Friady, december 19, 2014 binder1234567890 by Newtelegraphonline

A media partner of

SATURDAY

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph

Vol. 1 No. 304

Friday, December 19, 2014

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Rotimi Amaechi to head Buhari's campaign }8

CBN moves against speculators

NEW TELEG

Victory

Ayodele Aminu

n a bid to end speculative pressure on the naira,

banks from holding their funds in dollars. It also intervened again yesterday to prop up the

BER 19, 2014

Osigwe

Top creat ive Michael Anyiaartistes gather to mourn m Osigw e

Entertain ment

Ambode K1, Percy, Agbaje tear apart

lRestricts banks’ dollar holdings which has lost more than 12 per cent of its value this year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has barred

RAPH FRIDA Y, DECEM

Bevista boss Representa wins House of tives seat

Page 25

Music art clean out istes Headies

l Patora nkin home Hyu g drives ndai unda

y, Dece mber a rema 14 was rkable Music managemday for Now artistes were handent as its warded somely at reThe 9th the Headies Awar shaping edition of what ds. is most prestout to be Nige ria’s show was igious music awar held at tel and the Eko ds Suites, HoVictoria Lagos. Island, Amongst the winners awards even at Muzik Man t, were two of the 2face Idibi agement’s artisNow went hom a and Niyola tes; who e with for Best R ‘n’ B Singthe awards Vocal Perfo le and respective rmance (FemBest what has ly, thereby cappale) ing year for been a sign ificant service the entertain outfi ment For 2face t. ning track , the awar d which featuis Let Me Love winIt was the res Bridget You, Idibia’s first single off Kelly. sixth albu 2Face cension’, m ‘The debuted which upon releaAsat num board Worl ber 12 on se Billd The albumAlbums Char t. has other gles such hit Ft. Fally as Diaspora WomsinIpupa and an chel Mon GO! Ft. tana MaWe relia . the mult bly gathered 2Face is i-awards winnthat release also getting read ing two wind-Sele more albums y to ct-Up (Redate Face 10.0) before the and Face 2 On the year ends othe . many artis r hand , not tes have ter year than Niyo had a bether first ever Headla who added her envia ies awar already ble award shelf d to consists Music of a Nige that Vide City Peop o Awards, rian and a alone. Lovele Award in song with To Love You,2014 the whic the awar h d, featu she bagged res Bank It is that Nowinteresting to y W. note Muzik is Nige ria’s CONT

naira after its efforts to stamp out speculation failed to prevent the curCONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Kwam1

Best of showbiz

B'Haram on rampage F

or 17 years Percy , both Wasiu Ayinde Alhaji As usua known as better K1 D’Ult the verg l the artistes and is on Ademokun his manager, imate for the e of waxing a party’s Percy song gove twins, chur were like Siam cand promoters ese bode idate, Akinwunrnorship ning out But that , Chief hit song . That mi Anabor. Godwin thanks seems to be over. s. for Percy apparently is Amto politics a Gist has who no No is firmly pitched as they have of that as he seemhaving none emanated it that the sad their tents opposite tale with s not in Club when from Quilox Nigh political tow on tics Tinubu bran K1, by his camps. Whil d of poliof reportedl K1, an eye witn t Bola Tinu closeness to Asiw e and has alleged impositio snubbed y said, the Fuji ess Alliance bu since his daysaju his long therefore, opted n, act he aske Chief Anabor, when time pal, for in je of d now that for Democra Jimi Agba the met befor him “have we cy, ever official he has assumed till Party. Peoples Democrat e? What you? musician can I do the ic ! gressives I am very for of All ProReliable A question sources no ques Congress, there Percy is has it that goo that left bor tion abou in d the dum is and Anaplace with bfounded gos for Agba forefront of t K1 and loya summon could only LaAPC. his to friends, l glare courage Not only je 2015 campaign. before of an has Perc openly y been irrespect to say, “me, equally shoc the agai ked, the socia nst Ambode ive Godw K1 said he doesn in Anabor, recently l media, He in of their ’t know has But in me”! advised in one of his posts situation. the Fuji a swift reac , tion, act said to Abuj Tinubu to proc Ever not true. the story a eed since Quin of APC as national leade is “I am veryAccording to , ox him, change, as Lagos need r good and was frien and only s ds, irres loyal to opened will take Jimi Agba a pective situation. the state je of their I had been level. Expe to the next SONY NEM was open Ever since Quin ctedly, Percy ed I had the butt E ox EDITOR, there twic twice. That is of been there ENTERTAINM who accu Tinubu admi at sony.neme@ e. formance was my first rers newtelegraph ENT pering K1 sed Percy of betra online.com invitation, until I had anoth that brou limelight © Daily Telegra ght him ywitnessed . And none of er . to ph Publis this such even hing Compa In a relat can ny recal Limited t that ed deve KWAM1 lopment, I can’t led ever happened I remembe ating onehas denied hum down on r looking! iliof his main to speak anybody.” Effor chief before with Chief Anab ts press time or abortive. proved

INUED ON PAGE 28

Patoranking

lWipes out 33, kidnaps 185 in Borno State

lNigerian, Cameroonian troops slay 316 insurgents

Quick Read

Travel Advisory Your guide to local and international flights 4

Aso Villa Chapel children choir at the 2014 presidential Christmas carol in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Terrorism: DSS' statement exonerates me, says Sheriff Etaghene Edirin

ormer Borno State Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff,

has stated that recent revelations from investigations conducted by the Department of State Service (DSS) on allega-

tions that he is a sponsor of Boko Haram have exonerated him from any complicity in terrorism. Even though he re-

fused to be drawn into elaborate discussion on the issue, Sheriff all the same stated: " What else CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Editorial

Alarming cases of sickle cell disease }19

FG alleges sect's plot to attack at Xmas }5

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Travel Advisory

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 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-New York New York-Lagos Lagos-Abuja-Dubai Dubai-Abuja-Lagos Johannesburg-Lagos Lagos-Johannesburg Lagos-London London-Lagos

W3 107 W3 108 W3 105 W3 106 W3 738 W3 737 W3 344 W3 345

23:35hrs 12:00hrs 9:40pm 12:10pm 09:35hrs 01:00 hrs 12:45hrs 21:30hrs

05:30hrs 16:00hrs 5.40:hrs 17:10pm 14:44hrs 08:05hrs 18:30hrs 05:15hrs

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

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

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

BRITISH AIRWAYS

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

QATAR AIRWAYS

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

DELTA AIRLINES

UNITED AIRLINES

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

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

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

IBERIA

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

air maroc

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)

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-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

VIRGIN ATLANTIC ETIHAD AIRWAYS

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

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. Wherever you fly and whichever airline you fly with, it’s easy to earn miles. You only need one frequent flyer card to collect miles from either airline – the ShebaMiles Membership Card. It couldn’t be easier to build your miles and start enjoying all the benefits of ShebaMiles and its partner network wherever you are in the world. Mile Registration Registering ShebaMiles Membership Number on ASKY flight is simple. Members need to advice Reservation Registration Center that they are a member of Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMiles Frequent Flyer Program, at the time of flight reservation. They need to prompt the reservation center to record the membership number on flight reservations made for ASKY, with Full Name as per Name on Passport coinciding with the Full Name on the ShebaMiles Membership Account and ShebaMiles Membership Number. Reservation confirmation shall show your ShebaMiles Membership number and your Full Name in the reservation record. Confirm Mile credit by presenting Membership card to the check-in or boarding agent at the time of check-in or boarding.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Boko Haram on rampage, kidnaps 185 in Borno Ahmed Miringa and Emmanuel Onani

oko Haram insurgents have kidnapped at least 185 people from Gumsuri, a village in Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State, seven months after it abducted about 279 schoolchildren from the state. A report yesterday by Agence France Presse (AFP), quoting community and vigilante leaders, said the abductees from Gumsuri, comprising women, girls and boys, were taken away after an attack on the village that left some 32 persons dead. They were herded into trucks, which drove towards the Sambisa Forest, the sources said. The officials, who requested anonymity, said the local government established the number of people abducted during the attack on the village on Sunday by contacting families, ward heads and emirs. A vigilante leader based in Maiduguri, Usman Kakani, told AFP that civilian fighters who were in Gumsuri during the attack provided a figure of 191 abducted. It was learnt that the gunmen came in pickup trucks and attacked the Gumsuri, near Chibok where the schoolgirls were kidnapped last April, shooting down men before herding women and children together. "They gathered the women and children and took them away in trucks after burning most of the village with petrol bombs," a local government official said. News of the attack took four days to emerge because of a lack of communication. Telecommunications towers in the region had been disabled in previous attacks. Local officials learnt of the attack from residents who fled to Maiduguri, where the officials had moved a year ago to escape Boko Haram attacks. The militants stormed the village from two directions, overwhelming local vigilantes who had repelled Boko Haram attacks over the course of the year, said Gumsuri resident Umar Ari, who trekked for four days to reach Maiduguri. "They destroyed almost half the village and took away 185 women, girls and boys," Ari said. Another resident, Modu Kalli, said the militants fired heavy machine guns on the village and poured canisters of gasoline on houses before setting them

on fire. "We lost everything in the attack. I escaped with nothing, save the clothes I have on me," Kalli added. A survivor of the attack also told the BBC that afterwards he returned to the village and helped bury 33 bodies. He said he went from house-to-house to ascertain how many people were missing. An official told the AFP that a vigilante group that had protected the village from previous attacks was overpowered. "After killing our youths, the insurgents have taken away our wives and daughters," a resident who fled to Maiduguri told AFP. The attack forced hundreds of Gumsuri residents to flee to Maiduguri, which has been struggling to accommodate thousands of residents fleeing

towns and villages overrun by Boko Haram. However, soldiers said they killed over 200 of the insurgents in an encounter that occurred when the Boko Haram members were returning from their attack on Gumsuri. Also yesterday, the Cameroonian army said it killed 116 of the insurgents who had attacked a town in the neighbouring country. A security source told New Telegraph that they got a distress call from the people of Gumsuri about the Boko Haram attack and troops were swiftly mobilised their to confront the terrorists. He said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We received a distressed call from the Civilian JTF from the village that the Boko Haram terrorists attacked the village, killing over 30 people and abducted about 100 people, including women and children. We responded and in-

tercepted the terrorists on their way, killing over 200 0f them while most of the abducted persons escaped into the bush as the Boko Haram terrorists were facing a fierce battle from our men.â&#x20AC;? A report by AFP yesterday said Cameroon killed 116 insurgents after they had attacked the border town of Amchide on Wednesday, arriving in two vehicles with many others on foot. They raided the market area, setting fire to shops and more than 50 houses. The Cameroonian army said vehicles from its elite battalion were caught in an ambush on Wednesday. "At the same time... the Amchide military base was attacked by hundreds of fighters from the sect, but the response from our defence forces was instant and appropriate," AFP quoted it as saying.

One Cameroonian soldier was killed and an officer is missing. Boko Haram has been terrorising Northern Nigeria regularly since 2009, attacking police, schools, churches and civilians and bombing government buildings. This month, at least one female Boko Haram suicide bomber killed five people in Maiduguri. Last month, suicide bombings killed nearly 180 people. More than half of the victims died in an attack on a mosque that many suspect Boko Haram was behind. At least 5,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram, according to a United States Congressional Research Service report, making it one of the world's deadliest terrorist organisations. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has alerted the public of plans by Boko

Haram to carry out attacks on "soft targets" during the yuletide. Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday at the National Information Centre (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri, who coordinates the briefing, said security operatives uncovered the plans by the sect members. Omeri, who is also the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), identified churches, mosques, motor parks and recreation centres as some of the places that may be attacked. He, however, said the Federal Government had already begun deployment of security agents around the country to stop the plot and ensure a hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations. On reports of fresh attack in Gumsuri, Omeri said he needed time to confirm the development.

L-R: Executive Director, North and Corporate Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Kayode Lawal; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Yemi Adeola and Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, at the end-of-year press briefing of the bank in Lagosâ&#x20AC;Śyesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

NCP okays sale of NITEL/MTEL Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has ratified the sale of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and its subsidiary, Mobile Telecommunications Limited. Both NITEL/MTEL will now be sold to NATCOM Consortium. The ratification was given at the council's fourth meeting presided

over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the presidential villa, Abuja. Mr. Atedo Peterside, a member of the council, along with the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Sada; and the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, briefed State House correspondents on the ratification of the sale. According to Peterside, following the ratification, the remaining process will be documentation

and payments. "At the end of the privatisation exercise, there was one bidder. Two were prequalified initially but only one attained the pass mark. That was NATCOM Consortium with $252 million. "It has confirmed the process. We now have a preferred bidder ratified by the NCP. Usually, what follow now are documentation and payment." In his remark, Sada said NCP received reports on the monitoring and

evaluation of the entities so far privatised by the Federal Government. He said the exercise was being carried out to ensure that the objectives of privatisation were met by the new owners for the overall growth of the economy. He explained that the report indicates that most of the companies evaluated were not doing badly. Sada said council noted that some of the firms needed to be supported through favourable gov-

ernment policies. Also speaking, the BPE boss said the council did the performance evaluation of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals and noted that the firm had implemented all the covenants. He said the council resolved that the firm should be released from the five-year monitoring period. Government, he added, was also looking at certain labour issues in the privatised companies with the view to addressing them.

News

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

2015: INEC accuses politicians of frustrating process lMark, Onayiekan task politicians on conduct

Chukwu David and Emmanuel Onani Abuja

head of the 2015 general election, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has accused politicians of frustrating the electoral process. "Electoral officials were always brought under tremendous pressure by politicians; subjected to pressures and threats from politicians. "Our job will not be good enough, if the politicians continue to do what they are doing; it will undermine our efforts," Jega said. The INEC chairman, however, announced that the electoral body will conduct the polls with "customised" ballot papers and result sheets. The development, he noted, was to ensure that politicians do not hijack ballot papers and result sheets meant for other polling units. Jega further assured the public of the readiness of the commission,

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

31o C 26oC Thunder Storms

ABUJA

36oC

20oC

Mostly Sunny

PORT HARCOURT

26o C 18oC Thunder Storms

KANO

34oC

12oC

Sunny

ENUGU

22oC

34oC

23oC

Mostly Sunny

CALABAR

30oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

33oC 12oC Sunny

21o C 14oC Heavy Showers

which ward and which pooling unit. “So, if election observers and party agents are meticulous, a situation where ballot papers can move from one area can easily be avoided and if it happens, it can easily be known and easily addressed. “We also ensured each ballot box we deployed is serially numbered which will make us to know which ballot box is taken to which area. “We have decided that all our ballot papers should be colour-coded. In 2011, we started a coding for ballot papers so that each state has its own different colour. "It will, therefore, be obvious if you carry a ballot paper from one state to the other. “As I speak with you, we have moved to customiza-

tion. By the time we did the successive governorship elections, we were customizing ballot papers to local governments so that the colour of ballot paper from one local government to another will be different. “As I speak with you now, even our result sheets are customized. In the past, result sheets are profomers and politicians can attack a pooling unit and tear a result sheet and write result and bring it back into the collation process. “We have made sure that result sheets are customized now. If there is emergency, there is a robust plan for replacement." Earlier, the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, reiterated that the police would provide adequate security before, during and after the polls.

"The task of providing adequate security during the electoral process is one of the most daunting challenges confronting security agencies today. "The Nigeria Police, being the lead agency will, with the cooperation and assistance of sister agencies do everything that it can be done to secure the electoral officers, materials and voters," Abba noted The theme of the workshop was: Securing 2015 Election. Meanwhile, President of the Senate, Senator David Mark and Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onayiekan have appealed to political office seekers to allow the wishes of the people anchored on the rule of law prevail. Both leaders spoke at the 2014 Christmas Carol

organised by St. Mulumba Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja on Wednesday night. Mark and Onayiekan cautioned politicians not to overheat the polity on account of their desperation to get elected. Mark maintained that irrespective of political differences, all Nigerians agreed that election could only take place in an atmosphere of peace. "Therefore, we must all work for peace and unity of our country. We can only realise our individual ambitions if Nigeria exists in an atmosphere of peace," the Senate President stated. Onayiekan urged politicians to play by the rules. "We should not let hell loose if people refuses to elect us. It is their right to choose who should rule or govern them."

L-R: Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega and Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, at a meeting on the 2015 general election in Abuja…yesterday.

Terrorism: DSS' statement exonerates me, says Sheriff CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

35oC

Partially Cloudy

IBADAN

to conduct free, fair and credible elections, scheduled for February 2015, saying other new innovations have been introduced, to discourage rigging. The INEC boss, who spoke yesterday at a oneday workshop organised by the police force headquarters for commissioners of police in Abuja, accused politicians of mounting unbearable pressure on the commission's ad hoc staff, to compromise the electoral process. He also assured that the commission was prepared elections across the country, even as he noted that it will work closely with security agencies, on the security situation in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, as well as the fate of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). While commending the police on what he described as improved security during the Osun State governorship election, he said more collaboration was needed, to deliver credible elections, held in a violence-free atmosphere. His words: "One of the first things we did when we came in, was to see how we can minimise fraudulent activities in the conduct of elections and we went back to the basics in the conduct of elections. “First and foremost, we said our ballot papers must be serially numbered and in our country in 2007, even in presidential elections, our ballot papers were not serially numbered. “Since 2011, we ensured that all ballot papers for our elections are serially numbered, and in the distribution of these materials, we ensure that party agents and other observers know which serial numbers go to each state and each local government,

do you want me to say? The SSS' statement was very clear, that people were planted to smear me and paint me in bad light. But God has used the DSS to vindicate me. It was just a calculated attempt by my political opponents and powerful top government officials in my state to bring me down." An Australian negotiator, Steven Davis, who claimed to have been involved in negotiations on behalf of the Federal Government with commanders of Boko Haram for the release of over 200 schoolgirls had

named Sheriff and a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejirika(rtd), as sponsors of Boko Haram. Davis, while speaking in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), also alleged that one of the primary sources of funding of the terror group was Nigerian politicians and that a man resident in Abuja whose three nephews had been identified as being behind the Nyanya bus station bomb blast that killed 77 people was one of the financiers of Boko Haram. But Ihejirika and Sheriff had both dis-

missed the allegations, saying they had nothing to benefit from the sponsorship of Boko Haram. Davis had said in his interview that “First thing to do is to arrest the former Governor Sheriff. Former Governor Sheriff has been funding this for years. He is satisfied that he will be picked up and he has now switched to the ruling party, PDP, in the hope this will give him protection”. But the DSS in a statement on Wednesday said its investigations into Davis’ allegation had shown that those he claimed to have interacted with were Boko Haram im-

postors. “Consequently, seven associates of Davis were arrested and it has been established that they were part of a well-orchestrated plan to spread falsehood, undermine and discredit efforts of government to end terrorism,” DSS Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, said in the statement. Among those arrested was Junaid Idrissa Khadi, a former special adviser to Sheriff's successor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima. According to the statement, Khadi confessed that he and one General Ashafa went with Davis

on a journey to a remote part of Marte LGA, Borno State, on a false mission to rescue the abducted Chibok school girls. And that “he deliberately conspired to blackmail and implicate Ali Modu Sheriff (Sen), former governor of Borno State and one Mala Othman, former state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as sponsors of the Boko Haram sect. This he said he did by mounting pressure on the fake Boko Haram Commanders, particularly Abubakar Yusuf (a.k.a Baba Sani) to affirm that Sheriff was indeed a sponsor”.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

No corrupt judge will go unpunished, says CJN Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday said that no judge found guilty of misconduct would go unpunished. The CJN, who disclosed this in Abuja during the swearing-in of five new judges of the Abuja High Court, tasked judicial officers to resist temptations when they come their way. "As judicial officers, series of temptations will come your way but the

ability to resist them will definitely stand you out and earn you a lasting reputation on the Bench. "Otherwise, the National Judicial Council (NJC), which has the constitutional powers to discipline judicial officers, will not spare any judge for any misconduct. "For a judge, this distinction is further heightened because as dispensers of justice, you are now the representatives of the Almighty God on earth. "In your hands, you have the power of life and death, the power of judgement, the power to resti-

tute, the power to give back and the power to take. You are now the face of law and order, the fulcrum between harmony on the one hand and chaos on the other," the CJN added. He charged the new judges to be of good conduct. His words: "An issue which is of great concern to me and one that I am committed to addressing during my tenure, is the delay in the dispensation of justice and the resultant case backlog. "The sobering reality is that if the number of pending cases continues to grow at their present

rate, our children may not be able to initiate and conclude a lawsuit within their lifetime. "In the light of this, it is a cardinal objective of my tenure as the CJN and Chairman of the NJC to pursue actively the full adoption and utilisation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes in the various jurisdictions of our courts. "As you navigate through the tricky waters of your judicial functions, I urge you to embrace the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and make it a companion. You must

become fully acquainted with all the Rules of the Code and let it be your professional and personal guide in curiae and out of court. You will find that you may have to reassess some relationships and even some hobbies as they will no longer be compatible with the esteemed office you now hold, for ours is a sober profession and the phrase to observe is to be ‘as sober as a Judge’. "Likewise, your appointment is coming during an epoch in the development of our democracy as another election year is just two months away.

I urge you to be wary of nefarious characters who may try to test your integrity as judicial officers. "You must also remember that no Judge is above the law and anyone found to have betrayed his oath office will certainly face the wrath of the law," the CJN stated.

INEC shifts deadline for submission of governorship candidates' list Onyekachi Eze ABUJa

R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; his wife, Abimbola; his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke Atilade and Head of Service, Mrs. Oluseyi Williams, during the 2014 Christmas carol service in Lagos...on Wednesday.

Dealers stop trade on apex bank rule CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

rency hitting another record low. CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, told Reuters that he believed the current naira band, set last month, was "appropriately priced at this time", signaling a will to defend the currency, although it is currently trading below the band. "We do not want speculators in this market any longer," he said. "The banks are not supposed to hold any funds (in dollars) of their own. They are supposed to buy and sell currency on behalf of customers." The naira has been battered in recent months by the plunging oil price. Despite heavy intervention in the market, the CBN has failed to keep the currency in the new band it set on November 25 when it devalued the currency by 8 per cent in a bid to halt the slide in its foreign

exchange reserves, which stood at $35.95 billion as at December 8, down nearly 20 per cent from a year ago after attempts to defend the naira in the face of a near-halving of global oil prices in the last five months. Asked whether or not the bank would devalue again, Emefiele said: "As the need arises, action will be taken. But we believe the currency is appropriately priced at this time." The naira fell to a record low of N188.85 to the dollar after the governor's comments, well outside the bank's target band. In its latest effort to try and support the currency, the bank issued a circular overnight stipulating that dealers had to reduce the percentage of "shareholders funds" that they could hold in dollars from 1 per cent to zero. "We are seeing some elements of speculation in

the market by some banks who think the level will readjust further, and that is not our view," Emefiele said. On the day of the devaluation, the CBN also raised interest rates by 100 basis points to 13 per cent to support the currency. "We are maintaining a tight monetary policy," he said. Since devaluation, the bank's target band has been 5 per cent plus or minus N168 to the dollar, but some traders doubt the devaluation went far enough given the bleak outlook for oil prices. Despite the new restrictions imposed overnight, Emefiele said the CBN wanted to reassure the market that "if there is genuine demand ... for dollars for legitimate purposes ... it will be met." Brent crude recovered 3 per cent to above $63 a barrel yesterday, extending a

rebound from five-year low this week but it has nearly halved since June, posing problems for Nigeria, whose major source of foreign exchange is from oil revenue. Meanwhile, confused by a the banking watchdog's edict restricting domestic dollar holdings, currency dealers initially refused to quote prices for the naira. The standoff lasted for nearly an hour before Emefiele confirmed that the emergency measures were designed to end speculative pressure on the currency. Within minutes, dealers sent the naira to a record low of N188.85 against the greenback, before it recovered marginally to N187.30 after another round of dollar sales by the CBN, according to dealers. Speaking with Bloomberg, Deputy CBN Governor Sarah Alade, said,

“Banks have to sell all dollars they buy from the market, not to keep them until the following day. It is to ensure dollar liquidity. We have noticed some dealers speculating on the currency because of the pressure from declining oil prices.” The CBN will continue to support the naira with sales of dollars in the interbank market, Alade said. “The banks can’t stop trading because of the circular,” she said. “It is not supposed to close the market. We have told them we’ll continue intervening in the market, so there is no need to panic.” The circular may unnerve investors holding naira assets if they think it will be followed by stricter measures, such as a cap on the interbank exchange rate, head of African Strategy at Standard Chartered Plc, Samir Gadio, said.

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the submission of governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates’ lists by one day. The commission, however, said the December 18 deadline for the submission of presidential and National Assembly lists by parties remained sacrosanct. INEC timetable had initially fixed December 25, 2014 as deadline for the submission of the list of candidates for state elections by political parties wishing to field candidates for the election. But Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that the shift in date was because it falls on Christmas day. Idowu said there would be no submission opportunity for any political party that breached the 8 pm. December 18 deadline to submit its lists. He added that the commission intended to close the submission of lists by parties by 6pm yesterday but had to rethink its decision because of appeals by some of the political parties during last Monday's meeting. "For the presidential and National Assembly elections deadline is Thursday December 18, by 8 pm. for the submission of form CF001 and CF002,’’ Idowu stated. He, however, declined comment on the number of political parties who had submitted or were yet to summit names of their candidates for national elections. "Even by tomorrow, you may not get the information from INEC because the law provides that what is being submitted today must be officially published on December 25," Idowu said

News

CONSTITUTION

Reps expecting state houses of assemblies, contribution for constitution amendment

Philip Nyam ABUJA

he result of the voting by state Houses of Assembly on the proposed amendments to the 1999 constitution are to be presented to the National Assembly today. Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja. Senate President, Da-

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

State assemblies to return proposed amendment to constitution today

l Reps promise quick passage of budget vid Mark and Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, had in October this year handed over the bill to Speakers of the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and passage. Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures and Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Ikon, who received the document, had assured that the bill would receive accelerated and positive action. Some of the key issues

in the proposed amendment which the state assemblies voted on are financial autonomy to local councils, independent candidature and separation of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation from the Minister of Justice. Mohammed assured that the House would complete work on the amendment as soon as they reconvene in January 2015. On the 2015 appropriation bill, which was presented by the Minister of

Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Wednesday, the House spokesman disclosed that the House would give it an accelerated but dispassionate consideration. "We received the budget yesterday and the House will make copies and circulate to honourable members to use the period of this recess and study it. When we resume, we will handle it expeditiously", he stated. According to him, "the House would approve the Medium Term Expendi-

ture Framework (MTEF) before considering the budget. But we will be serious with the budget" On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which has lingered in the National Assembly for long, the Mohammed assured Nigerians that it will be passed before the expiration of the 7th assembly. "We are not oblivious of the importance attached to the PIB and I can assure you that this House will pass the bill before the expiration of its tenure in June next year"

Amaechi heads Buhari’s campaign Johnchuks Onuanyim and Temitope Ogunbanke

he Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi is to head the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation. This was revealed yesterday by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. According to him, the announcement followed the hugely successful convention at which its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was democratically elected, and the follow-up successful choice of his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. APC said in a statement: "Gov. Amaechi's outstanding reputation as a man of courage, principle, strength of character, decency and love of country, as well as his administrative prowess and organisational skills combined to fetch him perhaps the most important task in the quest for positive change in Nigeria". APC thanked Nigerians for their support and prayers toward the success of the convention, the emergence of Gen. Buhari as the APC presidential candidate and the choice of Prof. Osinbajo as his running mate. The party said it believed it had lived to its promise to Nigerians to ensure that the choice of its presidential running mate would be made within the context of the best democratic ideals, considering the enormously-positive reactions from the general public to the choice of Prof. Osinbajo.

FG declares holiday for Christmas Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

he Federal Government yesterday declared Thursday and Friday next week as public holidays to celebrate Christmas and Boxing Day. Also January 1st, 2015, has been declared as a public holiday to mark the New Year. Declaring the holidays, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, enjoined all Christian faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Christmas, which are love, peace, justice, kindness to their daily living and through this, contribute to the development of the nation. In a statement from the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Abubakar G. Magaji, the Minister further urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace and unity across the country. The Minister wished all Nigerians a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year celebrations.

Monarchs, youths protest relocation of army barracks in Ekiti Adesina Wahab Wife of late Nze Michael Chibuzo Anyiam-Osigwe, Mrs. Okiemute (2nd right), being consoled by Raymond Anyiam-Osigwe and members of the family, at Saint Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Synagogue: Collapsed building has Lagos approval, says witness Shola Adefuwa, Badmus Adedoyin and Cynthia Johnson

he Lagos State Coroners Court sitting in Ikeja, investigating the cause of death of the victims at the collapsed guest house, belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN),

yesterday admitted in evidence, the building plan of the collapsed guest house and other adjoining structures. Prior to this development, the court presided over by Chief magistrate Oyetade Komolafe was informed by a town planner and witness from SCOAN, Mr Bisi Adedire, that the collapsed building got the

approval of the Lagos State government. The town planner, who confirmed to the court that SCOAN had paid over N20 million to the state government for the building approval, maintained that whether a building got approval or not, what determines its strength is the way in which materials used

Again, WAEC records poor performance in Nov/Dec GCE results Mojeed Alabi

gain, the West African Examination Council, WAEC, has recorded poor performance in its November/December General Certificate Examination results, with only 72,522 of the 246,853 candidates amounting to 29.37 per cent securing credits in five subjects

including English Language and Mathematics. The result, which is slightly better than the 2013 performance, where only 26.97 per cent secured credits in English Language and Mathematics, is still worse than the success recorded in 2012, when 34.84 per cent recorded credits in English Lan-

guage and Mathematics. That was even as the examination body condemned the claim that results without credits in English and Mathematics are poor, saying there are candidates who only register for one or two subjects, and so should not be judged as part of the overall performance.

on the building was applied. Adedire added that, "An approval can be secured even for a building that is already in existence.” Earlier in his testimony, the Deputy General Manager (DGM), Air Traffic Control of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Rafiq Olubukola Arogunjo confirmed that the aircraft that allegedly hovered around the collapsed guest house, while orbiting did not fly below 1,100 feet. According to Arogunjo: "We observed that the pilot maintained 1,100 feet at all material times during the training operation. "There is no way I would have known the intention of the pilot on the day of the incident."

ADO-EKITI

ngry youths and traditional rulers in Ido/Osi Local Area of Ekiti State yesterday took to the streets to protest the relocation of an army barracks from Aaye-Ekiti to Ipoti-Ekiti. The traditional rulers, led by their chairman and the Olojudo of Ido, Oba Ayorinde Faboro, accused the former Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (Rtd), of masterminding the relocation to his home town in Ipoti-Ekiti. The youths in the town took to the streets as early as 7a.m and blocked the Ado-IfakiIdo Highway, forcing many commuters to take alternative routes. They carried placards with various inscriptions including, "We are ready to defend what belongs to us", "Olubolade is behind the illegal relocation," and "Olubolade, come off Aaye-Ekiti Army Barracks project." Many stranded travellers begged the protesting youths to no avail.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

News

NATION'S CAPITAL

FG launches first phase of 10,000 mass housing Yusuf Shuaib ABUJA

he first phase of the 10,000 Federal Government Mass Housing Programme for Nigerian workers undertaking in collaboration with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as the private devel-

opers has been flagged-off by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in Apo-Tfyi, Asokoro Abuja. The ground breaking ceremony of the first batch of 10,000 affordable homes to be provided under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) housing delivery scheme of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, was with the support of

the Federal Ministry of Finance and other key stakeholders, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyankeyi said yesterday. “Our commitment to the accelerated and long term transformation of the sector, in line with vision of Mr. President, is well reflected in the revised National Housing and Urban development

NEEDS assessment funds: Minister warns varsities of accountability Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

inister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, yesterday read the riot’s act to all public universities who are beneficiaries of the annual disbursement of the N1.3 trillion needs assessment fund to ensure due process is followed in all procurement processes as contained in the Public Procurement Act 2007. The Minister, particularly warned managers

of public universities, against investment of the intervention funds to pursue selfish interests even as he cautioned against abandoning of projects under the funds. Shekarau issued these warnings when he addressed participants at a one-day retreat for the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) on the needs assessment intervention in Nigerian public universities held at the headquarters of National Universities Commission (NUC) Abuja. He emphasised on

RATTAWU suspends warning strike Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

edia workers, under the aegis of Radio, Television, Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) yesterday announced the suspension of the threeday warning strike they embarked on to press for the implementation of the agreements recently reached by government. The union directed all its members nationwide to return to their duty posts with effect from today. The suspension of the strike was as a result of the fruitful consultative meeting held yesterday between the union officials, leadership of Nigerian Union of

Journalists, (NUJ), as well as representatives of relevant government agencies. While briefing journalists at the end of the meeting with government officials in Abuja yesterday, the National President of RATTAWU, Comrade Yemisi Bamgbose, explained that the leadership of the union decided to call off the strike to give room for government and officials of the union to critically discuss the issues as raised by the union. He, however, said that media houses in states where they have not started implementing the Weigh-in-Allowance will remain shut pending the positive response from the government of those states to that regard.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED MARITIME This is to notify the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under ‘’Part C’’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Dr. Reuben Ovai Omorenyia Oyom 2. Mr. Ejiro Dennis Onakughotor 3. Mr. Onoita Randol Ajerukuyoma AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide a unified medium through which the interest and welfare of the members of the Association will be promoted and protected. 2. To act as an effective forum for the articulation and development of appropriate policies, regulations and laws in Maritime education. 3. To promote and maintain high standards in Maritime education. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: TRUSTEES

transparency and accountability for the usage of the tax payers' funds, adding that relevant agencies would ensure audit of all funds were disbursed. "I wish to remind you that the Honourable Minister of Education is the Approving Authority for the disbursement of funds allocated by the IMC, while the Accounting Officers are the Vice Chancellors of the respective universities, and not the state governors or the pro-chancellors," Shekarau said.

CHANGE OF NAMES

CHUKWUJI

Former Mrs. Ashien Blessing Obiajulumoyi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chukwuji Blessing Obiajulumoyi. All former documents remain valid. NIC, IBTC Pension, LASPOTECH and General public note.

ODEWUNMI

Former Aminat Ajoke Moibi, now wish to be addressed as Odewunmi Aminat Ajoke. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

ADEKUNLE

Former Alegbe Oluwatosin Christianah, now wish to be addressed as Adekunle Oluwatosin Christianah. All former documents remain valid. Unilorin and general public take note.

YUSUFF

Former Atinuke Blessing Akinrinlola, now wish to be addressed as Atinuke Blessing Yusuff. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

ODUPITAN

Former Pitan Tolulope Olusegun, now wish to be addressed as Odupitan Tolulope Olusegun. All former documents remain valid. The Polytechnic Ibadan, Wema Bank Plc., FRSC, LASG AUTO and general public note.

ADEBAYO

Former Miss Abiola Oluwatomilola Gbadamosi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Abiola Oluwatomilola Adebayo. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

SYLVANUS

Former Elo Sylvanus Tom, now wish to be addressed as Elo Sylvanus. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

policies, reversed national building code and the Road-map being finalized by the sector” “The establishment of the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) in January, 2014 is also set to bridge the funding cost of residential mortgage lending banks with increased access to liquidity and longer terms funds in the mortgage market” Eyankeyi noted. While she called on all the 36 state government to make suitable and un-encumbered land available for the expansion of the housing scheme, she gave kudos to the FCT administration for providing the land for the take-off

of the initial 20,000 units of various types to be built in Abuja, Earlier speaking, Jonathan said from the onset of his administration, he was determined in the transformation of every sector of our economy at the top of our national agenda. In other to achieve higher productivity for the nation’s growth, development will be giving special attention; this includes providing every Nigerian worker with an affordable shelter which is top most priority in our transformation agenda. “Within the matrixes of national development, the potential of the housing sector in the housing

agenda was too critical for this government to ignore” I want to commend all workers, who have shown their will in partnering with government by keying in to this noble housing project, from the onset ,this administration was determined in the transformation of every sector of our economy at the top of our national agenda. We are committed that the housing deficit in our country is bridged through the mass housing delivery scheme, so what the government is doing today, is partnering with the NLC and TUC to provide affordable housing for workers, he noted.

