Thursday, may 7, 2015 by Newtelegraphonline

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NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Vol. 2 No. 442

Thursday, May 7, 2015

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@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

SENATE MOVES TO PASS IMMIGRATION BILL }9

FG to Buhari: Don't tamper with power privatisation Anule Emmanuel

he Federal Government yesterday warned the incoming administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari against tampering with the privatisation of the power

sector. Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, told State House reporters in Abuja after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that reviewing the transaction would set the nation back for many years. Speaking against the back-

drop of the current power outage in many parts of the country, he said the Federal Government had made a significant progress in the sector, especially with the privatisation. He added that it would be illadvised for the incoming administration to reverse any policy

relating to the unbundling and final sale of power assets to private companies. "On privatisation, I think the incoming government will be ill advised to reverse the privatisation and liberalisation of power generation, transmission and CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NEW TELEG

RAPH THURS

Interview

DAY, mAY

7, 2015

Ubani: Why judges for FG must not recru it states

22&25

Law Ake

News

Adejumo seeks impro in teaching vement labour law

redolu lawmake , Quakers, others rs goofed : on Olanu Ondo si

Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the erstwhile Ond deputy gove o State rnor was sacked five days afte notice of ra impeach ment was serv ed on him by the state’s lawmaker on April 27 s without recourse to Section 188 of the Con stitution . The dust , raised by the impeach ment, how ever, has cont inue OGUNMO d. FOLUSO DEDE, TUN OYESINA DE and NAFIU repo AKEEM rt

id the House Ondo State of Asse explore mbly Section the Cons 188 of it sacked titution uty goverthe erstwhile statewhen nor, Alhaj depfrom office i Ali Olanu si the Hous ? Did the Speak Olanusi uty govere allow the sacke er of d depby writi nor to defend hims ng and copie elf of each mem ber of thes served on thatAssembly of within seven the state assembly the Akeredolu of the impe days of the guilty of holder of such ; stating recei office is gross misc These, achment notice? pt performan ondu were ignoraccording to lawye his office ce of the functct in the deputy gover ed , detai ions rs as the acted a defend hims nor whose script handlawmakers of which shall led particularof right to them by Spea be speci s ed over Although elf was prohi Akeredolu fied, the to bly ker of the Hous out recou‘a grandmaster’ has withi the panel of bited. (SAN shall e of rse to due withinquiry Quakers(SAN), ), Norrison receipt within seven daysAssemport its n three mont Section proce Fawehinm Mohamm of the notic hs to refindings of the stitution 188 of the 1999 ss. of the notic Asse to the Hous ed e, Chief Akpai, Monday cause mbly a copy e to Ubani, e of tice of anysays “whenever Con- holde n Nkwereum process, having explo fia, Toch r of the be served on a noallega red Ali was ukwu signed the office and Udoafter a impeached due Asha by not tion in writing member of the notic olu conde Odafe and Dare on each less than third of Hous and shall was serve e of impeachmdays ers’ mned the It’s a blat breac one- made also cause e of Assembly House of the members opportunitd on him witho ent on Olan h of the Conslawmakant any statem , in of ut an y to make usi’s titution ed to the Assembly-is presethe the holdereply to the alleg ent on show the any They descrsack. Speaker alleged of r of the ation by nt- on gross miscdefence void of the Hous office initiated each impunity and of noibed it as null against onduct e Assem member of to be served and and him. effect. He was the hous To bly.” Aker impe an exercise e of edolu, a ached on within It went dent of former three days April 27 that the on: “Wit days of of impe tion (NBA Nigerian Bar presihin will not stan achment after a notice Assoc notice to the presentati fourteen him. was serve ment was ), Olanusi’s impe iaon of the the test of d d on achof Assemthe Speaker of Lawyers impunity a blattant the time show of . This he statementbly (whether or House nusi’s impe have described impe not any was made achment Ola- that achment was said that the of the office void. by the holde as null and Statethe lawmakers an evidence FOLUSO tion conta in reply to r Although OGUN the Governor, and the Ondo an Abuj House of ined in the noticallegalawyer, Rahm JUDICIARY MODEDE Dr. a-bas Mr. EDITOR by moti Assembly shall e, the lieves Olan Kayode Ajulo ed for thean Mimiko lackeOlusegun foluso.ogunm on, with resolve rule of d respect usi’s impe bewhether was newtelegraph odede@ out law. in order any deba He said: achment online.com © Daily Telegra as the “It’s te be inves or not the alleg tion besto of impu Cons ation shall tigate ph Publish nity and a blatant show enormous ws on the lawm titu- will ing Compa But this d.” an exerc not ny Limited akers powe stand the ise that by the Ondo was however rs unde 187 (7), his it is subje test of time r Section bly when State House ignored They said colleagues disag if It is hope cted to legal cruci of Assem it sacke reed. d that the bles. the lawm the powers d the emba ernor deputy gran ttled govwas grossakers under Secti ted conc will pursue it lusion to a logic by void, they ly abused. It is on 187 so-ca null and lled remo challenging al said. his val in For insta let the court nce, Oluw decides.” court and arotimi

SIX pages of Law }21

How fuel subsidy rose to $9bn under Diezani CONT INUED

ON PAGE 23

lNNPC refutes allegations against minister

Quick Read

Editorial

Remembering Rashidi Yekini

}19

Tribunal grants Kalu's prayer to inspect election materials }47

L-R: Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Auta Danjuma; FCT Deputy Corps Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Ayuba Gora; Corps Commander, Mr. Harrison Pepple and Immigration's Assistant Comptroller, Mrs. Monica Ezugwu, at the Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment of applicants in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: Nan

Rice-gate: Minister flouted presidential order on importation }7

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 7, 2015

SPECIALonREPORT The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation Godswill Akpabio

Aliyu Wamakko

Jonah David Jang

Stella Adaeze Oduah

Samuel Egwu

Theodore Orji

Mao Ohuabunwa

Uche Lilian Ekwunife

Buruji Kashamu

Jeremiah Useni

Abubakar Kyari

Ben Murray Bruce

Peter Nwaoboshi

Biodun Olujimi

Dino Melaye

Monsurat Sunmonu

Bayero Usman Nafada

Bala ibn Na’Allah

Isiaka A. Adeleke

Abubakar Danladi

Adeola Olamilekan

Binta Masi Garba

Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim

Mustapha Bukar

Duro Samuel Faseyi

Fatimat O. Raji-Rasaki

Shehu Sani

Mustapha Bukar

Philip Aruwa I Gyunka

Buhari Abdulfatai

Suleiman O. Hunkuyi

Osinakachukwu Ideozu

Danjuma La’ah

Bassey Albert Akpan

Olanrewaju Tejuoso

Mohammed A. Ohiare

Nelson Asuquo Effiong

Achonu A. Nneji

Sabo Mohammed

David Umaru

Umaru Ibrahim Kurfi

Barau I Jibrin

Nnaemeka Anyanwu

Clifford A. Ordia

John Enoh Owan

Mathew A. Urhoghide

Utazi Godfrey Chukwuka

Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi

Gbolahan Dada

Abdul-Aziz M. Nyako

Francis A. Alimikhena

Olaka Johnson Nwogu

Ogba Joseph Obinna

Tijjani Yahaya Kaura

Donald Alasoadura

Rose Okoji Oko

Yele Omogunwa

Ogola Foster

Gershom H. Bassey

Suleiman M. Nazif

Malam Ali Wakili

Abdullahi A. Gumel

Marafa Bashir Abba

Yahaya Abdullahi

Abdulrahman Abubakar

Salihu Hussain Egye

Mohammed Garba

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

Ahmadu Abubakar

Mohammed Hasan

Isah Hamma Misau

Ibrahim Abdullahi

Muhammad Ubali Shitu

On June 4, 2015, the eighth Senate of the National Assembly will be inaugurated. Of the 109 Senators who will be taking their seats, 73, representing 66 per cent will be fresh in the upper chamber. Who are these fresh Senators? What are their backgrounds and antecedents? What quality of debate and contributions are we likely to see from them? These and more will be the kernel of a special report by New Telegraph on that day. The report presents a unique opportunity for family, friends and associates of these fresh Senators to felicitate with them. For enquiries and participation: Call Biodun: 0802-301-5582, Taiwo: 0803-304-2915, Onwuka: 0803-733-9843, David: 0810-759-1663

Travel Advisory

THURSDAY, May 7, 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 THURSDAY, May 7, 2015

How fuel subsidy rose to $9bn under Diezani Adeola Yusuf

Houston, Texas, US

he difference between actual cost of petroleum products and the regulated price at the pumps skyrocketed from $4 billion to $9 billion in 2011, the year the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, brought Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) from the presidency to under her watch. An industry source told New Telegraph that President Goodluck Jonathan’s four-year rule as president has seen Alison-Madueke acting as controller of the nation's finances instead of the Coordinating Min-

ister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that ought to have performed such a role. Alison-Madueke, who took office in 2010, moved the then nine-year-old PPPRA from the presidency to her ministry. The source said: "Between the period that the PPPRA was established in March 2001 and the end of 2009, the annual petroleum subsidy (the difference between actual cost of petroleum products and the regulated price at the pumps) was in the range of $3-4 billion. By the end of 2011, the annual subsidy cost went up to $9 billion. “It is under Diezani’s watch that the state hydrocarbon company was most emboldened in determining what it should remit to

the state coffers and what it should keep. "And what it decided to keep simply ballooned. She has superintended over an appropriation of the commonwealth that only the National Assembly has the right to do." The source queried the rise in fuel subsidy under the minister's watch, saying that it was after the public protest in the wake of removal of fuel subsidy that the amount dropped to about $3.5 billion. "Between the $3.5 billion of 2009, the $9 billion of 2011 and the $3.5 billion of 2013, the Nigerian population could not have grown by more than 10% or declined by same. And yet the data suggests that the demand tripled and then shrank,” the source said.

The source also suspected underhand dealing in the way the minister managed the divestment of Shell, Total and ENI from five oil blocks. The source added that besides the fact that the process of transferring government's interest in the divested oil blocks to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) was not transparent; the company's management of the oil assets shortchanged the federation of revenue. “At the time that Shell, Total and ENI were divesting from five acreages onshore Niger Delta, the proportion of proceeds from those assets was 55% to the Nigerian state and 45% to the three multinational partners. The NNPC is the government’s representa-

tive in the partnership. If 100 barrels of oil were produced, the NNPC took 55 barrels and paid the money made in selling the crude directly to the national treasury. “Diezani was settling down as minister in 2011 when Shell, Total and ENI were rounding off the sale of their 45% of these assets to Nigerian companies. Her ministry decided that the NNPC would be more active in management of the assets. This is fine. "What’s dubious is the way in which the country’s share of the proceeds got diluted in such a way that the net return to the national coffers was no longer 55 out of 100, but far less. “The NNPC nominated its operating subsidiary, NPDC, to manage the as-

Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ms. Jumoke Akinjide; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Anyaoku: Buhari's promises’ll be his burden Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ormer Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has stated that the promises made by the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari, during his campaign would be a burden to his administration. Anyaoku, who spoke to journalists at the Defence House in Abuja yesterday, also stated that the character of Buhari would be at stake if he failed to deliver. Buhari had, during his presidential campaign, projected his character and made promises to overturn the country's economic misfortune within a short period. But, on Tuesday, the President-elect lamented

on the alleged empty treasury that his government would meet, stating that Nigerians should be patient with his government. On his discussions with Buhari, he said: "I had useful discussions with the President-elect, congratulated him on his victory and told him he is coming in as president on a very high wave of expectations throughout the country. I also told him that the high expectations are based on the promises he made during his campaign to the people, but more importantly on the general perception of his character. "He is perceived as a man with very strong sense of discipline, a man who is truly averse to corruption, a man whose lifestyle has been frugal not ostentatious or opulent and, above all, a man who

is very committed to the welfare of the masses. I believe that if his administration reflects these qualities, that the country's challenges and problems would be effectively tackled." Anyaoku, who fielded questions from journalists on foreign policy, stated that the execution of some Nigerians in Indonesia was not as a result of weak foreign policy. He stated that the execution was based on the character of the Nigerians in the foreign country. He said: "It is fair to say that Nigeria's foreign policy (the basis of it) has remained generally the same over the last administrations. I am saying it having been involved in the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) that has advised administrations

of President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan. Our foreign policy has been soundly based on the promotion of our national interests abroad. "The debacle in Indonesia is not a foreign policy issue, but an issue of the behaviour of Nigerians. Nigerians will go to Indonesia and other countries like Malaysia, Thailand where they have a law that if you get involved in drug promotion, the penalty is capital punishment. "The president of Indonesia will tell you that every drug pusher is responsible for the ruination of 200 families and that's why his country has taken that cue. So, it's a matter of the behaviour Nigerian citizens abroad rather than foreign policy."

On the xenophobia attacks in South Africa, Anyaoku said: “I think the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa had been condemned by the South African government and I believe that the way President Goodluck Jonathan has handled the issue has been very good. So, I would suggest that the incoming president will continue the personal relationship with the President of South Africa so that when incidents like that occur, the two governments will have a dialogue and the government of South Africa will be sensitised even more to the need to tackle the situation. "So far, I think it is fair to say the South African government has condemned those attacks and is doing what it can to see that they do not get repeated."

sets. The NPDC, in turn, invited a financing partner to fund its share of the operations. The contract with Atlantic Energy entitled it to 30% of NNPC’s share even after the cost of oil had been recovered. "This is the contract that the minister foisted on the country. The agreement smacks of arbitrariness, was executed in a manner highly suggestive of patronage, with terms that are clearly a give-away of resources." According to the source, in order to recover its cost in funding the NPDC's part of the operations, the terms called for Atlantic Energy Drilling to receive, in the beginning of production, 60 per cent of the volume of crude oil to which NPDC (NNPC) is entitled. But when that cost is fully recovered, Atlantic’s share will drop to 30 per cent of the crude oil to which NPDC is entitled, the source stated. "In the post-Shell operatorship phase, after the NNPC equity had been transferred to its subsidiary NPDC, to become the “operator”, with so much fanfare, NPDC had gone into an agreement with a company unknown to industry operatives and registered just months before the deal. "The company was charged with the responsibility to fund NNPC’s share of the cash call for operations in return for 60% (in the first instance) and later 30% (after cost recovery) of the crude oil that should accrue to NPDC (NNPC) and by extension, the teeming Nigerian population of circa 150 million people. "In effect, the rightful share of the proceeds from these assets that should flow to the national treasury drops by at least 30%, all through the duration of the agreement. “The NPDC uses about 30% of the 55% to pay its alliance partners/its funders. Then it refuses to pay the net proceeds to the treasury and, instead, pays corporate income tax and Petroleum Profit Tax, so the monies accruing to the treasury reduces overall by at least 40%. Note that prior to this NNPC to NPDC transfer, whatever came to NNPC was transmitted directly to the treasury," the source added. The source described the transfer of assets from NNPC to NPDC as an illegal transfer of revenue from the Federation Account to the NNPC, adding that not even the president has the power to transfer revenue from the Federation account without appropriation. Besides, the source CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

News

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mark: PDP heading for final burial unless…

lWe’ve overcome post-election trauma, says party Chukwu David and Onyekachi Eze

enate President David Mark has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would destroy itself unless aggrieved stakeholders end the media attacks they are enmeshed in and work towards rebuilding the party. Mark gave the warning when the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who heads the PDP Post-election Assessment Committee, visited him in Abuja yesterday. He said: “The PDP is already haemorrhaging and unless we halt the bleeding and find the necessary therapy, we may be heading for the final burial of the party. “The party is already in a comatose status and we should do all we can to resuscitate the party rather than this unnecessary rancour and buck passing.” Mark, who was visibly agitated over the deepening cracks in the PDP, appealed to the warring chieftains to sheathe their swords and come together and rebuild the ailing

party. His words: “The emerging factions are absolutely unnecessary. The combatants must sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue. My appeal is that we should not do anything further that would damage the already fragmented house. “Everybody should come together and rebuild the party. We have gotten enough bruises. We need not inflict further pains on ourselves, with continuous bickering. “Enough of this blamegame. We should return to the drawing board and need not wash our dirty linen in the public, anymore. “I believe a useful lesson has been learnt from the PDP electoral misfortune. As for me, it is time to put on our thinking caps and chart a new course.

“I trust Senator Ekweremadu that he and his team will do a good job and unearth the remote and immediate causes of our misfortune and make recommendations that will enhance the future of the party.” Mark expressed confidence in Ekweremadu, saying, “I have worked closely with the Deputy President of the Senate over the years and I know his capability and capacity to handle issues.” Mark called on all stakeholders to rise above the present circumstances and work hard to rejuvenate the party. He said the new status of the party as an opposition was a challenge which all PDP stakeholders must face with all honesty, sincerity of purpose and dedication to duty. Mark said that the de-

mocracy and the entire nation would be better if party faithful play credible opposition to ensure good governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians. Meanwhile, the PDP has blamed the recent skirmishes in the party on post-election trauma arising from its first ever defeat in a general elections. PDP members had engaged one another on buck-passing over the abysmal performance of the party in the general elections leading to calls from various quarters for the sack of the National Working Committee (NWC). But, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the party regretted the embarrassment such skirmishes, which he described as avoidable,

have caused the members of party. "The NWC assures that in the new spirit of harmony in the PDP family, the re-engineering process which began on Tuesday with the inauguration of the Post-Election Review Committee, will be vigorously sustained to restore the lost glory of our great party," the statement added. According to the statement, the timely intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan has contributed in bringing an end to the bickering. President Jonathan had, on Sunday, met with the stakeholders of the party and directed ceasefire from the warring factions while ordering members from making public comments on the crisis. PDP promised to abide by the counsel and has in-

structed all the executives of the party at all levels to comply accordingly. “We, therefore, urge all our members to ensure that they henceforth guard their utterances and actions, no matter the provocation and distortions in some section of the media while channelling their energies and ideas towards the rebuilding process. “In this regard, all members who have reports, grievances and suggestions on the way forward should transmit same to the Post-Election Review Committee for an all-inclusive roadmap in the overall effort to regain power in 2019," it added. PDP advised its members to be wary of the activities of some mischievous persons within and outside the party who are bent on frustrating the peace effort.

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L-R: Group Managing Director, FirstBank Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya; Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Group Chief Executive Officer, FBN Holdings Plc, Mr. Bello Maccido and General Manager, Listings, NSE, Mrs. Taba Peterside, at FBN Holdings Plc Fact Behind the Figures presentation in Lagos…yesterday.

FG to Buhari: Don't tamper with power privatisation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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distribution because any attempt to do that would be to set Nigeria back many decades. "With the recent drop in power generation and distribution, there have been calls from several quarters for the government of General Buhari to revisit the privatisation of the power sector which many consider as a scam," he stated. The country's total electricity generation is reported to have dropped to meagre 2,800 megawatts from a recent peak of about 4,500MW, the lowest in nearly a year. But Nebo said the situation could be redressed by

addressing the shortage of gas supply to turbines. "The gains of privatisation are very obvious. If we can solve the problem of gas like we are talking about energy mix, we are not just going by gas we are doing hydros. "It was this same administration that flagged off Zungeru hydro power plants for 750 megawatts and is to flag off Mambilla 3,050 megawatts. Shiroro has been improved, revamped; Kainji revamped and improved, the same as Jebba," he said. According to him, there is still a lot to be done in the power sector to ensure steady supply of electricity in the country.

"There is a lot of work being done by the government; however, to turn back on privatisation would mean stopping all of these companies and then reversing the massive inflow of investments coming into the power sector. "Nigeria's power consumption per capita is one of the lowest in the world and that is part of the efforts of government to reverse that. So I don't think it is in the best interest of the country to review the privatisation process," Nebo said. He lamented the continued vandalism of public power assets, which he blamed for poor electricity supply.

"I have never in my life seen anything as frustrating as what we are experiencing today. Every month, the Nigerian Gas Company spends a minimum of N120 million to fix gas pipeline. "Every two weeks, the western axis pipelines are vandalised and that is pure sabotage. The eastern axis pipelines are vandalised and that is oil theft. At the end of the day, the gas that is supposed to go to the turbines don’t get there. "The past three weeks have been horrible because both the East and the West are affected and as a result, gas that is available is too small, many of

the turbines are sitting there idle. "Many of the power companies are generating 30 per cent capacity. It is not that this government has not done much, it has. Available capacity exceeds 5,500 megawatts, willing capacity exceeds 5,000 megawatts, but today, we are down to between 2,000 and 3,000MW because of these repairs which we were hoping by yesterday (Tuesday) we would have finished to shore up 4,000 megawatts again," he said. He wondered why Nigerians would always be interested in destroying government facilities meant to make life easy for them.

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NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 7, 2015

Minister flouted presidential order on rice importation

inister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has been accused of contravening a presidential order on granting licence to unqualified importers to import rice into Nigeria. It was learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan, at a meeting in May 2014, had directed the minister to give import licences to rice millers in the country in a bid to curtail scarcity of the commodity due to the inability of the local industry to meet the nation's demand. The meeting was attended, among others, by Adesina’s counterparts in the Ministries of Trade and Investment; National Planning; Finance and Agriculture. Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. NgoziOkonjo-Iweala, in a memo dated July 8, 2014, informed government agencies, including Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Ministry of Industry, Trade and

Investment; Budget Office of the Federation; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Federal Inland Revenue Service; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Nigerian Export Promotion Council; Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Investment Promotion Commis-

sion, about the presidential order on rice importation. However, the implementation of the directive did not begin until last December when Adesina authorised some non-existing rice millers to import the commodity, an action that irked local millers. It was gathered that the current spat between the minister and major

rice millers followed the breach of the presidential directive, as none of them was granted the import licence as directed by the presidency. The local millers, the source said, were exasperated by the fact that those licensed to import rice approached them to buy the licences since the beneficiaries lacked the capacity

to execute the transaction. The source also said there was no inter-ministerial committee raised to oversee the process for granting licences to importers as directed by the president. Rather, the minister used his discretion in allocating quotas to the importers, many of who have no capacity to meet

the targets. It was also alleged that the total quota allocation was at variance with the supply gap of the rice Nigeria required, as major stakeholders were not involved. Besides the quotas were said to have been issued retrospectively against the legal framework of the nation.

Lawmaker, governor’s driver exchange blows over girlfriend Idris Salisu Gusau

t was a drama yesterday as Majority Leader of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hon. Salisu Musa Tsafe, and the senior driver to Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, Malam Idris, engaged in fisticuffs by the roadside in Gusau, the state capital. The bone of contention was rivalry over a girl friend. Speaking with newsmen at the Assembly complex yesterday, the lawmaker

stated that the relationship between him and the girl was purely business. Tsafe added that the governor’s driver had neither met the parents of the girl nor paid dowry on her. "I have called on Sunday from Kaduna to inform her of my coming to Gusau the next day. She pleaded that we should meet especially to discuss about the money she owes me," Tsafe said. The lawmaker stated that it was during his visit to the girl’s shop at Tudun Wada, Gusau that he found the girl in company of the governor's driver in the car

and parked elsewhere. "Few minutes after, Idris left and parked by my car. He rained insults on me for coming after his girlfriend. I told him that the lady was not my girlfriend and that we only engage in legitimate business relationship," he said. The Majority Leader said the governor’s driver continued to insult him, but that he could not engage him in physical fight in public. He recounted: "The governor's driver later insisted that we should go to a bush for a fight which I

angrily agreed and drove after him. "He parked again as he reached the Low Cost Housing Estate which is a few meters away from the girl's shop. I did same to confront him. He first attacked me and I defended myself. He bit me and I gave him blows on his forehead.” The lawmaker said the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the state headquarters had to intervene in the matter. When contacted, the

governor's driver, Idris, said he had warned the lawmaker several times to desist from visiting his girlfriend. Idris also accused the lawmaker of being the first to punch him. “In fact, he first gave me a blow and I immediately replied. “I have prepared all the required marriage rights and ready to meet the girl’s parents for marriage just to see the lawmaker frequenting her place. Many people know my relationship with the girl and even her parents know about it,” Idris stated.

NNPC refutes allegations against Diezani CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

said: “This arbitrary way of doing things is the signature conduct of Diezani Alison-Madueke’s tenure. At international fora, the minister would promise bid rounds she knew would never see the light of day. In her entire tenure, there was not a single, open, transparent acreage sale conducted by the government. She would set up panels to investigate aspects of industry processes even though she knew she would not implement their recommendations. "IOCs have conducted divestment from 21 acreages under her watch, a sign of inclement investment climate more than anything else, but the minister doesn’t regard it as a blot." Although the minister did not pick her calls when New Telegraph telephoned her for her reactions to the allegations against her, the Group General Manager, Group Public affairs of NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, debunked all the allegations. He said they were orchestrated to smear the minister and the NNPC. "The allegations against the minister are blatant lies. These tissues of lies are orchestrated by political elements and there is no way a right thinking person will believe them," he said in a telephone interview.

L-R: Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc., Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu; Group Managing Director, Mr. Peter Amangbo and Country Manager, IFC Nigeria, Eme Essien Lore, during the signing ceremony for a $100m loan facility to the bank in Lagos…recently.

Troops rescue additional 25 women, children lDestroy seven Boko Haram camps l6,000 Nigerians displaced from Lake Chad return home Emmanuel Onani Abuja

roops have rescued another group of 25 women and children from the Sambisa Forest, the hitherto dreaded stronghold of Boko Haram, located in Borno State. They also destroyed seven camps operated by Boko Haram while many insurgents were killed in the ongoing military offensive to clear the forest of the militants. Twice last week, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had announced the rescue of 200 girls and 93 women,

as well as 234 women and children from the forest. Assorted weapons, including Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and anti-aircraft guns, were also captured. A statement yesterday by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, in the latest offensive, the troops scaled land mines and captured camps which include the four notorious Alafa camps as well as those in Rogo Fulani, Laraga and others used as training camps. However, four soldiers were wounded in the operation and have been

evacuated for treatment. Meanwhile, no fewer than 6,000 Nigerians dislodged from islands on Lake Chad have returned home through Geidam in Yobe State. A report by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Director, Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, as saying yesterday in Geidam that Nigerien authorities relocated the inhabitants of the islands to pave the way for military operations against insurgents in the area. He said NEMA, along

with security operatives, was profiling the returnees for onward transportation to their states. "We are arranging transport to take them to their states or preferred locations because the camp in Geidam is temporary. "The returnees are mostly from Taraba, Benue, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Borno states, who were fishermen and displaced persons taking refuge on the islands. "There are two categories of the returnees; we have those who settled there living a normal life

and those taking refuge from the insurgents’ attacks, they are all returning," Otegbade said. Narrating their ordeals, the returnees said they trekked for days before they were evacuated to the borders by Nigerien authorities. Mrs. Halima Ali, said she lost contact with her husband as they were trekking to Nigeria. Abdullahi Usman, a fisherman, said they left behind all their belongings and life savings on the Islands. "We came back empty, some lost their wives and children," Usman said.

News

NCC: Active voice subscriber base hits 142.5m Clem Khena-Ogbena

he Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) yesterday said telecommunication industry has grown in leaps and bounds over the last four years as the Active Voice Subscriber Base hit 142.5 million. It also said that Tele-density rose to 101.8 per cent while there are about 83.2 million internet subscribers across the country. This came just as the Commission rolled out the National Emergency Number, 122 and urged the Nigerian public to use it whenever there are security concerns, fire outbreaks and other forms of distress and disaster situations in their neighbourhood. Executive ViceChairman of the Commission, Dr. Eugene Juwah, disclosed this at a public forum on "Aggregating the Commission's Strategy for Broadband Growth" in the country. Juwah, represented by the Director, Public Affairs of NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobor, said that internet penetration rate has grown to about 59.4 per cent while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has reached about $32billion in the sector."

Buhari promises electoral reform Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he PresidentElect, General Mohammadu Buhari, yesterday promised to reform the country's electoral system. Buhari made the promise when the delegation of Taraba State All Progressives Congress led by the governorship candidate, Sen. Aisha Al-Hassan paid him a courtesy call

Abuja

he Federal Ministry of Finance has said that states owing workers backlog of unpaid salaries should not blame their plights on the Federal Government. Stating this yesterday in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy/ Minister of Finance, Paul Nwabiukwu, the ministry noted that contrary to the misinformation put forward by certain governors to the effect that Federal workers were being owed salaries, all staff salaries at federal level were up to date till April. Governors on the platform of All Peoples Congress(APC) had solicited for intervention of president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to enable them pay states' civil servants’ salaries. "Regarding difficulties in salary payment, certain governors are trying to blame the Federal for

in Abuja. Addressing the delegation, Buhari stated that Nigerians would be confident of a society where elections would be free, fair and credible by the end of his tenure. The President-Elect gave the assurance of the electoral reform sequel to the experiences of the APC governorship candidate in Taraba State in the last election. Al-Hassan, who lost the Taraba State governorship election rerun to the

Peoples Democratic Party candidate is at the tribunal contesting the result of the election. Buhari, supporting her actions stated that he was in courts for several years over electoral fraud to fight for his rights. He said: "It is a battle well fought and I am very pleased that you have taken the honourable way out. According to the Nigerian constitution, you may go to court. I was there three times and ended up in the Supreme

Court. Sometimes, people wonder why I tried so hard. I tried so hard because it is a system I believe in. I believe that multi-party democratic system is the best form of governance with a big caveat that election must be free and fair. "Really, this is why I am in it. I was in APP. I joined partisan politics in April 2002 and on that date, at my ward, I said that those who knew me, and myself, following my career antecedent in the

L-R: Personal Aide to the President-elect, Alhaji Sarki Abba; Vice-President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, during a congratulatory visit to Buhari in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

FG absolves self from states' failure to pay workers Abdulwahab Isa

thursday, may 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

their predicament. This is wrong. They had been told through the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) to prioritize salaries but chose not to do so, hence the backlog that some states are experiencing". "The 50% drop in revenues simply means that salaries should be prioritized".

Soyinka denies attacking Igbo over election Wale Elegbede

obel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has denied making any disparaging comments on the Igbo over their voting pattern of at the last general elections. the erudite scholar stated that the attribution of such statement was the handiwork of “cowards” who fasten their “imbecilic pro-

nouncements” on others. Reports published in several news media yesterday quoted Soyinka as saying that Igbo voted during the elections according to the directive of their stomachs. Soyinka was quoted to have said during a lecture he delivered titled ‘Predicting Nigeria, Electoral Ironies’ at the Harvard University Hutchins Centre for African & African

30,000 forced to flee daily in 2014 — Report

he number of internally displaced persons within their own countries was the worst in a generation last year. But there is little sign of governments taking action to deal with the problem, the Norwegian Refugee Council said yesterday. Reuters quoted the agency's Secretary General Jan Egeland as telling a news conference in Geneva that :"Every single day last year 30,000 men, women and children were forced out of their homes because of conflict and violence" The total number of displaced rose by 11

million to a record 38 million. That does not include people who left their country and became refugees abroad, although many of today's displaced become tomorrow's refugees,” he said. The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR has yet to compile refugee figures for 2014, but it put the total at 16.7 million at the end of 2013, and the number has grown since then. Egeland, a former top humanitarian official at the United Nations, was launching a report on displacement in 60 countries. Six out of

every 10 people displaced in 2014 were in just five countries: Iraq, South Sudan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria. Syria was now "the number one displacement country of this generation", with 7.6 million internally displaced and 4 million refugees, but stopping the problem was possible, Egeland said. "It's as difficult and as simple to say United States, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey: you have to sit down and send one signal into this conflict: stop it," he said.

American Research, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, as saying, “The Igbo are probably the only group of Nigerians that you can predict with great accuracy whom they will vote for in an election, because they tend to put their votes where their stomachs take them; suffering as it were, from incurable money-mindedness, as they would stop at nothing in their quest for personal financial gain.”

military, if I tell people that I will participate in partisan politics, people would not believe it and I will not also believe it. But I found myself in it and I never turned back. "Within one year, APP gave me the ticket. There were governors, senators and much older people than me, but all the same, I got the ticket. I lost. I was in court for 30 months. In 2007, we tried to have a limited merger and became ANPP and again, I participated and was told I lost. "I went to court for 20 months up to the Supreme Court and I felt that my party was not fair to me. While I was in court, the leadership of the party proceeded and took two marginal ministries in late Yar'adua's cabinet and an Adviser. For that disgraceful behaviour by the party leadership, I left the party and we floated the CPC. "Again, I attempted in 2011 and lost and again, I was in court for about eight months and I contested now for the fourth time under APC, having successfully gone through with the merger of the three legacy parties. "So, Aisha, don't give up. You are younger and this is your first attempt. I contested three times and this is my fourth attempt. I hope that you succeed in the court. I am impressed by the quality of Taraba people you brought here.” The president-elect also said that the advent of the technology of card reader and the will of the Nigerians people has redefined the electoral system in Nigeria. "I think that 2015 will go down in Nigeria political history as a glorious year. Nigerians have deliberately understood what is multiparty democracy. But we thank God for technology-PVC and card reader.”

Obama mulls high-powered delegation to Buhari’s inauguration Wale Elegbede

s the May 29 inauguration of the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari inches closer, the United States President, Barak Obama, is said to be considering sending a high-powered US delegation to Nigeria to witness the democratic change of government. According to online medium, Premium Times, citing information gathered from US officials, President Obama is currently considering who would lead the

American representatives at the event billed for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. With Nigeria getting the attention of the world during her 2015 general elections, no fewer than two US Ivy League universities - Harvard and Yale - have since held special review sessions where scholars were invited from around the US and the world to give lectures and seminars on the outcome of the Nigerian elections, focusing on the emergence of a former military head of state, who is a Muslim from the North of Nigeria.

NEW TELEGRAPH thursday, may 7, 2015

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national

Senate moves to pass immigration bill Geoffrey Ekenna

igeria may soon receive a new Immig ration law that will modernise or repeal the 1963 Immigration Act under CAP I1 LFN (2004). That is following moves in the Senate to pass the new immigration Bill into law. The Red Chamber had earlier this week received the report of its Committee on Interior led by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Atiku Bagudu, now Governor – elect of Kebbi State. The House of Representatives had already passed the bill in 2014. The report presented to the concurs with the version of the Immigration Bill as earlier passed by the House. Insiders said that when passed, the Immigration Bill will strengthen the capacity of the “Immigration Service to be able to man and police the country’s porous, expansive and extensive borders and tackle migration related problems, including smuggling of migrants under the Palermo Protocol.” Urging the Senate to pass the bill into law, Senate Leader, Victor NdomaEgba, told his colleagues

that the 1963 Act was limited in many ways. According to him, “ The 1963 Act has become obsolete and therefore, unable to meet the demands of modern migration management. “In a nutshell, the 1963 Act does not contemplate certain immigration activities and offences as we have in modern times. That legislation

made obviously limited provisions for the statutory role of the Service in the security matrix of Nigeria, which had much earlier led to the passage of the Passports (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1985, thereby seeking to regulate some of the circumstances relating to the issuance of passports, and creating certain passports related offences.”

