Binder3 jan 6, 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Tuesday, January 6, 2015

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Vol. 1 No. 321

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N150

How we'll spend N21bn campaign fund, by PDP }5

Tension in SEC as Oteh's tenure expires Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

s the five-year tenure of Director-General of Securities and Exchange

Commission (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh, ends today there is anxiety in the organisation over her successor. It was gathered yesterday that Oteh had been lobbying the presidency for an

extension of her tenure despite stiff opposition from workers' union. The workers have threatened to go on strike should President Goodluck Jonathan extend her tenure.

However, the presidency is yet to make any pronouncement and no letter has been forwarded to her in that direction, a source told New Telegraph yesterday in Abuja.

NEW TELEG

RAPH TUESD AY, JANUA

Interview

RY 6, 2015

We’ve traine in 10 years d over 40,000 adult , says Direc learners tor

25&28

Threat

Parents threa ten legal insurance policy for action over pupils

Education

Row ove r Coopera plan to scrap On tive Colle do ge

Page 23

CONTRO VERSY

Controver sy has cont to trail the inued Ondo State Governme nt’s plan to scrap the state Cooperati ve College Babatope Okeowo

AKURE

hese are for the not better days stude Ondo State nts of the Cooperativ Colle e The state ge, Akure. cluded plansgovernment has contion, found to scrap the manpower ed to train middinstitule-level cooperativefor the developme nt of societies try. in the coun The decis by the New ion, investigati Telegraph ons has since revea led, trooped pitted the stude nts, to the closu the streets prote who re of their sting their paren colleg Protesting students governmen ts, against the e and of the college Mimiko. t, led by Dr. Olusestate gun the While state capit the instit the governmen al, has since under relevant ution was no t said is planlock and key, while been by the there and the to the need of longer trans gover nmen the curricula fer t to modern unnecessa state Public the students to day econo the Service ry the stude Training state’s mic realit in in Ilara nts Institute -Mok Towards are of different ies, Governme in in Ifedo re Loca nt Area prehension this end, palpa view. comp of the state l lete their ble aphas gripp students ed both Meanwhile course of study to the has . over the and staff of the ordered , the governmen the trans the instit planned scrap college teach ers and ping of fer of thet ution and sion of other state the conve the prem r- that ministries and workers to of Natio ises to the departmen require nal (PENCOM Pension Comm office ts Besides, their services. ission ) by the the gover ment. directed state gover nment also the schoo n- to admi Already l authority t not the instit , the gates leadi college. fresh students into the ernment ution in Alagbaka ng to The Ondo Reserve State Area in Gov- vice, Mr. Mimiko Akure, Toyin AkinHead of Seraddressing kuotu, while the stude gust 13, nts on Aulast year, the state declared ing down government was that because the college appar closof gover to alloca nment’s ently te the colleg desir to the Natio e’s prem e ises nal Pens mission, ion ComKAYODE which is OLANREW office accom reque AJU EDITOR, modation sting an condition EDUCA as a prekayode olanrew TION service to situate its office aju@ newtelegraph in the state. and online.com The © Daily Telegra claimed government, that ph Publish generating the school which ing Compa was not ny Limited reven coffers, alleged ue to the state that offered in the colleg the courses e have no di-

made up operativeof Federal and State Colabi, acadeColleges with joint examinatiomic calendar and syln. final The instit ution, which first in the ranked tive colleg comity of coope the Feder es, was patterned raafter Ibadan al Cooperative (FCCI), College, lished by and was the estab Awolowo-l then Chief Obafemi defunct ed governmen Western t in the has train Region, are today ed many stude and it nts in the stateoccupying top positiwho ons in the privacivil service, as well as te sector. Other of coope training comp rative educa onents the Colle tion regular ge offers apart which from the cours clude educa es to stude and educa tion of the nts intrain the Coop tion of the office ers educationerative Movementrs of and lic in the of members of the pubcoope However, rative ideologies the gover . decision nment’s because to scrap the instit of what evance” it called ution of the schoo “irre rect beari to the need l curriculumlof the state governmenng to the busin student and of the was never t and that the ess of contr has continued oversy in to a convention college tion. the state. generate The al instit u- Presi college’s Stude Part of dent nts’ the Unio and state gover argument General n nment’s Paul Kolade and Secretary was that should have fitted the college spectively, who Uche Okereke , retechnic, led prote system, into the poly- against the decis st nic, has as a Mono gover nmen ion of themarch become techstate t, argu day’s know irrele though ed that the Pensi ledge-base vant to toaland its It also on Comm d econo this, the argued that based my. the state,services are desir ission college able in however on its could only of very regre existe few ment since students in its boast not be nce and locati tted that on shoul a reason enrolno paren aged to d lege. to t was scrap send their encourthe colwards to They argue enroll in children and obtain coope d that in and age the colleg this day of unive e to rative educa tificate any tion cer- cooperative collegrsity education, try were However, longer. establishedes in the counto allay fear over nics in the stude as Mono techping of the controversial nts’ Nurs the mode of the ing, Midw their colleg Schoo scraptary to ifery, Healt ls of the State e, the Secre- nology, the Schoo h (SSG), Dr. the Colle Governme l of Surve TechRotimi Adelo ge of y and nt one The State la has. professionStatistics; to offer Coop was estab erative Colle al other in Higher course or the ge 1978 as lished on Nove an mber 13, Diploma levels and the Natio nal stitute to in-service train Studies in ing train midd and Mana Cooperative sonnel gement. le level inAcco for Cooperativ the Governme per- strate rding to the stude gic nt e nts, the place of candidates movement spons and nifica . ored organ nce placed pride and sigIts admi on coope isations ssion polic rative panded y was ex- cooperative and the training to pract candidate accommodate of task of national itioners in the the instit s in 1985 and private build and econo ing, and in 1991; ute joine mic Cooperativ the endu d the cies of coope ring legae Colleges comity of rative organ in Niger isations ia

EIGHT pages of EDUCATION

Obasanjo: Oil savings gone CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

CONT INUED

ON PAGE 28

lEx-president says Jonathan squandered foreign reserves }2

Travel Advisory Your guide to local and international flights 4

Quick Read A cross-section of pupils of Olomu Primary School, Ajah, Lagos, during their resumption from Christmas and New Year holidays… yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

CJN, judges, others locked out

Editorial

A voice for other sports }19 Jonathan,

lUnion blames Accountant General for court shutdown Buhari turn }13 Tunde Oyesina,Akeem Nafiu, Cajetan Mmuta, Sola Adeyemo and Caleb Onwe

he Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, justices of

the Supreme Court and other judges of lower courts were denied access to their offices yester-

day as judiciary workers began an indefinite strike nationwide.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

North-West to battleground

News

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Obasanjo accuses Jonathan of mismanaging foreign reserves Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday expressed concern about the depletion of the nation's external reserves and the continuous downward slide of the naira under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan. He told a delegation of women leaders at a meeting in Abeokuta that although his administration left robust foreign reserves, even after the debt forgiveness by the Paris Club, it was saddening that the nation's reserves had been frittered away the current administration. He also warned that except Jonathan came up with better ideas of managing the economy, the naira may slide further to

N250 to $1. The women were led to Obasanjo's hilltop residence in Abeokuta by the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Mrs. Alaba Lawson, who was accompanied by the Iyalode-General of Nigeria and daughter of former Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, among other prominent market women. The women, who spoke through Lawson, had earlier expressed worry over the state of the nation and the government's failure to rescue the over 200 Chibok girls abducted last year. But responding to the issues raised by the women, Obasanjo said Nigeria did not deserve to be in its present economic condition. According to him, the economy is in a bad shape and it is incumbent upon Jonathan to turn it

around. He said: "Nigeria does not deserve the position it finds itself today. Our nation is plagued with insecurity, economic downturn, increase in poverty, corruption and impunity in doing things. "The position in which you are was made possible by God. But if you think money can secure it, continue to spend it. If you think lies can secure it, continue to lie. If you think that you will use bad people to secure it, use them. My God does not sleep and I know that the God of Nigeria does not sleep too. "Last year when the benchmark for oil was $78, the money we realised for development was not much. Almost all the money the country earned was spent on recurrent expenses.

"This year, we have made benchmark $65 and oil is selling at about $58 per barrel. I read a book written by an American; he said before the end of this year, oil could sell for about $45 per barrel. When we reached this stage; some states have not paid salaries for about three months. "Now, if we go well below $65, we may not be able to pay salaries for six months or we can print money without anything to back it. Naira would not be N195 to a dollar again; it may reach N250. "When I said this, somebody said 'what does he know about the economy?' I spent four years to run the economy of this country as a military head of state. I later used eight years to run it as a civilian president and we left the economy sound and

you are now asking what do I know about economy? Then, show us what you know about running the economy! "If our economy is not good, it would affect those of you in the market everywhere. It takes us back to what we said earlier that if the head is rotten, it will affect the entire body because if there is no good governance, it would affect the economy. "Our economy should not have been this bad. When I was leaving office about eight years ago, I left very huge reserves after we had paid all our debts. Almost $25 billion we kept in what they called excess crude - the excess from the budget we were saving as reserves for the rainy days. "When we left in May 2007, the reserves were said to have been raised to $35 billion. But today,

L-R: Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and Deputy National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Sekondus, after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Phone penetration approaches 100% mark, says NCC Kunle Azeez

igeria's teledensity, otherwise known as telephone penetration, is set to hit a 100 per cent penetration mark soon, New Telegraph has learnt. This is according to the latest official industry data obtained from the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). According to the data,

the industry teledensity currently stands at 96.08 per cent, even as telecoms subscriptions in the country hit 134.5 million. The teledensity measures the percentage of a countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population with access to telephony services, as determined by the active subscriber base. It maintains a direct relationship with the number of mobile subscriptions on telecoms networks, as it grows as subscriber base does and

vice versa. According to the NCC data, industry teledensity stood at 88.39 per cent as at as at December 2013 but increased to 91.15 per cent in January 2014. In February 2014, it moved up to 91.40 per cent; 92.14 per cent in March and at the end of April, the figure declined to 90.78 per cent. In May, June and July, the figure galloped to 92.42 per cent; 93.70 per cent and 94.84 per cent respectively.

In August and September, telephony penetration increased to 95.20 per cent and 96.08 per cent. According to the NCC, teledensity is calculated based on population estimate of 126 million up till December 2005; from December 2006, it was based on a population estimate of 140 million. From December 2001 to 2006, teledensity was based on connected subscribers. However, teledensity from December 2007 has been

based on active subscriptions on mobile networks. New Telegraph learnt that though the number of connected active lines in the country is 134.5 million, the number of people using phones in the country could be less than 70 million. Meanwhile, industry analysts said the growth in subscriber base, resulting in proportional growth in teledensity, suggested that access to telephone services was getting deeper.

the reserves have been depleted! The reserves we left when we finished paying all our debts - our debts that were about $40 billion, that is including debt forgiveness, the remaining debt was not more than $3 billion. "Our reserves after we had paid off these debts were about $45 billion. As I said, they continued till the end of 2007. I heard that the reserves increased to almost $67 billion before the end of the year. Our reserves now, I learnt, are left with around only $30 billion. That is why the naira has been falling against the dollar. "What would now happen, I learnt if you want to buy a dollar now, it's about N192 or N195. What it means is this: what you have been buying at N150 to a dollar, now you need N192 or N195 to buy it. That is the real situation. Is there any remedy? There is but it does not come overnight because it means we have to give up all the bad things we have been doing. "Truly, the price of crude oil has fallen, but anyone who is wise enough should know that since we depend on just one resource and since we have no control over its pricing, we should be planning for this type of situation and the way out of it. Our inability to have reserves has brought us into this economic quagmire." He warned that the nation's crude oil may not attract patronage in the next 10 years and advised the government to diversify the economy by paying more attention to agriculture. "In the next 10 years, we won't find buyers for our crude oil. But what is the alternative? It is agriculture. The problem of unemployment can only be solved through agriculture business, not oil and gas. The good thing about agriculture for us is that it is renewable," he stated. Obasanjo added that although he has been critical of the Jonathan administration, he has no grudge against the president as his public comments are only borne out of genuine concern for good governance. "I'm not fighting Jonathan. There is nothing like that (fighting Jonathan). My own is that what is best for Nigeria is what I CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Travel Advisory

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI)07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10 AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed & Fri) W3 108 (Tues,Thurs & Fri) W3 103 W3 104 - (Tues, Wed &Thur) - (Tues, Wed &Thur) -

12:00hrs 21:30hrs 23:50hrs

18:30hrs 05:15hrs 05:30hrs

12:30hrs

16:00hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

New York-Lagos Lagos-Johannesburg Johannesburg-Lagos Lagos-Douala Douala-Lagos Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs -(Tue,Thur,Sat,Sun) 08:05hrs -(Mon,Wed,Fri) 13:35hrs 18:00hrs -(Daily) 17:00hrs 06:00hrs - (Wed,Fri,Sun) 08:00hrs 17:00hrs -(Wed,Fri,Sun) 08:00hrs -(Wed,Fri,Sun) 15:20hrs -(Wed,Fri,Sun) 21:00hrs -(Mon,Tue,Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, 01:00hrs Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

hrs 14:44hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

MEA 571 MEA 572

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday) to Lagos) EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

QATAR AIRWAYS DELTA AIRLINES

UNITED AIRLINES

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri) KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Departure 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

Arrival 15:55hrs 18:15hrs 10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Lagos to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Lagos Abuja to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Abuja Enugu to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Enugu Kano to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Kano

ET900 ET901 ET910 ET911 ET930 ET931 ET930 ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

05:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

Lagos-London London-Lagos

VS 652 VS 651

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

KQ 533 KQ 534

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

Lagos-Kigali

AWB 201 11:15hrs (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 14:00hrs (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

16:45hrs

332 333

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

IBERIA

air maroc

VIRGIN ATLANTIC ETIHAD AIRWAYS

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

17:30hrs

ASKY Airlines international travel tips Earning Miles on ASKY Airlines ASKY is a Lome -Togo based airline that provides an extensive route network within West Africa. The airline provides excellent connections with Ethiopian Airlines flights serving cities in West Africa. Ethiopian Airlines and ASKY provide an end-to-end service for frequent flyers enrolled in ShebaMiles. The airlines jointly provide full coverage of Africa providing full mile earning opportunity for a frequent flyer.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

How we’ll spend N21bn campaign fund, by PDP Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained how it intends to spend the over N21 billion raised last December at a fund raising dinner held in Abuja. The party also denied that the fund was solely meant to finance the presidential campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan. The Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee, Prof. Jerry Gana at a

press conference yesterday in Abuja, said N10.5 billion out of the fund would be used to complete the 12-storey building project that will house the permanent national headquarters of the party. Gana, who addressed the press at the project site, explained that out of an estimated N16.5 billion total cost of the project, N6 billion had already been paid, adding that the contractor had promised to complete the project before the end of this year. His worlds: "The docu-

ments and letters said so, the speeches confirmed it and during the day of the fund raising, in my own speech and the speech of the vice president who happens to be an architect, there was a specific focus on this building that this is one project we want to complete. "The VP being an architect gave graphic details of where we were on this project and how we desired to go ahead and therefore, the central aim of the fundraising is to empower the party to complete this

building and other project. "The second is, of course, to empower the party to campaign for its candidate not for the president alone but for others. The presidential candidate has the right and he is going to use that right to raise fund for his campaign quietly.” Gana said the explanation became necessary to disabuse people's mind that the money realised during the fund raising was for campaign project of the president, adding that PDP has nothing to

hide and that was why the event was televised live. He said the insinuations making the rounds that monies collected were targeted at funding the presidential campaign is not true. Gana disclosed that there was deliberate effort to discourage individual donations to prevent a situation where individual will control government. He advised politicians against violence. He said: "I want to appeal to all our leaders both in PDP and in the other parties that

L-R: The Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo; Ekefa Iyalode of Ibadanland, Mrs. Grace Adegbite; Iyalode of Yorubaland, Mrs. Alaba Lawson and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when a delegation of Iyalodes and Concerned Women in South-West paid a courtesy visit to Obasanjo in Abeokuta...yesterday. PHOTO: KUNLE OLAYENI.

Tension in SEC as Oteh's tenure expires CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

A senior staff of the organisation said Oteh was yet to prepare a handing over note, adding that "she is bidding her time to see whether a tenure renewal letter could come from the presidency." Oteh and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employee have been at loggerheads over her management style. A top union official said Oteh would cease being the director general of SEC with effect from tomorrow because her five-year tenure would end on today. Oteh's appointment as SEC director general took effect from January 7, 2010. "The letter that brought her here is tenured and is not an open-ended appointment. We learnt she is desperately looking for a six-month extension but this not an issue. Look at the capital market capitalisation. From N13.9 trillion market capitalisation in January 2010 when she was appointed, it has crashed to N8.5 trillion

and portfolio investors are withdrawing their funds because of lack of confidence in the market," he said. But in an earlier interview with New Telegraph, Oteh's Media Adviser, Mr. Obi Adindu, dismissed the union's threat as “a mere ranting that is of no effect.” “As usual, I will tag this as irresponsible threat. They are in no position to determine who the DG of SEC is. That is the prerogative decision of Mr. President and Commander-inChief. The fantastic work the DG has done in the last five years is obvious for everyone to see,” he stated. According to him, the DG, on assumption of office, has made training of staff a compulsory exercise as those from the assistant manager cadre are entitled to several local trainings and once-in-ayear foreign training. He said should the workers go ahead with their threat to go on strike, the management would be left with the option but to invoke the no-work, no-pay rule.

as leaders, we must ensure peace and stability in the nation. We must not preach violence, we must not indicate violence, we must not make violence part of our political culture. Democracy is the rule of the people, by the people and for the people. We should allow the people to choose freely. "Nigerians are watching those who want to intimidate, those who want to force their way and leaders who feels, if it is not their way, then the whole thing should scatter," he added. Gana, who is a member of the Presidential Campaign Council, said PDP is ready for campaign even in the North-East, saying "those who are thinking they will take over form the PDP have to think again because PDP is ever ready and the elections for us is going to be free because we are democrats. Nigerians will decide who their leaders will be. "Nigerians are excellent decisions makers and I am sure they will vote for someone with integrity and someone who desires peace for Nigeria.” A member of the fund raising committee, Mrs. Sarah Ochepe said part of the fund will be given to PDP Democratic Institute for capacity building of members of the party at federal, state and local government levels.

Obasanjo tackles Jonathan on external reserves' depletion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

will die for. Anybody that will do the best for Nigeria, wherever he goes, I will support him. If this country will progress, it will start from the leadership. And if it will retrogress, it will start from the leadership," he said. The former president, however, allayed fears of Nigeria's possible disintegration in the aftermath of the general election.

Obasanjo expressed optimism that the nation would outlive the February elections as it had survived past challenges, stressing that all Nigerians needed to do is to "back up our anxiety and concern with action." He said: "Good governance comes from voting, from selection of leaders. It is now left to you to decide who you cast your vote for because if you throw away

your votes and tomorrow you are saying good governance, once you throw away your votes you have lost out. Find out the track records of those you want to vote for; what they have achieved in the past and not what they have said. "I understand why people are a little bit apprehensive. What is election about? One, election is about choice. Election without choice is not dem-

ocratic. So, there must be choice in any democratic election. Two, you must exercise your civic right by voting. "Once the election is fair, free and uninterrupted or uncorrupted, when the verdict is that of the people; then if it is favourable, be grateful to God and serve the people with commitment. If it's against you, be a very gallant loser."

Jonathan's sister's death stalls inauguration of presidential campaign committee Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he presidency yesterday postponed the planned inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan's Presidential Campaign Council. The inauguration of the council was earlier fixed for 2p.m. yesterday before the death of President Jonathan's younger sister in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Sunday. Invited guests had gath-

ered at Legacy House, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Headquarters, Abuja, in early hours of the day, for security checks. At about 2:56p.m. when all the guests had seated waiting for the arrival of the president, Political Adviser to the President, Prof. Rufai Alkali announced the postponement of the event till the next day. "I know you have been here since morning wait-

ing for Mr. President. You know the president lost his sister yesterday (Sunday). "In view of this, he has decided to suspend this inauguration till tomorrow by 11a.m. The president has said we should send his apologies for all of you," Alkali said. The over 100 council has Chief Tony Anenih as National Campaign Adviser with former National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali as Director-General.

Meanwhile, the Yoruba Council of Youths has promised to deliver over 10 million out of 14. 3 million registered voters from South-West to President Jonathan. Director, Media and External Relations of the council, Ganiyu Akerele, in a statement, disclosed that the decision to support Jonathan's re-election was arrived at the end of a meeting of the council held at Ijebu Igbo on November 29, 2014.

News

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

20 officers, soldiers get judgement today in mutiny trial Emmanuel Onani Abuja

General CourtMartial (GCM) sitting in Abuja will today decide the fate of about 20 officers and soldiers, who are among 96 suspects arraigned last October for alleged mutiny and other offences. A military source confided in New Telegraph yesterday that the GCM may also wind up sitting today as the accused officers and soldiers are the last in a trial that was conducted in groups. He said the army authorities would inaugurate a new court-martial "in a few days or weeks", to begin trial of more personnel from the NorthEast. "I'm aware that the court-martial will likely round off sitting today, once it delivers judgement in respect of over 20 of our officers and men whose offences, as you are already aware, border on mutiny, attempt to commit mutiny, AWOL (Absence Without Official Leave) and other breach of our laws. "You know that in the course of its sittings, several judgements have been delivered, which have gen-

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erated public interests. "Also, note that the Army High Command will soon, in a matter of days or weeks, inaugurate a new court (martial) to

try more accused officers and men," he stated. A few weeks ago, the Brigadier General Musa Yusuf-led GCM, had sentenced 54 soldiers to death

by firing squad, while five others were discharged and acquitted. About 10 others, at separate sittings, were sentenced to the same

fate, while two Lance Corporals and a private were sentenced to about three-year imprisonment, which will run concurrently.

The soldiers were tried for refusing lawful orders from their Commanding Officer (CO), Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Opurum.

L-R: Assistant General Secretary, Publishing, The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), Pastor Victor 'Damilare; Senior Pastor, Shepherd's Flock International Church, Rev. Tony Akinyemi; General Secretary, Dare Ajiboye and Assistant General Secretary, Finance, Pastor Koka Sokunbi, during Akinyemi's visit to BSN in Lagos…yesterday.

Union blames Accountant General for court shutdown CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had called out the workers on strike to press its demand for autonomy for the judiciary. The workers barricaded the entrance to the Supreme Court like they did those of the other courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the country. JUSUN National President, Mr. Mustapha Adamu, who led other union officials to monitor the strike, prevented Justice Mohammed and his colleagues from getting access to their offices. Also, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the gates were locked, preventing lawyers, litigants and journalists from entering. The situation was not different at the headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama. The gate was locked, while some staff members were seen outside discussing the implication of the ‎strike, especially as it was the first working day in the year. An official of the union, who pleaded for anonymity, said the strike was indefinite, adding that the union will not call off the strike until its demands are met. The industrial action also paralysed activities at both the state and Federal High Courts in Lagos as courts, which were billed to resume proceedings yesterday after the Christmas and New Year vacation, were under lock and key. At the Federal High

Court in Lagos, the Deputy Chief Registrar of the FHC, Mr. Bello Okandeji, urged workers to return to their home peacefully to avoid chaos. Activities at the National Industrial Court (NIC) were also stalled as members of the union directed court workers to stop work in compliance with the industrial action. The Igbosere High Court was under lock and key owing to the industrial action. Litigants, lawyers and other persons with official business at the court were barred from entering the premises. In Enugu State, the state’s High Court, the National Industrial Court, the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court, were affected by the industrial action. Some litigants and lawyers at the court premises expressed dismay at the perennial strikes by the judicial staff. In Edo State, the strike crippled proceedings in all the courts across the state. At the state High Court in, Benin City, the state capital, lawyers who came early to file briefs or affidavits were turned back at the gate by security officials. In Oyo State, judicial activities were paralysed with the gates leading to the courts firmly locked against counsel and litigants. Chairman of the state JUSUN, Mr. Ademola Ayoade, told New Telegraph that the strike was total and would not be called off until their demands were met. He absolved the union

of the circumstances leading to the strike, insisting that JUSUN members gave government enough time and notice on the strike. He said: "We held a meeting in Abuja on November 27, 2014 while the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was supposed to be signed on December 17, 2014. Since those concerned have refused to honour their part of the bargain, we have no alternative than to commence the strike. Indeed the strike ought to have begun on January 2, but for the public holiday declared by the Federal Government. The strike is total and we shall only call it off when our demands are met." As early as 7a.m., JUSUN executives had besieged the Ring-Road and Iyaganku High Court gates, monitoring the situation. Scores of litigants and counsel were prevented from gaining access to the courts. The Appeal Court on Adeoyo Hospital Road, the High Courts and Magistrate's courts at Iyaganku all in Ibadan were affected. Courts in Oyo, Ogbomoso and Saki zones were also affected by the strike. Judicial workers in Ekiti also joined other states of the federation to embark on the indefinite strike. Judicial activities at the courts were paralysed as gates leading to both the state high courts and magistrates courts were under lock and key. Lawyers and litigants were not allowed into the court premises for their normal judicial duties.

The state’s JUSUN Chairman, Mr. Niyi Ogundare, told newsmen that the strike was nationwide. The strike nearly stalled the sitting of the election petition tribunal hearing the petition filed by the Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore against the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the August 9, 2014 governorship election. The judicial workers withdrew their services from the tribunal, but allowed the panel members to continue with the hearing. In Rivers State, judicial workers had been on strike since June 2014 on grounds of alleged insecurity in the work place and the controversial appointment of a chief judge. Speaking on the strike, Adamu said the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation should be blamed for the failure of the Federal Government to implement the judgement of the Federal High Court which stopped the executive from holding on to funds meant for the judiciary. Adamu, who stated this in Abuja, said that states' accountants-general had also frustrated the implementation of the judgement. He, however, commended the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity for making efforts to resolve the impasse between the union and the Federal Government. Adamu said: "Remember that this judgement

was delivered in January 2014. Since then, government has engaged us in discussion for about 20 times. We entered MoU for seven times and government failed to, in particular let me be specific, the office of the Accountant General, refused to obey the court judgement. "There is an order directing him to deduct that money and pay to the National Judicial Council and he had failed to do this. "Also, all the states governors through their accountants-general and commissioners for finance, who are all members of FACC have equally contributed to bring us to where we are today. "We have accommodated them, tolerated them, but since this is what they preferred, we have decided to give it to them as a New Year gift.” JUSUN had directed all its members to embark on a strike from January 2, owing to the alleged failure of state governments to implement the orders of an Abuja Federal High Court, which granted financial autonomy to state judiciaries. The court presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola had on January 14, 2014, restrained the Federal Government and the 36 state governors, from holding on to funds meant for the judiciary. The judge while delivering a ruling in the suit filed by JUSUN held that funds meant for the judiciary should instead be disbursed directly to the heads of court and not to the executive arm of government.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

News

NATIONAL

Polls: Aliyu, Niger PDP declare operation win your polling units Dan Atori MINNA

he Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have declared an operation win-yourpolling-units to all its members in the state in the 2015 general election. Aliyu said at the inauguration of its Gubernatorial Campaign Committee and other sub committees in Minna yesterday that no stone would be left unturned to ensure that all the candidates from the House of Assembly to the Presidency would be returned victorious in the election. “We should go from house to house, neighbour to neighbour, room to room to ensure we win the election. We have to do it that way for us to get somewhere.” Aliyu told PDP supporters not to allow themselves to be in-

timidated by anybody especially the opposition party insisting that ‘once you enter a project with fear you are bound to fail’. “All members of the gubernatorial campaign committee, those of the House of Assembly, and the senatorial campaign organizations and those of the house of assembly must therefore come together to ensure that the PDP and its flag bearers win all the elections slated for next month without competing with each other.” The governor also directed all political appointees, who were not appointed into each of the campaign committees to consider themselves as mobilizers for the PDP candidates, saying that they will be held accountable in the event of failure in any polling unit and that any of the appointees who did not want to work for the party should resign his or her position.

2015: The world is watching Nigeria, says French Ambassador Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

he French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Francois Sastourne, has said that the whole world is watching Nigeria, keen on how it navigates through the challenges and public expectations for a peaceful general election later this year. According to him, it is the earnest hope of the global community and the French government that the 2015 general election in Nigeria will be free, fair, credible and consistent with global best practices. The Ambassador made the statement when he paid a courtesy call on

the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Sastourne noted that the global community was not unaware of Nigeria’s critical role in the African sub-region, adding that the conduct of the 2015 general election has a lot to say about Nigeria’s existence. He, however, expressed the hope that Nigeria will come out of the election stronger and united. The French ambassador pointed out that Nigeria is a close partner with France in sub-Saharan Africa with common interest especially in the security of Africa. He assured that France will not turn its back on Africa.

L-R: Co-author, Toni Kan; Managing Director/CEO, UBA Capital and board member Shonny Investment & Properties Company, Toyin Sanni; Chief Executive Officer, SIPC, Chief Taiwo Taiwo; Board member, Ambassador Adekunle Adeyemi and co-author, Peju Akande, after a press conference on the presentation of the biography, S.O Shonibare: Legend of all Time, in Lagos.

Fayose: Why Buhari can’t lead Nigeria NO, NO

APC presidential candidate lacks capacity to govern Nigeria, says Ekiti Gov. Adeyanju Olowojoba

he Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose yesterday said that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari cannot win the February 14 presidential election because he lacks the capacity to govern Nigeria. Fayose, who spoke with airport correspondents on return from a trip abroad, alleged that Buhari did not possess the eloquence, ability and the capacity to lead Nigeria, stressing that at this stage of the country, it require graduates with capacity to lead the country to the Promised Land. He insisted that Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan, despite the crises in some parts of the country possesses the requisite qualification to lead Nigeria and would win with a landslide victory in the February election. He recalled that when Buhari was the Head of State, it was late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon that was in the control while during his time as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, the Secretary was more pronounced than him. Fayose said: “The era where you will say I am leading Nigeria with School Certificate is gone. When you are leading through the promotions in the army, sergeant to corporal, that era is gone. I don’t take people on personal note, but this particular leadership we are looking for must have the competence. Jonathan is the first Nigerian President who has the paper qualification. Gen. Buhari truly doesn’t have the certificate. I have gone through it myself. “They claimed that I

Otti, Ufomba, Akomas fail to make INEC list in Abia hree prominent govOtti and Ufomba INEC published the The candidates that T ernorship hopefuls had emerged from two name of one Chief Mg- made the list are Dr in Abia are conspicu- separate primaries con- beahuru Dike as the Okezie Ikpeazu, PDP; ously missing on the list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Umuahia. They are the two factional governorship candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Alex Otti and Chief Reagan Ufomba, as well as the former Deputy Governor, Chief Chris Akomas, who was the governorship candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP).

ducted by the factions of APGA in Umuahia. They were presented with flags by the factional national leaders, Chief Victor Umeh and Chief Chris Uche respectively. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akomas was presented UPP’s flag for the race by Chief Chekwas Okorie, the National Chairman and presidential candidate of the party. In place of Akomas,

party’s governorship candidate. The development is reportedly causing panic in the campaign organisations of the affected persons. It was learnt from reliable sources that meetings were ongoing on the next line of action. When contacted on phone, the Director-General of Otti’s Campaign Organisation, Chief Ahamdi Nweke said, “I am in a meeting, please call me back.’’

Chief Chikwendu Udensi, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Anyim Nyerere, All Progressives Congress and Chief Isaac Onyemma, People for Democratic Change. Others are Chief Gilbert Chikezie, Independent Democrats, Uchechi Chuta, United Democratic Party, Rev. Obioma Onyeaghala, All Congress Party of Nigeria and Chief Anyalewachi Nwaozuru, Citizens Popular Party.

don’t have the certificates and I have gone through the courts including the tribunal. So, what else are we talking about? I want General Buhari too to submit himself for us to check. It is not about popularity alone; you can be popular and not have the capacity for the job. Such a President would be hijacked by mediocrities; people who want to use the Presidency as a shield. The same people in the environment of General Buhari had condemned him severally in the past. But today, they are parading him as the best candidate. “If they had not taken the government away from him as at the time they did, we would all have been gone by now. General Buhari must address the certificate issue in the overall interest of Nigeria. If Ayo Fayose with Higher National Diploma, HND, in a state

like Ekiti State is seen as someone without education, so, General Buhari will now come with the Almajiri School and come and lead Nigeria. “Tell me what General Buhari has turned around in the past? We are Nigerians and we are so gullible like every other human being. Before we get to the sea, we begin to imagine the depth on our minds, but at the end of the day, before you will give your inner talent, you must have the outer talent because if you don’t have education, you must equally have the right people and put them in the right perspective,” he said. He maintained that any attempt to bomb Jonathan out of office or even blackmail him would have a ripple effect on the country. He also said that the election would not be a win-win situation for all parties involved.

UPN 'll complete Amosun's projects, says Paseda Kunle Olayeni ABEOKUTA

he Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Prince Rotimi Paseda, yesterday said his party would complete all the outstanding projects of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in the state. Paseda said this while speaking with reporters in Omu, Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state, on the plans by his party for the 2015 general elections. The UPN governorship candidate expressed concerns over the failure of

the state government to complete major projects three and half years since inception. He said: "It is unfortunate that many projects have not been completed yet. But I don't blame the government. I blame the people of Ogun State. We voted them in. Those that are needed in government do not usually participate. Those that should not be in politics are the ones dying to be in politics. "If we allowed our resources to be mismanaged, we will live to regret it. But no problems; we will complete all outstanding projects. Governance is a continuum."

News

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fashola swears in 57 executive secretaries for LGs Muritala Ayinla and Wale Elegbede

agos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday swore in 57 executive secretaries to take charge of the administration of the 20 local governments and the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state. There had been apprehension and agitation across the councils over the delay in the appointment of the executive secretaries, following the expiration of the tenure of elected council chairmen in October last year. But the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the swearing-in of the 57

executive secretaries by Governor Fashola as unconstitutional and a ploy to rig the 2015 general election. PDP Publicity Secretary in Lagos State, Taofik Gani, said in a statement that the action further put paid to the belief that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is always acting for its selfish convenience. “They are not progressives, they are not democrats, they are aiding and abetting the destruction of democracy at the grassroots. It further exposes them as undemocratic people, who can run a system down to favour their inordinate ambitions. This ambition is the desperation to win Lagos State in 2015,” he said. But speaking at the ceremony yesterday, Gov-

ernor Fashola said the delay in their appointment was occasioned by the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to complete the process of compiling voters’ register on schedule, which made it difficult for the state to conduct election at the local government level. According to him, “While it is true that it is the State Independent Electoral Commission that has the responsibility for conducting this election, what may not be obvious to the public is that the register used for the election, are those compiled by INEC, because compilation of voters registration is a federal responsibility that is carried out through INEC and by the time the

tenure of the last local government chairmen and elected councillors expired, all of us are aware that INEC was still conducting update of voters registration and that record is still yet to be complete. “This has made it difficult to issue election notices, but I have found it necessary to continue the delivery of service at the local government level and this is why I have decided to inaugurate the executive secretaries, who will serve in a transitional capacity till the end of March, hoping that by then all will have been sorted out with the voters’ register, and then we go to the elections to elect officers into all levels in the local government structure.”

Nigerians urged to ignore PDP, APC in general election Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

he presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Dr. Ibrahim Mani Ahmad has urged Nigerians not to give attention to either the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next month’s presidential election. Ahmad, who spoke with New Telegraph in Abuja yesterday, said the two parties cannot salvage the country from the current and various challenges facing it. He argued that the PDP has ruled the country for 16 years and has rather compounded the woes of the country against the common man’s expectations. The university don turned politician said the current fall in the prices of crude oil at

the international market, which has forced government to reduce its annual budget, has exposed the present government under the PDP as having no solution to the numerous problems facing Nigeria. Ahmad further said that another four years under such a government would amount to eternal bondage for the ordinary Nigerian, who according to him, bears the brunt of bad governance of the current administration on a daily basis. While speaking on why Nigerians should also ignore the major opposition party, the APC, the ADC presidential candidate said the APC presidential candidate in the forthcoming election, General Muhammadu Buhari, is old and infirm to be trusted with such daunting and herculean task of ruling a battered nation like Nigeria.

Adenuga, others bag Nigeria's January 1st Awards

Students of Government Secondary School, Garki resuming for academic activities after Christmas and New Year holidays in Abuja... yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

BIRTHDAY

Sijuade has contributed to peace and development of Nigeria, govs say

Dan Atori MINNA

overnors under the auspices of the North-

igeria’s biggest private investor in the telecommunications sector, Dr. Mike Adenuga, has been honoured for establishing Nigeria's first indigenous GSM company, Globacom. Adenuga was recognised with some other Nigerians that distinguished themselves by pioneering some innovations at the maiden edition of Ali Baba's January 1st Awards. Standing in for Adenuga at the event was Globacom's Head of Operations, Mr. Bisi Koleoso, who received the

Northern govs extol Ooni’s virtues ern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) yesterday extolled the virtues of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, describing him as a fountain of knowledge, whose exceptional leadership role has contributed to the peace and development of the country. Chairman of the forum

and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel A. Ebije, said Nigeria needs traditional leaders like the Ooni for guidance in the area of moral chastity, cultural ethos and traditional values, which he said is fast eluding Nigerians.

