN ship Abdulwahab Isa

S

he merely responded to a duty call, a call by her boss to accompany him to attend the West African Central Bank Governors meeting in Niamey, capital of Niger Republic. She went as a lieutenant to her boss, Malam Sanusi Lamido. While on duty, a quick succession of events changed the curve of duty.

Fate suddenly bestowed the leadership of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on her.

All eyes are now on the Kwara stateborn Economist, Dr. (Mrs.) Sarah Alade, roundly described by both operators and key stakeholders in the nation’s financial system as very competent to hold forth the CBN leadership in the wake of Sanusi’s suspension last week by the Federal Government.

She is seen by many as a dependable team player that has helped the apex bank achieve macro-economic stability.

Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismark Rewane, said she is more than capable to run the apex bank.

“She definitely knows what she is doing and has a very stable personality. In fact, Nigerians can go to sleep everyday and nothing will happen. So, she won’t do anything dramatic. Don’t forget that she understands Economics and had worked very closely with Sanusi on monetary policy, so, the country is in safe hands,” he said.

Alade will be approaching the challenging assignment with a huge experience spanning over 37 years – a skill she had deployed in full to contribute to the shaping of the monetary policy of the CBN. Her deep experience on monetary policy issues was attested to by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala. The minister, who spoke shortly after government pronounced her as Sanusi’s replacement, allayed fears by stakeholders in the national economy of possible negative backlash in the economy. The minister said the monetary tightening policy initiated by Sanusi would be sustained by Alade, who has been a strong member of the policy implementation committee of the CBN. Her words: “We have the confidence that the acting governor will help bring stability to the market. My concern today is that we have an acting governor in place and she has the capacity, the ability and the confidence to run CBN. She has been the longest serving DeputyGovernor, Economic Policy, she has the experience and if she has been part and parcel of the drafting of policies that touch stability, we know that these policies will continue.”

In her maiden press briefing last Fri-

Alade

She definitely knows what she is doing and has a very stable personality.

In fact, Nigerians can go to sleep everyday and nothing will happen day in Abuja, the acting CBN governor gave Nigerians a positive hope on the direction of the economy. In a very calm disposition laced with assurances that gave hope to the positive economic outlook, Alade assured that no stone would be left unturned to halt further sliding of the naira occasioned by the sudden suspension of Sanusi.

Indeed, the former Deputy Governor (Economic Policy) assured stakeholders of the stability of the naira and the economy, stressing that the management of the apex bank would do all that it takes to ensure price and financial system stability. She said appropriate monetary and fiscal policy tools would be used to ensure the Naira’s exchange stability and overall sustainable growth of the economy.

On the sudden fluctuation of the naira exchange rate against international currencies in the wake of Sanusi’s suspension, the Acting Governor said such reaction was not unexpected but that exchange rate stability would begin to return in the forex market given the strength of the economy and the capacity to respond appropriately on such

changes at all times.

Alade clarified further that with the principal goal of ensuring monetary and price stability, the CBN’s policy measures would continue to be consistent with sustainable non-inflationary growth through the adoption of appropriate mix of monetary policy measures and coordination with fiscal policy. She said the Nigerian economy remained strong and resilient as indicated by the 6.87 per cent growth rate.

“The Nigerian economy has remained strong, sound and resilient over time. Available data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that inflation rate was 8.00 per cent in January 2014, and indeed, it is important to draw attention to the fact that inflation has remained within single digit in the last 13 months. Similarly, the domestic economy remained robust with a growth rate of 6.87 per cent in 2013.

The exchange rate has also remained generally stable, she said.”

According to her, CBN is committed to sustaining these achievements through the use of appropriate monetary policy tools to ensure price and financial system stability. She was emphatic that the apex bank would continue to intervene in the interbank foreign exchange market to ensure stability of the exchange rate of the Naira and preserve the value of the domestic currency.

Alade promised that the bank’s policies and operations would continue to be firmly anchored on the realisation of its principal objectives as contained in its

enabling Act of 2007. She is reputed to have had immeasurable inputs in CBN monetary policies, which led to both price and inflationary stability that the country enjoys today.

Among her numerous engagements over the years include serving on the teams of major economic policy studies and being involved in the preparation of Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary and Credit Policy Proposals. She was actively involved in the drafting of the Medium Term Economic Programme (MTP) for Nigeria and the IMF staff Monitored Programme/Standby Arrangement.

Prior to her appointment as acting governor, she had served as Deputy Governor (Economic Policy), Central Bank of Nigeria from March 26, 2007.

She attended the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she obtained a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Economics in 1976. She also obtained an M.Comm degree at the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia in 1983 and a Ph.D Management Science (Operations Research), from the University of Ilorin in 1991. She commenced her working career in 1977 with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Ilorin, Kwara State.

In 1991, she joined the University of Ilorin as a lecturer in the Department of Accounting and Finance before joining Central Bank of Nigeria in 1993 as an Assistant Director in the Research Department where she served as Head, State Government Finance Office (19931996), Head, Federal Government Finance Office (1996-2000) and Head, Fiscal Analysis Division (2000-2004).

Dr. Alade was appointed Director, Banking Operations, in May 2004. In that capacity, she served as Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) as well as Secretary, National Payments System Committee (NPSC).

She was a member of the Technical Committee of the Vision 2010 and currently a member of the Technical Committee of Vision 2020 and also a member of the National Economic Management Team (EMT). As Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, she superintends over the Economic Policy Directorate, comprising Research, Monetary Policy, Trade and Exchange, Statistics Departments and Financial Markets Department.

As Chair of the Monetary Policy Implementation Committee (MPIC), she interfaces with operational departments and coordinates technical inputs for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

A member of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES), she has to her credit several publications and is currently carrying out research into Interest Rate Policy and Monetary Policy Implementation in Nigeria.

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BUSINESS | INVESTOR

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Market Operators' Recapitalisation: Time to address grey areas CAUTION Operators predict mergers and acquisition would set in Chris Ugwu

T

he issue of raising working capital to a new minimum for operators of the Nigerian capital market has been of a great concern to the market regulators as well as other stakeholders.

While other sectors of the financial system have seen recapitalization, in recent times, the last recapitalisation exercise carried out by SEC was in 2004.

Attempts have been made since the last exercise at effecting recapitalization but they have met bricks wall. In 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, directed dealing firms to increase their capital base from N20million to N1billion.

It was believed by regulatory bodies that the firms would be able to meet the requirements to boost the market. But the issue generated controversy in the market; pitching market operators against the regulators.

They considered the stipulated amount as too outrageous.

Experts believed the directive was prelude to the first major capital market crash even before the spillover effect that the market had from Europe and America in 2008 as operators tried hard through different means to meet the capital requirement.

The fallout was a run on various account of shareholders in different stockbroking companies, because they did not know the companies that would survive the recapitalisation policy; shareholders even gave orders to their stockbrokers to sell at any price so as to recoup their investment before the dateline.

Also, many dealing firms involved themselves in double dealings. Shares of investors were sold without their consent. Some firms even diverted funds that belonged to their investors into activities that are outside financial instrument transactions. The N1billion recapitalisation was believed to have destroyed the market in the sense that it made firms

Sec DG, Aruma Oteh

to go into activities that were against the practices of good corporate governance.

SEC’s renewed efforts However, given the ongoing transformation in the capital market coupled with increased volume of transactions, the board of SEC, recently, in pursuant to section 313(6) of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, approved the new minimum capital requirements for all categories of capital market operators.

Following the amendments, the capital requirement for broker/dealer was increased from N70 million to N300million. For firms that were brokers only, the capital requirement was increased from N40 million to N200million; while for dealers, it was raised from N30million to N100million.

The minimum capital requirement for Issuing House was also increased from N150million to N200 million; while that of underwriters went up from N100 million to

N200 million.

For a registrar in the Nigerian capital market, the minimum capital requirement rose to N150 million from N50 million; while for those in trustees business, the capital requirement was raised to N300million, from N40million.

Furthermore, the minimum capital requirement for rating agency was increased from N20 million to N150 million; while the capital requirement for corporate investment adviser remained at N5 million.

From an initial capital requirement of N500,000, every individual investment adviser is expected to have at least N2 million as capital; while fund/ portfolio manager’s minimum capital requirement has been raised from N20 million to N150 million.

The development has led to public outcry as most stockbrokers faulted the move suggesting that the stock broking firms’ minimum capital should be determined by the level of business they want to do.

Recapitalisation is something that is a very critical issue in the market and should not be something that should be handled now that the market is still fragile

Likely fall-out Analysts foresee the new capital requirements heralding an era of mergers and acquisitions among existing firms to produce stronger institutions.

Managing Director, Crane Securities Limited, Mr. Mike Eze, told New Telegraph that the recapitalization will witness possible merger and acquisition which will lead to the reduction in the number of broking firms.

According to Eze, there will be apathy on the part of brokers which will translate into massive job cuts and subsequently swell the unemployment market in the country.

“The labour market is going to be further inflated with the number of people that will be retrenched in the broking firms,” he said.

Eze explained that the first crash that was experienced in the market came when SEC introduced the issue of recapitalization.

“It left a run on the market, shareholders and investors were dumping their shares for fear of companies’ not being able to survive. The market went down because there were excess supplies without ready demands and the market experienced a lull. So, that is possibly going to occur again,” he said.

He noted that recapitalisation is something that is a very critical issue in the market and should not be something that should be handled now that the market is still fragile.

A senior broker who craved anonymity said the new capital requirement was a clear departure from earlier agreement reached between SEC and operators two years ago.

The broker noted that the commission and market operators agreed that the recapitalisation should be risk-based with less emphasis on money.

“We agreed that the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) should provide specifications on office standards, human capital and the technology to be deployed by the operators. The new capital requirements do not reflect the reality of the market and can overheat the system. Overcapitalisation is very dangerous for the market because too much funds will be chasing few stocks and this can lead to what hap-

pened in 2008,’’ he said.

He noted that about 40 per cent of operators will close shops because of inability to meet the new requirements, adding similarly like Eze that the multiplier effects will be increase in unemployment in the country.

He said the new capital requirement would be detrimental to retail investors because brokers would make better money trading for themselves instead of buying and selling on behalf of investors.

Operators’ perspectives The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) and Association of Stock broking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) who faulted the newly increased capital base said it was ill-timed and uncalled for especially at the moment when the market is experiencing recovery from the global meltdown.

The two groups said that they are engaging the SEC to address the grey portion of the new capital structure, even as they recommend a risk based regulatory framework.

President of CIS, Alhaji Ariyo Olushekun said “The new structure is faulty with apparent deficiencies as regards to investor protection and risk management”.

He said, “We intend to approach this issue in a way to show we are not at logger head with SEC. SEC, ASHON, CIS and other trade groups in the market have worked together in the last five years to resolve issues in the market and the result of our joint efforts is the level of recovery that we are seeing now in the market.

“In 2012 market gained 34.4 per cent, last year it gained 47 per cent. Because we have been working together the market has been the better. That relationship we have had with SEC and other stakeholders is valued a lot.”

Also, reacting to the new capital requirements, the Chairman of ASHON, Emeka Madubuike, described it as a rude shock and a setback to gains recorded so far in the industry.

He said that the new capital requirement, if implemented by SEC, would distort the overall policy geared towards earning confidence of both the operators and investors.

BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

35

Unmasking FBN Holdings’ new corporate identity Nigeria’s largest financial services group, FBN Holdings Plc, recently revealed a new corporate identity. In this report, DELE ALAO takes a look at the underpinning messages of the new identity.

T

he initiative, the company said, was to reflect its strategic direction and position to meet the future needs of the market.

This refreshed identity cuts out across the Group’s operations, including First Bank of Nigeria Limited. Founded in 1894 as The Bank for British West Africa, FBN Group’s First Bank was the very first banking institution to be established in Nigeria.

Giving details of the new identity, the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney said: “the refreshed identity embodies our internal values and the direction we are headed in as a group, like the iconic elephant, which signifies strength and resilience, two of the greatest traits to have as an individual, as an institution and as a nation. Since launching in 1894, the FBN brand has established itself as a brand of strength and dynamism, with the vision to be the leading international fi-

nancial services group in subSaharan Africa. Our brand is at the heart of the holistic experience we seek to deliver to our stakeholders, an essential part of retaining patronage and the competitive edge that keeps us at the coveted position of market leader. Refreshing the FBN Group brand is a major milestone in a wider strategic plan to ensure that the group is more efficient and effective in delivering on the needs of its customers. Our approach places the highest priority on the needs of our customers.

“Far more than a logo, the new corporate identity has been designed to ensure that the FBN Group continues to be at the forefront of the African financial services industry. The Group is on a definitive mission to build a strong global presence in order to reinforce that leadership position whilst constantly striving to find better ways to service customers and drive growth.

“The iconic African elephant

has been a robust symbol of strength and growth for First Bank, FBN Holdings and all its subsidiaries, establishing the organisation as a clear leader in the financial services industry.

The elephant is the respected and instantly recognisable icon of our brand identity and as such, we have retained the elephant. We have, however, reignited this iconic symbol with many enhancements that communicate a robust evolution relevant to today,” she added.

On the bank’s iconic elephant, Ani-Mumuney said: “The raised head of the elephant in our refreshed identity is our promise to all customers that with us in their corner, every financial challenge they face, they can face with their heads held high. The deep blue colour represents momentum, innovation and evolution.

These principles ensure that we continue to develop solutions that are at the heart of all their challenges. The raised foot of the elephant is a promise that

Bisi Onasanya, Group Managing Director/CEO, FBN Plc

we will always put our best foot forward for each and every one of our customers. “Finally, the adoption of complimentary colours - platinum and gold - into our logo, precious metals identified with value, serves as a reminder of the inherent value and durability of our brand.

Our brand-refresh marks a renewed promise to all our stakeholders - a promise to continue to set the gold standard of value and excellence in financial solutions across sub-Saharan Africa,” she said.

Earlier in his speech at the unveiling ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer, FBN Holdings, Bello Maccido, said that the refreshed FBN Group’s identity is an important milestone and the culmination of much hard work.

He said: “We are committed to building a financial institution that consistently supports growth, celebrates and showcase the unique characteristics of the diverse nations on our continent. We believe that our continued success will be built on the principle that we will add value nationally, regionally and at the continental level. Our customers have always come first and each and every change that we implement as a group is designed to ensure that it continues.”

The First Bank of Nigeria brand was ranked as Nigeria’s number one banking brand in the 2014 The Top 500 Banking Brands Ranking of the world released by The Banker Magazine, Financial Times Group and Brand Finance in the United Kingdom.

Ex-presidents meet to resolve division in marketing NEW HORIZON It appears an end to the age-long factionalisation of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) may soon be achieved as concerned stakeholders meet.

T

en years after the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) was divided between two groups, there are indications that the agelong battle for the soul of the institute might be a thing of the past.

In 2003, an Act that was intended to unify the former Nigerian Institute of Marketing

(NIMARK) and the Chartered Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (CIMN), suddenly became an albatross.

Since then, two groups have laid claim to the authenticity of the NIMN. A group is led by Ganiyu Koledoye while another is led by Rotimi Adeyeye.

Though, there have been series of efforts to bring unity to the institute, none has yielded any positive result.

However, checks by New Telegraph showed that a body called: League of past presidents have been inaugurated to find a lasting solution to the crisis.

The League of past presidents, it was further gathered, had met in Ibadan and Abeokuta.

Koledoye

“I can assure you that efforts to bring the institute under one umbrella have reached 95 per cent completion,” a source told New Telegraph.

Another source said: “They are finding ways to resolve the imbroglio. The in-thing now is that they want to resolve the crisis.”

Part of the new arrangement to bring an end to the disunity, New Telegraph gathered, was that the planned united NIMN would retain Koledoye as president while the group will produce the registrar.

In a chat with New Telegraph on the latest development, Koledoye said that there no plan to cede the position of the registrar to other group. He, however, confirmed that the League of past Presidents, which comprises Mr. Taiwo Fagbemi, Dan Ayozie, Gbenga Gbede, Yemisi Shyllion among others, had actually met with the aim of bringing an end to the imbroglio.

“We can’t continue like this.

I want something good for the Institute,” Koledoye said.

36 BUSINESS BRANDS & MARKETING

INTERGRITY

The company, which prides itself as a brand leader fine-tunes strategy to further consolidate its stay at the top.

G

uinness Nigeria Plc, a Diageo company, has launched the 4th edition of its annual business Integrity and Ethics awareness and training initiative code-named Pathway of Pride in grand style. The event will last several weeks.