2015: Miyetti Allah calls on INEC to extend polling unit to Ruga settlements Yusuf Shuaib ABUJA

s the 2015 general election gathers momentum, the Fulani socio-cultural organization, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create polling units in some Fulani settlements

(Ardo) across the country. National President of the group, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo made the call shortly after meeting with Fulani communities in Tudun-Wada, the headquarter of the association in Karu, a border town between the FCT and Nasarawa State. He said the need for additional polling units for Fulani Ardos was more

important as most of them cannot leave their Ruga to the main town to cast their votes during election. “The security situation in the country will hinder some of our members to trek to the main towns on election day.” He added that government should provide adequate security for their safety during the elections.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

It’s easy to dupe job seekers, says suspect EASY PREY A jobless man devices easy way to extort money from job seekers

Juliana Francis

39-year-old man, Adewunmi Ajide Olayinka, has been arrested for extorting money from unsuspecting Nigerians, under the guise of getting them job in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The suspect, also known as Adewunmi Adeyinka Siaka, who posed as an employee of NDLEA, also told some of his victims that he was in charge of selling auctioned vehicles for the agency. Olayinka, who claimed that it was easy to extort money from job seekers, used to collect between N17,500 and N40,000 from his victims. He also extorted N680,000 from another victim for the purchase of two NDLEA auctioned vehicles and employment of his son. The suspect said that joblessness pushed him into the criminal act. The 1997 Ordinary National Diploma (OND) graduate of Business Administration hails from Ila-Orogun, Osun State. Olayinka used to sell CDs in Abuja until his business collapsed. His shop was demolished and he lost his home. He said: “I told a man that I work with the NDLEA and that I can assist his son get job through ongoing internal recruitment. He then gave me N40,000. I discovered that it was easy for people to pay money for recruitment. That was how it all started. “It was joblessness that made me to do it. I also col-

Olayinka

lected money from a man that I will help him to buy Toyota Sienna and Toyota Camry at a very cheap price during NDLEA auction sales in Abuja. Some people paid money into my bank account while others paid cash.” The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said that the agency was not conducting

Gunmen kidnap Abuja-based cleric G

unmen have abducted the founder of Great Calling Ministry (GCM) located at Mabushi area of Abuja, Pastor Francis Irabor, on LokojaAbuja Road. Irabor, who just returned from London to attend the burial ceremony of his mother-in-law, was returning from the event in Edo State when he was kidnapped about 7 pm was on Saturday. Armed men operating in a Peugeot 405 car with con-

cealed number plate, blocked the pastor’s Toyota Prado car with registration number RSH 799 AA, dragged him out without taking anything from the vehicle apart from his mobile phones, dumped him inside the boot of their car, and drove off. The cleric’s driver, Pastor Mathew Obamhen, drove the car to Irabor’s residence in Utako, Abuja. He reported the matter at Utako police station, Abuja,

Charles Onyekwere

Kidnapped pastor’s wife released

Speaking with our correspondent, the victim’s husband, Pastor Chris Aniamaka, said that it was a thing of joy to be reunited again with his wife after days of painful separation. He said: “I am grateful to God first of all for the release of my wife; it was not easy. I thank God for the prayers of

ABAKALIKI

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

recruitment and would not recruit secretly. He said: “We are determined to deal decisively with fraudsters who defraud members of the public under the guise of employment or helping them to buy auctioned vehicles. Members of the public should learn from this case and avoid dealing with fraudsters.”

Giade also called on members of the public to always confirm recruitment from the nearest NDLEA office to avoid being swindled. NDLEA investigation revealed that Olayinka had defrauded many victims under the guise of helping them to secure employment with the agency. The tide turned against him when 10 victims visited the Ibadan office of the agency requesting for information about the next batch of training at the NDLEA Academy in Jos slated for December 16. Olayinka was eventually traced and arrested at a private location in Ibadan. Items recovered from him include curriculum vitae of applicants, Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment form and his international passport with the name Adewunmi Adeyinka Siaka. NDLEA Oyo State Commander, Mrs Omolade Faboyede, said that she was surprised as some of the victims came to the command asking for the details of training for newly recruited staff.

he wife of the pastor of Dominion City, Kpirikpiri, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Mrs Ifeanyi Aniamaka, was on Wednesday evening released by her abductors after staying four days in their hideout. It was gathered that Dominion City Church did not pay any ransom to the kidnappers before the victim was released.

but was referred to the nearest police station where the incident happened. Irabor’s family, according to a source, said all efforts to reach him on his two mobile phones had proved abortive as they were switched off. Irabor was earlier this year attacked by a group of armed men (suspected to be Boko Haram members) on his way from church after service at Mabushi area.

the brethren and a host of members at Dominion City worldwide who prayed day and night for my wife’s release. “I also thanked the security agents, especially the state Commissioner of Police, Maigari Dikko, and the Department of State Security (DSS) for their contributions towards the release of my wife.”

How my kids were rescued, by mother

Michael and Raphael

Camillus Nnaji

he mother of the two boys, Michael and Raphael Eschareghara, who were abducted by their 24-year-old housemaid, Juliet, six days after she was employed, has disclosed how they were rescued. Mrs Jite Eschareghara said her children were dumped in front of Sagamu Police Station in Ogun State. Michael and Raphael were kidnapped when their parents were not at home. “We thank God that my children are still alive. It was on Thursday, around 2pm, that we got a call. The caller said we should come to Sagamu Police Station to identify whether the children dumped in front of the station were ours. “Before 4pm, we arrived. Many people, who gathered, narrated how two men on motorcycle dumped the children at that spot and immediately zoomed off. We identified them and the police released them to us,” she said. The happy mother disclosed that the younger one Michael, who is a year old, was weak, pale and looking sickly. According to her, the elder, Raphael, told her that ‘Auntie Juliet’ fed them BoBo drink.’ Eschareghara noted that the kids still wore the same clothes they had on the same they were kidnapped. She said: “We took them to the clinic for medical examination. We wanted to know their state of health. It was from there we proceeded to the church for thanksgiving.” The Lagos State Police Public Relations (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu, said that the children were rescued by policemen attached to Sagamu Police Station in Ogun State. He added that investigation into the abduction of the kids had not stopped.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Lagos will soon pass bicycle bill –Ikuforiji Camillus Nnaji

agos State House of Assembly is planning to pass a bill to encourage the use of bicycles as an alternative means of transportation. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, disclosed this yesterday while receiving participants and personnel of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Lagos/ Ogun Zonal Command during a bicycle ride exercise to the Assembly Complex. The exercise, which was part of the ongoing activities marking this year’s second National Bicycle Week, began Monday and ends today. Ikuforiji, who spoke through the Chairman, House Committee on Transport, Commerce and Industry, Prince Bisi

Yusuf, said the bill was to decongest traffic, make people keep fit as well as reduce air and noise pollution. He said: “Lagos State is considering passing a bill to encourage the use of bicycles on our road. By so doing, we shall achieve traffic decongestion, keep fit through bicycle riding exercise, reduce noise and air pollution. Henceforth, construction of roads in the state will consider bicycle lane.” The Zonal Commander, FRSC Lagos/Ogun, Assistant Corps Marshal Godwin Ogagaoghene, listed the importance of bicycle riding to health to include reduction in traffic, obstruction and traffic-induced carnage on the roads. Ogagaoghene said that noise and air pollution resulting from smoke would be reduced as such

Suspected robber nabbed at Redemption Camp

The suspects

Bicycle riders heading for the Assembly complex

FRSC decided to sensitise the public to the use of bicycles. He said: “The main essence of the National Bicycle Week is to sensitise the people on the use of bicycles. “It is also to ask the government to create room for that on our roads because of its innumerable advantages.

If we encourage this, gridlock will be a thing of past on our roads.” Dignitaries who took part in the exercise include the Lagos Sector Commander of the FRSC, Corps Commander Hyginus Omeje and Assistant Corps Marshal Hyginus Fumsuk in charge of Department of Plate Numbering.

Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that Olowu was found in possession of a toy gun, some phones and an undisclosed amount of money. Olowu was arrested at 11:48pm on December 9 while robbing worshippers during just concluded Holy Ghost Congress of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Redemption Camp. Other suspects are Sunday Akinlosotu, David John, 23, Osilaru Osodare, 28, Okeke Emmanuel, 20, Dayo Akinola, 19, Daramola Arogun, 20, Ayomide Tobi, 17 and Onayemi Femi, 34. Meanwhile, the anticrime police team attached to Ajuwon Division of the state police command has arrested two suspected armed robbers after they carried out robbery attacks at Heritage Estate, Akute area in Ifo Local Government Area. The bandits, John Da-

vid and Bassey James, were arrested barely 24 hours after they robbed about 10:30pm on December 13 in Akute area. Adejobi disclosed that the police investigation team recovered a dummy gun, a knife and other offensive weapons used by the suspects to rob and torment innocent people of the area. He added that in the course of police investigation, most of the victims of their robbery operations had identified the suspects. The PPRO said that the Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, had directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta for thorough investigation into the matter. Adejobi added that the police would not leave any stone unturned in providing adequate security for all and sundry before, during and after the Yuletide.

26-year-old man, E m m a n u e l Olowu, is now in police custody for allegedly robbing worshippers at the Redemption

Camp on the LagosIbadan Expressway of their belongings. Olowu was among the nine suspected armed robbers arrested in parts of Ogun State such as Ogere, Ibara, Ajuwon, Sango-Ota and Adatan and paraded yesterday at the Police

Tony Okuyeme

Mike Okonkwo supports Ikorodu community award

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

A T

he presiding bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Bishop Mike Okonkwo, has pledged financial support the annual Ikorodu Community Development Award (ICDA). Okonkwo, who initiated the National Trans-

formation Department (NTD), as a unit of TREM worldwide, made the promise when the organising team of ICDA paid him a courtesy visit. The visit was to brief the bishop on the progress and successes so far recorded by organisers of the annual commu-

nity award, which is gradually becoming a force to reckon with in Ikorodu division and its environs. Okonkwo commended the efforts of Pastor Mike Egwu and members of the NTD of TREM Liberty Centre, Ikorodu for blazing the trail among

TREM branches worldwide, through the annual award. The award is meant to celebrate deserving individuals, organisations and institutions in Ikorodu community, whose positive impact is felt within and outside the community.

Fire razes OAU hostel Mojeed Alabi

bafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, was yesterday thrown into confusion following a fire outbreak at Moremi Hall, a female hostel on the campus. The fire outbreak, according to investigation, was caused by an electric spark in Room 304, Block A. The inferno almost consumed the entire building but for the prompt intervention of the university’s firefighters. According to the Head of the institution’s Fire Service, Mr Ibrahim Adediran, his men were on ground on time to protect lives and property. He said that he had submitted his report to the university’s chief security officer and would not make further comment. When contacted, the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, said he was not on the

The burning Moremi hall

campus but promised to get in touch with our correspondent as soon as he got the necessary details. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said that students’ personal effects, beddings, books, valuable documents and other items were burnt. One of the students, who craved anonymity, said the room was completely razed. “But we thank God no life was lost,” she said.

Mount Lieawowrrar launches 2015 prediction book

he grand finale of 37th Annual Mt Jieawowrrar All Saints Church of Christ comes up on December 21, at its headquarters, Ikosa Quarters, Odogbolu, Ogun State. Also, the church’s year 2015 Prediction

Book would be launched the same day and venue. The General Overseer, Primate Samuel Bisi, said the extent would attract dignitaries from all over the world, while special prayers would be offered for the nation, individuals and families.

Oye varsity staff protest, demand VC’s sack Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

cademic and nonacademic staff of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, yesterday embarked on a protest over alleged poor working conditions. The workers, carrying various placards, also demanded the removal of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Asuzu, and the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo. Their grouse against Nebo is that since leaving office as the pioneer VC of the institution, he had refused to let go the administration of the university. The protesters also accused Nebo of collaborating with the current administration to shortchange the institution financially. Asuzu took over from Nebo about one and a half years ago.

The workers made bonfires on the busy AdoLokoja-Abuja highway. They called on President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately sack the VC and the bursar for allegedly running the institution in secrecy and making the workers to suffer. The protesters also blocked the road leading to the university, the main gate and prevented top management staff from gaining entry. Asuzu did not show up on campus yesterday because of the protest, while other top management staff, who were already within the university premises were said to have immediately fled when they received the threat that they could be attacked by the irate workers. The VC, who only spoke briefly on the phone, said he was only aware that the workers were protesting high taxes.

News

CAPABLE

APC chieftains boldly declare Osinbajo fit for VP Muritala Ayinla

agos State governor, Babatunde Fashola and the state Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, yesterday said the nomination of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate to the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, is a good omen to the rule of law, federalism and constitutionalism. This was even as the lawmaker representing the Lagos East senatorial district, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, said the combination of General Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo would eradicate corruption, which has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation. They spoke at the in-

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH - WEST

Fashola, Fayemi applaud Osinbajo auguration of three high court judges in Lagos State held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja. Addressing the gathering, Fashola lauded the emergence of Osinbajo, describing him as the brain behind the transformation of the state’s judiciary. Fashola said: “Prof. Osinbajo made tremendous contribution to the Lagos State judiciary,

building the Lagos judiciary. He has started this journey, because the vision of building an efficient and incorruptible judiciary started under his watch as the Attorney-General of Lagos State. So, I wish my brother and friend, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the very best in the journey.” While noting that the duo of Buhari and Osinbajo would make the change that Nigerians

The sex ratio of women to 100 men (international migrants) in Faroe Islands in 2010. Source: Un.org

have been clamouring for, Ashafa said Nigerians now have the opportunity to make a change and allow men of unblemished record to lead them. Ashafa said: “The duo of Buhari and Osinbajo is the real change that we are talking about. That is the hope that Nigerians, especially the youth have been crying for. I'm telling you without any iota of doubt that the two of them will rescue Nigeri-

24.15

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Argentina in 2007. Source: Itu.int

ans and Nigerians should be ready to embrace a brighter rewarding future and the only way to do this is to shine their eyes and ensure they vote against the tyranny of the PDP.” On his part, Ipaye said everyone in the justice sector of the state could attest to the countless achievements of Osinbajo while he served as the state attorney-general between 1999 and 2007.

5,500

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Laos in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

APC upholds, nullifies Ondo primaries Babatope Okeowo AKURE

he National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has upheld the election of Chief Tayo Alasoadura as the candidate for Ondo Central senatorial district just as it nullified the primaries that produced Mr. Festus Adefiranye, as the candidate for Odigbo/Ileoluji/ Okeigbo federal constituency. In nullifying the primaries that produced Adefiranye as the candidate, the NWC proclaimed the daughter of renowned Yoruba author, Chief D. O. Fagunwa, Mrs. Yejide Ogundipe as the dully elected candidate for the federal constituency in next year’s election. The NWC upheld the recommendation of the National Appeal Committee to the effect that Ogundipe actually scored 189 votes to defeat Adefinranye, who polled 188 votes. Aside the nullification of the victory of Aderiranye, the party’s highest decision making organ threw the appeal of Mr. Ifedayo Adegunde into the trash bin, saying his appeal against the victory lacked merit. Abegunde, who contested against Alasoadura for the Ondo Central senatorial ticket, has petitioned the NWC asking for a recount of the votes declared invalid by the National Electoral Committee.

Wife of Osun State Governor, Alhaj Sherifat Aregbesola (middle), cutting the anniversary cake with children, during the 2014 Children end of the year party in Osogbo..on Wednesday

Adesina Wahab

ADO-EKITI

he Ayo Fayose administration in Ekiti State yesterday said it is not afraid of the judgement to be delivered today by the Election Petition Tribunal looking into the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging Fayose’s victory in the June 21 governorship poll.

“In fact, we believe that his key contribution to the success of that administration is a clear testimony to the great potential of the next APC government, once elected into office in February 2015,” he said. Meanwhile, the former Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the National Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday hailed the choice of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate to General Muhammadu Buhari, the party’s presidential candidate for the February 14, 2015 election. Fayemi said in a statement in Lagos that Osinbajo’s choice has further reinforced the party’s determination to effect the change that Nigerians have for long clamoured for. Describing Osinbajo as a renowned teacher, legal expert, administrator and a reform-minded technocrat, who embodies the virtues of honesty, integrity, selflessness and dedication to the overall good of the society, Fayemi said the university don remains a strategic partner to Buhari in the onerous task of driving the change. Also yesterday, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki congratulated Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on his emergence as the vice-presidential candidate and running mate to General Muhammad Buhari in the 2015 polls.

Fayose ready for Ekiti tribunal ruling Briefing newsmen on the activities of the administration in the last two months, Special Assistant to the Governor on Information, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, said the administration was God’s arrangement that nobody could scuttle. “We are not alarmed or bothered; this government is God's arrange-

ment. We trust God and have confidence in the judiciary. We are not going to influence any judge like they did during their time that led to the Salamigate issue. We are waiting and ready,” he said. On the possibility of conducting local government election soon, Ogunsuyi said a number of fac-

tors might not make that possible. “Apart from the fact that there is no money to hold council election now, legal challenges over the composition of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), the dissolution of elected committees under former governor Segun

Oni by the Kayode Fayemi administration and other legal hurdles are also there,” he added. The special assistant also added that Fayemi used the long period before handing over to plant a lot of booby traps for his successor. “There was no transition from Fayemi to Fayose that is a fact."

George warns Obanikoro against association with violence

Alagbe dismisses Alao-Akala

Sola Adeyemo

former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, yesterday warned a governorship aspirant of the party in the state, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro against associating him with any form of violence in the just concluded governorship primaries of the party in Lagos State. In a statement he personally signed, George said he was at a loss on how

Obanikoro would link him with involvement with any form of violence in the primaries. He was reacting to claims by Obanikoro that guns were recovered by the Police from thugs loyal to George and the governorship candidate of the party, Mr. Jimi Agbaje. He warned Obanikoro to stop what he described as sheer lunacy. The statement said: “One has refrained from engaging Senator Musiliu Obanikoro despite his

gross and alarmist provocations. I have deliberately remain distant and quiet, ignoring the stark obscenities of a desperate and obsessed man who is apparently incapable of absorbing the reality of his defeat by a well-bred and better man. “For Obanikoro to claim in sheer ludicrousness that I, even remotely, identify with any intimations of violence is utter lunacy and blind, vindictive madness."

IBADAN

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Chief Abel Alagbe, yesterday said the recent defection of the former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala to the Labour Party (LP) notwithstanding, the PDP will win the 2015 election in the state. Noting that Alao-Akala would probably have

moved his loyalists to the LP, Alagbe, a former council Chairman in Ogbomoso, said the people of the town were known for moving with the mainstream and so they will still vote for PDP and not LP. He predicted that the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Hosea Ayoola Agboola and the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande Adeola, will return to the National Assembly.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

2015 presidency Tsav: Contest will be a tough battle

2015 presidency

Obioha: Nobody can predict outcome of election

Endorsement

Jonathan’s moment of glory

Politics The idea of the reestablishment of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) elicited much hope, especially as its promoters had promised that with its emergence, it won’t be business as usual. But less than eight months after becoming a political party, the UPN is enmeshed in a leadership crisis. WALE ELEGBEDE reports

Things fall apart in Fasehun’s UPN

he formation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in 1978 under the political leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, elicited much delight in the advent of the Second Republic especially in the SouthWest. Expectedly, the party held sway in the region and became dominant due to its strategic and coherent plan of action during the electioneering of 1979 general election. Regarded as an offshoot of the old Action Group (AG), the UPN inherited its ideological leanings and structure from AG and it harped on social democracy and promotion of free education, thereby christening itself a welfarist party with many notable adherents spread across the country. With the military coup of December 1983, political and constitutional process had to give way to military decrees, and as such, UPN and its other political peers had to go under. Interestingly, 30 years after the proscription of Obafemi Awolowoled UPN, a consortium of new stakeholders led by the founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr.

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Fasehun

Frederick Fasehun, decided to revive the party that was the ruling party in the South West during the Second Republic. Given the significance and attachment of the party to the name of the late sage, Awolowo, the move by Fasehun generated much hues and cries as many stakeholders especially the All Progressives Congress (APC), berated the resuscitation, saying it was another conspiracy by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cause disaffection in the South-West ahead of the 2015 election. Similarly, there were queries about the appropriateness of the figure of Fasehun who was never known to have any affinity with the late sage. Also, the incursion of Fasehun’s OPC, a panYoruba self-determination group into politics also raised eyebrows in some quarters. Regardless of legion of opposition against its registration, Fasehun and his group laughed last as the Independent National Independent Commission (INEC) after much dilly-dallying in April officially included the UPN in the list of political parties in the country. According to the commission in a statement by its Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Uzzi, the registration was sequel to

Abubakar

He is running the party as his private property... He is on suspension and his coming back to the party depends on the NEC

the satisfaction of all legal requirements of INEC by the applicants. The electoral body also recognised Fasehun as the chairman of the party, just as it approved the constitution, manifesto, logo and list of national executive officers of the party. Done with rigours of registration, the party started putting together its apparatus aimed at navigating the political scene and getting the needed recognition for the 2015 election. Thus, the Fasehun-led executive started crisscrossing the country to enshrine the doctrine of the resuscitated UPN in states of the federation. However, the cord that binded the executives of the party was only elastic for six months as Fasehun’s leadership came under threat from members of his kitchen cabinet, who described him as an undemocratic leader who only believes in imposition. Leading the revolt against Fasehun was the deputy national chairman, Dr. Manzo Abubakar, and the national publicity secretary of the party, Bari Salau. The first crossfire between Fasehun and his former allies was over the legitimacy of the party’s first National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. While Fasehun described the

NEC meeting and its resolution as illegal, Salau rubbished it because it held without his permission, saying that OPC founder was steering the wheel of the party in a direction different from the philosophy of the late sage. Addressing a press conference in Lagos, Salau, who is a former chairman of Somolu Local Government Area, said Fasehun transferred his authoritarian tendencies used in running the OPC to the UPN as against the mechanism of democratic ethos. Salau said: “In the last NEC meeting in which he (Fasehun) was absent, a motion of no confidence in him was moved and supported and would have been passed if it was pressed further because of his catalogue of unilateral and unconstitutional actions but for the desire to give him a second chance. “Dr. Fasehun has no lesson to teach anyone on democracy and is not capable of condemning anyone for ‘selectocracy’ because this is his trademark. The UPN will forever be grateful for the initial contribution of Dr. Fasehun to register the party but he drastically needs to make a u-turn from the delusion that he as chairman, can do as he likes. “Those of us, who believe in the ideals of the founders of the UPN led by Papa Awolowo, will not allow the party to degenerate into a oneman show. We want all those who believe that the ideals for which our heroes fought should remain a worthwhile legacy to stand by us to fight this emerging nemesis of a dictator.” Moving beyond mere castigation of its chairman, the aggrieved members announced the indefinite suspension of Fasehun, just as it elevated Abubakar, to the position of its acting chairman. “The chairman tried to defend his unsuccessful attempt to postpone the September 19 meeting, which he described as illegal, but which most members of the NEC agreed had become part of our record as the third NEC meeting of the party.” He added: “He is running the party as his private property. That is what he is doing, and we have catalogued his offenses in that regard. He is on suspension and his coming back to the party depends on the NEC. What we are against is his dictatorship. “The NEC members viewed the September 19 meeting as the mother of this fourth meeting, which was presided over by the national chairman since the holding of the fourth meeting was as a result of the resolution passed at the third NEC meeting,” Salau said. Irked by moves against him, Fasehun said the crisis rocking the CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM Alhaji Tanko Yakassai is an elder statesman and Second Republic Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters

...Jonathan, Buhari battle for presidency

Yakasai: You don’t decide election based on personalities

e all knew what is happening in the United States, France, England and many other countries. So, narrowing presidential election to two big political parties is not new. It is a good development. If we can approve two major political parties, whose identity and membership cut across ethnic, religious and sectional barriers, the better for the nation. It is better than to have many political parties based on tribal and religious considerations. I believe that with the two major parties in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) presenting viable candidates for 2015 presidential elections, Nigerians will have opportunity of making a good choice. We did it before. Don’t forget that we did it in the days of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC). In fact, in the First Republic, major political parties were zero to two groups; that is the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) and Nigeria National Alliance (NNA). If the military did not take over in 1966, the next election would have seen two political parties with nationwide support contesting election. And that has been the

Alhaji Abubakar Tsav is an elder statesman and former Lagos State Commissioner of Police

he 2015 presidential election is going to be a keen fight between President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). For now there are carpet crossing among the political parties; some people are crossing from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and vice versa. So, it is going to be a tough battle between the two gladiators. With the records of non-performance from Jonathan, we expect Buhari to win because Buhari is a grassroots mover. He has a lot of support from people; they like him not because of money. During the presidential primaries of APC, Buhari had no money and he said it that he has no money but he was voted en masse. So, we hope that such trend will continue in the country for us to forget the politics of money. We should embrace politics of ideas and that was what Buhari proved during APC primaries. People came out to vote for him because of what he is, not because he gave out money. The 2015 election is about two options; voting for continuity or change and for me I will prefer change. There are so many things that are wrong in this country. Corruption has gone very high and Jonathan is not doing anything to curb corruption. There is also problem of insecurity. When the Chibok girls were earlier abducted,

Now people are talking about individuals. If you talk of continuity, you are talking of Jonathan and if you talk of change, you are talking about Buhari

Yakasai

trend of two important big parties driving support across all sections of the country. I believe that we should have two big parties with support across the country. For 2015 election, my view is that the PDP and APC should announce their programmes so that we would be able to decide. You don’t decide election on the basis of personalities; you decide

on the basis of their programmes. When we know their programmes then we would compile them and see which one is realistic and can see this country forward, and we would support it. I am of the view that assessing the presidential candidates of the PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan and APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) or talking about whether

people should vote for continuity or change in 2015, is like jumping the gun. We should wait for the two political parties to present their manifestoes then we would be able to decide. Now people are talking about individuals. If you talk of continuity, you are talking of Jonathan and if you talk of change, you are talking about Buhari. All we want is for the PDP and APC to present their programmes for Nigerians to read through and to see which one is more realistic and which one to support. We should not base our choice on personalities. I don’t like it. I believe in political parties and not individuals because they can come and will die one day, but Nigeria will remain. So, Nigerians should not base their assessment on individuals, they should assess the political parties because the presidential candidates cannot contest on their own. They are being sponsored by political parties, which is in accordance with our constitution. The constitution says no individual will sponsor himself, but political party will sponsor candidates. So, I believe the 2015 presidential election is a contest between the PDP and APC and not between Jonathan and Buhari.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Tsav: Contest will be a tough battle Jonathan did not do anything about it, and he didn’t believe the girls were abducted until the Malala girl from Pakistan came to Nigeria. It was a 17-year-old girl who convinced Jonathan before he started acting on the matter, which was very shameful indeed. The situation of insecurity and corruption has become so bad that we are tired of it and we want a change. The worst thing is that the day some students were burnt in Yobe State, instead of the president showing concern over them, he was in Kano dancing Makosa dance. A responsible president would not have done something like that. If you look at the pairing of Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osibajo as his running mate, you will see that it is a good thing. Osibajo is a devoted

lawyer and he knows his job and he is also a clergy man. A person like that is not anxious to make money for himself, he is out to make good record, to leave a good name and to do good for society. So, they are a very good team indeed. All the odds are against President Jonathan. What we are waiting to see is how they will use their rigging machinery as they have done in the past. So, we are waiting to see what will happen. But honestly, everybody I have spoken to needs a change. People who want Jonathan to continue are people who are benefiting from his government; otherwise the man has done very badly. Nigeria is very important; it is more important than any other person in this country, so we cannot continue trying failed

Tsav

leaders. We want people who will perform and pursue the good of Nigeria.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Things fall apart in Fasehun’s UPN C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

party was the handiwork of moles planted to prevent UPN from flourishing after its resuscitation, adding that the moles have succeeded in luring and drawing away significant pillars in the party, who have succumbed to the lure of greed. Making his narration of how the course of events moved from good to bad in the party, Fasehun said: “Things began to go wrong when those in a section within the party, led by Messrs Teju Olateju, the National Organising Secretary and Salau, thought they had found an ATM machine, where they slotted in falsehood

and money would flow out for them to embezzle. When they were cautioned and directed to follow due process, that is, that money coming into the party must follow the constitutionally-stipulated channels, they revolted. “They refused to let the national treasurer and the National Financial Secretary take charge of funds, as is the norm in associations everywhere. They threw crumbs at people like the National Secretary, Alhaji Sokoto Abubakar and the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Manzo Dominique Abubakar, and those ones quickly joined the fellowship of corruption and impunity.

“These people claiming to have suspended or sacked me from UPN are being sponsored and used against me and majority of the party’s exco and ordinary party members who are with me by former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar. These people met with Atiku in Abuja recently and he gave them an initial sum of N10 million to go and look for a building to be rented as party secretariat. I challenge Atiku to deny my allegations. Atiku’s ploy is to use UPN as another platform to actualise his ambition to contest the next presidential election should he fail to secure APC’s ticket. I make bold to say Atiku is behind these rebels in UPN and I challenge him to

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

OPEN FORUM Chief Ralph Obioha is a former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO)

he 2015 presidential election is going to be an interesting contest because the choice has now been made very clear for people to choose. The candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidates is good for Nigeria. Democrats should at least applauded a clear choice in which the two candidates have presented a clear choice for Nigerians to pick from. I think it is clear now that two the party system is quietly involving in Nigeria. The experience that Nigerians have gone through in the past 15 years seems to have now come clear that they want a choice; an alternative government, a government that is ruling and the other government that is in the opposition should also be very strong and virile. Assessing the candidature of Buhari and Jonathan; first is that Buhari has had experience in the past. He has been Head of State and Jonathan has actually been a president for the past six years. So, it is now a clear choice; it

...Jonathan, Buhari battle for presidency

Obioha: Nobody can predict outcome of election All Nigerians must now talk about which of the candidates can do a better job of advancing this nation. We have been dragged behind in the past, but we now have a chance to be able to pick somebody that we can hold accountable

Obioha

is not an unbalanced choice anymore. What I will ask both parties to do is to elevate our democratic growth by discussing issues rather than trying now to talk about religion, or mundane issues that do not affect the lives of Nigerians. There are many crucial issues on economy, job provisions, security, tolerance, nation building, health, edu-

cation and agriculture that are now issues that can be presented to Nigerians in the most matured manner, not promoting primordial instincts. Buhari was Head of State under a military rule. So, I cannot make any rational judgement until we see his hands on a civilian platform. But I know that he knows Nigeria in and out having ruled the country as Head of State.

Jonathan also has an experience as civilian president. I believe that the most important thing now is that a choice has been created for Nigerians. And until one hears the manifestoes that the two presidential candidates will present to Nigerians, then people would start to pick who is going to lift Nigeria higher. The choice is now made crystal clear for people now to make unbiased judgement. I believe that any of the two candidates can serve the interest of the country. Nobody can predict the election as of today. Any of the two candidates can win. As a democrat, I believe that what we fought for is beginning to evolve now and nobody can ever take us to the dark days of military rule. With the evolvement now, we are enthroning democracy step by step and my advice is that we should seize this opportunity and never to return to issues that divide Nigerians. All Nigerians must now talk about which of the candidates can do a better job of advancing this nation. We have been dragged behind in the past, but we now have a chance to be able to pick somebody that we can hold accountable.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Shettima: Jonathan, Buhari not the best available Yerima Shettima is the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF)

Jonathan and Buhari are not the best option for this country; in fact, they are not even in the first 100... If we have a system that works, many of those floating themselves for public offices would dare not open their lips to say vote for me

ith the way the polity is going and with what we are seeing and hearing, if measures are not put in place, we might bite more than we can chew as a nation. We preferred to be more reactionary than proactive, and this is sad. The attitude and outlook of both parties portends more danger for the country and it is left for Nigerians to look at those jostling to lead them critically and on merit. However, I am optimistic that whatever it is, 2015 will not be the end of Nigeria because the people are getting wise and informed unlike what was obtainable in the past. Yes, we are going to electioneering pedisprove my claim. I have strong evidence linking him with the plot to hijack UPN.” While denying allegations of highhandedness and dictatorship in his leadership of the party, Fasehun said anyone who accuses him of being a dictator at the age of 79 was only dressing him in borrowed robes, adding that he is addicted to democracy and its ethics. “Is the UPN national chairman a dictator? Never! My democratic credentials are unassailable. I fought military dictatorship with my life, my limb and my livelihood. Not only do I hail from Yorubaland, the epitome of Nigerian democracy, I founded the Labour Party (LP) in the Third Republic. I am a patriarch of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), building the primary bridge that brought the disparate groups within that setup to

Shettima

riod and there will be tension all over, as some will be victorious and others wont, but I know we will come out of it. My erect the superstructure of a formidable national party. I fought for the actualisation of the annulled June 12 presidential election,” he said. Already, the polarised party is operating from two different axis. While the Fasehun-led executive is rolling out its scheme of activities from Lagos, the Abubakar faction of the party has hibernated in Abuja. As the impasse within the party continues, it is expected that the move for a truce by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade will calm frayed nerves within the party and bring measures of decorum to the affair of a party that took his conception from one of the most ideological party in the history of Nigerian politics, but until then, things are still falling apart in Fasehun’s resuscitated UPN.

concern is what will be the fate of the country at the end of everything. The way these politicians are heating up the polity, making allegations and counterallegations does not portray statesmanship and patriotism to the nation. Nigerian deserves stability and peace from those angling for public offices and not the other way round. Despite the darkness, I am optimistic we will come out of the tunnel. For me, Jonathan and Buhari are not the best option for this country; in fact, they are not even in the first 100. But because we have a system that when someone is keyed into a system, he is termed to be perfect owing to the fact that he controls resources and his/ her ugly characters are shoved aside. If we have a system that works, many of those floating themselves for public offices would dare not open their lips to say vote for me. Also, it is a common knowledge that many of these politicians are not even prepared for the job,

it all boils down to absence of a working system. We overlook many things because we don’t have an option and because we lack a culture of resistance as a people. We have continued to celebrate these people instead of stoning them. Otherwise, what does a character like Olusegun Obasanjo has to do again with this generation? Is it the failure on the part of the PDP for 15 years that we are celebrating or is it the gang-up of two criminals who have been in government before now and suddenly they metamorphosed and we never knew when they repented from their vice, and suddenly they became kingmakers, and Nigerians stood and continue to celebrate them. To tell you how terrible things have gone, do you know that we have a system where they almost wanted to run a one-party system in a democracy. They are doing it by force and it is only by whiskers that APC survived that interest. As I speak to you, there is a new party that we formed that I was supposed to be a presidential aspirant, but because of certain interests, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to release our certificate, they are jittery but we are in court already. For me, Nigerians should not give up because this is not the type of democracy we all fought for, and we can’t allow people who had not made any sacrifice to hold us to ransom. I think we are over emphasizing more on individuals than institutions. We must stop saying one man is the solution to Nigeria’s problem and stop building the country around one man. We must been seen to strengthen our institutions as opposed to individuals.

