Friday, april 3, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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Friday, April 3, 2015

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Vol. 2 No. 408

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N150

No time frame to rout Boko Haram, says Buhari }6

CBN reviews mobile money licences Kunle Azeez

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may have started the process of revoking licences of some mobile money

operators that have failed to utilise them, New Telegraph has learnt. The Central Bank, as part of its cashless economy policy initiative, had introduced mobile money

system as a way of driving financial inclusion. In issuing the licences, CBN relied on the large number of mobile phone users in the country which telecoms regulator, the

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), currently puts at over 140 million active lines. So far, more than 18 mobile payment services providers in Nigeria, com-

prising banks and companies established for the purpose under the 2009 Regulatory Framework for Mobile Payment Services, had been licensed. New Telegraph gath-

ered that no other country in the world has such a large number of mobile money providers. However, New Telegraph checks revealed that CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Poll: 76 senators out

Quick Read L-R: Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, with others during a visit to Buhari in Abuja...on Wednesday.

PDP governors salute Buhari

lOur regrets, by Mu'azu lNational secretariat deserted Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

aking a cue from President Goodluck Jonathan who con-

ceded defeat to his main challenger in the presidential contest, Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

governors yesterday welcomed the victory of the president-elect at the poll. The governors, in a statement by the Chairman, PDP Governorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Forum, Chief Godswill

Akpabio, urged Buhari to form an-inclusive government to give all Nigerians a sense of belonging. They also commended Jonathan for his statesmanlike disposition by

congratulating Buhari, even before he was formally declared president-elect. The PDP governors' congratulations to Jonathan and Buhari came CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Editorial

Reviewing rape laws

}19

Buhari, Atiku, Kalu felicitate with Nigerians at Easter }2 Travel Advisory

Your guide to local and international flights }46

News

FRIday, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

76 lawmakers won't return to Senate lAPC emerges majority party with 60 lawmakers lPDP gets 49 senators Chukwu David Abuja

fter the final collation and announcement of the March 28 presidential and National Assembly election results by the various returning officers from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), New Telegraph can authoritatively reveal that no fewer than 76 out of the current 109 senators will not be returning to the Red Chamber. Investigations showed that some of the serving senators did not contest the March election either because they were denied their party's tickets at the primaries or they went for the governorship seats of their states. Some senators however contested the last federal parliamentary election and lost in their various constituencies. Consequently, it was further discovered that only 33 out of the 109 senators, which represents approximately 30 per cent of the Senate membership, won elections in their respective districts to return when the 8th Senate is inaugurated in June. In the South-West for instance, only five out of the 18 senators from the zone are returning to the Senate. They are, Senators Gbenga Ashafa and Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos); Robert Boroffice (Ondo); and Babajide Omoworare and Olusola Adeyeye (Osun).

The turnover also affected the South-East zone as only six serving senators in the persons of Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia ), Andy Uba (Anambra), Sonni Ogbuoji (Ebonyi ), Ike Ekweremadu, Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo) are returning. In the South-South geopolitical zone, only Senators Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa); Thompson Sekibo (Rivers) and James Manager (Delta) are the serving senators returning to the apex chamber in June.

Similarly, in the NorthCentral, Senators Bukola Saraki and Shaaba Lafiaji (Kwara); David Mark, George Akume and Barnabas Gemade (Benue); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa) and Joshua Dariye (Plateau) emerged victorious at the just-concluded poll . In the North-East, Senators Ahmad Zannah (Borno), Danjuma Goje and Joshua Lidani (Gombe), Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba ), Bukar Ibrahim and Ahmad Lawan (Yobe) and Kabiru Marafa and Ahmad Sani (Zamfara) all

made it to the next Senate. Coming to the NorthWest zone, the returning senators are: Kabiru Gaya (Kano) and Ibrahim Abu (Katsina). Also, 60 out of the 109 incoming senators that will make up the 8th Senate are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while the remaining 49 are from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which for the first time since the rebirth of democracy in 1999 will the minority party. The breakdown of the 60 seats won in the Sen-

ate by the APC shows that the party cleared 20 out of the available 21 senatorial seats in North-West comprising Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna and Katsina states. The party also won 12 out of the available 18 senatorial seats in the Northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe. It further won 13 out of the available 18 senatorial seats in the North-Central states of Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau. Others are 13 out of the

18 senatorial seats in the Southwestern states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti. It also won only one seat in the entire South-South geo-political zone, which is Edo North. However, the entire 15 senatorial seats in the South-East of Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Anambra and Imo states were swept by the ruling PDP. Others won by the PDP are 17 seats from South-South; five from South-West; five from North-Central three from North-East and one from North-West.

Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, washing a worshipper's feet ahead of Easter celebration in Lagos…yesterday

Buhari, Atiku, Kalu felicitate with Nigerians at Easter lIGP promises hitch-free celebration

Johnchuks Onuanyim, Adesina Wahab and Emmanuel Onani

he President– Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has called on all Nigerians to embrace peace as they commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in this Easter celebration. Buhari, in an Easter message to Nigerians and Christians, personally signed and released by the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, urged all citizens of the country to unite and use the season of Easter to celebrate both the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the rebirth of the Nigerian nation. In the statement, he said: "Having overcome

the anxiety and fear that tended to overshadow our efforts and commitments towards free and peaceful Presidential and National Assembly elections, let us move forward in the spirit of the resurrection to rebuild our nation with the values of peace and love for one another. "Our country depends on you – the Nigerian people to make Nigeria safe for all citizens and foreigners alike. I pledge that our administration shall strengthen all national institutions that promote harmony and national unity. As we do our best to heal our land, God, the most powerful will be on our side to rescue Nigeria from corruption, evil and anti-democratic forces that are pulling Nigeria down." Former Vice-President

Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to unite for a new Nigeria as they celebrate Easter. Atiku said: "We now have no better choice before us after a successful and peaceful election than to cue into the joy and peace which the resurrection of Jesus Christ signifies to ensure that we prosper as a nation and rescue our people from poverty. Easter means new life, let us therefore, work together – Muslims and Christians so that peace and development do not elude our nation and our people." Also, former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has enjoined Christian faithful to pray for the nation as they celebrate Easter. He noted that the season should be seen as a period

of self-appraisal and recommitment for a greater Nigeria. Kalu said: "The Easter season is here again. We give glory to God Almighty for granting us the gift of life. I wish to convey my goodwill message to Christians all over the world on this year's Easter celebration. I would like to appeal to Nigerians to use this special period to pray for the nation. “As individuals, we need to rededicate our lives to the teaching of the holy book by embracing love, togetherness, brotherhood and unity irrespective of tribal, religious, political and ethnic divides.” While wishing the Christian community a fulfilling Easter celebration, Kalu advised them to celebrate with sober reflec-

tion, adding that Nigeria can only be great if we sustain peaceful co-existence among ourselves. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba, has assured of maximum security during Easter celebration on Sunday. A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police, said the IGP's assurance was borne out of the "multifarious strategies adopted by the Police Force on adequate security." Abba, who enjoined Christians to exemplify the significance of Easter, however, said the celebration must be within the ambit of the law. In a related development, Governor Ayo Fay-

ose of Ekiti State has lifted the dawn-to-dusk curfew imposed on the state in the wake of the declaration of the results of the March 28 presidential election won by Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Fayose said the curfew was lifted in the spirit of Easter celebration, which is the climax of the Lenten season. While urging the people of the state happy Easter celebration, the governor said security operatives were on hand to deal with anybody that might want to cause trouble during the Easter celebration. The governor had on Tuesday declared curfew from 7:30p.m. to 6a.m. urging those who might want to celebrate the APC victory to do so in the confine of their homes.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIday, APRIL 3, 2015

Travel Advisory

FRIday, APRIL 3, 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 3, 2015

APC leaders want Ndigbo hook up to ‘national grid'

lHail Jonathan as Nigeria's Mandela Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and SouthEastern leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday urged Ndigbo to shelf ethnic sentiments and join the party at the centre. They lavished encomiums on President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship following the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC during the presidential election last weekend. The APC leaders said the president would eventually become the Mandela of Nigeria if he continues to support the incoming administration without yielding to pressures from some of his party members to challenge the status quo. Speaking at the meeting of the South-Eastern leaders of the APC in Ow-

erri, the Imo State capital, Okorocha said Jonathan had exhibited great statesmanship and prevented what might have resulted in massive bloodshed. He conceded that he was now convinced that the president was not the brain behind his alleged militarisation of the electoral process in Imo State during the March 28 elections in which he said some politicians manhandled and intimidated his aides and commissioners in the presence of their kinsmen. While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a job well done, the governor alleged that election did not hold in about 24 local government areas of the state. Okorocha used the opportunity to call on Igbo leaders to join the APC and play politics at the national level in the incoming administration. Also speaking, former governor of old Abia

State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, hailed the Igbo for helping to drive the change initiative in the country, saying without them, the emergence of the incoming government would not have been possible. He said it was a good thing that the Igbo did not put all their eggs in one basket this time and called on his kinsmen not to be left out in the scheme of things in the new political dispensation. "The change initiative under the APC has become the only avenue for Ndigbo to rule the country without any hitches,” Okorocha said. Senator Chris Ngige reminded Igbo leaders that when the merger process that gave birth to APC started two years ago, they called on Ndigbo to join the train, but most of the leaders did not see it then. "Now again we are urging our brothers to come together as one and join the party at the centre in our best interest," he said.

The South-East Zonal Vice Chairman of the APC, Chief Emma Eneukwu, declared that only Imo is connected to the national grid in the new political dispensation in

the entire South-East. He urged Igbo leaders in the entire region to realign and hook up to the national grid if they sincerely desire the best interest of Ndigbo or risk

PDP national secretariat deserted CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

just as the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, rued the party's defeat in the presidential poll. Akpabio said: "With this (conceding defeat), President Jonathan has destroyed the sit-tight syndrome associated with African leaders, and placed Nigerian as a beacon of true democracy to the rest of African and indeed, the global community. "The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum urges all PDP faithful to remain united and to display their strength by returning over twenty PDP governors come April 11, 2015."

However, Mu'azu reviewing the party's performance in the election, said PDP had learnt great lessons from its loss in last Saturday’s presidential poll. Mu'azu, in a statement in Abuja, stated that even though PDP lost the presidential election, the party was not down yet. According to him, PDP is now at its redefining moment now. He said rather than being demoralised, PDP members should brace up for the fight ahead and prepare to ensure victory for the party in the April governorship and state legislative elections. "As we return to the

L-R: President, Oxford and Cambridge Club of Nigeria, Prof. Theo Ogunbiyi; Mr. Akinfela Akoni and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, at the inaugural Oxbridge Debate 2015 in Lagos…recently.

Tambuwal kicks against suit challenging candidature Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

peaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday asked the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to refuse the hearing of a suit challenging his candidature as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Sokoto State. The plaintiffs, Senator Umaru Dahiru and Barrister Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna had approached the court to challenge Tambuwal's emergence. Tambuwal had objected to the suit and asked the court to hear his objection

to the suit first. In an application filed by his counsel, Jilbrin Okutepa (SAN), Tambuwal asked the court to depart from its practice of taking all applications with substantive suits in line with Order 29 of the Rules of the Federal High Court 2009. While calling on the trial judge, Justice Evos Chukwu, to deliver ruling on his preliminary objection, he said lumping the ruling on his objection with the substantive suit would breach his right to fair hearing. According to him, his objection is such that cannot be taken with the

substantive suit without occasioning miscarriage of justice. Justice Chukwu had adjourned the matter to April 13th, 14th and 15th for hearing. Two plaintiffs, Dahiru and Sanyinna had, through their counsel, Awa Kalu (SAN), approached the court asking it to direct APC to withdraw the nomination of Tambuwal as its gubernatorial candidate and to hold another governorship primaries in Sokoto state. The plaintiffs hinged their prayer on the ground that the governorship primaries conducted by the

playing national politics in the fringes. According to Eneukwu, this is the best time for Ndigbo to join the change initiative and stay relevant in the politics of Nigeria.

APC on December 4, 2014 did not comply with the provisions of Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 and the APC 2014 Guidelines for nomination of candidates for public offices. Joined as defendants are APC, Tambuwal and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The plaintiffs argued that despite the fact that they were bonafide cardcarrying members of APC, the party breached its guidelines in relation to the nomination of candidates for public office as well as other relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

The plaintiffs further submitted that the screening of delegates on the day of the primaries was not done between the stipulated hours of 8am and 12 noon, and that the list of the delegates as issued by the National Secretariat of the APC was not used in the conduct of the said election of December 4, 2014. They also submitted that there were instances of delegates engaging in multiple voting to favour Tambuwal, and instead of just a single ballot box required at the election, 23 boxes were provided in order to perpetrate the alleged irregularities.

electorate for the April 11 governorship and state assembly elections, we go recharged with faith in our heart. We assure all our candidates in the remaining elections that the party will stand with you, campaign with you and work vigorously to ensure your total victory at the polls," he stated. He, however, said the party had received reports of irregularities that characterised the conduct of the presidential election and would channel its protests to the appropriate quarters. He added that for the 16 years PDP has been in power, it had tried to uphold the democratic ethos and deepen the democracy after three decades of military rule. He said it was incontrovertible that under the PDP-led government, Nigeria had moved from a near pariah status to a strong actor in the international democratic arena. He commended Jonathan for his heroic act in conceding defeat, an action, he said stood him out as a true democrat and a statesman. He also congratulated Buhari for his resilience and victory in the March 28 election and wished him success in the onerous task of leading the nation once again. Mu'azu also said PDP would not do anything to truncate the nation's democracy. Meanwhile, the PDP is yet to recover from the shock of its loss in the election. It national secretariat in Abuja, which is usually a beehive of activities, was deserted yesterday. Most members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party stayed away from their offices. Mu'azu yesterday held a closed-door meeting with some PDP governors and governorship candidates for the April 11 governorship election. The meeting, which started at 11:30a.m, ended about 2p.m. No statement was issued at the end of the meeting. A source at the meeting, however, said the party leadership was afraid of bandwagon effect in the governorship election hence the need for the meeting.

FRIday, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

No time frame to rout Boko Haram, says Buhari Johnchuks Onuanyim and Temitope Ogunbanke

resident-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has said there is no time frame to end the Boko Haram insurgency. Buhari, who has made the fight against terrorism a cardinal plank of the policy of his incoming administration, refuted yesterday a media report that he had given a two-month deadline to rout the insurgents. The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) in the statement by its Director, Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Buhari would need time after his inauguration to study the situation and after consultation with security chiefs, to fashion out a programme to effectively end the terror reign which Boko Haram has unleashed on Nigeria since 2009. “His Excellency, the President-elect, is still waiting to be sworn in on May 29. After the ceremony, he would need time to study the security situation and plan strate-

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

33oC

26oC

Partially Cloudy

ABUJA

40oC

23oC

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PORT HARCOURT

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gically with the security chiefs as to the way forward. Time is of essence here. Therefore, President (elect) Buhari didn’t and wouldn’t peg the decimation of terrorism from the country’s territories to just two months. “The General was unequivocal about cleansing Boko Haram from our land; he would do a good job of it by giving a final permanent push to rid Nigeria of unscrupulous elements. "The President-elect said that much to the world media, including the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Cable News Network (CNN). He never put a time frame to when he would eliminate terrorists, and it would be unfair and mischievous for someone to ascribe to him what he hasn’t said." Meanwhile, the Borno Elders’ Forum has urged Buhari to make prompt eradication of insurgency and violence nationwide his first priority in office. The forum, in a statement yesterday in Maiduguri by its Chairman, Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari, described the victory of the APC presidential candidate in last Saturday's election as a victory for democracy, peace and harmony throughout Nigeria and beyond. “Nigerians have gotten the change they desperately needed. Knowing the calibre of the President-elect and his running mate and their antecedents, we will certainly have a strong and

purposeful leadership that formulate policies and programmes that will uplift not only Nigeria and Nigerians but by extension Africa and Africans. “Over the past few years, Nigerians have been terribly afflicted by insurgency and high level terrorism. For us in Borno State and indeed the North-East, it is not an exaggeration to say that we have been taken back

several years in terms of all indices of human development. However, we believe it was our destiny. “We, therefore, urge the President-elect to promptly eradicate all forms of insurgency and violence across the country. This should be the starting point. Nothing works without peace. We recently had had cause to plead with the nation to come up with a Marshall Plan for the North-East,

starting first by setting up a high level Presidential Assessment Committee to take stock of the level of devastation. We need to be quickly rescued, rehabilitated, reconstructed, resettled and re-established,” it said. The group also urged the president-elect to urgently address the diversification of sources of revenue generation in the country as well as to develop agriculture and

solid minerals. “Mr. President-elect has a great task of taking away from the streets the millions of our unemployed youths. Jobs need to be created on daily basis and young people should be encouraged to partake in them. All school-age children must be compelled to go to school. Massive investment in education and vocational Training is a priority,” it added.

Officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) examining a driver to check alcohol consumption, during the routine test on drivers in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

CBN reviews mobile money licences CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

worried by the dormancy of some of the licensees, the CBN has set in motion a review process of mobile money operators’ operations. Only bank licensees are able to effectively use their instruments to provide mobile services leveraging their existing bank customers while only a few, including E-Tranzact, Paga, Fortis from among the non-bank mobile money licensees, are doing well. Sources privy to the process said the outcome of the exercise, beyond helping to improve the mobile money operations, might also lead to the revocation of some licences. “Just as the CBN did in the case of microfinance banks, it may have no option that to take back some licences if found that those licences are not being used to provide mobile payment

services to people, in the rural communities,” the source said. Executive Secretary, Electronic Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN), Mrs. Regha Onajite, confirmed the ongoing CBN’s review of mobile money operations. “We must realise that a lot of mobile money operators didn’t know that mobile money is capitalintensive when they went to pick their licences. CBN has started a review of mobile money segment to see how it can improve the system and see how licences given to the operators can be put to proper use,” she said. According to her, lack of shared agent network and apparent high pricing for telecoms services needed by the mobile money licensees to deploy their services, coupled with fund paucity, have been

identified as the bane of local mobile money operators. Also, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems (NIBSS), Mr. Adebisi Shonubi, lamented the current prostrate position of most of the mobile money operators, especially those that are non-bank licensees. While assessing mobile money operations in the country, Shonubi said the operators were licensed principally to serve as transaction channels for deepening financial inclusion in rural areas across the country. He, however, noted that the non-bank licensees had turned away from their core mandate of driving financial inclusion in the rural communities, adding, “They now oper-

ate in the cities to compete with the same customers being targeted by the big commercial banks.” Shonubi also attributed the development to what he called ‘misconception and misunderstanding’ of the objective of the licences given to the mobile money operators. He said: “I think a lot of the mobile money operators have some misconceptions about their licences. Some of them believe they got a banking licence. Yes, you get a financial licence, but mobile money is not a banking licence. “In essence, they are transaction companies. For instance, customers have the balance with the bank, but we are creating a platform for them to transact on it through mobile money.” He also explained that most of the licensees picked up the licences be-

cause it was cheap without knowing what to do with them. “Because of the initial low cost of getting the licence, a lot of people ran into it without understanding that it is a retail business and retail business takes a long time to go. So, many of them were not adequately capitalised. For that reason, they always look for the closest thing they can hang on with to do their business. “That means, rather than go to the village and there are only one hundred people there, they chose to start doing their businesses in the cities, where there are thousands of people, half of whom already understand what the technology is, since most of them have smart phones and mobile money operators, thus, considered this easier for them to do business,” he added.

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUHARI’S VICTORY

‘Buhari’s victory, a moral lesson for Nigerians’

he All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the Senate has described the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 presidential election as not only well-deserved and historic, but a moral lesson for every Nigerian, notwithstanding ethnic or party affiliation. In a release signed by its spokesperson, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the APC caucus, while congratulating the winner, also showered encomiums on President Goodluck Jonathan for his spirit of sportsmanship and for conceding an early defeat without which there could have been crisis. According to Ojudu, despite the high emotions and deep seated rivalry that characterised the campaigns preceding the election, both General Buhari and President Jonathan have been magnanimous and humble in their claim of victory and concession of defeat. They have shown that they value the future of Nigeria more than their personal ambitions and the whole world will forever honour them for this singular act. “There had been this

fear that President Jonathan might not want to concede defeat, but he has followed the maxim that when you lose, lose with dignity, when you win, win with dignity too. This concession has therefore forced the anticipated tension down dramatically and the President would remain a hero of democ-

Calabar

he Cross River State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Usani Usani, yesterday gave reasons why General Muhammadu Buhari, won the March 28 presidential election. Usani spoke during an interactive session with journalists to celebrate Buhari’s victory in Calabar. He said Buhari won the election on the strength of his character and anti-corruption stance. He said Buhari has

us together. Our two political leaders have displayed a high sense of maturity in handling their political differences notwithstanding how hot it seemed.” The APC caucus said it observed that the President-elect must have borrowed the words of a fellow General, George S. Parton, that it was not

Calabar

he Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V, has congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari, for emerging victorious in the March 28, 2015 presidential election. In an interview with newsmen in Calabar yes-

the National Assembly is of the belief that General Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, his running mate, are both known masters of positive emotions and they would be magnanimous in victory by letting every Nigerian have a sense of pride in the smooth sail of the nation’s ship.

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Andy Uba; Chairman, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Jerry Manwe, during a courtesy visit to the INEC chairman on the 2015 presidential election in Abuja...yesterday.

always been known to be against corruption and that the people of Nigeria wanted a leader with the will-power to tackle the menace. “Nigerians have been living under corrupt leadership for too long and the coming of General has given the country another opportunity to ensure sanity in all facets of our public life,” Usani said. The chairman said he was not surprised that the former military ruler won because, according to him, corruption has eaten deep into the system and somebody is needed to come and rescue the country.

APC holds victory procession, concert for Buhari in Edo Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he Edo State capital, Benin City, was yesterday thrown into jubilation when party faithful and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, rolled out their drums and held a procession to celebrate the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28, presidential polls. The APC supporters and lovers of Gen-

eral Buhari had danced round the major streets of Benin from the airport before converging on the popular Oba Ovoranmwen Square, where a victory concert to celebrate the General’s victory was held. Addressing the mammoth crowd at the square, Governor Oshiomhole said the victory of General Buhari was victory for the people, victory for the nation as well as victory for the nation’s democracy. He thanked the people of the state for their support and for being part of the change story. He said: “In Edo State,

Obong congratulates Buhari, hails Jonathan Clement James

just enough to fight, but the spirit which one has brought to the fight should decide the issue and that it is moral that would eventually win the victory. Ojudu said while the normal thing was for APC as the victorious party to grandstand with the victory it recorded at the election, the APC caucus in

Ndigbo faulted over presidential poll

Why Buhari won presidential election, by Usani Clement James

racy in the league of General Olusegun Obasanjo and General Abdusalami Abubakar, in the heart of Nigerians. “Once again, we Nigerians have showed the world that we have a peculiar way of overcoming our challenges as a people and that no form of rivalry can snap the cord of oneness binding

terday, Abasi-Otu said Buhari’s victory showed tenacity of purpose, having failed in the last three attempts. He also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his “unparalleled display of statesmanship by giving Nigerians free, fair and credible elections and for conceding defeat without coercion, being the first time in the his-

tory of our country for a sitting president to do so.” He said: “General Buhari fought hard for this victory. He has what it takes to move the nation to another level, but let him be magnanimous and take the whole country as his constituency. Indeed, we have no doubt about his ability to effect changes in all spheres of our national life, and for

his commitment to the progress of the entire country.” For Jonathan, he said: “To President Jonathan, I say he is a man of history and has just created another one. There has never been any President who willingly called to congratulate his main challenger, without waiting for the final announcement of election results.”

our promises cut across ethnic, religion and other primordial sentiments. So, we felt tonight that we should celebrate our country, we should celebrate democracy. The victory of Muhammadu Buhari is victory for Nigeria.

ALABI

veteran politician from the South-South geo-political zone and political ally of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Eddy Osifo, yesterday faulted the Igbo of the South East for not toeing the path of their political leader, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, by supporting the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the North. Osifo, who is one of the leaders of the defunct Action Group, noted that the Igbo have always aligned with the north in the politics of the country. He said it is regrettable that they abandoned their history by supporting President Goodluck Jonathan, who allegedly did nothing for the people of the South East in his six years presidency. Osifo in an interview with newsmen in Benin, Edo State capital, observed that the Igbo may have been deceived due to the dominance of the Yoruba, “because they find it difficult to trust the Yoruba.”

change of nameS

I formerly known as Elujoba Oluwafunmilayo Mary now wish to be known as Alabi Oluwafunmilayo Mary. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

AMAJIOYI

I formerly known as Otenome Tochukwu Zeb now wish to be known as Amajioyi Paul Tochukwu. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

Agyono

I formerly known as Yunana Afofun now wish to be known as Afofun Jonathan. All former documents remain valid. General public please note.

lost of title

I, Nwandu Josiah lost title document of my leasehold registered at Enugu land Registry as no. 64 at page 64 in volume 691. This is for public notice (of the said loss).

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public of the loss of HANDBAG by unknown person(s) belonging to MRS.CHIGBO NKEM of No. 5 Dakala Street Wuse II Abuja. The incident took place at Sky Memorial Plaza when the door to her car was forced opened by unknown person(s) and the following items were stolen. (i)Driver’s License (ii) National ID card (iii) Original Copy of Offer in respect of Plot No. 206 Dutse-Alhaji Layout allocated to Mrs. Odinaka C. Chineze. All efforts made to recover these items proved abortive, if found kindly return to the nearest Police station. Signed: Mrs. Chigbo Nkem

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Adeola Yusuf

ater-tight security has been built around oil installations and offices of Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total and Eni in the Niger Delta, New Telegraph gathered yesterday. Although the oil installations and the offices of these International Oil Companies (IOCs) have been under the watch of security details peopled by soldiers, Navy, Police and private security officers, it was learnt that there has been hype in the security build-up around these facilities immediately after the announcement of results of the Presidential election. This came as the expatriate oil workers have temporarily deserted the Nigeria’s multi-billion dollars oil and gas industry, pending the completion of the general election. An industry source told New Telegraph that

News

NATIONAL

Security beefed up around Shell, ExxonMobil, others’ installations security has “not only been tightened around the oil installations and our offices in the Delta, it has also been tightened around the few expatriate workers who remain in Nigeria.” The International Oil Companies (IOCs) and their local counterparts, however, decided to keep sealed lips over the security hype on their installations and their expatriate workers. “President Goodluck Jonathan who lost the election has called the President-elect to congratulate him, but our security unit has recommended that we watch-out and tread softly. “This is owing to the threat earlier issued by a known former warlord

that they would cause mayhem if the President loses. While we know that the way in which the President conceded defeat will calm some frayed nerves, we will still take the threat seriously,” a management staff of one of the IOCs told New Telegraph on

Thursday. Meanwhile, the militant leaders, who once wrought havoc in the Niger Delta oil industry have suddenly gone quiet following the defeat of Nigeria's incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, in an election this week.

An amnesty deal with the militants brokered by Jonathan when he was vice president in 2009 ended their rebellion, offering them generous payouts that they still enjoy today. But in the run-up to the election, several trumpeted threats to return to war

should Jonathan lose the election. He lost by a landslide to Muhammadu Buhari, and called for peace amongst Nigerians as he conceded defeat. Despite their earlier threats, the militants appear to be keeping their own counsel now, Reuters reported on Thursday. "People are asking where are the militants?" Alagoa Morris, a delta environmental activist, told Reuters.

$1.6m theft: FG arraigns four emirates airlines' staff Akeem Nafiu

he Federal Government has arraigned four Emirates Airlines staff before Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged theft of $1.6 million belonging to one, Prince Chu Ikem Orji. The four staff: Abayomi Adekanbi Abiola, Isiaka Adegoke Adedeji, Awonubi Abayomi and George Ikpekhia, were arraigned alongside Emirates Airlines, Pathfinders International Ltd and Nigeria Aviation Handling Company Ltd. The accused persons were arraigned an 11 counts charge bordering on stealing, fraud, obtaining money under false pretence, wilful de-

struction of evidence and failure to report an international transfer of fund. They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when it was read to them. After the accused took their pleas, the prosecution lawyer, Michael O. S. urged the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody pending when their bail applications will be heard. However, the defence lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), informed the court that the bail applications of the accused persons have been filed and the prosecution have been served. He added that the accused persons have already been granted bail by Justice Abang, when they were initially arraigned before him.

L-R: Rev. Ini Ukpuho of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria; Pastor Paul Enrche of Dunamis Church; Rt. Rev. Benjamin Fuduta of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria; Pastor David Abioye of Living Faith Church; Executive Secretary, Christian Pilgrims Board, Mr. Kennedy Opara and President Goodluck Jonathan, during the breaking of Easther Lenten fast at the Presidential Villa… yesterday PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Obasanjo, Atiku, Mark, Kalu pay tribute to MD Yusuf By our correspondents

he Nigeria Police yesterday announced the death of former Inspector General (IG), Mr. Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police, said the former police boss died on April 1, after a brief illness. According to the state-

...Jonathan, Tinubu mourn ex-IGP P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday commiserated with the government and people of Katsina State on the death of a former InspectorGeneral of Police, Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President also commiserated with Yusuf ’s family as well as the Arewa Consultative Forum on the demise of the respected leader. “The President believes that MD Yusuf, as he was fondly called by his friends and associates, will long be remembered for his outstanding political courage and exempla-

ry determination during Nigeria’s transition to democracy after years of military rule. “President Jonathan recalls that as leader of the Grassroots Democratic Movement at that time, the late MD Yusuf embodied some of the best values of bravery and patriotism." “The President prays that Almighty Allah will grant his soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn him.” Also the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has condoled the people and government of Katsina state on the death of Yu-

suf. In a statement released by his media office, Tinubu described MD Yusuf, who died in Abuja on Wednesday, as a rare breed of politician, who made immense contributions to the growth of multi-party democracy in Nigeria. “MD Yusuf as the founder and presidential candidate of Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ) played a key role and saw to it that Nigerians had options of presidential candidates to vote. This contributed greatly to the expanded democratic space we all enjoy today.” Tinubu said.

ment, Yusufu, who was the third indigenous IGP, held sway between 1975 and 1979. Meanwhile, tributes poured in yesterday for the late Yusuf Eminent businessman and former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu described Yusuf, as a man of integrity, whose demise was a big loss to the country. He noted that the police boss contributed to the social and political development of Nigeria, having served in different capacities in the public sector. In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said, "I was unhappy to hear that Alhaji MD Yusuf had passed on. It is unfortunate that Nigeria has lost an elder statesman who is cherished by all irrespective of tribal, political and ethnic divides. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased's family at this sorrowful period. May Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest". Similar tributes came from prominent Nigerians, including President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senate President, David Mark.

Abubakar, in a tribute to the late IGP in Abuja, said the late senior police officer was one of the most courageous Nigerian politicians he had ever encountered. According to Atiku, many politicians retreated to a safe distance when M D Yusuf established his own political party to challenge the military approved political parties to effectuate the self-succession agenda of 1998. According to the statement from the Atiku Media Office, the former Vice President, was part of that democratic struggle and said, "the late Yusuf ’s sacrifices for democracy would not be forgotten in a hurry". He noted that he was impressed by the late Yusuf ’s courage of conviction, challenging a self-succession agenda when the democratic space was shut against contrary voices. Obasanjo described Yusuf as an honest and sincere Nigerian. In a letter of condolence addressed to Alhaji Lamis Dikko, the eldest son of the deceased, Obasanjo said the former IGP contributed in no small measure to the upliftment of ethical standard in the nation's police force.

The former president noted that by the demise of Dikko, the country had lost a remarkable man, who served the nation with devotion and diligence. He added that MD Yusuf would be remembered for his doggedness during the transition launched by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, when five political parties adopted the late dictator as presidential candidate. "Indeed, throughout his entire career in the Police, he demonstrated rare qualities of commitment and courage, always upholding the cherished traditions of the public service, and left behind a name that was thoroughly bathed in honour and dignity." Mark described late Yusuf as an exemplary police officer, who promoted professionalism and discipline during his stint as the helmsman in the force. "Late Yusuf was one police boss, who ensured the protection of lives and properties of all citizens without compromise. He was a pan- Nigerian, who built bridges of peace and unity. He believed and worked for the indivisibility of one Nigeria, where all citizens are treated as equals", he stated.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

News

BUHARI'S VICTORY

Mbaka salutes Buhari, says victory is divine Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

he controversial Catholic priest of the Enugu Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, who recently stirred the hornet's nest over his scathing criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan, has congratulated General Muhammadu

TAN: No regrets supporting Jonathan

Buhari on his victory in the just concluded presidential election. Mbaka had hit at Jonathan in a message of the new year - "From Goodluck to Badluck”- earning attacks and commendations alike across the country. In his latest message, a reaction to the outcome of the election, Mbaka said Buhari's emergence was a divine victory for the entire Nigerians. Speaking through the spokesman of his min-

istry, Barr. Maximus Ike Ugwuoke, the cleric urged the President-elect to devote attention to tackling the myriads of problems facing the country, especially unemployment, insecurity, among others. Said the spokesman: "It is with vindictive joy and glory to God that Adoration ministry, the nation and indeed the world saw the fulfilment of Fr Mbaka’s New Year prophesy of Change with the miraculous victorious emergence of General Muhammed

Buhari at the March 28th polls as the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. "We wish to reinstate that before President Goodluck Jonathan became the President of this country, Fr Mbaka prophesied it in his message titled 'Okolo'. "Today again, Buhari’s victory among other lessons it portends to Nigerians has once more confirmed to all and sundry that Fr Mbaka is indeed a true Prophet of God and

that His New Year message was indeed from the Oracle of the Holy Spirit as he declared. "The ministry with magnanimous heart holds no grudges against anyone who attacked it in one way or the other at the rage of the controversies surrounding Fr Mbaka’s message and view their actions as being orchestrated by their misconstruing of Fr Mbaka’s prophetic calling. "The Ministry joins the

rest of Nigerians to congratulate Muhammadu Buhari as God’s chosen instrument of change to tackle the myriads of problems facing Nigeria and pray God to endow him with the wisdom to go about this onerous task." "We see Buhari’s victory as divine victory to all Nigerians irrespective of our religious and ethnic divide", the ministry stated, advising Buhari to seek divine wisdom before making the choice of his team.

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria (TAN) said it has no regret supporting President Goodluck Jonathan during the presidential election and will continue to stand by him. The association also said it will watch from the sideline to see what General Muhammadu Buhari will offer Nigerians. TAN National Coordinator, Dr. Ifeanyi Uba, at a press conference yesterday said TAN has come to stay, noting that the association will continue its primary objectives of "public advocacy, humanitarian activities and employment generation for the youths. TAN will not abandon its role in any form or manner". He, however, expressed happiness that contrary to prediction of some people that the presidential election would be violent, it was peaceful, adding "Many people predicted that it would be violent. Other people and institutions posted that it will mark the beginning of the end for the entity called Nigeria.

L-R: Managing Director, SAHEL Capital, Mezuo Nwuneli; Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry (BoI), Rasheed Olaoluwa; Managing Director/CEO, Digital Jewel Ltd, Adedoyin Odunfa; PDP gubernatorial candidate, Lagos State/guest speaker, Jimi Agbaje; author of the book “ Democracy without Democrats and Uncomplex Strategy” Opeyemi Agbaje and Chief Client Officer/Group CEO, Mansard Group, Tosin Runsewe, during a book presentations in honour of Opeyemi in Lagos.

How Jonathan conceded defeat to Buhari

etails h ave emerged on how President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated his main challenger in last Saturday's presidential election, Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The president had placed a call to the president-elect at 5:15pm on Tuesday, hours before the

final tally of the election results and formal declaration of Buhari as winner of the contest. As at the time the president made the call, the results from the presidential election in Borno State had not been added. With the Borno votes, Buhari total scores jumped to 15,416,221 votes to Jonathan’s 12,853, 162. Jonathan's phone call to Buhari conceding de-

feat, the first by a Nigerian president, doused tension and has earned him local and global accolades. Below is the full transcript between the president and his would-be successor: Caller: Your Excellency, sir. Hope I’m speaking with General Buhari, sir. President Goodluck Jonathan would like to speak with you, sir.

Receiver: Yes. Okay, hold on. Jonathan: Your Excellency Receiver: Hold on, sir. Buhari: Your Excellency Jonathan: Your Excellency, how are you? Buhari: I’m all right. Jonathan: (Laughter) Congratulations Buhari: Thank you very much, your Excellency.

Jonathan: So, how are things? Buhari: Well, I’d congratulate you more because you…. Jonathan: In a few days find time to come so that we can sort out how to plan the transitional period. Buhari: Alright, Your Excellency. Thank you very much Jonathan: Okay, congratulations Buhari: My respects, Your Excellency. Thank you.