He said it is the absence of these traditional norms and values that has given rise to the growing trend of crime in the country. Aliyu said the monarch is celebrated on account of his commitment to serve his people with a sense of purpose and resolve to retain best cultural practice

in his kingdom. According to him, “Let me congratulate Oba Sijuade on his 85th birthday celebration. He has lived this long to inspire future generations of Nigerians on the need to remain committed to the ‘Nigeria project’ regardless of interest, ethnicity or religion.

award plague from the wife of the governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola. The event, which held in Lagos, was attended by some personalities including Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Femi Otedola and the Managing Director of First Bank, Mr. Stephen Olabisi Onasanya. Other recipients of the award include Chief Akintola Williams, who was the first African to qualify as a chartered accountant; Aloma Marian Mukhtar, the first Nigerian female judge to be sworn in to the bench of the Supreme Court and former Chief Justice of the Federation; Chioma Ajunwa-Opara, Nigeria's first athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics; Leo-Stan Nnamdi Ekeh, who pioneered Nigeria's first internationally certified computer brand, Zinox computer and Yewande Coal, the first and only female flight engineer in Nigeria.

APC, Mark, NSGF commiserate with Jonathan over sister's death Temitope Ogunbanke and Chukwu David

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday commiserated with President Goodluck Jonathan on the untimely death of his younger sister, Nancy Jonathan-Olei, urging him to take solace in God for the unquantifiable loss.

APC in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the loss of a loved one is always an unfathomable tragedy, which is compounded when such death occurs at an unripe age. The APC condolence message came even as Senate President, Senator David Mark, also condoled

with the President and his family over the demise of his younger sister in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. APC said: “We pray that God will grant repose to the soul of the departed, comfort the President and his entire family and give them the strength to bear their loss. “We also wish the immediate family of the deceased

God's succour in their moment of darkness,” it said. Mark, in the condolence message signed and circulated yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, expressed sadness over the untimely death of Mrs. Nancy, saying that her death has robbed the nation of her worthy enterprise. He condoled with the

first family and the entire citizens of Bayelsa over the sad loss. Also yesterday, the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) described the death of Mrs. Nancy Jonathan-Olei, younger sister to President Goodluck Jonathan, as unfortunate and a huge loss to the family. Chairman of the forum

and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel A. Ebije, sympathised with the first family and urged President Jonathan to see the death as an act of God. He also prayed that Allah grants the family of the bereaved the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Group decries condition of IDPs in Abuja Amadi Nnamdi ABUJA

non -governmental organization, Human Rights Advocacy Initiative (HURAI) has bemoaned the plight of the internally displaced persons at various camps in Abuja. The group chided the Federal Government and its agencies responsible for the welfare of IDPs over what it described as nonchalant and lackadaisical attention to the victims at the camps. The Coordinator of the group, Alex Chekwo, in a chat with NEW TELEGRAPH, after its visit to some of the IDPs camps, said the people were suffering greatly as they have been abandoned to the mercy of Faith-based groups and other NGOs who supply them with some relief materials. He lamented that the impact of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was rarely felt at the camps, as the IDPs lack many basic emergency relief items. “NEMA needs to pay more attention to the plight of these peo-

ple. They lack portable drinking water, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, drugs, food stuffs and most importantly a manageable shelter. “If more relief actions are not channelled to that direction, I foresee a health disaster in those camps. There are some of them there with unattended injuries, the poor sanitary condition of the camps are nothing to write home about.” Chekwo lamented. The HURAI team, according to Chekwo visited the IDP camps at Waru, behind Apo mechanic village and the one at Sabo Kuchingoro which harbours the highest number of IDPs. According to him, the camps are overflowing with mainly victims of the insurgency in the North Eastern part of Nigeria. “Many of them came from Mubi, Michika in Adamawa State and other parts of northern Nigeria like Bama, Gwoza Karwa, Ashigashia, Gboko and Shinene.” He called on wellmeaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the IDPs as they are totally in bad condition.

ABUJA

he National women leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hajia Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, has called on politicians and clerics alike to, in the interest of the country to avoid making inflammatory comments capable of heating up the polity. Ramatu, who made the call in a brief telephone chat against the backdrop of the inflammatory statements coming from politicians and some clerics, said it was uncalled

for and as such, not to the interest of the country’s democracy. According to her, if politicians would drive rough with their mouth for reason of campaign for elective positions, it should not be from clerics who are supposed to assist the country in prayers at this critical time when the country is sitting on a keg of gun powder following the insecurity situation. "Now that election is just less than 40 days, there is need for our clerics to make the unity and progress of the country first above every other

Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

overnment offices yesterday opened for official activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja after workers returned from the Christmas, New Year and Eid-l-Maolud holidays. Ministries, Departments and agencies across the nation's capital which were hitherto closed for the festive period opened to workers and members of the public when our correspon-

ALLEGATION

Police partners hardened criminals, NGO alleges Kenneth Tyohemba ABUJA

Non-Governmental Organization, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has

personal interest” She argued that Nigeria has long been regarded as a beacon of hope in Africa and the world will be watching in 2015 when its citizens go for peaceful democratic election that will usher in Muhammadu Buhari. “It is a clear fact that that only one winner will emerge from the coming general election contest, and that is (Buhari) the APC presidential candidate, even though the desperation for power by some politicians will not make what is ahead of time,” Ramatu said.

Security expert laments existence of illegal security institutions Clem Khena OGBENA

security expert and immediate past National President, Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Major General Yakubu Usman (rtd), has expressed regret over the existence of illegal security guard training institutions across the country. Usman, who is the Chairman of Spider Web Security Nig.Ltd, also said that training was sup-

posed to be a continuous process, adding, however, that at present, some security outfits in the country adhere to training rules, while others continue to flout such rules. Speaking to New Telegraph in an exclusive interview in Abuja, Usman further pointed out that some of the institutions were owned by corporate organisations, while others were owned and operated by private individuals. He stated: "Well, we have training institutions but unfortunately not all

Low turnout as work resumes in Abuja after Xmas, New year breaks

Avoid provocative statements, says APC women leader Yusuf Shuaib

News

NATIONAL

these training institutions are registered. Training is supposed to be a continuous process or event, but what happens is that you have some companies that abide by the rules. "That is to say they train their personnel before engaging them in service but unfortunately, there are a lot of companies that will just get people walking on the street and sow them uniforms and get them to start work without any training. This is very bad and unfortunate."

dents visited the Federal Secretariat complex at the Three Arms Zone which houses most of the government's offices. There was, however, low turnout of workers to most offices as findings revealed that many workers were yet to resume at their duty posts. At the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, only a handful of workers were sighted in the morning standing in group exchanging pleasantries while others were seen arranging their offices to start the day's work. An official of the Ministry, who spoke to New

Telegraph off the record, confirmed the low turnout of workers to work but noted that the population was expected to grow as the week goes by. He attributed the low turnout in part to the long nature of the holidays ranging from Christmas, New Year and Eid-lMaolud. The official also noted that the failure of government to pay workers their December 2014 salary might have also dampened their morale to resume for work in the year 2015. When New Telegraph visited the Federal Min-

istry of Education, only a few workers were seen at their respective offices. The situation was not different at the Federal Civil Service Commission located at Wuse Zone 3 as many workers were yet to resume work after the long break. Commercial activities were however in full gear at Wuse, Garki and Gudu markets. Residents, who just returned from their respective states of origin, after the breaks were at those markets making purchases to beef up their food stores.

HURIWA wants investigation into alleged police involvement in kidnapping called on the Presidency and the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to launch a transparent and comprehensive investigation into a series of allegations of Police involvement in kidnapping cases in the country. HURIWA alleged that the police establishment

in Anambra State may have some form of partnership with some hardened kidnappers going by the widespread allegations that the Anambra State Command of the Nigerian Police Force charges between N500,000 and N1million from family members of victims of armed kidnappings for

the purposes of rescuing them even after payment of ransoms to the violent gangs. National Coordinator of HURIWA, Dr. Emmanuel Owubiko, raised the alarm about the Police Command's fraudulent activities in Anambra States in a statement yesterday.

FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ZARIA ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE POST OF COLLEGE BURSAR Federal College of Education, Zaria wishes to invite application from suitably qualified candidates/ persons with proven integrity for the position of the College Bursar. The position of the Bursar is, a statutory office, as created by the Federal Colleges of Education Act CAP.129 LFN, 1990; F8 LFN 2004. The Bursar shall be the chief financial officer of the College, responsible to the Provost for the day-to-day administration and control of the financial affairs of the College. Qualifications: A good honours degree/HND in accountancy or equivalent from a recognized institution of higher learning and professional accountancy qualification with at least 18 years post qualification cognate experience, 5 of which must be as a Deputy Bursar in a College of Education. Candidates must be registered with a recognized accountancy body; ICAN or ANAN. Possession of higher academic qualifications would be added advantage. Additional Requirements Candidates must be computer literates with demonstrable mastery of MSW and Spread sheet like Excel etc. Experience Cognate collegiate accountancy experience for holders of first degree/HND 18 years and 15 for holders of Masters and PhD, 5 of which must be as a Deputy Bursar in a College of Education system. Terms and Conditions of Service The position of College Bursar shall be CONTEDISS 15, for an initial period of five years renewable for another period of five years, subject to satisfactory performance and thereafter no more, as prescribed by the Act establishing the College. Remunerations and other benefits are as stipulated by regulations for Bursars of Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria. Mode/ Requirements for Application Interested and eligible candidates are to submit: i. Fifteen (15) copies of CV and photocopies of relevant documents; ii. Fifteen (15) copies of three (3) referees report, from eminent persons of proven integrity one (1) each from a past or present employer and a respected scholar, to be submitted / sent to the Registrar, Federal College of Education, Zaria, PMB 1041 Zaria. iii. All applications shall be submitted to: The Registrar/ Secretary to Council Federal College of Education, P.M.B. 1041, Zaria, Kaduna State iv. Applications must reach the Registrar not later than six (6) weeks from the date of this publication. Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Dr. Jibril Lawal Registrar/ Secretary to Council

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro 11 die in auto crash 10

Be security conscious, Ifo LG official urges •As fire guts Benue varsity auditoriums residents

Taiwo Jimoh

Cephas Iorhemenm

he Deputy Head of Department, Community Development, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mrs Yemisi Olusesi, has called on the residents of Ilepa community to be security conscious. Olusesi made the call during the inauguration of Ifesowapo Peace Land Area Community Development Association (IACDC). According to her, Ilepa community got a Community Development Association (CDA) because it met the necessary criteria. She said: “We always look at areas of infrastructure because as a government, we cannot do everything alone; communities have to assist the council. With the security situation in the country, no part of the country is safe. We are advising the residents to be vigilant and security conscious always.” The CDA Chairman, Mr Kolawole Idowu, said that the inauguration of the CDA was long overdue. He said: “We had gone through a lot in this community. There was a time when some influential people in the society claimed to be the owners of this land. “The agitation on this land started when we were told that the land had already been acquired. It became a problem for those of us who had structures on it. We began to worry about what to do with our houses. We all fought the war collectively; some of us were arrested and detained by the police, while those who could not withstand the struggle ran away.” Idowu said that the community was inaugurated as a CDA, with about 58 communities.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Makurdi

t least 11 persons were yesterday roasted to death when a 14-seater Toyota Hiace bus, belonging to Pleasure Travels Transport Company, collided with a Volkswagen car. The bus was ferrying passengers from Gboko to Makurdi when the accident occurred. In the accident, which occurred at Uchi area of Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, the two vehicles were burnt to ashes. A witness told our correspondent that the driver of the bus wanted to overtake at a bend but lost control of the vehicle, crossed to the lane for oncoming vehicles and collided with the Volkswagen car. The accident, which occurred about 11am, attracted sympathisers who thronged out to help put out the fire. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP John Bako, confirmed the incident, but said two bodies were recovered at the scene of the accident. However, the Public Enlightenment Officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Samson Audu, told our correspondent that his men rushed to the scene to move the bodies to the hospital, but on getting there, they

The burnt auditorium

had already been conveyed to the Bishop Murray Hospital and Benue State University Teaching Hospital by Good Samaritans. Meanwhile, fire has gutted two ultra-modern lecture auditoriums at the Benue State University, Makurdi and destroyed property worth millions of naira. It was gathered that the infer-

no, which occurred on Sunday, started about 10pm when the students were scheduled to resume. The two auditoriums are located at the College of Health Sciences on the main campus of the university. The fire, it was learnt, was caused by an electrical spark in the building. The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tser Van-

ger, who confirmed the incident, said that no life was lost. According to him, everything in the building was reduced to rubble. He said: “The fire started about 9pm and entire auditoriums are completely burnt. The fire is caused by electrical spark in the building. The management is, however, investigating the matter.”

Agege residents raise committee to fight crime Taiwo Jimoh

o check incessant armed robbery attacks the residents of Alhaji Owolewa Street at Orile-Agege, Lagos State, have raised a Security and Development Committee for effective policing. The committee was inaugurated on Sunday. Speaking at the event, the committee Chairman, Mr Tajudeen Adebayo, said incessant armed robbery attacks in the area necessitated the formation of the committee. He said: “But some of us who felt concerned about the insecurity in the community came together to form the committee. “We believe that the issue of security should be the responsibility of every resident of the community. We also need development in addition to security.” Also, a member of the committee, Comrade Mojeed Abaja, said what the community went through in the hands of armed robbers in the last two years

prompted some concerned residents to form the body. He said: “We believe that for the robbers to operate successfully in the community there must be an insider. That was why we formed the committee monitor activities at the street during the day, while the vigilantes keep watch at night. “The protection of lives and property of the residents is paramount to us. “Also, we are not taking the issue of developing the community with levity. We know that with secured environment, there would be development.” Also speaking, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Elere Police Station, Mr Musediq Orobiyi, charged the residents to work closely with the police in order to fight crime in the community. The DPO urged the residents to pay proper attention to the welfare of the security men guarding the community. “Security is vital. Without

L-R: Ogundimu; Orobiyi and Abaja at the event.

security in any country, such a place would be in chaos and anarchy,” he added. Orobiyi also told the residents to see policemen as their friends. He said: “If you say policemen are bad, the society itself is also bad, but to have effective policing, you must relate well with us.”

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

The DPO also urged the residents to share information with the police, adding that his office was open to everybody. In his remark, a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon Oluyinka Ogundimu, said the state government had done a lot for the police to fight crime.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

For us, no sex before robbery, say suspects Juliana Francis

uspected robbers, arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State, said it was a taboo for them to sleep with any woman before embarking on robbery operation. Two of the suspects, Kayode Oduto and Quadri Lateef, were used as baits to apprehend other members of the gang. Oduto and Lateef were arrested after a housewife bathed one of them with hot water, when they attempted to rob her home at Kollington area of Alagbado. After the woman bathed Oduto with hot water, her husband pinned him down and dispossessed him of his gun. His partner, Lateef, bolted, abandoning him to his fate. The police used both men to catch others. According to them, the brain behind their robbery operation is ‘T. Money,’ now in police custody. A police source said: “We discovered that their hideout is at Agboyi, Alapere, where T Money rented a house. The place is an island. You will use boat to get to the house. They

always stay there on Saturdays and Sundays for operations, to disperse on Mondays. “T Money has all their contacts and code names. They don’t go out on weekdays for operations, except on special occasions. Once T Money calls, he would simply say, ‘Ise-wa,’ and the members will gather at Agboyi by 8pm. “A standby boat is always waiting to take them to the island once they are through with operation. If they lodge in a hotel before going for an operation, they do not go back to the hotel, but head to Agboyi. “They do not sleep with women before embarking on operation. That is the law of the gang laid down by T Money, apparently given by their herbalist in Badagry. It could lead to their downfall.” T. Money is alleged to be the leader of the seven-gang of armed robbers. He finances the gang and also is in charge of keeping their guns. After his arrest, Lateef told police that they could get T Money and other members at Agboyi. He said: “We normally use canoe to cross water, to get to our hideout. We have spies

Lagos CP, Kayode Aderanti

everywhere. If police enter the island, T Money would know immediately. T Money is not just our leader; he is also the receiver of whatever we steal. After every robbery operation, we will share the money. But items like handbags, phones, jewellery would be handed over to T. Money. He will be the one to dispose of them. We accept any amount he gives us. Any of us who argues with him will be in trouble.” According to Lateef, before any operation, T Money would go to Badagry to meet a herbalist who used to tell them whether to go for an

operation or not. He added: “If T Money says, ‘Road no good,’ there won’t be any operation. Any robbery operation that T Money does not go with us always ends in disaster. Either we would lose a member or the operation would be botched.” The suspect said the gang relied on T Money for successful operations and worshipped him like a god. Lateef and Oduto further confessed that the gang had only shot a victim once at the Apapa area of the metropolis. A week after the shooting, T money told them that the man they shot and killed at Apapa was a bank manager. “We regretted killing the bank manager. It happened three years go,” Lateef told detectives. The suspect also said that he had worked with five other gangs before teaming up with T Money’s gang. “But since I joined T Money’s gang, I had never been caught by police until now. I was caught this time because Lateef told detectives and I decided to go and carry out operation alone. The other gang members did not know.”

Ado Poly workers protest, call for rector’s removal Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

cademic and non-academic staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti (Ado Poly), Ekiti State, yesterday took to the streets and called for the immediate removal of the Rector, Dr Theresa Taiwo Akande, over alleged incompetence, insensitivity and corrupt practices. The workers were drawn from the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP). The protesters blocked the main entrance of the institution and prevented staff and students from going in and out.

The placard-carrying workers accused the rector of embezzling N350 million unremitted cooperative funds and perpetrating illegal pension deductions from contract staff benefits in a brazen disregard to the financial regulations governing the institution. The union leaders - Tunji Owoye (ASUP), Dr Oluwole Ayeni (SSANIP) and Prince Adekunle Adeniyi (NASU) - lambasted the rector for promoting despotism, favouritism and nepotism in staff promotion. They said the institution would remain closed pending when the allegations levelled against Akande were cleared by the Federal Government. However, the rector, who dismissed the allegations through the institution’s

bout 1,000 workers will be statutorily retiring from the Lagos State public service between January and June. This is even as the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) said it would commence the pre-retirement training for retiring workers. The Director-General, LASPEC, Mr Rotimi Adekunle Hussain, who disclosed this, said that the pre-retirement seminar would take place at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, the Secretariat, Alausa. According to Hussain, the seminar, which is usually being organised in collabora-

tion with the state approved Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and insurance companies, is designed to further broaden the knowledge of the would-be retirees on how best to prepare for their retirement and access their retirement benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Hussain added that the seminar would, among other benefits, explain the procedures for processing the end of service benefits; how they would monitor and ensure that their Retirement Savings Account was up to date with payment of the statutory monthly contributions. According to him, it is

he Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said that seven persons died in a motor accident on the Lokoja-Ajaokuta Road in Kogi State. The state FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Godwin Omiko, disclosed this to journalists in Lokoja yesterday. He said that 13 persons sustained injuries in the accident which occurred late Sunday night at Gidan Bassa community. Omiko said the deceased were two children, one man and four women. The sector commander, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the accident was caused by head on collision between a Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Peace Mass Transit and a Toyota Corolla car. He attributed the cause of the accident to drunk driving and overtaken on the wrong side. Omiko said that investigation into the cause of the crash was already underway. The sector commander said the injured were taken to Ajaokuta Steel Company Hospital, Zenith Hospital and the State Specialist Hospital for treatment. He added that the remains of those who lost their lives had been deposited at Ankuri Hospital morgue in Lokoja. Omiko said that items recovered from the accident scene had been handed over to the police station in Ajaokuta for safe keeping.

N400m electricity contract awarded for Anka-Talata Idris Salisu Gusau

A The protesters

Deputy Registrar, Information and Protocol, Mr Adeyemi Adejolu, accused the workers of impatience,

saying she expected them to await the outcome of the probe they jointly called for before resorting to protest.

1,000 Lagos workers to retire in six months Muritala Ayinla

Seven killed in Lokoja-Ajaokuta car crash

also to expatiate on the two exit options of programmed withdrawal provided by the PFAs and the annuity for life option provided by the insurance companies. He added that other areas the seminar would dwell on included topics such as: “Living healthy in retirement” and “Making good investment decisions.” The DG commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for the achievement so far made in the administration of the contributory pension scheme. Hussain recalled that as at the 15th Retirement Bond Certificate presentation ceremony held in December, 2014 the government had

Fashola

paid N30,479,043,146.76k into the RSA of 5,773 retirees under the contributory pension scheme.

member of the House of Representatives representing Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency, Zamfara State, Hon. Lawali Hassan Anka, said that N400 million contract for electricity had been awarded as part of his constituency projects. The contract, according to him, also covers procurement of 20 500 KVA transformers for various towns and villages in his constituency. The lawmaker disclosed this in Anka town while answering questions from journalists. He said the contract was awarded by the Federal Government through his constituency projects, adding that work was in progress for the linking of many communities and towns including Anka town the headquarters of the local government with the national grid. Anka explained that the supply of the electricity was being sourced through Talata Mafara electricity substation while most of the transformers had already been installed in parts of Talata Mafara Local Government to boost electricity supply. The lawmaker also said that boreholes were drilled in about 30 communities to make potable water available to the citizens. He added that dilapidated boreholes and hand pumps were also repaired.

News

2015: I'll contest as SDP candidate, says Bankole Kunle Olayeni ABEOKUTA

ormer House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, yesterday confirmed that he had been handed the gubernatorial ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ogun State. Bankole, who addressed his teeming supporters and loyalists at a private hotel in Abeokuta, said the development was inevitable following the controversy that greeted the governorship primaries of his former party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The former speaker's ambition to contest the February governorship election on the platform of PDP had suffered a setback as the party leadership picked former Group Managing Director of Gateway Holdings Limited, Prince Gboyega Isiaka. "It's true that I was offered senatorial ticket in the PDP. But I could not accept it because my supporters did not ask me to contest for Senate. I needed to consult them first before taking any decision," he told a gathering of his supporters. In attendance at the meeting were two members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Job Akintan and Abiodun Akovoyon, as well as former lawmaker, Johnson Olu-Fatoki; Chief Wale Egunleti and Chief Sina Adejobi, among others.

SOUTH - WEST

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

CP threatens to arrest Lagos officials over removal of political posters Taiwo Jimoh and Shola Adefuwa

he Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, yesterday, vowed that he and his men would invoke the full wrath of the law against any official of the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), who engage in the removal of political

posters pasted in parts of the state. Addressing journalists at Police Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos, Aderanti, said that the measure became necessary after his office received series of complaints against LASAA officials by candidates of various political parties over the removal of their campaign billboards and posters purportedly by personnel of

the agency. Aderanti, however refused to specify, if the complainants on the development affects members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or just other political parties. Insisting that INEC had lifted ban on political campaigns and LASAA should refrain from the act which could lead to truncating the peace of

the state, Aderanti said: “The Electoral Act 2010 as amended is clear in section 100(2) where it stated inter alia that, ‘State apparatus, including the media shall not be employed to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election.’ The command wishes to advice LASAA to desist from any act that will call to question its purpose against any

Amosun boasts of 50,000 youths employment in 43 months

O Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, speaking with Aviation Correspondents, on his arrival from an oversea trip at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Ajimobi confirms new Oyo HoS, Aregbesola Fayose, Fayemi bicker over names new SSG, 17 perm secs, others cost of Govt House Chief of Staff

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Monday announced the confirmation of the acting Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade and 17 permanent secretaries who have also been in acting capacities. The governor made the announcement while speaking at the inter-faith prayer service marking the first working day of the New Year at the Governor’s Office, Ibadan. He also announced the confirmation of the acting Accountant-General of the State, Auditor-General (State) and the AuditorGeneral (Local Governments) while some retired senior directors had their promotions to the position of permanent secretaries backdated. Governor Ajimobi said that the gesture was in appreciation of the cooperation and support which his administration had received from the civil servants in the last three and a half years, saying that they (workers) had performed tremendously well in the actualization of his restoration, transfor-

political party. It is in the interest of public peace for the agency to allow candidates of all political parties’ equal space to disseminate their campaign messages towards a successful conduct of the general election.” Before meeting with journalists, Aderanti, met with area commanders and Divisional Police Officers. According to him, the meeting with his lieutenants was to further direct them to be on the lookout and arrest anybody that attempts to remove any billboard or posters of any candidate of the various political parties under whatever guise, as the Command would not stand by and allow anyone to truncate the forthcoming general elections. “Let no one, no matter how highly placed, try our resolve to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.”

mation and repositioning agenda. ``Today’s event is unique in many respects. First is that, it gives us the opportunity to reflect on how God started with our administration three and a half years ago and placed within us the passion for excellence and the drive to significantly and positively affect the administration of our dear state. `` It has been a wonderful experience being called upon to serve the people of Oyo State. For an appreciable part of my life, I have had the privilege to be in the private sector where the definition of success is synonymous with productivity, a productivity that is measured in terms of quantifiable profit-making declared every year. ``However, the definition of success on this side of the economy, that is, the public service, is basically quantified in terms of good governance which includes social welfare programmes implemented in furtherance of the franchise with the public.

Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

ew weeks after the dissolution of his state cabinet, following his inauguration for a fresh four years in office, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola yesterday announced the reappointment of Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, as Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff respectively. The governor made the announcement in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo, by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon. Ogbeni Aregbesola, who approved the appointment of the duo who had served in the same capacities in the first term of his administration, described their contributions to the advancement of his government as inexplicable.

CROSS FIRE

Again governor, ex-gov bicker over building of new Ekiti Govt House Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

he usual verbal cross fire between the incumbent and former governors of Ekiti State, Ayo Fasoye and Mr. Kayode Fayemi, on issues concerning the state continued yesterday, as both parties engaged in brick bats over what amount of the state resources was committed to the building of the new Government House, Ado-Ekiti by the Fayemi’s adminitration. The latest bickering between the two parties saw the aide to Governor Ayo Fayose, Lere Olayinka, faulting the claim of former Governor Fayemi, that only N2.1 billion was expended on the project by his administration. To this end, Olayinka,

the Special Assistant to Fayose on Public Communication, on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, said going by available records, the sum of N2.8 billion was actually spent on the project by Fayemi. In his reaction to Fayemi's claim on a radio programme that he spent only N2.1 billion on the project, Olayinka said, “The total contract sum for the Oke Ayoba Government House was N3,389,722,104.59 (N3.38bn) and not N2.1bn as claimed by Fayemi.” He explained that apart from the original contract, additional contracts were awarded before Fayemi left office on October 16 last year. He also revealed that the contract was initially awarded to Kouris Construction Nig. Ltd on July 27, 2012 for N2,054,573,822.00 (N2.05bn), while additional contract of N730,186,636.87 was awarded on October 10, 2014, six days before the expiration of Fayemi’s administration.

gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has declared that his administration employed no fewer than 50,000 youths of the state in 43 months of his administration in the state, through direct and indirect employment. Speaking in a live radio programme tagged "Meet the Governor" on Paramount FM, Abeokuta, Amosun said the feat was achieved by the holistic approach of his administration to unemployment, including creating an enabling environment for business and industries to thrive. Responding to questions on the spate of unemployment in the state, the governor expressed with concern that though close to one million youths are unemployed in the state, the trend is gradually reducing on a daily basis as about 46 industries with at least 100 million dollar investment have sprang up under his administration. He added that some of them engage about 4,500 staff in a day through jobshifts. The governor explained the rationale behind his administration's interest in infrastructural development, arguing that he believes that it is a probable catalyst for other sectors for the state to achieve any meaningful socio-economic development.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Power tussle

Ebonyi: Umahi’s PDP battles Elechi’s LP

National Assembly

Election

Oyo guber race

Reps angling for senatorial seats

Mimiko flays Obasanjo over outrage on Jonathan

Unravelling Rashidi Ladoja

Politics Jonathan, Buhari turn The North-West is gradually being turned to the battleground for the February 14 presidential election. IBRAHEEM MUSA reports

North-West to battleground Sokoto Katsina Zamfara

ith a large voting population, three All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and four governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the two dominant political parties seem to be on an even keel in the North-West geopolitical zone. However, the growing disaffection against the ruling party, President Goodluck Jonathan’s handling of the insurgency in the North and the sabre rattling of prominent Ijaw leaders, as well as the perception of marginalisation, have alienated PDP in the zone. In spite of this, the ruling party is leaving no stone unturned to at least get a foothold in the zone at a time when APC is consolidating its grip. The North-West will determine which party gets which position in the 2015 election. No doubt, in this dispensation, the North-West will be the battleground in the February general election. Large, populous and politically conscious, the zone has the highest number of states out of the six geopolitical zones. Specifically, the South West, South South and North East zones, including the North Central have six states respectively while the South East has

AYODELE OJO

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Kano

Kebbi

Kaduna

Jonathan

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS

Jigawa

just five states. The North West, on the other hand, has seven states within its zone. In size and demography, the states in the North West have large landmass and a huge population. With 44 local governments, Kano State is the second most populous in the country, going by the 2006 census. The

Buhari

state, according to reports, has 9,383,682 people spread across 20, 131 square km. It trails behind Lagos State in terms of registered voters. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Lagos State has 5,426,391 out of the over 70 million eligible voters in Nigeria. But Kano with 4,751,818 eli-

gible voters, is the state with the second highest number of registered voters. Similarly, Kaduna State ranks third, after Kano and Lagos states, in terms of population across the country. Katsina State, with 34 local government, is the fifth largest state in Nigeria. Significantly, the combined population of Kano, Katsina and Kaduna states, is higher than that of the entire South South geopolitical zone. Incidentally, its huge population and the tendency for block voting make the North West the beautiful bride of every presidential candidate. Right now, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, is the zone’s most eligible bachelor. In 2011, few months after formation, the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) got 6,453,437 votes in the zone as Buhari was on the presidential ballot. With seven governors, control of state assemblies and area councils, PDP could only pull through with 3,395,718 votes. Buhari, by this singular act, had proven to be the politician to beat in the North West zone. Similarly, the General’s overall performance underscored his fervent followership across the nation. Four years ago, CPC lacked PDP’s human and financial resources but the underdog proved a formidable opponent. Perhaps, at this juncture, a flash back on CPC’s antecedents is necessary. In February 2009, after the December 12, 2008 Supreme Court verdict, Buhari felt short changed by the defunct All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) leadership. Thereafter, he wrote his supporters a letter on the way forward; whether to remain in the party, join another party other than PDP or to form a new one. Specifically, Buhari received several suggestions and he set up a committee, according to reports, to study them and make recommendations. The committee, within a short time, had forwarded its findings to Buhari but subsequent events in the polity delayed their implementations. Simultaneously, CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Politics

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ebonyi: Umahi’s PDP battles Elechi’s LP CHARLES ONYEKWERE writes on the emergence of Ebonyi State deputy governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the February 28 governorship election and Governor Martin Elechi’s romance with the Labour Party (LP)

efore his emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State, Deputy Governor Dave Umahi was already putting structures in place to achieve the dream of becoming the next governor of the state. Umahi had nurtured the ambition of being the next governor of the state, right from when he was the party’s state chairman, before he was nominated as the deputy governor by Governor Martin Elechi. Elechi had adopted the immediate past Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, as the PDP consensus candidate. But the major stakeholders kicked against Chukwu’s choice. The coalition of the stakeholders including Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, and former Governor Sam Egwu along with Umahi took over the control of the PDP structures with the backing of the national leadership of the party. With the PDP structures out of Governor Elechi’s reach, it was easy for the deputy governor to clinch the governorship ticket. All the delegates that voted for Umahi, had worked with him when he was on the saddle, as PDP state chairman, which gave him an edge over other aspirants at the December 8, 2014 PDP primaries. Two years ago, he formed a group called Dave Umahi Divine Mandate, a structure he used to win the primaries. Since his emergence, his group has been duplicated across the 171 electoral wards of the state, with the purchase of over 100 buses and motorcycles to boost the campaign. Despite the defection of some aggrieved PDP members to the opposition Labour Party (LP) in the state, Umahi still has an advantage over other gubernatorial candidates in the race, because he is the only candidate from Ebonyi South senatorial zone which the zoning arrangement favoured. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Julius Ucha, is from Ebonyi Central; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Senator Anthony Agbo hails from Ebonyi North while the LP candidate, Sir Edward Nkwegu is from Ebonyi North. To ensure victory for the party, the PDP, when searching for a

Elechi

running mate for Umahi, nominated Barrister Kelechi Igwe, from Ndufu-Alike, in Ikwo Local Government Area, where Governor Elechi hails from and the most populated area in the state. The recent defection of Elechi supporters and loyalists from PDP to LP showed that the state government has a hand in the mass exodus of the people with financial support for the candidate. At a recent press conference in Abakaliki, the state capital, organised by a coalition of Ebonyi State PDP candidates, the group accused Governor Elechi of engaging in futile efforts at sabotaging the party. The group’s statement read at the press conference was signed by the three senatorial candidates of the zones: Ebonyi North, Egwu; Ebonyi Central, Chief Obinna Ogba and Ebonyi South, Sunny Ogbuoji. Others included, six House of Representatives candidates: Ohanivo, Hon. Linus Okorie; Ebonyi/ Ohaukwu, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku; Ikwo/Ezza south, Chief Lazarus Ogbee; Abakaliki/ IzzI, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga and Afikpo North/Afikpo south, Chief Idu Igariwey as well as the 24 state House of Assembly candidates. The group recalled that the recent Town Hall meeting at the Women Development Centre in Abakaliki, and presided over by the state governor, to rub minds on the affairs of the state, rather turned out to formalise his decision to abandon PDP in favour of the LP. At the meeting, the governor spent the better part of the meeting, reeling out a litany of arguments why he has been unable to complete a single project in the past seven and half years. It was obvious to all present that the main purpose of the meeting, was to announce to the whole world that “the PDP is a sinking ship”. The group, said it smack of unbridled ingratitude for a twoterm governor, who came into office on the platform of the PDP to turn round to sabotage that

Umahi

When things are not done in accordance with the law, opportunities for anarchy will be created as we commend you for being in sympathy with us over the travails

very platform. According to the PDP Stakeholders, since Governor Elechi was drafted into the PDP from the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2007, to contest the governorship election, the party has not known peace, and its fortunes have continued to dwindle. A cursory look at the fortunes of the party since 2007 will attest to this. When Elechi contested the governorship election under Governor Egwu’s watch, Elechi scored well over 500,000 votes, while the then presidential candidate of the PDP, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, scored close to 800,000 votes. However, in 2011, under Elechi’s watch, PDP was close to implosion with many party faithful leaving en masse to fight the governor from the opposition. In the 2011 election, Elechi scored just above 200,000 votes against Senator Julius Ucha of the ANPP who polled over 120,000 votes. According to the stakeholders, PDP in Ebonyi State has struggled and suffered terribly from the high handedness, politics of exclusion and sheer incompetence of the leader of the party in the state, as exemplified by Governor Elechi’s poor performance in recent elections. Indeed, the recent party primaries in the state that witnessed the participation of PDP faithful in the state, both foundation members and so-called joiners, seems to have reinvigorated the PDP in the state. There were palpable feelings of achievements, freedom and hope, that for once since 2007, the party has finally gone back to the people. Only a fortnight ago, while some stakeholders were busy attending the party’s National Convention in Abuja, Elechi’s sons-in-law, and few other cronies busied themselves at an LP rally in Abakaliki township stadium, where they shared among themselves the LP positions that were up for grabs. According to the arrangement, the governor’s first son, Nnanna

Elechi, is to contest the Ebonyi Central senatorial seat; the governor’s in-law, Chief Edward Nkwegu is to run as the LP gubernatorial candidate. The governor’s friend’s son, Prince Sam Agom Eze, is to contest to the Ebonyi South senatorial zone at the senate. Meanwhile, Governor Elechi has sought assistance from the LP to surmount the challenges his faction of the PDP is facing in the state. Elechi’s supporters, including commissioners and local government chairmen, defected to the LP after losing the primaries to Umahi. Elechi and some of his loyalists, however, remained in the PDP. The governor made the appeal at his country home, Echialike-Ikwo Local Government Area, when he received the state leadership of the LP. He described the recent events in the state chapter of the PDP as unfortunate, adding that he and his supporters insisted that things should be done correctly. “You are aware of what happened to us as we insisted that our laws should be obeyed and all party’s rules of engagement, campaign and election must be respected. “When things are not done in accordance with the law, opportunities for anarchy will be created as we commend you for being in sympathy with us over the travails. “We pray we overcome the travails as we urge you to assist us in any way you can while we promise that we will remember you when we get to our own promise land,” Elechi said. He called on the people of the state to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in the forthcoming general elections because he remained the best candidate in the elections. “You should vote for Jonathan in whatever political party you are and also those who don’t belong to any political party and are more in number. “President Jonathan is the best presidential candidate we can offer, as he has proven that he possess the magic wand to salvage the country.” Earlier, the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Sebastine Obia, thanked Elechi for receiving them, and pledged that the party would continue to identify with his administration’s transformational ideals. “We want to commend you for your peaceful disposition towards the challenges confronting your administration as it has brought the desired stability and harmonious existence in the state. “We, however, assure that we will assist in achieving your political goals as we know that you are a leader we can trust,” Obia said. Obia also appealed to the governor to assist the party in meeting its various needs such as a functional state headquarters, official car, among other needs. As it is, the February 28 governorship poll will be a straight contest between Umahi and forces loyal to Elechi. The triumph of Umahi at the governorship poll will mean a total humiliation of Governor Elechi.