He added: “The 1963 Immigration Act also failed to establish a veritable tool for attracting foreign direct investment into the country.” The Bill seeks to put in place an appropriate legal framework that reflects existing realities in modern migration management in line with international best practice. The Bill make elaborate provi-

sions with respect to modern immigration related activities/functions and offences, together with appropriate penalties, so as to forestall the present frustrating experience of people violating our Immigration Laws with impunity, either because their actions are not covered by the 1963 law or the penalties stipulated are so negligible.

Two die in Ilorin auto crash Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

President Goodluck Jonathan (left), receiving the Plaque of the All Nigerian Confederation of School Principals Award from the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, during the presentation ceremony in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Baga: Army to begin trial of General, four others Our Correspondent

he Nigeria Army is to begin trial of Commander of the disbanded Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, Borno State, Brigadier General E. Ransome-Kuti and four of his Commanding Officers (COs) on May 21, New Telegraph learnt yesterday. They will be tried by a General Court-Martial (GCM) presided over by

Major General Akelem with seven other senior officers as members. The definite date was arrived at, after the inauguration of the GCM at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) Garrison in Abuja, where previous GCMs had held. General Ransome-Kuti is to face trial alongside four other officers, over the fall of the MNJTF base in Baga in early January, to Boko Haram. Before the inauguration of the GCM yester-

We didn't cancel residency training, says Lagos govt Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State government has denied cancelling residency training programme for doctors in the service of the state. New Telegraph gathered that the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration, had in 2011, stopped the intake of new resident doctors following an industrial face-off between the state government and doctors. Hence, the Medical Guild, while protesting over outstanding arrears

Another key element of the Bill is the inclusion of the aspects of the Nigeria’s New Visa Policy, particularly Visa on Arrival and other incentives in favour of frequent travel business persons of international repute such as Directors of multinational companies, aimed at attracting foreign direct investment, skilled migrant workers, innovators and entrepreneurs, with the attendant benefits of creation of wealth and employment opportunities while also boosting tourism.

recently, had also raised concerns on the cancellation of residency programme and its attendant effect on the already inadequate medical doctors and health care givers in LASUTH. But responding to the allegation Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said it was untrue that the state government stopped training doctors for the state-owned health facilities, saying that the government was only reviewing the residency programmes.

day, counsel to the onestar General and others, had raised objection to the constitution of the panel, arguing that by virtue of a statement earlier credited to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah, the accused officers may not get fair hearing. Their argument was predicated on the fact that the panel now has a predetermined mindset, against the backdrop of Minimah's statement at the COAS conference,

that the court martial of officers and soldiers, was partly responsible for the string of successes in the ongoing counter-insurgency war. The defence counsel were also said to have raised objection to the membership of the Judge Advocate (JA), Lieutenant Colonel Ukpe Ukpe, on the grounds that he ought not sit as JA, having purportedly reviewed the case. A highly-placed source, who spoke with New Telegraph on condition of

FG approves policy on renewable energy Anule Emmanuel

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved a draft National Policy on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for the country. The decision is part of the government’s step to improve electricity supply through alternative sources. Briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister

of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, who was joined by the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, said the country was greatly blessed with hydro, solar, wind and other sources of energy which must be tapped. He said the policy, which will be tested over time before being packaged into a bill for enactment into law by the National Assembly, would help increase access to electricity to Nigerians, particularly those in remote areas.

anonymity, said: "Finally, the GCM has been inaugurated and a date for commencement of trial of the General and four others, has been fixed for May 21. "The date was fixed after the panel overruled objections raised by the General and other accused officers. "While the first objection was hinged on a statement the Chief of Army Staff made during the 1st COAS conference held in Abuja, the second was on the JA.

wo people lost their lives yesterday evening in a ghastly accident that occurred in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The accident, according to eyewitness accounts occurred along the popular New Yidi Road, opposite Irewolede Estate at about 5pm. The incident involved a Siena space bus, a tricycle belonging to a new fast food outlet in the metropolis and a commercial motorcyclist. The two victims were identified as the bike rider and an unidentified man. Eyewitness accounts claimed that the driver of the bus, with registration FST 459 BH, branded with a political party posters was allegedly drunk and was over speeding and veered off the road, before crashing into the incoming tricycle and commercial motorcycle. It was learnt that both the drivers of the space bus and tricycle, who sustained head injuries were taken to the general hospital for treatment.

Minister urges Buhari to sustain one LG, one mineral policy

r Musa Sada, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, has urged the incoming administration to sustain the execution of ``One Local Government, One Mineral Commodity ‘’ policy initiated by the current administration. Sada told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja yesterday that the project was aimed at developing one mineral in each of the local governments of the federation, as part of efforts to boost job creation.

He said each local government was either blessed with one or the other mineral, adding that the structured exploitation of the minerals would lead to diversification of the economy, solve unemployment and boost GDP. Sada said the Federal Government, in recognition of the potential of the solid minerals sector, had strengthened its solid minerals’ development with the ``One local government, one mineral development policy.’’

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Pastor returns from ministers’ conference with heroin MINISTERING DRUGS A cleric conceals 1.978kg of heroin in the false bottom of his luggage

Juliana Francis

43-year-old pastor with Gospel Faith Mission International, Olayemi Assembly, Ipaya, Lagos State, has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as he was returning from Ministers’ Conference in Uganda. The pastor, Daniel Akintola, was found with 1.978kg of heroin concealed in a false bottom of his luggage. Akintola’s arrest came weeks after another Lagosbased pastor was arrested for smuggling narcotics to South Africa at the Lagos Airport. Akintola was arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA). Another suspect, Onwuegbusi Victor, 48, was also found with 51.5kg of ephedrine inside his luggage. Akintola, who claimed ownership of the bag containing heroin, said that he was returning from a pastor’s conference. He said: “I’m a pastor with Gospel Faith Mission International, Olayemi Assembly, Ipaya, Lagos. I attended a minister’s conference in Uganda. This bag where heroin was found is my bag but I’m pastor and not a drug trafficker.” The Head, Media and Publicity, NDLEA, Mitchel Ofoyeju, said that the suspect, who lived in Lagos, could not produce evidence that he actually attended a minister’s conference in Uganda. He said: “Besides, he also did not give any reason for leaving Entebbe, Uganda en-route Addis Ababa to Enugu.” The NDLEA commander at the Enugu Airport, Mr Nsikak-

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Akintola

Servant murders female pub owner Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

A Victor

Abasi Udoh, said Akintola wanted to abandon his luggage at the arrival hall for fear of arrest. He said: “Akintola unlawfully possessed 1.978kg of heroin while returning from Entebbe, a major town in central Uganda. He wanted to abandon the luggage but we detected his intention. The drug was carefully concealed in a false bottom of his luggage. “The second suspect is a businessman who had parcels of ephedrine weighing 51.5kg which he wanted to smuggle to Maputo, Mozambique. The suspects are being investigated.” Onwuegbusi said he was asked to take the bag of ephedrine to Mozambique for $2,500. He said: “I’m a businessman

but after the Customs seized my goods, I became stranded. They paid my return ticket and promised that the person that would receive the bag in Maputo will give me $2,500. I would have invested the money in import business.” The resident pastor of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim at AgodoEgbe, Ikotun Lagos, was recently arrested over unlawful exportation of 174 kilograms of narcotic drugs to South Africa. The suspect, Prophet Michael Raji, was arrested following the interception of the drug at the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) during pre-shipment examination.

65-year-old woman, identified as Agnes Elue, who ran a pub otherwise called joint in Enugu has reportedly been murdered by an attendant in her pub. The woman, who resided at 293b, Agbani Road off Oneday International Hotel Road, Enugu, where the joint is located, was allegedly murdered by Joseph Ijah, following dispute over the day’s sales proceeds. Police sources said yesterday that it was an attempt to get the servant to render accurate account of the sales made in the shop for the day that resulted in the dispute and Elue’s eventual death. The suspect has been arrested by the police. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amaraizu, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed the incident. A police source said: “Ijah escaped, leaving the body inside one of the rooms for some days before it was discovered and re-

ported to the police. “Following the report, operatives swung into action and the suspect was arrested. Following his arrest, suspect, who gave his name as one Joseph Ijah, who had been living with the deceased as a servant for many years, revealed that on that fateful day, the madam confronted him to render account of the sales he had made which angered the suspect. “The woman was in one of the rooms waiting for the account to be rendered, when the man hit her on the head with a pestle. This caused the death of the woman.”

IGP, Solomon Arase

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

Taiwo Jimoh

ne of the suspected kidnappers, who abducted a 62-year-old woman, said but for abduction, he would not have been able to graduate from the polytechnic. The suspect, Kolawole Alani, 26, a graduate of Business Administration from Gateway Polytechnic, said that he joined the gang of kidnappers and used money accrued from the business to finance his education. He said he had gone on other kidnapping with the gang, but denied being part of the operation that led to the abduction of the old woman. Alani said he was given N100,00 and N150,000 after ransoms were paid. He said: “Before I graduated, I was working as a casual worker with the former Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). My financial situation became unbearable to my friend, the late Niyi. He promised he would assist me to get a job. He told me the type of business and I agreed to join. I badly needed the money.” Alani said that his duty was to keep watch over the victims. He explained that his family

TRIGGER-HAPPY A father of one trying to ensure orderliness was shot dead by a triggerhappy cop in Lagos

‘I funded my tertiary education with abduction proceeds’ members did not know what he did for a living or how he got his money. The Lagos State Police Command said Alani belonged a six-man gang. The 62-year-old victim, Kudirat Adeboye, was rescued in their den at Akodo area of the state. Adeboye was kidnapped at Akodo bus stop, on Eleko Epe Expressway. The incident occurred around 6:30am, on April 16. Aside from Alani, other suspects presently in police custody are Ifeanyi Chukwuleta, 25, and Rasheed Adetunji, 28. The police said that after the disappearance of the victim, her family members raised a search party and also alerted the Akodo Police Station. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, said that immediately he got information about the woman’s abduction, he ordered the officer in charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS),

The suspects

The late Akeem

curred around 6pm on Tuesday, on Karim Lakanu Street, Egbeda. Paul said the ASP brought out his service pistol from his waistband and shot Akeem. Still armed with the gun, he grabbed a commercial motorcyclist and ordered the rider to take him away from the scene. According to Paul, trouble

started after a tricycle rider, fully loaded with passengers, tried to reverse, unaware that a motorcyclist was coming behind. The tricycle hit the motorcycle carrying the policeman. According to Paul, the policeman, who was in mufti, jumped down and threatened to deal with the tricycle rider. He said: “We did not know he was a policeman. He challenged the tricycle rider. Akeem and I got up from where we were and went over to start begging and apologising to him. We begged him because we wanted him to allow the tricycle rider to go. As he stood in front of the tricycle, holding unto it, he had already caused traffic jam. “But despite that, he refused to leave the road and the traffic continued to build up. While this was going on, a motorcyclist rode past, he said if you people knew who you were dealing with, you would

One dies as container falls on tricycle rider Taiwo Jimoh

here was pandemonium at Mushin Olosa area of Lagos metropolis yesterday after a container fell on a tricycle rider, killing him in the process. The brake of the truck, carrying the container, failed, resulting in the tilting of the container as the driver struggled to control the wheels. The incident, which occurred about 11am, also injured a trader. A witness said that the driver fought to control the container not to fall on trad-

Moments after the kidnapper came out of the bush to collect the ransom, hidden policemen surfaced. The kidnapper tried to run, but was shot in the leg. He led policemen to their hideout. The kidnapper later died from the wound sustained from the gunshot. Items recovered from the suspects are one double-barrelled pistol, two expended cartridges and six live cartridges.

ASP kills father of one

Juliana Francis ngry tricycle riders yesterday besieged Afonka Police Station at Akowonjo, Egbeda area of the Lagos metropolis demanding justice over the shooting and subsequent killing of their colleague by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP). The deceased, Aranse Akeem, 31, a father of one, was said to have been shot at close range by the ASP simply identified as Mohammed on Tuesday night. Akeem died on the spot. The bullet, which went through from left side of his chest, came out from his back. A tricycle rider, Mr Basa Paul, who witnessed Akeem’s murder, said the incident oc-

Mr Abba Kyari and two other decoy operatives to Epe. He said: “After six days of incarceration, the kidnappers contacted the victim’s family. They demanded ransom. After much pleading, they agreed to accept N3 million from family members. The kidnappers directed the victim’s son to bring the ransom to Ijebu-Ode Road, where one of them would meet him from the bush.”

ers and passers-by. He said: “When the driver was trying to do that, the container fell off. The tricycle rider and a trader by the roadside were the only two people affected. The tricycle rider later died.” The victims were rushed to the University of Lagos Teaching (LUTH), Hospital, Idi-Araba. Another witness said: “The incident could have been averted, but the way people are trading and parking on the road was too chaotic. I urge officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) to control the activi-

ties of the traders by the roadside to avert such accidents in the future.” Another trader, who identi-

The scene of the accident.

not dare to argue with or challenge him. “Akeem held him and dragged off the tricycle, so that motorists could pass. That was how he brought out pistol from his waistband and shot Akeem. He shot again into the air and people fled. He stopped a motorcyclist and ordered him to take him away. I quickly followed them with my tricycle. I knew he was running away. When I was about to lose them, I stopped a motorcyclist and followed them.” Paul said he trailed them until the policeman entered Unity Estate Close, beside the Abdul-azee’s Central Mosque, Abule-Odu area. But after he challenged him, the same motorcyclist took him away again. According to Paul, the motorcyclist was later apprehended. It was through him they got to know the ASP’s name. Akeem’s body had been taken to a mortuary at Yaba. fied himself simply as Dapo, said the incident was painful to them, adding that because of the exorbitant rate of shops in the area, most traders could not rent shops, thus they converted roadside to their shops.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

City Briefs Robbers kill ex-commissioner’s brother Joe Obende Warri

unmen believed to be robbers have killed the brother of a former Commissioner for Transport in Delta State, George Timinimi. The victim, Christopher Timinimi, was shot dead on Saturday on the outskirts of Warri. It was learnt that he was shot on OkereUgborikoko Road by Idiaregbe Junction in Uvwie Local Government Area while driving his car. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he died the following from excessive bleeding. Timinimi, a middle-aged man from Kunukunuma of Gbaramatu Kingdom was said to have been shot on the leg while reversing his car after refilling his gas cylinder by the bandits fleeing from police. A family source said: “The incident occurred about 7:30pm around Idiaregbe by Okere-Ugborikoko Road. An eye witness said that my brother, Christopher Timinimi, was shot by gunmen suspected to be robbers.

Motorcyclists on the rampage over ban Camillus Nnaji

ommercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada riders took to the streets yesterday at Lakki area of Lagos metropolis to protest a government ban at Lekki Phase 1. It was gathered that the protesters blocked the road leading to Lekki-Eko Bridge which many motorists in the axis use while going to work. Some residents said the attitude of motorcyclists did not go down well with the executive secretary of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, who allegedly engaged the services of touts to confiscate any motorcycle seen in the area. The touts allegedly beat up one of the riders after he refused to let them seize his motorcycle. This, according to a source, led to a serious fight between some of motorcyclists, bus drivers and the thugs.

Praises as Iliya leaves NNS Wey Flora Onwudiwe

he Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Wey, Commodore Ignatius Iliya, has been redeployed as the new deputy Superintendent of the Naval Ordnance Depot (NOD), Navy Town, Ojo. Iliya, who resumed recently as Deputy Superintendent of NOD, was officially send forth by the new Commandant of NNS Wey, Commodore Celestine Odiase, and other senior officers. The get-together was held at the NNS Wey Officers’ Mess, Navy Town, Ojo. Iliya graduated from the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), as a member of the 36 Regular Course and has attended several courses both within and outside the country. The former commandant said he was overwhelmed by the warmth displayed by his friends and colleagues, adding that he had already resumed work at NOD. Iliya said he would not have been able to succeed without the support given to him by corporate organisations.

12 News

thursday, may 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

Speakership: North Central Reps' caucus endorses Dogara Philip Nyam ABUJA

he North Central caucus in the House of Representatives has formally declared its support for the candidature of Hon. Yakubu Dogara (APC, Bauchi) current chairman of the House Services committee. This is just as the Conference of Former Speakers yesterday endorsed deputy chairman of the House Committee on Constituency Outreach, Hon. Pally Iriase (APC, Edo) as speaker of the 8th Assembly. The North Central Caucus in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday containing list of members from the six states of the region and the Federal Capital Territory, resolved to give Dogara "bloc vote" next month when the House is inaugurated.

The statement was jointly signed by a group of serving, returning and fresh members-elect in the House from the six states of the north central and the FCT. The signatories include Chairman Committee on Capital Market, Hon. Herman Hembe, (APC Benue), Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo, (PDP, FCT), Hon. Umar Bago (PDP, Niger), Hon. Samson Okwu,(PDP Benue), Hon. Umar Buba Jibril,(APC, Kogi),Hon. Zakari Mohammed (APC, Kwara), Hon. Davematics Ombugado, (PDP, Nasarawa) and fresh memberelect, Hon. Golu Thimothy, (PDP, Plateau). The statement reads: "The North Central Zonal Caucus of the House of Representatives hereby announces its endorsement of Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House in the next assembly. "We have resolved to deliver bloc votes to Dogara

during the election and ensure that we further canvass for votes and support for him from other zones. We are pleased with his aspiration which is motivated by selfless service, the desire to consolidate on the gains of the seventh assembly recorded under the able leadership of Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from 2011 to date. "We must strive hard to sustain and consolidate on the giant strides made by the Tambuwal leadership and that is why only personalities like Dogara

have the capacity to lead the next assembly. His legal background of 22 years experience, composure, humility and intellect readily comes to mind. “In light of the above, we are calling on all elected members from different parts of the country to come on board this movement and consolidate on the gains of the seventh assembly. We also urge all well-meaning Nigerians to support this project as Nigeria needs credible people to help President-elect Muhammadu

Buhari to succeed in effecting the much needed change in our polity. "We are, therefore, fully in support of the 8th Assembly Consolidation Project of Hon. Yakubu Dogara as it is the surest way towards enthroning visionary, purposeful, courageous and credible leadership in the next assembly." Meanwhile, the Conference of Former Speakers yesterday threw its weight behind the aspiration of Pally Iriase representing Owan East/West federal constituency of Edo for

the position of speaker. The endorsement was announced by Hon. Friday Itulah (PDP, Edo) at the meeting of the speakers at the National Assembly. The former speakers said with the experience Iriase garnered as speaker of Edo state between 1999 and 2003, he was eminently qualified to function as speaker of the House. The lawmakers congratulated Plateau State Governorelect, Simon Lalong on his victory as well as Governor Chibuike Amaechi for his contributions to the success of the group.

Shell declares force majeure on 400, 000 barrels pd crude exports Adeola Yusuf

Houston, Texas

oyal Dutch Shell has declared force majeure on exports of Nigeria's 400, 000 capacity Forcados crude oil stream. A spokesman for the company, who said this yesterday, maintained that his company declared force majeure on the evening on May 5 following "a series of leaks" in the Trans Forcados pipeline that brings the oil to the export terminal.” The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operates the pipeline. Reuters, which reported that this, added that several cargoes of Forcados for May loading were still on

offer, with around 189,000 barrels per day (bpd) scheduled for export in six cargoes. The June export programme, with a total of 158,000 bpd, had not yet started trading, sources said. An overhang of light sweet crudes in the Atlantic Basin has depressed differentials to dated Brent and limited the impact of recent supply disruptions on some West African crude oil grades. Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said that it was leading the drive to attract massive global investments into the nation’s gas sub-sector, as a way of ameliorating the effect of drop in crude oil prices on the Nigerian economy.

Senate presidency: South-East group roots for Lawan

iting consistency in character, capacity and competence, the SouthEast Chapter of the National Coalition for Good Governance, has pleaded with the Senators-elect to “unanimously” elect Senator Ahmad Ibrahin Lawan as the President of Senate. The group, which consists of a number of NonGovernmental Organisations, in a press statement released in Abuja at the end of a post general elections forum, said from its analysis of governance, the nation would require a stable, visionary and

purposeful National Assembly, which “the Senate Presidency of Senator Ahmed Lawan will guarantee”. In an apparent analysis of all contenders for the post, the group declared, “having scored so high in the areas of consistency, character and competence we, therefore, strongly appeal to the APC and the Senators-elect to please do the needful for the sake of posterity by electing unanimously, distinguished Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan as the President of Senate”.

L-R: Former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Okoro; former Speaker Delta State House of Assembly; Hon. Omatsone Jude and Chairman, Conference of former Speakers State Houses of Assembly, Hon. Friday Itulah, at the conference of former Speakers State in Abuja ..yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

DMO boss, Nwankwo, risks jail term for contempt of court Akeem Nafiu

ontempt proceedings have been slammed on the Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Abraham Nwankwo, by Ecobank Nigeria Limited, over alleged disobedience of court's order. In the matter before Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court in Lagos, Nwakwo was accused by the bank

of frustrating its move to recover a huge debt allegedly owed it by an oil marketing firm, First Deepwater Discovery Limited. According to court papers, Ecobank had, on February 25, 2015, secured an interim order of Justice Yunusa directing the DMO to transfer the outstanding fuel subsidy sum due to Deepwater Discovery Limited into the company's account

IGP orders immediate restoration of sick officer's salaries Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

he Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, has directed the restoration of salaries and payment of outstanding arrears of W/ Sergeant Ajuma Ibrahim, with immediate effect. A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO),

Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting Commissioner of Police, said Ibrahim, "who had been sick for some time", is attached to the Lagos State Police Command. It added that the female Sergeant's "Inability to fill the required emolument forms and processing the same in compliance with extant regulations led to the salary predicament". She has not been paid since June, 2013.

with the bank. The bank had claimed that Deepwater Discovery Limited had a cumulative fuel subsidy claim of about N1.8bn with DMO, out of which it claimed that N845million plus was due for payment. Yunusa had, in the said order, directed DMO to transfer with dispatch the sum of N845million plus due to Deepwater into its account with Ecobank to offset part of the alleged

debt the oil marketing firm allegedly owed the bank. The judge had also directed the DMO to "communicate the PEF/ Admin Charges on the balance sum of N1,020, 451,733.22 to the plaintiff/applicant via the receiver/manager and to pay forthwith, remit or otherwise transfer the entire sum to the first defendant's account with the plaintiff/applicant."

Alleged land scam: EFCC arraigns minister's ex-aide Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will today arraign Muhammed Gital, a former Chief of Staff to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed. According to a statement signed by the Head of Media and Publicity

of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, Gital, he will be arraigned alongside a Deputy Director of Mass Housing at the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Sani Abba. The suspects are to face trial before an FCT High Court on offences bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, obtaining by false pretence and abuse of office.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 7, 2015

General elections

Labour Party has no regrets supporting Jonathan – Ajulo

Governance

Hausa want representation in Lagos govt – Abdullahi

Speakership

Tambuwal’s episode won’t happen again – Jibrin

Politics

What Buhari should do to reposition Nigeria, by Odom Chief Chuka Odom is a former Minister of State for Environment, Housing and Urban Development before moving to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as Minister of State as well. In this interview with WALE ELEGBEDE, the Ikeduru, Imo Stateborn politician speaks on the last general elections, the new status of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as opposition party and other sundry issues. Excerpts: What is your assessment on the March 28 and April 11 general elections? That elections represent the will of the Nigerian people. It may not be perfect, it could have been done better; the card reader saga and the failure of the device to work in many areas was a debacle which could have put a dent on the credibility of the elections. But in spite of all that, the question is that: does the outcome represent the will and desire of greater number of Nigerians? The answer is Yes! Whatever it is, it is an election that represents the interest and the views and positions of most

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Odom

Nigerians and to that extent, it is credible. But some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) felt irritated that President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat too early but some hailed him as hero? This is the normal cycle, elections are won and lost and the losers concede to the victors. President Jonathan’s action is novel in the sense that this is the first time that an incumbent is being taking out of office in an electoral contest without him trying to manipulate things and I say he gets all the deserved praise. But then, that is the norm. People should not be praised for doing what they ought to do. He is getting all the praise because what he did is novel in Africa. We have to build this system to the point where nobody will be praised for doing what they are supposed to do. How would you rate the performance of the PDP in the Imo governorship contest? My assessment of the election is that we (PDP) handed over the state back to the All Progressives Congress (APC) voluntarily be-

He should build up a new modern Nigeria that is based on diverse sources of revenue not just oil

cause the same problem PDP had at the centre is the same problem we had at the state – blantant impunity. From the delegates’ election, in my constituency, Ikeduru, somebody sat in his house, compiled the delegates’ list and sent it to Abuja. And in Abuja they were trading cash there to change them after the election. So, what do you expect because at the end of the day there was no party but a criminal enterprise. So, it was bound to collapse. There was so much arrogance and confidence because they believe that money answers everything but at the end of the day it turned out false. What is your take on calls for a government of national unity and reconciliation across board? What are we reconciling? Did we fight a civil war? The dynamics of politics will always be there. If you can recall, after the independence, the Hausa-Fulani North and the Igbo of the South-East have always formed alliance. That has always been the political configuration of power because Nigeria’s political stability is built on a tripod-the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, these are the major tribes. The

dynamics of governing Nigeria has always revolved around these three ethnic groups. But today, the pendulum has swung in another direction, it is now Hausa-Fulani and the Yoruba coming together to put the Igbo in opposition, so it is not going to last forever and it is not a war or battle, it is political engineering. So, if you are talking about national reconciliation, you will be thinking of genocide or actions that created rifts and are too difficult to close. These are results of political engineering. If President Jonathan had been able to secure a good chunk of votes in the South-West, if not for the problem he had with Olagunsoye Oyinlola and all these people that hold the party in the region, and if he had picked up two or three more states in the North Central or North West, he would have won the election because the margin is about two million votes. If he had done that, these people would have gone back to the drawing table having coming this close to gaining power. For me, these are political evolutions pointing to the way power is being managed in Nigeria since CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Politics

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Labour Party has no regrets supporting Jonathan – Ajulo Kayode Ajulo is the National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP). In this interview, he speaks on the just-concluded general elections and what the face of the opposition will look like in the coming days, among other salient issues. WALE ELEGBEDE reports How would your party appraise its performance in the just-concluded general elections? What I will say generally about the elections is that I did not see it as an election. I see it more of a rigging competition where two opposing parties chose to go on a rigging spree and the smartest among the two got it. There are some states we were hoping to win like Oyo and Delta states, which was very clear. Even in Ebonyi State, there was no election there because they just declared their candidate the winner of the election and all these will be reviewed at the tribunal. We are sure the tribunal will agree with us by the time we come with our avalanche of evidence and facts of what we have. In Cross Rivers too, it is the same thing. There were no elections there too. But all in all, we can’t say we are not disappointed, we can’t say we are happy. And again, as a lawyer I am a little bit restrained to discuss this particularly when one is a party in the case. You need not to do anything that will prejudice the case at hand in the tribunal. For instance, when you look at the North it was more of underage that took the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), you can see on television stations showing in full glare how underage voters were accredited and voted. It is unfortunate that even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials accredited them. And in some core South-South area, what they did there was under table. In fact, when we call it underage in the North, we call it under table in the South. You see thumb print election materials here and there. So, we are yet to get to where we are going to in this country in terms of electioneering. Now that President Goodluck Jonathan has lost his re-election, if Governor Olusegun Mimiko decides to come back to Labour Party will he be welcome? When Mimiko was about to leave then he made far reaching consultation with a lot of people and from my own interpretation from what he told us is that he was going for a purpose and that purpose has a time limit. As far as I am concerned, all the time he

Ajulo

left, he left on sabbatical, now he should come back. His sabbatical is over. So, he should come back. He must come back and when he is coming he should not come alone, he should come with his people. Don’t you think the failure of the LP to present presidential candidate in the election affected the party’s fortunes in the elections? One thing we have to know is that we are so clear on our principles; we tried as much as possible to get a presidential candidate but we have criteria for that candidate. Give us Col. Umar Dankingari in Kaduna, we can field such a person as a candidate, even if it is Tunde Bakare, he could be a candidate too. We don’t believe in presenting just anybody as a candidate. When we realised that we cannot field a candidate within the circumstance at the closing of the nomination paper, we have to endorse a candidate, and this race is a strict race between General Muhammadu Buhari and President Jonathan. And as a realist party with ideology, the only person we can choose based on antecedent is President Jonathan. Today, Muhammadu Buhari is the President-elect and we have congratulated him. We wish him luck but if we must say the truth between the two of them, if you are to choose who is a pro-worker, it is Goodluck Jonathan. In his six years tenure as a president,

not one, you can hear anywhere, covertly or overtly, that a single worker has been retrenched in this country. Even in the face of opposition sometimes you still have to believe in the ideology that this government have. If tomorrow there is another election and if we are given the same circumstance, given the same discrepancy, we will still go with him. But if tomorrow General Buhari helps our interest, of course we will go for him but as now, no regrets.

I don’t think there will be anything like opposition in the DNA of PDP. They lack the capacity to be an opposition party

Do you mean you have no regrets in supporting President Jonathan? Of course, there is no regret. Honestly. How would you assess INEC performance during the election? INEC performance gives me a lot concerns because I believe if me as an applicant has a rules and regulation and where that rules and regulations are flaunted aided by the members of the commission, then there is an issue. That shows you that what happened in the North was the issue of underage while what happened in the South was the issue of under table and it shouldn’t have been like that. INEC is not prepared for that election. The card reader failed woefully to the extent that on the day of election the number one citizen of this country spent 35 minutes just to be accredited. And again, one has to commend him because had it been

it was another person, which we all know, he could have walked away and that would have been the end of the election. The card reader failed us. The question that we should ask is this, how can we tell ourselves that we had an election? Few months before the election, we were told that we are going to use the card reader and at the end of the day card reader failed. And in some places you told us that you used card readers; like the case of Kano, if it could take only one person 35 minutes to be accredited, and you have over one million voters accredited within some hours without any void. But we as a party cannot cry more than the bereaved, the loser of the election had accepted. Who am I? Especially when our party did not have a candidate. Is your party worried about what would become of the opposition and do you think PDP will be a virile opposition party to the APC? Let us be sincere, I don’t think there will be anything like opposition in the DNA of PDP. They lack the capacity to be an opposition party. And when you look at most of the characters that made up of PDP, 90 per cent of the characters in the party traditionally cannot be opposition. And mind you, most of them you can see they have been silent all these days may be precisely because they have lost the election, I don’t know. To really highlight the whole point, you can see two elected senators within two hours after their declaration jettisoned the party and moved to the APC, that really signifies something. And I believe Nigerians and even the party need to take serious stand on that. Some of them are even afraid to say a word because they are afraid that if they should say anything Buhari will come after them, so they prefer to remain mute wherever they are. So, how do you expect such people to be in opposition? They are going to be there. By the character of the PDP, by the way they were formed it shows that there is no way they can stand to be in the opposition. But it was said that if there is no viral opposition democracy is in danger; which other party can now present a virile opposition to the APC? That is why we are talking in LP. We are already doing that. What we need to do is to look at the political space of Nigeria, who is filling the opposition? We call APC the opposition when PDP was there; they are not even the opposition. The only thing they have been doing is to head the civil society, help the labour movement to be in opposition. But in the real sense, the real opposition is usually driven by the civil society. If we leave the APC with PDP there will be no choice for any Nigerian. There will be no choice for us and that is the reason we need to come together. We need to help ourselves to ensure that it happens. But I am not talking for the quest of power. I believe that our opposition will not be like the APC opposition that all they have been opposing is targeted towards one thing, to be in charge of the power. You don’t need to do that. What we will do is that where APC and PDP led governments are doing the right thing, we will praise and even commend them but where they found wanting, they should know that the Labour Party will not keep quiet.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 7, 2015

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

independence and it is not something for political or national reconciliation. What I think we lacked in Nigeria is integrity in our management of political power in Nigeria. Most people do not understand why they should remain where they are when they lose power and that is what is called developmental politics. You can’t be running helter-skelter because you want to join a party that just won election. Why did APC win election? For 16 years they have been trying to get power at the centre, they have tried everything. Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) contested elections in the past they lost. They realised that there was no way they can make it except they come together. So, the ACN, CPC, ANPP and other smaller groups came together and created a platform. As soon as that merger was approved and registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that was the day I knew that the business was over because they completely redrew the political map of Nigeria as far as power sharing is concern. So, what is left is for those in opposition to sit back and look at the redesigned power map of Nigeria to see how this power will come back again. Who are we going on this journey with? Are we going back to form alliance with the North who is our traditional ally? They are no more in bed with us. Nobody knows how long this Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani marriage will last. We don’t know whether it is going to be a permanent marriage or it is going to break down somewhere along the road. So, there are so many possibilities we can’t see from now. What makes democracy interesting are these dynamics but it is the players that have made it look cheap. If they can be patience and work for the people and see how the Buhari administration performs. The PDP will not be doing a national or patriotic duty for the country if all of them run to APC; they will be doing Nigeria a patriotic duty if they stayed back in PDP and find out why they lost the election, build the party and presents a credible, viable opposition to the APC. That is where the seed of the new power configuration will emerge. If the interpretation of reconciliation is for all of us to troop into APC and hug General Muhammadu Buhari and say Nigeria is one united country, let us move forward, let nobody criticize any other person that is the most silly and simplistic thing I have ever heard in the history of democracy. It is constructive engagement and opposition that makes democracy interesting. So, the issue here is that we should expand the scope of credible, creative opposition not destructive opposition. We must be an opposition that brings out the best in the ruling party and puts them on their toes to remember what they promised the people until that government is replaced by the opposition. That is how it is done in advance democracy. Do you agree with insinuation in some quarters that the South-East played politics of naivety by putting all their eggs in one basket during the 2015 general elections? The South-East followed what I

Odom: PDP’ll be a credible opposition

Odom

called political conventional wisdom. They had supported President Jonathan in 2011 and he won. The odds are that the opposition will lose as they usually lose. So, it was not a conscious decision, it was not as if a meeting was held that they were going to support Jonathan, they were just following conventional wisdom even in the face of emerging signals that the business is changing, nobody believed it. The argument was that this is Africa and the incumbent government with all the apparatus of the state, maybe the election will be closely fought but is unlikely PDP will lose. So, it is not naivety, it was miscalculation and we should call it by its name. The Igbos did not hold a town hall meeting and decided that they wanted to support Jonathan. There were factions in Ohanaeze who were saying that they were not interested in these blanket support for President Jonathan but they were voices in the minority and they didn’t represent the mainstream Igbo political thinking. Having being out of the political power loop for a long time, and Jonathan presenting to them some glimpse of relevance it was so easy for them to believe that let us continue. So, for anyone to say that it is naivety on the part of the Igbo, it will show abysmal ignorance of the political thinking processes in Nigeria. The election caught them unawares, it caught them off guard and that happens all the time not only in Nigeria but even in the United Kingdom, it happens everywhere where you have true democracy. People make calculations and computations and it falls flat on its face. They don’t run back to the winner

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

and throw their hands in the air that they surrender, they go back to redraw. There is no way Buhari would form a government without an Igbo man in his cabinet because there are Igbo people in APC.