It signals a new era, says APC PFN asks for citizens’ collaboration NANS urges President-elect to Temitope Ogunbanke

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said the victory of its presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has signalled the dawn of a new era for Nigeria. It assured Nigerians that the APC-led administration would guarantee economic breakthrough, social justice, institutional strengthening and the rule of law in all facets of life. APC, in a statement by its National Vice Chair-

man (South West), Chief Pius Akinyelure, assured Nigerians across all divides that the beginning of new Nigeria, which he said they all desired and toiled for, “has finally come.” His words: “Given what happened during the electioneering, Buhari’s victory signals the dawn of a new era for Nigeria. It also indicates the beginning of new Nigeria, which we have all toiled to realise day and night through ballots and which they have long yearned to see after a 16year reign of impunity in our fatherland.”

for strong, virile nation Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, yesterday congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, on his victory in the presidential polls held on Saturday. President of PFN, Rev. Felix Omobude, in a statement issued in Benin City, Edo State capital, urged Nigerians to join hands with the incoming government to build a strong, virile country, where there would not be oppression. Omobude said: “The

PFN shares in your aspiration to move Nigeria forward and hope that with the support of Nigerians, we can together build a strong, virile and united nation where no one is oppressed.” He added: “We trust the Almighty God that He will graciously grant you the wisdom and all you require to make the dreams of all Nigerians come true”. Omobude also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for providing an enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election.

focus on welfare Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to make welfare of Nigerian citizens the priority of his government as soon as he takes over on May 29. President of the students' umbrella body, Comrade Ali Wali, in a congratulatory message to Buhari over his victory at the March 28 election urged him to hit the ground running and roll

out plans to bring back Nigerian economy on track. He said that though there are arduous tasks before the in-coming President, he must ensure that the standard of living of the ordinary Nigerian, who fought for his success at the poll must be improved. Wali, who described Buhari's success as the fruit of resilience and determination also pleaded with him to focus on the nation's education sector which according to him is the bedrock of success by any nation.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro CHAOS

Tension in Ibadan as irate youth set three houses on fire Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ear has gripped the residents of Adekile, Orita-Aperin area of the Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday following the killing of two area boys by the police and killing of a police officer on Wednesday evening. A woman was also said to have been killed in the incident. The killings were over alleged discovery of a kidnapper’s den in a storey building in the area on Wednesday. But yesterday armed security operatives stormed the area. It was learnt that on Wednesday morning, some irate youths allegedly saw a woman who entered into the building with a baby, but who was not seen several hours later. They suspected that a child who had been declared missing a few days before might have been kidnapped and taken into the house, thereby reporting the incident to the police. When our correspondent visited the area yesterday, irate area boys threatened to kill any security person found in sight, and prevented many journalists from getting to the house. When the police stormed the house on Wednesday, the angry boys said that the owner was arrested. They alleged that the police did not conduct thorough search in the house which they said had dug wells in some of the rooms with wooden ladders and some charms. They decided to destroy the house and remove the roof in order to allow light into the apartment, but the boys had an encounter with the police. They accused the police of preventing them from unearthing the truth about the kidnapping saga. Some of them started pelting the police and soldiers drafted to the place with stones, leading

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Kidnappers’ den: Death toll rises to four

The burnt houses

to a shooting spree. One man identified as Rilwan was shot dead by the soldiers. A woman and another man were also reportedly killed. The action angered the youth who descended on the Divisional Police Officer (name withheld) and shot him dead. Another source said that the police officer was stoned and later butchered by the mob. Governor Abiola Ajimobi also visited the area yesterday evening for an on-the-spot-assessment of the incident. The governor was in company with the Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammed Katsina. Ajimobi appealed to the people to avoid violence in all ramifications as no development could take place in an atmosphere of violence. The governor pledge his support to the police to ensure that the perpetrators of the devilish act are brought to book. The entire Adekile, OritaAperin extending towards Elekuro had been deserted following a mayhem initiated by some hoodlums in the area which also led to the death of a senior police officer attached to one of the police formations

in the area. When Ajimobi and Katsina got to the scene of crime, about three buildings had been vandalised and set on fire. According to the police commissioner, the slain police officer had gone to Adekile in response to a distress call by one of the residents in the area who alleged that her baby was kidnapped and kept inside a particular building. Katsina said the DPO had visited the area and inspected the building in question but could not find anything related to the lodged complaint. He said: “But while he was explaining to the youth to remain calm as further investigation would be carried out, the DPO was attacked and shot in the head.” Katsina explained that the DPO, being a gallant officer before he fell to the miscreants’ bullets, also managed to fire at his attacker who also died on the way to the hospital. The entire Adekile, Orita Aperin and Elekuro areas are still under a close watch of armed police men while about 21 suspects were said to have been arrested.

Gov. Ajimobi (second right), Katsina (right), Police Area Commander, Agodi, Odukoya Sunday (second left) and Caretaker Chairman, Ibadan North East, Mr Ladi Oluokun (left) at the scene yesterday. PHOTO: OYO GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Auto crashes claim police officer, three others Mohammed Kawu Bauchi

police officer and three others were on Wednesday crushed to death, as 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries in two different road accidents in Ganjuwa and Toro local government areas of Bauchi State. The police officer, Abel Afarayo, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), was, until his death, the commanding officer, Police Special Protection Unit (SPU), Nasarawa State Police Command. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed both incidents, said Afarayo died on his way to Gombe for his wedding.

He said: “On Wednesday, about 2:45pm, there was a fatal motor vehicle accident at Miya Barkate on Bauchi-Jos Road in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State. “The accident occurred when a green Volkswagen Passat vehicle with registration number KTN. 781 PG, driven by one Zubairu Alhassan, male (20) of Toro Local Government Area had a head on collusion with a green Toyota Camry with registration number PB 983 AA, driven by one DSP Abel Afarayo, commanding officer, police Special Protection Unit (SPU) Nasarawa State Command (now late), on his way to Billiri town in Gombe State for his wedding ceremony.”

News 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Herdsmen kill 20, torch houses in Benue Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

t least 20 people were killed while many houses were torched yesterday when gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen invaded Logo Local Government Area, home of Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam. This occurred a few days after Suswam was defeated in the Senate race of the Benue North East Senatorial District to the incumbent Senator Barnabas Gemade. The gunmen attacked four villages - Kulungu, Tse Vir, Abuul and Tse Ageraga - all in Gaambe Tiev where dozens of people, mostly peasant farmers, were murdered. The victims included three brothers of former Acting Chairman of Makur-

File picture of gunmen’s attack on a Benue State community

di Local Government Area, Mr Isaac Ageraga. More than 500 houses were reduced to rubble thereby rendering scores

of others homeless. Most of them are now taking refuge at Ugba town, the headquarters of Logo Local Government as well as at Zaki-Biam

in Ukum Local Government. It was gathered that the herdsmen invaded the communities from neighbouring Nassarawa State after crossing River Benue in the early hours of the day when the people were still sleeping. The assailants surrounded the area and started to shoot indiscriminately at the inhabitants. But the Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity, Chief Joseph Anawa, an indigene of the area, told our correspondent that 18 bodies had so far been recovered, while property worth billions of naira were destroyed. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Austin Ezeani, confirmed the attack saying many people had been killed and many houses burnt.

City Briefs Fire guts Baptist Church Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

ire yesterday gutted the Calvary Baptist Church building, Osogbo, Osun State and destroyed property worth millions of naira. The cause of the disaster, which brought down the whole building, could not be ascertained at press time, but the Chairman of the Benevolent Committee, Mr Ademola Ojo, described the incident as unfortunate. He said: “We had concluded a church service around 8 PM on Wednesday when we got a tip-off from the church security men that the church had been razed by fire. “We were here yesterday night to worship God, which we concluded about 8pm. We all went home without any sign not until around 12am when the security men put a call through to inform us that the church was on fire.” Also, the church Public Relations Officer, Oluwaseun Ibitoye, told journalists that “while the church was on fire, we quickly contacted the firefighters who said none of their vehicles was in order”.

Poll: How soldier killed my son –Father

Fake Catholic father held in Enugu

Mohammed Kawu

Uwakwe Abugu

Bauchi

78-year-old man, Yahaya Wunti, yesterday narrated how his 28-year-old son was killed by a soldier while defending his vote for the President-elect, Gen Muhamadu Buhari, last Sunday. Wunti, a bicycle repairer, said that his son, Mohammed Bello, left their house at Wunti quarters are of Bauchi that fateful morning with his permission to go to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office. He said: “Mohammed used to ask for my permission before leaving my house. He came to me about 11 in the morning and

informed me that he wanted to go to INEC office. “I asked him whether he was carrying anything that will incriminate him, he said no. Not less than an hour after, they brought my son’s body that he was shot by a soldier.” The bereaved father, who was receiving sympathisers at his Wunti residence when journalists called on him, said he was yet to understand what pushed the soldier to shoot his son in the head at that joyous moment of democracy victory. “Mohammed was a good boy who did not like making trouble. He was a mason and he was hard-working but was very passionate about Buhari. I know my son wouldn’t break the law because of his love for Buhari. So, I wonder

why the soldier chose to waste a promising person like Mohammed,” he added. The Senator-elect representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Mallam Ali Wakili, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who paid a condolence visit to Wunti, expressed sadness over the loss. Wakili, who defeated Yuguda for the Senate seat, said he reported the incident to the Army authorities in Bauchi and the trigger-happy soldier has been arrested. According to the senatorelect, the Army has assured him that the matter would be followed to the latter and ensured that the bereaved family would get justice over the brutal murder of Mohammed.

However, there were various unsubstantiated accounts of what led to Mohammed’s killing. One account had it that Mohammed threw a ‘pure’ water bag at the soldier who was trying to control the multitude of Buhari supporters that thronged INEC office in Bauchi on Sunday, a day after the general election. Others said Mohammed was in the crowd when the bullet hit him. But a friend of the deceased, who went with him but pleaded anonymity, said the soldier deliberately aimed to kill Mohammed. He said: “If at all he was not having the intention to kill, he would have shot Mohammed in the leg instead of his head.”

Why I shaved my girlfriend’s Man kills lover for ritual Adeolu Adeyemo pubic hair –Suspect Camillus Nnaji

olice in Edo State have arrested a 35-year old man, Ibrahim Adamu, for allegedly shaving the pubic hair of a 25-year-old woman, Jumai Jasper, while sleeping in his room. But the suspect said he did shave Jasper’s pubic hair for any ritual purpose. The state Police Commissioner, Samuel Adegbuyi, paraded Adamu and 27 others at the state police command headquarters yesterday. Adegbuyi said the suspect lured the victim “into his room, shaved her armpit hair and her pubic hair without her consent”. Adamu, a resident of Aduwawa community in Benin, the Edo State capital but hails from Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, confessed to have shaved the woman’s pubic hair while sleeping, but said the woman was his girlfriend.

He said: “I shaved the pubic hair of the woman because I wanted to sleep with her, she is my girlfriend.” Adamu, however, denied that he did it for ritual purposes, adding that, he threw away the hair afterwards. The suspect added that when the woman woke up and discovered that he had shaved off her hair, she demanded the hair but when he could not produce it, she raised the alarm.

Adamu

Osogbo

lainclothes security men from the Osun State Police Command yesterday exhumed the remains of a 19-year-old girl, Bilikisu, whose breasts and other vital parts had been removed for money ritual. The girl was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend identified simply as Soji, who later dumped her body in a pit toilet at Abaja compound, Balogun area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital. It was learnt that Soji had been dating Bilikisu in the last two years before he killed her. The deceased was said to have disagreed with Soji on an issue before the incident. Sources disclosed that people became suspicious when Bilikisu disappeared

after the disagreement. Sources added that when they got to Soji’s residence, he had absconded while all his mobile phones could not be reached. The parents reported the matter to the police immediately. A top police officer, who preferred anonymity, told journalists that the police raised a search party and eventually discovered that Bilikisu was dead and that she had been dumped in the pit toilet where Soji lives. He said: “The police detectives from Criminal Investigation Department open up the concrete slab on the pit and exhumed the remains of Bilikisu while the investigation is ongoing on the matter.” The officer added that the police were on the trail of the suspect, who is now at large.

Enugu

olice in Enugu State have arrested a fake priest who claimed to have been posted from the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos to the Catholic Diocese of Enugu. The suspect, Jude Amadi, was said to have been dismissed from a seminary. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said yesterday that the suspect, who claimed to be Rev Father Joseph Archibong, had presented himself to the Enugu Catholic Diocesan secretary and the chancellor of the cathedral “for posting to a parish as reverend father, having presented himself as a priest”. Amaraizu said the suspect had told the officials of Enugu Catholic Diocese that he was posted from Lagos State to Enugu.

Policeman’s body recovered from lagoon Camillus Nnaji

he bloated body of a policeman, identified simply as Inspector Sapirun, who allegedly jumped into the ocean in Lagos on Tuesday night has been recovered. The late Sapirun, who said to be attached to Dan Ocean Oil Company, according to witnesses, was walking to and fro Ikoyi Bridge, screaming that he wanted to die. Most people concluded that he was drunk. At a point, a witness said, he stood in the middle of the road, but all motorists avoided him. Another witness, who gave his name as Mr Chionye Maduka, said: “It happened precisely at 9.08pm on Tuesday. When he saw that no motorist wanted to hit him, he ran close to the newly-constructed Ikoyi Bridge and jumped into the ocean. It was like a movie.” Some Lagos residents blamed it on what they termed the rot if the police. Obetta Remigius, an Ikeja-based Human Development Consultant, said: “You can see the kind of people the police force is harbouring to protect lives and property.”

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Buhari: Bloodless revolution in Nigeria – LP elders

APC petitions IGP, others over attacks on members

Adesina Wahab

Ado-Ekiti

he elders forum of the Ekiti State chapter of the Labour Party, has described the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last Saturday’s presidential election as a bloodless revolution. The group, in a press release in Ado-Ekiti on yesterday signed by its Chairman, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, said the epoch event was part of the predictions of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The group while congratulating the presidentelect on his victory, also commended President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for conceding defeat in the most modest manner, saying the duo had made history as patriots who fought gallantly for the unity and advancement of the country’s democracy. The elders urged Gen. Buhari, to pilot what they described as the ‘New Dawn’ which his victory symbolises with civility and the fear of God for

Nigeria to stand shoulder high among the comity of nations. “Buhari’s emergence could be likened to the historical prophesy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo about Nigeria’s New Dawn. That is the emergence of a bloodless revolution. “The result confirmed the resolve of all Nige-

rians to continue to live together despite their religious and tribal differences. The electorate in Nigeria showed they have come of age. “We pray that God will continue to guide, guard and protect him. We urged Nigerians to stand by him to be able to deliver on his electioneering promises.

Ibadan

yo State governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, yesterday urged the people of the state to use the Easter celebration to reflect on the love of Christ, through his display of love to all mankind with the sacrifice of his life on the cross. Ladoja’s call was contained in an Easter message made available to the press yesterday in which the former gover-

Ado-Ekiti

he Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over attacks on its members in Erijiyan Ekiti, by thugs suspected to loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the

L-R: Deputy Rector (Academics), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, Mr. Tajudeen Sonayon; Rector, LASPOTECH, Mr. Abdulazeez Lawal and Deputy Rector (General Admin), Mr. Olayinka Sogunro, during a press conference on the forthcoming 23rd Convocation of the institution Ikorodu, Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Ladoja admonishes people on Christ’s virtues at Easter Sola Adeyemo

“We congratulate all Nigerians for a peaceful election. We congratulate members of Ekiti Labour Party and most especially our respected leader, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, who God had guided right in not leading Ekiti State chapter of the party astray in this last presidential election,” they stated.

Adesina Wahab

nor noted that for hundreds of years, people have celebrated Easter, stating, “it is a powerful story that speaks of hope born in sacrifice. He said, “this year’s Easter is special, in that it came at very significant time in our nation’s history, where we all need to make sacrifices for the betterment of our state and country”. Ladoja enjoined all not to forget the lessons of Easter, which is of love, peace and prosperity, adding that “where love is lacking, peace and prosperity cannot

thrive”. He thanked all those who had sacrificed their time to come out last Saturday to vote in the National Assembly elections, urging them to turn out in their numbers to vote for him and other Accord candidates in the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections. He noted that Accord was the only party that has the love of the masses in Oyo State at heart, pledging that it would bring hope and respite to the people of the state.

eve of the presidential election in the state. In the petition signed by the state Secretary, Paul Omotoso, and copied the National Human Rights Commission, Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone Eight in Lokoja, Commissioner of Police and the State Director of DSS, the party complained that the PDP thugs allegedly led by a candidate in the coming House of Assembly election, and his brother, (names withheld) attacked APC members and vandalizing their property on the eve of the presidential election. He said: “On Friday March 27, 2015, about 9.00pm on the eve of the presidential and National Assembly elections, one Boluwaji held a meeting with a group of young men numbering about 15 at his house in ErinjiyanEkiti. “We later discovered that many of the men who held the meeting were thugs as their mission and the result of the meeting was later clear when they struck later in the night,” he explained. He said the thugs for more than two hours moved from house to house attacking APC leaders and members with guns, cutlasses and charms.

Ogun: Kawonise is Labour Party’s guber candidate, says court Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

n Ogun State High Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, yesterday ruled that former Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Sina Kawonise, remains the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the April 11 governorship election in the state. The court also nullified the earlier nomination of one Bolaji Sunmola as the governorship candidate by the party’s state executive. Delivering judgement in a suit brought against

the LP and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Kawonise, the presiding judge, Justice O.O. Majekodunmi, ruled that the defendants contravened the party’s constitution. Justice Majekodunmi also declared that the defendants violated the guidelines for party primaries and the Electoral Act 2010, by substituting Kawonise with Sunmola, who never participated in the December 10, 2014 party primaries. The judge declared that Kawonise, who was the only aspirant that partici-

pated in the LP primaries, was the validly nominated governorship candidate. The court further restrained the party’s state leadership and INEC from substituting Kawonise’s name with that of Sunmola, or any other person as the governorship candidate. Justice Majekodunmi had earlier ruled that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The judge also averred that the LP state executive failed to challenge Kawonise’s claim regarding his party membership and payment of subscription.

Lagos NURTW backs Ambode

Ekiti PDP cautions APC against violence

Adesina Wahab

he Lagos State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), said yesterday that it has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s gubernatorial candidate in the state, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode as its preferred choice in the April 11 governorship polls. Chairman of the union on the state, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, while stating the body’s position in

Lagos yesterday, directed commercial drivers, motorcycle operators and tricycle owners (Keke Marwa) under the umbrella of the union in the state to vote Ambode, and all the party’s candidates for the House of Assembly in the last round of the general elections He gave the directive while addressing branch officers from all the 120 branches of the union drawn from all the 57 local councils in Lagos during

the monthly meeting of the union at their Abule-Egba office. He said members of the union must show support for the APC because the people of Lagos have really enjoyed dividends of good governance, hence the need to show solidarity with the party He said some of the policies of the present administration in the state has helped to boost transport business.

Ado-Ekiti

ormer Ekiti State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bola Olu-Ojo, has warned the State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Taiwo Olatubosun, against statements that could set the state on fire.

In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday, Olu-Ojoexpressed reservations over utterances by Olatubosun in the last few days, saying it appeared that the APC spokesman had an agenda to cause trouble in the state. He said, “The imposition of curfew by Governor Ayo Fayose, following security reports in his capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the state, was unquestionable, but Olatubosun took

it as a liberty to incite the people to disregard the curfew order. The curfew was to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order. “Olatunbosun should tread softly and not put the lives of his party members at risk. In the last 24 hours, Olatunbosun has issued two statements which he doesn’t have the power to do and which can cause crisis in the state.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Presidency

Bamidele: Buhari’s election, a victory for democracy

Open Forum

Ikedife: Buhari’s victory providential

National Assembly

General elections

Abia North: PPA vows to reject manipulated result

Failed ambitions of parties’ chairmen

Politics

Like Mua’zu, like Yuguda

Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda, who boasted ahead of the March 28 elections to deliver his state’s votes to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has gone the way of his predecessor, Adamu Mua’zu, following his botched senatorial ambition. FELIX NWANERI reports

auchi State governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda has gone the way of his predecessor and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu after he lost the bid to join the league of outgoing governors heading to the Senate. Yuguda like some of his colleagues, serving out their second term had bided for the Senate to represent Bauchi South Senatorial District in the National Assembly but was defeated by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Ali Wakili. Wakili polled 341,708 votes to defeat the governor, who had 115,341 votes. The two were the only candidates who contested for the seat. Bauchi South Senatorial District comprises of seven local government areas, namely: Kirfi, Alkaleri, Toro, Tafawa-Balewa, Bogoro, Dass and Bauchi. Wakili, 55, a 1982 graduate of Bayero University (BUK), Kano, had served with the Bauchi State Government, before transferring his service to the Nigeria Customs Service in 1991. While in Customs,

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Mu’azu he held command positions at Ikeja Industrial Area, Tin Can Island, Seme Area Command as well as Commandant, Kano Training School. He retired from the Nigeria Customs Service in 2009 as Comptroller of Customs. With the defeat, Yuguda has followed the path of his predecessor, Mua’zu, who was defeated in the 2007 elections by the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, for the same Bauchi South Senatorial seat. Yuguda had boasted before the election there was no way he and President Goodluck Jonathan could lose elections in the state with him in the saddle. He advised the president not to lose sleep over Bauchi votes, as he was on ground to deliver the state to him and the PDP despite attempts by some politicians to cause distraction for personal aggrandisement. “I am not one of those who say one thing and mean the opposite. That would amount to a betrayal and betrayal is forbidden in Islam. I will never be a party to that. I would rather have told President Jonathan face to face, just like the other governors who

Yuguda

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Jonathan did not win in Bauchi, but I am assuring him that this time around, he is going to win in the state because we are solidly behind him

left had done that they would not work with him and I would have walked away rather than remain in the party to work against him. In 2011, Jonathan did not win in Bauchi but I am assuring him that this time around he is going to win in the state because we are solidly behind him,” he said. But, in a twist of fate, Yuguda, who was elected governor of Bauchi State on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2007 before he defected to the PDP in 2009, and re-elected in 2011, was unable to deliver his state to the ruling party. While many said they saw Yuguda’s defeat coming as he failed to deliver democracy dividends to his people, some were of the view that lots of factors are responsible for his failure. First, was the deep crack in the Bauchi State chapter of the PDP, which triggered a cold war between the party’s leaders as a result of the gubernatorial primaries. Majority of those who felt that Yuguda stood on their way either moved to APC or remained in the party, but worked against its interest. Though Yuguda and other

leaders including Mu’azu and Mohammed managed to keep the disagreement under wraps, the cold war came to the fore when President Jonathan visited the state during his campaign and his convoy was pelted with stones by some youths in the state. The bickering that trailed the incident opened the Pandora’s Box, with Yuguda accusing the FCT Minister (Mohammed) of masterminding the attack. He added that it was done to give the impression that he (Yuguda) has no supporters in Bauchi. His words: “The whole thing was carefully planned and implemented by the FCT minister in collaboration with his cohorts who wanted to embarrass me and prove to President Jonathan that they were more politically relevant in Bauchi State than the sitting governor. “The minister and his group sponsored small boys of not more than seven years of age and gave them brooms to give the impression that they were from the opposition party whereas they were all wearing T-shirts branded with CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Politics

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele is the Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Research and Legislative Budget, and 2014 Ekiti State governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP)

hile felicitating with General Muhamadu Buhari (Rtd.), the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over his landslide victory in the just-concluded presidential elections, I must not fail to quickly add that the real victory belongs to the Nigerian people whose determination to liberate themselves from the untold hardship and sheer misrule that characterised the 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hegemony in Nigeria is worthy of celebration. In order that the efforts of all lovers of democracy at home and within the international community in this regard will not be in vain, I call on General Buhari to take this as a God-given opportunity to provide a most unique and transformative leadership to the nation while upholding his promises to ensure a zero level of tolerance for corruption as well as total commitment to the security and welfare of Nigerians on assumption of office. In the same vein, I urge Gen. Buhari neither to allow himself to be distracted nor dissipate so much energy in probing past leaders and administrations but rather encourage those who have looted public treasury to re-invest such money in the local economy with a view to generating more opportunities for massive employment and financial stability. His most urgent assignment must be to concentrate on the critical need to assemble a highly professional and resourceful economic team that has the capacity to rescue the nation’s economy from the doldrums within a reasonable space of time, as the pov-

...On muhammadu buhari as president-elect

Bamidele: Buhari’s election, a victory for democracy erty condition among the people of this country is no more tolerable and requires an urgent intervention. He needs this crack economic team to complement his strict leadership posturing in order to move the nation forward. I am also happy to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan on the unique opportunity he has had to lead Nigeria and for not being a bad loser. He has demonstrated that he has the spirit of a good sportsman and has acted in the interest of peace, progress and unity of our dear nation. The issue at stake is beyond Gen. Buhari and President Jonathan as it is essentially about the sustainability of our democracy as a nation and the need for us to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Nigeria has come of age and has set her foot on the right path in terms of commitment to global best democratic practice standard. I call on President Jonathan to not only embrace the Buhari victory, which is victory for our democracy, but to sincerely ensure a peaceful and smooth transition between him and the President-elect as we move towards the inauguration of a new administration come May 29, 2015, as President Jonathan is in the best position to determine how he would like to be remembered in history. Yet again, I wish to appreciate the international community for their support and encouragement in ensuring the sanctity of our electoral process as well as the prominent roles they have played in the creation of an enabling environment for a free, fair and credible election as well as their facilitation of peace accords among the major political parties and players before the commencement of the election. Finally, I wish to congratulate Nigerians, at home and in the diaspora, for this giant leap in our quest for true democracy and

Bamidele

good governance. In congratulating the good, patient and highly resolved people of Nigeria, I must not forget two illustrious sons of Nigeria without whose names, the history of democratic transition in Nigeria cannot be complete. One is Prof. Attahiru Jega, whose integrity and strength of character, became the blood and tonic that sustained the electoral process. The other one is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the foremost opposition leader, for his selfless and resourceful efforts at ensuring that a new Nigeria is borne today after a prolonged and protracted struggle to rescue the nation from the jugular of PDP leadership. No doubt, both the present and incoming generations of Nigerians will recognise Tinubu as a moral force that God has used to galvanize the progressive forces in this country towards the evolution of a most

I call on General Buhari to take this as a God-given opportunity to provide a most unique and transformative leadership to the nation

formidable opposition platform that eventually wrestled power from the PDP. Tinubu was once referred to as “the last man standing” when he was the only surviving governor following the so-called “electoral tsunami” that swept away his counterparts in the South-West geo-political region in the 2003 general elections. Tinubu did not only leave progressive legacies of socioeconomic transformation in Lagos State but went back to the trenches to rescue the rest of the South-West region from the PDP between 2003 and 2011 in a tumultuous legal and political battle of heroic dimension. Today, Tinubu has extended the struggle to the frontiers of the nation through his expansive political networking and collaboration with progressive like-minds across the country, among whom is General Buhari (the President-elect), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Chief Bisi Akande, Alhaji Abubabakar Atiku, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso, Governor Rauf Aregbesola and many other patriots. It is my sincere hope that a new dawn has just begun in the country. I urge Nigerians not to relent at all in their collective resolve to change the face of leadership and ensure that democracy and good governance is further entrenched in Nigeria. In overriding public interest, General Buhari has to accept this victory in magnanimity, just like President Jonathan is expected to accept his defeat in good faith. In that manner, both of them would have won the hearts of Nigerians and lovers of democracy all over the world. May the God of resurrection herald in economic resurrection and the much needed national rebirth through this new dawn of participatory democracy. Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

Tsav: President-elect’ll return Nigeria to probity Alhaji Abubakar Tsav is a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police

eneral Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in last Saturday presidential election is a good thing to this country because the government run by President Goodluck Jonathan is not disciplined and people did what they wanted. There is a lot of corruption. So, we need a disciplined person who will return this country to the path of discipline and probity. Buhari has clean credentials; he is not corrupt, he is not a religious bigot nor tribalistic. His emergence as president will bring sanity to the country. Although the country is totally bad

Tsav

now, but Buhari’s victory and emergence as President-elect is a good omen for Nigeria. It also shows that God loves Nigeria

by allowing Buhari to win the presidential election, so that he will be able to put things right. It may be difficult for him to stop corruption immediately but he will do his best to reduce it; at least there would be accountability. I am particularly joyful over Buhari’s victory in the election following what I have been writing about him many years ago. I think it is a good thing that has happened to Nigeria I want the President-elect to try as much as possible to stop corruption, bring enough security to the country. The first thing his government should do is to look for the Chibok girls kidnapped a year ago and rescue them. He should also deal with Boko Haram. He should create jobs for our youths, improve the economy and stop recklessness and wasteful spending in government. It may not be easy for him to do it at once because the failure of this government

is colossal; he has to do it gradually. To perform very well in office, he has to get people who are loyal like him, who can assist him. He may be good but if he brings in people who are bad, that may worsen the whole situation. One good thing President Jonathan has done is the credible election that he has conducted. Another good thing he has done is for him accepting defeat even before the result was announced. May be if he has waited until the result was announced, his supporters might have made trouble and there would be crisis in the country. I commend him for accepting the defeat. I will advise Nigerians to support and cooperate with General Buhari so that the wrong done to this country can be corrected. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

OPEN FORUM

...On muhammadu buhari as president-elect

Ikedife: Buhari’s victory providential Dr. Dozie Ikedife is an elder statesman and former President of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo

I will advise the Presidentelect to know that he is now the president for the whole country; not president for All Progressives Congress

eneral Muhammadu Buhari’s victory is providential. I will also like to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan for displaying maturity in congratulating the person who defeated him in the election. That is the type of maturity we expect and behaviour we acknowledge as being civilised. I will also like to thank the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega for ensuring all things are done properly during the elections.

Ikedife

When issues were raised about the election in Rivers State, he still investigated it and even I

might not agree totally with the decision he took, I still congratulate him for taking a speedy action and concluding the election. There were skirmishes here and there, but the election was still peaceful. I will advise all politicians to take the verdict of the people. I am one of those who gave early support to Buhari because in the political equation and calculation, I thought that was the best for the interest of the Igbo and Nigeria. And his victory has proved me right. It was something I predicted six months ago. There was a Christian minister (Revd Fr. Mbaka) who also predicted Buhari’s victory. When he predicted Buhari’s victory, he was tackled and called names but his prediction has come to past. I think Revd. Fr. Mbaka deserves an apology from those who have been attacking him and those who have been casting aspersion on his integrity. I will advise the President-

elect to know that he is now the president for the whole country; not president for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muslims, North-East or North-West, SouthSouth or South-East. He is president for all and he should forget those who voted for him or who didn’t vote for him because he has won. He should ensure that he distributes amenities and patronages equally. He should also tackle the immediate problems of Nigeria. The number one of which is corruption; all other problems are fallout of corruption. If he is able to face the monster, his name will be written in gold in the history of Nigeria. I think the way forward is that Nigerian politicians should in future peddle less on falsehood; let them feed us with facts and not fictions. They should also stop fanning the embers of religious differences, socio-cultural differences. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Adams: I’ve no regrets supporting Jonathan Otunba Gani Adams is the National Coordinator, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC)

wish to send my congratulations to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his success in the recently-concluded presidential election. By his resounding success in the election across the country, General Buhari has proved that he is the choice of the people. I commend his resilience and tenacity over the years which have seen him equal the record of great leaders like Abraham Lincon of the USA. His victory is a lesson to all of us that we can be what we want to be if we are patient and persistent in our legitimate pursuit in life. His speeches before, during and after the election are also commendable because they went a long way

Chief Ralph Obioha is the chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee and National Democratic Coalition (NADECO)

he outcome of the presidential election is a great democratic change in the country. The process as everybody has indicated both locally and internationally is that it was a very smooth, peaceful and transparent process. It was a great thing for Nigeria. The way President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari on his victory is indeed a demonstration of statesmen and that has brought a lot of admira-

in dousing the tension in the country. This actually shows that the ‘Peoples General’ as he is fondly called is indeed a statesman. I also congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan for creating a level playing ground for all the parties that contested the election and the high spirit of sportsmanship he displayed when he called to congratulate the President-elect even before all the results were released. By his action, President Jonathan has truly lived up to his statement that his ambition is not worth the life of any Nigerian. This is an exemplary feat, which any other presidents coming after him must not fall short of achieving. I don’t have any regret supporting President Jonathan. Politics is a game of number and I am entitled to support any candidate out of the 28 political parties in Nigeria. If I didn’t support Jonathan and I supported Buhari, I will become the enemy of my friends in Jonathan’s camp too. If I support anybody in Labour Party, definitely, I will be the enemy of APC and

Adams

PDP. So, definitely, out of 28 political parties, I will surely support one party. So, I have the right to choose whoever I want to support and I don’t regret supporting President Jonathan. With Buhari’s victory, I don’t have any fear about our pipeline contract. It is our right; it is our way of empowering the youth and I know Buhari will not deny

Yoruba youths a way of empowering themselves. He said he wants a change; definitely, part of change content is to empower people and give people job. So, the issue of pipeline contract is not even a do-or-die in our lives; we are entitled to it. General Buhari is a father of all now and Nigeria belongs to all of us. He is a father and everybody in this country is a subject to Buhari. Having won the election, I want the President-elect to begin to see himself as the President-elect of all Nigerians and not just that of the All Progressives Congress (APC). For him, it is time to mend whatever differences that may have arisen as a result of the election. It is time for all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, to come together to continue to build our nation in a positive way, which of course, should be the focus of the President-elect himself and every other political leader across the various political parties in the country. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Obioha: Nigerians should support new president tion for the president. I am one of those who supported Buhari even when many people from South-East supported President Jonathan. The reason why I supported Buhari was because President Jonathan wasn’t quite up to the role, assignment and the way he is carrying out the duties of his office. There is also a lot of hardship in Nigeria and his government don’t seem to have answers to how to move the nation forward. So, these were some of the reasons why I believe there is need for a change and to try another hand. And Buhari’s antecedent when he was once a Head of State showed that

he is the kind of leader that Nigeria needs at this time of her development. We need somebody who will bring discipline, fight corruption, develop the country and be prepared to treat all Nigerians equally. I will advise the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to embrace all Nigerians and see them equally. Nigerians are behind him by the votes that were cast in last Saturday presidential election. The way forward for the country is that Nigerians should support their new president. There is a lot of work to be done and everybody should support him for all Nigerians to match forward.

Obioha

Nigeria is entering a new frontier and one would hope that this new frontier would bring a lot for the nation. Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Politics

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abia North: PPA vows to reject manipulated result

ollowing the alleged manipulation of Abia North Senatorial election result, the Abia State Youth Leader of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Ndubuisi Emeh, has stated that his party will challenge the result of the senatorial contest if figures are doc-

tored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He explained that the long delay in the announcement of the result is a clear indication that INEC officials had connived with politicians in power at the state level to short change the people’s will.

Agbakoba decries absence of balance of voting Wale Elegbede

ormer president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has lamented the absence of balanced voting in last Saturday’s election, saying that there was need to jettison ethnic politics in the country. Addressing a press conference in Lagos yesterday, the constitutional lawyer expressed satisfaction in the country’s electoral process, stating that the presidential election has produced heroes and villains. Agbakoba said: “There were villains and that is what we need to get out of our politics. The first villain goes to the SouthEast and North-West. It is incredible, for President Jonathan to have the type of numbers in the SouthEast. “It is unbelievable and it doesn’t do the leaders of the South-East any good. Neither does it do the leaders of the North-East any good that General Buhari scored the type of numbers he scored in the region. “There was no balanced voting in the electoral process. The villains were leaders of the PDP in the South-East that did not understand the importance of balance. We hope that the April 11th elections that will produce the governors and states Houses of As-

sembly members will be balanced. “I don’t accept that the South-East would have voted 90 per cent for President Jonathan and the same goes to the North-West who did same for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.” According to him, the failure to understand balanced voting cost the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the presidential election, stating that, “what helped Buhari was the consistent balanced voting across majority of the states.” Agbakoba urged Buhari to immediately reverse the culture of impunity currently rocking the country when he resumes office as the nation’s leader. According to him, “Hero number one is President Goodluck Jonathan. I saw he was tremendously relieved. As a skilled legal psychologist I can tell moods and swings. That is not to say President Jonathan didn’t want to win but having lost the election he didn’t want to make mistake.” He urged the Presidentelect to restructure the country in line with the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference, stating that the incoming administration should decapitate the Federal Civil Service and implement the Steve Oronsaye Report in order to reduce cost of governance.

Addressing a press conference at the state party secretariat in Umuahia on Wednesday, Emeh stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the support of some INEC staff had tampered with the result to favour Chief Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to Emeh, the result sheet for Abia North was signed by the returning officer for Umuneochi LGA, Prof. Ovuoh Ernest, as the authentic returning officer for Abia North Senatorial District, Prof. Ihekweaba, who refused to support the manipulation of result, refused to sign the result sheet, insisting that he will only sign a

credible result. Emeh said: “INEC delayed the announcement of the result in order to perfect rigging for PDP. Inasmuch as we monitored the election process, some INEC staff had frustrated the exercise. You can imagine a returning officer for Umuneochi LG signing the result sheet of Abia North Senatorial District. This is unacceptable and illegal. We would fight this cause to the last. I thought the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, promised a credible election but to my surprise, Abia State elections were characterised by massive rigging by the PDP. “The people came out en masse to vote for their choice in the person of Dr.

ASABA

he bid by the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor and his Labour Party counterpart, Chief Great Ogboru from contesting the April 11 election suffered a setback yesterday. The party had prepared for accelerated hearing in the matter before the hope was dashed

by Justice C.M.A Olatoregun Ishola, who gave a leave to counsels of the defendants to go and prepare their defence. Joined in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the political parties of the candidates and 95 others. The ruling party had a fortnight ago in suit number FHC/CS/28/2015 challenged the eligibility of Ogboru, Emerhor and the candidates of the Accord Party (AP) to participate in the governorship and the House of Assembly elections in the state.

the results of Abia North senatorial election stand. Akwari said: “At my ward in Item, people came out with enthusiasm to cast their votes for the popular candidate in the person of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. The same goes for other areas in Abia North but to my greatest surprise, we have been hearing all rumours that the results have been tampered with. I only want to call on INEC and other stakeholders to as a matter of urgency look into these allegations and announce the rightful winner of the election. “Individual interest should not supersede the collective wish of the people,” the community leader added.

Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun (left), receiving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Ijebu Central Federal Constituency, Mr. Wale Osinubi to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after he defected to the APC...yesterday.

No regret supporting Jonathan, says TAN Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) has said that it has no regret supporting President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 presiden-

tial election. The group, which championed the re-election bid of the president, said it will continue to stand by him. The association also said it will watch from the sideline to see what General Muhammadu Buhari will offer Nigerians.

Court stalls PDP’s bid to stop Ogboru, Emerhor Dominic Adewole

Orji Uzor Kalu of the PPA and we will not allow the PDP candidate steal our mandate.” Confirming the situation, Special Adviser to Dr. Kalu, Kunle Oyewumi, said: “We had expected the peaceful conduct of the people at the poll to translate into an unbiased result. We believe in a transparent and open process and we would not allow our mandate to be stolen by an unpopular candidate. “We are awaiting the result before we decide on our next line of action.” Meanwhile, a community leader in Old Bende area of Abia State, Chief Daniel Akwari (Osuuzo) has called on INEC not to allow the manipulation of

The party prayed the court to disqualify the candidates of the three political parties standing for the elections on the ground that their parties violated sections 85(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). But at the resumed hearing yesterday, Justice C.M.A Olatoregun Ishola, who decried the sluggish manner of the counsels to APC, AP and LP in the case, warned them to ensure that they comply with the new legal practice. She maintained that lawyers must file in all the necessary applications,

including affidavits, counter-affidavits, objections, before the commencement of hearing. She said: “The matter has been set out for hearing today. I hate what is going on now. I cannot continue to adjourn your matter endlessly. It seems you people are not ready to prosecute this matter.” Before she ordered accelerated hearing in the matter and adjourn the matter till April 17 for hearing, she threatened not to help any defaulting counsel who fall prey of the new legal procedure.

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

TAN National Coordinator, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, at a press conference yesterday said the group has come to stay, noting that the association will continue its primary objectives of “public advocacy, humanitarian activities and employment generation for the youth. TAN will not abandon its role in any form or manner.” He, however, expressed happiness that contrary to prediction of some people that the presidential election would be violent, it was peaceful. “Many people predicted that it would be violent. Other people and institutions

posted that it will mark the beginning of the end for the entity called Nigeria. To the glory of God, the election has come and gone without the expectations of doomsday sayers coming to pass,” Ubah noted. He said the outcome of the presidential election has proven that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and congratulated General Buhari “for his consistency, persistence, doggedness and resilience since 2003 in his quest for the Presidency of Nigeria.” Ubah equally commended President Jonathan for laying the most solid foundation for the growth of democracy in Nigeria and Africa, adding that his statesmanly act of conceding victory even before the whole results were declared saved Nigeria from the plunges. He said that TAN expects Buhari will respect his electoral promises to Nigerians.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE writes on the failed ambitions of parties’ national chairmen, who were presidential and senatorial candidates in the March 28 elections

Failed ambitions of parties’ chairmen INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

He got only 7,435 votes from the 36 states and FCT.

n March 28, six national chairmen flew their political parties’ flags in the presidential and National Assembly elections. They were Chekwas Okorie of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Tunde Anifowose-Kelani of the Action Alliance (AA), Ambrose Owuru of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Ganiyu Galadima of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Sam Eke of the Citizen Popular Party (CPP) and Victor Umeh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). While Umeh contested the senatorial election, five other parties leaders were presidential candidates. Okorie and four others contested against President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election. But despite the funfair, the entrance of some of the national chairmen into the March 28 elections generated, all of them performed woefully in the elections. The presidential candidates lost to Buhari, while Umeh lost his senatorial bid for Anambra Central Senatorial District to the PDP candidate, Hon. Uche Ekwunife. Chekwas Okorie Okorie, the national chairman of UPP is one of the notable politicians in Nigeria, especially in South-East. The Abia State-born politician came to political limelight when he registered APGA with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on June 25, 2002. Okorie funded the party and with the support of the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, APGA became a formidable political party in Nigeria and presented candidates for several political offices, including presidential candidates in the 2003 and 2007 general elections. Despite been the founder of APGA, Okorie was sacked as the party’s national chairman in 2008 through a Supreme Court verdict after years of legal battles between him and some chieftains of the party. He and some of his loyalists were also expelled to pave the way for Umeh as APGA national chairman. Okorie tried to register United

Okorie

Umeh

Peoples Grand Alliance (UPGA) with INEC but the name was rejected. He later re-applied to INEC with the name of another party, the United Progressives Party (UPP), which was registered on October 2, 2012. Okorie’s ambition to succeed President Jonathan on May 29 failed last Saturday as he performed woefully in the poll. Even in Abia, his state of origin, Okorie could not win in his local government talk less of winning his state. He scored 18,200 votes. Tunde Anifowose-Kelani Senator Anifowose-Kelani holds a Bachelor degree in Personnel Psychology and Counselling, and Master’s in Personnel Psychology. He is one of the few politicians who are known for not jumping from one political party to the other in search of greener pasture. He has been consistence with AA since he joined the party. Unlike many presidential candidates who official declared

Anifowose-Kelani

Eke

Despite the funfair the entrance of some of the national chairmen into the March 28 elections generated, all of them performed woefully in the elections

their aspiration publicly, the AA national chairman launched his own presidential campaign on his website. He took part in the presidential election and performed woefully. He polled 22,125 votes. Ganiyu Galadima Galadima, the standard bearer of ACPN in the March 28 presidential election, believes strongly in war against corruption and the need to end impunity in Nigeria. Like some of his co-contestants, Galadima also lost at the poll, scoring 40,311 votes. Ambrose Owuru Owuru has been in the presidential race since 2007. As a veteran presidential candidate, his presidential aspiration was not a surprise to many Nigerians, having taken part in the contests in the past without anything to show for it. His party, the HDP, is not well rooted in Nigerian politics and this seem to have contributed to his loss at the poll.

Sam Eke Eke, the CPP national chairman, is not a greenhorn in politics, having participated in several general elections in the past. He was the CPP governorship candidate in Abia State in 2007 and 2011 and also National Publicity Secretary of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). Eke’s political dossier and foray in politics didn’t translate to votes for him in last Saturday’s presidential election. He scored 36,300 votes. Victor Umeh Umeh was APGA candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District in Saturday’s election. He contested against incumbent Senator Chris Ngige of APC and Hon. Uche Ekwunife, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Anaocha/Njikoka/ Dunokofia Federal Constituency, who contested on the PDP platform. Umeh emerged as APGA national chairman through a court verdict and since then he has been engaging some members of the party in leadership tussle. Apart from his battle with Okorie, he and Chief Maxi Okwu also flexed muscles at different courts before Supreme Court uphold his position as the party’s chairman. Umeh also had a running battle with former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, for months before they sheath their swords few weeks to last governorship election in the state. Umeh’s senatorial ambition tore APGA apart in Anambra State as prominent chieftains and members of the party, including Obi and Ekwunife, dumped the party to pitch their tent with the PDP. Umeh as APGA national chairman won Anambra State for his party on two occasions but he was unable to win his senatorial election. The APGA’s national chairman hope of becoming a senator was dashed by Ekwunife who won the senatorial election. She defeated both Umeh and Ngige. Political analysts believe that many factors contributed to Umeh’s failure at the poll; among which are his running battle with former Governor Obi, division in APGA and PDP’s popularity in the state. Ekwunife polled 101,548 votes to beat Umeh who secured 77,129 votes. Ngige merely secured 20,850.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Bon Voyage Buhari, Boom Boom Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

ancing time for followers of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the new fashion in town, President- elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nothing good comes easy, easy come, easy go. I have to be a sportsman now, congratulations, the next President. The game is over. You have not only won the trophy, you scored the highest number of votes to win the Golden Boot. The Most Valuable Player [MVP] Award, goes to the Governor –General of Nigerian politics, the Jagaban, Asiwaju of the Universe, the one who does not bat an eyelid, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu [BAT]. President Goodluck Jonathan remains a man of history. The first Nigerian to have held the positions of Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and President. I give him the Fair Play Trophy for being a Statesman. The call he made to Gen. Buhari on Tuesday, confirmed him as a man of peace and a true gentleman. I must admit, that I never wanted a Buhari victory in 2015. I would have loved him to win in 2019. Well, wishes are not horses, Nigerians overruled me . The people have spoken. There is reason for everything. Maybe, we are in the Buhari season. That is why he won. Remember, that the Progressives, led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, were the first to chant ‘Change’ as a slogan in 1983. They could not change President Shehu Shagari. My own mother, surprised me, when she gave her vote to Buhari. One of my siblings was so disappointed, that he simply drove away. I had reminded mom how the general drove her husband, my father, from the office of local government chairman,

with his 1983 coup. Well, it did not work. She has the right to her vote, as another sibling pointed out. Honestly, that is not what I have against Gen. Buhari. He is yet to convince me that he has plans for the Igbo man. I cannot deny my background. Anyone who hurts my people, also does not expect me to carry him shoulder high. When Gen. Buhari sent then Brig. Ike Nwachukwu to Imo state as governor in 1984, it was like we were to be punished for no reason. I cannot remember anywhere in the world where people were forced to contribute money to build an airport. It happened in Imo state. Even poor villagers, peasant farmers, who never saw what is today known as Sam Mbakwe Airport, were tormented, because they could not meet up with government’s demand. However, I believe General Buhari must have been wisened by his foray into politics. He failed, not once, not twice. Thrice he was floored. He that is down ,needs fear no fall. So ,the man was not afraid of defeat. Here he is today, ready to rule, for the first time, from Abuja. Now that he has won, ahead of my prayer, I am still qualified to tell him the truth, even if I am quite younger than he is. Gen . Buhari should learn from history. And he should chart a new course for himself. As from May 29, 2015, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari ceases to be an Hausa –Fulani man. He becomes a Nigerian, who is ready to give us a New Nation. This country is in need of a Hero, a Father Figure. The opportunity has offered itself to this elder from Daura. Nelson Mandela was in jail for 27 years, in apartheid South- Africa. It was a white man that freed him. That same man, Frederick de Klerk, who set the Madiba free as President, served as Vice President under his former prisoner. That is the height of statesmanship. Gen. Buhari was detained for several years. That is part of the movement of history. Let him put that aside and move this country forward. We have seen so much bloodshed and instability, that what should occupy his mind is how to really change Nigeria.

Those who want him to hound all his military enemies and political opponents, do not wish him well. This should be a New Nigeria, where tribe and tongue may differ, but must not matter. I cannot remember the last time an Igbo man won National Assembly elections in Lagos. With the advent of Buhari ,it has happened again. As an Igbo man, I want to task Gen. Buhari. Many of us did not vote for him because his first coming did not favour us. In his very first Supreme Military Council[SMC], there was no Igbo officer. A few days later, I guess Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, came, as an after thought. I agree he has some Igbo friends. We need him to go beyond recognizing a few pals. Col. Chris Ugokwe remains an old buddy because they both joined the army same day. Lt. Juventus Ojukwu was close to Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina, just like Nwachukwu. We need the general to trust other Igbo outside those who have links with his home state. And because, Gen. Buhari did not win in Igboland, I do not expect him to give us the position of tea server[apologies to Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu].I would not be surprised if someone remembers tomorrow, to ask Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu to become Secretary to the Government of the Federation[SGF]. At 72, Gen. Buhari has seen it all. There is nothing to teach him. Ex-President, former governor, one -time minister, that is a tall credential. God knows why he brought him back this late. If you cannot treat all Nigerians equally, irrespective of their background, then you will be hurting the Almighty who made your return possible. May I also ask that you retain Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina as Minister of Agriculture. I think , beyond politics, the man has done well. My very dear friend, Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya, I just like her guts, deserves recognition. She fought well as KOWA lone ranger. Finally, do something for me, even if you have to bend backwards. Give us a sixth state in the SouthEast. Remember, there is 2019. Since you did not win in any Igbo speaking state in 2015, you could clear all six in the next four years. And Ndigbo will shout not just Sai Buhari, they will scream Sage Buhari.

Learning from the Presidential poll Lawani Ambrose

he Independent National Electoral Commission eventually conducted the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections on the 28th of March 2015. The election has been generally acclaimed to be free, fair and credible, however some lapses were identified. The introduction of the Smart Card Reader has been widely commended as a novel contribution that improves the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria. However the shortcomings associated with its use is largely the fault of INEC. In some cases the Smart Card Readers were not programmed for the pooling units while in others the protective film covering the lens was not removed from the Smart Card Reader prior to its use. The comments and demeanour of the president who was a victim of the malfunctioning of the Smart Card Reader was commendable. Tactless or careless statements by the president at the crucial moment of his failed accreditation by the Smart Card Reader may have

irretrievably marred the elections nationwide. Since technology has been deployed by INEC in enhancing the integrity of the electoral process, INEC may as well consider installing close circuit television cameras in violence prone voting units and collation centres in the future. Furthermore the use of mobile phones to vote may not be out of place as all Nigerians have now registered their SIM cards. This will allow the sick, security agents and electoral officials to participate in voting, thus improving voter participation and the integrity of the electoral process. Logistical challenges led to reports of late delivery of election materials. Some of the drivers hired to convey the adhoc INEC officials were not conversant with the routes leading to their area of assignment. The latter scenario caused some delay in arrival of personnel and electoral materials in some areas. Some vehicles conveying adhoc INEC officials were involved in Road Traffic Accidents on a day the road was supposedly free of traffic. The communication of the area of assignment to some adhoc INEC staff came relatively late, hence they did not have the time to make adequate lodging arrangement leading to a situation where such adhoc staff

slept on the floor, tables and benches in a poorly lit and dirty environment. This however did not deter the committed adhoc INEC officials from performing their duties with passion and integrity. Some adhoc INEC officials were reported to have protested the non payment of their training allowance in some states. There were also reports that some adhoc INEC officials declined their postings because of challenges associated with working in such areas e.g the creeks and riverine areas. In the long term INEC, may consider engaging the services of an insurance firm to provide insurance coverage for its staff and the adhoc electoral officials. Some senior INEC staff were posted to a new location few days to the election, so many were unfamiliar with the tendencies, antecedents and capacities of their subordinates. So some crucial tasks were inadvertently given to some subordinates who were rather sloppy in the discharge of their duties. Communication breakdown was also a challenge as some adhoc INEC officials were unable to access the designated INEC officials to which such reports ought to be made about the challenges they were experiencing in the field. In other instances were adhoc INEC officials could reach the

designated INEC official, no meaningful solution was proffered to the problems and issues raised by the INEC adhoc official. There were widespread reports of lack of generators to provide electric power supply at night in some polling units and ward collation. Better arrangement is required with local reputable firms based in the respective Local Government Areas for the leasing of generators during the period of the election. Generally voter turnout compared to the number of voters on the voters register was low. INEC and other agencies should embark on rigorous campaigns to improve voter turn out in subsequent elections. INEC should also ensure that all those alleged to have committed various forms of electoral offences are prosecuted no matter how highly placed. Finally Nigerians are encouraged to make timeous and constructive comments on the observable lapses that occurred during the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections. Addressing some of the lapses observed will make the 2015 Governorship and House of Assembly elections relatively hitch free. • Ambrose (ambroselawani@yahoo.com) lives in Benin

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

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Reviewing rape laws

lthough Sections 357 of the Criminal Code and 282 of the Penal Code describe rape as unlawful carnal knowledge without consent, cases of rape are on the rise despite the severe punishment envisaged by law. Till now, offenders go unpunished. Many victims of rape do not come forward to identify themselves? And even when they do, the court always finds itself in a tight corner to deliver justice. For 13 months now, a 31-yearold detainee who was allegedly raped by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Lagos is yet to get justice. The victim was allegedly raped on April 15, 2014 when she was in police custody. According to the victim, the DPO threatened to ensure she died in detention should she let the cat out of the bag. Today, the victim is left to lick her wounds while the officer according to an advocacy group, the Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN) had been promoted by his employer in Lagos. It is also not different in the case of a housewife who was allegedly raped by her landlord while her husband was away on a night duty.

For 13 months now, a 31-year-old detainee who was allegedly raped by a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Lagos is yet to get justice In a report filed at a police station in Agege area of Lagos, the victim who was about four months pregnant was raped by the landlord under the pretence of a power outage in the area when he allegedly sneaked in and unlawfully had a carnal knowledge of the pregnant woman. After three months of complaint lodged before the police, the matter was sent to the dustbin of history. Hundreds of rape cases are not only being swept under the carpet by the law enforcement agents, the stigmatization accompanying it has not helped the successful prosecution of rapist in the country. Even when victims are ready to prove the case against the supposed offender, the court always finds itself in a tight corner to establish that the offence was

committed. A fortnight ago, a non-governmental organization, Walk Against Rape (WAR) organized a walk in Lagos to sensitise the Nigerian society on the ills and the effects of the scourge ravaging all nooks and crannies. The convener specifically urged sexually abused persons to speak out if the offence must be stamped out. Will the public awareness be enough to eliminate the offence of rape? This, perhaps formed the fulcrum of WAR’s awareness programme when it staged a protest march across Lagos on March 15, to compel major stakeholders in the country to rally round the sexually abused persons particularly women and children, urging them to stamp out rape with a view to bringing to an end its ravaging adverse effects on the citizenry. No doubt, the offence of rape is difficult to prove, its true picture has always posed a challenge in the court, hence justice for the victims remain a tall dream except there is a review of the implementation of the law. For the offence of rape to be stamped out, government at all levels must take a cue from the England Sexual Offences Act 2003 by strictly implementing both Sections 357 of the Criminal Code and 282 of the Penal Code.

These laws are capable of reducing if not eliminating rape if they are strictly implemented. Although Nigeria has a very good set of laws but the implementation of such laws is very weak just as victims of rape have always refused to come out and testify in a bid to avoid stigmatization. That is why WAR and NOPRIN must be commended for their awareness programmes and unrelenting war against rape as enforcement, poor education of law enforcement officials and cultural stigmatization have become the bane of the war against rape. If the war must be fought and won, we have to review our laws to meet new exigencies. Also, there is need to change the way sexual assaults are prosecuted; to encourage women to come forward if violence against them must be reduced with a view to raising the bar on the likelihood to arrest and prosecute perpetrators in court. According to a report, over 100,000 cases of rape per year go unreported. If the laws are reviewed, it would encourage more women to come out and testify. In other words, rape would become a thing of the past when the laws are reviewed with effective implementation by the law enforcement agents so as to forestall any likelihood by offenders to get away with sexual violence against women.

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Politics

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Yuguda: I won’t challenge my defeat CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

his name and that of TAN (Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria). “Before the arrival of the boys, the presidential rally was going on smoothly. When they entered the venue they started singing “Sai Jonathan”, “Sai Jonathan” only for them to begin to chant “Sai Buhari”, “Sai Buhari” to the bewilderment of all present. “I feel very bad over the sad incident caused

by Bala and his group to discredit me and all that I have been able to accomplish in Bauchi. I must say that I am very sad and disappointed by the antics of the minister.” Mohammed responded by describing Yuguda as a mole in the party, accusing him of anti-party activities and sponsoring the group that stoned him and the president’s convoy at the rally. A statement signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, read in part: “It is

simply irrational for Governor Yuguda to allege that the Hon. Minister hired thugs to stone and embarrass himself (Mohammed) while addressing the presidential rally in his home state. By this claim, Yuguda has proven correct the allegation that he has been hobnobbing with the APC at night and running with the PDP in daytime. “The question the governor must answer quickly without equivocation is: why did the thugs not stone him (Yuguda)

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

whilst he was addressing the same rally, on the same podium and on the same day? Yuguda should also tell the world why he has suddenly turned into

an APC spokesman, by exonerating the opposition party of culpability in the attack of the PDP presidential campaign team in Bauchi.” Although there was no love lost between the governor and the minister before incident, there is no doubt that the Yuguda/ Mohammed feud effected the electoral fortune of the PDP in Bauchi the same way it did in the 2011 elections, when the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, who contested on the platform

of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) polled 1.3 million votes against the PDP’s Jonathan 258,404. PDP’s performance in Bauchi State in the 2015 presidential election was similar to that of 2011. Even with Mu’azu, Mohammed and Yuguda, the combined efforts of the three gave the party only 86, 085 votes while Buhari got a 931, 598 votes. President Jonathan failed to score 25 per cent in the state. With the defeat of Yuguda, Bauchi is gradually turning into a state where governors fail to achieve senatorial ambition. Meanwhile, Governor Yuguda has congratulated the APC candidates that won the National Assembly elections in the state. “I wish to extend and convey my sincere congratulation to General Muhammadu Buhari and all the APC candidates from Bauchi State who won the National Assembly elections to represent the state in the National Assembly. “I wish to especially congratulate my younger brother, Malam Ali Wakili, who won the Bauchi South Senatorial seat for which I was a contestant,” he said. He advised all contestants that lost in the National Assembly election against litigation, but to submit to the will of Allah and pray for the success of those who won. He advised politicians to emulate the exemplary leadership of the president-elect. His words: “In contest there must be a winner and a loser. The losers following INEC announcement of result must submit to the will of Allah, rather than proceeding for litigations, which would be bad luck for our polity. “All those who lost their seat from all other parties must submit to the will of Allah and pray for the success of those who won. Another chance will present itself. “We must learn to be (our) brothers’ keepers and understand that there should not be any bitterness in politics, especially if you lose election. “We must learn from the matured, exemplary and godly politics of the President-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari, who since 2003 has been contesting the presidency and had in between, never shown bitterness or hatred to his opponent, until Allah finally gave him the chance to rule our dear nation Nigeria.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Culture

Arts

Tourism

Why government must invest in art, culture, by Ogbonna

The Gambia entices with exciting Easter Fiesta

CULTURE

Tony Okuyeme

or four days, the Freedom Park, which has become the hub of arts and culture activities in Lagos, played host to dozens of filmmakers across the globe as the 2015 edition of the yearly iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival held from Thursday, March 19 to Sunday March 22. The Festival is conceived and organised by the iRepresent Documentary Film Forum, an affiliate of the West African Documentary Film Forum (WDFF), and the Documentary Network Africa (DNA). This landmark 5th anniversary festival explored the theme: “Reinventing Documentary Filmmaking in a Digital Space”, which formed the overriding concern that the keynote speeches concentrated on. Though conceived on the traditional iREP thematic framework of Africa in Self-conversation, the theme, the organisers stated, is premised on the reality that Digital media technology is expanding narrative possibilities and shaping audiences’ experiences of how realities are articulated. This year’s edition of the Festival, as the organisers promised, was no doubt an improvement on the achievements of past festivals. No doubt, documentary filmmaking is coming to terms with these new realities and continuously finding hybrid strategies to navigate the blurred lines crisscrossing verities and satisfying the ever changing temperament of the digital world that is hip, fun-seeking, chaotic, multi-tasking, and attention sapping. For documentary filmmaking, digital technology presents a challenge and an opportunity that would either remarkably transform and redefine what passes as a documentary film or bury the art in its past. “More than ever before there is a need to reinvent the art of documentary filmmaking within the space of the new elements that are dictating the trend of media

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Cross section of participants at the festival

iREP: Five years of intervention, reinventing docu film making consumption and experience globally. We are also conscious of the inevitable movement of Television broadcasting and services into full digital era as envisaged by the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission and that quite a lot of African nations have set same 2015 as deadline for their full embrace of digital broadcasting on the continent.” Highlights of the festival include film screenings, keynotes, panel discussions, producers’ roundtable, awards presentation, and training/ workshops. Over 40 films curated around themes and issues in Africa were screened. It has become a tradition for the festival to engage Africa and Africans in self-conversation and create talking points that can bring insights on developmental issues in Africa. “This edition of the festival has deliberately allowed an eclectic selection of films addressing different subject matters and selected widely from different parts of the World, including USA, South Africa, Uganda, UK, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Germany, Cuba, Canada, France, Nigeria, and many more.” The 5th edition of the iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival started on Thursday, 19th March, 2015 with the screening of Unforgiven, a Rwandan-German

documentary by Lucas Augustin. The opening screening of Chameleon, a Ryan Mullins’ 2014 documentary film was, however, deferred owing to technical hitches. The opening ceremony commenced with a welcome address by the Executive Director/Co-Founder of iRep Documentary Film Forum, Femi Odugbemi, who thanked the festival’s staff, volunteers, partners, sponsors and individuals who had supported the festival from inception five years ago. In his speech, titled ‘New Values for Audience Development in a Digital Space’, the Managing Director of Multichoice Nigeria Limited, Mr. John Ugbe, observed that the response to the right content is no longer subject to a 6-month research or survey, but is now immediate because two screens are available to the audience in the digital age – one for watching content and the other for giving feedback to the content provider on social media: Twitter, Facebook, etc. This second screen, he remarked, is usually a phone. Ugbe posited that quality content was paramount in the digital space, stressing that it did not matter where content was produced: a bad story remains a bad story. In his remarks, the Director of

the Goethe-Institut Lagos, MarcAndré Schmachtel expressed happiness that iREP offered the opportunity for German documentaries to be screened and was delighted by the privilege offered by nonfictional films, which he believes promotes a people’s history and culture. The Film Programme Manager, British Council, London, Wendy Mitchell delivered a short speech from Ojoma Ochai, Director, British Council, Lagos, who was unavoidably absent. Ochai stressed that, “we need to tell our own stories better.” Mitchell also informed the audience of about 15 new programmes and grants initiated by the British Council. The CEO of M2DC, Mr. Wehinmi Atigbi, in a keynote address titled “Creative Intentions in the Age of Digital Mass Media”, stressed need to tell our story based on truth. “We cannot tell our stories based on a lie,’’ he said. In the documentary film genre that seeks to “capture the world in its naked splendor”, this is all the more important. Atigbi noted that the digital mass media has created a new kind of audience - an audience that tends to CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Arts

Tony Okuyeme

rt collector and culture promoter Chief Solomon Ogbonna in this interview explains why he insists that government, especially in his state, Ebonyi must invest in the promotion of arts and culture. Chief Solomon Ogbonna is not just one of the leading art collectors in Nigeria (with 6,700 masterpiece ancient and modern artworks in his collection), his passion for the promotion of arts and culture is palpable. For him, the significance of arts and culture to the development of a nation such as Nigeria, and indeed, Ebonyi, his home state, cannot be over-emphasised. Chairman, Board of Trustees of Aguene Art Foundation, one of his projects is to build a museum in Lagos and Ebonyi state, which he believes will not only provide jobs to the youths but also attract tourists. Although, Ogbonna, a.k.a. youngest prolific art collector in Africa, sketches some works for artists before they go on with producing the artworks, he does not see himself as an artist. “I’m an artwork collector not an artist,” he says. “But at least, I sketch for my artist before he goes on with his work. Most of them follow my directives considering my experience in Igbo, Yoruba, Benin and Hausa artworks.” “I believe that art is a form of culture and an extension of the mind and reasoning of the spirits. I am an advocate for custom and tradition of Africans, and convinced that nothing will strengthen a people as much as a proper appreciation and understanding of their own history as recorded by their own people, in their own language,” he said. “African Art is a testimony of the imagination of human reasoning produced in art forms not only for decorative purposes but also to convey important messages to the people.” In his quest to propagate and develop the ideals of his late father, he established Aguene Art Foundation, an indigenous non-governmental organization, with the aim of collecting, preserving, developing and advancing art and culture. His passion for artworks is unequalled as he has thousands of choice ancient and modern artworks from different parts Nige-

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why government must invest in art, culture, by Ogbonna

Some of the artworks in Ogbonna’s collection

ria and other African countries. During a visit to the Aguene Art Foundation, Chief Edem Duke, the Honorable Minister for Culture and Tourism referred to Chief Ogbonna as a “true Nigerian”. He stated further that the visit to his art foundation was to see for himself the rich array of works in his collection, having been intimated about the fact that there were works of such magnitude in the hands of a private collector. After seeing some of the art works that were on display, Duke said that “when the national endowment for art is established, people like Solomon would be given proper recognition”. According to Ogbonna, since then, nothing has happened. He is also worried by the lack of infrastructure and poor economic development in Ebonyi State, which, he posits, are responsible for the high rate of unemployment in the state. He is also disturbed that government – both federal and states – continue to pay lip service to issues about arts and culture.

“Ebonyi people are seriously in need infrastructural development as a means to end unemployment among their youths, and engage them in exploring their talents as artists, art promoters, and so on. “I’m disappointed and angry with those who had governed the state, particularly, with their self-centredness. “They were only concerned with immediate members of their families, taking their children abroad for education and holidays with state allocations meant for infrastructural development, job creation, skill acquisition, youth empowerment among others. These are laudable projects that would have brought development to the state,” he said, adding that there are a lot of job opportunities in Ebonyi state. “Government can explore these opportunities in order to reduce unemployment. Government should be held responsible for this deprivation of gainful employment among youths. If you visit Ebonyi state now, the state does not have any recreation centre that would enable youths to develop their talents for competitions

Ogbonna

both nationally and internationally.” On the appointment of heads of parastatals and agencies in the arts and culture sectors, Ogbonna calls on governments to look beyond just possession of certificates and showmanship. “It is not about your certificate or your exposure to Western world; it is not about the school or the university you attended; it is about the interest, the passion you have for the arts and culture,” he said.

Five years of intervention, reinventing docu film making CONTINUED FROM PAG E 21

spend their waking life poring over screens on mobile devices; building alternate lives on Facebook or Twitter, and sharing the next cool video on Youtube. This makes them impatient, sufferers of a short attention span. The danger for documentary filmmakers is that in bid to hold the attention of this new audience they would, in the words of Mr. Atigbi, engage in “pseudo-reality shows’’ like Big Brother Africa that are only ‘’frivolous reflections of reality.’’ The role of film makers in this digital age, according to him, is to remind us that there is life outside the digital space by telling true stories that are challenging, informative, and which open our minds. Some of the films screened at the festival include Unforgiven

by Lukas Augustin, Poverty Inc., directed by Michael Matheson Miller, A Vote For A Goat by Jeroen Velzen, Alan Channer’s The Imam And The Pastor, Irene Loebell’s Katlehong (Life in Progress), Diveena Cooppan’s Positively Beautiful, State Builders by Martin-Kessler Florence and Anne Poiret, Cameron Zohoori’s The Vow, and Beyond Black, a fascinating 23-minute short journey back to self, by Wome Uyeye. Executive Director/CoFounder of iRep Documentary Film Forum, Femi Odugbemi recalls how the journey started and how iREP has stimulated interest in documentary film production. “FIVE years ago when we set out to host the first iREPRESENT Documentary Film Festival, all we had in mind was to create a forum where we could enjoy

the best documentary films from around the world that we loved the most! Who knew that what began as an idea to feed a passion for documentary films will evolve into such a driver for growing the documentary film genre not only in Nigeria but across the continent? “For starters we have rekindled awareness of the power and possibilities of documentary to provoke debate, highlight issues, explicate human experiences and explore history and cultures. We have over the past five years screened over 350 films of diverse styles, languages and themes from over 40 countries of the world. We have built a passionate and growing audience for documentary films that are entertaining, impactful, penetrating and enlightening. We have formed an army of young

filmmakers who understand the form and are focusing on documentary as a creative platform of expression and intervention. We have built platforms for training and skill development in the art of documentary via our workshops and conferences especially for young filmmakers. “We have - through our strategic international alliances and partnerships with the Africa World Documentary Film Festival at the University of Missouri USA - gained access to the finest contemporary documentary films and filmmakers from across the world. Our partnership base has also included reputable international organizations such as the Goethe Institut with whom we began 5years ago, the British Council, the Ford Foundation, Freedom Park and many others

who have supported our vision. We have been networked into key global documentary film circuits such as the People2People (P2P) forum in South Africa; Documentary Network Africa (DNA); Dok.fest in Munich and Sheffield Film Festival in the UK, among others. We have achieved a lot in just 5 years but most importantly we have grown interest and activity in the art of documentary because more than ever before more and more documentary films are being produced in Nigeria and more documentary filmmakers are emerging to participate at the iREP Documentary Film Festival every year. “All of these have happened because we have retained our passion for documentary cinema and focused on inviting as many people as possible to appreciate its power and promise.”

Arts 23

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Nigerian pidgin gives sense of belonging –Adegboye Ebere Ameh

need to learn pidgin”, Felix, a SSII student in one of the international secondary schools in Lagos told his prim and proper mom. “One cannot claim to be truly Nigerian if one goes to college without being fluent in pidgin. There is this swag that goes with pidgin that you can’t help but feel proudly Nigerian,” he explained. Though Felix’s mom shouted him down, reminding him of his elite and esteemed parentage, coupled with his plan to sojourn in the United States soon in pursuance of his college education, he was adamant in his bid to become truly Naija. Despite the disparaging attitude of some Nigerians to the pidgin language, its evolution as a language of comedy is a big plus, which many still feel should be the official lingua-franca of Nigerians. Now studied in schools and used in poetry and broadcast, the Nigerian pidgin is waxing strong as not just a street language but one gradually gaining acceptance. Speaking on the reason for the widespread current acceptance of the Nigerian Pidgin, a Lecturer in the Department of Languages and Linguistics, Delta State University, Mrs Mary Emuobonuvie Adegboye summed it up, describing the language as a leveler. “Pidgin is a binding a leveler, it has a binding factor. It breaks down every form of barrier and puts everyone on the same level. That gives all a sense of belonging. When I travelled with my deputy Vice Chancellor, Admin, for program outside Nigeria, we spoke pidgin all through. There is an academy called Naija Academy where Linguists are working on the orthography of the Nigerian pidgin.” Adegboye said, adding that they (Linguists) are advocating that pidgin be used as the official Lingua Franca of the nation. Referred to as Pidgin or Broken English, it is a language which develops in a situation where speakers of different languages have a need to communicate but do not share a common language. In the case of Nigeria, it was the need to communicate with the Portuguese and Spanish traders in the Bight of Benin that gave rise to the Nigerian Pidgin. Little wonder it took root in mainly Delta and Edo areas where the contact happened. The Nigerian pidgin is an English based creole, which has so grown, blending ideas from different cultures, that it is now spoken across Nigeria. With a population of over 170 million, Nigeria has over 500 languages spoken in the country. It is estimated that Nigerian Pidgin is the native language of approximately 3 to 5 million people and is a second language for at least another 75 million people. It is widely accepted amongst the people because it attributes a sense of “Nigerianness” and belonging; so much that it is rare to find an adult Nigerian who has lived in the country and cannot speak pidgin. There are varieties like the Warri, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Benin, Northern pidgin among others and all still have el-

Ajebo, OAP of the House of Ajebo fame

Stand up comedian, I go dye

ements of the original Spanish and Portuguese Language with a beautiful blend of English and the local languages. For instance, while words such as “pikin” (Nigerian Pidgin for “child”) and “pikney” (or “pikiny”, Jamaican Patois for “child”, akin to the Spanish and Portuguese word “pequeño”/”pequeno” meaning “small”; just as “Sabi” which means “to know” or “to know how to” corresponds with “saber” is the Portuguese and Spanish word meaning “to know.” On the local languages side, whereas the Yoruba pidgin English speaker use additional words like e and Abi to start or end of an intonated sentence or question, like ‘Abi na you get am? Or ‘Se na your papa?, Hausa speakers use ‘Ba’ which has a similar meaning with Yoruba’s ‘abi’ and the Igbo speakers, the prefix ‘kwa’ is always a recurring decimal. However, despite the variations, the Warri pidgin, which has a blend of the Urhobo language, is the most popular of them all. Away from all that, the essence

of this write up is not really to educate us on the linguistics or development of the Nigerian pidgin, it is to help us unwind after a tense election week. For instance, savour the intriguing Nigerian pidgin quotes that made Felix and many others crack their ribs in laughter and crave for the language referred to by many as the original Naija language. Without much ado, here are some the proverbs painstakingly gathered from different variations of pidgin. Have fun and tease your brain as you decode the meanings of the sayings. • Cow wey dey in a hurry to go America go come back as corn beef • Family never scatter na bcos the bastards for inside never grow • Na only time e go take, stammerer must to call im papa name. • No matter how u go under water go mess the gbudu-gbudu must come out. • Aboki remain aboki even though e wear suit • Akara and moin moin get the same parent na wetin dey pass tru make dem diffrent • Wetin consign agbero with twitter handle, or cow with face cap? • If life dey show you pepper,my guy

make pepper soup from am • I get am before No be property • If person too tey for party e go follow dem wash plate • Rolling stone,ofcourse na person push am now! • Craze no hard to form,na the trekking be wahala • No matter how hot your tempa be,e no fit boil beans. • Every mallam with em own kettle,every Northerner with em own radio. • You no need cutlery to chop slap • Opolo eye no be open eye • Leave matter for Mathias and Sabi for Sabinus. • Bring suya, bring suya,…….na cow body dey suffer am. • E go better e go better,na im make ibo man still dey Kano • The different between kpekere and plantain chips na packaging. • Escort me, Escort me, naim slave trade take start. • [b]Na from play play dem dey form player • Pikin wen use agbada take stat guy go talk wetin e go wear wen e old. • At all, at all, naim bad Feel free to add your own and enjoy the only correct Naija language.