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

The 2014 Special National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the high point of the nomination processes for candidates who will fly the party’s flag in next year’s general election, writes ONYEKACHI EZE

Jonathan’s moment of glory

“I

seize the opportunity of this occasion to formally announce that as we commence the campaign for the 2015 presidential elections, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, a loyal and tested partner, a dependable, trustworthy gentleman and a true patriot will be my running mate and vice presidential candidate once again. “With your continued support and the blessing of God Almighty, Vice President Sambo and I will campaign together to win another resounding victory for our great party in the coming elections.” This statement by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Special National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on December 11 put to rest speculations about the fate of Sambo. The vice president appeared not to be in the political calculation among politicians from the North suggested as possible running mate to President Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election. Those rumoured as likely vice presidential candidate were Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido and his Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shehu Shema. Sambo was least considered because of alleged poor performance in successive elections since he became the nation’s number two politician. He could not even deliver his ward to PDP. Lamido featured prominently because he was prevailed upon to sacrifice his presidential ambition; it was even said that was one of the reasons he accepted to step down. Also, he was reportedly recommended to Jonathan by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of the conditions under which he would support Jonathan for a second term in office. But Jonathan knows better. He might have studied the Obasanjo/ Atiku presidency, and the recent circumstance that led to Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe replacing Joice Mujuru as his vice with Emmerson Mnangagwa The 2014 convention of PDP has come and gone but Abuja residents may not be in a hurry to forget the day. It was however, like an epidemic well predicted; those who fall victims have themselves to blame. Federal civil servants who have their offices at the Federal Secretariat and the adjoining Three Arms zone that houses National Assembly Complex, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, were given work-free days for Wednesday and Thursday, the two days the convention lasted. This was because of security lock

Mu’azu (left), President Jonathan (middle) and Sambo (right) acknowledge cheers during the president’s declaration at the Eagle Square in Abuja, recently.

down of all the roads leading to Eagle Square, venue of the convention. Though the convention was supposed to start by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, access to the venue was blocked as early as 7 a.m. motorists were forced to take alternative routes. Commuters and motorists coming from Abuja satellite towns of Nyanya, Karu and Airport Road, and the border towns of Mararaba in Nasarawa State and Suleja in Niger State, to the City Centre, spent hours on the road due to heavy traffic. Despite the challenges, the convention provided opportunity for itinerant traders to make brisk business. Those who made it to the convention venue smiled all the way to the bank. This was the shortest national convention since the formation of PDP in 1998, and the most stress free. Though, the event was stated for two days, the whole exercise lasted only 13 hours. Accreditation of delegates began by 2 p.m on Wednesday and by 3 a.m. the next day, the delegates were on their way to their hotel rooms. Despite the fact that the delegates were subjected to three rounds of voting, the sorting of the ballot papers was not difficult. Not only did the positions contested for have only one candidate, the number of the delegates was not much: only 3,037. The delegates voted either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The first round of voting was for the confirmation of the appointments of the national chairman, national secretary and national auditor, into the PDP National Working Committee (NWC). The second was the amendment of section 33 (1n) and 47 (6) of the party’s constitution

I will not let you down, I will not fail the PDP, I will not fail you, above all, I promise, I will not fail our great nation, Nigeria

in line with the current realities. The new amendment to Section 33 (1n) makes former governors and their deputy automatic delegates to the national convention of the party. The amended constitution also allows an appointee to serve out the tenure of his or her predecessor when there is a vacancy at the NWC, without going to the national convention for ratification, provided that the appointee is from the same geopolitical zone with the predecessor. The third round of the voting by the delegates was the ratification of the nomination of President Jonathan as presidential candidate of PDP. Although, 3,037 delegates were expected, 2,812 delegates eventually showed up at Eagle Square and were accredited. But while all the accredited delegates voted ‘yes’ to ratify Jonathan’s nomination, 2,672 voted ‘yes’ to ratify the appointment of Adamu Mu’azu as Bamanga Tukur’s successor as PDP national chairman. Prof. Wale Oladipo and Adewale Adeyanju were also confirmed as national secretary and national auditor respectively. Jonathan in his acceptance speech after the ratification of his candidature, promised the delegates and PDP members that he will give his all to ensure the party’s success in the presidential election. “I will not let you down, I will not fail the PDP, I will not fail you, above all, I promise, I will not fail our great nation, Nigeria,” the president said. He noted that as expected in every contest, the party’s congresses from the ward to state levels, and the legislative and state primaries, have produced both triumphs and some misgiv-

ings but assured that steps would be taken, after the elections to review and refine the candidate selection procedures within the party. Without prejudice to various on-going resolution mechanisms, the president said “an appropriate committee will be set up to work on this, with contributions across board. “We will make sure that conflicts are amicably resolved and that the genuine interest of every member is respected and assured. “I commend the efforts of the supervising and appeal committee members, who travelled across the country to conduct and oversee the primaries and congresses. I appreciate also the dedication of the various working committees and special committees engaged in organising and delivering all aspects of the election season programmes,” the president assured. Jonathan also used the opportunity to list some of the achievements of the PDP led Federal Government since 1999. According to the president, in 1999, “Nigeria’s GDP was $35.9 billion. Today, it is $510 billion – and we have become Africa’s biggest economy. In 1999, our debt to GDP ratio was 93.1 per cent. Today, it is 13.6 per cent of which external debt to GDP ratio is 1.89 per cent. “As at 1999, only 400,000 telephone lines were active in our country. Today, we have about 120 million lines, which have created many more jobs for our youths. “This administration is also working to revitalise our insurance industry. Compared to other emerging economies, our CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Sydney siege synergises Sydnysiders

Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

am so much in love with Sydney and Australia. As a journo, I live with fond memories of my trip down under in 2000. It is a long, long story that began with hiccups but ended on a very sweet note. Last Monday’s siege in Martin Place that claimed lives kept me glued to the teevee for much of the day. My interest was rekindled some weeks earlier when I read about Mohammed Ali-Baryalei, an Australian who died fighting for ISIS. What struck me about the Aussie muslim was his Kings Cross background. In Sydney, I heard so much about Kings Cross. And it was only during my last days that I eventually hit the place. Things were quite cheap there, I was told. It is also a red light district. I had visited other attractions like Opera House, Darling Habour and could not make Bondi Beach. As I set out to Kings Cross, all alone, a lady volunteer wondered what I was going to do there. I harped on the cheap suitcases and caps to buy. She advised against that. I got there quite alright and bought a whole lot. What I did not bargain for was the passes that welcomed me. I thought strip tease was for the night. My visit was in broad daylight and I saw canvassers urging me to come and have a peep. That impression did not leave me. Kings Cross is full of goods and goodies. It is also home to junkies and junkets. I was not surprised the hard guys from Oz flew out from there. Sydney could have been founded as a settlement for convicts from Britain, 759 of them left Plymouth in 1787. The fleet commanded by Captain Arthur

Phillips had 11 ships, four companies of marines and supplies for 24 months. The Sydney I saw 14 years ago, was full of wonderful people . My luggage from Lagos through Jo’burg did not arrive until almost two weeks. I had given up. A day after my arrival, as I introduced myself as a Nigerian, an elderly couple at the Airport Sydney International Motor Inn was so sorry over the death of Nigerian athlete Hygie Anugom that I felt their grief. While hanging on to welcome his heartthrob Glory Alozie, the youngman was knocked down by a teenage Aussie driver. The couple, on learning that I misplaced my suitcase, went into their room, and came out with T-Shirt and stockings for me. Stepping out of our hotel abode, with my Nigerian colleagues that included Onochie Anibeze and Harry Awurumibe, another couple alighted from a car. John Spiers and his wife were delighted to see Nigerians. As the man introduced his little boy William, he announced that he once spent time in Kano. We settled to take photographs. He wanted that. While the T-Shirt complemented my other wear, Qantas airline promised to locate my suitcase. I got 400 AUS Dollars to buy clothings. Straight, I dashed to Westfield Shopping centre, Burwood for three tops and one combat long pant. I had not discovered Kings Cross then. A few days later, my suitcase was delivered to me intact,[found in S.Africa], in my room in Media Village, Lidcombe. I had relocated from the hotel. For a Nigerian coming from Lagos, I could not believe my luck. Wonderful memories. I met an uncle who had not seen any member of the family since he left Nigeria in 1978. That was an achievement. At least, that assured my mom that her brother was not dead. We are still expecting him though. He lives in Melbourne. On the flight back to Sydney, I met a woman, Nola Paynter, of NKP Business Services. She was so nice to this Nigerian, that I said to myself, something must be good about our country. In the Media Village, there was this old Australian lady from Tasmania, in charge of cleaning services. She flooded our rooms with provisions simply because she

said Nigerians were different. A Lebanese woman baked a big cake for us to take back to Nigeria. Different races were seen during my visit. There were millions of Chinese. They have China town, a huge market. I saw so many South Sudanese. People who were persecuted at home, found refuge in Australia. And that was how Man Haron Monis arrived from Iran in 1996. The Australians welcomed him, like so many others. What Monis offered in return was grief at Lindt Chocolat café, Martin Place. Australia is full of good blokes. The day I walked past Governor –General, Sir William Dean at the Olympic Village, I was shocked. No siren, no body guard. I was told Prime Minister John Howard boarded a train to watch some of the Olympic events. Still waiting to see similar scene play out in Naija. There are good Nigerians in Sydney. I have no fear about their soiling our image. Sam Mbakwe, Dr. Inakwu Odeh, Mrs. Lyn Ifedioranma, John Maxwell-Owhochukwu, Peter Duruchukwu among so many others. Australia still remains peaceful and it would be wrong to think that all Aussies are descendants of prisoners. So many immigrants trooped in after the World War. And there were inhabitants before the European party. There is still so much virgin territory to explore. My fear is that there could be stricter immigration laws. Nigerians love to travel and I am sure Australia is the place to be. I still remember all the shopping malls in Parramatta, Town Hall and Martin Place. I cannot forget the massive Sydney Central train station, Home Bush Bay, Penrith, Flemington and Strathfield. I still picture the serene cemetery in Cumberland, the largest Burial Ground in the Southern Hemisphere. It will not take more untimely hosts. I heard of the Tasmanian Devil. Terrorism will not bedevil Australia anymore. It will also depart from Nigeria. I know President Goodluck Jonathan passed through Martin Place in 2000 as Deputy governor of Bayelsa state. He has seen enough of insurgency in our country too. I am sure he feels the pain of the Aussies. No worries, as they say in Oz. Good on ya, blokes.

When a heart is ‘broken’ Fred Nwaozor

reetings brethren! I wish to commence with two distinct messages; what you owe me is to grant me a listening ear. Mind you, failure to be all ears might cost you an irreplaceable fortune. To before warned is to before armed. First: do not be afraid to give up the good and go for the great. On the other hand; every scar has a story, so you should not be afraid to tell it. Yes you ought not to be afraid to surrender any good thing in your possession in order to embrace great ones. Also, you must not shy away from telling a story that you experienced no matter how it pains to do so. Do not forget; a person who chases two rabbits concurrently, catches neither. Thus you must let go of one of the rabbits if you really want to catch any. Furthermore, for everything you have lost, you have surely gained something else in return. If you closely and wisely consider the above statements, you would notice that they are talking about two things. Of course, the aforementioned messages are discussing the importance of two major factors, namely: sacrifice and sharing. Yes they are all preaching the essence of sacrifice or sharing, or the need to sacrifice something if you are determined to acquire something else as well as the need for one to share his/her bad experi-

ence with someone else. Believe me, it is important to share a bad or unfair experience with someone because a word of encouragement after failure or having encountered a detour is worth more than an hour of praise after success. Therefore share any experience with someone because if you wait until you are ready, I’m afraid you may be waiting the rest of your life. In the same vein, there’s need to sacrifice something in order to obtain something great or for the sake of embracing the ‘Best’; Abraham laid a good example on sacrifice and we are expected to emulate that. Three weeks ago, I was opportuned to find myself in Abuja – the Nigerian capital territory for a certain convention. During the ceremony, which lasted for forty-eight hours, I ran into a colleague who confided in me and told me that he was passing through a heartbreak due to the ‘heartless’ gesture displayed by his purported fiancée. According to him, the lady in question left him for another man who resides in Germany without any prior notice or signal. Heartbreak can be described as very great sadness or unhappiness. In other words, a heartbroken person is one who is extremely sad and upset. Among mankind, the term ‘heartbreak’ is often used when one is passing through an emotional trauma having being hurt by his/her love-partner; and this is the area where the context of this edition lies. Let us ride on!

In recent times, heartbreak attributed to love-affairs has taken a different dimension in such a manner that most youths see it as a way of life. This alarming shape of heartbreak has prompted several reactions and counter-reactions among psychoanalysts. Frankly the ongoing mode of heartbreak as a result of love-affairs has called for urgent attention from all concerned institutions and stakeholders. In this edition, I only have a candid note for that person who thinks that his heart has broken because he/she is being ‘dumped’ by his/her so called lovepartner or fiancée as the case might be. I am personally more concerned in this aspect because I am of the view that many people have ended up ostracizing themselves or even committing suicide, all in the name of ‘heartbreak’. If I may ask, what makes you think that your precious life has come to an end because someone just left it? How could you in your right senses think that someone leaving your life is a sign of ‘End of the road’ or ‘End time’? Do you not know that someone leaving your life could be a sign of blessing? Thus, it often calls for thanksgiving whenever a certain fellow/ partner has left our lives, unless in the case of death or eternal demise. I know it is not easy to completely forget the good moments you have shared with your loved one, but sometimes we should be ready to let go; because the person’s departure could be an avenue of

ushering in a better fellow or the person you are destined to spend the rest of your life with. Therefore, we must always be willing and prepared to sacrifice someone for another. If someone leaves your life, it implies that, he/she does not deserve you; and that is the way you are expected to see it, rather than witch-hunting yourself. Even if the person left your life due to a spell cast on him/her or as a result of illhealth, the only thing you owe him/her is nothing but prayers. And as you pray, you must remain faithful because faith conquers everything. Believe me, faith is the most ultimate among all spiritual factors; it yields patience, optimism, determination, and what have you. I want you to note that despair is one of the greatest sins, if not the greatest, in existence. And we ought to endeavour to share our experiences with other persons close to our lives, because a problem shared is half solved. The person you shared your plight with, might be the one that would help you to be free from the trauma. For instance, sharing a spiritual problem with your spiritual director or a man of God is definitely a pathway to solving or unravelling the predicament. Also, sharing your emotional plight with a psychoanalyst or psychologist, or an inspirational tutor, is no doubt an avenue required to solve the problem in question. • Fred Nwaozor ( frednwaozor@gmail.com)

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

EDITORIAL

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

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

Sanctity of Truth

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

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Alarming cases of sickle cell disease

ickle cell disease (SCD) affects nearly 100 million people worldwide and is also responsible for over 50 per cent of deaths in those with its most severe form, a Consultant Haematologist/ Executive Secretary, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC), Dr Modupe Olaiya, has said. She went on to state that, in Nigeria, SCD is among the top 10 non-communicable diseases (NCDs) causing significant disability, morbidity and mortality. Dr Olaiya spoke in Lagos during a sensitisation programme for SCD patients organised by a non-governmental organisation that caters for sickle cell disorder patients, Genotype Foundation. She explained Nigeria has an annual infant death of 100,000 representing eight per cent of infant mortality in the continent, adding that two per cent of the population has SCD while 25 per cent has the trait. She reasoned that voluntary blood donation is relevant in relation to sickle cell disorder because sickle cell disorder patients require blood urgently in most cases when they are in need of it and it is crucial that blood must be available to give them. She also noted that LSBTC is working to make sure that blood is readily available by putting up advocacy to motivate the public to donate blood voluntarily because, in emergency, it is only blood that is in the blood bank that can be useful;” the one that you are just collecting, you cannot give it

to a patient in an emergency, because it has to go through screening. Blood that will be useful in an emergency must have already been available in a blood bank and this is why the issue of campaigning for blood donation is very important. “Lagos state has a centralized blood transfusion service and it is a law that every unit of blood collected in the state must be screened by LSBTC. Death from shortage of blood is preventable and this is why we want to avoid it by campaigning regularly for voluntary blood donation,” she said. Executive Director, Genotype Foundation, Doris Gbemiloye, said the programme was borne out of the drive to sensitise the masses on the need to get blood at the right place which will make for a healthy transfusion, explaining that when unsafe blood is transfused, there will be reaction and this can lead to sudden death. She noted that voluntary donation has really saved lives adding, the risk of HIV/AIDS will also be reduced. The “sickle cell disease” has taken on very high human mortality toll. Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited blood disorder caused by a genetic mutation characterized primarily by chronic anaemia and periodic episodes of pain. It is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a defect in the haemoglobin, HB, gene. The disease affects millions of people throughout the world. It is particularly common among people whose ancestors come from sub-Saharan Africa. The disease

occurs in about one in twelve Africans carrying the trait. The presence of two defective genes, SS, is needed for sickle cell anaemia. If each parent carries one sickle haemoglobin, S and one normal gene, A, each child has a twenty five percent, 25 per cent, chance of inheriting two defective genes and having sickle cell anaemia. They also have twenty five per cent, chance of inheriting two normal genes not having the disease and a fifty percent chance of being unaffected carrier like the parents. Sickle cell disease is an international health problem and truly a global challenge. Nigeria is said to have the highest rate of sickle cell suffered in the entire world. In Africa, statistics show that out of the two hundred thousand babies born with the disease, one hundred and fifty thousand of them are Nigerians. Furthermore, one hundred thousand Nigerian children are lost to the disease annually and eight percent of the nation’s child mortality stem from sickle cell disease. Available statistics have also shown that, between two and three percent of an estimated of forty-five thousand babies born annually in Nigeria have the disease while between twenty-five and thirty percent are born with sickle cell trait. On the whole, it is estimated that a total of thirty seven million Nigerians, both children and adults suffer from sickle cell anaemia. The disease is characterized by symptoms such as paleness, shortness of breath, yellowing of the skin and eyes, fatigue and

delayed growth among others. Persons with the disease must regular health check-ups, proper nutrition, bed rest, good hygiene and need to avoid stress of any kind. Unfortunately, it has become hard and almost impossible for some persons with the disease to avoid stress and have a regular checkup. The current economic down turn and lack of adequate medical facilities and personnel in the nation’s hospitals have made the situation of sufferer worse. “Sicklers” as they are often called also suffer from stigmatization and in most times they are neglected and rejected by friends, parents and the society. This evidently affects them directly or indirectly, thereby adding more complications to their health. Persons with the disease are often regarded as underachievers and never do well. They pass through bouts of psychological depression coupled with the excruciating physical pain occasioned by sickle cell crises. Thus, government in its efforts towards ensuring quality health care service delivery should put in place measures that would enhance the quality and efficiency of the medical service in its various hospitals. Also, free medical check-up and routine drugs should be given to persons with the disease to promote their wellbeing. Government should ensure that adequate attention is given to sickle cell anaemia patients in hospitals at all times especially during emergencies to reduce the mortality rate.

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief n Eric Osagie Deputy Managing Directors n Gabriel Akinadewo

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Daily n Yemi Ajayi

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editors, Daily n Emeka Obasi, Ayodele Ojo

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

News Editor n Geoffrey Ekenna

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed Sales/Circulation Manager n Abiodun Oyebanji Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

Politics

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

insurance industry has not achieved its full potential. Today, only three million of our citizens are insurance policy holders, and overall insurance penetration is less than 0.5 per cent of our GDP. We want to transform this sector, just as we have done for our banking sector and our pensions industry. “Our goal is to grow the total insurance premiums in our country from N300 billion currently to N1 trillion in the next three years. And to increase the number of direct jobs created in this sector from about

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan promises better days 30,000 people today to over 100,000 people in the next few years. “My brothers and sisters, the PDP as a party has delivered on its promise. In the last decade, it has seen to the largest expansion of the middle class in Africa. Certainly, our party has a rich history of enduring legacies. “We initiated Debt Relief, the Amnesty Programme, the Presidential Jobs Creation Board, Power Sector Reforms and the National Infrastructure Master-plan;

the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan, the National Automobile Policy, the Freedom of Information regime, the Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company, and the Infrastructure Bank, amongst others.” He however, gave the credit to the ministers, advisers, assistants and staff that have formed the Transformation team. He said that what is needed is to consolidate on these gains, noting that the focus now should be on the future and not on the past.

The president promised to intensify the fight against corruption and to continue to uphold the principle of separation of powers between the different arms of government. Jonathan also promised to promote intraparty and bi-partisan harmony, within the legislature, and between the executive and the legislature, if re-elected next year. The president also spoke on the security challenges facing the country, assuring that

the security of all citizens shall continue to be his utmost priority. He regretted that insurgency in the country is threatening the social existence of the country but expressed hope that it will not disrupt next year’s elections. “With the exception of the civil war, never before in the history of our country have we faced the level of threat we see today. I assure all Nigerians that this Government will continue to do whatever is required to provide the security

we deserve. It is encouraging that the security situation is improving, and by the grace of God, elections will be conducted in all states of the federation,” Jonathan said, and called on all Nigerians, irrespective of party or belief, to join him in the fight against insurgency and terror. PDP national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, assured that under his stewardship, the party will grow from strength to strength. He promised that the party will continue to support the reforms and policies of the Federal Government. Mu’azu equally called for the accommodation of “members who have been unfortunate not to have received a ticket to represent the party at the next election,” adding, “the unity of our party is paramount to our success over and above any individual ambition.” Mu’azu said that the Jonathan administration has recorded great success in the expansion and consolidation of reforms in government started by the previous PDP-led administrations headed by our first PDP. His words: “The first four years of the Jonathan administration has recorded unprecedented achievements in the various sectors of the economy building on the foundations of the previous administrations. We have all witnessed the growth in rail infrastructure and seen improved road infrastructure. Similar achievements have been recorded in agriculture where there has been an unprecedented growth in national output, improved value chain and a reduction of imports. “There has also been significant progress made in consolidating the economic prospects of our industries with substantial inflows of foreign direct investment as well as increased participation from domestic investors. This is particularly relevant in cement production where we are net exporters, the automobile industry and several others. “For the past 15 years, this great party has guarded and guided the growth and development of our beloved country. Our performance has been unassailable and unparralled. As the guardians of Nigeria’s political fortunes and socio-economic fortunes, we as the PDP, will never lose sight of what is important to the citizenry.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Media

Arts

eatly dressed in traditional buba, made of sky-blue lace with purple designs, Oboli blew repeatedly into a thin pipe to kindle the fire on the native lamp. The lamp containing palm oil and cotton wood lights profusely and is used to melt gold nuggets in readiness for the days job. Hanging firmly on the wall just opposite the entrance door is a black and white picture of a young man using a pair of bellows to kindle a furnace while some people looked on. ‘That is the President Jimmy Carter when he came to Nigeria in 1977. That lady is his wife and the little girl, his daughter,’ Oboli said with an air of accomplishment. Carter was so impressed with the traditional method of making jewelry and other objects using gold, that he not only framed the picture and sent to him, he invited Oboli to the White House. Through his job as a traditional goldsmith at the National Museum, Lagos, Oboli has been opportune to meet so many dignitaries and also travel the world. In the course of his travels, he saw modern methods of ‘goldsmithing’ but is constrained by the fact that his mandate is to preserve the traditional method for posterity, and not to modernize it. A job he has done faithfully for the past thirty seven years. ‘I came here in 1977, during the FESTAC 77 celebration. I had worked as a silver/goldsmith at Ibadan before one of my customers, for whom I made a wedding ring, recommended me to the government. Since then I have been here and It has been good.’ Oboli is a typical example of one who made a sweet lemonade out of the lemon life threw at him. A native of Ubulu- uku in Delta State, he was born and bred at Ibadan, where his father worked as a Washer-man. Though he dreamt of becoming

Tourism

Pastor Odukoya unveils new book, No! Don’t touch me there

Gambia stakes claim to wedding destination

CULTURE

I wanted to be a Pilot –Oboli Though Paul Oboli is a mere traditional silver/goldsmith, he has travelled to major cities across Europe and America in the course of his job. In this interview with EBERE AMEH, the jeweller shares his life and achievement.

Oboli at work

a pilot, life dealt a brutal blow on him, thwarting all his plans and shattering his dream of flying. ‘I had an uncle who was a pilot. I admired him so much and worked hard in school to be a pilot too. Unfortunately, the death of my father brought an end to my education. I had to go and stay with another uncle of mine, Mr C.B. Okocha, who was a goldsmith. That was how I became a goldsmith too,’ Oboli said, but was quick to add that he has no regrets. How would he have regrets when he has travelled to more countries than some Pilots would; trained his children to the extent that some of them are working abroad now, and many other achievements. ‘Of course I trained all my children with the aid of this trade. And

the fact that we have maintained the traditional methods is a real attraction.’ The only challenge Oboli seems to have is the high rate of unemployment, which has churned out so many thieves that snatch gold necklaces and earrings from the necks and ears of the wearers, coupled with the advent of the beads. ‘Women are afraid of adorning themselves with gold jewelleries nowadays because of the proliferation of gold snatchers on traffic jams. They rather keep their gold in the bank and go for beads, which is in vogue now. That leads to poor patronage and it is not good for my business.’ Despite the seemingly bleak future of traditional ‘goldsmithing’, Oboli has two apprentices currently learning the trade from him. Both have just

finished their senior secondary school certificate exams and are looking forward to becoming great jewellers. “I plan to read Accounting. The course will help me a great deal when I become a jeweller in the future. I have always loved fashion and when you get it right, using the original method, it won’t be difficult again when you want to use machines,” Sumonu Gabriel, one of the apprentices said. For Dosa Oluwatobi, also an apprentice, the inspiration to become a jeweller came after Oboli made his sister’s wedding ring. ‘It was so beautiful and I told my dad I wanted to learn. I want to understand the nitty-gritty of ‘goldsmithing’. It will help me in the future when I become a jeweller. That is why I’m here,’ Oluwatobi explained.

Project Fame finalists Ugo, Debbie team up in Christmas Is Coming Tony Okuyeme

P TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Ugo

roject Fame Season 7 Finalist Ugo, popularly known as Ugovinna is out with a brand new single, featuring another Season 7 finalist Debbie titled Christmas Is Coming. “Christmas Is Coming” was produced by Masterkraft, a top producer, song-writer and a usual suspect when it comes to making hits. Credited for producing over 85 percent of Flavour’s new

album, “Thankful”, Masterkraft joins creative forces with Ugo and Debbie in “Christmas Is Coming”; a perfect herald to the festive season. Their first music project since finishing as finalists in the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 7, the duo have officially hit the ground running with this new Christmas Single. Ugo and Debbie have been recording new music with various top Nigerian producers like Masterkraft, Cobhams and Password. So expect a lot more from both of them.

Arts

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Society of Nigerian Artists honours Grillo, Onabrakpeya, others Tony Okuyeme

ociety of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Lagos State chapter, will today hold fund raising, Awards and Gala Night where it will honour deserving Nigerian artists who have contributed immensely to the development of the visual art sector. The event which will hold today Friday December 19, 2014, at the multi-purpose hall of Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, will also include an induction, art exhibition and auctions. Top on the list of the artists to be honoured, include renowned artists like Prof. Yusuf Grillo, Prof. Bruce Onabrakpeya, Bisi Fakeye, Abayomi Barber, Kolade Oshinowo, Nike Davies Okundaye, among others. Chairman SNA, Lagos State chapter, Mr. Dotun Alabi explained that they will be honoured with Life Time Achievement Awards. According to him, the gala night is actually the first they are having in the past four years. “So we are taking it as an opportunity to honour some of our distinguished artists with the Life Time Achievements Awards. Some of the people we will be honouring with the Life Time Achievements Awards, which is the key celebration for the night, include Prof. Yusuf Grillo, Prof. Bruce Onabrakpeya, Mr. Abayomi Barber, Mr. Kolade Oshinowo, Mrs. Nike Ekundaye, Mr. Bisi Fakeye. You will agree with me that these people

Ekundaye

have put in a lot into the development of visual art in Nigeria, and we feel it is befitting to honour them accordingly,” Alabi said. “We are honouring some of our artists, some of our art writers, collectors, institutional members who have supported us in the past couple of years; and we are also celebrating with members of the public because we will be having a mini-exhibition, auctions, varieties of music, dance performances, among others things. It is also a fundraising event. Some of the works that we are going to have on display are works that the Society is chiefly going to profit

Prof. Bruce Onabrakpeya demonstrating beside some of his art works

from as we are going to have auction of some years; and I think, after a degree of stability, of the paintings as well, in a way to raise we felt it is time to also honour our artists.” funds for the programmes of the Society. “In the history of the Society, we have celebrated it two times. In 2008, where we celebrated Mr. Kolade Oshinowo; in 2009, we had a gala night/awards and fundraising dinner at Glover Memorial hall, Lagos. And in 2010, we should have had a gala night also, but we were neck deep in the struggle for actualizing positions for the National Gallery of Arts (NGA) Bill, in Abuja; that ate well into December 2010, so we couldn’t hold it. After that, we have had series of adminisore Nigerians in Delta state can now trations changing hands within one or two access quality entertainment at an affordable price as GOtv signals go live in more towns and communities in Delta state. Following an announcement last week, TV lovers in Abraka, Agbarho, Effurun, Ekpan, Jeddo, Kokori, Oghara, Okpe, Sapele, Udu, Ughelli, and Warri can join in the digital television revolution by purchasing a GOtv decoder including one month subscription to GOtv Plus at the highly subsidised price of N2,900. To receive optimal signals, subscribers are also advised to use the outdoor antenna (GOtenna) which is sold at a standalone price of N1600. Addressing the media in Warri, GOtv’s general manager, Elizabeth Amkpa, said: “GOtv was launched with the latest approved DVB-T2 decoders and in support of the digital migration; the price of GOtv decoders has been slashed to N2,900 in the GO Gaga festive offer.” “Furthermore, by paying an additional two months subscription, new subscribers will be qualified to draw for the MultiChoice Super Cruise promo for a chance to win a Kia Rio car, among other prizes”, she added. GOtv offers the GOtv Plus bouquet, which gives access to 41 channels at a monthly subscription of N1,500. Subscribers may also opt for the GOtv bouquet with a 28-channel offering at N1,000 monthly. Both bouquets provide families access to an exciting selection of local and Pretty Okafor PMAN President international channels containing news, sport, movies, music, documentaries, religion and children’s programming. in sound policies, strong insti“GOtv channel lineup includes - Afritutions, efficient systems, and caMagic Family, AfricaMagic Epic Movprofessional structures that are ies, AfricaMagic World, AfricaMagic Yocapable of putting an end to the ruba, AfricaMagic Hausa, BET, Blackbelt excessive reign of pirates in our TV, E! Entertainment, Telemundo, Teleindustry. PMAN is ready to work vista, Discovery World, Nat Geo Wild, closely and committedly with goveTV Africa, Vox Africa, Select Sports, ernment in this regard,” Okafor Al Jazeera and CNN, Channel O, MTV said in his address. Base, Disney Junior, Nickelodeon, JimHe added that the new execuJam, Islam Channel, One Gospel, and tive is reaching out to aggrieved Sound City. members of the Association for “GOtv is a new digital pay television reconciliation. offering on the Digital Terrestrial TeleAlso in attendance at the press vision platform. It is managed by Multiconference include the General Choice with a proud legacy of providing Secretary, PMAN, Kenny George, the best digital pay-TV in Nigeria for over Mr. Odulami of GSI Nigeria, 20 years. among others.

PMAN dissolves state excos, unveils anti-piracy agenda Tony Okuyeme

he Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has announced the dissolution of all its State Chapters’ executives. It also stated that the PMAN constitution remains as approved in 1991, as no valid amendment of the constitution has been made ever since. Announcing the dissolution at a press conference held in Ikeja, Lagos, PMAN president, Mr. Pretty Okafor said the Association will reconstitute a Caretaker Executive Committee that shall run the affairs of the State Chapters respectively for one year after which, elections shall be held before the Delegate Conference that will produce a new executive at the national level in line with the court judgement. He also unveiled the Association’s anti-piracy agenda, which will be operated as Media Distribution Network (MDN). The features of the MDN include: definition and maintenance of systematic nation-wide product distribution route for accountability; standardization of product packaging in terms of size and of material; compulsory GSI bar-coding of products for tracking purposes; and national and international distribution-control. “The essence of MDN platform is to capture and monitor the route of music products from replicating factories to warehouses on to distributors and ultimately to retailers. A

very important adjunct of our anti-piracy effort is what is known as the Entertainment Distribution Network (EDN). The Entertainment Distribution Network is an MDN platform that exists as one of the most potent anti-piracy measures known. Its adoption in several European countries as well as in the United States of America and South Africa has yielded impressive results. EDN works essentially by adhering distributors to a set of tight but business-friendly method that cuts pirates off the pie.” Other projects the exco intend to carry out, according to him, include: PMAN Health Insurance/Pension Retirement Plan for members; PMAN Biometric I.D. Card Project; PMAN Music Distribution Network/Data Bank; PMAN Music Hall of Fame; among others. Noting that the entertainment industry has facilitated the expansion of Nigeria’s economy in recent years, Okafor stressed that Government recognition of the contribution of the entertainment industry to Nigeria’s economic development should not begin and end with statistics. “It needs to be followed by a realistic plan to develop our young entertainment sector into world-class industry. “One of the primary steps government must take in order for Nigeria to enjoy the real economic benefits of the creative assets of artistes is to make relevant investment

GO Gaga Offer, as GOtv launches in Warri, environs

Arts

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Celebrating Tomoloju at 60, season of performances, lecture

Tony Okuyeme

otable dramatist, actor, theatre director and pioneer of Arts and Culture Journalism in the country, Mr. Ben Omowafola ‘Kasta’ Tomoloju (fondly called Ben T) will clocked 60 yesterday, Thursday, December 18. Without doubt, Mr. Tomoloju has contributed to the development of arts and culture in our country. In particular, he pioneered culture journalism in Nigeria and elevated it to an art. Besides, he inspired and mentored so many journalists in arts reporting, and “turned the pages of The Guardian into a rigorous intellectual forum”. It is, therefore, worthwhile to celebrate a man who has dedicated his life to the promotion of arts and culture in Nigeria. To celebrate his birthday, admirers, friends and acolytes of the critic, culture activist and communicator, composer, and former Arts and later Deputy Editor of The Guard-

n estimated 150 million girls and 73 million boys have experienced forced sexual intercourse which commonly takes place within the home, school and other educational facilities, according to records of the United Nations. Research also indicates that the preponderance of these acts are carried out by relatives and people familiar with or even parents of the children. This surely sounds bad enough but something is worse: 75% of the children who encounter sexual molestations do not report immediately, while 18% would wait for more than five years before reporting. This is due to the fear of not being accused of having fabricated stories about suffering abuse from these older people. These are some of the facts revealed at the recent presentation of “No! Don’t touch me there”, a book written by Pastor Nomthi Odukoya, wife of the Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos, Taiwo Odukoya. “No! Don’t touch me there”, which is Mrs. Odukoya’s maiden effort on children’s literature, is one that all parents should buy, read and get their children to read. Using the story of Ade and Ada, one that is at once a biology as well as civic and sex education

ian have lined up a number of activities for this occasion, namely: a public lecture, book presentation and stage performance of his plays. The celebration begins today December 19, with series of performances, namely, a dance drama titled “Journey So Far: A Dance for Ben T”, by Guild of Nigerian Dancers (GOND) at Amphi Theatre, Freedom Park, Lagos, at 5pm; Cataclysm, a play directed by Oluwafunmilayo Olubukola, and featuring Theatre Students, Lagos State University, at 6pm; and Jankariwo, directed by Victoria Adeniyi, featuring Theatre Arts students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife), at 7pm. Major highlight of the three-day (December 19 to 21) celebration is the 60th birthday lecture which will hold tomorrow Saturday, December 20, 2014 at Afe Babalola hall, University of Lagos, at 1pm. The lecture themed “Thoughts on the Nigerian Media in a Deadly Season” will be delivered by Prof. Tony Afejuku

of English and Literature Department, University of Benin. The lecture will be chaired by Prof, Niyi Osundare (Univ. Of New Orleans,USA). Three Books will also be presented at the main event on Saturday, December 20. They are Flowers” Introspect - a collection of Tomoloju’s School Days plays; Jankariwo - the first Nigerian print of his famous play; and Ben Tomoloju: Essentials of a Culture Communicator a collection of Reflections and Essays on Ben Tomoloju’s Intervention in Arts and Culture Journalism; drama presentation, MujeMuje directed by Michael Ajimati feat. Creative Arts students of UNILAG. On Sunday December 21, the will move to Freedom Park, Lagos, for Arthouse Forum by Committee for Relevant Art, CORA (Special: Screening of 60th Documentary Interview with Ben Tomoloju), at 4pm; Concert and Poetry, by Seun Olota and Extasi Band; Segun Adefila and Crown Troupe of Africa, at 6pm: and at 7pm, Flowers Introspect, directed by Bayo

Tomoloju

Adesewo; feat. Arojah Royal Theatre Company, Abuja. Iphigenia Finds Aiyelala, directed by Sina Ayodele, featuring Theatre students of Lagos State University, LASU will ignite the stage at 8pm.

Odukoya unveils new book, No! Don’t touch me there

lesson note, the author tells in every reading what is proper and what is not, and how to interact with members of the opposite sex, whether peers or older folks. It shows parents what to do and say to their children to stave off the antics of sexual predators. Two people, Mrs Tonia Oje, a mother and an entrepreneur, and Mr Taiwo Akinlami, a lawyer and child rights activist, were on hand to share their personal experiences and encourage parents on the need to have access to information that can save their children. Speaking on sexual abuse and its negative effects on the victims, she said that sexually

abused children grow up to be hardened, depressed, and suicidal. “This is because there are usually no parents or adult around to confide in and in cases where they are around, they shun their children and ask them not to talk about it. So they keep it to themselves and suffer in silence.” She shared the story of how she left her parent at 12 to live with a close relative who ended up molesting her sexually. The mother of three pointed out that she was subjected to threats any time she wanted to write to her parents to report the incidents. In her words: “Whenever I wanted to write to my parents,

I would be told that if I wrote anything that happened, he would kill me…. Children who go through this experience usually suffer from low self-esteem and emotional bankruptcy or possibly end up hating people of the opposite sex.” She counselled that speaking out loud is the first step to stop the evil act saying: “So one night, he came again and I shouted (as advised by a pastor). The wife and everybody in the house woke up and I told them I had a bad dream. And that was the last time he came to me.” She further advised children: “Never be too scared to tell your mummy anything.” And for parents, a word of advice: “You don’t have any reason not to believe your child because no child will ever cook up a story of her father or uncle molesting her.” Akinlami also shared his sexual abuse experience, which he said led him to other atrocities before he was delivered by God 18 years ago. He noted that the irresponsibility of the adults, who are supposed to guard and guide children, is the reason for this ungodly behaviour. The activist said that his mother usually left him in care of an adult, female neighbour who, unknown to her, started sexually abusing him at age 6 and continued for years. This led him into more complicated indulgences like homosexualism. He

warned that the impact of sexual abuse on a child “is eternal, except there is divine intervention. Such children may seem to possess leadership traits and speak with confidence but they are dying inwardly.” The way to deal with this moral crisis, according to Akinlami, is by adopting and using the child protection intelligence approach. This is educating the children on the parts of their bodies and how to guard them. According to him, children are not vulnerable: “what you call child vulnerability is adult irresponsibility. Any time there is a crime, there is a security breach and any time our children are abused, it is because we are not available. It is time to enlighten and empower our children on sexual abuse and this book is a major strategy to achieve that. It is a universal principle in child’s protection that children have a role to play in their own protection and this must be given to them by us in their own language. This is what this book is set to achieve.” Senior Pastor of The Fountain Of Life Church and the husband of the author, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, buttressed the point that the formative years of every child is most critical and should be taken care of to avoid exposing the children to life-time problems. He encouraged everyone to stand against child sexual abuse.