PDP will be a good opposition party, but not with these characters that traded on the party’s goodwill for 16 years

What is your perspective on the concept of power sharing? The concept of power sharing is as fraudulent as the way politicians run the affairs of this country. They will say this zone will produce Senate President but how does that benefit them because you are giving it to an individual who will use the position to enrich himself and probably his village for the period he is there. How does it concern the North-East zone if they get the Senate President? Some of these things are what we have been branding around; nobody has critically questioned their relevance to the greater majority of the people. It is better for them to say that they are using it to balance power, to spread it based on the constitution but don’t say it will attract anything to that zone because it doesn’t. I am not opposed to it but don’t use an argument that you are bringing something to the zone as the basis for it, you can bring up any other argument. There are calls for the resignation of PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and the National Working Committee (NWC). Don’t you think this development might wane the PDP from being a virile opposition? No, the PDP will form a credible opposition but it will not form a credible opposition under the current leadership of the party. In fact, what happens in other clime is that Mu’azu and his team should

not have been told to resign, they should have resigned. This whole idea of playing bull in a China shop is unnecessary. You have lost an election massively, you have mismanaged the party, honour demands that they should quit and create room for a fresh, virile leadership of the party to emerge. A leadership that will create a team that will move the party forward. If you have a key member of the conservative party in the United Kingdom go to Labour Party at the end of an election, the entire administration will give up because it is a fundamental collapse of ideology and those who presided over it need not to be reminded that they have failed. We should not glamourise failure in any form or shape. Elections are made to be won and lost and this election was lost. For these people to continue to say they want to stay there till next year underlines the attitude that led to the loss of the election and that is power for power sake. There seems to be anxiety about the composition of cabinet members in the next dispensation. In your own view, who and who do you think should be in the cabinet if we must move forward as a nation? The only person who can answer that question is the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, and his team; they need to know who they want to use to work. Nigerians have come over the years to trust Buhari as a brand by his patterned lifestyle, past records in office and total disdain for primitive and crass accumulation that is a welcome development. This election was won by a brand, the Buhari brand. There are no two Buharis in Nigeria and he is not going to import people from outer space. The people who helped him win this election don’t share his perspective or lifestyle but they are the ones who dressed him up for the victory. The truth is that he has to manage them in such a way that he will not devalue what he represents as a brand and that is a major challenge before him. The other challenge is to be able to now bring them in when they begin to ring them in when they begin to dance to their own tune and not to the tune he is playing. Because they are going to say we funded his campaign, we bought his shoes and the agbadas, we brought the plane, so he has to let us recover part of it. So, how is he going to walk this tight rope? From where will they recover it or are you going to tell them to forget whatever investment they made that it was in the interest of Nigeria. What quick fix should the in-coming government focus on from May 29? Unemployment should be tackled because it is fuelling the insecurity in the country. The number of those who went to the stadium for the Immigration recruitment has increased more than they were in those photographs we saw. Also, energy crisis – we need to have stable power if Nigeria is to join the league of industrial nations. Like Singapore and other nations, we must deal with the fundamentals and this include creating an enabling environment for business to thrive. We have to diversify the economy in the true sense of it in the face of dwindling revenue CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

16 Politics Alhaji Ahmed Kabiru Abdullahi is the Chairman, Arewa Community in South-West and former All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial aspirant in Kaduna State. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on the 2015 general elections among others issues What do you think was responsible for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general elections? We supported General Muhammadu Buhari because we have the belief that he can save the country and bring the nation out of its present predicament. Nigeria without any doubt is sick and we need an experienced hand that can cure the country from corruption, unemployment and insecurity. In fact, the country is already compromised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government. So, we need somebody who will rescue Nigeria; the biggest Black African nation on earth from its present quagmire. And I have that belief that General Buhari can do it and that is why I supported him. What informed the decision of Hausa community in the South-West to support Buhari and Lagos APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode in the election? Before the general elections, the Arewa Community in South-West came together and agreed that we are going to support APC. The reason we publicly supported APC was because some people came out and said the Arewa community had endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan. So, to correct the wrong impression, we organised a convention and unanimously agreed that we should endorse General Muhammadu Buhari for president and also endorsed all the APC candidates; putting our weight fully behind the APC. The

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hausa want representation in Lagos govt – Abdullahi not scale through the primary elections and that was why they didn’t feature as candidates during the general elections. But that doesn’t mean that they should not give their backing to the party. They gave their backing to the party to make a difference. APC is a very democratic party. But the case in PDP is a case of fielding a candidate by fiat. We are in a democracy and as it continues, where you have people that contested and loss, some other time they will contest and win. We believe to be democratic and go by democracy.

Abdullahi

results of the elections are there to show for it. In all areas where Arewa Community have high population, we voted massively for APC and those places turn out to be where APC scored larger votes during the elections. APC did not lose any polling unit in the Arewa populated areas; in fact the party won by landslide. We had extra votes to give to pay the debt of areas where PDP scored high votes, especially in Igbo dominated areas. This shows that the resolution of the Arewa community was not mere empty boast; it was real and we carried it out to the letter. If you look at the entire SouthWest, you will observe that the Arewa community gave APC more votes than some states in Nigeria. What Arewa community is calling for is that they should be given rec-

The Arewa is not going to force APC the way Ndigbo is forcing PDP in Lagos to give them political slots

ognition the way they were given recognition in the First Republic. During the First Republic, the Minister for Lagos Affairs, Musa Yar’Adua was part and parcel of the Arewa community. We believe the Buhari government will put that in perspective and take care of people regardless of where they are. The Hausa community has large number in Lagos State. Why didn’t they go the way of other non-Yoruba speaking by contesting in the last general elections? It depends on the way people interpret it. The Igbo felt that is good for them while the Arewa felt they should develop harmonious relationship with their hosts. Some Arewa people came out and contested in the APC primaries but quite a number of them could

What is your advice to the Lagos State governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode? The governor-elect is an Arewa friend; we love him and we are so passionate about him. We know that he will take care of the Arewa people the way it should be. He should carry them along in the schemes of things. The Arewa is not going to force APC the way Ndigbo is forcing PDP in Lagos to give them political slots. We are not saying they should share the cabinet and give us 50 per cent. What we are saying is that when APC wants to appoint commissioners, they should give some slots to Arewa and we will give them our nominees. They must carry us along. If there are 40 commissioners in Lagos and they give us three or five slots, we are happy with that. We will also be happy if they give us some slots in the appointment of Special Advisers. Arewa’s joy is to see our people participating in scheme of things. Whatever qualification that is being sought for, the Arewa Community has it. We have qualified professionals in all fields of human endeavours. Gone are those days they said Arewa people are not educated. We will give Ambode our support, any day, any time. We supported him and we will continue to support him.

What Buhari should do to reposition Nigeria, by Odom C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

from oil. Nobody is better to do it than Buhari right now. He can start by creating an economy in the North-East and North-Central. That is where the diversification would start, the cash crops. He should build up a new modern Nigeria that is based on diverse sources of revenue not just oil. As we match forward in era of clean and sustainable energy, you will find out that countries are investing more in alternative sources of oil. So, the issue of power is key and critical to development. If he takes care of these fundamentals, he needs not to worry about political stability. Finally, he should tackle the institutionalisation of corruption. It has gone from pointing accusing fingers and he must start from somewhere using the platform of the judiciary and investigative agencies to get to the root of this massive looting and

I know a lot of people for economic reasons have moved over to the APC, and they will continue to move

haemorrhaging of the economy by people who are entrusted with the powers to superintend over our commonwealth. It won’t be witch-hunting, all he needs to do is to put structures in place and give the anti-graft agencies a free hand and empower them to look at whole thing, evidence-based and find the truth. We are not interested in witch-hunting anybody and he knows he will run into a blind hallow if that was the motive. The motive should be to create a new Nigeria where certain codes of behaviour are unacceptable. And the only way he can do it is to strengthen the judiciary, create credible anti-graft agencies and let them do their work. We must divest powers and make it a true federal state. If you create strong institutions, people will do their work independent of you, all they need is the body language that the president has no hand in it.

Are we heading to a one-party state in Nigeria with the mass defection to the APC? Nigeria is not heading to a oneparty state because the dynamics and the conflict of interest that is inherent in the polity we operate will make it impossible for Nigeria to head to a one-party state. I know a lot of people for economic reasons have moved over to the APC, and they will continue to move. Don’t misunderstand me; if people have a reason to move over to another political party and that reason is cogent and it is done in national interest, of course, that can be understood. But not in the sheer mass exodus we are witnessing where almost one-third of the party in many states moving over to the other party, it shows that there was no ideology, no conviction. It was politics of the stomach like the Ekiti governor would call it. Trust me, in spite of all those

defections, they will still come back. The dynamics will create an opposition. What should the PDP do to maintain a virile opposition? The leadership of the PDP at the national and state levels should resign to create room for a national convention of the party so as to elect fresh blood that will create this opposition. PDP will be a good opposition party but not with these characters that traded on the party’s goodwill for 16 years and brought about this massive collapse. They should just resign as a matter of principle and the president as the leader of the party in opposition choose and select a committee to look at what happened to the PDP. They will visit all the states, interview all the players and submit a report. The report should set out a new modalities for creating a new PDP.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, May 7, 2015

Tambuwal’s episode won’t happen again – Jibrin Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin is the chairman, House Committee on Finance and one of the contenders for the speakership of the House of Representatives. In this interview, the lawmaker bares his mind on the race for principal offices of the National Assembly, zoning and other salient issues. DONALD OJOGO reports Some persons have said that the problem with your aspiration is that you’re from Kano State and the presidentelect is from Katsina State in the same North West. How do you marry the aspiration with this? In the first place, I think we are getting the interpretation of the zoning completely wrong. The president is not supposed to be zoned; he is the president of Nigeria. General Muhammadu Buhari was never presented as the candidate of the North West; he was presented as the candidate of Nigeria. He is supposed to be neutral and not show bias to any zone. The whole idea was for the president to emerge first. After the emergence of the president, then the six geo-political zones will now sit down and distribute whatever positions that are left, particularly those of the parliament. I think we need to get this properly right. You’re going to have seven segments, six are that of the zone and one is that of the president. This is really going to help the country when people realise that the president is not supposed to be included. If the president is included in the zoning, Rochas Okorocha wouldn’t have contested against General Buhari. So, the presidency was never zoned to the North-West. Yes, of course Mr. President will be very proud that he is from the NorthWest, but this idea of trying to exclude the North-West from other offices because the president comes from the zone is very unfair and is tantamount to blackmail and I don’t think anybody should blackmail the North-Western part of the country. Won’t there be the Aminu Tambuwal scenario where Namadi Sambo became vice president from Kaduna and the speaker from Sokoto both in NorthWest? Are you not playing the same drama? I didn’t talk about every member. I’m calling on eligible senators and eligible members of the House of Reps to all come out and contest for leadership positions of the National Assembly. I want to say it without any contradiction that the Tambuwal

Kwankwaso has that comparative advantage of age over General Muhammadu Buhari, and I thought age is also a factor. That was why I made that statement then and I meant it and wanted Kwankwaso to win the primaries, but we went and met all the delegates in Lagos. They voted massively for General Buhari; we came second in the race and the party collapsed all as one and we became a family. Since then, I’m sure you never heard me again criticizing the president-elect. He is ours and we’re going to give him 100 per cent maximum support from the point of view of legislators to ensure that he delivers all the promises that he made to Nigerians during the campaigns. I have no issues with the presidentelect, but I also have no apology for the position that I took then.

Jibrin

scenario cannot happen under the present circumstances. In 2011, it happened. I was in the tick of everything that took place. We did everything that we did, and we have no regrets of apologies. But it is not going to happen this time around. In 2011, we were in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and we were not happy with the party. We had issues with the president then, but the scenario now is completely different. We’re happy with our party and we have a strong Presidentelect who is a well-respected man of integrity, no nonsense president and everybody respects him. The psychological feelings among members is completely different. Everybody has respect for the party and the President-elect. If you look at it in 2011, there were no sufficient candidates from where the majority party wanted to bring the speaker from. But in this case, there are a lot of competent people who are gunning for the position of speaker. I think we’re not going to have any challenge choosing anybody to come up as the new speaker. So, I strongly believe we cannot have the Tambuwal scenario. Some aspirants who are flying that flag of the Tambuwal scenario, I think they’re only trying to play to the gallery; they cannot go against the party. The party is strong enough; everybody respects the party. I think the party will deal decisively with anybody who tries to set it on collision with members of the House. If the party comes out to zone, it is very dangerous if you go against it, because it is going to lay a very faulty foundation for the Buhari adminis-

Tambuwal scenario cannot happen under the present circumstances. In 2011, it happened. I was in the tick of everything that took place

tration and we don’t want to do that. It is in the interest of everyone to support the zoning arrangement of the party. I believe they’re going to do it with fairness and justice. We will respect the zoning formula. I know of an aspirant who came out to say he is not going to respect the zoning formula of the party, and I think the party has taken note of that and they should take the necessary action. Someone mentioned that that particular aspirant took that position because he wants to seduce members of the PDP to come and support him, but I know members of the PDP; I’ve been with them for four years. If you think to be rebellious against your own party is the only way you can use to lure PDP to support you, I wish you good luck, but I think the PDP is smarter than that. You said something about Buhari enjoying respect. It is surprising that you’re the one saying this when you openly opposed his aspiration to be APC presidential candidate; that you wanted somebody younger. When did you change? A lot of people have come up to say to me that during the build up to the APC presidential primaries I was an ardent opposition to the General. Of course I did that without any apology. They said it is a sharp contrast from my present position with the kind of totality of support I’m giving Buhari and also mobilising people to extend same support to him. In the build up to the primaries, I was supporting my governor, a very great Nigerian, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and I particularly mentioned the issue of age because

Based on what you said, will it be safe to say your aspiration is now subject to the zoning formula of your party? Of course I have said that and maybe if you want an emphasis, I have said it very clearly. Every right thinking leader and member of the APC should support whatever zoning formula of the party, because if you don’t, it is going to set the party on a very wrong footing, and the foundation is going to be faulty; we’re going to have all sorts of problems. That is not what we want. Are you disturbed as a member of the party that it is yet to come out with a firm and definitive statement on the zoning issue? This is politics where so much is happening on a daily basis in terms of meetings and permutations. Covert and overt campaigns are going on. From the point of view of an aspirant, the earlier the party comes up with the zoning formula the better. But you also have to understand the constraints of the party as it will have to sit not to take a hasty decision that it will later come to regret. They will need to consult extensively and meet at different levels of authority to take decisions that will divide the party, although you can’t make everybody happy, but not to substantially divide the country and the party. What do you think gives you an edge to be speaker and what is your relationship with your colleagues? I came into the House four years ago and I have been chairman of the Finance Committee since then. I have participated in a lot of parliamentary investigations. I’ve served in a lot of ad-hoc committees and I’ve been in the centre of everything that has happened in the last four years. I’ve mastered the rules of the House. I understand the dynamics of working and leading equals. My educational background also prepared me. I attended a lot of public schools in Nigeria from primary to my university. I went abroad and combined it with my vast local experience in Nigerian educational CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Buhari and the tough calls ahead

n less than a month, General Muhammadu Buhari will become Nigeria’s leader. Again. This time as an elected President, as against a military dictator the first time he occupied the same position about 30 years ago. For the next four years, he would have the very enormous responsibility of making decisions for the present and future wellbeing of Nigerians wherever they may be across the world. And for the good of generations yet unborn. One decision he will have to take very quickly is whether to remove or retain fuel subsidy. If he opts for removal, whether it should be total or graduated. Nigerians want steady supply of fuel, and at a price most of them can afford. However, this ‘affordable’ price is below cost. As of today, the true pump price of a litre of petrol, according to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) is N130.96. With the product being sold at N87, and the daily petrol consumption in the country put at 40 million litres, it means government is subsidising consumption of this commodity to the tune of N1.758 billion every day. The current fuel scarcity being experienced across the country may linger till after Buhari’s inauguration on May 29, and may be the first major call he has to make. The outgoing government and the ‘cartel’ that imports fuel are at loggerheads regarding how much is being owed the importers. Just last week, the government, according to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, paid these

Leaders et al BIODUN DUROJAIYE biodundurojaiye@gmail.com, Twitter: @itweekonline

importers, who are largely organised under Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), N156 billion. But they disputed this, saying N154 billion was paid. And that N200 billion was still being owed them, as against N131 billion claimed by government. A frustrated Okonjo-Iweala said, last week: “It has become a situation where we have a cartel that can ground the nation to a halt at will. I strongly suggest that the nation has to do something about it. It has been very stressful for four years, trying to cope with a group that controls a very important sector of a nation and they are small enough to organise themselves. “This means that they can hold a nation to ransom anytime they want. And that is what is happening. I remember when I came back as finance minister on August 17th, 2011, the first thing that confronted me was this scandal of subsidies. By then, more that N 1 trillion had already been paid. And we went through that whole thing and since then we cleaned up, restructured and trimmed down. “You see that the amount we have been paying year by year diminished substantially to about N971 billion a year, down from the N 2.3 trillion of 2011. We

brought it from N 2.3 trillion to about N 971 billion that has been in the budget each year. So, we made very substantial restructuring and changes to the whole process that brought the amount down for the nation, yet we have to deal with this problem and the whole country has seen us trying our best struggling”, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said. Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will have to hit the ground running by finding a better solution than the outgoing government has to this issue of fuel crisis. As President, Buhari will be presented with several possible methods of tackling the crisis by aides, advisers and others in his party. But it is his duty, at the end of the day, to make the call. If he gets it right, the nation benefits. If not, the suffering continues. Ultimately, it will also be his responsibility to decide who to support to become Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives; whether or not to grant an increase in minimum wage as will be demanded by labour unions; and how to tackle incessant strikes by unions in the education sector, particularly the Academic Staff Union of Universities. He will also have decide whether to placate or to alienate those within his party who would become aggrieved by decisions that do not favour them; whether or not to continue with some policies of the out-going government; and how to balance appointments from all zones. We pray that God grants him good health to be able to withstand the rigors of this high office that grey out hairs on the heads of forty-somethings, who have occupied similar positions.

Ogboru, Emerhor should learn from Jonathan Mike Arayuwa Wilkie

have always taken a position, rightly or wrongly, about the development of Delta State since its creation in 1991 during the era of Sani Abaacha, a maximum military fascist and a sadistic character. The dictator, from my own point of view, was good and bad just like other humans. Nobody can be adjudged to be a saint and none, too, can be classified as a devil incarnate. Afterall, Abacha who was known to be the grand patron of corruption in Nigeria, a first degree terminator of human lives ,coupled with all accessories of deft wickedness was the military Head of State who created Delta State in addition to others. Prior to the Felix Ibru civil regime in the State, the Military Governors or Administrators so appointed showed contempt for its development. Rather, they took advantage of their appointments as governors to loot the State’s treasury dry. There were two dimensions to this. First, millions of naira was craftily ferried to the Military Administrators’ villages where they hid their loots. In the second instance, part of such reasonable sum of money was transported to Abuja on the basis of raw content without any due process. Banks were definitely not involved in this fraudulent deal. The purpose was to regularly pay homage and loyalty to their masters who appointed them and those who ensured that they were duly appointed as military Governors. Thus, the sharp and ignoble practices diverted their attention to the extent that they refused

Hence, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru of the Labour Party, Chief Emehor O’ tega (APC) and a few weightless political adventurists threw their hats into the Governorship arena and even forgot to develop the State. The period preceding Chief Felix Ibru as a duly elected Governor of Delta State was characterized by political uncertainty which eventually led to a military take-over by Sani Abacha, himself. There was no doubt that the strong man had an inordinate ambition to be a military Head of State. Unfortunately, he died in office under questionable circumstances. In the process, Ibru can only be regarded as a Governor who achieved nothing within a brief period of about two years consequent upon the prevailing matters as at then. In 1999, Chief James Onanefe Ibori became the duly elected Governor of Delta State for two tenures which amounted to a total period of eight years. He belongs to the Urhobo ethnic

stock from the Delta Central Senatorial District. The other two senatorial districts in the State are: Delta North and Delta South. At the expiration of the Ibori tenure, the Governorship moved to the Delta South senatorial district, thanks to PDP’s zoning formula which sprang-up the incumbent Governor, Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan. He will also exhaust his two term tenure of four years each on May 29, 2015. The understanding of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was that Delta North should produce the next Governor after Uduaghan’s regime. This is in the fundamental interest of equity, fairplay and adequate justice. Now, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, a sitting Senator (PDP) of the Federal Republic, convincingly won the Gubernatorial election to the admiration of most Deltans. However, some politicians who are Urhobo from the Delta State Central Senatorial District were not comfortable with the zoning arrangement of the PDP. As a result, they were resolved to ensuring that it did not work. Hence, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru of the Labour Party, Chief Emehor O’ tega (APC) and a few weightless political adventurists threw their hats into the Governorship arena, contested and lost. Of all those who lost the Guber race in Delta State, only Ogboru is an enigma emeritus and a consummate politician who is competent to beat the ruling party (PDP) in a free, fair and credible election. It is on a painful note that Ogboru has contested the Delta State Governorship election four times and lost in all. His consistent opinion and view is

that the over-powerful PDP aristocrats in the state have vowed that he, Ogboru, will never be allowed to become Governor. His assertion, however, may not be able to stand the test of time just as the PDP powerful overlords insists that Ogboru has no such formidable structure with which to win an exhaustive and cumbersome election for the post of a Governor. It was this tussle for the post a Governor between Great Ogboru and Emerhor O’tega which distabilised and split the Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU) into two parallel executive organs. It had to do with who was to be anointed as Governorship candidate of the UPU. In view of the fact that all the elections have been conducted and concluded in Delta State, it is obvious that the two UPU factions would once again, come together as a united front in the quintessential interest of the Urhobo ethnic nation. I am totally convinced that politics and politicking may not be a strong factor which perhaps can tear the UPU apart. The UPU may have learnt a bitter lesson from this past experience and it is now incumbent on its members to draw a sharp line of demarcation between the Urhobo ethnic interests and to venture unnecessarily into destructive politics. I have enough reasons and further reasons to advice Ogboru, Emehor and other Guber candidates to accept the April 11 election result and congratulate Dr Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as Governor-elect of Delta State. It is expected that they should borrow a leaf from the Jonathan’s example. • Wilkie can be reached at pmikky1950@yahoo.com (08023097251)

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

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Remembering Rashidi Yekini

t is three years since the passage of legendary footballer, Rashidi Yekini, the man who scored Nigeria’s first World Cup goal and the first from the country to be named CAF Footballer of the Year. Yekini, a star who shone for country and clubs, died a recluse, on May 4 2012 , in circumstances that threw up more questions than answers . And in this period of transition and political re-engineering, only a few friends, led by his lawyer, Jubril Mohammed, made out time to celebrate the super striker. Patriotism flowed in Yekini’s veins. Nigeria came first in all he did. Playing for Ivorian side Africa Sport, in the 1990 CAF Champion’s League, then known as Champion’s Cup, he was offered dollars, to score against Nigerian opponents, Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri. The Ivorians banked so much on their huge Nigerian striker and were in a quandary when they had to confront a team from their hitman’s home country. The first leg was moved from Abidjan to remote Seguela. In the 18th minute, Yekini struck. The match would have ended that way, until the very last minute when Ifeanyi Aghenu drew the visitors level. It

ended 1-1. In the return leg, Iwuanyanwu chose Benin as venue. Yekini almost ruined the day when he scored, again, in the 18th minute. It was a hard fought battle that brought out the best in Okechukwu Uche and Ben Iroha to keep gangling Yekini at bay. The homers made it 3-2 to advance on 4-3 aggregate scores. If Yekini played against a Nigerian club, he refused to play against the Eagles in a friendly against his Portuguese club, Vitoria Setubal in 1994. The Nigerian National team was in Europe on a training tour. Yekini had made history for the Portuguese club by emerging as the country’s leading scorer in the 1993/94 season. He was sure to score against Nigeria, his country, if he played in the friendly. “I cannot do it, I just can’t stand it. Playing against the Super Eagles is the last thing I would do. Against a Nigerian clubside, yes. But definitely not against Eagles”, he emphasized at the end of the tune up. That was the height of love for country. Yekini’s rise began in 1984, when he won silver with the Eagles at the Cote d’Ivoire ’84 Africa Nations Cup under Adegboye Onigbinde. He would later pick two more silver med-

als at Maroc’88 and Algiers’90. In the 1990 edition , he was one of the three professionals from outside Nigeria that Clemens Westerhof relied on, following the reluctance of most of the Europe based stars to honour national call. Yekini came from Africa Sports to join the duo of Andrew Uwe and Ademola Adesina. Shortly after, he joined Setubal. With such fantastic display, he made giant strides . The 1993/94 season belonged to him. Highest goal scorer in Portugal, and to cap it all, African Footballer of the Year. Of course, in 1994 he was in splendid form. Nigeria won the Nations Cup, for the first time ,away from home, in Tunisia. Yekini, not only came out of it as the Most Valuable Player[MVP], he was the top scorer , with five goals. That triumph took the team to Aso Villa were an elated Gen. Sani Abacha promised the players houses in Abuja. It was also in 1994, that Yekini met his first wife Kemi. The marriage did not last. Right from the honeymoon in Greece, where the star had pitched camp with Olympiacos, things did not work out as envisaged. And the effects of a crashed marriage were too hard to bear. Yekini could not quite get his bearing. From Olympia-

cos to Sporting Gijon ,Spain in 1995, FC Zurich ,Switzerland[1997-98], down to Saudi Arabia. But love for Nigeria was still burning. He returned and found space in Julius Berger before moving to Gateway, Otta. In all these ventures, money was not a problem. For a man who scored Nigeria’s first World Cup goal, at USA ’94, he was expected to have made enough money. Of course, he did. But known for his simple lifestyle, he also gave out to those in need. Back home, surrounded by poor countrymen and women, unable to manage a second marriage and devastated by the loss of fortune and a friend ,Ibrahim, to robbers, Yekini’s mental state was of concern to those close to him. The nation that he so much loved and played for, failed him. The house he was promised, was never given to him. Nigeria abandoned Yekini when he needed the support of his country. He also withdrew from the society. We urge the incoming administration to remember the labour of our heroes past, like Yekini. For a man who gave so much to football, naming a national edifice after him will not be asking for to much. Yes, Yekini deserves recognition even if in death.

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20 Politics

THURSDAY, May 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC lawmakers will respect zoning – Jibrin CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

institutions. I ran through major institutions of learning from London Business School to Harvard and to the Swiss Business School. I graduated with an MBA. I think a combination of both my local educational pursuit in Nigeria and of course my exposure outside the country give me different perspective about the issues of governance and economies of different countries. Before coming to the parliament, I have had a very

wide experience in the private sector. I ran a company very successfully. I’ve also had a stint in the university where I lectured. All these combined to prepare me to what I am. So, I believe that educationally I’m prepared; experience outside the country I’m prepared; experience wise within the House I’m also prepared. I believe that my age also places me at advantage; I’m the youngest among all the contestants. I believe that my energy, drive and other things will also come to bear if I’m

elected speaker. What if something else is zoned to your area, will you go for it? I even read it in a paper recently that I’m actually positioning myself to be deputy speaker. Somebody actually said that is why I’m sympathetic towards Femi Gbajabiamila, but I said to him that Femi is accomplished in his own right and for the fact that we’re both aspirants does not mean that we should degrade the achievements of someone. He has been the face of opposition.

Nobody has questioned his capacity, ability and integrity and I think we should continue to show him that respect. He still remains our leader in the House until May 29 when we’re going to slug it out on the floor of the House for the speakership. On the issue of giving something else to the North-West, it is up to the party, but for now I’m in the race for the speakership. If the party in its wisdom says ‘we’re not going to zone the speakership to the NorthWest, but we’re going to give

the North-West something else,’ I will rather say let’s get to the bridge first and then we’ll be able to cross it. We will then sit down and locate things properly to see what the best option for us to take is. A lot of Nigerians voted Buhari because of his anti-corruption pedigree, but most people see the National Assembly as an epitome of corruption. If you emerge as speaker, how are you going to fight it? When you said most people see the National Assembly as an epitome of cor-

ruption, you have to back it up with statistics. I think it’s a huge generalisation that you cannot substantiate. The issue of corruption, everybody agreed that it is a problem in this country, and I think anybody who is aspiring for any leadership position now should know that one of his key cardinal points is to tackle corruption with the very best that he has. As far as I’m concerned, if you look at all my previous speeches, you’ll understand that one of my own major priorities is also to deal decisively with the issue of corruption. Of course, the president is going to lead the way, and he’s going to have the parliament that will give him the maximum support that he needs to deal the issue of corruption in this country. If you’re not in the race for speaker, who would you have supported? If I’m not in the race for speaker, of course to the best of my knowledge I have two other colleagues that are contesting. I have Femi and Yakubu Dogara. Without thinking twice, I will support Femi. Why? Femi has an edge in experience. He has done so much for the party; he gave his body, heart and soul for the party. He has been the face of opposition and has led well. He is organised in the House the way he should be. He was part and parcel of the Tambuwal tsunami in 2011. Dogara fought against us in 2011 and continued to fight against our course throughout that period. He joined the APC at the 11th hour, but for some reasons also, he was not able to deliver the president in his local government. General Buhari had 3,000 votes and Goodluck Jonathan had about 27,000 votes. That also brings about the credibility of the entire process and some people are even saying he is a mole within the APC, because the president-elect lost by a very large margin. So, by every standard, I would have supported Femi if I were not contesting. I never pretended about that. Also, the Dogara candidacy is being run on ethnic ground. Northern members are being chased from place to place, organising them and making it look like a Northern agenda. At one of the meetings that I was invited, I had raised that issue. The North is not under threat. If anything, the country has been very gracious to the North at this point in time. Anybody who wants to run an election base on ethnic agenda I will never be a party to it.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, may 7, 2015

Interview

News

Ubani: Why FG must not recruit judges for states

Adejumo seeks improvement in teaching labour law

22&25

Law

Akeredolu, Quakers, others: Ondo lawmakers goofed on Olanusi Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the erstwhile Ondo State deputy governor was sacked five days after a notice of impeachment was served on him by the state’s lawmakers on April 27 without recourse to Section 188 of the Constitution. The dust, raised by the impeachment, however, has continued. FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE, TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU report

id the Ondo State House of Assembly explore Section 188 of the Constitution when it sacked the erstwhile state deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi from office? Did the Speaker of the House allow the sacked deputy governor to defend himself by writing and copies served on each member of the assembly within seven days of the receipt of the impeachment notice? These, according to lawyers were ignored as the lawmakers acted a script handed over to them by ‘a grandmaster’ without recourse to due process. Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution says “whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than onethird of the members of the House of Assembly-is presented to the Speaker of the House

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@ newtelegraphonline.com

Olanusi

Akeredolu

of Assembly of the state; stating that the holder of such office is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified, the Speaker of the House of Assembly shall within seven days of the receipt of the notice, cause a copy of the notice to be served on the holder of the office and on each member of the House of Assembly, and shall also cause any statement made in reply to the allegation by the holder of the office to be served on each member of the house of Assembly.” It went on: “Within fourteen days of the presentation of the notice to the Speaker of the House of Assembly (whether or not any statement was made by the holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice, the House of Assembly shall resolve by motion, without any debate whether or not the allegation shall be investigated.” But this was however ignored by the Ondo State House of Assembly when it sacked the embattled

deputy governor whose right to defend himself was prohibited. Although the panel of inquiry has within three months to report its findings to the House of Assembly having explored due process, Ali was impeached days after a notice of impeachment was served on him without an opportunity to make any defence on the alleged gross misconduct initiated against him. He was impeached on April 27 within three days after a notice of impeachment was served on him. Lawyers have described Olanusi’s impeachment as null and void. Although an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Kayode Ajulo believes Olanusi’s impeachment was in order as the Constitution bestows on the lawmakers enormous powers under Section 187 (7), his colleagues disagreed. They said the powers granted the lawmakers under Section 187 was grossly abused. It is null and void, they said. For instance, Oluwarotimi

It’s a blatant show of impunity and an exercise that will not stand the test of time

Akeredolu (SAN), Norrison Quakers(SAN), Mohammed Fawehinmi, Monday Ubani, Chief Akpan Nkwereum Udofia, Tochukwu Odafe and Dare Ashaolu condemned the lawmakers’ breach of the Constitution on Olanusi’s sack. They described it as null and void and of no effect. To Akeredolu, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olanusi’s impeachment was a blattant show of impunity. This he said that the impeachment was an evidence that the lawmakers and the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Rahman Mimiko lacked respect for the rule of law. He said: “It’s a blatant show of impunity and an exercise that will not stand the test of time if it is subjected to legal crucibles. It is hoped that the deputy governor will pursue it to a logical conclusion by challenging his so-called removal in court and let the court decides.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

22 Law | Interview Monday Onyekachi Ubani is the immediate past chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Ubani, in this interview with AKEEM NAFIU, speaks on the controversial N2trillion campaign fund by President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), last month elections, INEC’S role, judges’ appointment and sundry issues.