Soaring Saro, The Musical 2 returns for this Easter

he critically acclaimed Saro, The Musical 2, a Bolanle Austen-Peters production, stages a magnificent return to theatre to thrill once again with a spectacular theatrical showcase of music, dance, and drama, this Easter, at Muson Centre,Onikan, Lagos. It features talented 100-person cast and crew who will be delivering an-

other breath-taking theatrical production starring some of the finest talents in Nigerian theatre such as Bimbo Manuel, Gideon Okeke, Dolapo Oni, Patrick Diabuah, Ade Laoye, Lami Phillips, Paul Alumona and Paolo Sisiano. Returning by widespread popular demand – its Christmas tour recorded unprecedented shows, with over 8000

people seeing the show – no other theatre performance has recorded such attendance in Nigeria’s history. Saro tells the story of four young people who embark on a life-changing odyssey to Lagos with very little but an abundance of hope and dreams, only to be duly reoriented by the experiences and people they encounter on their

journey of self-realization. Weaving together the trials, misfortunes, loves, and destinies of the foursome into a 14 act masterpiece, Saro tells the inspiring story of the journey to success in a harsh, unwelcoming city; as we see Lagos personified by numerous colorful and unforgettable characters, frenetic pace of living, and endless drama.

Tourism

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Gambia entices with exciting Easter Fiesta Stories by Andrew Iro Okungbowa

t is excitement and celebration time in The Gambia otherwise known as the ‘Smiling Coast of Africa,’ as different leisure and entertainment homes across the country beckon fun seekers with enticing and colourful package treats for this year’s Easter fiesta, which is already gathering momentum. For most Nigerians, Easter is usually a family fun time and the rising profile of The Gambia as one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations, easily stands the country out as your choice for the Easter holiday with the family. With its wide range offerings, it would not be bad idea to consider it an ideal location for your family’s Easter retreat. The country parades a wide and interesting selection of hospitality homes ranging from hotels, guest houses to resorts, which provide attractive venues for all classes of events as well as offering breathtaking views and excellent experiences for tourists of all classes and ages throughout the holiday period to choose from.

Pitching for tourists from Nigeria, the Director of Marketing, The Gambia Tourism Board, Mr. Adama Njie said: “The Gambia is the place to spend your Easter holiday. “The Smiling Coast of Africa is a year round holiday destination, but the Easter break especially offers people the opportunity to spend time with family and loved ones. The Gambia is always home for our brothers and sisters from Nigeria and others willing to take time out to relax, have fun and generally enjoy themselves.” The Gambia provides the perfect environment for Easter retreat for individuals or religious groups. For Nigerian families, the Cape Point comes highly recommended because of its relaxed feel and excellent beaches ideal for picnics. Also, most people will find the Makasutu Culture Forest and several other beautiful forest parks in The Gambia suitable for a combination of relaxation for loved ones and for religious activities. Lovers will find the intimacy and comfort of the Ngala Lodge and Flourish Wellness Centre alluring and enjoyable.

Billion Beach Hotel, The Gambia, beckons

The history of The Gambian also presents special attractions for Nigerians, particularly for educational tours and for others, to enjoy the popular ROOTS experience through visits to the slavery exhibition at the museum in Albreda/Juffureh, before boarding a boat and continuing the journey to the former slave fortress of James Island (Kunta Kinteh Island). A walk through the tropical forest of the Abuko Nature Reserve, which is within easy reach of the main resort

area will also reveal friendly crocodiles, “photogenic” monkeys, reptiles and a host of bird species. “We have over 150 luxury hotels and lodges, most of them located along the coastline, with an exciting range of Easter activities for the family and for lovers,’’ says Njie, adding that Nigerians visiting The Gambia will certainly return to the Smiling Coast of Africa to spend many more holidays after their first experience of the warmth and hospitality of The Gambia.

InterContinental Hotel Group partners Starwood Hotels Nigeria holds Easter treats Pernod Ricard to launch Bar150

nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) in partnership with Pernod Ricard has launched its BAR150 programme, celebrating 150 years of mixology, which sees its hotel bars serve up an exciting new menu of signature cocktails, complemented by a range of appetising bar snacks. The programme was launched across IHG’s managed InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts throughout its Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region. Under the partnership, Pernod Ricard has designed a series of popular cocktails for IHG hotels based on its rich brand portfolio, which includes Cognac, Vodka, Scotch Whisky, Irish Whisky, Aperitif, Gin, Rum and other liqueurs. The French wine and spirits group also set a high standard for bartenders at IHG hotels in

making and serving cocktails to ensure its originality. For the Food and Beverage Vice President, AMEA, Phil Broad, “around 150 years ago the first cocktail recipe appeared in print, kick-starting a mixology movement that continues to go from strength to strength. There’s so much history and heritage behind the region’s most loved cocktails so we are celebrating the best of these with BAR150 - from the Mint Julep which was popularised at what is now InterContinental, The Willard Washington DC, to the Mojito, which can trace its history back to the explorer, Sir Francis Drake. “Partnering with Pernod Ricard has given us the opportunity to provide our guests with exceptional cocktail options, made with renowned spirits and liqueur brands, across more than 200 bars in our hotels

in the region.” According to the IHG Regional Manager, Africa, Karl Hala, Regional General Manager, “we are extremely excited to be rolling out this great concept in the fun-loving city of Lagos. We want our guests to share in this rich history and enjoy the extensive range of cocktails the Bar150 menu offers.” While the Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard Nigeria, Mr. Sola Oke, said, “we are thrilled to partner with IHG on enhancing the cocktail experiences of IHG guests in Nigeria with our famous Martell Cognac and Absolut Vodka brands, for basic mixed drinks and sophisticated cocktails. The BAR150 programme is our unique way of contributing to the development of mixology, which is reviving the cocktail culture in Nigeria and other parts of the world.”

n Nigeria, Starwood Hotels has rolled out a wide range of enchanting programmes for all its regular patrons and visitors to experience fun and exciting time during the Easter. The Starwood hotels are Sheraton Lagos Hotel, Sheraton Abuja Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Lagos, Le Meridien Ogeyi PlacePort Harcourt and Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resorts. The bouquets on offering at the five hotels respectively include exciting kiddies Easter egg hunts to lavish buffet meal offerings at the Crockpot, Papillion, Ororo and Brazerie restaurants and great get-away offers on room rates. According to the Area General Manager of Starwood Hotels in Nigeria, Mr. Barry Curran, “our special offers running from the 28th of March till the 7thof April 2015 are largely targeted at our customers, visitors and families in the sense that people can stay at our hotels with the guarantee of an experiential tailor made Easter filled with memories that will last a life time.”

“Our special Easter offerings which consist of great bargains on room rates from N19, 999 to the Easter buffet specials which start from N6, 500 have been creatively put together by our seasoned Chefs to deliver truly unforgettable dining experiences.” Curran unfolds the details: “Most of our packages include amazing offers such as complimentary Wi-Fi, pool, steam room, sauna and gym access as well as welcome drinks on arrival,” adding, “we have not left out kiddies in the merriment as we have planned a variety of entertaining family friendly and fun events from Easter egg hunts to kids only Free bike lessons, all day movie theatre with free popcorn and drinks as well as dedicated kids corners depending on the Hotel, not to forget that children under 6 eat free. “We are ready to cater to all the particular needs of our customers this Easter Holiday season and our dedicated teams look forward to delivering great memories,” he concludes.

NTDC launches information desks at MMA1, MMA2

L-R: Ronke Bamisedun, PR Manager, InterContinental Hotel, Richard Fade Ogunro, Beat 99.9 FM Presenter and a guest at the event

ollowing in the heels of the launch of tourism information desk at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has opened two additional information desks at the MM2 and MMA1 (Former General Aviation Terminal) respectively. Launched last week at a colourful ceremony, the information desk project is in conjunction with VIKO Nigeria Limited, a private firm. In attendance were the Director General of NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, the Group Managing Director of VIKO, Mr. Lucky Chidi

Kanu, Chief Executive Officer of Bi Courtney Nigeria Limited, operators of MMA2, Mr. Christophe Penninck and Head of Operations of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Dennis Okogwu. The desk features a travel information portal for tourists and real time flight. According to Mbanefo, using the information portal, tourists can have free internet access and view tourism sites, activities, products, hotels, car hire services, events and festivals while they can also make enquiries and book excursion trips to schools and tours in Nigeria.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Drama

Music

Funke Akindele’s Jenifa’s Diary now on TV

Sony Music Week 13 of radio delivery

Entertainment Princess Abiye rocks Stories by Sony Neme

n encounter with Princess Abiye TobinSpiff is as interesting as watching her in one of her numerous movie roles. Abiye, an actress, movie producer and a respected radio presenter with Radio Osibisa, took time off her busy schedule on Tuesday to share her studios and locations experience; and challenges with New Telegraph. The 2014 AFRICAN Film Festival and Academy, ZAAFA award and British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards, BAFTA nominee, who has remained a regular since 2006 on Ben Television Sky 182, said she had began her acting career from Harbour Girls Secondary School, Port Harcourt in 1990, while she veered into broadcasting about a year ago. Abiye said her main challenges in broadcasting are, “On those I intend to interview, because they shy away as my Monday shows are based on true life stories. For Nigerians in the UK it is an uphill task getting them to freely express their minds on their personal experiences that will help others to learn a thing or two” She had veered into broadcasting through Christian Ashaiku about a year ago. “It was meant to be an online radio, but it never get off the ground. So I started about four weeks ago with Osibisa Radio. I use their facilities for my film location, that was how it got started,” she intoned, adding that combining both profession has been going on fine . So every Monday 9pm to 11pm join me on my radio show ‘Not Personal’ with Princess Abiye.. call the Studio line with your views on the issues at www.osibisaradio.net. In the area of acting she said blames the hard side on unprofessional attitude of some people in the industry. Her words: “In terms of acting, with Nigerian community in the UK, they tend to misunderstand you, and they give your role to somebody they

SONY NEME

EDITOR, ENTERTAINMENT sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

with Osibisa Radio

Hansome

Kelly Hansome signs on Now Muzik

Abiye

know, instead of giving to you that can interprete the role better. That is why I have decided to shoot my film, Saving Grace, which is at pre-production, with editing completed.” According to the 2011 Middlesex University, UK, graduate of Theatre and Performing Arts, “My love for art began from secondary school. Since then I have featured in several projects, mainly in the United Kingdom. Taking it a step further I am collaborating with Emmanuel Olabode to produce my first film titled Saving Grace, which I played Grace the main character with my six years old daughter, Eliza Okusanya” She said the film directed by Olabode and shot in London is also starring Nollywood UK based Danny Eskine, John Remedy, Chioma Toplis, Adaeze Udemba and Yola Saundas,. The movie is to be premiered in London on June 9 at Odeon Cinema Greenwich, London, with a red carpet for special guests expected to grace the

MTN everywhere you go advert is one of Princess’ advert shot in the United Kingdom by Obi Omelonye, where she played the mum in Nigeria receiving MTN top up

event. She also revealed that plans are on to premier the movie in Nigeria. She said, “Saving Grace is a story about a radio presenter, a single, young widowed mother who has an undying love for Christ, having been saved by her husband at her husband’s death. Her radio messages that she hoped to lead to the salvation of many became more passionate. So passionate was she about her messages that she didn’t notice she was losing instead of gaining followers because of the content of the messages. ” She said, the message in the movie is that, “Most times, you cannot convince other people until you are proof of whatever it is you are talking about. The preacher did not see herself as a proof of God’s love, being a struggling single mother and a widow, but what she knew she wanted or needed was to win souls for Christ. Then a man comes along, and with few CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

elly Hansome has signed a management deal with Now Muzik Entertainment Services. The talented singer who came to fame with the album ‘2 Much Money’ joins 2Face Idibia, Niyola, Rocksteady and others managed by Now Muzik. His music will be released through Maga Music while Now Muzik will handle his management. Prior to officially putting pen to paper, Kelly Hansome has visited Metro FM and Hip TV as part of a media tour to announce his comeback. Now Muzik is Nigeria’s premiere 360 degrees entertainment solutions company with primary focus on music. “At Now Muzik, we partner with our clients to device and execute the strategies to earn the little results that snowball into major brand marketing strides, thriving careers and sustained market leadership position,” we were reliably informed. Subsidiaries of the company include Now Muzik Recordings, Now Muzik Management, Buckwyld Media, Scriptorial PR and NM Encore which is the events arm of the company. Now Muzik has represented some of the industry’s biggest names including Sunny Neji, Paul Play Dairo, Rugged man, ill Bliss, Obiwon, Niyola, Tunde and Wunmi Obe, Faze, Timi Dakolo, Mr. Raw and many more. The company currently has in its management and/ or label roaster top talents like EFA, Niyola, Toni Tones, Rocksteady, Tony Oneweek, 2face Idibia, Rocksteady, K Slim, Romeo, Queen Moda, Spyke and hit maker/producer Jay Sleek.

Entertainment

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rashid Lombard for International Jazz Day in Lagos Stories by Sony Neme

he founder of awards winning Cape Town International Jazz festival in South Africa, also referred to as ‘Africa’s Grandest Gathering,’ Mr. Rashid Lombard has been unveiled as the guest speaker at this year’s International Jazz Day Lecture in Lagos. He doubles as special guest of honour on April 30 as organisers has hailed his choice being same man that inspired and encouraged the origin of the Lagos International Jazz Festival. Organizers further explained that, “Mr. Lombard’s rewards for his efforts and contribution to arts and culture in the past four decades have been rewarded handsomely culminating with the South African National Order of Ikhamanga Award.” In an exclusive with Ayoola Sadare, CEO, Inspiro Productions, organizers of the event, he said, “This year’s International Jazz Day on April 30 is a combination of the Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) that heralds the three=day Lagos International Jazz Festival 2015 at Freedom Park in Lagos. And Mr. Lombard will be speaking on the topic, ‘International Jazz Festivals: A Driver For Tourism And Economic Growth – the South African Perspective”. “Part of the week-long program focuses on workshops, training and mentoring ses-

sions to develop music appreciation, performance and tourism. Top performers at the festival in the past included the Buena Vista Social Club, Mi Casa, Jimmy Dludlu, Jill Scott, Gregory Porter, Al Jarreau, Spyrogyra, yellow Jackets, Lauryn Hill, Miriam Makeba and Femi Kuti to mention a few.”T The annual event currently contributes about R700 Million (N1.4 Billion) showing an increased and sustained positive multiplier effect to the Western Cape economy. The festival created over 2500 additional employment opportunities across several different industries, roughly 400 of which were exclusively dependent on the festival. This is quite an achievement for a two-day event considering that a large number of other SA arts and music events take place over a week or more. Sadare further explained that the South African trained architectural draughtsman and who worked as an industrial photographer. He later became a photojournalist, focusing on Africa, particularly, South Africa where he made his mark on photographing the rise of the South African democratic movement. He said, “Widely travelled Lombard had worked for reputable media organization such as the British Broadcasting Corporation, National Broadcasting Corporation, AFP and a number

Flavour, Tiwa Savage, others at Dance Afrique London 2015 Lombard

Easter train at XovarLounge

un seekers are in for a swell time as Xovarlounge Lekki, a one stop entertainment center is set to host guests. With its Indoor/Outdoor Lounge in Lagos, the venue is set to entertain with its in house bands from Friday.. In a chat with the in house host, Mc Moeler, New Telegraph was taken round the venue as he explains their preparedness for their highbrow clientele. While explaining their weekly events lined up, Mc Moeler said, “This weekend is coming with a difference, as a contemporary live band, God Bless, will start the day at exactly 9pm to 1am when Club Xovar takes over till dawn. Saturdays is ‘Old School Nite’ with Dj Kim, and I as host. Then on Sun day is Raggae Nite with Covenant Child,.”. He also said that Mondays and Tuesdays are for Happy Hour from 12noon till 7pm with half price on drinks and food. Wednesdays are Thursdays are #Strictly Highlife Music with God Bless and Ebony live band

from 8 pm, and Karaoke Nite respectively. Boasting a large interlocked area and decadent, rustic and earthy decked outdoor seating, Xovarlounge is truly unique in style. With outdoor pond and grill features, you are provided with an event space that not only caters for the capacity of your preference but also provides an element of distinctiveness to your event His words: ‘This place offers a fantastic and extremely versatile ambience from its wifi enabled inner lounge to the outdoor rustic decked seating areas with a fish pond, 4 outdoor mega screen TVs for clients to view the premiership/ champions league matches, sports events and live concerts. XOVAR Lounge’s Restaurant & Bar is an Indoor/Outdoor Lounge, which offers the client the very best in tasty well-made grills and continental meals coupled with our wide range of liquor to choose from and beautiful bunnies (waitresses) with attention to detail.”

Tiwa Savage and Flavour

he 2015 edition of the Dance Afrique London concert was held over the weekend with a number of African music stars making an interesting and appreciable impact on the stage. Those who gave a good account of themselves are Nigerian music stars such PSquare and Flavour both headliners for the event, and a surprise performance from Tiwa Savage as well. Ghanaian stars were

not left out as Shatta Wale and DJ Edu also rocked the night. Another performer who had the audience screaming and jumping off their seats in excitement was Awilo Longomba, who performed some of his older songs as well as new releases. Hosts of the night, Eddie Kadi and Nigeria’s movie star, Funke Akindele, kept the audience laughing with wise jokes and skits.

of progressive publications like Grassroots and South, just as his works have been part of exhibitions across the globe. He was a member of the Vukalisa artists’ collective, which promoted community-based cultural activities in Southern Africa. His book of Jazz photographs, Jazz Rocks, was published in 2010.” “A passionate lover of music and Jazz in particular he managed several radio stations before starting the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, now in its 16th year. The Mandela Bay Music Festival was also launched in Port Elizabeth, his home town, in 2011 and similar jazz festivals under his leadership have been held in Mozambique and Angola with plans to expand into the rest of Africa including Namibia, Tanzania and Botswana with all having a strong tourism component to them.” Sadare further explained that the signature annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival, a jewel in Cape Town’s event crown which he founded brings a mixture of more than 40 African and International musicians from all over the world to perform over two days attracting audiences in excess of 30 000 people from around the globe. It’s ranked one of the top five best Jazz Festivals in the world, below Montreaux and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and above the North Sea jazz Festival.

Abiye rocks C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

conversations, she was lightened.” She believes that, “Saving Grace is a story that applies to the common man hope. it is a film that’ will change certain perception, belief and actions. It’s a story anyone can relate to.” Her recent shoot in Nigeria with Joseline Dumas, Joseph Benjamin and Mr Mckenzie is still on post-production so look out for it. She had featured in Amina, a feature film produced by Christian Ashaiku, where she played the role of mum to Omotola Jalade (see YouTube for trailer, movie not released yet. She went on to act with Rita Nzelu in International Games as Nzelu’s boss. This also on trailer on YouTube and movie is out on DVD in Nigeria now. MTN everywhere you go advert is one of Princess’ advert shot in the United Kingdom by Obi Omolenye, where she played the mum in Nigeria receiving MTN; a credit. Some of the films featured by this rising star includes Saving Grace Movie, The Gift and Kingmakers. Others are Chains, Oga Detective, Menace as well as Bloodtype, Broken Cross, The Soul, On My Return, Housewives and Girlfriends, Café Afrik and International Games.

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

CINEMAWATCH

(Radio/TV/Events Guide)

DStv

APR. 3 — APR. 10 HIGHLIGHTS

Jimmy Fallon

Jenifa

Funke Akindele’s Jenifa’s Diary now on TV Stories by Sony Neme

t last, Funke Akindele has finally unveiled Jenifa’s Diary, a comedy TV series. This is coming on the heels of demand for the undying character, Jenifa. It has finally berthed and television audience are in for Jenifa’s laugh and learn’ experience. The Nollywood celebrated thespian is set to captivate her Nigerian audience from this month in a series that depicts the hilarious and amazing adventures of Suliat, also known as Jenifa. According to her managers, Benchmark Media limited, “Jenifa’s Diary is about secondary school dropout turned hairdresser who lives in a backwater town called Aiyetoro. Jenifa is loud, over-bearing and very opinionated. She nurses the ambition of leaving her community and making something of herself. She is always trying to prove her worth and wants to be recognized and ‘feel among’. It is funfilled, educative and entertaining with pristine performances as well with a rich flavor set to change the face of drama comedy on Nigerian television.” Her competitive spirit with her peers comes to the forefront when she realizes many of her friends in Aiyetoro are in higher institutions. Jenifa got motivated to leave her community and

Jenifa’s Diary is about a secondary school dropout turned hairdresser who lives in a backwater town called Aiyetoro

pursue her dream of attending a higher institution and becoming a huge success and enhance her status in Aiyetoro.” New Telegraph was further informed that viewers will also see Jenifa as she manages to borrow and even swindles one of her illiterate Aiyetoro ‘toasters’ to raise enough money for her exodus to Lagos. Jenifa’s Diary follows this epic, comic journey as she arrives in Lagos and lets all hell loose! “Jenifa’s diary will be another innovative, ground breaking Nigerian comedy concept. Jenifa is particularly attached to her diary as she writes down her daily experiences and uses the medium to involve the audience in her thoughts and actions! Everything that is written in the diary including the grammatical errors, is transcribed on the screen and the medium of Jenifa’s voice-over sharing her thoughts further magnifies her quirks and eccentricities. “With unexpected turn of events, Jenifa’s adventures will take her from the streets of Lagos to high class shows to the corridors of universities which she does not attend, from crowded school hostels to Adult Education classes and back to the streets of Lagos, all in her quest to gain admission into a higher institution,” our source further intoned

iFani’s historic day with fans

l Dangles cash prizes to the value of R10 000

rue to form, visionary Xhosa rap extraordinaire, iFani, revealed new album artwork and details of his innovative campaign #1stDayGold to core fans, plus over six million twitter music lovers around the world, via an exclusive @iFani Haymani Twitter Session held on March 30 in South Africa. This coincided with releasing his first single Settle Down off I Believes In Me - 2nd Quadrant, and launching a unique album pre-order. We reliably gathered that the challenge is to achieve his biggest dream with the help of his fans, while the goal is attaining gold sales on first day of release with the upcoming album I Believes In Me, as he plans to simultaneously launch both digital and a first-ever physical pre-order of the album from March 30 till April 28. Interestingly, the whole essence is to be involved in making history by joining thousands of fans in pre-ordering the album.

iFani

According to Pheko Kpengoe of Sony Music, iFani reportedly said, “I would like fans to see I am never afraid to be myself. I got on a quest to discover myself, by writing myself in the music. This brand is all about dreamers who are willing to give all of themselves in making their dreams come true.” In making his dream a reality, iFani has partnered with iTunes and Musica, and will be celebrating this imminent milestone with fans around the country creating special appearances targeting The Eastern Cape, Gauteng, The Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and The Northern

Cape. When pre-ordering the album digitally on iTunes fans will receive exclusive tracks, which won’t be included on the album once live on April 29. Fans choosing to pre-order the album at Musica benefit from joining the movement #1stDayGold with a price reduction on the album and automatically stand in line to win cash prizes to the value of R10 000 For the artiste: “Beyond achieving #1stDayGold I would love to fund creative individuals and other dreamers who are up for the challenges that come with turning their dreams to reality.”

The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon airs every Monday to Friday on MTV at 17:30 CAT The Tonight Show has been newly energised by the arrival of award-winning comedian and SNL alumnus Jimmy Fallon who brings his unique high-energy comedy to the 60year old talk show franchise. Jimmy’s welcoming interview style, silly games and love of audience participation with hilarious musical parodies have brought in droves of new fans. Catch the madness as Jimmy Fallon welcomes A-list celebrity guests, top musical and comedic talent with spot-on impersonations and sketch comedy. Gigglebiz Season 2 airs on CBeebies from Friday, April 3 at 16:55 CAT Laugh-out loud fun for kids! Double Bafta award-winning presenter Justin Fletcher is back to get under-sixes laughing in Gigglebiz; a lively collection of short, simple, funny comedy sketches packed with hilarious and eccentric characters. All the familiar favourites return, including hapless superhero Captain Adorable, creative cook Dina Lady and her revolting recipes, and the geographicallychallenged Lost Pirate. This series also sees the introduction of new –characters such as Keith Fit, the most unlikely health and fitness guru you’ll ever meet, Opera Oliver, a larger than life restaurateur with a habit of breaking into song, and roller-skating pie-maker Simon Pieman. A huge hit with children, Gigglebiz is perfect for little gigglers as they begin to develop their own sense of humour. Jollywobbles Premieres on CBeebies from Friday, April 3 at 16:20 CAT Join Justin Fletcher on his adventures as he seeks to find fun in the most unlikely of places. Wherever he goes, Justin is ably supported (and transported) by his faithful, friendly and very funny car. Whether it’s at the beach, a wildlife park, at home or even in a library, there’s plenty of laughter as Justin makes his way through each fantastic day! With an emphasis on high quality visual, slapstick and family comedy, this is a show that both little ones and grown-ups will enjoy. With original music and state of the art visuals, Jollywobbles is a real treat for the ears and the eyes. Happy Deathday will air on Africa Magic Showcase on Sunday, April 5 at 21:00 CAT In Deathday, A “birthday celebrant” drowns at the hands of his friends on the morning of his birthday. They try to cover up the accident but this proved catastrophic as they make several mistakes in their efforts to get out of the mess in which they are already neck deep. This star studded movie feature actors such as : Alex Ekubor, Elikem Kumordzie, Kafui Danku and Toosweet Anan. Brand New season of The Amazing World of Gumball on Cartoon Network from Monday, April 6 at 17:10 CAT Gumball, Darwin and the rest of the Wattersons are back for a brand new season of outrageous misadventures! From saving the family from an evil curse, to Gumball discovering who’s dad favorite child is (hint: not him), it’s going to be a rollercoaster of emotions for the world’s bluest feline-schoolboy and his best friend/goldfish…

Entertainment

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sony Music Week 13 of radio delivery Stories by Sony Neme

t is no longer news that Sony Music has remained at he forefront of entertaining its teeming clientele with a rich collection of quality music, What is playing out is that the music company has continue to trill fans with weekly radio delivery. Those for this week are Toya Delazy featuring Casper Nyovest in My City (Pascal & Pearce Remix), J.Cole’s Wet Dreamz and Smallpool’s Karaoke. There is also Mr. Put It Down by Ricky Martin featuring Pitbull, Krewella’ Somewhere To Run, and Earl Sweatshirt’s Grief The review made exclusively available to New Telegraph by Sony Music Entertainment Africa reveals that, “Hot new remix by Pascal and Pearce of Toya Delazy’s radio hit ‘My City has the acclaimed South African Pop Star Toya Delazy releasing her brand new single being the second single off her latest album Ascension”. This is coming after walking away with three South African Music Awards in 2013 for her gold selling debut album Due Drop and a 2013 BET nomination for Best International Act (Africa), On J.Cole it stated that, “We are just getting started with Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive! ‘Apparently’ was a Top 10 hit at Urban and Rhythm radio formats in the US; and internationally the single was B-list Radio 1, A-list 1Xtra, Capital Xtra and Kiss Fresh in the UK. AIt is also added

Delazy

to Generations rGdio in France, The Edge in Australia and P3/The Voice in Sweden, as well as Denmark and Norway!” It further explained that Cole’s next single Wet Dreamz It’s a classic J. Cole song, as it is really on some reminiscent vibe. He was cryptic, but still described the self-produced record as a cross between ‘Dreams’ and ‘School Daze,’ two favorites from his early mixtapes The Warm Up and The Come Up, respectively. Indie-pop band, Smallpools, on the other hjand releases the

SHOWBITS Listed below are issues from the entertainment industry that is trending

Monalisa

• I did not have a hand in Ini Edo’s marriage crash, says Yul Edochie • Omawummi confirms date for her traditional marriage • I went into reggae because of girls says Patoranking • Amber and Wiz Khalifa reportedly end custody war • .Karrueche Tran still in love with Chris Brown • There is no saga in Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, AGN says Monalisa Chinda • R. Kelly reportedly being sued for cancelling Dallas performance • Jimmy Henchman sentenced to life in prison for murder of G Unit associate • Chris Brown moves his new baby mama, Nia

Guzman, to Los Angeles all expenses paid • Tonto Dikeh says, ‘”If we dip out every time someone hurts us well then we would all be alone.’ • Chelsea handler thinks Bill Cosby is guilty of the rape allegations and she could have been one of his victims • Justin Bieber says, ‘I am not looking for a girlfriend’ • Cool FM’s Mannie emerges winner at Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards 2015 • Rapper Kevin Gates ties President Barack Obama to the increasing murder rate in Baton Rouge. • Hardcore rap is not about speaking English, says Vector • Johnny Don Derulo says, ‘I am having fun being single

first single from their new album Lovetap!. The fourteen track album is available on iTunes now and was released to promising critical reaction this week. “Karaoke” serves as the perfect introduction to the album project and this L.A based band is one to watch in the coming months! It further states that, “We are extremely excited to introduce to you an amazing track worked on by two incredible artists: Ricky Martin & Pitbull. Mr. Put It Down, by Ricky Martin ft. Pitbull is the next world-

wide hit brought to you by these global superstars. It reads thus: “If you don’t think Tink, it’s about time you started. The Chicago rhymer is only 19-years-old and she is another force that could give Lauryn Hill, Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma a run for their money. Before releasing her new song Ratchet Commandments, Tink proved that she not only has solid bars but the stage presence to match. She put on a killer show alongside her mentor Timbaland at the Metro in her hometown last weekend performing for the first time, her new single off of her debut album.” The EDM group Krewella is ready to give fans what they want as they release their brand new track, Somewhere To Run, “A musical maturation for the group and a departure from the hard-hitting pop/dub-step tunes they have previously released. The duo will be at Ultra Music Festival in Miami this year where they will perform 4-5 new tracks. Their debut album, Get Wet, opened at number eight on the Billboard Top 200. After his critically acclaimed album, Doris on her part debuted in 2013, Earl Sweatshirt is back! Earl Sweatshirt came to fame as part of the hip-hop collective Odd Future but earned his own recognition when he released his debut mixtape, Earl, to critical praise. Doris had many big name features from fellow Odd Future members Tyler, the Creator and Frank Ocean, The RZA and The Neptunes.

Etoboy Keno and 72-man mass choir

he name Enakeno Oreromena may not ring much bell for Lagos concert buffs, but the Isoko crooner is a force to reckon with in Delta State and its environs. He is currently making waves with his latest album, Ado, a song that is becoming very popular amongst Isoko youths. But that is not the story here. The gist is that apart from the release of the new album, Keno popularly called Etoboy by his fans also coordinates activities for the largest mass choir in Nigeria. A group he founded having been exposed to music at a tender age. According to Keno, “My father who continually bought us musical videos encouraged my development of a very strong passion for music. I joined the children choir of my church (St Luke’s Anglican Church, Oleh) at eight with my younger and only sister Dr (Barr.) Enifome Ogbimi. We later joined the children choir in a ministry (Deliverance, Healing, and Salvation Ministry) also in Oleh (in Delta State) the church we attended as at then.” At age 12, he founded the children choir with 16 children in the ministry and barely three months after; he started The Harmony Choir with nine people. His words: “That choir grew to 38 people from where I was chosen to head the Isoko zonal youth mass choir of the Anglican Youth Fellowship, which I believe is the largest mass choir in Nigeria. I have also headed different choirs during my National youth service. Presently, I head the Chosen Generation Crew (CGC), a group I started with 10 people in 2007 and now we have 72 people and still counting. I bet to say it’s one of the best crew in Nigeria at the moment.”

Having done a whole lot of back up and written so many songs, he hit the studio and came up with a debut titled Ado, an Isoko literally meaning Well Done. “It’s an appreciation song to God for all He has been doing from my childhood days till now. The album is a nine track album with other songs like: Keve (How) featuring Fejiro, No Cry featuring Kome, and Na God featuring Joshsings. Others include Ogba Oride (Mighty Warrior), Out of Love featuring Meruwoma Vivi, Fejiro, Joshsings, and Succeed, as well as Your Love featuring Meruwoma Vivi, and Ogba Oride Remix. The album was produced, mixed and mastered by; Johnson Jay at Digi Groove Studio in Warri Delta state.

Oreromena

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Agric

Labour

Labour leaders task incoming president on fixing economy

Wheat: Nigeria targets 150,000 hectares for cultivation

Business What's news

Irish firm sells stake in PZ Cussons Nigeria for N6.3bn Irish firm, Glanbia, has decided to quit Nigerian dairy outfit, Nutricima, selling its 50 per cent stake in the venture to partner PZ Cussons for N6,300,000,000 (21million pounds).

p.30

Spectrum: 30% broadband access target faces threat Nigeria’s plan to achieve 30 per cent broadband penetration level in the next three years appears unrealistic due to the on-going delay by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to auction requisite spectrum band needed by the operators to deploy broadband services, New Telegraph can report.

p.30

Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr. Kabeloo Makwane (right), presenting an award to Operations Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Abiola Adebayo, during the Businessday Nigeria’s Top CEO award in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Shell, Chevron, others lose $58bn to price rout DIP

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Companies’ crude reserves plummet further to 78.6bn barrels of oil equivalent

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

Adeola Yusuf

oyal Dutch Shell, Chevron, Total and other world’s largest oil and gas groups shed over a billion barrels of reserves in 2014, the sharpest decline in at least six years. This amounts to over $58 billion as the price of a barrel of crude oil hovers between $58 and $59.

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Firms record six-year biggest reserves decline Times, which reported this, noted that figures that show the companies’ exploration record has worsened as big discoveries dwindle. The latest annual reports for the ‘Big Five’ energy majors- BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and Total - show that proved reserves for the group as a whole shrank to 78.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent last year, from a little over 80 billion the previous year, the steepest drop since at least 2008. Behind the fall is a substantial decline in the number of barrels added as a result of recent discoveries and extensions

to existing oil and gasfields, according to Morgan Stanley analysis of the data. That figure fell 24 per cent last year to 2.3 billion boe and has nearly halved from 4.4bn boe in 2011. Though these figures can be volatile and depend in part on companies’ approach to booking barrels as “proved” reserves, the deteriorating exploration

78.6 billion Being the barrel decline experienced by the oil majors

performance - if sustained will raise questions over their ability to grow in the long run without making acquisitions. Reserves are the bankable assets to which oil and gas companies must keep adding to maintain production in the future. They are required to publish data on proved reserves, which companies intend to develop, but not probable reserves. Martijn Rats, analyst at Morgan Stanley, says that last year was “really quite disappointing” for discoveries made through exploratory drilling. CONTINUED 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 Mar. 27)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N221 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N326 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N237

l Foreign Reserves – $29.83bn as at 26/03/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Mar.27)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N301 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223

Business | News

BUSINESS

Companies part way as ten years old joint venture crashes in Nigeria Bayo Akomolafe

rish firm, Glanbia, has decided to quit Nigerian dairy outfit, Nutricima, selling its 50 per cent stake in the venture to partner PZ Cussons for N6,300,000,000 (21million pounds). The firm explained that the venture “no longer fits the group’s strategic priorities.” It has, however, struck a deal to

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Irish firm sells stake in PZ Cussons Nigeria for N6.3bn supply Nutricima with dairy ingredients. The two companies set up Nutricima in 2003, but Glanbia said that the Nutricima plant in Nigeria no longer fit its strategic priorities. The business sells evaporated milk, milk powder and UHT milk under brands including Nunu, Olympic and Yo. The news came on the day that EU milk quotas, which followed on from EU’s Common Agricul-

tural Policy and the guarantee of milk prices, were abolished. The joint venture’s revenues, EBITDA and pre-tax profits for the year ended 31 May, 2014, were 74.4 million pounds, 3.2 million pounds and 1.3 million pounds respectively, PZ Cussons said. It was disclosed that PZ Cussons would buy Glanbia’s 50 per cent stake in Nutricima with a cash payment of £21 million (€29 million).

Glanbia’s Managing Director, Mr Siobhan Talbot said: “We believe this is the right move for Glanbia at this time. The region remains a significant market for dairy ingredients, particularly enriched milk powders and we look forward to continuing the relationship with PZ Cussons through the new long-term supply agreement with Glanbia Ingredients Ireland.” PZ Cussons said that the venture’s brands

would be “further strengthened and developed under its control.” PZ Cussons Chief Executive, Mr. Alex Kanellis, said that he was committed to the long term growth of the business. He added that he would look forward to the continued strengthening and development of its brands. “Following the buy-out, our balance sheet remains strong, giving us the capacity to take advantage of further investment op-

portunities as they arise,” he said. Jefferies analyst, Alex Howson, who covers Glanbia’s stock, welcomed the move. He said: “We believe this is a good deal for Glanbia, allowing them to exit a non-strategic business, simplify the group and free-up cash for deployment in faster growth, more profitable avenues. “From Glanbia’s perspective, Nutricima was a business primarily serviced by its Irish Ingredients division, which was itself spun into a JV with the Glanbia Co-Op in 2012. Hence, since 2012, it has been a lower strategic priority for the PLC.”

Shell, Chevron, others lose $58bn to price rout CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

L-R: Head, Employee Services of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Kolawole Amusa; Group Head, Central Processing Centre of the Bank, Mr. Maroof Busari; Vice Principal, Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, Akoka, Lagos, Mrs. Adetoun Sadiq, during a visit by staff of FCMB to the Home.