Jezebel wins GRACE 2014 Queen Esther Beauty Pageant Ebere Ameh

ll clad in black, each holding their lantern, the crème de la crème of the Nigerian society filled the Household of God Church, venue of GRACE 2014. An annual charity event of the Household of God Church, the G.R.A.C.E programme 2014 is dedicated to the over 200 adopted Chibok schoolgirls who have remained in captivity for more than eight months. While the biggest attraction was the Karis Award, which went to late Mrs. Beatrice Ibeneme (nee Okebugwu)—the first woman to be enlisted in the Nige-

rian Police, with serial number 001, there were other great attractions, like the Esther Beauty Pageant. The Queen Esther Bible Costume competition saw beautiful ladies all arrayed in costumes that depict famous Bible women. The participant with the most creative and realistic design and expresses herself best, depicting the character she represents, emerges Queen Esther. Interestingly, the contestants all have something in common. They have freedom, enough to unleash their creativity and express themselves, a condition the abducted girls crave

but lack. As they paraded on stage, full of glitz and glamour, entertaining the audience with their costumes and expressions, each ended with a prayer for the release and safe return of the Chibok girls. All the contestants were praised for their beauty, creativity and courage to take to the stage but the Judges had to pick a winner. The character depicting Delilah was the second runner up while the first runner up went to Lot’s Wife. Jezebel eventually won the pageant, smiling home with a cash reward of one million naira. According to the chief host

and Senior Pastor of the church, Rev. Chris Okotie, said, “the connotations of the dedication of this year’s event to the missing girls was to keep the fire of their remembrance and #BringBackOurGirls alive, as all efforts to secure their release continues to be upper-most in our minds”. As a result, the pastor made the dress code for the event to be black, even as attendees had to come with lanterns for the significant ‘lights-out’, when attendees will be expected to switch on their lanterns to imply that the search is still on. Other beneficiaries of the one million naira charity splash

of the church include Pacelli School for the Blind, Sunshine Foundation, The Strong Tower Mission, and The Spinal Cord Injuries Association, which got one million Naira each. While Professor Joe Ogbonnaya Irukwu was the chairman of the occasion, His Excellency, Theodore Orji, the Executive Governor of Abia State and chairman South-East Governors Forum was the special guest of honour. There was the usual red carpet, musical renditions and displays, and the increasingly popular photo-shoots on Christmas lighted street and so much more.

Tourism

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Gambia stakes claim to wedding destination Andrew Iro Okungbowa

he Gambia has continued to excite and entice tourists with its rich blend of unique tourism offerings as one of the most preferred destinations in Africa. Known as the ‘smiling coast of West Africa’, the tiny country, with its natural vegetation which over the years has given its character and colouration, beckons all to its savoury endowment. Although the country has a enough room for all categories of leisure and fun seekers, given its sprawling array of facilities such its variety of quality resorts and an eclectic mix of sophisticated tourist destinations adorning its various tourism clusters, ranging from the Senegambia to the Makasutu however, it comes across as a perfect fit wedding destination and haven for honeymoon. Quite a number of its facilities, ranging from hotels to resorts are dedicated to offering intended couples looking for an exotic wedding and honeymoon locations. The endless list includes: Ngala Lodge Hotel: Set in the lush tropical grounds overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the intimate boutique style Ngala Lodge Hotel, offers both exciting and fabulous choices for a romantic break. Married couples can choose from comfortable, stylish and beautifully furnished suites, stunning penthouses with private balconies, terraces or gardens all overlooking the ocean with astounding greenery. It provides a relaxed and cozy atmosphere with emphasis on individual service. Sunset Beach Hotel: Its garden – like lush and greenery ambience provides romantic environment of for lovebirds to explore, basking in the euphoria of their new found love while the sunset adds colours to their mood. It is indeed a spectacular view to behold while enjoying the outdoors and a pleasurable meal, especially dinner. Sunswing Beach Resort: Set against the sprawling virgin beach of Kololi, the resort offers a perfect setting for wedding parties for up to 500 people. Lovers can enjoy the sunset with a cool drink in an atmosphere of tranquility. Designed in contemporary African style, all rooms offer either a view of the sea, the hotel swimming pool or gardens. The villas come with fully equipped kitchenettes, separate living rooms and free sun beds with parasols which make them ideal for honeymooners. At night, couples are hosted at the Maddies Beach Club; the ocean-front restaurant and bar, where they enjoy the cool breeze and breath-taking view of the ocean. The hotel is famous for its Friday jazz and Sunday acoustic blues sessions, where guests can enjoy in a relaxed atmosphere until late. Ocean Bay Hotel and Resort: Located at Cape Point, Bakau, is one of the most prized and preferred hideouts for honeymooners. The resort offers a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean and a view of a cross section of the Gambia River. All rooms come with comfortable king or double/twin size beds, spacious balconies, mini bars and hairdryers. Honeymooners really feel at home here with 24 hours restaurants, clinic, and bureau d’change and pharmacy service. The hotel truly lives up to its name given the Bay setting where guests can enjoy the calm waters and undertake water sporting activities. Apart from these, most of the 5star hotels in The Gambia, such as Leo’s Heritage Hotel and White House Resi-

Coco Ocean Hotel

dence, are one-stop venues for weddings and also offer exquisite lodges for honeymooners. They are not only kitted to host wedding ceremonies in their banquet halls and ball rooms but also host wedding receptions in surrounding beautiful gardens, or on the expansive decks of their swimming pools. The Coco Ocean stands out in this regard. Away from the hotels and resorts, facilities and tourism establishments located within the Within the Tourism Development Area (TDA), also have well apportioned resorts within their enclosures, which come with perfect and exciting amenities for wedding and honeymooners. These include: Bird Safari Camp, Brefet Cultural Camp, Njawara Cultural Camp, Sindola Safari Camp, Sittanunku Lodge, Tendaba Camp, Tumani Tenda with Makasutu Culture Forest and Sandele Eco Retreat are the notable getaways for honeymooners. Situated in Brikama is Makasutu Culture Forest, which was voted the best eco lodge by The Sunday Times,

Ngala Lodge open top restaurant

The resort offers a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean and a view of a cross section of the Gambia River. All rooms come with comfortable king or double/twin size beds, spacious balconies, mini bars and hairdryers

London. Set in a 1,000 acre reserve and encompassing different eco-systems, Makasutu offers an up-market experience which includes 5-star luxury lodge within the meandering and lush green River Gambia “wilderness”. Weddings and wedding receptions are held in the purpose built facilities which offer breathtaking views from all corners of the resort. Guests can enjoy traditional drumming, tribal dancing and singing, guided canoe rides. Visit the “resident holy man” or spend time on short lessons in pottery, cooking, furniture making or wood carving at the resort craft shop. Sandele Eco Retreat has won a number of awards, including The Guardian’s “Ethical Travel Award” and Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence. Located in Kartong, Sandele Eco Retreat is set in the forest at the end of miles of beach, with high quality accommodation located in vast, unspoiled surroundings, from where it offers a wide range of activities exclusively for guests.

CVT joins Hotel Partners Africa

otel Partners Africa (HPA), a consultancy outfit owned by four leading consultants in the hotel industry in Africa – Trevor Ward and Vernon Page of W Hospitality Group, Mark Martinovic of Hotel Spec and David Harper of Leisure Property Services – has signed partnership agreement with CVT International Consultancy (CVT), based in Addis Ababa. Under the terms of the agreement, CVT will act as HPA’s exclusive representative in Ethiopia and Djibouti, developing new businesses. CVT’s consultancy focuses on facilitating discussions at the initiation phase of major projects in Sub Saharan Africa, introducing investors to projects, government officials to investors and prospective suppliers to the project managers while HPA provides its clients with a range of services throughout the lifecycle of an African hotel venture, from feasibility and market studies, operator selection & negotiation, valuations, sourcing funding & finance, development management and

procurement, to personnel recruitment, asset management and eventual exit. According to the Chairman of HPA, Trevor Ward, “CVT is plugged in to discussions about making investments and getting property development projects off the ground. This is one step in time before the point where we usually become involved, which is undertaking a feasibility study on a specific hotel development. Therefore, CVT is ideally placed to introduce us to viable opportunities.” The managing Director of CVT, Mehret Ghebreyesus said that they are delighted to be representing Hotel Partners Africa in Ethiopia and Djibouti. “Our clients are mostly project promoters who need professional services and investors at all levels. We often reach out to our network of consultants and potential financial partners to support our clients from beginning to end,” he said. “HPA’s comprehensive suite of services will help us serve our target market better and faster by providing international standard consultancy services

Trevor Ward of W Hospitality

downstream from us in the lifecycle of a hotel project. Working in partnership with HPA, therefore, serves to enhance our credentials and expands the range of services we provide. Trevor, Vernon, Mark and David are well-known and extremely highly-regarded professionals in the hotel industry across Africa, so we could not be happier about the calibre of the team with whom we will be collaborating.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Victory

Bevista boss wins House of Representatives seat

Osigwe

Top creative artistes gather to mourn Michael Anyiam Osigwe

Entertainment Ambode, Agbaje tear K1, Percy apart

Kwam1

Percy

or 17 years, both Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde better known as K1 D’Ultimate and his manager, Percy Ademokun were like Siamese twins, churning out hit songs. But that seems to be over. No thanks to politics as they have firmly pitched their tents on opposite political camps. While K1, by his closeness to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu since his days in Alliance for Democracy, till now that he has assumed the official musician of All Progressives Congress, there is no question about K1 and his place with APC.

SONY NEME

EDITOR, ENTERTAINMENT sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

As usual the artistes is on the verge of waxing a song for the party’s governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode. That apparently is a no for Percy who is having none of that as he seems not in tow with Tinubu brand of politics of alleged imposition, and has therefore, opted for his long time pal, Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party. Reliable sources has it that Percy is in the forefront of Lagos for Agbaje 2015 campaign. Not only has Percy been openly against Ambode in the social media, He has recently in one of his posts, advised Tinubu to proceed to Abuja as national leader of APC, as Lagos needs a change, and only Jimi Agbaje will take the state to the next level. Expectedly, Percy is at the butt of Tinubu admirers who accused Percy of betraying K1 that brought him to limelight. In a related development, KWAM1 has denied humiliating one of his main chief

I am very good and loyal to friends, irrespective of their situation. Ever since Quinox was opened I had been there twice.

promoters, Chief Godwin Anabor. Gist has it that the sad tale emanated from Quilox Night Club when K1, an eye witness reportedly said, the Fuji act snubbed Chief Anabor, when he asked him “have we ever met before? What can I do for you?! A question that left Anabor dumbfounded could only summon courage before the glare of an equally shocked, to say, “me, Godwin Anabor, K1 said he doesn’t know me”! But in a swift reaction, the Fuji act said the story is not true. According to him, “I am very good and loyal to friends, irrespective of their situation. Ever since Quinox was opened I had been there twice. That was my first performance, until I had another invitation. And none of this witnessed such event that I can recalled ever happened! I can’t remember looking down on anybody.” Efforts to speak with Chief Anabor before press time proved abortive.

Music artistes clean out Headies

l Patoranking drives home Hyundai

unday, December 14 was a remarkable day for Now Music management as its artistes were handsomely rewarded at the Headies Awards. The 9th edition of what is shaping out to be Nigeria’s most prestigious music awards show was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Amongst the winners at the awards event, were two of Now Muzik Management’s artistes; 2face Idibia and Niyola who went home with the awards for Best R ‘n’ B Single and Best Vocal Performance (Female) respectively, thereby capping what has been a significant year for the entertainment service outfit. For 2face, the award winning track is Let Me Love You, which features Bridget Kelly. It was the first single off 2Face Idibia’s sixth album ‘The Ascension’, which upon release debuted at number 12 on Billboard World Albums Chart. The album has other hit singles such as Diaspora Woman Ft. Fally Ipupa and GO! Ft. Machel Montana. We reliably gathered that the multi-awards winning 2Face is also getting ready to release two more albums (Rewind-Select-Update and Face 2 Face 10.0) before the year ends. On the other hand, not many artistes have had a better year than Niyola who added her first ever Headies award to her enviable award shelf that already consists of a Nigerian Music Video Awards, and a City People Award in 2014 alone. Love To Love You, the song with which she bagged the award, features Banky W. It is interesting to note that Now Muzik is Nigeria’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Patoranking

Entertainment

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Naira rain for COSON members

Okoroji

Stories by Sony Neme

t was naira rain for members of Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, as they shared a total of ninety million Naira. This was an increase of eighty percent from the fifty million Naira they got last year. At the event held at the Oranmiyan Hall of Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, on Tuesday, December 16, saw musicians of all generations from every nook and cranny of Nigeria storming the COSON Extraordinary General Meeting. This is the fourth consecutive time the annual windfall has been extended to members of the creative industry whose works are registered with COSON. Those who witnessed the historic moment were the iconic Dan Maraya Jos, Chris Ajilo and Laolu Akins. Also present were the magical Majek Fashek, OJB Jezreel, Azeezat, Black O’ Rice, and Kenny St Brown among a host of others. Expectedly, the atmosphere was that of a carnival. And soon after the approval, the distribution commenced. In his welcome address, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, had announced that the sum is a eighty percentage ncrease on the amount of money the society distributed in 2013. On the society’s plans to signifi-

cantly increase its distributable income, Chief Okoroji called on the Federal Government to hasten the implementation of the Copyright Levy Scheme as it is crucial to the survival of the music industry in Nigeria. According to Okoroji, “With the advent of new technology, most people no longer obtain their music or movies by buying CDs or DVDs. They down load or blue tooth and deny owners of the works significant revenue. To compensate for this loss, in many countries around the world, a small levy is charged on the gadgets used for this stealing of intellectual property.” He further explained that the money collected from the levy of such gadget is paid through the collective management system to the artistes, writers and producers whose music, movies and books are stolen. He further stressed that, “Twenty two years ago, Nigeria became the first country in Africa to provide for the levy in our laws. Sadly, well over 22 years since the promulgation of the law, the unending protocol, red tape and bureaucracy in the Nigerian system have made it impossible for the stakeholders to benefit from this important scheme, which has for several years been lubricating the creative industries in neighbouring Ghana and Burkina Faso.”

For him, “It is our desire to ensure that the private copy levy scheme becomes operational in Nigeria in 2015 so that we have a new revenue stream to substantially increase the COSON distributable revenue. In a similar manner, we are working hard to establish the rules for the licensing of music in the digital environment in Nigeria ensuring that the rights of all authors, composers, publishers and owners of copyright in sound recordings are respected. This should also add to our distributable revenue.” He also spoke on the struggle for the respect of intellectual property in Nigeria. Okoroji said the time had come for all rightholders to actively boycott hotels, event venues and other establishments that have failed to obtain copyright licences for the music deployed in their establishments. His words, “This is necessary to send the message to all that we mean business and that there will be consequences to those who do not respect their obligations to us. I hereby call on all our members to heed this decision reached by the Board to stay away from those places where they have no respect for us. Please remember that we continue to be in a historic struggle and that we must make the necessary sacrifice for the success of the struggle.” In conclusion Okoroji said, “As I review the spirit and amount of work being done at COSON, I have no doubt that we have cleared the land, we have planted the seeds that will guarantee that we have sumptuous fruits in the near future to justify the many years that we have been in the wilderness. I am certain that we will have much increased royalties in the years ahead. We just need to remain consistent and continue to water the seeds that we have planted.” In appreciation, dancehall king and COSON Board member, Baba Dee Fasassi said, “The annual distribution of copyright royalties to rightholders by COSON remains one of the best things to happen in the music industry. This is very commendable and we look forward to better days as regards the struggle for the respect of intellectual property rights in Nigeria”. For the Queen of love and COSON Director, Azeezat Allen said, “This is yet another beautiful day at COSON. Despite all the setbacks, COSON is still standing. This is a testimony to the resilience of our members in insisting that the copyright law in Nigeria is upheld”. Present at the meeting was the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) represented by the Lagos Zonal Manager of the Commission, Mr. Chris Nkwocha and Chairman of the newly approved Audio Visual Rights Society (AVRS), Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun.

Ron Maxwell wins NMS 2014 reloaded R on Maxwell Solomon has emerged the winner of the 2014 edition of the Next movie star. Solomon a Ghanian beat 15 other contestants in the 30-days movie reality show held at the NMS house. Ron Maxwell Solomon’s name was announced at the in house party held at the NMS house on 14 December, 2014 by star actress Bukky Odunote and one of the judges. The final which was attended by

top star actor and movie producer Aquila Njama, NMS in house director, John Njama, the production crew of NMS, Sola Fajobi the creator and CEO NMS, Ayo Dickson, Sunday Adebayo and others coincide with the birthday of the second runner up Keneth Nwadike. Speaking at the event Sola Fajobi thank his sponsors for thier contributions toward the 2014 edition of the NMS.

Maxwell

Uti’s double shuffle taunts celebs on charity, hosts FAME 2014

Uti

ig Brother Africa winner, Uti Nwachukwu has sent a salvo to celebrities on the need for them to walk their talk. Uti made the call on Tuesday while perfecting plans for his stars initiative charity event on Wednesday morning. The event in its fourth phase is coming just as Uti enchored the first edition of Bukii Smart’s FAME 2014.i In an exclusive telephone chat with New Telegraph newspaper on Wednesday, Uti called on all kind hearted Nigerians, especially those who have always mouthed their prowess in giving as a way of life to look the way of his show. He exclaaimed thus: “Hey Guys! Uti here o! Where are the people that always say they want to give out to charity but don’t know who to trust? well it is time to sow into a trustworthy platform. Thank God you know I am not suffering, so all donations will not be used for personal gains.” He further said that, “This was created so that friends and fans of Uti and, those in entertainment can have a trusted platform to gift members of the less privileged society of Lagos. This includes widows orphans and motherless babies. “ He had encouraged that if you have things to give out please bring them to Calabar Hall (No 25 Ajao Road - off Ogunala drive, Surulere, Lagos from10am prompt. The idea was to finish early as he was hosting a show-F.A.M.E, later in the evening . Admission was free as long as you had items to donate. His words: “The likes of stars like Flavour, Runtown, Sheyishay, saeon, Casey,Vimbai,IK Ogbonna,Lilian Esoro,Kenneth Okolie,Lilian and Tayo of Bba ,Emmanuel Ikubese-Mr Nigeria , plus many others, will be there to also spread some love while some surprise performances are also expected. I encourage everyone who donates to attach a prayer point to it Remember: when you give to the poor,u lend to God and God is not a debtor”

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

GOtv

CINEMAWATCH (Radio/TV/Events Guide) DEC. 19 — DEC. 26 HIGHLIGHTS

Top creative artistes gather to mourn Michael Anyiam-Osigwe

rominent personalities in the creative industry converged on Ajisafe Street in the Ikeja area of Lagos for s special candle light ceremony in honour of the late Nze Michael Anyiam Osigwe, elder brother of the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the annual Africa Film Academy Awards (AMAA) Peace Anyiam Osigwe. Nze Michael was killed by suspected robbers at Okada town, Edo state on Saturday November 29, 2014. He was until his death, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Malawi and the Coordinator General of the Emmanuel Osigwe Ayiam Osigwe Foundation among other positions he held. The Anyiam- Osigwe Foundation is the main supporter of the AMAA, which Nigeria has hosted since inception. Michael, a creative artiste himself (he plays the guitar and was a member of a defunct Lagos band) is credited as one of the pillars of the award. Even though he operated from the sides, he maintained a close relationship with major players of the industry. Little wonder

Osigwe

they trooped out in their numbers last Sunday to pay their last respect to a man they described variously as humane, creative, amiable, hardworking and intelligent. Popular actress Rita Dominic led the Audrey Silva Crew to the special candle light ceremony. Popular actor Kanayo Kanayo was one of the early attendees so for notable creative personalities like Fred Amata,

Chinwe Egwuagwu, Teco Benson, Desmond Eliot, Zik Zulu Okafor Mike Nliam, Chioma Akpotha, Ngozi Nwosu, Segun Arinze who hosted the event, Ibinabo Fiberisima, Zeb Ejiro, Chico Ejiro, Fidelis Duker and his wife Temitope Duker, Sunny Mcdon W, Norbert Ajeagbu who offered a short exhortation and Chidi Nwokeabia. Others include former President of the Screen Writers Guild Tony Anih, Chika Chukwu, Mildred Okwo, Obi Osotule and Leo Mezie. Tributes came from President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) Zik Zulu Okafor, from Paul Obazele, from the film journalist Shaibu Husseini who chairs the selection panel of the AMAA, from Zeb Ejiro and from members of the Osigwe family including the eldest daughter of the deceased. The late Nze Michael Osigwe will be interred on Friday December 19, 2014 at the Osigwe’s family compound at Nkwerre, Imo State. A funeral mass to be held at St. Thomas Catholic Church will precede the interment ceremony.

Censors Board approves 59 films for November

he National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) have approved a total of 59 movies for the month of November 2014. The approved movies comprise 12 feature length films for cinema exhibition and 47 for home viewing. A breakdown of the movies approved for home viewership shows Yoruba and English language categories tying at 22 movies each while Hausa Language films are three. The approved movies are to be released with their respective consumer advisories for imitable technique, strong language, violence, drug abuse

Patricia Bala

and fetish rituals. Seven movies were classified “18” for cinema exhibition. They include “Swelter”, “November Man”, “What If ”, “A Walk Among the Tombstones”, “A Most Wanted Man”, “Snow Piercer”, and “Automata”. Some of the English “15”-rated movies include “A Few Good Men”, “Apaye”,

“Beloved Twins”, and “Blind Choir”, while some Yoruba movies of the same rating include, “Adun Aye” and “Adura Oluwa”. Among “18”-rated English movies are “Akanu the Destroyer” and “First to Get Her” while Yoruba Language movies of the same rating include “Afa Olorun”, “Amope Onijangban” and “Anikulapo Leyi”. In this category is also “Kankare”, a Hausa movie. The National Film and Video Censors Board in a statement signed by its new acting Head of Corporate Affairs Mike Ekunno, reaffirms its resolve to attend to submitted movies with utmost dispatch.

Lancelot Imaseun’s Invasion 1897 still in cinemas ancelot Imasuen’s histori- that it was announced as one The movie is spearheading a L cal epic, ‘Invasion 1897’, has of the nominees for Best Movie Nollywood invasion of Nigewitnessed record attendance at (Drama) at the AMVCA 2015 rian cinemas, which has seen cinemas across Nigeria since it was released on December 5, 2014. There has been unanimous agreement among moviegoers that it is one of the best movies of 2014. It is no surprise

nominee’s announcement last Wednesday. Impressively, ‘Invasion 1897 has reportedly outperformed Hollywood titles at various locations across the country.

Nollywood movies taking over from Hollywood movies at the Nigerian box office. The epic is based on the invasion of the great Benin Kingdom by the British in 1897, which saw the deposition of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi. The movie parades an impressive cast, which includes Mike Omoregbe, Segun Arinze, Rudolph Walker, Charles Inojie, Paul Obazele, Justus Esiri, Charles ‘Chucky’ Venn, and Leo Mezie. Moviegoers say they have found stunning and captivating, the power of the story, visual effect, performance of the actors as well as the rich display of culture in the film that is still running in cinemas.

Scene from the Broken Angel

Sat, 20 Dec Aston Villa vs. Manchester United 3:45pm SuperSport Select 2 Sun, 28 Dec West Ham United vs. Arsenal 3:50pm SuperSport Select 2 Spanish La Liga Sat, 20 Dec Eibar vs. Valencia 7:55pm SuperSport Select 2 Italian Serie A Thurs, 18 Dec Napoli vs. Roma 8:55pm SuperSport Select 2 Akwa Ibom Christmas Concert The Akwa Ibom Christmas concert will be aired live on GOtv’s events channel (29). Channel 29 will be open from 19-Dec-14 at 4pm to 21-Dec-14 at 6pm and will be accessible to GOtv Plus subscribers only. The 2014 Akwa Ibom Christmas concert will bring a 9999 man–band choir performing live. Disney Junior Julius Junior teaches little kids that the best inventions are often the ones that help you and your friends. The show combines equal parts imagination and inventiveness so make sure you don’t miss out on the latest episode which airs on Disney Junior on Friday 19 December at 10:55am Telemundo My Heart beat for Lola Marathon on Sunday from 5pm to 8:20pm. E!

GOgetters can catch up on back to back episodes of Kourtney and Khloe Take the Hamptons from 8pm on Friday, December 19 BET BET Presents: Tuface Idibia on 4pm on Sunday, December 21st Run’s House Run’s House! Hip Hop’s First Family comes to BET! Led by patriarch Rev Run, the Simmons family opens their doors and their hearts to our cameras, proving that a family that prays

together stays together. For six seasons, we follow the ups and downs of the Simmons family as Rev Run and his wife Justine parent in their own unique and effective way, navigating their family with grace and class in good times and bad. Watch as The Rev strikes a balance between being a father, a reverend and an icon. On BET, channel 22 Monday to Thursday at 11:00pm. 3. SONY ENTERTAINMENT • Jurassic Park When an incident results in the death of an employee, Jurassic Park owner John Hammond brings in three specialists to sign off on the park to calm investors. The specialists, paleontologist Alan Grant, Paleobotanist Ellie Sattler and chaos theorist Ian Malcolm are Surprised to see the island park’s main attraction are living, breathing dinosaurs, created with a mixture of fossilized DNA and genetic crossbreeding/cloning. However, when lead programmer Dennis Nedry shuts down the park’s power to sneak out with samples of the dinosaur embryos to sell to a corporate rival, the dinosaurs break free. On Sony Entertainment Television, channel 20 at 7:00pm on 22 December • Monster-in-Law Charlie Cantilini played by Jennifer Lopez, bounces through life in L.A., she refuses to settle down, or limit her options, until she meets Kevin played by Michael Vartan, the man of her dreams, who then proposes. Everything is fine until she meets Kevin’s mother Viola played by Jane Fonda, a Jane Paulie-esque television journalist who has lost her long time job and is determined not to lose anything else, especially her only son. On Sony Entertainment Television, channel 20 at 7:00pm on 25 December

Entertainment

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Bevista boss wins House of Representatives seat I enjoyed among my people with the mere mention of the name Benny Obaze! I was shocked how people simply identified me as the force and face behind Bevista, and that simply showed me the gains and virtues of hard work because I have for about two decades to build this brand, and it had turned out as a well loved brand, which goes to show that in life there is no compromise to excellence or hard work’’ Hon. Obaze appealed to the youths to always believe in the beauty of their dream and to always endeavor to read good books, get sound education, and learn the etiquette of good manners. They should also find a good mentor, work hard and try by all means to turn away from all criminal habits that can destroy their future.’”

Obaze with wife

Stories by Sony Neme

istory was made last week when a Lagos based showbiz impresario, business man and philanthropist, Chief Benny Obaze emerged victorious at the People Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the Federal House of Representatives, representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, in Anambra State, Nigeria. American trained Obaze, a strong believer in the Sir Bernard Malamud philosophy: ‘’If there is no fight, there is no freedom,’’ took everyone by surprise in his political aspirations. It came as a surprise because prior to now, he had not gone public in his ambition to seek high stake political office. Chief Obaze who made fame with the high trend style brand called Bevista, a female line, Rivista, and an exclusive hat palace, Jevista, disclosed that he is going to politics simply to better the life of his people. According to Obaze, “Only a foolish man lives in affluence when his people suffer and lacks in physical, emotions and socio-economic wants of

life. It is such desire that I have as a big burden that motivated me to seek for a voice from the federal house of representative. He further stressed that, “My cardinal goal is that our people of Ogbaru must be better, we must seek to give the people what is deserving of them, and I have been around. And it is only logical that one of the best ways to set our people on greater part is by having a voice from the federal seat.” Chief Obaze who shocked everybody by keeping his political plan close to his heart before now, revealed that he was motivated by the proverbial warning that empty vassals make the loudest noise. His words: ‘’I knew it is a common trend in glamour world for people to talk big of their dreams before it comes to light, but I never wanted to make such mistake hence I kept the plan to myself until I got the elusive primaries ticket in my hands”. He said the biggest lesson he learnt during his campaign trail was the unexpected crowd he encountered. His words: “I was held in awe of the mammoth support

BRIEF FACT ABOUT BENNY OBAZE A native of Uchuche Umuoda, Obgaaru,Anambra State, Nigeria. Benny Obaze is the President/CEO of Bevista, a men’s designer fashion franchise in Nigeria. He had wide and varied experience in the fashion design, production and marketing industry. At different times he was on the managerial staff of key fashion industries in the United States including Children’s Place, Liz Claiborne and Gitano. After leaving Gitano where he was the Special Project Manager for merchandising in the early 1990’s he founded Bevista - a company that prides itself as the flagship and source of power and new millennium dresses that gives a pride of place to quality elite casuals. He has since opened a female line and hat shops in Lagos, and few other states across the Country, Nigeria He is widely traveled and has attended fashion fairs in the US, Germany and France. He is currently trying his hands in the high scale world of politics, where he hopes to start as a member of the Federal house of Representative.

Music artistes clean out Headies CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 25

premiere 360 degrees entertainment solutions company with primary focus on music. They partner with clients to device and execute the strategies to earn results that snowball into major brand marketing strides, thriving careers and sustained market leadership position. Subsidiaries of the company include Now Muzik Recordings, Now Muzik Management, Buckwyld Media, Scriptorial PR and NM Encore which is the

events arm of the company. Now Muzik has represented some of the industry’s biggest names including Sunny Neji, Paul Play Dairo, Rugged man, ill Bliss, Obiwon, Niyola, Tunde and Wunmi Obe, Faze, Timi Dakolo, Mr. Raw and many more. The company currently has in its management and/or label roaster top talents like Naeto C, EFA, Niyola, Toni Tones, Rocksteady, Tony Oneweek, 2face Idibia, Rocksteady, K Slim, Romeo, Loos Kollectiv and hit maker/producer J Davido Sleek.

LYRICS FOR THE WEEK

El ft 2Face-Hold On INTRO: Just hold on. And be strong. It wont be long. It would be alright VERSE1: When I woke up. This morning. Looking at myself. E be like say I’m shining. See the blessings multiplying. Just like the bird in the sky I’m flying. So divining. We inclining. Take it from me I see good things are piling E be okay. Call me one day. Make we stay cool stay cool and keep smiling. No retreat no surrender. Don’t you give up your fight you’re winner. Easy eh eh eh. Its gonna get easy eh eh eh. Don’t you back down. People stand up. If you know you are in put your hands up. Its gonna get easy eh eh eh. Its gonna get easy eh eh eh. CHORUS: Just hold on. And be strong. It wont be long. E go be alright Just hold on. And be strong. It wont be long. Its gonna be alright VERSE 2: If anyone talk say you no go make am na lie na lie. Bone them make you get up on your story. Just try. Just try. No forget say na baba God give you this life life So no let anything to stop you from going so high high. See I doesn’t matter what you do or what you are into. You have to believe in yourself and live through easy eh eh eh. Its gonna get easy eh eh eh. So don’t forget where you are coming from and

where you are going. No pain no gain keep going. Easy eh eh eh. Its gonna get easy eh eh eh. CHORUS: Just hold on. And be strong. It wont be long. E go be alright Just hold on. And be strong. It wount be long. Its gonna be alright VERSE 3: Stand up stand up for something. Don’t let your doubting stop your moving. Its not easy I’m not pretending. To tell you the truth t take a lot to work in. So I stand in front of you and say. Don’t give up cos you will make it one day. Cos quitters never win and winners never quit. If you try and you fail don’t be shy of defeat. Cos it takes a lot of courage to keep on moving. So stand up on your feet. Your mistakes don’t repeat Instead you learn from it. Its 2baba and jo el o. We don talk our own o. If you like make you take am as a joke o. If you like make you use am it will work for you. Eh! CHORUS: Just hold on. And be strong. It wount be long. E go be alright Just hold on. And be strong. It wount be long. Its gonna be alright. Just hold on. And be strong. It wount be long. E go be alright Just hold on. And be strong. It wount be long. Its gonna be alright OUTRO: Just hold on. And be strong. It wont be long. E go be alright

Lyrics, Compiled by Shola Adefuwa

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Labour

Agric

Why FG wants to end oil workers’ strike, by union

Why DISCOs are hoarding pre-paid meters, by NUEE

Netherlands offers Nigerian farmers technical assistance

Business What's news

Cassava: Nigeria can overtake Brazil, says expert Nigeria has the potential to overtake Brazil in cassava cultivation, a Brazilian mechanisation expert, Marcos Develdove, has said.

p.30

Base stations: NCC, NESREA agree on new guidelines FEAR There continues to be increased public fear on the possiblity of telecoms equipment causing health risks

guidelines have thus created regulatory clashes between the Federal Government agencies. However, speaking at the Second West African Conference on Electromagnetic Fields

Exposure and Health organised by the NCC in Lagos, the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Eugene Juwah, said that the two agencies were working to harmonise their

guidelines to bring about rancour-free regulations. Represented by the NCC’s Executive Commissioner, TechCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Kunle Azeez

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

Abdulwahab Isa

wo agencies of government, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), have harmonised positions on what should be the acceptable setback guidelines that should be complied with when telecoms firms are siting their base transceiver stations (BTS). Henceforth, in extreme cases, the setback will now be a minimum of seven meters. Setback is the distance (in metres) between the foot of a base station and the nearest residential infrastructure. Nigeria currently has over 29,000 telecoms base stations, scattered all over the country, with a large number of them located within residential areas. This has, over the years, been raising fears in residents on the possible health hazards of those telecoms towers based on their proximity to where people live. While the telecoms regulator, NCC, has been implementing a five-metre setback for telecoms operators when building their telecoms towers, NESREA had insisted on 10 metres. The disparity in the setback

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

L-R: Chief Strategist, GEMFONDS Plc, Said DeSaque; Executive Director, The Infrastructure Bank Plc (TIB), Hakeem Olopade; Managing Director/CEO TIB, Adekunle Oyinloye; Chief Executive, GEMFONDS, Daniel Broby; Partner, Sigrun Partners SL, José Altadill and Managing Partner, GEMFONDS, Brice Beumo at the execution of the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund 1 in London... recently.

Nigeria excluded from $34bn global disaster events Sunday Ojeme

otal economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made disasters were $113 billion in 2014, down from $135 billion in 2013, according to preliminary sigma estimates. Out of the total economic losses, insurers covered $34

billion in 2014, down 24 per cent from $45 billion in 2013. This year, disaster events have claimed around 11,000 lives. In 2012, weeks of heavy rains resulted in widespread flooding across southern and central sections of Nigeria, where at least 10 people died and 25,000 homes were submerged in areas around the

country. Nigerian insurers, however, did not record significant claims payments in this regard since the disaster mainly affected peasants and those without insurance cover. Of the estimated total economic losses of $113 billion in 2014, natural catastrophes CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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

(Parellel As at Dec. 12)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N189 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N293 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N232

l Foreign Reserves – $35.74bn as at 12/12/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Dec. 12)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N264.50 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N210.31

Business | News

SOLUTION

Private sector-driven mechanised farming is the antidote Dele Alao

igeria has the potential to overtake Brazil in cassava cultivation, a Brazilian mechanisation expert, Marcos Develdove, has said. He made the remark during the Training the Trainer Workshop on cassava farming mechanisation organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abraka, Delta State. A report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO) had said that Nigeria could earn at least $1.3 billion from cassava chips export in 2014 out of the current production of about $18 billion. The expert noted that 10 years ago, Brazil was going through what Ni-

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cassava: Nigeria can overtake Brazil, says expert geria is presently experiencing, stressing that he was optimistic that the country could harvest more tonnage than what Brazil presently gets per hectare. Also, Special Technical Assistant to the Minister, Dr. Martin Fregene, said that Nigeria could not build a robust starch or cassava flour industry on small farmers as suppliers of raw materials without embracing mechanisation. Dr. Oyebola Oyebanji who chaired the workshop, said that mechanisation was fast becoming a method of farming under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of President Goodluck Jonathan. “People thought we are not doing enough. A

lot of good work is going on. We have to do knowledge management to promote all the activities we are doing,” he said. Consultant engineer on the mechanised cassava farm currently being operated by the Federal

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Abraka, Tony Egba, noted that cassava for industry was different from cassava for food. “For industry, it is important to produce cassava at high gross

margins. Cassava must be produced in the right quantity, at the right quality and at the right price for it to be attractive to industrial users. “The only way this can be done is through mechanisation,” he said.