Ubani

THURSDAY, may 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ubani: Why FG must not recruit judges for states Sir, of what implication is the alleged N2 trillion spent to prosecute the 2015 general elections by President Goodluck Jonathan and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the nation’s nascent democracy? I mean, what does the law say? Well, it’s all an allegation. The issue is that from the point of spending, who monitors the political parties? Even though, we have in the law books, certain limits each aspirant is allowed to spend, there is no effective mechanism for checking the expenditures of the aspirants. The Presidency is N1billion, the Governorship also has a limit of money to be spent, the same thing for the National Assembly and the Chairmen of Local Government Councils. INEC is also saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that these limits are kept. But, the Commission is battling with the issue of conducting elections and I don’t even think it has a department that is carrying out the function of monitoring spending by the political parties during elections. So, no one can say precisely how much each candidate and the parties spent for elec-

let’s build a country where there is equity and justice

tions. It has been like that over the years, even though we have it in the law books. I think it’s just for the sake of keeping it there and not for implementation. If the law is followed, I tell you almost every candidate and their parties would be in a breach because what was spent by these people for the election was far above the limits we are talking about. What is N1billion? Even before the start of the campaign, most of them have spent more than N1billion already. So, to tell me that a Presidential candidate spent just N1billion is a joke of the year. They all overspent. We saw it now. Most of them were paying all their supporters to attend rallies. I think this election is the most expensive we have had in this country. It is even more expensive than the American elections. So, I am saying that we are yet to get it right with the issue of monitoring and implementing our laws. There is no part of our laws that you can say with a sense of certainty that we have actually enforced. It’s not as if we are short of good laws, we have them but they are not implemented. As long as we don’t implement them, things will remain the way they are. So, all the candidates and their parties were in a breach of the sections of the law which prescribes a limit for spending during elections. As far as the alleged spending of N2 trillion by Jonathan and the PDP are concerned, the point is that they can get this money elsewhere without any recourse to the national budget. They have many unknown and unauthorised areas where they can get money. But, I tell you, the new government has a lot to do. There are many areas that are actually yearning for reforms and INEC is one of them. If we really want to get it right, even with the electoral system and offences, we must create departments out of the Commission to perform these duties and ensure that there are implementations of the laws guiding them. The moment we have this thinking that certain persons are above the law; that when you are in government nobody can checkmate you, then, we will not make progress as a nation but when institutions are created and strengthened enough to work independently and effectively, they will begin to set things right. That is the prescription that I am making. If you have a judicial institution, it should work the way it is supposed to work without looking at any person’s face or whose ox is gored. At any point in time somebody goes contrary to the law, implement the law to sanction him or her. Now, if you have INEC as an institution with powers to do certain things, it should go ahead with its work and put its feet down, even if there were complaints. Before you know

it, overtime it becomes part and parcel of us. Look at what INEC did with the issue of PVC and the card readers. Even when people were raising all manner of objections, even some people tried to use the judiciary to scuttle it, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Jega, stood his ground and said we should get it right with these. At the end, it became a reality. I don’t know of any government that will come tomorrow and stop the use of PVC and card readers for elections. So, what I am saying in essence is that institutions must be made to work and you must also get the correct people to occupy those institutions. I have said it before that in developed climes, institutions were made to work and they work. But, before these institutions were made to work, they also try as much as possible to bring the right calibre of people to man these institutions. They don’t just bring any person anyhow. If you see where potential Supreme Court Justices in America were being scrutinized, you will marvel. They will dig into their primary school days, family background, antecedents from childhood up till when they are being appointed and all that. These are done in order not to allow anyone that is tainted to occupy the position because they have built those institutions over the years and they have become very strong. So, they don’t put persons in places anyhow because a wrong person can mess up an institution. What happens there is that, anytime a person comes in and slips, he goes out by tendering his or her resignation letter; that is how you run a country and I believe that the advent of the Buhari’s administration may signal the beginning of running our country the way it is supposed to be run; where no one is above the law; where rights of people will be respected and where justice and equity will be enthroned. This is because you must enthrone justice and equity before you start talking about peace. This is the recipe for peace. What is due to me, give it to me. Don’t give what is due to me to another person and then begin to preach peace to me because that peace cannot stand. It is a peace that was built on falsehood. So, let’s build a country where there is equity and justice, then, every other thing will begin to fall in line. So, when the new government comes in, this issue of spending limits for campaigns during elections should be implemented because we cannot afford to use the entire treasury to run elections. This is what is going on in the country now. All the governors go straight to the treasury for the elections. If you probe all the government’s officials for this election, none of them should receive CONTINUED ON PAGE25

Law

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, may 7, 2015

Law week: Premier Bar gets Lagos’ support support

Lagos State has provided support for the premier Bar on its Law Week event coming up in June

Foluso Ogunmodede

he Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has got the backings of the state government for its law week

event bid to commence between June 24 and 26. The assurance however at the weekend following a courtesy visit by the members of the association’s law week organizing committee to the State Justice Commissioner and Attorney-General, Mr. Ade Ipaye. Ipaye assured the members that the Fashola led administration would ensure that the NBA would have a “fitting and most memorable 2015 Law Week”.

Quakers

The Justice Commissioner reiterated the government’s symbiotic relationship with the Lagos Branch of the association, saying the state government would not shy from its responsibility as it had always maintained each time it held its law week as the ensued relationship had deepened justice sector reforms in the state. He assured the team that the state government would support the branch in its Law Week activities, stressing the need for con-

Jumoke Akindele

tinuing legal education to enable lawyers sharpen their legal skills and remain relevant in their chosen profession. Earlier, the association’s Chairman, Mr. Alex Muoka who led the delegation told the Commissioner the association’s decision to have him as the chair of the tax session during the Law Week, just as the high-profile Law Week Dinner would be devoted to honour the Special Guest and out-going La-

gos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) and welcome the Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode. Besides, other distinguished members of the Bar would receive awards at the dinner. In her contribution, the Chairperson of the Law Week Committee, Mrs. Tolani Edu-Adeola thanked Ipaye for his continued support, adding that he “has been an exemplary leader of the Bar for Lagos State” dur-

ing his four-year sojourn as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. She noted that the week is designed as the “best ever in the history of the Premier Bar, given the array of resource persons, topical industryrelated discourses and fun-filled activities lined up for the week.” Other members of the Law Week Committee present at the occasion were Ms. Geraldine Wey, Mr. Emeka Nwadioke and Mrs. Tara Aisida.

Mimiko

Ondo lawmakers goofed on Olanusi’s impeachment C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 2 1

Quakers said “if there are breaches of rights, the only place that these issues can be addressed is actually the law court. I am not aware if the deputy governor has gone to court to challenge his impeachment as being unconstitutional. But if the laid down procedure has been followed, it’s not even the question of time, was a letter transmitted to the Chief Judge of the State to empower a panel to investigate and enquire into those allegations? If the answer is yes, what were the findings of the panel? Usually the panel will submit its findings to the State House of Assembly who will now act on it. So, if indeed that constitutional process was followed, then, the only option left for the deputy governor is to go to court and challenge his removal. Even though, some of us believed that the impeachment was political owing to issues of withdrawal of confidence”. Another lawyer and scion of the Fawehinmi dynasty, Mohammed, simply said it was an exercise in futility. He said: “Even if the deputy governor went to another party, the most important thing for the Governor is to concentrate on how to give the people of the state dividends of democracy and not be involved in any wrangling. The deputy governor has chosen his path by going to APC. They both

started together, why can’t they finish together? This shows that there are bad blood politics in our polity in Nigeria. “I am even shocked at the conducts of the Chief Judge of Ondo State who for every reason refused to demonstrate his maturity. If there is a clash between the Governor and the deputy governor, which I am very sure he is aware of, he can call the two of them and resolve it. But, that speedy charge by the House of Assembly, the hurried panel by the Chief Judge and all of a sudden, in three days, the man was impeached, is so disgraceful. It is not different from what they are doing in Ekiti State. Are you telling me that in three days, every single document was looked at? It’s not possible. For God’s sake, we are talking about a whole state here and not a local government. All that happened was that the Chief Judge rubber stamped the actions of the lawmakers. No. This is not something that should have happened. If in three days, a deputy governor was impeached, what did they consider in carrying out their actions? How many witnesses were called? How many documents were evaluated? Let the Chief Judge come and tell us what they considered. Even if you charge a Councilor, there is no way you will do it in less than two weeks. The man should also be given an opportunity to defend himself. It’s

so disgraceful, coming from my state which is well known for education. “I will advice the deputy governor to appeal the impeachment. This is because it is never done that you impeached a deputy governor in three days. What did you look at? It will definitely be upturned if the man goes on appeal. I was shocked that Mimiko has done something like this”. Udofia said: “The position of the law is clear with regards to the length of notice and the steps that must be taken during the process. Every noncompliance with the extant provision of the Constitution is fatal to the process and renders the entire exercise null and void”. Ubani lamented that although it was shameful, the impeached deputy governor was not the first to suffer such fate in the hands of legislators. He said: “Most times when they are prompted by the Governor or by themselves to remove anybody, they fail to comply with the strict provisions of the Constitution. If you look at the provisions of the Constitution, there are guidelines that must be followed before anyone is removed. If you have seven days to do certain things and you cut it to three days, you are just inviting trouble because at the end there will be a pronouncement by the court. Almost all the deputy governors that were impeached under such circumstances have been cleared by the court at the end of the day. “The only small snag is that af-

ter being cleared by the court, they will only be paid their legitimate allowances and salaries and missed out on the other things they would have enjoyed while in office. So, the impeached deputy governor has no other option than to continue his case in court so as to have the impeachment reversed. It is also good for his political life that he has no impeachment hanging over his neck”. Odafe said there was nowhere that an impeachment exercise could be completed within two days as in the case of Ondo state, describing Olanusi’s impeachment as was merely a case of persecution and not due process. “To my mind, the impeachment of the Ondo deputy governor is of no effect because it did not follow the laid down rules. To impeach a public office holder within two days of service of impeachment notice is alien and strange to our law”, Odafe said. Ashaolu said the impeachment was not a legal exercise but a political one as the impeachment exercise from the beginning to the end did not comply with the extant laws, hence it renders the impeachment exercise invalid. He said: “Something cannot be built on nothing. There is a procedure for impeachment. I have carefully followed the event as it unfolds in Ondo state, and I think what happened there is just a political robbery and nothing more”.

Law | News

Court bars FCT Minister, others from Wuye market’s re-allocation Tunde Oyesina

n Abuja High Court has ordered the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA and All Purpose Shelter Ltd, Abuja not to re-allocate shops and open spaces at the Wuye Ultra Modern Market, Abuja. Justice Uthman A. Musa handed down the order during a judgment which lasted over three hours. The court held that the defendants’ witness only went further to establish the plaintiffs’ case. He added that the plaintiff ’s case was uncontroverted. The plaintiffs, Abah Denis and over 700 others were allocated shops at the Wuye Ultra Modern Market after a fire disaster in 2001 which destroyed all their shops and goods worth billions of naira. As a result of their misfortune arising from the inferno, which rendered the plaintiffs helpless and poor, the government set up a “technical committee on market relocation” charged with relocating the plaintiffs. The technical committee later allocated various shops to the plaintiffs at the Wuye Ultra Modern Market. However, trouble started sometime in 2012 when the plaintiffs went to the Wuye Ultra Modern Market only to discover that a signboard reading “All purpose Shelter Ltd” and a man approached them who claimed to be the manager, informing them that the shops will be given to other people. Hence the plaintiffs approached the court with their paper of allocation, receipt for payment and other relevant documents. After several adjournments, the court delivered judgment.

Mahmud, CJN

THURSDAY, may 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tenant remand in prison for assault Tunde Oyesina

n Abuja Senior M a g i s t r at e ’s Court has remanded a tenant, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbodo at the Keffi Prisons in Nasarawa state over an alleged assault on his caretaker. The magistrate, Ms. Akobi Anne ordered the

accused person to be remanded in prison after he could not perfect his bail conditions which included a bond of N100, 000. The accused person had earlier pleaded not guilty to the one count charge of ‘causing grievous hurt’ slammed on him by the police prosecutor, Mr. Inedu Elija.

According to the First Infor mation Report (FIR), the suspect, Ogbodo who is a 30-year old, businessman, allegedly assaulted the caretaker, Mr. Sunday Adah at his electronic shop during a misunderstanding that occurred between them. It reads: “You, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbodo is hereby accused of causing

grievous hurt contrary to Section 245 of the Penal Code Law respectively. “On the 25 April, 2015 at about 8pm, one Sunday Adah of Akwu Street, Karu Village, Abuja came to Jikwoyi Police Station and reported against you Emmanuel Ogbodo of Area E Nyanya Phase 4, Abu-

ja, that on that same day at about 8pm, because of misunderstanding between you and him, you forcefully pushed him and he had an ankle dislocation on his right leg. “You hereby committed the above mentioned offence.” However, further hearing in the matter has been fixed for May 14.

L-R: Mrs. Geraldine Wey; Mrs. Tolani Edu-Adeola, Chairperson of the 2015 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch Law Week Committee; Mr. Ade Ipaye, Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice; Mr. Alex Muoka, NBA Lagos Chairman, Mrs. Tara Aisida and Mr. Emeka Nwadioke when the committee paid Mr. Ipaye a courtesy visit in his office at Alausa, Ikeja

Adejumo seeks improvement in teaching labour law Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Justice Babatunde Adejumo has stressed the need for an improvement in the teaching of labour laws in the nation’s tertiary institution as it touches every aspect of human life. Speaking at a public presentation of a book in his honour in Abuja, Adejumo said, “Labour Law deals with every aspect of human life; right from birth to death. He went on: “As children are born, there are workers who attend to them as labourers. And thereafter, the child goes to school. When he or she graduates, they begin to search for jobs. “When the job is secured, people may be queried or dismissed. Then they may run to the industrial court for the resolution of the dispute. “Then at retirement, the law still applies. So, labour laws are a part and parcel of human life”. While assessing the teaching of labour law in Nigerian universities, Adejumo said, “I think the teaching and learning of labour law in our universities and the law school needs to be given more attention.”

He however disclosed that the quality of products from the universities had given the indication that a lot needed to be done, adding that the industrial court on its part had provided some teaching materials for the faculties of law across the nation’s universities so that they could be acquainted with latest developments in labour law. In his opening speech, the Chairman of the of the occasion and Administrator of the National Judicial Institute,

Justice Roseline Bozimo, described the honoree, Justice Adejumo as a worthy colleague who had made tremendous impact in the growth and development of industrial and labour law in Nigeria. Bozimo said: “We are celebrating a legal icon, Justice Adejumo for his contribution to the development of law and our labour law in particular within the Nigerian legal system. “His role has been exceptional and remarkable in the elevation of the court to a court

Adejumo

of superior records in 2011”. The book reviewer, Prof. Emeka Chianu who is a professor of Law at the University of Benin, said the articles and discussions contained therein were of the “indepth reflection of the progress made by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) under the leadership of Justice Adejumo. The University don however noted that there was need for a specialised training for judges who are appointed to serve as judges of the industrial court and called for the continuous training of judges on the court’s Bench so as to equip them for the challenges of industrial disputes resolution in the country. The 357 page book, which is a compendium of essays in honour of Justice Adejumo, is entitled: Contemporary Issues on Labour, Employment and National Industrial Court Practices and Procedures.” The book was edited by Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), Samuel Osamolu and A. O. Oluwadayisi. The occasion was graced by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta and some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) among other dignitaries.

Law | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, may 7, 2015

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

anything less than 21 years imprisonment for what they have done to the treasury. Do you know that some in-coming governors are coming to meet empty treasury? The out-going ones already have arrears of salaries and debts have also accumulated. Some have gone to the capital market to borrow and have to service the bond. So, most of the in-coming governors may not fulfill all their electoral promises. Even though, most of the in-coming governors are stooges of the out-going ones, they will come into government and start to manage things. But, the management may not go far. This is because their godfathers who enthrone them will also want to collect their own share of the government money. So, the bubble will soon burst between them and their godfathers. So, it may happen that those people may have problems when they come in. Sir, what form of reform in the justice sector would you want the in-coming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to embark upon? Yes. There are so many. First is the recruitment of the judicial officers. It has to be looked into. The way those names emanate; where they come from and how they are compiled before they begin to pass through constitutional institutions are not too clear. The way and manner names of judges and magistrates are generated in the first place are not too clear and laden with so much corruption. So, we need to take a look again at the way these names are generated because there are no provisions as to how these names emerge. Also, I had a quarrel with the process whereby each state will have to depend on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to get the number of judges they need for their judiciary. This is an abnormal process. Let’s assume that a state is in need of twenty judges and it applied for twenty judges to be recruited but the NJC said because it is the one paying the judges, what it can afford is only five judges out of the twenty. Have you helped the state? Have you met the basic judicial personnel needs of the state? You have not. This is because they have required for twenty judges for effective handling of court’s cases and deliver what is called a quicker dispensation of justice for the citizens. But, NJC is now limiting them to five judges. This will surely overburden the five judges and so the practice has not in anyway helped the particular state. This is not a good way of practicing federal system of government. The appointment of state judges should not be left in hands of the federal government; it is an abnormality of the highest level. So, the recruitment of judges through that process is flawed and should be looked into. Then, we must also take a look at the welfare of judges in order to remove them from the temptation of corruption. If a judge is well taken care of, he earns good salary, good welfare package and a good condition of service, then, he has no reason whatsoever to engage in corruption. If he does, then, the system itself must kick him out in a manner that shows good riddance to bad rubbish. So, we must begin to ensure that their welfare is taken care of. Also, basic infrastructure needed by these judges

‘2015 elections most expensive in Nigeria’s history’ ger pockets will stall their cases. T Funding of the judiciary should be looked into. We advocate for a complete autonomy of the judiciary. This is a constitutional issue which has also received pronouncement from the court. I am surprised that many states of the federation have refused to obey the court’s order and that is a breach of the Constitution which is an impeachable offence for any erring governor. So, the judiciary must be granted autonomy as provided for by the Constitution. The judiciary too should not abuse the autonomy. In essence, there must be another institution that will keep the judiciary in check to ensure that the autonomy is not abused. So, there must be checks and balances.

Ubani

in the performance of their duties must be looked into. We must also discourage judges from using long hand in the 21st century. We must have the necessary gadgets needed by the judges. Adequate research assistants should also be provided for the judges that will be helping them in getting proceedings recorded and also in research. Judges must have those luxuries that will help for effective administration of justice. Then, the issue of the non-judicial staff must be looked into. We have discovered that almost all the states of the federation have enacted what is known as the procedural laws. The purpose of which is to ensure quicker dispensation of justice. But, it seems that despite all these procedural rules, we are still bugged down with so much inefficiency in the system. Despite the good intentions of enacting these procedural laws, we have not seen it reflected. We find out that these nonjudicial staff, have become a clog in the wheel of progress. When papers are filed, before they even accept it, they will tell you there is no receipt. Even when it is accepted, they will not effect service. Sometimes two or three months, service is not effected. Even when service was eventually effected, lawyers will be the one to pay money to collect the proof of

service and put it in court’s file. Now, to get the matter assigned to a judge becomes another problem. Even after assigning it to a judge, getting a hearing date is a problem. All these are bugging down the administration of justice and it is not helping for effective and efficient delivery of justice. It is also making our judicial system to look very completely inefficient. So, the process must be looked into. I must recommend what is happening at the Industrial Court. At the Industrial Court, if you file a matter, you don’t need to go and see any Sheriff/Bailiff, your matter will be served and before you know it, you have proof of service in the file and they will send you hearing notice. Lawyers don’t need to follow up the issue of assignment to a judge or the hearing date and before you know it, the matter will be disposed of. All of our cases at the Industrial Court are handled effectively. So, I recommend that method for the State and Federal High Courts. There is much inefficiency at the Federal High Courts. The State High Court is even the worse. The bad thing is that a lot of people are taking laws into their hands when they cannot access justice. They don’t see the need to take their case to court because they believe those with big-

Sir, what is your take on the xenophobic attacks on migrants in South Africa? It’s very unfortunate. We have so many Nigerians in South Africa, but most of them are staying there illegally. If you want to migrate to another country, there are processes and procedures that must be followed. Many of our people there do not comply with these processes. But this does not give anyone any right to begin to kill, maim and destroy the businesses of the illegal immigrants. There are procedures that are allowed both locally and internationally to address the issue of illegal immigrants. If anyone broke immigration laws, there are procedures of repatriation or sending them back to their countries. This is not the first time of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. It has happened before and that one was curtailed. But this one is of higher magnitude. Also, the ineptitude and slow response of the South African government is condemnable. Then, I was utterly dismayed by the complicity of the citizens themselves cheering when these acts were being perpetrated. But even the slow response of the Nigerian government to the incident is also condemnable. The government must value the lives of Nigerians in South Africa. They went there because of the not too conducive atmosphere in Nigeria. If we have a booming economy, where people will eke out a living, work and be respected, I don’t think anyone will be going to foreign country. Sir, what kind of opposition do you see in the PDP in next dispensation? Now, if they started scattering their house the way they are doing at the moment by expelling people here and there, they can’t make a good opposition. After the election, PDP seemed to have been divided along ethnic lines. If they continue this way, we may have seen the end of PDP. But, if PDP tries to remain united as the APC has done when it was in opposition, then, they can go a long way. PDP can restrategise and come back to power again if APC fail to deliver on its promises to Nigerians. They can only become relevant if APC fails to deliver. Having experienced PDP for 16 years, Nigerians have seen them and knew all their secrets. So, if APC gives Nigerians what they desire and what they want, it will take Jesus Christ for any Nigerian to look towards PDP again.

26 Law | File

THURSDAY, may 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Osinbajo Nigerians never know

Osinbajo

By I. A. Umezulike

y profuse printed and oral utterances so much had

been said about General Muhammadu Buhari’s cleanliness, incorruptibility, Spartan lifestyle and unswerving mission and

vision for Nigeria. The personality of General Buhari had eclipsed or dwarfed the entire A.P.C political formation. But not many Nigerians know that Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN possesses the above qualities and attributes in sufficient measure. He has in the past four decades maintained exceptional clean living and clean thinking. He is highly dedicated to the Nigerian cause and dream. Above all, he is an outstanding intellectual and legal genius. He took his

professorial chair of the highly rated Faculty of Law, University of Lagos at a comparatively tender age. He also took the silk (the Senior Advocate of Nigeria) at a fairly very young age. He anchored the international conferences that led to the establishment of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (I. C. P. C.), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (E. F. C. C.), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (N. D. L. E. A. ), Federal Road Safety Commission

and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (N.A.F.D.A.C.). Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN said at the conference that preceded the establishment of the NDLEA: “It is fairly difficult to discern any pattern in policy formulation and legislation on the drug problem and this is hardly surprising. Law making in this area has always been a direct response to prevailing public opinion and exigencies of the time. Thus drug laws have

been variously made on the premise that a social problem of drug use exists”. Professor Yemi Osinbajo also spearheaded the unification of the criminal laws and procedure of Northern and Southern Nigeria. This project was awaiting the signature of former President Ibrahim Babangida before he stepped aside in 1993. It is disheartening that some curious officials at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, have now appropriated the authorship of that project to themselves. He has also documented and published a widely acclaimed comprehensive Nigerian Customary Laws. Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN appeared before us at the Failed Banks Tribunal, Lagos Zone from 1997 to 1999. The Judges including the writer can readily bear tribute that his oratory, elocution and presentations were exemplary. In fact his strong sweep of thought and wonderful dialectics in court place him in the league of legal grandmasters like late Chief Rotimi Williams SAN, Late Chief Clement Obiora Akpamgbo SAN and Professor A. B. Kasumu SAN. As Attorney-General of Lagos State, Professor Osinbajo recommended and saw through, the implementation of a welfare package for Judges of Lagos State High Court, far higher and better than those enjoyed by Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He is very urbane, decorous, humble and highly respectful. He had remained religious and unspoilt notwithstanding rapid successes. In 1991 he co-edited an epic work entitled “Democracy and the Law”. It is my surmise that the book would now come to him handy as he begins the enormous and onerous business of democratic governance and the strengthening of democratic institutions in Nigeria. Evidently in Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, General Muhammadu Buhari has a soul-mate and a dependable comrade in the task of ensuring that Nigeria no longer staggers. I can testify that a sip of executive powers will never produce intoxication in him. • Umezulike is Enugu State Chief Judge

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

27 Health Living

High fibre diet keeps piles at bay

Health

Health Features

Maternal death: Robust blood banks will tackle haemorrhage

Nature Power

Getting used to colours

Ending the era of impunity With more women falling victims to violent crimes, including rape, the natural course for perpetrators is to bring them to justice. On the contrary, many suspects not only escape prosecution, majority of the few that face trial go unpunished, occasioned by obsolete legal framework. With about three weeks to conclude the 7th Assembly, signing the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition (VAPP) Bill into law will end an era of impunity, writes APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

Rape victim

ising incidence of violent crimes and the resultant harm on victims some of whom lose their lives, has put the issues on the front burner. As new cases especially those involving women and children are recorded in rural and urban centres, citizens have looked up to law enforcement agents to bring perpetrators to book. Although, getting majority of violent crime offenders including rapists to pay for their crime remains a mirage, the system which provides them safe hav-

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

PHOTO: theironyofnonsense.blogspot.com A man batters a lady

en ultimately makes law abiding citizens to be more vulnerable. Aisha Tijani, 8 was unconscious when a sympathiser found her in a pool of her own blood along the bush path leading to farm lands in rural Kaduna. She got prompt medical intervention which saved her life. Police investigations later revealed that Muhammed Guzo, 32 did not only rape Aisha to the point where she became unconscious, the perpetrator sliced off her vagina with the intent of using it for ritual purpose. Another incident which demonstates the negative impact of violent crime on health is that of the late Titilayo Akolade, a Lagos banker who was murdered in cold blood in the aftermath of domestic disagreement. Two years after the murder, precisely, February, 2014, Justice Latifah Okunnu of the Ikeja High Court found her husband, Akolade Arowolo, guilty of killing the deceased and subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging. In another report which broke on April 28, 2015, a two-year-old toddler was allegedly raped by

The VAPP Bill provides stiffer punishment for sexual assaults

one Azeez Ganiyu, after she was abducted from her residence on Giwa Street, Ijora Badia, Lagos State. Going from the above experiences, it is clear that the ordeal of violent crime victims is now of local and global concern. Using new approach to effectively address violent crimes with a view to reduce their incidence and penalise culprits was the focus of a recent ‘Training Workshop for Police Personnel on Women’s Reproductive Health and Rights’ organised by Ipas, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving women’s lives. Ipas Senior Policy Adviser, Hauwa Shekarau while calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to assent to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Bill before the expiration of the 7th Assembly on May 29, said, “every day, cases of violence against women, violence against the girl child, and violence against persons occur. “The truth is that the current law is not adequate to ad-

PHOTO: www.franklin-gov.com

Shekarau

dress the problems and that is why sexual assault is happening with impunity openly on a daily basis and nothing in the area of penalising culprits, is coming out of it.” However, Shekarau said the VAPP Bill, from all intents and purposes is going to re-define the definition of rape in the country, adding, “that is very key.” What the VAPP Bill seeks to do is that some sexual acts that are within the realm of rape should be deemed as rape and that way perpetrators do not go off the hook, she reasoned. CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Health News

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

New WHO mental health guide boosts workers’ capacity

Healthy Living Dr. Ihuoma Uko-Ndukwe ada.ndukwe@yahoo.com

High fibre diet keeps piles at bay A depressed man

orldwide close to 80 million people are currently impacted by humanitarian emergencies arising from natural disasters and armed conflicts, such as those in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen, and more recently, Nepal. WHO estimates five percent to 10 percent of these people suffer from a mental health condition such as depression as a result of the emergency. People with mental health disorders rarely have access to specialised health workers trained in assessing and managing their conditions. WHO and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have therefore produced a Mental health Gap Action Programme Humanitarian Intervention Guide (mhGAP-HIG), so non-specialist health workers can better identify, assess and manage mental health needs. The new guide provides practical, first-line management recommendations for mental, neurological and substance use conditions. Contents include modules on assessing and managing conditions such as acute stress, grief, moderatesevere depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, and harmful use of alcohol and drugs. Most people, adults and children, experience grief and acute distress. But emergencies also trigger conditions such as depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or prolonged grief disorder that can severely undermine a person’s daily functioning. People with severe pre-existing conditions such as psychosis, an intellectual disability or epilepsy are even more vulnerable. Managing these conditions presents many challenges to health workers. In natural disasters, like the recent earth-

quake in Nepal, people have been displaced, facilities have been damaged, and supplies of medications are limited. Health workers are often in short supply and under enormous pressure to see as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. And there are only very rarely specialist facilities available to take referrals. The new guide will give the available health responders the ability to begin to address these needs. WHO and UNHCR hope all humanitarian partners will use the new guide to help reduce suffering and increase the ability of adults and children with mental health needs to cope in humanitarian emergencies. The new guide will be used in Syrian Arab Republic, where the four-year conflict has displaced more than 7.6 million people within the country and left an additional four million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. WHO started training Syrian nonspecialist health workers in 2012. Since then over 500 health workers have been trained. The new guide will help accelerate and scale-up access to mental health care in Syria and other emergency settings. The mhGAP is a WHO programme that seeks to address the lack of care for people suffering from mental, neurological and substance use conditions. In 2010, it published the mhGAP intervention guide, a widelyused evidence-based manual for the management of these conditions in non-specialised health settings, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The new mhGAP humanitarian intervention guide is an adaptation of the original guide, which has been tried and tested in the field. It is written specifically for practitioners working in humanitarian emergencies.

SFH, others donate 8m malaria drugs

s Nigeria joined global community to mark the World Malaria Day 2015, the Society for Family Health (SFH) said it has distributed about 8.2 million doses of arthemisinin combination therapies (ACTs), which is an effective anti-malaria drugs recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to tackle malaria. Also, SFH in partnership with other international donors, distributed 11 million insecticide treated bed nets in Ekiti,

Ogun, AkwaI bom and Niger states. In a statement it issued recently to mark the World Malaria Day, SFH said the activities were implemented in 2014 and that “North East Nigeria has one of the highest levels of net use in Nigeria.” This World Malaria Day 2015, SFH joins global and national voices to buttress the importance of ANC and IPT during pregnancy. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Haemorroids

aemorrhoids which are also known as piles are a swollen vein or a group of veins in the lower part of the rectum/ anus. It can be inside the anus (internal) under the skin around the anus (external) or protruding from inside to outside of the anus. People with haemorrhoids may or may not exhibit symptoms which include bleeding, itching and pain. It affects 50 per cent of patients over age 50. There are two main types: internal and external. Haemorrhoids are caused mostly by prolonged erect posture, back flow pressure like abdominal pressure and constipation. Other causes of haemorrhoids are pregnancy which mostly resolve after delivery, diarrhea, obesity, family history, and abnormal body structures. Some of the symptoms are itching, bleeding from the anus, rectal pain prolapse or pushing out and fullness sensation. Haemorrhoids need to be differentiated from other diseases of the anal/rectal area like rectal abscess, skin tag, and cancer. Internal haemorrhoids: Dilation of the inner rectal vessels can show up in the form of painless bleeding. Similarly, the feeling of incomplete defecation and prolapsed rectal mass with straining during bowel movement are indications of internal haemorrhoids. Some can retract by itself while some prolapses with coughing sneezing and lifting. Furthermore, some cause irritation, mucus discharge and soil clothes. Some complications of hemorrhoids can be anemia from rectal bleeding and blood vessels that twist and cause more complications. Types of internal haemorrhoids: Grade One is without prolapse and has no symptoms. Grade two has some prolapse but regresses by itself while grade three

prolapses but can be manually pushed back. Grade four prolapses but cannot be pushed back. External haemorrhoids This is caused the same way as the internal but can be very painful, itches more and has a burning sensation. Treatment: With older techniques surgical excision is the most effective treatment. To decrease treatment recurrent symptoms is high but newer techniques like rubber and ligations have become increasingly more popular due to lower days of absence from work with post operation recovery. In addition, there are other methods like clod treatment stapling the haemorrhoids, using ablation. Some of the complications of all these procedures are painful resulting to defecation afterwards. Sometimes, bleeding especially with stapling and with time most people will forget they have staple in their anal area and will not take precautions. Above all, the best preventive measure is eating high fiber diet and avoiding foods low in fiber. Examples of high fibre diet include green leafy vegetables: spinach, pumpkin, etc.; beans, barley, brown rice, millet; all varieties of oranges; among others. Also, drinking adequate water and using stool softener will help to avoid constipation if bowel movement is not regular.

Health Features 29

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

Maternal death: Robust blood banks will tackle haemorrhage Appolonia Adeyemi

he lack of a robust blood bank in the Nigerian hospital setting has been identified as a major factor contributing to high maternal death. To this end, Vice President, Society for Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Nigeria (SOGON), Dr. Oluwarotimi Akinola has called on the three tiers of government, the private sector and concerned stakeholders to make robust blood bank available as a necessity to address haemorrhage, bleeding which contributes 23 per cent of maternal deaths in the country. Many women who suffer haemorrhage in pregnancy related conditions die within 24 to 48 hours of child delivery. Making his views known at a Civil Society Media Forum on Maternal Health Accountability under the NOTAGAIN Campaign Project Supported by the MacArthur Foundation, which held in Lagos recently, Akinola affirmed that the provision of adequate blood facilities in many centres will mitigate blood loss when such happens. The NOTAGAIN Campaign Project is being implemented by Development Communications Network (DEVCOMs). Similarly, Akinola, a consultant obstetrics and gynaecologist, urged Nigerians to adopt the culture of voluntary blood donation as a measure of ensuring blood availability for patients in pregnancy related conditions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Nigeria is 630 deaths/100,000 live births (2010). MMR includes deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy.

According to UNICEF, every single day, Nigeria loses 145 women of child bearing age and haemorrhage remains one of the top three obstetrics related causes of maternal mortality. More specifically, it has been shown that the developing world continues to shoulder a disproportionate share of haemorrhage related maternal deaths (99%) compared with industrialised nations (1%) contribution. However, Akinola reasoned that haemorrhage has been killing women not because pregnant women in developing countries are more prone to bleeding. Rather, he attributed the deaths to lack of appropriate facilities in the country to address haemorrhage. According to him, only a few health facilities in the country have equipment that can produce blood parts. Hence, in situations where blood parts are needed to save the life of a woman, he lamented that “it is not easy to get blood parts.” Also, Akinola noted that when some women in pregnancy related condition bleed to the extent that their blood stop clothing, “what is required at that stage is parts of blood, not blood itself, but how many health centres can provide blood components in this country, he asked?” The consultant gynaecologist said, if needed blood facilities and blood products are more available, medical professionals will “try everything to reduce blood loss in women, take measures to prevent bleeding and when bleeding happens, they must be skilful enough to know what to do to stop it.” In his presentation, ‘Mitigating Maternal Health Challenges in Lagos State’, the Chairman of Primary Healthcare (PHC) Board in the Lagos, Dr. Babatunde Sagoe, identified

inadequate blood transfusion services at the secondary and tertiary centres in Lagos as one of the major factors fueling maternal deaths. Sagoe who was represented by Faosat Sanni, director, Medical Services, PHC Board, called for the establishment of emergency call centres in all referral centres in Lagos. She also advocated for the adoption of family planning services, which should be provided for free, and implementation of subsidised caesarean surgery services to save lives of both mother and child. According to Ayo Adesanmi, a programme officer at the Development Communications Network (DEVCOM), accountability for maternal health received global attention when it was realised that, of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG), goals four (reduce child mortality) and five (improve maternal health) are not likely to be actualised in 2015, the set date for reaching the goals. He stated, “Consequently, the United Nations (UN), in an effort to accelerate progress, launched in 2010 the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health with the main goal of saving 16 million lives in the world’s 49 poorest countries. “This strategy especially recognises the importance of political will and commitment of resources towards the achievement of results.”