The theme for this year is ‘Building on our reputation… acting with integrity every day and everywhere.’

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Seni Adetu said: “For us at Guinness Nigeria, People, Performance and Reputation form a sacrosanct tripod that ensures that we continue to win in Nigeria. If any one of those legs is removed then we have a problem. Reputation is a very important part of that equation and if we are not winning in that area we cannot expect to win as an organisation. Business integrity is not optional but part of the very fabric of our everyday organisation. There is no alternative to doing the right thing.”

The event was very well attended mainly by employees of the company as well as some other key stakeholders. De-

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Guinness Nigeria promotes business integrity, ethics livering the keynote address with emphasis on leaving a lasting legacy, special guest Ms Yvonne Ike, Managing Director, Renaissance Group West Africa and Non-Executive Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc., said: “The example that we set with our children is very important. It is not up to anyone else but up to us to do what we can, to make the right choices and ensure that in our space, we take the right path always.”

In her address, Ms Olajobi Makinwa, Head, Transparency and Anti-Corruption, UN Global Compact, commented on the importance of doing the right thing especially in line with legal repercussions.

“Many times people commit crimes in Nigeria and don’t understand the impact of their actions according to the laws of other countries. Certain laws in the UK and the US means that if you do the wrong thing in Nigeria and travel abroad for a holiday you may not come back because you could be arrested according to the laws of the land,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Mr Ike Ilegbune of Convention on Business Integrity (CBI).Mr.

Ilegbune, noted that integrity is not just a virtue that should be held as individuals but it is important that it translates into business operations as well. “Integrity is more than a virtue that we hold because of our religious or moral affiliations; it is actually a critical part of sustained business

prosperity. It is in the everyday decisions that we make, it is in recruiting the right people, in conducting due diligence with our suppliers and vendors, it is in making sure that every decision we take is the right one when it comes to our business operations. That is what sets one apart as a business with

integrity.”

The Pathway of Pride event is part of global Diageo Compliance and Ethics program that ensures that employees and its 3rd party stakeholders conduct the affairs of the organisation with integrity and in line with their Code of BusinessConduct.

L-R: Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willshere, Special Adviser on Education to Lagos State Government, Otunba Fatai Olukoya and Etisalat Ambassador, Sasha P, at the Launch of Etisalat Gold Series Experience Centre in Lagos.

Nutricima woos consumers in Kano

A

fter successfully unveiling its mega cash consumer reward promo in three Nigerian cities, leading dairy drinks maker, Nutricima Limited, has taken the campaign to the ancient commercial city of Kano in a bid to ensure panNigeria participation.

The event which held in the Banquet Hall of Royal Tropicana Hotel was designed to formally introduce the ongoing pan-Nigeria Nutricima Consumer-Reward Mega Cash Promo featuring Nunu Powdered Milk, Coast and Olympic Evaporated milk to the Northern market covering Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Maiduguri and other neighbouring states.

Speaking about the promo while addressing its chain partners who had thronged the venue in their tens, Nutricima’s Head of Marketing, Wande Oluwasegunfunmi, said the promo is designed to reward the loyalty of consumers in such an enriching fash-

ion that transcends physical and mental health to economic empowerment.

“Nigerians have just come off the celebration of Christmas and New Year, and customarily, we spend a lot and typically, we say the pocket is dry, but this does not stop the kids from having to return to school. So, we recognise this period as a time that Nigerians need cash.

That’s why we have put in place this promo,” she said.

Mrs. Oluwasegunfunmi added that the promo is one of the strategic consumercentric activities by the company geared towards giving consumers of Nutricima products richer life experiences in addition to the full-length nutrition offered in its bouquet of products.

Speaking at the launch of the promo in Kano, Nutricima products leading distributor, Alhaji Inuwa Ibrahim Dasuki commended the company to the initiative which, accord-

ing to him, is a demonstration of commitment to the general well-being of Nigerians.

“This is one of the rare occasions we would find manufacturers come down to us. This is obviously a demonstration

of commitment and interest in ensuring that Kano consumers of the products are not left out of the vision to give economic empowerment to Nigerians.”

The Nutricima Consumer Mega Cash promo is a 13-week

multi-million naira loyalty reward scheme that is designed to produce 15 millionaires and several winners of different cash prizes running into millions of naira. It runs between January and April 2014.

Nokia unveils 6-inch Smartphones in Nigeria

N

okia has introduced its first 6-inch Lumia smartphones into the Nigerian market; the Lumia 1520, Nokia’s top of the range Windows Phone and the affordable Lumia 1320.

Senior Manager, Product Marketing, Nokia West and Central Africa, Mr. Olumide Balogun, noted that the introduction of the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320 would revolutionize the Smart phone market and boost Nokia’s competitive edge in the “phablet” category.

He said both devices are designed with the latest “Lumia Black” software which is an update of the windows 8 oper-

ating system.

“Both devices come preinstalled with business and productivity applications and a unique new photography application called the Storyteller app which allows people tell stories of places they’ve visited using pictures. The Storyteller App seamlessly merges two Lumia signature experiences, PureView Imaging and HERE maps, to allow users relive their photos in a new, dynamic and interactive way,” he added.

To compliment the launch of both devices, Nokia has kicked-off the Storyteller

Competition which would allow people share inspirational stories of friendship and get the opportunity to win an allexpense paid trip to London.

With a 6-inch 1080p Full HD screen, the Lumia 1520 has an enhanced start screen featuring an additional 3rd column of live tiles, allowing people to get to their favourite apps faster with less scrolling. It also features a 20MP PureView camera with optical image stabilization, oversampling technology and zooming capabilities which can easily capture and edit high quality pictures and tell better stories.

BUSINESS | MARITIME 37

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

FG appoints Shippers’ Council port regulator NEW ERA A new era that will bring competition and fair play in the Nigerian port industry has began.

Bayo Akomolafe

E

ight years after the ports were concessioned, the Federal Government has finally appointed the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) as official commercial regulator of the Nigerian seaports and terminals.

In the new role, the council will regulate the commercial activities of all operators in the ports industry, including terminal operators, shipping companies, importers, exporters, customs clearing agents and truck operators, among others.

The appointment was sealed following intense lobby by the Board and top management staff of the council backed by support from the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar.

It was learnt that the approval of the NSC to assume the role of economic regulator at the seaport was conveyed to the Federal Ministry of Transport by President Goodluck Jonathan’s on Thursday through a letter signed by Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo.

The council was established in 1978 by decree 13 NSC Act Cap. N133 LFN 2004 by the Federal Government. In addition to the Act setting up the council, five regulations have been made between 1986 and 2007 to support its activities.

A source at the council also said the Federal Government had approved an increase in

the council’s funding from the present one per cent it gets from the seven per cent port development levy, to three per cent in line with its new functions.

However, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC, Barrister Hassan Bello, who confirmed his council’s new role, explained that the appointment was an interim measure pending the passage of the National Transport Commission (NTC) bill.

It was learnt that the top management staff of NSC made up of directors, deputy directors and other key operational staff were summoned to the Transport Ministry in Abuja for briefing on the coun-

cil’s new role. Representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority and other relevant government agencies also attended the briefing.

It is however, not clear if the Shippers’ Council, which was set up originally to protect the interest of importers and exporters, will retain the original role conferred on it by law.

Since NSC was set up to fight the cause of importers and exporters, many operators believe that it is an interested party and may not be unbiased in its approach. The Council also owns and concessioned the development of six Inland Container Container Depots (ICDs) in various parts of the

country.

The Chairman of the Port Consultative Council, Otunba Kunle Folarin, said the Nigeria Shippers’ Council had a mandate by law to play the role of a regulator.

According to him, the council ensures that there is competitiveness in the system.

He said: “It is the only government institution that performs a similar function as it is in the draft bill of National Transport Commission. The bill includes licensing the strength of the sector and making sure we have enough ethics and obedience. So, I believe that the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) should be able to provide the manpower

A roro vessel moored at Tincan Port in Lagos

Govt to enforce vehicle emission standards EMISSION Importers of rickety vehicles may face hard time over emission standard

U

sed vehicles, which could no longer satisfy the emission standards would no longer be allowed to pass through the seaports to the country, the Federal Government has said.

The National Environmental Standard and Regulations

and expertise and be able to live up to the expectation of government.

He said: “One of the most relevant of its roles is to protect the shipper and the Nigerian economy because they are the custodian of freight regulation. So, with the mandate to protect the shipper, the mandate to protect the Nigerian freight administration and also the mandate, by extension, to ensure that Nigeria’s maritime domain is competitive. And given the antecedents of these mandates, particularly that it is backed by law, I believe that Nigeria Shippers’ Council is in the position to serve as commercial regulator.”

Enforcement Agency (NESREA) said this in a statement.

The agency said it would soon launch a National Vehicular Control Programme to reduce carbon dioxide emission from vehicle on Nigerian roads.

It will be flagged off by the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in all the states of the federation and Abuja under the Public, Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The programme is to guarantee that all vehicles coming into the country through the ports installed emission reduc-

tion technology.

Also, the move is to enhance the quality of vehicles that ply Nigerian roads, promote air quality and the quality of life of Nigerians.

The agency said all vehicles plying the Nigerian roads must meet the emission standard contained in the regulations.

It noted that since 2008, about N400 billion has been spent yearly to import about 70,000 new vehicles and 200,000 used vehicles into the country.

In June last year, five terminals at Lagos seaports took

delivery of 6,698 used vehicles, some of which were were Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ford and Chevrolet brands.

Statistics by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) reveal that from about to 7,000 vehicles that were imported between January and February, only 10 per cent was new vehicles.

Of the 6,278 vehicles imported through the Lagos seaports in May, 3,300 units were discharged at the Port and Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML).

CargoES expected at Lagos POrts this week Terminal APMT APMT

Cargo

540 containers

150 containers

APMT

250 containers

PTML

300 units of

PTML

300 units of

vehicles vehicles Port& Cargo 600 containers TICT ENL/ABTL

445 containers 1,000 metric tons of salt

GDNL

33,000 metric tons of wheat

38

BUSINESS | MARITIME

MORIBUND The rehabilitation of Nigeria Ports Authority’s head office has become another white elephant project Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Senate Committee on Marine Transport is angry with the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over the N5.1billion rehabilitation and expansion contract of its head office building in Marina, Lagos.

The Chairman of the committee, Hajia Zaynab Kure, during an oversight function to NPA headquarters, scored low, the contractor handling the project.

She said: “We are expecting a new NPA headquarters. But scaffolds are here and there, covering almost all the building. That was why we refused to wear the helmets when we

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Senate angry over N5.1bn NPA head office project arrived. There is absolutely nothing to inspect at the headquarters.

“We are totally disappointed with the progress of the work at the NPA headquarters. This is the flagship of the NPA. This is where everybody will refer to as the NPA house, yet the project has been lingering for how many years.

“If I have the right, I will revoke this contract and let it be re-awarded to a contractor that will build it in good time, so that people coming from outside will come and see a befitting headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

Kure said the committee expected the headquarters to have been commissioned before

their visit.

Also, a member of the committee, Senator Ben Ayade wondered why all the contracts of the NPA are awarded to foreigners.

“Most of these contracts are being done by foreign contractors. Where is the local content drive? It’s not there. If they think we cannot revoke this contract, let them dare us,” he said.

Three years after, investigation revealed that only 50 per cent of the jobs had been completed.

The N5, 001,785,839.05 contract was awarded to Messrs Sageto Nigeria Limited on the 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 was another conduit pipe for successive NPA management to siphon money.

He noted that the project plan was altered; explaining that a mosque had been planted inside the corporate head office by the current managing director.

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 is 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 upon questions anytime they are on oversight visit. It is gradually becoming an embarrassment to them anytime they are around.’’

Nigeria, others to float maritime surveillance centre ILLEGAL South American cartels are using Nigerian and other neighbouring ports as transit routes for the illegal business.

Nigeria and three other countries have agreed to set up a pilot center to monitor and coordinate maritime surveillance in the Gulf of Guinea.

The move is to address drug trafficking by the South American cartels, who are using Nigerian and other neighbouring ports as transit routes for the illegal business.

Other countries, which have resolved to join hands with Nigeria are Benin, Togo and Niger.

Already, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international groups have expressed concern about the challenges the drug problem poses to their countries.

At a three-day meeting held by defence chiefs in the region in Guinea Bissau on to discuss bolstering security in the region in general, and in Guinea Bissau, it was resolved that the region should rise up and combat transnational maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to the ECOWAS’ External Relations Director, Mr Abdel-Fatau Musah, the

Container stacked at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa

defence chiefs also discussed security cooperation between ECOWAS and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

He added: “One of the central themes of the meeting is what the region is doing to stem piracy and other seaborne transnational organised crime.”

Musah added that drug trafficking was a major security threat in the region, noting that Guinea Bissau was the weak link in the efforts to control drug trafficking from Latin America in transit to Europe and the United States.

Trawler owners caution FG on fish import ban

N

igeria Trawler Owners Association (NITOA) has said the demand for fish would increase from 740,000 metric tons to 2.1 million metric tons by 2015.

The association added that there would be 1.4million metric tons shortfall if the Federal Government bans importation of fish.

It noted that any further reduction in fish supply would cause the price of fish to increase and directly affect those who depend on imported fish.

The association urged the Federal Government to resist calls by catfish farmers to reduce fish import via quotas, or to protect catfish farmers by increasing duties on fish.

NITOA Information Officer, Mr Manny Philipson, said: “The argument of exporting jobs abroad for what we can produce locally does not arise.

Domestically, we cannot match the affordability, quantity, Omega 3 healthy oils, or taste that imported pelagic fish provides.

“Rather than resorting to

protectionism; we should encourage free trade, that is, support our local fishing industry to export more Nigerian prawns and use those export earnings to import cheaper, more abundant pelagic fish species.

“Banning the import of frozen fish would not enable Nigeria save N97 billion in foreign exchange as the quantum of fishmeal and soybean import required to produce 700,000 metric tons of catfish would cost us even more, between N103 billion to N143 billion.”

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Nigeria at crossroads over rice ban, exports S tatistics from Federal Ministry of Agriculture have revealed that about 100 million 50kilogrammes of bagged rice worth N1trillion are consumed in Nigeria yearly.

Thailand’s biggest exporter of parboiled rice to Nigeria, shipped about 1.5 million tons annually to the country, In 2012, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said over 500 ships discharged some metric tons of rice. Annual consumption of rice by the country is put at 6 million metric tons.

But in 2013, when the 110per cent tariff policy was introduced by the Federal Government to discourage the importation and increase domestic rice production, only one ship laden with rice berthed in the country seaports. Over 500 vessels diverted the commodity to neighbouring ports in Benin Republic.

Some of the vessels are MV Desert Symphony with 9,311 metric tons, MV Tao Mariner,(14,000 metric tons); MV Aristea M, (8,000 metric tons); MV Vinalines Fortuna, (10,000 metric tons) and MV Parinda Naree, (16,000 metric tons).

Others are MV Maa Samuda, (35,000 metric tons); MV Pacific Crown, (19,500 metric tons); MV As Varesia, ( 19,500 metric tons) and MV Asia R, (20,000 metric tons) and MV Alaeka , (15,000 metric tons.

One year after the tariff policy, the Federal Government lost over N110 billion, being the amount that was supposed to have accrued into the Federation Account as duty collected by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

Statistics revealed that in 2011,the Lagos Port Complex, recorded N131.4 billion as revenue from rice. The port gener-

Illegal rice import from the neighbouring countries may cripple the Federal Government’s plans to export rice by 2017. Studies revealed that the Thailand rice merchants have reduced tariff on rice for Benin and other neighbouring countries from where the food item could be smuggled into Nigeria. BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

Customs Comptroller General, Abdullahi Dikko

ated N125.3 in 2012.

The concessionaires of the terminal C and D at Lagos Port Complex, ENL Consortium, was not happy over the issue.

Its Executive Vice Chairman, Princess Vicky Haastrup, said some ships that were coming to her terminals had been diverted to neighbouring ports.

Haastrup said rice were being smuggled to Nigeria from Cameroon and Benin daily.

She explained that the two countries were exploiting the policy of the Federal Government to rubbish its objective.

According to her, "some of the ships that suppose to come to Nigeria are being diverted to Cotonou Port because no importer can afford to pay 110 per cent levies on rice.

Princess Vicky Haastrup, Executive vice chairman, ENL Consortium

“Some ships have been on Nigerian waters since November last year but they could not come to the ports because of the levies.