Politics 15

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

It is fast becoming a norm that after spending some years in the House of Representatives, lawmakers assume they have garnered enough experience to move up to the upper chamber, the Senate. PHILIP NYAM chronicles some House members angling for the Senate in the February 14 election

t is generally agreed that the only permanent thing in life is change. In the National Assembly, the trend is for lawmakers to either contest for governorship or aim at the Senate after spending some years in any of the chambers. Most members of the House of Representatives often test their popularity with the Senate seats. In the current Senate, there are quite a number of senators who came from the House. Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi) spent 12 years in the House and was at a time the Majority Leader. Chairman, Senate Committee on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno) also served for eight years (2003-2011) before moving to the Senate. Like Ningi, Ndume was the minority leader in his last term in the House. The chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Nkechi Nwogu (Abia) spent one term (2003-2007) in the House before crossing over to the Senate. Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom), chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business was in the House for 12 years (1999-2011), where he also chaired similar committee for eight years. Senator Atai Aidoko (Kogi) was chairman, Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the House for four years before crossing over to the upper chamber in 2011. Other senators who came from the House include Senators Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Ayoade Adeseun (Oyo), Sola Adeyeye (Osun), Victor Lar (Plateau) and Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba). Other senators in the present dispensation that were members of the House include Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe), Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu), Philip Aduda (FCT), Mohammed Barata (Adamawa) and Paulinus Igwe Nwagu (Ebonyi). The rest are Senators Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos) and Emmanuel Aguariavwodo (Delta). In fact, Senator Nurudeen AbatemiUsman (Kogi) served as a special adviser to former Speaker of the House, Hon. Dimeji Bankole before contesting for the Senate. Aspiring senators Samson Osagie (APC, Edo) Hon. Samson Raphael Osagie represents Orhionmwn/ Uhunmwode federal constituency of Edo State and is the minor-

Reps angling for senatorial seats

Osagie

Ekwunife

Adeola

Mutawalle

Gusau

Dorgu

ity whip of the House. A lawyer by training, Osagie holds a Bachelor of Law Degree and a Master of Law as well as a Masters of Public Administration (MPA). He began his political sojourn in 1999 as a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, where he served for eight years. He was elected into the House in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. Although he came to the House on the platform of the PDP, he later defected to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) when Governor Adams Oshiomhole took over from Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor who was removed by the election tribunal. He is the APC candidate for Edo South senatorial seat having defeated a former member of the House and now Chief of Staff to Edo State governor, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon at the primaries. A very vocal member of the parliament, Osagie has been in the vanguard of robust parliamentary debates and has sponsored many bills and motions. Osagie is said to have attracted and executed many development projects in Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwode Federal Constituency. He has instituted scholarship/bursary award to over 50 students of Nigeria Law School from Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency and installed solar powered street lights in about 25 communities in the constituency.

Uche Ekwunife (PDP, Anambra) Hon Uche Ekwunife represents Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal Constituency and is the chairman, House Committee on Environment. Ekwunife is serving her second term in the House having been elected in 2007. An ambitious woman, she has traversed the political landscape of three political parties in the last seven years. She came to the lower chamber on the ticket of the PDP but later defected to the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to contest for governorship election in Anambra State. After losing the election, she abandoned the PPA and returned to PDP. In 2011, she moved to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and won election into the House for the second time. Desirous to realise her senatorial ambition, Ekwunife dumped APGA a few months ago and returned to the PDP. Ekwunifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quest for senatorial ticket is however shrouded in controversy as two other aspirants are laying claim to the Anambra Central senatorial candidacy of the PDP. While she was announced as candidate by her faction, another candidate, Obiora Okonkwo, reportedly held his own primaries at Choice Hotel in Awka and was also elected and is also claiming to be the candidate. Former Senator Annie Okonkwo is also laying claim to the ticket.

Most members of the House of Representatives often test their popularity with the Senate seats

Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Lagos) Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Adeola is the candidate of the APC for the Lagos West Senatorial District. In the primaries held at Agege Stadium, Adeola polled 4,287 votes to defeat Demola Seriki who came a distant second with 247 votes. Before the primaries, the deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure, Mrs. Kemi Obasa, and Mr. Kamal Bayewu withdrew from the race. Adeola is a chartered accountant and Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Before delving into active politics, he worked with The Guardian newspapers for 12 years and rose to the position of accountant. Later, he proceeded to Olatunji Omoyeni and Company, a chartered accounting firm, where he led the audit team for several years. He began his political career as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2003 representing Alimosho Constituency II under the auspices of Alliance for Democracy (AD) 2003. He was re-elected in 2007 on the platform of the Action Congress (AC). He contested for the House of Representatives in 2011. Under his watch, the House has for almost a year now been probing into the CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

16 Politics Kayode Olanrewaju

head of the 2015 general election in the country, a Professor of Political Science and ViceChancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Prof. Femi Mimiko has said that despite the challenges confronting the country, the February elections would be successful. Also, he noted that it was absolutely inappropriate for former President Olusegun Obasanjo to declare that President Goodluck Jonathan had performed below average. “This cannot be an objective assessment as it was not informed by either fact or logic,” he said. This was part of the views of Prof. Mimiko at the convocation lecture of the Institute for Security Studies, Department of State Services, Abuja. In the lecture, entitled: “Towards Free, Fair and Transparent 2015 Election,” he said there are credible institutional, political, attitudinal, economic and sundry issues, that if not addressed might compromise the 2015 elections. “While the issues differ in importance and urgency with which they should be addressed, it is to be noted that several of such could not now be undertaken in the short period between now and the 2015 election,” Mimiko added. The hope, according to him, therefore is that in spite of this array of challenges, the elections would succeed and thus create enough time for needful reforms to be undertaken before the next in the series of general election in the country. Mimiko, while lamenting that Boko Haram insurgency remains the single most important threat to the February elections, said: “For one, it is doubtful whether it is logistically feasible to have elections in states most wracked by this urban guerrilla warfare. Yet, the constitution is clear as to the basis on which a winner can emerge in the presidential election. “The rights of candidates were wantonly abridged, while the electorate was arrantly violated, and the institutions of election man-

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mimiko flays Obasanjo over outrage on Jonathan

In spite of this array of challenges, the elections would succeed and thus create enough time for needful reforms to be undertaken

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

service wide votes. Bello Mutawalle (PDP, Zamfara) Mutawalle represents Bakura/Maradun federal constituency of Zamfara State and is the chairman of the House committee on security and intelligence. He is the PDP candidate for Zamfara West senatorial district. He is also a member of the committees on Finance, House Services and Public Petitions. He lost in the gubernatorial primaries but was compensated as replacement for Sani Mohammad Takori who initially won the ticket. Takori is now the candidate for Gummi/ Bukkuyum federal constituency. Mutawalle came to the House on the platform of the ANPP in 2003 and became deputy minority whip between 2003 and 2007 and held the same position between 2007 and 2011. Before coming to the House, he served as commissioner for local government affairs in the administration of Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima. Mutawalle’s ambition to govern the state in 2011 forced him out of the ANPP to the PDP. The lawmaker who had con-

Mimiko

agement were unabashedly subverted in the 2007 elections held under the erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo. “On the other side of the continuum, since Jonathan became president, he has managed to run elections that have been broadly adjudged, even by elements within the usually truculent opposition, as free and fair, with the president’s party losing in not a few of them. “Only eight election petitions were filed by aggrieved contestants in Ondo State, for instance, at the end of the 2011 elections held under Dr. Jonathan’s watch,

as against 68 filed at the end of the 2007 elections which General Obasanjo conducted.” Mimiko said out of the five gubernatorial elections so far held under his watch and in which his party was by no means an underdog, the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost in four states of Edo, Ondo, Anambra and Osun, saying it won only in Ekiti State. His words: “Against this critical backdrop, it is absolutely inappropriate for President Obasanjo in 2014, who presided over the 2007 elections to declare so unequivocally that President Jonathan had

performed below average. This cannot be an objective assessment as it was not informed by either fact or logic.” According to the Vice-Chancellor, despite the terrorism and insecurity challenges bedevilling the country, President Jonathan has been able to achieve sundry noticeable developments. Mimiko said it was clear that the incumbent president has done much better than his predecessor of the 1999 to 2007 era in every respect, including the dignified manner in which he has carried the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Reps angling for senatorial seats sidered himself as the natural choice of the ANPP leader, Sani Yerima, to take over from the defeated governor, Alhaji Shinkafi suddenly fell out with the senator; who instead endorsed Hon. Abdulaziz Yari. Following this development, Mutawalle defected to the PDP and picked the House ticket to return to the National Assembly. In the wake of the plot to stop the PDP’s decision to zone the speaker to the South-West, Mutawalle was also considered at the initial stages but his candidature was later abandoned when Aminu Tambuwal came into the picture. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau (PDP, Zamfara) Gusau is vying for the Zamfara Central Senatorial seat having been made the candidate of the PDP. He contested for governorship ticket but lost to the former governor, Alhaji Mamuda Shinkafi. But the PDP candidate for the senatorial seat, Alhaji Yandoto was

consequently made the governorship running mate thereby paving way for Gusau to assume the candidature. He represents Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency of Zamfara State and is a member of the committees on Justice, Communications and Foreign Affairs. Before his election to the House, he had served as special adviser and later commissioner in Zamfara State. Gusau defected from the APC to the PDP early this year. His political base is believed to be weak, he is said to have engaged in the promotion of both Islamic and western education by sponsoring many students on scholarship and paying school fees for many indigent pupils across the state. He has established an ICT centre in the state, which has employed a lot of youths. Stella Dorgu (PDP, Bayelsa) Hon. Stella Dorgu represents Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency

of Bayelsa State. She replaced Governor Seriake Dickson in a by-election in 2012. Dorgu, who was aspiring to represent Bayelsa West Senatorial District, lost her bid to the former chairman of the Bayelsa State Scholarship Board, Evang. Foster Ogola. A versatile broadcaster, she has held several influential positions in Nigeria and in Bayelsa State, including pioneer Bayelsa State Governors Special Representative, Abuja. Director General, National Centre for Women’s Development and coordinator Bayelsa State Poverty and Wealth Creation Agency. A philanthropist, Dorgu is the founder of Ayamara Foundation, a private independent, non-governmental and non- profit philanthropic organisation based in Sagbama Local Government of Bayelsa, with offices in Abuja, Lagos and the US. It also partners with both local and international organisations.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Unravelling Rashidi Ladoja Dotun Oyelade

never put anything past him especially after authoring that political howler ‘’Why Ajimobi Must Not Come Back’’ but his latest drudgery, ‘’The Unravelling of Ladoja’’ must surprise even his beleaguered boss himself. Just like his earlier prophesy, his reference to Alex La Guma’s book ‘’In The Fog of a Season’s End’’ could not have been more apt especially for an administration that has been living in the cloud and whose season of transformation baloney is about to end seven weeks from now. Dr. Festus Adedayo should take it for granted that this discourse will be about issues, accountability and decorum. We shall not veer into his own orbit of dirty toilets in the governor’s office or literally calling critics of his boss Rottweilers, faggots and oxymorons. We are too liberated for that. I know Ilu-Abo in Akure where the young man hails from. It may not be as cosmopolitan as Ibadan yet the people of the serene village keep their pride and decency, but I ask what is decent in a man eager to deploy vile languages that make ordinary people wince just because of differences in opinion? If indeed Dr. Adedayo had professional relationship with the likes of Prof. Wale Adebanwi, Dr. Adeolu Akande, Bode Opeseitan, Dr. Segun Olatunji and Simon Kolawole as he once claimed in an earlier self-aggrandising essay, he does not appear to have cultivated their urbanity, and that is not a factor of where he comes either. In his latest essay published in the Nigerian Tribune of Friday January 2, Adedayo said of Senator Rashidi Ladoja: ‘’The uninspiring drawls that attend his public speeches and the minus such gives the name of Oyo State among a comity of governors who get freely donated to themselves applauses at public functions for their oratory’’ To the Abiola Ajimobi administration, governance is all about glitz and make-belief but we ask what has the gift of the garb to do with service delivery? It does not matter that while Ladoja was bagging a first-class degree in chemical engineering in one of the best colleges in Europe, his counterpart was struggling unsuccessfully to make the grades to enter a university here. Because of its over-reliance on oration (another word for propaganda) the out-going administration is the butt of joke among school teachers who knew that in spite of the roadshow where the governor was doing the job of assistant directors by distributing employment letters himself two months ago, less than 1,000 teachers were actually unemployed and not 5,000 as the public was told and they have not been paid a dime as records from SUBEB show. Conversely, teachers have not forgotten the man who in 2004

Ladoja

increased the number of secondary schools from 344 to 920, who cancelled automatic promotions in public schools and recruited 6,500 secondary and primary school teachers without a whimper. Our teachers have retentive memories so they know that it was Ladoja that promoted 7000 primary school teachers and also 400 secondary school teachers to principals in spite of the various distractions that came his way. Ladoja had promised that he would love to conduct the local government election two weeks after being sworn in in 2015 but for the statutory requirement which may delay the election till September. That will not be good news to Governor Ajimobi who has refused to conduct the local government election since he assumed office. Throughout his tenure, Senator Ladoja did not tamper with the statutory allocation to local government councils not to talk of tinkering with their excess crude oil account. Not Governor Ajimobi, whose administration cornered all the excess crude oil money meant for the councils and awarded 80 per cent of the contracts leaving the councils in comatose. His spin man gleefully refered to him as cerebral and urbane leader. He could very well be both and even more but many civil servants will fail to see the correlation with a leader that has broken the record of being the only governor in the annals of the pacesetter state, who did not pay December salaries to his civil servants therefore ensuring a bleak Christmas and Eid el- Maulud. In the same manner, very little is cerebral about a governor who managed to lose in three years, the two senators

Ajimobi

His spin man gleefully refer to him as cerebral and urbane leader... very little is cerebral about a governor who managed to lose in three years, the two senators elected on his party platform

elected on his party platform. I have taken a cursory look at political party primaries since 1979 and the Accord primaries of 2014 in Oyo State witnessed the largest number of aspirants ever. Dr. Adedayo laboured to cast aspersion on the manner the exercise was conducted and went on with his usual past time of name-calling. To be sure, 242 aspirants were juggling to be candidates for the 32 House of Assembly seats while we had 54 for the 14 Federal House of Representatives seats. The Senate had barely six aspirants contesting for the three available seats. A huge challenge on our hands but the signal was very clear; Accord is the party to beat. In fact, all the other parties combined did not meet our number of aspirants halfway. The challenge we had was anticipated because of the groundswell of grassroots popularity which we know we possess especially among the critical interest, social and economic groups across the state. The party thus decided on an initial strategy of self-wielding before leaders were given the assignment to further screen and prune down the numbers. Evidently, when you have such large number of people legitimately scrambling for limited spaces, you would expect to have what is generally termed the ‘Dilemma of Democracy’ on your hand whereupon those who were not picked for one reason or the other will protest. We experienced it and we rode it and 90 per cent of the cases were resolved and we have moved on. Even Festus himself, in a rare admission of Accord popularity wrote inter alia: ‘’Aggrieved Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members and later All

Progressives Congress (APC) as well as Peoples Democratic Party faithful nested with comfort in Ladoja’s party trying to best one another....’’ The ruling party may be politically correct in singling out Accord and its flag bearer for attack out of frustration but such vituperation can only add value to the ambition of the Asipa of Ibadanland who by God’s will is poised to resuming his good work by May 29. With due respect to his professional competence and self-esteem, Adedayo obviously knows little about the inner workings of those he is working for. He should be wary of throwing caution to the wind and the young man must be a little bit more circumspect in throwing unguided punches at perceived enemies. He should also avoid being too personal in his attack. Let me share with him a close secret. On Saturday October 4, 2014, the National Vice Chairman (South West) of the APC, Chief A. Akinleyure visited Senator Ladoja at his residence in Ibadan on an errand from the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He was accompanied by the serving governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. The duo came to finalise the handing over of the gubernatorial ticket of the APC in Oyo State to Ladoja while the arrangement was for Ajimobi to return to the Senate. The meeting did not last long because Ladoja repeated what he had told the progenitors of that gambit two days before. ‘’No, thank you’’ So how about that Dr. Festus Adedayo? •Oyelade is the Media Director of Accord party.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Thomas Fuller, African ‘slave' and mathematician

Posted by Reunion Black Family

homas Fuller was an African, shipped to America as a slave in 1724. He had remarkable powers of calculation, and late in his life was discovered by antislavery campaigners who used him as a demonstration that blacks are not mentally inferior to whites. The place of his birth appears to have been between present day Liberia and Benin. Known as Negro Tom, we know that he was described as a very black man and also we know that he lived in Virginia after being brought to the United States as a slave. Certainly late in his life he was the property of Elixabeth Coxe of Alexandria. Thomas Fuller, known as the Virginia Calculator, was stolen from his native Africa at the age of fourteen and sold to a planter. When he was about seventy years old, two gentlemen, natives of Pennsylvania, viz., William Hartshorne and Samuel Coates, men of probity and respectable characters, having heard, in travelling through the neighbourhood in which the slave lived, of his extraordinary powers in arithmetic, sent for him and had their curiosity sufficiently gratified by the answers which he gave to the following questions: First, Upon being asked how many seconds there were in a year and a half, he answered in about two minutes, 47 304 000. Second: On being asked how many seconds a man has lived who is 70 years, 17 days and 12 hours old, he answered in a minute and a half 2 210 500 800. One of the gentlemen who employed himself with his pen in making these calculations told him he was wrong, and the sum was not so great as he had said

- upon which the old man hastily replied: stop, master, you forget the leap year. On adding the amount of the seconds of the leap years the amount of the whole in both their sums agreed exactly. Another question was asked and satisfactorily answered. Before two other gentlemen he gave the amount of nine figures multiplied by nine. … In 1790 he died at the age of 80 years, having never learned to read or write, in spite of his extraordinary power of calculation. Present day thinking is that Fuller learnt to calculate in Africa before he was brought to the United States as a slave. Supporting evidence for this comes from a passage written by Thomas Clarkson in 1788 describing the purchase of African slaves: It is astonishing with what facility the African brokers reckon up the exchange of European goods for slaves. One of these brokers has ten slaves to sell , and for each of these he demands ten different articles. He reduces them immediately by the head to bars, coppers, ounces… and immediately strikes the balance. The European, on the other hand, takes his pen, and with great deliberation, and with all the advantage of arithmetic and letters, begin to estimate also. He is so unfortunate, as to make a mistake: but he no sooner errs, than he is detected by this man of inferior capacity, whom he can neither deceive in the name or quality of his goods, nor in the balance of his account. Despite Fuller’s calculating abilities he was never taught to read or write and again this is evidence that he did not learn to calculate while in the United States. When someone who had witnessed his calculating abilities remarked that it was a pity he had not been educated, Fuller replied: ‘It is best I got no learning; for many learned men be great fools.'

He died on 1790 in Alexandria, Virginia, USA There are surviving today, two period accounts of Thomas Fuller (both are reprinted in 1, one chief source for information on Fuller). Below is another excerpted from the Columbian Centinial , December 29, 1790, No. 707, p.123, col.32, Boston, Massachusettes. Note the reference to an ancient mathematics puzzle known to the Egyptians. Also note its pro-abolitionist conclusion: Died- Negro Tom, the famous African Calculator, aged 80 years. He was the property of Mrs. Elizabeth Coxe of Alexandria. Tom was a very black man. He was brought to this country at the age of 14, and was sold as a slave.... This man was a prodigy. Though he could never read or write, he had perfectly acquired the art of enumeration.... He could multiply seven into itself, that product by seven, and the products, so produced, by seven, for seven times. He could give the number of months, days, weeks, hours, minutes, and seconds in any period of time that any person chose to mention, allowing in his calculation for all leap years that happened in the time; he would give the number of poles, yards, feet, inches, and barley-corns in any distance, say the diameter of the earth's orbit; and in every calculation he would produce the true answer in less time than ninety-nine men out of a hundred would produce with their pens. And, what was, perhaps, more extraordinary, though interrupted in the progress of his calculation, and engaged in discourse necessary for him to begin again, but he would ... cast up plots of land. He took great notice of the lines of land which he had seen surveyed. He drew just conclusions from facts; surprisingly so, for his opportunities. Had his [Thomas Fuller] opportunity been equal to those of thousands of his fellow-men ... even a NEWTON himself, need have ashamed to acknowledge him a Brother in Science.

Arise O Rangers, shine and fly again Sixtus Chibueze Ezennaya

ristotle, that ancient Greek philosopher, in one of his treatises on success opined that; success is neither for a fainthearted nor for weak-kneed, but for the dogged and determined. As a cucumber leaves that fetched water with which it is cooked, Rangers International Football Club players’ performances and successes of the old, gave them wonderful names by football commentators of Nigeria and other African countries. Like the rank of Field Marshal in the army that is given in the battle field, it was in the field of play for the all conquering Rangers that football commentator Ernest Okonkwo of the blessed memory usually gave the team and its players those mesmerizing and scintillating names those days when the going was good. UP RANGERS, Rangers International, the Flying Antelopes, Indomitable Rangers, “Ogbaluluenyi” Rangers, All White Outfit Rangers, Never Say Die Rangers etc. It was on occasions of joy for Rangers dazzling performances that various nick names of players also emerge. Man-Mountain Goal Keeper Emmanuel Okalla (the first African Footballer of the Year in 1978), Chairman Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu (Skipper and Field Marshal), 404 Emeka Onyedika, Quick Silver Sylvanus Okpala, Commander Louis Igwilo, Surugede Bennedict Ugwu, Iron Gate Tony Orji, the man with Bullet Shot Emmanuel Osigwe, Buldozer Nwabueze Nwankwo, Block Buster Aloysius Atuegbu, Okada Air Davidson Owumi, Defence Trojan Herbert Anijekwu etc. That was then when six was half a dozen for the team; hence Chief Osita Osadebe and Ikenga Superstars of Africa dedicating an album for the team. Those days, it was only those who could play football that donned the allwhite outfit of Rangers. It was only young and talented school leavers who

had the lion-heart that were called to be Rangers. The Rangers family was dedicated ball joggers who transformed football business into a scientific drawing board affair for coaches. In fact those days, when coaches did not take money from players in order to field them in matches, when Nigerian football was without adulteration and pollution, Rangers F.C made Nigerian football a game of brawn and brain. But today the Biafra spirit of young men who just smarted out of the jungle of NigerianBiafra war has disappeared. Rangers are no longer an all conquering outfit. Who is to blame; the coaches and technical staff, the players, the Nigerian football or the corruption in the land? Could it be that the seed determines the forest? Oh Rangers F.C, how are the mighty fallen? Tell it not in Coal City, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium or to the old players of Rangers, publish it not in Enugu State Newspaper or Daily Star less the record set by Rangers of the old is rubbished or dented. But can Rangers F.C rise to this challenge again? Chief Festus Oshaba Onu led management ought to know judging by the pedigree of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, the enormous task placed on its shoulder. Rangers Football Club is one of the monuments of Ndigbo, South East and old East Central State. There used to be a time when if you were a player of Igbo descent but had not played for Rangers, you had not started playing football. On the other hand, if you were a member of Rangers Management Committee, you are on the ladder or stair-case of rising to prominence. Since Enugu State Government inherited the club in 1991, one can say without equivocation that the club has continuously failed to impress its teeming supporters. Rangers last moment of glory was in 1984 under old Anambra State. If Enugu State Government cannot make Rangers fly again, it is my humble suggestion that the team is handed over to another Igbo Sate for this legacy not to die

or go to the lower division of the league. It has not been easy for old teams in their category in the lower division as the hell is the hottest. Some of them are indeed becoming landlords of the lower divisions of the league. All the Rangers supporters are really tired of every year excuses of why Rangers failed to perform. Ndigbo hail and salute Enyimba, Heartland, Abia Warriors, Gabros and others for making great impact in the League and Federation Cups. As Igbo states are football states, when will all the Igbo states participate in the big Nigeria Premier League? God blessed Igbo land with great, fantastic and talented footballers who need to be harnessed and exposed to the football market of the world. Football is a very good investment and therefore the Technical Crew of Rangers should not be left in the precarious hands of “amateur or quota coaches”. The Rangers Management should be up and doing and work without fear or favour. The members should be people who know the football politics and terrain of Nigeria very well. When ‘t’s need to be crossed or ‘I’s need to be dotted, they should not relent. The Management ought to know that one of the coaches or technical managers should be one who has long association with the club as a very good player. As one who once watched Barcelona F.C. in its training session for over fourteen consecutive days and has also interacted with some of its club personnels, continuity of service matters a lot especially in club management. In most of the reigning world clubs, this fact has helped them to survive and surmount adverse situations. Perhaps, that Rangers F.C is the one and only club side in Nigeria Premier League that has not tasted relegation or played in the lower division since Nigerian League started, could be pivoted on some of these facts. Rangers ex-player coaches included Godwin Achebe, Christian Chukwu Okey Emordi etc. A team’s past history, legacy, ethics, culture and tradition are passed to the new generation of the coaches and

players by the ex-player coaches. What the father told his children is not heard by the world but it is heard by posterity. The present generation of Rangers lacks some of the major attributes which Rangers are known for – good goal keepers, water-tight defence and mid-field, free-kick specialists, determination etc. Even if it is on contract bases, let exRangers specialists come and impact these qualities into the new players. The absence of Silvanus Okpala in the Technical Crew of the Super Eagles in 2014 Brazil World Cup exposed the Nigeria’s midfield to vulnerality as soon as Onazi Ogenyi sustained injury in the match against France on June 30 resulting in 2-0 defeat of our team. In his foreword to lke Eseka’s Music for Twelve Masses, Rev Fr. George Ehusani wrote, “Music is to life what salt is to food”. Rangers F.C is to Nigerian Football what crude oil is to the Nigerian economy. Whenever Rangers wobbles, Nigerian Football fumbles. Nigerian Football without Rangers is like taking the gilt off the ginger-bread. Rangers F.C. was the fulcrum of Nigerian National teams in those days when about eight out of eleven players in the senior National Team were Rangers players. Rangers F.C even produced the first Nigerian players – Sylvanus Okpala and Okey Isima - to travel from Nigeria soil to Europe for professional football in the early eighties The Management of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, please make a strong resolution and effort to give your teeming supporters and fans League and Federation Cup in 2015, forty years after performing that feat in 1975. The football years of the past (1985-2014) are now in the tomb while the football years of the future are in the womb. We expect this womb to deliver a twin baby in 2015. There is no better pacification to the fans and supporters than this gift. • Ezennaya is the PRO, APGA Abia State & Ex-Chairman Rangers Supporters Club Aba. (08038803962)

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

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he shock ouster of the Super Eagles from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations was a surprise. Not many saw that coming because Nigeria was drawn in same g roup with South Africa, Congo DR and Sudan. It is no longer news that the Eagles crumbled but the huge money invested on the team is a big issue. Each player collects $10,000 for a win while a draw attracts $5,000. The coach gets double of that amount. The players also get huge money as ticket refund from their respective bases. While lovers of football live in anguish over the sad development, athletes, coaches and stakeholders in other sports are in jubilation. This is because they believe, and rightly so, that football is overpampered. They also argue that if government can spend just between 15 and 20 per cent of what is being spent on soccer on other sports disciplines, things will be better for Nigerian athletes generally. In football, the NFF, through its sponsors or courtesy government’s support, stages friendly matches to prepare the national teams especially the Super Eagles

for various competitions. Sad enough, other sports federations do not have strong sponsors and the government is also not ready to sponsor them to international competitions for exposure. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland, the kits of Team Nigeria athletes got to the venue of the competition four days into the event. The athletes were also denied training tour abroad while general preparation was poor. However, Blessing Okagbare stole the show winning the 100 and 200m events respectively. Nigeria also showed promise in wrestling and boxing yet the athletes are not being encouraged. Recently, a national table tennis player, Aruna Quadri, moved from 237 position in February 2014 to 30 in October 2014. The same player is being denied grants by the sports ministry. Jonathan Akinyemi, the African Champion in Kayaking, a rowing event, resigned from paid employment in the United Kingdom to enable him prepare well for the Rio 2016 Olympics Games for Nigeria but nobody is looking his way. There are athletes showing promise for the next Olympics but preparation might not start until two or three

months to the games. Sponsors are not there to assist in the programmes of these athletes and the ministry of sports is equally not interested in investing for future results. It is disturbing that there are no efforts to raise athletes who could project the name of the country in other sports. In Forbes’ list of richest sport stars, Cristiano Ronaldo (2nd) and Lionel Messi (4th) were the only footballers in the top 10 which has boxer Floyd Mayweather as the highest paid athlete in the world. Even without endorsements, he earns as much as $105 million a year. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant ( basketballers ), Tiger Woods and Phil Mikelson (golfers), Roger Federer (tennis player) and Matt Ryan (Rugby player) are others in the top 10 list. There is money in other sports but administrators and government prefer short time success they can use to score political points and that informs the huge money being splashed on football. Other sports can equally put Nigeria on the global limelight if the right things are done. For example, Serena Williams earns about $22m as prize money and endorsements every year. Imagine her as a Nigerian. We have talents in the country

but not much is being done to expose and groom them to the expected global level. In multi sports events, football is just one gold medal while there are over 30 medals at stake each in swimming, gymnastics and shooting. Nigeria can groom athletes for these and other medal-spinning sports but administrators prefer fire brigade approach to competitions. All over the world, there are concrete plans for each of the sport disciplines what we experience in Nigeria is a case of servicing events without developmental initiatives and a blue print for future athletes in various sports. Football is interesting and it unites the nation but we can consciously take basketball, swimming, gymnastics, athletics, wrestling, table tennis and weightlifting to higher levels. Now that Nigeria is not going to take part in 2015 Nations Cup, government can deliberately concentrate on some other sports disciplines as part of preparations for the forthcoming All Africa Games in Congo this year and the Olympics in Brazil in 2016. We make bold to say that if the athletes in other sports are well motivated, Nigeria will be a better sporting nation.

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Politics

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan, Buhari turn North-West to battleground CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

there were attempts to form either the Mega Summit Movement or National Democratic Movement, an alliance of all progressives, in order to contest the 2011 elections. Largely, the efforts failed due to irreconcilable differences amongst promoters of the project. Thereafter, on February 1, 2010, Buhari left the ANPP. Subsequently, he formed the CPC and built the party from scratch. With next to nothing, CPC contested the 2011

election, barely one year after its formation. In the end, it produced a state governor, several state legislators, six senators and 21 House of Representatives members as well as several council chairmen. Specifically, PDP had the highest federal legislators, followed by the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) while CPC came third, beating ANPP in the 2011 contest. However, in the presidential election, CPC came second as Buhari polled 12, 214,853

votes as against PDP’s 22, 495,187 votes. From ground zero, CPC had displaced established parties like ACN and ANPP to become first runner-up. In politics, this is a feat by any standard and largely, it was achieved because of the fanatical support Buhari enjoys, especially in the North West zone. Significantly, with three state governors, several federal and state legislators, including council chairmen in APC, Buhari is set to beat his own record

in the North West on February 14. In 2011, the electorate voted for him in spite of party affiliations. For example, PDP defeated CPC in Katsina State during the gubernatorial election but a week later, the electorate voted for Buhari to be president. Specifically, Governor Ibrahim Shema got 1,027, 912 votes to defeat his CPC opponent in Katsina state who got 555, 769 votes. However, the tables turned when Buhari was on the ballot, as CPC got 1,163,919 votes as against PDP’s 428, 392

votes, in the presidential poll. In 2011, Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa states, including Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, were all PDP-controlled states but their voting patterns were similar to Katsina State. In the gubernatorial elections, the electorate voted for the ruling party but switched to CPC in the presidential poll, in all the states in the North West. In the last four years, PDP has been dangling a lot of carrots, by way of projects to the North West in order to woo

the zone in the coming election. In particular, the Federal Government has established Almajiri Model Schools and intensified its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) interventions in the area. Similarly, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Bayero University, Kano, Usumanu Danfodio University, Sokoto and Kaduna State as well as Katsina State Universities have benefited from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) interventions. In addition, the zone got three out of the nine new federal universities in the country. These varsities are located in Katsina, Zamfara and Jigawa states. Similarly, the government has completed the Gurara Phase 1 Multipurpose and Galma dams that will generate 30mw and 10mw of electricity respectively. In addition, it is constructing a 215mw of thermal power in Kaduna. Also, the zone has benefitted from the development in the transport and aviation sectors. For example, it is a major beneficiary of the narrow rail gauge from Lagos to Kano. In addition, the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line is ongoing. Right now, a new airport terminal is being constructed at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport. Similarly, the Federal Government has dualised Kano-Katsina and the Kano-WudilShuwari roads. However, in spite of these and several other projects, Jonathan’s approval rating in the North West is quite low. Specifically, his inability to stem the insurgency, his perceived anti-north agenda and utterances of Ijaw leaders like Chief Edwin Clark, as well as the president’s alleged breach of a gentleman’s agreement to serve only one term, have made the president and PDP unpopular in the north generally. Given the activities of Boko Haram, the North East is a no-go area for the president’s foot soldiers. In Benue, Plateau and to some extent Kogi states, PDP may have some foothold in the North Central zone. Largely, the battleground for the 2015 presidential election in the north remains the North West zone, given its electoral strength, block voting and the sophistication of the electorate to vote differently in different strands of an election.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Music

Music, festivity, as NAPPS Ogijo Ward holds awards

Arts Hearts on Fire, dance, monologues CULTURE

as church ends Year of the Family Ebere Ameh

ome of the youths of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Gbaja, Surulere, Lagos, under the auspices of St Anthony’s Cultural and Creative Krew (STACCK) took to dance, drama, monologues and other creative expressions to end the Year of the Family. Inaugurated in the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos by His Grace, Archbishop Adewale Martins, the Year of the Family, which recorded a huge success, was observed by all the parishes in the Archdiocese. With the array of talents on display and the standard of the performances, the event is no doubt a boost for live theatre, and underscores the need for cottage theatres in the country. STACCK is made up of youths who were sponsored by the church to the Centre for Media Development (CMD), a media and arts training school established by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos. The event is an attempt to register their presence, contribute their own little quota towards driving home the message and gains of the year of the family. Declaring the event open, the immediate past Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos Chapter, Monsignor Bernard Ayodele Okodua, who is the parish priest of St Anthony, thanked STACCK for their efforts in putting the event together and encouraged them to remain focused in everything they do, stressing that there is no short cut to success. The event saw an electrifying performance by the energetic and talented youths. Starting with Christmas songs,

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

A scene in Ite Ofe

they prepared the audience for the thrilling performances that followed. There was dance, drama and monologues as the audience applauded intermittently. Hearts on Fire is one of the dramas that satirize the sorry state of many Christian families. It is about Mr Awesome, a very loving and kind man, who got married to his beautiful wife, Sally. It was all blissful from their wedding night until Sally’s friend, a spinster still living a wayward life, visited her. She convinced Sally that there is so much fun out there and she is missing so much in the name of marriage. Buying her idea, Sally started going out, having affairs, drinking and keeping late nights until Awesome left, when he could not take it anymore. On the other hand, Mr Damian is a pastor who has a wayward son called Ayo. Despite his effort to bring Ayo back to the faith, he was also wallowing in vice – pornography. Through Ayo, the wife and his second son got to know about their father’s vice and were disappointed, to say the least. There is another sister in the church who despite her pious attitude gave in to a premarital sex and got pregnant. Her boyfriend denied her and ran away. However, all of them found solace in the forgiving power of God.

I have always had a love for the stage and when we got there it was fun, educative and wonderful. We are opportuned to have Mr Norbert Young as the head of the cultural group in CMD

They acknowledged and repented of their sins. Sure of God’s forgiveness, they forgave one another, made amends, and lived happily ever after. Ite Ofe, the second drama revolves around Nnamdi’s family. He has two son’s Emeka and Maliki, and a daughter called Omotola. Always quarrelling, their father decided to send them away to sojourn in other lands for ten years. Omotola is to go to the west Emeka, to the east and Maliki to the North. They are to make use of Nnamdi’s lands there. They are to come back after ten years and together, prepare a pot of soup (Ite Ofe) for their father. Despite all the pleas and threats from Mama Emeka, Nnamdi still sent them away. Before the end of the ten years, their father, Nnamdi died. His very close friend, the Wise One, whom Nnamdi intimated with his plans came and told them to use their produce, the fruit of the labour of their hands in the past ten years to make the pot of soup according to the wishes of their late father. Together, they made the pot of soup and in the presence of all, attested to its deliciousness. The wise one then told them that the essence is for them to desist from quarrelling and bickering and embrace peace. ‘Together, and united, life is sweet, life is peaceful’, the Wise One said.

Spoken words were performed while a monologue based on Ola Rotimi’s popular play, The gods are not to blame was also performed. In an interview, the president of STACCK, Lawrence Dominic, said they are excited and grateful to Monsignor Okodua for the opportunity given them to hone their talents and realise their dreams. “There were five of us that were sponsored by our parish in our set at CMD. While we were attending, we had this zeal and a common goal to start up something in the church so we can pay back to the church the little we can and promote Nigerian arts and culture. That was how STACCK was established. Now we have many members. Our desire is to, in addition to entertaining the people, help to inculcate good morals in the youths through our performances. “I have always had a love for the stage and when we got there it was fun, educative and wonderful. We are opportuned to have Mr Norbert Young as the head of the cultural group in CMD. He directed the plays we performed here tonight and he is a great teacher. We are only done with theatre, we are still studying Cinematography and Video Editing, and it has been great. “We decided to bring this show to the church to show what we can do. This is just the beginning,” Dominic enthused.

