Friday, april 24, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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Vol. 2 No. 429

Friday, April 24, 2015

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N150

House of REpresentatives jacks up budget by N135bn

Group projects $10bn oil revenue loss for Nigeria Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

igeria will lose about $10 billion this year to the low

price of crude oil, which has been at an average of $53 per barrel compared to $77.5 in 2014, the Oil Producer Trade Section (OPTS) has said. The Chairman OPTS

and Managing Director, Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mrs. Elizabeth Proust, said yesterday in Abuja at the 2015 Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum that the low

oil price witnessed globally was having an adverse impact on revenue of both producers and host government. OPTS is a private sector group comprising indig-

enous and international companies that operate 96 per cent of the total oil and gas production in Nigeria. Proust, who spoke on the theme: "Global oil price dynamics: impact and stra-

tegic solution for Nigeria,â&#x20AC;? said: "Unfortunately, Nigeria is not immune to this revenue squeeze. "We estimate that if crude oil price average CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Buhari: No way for shady characters

lExplains opposition to National Conference

Quick Read

Editorial

Curbing social media malady }19

Senate presidency: APC sets criteria for }5 aspirants

L-R: A member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Odefa Ali Odefa; former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; Ebonyi State Deputy Governor and Governorelect, Mr. David Umahi and Senator Emmanuel Onwe, during a visit to Kalu in Abuja...yesterday.

Troops retreat from Sambisa Forest lShekau's silence heightens suspicion in military circle Emmanuel Onani Abuja

oldiers were forced yesterday to retreat from attacking Boko Haram's last known

stronghold, Sambisa Forest, following concern that the area was booby-trapped after three vigilantes were

killed by a landmine. A report by Reuters, quoting sources, said the pullback from the Sambisa

Forest, came a day after an offensive aimed at rooting out the insurgents. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari: No way for shady characters in my govt Mojeed Alabi

resident-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has given an insight into the composition of his cabinet. Buhari, in an interview granted a Lagos-based private television station, TVC, said he would not bring into his government people of questionable integrity. Buhari, in the interview whose transcript New Telegraph obtained yesterday, also spoke on when the change mantra, which was the campaign slogan of his party would begin; his position on the report of the National Conference; why he changed his mind about not running for presidency again and how President Goodluck Jonathan's decision to concede defeat has saved Nigeria from been plunged into chaos. According to him, although the All Progressives Congress (APC) will play a prominent role in determining who he will work with, his administration will not have room for shady characters. "The party has a lot of role to play here (in picking cabinet members). But more importantly, I think we need seasoned technocrats, people of professional and personal integrity. There is so much mudslinging, accurate and inaccurate accusations of how corruption has eaten deep into our system. So we cannot afford to make a mistake. Those people who had been identified as incompetent and of doubtful personal and professional integrity, I don’t think they

will get a role to play in the cabinet of the APC," he stated. On the National Conference report, he said: "Frankly speaking, I haven’t studied the report. I have problem with that confab. Well, the problem is that if you could recall, at a time the Federal Government budgeted N7 billion for that confab, ASUU was on strike and ASUP too. These strikes were on for a whole academic year. I think a serious government that has N7 billion to throw about should have gone to negotiate with the striking teachers so that our children would remain in school by providing them with facilities. I was so much passionately against that confab because well again, the National Assembly was there. People would have sent a memo to the National Assembly in line with the constitution if they had wanted constitutional amendment. Why take N7 billion for confab when we could not afford to keep our children in schools? I think this government has capacity for wrong priorities." He also promised Nigeria that it will not be business as usual under his administration as the change they clamour for will begin to manifest from June. He said: "I think from 1st of June this year, after we are sworn in, from the processes of taking new ministers, then people will know we are living to our manifesto’s commitments. And I will ask our observers to please study our manifestoes. It is not the Bible or the Qur’an

because you can’t change either the Qur’an or the Bible, what you meet there you believe. But I want to tell you that our manifesto was developed by very experienced Nigerians. It took us several months to arrive at it but it is still subject to modification; so people must understand such manifesto according to the laws of the land." On whether or not his administration will reduce the pump price of petrol as canvassed by former Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West, Buhari said he should not be held accountable for the position of the former minis-

ter in his military regime. "The pump price of fuel could be lesser than N87, but it would be very difficult because of infrastructural decay because of long years of neglect but we will look into it. The petroleum industry is in such a mess just like other sectors of the economy because the PDP had allowed the refineries to decay and allowed the pipelines to be destroyed by saboteurs. I cannot promise magic because I don’t think I have got that magic wand," he stated. When asked why he changed his mind not to run again after his defeat

in the presidential contest in 2011, Buhari said he had to do so because his associates made him realise that it was only the party that could have the final say in such a decision. He added that Jonathan's decision to concede defeat was the hallmark of a statesman as it saved the nation from a looming crisis. "For an opposition party to successfully win an election against an incumbent party which had been there for 16 years, and more significantly what the president did by calling me even before the final tally shows a remark-

able statesmanship and that stabilised the politics of this country," he stated. He praised former APC Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and the party's National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu for the roles they play in bringing to fruition the merge of key opposition parties to form APC. He was not bothered by the exodus of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members into the APC, saying there is no problem as long as the defectors agree can establish themselves in their constituencies and begin to operate there.

President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (left) with Senate President David Mark, during Mark's visit to Buhari in Abuja...yesterday.

Why Jonathan should sign amended constitution, by Reps lFG: National Assembly should allow court determine legality

Philip Nyam and Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he House of Representatives has formally responded to the objections raised by President Goodluck Jonathan on the fourth alteration of the 1999 Constitution forwarded to him for assent. The House had, last week, referred the queries raised by the president to its Ad hoc Committee on Constitution Review to study and advise it appropriately. Chairman of the ad hoc committee and Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who presented the position of the House at a

press conference yesterday faulted the president on all queries raised and advised him to assent to the document. Ihedioha, who was represented by the Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie at a joint press conference with House spokesman, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, said it was incorrect for the president to have submitted that the requirement for section 9 (3) was not met. He argued that the National Assembly met the requirement of the section "for a fourth-fifth of the votes of the members of each House," adding that a reference to the proceedings of the House of Wednesday, July 24, 2013 showed that "for the

alteration of section 9, attendance of members as registered was 338, ayes votes 317, nays votes were 6, abstain 15, totalling 338. The Senate also voted accordingly." On clause 12 bordering on the insertion of new sections 45A and 45B, the lawmakers submitted that "it is not every detail of a provision that should be spelt out in the constitution as the institutions and organs against whom constitutionally guaranteed rights are usually sought to be obtained from are known by the citizenry." Responding to the president's position on alteration of section 58 (clause 14), the House noted that the section presently man-

dates the president to assent to a bill sent to him or indicate his withholding of assent within 30 days of the bill being sent to him. "Therefore, the 30 days requirement is not a new introduction by the National Assembly. "The amendment was made to cure the current practice whereby bills are sent to the president for assent but he neither assents nor indicates withholding of assent sometimes months after, much more than the 30 days period mandated by the constitution," the House stated. On clause 21, section 82, the House opined that the amendment seeks to reduce the period when expenditure can be au-

thorised in default of appropriation from six months to three months, explaining that "with the reduction of the period to three months, the National Assembly envisages that the Executive arm shall present the appropriation bill latest by the end of September of each year, and the National Assembly shall have the corresponding task to ensuring its passage before the end of the three months threshold." According to the House, allowing the appropriation act of the previous year to continue to run six months into a new fiscal year 'distorts and destabilises' the budget process and should be stopped. It observed that the con-

tention of the president that the funding requirement for the proposed office of the Accountant General of the Federation was not addressed should not be a problem "as it is not every detail that should be included in the constitution.” Similarly, the House responded to the concern raised by the president on the proposed separation of the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and of the states from that of the minister or commissioner of justice would violate the doctrine of separation of powers and negate the independence and absolute discretion that the office enjoys. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Travel Advisory

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule 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

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed , Fri) New York-Lagos W3 108 (Tues,Thurs, Fri) Lagos-Johannesburg W3 103 Johannesburg-Lagos W3 104 Lagos-Douala - (Tues, Wed ,Thur) Douala-Lagos - (Tues, Wed, Thur) Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos

Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

-(Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun) -(Mon, Wed, Fri) -(Daily) - (Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

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

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

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs 08:05hrs 13:35hrs 18:00hrs

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

AWB 201 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

17:00hrs 06:00hrs 08:00hrs 17:00hrs 08:00hrs 15:20hrs 21:00hrs

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos - Addis Ababa ET900 Addis Ababa - Lagos ET901 Abuja - Addis Ababa ET910 Addis Ababa - Abuja ET911 Enugu - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Enugu ET931 Kano - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Kano 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

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

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

12:30hrs

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

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

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

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

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

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

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

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

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

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

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

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

HF 851 (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

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

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri)

Departure Arrival 14:00hrs 15:55hrs 16:30hrs 18:15hrs

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)

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

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

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE 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

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

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Senate presidency: APC sets criteria for aspirants

lPresident-elect, Oyegun, others form panel lPDP senators’ plot unsettles APC Donald Ojogo Abuja

he President-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, has intervened in the brewing crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over who emerges the president of the Eighth Senate. APC, which emerged the majority party in the Eighth Senate, to be inaugurated in June, has not been able to forge a consensus on who succeeds Senator David Mark as Senate President. The battle for the Senate presidency has pitted APC senators from the NorthCentral against their party mates from the North-East while Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators are waiting in the wing to reap from the crisis. However, New Telegraph has learnt that to straighten the process for the nomination of candidates for top political appointments, especially in the National Assembly, Buhari has rolled out some criteria to be met by aspirants before they can get the party's support. One of the criteria is

that no one under investigation for corruption should be considered for the job. A source said the President-elect insisted that all leadership positions in the National Assembly should be occupied by persons with ‘clean records.’ Buhari rode to power on his vow to tackle corruption and insecurity. APC's National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed's reaction was still being awaited as at the time of going to the press, but he had insisted that the party was yet to decide on the zoning of the NASS positions. It was gathered that a meeting of the party's national leadership, held on Wednesday night in Abuja to consider the jockeying for positions, was inconclusive. But the source said the party’s caucus had mandated Buhari and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun and three others "to meet and come up with an acceptable formula that will throw up unblemished candidates as our leaders in the National Assembly." He, however, did not dis-

close the identities of the three others, saying: “I cannot tell you the other three persons.” According to findings, the mandate to the fiveman committee became necessary as the APC reportedly discovered that the PDP senators were poised to re-enact the "2011 Tambuwal magic" against it. House of Representatives’ Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, with support from his colleagues, had in 2011 thwarted the PDP zoning formula that ceded the speakership to the SouthWest. The incumbent is from the North-West. New Telegraph gathered that the PDP senators were awaiting APC's decision on zoning of the Senate presidency before taking a position on who to back. The PDP's wait-and-see stance appears to have been fuelled by reports that the two contenders from the North-Central, Senators Bukola Saraki and George Akume, have vowed not to step down for each other. “To avoid a situation where two strong contenders from the same zone will go in for the contest, divide

our votes and throw up a Senate President that is not the choice of the party leadership, there are strong indications that the NorthEast’s push for the position may become a reality because there is only one person, Senator Ahmad Lawan, from that zone; and there are no records showing that he has a corruption liability to offload. "Our problem is not who to back and push for, but the issue is whether or not the rumour that a particular aspirant for the Senate presidency job has reached an accord with the PDP senators to frustrate the party's effort at arriving at a consensus," the source said. He added that this fear and others informed the meeting of the APC leaders on Wednesday night. "In politics, nothing should be left for chances at all; we all have been very careful about this issue of zoning all along. "We thought of coming out with a formula by the end of today (Wednesday) but we just discovered a sinister plot by the PDP senators who have reached an accord with an aspirant to move against us at the

inauguration where a Senate President will emerge. "We had initially ignored such reports, but on a second thought, they could actually re-enact the 2011 Tambuwal magic against us; so we are very circumspect on the issue. “This is not even the major issue, but the marching order our leader, the President-elect, has handed down to us in caucus. He has warned and expressly stated that anyone with any case with the anti-corruption agencies should not be fielded for the job," the source stated. He said Buhari at the meeting restated his commitment to the anticorruption war and that those with bad records should not be allowed to hold critical positions, whether in the executive or legislative arm. “The General was so categorical at the meeting. He said that he was ready to fight corruption and should not be encumbered in prosecuting the war through the emergence of some tainted candidates in critical positions, particularly as it relates to the National Assembly. “In fact, his marching

order to us was that anyone indicted by the antigraft agencies or anyone who is currently being prosecuted by any of the anti-graft agencies should not be allowed to aspire to key positions in his government,” the source said. But it was learnt that the inability of the APC to arrive at a consensus on who emerges the Senate President was due to the jockeying by the three power blocs within the party; with each of them backing a candidate for the job. The power blocs comprise members from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), led by former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, who are supporting Akume; the New PDP elements, led by the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi with Saraki as their choice and those from the defunct All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) who are supporting Lawan.

Acting IG visits Jonathan, warns trouble makers Anule Emmanuel Abuja

L-R: Former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Permanent Secretary, Political, SGF's Office, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, during the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee meeting in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: Timothy Ikuomenisan

Troops retreat from Sambisa Forest CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

"The soldiers have retreated to Bama because of mines. They had been on the road but that made them vulnerable, so they moved to the bush. But there are mines planted there (too)," one soldier, who did not want to be named, said. Meanwhile, the sudden disappearance of Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar

Shekau, from the "radar" in recent times, has heightened suspicion in the military over his whereabouts. The last that was heard of Shekau was his declaration of allegiance to the Islamic State (IS); a development, which heightened fears of possible training of Boko Haram fighters by the group. Shekau has also not reacted to his listing among

The Times magazine's latest 100 most influential people in the world. According to a report by PRNigeria, Shekau disappeared since the presidential order in February to the military to capture him alive and also clear Boko Haram fighters from the remaining few territories under their control. It said even Shekau's Thuraya phone, where

his communication was constantly monitored by military intelligence, can no longer be accessed. Even his earlier threat that the 2015 general elections would not hold even if he were dead did not materialise as apart from the exercise taking place, winners have since emerged at various levels. The confusion over Shekau's whereabouts is

coming on the heels of Wednesday's announcement by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on the killing of "a notorious' top terrorists commander, Abu Mojahid. Mojahid was said to be among terrorists killed on Tuesday in their encounter with troops on the outskirt of Alagarno. "With peace and quiet CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

he newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, yesterday held a private meeting with President Goolduck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where he vowed to focus on dealing with trouble makers in the country. Speaking with State House correspondents after the closed-door meeting, Arase said, within the period he would steer the affairs of the Police force, no persons interested in fomenting trouble especially during electioneering that will be allowed to go unpunished. Supplementary elections hold on Saturday, April 25 in Abia, Imo and Taraba states where elections have been declared inconclusive. According to the acting IGP, "Well, we still have some elections left in about three states and we are doing some massive deployment of human and material resources. That is what I came to brief the President and C-in-C (Commander-in-Chief. "I can assure you that we are going to have a level playing field for people who want to vote on Election Day. For the deviant like I said yesterday, (Wednesday) will be decisively dealt with."

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reps pass budget, add N135bn extra Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives yesterday approved N4.493 trillion as the budget for the 2015 fiscal year. The approved amount is N135.4 billion more than the initial N4,357,960 trillion proposed by the executive in November 2014. New Telegraph had reported yesterday that the House was set to pass the budget. The budget, which was passed at the Committee of Supply, presided by House Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal was, however, N67,433 billion higher than what was contained in the report of the Joint Committee on Finance and Appropriation presented on Wednesday. The major difference in the amount (N425,425,930,000) stated in the Wednesday report and the final amount (N4,493,363,957,158) passed yesterday, affected only the statutory transfers which were raised from N366.280 billion to N375.616 billion. In the budget passed, Niger Delta Development Commission’s allocation was raised from N45.780

billion to N46.720 billion; Universal Basic Education’s allocation was raised from N67.3 billion to N68.380 billion; National Assembly’s allocation was raised from N115 billion to N120 billion; Public Complaint Commission’s allocation was raised from N2 billion to N4 billion while National Human Rights Commission’s allocation was raised from N1.2 billion to N1.516 billion. But the House retained, as recommended by the committee, N73 billion for the National Judicial Council (agency) and N62 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Details of the approved budget showed that N375.616 billion is for stat-

utory transfer; N953.620 is for debt service; N2.607 billion is for recurrent (nondebt) expenditure while N642,848,999,699, inclusive of N144.420 billion, is for capital expenditure in statutory transfers. Under the N1,993,891,830,842 recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, education gets the highest allocation of N392,242,784,654 followed by Defence/MOD/Army/ Air Force/Navy with N326,697,219,431 and police formation and commands with N303,822,224,611. The sum of N236,975,742,847 is for the health sector. The sectoral breakdown shows that N62,226,771,999 is for office of the National Security Adviser; N58,293,428,177 is for

Petroleum Resources; N48,299,630,506 is for Secretary to the Government of the Federation; N41,688,372,171 is for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while N31,871,341,597 is for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The sum of N26,593,880,816 is for Ministry Science and Technology; N25,177,777,661 is for Works; N23,695,474,427 for Ministry of Information; N20,085,865,120 for Presidency; N18,118,392,153 for Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation; N15,602,574,341 is for Ministry of Environment; N10,978,094,393 is for Ministry Trade and Investment while N10,597,851,549 is for Ministry of Commu-

nication Technology. From the N13,965,664,092 approved for the eight federal executive bodies, N5,299,416,374 is for National Population Commission; N1,935,767,344 for Code of Conduct Bureau; N473,656,088 for Code of Conduct Tribunal; N2,214,028,373 is for Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission; N1,129,445,636 for Federal Civil Service Commission; N740,477,185 is for Police Service Commission and N2,172,873,092 is for Federal Character Commission. From the total sum of N63,281,093,786 earmarked for presidential amnesty programme, the stipends and allowances of 30,000 Niger Delta ex-militants

is to gulp N23.625 billion; N5,502,447,783 is for presidential amnesty operational cost; N34,153,646,003 is for reintegration of transformed ex-militants while zero allocation is for reinsertion/transition safety allowances for 3,642 ex-militants (phase 3). According to the report, the sum of N498,428,999,699 was set aside for capital expenditure of various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in addition to the sum of N144.420 billion as capital expenditure in statutory transfers. Out of the total sum of N953.62 billion approved for debt servicing, N894.610 billion is for domestic debt and N59.010 billion for foreign debt.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

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26 C 19 C Storm

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CALABAR

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30oC 24oC Storm

43oC 22oC Sunny

36oC 24oC Isolated Storm

L-R: Director-General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu; Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and Director-General, Consumers Protection Commission (CPC), Mrs. Dupe Atoki, at the inauguration of SON's headquarters in Abuja…yesterday.

FG: N'Assembly should allow court determine legality Shekau's silence heightens CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

According to the House, the basis for providing for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to make recommendations for the appointment of the Attorney General by the president is because the NJC appears to be neutral body as it is made up of senior judges including members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). "Certainly, the separation of the offices of Attorney General and Minister of Justice is to guarantee the impartiality of the office of Attorney General over public prosecutions, while the minister of justice serves as chief legal adviser to government," the House stated. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has asked the National Assembly to allow the Supreme Court to determine the legality of the amendment of the 1999 Constitution it car-

ried out. This was contained in a letter written to the Senate President, David Mark informing him of the suit the Federal Government filed at the Supreme Court challenging the legality of the proposed amendments to the constitution. In a letter written by counsel to the Federal Government, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), he asked the Senate President to allow the Supreme Court to determine the issues it raised in the suit. The letter reads in part: "In view of this development and the dictates of the principles of the rule of law on which any democratic system thrives, we use this medium to urge that the Supreme Court be allowed to determine the suit under reference before any further step is taken by the National Assembly on the move to pass the Fourth Altera-

tion Act alluded to earlier in this correspondence into law. "May we add that adopting such attitude will not only commendably be in line with the decisions of the Supreme Court on the absolute need to avoid self-help by all persons and authorities in resolving disputes, but will also yield to the rule of law as espoused in the decisions of the courts... In the suit filed before the apex court, the Federal Government is asking the court to nullify the amendments proposed by the National Assembly on the grounds among others that the amendments violated the constitution being proposed to be amended. The government, however, asked the Senate President to draw the attention of the House of Representatives to the pending suit.

suspicion in military circle CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

from the usually vociferous Abubakar Shekau, supreme head of the Boko Haram in recent times, there are speculations within the security circles that the group may have been so disarrayed that it no longer has the luxury of issuing threats. "A military source told PRNigeria that since the declaration of the final push against the insurgents in the middle of February, and directive to clear all terrorists' camps before May 29 handover date, the Nigerian troops have been on the lookout for Shekau and other commanders of Boko Haram. “The guy simply disappeared from the radar. Even his communications through Thuraya satellite phones that are usually monitored have disappeared and it is like the

guy suddenly vanished. We wish we could catch him alive. "The last that was heard of Shekau was the unverified broadcast pledging allegiance to Islamic State (IS), early in March which was posted on Boko Haram's Twitter account. In that broadcast, he also vowed to disrupt the rescheduled elections. "Since asking for a sixweek extension to the date of 2015 general elections in February, Nigerian troops have essentially flushed out Boko Haram terrorists from the 21 local government areas that they occupied in three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. "The military has invaded the notorious forest hideouts of terrorists and is systematically combing them to clear the entire Nigerian territory of terrorist elements,” the source added.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

APC to IG: Shun partisanship, embrace professionalism Temitope Ogunbanke

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the newly-appointed Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to approach his new task with a high level of professionalism. The party also called on the acting IGP to shun partisanship that has dragged key national institutions of state, especially the police, into the partisan fray. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC advised Arase to learn from the fate that befell his predecessors who, under their watch, turned the police into the enforcement arm of the ruling party. APC said: “We do not know the reason for the

sack of the immediate past IGP, but we have read, just like other Nigerians, that it might not be unconnected with the role he either played or did not play in the last general elections. What we do know is that the police force under the former IG was a major actor in the massive rigging and violence that characterised the elections in some parts of the country, especially in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto and Gombe states just to mention a few. “Now, Mr. Arase faces perhaps the biggest test in his new capacity with the supplementary elections coming up in Abia, Imo and Taraba. We do hope he will not allow the police under him to be used to thwart the will of the people in those states or to give cover to those who will engage in violence. “Any IG worth its salt

does not need to pander to the President or the ruling party in carrying out his duties. All he has to do is to make sure the police carries out its statutory duties in accordance with the law and without fear or favour.” The party said it does not believe the rumours making the rounds that the new Acting IGP was appointed to facilitate victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in those supplementary elections. “When Mr. Arase's predecessor issued an illegal order directing Nigerians to vote and immediately vacate polling units during the last elections, he knew he was acting against what the law stipulates, but he chose to do so anyway to please his masters. However, armed with the position of the law, Nigerians simply ignored the illegal

order, voted and stayed behind to defend their votes. “When that unlawful order is placed sideby-side with other acts that ran contrary to the maintenance of law and order under the immediate past IG – including the cover given to the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to wreak havoc in Lagos, the illegal withdrawal of the security details of Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, whom he (former IG) refused to recognise as Speaker in a clear usurpation of the role of the judiciary, and the shameful role of the police in the Osun governorship election last year, during which hundreds of APC members were arrested and detained without cause – one will realise to what extent the police was dragged into partisan politics under him.

“But in the end, those for whom the IG desecrated the police had no qualms about humiliating him out of office. We hope Mr. Arase will learn

a lesson from this; toe a different path and not run the police like his private company and a tool in the hands of unscrupulous politicians,” it said.

Reps pass bill criminalising torture, inhuman treatment Philip Nyam Abuja

he House of Representatives has passed a bill prohibiting torture and other inhuman treatments against Nigerians. This is just as the House adjourned plenary until May 5 to enable members participate in the retreat organised for all memberselect beginning next week. The bill was Titled, "a Bill For an Act penalising the Commission of Acts of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishments, Prescribing Penalties Thereof and for Other Purposes." The bill, sponsored by Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (PDP, Abia) was passed at the Committee of the Whole yesterday. When signed into law, the piece of legislation will penalise every act of high-handedness by individuals towards their

subordinates, servants or people in custody in the case of criminal suspects under investigation. In her executive summary before the consideration process, Onyejeocha told her colleagues that the bill was necessitated for reasons such as: "Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment are strictly prohibited at all times under international laws, regardless of the person having committed such unlawful acts and what crimes the victim may be suspected of having committed. "The enactment of a law against torture and ill-treatment would protect the rights of the potential victims of such ill-treatment and would enable the punishment of the responsible individual(s), thus, ensuring there will be no impunity. "The proposed bill underscores that freedom from torture is a non-negotiable right."

OPTS projects $10bn oil revenue loss for Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

L-R: South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Louis Lulu; Representative of South Africans living in Nigeria, Ms. Modise Felicia and President, Nigerians in Diaspora Integration Agency, Dr. Caro Nwosu, after the signing of Peace Accord between Nigeria and South Africa in Abuja …yesterday

FAAN begins N5bn airlines' debt recovery lDisrupts Arik's Abuja operations, travellers stranded

Wole Shadare

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has commenced the recovery of over N5 billion debt owed it and various aviation agencies. Officials of FAAN yesterday disrupted Arik Air’s operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The agency denied the airline’s staff access to their duty post, making it impossible to process passengers for departures out of Abuja. New Telegraph learnt that the action left many travellers booked on the

airline's flight stranded. Arik Air has described the debt figure by the agency as fictitious and malicious. The airline insists that it does not owe FAAN any money since the agency’s charges are paid in advance (pay-as-you-go basis). This has been the practice for over two years when all the aviation agencies introduced pay-asyou-go for their services. The airline insisted that the bogus debt claimed by FAAN is, therefore, unacceptable to Arik Air. Speaking to New Telegraph on telephone, FAAN spokesman, Yakubu Dati said the agency has sched-

uled a meeting with the airline today with a view to resolving the matter. Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, had earlier stepped into the lingering debt issue between FAAN and Arik Air and had directed that a firm of auditors be engaged to reconcile the books. This process has not been concluded before the latest action by FAAN yesterday. Spokesman for Arik Air, Banji Ola said since about 10:50a.m. yesterday when the minister directed the FAAN Managing Director, Saleh Dunoma, to allow Arik Air access into the terminal, the di-

rective was yet to be complied with by the agency. According to Ola, "Arik Air sincerely apologise for the inconvenience the FAAN action may have caused its esteemed guests. The safety and comfort of passengers remain the bedrock of the airline’s operations. The management of Arik Air is taking steps to guide against this kind of action in the future." Nigerian airlines, FAAN, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have been embroiled in bitter feud over debts amounting to over N5 billion.

$53 per barrel compared to $77.5 in 2014, Nigeria’s oil and gas revenue will decline by $10 billion this year or a gut wrenching 30 per cent. "Total allocation to state governments was N620 billion in the last quarter of 2014, as the oil price was sliding 15 per cent lower than in the same quarter of 2013. "This is resulting in the slowing or cancelling of many infrastructure projects that Nigeria desperately needs.” She added that within this challenging price environment, businesses are adding more rigour to cost optimisation programme to boost the bottom line. However, she said most of the cost drivers in the industry were relatively inelastic in the short term of one to two years due to existing commitments. "This means that there is a time lag between movements in crude oil prices and costs. Thus, we cannot expect near-term costs relief. Additionally in Nigeria, long contract approval times and other bureaucracy further slow

any gains from cost adjustments to low crude oil prices,” she stated. The OPTS boss also said low crude oil prices had significantly reduced the level of investable funds at a time when competition for investments was sharpening. According to her, the solutions include unlocking industry potential, redoubling efforts to improve capacity and efficiency of existing facilities and prioritising projects and investment. She, however, pledged OPTS mission to assist investors and the government to fully harness the hydrocarbon resources of Nigeria for the benefit of all stakeholders. Also speaking at the lecture, the Group Coordinator, Corporate Strategy and Planning, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Timothy Okon, called for diversification of the nation’s economy as a solution to challenge of low oil price. According to him, the government needs to create conducive business environment for investors to fund projects.

News

friday, april 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

APC will end poverty, not manage it like PDP — Tinubu Temitope Ogunbanke

he National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has assured Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will work hard to end poverty and not manage it like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did. Speaking yesterday at the 12th convocation ceremony of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

(LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, in Oyo State, Tinubu, the Chancellor of the institution, said Nigerian youths must be willing partners in radical and structural change in Nigeria. . His words: “A progressive government must turn its face from the austerity policies of the outgoing administrative that tried to manage poverty, but not end it. Such policies serve only to deepen and prolong the hardship of the average person. Such policies would lock

us in a room without hope or safe exit. We dare not go in. “In response to the downturn in private sector activity, a progressive government must exercise the creative boldness to generate economic growth, productive and equal opportunity. Under the circumstances that now confront us, government must use fiscal and monetary policy to enlarge the economic space by embarking on ambitious infrastructural de-

velopment, housing and agricultural programmes. “These programs will provide jobs directly. Moreover, the enhancement of our infrastructural base and sharpening of our productive capacity that results from these programs will initiate multiple rounds of job creation. This is how economic growth and employment are sustained over the long term. This is what the APC manifesto pledged to you. This is what an APC government

will seek to deliver.” He stressed further that: “For us as a nation to experience the change we yearn for, we should all be prepared for a fundamental change in our individual disposition and attitude toward nation building. This change at a personal level will help fuel a national re-orientation that will affect all sectors including governance. We must share the

Why North East wants Senate Presidency, by Ndume Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

enator Ali Ndume, yesterday, adduced reasons why the All Progressives Congress should zone the office of the Senate President to the North East. According to the twotime senator, who spoke to journalists at the APC national secretariat, the North East produced the second largest votes at the Presidential elec-

L-R: Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor; Group Coordinator, Corporate Strategy and Planning, NNPC, Dr. Timothy Okon; Council Chairman, Society of Petroleum Engineers in Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Ene; Manager, Gas Commercial, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Yemi Akinlawon and Dr. David Ige, at the 2015 Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Summit in Abuja…yesterday.

Amosun urges NLC factions to resolve crisis A Kunle Olayeni, Cajetan Mmuta and Biodun Oyeleye

gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday urged the two factions of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to close ranks and resolve their differences amicably. Amosun, who spoke during the plenary session of State Delegates Conference of NLC held at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, said it will be a great dis-

Ogundipe, appealed to the factional labour leaders to bury their hatchet in order to move forward. The governor noted that the NLC had always been part of the nation's history, adding that there was no way it could fight a common cause from a divided house. He said: "I wish to use this medium to appeal to the two factions of the Nigerian Labour Congress, most especially at the national level, to come together and resolve all differences amicably. There

Constitution alteration: Senators call for accelerated hearing Chukwu David Abuja

ome Senators have commended President Goodluck Jonathan for going to the Supreme Court to resolve the controversy trailing the Fourth Alteration Bill to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which he recently vetoed. The senators also called on the nation's apex court to grant expeditious hearing to the suit so that the

matter could be resolved in the life of the present 7th National Assembly, which will expire on June 4. The Senate on February 19 ratified the harmonised version of the Fourth Alteration Bill for onward transmission to President Jonathan for his assent. The National Assembly members were, however, shocked when Senate President David Mark read President Jonathan’s letter on April 15, notify-

ing the Upper Chamber that he had withheld his assent to the Fourth Alteration Bill. The president, in a sixpage letter addressed to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, informed the two legislative chambers of his decision to withhold his assent to the Bill and to remit same back to the National Assembly for necessary action, pointing out some defects in the Bill.

is no way you can fight a common cause from a divided house. "Going by that popular adage that states, 'a house divided against itself shall fall.' I enjoin all our national leaders to bury their hatchet in order to move the NLC forward." A total of 1,834 delegates, drawn from 37 unions, were expected to cast their ballots at the NLC State Delegate Conference, which was ongoing in Abeokuta at press time.

tion. Also, he posited that the North East zone was able to wrest states from the Peoples Democratic Party. Ndume stated however, that the zone would accept whatever that was zoned to it. Responding to a question on why the North East deserves the Senate President seat, he said: "You see, the North East produced the second largest vote for APC during the last election."

Boko Haram: Army begins trial of 11 officers, 20 soldiers Our Correspondent

service to the country if the labour body is allowed to factionalise. His counsel came on the day the Labour union elected two separate factions in different in Edo and Kwara States. The NLC at the national level had become factionalised in March, this year, following the emergence of parallel executives led by Ayuba Wabba and Joe Ajaero. But Amosun, who was represented by his Consultant on Labour Matters, Comrade Julius

responsibility for change. “Let us use this opportunity to dedicate ourselves to ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach all and sundry. This is the only way to build a secure future for the teeming population of our youth, a large percentage of who have had to go through harsh experiences of insecurity, unemployment and an uncertain future.”

newly-established General Court Martial (GCM) on Wednesday, began the trial of 11 officers and 20 soldiers, on offences against service rules during their involvement in the ongoing counter-insurgency war in the North East. The accused officers include Lieutenant Colonels and Majors. A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph, said the GCM is presided over by Brigadier General Alabi of the Army Headquarters. This is coming against the backdrop of last week's

conviction of about 15 fifteen soldiers and discharge and acquittal of over 50 others, who were tried for offences bordering on Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL), loss of weapons among others. The source further disclosed that "once this trial is concluded, the Army hopes to arraign Brigadier-General E. Ransome-Kuti and his Commanding Officers. "Don't forget that the general and his men, are yet to be arraigned over their action or inaction, that led to the sacking of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, Borno State, in January," he stated.

World Malaria Day: Mobil partners YEDI Appolonia Adeyemi

n commemoration of World Malaria Day on April 25th 2015, ExxonMobil has partnered with Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI) to combat the scourge of Malaria in Nigeria with a community tournament tagged “Kick Against Malaria Football Tournament.” According to a statement, the tournament, now in its third year, will hold at Q.I.C Primary School, Usung Inyang,

Eket/Oron Road, Eket, Akwa Ibom State. The theme for the 2015 World Malaria Day campaign is ‘Invest in the Future: Defeat Malaria’. On such occasions, well-meaning individuals, multinational organisations, corporations like ExxonMobil, and grassroots organisations such as YEDI, work together to provide free malaria testing and treatment, awareness and advocacy for policy changes to push back the scourge. The tournament is a

Grassroots Soccer initiative; it uses the convening power of soccer as an effective teaching platform for mobilising and empowering young Nigerians on malaria prevention and treatment as well as basic life skills. The event will take place alongside other activities including free Malaria testing and treatment, free distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Treated Nets (LLITN), Health Talk on Malaria, Cultural dance and drama among other activities.

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, april 24, 2015

News

national

Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat can’t wipe away his sins, says Sonaiya Oluwatosin Omoniyi

he presidential candidate of KOWA party in the March 28 presidential election, Professor Oluremi Sonaiya, has described President Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat as a decoy to whip up sentiment from Nigerians. Although she described the conces-

sion of defeat as an act of humility, she stated that that did not mean that Jonathan has become a statesman. Sonaiya spoke with New Telegraph in an exclusive interview in Ibadan. According to her, the president’s speech helped to douse the election tension and saved the country from trouble

that would have erupted, had he been declared the winner. That, she said Nigerians should be grateful for. “I don’t think we should blow this thing out of proportion. Nigerians tend to over-blow things. Personally, I don’t think that conceding a lost election should make him a statesman. He lost, simple,” she said.

Sonaiya further argued that the sentiment the speech generated has a tendency to completely wipe out all of President Jonathan’s misdeeds for which he was voted out of office. “There is a reason for which we voted him out. We shouldn’t forget that. I may not be effusive in my criticism. Yes, he did well by conceding defeat before the end

of the count of the election result. If that helped to douse tension, prevent the outbreak of violence but it does not nullify the fact that it was under his watch that a lot of things happened and grievous things for which the country paid dearly. For instance, the Lagos/Ibadan expressway which is about 300 kilometres, she said, it took a very long

time since 1999 for the President and the whole PDP administration to refurbish, while other countries have built thousands of kilometres of roads since that time(1999). Uganda, she pointed out, has in five years built more than 3, 000 kilometres out of the 5,000 kilometers of roads they promised at the cost they say they were going to build it.