“The implication is that the Federal Government is losing billions of Naira as revenue to both Cameroon and Benin.

Haastrup said government should have reconsidered the levies and find means of boosting local production that can meet the demand of the country before the levies are imposed.

He said: "We have not received any ship laden with rice in our terminal since last year.

This year, 12 ships have been declared for the terminal but none is willing to come to the port because of the levies . They will eventually go to Benin to

discharge and the commodity will find it way to the country.”

Also the Area Controller of Apapa area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Charles Edike, said NCS was losing huge revenue as a result of the hike in rice import duty.

He noted that the command’s revenue on rice has plunged to zero income on imported rice since July last year.

Edike said the hike in import duty of rice to 110 per cent by the Federal Government had impacted negatively on the Apapa Command revenue, noting that the command collected a paltry N11 million by the end of November 2013 as import duty on rice compared to N131.38 billion collected in 2011 and N125.35 billion in 2012.

At least, 1.6 million metric tons of rice is being smuggled from the neighbouring countries yearly despite the antiimport measures such as high duties, levies and proposed import ban.

Two countries, Cameroon and Benin Republic have taken the advantage of the country’s policy.

While Cameroon reduced its own to zero per cent, Benin lowered its levies from 35 percent to 7 per cent to attract rice importers.

Just last week, 800 bags of rice concealed with pineapples were intercepted by the customs officials along the Seme Badagry road.

Miffed by the development, ENL Consortium, concessionaire of the Terminal C and D at Lagos Port Complex, Apapa said the Federal Government has succeeded in helping other countries to raise their revenue profiles at the detriment of Nigeria.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the company, Mrs Vicky Haastrup explained that rice is being smuggled into Nigeria from Cameroon and Benin daily.

She noted that the two countries are exploiting the policy of the Federal Government to rubbish its aim.

Haastrup said: “Some of the ships that suppose to come to Nigeria are being diverted to Cotonou Port because no importer can afford to pay 110 per cent levies on rice.

World Customs tells Nigeria to create data base PLEDGE The World Customs Organisation has pledged to assist the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment on trade facilitation.

Bayo Akomolafe

T

he World Customs Organisation (WCO), has urged the Nigeria Customs

Service (NCS) to make use of information technology to create a data base where portal profile of all its clients could be assessed for effective service delivery.

The organisation rated the Nigerian Customs Training School in Lagos as one of the best in the world.

Its Secretary-General, Mr Kunio Mikuriya made spoke during a visit to the training school at Ikeja, Lagos.

He noted that such data

base can help the customs to develop more on risk management.

He noted: “I see that the new plan for capacity building and human development for the ‘Ruling Centre’ is in place and I am happy that the human resource development plan is also in place.

Also, Mikuriya explained that the meeting he had with stakeholders was very positive, adding that he discovered that there was communication

between them and the service.

Mikuriya praised the service for its trade facilitation and commitment to economic development of the country.

In related development, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and NCS have resolved to collaborate and implement some Federal Government’s industrial policies.

Its Minister, Dr Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this in Abuja when the WCO secre-

tary general and ComptrollerGeneral of Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, paid him a visit.

He said Customs had a critical role to play in trade facilitation and industrial activities in the country.

Aganga added that the ministry depended on the Customs for the implementation of all industrial policies of the government through its management of the nation’s borders.

40 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

How opposition parties fared under Jonathan C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

government indeed had.

Before the current altercation on the 2014 budget, the APC had used its numerical advantage in the House of Representatives since the beginning of this administration. The APC bloc in the House had often complained about low budget performance being executed by PDP-led government. But what appeared like an apogee of its checkmate moves was a declaration by the party on January 16, 2014 that all legislative proposals should be blocked by its lawmakers. In an attempt to wriggle out of the uproar that trailed the directive, the party through its spokesperson Lai Mohammed said “filibuster is a veritable tool of negotiation in a democracy”. This did not come without receiving a bashing from fellow opposition members.

From the 50 questions on the state of the economy for Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, there are new grounds in opposition kicks under Jonathan. The crisis in Rivers State, the factionalisation of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), N255 million bullet proof BMW cars purchased by sacked Aviation Minister Stella Oduah; these were a few instances where APC held PDP government most accountable. The result of the November 2013 governorship election in Anambra and a similar one of October 2012 in Ondo State were openly condemned by APC as its candidates lost out in both.

But much as Nigerians see these as commendable efforts of any serious opposition party, majority wonder about likely lack of internal democracy in APC. For instance, two of its key founders – Ibrahim Shekarau and Attahiru Bafarawa – just defected in the last one week, citing same excuse above.

Another concern is how one of its national leaders, Ahmed Bola Tinubu had singlehandedly picked people into elective offices in the South-West. The ACN under Tinubu for the first time in history of opposition politics in Nigeria during 2011 presidential election smartly dumped Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu, a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was presidential candidate of ACN in 2011. But in a dramatic turn, PDP won in all the six ACN states except Osun. It was believed that much water may have passed under the bridge, especially between PDP and Tinubu, throwing up a question of integrity in the comity of current drivers of the new APC. APGA In APGA, the party was believed to have been tailored in line with interests of Igbos of South-East Nigeria. It is also seen as a party built around certain individuals like late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, then as a National Leader and now outgoing Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State. Since coming into power in Anambra on March 17, 2006, APGA has not deviated from known norms of a regional party. After the death of Ojukwu

Jonathan

Nwanyanwu

in November 2011, Obi took over the mantle of leadership and used it to his advantage. The party was also able to win Imo State in 2011 general elections before Rochas Okorocha dumped it for APC in 2013.

APGA, just as PDP is known for recurring internal crisis. More than playing critical roles in nation building, the party had been enmeshed in leadership crisis right from inception. Maxi Okwu, Chekwas Okorie and Victor Umeh were at various times laying claims to its chairmanship. The most recent of which led to the court sacking Umeh as national chairman.

APGA has been playing role of an appendage to PDP at the national level.

In the build up to the 2011 election for instance, APGA announced that it would not field a presidential candidate. It later worked round the clock to install Jonathan as president. Again, a similar announcement was recently made

by Umeh ahead of next year’s general elections. According to him, “APGA is preparing very well for the 2015 general elections. The party shall be part of the election and from all indications, nobody has shown interest to contest for the presidential election on the platform of the party and that shows that APGA will likely support President Goodluck Jonathan as President in 2015.”

Umeh who has filed an appeal over his sack along with some APGA leaders have been allegedly named as major contractors in Jonathan government.

Tinubu

Umeh

Unconfirmed reports have it that a major federal road contract in Eastern part of the country is linked to Umeh and his cronies. The implication of this is that APGA may continue to do the bidding of PDP or any other party at the centre.

Just like other parties, APGA members in the National Assembly have worked against APC instead of PDP. In the ensuing debacle over 2014 budget, it was learnt that at a recent meeting with Peter Obi, all Anambra lawmakers agreed to commence work on the budget and scale it through for the ruling PDP. But their counterparts from Imo State toe a different line. This is also in a bid to please their state governor who is already in APC, thereby dividing the strength of APGA in South-East. It is verifiable how APGA has backed virtually all Federal Government’s policies and in most cases criticising fellow opposition parties for taking on Mr. President. This became most highlighted during the crisis in the NGF. Obi, an APGA governor, eventually turned himself into Jonathan’s spokesperson during the NGF crisis.

The governor’s influence on the party was again confirmed last month when he was anointed as the chairman BOT of the party and its national leader.

LP By nature and name, Labour Party (LP) should be the avenger of the Nigerian masses. But the party formed in 2002 to fill vacuum open in social democracy is believed to have existed below public

expectations. The LP currently controls one state, Ondo. It has been in control of the state in the last six years. Olusegun Mimiko the state governor and National Leader is believed to still have strong roots in PDP where he was once a Minister of Housing under Olusegun Obasanjo. Mimiko’s re-election was reportedly made possible as a result of support from Abuja. The aftermath of this saw President Jonathan and national secretariat of PDP jointly congratulating Mimiko at a time their candidate was still preparing to go to election tribunal.

Since 2011, LP instead of the PDP has always been responsible for selection of federal appointees from Ondo.

An instance where the state chapter of PDP kicked was that of Mrs Mobolaji Johnson, current Minister of Communication Technology. Johnson, who is not a politician was handpicked from same hometown with Mimiko. There was another recent protest that several board members including those of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were cornered by the LP instead of PDP, save for Olusola Oke, PDP former PDP candidate who was last recently appointed as chair of board of National Air Management Agency (NAMA).

To the Presidency, the LP is also being considered as easiest route to the South-West ahead of next year’s elections. From Ogun, Osun to Ekiti states, the LP has opened its doors to those who could not have a space in PDP. The case of Ogun especially prompted a protest letter against the Presidency. The letter written by former President Obasanjo openly accused Jonathan of anti-party activities.

Another demerit of LP is that Dan Nwanyanwu, its National Chairman has been in the saddle since 2004 without any attempt to change him. He also has spoken more in defence of the PDP as well as opposed APC under the current administration. On the 2014 budget, Iwuanyanwu said that: “APC as a political party should not hold Nigerians to ransom”.

Through the help of the National Secretariat of LP, the PDP has been able to survive recent onslaught over leadership change in the National Assembly. Only last week, Mimiko and Nwanyanwu were along with Peter Obi, PDP chairman Adamu Mu’azu to gather political support for Jonathan during a crucial meeting. The LP just like it did in 2011 may have made up its mind not to fly any presidential candidate but queue behind Jonathan’s re-election bid once again.

Accord Party AP is clearly built around the person of former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja. The ex-governor used the party to leverage politically and provide an alternative platform, having lost out of PDP before 2011. Nevertheless, the party has considerable membership of Oyo State House of Assembly and four members in the House of RepresentaC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 4

INTERVIEW 41

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

don’t know. Buhari’s driver for 10 years uninterrupted is a born-again Christian.

His armour bearer that is his bodyguards are members of the Light House, Pastor Shola’s church. Buhari fought Idiagbon to a standstill because he was going to sack his Christian wife, and he said that was unfair. So they hung that thing on him just to ensure he will not win election just because they think that there will be a reprisal or retaliation of what they did to him when they overthrew him. That is already coming out in a book, the reason for the overthrow and why he had to quickly go.

IBB himself was about to be retired for certain reasons. It is coming out in his own publication soon. I said all these to tell you why I kept quiet.

Why I can’t abandon General Yes he is old, but in terms of integrity, public record, accountability, there is no leader like Buhari in Nigeria today, who has not messed up himself. He has been a former Head of State, he has no petrol station. He could not even afford to send his children to private school, and they all went to public school except those who are in the university now. He was former governor of North-Eastern State that is six states put together. He has been Petroleum Minister.

There is something about him that is unique. He may not be a Christian, but he is a leader who I can say will stop corruption in our country. But you need more than stopping corruption to run a nation.

Integrity is not enough; there is skill and other things. If a chain can be built around him, the best from the South and North we can move our nation forward.

On national conference Then the President sent one of his men first to me; and met me at the lobby of a hotel in Abuja. He said I have abandoned the government. I said no. I wrote a letter to the President, but he did not reply till now. That is why we left him.

The guy then came to the South and said what can they do? I said if there is any legacy this President can leave for Nigeria it is to call for a National Conference. And that will make all Nigerians to sit down and talk. You will know that he never supported the idea of National Conference at the beginning. He took a summersault.

Now I thought that it was an impossibility they will never consider. So, I’m in a fix. Do you get the point? I can’t abandon him on the one hand, and I can’t say ‘no’ to General Buhari. You can’t be in two parties. So, as God would have it, they said it will not be Sovereign National Conference.

It will be a National Dialogue that will end at the National Assembly. I said ‘no,’ that is not the conference we are asking for.

The conference we are asking for must be people-driven. It must produce a people’s Constitution.

Why I reconciled Jonathan with Alamieyeseigha You can’t look at President Jonathan Goodluck and not conclude that he couldn’t get to where he is today without God. I reconciled DSP Alamieyeseigha and Jonathan when he was still Acting President. I was at his home from about 8p.m. till about 3a.m., in order to let him forgive the President for whatever sin he might have committed.

2015: Nigeria may go in flames –Bakare

Bakare

And he drove in his car at 5.30a.m. to fetch me at Transcorp Hilton to the President’s breakfast meeting to reconcile both of them.

So I said, ‘see him as your son’. But he made a demand. Sometimes when things are done publicly, and you see people keeping quiet; it doesn’t mean they don’t have anything to say. So he said the only thing he wanted to say was that he was not guilty of what he was accused of, that would disqualify him from participating in politics forever.

That he should grant him pardon, because former President UmaruYar’dua offered him that pardon in writing but never concluded it. I encouraged President Jonathan to accept. When the President did it and the whole nation was crying out, I kept quiet because they do not know what happened behind the scene. You don’t know exactly what the issues are.

My thoughts about 2015 The reason I’m keeping quiet is that 2014 will determine how 2015 will go. The two elections in Ekiti and Osun states should not cause Nigeria to burn. That is why we must know how to pray, how to position some people. Senator Iyiola Omisore was part of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and as Deputy Governor to Chief Bisi Akande, he felt cheated by Ige because he bankrolled the election.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola, you remember won by judicial pronouncement. He has not been tested in terms of followership. He did not allow his state to vote for Jonathan. If Jonathan had won in Osun State and Ribadu did not contest that election that would have raised a total question on the judicial pronouncement. He is about to be tested and the election promises to be very keenly contest. You can’t be 100 per cent sure that he will win because the last outing of Omisore where he declared to run for governorship position, the turnout shut down the whole Osogbo.

...If Jonathan wins, the north will burn because they don’t want to be out of power for 16 years. So either way, we are in the valley of the shadow of death as a nation Ekiti is another case. The man Bamidele Opeyemi brought the present governor to run, and they short-changed him by not giving him the Senate ticket.

They gave it to Babafemi Ojudu. Bamidele won it but they persuaded him to go to the House of Representatives which he did.

And all Ekiti leaders have gone to Asiwaju that they want their son Opeyemi to be the Governor and Asiwaju said over his dead body. So when you begin to say your dead bodies, dead bodies are about to fall.

There is also Lagos State elections.

Asiwaju will like to put someone down.

The incumbent governor will like to put his own person that will cover his tracks. In the process of two of them fighting, PDP is also positioning a very strong person. The only problem they could have with the PDP in Lagos is the man called Musiliu Obanikoro. They have offered him a ministerial position so as to make room for the man they want to position there. If 2014 election goes well in Nigeria, I can then sit down and say what role I want to play. Until then it is a waste of one’s time.

APC’s potential are enormous but they have trouble zone in Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Adamawa. And I’m beginning to feel those PDP governors were planted by the PDP in APC. I’m talking from experience, because they planted them to destroy APC right from the inside. Politicians don’t think like you and I.

So right now I am supporting General Buhari in his bid to run Nigeria; I’m 100 per cent committed to his aspirations and I pray he wins in the next election. At the same time, I cannot withdraw my support for the National Conference. If it is peopledriven, it will produce a people’s constitution that will go into national referendum.

So if you are praying pray that God takes us through 2014 first. If the Ekiti and Ondo elections yield results that are acceptable and there is no violence, then in 2015, don’t expect the military.

In conclusion why you need to pray, we may be faced with a Muslim -Muslim ticket the way it is going for APC, because there is no way we are not going to end in that way. We should start making some exceptions, certain rules. In the past, religion was not playing any pivotal role.

Chief Adekunle Ajasin in Ondo State and his Deputy, Akin Omoboriowo were both Christians. Both of them are late now. In Ogun State Pa Olabisi Onabanjo and his deputy were both Christians. In Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Rafiu Jakojo were both Muslims. There were not serious issues. At the national level, we had had both Muslims in the military, Generals Buhari and Idiagbon and during civilian rule; M K O and Babagana Kingibe were there. But it is going to be an issue now. And APC may not have any option than to go that area. So they would need Christian spokesmen who will play role for them. That is one aspect.

Second, if by any means APC drops Buhari as the flag bearer, there will be crisis because they will not have votes to win the election. Leave that only and come to the body polity itself. If Jonathan does not return as President of Nigeria, you will see all the kinds of explosion and the pipeline in the history of our country, because they have tested power and wealth. And they are not ready to let it go. In fact, he cannot return home and say I’m not contesting, they will kill him. If Jonathan wins, the north will burn because they don’t want to be out of power for 16 years. So either way, we are in the valley of the shadow of death as a nation. But those on the mountain can now begin to do things that will help us come out of that valley. And it might be needful for some of us by God’s grace to remain in neutral for the season till we see this position.