According to the engineer, in order to meet the demand for 10 per cent cassava inclusion in flour policy, it is important to mechanise contiguous farms. “For this reason, the Federal Government took the initiative to facilitate the establishment of large mechanised cassava farms, which will be run on private initiative to make feed stock available for 10 per cent cassava flour in bread,” he said.

NCC, NESREA agree on new guidelines CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

nical Services, Mr Ubale Maska, Juwah said that following the rancour that ensued between the two agencies in the past, efforts have been made to harmonise positions towards further ensuring that base stations are sited in a way that will not cause health risks. Juwah said: “There have been issues on setback guidelines before now. But the agreement is now seven meters. For new site, it should be 10 metres, while existing sites only need to comply with the NCC provision of five metres.” He, however, said that in a situation, where 10-metre setback is not attainable because of space, “NCC and NESREA officials will visit the site, assess the situation and approve minimum of seven metres setback.” He said that the conference was important owing to the continuous growth the industry is witnessing and the need to deploy more base stations for enhanced quality of service while allaying public fears that BTS induce health risks. The EVC said that with the total number of 134.5 million connected lines and a teledensity of 96 per cent, “Nigeria has only about 29,000 base stations for both Global Systems for Mobile (GSM) operators and Cod Division Multiple Access (CDMA) providers as against the estimated

national requirement of between 70,000 and 80,000 BTS. He said: “Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) studies are yet to find any clear risk or health hazards associated with electromagnetic fields based on current findings, as responsible regulators and governments, we need to constantly be on top of the game by keeping the citizenry informed. “We also have an obligation to keep telecoms users reassured as information becomes available regarding any health risks associated with electromagnetic fields, which need to be properly considered and reported during the rollout of new technologies as they become available.” Earlier, Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, who was represented by Director of Planning and Research at the ministry, Mr Oluwole Edun, attributed the health fears about telecoms equipment to the ubiquitous nature of telecoms equipment and services. Meanwhile, National Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, has called for an independent research and development (R&D) by the regulator to ascertain the impacts of exposure to base stations and other telecoms equipment.

L-R: Mantrac Large Projects Manager, Julian Carrasco; General Manager, Power Systems Sales, Ibrahim Bassiouny; Segment Manager (Nigeria), Investor and Large Projects, Mohamed Abou El Wafa and Managing Director, Edmund Martin-Lawson, at the Mantrac Consultant day in Lagos PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

caused $106 billion, down from $126 billion in 2013. The outcome is well below the average annual $188 billion loss figure of the previous 10 years. The loss of 11,000 lives from natural catastrophe and man-made disaster events this year is down from the over 27,000 fatalities in 2013. Insured losses for 2014 are estimated to be $34 billion, of which $29 billion were triggered by natural catastrophe events compared with $37 billion in 2013. Man-made disasters generated the additional $5 billion in insurance losses in 2014. This year started with extreme winter conditions in the US and Japan and, as the year drew to a close, the Northeast US was once again gripped by very low temperatures and heavy snow. The storms in the US at the beginning of 2014 alone caused insured losses of $1.7 billion. This is above the average full-year winter storm loss number of $1.1 billion of the previous 10 years. In mid-May, a spate of strong storms with large hail stones hit many parts of the US over a five-day period, resulting in insured losses of $2.9 billion, the highest of the year. The North Atlantic hurricane season was relatively mild again in 2014. No major hurricane made landfall in the US, the ninth year run-

Nigeria excluded from $34bn global disaster events ning that this has happened. However, Hurricane Odile from the East Pacific impacted Mexico in September. Strong winds and heavy rains resulted in insured losses of $1.6 billion, as Odile hit the Cabo San Lucas and other tourist resort areas in which there are a number of hotels and where commercial insurance penetration is relatively high. This made Hurriance Odile the second most costly catastrophe event in Mexico ever after Hurricane Wilma in 2005. On the other side of the Pacific, the Philippines was once again hit by a typhoon at the beginning of December. Early loss estimates for Typhoon Hagupit indicate less damage than Typhoon Haiyan caused in 2013. Also, evacuation procedures based on lessons learned from the Haiyan experience has meant less loss of life than otherwise may have been. In Europe, a series of small loss-inducing weather events hit different countries at the beginning of the year. One major event was wind and hail storm Ela in June, which caused significant damage to properties and vehicles in parts of France, Germany

and Belgium, resulting in overall insured losses of $2.7 billion. Bulgaria was also hit by hail activity in June. Other severe weather events were heavy rains and flooding in the UK, Serbia, Croatia, Italy and France at different times during the year. In Asia, monsoon rains in September brought extensive flooding and damage across India and Pakistan. These floods have claimed the largest number of lives of any flood event in 2014. The following month, India was hit by another extreme event, this time, Cyclone Hudhud on the east coast. Where there was excessive rain in some places, other areas of the world had little. For example, some areas in China had a very dry summer, leading to severe drought conditions that affected agricultural output. The loss estimates for these events are not yet known. The estimates in this release include all latest updates to source data made by November 28, 2014. On-going events and revisions to estimates for previous ones may further change the 2014 loss outcomes. Estimates in dollar terms for prior years are in 2014 prices.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

More NULGE members demand autonomy p.32 CONSULTATION Stakeholders in frantic effort to resolve impasse Sunday Ojeme

ederal Government’s decision to hurriedly put an end to the strike embarked upon by members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PEGASSAN) has been attributed to fears of losing more money if the industrial action eventually impacts heavily on the upstream. An official in one of the unions, who disclosed this to New Telegraph on a condition of anonymity, said the Federal Government had called the meeting this week as part of efforts to ensure that the issues that led to the strike were quickly discussed and resolved. He said, “It is very likely that the Federal Government will do everything possible to put an end to the strike. The meeting being called tomorrow yesterday is meant to ensure that the strike does not continue. The Federal Government does not want it to impact much on the upstream because that is where they get their money from. “That is not to say that the unions would cave in and accept just anything they say. We have our demands and we are going to table everything.” New Telegraph also gathered that the meeting that was initially called on Tuesday but later postponed to yesterday (Thursday) was cancelled as the supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity could not arrive the venue on time due to logistic reasons. It will be recalled that the Federal Government had invited the union leaders for a meeting in Abuja for a possible resolution of the issues that led to the strike. Early impact During the first and second day of the strike, most depots were shut and there was no loading. At Ejigbo depot, some tankers that loaded earlier in the day were restricted but later allowed to move out of the depot because of the danger attached. At the Apapa depot and those owned by Mobil and Oando, there was total compliance, while there was skeletal work by NUPENG members at Total depot, which was later stopped in the course of the day. In Warri, there was no loading, but NUPENG members were seen wearing red to signify their protest. Port Harcourt was also not left out as there was total compliance in all oil and gas locations, including the upstream and midstream as the loading bays were shut.

Labour

Lagos teachers want withheld allowances restored p.32

Why FG wants to end oil workers’ strike, by union

Oil workers. INSET: Alison-Madueke

Kaduna and Abuja also had their share of the strike as there was total compliance on the part of PENGASSAN members. In Kaduna, the gate of the Kaduna Refinery was shut and no entrance was allowed into the premises. There was no loading also in Kaduna. TUC’s lamentation Prior to the strike, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) had condemned Federal Government’s deliberate act in frustrating meetings meant to resolve oil workers’ grievances. While lamenting the unions’ decision to embark on industrial action, the Congress faulted the attitude and response of the concerned management and government agencies to burning national issues, oil and gas policy and institutional issues as well as cases of unfair labour practices. The union officials had made efforts to internally resolve the grievances at the instance of the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke, and other intervening agencies, which the concerned managements severally frustrated. The body called on the government to attend to all the reported issues as a matter of urgent national importance to avoid the backlash on the Nigerian public. It also deliberated on the state of the nation and other challenges confronting the labour movement, and called on the Federal Government to moderate the continued devaluation of

The Federal Government does not want it to impact much on the upstream because that is where they get their money from

the national currency, especially as its impact is already telling negatively on the real sector and all other facets of the Nigerian economy. For quite sometime now, there has been a public outcry for the government to review downward the pump price of petrol in line with the falling oil price at the international market. The TUC also made reference to this, saying that the prices of refined petroleum products had remained unchanged despite the significant fall of crude oil prices. It therefore called on the government to direct the appropriate agency to respond by adjusting the pump price of petroleum products, which will tone down the impact on the purchasing power by the devaluation of the naira. The strike was also to ensure that the government evolved new strategies to combat pipeline vandalisation and crude oil theft that have impacted negatively on the nation’s economy and employment in the country. More demands Other reasons for the strike are delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), global crude oil prices slump, non -implementation of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act to reflect Nigerians in management positions and expatriate quota law, appalling state of access roads to refineries and oil depots’ facilities. Others are insecurity all over the country that has led to the death of their members, appointments in gov-

ernment agencies in disregards to succession planning, compulsory deduction from workers’ salaries for the National Housing Fund (NHF), casualisation and contract staffing and unfair labour practice by companies and government agencies. The unfair labour practices listed by the oil workers under the aegis of NUPENG and PENGASSAN include transfer and termination of national officers of the two unions. The unions had resolved that the strike would not be suspended until there was a strong commitment from the government and affected managements/operators to resolve the issues. They said that the government had refused to honour all engagements and agreements reached with them on all their issues of concerns including the turn-around maintenance of the refineries and ensuring adequate supply of crude oil to the refineries to ensure that they functional effectively and efficiently. They also demanded that the government put in place alternative strategies to stop pipeline vandalisation and crude oil theft, convene an industry stakeholders’ forum on PIB status and falling crude oil prices as well as address the ongoing high rate divestment in the industry and its attendant job losses. On casualisation and contract staffing, NUPENG and PENGASSAN demanded immediate conversion of all contract staff to regular staff in accordance with the approved contract, casual and outsourcing in the oil and industry guidelines.

Business | Labour

Why DISCOs are hoarding pre-paid meters, by NUEE

DARKNESS Power has failed to improve even after privatisation Stories by Sunday Ojeme

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

he National Union of Electricity Employees has condemned the role of electricity Distribution Companies as regards scarcity of pre-paid meters. The union, speaking in Lagos through its General Secretary, Mr. Joe Ajaero, said new owners of recently privitised power sector distribution and generation firms were responsible for the shortages of the pre-paid meters. He said by making the prepaid metering system scarce, the new owners remained at liberty to continue to dish out

‘crazy bills’ to consumers of electricity in Nigeria. Ajaero said the new owners had contributed virtually nothing to improve power generation and distribution in the country, pointing out that the dire situation in the sector was costing the nation a great deal. He said right from the outset it was obvious the privitisation of the power sector was going to be fraught with numerous challenges. He added that there had been no investment made in the sector since the privitisation exercise was concluded. According to him, almost all the buyers of power and gener-

ating companies never brought any money into the power sector, what they did was to obtain money from banks at great interest rates to effect the purchases. The high interest loans they collected from banks is responsible for the increasingly high tariff and incorrect bills being passed on to consumers. He pointed out that the buyers were not only cronies and lackeys of top politicians and government officials, but that they also failed many critical tests of power sector privitisation when compared to other parts of the world where such exercises had taken place.

He noted that nowhere in the world where government completely hands off a crucial element of national development like the power sector to private individuals and groups. He added that even in developed nations like the United States of America and South Africa, their governments still generate and distribute huge megawatts of electricity for their people, despite the seemingly privitised power sectors. He said since the privatisation of the power sector, the so called investors who bought over the successor companies had been complaining of one

thing or the other, including inadequate gas supply, poor manpower base and obsolete equipment, as if they never did due diligence before they took over the plants. He stated that if the power firms were looking for excuses of non-performance since they took over, they should not put it on the workers. He affirmed that Nigerians, considering the riots and protests in Benin City over poor power supply and exorbitant billings, were already getting tired of the new owners of the nation’s generating and distributing companies.

FG re-appoints Onekhena as deputy commissioner

resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved the reappointment of Mr. George Onekhena as Deputy Commissioner for Insurance (Finance and Administration) at the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for a second term of five years. A statement from Head, Corporate Affairs, NAICOM, Mr. Rasaq Salami, said Onekhena’s reappointment was conveyed in a letter referenced SGF. 47/S.9/11/636, dated December 11, 2014 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim. The statement stated that the President’s action was in line with the provision of Section 11(5) of the National Insurance Commission Act 1997 and the reappointment was with effect from November 29, 2014. Onekhena was first ap-

pointed deputy commissioner for insurance in November 2009 by the President for a five year term. He completed his first five year term in November, 2014. During the period. Analysts said Onekhena displayed good knowledge of the insurance industry leading to the transformation being witnessed in the industry at the moment. The statement added that he was the head of a team that supervised the transition to the International Financial Reporting Standards by insurers in 2012. The team is currently moderating the seamless transition by insurance brokers to the IFRS. Onekhena, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), has made invaluable contributions to the commission and industry.

More NULGE members demand autonomy

ore local government workers under the aegis of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have joined their colleagues in the agitation for local government autonomy. In Rivers State, the third tier of government workers marched to the Rivers State House of Assembly in Port Harcourt to demand for autonomy. The council workers expressed dissatisfaction over the lawmakers’ failure to support LG autonomy as demanded by NULGE. The protesters, who blocked the old Government House, where the state lawmakers had been sitting, displayed placards with various inscriptions demanding for autonomy. In the same vein, NULGE) members in Ondo State

walked out of the Ondo State House of Assembly following failure of the members of the House of Assembly to pass the autonomy for local government. A protest followed at the premises of the assembly complex where the workers sang solidarity songs demanding that they be given autonomy They also threatened to vote against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the next general election coming up in February 2015. The President of the Ondo Chapter of NULGE, Dr. Eni Ayewu, said there was no reason for the rejection of the autonomy clause by the house. He said, “Out of the 17 papers presented at the public hearing, only three were against autonomy for local governments, the others supported. So what is the basis for reaching that decision?”

L-R: Corporate Affairs Director, British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN), Freddy Messanvi; National Sales Manager, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Limited, Jimeta Abubakar and Regional Sales Executive, Onifade Adeniyi, at the handing over of Peugeot cars to BATN in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Lagos teachers want withheld allowances restored

he Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) Lagos State chapter has appealed to the state government to restore all allowances being withheld. The state NUT Chairman, Mr. Segun Raheem, who made the appeal in Lagos, said some allowances that were paid by the previous administrations had been stopped. Raheem was speaking against the backdrop of some challenges being faced by teachers in the state. He said, “Government has not done anything specific for teachers. Otherwise, it has been a situation of allowances being enjoyed before that are being cut off. Such allowances are the sport allowances for the physical and health education teachers due to the rigorous work they are subjected to.

“Other allowances are the duty post allowances for head teachers to run their schools, rural/ riverine allowances for those who teach in such areas, mathematics and science allowances, among others.” He said government was making effort to discourage teachers by its refusal to pay the outstanding 11.3 per cent of the Teachers Scheme Allowance (TSA). He alleged that the payment of these allowances was long overdue, saying that various appeals had been made to the government and all these had proved abortive. Raheem said that the teachers in the state public schools were being over burdened as there had not been employment of teachers in the state for 12 years. “Our teachers have been

dying, retiring and leaving the service and there has been no replacement. “This is telling on our teachers and the pupils because the teachers cannot do beyond their capacity. “Even in the secondary schools, there is what we call review of teachers, it is at that time we experience a wrong distribution of subject. “We have experienced cases of a teacher who is a major in Economics being made to teach English or Social Studies major made to teach Integrated Science. “It could be attributed to shortfall of teachers in secondary schools too. “All these are the challenges and if they are put in place, it is an indication of motivation that will appeal to teachers to do more,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

A gric

Sorghum prices may exceed corn values in 2014-15 p.34 DISAPPOINTMENT High standing guarantors keep many from participating in agriculture

ouths in the country have raised their voices against the hurdles created by stringent conditions attached to land and loans acquisition for farming by banks. The youths, some of who

Youths decry hurdles to land, loan acquisitions are farmers, while speaking at the second edition of Youth Summit on Agriculture in Abuja, listed demands for high-standing guarantors, which include directors in ministries, top politicians and wealthy businessmen as dis-

Pineapple farmers seek improved knowledge T he Umediunor Pineapple Farmers’ Co-operative Society, Umunede, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, have appealed to government to provide extension services to its members. Its chairman, Mr. Fred Uwajeh, said that they needed urgent education on modern techniques of farming for improved productivity. Uwajeh noted that lack of education on farming innovations and practices were hampering their productivity. He said: “Over the years, our members have relied on traditional farming methods to cultivate pineapple and this has contributed to the poor output of the farmers. We want more knowledge to enhance our farming methods and improve productivity, most especially now that pineapple is in high demand. “If we can get better education on modern farming meth-

ods and have access to improved species of pineapple suckers, it will help us increase our productivity,” Uwajeh added. According to him, the society has been a major supplier of pineapples to Onitsha, PortHarcourt, Benin and Warri. He said that many of the farmers started pineapple farming on a small-scale, but had, over the years, expanded their farms. “This cooperative society is a major supplier of pineapple to some major cities in the country. Many of us have between three and five pineapple farms. After harvesting, we pull our resources together to transport the product to markets in Onitsha, Benin, Warri, PortHarcourt and other cities.” “Pineapple farming is a major income earner and I believe that with better education and farming incentives, we can increase production and our market outreach,” he said.

Agricultural Commodity Prices – Grains Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat Spring Wheat

couraging and has kept many of them from participating in agriculture. They also cited challenges to acquisition of legitimate lands with approved papers and substantial loans for farm equipment as some of the other factors inhibiting their participation in agribusiness. Relaying his experience, a young entrepreneur, Paul Nwadike, alleged that many banks requested unattainable documents to dissuade young entrepreneurs from agriculture. He said: “We have been asked several times to float cooperatives in order to gain access to the loans approved for us

in commercial banks, but the processes are too rigorous for us. The bank even asked me to provide my mother’s birth certificate which is very difficult to do; they demand such impossible things to make sure we don’t get loans,” he said. Nwadike called for unity farmlands where government could acquire specially for youths across the country to encourage increased youth participation in farming. Another young farmer, Sanni Abdulhakeem, said that many banks used the impression that young farmers are ‘start-ups’ to refuse them loans. Minister of Agriculture and

Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who responded to these complaints, assured the young farmers that negotiations were ongoing to address these challenges. He said: “We are still talking and appealing to banks that although they are dealing excellently with agro-dealers through the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS), they should also consider real and young farmers. The ministry is not resting on its oars to ensure the disbursement of every fund approved by the Federal Government to Nigerian farmers including young farmers.”

Cassava plantation

Price 638-2 410-0 1027-4 359.1 31.96 315-0 12.170 668-2 648-6

Change +3-0 -0-6 -5-4 -1.8 -0.15 -1-4 +0.080 +2-2 +3-2

Contract Mar 15 Mar 15 Jan 15 Jan 15 Jan 15 Mar 15 Jan 15 Mar 15 Mar 15

Time(ET) 09:09 09:09 09:09 09:09 09:09 08:54 09:01 09:09 09:09

Price 60.06 149.60 178.90 14.82 2931 24.85 1.7800 0.1472 2914.00 0.5980 336.70

Change -0.16 +0.85 -4.35 +0.09 -4 unch -0.0115 +0.0001 unch +0.0002 +1.70

Contract Mar 15 Jan 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Jan 15

Time(ET) 09:09 09:09 09:09 09:09 09:09 12/17/14 08:56 08:17 12/17/14 07:21 09:08

Softs Commodity Cotton #2 Orange Juice Coffee Sugar #11 Cocoa Sugar #16 CME Coffee CME Sugar #11 CME Cocoa CME Cotton #2 Lumber

Cashew farmers decry lack of support p.34

Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price. Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

EMPOWERMENT Boost for crop production next year

Netherlands offers Nigerian farmers technical assistance

armers in Nigeria will, from next year, enjoy technical assistance from the government of Netherlands in other to increase their crops production. The Head of Netherlands Representation in Lagos, Mr. Michel Deelen, said that his home government plans to provide Nigerian farmers with technical assistance to increase their crops production. According to him, it was imperative for Netherlands to support Nigeria because of the existing cordial relationship between both countries in different areas. The agriculture sector, the envoy noted, was one major area of cooperation where Netherlands would sustain relationship with Nigeria in

the years ahead. “Agriculture is one major area of Netherlands’ cooperation with Nigeria and this is expected to grow in the years ahead. “Netherlands was actually the number one destination count for Nigerian agricultural products in 2013. We are, therefore, going to be giving technical assistance to Nigerian farmers to boost their crops production in 2015,’’ he said. Deelen, also the deputy Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, said that his country depended largely on Nigeria’s cocoa and other products. The envoy, who expressed optimism that the assistance would increase the farmers’ production in the year and beyond, said that Nigerian farmers could be made

to grow from subsistence farmers to larger ones. He said: “We are, therefore, going to be sharing our experiences in products development with Nigerian farmers so that farmers can improve on their agricultural products in the years ahead. We strongly believe that Nigerian farmers can grow from being subsistence into big mechanised farmers producing for local and international consumption.” Deelen said that his government was committed to investing in Nigeria’s agriculture and development of animal feed companies. He said that the Netherlands Embassy in Nigeria would continue to facilitate agricultural development services for Nigerian farmers.

Business | Agric

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sorghum prices may exceed corn values in 2014-15

orghum prices may top corn values this season for the first time in eight years, at the US farm gate level. This is attributed to soaring demand from China, which is “bidding up prices,” to the detriment of some traditional buyers. The US Department of Agriculture, expanding on upgraded crop forecasts last week, highlighted that it was, unusually, forecasting corn and sorghum prices averaging the same in 2014-15, at $3.20-3.80 a bushel. Sorghum prices have, over the last 10 years, averaged 6.4 per cent cheaper than corn values. However, the USDA highlighted the potential for sorghum to turn the

Cashew farmers decry lack of support

ashew farmers in some parts of the country may cut down the sizes of their plantations if the Federal Government did not come to their aids. Chairman of the Cashew Farmers Association in Surulere Local Government Area of Kwara State, John Alagbe, said that buyers were offering ridiculous prices for cashew, thereby impoverishing the farmers in the area. “The people coming to buy our cashew are not helping us; they are offering poor prices and because we do not want to lose, we have no option than to sell. We have decided to cut down the size of our plantations and diversify to other crops that will benefit us,” he said. He added: “The traders come to buy the cashew at N100 or N150 per five kilogrammes, which is very bad. So we appeal to government to come to our rescue by regulating the market.” The chairman pleaded that government should buy cashew directly from farmers to prevent glut. Also, the national spokesperson of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Mr. Sotonye Anga, who confirmed the farmers’ threat, said that he had advised the farmers against cutting cashew production. Anga said that the association has been discussing with government on the need to establish a Cashew Marketing Cooperative outlet.

tables, noting that “sorghum prices rose above corn in 2006-07,” when they reached $3.30 a bushel. Corn prices average $3.03 a bushel that season. The USDA said that a rise in sorghum prices to corn price levels, and potentially beyond, is not without precedent. The forecast reflects in part on some disappointment over US corn exports - following a record harvest - with a firm start to 2014-15 for shipments softening last month.

Corn exports, as measured by cargo inspections, “for November, at only 2.4 million tonnes, were sluggish,” the USDA said, flagging limitations to US infrastructure in saying the performance was “partly because of heavy soybean exports and lingering logistical issues.” By contrast, US sorghum exports are seen at a seven-year high of 5.8 million tonnes, supported by record Chinese imports of 5.0 million tonnes “based

on the pace of shipments and sales.” On the US export market, sorghum was quoted at $251 a tonne late last month, widening its premium over corn to $61 a tonne, according to the International Grains Council, which also noted that “buoyant demand from China continued to underpin the market.” The popularity of sorghum reflects, in part, the absence in China of tariff rate quotas, but also the lack of controversy over

genetically modified varieties, as there is in corn. US exports of corn to China have slumped to 57,300 tonnes so far in 2014-15, compared with 1.96 million tonnes as of the same period of last season, as rejections of cargos over claims of containing a Syngenta variety unapproved in Beijing have prompted importers to seek alternative origins or grains. There is also talk of Ukraine being unable to deliver on all the 1.1 mil-

lion tonnes it has contracted to sell to China, as part of a loan deal. US sorghum exports to China, meanwhile, have soared four-fold to 1.79 million tonnes since the start of September, with a further 2.24 million tonnes on order, taking total commitments to 4.03 million tonnes, compared with 1.05 million tonnes a year ago. “However, with China bidding up prices, Japan’s (sorghum) imports have slowed,” the USDA said.

Business | Movers, Shakers & Careers

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Airtel gets Chief Sales Officer

irtel Nigeria has promoted its erstwhile Regional Operations Director, South, Mr. Godfrey Efeurhobo, to the position of Chief Sales Officer. Efeurhobo, according to a statement, will be responsible for Airtel Nigeria’s regional operation teams, the central sales team and the distribution teams. He will report to the office of the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director as a member of the Executive Council. Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the company, Segun Ogunsanya, said that Efeurhobo’ s promotion was in fulfilment of Airtel’s commitment to taking big bets on its organically groomed talents and to reward consistent performance. He said: “Airtel will continue to empower exceptional local talents in line with our corporate philosophy of recognising and rewarding high performers. “Without a doubt, Efeurhobo is an exceptional talent. Under his leadership, our South Region doubled its

Revenue and Customer Market Share and his team in the South has also consistently ranked in the topmost percentile in employee engagement.” Efeurhobo brings to his new role, over 15 years’ experience, most of which have been in the telecommunications industry. He started his professional career with PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria before joining Econet Wireless Nigeria in 2002 and was appointed company Secretary in 2003. He was actively involved in the different acquisition negotiations that saw the company go through five organisational changes. In 2007, he was appointed as the Head of the Commercial Division in the Lagos region, where he was responsible for ensuring that all key performance indicators for the commercial function in the Lagos region were met. In 2008, he was appointed Director of Programmes and Strategy to oversee the Project Management Office (PMO) and in 2009, he moved to the Commercial Group as Director

Aragba-Akpore heads NCC’s media he Nigerian Com- Communications SatT munications Com- ellite Limited (NIGmission (NCC) has COMSAT. appointed Mr. Sonny Aragba-Akpore as its Head of Media. The board of the Commission approved the appointment. Aragba-Akpore, one of the longest serving pioneers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) reporting in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector worked at The Guardian between 1991 and 2010 and managed the news desk before joining Nigerian

Aragba-Akpore

According to a statement by Director, Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, Aragba-Akpore holds both the Bachelors (B.A) and Masters (MA) degrees in English Language from the University of Lagos. Aragba-Akpore joins Reuben Muoka who is now in-charge of the Public Relations Unit of the Public Affairs Department of the Commission. Muoka, another pioneer ICT journalist and PR practitioner, used to be with Vanguard newspapers before joining MTS First Wireless as Head of Public Relation, and later the NCC. He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos and is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Associate member of the Advertising Practitioners Council and a member of the International Association of Business Communicators (ABC).

First indigenous female CEO for Siemens S iemens Nigeria has appointed Mrs. Onyeche Tifase as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment makes her the company’s first female and indigenous head. Tifase, according to a statement, takes over from former CEO, Michael Lakota. She will be tasked with deepening the German company’s reach across Africa’s largest economy. With Nigeria’s high demand for integrated technology and medical diagnostics equipment, Tifase’s ability to maintain Siemens position

as a leading production industry is paramount. In a congratulatory message to Tifase, the Managing Director of Ese-Tech Nig. Ltd, Femi Ayeni, said her appointment came as no surprise to those acquainted with her work. He also wished her the best in her endeavours. He said: “Although such position comes with tremendous responsibilities, we have implicit confidence in your vision and ability to get the job done against the most formidable as evidenced in your track record.”

Efeurhobo

Commercial Strategy and Planning. He was subsequently appointed as Regional Operations Director for the South Region in 2010, a position he held until his current appointment. He is a dynamic professional with experience and exposure spanning corporate advisory services, legal consultancy, company secretarial, alternate

dispute resolution, corporate governance, sales and distribution, operations management, commercial strategy and planning and program management. He is an alumnus of a number of prestigious institutions of higher learning including London Business School, University of Liverpool, University of Lagos and Ambrose Alli University.

Tifase

Three professionals join IGI board

hree professionals have been named members of the Board of Directors of the Industrial and General Insurance Plc (IGI). They are Yayale Ahmed and Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, both former heads of service of the federation, and Mr. Ken Aigbinode, a chartered accountant. According to a statement, were appointed to fill existing vacancies on the board following the death of some members, including two founding directors, Pa Ola Vincent and Dr. Abdulateef Adegbite. The company’s Founder and Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Remi Olowude, also passed away on September 26, 2014, after a brief illness. Their appointment was ratified by shareholders of the company at its 21st annual general meeting held in Lagos. Principal Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Steve Ilo, said in a statement

that the strengthening of the company’s board was part of the strategic restructuring initiated by the late Executive Vice Chairman. He noted: “This is part of a phased repositioning of the company as envisioned by the late EVC. It is an on-going reform aimed at engendering a more vibrant company that will vigorously pursue the late founder’s vision of a world class organisation. “We are poised to

Afolabi

set new standards for competition in product innovation, service delivery and best practice, while delivering great value to all stakeholders. IGI is equipped with all the essential material, intellectual and human resources for driving this transformation. We are therefore approaching the future with confidence and great expectations.” A native of Bauchi State, Ahmed has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration both from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also has honorary Doctorate Degrees in Law and of Letters awarded by the University of Abuja and Bayero University, Kano, respectively. He was appointed Head of Service of the Federation in 2000 and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in 2008. Afolabi, who has a PhD in Applied Chemistry, won a fellowship at Howard University,

Washington as an International Atomic Energy Agency Fellow in 1983. He played a major role in organising the first Ecological Summit in 1988, which led to creation of the Federal Ministry of Environment. He had a flourishing career in the civil service and was appointed Head of Service in 2010. With experience in financial sector spanning over 25 years, Kenneth Aigbinode began his banking career in Barclays Bank in 1975. He worked for 10 years (1983 -1993) in Nigerian-American Merchant Bank, including a six-month credit internship in Boston with the bank’s affiliate, Bank of Boston, USA. Between 1998 and 2003, he was in Fidelity Union Merchant Bank where he rose to become the Acting Managing Director. He oversaw the bank’s transformation from merchant banking to commercial banking, before joining New Nigeria Bank in 2004 as an Executive Director.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Auto Beat

Dakar 2015: Toyota ready with race vehicles Paul Ogbuokiri

he team at Toyota Motorsport heaved a sigh of relief last weekend, when the two locally developed and built Imperial Toyota Hilux race vehicles left the workshop in Barbeque Downs for Buenos Aires. The two newly completed race vehicles together with a third bakkie, built for Saudi WRC driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi, will be on the start line for the 2015 Dakar which kicks off on January 4, 2014 in the Argentine capital. New Telegraph learnt that it took the a gargantuan effort to not only build, test and prepare the race vehicles for shipping, but to also beat the deadline for packing the six tons of additional equipment that accompanied the vehicles when they departed last week. As in the past, the mass of gear was shipped to South America by SAA Cargo, and will initially be trucked from Buenos Aires to Toyota Argentina’s assembly facility at Zerate. Once at the facility in Zerate, the partially disassembled race-vehicles will be returned to race trim, and prepared for a pre-race Toyota Imperial Hilux shakedown on January 2nd. “Getting everything ready for the race “A lot has to happen once we land in is an operation similar to a special forces Buenos Aires on December 27th,” says assault. We needed to build and test the team principal Glyn Hall. “But the team vehicles, manufacture spare parts - of is better prepared than ever, and as high- which there are nearly 4,000 - draw up ly motivated as always. an equipment list and catalogue every

Hyundai reveals i20 Coupé and i30 Turbo for New Year

yundai’s heavily revised range will feature a new, three-door version of the i20, badged as the Coupé, as well as a turbocharged version of the i30 family car, and a facelifted version of the i40. The i20 Coupé will feature a lower roofline than its five-door sibling along with a sharply forward-swept rear screen, with the aim of giving it a smoother, more purposeful look. Hyundai said it hopes that this will be enough to attract buyers away from the growing number of ‘boutique’ small cars such as the Mini, Citroën DS3 and Vauxhall Adam. Under the bonnet will sit the same range of engines as the five-door version, and as with that model, a new 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo will join the line-up next year. Also joining the range will be a facelifted i30 family car. This will be on the re-

ceiving end of a smattering of cosmetic tweaks, a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and some new engine options, the most notable of which being a 183bhp 1.6-litre turbo lifted from the Veloster coupé. The new Turbo model will also get 18-inch wheels, sports suspension, bespoke front and rear bumpers, and sports seats with racy red stitching. Less exciting is the mid-life facelift for Hyundai’s big i40 saloon and estate. Both models will get styling revisions, the new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and a selection of new technology including a revised satellite navigation system. Hyundai says it has also improved ride and handling for the i40 thanks to an improved traction control system and electronically-controlled rear dampers for the estate variant. The new Hyundai models will go on sale at various points throughout 2015.

single item,” continues Hall. “And then we had to pack everything into purpose built crates and literally hundreds of numbered plastic containers, which will slot into our logistics trucks once we arrive in South America.” This is Toyota South Africa Motorsport’s fourth year of participation in the world’s toughest motorsport event. As such the crew works like a well-oiled machine, and thanks to certain changes in the regulations, as well as significant testing and development during 2014, there is an air of expectancy in the camp.

“Even so, a lot still needs to happen before we even pull up on the start for Stage 1,” says Hall. “We’ll take it one day at a time. Dakar is not an easy race to win - there’s a lot of people trying - and in our experience the best tactic is to tackle each day as a separate challenge.” The race gets under way in Buenos Aires on January 4th, 2015. The route then stretches into Chile and Bolivia, before returning to Argentina for the finale. This year’s race will be run in a continent-sized loop, and as such will end back in Buenos Aires on January 17th.

Honda launches 5th generation Odyssey

onda New Zealand has just launched the all-new Odyssey, the fifth generation of its family friendly people mover which originally debuted in 1994. A new design, the latest Odyssey is the first to feature sliding rear side doors and is available in eight-seater Odyssey S and luxury seven-seat Odyssey L variants. Both are powered by the Honda Earth Dreams i-VTEC 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine which develops 129kW of power at 6200rpm and peak torque of 225Nm at 4000rpm. The new continuously variable transmission has a seven-speed manual mode with steering-wheel paddle shift system.