Nigeria loses over N300bn to capital flight in aviation Wole Shadare

L-R: Former Minister of Industry, Dr. Nike Akande; Group Chief Executive Officer, United Capital Plc, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni; President, Institute of Directors, Nigeria (IOD), Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi and Chairman, Eco Bank Plc, Chief John Odeyemi, at the institute’s Women Directors' luncheon in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Presidency, APC committees prepare for Buhari's inauguration Anule Emmanuel ABUJA

reparations for the inauguration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari as president on May 29 has begun in earnest as members of the two committees set up by the presidency and the All Progressives Congress

(APC) met yesterday. Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim chairs the Transition Committee set up by the presidency while former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, heads the APC's. However, both of them will co-chair the 2015 Presidential Inaugura-

Reps ask ICPC to return recovered N924m Green Wall fund to ministry Philip Nyam

Abuja

he House of a Representatives, yesterday, mandated the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) to return N924m it recovered from fraudulent persons to the Ministry of Environment within a week. Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon. Uche Ekwunife, who gave the orders at an interactive session with the ICPC and the Ministry

of Environment, also commended the ICPC for a job well done. She said such monies should not be retained unduly, having been recovered. The money was meant for Great Green Wall project but was fraudulently transferred from the ministry accounts before the ICPC stepped in and recovered it. Ekwunife also commended the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Nana Fatima for her quick reaction and the ICPC for its effectiveness.

tion Planning Committee (PIPC). At a joint press briefing yesterday, Anyim said: “There are two parallel transition committees and inauguration committees. Two parallel transition committees are working independent of each other but they will interface at a point. The inauguration committee is structured to be

a joint committee of the present administration and incoming administration." The PIPC has 14 members from the present government and 13 members from the incoming government. Members of the committee on the government's team include Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Taraba re-run: Muazu in Jalingo, tells APC to accept defeat Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

ational Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu, yesterday visited Taraba State, with a call on the people to vote for PDP's Darius Ishaku in the April 25 run-off election. Muazu, who arrived the state in company with PDP National Working Committee (NWC) members, said the visit was to thank the people of Taraba for their sup-

port for PDP and to also encourage them ahead of the Saturday's run-off election. "We are here to encourage you that you should continue your good work and loyalty for our party, the PDP. Everybody knows that Taraba is for PDP and PDP is for Taraba. We have been in charge for the past 16 years. "I therefore, call on all of you, our teeming members and supporters to come for the run-off election in Donga and other affected polling units to cast your votes peacefully

Senator Bala Muhammed; Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka and Minister of State for Defence, Col Austin Akobundu; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.

xcept Nigeria puts a stop to it by floating a national carrier, the country would continue to lose several billions of naira to capital flight as she is yet to tap from the enormous potentials in the aviation industry. That was the view of Olabisi Akodu, Partner, Corporate/Commercial Sector Group for Olisa Agbakoba, while speaking with New Telegraph on the myriads of problems affecting the aviation sector. She conservatively put the profit of what foreign airlines cart out of Nigeria at over N300 billion annually, adding that the floating of a national airline and the strengthening of flag carrier airlines for Nigeria would make the humungous capital flight minimal. Few weeks ago, the Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Usman Mukhtar, disclosed that foreign airlines were making fortunes in the Nigerian aviation industry while local airlines are still playing from the fringes.

Reps threaten to halt presidential scholarship scheme Philip Nyam Abuja

ouse of Representatives yesterday threatened to halt the activities of the presidential scholarship scheme slated for this year if the body fails to be fair in the award of scholarships. The House Committee on Education issued the threat at a stakeholders meeting with the Executive Secretary of National University Commission, NUC, Prof.

Julius Okojie and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwabiala. The committee had last year requested some information from the board but at the meeting yesterday, the coordinator of the scheme, Prof. Okojie, maintained that the information the committee requested has been made available. Okojie insisted that the presidential scholarship scheme was not skewed to favour one geopolitical zone.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Housewife dies in kidnappers’ den LUCKY ESCAPE Another female kidnap victim sets herself free and flees from abductors’ den

Joe Obende Warri

n employee of the Delta Printing and Publishing Company Limited (DPPCL), publishers of The Pointer titles, Mrs Patricia Amitaye, has died in the hands of her abductors. This was as another kidnapped housewife, Mrs Carol Botosan, escaped from her captors after nine days in their den. Amitaye, mother of three, worked in the commercial department in the Warri Bureau Office of the newspaper. It was gathered that she was kidnapped on Eku Road in Ethiope East Local Govern-

File picture of suspected kidnappers

ment Area of Delta State on her way from Eku to Warri. According to a dependable source close to the family, she was being driven in a Toyota Hilux van when they were attacked by five gunmen.

It was learnt that her captors demanded money, but when she had no money to offer them on the spot, she was dragged away into the bush, leaving her driver behind. The driver later raised the

Rainstorm, fire displace 2,169 Lagos residents Muritala Ayinla

agos State Government yesterday said that no fewer than 2,169 residents were displaced by disasters in the last one year. The government also said that it expended about N52,741,900 in feeding the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as well as financial assistance to

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

traders and residents who lost their belongings to fire disaster. Briefing journalists on activities of his ministry and agencies in the last one year, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed, who disclosed this, said that the government catered for about 507 IDPs from fire outbreaks at Balogun Market, Ebute-Metta Plank Market and Iwaya in January alone. During the period under review, Ahmed said the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) responded to 10 motor accidents and tanker fire accidents. The commissioner said the efforts of his ministry in conjunction with the Lagos State Fire Service and other agencies also averted several fire outbreaks. He added that the state also

paid N227,530,000 to 1,900 National Youth Corps members while N21,850,000 was paid to 1,559 corps members in January 2015. The General Manager, LASEMA, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, however, noted that the agency encountered challenges of crowd management during emergency situations, urging people to desist from such action whenever there is any such incident. The General Manager, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs Olubunmi Dominga, said that her agency, in collaboration with Ministry of Transportation, had educated commercial drivers and put them through different kinds of safety measures. She also urged Lagos residents to be safety conscious and comply with rules of safety.

alarm and also made contacts with her husband and other relations. It was further learnt that when the bush was later combed, they found her lifeless body.

The visibly frightened woman, who escaped, told our correspondent that her abductors left her alone to herself believing that with her hands and legs chained together she could never escaped. But, according to her, since she knew where they usually kept the key to the padlock, she struggled to the point, got the key and unlocked the padlock and walked out of the bush to safety. According to her jubilant husband, Mr Isaac Botosan, his wife, on getting into town, approached a woman and explained her predicament. Botosan said his wife used the woman’s phone to call him and described her location at Orhughworhum. The man then went to the location with armed policemen to pick her up. They drove straight home to their residence in Warri to the waiting hands of jubilant Okere community residents. Four armed men stormed Okere community on April 15 and abducted Mrs Botosan. But the youth of the community caught a member of the gang while trying to escape with their Toyota Venta car and handed him over to the police. The suspect then led the anti-kidnap team to the home of their leader simply identified as “Biggy” at Agbarho community where some arrests were made but the three fleeing hoodlums are still at large.

Lagos communities get 439 transformers Muritala Ayinla

bout 439 rural communities in Lagos got transformers in the last four years, as part of rural electrification programme of the state government. Speaking at the 2015 Ministerial Press Briefing, the Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi, said the project was more symbolic because the transformers were locallymade by a company in Badagry. Ojelabi said the ministry, in the last one year, provided rural electrification to 63 communities across the three senatorial districts of the state, adding that so far, 841 transformers were distributed in the last eight years. He said: “Additional three oil immersed distribution transformers were also procured during the period while four tower crossings were constructed from Abapasha to Idoluwo Ile, Etegbin-Ese-Ofin, IgamoMoba and Ibeju-Iba-Oloja to aid

power supply to the riverine communities in Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Olorunda LCDA and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area.” According to him, the state has continued to make steady and considerable progress in power infrastructure provision to core rural and coastal areas of the state. He said: “Relief transformer substations, distribution of oil immersed distribution transformers and erection of poles in our communities were judiciously carried out during the period despite the fact that returns on electricity generation and distribution could only accrue to the Federal Government and its concessionaires” According to the commissioner, some of the communities assisted include Origbongbo-Igamo-MobaOkogbo and LT reticulation at Origele in Ojo LGA, Love Estate in Badagry, Iba-Oloja in IbejuLekki and Ageju-Ogelu in Imota LCDA.

METRO 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Abducted 16-year-old girl needs deliverance –Dad

L-R: Rosemary, Nwosu, Henrietta and Otobo

Juliana Francis

he 16-year-old ‘maid,’ Henrietta Odili, arrested with the abductor of the Orekoya kids has been reunited with her family. Henrietta was allegedly abducted by Fumilayo Adeyemi and her family of kidnappers and turned to a housemaid at their residence at Akowonjo area of Lagos State. But at the reunion at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters at Ikeja yesterday, Henrietta’s parents said the girl would go for deliverance owing to where she resided while in Lagos.

Her father, Anthony Otobo, a Chartered Accountant, said the spiritual exercise became necessary because of what the girl had passed through in the hands of her abductors who seized her phone, making it impossible for the girl to communicate with her parents. Henrietta ran away from her home in Benin and headed for Lagos, where she worked as a maid for Adeyemi and other members of the family. When she arrived, the family confiscated her phone. When it was eventually returned, the SIM card had been removed.

Henrietta recounted: “They took my phone, saying they needed to know me better for a month before they would return it. After two months, they gave me back the phone, but they had removed the SIM. “One of the women always goes out with me. There are two wives and two brothers in the flat. There was never any opportunity to make a simple phone call to my family.” When detectives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) picked Adeyemi, Henrietta was with her, thus began her reunion with her parents. Yesterday, Otobo and his

wife, Rosemary, thanked the police for their excellent work in finding Henrietta and in rescuing the Orekoya kids. Otobo, a father of five, said he discovered that his last child, Henrietta, was missing on November 12, 2014 after her brother alerted them that she was not in the apartment. He said: “We rented a duplex and we stay upstairs, while they are downstairs. Her brother came to tell us around 4am that Henrietta was not in the house. Her mother and I came out. We discovered that four doors leading to the gates were opened. “I took one of my guards and we drove round. But we could not find her. We waited throughout that day, hoping she would come back, but unfortunately she did not.” Otobo explained that on November 13, they went to the police to lodge a complaint that she was missing. Henrietta’s pictures were circulated and even flashed on television stations in Edo State for three days. He added: “We waited again, but there was no news. So we started waiting upon the Lord, knowing that one day we would see her.” On April 17, Otobo saw his daughter’s picture in one the national dailies. He immediately alerted the police in the state. Two policemen from Edo State came to Lagos. Asked why his daughter ran away from home, Otobo said: “I don’t really know.”

Fire destroys millions of naira goods, valuables Azikiwe varsity student leads robbery gang

Uchenna Inya

Eche Nwaobasi

Abakaliki

Nnewi

oods and household items worth millions of naira were destroyed yesterday when fire gutted a building located at No. 13 Awolowo Street in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The fire razed 17 rooms in the building and eight shops attached to it. Ironically, the building is very close to the fire service office in Abakaliki. Items destroyed by the inferno include refrigerators, electronics, furniture and other household property. The fire, which started about 9am, was said to have been caused by an electrical fault. One of the victims, Michael Nkwegu, said there was power outage in the area, which is also located very close to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). According to him, when the light was restored, there was a loud

Scene of the fire

noise from the roof and smoke followed suit. He said: “Before we knew it, fire engulfed everywhere and we started seeking ways to quench it. “The most annoying thing is that we were helpless. There was no water while fire service officials did not come to our rescue though their office is just a stone throw from the scene. “The fire service officials complained that they did not have water to tackle the inferno.” Nkwegu called on the

government and publicspirited individuals to come to their aid. Meanwhile, five private vehicles parked on the premises of the building were smashed by angry mob over the inferno. An angry mob also burnt a motorcycle because fire service officials did not come to the rescue of the victims. The residents of the area had marched to the fire service office on Waterworks Road to register their grievance over the attitude of the officials.

olicemen attached to 33 Police Division, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of the Anambra State have arrested a suspected notorious armed robber. The suspect, Nonso (surname withheld), is an undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He is believed to be the leader of a robbery syndicate that specialised in breaking into houses, stealing of expensive vehicles and kidnapping. It was gathered that Nonso, who had been on the watch list of the police in the state, was arrested on Tuesday at the Federal Housing Estate 3-3, Onitsha, where he is a resident. Luck ran out on the suspect when he went to a lonely duplex in the Federal Housing Estate with a hired Dyna truck and carted away all the valuable property in the house. He was heading to an unknown destination with the stolen property when he was intercepted by the local vigilantes. The vigilantes arrested Nonso and then handed him over to the police at 33. It was also gathered that on integration by the police, the suspect confessed to the crime and other heinous crimes committed by his gang.

City Briefs Missing rifle found in monarch’s bedroom Cajetan Mmuta Benin

traditional ruler of the agrarian Sasaro community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State is now being quizzed by police over the discovery of a missing rifle seized from an officer in his bedroom. The police rifle taken from a policeman attached to some expatriate workers in the area was reportedly discovered in the monarch’s bedroom. It was learnt that trouble started on Tuesday when a citizen of the community, who works for a quarry company in the hilly area owned by a Lebanese, got drowned as he went to swim in a river near the company. Youths from the community were said to have swooped on the Lebanese while they went to the community to report the ugly incident about the drowned officer.

Gunmen kill ASP in Benue Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

unmen have killed an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Baba Ibrahim near the cattle market in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. The Wednesday killing also left Ibrahim’s team members with serious gun wounds. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Austin Ezeani, disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi yesterday. He said Ibrahim led the Task Force Team on Cattle Rustling for an investigation mission at the cattle market where he was attacked and killed. Ezeani explained that the team was closed to the market when the assailants accosted them in a Toyota Corolla car and started shooting at them after which they drove off. Ibrahim, according to the PPRO, died shortly after he was rushed to the hospital as a result of severe gunshot wounds. He added that members of his team, who sustained varying degrees of injuries, were receiving treatment in the hospital.

Bayelsa community protests neglect Chris Ejim Yenagoa

he people of Akoloman in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State yesterday took to the street to protest the neglect of their community by successive administrations in the state. The protesters described their community as an agricultural hub which has nothing to show for it. Speaking with journalists, shortly after the protest march, the traditional ruler, Chief Victor Etaki and the Youth Leader, Comrade Micah Adaga, disclosed that successive administrations in the state had relegated the community to the background. According to them, the community lacks basic infrastructure such as roads, schools, health centre, electricity and potable water, among others. In a related development, the memberelect for the state House of Assembly, Ogbia Constituency I, Hon. Mietema Obodor, has promised to solve some of the infrastructural needs of the Akoloman people.

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

Xenophobic attacks: SERAP takes South Africa to ICC VIOLENCE Senseless killing of Africans in South Africa must be investigated, groups says Akeem Nafiu

human rights group, the SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has requested the Prosecutor of the

International Criminal Court, Mrs. Fatou Bensouda, to use her “good office and position to investigate allegations of hate speech by the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, which has resulted in senseless killing of Nigerians, including violence and discrimination against other African citizens living in South Africa. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, SERAP also urged the

ICC prosecutor to investigate the complicity and negligence of the South African law enforcement agencies to prevent these crimes against civilian population and to bring to justice anyone who is responsible for these international crimes prohibited under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In the petition, dated April 23, the organisation said that it “Considers the use of speech by the Zulu King to promote hatred

and/or incite violence against non-nationals such as Nigerians, particularly in the media as a clear violation of the provisions of the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court. “Grave statements by political leaders/prominent people that express discrimination and cause violence against non-nationals cannot be justified under any law. This hate speech generated fear and hatred that created the conditions for vio-

lence and discrimination against Nigerians and other African citizens. SERAP believes that this has given rise to individual criminal responsibility under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,” the organisation said. The organisation argued that; “The statement by the Zulu King amounts to a harmful form of expression, which incites or otherwise promotes hatred, discrimination, violence

and intolerance. We are seriously concerned that crimes against humanity are often accompanied or preceded by the kind of statement made by the Zulu King. “Once the climate of violence has been created, direct and public incitement to crimes builds on it, exacerbating the situation by further heating up passions and directing South Africans’ hatred towards non-nationals such as Nigerians.

Enugu Assembly seeks EFCC’s probe of SUBEB Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

embers of the Enugu State House of Assembly yesterday continued to flex their muscles against Governor Sullivan Chime, in the on-going faceoff between the executive and the legislature in the twilight of the governor’s administration. The running battle took a new twist yesterday as the legislators, during a prolonged sitting that lasted for several hours, resolved to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged financial impropriety in the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) headed by Mrs. Nneka Onuorah, as executive chairman. Again, the House also passed a resolution to freeze the accounts of the board in two new generation banks to pave the way for unfettered investigation into the alleged financial irregularities of the board. Also yesterday, the accountant-general of the state, Pascal Okolie, against whom a warrant of arrest had been issued about a fortnight ago, eventually appeared before the House, facing a bombardment of questions over the non-release of the House’s March, 2015 statutory overhead allocation. Incidentally, he informed the lawmakers that he had paid in half of the controversial March allocation and that he was running around to pay up the balance, apologising for his failure to honour their invitation on the previous occasions just as he explained that the inability to release the allocation was a direct effect of a shortfall in allocations from Federation Account, which has affected all states in the country.

L-R: Member, House of Representatives’ Committee on Constitution Review, Hon. Ibrahim Elsudi; Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Somson Osagie and Chairman, House Committee on Information and Publicity, Hon. Zakari Muhammed, during a press briefing on the House of Representatives’ response to issues on constitution amendment in Abuja…yesterday PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Independence Day blast: At last, Okah’s trial begins Tunde oyesina Abuja

t last, the trial of the alleged mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bomb blast which occurred in Abuja, Charles Okah, finally commenced before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday. Prosecution counsel, who opened the stage for the trial, Alex Iziyon, SAN, said he had three witnesses in court, and the first to be cross examined, was John Afolabi, a staff of the state security service, a keeper of exhibits.

Iziyon further added that he had about 13 exhibits to tender before the court, which were retrieved from operations and various scenes of investigation in respect to the bomb blast. Counsel to Charles Okah, Samuel Zibiri, however, objected to the admission of the documents because it had not been submitted to them, and which is a fundamental factor in criminal law. The prosecution counsel asked the court to overrule the objection on the basis that the exhibits were relevant, which the court seconded.

The court, thereafter, relocated to the car park of the court premises to take arguments surrounding one of the exhibits, the purported car with Registration number BY 318 FKA, a blue Mazda, used for the bombing. The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole ,however, admitted the car as an exhibit. Other exhibits admitted includes 10 bullet proof jackets, 30 belts, 21 pairs of boots among others. The court later adjourned the case to April 27, for further cross examination.

Murder: Court clears ex-commissioner, Kasali, two others Akeem Nafiu

former Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Tola Kasali, was yesterday cleared of murder and illegal possession of firearms charges by Magistrate

E. O. Ogunkanmi of an Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court. Also, a Special Adviser to the Lagos State government, Folami Musiliu (65) and a Chief Security Officer to one of the APC bigwigs in the state, Tobi Abiodun Lukman (35), who were charged alongside Kasali were discharged and

acquitted by the magistrate. The trio regained their freedom following an advice by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which recommended that they should be discharged and acquitted owing to lack of evidence linking them with the alleged crime.

Synagogue building collapse: We were helpless – Witness

he Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) yesterday said it could have carried out a better investigation on the collapse of the guest house within the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) if its members had visited the scene earlier. A member of the Guild, Mr. Oreoluwa Fadayomi, made this known while testifying before the coroner’s inquest investigating the cause of the collapse of the six-storey building. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inquest was set up by the Lagos State government to investigate the September 12, 2014 building collapse, which killed 116 people, mainly South Africans. The witness, under cross-examination by SCOAN’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, told the court that the Guild was a voluntary association of professional engineers. According to him, the

BCPG team visited the scene on March 5, about six months after the incident. He said: “If I had visited the scene earlier than the time I did, I would have had a better material to carry out a better investigation into the incident. “As at the time I got to the scene of the failed structure, the members of the collapsed building were already disjointed.” The witness, who is the Deputy President of the Nigerian Institute of Engineers, however, maintained that the BCPG report was based on the analysis carried out on the collapsed scene. Fadayomi told the inquest, presided over by Mr. Oyetade Komolafe that the collapse was caused by a combination of design and detailing errors on the part of engineers who handled the project. He said the designer of any building should be responsible for ensuring that the pad footings were not undersised.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Open Forum

Tsav: Abba’s conduct with Buhari improper

Suleiman Abba

IG has been reduced to domestic servant –Sagay

Governance

Interview

2015 budget, booby trap for Buhari – Bamidele

Why controversy dogs Fayose’s steps, by Ogunsuyi

Politics

PDP, APGA renew battle for Abia

The governorship election in Abia State has generated so much heat such that the poll was declared inconclusive. IGBEAKU ORJI looks at the controversy that has trailed the poll as the electoral umpire conducts a supplementary election on Saturday, April 25

he Governorship and House of Assembly elections took place in Abia State on Saturday April 11 as in other states of the federation. On Sunday April 12, the collation of results began at the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Umuahia. The collation centre was under canopies at the court yard behind the INEC main office. Prof. Ben Ozumba, the Returning Officer (RO) for the state, cancelled the results of three local governments after collating the first result from Isiala Ngwa South. He based his verdict on the incontrovertible evidence of reports of irregularities contained in the reports even by international observers and the petition of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) agents. In cancelling the election in the three local government areas, Ozumba said: “By the powers conferred on me as the Returning Officer for this election and the incontrovertible evidence of irregularities and the reports of international observers, I hereby cancel the election of the three local government areas of Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa North.” The Peoples Democratic Party

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Otti (PDP) agent, Solomon Ogunji, questioned the rationale for cancelling an election in which the result has been submitted without report of violence or petition against it, but that did not sway the RO. Soon after the cancellation, Governor Theodore Orji, against the electoral law, walked in. He went straight to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Selina Oko and forced her to come with him to the office. Then Charles Esonu, Abia State Secretary of the PDP, let loose his torrent of tirade on the Returning Officer while the security chiefs watched helplessly. He continued until Ozumba left his seat at the collation centre and entered the INEC office. The REC returned after about 45 minutes and declared that the cancellation has been reviewed, saying that it will not be fair to disenfranchise the entire local government, and that only the affected polling units will be considered. “We suspended three local governments as collation was still on going, but as it went on we saw the places where elections were not held. What we are doing is procedural according to the Electoral Act,” the REC said. At the resumption of collation he called for the results of the three local government areas, Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa North. It was the result of

Ikpeazu

The margin of lead is not in excess of the total number of voters who did not vote, there is therefore no declared winner

Obingwa local government that gave PDP the lead over APGA which hitherto led in the collated results. While Obingwa posted an incredible 82,240 for the PDP, it recorded a paltry 1,950 for APGA. Osisioma local government gave PDP 42,122 and 1,017 to APGA and Isiala Ngwa North had 19,798 for PDP and 6,853 for APGA. These are the three local government results in contention. The inconclusive governorship and House of Assembly elections in Abia State is more complex than meets the ordinary observer. To unravel the controversy that characterised the election and untangle the strands that intricately wove the process is by no means easy. Obviously, the collation of the results of the election was bungled by the Returning Officer, Prof. Ozumba, who reversed himself over the earlier cancellation of the election in three local government areas including Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa North because of “incontrovertible evidence of irregularities and report of international observers.” The Orubebe-style invasion of the collation centre, an extension of the culture of impunity deeply ingrained in PDP members, which forced the collation to stop momentarily, in the full glare of the media and security chiefs; the shameful display of gangster politics by those who would want

to be regarded as honourable and respectable, are dimensions that cannot be overlooked. Ideally, the governor has no business disrupting the collation of results. This is clearly against the electoral guideline. But even if the governor’s visit is excused the infiltration of the PDP members into the collation centre beats all imagination. How did they beat the fierce looking security cordon in all the check points leading to INEC state office? To watch Olisa Metuh, national publicity secretary of PDP, whose entry into the collation arena was even publicised by the PDP agent, Ogunji, who thought he was honouring him by the introduction, blared his arrival. Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Eme Okoro, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Minister of State for Defence, Col. Austin Akobundu, and Chuku Wachuku stormed the collation centre in an unruly manner in the full glare of the press and international observers. No less shameful was the motor park tout display of the PDP state secretary, Charles Esonu, who introduced himself as a lawyer before forcing the RO to stop the collation. Can these people be tried for electoral offences? If Olisa Metuh should be in any state during the election should it be Abia State? CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM Alhaji Abubakar Tsav is a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police

he way Sulaiman Abba was sacked as Inspector General of Police (IGP) is improper and not good for the police. I believe if the man has done anything bad or he didn’t show loyalty to the government during elections, he should have been asked to resign immediately. It is not proper for President Goodluck Jonathan to impose somebody as Inspector General of Police on the incoming government. He has created a difficult situation for President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. If Buhari says he is not going to work with the new Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, what would happen? People will say he is starting badly. Jonathan is just trying to create difficulty for Buhari. He wants to destroy his administration by creating difficulty for him not to start well. The timing of Abba’s sack as IG is very wrong. The belief is that Abba was sacked because he didn’t cooperate with the government on many things, especially during the general elections. If Jonathan conceded defeat at the election and congratulated Buhari because he believed votes counted during the election, why must he sacked Abba on account of the same thing? It means that he was

...Sack of police ig

Tsav: Abba’s conduct with Buhari improper

Tsav

forced to concede defeat, he didn’t like the defeat. By considering defeat, it means that he was satisfied with the conduct of the election. So, why must he blame his defeat on the Inspector General of Police? Is IGP Prof. Attahiru Jega or the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)? If police officers are forced to always dance to the tune of poli-

ticians, it means Nigerian Police is completely destroyed and that is one of the reasons why we are opposing state police because state police would be loyal to their state governors and that will not be good for the society. Police should operate according to the law and their conscience, not according to the dictates of politicians. You cannot retire a police officer be-

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Agbaje: Nothing strange in IGP’s sack

Mr. Fred Agbaje is a lawyer and human rights activist

and his salary paid to her. Till date, the police has not reinstated or paid the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Oduwole. So, why should I support such organisation that does not reckon with rule of law? So, if the rule of law is being used by the president to sack a sitting Inspector General of Police, so be it. I will advise the new IG to avoid the pitfall that his predecessor fell into. He must learn to be apolitical; he must not take side. As a lawyer, he must learn to respect the statutory responsibility in tandem

here is nothing strange in the sack of Sulaiman Abba as Inspector General of Police. It is a political appointment; he who has the right to hire also has the right to fire. The president has hired him as the Inspector General of Police and the same president has fired him. It is a political appointment; soldier go, soldier come. The only thing is that those who are craving about political appointments must be careful about the choice they are making. There is nothing awkward, unconstitutional and illegal about the removal of Abba as IG. May be the president has discovered that the man was not living up to expectation and he has to get rid of him and appoint a more credible and reliable person who is prepared to do the work. The president has the right to hire and fire; and he has exercised it. If Abba as former Inspector General of Police feels aggrieved that he still has so many years to go before his sack, he can go to court and ask the court to compel the Federal Government to pay him for the remaining tenure of his service in the Nigerian Police. As far as I am concerned, I don’t know much about Abba other than his appointment as Inspector General of Police. I think he has

The issue of identifying himself with Buhari at a public function is improper

cause the wife of a politician does not like him. You cannot sack a police officer because he refused to do what the president wants him to do. That is not a good thing to do and that is why our police force is not developing. As far as I am concerned, Abba did very well as an Inspector General of Police but the issue of identifying himself with Buhari at a public function is improper. They said he attended the event in which Buhari received his Certificate of Return. He shouldn’t have done that. He should have delegated another officer to be with Buhari because he (Abba) is still under the government of Jonathan. But the fact that President saw him with Buhari when he was receiving his Certificate of Return is not enough to retire him. I will advise Abba to see what happened to him as the will of God; at least, he has attained the rank of IG. I will advise the new IGP, Solomon Arase, to be cautious because he is coming in when we have a president who is not bias; who is firm, not corrupt and who believes in result. So, he should try and satisfy the incoming president, who believes in honesty and integrity.

Agbaje

tried to be fair but again I think he allowed political colouration and consideration before his official responsibility to the people of Nigeria. Otherwise, he has no business sending somebody in the name of Joseph Mbu to Lagos State and South-West. What was he intending to do and what point was he trying to prove? As far as I am concerned, the man became political during the election, so he is facing the repercussion. I have no tear to shed for any police officer because they are all the same. Why should I shed tear for any police officer who is sacked? We had so many cases of police officers who have been unlawfully sacked and court has asked that they should be reinstated but police did not implement all the judgements. An Assistant Commissioner of Police was sacked and a court last year ordered that the officer should be reinstated

I will advise the new IG to avoid the pitfall that his predecessor fell into

with the rule of law and he must uphold and implement all constitutional provisions as they affect the Nigerian Police. If he can do these, he will achieve a lot and I can assure him that he will get support from formidable people like me if he is on the side of the law. He must never take side with the political class. He must carry out his duty as a disciplined police officer who has a core mandate as stated in the Police Act and under the Nigerian Constitution. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Suraj: Removal not in Lanre Suraj is the chairman of the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC)

he Federal Government did not sack the Inspector-General of Police in public interest, it is in the vindictive nature of trying to classify and deal with some of those perceived as not being supportive enough in the last presidential election. You will give it to the police on their conduct in the general elections.

Even the United States Ambassador noted that among the security apparatus on duty at the last elections, the police to a very large extent played a fairer, liberal role. Unfortunately, in the South-East and South-South, the army was more pronounced in terms of partisanship and support for a certain political party. Except for some disgruntled elements, the police generally had a good pass mark in the elections. Of course, some elements within Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are not happy with the role of the police and such the Inspector General has to get the boot. There is no gainsay-

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

OPEN FORUM Chief Maxi Okwu is a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)

he president has the power to hire and fire but I wondered why President Goodluck Jonathan decided to sack Sulaiman Abba as Inspector General of Police (IGP) 35 days to end his administration. Why the hurry? The man will definitely go as soon as Jonathan goes because the new government will appoint its new service chiefs and IGP. From what I got from the media, Abba’s sack was obviously political and based on the outcome of the last general elections. The harm has already been done and nobody can recall the pronouncement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). There is no consequence about the sack of Abba. In fact, I think he left office 35 days earlier because he will definitely leave as soon as the new president

...Sack of police ig

Okwu: President has power to hire and fire is sworn in. I don’t see the new president retaining him or any other service chief. As usual when a new government comes in, it will appoint people it can work with. And there is a level you get to that you don’t expect to continue with a new government, if you are part of the old regime, especially when there is change of political party at the helms of affairs. On May 29, a new party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will be the party at the centre and since it is not going to be the continuation of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there would definitely be new appointments. So, anybody who has played a key role so far in the present government should not dream of staying a day longer in government after May 29. When someone is appointed as a service chief, you ought to be loyal to the state, the institution not

It is a privilege and there is no way you can say sacking a government appointee is improper

to a person. But how do you distinguish the two? You have to read the body language of the incumbent and try as much as possible to be professional. But if the incumbent decides to sack you, there is nothing you can do about that? It is a privilege and there is no way you can say sacking a government appointee is improper because moral don’t count so much in Nigeria. If moral counts in Nigeria, so many people who are being questioned ought to have resigned. Abba Moro is still a minister despite the criticism against him over the Immigration recruitment saga. Can you imagine that? I will advise the new IGP to tread softly and be professional. I know that he will not last more than 35 days or more because as soon as the new government comes on board, he will go. I believe the major shrunk of the security forces will be looking

Okwu

at the new president. President Goodluck Jonathan is on his way out, so the new IGP may have the power but he doesn’t have the punch. Any career officer who doesn’t want to jeopardise his career should tread softly. So, if anybody tries being partisan with the outgoing government, he will reap the result in 35 days’ time. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Sagay: IG has been reduced to domestic servant Prof. Itse Sagay, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is a former Dean, Department of Law at the University of Benin

hat worried me about the so-called sack of Sulaiman Abba as Inspector General of Police is that it has reduced a very major public office to a status of personal servant of the first family to the extent that the Special Assistant to the President on Media, Reuben Abati, says the president can hire and fire as if he is a domestic servant working for the president and his family. Because if he is somebody who is an appointee of Nigerians and Federal Government; appointed

on behalf of the people of Nigeria, he cannot be a person you can hire and fire as you like. There must be some laid down criteria on the basis of which people can be hired and fired and those criteria must be related to his position as the number one policeman of Nigeria and not just a domestic servant of the president and his wife. What has been said by Abati on the sack of Abba has reduced the position of Inspector General of Police to a private domestic servant of the first family. What immediately come to mind for me is that we have to revisit the constitution and re-established the position of Inspector General of Police and other top agents of the country as servant of Nigeria, appointed and remove base on specific criteria and procedure rather that servant of a single family who happens to be in government.

public interest

Suraj

For him to be accused of lobbying after few days of Buhari’s victory is simply calling a dog a bad name to hang it

Sagay

As laws stands, Buhari is not compelled to accept the new IGP. If he is satisfied with the appointment of the new IGP, he will continue with him and if he is not satisfied, he will appoint his own IGP. As laws stand, if somebody is imposed on you, you have the right

ing that the sacked IG Suleiman Abba is not popular among the Nigerian people because of the role he has played in the past. For example, the withdrawal of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal’s security and his comments that Nigerians should vote and go back to their houses. These issues had pitched him against the masses but from his comportment at the elections, it was clear that while Nigerians will commend him for that role in the elections, the ruling government will rather be willing to punish him for not continuing on that unpopular status he had been in the past. When people said he was lobbying to retain his job, I wonder how and why. The man would have rather preferred the current government to continue in office

The sack of Abba has reduced the position of Inspector General of Police to a private domestic servant of the first family

to ensure that he keeps his work. That is common sense. He was appointed by Jonathan’s government and still enjoys the support and confidence of the presidency. Why would anybody compromise what is sure for what is not certain and start lobbying? If he has lobbied at all, it must have been after the president had lost the election. He can only be alleged to have compromised the PDP after losing the presidential election, it cannot be before. He was already the IG and there was no threat to his office. He was still being commended by the current government for the role he had played in the past, but then, the whole essence of the criticisms of Nigerian people also dawn on him and the best he could do was to reduce the level of partisanship.

to revert the situation so that your administration can work effectively and discharge its duty properly to the country. So, it all depends on whether the incoming president can work satisfactory with the man who has just been appointed. I will advise the new IG, Solomon Arase, to realise that he is not the employee of a family, nor the employee of the president or the president’s wife. He is an employee of Nigeria and he is a servant of Nigeria and therefore whatever he does must be based on the interest of Nigeria. And if anybody no matter high that person is, gives him an instruction for personal or family interests and not in the interest of Nigeria; he should ignore it. He should only carry out things that are in the interest of the country regardless of the consequences on his career. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

It is not that if he had his way, he would not also have not compromised in favour of the PDP but the popular condemnation and shame motivated his loyalty to the constitution. If people claim loyalty to individuals and not institutions, they don’t understand what governance is all about. I don’t think any amount of lobbying could have changed the mind of the in-coming government and I doubt if the new government would remove the IG immediately. It takes a while. But for him to be accused of lobbying after few days of Buhari’s victory is simply calling a dog a bad name to hang it. All of these still points out that we need to build institutions in this country. Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

Politics

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

He is from Anambra State. Imagine the glib defence he put up the day after, that he was on his way to Ebonyi from Enugu and ended up disrupting the collation of results in Abia State. This is the kind of lawlessness that has drawn the ire of the people against the PDP umbrella and those taking refuge under it. What they advise others who are aggrieved, to seek redress in court, they forgot to do in the circumstance and leapt all civil bounds and decent to force the REC and the RO to reverse the pronouncement in their favour there and then. It is interesting to note that the altercation over the election in the three local governments attracted the attention of one of the international observers who could not help but testify before the collation panel that there was no election in Obingwa. After collating the final result from Ohafia, the RO announced that the PDP polled 248,459 votes while APGA had 165,406 votes. Ozumba also gave the total number of registered voters for the election as 1,217,632 while the total number of accredited voters was 470,900. He also gave the margin of lead as 83,053 and the total number of voters affected by the irregularities as 179,224. “It is apparent that the margin of lead is not in excess of the total number of voters who did not vote, there is therefore no declared winner,” he said. It appears a herculean task for APGA to cancel the deficit of 83,053 but if the run off is free and fair and given the trend already seen in April 11, APGA will easily overrun PDP. If APGA could do what it did in the first ballot without the aid of government, then there is genuine fear for PDP. Most of the polling centres where there were no elections are places where APGA supporters abandoned the elections in protest. Some of them complained that the electoral officers came without original result sheets and ballot papers so they abandoned the election. APGA candidate, Alex Otti, has the sympathy of the people. Over the years the people have become disenchanted with the PDP. All over the state APGA has become a household name in protest against PDP. For instance, people voted APGA just for change, not because they know the parties candidates. From the result of the House of Assembly elections; APGA that had no seat at all in the last House of Assembly is almost clutching 50 per cent of the seats in the 24-member Abia House of Assembly. The advantage Otti has is that the people believe he has no godfather. He is seen as one who will be responsive and responsible to the people. The people believe that he has the wherewithal to steer the state to the path of greatness. It is common for people to openly refuse financial and material inducements to vote PDP. This could be seen from the pattern of result already collated. APGA is leading in nine out of the 17 local government areas. With his career success as a banker, he is seen by many as holding the key to the needed economic and social transformation of the state. Otti’s reserve seems inexhaustible. He is prepared, from all indications, to go through the process 200 times over.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP, APGA renew battle for Abia Unlike the APGA candidate, the PDP candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu, is suffering the sin of his political godfather, Governor Orji. The calculation had been that with the population of Ukwa-Ngwa political bloc the PDP will ride rough shod over its opponent with a landslide victory. But the acceptance of APGA sent jitters to the PDP and the government early enough when they saw the handwriting on the wall. Ikpeazu, as far as the eyes could see, is a gentleman by every standard. He has acquitted himself in all the previous assignments he handled before now but no virtue could atone for the sin of the PDP, the oppression of the people. It is clear that the PDP is running out of steam already. The desperation at the collation centre exposed their loss of grip. It is unimaginable that the governor in the senatorial poll lost in his own polling booth, as APGA scored higher than the PDP. How do you explain that? Did APGA come there to rig? It was votes from Ngwa part of Abia Central that rescued him from the embarrassing defeat. Another evidence of the loss is the sack of the transition chairmen of four local government areas yet the cycle repeated itself in the governorship and House of Assembly elections. With the exception of Umuahia North, Governor Orji’s local government area, all the other three, namely Aba North, Aba South and Umuahia South also lost to APGA. When the contentious results were brought for the final collation, the election and returning officers could not refute allegations of irregularities and compromise, especially in the places where the PDP scored high. In fact, some of them confessed that they were confused and overwhelmed in the process.