My silence on merger Now I will never ever deny General Buhari. We moved him into this merger.

So I can’t back out. And I will not like to be in the same bed with such characters.

As God will have it, Tinubu reached out to ANPP in order to water down the influence of the CPC and brought ANPP and APGA. Immediately that happened I said that is not the merger I brokered. I am not going to be a party to it. To compound it, PDP governors who appeared to be vilified by PDP decided to join. I said you know what? These are the sides of the same coin now. It is difficult for me in good conscience to say I’m a part of this.

So, I went to the General and said ‘General please release me. I don’t want to stand against you publicly; you know I am a pastor. I need you around me, no matter what happens. We started this together, let’s do it together. I can’t say no.’ He said okay.

42 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Amosun’s N19bn loan re-ignites legislative crisis Crisis is again brewing in the Ogun State House of Assembly over Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s request for approval of N19 billion loan. KUNLE OLAYENI writes on the controversy.

S

peaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, was stunned when he called one of the members, Samson Onademuren, to second a motion to adjourn a plenary session. Bluntly, Onademuren, representing Ijebu North-East State Constituency, declined. Instead, the lawmaker made some complaints to which the Speaker ruled him out of order.

Though the motion moved by Majority Leader, Israel Jolaoso failed to get the required secondment, Adekunbi furiously adjourned the sitting but not without describing Onademuren’s refusal to second it as “unparliamentary conduct.”

Such dramatic adjournment, which occurred on the floor of the House on February 13 was one of the several instances depicting the searing schism among the 26-member legislature. Adekunbi is widely seen as an ally of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, while Onademuren is on the opposing divide. Other members are not sitting on the fence either.

At present, the House is tottering on the path of another implosion. At the centre of the fresh controversy is the N19 billion loan request by Amosun. The members are also at loggerheads over the state’s debt profile.

The governor had, on February 3, forwarded an executive bill to the House, seeking the lawmakers’ approval to enable him to access the loan to implement some projects in the 2014 budget. He said the N19 billion would be taken out of a sum of N29 billion budgeted for as capital receipt from the internal loan approved in the 2014 budget.

But rather than sail smoothly, the governor’s demand stoked renewed rivalry among the state legislators. Some of the lawmakers insisted that the executive arm must first fulfil certain legal conditions prerequisite for granting the loan. Others, especially those sympathetic to the governor, felt such conditionality was not required. Consequently, each camp went into the trenches and plotted strategies to have their way.

As the loan request struggles for survival in the House, lots of political fireworks are erupting on the state’s polity. Already, former Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Sina Kawonise, and two others have approached the court to contest the loan.

In suit No. FHC/AB/OS/17/14 filed at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Kawonise, Adekoya Boladale and Gbenga Soloki as first, second and third claimants respectively prayed the court to stop the Assembly from granting approval to the loan request “because it was not made in compliance with section 11 (5) a-e of the Ogun State Bonds, Notes and other Securities Issuance Law, 2012.”

Apart from the governor, the Ogun State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Attorney-General of Ogun State, National Assembly, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ogun State; Chairman Appropriation Committee, Ogun State House of Assembly; the Clerk, Ogun State House of Assembly; Sterling Bank; Eco Bank; GTBank and FCMB were joined as defendants.

The plaintiffs are also seeking an order to compel the state government to disclose its debt profile in accordance with the Freedom of Information law. The court is, however, yet to take any decision on the suit.

But to the discerning, the latest stand-off was not only a carry-over of the supremacy tussle among certain political gladiators in the state, it is also part of the scheming and permutations ahead of the 2015 general elections.

In March 2013, the crisis in the House manifested with the breaking of the legislative symbol of authority - mace. This was during a rowdy session where the Speaker suspended four members. The members in-

Amosun

Adekunbi

cluded Remmy Hazzan, Job Akintan, John Obafemi and Mrs Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo. The contending camps had fiercely battled over the composition of Tenders Board.

After the Speaker announced their suspension, the four lawmakers, along with 10 other legislators, reconvened immediately under the leadership of Hazzan and reversed their suspension. The group, which claimed that the four lawmakers were illegally suspended since there was no secondment of the motion, went further to suspend the Speaker and some principal officers.

It took the intervention of Amosun and some prominent personalities before normalcy could return to the House. But now, some lawmakers are asking for the state’s level of financial exposure before going ahead to approve the loan request.

This development, which is unsettling the House, has apparently also put the government on its toes.

Reacting to the inquiry into the debt profile, the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, released a statement and put the state’s indebtedness as at the end of December 2013 at N35.6 billion.

Adeosun said the “figure included loans taken from banks as well as the balance of loans inherited from the past administration. Also inherent in the loan profile is the sum of N1.7 billion which remains unused. The unspent loan included counterpart funds relating to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which are awaiting rollout.

“The loans have been utilised to finance its investments in security, education, environment as well as the massive ongoing state-wide urban renewal programme, all of which have positively reshaped the economic and physical landscape of the state.”

She explained that the government was able to maintain the loan profile at that level because it has continued to comply with the repayment schedule which qualifies it to take new loans as it has a high level of credibility with lenders.

On the heels of the spat, the lawmakers reconvened at a plenary on February 13 to appraise the appearance of the two commissioners and also comment on the desirability or otherwise of the N19 billion loan.

But following the opening remarks by the Speaker, Hazzan, who represents Odogbolu State Constituency, raised

a point of order. He said Order 29 Rule 5 stipulates that, “reference shall not be made to any matter which a judicial decision is pending in such a way as it might in the Speaker’s opinion prejudice the interest of parties thereto.”

Another lawmaker, Olayinka Mafe, however, countered Hazzan by raising Order 7 Rule 7, which according to him stipulates that “the Speaker interprets the rules.”

“The suggestion of that is that whatever Mr. Speaker of this honourable House has decided is the rule of this House cannot be challenged by a member of this House because the interpretation of this Rule rests solely on Mr. Speaker,” Mafe, representing Sagamu 1 Constituency, added.

Adekunbi subsequently punctured Hazzan’s argument, saying the House leadership had yet to receive any court decision on the loan bid.

“Sincerely, for now, we have not received any court decision. I want it to be on record that we have not received any court decision on the issue before us. Though an originating summon was given to us, what does that translate to? It was just a court process,” the Speaker said.

As the Assembly adjourned that day, it was clear a battle line had been drawn between the rival camps. But a group, The Rebuilders, urged the lawmakers to approve the loan without delay. In a communiqué issued after its first anniversary in Abeokuta and signed by its chairman, Adebayo Sheriff, the group flayed critics of the loan.

Sheriff stressed that Amosun acted within the confines of the law since the loan had already been included in the 2014 budget. He explained that the governor’s resolve to seek the House of Assembly’s approval was a demonstration of his openness in financial prudence.

Investigation by New Telegraph, however, revealed that the lawmakers opposing the N19 billion loan took the position over Amosun’s alleged non-compliance with laws regulating the procedure for borrowing.

They expressed reservation that the bill setting up the Debt Management Office in the state was practically made prostrate by the governor. The bill, signed into law on October 19, 2012, was tagged: “Bill for a Law to provide for the raising of loans through issuance of Bonds, Notes and other Securities and for connected purposes.”

The law stipulated that two-thirds majority of the House was needed to approve any loan by the state government. But the question now is: Will the governor get the required number of lawmakers to approve his loan?

POLITICS 43

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

I wasn’t paid to defect to PDP –Gusau Hon. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau has a rich educational background. He holds a MSc in Mobile Communications Engineering from the University of Lancaster, UK; an MBA and Ph.D. from the Washington International University, USA. The member of the House of Representatives representing Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency of Zamfara State is the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In this interview with PHILIP NYAM, speaks on why he dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and denies allegation of inducement. Excerpts: Why I defected from APC to PDP Indeed, I moved from my party incidentally not from the All Progressives Congress (APC), because I’ve never been a member of the party. I moved from All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Of course, you are aware of the merger that happened among some parties, which included my party, the ANPP. Whether consultations were done with me or not, the merger was done. With that, the constitution gives me the right to move. Due to the merger, I was left with no option than to look at what platform I needed to belong; which platform has my kind of ideals or close to it.

With that, I presented Mr. Speaker with my letter, signifying my intention to join the PDP. My constituents, supporters and people that have any link with me in the state in general were stopped from receiving any registration from the APC; that confirmed my fears that there won’t be fairness in the APC. I didn’t even bother picking the registration myself. I was aware that the directive came from the state government, because they have the fears that I may contest the governorship come 2015, and that frustrating my people from registering in the party will mean I’m already being played out in the primaries later this year.

On inducement before defection No, I was not paid. If you know Ibrahim Gusau, then you’ll know that there is no amount of money that can buy me. I was not paid to join the PDP. It was my idea; I want to deliver dividends of democracy.

Believe you me, my state and constituency have always been in the opposition. Being in the opposition put us in the wrong footing; if you go there, you’ll see that neighbouring states have better dividends of democracy than what is obtainable in my state. So, I figured that going with the central party will give us that leverage.

That was why I defected and I can confirm to you again that nobody gave me a dime to join the PDP. I can never be bought. If anybody collected any money, I am not aware. What is the whole idea about politics? It’s trying to deliver a lot of goodies and dividends to your people. A tree can’t make a forest, as they say. I feel being a party player; I joined a bigger party to see what dividends we can deliver.

Fairness in PDP I think so. It may interest you to know that I was formerly in the PDP but left

when things went bad. But since the party has realised its faults and is making corrections I decided to return. You can see since the assumption of office of the new PDP chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, he is trying to put the party together and make it workable and stronger than it used to be. I believe it will be a better party and present a fair level ground than what is obtainable in the APC. My governorship ambition Indeed, I still have the intention. In 2007, I vied for the governorship of Zamfara State under the platform of the PDP. However, due to the calculation at that time, I was asked to allow a certain zone to produce the candidate. From our group, we knew that candidate might not make it. But due to our loyalty to the party, we allowed that to happen. Eventually that candidate lost the election, which means PDP lost the election in the state. We couldn’t produce a governor. That was already a warning to the PDP to know that you have to look for the person on ground, the person who has the support of the people that will make your party deliver.

Coming to my chances, there are three senatorial zones in each state. The senatorial zone that the current governor comes from has already produced a twoterm governor who is in the APC, Senator Ahmed Yarima. He spent eight years as a governor. The current governor is on the seat spending another four years, making 12 years. The other zone, which is the Kaura Namoda zone, has produced Mahmud Shinkafi, who spent four years.

In the total of this dispensation, which is 16 years, our zone, the central zone has not produced a governor yet. Again, it will interest you to know that I came to the National Assembly with about 122,900 votes.

That was not a small number of votes.

You are aware of the results of the elections that were held in Anambra State. If an honourable member can come to the House from just two local governments, with 122,900 votes, this will tell you in no small measure the popularity of that candidate. This time around, the central zone is saying after 16 years of watching and not producing governors, it is our time to produce a governor; this is why we think even if we go to primaries, we expect to

Gusau

perform better and pick a ticket.

Governance in Zamfara Back in Zamfara State, there are lots of issues. If you had read my letter, where I signified my intention to move, you would have found that there is insecurity in the state; there is educational backwardness; there is non-creation of jobs, rather, people are being sent out of jobs. These are some of the issues among several other ones that are making me to say this is not what my people want. My people want better dividends. I have tried in my own small way. In two-three years now that I’ve assumed office as a member of the House of Representatives, I challenge anyone to go and see my performance in the state, from the creation of jobs to empowering of people. We have established a factory.

We established a factory that produces aluminum zinc and nails, thereby empowering people in the state; saving meagre resources of having to go to another state and transport these products back. A lot of buildings are coming up in the state.

People are engaged and working. Go and check our level in education. It has been bad for the last four-five years. We feel we need to do better.

I’m a very educated person up to the PhD level. So, I know what education is

Being in the opposition put us in the wrong footing... you’ll see that neighbouring states have better dividends of democracy than what is obtainable in my state.

So, I figured that going with the central party will give us that leverage

all about, and I feel the only thing you can do to empower a person is by giving him quality education. It is not about what you take and give him, but it is about that education. In the health sector, some time ago, about 400 nurses and midwives were sacked from the state. Now, in replacing them, nobody wants to come to the state to work. Luckily for them, they have been getting employment in neighbouring states. Rather than creating jobs, we are denying people jobs in the state. I think this is not the way to go. Politics is about getting the dividends, and I think we’ll achieve that in PDP. Performance as a lawmaker With all humility, I can tell you that since I assumed office, about 15 ICT centres have been located in Zamfara State. I have opened a personal ICT centre where I train people are trained. They have just graduated; 360 ICT graduands in computer. We had admission starting from the SSCE up to the masters level. People with masters came in to gain admission, because they did not have any idea about computer. We had three classes: the first class was the SSCE, second class for OND and NCE, and third class was for the BSc, B. Ed, HND and MSc. We affiliated that ICT centre with the Federal College of Education, Technical, who will moderate the questions and the answers after the exams were done. That makes it a national certificate, which can be tenable anywhere.

Coming back to the National Assembly, the ICT Committee has been a very productive committee that has been performing, be it on bills, motions and other contributions.

I think we’ve done very well. We have sponsored a lot of motions. Personally, I have sponsored the Nigeria Communications Satellite Bill, which has been passed and is awaiting concurrent from the Senate; I also sponsored the Cyber Security Bill, which has gone through second reading. Besides, I have so many motions to my credit.

44 POLITICS Philip Nyam

Content The intendment of the bill is to ensure that certificates are awarded to graduands upon being cleared by their various schools, so that the unfortunate practice whereby people cannot access their certificates after several years of leaving school.

It seeks to amend the National Universities Act No.1 1974 particularly Section 4 (I) (b) of the Principal Act, by amending Section 4 (1) (b) and in-

Amending NUC Act BILL OF

WEEK

THE

O

ur Bill of the week is the “Bill for an Act to amend the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to make it mandatory for immediate issuance and release of certificates to graduating students in all tertiary institutions in Nigeria and for related matters therewith”.

This bill is sponsored by Hon. Eddie Ifeanyichukwu Mbadiwe representing Ideato North/Ideato South federal constituency of Imo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He is a first timer in the House.

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

serting a new Sub-Section (iv) immediately after Sub-Section 4 (I) (b) (iii) and re-numbered accordingly as follows: (6) “(iv) ensure that certificates are issued and released immediately to; (7) graduating student by all Universities.”

According to the sponsor of the bill, “this bill seeks to amend National Universities Commission Act to make it mandatory for all universities in Nigeria to - ensure immediate issuance and release of certificates to graduating students because there is a disturbing delay, especially in public institutions. Schools do not bother about certificates hence in most cases you see graduands parading testimonials after several years of graduation. This is not the case in other parts of the world. As soon as you graduate you are issued with your certificate and that is what this bill.”

The bill also seeks to amend the

How opposition parties fared under Jonathan and their resources, we can say its roles are being played as spelt out in the contives. There are reports that Ladoja as stitution.”

National Leader of Accord Party is very National Chairman of the United close to the Presidency, a situation which Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas makes his party do less of critical assess- Okorie, in an interview with New Telement of Jonathan government. The AP’s graph admitted that Nigeria’s opposition influence is only felt within Oyo State parities are in a moribund state. where it has followers.

“Opposition politics cannot be played Speaking on the fate of opposition very well because of certain factors. parties, chairman of Conference of Only APC can be said to be playing oppoNigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and sition politics now, even though they are former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji playing it very poorly both in quality and Balarabe Musa, told New Telegraph that ideas. They are only out to denigrate the money determines the roles of oppoOffice of the President without sition parties in Nigeria. providing alternative platHis words: “Nobody form for the people. should expect proper ac“For others includtivities from opposition ing my own party, political parties except UPP, we can’t be said those ones in control of to be doing enough. government either at In my party, we federal or state levels. have good ideas deThis is because money spite being a new politics determines vicparty but we lack all the necessary tory in campaign and ingredients to back in elections. As it is now, only APC and PDP are them up. playing whatever proper “But looking at other Balarabe democratic roles you can talk opposition parties, they have simply remained moriabout. The smaller so-called opposition parties can’t play any constibund without constructive and robust tutional role because they don’t control debates since their existence,” he said. resources.

In conclusion, with the above expe“Money power is the deciding factor riences many still believe that the time in Nigerian politics. Today, without the has not yet come for credible opposition control of resources at the state and in Nigerian politics as parties are still federal level any opposition party will formed as mere entrepreneurs. This pobe playing a marginal role. So, when sition was further corroborated by Lai you talk of how opposition parties have Mohammed, APC spokesperson recentfaired under Jonathan, you are only ly when he said “some of the so-called talking of APC. This is made possible opposition parties largely depend on for APC since it controls about 16 states crumbs from the ruling PDP to survive.”