Arts

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Music, festivity as NAPPS Ogijo Ward holds awards

he serene auditorium of Nirvana Hotel & Suites, Ogijo, Ogun State, came alive with inspiring music, comedy and dance as the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Ogijo Ward hosted a luncheon and award event. The event which had many dignitaries, including royal fathers and members of NAPPS in attendance, had talented up-and-coming standup comedian, Uche Kingsley, a.k.a “M.C. For God Sake”, as compere. Some of the dignitaries include member Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Yinka Mafe, the Oluwo of Ogijo, High Chief Mufutau Oduntan, the proprietor of King Groups of Schools, Elder Rogbitan I.O.A., who was the chairman of the occasion among others. The luncheon and award was a celebration of culture; the organisers of the event and most of the guests were clad in rich colourful traditional attires, turning the auditorium into a giant stage. The ushers were not left out in this ‘cultural display’. Performances by Yomi Agbalaayo ogunleye aka Aridunu omo 1, backed by a live band, added sustained rhythms and colour to the event. In his welcome address, Elder Rogbitan I.O.A, who was the chairman of the occasion, commended the organisers of the programme for putting the luncheon and awards together. “l want to recognise Prince Adejuwon C. Adeleye David (ACAD) Olukoga, the coordinator of NAPPS Ogijo Ward in particular and his team. Each time l attend any programme in Ogijo l feel overwhelmed, today l am glad to every one of you, you are very wonderful and also pray God will elevate your schools and will continue to do good things in Ogijo. Prince (ACAD) Olukoga, said that the programme was inspired by the need to honour those who have contributed to the development of NAPPS and Ogijo. “What inspired this particular project is that a lot of people work, but nobody appreciate them especially people in offices. People are finding it difficult to appreciate them. l took upon myself with my team to make sure that we appreciate people that have contributed in various areas. This is the first time; nobody has done such in Ogijo. Over the years the government did not do anything in Ogijo. Honourable Yinka Mafe is the first person who recognised this town; even at the local government they don’t recognize this community, l am using this medium to thank honourable Mafe for what he has done in terms of development; he is a leader who has feeling for the masses. He deserves to be appreciated,” he said. On the issue of promotion of indigenous language, Prince ACAD said: “We mandated the use and teaching of Yoruba language in every school, especially from Nurs-

couraging the same reading culture, adding that education is very important that is why education is free in Ogun state. “Education is the best legacy we can give to our kids; l have to play my part to make sure that our kids have the sound education. When l visited the schools in those days l find out that we have about 100 pupils in a classroom. l felt sad, that is why l decided to build four classrooms. if l have the opportunity l can also do it in private schools as well; we have limited funds and we have competing needs. Our people still need more, we don’t want to focus on education alone, there are some things we still want to do in Ogijo in terms of health, it is in our plan to build health centres. Highlights of the event

Yomi Agbalaayo Ogunleye aka Aridunu omo 1

ery class. There are many aspects of our culture that promote honesty, integrity, respect for elders, hardwork, and so on. Our children don’t know much about our cultural values. We are the cause because in private schools they don’t teach them but in public schools the teachers have the syllabus for this course. It is in our plan to bring it back. At this occasion we will be awarding outstanding persons and business organisations that have one way or the other contributed to our vision of raising the standard of Education in our area. Honourable Yinka Mafe remarked that association such as NAPPS is very important. As chairman House Committee on Education, I know that we have about four public schools in Ogijo and we have about 400 private schools. This association is taking care of what government should be doing. Ogijo is a special town; for this set of people to give Ogijo this service they need to be encouraged. On the declining reading culture in the country, Mafe said that the present administration in Ogun state is en-

We mandated the use and teaching of Yoruba language in every school, especially from nursery class

L-R: Rogbitan, Prince ACAD (recieving award), his wife, Gladys

ANTP to train members Yekeen Nurudeen

were the presentation of awards to outstanding individuals and organisations that have contributed to raising the standard of Education in Ogijo. Hon. Mafe was honoured with the award of Service Oriented Personality; Elder Rogbitan was honoured with the award of Most People Oriented Leader, Best NAPPS Ogijo Unit went to NAPPS Oko Oba Unit, while Bond FM won the Best Use of Indigenous Language. Other recipients of awards at the event include Punch Newspaper as Best Print News Reporter in the Public Service Category; Channesl Television, Best Electronic News Reporter in the Public Service category; Townswatch Newspaper, Grassroot News Reporter, among others.

n its determination to take theatre business to a recognised level like their counterparts in other parts of the country, the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners, (ANTP) Abuja chapter, is set to organise cutting edge training for movie directors, script writers, make-up artists among others who are members of the association. Disclosing this at the first Abuja Yoruba artists awards held recently, the ANTP Abuja Governor, Dr. Aliyu Ilias, who commended members of the association for their efforts in 2014 to produce quality movies, noted that the

proposed training would help to sharpen their skills in their various areas of specialisation. He said the training would take place between February and March 2015, adding that with the crop of artists in the FCT and movies they have produced, the time has come for them to up their game like their colleagues in the South West of the country. “Let me thank all of us for our efforts this year, we all have done well. But let me also encourage us that it is not yet celebration because we have to raise our game. And in the line of this, let me say plans are on to organise training and workshop for all practitioners between February and March 2015. The aim is to train actors, directors, script writ-

ers, make-up artist in modern skills,” he said While unveiling the six best movies produced by his members in the year 2015, the ANTP Governor reiterated that the best film for 2014 should be the benchmark for2015 film production. Highlights of the event include the presentation awards to the best actors, best actress, best movie, and best producer, among others. At the end of the event, Iyawo Abuja emerged Best Movie of the Year while the Best Actor for 2014 was won by Aliyu Ilias. Toyin Ainu won Best Actress while Best Comedian award went to Arowosaye AdeWale (Jekiwongbo) and Ismail Abdulahi (Dodo) won best movie director award.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Interview

Threat

We’ve trained over 40,000 adult learners in 10 years, says Director

Parents threaten legal action over insurance policy for pupils

25&28

Education

Row over plan to scrap Ondo Cooperative College CONTROVERSY Controversy has continued to trail the Ondo State Government’s plan to scrap the state Cooperative College Babatope Okeowo AKURE

hese are not better days for the students of the Ondo State Cooperative College, Akure. The state government has concluded plans to scrap the institution, founded to train middle-level manpower for the development of cooperative societies in the country. The decision, investigations by the New Telegraph revealed, has since pitted the students, who trooped to the streets protesting the closure of their college and their parents, against the state government, led by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko. While the government said the institution was no longer relevant to the need of the state and the curricula unnecessary in modern day economic realities, the students are of different view. Towards this end, palpable apprehension has gripped both the students and staff of the college over the planned scrapping of the institution and the conversion of the premises to the office of National Pension Commission (PENCOM) by the state government. Already, the gates leading to the institution in Alagbaka Government Reserve Area in Akure,

KAYODE OLANREWAJU EDITOR, EDUCATION

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

Protesting students of the college

the state capital, has since been under lock and key, while there is plan by the government to transfer the students to the state’s Public Service Training Institute in Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state to complete their course of study. Meanwhile, the government has ordered the transfer of the teachers and other workers to state ministries and departments that require their services. Besides, the government also directed the school authority not to admit fresh students into the college. The Ondo State Head of Service, Mr. Toyin Akinkuotu, while addressing the students on August 13, last year, declared that the state government was closing down the college apparently because of government’s desire to allocate the college’s premises to the National Pension Commission, which is requesting an office accommodation as a precondition to situate its office and service in the state. The government, which claimed that the school was not generating revenue to the state coffers, alleged that the courses offered in the college have no di-

Mimiko

rect bearing to the business of government and that the college was never a conventional institution. Part of the state government’s argument was that the college should have fitted into the polytechnic, system, as a Monotechnic, has become irrelevant to today’s knowledge-based economy. It also argued that based on this, the college could only boast of very few students in its enrolment since no parent was encouraged to send their children and wards to enroll in the college to obtain cooperative education certificate any longer. However, to allay the students’ fear over the controversial scrapping of their college, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Rotimi Adelola has. The State Cooperative College was established on November 13, 1978 as an in-service training institute to train middle level personnel for the Government and Cooperative movement sponsored candidates. Its admission policy was expanded to accommodate private candidates in 1985 and in 1991; the institute joined the comity of Cooperative Colleges in Nigeria

made up of Federal and State Cooperative Colleges with joint syllabi, academic calendar and final examination. The institution, which ranked first in the comity of cooperative colleges, was patterned after the Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan (FCCI), and was established by the then Chief Obafemi Awolowo-led government in the defunct Western Region, and it has trained many students who are today occupying top positions in the state civil service, as well as in the private sector. Other training components of cooperative education which the College offers apart from the regular courses to students include education of the trainers and education of the officers of the Cooperative Movement and education of members of the public in the cooperative ideologies. However, the government’s decision to scrap the institution because of what it called “irrelevance” of the school curriculum to the need of the state and of the student has continued to generate controversy in the state. The college’s Students’ Union President and General Secretary, Paul Kolade and Uche Okereke respectively, who led protest march against the decision of the state government, argued that although the Pension Commission and its services are desirable in the state, however regretted that its existence and location should not be a reason to scrap the college. They argued that in this day and age of university education, cooperative colleges in the country were established as Monotechnics in the mode of the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, Health Technology, the School of Survey and the College of Statistics; to offer one professional course or the other in Higher and the National Diploma levels in Cooperative Studies and Management. According to the students, the strategic place of pride and significance placed on cooperative organisations and the training of cooperative practitioners in the task of national and economic building, and the enduring legacies of cooperative organisations CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Education

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

UNILORIN don, students launch visual data initiative Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

isual Data Nigeria, a non-profit initiative, midwifed by a lecturer at the Department of Information and Communication Science, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Mr. Olayiwola Bello has launched a platform that will champion the provision of open data in the country. The initiative, according to Bello, is aimed at promoting a culture of transparency in governance through the provision of access to relevant public information and data that will assist the citizenry to make informed decisions. The four students of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences with him on the projects are Victor Akinwande, Jolayemi Omotoyosi, Umar Ismael and Ibrahim Ahmad. The Initiative, which is being supported by the Transparency International, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), and BudgIT Nigeria, is one of

the winning initiatives of the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative for West Africa (2014) competition, which seeks among others to champion the provision of open data and making creative use of government data by presenting them in engaging interactive formats in a bid to foster a culture of accountability, transparency in governance and social responsibility among the citizens. Speaking at the launch of the project at the Auditorium Basement of the university, Bello said the “desire to make a change in the society and engage rookie students by making the best out of them in order to contribute to the Nigeria project” spurred him towards setting up the Open Data Initiative. According to him, the innovative platform will enable the citizens keep track by reporting, and monitoring the implementation and performance of government projects and to see how well public funds are being spent and managed. He said: “Our government will not keep on telling us they

Ambali, VC

have done this or that, when actually they have not done anything. That part of it is what is novel about our work. For people doing the monitoring and evaluation, they actually have to pay people to go to the location.” While explaining that the benefits of open data initiative include trust in government, accountability, inclusive governance, transparency, economic growth, well-informed citizenry, better decision making, among

others, the Coordinator observed that the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill is opening new vistas into access to information.in the society In her remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and former Acting Dean, Faculty of Communication and Information Science, Dr. O.V. Mejabi, noted that the university management has been consistent in providing support for research programmes. She expressed delight that Mr. Bello and his team, who had won the Hackathon competition earlier in the year, have been able to use their ideas in getting a grant for the launch of the visual data platform. She said: “Anytime government data is visualized, it makes that data understandable to the average Nigerian citizen. When the government for example, does the budget and put the figures in the document and they publish it in tables, even educated people find it difficult to understand it if they are not accountants or financial

experts. So, when the entrepreneurs spend time to visualize that data and you can see the data as graphs, and allocations to different sectors, it makes the citizens to be involved or engaged better in governance.” The West African Regional Coordinator of the Transparency International, Mr. Samuel Kaninda, noted in his remarks, that the Visual Data Platform is one of the initiatives supported by TI. He added that the organisation felt that by involving the youths, who constitute the majority of African population, and whose future could be jeopardized by poor and bad governance, “in projects such as this, they could be active agents in the promotion of good governance, and in the fight against corruption.” Kaninda said: “We know that this initiative cannot do it all; that is why our call is for citizens to take this with both hands. When citizens take their destinies in their own hands, even the might of armed forces or government has to listen.”

Don counsels FG on global decline in oil price Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

Reunion of 1993 Graduates of Political Science of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, held in Ibadan, Oyo State: The host and member, Governing Council, University of Calabar, Otunba Ilupeju Muhammed (6th right); his wife, Alhaja Titilope Ilupeju (fifth left) and Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salaam Najeem (fifth right) with other members.

FCTA built 15 basic schools in 2014 Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

espite the various challenges facing the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in the outgone year, especially in the education sector, such as insecurity, health scare and delayed budgetary allocations, said it was able to establish 15 schools and carried out other landmark projects in the year 2014 in the education sector. The FCT Secretary for Education, Mallam Kabir Usman, who disclosed this during the end of the year media chat said that the FCT budget for 2014 only became operational in September, which according to him, impacted negatively on the execution of capital projects. The secretariat, which

he said got N6 billion appropriation immediately commenced construction of three new government science technical colleges and 12 junior secondary schools across the six Area Councils of the FCT. He said work is ongoing on the provision of classrooms, administrative blocks, hostels, library blocks and workshops in the three Government Secondary Technical Colleges. Others projects, according to him, include the construction of perimeter fencing, staff quarters, dining halls, kitchens as well as sinking of borehole and overhead tanks. The Secretary explained that in addition to establishing 12 new junior secondary schools, the Secretariat also received and considered 11

requests for the establishment of additional JSS, adding that it also constructed 271 classrooms in primary and junior secondary schools and completing 69 offices in some basic schools. Usman noted that others projects already completed by the FCTA are 178 toilets in 12 introductory science laboratories in basic schools as well as the drilling of 52 motorized boreholes in schools, among others. On the proposed Abuja University of Science and Technology, Usman said the development of infrastructure in the university is ongoing, while the relocation of the Government Science Secondary School, Pyakassa to Maitama has been successfully carried out to give room for the construction of Abuja Technology Village.

gainst the worrisome fall in the price of Nigeria crude oil in the global market, a polytechnic lecturer at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Dr. Taiwo Isaac Oyedemi, has advised the Federal Government to review the National Energy Master Plan (NEMP) and diversify into solar and bio-mass alternative. This was part of the main thrust of his third inaugural lecture of the polytechnic, which was entitled: “Sustainable Energy Production in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges.” Meanwhile, Oyedemi, an engineer, suggested that the current energy policy framework should be sustained and formulated into energy law through the National Assembly Act. He declared that “in the face of dwindling hydrocarbon reserves and perennial energy crisis in the country, there was need to judiciously utilize the income generated from oil export and invest in other areas of alternative and renewable energy sources such as solar and bio-mass”. Oyedemi, who is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, noted that the country’s energy industry is seriously constrained by lack of coherent regulatory policy that can create level playing field for renewable energy technologies. He, therefore, advocated policy and regulatory framework at the local government, state and regional level to create the

much needed awareness and facility for the promotion of energy technologies. According to the lecturer, the government should begin to implement energy policy that will attract both local and international investors in renewable energy technology. While adding that “since lack of access to affordable, clean, and convenient energy is strongly linked to poverty, it is recommended that a resource survey and assessment be carried out to determine the renewable energy potential in the priorities and local conditions in each local government, state and ecological zones. “For the supply of sustainable energy that will ensure sustainable development in the country, there is an urgent need to invest more in the development of human capacity for a prosperous energy future for the country,” Oyedemi explained, saying renewable energy technologies should be integrated as a course in higher institutions of learning. He said: “Entrepreneurship and managerial skill development should be an internal part of the renewable energy curriculum with a view to creating self-employment and developing energy service companies (ESCOS), providing services to rural areas”. He further advised the government to partner international bodies such as the UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank and DFID, which have been providing loan facilities for the sponsorship of renewable and sustainable energy development in several countries, among others.

Education | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

We’ve trained over 40,000 adult learners in 10 years, says Director Mr. Musa Maikasuwa Yakubu is the Director of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of Mass Literacy and Adult Education. In this interview with YEKEEN NURUDEEN, he describes adult education as a second alternative education for those who missed the basic education in their childhood and bemoans the paucity of funds which to him is the major challenge to mass literacy and adult education. Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s International Day of Literacy. How is your agency working towards achieving literacy for sustainable development? As you rightly mentioned, the theme of this year’s celebration is “Literacy for Sustainable Development.” This is a theme that cuts across all facets of life because literacy delivery in this country is something that has to do with everyone. Once we have a literate polity, the country will be free from all forms of challenges that can drag it backward. I mean once the country has literate citizens, the political and economic activities, moral standard and anything that has to do with good life will definitely improve and that is why it was a good thing that the theme of this year’s international literacy day was carefully chosen. The day is not only for teaching the people how to read and write. That should not be the case now. How do we make someone live in his environment functionally? How does he translate what he has learnt into useful activities to the benefit of his environment and his people? That is actually what should be the focus and that is why the theme for this year’s celebration was well chosen to address this. Of course, in doing this, we make sure that we have literacy classes going on alongside skills acquisition programme so that as soon as the learners leave the literacy class after spending about two to three hours, he or she would move and spend the remaining hours of that day in learning some skills that would make him live comfortably in his environment and be selfreliant. Primarily, this will take care of youth’s restiveness in the society. How many literacy and vocational centres do you have in the FCT and their location? In FCT we have six area councils and in each council we have zonal offices. In each zonal office

Musa

we have literacy programmes that are being run to take care of the learners. The learners here are being referred to as illiterate adult and not just illiterates. We find some people that are literate who come there to learn some skills. In each zone we have literacy class and vocational centre. The vocational centres in the zonal offices are managed by the head of centres. We have skills acquisition programmes such as catering, hospitality and tourism, and vocational agriculture such as poultry and fishery because of availability of fish ponds. We also have welding and fabrication, carpentry and joinery, building and concreting, electrical and electronics vocations. To make sure we perfect our activities, the zones are allocated different programmes in line with the availability of raw materials or tools. For instance, if you talk of vocational agriculture under which you have poultry, animal husbandry and fishery, we go to where we have abundant land for farming to site such centres. And, there are three centres for vocational

We trained facilitators with some scripts and we prepare the primers, which is like textbooks that the learners use

agriculture located in Bwari, Kwali and Abaji where we have vast piece of land for farming. More importantly, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) we have building and concreting vocation in Karshi as well as electrical and electronics, and automobile mechanics, while in Abaji there are also carpentry and joinery. The machines and tools are there for learners to learn how to make upholstery and the likes. Also, in Gwagwalada we have sewing and embroidery centre. In all the zones, we have women programmes especially for their training in catering services, hotel management, hospitality and tourism, among others. For adults to embrace literacy is not as easy as it seems since they need to be motivated. How do you get them to appreciate literacy and enroll for learning? There are so many methods of literacy delivery. The first method is the direct method of teaching and learning. In talking to the learners, we involve the face to face approach under the tree, in the market, at the

chiefs’ palace and so on. We face the learners one on one, telling them this is how to do certain things. Some times they sit on the floor and use the floor as their paper or slate to write. This is A, this is B, this is C, 1 is this, 2 is this and you show them through charts. That is one method of teaching adults. Another method of teaching them is through the radio and we referred to that as Literacy by Radio. We have collaboration with Aso Radio. We trained facilitators with some scripts and we prepare the primers, which is like textbooks that the learners use. Charts are there, figures are there, numerals and alphabets are all there and the radio programme is going on there. The agency will soon distribute to the learners some radio sets free. Sometime, Chairmen of the Area Councils assist us, especially the Bwari Area Council Chairman, who helped the agency with the provision of some transistor radio sets which we distributed to all the learners in the Area Council particularly where we have literacy by radio programme. We have centres across the Area Councils for the literacy by radio programme and it is aired three times weekly. Once the programme is on air, all the centres are hooked and the facilitators are there with radio sets and the learners are there with their primers either under the tree, palace of the traditional rulers or any shed where they can listen to the radio programme. Under the adult literacy programme, learning takes place like this and from there they would learn how to write and read. When the programme is over there is usually a tape recorder that the facilitator use to record everything taught and review it to the learners. The learners also do their exercises too. Again, we have other methods which we call reflect, under which the learners tell us they have project and we would go and identify such projects. We ask them how they intend to execute the project, how much money do they have, the quantity of materials on ground. We would then use it to teach them how to write 1, 2, 3, 4 and the names of the materials would be known to them through this method. So, in the process they learn how to write and read. For instance, they know this is cement and how to write cement. This is sand, it is called sand in English, in Hausa it is this. This is how to write sand. This is how much it is 1,2,3. Apart from knowing how much in their own local language or dialects, they learn the quantity of blocks on ground. Through this method, they will CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Education

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Extinction of Nigerian languages, culture worries varsity Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

he Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has inaugurated a Research Centre for Nigerian Languages in a bid to avert extinction of the languages and to record minority Nigerian languages. Inaugurating the centre, which aimed at drawing researchers from across the world to study and develop Nigerian languages in detail, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, described the establishment of the Centre as unprecedented in the country. Na’Allah said the idea was conceived in his vision to make KWASU a University that would offer quality research to the world in all disciplines and by extension, generate new ideas. While stressing that the

university would soon build a Language and Linguistics Research Laboratory for this purpose, the Vice-Chancellor insisted that the laboratory would not only serve the country, but also the world at large. Na’Allah, who noted that the country has over 500 languages, however pointed out that not much has been done in making the languages popular and accessible to the world, even as he explained that languages were very crucial to man’s life as it also renders assistance to policymakers and the people, among others. The Vice-Chancellor, while naming Dr. Mark Van de Velde, the Director of the Centre, he expressed optimism that other scholars would flock the university through the Centre, which he said would generate substantial income for the institution on the long run. The Head of Department of Linguistics and African Languages, Prof. Nike Lawal ex-

Na’allah

plained that the Centre would help in addressing the country’s challenges in Field Linguistics, pointing out that the country lacked Field Linguistics as most Departments of Linguistics also lacked such. In his remarks, the Provost, College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Prof. Sakah Mahmud, urged the Centre to collaborate with Colleges of Education in the

country in areas of teaching of Nigerian languages. Besides, the Vice-Chancellor has expressed worry over the extinction of Nigerian culture and tradition, if nothing is done to revive them and rescue them from extinction. Speaking at the second public lecture of the Centre for Ilorin Studies, held at the University of Ilorin, Na’Allah specifically mentioned Ilorin Emirate community in the state, which he said was blessed with rich culture, tradition and folklores. Though, he said this has distinguished the city, he however noted that some aspects of the culture have virtually extinct. Meanwhile, the lecture, which entitled: “Contributions of Ilorin Islamic Oral Genres to Yoruba Tradition,” traced the contributions of the Ilorin traditional music genre such as ‘Waka’, and ‘Were’ to the evolution of some genre of Yoruba traditional music.

NGO boosts adult education, trains over 100 learners

etermined to complement government’s effort at developing education and improve literacy in Plateau State, a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Education Development Foundation for Excellence (EDFE) has trained and graduated over 100 adult education learners. The organisation, which builds teachers’ capacity towards effective transfer of learning, is also concerned with the provision of conducive atmosphere for learning, with an emphasis on the educationally disadvantaged areas of the state. EDFE, a pet project of the wife of the former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Domkat Bali, Mrs. Esther Bali, was established initially to provide financial help or grants to educational institutions and organisations, as well as offer of scholarships to indigent students. In response to the need of the people, the foundation’s scope, New Telegraph learnt covers health, environment, research, capacity building, advocacy and rights-based approach. To this end, EDFE over the years has continued to contribute towards increasing access to quality education and health care services through capacity building, research, advocacy and effective dissemination of information and materials. According to the President of the organisation, Mrs. Bali, the major aim of the programme is to promote quality initiatives through training programmes, workshops and seminar with a view to providing solutions and identifying best practices towards closing up the gap in education and capacity building for teachers in primary and

CIAPS launches 2015 postgraduate scholarship for school leaders

A cross-section of graduating trainees of BALISCO Adult Education Training Institute during their graduation.

secondary schools for quality delivery. Mrs. Bali, who insisted that EDFE has successfully undertaken the process of building teachers’ capacity towards effective transfer learning and create an atmosphere of conducive learning for students, expressed strong belief in partnering private and corporate institutions as well as other stakeholders in attaining its goals and objectives. “Our vision is to empower the society, where men, women and children have equal access to quality education; as well as encourages adults to see education as a lifelong exercise,” she stressed. According to Mrs. Bali, at the second graduation ceremony of 40 adult learners of the Adult Education Institute held at Kukwar, Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State, education is crucial to nation building and literacy for all is at the heart of basic

education for all. The President, who described education as a catalyst for human existence and that there is no age limit as to when one stops learning, added: “Educating adults differs from educating children in several ways given that adults have accumulated knowledge and work experience which could add to the learning experience. “Another difference is that most adult education is voluntary, therefore, the participants generally are selfmotivated.” She, however, stressed that adults frequently apply their knowledge in a practical fashion to learn effectively, saying most often their expectation is that the knowledge they acquired would help them to further their goals. The founder pointed out that adults have many responsibilities they need to meet despite their learning demands, explaining that even in the

face of the responsibilities, there are barriers and challenges against participating actively in learning and continuing their education. The best way to motivate adult learners, according to her, therefore is to enhance their reasons for enrolling and decrease the barriers. Instructors must learn why the learners enrolled, motivate them and they (instructors) have to discover what is keeping them away from learning. Mrs. Bali, who listed some of these barriers to include adult learning to include lack of time balancing career and family demands, finances, confidence or interest, lack of information about opportunities to open to them to learn, scheduling problems, entrance requirements and problems with child care, said other obstacles that prevent adults from pursuing further education include fear, shyness, ego and stigma.

The don explained that the greatest challenge confronting the cultural heritage of the ancient town was the refusal of those in the elite class to communicate with their offspring in their local dialect. He stated that if the Republic of China could reverend their native language and adopt it as their official language, it would be suicidal for Africans to dump their local language for foreign ones, pointing out that a well-structured society could be easily identified through the language they speak. Na’Allah, who lamented that Nigerians were so eager to learn foreign languages and ways of life to the detriment of their immediate local languages and values, noted that adopting a foreign language and culture is not a yardstick for development, observing that most citizens of China, which is one of the largest economies in the world do not speak English.

scholarship scheme for current and aspiring Commonwealth school leaders wishing to obtain a postgraduate qualification in school management in 2015, has been flagged off by the Centre for International, Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS). The Registrar of the Centre, Annette LeSage, in a statement said a total of 20 scholarships are available under the scheme, which are valued at N5 million. Under the scheme for this year, every successful applicant would receive about N300,000 towards his or her tuition fees at CIAPS for the duration of his one-year postgraduate study. The CIAPS Commonwealth Scholarships are part of the new CIAPS Scholars Scholarship programmes, which will directly benefit students entering postgraduate education in 2015. According to the Centre Director, Anthony Kila, CIAPS is “dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, learning and understanding in the service of society.” He added: “We are looking for teachers and school managers who are pursuing higher learning so that they can play a part in making their school and society a better place.” Part of the professional courses offered at CIAPS in 2015 include Project Management; Journalism; Business Administration; Banking and Finance; Senior PA and Executive Assistant The statement further read: “The students will be selected on the basis of a personal statement and interview.” To qualify for the scholarship, the statement stated that an applicant’s good personal statement must not exceed 1,000 words, and which will be a chance to tell the Centre more about the applicant, why he or she thinks he deserve the scholarship and how he thinks it will help in serving himself and the society when he graduates.”

Education | Campus

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Students’ association inducts officers Oladele Oge UNN

Cross section of matriculating students taking the oath of studentship

UNILORIN VC advises fresh students to obey rules Afis Odeyemi and Aminat Afolabi UNILORIN

ome 12,650 fresh students admitted into the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State for the 2014/2015 academic session have been advised to adhere strictly to the university rules and regulations. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, who said the students, should count themselves lucky to have scaled the university’s admission hurdles among several other applicants that subscribed into the institution, also admonished them to work hard and to be regular in lectures. The ceremony, which was ushered in by Vice-Chancellor academic procession, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. N. Ijaya was well attended by the matriculating students who robed in their blue academic gown, amid glitz and excitement. The Vice-Chancellor, in his speech entitled: “Arise and Fly,” recalled the significance of the ceremony in the education of the matriculating students, saying it marked their formal admission as bonafide students of the university. “As successful students, who have proven to be better by far, and for having scaled through the many hurdles to be admitted to this institution, I want to congratulate you all,” he said. Describing the day as historic in the life of the students, Ambali noted: “You have gathered here today because it is a day many of you, if not all of you have been looking forward to for some time. As from today, as you are given your matriculation numbers you have become bona-fide students of this great university with all your rights and privileges

as students.” The Vice-Chancellor, however, urged them to be grateful to God, their parents as well as the university for considering them worthy of admission among the many applicants. He counseled them on the need to adhere strictly to the university rules and regulations, warning that as students they should respect and obey constituted authorities, as well as shun examination malpractices and other forms of antisocial behaviour that could jeopardise their education and stay in the university. With the motto: “Prohibitas-Doctrina (For Learning and Character), the ViceChancellor expressed optimism that given all the available facilities and conducive teaching, learning and research environment, the students will fly. Meanwhile, giving the breakdown of the matriculating students, the ViceChancellor noted that out of 114,700 applicants that applied to the university through the Direct Entry and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), only 41,470 candidates met the university minimum admission requirement of 180 marks as prescribed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). He said though the total number of successful candidates eligible for admission stood at 22,601 candidates; the university within it carrying capacity could admit 12,650 students, a figure which represents 11 per cent of the total number of applicants. Out of the candidates admitted, 80 are international students, which could be considered a huge progress when compared to the previous year’s figure. According to Ambali, the Faculty of Education topped the table with 2,152 students.

t was a celebration galore penultimate week at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) when the university chapter of Oodua Sandwich Students’ Association rolled out the drums to induct their new executive members. Declaring open the induction ceremony at the Faculty of Education, ESSA Building, Obu Olunrunyomi Adetunji, urged the Yoruba people to live together in love wherever they find themselves in order to overcome or address any difficult issue affecting their collective will or individually. The event tagged: “Be identified with the struggle of elevation of Yoruba Culture,” was the installation ceremony of new executives officers of the association for the 2014/215 academic session. Adetunji, who disclosed that the main objective of the association is to create mutual understanding and exchange of views among the Sandwich students in the institution, said it is to provide a veritable platform with which to disseminate information to the newly admitted students into the institution, as well as encourage them to always feel free to interact with their brothers and sisters as a family. During the inauguration some resolutions were passed by the students, based on the aspirations of the association which were circulated among the new students and promi-

Cross-section of the newly elected officers

VC pledges 100% Internet coverage for varsity Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

arring all unforeseen circumstances, the ViceChancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNLORIN), Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali has said that plans are underway to ensure 100 per cent internet coverage for the university community by next year. Ambali declared this while

receiving the report of the Google Student Ambassadors Summit held in Accra, Ghana, from the 2014 Google Student Ambassadors of the University, Abideen Olasupo, a 300-Level student of Chemistry and his counterpart, Itodo Ene Patience, a 400-Level undergraduate of Pharmacy, in his office. The Vice-Chancellor said that the massive internet coverage would afford staff members and students uninterrupted use

nent Yoruba sons and daughters in the state to strengthen the cord of unity among the tribe. Speaking on the occasion, the outgoing President of the association Aare Obu Adeniji implored the students to uphold mental and moral discipline as the major prerequisites for effective leadership, just as he tasked them to show good examples during their stay in the university. Adeniji, however, thanked the university authorities for granting them permission to form their association, as well as the maximum security provided for students. In his acceptance speech, the newly sworn in Aare (President) Aina Olu, told the students that the future lies on their hands and urged them to make use of the present opportunities in order for them to be assured of a happy future. Aina pledged the readiness of his administration to run an ‘open door policy style’ which will ensure that every student benefit from the essence of the association. He further spoke of plans by the Oodua’s Union to establish a standard monument as a symbol on conception of life in which everything they do would become meaningful. The association, which was founded five years ago, today has about 80 students as members, while some achievements of the association include drafting of constitution for the association, as well as issuing of certificate for graduating students, among others.

of the internet facility at any point in time to communicate with all parts of the world regardless of the time-zone. According to the Vice-Chancellor, the areas to be covered in this phase of the university’s ICT revolution include the staff quarters on campus and in the GRA, student hostels on the campuses as well as academic areas and offices. He disclosed that the Computer Services and Information

Technology (COMSIT) Unit and the university management were working harmoniously towards ensuring that members of the university community could always be in touch with all parts of the world anywhere they are and at any time, whether they are on the road or at home. While congratulating the University Google Ambassadors on their achievements, Ambali said that the manage-

ment and the entire university community were very proud of them, even as he urged other students to emulate the students’ laudable achievement in order to project UNILORIN better and in good light to the whole world. The Vice-Chancellor expressed his delight and that of other members of the management to empower the students with whatever they require so that the world would acknowledge the university as an important part and a major player in the global academic village.

Education

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Governor, students bicker over plan to scrap college CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

in rural transformation, social cohesion and promotion of peace could not be overemphasized. With the action of the government, the role of the graduates of the colleges in cooperative business development and others listed above would be thrown overboard with the planned scrapping of the college by the state government, a situation they described as unhealthy to the development of middle level manpower for the cooperative sector. The union argued: “The argument by the government that the college is not generating revenue is not only absurd and preposterous; it is wicked to say that our school is the only one that does not generate revenue in the state. We want to be reminded of an institution that generates revenue for the state. Our right to education is a universally enshrined fundamental rights in the United Nations Charter as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. To expect the college to make money is unacceptable.

“Cooperative Colleges across Nigeria were established as Monotechnics, approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), to offer one professional course and specialised courses leading to the Higher National Diploma (HND) and National Diploma (ND) in Cooperative Studies and Management. The views of other contemporary colleges or sister institutions and retired Cooperative Technocrats should be sought before such retrogressive decision was made.” They, however, lamented that successive governments in Ondo State have continued to refuse to do the needful with respect to the affiliation of the college to an accredited stateowned institution and give it a pride of place despite its many contributions to the system. “The record of the college is one that could not be wished away by mere unacceptable government decision,” the students noted, adding that hardly was there anyone in the bursar’s cadre and accounts personnel in any institution of learning or

The school gate

The record of the college is one that could not be wished away by mere unacceptable government decision

the civil service who had not passed through the Ondo State Cooperative College, Akure. The aggrieved students blamed their plight and that of the college on the alleged nonchalant attitude of the State Head of Service and other Directors of training of the Civil Service and Establishment Matters over the years, which role had gone a long way in relegating the college to this awkward background it now finds itself.

Stressing the significance of cooperative education in national development, they said almost all the states of the federation have cooperative colleges, while the Federal Government has three Federal Cooperative Colleges at Ibadan (established 1943), Kaduna (1976), and Enugu, Oji River, which was established in 1976. The students, who recalled how previous administrations had at different times promoted

the College through high budgetary allocations, they argued that the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s administration should have sustained such gesture, rather than its present moves to scrap the college. “They said rather than scrap the State Cooperative College, it should be overhauled, renovated and upgraded to a university status,” the students said, noting that if the Pension Commission wants to use the building, a convenient location should have be found for it that would serve as its permanent site,” they ardued. They added: “The Cooperative College has served as a stepping stone for many students, who have attained greater positions in life because of their training at the college. Many parents and guardians, who could not afford the expensive institutions like the children of the rich, send their children and wards to the Cooperative College, a bridge for a career.” The students have vowed to protest the government’s retrogressive policy when schools resume later in the month.

‘Over 40,000 adult learners have been trained’ CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 25

come and learn.

be able to count and write. This is what we call Reflect method; reflecting on their own ideas. That is something coming from them and then we use it to teach them a lot of things. UNESCO is also assisting to come up with another method of teaching the adult using the ICT, the handsets and the television just like the radio. The programme would be on soon. If it is handset they would see it and the software would be built in there. The coverage is just to increase the learners. But one important thing you need to know in teaching the adult learners is that they prepare their timetable. The timetable of how they want to learn is prepared by them. We sit down with them to find out what time is most appropriate for them to attend the classes. Sometimes, the facilitators meet them on the farm after harvest when they are resting or having lunch. They tell us what they want and we follow them. No stress, no rancour or disagreement.

From your records, how many adult learners have you trained and graduated over the years and how have you been able to fund the agency? From available records, not less than 40,000 have completed and graduated in the last 10 years from our various programmes. Right now, we have over 3,000 who are undergoing our various programmes ranging from literacy to skills acquisition. Yes, the problem of lack of funding is general. Right from the National Commission for Mass Literacy to the state level, there are competing demands. Stakeholders see mass literacy sector as something they do not need to hold on to seriously because they see it as too secondary that does not require special attention as tertiary education. To them it is not like the basic education sub-sector. Ironically, what we do is basic education; it is absolutely and 100 per cent basic education because this is a second chance given to those who did not have the opportunity to acquire basic education at their younger age. Funding is actually a challenge because at the state and FCT levels, there are competing demands and people don’t look at non-formal education sector as one that requires immediate and urgent attention and action. Even in the basic education law, there is a percentage that should be coming to non-formal education and that is not given. Even at the national level, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) should give NMEC a fraction of what they get from the Federal Ministry of Education or the Federation Account under the two per cent tax refund, but that is not being done. As soon as that is given to NMEC it will also go down to the states as counterpart funds so that the states can complement what is coming.

Do you issue them certificates after the training? We give them certificate of competency, sometime certificate of attendance. For the skills acquisition, we give them certificates of competency in line with what the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) directed us to do because most of our programmes have been certified by the NBTE. FCT Mass Literacy Agency is one of those that the NBTE recognised. The Board knows our centres; it knows what we do and the quality of our facilities. But like I said the challenges of funding makes it impossible for people to know what we are doing and where the programmes are going on. People come to our centres every day to learn. Many adult learners are coming to look for where our centres are so that they can

L-R: The Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University (ABSU), Prof. Chibuzo Ogbuagu Ogbuagu; the Chancellor of the university, Sir Orji Francis; one of the awardees, Chief Bob Ewuolonu; and Bishop Onuoha, who represented the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, during the 23rd convocation of the university and conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees on some eminent Nigerians.