Ikpeazu is a gentleman by every standard... but no virtue could atone for the sin of the PDP

Since then there has been accusations and counter-accusations of electoral fraud between the PDP and APGA. Also many organisations and individuals have called for either the cancellation or announcement of the PDP candidate, Ikpeazu, as winner. Last week a group known as Abia Stakeholders called on INEC to announce Ikpeazu as winner having led his opponent with over 83,000 votes. Similarly, five political parties that participated in the election called for the total cancellation of the elections and a fresh election organised by INEC. Earlier in the week, the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), a body of political parties, which observed the elections, said that there was no election in most of the local governments and called for the total cancellation. Though APGA claimed last week that INEC has upheld the cancellation of the result in the three contentious local government areas, the electoral umpire on its part has remained silent over the issue. The PDP has said that it has no confidence on the REC and the RO. The party and government has also accused security agencies and INEC officials of aiding APGA in the previous election, warning that it will not tolerate a repeat of that this time around. The result is that the people are confused. In spite of the widespread protests that trailed the election both the House of Assembly and the governorship, INEC in the list of places for the rerun did not include the areas affected in the House of Assembly election in Umuahia East and Central. Only three areas in Umuahia North are included. Besides, there is no evidence of rerun in Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa South as a whole. Only some affected

polling units are included. According to the figures released by INEC in Umuahia on Tuesday entitled, “Summary of Areas for the Governorship Rerun Elections of 25th April, 2015,” the commission gave the number of registered voters as 175,537 but the RO had said that the number of voters for the rerun are 179,224. INEC also published nine local government areas including Aba North and South, Ikwuano, Ohafia, Osisioma and Ugwunagbo as the areas for the rerun. Others are Umuahia North and South and Umunneochi. The governorship rerun will also take place in 53 Registration Areas and 299 polling Units. Osisioma has the highest number of registered voters of 33,978 in 34 polling units followed by Aba South with 32, 366 in 51 polling units. The rerun in Umuahia South LGA will be conducted in 43 polling units and 24,997 registered voters, while Ikwuano has 35 polling units and 19, 817 registered voters. Aba North, Ohafia, Ugwunagbo, Umuahia North and Umunneochi have 14,619; 8,752; 15,688; 14,776; 10,544; registered voters respectively. Also, the rerun for the House of Assembly will be conducted in three wards in Umuahia North local government area including Nkwoegwu, Afugiri and Umuhu. The rerun will take place in 26 polling units and 10,555 as number of registered voters. Umuhu has the largest number of registered voters of 5,384, followed by Afugiri with 4,829 and Nkwoegwu with one polling unit and 338 registered voters. With the supplementary election holding on Saturday, April 25, the tension and anxiety in the state is palpable but by Sunday the pitch would have reached its catharsis.

2015 budget, booby trap for Buhari – Bamidele Felix Nwaneri

hairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has described the approved 2015 Budget as a booby trap for the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari. Bamided stated that no provision was made for fuel subsidy in the approved budget. He said: “Regrettably, no provision was made in the Y2015 Appropriation Act for fuel subsidy. Other than a reduced amount of N21 Billion provided for SUREP, no other provision was made in the budget for subsidised welfare services. “The most worrisome for me is the absence of provision for continued fuel subsidy. The political economy of this development and its grave implications must not be lost on all stakeholders. This is more so when a new ruling party is coming into

power by May 29, 2015. To my mind, this is definitely a booby trap for the incoming administration of Gen. Mohammed Buhari and I hope the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the incoming ruling party will understand the full implications of this and take immediate steps to let Nigerians know where it stands on this matter.” The lawmaker stated that those who were suggesting within the APC that its incoming administration might withdraw fuel subsidy must be educated that they would be sending Nigerians a wrong signal capable of creating the impression that APC either deceived Nigerians to get their votes or had reneged on its electoral promise as a progressive party. “The truth and reality of the situation is that the outgoing PDP administration has, through the 2015 budget, removed oil subsidy and it must be made to accept responsibility for it rather than for the incoming APC administration

to bask along in the euphoria of having won an election without realising the booby trap into which they and the Nigerian people are walking into. “This is a serious development and a defining moment that calls for the attention of all well-meaning Nigerians at home and abroad. This is the first time in the last 16 years of our civil rule that a new political party will be taking over to form a government and if care Bamidele is not taken, this matter is capable of making the incoming government morally dead on arrival except the issues are promptly dealt with in a way that the critical stakeholders, including the civil society, corporate Nigeria, political class and the generality of Nigerians will

know the true state of affairs and who to hold responsible for the development. “For the record and for posterity purposes, I am opposed to this sudden removal of fuel subsidy and I implore Nigerian patriots to be aware!” Bamidele stated.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Lanre Ogunsuyi, a former member of the old Ondo State House of Assembly in the botched Third Republic, is the Senior Assistant on Information to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State. In this chat with ADESINA WAHAB, he speaks on a number of issues. Excerpts:

Why controversy dogs Fayose’s steps, by Ogunsuyi in bad state, many were cannibalised. They owed worker salaries, deductions were not remitted and a lot of financial misconduct took place in that government.

How is working with Governor Ayodele Fayose like? It is quite challenging and rewarding as well. I enjoy his confidence and I believe in him and most of the things he does. I love my governor, he is straightforward and I also have a feeling that my governor loves me too. He is generous, gregarious and tells you where he stands. But some people see him as somebody who likes to court trouble. Because he is a complex person and he is multi-talented, he is a politician, a businessman, a philanthropist and people are likely not be able to graduate if they want to understudy him because he is multi-faceted and he is known to multi-task. He does not court controversy or a trouble maker, but he is a man that controversy dogs his steps because he believes in saying it as it is. And this is like most men of old, who believed in saying it as it is. Some detractors like to impugn whatever he says. He has a nylon personality, the more you try to damage him, the cleaner he comes out. He is not a difficult person to work with. It is nearly six months that the administration has been in the saddle, would you say it has lived up to the expectations of the people? That is a suggestive question. The administration is about sixmonth-old. The challenges that we have been able to overcome within the period; some people will look at them and say they are insurmountable. God is on our side. We have been able to surmount the hard start that the previous administration gave us. The legislative problem from the House of Assembly; we have been able to overcome that. We have been able to halt the financial slide. People are ready to work with the government without some pecks of office and they do that joyfully. We are paying salaries as at when due. We have also embarked on some capital projects, given scholarship awards to deserving students. We have slashed fees paid by students in our tertiary institutions. We have paid the WAEC fees of students, rolled out N2 billion loans to small and medium scale enterprises. Above all, we have maintained peace because when this government was coming in, the previous administration foisted violence on the state. We have instilled confidence in the system despite the fact that everyday we are being attacked by people who call

Ogunsuyi

themselves opposition but who are actually locusts and destroyers of the state. There is global economic recession and Nigeria is feeling the pinch too. Has that not affected the delivery of the dividends of democracy to the people of the state? Ekiti was already in economic doldrums before we came in. The previous administration took a N25 billion bond and we are paying N17 billion as interest, which is not logical. The former government even took other commercial loans. We have been encumbered by huge debts and financial commitments. On top of that is the economic meltdown. What we have done is to first reduce the number of ministries and also to reduce overhead cost. No public office holder is getting new cars and running grants of ministries have been slashed by 60 per cent and we hope that things will get better. Be that as it may, in the area of health; maternal and child mortality have been reduced. We are keeping our health facilities equipped and we are happy that the Federal Government has given the state a teaching hospital in Ido-Ekiti. That is complementing the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, whose College of Medicine has been given accreditation due to the facilities we provided there. Yes, we had a hard start and we have a lot of distractions, but we are focused and the governor works 24 hours a day. What is the administration doing to ameliorate the negative impact of the economic recession on the state? It would have been an attractive option to want to improve Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) but the economy of the state was bastardised by the last adminis-

tration. It did not patronise local artisans and contractors and so the economy of the state was left in a parlous state. One of the things we have done to redress the situation is that we gave local artisans a furniture contract worth over N1 billion. If we don’t give local people jobs to do to stimulate the economy, how can we introduce any rate or levy or increase existing ones. We do not wish to impoverish our people. We also ensure that our people enjoy a N2 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for small and medium scale enterprises.

He does not court controversy or a trouble maker, but he is a man that controversy dogs his steps

Do you think Governor Fayose still enjoys the goodwill of majority of the people of the state going by recent political developments? Everywhere he goes, the crowd follow him. Yes, some people think he ought to have solved their problems by now and some may not be that enthusiastic like before because they expect one or two things from the government that they have not gotten yet, but don’t worry, things will soon take better shape. This is a man who has the interest of the people of the state at heart. Nobody has been able to fault the claim that Fayose left over N10 billion in the purse of the state during his first tenure in office. Segun Oni did not leave debts for Fayemi, but now we have a situation of somebody shamelessly saying he left N37 billion debts. Interestingly, people have seen that there is nothing Fayemi borrowed money for that he could not have been able to do without borrowing. For instance, the N3 billion Government House could be executed at a slower rate. We all understand why we are where we are now. They took away over 106 cars and the ones left behind were

You were a member of the old Ondo State House of Assembly and there is an impasse between the current Ekiti Assembly and the governor, from your experience as a lawmaker in the past, what caused it and is it healthy for the system? It is unfortunate that a speaker will see himself only as a party man regardless of the fact that he occupies an exalted office. The former speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, did not attend the inauguration of Governor Fayose, sending the signal that they were not ready to cooperate with the incoming government. A day after the governor was sworn in, the House adjourned sine die. The House adjourned indefinitely to reconvene at any time. They were not working for the interest of the state because it is the same set of people that gave approval for frivolous loans to execute needless projects Before we came in, the House of Assembly has only sat 19 times that year. For three and a half years, the highest number a member has attended session was 191 days. This is against the rule that a member must attend 180 plenary sittings in a year. They were not working. It is this government that is making it to work and those who are lazy and cannot keep pace with this administration left. What is your take on the moves by the APC lawmakers to impeach the governor? My take is that there was no siting of the Assembly during which any decision to impeach the governor was taken. At best there was probably a meeting of jolly fellows in a beer parlour or a friend’s house. There was no impeachment notice, whatever letter they have written is a mere ordinary letter. An impeachment notice is written and signed by the Clerk of the House. There is currently a state of detente in the Assembly. There is a former speaker who was impeached and there is another speaker elected to replace the impeached one. There are several matters in court and until they are determined, the issue of the speakership remains as it is. What is your comment on the recent Supreme Court judgment on last year’s governorship election? It is a marriage of natural and legal justice. From the natural aspect, the people of the state spoke last June when the voted massively for my boss. Governor Fayose has the support of the majority of the people of the state. And legally too, Fayose has been affirmed as the winner of the election by the highest court in our country. To the antagonists of the governor, I say enough of pedantic litigation and let us join hands to move the state forward.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Buhari: Brocade, broom and brouhaha Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

here is calm in the land with compatriots watching Mr. President –Elect’s body language. As we move towards his inauguration, there is something about Gen. Muhammadu Buhari that strikes me. He appears like one who is doing reality check. Prior to elections, a lot of miracles were promised by some of his campaign managers. Trust politicians, in the bid to gain advantage, some of them fell short of saying that Buhari will take Nigeria to the ‘First World’ in the first week of his administration. We heard promises of petrol coming down to 40 Naira per litre, assurances that Boko Haram will be wiped out in one month and there were even talks that all those who have been looting our commonwealth, will go to jail in the first quarter of the incoming administration. We have gone beyond elections now, we also have to forgive the promises that do not hold water. That is the way our campaigns go. Politicians are free to make noise. One Second Republic politician in my area , promised to ‘fire’ my town and ‘water’ his own community. We all laughed at the man who was an industrialist before he ventured into the game. Our Assemblyman indeed, lived up to his words. What he meant by fire was that he was going give us electric power, and bring potable water to his area. Those were in the good old days of Dee Sam Mbakwe. With his Ariara lingo, the politician was able to attract something to his constituency. We just had to stop laughing. Today, those who make promises in Oxford and Cambridge English, do not live up to expectations. They are just sweet talking crooks, who steal our hearts with promises and murder us with non per-

formance. May this not be our portion henceforth. Let me repeat that the game is over. I was not in the Buhari Camp all along and I did not expect him to win. Yesterday is over. Since Nigerians spoke in his favour with their votes, I will have to put the welfare of the people first. And I would also want him to behave like a statesman and be fair to all. History will judge his achievements, and witchhunt is no virtue. I have been following events and movements to and from Kaduna, the new Mecca of Nigeria. The Buhari I know from a distance, will not create a new Kaduna Mafia. People have been going to pay homage, especially from the North-East. Maybe, because, he was the last governor of that geo-political zone when they were one state. In all the courtesy visits, I have observed that the General seems to be thinking more of the task ahead than the congratulatory salutations. When his legion of guests sit outside, he also joins them in his usual brocade. At this time, the campaign suits are tucked in one wardrobe, the temperature does not permit that, most of the time. Very soon, the much expected change will begin. I can see that already. Buhari picks his words, minds his language and thinks fast. Remember, he has the broom, even if he does not wield the knife and the yam. Make no mistakes about it, this man must sweep. In the Second Republic, Prof. Omo Omoruyi ‘s campaign jingle was’, ‘omo sweeps Bendel clean’. With the broom, we all expect Buhari to sweep Nigeria clean. Let change come, let brouhaha follow, we are all expectant. From my interaction with the people, many do not want ‘recycling’. Let those who have’ chopped’ enough, go to bed. However, I know it is not possible yet. He still needs some of those who helped him climb up the Aso Rock. And there are those who deserve some credit, I must confess. Beyond sentiments, I am going to submit my own ministerial list to Gen. Buhari. When eventually, he gets to the villa as a tenant, let him behave like a landlord for the years he will spend there. He must

not allow unnecessary dictates from those who are angling to be ministers and choosing their portfolio. The only person that deserves Special recognition, is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He worked hard for Buhari’s transformation and should be equally rewarded. I am not saying the Jagaban Nupe should become the de facto Chairman of Nigeria. A labourer deserves his wages. There will always be one President at a time. Below is my idea of a Cabinet list, which I will send first to the people of Nigeria before it gets to the man who will appoint them. Secretary to the Government. . . Rabiu Kwankwaso � Chief of Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juventus Ojukwu Defence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Muhammadu Magoro National Security Adviser. . . . . . . Abdurahman Dambazzau

FCT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rotimi Amaechi Works-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ogbonnaya Onu Housing- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Olagunsoye Oyinlola Justice- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Babatunde Fashola Transport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kayode Fayemi Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lai Mohammed Trade and Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wale Edun Petroleum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Precious Omuku Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Ngige Foreign Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . Hakeem Baba Ahmed National Planning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Umana Umana Media Adviser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mideno Bayagbon Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Garba Shehu Youth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ambrose Nkwopara Tourism and Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . Ibrahim Yerima Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Segun Odegbami Amaechi is not my hero but the FCT job should be enough compensation. Kwankwaso supporters cannot armtwist Buhari to make him minister. Omuku , now a Reverend , has oil industry background. ACB Nkwopara, highly detribalised and ex-Union banker, is APC chieftain in Imo State.

Oshiomhole should have known Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

he outcome of the just concluded elections certainly reveals that a king has lost some of his territories, and more regretfully a notable amount of the loyal subjects switched allegiance. Questions have been ranging as a seesaw. Why was it easy for the subjects to be captured when some acclaimed APC field commanders were present at the voting turf ? What weapons did the opponents take to the battlefield that the APC lacked? Did the captured subjects willingly offer themselves for a better treatment by the opponents? Putting it in a more definitive term, why did people prefer to swell the PDP camp with their votes and thereby giving its presidential candidate a lead over the APC’s in Edo State? While we are confounded with providing answers to these questions, the fact remains that Gov. Oshiomhole’s winning streak has been broken. And the issue currently at stake is how did a grade “A” student tether towards the “C” grade? But as the saying goes ‘A husband is usually the last person to know what is

already a public gist of his wife’s promiscuity with men in the neighbourhood’ and therefore, Gov. Oshiomhole could not have imagined before the Presidential Election that the Edo State people, and more especially Edo-South who had overwhelming supported him through his political strife would be parting ways with him in so short a time and for the reason he could not have fathomed. Even before the 2015 Presidential Election, it was still believed in Edo State that Gov. Oshiomhole has propelled his political profile to the point that if he accompanied the devil on a political campaign, the angels of God would be moved to vote for the devil. This feat was not achieved only through the sweetness of his oratory, but more because of his antecedence of exhibiting a resolve to always align with the masses which he further capped with the developmental achievements that are in sharp contrast from the intolerably low output of immediate past regimes. For these reasons Gov. Oshiomhole became the most sought political collaborator. When he ever had a reason not to offer any person his political support and did as much as to let Edo people know where he stands, the un-

favoured would easily become exiled in somewhere like a political Siberia, and those with tall political ambition did not only consider an association with such a reject as an anathema, but did the needful in exhibiting to all fellow political-fortune-hunters that they have made the master’s preference their personal creed. For now however, the essence of this piece is not about how fate has equipped Gov. Oshiomhole with an enviable political acumen, but I am hoping that I can use the opportunity to steer our reflections towards the sanctity of abiding by one’s calling. Thankfully when Gov. Oshiomhole embarked on the assignment of driving Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s political ambition in Edo State, all that the opponents were doing to present Buhari as a monster was instantaneously eclipsed by the opponent’s inability to provide the needed alternative that would dissuade Nigerians from running to Buhari, who was loud with his rescue message and trustworthy enough as a liberator. As PDP’s failings were adequate to curry sympathy for APC, appreciatively too, Gov. Oshiomhole was exhibiting

a ‘we can do’ spirit and according APC the texture that portrayed a uniformity of purpose. Also, Nigerians were vividly chocking from unrestrained corruption of the PDP led federal government while Buhari was fast becoming an outstanding idol of the moment with a growing believe in his singular capacity to fight corruption. And in disdainful mockery of Nigerians, President Goodluck’s campaigners were doling out comic reliefs and clearly abusive innuendos in place of the much expected workable solutions to crippling problems that are daily slamming Nigerians. So, to a large extent, APC ought to be victory bound in Edo State. As an excuse for the reverse which saw PDP coming tops, some have said that the amount of war chest deployed by Edo PDP to induce people at the voting centres could diffuse even a saint’s power of refusal. However, I still believe it is the failing of government to provide the alternative succour or economic welfare that would lift the majority of our people out of abject poverty which conscript their conscience to such debauchery Ogbeide-Ihama writes in from Benin

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

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Curbing social media malady

he relative impact of social media over the years has been tremendous. Social media have played and are still playing a pivotal role in making the world a global village, enhancing public opinion while creating avenues for economic development as they have afforded millions of users worldwide an opportunity to make a living. Apart from uniting the world, social media have also served as instruments of destruction, character assassination and tools in the hands of blackmailers as many have become so helpless in the face of this new media. For instance, Nigeria’s elections may have come and gone, the pains the social media inflicted on Nigerians are unquantifiable. Social media were awash with rubbish, soiling people’s hard earned names all in the name of politics. It was indeed an avenue where hate speech thrived. Ethnic and religious politics which could trigger another round of civil war in the country became the order of the day. English Language was not different as there were new words in Nigeria’s lexicon as occasioned by the social media. Although one cannot fault the overwhelming merits of social media, the negative and destructive impact, got Nigerians worried.

How can this malady of social media be curtailed? Are there no laws to arrest the growing trend of character assassination? This must be food for thought for the incoming administration to ponder if the abuse of the platform by the practitioners must be checked. It can be said that government alone cannot curb the infamous trend, it must involve everyone including a body of laws to be put in place to regulate what operates in the social media. Although the President-elect has said Nigeria’s problems would not be fixed overnight, the malady in the social media must be curbed by the collective efforts of all facets of the society. For instance, how does one seek redress in some of the posted libelous materials? What can one say to pornography and others relating to under-aged girls? There is need for a body of stringent laws that must be put in place and enforced as is obtainable in other climes. It is time stakeholders in partnership with the government brainstormed on the possibility of bringing to life laws that would bring authors of damaging materials against individuals to book with a view to serving as a deterrent. It is interesting to know that even though there are laws guiding operations of people on the

social media in Nigeria, affected Nigerians have refused to explore it. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, revealed that there are also some treaties binding on Nigeria which if explored, the malady being recorded by the day on social media would have been abated if not completely eliminated. Although the Senior Advocate admitted that litigation relating to the abuse of social media had not been developed satisfactorily in Nigeria, we can take advantage of the amendment of the Evidence Act and documentary electronic evidence to restore sanity in the social media. Also, there is the need to look into Nigeria’s justice system particularly the court if sanity should be restored especially in the areas of libel and defamation. Even, in issues involving the regular prints and broadcast media, the courts have not been awarding exemplary damages. So, we must rise to the challenges if we intend to curb the social media malady. The laws are there but people have not been taking such advantage. The Evidence Act has been amended and Electronic Evidence is now admissible unlike what obtained in the past. Government may not have a role to play, after all but Nigerians whose rights were violated should take advantage of the

existing laws to fight for their rights if social media must not be used as a platform in which people would say all manner of things and get away, without any legal liability. The time is now to ensure that some form of legal valve be put in place to reduce the level of abuse in a way it would not be seen as a means of gagging users’ right because freedom of expression is a fundamental human rights, that is entrenched in the Nigerian Constitution. In essence, such freedom must not be used to injure another person’s rights. The duty before the 8th National Assembly, among others,is to strengthen the laws governing the operations of social media to checkmate this level of abuse. There is also the challenge of proof. The National Assembly should take into consideration the challenge that may confront those whose rights have been trampled upon when considering the intention to institute a legal action as most of these operators do not use their correct names and pictures. This, if adequately considered, will help bring sanity, hence there should be a comprehensive review of social media operations.Various legal processes should be put in place to curtail the abuse.

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Politics

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Okunbo’s politics of ethnic consideration Francis Ehigiator

he 2015 general elections have come and gone, but the ripples of victory and defeat that they have generated across the country have been so profound that they are yet to settle. For the first time in the annals of presidential elections in Nigeria, an incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, was defeated by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC)

presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari. This has forced spontaneous realignments across the political landscape with a good number of politicians switching platforms. While a few gladiators dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC and vice versa before the March 28 presidential election, there was a gale of movements from the PDP to the APC after the defeat of President Jonathan in that election. Some found-

ing leaders and members of the PDP who had benefited so much from the party in terms of elective and appointive positions left the party without as much as a whimper. With eyes, possibly fixed on the sharing of national cake in Abuja, principles took a whimsical flight. It was all a parade of absurdities and ideological somersaults for those who claimed to be guided by some form of political ideology. The development left those (especially businessmen) who

have hugely invested their hard-earned resources in the development of the PDP and in support of elective office-seeking members, without getting anything in return, in a reasonable position to undertake a post-mortem and reach a decision on what next step to take. This is the position in which the PDP leader in Edo South senatorial zone, Captain Hosa Okunbo, found himself immediately after the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Okunbo had stuck out his neck for his friend (Jonathan) in the March 28 presidential election in spite of pressure from many of his kinsmen and women to act like typical businessmen who would sponsor candidates of both the ruling and the opposition parties in the same election(s). His investments in the actualization of the second term aspiration of Jonathan yielded results in Edo State. He was able to deliver his Edo South zone with the highest voting

population to Jonathan. He won three of the four House of Representatives seats fair and square while the APC won the fourth. Overall, Jonathan won Edo State but the victory was not enough to give him a countrywide presidential election victory. The new realities that crystallized after the March 28 presidential election were a mixed bag of sort: Jonathan and PDP lost the Federal Government; the PDP is not the government in control of Edo State; and interestingly, a Bini son, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is National Chairman of the APC, whose party has just won the presidential election. What this presents to all Binis, although those in the PDP may not like it, is that their own is holding the most powerful and influential position in the ruling party whose government will swing into action on May 29, this year. This development and other forward-looking considerations coalesced into the strategic move by Okunbo to review his political beliefs, decide to support his brother, Odigie-Oyegun, to be able to win all the State House of Assembly seats in the April 11 elections. If Okunbo had wanted to go the whole hog, he would have won the seats for the PDP, but the question is, of what benefits will that be for a Bini ethnic nation in desperate quest for national accommodation and integration? He would have worked against the very objective of Bini development, liberation and transformation that he has over the years espoused, and for which he has exposed himself politically for possible “vicious attacks”. Now, an APC government is stepping in the saddle on May 29 while an APC government is already in place in Edo State. So, what else is there to fight for other than for all Binis to align with the present realities? All Binis irrespective of their political affiliations and tendencies should rally round Okunbo to accelerate the actualisation of the Benin agenda for rapid integration, accommodation, infrastructure development and transformation. This is the only workable and viable option that the Binis must embrace under the fast-consolidating leadership of Okunbo working in concert with Odigie-Oyegun and other well-meaning Bini leaders. •Ehigiator, a public affairs commentator, writes from Benin City

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Media

Tourism

Thespian Family theatre to stage The gods are not to blame in London

Arts

Tony Okuyeme

ollowing the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, Veteran filmmaker, Chief Eddie Ugboma has called on Nigerians to as a matter of urgency boycott Multichoice and MTN. The former Chairman of the Nigerian Film Corporation accused MultiChoice of destroying the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood. He also condemned the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. Ugboma, who made this call in an interview with New Telegraph in his home in Lagos, accused DSTV of undermining the Nigerian movie industry. He said, “Multichoice came into Nigerian with DSTV; they were brought in by Mr. Emeka Mba, who was then the Director General (D.G.) of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). So, Tony Momoh, who was then the Minister of Information and myself, as Chairman of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) at that time, objected to it because from my investigation, we found out that any country that they go into, they take over the country. But they said no, that they came for the growth of Nollywood, and that they were only coming here to put in money into Nollywood. “Eventually, they came in with their tricks. What they told us was that they want to train Nigerian film directors. They organized a course called Directors Course. Later, they brought the idea of “Doctor’s Quarters”, a television series. So many of the big Nollywood stars got in there; but when Kate Henshaw and Jimi Odumosu found out that the contract stated that anybody who is not happy with the way they were being paid should go to

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Cote d’ Ivoire seeks Akinboboye’s help in its tourism growth

CULTURE

Multichoice, exploiting Nollywood, Nigerians –Ugboma

South Africa to sue them, they (Kate Henshaw and Jimi Odumosu) came to me and told me. And I put up a case. What they did was to drop the character of Kate Henshaw, and denied Jimi Odumosu the role of the director. So, they found other Nigerians who could take that nonsense to do it.” Continuing, Ugboma said: “While they (Multichoice) are doing this “Doctor’s Quarters”, they came up with other tricks; they introduced the African Magic. They called a meeting between NBC and Nigerians that held at the Race Course, Lagos, and promised us that they would be using Nigerian films. When they found out how desperate Nigerians were to give them their films, they slashed the money down to $1,000 per film per year. Later, they started another television programme, Tinsel, and many Nigerian stars rushed in there. By now the money had dropped from $200,000 to $100,000, and to $1,500 per episodes, and they would tell you to take it or leave it, because they have gained grounds, they have gotten what they want. So the Nigerian artistes are at their mercy. “While that was going on, they embarked on the biggest insult on the nation; they commissioned four films per week. They got their own Nigerian producers, Nigerian actors; they put one or two big stars, and then air these films in Nigerian airwaves without censoring. It is an insult to this nation. When you want to talk, the same Emeka Mba will say they are cable. As a cable TV, can they do it like that in Ghana? Can they make a film in Ghana or Kenya or anywhere else in Africa and air it there without the approval of the Censors Board? The veteran film maker and producer of hit movies such as “Death of a Black President”, “The Boy Is Good”, “Rise and Fall of Oyenusi”, “Oil Doom” among others, explained the intervention of Mrs. Odeh, the then D.G. of the National Film and Video Censor’s Board, on Big Brother Africa. “If you recall, at a time they

Ugboma

started doing Big Brother Africa, they were showing nude scenes, and in the evening. It was Mrs. Odeh, the then D.G. of the National Film and Video Censor’s Board, that protested and wrote a letter to the House of Assembly. That is why when you watch Big Brother Africa now, they show it late and there is no more of the naked scenes. It was Mrs. Odeh that stopped it. That is why I say that when you put these women in a place, they are very thorough. The same with Mrs. Bala, who is now the D.G. of Censors Board, who has been inviting the DSTV people to talk to them about African Magic films; they call it African Magic Epics – there are about four channels on it. They have been dodging the meeting, and government has been losing a lot of income; and because they show all Nigerian films – Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba – nobody is buying any film, nobody is shooting any film because they are all there for you to watch 24 hours. “As if that insult was not enough, just recently, they increased their subscription by N8000 and N5000, and when the

Nigerian Consumers Board went to challenge them they said they can’t do anything to them because they are fee cable station. Do we have to continue taking this insult from South Africa because we say we are talking about African Unity? It is also annoying that despite a court order stopping them, they still went ahead to increase their subscription. You know, Nigerians have strong shock absorbers; they just grumble for one moment and stop. That is why the whole world is insulting us. “Look at the tricks they played last two months. They said they were doing African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards. If you are talking about viewers’ choice, how did “October 1” win all those awards? Was it viewed on television? How did “The Meeting” win the award? They are just fooling Nigerians; they just want to destroy AMAA and AFRIFF. These South Africans are finding their way because they have the media power; they have all the billions of money MTN uses in financing all of them, because the organization backing them today is MTN. This is why I am tell-

ing Nigerians today, one, they should start boycotting MTN, and the government should nationalize MTN because they have all made their money. DSTV makes N200,000,000 every week in Nigeria. MultiChoice have the effrontery to say that they are helping to progress our movie industry instead of them to say that they are exploiting the industry. MultiChoice is denying Nigeria so much money. How can South Africans be in Nigeria, make Nigerian films, put them on air, and charge Nigerians. In South Africa what they do is pay-per-view; you only pay money for what you view on cables. But here in Nigeria, it is flat rate. “So you can see how these people are staying in Nigeria and insulting Nigerians and making billions of naira from Shoprite, MTN. Look at all the hotels in Nigeria, they have taken over and call them Protea. Then what happens is that they take over the media, they destroy the film industry. They are building Shoprite in every corner. All other Nigerian supermarkets have broken into pieces because they don’t have the money to pump in.”

Arts

Tony Okuyeme

ith the two-week creation and research process which began on Saturday April 4, 2015, ending today, the stage is set for the debut of Hood On Dance with a performance in public space tomorrow Saturday April 25, 2015, at Urban-Loritz platz, Burggasse, Vienna, Austria. Another performance is scheduled to hold on Sunday May 10, 2015, at Brunnen Passage on Brunnengasse, Vienna. Conceived by a Nigerian dancer and member of Ijodee Dance Company, Samuel Ekeh, Hood On Dance, as the title suggests, is a dance project aimed at encouraging new talents “from the forgotten areas of our society”. “In my research so far I discovered that there are a lot of raw talent in the undeveloped areas that need encouragement and a platform to showcase their abilities. This is a means to give to the society and also to encourage culture and creativities of different forms. This project is channelled to engage the youth with more positive creativeness instead of allowing them to waste and becoming harm to their immediate society. “The Vienna edition of Hood On Dance is designed to create an awareness for refugees and immigrants residing in Vienna through performances in unusual space, therefore creating a public performance platform for refugees and other immigrants from all parts of the world living in Vienna with or without papers, who do not have the opportunity to exhibit their creative abilities. It should give those who are blocked in their freedom of legal movement the possibility to experience freedom through dance with their bodies. Dance can be a means to free their minds from the bondages of forced migration on their backs,” he explained. “The main objective of ‘’Hood on Dance’’ is to creates space for the less privileged by creating a voice for the group of people who are neglected or people who do not know how to exhibit their creative abilities through dance. Therefore it is my aim to create a professional performance platform for them to exhibit their talents as a way to promote culture in all societies thereby creating opportunities

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hood on Dance to reposition youths for creative expression

Ekeh in performance

for cultural expression, creative production and research.” Ekeh cut his teeth as a professional dancer with Ijodee Dance Company, Lagos. With the support of Ijodee, he twice received a scholarship to study at Ecole des Sable, Senegal, representing Nigeria; he is also a scholarship recipient to danceWEB 2011 in Vienna-Austria, to study dance techniques, choreography and movement research development with the support of Prince Claus Funds, as Nigerian representative. This research dance project Hood On Dance is the product of what he acquired from these dance institutions. Artistes drawn from different parts of the world and featuring in this project, according to him, include Bianca Anne Braunesberger (Austria), Hussam Alsawah (Iran), Johanna

Nielson (Austria), Jules Mekontchou (Cameroun), Alexandra Talvokova (Bulgaria), Gina Battistich (Austria), Mark Agpas (Republic of the Philippines), Serigne Niang (Senegal) and Naomi Valese (Italy). Others are Ali Daryanavard (Iran), Samuel Ekeh (Nigeria), Diana Maria Rosu (Romania), Christa Stöffelbauer (Austria) and Emma James (London-UK). Explaining further, in a release, he listed organizations supporting Hood on Dance, to include Prince Claus Funds, Brunnen Passage, Paradocks, Ttp/Wuk, Ijodee Dance Company, Inistic Media and Kocksure Entertainment (host). “Hood on Dance is a Dance project dedicated to talent discovery from the grassroot and as it is being perceived. It is a project that showcases fresh talents from what some people call the forgotten talents. Talents can move a nation;

we are interested in exhibiting our cultural values in the most common form. Hood on Dance is an avenue where ghetto languages are being exhibited into bodies of our next generations, the next after us. Objectives of Hood On Dance include: to open doors for dancers and other form of artist from all part of the world to collaborate and research new ideas together; create a positive atmosphere that promotes peace and creates a voice for the unheard in all societies all over the world; to renew excellence and encourage the spirit of creativity between all level of arts all over the world; create a working relationship between different level of dancer both national and international no matter where you come from; create a platform for the voiceless to speak; and stand as a tool for Human Rights and also take dance and other forms of arts to anywhere we can find creativity.

NICO officials nominated for culture seminar in China Tony Okuyeme

ith the recent commitment by the Chinese Cultural Centre in Nigeria to facilitate participation of cultural officers from Nigeria, some staffers of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) have been nominated to attend culture seminars in China. An e-mail sent to the Executive Secretary of NICO, Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma from the Cultural Office of the Embassy of The People’s Republic of China, titled, “2015 Culture Seminar in China” and signed by Wang Qimeng, disclosed that the culture seminar will be divided into three

segments. The first segment of the seminar centres on “Chinese Culture for Government Officials” and is scheduled to hold from May 20 – June 26, 2015; the second segment which is on “Cultural Tourism Management,” will hold from June 10 – 30, 2015; while the third segment, which is on “Directors of Festivals”, is expected to hold from 26th June 26 – July 15, 2015. Asked of their expectations on the possible outcome of the workshop, the nominees express confidence that the gesture will indeed ensure sustainable bilateral cultural ties between the two countries, and are optimistic that

Ayakoroma

in the end, they will be better informed, especially in the areas of cultural tourism and

festival management. One of the nominees, Mr. Alex Omijie, NICO’s Director, Orientation and Cultural Affairs, according to NICO, said: “I think the Chinese Government appreciates the place of culture in the scheme of things and that is why they have offered to grant an allexpense-paid trip for Nigerian culture workers to undergo training in China.” He noted that the expectation on the part of the nominees is also great, stressing that they have a great role to play in ensuring the sustenance of such offers from the Chinese Government as their conduct and level of participation during the period of the

seminar will go a long way in building a sustainable mutual cultural understanding between the two countries. It will be recalled that only recently, NICO engaged in the process of strengthening bilateral cultural ties with the Chinese Government through the Chinese Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Abuja, intended to create a mutually beneficial working relationship between the two organizations. It is expected that, in the end, the cultural partnership between Nigeria and China will be further promoted through the synergy initiated by NICO and the Chinese Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Abuja.