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 0

Tambuwal

Principal Act to make it mandatory for all universities in Nigeria to issue and release to their graduands their degree certificates as soon as they complete their programmes. The law would be binding on all universities irrespective of their ownership. It would address the lacuna in the Principal Act which was silent on the length of time it should

take a university to issue certificates to their graduands.

Remarks: Over the years, graduates of Nigerian universities had been subjected to harrowing experiences, particularly when they seek employment but are unable to tender their certificates to authenticate their educational qualification and suitability for the job. In some situations, graduands are compelled to substitute the certificates with statements of results issued by the same universities. This practice has also created its own challenges as some unscrupulous Nigerians have exploited the loophole to produce falsified statement of results which they brandish before employers on the excuse that the university they attended were yet to issue them with their certificates.

State of Bill The bill scaled through second reading on January 22, 2014. It was unanimously supported and has been referred to the House Committee on Education for more legislative work.

Ministerial screening: Going beyond ‘Bow and Go’ syndrome C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 6

persons in your party that could ...”

Adeyeye ‘s intention was to halt the confirmation of the nominee because of the allegation, but Mark intervened by warning that since the matter was still in the realm of allegation, there was nothing anybody could do to hold the accused responsible for the murder.

Mark further reminded the protesting senator that the parliament was not and should not be turned into a law court, where people would be prosecuted and discharged.

In confirming the 11 nominees, Mark advised them to be prepared to conduct themselves in a manner that would add value to the system.

Bottom line It appears that in spite of the mantra of transformation agenda in the last couple of years, not much has changed in the ritual of screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees. Like some legislators observed, it is uncertain if due diligence has been done to the process.

As members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), these ministers would be holding very sensitive portfolios in the central administration of the country. A lot would be expected of them in terms of their integrity and capacity to deliver on the mandate given to the government by the people.

This is the reason some lawmakers and other Nigerians have been agitating for a more serious engagement between the parliament, security agencies and the ministerial nominees before their confirmation. A situation where nominees are screened based largely on political

Mark

considerations and not on specific job description leaves much to be desired of our leadership recruitment process.

There are fears that given the prevalence of the “bow and go “ syndrome as well as the non-attachment of specific portfolios against each nominee, we should not expect too much from our ministers.

What about the recycling of old names, retirees, ex-ministers and ex-ambassadors on the list of ministerial nominees? How many times would these old and tired war horses, men of yesteryears and political dinosaurs serve before they know they have nothing more to offer?

It is believed that with age comes experience and wisdom but it also a fact that change is impossible when we continue to do the same thing, the same way, all the time. It is high time Nigeria did away with government of political patronage and embraced a new system of exploring new grounds when fishing for those who would lead our country to the next millennium.

metro 45

of Truth

bruary 26, 2014

Okiro’s N1bn libel suit kicks off today Juliana Francis

H

earing in the N1 billion libel suit slammed on the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN Foundation), by Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mike Okiro, begins today at the Ikeja High Court.

The suit is over NOPRIN’s letter to the Senate, stating four grounds of objection to Okiro’s confirmation as PSC chairman.

The case would be presided over

by Justice Dabiri.

But fhe Foundation’s spokesperson, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said they were ready for the suit.

He said: “We are happy to meet Mr. Okiro in court so that he can prove that he has a ‘defamable’ reputation.

“We invite Nigerians to keep a close watch over this case which promises to be interesting as it progresses.”

A report by NOPRIN in 2013 had expressed strong opposition to the nomination of the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) as PSC chairman, calling on the Senate to decline it.

The report followed Okiro’s nomination by President Goodluck Jonathan.

NOPRIN said the objections were grounded in law as well as the

overriding goal of preserving and enhancing the institutional effectiveness and credibility of the PSC and offered four specific reasons for opposing Okiro’s nomination.

The organisation had also alleged that Okiro did not kick against extrajudicial executions in the country.

NOPRIN further pointed out that under the PSC Act, the re-nomination of members who have previously served a term is unlawful.

“NOPRIN believes that the PSC evinced under the Constitution and the PSC Act of 2001 is an independent and impartial institution,” the report said.

Beneficiaries during the exercise

NGO offers free health screening Muritala Ayinla

A

Non-Governmental Organisation, Hydra Edge Foundation (HEF) has offered free medical screening for the elderly residents of Agege in Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area.

The organisation, which also distributed mosquito nets to patients in Orile-Agege General Hospital, urged women in the community to undergo breast and cervical cancer screening regularly.

Addressing beneficiaries at the event, the founder of HEF, Mrs Abiodun Opeifa, said the organisation was poised to make life better for the downtrodden.

Opeifa said apart from supporting the widows, the NGO was interested in the health of the neglected in society.

According to her, most women die of preventable dis-

Okiro

ble for banker’s ody –Manko

The late Oke

inside his pocket.

“Few minutes after that, he slumped and died right in front of his family members. The family wanted to take him away for immediate burial since they are Muslims, but I refused. I instructed the area commander not to allow them to take his corpse. I wanted an autopsy to be carried out on him, to ascertain the cause of his death.”

But contrary to what Manko said, the family had earlier denied being around when the deceased drank the bottle of soft drink, just as his widow, Bunmi, disclosed that her husband “rarely takes”

soft drinks.

The mother of the deceased, Alhaja Sidikatu Oke, said she, her husband and the deceased’s younger brother were outside, waiting for their lawyer who would perfect Oke’s release from police custody to come when they suddenly noticed an ambulance driving away from the police station.

It was Oke’s brother who first noticed that his brother was inside the ambulance. The deceased was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The 60-year-old mother said she was not even aware that Oke was given any soft drink until she heard it at the hospital, where the deceased was confirmed dead.

She said: “When we to get the hospital, the doctor asked, ‘what drip did you give him?’

One Sergeant Adebayo then said it was Coke they gave him.

I said how possible was that? He never told me he needed a drink when I was with him. His shirt was soaked with blood and he was foaming in the mouth.

eases because they lack the wherewithal to undergo health screening to enable them detect their health challenges early enough.

Opeifa promised that the beneficiaries would also be advised on their health challenges after the screening.

She said: “The medical screening for the elderly people is to diagnose the beneficiaries and advise them on what they are supposed to eat and what they are supposed to abstain from.

“The screening machine will detect anything that is abnormal in their body system. The screening will also tell whether their cholesterol is high or low.

Their sugar intake will also be examined. They will be advised on the kind of medication they need should they found out they need any.

“It will be a regular thing.

Hawker gets one year jail term for stabbing colleague

A

25-year-old “pure water” hawker, Musa Sule, was yesterday sentenced to one year imprisonment, with hard labour, for stabbing a colleague.

He was jailed by an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Omolade Awope, sentenced Sule after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of assault.

Delivering judgement, Awope described the convict’s action as “callous,” adding that Sule must be very violent.

She said: “Sule saw a knife just lying fallow in a tomato seller’s shop, picked it and put it in his pocket. What attracted him to the knife and for what intent?

“At the least provocation, he pulled the knife to stab another hawker who stepped on a sachet of `pure water’ belong-

ing to him, in the head and left hand.

“Lagos State will not condone such ill act. You would have bagged three years imprisonment if not that you prayed for leniency.

“I hereby sentence you to one year imprisonment with hard labour.”

Sule, of no fixed address, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was arraigned before the court on February 17.

The prosecutor, Adekemi Adeniran, told the court that the accused committed the offence on February 11 at the Mile 12 Market, Ketu, Lagos, at 6.20 p.m.

She said the accused stabbed another hawker, Shekarau Mohammed, adding that the offence contravened Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

We started last year. It is a way of telling people out there that we are human beings, cancer is real. Once they detect some of these diseases early, it would help them in finding a lasting solution.

“The 1,000 mosquito nets were distributed in collaboration with Rotary Club of Agege.”

One of the beneficiaries, Chief Shakirudeen Adelani, lauded that the NGO for the initiatives, urging more organisations to embark on peopleoriented projects to assist the less privileged in society.

Businessman in court over N1.2m land fraud

A

businessman, Mr Adetokunbo Rasheed, on Tuesday appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly obtaining N1.2 million under the guise of selling two plots of land.

Rasheed, who resides at No. 13, Abbey Diya Street, Yaba, Lagos, is facing a three-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Peter Nwangwu, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in November 2008.

The prosecutor said that Rasheed, had between March and November 2008, advertised a piece of land in Baruwa area of Ipaja, Lagos, for sale.

He said: “The defendant advertised two plots of land at Baruwa area in Ipaja town, for sale and was contacted by Mr Sunny John, who indicated interest in its purchase.

“All transactions were finalised and N1.2 million was agreed upon, which was promptly paid on November 12, 2008.

46 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Financial stocks lead equities rally

CBN remits N80bn to federation accounts Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Central Bank has increased its remittances to the Federation Account from N64.122 billion in 2011 to N80 billion in 2012.

Deputy Governor in charge of Corporate Services, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, confirmed the figure in Abuja at resumed session of the 2014 budget defence with members of the House of Representatives.

BULLISH Financial stocks are still the toast of the market Chris Ugwu

N

igerian stocks yesterday trudged on in the green zone as bargain hunters dominated trading session, culminating in 42 gainers as against 18 losers.

Notably, investors preferred banks shares and other high net worth stocks, which helped to lift the twin market performance indices, the NSE ASI and market capitalisation, higher by 1.15 per cent.

Three financial institutions – Skye Bank, FBNH and UBA led the gainers, having advanced by 10.14 per cent, 9.70 per cent, and 6.46 per cent to close at N3.80, N13.80 and N7.75 respectively.

On the flipside, major conglomerate, Unilever Plc weakened by five per cent, closing at N45.60 to lead the losers’ table, while Beta Glass trailed with a loss of 4.95 per cent to close at N19.38. Evans Medicals slumped by 4.95 per cent to close at N2.33.

Consequently, the NSE AllShare Index appreciated by 452.96 basis points to close at

47

DG, NSE, Oscar Onyema

39,160.10 index points as against 38,707.14 recorded on Monday, while the market capitalisation of equities appreciated by N145 billion, from N12,433 trillion to N12,578 trillion.

The banking sub-sector of the financial services sector was the most active during the day (measured by turnover volume); with 193.1 million shares worth N2.17 billion exchanged by investors in 2,071 deals.

Volume in the banking sector was largely driven by activity in the shares of Access Bank Plc and GTB Plc. Also, other financial institution sector boosted by activity in the shares of FBNH and FCMB Plc, followed by 97.5 million shares worth N662.6 million in 1,234 deals.

Investors staked a turnover of 409.5 million shares worth N4.420 billion in 5,841 deals.

The chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Dr. Abdul Mumin Jibril, commended the apex bank for its timely remittances to the federation account.

He said the bank over the years, had been very consistent in its remittances to the Federation Account as and when due.

Jibril noted : "The National Assembly will continue to

commend the Central Bank of Nigeria for the fiscal discipline, which it has been demonstrating and for the good work it has been doing for this country".

He said that the apex bank had not only been timely in its rendition, but also ensured that the amount it remitted into the Federation Account had been on the increase in the last four years.

Forum to discuss pension, sovereign wealth fund

T

he challenge of infrastructure deficit on the African continent will form a major part of discussion at the forthcoming CEO Infrastructure Investment Summit billed for Abuja, between May 6th - 7th , 2014.

This was made known by the organisers in a statement.

Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Africa investor, Hubert Danso said that the African investor platform exists to improve the regulatory and commercial risk environment for pension and sovereign wealth funds to invest in African infrastructure.

He added that the platform also seeks to facilitate coinvestment partnerships be-

tween African pension fund, sovereign wealth funds managers and infrastructure developers working in Africa.

According to Danso: “This is a crucial time for African economic integration and infrastructure investment and we are therefore, delighted to host this first-of-its-kind platform for pension and sovereign wealth funds in Africa on infrastructure investment. This is the next important step in mobilising African capital for projects across the continent; as a pre-cursor and vote of confidence to catalyse global pension and sovereign wealth funds to invest in Africa’s burgeoning infrastructure investment opportunities.”

The gathering will also advance a critical agenda, set by African Union Heads of State, to mobilise African capital and the private sector to fast-track the continent’s infrastructure investment and economic integration.

Finance Minister, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

48 BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

Sanctity of Truth

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Bank of America downgrades Nigeria’s EXD to underweight Foreign exchange

it noted that the political will to defend the Naira is high, “but the running down of reserves will weigh on EXD performance, hence we downgrade our recommendation to underweight (from market weight).”

It said the sustainability of the 150-160 NGN/USD exchange rate band ultimately will be determined by the market, adding: “We believe the current level of reserves ($41.2bn as of 20th Feb) will be sufficient to support the Naira if market pressure does not rise to extreme levels.

The Naira and the foreign reserves have been under pressure

Stories by Ayodele Aminu

B

ank of America Merill Lynch has downgraded Nigeria’s EXD to underweight, following the continuous pressure on the nation’s foreign reserves, which stood at about $40.6billion at the close of business yesterday.

EXD is an equity downgrade tied to a country’s exchange rate.

The lender disclosed the downgrade in a report by its Sub-Saharan Africa Economist, (UK), Oyin Anubi.

Since about six months ago, there has been intense pressure on the Naira, culminating in the increase in the amount of dollar that the CBN sold at auction to shore up the Naira, which was stable against the United States dollar at the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) arm of the forex market on Monday where maintained its value of N155.75 to a dollar.

While acknowledging in the report titled “Nigeria in Focus’,

The report however, noted that the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to suspend CBN governor Lamido Sanusi has raised the risk premium on Nigerian assets.

Highlighting the signs of stress in the unofficial market where there is divergence between the official interbank USD/NGN rate and the parallel market, the lender noted that this has been in part driven

by CBN restrictions on the operations of the Bureaux de Changes, which recently have

zz Enterprise, Mainstreet banks for sale in June, October

INVESTMENT AMCON MD, Chike Obi proffers solution to Nigeria's power crisis

T President Goodluck Jonathan

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

($6.1billion) to defending the currency. This would bring reserves down to just under $35billion, which is still 9% above where reserves were when the band was last moved . Combined with our base case of a 100bp rate hike in 2Q, this should be enough to bring the Naira under control.

“However, if market sentiment worsens to extreme levels (perhaps due to excessive portfolio outflows or a sustained fall in the oil price) then the current band would become unsustainable.

$1.6tr needed to fix power crisis, says AMCON boss

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

been removed.

However, it noted that due to the recent turmoil at the CBN, this spread could widen further as risk aversion increases – meaning that the CBN will have to work even harder to keep the Naira in check.

Nevertheless, the CBN according to the report, has more firepower to support Naira this time around. “ If market sentiment worsens from here; we believe the government can afford to commit 15% of current reserves

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

he way out of Nigeria's perennial power problem is immediate and direct investment in modern transmission lines estimated to cost about $10billion (N1.6trillion), Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Assets Management Corporation (AMCON), Mustapha Chike-Obi has said.

The AMCON boss also said that two of the bridged banks – Enterprise Bank Limited and Mainstreet Bank Limited will be sold in June and October this year respectively, while the Keystone will be sold later.

He spoke yesterday while delivering a lecture at a public policy forum organised by Hallmark Newspaper.

Chike-Obi said: "We must find at least $10billion immediately to fix our transmission lines because the power problem will not be solved until we get a modern transmission grid.

"We can do things that make us feel good, but I assure you that till we put the capital into it, the power problem will not be solved. I can tell you how we can raise the capital," Chike-Obi, who spoke on “Emerging Market Challenges and the Imperatives of Economic Reforms,” assured.

The AMCON boss listed the three major problems confronting Nigerian economy to include capital, competence and culture.

Speaking on capital, he

said Nigeria cannot address the mortgage problem with a N100billion but should have the will and ingenuity to have a Mortgage Refinance Company that has a minimum of N2trillion in capital.

"We must build at least a minimum of 4000 kilometres of functioning railway system in Nigeria. The cost of that is $20billion. We must find that and build it," he said.

The second problem according to Chike-Obi, is competence, which he said does not just mean having the skill to do something but having the commitment, hard work and humility to reject appointments that one is not able to do.

Explaining that he does not have the skills to be the managing director of a commercial bank and would not accept such appointment, the AMCON boss reiterated that Nigerians take jobs because it is a higher prestige, or higher protocol job without minding whether the person has the skill to do the job.