OAU set to host conference on Nigeria’s political status Mojeed Alabi

ll is set for the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) hosting of an international conference of the leftists, aimed at deliberating on social, economic, political, structural, ethnic and religious status of the country, especially as it relates to the roles of leftists in reclaiming the country’s alleged lost glories. The two-day conference scheduled to hold between January 30 and 31, is expected to raise several questions aimed at repositioning the country for good in areas including, the place and role of the Leftist in a democratic process; the Leftists and the crisis of development and nation-building; the crisis of poverty and the role of the Leftists; the Leftists, intellectuals and received paradigms in a neo-colonial state; insecurity and a failing state.

The Local Organising Committee in a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Dipo Salami and Dr. Chijioke Uwasomba respectively, said participants are expected to submit papers relevant to the theme and sub-themes of the conference, with abstract of not more than 300 words. The statement read in part: “This conference is being organised against the background of the acute contradictions and crises of immense proportions that have gripped the post-colonial Nigerian state so much so that various forms and kinds of arguments and explanations are being offered… The need to redirect the ship of state in a manner that will guarantee nation-building, development, democracy, equitable distribution of goods and services, mutual respect among the groups and classes that make up the country, among others, is urgent.”

Education

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Parents threaten legal action over insurance policy for pupils

Ex-NUC scribe seeks improved access to quality education

Biodun Oyeleye

Mojeed Alabi

ILORIN

ome parents of pupils in the 104 Federal Government Unity Schools have threatened a showdown with principals of the colleges over alleged compulsory introduction of insurance scheme for the pupils. According to them, the scheme, which is being powered by NICON Insurance Company in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, was a new ploy of exploiting parents and guardians. The parents, under the aegis of “Concerned Parents”, who stormed the Kwara State secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), along Offa Road, Ilorin alleged that some of the unity schools including the Federal Government College, Ilorin and its counterpart in Omu-Aran, have commenced the implementation of the scheme by mandating all pupils to pay N5,000 premium before resumption on January 4. The parents, who spoke with journalists, expressed concern that the move was been orchestrated by the management of the unity schools with other stakeholders to raise funds for th the election campaign of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of general elections under the guise of insuring the pupils. To them, NICON Insurance, the company engaged for the scheme is owned by a PDP chieftain and that the insurance scheme should be optional and not made compulsory, even as the parents argued that the N5,000 premium to be paid by pupils was on the high side. “The feelings of parents is that the PDP is trying to raise campaign funds through the pupils because NICON Insurance company is owned by a PDP financier,” the parents who pleaded not to be identified for fear that the school authorities might witch-hunt their wards said. The concerned parents explained that the Principal of Federal Government College, Ilorin, Mrs. Rita Okpaleke, based her justification for the collection of the levy on “a text message” allegedly received from the Federal Ministry of Education directing principals of unity schools to collect the insurance premium.

he former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and ProChancellor/Chairman of Council of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, has advised stakeholders in the nation’s education sector to enhance the improvement of education quality and open up more access for

prospective students. Peter Okebukola, a Professor of Science Education at the Lagos State University (LASU), who made the call during his lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) convocation lecture, insisted that the much sought national development and peace could only be guaranteed through improved access and quality education. In his lecture entitled:

“Casting the Education Anchor on Firmer Ground: What Roles for Nigerian Universities?,” he said: “Looking beyond 2015, the overarching strategy is to improve access and quality of education and make it more relevant to productive activities, value re-orientation, employment generation and wealth creation. The government at all levels should upgrade and rehabilitate existing facilities

in their institutions of higher learning as well as construct new classrooms, laboratories, libraries and provide basic infrastructure and instructional materials.” He added that the role expected of universities is to cast the education anchor on firmer ground, while identifying befitting learner-friendly environment, keeping class size small and ensuring that curriculum delivery

reflect modern methods of instruction as the roadmap to follow. Okebukola also sought encouragement in the acquisition of Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills by teachers and students, saying for the country to attain technological breakthrough like other countries of the world, it has to train personnel in the applied sciences, technology and businesses, particularly at craft, advanced craft and technical levels. The don, however, praised the university Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola and his management team for repositioning the institution.

Education

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ogun students flay govt over bursary Odeyemi Afis Olawale UNILORIN

tudents of Ogun State origin in tertiary institutions in Kwara State have pleaded with the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun to facilitate the payment of their bursary, which they alleged had been outstanding in the last five years. The students, who flayed nonpayment of their bursary in Ilorin, the state capital, lamented the injustice being meted out to them by the government of their home state, nothing that it is merely denying them their rights as legitimate indigenes of the state. The students demanded the urgent payment of their bursary at a leadership summit held in Ilorin penultimate week, which was attended by students of Ogun State origin from different higher institutions in Kwara State under the auspices of the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS). The summit, which was the first in its series and which took place the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Science Lecture Theatre was attended by past student leaders of Ogun State and members of the association in Kwara State. However, the summit is aimed at bringing together past

The students during their protest

members and leaders of the association for effective leadership and virile unionism. In a speech delivered by a former member of the association, who is also a former President of UNILORIN Students’ Union, Mr. Aremu Oluwafemi lauded the leadership of UNILORIN chapter of NAOSS for initiating a platform to unite past and present members of the union for efficient co-existence and interaction. He advised the students to be good ambassadors of their state

and country, while challenging them to remain dutiful, selfless and agitate for their rights in a manner that portrays them as peace-loving citizens even in the face of injustice. Piqued by the delay in payment of their bursary, the students in a peaceful rally with placards protested the Ogun State Government action for sidelining and shortchanging them for that long. The embittered students bemoaned the government action, accusing them for breaching

We’ve no regret resuscitating students’ unionism at UI, says VC

the agreement entered with the students’ national body, even as they condemned the refusal of the government of the Gateway State to pay their bursary, which to them is an injustice by the government. A student, who preferred anonymity, described the matter as of great concern, frustrating and unwarranted, saying: “While other state government pay bursary regularly to their students as at when due, the Ogun State students in other parts of the country are being

denied their entitlement even when their colleagues at home are well catered for. It is a deliberate attempt by the state government to infringe on our rights.” Meanwhile, the National Senate President of NAOSS, AbdulAzeez Adeosun has made a passionate appeal to the students to remain calm even when agitating for their rights, even as he assured the students of the association’s continued support. “The NAOSS national body in collaboration with the state chapters is working tirelessly to ensure payment of your bursary. Governor Amosun is a man of the people and we want to assure you that your bursary will be paid in due course,” he said. Adeosun, however, appealed to Senator Amosun to urgently look into the students’ demand with a view to resolving the issue once and for all. In his goodwill message, the President of NAOSS, University of Ilorin chapter, Olaleye Nurudeen, thanked the past members and executive members of the union, who he said despite their busy schedule still found it worthy to attend the summit. He described them as evergreen pioneers of the union, whose indelible marks would remain evergreen in the sand of time.

Elizade varsity spends N1bn on facilities, quality education Babatope Okeowo AKURE

Prof. Adewole, VC (right) with some students’ union leaders after the workshop.

Hammed Hamzat UI

fter five years of resuscitating Students’ Union proscribed by the university management several years ago, the ViceChancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Isaac Adewole has said his administration had no cause to regret its action. According to the Vice-Chancellor, the impacts of the lifting of the ban, and that of the union on the general conduct of the students have been highly commendable. Adewole, who disclosed

this during a leadership workshop for leaders of the various students’ associations on the campus, pledged the continued support of his administration to the students’ union and improvement on the welfare packages for the generality of the students. He, however, advised the union to increase the students’ dues to the union purse in order to have an independent students’ body. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Olusegun Ajiboye, who spoke on: “Understanding Partnership as a Corporate Responsibility,”

identified that students is the major purpose for the existence of any academic institution. The Professor of Social and Environmental Education said a healthy cooperation was required between the university management and students in order to ensure peaceful coexistence on campus. The President of the institution’s chapter of the Nigerian Association of Food Science and Technology (NAFST), Sylvester Adesemoye, in his chat with Telegraph Campus, recalled that he has been impacted positively and that the knowledge acquired would help him in no small measure in his future endeavour.

ounder of the Elizade University, Ilara Mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, has said that the university is being run on a yearly N1billion funding in the bid to sustain its education standard and infrastructural development. He disclosed this when the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) conferred on him the Grand Patron of the association, as well as rated the university as the best private university in West Africa. Ade-Ojo, who recalled that the university was established and funded solely with his personal savings, and his commitment to contribute to the development of education in the country, said: “I am not a politician and I do not have access to public funds and I have never benefited from such funds.” He, however, hinted that the institution since its inception has continued to receive N1billion yearly as support. His words: “I pay my

taxes, both personal and corporate taxes regularly. I pay the two and half per cent education tax, even though I do not benefit from it, despite the fact that I have set up Elizade University.” Despite, he said the university was established to provide quality education that could compare with the one provided in the western world, even as the founder assured the students that he would continue to strive for improved facilities, quality education and discipline in the university. Ade-Ojo urged the student body to improve on its approach towards the execution of its activities, saying that change could only be achievable by youths who know what they are doing. He thanked NANS for the recognition and urged the association to maintain high level of integrity and good behaviour as leaders of tomorrow. Responding on behalf of student leaders, the President of NANS Senate, Oriyomi Oloyede, said Elizade University was selected for the award after careful research and appraisal of private universities in Nigeria and other West African countries.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Property

Energy

Aviation

Power: FG misses January target for 5,000MW generation

A peep into housing sector in 2015

High charges put airlines, sector on the spot

Business What's news

Telcos may face falling revenue this year Unless the trend is properly managed, the falling rate of the naira and declining oil prices may take their toll on the fortunes of Nigerian telecoms companies this year, industry experts have told New Telegraph.

Oil price rout: Nigeria’s budget records N40.48bn deficit in 5 days LOSS FG, IOCs’ loss to crude price rout peaks at N8.96bn daily

troleum Corporation (NNPC), the international oil companies (IOCs) and their indigenous counterparts - operators in the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, are expected to, according to the 2014 budget in operation, produce a cumula-

tive 2.3883 million barrels of oil per day and sell such for at least $77.8 per barrels. With the oil price rout, the daily loss to crude price fall by the country has peaked at N8.96 billion daily. This amounts to at least a to-

tal loss of N40.48 billion ($253 million) in the last five days. New Telegraph had earlier hinted of the danger, which the falling price posed to both the 2014 and 2015 budgets. CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Adeola Yusuf p.32

40% of global cocoa production to suffer frosty pod There is fear that a fungal disease called frosty pod may wipe out 40 per cent of the global cocoa production.

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

he oil price rout rocking the global crude market has cost Nigeria about N40.48 billion losses within the first five days of this year, data compiled by New Telegraph has shown. The country, which is still operating the 2014 budget has benchmarked crude price at $77.5 per barrel in the budget. But the crude, which has crashed to $56 per barrel since December 31, 2014, has remained at that range in the openning five days of year 2015. Though the executive pegged $74 per barrel as benchmark oil price for the 2014 budget, the Senate on April 9, 2014, raised it to $77.5 per barrel as earlier agreed with the House of Representatives before the final consideration of the budget. The budget remains operational until April 2015 when the 2015 budget is expected to have been passed by the National Assembly and signed by President Goodluck Jonathan. Data compiled by New Telegraph showed that the 2014 budget, which is benchmarked at $77.5 per barrel, has been losing a minimum of $22 on each barrel of the 2.3 million barrels produced. This, statistics showed, is due to the $56 average price per barrel, which the commodity has been trading at the global market since December 31. The Nigerian National Pe-

L-R: Head, Client Service, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Mrs Amara Amakor; Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Olumide Oyetan; Head, Lagos office, Thoughtful House Foundation, Ms Omo Ogun and Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited, Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju, at the presentation of cheques in donation to the Foundation in Lagos.

Air Safety: Fear over nonimplementation of accident reports Aviation agencies hit by

Wole Shadare

xcept safety recommendations from past accidents are implemented, the aviation industry would continue to witness accidents. This was the view of aviation security expert, Group Capt John Ojikutu (rtd). He

inadequate manpower -Expert

disclosed that recent reports showed that government safety services providers have not implemented more than 63 per cent of the safety and security recommendations from past

accidents in 14 years. He said: “When safety recommendations from past accidents are not implemented, CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE November 2014........................7.9% October 2014............................8.1% September 2014.....................8.3%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel As at Dec. 28)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N180 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N290 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N238

l Foreign Reserves – $35.19bn as at 18/12/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Dec. 26)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N168 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N263.39 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N205.41

Business | News

PURCHASING POWER

Telecoms consumers’ purchasing power is likely going to reduce due to inflation thereby affecting telcos’ revenue generation

Kunle Azeez

nless the trend is properly managed, the falling rate of the naira and declining oil prices may take their tolls on the fortunes of Nigerian telecoms companies this year, industry experts have told New Telegraph. The Nigerian currency began plunging a few weeks ago after the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, announced a nearly 10 per cent devaluation of the naira, after admitting that a plunge in world oil prices and dwindling dollar reserves were making it difficult to defend the value of the currency. Naira traded at N187 to $1 last month, compared to N165 in November, according to reports. The development has also put Nigeria as having third worse currency in Africa after Ghana and Zambia, according to a January 1 Bloomberg report.

Telcos may face dwindling revenue …As exchange rates, oil prices wane Reacting to the development, telecoms industry experts, who spoke with New Telegraph at the weekend, said that the depreciation in the value of naira would affect the revenue generation of telecoms firms. They observed that the dwindling crude oil prices from over $100 per barrel in the third quarter to $56 per barrel as at the fourth quarter of 2014 had the propensity of weakening the purchasing power of Nigerian telecoms subscribers. In his views, an industry analyst and telecoms engineer, Mr Akin Akinbo, said: “Telecoms operators are likely going to face multiple pressures from high cost of importation, increased cost of infrastructure rollout and falling purchasing power of telecoms consumers in 2015.” Also speaking in a telephone interview, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr Lanre Ajayi, said that telecoms firms should prepare for “a probable worse case” in 2015. According to Ajayi, the declining crude oil price is definitely going to have implications on telecoms sector, especially on the purchasing

Air Safety: Fear over nonimplementation of accident reports CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

another accident could be lurking around and that could be another tragedy.” He stated that the industry could not continue to implement safety regulations and enforce safety recommendations only on the pages of the Nigerian Civil Aviation (NCAA) Regulations Manuals and the operators Standard Operating and Maintenance Procedures Documents. He noted that government should be focusing more on the training of inspectors for the NCAA to enable it effectively carry out the enforcement of the NCARs and the compliant to Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) safety recommendations on the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) operations. Ojikutu who was also Commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, La-

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

gos, lamented the inadequate manpower in the sector, stressing that the AIB, more than any of the agencies, is worst hit by inadequate manpower; with only 14 technical staff, nine of which are contract staff. To him, the agency requires more attention than others if the safety recommendations from the Bureau are to be taken seriously in future. His words: “NAMA would need about 300 new air traffic controllers to be trained to meet its shortfall in efficiently managing three shifts at least on two control units in each of the 24 airports, particularly in manning four control units at the international airports. “Similarly, FAAN needs over 500 additional aviation security staff to effectively man the 24 airports defence layers of Access Control, Passenger-check-point screening, Checked Baggage and Cargo screening, among others.”

power of individual and corporate telecoms consumers. He said: “The purchasing power of telecoms consumers will dwindle and this will

have negative implications on operators’ revenue generation, since subscribers restructure their spending on airtime and payment for internet services.

“Subscribers are also most likely to look for cheaper tariff service and, in the face of lowering spending by subscribers, some operators are likely going to be forced into reducing their tariffs as bait to retain their customers

from switching to other networks.” Lanre, however, noted that if the current situation regarding the declining crude oil prices and the lowering value of naira is properly managed, “I don’t think there will be cause for alarm.”

L-R: Director, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group, Mr Olusegun Odubogun; Divisional Head, Human Resources and Change Management, FCMB, Felicia Obozuwa; wife of Lagos State governor, Abimbola Fashola and Group Managing Director/CEO, FCMB Limited, Mr Ladi Balogun, at the graduation of the Management Development Programme (MDP) of FCMB in Lagos

40% of global cocoa production to suffer frosty pod …as Nigeria grapples position with Indonesia LOW

Farmers may experience low productivity this year

here is fear that a fungal disease known as frosty pod may wipe out 40 per cent of the global cocoa production. The use of copper fungicides is the most common control measure against the disease but it has not completely eradicated frosty pod as it is affecting the cocoa yield since the start of the 19th century. Already, the price of cocoa fell to $3100.83/ton from $3221.27/ton in September, 2014. The decline was traced to CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

This came as the United States (US), which was hitherto the biggest consumer of Nigeria’s crude, has in the same vein, began exports of crude while the turmoil in Libya has effectively led to a drop in the December supply of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to a six-month low. The Director-General, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr.

an unexpected bumper crop, rather than an indication of a downward trend. Indeed, prices have increased by 14 per cent since October 2013 when the price stood at $2730.70/tons and by the end of Q4 2014, cocoa prices were expected to rebound to an estimate of $3160/tons. Study by the Financial Derivatives Company (FDI) revealed that cocoa huge worldwide demand, led by Asia, is expected to create a deficit of one million tons by 2020 and two million tons by 2030. It said that in the past 10 years, the cocoa market had experienced five years with a production surplus and five years of deficit. The FDI report explained that the West and Central Af-

rican farmers, who produce approximately 73 per cent of the world cocoa, were currently struggling with lowyielding, aging cocoa trees. As a result, farmers have been unable to tap the actual potential of their lands. It said: “A cocoa plantation’s theoretical maximum yield is 1.5 tons per hectare. However, Ghana’s average yield, for example, is about 350 kilogramme to 400 kilogramme per hectare. Many farmers are aware that their mature cocoa trees have become unproductive and are in need of replacement. Many farmers are not willing to plant new trees, as they take three years of growth before producing a yield and many fear the loss of income.

Oil price rout: Nigeria’s budget records N40.48bn deficits in 5 days Muda Yusuf, was one of the experts who called for a critical look at the 2015 budget before passage. Yusuf said that the $65 per barrel 2015 budget was a mistake, while featuring in a television programme monitored in Lagos on December 31. He maintained that it was an economic tragedy that $16

billion was wasted on importation of refined products annually by government of Africa’s biggest crude exporter. He criticised the budget, which, he said, had N91 billion for kerosene subsidy with great imbalance in the amount earmarked for debt servicing and capital expenditure.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Energy DEFERMENT

Minister of power may shift deadline to Q2

Stories by Adeola Yusuf

he Federal Government is unable to meet its January, 2015 date earlier set to generate 5,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, New Telegraph learnt at the weekend. A source at the Ministry of Power told this newspaper that the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, may soon announce a new date, “which is the second quarter of 2015 for the 5,000 MW electricity generation.” He said: “The new target of January, 2015, is at this moment difficult, if not impossible to meet, because we are already in January and the gas challenge is yet to be resolved. “A target is set to help hasten a process and it should not be seen as a failure if not met. What we know is that the minister will announce a new deadline if this one is not eventually met.” Nebo had earlier moved the target to January 2015 after he discovered that it was becoming impossible to achieve the target in the second quarter of 2014. Meanwhile, the latest figures from the third quarter (Q3) economic report of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the country lost 350mw/h of generated electricity during the review period. Average power generation declined to 2,900 megawatts per hour in the third quarter of 2014, down from 3,250mw/h recorded in the second quarter of the year. CBN, in its latest report, stated that the average electricity generation and consumption fell during the third quarter. The bank said: “At 2,900mw/h, estimated average electricity generation fell by 10.8 per cent, compared with the level attained in the second quarter of 2014. The development was attributed to the shutdown of the Utorogu and Ughelli East gas plants for maintenance. “At 2,867mw/h, the estimated average electricity consumption fell by 5.8 per cent, compared with the level attained in the second quarter of 2014. The decline in electricity consumption was attributed to the fall in power generation, transmission and distribution.” New Telegraph had gathered that the three hydro power plants in Nigeria - Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba - have begun to show early cyclical low water problems, which has, in return, dipped the power gen-

Power: FG misses January target for 5,000MW generation

Power installation

eration below 3,500 mega watts (MW). It was further learnt that this challenge, which usually comes up in March, April and

May of every year, has worsened the inability of the plants to produce at optimal capacity. Generation, which has since the third quarter of 2014 been

fluctuating between 3,000 MW and 3,700 MW, had earlier dipped to 3,500 MW in November, 2014. That time, gas shortage was,

according to the Senior Special Adviser on Gas to the Minister of Power, Mr Frank Edozie, responsible for the fall. Edozie who confirmed the generation shortage said that the drop to 3,500 megawatts was due to sabotage of pipelines and inadequate gas supply. The senior special adviser said that available power generation capacity currently stood at 6,000 megawatts while system capacity stood at 5,000 megawatts. “The situation has, however, worsened in recent years by poor water management and lack of maintenance of the hydro stations,” a source at the Ministry of Power told this newspaper. This, according to him, usually comes up in March, April and May of every year, “but the feelers we are having from the plants is that they are beginning to show early signs of cyclical water level problem due to lack of adequate maintenance.”

Afren recovers $17.1 from sacked CEO, COO SCANDAL

Company drops scandal claims against former CEO, COO

igeria-focused British oil and gas producer, Afren Plc, has said that it recovered $17.1 million from its for-

he Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has disclosed that it installed 36,000 pre-payment meters in the first year of its operation. The company said this at a recent Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) stakeholders’ forum on the Credited Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) in Benin City. Chairman of NERC, represented by Commissioner, Engineering, Standards and Safety at the commission, Mary Awolokun, said that the commission was conducting a nationwide tour of all distribution companies to meet directly with the customers and get their

mer chief executive officer (CEO) and chief operating officer (COO) in relation to unauthorised payments that caused a scandal last year. Afren said it would not pursue legal proceedings against founder and former CEO, Osman Shahenshah, and former COO, Shahid Ullah. It had released the pair of claims

in connection with the issue. Afren sacked the two executives in October, 2014 alongside two associate directors and disciplined seven other employees after a review into three transactions found evidence of “gross misconduct.” The company also said it had received $3 million

to cover the costs of the investigation. The scandal which rocked investors’ confidence in the company, combined with plunging oil prices, wiped off nearly 80 per cent of Afren’s share value. Afren shares closed 2014 at 47.28 pence, up from a five-year low of 33.42 earlier in December.

Benin Disco installs 36,000 pre-paid meters feedback as regards the CAPMI implementation in all the Discos. She further said that the commission was making efforts to see that meters were made available to customers under the advanced payments scheme within the statutory 45 days allowed by the commission for all Discos. According to Awolokun, the commission will soon commence sanctioning distribution companies that fail to supply meters to its customers within the 45 days time frame.

BEDC, in its presentation, delivered by the Executive Director, Commercial, Mr Abu IsmailEjoor, said that metering of customers was key to the operations of the company owing to the enviable record it has as a shining star in pre-payment meter deployment among all other Discos. He said that within the last one year, not less than 36,000 pre-payment meters representing an average of 3,000 per month had been installed across the company’s jurisdiction which, he said,

was a significant step in bridging the metering gap and also eliminating estimated billing from platform. Ismail-Ejoor said that though the company was eager to increase its installation capacity to see that more meters were installed within the statutory 45 days time frame, it had, however, been hampered by customers that filled untraceable home addresses while making their meter applications which makes metering such customers very difficult.

Business | Energy

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oiling Nigeria’s economy in 2015 The dependence of Nigeria’s economy on oil and gas is expected to wane while reliance on power is envisaged to grow, writes Energy Editor, Adeola Yusuf

hell, Chevron and thirty eight other top oil companies have advanced plans to slash $170 billion investments in the New Year. While this is envisaged on the global scene, the oil multinationals have extended the embargo placed on employment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The reason for this tough measures is the oil price rout, which has seen the commodity crashed below $56 per barrel. This rout, which analysts said was the main factor for the investments cut, is already dragging into the New Year. The top 40 oil companies will, according to Wood Mackenzie, collectively need to slash spending by 37 per cent, to keep net debt flat if global oil prices were at $60 per barrel. Oil is Nigeria’s biggest revenue earner and now the commodity is heading for its biggest decline since 2008 after it dipped below $56 a barrel on New Year eve. On the other hand, the United States (US), which was hitherto the biggest consumer of Nigeria’s crude, began exports of crude. The turmoil in Libya has also effectively led to a drop in the December supply of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to a six-month low.

Effects on 2015 budget While the 2015 budget, which is benchmarked at $65 a barrel is expected to have $9 deficit on each barrel based on the $56 per barrel price of the New Year eve, the Director-General, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yusuf, said that the budget was a mistake. Yusuf, who said this during a television programme monitored in Lagos, maintained that it was economic tragedy that $16 billion is wasted on importation of refined products annually by the government of Africa’s biggest crude exporter. He criticised the budget which he said had N91 billion for Kerosene subsidy with great imbalance in the amount earmarked for debt servicing and capital expenditure. “N948 billion is earmarked for debt servicing while N93 billion is for capital expenditures. Annually, we spend about N1 trillion on fuel subsidy and all these raised a lot of questions about our budget,” he said, add-

Oil rig. Insets: Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo

ing that this “time is the best for government to stop the subsidy.” The low oil price is, according to him, “a big relief because the minister has said that the landing cost of fuel is less than the pump price.” Effects of oil price rout On the local scene, the hope of about 10,000 contracts staff whose employment would have been ratified by the international oil companies in Nigeria has been dashed. This is because the decline in oil price has made their employment uneconomical for the companies, whose vision is profit-making. Some projects like the greenfield refineries, the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG), the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas (BrassLNG) and many others will also suffer delay in takeoff. New Telegraph gathered that the Final Investment Decision (FIDs) on these projects would not be taken soon. “This is because the price of oil and gas benchmarked for projects take off is now below the current prices at the international market,” this newspaper gathered. With this, many people have advocated decrease in government’s spending on oil sector while non-oil sectors like agriculture should get a boost in investment in 2015. Other measure to curb the negative effects of oil price rout is, according to analysts, for government to remove subsidy on imported refined crude products. Meanwhile, at the global market on the New Year eve, oil dropped below $56 a barrel and was heading for its biggest decline since 2008, pressured by weakening demand and a supply

The hope of about 10,000 contracts staff whose employment would have been ratified by the international oil companies in Nigeria has been dashed

glut prompted by the US shale boom and OPEC’s refusal to cut output. The price of global benchmark, Brent crude, has nearly halved in 2014 as demand growth slowed, the US expanded output and OPEC, dropping its strategy of trimming supply to keep oil around $100 a barrel, chose instead to defend market share. “The plunging oil prices will prompt energy companies to cut investments in new projects by 25 per cent or more in 2015, Reuters reported the analysts to have said, as firms “try to stay cash-flow positive and keep debt in check.” This cut would be in addition to $9 billion in cuts announced in the last few weeks by the companies. “In total, there are about $127 billion of global industry projects at risk of deferment,” Wood Mackenzie said. With oil prices down over 40 per cent since June, some companies, including ConocoPhillips, have slashed spending by 20 per cent. But because crude prices have yet to stabilise, other companies are waiting to draw up budgets. “Many are buying time on 2015 capex and production guidance while hoping for a stable baseline to plan from,” Capitol One Securities said in a note to clients. “We think cuts of 25 per cent or more versus a year ago are on the way and won’t be unusual.” Budgets from Chevron Corp and Exxon Mobil Corp are also due out in early 2015, along with comprehensive spending surveys from industry analysts at Cowen and Barclays. The spending reductions, once announced, are likely to be the biggest in years. But the US government still expects output to be the highest in decades as productivity for new wells rises.

Investment Bank expects average US oil production growth of about 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year, up from around nine million bpd in November, 2014, Bernstein Research said if benchmark Brent crude oil was at $80 per barrel, then global exploration and production spending would fall 20 per cent to $640 billion. Like oil unlike power The power sector is, however, different with calls for more investments to boost generation, transmission and distribution chain of the industry. In 2015, the dependence of the economy on power is expected to grow at geometric proportion. The Director-General, Bereau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Benjamin Dikki, has, based on this, said that investment of between $18 and $20 billion is expected in the power sector to meet the growing demand for power supply. “The growth of the economy, especially the manufacturing arm, depends on adequate power and as it is, government needs to do more in 2015 to meet the yearnings of Nigerians,” Olurotimi Salami, who owns a pure water company, said. Last line Government has set a target of 5,000 megawatts (MW) for generation in 2015 and a lot of investment is needed to meet this target. This is one of the ways to keep the economy on the pedestal of growth in 2015 and beyond. Austerity measures are needed by government to cushion the negative effects of the 2015 budget, which is already bench marked on 2.3 million barrels production per day at $65 per barrel.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Developer rolls out new home ownership scheme p.36

Property&Environment

Ogun govt warns against encroachment on acquired land p.36

A peep into housing sector in 2015 PREDICTION Some experts foresee rough times, others see opportunities Dayo Ayeyemi

pprehension over the ongoing downturn in the economy and the 2015 general elections are causing ripples in the real estate sector. This has turned many players in the industry to seers as they guess what the New Year has in stock for the sector in the midst of dwindling oil prices and government policies. While some are predicting tough times for the sector in the belief that real estate sector relies on the buoyancy of the general economy to thrive, others are of the opinion that the industry will experience growth despite the challenges. Although the experts are not ignorant of the performance of the sector in 2014, they, however, foresee slow activities in the first quarter of 2015. Speaking with New Telegraph, President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Tunde Lasabi, predicted tough times for real estate developers in 2015 being an election year. Justifying his prediction, he stated that many developers are likely to close or slow down construction activities, while some would be apprehensive to sign new contracts until the outcome of the general elections. Apart from this, he stated that the dwindling fortunes of oil revenue meant cash crunch for the economy and would invariably impact negatively on the sector. He, however, expressed hope concerning the Housing and Urban Development’s road map, saying the commencement of implementation of the document would promote activities in the sector. He said: “I foresee brighter 2015 when I look at the roadmap document recently launched by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. If the document is followed thoroughly, I can see more housing development.” He also pointed out that the possible passage of the National Building Code (NBC) by the National Assembly in 2015 would impact on the sector. Lasabi added that most resolutions arrived at during the Presidential Retreat with housing stakeholders recently in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, would also help to shape the sector. According to him, one of the resolutions was the directive from President Goodluck Jonathan to the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), compelling the

Model of Centenary City, Abuja.

Lasabi

Nubi

firm to process applications of 66,000 home seekers that subscribed to mortgages from it in 2014. Besides, he stated that the president had directed the capitalisation of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to the tune of N200 billion. “So, in 2015, housing sector will be better and professional will be taken into consideration,” he said. The sector in Nigeria is growing substantially with a current value put at N59 trillion, which is potentially six times bigger than the local stock market now valued at N12 trillion. As it is, housing construction is about 100,000 units per year for a country of over 170 million – the largest population in Africa. According to the World Bank, the country has a housing deficit of about 17 million units and needs about 700,000 additional units each year for the next 20 years. On his part, a Lagos based surveyor, Mr. Ropo Olajugba, said the decline in oil fortunes and fear of insecurity in the country would limit investment in real estate in some parts of Nigeria in 2015. He also expressed hope that if the nation gets the election right, housing sector would enhance employment generation for the populace since 90 per cent of people seeking accommodation are yet to have it. A lecturer in the Department of Estate Surveying and Management, University of Lagos, Professor Timothy

Bamgbade

Nubi, maintained that 2015 would be tough for the sector due to dwindling oil fortunes. Explaining, he stated that when there is lull in any economy, it would affect the construction sector since 50 per cent of the building materials are being imported. However, he expressed hope in the new NMRC and the capitalisation of the FMBN if the economy becomes stable after the first quarter, saying they would generate a lot of activities for the sector. In his contribution, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos Branch, Mr Lekan Akinwumi, said that the situation would be difficult in the first quarter for developers and would-be homeowners. According to him, politicians, especially those seeking elections into public office would want to hoard money for the elections, thereby denying developers the needed money for housing projects. “There will be short supply of housing in the market and demand for available houses will be high. This will lead to upward shift in rent and house prices will go up,” he said. A Lagos based estate surveyors, Mr. Mutiu Balogun, said there would be slight increase in house prices in 2015 due to hike in the price of cement, but expressed hope that things would not go beyond normal. Managing Director of HOB Estates

Limited, Chief Segun Bamgbade, said house price would be determined by many factors in 2015, but that it had nothing to do with the devaluation of naira. He is of the opinion that 2015 election would boost real estate activities as money would change hands. According to him, politicians that made money through the election would likely invest in real estate. Meanwhile, there is hope for the industry if all plans by the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi, see the light of the day. Already, there is a plan by the minister to reduce the cost of housing units being rolled out by government agencies and private developers by granting subsidy to the manufacturers of building materials to bring their prices down. To make this a reality, the minister said she had set in motion, plans to stage workshops with producers of building materials and all stakeholders in the country to fashion the way out. If this works out, this will be a plus for the industry as developers would have access to cheap building materials such as cement, roofing sheets and wood among others. Besides, Eyakenyi said that the ministry will partner state governments and private developers in the dream to build 10,000 housing units for the low-income group. Also, experts expect the developments of Eko Atlantic City project in Lagos, various residential schemes, office complexes and shopping malls in Abuja coupled with Rainbow Town in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to promote growth in the sector. However, some of the challenges confronting the sector are not limited to lack of access to buildable land, difficulties in obtaining Certificate of Occupancy, registration of property, multiple property taxation, high interest rates and cost of fund among others.

Business | Property & Environment

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Developer rolls out new home ownership scheme DEFICIT Initiative targets housing need of low-income group Dayo Ayeyemi

n order to assist some of the 17 million Nigerians in need of accommodation, a Lagos based estate developer, Adron Homes and Properties Limited, has rolled out a new home ownership initiative for them. The initiative is tagged:

“Who wants to be a Landlord?” It is aimed at attending to the housing needs of low-income Nigerians. Speaking during the third edition of its annual award night, the Chief Executive Officer of Adron Homes and Properties Limited, Dr. Adetola Emmanuel-King, said the idea behind the scheme was to attend to the housing needs of the most neglected segment of the Nigerian populace in a creative way. Besides, he said the move to positively impact on the lives of low-income earners

prompted the launch of the new home ownership scheme. Speaking on how the plan works, he said: “It is aimed at ensuring that low-income earning Nigerians who do not have the means to pay cash for a plot of land or house get onto the property ladder by buying a ticket for as low as N1,000 and stand a chance to win a plot of land worth over N500, 000 and N1,000,000 He said through the raffle draw winners would be picked every month from a pool of subscribers to the housing

initiative. He said: “The ticket will soon be available in shopping malls, eateries and selected public places.” The Managing Director of the company, Mrs. Funke Shobowale, said the company was already working on increasing its land bank across Lagos and Ogun States in order to create more opportunities for prospective landlords to own their homes. Currently, the company has four estates, Rehoboth Park & Gardens at Ibeju-Lekki-Lagos;

Treasure Park, Gardens Estate and Glass House Estate in Shimawa; GrandView Park and Gardens Estate on Sokoto road in Atan-Ota in Ogun State. She disclosed that a payment plan that allows subscribers to pay over a period of three months or over one or two years had been put in place for easy subscription. The estates come with a perimeter fence, earth road, electricity, proper drainage system, water supply, children’s playing ground and a basketball court.

UK retail property market targets online shopping in 2015 A dwindling supply of welllocated retail property stock in the UK will continue to drive South East and London rental growth, which will be factored into pricing by investors, according to a new analysis. According to report from Property Wire, well-placed good secondary retail assets with solid demographics, will sell well and overall schemes with the broadest consumer appeal will thrive at the expense of the poorer quality ones, says the latest UK retail property market outlook 2015 report from Knight Frank. Key attributes could be the quality of tenant mix and accessibility, although the out of town market has moved steadily towards fun shopping, the report suggests. “As we have seen with high streets and shopping centres, the best out of town parks now provide an increased focus on a strong leisure and catering offer aimed at prolonging dwell times and boosting expenditure,” the report explains. One potential cloud on the horizon, with the growth of online sales bringing store networks under ever increasing scrutiny, is the forthcoming rush of lease expiries will provide retailers with an unprecedented opportunity to reduce property costs by downsizing their portfolios. “This is likely to reinforce the polarisation already being seen in the market, with secondary/ weaker schemes suffering at the expense of the better schemes, bringing with it greater divergence in investment performance. That said, while the rise of online shopping may result in smaller store portfolios, the

UK property

growth in click and collect is helping to maintain the importance of the store,” the report adds. Knight Frank predicts that omni channel retailing will become the dominant norm in 2015. Occupiers will need to implement in store technology advancements in order to keep the consumer engaged and enhance the customer experience. Retailers should embrace strategies in which mobile, online and in-store experiences should complement, rather than compete with, one another. The firm also predicts that the first half of 2015 is likely to be dominated by uncertainty surrounding the general election. However, retail sales will receive a boost from a buoyant labour market, lower inflation on the back of the fall in oil prices. Slower but still positive house price growth will continue to support strong consumer confidence. But the retail market continues to be driven by structural change due to the growth of online shopping and profit margins for bricks and mortar retailers will continue to be squeezed by non-store sales and an increasingly internet savvy population. The news that the Chancellor in his Autumn budget will cap the inflation linked increase in business rates to two per cent and undertake a full review of the structure of business rates is welcome news to the retail sector, according to the report. “However, fundamental changes need to be implemented going forward especially with consumer’s increasing preference to shop and buy online rather than in store,” it adds.

Gateway-Sparklight Estate, Ogun State.