Arts 23

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Thespian Family theatre to stage The gods are not to blame in London Ebere Ameh

aving thrilled and ‘edutained’ the Nigerian audience with scintillating stage dramas for over a decade, the Thespian Family Theatre is set to stage “The Gods are not to Blame” in London. Their first outing in the UK, they promise to bring the house down with world class performance that will linger in the minds of the audience for a long while. Speaking to the New Telegraph, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the troupe, Mrs Ayo Jaiyesimi said that it will be an unforgettable experience as it will showcase a good number of the industry’s best with lots of Nigerian costumes and dances. “I feel so excited staging my first play in the UK. We will be doing the play together with Heavy Wind Media UK. It will feature a rich cast and crew of stage titans from Nigeria, Uk and Germany. The team includes Dejumo Lewis (the Oloja of Ojo, Village Headmaster), Toyin Oshinaike, Olarotimi Fakunle, William Benson (all from Nigeria), German based Nigerian Actor Jubril Sulaimon, Moji Bamtefa (Meet the Adebanjos), Frank Oluwole Williams (seasoned Artiste in his own right but also son of well-loved veteran Actor, Larry Williams), Theodora IbkweOyebade, Tolulope Yesufu (Shattered Heart), Kristina Simakova and others including the THESPIAN Family Theatre troupe. The play is directed by Lookman Sanusi and showing at the Lost Theatre London from 26th to 30th April 2015. On what the audience should expect, Jaiyesimi says that the audience should expect “a fusion of music, dance, folklore and poetry in a rich African setting”. “The Gods are not to Blame is an adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex and set in an indeterminate period of a Yoruba Kingdom. Written by Ola Rotimi, the story centres on Odewale, born to King Adetusa and his wife Queen Ojuola, the King and Queen of Kutuje. As a baby, he is to be sacrificed to the gods because his birth is considered as bad omen - a child pre-destined to kill his father and marry the same woman who gave birth to him. Gbonka, King Adetusa’s special messenger, is asked to carry out this rite, but he allows compassion to take the better part

A scene from The gods are not to Blame

of him and he spares Odewale’s life, giving him instead to the hunter, Ogundele, in another village in Ijekun to foster. Soon after..., find out what happens at the theatre,” Jaiyesimi enthused. “We chose ‘the GODS Are Not To Blame’ written by Ola Rotimi because I find it intriguing. It is a very rich story, which has the opportunity to feature a lot of Nigerian costume, dance and drama. The messages and themes are also very apt for Nigeria, Nigerians in the diaspora and all people.” “We explore the themes of Predestination, Leadership and Service and hope this play will trigger thoughts in the audience. Whilst most people irrespective of nationality believe in the existence of strong forces that shape the course of their lives, there also is the constant debate that most of these pronunciations come to pass because of some human flaw that could possibly be worked on. An example that strikes me is when it was said that Nigeria would disintegrate in 2015 and it did seem as If a sea of challenges were let lose. However a host of things we fail to address as individuals and as a nation have

Echoes of The Tarzan Monologues at LBHF

he Lagos Black Heritage Festival which opened last Saturday with pomp and ceremony, and featuring series of theatre performances, continues today with the stage production of The Tarzan Monologues, an international award-winning production written and directed by Wole Oguntokun. The performance produced by Renegade Theatre will hold at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Tarzan Monologues is a theatrical compilation of global topics as seen through the eyes of African men. The issues dealt with include the societal pressure on men to succeed, the dilemma of finances, women and children, sexual abuse, religion and infidelity among many others. These monologues humorously but accurately provide insight into the complexities in the nature of men, their world, their

pains, tragedies, triumphs and frustrations. The Tarzan Monologues encourage the scrutiny of stances on gender relations through the use of drama, music and dance. The stage becomes a metaphor for life and its challenges, allowing audience members, male and female, see their own lives represented through performances deliberately designed to encourage interactions between actor and on-looker.

Jaiyesimi

contributed immensely to the situation we are in. Therefore being at the brink of the fulfilment of a ‘negative prophesy’ isn’t so much about the prophesy but the actors in the scheme of things. In terms of Good Leadership and Service to each other; these are elements not only desired of our leaders but also of each of us is to move Nigeria and indeed Africa to the next level. Odewale, the protagonist in the play, though in the midst of tragedy, displays the involvement and commitment in his community,” Jaiyesimi explained. The play, which will be staged by Thespian Family Theatre is in conjunction with Heavy Wind Media UK and will hold from the 26th to 30th of April at the Lost Theatre, London. Thespian Family Theatre and Productions is an emerging leader in the theatre space and has had

a number of successful showing of awesome plays. An organ of SPIIN (Societal Positive Impact Initiative), the THESPIAN Family Theatre and Productions is a STAR member of the International Society for Performing Arts, an international world acclaimed body which has been in existence for 65 years and global membership spanning a number of countries. “We did this play in Lagos in December 2014 and would be doing it again. We are excited with the opportunity to do yet another great production that will not only thrill the audience but also engraft a message in their hearts. We are also grateful for the support of various organisations that believe in us, in the Arts and Culture and particularly, the stage. We also are happy to have the support of the Ola Rotimi Foundation,” Jaiyesimi noted.

Tourism

he President of Cote D’ Voire, Alhassan Qattara, has formally made a request to the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, for the release of Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, who is the Special Adviser on Tourism to help in the development of the country’s tourism sector. This request was delivered to the Ondo State governor by Cote d’ Voire’s ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Toure Maman, during a visit to the governor. The envoy who led a team of officials from the country’s embassy in Abuja to the Government House, Akure was received by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Rotimi Adelola who stood in for the governor. According to the envoy, her country, which is noted for its agriculture and the largest producer of cocoa in Africa, is looking at diversifying its economy with focus on tourism as a veritable source. Following this development, she said that the country last year signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the President of La Cmapagne, Akinboboye, who is the special adviser on Tourism to Governor Mimiko, for the building of African themed resorts (a replication of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort) in different locations across the country. Ambassador Maman who expressed delight over the tourism development in the state, said her president cannot wait to have Akinboboye back in Cote d’ Voire as everything is set and ready for the commencement of the resorts, adding that the project can’t commence without the presence and inputs of Dr. Akinboboye who is expected to bring to bear his wealth of experience and expertise in the realisation of the dream of the president and the people of Cote d’ Voire. In his response, the Secretary to

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cote d’ Ivoire seeks Akinboboye’s help to grow its tourism

Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Yemi Mamod-Fasominu, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Rotimi Adelola, Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria Toure Maman and Senior Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Tourism, Dr. Wanle Akinboboye.

the State Government (SSG), Adelola, said the state government is pleased with the formal request for the release of one of its human resource specialists, particularly the recognition and confidence expressed by the country in the ability and expertise of Akinboboye to help develop the country’s tourism. According to the SSG, Nigeria and Cote d’ Voire have a rich and long history of cooperation and therefore assured the envoy of the state government willingness to

release Akinboboye as requested. He also made a counter offer soliciting for the assistance of Cote d’Voire in developing Ondo State agriculture, particularly it cocoa sector as the country is the biggest producer of cocoa in the continent, since the country is requesting for Akinboboye’s presence and expertise in developing its tourism. Commenting on the SSG’s request, Ambassador Maman said her country would be very willing to assist the state in the develop-

ment and promotion of its agriculture. Disclosing that towards this end, Cote d’ Voire could make the country’s largest cocoa region, Nawa, a twin – sister state of Ondo so as to fast track it cocoa sector. Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the governor on Tourism, in his remark, welcomed the ambassador to the state, stating his readiness to assist the country in the development of its tourism following the MoU he signed last year before he took up his present position.

Brand Ambassador, Miss-K, dreams big for Nigeria

Miss-K with Mr. Okpara

fro – Caribbean born Karina Theresa Martinez otherwise known as Miss K, sensational songstress, songwriter, brand ambassador, model and entrepreneur as well as a humanist, whose humanitarian works across the world, particularly Africa, has earned her the title of Mother Theresa of Africa, dreams big project for Nigeria, details of which she plans to unveil soon. The rave musical artiste, whose wild and sensuous per-

formances on live stages have won her thousands of admirers and fans, is no stranger to the Nigerian environment, as she has over the years visited the country on several occasions. She first came to Nigeria as tourist and fell in love with the country and its people so much that she came back for business and official engagements. The formal MTN brand ambassador (2008-2009) speaks glowingly of Nigeria, a country she describes as the motherland and recalls with some

nostalgic excitement, recounting her visit to places like Makoko village in Lagos which she visited in 2012, and where she organised a photo-shoot for the production of her 2013 calendar, which she releases yearly exploring each year a different location and theme. It has been close to 18 months since the Caribbean beauty touched based with Nigeria, but she quietly returned to the country early January, visiting both Lagos and Abuja in connection with her secret pet project. During her trip she was opportune to meet with some government officials and other private concerns and individuals in respect of her venture. Besides, she also reveals that she found the Nigerian environment inspiring enough in the course of her stay to pen down some musical materials, which hopefully will be worked on later to produce a music hit. According to her, ‘‘Nigeria is the kind of place in which the creative juices must flow as sweetly as the local palm vine - the elixir that is the lifeblood of this fascinating West African nation.” ‘‘Music takes pride of place

in Nigeria and nothing quite typifies the country’s sheer verve than the sound of Afro beats. This is where you experience African life at its rawest, a place that makes the ice in your rum and coke shake to the beat.’’ While seemingly holing up in her secret hideout, away from the media and enjoying the beauty of the country, she was however, searched out by the National Youth Network of Nigeria for HIV/AIDS, which got wind of her presence in Abuja and succeeded in convincing her to join their HIV/ AID campaign, a request MissK couldn’t resist, given her passion for humanitarian work. The timing couldn’t be better as it all took place during the ‘Valentine’ period, best day to show love to humanity. She spent the day in the company of the National Secretary of Youth Network, of HIV/AIDS, Mr. Okpara, and his team, on a community HIV & AIDS Outreach Tour to three different camps in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The event was in conjunction with MTV Base Africa’s popular TV Series SUGA. Part of the day’s line up was learning how to

test a patient for HIV/AIDS and encouraging people to get tested to know their HIV status while spreading love amongst those who needed it the most – those living with AIDS. Miss-K admitted having a fulfilled trip, as she spoke of how rewarding it was for her to have had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Okpara, who also took time to teach her personally on how to test patient, reinforcing how much of an impact such a day could make in someone’s life. Aside this, she also had the opportune to reconnect with a kindred sister, a Caribbean, Dr. Russell from Professionals For Humanity (PROFOH), a social and medical humanitarian organisation , with whom she discussed the HIV epidemics in West Africa and the possibility of partnering in the near future to bring succour to the sufferers. She was made a return visit to Makoko village, which she first visited in 2013 to reconnect with the people, donating several bags of items such as clothes, shoes, toys, books and sweets for the kids among others, all of which she brought all the way from the UK.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, april 24, 2015

Dstv

Music

Telemundo gambles with Queen of Hearts, Part of Me, on DStv

Somi rocks Lagos in May

Entertainment

Peter Okoye’s dance reality show debuts in June

Ejiro

Dominic

Stories by Sony Neme

igeria Filmmakers on Monday took the bulls by the horns as they called for legal reforms to stop the menace of piracy that is threatening to eradicate their means of livelihood. Their main grouse is with operators of the famous Alaba International Market, located at Ojo area of Lagos State. The market was founded in the 1970s and located along the Lagos-Badagry expressway is by un arguably the biggest electronics market in the West Africa sub region. But the sad side to it is the nightmare that the place has become for creative minds. As a result of their purported unholy activities, the filmmakers are specifically calling for review as they are demanding that the law be amended the way it is in India and some other countries, into death penalty for piracy, which has seen piracy successfully controlled. The filmmakers had marched through the streets of Lagos in protest then tabling their grievances before the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. Their

sony neme

Editor, entertainment sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

Kelani

Rage over piracy reason was due to the brazen display and sales of pirated products in the streets of Lagos. They pointedly told the governor that legal reforms, more than anything else is needed if the menace must stopped. In his address, the President, Licensed Film Exhibitors, Igwe Gabriel Okoye, aka Gabosky said the present legal framework provides incentive to venture into piracy. According to Gabosky,“We have located the den of these pirates. We have identified those involved but we do not have the legal backing. And those that we spent six years prosecuting only bagged three months of imprisonment or option of N10, 000 as fine. That is the law of our country. In Nigeria we celebrate piracy but our colleagues in other countries enjoy better arm of the law. For instance in India, it is death penalty.” He further said pirates have rendered the money and efforts of filmmakers in the country meaningless. And to buttress his points that powerful people were behind the booming business, he said, “When we went to Alaba International Market, the security officials who went with us sustained several degrees of injuries.” For awards winning filmmaker, Mr. Tunde Kelani, “The situation is disheartening for investors because in the past,

The new trend now is that while the film is still in the cinema, they are pirated and sold openly on the streets of Lagos

pirates wait for producers to release their films, but the new trend now is that while the film is still in the cinema, they are pirated and sold openly on the streets of Lagos unhindered, and the centre of the activity is Alaba market at Ojo Local Government. “We need to do something otherwise we will continue sending the wrong signal that pirates are above the law. We want the Federal Government to promulgate laws that elevate piracy to the class of armed robbery and financial crimes among others on sales of pirated works. We are appealing that the Alaba International Market especially the electronic division be shut to serve as a deterrent to others.” Another filmmaker and resected actor Mr. Tunji Bamishigbin said piracy will further worsen unemployment in the country if efforts are not doubled to stem the tide. His welcome address, Governor Fashola said he understood the value of the industry in terms of contribution to the economy, and encourage them to keep up with the fight. His words: “Please don’t give up. You will win this battle. It is not just the filmmakers, the book writers and musicians and everyone who lives on his intelCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

t last another much awaited dance reality show is here, courtesy of Peter Okoye, one half of the PSquare music duo. titled‘Dance Nigeria with Peter,’ the TV reality show is designed to raise the bar. The show witnesses Peter making his debut as a judge/ mentor alongside dance Queen Kaffy and Nigerian hip hop dance choreographer, Flex. The competition will be open to individuals from different dance backgrounds, be it solo, group or duet. Auditions will be held in June across four major cities in Nigeria (Jos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos) and also include street battles to make up the final 30 that will move to the competition phase. Registration of interested candidates will commence in May where applicants/contestants are expected to text to a dedicated short code and a unique code is sent back to them to complete their registration on www.dancenigeria.com. According to a statement by the organizers, “The Dance Nigeria with Peter is the first Dance Reality TV show that abrogates the normal humdrum of dance competition seen on TV. It is a show that brings about a whole new dimension to dancing, in an exciting display of talents. All wrapped up with suspense and indecision of the judge/mentors.” According to Peter Okoye, “This show is going to revolutionize the way Nigerians see dance. I am so happy to have on this project the best that Nigeria has to offer when it comes to dance.”

Okoye

Entertainment

FRIDAY, april 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Final battle for Etisalat Nigerian Idol’s last 12 Stories by Sony Neme

he last group of 10 contestants from the top-30 battled for three more spots in the top 12 of the on-going Etisalat-sponsored Nigerian Idol season .five They were joined by 21-year old, Solo the winner of Cliq Idol competition that earned the ticket for top-30, after emerging winner of the online version for fans who were unable to make it to the auditions held in five Nigerian cities. The contestants took turns to impress the judges with performances of pop songs from international award winning artistes. The stars of the night included Ayoka, Precious and SP1, as well as K-Peace and David whose stage and vocal skills held the judges and audience spellbound. Ayoka led the pack with her performance of Adele’s, ‘Set Fire To The Rain’, while K-Peace won hearts with his delivery of Ruben Studdard’s ‘What if ’ that he blended with a touch of Fuji music. On her part, Precious took a bow after her rendition of Rihanna’s ‘Take a Bow’ and the audience found her confidence enthralling. SP1’s performance of ‘I’m not the only one’ by Sam Smith gave the judges and audience chills, though Darey Art-Alade advised him make his voice more audible, while David got the nods of for clarity and creativity while performing Mario’s, ‘Let Me Love

Dare art Alade

You.’ Solo was not as lucky as his rendition of ‘Get Lucky’ by Daft Punk did not work for the judges while Dede described Mauriz’ last stroke of Lemar’s ‘If there is any Justice’ as the best for the night, but ironically, “Flat and unbelievable!’’ Uloma’s eccentric and hilarious performance of Alicia keys’

Goldberg Fuji T’o Bam’s 3rd link with consumers in May

or the third consecutive year, Fuji music is poised for center stage as Goldberg, a lager beer brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc is set for their annual Fuji T’o Bam. The Fuji talent hunt show billed for May is an indigenous music activation platform of Goldberg, which has in the last two editions led to the discovery of budding Fuji talents. The winner of the contest will eventually be crowned the Oni Wura1 of Fuji T’o Bam, in addition to a cash reward of N750, 000. Second and third place winners will go home with cash prizes of N350,000 and N250,000 respectively. They are expected to be drawn from a total of 100 competitors that will qualify from each of the four zones from the on-going in-bar activation that has commenced since on Saturday. Audition is billed to hold in Ota, Ibadan, Oshogbo, and Akure. Identified talents from the auditions will later converge in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for the final selection of 30 contestants that will proceed to the quarter final at Ota, Ogun State. Ilesha in Osun State will host the semi-final. The grand finale which will hold in Ibadan will be an exciting life changing experience for

Dede Mabiaku

the 10 finalists where the Oni Wura Fuji will be crowned.. According to the Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, the competition, which will take place across key cities in South West Nigeria will have notable Yoruba actors, like Sanyeri, Kamilu Kompo, Mr. Latin and Odunlade Adekola gracing the event from the quarter final to the grand finale stages. Meanwhile, the contestants will from the quarter final stage enjoy mentorship from prominent fuji artiste, just the judges will be unveiled in due course. Mr. Ekanem added that, beacuse Fuji music enjoys huge followership especially in the South Western part of Nigeria, which led the brand to create the platform “Fuji T’o Bam” to connect and engage its target consumers. The music genre thus provides a credible platform for the brand to get closer to them and share their interest. On the modalities for the competition, Ekanem emphasized that, “Interested talents are expected to participate in audition at centers closest to them, and they will have about five minutes each on stage to impress the judges at the auditions in order to get into the contest proper.

As a brand, we are proud to be part of the discovery of these great talents

‘No One’ failed to hit it with the audience while Oluchi’s voice was described as a mismatch for her song choice, ‘Ain’t No Other Man’ by Christina Aguilera. Speaking on the performances of the last group of 10 contestants, the Head, Events and Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani said, “The contestants put up a good fight and

the quality of talents this season is encouraging. As a brand, Etisalat is proud to be part of the discovery of these great talents, who with or without winning in the competition, are already stars in their own right.” Voting for the last 10 of the top 30 contestants began Sunday, April 12 and ended at midnight Wednesday, April 15.

Etisalat in Hear Word second edition

n furtherance to its commitment to the growth and empowerment of women, Etisalat has announced that it will be sponsoring the second edition of Hear Word, a theatrical performance which highlights and addresses the challenges of Nigerian women. This theatre production kicks off with a special performance at the University of Lagos on April 29, 2015 and premieres at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos on May 1, 2015. The production will subsequently run at the MUSON

Centre every Friday and Saturday in May, alongside Hear Word which is produced by iOpenEye, a company established in 2014 by Ifeoma Fafunwa to showcase the best of Nigerian performance art with a focus on empowering women and transforming society powerful parades performances from a cast of extraordinary Nigerian actresses such as Deborah Ohiri, Lala Akindoju, Zara Udofia, Rita Edward, Ufuoma McDermott, Joke Silva, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett , Kate Henshaw, Bimbo Akin-

tola, Omonor and Elvina Ibru. and Odenike. Speaking at a press media briefing to announce the 2015 edition of the show, Head, Events and Sponsorship at Etisalat Nigeria, Modupe Thani said, “Etisalat is proud to support Hear Word , an initiative which celebrates the Arts through the creative and artistic works of women within and beyond Nigeria. We recently supported the Woman Rising Initiative which also celebrates the creative works of women globally’’.

Hear Word casts C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

lectual gift must join the fight. For as long as it takes, I will be on your side until this war is won. Stealing of intellectual property that we call piracy is not peculiar to Nigeria, it happens in other countries.

War against piracy “They haven’t successfully overcome it but they have put it under control through different measures. And some of them you have alluded to. And it is those measures that we

must adopt in full quantum. And the first thing to agree about is the need for law enforcement because there is a law that prohibit piracy; either weak or not.

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, april 24, 2015

CinemaWatch

(Radio/TV/Events Guide)

APR. 17 — apr. 24 Highlights

Telemundo gambles with Queen of Hearts, Part of Me, on DStv Stories by Sony Neme

n keeping with their deal of keeping Africa better entertained, MultiChoice Africa has returned with Telemundo’s latest telenovelas’ Queen Of Hearts and Part of Me The promise is that both are bound to capture more hearts this April and May with intriguing story lines and favourite familiar Telemundo faces. While Queen of Hearts airs every weekday at 17:10 from April 27, Part of Me will from Monday, May 11 at 16:20. The statement made available to New Telegraph, Tuesday, explains that, “Queen of Hearts is from the glitzy Las Vegas with the hit theme song by Latino superstar Enrique Iglesias ‘Bailando. Lead actor Eugenio Siller’s (Aurora) song: ‘Te Espare’ also features in this bittersweet love story of two doomed lovers. “Reina Ortiz, played by Telemundo newcomer Paola Núñez, is a modern day Cinderella, orphaned

and living a simple life with her difficult stepmom and stepsister. She meets and falls madly in love with valet - Nicolas Núñez played by Siller, who is waiting to change his luck by winning a big poker game. But it was not to be as tragedy strikes on their wedding day, when groom Nicolas does not show up for his wedding. Reina then suffers a terrible accident resulting in her losing her memory.” “The suspense continues as Reina loses eight years of her life and wakes up to find she has a husband and daughter she does not recognize and a life of power and luxury she cannot begin to understand. Reina will have to reconstruct her past, slowly piecing together the puzzle in an atmosphere of secrets, traps and deceit.” Queen of Hearts also stars Behind Closed Doors and Where Is Elisa? actress, Catherine Siachoque as widow Estefanía Pérez Hidalgo, a wealthy film star who together with

ultiChoice Africa has added its voice to the gale of condemnation on the Xenophobia that has caused panic in South Africa. In a news release made available to New Telegraph, the premium pay television producers stated that they are, “Appalled by the acts of violence being perpetrated against our fellow brothers and sisters in South Africa and strongly condemns these acts. “As a multi-cultural African organisation we respect and embrace diversity, and all the different traditions and religions across the continent. This is demonstrated through by our multinational staff complement, rich African programming and channels on both our DStv and GOtv platforms.”

Catherine

Victor De Rosas is heavily involved in diamond trafficking. The riddle is, if can love triumph in a world that centres on gambling, fake weddings and gem trafficking? Tune in and watch as romance and mystery unfold in a love story that crosses the threshold of memory. In Part of Me, true love will triumph over the biggest obstacle of all – death. The supernatural thriller Part Of Me starting on Telemundo on May 11 at 16:20 features Telemundo talents such as David Chocarro from Someone’s Watching, as Diego Ochoa and Jorge Luis Pila from Aurora, playing Gerardo Fonsi / Juan Gerardo Suárez. According to our source, “The premise of this telenovela is that two women, one from Los Angeles and the other from Mexico

Housewives star Kim Richards arrested

“T

he Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Kim Richards was arrested last week Thursday on public intoxication and other charges after she refused to leave an upscale hotel in the city and later kicked an officer in the leg, police said. Richards, a former child actress who has

appeared on the Bravo channel show since its 2010 debut, was reported by security at the Beverly Hills Hotel, USA, to be causing a disturbance in the property’s restaurant, police said. Hotel security asked the intoxicated television personality to leave, but she refused, prompting police to be called, Beverly Hills police said in a statement. Richards was being escorted from the property when she was allowed to use the bathroom and then refused to leave there as well, police said. Richards, 50, appeared as a child in the 1970-1971 situation comedy “Nanny and the Professor” and in the Walt Disney Co films “Escape to Witch Mountain,” “No Deposit, No Return” and “Return from Witch Mountain.”

MultiChoice Africa condemns attacks in South Africa

share a tragic and supernatural destiny that bind them together even after death. Laura Flores is Monica Serrano, a worldrenowned LA pianist with an impressive fortune who died after the betrayal of her ambitious and deranged niece Elena, and the man she loved, the much younger husband, Gerardo. “But by way of a mysterious talisman, Monica’s soul, does not want to accept her death and begins to occupy the body of Adriana Aguila, played by María Elisa Camargo, a modest waitress who has died at the hands of a dangerous gangster. In Adriana’s body, Monica’s soul will do the impossible to defend her children and seek justice to avenge her death, while Adriana’s soul wanders hoping to reconcile with her the love of her life, Diego.

Kate Winslet cant stop learning

fter numerous awards, including six Oscars, for her roles in Hollywood movies, Kate Winslet, ‘Titanic’ star admits that she does not always think she has done the best she can on screen. This is despite critical acclaim in her 20-year acting career, yet the 39-year-old, best known for her roles in the 2002 blockbuster ‘Revolutionary Road’, ‘Sense and Sensibility’ and ‘The Reader’ that earned her the Academy Award in 2009! And she insists, “I don’t think I always act very well

on screen.” Winslet made the startling comment to Reuters at a promotional interview for her latest film ‘A Little Chaos’, where she plays a landscape designer commissioned to work on the gardens at Versailles. Her words: “There are bits of the film I was watching and thinking I could have done that better but I think all actors feel like that, which is a good thing because then you’re constantly trying new things, trying to get better all the time and learn new things too.” Born in the English town of Reading into a family of actors, Winslet has been acting since the age of 11. She went to a performing arts school but did not go on to Drama College. Instead she made her film debut in the 1994 ‘Heavenly Creatures’.

Meet Nollywood UK Exco members

e had the UK actors guild on Sunday as mentioned and you asked for a picture of me the president HRH Theodora Oyebade, Danny Erskine publicity secretary who also featured in saving Grace movie and Mr Ruke Amata film producer and director. My name Princess Abiye Tobin-Spiff Okusanya .

Sledge

Tribute: Percy Sledge When A Man Loves A Woman When a man loves a woman, Can’t keep his mind on nothin’ else, He’d change the world for the good thing he’s found. If she is bad, he can’t see it, She can do no wrong, Turn his back on his best friend if he put her down. When a man loves a woman, He’ll spend his very last dime Tryin’ to hold on to what he needs. He’d give up all his comforts and sleep out in the rain, If she said that’s the way it ought to be. Well, this man loves you, woman. I gave you everthing I have, Tryin’ to hold on to your hot blood long. Baby, please don’t treat me bad. When a man loves a woman, Down deep in his soul, She can bring him such misery. If she is playin’ him for a fool, He’s the last one to know. Lovin’ eyes can never see. When a man loves a woman he can do no wrong, he can never hug some other girl. Yes, When a man loves a woman I know exactly how he feels, ‘Cause baby, baby, you’re my pearl. When a man loves a woman....

Entertainment

FRIDAY, april 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Somi rocks Lagos in May ● As Sony Music Week 16 parades seven new hits Stories by Sony Neme

t is no longer news that Sony Music star, Somi got the inspiration for her wave making hit single, ‘Akobi’ (first born) from the streets of Lagos Nigeria in 2011. What is however, interesting is that Lagos has been listed among her eight cities tour across the continent that commences on April 30 through May 10. And Lagosians will be treated to two days of fun on May 2nd and 3rd at the Satchmo International Jazz Festival. from the East African vocalist and songwriter who moved from New York City to Lagos, for 18 months in search of new inspiration. The result, according to Sony Music Entertainment Africa, “Is her chart-topping 2014 opus and major label debut, The Lagos Music Salon (Sony/OKeh) which landed at number on US Jazz Charts. The album, which also features special guests Angelique Kidjo and Common, draws its material from the tropical city’s boastful cosmopolitanism, urgent inspiration

and giant spirit, straddling the worlds of African jazz, soul, and pop.” They further stated that, “In the Spring of 2015, Somi and her band will travel from New York City to four major African cities for the following performances: April 30: Harare International Festival of the Arts, Harare, Zimbabwe; May 6 and 7 in Cape Town, South Africa; and May 8 and 9 at the The Orbit Jazz Club, Johannesburg, also in South Africa. While Kaya FM will on May 10 round it up with an InStudio Live Performance on Brenda Sisane’s The Art of Sundays Johannesburg, South Africa’ other six that completes the Sony Music Weekly Radio delivery are Sia’s ‘Big Girls Cry’; Erik Hassle’s ‘No Words’; and Joy Williams’s ‘Woman (Oh Mama)’, as well as Empire Cast’s ‘Conqueror’; Anna Naklab featuring Alle Farben & YOUNOTUS in ‘Supergir; and Toya Delazy featuring. Cassper Nyovest in ‘My City (Khwezi Remix)’ A further breakdown reveals that Sia, “Following worldwide international success with ‘Chandelier’ and

Somi

sic source. Formerly a member of the four-time Grammy Award-winning duo The Civil Wars, Joy’s most recent record, 2013’s self-titled The Civil Wars, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Chart. Of the single, Joy comments, On Empire Cast – Conqueror, Sony Music says, “If you’re an avid TV watcher, by now you have seen the dramatic teasers for the highly anticipated new series Empire, directed by Lee Daniels and starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Mega-producer Timbaland is the mastermind behind all of the original music produced for the show. Anna Naklab feat. Alle Farben & YOUNOTUS in ‘Supergirl’ is not left out.

Bobby Brown says his daughter Bobbi Kristina “is awake.”

Showbits

Listed below are issues from the entertainment industry that is trending • MC Galaxy attacked at Shizzis studio by Davido and his driver • Bobby Brown tells crowd Bobbi Kristina is awake • Solidstar new video Baby Jollof ft. Tiwa Savage, released. • Singer Omawumi expecting second baby. • Piracy still strong in en- Emma Nyra tertainment: Gabosky. • Nicki Minaj and Meek • We are ready for AMAA 2015, says organizers. Mill engaged • Nicki Minaj not en- • Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince new song Suite gaged, her mother says • Oritsefemis Instagram 99, released. • Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda account hacked. • Yemi Alade second ofmakes no sense. ficial remix Kissing, • Halima Abubakar. Akon released. in Lagos for Airtel Show. • I was never with Ubi • I will perform Godwin Franklin, Emma Nyra in Church again: Korede swears. Bello. • Toby Greys new video • Actress Ivie Okujaye set Gboju, released. to wed her long time bf • Afia Schwarzenegger Ezzy. wants South Africans • Nicki Minaj confirms engagement to Meek out of Ghana. • Cynthia Morgan says Mill. she got a N12m wrist • Lindsay Lohan parents watch. at war • A nude picture will not • Suge Knight says now i can make bail excite my husband: eL• Kim Richards arrested Dees wife. • Celebrities condemn xein Bev Hills allegedly nophobic attacks. drunk, kicked police of-

‘Elastic Heart’, the Australian songwriting superstar releases the new single from her multi Grammy Nominated album ‘1000 Forms of Fear’. Produced by Greg Kurstin (Adele, Kelly Clarkson, P!nk) Big Girls Cry” is an emotional ballad in true Sia style, which is on over 20 million views already!” Swedish soul-pop crooner, Erik Hassle makes a welcomed return with his first official single since signing to the Sony Music (RCA). Erik premiered the official video for ‘No Words’ on Time.com last week, who described the track as having, ‘the makings of a summer smash.’ “Joy Williams in ‘Woman (Oh Mama)’ came with a new single that is premiering today,” says Sony mu-

ficer • Jamie Foxx: Madonna loves my little girl • Instagram troll mocks Tyga, says he looks like a used Tampon. • Johnny Kemp’ Just Got Paid’ singer dies mysteriously • Chainz is getting sued for breaching a contract with Rockmo Entertainment. • Aaron Her nande z found guilty of murder, sentenced to life no parole, on suicide watch, after murder conviction • Nicole Richie and Joel Madden at are at the centre of rumours that their marriage is on the brink of collapse due to incessant arguing.

he joy of a father was expressed by Bobby Brown when he enthused about his ailing daughter, thus:, “I can say today, Bobbi is awake. She’s watching me.” Bobby told a shocked crowd at the Verizon Theater in Dallas, Texas last week. A video of his statement was posted to Instagram captioned, “Theirs [sic] been terrible rumors circulating for months ... @kingbobbybrown would like to share a message with you all ... From our family to yours ... Thank you for all the well wishes and prayers for his daughter #BK .... But let it be known that #GOD holds the glory .... continue to #PrayForBK #Salute big bro and know that #LaFamilia has your back to the end”

Bobby Brown

The user, iamdmobe, doesn’t list their name or how they’re connected to the Brown family. A source close to Bobby Brown told ET on Sunday that Bobby has said this before. According to the source, Bobby has claimed that Bobbi Kristina is “aware” that her family is there when they visit. Bobbi Kristina Brown has been on a ventilator in a medically induced coma. Her mother, Whitney Houston, was found dead in 2012 in a bathtub in the Beverly Hilton hotel. Police ultimately listed the cause of death as a drowning, and said she had taken drugs prior to her death. At the Dallas concert, Bobby Brown didn’t say whether Bobbi Kristina was conscious, or expand

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Labour

Buhari should focus on job creation, says Ajaero

Agric Doubt over success of cassava bread policy

Business What's news

Panasonic prefers South Africa to Nigeria, others Notwithstanding the country’s economic status as the fastest growing economy on the continent, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the region of over $500 billion, Japanese electronics manufacturer, Panasonic, has considered South Africa ahead of Nigeria and Egypt, among others, as it plans to launch range of products this year.

p.30

e-Commerce: Nigeria tops MOBOfree classified platform Leading African social marketplace, MOBOfree.com, said it had experienced an increase of over 44 per cent in the number of registered users of its platform in Nigeria in the last 12 months.

p.30

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Stockbrokers Limited, Mr. Bosun Adekoya; Acting Director-General, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo and Executive Director, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Ade Bajomo, during the first quarter Capital Market Committee meeting in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Nigerians, others spend N180bn on London homes OPULENCE

Desire for rental luxury homes in prime central London thickens

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

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

Bayo Akomolafe

ich men from Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and Senegal have stormed London in Britain to acquire some homes valued at N180 billion ($900 million). Of the figure, Nigerian Embassy in London estimated that Nigerians now spend over $446

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

million per year on fees, tutoring and accommodation at British schools and university. According to a CCN survey, Nigerians splashed out the most cash when it comes to bricks and mortar in the British capital, spending between $22 and $37 million on securing a property. Also, research by luxury property agents, Beauchamp Estates, showed that over the past three years Africans had spent over $900 million on luxury residential property in London. A Director at Beauchamp Estates, Mr. Gary Hersham, said: “Virtually all the transactions are for end use, not rental investment, which indicates that the African buyer market in London

had significant room for growth. “African buyers or luxury tenants in London are currently where the Russians and Ukrainians were five years ago. They have the resources and desire to purchase or rent luxury homes in Prime Central London. It is going to be the African century.” A British-Nigerian wealth manager based in London, Bimpe Nkontchou, explained that Mayfair, Kensington and Chelsea had long been the

$446 million Being the least Nigerians spend on fees, tutoring and accommodation

stomping ground of the elite and new African investors. She said: “The Africans who are coming into London now are Africans who themselves have worked for their money. “They have grown in industry and are actually part of the exciting story of the African renaissance. It’s bringing to London the best of the continent. “These investors are having a considerable impact on London’s property market and they mainly come from just six countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and Senegal. “The new international African is very well-traveled. EduCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE February 2015.........................8.4% January 2015...........................8.2% December 2014.........................8%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Apr. 10)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N207 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N300 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N230

l Foreign Reserves – $29.589bn as at 4/04/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Apr. 10)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N301 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N214

Business | News

Panasonic prefers South Africa to Nigeria, others

DISMAY

Firm to spend $5 million in the first choice country Dele Alao

otwithstanding the country’s economic status as the fastest growing economy on the continent, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the region of

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

over $500 billion, Japanese electronics manufacturer, Panasonic, has considered South Africa ahead of Nigeria and Egypt, among others, as it plans to launch range of products this year.

Checks showed that the company, which sees South Africa as a strategic market, has allocated a marketing budget of $5 million (about R60m) to market the company and its products in South Af-

rica. To show its preference for South Africa, the company relaunched its brand in that country with the tagline ‘You deserve better. A few years ago, Pana-

sonic had expressed interest in establishing a manufacturing plant in Nigeria, if infrastructure challenges were addressed. Then, the Managing Director, Marketing,

L-R: Director, Enterprise Business Team, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Charles Ojei; Public Relations Executive, Ms. Morohunfolu Seton and Head, Corporate and Consumer Electronics Marketing, Mr. Koye Sowemimo, at the “Mobile West Africa 2015 Conference” in Lagos.