He also explained that the culture and system in Nigeria suggests that corruption survives. This according to him, is not the problem but that culture that allows corruption to survive.

The AMCON boss said it is the culture that allows for public show of wealth that encourages people to steal money.

Besides, he noted that the Nigerian population, which is growing three per cent every year, is at a critical period because there is urgent need for players to create about four million jobs yearly, given that the population is continuously increasing.

Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

business | CAPITAL MARKET 49

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at February 25, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014

Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053

Activity Summary on Board EQTY ICT Computer Based Systems Computer Based Systems Totals

Daily Summary (Bonds) Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 15.10% FGN APR 2017 16.00% FGN JUN 2019 Federal Totals

Symbol FG9B2017S2 FG9B2019S3

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 103.55 108.50

2

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 100 100 200

Value Traded 108,652.47 111,137.36 219,789.83

200

219,789.83

200

2

219,789.83

Daily Summary (Equities)

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 1 45 22 68

Current Price 0.50 38.55 40.00

Quantity Traded 500 660,771 705,231 1,366,502

Value Traded 250.00 25,379,088.61 28,400,540.37 53,779,878.98

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 3.95

Quantity Traded 790,543 790,543

Value Traded 3,141,760.57 3,141,760.57

2,157,045

56,921,639.55

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Totals

96

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 10 1 222 55 288

CONGLOMERATES Totals

Current Price 1.67 1.27 3.98 67.01

288

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 Construction Totals Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053 Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

Value Traded 1,360,956.50 1,360,956.50

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 75.00

Quantity Traded 53,925 53,925

Value Traded 3,845,268.00 3,845,268.00

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 13 13

Current Price 19.60

Quantity Traded 114,947 114,947

Value Traded 2,265,451.17 2,265,451.17

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 100.00

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 95,000.00 95,000.00

993,978 Page

No. of Deals 84 20 155 259

Current Price 163.60 29.11 145.88

Quantity Traded 302,842 148,224 2,391,141 2,842,207

Value Traded 50,331,947.14 4,312,235.30 348,486,572.91 403,130,755.35

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 82.64

Quantity Traded 15,059 15,059

Value Traded 1,306,669.43 1,306,669.43

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UTC

No. of Deals 40 80 52 52 28 10 262

Current Price 9.26 11.50 82.50 3.82 13.14 0.56

Quantity Traded 161,719 2,479,306 174,415 2,374,890 512,307 264,405 5,967,042

Value Traded 1,523,085.86 28,691,574.81 13,692,554.42 8,815,609.67 6,730,557.05 149,036.80 59,602,418.61

Current Price 86.25 1,100.00

Quantity Traded 1,236,868 120,413 1,357,281

Value Traded 102,949,520.03 130,653,484.10 233,603,004.13

CADBURY NESTLE

84 58 142

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 25 25

Current Price 4.12

Quantity Traded 468,461 468,461

Value Traded 1,935,902.53 1,935,902.53

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 64 50 114

Current Price 38.00 45.60

Quantity Traded 1,232,742 512,039 1,744,781

Value Traded 46,960,581.66 23,383,041.81 70,343,623.47

12,394,831

769,922,373.52

Quantity Traded 34,074,731 2,109,956 3,466,271 8,844,327 34,200,416 8,718,040 28,823,019 30,406,061 1,058,667 4,460,200 7,597,016 29,387,367

Value Traded 272,659,095.22 13,630,285.76 51,082,556.56 19,864,628.58 852,405,334.57 32,626,738.72 63,423,847.26 232,494,268.11 8,981,238.53 2,230,100.00 7,597,279.36 622,747,344.09

Page

CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking PublishedBanking

by The Nigerian Totals Stock

817 Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 290 DIAMONDBNK 28 ETI 85 FIDELITYBK 140 GUARANTY 530 SKYEBANK 112 STERLNBANK 101 UBA 350 UBN 53 UNITYBNK 8 Daily Summary (Equities) WEMABANK 27 ZENITHBANK 347

Exchange ©

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. OASIS INSURANCE PLC PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053 Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Services ABBEY BUILDING SOCIETY PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol Symbol AIICO

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

of

Current Price

Quantity Traded Value Traded Page 2,179,742,716.76 4 of 193,146,071

No. of Deals 16

Current Price 0.79

Quantity Traded 1,073,971

Current Price 1.09 0.50 0.60 0.50 0.63 2.25 0.50 0.79 0.50 0.62 0.56 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.86

Quantity Traded 1,387,600 102,200 167,733 1,500 747,704 1,106,400 1,000,200 4,254,618 4,717,696 1,566,924 392,100 60,000 3,000 4,375 9,000 21,275,083 37,870,104

Symbol ABBEYBDS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.42

Quantity Traded Page 1 1

Symbol No. of Deals Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 3.93 2.14

Quantity Traded 3,143,777 5,362,131

Current Price 0.99 13.80 3.46 0.58 19.60 2.65

Quantity Traded 20,010 34,362,723 33,933,316 1,407,492 180,383 19,163,458 97,573,290

Value Traded 19,009.50 466,507,022.65 117,327,793.85 846,345.36 3,528,685.67 50,752,358.33 662,628,828.35

328,589,466

2,872,233,628.76

Quantity Traded 612,478 641,224 127,545 87,420 417,396 10 1,886,073

Value Traded 1,432,229.59 1,892,198.84 8,933,130.77 181,663.18 756,986.76 15.20 13,196,224.34

1,886,073

13,196,224.34

Quantity Traded 1,000

Value Traded 770.00

AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS

98 40

Page

Symbol DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 2 813 81 5 23 172 1,234 3,514

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 24 20 38 10 20 1 113

Current Price 2.33 2.97 69.00 2.00 1.90 1.52

113 Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.81

Page

Value Traded 770.00

IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.97

Quantity Traded 756 756

Value Traded 1,421.28 1,421.28

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

No. of Deals 15 2 17

Current Price 0.50 2.32

Quantity Traded 6,054,200 28,863 6,083,063

Value Traded 3,027,100.00 63,787.23 3,090,887.23

Symbol IHS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 3.80

Quantity Traded 505,000 505,000

Value Traded 1,919,900.00 1,919,900.00

6,589,819

5,012,978.51 Value Traded 52,656,691.88 702,629.87 25,859,024.31 13,110,490.44

21 No. of Deals 48 13 52 26

Current Price 18.00 9.50 49.00 8.66

Quantity Traded 2,906,910 77,412 543,876 1,549,781

Symbol DANGCEM DNMEYER FIRSTALUM IPWA PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 59 1 1 13 6 56 275

Current Price 237.97 1.48 0.50 0.56 5.50 105.00

Quantity Traded 593,989 14,000 Page 265,000 208,674 185,000 1,818,445 8,163,087

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX NIWICABLE

No. of Deals 10 1 11

Current Price 2.00 0.50

Quantity Traded 133,266 700 133,966

Value Traded 268,158.70 350.00 268,508.70

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC.

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 19.38

Quantity Traded 263,527 263,527

Value Traded 5,107,153.26 5,107,153.26

8,560,580

429,943,460.92

Quantity Traded 7,519 7,519

Value Traded 48,873.50 48,873.50

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER Published by The NigerianPLC. Stock Exchange © FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC IPWA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE WAPCO PLC. Building Materials Totals

Symbol

ASHAKACEM Daily Summary (Equities) BERGER CAP CCNN

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

13

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

290 Symbol

No. of Deals 7 7

OIL AND GAS Published by The Nigerian Stockand Exchange © Energy Equipment Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

48,873.50

No. of Deals 95 95

Current Price 0.51

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 239 239

Current Price 20.10

Quantity Traded 4,122,694 4,122,694

Value Traded 84,774,949.24 84,774,949.24

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 35 25 53 26 1 23 163

Current Price 51.70 3.99 93.04 124.85 54.44 173.00

Quantity Traded 157,727 380,651 247,705 27,359 900 11,274 825,616

Value Traded 7,846,867.12 1,501,566.41 21,980,392.75 3,402,863.81 46,548.00 1,910,912.94 36,689,151.03

14,837,144

126,449,660.03

Current Price 1.35

Quantity Traded 658,961 658,961

Value Traded 874,904.32 874,904.32 Value Traded 1,518,601.00

9,888,834 9,888,834

497 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 17 17 Daily Summary (Equities)

9Value Traded of 13

4,985,559.76 4,985,559.76

Activity Summary on Board EQTY RED STAR EXPRESS PLC

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 6

Current Price 4.62

Quantity Traded 332,050

SERVICES Published byCourier/Freight/Delivery The Nigerian Stock Exchange © TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 8 14

Current Price 2.55

Page Quantity Traded 134,500 466,550

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 0.55

Quantity Traded 1,193,760 1,193,760

Value Traded 652,588.00 652,588.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.67

Quantity Traded 101,333 101,333

Value Traded 67,963.11 67,963.11

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,250 1,250

Value Traded 625.00 625.00

Symbol LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS UPL

No. of Deals 3 1 3 7

Current Price 1.79 2.40 4.10

Quantity Traded 5,000 100 39,238 44,338

Value Traded 8,670.00 235.00 161,175.80 170,080.80

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 0.87

Quantity Traded 294,300 294,300

Value Traded 262,001.00 262,001.00

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 281,860Page

Value Traded 11 140,930.00 of 13 140,930.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 3 66 69

Current Price 2.59 5.60

Quantity Traded 91,800 1,465,691 1,557,491

Value Traded 237,762.00 8,187,751.27 8,425,513.27

147

4,599,843

12,450,445.90

5,841

409,505,601

4,420,004,243.51

Quantity Traded 1,060 1,060

Value Traded 1,515.80 1,515.80

5,8443

409,506,661 1,060

4,420,005,759.31 1,515.80

3

1,060

1,515.80

Printing/Publishing Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 LEARN AFRICA PLC Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053 STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Activity on Board RoadSummary Transportation TotalsEQTY SERVICES Specialty ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Published by SECURE The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Specialty Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

5 Value ofTraded 13 1.42

7,519

Symbol JAPAULOIL

Courier/Freight/Delivery

Value Traded 1,486,884.00 51,144.00 96,010.48 750.00 442,892.51 2,328,704.50 500,100.00 3,361,147.27 2,358,860.00 974,476.10 218,856.00 30,000.00 1,500.00 2,187.50 4,500.00 17,155,932.78 29,862,082.23

7

Value Traded 139,812,696.50 8 21,700.00 of 13 132,500.00 117,733.58 1,018,100.00 191,136,232.38 424,567,798.96

Page Quantity Traded

OIL ANDas GAS Totals Daily Summary of 25/02/2014 Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053 SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

13

Current Price 6.66

Daily Summary (Equities) BOCGAS

Activity Summary on Board EQTY NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

Value Traded 848,137.09

No. of Deals 13 3 5 2 15 9 7 25 17 23 4 1 2 2 1 63 208

Quantity Traded 1,000

Packaging/Containers Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 Totals Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053

13

Symbol CONTINSURE CORNERST GNI GUINEAINS INTENEGINS MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS OASISINS PRESTIGE SOVRENINS STDINSURE UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC

HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC

Current Price 7.99 6.46 14.91 2.26 24.90 3.80 2.20 7.75 8.45 0.50 1.00 21.25

3

No. of Deals 2,071

Daily Summary (Equities)

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

7,566,675.67 2 of

Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 STERLING BANK PLC. Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053 UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH BANK PLC Daily Summary as ofINTERNATIONAL 25/02/2014 Activity Summary on Board EQTY

126,258,282.81

Quantity Traded 824,106 824,106

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. FoodSummary Products--Diversified Totals Activity on Board EQTY

28,889,303 Current Price 1.65

51

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Value Traded 160,010.71 of 13 1,815.00 113,124,319.47 12,972,137.63 126,258,282.81

1

No. of Deals 24 24

Symbol SKYESHELT

Current Price

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC

Symbol COSTAIN

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Quantity Traded 97,057 Page 1,500 28,588,336 202,410 28,889,303

No. of Deals 1

Telecommunications Services IHS PLC Telecommunications Services Totals Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 Totals 14:45:53.053 Printed ICT 25/02/2014

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 PRESCO PLC Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053 Crop Production Totals

Symbol

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Totals

281,860

10Value Traded of 13 337,239.40 1,855,840.40

1.42

EQTY Board Totals

Value Traded 12,211,602.99 11,436,010.00 6

7

of

of

13

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board ASeM

Daily Summary as of 25/02/2014 Printed 25/02/2014 14:45:53.053 CONSUMER GOODS

Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 3 3

Equity Activity Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals ASeM Board Totals

Exchange Traded Fund

Name Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Exchange Traded Fund Totals

13

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol NEWGOLD

Current Price 1.43

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 2,126.00

Quantity Traded Page 150 150

Value Traded 12 of 13 318,900.00 318,900.00

ETF Board Totals

1

150

318,900.00

ETP Activity Totals

1

150

318,900.00

50 FOREIGN

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Ugandan tabloid prints list of 'top' homosexuals

A Ugandan reads a copy of the "Red Pepper" tabloid newspaper in Kampala, Uganda yesterday.The Ugandan newspaper published a list of what it called the country's "200 top" homosexuals, exposing some Ugandans who previously had not identified themselves as gay, one day after the president Yoweri Museveni signed the anti-gay into law

A

Ugandan newspaper published a list yesterday of what it called the country's "200 top" homosexuals, exposing some Ugandans who previously had not identified themselves as gay one day after the president enacted a harsh anti-gay law.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday's signing of the bill by President Yoweri Museveni marked "a tragic day for Uganda and for all who care about the cause of human rights" and warned that Washington could cut aid to the government of the East African nation.

"Now that this law has been enacted, we are beginning an internal review of our relationship with the Government of Uganda to ensure that all dimensions of our engagement, including assistance programs, uphold our anti-discrimination policies and principles and reflect our values," Kerry said in

a statement.

The Red Pepper tabloid published the names — and some pictures — of alleged homosexuals in a front-page story under the headline: "EXPOSED!" The list included prominent Ugandan gay activists such as Pepe Julian Onziema, who has repeatedly warned that Uganda's new anti-gay law could spark violence against homosexuals. A popular Ugandan hip-hop star and a Catholic priest are also on the list.

Few Ugandans identify themselves publicly as gay, and the tabloid's publication of alleged homosexuals recalled a similar list published in 2011 by a nowdefunct tabloid that called for the execution of gays. A Ugandan judge later condemned the outing of homosexuals in a country where gays face severe discrimination, saying it amounted to an invasion of privacy. A prominent Ugandan gay activist, David Kato, was killed after that list came out, and activists said at the time that they believed he was targeted because of his work promoting gay rights in Uganda.

'Secrets of the Vatican' exposes moral crises facing Catholic Church's new pope

Egypt jails 220 ousted Morsi supporters

T

E

he Roman Catholic Church is enjoying some of its best press in decades, and hundreds of thousands of alienated Catholics are returning, thanks in large part to the new, and in some cases revolutionary, leadership of Pope Francis.

But, says a new documentary

by PBS’ Frontline, Secrets of the Vatican, the morally wrenching controversies that threatened to destroy the church's credibility, starting about the time Pope John Paul II died in 2005, have not fully subsided. Further, the success of Francis’ papacy will depend on how quickly and thoroughly he addresses them.

Secrets of the Vatican takes an unsparing look at the state of the church Pope Francis inherited from his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, successor to Pope John Paul II and the first head of the church to resign in 600 years.

“2012 was an annus horribilis for [Benedict],” Antony Thomas, the producer, writer and director

of the film for Frontline, told Yahoo News in an interview. Everything was exploding. He wanted to clean up the Vatican bank. He was in a very difficult predicament all the way through.”

A horrible year on many fronts, not just with mounting evidence of financial impropriety at the Vatican bank, but also with incidents of sexual abuse by clergy spreading to more than 20 countries and, further, exposure of church hypocrisy about homosexuality. Two of Benedict’s most significant moves were to change the Catholic catechism — in effect, its rules of practice — to label homosexuality as an “objective disorder,” laying groundwork to, among other things, remove gay clergy.

At the same time, reports emerged from Rome of a “gay mafia” inside the church that included some of its top officials, who were unafraid to wield political power and at the same time live an openly promiscuous gay lifestyle.

gyptian courts have sentenced 220 mostly supporters of the ousted Islamist president to up to seven years imprisonment for instigating violence and holding protests without a permit.

The three Alexandria courts issued verdicts in separate cases yesterday, all related to protests held by mostly Mohammed Morsi supporters that descended into violence last summer. The military removed Egypt's first elected president from power after millions held demonstrations demanding him to step down over allegations he abused power.