Saraki’s Wellbeing Foundation, others tackle still birth

Dr. Webster training student midwives on managing post-partum haemorrhage and neonatal resuscitation

Esther Albert

o mark the International Day of the Midwife, the Founder-President, of Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA, Mrs Toyin Saraki has announced a partnership with Johnson & Johnson and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) to deliver a training package for local health workers in Kwara State, that has potential to reduce maternal mortality by 15 percent and still birth rates by 20 percent in the state.

Bringing global innovation to the state, Saraki’s WBFA, LSTM and Johnson & Johnson have begun a ‘skills and drills’ training package for Emergency Obstetric Care and early Newborn Care (EmONC )in Kwara State, that will improve the availability and quality of EmONC, thereby potentially reducing the direct obstetric fatality rate by 15 percent and still birth rates by 20 percent. A 2013 study on the availability of EmONC in Kwara, reported in the ‘African Journal of Reproductive Health’ (2013,

March 17,, found that 38 percent (six of the 16) of Local Government Areas in Kwara State did not meet United Nation (UN) standards for emergency obstetric and newborn care. To combat this vital service provision gap, LSTM’s Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health (CMNH) has designed, implemented, and evaluated an innovative EmONC package that will improve the quality and availability of skilled birth attendants (SBA) and provide a measurable increase in the knowledge and skills of Kwara’s healthcare providers.

VAPP Bill will address impunity CO N TI N U E D FROM PAGE 27

For instance, she noted that going by the definition of criminal code and penal code, no man can be raped and yet “we are having clear cases where men are sexually assaulted without their consent. Yet, the highest that such perpetrators can get punished for is indecent assault. “Unless we strengthen the legal framework that addresses violent crime problems which is what the VAPP bill seeks to do, many perpetrators will continue to escape the wrath of the law. “And until the VAPP Bill gets presidential assent and implemented, there will be no respite at all in the area of violent crimes.” Ipas policy adviser said the VAPP Bill provides stiffer punishment for sexual assaults. Explaining some of the challenges officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) face in addressing violent crimes, Kunle Olusokan, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of Training, said in spite of the establishment of the Human Right desks across police formations all over the states of the federation, coupled with new approach on handling such cases, poverty is a major challenge hindering efforts to curb violent crime in the society. Citing the example of rape, Olusokan pointed out that although rape is a criminal of-

fence, “the person that reported the case that a child was raped is the same person that went round, begging for the case to be withdrawn.” The issue of poverty is there, he added. He affirmed that despite pressure from some citizens to settle with perpetrators, the Police never withdraw such cases considering that they are criminal offences against the state. However, on whether the complainant’s compromise delays justice, Olusokan said, “We have done our own work by charging the case to court. Let the court continue with the case.” The VAPP Bill which is being widely advocated to bring the desired change was before the National Assembly for over 13 years, since 2001, going through the tenure of the 5th, 6th and now the 7th Assembly. Shekerau said, “During the 5th and 6th Assembly, the VAPP Bill did not even get to where those Assemblies passed it. In the 7th Assembly, the House of Representatives passed it as well as the Senate.” Consequently, she urged leadership of the Senate and other members to do what they can to ensure that Bill is passed because of the drawback of the legal system being currently operated. “If at the end of this legislative tenure, it fails to get presidential assent, it will have to start afresh again,” she lamented.

Health News

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SKG Pharma holds partners conference, launches new products

F L-R: A representative of Simba Pharmaceuticals and second prize winner at the SKG Pharma Trade Partners Awards, Mrs. Oby Ibeh Okpareke; Managing Director (MD), SKG Pharma Limited, Mr. Okey Akpa; Manager of Jonaco Pharmacy, Mr. Chizoba Oleuku holding grand trophy; GM, Sales and Customer Care, Mrs. Patricia Iloba; and MD, Eternity Concepts Limited, Mr. Chidi Akabuogu who took the bronze trophy for taking the third position at the SKG Pharma Trade Partners Conference and Awards, held in Lagos recently

Natural remedies: Paxherbals publication debuts

he African Research Institute (ARI) launched a formal publication on Paxherbals this week. Titled, ‘Modern African Remedies, Herbal Medicine and Community Development in Nigeria’, the publication documents how Paxherbals professionalised the production of traditional natural remedies and sets about demonstrating that herbal medicine can be a force for innovation and progress in healthcare.

An estimated two-third of Nigerians use these products, often in tandem with orthodox drugs. The 21 page publication is an exploratory view of Paxherbals emergence, the various stages of development and her role as an exemplary pace setter of what a local community based small scale business can attain. The list of contributors to the publication includes Dr. Paul Orhii, the director general, National Agency for Food

and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); the Chaiman, Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi; and the Director, Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Health in Ghana, Dr. Peter Arhin. Others are Prof. Joseph Okogun, Head of Scientific Research and Development at Paxherbals, Professor of Pharmacognosy at Obafemi Awolowo University, Tony Elujoba; and a host

of other dignitaries. In addition to the publication launch, Rev Fr. Anselm Adodo had series of meetings and dialogue with various stake holders in the United Kingdom (UK), among which are also media visits to ARISE TV and the BBC. A formal launch and conference will take place later in the year in Nigeria on the way forward for traditional medicine in the healthcare system of Nigeria.

SFH, others donate 8m malaria drugs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

The SFH’s efforts with aid from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, United States President’s

Malaria Initiative, and Department for International Development (DFID), amongst other donors have played pivotal roles in scaling up malaria prevention and treatment in Nigeria and provide support to the

malaria interventions implemented. Attesting to the work of SFH, Mallam Ahmed Ciroma, a cattle herder and a husband of two wives living in MayoNula,a remote settlement of Maiha Local Govern-

ment Area in Adamawa state, said he, like many others in his community has benefitted from SFH malaria programming. His pregnant wife received a net from the clinic where she attended antenatal care.

oremost pharmaceutical company SKG Pharma Limited will continue to create superior value in product development to meet the yearnings of the customers for effective quality products, Mr. Okey Akpa, Managing Director of the company has said. He said this during the SKG’s Trade Partners Conference and Awards in Lagos recently. According to Mr. Akpa, the conference is to appreciate the trade partners who have been adding value to the company by interfacing between SKG Pharma and the final consumer of the products. The company also used the opportunity to launch some new products such as SKG Rexifen which is a 400mg Ibuprofen capsule product, SKG Galways 100mg vitamin C drops for newborns to 12 years plus, SKG Novadex Paracetamol 100mg BP drops for newborns to 11 months old babies with the advantage of being sugar free and SKG Novavite Multivitamin 15ml drops for newborns to 12 months old babies plus. T his particular medicine helps fortify baby’s immune system against ailments and infections.

The event was attended by trade partners all over the country. There were regional and national awards to honour high performing trade partners. These awards were complimented with mouth-watering gifts. The grand award winner, Jonaco Pharmacy based in Onitsha, through its Manager Chizoba Oleuku, thanked SKG Pharma for helping him grow his business. “SKG looks out for its distributors and makes sure they grow along with the company; no one is left behind and I intend to remain in the SKG family” Mr. Oleuku said as he lifted his golden trophy, beaming with smile. Second position went to Simba Pharmaceuticals represented by Mrs. Oby Ibeh Okpareke while the third position’s trophy went to Mr. Chidi Akabougu of Eternity Concept. Mr. Peter Bankole, Director of Enterprise development Centre, a pan-Atlantic University in Lagos, delivered a lecture on “Entrepreneurship” which generated many questions from the trade partners who wanted to learn more on growing their business.

Getting used to colours (4) CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

oday we will conclude our exciting exploration of the healing power of colours. Of course I have only scratched the surface of an established and systematic field of therapy that is becoming popular day by day. When in 2003 I published my book titled, ‘The Healing Radiance of the Soul’ which explores the energy centres of the human body and how to use the power of colours for healing, it sounded like strange music to the ears of many people. Today, more people have come to discover the efficacy and usefulness of these alternative method of healing and so are demanding for more information which the book already provides. Green Green is the colour of healing, wisdom and intuition. It is also the colour of nature, of balance and moderation. Lack of balance of the vitamins lead to lack of balance in the body. Our bodies and the cos-

Nature Power Fr. Anselm Adodo, OSB

naturepower@paxherbals.net; twitter: @anselmadodo mos are sustained by subtle arrangement and balance of vitamins and minerals. Too much of one will have a negative repercussion. The vegetables radiate green energy. Eat plenty of vegetables for energy and strength. Green is good for ulcers, (external and internal), heart problems, and all forms of infections, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), allergy and skin reactions. Rub green oil on your body for all these. When faced with difficult situations where you must make a decision, relax and be still. Wrap a green cloth on your face and head. Green is a helpful colour for leaders, counsellors, and those who make decisions. When confused, unable to sleep or agitated, squeeze bitter leaf in water and drink two glasses. When agitated

and worried, you radiate red. The solution is more radiation of green through application of green oil to the body, and eating greens like bitter leaf Green tea leaves and plantain. Do not make serious decision when angry. Balance the red energy of red with green before making serious decisions. Green is the colour for healing. We all need healing. A lot of people are sick simply because they do not know why they are here on earth, what Balance the they are destined for and what red energy their life is all about. They become confused and find it difof red with ficult or even impossible to make decisions. They are afraid green before of what tomorrow will bring. making serious Such people need a lot of green energy to help them rediscover decisions the dynamism of life. Green gives us wisdom and inspiration to forge ahead in

this life. It is true that there is a lot of uncertainty, insecurity, unhappiness, injustice and evil in the world. Yet, we can still be happy, despite all these. In green we find the courage to face life and befriend uncertainties. BLUE Projecting blue energy into the body reduces inflammation and swelling in joints and other tissues. Blue is the colour of peace, gentleness, calmness and protection. It is the colour of rest, sleep and relaxation. Have you ever noticed an office painted with dominant blue? You will notice calmness and peace. Blue does not excite, unlike red.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

Industry

ICT

SON: Standardising non-oil products for global markets

Deepening universal rights to telecoms

Business What's news

Nigeria’s long-term outlook remains robust, says report The long-term outlook for Nigeria remains robust with strong broad-based growth, improving fiscal fundamentals and relative political stability, an economic strategist, Oliver Bell, has said.

p.32

NBC moves against anti-competitive practices The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is set to tackle headlong the long-standing issue of competition within the Nigerian television market.

L-R: Division Head, Oil & Gas Upstream, Fidelity Bank, Abolore Solebo, ED, Nigerdock FZE Plc., Mansour Jamarkani, Director, Kay & William Oil and Gas Consultant Group,Kunle Elegbede and Executive Secretary, Nigerina Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Ernest Nwapa, at the Nigeria Content Investment Forum at the on-going Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, Texas USA.

INCONSISTENCY Experts fear unnecessary policy reversals may create setbacks for the industry Kunle Azeez

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

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

s new government assumes office in Nigeria later this month, experts in the nation’s telecoms sector have expressed fears over the dangers, which possible policy somersault and reversals could exert on the telecoms sector. Nigeria telecoms sector, whose impact continues to be felt in every sectors of the economy, has attracted over $32 billion from local and Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) till date, according to the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Industry experts, who spoke with New Telegraph, noted that the industry has been on a con-

sistent path of growth, following the harmonisation of all the disparate policies, which hitherto existed in silos in the industry, into a single document. “Today, we have a telecoms industry that has developed from $500 million in 2001 to over $32 billion as at the middle of last year. This means that there is something we are doing right in terms of policy in Nigeria, which is attracting investors, both local and foreign, into the country. We need to maintain this,” said Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo. He challenged the incoming government to be wary of possible policy reversal, which, he

INFLATION RATE March 2015.............................8.5% February 2015.........................8.4% January 2015...........................8.2%

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

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Disquiet over $32bn telecoms industry said, was capable of upturning the success already recorded in the industry instead of consolidating on the achievements. “For us, we don’t want anything that will forestall the growth of our bourgeoning telecoms sector and that is why we would encourage the incoming government to ensure continuity,” said Chief Executive Officer, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), Muhammed Rudman. Rudman particularly

N1.7trn Being the estimated cost of rolling out broadband network in five years

raised issues concerning ongoing broadband revolution, stressing that “anything that would tamper with the broadband policy roadmap should be eschewed because that is the next frontier for growth for this sector and we must ensure pervasive access to broadband network,” he said. Chief Executive Officer, Teledom International, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, also said that policy somersault is always a major fear for investors when there is a change of government in a country like Nigeria, with strong history of policy reversals. “I would advice that this is one thing that could prevent investors from engaging in CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at May 1)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N332 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N240

l Foreign Reserves – $29.512bn as at 28/04/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at May 1)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N197 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N303 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N220

Business | News

ATTRACTION Undoubted transformation and growing population are major attractions Sunday Ojeme

he long-term outlook for Nigeria remains robust with strong broad-based growth, improving fiscal fundamentals and relative political stability, an economic strategist, Oliver Bell, has said. In his latest report, titled: “A billion reasons to be bullish on Africa,” the expert noted that the nation was also blessed with a large, young and growing population and a strengthening consumer. “We hold a mixture of high-quality consumer and financial stocks in the country, which we believe will be beneficiaries of these long-term tailwinds. “However, we took significant profits in the middle of 2014 as we became cautious on the near-term outlook. “We started to get a sense from our trips to Nigeria that the ‘politicking’ was starting well ahead of the elections in February 2015,” said the report, which focused on major markets in the African sub-region. Besides, the study, noted: “There is an undoubted transformation taking place in Africa. Currently home to more

Nigeria’s long-term outlook remains robust, says report than one billion people, the African continent will have the planet’s largest population of workingage people by 2040.” Bell’s views tally with that of emerging markets guru, Mark Mobius, who also said that now is the time to invest in Nigeria, despite the country falling out of favour with many investors last year, following “a series of unfortunate events.” Mobius, who oversees the management of the £2

further investment because, for 14 years, we have enjoyed good regulatory regime in the telecoms industry and we should be circumspect in new policy formulation that will draw us back,” he added. Following the unprecedented growth in mobile subscriptions for voice services in the country to over 142 million active telephone lines up from the paltry 400,000 as at 2001, teledensity has also grown from less than one per cent to over 101 per cent, according to the latest official industry data. With the voice service nearing saturation, the current government had begun the implementation of necessary policies aimed at deepening broadband penetration in the country. According to the National Broadband Plan 2013-2018, which is the blueprint for broadband network development in the country, Nigeria is

billion Templeton Emerging Markets trust, noted that Nigeria’s stock market suffered last year as a result of turbulence in the region, including the terrorist acts of Boko Haram, the Ebola outbreak and the falling price of oil, a major source of income for government. However, Mobius remains sanguine on the investment opportunities in Nigeria on the grounds that it has one

of the fastest-growing economies in the world and is set to see government reform following the election and subsequent change of president in March. “We continue to pursue long-term investments in Nigeria for a number of reasons,” Mobius said. “Not only is Nigeria Africa’s largest economy and a major consumer market, but the outcome of Nigeria’s presidential elec-

tion in March proved its people are ready for change – hopefully for the better. “We feel that (president Muhammadu Buhari’s) military experience should help him battle terrorism and corruption in Nigeria, so, in that sense, the election results seem positive.” While Mobius recognises that lower oil prices are a challenge for Nigeria and will mean the government needs

to find new sources of income, he noted that government’s debt is only 13 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and fiscal policy from the 2015 budget should prevent government facing funding issues this year. He said: “While important to the economy, the oil and gas sector actually equates to less than 15 per cent of Nigeria’s total GDP. Nevertheless, the oil price decline has prompted government to reduce its 2015 GDP growth forecast to 5.5 per cent, down from an estimated 6.23 per cent in 2014, (but) GDP growth still looks to remain strong this year.

L-R: Managing Director, NATCOM, Mr. Kamar Abass; Chairman, Dr. Tunde Ayeni; Managing Director, Hong Kong Telecom/ PCCW, Mr. Marc Halbfinger and Head, Africa, PCCW, Mr. Yossi Barkhan, at a dinner to mark the courtesy visit of NATCOM Technical Partners, PCCW, to Nigeria, in Lagos.

Anxiety over telecoms industry CONTINUED FROM PAG E 3 1

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

expected to increase its broadband penetration from its current eight per cent to 30 per cent by 2018. Also, the NCC has embarked on the licensing of Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) that would help roll out the needed infrastructure network to ensure ubiquitous broadband services across the country with a view to meeting the broadband penetration target. Our correspondent has gathered that Nigeria would need about $2 billion (over N1.7 trillion) investment over a period of five years to ensure the country attains its 30 per cent broadband target. “Nigeria has done very well in the strides to implementing NGBN, but the journey has just begun, because an estimated $2 billion (N340 billion) in funding/ investment will be required yearly over the next five years to bridge the broadband infrastructure gap,” said Principal Partner of KPMG, Mr. Joseph Tegbe.

NBC moves against anti-competitive practices DOMINANCE

Current move is to check excesses of dominant players in pay-TV market

he National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) is set to tackle headlong the long-standing issue of competition within the Nigerian television market. Sources at the Commission disclosed that the Commission recently invited an international team of TV market consultants to undertake an economic baseline study of the sector. The consultants are to specifically undertake a review of current market structures to see if there are any restrictions to content, including premium rights and events. They are also expected to determine whether such restrictions hinder the emergence of new services and platforms, as well as whether there are inhibi-

tions to their ability to compete effectively. It wsa learnt that the consultants will also assess other issues such as market dominance, network, programme access rules and content exclusivity, impact of the advertising market on broadcast revenue and operations, with particular attention to revenue returns for broadcast stations. “They will also examine whether any current market conduct by a player adversely affects revenue for broadcasting stations in Nigeria. This is of vital importance because the economic survival of the broadcasting market depends on the operation of the advertising market,” the sources said. Meanwhile, it was gathered that the commission was set to institute a team of local and foreign experts to examine the role of foreign sports broadcasting property rights such as football rights on the cost of pay-television in Nigeria, as against the development of the country’s local leagues, and its impact on the cost of pay TV in Nigeria.

The committee, which shall be formally constituted soon, it was learnt, shall work to reduce the possible impact of such rights on the cost of the country’s local TV rates. Sources privy to the Commission’s activities also revealed that in order to adequately deal with some of the issues, which have arisen from both the digital transition and the competition issues within the Nigerian broadcasting market, the NBC recently set up the DigiGroup Contact Team, made up of broadcasters, signal distributors, set-top box manufacturers, legal and technology experts. “Recently, there was a court action against Multichoice Nigeria Limited (DSTV) on the indiscriminate increase in its subscription fees. It is unfortunate that the Nigerian pay-tv market is under the stranglehold of the South African DSTV due to its early entry into the broadcast market and the ongoing efforts my NBC will reveal if it has been indulging anti-competitive practices against the industry,” one of the sources said.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

ITF moves to curb unemployment p.34 The recent news that 103 products from the country are being rejected at the international market has made a second look at the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) imperative. ABDULWAHAB ISA, writes

Industry

SON: Standardising non-oil products for global markets the country was slowly killing the nation’s economy. According to him, the menace of such substandard products from abroad had led to the collapse of many industries, especially in the North-West. He observed that the influx of such products, particularly from China, was responsible, to a large extent, to the collapse of most industries in Kano State, which is the economic hub of the North. “As you are aware, substandard products have affected our economy. If you go to Kano today, you will discover that most companies there have collapsed because we have ignored standards and that is why we are suffering.” In fact, some of these foreign products being consumed in Nigeria are injurious to our health and poor people are dying and nobody is asking questions,” he said.

ne major lesson the slump in oil prices at the global market taught Nigeria and, perhaps, other nations that solely depend on crude oil as their major source of earning, is the expediency to expand, horizon of non-oil export. For the better part of year 2014 and up till now, oil prices have nosedived drastically, thus rendering Nigeria, whose economyic planning is largely dependent on revenue flows from oil earnings, prostrate. However, the interesting angle to it all is that those saddled with the responsibility of thinking and charting direction for the economy are quick in coming up with alternative ideas capable of shielding the economy from vagaries of oil slump. In their wisdom, they are dusting the hitherto neglected non-oil products for export and turning it round as major revenue earning in place of crude oil. An agrarian nation, Nigeria stands a good stead to export her farm produce to other nations and earn good income that will enable her run its economy as well as generate employments for the teeming youths. For agriculture produce from Nigeria to be competitive, attain enviable centre stage capable of attracting foreign buyers, it has to conform to a set standard. With increasing penchant to grow non-oil exports gaining wider acceptability, the key agency of government expected to play a pivotal role by way of standardising Nigeria’s products before export, is the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). Established in 1971, SON is saddled with the responsibilities of organising tests and ensuring compliance with standards designated and approved by the Council. It is also to undertake investigations as necessary into the quality of facilities, materials and products in Nigeria and establish a quality assurance system, including certification of factories, products and laboratories. SON Laboratory equipment now and then It is on record that before now, some Nigerian products earmarked for export failed in their bids, largely due to the absence of key laboratory equipment needed for some vital standardi-

Aganga

sation tests. However, the coming on board of the current Director –General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, has changed the setting as modern test equipment has been procured to perform the task. Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, at a recent function organised by SON in Abuja, lamented a situation of near absence of internationally accredited laboratory equipment in the past. He noted that the country, as at last count, recorded no fewer than 103 cases of product rejection abroad as against that of South Africa and other developing African countries, which have just six or seven cases. The minister, who disclosed this while commissioning the newly built Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)’s headquarters in Abuja, said: “The reason we have this number of rejects is because we do not have accredited laboratories and that is why the SON’s internationally accredited laboratories is a game changer on its own. Nigerian goods are subjected to series of rigorous tests abroad because they know Nigeria has no internationally accredited laboratory. “But, today, it is a different story as Nigeria now has two internationally accredited laboratories that cover almost all the agricultural products and we are in the process of adding to that within the next few months.” Aganga added that there was no way the country was going to meet its export expectation in terms of revenue without the

Odumodu

provision of quality standardisation mechanisms, which is where SON comes in as Nigeria’s watchdog for standard. “Everybody talks about the infrastructural deficit in the country, but the most critical infrastructure for the economy of this country is called the National Quality Infrastructure and the only organisation in Nigeria that can make that happen is SON.”

Some of these foreign products being consumed in Nigeria are injurious to our health

Winning the war against fake products A trouble spot of utmost concern to SON, the battle to get rid of counterfeit and substandard product, is a war the organisation is prosecuting with all energies. Odumodu has demonstrated the agency’s intolerance for the menace of fake products, which, he said, could ruin any economy. Speaking recently at a forum, Odumodu said that the influx of substandard foreign products in

Publishing names of compliant importers To deter perpetrators that indulge in importing fake products to the country, the agency threatened to release a list of compliant importers who import cargoes that meet the organisation’s standards, hence, anyone not found on the list is not compliant. Speaking at his recent visit to the headquarters of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), SON’s Director General said that the list would be published on the organisation’s website in order to guide the public. He said that SON was in the process of deploying scanners to the nation’s seaports for the detection of fake products. Conclusion Given the zeal and urgent attention with which government is pushing for diversification of the nation’s resources to non-oil commodities, SON, as one of the leading agencies of government, should be playing pivotal roles in ensuring that products leaving Nigeria’s shores for export conform with best international standards.

‘Let there be full implementation of procurement policy’ Godwin Irekhe

he Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply Management, Nigeria (CIPSMN) Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, has called on the President-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, to reappraise the reform carried out by his predecessor with regards to procurement, which eventually gave rise to the

Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act 2007. He said this recently at the 2015 Group A induction ceremony of the Institute’s new members during which 200 members were inducted. Aliyu also used the forum to reinstate that with the full implementation of the procurement policy, the role of professional personnel will be duly enhanced. He said: “It is in the process of purchasing

and supplies that prices of materials, supplies, works and services are inflated or over-priced, improperly received, stored and fraudulently issued.” On his part, the president of the institute, Alhaji Abdulhamid Oyewo, said that within two years, if the incoming administration was serious about the implementation of procurement policy, the country would see changes in her economy.

Business | Industry

TASK Report to focus on the design and implementation Dele Alao

he Industrial Training Fund (ITF) said it has commissioned a Skill - Gap Survey in order to curb the high rate of unemployment in the country. The Director-General, ITF, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, said this at a lecture on “Sustaining industrial growth through job creation: The ITF role.” He noted that the result of the survey was being expected by next month. Onaeko explained that the report would assist ITF in its decision on the areas to focus more attention in the design and implementation of its training programmes.

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

ITF moves to curb unemployment She said that the study will throw up areas where there is a skill gap in the country and identify the resources required for filling these gaps. She also stated that with the report, both the private and public sectors would be able to plan ahead for their skill requirements, just as educational and training institutions will be able to tailor their training programmes to fill identified skill gaps. Similarly, students will be guided on their choice of courses that will ensure that they are employable at the end of their training. Besides, she said that training institutes will be guided on what courses to offer or concentrate their efforts at any particular time. The ITF boss maintained that the new thrust of the institution

is matching unemployed youth with existing jobs. “Under the current administration, the ITF is undergoing fundamental reforms and is focusing on matching young unemployed youths to real jobs in the market place,” he said, noting that efforts are also geared towards “expanding ITF’s infrastructure to match skills investment to trainings provided.” In all of these, Dr. ChukkasOnaeko said that the ITF was undergoing several challenges in accomplishing its goals and objectives such as non-compliance with the one per cent mandatory training by some organisations, inadequate training infrastructure or facilities as well as inadequate fund for skills training. Other point, which Dr. Chukkas-Onaeko highlighted

as challenges, were insufficient vacancies for training of the teeming Nigerian youths, low patronage of training

programmes, poor training culture, poor cooperation of private sector in job creation and social problems.

Lagos trains 600 in tie & dye

ix hundred artisans have been trained in new technology of tie & dye by the Lagos State government. The President, Tie & Dye Association, Lagos State chapter, Abdurasheed Temitope, disclosed this in Lagos a one-day exhibition tagged Adire Day. Temitope said that 600 members of the association have been trained in the modern technology of making tie & dye. The association president, who also commended Lagos State government for setting up the Lagos State Microfinance Institution (LASMI), said that the agency has been of tremendous support to members of his association by extending low interests loans to them. Temitope said that the purpose of Adire Day was to showcase the uniqueness of the fabric, especially its potentials as a job creator and great revenue earner. Secretary of the association, Mrs. Adejumo

Mary, called on the state government to continue encouraging members of the association by increasing the loan supports. “Our members have increased. I therefore call on the state government, through LASMI, to increase the volume of loans extended to use so that our members can improve on their business profile,” she said. Earlier, Adekoya Babatunde, who represented LASMI Chairman, Bashorun Alabi-Macfoy, at the event, said that LASMI has been of great financial supports to registered associations and societies in the state. He said that through accredited micro finance banks, loans, at low interest rates, are given to deserving beneficiaries through their associations and societies. While congratulating the association on the second year hosting of Adire Day, the chairman called on members to make judicious use of the loans obtained.

Beverage brand empowers entrepreneurs with N12.5m Deborah Olayode L-R: Vice-President/Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Chief Michael Olawale-Cole; Consul-General, Consulate of Nigeria in Shanghai, China, Ambassador Ali Ocheni and Consul, Consulate of Nigeria in Shanghai, China, Mr. Ubelejit Renner Ikuru, at the LCCI’s consultative meeting with officials of the Consulate in Shanghai, China, on the forthcoming 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair.

ABUCCIMA tasks govt on minerals’ export Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

he Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) has called on the Federal Government through the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to encourage and develop formal export mineral resources. The call was made in Abuja when a delegation of the Chamber, led by its Vice President (Mines), Mr. Chidi Okoli, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Mohammed Sada. ABUCCIMA noted that there is an urgent need by government to create additional sources of revenue by encour-

aging formal exportation of mineral resources and also the establishment of Buying Centres where mineral resources can be warehoused and easily purchased. The ABUCCIMA spokesperson also called for the strengthening of the state offices of the ministry so as to make them live up to expectation. He added that the waving of import duty on mining equipment is highly commendable. While reeling out policies that will enhance the performance of mining operators in the country, Okoli stated that the procedure for the acquisition of mining/quarry licence within the Federal Capital Territory should be simplified. He pledged the readiness of the Chamber to collaborate with the Ministry in exposing

the potentials of the mining sector. The minister, in his response, explained that the issuance of mining licence cannot be simplified, adding that once the requirements are met, the licence are issued. He said that government attempted to establish 12 buying centres, but due to corruption and inefficiency, they were privatised. He, however, appealed to operators in the mining sector to have valid exploration licence and advised them to identify themselves as strong institutions, adding that mining is the sector for the future. He hinted that Tin, which recorded high export in the past, is coming back as experts have found out that plastic has an adverse effect on human health.

brand of beverage from the stable of Nigerian Breweries, Life Continental lager beer, has initiated an entrepreneur empowerment scheme of N12.5 million for budding and talented businessmen and women within the South-East. The innovative talents hunt and mentoring programme is dubbed Progress Booster. The brewer made this known to teeming distributors, retailers, bar and entertainment spot operators (trade partners of Nigerian Breweries Plc), representatives of different market associations at the launch of the project in Onitsha. The Marketing Manager, Lager & Stout, Emma Agu, said that progress booster was a radio reality project meant to re-launch and reinvigorate Life Continental lager beer in the South East market where it pioneered regional brewing and has maintained leadership of the region’s booming market. He added that the empowerment scheme would run from May to December, 2015.

He noted that the programme was meant to empower 50 budding entrepreneurs that have submitted sound and workable business proposals to the brands outlets in the South-East. The lager and stout category manager at the nation’s biggest brewer noted that a winner, whose proposal must have been approved by business experts, would be given N250,000 to start his or her business idea that won him the money and would be supervised by business experts for the next three months. He noted that within the three months, if the business is still doing well, he would be given another N250,000. Agu said that the winner would be announced each week via a weekly radio programme on the scheme in four regional radio stations in Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri and Aba. He noted that the business proposal could be on trading, handicraft, smallscale manufacturing and provision of social services, which must have ways of yielding money and pulling the recipients of the cash grant out of poverty.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

ICT

Spectranet to FG: Accelerate high-speed broadband p.36

Deepening universal rights to telecoms As every activity gradually migrates to the Internet, stakeholders in Nigeria have underscored the need for government to ensure universal access to telecoms services as well as making it part of citizens’ fundamental human rights, KUNLE AZEEZ reports

igeria’s telecommunications industry has continued to extend digital access to people, both in the rural and urban areas, but, according to statistics, much still need to be done to cover all and sundry. With over 170 million people in Nigeria, there are only about 142 million people that have access to basic telephony services and about 80 million of them, including those with access to telephony, also have access to the Internet. This, according to experts, means that much still needs to be done through collaborative efforts to extend services to other areas not yet reached. ITU’s declaration Over the years, some countries have declared universal access to telecoms services by their citizens as part of their fundamental human rights, as accentuated by the International Telecommunications Union and the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS). At the ITU and WSIS levels, discussions have been advanced on how to make more citizens to be ‘neticizens’, a term used to denote citizens who already are ingrained in the use of digital tools to make living more comfortable for them. Ironically, a listing of the fundamental human rights of a citizen would include the right to life, the right to freedom of association and the right to freedom of expression, among others. These, according to legal experts, are the rights that are inalienable to man, as every citizen is believed to be born with these rights, which are not subject to negotiation. However, in a digital era, when many activities are migrating to the virtual space, having these rights does not seem to guarantee the enjoyment of the rights. Advocacy Consequently, in recognition of the limitations of the rights,

Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke

Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, Eugene Jowah

efforts and advocacies are now on to expand the frontiers of the fundamental rights of a man to include digital right. One of the advocates and President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Lanre Ajayi, had in the past years, called on government to recognise the need to incorporate rights to telecoms access as part of the fundamental rights of the citizens contained in the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Ajayi had noted that “as we enter the new digital age and in line with the WSIS and ITU’s directive, it is high time Nigeria began a process to consciously incorporate freedom of access to telecoms services as fundamental human rights.” NCC and digital access Consequently, discussion on the same subject formed the fulcrum of a forum hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to enlighten telecommunications subscribers about how to enjoy the new life that has come with mobile telecommunication revolution in Nigeria. Speaking at the forum recently in Abuja, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, declared to participants what could have been far-fetched in Nigeria some years ago. Ojobo said that ITU has declared telecommunications as a fundamental human right, adding that NCC was also working hard to help Nigerians to enjoy that right along with other citizens of the world.

Our mandate is to ensure there is access to telecommunications for all Nigerians

He said: “Basically, what we do is to create the enabling environment for telecommunications to grow to be able to provide access. The International Telecommunications Union has indicated that telecommunications has now become a fundamental human right. This means that wherever you are, you should have access. “When we talk about universal access, we are talking about access to telecommunications within five-metre radius. So, our mandate is to ensure there is access to telecommunications for all Nigerians. “We also set quality of standards. We ensure compliance to those standards and where it is established, there has been breaches; of course, the commission imposes some kind of penalties.” He added: “When we talk about telecommunications, people talk about the regular voice communications, but it goes beyond that to data communications. Now, data communication has become key to our lives. “When you are talking about data communications, you are talking about even the alert you get from your bank when, maybe, somebody pays money into your account. It includes the emails; the WhatApps; the text messages; Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sales (PoS) terminals. Essentially, what we are saying is that telecommunication is life and it has affected the way we live daily.” In recognition of the fundamentality of telecommunications to the lives of the people, Ojobo

said that the Nigerian government has been providing the environment for the networks to expand, even as it continues to push the frontiers for the expansion of data communication, which he described as “the present and the future” of telecommunications. According to him, this has produced results as subscribers to both voice and data communications continue to grow as indicated by statistics recently released by the communications regulatory agency. Expounding on the telecommunications rights of subscribers, the Enugu Zonal Controller of NCC, Mr. Abang Lawrence, said that subscribers have rights to demand and get good quality of service as much as possible. He said: “Telecommunications users have the right to be involved. They have a right to know all the requirements of the services they are getting from the operator. They have a right to question the quality of services they are receiving. They have a right to a quick response to their complaints.” Conclusion Going forward, it has been suggested that beyond just promoting access to telecoms services and regulating the service provisioning to ensure faster and quality service delivery to the people, Nigeria should begin to make proactive measures aimed at enacting laws that guarantee access to telecoms services as a fundamental human rights of Nigerians, as contained in Chapter Four of the country’s constitution.