Africans spend N180bn on London homes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

cated in the United States, United Kingdom and different parts of Europe their taste is definitely more modern and clean. “For evidence that London still attracts high-end buyers, look no further than the sale of a penthouse in Mayfair which fetched $40 million earlier this year.” It was also learnt that Harrow, Eton, Cheltenham Ladies College are all among the list of respected institutions that teach the offspring of wealthy Nigerians and their African counterparts. Nkontchou added: “West African clients are very much driven by the need to educate their children. Education usually means putting the children on an international stage, and that’s one reason why this is feeding into the demand for property in London.” Echoing him, education industry experts, ICEF Monitor said thet there were over 17,500 Nigerians studying in British universities in 2012, about 1,000 over the 2009/10 academic session.

e-Commerce: Nigeria tops MOBOfree classified platform GROWTH Over 44 per cent increase in the last 12 months

eading African social marketplace, MOBOfree.com, said it had experienced an increase of over 44 per cent in the number of registered users of its platform in Nigeria in the last 12 months. The increase has subsequently resulted in a 1,042 per cent boost in the number of classifieds published on MOBOfree.com in Nigeria, which makes over 500,000 active listings on the platform in Nigeria only. Over the same period, the number of registered users of MOBOfree.com in Uganda increased by more than 1555 per cent, resulting in a 5548 per cent increase in the number of classifieds published on MOBOfree.com in Uganda. With four million regis-

tered users, including two million monthly active users in Nigeria and a strong footprint in Uganda and Zimbabwe, MOBOfree is one of the largest and most successful classifieds platforms in Africa. “Online trading is growing rapidly across Africa as the IT and mobile infrastructure across the continent continues improving. Despite that, part of our challenge still is convincing people of the value of using the internet to buy, sell or swap items and services,” said CEO and co-founder of MOBOfree, Cristobal Alonso. “We understand that African countries have their own culture, different rates of internet, mobile and smartphone penetration, so every African market should be approached with an individual strategy. Things that work in Europe or United States can be totally unacceptable for African users. MOBOfree entered the African markets with a unique concept as it

connects social networks and classifieds together in a single platform. The substantial growth achieved by MOBOfree confirms that this concept is well accepted in African markets as number of users is quickly growing and more and more people seem to prefer MOBOfree to traditional classifieds companies,” added Alonso. Nigeria’s e-commerce market is developing rapidly, with an estimated growth rate of 25 per cent annually and a potential worth of $10 billion – with around 300,000 online orders currently being placed on a daily basis. A report released by McKinsey & Company indicated that ecommerce could account for 10 per cent of retail sales in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economies, by 2025. The MOBOfree technological platform makes buying and selling online easy for any African user with any device, not only for PCs and smartphones but also for old phones with small screens (known as “feature” phones).

Middle East and Africa, Panasonic Corporation, Mr. Masao Motoki, who noted that although Nigeria remains an important growth market to Panasonic in sub-Saharan Africa, said: “It is better we set up a factory in the country, but to do that, several things have to be addressed. Among them is the infrastructure deficit.” The Japan-based electronics company has been operating in Nigeria for over 30 years with a strategic partnership with Panserve Nigeria Limited, which imports its product to Nigeria. While noting that there has not been any discussion with the Nigerian government on the plan to set up a new factory in the country, Matoki said: “As time goes on and as part of our strategy, we are studying what we can do. In the long term, we will consider it seriously because Nigeria is a really big market.” While the company continues to manufacture a wide range of TVs and has 32” and 40” flat screens, with a 49” due in the next few months, a large part of its effort is in the other sectors it covers. Panasonic has been sold through discounters such as Game and Dion; specialised outlets, such as camera shops; and by chains, and the company previously tended to keep a relatively low profile. This, however, is set to change. With an extensive range of new products across the domestic consumer and business markets - from TVs to cameras to appliances, and then in the business environment, scanners and security surveillance equipment, for example, the company intends to revitalise its image. A major thrust will be on emphasising the quality of Panasonic products - hence the tagline ‘You deserve better.’ The company, which observed that there was a significant price erosion, and fierce competition, particularly on TVs - a flat-screen model that sells for a significant cost, will very likely be available shortly at a much lower price, whereas appliance prices have tended to be more stable. The new product range will be rolled out through 2015 and onwards.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Labour

TUC flays inability to unionise MTN, DSTV employees p.32 Comrade Joe Ajaero is the factional president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). In this interview with PAUL OGBUOKIRI, he calls on president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari, to focus on expanding the frontiers for job creation through added activities in agriculture and manufacturing. Excerpts:

Buhari should focus on job creation, says Ajaero tion to address the challenges of electricity supply in the country and in particular, and in the immediate term, accelerate solution for industrial power needs. Once the power needs of the industries are addressed and the new government is able to create stability in the macroeconomic environment, the prospect for expanded industrial development and job creation is huge. The incoming administration must also be prepared to address income inequality and the widening gap between the poor and the rich through wage improvements and progressive tax administration. That is why the Central Working Committee has in this regard mandated the Minimum Wage Committee under the leadership of the Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu, to develop and send the proposal to the Federal Government and the Transition Committee.

What does the peaceful conclusion of the general elections hold for workers in the country? I wish to congratulate Nigerians for the successful conclusion of the general elections in the country. It is another quantum leap for our nascent democracy. You will notice that there has been a significant improvement in our desire to have a credible electoral process. We align with the position of the president-elect to hold electoral offenders accountable for their actions. All parties not satisfied with the outcome of the election should seek legitimate redress. Nigerians expect the president-elect to create jobs. We believe that there must be jobs first before we start to talk about the wage, whether it can take the worker home. You know that when the N18,000 minimum wage was agreed upon, the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar was in the region of N150 to $1 but today it is N210 or 197 to $1. So these are issues we think should be addressed as time goes by. Your colleagues have been talking of reconciliation after the NLC’s election crisis; are you also thinking along that direction? We have said it time and again that we are committed to the unity of the labour movement in Nigeria based on the principles of trade union independence, fairness, strong internal democracy, equity, solidarity, gender balance and justice. I wish to reiterate that the leadership of the congress under my watch is committed to genuine dialogue with independent reconciliation committee to be constituted by labour veterans and civil society leaders with a view to addressing the current challenges facing the Congress. The other group said they had put in place a reconciliatory committee and went ahead to invite us to attend. We said no, we won’t be part of that because you cannot sit as a judge in your own case. The same people who are in the committee are the people who contributed to the crisis. We have made our position known and that has not changed. The union had fought against casualisation of the workforce in this country but it seems employers of labour are not giving in. As we speak, there are indications that banks are planning another around of staff rationalisation to save cost. They might later outsource. What would be your response in the event of that? As they are planning to reduce staff and outsource, we are here perfecting strategies to counter them. We are battle ready. We have in place our anti-casualisation committee. We will fight against it with all our strength. In the build-up to the general elections, some of the state governors neglected the payment of staff salaries for politics. Some owe about four month’s salary arrears. What are you going to do about that? You notice that it backfired on most of them because they lost the election. Some of them have actually started paying, but we are going to take all of them together. We

One of the cardinal reasons why Nigerians are endeared to Buhari was his anti-corruption crusade in his two years as Nigeria’s military Head of State. What do you want him to do about the endemic corruption in the country? The president-elect must, immediately he assumes office on My 29, move against the huge corruption in the oil industry. I think the report by the Elumelu Committee should be revisited. I am saying this against the backdrop of my knowledge of the oil industry. The so called oil subsidy should be done away with. There should be a road map in place on how the country would achieve a sustainable stable power supply. It cannot be a one-off thing. We should stop the fire brigade approach to issues. A road map should be in place on the amount of megawatts of electricity the country will be adding to its capacity every year.

Ajaero

are not going to take them piecemeal. Every employer of labour must live up to his responsibility. So we will ensure that the state governors pay their workers. Do you support retention of the work of Bureau of Public Enterprises by the incoming administration? Of all the public companies and enterprises privatised by BPE, I am not sure that up to two per cent of them today are not under lock and key. We won’t take part in any activity involving BPE because it killed most of the thriving industries in the country. I think its activities should be looked into if this government is progressive. So, what are you expecting from Buhari’s administration? The motto of Nigeria Labour Congress is ‘Labour Creates Wealth.’ Given our visibility as creators of wealth, it is only fair and just that the distribution of wealth favours the working people. So our position to the transition council will center on the need to expand the frontiers for wealth generation and create a society that is founded on productivity, fairness, equity and justice. NLC urges the president-elect to focus on expanding the frontiers for job creation through value added activities in agriculture and industrial manufacturing. In this direction, he must muster the political will to confront the hydra-headed challenge of smuggling, electricity failure, faking and counterfeiting of made in Nigeria goods. Under his watch, we demand special atten-

It is only fair and just that the distribution of wealth favours the working people

One year after, the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents are still in captivity and are being remembered around the world. Do you have anything to say on that? We at the NLC share in the pain of the nation and in particular the parents of these innocent children who have suffered heavy psychological and physical trauma over the period. Mind you, these girls and many other young people abducted or killed by the Boko Haran militia are future workers of this country. So Boko Haram has attacked the future of Nigeria. It is for this reason that we are voicing a strong demand from President Goodluck Jonathan to do everything in his power to ensure the release of those girls before his handover on May 29. If for whatever reason he could not achieve that, we are calling on the president-elect to give this issue utmost priority within the first 30 days of assumption of office. We believe it is possible to salvage the situation and rise up to say never again will Nigerians feel insecure in their homes, markets, schools, communities, mosque, church, wherever they may be. But why is NLC making comment on this issue only one year after? It was the criminal silence of the past leadership of the union that made us lose our traditional space. Those groups that rose to champion the cause of the abducted Nigerian future workers had no history of protestation. We are happy with what they have done by keeping the hope alive. But like I said earlier, this is a bornagain NLC and we are recovering our space.

Business | Labour

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

TUC flays inability to unionise MTN, DSTV employees

l Condemns xenophobic attacks ABANDONED So many Nigerians have abandoned their investments and fled Stories by Sunday Ojeme

he leadership of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has deplored the failure of some South African companies in Nigeria to allow their workers register with trade unions. TUC, in a statement made available to New Telegraph, also condemned the ongoing xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa and anti-labour practices by South African-owned companies, saying that several efforts made to unionise the employees in MTN, DSTV and other South African companies in

the country had been futile. The statement signed by the Congress’ President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama and the Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, called on President Jacob Zuma to live up to his responsibility by taking all necessary steps to stop the dastardly act of stealing, killing and taking over of people’s properties in Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria. The statement said: “Perhaps we should also use this opportunity to let the world know that South Africanowned companies in Nigeria are anti-labour in their operations. Congress is aware of a number of Nigerian investors who went to invest in South Africa but ran back, abandoning acquired properties because they could not cope with their strict labour laws. “It is true that the government of South Africa and

those of other countries of the world have condemned the attacks, yet we demand that the government investigates and punishes those involved in accordance with the provisions of the law.” The Congress also supported the calls by prominent citizens for the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa to protect them and guard against further loss of lives. The Congress said: “Nigeria is a country that accommodates all and sundry, including South Africans and today, we see this rare opportunity being grossly abused by the likes of South Africa. They own several multibillion dollar investments on our soils, yet we co-exist despite all odds. The same people will come here to dehumanise Nigerians. Not anymore. This must stop! This sacrifice is becoming too grave to bear.”

Kaigama

PENGASSAN demands optimisation of oil sector for job creation

he Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said that optimisation of the oil and gas sector has the potential for limitless job creation opportunities that could make many Nigerians seeking greener pasture overseas to be engaged within the country. PENGASSAN, in a statement condemning the attacks of Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa, tasked government to create an enabling environment and opportunities for gainful employment to encourage Nigerians to remain in

L-R: Senior Area Sales Manager, Oriflame, Faten Toma; Country Manager, Oriflame Nigeria, Hanna Einarsson; Ms. Akande Abiola, Ms. Obianama Agatha and Ms. Lovelyn Akande (Independent Oriflame Consultants), in one of Oriflame’s entrepreneurial trainings in Lagos recently.

Pittsburgh workers strike for $15 minimum wage wo thousand workers work while the companies that cerned about the living condiflooded the streets of employ them pull mega-profits tions of their communities.” T Pittsburgh, Pa. on April 15 to from their struggle to survive. The thousand-strong, threedemand a raise of the minimum wage to $15/hour and a union for all. The action took place at 4:00pm in front of the Cathedral of Learning in the densely student-populated area of Oakland. Fast food workers, union organisers, health care workers, students, activists, adjunct professors and many others from various sectors of the working class came together on the national day of action after months of tireless organising around Pittsburgh and its neighboring communities to get the word out; working class people can not and will not, accept the meager wages they are given for their hard

Liberation News spoke with Ashona Osborne, local organiser and fast food worker, about why we, the workers, were on strike and the gravity of the action: “We are all out here for better wages and respect on the job. We have working women rising, we have high school people out here, we shut down Pitt campus today. We had teachers walk off ! We the people have the power and we are taking it back!” Joshua Orange, student and organiser, added: “We don’t want just a concrete ‘$15 and a union’ and that’s the end of the story, we want to create a society where people are legitimately and sincerely con-

mile body of workers proceeded to march, shutting down the bustling Forbes Avenue. Art, a Wendy’s employee, spoke with Liberation about why he continues to fight to end these crimes against the working class: “I’m fighting for $15 and a union because I have been working for near 30 years without a raise and no sick pay, no healthcare, no anything. I’m somewhat handicapped now for working so long and standing on my feet and I don’t get no appreciation out of, or from, the corporation. But I think we can do better if we just keep standing up for our right to fight! And that’s why I’m out here!”

the country, adding that checks should be put in place to reduce human and capital flights to other countries. The statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, PENGASSAN, Emmanuel Ojugbana, condemned the xenophobic attacks on migrants and called on the South African government to urgently end the attacks on foreigners. The union also urged the South African government to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime that had led to the death of many foreigners in South Africa are brought to book.

More construction workers strike in Russia S

everal more construction workers at Russia’s beleaguered Vostochny Cosmodrome are refusing to work until they are paid their salaries for the past four months, radio station Govorit Moskva reported Sunday. The Moscow Times reports that Vostochny Cosmodrome, which is planned to be Russia’s main launch site for its space industry, has been plagued by delays and corruption scandals. Earlier this month, Russian media reported that 26 workers at the site were going on hunger strike as about 200 were owed a total of some 14 million rubles ($270,000) in wages. Govorit Moskva quoted a striker identified only by his first name, Yury, as saying that 40 construction workers had received only 10,000 rubles ($200) since the beginning of the year. Deputy Prime Minister,

Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees space, defense and Arctic issues, visited the facility this month to assure workers that he would improve their working conditions. Unpaid workers at the facility, which is scheduled to be completed by December, appealed to President Vladimir Putin last week by painting a message for help on the roofs of their living quarters. Putin said during his annually televised call-in show last week that he was taking the issue under his personal control. Russian authorities are set to investigate the subcontractors working at the cosmodrome, including whether they are complying with labor laws, state news agency TASS reported Sunday. Under Russian law, workers whose salaries have not been paid for more than 15 days have the right to stop working until they are compensated.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Rice farming, processing viable –Aondokaa p.34

Agric

Doubt over success of cassava bread policy UNCERTAINTY High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) still in shortfall Stories by Dele Alao

s the present administration gradually comes to a halt on May29, 2015, there are indications that its muchtouted cassava bread policy may suffer a setback. According to findings, besides lack of enough awareness on the cassava bread, stakeholders are complaining of poor High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF), a major component of the cassava bread. Though, Director-General,

Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Mrs. Gloria Elemo, said that the institute had trained several bakers and millers on cassava bread, further checks showed that there are not enough HQCF, even at FIIRO. Bakers in Lagos recently reviewed the development in the cassava bread policy of the Federal Government and expressed further fear on the desirability and viability of the policy The bakers said that the 20 per cent inclusion of cassava in bread production was becoming difficult due to many constraints. Chairman, Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, Mr. Jacob Adejorin, was quoted as saying, among others, that

short shelf life, substandard cassava flour, lack of training and equipment for production, among others, are constraints facing the policy. The chairman, who noted that the policy was good but had been difficult to get quality cassava flour, said: “For now, the only place you can get cassava is around Oyo State and even there, not many people are aware of cassava bread, neither are the bakers trained in it. Until there is that high quality cassava flour, the ones we have around have very low shelf life. This means that the bread made with it does not last long before it starts to go sour.” It would be recalled that late last year, the Federal Government launched the first commercial 10 per cent

composite cassava flour products in the country. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Adesina Akinwumi, said at the launch that government’s goal was to ensure that Nigeria becomes the largest cassava processor as it has occupied the position of the largest producer of the commodity in the world. “We are gathered to launch the first commercial 10 per cent

composite cassava flour product, from Nigeria’s number 1 and number 2 flour millers, Flour Mills of Nigeria and Honeywell, and to commission equipments that will enable our bakers raise the bar of inclusion to 20 per cent and beyond,” Adesina said. As it were, experts are of the strong opinion that it would take a strong political will on the part of in-coming administration to see the policy through.

Ogun farmers set to increase crops

armers in Ogun State under the aegis of All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), have expressed desire to increase investment in agricultural production in both food and cash crops. This is against the backdrop of the proposed public-private partnership agreement (PPP) on cargo-bound rail line network construction announced by Senator Ibikunle Amosun at the commencement of his second term. With the state government’s proposal on cargo-bound rail line network, especially at the rural areas across the state, farmers are confident of more profits on the capital invested in agricultural production as major bottlenecks, including little or non-accessibility to markets and little or no bargaining power, among other economic factors, would be removed.

Governor Amosun had, during his meeting with the management of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) led by its chairman, Cao Boagang, in Abeokuta, sought the partnership of private companies on construction of light rail network for the movement of agricultural produce from farmlands to markets in and out of the state. The governor said: “We are introducing light rail that will aid mass movement of goods without putting pressure on the roads we have constructed. We will be more than willing to partner with any organisation in achieving our light rail, Olokola Free Trade Zone, airport and city centers, among other projects. These companies are also expected to help us in capacity building by introducing our people to modern techniques and tools.”

Agricultural Commodity Prices – Grains

Cassava farm. Inset: Cassava bread

he Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), has called on the Federal Government to develop modern industrial catalytic centres across the six geo-political zones of the country for the production and packaging of consumer goods that can compete globally. In addition, the Institute urged the Federal Government to ensure that capacity in entrepreneurship and packaging is strengthened by reviewing the training curriculum to be all-inclusive, effective and justifiable through the instrumentality of the Federal Ministry of Education. These were part of the recommendations contained in a communiqué issued at the Institute’s Investment and Technology Week, with the theme: “Sustainable job creation through FIIRO technologies,” which drew over 2,000 participants from government

FIIRO tasks FG on creation of consumer goods centres ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the organised private sector, investors, the academia, youth organisations, students, beneficiaries of FIIRO-developed technologies, development partners and financial Institutions, among others. President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by his vice, Muhammed Namadi Sambo, declared open the event, held at the premises of the Institute. Stakeholders at the forum unanimously agreed that all research institutions should strengthen their relationship with manufacturing industries and improve on Public-Private Partnership (PPP). “The country’s legal framework on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is weak

and should be strengthened with enabling Acts from the National Assembly, while the Federal Government should facilitate training programmes in skill acquisition and capacity building in IPR. “The National Research Innovation Council (NIRC) should ensure that revised Science & Technology Innovation (STI) policies are fully implemented. This should also guarantee proper and adequate funding of R & D,” the communiqué read. The Investment and Technology week was originally conceived in partial fulfillment of the Institute’s mandate, which is to find utilisation for the nation’s raw materials and to upgrade indigenous production techniques.

Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat Spring Wheat

Price 504-6 374-0 976-4 316.9 31.85 260-4 10.150 516-4 547-4

Change -3-4 -1-0 -8-0 -2.5 -0.18 +0-2 +0.100 -5-0 -5-2

Contract May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15

Time(ET) 09:35 09:35 09:35 09:35 09:35 09:22 09:35 09:35 09:35

Price 63.24 114.40 145.00 12.68 2820 24.45 1.4565 0.1241 2775.00 0.6263 250.90

Change -0.21 -0.50 +3.70 +0.24 -7 +0.04 +0.0295 -0.0028 -5.00 -0.0041 +6.90

Contract May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 Jul 15 Jul 15 May 15 Jul 15 May 15 May 15

Time(ET) 09:35 09:29 09:34 09:36 09:23 09:28 09:02 04/21/15 04/21/15 04/21/15 09:35

Price 146.950 207.200 71.350

Change Jun 15 May 15 May 15

Contract -0.775 -0.875 -1.200

Time(ET) 09:36 09:36 09:35

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

Meats Commodity Live Cattle Feeder Cattle Lean Hogs

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

Business | Agric

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rice farming, processing viable –Aondokaa Rice production in Nigeria has witnessed a significant increase in the last four years as a result of the introduction of technologies which have changed the processes involved in the cultivation and management of rice. Chairman MIKAP Nigeria Ltd, owners of MIVA rice, Mike Aondokaa, said that rice farming/processing is more challenging even as it is economically viable than other forms of occupation. He spoke with Yusuf Shuaib May we know the brain behind MIKAP Nigeria Limited? My name is Mike Aondokaa, chairman of MIKAP Nigeria Limited, owners of MIVA Rice processing company. I am also the Secretary, Rice Processors Association and former Attorney-General of the Federation. I have been a rice farmer for quite a number of years in the verdant area of Benue State. I am considered by many local farmers around Benue State to be an expert in rice production, milling and processing. Through passion and dedication, I have become successful in my farming venture before setting up MIKAP rice processing plant in Makurdi, Benue State. What is your view about the Federal Government agric policy? The Federal Government’s agricultural policy is excellent. But the major challenges are the inputs to support agriculture especially on the rice value chain and essentially some of the things like the feeder roads, bridges and major culvets that ought to have been done by the third-tier of government if they were functioning properly are not there. That makes it more challenging having access for easy evacuation of farm produce and movement of vehicles and tractors to and fro the farms. Sometimes you have very good lands that are good for rice cultivatation, but the bridges are not there and getting in or out of the farms become very difficult, because sometimes vehicles come and get stalked at some point and you begin to look for motorcycle to evacuate your farm produce from that point and that is very challenging. I am not talking politics at this point, but we have an excellent agricultural policy rolled out in line with the Federal Government’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that has been quite beneficial to the agricultural sector. The government has carried all the relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector into consideration in formulating the policy in the rice sector, and as the secretary of the rice processers association, there cannot be a complete rice value chain if there is no processor because paddy alone does not make meaning, it is when you process it that it becomes rice. From the farmers it is paddy and the processer adds value by processing, packaging and marketing it for them. What was the headache before now? The headache before now was the long term finance, but part of the problem has been solved by the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. Before now, agriculture was done as a subsistent farming, but for me who comes from the North and do not have oil, what we have is to turn our good soil into a profitable agricultural venture and we are making effort to introduce irrigation farming that will give better agricultural yield following our favorable high water table and drilling of boreholes systems and the way we control the water, fertilizer and other farm im-

Elephant group, Coscharis and others coming in, the local rice processors are happy because, by the time the big time players invest in local rice production, the smaller ones are sure of getting the protection that will stabilise the prices of local rice and the huge investment coming from this groups in the near future, say three years from now, rice importation will be a thing of the past. What we are doing now is to produce rice that is competitive, and our association is trying to make our rice more equal to the same rice that people import. If you go to my mill now, what you see is of higher quality compared to what is brought from abroad. In fact, when the US ambassador visited our rice company on April 8, 2014, he was surprised to see that our rice is of the highest quality.

Aondokaa

putes. With two or three boreholes a farmer can cover two hectre farm just as rice require only 90 days to grow and harvest and in three months’ time a farmer would have cultivated up to 3 times a year, and if a farmer does his homework well, with N200,000 to N300,000 a farmer can sink up to three borehole with at least N1 million instead of depending on the rain, which is periodical.

The headache before now was the long term finance, but part of the problem has been solved

What are the other challenges? Another challenging or worrisome aspect of the business is the issue of inadequate power supply that is forcing us to continuously generator. That is one of the challenges killing us in terms of power management, and sometime power people give you light and before you know it is gone, and by so doing it crashes your electric motors and some time with power fluctuation you will notice a gap that when you put on your machine, one line is not having enough power and most of the machines are three-phase powered machine. When there is inadequate power on one phase the machine won’t work and these can cause more damage to the electric motors and some electric parts due to the power instability. For the machines to be running consistently, we spend a lot on diesel; for the machines to be running we need a total of 1000MW, 500KVA, 250KVA and another 250 KVA and all of them are synchronised to be on at the same time for the machines to work, the idea of the machines being in segment is that when some parts of the machines are not working, you use the later one just to minimise cost. Also note that when all machines are working simultaneously, in less than three weeks 33,000 litre’s of diesel is consumed and that is the biggest headache we have. What is the percentage of government support to MIKAP? The support received from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, especially the Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, in local rice processing has been tremendous, following his encouragement to rice farmers. When we first came in here four years ago, there were only four rice mills in the country namely: Umza in Kano, Aboni Agro in Ebonyi State, Miva rice owned by MIKAP Nigeria Limited in Benue State and Achi rice in Maiduguri, but the support we have received from the minister, especially now that there are close to 24 local rice millers in the country, is excellent, but with the big time rice player like Dangote Group, Bua, Honeywell,

But, what is your production capacity as at today? The factory produces 8.5 tons of rice per hour, because we are having two lines and the first line is 2.5 tons and the second line is six tons and they are both running now as we talk; combined production, we run three shifts of eight hours each and when you multiply that, you will find out that it is a huge market. So, 8.5 tons multiplied by 24 hours will give you 204 tons per day and if multiplied by 300 days with the exception of the shut-down periods, it will sum up to 62,200 metric tons annually and if we are selling that just at the rate of N8,000 multiplied by 20 bags of 50kg per tons will give you N9,792 billion, that is the income you will make in a year. We are hoping that our supplies will continue to increase as the big players are coming into the industry and the supply gap will be closed up in two to three years in other to stop rice importation, because our consumption of imported rice is amounting to $1.4 billion dollars annually. Does your company have a research unit? Yes, we have a research unit and it is one of the best in the country. Not only research, we organise training for the local farmers with the aim to establish a strong farm clusters and luckily for us, the government, the United States Aid, came to give us support and that support has been enormous. They signed an agreement with us to train the farmers as part of their support, and that is the reason why the US ambassador was here to talk to the farmers directly, following their investment of 70 per cent in the scheme and I (MIKAP) invest 30 per cent; for now we have 225 farm clusters that is constituted into cooperative groups. Apart from your group, how many individuals are participating? The total number of individual farmers participating are 1000 from Benue, and now we have extended to Cross Rivers, hoping that if the fight in Taraba stops we shall be extending to that end. This farmer groups are not having large farms, but they are having one, two or three hectres, and our reason for training them is to increase their production out puts per hectre, before we came in all the rice that were produced were not quality rice, but US aid and MICA came in and introduced better rice seedlings, fertilizer and other farm inputs, which they all received very well and because of that reception the issue of low quality is no longer there, however, that training gave them sound knowledge and the support is not by government but US, MICA and state government paid 70 per cent of the training fees, including transportation and feeding of the farmers anytime they come for the training, which is done once a month and we have been running the training since 2011 till date. That apart, we have a very sound research group made up of professors of Agric Economist and Agronomy’s who are engaged by MIKAP and US aid as trainers and, of cause, we made BENADA who have the reservoir of the experts that were idle as the facilitators of the training programme, very soon we would be launching the 2015 agreement. It is a big cost on my side, but what can I do? The only better thing is that the Federal Government incentive that comes to us is what is alleviating the huge investment we are doing in the training programme.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Auto Beat

Chinese automakers eyes Lagos

Paul Ogbuokiri

hina’s leading auto maker, Guangzhou Automobile Company (GAC), in conjunction with its representative in Nigeria, CIG Motors, said it would soon commence the assembly of its vehicles in Lagos. The company in a recent statement in Lagos said a preliminary inspection was carried out on March 19, 2015 at the proposed site of the assembly plant in Victoria Island. Leading a high-level team for the inspection exercise was the Director of Policy and Planning, National Automotive Council (NAC), Mr. Luqman Mamudu, who commended the efforts of CIG Motors towards establishing an assembling plant. The team also included Engr. Joke Oniteri, also of NAC,

and an official of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The officials of Nigeria’s regulatory agencies were received at the GAC assembly project site by members of the management of CIG Motors led by the Administration Director, Mr. Felix Lee. Though the vehicle is yet to be certified fit for Nigerian roads, CIG recently set up an auto facility in Victoria Island, Lagos, to offer after sells services customers of GAC models, the site is also to be used for auto assembling. CIG Motors is the sole authorized distributor of the GAC brand of vehicles in Nigeria Though GAC vehicles remain relatively unknown in Nigeria, CIG says

from the headquarters of its parent company (Choice International) in Guangzhou city, CIG Motors said has operated in Nigeria for about 17 years, marketing the Lontor brand of products, gaining managerial experience and understanding what the Nigerian market needs. Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. was founded in 1997, and in 2005 became a holding of Guangzhou Automobile Industry group, and a joint-stock company. GAC is one of the top five biggest Chinese automobile manufacturers with their headquarters in Guangzhou China. Its world class factory was finished in September 2010, manufacturing 100,000 vehicles and accessories annu-

ally. The highpoints of the GAC brand of vehicles leading power and energy saving technology. The front double wishbone and rear 7-link chassis technology, for instance, is comparable with high end luxury models. GAC Motor vehicles have exceptional features that cut across safety and elegant design. Distinctive features like the integral front grille with flying wings, a roomy and sleek meticulous interior design along with a paramount exterior dimensioning. There are other selling points like the efficient fuel consumption of the engines, intelligent technology with high tech active and passive safety features.

Selling point of new BMW 3 Series

he BMW’s best-selling model since its debut in May 1975, the 3 Series is not just the brand’s best-selling model, accounting for more than one quarter of its annual total car sales, but also one that has won numerous awards throughout its history. The compact executive car which has been produced in six different generations and many different body styles, was rated very high by the US Today in its recent Upscale Small Cars ranking. This ranking is based on its analysis of published reviews and test drives of the BMW 3-Series, as well as reliability and safety data. One of the factors in favour of the 3 Series, especially the current (2015) model, is the exceptional handling, potent acceleration and high-end comfort. This is among the many qualities that make the 3 Series tick, as contained in a press release issued by the BMW national sales company in Nigeria, Coscharis Motors Limited. Options The BMW 3 series combines the joy of driving and practicality needed for daily use, ranging from the BMW 3 series Sedan, BMW Touring and BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, to the 3 Series Convertible. The BMW Hybrid 3 represents the next generation of hybrid vehicles, while the M3 sedan is a high-performance sports car that promises unadulterated driving pleasure with its 431hp. Exterior design The exterior design systematically continues the design tradition and features of the BMW brand. The sportingly elegant exterior of the sedan creates the effect of coming from a single mould and conveys aesthetic appeal and dynamic poise at first sight. Even in its sixth-generation, it is the most frequently sold BMW in the world while it sets standards. Interior Design The BMW 3 Series Sedan impresses with its high-quality selection of materials. It tickles the driver with classical drive guidance and creates a cockpit feeling. The skilful space design gives optimum access to all the important control functions of the instrument display.

L-R: Dealer Development Manager, Ovisidd; Head of Sales & Marketing Hyundai Motors Nigeria, Jatin Nadkami; Chairman Enebros Motors Limited, Elder Enefiok T.Udhoh; Managing Director, Enebros Motors Limited, Anietie Udoh and Regional Manager, Hyundai Motors Nigeria, Jill Johnny at the inauguration of the dealership center in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State recently

Hyundai Motors inaugurates new dealer in Uyo

yundai Motors Nigeria Limited has expanded its dealership with the appointment of Uyo based vending and aftermarket shop, Enebros Motors Limited as the company’s fifth agent including Warri, Abakaliki, and two dealerships in Lagos. Experienced Enebros Motors will cater for the growing Hyundai clientele in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and provide sales and technical support to teeming customers in neighbouring Oron, Eket and other Niger Delta communities. Inaugurating the dealership at a signon ceremony in Uyo recently, Hyundai Motors Nigeria head of sales and marketing Jatin Nadkarni said the investiture was in line with Hyundai business expansion plan to guarantee seamless access to valued automobile products and services with the provision of higher level customer satisfaction and enhanced hospitality. He urged the dealer to embrace Hyundai’s global vision of ‘Life time partner in automobiles and beyond’ by moving one step closer to customers and extending its role beyond being a simple sales and service shop to become customers’ lifetime companion.

“It isn’t enough to be Hyundai certified dealer but you must be constantly focused and embrace the brand best practice for high level performance,” Mr. Nadkarni cautioned. While also encouraging the new dealer to value the basic principle of maintenance and improvement as standard ways of working throughout an organization, Mr. Nadkarni said: “Our aim is to provide customers with best-in-class products and services and look forward to a long lasting and successful association.” He said Hyundai recognizes the importance and impact of automobiles on society and mankind, adding “One of the chief goals of situating dealerships close to targeted market is to help customers experience high level customer care that exceeds their expectations when they either purchase a vehicle or bring their existing vehicles for maintenance.” In his response, Enebros Motors Limited Chairman, Elder Enefiok Udoh applauded Hyundai Motors’ resilience and decisive response to her request for representation in the Niger Delta, pledging allegiance to industry best practice and create exceptional awareness for Hyun-

dai products and services in the fledging Akwa Ibom market. Elder Udoh also promised to provide efficient after sales facility for existing customers in Uyo, Oron and Eket, remarking “we discovered in our survey that most customers who drive Hyundai vehicles here and in neighbouring communities are confronted with challenges of after sales and in most cases, they travel all the way to Port-Harcourt or Calabar for mere servicing but now that we are here we can bridge the gap.” With more than three decades experience, Enebros Motors seeks to put smiles on the faces of existing Hyundai owners while also making procurement of new vehicle a seamless experience, Elder Udoh assured. “We are ready to collaborate with Hyundai Motors to develop a local brand that could in future place Nigeria on the global map of technologically inclined, He said.” He described Hyundai as stylish and attractive vehicles that would endear upwardly mobile executives in the oil companies while its entry level segment cars would appeal to the formal sector including government parastatals.

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Photo | News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

L-R: Chairman, Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), Alhaji Abdulmumimni Kundak; Secretary to Bauchi State Government, Alhaji Mahmud Maijamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;a; Governor Isa Yuguda and Bauchi State Head of Civil Service, Mr. Abdon Gin, during the governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s farewell address to the state senior civil servants in Bauchi. A cross-section of the members of Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), protesting at the South African Embassy in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri; Director-General, Institute For Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Prof. Oshita Oshita and Prof. Austine Ikelegbe, at a Peace and Security meeting on the review of the National Peace Policy in Abuja.

L-R: General Manager, Corporate Services, Nigeria Stock Exchange, Mr. Bola Adeeko; Convener, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, Ms. Margareth Adetutu; Chairman, Prof. Pat Utomi and Group Managing Director/CEO, MTI Plc, Dr. Nocike Agokei, at the National Cancer week briefing in Lagos.

Adamawa Deputy Governor-elect, Mr. Martins Babale (left) with the Gangwari of Ganye, Alhaji Umaru Sanda, during his visit to Sanda for royal blessing in Ganye LGA.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Adebayo Foluso; Commissioner, Mr. Toyin Ayinde and Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on Information, Mr. Lateef Raji, at a news conference on the activities of the ministry in Lagos

Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, presenting a dummy cheque and a trophy to the first winner of 2015 edition of Spelling Bee competition, Tijani Boluwatife, in Lagos.

Oyo State Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Innocent Akatu (right), parading some suspected child traffickers after a press conference in Ibadan. PHOTO-NAN

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Islam UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

Umrah in Rajab: Settling the Controversy QUESTION As-salamu àlaykum. Is it right to perform Umrah in the month of Rajab? ANSWER Wa àlaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 3. It is not authentically narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed Ùmrah in Rajab. There is only one narration on the authority of ibn Ùmar in which he holds the view that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at one time performed Ùmrah in Rajab; this narration is rejected by scholars as well as by À’ishah, Mother of the Believers, (may Allah be pleased with her). In this concern, Ùrwah ibn Az-Zubayr reported, “I and ibn Ùmar were reclining against (the wall of) the dwelling place of À’ishah, and at that time, we heard the sound of cleaning her teeth with siwak. I said, “O abu Àbdur-Rahman (ibn Ùmar’s nickname), did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) perform Ùmrah in Rajab?” He replied in the affirmative. So I said,“O Mother of the Believers, do you not hear what abu Àbdur-Rahman is saying?” She said, “What is he saying?” I said,“He is saying that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (once) performed Ùmrah in Rajab.” À’ishah said, “May Allah be merciful to abu Àbdur-Rahman! By my religion, the Prophet never performed Ùmrah in Rajab, and he did not perform Ùmrah except when I was with him.” Ibn Ùmar heard this and said nothing to deny or affirm it, but remained silent.” 4. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is not reported to have said any hadith concerning a certain reward for performing Ùmrah in Rajab, but he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Ùmrah in Ramadan is equal to Hajj (in reward).” (AlBukhari and Muslim) 5. No one should specify certain times for performing certain acts of worship as long as this is not specified in the Shariàh. This is because there is no excellence in performing an act of worship at a certain time over performing it at another time except when this is defined by the Shariàh. That is, the Shariàh may define a specific act of worship to be done at a particular time, or it may state that doing any act of worship at a certain time would have more reward than at any other time. 6. It is allowable to perform Ùmrah in Rajab the same as it is allowable throughout the whole year but without the intention of performing it only in Rajab, as performing Ùmrah has a great reward when performed at any time throughout the whole year. Finally, a Muslim is in need of performing acts of worship in all the Sacred Months, and Rajab is undoubtedly one of them.