Ogun govt warns against encroachment on acquired land Dayo Ayeyemi

gun State Government has warned all residents, especially people of Ado-Odo community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government area to stop further encroachment on government acquired land to avoid demolition. In as much it would not tolerate further encroachment, the government assured that necessary steps would be taken to accommodate existing structures on its land in the area. The Chairman, Board of Directors of the State Housing Corporation, Alhaji Bashiru Fadairo, gave the warning while signing the agreement on village excision between the government and the families of Oniyaka and Ashaje, held at the corporation’s office in Abeokuta. He urged them to see the gesture as a fair process, saying that the state government was extremely keen at ensuring harmony between the people of the

state and the government. “As you can see, the whole process was a transparent one for mutual benefit,” he said. Fadairo disclosed that the proposed Ado-Odo Housing Estate already had a master plan and layout that would be provided with all necessary infrastructure to make a living worthwhile in the area. He warned against further illegal construction on the land. “Allow the corporation to commence work according to plan. And all those that have built houses on our land should come down to our office for negotiations,” he stated. Responding on behalf of the Ado-Odo community, the Osolo of Ado-Odo, Alhaji Muftau Agbogunlori, expressed satisfaction on the agreement’s terms and conditions. He appreciated the state government for releasing portion of the land to them while also prepared to accommodate existing structure within the estate.

He assured that the families would abide by the rules and regulations binding the agreement.

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

IATA decries slow pace of air connectivity in Africa p.38

Aviation

New airline offers East Africans connections to 82 cities p.38

High charges put airlines, sector on the spot Poor service delivery, ‘hidden’ charges by airlines and multiple charges by aviation agencies have brought Nigeria’s aviation industry to its pitiable state. CLEM KHENA OGBENA writes on Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka’s resolve to curb bad practices in the sector

he desire to curb alleged arbitrariness, especially with aeronautical and passenger charges in Nigeria’s aviation industry, remains part of the general efforts to sanitise and reposition the industry. In a bid to remain afloat, the carriers had introduced ‘hidden’ charges. Air travellers are oblivious of these charges. They have had to part with their hard earned money. The airlines claimed they device means of recovering cost following the imposition of multiple charges by the various agencies of government, which they termed illegal. Concerned about the development, Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, recently inaugurated the Ministerial Committee on Aeronautical Charges, which focuses on bringing up the aviation industry in line with the international best practices. The committee, which submitted its report to Chidoka on December 12, 2014, for consideration and implementation, assured that many issues currently assailing the sector would be tackled with the hope of reviewing most of the charges. The sector is plagued with multiple charges. This is evident in over 50 various charges imposed by three key aviation agencies like the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). The FAAN is said to have imposed port and cargo charges, landing and parking charges, high rent, huge concession fees and other sundry charges. Chairman of the Committee, Ahonsi Unuigbe, said: “The committee analysed the basis of computation of passenger tickets for four domestic airlines, namely, Ark, Dana, Medview and First Nation. The analysis shows that an amount ranging from 40 percent to 65 per cent of the airfare is hidden as fuel surcharge (also

known as YQ). “The computation of this fuel surcharge is unknown to both passengers and government alike. Equally, this cost element has been omitted by the airlines in the computation of both VAT and Ticket Sales Charge, resulting in significant loss of revenue to the Federal Government.” There is prevalent inaccuracy in the computation of statutory charges and the non-remittance of charges collected from passengers and delivered to relevant aviation authorities. Proofs from the ticket-based analysis have shown that some airline operators intentionally charge as high as 90 per cent of Base Fare as Ticket Sales Charge in contrast with the statutory five per cent, normally expected to be remitted to the government, via the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Experts lamented that this might have eroded the confidence and trust the public and, indeed, passengers should ordinarily have had in the airline operators in question. Going by the identified anomalies in the Nigeria’s aviation sector, the committee articulated far-reaching recommendations which implementation is to be approved by Chidoka. The recommendations include harmonisation of some of the charges considered extremely high, enforcement of Passenger Bill of Rights coupled with public enlightenment campaign to

The sector is plagued with multiple charges. This is evident in over 50 various charges imposed by three key aviation agencies

beef up public awareness about the Bill of Rights. Others are integration of automation of the airport management system, improvement on debt recovery by the relevant regulatory authorities from airline operators; and improvement on regulation of charges in the sector. The committee’s efforts have, hitherto, revealed, to some extent, that it was not yet well with the nation’s aviation industry, in spite of high sounding positive references to the sector, which has made it seem it is in a perfect state of health. Commenting on the report, Chidoka assured that the issues would be addressed, adding that they were very crucial to the repositioning process of the sector. He agreed that these arbitrary charges hindered the ability of the sector to generate revenue. His words, “Today, we are talking about the passenger and aeronautical charges; I would like us to focus on the issue of aeronautical and passenger charges for the simple reason that this is what impacts on the ministry’s ability to raise finances for government. I thought that would be important to journalists, in view of the falling oil prices. “In view of even the debt you talked about, our focus should be how to make sure that the resources that are coming into the ministry are properly captured, passengers are not overcharged and resources are used in a man-

ner to promote government business and enhance our national image.” On the prospect of the downward review of the charges, he assured that positive steps would be taken to tackle the issue. While wondering why fuel charge should be imposed as well, Chidoka queried: “That is what we are going to look at within the next one week, and we will quickly come out with what will be the new rate. The charges will have to go; those that we can explain will remain, while those that the airlines cannot explain the rationale for imposing them we will do away with. Those that they can explain, we will find out whether they are amendable in today’s world.” “Considering what has happened, I just heard about the story of the fuel surcharge; so, we have to find out. Surcharge for what and what is the rationale for that surcharge? So, these are issues I think will be of interest to Nigerians to create a transparency in the cost structure of the aviation sector, and I think that is the most important for Nigerians. We should have what constitutes this cost and why we are paying for it.” Explaining what informed the setting up of the committee, the minister said, “Well, as the name implies, the reason is to review the charges in the industry and be sure they are in alignment with our neighbours and with the global best practices.”

Business | Aviation

LAMENTATION A potential five million passengers a year are being denied the chance to travel Stories by Wole Shadare

he International Air Transport Association (IATA), the clearinghouse for global airlines, has carpeted African nations for the slow implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision of 1999. Despite African countries’ adoption of the landmark aviation pact that has variously been described as Africa’s own version of ‘Open Skies’, its implementation has been very slow. IATA’s Regional Head of Member and External Relations for Africa and Middle East, Adefunke Adeyemi, stated that there was the need for African countries to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities available, which

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

IATA decries slow pace of air connectivity in Africa she said had remained untapped, due to poor connectivity among African states. She stated that Africa is a continent of over one billion people with a huge geographical spread that is largely landlocked, adding that given the lack of robust alternative infrastructure that traversed the continent (road, rail, water), aviation is the effective way to get around Africa. She, however, lamented that unfortunately, Africa was not well connected in terms of air services, reiterating that in many cases, the only way to get to countries in Africa was to travel for days or through other continents, stressing that this lack of connectivity was making Africa lose out immensely on socio-economic benefits and growth opportunities. It would be recalled that in

collaboration with some of its regional partners across Africa, IATA commissioned a study early last year on how Africa’s socio-economic prospects can be transformed through enhanced connectivity. The study looks at 12 countries across Africa, and quantifies the numerous benefits that would accrue to those countries, their sub-regions and Africa as a whole, if they were to fully open their skies to connect with one another. The 12 nations in the report are: Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda. The study shows that full air connectivity across those 12 countries would generate an additional $1.3bn in GDP, over 150,000 new jobs and numerous

other socio-economic benefits in just those 12 countries. Experts imagine what this could mean if all 54 countries in Africa opened up to one another. It would be a game changer. They noted that a potential five million passengers a year are being denied the chance to travel between these markets because of unnecessary restrictions on air routes. The study was launched this year in Johannesburg on the August 18 and Adefunke Adeyemi is spearheading the roll out and advocacy of the study’s results across Africa. Aviation already supports 6.9 million jobs and more than $80 billion in GDP across Africa. The IATA report clearly demonstrates that liberalisation will create opportunities for further significant employment growth and economic development. The jobs and GDP impact for the 12 countries in the study are listed in the table below. The study clearly highlights the crucial role air transport

NATION

Interior of Ethiopian Airways’ B787 aircraft.

plays in driving economic and social development in Africa through enhanced connectivity. Governments should support the growth of the industry by fully liberalising African skies as intended by the Yamoussoukro Decision. Adeyemi stated that, given that, a better connected Africa will increase the GDP of all countries in Africa, hinting that finance and tourism sectors across the continent should be interested. Given it will help create new jobs, politicians should be interested in making true connectivity across Africa a reality. Given it will help move over one billion people across the continent, education and health sectors should be interested. “Given it facilitates the deployment of food and aid, agriculture and civil society should be interested. Given it helps facilitate transfer of services, goods and technology, business and private enterprise should be interested,” he added.

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT

ADDITIONAL GDP (USD MILLIONS)

Algeria

11,100

123.6

Angola

15,300

137.1

Egypt

11,300

114.2

Ethiopia

14,800

59.8

Ghana

9,500

46.8

Kenya

15,900

76.9

Namibia

10,600

94.2

Nigeria

17,400

128.2

Senegal

8,000

40.5

South Africa

14,500

283.9

Tunisia

8,100

113.7

Uganda

18,600

77.6

New airline offers East Africans connections to 82 cities

he arrival of “flydubai” in East Africa, November last year, serving Entebbe, Bujumbura, Kigali, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar, has, besides boosting tourism and trade for regional businesses, also opened up a whole new range of destinations for travelers from the region. After launching some 23 destinations in 2014, the most ever rolled out in a single year, the airline now serves 89 destinations overall, giving East African travelers 82 destinations to fly on to after transiting in Dubai. Most of these are found across the Indian subcontinent, Eastern Europe, and, of course, the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, opening doors for business opportunities both ways. “I think we are not taking

advantage of this budget airline coming to Entebbe as of now. Tourism can get a real boost if we could only tap into their East European network. No other airline can get tourists cheaper to Uganda than they do. We need to partner with them, in fact partner more with all airlines flying to Entebbe, and package good offers,” answered a tour operator in Kampala when tipped off to these opportunities. In response to the same question directed to a senior member of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, he, on condition of anonymity for not being the official spokesperson of PSF (U), said: “You are right. We should organize a trade mission to some of the places they fly to and promote our coffee, tea, flowers, fish, and other exports. New airlines create new

opportunities, and we have been slow to take advantage. Their fares are very affordable, so a trade mission group can economize a lot when going out to sell Ugandan products and produce.” Another source close to the

airline in Uganda added that they are keen to see the entire region take advantage of their daily flights to Entebbe and Dar es Salaam and their several flights a week to Bujumbura, Kigali, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar: “Tour agents should

Fleet of flydubai aircraft on the apron of an airport.

prepare offers, and the airline can then partner to promote Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania across their network. Reasonably-priced packages together with low fares should make that a winwin situation.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Photo | News

A cross-section of participants at the 4th edition of Ososo Street Dance carnival in Edo State. L-R: President of Ibadan Foundation, Chief Bayo Alugbin; representative of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Femi Lana; Chairman, Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Ibadan, Dr. Lekan Are and his wife, Bisi, during the foundation’s annual luncheon in Ibadan.

Group Managing Director/CEO-designate, Diamond Bank Plc, Uzoma Dozie (left), receiving the best SME friendly award from the President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce Mr. Yemi Adefulu, at the chamber’s presidential dinner and awards in Lagos.

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun (right), presenting the 2015 “Budget of Continuity” to the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraj Ishola Adekunbi, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

L-R: Wife of Ondo State Governor, Olukemi Mimiko; wife of the Chaplain of the Chapel of Grace, Ondo Government House, Pastor Faith Akinfiresoye; her husband, Pastor Waleola Akinfiresoye and Governor Olusegun Mimiko, at the first Sunday service of the year, in Akure.

L-R: Professor Eyitayo Lambo; Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada and Dr. Esther Olufunmilayo Lambo, during the 70th birthday get-together of Prof. Lambo in Kogi State.

L-R: Director of Administration, Teachers Establishment and Pensions Office (TEPO), Mrs. Adenike Falade; Head of Pensions, Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Fagbamila James and Board member, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), Chief Rasheed Olu-Ajayi, at the 15th Retirement bond certificate presentation to the state’s retired civil servants in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Chairman, Health Insurance & Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HIMCAN), Kola Owoka; Managing Director/CEO, Avon Healthcare Limited, Adesimbo Ukiri and Managing Partner, Vesta Healthcare Partners UK, Folabi Ogunlesi, during the BusinessDay Healthcare Financing Roundtable in Lagos.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Leisure Arcade NUTS

By Kaycee

MAMA LASISI

By Aliu Eroje

MOYIN & FRIENDS

NTPuzzle

By Ayo Oyerinde

SUDOKU - Answer to No 27

SUDOKU - No 28

NTJokes TYPES OF HELL

How to play

SUDOKU

ALIU EROJE

CHIEF CARTOONIST aliu.eroje@newtelegraphonline.com

The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9. A cell is the smallest block in the game. A row , column and region consists of 9 cells and the whole game consists of 81 cells. A region has thicker lines surrounding it. This simply makes it easier to play the game.

A man dies and goes to hell. There he finds that there is a different hell for each country and decides he’ll pick the least painful to spend his eternity. He goes to Germany hell & asks, “what do they do here?” He is told “first they put you in an electric chair for an hour. Then they lay you on a bed of nails for another hour. Then the German devil comes in and whips you for the rest of the day”. The man does not like the sound of that at all so he moves on. He checks out the USA hell as well as the Russian hell and many more. He discovers that they are all similar to the German hell. Then he comes to the Nigerian hell and finds that there is a long line of people waiting to get in ... Amazed, he asks, “What do they do here?” He is told “first they put you in an electric chair for an hour, then they lay you on a bed of nails for another hour. The Nigerian devil comes in & whips you for the rest of the day.” “But that is exactly the same as all the other hells. Why are there so many people waiting to get in?” asks the man. “Because there is never any electricity so the electric chair does not work. The nails were paid for but never supplied, so the bed is comfortable to sleep on. And the Nigerian devil used to be a civil servant, so he comes in, signs his time sheet and goes back home for private business.”

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

11 banks partner to offer SME-friendly loans OBSTACLES

SMEs in Nigeria face obstacles to growth due to lack of finance. Godson Ikoro

leven Nigerian banks, led by the country’s oldest financial institution, Bank of Industry (BoI), have partnered to fund Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country. The partnership also includes Access Bank, Diamond Bank, Ecobank Nigeria, Fidelity Bank, First Bank Nigeria, First City Monument Bank, Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Standard Chartered and the United Bank for Africa. As part of the partnership, the 11 banks with collaborate on providing long-ter m loans to qualifying SMEs. The Managing Director of BoI, Rasheed Olaoluwa, said the arrangement was motivated by the knowledge that SMEs in Nigeria faced obstacles

to growth due to lack of finance. “BOI therefore decided on a multi-pronged approach to addressing the problem of poor loan packaging and access to finance,” he said. “The first approach was the recent accreditation of 122 Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) located all over the country. Another strategy was to approach SME-friendly commercial banks to partner with BOI in cofinancing the SMEs.” He said the partnership aimed to further develop Nigeria’s exciting SME sector and boost the country’s economy. “The synergy that has evolved between BoI and the SME friendly banks, which is unprecedented between a development finance institution and commercial banks, will undoubtedly foster greater access to finance for SMEs, financial inclusion for Nigerians and also engender wealth creation and accelerated job creation for Nigerians,” Olaoluwa said. “It is also our expectation that the SMEs that will benefit from

this partnership will be good corporate citizens and meet their finan-

cial obligations to the partnering banks. This will stand them in good

Godson Ikoro

he naira, yesterday, opened 1.9 per cent down on its 2014 close at 185 to the dollar, according to Reuters data. This is in line with analysts’ prediction that the nation’s currency will continue to be under pressure until the elections come and go even as the price of crude oil continues its downward slide at the international market. As at the eve of 2014, oil prices were still plunging even after losing over 50 per cent this year (now $56pb). The naira is on the ropes trading at N193/$ and interest rates are strangulating at 22 per cent per annum, according to analysts and researchers at Financial Derivatives Company (FDC). The analysts believe that some issues revolving round the volatility of oil prices and naira made the second half of 2014 a rough and tumble period as well as one of the most interesting years this decade for Nigeria. Against this background that shows that cyclical economic downturns and recovery are

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

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

will in the near future metamorphose into large enterprises.”

Naira starts year down by 2%

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

stead for consideration for larger loan amounts with the hope that they

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

inescapable, findings reveal that the Nigerian macroeconomic environment will continue to be vulnerable to exogenous shocks in 2015.

FDC analysts said oil prices and international capital flows would continue to be dominant features in the Nigerian macro-economic equation FDC noted that the parallel market rate is expected to cross N200/$ as dollar demand pressure persisted. A N200/$ rate is only a 15 per cent adjustment as against 45 per cent devaluation in 2009. Although projecting the value of naira is currently clouded by several domestic and exogenous factors, the fair value of the currency is expected to be between N180/$ and N195/$ at the interbank market.

ICAN expresses worry over dearth of qualified accountants

he Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ebonyi chapter, on Monday expressed worry over the dearth of qualified accountants in the state. The state Chairman of ICAN, Mr. Sunday Ituma, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the state had less than 50 qualified accountants in both public and private sectors. He said the situation had challenged the institute to make more efforts to encourage more accountants to register and avail themselves of ICAN opportunities. ``We have inaugurated a functional secretariat to coordinate all our activities which would ensure that more people are trained to become qualified accountants. ``We also visit institutions of higher learning in the state to encourage students to take ICAN examinations and avail themselves of the opportunities we offer. ``We also visit various batches of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to enlighten them on our activities and processes of qualifying as chartered accountants,” he said. Ituma also said that the institute was working assiduously to correct the erroneous impression that its examinations were difficult to pass, noting that it had intensified its enlightenment on the issue. ``ICAN is not a ‘no-go’ area because if it was, all our members couldn’t have qualified as chartered accountants who are perform-

ing credibly in various sectors of societal life. ``We all went through the examinations and passed but it is instructive to note that we do not regulate government’s procedure of employing accountants as it has its stipulated standards for employable accounting positions. ``Government is at liberty to employ our members or others who belong to other accounting bodies but what concerns us are those who practice as professional accountants in the private sector. He said that the organisation was aware of the existence of quacks that go about preparing financial statements for companies and organisations. ``We set up a committee to investigate this development and its reports have been submitted to our national secretariat and disciplinary actions expected to be taken. ``We do not condone any form of quackery as we know our members with licensed certificates and seals to ensure that no one uses our names to prepare financial statements for organisations,” he said. The ICAN state chairman said that the association also performed several social functions aimed at enhancing the well-being of the people, especially the less-privileged in the society. ``We went to the Mile 4 hospital, Abakaliki, and the Leprosy Colony where we presented various gifts in the spirit of the season, while also organising a luncheon for our members.

Business | Financial Market News

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

5-Jan-15

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 414.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 178.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,783.63

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,395.93

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.30 1.61 2.31 2.56 2.65 3.40 4.48 4.80 7.06 9.19 13.90 14.38 14.87 15.55 19.53

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

12.84 14.96 14.96 14.97 14.97 15.00 15.04 15.06 15.07 15.02 14.46 14.40 14.33 14.70 15.21

12.30 14.85 14.88 14.89 14.89 14.88 14.94 14.95 15.00 14.96 14.41 14.34 14.26 14.63 15.15

97.44 97.30 100.20 89.42 88.03 88.83 103.05 73.13 105.60 95.92 103.16 88.52 64.49 71.55 81.00

97.59 97.45 100.35 89.57 88.18 89.13 103.35 73.43 105.90 96.22 103.46 88.82 64.79 71.85 81.30

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.38 1.24 1.93 2.29 2.50

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

15.61 17.77 16.98 15.96 15.96

94.34 99.46 98.48 96.52 93.39

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.67

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

311.11

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.65

4.44

18.45

96.45

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.49

3.23

16.39

99.28

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

1.01

4.46

20.29

94.63

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

1.01

3.48

19.30

96.75

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR‡

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.29

5.59

20.55

81.43

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.55

1.00

16.12

96.95

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.99

1.79

16.77

93.68

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.16

1.80

16.76

95.38

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.75

1.00

16.02

94.41

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.36

1.00

15.96

97.40 90.01

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.36

4.78

19.74

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.54

1.00

15.96

97.18

A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR‡

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.79 4.88 2.86

1.00 1.00 2.74

15.98 16.06 17.72

99.18 94.82 93.76

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.32

1.00

16.00

96.94

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR‡

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.89

1.00

16.07

90.39

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.99

1.94

17.01

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.65

1.44

16.45

95.06

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.50

1.95

16.96

95.06

96.97

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

92.61

461.14 427.67

Corporate Bonds *UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.37

4.88

17.84

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.34

09-Dec-15

0.68

1.00

15.15

98.38

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.53

2.63

15.94

98.69

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

A-/Agusto

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB/GCR

29-Sep-16

1.73

1.00

16.06

95.48

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.80

1.34

16.37

96.74

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

29-Sep-11

13.00

20.00

15.00

30-Sep-17

2.73

1.00

15.97

93.55

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.76

1.88

16.93

102.57

Nil

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.76

3.48

18.53

96.67

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.92

5.20

20.18

96.95

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

1.92

5.06

20.04

101.81

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.71

1.35

16.37

93.54

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.03

2.29

17.25

97.84

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.12

6.11

21.07

93.47

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.99

2.16

17.14

97.53

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.86

2.76

17.83

90.78

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.73

1.00

15.94

80.40

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.73

1.00

15.94

86.83

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

124.63

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

117.26

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.10

1.00

15.99

86.23

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.32

1.00

16.04

85.80

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.46

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.49

6.20

101.26

102.76

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.56

5.11

98.63

100.04

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.75

6.55

97.58

98.88

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,487.35

Corporate Eurobonds B/Fitch; B-/S&P

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

33.75

28.15

81.33

85.50

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

7.00

100.63

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.48

99.48

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

11.29

10.64

87.99

89.64

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

8.28

7.46

92.61

95.18

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

24.03

21.33

64.44

69.95

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.49

95.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

13.39

12.97

84.98

86.22

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

10.01

92.00

B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

19.14 11.50 10.66

19.14 11.17 10.66

56.75 90.13 87.00

56.75 91.50 87.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.95

8.99

93.55

98.06

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,158.67

**Treasury Bills DTM 10 17 24 31 38 45 52 59

FIXINGS Maturity 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15

Bid Discount (%) 13.46 12.00 13.39 12.55 13.75 13.31 12.54 12.85

Offer Discount (%) 13.21 11.75 13.14 12.30 13.50 13.06 12.29 12.60

Bid Yield (%) 13.51 12.07 13.51 12.69 13.95 13.53 12.77 13.12

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.2017 14.1216 14.8599 15.6187

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.79

O/N

11.00

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.75 15.10

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

185.00 185.29 185.58 186.26 187.51 188.77

185.10 185.39 185.72 186.71 188.50 190.25

0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50

66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.67

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

311.11

06-Jul-17

2.50

1.00

15.96

93.39

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.65

4.44

18.45

96.45

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.49

3.23

16.39

99.28

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

1.01

4.46

20.29

94.63

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

1.01

3.48

19.30

96.75

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.29

5.59

20.55

81.43

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR‡ TUESDAY, LAGOS NEW TELEGRAPH JANUARY 6, 2015

Business | Financial Market News

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.55

1.00

16.12

96.95

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.99

1.79

16.77

93.68

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.16

1.80

16.76

95.38

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.75

1.00

16.02

94.41

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.36

1.00

15.96

97.40

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.36

4.78

19.74

90.01

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.54

1.00

15.96

97.18

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.79 4.88 2.86

1.00 1.00 2.74

15.98 16.06 17.72

99.18 94.82 93.76

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR LOW SENTIMENT

NIGER

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

Investors lose A/Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO A/Agusto; A-/GCR N240bn as blue chip*GOMBE Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR‡ LAGOS A/Agusto; plunge A-/GCR *OSUN stocks further

Stock market opens year in red previous day while the 14.75 11.40 market capitalisation 13.50 87.50 of equities depreciated 15.00 5.00 14.50 billion or 4.55 2.1 by N240 15.00 as market4.79 per cent sentiment opened on 461.14 the red 427.67 territory. Meanwhile, a turnover 10.00 of 299.4 billion 3.61 9.34 shares12.00 worth N5.4 billion 14.00 0.60 in 3,805 deals was record13.00 15.00 ed in the day’s trading. 14.25 5.53 The13.00 banking sub 20.00sector of18.00 the financial 0.64 ser16.00 vices sector was the6.30most 2.90 day active18.00during the 16.00 0.80 (measured by turnover 14.00 35.00 volume); 15.75 with 219 million 2.40

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 Market analysts have investors, mostly foreign, 10-Oct-13 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 predicted that investors’ evaluate the electoral 27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR‡ LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 sentiment during the first process and outcome 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 31-Dec-13 quarter will 14.50 be EKITI weighed A/Agusto *EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 while fearing post-elec06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 tion violence. down by political tenTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE It is also their belief sions leading to the 2015 Stories by Chris Ugwu TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION general elections. that the FPIs are expectheBondsNigerian They believe that the ed to remain wary of the Corporate Stock Exchange the the17-AUG-2015 Peo- local bourse until 10.00 UPDC 17-Aug-10 Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC tension between 12.00 FLOURMILLS A-/Agustoopened the trad09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS elections are concluded ples Democratic Party9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 falling year 2015 *CHELLARAMS on (PDP) and its major op- and possible violent 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO out curbed. a negative route promptposition, the All Progres14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH Consequently, the AllingA/GCR investors’ to lose sive Congress is 13.00(APC), UBA 30-SEP-2017 30-Sep-10 UBA Share Index shed 713.86 about N240 billion on the expected to lead toLEASING a lull30-NOV-2017 18.00 C&I BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 Nil day of trading. *DANA in the equities market as basis points or 2.1 per first MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER cent to close at 33,943.29 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER basis points as against 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR 22-Sep-11 UBA 34,657.15 recorded the 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 *LA CASERA A/Agusto

*OSUN

#{r}

Weaker oil, stronger dollar weigh on emerging markets BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

17-Feb-12

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 STANBIC IBTC merging market fears of a crisis while an13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC shares headed for ticipation of ECB QE is a TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE two-week lows and good kind of euro weakTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION currencies started their ness, which should allow Supranational Bondweek of first full trading risky assets to do well,” 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 IFC Societe Generale’s head theAAA/S&P year on a sour note, 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB of emerging markets facing the familiar headTOTAL VALUE strategy, Benoit Anne, winds of OUTSTANDING a stronger dollar MARKET CAPITALISATION said. andTOTAL falling oil prices. Emerging market “At present we have a Rating/Agency Issuerof the two and thatDescription stocks lost 0.7 per cent, mix with Saudi and Nigerian creates uncertainty so the FGN Eurobonds oil companies’ shares backdrop for risky assets 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P suffering again as crude is not great.” sank to just above $55 a Chinese shares were BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P the exception, surging barrel. BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 According to Reuters, to their highest close for BB-/S&P theTOTAL euroOUTSTANDING hitting a ninefive years after reports VALUE year low gave the dollar that mortgage restricTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION extra support as investors tions had been loosened Eurobonds betCorporate a growing risk of euro to help support the real 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I zone deflation and fears estate sector. 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P over Greece’s future GTBANK in PLC IMeanwhile, the slide 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 ACCESS BANK PLC prices saw dollartheB+/S&P bloc will force the in oil 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&PCentral Bank FIDELITY denominated BANK PLC European Russian 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/S&P GTBANK PLC to B+/Fitch; unleash quantitative shares clock up some 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II of the sharpest losses, easing. 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC nearly six per “A weak euro can DIAMOND be dropping 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC good or bad for emergcent before clawing back 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC ingB-/Fitch; markets roughly half of the falls 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B/S&P and Greece AFREN PLC III 9.25/6M USD B-/Fitch; B/S&Pthe bad kind ACCESS BANK II in the rouble is causing as aPLC rise ranLIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD out of steam. of weakness as it revives A/GCR

B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.12

day’s gainers table with 16.00 96.94 9.09 per cent to close at 84 16.07 90.39 kobo while Oando 17.01 92.61 Nigeria Plc16.45 followed 95.06 with 8.63 16.96to close 95.06 per cent at N17.50 per share and UAC Property Plc with a gain of 4.95 per cent to close at N9.97 per 17.84 share. 96.97 98.38Seplat On 15.15 the flip side, 98.69 Plc led15.94 the losers with a 16.06 95.48 drop of 5.26 per96.74 cent to 16.37 close 15.97 at N351.50 93.55while GSK Plc 5.18 per 16.93 shed 102.57 18.53close at 96.67 cent to N47.41 20.18 96.95 with and Julius Berger 20.04 five per cent to101.81 close at 16.37 93.54 N57.63. 17.25 97.84

6.11

21.07

93.47

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.99

2.16

17.14

97.53

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.86

2.76

17.83

90.78

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.73

1.00

15.94

80.40

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.73

1.00

15.94

86.83

Vono reports N5.2m loss

124.63

ono Products Plc has its fortunes. operation arising from deca117.26 recorded a loss of Yinusa, who said this re- dent infrastructure,” he said. N5.159 million during cently at the company’s 53rd Commenting on the plans 11-Feb-13 ended September 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 meeting 3.10 in 1.00the board 15.99to boost86.23 the period annual general by the com10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 01-Feb-21 1.00 16.04 85.80 chair30, 2014. Lagos, added that the 4.32 board pany’s profitability , the In a filing with the Nigeri- 24.95 was poised to introduce new man explained that experts in an Stock Exchange, the com- 21.46 strategies that would enable the real estate industry had pany posted a loss after tax the company achieve sus- established a deficit of over Outstanding Value Issue Datemillion Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer15 Yieldmillion (%) Bid Price Offerunits Price of N5.159 as against tained growth. housing in ($mm) a loss of N4.884 million reOn the company’s perfor- the country . Prices & Yields He added that for the deficorded during the comparable mance in 2013, Yinusa said, 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 6.49 6.20 101.26 “The company achieved a cit to be bridged period of 2013. in102.76 the comHowever, the company’s turnover of N841.4m for the ing years, furniture and steel 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 5.56 5.11 98.63 100.04 profit before tax increased 12 months period in 2013 com- goods consumption was en6.38 posted 500.00 12-Jul-23 6.55 98.88 from12-Jul-13 N1.523 million pared to N525.8m for6.75nine visaged to97.58 rise significantly . the previous year to N2.457 1,500.00 months period in 2012.” According to Yinusa, it is million during the year un- 1,487.35He also said the compa- also expected that the educader review accounting for a ny’s gross profit increased tion sector will receive greatfrom N121.3 million in 2012 er attention from the governgrowth of 40 per cent. 33.75 the 28.15 81.33 levels,85.50 to N230m 01-Feb-16 in 2013, while Its01-Feb-11 revenue also 11.50 rose to 5.4 450.00 ment at all thereby 19-May-11 7.50 million 500.00 19-May-16 7.00 sig7.00 100.63 100.63 loss position improved generating demand for the per cent to N889.666 25-Jul-12 7.25 of 2014 350.00 7.48 7.48 99.48 in the review period nificantly 25-Jul-17 with profit before company’s products.99.48 6.88 in the 300.00 11.29 10.64“The company 87.99 89.64 leverfrom09-May-13 N841.414 million tax of N1.502-May-18 million compared will 08-Nov-13 6.00 7.46 95.18 to the loss 08-Nov-18 before tax of 8.28 N86.8 age corresponding period of 2013. 400.00 these92.61 opportunities to 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 24.03 21.33 64.44 69.95 million in 2012. grow the top-line. We will The Chairman of the com22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 7.49 7.49 95.50 95.50 pany,21-May-14 Dr. Mohammed Yinusa, 200.00 “Despite the encouraging continue to take advantage of 8.75 21-May-19 13.39 12.97 84.98 86.22 told the company’s shareholdeconomic outlook, the comVitafoam’s vast distribution 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 10.01 10.01 92.00 92.00 ers that the board was lever- 360.00 pany’s performance remains network to56.75 increase 56.75 visibility 09-Dec-13 6.63 09-Dec-20 19.14 19.14 24-Jun-14 9.25 in the 400.00 24-Jun-21 11.17 the company’s 90.13 91.50 aging opportunities constrained by some11.50 chal- for products,” 23-Jul-14 8.00 23-Jul-21 10.66 10.66 87.00 he said. 87.00 economy in a bid to improve 450.00 lenges including high cost of 14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.95

8.99

93.55

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

shares worth N3.8 billion 10-Oct-20 3.32 1.00 exchanged by 5.89 investors1.00 27-Nov-20 in31-Dec-20 1,451 deals. 5.99 1.94 31-Dec-20 3.65sub-sec1.44 Volume in the 06-Jan-21 tor was largely3.50 driven by1.95 activities in the shares of ET1 Plc and GTB Plc. Also, other financial services sub-sector, 17-Aug-15 0.37 4.88 09-Dec-15 by activities 0.68 boosted in1.00 06-Jan-16 0.53 the shares of FBNH Plc2.63 29-Sep-16 1.73 1.00 followed with a turnover 25-Oct-16 1.80 1.34 of30-Sep-17 19.3 million shares val-1.00 2.73 ued at N129.3 million in1.88 30-Nov-17 1.76 09-Apr-18 1.76 3.48 519 deals. 09-Sep-18 1.92 Further analysis of the5.20 09-Sep-18 1.92 day’s trading showed that5.06 22-Sep-18 3.71 1.35 RT Briscoe Plc topped the2.29 18-Oct-18 2.03

98.06

5-Jan-15

4,158.67

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills FIXINGS Money Market Foreign & Forwards) professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or upExchange to date. (Spot We do not guarantee DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBORfor the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability 10 15-Jan-15 13.46 13.21 13.51 FGN

17 24 Bonds 31 38 45 Rating/Agency 52 59 66 73 80 87 94 101 108 115 NA 122 129 171 213 241 332 346

22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 Issuer 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 NA 7-May-15 14-May-15 25-Jun-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15

12.00 13.39 12.55 13.75 13.31 Description 12.54 12.85 4.00 23-APR-2015 12.71 12.20 13.05 16-AUG-2016 13.38 15.10 27-APR-2017 12.50 9.85 27-JUL-2017 12.15 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.00 10.70 30-MAY-2018 12.95 16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.10 7.00 23-OCT-2019 12.80 16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.25 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.24 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.80 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.75 13.90 8.50 20-NOV-2029 14.25 10.00 23-JUL-2030

12.1493 18-JUL-2034

11.75 13.14 12.30 13.50 13.06 Issue Date 12.29 12.60 23-Apr-10 12.46 11.95 16-Aug-13 13.13 27-Apr-12 12.25 27-Jul-07 11.90 31-Aug-07 12.75 30-May-08 12.70 29-Jun-12 12.85 23-Oct-09 12.55 27-Jan-12 12.00 14-Mar-14 11.99 28-Nov-08 12.55 22-May-09 12.50 13.65 20-Nov-09 14.00 23-Jul-10

18-Jul-14

Bonds

12.07 13.51 12.69 13.95 13.53 Coupon 12.77 (%) 13.12 4.00 13.01 12.51 13.05 13.78 15.10 12.88 9.85 12.54 9.35 13.49 10.70 13.47 16.00 13.66 7.00 13.37 16.39 12.80 14.20 12.98 15.00 13.83 12.49 13.92 15.91 8.50 16.48 10.00

12.1493

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION #

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Agency Bonds 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 Total Outstanding Modified Duration Buckets Porfolio Market Value(Bn) ***LCRM 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 FMBN

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds

10.79

O/N

11.00

REPO

Tenor TTM Call (Yrs) 1M 3M0.30 6M1.61

Maturity Date

535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 581.39 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 12.9796 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 13.1389 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 13.5171 300.00 30-May-18 6M 13.8400 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 13.8753 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 15.8633 600.00 27-Jan-22 414.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N)20-Nov-29 200.00 BID($/N) 591.57 185.0000 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 185.1000 178.00 18-Jul-34

Coupon (%)

Rate (%) Bid Yield 10.75 15.10 12.84 15.40 16.13 14.96

Tenor

(%)

Bid ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M Yield Offer 2M (%) 3M 6M12.30 1Y14.85

2.31 14.96 14.88 2.56 14.97 14.89 2.65 14.97 14.89 :Benchmarks 3.40 15.00 14.88 * :Amortising Bond 4.48 15.04 14.94 µ :Convertible Bond 4.80Management Corporation 15.06 14.95 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 7.06 15.07 15.00 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.19Mortgage Bank of 15.02 14.96 FMBN: Federal Nigeria 13.90 Finance Corporation 14.46 14.41 IFC: International 14.38 14.40 Management 14.34 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 14.87 Aviation Handling 14.33Company 14.26 O/N: Overnight 15.55 14.70 14.63 UPDC: UAC19.53 Property Development Company 15.21 15.15 NOTE:

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN0.00 BOND INDEX 24.56

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 Weighting by 09-Dec-11 Outstanding 20-Apr-12Vol 06-Jul-12

32.63

17.25 Weighting by Mkt 0.00/16.00 Value 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

34.21

2.70 112.22 Bucket Weighting 116.70 66.49

1,019.39

1,034.18

3<5

1,393.38

1,365.98

43.09

46.75

567.45

769.57

24.28

19.04

311.110.24

2,980.21

3,169.73

100.00

1.00

Market

OBB

Offer ($/N)

185.00 185.10 185.29 185.39 Price 185.58 185.72 186.26 186.71 Bid Price Offer Price 187.51 188.50 188.77 190.25 97.44 97.59 193.07 195.99 202.25 207.74 97.30 97.45

100.20 100.35 89.42 89.57 88.03 88.18 NA :Not Applicable 88.83 89.13 # :Floating Rate Bond 103.05 103.35 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 73.13 73.43 105.60under review105.90 ‡ : Bond rating 95.92expired 96.22 †: Bond rating 103.16 103.46 N/A :Not Available {r} :Issuer 88.52 in receivership 88.82 64.49 64.79 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 71.55 71.85 UBA: United Bank for Africa 81.30 81.00

4,395.93

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 11.2017 14.1216 14.8599 15.6187