Honda said in a statement that the new Earth Dreams powertrain achieves a 40 per cent reduction in hydrocarbon emissions, as well as increased torque. The latest-evolution CVT provides excellent acceleration with smooth low-rpm cruising and has Auto Idle Stop and Econ button features alongside a wider ratio range, reduced weight and lower friction. The auto maker further said that the latest Odyssey design is an evolution in technology and performance with generous cabin space, multiple seat configurations and one-touch powered sliding doors - passenger side only on the eightseat S model and both sides on the sevenseat Odyssey L.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Feminique

Bisi Fayemi: Busy in and out of government

Bisi Fayemi has remained a passionate gender activist, and social change philanthropist of international repute even after leaving the Government House of Ekiti State. She spoke with EBERE AMEH at the just-concluded International Conference on Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Trafficking that took place at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, recently

ong before she became the First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi was a force to be reckoned with when it comes to philanthropy and women empowerment in Africa. Her works as an activist and feminist advocate has taken her to over 60 countries worldwide. As the president of the Africa Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), the first Africanwide grant-making foundation, which has assisted over a thousand women organizations in over 42 countries to promote and protect women’s rights, she had to take the case for the African woman to the floor of the United Nations. She became the First Lady of Ekiti State and rather than relax, thought it wise to initiate a foundation similar to AWDF to affect the lives of women and those almost forgotten in the rural areas. That her attempt to bring her philanthropy home, gave rise to the establishment of the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF), a platform she initiated for the economic empowerment of women and youths of the State. Leaving the government house, after her husband failed in his second term bid for the governorship of Ekiti State, Bisi has continued to touch the lives of the less privileged and fight for the cause of women. Delivering a keynote speech titled ‘Changing the Story’ at

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

an International Conference on Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Trafficking recently, the Erelu said that “until we begin to address the underlying causes of violence against women, we are going to continue to deal with the symptoms. “We should begin to do things differently, we should treat women with dignity and respect, we should raise girls with a healthy dose of self esteem and confidence, we should make the boys understand that what makes a good man is how much fear of God he has and how much he protects women, not how much strength he can demonstrate over a woman.” Fayemi, who worked hard to ensure that the law prohibiting violence against women was passed in Ekiti State, said that “we should ensure that all our institutions – the marriage, religious, social institutions etc, are transformed so that they can empower women and girls and not dis-empower them. And most importantly, we need to collectively watch out for each other s o that we all

We should begin to do things differently, we should treat women with dignity and respect

ensure that there is a zero tolerance against violence against women and girls.” Beautiful and vivacious, Bisi has touched lives and interfaced with a broad range of the African society through philanthropy, empowerment, mentoring, organisational development, training and networking. Born to the family of the late Emmanuel Akinola Adeleye and his wife, Emily, on June 11, 1963 in Liverpool, England, Bisi attended Grace Children’s School, Lagos before proceeding to Abeokuta Girls Grammar School and Methodist Girls High School, Lagos, for her A’ Levels. She has a BA and MA in History from the University of Ife, Nigeria (now Obafemi Awolowo University). She also received an MA in Gender and Society from Middlesex University, UK. With an academic b a c k ground in H i s t o r y, Cultural Anthropology and Gender Studies, she has acquired professional experience as a social change philanthropist, social entrepreneur, journalist, f a c i l i t a t o r, trainer, and organizational develo p -

ment specialist. A go-getter from the start, Bisi worked in the Department of Health and Social Services while in the UK. She then became the Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), an international development organisation for African women based in London, UK, with an Africa regional office in Kampala, Uganda, from 1991-2001. While she was the Director of AMwA, she established the African Women’s Leadership Institute (AWLI), a training and networking forum for young African women. AWLI has become such a powerful legacy that today, it has trained over 6,000 women, who are now Ministers, Members of Parliaments, academics, civil society leaders and employees of international organisations across Africa. Space would not permit us to mention all of Erelu Fayemi’s exploits in the area of women empowerment and gender advocacy in Africa including the co-founding of the African Women’s Development Fund, (AWDF) in the year 2000. So far, it has supported over 1,000 women’s organisations in 42 African countries with over U$20m in grants. She has chaired and cochaired several national and international organizations, served as a resource person to many UN agencies and other international bodies, been a board member of some national international organizations. A life senior fellow of the Kegites club, Mrs Fayemi is also a great writer, who recently, presented two books she authored. She has received numerous national and international awards and bagged various chieftaincy titles, including that of the Erelu of lsan Kingdom, in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State. In April 2009, Mrs. Fayemi was named by New African Magazine as one of the 20 most influential African women on the continent. In March 2011, she was listed among the world’s leading 100 personalities working for the interests of women and girls by Women Deliver. In June 2011, the New African Magazine named her as one of the 100 Most Influential People of Africa. In all of this, Erelu Bisi Fayemi said she has been greatly influenced by one man. “My father’s love for me, his dedication to my success and his belief in me did a lot to build my self-esteem and my selfconfidence. And that is what I believe has seen me through life, through my choice of career, and my dedication to issues that are important to me - social justice, women’s rights and ensuring that Africa and particularly Nigeria finds its place in the world.”

Feminique

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

What is dysmenorrhea? T his article is a continuation of last week’s because of the numerous requests and questions I received about the topic. There are two types. Primary and Secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea affects more young women than we get to know statistically. It may be as high as 50% of young women. It starts at about the age of puberty. Most learn to cope with it in various ways and by using simple analgesics to mask the pain and discomfort. So you would not know unless you ask. But in about five percent to 15 percent of young women, it can be very severe. So severe in fact as to interefere seriously with daily activities, school and work. But the good news is that it may decrease in severity as the young girl grows older. And also with pregnancy. The young girl discussed about last week was obviously a case of primary dysmenorrhea. Unfortunately, her arm chair medical experts

were suffering from collective half baked knowledge and ignorance. They advocated sex without educating the poor girl about the consequences of sex at her age. Protected or not. Rather than being Mr and Mrs know it all, they could have simply advised her and her granny to pay a visit to the hospital. Simple analgesics which would probably have cost her about N250 monthly for some time would have solved her problems generally. In most cases of primary dysmenorrhea, the cause is the presence of hormone like substances known as prostaglandins during menstruation. Those suffering from primary dysmenorrhea have higher than normal prostaglandins during menstruation. In secondary dysmenorrhea, the cause or causes are not that easy to detect. It is called secondary because it usually starts after some years of pain free menstruation. The causes include, but

Ebere Ameh

un rays found its way into my bedroom waking me up from a far from restful sleep. Rubbing my eyes gently and subconsciously, I reached for the clock on my bedside table. “Oh my God, its 9.o’clock!” I jumped off the bed about to rush to the bathroom but slumped back almost immediately when I remembered that though it’s a Monday morning, I have nowhere to go. Waking with the help of my ever dutiful alarm clock, is a routine I have lived with since I started working. However, yesterday, the first in 12 years, I switched off the alarm. What’s the use when I am laid off and have nowhere to rush to in the morning. Ekaete got the message that all was not well with me and prepared the children for school with little or no distraction. “Oops! My head aches, my body.... am I falling sick?,” I asked myself, closing my eyes in an attempt to sleep again, but sleep has eluded me. “Sleep, please come, I don’t want to think. I don’t even know what to think again. My head...” As I tossed around on the bed, reluctant to come out, my phone rang. “Why didn’t I switch off this stupid phone? I just want to be left alone, I don’t need anyone’s pity,” I thought as the phone blared on. Reluctantly, I picked the call. Low and behold, it was Danny. He was calling from the sitting room after Ekaete told him about an hour ago that I didn’t want to be disturbed. Even though we spoke at length yester night, he was worried and placed the call. “Ego! This is not you, the strong woman I know and admire. Do you want to kill yourself ? He said with so much concern in his voice when I walked out with unsteady steps, still in my nighties, like a ghost. I was a real shadow of my vibrant self. “Go dress up, let me take you out of here. Don’t worry again, you’ll be

are not restricted to the following. 1. Fibroids, 2. Endometriosis, 3. Cancer of the pelvis. 4. Chronic pelvic infection commonly known as P.I.D (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease). 5. Narrow Cervix (Cervical Stenosis). 6. Pelvic congestion syndrome. 7. Ovarian related diseases. 8. Fallopian tube inflammation and disease. As mentioned last week, the pain starts from the lower abdomen. It can now spread to the lower back and legs. It can be a dull aching pain, like a mild toothache. But it can also be in form of severe cramps or labour pains. Finally, as you can see from the different causes, there is no single treatment for everyone with dysmenorrhea. Whilst some will get relief from analgesics, others will need a more thorough examination and investigation by your doctor. So please for your own sake, do not do self medication. Go and see a qualified doctor for help. You

Those suffering from primary dysmenorrhea have higher than normal prostaglandins during menstruation.

Fadeyi

won’t regret it. Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi is a Western trained medical practitioner and one of the very few certified Sexologists in Nigeria. He is also a marriage counsellor and would be bringing his immense knowledge and experience to bear in writing this column. Make it a date with him every Friday for that expert advice on sex and relationship. He can be reached on drtaiwofadeyi@ gmail.com or 08033148899 (sms only)

Ego: Diary of a single mom Oops! My job is gone

okay, I’m here now. I took some days off to be with you.” “Oh Danny, that’s so thoughtful of you. You are the last person I expected here this morning and the only person I needed here now,” I said, struggling to withhold my tears. Danny, I’m still at a loss why I should be sacked when some old and less productive people, who are even close to retirement were left behind. Oh, my head, is tearing apart. I woke up with a nagging headache,” I said with a hand on my forehead. “It’s Ok,” he said, “Life isn’t

always fair, but when there is life, there is hope. I know God has a better plan for you than being a third wife to your MD,” he responded matter-of-factly. After seeing his doctor, we headed for his home on the island. Escorting me straight to bed, Danny encouraged me to sleep after I had taken a slice of bread with a cup of hot Horlicks so I could take my drugs. Resting my head on his hairy chest he stroked my hair while we listened to some old-school blues playing at the background.

I felt a warm kiss on my neck and gently opened one eye slightly. Seeing Danny, I smiled and asked confusedly, “What are you doing here? Did I sleep?” “Shhh!” he responded, with a finger across his lips. “You have slept for close to three hours. I had to wake you to eat the food I prepared specially for you.” He Drew a table closer and picked a tray full of food and drinks. Helping me to sit up, we ate and gisted. “This is the first real food I’m eating in two days.” I told him. ‘I lost my appetite and only alcohol seemed to give me some kind of solace. Thanks for rescuing me,” I said, moving forward to recline on his shoulder. “I didn’t know you are a drunkard,” he said teasingly as he cleared the dishes from the bed. Anyway, I knew you must be going through a tough time and decided to make out time and be by you.” Drawing me closer, he said “don’t worry about anything, I’m here for you.” “Thanks love,” I responded, raising my head to give him a kiss in appreciation. We spent the day playing and listening to various old school music in his collection that I temporarily forgot my troubles. Not long afterwards, the ‘music’ changed and our play gradually turned erotic. In a state of total abandonment to each other, we relished the moment, ending with the most rambunctious sex we have not had in a long while. It was so comforting being in Danny’s arms that I didn’t want to go again. But my children need me too. “I’ll come pick you up tomorrow,” he said as he dropped me at my house that evening. “I’ll call you later but be sure to take good care of yourself this night,” he added with a pat on my back.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Islam

39 E XH O RT A TI O N

27 Safar 1436 AH

“Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his object]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.” ( Quran 3: 185)

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

Want to marry, but feel shy to tell my parents QUESTION

I feel very shy to tell my parents that I want to get married. I want to save myself from various sins, but I am only 18 and still studying. ANSWER

Thank you for writing. Your concerns are a common one that young people face today. It can be especially difficult if you are studying at a university and are exposed to different, values as well as being around a lot of girls on campus. I am curious if you have a girl in mind? And if not, would your parents be supportive in helping you find a wife? I also encourage you to ask yourself: do you really think you are ready to get married? Do you have the resources to support a wife, and if not, would your parents be willing to assist you in living arrangements and such? Also, dear brother, do you feel you are ready emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to take on such a big responsibility? Would you be able to handle the responsibility of marriage and still complete your studies? If you have answered ‘yes’ to the above questions, I would suggest you approach your parents with your desire to marry. I recommend that you have a plan in mind which you can present to them in support of your wanting to get married with regard to the responsibility of marriage and your finishing school. Additionally, if you are honest with them and tell them you desire to marry so as to protect yourself from sin, they may understand. You can also point out that marriage is recommended in Islam as a protection, and you are following our Islamic guidelines. According to Onislam “based on the Prophetic hadith, “O young people, whoever reaches adulthood or becomes able to get married, he should do so, thus it would protect him. But for those who are not able to do so, they should keep fasting (Mondays and Thursdays); thus fasting would protect them.

Some members of Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Ojodu Branch, during the 15th Anniversary/2nd merit award of the Society in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Sultan tasks Nigerians on unity, peaceful coexistence CHALLENGE ThisDay Editorial Board chair challenges true adherents of Islam to take back their religion from fanatics, bigots, murderers and sadist Muritala Ayinla

oncerned with the state of insecurity in the country, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on Nigerians to put aside their cultural and religious differences for the overall development of the country. He said this just as the Chairman, Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspapers, Mr

TARGET Plateau NQRCC gets set with 178 delegates, targets N7million for contest Buhari Bello Jos

bout 25 States in Nigeria have steppedup their preparations for the 1436 AH edition of the National Quranic Recitation Competition slated for Benin in Edo state. Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Sheikh Musa Muhammad Inuwa, who made this known at the 29th edition of the Annual Qur’an Competition

Segun Adeniyi, also charged Nigerians to live in peace with one another, saying all the present challenges confronting the nation would be overcome, if only they forget their differences and show love to one another. The duo spoke in a gathering that had eminent Nigerians and islamic scholars at the 4th National Convention of the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) in Lagos, saying none of the scriptures preach violence and senseless killing as witnessed in the country recently. Speaking on the theme of the convention entitled: “One Humanity Under God”, the Sultan, who was represented by the Wazirin Katsina, Dr Sani Lugga, said that God created everyone with different, languages, cultures, races,

countries colours, states and villages because He wanted them to appreciate one another in unity in spite of their differences. He said“It is the God we worship, who brought us together as Nigerians, we must understand and respect one another, without which we can never attain peace. Without peace, we can never progress, develop or enjoy the fruits of this life; above all, without it we cannot serve our creator the way He ordained.” The highly revered monarch added that both Islam and Christianity preach peace, and that people should stop pretending to be defending the religion through violence. “I urge Nigerians to embrace peace, love, unity and respect for our different re-

ligions. We must continue to pray and re-examine ourselves to ensure that we do that which is right for a better Nigeria,’’ he said. On his part, Adeniyi regretted that despite the fact that Islam preached peace, most of the conflicts on the global level today had some link to those who profess Islam. This, he said, is a major disservice to the religion that identifies its name with peace, saying it is important to the true adherents of the faith to take back their religion from fanatics, bigots, murderers and sadist who, according to him, are today giving Islam a bad name. Adeniyi said that Islam and Christianity had many things in common, and that there was no reason for religious crisis.

States heighten preparations as NQRCC moves National Quranic competition to Edo Plateau State Chapter in Jos, said that muslims should encourage their children and wards to inculcate the true norms, tenets and values of Islam and the teachings of the Qur’an. Inuwa, in his welcoming address at the Conference hall of the Jos Central Mosque, called on Muslims to commit themselves in fervent prayers and repentance before Allah, to bring an end to the insurgency bedevilling the country. He said: “We should all repent and pray to Allah, for his mercies, and to also bring to

an end the difficult situation in the country. We should fear Allah and do things rightly.” Sheikh Musa admonished Muslims to use their wealth and energy in promoting the noble cause of the Qur’an recitation competition and all other cause of Islam. State Coordinator of the National Quranic Recitation Competition Committee (NQRCC), Sheikh Mukhtar Adam, said that this year’s competition had received a boost in terms of participation, stressing that 11 Local Government Areas out of 17 in the

state are participating. “Previously only eight too part, but now 11 are, with 178 contestants to participate in the competition,” he added. Sheikh Adam lamented that the State Committee had been depending on individual donations and support to embark on the competition. “This year the competition is holding in Edo State, and we have budgeted over N7m for the running of the exercise, however we are yet to realise a reasonable amount,” he said.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Leisure Arcade

K C I N N A M 0 N Y 0 K C A N S X C Q Q W H B C

Y Z V J G E L P P A E M K V K B J J X N R A J D

T Q A S H K L H W X U K L 0 P T A Y U I E R R Z

Q M R N V C N E V Q F R U 1 T B D S Z 0 E V Q M

A W L 0 G N M S V V A M U W A Y N R P W C E T K

Apple Pie Basket Cinnamon Fruit

Harvest Autumn Red Warm Tree

S R X B I Q U H C J F T R S G A T P A Y J S I D

W Y O D A J T I 0 E K 0 K 2 L A R W D H T T B R

H V H X Q U U U B R 0 E D W X H P O P B C E A Q

By Ayo Oyerinde

C O R E Z S A X E E T E Z F K P N K A H L R F H

MOYIN & FRIENDS

T U E X E F A R E V R I N U I S K K B X A W O O

By Aliu Eroje

J P U Y B E 0 I J Y E P C I U X T D D J R I Z 0

MAMA LASISI

NTPuzzle

Y R W B 0 L P V W Z E E R E D S D Y G B U L 0 E

By Kaycee

Word Bank

NUTS

SUDOKU - Answer to No 16

SUDOKU - No 17 6

2 4

NTJokes

THE GAME OF POKER

8 4

5 8 8

3 2

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 12-year-old boy comes home from school and walks into his parents’ room. Mom and dad are in bed making love.

ing poker. Now get out of here.”

The boy asks, “What are you doing?”

He goes to his older brother’s room and finds his brother masturbating. He asks his brother, “What are you doing?”

His dad replies, “Playing poker. Now get out of here.”

His brother replies, “Playing poker.”

He goes to his older sister’s room to find his sister and her boyfriend in bed making love. The boy asks, “What are you doing?”

The boy asks, “I thought that it takes two to play poker.”

His sister replies, “Play-

His brother replies, “Not if you have a good hand.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Crime

Boko Haram, world’s deadliest, says Arthur-Worrey Juliana Francis

he Executive Director of the Lagos State Trust Fund, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, is one of the most intelligent minds in Nigeria today. It was under him that the Lagos State Security Trust fund flourished, leading to many police formations becoming equipped. Arthur-Worrey was recently the guest speaker at the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria’s (CRAN) annual lecture/award series, held at the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Multi-Purpose Hall, Oduduwa Police Station, Ikeja, Lagos State. Delivering a paper titled: ‘Practical steps to combatting Terrorism in Nigeria,’ Arthur-Worrey said that terrorism in Nigeria is the world’s deadliest. According to him, the Nigerian military cannot win the war on terrorism without the help of the police and the Department of State Services (DSS). Arthur-Worrey, who advised the Federal Government to save money in fighting terrorism by dissolving all non-essential ministries, added that the duplication of similar security agencies in the country was counterproductive. His words: “We must strengthen the bond among the security agencies to win this war on terrorism. Nigeria must never dialogue with terrorists as the United States of America never negotiated, but apprehended Osama Bin-laden. Our intelligence gathering must be so sophisticated that we should know what Abubakar Shekau and his men are doing at their camp in Sambisa forest. Terror war should be a collective responsibility, involving even the religious groups. Hence, there should be an inter-community collaboration among the citizens.” Arthur-Worrey who strongly believed the Federal Government has not done enough in the ongoing war against terrorism, argued that the Petroleum Trust Fund should be directed towards fighting insurgency.

Terrorists

Explaining his reason for stating Boko Haram is the world’s deadliest, Arthur Worrey said: “According to a report by Maplecraft, a British risk consultancy, over the past 12 months, global deaths from terrorism has risen 30 percent compared to the previous five year average. Significantly, while Iraq had endured the highest number of attacks in the last year with 3, 158 incidents, terrorism in Nigeria is the world’s deadliest, recording the highest number of deaths per attack, with an average of 24. And this does not include deaths of soldiers on the battlefield.” He said that in the report cited by Reuters news agency, the number of people killed in insurgent attacks worldwide, jumped more than 60 percent last year to a record high of nearly 18,000 and the figure could rise, due to an escalation of conflict in the Middle East and Nigeria. “According to the report by the

Arthur-Worrey

Australian-US based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEC), the four most active militant groups are Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, now named Is-

CRIME QUOTE

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

“The whole essence of this is to challenge the violation of their rights to dignity. They were assaulted and brutalised without any justification. We will also be asking for a public apology from the police to ensure that this serves as a deterrent to others in the force.” Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana

lamic State, Nigeria’s Boko Haram, the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban and transnational Al-Qaeda networks,” said Arthur-Worrey. “This is no doubt, a growing problem and though the causes are complex, these four groups responsible for most of the deaths have their roots in fundamentalist Islam. Increased targeting of police and the army by the militants groups makes managing the problem, even harder, sometimes fuelling rights abuses that compound existing grievances.” Arthur-Worrey, who said there are no practical solutions to terrorism in Nigeria, said he would rather prefer to look at practical steps to combatting terrorism in Nigeria. He noted that militant groups which ceased their activity since 2000, did so following negotiations, adding that only 10 percent achieved their goals, while only 7 percent were eliminated by military action. He said: “My views on negotiation with groups such as we have in the North West, is that negotiation will only work when the Nigerian Security forces have degraded the enemy enough to force them to the negotiating table.” He urged the Nigerian forces not to give the insurgents the impression that, “we are negotiating because we’re tired of the fight or to score political points.” He advised that the Nigerian Government should be very deliberate in its approach and properly set out a definable strategy and resources that C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 2

Crime

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Negotiation is a one step solution to terrorism’

Economic effect of terrorism (1)

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

strategise with everything it has. He said that any other approach to stem terrorism aside from negotiation might be a sheer waste of time. His words: “Any other approach is like fighting a serious battle on a wing and prayer.” Arthur-Worrey further noted that the military today, is not the national unit of the past. He said that military rule destroyed its ethics and its professionalism. According to him, emphasis on regime security, meant that any branch of the armed forces considered a potential coup enabler was weakened, denied support and left to fall into decline. He added: “That’s what happened after the alleged Vatsa/Martin Luther coup when the air force was implicated in a plot to bomb Dodan barracks. Indeed, the last major retooling of the armed forces occurred under Shagari. Under the military, mechanized and armoured divisions were considered threats and were not maintained or strengthened. Only the president’s personal battalion was supported so that it could resist attempted coups. “The police and the intelligence services were stripped of their intelligence capability and their communication systems were dismantled. I can say with knowledge that no attempt has ever been made since then to build a modern nationwide police communication network. If not for the efforts of states, we wouldn’t even have a functioning police force.” He said: “I want to stress that the cutting edge of any real attempt to fight terrorism is the police, and the intelligence services, in our case is the DSS. Their orientation, training and spread make them eminently

I want to stress that the cutting edge of any real attempt to fight terrorism is the police, and the intelligence services, in our case is the DSS

The 3rd Eye Ethelbert Oney

he motives of terrorists may differ, however their actions follow a standard pattern of forms such as; hijackings, kidnappings, assassinations, bombings, and suicide attacks. Clearly, frequent attacks in the Northeast and Nigeria in general have demonstrated significant economic effect on our national economy running in trillions. The consequences of Boko Haram threats assume many forms including; casualties, destroyed buildings, a heightened anxiety level, and myriad economic waste.

L-R: Alakija, Manko, Arthur-Worrey and Oji at the lecture.

Members of the Crime Reporters’ Association

suited to the intelligence gathering aspect of the war, and it is essentially an intelligence war. “Remember that we are fighting two strands in this battle; the suicide bomber who strikes in urban centres

AIG Chintua Amajor -Onu, and DIG David Omojola decorating Osoko Olubunmi with his new rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police

far away from battle fields and the insurgent who faces the military directly. Both strands are important because one strikes fear and the other undermine the nation’s territorial integrity. Intelligence will narrow the window of opportunity for suicide bombers and allow the army to be more proactive than reactive.” Chairman of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, who was also the special guest at the event, urged Nigerians to show patriotism, adding that the Federal Government should bring the spate of terrorism ravaging the country under control. The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by Mrs. Idowu Alakija, advised Nigerians to always be security conscious. CRAN President, Comrade Christopher Oji, said the event would afford heads of security agencies in the country, an opportunity to proffer solutions to the current security challenges, especially the ones posed by insurgents. Other dignitaries at the lecture included the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Umar Manko and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti.

The attacks perpetrated by the Boko Haram sect have proven a serious economic waste in our country through several avenues. A whole lot of these threats have demonstrated economic consequences by diverting our foreign direct investments, destroying infrastructures, redirecting public investment funds to security and limiting trade. If a developing country such as Nigeria loses a lot of Foreign Direct Investments, an important source of savings, then there is every tendency that economic growth will be reduced automatically. Just as capital may be below per from a country plagued by a civil war, a sufficiently intense terrorist campaign may greatly reduce capital inflows; the sponsors and supporters of this sect should take note. The attacks may cause spill over costs among neighbouring countries as a terrorist campaign in a neighbourhood dissuades capital inflows. In some instances, terrorism may affect specific industries for instance; transportation, airlines and tourism. Another cost is the expensive security measures that must be instituted following large attacks, let’s take an example from the massive security votes and outlays since the Boko Haram violence began. It may be hard to gauge the total economic effect of the Boko Haram attacks and extremisms because their operations remain an ongoing activities directed to a wide variety of targets and conducted with varying degrees of success. They are being conducted against the backdrop of considerable economic and political turbulence mainly in the Northeast and Abuja, typified by escalating industrial unrest and the oil crisis. The Boko Haram terrorist attacks have in one way or the other affected foreign investments as well as decrease in income from import/ exports of various items. Irrespective of how low terrorist attacks tend to be, it reduces a country’s capital inflow. These empirical results should be treated with caution, however, since violent acts come in many different shapes and types that may affect an economy in significantly different ways. It is pretty obvious that had Nigeria been free from the Boko Haram terror in the last couple of years, the country’s per-capita GDP would have been higher than it is today. • Ethelbert Oney is an Intelligence & Security Expert ethelbertoney@zissltd.com (08067764342 SMS only)

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

L-R: Director of Marketing, Institute of Entrepreneurs (IoE), Dr. Folu Olagunju; Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr. Waheed Olagunju and Registrar, IoE, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, at the 14th Annual Entrepreneurship conference/4th quarterly induction of the institute in Lagos.

Chairman/CEO, Eagle Paint Nigeria Limited/winner of lifetime achievement, Metro Online News, Chief Akinola Disu (right), receiving the plaque from Patrick Ololo, during the presentation ceremony in Lagos.

L-R: Senior Programme Officer, NACA/Sure-P, Dr. Ibrahim Mamadu; Ajie of Onitsha, Chief Benedict Adibuah and representative of the Chief Executive of NACA/Sure-P, Dr Uduak Essen, at the NACA/ Sure-P free medical services in Onitsha

L-R: Dean, Archbishop Vinning Memorial Cathedral, Venerable Abel Ajibodu; Bishop of Lagos West Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt Reverend James Odedeji and Chairman, 2015 General Elections Mobilization, Monitoring, Observation and Sensitization Committee, Lagos West Diocese, Venerable Gbenga Oniye, at a press conference to inaugurate the Diocese Committee for the 2015 Election Sensitization and Monitoring Executive, in Lagos…recently. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Photo | News

L-R: Founder, Association of Criminal Justice Practitioners, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku; former Head Service, Stephen Oronsaye; Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, at the unveiling of the book ‘’WHO CARES ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS” in Abuja. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

L-R: National Woman Leader, National Conscience Party (NCP), Princess Funmi Adeniyi; Vice Presidential candidate, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed; Presidential candidate, Engr. Martin Onovo and National Chairman, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, during the public presentation of Onovo in Abuja.

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Elegant Twins School, Dr. Elizabeth Osinsanya; Alhaja Abba Folawiyo; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Deputy leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Lola Akande and Professor Mopelola Omoegun of Faculty of the Education, University of Lagos, at the 2014 Musical Youth Fiesta in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah (right), receiving the award of Most Outstanding Governor on Job Creation and Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on behalf of the state governor, from the Chairman, DAAR Communications Plc, Raymond Dokpesi Jr, at the company’s 21st anniversary in Lagos.

Business | Money Line

TOP SIX The lender intends to be among top six lenders by 2020 Godson Ikoro

terling Bank Plc would raise its capital from N65 billion to N100 billion by the end of this month and further to N131 billion next year, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Yemi Adeola, has said. He disclosed this at a media briefing at the corporate head office of the lender in Lagos yesterday. Specifically, he said Sterling Bank would bolster its position by floating a multicurrency subordinated debt of N31 billion or about $200 million next year. The Sterling Bank boss, who said that the institution intends to be among the top six banks in Nigeria by 2020, said the bank plans to spend over $5million to retool its technology platform in order to enable it to be more efficient, robust, dynamic and

Sterling Bank eyes N131bn capital athletic – all in a bid to drive the bank’s retail business. “The bank has also realigned its banking business for further market reach, instead of operation along geography; we are now operating along business segments,” he explained. Adeola, who spoke with passion on the existing partnership with the media, recalled how the bank started in 2006 with equity of N26 billion, which has now grown to N65 billion. Although the bank has done commensurate exploits with the present equity, he averred that the institution’s desire is to close this year with equity of N100 billion, stressing that arrangements are on course to achieve it. He also hinted that the bank would float a multicurrency bond to strengthen the bank for large ticket transactions. The top-flight banker explained that the choice of multi currency was deliberate, because Sterling Bank does not want to tie its funding raising to one cur-

Ecobank boss advocates consolidation of banks in Ghana

hief Executive officer of the Ecobank group, Albert Essien, is pushing for more consolidations among banks in Ghana. Essien, who made this call at the 14th MTN Business World Breakfast Meeting under the theme ‘banking in Africa: Lessons from a top banker’, said scale is all that matters in banking and that he does not believe in market niches as some schools of thought propose. The core lesson from Essien was, there is need for more consolidation of banks in Ghana. He indicated this is what will promote big-ticket transactions. “I think the smaller ones still have a chance of survival. Some believe they can play the niche. I don’t believe in niche banking. I believe banking has everything to do with scale. I go for consolidation”, he said. “When you consolidate and become big, you can stand the shocks that come with the industry, and you can also be able to offer more to your clientele. “So I think what the small time locals should do is to look for alliances. “They should look for partnerships, if they do not want to actually merge. But I think ultimately, it will be good for the industry if they merge.” He adds that Ghana has a huge infrastructural gap because banks have small balance sheets and cannot participate in huge infrastructural projects. “We need scale so that we can write big ticket transactions. If you go to South Africa you always see development - property, infrastructure over there. The banks there are powering it. The banks have scale”, he said. “Standard bank is the big-

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

gest bank in sub-Saharan Africa if not Africa. You have Ned Bank, First Rand, and Barclays ABSA. “In Nigeria, you have First Bank, Zenith, you have GTBank. That is what it is, it is a scale business”, Albert Essien added. He said: “If you have scale, you can participate in the agenda. Otherwise it is buying and selling - Dubai and back, China and back, and of course the banks are business people and so they will do that.” So what are the key things banks should focus on while scaling up? Albert Essien said skills development, technology and governance. “The human, the talent is very important. And I think that banks themselves should also participate and deliberately train people in the industry,” he said. “We also need to work on our processes and systems. Technology is a big enabler and we should make sure we have that technology right to be able to drive our business.” He also said, “governance is very important because if you don’t have a good governance structure, your business will cave in at a point in time. “Finally, I think they should look for partnerships, alliances, if they don’t want to consolidate so that they could have those partnership and alliances that will bring in a larger pool to be able to let them do their business and to withstand any downturns.” Ghana struggles to increase its unbanked population. Conservative estimates put the level of banked population at about 11 percent.

course. Adeola also chronicled the awards won by the bank. Sterling Bank was awarded the best performing bank in commercial agriculture credit scheme CACS by the Central Bank of Nigeria, having grown its agric lending from 1 percent to 4 percent in agric lending portfolio. “We also won the agric bank of the year award by the agricultural policy research network for outstanding contribution to the growth of the industry; we won the award as the most innovative bank by Businessday following the launch of our kiakia product, which was introduced to take care of the unbanked in the economy. “We won the 10th annual Nigerian telecoms award following the launch of our social lender, as the most innovative banking product/ ICT product of the year. “We were recognised by the presidency as one of the top 100

rency because of the volatility in the currency market. Adeola went down the memory lane, recalling that in 2006, the bank with less than 50 branches now has 173 branches. Besides, he noted increased the bank’s balance sheet size moved from N110 billion in 2006 to over N1 trillion in 2014; deposits rose from N75 billion in 2006 to N686 billion deposit in 2014; asset quality improved from 12 percent non-performing loans to 2.1 per cent. Similarly, the bank’s customer base from less than 200,000 in 2006 increased to over one million. He stressed that these stellar performance is evidence “that a crop of dedicated workers have been working assiduously to build the brand, with transparency, skills and dedication that will make the organisation to continue its steady growth,” adding that the bank is still on

companies in Nigeria. We are also the first runner up in the investment banking service of the risk awards. “We won the pearl award for our contribution to economic development, this year. And THISDAY named us one of the top 100 most respected companies in Nigeria. “Between yesterday and today, the NSE 30 index recognised Sterling Bank as one of the 30 companies that Nigerian Stock Exchange will use in monitoring performance effective January 2015”. He said that all these awards would testify that some good work is being done in Sterling Bank. Adeola said Sterling Bank plans strives to be the bank of choice, diversify its retail business, peg its non-performing loans at 3 percent and continue to post a double digit growth year on year.

Yields rise over 200 basis points at debt auction he Federal Government 12 percent at the previous than the initially advertised T sold N53.50 billion ($289.97 month’s auction. The debt of- amount of the 10-year note, million) worth of sovereign fice according Reuters News, but more of the 20-year bond debt at an auction on Wednesday, where yields climbed more than 200 basis points across the board on paper with maturities ranging between 3-year and 20-year. The Debt Management Office (DMO) said it sold N7.5 billion in the 3-year debt note at 15.49 percent, compared with

had initially offered N10 billion of the 3-year bond. It sold N18 billion worth of 10-year paper at 15.2 percent, against 12.8 percent at the previous auction, while a total of N28 billion of the 20-year note was sold at 15.49 percent, compared with 13 percent last month. The debt office sold less

it had initially offered to sell N30 billion of the 10-year bond and 25 billion in the 20-year. Nigerian bond yields have been on the rise since the CBN hiked the benchmark interest rate to 13 percent, while concerns on falling global oil prices have led to sell off by offshore investors in Nigerian debt.

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

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

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

18-Dec-14

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)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

535.00 573.89 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 396.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 150.00

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

0.35 1.66 2.36 2.61 2.70 3.45 4.53 4.85 7.11 9.24 13.95 14.43 14.92 15.60 19.58

13.68 15.55 15.38 15.35 15.35 15.34 15.33 15.32 15.37 15.16 13.33 13.15 12.97 14.07 14.64

13.21 15.44 15.31 15.27 15.27 15.21 15.24 15.21 15.31 15.10 13.29 13.10 12.91 14.01 14.59

96.77 96.40 99.40 88.49 87.09 87.91 102.10 72.23 104.25 95.25 110.42 95.74 70.82 74.50 84.00

96.92 96.55 99.55 88.64 87.24 88.21 102.40 72.53 104.55 95.55 110.72 96.04 71.12 74.80 84.30

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,730.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,366.97

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

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 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.43 1.17 1.98 2.34 2.55

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

15.68 18.76 17.48 16.39 16.35

93.63 98.46 97.63 94.99 91.92

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

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

307.48

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.70

4.44

18.72

96.03

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.54

3.23

16.14

99.25

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.83

4.46

19.80

95.02

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

18.85

97.17

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.34

5.59

20.98

80.46

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.38

1.00

17.11

95.70

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.04

1.79

17.13

92.79

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.21

1.80

17.21

94.56

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.80

1.00

16.33

93.54

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.41

1.00

16.37

96.55

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.41

4.78

20.15

89.16

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.59

1.00

16.35

96.39

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.84

1.00

16.35

98.37

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.93

1.00

16.32

93.96

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

26.62

12-Dec-19

2.91

2.74

18.09

92.94

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.37

1.00

16.34

96.13

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.94

1.00

16.35

89.40

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.04

1.94

17.29

91.61

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.52

1.44

16.77

94.27

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.55

1.95

17.28

94.30

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds

468.62 430.86

Nil

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.04

8.71

23.34

99.71

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.42

4.88

18.02

96.86

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

9.34

BB+/GCR

NGC

09-Dec-10

12.00

09-Dec-15

0.73

1.00

15.53

97.77

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.57

2.63

15.83

99.02

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.78

1.00

16.65

94.50

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.85

1.34

16.93

95.83

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.78

1.00

16.35

92.68

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.80

1.88

17.51

101.61

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.81

3.48

19.11

95.78

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.97

5.20

20.68

96.19

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

1.97

5.06

20.54

101.84

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.76

1.35

16.68

92.66

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.08

2.29

17.73

97.00

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

2.17

6.11

21.53

92.74

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.04

2.16

17.50

96.70

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.91

2.76

18.11

89.84

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.78

1.00

15.80

80.95

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.78

1.00

15.80

87.43

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

126.63

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

118.44

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.15

1.00

16.34

85.29

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.37

1.00

16.31

85.04

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.25

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.55

6.11

101.00

103.21

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.49

5.02

98.85

100.35

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.70

6.49

97.90

99.28

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,488.68

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

8.30

103.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.71

103.75

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.47

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

10.95

10.45

88.73

90.01

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.89

7.11

93.77

96.29

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.66

102.00

102.00 95.50

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.48

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

12.86

12.23

86.45

88.39

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.54

98.00

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

10.73

82.25

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

10.88

10.71

92.75

93.50

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

10.64

87.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.75

9.22

94.38

96.88

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,518.00

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15

Bid Discount (%) 9.74 16.60 14.00 14.00 13.84 14.62 14.25 14.00

Offer Discount (%) 9.49 16.35 13.75 13.75 13.59 14.37 14.00 13.75

Bid Yield (%) 9.76 16.71 14.11 14.15 14.03 14.87 14.53 14.31

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 25.9633 16.7767 16.9954 17.3735

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

16.00

O/N

17.50

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 17.00 19.56

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

185.00 186.29 186.58 187.26 188.53 189.79

185.10 186.39 186.72 187.72 189.52 191.27

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

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 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.43 1.17 1.98 2.34 2.55

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

15.68 18.76 17.48 16.39 16.35

93.63 98.46 97.63 94.99 91.92

Agency Bonds 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

FMBN ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Business | Financial Market News 46

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

307.48

Sub-National Bonds

Stock market rebounds with N116bn A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.70

4.44

18.72

96.03

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.54

3.23

16.14

99.25

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.83

4.46

19.80

95.02

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

18.85

97.17

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.34

5.59

20.98

80.46

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.38

1.00

17.11

95.70

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.04

1.79

17.13

92.79

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

1.88

17.51

101.61

3.48

19.11

95.78

BULLISH

The bulls return *NIGER to NSE A-/Agusto

A/Agusto; A-/GCR *OSUN Stories by Chris Ugwu

A/Agusto

*OSUN

LAGOS nvestors on the Nigerian A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI equity market got respite A/Agusto *EKITI yesterday, as *NASARAWA the jinx of A-/GCR market depression that TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION had persisted for weeks was broken resurgence Corporate following Bonds of NGC Nil the bulls. Bbb-/Agusto Low sentiment *UPDC had pervadA-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS ed the market following the BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS current upset in the financial A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO market arising from A-/Agusto FSDH drop in A/GCR UBA oil price in the international Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

BBB-/GCR

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 market, build up to 2015 elec14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 tions and recapitalisation fe14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 ver, among which have 14.00 NIGERothers, III 12-DEC-2018 kept15.50 bargain hunters at bay. ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 The gauge that measures 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 market performances had 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 dropped more than 28 per cent 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 LAGOS IVthe 27-NOV-2020 this 13.50 quarter, worst perfor15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 mance in Africa. 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 Analysts said06-JAN-2021 the resurgence 15.00 NASARAWA of the bulls to sustain market rally after long streak of loss was an indication that confidence isNGC returning 17.00 31-DEC-2014 to the mar10.00 UPDCof 17-AUG-2015 ket in spite the security chal12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 lenges that have posed threat to 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 investment in the country. 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 The key25-OCT-2016 market perfor14.25 FSDH 13.00 measures, UBA 30-SEP-2017 the NSE All mance

14.00 capiShare 30-Sep-11 Index and market 04-Oct-11 14.00 talisation, rose by 1.19 per cent 09-Dec-11 14.50 as market sentiments beamed 12-Dec-13 14.00 14-Feb-12to trade on 15.50 green light a posi02-Oct-12 15.50 tive note. 22-Nov-12 14.50 Consequently, the All-Share 12-Dec-12 14.75 Index 10-Oct-13 gained 349.58 14.75 basis points 27-Nov-13 or 1.19 per cent13.50 to close 31-Dec-13 15.00 at 29,311.25, as against 28,961.67 31-Dec-13 14.50 recorded the previous day, 06-Jan-14 15.00 while the market capitalisation of equities appreciated by N116 billion or 1.19 per cent, as market01-Apr-10 sentiment returned to 17.00 17-Aug-10 10.00 green territory . 09-Dec-10 12.00 Meanwhile, a turnover 06-Jan-11 14.00 of 302.4 billion shares 29-Sep-11 13.00worth N3.7 billion in 5,199 deals was 25-Oct-13 14.25 30-Sep-10 recorded in the day’s 13.00 trading.