Allah Almighty knows best.

E X H O RTATI O N

05 Rajab 1436 AH

“O mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you should despise one another). Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most righteous.” (Qur’an 49, Verse 13)

Pilgrims to pay more for 2015 Hajj operations

lNAHCON mulls fares increase over naira devaluation SELECTION Gombe State announces N700, 000 fares as other states commence balloting for intending pilgrims Adeola Yusuf

he intending pilgrims for 2015 Hajj operations will pay more as the devaluation of naira, Nigeria’s unit of exchange, against the dollar has jerked up fares to the holy land, New Telegraph has gathered. Findings at the the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), revealed that it is already consulting with stakeholders over the fares, which will be announced soon. Naira, which was around N160 to a dollar during the operations last year, is now selling around N200 to a dollar. A source at NAHCON told our correspondent that the fall in naira value is a major determinant of the fares for Hajj operation. He ruled out the possibility of the commission calling on the federal government to subsidy the operations, adding that the NAHCON had always been at the fore-front of advocacy for the federal government to hand off sponsorship of pilgrims to holy land. He however added: “The commission is not in a position to stop the pilgrims’ welfare boards of states from securing subsidy from their various state governments if there are so wished. The NAHCON’s responsibility is to make recom-

mendations to them.” Meanwhile, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards in states across the country have begun the balloting for intending pilgrims, while waiting on NAHCON for the announcement of the fares. The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Usman Gurama, who confirmed this, maintained that his board had already commenced the distributions of bank tellers for the intending pilgrims to start depositing the sum of N700, 000. “We are collecting a deposit

of N700, 000 pending when the federal government will announce the fee for the 2015 Hajj, then we will consider what we collected. “If it is okay, fine, if it is short, then the intending pilgrims will fill the gap and if it is more, then we will return what is on top to them,” he said. The remaining seats, he said, would be given out to those who qualify through the balloting system on tomorrow Saturday. Gurama said the board had offered automatic seats to 506 intending pilgrims out of the

1,934 allocated to the state for the exercise. He said that those who got the automatic tickets were declared qualified after the screening exercise of 2014 but were unable to get the slots. The board had promised to give them slots in this year’s exercise without undergoing another screening. “We resolved last year that since the seats were not enough and the people were many, we promised to start with them this year. “We have gone round to all the local government areas in the state and distributed the bank teller to them,” he said.

L-R: Chairman, Ibadan Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Oyero; Secretary to Oyo State Government, Mr Ismail Olalekan-Alli; Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Oyelade, at the 8th day Fidau prayer for the late Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Busari Haruna I11 in Ibadan …yesterday

Apprehension heightens in Yobe as govt suspends Imam

alpable tension has risen in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, over the indefinite suspension of Chief Imam of the Aljazeera Mosque, Malam Abubakar Ciroma, by the state government. The gover nment announced the sacking of Ciroma in a letter signed by the state’s Commissioner of Religious Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Jauro Gwio-Kura, noting that the Imam was suspended for violating the preaching ethics. Jauro Gwio-Kura who later confirmed the suspen-

sion, stated that the imam was suspended to allow peace reign in the state. He said: “Yes, I signed the letter for his indefinite suspension because this is the third time he is violating the preaching ethics. We warned him but he still did it this time around. That is why we suspended him to allow peace reign in the state.” One of the Imams of the mosque, Dr. Tukur Alhaji Musa, who acknowledged the receipt of the letter however raised the alarm over the sudden disappearance Chiroma adding that all efforts to trace

him had been unsuccessful. He told newsmen that the mosque had contacted all the security agencies over Ciroma’s disappearance. “We contacted all security formations in the state, but they all denied knowledge of his whereabouts,” he said. Before the disappearance of Ciroma, Musa said, a letter was sent to them about his indefinite suspension as imam and preacher. The letter, he confirmed, was signed by Jauro Gwio-Kura. “The letter which was sent to us was copied to the SSS, police, and the JTF,” he said.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Press Affairs, Malam Abdullahi Bego, however denied knowledge of the Imam disappearance. Gover nor Gaidam, he said, was not aware of the arrest of Chiroma by security agents. “As everyone is aware, the governor does not control the security agencies operating in the state nor are they obliged to report to him or seek his permission before carrying out their routine operations and assignments”, he said.

Feminique NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Salami: Making shopping, cooking so easy When in 2005, Saudat Salami started Easyshop Easycook Services Ltd with N25,000, little did she know she will be controlling a mega business in 10 years. Chatting with EBERE AMEH in her office recently, the Goldman Sach awardee said among other things, the problem with Nigerian women and unemployed is that they discount jobs a lot. Excerpts

espite having a thriving career in technology, Saudat Salami has always known that she will one day have something to do with food, especially fruits and vegetables. But leaving her job as an IT manager in a flourishing IT firm to go into the business of shopping for working moms was something many, could not comprehend. “I have always loved nature – the smell of vegetables and fruits. I wasn’t planning to be a farmer, even though I would like to see and know how they grow; neither would I survive as a caterer; but I knew that one way or the other, I will have something to do with food. So when this idea came up, I was at peace with it but many could not fathom how I could switch from my blossoming IT career to buying and selling pepper. If I had listened to people, I wouldn’t have started the business at all,” Saudat explained. Easyshop Easycook Services Limited is a customized domestic outsource company that supplies quality fresh foodstuffs to private homes, corporate organizations and restaurants. Starting off in a room in her apartment in Lagos, the company, which now has customers in major cities across Nigeria and overseas, Easy shop has moved into a bungalow with plans underway to build an office complex with butchery, cold room, packaging and other departments. “My husband was generous enough to give me a space at home - one of the bedrooms to start with. Initially, when you want to leave a flourishing IT career to start selling pepper, there is that worry and dissuasion, but he just let me so that there will be peace in the house. “Initially, we bought directly from Mile 12 market, but now we are getting bigger and are having

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

traceability, quality and price issues and so we buy directly from farms. “Before food gets from the farm to the market, the price has gone up from about 100 to 200 per cent . I need to save that money for my customer. In as much as so many of them go to Shoprite and Goodies to shop, when they are buying from me, they don’t expect me to give them that price. They expect me to get the highest quality at the cheapest price. I also want to do that and so I increase my capacity so I could buy directly from the farm,” Saudat explained. Now a flourishing business, Easy shop started with an honest gist with a friend where they were enumerating the travails of the career woman and the need for an outsourcing service that will take care of all their worries. In one of her certification projects where she was expected to develop an app, she did build one for shopping for working moms and that spurred her to try the business. Because there were no company doing it then, she had to do a research - sending out questionnaires to bankers and other career women to find out if they would patronise such a service if established. “Women have to be managers, they have to be politicians but the problem is that in our tradition, the woman makes over 90 per cent of the domestic decisions and by the time she leaves home to go face her career, there is a gap. So we try to find a way to help the woman to work without feeling guilty that she is a bad mother or a bad wife or a bad homemaker. What can make it easier for her to travel for business and still have food at home.” Talking about those years of small beginnings, Saudat said that several times, she wanted to quit but for the support and encouragement her Chattered Accountant husband who is now a part time staff of the company gave her. “My sister is my first customer and now I can’t count my customers. The first time I had a turnover of hundred thousand, I was so excited. My husband is still reminding me of how I was jumping the year I made N300,000 profit. Today we have gone so far.” Winning the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Scholarship Initiative afforded her the opportunity to participate in the Goldman

Sachs Women Enterprise and Leadership Programme in the Pan African University, Lagos; an opportunity that gave her the leap and transformed her business. “I did a five months entrepreneurial course with the Fate Foundations but when I got the Goldman Sachs scholarship to run a Certificate in Entrepreneural Management (CEM) at the Pan African University, it was like Fate Foundation on steroids, like 300 per cent of what we learnt in Fate Foundation with real life issues one can relate with. There were many times in class that I would be overwhelmed and cried. It was five months of explosion.” Despite the progress, Saudat still faces some challenges but is more prepared now than before to handle them. “The challenges I faced when I started are the challenges I still face now. The difference is that my attitude to them is no longer the same and I’m more prepared for the challenges. Access to fund is still a problem and electricity is still a very big challenge.” As with every new thing, there were times she felt like throwing in the towel. Those were the times she had to practically beg to be patronised. But her tenacity paid off even as she stresses the importance of keeping ones’ books and training. “Initially, I practically begged people to shop for them. Many scorned me. What kept me were the simple reasons that first, I was transparent - with the help of my husband, my books were in order. Second, I was too ashamed to fail. If I had envisaged the stress, I wouldn’t have gone into it. But I thank God for our loyal customers that have been with us for years. There are some people whose whole family is here with us. Generations are here. We get orders from abroad to shop for family members and we supply to cities outside Lagos.” On women who are either unemployed or not satisfied with their jobs, Saudat advised that Nigerians should stop discounting jobs. “The problem is we discount things in Nigeria, we devalue things a lot. If I listened to 90 per cent

My husband was generous enough to give me a space at home - one of the bedrooms to start with

of people, I wouldn’t have done this business. But I was stubborn and I had no choice than to make it work. Some men are creative but are discounting carpentry and plumbing work forgetting that one cannot build a house without a toilet. We can’t do without carpenters and welders. We are unemployed today because people are discounting these kinds of jobs. The day we stop doing that is the day we start creating jobs in Nigeria,” Saudat noted.

Feminique

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

The 10 absolute marriage commandments

hese commandments are both for the newly wed and those celebrating their diamond, silver or any other wedding anniversary. Hopefully, your marriage is not by contract but based on genuine love for each other. Although, this piece is for both to be candid, more men are at fault for not keeping to the 10 commandments than women. Whilst the responsibility of a successful marriage rests on four shoulders, it is definitely not 50/50. In fact, it should not be. It is shared, but the man has a much bigger role to play. So men, please pay particular attention. Marriage, just like love is not something you acquire or plant and forget about. Just like any plant, you must learn to keep on watering it and nourishing it, in order to get the best out of it. It is very tempting to put it in the back burner because of the pressure of day to day living. Whilst every marriage is uniqueas we are all different- nevertheless, there are some basic marriage commandments. These commandments will definitely deepen your love for one another and save your marriage from collapsing or ending up in divorce. Here they are. Thou Shalt Be Honest. Try as much as possible not to tell lies. Not even

what we call white lies or diplomatic lies. What this means is that you should always avoid situations that will force you to lie to your spouse. Thou Shalt Find Balance. Always ensure you find quality time with your spouse and family. No matter how busy you are. Thou Shalt Show Respect. Every individual demands respect in a marriage. Do not demean or get physical with your spouse. Especially in public. Don’t hurl abuses at each other or always allow third parties to resolve your fights. Believe it or not, 90 per cent of them are for the show and the tory they will knack after about the two of you. Thou Shalt Be Loving. You see, it is not being in love and expecting your spouse to know you are in love. You must show it all the time. And it does not have to be expensive. You don’t need expensive gifts such as clothes, jewelry etc to shoe you are in love if you cannot afford them. In fact, doing that is counter productive because it means you are trying to buy love. Hugging, kissing, being appreciative goes a longer way than all those star studded gifts. Pleasant memories definitely last longer than the most expensive gifts. But if you can afford them, go ahead and do so. They will be like the icing on a cake.

situations like that occur, something is wrong somewhere. Either at the beginning or along the line. Display of love is never too much. Thou Shalt Be Loyal. By the time you decided to get married, I believe you must have finished sowing all your wild oats. There should be no cause for extramarital affairs from both sides. Don’t give your spouse an excuse to start playing away matches. Unfortunately, a lot of women believe very wrongly that all men are the same. We must all have girlfriends outside the matrimonial homes. With this mindset they refuse to put in their best into the marriage. Although, I must confess that some of us men are quite incorrigible. We are like the he goat. We chase anything with two legs and a skirt. A beg not all of us o!!

Fadeyi

Don’t be stingy with your love physically, emotionally or materially. I have heard from a lot of men who believe wrongly that an open display of love is not good for the marriage. They will tell you that it will get into her head and she would start misbehaving. I definitely know that is not true. Where

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

Tobi, between dad and step-father Ebere Ameh

om doesn’t even know that their fear that Danny may be Osu (outcast) is not my main problem. What bothers me more is the fact that he is still legally married and I want him. I won’t lose him for the whole world. Having gone through divorce, I know how it feels. I need to encourage and guide him. But that did not discountenance my parent’s fears. But I maintain my stand; no matter who he is, I love him and I will marry him. After all, Segun, who is not only a freeborn but of a royal family almost sent me to an early grave. Possibly because I am one step to becoming officially his, Danny bumps in without notice. That was what he did on Thursday with the excuse that he came around the neighbourhood and decided to check on us. Daaaany! I called in disbelief. “Just tell me that you are using that as a pretex for leaving here late yesterday and coming back again today,” I teased. “Actually, you are right. The point is I’m so lonely in my house. I start missing you immediately you leave. Ego, he said, drawing me close to his chest, “You are driving me crazy. Why not move in with me? I can buy or rent another place where nobody will come to hurt you.” he said. The fact is that he doesn’t know that I miss him more. But I have to prove that I’m not the one running after him. Not now that Sam, his brother came visiting. Though I have a good rapport with him, I need to keep a little distance so I could be missed. My little prank worked, I thought to myself smiling. Kudos to me!

“Why are you smiling,” Danny asked. Is that a yes to my request?” he asked, ready to celebrate. “No, you know I can’t say yes to that. First things first, you know. After the visit to your parents next week, we need to begin the divorce proceedings. I also suggest we see the Lawyer even before we travel.” But all I was saying was like water on the back of a duck, Danny had his mind made but mine was equally made. Who would back down for the other, I thought as he continued. “I know all that, Ego. But being together will afford us the opportunity to plan on the next course of action.” I was about to respond when

Tobi rushed in and saw us holding each other. I quickly pulled away from Danny but it was a bit late. Blushing, he greeted and wanted to run out again when I pulled him by the hand. “Tobi, I can see there is something you came to tell me. What is it?” “I’ll come back later mom. Leave me.” he said, pulling free and running out in haste. It was then it dawned on me that I have not told him and his sister about my engagement to Danny. I have been waiting for the right time but when is the right time? I have to talk to them tonight. Though they like Danny, I pray they don’t mind having him as their step-father.

“Did you notice his rashness? He seems unhappy,” I asked Danny. “Haven’t you told him? Anyway, though he is my friend, nobody will be happy seeing another man holding his mother so close. But I don’t expect any problem from him.” Danny added. After days of procrastination, I decided to break the news of their soon to be step-father at breakfast table, but no. I won’t be able to handle them together, I thought. I later told Tosin first, I knew it won’t be hard convincing her. Together, we made it look like a big deal, a happy event when we told him. Though we succeeded in building the initial suspense and excitement, the idea did not fly as he went moody and started asking what becomes of his dad.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Crime

Brave lady dares three gunmen Juliana Francis and Flora Onwudiwe

hree gunmen, who attacked a lone lady and tried to snatch her money from her moments after she left the ATM pool, were stunned as she returned the attack. Rather than scream and hand the money to them out of fear, the lady refused to play ball. Instead, she latched onto one of the men and started screaming her lungs out. Even as they repeatedly threatened to shoot her, the lady held on to one of the men like her life depended on the action. The unfortunate armed robber, whom she held was later identified as Collins Ebong, 26. Ironically, Ebong went on this fateful operation just two days after he walked out of prison a free man. When it dawned on Ebong’s partners that the daring lady was not going to let Ebong go, they jumped on their getaway motorbike and zoomed off. Ebong kicked and scratched as he struggled to free himself from the lady’s hold, but the lady refused to relax her grip until help came. Recalling how he became a guest at the office of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, Ebong said he had never met such a lady before in his entire life. He said: “We saw the lady going to withdraw money from the bank’s ATM pool. The three of us; Walata and Matthew rode on a motorcycle to Zenith Bank at Ajah. The time was around 8pm. Walata and Mathew were on the motorbike, but I got down and loitered around, waiting and watching. I saw a lady coming out of the Zenith Bank’s ATM pool. She had gone to cash money with her ATM card. I was holding a toy gun. It was Walata who gave me the toy gun. When she drew closer, I pointed the gun at her. Maybe she noticed that it was a toy gun, I really can’t say. But the woman was a true woman of God. She

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

Ebong

screamed Jesus Christ at the top of her voice. In fact, the echo of her voice arrested me. I couldn’t run. I was unable to move. I stood still. She lifted and threw me to the ground. Not up to two minutes, people surrounded me. Policemen that were on patrol duty were alerted. They responded immediately and took me to the Ajah Police Station.” Police investigators described Ebong as a habitual criminal who had once been to prison. The police said: “To tell you the truth, the suspect had just been released from Ikoyi Prison on March 6 and went with his gang members on March 8 to attempt to rob the lady after she withdrew

She lifted and threw me to the ground. Not up to two minutes, people surrounded me

money from the ATM.” The suspect, who said he was not married, said he was a baker, adding: “I was arrested in front of Zenith Bank while trying to snatch money from a lady who just collected money from ATM. We were three in number that went for the operation. My friends escaped. The woman held me and was shouting. A crowd gathered. I was arrested. This is my first time of trying to rob somebody.” He explained that his friend, Wale, allegedly fabricated the toy gun and invited him for the robbery. Insisting that the attack on the lady was random, Ebong said that they launched the attack around 8:30pm.

Revealing the offence that led him to prison, Ebong said: “Yes, I’ve been to prison before! It happened last year. There was a riot. Some men fought for some land speculators. We were arrested. I was in their mist, drinking when we were arrested. I spent 10 months in Ikoyi prisons. I was charged for robbery. When the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) revisited my case after several adjournments, they discovered I had no case to answer. The case ended. I came out on March 6. This robbery case that brought me to SARS occurred on March 8.” Ebong said that he met Wale CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Crime

Gbemisola Oyedepo, Samuel Tafa and Vivian Oshile

he family members of Ekenechukwu Uwakwe, a motorcycle spare parts dealer at Ebute-Meta, Lagos, have revealed how their brother was arrested and detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos, moments after his traditional wedding. The suspect, Uwakwe was said to be at the village, about to have his traditional wedding when he got news that SARS men wanted him for questioning. Rather than have a honeymoon with his wife, he quickly dashed back to Lagos. He reported himself to SARS and was promptly detained. Police, however, said that the suspect’s family members were lying. According to the family, before the arrival of Uwakwe to Lagos, his sister, Nkechi, and her pastor had been arrested in proxy. They were, however, released after the suspect was arrested. Uwakwe’s brother-in-law, Chief Lawrence Umeh said he was disturbed that Uwakwe’s offence was not really known. Determined to get Uwakwe out on bail, Umeh had sought the intervention of the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), a non-governmental organisation. Umeh, who said that he works with soldiers, said: “Immediately Uwakwe came back from the village, he made himself available to SARS. This made the police to release his sister and pastor on bail. I went to SARS, to see what I could do to help him out with my lawyer, but we were told that the man was arrested on allegation of robbery, kidnapping and fraud. The lawyer was denied of seeing Uwakwe until October 15, when he was taken to court. It was later I got information about NOPRIN. Since then, the Foundation has been trying everything possible to bring Uwakwe out of prison.” The National Coordinator of

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Groom spends honeymoon in detention

CP. Lagos, Mr. Kayode Aderanti

NOPRIN, Okechukwu Nwanguma said that on October 9, 2014, NOPRIN received a complaint concerning the indefinite detention of Uwakwe, a motorcycle spare parts dealer. He said: “Uwakwe had travelled in December 2013 to his

home town in Imo State for his traditional marriage and while there, he received information that he was wanted by SARS, Ikeja, in connection with allegations of armed robbery, kidnapping and obtaining by trick, popularly called 419, all at once.

Forgive me because of my wives, children, suspect begs Juliana Francis

patent medicine dealer arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has begged

Chidozie

that he should be forgiven and pardoned because of his two wives and six children. The suspect, Ubaka Dennis Chidozie 40, was arrested in connection with cannabis weighing 3.964kg. He was nabbed while attempting to export cannabis inside foodstuff to China. Chidozie said that he was recently initiated into cannabis trafficking by friends. His words: “I have two wives and six children. I started exporting foodstuff to China to augment the earnings from my patent medicine shop. My friend recently introduced me to cannabis smuggling to China. I used to hide little quantities of cannabis inside foodstuff which I give to agents to send to China. I deliberately did not inform them that there was cannabis in the bag with the hope that since the quantity was small, it would not be detected by the authority. I’m new in the business.

I’m begging for mercy because of my wives and children.” NDLEA spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju said that the first consignment containing 1.830kg of cannabis was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while another bag of foodstuff containing 2.134kg of cannabis belonging to Chidozie was also detected at Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu. NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that Chidozie was a serial offender. Umar added: “The suspect specializes in concealing cannabis in foodstuff for innocent travellers. Luck ran on him when the parcel he sent through the Lagos airport was intercepted. While we were investigating this case, he attempted sending another shipment of cannabis at the Enugu airport where he was apprehended. Ubaka is cooperating with the team of narcotic investigators.”

In his absence, SARS operatives arrested his elder sister, Nkechi Uwakwe and her Pastor. They were detained pending when Uwakwe would show up.” Nwanguma noted that after Uwakwe was done with his traditional marriage, he returned to Lagos on January 4, 2014, and immediately presented himself at SARS. The activist said that it was unconstitutional and a gross violation of the human rights of the accused person for the police to have detained him for a period of nearly 10 months without either granting him bail or promptly charging him to court. “The law does not permit detention of anyone beyond the maximum period of 48 hours,” stated Nwanguma. The Police, however, said however that Uwakwe’s family members of were lying. According to the police, Uwakwe did not report himself to SARS office, but was arrested by a team of policemen at Imo State, where he fled to after a robbery operation. A police source said: “The suspect didn’t hand himself over to the police. He was arrested in Imo State. The matter had been charged to court. He was charged to court two weeks ago. He is a confirmed armed robber. In SARS, people are not arrested just anyhow. There is no way that we can grant bail to a suspected armed robber. We usually charge them to court. He used to sell spare parts before he took to robbery. We don’t know him. It was his own gang members that mentioned him. We tracked him to Imo State and arrested him, using his phone number.”

Brave lady dares three gunmen C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

the next day after he was released from prison. He met him at a place he went to do brick laying work. Wale found a toy gun at the site and convinced him to join him in using the ‘gun to look for money.’ Wale had also told him that he was not really a bricklayer, but only using the job as cover for his real profession, which was armed robbery. Ebong is the fifth child in a family of eight. He said his father is a pastor with the Church of God Mission in Akwa Ibom State and his mother, a petty trader. He recalled that his siblings had warned him on the fateful day of his arrest that “I should not get involved in anything that would cause me to regret. I turned deaf ears to their warnings. I’ll turn the world around for God if I’m given another chance. I’ve learnt my lesson.” The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, who confirmed the arrest, said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, had already ordered the Officer-in-charge of SARS, a Superintendent of Police (SP), Mr. Abba Kyari, to go after the other fleeing members of the gang.

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

ASCENDING Strong demand for infrastructure to boost credit growth Tony Chukwunyem

espite the fall in commodity prices, the healthy growth of sub-Saharan African economies will boost the performance of Nigerian banks and other lenders in the region in 2015, Fitch Ratings has predicted. As the ratings firm put it in a statement released yesterday, “Credit growth is set to expand because there is strong demand

African banks to perform well in 2015 despite commodity falls – Fitch for infrastructure financing and the private sector is buoyant. These are likely to offset the threats from weaker commodity prices and heightened political risk and uncertainty. Even banks in oil exporting countries, where low oil prices might be expected to trigger loan contraction, are experiencing continued credit demand. In Nigeria, buoyant non-oil and services sectors, plus private consumption, are holding up credit de-

AfDB partners GCF to boost African projects T

he African Development Bank (AfDB) is working to join the Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) seven newly accredited agencies, in order to become a key multi-lateral implementing agency to channel much-needed funding into the continent. In a statement, AfDB said the move would bring the Green Climate Fund one step closer to its goal of financing adaptation and mitigation projects in developing countries. It said the GCF Board accredited seven entities during its March 2015 Board meeting and these organisations were now eligible to submit projectfunding proposals for consideration later this year. The newly accredited agencies include non-profit global venture fund Acumen, Senegal’s Centre de Suivi Ecologique, German development bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, the United Nations Development Programme, the Asian Development Bank, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program, and the Peruvian Trust Fund For National Parks and Protected Areas. The statement disclosed that the Fund, established at the 16th Conference of Parties to

the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2010, and approved the following year, had mobilized 10.2 billion dollars to finance adaptation and mitigation projects in developing countries. It noted that the funds may be accessed in two ways: directly through accredited subnational, national or regional implementing entities, or indirectly via accredited international entities, such as UN agencies, multilateral development banks, and international financial institutions. The Board further narrowed down the Fund’s investment priorities, which target many of the continent’s challenges such as sustainable climate-smart agriculture, transforming energy generation access, scaling-up finance for forests and climate change, and enhancing resilience of small island developing states. According to AfDB’s Manager of the Environment and Climate Change Division, Kurt Lonsway, “The AfDB has been engaging with the GCF Secretariat on Bank accreditation, initiating the Fund management preparation, and discussing the Bank’s project pipeline.

African banks battle European counterparts for African market

he recent expansion of local banking groups in Africa is a challenge for longestablished European banks, according to experts. This expansion comes as banks can expect a 15 to 20 per cent revenue growth in subSaharan Africa, according to a recent study by consulting firm Bain & Company. The region has a growth rate of eight per cent and only between 20 and 40 per cent of the population has access to banking services depending on the country. This shows there is a wide margin of progression. While European banks still have a strong presence in Africa, Moroccan banks such as Attijariwafa, BMCE and Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) are on track to take over. For instance, they now al-

most a third (30 per cent) of branches in Francophone Africa, while BNP Paribas and SocGen stand at around 15 per cent, according to consulting firm Nouvelles Donnes. In East Africa, banks like UBA, PTA bank and Ecobank are increasing their presence. Ecobank has tripled in size over the past seven years, from 400 branches in 2007 to over 1,200 today and Kenyan group PTA bank has announced its expansion across 10 African countries. To counter the emergence of local banks, several European banks as BPCE and BNP Paribas, have announced development plans. French banking group Societe Generale has just announced its intention to allocate four billion euros of additional capital to its African operations by 2016.

these constraints to successfully grow their loan books.” Fitch also pointed out that demand for retail and small business lending is healthy but banks are more reluctant to lend to these segments given an increase in impaired loans after a period of rapid expansion during 2009-2013. According to the firm, “Lower loan growth can be positive for financial stability and reduce banking sector systemic risk. Credit expansion is one measure included in Fitch’s macro-prudential indicators (MPI), specifically designed to highlight heightened potential banking sector risks. MPI scores of ‘3’, which highlight the greatest systemic risk potential, are assigned to relatively few subSaharan countries, namely Angola, Ethiopia and Ghana. MPI

mand. Loan growth reached 25 per cent in 2014.” It further stated, “Sub-Saharan banks tend to be awash with deposits; loan/deposit ratios for banking sectors in Fitch-rated countries average 78 per cent, which is low by international standards. This reflects both limited opportunities for profitable lending and asset structures that tend to be heavily invested in high yielding government securities, rather than loans.” It, however, noted that while despite the abundant deposits, credit growth could still be impacted because short-term deposits are not well suited to funding longer-term loans this was not expected to hamper lenders’ performance, because, according to it, “Banks in the region have long worked within

‘2’ scores are assigned to Cote d’Ivoire, Congo, Kenya, Lesotho and Mozambique. Both South Africa, where loan growth expectations are low, and Nigeria, where demand for new lending is strong, are scored MPI ‘1’. “Other factors, such as credit to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), effective exchange rates and house price rises, impact these MPIs. We forecast 2015 GDP growth to average 4.5 per cent for the 18 regional countries rated by Fitch, but economic trends vary considerably. We expect the strongest growth in Ethiopia at 9 per cent, Cote d’Ivoire at 8.5 per cent and Mozambique at 8.1 per cent. Even the comparative laggards, such as South Africa, up 2 per cent, Angola, Gabon and Ghana (averaging 3.4 per cent) still provide good growth opportunities for their banks.”

CBN clarifies directive on naira debit cards’ limits abroad bank said it noticed that some sections of the public were giving different interpretations to the directive and that people were being misled over it. According to the CBN, “For the avoidance of doubt, the circular refers to naira denominated cards (debit and credit cards) to be used overseas

Tony Chukwunyem

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued clarifications regarding its recent directive on the usage of naira denominated cards overseas. In a circular posted on its website yesterday, the apex

only; debit/credit cards used locally are not affected by this circular; debit/Credit cards linked to customers’ domiciliary account to be used overseas are also not affected.” The regulator advised banks to take note of the clarification and ensure that their customers comply with it.

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$29,505,155,296

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 22/4/2015 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

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

23-Apr-15

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description ^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 15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^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)

16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 98.31 600.00 524.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 279.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,254.18

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

1.32 2.01 2.26 2.36 3.10 4.18 4.50 4.81 6.77 8.89 13.60 14.08 14.58 15.25 19.24

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

13.56 13.63 13.66 13.67 13.76 13.85 13.90 13.91 13.91 13.96 16.83 17.26 17.75 15.47 13.94

13.44 13.54 13.58 13.59 13.63 13.75 13.79 13.82 13.84 13.90 16.77 17.19 17.65 15.40 13.89

99.35 102.51 92.75 91.51 92.45 106.61 77.48 105.53 110.59 101.16 90.27 75.01 52.24 68.25 88.08

99.50 102.66 92.90 91.66 92.75 106.91 77.78 105.83 110.89 101.46 90.57 75.31 52.54 68.55 88.38

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.08 1.07 1.63 1.99 2.20

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.69 2.85

14.42 15.96 15.60 16.32 16.51

98.73 101.29 100.50 100.47 96.80

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

321.08

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.36

4.44

16.06

98.72

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.44

3.23

15.76

98.83

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.71

4.46

17.88

97.49

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.71

3.48

16.90

99.04

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.99

1.31

14.94

91.75

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.25

1.00

14.64

98.98

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.69

1.79

15.50

96.74

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.07

1.80

15.44

97.57

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.08

1.00

14.64

98.87

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.06

1.00

14.64

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.06

4.78

18.42

92.96

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.26

1.00

14.66

101.44

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

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

2.69 4.58 2.66

1.00 1.00 1.00

14.71 14.90 14.71

101.59 98.67 100.07

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.20

1.00

14.77

99.94

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.60

1.00

14.93

94.68

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.69

1.00

14.93

100.20

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.35

1.44

15.23

98.17

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.38

1.00

14.79

100.44

99.29

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

99.72

452.88 440.05

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.32

1.00

12.23

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.38

1.00

12.88

99.65

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.46

2.63

15.41

99.40

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.44

1.00

14.60

97.97

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.51

1.34

14.92

99.12

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.44

1.00

14.68

96.63

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.46

1.88

15.47

103.86

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

09-Apr-18

1.71

1.00

14.60

102.00

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.88

1.00

14.62

105.16

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.88

1.00

14.62

102.08

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.42

3.00

16.80

92.91

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.99

2.29

15.92

99.70

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.07

6.11

19.75

97.25

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.69

2.16

15.87

100.24

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.56

2.76

16.69

94.90

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.69

1.13

15.09

105.55

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.44

1.00

15.28

83.48

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.44

1.00

15.28

89.98

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

161.53

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

158.23

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.81

1.00

14.72

89.86

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

14.91

86.17

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.94

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

5.65

5.44

105.34

106.40

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.87

4.55

100.74

101.70

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.94

5.77

102.80

103.90

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,544.41

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

162.00

43.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.50

4.33

101.00

103.25

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

11.38

92.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

11.13

9.51

89.30

93.19

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.52

6.86

95.37

97.35

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

41.73

42.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.13

97.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.92

10.30

93.02

94.94

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.97

96.25

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

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

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

26.20 11.15 9.15

26.20 10.85 9.15

44.00 91.66 93.75

44.00 92.87 93.75

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.88

10.50

89.63

91.25

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,926.61

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 7 14 21 28 42 49 63 70

FIXINGS Maturity 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15

Bid Discount (%) 11.68 7.08 11.32 11.47 11.15 11.15 11.36 11.42

Offer Discount (%) 11.43 6.83 11.07 11.22 10.90 10.90 11.11 11.17

Bid Yield (%) 11.70 7.10 11.39 11.57 11.30 11.31 11.59 11.67

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 13.7117 14.8945 16.0570 16.9084

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

O/N

10.83

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 23.50 23.75

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.43 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

197.53 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

^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

14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

524.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 279.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,254.18

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

8.89 13.60 14.08 14.58 15.25 19.24

13.96 16.83 17.26 17.75 15.47 13.94

13.90 16.77 17.19 17.65 15.40 13.89

101.16 90.27 75.01 52.24 68.25 88.08

101.46 90.57 75.31 52.54 68.55 88.38

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.08 1.07 1.63 1.99 2.20

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.69 2.85

14.42 15.96 15.60 16.32 16.51

98.73 101.29 100.50 100.47 96.80

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Business | Financial Market News

Agency Bonds

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

FMBN ***LCRM

CONSOLIDATION

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

321.08

‡ /Agusto *BAYELSA Stories by Chris Ugwu ‡ /Agusto EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

Insurance companies need recapitalisation – FBN Insurance boss 322.38

Women entrepreneurs Sub-National urged toBonds embrace A/Agusto KADUNA A-/Agusto *EBONYI insurance products

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

BBB+/Agusto

*DELTA

he Managing DirecNIGER ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI Insurtor/CEO FBN ‡ /Agusto *NIGER ance, a subsidiary of ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO FBN Plc, Mr. BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Holding *GOMBE Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS Val Ojumah, has envisaged an BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN industry-induced consolidaBBB-/Agusto *OSUN Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS tion among operators in insurA-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI ance companies in the country. ‡ /Agusto *EKITI A-/GCR *NASARAWA Ojumah, in a chat with TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE newsmen at the second FirstTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Bank Sustainability workshop ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

Corporate Bonds

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.36

4.44

16.06

98.72

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.44

3.23

15.76

98.83

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.71

4.46

17.88

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.71

3.48

16.90

99.04

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.99

1.31

14.94

91.75

for women-led 13.75 BAYELSA SMEs, 30-JUN-2017said the 14.00 was EDO 31-DEC-2017 industry highly fragment14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 ed with most of operators lack14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 ing both human and capital 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 capacity . 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 The15.50 event part of the GOMBEwas 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 FirstBank’s SMEConnect Se14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 ries at14.75 theOSUN FirstBank II 10-OCT-2020 SustainLAGOS 27-NOV-2020 ability13.50 Centre situated within 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 the Lagos 14.50 EKITIBusiness II 31-DEC-2020 School, NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 Lekki15.00 Lagos. “In my opinion, I think insurance companies require

‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

recapitalisation, the retention 30-Jun-10 13.75 14.00 capacity30-Dec-10 of many the industry 30-Sep-11 14.00 players 04-Oct-11 are still very low. 14.00 The 09-Dec-11 14.50busifinancial outlay of the 12-Dec-13 ness is not sufficient to14.00 attract 14-Feb-12 15.50 02-Oct-12 15.50 new investors,” he said. 22-Nov-12 14.50 Ojumah noted that there 12-Dec-12 14.75 10-Oct-13 had to be some sort of 14.75 consoli27-Nov-13 dation in the industry 13.50 to make 31-Dec-13 15.00 sure that there are big14.50 players 31-Dec-13 15.00 and that can06-Jan-14 attract business produce better results. He noted that the acquisition of Oasis Insurance en17-Aug-10 10.00 abled FBN Insurance enter 09-Dec-10 12.00