4,783.63

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

Rating/Agency

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M Outstanding

0.33

322.67

0.43

Maturity Date

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 % Exposure_ 09-Dec-16 Mod_Duration 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

13.83

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.38 1.24 1.93 Implied Yield 2.29 2.50

14.96

# Risk Premium (%)

2.63 2.27 Implied 2.00 Portfolio 1.00 Price 1.00

117.3513

Valuation Yield (%)

15.61 17.77 16.98 INDEX 15.96 15.96

1,114.60

Indicative Price

94.34 99.46 YTD Return 98.48 (%) 96.52 93.39

11.4599

46.25

15.04

120.7108

1,022.13

39.92

14.83

86.6983

1,013.66

2.2133 1.3655

100.00

14.95

111.3569

1,063.36

6.3361

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.65

4.44

18.45

96.45

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.49

3.23

16.39

99.28

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

1.01

4.46

20.29

94.63

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

1.01

3.48

19.30

96.75

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR‡

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.29

5.59

20.55

81.43

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.55

1.00

16.12

96.95

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.99

1.79

16.77

93.68

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.16

1.80

16.76

95.38

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.75

1.00

16.02

94.41

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.36

1.00

15.96

97.40

Daily Summary as of 05/01/2015

Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019

Business | Capital Market

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Daily Summary as of 05/01/2015 Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019

Daily Summary (Bonds)

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at January 5, 2014

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 3 9 12

Current Price 25.35 24.50

Quantity Traded 2,530 47,918 50,448

Value Traded 62,276.28 1,200,610.50 1,262,886.78

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 2.17

Quantity Traded 104,009 104,009

Value Traded 228,665.64 228,665.64

154,457

1,491,552.42

Quantity Traded 6,000 2,000 25,082,494 1,742,996 26,833,490

Value Traded 7,810.00 7,520.00 81,332,235.20 59,100,600.13 140,448,165.33

26,833,490

140,448,165.33

AGRICULTURE Totals

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. Daily Summary as of 05/01/2015 TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019 U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 2 1 232 63 298

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.31 3.95 3.22 34.00

298

Page

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 0.73

Quantity Traded 206,750 206,750

Value Traded 151,788.71 151,788.71

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 57.63

Quantity Traded 173,649 173,649

Value Traded 10,007,391.87 10,007,391.87

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 9.97

Quantity Traded 122,704 122,704

Value Traded 1,218,352.37 1,218,352.37

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) SKYE SHELTER FUND PLC UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol SKYESHELT UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 100.00 10.00

Quantity Traded 5 1,000 1,005

Value Traded 500.00 10,000.00 10,500.00

504,108

11,388,032.95

Quantity Traded 13,000 13,000

Value Traded 6,500.00 6,500.00

Quantity Traded 1,454,342 481,240

Value Traded 10,215,964.58 79,552,452.00

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals Daily Summary as of 05/01/2015 CONSUMER GOODS Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019 Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. Activity Summary Board EQTY GUINNESS NIGon PLC GOODS PublishedCONSUMER by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Brewers/Distillers INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food as Products Totals Daily Summary of 05/01/2015 Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019 Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG Activity Summary onPLC. Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Household Durables VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

31 Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 3 3

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK Banking Totals

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Daily Summary as of 05/01/2015 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Activity Summary on Board EQTY RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. Healthcare Providers Totals Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

IT Services NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. Daily Summary as of 05/01/2015 IT Services Totals Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019 Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials IPWA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 165.40

Quantity Traded 3,423 3,423

Value Traded 539,650.52 539,650.52

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UTC

No. of Deals 19 41 98 13 37 1 1 210

Current Price 4.55 6.04 39.14 3.46 6.50 18.05 0.50

Quantity Traded 85,614 1,503,922 1,080,825 80,606 471,685 52 18,150 3,240,854

Value Traded 371,646.14 9,083,688.88 41,774,173.57 272,536.30 3,030,546.49 902.20 9,075.00 54,542,568.58

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 15 70 85

Current Price 40.00 995.60

Quantity Traded 65,155 292,202 357,357

Value Traded 2,731,610.00 290,974,232.38 293,705,842.38

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals 14

Current Price 4.03

Quantity Traded 160,379

Value Traded 614,251.57

Symbol VONO

No. of Deals 1 15

Current Price 1.12

Page Quantity Traded 2,000 162,379

3 of 12 Value Traded 2,140.00 616,391.57

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 53 38 91

Current Price 23.99 36.48

Quantity Traded 1,963,626 155,725 2,119,351

Value Traded 47,374,403.58 5,632,161.53 53,006,565.11

10,328,604

755,614,584.92

Current Price 6.38 5.45 18.20 1.62 25.18 2.53 2.42 4.32 8.50

Quantity Traded 3,846,363 3,824,916 97,392,033 2,787,998 49,547,444 3,256,768 5,392,657 17,602,218 600,098

Value Traded 24,306,125.54 20,847,946.45 1,801,827,478.64 4,609,895.77 1,240,473,604.54 8,260,305.04 13,063,629.94 75,712,389.82 5,072,876.82

Value Traded 205,043.00 1,118,125.66 4 of 12 611,894,961.06 3,807,392,382.28

Daily Summary (Equities)

623 Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 95 DIAMONDBNK 38 ETI 72 FIDELITYBK 39 GUARANTY 431 SKYEBANK 67 Daily Summary (Equities) STERLNBANK 21 UBA 229 UBN 28

2 of 12 Value Traded 22,432,100.00 240,996,550.18 353,197,066.76

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 444,000 444,000

Value Traded 222,000.00 222,000.00

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100 100

Value Traded 50.00 50.00

Symbol NCR

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 12.83

Quantity Traded 10 10

Value Traded 121.90 121.90

No. of Deals 6 1 Daily Summary (Equities) 7

Current Price 0.50 3.39

Quantity Traded 600,000 5,300 605,300

Value Traded 300,000.00 17,119.00 317,119.00

1,049,410

539,290.90

Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

Quantity Traded 842,911 2,000 109,000 53,000 1,586 208,595 63,542 583,600 100 1,200 1,034,695 2,900,229

Value Traded 707,445.24 1,940.00 54,500.00 26,500.00 793.00 645,338.70 31,771.00 377,340.00 50.00 600.00 663,734.80 2,510,012.74

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.80

Quantity Traded 37,200 37,200

Value Traded 29,739.00 29,739.00

Symbol RESORTSAL

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 300,000

Value Traded 150,000.00

Symbol UNHOMES

No. of Deals 1 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 33,250 333,250

2,028

Quantity Traded 88,351 192,882 12,354,308 4,209,272 1,500 221,605 2,226,299 19,294,217

Value Traded 257,325.02 684,855.82 107,904,483.12 10,524,047.52 780.00 6,109,473.72 3,782,666.52 129,263,631.72

242,252,590

3,939,362,390.74

Symbol EKOCORP

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.72

Quantity Traded 20 20

Value Traded 70.80 70.80

Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 8 4 7 8

Current Price 3.90 47.41 1.58 0.76

Quantity Traded 86,082 150,306 44,550 498,276

Value Traded 321,306.80 7,126,404.90 68,216.50 394,159.76

Page

Symbol AFRPAINTS ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM

No. of Deals 1 57 2 18 12 55

Current Price 2.72 20.81 9.00 37.00 9.88 190.00

Quantity Traded 100 Page 774,438

Value Traded 259.00 7 of 12 16,502,605.70 4,018.50 4,496,617.50 1,697,565.00 166,137,335.00

Symbol IPWA PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 1 8 42 196

Current Price 0.50 3.89 81.00

Quantity Traded 100 136,800 717,060 2,795,741

Value Traded 50.00 525,233.00 57,933,618.33 247,297,302.03

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 1.24

Quantity Traded 147,799 147,799

Value Traded 183,997.76 183,997.76

2,943,540

247,481,299.79

Daily Summary (Equities)

470 121,375 171,000 874,398

204 Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded Page 2,000 2,000

2,000

1,000.00

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 195,595 195,595

Value Traded 97,797.50 97,797.50

Symbol

No. of Deals 300

Current Price 17.50

Quantity Traded 11,926,786

Value Traded 203,906,582.87

OANDO Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

No. of Deals 300

Current Price

Quantity Traded 11,926,786

Value Traded 203,906,582.87

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 33 23 66 12 1 20 155

Current Price 38.11 2.99 227.10 158.00 53.20 149.00

Quantity Traded 102,035 481,919 261,964 16,099 200 46,351 908,568

Value Traded 3,539,026.37 1,380,949.96 59,336,172.46 2,500,999.62 10,108.00 6,896,340.58 73,663,596.99

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 33 33

Current Price 351.50

Quantity Traded 199,022 199,022

Value Traded 69,975,029.30 69,975,029.30

13,229,971

347,643,006.66

SERVICES Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

492 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.84

Quantity Traded 458,334 458,334

Value Traded 368,664.32 368,664.32

No. of Deals 8 8 Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 3.94

Quantity Traded 58,960 58,960

Value Traded 221,747.10 221,747.10

Symbol REDSTAREX

Page

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 20 20

Value Traded 10.00 10.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 3.70

Quantity Traded 151,900 151,900

Value Traded 566,130.00 566,130.00

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 1 4 6

Current Price 1.18 1.35 4.22

Quantity Traded 1,790 500 8,000 10,290

Value Traded 2,022.70 700.00 32,080.00 34,802.70

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.55

Quantity Traded 3,000 3,000

Value Traded 1,710.00 1,710.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 1 21 22

Current Price 1.70 5.00

Quantity Traded 20,900 548,696 569,596

Value Traded 35,530.00 2,718,219.31 2,753,749.31

No. of Deals 7 7 Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 3.49

Quantity Traded 81,290 81,290

Value Traded 283,301.40 283,301.40

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 05/01/2015 Transport-Related Services Totals Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019

Value Traded of 12 1,000.00 1,000.00

Symbol JAPAULOIL

Current Price 0.84 1.02 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.11 0.50 0.65 0.50 0.50 0.64

Current Price 3.04 3.62 8.70 2.50 0.50 28.00 1.68

Symbol

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

No. of Deals 18 1 3 3 1 4 3 8 1 1 9 52

No. of Deals 19 14 353 72 1 18 42 519

OIL AND GAS Daily Summary as Equipment of 05/01/2015 Energy and Services Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019 JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R Tas BRISCOE PLC. Daily Summary of 05/01/2015 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR INTENEGINS MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM PRESTIGE STDINSURE WAPIC

7,910,158.76

No. of Deals 6 6

OIL AND GAS Totals

Quantity Traded 410,086 1,206,493 Page 33,820,620 219,687,694

779,234

Symbol COURTVILLE

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

OIL AND GAS Integrated Oil and Gas Services Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Current Price 0.50 0.92 18.00

Value Traded 16,625.00 166,625.00

Value Traded 7,910,087.96

No. of Deals 3 21 407 1,451

Page

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC

Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 779,214

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Current Price 22.21 163.00

Page Quantity Traded 1,010,000 1,486,658 4,432,240

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. Daily Summary as of 05/01/2015 Published by The Nigerian Stock ASHAKA CEM PLCExchange ©

Current Price

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 12 127 208

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC

Symbol INTBREW NB

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019

7.32 165.30

Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019

No. of Deals 27

HEALTHCARE Totals

37 32

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC Daily Summary as of 05/01/2015 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Printed 05/01/2015 15:08:19.019 FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 0.50

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price CHAMPION GUINNESS

Symbol

ICT Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Totals

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol CAVERTON

Page

1,333,390

4,230,114.83

EQTY Board Totals

3,803

299,410,794

5,456,109,597.30

Equity Activity Totals

3,803

299,410,794

5,456,109,597.30

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 2 4

Current Price 10.37 2,114.00 15.29

Quantity Traded 5 8 525 538

Value Traded 51.85 16,912.00 8,188.45 25,152.30

ETF Board Totals

538

25,152.30

ETP Activity Totals

538

25,152.30

Page

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Features Boko Haram: A damp on military in 2014

Despite its international achievements, the terror group, Boko Haram, dimmed the light of the Nigerian military in 2014, writes EMMANUEL ONANI

he Nigerian Army, over the years, had been the envy and beautiful bride of the international community. This was so because of its exploits at peacekeeping missions, which helped to restore order and peace to some troubled African nations, whose sovereignty came under huge threats by rebels, militias and terrorists. The participation and involvement of Nigerian soldiers at such missions provided light at the end of the tunnel. This, no doubt, accounted for the insistence by the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to seek the involvement of Nigerian soldiers in troubled African nations such as Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Mali, among others. In fact, reports show that the Nigerian Army has participated in over 20 UN peacekeeping missions around the world, one of which was the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR). The mission was established to facilitate the implementation of the Arusha Accords, signed in 1993, and saddled with the onerous task of ending the Rwandan Civil War between the Hutu-dominated government and the minority Tutsi rebel-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Still fresh in people’s memories are the fundamental and defining roles played in the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and the demystification of rebels in Northern Mali. In all of these endeavours, Nigerian soldiers roared like the lion in the jungle and soared like the eagle. Laurels and accolades trailed their participation. To dim this shining light of the Army, however, was a home-grown monster which undoubtedly is a product of an afflicted nation. An outlawed group that started as an “ideological movement,” has grown to become a demon. Abduction of Chibok schoolgirls Boko Haram, which sprang up in 2009, when its founder, the late Mohammed Yusuf, started a massive recruitment drive in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, took its audacity to a frightening level on April 14, 2014 when the terrorists stormed Government Girls’ Secondary School (GGSS)

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

told the public that a very senior officer was the source of the information he earlier gave out. He said: “If your people are misleading you, what do you do? There are too many fifth columnists. “There was a report which says ‘oh, we have seen some of the Chibok girls, only eight are missing.’ It was a very senior officer that gave that information from Chibok area. “We are dealing with that situation. That was when people started saying watch what Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defence Information, says. He was misled by one of us.” With that volte-face, it became crystal clear that the abduction and the location of the girls will remain a mystery for a very long time. So has it been. Mubi residents taking refuge in the hills during the attack on the town

A community destroyed by Boko Haram

in Chibok and forcibly took away over 200 girls. The girls, who were set for their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), were reported to have been held in the dreaded Sambisa forest, in the fringe of the troubled NorthEast state. While tongues continued to wag, the news came that the teenagers had been scattered across some neighbouring countries, in a bid to frustrate their collective rescue. While that was yet to settle, the “amorphous” Abubakar Shekau, the supposed leader of the sect, came out to announce that the girls had been married out. CDS’s raises hopes Amidst the confusion and frustration, came a ray of hope from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who told the world that troops prosecuting the counter-insurgency war in the state had located where the girls were being held in captivity. Badeh, while addressing a group, Citizens Initiative for Security Awareness, at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja, a month after the ab-

duction, had said: “We want our girls back, we want our girls back. We can do it. Our military can do it. “But where they are held, can we go with force? If we go with force, what will happen? They will kill them. “So, nobody should come and say the Nigerian military does not know what it is doing. We know what we are doing. “We can’t go and kill our girls in the name of trying to get them back. So we are working. “The good news for the girls is that we know where they are, but we cannot tell you. We cannot come and tell you military secrets here. Just leave us alone, we are working; we would get the girls back.” CDS eats his words True to the argument in some quarters that the military might have made the announcement out of immense local and international pressure as well as to safe its face, the CDS ate his words, when he stated that he was misinformed and misdirected on the earlier position. The four-star general had to eat the humble pie at a later event, when he

Capture of territories Not done with their guerrilla-style warfare, Boko Haram fighters started to invade communities and towns, in an audacious move that resulted in an astronomical increase in the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Like a bolt out of the blue, Boko Haram began to assert its authority in some parts of Borno and Adamawa states, thereby raising fears the group would foist an Islamic state on the people of the North. This, in the main, was seen as the group’s larger “expansionist agenda”. Recently, Mubi, a major town in Adamawa State, fell into the hands of Boko Haram which hoisted its flags while the Emir fled to exile. Unlike Mubi, Madagali and a few others, which have since been re-taken by gallant troops, Gwoza, a strategic Borno town, has remained in the firm grip of the outlawed group. Soldiers’ revolt In the face of spirited efforts to rout out the nation’s enemies and restore past glory, some soldiers of the 7 Division in Maiduguri, attempted to kill their then General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Ahmadu Mohammed. The soldiers, who shot at the GOC’s bullet-proof car, were said to be protesting the death of their colleagues, who were ambushed by Boko Haram members on their way from an operation. Twelve of the soldiers are now awaiting death by firing squad, having been convicted of the offence of mutiny. Undaunted, another group of over 50 soldiers of the 111 Special Forces Battalion, refused directives from the Commanding Officer (CO), Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Opurum, to advance to Delwa on a mission. Like others, 54 of this group are also to die by firing squad. Arguably, 2014 will pass as the most trying and challenging period for the Nigerian military, particularly the Nigerian Army, since the end of the Civil War in 1970.

FEATURES

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

For police in Ondo, a rash of arrests A few days to the end of 2014, police in Ondo State recorded a breakthrough in their war on criminals, writes BABATOPE OKEOWO

he Yoruba proverb which says “every day is for the thieves but one day is for the owner,” could apply to four armed robbers who met their waterloo while trying to escape from the long arm of the law. It also applies to another set of men of the underworld apprehended by the men of the Ondo State Police Command penultimate Tuesday. The four suspected armed robbers were members of a gang which had been terrorising Akure, the state capital and other major cities in the state. They had robbed vehicles, took people hostage and killed two policemen in one of their operations. Earlier that Tuesday, they went on the rampage, snatched cars at gunpoint and abducted the occupants of the vehicles. While some of the gang members escaped through Owo-Benin Expressway, others s guarded the captives who were chained down in the bush on Akure-Owo Expressway. One of the victims, who identified himself as Michael, told journalists that they were travelling through Owo-Benin route when the robbers ordered them out of the bus and took them into the bush. He said they were dispossessed of their valuables, including cash. However, Michael said his brother did not have cash but his ATM card. According to him, the robbers decided to go with him to the bank to withdraw money. He said the hoodlums bundled his brother into one of the stolen cars while they tied some of them in the bush and left a few gang members to guard them. Michael added that on their way to the bank, they attacked a Hilux van. But on their way from the bank, policemen sighted the armed robbers. They tried to escape but crashed into a church gate. They died instantly. Confirming the death while parading other suspected armed robbers, cult members and other suspected criminals arrested in December 2014, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Eke, said the robbery suspects had attacked some victims on Idanre Road before they were pursued by the police. Eke said the policemen pursuing the suspected robbers had to evacuate their remains to the mortuary. He said: “On December 12, about 23.55, a team of policemen attached to ‘B’ Division, Akure, while on patrol on Idanre Road were attacked by four male occupants of a white Hilux vehicle with registration number 11/260FG who opened fire on them, snatched and destroyed the police pump action gun and

Some of the suspects

They tried to escape but crashed into a church gate. They died instantly thereafter headed towards Akure township. “The State Anti-Robbery Squad led by Inspector Odike Innocent gave them a hot chase and the Hilux crashed into a church fence. Among the items recovered were two AK47 rifles with No. 26182 belonging to Okuta-Elerinla Division that was recently snatched from men of the division, 126 live ammunition, three magazines, N160,120, 21 handsets, two number plates (Edo State), substance suspected to be dynamite and charms. “The four armed robbers later gave up the ghost as a result of grievous injuries sustained from the accident. The vehicle has been towed to ‘B’ Division, Akure while investigation is still in progress.” On the arrest of other suspected armed robbers, Eke said about 1am on December 6, 2014, “a gang of armed robbers invaded Fagbo camp via Bolorunduro and robbed all members of the camp of their belongings”. He said after the receipt of this report, the police investigating team swung into action and arrested Joseph Abiodun age 22 years and Momoh Jimoh (29) in Ondo town. Eke said a Berretta pistol with four rounds of live ammunition stolen from one ASP Oyaotu Otiki attached to Fagbo Police Station was recovered. Also, he said five cut-to-size

Some of the items recovered from the suspects

guns, nine live cartridges, hand saw with blade, 17 different types of handsets and one HP laptop were recovered from them. The commissioner added that the suspects confessed to the crime and equally mentioned other members of their gang. The police boss said his command made a harvest of arrest of suspected criminals especially members of the secret cult groups who had been terrorising the people. He said: “On the 3rd and 9th of December, 2014, about 10:00 hours, information was received by Special Anti-Cultism Squad (SACS) about the activities of some cult members in Akure, Ondo and Owo environs; Ave cult group, Eiye cult group, Aye cult group, Arobaga cult group. “The information further revealed that these cult groups have been terrorising, stealing and raping in Akure, Owo and Ondo towns. On receipt of the infor-

mation, a team of SACS swung into action. Arrests were made at Akure, Owo and Ondo town. Other members are still at large ,including their armourer, one Lukman.” In all, Eke said 32 suspected cult members who were within the age of 20 and 29 were arrested by the police for cultism-related offences just as two suspects were arrested for burglary and stealing. Similarly, Eke said a team of policemen attached to Isua Divisional Police Station Akoko South/East local Government Area, while on a stop-and-search operation on Ibillo-Isua Expressway intercepted an unregistered motorcycle with two men and a human skull cleverly wrapped in black polythene bag which was recovered from them. According to him, the suspects, Lukman Sule of Ikiran town and Alaiye Sule of same address, are helping the police in their investigation.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Obioha: Igbo leaders still consulting on Jonathan Temitope Ogunbanke

he failure of the apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to adopt President Goodluck Jonathan as its preferred candidate

£55,747

in the February 14 presidential election during its meeting on Saturday has been attributed to lack of consultations among Igbo leaders. This much was disclosed in an exclusive interview with former

The daily salary of Wayne Rooney of Manchester United. Source: Paywizard.co.uk

National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain, Chief Ralph Obioha. It will be recalled that the motion for Jonathan’s endorsement, which was introduced by the Peoples Demo-

36,700

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Aruba in 2009. Source: Itu.int

cratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, during an expanded Imeobi (inner caucus) meeting of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu on Saturday, was shot down following disagreement among the

27%

The percentage of the population under 15 years in Cook Islands in 2012. Source: Un.org

leaders over the issue. Obioha told New Telegraph: “There has not been enough consultation to warrant the endorsement of any presidential candidate. They are not saying that they will not con-

45.93

The teledensity of Nigeria in 2008. Source: Ncc.gov.ng

Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano (middle), speaking at Aguleri after APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, was honoured by the traditional ruler of the community with the title of Ibobo Aguleri. With him is Umeh and his wife, Lady Prisca.

sider the endorsement, but they said at the moment, there has not been enough consultation. “The basis for rejecting Jonathan’s endorsement was because there was no consultation on the matter. There has not been sufficient consultation to either make an endorsement or not to endorse any of the candidates. When asked on the possibility of Ohanaeze Ndigbo supporting President Jonathan before the presidential election, Obioha said there is no foreclosure about Jonathan’s endorsement. He also said the body may likely endorse Jonathan of the PDP or the former Head of State and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari. He said: “I am not a soothsayer to say what will happen in the future, but I am sure that after due consultations, a decision will be taken. I don’t think there is any foreclosure about Jonathan’s endorsement. “In the same vein, nobody is saying that General Mohammadu Buhari would not be endorsed by Ohanaeze. I am sure that consultation is going on in that respect. So, I believe Ohanaeze may endorse Jonathan or Buhari for the presidential election. Both Jonathan and Buhari have the same standing as far as Ndigbo is concerned, because Ohanaeze are not Ndigbo, it is a body.”

CLO accuses FG of neglecting South-East

Okorocha storms Lord’s Chosen crusade

Uwakwe Abugu

Enugu

he Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) yesterday attacked the Federal Government, accusing it of being responsible for the current state of insecurity and prisons congestion in the South East, through its alleged criminal neglect of critical infrastructure in the area. The rights group in its latest human rights update issued in Enugu and signed by its Zonal Director, Olu Omotayo, also aligned with a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, in his recent condemnation of the alleged deliberate neglect of the area by the Federal Government, a situation it blamed for the present insecurity in the zone in the last eight years. The CLO said it was a good development that “a credible and respected son of the zone is joining

the campaign by civil societies and pressure groups in condemning the alarming decay in infrastructure in the zone. Mbaka had condemned the state of federal roads, youth unemployment, insecurity of lives and property and alleged total neglect of the zone by the present administration. In joining in the present attack on the government, the rights group said: “We have over the years addressed press conferences on the deplorable state of roads in the South East, but no response or positive results from the Federal Government. “For the past six years that the rehabilitation of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway started, it has not been completed and presently it has been abandoned; And Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway is now a death trap. From Okigwe to Aba is like, journey to the hell.”

Tai Anyanwu mo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, made a dramatic appearance at the on-going three-day power-packed 2015 Mgbidi crusade by The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement to seek God’s blessings for his second term bid. The governor, who stormed the crusade ground with a retinue of aides, was ushered to the pulpit where he addressed about one mil-

lion worshipers, giving them hope of the good things to come from his administration. He said: “Something will happen here today. Let me announce to you all that we are serving a living God. And let me tell all that 2015 shall be greater than 2014. As the governor of Imo, I have declared this year as a Year of Victory. And for this reason, God will be glorified in this land.” Okorocha, who said the Pastor of the Lord’s

Chosen Church, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, was an instrument that God has been using to cause great miracles around the world, noted that “We have heard what the Lord is using him to do.” Speaking further the governor said: “There are over one million people here, but let me say to you, you have come to the blessed land of Mgbidi. You can never go back the same in Jesus name. For us in Imo State, we pride

ourselves in the word of God,” he added. While speaking to journalists on the occasion, Okorocha said he was happy to hear the testimonies from the congregation. “I am very happy to hear the testimonies here; I like the idea that people are accepting Christ as their Lord and saviour and that is the essence of Christianity. I am happy that this is happening in my state”, he stated.

Udensi denies stepping down for Otti Norman Obinna

he Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) gubernatorial candidate in Abia State, Sir Chikwe Udensi, has reacted angrily to the news of his withdrawal from the 2015 governorship race by Love FM, describing it as ‘absolute false.’

Love FM; an Umuahia-based local radio station had on Sunday, announced to the bewilderment of PPA members and Udensi’s followers that he (Udensi) has stepped down for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Dr. Alex Otti, in the 2015 governorship election

slated for February 28. Udensi, who reacted to the news story at the Igbere, residence of Chief Nnanna Uzor Kalu, expressed disappointment over the misleading news, saying it is unfortunate that it is coming from the angle of those who should know better and are expected

to behave decently. “I have called their News Editor to express my profound dissatisfaction of that broadcast and I hope they will retrieve it. “I have not stepped down for anybody, in fact, they should be the one to step down for me,” he said.

News

SOUTH-SOUTH

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ochei, Olejeme to dump PDP Dominic Adewole ASABA

merging indications have revealed that the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), in Delta State, is being threatened by a gale of defection of members to opposition parties in the state, over what is believed

to be the fall out of the primary elections, which has left several party members aggrieved. Already, speculations are rife that a frontline PDP governorship aspirant in the state, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Olejeme, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), now Deputy Chairman, Finance

68.71%

Committee for Presidential Campaign Organization, 2015 (PCO) may soon dump the PDP, for the Accord Party (AP), which was said to have started celebrating its new catch. It was also revealed that the former Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, is among the defectors. It was earlier revealed

The percentage of individuals using The life expectancy of women at the internet in Germany in 2005. birth in Mozambique in 2010-2015. Source: National Bureau of Statistics Source: Un.org

that Olejeme would be dumping PDP for Labour Party (LP) as Chief Great Ogboru’s running mate, while Ochei had emerged as APC’s Delta North Senatorial candidate, following his loss to Senator Ifeanyi Okowa during the December 8, 2014 PDP’s governorhip primary election in the state. Ochei, New Telegragh

The annual population growth rate of South America in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

gathered in Asaba yesterday is riding on the crest of the unending face-off, arising from the inconclusive senatorial primary election between the former state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi and the wife of the former national Chairman of the party, Mrs. Marian Nneamaka Ali, to coast to victory.

879,723

The total population of Republic of Cyprus (rep. 0.013% of world’s population) in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

L-R: Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Gboribiogha John Jonah; Governor Seriake Dickson and President Goodluck Jonathan, after Jonathan’s private visit to the state at Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government area…yesterday

Edem campaigns for president

Jonathan gets Urhobo backing

Tony Anichebe

Ughelli

UYO

ormer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Amb. Sam Edem, who was removed from office some years ago has urged his kinsmen of Ndiya, Nsit Ubium Local Government in Akwa Ibom State to support the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan Edem, who said he has forgiven all those who plotted his removal from office during a reception held in his honour, urged Akwa Ibom state to stand by President Jonathan and all the Peoples Democratic Party candidates in the forthcoming elections because the party has a better direction for Nigerians. The ex-NDDC boss, suspended in 2009 by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration, said he was

humbled by the honour bestowed on him by his people for his achievements while he was with the commission, stating that whatever happened, which warranted his ouster from office, has been overtaken by events. He said, ‘’I’m humbled by this honour, but my prayer is that good things shall continue to come to Ikot Akpafuk village and Ndiya community, let me inform you my brothers and sisters, I have forgiven all those responsible for my ouster from office, Ndiya must continue to soar higher’’ Also speaking at the occasion, a community leader, Mr Sunday Udofia, noted that he was proud to be part of the honour the Ikot Akpafuk community is bestowing on its son, who has equally brought honour to the community, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria in general.

Gabriel Choba

ontrary to earlier claim that the Urhobo nation in Delta State, would not work in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan re-election bid, in the 2015 Presidential election if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to give their kinsman, the governorship ticket of the state, the Urhobo have vowed to support to

Chris Ejim Yenagoa

over nor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, has effected a minor cabinet reshufflement in his government, in what is aimed at commitment to deliver on his administration’s restoration agenda. To this end, the Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Mrs. Marie Ebikake, has been relieved of her appointment, while her counterpart in the Min-

the President’s ambition. The position was expressed through its umbrella body, the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, led by its President-General, Chief Joseph Omene, to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where it conveyed its resolve to the President. During the visit, the Union expressed its willingness and readiness to deliver an estimated over one million votes to the President during the

presidential election, allaying the fears that the UPU, would equally support the party’s governorship election in the state irrespective of who is the flag bearer of the PDP. It would be recalled, that the Urhobo nation was said to have earlier vowed to vote, both in the governorship and presidential elections, in favour of the political party which gives its governorship ticket to an Urhobo candidate. The

Utama tasks Nigerians on unity Gabriel Choba Ughelli

elta State Deputy Gover nor, Prof Amos Agbe Utuama, has urged Nigerians to always seek for the good, peace and unity of the country in the New Year particularly, as the country prepares for elections towards change of leadership at various levels. Utuama, in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Augustine Avwode, said 2015 is a crucial year because it is a year in which elections would be held throughout the country into various offices. He, therefore, urged Nigerians to first and foremost ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the conduct of free and fair elections and do everything at their disposal to ensure the continued unity of Nigeria as an indivisible entity that caters for all. “We are grateful to God for making it possible for all of us to witness this New Year, 2015. It is an important one for this country because it is an election year. We are going to elect people into various offices to lead and direct the affairs of this country for the next four years. As a result of this, I want to advise all Nigerians to please seek and ensure that there is peace wherever they are and whatever we do,” he said.

resolution was said to have also been affirmed in what was generally regarded as, “Uvwiamuge Declaration”, which said that the Urhobo decision was sacrosanct. By this development, the Urhobo, have at the presidential level, dumped the only two parties in the state, presenting Urhobo governorship candidates, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Labour Party.

Dickson reshuffles cabinet istry of Information and Orientation, Deacon Markson Fefegha, has been deployed to Government House, as the Principal Executive Secretary to the Governor. He takes over from Hon. Douye Diri, who resigned and has since emerged as the PDP candidate for Yenagoa/ Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal constituency in next month’s House of Representatives election. A Government House

statement also said that the Governor’s Special Adviser on Federal Projects, Chief (Mrs.) Remi Kuku was relieved of her position as well as the final redeployment of the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dame Didi Walson-Jack back to the Federal Civil Service, after three years of outstanding and meritorious service to the state and the Restoration Government. Speaking on the development, Dickson commended the outgoing

Chief of Staff for her dedication, commitment and unswerving devotion to duty in the various capacities, she had served during the period of her redeployment, He noted that, giving her track record of dedication to service and loyalty to the government, she has made Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation proud, in view of her sterling qualities as an excellent manager of men and resources.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2015

News 49

NORTH

We’ll deliver Kano to Buhari, says Dep Gov Muhammad Kabir Kano

he Kano State Government has promised to give General Muhammadu Buhari maximum votes in the next presidential elections. It also said that it would ensure

1.08%

that all those who are not APC members cast their votes for the General to win this year’s elections. Speaking to reporters yesterday in his office, Deputy Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, noted that, “the die has been cast and that the battle has commenced in earnest, because we

The percentage share of passenger air travel of Kaduna airport of Nigeria’s total air passengers in 2012. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

are working very hard to ensure that General Muhammadu Buhari secures maximum votes, not only from our APC members but across party leanings to win’. Ganduje said the reason for moving to ensure heavy and maximum votes for Buhari is not only hinged on party

48%

membership but because of the fact that the open difference in the shortcoming on national growth and security has turned Nigeria to a rather sorrowful state with every shaking to its foundations. The Deputy Governor, explained that today’s calamities required some-

$25.1m

The percentage of coverage of antiretroviral medicines The total salary and extra winnings made by for preventing mother-to-child transmission in low and Felix Hernandez of Seattle Mariners (Basemiddle-income countries in 2009. ball) in 2013-2014. Source: Who.int Source: Financenews24.com

body with a thorough bred experience to tackle. ‘Nigeria is no longer issue of party politicking or tribal or religious sentiments. It is openly drifting, and you need somebody who is strong enough and resilient in all human perspective to bring back to its normalcy.”

16.32m

The total population of Mali in 2012. Source: Un.org

Assistant Director, Training, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Mr. Zakari Sabo (left), speaking during the skill upgrading training of artisans and craftsmen in the construction industry in Abuja …yesterday

Ortom condemns PDP, APC clash in Benue PDP govt to forge relations by the leadership of the Senator George Akume, with Sultanate council Cephas Iorhemen Mdzough U Tiv, a pan-Tiv made the pledge for a Makurdi

he All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has condemned the crisis rocking the two rival political parties in Tyeku, Gboko Local Government area of the state, resulting in bodily harm to some people as well as destruction to some campaign materials. Ortom said coming on the heels of efforts

socio-political organisation and the Prayer Pilgrimage for Peace convened by Catholic bishops in Benue State at which all political leaders subscribed to violence-free polls, the crisis was unfortunate, reprehensible, and unacceptable. He noted particularly that the leaders of the two dominant political parties in the state, the PDP and the APC, Governor Gabriel Suswam and Senate Minority Leader,

peaceful, free and fair elections before God and the people in the presence of the Tor Tiv, Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula and other royal fathers last Saturday in Gboko. The former minister said the commitment was binding on members and supporters of the two parties and the entire citizens of the state, hence the need to end all hostilities with immediate effect and to keep to the terms of the peace covenant.

Aspirant: I’ll support PDP despite being disenfranchised Ibrahim Abdul Yola

senatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Kari Abdullahi, has pledged to support the party to win all the elections despite the fact that he was disenfranchised from the party’s primaries. Abdullahi, who made the statement during an interactive session with

newsmen in Yola, urged the party to wade into calls by aggrieved party faithful to resolve the disaffection once and for all so that the party can forge ahead and participate in the February elections as one entity. Abdullahi, who was one of the aspirants for Adamawa North senatorial district, said the formation of the proposed high powered committee to address growing rate of apathy, ill feelings and disaffection in the party, caused by

disallowing internal democracy to thrive in the Adamawa State chapter, would help the party substantially to win the next round of elections. “I would remain in PDP because democracy always suffers when people defects, there was no need for that as by so doing democracy would not be strengthened, especially if everyone should defect because of some hiccups that could be addressed,” he said.

Umar Danladi Ado Sokoto

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Sokoto State, Senator Abdallah Wali, has promised to bolster relations with the sultanate council in Sokoto rather than severing relations with it. He debunked insinuations and allegations that a PDP government in the state, if elected,

will severe all- important relationship with the sultanate, saying such insinuations are unfounded. Wali pledged to forge a very cordial and formidable relationship with the council and the entire traditional institutions in the state if given the mandate. He said: “The allegations were from our enemies and they are intended to mischievously use people’s sentiments against us,” he added.

Southern Kaduna group decries killings Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has called on federal and Kaduna State governments to put an end to the spate of serial killings are going on in Sanga and Kaura Local Government areas of the state. The union, which was reacting to the recent killing of the District Head of Zangard in Taked chiefdom, Kaura Local Government, said the attackers struck when the people were in a festive mood. In a press release signed by the Public Relations Officer of SOKAPU, Mr. Thomas Gyang, in Kaduna yesterday, the union, however, called on the people of the region to remain calm even when they remain security conscious at all times. The union lamented that “two of our people were killed on New Year eve and their houses and property destroyed; and all the government was saying was that investigation on the issue has commenced.” According to SOKAPU, the perpetrators of the latest killings will continue to walk about free like those “who have perpetrated similar crimes in the past.” The union also said it welcomed the citing of a military formation in the area as VicePresident Namadi Sambo was quoted as saying. The union expressed happiness with the state government’s promise to uplift the Kafanchan campus of the Kaduna State University into a university of technology and also for the support for the creation of Gurara State out of the present Kaduna State. However, the union advised that these promises should not be mere political statements that will not be actualised, “because they are long overdue and the people of Southern Kaduna will follow the promises to logical conclusion.”

Ex-World Bank consultant faults Kaduna on new varsity Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

former World Bank consultant on education, Alhaji Musa Zubairu, has faulted the decision of the Kaduna State government to upgrade the Kafanchan campus of Kaduna State University (KASU) to a University of Technology, warning that government should not play politics with education.