Former Islamist lawmaker Sobhi Saleh was among the 134 who were sentenced to three years prison and fined nearly $7,000 each for inciting violence and holding protests in August.

The month was Egypt's bloodiest in decades as security forces unleashed a heavy crackdown on protest camps that hundreds dead.

Meanwhile, Egypt's interim president has chosen as prime minister a construction magnate from the era of ousted autocrat, Hosni Mubarak.

Adly Mansour yesterday named Ibrahim Mehlib, who had for more than a decade led Egypt's biggest construction company, Arab Contractors, to replace Hazem el-Beblaw, who resigned on Monday.

Many saw the move as paving the way for military chief and Defense Minister Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to run for the presidency and to defuse mounting popular anger at the government's perceived failure to revive the economy and improve services.

El-Sissi must leave the military if he is to run for president.

Mehlib told reporters yesterday that his cabinet members will be "holy warriors" in the service of Egyptians. He says he will form his cabinet within three days.

Israel bombs Hezbollah target on Syria-Lebanon border

I

srael, bent on halting any transfer of weapons to Lebanon's Hezbollah, has bombarded a position of the powerful Shiite group on the Lebanese-Syrian border, sources say.

On Monday night, "two Israeli raids hit a Hezbollah target on the border of Lebanon and Syria," a Lebanese security source disclosed.

Lebanon's National News Agency confirmed the report, adding that the raids struck the countryside of the Lebanese border town of Nabi Sheet.

Local residents said the raid took place inside Lebanon, and a Lebanese military source said this was "most likely" the case.

Lebanon's army did not confirm there had been any strikes, but it reported violations of the country's airspace by Israel.

Hezbollah is an arch-enemy of Israel, and has sent thousands of fighters across the border to aid Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime as it battles Sunni-led rebels.

Syria has long provided arms and other aid to Hezbollah, and served as a key conduit of Iranian military aid to the movement, which battled Israel to a bloody stalemate in a brief 2006 war.

Nabi Sheet is a bastion of Hezbollah, and the group has a suspected weapons store and training camp there.

Residents said they saw flares light up the sky ahead of the raids, which shook their houses.

They said they heard planes flying low and that the target appeared to be a Hezbollah position in the mountains near the town.

There was no official comment on the raids from Hezbollah, the Lebanese government or Syria.

An army source disclosed: "The raids most likely took place on Lebanese territory, but we cannot be completely sure because the borders in that area are not well defined."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asked about the raid yesterday, responded cryptically.

"We are doing everything that is necessary in order to defend the security of Israel," he said.

Injury scuttles Dike’s Sunderland move Ajibade Olusesan

T

he injury to Super Eagles striker, Bright Dike, might not have only caused him the chance in the national team squad to World Cup but opportunity to move to the

Premier League side, Sunderland, in the summer.

The striker damaged his Achilles tendon during Toronto FC training session, an injury that might keep him out of action for up to nine months. He has been

SPORT

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

effectively ruled out of the 2014 World Cup in June but New Telegraph learnt that his impending move to the Stadium of Light has also been hampered by the ugly development.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

NEW TELEGRAPH

Did you know?

newtelegraphonline.com/sports

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS kunle.salami@newtelegraphonline.com adekunles@yahoo.com

That Samson Siasia played 51 international matches for Nigeria, scoring thirteen goals

WEDNESday, February 26, 2014

Confession!

Okagbare

pressure affects my output –Okagbare Emmanuel Tobi

N

igeria queen of the tracks, Blessing Okagbare, has revealed the pains of bearing the burden of the country at major international competitions like the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championship.

Okagbare became the first Nigerian athlete in twelve years to win a medal at the World Athletics Championship after leaping a distance of 6.99m to win a silver medal at the 2013 event in August, where she also finished third in the 200m women final to win bronze.

The last time Nigeria won medals was in Seville 1999 when the duo of Francis Obikwelu and

Gloria Alozie won silver medal in the 200m and 110m hurdles respectively.

Speaking from her US base, the 100m African Champion, expressed disappointment on the pressure being mounted on her whenever she is competing for the country, but maintained she overcame the challenge through the love and support received from her family members.

“I was always under pressure to deliver for Nigeria at any competition because the hope of the entire country is always on me which is not supposed to be. You don’t know how it feels when you think of over 150million people expecting you to perform magic at every situation. I feel a heavy burden on my shoulders and that was why I do well in some meets on my own but the pressure of the whitegreen-white was huge more so because not many athletes get

Okagbare

CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

Obasi faces Real test

}p-54

Nigeria friendly crucial, says Mexico coach

}p-55

Sundowns: Uzoenyi is our player

}p-55

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Countdown to Fifa World Cup

Why Eagles failed at France’98 –Okoku Former Nigeria’s Green Eagles player, Paul Okoku, in this interview with Chimaobi Uchendu warns that the Super Eagles might crash out in the first round of Brazil 2014 World Cup if the errors that led to the elimination of the team by Denmark at the 1998 World Cup are not taken care of.

Do you see Nigeria in an easy group at the next World Cup? This group we find ourselves is not a group of death by any imagination, but if the Super Eagles think it will be a walk over for them then they will face whatever consequence that comes with it.

To many who cannot see beyond their noses and those who see victory by the name of opponents, I’ll say yes we are in an easy group but professionally as one who had followed the Super Eagles as a player and as a fan, I’ll say we’re in a tight group.

From the research I made since the draw was made I found out that Argentina is not going to be the problem of Nigeria in that group but Bosnia and Iran.

Why are you particular about Iran and Bosnia?

Bosnia and Iran play the same style and pattern of football which matches the style of Denmark. When I found this fact I quickly went further to study the style Denmark applied when they sent Nigeria out of the World Cup in France.

I remember Nigerians were already celebrating Eagles quarter final berth before the match was played but got the shock of their lives as Denmark humiliated us.

I will not want that kind of humiliation to repeat itself again especially now that we are African champions and a force to be reckoned with in World football.

So what should the technical crew do?

Keshi is experienced enough to understand what I’m talking about and I know he must have procured tapes involving his opponents in Group F that would help him prepare for them.

The technical crew and the squad must not overate themselves ahead of any opponent because World football have gone beyond name and pedigree. In fact every team is as good as it’s last result, so we must also have this at the back of our minds.

Any team that qualifies for the mundial deserves a lot of respect and I believe our team would do this to get to the promise land.

Do you see the Super Eagles going beyond the quarter final in Brazil?

It is possible but we have to come out of group F first. The team must take it match after match because what kills a team most times is thinking and planning what is not possible.

If I must answer this question sincerely, then I must say here that my target for the team is a semifinal berth and with this I mean the Super Eagles must take wise counsel over the likes of Iran and Bosnia and win convincingly against them and maybe play a goalless draw with Argentina.

By this permutation they will top the group and get a less tough team in the second round which would catapult them into the quarter final and anything can happen from here.

To achieve this feat, don’t you

Okoku

think that Keshi needs to dig deep to bring back the ‘rebel’ players?

No, there is no need recalling the players that had been dropped from the team because it would bring dissaffection among the players.

By this I mean that if these players are recalled they might want to retaliate by turning other players against the technical crew. I’m talking from experience and not sentiment. There is no doubt that these players that have been left out of the team are good players who have experience that could drive the team to the promise land but it would be costly to have them back.

What I would advise Keshi and the rest of the technical crew to do is to keep the team that won the Nations Cup in South Africa intact and make few additions which must not include the rebels and we’re ready to fly high in Brazil.

Are you saying you did not spot any player from the CHAN team that could make Keshi’s final list to Brazil?

I spotted good players in that squad but I can tell you that they are not yet ripe for a challenge such as the World Cup. Maybe Keshi could decide to take one or two of them to expose them to top flight football, but for competition sake no, they are not ready yet.

I’m a product of Nigeria’s local league and I’m proud of what our boys do both at continental club level and what they did at the last CHAN. In fact nobody gave them the chance to do well but they defied all odds to get to the semifinal, which for me is respectable.

With the innovations I have seen lately in the league, I believe that soon foreigners would begin to come to play here like our boys go to play in other African countries. When foreigners begin to play here our league will begin to produce fifty percent of players in the national team. I hear that sign on fees had been abolished for enhanced salaries for players, it is also a good development but clubs must make sure they meet the obligations of players to get the best out of them.

Talking about your foundation, what is it all about?

The name of is Greater Tomorrow Children’s Foundation. I incorporated it in the United States of America ten years ago to cater for the needs of less privileged and abandoned children.

The foundation has been recognized by the government of United States government that a law was passed that anyone that contributes to the foundation, such contribution would be

IKe Uche

deducted from his tax. It is successful and I thought that replicating it in Nigeria would be worth the while.

Initially I helped children from my alma mater, St Paul’s Primary School in Ebuta Meta, but I was not satisfied because so many children needed help.

Presently I’m partnering the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation, the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the wife of Katsina State governor , Little Saints Orphanage home, among numerous others to bring to reality the hope of helping Nigerian children achieve their potentials.

We shall be launching the foundation come April in Abuja.

What is your opinion on the hiring of a foreign coach for the SuperEagles for the World Cup? I’m saddened by this development; I never imagined this debate would come up after what happened in South Africa between the NFF and Keshi during and after the Nations Cup. I think Keshi deserves to be respected by his employers because he has done well with the Eagles. Though sentiments should not be added when a national issue is being considered, I think Nigeria does not need a foreign coach in any capacity to execute next year’s World Cup. Look back at what happened at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when Amodu was asked to step aside for a foreign assistant after qualifying Nigeria for the mundial, it was a disaster for the team.

The time is too short for a foreign coach to make any difference, rather it would only create confusion.

I’m suing for peace and understanding between all parties involved in this because the interest of Nigeria supersedes that of any individual or group.

Finally I want to advise NFF to go for a foreign coach if they so wish, long before major championships as it would help stabilize the team and make Nigerians more comfortable.

SPORT 53

Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Nigerian League Rendezvous with charles Ogundiya

charlesog2001@yahoo.com, charles.ogundiya@newtelegraphonline.com

08098042287

Why I dumped Enyimba for El-Kanemi Warriors –Salisu

Coach Salisu Yusuf, despite leading Enyimba International of Aba to the Federation Cup trophy and second position on the league table last season, decided to dump the club and pitch his tent with El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri. The former midfielder revealed his mission with the Desert Warriors and the main reason why he left Enyimba, among other salient issues. Excerpts:

What attracted you to El-Kanemi Warriors?

They are a very ambitious side.

Last season they finished fourth in the Premier League, so it is another opportunity for me to go to another place for new set of challenges.

Despite taking Enyimba to the continent, you dumped the club. Do you think that is a good decision?

It’s very unfortunate that following the conclusion of the season, they failed to pay me my 50 percent contract fee, which was included in the contract I signed with them at the start of the season. It was wrong and I cannot take that. If I work for you and you fail to pay me, then I can’t work for you again. It is only fair that when a labourer finishes his job, you pay him. If you don’t pay him then it is wrong. I don’t have any problem with the club, but if you can’t pay me then I can’t work.

Yusuf

There was this rumour that you left Enyimba because you were accused of selling the game against Kano Pillars in Lokoja, how true is this?

Nobody ever accused me of selling that match; it never even occurred to

me. This is the first time I am hearing this. When we played Pillars, we lost concentration in the last 30 seconds of the game. It can happen anytime.

In football, goals are scored through mistakes. We made that mistake and we conceded that goal, and that was all. When we played 3SC, we were leading 1-0 and three minutes to the end of the game, the referee awarded a penalty. The player played the penalty and my goalkeeper stopped the kick, but the referee asked for a replay of the penalty. Let me tell you, if we had won that game against 3SC, even if Pillars scored 10 goals against us, we would have won the league last season. Despite all that, I believe God really wanted Kano Pillars to win the league and that was why they won it.

What is your mission at El-Kanemi?

When I joined Enyimba, I was told by the management that the main reason why I was employed was to take the team back to the continent, as it was almost four seasons before my arrival that the team last made it to the continent, and I told them I would try my best. Although, it was not easy, we won the Federation Cup and only missed out on the league title. El-Kanemi Warriors finished fourth last season, so the target this time around is to go a step further and take the team to the continent for the coming season and maybe in two years’ time we can be thinking of winning the league.

Nigeria may play abridged league season Jude Opara Abuja

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here are very strong indications that the 2013/2014 Nigeria Premier League season may play an abridged league unless the League Management Company (LMC) and the Club Owners Association of Nigeria drop their differences and work together

for the interest of the sport.

The League which was earlier scheduled to kick off on February 22 could not start because most of the clubs are yet to comply with the directives of the LMC which were to have been met before the March 7 kickoff date.

Part of the requirements are that each club should

Stores, 3SC set Onikan on fire

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Kwara United forward Stanley Dimgba against Rangers

Sunshine player out till mid-season

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h e last victim of the accident involving premier league side, Sunshine Stars of Akure, Emmanuel Sunday, was finally discharged

deposit a bond of N100 million, to pay each player a mini me of N150 million and that the teams should deposit a valid contract of each player.

But a meeting of the LMC and the clubs in Abuja yesterday could not start until about 7 pm because most of the team managers did not arrive the venue on time.

etur ning Stationery Stores of Lagos and 3 S C Football Club of Ibadan will renew their agelong rivalry inside the Onikan Waterfront stadium tomorrow in one of the week three NNL league season.

Stores returns to the league after so many years in the dol-

from the hospital on Monday night but according to report, he will be out of action till the middle of the new season.

Speaking with New Telegraph, coach of the side, Henry Abiodun, said; “We thank God that Emmanuel is finally out of the hospi-

drums, taking over the slot of Union Bank in the NNL while 3SC on their part were relegated to the lower rung of the league last season.

Both sides are yet to lose a match in the three week-long season, however, 3SC will be looking to consolidate its top position with a victory while Stores will be looking for their first victory at home after drawing their first two matches.

tal, but he will miss the first half of the season. Also Paul Anobi will be out for a while too. Although both are an integral part of the team, I can assure you that it will not derail our season.”

Sunshine kicks off the new season with a match against Enyimba on 7th of March.

Bosso: I’m not an errand boy

Bosso

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ewly appointed Technical Adviser of Abia Warriors, Ladan Bosso, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, has taken a swipe at the management of Bayelsa United, claiming he, Bosso, is not their errand boy.

“If I am your brother, will you ask me to stay where I am not wanted,” asked Bosso. “For crying out loud, I am a professional and not just an errand boy that doesn’t know what he is doing.

“Up till the time I left the team, they were yet to give me contract papers to sign despite what I did for them last season; taking the team to the verge of winning the league and qualifying them for the CAF Confederation Cup. “By extension, I am the vice-president of the Nigeria Coaches Association and I must lay a good example for others. I cannot be working without a proper contract signed by both parties. Immediately I got to Abia Warriors, I was given my contract papers and after studying it, I pointed out where I was not satisfied and it was corrected immediately,” the former Flying Eagles coach said.

Speaking further on why he dumped Bayelsa United, Bosso cited interference by the club’s management as one of the reasons why he decided to end his romance with the Yenagoa-based side.

Ohanachom promises more goals for Plateau United

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lateau United striker, Chinedu Ohanachom, whose brace earned the Jos-based team a 2-1 win over FRSC last weekend, has expressed joy over the encounter and has promised to score more.

“I am happy to get those goals. They are important to me and the team, because it gave us victory and that is the ultimate. I am looking forward to getting more as the league progresses,” Ohanachom said.

When asked the actual number of goals he wishes to score in the current season, Ohanachom said; “I don’t want to put myself under unnecessary pressure. I just want to keep doing well for my team and get as many as I can.”

54 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Obasi faces Real test N

igerian international, Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi, could play his second Champions League match this season when his German side, Schalke O4 faces Real Madrid in the Round of 16 tie today.

Obasi’s stay in Schalke has been severely hampered by injuries. The player spent almost six months on the treatment table last year but he’s been gradually reclaiming his form since making a return last November.

He may not start against the nine-time champions as Coach Gertjan Verbeek might keep faith with the duo of Jefferson Farfan and Klaas Huntelaar in the attack, but the Nigerian is very likely to play a role at some point in the game.

The two teams have never met before, but Madrid have won just one of their 24 matches on German

A

C Milan forward Mario Balotelli has not ruled out a return to the Premier League, despite previously vowing he would not play for any other club in England than Manchester City.

In an interview with Soccer Italia magazine the Italy international looked back fondly on his time at the Etihad Stadium, but admitted he could not rule out reneging on his promise not play for any of City’s domestic rivals.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for the striker.