SNAG

Delayed spectrum auction constitutes a potential drawback to telecoms sector’s growth

Kunle Azeez

igeria’s plan to achieve 30 per cent broadband penetration level in the next three years appears unrealistic due to the ongoing delay by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to auction requisite spectrum band needed by the operators to deploy broadband services, New Telegraph can report. The telecoms regulator had, last week, postponed the planned auctioning of the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum band, which had earlier been slated for auction on May 5, ‘till further notice.’ Announcing the postponement, the Executive Vice

Spectrum: 30% broadband access target threatened Chairman, NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, stated that it had become necessary for the Commission, but was silent of reason for the postponement. “The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, regrets to inform parties interested in participating in the Auction of Frequency Spectrum Licenses in the 2.6GHz band that it has decided to postpone the process of the Auction until further notice,” he said in a statement. Juwah said that by the announcement, “the 2.6GHz indicative auction timetable is suspended,” adding: “We regret any inconvenience caused by this suspension.” New Telegraph learnt that the spectrum band is

useful for the deployment of high-speed Internet broadband- in the nation’s telecoms sector. Already, voice market in Nigeria is reaching saturation with teledensity surpassing 100 per cent mark, according to latest official industry data. As such, industry experts and government have come to terms that achieving a ubiquitous broadband penetration would offer the country’s telecoms sector the next growth frontier. With broadband penetration standing at eight per cent in a country where there is daily increase in the demand for data services, government had set an auspicious target in its National Broadband Plan to attain 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018.

Meanwhile, 2.6Ghz spectrum band has been specially set aside to be licensed to telecoms companies that will use the spectrum to provide broadband services to the growing telecoms consumers in the country. New Telegraph, however, gathered that the telecoms regulator has been facing administrative challenges in the last four months, making it difficult for it to auction the auspicious 2.6 gigahertz spectrum band. It was learnt that the last week postponement of the 2.6Ghz auction was the second time the NCC would be shifting the auction of the spectrum. The Commission had, last November, postponed the plan to auction the spectrum band, initially slated for early December, 2014.

Big finds, such as Statoil’s Johan Sverdrup field in the Norwegian North Sea in 2010, are increasingly rare. “Discoveries are drying up,” he says. “It’s becoming harder and harder to find oil outside the US. There are great success stories in the US with shale gas and ‘tight’ oil, but, outside that, conventional drilling is becoming less and less successful.” The annual reports are consistent with figures from IHS, the research company, which show discoveries of new oil and gas reserves dropped to their lowest level in at least two decades last year. The five companies’ “organic” reserve replacement ratio, a measure of how much oil and gas is added to reserves relative to production, was 84 per cent last year, the lowest level since 2010. True, this ratio was dragged lower by sharp annual falls for Shell and BP. Only Chevron, though, reported a year-on-year increase in extensions and discoveries. While the boom in US shale output has sent North America’s output soaring and contributed to the 50 per cent plunge in crude prices since last summer, the producers leading that resurgence in output have been smaller operators. At the same time, under pressure from investors to improve returns following years of soaring cost inflation, the majors have curbed capital spending. Wood Mackenzie, the energy consultancy, predicts that industry-wide exploration budgets will be cut 30 per cent this year after the fall in oil prices.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Benue workers tackle Suswan over salary arrears, deductions p.32 RESTORATION An era of hope to rebuild ailing infrastructure across the country Sunday Ojeme

ollowing the final declaration of the Presidential Election result by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which returned General Muhammadu Buhari as the elected president, the leadership of Trade Union Congress (TUC) has moved ahead to intimate the incoming president about the welfare of the Nigerian workers and the need to fix the ailing economy. A statement jointly signed by the TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and the Secretary General, Comrade (Barr.) Musa Lawal, said it was neither time to fight, name calling, witch-hunt anybody, nor a time to spend the nation’s money on advertorials. “This is rather the time to work. This is the time to fix the Ajaokuta steel mill company, the roads and create jobs for our army of youths. This is the time to restore our national carrier (Nigerian Airways). This is the time to tame impunity at all levels. Most importantly, this is the time to restore the dignity of our currency and provide solution to workers’ agitations. The list is endless,” the statement said. The Congress said that Nigerian workers were the major project of government, adding that issues that concern the masses in terms of unemployment, infrastructure, education, agriculture, and healthcare must be addressed. It said: “This is the only way that Nigerians will be happy with the ruling government and if you perform below average, you can be voted out.’’ While congratulating Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan, the Congress applauded the president-elect for his doggedness and refusal to quit despite the defeat he suffered in the last three elections, adding that Jonathan’s resolve to congratulate the president elect was a proof that election is indeed not a do-or-die affair. The statement noted, “The Congress sees General Buhari’s resolve to contest the 2015 general elections as a mark of his belief in the project Nigeria, and his unflinching desire to contribute his quota in ensuring that he continues with the good work of his predecessor and to even surpass it. “We urge the president-elect to always remember his campaign promises to Nigerians which were the basis upon which he was voted for. Again, he must know that irrespective of the number of votes he got from individual states, there is no part of the country where he was not noted for. By implication, it means that he is the president of Nigeria and father to all. Muslims,

Labour

Labour leaders task incoming president on fixing economy lCommend Jonathan, Nigerians

Jonathan

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba

Christians, pagans, etc voted for him because they believe in him. As such, we don’t wish to see the issue of religion, tribalism, nepotism, which have always been the bane of Nigeria’s development rear their ugly heads in the next dispensation. “Suffice to say that the president-elect is already abreast of the country’s challenges, which ranges from electricity, unemployment, insecurity, corruption, poor health facility, incessant strikes, poor infrastructure, etc. Also as a man who has always been popular among the poor of the north (known as the “talakawa” in the north’s Hausa language), we want him to know that his responsibility is now broader, as it now involves the

Buhari

Kaigama

The Congress sees General Buhari’s resolve to contest the 2015 general elections as a mark of his belief in the project Nigeria

poor of the whole country. “His rare reputation for honesty among Nigerian politicians, both military and civilian, is what the country needs now to regain our lost glory as a nation. We look forward to seeing an end to lateness to work again, end to corruption and sanity in the system.” While also congratulating the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the National Assembly members-elect and Nigerians, the congress urged the presidentelect to involve good hands, party affiliations notwithstanding, for the good of the country. On its part, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) congratulated Nigerians for their peaceful conduct during the elections.

The NLC General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, expressed happiness given the fact that the election was free, fair and devoid of the anticipated violence. “We observed that the process has improved from the previous elections held in this country. We are highly impressed and use this medium to say kudos to INEC. “Above all, this election is generally free, open and fair though with minor hitches here and there. “We salute the courage and resilience of Nigerians irrespective of creed or religion,” Ozo-Eson said. He said that the outcome of the concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections was a reflection of the voice of Nigerians. He said that Nigerians should be proud of their success as the whole world was watching the process with keen interest. According to him, Nigerians all world over should walk and raise their heads high in the comity of nations. The NLC, therefore, appealed to those who lost in the elections to embrace peace and work with the winners, stressing that in any contest, there must be a winner and a loser. Ozo-Eson commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his exemplary show of maturity and statesmanship during and after the election. He urged Buhari to extend the hand of fellowship to others in a interest of peace and for the unity of the country.

Business | Labour

ANGUISH The civil servants in anger voted massively against the governor’s party in the just concluded election Stories by Sunday Ojeme

atisfied that their resolve to deal with the state government paid off during the last presidential election, Benue State workers are moving a step further to tackle to the state Governor, Gabriel Suswam, over his failure to pay them their outstanding salaries. The workers, in a statement issued on Wednesday, threatened to shut down the state if their arrears of salaries are not paid and the governor put a stop

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Benue workers tackle Suswan over salary arrears, deductions to the ongoing deductions. The workers, under the auspices of Benue Aggrieved Workers, led by their leader, Mr. Uhundu Emmanuel, also demanded that the state leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) resign and give way to a new leadership. The statement said that the state chapter of the NLC had been operating without a leadership as the Chairman, Comrade Simon Anchaver, had resigned to contest governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

“We today wish to let the world know that the NLC, under the ailing leadership of Comrade Simon Anchaver, has failed and lacks the powers to talk or negotiate for Benue workers even as he has long ceased being a member of the union. “This decision by well meaning Benue workers is premised on the reason that the Anchaver-led NLC has lost focus and credibility, as by the constitution, he is not supposed to be part of the state executive council, having resigned to contest governorship of the state.

“His first vice chairman and a host of others have left the services of the government, while one has been lost to death. Thus, we declare a leadership vacuum,” the statement said. The workers gave a time frame for the government to meet their demands of up-to-date payment; payment of agreed minimum rate to all workers in the state and also desist from all arbitrary deductions as failure to do that would attract a mass protest by the workers. “We hereby demand immediate resignation of the corrupt regime left behind by Simon Anchaver to make way for a proper and people-oriented union.

“That the state government desist from further deductions from the hard earned workers’ salaries forthwith. “That workers salaries are our rights and not favours and so, to this end, we demand that salaries be paid and paid at the agreed 18 per cent minimum wage to all Benue workers irrespective of cadre. “We, the aggrieved Benue workers, on failure by the government and Anchaver’s ‘demonic’ gang to heed our above demands within seven days, the Benue workers shall not only embark on a peoples industrial action but also take to the streets to let our grievances known.”

Aworanti reappointed NABTEB registrar D

L-R: Senior Manager, Data & Portals, David Umoh; Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel, Maurice Newa and Vice President, Data Products & Services, Nitin Anand, at the Airtel Smart Network media launch in Lagos.

More management changes at Standard Chartered amid overhaul

tandard Chartered said on Wednesday that the head of its business in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, Viswanathan Shankar, was leaving the company as the British bank continues to shake up its top leadership. Standard Chartered said that Shankar, 57, resigned to “pursue other interests” after 13 years at the bank and would leave the board on April 30. Standard Chartered is based in London, but it generates most of its earnings in Asia. “Shankar has decided to make a change of direction in his career and I wish him all the best,” Peter Sands, the Standard Chartered chief executive, said in a news release. A person with knowledge of Shankar’s thinking said that he was leaving to set up his own private equity fund. Shankar will receive his base salary and other fixed elements of his compensation until midOctober, but he will not be eligible for a bonus for the 2015 financial year, Standard Chartered said. He also is eligible

for a termination payment of about $280,000, the bank said. His departure is the latest as the bank undertakes a sweeping overhaul of its top management and directors in hopes of turning around its business. Standard Chartered announced in February that Mr. Sands would leave the bank later this year and be replaced by William T. Winters, the former head of JPMorgan Chase’s investment bank. Mr. Sands has been chief executive since 2006. Jaspal Singh Bindra, the bank’s chief executive in Asia, is expected to step down from the board of directors at the end of April and leave the bank soon afterward. Three longstanding directors also will step down this year, and the bank intends to shrink the size of its board. John W. Peace, the Standard Chartered chairman, is expected to leave in 2016. The bank has struggled as its core Asian markets have slowed in recent years. Standard Chartered’s profit declined 37 percent to $2.51 billion in 2014 from $3.99 billion

in 2013. Higher charges for bad loans and other credit risks, an accounting charge on its Korean business, and a previously announced settlement with the United States authorities dragged down its annual results. As part of its overhaul, the bank said in March that it was seeking cost reductions of $1.8 billion over the next three years, would cut another 2,000 jobs in its retail operations this year, and would further reduce the risk in its loan portfolios and business lines. The lender cut 2,000 jobs in its retail operations in 2014. Standard Chartered also announced three leadership changes on Wednesday. Mark Dowie will become vice chairman of clients and products beginning on Tuesday. He previously served as group head for corporate finance and acting group head for financial markets. He will move to London from Singapore. Jonathan Paul will join Standard Chartered next week as the new head of financial markets and be based in Singapore.

r. Olatunde Aworanti has been reappointed the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, National Business and Technical Examinations Board for second term of four years. The reappointment, according to the board, is in accordance with Section 6(1) and (3) of the NABTEB Act 70, 1993. The reappointment took effect from February 14, 2015. Aworanti, who was described as a silent achiever, a result-oriented educational administrator and a humble leader with a knack for diligence and excellence, was initially appointed by the president on February 14, 2011. A statement by the board noted that the reg-

istrar started his career in education administration as a science teacher in Oyo State in 1984 and was later engaged as a lecturer at the Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun. “He joined the National Business and Technical Examinations Board as a principal research officer and an acting head, monitoring, research and statistics in 1996. Consequent on his unparalleled commitment and devotion to duty, he rose to the position of the deputy director in 2002 and the prestigious rank of a substantive director, office of the registrar/ chief executive in 2006; director, administration in 2009 and the acting registrar/ chief executive in 2010,” the statement added.

US fast food workers plan strike in two weeks U nited States fast food workers are planning a major one-day strike on Tax Day, April 15, their latest action in a two-year campaign for a $15 hourly wage and the right to unionise. Workers will walk off the job at fast food restaurants in more than 200 cities across the US to demand higher pay, and protests will be held in as many as 40 other countries the same day. Associated Press reports that College campuses will join in the demonstrations, with 170 universities planning rallies and marches, and adjunct professors will also advocate for their own pay increases. Home care workers, airport personnel and Walmart employees are also expected to be involved. Overall, events will take place in more than 200 US cities on April 15 and as

many as 40 other countries. The movement, supported by the Service Employees International Union, has so far largely not fazed McDonald’s and other fast food giants, who point out that franchise owners set wages for their employees. The companies also say that few workers actually end up walking off the job to participate in protests. However, retailers such as Target and Walmart have recently announced increases to their minimum wage and a growing number of cities are raising their minimum wage to $10 to $15 per hour. At the same time, the National Labor Relations Board recently determined that McDonald’s corporate office could be viewed as a “joint employer” along with franchisees in addressing some workers’ rights issues.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Farmers recount bird flu ordeal p.34 FOCUS 75,000 wheat farmers will cultivate during the 2015/16 wheat-farming season Stories by Dele Alao

he Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri, is targeting 150,000 hectares of farmland for the production of some improved seeds of wheat for the 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons, Executive Director of the institute, Dr. Oluwasina Gbenga Olabanji, has said.

Agric

Wheat: Nigeria targets 150,000 hectares for cultivation No fewer than 75,000 wheat farmers organised in farmers’ groups with two hectares of farmland developed by each group, with the potentials to yield five to six tonnes of wheat per hectare, are targeted for production under the 2015/16 wheat-farming season. Speaking during the wheat farmers’ field day organised in collaboration with the International Centre for Agricultural

Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Gombe, Olabanji, said that wheat production in Nigeria has witnessed some setbacks. He said that the programme was also aimed to encourage women groups to embrace wheat farming, assuring farmers that the wheat they produced would be bought. Also, Gombe State Commissioner for Agriculture Dahiru

Buba Biri, who was represented by the Programme Manager, Ishaku Ngale, said that the state government was ready to invest in wheat production, adding that it was also ready to collaborate with Lake Chad Research Institute to boost wheat farming. “Our major problems in wheat farming in this area is the delay in getting the seeds,

non-availability of fertiliser and pumping machines,” said Jummai Amos, wheat farmer from Akko Local Government Area. Another farmer, Hassana Boyi, called on government to ensure that it provides the implements needed to motivate wheat farmers or else the programme will remain only on papers.

Cocoa breeders meet on improved variety

he International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has hosted the ninth session of the West African Cocoa Breeders Working Group (ACBWG). The meeting, held in Lagos, was attended by participants from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and representatives of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF). It discussed the results of the fingerprinting component of the African Cocoa Initiative (ACI) project of WCF, which is true-to-type genotyping of cocoa germplasm from breeders’ collection and seed garden materials. Also, discussion was held on the issue of identifying mislabeling in cocoa germplasm, which is one of the major concerns in identification of trueto-type clones and its effect on production in farmers’ fields. It was observed that majority

Wheat farmland

Foundation restates commitment to smallholder farmers

he British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has reiterated its commitment to government’s poverty alleviation schemes with its strategic investments, which are targeted at smallholder farmers, to improve their productivity and therefore earn decent incomes from their agricultural activities. General Manager, BATN Foundation, Abimbola Okoya, while speaking at an interactive session organised by the foundation for its key stakeholders to map out new strategies to boost agricultural productivity with a focus on better ways of enriching smallholder famers, said that their activities are focused on where they could achieve the most impact in the agriculture value chain. Ms Okoya said: “The British American Tobacco Nigeria

Foundation has recorded remarkable milestones through the deployment of strategic intervention schemes focusing on provision of potable water supply, vocational skills development, agricultural development and environmental protection since its establishment in 2002.These interventions have transformed lives of beneficiaries through capacity building initiatives and creation of enabling environment for smallholder farmers to effectively distribute their agricultural produce. “This strategic meeting with the technical partners becomes necessary due to BATN Foundation’s yearning for sustainable agricultural development, enriching lives of smallholder farmers, providing periodic information on agricultural development and sharing learning on agri-

culture-related matters. The BATN Foundation is particularly concerned about the impact of the interventions on the lives of smallholder farmers and other beneficiaries within the value chain,” she added. One of the major objectives of the stakeholder engagement forum is to devise new and better approaches to driving sustainable agricultural practice that will reduce poverty and make positive, longer-lasting impact on beneficiaries across many communities in Nigeria. The implementing partners oversee the execution of the Foundation’s agriculture enterprise development projects by ensuring agriculturally and environmentally sound design and implementation of the projects. Similarly, they monitor the progress of the interventions and present periodic reports to the Foundation.

of the clones in all the countries are mislabeled. There were brainstorming sessions on how to address the issue of progenies that have been generated from non-trueto-type parental populations and have been distributed to farmers over the years, and its negative effects on cocoa production. In addition, discussions were also held on testing the fidelity of crosses considering cocoa as an out-crossing specie and the probability of some cross-contamination during manual pollination and its effect on cocoa production. The meeting ended with a note on identification of a few standard true-to-type cocoa clones across the region that could be used as a reference and maintained for future cocoa improvement programmes across all the countries.

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

Price 527-2 380-6 991-6 331.0 31.11 264-6 10.960 573-6 592-2

Change +15-2 +4-0 +16-4 +3.8 +0.62 -1-0 -0.060 +14-0 +16-2

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

Price 63.26 126.30 139.80 12.29 2758 23.55 1.3725 0.1224 2699.00 0.6310 278.00

Change -0.45 +0.95 +5.35 +0.32 +52 -0.10 +0.0435 +0.0031 +4.00 +0.0058 -4.20

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

Time(ET) 10:56 10:56 10:56 10:56 10:56 10:55 10:53 10:56 10:56

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

Time(ET) 10:56 10:53 10:56 10:56 10:56 08:00 10:34 10:17 03/31/15 03/31/15 10:52

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

LOSS Bird Flu affects 322 farms in 18 states Stories by Dele Alao

oultry farmers in Plateau State have cried out that bird flu remains a serious threat to the nation’s economy. The farmers, therefore, urged the Federal Government to tackle it. They also called on government and other relevant authorities to expedite action on the paymen of compensation to

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Farmers recount bird flu ordeal those whose farms were quarantined. A member of the poultry farmers, Alhaji Moshood Okanlawon, one of the poultry farmers said that the disease, which ravaged poultry farms recently, had resulted in unemployment. He explained that the negative economic implications of bird flu on the nation’s economy had a wider impact on the lucrative poultry business. He said: ”The incursion of bird flu has really

affected the economy of Plateau and the nation at large because poultry business is very lucrative. I had 21 workers on my payroll, but I had to disengage them because the disease has left us with no option. I lost over 19,800 birds. “The implication of this on the economy has a wider impact because it has affected the farmers that provide us with the crops, the feed millers and finally the poultry farmers.”

Another farmer, Mrs. Rebecca Okafor, said that she had been into poultry farming in the last 18 years, describing it as a very” good business.’’ She said that poultry farming has tremendous economic importance, adding that the avian influenza had destroyed the business. Okafor explained that over 700 of her birds were infected by the disease and her farm was quarantined. “More than 75 crates

of eggs and chickens being produced weekly had stopped and I cannot supply manure to local farmers. ”I am very sympathetic with my workers because most of them earn their living in my farm but I have no option than to sack them,” she said. Also, Alhaji Abdulazeez Qamarudeen, said that over 3, 650 of his birds were infected with bird flu. He called on government to compensate farm-

ers that were affected, saying that poultry farming contributes largely to the GDP of the country due to generation of employment and business opportunities. ”This is why government must not neglect this agriculture sub-sector of the economy because it will be dangerous to the economy,” he said.

Firm introduces liquid organic fertiliser

lpha Life Technology has introduced into the Nigerian agricultural sector an organic liquid foliar fertiliser considered to be environmentally friendly. The product was formally launched at a ceremony at the Press Centre, Abuja. Professor Ishaku Yo’ila Amapu of the Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said that the product has 100 percent absorption through leaves and stem and reduces the cost of fertiliser up to 70 percent Amapu noted that the major setback in using liquid fertilisers in Nigeria was access to appropriate equipment and water, adding, however, that the manufacturer’s instructions have removed this encumbrance as the fertiliser can be soil applied in addition to its being foliar-applied. He said: “Liquid fertilisers lend themselves much more readily to injection into the zone where the fertiliser is accessible to the growing plant and may be viewed as posing less environmental risk than dry fertilisers. “The fertiliser was specially formulated with bio-nano technology that originated from Taiwan, Malaysia Bumiputera products with modifications according to the local environment,” he added. Alfa Life contains elements of macro and micro nutrients - essential nutrients - available to the other chemical fertilisers such as aluminum, boron, calcium, carbon, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, sulphur and zinc that are suitable for all types of plants.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Auto Beat

Nigeria Carmakers to get components from S’Africa

Paul Ogbuokiri

ndications are rife that South Africa is among the countries the Federal Government has penciled down to supply components for the Nigeria’s burgeoning automotive industry as more vehicle companies consider assembling cars in the continent’s largest economy. Public Relations Officer of National Automotive Council, Mr. Rasheed Bello, confirmed this in a telephone interview with New Telegraph on Wednesday. He said even as the NAC is working hard to reposition auto parts manufacturing firms in the country, it is in talks with many foreign original parts manufacturers who have expressed interest to be part of the country new auto policy South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies had in an interview Thursday in Johannesburg with Bloomberg TV Africa’s Eleni Giokos, South Africa has been giving Nigeria technical advice on the new auto policy of the Fed-

eral Government of Nigeria to support the manufacturing of cars, “We’re also interested in positioning South Africa as the supplier of the components that would go into the kits that Nigeria is looking to assemble,” he said. He also disclosed that one of its banks in the country is in talks with NAC to put in place an auto purchase scheme for the Nigeria. The countries have so far not concluded any agreement over the supply of components, Davies said. “We need to pick up the pace of this after the Nigerian elections,” he said. Meanwhile, the Director Policy and and Planning NAC, Mr. Lukman Mahmud has disclosed that 30 vehicle manufacturing plants would soon commence operation in Nigeria. He disclosed this in an interview with New Telegraph. He said the Federal Government was working toward facilitating the production of vehicle components at competitive prices through the Nigerian automotive

industry and to create employment opportunities. Mahmud explained that prior to the pronouncement of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan in 2013, Nigeria had dormant plants across the nation. “The protection and incentives provided to the industry under the new policy persuaded 16 companies to establish assembly plants,” he said. Mahmud added that the motor assembling companies would come in with complete and semi-knock-down vehicles. He said Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Leyland, Fiat, Volkswagen and Mercedes were the complete Knock-down assembling plants that were forced to shut down due to the influx of imported cars or and second hand vehicles otherwise called “Tokunbo”. Mahmud said the idea of Semi-KnockDown and Complete Knock-Down import was to address the demand from the automobile market due to eventual hike on

Porsche achieves new records in revenue, profit

orsche AG has set new records in terms of deliveries, revenue and profit in the 2014 fiscal year. With 189,849 vehicles deliveries which is 17 per cent above the figure of the previous year. A statement by the Image Maker of Stallion Motor, Authorised dealers of Porsche in Nigeria, Mr. Santhosh Nair, indicates that the revenue of the company rose by one-fifth to 17.2bn euros. The operating profit grew by just over five per cent to 2.7bn euros. With 22,401 employees, the number of people working for Porsche reached a new peak at the end of the year. A year earlier, the figure was 19,456 employees: an increase of 15 per cent. He quoted the Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Executive Board, Mathias Muller as saying at the Company’s annual press conference in Stuttgart on Friday that the sports car manufacturer has reached essential objectives of the “Strategy 2018” ahead of schedule. “Porsche has developed very successfully and is now better positioned t h a n ever”, s a i d Matthias Müller. “A crucial cornerstone for

this success is the Macan. Until the end of the year, we had delivered our new five-door sports car nearly 45,000 times.” He further said that with the Macan, Porsche has also won over many new customers: worldwide, three out of four Macan customers have opted for a vehicle of the Porsche brand for the first time. The Porsche chairman took special pride in the success of the plug-in hybrid models. With this, he did not only refer to the 918 Spyder super sports car, which was sold out just a few months after start of delivery in March 2014; Müller especially emphasised that, in the 2014 fiscal year, Porsche was the only brand in the world that could offer its customers no fewer than three plug-in models in the premium seg-

ment: in addition to the 918 Spyder, they include the Cayenne S E-Hybrid and the Panamera S E-Hybrid. Lutz Meschke, Member of the Executive Board Finance and IT at Porsche AG,was also quoted as saying that the excellent performance of Porsche is also reflected in the financial situation of the company. “In 2014 we were able to completely reduce our net debt while simultaneously financing our growth – two years before the originally envisaged target date.” In tangible terms, the net liquidity of the automotive business area – i.e. the gross liquidity less financial liabilities and excluding the financial services business in each case – improved from minus 899 million euros as of 31 December 2013 to plus 195 million euros as of 31 December 2014.

Porsche car

tariff and levy of imported fairly used cars. The director said the policy made provision for high patronage from government and Credit Purchase Scheme. He explained that under the credit purchase scheme, middle class Nigerians would buy cars at affordable prices and pay back within 36 to 46 months and at single digit interest. He added that modalities were being worked out with all stakeholders in the sector to curtail smuggling of used cars. Mahmud said that when stability was achieved and the demand from market met, the manufactures would buy the component parts locally.

120 learners exposed to career opportunities in automotive industry

ord Motor Company of South Africa hosted its annual Ford Careers Day last Friday, giving a total of 120 Grade 11 learners in-depth insight into the wide range of career opportunities that are available within the automotive industry. An online statement by the company disclosed that a total of 120 learners were hosted by Ford, including 80 that visited the Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria and a further 40 from schools in Port Elizabeth that attended the programme at the Struandale Engine Plant. The signed by the Media Advisor of the Company, Alisea Chetty, said Careers Day initiative is targeted at Grade 11 learners, and provides them with a wide range of information regarding the relevant career opportunities in the automotive industry. It details the subjects that apply to the relevant fields of study, along with the tertiary education options and qualifications required for entering a particular field. “The Careers Day programme is an integral part of our focus on education and corporate social investment,” the FMCSA president and CEO, Jeff Nemeth was quoted as saying in the statement. “Ford is committed to the country and the African continent as a whole, and we actively promote and participate in projects that empower our communities, and the youth in particular. “This programme gives the learners an in-depth look into the dynamic world of the automotive sector, and highlights the truly global nature of the industry and the multitude of exciting job opportunities it presents,” he adds New Telegraph learnt that learners from Pretoria and Alexandra high schools spent the day at the Silverton Assembly Plant understanding the career opportunities that are available.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Photo | News

A cross-section of Catholic Rev. Sisters, during the Catholic Chrism Mass in Abuja. APC supporters celebrating the victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in Lafia.

L-R: Newly elected APC Senators from Adamawa: Mrs. Binta Garba, Adamawa North Senatorial Zone; Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Nyako, Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone and Alhaji Ahmad Abubakar, Adamawa South Senatorial Zone, during their thank you visit to the party’s state secretariat in Yola. PHOTO-NAN

Jubilation over the victory of Buhari in Akure, Ondo State.

L-R: Director, National Orientation Agency, Lagos State, Mr. Waheed Ishola; Director, International Press Centre, Lagos, Mr. Lanre Arogundade; ACP Edward Egbuka and Executive Director, Democracy Vanguard, Mr. Adeola Soetan, at a Multi-Stakeholders’ Policy, entitled ‘Ensuring Credible and Violence State-level Election in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Director, Operations, Optima Media Group (OMG), Ayobami Amoo (left), presenting a gift to a member of the Nigerian Idol Group Stage Recording audience, Tenimu Zakari, during the on-going Nigerian Idol Season 5 TV reality show in Lagos.

L-R: Former Chairman, Mushin Local Government Council, Mr. Babatunde Adepitan; former Chairman, Amuwo Odofin Local Council, Comrade Ayodele Adewale; Cordinator, Lagos State Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, Hon. Baleke Olumide and Abiodun Faleke, during the All Progressives Party (APC)’s victory celebration, at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Zonal Superintendent, Four Square Church, Igbala, Ogun State, Pastor Innocent Ubaka; his wife, Pastor Bunmi; Zonal Superintendent, Ota, Pastor Ebenezer Akinwande and Zonal Superintendent, Oremeji, Revd. Olukokun Adeniran, during the 10th anniversary of the church in Elerinko, Sango Ota, Ogun State.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Islam UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH QUESTION

Tricked into an Affair with a Married Muslim Man QUESTION What can I do after a married muslim man tricked me into an affair with him. ANSWER As-salamu `alaikum dear sister, Thank you for sending us your question. I want to begin by saying that I am very sorry that this happened to you and it is very apparent that you had no intention having a relationship with a man that was already married. It is obvious that he was not open and honest with you from the beginning of your relationship and shame on him for his dishonesty and lack of integrity and respect for you, his wife, and for himself. I cannot tell you why he did what he did, but reality is that there are many people in this world who behave with integrity and respect and others who do not. It seems like from how you have described this man, he is from those who do not behave with integrity and respect. Please do not confuse this man with the values of Islam, because he clearly has crossed the lines. You have mentioned “Forgive my ignorance on the Islamic traditions, but I know in my Christian upbringing adultery is very frowned upon and I am devastated that I was tricked into this situation.” Just as adultery is frowned upon in Christianity, it is also forbidden in Islam. It seems like this man did not care to follow Islamic teachings and that is entirely his choice. He has (and will continue to) hurt many people by his poor choices and you have every right to feel devastated and betrayed by his dishonesty. From your written question, it is apparent that you are appalled by what he had done and you are seeking to understand why he acted the way that he did. Unfortunately, we do not always know why people behave the way they do. He is the only person that can answer that question. It does seem apparent that based on his actions, he probably lacks insight into his behavior and as a result, has made a lot of poor choices. The choices that he makes in his life will no doubt affect him and the people around him, and you absolutely made the right choice by leaving him. Please allow yourself to heal from this ordeal. It seems like you are a person who behaves with values and honesty. Continue to live that way and hopefully you will be with someone who lives the same way that you do. Peace be with you.

Allah almighty knows best.

E X H O RTAT I O N

14 Jumada Al-Akhir 1436 AH

“O Allah, of Power (And Rule), Thou givest power to whom Thou pleasest, and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest: Thou enduest with honour whom Thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest: In Thy hand is all good. Verily, over all things Thou hast power. Surah Al-Imran [3:26]

L-R: Executive Director, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF), Imam Shuaib Abdullahi; Secretary, board of Directors, Alhaji AbdulWaheed Amida and Consultant, Gbagada General Hospital, Dr. AbdulWasiu Busari, during the foundation’s meeting on the state of the nation in Lagos

MURIC commends Jonathan for conceding defeat REGARD Group says world would begin to respect Nigeria as a nation with rich democratic values Adeola Yusuf

uslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat to General Mohammad Buhari in the March 28 Presidential poll. The group, which said this in a statement by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, maintained that the rest of Africa and the world in general, would begin to respect Nigeria as a nation with rich democratic values. The statement also congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari for this historical feat, noting his determination and faith in hard work “President Goodluck Jonathan has held a telephone conversation with his main contender in the presidential election, Gen.l Muhammadu Buhari and congratulated him. “We commend President Jonathan for this singular gesture. It is highly patriotic. This magnanimous action of President Jonathan has lifted Nigeria to a lofty height in the comity of nations. “We doff our hat to President Jonathan for seizing the initiative. He is our man of the mo-

lBuhari’s election, a turning point-MPAC ment,” the statement said. In the same vein, the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has congratulated Major-General (Rtd) Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Professor Oluyemi Osinbajo, for winning the country’s presidential election. Major-General (Rtd) Muhammadu Buhari overcame major obstacles in the last three presidential elections to come back and win a decisive victory. MPAC, which said this in a statement, called the election of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to the highest office in the land an important development in the future of Nigeria. The group said: “Although the President-elect clearly ran a good, strong race as well as an issue-based campaign, the critical focus of President Muhammadu Buhari must be facing the daunting task of realising our collective aspirations, through ethical values, of a safe, prosperous and united nation marked by transparency, accountability and inclusiveness. “Nigerians do not wish to see the slogans and promises of the election campaign periods as a mere snapshot of what can be, but as a dynamic process of evolving attitudes and

trends in our entire political establishment that will transform our current challenges into major and feasible gains in this highly competitive and merit-based world. “Also, the new President and his team must immediately take extremely critical steps to combat corruption wholeheartedly, work to defeat Boko Haram and return/reintegrate kidnapped and displaced persons to their communities where they will feel safe and secured. “It is our sincere hope that this election will be a harbinger of the end of these deadly afflictions and meeting needs for peace-building, dignity, prosperity, freedom and human rights for all Nigerians. “On the occasion of this important milestone in the history of Nigeria, MPAC reminds those who Allah has allowed to be elected as public officials at various levels to remember their electoral promises before God to which they will be held accountable in this world and hereafter. “Also, we remind them of the rights and responsibilities of an elected official through the immortalised and wise words of Caliph Abu Bakr (RA), the first successor to the Prophet Muhammad, in his inaugural speech: “I have been given the authority over you, and I am not the best of you. If I do well, help

me; and if I do wrong, set me right. Sincere regard for truth is loyalty and disregard for truth is treachery. “The weak amongst you shall be strong with me until I have secured his rights, if God will; and the strong amongst you shall be weak with me until I have wrestled from him the rights of others, if God will. “Obey me so long as I obey God and His Messenger (Muhammad, PBUH). But if I disobey God and His Messenger, you owe me no obedience. Arise for your prayer, God have mercy upon you.” MPAC prayed for a peaceful post-election period, adding that it heartily congratulated president-elect Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Oluyemi Osinbajo for a hard won and well deserved victory. “We also wish to let them know that the work towards building a greater Nigeria starts now. MPAC also congratulates the security agencies and all Nigerians who conducted themselves peacefully and made their voices heard in the electoral process to seek ethical leaders through democratic means. “We pray for a future of peace, love and justice to prevail in our country, for God to heal hearts and minds, and to shower prosperity on people that have endured untold and prolonged suffering and afflictions, amin.”

Feminique NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

legant and ever smiling, Udo Okonjo characteristically stirred and ignited a hall full of women already exhausted by a whole day of activities, to discover their potential to dazzle during her closing remarks at the International Women’s Day celebration that held in Lagos recently. Getting on their feet and chanting ‘yes, we can!’ they claim, affirm and proclaim the prophetic assertions of the distinguished woman who has gone, seen and conquered. Such is the enchanting power behind her words and she is using it to ignite a new fire, building a new generation of women that is set to burn down every stereotype and mind-set of mediocrity so as to unleash their inherent power to shine. “Yes you can,” she said repeatedly. “You can absolutely grow your business with creativity and imagination, even without having all the money that you need; yes you can you do that? Believe it because people have done it. Yes you really can! Because you can absolutely, completely and utterly be unstoppable. You can be a truly excellent person because you are a thinker, a doer because you are configured with a championship DNA within you! Can you be a champion? Yes you absolutely can. Put your mind on all these things today and in 2015 because you are created to be able to achieve whatever your heart can conceive. Yes, you can!” she continued, earning a standing ovation for her grace and eloquence. Her speeches which always border on achieving the impossible, walking on water (WOW) as she prefers to put it, always leave the audience in high spirits and truly ignited to unleash their potentials. Such was also the case at the iWOW (Inspired Women of Worth) Global Possibilities Summit, where the atmosphere was charged as hundreds of women relished the inspiring talks, music, entertainment and empowerment in that day of inspiration, leadership and entrepreneurship. With the theme ‘unleash your wow factor!’ the women learnt how to overcome their mind-set and wow (walk on water), embracing possibilities in their lives, business and work. The two day summit had a preevent cocktail with members of the network & VIP guests at the Prestige Lounge of the headline sponsors, Fine & Country W.A.