Zubairu, who is a senior lecturer with Kaduna Polytechnic, gave the warning as a guest of a Hausa Language phonein programme on Liberty Television yesterday. He advised the government to improve on the situations in KASU rather than building a new university. The consultant said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on strike for almost a year in 2013, pro-

testing the condition of the existing universities and the lack of conducive atmosphere for learning throughout the country. According to him, building a university is like building a new environment, where experiments will be carried out regularly on all aspects of human endeavour. “This requires the right kind of structures, high calibre manpower and qualified non-academic staff,” he added.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

WORLD | News

Four shot dead in Bangladesh on election anniversary

lashes between police and opposition activists and a separate attack by unidentified gunmen left at least four people dead in Bangladesh yesterday amid heightened tensions on the anniversary of elections boycotted by a major opposition alliance last year. Two men on a motorbike opened fire on a group of antigovernment activists in northwestern Bangladesh, killing two, while two others died in separate clashes elsewhere. The shooting took place in Natore district, 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of

the capital, Dhaka, which has remained largely cut off from the rest of the country since Sunday, said Aminul Haque, a leader of the local unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Police would not immediately confirm the identities of the dead, but Haque said they were activists from the party's student wing. The identities of the two men on the motorbike were not immediately known. Separately, police and ruling party activists clashed with opposition activists in the northwestern districts of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj, leaving two others dead and dozens

injured, including police, police said. In both cases police opened fire and used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse stone-throwing activists who attempted to march, ignoring a police ban. Similar violence was reported in the northeastern district of Chittagong, where the opposition said at least 300 party activists were arrested. The January 5 elections last year were boycotted by a major opposition alliance led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Tensions heated up recently after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party

said it would hold rallies to celebrate the anniversary, while Zia — her archrival — announced that anti-government protests would take place. The violence, which follows a year of relative calm since last year's elections, demonstrates that the country's politics remain deeply divided. Zia denounced yesterday's police actions and asked her supporters to continue road, rail and waterway blockades across the country for an indefinite period. Hasina, meanwhile, urged the opposition in a televised address to shun violence. Speaking to activists from her party's student wing on Sunday, Hasina criticized Zia, saying it was a mistake to boycott last year's elections and accusing her of destabilizing the country. Zia's party boycotted the elections because it said they

would be rigged. Police on Sunday banned all rallies in Dhaka and prevented Zia from leaving her office, while dozens of opposition activists were detained across the country. Police said they cordoned off Zia's Dhaka office as part of enhanced security steps. Police erected barbed wire fences and parked sandfilled trucks at entry points leading to Zia's house, and a large number of security personnel surrounded the area on Monday. Zia yesterday got in her car and attempted to leave her office but security officials did not allow her, prompting her to announce the indefinite blockade. On Sunday, police clashed with opposition supporters in several parts of the country, leaving dozens of people injured, ATN Bangla and Channel 24 television stations reported.

Shock, riot in Kenya over Odinga's death at home

Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami Party activists set fire to a police motorbike in Dhaka,Bangladesh, yesterday.

Former Tunisian minister nominated as new PM

former Tunisian interior minister has been nominated as prime minister to form a new government after an agreement among political parties in the newly elected parliament, congress speaker Mohamed Nacer said yesterday. The nominee, Habib Essid, worked in the government of autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali but was also interior minister after the 2011 revolution that ended Ben Ali's one-party rule and forced him into exile. His nomination follows the election of Beji Caid Essebsi, also a former

Ben Ali minister, as president. Essebi's secular Nidaa Tounes party holds the most seats in the new parliament. "We have chosen Essid because he is independent and has experience in the areas of security and the economy," Nacer told reporters outside the congressional palace. He will now appoint a government that must then be approved by a vote in the parliament. Tunisia has been praised as a model for its transition to democracy and its new constitution and free elections held since the 2011 uprising. The

North African state has mostly avoided the political strife faced by other Arab Spring nations. Essid, a U S-educated agricultural economist, joins other former government officials making a comeback though the ballot box after parliamentary and presidential elections since October that were the final steps to full democracy. Critics worry their return is a setback for the 2011 revolution. President Essebsi promises to govern for all Tunisians and says he has the technocrat background to manage security and economic challenges.

Hamas opposes Abbas plan for new UN bid

amas said yesterday it was "totally opposed" to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's plans to re-submit to the UN Security Council a resolution on ending Israel's occupation which failed last week. "Hamas is totally opposed to any return to the UN Security Council by the Palestinian Authority," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement. "Such a step would be political foolishness which plays a

dangerous game with the destiny of our nation. "Mahmud Abbas and the leadership of the Palestinian Authority should completely stop this political foolishness," Abu Zuhri said. On January 2, the Palestinian leadership decided to refile a draft resolution setting a deadline for reaching a final peace deal and ending the occupation. The draft had failed to pass a vote in the Security Council December 30. Speaking to AFP, Abbas's spokes-

man Nabil Abu Rudeina said the resolution would be presented again "soon", without saying exactly when. The vote saw Security Council heavyweights China, France and Russia among eight countries who gave their support, while the United States and Australia voted against. Five other countries, including Britain, abstained among them Nigeria which had been expected to vote in favour but changed its stance at the last minute.

he son of Kenya’s main opposition leader Raila Odinga was found dead two days ago in his home near Nairobi, prompting a major police investigation and minor unrest in the capital, police and media reports said. Police said Fidel Odinga, 41, who was seen by political observers as a potential successor to his father, returned home, Saturday night after an evening out drinking with friends and was found dead in his bed the following day. “The death is being treated as unexplained. We are investigating his final movements. A forensic pathologist has been called in and a postmortem will be conducted to establish the cause of death,” a Kenyan detective said on condition he not be named.

Condolence messages were immediately sent to Raila Odinga by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice President William Ruto, Capital FM news said. Odinga, a former prime minister, leads the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and is an outspoken critic of Kenyatta’s government. Last month, he spearheaded a challenge of controversial anti-terror laws, accusing Kenyatta of turning Kenya into a dictatorship. The Standard newspaper’s website said reports of Fidel Odinga’s death sparked a small but violent protest around Nairobi’s Kibera slum. The paper said the protesters pelted motorists with stones and blocked the roads before being dispersed by police.

U.S charges two men in connection with failed Gambia coup

he United States has charged two U S residents with ties to Gambia for their involvement in the failed December 30 attempt to overthrow the government of Gambia, the U S Justice Department said yesterday. Cherno Njie, 57, and Papa Faal, 46, were supposed to appeared in federal courts in Baltimore and Minneapolis yesterday, the department said. The two men have been charged with conspiring to carry out the violent overthrow of a foreign government, which violates U S law, it added. "The United States strongly condemns such conspiracies. With these serious charges, the United States is committed to holding them fully responsible for their actions," Attorney General Eric Holder said in the statement. Last Tuesday, gunfire erupted in Banjul around the palace of Gambia's President Yahya

Jammeh in an apparent coup attempt led by a former commander of the presidential guard. Jammeh later downplayed talk of a coup, saying it was an attack by "terrorist groups backed by some foreign powers." Gambian security forces have also begun arresting suspects in last week's attack. Yesterday, U S officials said Njie, an Austin, Texas businessman of Gambian descent, had planned to serve as leader of Gambia had the coup succeeded. Njie is a U S citizen. Faal is a resident of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and holds both U.S. and Gambian citizenship, according to the Justice Department. Overall, about 10 to 12 people were in Gambia to try to overthrow the government "with the expectation that others in the country would join and assist them," the department said.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Sport News

International Sport

Furious Messi queries omission

Inter Plot €12m Paulinho raid

Leicester, QPR, West Brom chase Ambrose

Sport

Transfer News

Did you know? That Alan Shearer leads EPL scoring charts with 260 goals

ITTF Africa: Nigeria will be a spoiler–Egypt’s Saleh

Ajibade Olusesan

gyptian star, Ahmed Saleh, has expressed fears that Nigeria could dethrone the North African country as champions when the International Table Tennis Federation Africa Senior Championships serves off in Cairo later in the month. Although it is still uncertain

Saleh

if the Nigerian team would make it to the event which takes place between January 23 and 29 due to lack of funds, Saleh believes the West African giants remain the only team on the continent that may halt their dominance at the seven-day competition. The stylish Egyptian believes with the form of the Nigerian players especially that of Aruna Quadri and Segun Toriola, any team that will overcome the former African champions must be

on top of its game. “I expect that there will be a very strong competition especially if the top Nigerian players take part in this championship. For me, I think Nigeria is the only team that I am sure will be a threat to our ambition of holding on to the titles,” Saleh said. Saleh however believes Egypt still has the ability to clinch the gold medal in the team event. “Yes I think Egypt has a big chance to win most of the gold medals particularly in the team events,” he said.

Okpara

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Deputy Editor, Sports

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sports Correspondent

These Eagles lack passion –Okpara Ajibade Olusesan

ormer Super Eagles midfielder, Godwin Okpara, has said that the present crop of national team players lack the passion for the game. Okpara stressed that it was important for every footballer to display professionalism ahead of any other consideration in the discharge of their duties especially on the pitch. He also said it was crucial for the players to be able to balance the roles of playing for their respective clubs

and that of the country at all times. Okpara said he was yet to come to terms with the fact that Nigeria would not play at the next Africa Nations Cup, saying that Eagles would have made it out of their qualifying group if they had shown more commitment. The former international said: “As a Nigerian, I am sad that we are not going to play at the Nations Cup which starts in on January 17. We got it wrong from the start. We should have at least

beat Congo, the moment we got it wrong with Congo in the first match, we put ourselves in trouble. “In qualifiers like this, you must at least make sure you win your home matches. I think if our players had been more committed, if they had more passion, maybe we would have made it. They did their best but that extra effort was what we needed,”Okpara said. The former Rennes of France player said that with due respect to the present generation of

players they couldn’t be compared to the previous generation. “It is difficult to say this generation of players is of the same quality with players of my generation. From the goalkeeper to the attack you will realise that we had players with name and panache. I am not saying these players are not good, they are and that is why they won the Nations Cup but if you look at our set we had men who paid their dues, who were of top quality,” he said.

SPORT

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Leicester, QPR, West Brom chase Ambrose

Emmanuel Tobi

eicester City and Queens Park Rangers have expressed interest in Super Eagles and Celtic of Scotland defender, Efe Ambrose. Fellow Premier League clubs West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace are also keeping tabs on the 26-year-old Nigerian international, who has made 46 appearances for Nigeria. Ambrose can play at either centre-back or rightback and would be a very versatile option if he was to move away from Celtic. London tabloid The Sun revealed that the player would be open to a loan

Amokachi faults Eagles despite 5-2 win over NYSC

uper Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi, has blamed his players for conceding early goals despite winning 5-2 against the National Youth Service Corps after the FCT State League side showed a lot of grit and fluency against the Eagles in a friendly match in Abuja on Monday. He added that the Eagles showed signs of heaviness, and that more work needed to be done before the team travels out later this week. “If you concede such an early goal against an experienced side like Cote D’ Ivoire you will be in trouble because you will have to chase the game all day”, he said. The NYSC side drew the first blood in only the second minute of the match when Nwowu Ikenna, dribbled into the Eagles vital area and located teammate, Omefe Ifeanyi, who scored from close range. The goal jolted the national team to reality and four minutes later hotshot, Mfom Udoh, equalised after Gambo Mohammed’s beautiful ball from the right fell to him. But the NYSC team took the lead again through Eugene Utom in the 6th minute

move as opposed to a permanent switch. The former Kaduna United defender is however optimistic in helping Celtic to another title this season. “The best of Celtic is going to come because we know there are teams behind us trying to take the title from us,” he added. “What we need to do is win every game from now until the end of the season and I believe we have the ability and the squad that can do that. “But it is easier said than done. People think it is easy for Celtic to win the league, but it isn’t. “Every team wants to beat Celtic, so that makes it difficult. It puts pressure Ambrose on us and it is not easy.”

Football Fives World Championship comes to Nigeria

ubai-based Sports Event International and NewAge Sports Africa, have signed a deal to organise the Football Fives World Championship, F5WC, across the country. The winners will go on to represent Nigeria in the World Championships in Dubai. The CEO of NewAge Sports Africa, Shamsudeen Tijjani Yusuf, said the F5WC franchise was

an opportunity for successful amateur teams to represent their country and play at the annual F5WC World finals in Dubai to find the next F5WC world champions. He also added that the F5WC in 2014 was an incredible success, as over half a million players entered from 32 countries across six continents. Months of qualifying rounds resulted in all the top 32

teams winning an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai to perform live on TV over two days at the F5WCTM world finals. Professional scouts such as John Stars (first team scout - Manchester City), and David Johnson (first team scout - Chelsea FC) attended the F5WCTM world finals and identified two players as potential future stars. Both have been invited to the respected clubs for further trials.

Amokachi

after another defensive mix-up that forced Amokachi to pull out experienced defender, Azubuike Egwuekwe, who was apparently the culprit in the backline. Kingsley Sokari later equalised in the 18thminute and added his second of the day in the 21st minute after an interchange of passes with Heartland’s Stanley Dimgba, Mfom Udoh got also his second of the day with support from Gambo to end the first half 4-2. In the second half, Amokachi introduced Bright Esieme, Christian Obiozor, Emem Eduok, Gbolahan Salami and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, who took over from Daniel Akpeyi as Osas Ighodalo scored the fifth goal finishing from a solo run by Eduok.

Eduok transfer saga: Dolphins deny Sarpsborg 08 deal

Charles Ogundiya

he General Manager of Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt, Joe Johnson, has denied signing any agreement with Norwegian side, Sarpsborg 08, as regards transfer of their striker, Emem Eduok. Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, the Johnson said Eduok belonged to Dolphins and the club had sole right on his transfer. According to him, Dolphins did not agree on the transfer of the

player to Sarpsborg 08 and the only club Dolphins are on the verge of agreeing terms with are Esperance of Tunisia. “Eduok is our player and as I am talking to you now I am preparing to travel to Tunis tomorrow (today), to finalise the agreement with Esperance. “I don’t know where Sarpsborg 08 got their agreement from, all I know is that the player will be going to Esperance after we reach a conclusion,” he said. The transfer of the Federation Cup Most Valuable Player has generated a lot of uproar in recent

time leading to the Nigeria Football Federation wading into the scandal. Esperance of Tunisia and Norwegian top division side Sarpsborg 08 are both laying claims to the player who scored 20 goals in the Nigerian league last season. Reports emerged that Eduok signed a threeand-a-half-year deal with Tunisian league champions, Esperance, while Sarpsborg 08 through their sporting director Thomas Berntsen also announced that a fouryear pre-contract deal had been signed by the former Akwa United forward in December.

New Eagles: Nwanu wants NFF to show seriousness Charles Ogundiya

ormer Super Eagles star, Chidi Nwanu, has chided the Nigeria Football Federation over the way they are handling the appointment of a new coach for the national team. Nwanu said the inability of the soccer body to

name a substantive coach for the team showed a lack of seriousness, advising the leadership of the NFF to show more commitment by naming a coach. Speaking on a radio program in Lagos (Brila FM) on Monday morning from his base in Belgium, the former Anderlecht defender said NFF should name a coach for the team

immediately. “Asking Daniel Amokachi to lead the team in few friendly games without telling him his position shows that the NFF is not serious. “If the country wants to stick with Stephen Keshi, let them do that and if they want another coach, they should do that immediately.” he said.

Super Falcons captain, Evelyn Nwabuoku (Left)

Falcons to begin camping February lAhead 2015 AAG, 2016 Olympics

he senior national women’s football team will begin camping in February for the 2015 All-Africa Games and 2016 Olympic Games Football Tournament qualifiers. Nigeria Football Federation’s Director of Competitions, Mohammed Sanusi, however told journalists on Monday in Abuja that the commencement date had not yet been decided. “The team will be in camp for at least a month before the qualifiers, but we have not decided on the date the camping will start,’’ he said. The Super Falcons have been drawn to play the winners of the fixture involving Mali and Gabon in the second round of the AAG qualifiers. The first leg will be an away match during the weekend of

March 20 to March 22 while the return leg will be played in Nigeria during the weekend of April 10 to April 12. For the 2016 Olympics Games Football Tournament qualifier, Nigeria have been drawn to play against Mali. The first leg match of the Olympic Games qualifier will be at home during the weekend of May 22 to May 24 while the second leg will be between May 29 and May 31. “So, with the way the matches have been scheduled, it is clear that the Super Falcons have qualifying matches in March, April and May. “Therefore, they will soon resume camp in February so that they can be together for at least a month before the matches. This is for them to have enough time to prepare for the matches,” Sanusi said.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Furious Messi queries omission

Transfer news

helsea have received a boost in their hopes of landing Lionel Messi with the Argentine in a rage with Barcelona boss Luis Enrique. Enrique left Messi on the bench for Sunday’s shock loss to Real Sociedad. And Messi reportedly demanded a meeting with both coach and board to make his anger known. The superstar then refused to take place in Barca’s open training, claiming that he was suffering from gastroenteritis. However, this maybe a further sign that Messi is ready to end his association with the Catalan club in the near future. Chelsea have been linked with a £200m offer for Messi in the summer and this latest incident is likely to only strengthen suggestions that the move could happen. Reports in Italy suggest that Paris Saint-Germain offered Messi £320,000-a-week after tax to make the move to Ligue 1 last summer in a £160m deal.

Milan have set their sights on TotItonter tenham midfielder Paulinho according Goal.com.

San Siro boss Roberto Mancini is keen to lure the 26 year old Brazilian to Inter and will look to make an initial loan move for the White Hart Lane star with a view to a permanent €12m switch. Tottenham paid Corinthians £17m for Paulinho 18 months ago and he has a solid first campaign at the north London side but is seemingly not part of Mauricio Pochettino’s plans. Paulinho hasn’t started a single Premier League fixture this

Sociedad eye Salah

eal Sociedad boss David Moyes will Rer Mohamed look to tempt bit-part Chelsea wingSalah to move to La Liga

Messi (right)

Ronaldo moves to sixth in top scorers list

ristiano Ronaldo will have yet another goalscoring record in his sights after moving up to sixth in the all-time list of top scorers in the “big five” leagues on Sunday. Ronaldo’s penalty in Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat by Valencia at the Mestalla was his 28th La Liga goal this season. And it was also his 287th goal in the Spanish and English league goals combined, which took him level with Gordon Hodgson in sixth position in the table of scorers across Europe’s biggest leagues, which also include Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A and

Inter plot €12m Paulinho raid

France’s Ligue 1. Hodgson, who played for both South Africa and England, scored 287 league goals during his spells with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Leeds United from 1926-1939. Next in sight for 29-year-old Ronaldo is Delio Onnis, an Argentine born in Italy, who scored 299 goals in France from 1971-1986. Top of the table is English legend Jimmy Greaves, who scored 366 goals in both England and Italy from 1957-1971. Greaves finished just one goal ahead of Germany’s Gerd Muller, who hit the back of the net 365 times for Bayern Munich from 1965-1979.

I will deal with young players, Djokovic blasts

ovak Djokovic is adopting a different approach to a season in which a new wave of top players is emerging to challenge the established elite. “There is a new wave of players able to compete for the major titles. This time was coming sooner or later and we all knew that. I think a wider and larger group of players is able to get to the top. “You have new faces coming up that can challenge and can win against the best players in the biggest tournaments, like (Marin) Cilic, (Stan) Wawrinka, (Kei) Nishikori, (Milos) Raonic, and (Grigor) Dimitrov, to name just some.”

COUNTDOWN TO 2015 AFCON

Mashaba

afana Bafana have plans to win the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, according to the team’s head coach, Ephraim Mashaba, despite

ple say this is the group of death, but up to this point nobody is sure. But I know calculations have been made already from the outside world and we’re not counted. “I know people are talking of Algeria and Senegal and that those are the two teams that could go forward. But according to our planning, we want to be in the next round. “We don’t know who’s going to join us. We are not going to join people, we don’t know who’s going to join us going there. That’s what we’re looking at. We want to win the cup,” said Mashaba.

Algeria confirm two replacements

ncapped Ahmed Kashi and discarded fullback Liassine Cadamuro were confir med on Monday as replacements for Algeria in their African Nations Cup finals squad after injury to Essaid Belkalem and Mehdi Abeid, the Alge-

rian Football Federation said. French-born Kashi from Metz has not yet played for Algeria but Cadamuro, on the books of Osasuna in Spain, was part of their squad at last year’s World Cup finals in Brazil and the last Nations Cup finals in South

Africa two years ago. Algeria are Africa’s top ranked nation but have been drawn in a tough Group C with Ghana, Senegal and South Africa at the tournament in Equatorial Guinea, which kicks off on January 17.

Loic Perrin makes Gunners claim

aint-Etienne defender Loic Perrin claims he has been in contact with Arsenal but S says no deal is in place.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is keen to bring in a new centre-half in January and the Frenchman has been previously linked with a move for Perrin. The 29-year-old defender, who has spent his entire career to date with Saint-Etienne, has now claimed Arsenal have been in contact but he insists no deal is in place for him to move to the Emirates in January as yet.

Gundogan set for move abroad

media outlet Bild has learned that Borussia Dortmund may be forced to sell Gstarerman player Ilkay Gundogan.

The highly rated midfielder has a year and a half left on his current deal and the Millionaires are eager to avoid losing him on free after what happened to Robert Lewandowski. As a result, they are ready to cash in on Gundogan if he does not sign a contract extension in the near future. The Germany international has yet to make a decision on his future and while he appreciates the fact that the club stood by his side during the injury nightmare, he wants to experience a different league.

South Africa ready to win second trophy –Mashaba having tough opponents in their group. The South African national team is oozing with confidence following another impressive result during the 1-0 win over 2012 AFCON champions, Zambia, at Orlando Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Although Bafana are in what has been dubbed the ‘group of death’ which consists of Senegal, Ghana and Algeria for the 2015 edition of the tournament, the priority for Mashaba and his technical team is to go all the way to win the prestigious football event. “I indicated (that) peo-

according to the Daily Mirror. The 22 year old Egyptian is yet to start a Premier League game this term and could well be a player Jose Mourinho would consider selling or loaning out this month. Chelsea paid FC Basel £11m for the wide-man last January and could probably happily survive the remainder of the campaign without him. Moyes has also set his sights on Everton striker Arouna Kone, and clearly the Scot’s links with the Goodison Park side may aid that move.

Glo-CAF Awards: Artistes promise night of fun

rtistes lined up to perform at the forthcoming GloCAF Awards gala have promised to make it a night of fun, glamour and endless entertainment. Speaking on the awards, Diamond from Tanzania said that he was excited to be in the team for the first time, adding that “Africa should expect to see the best performance of all time at Glo CAF Awards, because I have put all my life in Music. Our singing and dance steps that we will bring on stage will be the talk of the whole continent.” He described playing at the Awards night as “one of the best opportunities to start with in 2015. It is a good platform for my career too, even though I am on tour now but my focus is on the event.” On the part of Soweto Gospel Choir, “Africa will see pure energy during our performance at the Glo-CAF awards. They

will hear beautiful harmonies and see exciting dancing. Soweto gospel choir are not just singers, we are performers, and our audience will feel totally uplifted and to be guests in Nigeria, is something very special.” Hakim, the folk singer from Egypt promised to present to Africa the Egyptian shaabi music which according to him, is a small branch of all the rich music of Africa. He said: “It’s really important that we build bridges within our African continent and know each other’s culture more” P-Square will be performing back-to-back having held the crowd spell-bound at the last event in Lagos. They promised to storm the venue with their crew and keep the crowd on their feet all through. “ We will thrill the guests endlessly and make the night very memorable.”

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

Erdogan's coup against democracy in Turkey (2)

he recent jailing of top media CEOs in Turkey is occasioned by the latest warping of justice designed to solidify President Erdogan as untouchable and continue his witch-hunt against M. Fethullah Gulen and Hizmet (Gulen Movement). He is steering the country away from the European Union (EU) because he does not want real democracy, freedom or human rights for the people. He is taking the country closer to Iran and Russia, the countries with tight control, little personal freedom, and powerful centralized leaders. He wants to be the ruler at any cost and he has been busy changing things to suit his selfish ends since 2009. Thus far, forty thousand police officers and men have been reassigned, thousands of prosecutors and judges have been removed and replaced, and laws have been written to bend the justice system. He thinks he should be the Islamic world’s caliphate, but not only the Arabic speaking countries, but also Turkish Central Asia neighbours would never follow him. He has the same delusions as past tyrants from other countries. On December 19 last year, there was an irresponsible charge against Mr. Gulen for treason and another call for his extradition from the US to Turkey. The Erdogan-controlled twisted court system is accusing Gulen of taking the civil rights of Tahsiye leaders, Mehmet Dogan and Mehmet Turan, because he warned about the dangerous group with al-Qaeda ideology in 2009. Soon after his warning the police conducted raids to search the group’s houses. They found bombs, ammunition, and other war hardware. As a result the Tahsiye leaders went to jail for 17 months on suspected terrorism. They were not convicted and were released in 2011. The Erdogan government created a link between Gulen, the fictional drama series “Tek Turkiye”, and the Tahsiye raids so they could bring charges against him and his followers. Why is Erdogan relentlessly attacking Gulen and the good people inspired by him in the Hizmet? For twenty years they knew each other. In 2010 for the first time ever Mr. Gulen voiced a political opinion and he supported the constitutional referendum that restored some democratic institutions and human rights put to the voters by the Erdogan led AK party. After the referendum passed, Mr. Erdogan thanked him for that support. Then he pleaded for Mr. Gulen to return to Turkey publicly in June, 2012 in front of more than 250,000 people at the finals of the Turkish Olympiad that year. There are many reasons, however, why he is attacking him now and all of it makes no sense. It is all about Erdogan’s larger than life ambitions. Most leaders would have been content to step down after three terms as prime minister, but not Erdogan— he obviously has started his new reign as ‘president-for-life’. The first and most important reason he wants to crush Gulen and the Hizmet is a matter of survival. He must obstruct the working of the justice system that began to uncover the largest graft scandal in modern times, involving 87 billion Euro, that squarely im-

Brass Tacks SULEIMAN UBA GAYA suleimanuba1@gmail.com 08035676295 (sms only)

Erdogan

Gulen

plicates him. He must have an enemy, a scapegoat that he can claim is out to get him and upon whom he can place blame that all this evidence of corruption has been fabricated. He must deflect the public from believing in it and stop the courts from proceeding against him and his cronies. Initially, after the December 17, 2013 arrests of four of his cabinet ministers and their friends, there was an attempted police raid on his house to arrest his son, Bilal, on corruption charges that he blocked with his secret service, he came out saying it was a project of foreign powers. He named Germany, Israel, and the US, including the US ambassador to Turkey, Mr. Francis Ricciardone, in his public accusations that they were trying to overthrow him. This totally backfired and he publically recanted. Then the most convenient target was Mr. Gulen and Hizmet because he perceives them as immediate threats. He claimed that most of the police and the judicial branch of the government were controlled by Gulen. There is no evidence for this claim, but he summarily fired and reassigned prosecutors, judges, and police. In July 2014 he arrested and jailed the police who had attempted the raid on his house in December 2013. All the sudden in January through March 2014 evidence of corruption and control of the media tapes leaked to the public. In one instance Erdogan was said to be telling his son to get rid of huge sums of cash in his basement. His son worked all day long to hide the money and at the end of day there was still 30 million USD left. In January 2014 Turkish security forces seized trucks carrying arms including rocket launchers, missiles,

bombs, and remote detonators to alQaeda and al-Nusrah terror groups in Syria. Now we know some of them ended up in the hands of ISIS. The Erdogan government admitted that the trucks belonged to Turkish National Intelligence (MIT). The government removed the officials in charge of stopping the trucks, the prosecutor, police chiefs, and one gendarme commander saying local law enforcement did not have the authority to stop trucks that belonged to MIT. Erdogan was angry with Gulen because he did not go along with his reckless strategy to provide relief to Gaza with his flotilla in 2010, the Mavi Marmara incident. This tragedy resulted in nine deaths because the Turkish vessel did not try to go through the proper Israeli channels and it was attacked. Gulen had advised him to deliver his aid without surprising the Israelis. This fact blends into the next reason Erdogan is attempting to crush Gulen and the Hizmet—they do not go along with his delusions of grandeur to be the Islamic world’s modern caliphate. His ego is too tremendous and he expects all people, especially all Turks, to accept him absolutely, without question. This is not something publically acknowledged by him on the world stage, but the evidence is there in his actions and in his speeches by his close advisers. In consideration of this aspiration, his anger was triggered by Hizmet associated business leaders who would not cower to him and submit to his graft extortions and also by Hizmet sympathetic media outlets that covered all the corruption scandal news as it emerged. Just recently, specifically on De-

cember 19 last year, the CEOs of Zaman newspaper (which circulates over a million copies daily) and Samanyolu TV were arrested and put in jail. No charge against them was made available to the public because the president believes he is not accountable to the people. The sad truth is that today, there are few media outlets in Turkey that do not carefully tailor the news and programmes to the wishes of Erdogan, as he works to control at least 80 percent of the media. A third compelling reason Erdogan is attacking Gulen and the Hizmet is that Mr. Erdogan represents a more radical, isolationist form of Islam as opposed to the moderate, peaceful and dialogue-prompting brand of Islam promoted by Gulen. Gulen has written volumes on the need to be tolerant of others and participate in dialogue. Erdogan however, has slammed Gulen for these conciliatory writings and gestures such as meeting with the Pope in 1998—something that looks very hypocritical now since in November of this year Erdogan hosted the Pope in his visit to Turkey. He has stated that there is no dialogue in Islam even though he is co-president of Alliance of Civilizations. He obviously subscribes to a pro-violence jihadist brand of Islam. The media has been running many stories about the ISIS-friendly environment in Turkey now, the existence of many ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliated cells in Turkey and the lack of genuine enthusiasm for Turkey to participate in the fight against ISIS. Nothing goes on in Turkey on a large scale without Erdogan orchestrating it. He is sympathetic to an extremist form of Islam. This ideology is in stark contrast to Gulen who has always promoted peace and understanding with his sermons and books, such as “Love and Tolerance”. Gulen has stated, “I have never in my life stepped on even a single ant on purpose”. Once there was a butterfly in his room and he caught it and let it go out the window and he was joyful. Gulen believes that every life has a right to live. His teachings and the Hizmet movement are not violent and he has never advocated violence. He encourages his followers to devote themselves to living for others and he calls them “devotees”. In August 2014 Erdogan was elected president and he hand-picked the new prime minister. He wants to change the political system from parliamentary to presidential. Recently he spent 300 million USD on a custom-made high-tech jet and almost two billion USD for his new extremely extravagant presidential palace without consulting the Turkish people, 70 percent of who, according to a credible opinion poll, opposed the project. Erdogan is dragging Turkey away from the 21st century to the middle ages, away from universal human rights with his utopian ambitions to be a caliph. For this goal he has become totalitarian. Anyone that gets in his way will be crushed. All people of goodwill the world over have a responsibility not to let this happen, especially the President's desperate attempts to silence the media with a view to ensuring it does only his bidding.

Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows.

Suleiman Uba Gaya

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

Erdogan's coup against democracy in Turkey (2)

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Now the Igbo are afraid

digbo possess a unique collective psychology that has erupted into a debilitating neurosis – fear. The nexus between their attitude to national politics and their experiential history is fear. There lurks in the Igbo psychological history, a memory of tragic episodes that have become so malignant that they thwart their legendary courage. The Igbo are afraid, and have been afraid in this country for more than 40 years. The fear that has lacerated the trumpeted courage of the Igbo is not the sort of fear that emits from cowardice. Far from it. Rather, it’s that most debilitating of all fears. The sort of fear which emits from a traumatic experience comparable to the phobia often developed by, for instance, a survivor of a plane crash. As a psychological experience, it creates a subconscious block. The Igbo have been victims of pogrom, the only ethnic group to experience mass murder based singularly on the fact of their tribal origin in this country. They have experienced mass starvation and watched their children distorted and misshaped by kwashiorkor – something entirely without a parallel in Nigerian history. They have watched as others have forcibly appropriated their hard-earned property and their accumulated liquid wealth uniformly devalued to twenty pounds per capita on a whim. They have experienced the carnage brought by cluster bombs and the mass slaughter of kith and kin unleashed by mortar. They have survived and moved on in the physical sense but not in the psychological realm. There was a time when Ndigbo made demands and fought for them. They once made a grievous demand for freedom to self-determination and grievously did they pay for that fundamental demand. They have borne bitter witness to the exacting price that the quest for justice entails for Ndigbo in the Nigerian republic and they have become afraid to embark on another defining push because the enduring nightmare of watching their children mangled by starvation and their wives, daughters and sisters peeled raw by gang rape has not lifted after more than four decades. Consequently, while some can confidently take and defend a position as individuals, they hesitate to do so as a collective. When they do, however, they do so half-heartedly; self-deceptively; tepidly. That is why we have come to a pass today where there is no Igbo man or woman on the presidential ballot of any of the major political parties in the land. The more politically astute South-West has gained, yet again, a vice presidential slot on a platform that stands a very good chance of attaining victory next month – less than 8 years since a Southwesterner vacated the presidential seat after two tenures. And no sane citizen can begrudge a region that has played to its strengths with a measure of collectivist impulse. As I travel and as I listen to folks around the country, I have come to

Broadside EMMANUEL ONWE agubata@aol.com

Azikiwe

Ojukwu

realise that the northern leaders have largely persuaded themselves and their population that the North will regain the presidency in 2015. Their ongoing task is to persuade other regions/ethnic groups to support their cause. Leaders of Ndigbo, conversely, have not even persuaded themselves, nor have they made a coherent case to their people much less mobilizing other tribes/regions to a specific political direction. In a tribal republic, this is political suicide. I duly acknowledge that groups such as Njiko Igbo and C21 have been making some gallant efforts in that direction, but why haven’t a mass of Ndigbo come out in the open to lend vocal, practical support to these efforts? They are afraid, that’s why. Some leaders of Njiko Igbo, especially the ones who are intellectually inclined, contend that “The prevailing attraction to readymade power testifies to a growing political culture of self-sabotage, individual greed and the absence of foresight among many in the Igbo community. It’s a clear path to political oblivion.” (See an essay entitled “2015 Duel: The North, Igbo and Jonathan”, published in theeagleonline.com.ng). It is self-evident that this baleful culture of attraction to “readymade power” is growing and that it’s a highway to political oblivion. But I dispute whether it’s a testament to a lack of foresight. I rather think that it’s a manifestation of the group-fear the-

ory that I propound. Foresight in the context of contemporary Nigerian politics is a highly overrated concept, in my considered opinion. Nothing but fear can explain the fact that while Ndigbo have periodically been slaughtered like some sacrificial farm animals in places like Maiduguri, Jos, Kano, Kaduna and elsewhere since the cessation of the civil war till today, yet they have never as much as thrown a pebble back at their assailants in retaliation or self-defence. It is the same fear that has seen them submit to servitude at various federal government branches, beholden to the very men who presided over the forcible expropriation of their “abandoned” property. The Igbo turn the other cheek not because they are cowards or Catholics but because their collective memory is filled with a cluster of dark, terrifying nightmares that have taken four decades to calcify. The occasional and incoherent bravura of ragtag and self-serving movements like MASSOB is a mere wooden mask of garagara (of the motor park type). MASSOB’s opportunity to claim historical and political relevance has forever evaporated with the demise of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu. Under MASSOB’s nose, Ojukwu suffered catastrophic senatorial election defeat in 1983 in the Old Anambra State and humiliation in the presidential elections of 2003 and 2007. We, Ndigbo, defeated him in the South-

East and gave our votes to General Olusegun Obasanjo. We betrayed the very essence of our place in Nigeria and pretended as though we did not know what had transpired. We flagellated our conscience and immolated our soul. Ojukwu led but Ndigbo did not follow. Perhaps because we were afraid that he had returned to herd us back to the chamber of our nightmare. That fear made us fold our arms and watch Lagos and Kaduna boil while Enugu was taken over by ghosts in January 2012 when a plurality of Nigerians expressed their total outrage at the indifference and callousness of a federal minister that appeared to derive ghoulish pleasure in imposing untold hardship on them without thought or consideration by eliminating the so-called fuel subsidy. In actuality, the escalation of the prize of petrol had a disproportionate negative impact on the Igbo, given the nature of their business interests and their means of livelihood in Nigeria. If any group was especially antagonised and ought to have taken a lead in the protests, it was the Igbo. But fear bound them into inaction. The other aspect of that fear is the apprehension about not being a part of central government even though the executors of the powers of that central government have held Ndigbo in utter contempt and have never delivered anything of tangible substance to them as a region or as a people. In 1979, the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) was led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe into the presidential election and once defeated quickly became the concubitant of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in a master-servant coalition government. It is the same fear that compelled Ndigbo to conspire to giveDr. Goodluck Jonathan five million votes in the 2011 presidential election, more than they cared to give to Ikemba in his two presidential campaigns of 2003 and 2007 combined. Can you imagine the Igbo conspiring to deliver Igboland to Obasanjo and deliver, in the process, a humiliating defeat to Ojukwu – Obasanjo over Ojukwu? Of all taboos? We are entitled to that which we seek and which we demand. This country is our heritage and we must demand to lead it, without fear or trepidation. If we continue to fail in this quest, crippled, as we are, by fear, then a real fear awaits our children when in future they will face the genuine nightmare of ostracism and subjugation. The future will see anti-Igbo policies become enacted as state edicts because in this animal kingdom called Nigeria, the fearful are the first to be devoured. It’s time for us to sing our old hymn: Let courage rise with danger and strength to strength oppose. We must demonstrate to ourselves and to all the world that when we waved that white flag in January 1970, neither our character nor our courage was a part of that surrender.

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.