Transcorp signs MoU with Benue on agriculture

into space. 25.73general insurance 30-Jun-17 1.25 25.00 31-Dec-17 2.69 He called on small business 30.81 30-Sep-18 2.07 owners to embrace 9.00 04-Oct-18 insurance, 2.08 13.73 09-Dec-18needed 2.06 adding that they in10.20 2.06 surance more12-Dec-18 than big com27.00 14-Feb-19 2.26 15.09 02-Oct-19 2.69 panies as they may not have 80.00 22-Nov-19 4.58 the wherewithal to actually 25.70 12-Dec-19 2.66 10.78up their businesses 10-Oct-20 3.20 back when 87.50 27-Nov-20 5.60 things go wrong. 5.00 31-Dec-20 5.69 On her part, the Managing 4.55 31-Dec-20 3.35 4.56 06-Jan-21 3.38 Director/CEO, FBN Microfi452.88 nance Bank, Mrs. Pauline Nsa, 440.05 stressed the need for clearly spelt out business plan before 2.50 17-Aug-15 0.32 the18.75 commencement 09-Dec-15of business. 0.38

97.49

Nsa 1.00 noted that 14.64 if a business 98.98 15.50 96.74 plan1.79is well activated, women 1.80 15.44 97.57 tend1.00to be very good in 98.87 imple14.64 1.00 14.64 99.72 are mentation because they 4.78 18.42 92.96 usually focused. 1.00 14.66 101.44 1.00 14.71 on the 101.59 “Being focused objec1.00 14.90 98.67 tives and managing men and 1.00 14.71 100.07 1.00 14.77 99.94 the materials effectively are 14.93 94.68 key1.00 ingredients to succeed in 1.00 14.93 100.20 business. It is15.23 very important, 1.44 98.17 1.00 14.79 in mind 100.44 however, to bear that a business plan is not engraved on stone, it can be modified as changes in the business envi1.00 12.23 99.29 ronment warrants,” she99.65 said. 1.00 12.88

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.44

1.00

14.60

97.97

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.51

1.34

14.92

99.12

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

T Nil

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

#{r}

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

2.63

15.41

99.40

Shareholders approve FCMB’s N4.9bn dividend

hareholders 13.00 of FCMB 20.00 30-Sep-17 2.44 1.00 14.68 96.63 30-Nov-12Group Plc 18.00 30-Nov-17 1.46 1.88 15.47 103.86 yesterday at0.64 09-Apr-11 16.00 5.40 09-Apr-18 1.71 1.00 14.60 102.00 the bank’s 2nd Annual2.54 09-Sep-11 18.00 09-Sep-18 1.88 1.00 14.62 105.16 09-Sep-11 16.00 endorsed0.70 09-Sep-18 1.88 1.00 14.62 102.08 General Meeting 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 22-Sep-18 3.42 3.00 16.80 92.91 the company’s N4.950 bil-2.10 18-Oct-13 15.75 18-Oct-18 1.99 2.29 15.92 99.70 lion dividend, amounting and CSL Stockbrokers Limin 2013 to N22 billion in 2014 17-Feb-12 18.00 0.36 17-Feb-19 2.07 6.11 19.75 97.25 01-Apr-14 01-Apr-19 2.16 15.87 It is a2.69clear ited, to 25 kobo per 16.00 every 50 kobo4.50 is commendable. had achieved a 100.24 strong 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 2.76 16.69 94.90 sustained growth over share, for the 2014 financial30.50 signal that things are5.56 look- and 30-Dec-14 16.45 30-Dec-21 6.69 1.13 15.09 105.55 30-Sep-14 9.44 1.00 past three 15.28 years, adding 83.48 year even as 11.93 the bank as-0.10 ing up. 30-Sep-24 We are also happy the 30-Sep-14 13.25 30-Sep-24 9.44 1.00 89.98 sured of steady growth in15.44 that FCMB has emerged as a that during15.28 the past year, the 161.53 strong player in retail bank- group continued the profitprofitability and expansion. 158.23 The shareholders of the ing and from what we have able development of its core bank also approved the pro- seen so far, we are optimistic banking, capital markets and 11-Feb-13 10.20 11-Feb-18 2.81 1.00 14.72 89.86 posal by the bank to raise N4012.00 that the bank will continue to stock-broking businesses. 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 01-Feb-21 4.75 1.00 14.91 86.17 billion in debt and convert-24.95 wax stronger.” Long assured that with ible debt that will bring new21.94 On his part, the National the implementation of the investors into its fold in the Chairman of Sharehold- Group’s supervisory strucOutstanding Value Issue Date Coupon (%) Maturity Date Association Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Price Offer Price course of the current finan-($mm) ers’ Trustees ture, ‘’we Bid are confident that cial year. of Nigeria, Alhaji Mukhtar this will help us to consoliPrices & Yields Commenting on the de-500.00 Mukhtar,28-Jan-21 said, the result was date the gains made over the 07-Oct-11 6.75 5.65 5.44 105.34 106.40 velopment and the financial very wonderful, despite the past years and face the eco12-Jul-13 12-Jul-18 4.55 100.74 101.70 statements of5.13the Group,500.00 very harsh economic4.87 envi- nomic challenges which we the Coordinator are 12-Jul-13 6.38of Indepen500.00 ronment. 12-Jul-23 5.94 5.77 confronted 102.80 in 2015.” 103.90 dent Shareholders AssociaThe Managing Director 1,500.00 “FCMB has been able to give us a wonderful result. of FCMB Group, Mr. Petion of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir 1,544.41 Sunny Nwosu, commended We are very satisfied. The 25 ter Obaseki, noted that the the board and11.50 management450.00 kobo dividend is very encourgroup was on track to deliver 01-Feb-11 01-Feb-16 162.00 162.00 43.00 43.00 of FCMB group for the per-500.00 aging,” he said. on its promise to its various 19-May-11 7.50 19-May-16 6.50 4.33 101.00 103.25 formance and 7.25 dividend pay-350.00 Speaking AGM, shareholders. 25-Jul-12 25-Jul-17at the 11.38 11.38 92.00 92.00 09-May-13 02-May-18 11.13 9.51He explained 89.30 that 93.19 the Fiof FCMB ment, despite 6.88 the particu-300.00 the Chairman 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 7.52 6.86 95.37 97.35 Group, Dr. Jonathan Long, larly challenging operating nancial Holding Company 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 41.73 41.73 42.00 42.00 environment 6.25 for banks in500.00 stated that the group, 7.13 which structure adopted by 97.00 FCMB 22-Apr-14 22-Apr-19 7.13 97.00 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 comprises 21-May-19 10.30 94.94 2014. First City 10.92 Monu- in 2013 has93.02 given “opportu07-Aug-13 8.25 07-Aug-20 8.97 8.97 96.25 He said, “The increase in300.00 nity for us96.25 to diversify our ment Bank Limited, 26.20 FCMB 09-Dec-13 6.63 360.00 09-Dec-20 26.20 44.00 44.00 the Group’s profit revenue sources.” Markets Limited 24-Jun-14 9.25 from N16b 400.00 Capital 24-Jun-21 11.15 10.85 91.66 92.87 30-Sep-10

ransnational Corporation by multinational corporations, MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER MPR+5.25 9-SEP-2018 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR Plc (Transcorp) *TOWER of Nigeria including aTOWER leading interna14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA has disclosed that its agribusitional beverage manufacturer. 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA ness subsidiary ComGbugho MPR+5.00 thanked CHELLARAMS II Teragro 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR , Teragro *CHELLARAMS DANA IInoting, 1-APR-2019 “Teragro Nil modities Limited, *DANA signed a for the16.00 move, 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO memorandum of understandhas contributed immensely to 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR UBA 182Din T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR ing (MOU) with the Benue growth Benue state. They STANBICState IBTC STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR IBTC Government to leaseSTANBIC land to es- first 13.25 addressed community TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE tablish citrus farms in Ushongo. and youth unemployment by TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION The Hon. Commissioner creating jobs and now, the comSupranational Bond for Agriculture and Natural pany is taking a step forward 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC proper farming, Resources, Mr.Donald Gbugho, by beginning 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB signed on behalf of the state through expert agricultural TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE government alongside the investors who are standing TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Permanent Secretary to the by with improved varieties of Description Rating/Agency Issuer Minister of Agriculture, Dr. oranges, which the Ushongo people and Benue state atNeeyum Tsavnum. FGN Eurobonds A statement made available large can benefit6.75 from. This is JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P truly a significant step in the to newsmen said the MoU repBB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P resented an expansion of Terdevelopment of agriculture in BB-/Fitch; agro’s current operations in Benue and in Nigeria.” 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P Benue state, which have previThe Managing Director and TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ously focused in Makurdi. CEO of Teragro, Dupe Olusola, TOTAL been MARKET CAPITALISATION Teragro has been function- commended the state governCorporate Eurobonds ing as an industrial opera- ment for its support, which has 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I tion processing oranges and enabled Teragro7.50 toMAY contribute 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I mangoes into concentrates a JUL diversified 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC to the growth of7.25 6.88 MAYuntapped 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P consumption. FIDELITYOver BANK PLC economy, saying, “The for local 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC time, Teragro has grown and opportunities in agriculture are 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II expanded and huge and we are6.25 committed to APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P its footprint ZENITH BANK PLC 8.75 May can 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC ensuring that Nigeria now produces concentrate once 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC that meets the mostFIRST rigorous again generate high revenues 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III global standards forACCESS purchase 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC II from agriculture.”

0.46

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

9.15

93.75

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.88

10.50

89.63

91.25

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

23-Apr-15

3,926.61

The DQL contains and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities FIXINGS Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) professional,DTM financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; theBidInformation is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE”Tenor basis and mayRate not(%) be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discounthowever, (%) Yield (%) NIBOR 30-Apr-15 11.68 11.43 11.70neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. the accuracy,7timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, OBB 10.25 Tenor Bid ($/N) Offer ($/N) FGN

14 21 28 Bonds 42 49 63 70 Rating/Agency 77 84 91 98 105 112 126 133 140 154 161 NA 175 224 238 259 273 287 301 315 329 336

350 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 Issuer 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 1-Oct-15 NA 15-Oct-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 18-Feb-16 3-Mar-16 17-Mar-16 24-Mar-16

7.08 11.32 11.47 11.15 11.15 11.36 11.42 Description 10.25 11.50 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.06 11.37 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 11.27 9.85 27-JUL-2017 11.87 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.46 10.70 30-MAY-2018 11.61 12.06 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 12.56 7.00 23-OCT-2019 11.61 15.54 13-FEB-2020 12.38 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.31 12.20 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.40 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.63 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.40 12.50 8.50 20-NOV-2029 12.32 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.65 ^12.1493 12.65 18-JUL-2034

7-Apr-16

12.46

6.83 11.07 11.22 10.90 10.90 11.11 11.17Date Issue 10.00 11.25 16-Aug-13 9.81 11.12 27-Apr-12 11.02 27-Jul-07 11.62 31-Aug-07 12.21 30-May-08 11.36 11.81 29-Jun-12 12.31 23-Oct-09 11.36 13-Feb-15 12.13 27-Jan-12 12.06 11.95 14-Mar-14 12.15 28-Nov-08 12.38 22-May-09 12.15 12.25 20-Nov-09 12.07 23-Jul-10 12.40 18-Jul-14 12.40 12.21

7.10 11.39 11.57 11.30 11.31 11.59 11.67 (%) Coupon 10.48 11.81 13.05 10.32 11.73 15.10 11.65 9.85 12.32 9.35 13.02 10.70 12.12 12.64 16.00 13.26 7.00 12.23 15.54 13.16 16.39 13.32 13.25 14.20 13.60 15.00 13.94 12.49 13.74 13.93 8.50 13.79 10.00 14.27 12.1493 14.32

Bonds

14.15

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

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Agency Bonds FMBN Modified Duration Buckets

***LCRM <3

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3<5 >5 Market

Rate (%) 13.7117 14.8945 16.0570 16.9084

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

O/N

10.83

REPO

Maturity Date

NITTY

581.39 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 11.7033 476.80 27-Apr-17 2M 11.8829 20.00 27-Jul-17 3M 11.8959 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 12.3307 300.00 30-May-18 9M 13.5543 12M 13.9240 351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 98.31 13-Feb-20 NIFEX 600.00 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N) 524.68 14-Mar-24 BID($/N) 199.0000 75.00 28-Nov-28 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 279.50 18-Jul-34

Tenor Call 1M (Yrs) TTM 3M 6M

Rate (%) 23.50 Bid23.75 Yield 24.00 24.25

(%)

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

1.32 13.56 13.44 2.01 13.63 13.54 NOTE: 2.26 13.66 13.58 :Benchmarks 2.36 13.67 13.59 * :Amortising Bond 3.10Bond 13.76 13.63 µ :Convertible AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.18 Management Corporation 13.85 13.75 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.50 13.90 13.79 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 4.81 Finance Corporation 13.91 13.82 IFC: International 6.77 13.91 Management 13.84 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 8.89 Aviation Handling 13.96 Company 13.90 O/N: Overnight 13.60 16.83 16.77 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 14.08Africa Portland Cement 17.26 Company17.19 WAPCO:West 14.58 17.75 17.65 15.25 15.47 15.40 19.24 13.94 13.89

197.43 197.53 201.81 201.93 202.13 Price 202.28 202.87 203.37 204.24 205.31 205.60 207.21Price Bid Price Offer 206.28 213.47 220.29 226.27

99.35 99.50 102.51 102.66 92.75 92.90 NA :Not Applicable 91.51 91.66 ^ : Market Prices 92.45 92.75 # : Floating Rate Bond ***: Deferred coupon bonds 106.61 106.91 77.48 77.78 ‡ : Bond rating under review 105.83 †: Bond 105.53 rating expired 110.89 N/A :Not110.59 Available {r} :Issuer in receivership 101.46 101.16 90.27 90.57 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 75.01Bank for Africa 75.31 UBA: United 52.24 52.54 68.25 68.55 88.08 88.38

4,582.44 4,254.18

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

Rating/Agency

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 Total Outstanding Porfolio Market Value(Bn) 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 1,440.88 1,409.48 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 1,169.04

1,099.68

627.91

846.07

3,237.83

3,355.23

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 Weighting by Outstanding Vol 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 42.01 06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50 44.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 0.42 66.49

25.22

19.39

322.380.25

100.00

321.081.00

32.78

0.00

17.25 Weighting by Mkt Value 0.00/16.00

36.11

Bucket Weighting

0.33

Maturity Date

24-May-15

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Indicative Price

19-Apr-17 19.62 06-Jul-17

0.08 1.07 1.63 1.99 13.70 2.20

13.93

109.3868

2.69 2.85

14.42 15.96 15.60 16.32 1,198.16 16.51

41.79

14.89

76.9506

1,081.55

7.4011

100.00

14.29

100.1801

1,132.03

7.2824

03-Apr-17 % Exposure_ Mod_Duration 08-Dec-16

38.59

Implied Yield

2.63

Valuation Yield (%)

2.27 Implied Portfolio Price 2.00 106.9409

INDEX

1,091.47

98.73

101.29 YTD Return (%) 100.50

100.47 8.1519 96.80

7.7921

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.36

4.44

16.06

98.72

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.44

3.23

15.76

98.83

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.71

4.46

17.88

97.49

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.71

3.48

16.90

99.04

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.99

1.31

14.94

91.75

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.25

1.00

14.64

98.98

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.69

1.79

15.50

96.74

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Lagos: Why we are yet to deploy more CCTVs SECURITY Negotiations on with camera manufacturers to boost surveillance Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State government yesterday said it has not dropped the plan to install additional 1, 000 Close Circuit Cameras (CCT-

Vs) across the state to enhance security surveillance, saying negotiations are still ongoing with the camera manufacturing firms to acquire more. New Telegraph gathered that the government is yet to install more CCTV cameras it promised in the past even though some had been installed to boost surveillance in strategic locations in the state. But explaining the delay in the provision of the cameras at the on-

going 2015 ministerial press briefing yesterday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Onikepo Animashaun, said Governor Babatunde Fashola and members of his team are currently negotiating with vendors on the best and affordable cameras to be acquired. She said: “We have been trying to see which of the vendors out of NEC of Japan and ZTI of China will give us the best cost for these cameras. So, we

have been engaging NEC of Japan, because they are the number one manufacturer in the world. “So, it is not something that we have said and we are not doing. The governor is very passionate about using tax payers’ monies very efficiently. The addition of another 1, 000 cameras is the next phase of the project.” Also speaking on the issue, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje, dispelled claims that the

CCTV project has been abandoned, saying the specifications of the camera and consideration for other items that would power the CCTV as well as funds were responsible for the delay. He added that the state Command and Control Centre at Alausa has received and processed two million emergency calls through the emergency numbers 767 and 112 monthly. On her part, the General Manager, LASRRA, Ms. Olayinka Fashola, said

the agency has registered three million residents in the ongoing residents registration exercise, even as she dispelled allegation of mass retrenchment in the agency. She said from the information gathered from the residents so far, more Lagos residents take BRT buses than those who drive private vehicles. Fashola also said that a greater percentage of Lagos residents now travel by water than what it used to be few years ago.

Lagos targets 4.5m children for polio immunisation Appolonia Adeyemi and Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State government yesterday said it would immunise no fewer than 4.5 million children against preventable diseases, especially poliomyelitis, in this month’s National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs). Briefing journalists on the state government’s efforts at eradicating poliomyelitis among children in the state, the Special Adviser on Health to the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, who disclosed this, said the Expert Review Committee on Polio Eradication in Nigeria has recommended two rounds of NIPDs in March and April this year. Adeshina added that the immunisation would target all children under the age of five, adding that the 4.5 million children will be immunised with two drops of supplemental oral polio vaccine while the left little finger of all immunised children will be marked for ease of identification. According to her, “The significance of immunisation campaigns such as these cannot be overemphasised as it is known that immunisation is the most cost-effective strategy in disease prevention among children under five years of age.”

L-R: Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraj Ishola Adekunbi; Governor Ibikunle Amosun and Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), BrigGeneral Johnson Bamidele Olawunmi, when the NYSC appreciated the governor in recognition of his numerous support to the corps at the 2015 Batch A pre-orientation course in Abeokuta...yesterday

Ekiti monarchs say no to impeachment, laud chief judge Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

onarchs in Ekiti State under the auspices of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers have expressed opposition to moves by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Assembly to impeach the state governor, Ayo Fayose. The traditional rulers, who stated this in AdoEkiti yesterday after an emergency meeting, said

the people of the state should be allowed to enjoy the mandate they gave Fayose on June 21 last year. In a communique signed by the Chairman of the council, the Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti, Oba Idowu Adamo Babalola, the council decried in an unequivocal term, any move by the outgoing legislators and their sponsors to impeach Governor Fayose. “Having painstakingly looked at the issues stated above, council rejects in an unequivocal term, any or all moves by the outgoing

legislators and their sponsors to impeach the Governor of Ekiti State and any move in this direction should stop forthwith. “It is our resolve that the people of Ekiti State should be allowed to enjoy the mandate they freely gave the governor. “Council seizes this opportunity to appreciate the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodele Daramola, for rising above partisan politics to uphold the tenet of his office despite obvious pressure from interested quarters.”

NLC promises to fight for workers’ in Ondo Babatope Okeowo Akure

he Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday promised to employ all lawful means to ensure that the interests of the workers in the state are

protected. The newly elected Chairperson of the congress in the state, Mrs. Bosede Daramola, who spoke at the 12th state quadrennial delegates’ conference, said the congress had not compromised its commitment to fight for the welfare of the

workers, pledging not to relent in the struggle. The NLC chairperson, who was elected unopposed, said: “It is the decision of workers to return me unopposed for a second term, I want to thank them for the confidence reposed in me and other members of the executive

and I also want to pledge to continue championing the cause of the workers without minding whose ox is gored. “I also want to say unequivocally that if need be for us to step on toes to achieve our goals for the workers, we will step on toes,” she declared.

Fayose to hold stakeholders’ meeting on dwindling revenue Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

meeting of union leaders, heads of agencies and state government officials in Ekiti State will hold next week to fashion out ways of tackling the dwindling revenue coming to the state. Also, the gathering is to decide on how to share the revenue among contending groups in the state. This much was disclosed in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by Governor Ayo Fayose at the opening of the delegates’ conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state. This was just as the President of the NLC, Ayuba Wamba, expressed disgust that the political crisis in the state had been blown out of proportion. Ayuba, who spoke through Babatunde Liadi, said having gone round the state, there was nothing on ground to suggest

that people were being attacked or maimed as those outside the state were made to believe. Fayose, who said only N2.06 billion came to the state as federal allocation for March 2015, added that it left a shortfall of nearly a billion naira when workers’ salaries and subvention to agencies were considered. He said: “Our dwindling economy means that workers’ salaries are a priority and I cannot do anything without telling you my people. We are having a serious challenge and I cannot pretend that I can do it alone. We will all come together and decide how to share the little resources we have.” While commending the workers for helping to stabilise the state, Fayose said he would always give their welfare priority. He also appealed to the opposition to allow peace to reign in the state.

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, april 24, 2015

News 47

south - east

APGA assembly candidates endorse Ihedioha Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

Anambra State Coordinator, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr Christiana Esenwah (middle), with the winners of the agency’s annual Secondary Schools' Competition for members of the agency’s Consumer Safety Club in Onitsha…yesterday.

Cleric, Senator-elect call for probe into xenophobic attack in South Africa Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

ollowing the recent xenophobic induced violent attacks on fellow Africans in the Republic South Africa, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Dr.Paulinus Ezeokafor and Senator elect for Anambra central senatorial zone, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife have described as highest man’s inhumanity to man the attacks and called for proper investigations into the incident. This call came, as Ezeokafor also enjoined all African political and religious leaders to fashion out ways on how to cushion the effects of the dastardly act, describing it as man’s greatest inhumanity to man. Bishop Okafor commended the National Assembly for its sound criticism of the incident and urged Nigerians and other African leaders to rise to the challenge and

ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book and made to face the full wrath of the law. Similarly, the Senator elect, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, described as barbaric the xenophobic attack by South African youths and called on the leadership of the country to investigate the cause of the

campaign

Ohanaeze Ndigbo is APGA in disguise, group alleges Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

s the governorship re-run elections in Abia State, scheduled for this Saturday approaches, a group, South East Progressives Assembly (SEPA), has decried the South West chapter of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo for being driven by senti-

pogrom that has led to death of many Nigerians and other Africans. She was addressing group of traders’ union led by the Chairman of ASMATU, Chief Anayo Nweke who paid her courtesy call to congratulate her on her victory in the 28th March Presidential and National As-

Aba

campaign organization of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Osy Prestige Campaign Organization (OPCO), has decried an Aba-based group, All Citizens Forum (ACF) over an alleged claim of the military being in support of the party in some part

of Abia, during the recent governorship elections The party frowned at the alleged claim said to have been expressed through a paid advertorial in one of the national dallies remarks stating that the claim was a complete falsehood. ACF had in an open letter to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Kenneth Minimah, in one of the national dailies and

Zuma to tackle the incident headlong. She maintained that if no stiffer action was taken, such dastardly act could escalate to other sister African countries lamenting that such could draw the continent backwards while other continents are progressing in all geometrics.

SEPA berates Ohanaeze over Abia polls ment to campaign for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its candidate, Dr. Alex Otti. In a statement titled 'Ohaneze Ndigbo: APGA In Disguise' jointly signed by Ebere Uzoukwa and Comrade Munonye Maximus, President and Secretary of SEPA respectively and made available to newsmen, the group maintained that the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, was as good as winning the Abia governorship election having

Claim of military support to rig poll unfounded —APGA Peter Osondu

sembly elations in Awka yesterday. The senator elect further called for proper investigation into the attack, adding that many Nigerians and other Africans have lost their lives and life time investments since the incident while calling on the South African President, Jacob

he All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) House of Assembly candidates have endorsed the Imo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha for next Saturday’s re-run governorship election in the state. In a statement signed by the candidates, under the umbrella of Forum of APGA Imo House of Assembly Candidates led by Hon. Victor Ndunagu and Hon. Victor Mere, the candidates said their decision was based on the reality of Ihedioha. They assured the PDP’s candidate of their support through huge canvassing towards ensuring his emergence on Saturday. Ihedioha has however, commended the lawmakers for their endorsement and urged them to immediately commence massive mobilization of their supporters ahead of the election while assuring them of a place in the scheme of things when elected governor.

signed by one Solomon Nwigwe, Chairman and Chukwuemeka Eriugo, Secretary; had berated the military for allegedly aiding the opposition APGA in “rigging” election in Aba. ACF specially mentioned how a Bridge commander invaded the Aba South collation centre and ordered the sacked TC Chairman of Aba South out of the area.

led his closest rival, Dr. Alex Otti of the APGA with 83,053 votes. The statement reads in part: "Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo is beginning to lose its credibility by approbating and reprobating on the pages of some national dailies over the outcome of the Abia State gubernatorial elections which the INEC declared inconclusive. SEPA expressed regret that the South West zone of the organization in a recent publication claimed that the governorship candidate of the APGA,

won the election with majority of the votes cast and in another breath the Ohaneze, called for fresh polls in Abia State, on the ground that the election in the state was marred by gross irregularities and unprecedented riggings. "The organization which always claimed to be a non-political is now being driven by sentiments to campaign for the APGA. They are now sponsoring publications capable of destroying its reputation and further dragging the image of the Igbo nation to the mud", Uzoukwa said.

Anambra targets 2.7m women, children for immunisation

nambra State Government has said it is targeting about 2.7million women and children for immunization against tetanus and wild polio. The commissioner for health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, who stated this said that he was confident that all persons within the range of the immunization would be reached, reiterating that Anambra State, has continued to win the Nigerian Governors’ Forum award for wide reach in immunization

exercise, and that this could be attributed to the support of the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano. The commissioner said that the ministry would have no problem accessing all parts of the state, including the riverine areas as the government has procured 17 ambulances and six flying boats to help reach people in areas that can only be accessed through

Continuing, he said, "It must be noted that INEC did not declare the APGA candidate, as the winner of the election and neither did he score the highest number of votes as purportedly claimed by the Ohanaeze. It is on record that Ikpeazu of the PDP took the lead with 248,459 votes while Otti, polled 165,406 votes. What then was the basis for claiming that the APGA candidate won the election when in actual fact Dr. Ikpeazu of the PDP was coasting home with 83,053 votes,’’ he queried.

water. “We are using this opportunity to tell you that the second phase of National Immunization Plus Days will commence on 25th April and run through to 28th. Our specific objective is to administer two drops of potent oral polio vaccine and to scale up delivery of the routine immunization antigens as well as other child survival interventions.

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

Two NLC factional chairmen emerge in Edo Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he crisis rocking the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) took another dimension in Edo State yesterday as factions of the workers umbrella body produced two chairmen at different delegates conferences held in Benin the state capital. One of the factions

which pledge its loyalty to the Comrade Joe Ajaero led nation body, elected Comrade Eddy Ossai, as its state chairman while the other group which has the blessing of Comrade Anyuba Nwaba, at the national body reelected the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Emmabuel Ademokun at the conference held separately in the ancient capital town. This came as there

was shouting match between workers under the aegis of the Coalition of Edo state owned Tertiary Institutions (COASU) and the government over unpaid salaries during the delegate conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Trouble started when the state commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties, Comrade Didi Adodo, who represented Governor Osh-

iomhole, at the event told the audience at the conference that “even when other states were owing workers, Edo state government is not owing workers under its employment.” The speech irked the delegates mainly; those of them who come under the umbrella of the Coalition of Edo State owned tertiary Institutions who protested in the process and pointed out that they were being

owed several months of salaries by the government. Comrade Adodo, later refuted his earlier position that all that was due them as salaries had been remitted to their institutions through government up to date subventions to the affected institutions. Adodo said, “The government does not pay salaries directly to the state owned tertiary institutions but through

subvention given to them on a monthly basis. We have not failed in this obligation and the institutions are supposed to argument what they get as subvention with the internally generated revenue. If you are saying we owe, I disagree with you but however, the government can always meet and sit with you to look at the problem you feel you are having as regards payment of your salaries.”

Students fault Dickson on N100m bursary

L-R: Chairman, Steering Committee on National Code of Corporate Governance (NCCG), Mr. Victor Odiase; Chief Executive Officer, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), Mr. Jim Osayande Obazee and Media Consultant, Mr. Mark Ogbomosa, at a press conference on the issue of National Code of Corporate Governance in Lagos on Wednesday.

Peterside lied on Rivers poll, says PDP Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Dakuku Peterside of spreading lies over the election that was held in the state. The state party Chairman, Brother Felix Obuah, said that Peterside was being economical with the truth by claiming that the PDP rigged the election and that the party’s victory was a sham instead of accepting that his party lost the election.

Obuah, who faulted Peterside’s interview on a television programme, where he alleged that election did not take place in the state, noted that the APC candidate lied by saying that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Tunde Ogunsakin, told members of the APC that he personally came to Rivers State to side with the APC. He also faulted Peterside’s claim that the order given by the Presidency to Ogunsakin, to leave the state was responsible for the defeat of the APC in the election, just as he said that allegations against the PDP

over mass killings was being done to cast aspersion on the party. He said, “It’s rather ridiculous that a governorship candidate of Dakuku’s caliber is not abreast of the provisions of the electoral law and the only reason he could give for his benefactor’s (Amaechi) breaching of the law is that “ Amaechi, though a voter, is the governor. “He also alleged that electoral materials were hijacked by hoodlums whom he claimed also unleashed terror on some parts of the state without saying who those hoodlums were and which party members the victims were.

“ Dakuku is therefore speaking through both sides of his mouth by regarding the victory of PDP as a sham and yet accepted the victory of the APC from the same elections as credible in Opobo/Nkoro and Eleme LGAs where the APC won. “We are shocked however that up to date, neither Dakuku nor the APC has denied or rejected the votes they received in the two LGAs, where they won. It’s also pertinent to note that no relations of the alleged pre or post election violence have come up to accuse the PDP of responsibility of their predicament.

Buhari warned against appointment of questionable characters Chris Ejim Yenagoa

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Richard Kpodo, yesterday asked the President-Elect, Muhammud Buhari, not to appoint politicians with questionable characters and those not cleared of corrupt charges by the anticorruption agencies into his cabinet, warning that any

wrong appointment made may send the wrong signals about his administration. Kpodo, who served as the Bayelsa Chairman of the defunct new PDP and Security Adviser to the Bayelsa State Government, said though the zero tolerance status of the President-elect is known to Nigerians, the need to thread carefully and verify the status of any proposed political appointees was imperative for the proper take-

off of the expected change needed in the nation’s public system, which the in-coming administration stands for. Kpodo, who made this call yesterday in Yenagoa, during an interactive session with the media, noted that the APC and the president-elect, must stand by his campaign promises, particularly, the zero tolerance to corruption by appointing technocrats and credible hands devoid of sentiments

and corrupt past. He said, “The people of Bayelsa State want the President-elect to stand by his words and ensure that the battle against corruption starts with the choice of persons appointed into his cabinet. We believe in him due to his records and antecedents. The support base built during the campaign was based on the promise to tackle corruption head-on. We believe he is the man for the job.”

tudents of Bayelsa State yesterday faulted the recent approval and the release of bank cheques worth N100million to students by the Niger Delta University, Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Area of the state, saying such gesture was deceitful and an insult on the intelligence of the students in the state. To the aggrieved students, under the aegis of Concerned Bayelsa Students, though the gesture of the Governor Seriake Dickson was welcomed at a time the students of the NDU were in dire need of financial succour, the issuance of the N100million in bank cheques was a deliberate show of wickedness due to the expensive and harrowing experience students went through

during bursary verification exercise last year. The students spokesperson, Comrade Abiye Garigha of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the action of the state government was a far cry from the over 5,000 students in various higher institutions of learning awaiting bursary payment in the last three years. He said, “why did they ask the students to secure international passport and engage in verification exercise with opening of bank account, if such bursary would be paid by cheques?” “We have reviewed the gesture and found that it is a deliberate campaign strategy for the House of Assembly election held in Ammasoma recently.

Group moves against expulsion in Bayelsa PDP Chukwu David

Abuja

ome members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, have condemned an alleged move to expel some leaders of the party in the state, warning that the move could further negatively affect the chances of the party in the 2016 governorship election in the State. The group, which addressed a press conference in Abuja under the auspices of “Save Bayelsa PDP Forum” cautioned PDP leaders against actions that could promote disharmony within the PDP in Bayelsa State. The concerned party members, led by Elder Pere time Newman, particularly drew attention of the national leadership of the PDP to what it called unhealthy developments in Bayelsa PDP. The group’s protest

was provoked by the party’s action in Bayelsa, which set up a panel on Tuesday to investigate allegations of anti-party activities leveled against Senator Emmanuel Paulker, as it affected the performance of the party in the recently concluded elections. The panel, which is headed by the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, was given two weeks to submit preliminary report. Other members of the panel include the PDP chairman in the state, Serene Dokubo Spiffy, who serves as the panel’s vice chairman, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly , Kombowe Benson, Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Edmund Alison Oguri. Newman said, “We are by this forum drawing the attention of the National leadership of our great party (PDP) to certain ugly developments in the Bayelsa PDP.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Niger to spend N594.6m on varsity staff recruitment Dan Atori MINNA

s part of plans to ensure that the Niger State University of Education takes off in earnest, the state government has earmarked N594.6 million for the recruitment of staff to the new university and the College of Education, both in Minna, the state capital. Overseeing Commissioner for Education, Prof. Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, who disclosed this at a news conference yesterday, said the new university will take off as soon as the National Universities Commission (NUC) concludes arrangement to undertake a visitation to the university with a view to approving its programmes. The amount, according Yahaya, is to cover the salaries of 302 teaching and non-teaching staff for the university as well as six management staff and the engagement of 212 academic and nonacademic staff.

Senators clamour for Jega’s retention Mohammed Kawu Bauchi

he Bauchi North Senator-elect, Suleiman Nazif and the incumbent senator in the district, Babayo Garba Gamawa, have described INEC National Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, as a hero who should be given the opportunity to perfect the card reader operation for enhanced credibility in future elections. The senators, who spoke separately, has Nazif stressing the need for Jega to be given the opportunity to improve upon the election processes, especially the card reader, which he said is partly responsible for giving the opposition victory in the presidential and National Assembly elections. “Jega should be given the opportunity to improve upon the election processes, the processes need to be improved upon, Jega should be commended, loud ovation should be given to him for bringing the card reader, which was part of what was responsible for giving the opposition victory, he said.

News 49

NORTH

Kogi re-run poll: Police ready for ballot box snatchers Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

head of the by-election in Kogi State tomorrow, the state police command yesterday advised ballot box snatchers to stay

away from polling units in selected areas where elections are scheduled to hold. The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, at a media conference, said the command is deploying 4, 700 joint security personnel for the by-election.

Recognising the fact that no security personnel is allowed to carry firearms to the polling unit, the police insisted that a detachment of the police and the army will be assigned to each poling unit about 30 metres apart. He said since the by-

election will be taking place in particular units in a senatorial district, much attention will be directed at the area to avoid breakdown of law and order. In a related development, the police commissioner said a brand new AK-47 rifle and 4, 000

rounds of ammunition was recovered in a secondary school in the state. He further announced that the traditional festival scheduled to hold on the day of the by-election has been shifted till further notice as the occasion will clash with the election.

NORTH

L-R: Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. David Salifu; Deputy Governor-elect, Mr. Benson Abounu and Governor-elect, Dr. Samuel Ortom, during the presentation of eight officials vehicles to Ortom ahead of the May 29 hand-over date...yesterday. PHOTO: CEPHAS IORHEMEN

Bauchi sets up committee on maternal death review UNHCR lifts 15,000 put at 576 per hundred improve the performance Yusuf thousand life birth in the of health workers towards displaced persons in Bauchi Alhassan BAUCHI country according to the reducing maternal deaths Alhassan Yusuf BAUCHI

s part of efforts to bring succour to internally displaced persons in the NorthEast part of the country, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, yesterday donated non-food items to 15, 000 displaced persons in Bauchi State. Distributing the items to the beneficiaries, the Head of Bauchi State UNHCR sub-office, Cesar Mbar Tshilombo, said the donation was meant for the most vulnerable among them, such as people with chronic diseases, pregnant women, minors, aged persons, children affected by conflict as well as the girls who are victims of forced marriage. Tshilombo, who said the assistance was informed by the plea

made to UNHCR by the Federal Government, said the beneficiaries were selected from 3, 000 households, adding that the items distributed include lantern lamps, kerosene stoves, creams, soaps, detergent, sleepers, blankets and mosquito nets. He promised that the gesture would be extended to the other six states of the NorthEast even as he also assured that the UNHCR would help internally displaced persons willing to resettle at their states of origin to do so in the shortest possible time. “The donation was aimed at showing care and love to the beneficiaries, so that they can feel at home and live comfortably like other members of the society. We have made similar donation to internally displaced persons in Gombe State and we will do the same in all the six states of the NorthEast,” he said.

he Bauchi State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Evidence for Action (E4A)/ DFiD and USAID/TSHIP, yesterday set up a Technical Working Group (TWG) on Maternal Death Review (MDR) in the state. The setting up of the committee became necessary in view of the prevailing rate of maternal deaths due to childbirth

2013 National Health Demographic Survey. The survey said one woman out of every 41 in Nigeria faces a lifetime risk of death in childbirth in contrast to Ethiopia, where one woman out of 67 faces such a risk. The NorthEast, where Bauchi State is located, is the worst hit by these deaths. The MDR approach, which is one of the most cost effective methods to

in our health facilities, is a national health policy. In his presentation, Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, of E4A said: “MDR is a qualitative, in-depth investigation into the causes of, and circumstances surrounding mater nal deaths, which occur in health care facilities with a view to determining strategies for preventing future occurrences.”