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

Udo Okonjo: Yes, women can make it happen! With 25 women from eight countries, Udo Okonjo established iWOW, now a global network that is set to inspire, enlighten, empower and connect women to their best selves and with each other, to accomplish a world of good. Also the CEO and Chief Igniter of Fine and Country Int’l, a world-class real estate company, her iWOW Global Possibilities Summit, where women learnt to unleash their wow factor and make it happen, was a knockout. EBERE AMEH writes An evening tagged “Possibilities in Action,” it was centred on the theme ‘The Myth of the Superwoman’ and had a ‘superwomen’ panel of discussants comprising the founder, Udo Okonjo; International Author, Speaker & Singer, Michelle Hammond; as well as the Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Bola Adesola. Established five years ago, “iWOW which stands for Inspired Women of Worth took off in South Africa by 26 women from eight countries, including the founder; with a mission to inspire, connect and empower women. Through their two key awareness projects –Autism and Breast Cancer project, Udo, who has battled breast cancer and won, uses the annual events to emphasize knowledge, hope and possibilities. A die-hard optimist, Udo believes that losing hope is indicative of a loss of perspective. “Every day, we all have reasons to give up, but having the right perspective about life, seeing things in light of eternity is always a good way to view whatever your current situation is. I have learnt to ask a simple question. ‘Whatever I am going through, will it matter in ten years or in eternity?’ If not, I take a deep breath and have another look at it. There’s always a way out. I’m not minimizing what people face but I recognize the importance of staying encouraged and inspired,” she reportedly said. An alumni of the University of Nigeria, Udo was the best graduating female student in her year at the Nigerian Law School, Enugu. Consequently, she was awarded the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship to study at the University of London, Kings College School of Law, where she graduated with a Master’s degree (LLM) specializing in Corporate and Commercial Law. She was called to the New York Bar and Nigerian Bar in 1991 and 1993 respectively, after which she had a successful legal career for almost two decades. In June 2005, she took the South African Real Estate exams and qualified for certification by the Estate Agency Affairs Board, and later earned a certificate in Effective Real Estate Marketing from the National University of Singapore in conjunction with the Dubai Real Estate Institute in May 2008. Highly scholarly and ever ready to learn new things, Udo also attended the prestigious Lagos Business School, Oxford University and most recently, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. She also acted as Senior Special Adviser on Legal and Constitutional Matters to the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Spotting the opportunity that an international network provides, she brought the franchise of her Real Estate company, Fine & Country to West Africa a couple of years ago in conjunction with some partners. With over three hundred and fifty offices world-wide coupled with her experience and knowledge, Udo is poised to take it to unprecedented heights. Fine & Country is already known worldwide for its unique blend of intelligent and creative marketing, coupled with a professional approach to the Sales and Leasing of Residential and Commercial properties. With its head office located on Park Lane, Mayfair, UK, Fine and Country has its African operations run from Sandton, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana. In accordance with the Igbo saying that good market sells itself, Fine and Country has continued to garner awards for its excellent services. In 2010, the Nigerian officereceivedanaward for “Extraordinary Brand Contribution”withrespectto itsexceptionalmarketing approach, from the Fine & Country global team. The company also beat all other top real estate brands worldwide to win the much coveted fivestar gold award for ‘Best International Real Estate Agency’ at the 2011 International Property Awards. In 2012, it was the winner of the Real Estate Unite Most aspiring Support Service. With a Federal High Court Judge father, now late; and a mother who is also a legal luminary and Chairperson of the Delta State House of Assembly Commission, it is not surprising the numerous grounds Udo is conquering in the both law and business. A devout and optimistic Christian, her current passion is igniting a generation of women who believe in themselves and their innate capabilities Udo Okonjo that they can actually wow.

Feminique

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Smelly vagina: Is it normal?

his is a topic that is a must read for men and women alike. But before then, permit me to congratulate all Nigerians for the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections. Heavens didn’t fall as predicted by the agents of doom. Sometime in future, I will bring you stories about some people who used the election days and their pvc to vote in places where there were no polling booths put in place by INEC. Trust Nigerians. Anyway, back to smelly vagina. A smelly vagina is an indication that something is wrong down there. Shockingly, a lot of us (men and women) are very nonchalant about it. Especially the young adults. In some it is so bad that the whole body smells. And I am not talking about body odour. The smell could be so nauseating. All doctors who have to examine women physically come across this unsavoury smell more times than we can count. In fact one of my colleagues has labeled it as ‘one of the occupational hazards’ we have to suffer as medical doctors. Occupational hazard indeed!!! Dirt is dirt no matter the face I usually reply. A lot of the times, these ladies are fashionably dressed. Painted nails, beautifully made up faces, Brazilian weave ons, designer clothes, accessories etc. When you see them on the

road, they make heads turn, and even sometimes cause road traffic accidents. But then let them get on to the examining couch for examination and trouble starts. One tends to wonder if this is not a misplaced priority of the highest order. Why spend a fortune outside, when the inside is rotting away for lack of pennies? It is so cheap, easy and simple to prevent a smelly vagina. So, what is a smelly vagina and what causes it? A smelly vagina is caused by an abnormal vagina discharge. Please note the distinction. The keyword here is [abnormal]. This is because vaginal discharge can be either normal or abnormal. So, what really is vagina discharge? Vagina discharge is desirable in women. It serves two important functions. The first is before and during sex. An aroused woman should have vaginal discharge. This serves to lubricate the vaginal and makes it ready for sex. A dry vaginal leads to painful sex and vaginal injuries. This is why rape is so painful physically and psychologically. Also, the smell of vaginal discharge acts as an aphrodisiac for the man. It is Pleasant and increases sexual desire. The second function is housekeeping. The fluid known as vaginal discharge is made by glands in the vagina

and cervix. The fluid carries away dead cells and bacteria. This cleans up the vagina and also prevents infection. As I have said earlier, most of the time, vaginal discharge is normal. The amount varies, just as the odour, look and feel. In fact, its colour can range from clear to milky white-ish, depending on your menstrual cycle. For example, there will be more discharge if you are ovulating, breastfeeding, or are sexually aroused. Also the smell may be different if you are pregnant and will definitely be foul (smelly) if you haven’t been diligent about your personal hygiene. Finally, none of those changes should be a cause for alarm. However, if the colour, smell, or consistency seems significantly unusual, especially if it is accompanied by vaginal itching or burning, then definitely, there is an infection or other condition. Now what is the cause or are the causes of vaginal discharge? The main cause definitely is poor hygiene. Whenever that area is dirty, you give room for bacteria, yeast, viruses, parasites etc to gain a foothold. There are actually about 20 sub causes such as yeast, chlamydia, UTI, STD, PID, vulvovaginitis, chlamydia etc. But none of them can get a foothold if you are always clean. Remember

Fadeyi

Health is Wealth. 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@

Ego: Diary of a single mom

Mixed feelings as Danny proposes Ebere Ameh

t was cool and cosy at the Tarzan Hotels where we lodged. It was more of a romantic getaway but one devoid of those beautiful walks in the beach, what with the deserted beaches and roads. We could only swim and use the facilities within the hotel the first day and it was fun. Their gym is well equipped, their sauna and jaccuzzi in top shape. Though I used the opportunity to catch up on those luxuries, while the TV and the social media kept us abreast of the elections, I was bored by the second day. To worsen it, Danny’s office sent messages that they should be vigilant and not report to work until after the election result was announced. That prolonged our stay and I silently longed for home. But Danny was always on point. Despite everything, he had already gotten a ticket for ‘A Cruise to Nowhere,’ a one night getaway on a cruise ship that goes, literally, nowhere. With lots of company and a focus strictly on relaxation and enjoyment of the ship’s amenities, we had a swell time. We had a yoga class, watched a movie and hit the midnight buffet after seeing a comedy show all inside the cruise. “When did you do this? I was already getting bored,” I confessed when we were disembarking. “I’m happy you love the experience. Anything for you my love,” he responded. But Danny was far from done. We rested and frolicked the whole day and hit a casino the next night. We had an almost Vegas experience with fancy restaurants, an all-you-can-eat buffet and live entertainment. We decided to stay indoors and await

the result of the elections, joining in the widespread apprehension over who would win. “Were we really running away from electioninduced violence? No, I was running from Danny’s neighbours. How would they possibly see me after his wife’s shameful display the other day? I was also not sure Nneka would not surface again or send thugs after anybody that enters Danny’s House. But how long would I be on the run? If there was anything I learnt during the IWD, it was facing my fears and being ready and optimistic enough to overcome every obstacle because I am equipped to shine. What does it

say of me, camping in a hotel with a man who is not my husband?” I kept on when Danny entered and interrupted my muse, showing me the comments on facebook. The jubilation on TV and Social Media was immense. For Danny and I, our celebration is more for the growth of our democracy and for change than for Muhammadu Buhari. Danny got some smoking hot coffee, which we sipped to keep awake as we waited for Attahiru Jega’s announcement. Dancing to the different contemporary music that played at the background, Danny displayed his youthful side as we waited for

the result. I joined him occasionally but laughed more at his out of tune dance steps. I have never seen him in such a happy mood. As Jega pronounced the victorious candidate early hours of Wednesday morning, Danny sprang up, danced a little before dashing to me. He pulled me up, apparently, to dance with him, but how wrong I was. I was still laughing at his boyish attitude when he stopped suddenly and went straight on his knees. “Danny, are you okay?” I screamed trying to pull him up. With all the rampant cases of sudden death, my heart leapt to my mouth. But he smiled, dipped his hand in his pocket and brought out a shining ring case. Popping it open he said “I’m perfectly ok my sweetheart. Life would be meaningless without you. Will you marry me?” “Tears of joy ran down my cheeks. This is long overdue but should I accept it? He is not yet a free man, he is married. But it will give me more impetus to fight with him,” I reasoned within seconds. Pulling him tight to my bosom, I helped him to his feet and looked straight into his eyes. With a heart still racing in confusion, I smiled as I said; “You know that I love you. I will always do. Yes, I will marry you.” In a fit of laughter, he swept me off my feet and swirled round a couple of times, making me to join in his exuberant and noisy laughter. As if he suddenly remembered something, he dropped me gently on the settee and made for the champagne. “This is double celebration, this is history being made!” he said as he popped it.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Crime

Security challenges Buhari must confront Juliana Francis

s the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, would in a couple of weeks take over the mantle of leadership, there are several security challenges awaiting him. These challenges must be adequately tackled for him to be further respected by Nigerians. These are security challenges that mostly led to the defeat at the poll of President Goodluck Jonathan. Aside from the challenges of tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, there are other issues. One of which is the unmitigated corruption in many facets of the Nigerian sectors. There is also the issue of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and National Agency for the Prohibition of Human Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) being starved of funds to travel for investigations. There is the Fulani herdsmen versus farmers’ prolonged war, which had led to senseless killings. The police impunity when it comes to human rights issues, with highlights on torture, wanton killings and disappearance of suspects from police custody, is another troubling security issue. Those being paid with taxpayers’ money to protect them are instead, killing the taxpayers. There are also issues of reckless torturing, shooting and killings of civilians actively carried out by military personnel. Authorities of security agencies know that their agents commit these crimes, but nothing is done about it. In most cases, the matter is swept under the carpet or the agent posted out. It is this sort of

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

Jonathan and Buhari

impunity among uniformed personnel, especially which gave rise to the slogan, “unknown soldier”. There is, no doubt, that corruption and atrocities committed by Boko Haram were some of the most elemental factors which cost Jonathan his re-election. Many Nigerians felt Jonathan handled the Boko Haram issue with kid gloves. The abduction of the Chibok girls was clearly the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Jonathan lost all love and respect from his countrymen. Security stakeholders expected him to visit Chibok after the kidnap and perhaps do everything possible to bring back the girls, but he never did. Even in the midst of international outcry. The status quo remains. Jonathan, however, reluctantly summoned courage to visit Chibok just as his political campaign kicked off. It was also that period that he deigned to visit the Nigerian troops that had been dying every day, fighting the more equipped insurgents. The nail on Jonathan’s political casket was his sudden decisiveness in the battle against the insurgents in the wake of his campaigns. The social media was filled with scornful and angry Nigerians who wondered why he waited so long, to take action. Not only did he suddenly take action, the action was quite

Shekau

suddenly effective, as Nigerian troops began to rout the insurgents. In the international climes, corruption dogged Nigeria footsteps. Many felt Jonathan was too lenient in the fight against corruption. He was once quoted to have said: “Stealing is not corruption.” When Nigerians raged, he attempted to justify and clarify the statement, but failed woefully. Not only did he not fight corruption with his entirety, he brazen gave presidential pardon to former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. Alamieyeseigha was once charged by Metropolitan Police for money

laundering. A good number of people will also not forget the former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah’s saga in a hurry. She was involved in a controversy of highly inflating the purchase of BMW bullet-proof cars without following due process. Nigerians expected stiffer penalty from the Jonathan-led administration against what many term as the height of corruption, but instead, Oduah was made Jonathan’s Campaign’s Director of Administration and Finance. Boko Haram is one serious security issue which Nigerians would be waiting and watching to see how fast Buhari would effectively tackle. Financial crimes institutions should be checked and funds made available to give bite to the anti-graft war. Anyone arrested for financial crimes, no matter his or her social standings, should be prosecuted. There should be no sacred cow. NAPTIP, the agency saddled with the fight against human trafficking, was also alleged to have been starved of funds for investigations, enlightenment campaigns and trainings. The country’s international ranking, which was once on tier one, dropped. Presently, the most disturbing security problem in the country is the C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 2

Obas

Crime

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

God wanted me to learn, says pastor’s son held for robbery Timothy Obi is the son of a pastor. He was among seven young men arrested for cultism and armed robbery. In this interview with FLORA ONWUDIWE, Obi reveals reasons for toeing the path of the devil. Excerpt;

my father pastors. I got the call that policemen were looking for me. I left the church and went home. My mother explained everything to me. Most people expect a pastor’s son to be a good example to other children. What can you say about that? I’ve prayed to God for forgiveness. What led to my trouble was because I collected the gun from Ochuko and gave it to Dele. What message do you have for your parents? I’ve asked for them to forgive me. If I eventually come out of this trouble, I’ll preach to cult members to surrender to God. God brought me here for a purpose. He brought me here to learn more. I’ve now known the way to live a good Christian life.

Tell us about yourself I’m 20-year-old. I’m the eldest son among five kids. I’m from Oshimili Local Government Area of Delta State. I’m an Ordinary National Diploma (OND), Part II student, studying Marketing at Gate Way Polytechnic. What’s the name of your father and his church? Is your dad a pastor or the General Overseer? My father’s name is Mr. Joseph Obi. He is not the general overseer of the church. He’s just a pastor there. The name of our church is Christ Church. It is located at Ojo-Alaba. We even have a branch at Gate-Way. Why did you join the cultism? I never had any knowledge of cultism. Chime Okafor was instrumental to my problem today. He wanted me to join their group - Black Movement of Africa. When I refused to join them, he and some of his gang waylaid me. They wanted to hurt me. I screamed to alert the community. It was my screaming that scared them away. They knew people would soon gather. They ran away. I was able to snatch a cutlass from one of them. I went to report the matter to the police. I even handed over the machete to the police. It was when I snatched the machete that I sustained injury on my hand. What did the police do after you reported? They went out looking for Chime Okafor, but they could not get him, the police invited his parents. How were you initiated into cultism? A friend of mine, Ogidan invited me to his birthday party. It was a gathering of few friends. Ogidan gave me drinks. I got drunk. I lost my senses. But I was conscious enough, to know that my eyes were blindfolded. What happened after your eyes were blindfolded? They said some words and asked me to repeat after them. What were those words? I promised to abide by the rules and regulation of the Supreme

What message do you have for youths who are pastors’ sons? As Christ has forgiven us our sins, they should find a place in their hearts to forgive me. Other people around should also forgive me as well.

Timothy

Most Eiye Confraternity. After that they poured hot drink into my eyes. How did you get the gun? When I was initiated in Ogidan’s party, he promised to give me what would protect me. He only asked me to source for N10, 000. What did you plan to do with the gun? I didn’t have any plan. I expected Ogidan to give me local charms, not gun. Have you killed anybody before your arrest? I have not killed anybody with the gun! The gun had never even passed a night with me before. Your gang members said they used to rob. Do you go with them? I’ve never gone out with them to rob before! As a son of a pastor, how do you feel being arrested for robbery and cultism? I feel embarrassed and disgraced. I’ve been trying to hide myself from being identified as a cultist. I’ve seen that it’s not a good thing; that’s why I go to church. I didn’t allow the gun to be with me. I kept it with Ochuko, another member.

You were going to church when police arrested you; would you say that you were living a double life? I was already in the church, mopping the altar, arranging things in the church before the arrival of the congregation. It was another branch of the church that

A task for the President-elect C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

killing of Nigerians by security agencies. The latest, which has attracted hues and cries from Nigerians is the arrest and torture to death of Chibuike Edeh, a worker with Protea Hotel, Benin, Edo State. The death of the 27-year-old victim sparked a protest on the premises of the Protea Hotel, Benin, after his body was found. He was arrested by officers from the Adesuwa Police Division for allegedly stealing N48, 000 from one of the rooms

Before your arrest, did your parents know that you were a cult member? My parents didn’t know that I was a cult member. When you were arrested by the police, how did your parents feel? My parents felt sad because I have not followed the way of God. Have your parents visited you since your arrest? They used to tell me that my Dad comes around, but I’ve not seen him.

Now that you’ve seen it all, what advice would you give to youths who may want to join cult? My message to youths is that the greatest mistake any youth could ever make in life is to be a cult member or secret cult. It’s a mistake to join crime at all! The only way is Christ.

Abducted Chibok girls

in the hotel. Till date, nobody had been dealt with in respect of the young man’s death. Security agencies should begin to be held accountable for cases that had to do with torture and reckless killings of civilians, especially those in their custody. The importance of a secured nation cannot be overemphasised. Secured citizens are not only happy, but the economy will thrive, becoming an attraction for foreign investors. Nigerians await Buhari’s actions after May 29.

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Fitch affirms 10 Nigerian banks’ ratings STABLE Banks not affected by revision of Nigeria’s ratings Stories by Tony Chukwunyem

itch Ratings has affirmed the Support Ratings (SRs) and Support Rating Floors (SRFs) of 10 Nigerian banks. They are Zenith Bank Plc, FBN Holdings Plc (FBNH),

First Bank of Nigeria Ltd (FBN), United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB). Others are Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and First City Monument Bank Limited (FCMB). The firm said in a press statement that the rating actions follow its revision of the outlook on Nigeria’s Longterm Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to Negative from Stable on March 30th 2015. According to the statement, “The affirmation of the SRs

Presidential poll outcome to boost naira

he naira may firm against the dollar on the parallel market next week because of the outcome of the presidential election, dealers have said. The naira firmed to N210 to the dollar on the parallel market from N226 a week ago after opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari won in a vote that avoided the violence of previous polls. However, the currency traded within the N199-199.50 band on the official interbank market, where it has been stuck since February, after the central bank pegged the rate. In a sign of relief, individuals who had stockpiled dollars to hedge against political risk fearing the election could be marred by violence were exchanging their funds for the naira. “We are not going to see much of movement in the

pricing of the naira at the interbank market until the central bank reviews the present measure which has stagnated the rate,” a dealer said. In related development the yield on Nigeria’s 5-year bond fell further yesterday shedding 25 basis points as offshore funds placed buy orders with banks following a presidential poll in Africa’s biggest economy won by opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari, dealers said. The 2019 debt, one of the maturities listed on JP Morgan’s Government Bond IndexEmerging Markets (GBI-EM), has fallen more than 110 basis points in the past two days on renewed buying on news of Buhari victory over incumbent Goodluck Jonathan. The bond’s yield was quoted at 13.86 percent in early trade, down from 14.11 percent on Wednesday. It stood at 15.03 percent on Tuesday.

Skye Bank boosts MSMEs

kye Bank Plc is to commence a series of capacity building workshops and seminars in some priority sectors for owners of Medium Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). According to a release issued by the bank, the objective of the seminar series is to empower the MSMEs for growth by providing insights into common issues, which affect their operations, namely management, operations and finance. The statement further said by bridging the identified skillgaps, the entrepreneurs can become sufficiently scalable to contribute to the development of the economy, especially in the area of employment generation. “For Skye Bank, the empowerment programme is a strategic scheme which forms part of the delivery of its SME banking promise which is to nurture businesses for growth”. The maiden edition of the Skye Business Seminar Series is focused on two sectors ie general commerce and manufacturing and is scheduled to take place in Onitsha on April 16, 2015, and monthly thereafter. As part of

the value adds for the MSMEs, we have partnered other stakeholders such as Business Development Support Providers, the Bank of Industry, Computer Warehouse Group and Microsoft”, the statement said. According to the bank, the seminars would also provide networking opportunities for the entrepreneurs, with the benefits expected to be reaped in many folds. The statement explained that Skye Bank has been appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria as one of the banks to disburse the N220BN MSME Fund, adding that the bank was in strategic partnership with other Development Finance Institutions to provide affordable financing over a long term. Beyond financing, the bank is introducing a best in class business account with compelling benefits to MSMEs such as reduced bank charges (free cheque book, free debit cards); flexible options; discounted pricing on loans and much more. The bank is committed to MSMEs and has designed products and services that meet their needs.

and SRFs reflects Fitch’s view that the revised sovereign Outlook does not indicate a material weakening in the ability of the sovereign to support the banking sector. While the ability to support is already constrained, as indicated by the ‘BB-’ sovereign rating, a potential one-notch downgrade of the sovereign rating would most likely not result in a downward revision of any SRF.” It explained that the revision of the Outlook on Nigeria’s sovereign ratings was driven by a number of factors, including heightened political risk in the context of the presidential election, potential transition issues and the Boko Haram insurgency, as well as significantly weaker fiscal and external buffers and deterioration in economic prospects. It, however, stated that de-

spite the risks, “Nigeria still has low and stable public and external debt ratios for its rating level, and non-oil growth is expected to remain robust” adding that it expects the Federal Government to continue to support the banks. “Fitch assigns SRFs based on each bank’s systemic importance. The most systemically important banks in Fitch’s view are FBN, Zenith and UBA, which are assigned SRFs of B+’. The other banks have SRFs of ‘B’. FBNH is the holding company of FBN. Its SR of ‘5’ and SRF of ‘No Floor’ reflect Fitch’s view that while the Nigerian authorities’ propensity to support local banks is high, the same level of support would not apply to holding companies,” the firm stated. Fitch also said that it has affirmed the Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) and National

Ratings of six banks, namely FBN, UBA, Diamond, Fidelity, Union and FCMB. According to the firm, “the outlooks on these Long-term IDRs remain Stable. These banks’ IDRs and National Ratings are driven by the probability of sovereign support, as indicated by their Support Ratings Floors (SRFs). Fitch explained that the National Ratings of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc are unaffected by the sovereign rating action, as their ‘AAA(nga)’ ratings are based on the support that the bank and the holding company derive from Standard Bank Group Limited. It, however, stated that banks’ National Ratings are sensitive to changes in their Long-term IDRs and relative creditworthiness.

Interbank rates ease on increasing liquidity vernight lending rates fell rates on secured lending fell in call of some funds from comO to an average of 9.6 per- tandem,” one dealer said. mercial banks by the central cent yesterday from 12.5 perThe secured Open Buy Back bank to meet the lenders’ cash cent last week, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) retired some matured treasury bills, increasing liquidity in the money market. Traders said a total of N148 billion in matured treasury bills was repaid by the bank. “The market experienced a major liquidity boost today from matured treasury bills...

(OBB) fell to 9 percent from 12 per cent last week. The secured fund was four percentage points below the 13 percent central bank’s benchmark interest rate. Overnight placement also eased to 10.25 per cent compared with 13 percent last week. Dealers said rates could rise marginally on the expected re-

reserves requirements. The central bank requires commercial lenders to set aside 75 per cent of public sector and 15 per cent of private sector deposits in liquid cash in their respective accounts with the regulator. The central bank debits commercial banks accounts twice every month to enforce this requirement.

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$29,892,467,294

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 24/3/2015 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 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

2-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 Issuer

Rating/Agency

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 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)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 54.00 600.00 499.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 254.50

23-Apr-15 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

0.06 1.37 2.07 2.32 2.41 3.16 4.24 4.56 4.87 6.82 8.95 13.66 14.14 14.64 15.31 19.29

13.53 14.09 14.01 13.99 13.99 14.04 14.12 14.12 14.12 14.14 14.11 16.52 16.87 17.28 15.42 14.05

10.94 13.97 13.93 13.91 13.91 13.92 14.03 14.01 14.04 14.07 14.05 16.46 16.80 17.18 15.35 14.00

99.44 98.70 101.87 91.99 90.74 91.65 105.78 76.64 104.82 109.60 100.44 91.80 76.60 53.66 68.42 87.39

99.59 98.85 102.02 92.14 90.89 91.95 106.08 76.94 105.12 109.90 100.74 92.10 76.90 53.96 68.72 87.69

Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%)

5,023.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Price

4,673.25 Issuer

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

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

0.14 0.88 1.69 2.05 2.26

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 2.85

16.51 17.14 16.00 14.98 16.84

97.64 100.21 99.92 101.86 95.32

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 10-Oct-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.41 0.50 0.77 0.77 2.05 1.31 2.75 2.13 1.93 2.12 2.12 2.31 3.06 4.64 2.71 3.17 5.66 5.75 3.41 3.44

4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 1.00 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.44 1.00

19.02 17.95 19.29 18.31 14.98 15.36 15.81 15.78 14.98 14.98 18.76 14.99 15.04 15.12 15.01 15.05 15.13 15.13 15.50 15.06

97.44 97.73 96.37 98.01 91.48 98.14 96.03 96.98 98.49 99.13 92.26 100.88 101.04 97.93 99.43 99.30 93.90 99.44 97.48 99.77

17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20 30-Dec-21 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24

0.38 0.44 0.52 1.49 1.56 2.50 1.52 1.52 1.94 1.94 3.47 1.79 2.13 2.75 5.62 6.75 9.50 9.50

1.00 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76 1.13 1.00 1.00

15.53 15.62 17.36 15.04 15.36 15.00 15.90 15.02 14.98 14.98 15.07 16.28 20.09 16.18 16.89 15.27 15.31 15.31

98.01 98.49 98.40 97.36 98.48 95.96 103.39 101.26 104.73 101.58 97.18 99.23 96.68 99.63 94.14 104.80 83.33 89.84

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

320.77

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/Agusto BBB+/Agusto ‡ /Agusto A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB-/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro ‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 10-Oct-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

8.50 2.16 4.86 5.73 57.00 25.73 25.00 30.81 9.00 13.73 10.20 27.00 16.23 80.00 25.70 11.10 87.50 5.00 4.55 4.56

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

454.33 438.50

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto BB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR A/GCR

*UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA#{r} NAHCO UBA STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13 30-Dec-14 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14

10.00 12.00 14.00 13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.25 16.45 11.93 13.25

2.50 18.75 0.42 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.64 6.30 2.54 0.70 35.00 2.40 0.36 4.50 2.05 30.50 0.10 15.44

162.73

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

160.06

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.86

1.00

15.02

89.07

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

15.12

86.17

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

24.95 21.85 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.78

5.55

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.14

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.06

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,533.51

104.73

105.88

4.83

99.95

100.87

5.90

102.03

103.04

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

124.92

48.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.54

4.58

101.00

103.13

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

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

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

11.28

92.00

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

12.91

11.18

85.01

89.00

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

10.25 APR 08, 2019

7.54

7.08

95.24

96.63

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

6.25 APR 22, 2019

39.35

43.63

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

8.56

92.24

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

14.27

13.32

83.20

85.83

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

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

13.44

80.00

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

25.16 13.64 11.33

25.16 13.02 11.33

45.50 81.89 84.50

45.50 84.17 84.50

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.87

10.42

89.63

91.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 3,773.11

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 63

FIXINGS Maturity 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15

Bid Discount (%) 9.66 13.03 12.92 13.10 9.84 12.50 13.64 13.29

Offer Discount (%) 9.41 12.78 12.67 12.85 9.59 12.25 13.39 13.04

Bid Yield (%) 9.67 13.09 13.01 13.23 9.93 12.68 13.89 13.60

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.3750 14.4561 15.9700 16.7460

Rate (%)

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

OBB

9.50

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

10.17

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

199.05 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

199.15 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 9.50 10.00

^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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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

499.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 254.50

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

8.95 13.66 14.14 14.64 15.31 19.29

14.11 16.52 16.87 17.28 15.42 14.05

14.05 16.46 16.80 17.18 15.35 14.00

100.44 91.80 76.60 53.66 68.42 87.39

100.74 92.10 76.90 53.96 68.72 87.69

5,023.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,673.25

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.14 0.88 1.69 2.05 2.26

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 2.85

16.51 17.14 16.00 14.98 16.84

97.64 100.21 99.92 101.86 95.32

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 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

Business | Financial Market News

Sub-National Bonds

Stock market gains N515bn

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

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 billion. 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 Analysts said the resur14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 gence 15.50 of IMO the30-JUN-2016 bulls to sustain 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 market rally for30-JUN-2017 10th day was 13.75 BAYELSA 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 unprecedented and a welcome 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 development that would shore 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 up investor confidence and en14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 courage other companies to 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 list on15.50 theGOMBE local02-OCT-2019 bourse. 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 Consequently, the All-Share 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 Index 14.75 appreciated by 1347.98 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 13.50 LAGOS basis points or27-NOV-2020 3.77 per cent to 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 close at 35,728.12 index points 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA as against 34.80.1406-JAN-2021 recorded the

***LCRM

BULLISH

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Peaceful presidential polls keep stock market in A/Agusto KADUNA A-/Agusto *EBONYI positive trajectory*BENUE BBB+/Agusto

320.77

*IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

Stories by Chris Ugwu

he unprecedented bullish rally being witnessed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) following the peaceful presidential polls continued yesterday as Nigerian stocks surged with a gain of N515 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

12.50 previous31-Aug-10 day while market cap30-Sep-10 13.00 italisation of equities equally 30-Jun-11 14.00 30-Jun-09 15.50 firmed up by N515 billion or 19-Apr-10 10.00 4.24 per 30-Jun-10 cent to close higher at 13.75 14.00 N12.135 30-Dec-10 trillion from N11.620 30-Sep-11 14.00 trillion 04-Oct-11 as market sentiments 14.00 09-Dec-11 14.50 turned on the green territory . 12-Dec-13 14.00 Meanwhile, a turnover of 14-Feb-12 15.50 1.2 billion shares worth N18.7 02-Oct-12 15.50 22-Nov-12 billion in 9,004 deals 14.50 was re12-Dec-12 14.75 corded in the day’s trading. 10-Oct-13 14.75 27-Nov-13 13.50 The banking sub sector of 31-Dec-13 15.00 the financial sector 31-Dec-13 services14.50 was the06-Jan-14 most active 15.00 during the day (measured by turnover volume); with 654.2 million

GSK reports 37% drop in 2014 net earnings Corporate Bonds

‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto BB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR A/GCR

*UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} *TOWER# *TOWER#

laxoSmithKline Consum- N23.21 billion during the nine er Nigeria Plc has posted months to the end of Septema 36.6 per cent slide in profit ber, from N21.33 billion in the UBA after tax for the financial year same period of last year, the CASERA ended December 31, *LA 2014. company said in a filing with *CHELLARAMS the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In a filing with the *DANANigeNAHCO rian Stock Exchange (NSE), The company’s profit before UBA profit after tax (PAT) dipped tax (PBT) for the year ended STANBIC IBTC 36.6 per cent to N1.848 billion December 2013 (FY13) grew STANBIC IBTC TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE from N2.919 billion in the cor- slightly by 3.35 per cent y/y to TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION responding period of 2013. N4.31 billion from N4.17 billion Supranational Bond profit for the Its pre-tax in 2012, while profit after tax 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC year ended also declined 36.2 also followed suit as it climbed 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB per cent to N2.752 billion from by 3.19 per cent to N2.91 billion TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE N4.314 billionCAPITALISATION recorded a year in FY13 from N2.82 billion as TOTAL MARKET earlier. at FY12. Description(EPS) Revenue moved from N29.183 Earnings per share Rating/Agency Issuer grew by 3.37 per cent to 305k billion in 2013 audited period to FGN Eurobonds N30.521 billion in the review pe- in FY: 13 as against 295k in FY: 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P riod of 2014; indicating a mar- 12, while net profit, margin reBB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 per JUL 12, 2018 ginal growth of 4.5 per cent. mained stable at 17 cent. BB-/S&P GSK’s total assets were up by The company proposed a 75 BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P kobo per share dividend and one 19.7 per cent y/y to N26.21 billion TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE (1) new share for every four (4) in 2013 compared with N21.89 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION existing shares to investors of billion in 2012, while total equity Corporate Eurobonds the company . increased by 15.76 per cent y/y 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 2013FY from The Nigerian unit of the to N12.34 billion in 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I N10.66 billion as at 2012FY. drugmaker, GlaxoSmithKline, 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC had said The company’s of2018 sales 6.88cost MAY 09, B/Fitch; B/S&P its nine-month FIDELITY preBANK PLC 6.0060.1 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&Pfell 25.9 per GTBANK PLCto tax profit cent margin jumped to percent APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch PLC II N2.06 billion ($12.47AFREN million), in FY13 from 59.210.25 per cent as at 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC compared with N2.78 billion FY12, while gross profit mar8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC 8.25 AUGat 07, 40 2020per the previous year. FIRST BANK PLC gin remained stable B-/Fitch; B/S&P 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III Turnover, however, rose to cent in the9.25/6M review period. USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 #

#{r}

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

ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 8.75 AUG 14, 2021

17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13 30-Dec-14 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14

8.50 shares worth31-Aug-15 N8.7 billion0.41 in 2.16 30-Sep-15 0.50 3,277 exchanged by investors 4.86 30-Jun-16 0.77 5.73 0.77 in 57.00 1,667 deals.30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 2.05 Volume in the sub-sector 25.73 30-Jun-17 1.31 25.00largely driven 31-Dec-17 by activi2.75 was 30.81 30-Sep-18 2.13 ties in the shares of GTB 1.93 Plc 9.00 04-Oct-18 13.73 09-Dec-18 2.12 and Zenith Bank Plc. 10.20 2.12 Also, other 12-Dec-18 financial servic27.00 14-Feb-19 2.31 es,16.23 boosted by02-Oct-19 activities in 3.06 the 80.00 22-Nov-19 4.64 shares of FBNH Plc, followed 25.70 12-Dec-19 2.71 with of 81.02 mil11.10 a turnover 10-Oct-20 3.17 87.50 27-Nov-20 at N428.04 5.66 lion shares valued 5.00 31-Dec-20 5.75 million in 96631-Dec-20 deals. 4.55 3.41 4.56 06-Jan-21 3.44 Further analysis of the 454.33trading showed that GSK day’s 438.50 Plc topped the gainers’ table

10.00 12.00 14.00 13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.25 16.45 11.93 13.25

2.50 18.75 0.42 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.64 6.30 2.54 0.70 35.00 2.40 0.36 4.50 2.05 30.50 0.10 15.44

0.38 0.44 0.52 1.49 1.56 2.50 1.52 1.52 1.94 1.94 3.47 1.79 2.13 2.75 5.62 6.75 9.50 9.50

1.00 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76 1.13 1.00 1.00

15.53 15.62 17.36 15.04 15.36 15.00 15.90 15.02 14.98 14.98 15.07 16.28 20.09 16.18 16.89 15.27 15.31 15.31

98.01 98.49 98.40 97.36 98.48 95.96 103.39 101.26 104.73 101.58 97.18 99.23 96.68 99.63 94.14 104.80 83.33 89.84

Wema Bank raises $100m tier II capital to grow loans

ema Bank Plc aims recorded a 345 per cent six per cent from December to complete a $100 growth in profit before tax 2013 and loans have risen29 million Tier II capi- during the nine months per cent in the same period. tal raising exercise by the ended September 30, 2014. Profit before tax grew by second quarter of this year In a filing with the Ni- 345 per cent compared to to fund its growing foreign gerian Stock Exchange, the equivalent period in the currency loan portfolio. 162.73the bank’s PBT firmed up last financial year and 47 per 160.06to N2.5 billion during the The chief financial officer cent in Q3, this year, spurred of the bank, Mr. Tunde Maba- third quarter from N56 mil- by a 44 per cent growth in 11-Feb-13 10.20 11-Feb-18 in the 2.86 1.00 Interest 15.02 89.07a 51 wonku, said the commercial12.00 lion recorded same Net Income and 10-Jul-14 11.25 4.75 1.00 15.12 lender also planned to start12.95 period of01-Feb-21 2013. per cent rise in Fees&86.17 Com24.95 the process of raising fresh21.85 Similarly, net interest mission Income quarter on equity capital of between income grew 71 per cent to quarter respectively. Outstanding Value in Q3BidofYield 2014, N30 billion ($151 to($mm) N13.9 billion Oloketuyi noted Offer thatPrice the Issue Date Coupon million) (%) Maturity Date (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price N40 billion, from strategic in- from N8.1 billion in the cor- bank’s operations were also Prices & Yields vestors by the fourth quarter. responding period of 2013. becoming more efficient with 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 5.78 5.55 104.73 105.88 Mabawonku said he exThe Managing Director/ cost-to-income ratio down 900 12-Jul-13 12-Jul-18 pected Wema 5.13 Bank’s capi-500.00Chief Executive Officer of basis points to 86 per cent 5.14 4.83 99.95 100.87 tal ratio to top6.3825 per cent500.00Wema Bank Plc, Mr Segun from 95 per102.03 cent at year-end 12-Jul-13 12-Jul-23 6.06 5.90 103.04 2013 and a downward trendnext year, after the capital Oloketuyi, while comment1,500.00 ing NPL ratio of 2.5 per cent. raising exercise from 18 per ing on the results, said: 1,533.51 He said Return on Equity cent now. “Whilst we remain on course “The bank is raising $100 in achieving our growth tar- (ROE) had also improved 01-Feb-11 11.50 01-Feb-16 124.92 124.92 48.00 48.00 out by our growth from 3.9 per cent in 2013 to million to shore up exist-450.00gets as set 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 6.54 4.58 101.00 103.13 nine per cent this quarter, ing working capital. The plan, Project LEAP , we are 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 11.28 11.28 92.00 92.00 that these achieveto announce con- adding funds will not 6.88 be converted300.00delighted 09-May-13 02-May-18 12.91 11.18 85.01 89.00 08-Nov-13 6.00 be used to 400.00tinuous 08-Nov-18 7.54 7.08 95.24 96.63 to naira but will quarter-on-quarter ments, when combined 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 39.35 39.35 43.63 43.63 improvement in our finanfund our growing foreign with the bank’s growing de22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 8.56 8.56 92.24 92.24 posit base illustrated that its currency portfolio,” Mabacial performance as dis21-May-14 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 14.27 13.32 83.20 85.83 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00played in 07-Aug-20 turnaround initiatives were wonku told Reuters. our Q3 results. 13.44 13.44 80.00 80.00 09-Dec-13 6.63 25.16 45.50 results. 45.50 yielding “Our 09-Dec-20 Total Assets 25.16 are up indeed Wema Bank Plc had360.00 24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-14

8.00

14-Aug-14

8.75

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20 30-Dec-21 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24

97.44 with4.44 10.24 per19.02 cent to close at 3.23 17.95 97.73 N51.04 per share while GTB 4.46 19.29 96.37 3.48 18.31 98.01 Plc followed with 10.20 per cent 1.00 14.98 91.48 to close at N31.88 per share 1.00 15.36 98.14and 1.79 Plc with 15.81 Oando a gain of96.03 10.14 1.80 15.78 96.98 per 1.00 cent to close 14.98 at N17.60 98.49per 1.00 14.98 99.13 share. 4.78 92.26 On the flip18.76 side, Okumoil 1.00 14.99 100.88 Plc led with a 1.00 the losers’ 15.04 chart 101.04 15.12 drop1.00 of 4.91 per cent to97.93 close 1.00 15.01 99.43 at N28.29 per 15.05 share while Fid1.00 99.30 15.13 93.90 by son 1.00 Healthcare Plc dropped 1.00 15.13 99.44 4.751.44 per cent to N3.41 15.50close at97.48 99.77 deper 1.00 share and15.06 Tranex Plc clined by 3.88 per cent to close at N1.24 per share.