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Sep-18 Banking sub-sector of 2.21 the 9.00 04-Oct-18 3.80 financial services sector was 13.73 09-Dec-18 2.41 the (measured2.41by 10.20most active 12-Dec-18 27.00 14-Feb-19 with 127.5 2.59 turnover volume) 16.23 billion shares02-Oct-19 worth N985.62.84 bil80.00 22-Nov-19 4.93 lion by investors 26.62exchanged 12-Dec-19 2.91in 1,917 11.40 deals. 10-Oct-20 3.37 87.50 5.94 Volume in27-Nov-20 the sub-sector 5.00 31-Dec-20 6.04 was largely driven by activity 4.78 31-Dec-20 3.52 in4.79 the shares06-Jan-21 of UBA Plc 3.55 and Access Bank Plc. 468.62 430.86 Also, other financial subsector, boosted by activity in the FCMB Plc 0.04 fol2.00 shares of 31-Dec-14 3.61 lowed with a17-Aug-15 turnover of 0.42 89.9 9.34 09-Dec-15 0.73 million shares valued at N466.2 0.60 06-Jan-16 0.57 million in 955 deals. 15.00 29-Sep-16 1.78 The number of gainers at the 5.53 25-Oct-16 1.85 20.00 of trading 30-Sep-17 close session was2.78 24, 34.14

30-Nov-12

18.00

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.97

5.20

20.68

96.19

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

1.97

5.06

20.54

101.84

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.76

1.35

16.68

92.66

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.08

2.29

17.73

97.00

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.17

6.11

21.53

92.74

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.75

9.22

94.38

96.88

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

NBCC praises Dangote on Forbes

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA he Nigerian-British his foundation is a step forward MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS for a man to make 16.00who DANA IIwants 1-APR-2019 Nil Chamber of Commerce *DANA 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO (NBCC) has congratulated a difference on the continent.” 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC President and Founder of He said the NBCC was 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC proud of Dangote and the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Dangote, on his award as the diverse values of the Forbes TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Forbes Africa Person of the brand, which the primary Supranational Year 2014 byBond Forbes Magazine. purpose of which was to 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC The President of NBCC, honour10.20 an IFC exceptional leader 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB Prince Yemi Adefulu, in a from the African continent TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE statement issued in Lagos, who has not only significantly TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION stated that by the award, impacted on the industry he Forbes was only affirming serves, but who hasDescription deliberRating/Agency Issuer what the NBCC already knew ately and positively impacted FGN Eurobonds the lives of the people. about Alhaji Dangote. Adefulu Adefulu noted that Africa 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&Psaid: “In selecting Dangote as a Patron of the was in dire need of leaders in BB-/Fitch; FGN BB-/S&P in 2013, the Chamber NBCC all walks of life. 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/Fitch; had closely monitored with He said Dangote 6.38 JUL 12,had 2023 BB-/S&P satisfaction, his steady meteemerged as a world-class role TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE oric rise in business and so- model for future generations TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION cial service leadership by pro- of business leaders in Africa Corporatehard Eurobonds digious work, strategic and beyond to emulate. 11.50 recently FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I business planning and focused Aliko Dangote had 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I entrepreneurial ingenuity . been named Forbes Africa’s JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC “The Chamber agrees with Person of the Year7.25 2014. 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC the encomiums showered on At the unveiling ceremo6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC Dangote at the Forbes ny in Nairobi, Kenya, 10.25 APRAliko 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFRENaward PLC II APR 22,key 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH PLC Dangote, who has6.25 ceremony that he is theBANK Lion played 8.75developMay 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&Pin terms of DIAMOND BANK PLCroles in Nigeria’s of Africa business 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC investment. He is also a capital- ment, dedicated the award to 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III ist with a big heart. He puts his Nigeria, noting that he was 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II money where his mouth is and proud to be8.00/2Y African. USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD #

#{r}

B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

30-Nov-17

1.80

09-Apr-18

1.81

Fitch sees bleak outlook for Nigerian banks

lobal rating agency,4.50 profitability, a2.16multi-notch downgrade 01-Apr-19 asset quality 3.04 17.50 96.70 16.00 14-Nov-20 2.76 the sovereign 18.11 89.84 Fitch 15.25 Ratings, yes-2.05 and capital ratios to5.91dete- of rating, 30-Sep-14 9.78 1.00 80.95 is 15.80 unlikely in the terday11.93 envisaged a0.10 riorate 30-Sep-24 in 2015,” Fitch said. which 30-Sep-14 13.25 15.44 30-Sep-24 9.78 1.00 15.80 87.43 The rating agency noted depressing outlook for the near term,” it said. 126.63 Nigeria’s banking sector. that the weaker operating Also, Fitch says three 118.44 The agency’s view of the environment might not nec- banks, Zenith Bank, Guarsector next year is a reflec- essarily have rating impli- anty Trust Bank and Access 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 3.15 1.00 85.29 tion of the challenging and cations.11-Feb-18 Bank have16.34 IDRs driven by 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 4.37 1.00 16.31 85.04 volatile operating environ“Six 01-Feb-21 Nigerian banks, their intrinsic creditwor24.95 First Bank of Nigeria, thiness as defined by the ment due to low oil prices 21.25 and its impact on business United Bank for Africa, Di- Viability Ratings (VR). Outstanding Value and the economy . amondMaturity Bank, Union Bank, Offer Yield “As forBidother Nigerian Issue Date Coupon (%) Date Bid Yield (%) (%) Price Offer Price ($mm) Fitch forecasts Brent Fidelity Bank and First City banks rated by Fitch, their Prices & Yields crude to average USD83/ Monument Bank, have IDRs low VRs (generally in the ‘b’ barrel in 2015. the probability of range) already in the 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 driven by 28-Jan-21 6.55 6.11 101.00 factor 103.21 According to Fitch, oil state support,” it added. tough operating environ12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 5.49 5.02 98.85 price shock and the resultFitch12-Jul-18 said the ability of ment in Nigeria. As100.35 such, ing policy moves will lead the authorities to support the macro implications 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 6.70 6.49 97.90 99.28 of to a negative sector outlook domestic banks was limited the current low oil prices 1,500.00 for the Nigerian banks. 1,488.68by Nigeria’s sovereign rat- and policy moves are unApart from the sliding ing (‘BB-’/Stable). likely to materially impact world oil prices, Fitch said “The willingness to sup- VRs and indirectly their 01-Feb-11 450.00 port remains 01-Feb-16strong and 8.30 has 8.30 103.30 103.30the recent policy11.50 actions by the IDRs in the near term,” 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 4.71 4.71 103.75 rating agency noted.103.75 Central Bank of Nigeria been clearly demonstrated 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.47 7.47 99.48 (CBN) to devalue the naira, in the past,” it affirmed. Fitch noted that 99.48 banks 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 10.95 10.45 88.73 90.01 It disclosed that the Stawere generally well96.29 posiraise interest rates and in08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 7.89 7.11 93.77 crease Cash Reserve Requireon these banks’ tioned for102.00 the rate rise 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 ble Outlook 08-Apr-19 9.66 9.66 102.00 as 22-Apr-14 500.00 IDRs reflected 22-Apr-19 7.48 could95.50re-price95.50 loans ments (CRR),6.25 would lead to the 7.48 Stable they 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 Outlook 21-May-19 12.86 12.23 86.45 from higher 88.39 and benefit on the Nigerian the deterioration of banks 07-Aug-13 300.00 07-Aug-20 8.54 8.54 98.00 98.00 profitability, 8.25 asset quality sovereign rating. yields on treasury bills to 09-Dec-13 6.63 360.00 09-Dec-20 10.73 10.73 82.25 82.25 and capital ratios in 2015. “These banks’ IDRs offset the increase in the 24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 24-Jun-21 10.88 10.71 92.75 93.50 “We are forecasting bank be impacted cost 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 would only 23-Jul-21 10.64 by 10.64 of funding. 87.00 87.00 01-Apr-14

14-Nov-13

14-Aug-14

8.75

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

0.64

6.30

1.80 decliners 17.21 while closed at94.56 28. 1.00 16.33 93.54 Lafarge Wapco Plc led the 1.00 16.37 96.55 gainers’ table with 7.25 per 4.78 20.15 89.16 1.00 to close 16.35 96.39per cent at N71.32 1.00 16.35 98.37 share, while NPF MFB Plc fol1.00 16.32 93.96 lowed with a gain of 6.49 2.74 18.09 92.94 per cent to close 16.34 at 82 kobo.96.13 Nige1.00 16.35 89.40 rian1.00Breweries Plc trailed with 1.94 17.29 91.61 a growth of N6.06 to close at 1.44 16.77 94.27 N140.00 per share. 1.95 17.28 94.30 On the other hand, Conoil Plc led the price losers’ table, dropping 9.73 per cent to close at N44.44 per share, while Live8.71 23.34 99.71 4.88Feeds Plc 18.02 stock followed96.86 with a 15.53 97.77 loss1.00 of 9.50 per cent to close at 2.63 15.83 99.02 N2.00 per share. Vitafoam Plc 1.00 16.65 94.50 depreciated by cent 1.34 16.93 5.56 per 95.83 1.00 16.35 each to close at N3.40 per92.68 share.

18-Dec-14

4,518.00

The DQL contains financialMarket market (the “Information”). The Information does not **Treasury Bills data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities FIXINGS and instruments in the Money Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) constitute professional, financial or investment advice. WeBidattempt to(%) ensure theOffer Information is accurate;Bid however, AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not DTM Maturity Discount Discount (%) Yield (%) the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “ASTenor Rate (%) guarantee the completeness, performance or fitness for a particular the Information, neither do NIBOR we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. 7 accuracy, timeliness,25-Dec-14 9.74 9.49 purpose of any of9.76 FGN

14 21 28 Bonds35 42 49 Rating/Agency 56 63 70 77 84 98 105 112 119 126 133 NA 140 147 231 259 350

1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 Issuer 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-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 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 3-Dec-15

16.60 14.00 14.00 13.84 14.62 14.25 Description 14.00 14.07 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.30 12.95 13.05 16-AUG-2016 13.75 15.10 27-APR-2017 13.61 9.85 27-JUL-2017 14.25 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.44 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.50 16.00 29-JUN-2019 12.87 14.55 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.00 16.39 27-JAN-2022 11.10 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.20 15.00 28-NOV-2028 11.50 12.49 22-MAY-2029 15.00

16.35 13.75 13.75 13.59 14.37 14.00 Issue Date 13.75 13.82 23-Apr-10 13.05 12.70 16-Aug-13 13.50 27-Apr-12 13.36 27-Jul-07 14.00 31-Aug-07 13.19 30-May-08 13.25 29-Jun-12 12.62 14.30 23-Oct-09 15.75 27-Jan-12 10.85 14-Mar-14 11.95 28-Nov-08 11.25 22-May-09 14.75

8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

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

16.71 14.11 14.15 14.03 14.87 14.53 Coupon (%) 14.31 14.42 4.00 13.65 13.31 13.05 14.20 15.10 14.13 9.85 14.86 9.35 14.02 10.70 14.12 16.00 13.47 15.36 7.00 17.05 16.39 11.62 14.20 13.22 15.00 12.52 12.49 17.52

Bonds

8.50 10.00 12.1493

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 535.00

233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 NIFEX 396.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 Current Price ($/N) 22-May-29 BID($/N) 150.00 189.0625 OFFER ($/N) 189.1625 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 150.00 18-Jul-34

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE # Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

4,730.13

**Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

4,366.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Agency Bonds

Issuer

Modified Duration Buckets

FMBN

<3 ***LCRM 3<5 >5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Market

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 1,361.98 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 1,003.34 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 566.72 2,932.04

Issue Date

Weighting by 24-May-12Vol Outstanding

741.57

03-Apr-12 44.22 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 31.98 06-Jul-1223.80

3,116.23

100.00

1,377.98 996.68

Coupon (%)

Weighting by Mkt 0.00 Value

17.25 46.45 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 34.22 0.00/16.50 19.33 100.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Bucket 24.56 Weighting

3.00 112.22 0.44 116.70 0.32 66.49 0.24

322.97 1.00

17.50

Tenor Call

REPO

TTM (Yrs) 1M 3M 0.35 6M

Rate (%) 17.00

Bid19.56 Yield (%) 20.03 13.68 21.06

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2MYield Offer 3M (%) 6M 13.21 1Y

1.66 15.55 15.44 2.36 15.38 15.31 2.61 15.35 15.27 :Benchmarks 2.70 15.35 15.27 * :Amortising Bond 3.45 Bond 15.34 15.21 µ :Convertible AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.53 Management Corporation 15.33 15.24 FGN: Federal Nigeria 4.85Government of 15.32 15.21 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 7.11 Mortgage Bank 15.37 15.31 IFC: International Finance Corporation 9.24 15.16 15.10 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 13.95 Aviation Handling 13.33 Company 13.29 NAHCO: Nigerian 14.43 13.15 13.10 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development 14.92 12.97 Company 12.91 WAPCO:West Cement Company 15.60Africa Portland14.07 14.01 19.58 14.64 14.59 NOTE:

Outstanding Value FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX(N'bn)

Description

Porfolio Value(Bn) 0.00 FMBMarket 24-MAY-2015

23-Apr-15

Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 14.4279 27-Apr-17 14.5529 27-Jul-17 14.7845 31-Aug-17 14.9070 30-May-18 14.9812 29-Jun-19 15.4834

16.00

O/N

Maturity Date

NITTY

Tenor 573.89 1M 452.80 2M 20.00 3M 100.00 6M 300.00 9M 351.30 12M

OBB

Rate (%) 25.9633 16.7767 16.9954 17.3735

Maturity Date % Exposure_ 24-May-15 Mod_Duration

03-Apr-17 23.26 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 36.59 06-Jul-17 40.16 100.00

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Implied Yield 0.43

1.17 15.41 1.98 2.34 15.28 2.55 14.20 14.88

# Risk Premium (%)

Implied 2.63 Portfolio Price

2.27 116.3419 2.00 1.00 119.3963 1.00 89.1256

110.8421

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

185.00 185.10 186.29 186.39 Price 186.72 186.58 187.26 187.72 188.53 189.52 Bid Price Offer Price 189.79 191.27 194.11 197.05 96.77 96.92 203.34 208.87

96.40 96.55 99.40 99.55 88.49 88.64 NA :Not Applicable 87.09 87.24 # :Floating Rate Bond 87.91 coupon bonds 88.21 ***: Deferred 102.10 102.40 †: Bond72.23 rating expired 72.53 N/A :Not Available 104.25 104.55 {r} :Issuer in receivership 95.25 95.55 110.42 110.72 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 95.74 Bank for Africa 96.04 UBA: United 70.82 71.12 74.50 74.80 84.00 84.30

Valuation Yield (%) INDEX 15.68

18.76 1,105.01 17.48 16.39 1,011.00 16.35 1,042.03 1,058.45

Indicative Price YTD Return 93.63 (%)

98.46 10.5011 97.63 94.99 1.1003 91.92 4.2034 5.8446

307.48

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.70

4.44

18.72

96.03

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.54

3.23

16.14

99.25

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.83

4.46

19.80

95.02

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.83

3.48

18.85

97.17

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.34

5.59

20.98

80.46

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.38

1.00

17.11

95.70

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Protesting youths burn APC symbol in Imo Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

housands of youths under the auspices of the Imo Grassroots for Goodluck Jonathan Organisation (IGGO), yesterday staged a solidarity march along major streets of Owerri, the Imo State capital, in support of the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 election. The youths, who moved from Egbu Road through Wetheral Road, burnt brooms, the symbol of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in front of the Imo

state government house, declaring the party dead in the State and thereafter, marched to the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, along Okigwe Road. where they declared total support for the re-election of President Jonathan 2015. Speaking on behalf of the youths before the state

executive of the PDP, the national Coordinator of IGGO, Samuel Otuibe, said they carried out the rally as a way of continuing their sensitization of the Imo populace to support the re-election of President Jonathan in 2015. According to him, President Jonathan has done a lot for Imo State

N180.3m

The total capital importation value of the Brewery sector in 2009. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

and South East in general especially in the areas of education, youth empowerment, agriculture and other salient areas. He lamented that most of the projects done by the federal government in all the tertiary institutions in the state were being claimed and credited to the APC-led

government in Imo State. Otuibe used the opportunity to commend the PDP for hearkening to the voice of the group by giving him the party’s presidential ticket to continue in office for a second term in 2015. “We held a similar rally in February this year when we called on the PDP and Nigerians to allow Presi-

$29.8m

The crude death rate of Northern The total salary and extra winnings made by Alex RodriAfrica in 2010-2015. guez of New York Yankees (Baseball) in 2013-2014. Source: Un.org Source: Financenews24.com

dent Jonathan to continue his transformation of Nigeria. The party listened to us and we are also here to thank you for hearkening to our prayer”, he said adding that by giving Jonathan a second term ticket, the PDP had only shown that all Nigerians have opportunity to aspire to the highest office in the land.

4,167

The total area (in sq. km) of French Polynesia. Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

Mass defection to Imo APC Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

siezable number of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Obowo local government area of Imo state, yesterday dumped their parties for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Welcoming the defected members, the Chairman of the APC in the local government area, Chief Lawrence Osuagwu, commended them for their foresight in identifying and aligning with genuine progressives, adding that the APC remained the only viable option through which democracy dividends could get to the people at the grass root. The Speaker, Imo state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, in his remarks, described the event as a great watershed in the political history of Obowo, adding that the people of the area have made a better choice which he said would in no small measure secure the future and destinies of their children. He asserted that the APC as a moving train, was desirous of positively impacting all corners of the Okigwe senatorial zone, stressing that the task of changing the developmental face of Okigwe zone was a collective responsibility.

Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji (right), receiving an award as “Best South-East Sports Governor of the Year 2014’’ from the Vice-President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), South-East, Comrade Cajetan Nkwopara, in Umuahia…yesterday.

‘Obiano boys clash with police Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

ell was let lose in Onitsha yesterday as suspected thugs purportedly working for the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willy Obiano, with the name ‘Obiano Boys’ clashed with staff of the Anambra State Ministry of Transport, at the South East Motor Park in Onitsha, injuring scores of people. The thugs led by one Iyala, who claimed to be the Chairman Anambra State Task Force on parks and markets had attacked the staff of the Ministry, on collection of revenue on behalf of the State Revenue board, from the

management of the motor park, beating them to stupor. The crisis attracted police intervention and both parties were invited by the Police to the Okpoko police station. New Telegraph gathered that upon police intervention, which saw the warring parties being invited to the station the situation worsened, as the thugs engaged even the police and staff of the ministry in a free for all. Some of the suspected thugs were seen brandishing cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, but were chased away when the police fired canisters into the air. Narrating their or-

deal in the hands of the thugs, a ministry official who did not disclose his identity, said they were instructed by the Anambra State Governor and Commissioner for Transport Mr. Chuma Mbonu to go and recover all debt owed the state by some motor park management contractors and as well take over the park since the contractors have defaulted in the payment of cannot pay of revenue to the State. When contacted the leader of the park management, Mr. Iyala, declared that he has intimate relationship with the governor, which confers immunity on him from paying revenue to the state.

Umeh ‘ll provide representation, says Chuka Tony Okafor AWKA

ormer Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) , Onitsha Branch, Mr Obele Chuka, yesterday said that he took over the campaign machinery

of the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA,) for the Anambra Central Senatorial district , Chief Victor Umeh , because the former Chairman of the party is a deserved candidate that would provide the Igbo the required quality representation

in the senate in 2015. He said he had swung into rebuilding the strategies that would see Umeh beat his opponents in the race, stating that even with opponents like Dr. Chris Ngige of the APC and Uche Ekwunife of the PDP, the APGA’s candidate would emerge top.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Awka,the State capital, on the chances of Umeh, at the 2015 polls , Chuka, said his team had started mobilising youths and eligible voters across the 50 communities of the Senatorial district for maximum result.

Enugu PDP wants Eze arrested over primaries Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

ome members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Enugu State, have urged the police to arrest Senator Ayogu Eze, over alleged forgery and announcement of the result of the primary election held on December 8, 2014. The party had petitioned the Nigeria Police over the alleged forgery of the party’s December 8, 2014 governorship primary election result sheet by the senator who was one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of the party. Eze failed to present himself at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, official venue of the election only to announce his alleged emergence at Filbon Hotel in the metropolis. In the petition dated December 17, 2014 and signed by the state Chairman of the party, Mr. Ikeje Asogwa, the state PDP raised the alarm over the alleged plot by the Sena-

tor to truncate the party’s successful primary election in the state with forged documents. Asogwa said in the petition made available to New Telegraph that “the Peoples Democratic Party Primary election to elect a Governorship flag bearer for Enugu State took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu on 8th December, 2014. “The party, from the National headquarters, appointed a five-man electoral committee to conduct the primaries for the election of the Governorship candidate for Enugu State. The members of the panel were King Asara A. Asara (Chairman), Mr. Ukpai Ukairo (Secretary), Mr. Saratu Umar, Mr. Alamu Adeyemi and myself as the State Chairman of the party. “The members came with the official result sheets from the party headquarters, as well as the ballot papers and other materials required to conduct the primary election,” he said.

News

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

Prisoners should vote in 2015 elections, court rules Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

eprieve may come the way of prisoners serving various jail terms across the country for the opportunity to exercise their civic rights in the forthcoming 2015 general elections as a Federal High Court sitting in Benin, Edo

Obende goes home

ew Telegraph’s correspondent in Warri, Joe Jubril Obende will lead other mourners in the funeral rites of his brother, Chief David Saibu Obende, from December 26-27. Obende had died on Friday, September 12 in a private specialist hospital in Benin, Edo State from cardiac related complications, He was 71. Speaking for the family, Mr. Moses Mohammed Obende and Senator Domingo John Obende, said the body would arrive Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State from the morgue of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) also in Edo State on December 26, for a service of songs at 4:00pm.

Group backs NDDC boss Emmanuel Masha PORT-HARCOURT

group, under the umbrella, Eye of Niger Delta (END), has described as inhuman and unfair, the call in some quarters for the sack of Chief Dan Abia, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), over nonperformance, stressing that he should be supported to bring about more development to the region. The group , a nongovernmental organization comprising youths across the Niger Delta, said that a socio-political group, which staged a protest last Tuesday in Port Harcourt, in favour of the NDDC boss removal had the right to do so, but stated that the protesters went to the extreme by calling for Abia’s sack, noting that the MD, has utilized the commission’s funds to carry out a lot of development in the area, within the short time he came on board.

State, ruled that prison inmates have the right to vote in all election conducted in the country. The Court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Lima, on Tuesday gave the order in a suit filed by inmates, Victor Emenuwe, Onome Inaye, Kabiru Abu, Osagie Iyekepolor, Modugu Odion (for and on behalf of their fellow inmates

38.31

of Nigeria Prisons), against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Prisons Service. Justice Lima also directed the defendants to ensure that the applicants are not disenfranchised during such elections. The plaintiffs had asked the court in an amended originating

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Belarus in 2007. Source: Itu.int

summons, to determine “whether having regards to the provisions of section 25 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended in 2011, and section 12 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, they are not entitled to be registered as voters by the first defendants”. They also sought in their reliefs, that the court should determine

2.5%

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

whether having regard to the provisions of section 77 (2) of the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 and section 12 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, they are not entitled to cast their votes at any election; and whether the failure of the 1st defendant to make registration and voting provisions for the inmates in the custody of the 2nd defendant

1.65m

The total population of Guinea-Bissau (rep. 0.024% of world’s population) in 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

does not constitute an infringement on their rights as citizens of the federal republic of Nigeria as enshrined in section 14 (1) (2) (a) (b), section 17 (2) (a), section 24 (b), (c), section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Article 13 (1) and Article 20 (1) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

25%

The fatality rate of Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda in 2007. Source: Who.int

L-R: Cross River State Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin and representative of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. O.T Ethan, at the 2014 CNS/Head of Gendarmerie of ECOWAS Maritime Pilot Zone E countries meeting in Calabar… yesterday

Uduaghan laments decline Ex-militants block East-West roads cember allowances by head, media and commuin allocation to states Chris Ejim the Federal Government. nications of the PresiDominic Adewole ASABA

overnor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday flayed the continued reduction of states, federal allocation to all the particularly as it affects Delta state. The governor, who said the sharp drop in prices of crude oil at the global market has started taking its toll on the oil rich state, urged that Nigerians should gear up for tougher impact of a possible economic meltdown from 2015. Lamenting the $65 per barrel benchmark price for oil in the federal budget for 2015 as against the $78 in the 2014 fiscal appropriation, he noted that the country had experienced severe austerity situations in the past and had survived such periods. Declaring open a twoday orientation workshop for council chairmen, their Vices, Secretar-

ies, Heads of Personnel Management (HPM) and Treasurers at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba yesterday, Uduaghan, however, said the recent drop in allocations to states may spell doom in 2015. Speaking on the workshop theme, “Understanding the Principles and Practice of Local Government for Enhanced Service Delivery at the Councils”, the Governor said, “I was depressed at what was accrued to Delta state from the federation account few minutes ago.” He therefore urged that based on current realities, Council Chairmen should not depend solely on monies from the federation account but strive to improve on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), even as he urged them to judiciously utilise resources allocated to them to implement people-oriented projects.

Yenagoa

undreds of travellers along the East -West roads were yesterday stranded for hours following a protest by ex-militant youths from Delta and Bayelsa States over non-payment of their November and De-

The protesters, barricaded the Patani, end of the East-West road in the early hours of the day, making travellers along the road to be stranded, as all entreaties by security agencies to the exmilitants to vacate the road failed. When contacted, the

dential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Dan Alabra, said to the payment of the November stipends to all beneficiaries enlisted in the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), under the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta again would soon be remitted.

Ex-militant chief exonerates Tompolo Gabriel Choba Ughelli

n Ijaw leader, Chief Beck Hitler, has alleged that it was as a result of the outcome of last Monday’s governorship primary of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP in Delta state that Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, is being haunted, warning people he termed mischief makers to stop putting the blame on Tompolo for their fail-

ure. Hitler, who gave the warning yesterday, said some people in the fold of the PDP, are bent on implicating Tompolo, because the outcome of the party’s primaries was unvafourable to them, saying, ‘’those trying to blackmail Tompolo will certainly fail.’’ He noted that it was since the outcome of the governorship primary which produced Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as the governorship candidate of PDP, there have been malicious and misleading text mes-

sages and publications to undermine Tompolo. “In politics, it is either you lose or win, therefore, it is very wrong for anybody to attribute his / her failure in the PDP primary to Tompolo, who was not even a delegate in any of the primaries”. He continued, “What I know for sure is that Tompolo will continue to pursue the common interest of Ijaw in Delta state and if that is the reason people are attempting to blackmail him it is wrong”.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Kwara earmarks N2.7bn for water project Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

he Kwraa State government is to spend N2.752 billion and N442 million on the provision of water and physical development projects respectively in the year 2015 and sustain the 5, 200 youths working under its Quickwin programme. These were part of the budget details provided by Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed in the fiscal estimates he submitted to the state’s lawmakers on Wednesday. He said his administration will continue to encourage the involvement of private entities in public projects, particularly housing and infrastructure. According to him, the N2.752 billion earmarked for provision of water would be utilised to sustain government efforts at developing and maintaining water supply infrastructure in the state. He also promised to sustain ongoing strides in improving the welfare and standard of living of civil servants in the state. He said: “In the 2015 financial year, government will continue in its efforts at expanding the water distribution pipeline network coverage of Ilorin metropolis in some 25 locations through the on-going Ilorin reticulation project. “Similarly, rehabilitation of some waterworks will continue while the proposed Oyun Regional Water Scheme project that will serve the water needs of Oyun, Offa and parts of Irepodun council area will commence. In addition to these, provision of boreholes will continue to receive government attention in our rural and semiurban communities in various locations across the state,” the governor said.

Lamido warns against mixing politics with religion COMMON GOOD Jigawa gov. wants politics separated from religion for the common good Dahiru Suleiman DUTSE

igawa State governor, Sule Lamido, yesterday threw his

153

weight behind General Muhammadu Buhari’s philosophy of kicking against the use of religion in achieving selfish political motives. “People should guide against using religion in politics to achieve their personal interests.” Speaking at a PDP stakeholders' rally in Dutse, the governor cautioned party supporters to guide against mixing politics with religion, say-

The number of pending asylum seekers of Algeria at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

MAKURDI

he Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Benue State yesterday assured workers in the state that their four months’ salaries would be paid before Christmas. NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Simon An-

ing both two are identical and supreme. On the candidature of Aminu Ringim as the PDP consensus gubernatorial candidate, Lamido said Aminu was the people's choice and was not an anointed of Governor Lamido. “I, Lamido as governor, I don't have a candidate, Aminu was not my candidate, Aminu was chosen by Jigawa people, aspiring to govern Jigawa

2.2%

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

State.” He charged Ringim to be steadfast, dedicated, and strive to carry every one along if he emerged as the governor next year. Speaking, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Aminu Ringim, pledged to be loyal, dedicated, and ready to continue from where Lamido stopped in the overall interest of the state. At the gathering, Ringim's campaign or-

34m

The estimated number of people living with HIV worldwide in 2010. Source: Who.int

Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Suleiman Dikko (fourth right), flanked by the UBEC management staff, after receiving Katsina State Government's outstanding public officer and education development award, during the Hausa/Fulani cultural day in Katsina… recently

PDP chair, exco divided over Kwara guber ticket Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

ess than 24 hours to the INEC deadline on the submission of names of candidates for the 2015 gubernatorial election, officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State appeared divided yesterday over the fate of Senator Simon Ajibola, the winner of the December 11,

2014 PDP governorship primaries in the state. As at the time of filing this report, two different statements have been issued by the members of the state executive committee of the party, one affirming Ajibola’s candidature and the other speculating on it. While the party’s Assistant Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Femi, issued a statement on Wednesday asking party mem-

Respite for Benue workers as govt moves to pay salaries Cephas Iorhemen

News 49

NORTH

chaver, who disclosed this to journalists in a telephone interview, expressed worry over the inability of government to pay salaries close to five months and appealed to workers to be calm as government was poised to respond to the matter. He said several meetings aimed at thrashing out the intractable issue of workers’ welfare in

the state had deadlocked, but that he was optimistic that workers may breathe a sigh of relief as plans are underway to pay their outstanding salaries. “Government have given us assurances that all the salary arrears would be cleared before the end of the year, so that in 2015, we will start on a clean slate,” he said.

bers to disregard any insinuations that Ajibola might lose the ticket, the state Chairman of the party, Iyiola Oyedepo, issued another statement, saying that the power to recognise any candidate lies with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and not any other body. Yusuf ’s statement claimed that the decision to recognise Ajibola was arrived at after an ‘extra-

ordinary meeting’ of the state executives on Wednesday, ‘with majority of the members in attendance’. There had been an earlier meeting on Monday, after which the Publicity Secretary, Chief Rex Olawoye, said the party’s leaders had deliberated on the primaries, adding that they were prepared to see if there would be modifications or not to the outcome.

ganisation distributed 27 vehicles, one each to the 27 councils in the state. Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were the first civilian governor of Jigawa State, Ali Sadu, former Minister of Power and Steel, Bashir Dalhatu, PDP state executive members, among other party supporters.

Speaker raises the alarm over sick economy Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

he Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Razaq Atunwa, has warned of grave dangers to the nation’s economy by the end of January 2015, if nothing concrete is done by the Federal Government to stem the current unhealthy way of handling the economy. Atunwa, in a chat with newsmen shortly after presiding over the presentation of the 2015 budget estimates by Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed, argued that given what the nation is passing through now, an earlier projection by the Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu that the country’s economy would collapse in the next three months, is mild. The speaker said his warning became imperative given that Aliyu is a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lamenting that the Federal Government had failed to save for the rainy day unlike other oil exporting countries that now have to battle a continuing fall in the price of oil at the international market. He said: “I recall that yesterday or the day before, a governor of the other party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, warned that within three months, if we continue this way, the economy of Nigeria will collapse."

Ortom: I was not arrested by EFCC Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

ormer Minister of State for Trade, Industries and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, yesterday denied being arrested by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over any crime.

Ortom, who is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, viewed the rumour as the handiwork of his detractors and that it was meant to smear his good name. In a statement by the Media Adviser to his campaign organisation, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, Or-

tom described the allegation as false, malicious, mischievous, and a campaign of calumny directed against him. According to the former minister, he was currently undergoing documentation at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja, from where he will return to the state to resume his campaign.

News

WORLD | News

Coca-Cola, NBC chiefs honour court invitation Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

n line with the direction of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the Managing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria, Adeola Adetunji and the Chief Executive of Nigerian Bottling Company, Ben Langat yesterday appeared before the court. The court had fixed yesterday for ruling on the competence and authority of the Federal Government counsel, Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN, in a criminal suit instituted against Coca-Cola Nigeria, NBC and their Chief Executives. However, the ruling was

stalled, as the court registrar informed counsel and parties in the matter that the ruling was not ready. The court consequently fixed February 3, 2015 for the ruling. The office of the AGF had instituted two separate criminal suits against Coca-Cola, NBC alongside their Chief Executives over alleged violation of CPC Act. The defendants are challenging the mandate given to Bayo Ojo, SAN by the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute them for alleged violation of the Consumers Protection Council Act. They are also challenging the competence of the

charge and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charge. At the last adjourned date, counsel to the accused persons, G. Elias, SAN ( Coca-Cola and its Chief Executive) and O. Opesanya SAN (NBC and its Chief Executive) were about to move their application objecting to the suit when the prosecution counsel, informed the court that the accused persons were not present in court. Counsel to the accused persons contended that the accused persons needed not to be in court since they were challenging the mandate to prosecute the case and the competence of the charge.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Putin: Russia’s economy will be ‘cured’

resident Vladimir Putin assured Russians yesterday that the economy would rebound after the ruble’s dramatic slide this year but offered no remedy for a deepening financial crisis. In an assured performance at a three-hour news conference, Putin blamed the economic problems on external factors and said the crisis over Ukraine was caused by the West, which he accused of building a “virtual” Berlin Wall to contain Russia. Putin even cracked jokes at times, despite pressure to fix an economy that is heading into recession and caught by

what his economy minister called a “perfect storm” of low oil prices, Western sanctions over Ukraine and global economic problems. The rouble has fallen about 45 percent against the dollar this year, and suffered particularly steep falls Monday and Tuesday, but Putin said its eventual rise was unavoidable and avoided using the word “crisis”. “If the situation develops unfavorably, we will have to amend our plans. Beyond doubt, we will have to cut some (spending). But a positive turn and emergence from the current situation are inevitable,” Putin said. “The growth of the global economy will continue

and our economy will rebound from the current situation,” he said, sitting at a large desk before a studio audience, with his comments broadcast live to the nation. Putin, 62, looked confident in front of screens showing largerthan-life close-ups of his face as he took questions, though at three hours and nine minutes the news conference was shorter than in previous years. On his desk was a white mug with a presidential crest that he occasionally sipped from. The former KGB spy said Russia must diversify its economy to reduce dependence on oil, its major export and a key source of state income.