Business | ICT

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Spectranet to FG: Accelerate high-speed broadband SPEED Deployment of services on LTE network allows for improved broadband experience Stories by Kunle Azeez

n Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Nigeria, Spectranet Limited, has charged the Federal Government to accelerate 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) deployments in the country, as a measure for providing true broadband services to telecoms consumers. The company, which made this call during the unveiling of a new brand logo in Lagos, also claimed the pioneering status for 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in the country. The new logo, the company said, is a hallmark of the new spirit of the brand targeted at deepening connections seamlessly and affordably. LTE is a wireless broadband technology designed to support roaming Internet access via cell phones and handheld devices. Because LTE offers significant improvements over older cellular communication standards, some refer to it as a 4G (fourth generation) technology

along with Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), which is a wireless communications standard designed to provide 30 to 40 megabit-per-second data rates. Speaking at the unveiling, the Chief Executive Officer, Spectranet, Mr. David Venn, said that Spectranet understands the needs of its customers very well and has kept on improving services to offer the best Internet solution in the country. He said: “This is why at Spectranet, we have gone beyond 3G. We were the first 4G LTE Network in Nigeria. Spectranet 4G LTE brings numerous benefits that provide a powerful Internet broadband experience that is way beyond current 3G performance. “Our focus is on providing families and Small/Medium sized businesses with a Fast and Smart link to their world. Our network is smart because it is reliable and offers great value for money; and fast because it rides on the very latest 4G LTE network.” However, to mark the new brand unveiling, the company has announced a monthly rollover of any unused data when consumers recharge and a minimum of 5GB free data for every new modem purchased. According to Venn, the new logo conveys the unique benefits

Take up careers in engineering, maths, body tells girls

he Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN) has called on the girl-child to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the current digital world. Founder and President of WITIN, Mrs. Martha Omoekpen-Alade, made the call at a career fair organised to mark the 2015 Girls in ICT annual event, recently. The event brought together over 100 girls from several secondary schools in Lagos State, with an exposition of the various career options available in the STEM field. According to OmoekpenAlade, a good percentage of girls are not going into science and engineering fields because they had no idea of the options available there. Over 40 different career options in information and communication technology (ICT) were expounded in the fair. She stressed the need to have more girls in STEM, adding that there is huge gender parity in most technology companies. The WITIN boss said: “Research has shown that companies with a more balanced workforce with women on board do better. Their products would satisfy the needs of consumers more. As long as

users of technologies remain diverse, producers and inventors of technology must have diverse and balanced teams of males and females. “This diversity can only be attained if girls begin to consider careers in STEM. Early interventions will enable girls understand that limitless opportunities abound for them if they leverage on careers available in the field,” she said. Alade noted that stakeholders globally lament the high rate of women dropout in the STEM field, stressing, however, that WITIN is committed, with its partners, to reducing female gender/STEM leaky pipeline. The forum also highlighted various career options in the field of ICT, exposing great prospects for girls in technology entrepreneurship. Alade stated that the world is today being controlled by technology, as there is hardly any profession that does not have ICT components. “Definitely, IT jobs are well paying, full of prospects and ubiquitously suitable for women,” she said. The Tutor General and Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, District VI, Mrs. Iyabo Osifeso, commended WITIN’s effort in bridging the gender digital divide in the state.

that Spectranet 4G LTE offers to consumers. “Consumers all over the world, including Nigerian consumers, are increasingly embracing the Internet as the next revolution in gaining access to information and entertainment, deepening social relationships, as an alternative to traditional means of communication and directly making their voice heard in public debates.”

Venn explained that in Nigeria, Spectranet’s customers use the company’s services not only to access their emails and browse the Internet, but also to communicate via Facebook, Twitter and Skype, to watch videos on YouTube, play multi-player games across the world or to watch full feature movies or a world class chef prepare a recipe. “Also, families are using

broadband service to do this everyday and the Internet is fast becoming an essential part of modern family life. Internet has become part of our lifestyle in Nigeria and we can see its impact in almost every facet of our lives. The individual is now a major player in the happenings around him, powered by Information and Communication Technology (ICT),” he added.

L-R: Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc., Mr. Austin Okere; Country Managing Director, Oracle, Mr. Adebayo Sanni; Director General, Lagos State Financial Systems Management Bureau, Mr. Abdulahmed Mustapha and Director, Software, Edo State ICT Agency, Mr. Toju Onaiwu, during an official visit to Oracle in Lagos.

ne of the leading PanAfrican Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies, Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG), has raised the bar of relationship with Oracle, as it has named the Oracle Partner of the Year 2015. This, according to a statement, followed an award presentation to CWG at the Oracle ‘Spread the Red’ event held in Lagos to celebrate outstanding partners in the country. The Oracle Specialised Partner of the Year Award is given to Oracle partners in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) in commemoration of their outstanding performance in identified areas.

CWG gets Oracle recognition This includes specialisation in Oracle products sales, excellent customer service delivery and innovative value added services. According to Oracle, a panel of executives from Oracle EMEA Alliances and Channels adjudges the Partner of the Year Award winners. They are also considered as the region’s nomination for the Oracle Global Award. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Oracle Nigeria Country Manager, Mr. Bayo Sanni, expressed satisfaction with CWG’s commitment to both companies’ partnership drive. He stated: “CWG has been a dependable partner in

the Nigerian market space overtime. And, this special award represents our appreciation of their contributions to our business and, indeed, the entire industry in the out-gone year. “It is also an assurance of our commitment to continue to work closely with you on driving the Oracle business in the bid to actualise our mutual business priorities in 2015.” In his response, the Chief Executive Officer, CWG Plc, Mr. Austin Okere, pointed out that the award was a testimony to CWG’s commitment to the provision of business enabling technology solutions in diverse sectors of the economy.

Nigeria, our focal point, says Lenovo

global personal computer leader, Lenovo, has described Nigeria as a vital focus for its business, saying that it was determined to increase its market share in the country. The company, which is the world’s number three smartphone vendor, entered the Nigerian market in February last year. Speaking at a breakfast meeting with the media in Lagos, Executive Director of Mobile Business Group at Lenovo, Middle East and Africa (MEA), Mr. Shashank Sharma, described Nigeria as a vital focus for

the organisation. “Nigeria is one of the fastest growing smartphone markets globally. With about 30 per cent smartphone penetration, the country represents huge growth potential for Lenovo,” he said. He added: “In the past one year, Lenovo has made strong progress with its Nigerian consumers. We consider the region as a principal destination for investment, even as we continue to record robust growth in sales. Sustaining a solid in-country presence is very important to us from both social and economic stand-

points. We will continue to expand our business and invest heavily in this market.” Sharma concluded: “We are building on the strong relationships that we have with Nigerians by meeting their demand for smartphones with first-class design, smarter features and improved functionality, with special focus on our latest range of mobile devices. “Our continued organic growth and expansion puts us in a great position to maintain our momentum. We have tremendous balance between our core business, especially a profitable PC business.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSday, MAY 7, 2015

Photo | News

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and President, Lagos Court of Arbitration, Mr. Olasupo Shasore, at the handing-over of Lagos Centre for Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), at the Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

L-R: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; Permanent Secretary, Mr. Sunny Echono and former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, at the investigative hearing by the House of Representatives in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYi

L-R: Former Chief Medical Director, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Femi Olugbile; Managing Director/CEO, H.PIERSON, Mrs. Eileen Shaiyen and Principal Consultant, HR Strategy, Mrs. Pam Obi-Nwandu, at Institute of Directors, Nigeria (IOD) Women Directorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; luncheon in Lagos.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastacia Daniel-Nwaobia; Director, Human Resources, Mr. Daniel Tifato; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of State Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, during the commissioning of staff Wwelfare facilities (creche and clinic) of the ministry, in Abuja.

Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba (fouth-left, front Row); Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki (fouth-right, front Row) and some NBC directors and staff of the Ministry of Information, at the official visit of the minister to NBC Headquarters in Abuja.

L-R: Emir of Yamaltu, Alhaji Hassan Jonga; Provost, Federal College of Horticultural Technology, DadinKowa, Prof. Fatima Sawa and Deputy Provost, Alhaji Salisu Yusuf, at the matriculation for the 2014/2015 academic session in Gombe State. PHOTO: NAN

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Faculty member, School of Media and Communication (SMC), Dr. Josef Bel-Molokwu; Director General, Ekiti State Bureau of Strategic Communication, Mr. Kayode Akinyemi; Guest Speaker, Sir Steve Omojafor and Publisher/CEO, Marketing Edge, Mr. John Ajayi, at the National Marketing Summit by Marketing Edge in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Pulmonologist, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Dr. Uju Ozoh; Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Emmanuel Bandele; Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Olufemi Adewole; Consultant, Chest Physician, Dr. Bolanle Adefuye and Consultant, Respiratory Physician, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr. Victor Umoh, at the celebration of World Asthma Day, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

Mom&Parenting

he British royal family’s newest addition is a baby girl! Kate Middleton gave birth to an eight-pound, three-ounce baby girl (three ounces smaller than her big brother, Prince George) on Saturday to much fanfare. Now that the royal family has announced her name — Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, Rebecca Gruber, an international based writer www.circle of moms here’s what else you need to know about Prince William and Duchess Kate’s new arrival! Sorry, uncle Harry: Kate and William’s baby girl is now fourth in line to the throne, bumping her Uncle Harry down to number five. A family tradition: The Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital, where the princess was born, was also the site of Prince William’s and Prince Harry’s arrivals in 1982 and 1984, respectively, and, of course, Prince George’s arrival in 2013. Until a few years ago, she wouldn’t have been a princess: In 1917, King George V decreed that the title HRH (which extends to princes and princesses) were reserved for “the children of the sovereign, the children of the sovereign’s sons and the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.” But before Prince George’s birth in 2013, Queen Elizabeth II issued Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm — a public proclamation — ordering that “all children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales should be able to use the HRH title.” The proclamation reads: “The Queen has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 31 December 2012 to declare that all the children of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of Royal Highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour.” For now, she will be known as the Princess of Cambridge. The princess could be queen: Though the princess will be known as the “spare to the heir” meaning her brother, Prince George. There is a chance she could become monarch. In several points in British history, second-born royal children have ascended to the throne. In 1910, George V became king after his older brother, Prince Albert Victor, died from the flu. And in 1936,

Mom&Parenting Team

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

The couple with their baby girl

10 facts about Britain’s new Princess

Edward VIII abdicated and his younger brother George VI became king. A fitting celebration: The birth will be celebrated with a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London to celebrate the new arrival. No big rush: Kate and William welcomed Prince George just over two years after their April 29, 2011, wedding and their second baby almost four years to the day later. Tradition rules (with a twist): The official birth announcement followed a centuries-old tradition of being posted on an easel outside of Buckingham Palace (the same one used to announce Prince William’s and Prince George’s births), while also being tweeted by Kensington Palace. First visitor: The newest royal family member’s first official visitor was her big brother,

There is a chance she could become monarch

The little Princess

Prince George! The big brother arrived eight hours after little sister’s arrival, after his dad went home to pick him up. News travels fast: The HMS Lancaster, known as the “Queen’s Frigate,” sent one of the first messages of congratulations to the royal family. The great wait: It took Prin-

cess Diana and Prince Charles a full week after the birth of their first son to announce that his name was to be William Arthur Philip Louis — Prince William. But it only took Kate Middleton and Prince William four days to announce Prince George’s name and two days to name Princess Charlotte!

40 Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fashola to parents: Don’t abdicate your role

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Moms, beware

T Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (right), addressing members of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Youth Association of Nigeria, Lagos Branch and other invited guests during the 7th Edition of the Annual Leadership Seminar of Ansar-Ud-Deen Youth Association of Nigeria, Lagos Branch at the NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos

Muritala Ayinla

he Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has called on parents to prioritize their parental roles, saying lesser animals don’t abdicate their parenting responsibility as man does. Speaking at the seventh Edition of the Annual Leadership Seminar of the Ansar- Ud- Deen Youth Association of Nigeria, Lagos Branch, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island. Titled, ‘Recipe for the Next Leadership,’ Gov. Fashola reiterated that parenting is the first leadership responsibility which must never be abdicated. According to him, followership is as critical as the leadership, since there is leadership everywhere but the question everyone should ask him or herself is if he or she is just contented with moving with the flow or prepared to assert him or herself in terms of expressing an opinion about how things can be better. He described a leader as one who is able to take responsibility for himself and be responsible for others, adding that the emphasis should not be a leader with a magic wand but the focus should be on the followership because the followers are really the leaders. The Governor added that every one is a leader somewhere, “when we expand the desire for government, how many of us remember that the first government is in the home in terms of the mother and the father,” he said. He restated that what happens to some people in their homes depends on the choices that were made for them, saying that while some accuse government of spending more on recurrent expenditure, at home they spend their salaries on Aso ebi rather than on their children’s school fees. Fashola said those who registered, got their PVC and did not vote at the last elections, abdicated a leadership responsibility and left the choice to some other people. The Governor said a citizen does not need law enforcement agents to chase him around on doing what is right at all times which is about self responsibility. “Everywhere you are, the question you should ask yourself is, if I am caught here, can I defend what I am doing here? Once you can defend it, go ahead and do it. Don’t give religious colouration to what you know is bad. What is bad is bad. “It is when we cannot justify our wrong doings that we pitch the ethnic arguments. Why do you dispose you refuse inside the drainage. I hope we have an idea of how much government spends every year removing refuse from drainage channels. That amount can be spent

on so many other things”, he said. He said ultimately, a choice that is not wanted is forced on the people because when the canal does not flow, homes would be flooded, adding that in Lagos when it rains what the drains do is to control how water flows and ultimately take the water to the lagoon. Speaking on care and safety, the Governor sought to know how much the average person cares about his neighbour or if he would walk past a broken bottle on the floor or pick it up to be put in a safe place. The Governor who buttressed his points with several members of the public who often send text messages to him about happenings that require urgent government action said it is virtually impossible for the officers of government to be in every part of the state at the same time. Speaking about the individual’s attitude and how it reflects the presence or absence of leadership responsibility, Fashola said on the roads, the people resort to buying and selling forgetting that the roads are shared assets and turn around to complain that there is so much traffic, reminding that the best leadership is not leadership from the top but leadership from the bottom. Commenting on the oft- touted notion that the problem with Nigeria is lack of good leaders, Governor Fashola said there is nothing like a leader for all times, stressing that there are only leaders for each season. Citing the example of the famous late Singaporean leader, Lee Kwan Yew, he said no nation can be blessed with four Lee Kwan Yew in one century adding that in established democracies like the United Kingdom and the United States that have produced several leaders, not many of them are still being well remembered now. He said the basic reason that could be adduced for this is the fact that nothing really outstanding happened in their periods when most of them ruled, saying Britain has had about 74 Prime Ministers since independence while the United States has had about 44 Presidents in about 300 plus years of self rule. Speaking on strengthening community relationship during the interactive session that followed his presentation, the Governor said using the Singaporean example, he was fortunate to meet the former leader, Lee Kwan Yew and the experiment of how the country has been able to provide housing for 80 percent of its population. He said one of the strategies adopted by Singapore was to allow the different nationalities like Chinese, Indians, Malaysians and Singaporeans to live together in the housing units through the adoption of balloting system to give out the homes.

he alarming rate at which little children are being abducted for ransom or for whatever reasons has become a cause for concern. This occurs a week or so after one case ends. Most of the time it is by nannies employed to take care of them, or people who are related to them or who know their families. A number of cases went viral on social media, like the stories of the Orekoya boys and the other two boys abducted from their homes by their nannies both employed from OLX online sales platform. More recently, a three-year-old girl was abducted by two men on a commercial motorcycle from her church in Surulere, Lagos during church service. The family after a fruitless search for the girl reported the incident to the police after the kidnappers had requested an unspecified amount, running into millions of naira. About three days later it was reported that the girl was abandoned in another church in Abeokuta, Ogun State. It turned out that the church was having a programme when they noticed her presence in the church. Initially, they thought she belonged to one of the church members, so they carried on with their programme. At the end of the programme, many people left and she was left behind. Then they raised an alarm but nobody could identify her. Then a young chap in the church who had seen the viral message announcing her disappearance identified her. He ‘Googled’ the picture of the missing girl circulating on the Internet and compared it with the girl and it matched. They took the girl to the police station where the police called the father informing him that his daughter had been found. A 15-year-old girl was kidnapped in the Ajah area of Lagos State, while on her way back to her school in Ogun State. She had come to Lagos to spend the holiday with her father who took her to the Sangotedo Motor Park when it was time for her to go back to school. He bid her farewell on the fateful day, May 24, 2014, not knowing the vehicle she boarded was owned by kidnappers. A few weeks after the journey, the family got a call from the girl’s school saying she had yet to arrive in the school. About two months after the kidnap, the victim’s parents got a call from the kidnappers in the Niger Republic, demanding a ransom of $100,000 which they threatened to make the girl work for if it was not paid. After the family had become bankrupt from spending so much without

getting any result, they were told their daughter had been sold to Libya, and that a relative of theirs was involved in the kidnap. Thankfully, the girl was recently released from Libya and has been reunited with her family. Also in the news recently is the story of a two year old girl abducted from her residence in Ijora Badia, Lagos. The child’s mother was said to have left her in a room with a neighbour to buy food at a nearby shop. The girl was abducted when she went outside to play with other children by a 16 year old boy who took her to an uncompleted building, not far from her home and raped her. The little girl’s mother and neighbours got confused when they could not find her around. It was the girl’s scream that attracted her mother, who traced it to the uncompleted building, where she met the boy with her daughter. When stories of child abduction hit the mainstream news and the social media we all cry out asking for immediate and unconditional release of the child(ren), some blame the parents for their carelessness, others hold prayer sessions for miraculous release. And when we finally hear of their release; we all heave a sigh of relief and go back to our businesses. The families though glad to have their children back, are left to nurse their wounds - the stress they went through in addition to parting with all they had, and having to take care of children who may have to live with the trauma the rest of their lives. We hardly hear of any legal sentences pronounced on these abductors for their wicked acts, in cases where they are arrested. No doubt they are made to pay, but we don’t hear about them much, many even believe that they go scot-free. Isn’t that enough to make any desperate individual (considering the harsh economic realities in the country) venture into this very ‘lucrative business’? Little wonder we hear of another victim soon after one is released. It was Eneke the bird that said since men have learned to shoot without missing; he has learned to fly without perching. With very desperate individuals out like hawks to grab any child outside the watchful eyes of a guardian, we must adopt stricter security measures to protect the children delicately placed in our care. May God help us. Grace Essen is the author of Successful Working Mom, president and founder Mum To Mum Support Initiative

Business | Money Line 41

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

Rising

Apex bank has updated list several times

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again updated the list of Bureaux De Change (BDCs) operators in the country that have met its new minimum capital requirement of N35 million. The fresh list posted on the apex bank’s website yesterday, showed that 2,660 BDCs have now met

he Federal Government has been called upon to look into the possibility of establishing a special low interest rate fund to aid borrowings by private sector investors in social services, as a means of halting the decadence in the nation’s crumbling social infrastructure. Chief Executive Officer of MeadowHall Group, Mrs. Kehinde Nwani, made the appeal during a media roundtable in Lagos to announce the various on-going projects and activities of the Group and its subsidiaries. She noted that the nation’s many infrastructure challenges make it necessary for the government to encourage more social entrepreneurs to have access to low-inter-

2,660 BDCs meet new capital requirements, says CBN the requirements. In an updated list last month, the apex bank recertified 14 more BDCs to continue operating in the industry. The banking watchdog had on June 23, 2014, increased the minimum capital requirement for BDC operators in Nigeria from N10 million to N35

million. Then, a total of 3, 208 BDCs were officially registered with the CBN. The CBN said the increase was to sanitise the industry and rid it of unscrupulous elements, making it mandatory for operators to make a cautionary deposit of N35 million expected to be deposited in a non-interest

yielding account in the CBN upon the grant of an approval- in-principle. On August 15, last year, the regulator announced that a total of 2, 442 BDCs had met the new capital requirement as at July 31, 2014. Similarly, it added 51 more BDCs to the list on September 5, 2014. Since then it had updat-

Firm seeks low interest rates for social services’ investors

est rate loans in order to actualise the government’s dream of a private sector- led improvement in socio-economic areas such as health, education, child development, talent discovery and human capital enhancement. “Drawing from our experience of the evolution of the MeadowHall brand from inception to date, we are convinced that the country still has a long way to go in achieving basic globally accepted standards as far as social infrastructure is concerned. The needs are really massive and government at various levels in the country

must do more to encourage social entrepreneurs, if the goal of holistic development of the country is to be achieved”, Mrs. Nwani counseled. Continuing, she said: “Take the Education Sector for example. In order to achieve the goal of raising the standard and quality of education, there is need for creative and innovative support to public educational institutions especially in the areas of teaching staff skills enhancement, advisory on standard operating procedures and curriculum development as well as leadership training for pupils,

among others. Massive investment is required to achieve world class standards in the areas highlighted above and government alone cannot undertake the job successfully. “At interest rates of between 20 per cent and 26 per cent charged by commercial banks in the country today, it will always be a problem to get social entrepreneurs who are firmly committed to partnering government in the task of social infrastructure reengineering because it is suicidal for social entrepreneurs to approach Banks for loans”.

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

N16,833,244.57 N16,509,472.5m 8.2 0.0000 13 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$61.39 US$29,630,776,490

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, 2014 Dec, 2013 Feb, 2015 2/5/2014 24/2/2015 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 24/2/2015 5/5/2015 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

Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Two banks nominated for top African accolades

wo Nigerian banks and a deal South African bank financed locally have been nominated for the Nominees for the 2015 African Banker Awards. Fidelity Bank has been nominated for the Award for Financial Inclusion alongside banks from Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco and Senegal. The more prestigious African Bank of the Year, according to a statement, sees Guaranty Trust Bank vying for the hon-

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

our with financial houses from South Africa and Morocco. The US$900 million 459 MW Azura Edo IPP gasfired open cycle power plant in Nigeria, financed by Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, is in line to win the Infrastructure Deal of the Year. The Awards according to the organisers, will be held during the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) at the end of May in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Winters outlines plans for Standard Chartered

tandard Chartered Plc’s incoming Chief Executive Officer Bill Winters plans to supervise the bank’s regional units more directly than his predecessor did when he assumes the job in a month. Winters, has asked the bank’s eight regional leaders to report directly to him when he takes over from Peter Sands on June 10, said two people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because the details are private. Winters won’t immediately replace former Europe, Middle East, Africa and Americas CEO Viswanathan Shankar and ex-Asia head Jaspal Bindra, while he gets to know the bank, the people said. Standard Chartered

hired Winters, a former co-head of JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s investment bank, to take over after Sands failed to reverse a drop in earnings and a slump in shares over the past two years. The lender, which generates most of its earnings in Asia, is eliminating some 4,000 jobs to help save about $1.8 billion in costs through 2017. Standard Chartered’s regional CEOs are Diana Layfield for Africa, Julio Rojas for the Americas, Lim Cheng Teck for Southeast Asian nations, Richard Holmes for Europe, Ben Hung for Greater China, Christos Papadopoulos for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, Ajay Kanwal for North East Asia and Sunil Kaushal for South Asia.

Bank plans N24bn rights issue

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

ed the list several times. On November 14 and November 28, 2014, the CBN added 15 and 11 more BDCs to the list operators

that have recapitalised to do business in the industry. Similarly, on January 9, 2015, the apex bank announced that 21 more firms had been added to the list, bringing the total number of BDCs to 2, 523. Again, on February 6, it announced that it had recertified another set of 28 BDCs to continue operating in the industry.

tanbic IBTC Holdings plans to raise N24 billion in a rights issue once shareholders approve the transaction, the lender announced yesterday. The bank said it would seek approval at a general meeting on June 3. The development is in line with analysts’ forecasts that a significant number of Nigerian banks would be compelled to raise capital this year to comply with the Basel requirements on operational risk. For instance, in a re-

port late last year, Renaissance Capital predicted that Stanbic IBTC could consider a tier 1 capital raise in 2015, likely via a rights issue. According to the report, after the N15.3 billion tier 2 capital raised in the third quarter 2014, Stanbic (bank) reported a Basel 1 capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 15.9 per cent (1H14: 13.5 per cent in the first half of 2014), which dropped 300 basis points to 13 per cent under Basel 2/3, as against a regulatory requirement of 10 per cent for national banks.

Business | Financial Market News

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

6-May-15

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,582.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,268.39

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

1.28 1.98 2.23 2.32 3.07 4.15 4.47 4.77 6.73 8.86 13.56 14.04 14.54 15.21 19.20

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

13.58 13.70 13.70 13.70 13.71 13.72 13.72 13.72 13.69 13.54 17.16 17.76 18.47 15.51 13.73

13.45 13.62 13.62 13.62 13.58 13.63 13.61 13.63 13.63 13.48 17.09 17.68 18.36 15.44 13.68

99.34 102.34 92.77 91.56 92.64 106.97 78.09 106.18 111.56 103.30 88.74 73.03 50.15 68.07 89.33

99.49 102.49 92.92 91.71 92.94 107.27 78.39 106.48 111.86 103.60 89.04 73.33 50.45 68.37 89.63

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

0.05 1.03 1.59 1.95 2.17

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.52 2.85

13.65 16.76 15.62 16.21 16.55

99.28 100.50 100.47 101.21 97.27

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

322.33

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.32

4.44

15.12

99.10

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.40

3.23

14.76

99.28

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.67

4.46

17.69

97.73

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.68

3.48

16.72

99.20

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.95

1.00

14.69

92.26

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.22

1.00

15.14

98.49

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.66

1.79

15.50

96.78

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.03

1.80

15.50

97.50

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.05

1.00

14.70

98.78

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.03

1.00

14.70

99.63

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.03

4.78

18.48

92.99

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.22

1.00

14.70

101.34

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

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

2.66 4.55 2.62

1.00 1.00 1.00

14.71 14.72 14.71

101.57 99.27 100.07

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.16

1.00

14.71

100.07

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.56

1.00

14.70

95.52

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.66

1.00

14.70

101.07

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.31

1.44

15.16

98.37

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.34

1.00

14.72

100.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

452.88 441.51

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.28

1.00

11.33

99.60

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.34

1.00

11.93

100.00 99.85

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.43

2.63

14.39

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.40

1.00

14.80

97.76

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.47

1.34

15.00

99.03

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.40

1.00

14.71

96.61

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.42

1.88

15.63

103.62

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.68

1.00

14.64

101.90

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.85

1.00

14.67

104.98

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.85

1.00

14.67

101.96

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.38

3.00

16.72

93.14

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.95

2.29

15.98

99.59

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

2.03

6.11

19.81

97.19

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.65

2.16

15.87

100.22

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.53

2.76

16.46

95.70

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.65

1.13

14.80

106.76

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.40

1.00

14.76

85.82

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.40

1.00

14.76

92.43

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

161.53

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

159.10

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.77

1.00

14.71

89.99

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

14.72

86.33

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.98

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.22

5.02

107.48

108.48

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.25

3.95

102.58

103.48

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.51

5.37

105.60

106.60

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,578.26

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.35

4.34

101.12

103.12

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.34

99.80

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.48

9.53

90.94

93.21

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.53

6.88

95.38

97.29

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.98

97.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.69

10.02

93.77

95.87

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

07-Aug-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

07-Aug-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

8.75 10.68 9.20

8.75 10.19 9.20

97.21 93.80 93.63

97.21 95.89 93.63

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.16

9.88

92.75

94.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,504.30

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 8 15 29 36 50 57 64 71

FIXINGS Maturity 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15

Bid Discount (%) 4.00 8.98 10.55 10.54 10.22 10.52 10.25 10.62

Offer Discount (%) 3.75 8.73 10.30 10.29 9.97 10.27 10.00 10.37

Bid Yield (%) 4.00 9.01 10.63 10.65 10.36 10.70 10.44 10.84

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 8.9250 12.5356 13.5944 15.1039

Rate (%)

OBB

8.08

O/N

8.67

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 8.25 8.50

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

198.37 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

198.47 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

FMBN ***LCRM

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

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

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

322.33

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

1.03 1.59 1.95 2.17

2.27 2.00 2.52 2.85

16.76 15.62 16.21 16.55

100.50 100.47 101.21 97.27

31-Aug-15

0.32

4.44

15.12

99.10

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.40

3.23

14.76

99.28

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.67

4.46

17.69

97.73

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 BBB+/Agusto *BENUE

Business | Financial Market News

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.68

3.48

16.72

99.20

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.95

1.00

14.69

92.26

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.22

1.00

15.14

98.49

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.66

1.79

15.50

96.78

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.03

1.80

15.50

97.50

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.05

1.00

14.70

98.78

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.03

1.00

14.70

99.63

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.03

4.78

18.48

92.99

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.22

1.00

14.70

101.34

SELL PRESSURE

Investors’ ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†wealth *EKITI Bb-/Agusto *NIGER down by N59 billion*ONDO ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

Stock market falls for third day

Consequently, the02-Oct-12 Allutive trading day , as02-OCT-2019 sell 15.50 GOMBE 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019Share Index dipped22-Nov-12 173.3 pressure was unabated, BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 Stories by Chris Ugwu producing 28 losers and basis points or 0.5012-Dec-12 per 10-Oct-13 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 20 gainers. 27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020cent to close at 34,427.12, 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto;he BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 Bargain hunters have as against 34,600.42 reNigerian equi‡ /Agusto ty market yester*EKITI EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 continued to14.50 leverage on corded the previous31-Dec-13 day, 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 day tumbled for gains recorded last week while the market capitalTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE isation of equities deprethe third consec- to take profits. BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

ciated15.50 by N59 billion 15.09 or 14.50 80.00 0.50 per cent, as market 14.75 25.70 sentiment remained in 14.75 10.78 the red13.50 zone. 87.50 15.00 5.00 Meanwhile, a turn14.50 473.5 million 4.55 over of 15.00 4.56 shares worth N3.4 billion 452.88 in 5,109 deals was record-

*GOMBE LAGOS

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

441.51

Corporate Bonds

‘Why First Bank is cutting dividends’ *UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

Loses N64bn to regulatory headwinds

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 & I LEASING BN Holdings Plc*C (FBNH) of profit and more efficient MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 *DANA is proposing to cut divibalance. MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER dendsA/GCR for the 2014 finanHe MPR+5.25 said in order to sustain TOWER 9-SEP-2018 AAA/DataPro†; *TOWER 14.00 UBA A+/Agusto; UBA cial yearA/GCR in a bid to retain capi- efficiency ofII 22-SEP-2018 the group, FBNH 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 talBBB+/Agusto; to meetBBB+/GCR the Basel*LA 2 CASERA capital is planning to rationalise unMPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS requirement, its Group Manprofitable and minimum ex16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 Nil *DANA aging Director, Mr. Bello pansion. 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO Ma16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 an operachido, He also announced A/GCR has explained.UBA IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC The board of FBNH had tional 182D lossT.bills+1.20 of N64STANBIC billion in 2014 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC proposed a dividend of 10 kobo due to13.25regulatory headwinds TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE per share to investors of the fi- of the Central Bank of Nigeria TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION nancial institution and a scrip (CBN). (bonus) issue of one share for Regulatory headwinds are Supranational Bond every 10 shares as against N1.10 measures by CBN 10.20 IFCintroduced 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 11.25monetary AFDB 1-FEB-2021policy comAaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB paid during the comparable pe- and the TOTAL VALUE riod of OUTSTANDING 2013. mittee to manage inflation and TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Machido, who spoke at the liquidity in the system. company’s facts behind the He said the company lost N64 Description Issuer billion to the increase figuresRating/Agency on the floor of the Niin cash reserve requirement (CRR) for gerian Stock Exchange (NSE) FGN Eurobonds yesterday, said the group re- both public and private sector 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch;to B+/S&P sorted strategy in order not to 75 per cent and 20 per cent toBB-/Fitch; file for recapitalisation like respectively by the apex bank. FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P other banks to meet up with the Maccido said that the enBB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 Basel 2 requirement. forcement of treasury single BB-/S&P He said there is VALUE no immedi- account with 25 per cent of TOTAL OUTSTANDING ate planMARKET by the CAPITALISATION company to raise qualified public funds withTOTAL tier 1 capital within the next 12 drawn monthly by the CBN Corporategiven Eurobonds months the low market contributed also to the banking 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I liquidity , depressed valuation group loss. 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&Pand significantACCESS BANK PLC level dilution He said that monetary policy 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC risk to existing shareholders. tightening through foreign ex6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC The FBNH GMD noted change sales restrictions and 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC that the capital position of closure of retail Dutch auction 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC the group sales (RDAS) window 8.25 AUG 07,affected 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P is being enhanced FIRST BANK PLC 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC IIthe company’s through increased profit retenrevenue genera8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD tion, interim recapitalisation tion. BBB-/GCR

#{r}

Nil

#{r}

B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

The 25-Oct-13 other challenging 14.25 regu5.53 13.00 group 20.00 latory 30-Sep-10 backdrop of the 18.00 in the30-Nov-12 period under review 0.64 09-Apr-11 16.00 5.40 include the implementation 09-Sep-11 18.00 2.54 of Basel 2 requirement in Oc09-Sep-11 16.00 0.70 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 tober 2014. 18-Oct-13 Explaining the 15.75 decision 2.10 17-Feb-12 18.00 0.36 to rationalise unprofitable 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 branches, the Group Manag14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 ing of 30-Dec-14 First Bank Nigeria, Mr. 30.50 16.45 30-Sep-14 11.93 0.10 Bisi Onasanya, said in spite of 30-Sep-14 the challenges in the13.25 country, 15.44 the bank has over 700 branches 161.53 across the country and cannot 159.10 afford to keep the ones, which are non-profitable. 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 10-Jul-14 “A lot of our peers 11.25 have gone 12.95 down to close some of their 24.95 non-profitable branches. We 21.98 can provide banking services Outstanding Value Issue Date (%) without gigantic Coupon structure. ($mm) Technology will be used and we intend to migrate them to Inter07-Oct-11 What we6.75 net banking. are doing 500.00 is to scale down cost of doing 500.00 12-Jul-13 5.13 business”, Onasanya stated. 12-Jul-13 6.38job loss 500.00 On the possibility of as a result of the rationalisa- 1,500.00 tion, Onasanya promised that 1,578.26 no staff of the bank would lose their job. 19-May-11“Other factor 7.50 He said: that 500.00 7.25was the 350.00 impact25-Jul-12 on our business 09-May-13 oil price decline and in6.88address- 300.00 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 ing this, we have put6.25in place 500.00 22-Apr-14 a rigorous stress test8.75 on credit 200.00 21-May-14 facility07-Aug-13 structures for 8.25 upstream 300.00 24-Jun-14 9.25 customers to protect against oil 400.00 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 price shock. 14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

ued at N185.7 million 14.71 101.57 in 14.72 99.27 710 deals. 14.71 100.07 Shares of Nascon Ni1.00 14.71 100.07 led the gainers 1.00geria Plc 14.70 95.52 1.00chart, appreciating 14.70 101.07 by 1.4410.10 per 15.16 98.37 at cent to close 1.00 14.72 100.63 N8.94 per share. Vitafoam Nigeria Plc followed with a gain of 7.69 per cent to close at N6.30, while CAP 1.00 11.33 Plc gained 4.99 per 99.60 cent to 1.00 11.93 100.00 close at N37.44 per99.85 share. 2.63 14.39 On the flip side, 97.76 shares 1.00 14.80 Press99.03 Com1.34of Academy 15.00 1.00pany Plc 14.71 led the 96.61 losers 1.88 103.62 with 4.9515.63 per cent to close 1.00 14.64 101.90 at 96 kobo per share. UAC 1.00 14.67 104.98 Plc plunged 1.00Property 14.67 101.964.92 3.00per cent 16.72 93.14 to close at N10.25, 2.29 15.98 99.59 while Capital Hotel Plc 6.11 19.81 97.19 dropped 4.91 per cent to 2.16 15.87 100.22 N4.07 per share. 2.76close at 16.46 95.70 1.00 1.00 1.00