450.00

23-Jul-21

13.64 11.33

13.02 11.33

81.89 84.50

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.87

10.42

89.63

84.17 84.50 91.50

2-Apr-15

4,760.00 3,773.11

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 FIXINGS Money Market Exchange (Spot Forwards)the 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 orForeign up to date. We do not &guarantee DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBOR accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any 9.41 of the Information, neither 7 9-Apr-15 9.66 9.67 do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

**Treasury Bills^

14 16-Apr-15 13.03 21 23-Apr-15 12.92 28 30-Apr-15 13.10 FGN Bonds 35 7-May-15 9.84 42 14-May-15 12.50 49 21-May-15 13.64 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 63 4-Jun-15 13.29 70 11-Jun-15 13.17 4.00 23-APR-2015 84 25-Jun-15 13.50 91 2-Jul-15 13.59 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 105 16-Jul-15 13.69 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 112 23-Jul-15 13.60 9.85 27-JUL-2017 119 30-Jul-15 13.59 9.35 31-AUG-2017 126 6-Aug-15 13.53 133 13-Aug-15 13.59 10.70 30-MAY-2018 147 27-Aug-15 11.80 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 154 3-Sep-15 13.39 7.00 23-OCT-2019 161 10-Sep-15 13.55 NA NA 15.54 13-FEB-2020 175 24-Sep-15 13.65 182 1-Oct-15 13.72 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 196 15-Oct-15 14.50 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 245 3-Dec-15 12.55 15.00 28-NOV-2028 259 17-Dec-15 13.09 12.49 22-MAY-2029 280 7-Jan-16 13.45 294 21-Jan-16 13.65 8.50 20-NOV-2029 308 4-Feb-16 13.42 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 322 18-Feb-16 13.64 ^12.1493 13.80 18-JUL-2034 336 3-Mar-16 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 350 17-Mar-16 13.37 357 24-Mar-16 13.46 TOTAL MARKETbonds, CAPITALISATION *for the Amortising the average life is calculated and not the duration

12.78 12.67 12.85 9.59 12.25 13.39 Issue Date 13.04 12.92 23-Apr-10 13.25 13.34 16-Aug-13 13.44 27-Apr-12 13.35 27-Jul-07 13.34 31-Aug-07 13.28 13.34 30-May-08 11.55 29-Jun-12 13.14 23-Oct-09 13.30 13-Feb-15 13.40 13.47 27-Jan-12 14.25 14-Mar-14 12.30 28-Nov-08 12.84 22-May-09 13.20 13.40 20-Nov-09 13.17 23-Jul-10 13.39 18-Jul-14 13.55 13.12 13.21

13.09 13.01 13.23 9.93 12.68 13.89 Coupon (%) 13.60 13.51 4.00 13.93 14.07 13.05 14.25 15.10 14.19 9.85 14.22 9.35 14.19 14.30 10.70 12.39 16.00 14.19 7.00 14.41 15.54 14.61 14.72 16.39 15.72 14.20 13.70 15.00 14.43 12.49 14.99 15.33 8.50 15.14 10.00 15.50 12.1493 15.81 15.34 15.50

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 535.00

Rate (%) 10.3750 14.4561 15.9700 16.7460

Tenor 581.39 1M 476.80 2M 20.00 3M 100.00 6M 9M 300.00 12M 351.30

23-Apr-15

Rate (%) 16-Aug-16 12.1032 27-Apr-17 13.8784 27-Jul-17 14.1178 31-Aug-17 14.6766 14.8472 30-May-18 15.3503 29-Jun-19

233.90 23-Oct-19 54.00 13-Feb-20 NIFEX 600.00 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N) 499.68 14-Mar-24 BID($/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-30 254.50 18-Jul-34

9.50

Tenor

O/N

10.17

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M Offer3M Yield 6M 10.94 1Y

REPO

Tenor Call

Maturity Date

NITTY

OBB

TTM (Yrs) 1M 3M 0.06 6M

Rate (%) 9.50

Bid10.00 Yield (%) 10.50 13.53 11.00

Bid ($/N)

(%)

1.37 14.09 13.97 2.07 14.01 13.93 2.32 13.99 13.91 :Benchmarks 2.41 13.99 13.91 * :Amortising Bond µ :Convertible 3.16 Bond 14.04 13.92 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.24 Management Corporation 14.12 14.03 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.56 Mortgage Bank 14.12 14.01 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 4.87 Finance Corporation 14.12 14.04 IFC: International LCRM: Local Management 6.82Contractors Receivables 14.14 14.07 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 8.95 14.11 14.05 O/N: Overnight 13.66 16.52 Company 16.46 UPDC: UAC Property Development 14.14 16.87 16.80 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 14.64 17.28 17.18 15.31 15.42 15.35 19.29 14.05 14.00 NOTE:

199.05 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 Bid Price 205.60 206.28 99.44 220.29

Offer ($/N)

Price

199.15 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31Price Offer 207.21 213.47 99.59 226.27

98.70 98.85 101.87 102.02 91.99 92.14 NA :Not Applicable 90.74 90.89 ^ : Market Prices # : Floating Rate Bond 91.65 91.95 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 105.78 106.08 76.94 ‡ : Bond76.64 rating under review †: Bond104.82 rating expired 105.12 N/A :Not109.60 Available 109.90 {r} :Issuer in receivership100.74 100.44 91.80 92.10 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 76.60Bank for Africa 76.90 UBA: United 53.66 53.96 68.42 68.72 87.39 87.69

5,023.13 4,673.25

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

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds FMBN Modified Duration Buckets

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Description

Issue Date

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 1,431.09 1,409.48

Coupon (%)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

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

0.00 17.25

Weighting by Mkt 0.00/16.00 Value

0.00/16.50 44.48 0.00/16.50

3<5

1,159.46

1,099.68

32.78

36.03

627.18

846.07

25.22

19.49

3,217.73

3,355.23

100.00

Market

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 24.56 2.40

Bucket 112.22 Weighting

116.70 66.49 0.42

322.380.33 0.25

320.771.00

Maturity Date

24-May-15 03-Apr-17

% Exposure_ 08-Dec-16 Mod_Duration

19-Apr-17 19.93 06-Jul-17

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.14 0.88

Implied1.69 Yield

2.05 14.08 2.26

# Risk Premium (%)

2.63 2.27

Implied 2.00 Portfolio Price

1.00

Valuation Yield (%) 16.51 17.14

16.00 INDEX 14.98

Indicative Price 97.64 100.21

YTD Return 99.92 (%)

105.6282 2.85

1,183.45 16.84

101.86 6.8244 95.32

38.46

14.12

109.2172

1,089.78

7.6250

41.61

14.91

73.2831

1,030.00

2.2823

100.00

14.44

98.6482

1,114.72

5.6420

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/Agusto BBB+/Agusto ‡ /Agusto A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11

12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00

8.50 2.16 4.86 5.73 57.00 25.73 25.00 30.81

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18

0.41 0.50 0.77 0.77 2.05 1.31 2.75 2.13

4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 1.00 1.00 1.79 1.80

19.02 17.95 19.29 18.31 14.98 15.36 15.81 15.78

97.44 97.73 96.37 98.01 91.48 98.14 96.03 96.98



Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015

Business | Capital Market

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

Daily Summary (Bonds)

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at April 2, 2015 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 2 42 31 75

Current Price 0.50 28.29 28.50

No. of Deals 37 37

Current Price 2.48

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Diversified Industries Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

112 Symbol JOHNHOLT SCOA TRANSCORP UACN Daily Summary

No. of Deals 2 1 547 (Equities) 233 783

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 0.94 4.44 3.59 36.02

783

Quantity Traded 7,000 555,882 531,340 1,094,222

Value Traded 3,500.00 15,846,316.76 15,267,911.36 31,117,728.12

Quantity Traded 1,226,511 1,226,511

Value Traded 3,010,836.59 3,010,836.59

2,320,733

34,128,564.71

Quantity Traded 3,500 120 92,068,232 24,814,005 116,885,857

Value Traded 3,290.00 506.40 322,812,897.19 918,486,798.89 1,241,303,492.48

116,885,857

1,241,303,492.48

Page Quantity Traded 836,034 836,034

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 0.70

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 57 57

Current Price 50.26

Quantity Traded 518,258 518,258

Value Traded 26,199,255.90 26,199,255.90

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 62 62

Current Price 11.40

Quantity Traded 935,342 935,342

Value Traded 10,298,660.64 10,298,660.64

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Symbol UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UHOMREIT UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST UPDCREIT Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 45.22 10.00

Quantity Traded 46 493 539

Value Traded 1,976.16 4,930.00 6,906.16

2,290,173

37,087,986.50

Quantity Traded 3,978,072 576,687 2,074,666 13,211,506 181 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 31,610,490.29 80,888,366.36 47,393,224.74 2,292,590,848.11 631.69 Value Traded

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Food Products--Diversified Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. HouseholdGOODS Durables Totals CONSUMER

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Personal/Household Products Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC.© UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Printed 02/04/2015 FINANCIAL15:09:25.025 SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY BANK PLC. Activity SummaryTRUST on Board EQTY SKYE BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES STERLING BANK PLC. Banking UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

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

103 58 51 249 1 No. of Deals 462

7.38 139.00 22.87 166.25 3.61 Current Price

19,841,112

Page Quantity Traded 27,364 27,364

Current Price 4.27 7.72 36.82 3.30 8.19 18.05 12.46

Quantity Traded 268,361 5,510,262 2,281,572 2,248,399 6,287,123 10,447 907 16,607,071

Value Traded 1,145,206.27 42,924,486.00 84,689,369.94 7,373,901.20 51,826,601.33 197,970.65 10,766.38 188,168,301.77

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 41 16 57

Current Price 40.00 936.60

Quantity Traded 925,044 56,914 981,958

Value Traded 37,267,554.64 53,305,652.40 90,573,207.04

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 45 2 47

Current Price 4.12 0.89

Quantity Traded 5,408,581 100,000 5,508,581

Value Traded 21,569,950.77 89,000.00 21,658,950.77

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 42 48 90

Current Price 29.19 44.45

Quantity Traded Page 288,000 653,474 941,474

Value Traded 3 8,359,374.98 of 13 28,226,605.24 36,585,980.22

Value Traded 303,803,151.91 181,599,268.60 238,824,866.90 288,969,166.01 4,212,750,825.76 63,445,307.89 20,932,294.87 Value Traded 577,279,932.94 44,953,992.76 343,525.00 4,008,407.72 2,813,624,596.74 8,750,535,337.10

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 34 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 7 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 1 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE GNI 1 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS 2 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 7 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 4 N.E.M INSURANCE NEM 5 Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER15:09:25.025 INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 3 Printed 02/04/2015 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 1 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS 2 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC 81 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Daily Summary (Equities) 148

Current Price 1.02 0.94 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.55 3.05 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.58

Quantity Traded 2,623,996 138,145 1,000 Page 5,000

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

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK Daily ETISummary FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK Symbol UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

2,793,880,274.49

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Published by TheSummary Nigerian Stock Exchange © Totals Energy Equipment Services Activity on and Board EQTY

Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Printed OIL 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC SERVICES TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Printing/Publishing Totals

294,500.00 348,168.32 168,850.00 100,125.00 175,000.00 100,000.00 192,500.00 10,275,348.06 14,436,151.38

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals Specialty Activity Summary on BoardTECHNOLOGY EQTY SECURE ELECTRONIC PLC Specialty Totals SERVICES

Current Price 4.00

Quantity Traded 15,000 15,000

Value Traded 57,000.00 57,000.00

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 21 21

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 70,899,057 70,899,057

Value Traded 35,452,128.50 35,452,128.50

70,944,446

35,524,323.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities) ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN Symbol DANGCEM DNMEYER PORTPAINT PREMPAINTS WAPCO

51 36 25 14 No. of Deals 143 1 6 1 115 392

21.40 9.06 34.00 12.60 Current182.00 Price 0.83 3.46 10.93 93.00

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.66

Quantity Traded Page 646,954 456,435 143,008 92,907 Quantity Traded 14,905,334 12,528 129,000 22 6,545,949 22,932,137

Symbol THOMASWY

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.73

Value Traded 83,000.00 83,000.00

22,982,137

3,350,788,305.06

Quantity Traded 2,500 2,500

Value Traded 1,750.00 1,750.00

2,500

1,750.00

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

7Value Traded of 13 14,100,078.15 4,137,134.40 5,336,110.22 1,171,800.99 Value Traded 2,685,404,207.38 10,398.24 446,340.00 228.58 640,099,007.10 3,350,705,305.06

Quantity Traded 50,000 50,000

393

Quantity Traded 260 Page 260

Value Traded 130.00 of 130.00 13

1 1

0.50

Symbol OANDO Symbol

No. of Deals 811 No. of Deals

Current Price Current 17.60 Price

Quantity Traded 39,115,792 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 683,950,541.14 Value Traded

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 40 28 76 38 7 27 216

Current Price 39.50 3.20 215.00 175.00 50.54 180.07

Quantity Traded 303,929 1,565,090 270,171 111,124 7,700 572,712 2,830,726

Value Traded 12,186,079.73 5,150,764.70 55,802,674.24 19,239,831.67 351,514.00 105,577,270.43 198,308,134.77

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 40 40

Current Price 443.99

Quantity Traded 111,339 111,339

Value Traded 49,319,995.69 49,319,995.69

42,058,117

931,578,801.60

Quantity Traded 50,220 50,220

Value Traded 39,673.80 39,673.80

Quantity Traded 22,500

Value Traded 85,050.00 632,695.65 Value Traded 717,745.65

811

39,115,792 Page

1,068 Symbol

No. of Deals 2 2

Daily Summary (Equities) RTBRISCOE Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 0.79 Current Price 3.60

683,950,541.14 9 of 13

1.24 Current Price

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.50

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST TRANSCOHOT

No. of Deals 17 1 5 23

Current Price 5.13 3.51 9.63

Quantity Traded 489,640 415 1,845 491,900

Value Traded 2,352,263.80 1,386.10 18,428.20 2,372,078.10

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 7 6 13

Current Price 1.27 4.70

Quantity Traded 250,000 12,310 262,310

Value Traded 311,500.00 54,903.38 366,403.38

No. of Deals 15 15 Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 0.59

Quantity Traded 850,388 850,388

Value Traded 508,478.92 508,478.92 Value Traded 250.00 250.00

Symbol ABCTRANS

Quantity506,759 Traded 529,259

12 No. of Deals 14

Page Quantity Traded 1,672,453 1,672,453

10 of 13 Value Traded 840,325.75 840,325.75

Value Traded 869,343.18 869,343.18

178

6,106,054

18,742,168.79

9,004

1,174,365,294

18,753,819,209.57

Quantity Traded 9,800 9,800

Value Traded 15,540.00 15,540.00

9,800

15,540.00

2 9,006

9,800

15,540.00 18,753,834,749.57

SERVICES Totals

Quantity Traded 4,301,371 12,739,612 64,872,850 72,020,670 97,000 17,798,871 10,436,151 182,266,525

Value Traded 12,333,538.32 53,847,236.52 625,389,395.58 232,159,568.06 52,380.00 573,030,430.98 16,022,771.47 1,512,835,320.93

863,145,490

10,281,603,446.20

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Food Products Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 2 2

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

ASeM Board Totals

Exchange Traded Fund

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

Quantity Traded 269,696 269,696

Current Price 2.84 4.16 9.54 3.18 0.54 31.00 1.53

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.30

No. of Deals 111 23 985 253 2 57 159 1,590

Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 14 14

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Page

Value Traded 250.00 250.00

Symbol CAVERTON

Activity Summary on Board ASeM

Value Traded 579,260.00 8,812,549.52 18,971,288.56 807,243.06

Quantity Traded 500 500

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

Value Traded 5 100,000.00 of 13 100,000.00

Quantity Traded 267,200 2,581,774 375,402 486,291

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,979,328 1,979,328 Page

Quantity Traded 200,000 Page 200,000

Current Price 2.20 3.41 51.04 1.66

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 6.75

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 6 61 32 23

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals 87 87

No. of Deals 1 1

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER

Value Traded 14,944.50 14,944.50

Symbol NAHCO

Symbol RESORTSAL

Value Traded 1,730.00 1,730.00

Quantity Traded 29,889 29,889

Transport-Related Services NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC

EQTY Board Totals

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 500 500

Value Traded 3,696,636.79 3,696,636.79

Current Price 1.82

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,518,300 3,518,300

No. of Deals 1 1

29,180,096.74

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.06

Symbol MORISON

3,722,227

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 13 13

5,029

Value Traded 8,025.60 29,178,366.74

Symbol COURTVILLE

Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

589,000 634,603 54,500 133,500 350,000 200,000 385,000 17,798,236 22,912,980

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Building Materials Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC EQTY Activity Summary on Board CAP PLC CEMENTGOODS CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC INDUSTRIAL Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC PREMIER PAINTS PLC. LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

OILIntegrated AND GAS Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services

Value Traded 2,648,060.80 130,599.20 500.00 4 of 13 2,500.00

Quantity Traded 10,560 3,721,227

126

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

2 of 13 Value Traded 4,410,273.50 4,410,273.50

Current Price 0.73

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

NATURAL RESOURCES Paper/Forest Products THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Paper/Forest Products Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

2,452,483,561.19

43,907,560

No. of Deals 3 125

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

No. of Deals 26 125 147 29 146 3 2 478

1,147

Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 ICT Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON

Quantity Traded 45,448,227 39,581,040 12,233,013 139,611,889 141,078,747 23,397,193 8,680,296 Quantity Traded 121,204,001 4,026,811 687,050 3,732,725 114,566,693 654,247,685

Micro-Finance Banks Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS©PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 IT Services Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Current Price 161.00

Current Price 6.67 4.45 19.51 2.07 31.88 2.64 2.39 Current Price 4.92 11.00 0.50 1.11 25.05

Micro-Finance Banks

Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

No. of Deals 13 13

No. of Deals 258 139 (Equities) 70 357 752 213 67 No. of Deals 602 48 4 46 721 3,277

Activity Summary on Board EQTY NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

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

Symbol 7UP

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol NEIMETH

HEALTHCARE Totals

of 13 Value Traded 583,163.80 583,163.80

Symbol COSTAIN

139

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

Current Price 1.55

1,174,375,094

Page

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD STANBICETF30 VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 1 2 5

Current Price 10.82 2,317.00 94.80 16.41

Value Traded 13,027,870.01

13,027,870.01 11 of 13

Quantity Traded 5,000 20 1 1,010 6,031

Value Traded 54,100.00 46,340.00 94.80 16,024.10 116,558.90

ETF Board Totals

6,031

116,558.90

ETP Activity Totals

6,031

116,558.90

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

N15bn bond: Court vacates order against SEC, NSE, Elechi Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, yesterday vacated an interim order issued by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos in January, restraining the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) from releasing the N15

billion bond approved for Ebonyi State government. This followed the application by the counsel to the state government, Mr. Fedrick Onobia, urging the court to vacate the injunction. In ruling on the motion filed by a member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Odefa Obasi Odefa, praying the court to restrain the state government and its agencies from accessing the bond facility, Justice Ada Ony-

etenu vacated the order, having elapsed. She frowned on what she described as the antics of the plaintiff and the defendants in the case to defeat the course of justice and, therefore, struck out a motion seeking to disqualify the counsel to

the Ebonyi State government. Justice Onyetenu reserved ruling on another motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to May 6. In an interview, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Roy Umahi and Mr. Ogwudu

Uche, said they would challenge the ruling. “There was a motion filed in court asking that the counsel for the first to the seventh defendants should be disqualified in that they are parties to the bond; the subject matter of the suit,” they said.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ebonyi State, Dr. Ben Igwenyi, hailed the ruling of the court. The matter had earlier been transferred from the Federal High Court, Lagos to Abakaliki over jurisdiction.

Obiano to visit Buhari over Igbo interests Tony Okafor and Yekeen Nurudeen

he Anambra State gover nor, Willie Obiano, yesterday assured the people of the state that his government would have a harmonious working relationship with the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, saying that he would soon visit General Buhari to present the expectations of Ndigbo to him. Obiano, who used the forum to condemn what he called the brazen rigging of the elections in his state by the agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), vowed to resist such criminal acts in the April 11 polls. The text of his broadcast to the people of the state yesterday reads in part: “The outcome of the last presidential election has shown us that the ties that bind us as a nation are stronger than the narrow interests that seek to force us apart. I have assured the president-elect of the

support and goodwill of Ndi Anambra on the onerous task of nationbuilding. I will be paying him a visit very soon to formally present the expectations of Ndigbo in the new political dispensation. I wish to assure Ndigbo and all lovers of good leadership that with the recent change of power at the centre, APGA has become the party to beat in the country. I enjoin all Nigerians, particularly the people of the South East to embrace APGA and vote for all her candidates. I urge you to turn out en-masse on Saturday, April 11, 2015 and vote for a better Anambra State. However, I must condemn in strong terms, the brazen return of brigandage and lawlessness displayed in the last elections by PDP stalwarts in Anambra State, who hijacked the electoral process at the collation stages and came up with spurious figures as the final results of the elections.

Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi (right), with the Auxiliary Bishop of Akwa Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye, after the Chrisms Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ekwulobia, Anambra State…yesterday.

Two killed in Imo community Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

head the April 11 governorship and state assembly elections, the Imo State House of Assembly candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Ngor Okpala state constituency, Mr. Andrew Ugwuezumba, has been murdered in cold blood by gunmen. Ugwuezumba, who hailed from Umunehi village, Obiangwu Autonomous Community, was said to have been shot dead

about 08.00pm on Tuesday night along the lonely Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Road. Our correspondent gathered that the victim met his untimely death on his way from a campaign rally at Umuowa community also in Ngor Okpala. The Labour Party candidate’s killers were said to have trailed him in an unmarked Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) from the venue of the rally until they blocked his car, few poles away from his home town and shot him dead. Some of Ugwuezumba’s

Enugu Assembly rejects govt’s Ebonyi College of Education workers begin indefinite strike fresh N11bn loan request Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

embers of the Enugu state House of Assembly yesterday turned down a request by Governor Sullivan Chime’s administration for approval of a fresh N11 billion loan through an irrevocable standing payment order (ISPO). The request for the loan by the executive arm of government had been made to the House by the AttorneyGeneral of the state, but the matter has been a subject of controversy, causing a bit of tension each time it came up during plenary session, a situation that still played out yesterday before the

legislators rejected it finally. They also issued an ultimatum on the AccountantGeneral of the state, Mr. Paschal Okoli, to release the monthly overhead cost allocation of the House for the month of March this year on or before Wednesday next week, lamenting that the non-release of the fund amounted to strangulation of the legislative arm of government. During the sitting of the House, the motion as to whether the request for the loan should be granted or not went through a tedious process, occasioning Speaker Eugene Odo’s call for voice vote during which the opponents of the motion clearly carried the day.

Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

orkers of Ebonyi State College of Education under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions (JACTU), yesterday embarked on an indefinite strike. In a statement signed by the Chairman, College of Education Academic Staff Union(COEASU), Comrade Greg Esheya, the Chairman, NonAcademic Staff Union (NASU), Comrade Onuenyim Chinenye and Chairman, SSUCEON, Comrade Eugene Onu,

the workers said they embarked on the industrial action for the nonpayment of arrears of new salary structures by the state government. The workers are demanding better condition of service, gazetting of the college’s staff and payment of terminal benefits to the deceased staff and those who have retired from the service of the college. “We are adopting this measure as a last resort as all peaceful and friendly dispositions towards the management and government have failed to yield the desired fruits,” the workers said.

supporters, who were in the same car with him, were also attacked and are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital. Same Tuesday night, another indigene of Ngor Okpala council area, Mr. Bennett Nnaji, popularly known as “Coach,” who hails from Umuekwune Umuorisha in Umuohiagu Autonomous Community, was also gruesomely murdered by gunmen. The 54-year-old Nnaji, who is the only son of his aged mother, met his untimely death at Umuowa, few metres away from the

Airport Junction, along Aba Road while returning home from his maternal home, Ndiama Ulakwo in Owerri North council area. The deceased, a father of three, who resides in Abuja, had visited home for the general elections before he was killed. Meanwhile, tension and palpable fear have gripped the people of both Obiangwu and Umuohiagu communities as well as others in Ngor Okpala over the mystery surrounding the assassination of people in the two communities.

Guber candidate steps down for Umahi Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

female governorship candidate of the Independent Democrats Party (IDP), Mrs. Grace UdumaEze in Ebonyi State, has formally stepped down for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Dave Umahi, saying that she would work for the victory of the party, come April 11. Also, Labour Party candidate for Ezza South constituency, Kenneth Eze, has discontinued his ambition and decamped to the PDP. In their separate press conferences in Abakaliki yesterday, the two said their decisions were

taken to enable them support the decision of the people that power should shift to Ebonyi South. Udema-Eze noted that his former party is fielding eight House of Assembly members in the April 11 poll, who have all decided to cooperate and work for the success of the PDP at all levels of the contest. “All members and executives of the IDP have agreed to join forces with the PDP. Our political machinery has been mobilised and deployed to increase the electoral fortunes of the PDP governorship candidate, Dave Umahi, on Saturday, April 11,” she said.

News

SOUTH-SOUTH

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

MOSOP tasks Buhari on UNEP report implementation Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has urged the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, in line with the promise he made recently while campaigning in Ogoniland.

I n a s t at e m e n t signed by Bari-ara Kpalap, MOSOP’s media/public affairs, the Ogoni umbrella body, while congratulating Buhari, for his victory at the polls, urged the president-elect to make the UNEP report implementation a priority, because it would seriously impact the socio-economic lives of the Ogoni people. Kpalap said, “MOSOP would appeal that as the

president-elect settles down to articulate policies and strategies for actualizing his government programmes for a better Nigeria, implementation of the UNEP environmental report on Ogoniland, which General Buhari, has promised our people, should be a priority. “The non-implementation of the UNEP report has continued to compromise our survival as we continue to

suffer food insecurity, health challenges, unabated deaths and related problems attributable to hydrocarbon pollution in the area. “We believe that quick and proper implementation of the report would, no doubt, address these challenges.” He also hailed president Jonathan for his statesmanship in the presidential election, and urged other politicians to emulate him.

He said, “MOSOP has similarly hailed President Jonathan, whose outstanding approach and response to the outcome of the presidential poll convincingly demonstrated political civility and statesmanship, which has deservingly earned him global recognition and respect. “The simple and unambiguous message clothing the president’s reaction, we must say, is that the do-or-die ten-

dency of Nigerian politicians is unfashionable. MOSOP would thus call on politicians in this country to emulate the out-going president and reform their attitude and approach to electoral competition.” MOSOP also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to “embrace transparency in its organization and management of elections, especially in Rivers State.”

Cleric admonishes Nigerians on love Gabriel Choba Ughelli

n preparation for the Easter celebration, the Catholic Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese, Delta State, Most Rev. Michael Odogwu Elum, has admonished Christians all over the country to make love and service their watchwords in their everyday life. Elum made the call at St Paul’s Cathedral, Issele-luku during the celebration of the 2015 Chrism mass, stating that love was sacrificial as he it entails pain, and that no meaningful love comes cheap. Taking his sermon from the book of Revelation, the cleric emphasised that Christ loved all of us with the shedding of his blood and his eventual death as a sign for our redemption.

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, at a road show in Benin City, to celebrate the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC in the presidential election…on Wednesday

Group cautions against politicisation of Buhari’s victory Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

‘APC will win L Delta guber election’ Joe Obende Warri

hair man of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Delta State, Mr. Jones Erueh, has boasted that with the success of the party in the presidential election, his party would win the April 11 governorship election in the state. He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was already dead in the state, enjoining Delta people to vote massively for the winning party as the state could not afford to be in the opposition.

eadership of the Niger Delta People Confederation (NDPC), yesterday, said the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari, represents the true wishes of the Nigerian people, warning against the politicization of his emergence being ascribed to conspiracy of some regions in the country. The coordinator of the NDPC, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture, who stated this in a press statement issued in Benin, the Edo state capital reminded the Ijaw ex-militant leader. Mr. Asari Dokubo, that it was the same regional groups they are accusing, that voted overwhelming for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. He urged the various interest groupings across the country to embrace peace in order to fast-track

development in all the regions rather than fanning the ember of disunity and contemplating returning to the creeks. The position of NDPC, followed the allegation by the Niger Delta Salvation Front and Niger Delta People Volunteer Force, (NDPSF) and (NDPVF) led by Asari Dokubo, that people of North and –SouthWest conspired against the Niger-Delta to deny their kinsmen, president Jonathan a second term in office. According to Culture, “Let no person see the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari ,as conspiracy against we the Niger Delta people or acceptance of defeat by the president as an act of cowardice, instead, every Nigerian should see the just concluded presidential election that gave birth to the emergence of Buhari as the Nigerians’ wishes.”

A’Ibom APC debunks chairmen’s defection to Labour Party Tony Anichebe Uyo

he All Progressives Congress (APC), Akwa Ibom State chapter has dismissed the claim in the media that 26 chapter, Chairmen of the party have decamped to the Labour Party.

Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Samuel Udobong, the party described such report as false, wicked and deliberate attempt by LP to rubbish and drag the name of the state chapter of the APC in the mud, saying that the names of those claimed to be the decamped chapter Chair-

men were not even members of the APC. Udobong, who spoke to newsmen in Uyo yesterday, therefore warned the LP to desist from seeking cheap publicity through the name of the APC and concentrate on its campaigns ahead of the April 11 elections.

PDP faults Oshiomhole’s victory party for Buhari Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he Edo PDP chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday faulted Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state over the victory party held to celebrate the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the March 28

presidential election. The state Chairman of PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, in a statement in Benin the state capital, described the victory party as “lavish celebration” and one election he alleged the governor contributed “nothing to”. Orbih noted that “The APC states where huge figures were recorded in the election were modest in their joys,” adding that “a lot of things were

wrong with the governor’s action”. According to the statement “The Edo PDP observed with shock and disbelief Governor Oshiomhole’s lavish celebration of the announced result of the presidential election that he contributed nothing to. The APC states where huge figures were recorded in the election were modest in their joys.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Minister begs for forgiveness Idris Salisu Gusau

he Minister of Finance, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda Gusau, yesterday called for forgiveness from the people of Gusau in particular and the entire citizens of Zamfara State for his deep involvement in the Gooddluck Jonathan campaign project. The Deputy Governor of the state, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala, disclosed this in an interview in his house in Gusau.

News 49

NORTH

Benue workers to down tools over pay cut Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

orkers in Benue State have threatened to shut down the state if Governor Gabriel Suswam does not pay the outstanding five months salaries owed them and put an end to deductions of their salaries. The workers, who

came under the auspices of “Benue Aggrieved Workers” also called for the dissolution of the state leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for incompetence. The leader of the group, Uhundu Emmanuel, in a statement yesterday, accused the state Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Simon Anchaver, of failing to address

the problems confronting workers, adding that the union has been operating without leadership since Anchaver had resigned to contest the governorship of the state under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Emmanuel said : “We wish to let the world know that the NLC under the ailing leadership of Comrade Simon Anchaver, has

failed and lacks the powers to talk or negotiate for Benue workers even as he has long ceased being a member of the union. “This decision by wellmeaning Benue workers is premised on the fact that the Anchaver-led leadership has lost focus and credibility and by the constitution, he is not supposed to be part of the state execu-

Pwajok calls for use of TVCs, manual register

tive council, since he had resigned to contest for the governorship of the state.” While demanding for the resignation of the Anchaver-led executive within seven days, it also gave 14 days to Governor Suswam to meet their demands by paying their salaries up to date and stop arbitrary deductions in their salaries.

NORTH

Musa Pam Jos

he gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Senator Gyang Pwajok, has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to make provision for people who have Temporary Voter Cards (TVCs) to exercise their franchise using manual voters’ register during the 11 April governorship election. Pwajok made the call yesterday while briefing journalists in Jos, saying there was a total failure of the card rider machine in Plateau State during the Presidential and National Assembly elections and called on INEC to discard the use of the machine during the April 11 polls.

Yuguda tasks Christians on national unity Mohammed Kawu Bauchi

s Christians the world over celebrate Easter, the people of Bauchi State have been called upon to bury their ethnic, religious or political differences and live in peace and harmony with one another. Governor Isa Yuguda, in a message to mark the occasion, called on the people to imbibe the spirit of love for one another, forgiveness and mutual respect and see themselves as one, irrespective of their ethno-religious and political differences.

L-R: Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Bello Mohammed; Speaker, Alhaji Bello Goronyo; Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Sokoto State, Malam Aminu Bello and counsel to APC governorship candidate, Sunday Ibrahim Ameh, after the hearing of the Sokoto State Primaries Election case, at the Federal High Court, Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Umaru blasts Aliyu, says APC wins all National Assembly seats in Bauchi governor lied about calls Mohammed Kawu Bauchi

Dan Atori MINNA

he Niger East Senator-elect, David Umaru, yesterday lambasted the defeated Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, saying his claim the he made several calls to him (Umaru) without response, was false and mischievous. The Senator-elect, while debunking the claim in a press statement he signed and made available to our correspondent in Minna, disclosed that he would not have responded to the false claim, knowing the pedigree of the person of the governor. According to Umaru, “My attention was drawn to reports credited to Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, claiming that I refused to pick his telephone calls. He also claimed to have sent text messages, which were not replied. “Ordinarily, I would not have responded to these false claims knowing the pedigree of the person he is. I would want the public to note

that Aliyu’s claims are false and mischievous. “I must clarify that I do not have Governor Aliyu’s phone numbers and as such, I could not have shunned his calls; but I have not received any text message from him.” It will be recalled that Governor Aliyu had on Wednesday, claimed that he called the senatorelect, David Umaru, seven times and sent a text message; “Chief Servant calls” in order to congratulate him, but that there was no response. Umaru, however, said after the announcement of the result of polls, he extended his hands of fellowship to all stakeholders in the zone to work together for the development of Niger East and the state in general. He said: “I have also in the spirit of sportsmanship, opened my doors to all those who were on the other side of the contest and I hereby repeat the same call. I would like the governor to know that I understand how one feels when one is faced with this kind of situation.”

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all the 12 seats of the House of Representatives in Bauchi State. The winners are Hassan Mohammed, who polled 47, 608 votes to capture the Jama’are/ Itas federal constituency seat. He defeated his PDP opponent, Shehu Wadaji, who scored 17, 782 votes. Misau/Dambam federal constituency was won

by Ahmed Yerima (APC), who polled 49, 359 votes to beat his PDP challenger, Abdullahi Musa, with 13, 153 votes in the keenly contested election. Others on the APC representatives to the National Assembly in Bauchi State are Shehu Aliyu Musa, who got 149, 744 votes to clinch the Bauchi federal constituency seat, when he defeated his PDP opponent, Aminu Mohammed, who polled 10, 750 votes in the contest. Also, Adamu Gurai of

APC shined in the election with 38, 780 votes to hold onto the Shira/Giade federal seat thus flooring his PDP opponent, Abubakar Faggo, with 14, 480 votes. Faggo dumped his Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs commissioner seat to contest the election. But Ningi/Warji federal seat was won by Salisu Zakari (APC) when he polled 72, 822 votes in the elections to beat his PDP challenger, Abdulrazak Nuhu Zaki with 22, 481 votes.

Guber candidate commends Jonathan Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

he Sokoto State gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Abdallah Wali, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his spirit of sportsmanship and for conceding defeat. Wali also congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for the victory in last Saturday’s presidential poll.