National identity card can stop crimes –Mark   Chukwu David Abuja

resident of the Senate, Senator David Mark has charged the National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) to fast track the issuance of the biometrics national identity card to Nigerians, saying that it was a pragmatic instrument for curbing criminal activities in the country.  Mark, who stated this yesterday, when his new national identity card was issued to him by

the Director-General of the NIMC, Mr. Chris Onyemenam, expressed optimism that the improved national identity card would guide government in accurate planning, check insecurity and the influx of illegal immigrants into the country. The politician also said that the card was an essential document that must be given to all Nigerians as a matter of urgency.  “Most of the challenges we are facing today, especially insecurity, would have been minimized, if we had a good

national identity card. I hope that this new improved national identity card would curb the ills of the past and give Nigerians a sense of national pride.”   Mark further expressed optimism that the current effort to truly identify Nigerians would be successful but pleaded with Nigerians not to abuse or subvert the project  The new multipurpose national identity card, he stated, would address so many imbalances, especially the issue of population figure of Nigerians.

In a statement signed by the Director General, Communications of the BCO, Mr. Dele Alake, the group said that Okupe’s statement on Buhari was in bad taste and an indication of the fear the Buhari candidacy has brought on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The statement quoted Okupe to have said: “Buhari is trying to make poverty a virtue but poverty is not a virtue. The fact that Buhari

has left office for so long and says he is so poor, is nothing to celebrate. It is indeed indolence and shameful. ” The BCO said: “This arrogant statement demonstrates the utter alienation of the Jonathan administration from the existential realities of the vast majority of Nigerians. Dr Okupe is grossly mistaken. He lives in a completely perverse and illusory world.

Russians queue at a shopping mall in Moscow to snap up electronic goods furniture and cars before pricess soar.

Egypt’s constituency law sets stage for Buhari to Okupe: You have lost touch with reality long-awaited elections Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Buhari Campaign Organisation yesterday lampooned the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe, over hi9s comments on the financial status of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 election.

2015: Twins threaten court action against Jega Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he joint President of United Twins and Multiple Births Transformation in Nigeria, Anthony and Andrew Mamuzee Dixon, on behalf of several other identical twins, yesterday threatened to sue the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and its Executive Chair-

man, Professor Attahiru Jega over alleged disenfranchisement. The twins, through their counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in a letter addressed to Jega, stated that INEC refused to issue a Permanent Voters Card to one of them on the ground that Data Capturing Machine only captured one person. They noted that an INEC staff had informed them that the machine can-

not detect the difference between the two of them. The letter reads in part, “Our client informed us that on getting to their place of registration, one of the twins, Andrew gave the INEC official his temporary voter’s card. Upon going through their register for some few minutes, his permanent voter’s card was brought out by the INEC official and he signed for, and collected same.

gypt yesterday cleared a final hurdle to longawaited parliamentary elections seen as decisive in cementing the rule of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who ousted President Mohamed Mursi, and excluding the banned Muslim Brotherhood from politics. The draft law defining voting districts still requires the approval of Sisi, who won a presidential election in May after leading the army’s oust-

er of Mursi, but that is seen as a formality. Many Egyptians welcome Sisi’s strong hand after nearly four years of turmoil unleashed by a 2011 uprising, but critics say he is delaying elections in order to consolidate his rule. No date has been set for the parliamentary poll, but Sisi promised visiting businessmen last month it would be held before an international investment summit in March, trying to reassure them the poll

would not be put off indefinitely. Egypt is seeking to win back foreign investors and tourists scared off by political turmoil and an Islamist insurgency based mostly in the lawless Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel. The most populous Arab country has been without a parliament since June 2012, when a court dissolved the democratically-elected main chamber, reversing a major accomplishment of the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

28 killed in Central African violence

t least 28 people were killed and dozens were injured in the latest clashes between armed groups in the Central African Republic, police said yesterday. “Violent clashes broke out on Tuesday in the centre of Mbres,” an official from the armed police told AFP, adding that the death toll had been given by the local Red Cross. The clashes in the former French

colony were the latest pitting the so-called “anti-balaka” militia formed by the Christian majority against mainly Muslim rebels who led a March 2013 coup, the official said. Mbres, 300 kilometres (190 miles) from the capital Bangui, has been the scene of several clashes in recent weeks. Central African Republic has suffered numerous coups and bouts of instability since

independence in 1960, but the March 2013 toppling of Francois Bozize’s regime by the Seleka rebel coalition triggered the worst emergency to date. Relentless attacks by the mainly Muslim rebels on the majority Christian population spurred the formation of vigilante groups, who in turn began exacting revenge on Muslim civilians, driving them out of most parts of the country.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Sport News

International Sport

Sport News

Endyfas Hockey Festival: 17 teams battle for supremacy

Ronaldo deserves Ballon d’Or ahead of Messi – Carlos

Sport Ifeanyi Ibeh

ootball’s world governing body, FIFA, has quashed any hopes Iyke Igbokwe and Okechukwu Ajunwa may have harboured regarding the former’s petition against Amaju Pinnick’s election as President of the Nigeria Football Federation after insisting on upholding the earlier decision reached by the majority of the NFF’s Electoral and Appeals Committee. Igbokwe had, in the aftermath of Pinnick’s September 30 election as president of the NFF, filed a petition to the Elec-

Blatter

Quit now, Onigbinde tells Keshi

Did you know? That the highest winning margin in English Premier League history was Man United’s 9-0 defeat of Ipswich during the 94-95 season, with Andy Cole scoring five times

FIFA writes Ajuwa, Igbokwe toral and Appeals Committee headed by Ajunwa. Five members of the six-man committee – Victor Nwangwu, Bala Garba, Sani Mohammed, Mohammed Sanusi and Dotun Coker – on December 3 however upheld the outcome of the September 30 elections. The committee’s Chairman, Ajunwa, was however the only differing voice, as he granted Igbokwe’s request to annul the outcome of the polls. Pinnick, on his part, con-

tinued to serve as boss of the NFF which led to Igbokwe and Ajunwa to jointly write a letter to FIFA on December 10 to uphold their request to have a re-run of the NFF elections. FIFA on December 18, however, replied the duo and with a subtle warning not to take the matter to a civil court in the foreseeable future.

“FIFA is of the opinion that the majority decisions issued by the Electoral Appeals Committee appear to have validly upheld in their entirety the results of the NFF elective Congress held in Warri on 30 September 2014,” stated the letter signed by FIFA’s Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, and copied to the NFF. The letter added: “We kindly draw your attention to the fact that this information is only of a general nature and, therefore, without prejudice to any decision that any competent body may be called to pass in this or similar matters in the future.”

Strong league, key to football revival – Edobor Vincent Eboigbe

A 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

former international, Humphrey Edobor, has said that the domestic league needs to be fixed to drive the revival of football, hinting that enough emphasis was not being placed on developing the game. Football in the country suffered a downward spiral in recent time following the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the African Nations Cup as defending champions. Team coach, Stephen Keshi, has pursued a policy to incorporate local players in his squad, an approach that has paid off handsomely. Players like Godfrey Oboabona, Sunday Mba who were instrumental to Super Eagles’ triumph at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa in 2013 were thrown up in this way. Edobor, arguably Nigeria’s greatest left winger ever, noted that there were other areas that needed to be

taken care of. He said the domestic scene was the pivot on which the other aspects revolve. Admittedly there have been monumental developments in the game since Edobor’s heyday, but the domestic league’s impact on the national team cannot be overemphasised. “I feel bad seeing soccer fans all over Nigeria today obsessed with English football, the reason is not farfetched - nowadays we don’t see good football compared to back in the days. It’s sad. That however is just part of the problem, there are other areas that need attention, but too much energy is dissipated on distractions. Sports in general in Nigeria need to be fixed, let’s stop doing the talking and start doing the working,” stated Edobor, who lives in the United States. “As the saying that it takes a village to raise a child so shall it take a nation to rise up to the occasion not only in helping to regain the glory of football, but also that of sports in general.”

An action from the NPL

SPORT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dangers of politicising sports

emove politics – the act of making things possible-all human affairs become boring and predictable. There is no aspect of life that has no tinge of politics. But when it inches towards politicisation (negative politics), it renders systems ineffective and reduces the human actors not any less “political animals” that are driven by base instincts. Politicisation anywhere leads to conflict of interest, manipulation and insensitivity. In this clime, politicians are generally myopic, self-seeking, shameless and greedy. They care less about mutual interest let alone the good of the nation. All that matters to them is what they can get, when and how. When they gather, their preoccupation is on how to share the collective patrimony; while the attendant implication to the well being of the citizenry is immaterial. The grandmasters of sports invoked “the spirit” of sportsmanship to govern sports – on the pitch, talking about those who engage in the real sporting acts – sports on the board, talking about those who manage the acts – and on the gallery, talking about those who watch the acts. The spirit of sportsmanship encourages teamwork and propels all those who engage in them to be their brothers’ keeper at whatever level. I doubt if the grandmasters of sport would be glad if they were to look back and see what has become of sports, especially the kinds played in Nigeria. First and foremost, sporting should be the gathering of people to exude free spirit of give and take. Sports and politics seldom have

a meeting ground; while the former is anchored on rules of engagement strictly followed, the latter is based essentially on manipulation and arm-twisting. When politicians rather than sports men are therefore employed to supervise or manage sports at the highest levels, what you see are travesties. A typical example is the appointment of a career lawyer cum politician who is less versed in the affairs of sports as minister of sports by the present administration, which indeed is not the first time, while the office of the Director General of the sports commission, a position meant for a seasoned bureaucrat by another politician. These politicians are men who lack the dexterity to handle serious sports technicalities, which surely must come up from time to time. This explains the prevailing conflict of interests in Nigerian football over succession and the endless rat race with FIFA. Unfortunately, this much dreaded scourge of politicising our sports has a tacit endorsement from the highest echelon of power. The general maxim then was “no matter where you come from, so long you are competent you can aspire to head any organisation.” Ideally, eleven boys from a family of sixteen could represent a country’s sports teams, no matter where they come from. All that matters is that they are competent, technically sound and tactically disciplined. In other words, they should be somewhat better than the rest. When selections are made based on sound judgment, it ultimate-

Around the Stadia

joebooster391@yahoo.com

07039241156 (sms only)

These politicians are men who lack the dexterity to handle serious sports technicalities, which surely must come up from time to time

ly leads to the winning of laurels in major tournaments. Those were the days when the Okoku’s, Olukoju’s, Babayaro’s etc, donned our national jerseys with pride to the adulation of a grateful nation. Instances abound when athletics teams, football squads of all categories, wrestling teams and judokas represented Nige-

Endyfas Hockey Festival: 17 teams battle for supremacy Dapo Sotuminu

total of 17 teams have been slated to participate in the 2014 edition of the End of Year Five-A-Side Hockey Festival which has been scheduled to hold at the Union Bank Hockey Pitch, Surulere, Lagos on Saturday, December 20. According to the event’s coordinator, Afolabi Awojobi, 12 male and five female teams will compete at the tournament, also known as the Endyfas which has been the most exciting five-a-side tournament in Nigeria in the last 13years. The competition, which features a mixture of youth and experience, gives room for the display of hockey skills in an environment where winning at all costs is relegated to the background. Awojobi noted that the tournament was aimed at preparing Nigerian hockey players for the new season. “The teams that would be partici-

pating in the event which started in 2001, include Field Marshals, Gazanfaar, the Indomitable, Hockey Ambassadors, Generation X, Ikorodu Flickers, GCI Antelopes and Oluyole Warriors. Others include Primate, Eminent Dudes, the Rocks and FCE, Akoka. The female class has Ajala Queens, Ogun Babes, Temmak Girls, Starlet Queens and Commandant Babes.” The individual awards that will be up for grabs include; the Highest Goal Scorer, Most Valuable Player, and the Felix Omolade Award for the Best Defender, The tournament flicks off at 9am and will be concluded by 4pm. All teams are expected to be at the venue at least 30 minutes before the first match. The Penalty Stroke event will also take place as an interlude to add colour to the event. “This year’s Endyfas promises to be the most exciting and entertaining tournament ever as we aim to always surpass the previous year’s competition,” noted Awojobi.

JOE BOOSTER

ria irrespective of where they hailed from and were duly appreciated by all. While the then Mid-western state – now Edo and Delta states were known for football and short distance races, the Plateau in the North-central could boast of long distance runners, leaving the riverine areas with swimming and wrestling. Performance and necessity then influenced decisions by authorities concerned about where to site critical sports infrastructure. That is not same anymore. It is pertinent to remember the famous Afuze Games Village conceived to train boxers, weightlifters etc; the High Altitude training centre located in Mambila Plateau for the purpose of exposing long distance athletes; and the famous Boxing gymnasium named after late Brai Ayonote. These facilities conceived without bias and executed with patriotism are all lying in ruins due to neglect and the hydra-headed politics that enmeshed our sports. In trying to suppress athletes that emerge from these “unwanted areas,” those facilities erected for their training and development were abandoned to dilapidate. As I write this piece, these

training camps are nothing to write home about, as cockroaches, geckoes and wild grasses have taken over the complexes, leaving equipment imported at huge costs to government, to waste. The principle of federal character introduced to address issues of imbalance in some areas of our national life became a tool that destabilised national teams in all sporting areas. This inverted principle introduced the “democratisation” of selection processes into national teams. Administrators with warped minds who smuggled themselves into key positions via ethnic consideration have given impetus to this. These are people who see participation in major sporting events by athletes and players as avenue to share the national cake, hence, their zones must be represented and benefit at all cost. They mobilise their constituents and cronies to constitute the fanbase of national teams, thereby expropriating funds meant for development and payment of allowances and bonuses. There has been an instance where over 300 so-called fans were sponsored with tax payers’ money to accompany a team of 22 players and eight officials to a competition outside Nigeria, with all expenses paid. How long can this monumental wastage continue? Negative politics in sports is an albatross, a clog to the wheel of progress. Except we severe it, we shall continue to move from where we are to where we were, and from where we were to where we are. Time to change this anomaly is certainly now.

I’m lucky to be alive – Olaitan Ifeanyi Ibeh

Olaitan

lympiakos and Nigeria forward, Michael Olaitan, has recalled his near-death experience during last season’s derby clash against Panathinaikos and believes he is fortunate to be alive after slumping on the pitch. Olaitan collapsed during a Greek league game against Panathinaikos in March after falling off the ball in an similar to the 2011 incident involving former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba. Fortunately for the 21-year-old Nigerian international, he regained

Experts want focus on school sports Charles Ogundiya

xperts have called on the Lagos State Government to place a high premium on school sports if the state plans on having meaningful development in sport. Sports administrators, who spoke at the one-day Lagos State Sports Forum, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium,

Lagos, on Tuesday, agreed that there was urgent need for development of synergy between government and schools in the promotion of all facets of school sports development. The forum with the theme “School Sports: The Way Forward” was held as part of preparations ahead of the Lagos State Secondary Schools

consciousness with the help of doctors and was immediately admitted to a nearby hospital to undergo tests. Olaitan recently resumed training with the Greek side but is ineligible to play for the team until January at the earliest, as he was omitted from the list of foreign players registered by the team at the start of the season. But he insists he is fortunate to be back on the pitch. “I really had a hard time. But in life it can happen. We do not know what can happen in one or two minutes. But in life they occur” said the 21-year-old. “It really was a difficult time for me.”

Sports Festival – Ibile Games 2015 – which will hold from January 26 to February 6, 2015. The forum identified the National Association of Physical and Health Education, Recreation Sports and Dance as key in the in the development of school sports and called on the government to involve the association in the areas of talent detection, identification and utilisation.

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Top honours for Williams, Djokovic N

Ronaldo deserves Ballon d’Or ahead of Messi – Carlos

oberto Carlos claims that Cristiano Ronaldo should be selected as the Ballon d’Or winner ahead of Lionel Messi. Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer are the Portuguese’s challengers for the award, but former Real and Brazil left-back Carlos believes it is the former Manchester United man who is most

ovak Djokovic and Serena Williams have been named 2014 World Champions by the International Tennis Federation. The annual award takes in performances on the regular tours and grand slams. Wimbledon champion Djokovic takes the men’s prize for the fourth time having won seven titles this season and the year-end top ranking for the third time in four years. Williams wins the award for the fifth time in a career which has brought her 18 grand slam singles titles - the most recent at this year’s US Open. “I’m so honoured to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time,” she said. “This was a year of challenges and triumphs, so to win another grand slam and retain my year-end No 1 ranking is an accomplishment I’m very proud of. “I’m grateful to have the support of the tennis community in every Novak Djokovic (left) way possible. I can’t wait for 2015.” and Serena Williams

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) dribbling past Lionel Messi

deserving of the accolade. “I am a big fan of Lionel Messi, but Cristiano Ronaldo has been more impressive,” Carlos told Perform. “Everything he does goes right. He is a leader. “I am not saying that because he is a Real Madrid player. This is not the point here. Messi is incredible and his history in football is marvellous. But we have to choose the best player

in the season and that was Cristiano Ronaldo.” Neuer was one of the stars of Germany’s successful World Cup campaign, yet despite the shotstopper’s achievements, Carlos feels that Messi’s Barca team-mate Neymar should have been the other candidate for the prize. “Neymar is a phenomenon,” he added. “He adapted to the European football very quick.”

front line,” said Rodgers, who likened Sterling to Arsenal and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez. “I played him as a striker, but you get different types of striker. “He’s more of an Alexis Sanchez when he plays as a striker - he’s not going to pin the defender. He plays in the spaces and he’s got

the speed to get in behind. A couple of great finishes and I’m very pleased for him. “I think his best position is on the side from the left, coming inside and making runs in behind, but I played him in the position because I think he can play it.”

Khan is a nobody, says Mayweather

loyd Mayweather Jr has revealed that he has no intention of fighting England’s Amir Khan because “his name holds no weight”. The Bolton-born fighter has set his sights on the undefeated

Sterling can be a striker – Rodgers L iverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says Raheem Sterling has all the qualities needed to play as a striker on a more regular basis after the winger scored twice in Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday. “He can play across the

Uche signs two-year Villarreal extension Ifeanyi Ibeh

igeria striker, Ikechukwu Uche, has signed a two-year contract extension with Villarreal. The deal will keep the 30-year-old at the La Liga side until 2017. Uche’s deal at Villarreal

had been due to expire at the end of the current season, but the former Real Zaragoza and Getafe forward, who has scored five goals in all competitions in the current campaign, has now committed his future to the club.

Uche has scored 14 league goals for Villarreal in each of the last two seasons. His good form in front of goal helped the team to promotion to the Spanish top flight in 2013 and an impressive seventhplace finish last season.

Arsenal starlets, Ajayi, Akpom, ready for Nigeria lAs FIFA clears Ukoh for Eagles Emmanuel Tobi

rsenal FC of England youngsters, Chuba Akpom and Semi Ajayi, have expressed interest in been part of the Super Eagles’ upcoming international friendlies against Cote d’Ivoire and Mali in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The three-time African champions, who failed to qualify for next January’s Africa Cup of Nations holding in Equatorial Guinea, are scheduled to play AFCONbound Cote d’Ivoire on January 9 before facing Mali four days later. And according to a

Akpom

statement from the Nigeria Football Federation, both players, who are still on the fringes of the Arsenal first team, could be called up by Coach Daniel Amokachi for the trip to the UAE. Also being considered

for the trip to the Emirates is former Swiss junior international, Steven Ukoh, who according to a statement made available to New Telegraph by the NFF’s Assistant Director (Communications), Ademola Olajire, has been cleared by FIFA to represent Nigeria. The 23-year-old midfielder, whose parents are Nigerians, currently plays for Swiss second division outfit, Biel-Bienne FC. He previously played for BSC Young Boys before joining his current club in 2012.

Mayweather

37-year-old after beating Devon Alexander to retain his WBC silver title in Las Vegas last weekend. However, Mayweather Jr says that Khan’s profile is too low to consider a bout, instead reiterating his desire to square off with Manny Pacquiao. “The other night I think he did 4,000 [attendance], so, Amir Khan, his name holds no weight,” he told reporters. “No-one knows who Amir Khan is, except for people who are involved in boxing. My focus is Manny Pacquiao. Let’s make it happen.” Mayweather, a five-division world champion with 10 titles, has won all 47 of his professional fights, 26 of which have come via knockout.

Quit now, Onigbinde tells Keshi

ormer Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, has said that he has personally written to out-of-contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi to quietly seek greener pastures elsewhere. Of late the calls have been deafening mostly from former Super Eagles handlers for the erstwhile Mali and Togo coach to leave the Super Eagles’ job after the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations ouster with the latest calls coming from Christian Chukwu, Shuaibu Amodu, Kashimawo Laloko, among others.

“On the very day the presidency asked him to return to his job, I personally sent him a text message to politely thank Mr President for the offer and bow out honourably and quietly, too. “Keshi respectfully replied the text message thanking me and that was it as he went ahead with the two remaining 2015 Afcon qualifying matches against Congo and South Africa, I’m sure the rest is history. “I volunteered the advice to Keshi because I understand that he won’t

work with the presidency but a different set of people as well as an entirely different environment. “Now that others have picked up the calls I had the privilege to have said over two months ago I won’t like to engage in an exercise that will appear repetitious so that I won’t be accused of having interest in the whole matter. “I’m not used to presssurising people to act in a certain way, I’ve passed my view directly to him, I don’t need to pressurise him further on the same thing,” Onigbinde told supersport.com.

FIFA rankings: Eagles drop to 43rd Ifeanyi Ibeh

he dwindling fortunes of the Super Eagles continued on Thursday as Nigeria dropped from 42nd in November to the 43rd position in the latest edition of the monthly FIFA rankings released by the world football governing body.

The team which failed to failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea is still ranked 9th in Africa. Algeria remains the highest world-ranked African team in 18th place and are followed by fellow North Africans, Tunisia, in the 22nd spot.

Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Nigeria and Zambia complete the list of the top ten teams in Africa. Also, there was no change in the top 20 teams in the world; hence, Germany is still the highest ranked country in the world.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

Religious tickets and luxury taxes Vantage

Point

EMEKA MADUNAGU emeka.madunagu@newtelegraphonline.com

t’s the season of electioneering, when all sorts of factors come into play in the choice of candidates for elective offices. The 2015 elections are fast approaching and all the existing political parties are on the field, trying to sell their candidates and manifestoes. And so it was that the All Progressives Congress borrowed a leaf from President Goodluck Jonathan’s religious workbook by nominating revered pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as the running mate of its presidential candidate, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Of course, when you want to challenge a political adversary, particularly a sitting president, you don’t do so carelessly. So it was that APC chose to play the game the other way round by balancing the Peoples Democratic Party’s Christian – Muslim ticket with a Muslim – Christian ticket. Buhari didn’t just go for any cleric, like he did with Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly in 2011, he picked a pastor from one of Nigeria’s biggest churches – RCCG. If RCCG were to be a bank, it would have the widest network of branches nationwide. Its membership cuts across the high and low. Same thing for Jonathan, a member of the Anglican Church. It is one of the oldest denominations in the country. Add to it the constant presence of the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, around Jonathan, then you will understand why the religious card has become a defining factor in Nigerian politics. Interestingly, the religious contest is between the Christians on the tickets

and not the Muslims; as nobody has ever raised issue about the Islamic sect to which either Sambo or Buhari belongs. Perhaps, it is taken for granted that since they are both Northerners and Muslims, their being members of the same or different sects will not really matter. Not so for the Christian side: the 2015 presidential election will be a contest between conservative and Pentecostal Christians in Nigerians. Though RCCG has come out to say it didn’t endorse Osinbajo’s entry into the race, the fact of its influence in how things turn out cannot be wished away. It’s interesting that the religious card is only now being highlighted in national politics; whereas it has been a recurring decimal in politics in the South-East. It has also been a major issue in local politics in the North. For you to become anything in any South-East state, you are either a Catholic or Anglican. It’s usually a straight contest between both denominations, allowing a just a tiny space for Christians who don’t belong to either side. The matter is so serious that the Archbishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma, led a protest by Anglican bishops some days ago, demanding a Catholic/Anglican governorship ticket in Enugu State. What this means is that any Cathloic governorship candidate in the state must pick a running mate from the Anglican Church. The bishops were particularly miffed that the PDP governorship candidate, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was allegedly contemplating picking a fellow Catholic as his running mate. Addressing journalists, Chukwuma said, “We the Anglican Bishops are crying and appealing that Anglicans

Sambo

Osinbajo

The religious card in Nigerian politics is a major indicator of how sensitive we have become to a purely private issue. At the same time, it is an indicator of how allegations of marginalisation have assumed a central role in Nigerian politics in Enugu State will not tolerate marginalisation and should be given the position of deputy governor of the state. For the position of governor and deputy governor to be Catholic/ Catholic will not be acceptable to us. “At the federal level, people are not happy with Christian/Christian ticket, hence the President has taken a very good stand to return as President and pick a Moslem as his running mate. Why should Enugu State, therefore, nominate a Roman Catholic governorship candidate whom we are not against and wanting again to nominate a Roman Catholic as the running mate? We Anglicans say no to this kind of arrangement. We are not in minority in Enugu State and we totally reject that intention and are warning that if they want peace to reign in this state and for them to enjoy our cooperation, it should not be Roman Catholic/ Roman Catholic ticket. “Former governor of the state, Chimaroke Nnamani, who served from 1999 to 2007 is a Methodist. He picked Okechukwu Itanyi, a Catholic as his deputy. Nnamani handed over to Sullivan Chime who is Roman Catholic. Sullivan chose Sunday Onyebuchi, a Methodist or so, not an Anglican as deputy. As they are going out, all those who want to become governor are Catholics and in the PDP, they are plotting to make their running mate a Catholic. We are saying give us an Anglican as deputy, otherwise you are looking for our trouble.” Religion is such a strong factor in the South-East that the time has come for a reappraisal. It is conventional wisdom that faith is a personal choice. It is also a fact that any society that seeks to make rapid progress must separate religion from state. Not so in Nigeria, where our leaders have elevated faith to a key determinant of who gets into power and how positions are shared. There has been a huge outcry against government’s sponsorship of annual pilgrimages by Christians and Moslems. Yet, this cry has been ignored while billions are frittered away annually on pilgrimages. The religious card in Nigerian politics is a major indicator of how sensitive we have become to a purely private issue. At the same time, it is an indicator of how allegations of marginalisation have assumed a central role in Nigerian politics. In 1993 when Chief MKO Abiola and Alhaji Babagana Kingibe ran on a Muslim – Mus-

lim ticket for president and vice-president, it didn’t matter. But try putting forward that same ticket today at the national level and risk courting disaster. That was a scenario the APC came close to offering but for some party leaders that set that aside.but it bears mentioning here that we cannot continue to advance with such a highly volatile issue. Merit is being sacrificed at the altar of religious expediency by the political parties. For instance, not all Northerners are Moslems. By the same token, not all Southerners are Christians. Now, the argument has been made that where does all this leave adherents of other faiths? Do they have a fighting chance at all? What about atheists or free thinkers? The other question that comes to mind is whether a politician’s public show of piety equates to his or her level of Godliness. We’ve seen politicians who threw themselves on the ground in churches but turned around to desecrate the Golden Rule: Love your neighbour as yourself. A politician is first and foremost an opportunist. Try giving a Nigerian politician the microphone in your church or mosque to speak for a few minutes and see the drama that follows. They can go as far as shedding false tears or making declarations they don’t intend to keep. And these are people who could have spent the previous night in some ungodly places in the quest for power! Nigerians should now begin to ask themselves how much the religious card in politics has helped them as individuals and as a nation. Other parameters should be employed in producing leaders. We cannot continue to dwell at the primordial level where private matters become major determinants in elections. This brings us to the issue of luxury taxes being proposed by the Federal Government as a response to declining oil revenues. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, on Wednesday said government would impose taxes on private jets, luxury yachts and cars and the good old champagne. Government is also proposing to impose a one per cent tax on Abuja mansions that cost more than N300 million. While these are salutary measures, they don’t address the question of making the economy more productive. While I commend President Jonathan for the various initiatives taken by his administration in the agricultural sector, I believe more needs to be done to take millions of Nigerian youths off the streets. It goes beyond agriculture. There are many areas where unemployed Nigerians can be adequately engaged so that they can earn an income and pay taxes. That way, the government will have a wider tax population to deal with and we can then wean ourselves off the dependence on oil. The private sector must be given a bigger role to play in economic development. It is not enough for government to expect graduates and school leavers to create jobs. An enabling environment must seriously be created to harness the creative potential of Nigerians for the good of the country. That way, we can be truly said to be serious about national development. That way, the rich and the poor will proudly contribute to raising the nation’s revenue profile. That’s what being a citizen is all about!

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.

Emeka Madunagu Religious tickets and luxury taxes

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Winston Churchill

Leisure & Puzzle }40

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014

N150

}55

Party primaries and scramble for Nigeria

igerian political parties are about now dispatching the list of their contrived nominees, or as they prefer to label them ‘Winners’ or candidates for the forthcoming different electoral positions to the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega, a former National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, and one time Vice Chancellor, Bayero University, Kano. On the scholarly head of Jega, rests not only the hopes and expectations of generality of Nigerians, but also the fears and anxieties about 2015, and the enveloping sense of danger. Generally speaking, apart from the presidential primaries of the All Progressive Congress (APC) that was a delight to behold, and perhaps the presidential endorsement of Goodluck Jonathan as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), what one witnessed in most of the states can at best be described as a charade. It is not a joke, for the continuance of this monumental fraud in the name of party primaries, is largely responsible for festering national rot evident in all aspects of our national life, and the cascading mediocrity that has been the tragedy of the nation since the fourth Republic. If political parties are congenitally opposed in such a devious and cavalier attitude to institutionalisation of democracy, disrespecting their own laws, then perspective Nigerians may begin to prepare early to sing the nunc dimitis for the fourth Republic. Yes, we may argue that Nigeria’s party political history is replete with such bastardisation of the democratic process, but it seems to me that the fifteen years of uninterrupted civil rule no longer permits the luxury of desecrating the political process under the unacceptable excuse of “nascent democracy”. How nascent is this democracy? When shall it grow? When are we going to start respecting the fundamental traits of civilised conduct and refrain from supplanting the wishes of Nigerians? For how long shall we continue to take Nigerians for a ride? What we have seen nationally is not cheery at all, but rather depressing. All too clearly, the conflicting results emanating from the primaries portend grave crises for Nigeria. Some may say that we have seen tensions boil over party primaries, but at the end of the day, they all petered out. The result of the flawed process is in the continuing criminalisation of the Nigerian state. Abuse of the electoral process is at the centre of the stagnation of the nation. This abuse is not only pervasive, it has become ubiquitous, little wonder the large number of aspirants clamouring for position, not to render public service, but to join the league of locusts, pillaging our common patrimony. The large number of aspirants for the few political positions suggests not only the desperation of the political elite, but also a civilian pincer movement where opposing politicians are united and attack the masses from different directions, exploiting them unceas-

Ivory Glory NKEMDILI NNONYELU aunnonyelu@yahoo.co.uk 08122801926 (sms only)

Jega

ingly. The masses remain petrified, unsure of what to do in the midst of this capricious political style, engaging at best in desultory behaviour. This is the tragedy of the situation as civil society groups that should have been in the vanguard of the defence of citizen’s rights have all been co-opted in a despicable manner by the rapacious Nigerian state. I am not at all suggesting that those who ‘lost’ out are better that those who ‘won’. My concern is largely with the manner of acquiring victory and conceding defeat. How did you win, and how did you lose? If credible candidates are robbed of victory, or if losers are made to become winners, as have become rampant, then all we need do is to look into the warehouse of political lexicon, and choose what we are practising, obviously not democracy. The potentiality of such prevalent odious practise releasing Nigeria from political Siberia and unleashing

The crisis infested primaries, much like a mosh pit are at best national disgrace

its feted creative energies is of course wishful. The crisis infested primaries, much like a mosh pit are at best national disgrace. The parties should go back to the drawing boards if ever they have a residue of integrity, for their failed conduct can very easily be replicated in the coming inter-party elections. What moral authority would the parties have to hold INEC to organise, free, fair and credible elections? Nigerians in their numbers are likely to line behind INEC if and when they ever show revulsion at the conduct of party primaries. There are acceptable standards and global best practices that are available, and therefore we cannot be talking about embarking on a pot luck in the nation’s perilous political peregrination. How dare primaries be held without an agreed list of delegates properly advertised before the election? In delegate election, elections are won and lost by the sheer manner the delegates were picked. If one of the contestants sits in the confines of his room, draws up a list of clowns in his court, hangers on, families and friends, then the election has been concluded before the contest. Or if party Electoral Officials, supposed neutral arbiters, unbiased umpires allow themselves to be used in obedience to what has now been made famous by Ayo Fayose – the inglorious phrase, “democracy of the stomach”, where they manufacture delegates list, stay in the comfort of cosy hotel rooms to write election results which are hastily accepted by compromised cheats that pose as members of National Executive Committee (NEC) of these parties, then that election is totally flawed. Given the boisterous protests and condemnations accompanying the multiple declaration of results, and also in view of the conundrum, fractionalisation of the ruling People’s Democratic Party primaries, one can say with exactitude that the party primaries represent one of the cruelest assaults on the redemocratisation of Nigeria since the fourth Republic. For empirical validation, let us examine the events emanating from the states. In Abia State, the forced slumber of the people had been rudely animated by the arrogant manner in which Governor Theodore Orji has appropriated the states elective offices, both for the Executive and Legislative arms, for his family, cronies and other puppeteers. Abia under Theodore Orji has been described by many right thinking Nigerians as the worst governed state in Nigeria, a typical case of incompetence supported by primitive prebendalism.

His stooge has been selected as the winner in a sham called primaries. He has also quickly pocketed the senatorial seat for himself and possibly waiting to hand over the speakership to his son. A new emperor Bokassa is born in Abia. In Anambra State, the Uba brothers are involved in some form of patrician supremacy contest over who shall go to the Senate, as the Senatorial zone has been confiscated by the Ubas alternating it among themselves. Elsewhere in the Central Senatorial District, all the contestants within the Peoples Democratic Party declared themselves winner – Hon. Uche Ekwunife, Senator Annie Okonkwo, Sylvester Okonkwo, Obiora Okonkwo, this has left the electorate benumbed. The same is true in Anambra North, where feminism is on display with Sen. Margery Okadigbo, Chief Mrs Stella Oduah squaring it out, and claiming their own version of victory. In Enugu State, Governor Sullivan Chime has managed to install his protégé Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as the candidate, while Senator Ayogu Eze who declared himself winner in his own primary election has gone to court to obtain an order stopping INEC from accepting Ugwuanyi. In Imo, the war is not over between Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, and Ex-Governor, Ikedi Ohakim. Their supporters have since served notice to the party that the absence of their chosen one on the ticket means the death of PDP. In Rivers, Nyesom Wike, emerged candidate in a totally flawed election where most of the aspirants were effectively shut out by the skewed manner the delegates were created. In Cross River, Senate Majority leader has been taught some bitter political lessons by Governor Liyel Imoke. In Akwa Ibom, the imposition of Udom Emmanuel by the performing Governor leaves a sour taste, a situation in which the State may never recover. In Lagos, Musiliu Obanikoro’s supporters are up in arms against the declared winner, Jimi Agbaje in a contest that ordinarily deserves cancellation for the shameful shifting of figures. In Sokoto, Kwara, Niger States, the situation for the PDP presents an appalling scenario. Muktari Shagari is still crying foul. Do not think that APC is better. In their own case, the canonisation of their governors has carefully rubbished any claims to internal democracy. In Ogun State, the Deputy Governor has since moved with some Senators and other Legislators as a counter attack to the refusal to hold decent primaries. In Oyo State some Senators have also left APC to join Accord Party. In the home of Adams Oshiomole, the respected Secretary to Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvere had tendered his resignation after he was dusted in a manner that he felt was not in line with party ethos. For All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the situation is not in any way different. The primaries of different political parties have shown that the parties are not only adept in mischief, but have conscripted their members in the scramble for Nigeria. The country has been shared out to Predators and Internal Colonialists.

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.