Tiv youths want Akume as Senate president Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

Tiv youths organisation in Benue State under the auspices of ‘Tiv Youths Assembly Voice’ has thrown its weight behind the emergence of Senator George Akume as the president of the Senate. The group described him as a leader of unquestionable character that would bring about the needed stability in the legislative arm of government. Arising from their meeting held in Makur-

di, the group resolved to back the Senate Minority Leader, who they said has demonstrated exemplary quality in leadership. Coordinator of the group, Comrade Elijah Ikpanor, said Akume deserves to be elected the next Senate President, because of the role he played in returning the North Central, which used to be a stronghold of the PDP into the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The group said: “Akume’s doggedness as the first senator to dump the PDP in the early days of the change rev-

olution in 2011, encouraged many renowned politicians of pedigree to dump the PDP and join the progressives, which finally gave APC overwhelming victory in the just-concluded polls at all levels. “As governor of Benue State from 1999 to 2007, Akume was awarded the best performing governor in the North Central zone, an achievement that made him emerge as the first person to govern the state for eight years and then preceded to the Senate, serving for three terms now,” Ikpanor said.

World |News

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

South Africa marches against xenophobia

everal thousand demonstrators marched through central Johannesburg yesterday to protest against a spate of deadly attacks on immigrants, after further raids by the authorities on suspected gang hideouts. Watched by police, crowds sang songs denouncing xenophobia and carried banners that read “We are all Africans” as migrant workers crowded balconies, shouting their support. “This march sends an important message to the world, to Africans,” David Makhura, premier of

Gauteng province of which Johannesburg is the capital, told the demonstrators. “We are going to defeat xenophobia like we defeated apartheid.”We are here to make sure that South Africa is a country of peace for all.” Soldiers were deployed in Johannesburg this week to aid police in operations against hostels housing South African men who are accused of targeting migrants from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and other African countries. At least seven people have been killed in three weeks

of unrest that have revived memories of xenophobic bloodshed in 2008, when 62 people were killed. “I am here to make a stand, to say ‘Not in my name’,” Zain Mayet, 20, one of the marchers, told AFP. “Keeping quiet makes me as guilty as those who are committing violence. “We are here to demonstrate that not everyone in South Africa is a criminal who attacks foreign nationals.” UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the violence and called for “all efforts” to be made to avoid future

attacks. “He welcomes the public expressions of the many South Africans who have been calling for peaceful coexistence and harmony with foreign nationals,” Ban’s spokesman said in a statement. Two people were arrested late Wednesday when police, backed by soldiers, stormed a workers’ hostel in the city’s crowded Alexandra Township. In total, over 300 people have been detained. The unrest erupted in the port city of Durban

about three weeks ago and later spread to Johannesburg, the economic capital. Many immigrants have been forced to flee their homes and abandon their small shops as marauding mobs hunted down foreigners at night. “Over 5,000 people from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi still seek refuge in displacement camps,” Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF - Doctors Without Borders) said in a statement. “Injured Malawian and Zimbabwean

men told medics that they are too afraid to openly seek medical treatment for their wounds and fractures for fear of further attack.” More than 20 years since the end of apartheid, many South Africans believe the lack of opportunities for young blacks and a severe jobs shortage has led to deep frustration. One Mozambican man was stabbed to death in Alexandra township last Saturday in scenes that provoked widespread outrage after the killing was captured in graphic newspaper photographs.

Guinean opposition urges protests over elections uinea’s opposition ing “chosen the street” called for protests to make their case. G He accused activists across the country against a disputed election timetable yesterday after days of violent clashes in the capital, even as the president ruled out any review. Violence between supporters of the opposition Union of Republican Forces (UFR) and police during unauthorised protests in Conakry have left several dead in the last two weeks, but supporters are undeterred and seeking to consolidate their regional backing. Conakry governor Soriba Sorel Camara made a statement on public radio ahead of fresh protests planned for midday (1200 GMT), criticising sections of the opposition for hav-

People at a march against xenophobic attacks in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa...yesterday

of “acts of rare barbarity” including “stoning public and private vehicles, seriously wounding public order officials” and urged the public to go about their normal business. Guinean President Alpha Conde said on Wednesday the country’s constitution ruled out the kind of changes to the election timetable sought by opposition supporters. “The Guinean constitution requires that presidential elections take place on a precise date,” Conde told reporters after a meeting with French President Francois Hollande in Paris. “We will do everything possible to maintain order in the republic.”

Obama takes blame for two hostages’ death Evacuation as Calbuco

resident Barack Obama yesterday revealed that an American and an Italian hostage were killed in a covert US counterterrorism operation on the Afghan-Pakistan border in January, saying he took “full responsibility” for the tragedy. Making public the previously classified finding, Obama expressed his “deepest apologies” to the families of the two hostages, Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto. Two other Americans linked to Al-Qaeda, including spokesman Adam Gadahn, were killed in operations at around the same time, the White House said. “Based on information and intelligence we have obtained, we believe that a US counter-terrorism operation targeting an Al-Qaeda compound in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region accidentally killed Warren and Giovanni this past January,” Obama said in an unscheduled statement. “As president and

as commander-in-chief, I take full responsibility for all our counterterrorism operations, including the one that inadvertently took the lives of Warren and Giovanni, he said.”I profoundly regret what happened. On behalf of the United States government, I offer our deepest apologies to the families.” Weinstein was snatched after gunmen tricked their way into his home in Lahore on August 13, 2011 shortly before he was due to return home after seven years working in Pakistan. He later appeared in a video in which, under apparent coercion, he asked the United States to free AlQaeda prisoners. Italian aid worker Lo Porto, 39, disappeared in January 2012 in Pakistan. Weinstein’s widow said in a statement that “we are devastated by this news and the knowledge that my husband will never safely return home.” The White House statement did not identify which US agency

carried out the operation, which suggests it was carried out by an intelligence service rather than a military unit. If confirmed, it would be the latest controversy to hit Obama’s counter-terrorism operations, while killing Osama bin Laden -- have relied heavily on secret drone strikes. “We have concluded that Ahmed Faruq, an American who was an Al-Qaeda leader, was killed in the same operation that resulted in the deaths of Dr. Weinstein and Mr. Lo Porto,” the White House said. “We have also concluded

that Adam Gadahn, an American who became a prominent member of Al-Qaeda, was killed in January, likely in a separate US Government counterterrorism operation,” it added. “While both Faruq and Gadahn were Al-Qaeda members, neither was specifically targeted, and we did not have information indicating their presence at the sites of these operations.” In his statement, Obama said the US believed that the operation resulting in the hostage deaths “did take out dangerous members of Al-Qaeda.”

volcano erupts in Chile he Calbuco volcano region, said Calbuco had in southern Chile has not been under any special T erupted twice in the space form of observation. of a few hours - having lain dormant for decades. Footage from the area shows a huge column of lava and ash being sent several kilometres into the air. The authorities have declared a red alert and evacuated more than 4,000 people within a 20km (12 mile) radius. The Calbuco volcano is one of the most active in Chile, but its eruption took officials in the area by surprise. Alejandro Verges, an emergency director for the

The inhabitants of the nearby town of Ensenada along with residents from two other smaller communities have been ordered to evacuate their homes. Schools in the area have been shut and some flights cancelled. The nearby city of Puerto Montt a gateway to the popular Patagonia region has already been blanketed in a cloud of ash. TV footage showed traffic jams in the city and long queues at petrol stations.

EU leaders commit ships, aid for action on migrants E uropean Union leaders yesterday started committing new resources to save lives in the Mediterranean at an emergency summit convened after hundreds of migrants drowned in the space of a few days, and discussed action to destroy vessels that could be used for trafficking. “First and foremost now,

we have to save lives and take the right measures to do so,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she arrived. The latest summit draft statement, obtained by The Associated Press, would pledge the 28 nations to double their spending to save lives, “increase search and rescue possibilities” and to

“undertake systematic efforts to identify, capture and destroy vessels before they are used by traffickers.” Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would contribute the navy’s flagship, HMS Bulwark, along with three helicopters and two border patrol ships to the EU effort. “As the country in

Europe with the biggest defense budget we can make a real contribution,” he said, but added that this would not include accepting a share of the refugees. German army sources told the DPA news agency Berlin would offer to send the troop supply ship “Berlin” as well as frigates “Karlsruhe” and “Hessen” toward Italy.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

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International Sport

NIKE replaces Adidas as kits sponsors

Champions League: Clubs await semifinal draw

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Emenike condemns Xenophobia attacks

Did you know? That Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger has failed to win in 12 games against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea across the Portuguese coach’s two spells at Stamford Bridge, drawing five and losing seven of their clashes.

Mayweather-Pacquiao: Tickets could cost more than £60,000

ickets for next week’s fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio was finally expected to go on sale on Thursday, with some expected to cost £60,000 ($100,000) on the resale market. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas has a capacity of 16,500 but only about 1,000 seats can be bought by the public. The rest will go to the fighters, the casino, sponsors and promoters.

The cheapest ticket for the May 2 bout will cost £1,000 ($1,500), rising to around £6,700 ($10,000). The MGM also announced the sale of thousands of closed circuit seats at its various properties at £100 ($150) apiece. With nine days to the fight, the sale of tickets had become a key issue. Reports claimed they had been unavailable because the two sides were arguing

over who got what tickets and where they were located. Mayweather’s promoter, Leonard Ellerbe, said tickets would probably go on sale on Thursday. “I’m doing my very, very best to get them on sale tomorrow,” he said on Wednesday. “I don’t have a time yet.” Asked about the delay, Mayweather responded: “I don’t worry about tickets, I worry about the guy in front of me.

Manny Pacquiao that’s my whole focus. Tickets are something I don’t deal with.” American Mayweather has won all 47 of his fights, 26 by knockout, while Filipino Pacquiao has a record of 57 wins, five losses and two draws. Mayweather used Wednesday’s conference call to defend his claim that he is a superior fighter to Muhammad Ali, regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers in history.

“No disrespect to Muhammad Ali, but he did it in one division,” said the 38-year-old Mayweather. “There were some other fights he lost and he’s still known as ‘The Greatest’ because that’s what he put out there. It is what it is. “He called himself ‘The Greatest’ and I call myself ‘TBE’ (The Best Ever). I’m pretty sure I’ll get criticised for what I said, but I couldn’t care less.”

Keshi stops Allardyce Adekunle Salami

Manager in the English Premier League, Sam Allardyce, was on the verge of getting the Super Eagles job before Nigerian ex-international, Stephen Keshi, staged a dramatic return to grab the plum position. Authoritative sources revealed to New Telegraph that discussion with Allardyce was at an advanced stage but the powers backing Keshi made it impossible for the Englishman to get the nod.

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

It was reliably learnt that £38,000 had been agreed as the monthly salary of ‘Big Sam’ who is currently the manager of EPL outfit, West Ham. “The NFF wanted a foreign coach. Everything was on course and a fee of £38,000 was already agreed but there was pressure on the board to retain Keshi. Somehow it was difficult to ignore the ’powers that be’ in the country and hence, the NFF caved in to give Keshi the job,” the source explained on Wednesday. Our correspondent also exclusively learnt that the Amaju Pinnick led board had secured a sponsor who was ready to foot the bill of Allardyce. “The NFF cannot pay such money and so they worked secretly to get a sponsor. This was clearly the cause of the long delay and not the negotiation with Keshi,” the source added. It will be recalled that Allardyce was excited about being linked with the Super Eagles job some weeks ago. “Nigeria has so much talent in football. I worked with Jay Jay (Austin) Okocha and I guess he could have been one of those who wanted me to handle Nigerian national team,” Allardyce said. Only on Tuesday in Abuja, the NFF and Keshi formally agreed on a two-year contract for the Big Boss to continue as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. It took the football ruling body 282 days to arrive at that decision.

Keshi (left) with Super Eagles in jubilation mood.

INSET: Sam Allardyce

Sport

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Garland of dishonour for failed administrators

have battled these past few days to remain apolitical in the face of unfolding drama besetting our sports. It has become a case of to be or not to be, or who blinks first? In this terrible game of musical chairs I discovered that the better part of me has won, hence the poser, “Is Nigerian sports doomed ab-initio? The crisis of confidence rocking our sports has pitched the Sports Minister against the Director General in a battle of strange bed fellows. The battle has come full circle with the axe of Damocles dangling recklessly over the top echelon in the ministry. Each passing day, we seldom know what to believe anymore, as the nation is inundated with amazing tales of sleaze of monumental proportion that beats human imagination. The emphasis is no longer on how to develop our various sports right from the grassroots and by extension explore ways of improving the welfare of our sportsmen and women, rather it is on how to share the merger monthly subvention that trickles into the coffers of the commission by the powers that be. Come to think of it, going by the feelers on ground, nothing seems to work anymore, as all the professional administrators appear to be on unofficial holidays, while

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power play amongst different power blocks takes the centre stage. It has become a case of who bails the cat, since the occupants of the top echelon of our sports appears to have ran out of ideas on what to do to revive our moribund sports federations, most of which has become nothing but gossip centers. All we hear on daily basis are nothing but sad tales of infighting and institutionalization of cliques and massive corruption. These were far cry from what obtains during the reign of Dr Amos Adamu, where the meager subvention received was properly utilized. Although there were some minor complaints about some aspects of the ministry’s activities, it was not as bad as we are witnessing today, because the overall administrative machinery of the commission was still functioning. As at now, things have declined abysmally to the chagrin of all

JOE BOOSTER

under the watch and supervision of the current occupants of that seat. They have bungled all inherited structures and ended up not adding any value in the long run. In fact, it has become a tale of “to thy tent O Israel.” Sports competitions are no longer organized on a regular basis by federations, sponsorships which used to be a major source of funding for sports federations are now a thing of the past, while the catch them young programme that kept many idle youths busy and out of the streets has become a thing of the past. Desperate federation executives who know what to do, had to scrape through their teeth without relevant backing or encouragement to host few tournaments, that serve as qualifiers for their continental events. It is rather appalling that top executives of the commission only gather when there are funds to share instead of

to plan for the development of our sports. The natural question to ask is how and when did we get to this level, where blackmail and back biting has been elevated to an act. The truth is that we have witnessed the over politicization of our sports, by some individuals who have hidden agenda, that is at variance with our collective national interest. They see sports as a veritable ground to hunt for unaccountable free flowing funds instead of the other way round. The impunity perpetuated by these individuals is given vent by the fact that there’s no enabling law governing the activities of the NSC up till now. The National Assembly that ought to play oversight function on the commission has also been compromised, since they are neck deep in the scandal prone body. Consequently, they have lost their moral rights to question the commission’s big wigs, who they serve as accomplices, in the quest to ascertain who gets what. It is on record that contracts for the construction of MiniStadia in all Federal constituencies all over the Country was allegedly awarded to members of the various chambers of the National Assembly. They were made to either nominate the contractors or mandated to supervise the contracts di-

rectly. Regrettably, up till now, none of the jobs have been delivered; years after the due dates. Unfortunately, nobody has been held accountable. The pains at the moment are the news filtering from the grapevine of case of the gross instability in the NSC, where two Director Generals hold sway as a result of power tussle. This is direct fallout of the long standing battle between the sports minister, Tammy Danagogo, and Gbenga Elegbeleye, who was allegedly sacked by Mr. President recently. The staffs are now divided and seldom know who to report to or be loyal to in accordance with the service rules. Here is an organization that is grossly underfunded yet easy money keeps floating with reckless abandon. It is high time we put an end to this gruesome celebration of malfeasance. The current occupants of the seat have failed the nation woefully. Rather than develop our sports, they have contributed towards its destruction. For every idle unemployed youth on the streets, drug users or a social deviant and miscreant, these failed administrators have some level of guilt to share in their fate. Hence, I present a garland of dishonor to these failed sports aficionados.

NIKE replaces Adidas as kits sponsors

• Flying Eagles to launch kit in N’Zealand

ike and the Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday at The Soho Hotel, Richmond Mews, London announced a new partnership in which Nike, the world’s leading football brand, is to design and develop football kits for the men’s and women’s national football teams from April 1, 2015, until 2018. The sports manufacturing outfit replaces Adidas. Nike is designing performance and training apparel, and equipment, including team kits and footballs, for the Nigerian national football team players at every level of the game. There will be an exclusive-edition team kit for all NFF teams until the 2016-17 kit launches in mid-2016. In addition, Nike will design an assortment of products for Nigerians to show their support for the national team, to be available from mid-2016. The Nigeria Flying Eagles will be the first team to don the new Nike kit at the U-20 football tournament to be hosted in New Zealand from May 31. NFF President Amaju Pinnick expressed confidence that the Kit Sponsorship Agreement will open more doors for Nigeria football in the area of sponsorship. “I am thoroughly convinced that this agreement is the beginning of good and great things to

happen to Nigeria football with regards to sponsorship deals. “The NFF is happy to come into partnership with a leading global brand like NIKE. We are in good company.” Pinnick believes there will be even more glorious moments for Nigeria football in the coming years than during NIKE’s first partnership with the NFF between 1994 and 2003. “During those years, Nigeria won a first-ever Olympics football gold (1996) and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup (1998). But I have no doubts whatsoever that this second coming of NIKE into Nigeria football will bring even more joyous moments with plenty of laurels for the National Teams. “Nigeria football has excellent potential all around and a top global brand like NIKE will help to spur the processes that the present NFF administration has put in place to drive our game to the next level.” The NFF President commended the efforts of the Federation’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sports, in sealing the contract. “We appreciate the hard work that Mr. Pachon and his Eurodata Sports are making in the interest of Nigeria football. They are good working partners and their contributions are invaluable.”

Emma Eviemere of Kwara United (right) dribbling past Kunle Olukoku of 3sc

NFF commences work on burnt secretariat Adeolu Johnson Abuja

here are indications that the Nigeria Football Federation may remain at the Glass House situated at the Olu Obasanjo way, Abuja instead of moving to the FIFA Goal site situated at the Package B of the National Stadium, Abuja. The NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi has promised on assuming powers that his priority is moving to the FIFA Goal site as soon as possible.

But signs became noticeable as rehabilitation works has commenced on the offices which got burnt last year with contractors putting the damaged areas into shape. When New Telegraph called at the office of the Secretary General, to speak on the development he was said to have gone to the sports ministry. But some of the staff who spoke on the matter on condition of anonymity said the NFF would prefer to remain at the present location because of its proximity to the centre of the city.

They also raised the issue of security which might be a problem if the NFF moves to the Goal Project site which could deserted and dangerous. “The Sunday Dankaro House is at the end of the Package B and very close to the Express with only barbed wire demarcating it from the Highway,” our source said. He said besides this, the NFF officials may have to be cut off from the usual bubbling life of the city and perhaps denied easy access to Business centres where most of their works are done.

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Champions League: Clubs await semifinal draw

here are four teams remaining in the race to be crowned as kings of European football, and the draw for the 2015 Champions League semi-finals will dictate their respective routes to the final on Friday. Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid will all scrap it out to make it to the showpiece final

in Berlin on June 6. With three of the four sides involved topping their domestic divisions, and the reigning European champions making up the semi-final cast list, fans are set for an engrossing set of matches. Eyes will be glued to screens across the globe when the draw is made today (Friday). Barcelona progressed into the last four with a 5-1 ag-

gregate win against Paris Saint-Germain while Bayern Munich, despite losing the first leg of their quarter final game against Porto 3-1, was merciless in a 6-1 home win on Tuesday, progressing to the semi-final on a 7-4 aggregate win. Juventus and Real Madrid progressed on a 1-0 aggregate victory over Monaco and Athletico Madrid respectively.

Liverpool’s Henderson signs new long-term deal

Henerson

ordan Henderson signed a new long-term contract at Liverpool on Thursday, keeping the England midfielder at a club where he is expected to take over as captain next season. Liverpool didn’t disclose the length of Henderson’s new deal, but British media reported it is for five years, taking him through 2020. “A few years ago I had an opportunity to leave, but I always knew how big this club is and I wanted to stay here for as long as possible,”

said Henderson, who joined from Sunderland in 2011, “and nothing has changed since then. “There is nowhere else I want to go.” Liverpool has also tied Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge to longterm contracts this season. Another star player, Raheem Sterling, has turned down a contract offer worth 100,000 pounds ($150,000) a week and says he will not be discussing a new deal until this summer at the earliest.

Sunderland’s Johnson Buffon names Messi in Champions League Dream XI faces child sex charges

uventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has become the latest name in world football to select his all-time Champions League XI. Buffon joins the likes of Ronaldinho and Pirlo to select his ultimate eleven of Champions League stars, and the Italian goalkeeper was even modest enough to keep himself out of the XI, despite an illustrious career. In goal, Buffon selected current Real Madrid star Iker Casillas. The 33-yearold has been at Real Madrid for his entire career, and has amassed a huge 719 appearances for Los Blancos since emerging from the academy aged just 17. Buffon’s intimidating back line includes Lillian Thuram, Fabio Cannavaro, Paulo Maldini and Roberto Carlos. Buffon’s midfield trio is made up by Juventus star Pavel Nedved, team-mate Andrea Pirlo and former international team-mate Gennero Gattuso. Making up the ground-shaking forward trio is Roberto Baggio, Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.

edia caption Johnson was also charged with one offence of grooming when he answered bail at a police station England and Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has been charged with three counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. The 27-year-old, from Castle Eden, County Durham, was initially arrested on 2 March. He was also charged with one offence of grooming when he answered bail at a police station earlier, Durham Police said. He will appear before Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on 20 May. Sunderland AFC initially suspended the winger pending the outcome of the investigation, but this was lifted on 18 March. Gerry Wareham, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said he had authorised police to charge Johnson under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He said the offences are alleged to have been committed on a single victim between 30 December 2014 to 26 February this year.

Paris Saint-Germain focus on French title

Buffon

ith its European aspirations in tatters after two losses to Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals, Paris Saint-Germain will now focus on finishing ahead of Lyon in the close-fought French title race. The teams are level on points, with Lyon ahead on goal difference — although the difference is steadily dwindling — and PSG having played a game less. PSG will again be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Saturday’s home match against Lille as he serves the second of his three-game ban for an expletive-laced rant aimed at officials after a league game against Bordeaux last month.

Cristiano Ronaldo dribbling past Atletico Madrid player on wednesday

Treat Fabregas with respect –Wenger

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas deserves a warm reception on his return to the Emirates this weekend. The Frenchman believes Fabregas should be seen as a good servant for the club, and not a traitor, reports BBC Sport. Fabregas played for Arsenal between 2003 and 2011, before signing for boyhood club Barcelona. He left the Catalan giants for a second time in his career to sign for Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea - who are currently Premier League leaders - and the two parties will renew acquaintances this weekend at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger understands supporters

will be harbouring some negativity towards Fabregas’ decision to join a rival side, but doesn’t want a cold reception on Sunday.

Wenger

Player’s Award: Courtois wants goalkeeper winner

helsea’s Thibaut Courtois has claimed it is time a goalkeeper was voted Player of the Year. Belgium international keeper Courtois has been nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association Young Player of the Year award but fears he will miss out. Courtois has starred for Jose Mourinho’s Premier League leaders in his maiden campaign in England, and the former Atlet-

ico Madrid man thinks it is time a goalkeeper was recognised. Courtois said: “Hopefully one day it can change that the player of the year awards - not only in England but also everywhere in the world - can be won by a goalkeeper, too. “I think that still has to improve. But also when people vote I think they will always vote for a player first and the second one is a goalkeeper.”

De La Hoya favours Pacquiao

scar De La Hoya is backing Manny Pacquiao to upset the odds in Las Vegas and hand Floyd Mayweather the first defeat of his professional career. De La Hoya believes Pacquaio’s aggressive attacking style could cause problems for the American in their May 2 super fight. However, the former sixweight champion, has warned the appointment of referee Kenny Bayless has already handed Mayweather an advantage. De La Hoya is well placed to give his opinion on the two fighters after sharing a ring with both during his glittering career. ‘The Golden Boy’ lost a split

Pacquiao

decision to Mayweather in 2007 and then 19 months later was battered into retirement by the Filipino super star following eight brutal rounds.

Sport

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Emenike condemns xenophobic attacks

Keshi needs support to succeed – Geremi

ormer Cameroon midfielder Geremi Njitap has called for adequate support for Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi in order that he might succeed. Keshi was handed a new two-year contract on Tuesday, ten months after his previous deal expired at the end of the World Cup while he worked on a per-game contract during the failed 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Geremi, a member of the highly talented 2000 and 2002 AFCON-winning Indomitable Lions, said that the Nigeria Football Federation needs to put everything in place in order for the 53-year-old to do well. “I’m happy for him because they gave him another contract, it means that they trust him. But they have to support him. It’s not only him that has to make the difference,” Geremi told Goal at Heineken’s #ChampionTheMatch in Lagos. Cameroon defeated Nigeria in the final of the 2000 AFCON in Lagos via penalties and retained their title at the next edition against Senegal. Geremi, 36, played in that Indomitable Lions core which also won the Olympic gold medal at Sydney 2000.

Ajibade Olusesan

uper Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has condemned the xenophobia attacks in South Africa saying that unity is what Africa needs at the moment. The Fernabahce striker started his professional career abroad with South Africa‘s FC Cape Town and Mpumalanga Black Aces and he is surprised about the menace going on in that country. He urged those who are attacking their fellow Africans to stop the killing so that we could have one big united Africa. The AFCON 2013 highest goal scorer, who still has families and friends in South Africa, said African leaders have to come together for a united Africa and said what is happening in South Africa is strange to him. “I can’t believe what is happening in South Africa,” Emenike told AfricanFoot-

ball.com “I believe we should have moved beyond this stage in Africa. We should always see ourselves as one irrespective of where we come from. “I am therefore calling for unity among other Africans. I am proud to be African, it is always a pleasure to be united as one big family, do things in common and assist ourselves rather than killing ourselves. I believe in Africa and we should be proud of ourselves.” Emenike further said, “While I was in South Africa, I never experienced such a thing and its look very strange to me seeing such killings and destruction of properties. “This is not the time for retaliation, everybody needs to come out to save the situation and call for peace. We don’t want war in our continent. We need peace and Unity. God Bless Nigeria, God Bless South Africa and Emenike God bless Africa as a whole.”

Onoja sisters avoid semifinal clash Alli reveals world class cast for Okpekpe race

T Geremi

U-20 W/Cup: Man City give condition for Iheanacho’s release

PL champions Manchester City have said they are willing to release Nigeria starlet Kelechi Iheanacho for next month’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand if he came through a game without any concerns. Iheanacho has been battling various injuries, but he has since returned to training. “City have said they will release him for the World Cup should he play a game for the reserves or the U-19 team and come through without any problems,” a source close to the forward told AfricanFootball.com “They want to be sure he is fully fit before he will be released to join the Flying Eagles.” City stopped Iheanacho from last month’s African Youth Championship in Senegal, insisting he was nursing an injury. However, they later soft pedaled on the insistence of the player, who again suffered another injury blow just before the AYC began. The Owerri-born youngster is expected to lead three other Europe-based players to join the Flying Eagles training camp in Germany next month. The other players are Wilfred Ndidi (Genk, Belgium), Moses Simon (Gent, Belgium) and Isaac Success (Granada, Spain).

he Onoja sisters Neku and Iye have qualified for the semifinals in the Girls 12 category in the ongoing CBN Junior Tennis Championship but managed to avoid a potentially explosive semifinal confrontation. Neku, 12, emerged second in her round robin group losing the final classification match to Chidinma Ezeh from Anambra 9-3. Iye. 10, also lost her final classification match to Timipre Maxwell from Port Harcourt 9-1. By placing second in their groups, the Onoja sisters avoided a “sisters act” in the semifinals. Neku will meet Maxwell winner of Group A while Iye will take on Chidinma Ezeh in the second semifinals. Iye Onoja is also through to the Girls 10 finals where she will meet Serena Teluwo from Lagos. Timipre Maxwell is equally through to the Girls 14 semifinals placing second from her group behind the in-form Marylove Ed-

wards. Maxwell will meet Favour Moses who led her group while Edwards will take on Kasara Adegboyega from Ibadan. There were several upsets in the boys’ events. Chris Itodo from Kaduna edged out Amos Michael from a semifinal place in the Boys 18s. The hard fought contest saw the Port Harcourt based Michael squandering two match points in the tiebreak to go down 9-8. The other semifinalists are Martins Agbamu, Michael Michael and Chris Bulus who upset highly rated Austin Stephen to earn his place. The top two seeds in the 10s, 12s, 14s and 16s are allowed to play one additional category higher and Itodo, Bulus, Iye Onoja and Maxwell have all qualified for the semifinals in two categories. The semifinal matches are scheduled for Friday beginning at 10 am while the grand finale is planned for Saturday beginning from 12 noon.

ormer Nigeria long jump champion and reigning record holder, Yusuf Alli, has revealed a world class cast of elite athletes getting set for the 3rd Okpekpe 10km road race in Okpekpe, Auchi, Edo State. Alli says the organizers have been able to get athletes in top form since the start of the year and believes a new course record will likely be witnessed come May 16 when the event takes place in Okpekpe. “I am thrilled that we have been able to secure two of the fastest three men in the world over 10km this year. We have Amos Kiplimo Mitel of Kenya who ran a new personal best of 27.58 minutes early this month

in Paderborn, Germany. That is the second fastest time in the world so far this year. He is only bettered by Germany’s Homiyu Tesfaye who ran four seconds faster (27:54) to win the race in Paderborn” said a delighted Alli who also revealed the capture, as it were of Dawi Fikadu of Ethiopia. “Fikadu holds the third fastest time in the world so far this year at 28.04 minutes and both times (Mitel and Fikadu’s) are better than the 28.26 minutes Okpekpe course record set last year by Ethiopia’s Teshome Asafan,”he said. Alli however explained why organisers of the event decided to get the best legs to compete in the race.

AYAC: Nigerian athletes miss Day One events Charles Ogundiya

Abubakar Hyatt

eam Nigeria failed to start the most of the events on the first day of ongoing African Youth Athletics Championship in Mauritius. The results of some of the events competed for during the first day of the competition, saw Nigerian athletes failing to start the events after arriving Mauritius late on Thursday. Alphonsus Aniekeme and Abolaji Omotayo failed to start in their respective heat in the 100m

race for the girls while no Nigerian athletes was registered for the boys 100m. The day two of the championship will see two Nigerians, Tobechukwu Emmanuel and Prior Ochonogor, competing in the boys’ long jump and 400m hurdles respectively. The poor travelling arrangement has come to hunt the country after the athletes who travelled late on Wednesday night were still airborne while their counterparts were already in the tick of action in Mauritius.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble The monkey and gorilla may claim oneness but the monkey is monkey and the gorilla, gorilla. – West African Proverb

World Record Brazil is the first to win

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Soccer World Cup in four continents

FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015.

N150

Bigotry and challenges before Buhari

he 2015 elections offered an interesting opportunity for Nigerians to learn some valuable lessons about their nation. One of them is that we share an interesting kind of bond as Nigerians. We are bound by the ‘one nation, one destiny’ mantra when all seems to be going on well. But whenever something pulls at this, we could come to verbal punches and even physical brawls. The electioneering period set many close friendships asunder (I lost some friends myself due to political differences) because we took the politicians too seriously. As such, many of us became more interested in the political contests than the political parties and candidates themselves. In short, we took things very personal. Just like in 2011, so it was in 2015. The elections have come and gone. Now, the frayed nerves are gradually calming and we suddenly remember that we had friends who meant so much to us. But something happened and we suddenly became adversaries – even enemies in some instances. While the candidates, the victors and losers, are swiftly making up and negotiating deals (as usual), many of us have yet to come to terms with the fact that it was afterall just an election. Some comments on social media would make you cry, seriously. It’s like though the losers have either moved on with their lives or taken their grievances to the elections tribunals, some of their supporters are bent on retaining the enmity they suddenly struck up because of the elections. It’s as if Nigeria doesn’t matter anymore because another round of elections recently took place. During the campaigns, hate speeches rolled across the landscape as if it was a matter of life and death. Since the elections ended, some of the hate campaigners have openly or secretly made up with their targets. But their supporters have carried on as if there shouldn’t be an end to mudslinging. Some bloggers have taken it upon themselves to sustain this campaign of calumny by either publishing falsehood or ridiculing winners or losers of the elections. One strand of this campaign of calumny is the Nigerian version of xenophobia, which has been manifest since preindependence days. If we were to do a body count of casualties generated by this periodic wave of hatred in Nigeria, we would find out that we lack the moral authority to accuse the murderous South Africans of xenophobia. We even fought a civil war, during which over one million Nigerians reportedly died. The kind of bigotry we exhibit in Nigeria would make the South Africans look like learners in their misguided embrace of xeno-

Vantage

Point

EMEKA MADUNAGU emeka.madunagu@newtelegraphonline.com 08059757248 (sms only)

A family being pursued by angry South African mob

phobia. It manifests in discriminatory comments and practices. Any researcher into bigotry in Nigeria would be shocked at how people of one ethnic group regard those of other tribes. It’s so sickening the kinds of descriptions you hear people of one ethnic group give of those of other tribes. Yet, when we gather at different places to watch football or discuss current affairs and the latest political or economic scam in the country, we set aside these differences. It’s amazing how Nigerians can agree on an issue that affects them as one but don’t hesitate to draw the line on ethnic or religious matters. At such testy moments, it’s as if we don’t bother about the danger of deepening our fault lines. So, politicians find it easy manipulating us on the basis of our differences. It was manifest during the elections when some candidates dwelt on our religious and ethnic differences. It also exists at intra-ethnic and

It’s amazing how Nigerians can agree on an issue that affects them as one but don’t hesitate to draw the line on ethnic or religious matters

Photo: nigerianewsday.com

Buhari

intra-religious levels. Nigerians of the same ethnic group or religious affiliation would not hesitate to throw barbs at their fellows, even though they are connected in some ways. I don’t want to give examples but suffice it to say that until we decide to do away with these negative tendencies and prejudices, we will continue to struggle with the task of building a strong and united nation. I’ve never met anyone from the United States who declares that he or she is first a citizen of Texas or Washington State before being an American. There are Nigerians who tell you that they would prefer to be regarded first as citizens of their ethnic group before being described as Nigerians. It is as if being a Nigerian is anathema to them. That is why you would find highly educated Nigerians inciting hatred or genocide against fellow Nigerians simply because they are from different ethinc groups or religions. Caution and decorum are often

thrown overboard when ethnic or religious issues dominate discourse among our people. Yet, we are enjoined by the values within our ethnic groups and religions to love our neighbours as ourselves. In this day and age when science and technology are erasing geographical boundaries, we are still steeped in vicious campaigns of calumny over ownership of space. Meanwhile, foreigners are encroaching on our economic and geographical space and making us look inferior. Foreigners come into Nigeria and create vicious monopolies, to our own shame and detriment. Foreigners buy up companies wrecked by Nigerians, turn them around and treat our people like slaves. While we tear each other down, foreigners are carving up choice slices of our economy, making us inferior competitors. I can’t understand why in a nation of over 150 million people, that some multinationals would want to keep a firm grip on any sector. This is something they cannot do in their home countries. They come here and undermine local companies with all manner of strong arm tactics. Name any sector you can think of and just imagine the ugly practices foreign investors engage in. while I’m for a competitive economy, I would also like incoming President Muhammadu Buhari to look at the unfair practices engaged in by foreign investors. Foreign companies cannot come to Nigeria to treat our people like slaves while their home governments shut their doors and economic opportunities against our people. We must begin to love each other and collectively fight the neo-colonial economic invaders who are ripping us off. Indians who control the petrochemicals sector have through unfair practices raised prices in the area. How come Indians control such a vital sector in a nation with millions of brilliant brains? Have our leaders been wasting our money shopping for foreign investors abroad so they would come and enslave us in our own country? While I’m for Foreign Direct Investment, I would not by the same token endorse unfair practices against citizens of the recipient country. Government exists to guarantee a good life for its citizens. One of the tasks before President-elect Buhari is to ensure that foreigners no longer treat Nigerians like garbage in their own country. He should also work hard at reconciling Nigerians and healing our fault lines. We cannot continue to treat ourselves anyhow when we have a nation to build. Our leaders at all levels should also desist from pitting us against each other. The worrying rise of ethnic and religious bigotry needs to be tackled vigorously before it consumes our great nationa. A word is enough for the wise.

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