This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesman of the party in the state, Alhaji Sanusi Danmulki and issued to newsmen in Sokoto yesterday. The statement said: “It was an uncommon characteristic in Africa and many parts of the world for a sitting president to not only lose an election, but accept the loss in good faith and congratulate the winner. “By that singular action, President Jona-

than has proved himself a true democrat, whose action ought to be emulated by Nigerian and African politicians. “The President’s congratulatory message to Gen Buhari has done so much to douse tension in the country and has averted the country’s drift into crisis,” the statement quoted Wali as saying. It also added that the action of the President was in line with his statement that his ambition was not worth the blood of a single Nigerian.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

147 killed in Kenya varsity attack G unmen from the Islamist militant group al Shabaab stormed a university in Kenya and killed at least 147 people yesterday, in the worst attack on Kenyan soil since the U.S. embassy was bombed in 1998. The siege ended nearly 15 hours after the Somali group’s gunmen shot their way into the Garissa University College campus in a pre-dawn attack, sparing Muslim students and taking many Christians hostage. Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said four gunmen strapped with explosives were behind the attack, the same number that killed 67 people during the 2013 bloodbath at

a shopping mall in Nairobi. “The operation has ended successfully. Four terrorists have been killed,” Nkaissery told Kenyan media. Kenyan police chief Joseph Boinet said the attackers had “shot indiscriminately” when they entered the university compound. Police and soldiers surrounded the campus and exchanged gunfire with the attackers throughout the day but were repeatedly repelled. At least 79 people were injured and many airlifted to Nairobi, Kenya’s national disaster body said. Al Shabaab, who carried out the deadly attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi in 2013, claimed responsi-

bility for the raid on the campus in Garissa, a town 200 km (120 miles) from the Somali border. The group has links to al Qaeda and a record of raids on Kenyan soil in retaliation for Nairobi sending troops to fight it in its home state of Somalia. Al Qaeda bombed the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania on the same day in 1998, killing 224 people and wounding thousands of people. The United States condemned the latest attack and offered Kenya help in fighting al Shabaab. One image provided by a local journalist showed a dozen blood-soaked bodies strewn across a single university classroom in Garissa. But

some students managed to escape unaided. “We heard some gunshots and we were sleeping so it was around five and guys started jumping up and down running for their lives,” an unnamed student told Reuters TV. Authorities offered a 20 million shilling ($215,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of a man called Mohamed Mohamud, described as “most wanted” and linked to the attack. Police chief Boinet said Kenya had imposed a dusk-todawn curfew on four regions near the Somalia border. Al Sha-

UN rights chief slams Thai junta’s use of repressive law

A man being pushed into an amblance after armed attackers stormed Garissa University in Kenya.

Yemen rebels seize presidential palace

emeni rebels seized President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi’s palace in his former southern stronghold Aden yesterday, dealing a symbolic blow to the self-exiled leader despite a week of Saudi-led air strikes. As the war-torn country descended deeper into chaos, Al-Qaeda militants freed hundreds of inmates in a jailbreak. The advance by Iran-backed rebels deep into Aden, the last bastion of Hadi supporters, appeared to further douse prospects of his returning any time soon from neighbouring Saudi Arabia. “Dozens of Huthi militia and their allies arrived in armoured troop carriers and entered Al-Maashiq presidential palace,” said a senior security

official who witnessed their advance. Heavy clashes erupted afterwards between the rebels and their opponents inside the compound, a cluster of buildings perched on a hilltop accessible by a single winding road. A defence ministry official in Aden later confirmed the fall of the palace, saying it was now controlled by forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, which have allied with the Huthis. The rebels have seized swathes of the country including the capital Sanaa. At least 44 people -- including 18 civilians -- were reported dead yesterday in fierce fighting between opponents and supporters of Hadi in the southern port city.

“There are bodies and wounded in the streets and nobody dares to approach,” said Khaled al-Shaie, a resident in the central neighbourhood of Crater. Hadi fled to Aden from the capital after the Huthi Shiite rebels seized power in February, and the palace came under fire from warplanes twice during his stay. He went into hiding last week as the rebels bore down on what was his last stronghold, later surfacing in the Saudi capital as Riyadh launched an air war on the rebels. Saudi Arabia announced yesterday its first casualties since launching the offensive, with one soldier killed and 10 more wounded by gunfire from across the Yemeni border.

Israel arrests Palestinian MP

sraeli troops arrested Palestinian legislator Khalida Jarrar yesterday for posing unspecified “substantial security risks,” a military spokeswoman told AFP. Jarrar is a senior member of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), deemed a “terrorist organisation” by the Israeli justice ministry. Last August, she was served an Israeli order banning her from her home in the occupied West Bank city

of Ramallah and sending her into internal exile in the town of Jericho. She said at the time that she would disobey the order. The Ramallah-based Palestinian Prisoners’ Club said she was arrested at her home. Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi said the move was for political rather than security reasons. “It is obvious that her arrest is politically motivated and a violation of her parliamentary immunity, and Israel should respect in-

ternational norms regarding the immunity of elected officials,” Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s executive committee, said in a statement. The Palestinian leadership says 18 of 130 Palestinian MPs are currently in Israeli detention. But the Prisoners’ Club said Jarrar was the 16th to be arrested. The Palestinian parliament has not met since 2007, after elections a year earlier won by the Islamist movement Hamas.

baab, which seeks to impose its own harsh version of sharia law, has separated Muslims from Christians in some of its previous raids in Kenya, notably late last year in attacks on a bus and at a quarry. Its repeated raids, together with attacks on churches by homegrown Islamist groups, have strained the cordial relations between Kenya’s Muslim and Christian communities. Having killed more than 200 people in Kenya over the past two years, Al Shabaab has also brought the tourism industry to its knees.

he United Nations joined international rights groups Yesterday, in criticizing a decision by Thailand’s military government to invoke a law that gives the junta chief near-absolute authority without any accountability. Junta chief and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday lifted martial law, which he imposed shortly before taking power in a coup last year, and instead invoked Article 44 of a junta-imposed interim constitution, which allows him to take any measures to promote public order and unity. Thai officials said martial law was lifted because of foreign pressure. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said giving Prayuth unfettered authority “clearly leaves the door wide open to serious violations of fundamental human rights.” His statement, issued in Ge-

neva, noted that Article 44 not only effectively allows Prayuth to issue any legislative, executive or judicial order, but “also annihilates freedom of expression” by giving him extensive censorship powers. “In effect, this means the sweeping away of all checks and balances on the power of the government, rendering the lifting of martial law meaningless,” he said. Both martial law and Article 44 provide legal underpinnings for actions taken in the name of law and order. But while martial law defines acceptable actions, such as arrests without warrants, censorship and bans on public gatherings, Article 44 is vaguer and more broadly worded, allowing the junta chief to take any action he deems necessary not only to maintain order but also “for the benefit of reform in any field and to strengthen public unity and harmony.”

South Africans strip for first official nude beach

outh African nudists yesterday prepared for an Easter weekend of volleyball and sack races when the continent’s first official naturist beach opens despite objections from some locals. A 500 metre (yard) stretch of Mpenjati Beach, which lies on the Indian Ocean, received local government approval last year to become an official nudist venue. South Africa has been home to unofficial nude beaches for decades, such as Cape Town’s famous Sandy Bay. Mpenjati Beach itself, located about 140 kilometres (90 miles) south of Africa’s busiest port of Durban, has been a popular stripoff spot for about 20 years. “There has been no concern from the residents for decades until now,” said Serge Pavlovic, chairman of the South African National Naturist Association (SANNA). “Things over the years have progressed that now having naturist beaches is common practice.

The logical consequence was to make it official so we would no longer need to fear arrest,” he told AFP. Nudists risked arrest for indecent exposure on South Africa’s beaches in the years of apartheid rule. Technically, public nudity is still banned. The Hibiscus Coast local municipality approved SANNA’s application in October and the beach was set to open officially Friday. Last minute objections by a local group secured a compromise from officials, who have designated the opening as a “trial run”. The residents’ group said in its appeal that naked sun lovers would have a “negative effect on a society that is striving for wholesome lifestyles”. It also said visitor facilities cannot be built as the beach is a marine protected area. But local authorities deferred a decision on the appeal, allowing the opening to go ahead. Pavlovic said planned weekend activities would include volleyball and sack races.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

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Oshoala hails Liverpool fans after debut goal

Sport Adekunle Salami

igeria’s President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, has been advised to pick a very knowledgeable person as the minister of sports after he assumes office on May 29. Keen followers of sports have been lamenting over the years, especially the 16 years of democracy, that round pegs were not placed in round holes in the area of sports. The Peoples Democratic Party has been ruling the country with a zoning formula in which only people from the North Central or other parts of the north can be sports minister. A former Director General in the National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji, told our correspondent that sport has suffered for 16 years because people who do not know anything in sports rose to the position of sports minister. Ekeji said: “As somebody who worked directly with most of the ministers in the past years in the National Sports Commission, I can confirm that it was not easy. “Let me also state clearly that sports will move on better if the President-elect appoints somebody that can drive the process with so much commitment based on his knowledge in the field. We have had about 14 ministers in the past 15 years and that is very bad. I can recall that only one in the past years knows what sport means before his appointment.” The former NSC topshot who retired only last year stressed that there was need to establish a sporting policy framework.

Amuneke: Our best will come in Chile

Did you know? That the balls for the 2014 FIFA World Cup were produced in Pakistan.

Ekeji tasks Buhari to revive sports •Charges President-elect to name technocrat to head sport

Ekeji added: “It is important to assist the NSC drive sport along the dictates of established policy. A sport policy was approved in 2009 and in 2012 there was a sports retreat. Let us bring the documents together and run sports properly. “We can deliberately focus on our areas of advantage

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

Tony Skinn in action at the London 2012 Olympics

to excel at competitions. We have to run sports in collaboration with corporate sectors and the government will need to help in wooing sponsors for some of the federations. “General Buhari through the minister he will appoint can give a direction from the top and this becomes a framework. It is bad that we

run sports without direction. We should know where we are going. Those who win medals at global events never stumbled on it. Results come after plenty of hard work” The former Super Eagles player also advised the President-elect to ensure school sports was revived nationwide.

“There should be sports for juniors, intermediate and seniors in schools. All schools must also have playing fields not just buildings. That was how we grew up to exhibit our talents but now, no field in most schools and there are no competitions for different age grades where talents can be discovered,” Ekeji stressed.

Sport

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NBBF leading by example

hat Nigerian sporting scene has been docile, and lacking in activities for a long while is an understatement. Activities in most sports federations have almost grounded to a halt since the inauguration of their various boards, nearly two years ago. One of the things Nigerians looked forward to from these federations was the rebuilding of structures, which have been in ruins. But surprisingly, processes have not been seen being initiated. Could those promises made by the aspirants, now incumbents be empty promises that will never see actualization? Are they all going to turn their backs to the electorates to lick their wounds? This trend however is not peculiar to any particular sporting group, but a tradition in the entire sporting circles. Fortunately, the Nigerian Basketball Federation, NBBF, is showing the light. They have just qualified for the forthcoming All African Games, where they snatched a ticket from other top basket ball nations in the continent. While they are achieving this feat, most other federations are still going cap in hand, in search of funds and sponsorship to kickstart their activities.

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Immediately after inauguration, the board of NBBF hit the ground running. The chairman and members of the board no doubt came with a plan and programme of action they intended to put on ground after election. It is therefore not surprising that they were able to secure sponsorship deals that have helped them to navigate the troubled waters of funding, thus galvanising their programmes and actions for maximum effect. Through foresight and sound initiatives, the NBBF was able to circumvent the wehave-no-fund syndrome of the Ministry of Sports that has bedevilled most of the sports federations. The usual refrain from the ministry is always; since there is no fund to accommodate all sports, most team-events must be scaled down to make for more individual events that have medal prospects to make the contin-

Nigeria’s Quadre causes upset at Togo 2015 ITF O yinlomo Quadre maintained her impressive form at the ongoing International Tennis Federation/CAT African Junior U-16 Championship holding in Togo by beating Grace Bougre of Cote d’Ivoire 6-2, 6-0 to move into the quarterfinal of the girls U14 of the five nation tournament. Quadre, who on Wednesday won gold in the first phase of the girls U-12 singles, showed no stage fright as she defeated her much older opponent hitting series of winners as the concluding phase of the tournament got underway at the Stade Omnisports, Lome on Thursday. Although she is still eligible to play in the U-12, Quadre was entered for the U-14 in order to make more points which would see her making it to the forthcoming Africa Junior Championship Masters later this year. A mixed day of fortunes for Nigeria saw Toyin Asogba defeating Grace Sapoude of Cote d’Ivoire 6-2, 6-2 in the girls U12 singles while in the boys’ singles, Mathew Abamu defeated Alexandre Santos of Benin 6-1, 6-0. Asogba, who paired with Quadre in the girls’ U12 doubles in the first phase, is in line for another doubles’ gold as she partnered Sadjo Coulibaly of Cote d’Ivoire to beat Ivorian duo of Sapoude and Minet Linbell 6-1, 6-0 to qualify for the semi-

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gent to sporting meets. Tijani Umar, the current President of NBBF has changed ways of doing things, and basketball in Nigeria is on its way back to the top as fans’ delight. Apart from winning the Super Four invitational recently, where the likes of South Africa, Kenya, and Mozambique participated, the team also was able to travel to Burkina-Faso to notch up a victory. This shows their state of preparedness to win the event held in South Africa. These strings of victories are precursor to what lies ahead of the team. It must also be noted that these things have happened on account of the assembling of a sound technical team to guide their rebuilding process. Most pundits are not surprised with the revolution that is going on in the federation because the President, Tijani Umar, is an ardent fan and an

ex-player himself. Right from his national youth service days with the National Sports Commission, NSC, he has been a national player who had preoccupied himself with bettering the lots of basketball players. I wasn’t surprised with the introduction and fortification of the yearly sponsored league games for both male and female that has seen talented players emerge on annual basis, in both categories. The strict governance policy being implemented in the federation is second to none and has succeeded in attracting more sponsors to the federation that was formerly classified as “abandoned,” for lack of activities. In addition, their legion of foreign-based professionals has become a formidable force to be reckoned with, since they attract goodwill as well to the federation. It further shows that when a federation is properly organized, it attracts quality individuals and the attendant goodwill that follows. This is highly unlike other federations that depend largely on the government for handouts to run their affairs. No credible sports federation can succeed in this austere times just with the stipends that fall out as monthly subventions from the sports ministry. Un-

less a federation is pro-active and prepared to work harder, the dreams and aspirations of their teams as well as those of their teeming fans will remain illusions. One powerful lesson most federations must learn from the current board of NBBF is to refine their acts and repackage their activities in order to attract quality sponsorship from corporate organisations. The reason is that no quality sponsor wants to identify with an organization that is enmeshed in governance issues. Their corporate image is too important to be messed up. So the secret to enjoying quality patronage is the refinement of acts, programmes and activities. It is most cheering therefore that the basket ball federation has become an example worthy of emulation by other federations. I only hope that other federations would quickly harmonize the various contending issues since their elections so as to attain greater heights. Nigerian sports need a shot in the arm to wake up from slumber. The various boards must therefore look beyond common estacodes and other inherent pilfering culture. They must even seek to surpass the gallant efforts of the NBBF.

Dimkesa eyes Okpekpe Road Race glory E thiopia’s Abebe Dimkesa has expressed interest in participating in the 10km Okpekpe International Road Race slated for May 16 in Etsako- East area of Edo State. The marathoner, who is well known for his exploits and regular participation at the annual Obudu International Mountain Race, has carted home the cash prizes ranging from fifty thousand dollars and more at the Obudu International Mountain Race in Calabar. Dimkesa is, however, in top form for any race as he is also preparing for the Saudi Arabia half-marathon slated for April 21. Meanwhile, this year’s Okpekpe

race top prizes are $25,000(1st Prize Winner), $15,000(2nd Prize Winner) and $10,000 (3rd Prize Winner) for those in the male category just as female athletes would also cart home $15,000(1st Prize),$ 10,000(2nd Prize) and $8,000(3rd Prize). Edo State indigenes would also benefit from special cash prizes earmarked for them. The first Edo indigene to breast the tape would go home with a cash prize of N100, 000 in the male category, while the first female settles for N75,000. The first runner up will get N75, 000 in the male category, while the female gets N50, 000. The 3rd placed winners will settle for N50, 000 and N25, 000 respectively.

Dimkesa

Eagles are heartbreakers, says Ladipo

Ladipo

resident General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Ladipo, has expressed disappointment that his members give so much support to the Super Eagles only to watch them lose crucial matches to the opponents. Ladipo, while speaking to eyeonthesports.com at the Supporters Club secretariat in Surulere, Lagos, said: “There was nothing wrong for Nigeria playing friendly matches because such games give us an opportunity to as-

sess our team, but losing to a team like Uganda at home was embarrassing. “It’s sad that our dear Super Eagles are not doing well at the moment. It is heartbreaking for our members and football loving Nigerians, as the Eagles have not been giving us the required results, especially after they failed to qualify for the Cup of Nations.” The Supporters boss, who regretted Eagles’ 41st position in the FIFA Ranking, explained that the supporters

have resolved to rally round the national team at this trying moments. “Although, the supporters are going through a lot of pain because of the current performance of the Eagles, but that will not make us to lose our heads. We will never be violent in our conduct. “Rather, we are focused and planning to wax stronger to ensure that all our darling national teams, not only the Super Eagles, get the required support during their games,” he said.

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NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Roberto Carlos backs Danilo to shine at Real

ormer Real Madrid fullback Roberto Carlos has endorsed his old club’s decision to sign Porto right-back Danilo. Madrid fended off competition from across Europe to secure the signature of the Brazilian, who will move to the Bernabeu in a £23million deal at the end of the season. Carlos is regarded as a legend in the Spanish capital, having spent 11 years at Madrid, and he believes the European champions have snapped up a “very complete” full-back. Speaking on Spanish radio station Cadena COPE, Carlos said: “I follow the Portuguese league. Danilo is a very good

full-back and a very good player. He can be compared to Dani Alves, but it is very difficult to compare him with Cafu. “He is a very complete fullback because he attacks very well. Real Madrid have carried out a great signing because he has a lot of quality.” Carlos had a glittering career at the Bernabeu, winning four La Liga titles and three Champions League trophies, but admits the task of defending is harder than it seems. “It is not easy to defend at Real Madrid, but Danilo will adapt without any difficulty. He is very complete and he is going to help Real Madrid a lot. He is going to succeed at Real Madrid.”

Woods to play at next week’s Masters M ark O’Meara believes his good friend Tiger Woods will compete in the Masters next week. Former world No 1 Woods, whose ranking has plummeted to 104th, has struggled badly for form and fitness this season and has played only twice on the PGA Tour. Woods’ manager Mark Steinberg said this week the 39-year-old had played 18 holes at Augusta as he continued to assess whether his game would be “tournament-ready” for

Woods

the first major of the year. “Deep down I think he will play,” said O’Meara, who won both the Masters and the Open in 1998. “I hope he plays but I also understand he is doing what he needs to do for him. Everybody struggles in the game of golf and no-one is immune to struggling. “Let’s face it, for a long time Tiger didn’t have to struggle and nobody dominated a sport like he did.” And O’Meara believes writing Tiger off will give

the 14-time major champion the extra motivation to compete next week. “Tiger certainly dominated golf for quite a while but then a couple of years ago, when I didn’t think he was swinging the club that well, he won five tournaments in a season and was named ‘player of the year’,” he added. “He’s the kind of athlete and individual that, when people start to doubt him, that is a good motivating factor for him to turn it around.”

Wenger defends Ozil’s nightclub visit A

Danilo (left)

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to condemn Mesut Ozil for visiting a nightclub in Berlin just hours after missing a game with illness. The German World Cup winner played no part in the Gunners’ 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on March 21.

Less than 24 hours after the Premier League meeting, Ozil was spotted at a nightclub in his homeland, but Wenger has insisted that he just popped in to deliver birthday wishes to a friend. “He went out for half an hour to a birthday for his

friend to wish him well,” Wenger said at Thursday morning’s press conference. “You can’t stop someone wishing happy birthday to a friend!” Meanwhile, Arsenal are preparing to face Liverpool at the Emirates on Saturday.

Messi set to Morocco win appeal over AFCON bans return from injury M B arcelona have moved to play down fears that Lionel Messi could be facing a spell on the sidelines by revealing that the recent foot injury he picked up has shown signs of improvement. The 27-year-old sustained the damage during Barca’s 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in last month’s El Clasico meeting, which forced him to sit out both of Argentina’s international friendlies over the past seven days. However, having taken part in a light training session on Thursday morning - a day earlier than expected - Messi is likely to make a return to action against Celta Vigo this weekend. “The inflammation of Messi’s foot has improved and the player will attempt to join the rest of the internationals tomorrow [Friday],” a club statement read. Barcelona currently lead the way in La Liga prior to the return of club football this weekend, sitting four points ahead of closest challengers Real Madrid.

orocco have won their appeal against their bans from the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the ruling made by the Confederation of African Football after Morocco did not host the 2015 finals. It has also reduced a fine imposed on the Royal Moroccan

Football Federation (FRMF) from US$1m to 50,000. However, CAF’s order for FRMF to pay 8m euros (US$8.7m) in damages “may still be examined by another jurisdiction”. CAF claims it suffered final losses because of the relocation of the 2015 finals from Morocco to Equatorial Guinea - only two months before the start of the event.

Wenger

Sterling staying at Liverpool – Rodgers

Rodgers

iverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists Raheem Sterling will not leave the club this summer and says the forward made a mistake in giving an unauthorised interview. The England star caused controversy earlier in the week when he admitted turning down a recent £100,000-aweek contract offer but he remains tied to the Anfield club until the summer of 2017. Sterling subsequently insisted the stand-off has arisen because of his desire for tro-

phies rather than money, but in a bid to kill off speculation Premier League rivals Arsenal will swoop for his services over the summer, Rodgers has reiterated his desire to keep the 20-year-old. The Northern Irishman said: “Raheem has two and a half years left on his deal and he’s not going anywhere in the summer. He’s quite relaxed, as I am, and he just wants to focus on the rest of the season. “Concentration, like I said a few weeks back, should be on his football and continuing his

development. He’s made great strides over the last couple of years and his only concentration should be the remaining games. “The last time we sat down we discussed that that was the intentions of the player, his representatives and the club. Obviously Raheem has come out and made his feelings clear on that and hopefully his focus will be on the football now. “If his ambition is to win trophies, that’s perfectly aligned with what we are trying to do here.”

Sport

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo

Former Nigeria Athlete Best Food: Abiripo Best Drink: Water Best Actor: Denzel Washington Best Actress: Julia Robert Best Movie: Pretty Woman Best City Visited: Monaco Home Town: Sagamu, Ogun State Best Designer: Banana Republic Best Perfume: Beautiful Best Music: Raggae Best Kit Maker: Nike Best Spike: Nike Zoom Best Competition Ever Attended: Atlanta Olympics 1996 Worst Competition Ever Attended: Seville 1999

Oshoala hails Liverpool fans after debut goal Adekunle Salami

iverpool striker, Asisat Oshoala, has showered praises on the fans of the team after helping the club to record a 2-1 win in a league match against Birmingham City on Wednesday night. It was her first goal in English football and it was good enough for the defending Women’s Super League One champions, Liverpool, to bag the full points. The African footballer of the year said she was surprised to experience such huge support from the fans for her and the team. “It’s very nice for me hearing them singing my name. It’s a crazy atmosphere. I have never seen supporters like this and I have been playing football for quite a long time now. The supporters here are awesome, they are great people,” she told the BBC. Oshoala scored the first goal for her team with a volley off a cross from teammate, Gemma Bonner, just before the end of the first half. The Falcons striker was also on hand to give a cut back pass for Fara Williams to make it 2-0 before Aoife Mannion gave Birmingham a consolatory goal. Liverpool’s first win of 2015 was overshadowed by an injury to Kate Longhurst who went off

Mourinho ready to offload Moses Emmanuel Tobi

helsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has concluded plans to sell Nigeria international Victor Moses in the summer to allow him buy Raphael Varane. The Nigeria international is currently at Stoke City on a season-long loan deal and this may be the opportunity for the team to land him on a permanent deal as Mark Hughes wants

on a stretcher with concussion. The forward received lengthy treatment on the pitch following a clash of heads with Remi Allen. Oshoala was however excited about her goal. She said; “I feel very happy and excited about the goal and the victory for the team. It’s been a difficult start to the season but I believed we would bounce back. We showed the spirit here is very high, and we are really giving everything.” The Nigeria international is the first player from Africa to compete in the Women’s Super League.

to keep the attacker at the Britannia Stadium. According to Daily Mail, Mourinho, is set to let go of Moses in order to help Chelsea overcome Financial Fair Play restrictions in the transfer market this summer. Moses signed for ‘The Blues’ from Wigan in 2012, but spent last season on loan at Liverpool before his move to Stoke earlier in the current campaign.

Moses

Siasia fears for Enyimba star, Sokari

Oshoala

-23 Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has warned that Enyimba midfielder, Kingsley Sokari, risks not fulfilling his potentials. Sokari currently turns out regularly for Nigeria’s U-20 side, the u-23 as well as the senior national team, the Super Eagles. Siasia, who currently trains Nigeria’s U-23 side says the trend may detrimentally affect the youngster’s development. “He’s a very good player

and one that I want in my team. However, he’s usually on the move (travelling to fulfill professional duties) and it does not help me as regards blending for my (U-23) team.“We just have to see how we work with him and make sure that we get the best for him because he’s a very special player. “When he’s having a good day, he can destroy a lot of teams,” Siasia told supersport.com. On his part, Sokari says he has no qualms

playing top flight games for the different sides on a regular basis. “I am used to it because in the Nigerian league, I usually play matches for Enyimba in midweeks and on weekends. Most times, we have to embark on long road trips for these matches. I am still young and I can handle it,” he said. Sokari was part of the Nigeria squad that drew 1-1 with South Africa in an international friendly in Nelspruit last Sunday.

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NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015

Amuneke: Our best will come in Chile ferent ball game. It is more rugged and sometimes the pitch condition does not help a team that likes to keep possession of the ball, for instance. “We do well at the World Cup because the pitches help us to play much better. This happened at the 2013 tournament in the United Arab Emirates [which Nigeria won with a 3-0 victory against Mexico in the final]. People could see our real quality.”

Flying Eagles in trainning

N Emuneke

igeria’s Golden Eaglets have set the benchmark when it comes to U-17 football - at least, on the global level. With four FIFA U-17 World Cup titles as well as three further appearances in the final match, the West Africans will go into Chile 2015 as one of the favourites. Ironically, they have fewer continental laurels, having won the African championship at the age level just twice, and they only managed to finish fourth earlier this year at the event in Niger. The side’s famous coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, explained the dichotomy to FIFA.com recently, saying their best play tends to come out on the biggest stage. “African football is a totally dif-

Getting the Eaglets to soar Amuneke, who played for the Super Eagles at the 1994 FIFA World Cup – scoring memorable goals against Bulgaria and Italy – and won gold at the 1996 Olympics, says he believes his international experience will help his players in Chile. “Being a former Nigerian international, I have had the opportunity to play at the highest level - at the FIFA World Cup and it is always a good memory. It was quite an experience, and taking a team to a World Cup as a coach gives me the opportunity to let the players know what is expected at this level.” The U-17 World Cup has traditionally drawn many agents and scouts wanting to woo players to European clubs. And while the closeness of that dream can bring out the best in the youngsters from around the world, Amuneke insists his charges understand their connection to each other first. “Every player has their own personal objectives, but they should understand that they will be better off with the collective objective of doing very well at the World Cup. The most important thing is for them to be focused and remain themselves without thinking as individuals. If the team plays well; the scouts will be interested in them, which should not

be the priority. The priority should be winning laurels for the country.” At the African championships in Niger, the Golden Eaglets comfortably won their group, but were stunned by South Africa in the semi-finals before losing the third-place play-off. Amuneke does not seem overly concerned with the sluggish ending to the event. “I was satisfied because we qualified for the World Cup, especially when you see that of all the African teams that went to the last World Cup in the UAE, we are the only one going back in 2015. So we achieved our objective and we will be more prepared for the main event in Chile.” What is in a name? The 44-year-old coach, whose playing days were severely curtailed by a serious knee-injury he suffered whilst with Barcelona, is reluctant to single out individual players who impressed him in Niger. However, when pressed he says: “We have the captain, Kelechi Nwakali, and Victor Osimhen, Ebere Osinachi and Usman Abass. We also have an exciting young player in Samuel Chukwueze. So we have good players, but like I said, we must see how they can perform and function as a team. This is what I have been emphasising to the boys and the more they can do this, the better we can function,” he said. In closing, Amuneke clarifies one of the questions that football fans have been asking: Is his name spelt with an ‘e’ or an ‘i’? “I think the name was simply misspelled during my playing days and since then it had stayed. Throughout my playing days I was using ‘Amunike’, but now, I prefer to use the correct name: ‘Amuneke’.”

Spartak Moscow target Emenike’s Russia return

ussian club, Spartak Moscow, are set to make a 10 million bid for Nigeria international striker, Emmanuel Emenike. Eurosport TR claims that the Russians are looking to bring Emenike back to the club following three successful seasons that saw him net 24 times in all competitions for the Narodnaya Komanda between 2011 and 2013. Emenike, the reports say, would however prefer a move to the Premier League over one to Russia. Meanwhile, the striker, currently in the books of Turkish club, Fenerbahçe is expected to be dropped to the bench for Fenerbahce’s Süper Lig game against Caykur Rizespor this weekend. The Fenerbahçe manager Ismail Kartal is expected to start the game with the experienced Cameroon striker, Pierre Webo, upfront with Emenike dropping back to the bench following the much publicised incident of his last league appearance on March 22. Drama, denials and abuse Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe have rejected suggestions that Emenike was racially abused during the club’s last league game-the Istanbul derbyagainst Besiktas. Emenike has been in poor form recently and missed a glorious opportunity to open the scoring against Besiktas at Sükrü Saracoglu Stadyumu on March 22. A section of the Fenerbahçe support

did not take kindly to the miss and subsequently went on to boo the striker’s every touch. In a swift reaction, the Nigeria Football Federation has revealed that it will be lodging a “strongly worded letter of complaint” to the Turkish Football Federation over the incident. ‘Disgust at a filthy action’ The NFF says Emenike was racially abused and will now dispatch correspondence to that effect to the Turkish FA. NFF President, Amaju Pinnick said the incidents were “shameful” and called on Fenerbahçe Football Club to open an investigation as he “expressed his disgust at the filthy action against the Super Eagles’ star.” “We (NFF) condemn in its entirety the shameful conduct of the Fenerbahce FC fan and we demand that the club investigate this incident to fish out the fellow who taunted our international player. “It is unacceptable to be racially abused on the field of play or anywhere for that matter, but for that abuse to come from your own club’s fan is the height of it,” Pinnick was quoted as saying on the NFF’s official website, www.thenff.com. But Fenerbahçe have released an official statement stating that Emenike was not racially abused. The club also confirmed that a Twitter account posing as Emmanuel Emenike and claiming to be a victim of rac-

Emenike

ist abuse is indeed fake. The Twitter account in question has since been suspended for impersonating the Nigerian international. “Due to some news that have been caused by unreal posts from some fake accounts on the name of Emmanuel Emenike on Twitter, it has been considered necessary to make this statement. “Our player Emmanuel Emenike’s official twitter account is @E29EMENIKE. Please do not consider other fake accounts,” the statement read. Hopes and tears Emenike has been in wretched form in front of goal this season, netting just four times in the league for the Yellow Canaries. Fenerbahçe manager Ismail Kartal

has now revealed that he prayed for Emenike to score and break his poor run of form in the derby against Besiktas. Emenike’s poor run coincided with his rather testy relationship with the fans with things reaching a nadir in the game against Besiktas. Kartal said he hoped the striker would score to take the monkey off his back. “I prayed for Emenike to score and win over the fans again,” Kartal told Lig Tv. It is still unclear what the reaction of the fans will be when next Emenike pulls on the yellow strip but Kartal urged for calm. “The fans need to be more patient and understanding, he cannot change around his fortunes with everyone getting on his back,” he added.

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Compatriots, a time to heal

hank God the presidential and National Assembly elections went largely without widespread violence. Prior to the March 28 polls, there had been fears that whichever the results went, particularly the presidential, that things would turn out ugly. The elections did not go without incident anyway, as 50 persons were said to have died. Among them were ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, who were shot dead by suspected thugs and Boko Haram militants at different points across the country. These deaths left a sour taste in the mouth as Nigerians were rejoicing over news that the elections were largely peaceful. Generally, the turnout was around average, although there had been hopes that millions of Nigerians would troop to polling units to exercise their franchise. The drama about the card readers not functioning was also a major dampener on the promises of INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure hitch-free elections on March 28. It was not a palatable experience watching President Goodluck Jonathan standing for over 30 minutes while INEC ad hoc staff struggled to get him accredited. In some other parts of the country, the card readers functioned optimally. At a point, it was like the elections might end up being truncated or cancelled altogether. Thank God that Jega intervened and directed INEC staff to use the manual register to conduct the elections in areas where the card readers failed. The mixed reports from across the country about the failure or success of the card readers caused apprehension for millions of Nigerians. It was as if the fears expressed before the elections were coming to pass – mainly that there was a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party to stall the elections and install an Interim National Government. Names of potential members of the ING were bandied about while the All Progressives Congress went to town with claims that Jonathan was actually reaching out to different interests to support the ING. Jonathan, however, rose stoutly to denounce such impressions and gave the assurance that he would not be party to any unconstitutional action as regards the elections. I recall praying fervently in the days leading to March 28 for God to frustrate any plan or plot to truncate or ruin the elections. Millions of Nigerians did the same and I thank God for hearing our prayers. As I write this piece, Easter is just a few days away. This is the season when the Lord Jesus Christ died for mankind and resurrected. By this, He gave mankind hope and a new lease of life. Now that Buhari has been declared the winner of the presidential election and Jonathan has conceded defeat, this is a time to heal. Like the Holy Bible says, there is a time for everything under the sun. I believe that this is the time to heal our land. We have had so much acrimony in the last few months, with all kinds of ugly words being hurled across the divide of the

Vantage

Point

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

Nigerians queue up to cast their votes at the poll

PDP and APC. On social media, it has been a big battle, with many friends going their separate ways as a result of bitter acrimony over Jonathan and Buhari. Some of the comments made in the course of presidential electioneering were unnecessary. Many were downright insensitive, incendiary and disrespectful. It is time to heal Nigeria. Easter is a time for forgiveness, recon-

Well, I’m happy that Jonathan and Buhari have risen above all the noise and are determined to work together to move Nigeria forward. The interest of the nation is paramount, higher than personal grievances and innuendoes

PHOTO: AP/Kunle Ogunfuyi

ciliation and making things right. I see some people on social media have still not got over Jonathan’s loss to Buhari. These people, some of them bloggers, are bent on continuously fanning the embers of hatred. Jonathan has since congratulated Buhari and promised to work with him to achieve a smooth transition. Buhari has in turn promised not to hurt Jonathan. He also described Jonathan as a great Nigerians. From within and outside Nigeria have come words of praise for Jonathan, Buhari, Jega and Nigerians. Indeed, Nigerians are the real winners of the elections. They showed what they wanted with their votes. Jega overlooked bitter and invidious attacks on his hard-earned integrity and organised the elections with the best of intentions. Forget what some chaps are claiming that Jega rigged the presidential election for APC. That’s plain hogwash because the same Jega organised the 2011 presidential election and declared Jonathan the winner. At that time, Jega did not rig the election. At that time, Jega was not the names they called him before, during and after the election. It’s in sync with the Nigerian character to pull down whatever we feel unhappy about. Well, I’m happy that Jonathan and Buhari have risen above all the noise and are determined to work together to move Nigeria forward. The interest of the

nation is paramount, higher than personal grievances and innuendoes. We still have the governorship and house of assembly elections on April 11, just a week away. While those who supported Jonathan are right to feel bad that the result did not go the way they wanted, they should also allow the national interest to prevail. I also wish to address Buhari’s supporters and urge them not to denigrate or mock anyone. While Buhari’s supporters rejoice over their hard-won victory, they should also remember that victory comes with great responsibility. There is much work to be done. Jonathan made some great strides in different sectors. It is a challenge for Buhari to do much better. He should not be carried away with the euphoria of victory and engage in vendetta. As he said in his acceptance speech, all Nigerians who voted for him, voted against him or didn’t vote at all are his compatriots. He should see all Nigerians as his people, all of whom deserve to be treated as citizens. Mistakes have been made under Jonathan’s administration but Buhari should not dwell on them. Rather, he should hit the ground running by appointing capable men and women who can steer the ship of state in the right direction. The signals about the economy are not cheery but this presents a challenge for all Nigerians to work together with the incoming administration to move the nation forward. Time is of the essence in whatever we do. We cannot afford to fail. We cannot afford to let our nation down. We cannot afford to disappoint the international community which is expecting Nigeria to continue to play its commendable leadership role in African and global affairs. Let us be wise. I read of an ex-militant, Asari Dokubo, claiming that he and some former combatants were contemplating relocating to the creeks and I was taken aback. The United Nations Environmental Programme has recommended a total cleanup of the Niger Delta, which has been ravaged by decades of oil exploitation and exploration. Why would anyone want to take Nigerians through the route of militancy again? Why must Nigerians be so hateful and spiteful of their country and run to other lands to enjoy money earned in Nigeria? This is a time to heal. We fought a civil war and resolved to work together. We cannot go back to that era again. We have been battling an insurgency which has claimed thousands of lives. We must march into the future. It is here already! As we mark Good Friday today, a day on which the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, let us reflect on the lessons of Easter. It is possible for us to forgive each other and resolve to move forwards. One of the things Buhari must do immediately he is sworn in is to set up a peace and reconciliation commission to work out ays of healing the wounds of decades of animosity and hatred. The 2015 election season has been too acrimonious. May we never see such hatred again in our nation. Happy Easter to us all.

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