“The Manchester City fans were fantastic with me and when I left, I said that I’d never be able to see myself in England with another shirt than City’s,” Balotelli said. “But in football, nothing’s impossible.”

“I made mistakes in the past and I have no problem admitting it,” he said.

soil, losing 17.

Meanwhile, Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, is set to pass last minute fitness test as Chelsea visit Galatasaray also today.

Coach Jose Mourinho has expressed concern over Mikel’s health ahead of the clash but there are indications that the 26-year-old will be fit for the clash.

Mikel has found starting shirt rare in recent times at the Bridge but with injury to David Luiz and Nemanja Matic being cup-tied the former Lyn Oslo of Norway midfielder could regain his place in the first eleven if he passes fitness test.

Ramsey targets Tottenham return

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Balotelli eyes EPL return

Obasi

zz As Mikel relishes Drogba re-union

Ajibade Olusesan

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

rsenal midfielder, Aaron Ramsey Ramsey, could be back in time for Arsenal’s Premier League trip to Tottenham on March 16.

The news will come as a huge boost for Gunners boss, Arsene Wenger, who has been without the Wales international since Boxing Day. Ramsey had been in inspired form, with 15 goals to his name, before picking up a thigh injury during the Christmas clash with West Ham. The 23-year-old had looked to be on course for a return last month only to suffer a setback in training.

Some reports suggest Ramsey could even be in the running for a return for the Champions League trip to Bayern Munich five days earlier, however, according to the Telegraph the visit to north London rivals Spurs, seems the more realistic target.

Drogba: Chelsea ‘10 times better than Galatasaray’

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Drogba

idier Drogba has said that his former club, Chelsea are “10 times better” than his current side, Galatasaray, ahead of the teams’ Champions League meeting in Istanbul today.

“Are Chelsea better than Galatasaray?

Yes, they are 10 times better,” the Galatasaray striker, now 35, told the BBC on the eve of the last 16 clash.

“If I play, it is to win. It will be tough, but Juve were better than us, so anything can happen. If there’s a one percent chance of us winning. I’ll believe it.”

Drogba spent eight years at Chelsea, scoring 157 goals in 342 games and won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and also scored the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final -- his final kick in a Blues shirt.

“It will be difficult,” he said of playing against the London club Chelsea.

“You don’t stay eight years in a place you don’t like, especially in football -- it is very emotional.

Ancelotti: 10th UCL title an ‘obsession’

Toni Kroos not for sale - Sammer

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arlo Ancelotti has said that Real Madrid have put in enough hard work to get their season back on track and he now wants to ‘decorate’ their campaign with the club’s long sought-after 10th European Cup trophy.

After a rocky start, Madrid are now 26 games without defeat in all competitions.

In recent weeks, they have caught and surpassed Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to take a three-point lead in La Liga, while also qualifying for April’s Copa del Rey final against their Catalan rivals.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League last 16 first leg at Schalke, Ancelotti told Canal Plus that reaching and winning the Champions League final in Lisbon would be the crowning achievement of what is turning into a good season for Madrid.

“We want to play the final of the Champions League,” Ancelotti said. “Obsession? ‘La Decima’ is a word you can hear again and again, it is a big motivation for everyone.

Kroos

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ayern Munich Sporting Director, Matthias Sammer has insisted that the club will not sell Toni Kroos, amid new speculation about a multimillion euro offer from Manchester United, while not ruling out a move for Schalke young-

ster Julian Draxler.

Midfielder Kroos is under contract at Bayern until 2015, but the Germany international has yet to reach an agreement on a new deal with the German and European champions.

He is reportedly on 86,000 euros a week, and hopes to at least double his wages if he is to put pen to paper.

Montpellier’s Niang gets suspended jail term

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ontpellier striker, Mbaye Niang, has been sentenced to a suspended 18-month jail sentence after a hit and run car accident.

The 19-year-old Frenchman, who joined Montpellier on loan last month from AC Milan, admitted hitting several cars before crashing his Ferrari into a tree earlier this month.

He was charged with causing unintentional injuries, endangering people’s lives, a hit and run and driving without a licence.

“I panicked,” the player told a Montpellier court on Monday, when asked why he never stopped after hitting the vehicles.

Bundesliga SN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

TEAM Bayern Munich Leverkusen Dortmund Schalke Wolfsburg Gladbach Hertha Berlin Augsburg Mainz

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PTS

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Hoffenheim Hannover Nurnberg Frankfurt Bremen Stuttgart Hamburg Freiburg Braunschweig

22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22

26 24 23 22

SN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

TEAM Juventus Roma Napoli Fiorentina Inter Verona Parma Torino AC Milan Lazio Genoa Udinese Sampdoria Atalanta Cagliari Chievo Bologna Livorno Catania Sassuolo

62 43 42 41 39 35 34 34

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Sanctity of Truth

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Sport Trending

Mikel on Inter radar again

TWITTER

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uper Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has been again linked with Serie A giants, Inter Milan following the earlier interest from the Narazzuri during the transfer break.

The Chelsea midfielder has been declared surplus to requirement by his employers and according to Italian sports website, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter are keen to bring the Nigerian to the San Siro.

The Nerazzurri squad will undergo major rebuilding in the summer and boss Walter Mazzarri is looking to sign a holding midfielder.

The sports website reports that sporting director, Piero Ausilio, has scouted a number of high-profile footballers, but it appears Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel is the first name on the hit-list.

The Nigerian has lost his place in the side with the arrival of Nemanja Matic and he reportedly wants to test his skills in a new league.

Mikel has a contract until June 2017 at Stamford Bridge and is valued at ₤15 million, while his ₤4 million yearly wage could prove to be a problem.

George Abbey ‘Nothing compares to being out there on the green.’ Former Super Eagles defender, George Abbey, wishing he wasn’t retired.

@GeorgeAbbey15

Sunday Mba If your dreams don’t scare you ..that means they are not big enough.

@mba_sunday Zlatan Ibrahimovic I have not talked to any UK journalist or anybody at The Mirror, not the first time this happens. The Mirror is a joke!

@Ibra_official

Mo Farah Go Hard Or Go Home....!!! Track session this morning....!! @Mo_Farah BBCSport Defender Johan Djourou would be open to a permanent move from Arsenal to Hamburg in the summer

@BBCSport Dike (left)

Nigeria friendly crucial, says Mexico coach

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exico national team Coach, Miguel Herrera, has restated the importance of his team’s friendly encounter with Nigeria next month.

Herrera has invited 24 players for the game with Giovanni dos Santos and Javier ‘Chicarito’ Hernandez leading the foreign legion of eight players. While

sixteen others were selected from the Liga MX, with Club America and Club Leon contributing four players apiece.

“The game is one of the matches we have lined up as part of our preparations for the World Cup. These games would put the team in the right psychological state going to the World Cup,” the

North American tactician said.

Herrera will, however, have to do without the services of Carlos Vela as the striker has refused to make a return to the El Tri. The friendly is billed to take place on March 5 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States.

pressure affects my output –Okagbare C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

to the finals like I do.

“Now, I have been able to overcome that problem. I really don’t get that pressure anymore because I am now mature I guess and my family members assisted me in prayers and have been supporting me. It is not easy when you come from a society that only criticizes you when you fail, gives you less credit and encouragement when you win, the only option is to do it for yourself. That is exactly what I have been doing.”

Speaking further, Okagbare who was discovered in her hometown, Sapele, said thinking about the pressure could

be a distraction.

“I don’t worry about what other people think but am focus on what Blessing Okagbare can do and achieve. I always think about all the work, commitment and how much I invest in myself every season, and I just decided to be myself.

Ever since then, my career has gone from good to great,” she said.

The Texas at El Paso graduate however stressed that her family remains her source of inspiration. “ My family members are wonderful people. They have been very supportive. Even when I felt like giving up they won’t even let me, instead they push me so hard to hit the target.”

According to a source in the Super Eagles, the striker has been on Coach Gus Poyet’s radar and the Uruguayan was keen to bring the former Portland Timbers striker to England in the summer.

“Dike has been very unfortunate,” the team official who sought anonymity began. “He really wanted to be in the World Cup and the coach likes his work rate and felt he should make it. But the most unfor-

tunate thing for the player is that he may not be able to make it to Sunderland again.

“They wanted him in January but the deal just did not work out and he was told that by the time the window opens in the summer negotiation will be reopened. I think it may be difficult for that one to happen again. I spoke with him a couple of days ago and he expressed his disappointment about the injury. But he’s strong, he will bounce back,” the source added.

NigeriaNewsdesk Coach Jose Mourinho says a reporter who leaked his comments about Chelsea’s strikers is “a disgrace” to his profession

@NigeriaNewsdesk Oluwashina “Problem with Chelsea is we lack a scorer. I have one [Eto’o] but he’s 32. Maybe 35, who knows?” JM Presser: “It’s a disgrace.” @oluwashina

Uzoenyi is our player, Sundowns insist

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Uzoenyi

amelodi Sundowns insist they have signed Ejike Uzoenyi from Enugu Rangers despite recent denials from the NiPremier League

geria side.

Sundowns released a statement last Thursday announcing that the Super

Eagles winger had joined the club, but soon afterwards Rangers’ Media Officer Foster Chime, claimed it was not true.

Downs, however, said the confusion was down to a misunderstanding.

“The deal was done in a professional manner and we acknowledge that the Enugu Rangers media officer was not aware of this but he did correct it that he was unaware of the deal,” says the Brazilians’ communications co-ordinator Thulani Thuswa.

NFF to conduct FIFA Players Agents’ exam April 3

Injury scuttles Dike’s Sunderland move F

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 5 1

|@NTelegraphSport

ollowing a circular from world football -governing body, the Nigeria Football Federation is set to conduct this year’s FIFA Players’ Agents examination on Thursday, April 3, 2014. Incidentally, it will be the last such examination, as the current licensing system will be abandoned from this summer.

The circular, dated 31 January, 2014 and signed by Markus Kattner, FIFA Deputy General Secretary, explained that the world body will send to each National Association a total of 15 questions that relate to the international regulations, while the National Association (in this

case, Nigeria Football Federation), will be required to set five questions on national subjects, and such questions shall be set as multiple choice test.

“In order to avoid potential irregularities, the examination will be scheduled for one day only.

“FIFA has the sole authority to set questions relating to international subjects. All associations are therefore strictly forbidden from setting their own questions relating to international subjects. In the event of any violation in this regard, FIFA will not recognise the examination results from the association(s).”

World Record

On Marble Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power – Abraham Lincoln

Sanctity of Truth

w w w. new tel eg rap ho nl i ne. co m

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha WEDNESday, FEBRuary 26, 2014.

Out of hand The Boko haram crisis is getting out of hand and needs new measures to tackle it.

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y reading of the Borno State Governor’s Save Our State visit to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the second or third visit on the same issue in the last six months is that the terrorist insurgency in the North East part of the country has taken a new dimension. The hapless governor was simply terrified, if not hysterical as he conceded, rightly or wrongly, that Boko Haram (a Sectarian terrorist organisation) cannot be defeated by the combined might of the Nigerian Armed Forces. In his words, this is no longer time to play the Ostrich. Governor Kashim further stated that Boko Haram terrorists are evidently more equipped, better motivated than the Nigerian soldiers. This is very serious, since those who know the governor will, say that he is not given to loquacious, boisterous, or effusive expressions. Also, the Northern Governors’ Forum rising from their meeting, felt that Boko Haram Insurgency is getting out of hand, and requires concerted action, strategic support from all Northern Governors to stem the dangerous tide. Muhammadu Buhari also lent his voice condemning the activities of Boko Haram.

Nigeria is on the precipice of a major war, unfortunately complex, and regrettably, it seems to be beyond the comprehension of our Military High Command. I am still waiting to see or hear what the new Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Alex Badeh, will say. The new Chief of Defence Staff, in the momentary euphoria of his new elevation quickly enthused that Boko Haram will be a thing of the past by April, 2014. Since then, the security situation has worsened. The red buttons are up, the clear signals of danger are everywhere, and the music is loud – “run, run, run there is fire on the mountain”.

Several questions come to mind. Who created Boko Haram, and for what purposes? Who are its major accomplices, benefactors? What role did the Nigerian state and its rulers play in the monstrous development of Boko Haram? I do not intend here to provide all the answers but to put in perspective the trajectory of the organization, and what needs to be done urgently to save the scourge from spreading to other parts of the country. Nigeria is a poly ethnic, multi-cultural, and multireligious society.

It is true that the country’s political history has been marred by ethno-sectarian violence. It is equally true that what is being seen in the country today has not been seen since the end of the civil war

870-bed New York City Prison Barge is the largest prison ship in the world. It cost $161 million when it was finished in 1992 and it is situated on the East River in New York, the United States (U.S.).

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Boko Haram: President Jonathan must act now IvoryGlory Nkemdili Nnonyelu

in 1970. What happened in Niger Delta was a focused and targeted attack on the agents of foreign monopoly capital in the country. At no time did Niger Delta Militants take up arms against their kith and kin, levelling villages and communities. It is important to state also that since September 11, 2001, the reality has dawned on much of the discerning world that the greatest threats to international peace and security, no longer come from states, but from non-state actors, who are fuelled by extremists’ propaganda of hate, (ethnic or sectarian) and other material considerations, often times, an admixture of creed and greed.

It may be helpful to recollect that the North had witnessed in the past sectarian violence particularly the Maitatsine religious revolts, the poor handling of which led to a dispersal of sectarian fundamentalism and irredentism across the Northern part of Nigeria. The heretic teachings of Mohammed Marwa (nicknamed Maitatsine) targeted against modernization, which labelled Muslim faithful as infidels for using modern artifacts, watches, bicycles, cars were indeed forerunner to today’s doctrinal teachings of Boko Haram – Western Education is forbidden.

Under Obasanjo’s civil (not democratic) rule, Islamic sectarian revivalism and puritanism gained momentum with the declaration of the Islamic legal code in some states of Nigeria. The ground was very fertile for the mushrooming of several sects. Other critical factors that helped in the ascendancy of Boko Haram were the

‘What happened in Niger Delta was a focused and targeted attack on the agents of foreign monopoly capital in the country.

fear of Christian domination as seen by the control of state power since Obasanjo presidency in 1999, an increasing large pool of unemployed, and largely uneducated youths (Almajiris) the deepening poverty and lack of development in the North Eastern part of the country.

Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram operated around the Maiduguri area in Borno State, where he became famous for his virulent attacks on western life style and beliefs. Like Maitatsine and others before him, he had disdain for authority and establishment. Seen as a voice of the masses, it was easy for Yusuf to attract considerable followership which emboldened him to confront the state institutions. The encounter between his disciples and agents of state led to torching of buildings, loss of lives etc. Yusuf was eventually captured and died allegedly in controversial circumstances in police net.

Since then Borno state, North East Nigeria, nay the entire Nigeria has not known peace. No place is sacred, as churches, schools, mosques, media houses are constantly under attack. The dare-devil terrorists have also taken the battle to military and police formations and other government establishments. In fact, the attacks masterminded by Boko Haram are horrendous, as the aged, women, children even Emirs, symbols of royalty are not spared.

Boko Haram has so grown in sophistication over the years that they now deploy several Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED). The manner of their attacks, organization, dare devilry and precision suggest that Boko Haram is no longer a local sectarian militant group, but a fully developed terrorist organization with possible links to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). So, the group’s threat can no longer be treated with kids’ gloves. There needs to be paradigm shift in the way and manner the organization has been engaged. It is surprising that a terrorist organization

will move hundreds of kilometres with military hardware including Armoured Personnel Carriers and other heavy military vehicles filled with rocket propellers, anti-aircraft, grenades etc., without being tracked and halted.

The president and the military high command need to change gear and operational style. There should be a massive deployment of a complimentary counter insurgency military/air force personnel and armament, to the troubled North Eastern part of the country. Intelligence gathering should be the plank of this new operation. There should be a simultaneous engagement of clerics who may have the confidence of these protagonists of violence, and massive poverty alleviation strategies in the entire North East/North Western zones (recruitment areas for the insurgency). Northern elites must wake up from their slumber, partner with the presidency to counter possible infiltration of Boko Haram by foreign elements.

An offer of amnesty to genuine terrorists who are willing to renounce their membership, just as was the case in the Niger Delta, should be used to further the sense of equity, fairness and justice in Nigeria.

The people themselves must cooperate with the military authorities by making available all necessary intelligence information that will help in tracking the movement of these merchants of death.

OmoBaba

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