30-Dec-21

6.65

1.13

14.80

106.76

30-Sep-24

9.40

1.00

14.76

85.82

30-Sep-24

9.40

1.00

14.76

92.43

11-Feb-18

2.77

1.00

14.71

89.99

10.16

9.88

92.75

94.00

Wema Bank gets owners’ approval to raise share capital

4.75 86.33 auhareholders of 1.00of the 14.72 regulatory Wema Bank Plc thorities, the balance yesterday, as part of in the company’s share special resolution at the premium account be Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Price reduced from Offer N48.870 annual general meeting billion to N13.125 bil(AGM) approved the in- Prices & Yields crease of the bank’s au- lion and the amount by 28-Jan-21 share capital 5.22 107.48 108.48 thorised to 5.02which it is so reduced, N3012-Jul-18 billion. which is N35.744 billion 4.25 3.95 102.58 103.48 The resolution, which be transferred to re5.51bank’s 5.37tained earnings 105.60 106.60 was12-Jul-23 made at the account AGM authorised that with the effect of offsetthe share capital of the ting the negative balance lender be increased by in the retained earnings N10billion from N20bil- account. 19-May-16 6.35 addi- 4.34 103.12 of lion to N30billion The 101.12 Chairman 25-Jul-17 99.80 Mr.Adeyinka 99.80 tional ordinary7.34shares 7.34the bank, 02-May-18 of 50 kobo each10.48 ranking 9.53Asekun,90.94 told the 93.21 share08-Nov-18 7.53 6.88 95.38 97.29 pari passu with the exist- 6.98holders97.50 at the AGM that 22-Apr-19 6.98 97.50 ing21-May-19 shares of the bank. the bank is expected to 10.69 10.02 93.77 95.87 The shareholders also 8.75consolidate 07-Aug-20 8.75 97.21 and build 97.21 on 24-Jun-21 10.68 93.80 95.89 and passed a resolution that 10.19the successes of 2014 23-Jul-21 9.20 9.20 the prior93.63 years. 93.63 subject to the approval 01-Feb-21

14-Aug-21

3,650.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

ed in the day’s trading. 02-Oct-19 2.66 22-Nov-19 banking 4.55 subThe 12-Dec-19 2.62 sector of the financial 10-Oct-20 3.16 services sector was the 27-Nov-20 5.56 31-Dec-20 5.66 most active (measured 3.31 by 31-Dec-20 turnover volume); 06-Jan-21 3.34 with 210.8 million shares worth N1.7 billion exchanged by investors in 2,051 deals. 17-Aug-15 Volume in the0.28 banking 09-Dec-15 0.34 sub-sector was0.43 largely 06-Jan-16 driven by activities in 29-Sep-16 1.40 the25-Oct-16 shares of UBA Plc 1.47 2.40 and30-Sep-17 Access Bank Plc. 30-Nov-17 1.42 Also, other financial 09-Apr-18 1.68 sub-sector of the finan09-Sep-18 1.85 cial09-Sep-18 services 1.85sector, 22-Sep-18 by activities 3.38 boosted in 1.95 the18-Oct-18 shares of FBNH Plc 17-Feb-19 2.03 followed with a turnover 01-Apr-19 2.65 of 26.6 million shares val14-Nov-20 5.53

6-May-15

3,504.30

The DQL contains and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities FIXINGS Money Market & Forwards) professional,DTM financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information isOffer accurate; however, theBid Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” Tenor basis and may Rate not be accurateForeign or up toExchange date. We(Spot do not guarantee Maturity Bid Discount (%) Discount (%) Yield (%) (%) NIBOR the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for4.00 a particular purpose of3.75 any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. 8 14-May-15 4.00

15 29 36 FGN Bonds 50 57 64 Rating/Agency 71 78 85 92 99 113 120 127 141 148 NA 162 211 225 246 253 260 267 274 281 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 288 295 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 302

21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 Issuer 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 1-Oct-15 NA 15-Oct-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 14-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 28-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 11-Feb-16 18-Feb-16 25-Feb-16 3-Mar-16

8.98 10.55 10.54 10.22 10.52 10.25 Description 10.62 10.61 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.68 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 9.62 9.85 27-JUL-2017 10.90 9.35 31-AUG-2017 11.58 10.70 30-MAY-2018 11.60 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 12.07 11.80 7.00 23-OCT-2019 11.28 15.54 13-FEB-2020 11.57 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.44 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.65 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.79 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.36 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.34 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.15 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 13.19 13.71 13.39 13.68 13.28

316

17-Mar-16

13.12

323

24-Mar-16

13.31

337

7-Apr-16

13.19

351

21-Apr-16

13.26

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

Description

8.73 10.30 10.29 9.97 10.27 10.00 Issue Date 10.37 10.36 16-Aug-13 10.43 27-Apr-12 9.37 27-Jul-07 10.65 31-Aug-07 11.33 30-May-08 11.35 29-Jun-12 11.82 11.55 23-Oct-09 11.03 13-Feb-15 11.32 27-Jan-12 12.19 14-Mar-14 12.40 28-Nov-08 12.54 22-May-09 13.11 20-Nov-09 13.09 23-Jul-10 12.90 18-Jul-14 12.94 13.46 13.14 13.43 13.03

9.01 10.63 10.65 10.36 10.70 10.44 (%) Coupon 10.84 10.86 13.05 10.95 15.10 9.86 9.85 11.23 9.35 12.01 10.70 12.06 16.00 12.60 12.36 7.00 11.82 15.54 12.19 16.39 13.41 14.20 13.71 15.00 13.99 12.49 14.72 8.50 14.74 10.00 14.55 12.1493 14.64 15.32 14.97 15.38 14.92

12.87

14.79

13.06

15.09

Issue Date

12.94

15.01

13.01

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 FMBN **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

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

0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Modified Duration Buckets

A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Rate (%) 8.9250 12.5356 13.5944 15.1039

OBB

8.08

O/N

8.67

REPO

Maturity Date

581.39 16-Aug-16 NITTY 476.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 10.1435 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 10.5452 300.00 30-May-18 3M 10.5706 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 12.4736 9M 14.2447 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 14.7752 98.31 13-Feb-20 600.00 27-Jan-22 524.68 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 28-Nov-28 75.00 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 20-Nov-29 BID($/N)200.00 199.0000 591.57 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 279.50 18-Jul-34

Tenor Call TTM (Yrs) 1M 3M 1.28 6M

Rate (%)

8.25 (%) Bid Yield 8.50

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M Offer Yield 2M (%) 3M 6M 13.45 1Y

8.60 13.58 8.70 1.98 13.70 13.62 2.23 13.70 13.62 NOTE: 2.32 13.70 13.62 3.07 13.71 13.58 :Benchmarks 4.15 Bond 13.72 13.63 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 4.47 Bond 13.72 13.61 AMCON: Asset Corporation of Nigeria 4.77 Management 13.72 13.63 FGN: Federal Nigeria 6.73 Government of13.69 13.63 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 8.86 13.54 13.48 IFC: International Finance Corporation 13.56 17.16 17.09 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 17.76 Company17.68 NAHCO: 14.04 Nigerian Aviation Handling 14.54 18.47 18.36 O/N: Overnight 15.21 15.51 Company 15.44 UPDC: UAC Property Development 19.20 Africa Portland13.73 13.68 WAPCO:West Cement Company

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

198.37 198.47 201.81 201.93 Price 202.13 202.28 202.87 203.37 204.24 205.31 Bid Price Offer Price 205.60 207.21 206.28 213.47 99.34 99.49 220.29 226.27

102.34 102.49 92.77 92.92 91.56 91.71 92.94 NA :Not92.64 Applicable 106.97 107.27 ^ : Market Prices # : Floating 78.09Rate Bond 78.39 ***: Deferred 106.18 coupon bonds 106.48 111.56 111.86 ‡ : Bond rating under review 103.30 103.60 †: Bond rating expired 88.74 89.04 N/A :Not Available 73.03 {r} :Issuer in receivership73.33 50.15 50.45 68.07 68.37 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 89.33 Bank for Africa 89.63 UBA: United

4,582.44 4,268.39 Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.05 1.03 1.59 1.95 2.17

2.63 2.27 2.00 2.52 2.85

13.65 16.76 15.62 16.21 16.55

99.28 100.50 100.47 101.21 97.27

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

YTD Return (%)

322.38 FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Sub-National Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

15.20

***LCRM

Bonds

<3 3<5 >5 Market

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 1,441.27 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 1,211.33 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 652.36 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 3,304.95

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

1,409.48 1,124.68 871.07 3,405.23

Weighting by Outstanding Vol

31-Aug-1041.39 30-Sep-1033.03

30-Jun-1125.58 30-Jun-09 100.00 19-Apr-10

Weighting by Mkt Value

12.50 43.61 13.00 36.65 14.00 19.74 15.50 10.00

100.00

322.33 Bucket Weighting

8.50 2.16 4.86 5.73 57.00

0.41 0.33 0.26 1.00

31-Aug-1519.27 30-Sep-1538.67

0.3213.68 0.4013.62

30-Jun-1642.06 30-Jun-16 100.00 19-Apr-17

0.6714.79 0.68 14.12 1.95

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.22

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.66

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

2.03

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.05

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.03

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.03

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

4.44 104.6132 3.23 109.7688 4.46 77.5546 3.48 99.3943 1.00 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78

15.12 1,172.08 14.76 1,095.28

99.10 5.7978 99.28 8.1685

17.69 1,090.04 16.72 1,123.15 14.69

97.73 8.2442 99.20 6.4410 92.26

15.14

98.49

15.50

96.78

15.50

97.50

14.70

98.78

14.70

99.63

18.48

92.99

Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015

Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005

Business | Capital Market

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015 Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at May 6, 2015 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

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

No. of Deals 1 15 37 53

Current Price 0.50 28.52 29.48

Quantity Traded 9 46,392 782,500 828,901

Value Traded 4.50 1,332,459.00 22,473,814.50 23,806,278.00

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 2.40

Quantity Traded 72,694 72,694

Value Traded 180,957.82 180,957.82

901,595

23,987,235.82

Quantity Traded 11,800 1,000 3,023 757 144,786,428 864,687

Value Traded 18,172.00 3,760.00 2,599.78 3,194.54 465,871,944.31 34,108,396.17

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES

Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015 Diversified Industries Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005

A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC A C N PLC. ActivityUSummary on Board EQTY

61 Symbol No. of Deals AGLEVENT 3 CHELLARAM 1 JOHNHOLT 4 Daily Summary (Equities) SCOA 1 TRANSCORP 177 UACN 64

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 250

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

Current Price 1.62 3.95 0.90 4.44 3.21 39.00 Current Price

Quantity Traded Page 145,667,695

250

145,667,695

500,008,066.80

No. of Deals 8 1 9

Current Price 0.79 14.46

Quantity Traded 257,374 69 257,443

Value Traded 205,903.43 948.06 206,851.49

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 51.70

Quantity Traded 288,615 288,615

Value Traded 14,989,429.38 14,989,429.38

Real Estate Development

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 10.25

Quantity Traded 226,501 226,501

Value Traded 2,321,885.25 2,321,885.25

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

772,559

17,518,166.12

Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 407 407

Value Traded 203.50 203.50

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB

No. of Deals 14 22 1 3 182 222

Current Price 7.36 169.00 21.49 2.02 153.00

Quantity Traded Page 1,277,340 12,806 73 6,079 789,616 2,085,914

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 162.00

Quantity Traded 16,379 16,379

Value Traded 2,786,067.90 2,786,067.90

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MANDRID NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON UTC

No. of Deals 34 60 111 12 1 52 3 1 1 275

Current Price 4.65 6.25 34.06 3.61 5.35 8.94 18.05 11.84 0.50

Quantity Traded 472,786 939,901 5,306,463 323,350 3,494 1,578,923 34,211 7 1,100 8,660,235

Value Traded 2,188,228.70 5,890,295.82 185,269,888.64 1,167,293.50 18,692.90 14,026,181.32 648,298.45 78.75 550.00 209,209,508.08

Symbol CADBURY

No. of Deals 22

Current Price 39.90

Quantity Traded 31,578

Value Traded 1,204,062.59

Food Products--Diversified NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Symbol NESTLE

No. of Deals 61 83

Current Price 935.75

Quantity Traded 66,908 98,486

Value Traded 60,434,837.05 61,638,899.64

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 178 2 180

Current Price 6.30 0.98

Quantity Traded 29,116,675 800 29,117,475

Value Traded 174,959,692.97 760.00 174,960,452.97

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015Products Totals Personal/Household

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 32 62 94

Current Price 27.90 43.00

Quantity Traded 369,047 1,454,156 1,823,203

Value Traded 10,414,574.86 62,531,658.28 72,946,233.14

CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Activity Summary onParts Board EQTY Automobiles/Auto Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC P S MANDRIDES & CO PLC. NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015 N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005 UNION DICON SALT PLC. U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Activity Summary on Board EQTY FIDELITY BANK PLC

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC Published by The NigerianBANK StockPLC. Exchange © STERLING UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY PLC STANDARD TRUST ASSURANCE FINANCIAL SERVICES Published by Insurance The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Services Carriers, Brokers and

STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

870

41,802,099

654,061,022.95

No. of Deals (Equities) 224 29 45 83

Current Price 5.99 4.65 22.28 1.88

Quantity Traded 35,789,910 1,506,019 175,105 6,983,843

Value Traded 214,802,311.00 6,916,448.75 4,056,023.62 13,352,457.31

Symbol GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals 245 89 838 214 29 9 21 225 2,051

Current Price 28.70 2.54 2.14 5.18 11.00 3.04 0.98 21.36

Quantity Traded 15,070,980 2,991,075 Page 13,046,420 114,412,920 210,978 310,000 1,206,161 19,105,318 210,808,729

Symbol No. of Deals AIICO 58 CONTINSURE 77 CORNERST 3 EQUITYASUR 1 HMARKINS 1 INTENEGINS 6 LAWUNION 1 LINKASSURE 9 MANSARD 5 NEM 12 Daily Summary (Equities) PRESTIGE 2 REGALINS 1 STACO 2

Current Price 1.06 1.02 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.53 0.50 0.50 2.85 0.70 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 7,784,609 11,139,649 19,111 5,000 101 168,036 1,000 4,036,509 31,000 172,230 1,100 10 1,005

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol ASOSAVINGS RESORTSAL

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC

Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015 CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005

FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. NIGERIA ENERYGY SECTOR FUND ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL on PLCBoard EQTY Activity Summary

FINANCIAL SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Other Financial Institutions Other Financial Institutions Totals

Current Price 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.55

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 1.30

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Symbol No. of Deals AFRIPRUD 55 CUSTODYINS 15 FBNH 472 FCMB 58 NESF 2 Daily Summary (Equities) ROYALEX 10 STANBIC 33 UBCAP 65 Symbol

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. Healthcare Providers Totals

No. of Deals 1 2 1 1 27 210

No. of Deals 710

Page Quantity Traded 1,000 4,728 100 1,000 1,659,721 25,025,909

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Tools and Machinery Published by The NigerianROPES Stock Exchange © NIGERIAN PLC Tools and Machinery Totals

Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Metals Totals

Current Price 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 190 2,000,000 2,000,190

Value Traded 95.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,095.00

Current Price 2.89 4.38 9.00 3.30 552.20 0.50 29.90 1.50

Quantity Traded 2,738,177 74,001 16,433,328 2,150,224 250 1,027,650 551,346 3,675,060

Value Traded 7,832,351.59 317,785.25 148,009,658.45 7,037,561.09 131,147.50 514,112.74 16,402,007.39 5,505,594.72

Current Price

Quantity Traded 26,650,036

Page

Value Traded 185,750,218.73

265,190,739

1,920,664,215.15

Current Price 3.72

Quantity Traded 716 716

Value Traded 2,534.64 2,534.64

Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

Symbol MORISON

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.82

Quantity Traded 1,621 1,621

Value Traded 2,804.33 2,804.33

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC.

Symbol EVANSMED

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 1.99

Quantity Traded 5,622

Value Traded 10,681.80

Page

Quantity Traded 11,211 11,211

Value Traded 5,605.50 5,605.50

Symbol OMATEK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 10 10

Value Traded 5.00 5.00

Symbol TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.69

Quantity Traded 59 59

Value Traded 94.99 94.99

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.39

Quantity Traded 3,000 3,000

Value Traded 10,650.00 10,650.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ETRANZACT

Page 14,280

JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Current Price 19.50 9.07 37.44 11.00 179.55 0.83 0.50 0.50 1.27 3.83 94.50

Quantity Traded 119,880 42,032 136,462 81,785 174,836 1,550 1,099 421 165,091 31,453 1,057,812 1,812,421

Value Traded 2,404,108.09 400,144.64 5,084,250.67 875,146.92 31,332,909.92 1,348.50 549.50 210.50 209,671.03 115,870.07 100,046,603.17 140,470,813.01

Symbol CUTIX NIWICABLE

No. of Deals 3 2 5

Current Price 1.66 0.50

Quantity Traded 26,859 16 26,875

Value Traded 46,068.10 8.00 46,076.10

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 30.00

Quantity Traded 35,486 35,486

Value Traded 1,062,650.75 1,062,650.75

Symbol NIGROPES

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded Page 142 142

Value Traded 9 of 15 1,006.78 1,006.78

Daily Summary (Equities)

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

Current Price 5.21

Quantity Traded 1,128 1,128

Value Traded 5,583.60 5,583.60

Symbol ALEX ALUMACO

No. of Deals 2 1 3

Current Price 10.43 7.75

Quantity Traded 92 100 192

Value Traded 911.72 737.00 1,648.72

1,320

7,232.32

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 7,500 7,500

Value Traded 3,750.00 3,750.00

Current Price 18.40

Quantity Traded 6,682,242 6,682,242

Value Traded 124,124,890.55 124,124,890.55

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 2 2 241 241

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 20 7 41 14 4 13 99

Current Price 38.02 2.83 171.00 150.00 50.54 165.00

Quantity Traded Page 39,822 146,692 77,908 3,672 3,741 13,220 285,055

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 379.00

Quantity Traded 18,774 18,774

Value Traded 7,301,203.45 7,301,203.45

6,993,571

149,545,935.18

Quantity Traded 1,004 1,004

Value Traded 963.84 963.84

Quantity Traded 48,650 57,000 105,650

Value Traded 232,547.00 63,570.00 296,117.00

365 Symbol RTBRISCOE

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015 Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005 SERVICES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.01

14 3 17

4.56 1.16

Daily Summary (Equities) No. of Deals Current Price

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

Employment Solutions

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Hospitality SERVICES Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals

Traded15 10Value of 1,558,439.32 413,033.40 13,281,750.55 534,708.50 179,642.82 2,148,516.59 18,116,091.18

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price Quantity Traded Page 11 of 15 0.56 3,491,185 3,491,185

Value Traded 1,877,336.20 1,877,336.20

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Value Traded

Daily Summary (Equities)

Employment Solutions Totals

141,580,546.64

No. of Deals 1 1

DailyOIL Summary as of 06/05/2015 AND GAS Totals Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

1,874,924

Symbol BOCGAS

OANDO

OIL AND GAS and Petroleum Products Distributors Published byPetroleum The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

of 15 16,355.49

No. of Deals 25 6 15 14 63 1 1 1 4 5 64 199

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER FIRSTALUM IPWA PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

Quantity Traded

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 9 9

Value Traded 4.50 4.50

Hotels/Lodging CAPITAL HOTEL PLC IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol CAPHOTEL IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 2 6 8

Current Price 4.07 3.86

Quantity Traded 86,016 140,000 226,016

Value Traded 350,085.12 521,992.64 872,077.76

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

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 3 9 10 22

Current Price 0.96 1.33 5.50

Quantity Traded 169,150 103,437 865,466 1,138,053

Value Traded 163,341.50 137,571.21 4,813,131.96 5,114,044.67

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 26 26

Current Price 0.60

Quantity Traded 1,100,338 1,100,338

Value Traded 672,714.59 672,714.59

Symbol INTERLINK

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.66

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 4,430.00 4,430.00

No. of Deals 1 52

Current Price 2.10 6.50

Quantity Traded 28,500 727,105

Value Traded 60,135.00 4,723,649.60

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015 Road Transportation Totals Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005 Specialty INTERLINKED TECHNOLOGIES PLC Specialty Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY COMPANY PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING SERVICES

Services Published byTransport-Related The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Transport-Related Services Totals

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

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Symbol

No. of Deals 53

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 755,605

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 3.30

Quantity Traded 186,904 186,904

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

13Value of 15 Traded Page 4,783,784.60

Value Traded 629,233.20 629,233.20

158

7,005,764

14,250,706.36

5,109

473,565,983

3,451,519,872.75

Quantity Traded 3,000 3,000

Value Traded 4,800.00 4,800.00

Activity Summary on Board ASeM

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.55

3,000

4,800.00

ASeM Board Totals

3,000

4,800.00

5,110

473,568,983

3,451,524,672.75

Exchange Traded Fund

Name Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005 CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Equity Activity Totals No. of Deals 1 1

29,880,389.92

Current Price 0.50

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals Daily Summary of 06/05/2015 OIL AND as GAS Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005 Energy Equipment and Services

Value Traded 922,187.78 922,187.78

3,341,437

212

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

5 ValueofTraded 15 500.00 2,364.00 50.00 500.00 886,112.28 22,915,394.88

Value Traded 8,503,830.90 21,217,657.29 137,695.82 4,367.78 817.36 29,875,050.95

No. of Deals 2 2

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Symbol EKOCORP

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 8,290,751.54 11,401,451.98 9,555.50 2,500.00 50.50 88,884.08 500.00 2,018,254.50 92,319.00 120,544.00 550.00 5.00 502.50

Quantity Traded 2,846,070 397,224 85,822 4,226 136 3,339,100

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC IPWA PLC PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015 Electronic and Electrical Products Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005 CUTIX PLC. NIGERIAN WIRE AND CABLE PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Value Traded 429,642,792.26 7,479,742.76 427,715,890.54 of 15 594,439,830.85 2,261,306.63 942,400.00 1,169,152.56 407,297,962.48 1,710,076,318.76

Current Price 3.00 54.00 1.63 1.03 6.32

Symbol COURTVILLE

Quantity Traded 705,875 705,875

2,996

Processing Systems E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC

ActivityProcessing SummarySystems on Board EQTY Totals

Symbol Daily Summary ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK

Symbol STDINSURE UNIC UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC

Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015 Computers and Peripherals Totals Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005 IT Services TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. IT Services Totals

Value Traded of 15 9,401,507.40 2,090,286.15 1,568.77 11,671.68 121,014,623.72 132,519,657.72

No. of Deals 37 70 16 2 2 128 130

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

Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN

HEALTHCARE Totals

Value Traded 1 of 15 500,008,066.80

Symbol COSTAIN GCAPPA

Daily Summary as of 06/05/2015DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED UACN PROPERTY Printed 06/05/2015 15:10:05.005 Real Estate Development Totals

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 3 1 6 10

Current Price 10.67 2,285.00 15.80

Quantity Traded Page 9,121 23 20,345 29,489

Value Traded 14 of 15 98,050.67 52,555.00 330,057.45 480,663.12

ETF Board Totals

29,489

480,663.12

ETP Activity Totals

29,489

480,663.12

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

Features

Most of them have lived all their lives in the ghetto, but the residents of Ijora-Badia in Lagos say they are tired of living in the slum, report GBEMISOLA OYEDEPO and SAMUEL TAFA

Ensconced in their slum

jora Badia community located in Apapa-Igamu Local Government Area of Lagos State is a meeting point for diverse people from different parts of the country. It is also home to people across the nation’s borders. The community harbours people with different cultures. But that is where the good news ends. The environment is horrifying, to say the least. The community is a slum not befitting for human habitation. Worst hit in the community are streets like Fadiani, Obale and Sunday, among several others. The area seems to have been neglected by different state and local government administrations. The residents said living in the community was a nightmare. According to them, they have no other place to go, no thanks to the high cost of accommodation in the state. Several roads, which link different streets, are in deplorable conditions while heaps of refuse dot almost all the streets. Ironically, the refuse, according to some of the residents, is deliberately dumped to wage war on flooding which used to ravage the area whenever it rains. In the word of a resident, it is combating evil with evil. Many of the residents have also resorted to making makeshift bridges in front of their buildings, because of flood. The Ijora Badia Junction, opposite 7UP Bottling Company, leads to Orile and other prominent places, but the pot-hole riddled roads in the area also serve as markets where people buy and sell. Mr. Babatunde Kehinde, a resident of Samuel Street, said he had lived all his life on the street. He said: “I was born and brought up on this street. We have never had any government intervention. No development has ever been made towards construction of the roads. No drainage has been built to ease flooding. “It is even fair now. It was worse when I was growing up. The reason I said it is better now is because we used refuse to fill up the road so that we could have free movement.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Fadani Street

Ijora junction

“We enjoy our areas only during the dry season. It is during the dry season that we smile. When it rains, we cry our eyes out because there will be flood everywhere. Water will rush into our homes. We will begin to use buckets, bowls and plates to bail out water. We live in hell here! We need drainage; it will help in checking flooding.” The traditional ruler of Ijora, Prince Idowu Badia, who lives on Baale Street, said: “The roads have been bad for a long time. There have been complaints from the residents of the community owing to bad roads and how that affects business, motorists and people in the community. “These complaints started since my late brother who was the Baale, was on the throne. He died six years ago. “It is the responsibility of the state government to construct the roads. We, however, feel that the local government officials are not badgering the state government enough or they would come to fix the roads. “We made several complaints to the former local government chairman, Comrade Adebayo. We gathered that the contract, for the repair of the roads, had been awarded to several contractors. Right now, we do not know when the construction will take off; that is, if it will ever take off.” A community leader, Mr Anana Mike, who lives on Ireti Owoseni Street, said: “The road has been once awarded to a contractor by the state

Badia

government. But for many years nothing has been done on it.” Some of the residents and traders in the area insisted that the roads urgently needed attention. According to them, the roads have also caused a lot of accidents. A businessman on Fadaini Street, who gave his name simply as Mr Emeka, said the roads had been bad for a very long time. He said: “I have been living here in the past 27 years. In 1986, the Lagos State Water Corporation came to lay pipes along the road. Some years after laying the pipes, we found out that when rain falls, there will be flood everywhere due to lack of drainages. “When Governor Bola Tinubu came to power, he awarded the contract to two different contractors. One is called Divine Grace Contractors but I can’t remember the name of the other contractor. But after the contract was awarded to them, we still did not see any change. Nothing was done. “When the new governor came to power; that is Governor Babatunde Fashola, the contract for the repair of the roads was awarded to Guffantti Construction Company Nigeria. The firm too did not do anything.” Emeka said that the poor state of the roads in the area was affecting businesses negatively. The businessman urged the government to come to the aid of the residents. He said: “We are even scared of the rainy season. We are scared because

we know that once it starts raining, we will have nowhere to run or hide.” According to a man selling tickets to commercial motorcyclists, who identified himself as Mr Sunday, Ijora Badia is a nightmare when it rains. He said: “I do not live here but I work here. I have been working here for a long time. The roads are terrible during rainy season. That is when parents will be strapping their grown up children on their back, so that flood would not take them away. We are begging the state government to construct these roads.” A trader, Mr Peter, said the residents did not enjoy the roads. He said: “We feel the negative impact of the roads more when it rains. Once it starts raining, we would not be able to sell. We do not have good sales owing to rainfall. Our shops are usually flooded whenever it rains.” Mrs. Latifat Ajao, who sells herbs, said: “My word to the government is that they should quickly come to our aid because the roads are affecting our businesses. Many customers prefer to buy in other places.” Mrs Toyin Palewura, a resident of Obale Street, who also trades there, said the roads had been like that for several years. She said: “No government had ever bothered to pay a visit to these areas. The refuse on the roads are dropped there by some people during the rainy season. The refuse is our weapon, in a war against flooding.”

News

UNILAG students demand shift in exam dates

Mojeed Alabi

or about three hours yesterday morning, academic activities were paralised at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, following students’ protest over some welfare issues. The protesting students, numbering more than 100, had complained about the poor power supply and water scarcity on the campus, demanding for the shift in

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

the first semester examinations scheduled to commence next week. They also complained about the inability of some of the students to edit their course forms online. An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, said the protest which started about 7am at the Jaja Hall of residence on the campus, would have gone out of hand but for the timely intervention of the institution’s Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Tunde Babawale.

The source said Babawale, promised to look into the students demands. Meanwhile, the President of the university’s Students’ Union, Abiodun Martins, has described the protesters as miscreants, saying they were only out to discredit his administration. Martins, who did not deny the welfare challenges on the campus, said the damaged Marere students hostel transformer, had been replaced and that light

had since been restored on Tuesday. He also told New Telegraph in a telephone interview that the issue of editing course forms was already being looked into and that the affected candidates had only taken the school’s rule for granted. Meanwhile, calls and text messages put through to Prof. Babawale or the university’s information unit for comment on the development were not answered or replied.

LASU: ASUU, students decry Fashola’s aide’s comment Mojeed Alabi

he Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, has been criticised by the students and staff of the Lagos State University (LASU), over what they described as his allegation of their being linked them to the intractable crisis in the institution. Olukoga had during the ministerial briefing of the State’s Ministry of Education on Tuesday, accused the students and the workers’ unions of fomenting trouble with their stance on how the university administration was to be run. But in a swift reaction to the allegation, the school’s Students’ Union Government, described as reckless and unfortunate the allegations leveled against it by the Special Adviser. The union, in a statement issued yesterday by its Public Relations Officer, Fa-

tai Adebanjo, accused Olukoga, of being deceptive, saying he had on behalf of the state government promised that the institution would be reopened on April 27 and that the closure was to avert foreseeable election crisis. The statement read in part; “In a respectful manner, this statement by the SA on Education is untrue and reckless as it is capable of inciting our members against the students’ union leadership. We can state authoritatively that, this statement was made obviously to indict the students’ union of LASU because, we protested against the continued closure of our school. “After the SA had told us the reasons for the closure and had called the Governing Council chairman in our presence on April 21 demanding the reopening of the institution, how would he have turned around to make this allegation again? Why would an elderly statesman like Otunba Fatai Olukoga be blowing hot and cold at the same time?”

Court orders Oyo CP to release suspect’s seized vehicles Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

A Head, Business Banking Liability Products Management, Mr. Opeyemi Ojesina (left), with Business Development Manager of First Bank Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Jacinta Ike, at the Seven-Star Workers’ Conference, entitled ‘’Growing SMEs into Global Business’’ in Lagos.

Stigmatisation of albinos Ogun queries NUJ chair, 49 others over sanitation exercise inhuman, says group dation, former Dean, School Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

o fewer than 50 civil servants in Ogun State risk the loss of their jobs over their alleged failure to participate in environmental sanitation exercise. The affected workers, who were mostly in the state Ministry of Information and Strategy, also included the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, Wole Sokunbi. New Telegraph gathered that the civil servants had already been served queries by the state government and may face further sanctions. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the queries were part of the plan by the government to relieve some civil servants of their jobs soon in a bid to reduce cost. A copy of the query in possession of our correspondent was signed by one Ajibola Ogundipe on

behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alhaji Fatai Opebiyi. The query, dated April 17, 2015, stated that the affected workers disobeyed a lawful directive by refusing to take part in the ministry’s environmental sanitation exercise. It partly read, “It was observed that on Wednesday, March 4th, 2015, you disobeyed a lawful directive by refusing to take part in the ministry’s environmental sanitation exercise and the Permanent Secretary ordered that the exercise be rescheduled for March 18, 2015, yet you still failed to partake after you have been given another chance to carry out the exercise. This act is contrary to the public service rules 04401 (iv) (v) (2003). “In view of the above, you are requested to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against you in respect of this unlawful act.”

Adesina Wahab

n Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, has ordered the Oyo State Police Command to release the impounded vehicles belonging to the embattled former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi (a.k.a. Auxiliary). Handing down the order yesterday, Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte, who in his judgment ordered that the State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Katsina, should release the seized vehicles, following the arrest of the transport unionist over alleged possession of illegal arms and ammunition. Lamidi had petitioned the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and the Assistant Commissioner of Police, State CID, Iyaganku, Ibadan, through his counsel, Olumuyiwa Makinde, over the sei-

zure of his three cars. Gbolagunte said that the seizure of Auxiliary ‘s three cars and the invasion of his hotel by the police without due process violate his fundamental right and was unlawful. He ordered the police to immediately release the cars in their custody, while awarding N50,000 as general damage in favour of the applicant against the defendants. Makinde had earlier informed the court that the seizure and impounding of his client’s Hummer Jeep, Peugeot 206 Sport and Chevrolet cars in the custody of the police constitutes gross violation of due process of law. He also told the court that the invasion of his client’s hotel at Isebo area, Alakia, Ibadan, on March 31, 2014 by the police “without due process of law, was illegal, unconstitutional and infringement of his fundamental right”.

he Albino Foundation, Ekiti chapter, has called on the National Assembly to enact a law that would prohibit all forms of discrimination against people living with albinism in Nigeria. The body has also called on the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to make it a priority discrimination against any member of the society based on colour or biological composition of the person. Delivering a paper yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, during an event organised by the foun-

of Postgraduate Studies of the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Muyiwa Igbalajobi, said the law would help in acknowledging albinos as dignified members of the Nigerian society. The body identified areas of discriminations against albinos in the society to include employment, marriage and killing, stating that they have been reduced to liability in the society. Prof Igbalajobi said the law should bar the menace of discrimination and criminalise the stigmatisation of the sufferers as inferior beings that should be subjected to all forms of dehumanization.

Babatope Okeowo

Ondo lawmakers intensify lobby for positions

Ado-Ekiti

Akure

head of their formal inauguration, Ondo State House of Assembly incoming members are said to be involved in intense lobbying for positions in the House, just as the Governor Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday sought the cooperation of the newly elected members of the

Assembly in order to move the state forward. This development came as new and returnee members of the Assembly from Ondo North senatorial district were said be locked in a battle for the position of the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Going by the zoning arrangement, since the governor hails from Cen-

tral senatorial district the Speakership and the Secretary to the State Government slots ware to be zoned to the South senatorial district. The Deputy Governor and the Deputy Speaker are zoned to the Ondo North senatorial district. Since the outgoing Deputy Speaker, Mr. Dare Emiola, did not present himself for re-election; other

members of the Assembly from the zone are now lobbying their colleagues and top government officials for consideration for the top position. Among those qualified for the position in the ruling PDP are Messrs Olumide Araoyinbo from Akoko Northwest, Fatai Olotu from Akoko Northeast and Ayo Arowele from Owo constituency.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Tribunal grants Kalu’s prayer to inspect election materials Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly election petition tribunal in Abia State, has granted the request of the former Governor of the state and the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), candidate for the Abia North Senatorial zone in the 2015 elections, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, to inspect the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) documents for the elections and to serve the first respondent, Mao Ohuabunwa, through substituted means. The tribunal granted the request at its inaugu-

ral sitting at the Abia State High Court IV, Umuahia yesterday. In granting the prayer, Chairman of the threemember tribunal, Hon Justice M B Wakili, said the inspection of the documents including the ballot papers and result sheets, and the service to the respondents by substituted means should be done within seven days from the day of service and adjourned the matter to May 15, 2015. Justice Wakili, had earlier in his remarks, said the tribunal had received 30 petitions for the National and State Houses of Assembly elections to dispense within the 180 days provided by section 258 of the 2011 constitution as amended. He therefore urged the

support and cooperation of everybody involved in the cases before the panel to be warned that the petitions must adhere to the provisions of the electoral act 2010. “Distinguished learned counsels, we must reiterate that while we are before this tribunal, we are being looked upon as the embodiment of the ideal of justice. To this end, we must be the dispensers of justice regardless of fear or favour, position or

standing. We must therefore uphold the stability of our democracy by stamping the hallmark of legality on the conduct of our nation’s elections, as it is through our eyes that justice perceives a wrong that must be made right,” he said. Responding to the tribunal position, counsel to Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Perfect Okorie, said the tribunal has shown signs of fairness, saying that the two motions in the case file

were granted. He further stated that the respondents would be served tomorrow so that the inspection of the documents would be done within the seven days granted by the tribunal. The tribunal also granted the prayer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), candidate for Abia North senatorial zone, David Ogba Onuoha, to serve Mao Ohuabunwa, by substituted service. Other petitions granted by the tribunal included,

leave to serve the House of Representatives-elect for Isuikwuato/Umunneochi, Nkeiruka Onyejiocha and Arochukwu/Ohafia, Uko Nkole by APGA candidates, Dr Ejike Orji and Nnamdi Iro Orji. Counsel to the petitioners, Chidozie Ogunji, said he was excited and would expedite the service within the stipulated time. Other members of the Tribunal are Hon Justice P I Ajoku and Hon Justice A E Adesodun.

Ebonyi election tribunal receives seven more petitions Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he Ebonyi State election petition tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, said yesterday that it has received seven more petitions from aggrieved candidates of political parties on the general elections, bringing the total number of petitions so far received by the tribunal to thirteen. In the latest petitions, the Labour Party, is challenging the election of Chief Dave Umahi, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ebonyi State Governor-elect. The All Progressives Congress (APC) Central Senatorial Candidate, Vincent Anyigor Nwancho, also filed a petition against Chief Obinna Ogba, of the PDP, declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Also Uchenna Nshii, the APC House of Reps

Candidate for Abakaliki/ Izzi Federal Constituency is challenging the election of the incumbent member, representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Sylvester Ogbaga, of the PDP and who was elected for the third term. In Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency, the candidate of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Chukwuemeka George Igwebuike, filed a petition against Hon. Linus Okorie, of the PDP elected for second term. The tribunal also received a petition from the House of Assembly Candidate for Ishielu South State constituency on the platform of the APC, against Hon. Julius Nwokpor, of the PDP who was elected for another term. It also received, a petition from Enoch Okemini, of the APC challenging the victory of Anthony Nwegede of the Labour Party for Izzi West State constituency.

L-R: Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe; Patience Ozokwor; Regional Director AfricaMagic West Africa, Wangi MbaUzoukwu and Bright Okpocha, during the launch of AfricaMagic Igbo, at DE DOME Event Place, Edward Nnaji Street, New Haven, Enugu.

There shall be no compromise –Anambra tribunal Pamela Eboh Awka

he Anambra State elections tribunal which commenced its sitting in Awka yesterday with the inauguration of a three man panel led by Justice Joseph Ananebe, said that it would not tolerate any attempt by politicians to sway the panel into perverting the course of justice. To this end, petitioners and respondents involved in the state and national assembly petitions in the

Obi donates N2m to schools

ormer Governor of Anambra State Mr. Peter Obi, has said that it was a mark of patriotism and the urge in him to assist in making the world a better place through positive contributions to the development of human capital in the society that informed his recent visit and monetary donation to two schools. Obi was speaking when he visited St Augustine’s Primary and Secondary School at Nkpor, where he presented a cheque of N2 million to assist the school in equipping its library and upgrade their laboratories. He promised to contin-

ue his assistance towards surmounting some of the problems facing them. The money, according to him, was part of the money he attracts from corporate organisations and private individuals for support of the education sector in Nigeria, especially in his home state of Anambra. Obi, who visits an average of one school per month since he left office, explained that he visited only schools not owned by the government, stating that he would continue to strive to do his best to re-position the education system as he did when he was the Governor be-

cause of his belief that government alone could not solve all the problems facing the education sector, without the assistance and cooperation of the people. He said it was infinitely better and fulfilling to spend money that would go into costly wine and other Epicurean indulgence, in contributing to the future of the society through support to schools. Responding, the manager of the school, Rev Fr. Enwedu Chinedu, commended the former governor, describing him as a worthy Nigerian and exemplary to public spirited person.

state have been advised that it is the quality of evidence before the tribunal and the constitution that would determine the judgements for and against them. Assuring on the panel’s resolve to deliver justice on every mater before it, Justice Ananabo stressed that elections were very serious matters that cannot be treated with levity, saying that any attempt to sway the peoples decision in favour any particular individual would be resisted. “It is the quality of the

evidence before the court and what the constitution says that would determine who is the winner or loser. “We shall discharge our duties in line with the constitution and the laws. The tribunal is set up to ensure that those who actually won the election are those that should bear the mandate of the people to represent them”, he said. Speaking on behalf of Anambra Forum of Chairmen of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Awka Branch Chairman, Mr. Uba Anene, promised

that the bar would cooperate with the panel to ensure that matters before the panel were dispensed with effectively. Also, the most Senior Advocate of Nigeria who was present at the occasion and the former Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Nnoruka Udechukwu, explained that going by the antecedents of Anambra election tribunals in Awka, the panel have every reason to be worried, due to the gray areas that is often raised in the legal process.

APC crisis produces two chairmen in Ebonyi Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he crisis rocking the Ebonyi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday indicated that two factional chairmen of the party were laying claims to the leadership of the party in the state. The two factional chairmen are; Hon. Ben Nwaobasi and Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze. Members of the party including the four suspended officers; Engr. Ngaji Nwodoh, Ephraim Eze, Pastor Eze Nwachukwu and Prof. Francis Ibiam,

had, in their resolutions, passed vote of no confidence on the Hon. Nwaobasi-led executives, electing his deputy, Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze, as the new chairman. They claimed to have relieved Nwaobasi of his duty, accusing him of financial misconduct, incompetence, negligence of duty, among others in the run-off to the general elections. Also relieved of their duties were the party’s Secretary, Pastor Victor Elem, his assistant, Anthony Eze, the Treasurer, Alloy Nwibo and Financial Secretary, Ignatius Chima . They, however, set aside the suspension of the four

officers of the party and the state coordinator of the Buhari Campaign Organization, who was also one of the governorship aspirants of the party, Chief Austine Igwe Edeze, who were suspended by the Nwobasi-led faction for alleged anti-party activities and rebellious behaviours. In his acceptance speech, Nwachukwu, promised to restore the glory of the party in the state. “It’s a new dawn. The party is on a new platform, the party would take its rightful place in Ebonyi State. We are going to take the party to a greater height’’, he said.

48 News

south - south

thursday, may 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan, Oshiomhole urged to intervene in Edo cult war Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

s the rage by members of rival cult groups continued in

Edo State leading to the death of no fewer than 25 people and a lull in business and night life in Benin, the state capital, an All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Leader, Comrade Tony

Adun, yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Adams Oshiomhole, to intervene in the situation. Reports said business has been badly affected

in the city as operators of various spots have been forced by the crisis to close shops even as the death toll continues to rise. Checks by our reporter revealed that most

eateries and drinking spots were closed with skeletal services that usually disappear once it is 7.00pm as against the usual 10.00pm and 11.30pm late hours when such outfits are at their

peak with large number of customers. The situation seems to have defied the efforts of security agencies as the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) have not been able to nip the ugly situation in the bud even with many arrests and arms mop up in the last two weeks. Adun also urged President Jonathan and Governor Oshiomhole to quickly wade into the senseless killings and wanton destruction of property in the violence that has claimed more than 25 lives.

Local govts urged to uplift budgetary allocations Cajetan Mmuta BENIN APC supporters from Ahoada-West, Akukuu-Toru and Obi/Akpor Local Government Areas, protesting over the outcome of the party’s Local Government Primary Election in Rivers State in Port Harcourt …yesterday

Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

ore than 300 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State yesterday stormed the party’s secretariat along Forces Avenue, old GRA, Port Harcourt, to protest the conduct of the party primaries for the May 23 local government council elections in the state. The protesters alleged that the leadership of the party had abandoned due process for the imposition of candidates that would contest the election, stressing that the outcome of the election

Rivers LG poll: Protesters accuse APC of imposing candidates would cause crisis in the state. Some of the protesters, who came from far and near, had kept vigil at the party secretariat since Tuesday and chanted protest songs like “We no go gree ooh.” They also accused the leadership of the party of exchanging materials meant for the primaries for money. Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “Dr. Lawrence Chuku is Obio Akpor’s choice,”

‘Maritime Academy to be upgraded’ Anichebe Uyo

he Chairman, Governing Council of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Chief Mike Adiotomre, yesterday said steps were being taken to facilitate the upgrading of the academy to a degreeawarding institution. He said the arrangement was to send some cadets overseas for mandatory sea time to enable them compete favourably with their counterparts from other countries in the maritime global market. Adiotomre, however, dismissed as unneces-

sary, agitations in some quarters calling for the conversion of the academy into a maritime university, saying that MAN is not a conventional institution, but a specialised, technical institution with clearcut mandate to train and nurture seafarers in line with Standard of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) He further explained that the envisaged degree-awarding status of MAN, Oron, would not follow the NUC model, but the accepted global model that combines certificate, national diploma and higher national diploma with a degree.

“Conduct APC Primaries in Obio Akpor,” “Anthony Okocha is A Bad Leader,” “There was no primaries election in Obio Akpor,” “The Governor must hear this,” “Anthony Okorocha bought over primary election materials with N50m.” The protesters, mostly youths, proved too difficult for the security men at the party secretariat to handle as they held the leadership of the party hostage for hours, and

Clement James Calabar

he Cross River State Election Tribunal has said it has received 26 petitions from various political parties and individuals that participated in the March 28 National Assembly elections and the April 11 governorship elections. Secretary to the tribunal, Mr. John Tsok, made this disclosure in Calabar while briefing journalists. He said: “As we speak, the tribunal has received four petitions for senatorial election, nine for House of Representatives, two governorship and 11 for the state House of Assembly.”

delayed a press briefing scheduled to hold by 10.00am at the party secretariat. Most of the journalists, who had converged for the briefing, left the area in anger due to the protest as the briefing could not start as at 1.00pm and some journalists, who came for the event walked out because of the rising tension in the premises. A spokesman for the Obio Akpor protesters, Mr. Emeka Wogu Mbata,

from Ward 14, accused the Chief of Staff to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, Mr. Tony Okocha, of seizing materials meant for the primaries. Mbata said delegates who turned up at the designated areas for the primaries waited from 7.00am till 2.00pm when they got wind that the primaries election was taking place at the Rumuigbo Civic Centre, but that there was no official or any election going on there.

C’River election tribunal receives 26 petitions According to him, “The governorship candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Fidelis Ugbo and the All Progressives Congress (APC), have both filed their petitions against the Governorelect, Prof. Ben Ayade.” For Senate, Tsok confirmed that Senator Bassey Otu (LP), who contested the Cross River South senatorial district election, filed a petition against Mr. Gershom Bassey, of the PDP who was declared winner by the INEC. He further disclosed that in Cross River North,

Mr. Julius Okputu (LP) and Anthony Kanjal-Oko (APC) both filed their petitions against Dr. Rose Okoh of the PDP, challenging her victory at the poll. In Cross River Central, Dr. Sandy Onor (LP) has also filed his petition against Hon. John OwanEnoh (PDP). Tsok said the tribunal also received nine petitions for the House of Representatives from aggrieved candidates of the APC and LP as they are challenging the victory of the PDP candidates in the election.

takeholders and groups in the 774 local government council areas across the country have been advised to strive towards making positive contributions in budgetary allocations at the third tiers of government to ensure quality participation and even development. They argued that effective participation by community stakeholders can fast track development aimed at improving the standard of living, improved welfare and policies that would meet the needs of people in the rural communities. A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Human Development Initiative (HDI) with focus on promoting grassroots development and policy reform stated this yesterday at a town hall meeting held at Okada town, in Ovia North East Local Government Council of Edo State. Speaking at the event, the resource person, Prince Monday Eson, who delivered the keynote lecture titled; “Process in Local Government Budget Preparation; The Role of the Community Stakeholders,” said the fiscal autonomy of local governments cannot be over emphasised. He said the measure has become important to help carry out budgetary plans for local government authority and community participation as key factors for even and rapid social economic development at that level of government.

NEW TELEGRAPH thursday, may 7, 2015

STF, army division accused of planned genocide Musa Pam Jos

he Ngwang Ishi Otarok (NIO), a socio-cultural and political group of Taroh people of Wase Local Government of Plateau State has accused the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis and the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigeria Army, Jos, of a planned genocide against the Taroh nation. It will be recalled that four Taroh villages, which include Kadarko, Mutum Biyu, Wadatan Arewa, Wadatan Kasuwa, in Wase Local Government came under attacks by people suspected to be members of the Nigerian Army, killing over 50 people while about 150 others sustained injuries and houses, farm produce and livestock worth millions of naira were destroyed in the raid. But reacting yesterday, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 3rd Armoured Division, Rukuba Barracks, Jos, Col. Texas Chukwu, when contacted by our correspondent on the issue said: “What is your problem? If you want to confirm anything, go to the Special Task Force on Jos crisis." Also the spokesman of STF, Captain Ikediche Iweha, did not pick his call when our correspondent called for his reaction.”

Kwara varsity gets e-learning satellite Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he National Universities Commission (NUC) has set up an e-learning platform at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, towards enhancing teaching and learning through the deployment of Information and Communication Technology at the institution. The project, funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) covers satellite installation, provision of computer systems and smart boards, among others. The e-learning satellite has already been installed in the campus by the Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited. Speaking during an inspection visit to the project site at the Centre for Entrepreneurship, officials of the university expressed satisfaction with the project.

News 49

NORTH

Two killed as Suswam’s aide, traditional rulers escape death Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

op government officials from the Bureau for Local Gov-

ernment and Chieftaincy Affairs in Benue State, as well as some traditional rulers on Tuesday, escaped death by a whisker. They were attacked by gunmen while on their

way from Katsina-Ala to Vandeikya Local Government area to perfect the selection of first class chiefs in the area. The gunmen, numbering about five, trailed the

traditional rulers and the government officials, who were in a convoy, accosted them on the way close to Vandeikya and opened fire on them. But luck ran out of

Secretary to the Jigawa State Government, Alhaji Lawal Abdul (left), with the Chairman, Transition Committee/Deputy Governor-elect, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, during the handing over of documents from ministries in Dutse …yesterday

Internet fraudsters steal El-Rufai's identity Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he people of Kaduna State have been warned by the office of the Governor-elect, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of the activities of an unknown impostor, who is using his name to solicit for money. In a statement issued by El-Rufai’s spokesman, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, the impostor has created an e-mail address, nelrufai@

hotmail.com, in the name of the Governor-elect, “asking people to remit N150, 000 to a Mainstreet Bank account.” According to the statement, the action of the impostor ‘is not only theft of identity, but a case of fraud, impersonation and total misrepresentation of the person of the Kaduna State Governorelect.’ “The public should not only disregard fraudster(s) impersonating Malam El-Rufai, but report (him/her/them) to

security agencies or alert the office of the Governorelect for prompt action onward prosecution,” the statement advised. Aruwan pointed out that “the Governor-elect will never ask anyone for money in this way. Anyone that receives this kind of email request should know it is not from Malam El-Rufai, but from fraudulent elements.” He added that the case has been reported to Hotmail and the relevant law enforcement agencies for further action.

Air Force donates materials to Borno orphanage home Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

he Nigerian Air Force has donated food, beverages and toiletries to the orphans at the Fatima Ali Sheriff Motherless Babies Home in Maiduguri, an orphanage home owned and managed by the Borno State government. Presenting the donations to the management of the orphanage home,

the Commandant of the 79 Composite Group, Maiduguri, Air Commodore Christopher Egwoba, said they were concerned about the plight of hundreds of children in Borno State, who became orphans as a result of circumstances beyond their control. Egwoba said the Air Force, in collaboration with the Army and other security agencies are doing their best in improving the security

situation in the country. “Our donation to the motherless babies is part of the activities marking the 51st anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force and we hope what we bring will assist in ameliorating the challenges facing the children’s home,” Egwoba said. Responding, the Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Alhaji Aji Ngamdu, thanked the Air Force authorities for the donation.

the assailants as the policemen in the convoy, in an exchange of gunfire, killed two of the attackers while two others were arrested. The state Police Commissioner, Hyacinth Dagala, who confirmed the attack, said one of the attackers who was arrested, is cooling his heels behind bars. New Telegraph gathered that they were heading to the local government for the selection a first class chief in the area for which the state Chief Judge, Justice Iorhemen Hwande, had already slammed a court injunction on the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Tor Tiv, the Idoma Traditional Council and their respective agents restraining them from doing so. But, Governor Gabriel Suswam, in an interview with journalists, defied the court order and vowed to go ahead and install the first class chiefs against the wish of the in-coming administration, which had earlier frowned on the development as it would pose a great financial challenge to it.

Two killed in another attack in Plateau violence

Fulani hardsmen on rampage, kill 2, steal 20 cows Musa Pam Jos

t least two people were feared killed yesterday in a fresh attack on Kakpwis village, Foron district, Plateau State. The attack was believed to have been carried out by Fulani herdsmen, who on Monday allegedly killed over 30 people in attacks on some villages in the state. The Ward Head of Kakpwis Dagwom, Ahmadu Dung Hwere, said yesterday’s attack occurred around 11.00pm when Emmanuel Joshua and Bot Joshua, were killed in their home while no fewer than 20 cows belonging to Emmanuel, were taken away. New Telegraph correspondent, who visited the scene of the attack, gathered that both Emmanuel and Bot were killed by the

bandits. Emmanuel, who was 32 years old and Bot, 30, were married with children before their sudden death. While confirming the incident, the Councilor representing Kakpwis Ward in Foron District in the local government, Hon. Istifanus Gwom Dung, condemned the attack, describing the incessant attacks in the locality as a strategy to eliminate the Berom people. Dung decries the nonchalant attitude of the security agencies in the local government, especially the men of the Special Task Force, who are saddled with the responsibility of keeping peace and protecting lives and property for not arresting the perpetrators of the evil acts. But, Media and Information Officer of the Special Task Force (STF), Captain Ikedichi Iweha, when contacted on the incident, refused to make any categorical comment, promising to call back, but couldn’t be reached as at the time of filing this report.

WORLD | News

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cameron, Miliband, others in last-minute sramble for notes

he general election campaign is drawing to a close with party leaders making late bids to break the deadlock in the polls. Prime Minister David Cameron said the country was “stronger than it was five years ago” but there was “more to do”. Ed Miliband urged people to vote “to reward hard work in our country again” while Nick Clegg said the Lib Dems would offer “stability and decency”. Polls suggest no party will win enough seats for an outright majority. BBC deputy political editor James Landale said politicians,

pollsters and the media were struggling to read the election, leading many to focus on what might happen if there is an uncertain result.”As such, today might not be the end of the process,” he said. “It might just be the calling of the half-time whistle.” On the last day of campaigning: • Mr Cameron says the Conservatives can win today’s election outright • Mr Miliband says he is optimistic about Labour prospects and he trusts the public to make the “right judgement” • Former top civil servant Lord O’Donnell said David Cameron could remain as PM even without

a majority - it would be up to his political judgment whether there was a “clear alternative” government • Mr Clegg says he’s confident the Lib Dems will hold enough seats to be key players in any negotiations • UKIP will “significantly and perhaps dramatically outperform” expectations, a spokesman predicts, while Green MPs would do all they could to keep out the Tories, leader Natalie Bennett says • SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon says her party is “within touching distance” of making Westminster history, while Leanne Wood says her Plaid Cymru

The Labour leader is focusing on marginal seats in the north-west of England.

Jonathan congratulates Gnassingbe on his re-election Anule Emmanuel

resident Goodluck Jonathan congratulates President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo on his victory in the country’s recent presidential election. The President in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity Reuben Abati yesterday said now that President Gnassingbe’e victory at the polls has been confirmed by Togo’s Constitutional Court, the people of Togo should accept the election results in good faith and give maximum support and

cooperation to their re-elected leader for peace, stability and progress in their country. President Jonathan commended the people of Togo on the successful conduct of the presidential elections and urges any persons who may still have issues with its outcome to comport themselves as true democrats and law-abiding citizens by seeking redress only through recognized legal means. He said he believes that the growing culture of free, fair and credible elections in Africa as witnessed in recent

polls in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and other countries bodes well for political stability and faster development on the continent. The President urged all African leaders and political actors to continue to do their utmost best to further entrench true democracy and good governance in their countries. He also noted that the existing cordial relations between Nigeria and Togo will continue to grow in coming years. President Jonathan wished President Gnassingbe a very successful new term in Office.

Germanwings pilot rehearsed crash on outbound flight

he Germanwings co-pilot suspected of deliberately crashing a jet in the French Alps rehearsed the fatal maneuver on the morning of the disaster, and had twice been refused medical papers needed to fly, investigators said yesterday. The French BEA accident investigation agency said the co-pilot had five times set the autopilot to take the Airbus down to just 100 feet while the captain was out of

the cockpit on the outbound flight to Barcelona from Duesseldorf. But the brief twists of an altitude dial, mimicking those which crashed the A320 on its way back to the German city 2-3 hours later, would not have been noticed by passengers or controllers because they were quickly reversed and were masked by the fact that the jet had already started an authorized descent, the BEA said. A preliminary report on the re-

turn flight that crashed on March 24, killing all 150 people on board, confirmed a growing picture of painstaking preparations carried out by the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz. “I can’t speculate on what was happening inside his head; all I can say is that he changed this button to the minimum setting of 100 feet and he did it several times,” said Remi Jouty, director of the French BEA accident investigation agency.

party is part of a “change that’s coming” • The Times newspaper endorses a continuation of the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition while the Express becomes the first paper to recommend UKIP. The Daily Mail backs the Conservatives • Northern Ireland’s five biggest parties clashed over welfare reform and gay marriage in a live TV debate.

The main party leaders have been criss-crossing the country in their battle buses as they attempt to drum up support ahead of today’s poll. After starting the day in Mid Wales, Mr Cameron stopped off in the west Midlands before heading to Chester and Lancaster. He is set to end the day by visiting Carlisle and Dumfriesshire, where the party holds its only seat in Scotland.

Uganda’s president says he’s the one bullied

here is so much freedom in Uganda that it’s nearly anarchy, the country’s president joked, stepping carefully around what’s an open secret back home: Yoweri Museveni will run for yet another term next year, and surely he will win. Museveni, casual in an untucked dress shirt during an interview in a Waldorf Astoria hotel suite, gave The Associated Press his version of power and succession on the sidelines of his appearance at a high level U.N. meeting, where he scolded the United States and the other permanent members of the Security Council on their approaches to Africa’s problems. Yesterday, with his role on display as the leader of a regional power and one of Africa’s most militarized countries, he met with White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice to discuss the conflicts in South Sudan and the Darfur region of Sudan, the White House announced. Dismissing accusations from critics that his rule over three decades has become more and more authoritarian, far from the days when former

President Bill Clinton praised him as one of a new breed” of reform minded African leaders, Museveni told the AP, “If anybody has been bullied, it is me.” And as he prepares to turn 71 in September, Museveni appeared little concerned about a possible legal challenge to another presidential term by those who argue he will be too old to be in charge. A new term would take him over Uganda’s 75 year old presidential age limit. But even as regional neighbor Burundi is shaken by deadly protests over the not unusual African scenario of a president who wants to run again, Museveni said he will let Uganda’s courts decide. More than 30 floors above midtown Manhattan, his conversation was only faintly marked by the sound of sirens. Museveni was comfortable, saying that the future of the presidency depends on what the ruling party wants. “The party,” as Museveni put it, because there are few other political parties with any power in Uganda, and those have been allowed only in recent years. Until then, he argued that poor African countries could not afford political rivalries.

Ohio man arrested in Florida after 56 years on run

man convicted of manslaughter walked away from an Ohio prison farm in 1959, then was allowed to slip away from law enforcement in 1975 and disappeared until a ruse to get his fingerprints led to his arrest in Florida this week, investigators said Tuesday. Former Akron, Ohio, resident Frank Freshwaters, now 79, admitted his true identity when authorities confronted him Monday, according to the U.S. Marshals Service and deputies in Brevard County, Florida. Marshals in Ohio had sought help from deputies there, and they created a ruse to get him to sign papers so they could check his fingerprints, which matched the decades-old arrest, said Major Tod Goodyear. The sheriff ’s office declined to give further details of the ruse. “We couldn’t go with a picture and see if it’s that guy,”

Goodyear said. “You look different than you do 50 years ago.” An old picture of Freshwaters came into play, when, after a week of surveillance, they confronted him with a question as he left his trailer in a rural area near Melbourne: Have you seen this man? “They showed him the pic, and he said he hadn’t seen that guy in a long time,” Goodyear said. “Then he admitted it and basically said, ‘You got me.’” The young man sent to the Ohio State Reformatory in 1959 had short, dark hair in his black and white mugshot, but here he was with a white beard, a ponytail and glasses, living in a weathered trailer in a remote area surrounded by palmettos and very few neighbors. “It’s a nice place to kind of hang out by yourself if you don’t want people to know you’re there,” Goodyear said.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY MAY 7, 2015

Pacquiao seeks April 2016 rematch date with Mayweather

Features

Adebayor: My story

Track and Field

News

International Sport

Flying Eagles to test might with Bundesliga sides

Sport Emmanuel Tobi

for mer inter national, George Abbey, has expressed confidence that the senior national football team, the Super Eagles, can bounce back stronger if necessary mechanisms are put in place. He however warned of further decline if team fails to learn from past mistakes. The Eagles have struggled in recent times the high point being the failure to qualify for the 2015 African Nations Cup, but the former Port Vale of England defender stressed the need to identify the basic problems of the team in order to find lasting solutions to them. NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, while speaking in London last week, said: “Our coaches can be technically sound but technologically they are inept, because football for me is driven more by technology than anything else. We now have the match analysis software that can analyse games for us and give us directions because normally we play matches without knowing our opponents nor their strengths and weaknesses.” Abbey, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph from his base in England, maintained that the revival of the Super Eagles required a holistic approach which includes having vital information about the invited players, Nigeria’s opponents, as well as good management input from the coach-

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

AFN postpones 1st Golden League

Did you know? That Steven Gerrard has swapped his jersey with more than a hundred players, but never with a Manchester United player

Abbey: Eagles can bounce back stronger

ing crew and the football body. “I am very pleased with the plans the NFF boss has outlined to help assist the coaching staff. I have been calling for match analysis for so many years,” said the former defender. “As a nation we have an abundance of talent both at home and abroad but without the technological support we will always fall short at top level competitions. “Even top clubs and countries rely heavily on data and analysis. We are definitely moving in the right direction,” he said. Abbey who currently works as a fitness trainer and opposition scout in Manchester, wants the home-based Eagles project revived but stressed the need for league players to improve on their strength and conditioning. “I work with young players as a strength conditioning coach and sports nutritionist. I also do opposition scouting for some teams in and around Manchester. I had to stop playing in 2011 due to a succession of muscle injuries which was a huge disappointment for me but the knowledge I have gained about sports injuries is one I wish I had when I was playing. “The moment we abandoned the home-based project, the Eagles started faltering.”

• Backs Pinnick’s scientific approach

Argentina’s Sergio Aguero vying for the ball with Nigeria’s Ogenyi Onazi at the World Cup, while Juwon Oshaniwa keeps watch at the back. INSET: Abbey George

Losers have excuses, Mayweather tells Pacquiao

loyd Mayweather says “winners win and losers have excuses” after Manny Pacquiao blamed a shoulder injury for his loss to the American in Las Vegas. Pacquiao is being sued in Nevada after being accused of lying about the shoulder injury he suffered pre-fight. The Nevada Athletic Commission says Pacquiao, 36, did not declare the problem, but the Filipino claims a treatment plan was agreed with United States Anti-Doping Agency. He could face a fine or suspension.

Pacquiao is being sued by two people in Nevada who have alleged the boxer defrauded ticket buyers, television viewers and gamblers. They have opened lawsuits just hours after the NAC accused the fighter of being dishonest by not declaring his injury on a pre-fight questionnaire - which has also led to suggestions he could face a charge of perjury. The state attorney general’s office is investigating. However, Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said he took “full responsibility” for the “inadvertent mistake”.

“Number one, Manny didn’t check the box,” Koncz said. “I checked it. We weren’t trying to hide anything. I just don’t think I read the questionnaire correctly.” Pacquiao blamed his injury for his points defeat to undefeated Mayweather, 38, claiming it stopped him using his right hand. His camp claimed USADA had been notified of his treatment and plans for an anti-inflammatory shot on fight night. But USADA was only charged with monitoring antidoping issues and NAC officials prevented the injection, saying they had not been told about

Pacquaio’s shoulder issue. No date has been set for surgery to repair the “significant tear” and although Pacquiao will face up to a year out, ESPN claims Mayweather is open to a re-match in 12 months time. Mayweather scored a unanimous points victory in the four-belt unification bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the win extending the American’s unbeaten record as a professional to 48 fights. He says he intends to retire after one more fight, possibly in September, with Britain’s Amir Khan among the potential opponents.

Sport

THURSDAY MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Between blue skies and boxing’s rip-off (1)

or one of the country’s most popular soccer clubs, Stationery Stores of Lagos, 1991 was an unforgettable year. With the “retirement” of Chief Femi Oyebanjo, Peju Adebajo, treasurer Femi Aluko and definitely one of soccer’s most grounded administrators in Secretary, Bernard Kpade, a new set of administrators came to attempt a “rebuild” of the club. The names aforementioned were those who through the ’70s and ’80s spent a huge chunk of their personal earnings, investments, time and energy in keeping alive the dreams of founder, late Israel Adebajo, who wanted to change the face of the sport in the country. Getting through negotiations with late Oluwole Phillips, Adebajo began the spreading chain of stationeries this part of the planet with the founding of the Nigeria office and Stationery Stores with headquarters on Wharf Road in Apapa – the port city of Lagos-and noticeable outlets in Yakubu Gowon (then Broad) Street on Lagos Island, the Mainland- especially EbutteMetta and Yaba-all through the Ikeja Business district where the Manufacturers from clothing to beverage, publishing and alcohol floated football clubs which participated in the Oba of Lagos Cup, the Ikeja League, Challenge (then FA) Cup and their own creation – The Manufacturers’ Cup.

Muyiwa Daniel on Thursday

md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only) Adebajo had his plans well laid out in 1966 when he completed the construction of his village Mansion at Noforija, in the Epe Local government area of Lagos. The Mansion had an adjoining sports complex moulded like the Aston Villa ground in the English Premier League. That was Adebajo’s dream and with the victory at the FA all through to 1969 when he passed on till date, it has remained a dream. Peju, a junior sibling was the family’s eyes in the running of the club and he got his colleagues and other supporters to keep the team afloat. With the take-over of administration of Nigerian football through Decrees 10 and 11 of 1990 which later fused into Decree 101 of 1992, an illegality this outgoing seventh National Assembly doesn’t seem interested in repealing thus giving soccer the freedom needed to return to status quo ante where the private sector can return for effective funding- Stores became an orphan as the Lagos State government “scared” of being labeled “biased” refused to financially support the team

that had remained the heart and soul of thousands (if not millions) of individuals and families NOT only in Lagos but nationwide. As the club struggled for survival, most fans turned to the EPL and boxing for succour especially when the world title was almost coming to Nigeria through Nigeria Army’s warrant officerObisia Nwakpa. Obisia had made waves winning laurels, medals and belts at the World Military Games and was drawn against Saoul Mamby. It was billed as Nigeria’s version of the Muhammad Ali’s/ George Foreman’s “Rumble – in-the-jungle” or Ali/Frazier’s “Thriller-in-Manila”. Obisia had prepared for the fight and with the financial support (in thousands of British Pounds Sterling) of the National Sports Commission through Director-General, Isaac Akioye, it was going to be the “Dream Night in Lagos.” Bouts like Joe Lasisi/ Jerry Okorodudu, “Kwara Atomic Bomb”Hogan Jimoh/Tony Andeh had been under cards to be prepared

for. Both Obisia and Mamby arrived town in Lagos with a lot of fanfare akin to what happened in the three days and actual fight night at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. Going through the play-back on television the question remains “was the night worth the vigil and the millions of US dollars pay-cheque for 36 minutes of non-inspiration”? will remain debatable. Those days Electricity Corporation of Nigeria often go on radio to announce shut-downs for repairs or upgrading and its officials normally give for how long and the return never exceeds the predicted. The lights were all over town and Mamby “ordered” the removal of the air-conditioners in his hotel room while “our own champion-in-waiting” relished the cool night. The result was glaring at the weigh-in next morning. Obisia upturned the weight and had to do more than five laps round the Lagos National Stadium main-bowl to shed the extra weight. The result was clear to a smiling Mamby. He, went back to Guyana after the fight and promoter/Stationery Stores backer-Chief Jossy Afolayan-was so devastated that he relocated to his native Omu-Aran in Kwara State. However, as Stores strug-

gled on most of the fans were sharply split between support for Arsenal –which had a promising leggy World U-17 Cup winnerKanu Nwankwo who later with Finidi George were in the Ajax Armsterdam team that won the European Champions League in 1995. The others went for Chelseathe Blues-especially those who are engaged in the inter and intra-city transportation business and artisans. The headline “Kan U Beat This” can only be recalled when Kanu in the shadows of Thierry Henry and his star-studded colleagues scored the “Gunners” three goals that dwarfed Chelsea’s 2-0 lead at Stamford Bridge. The Stores fans had things to occupy their time along with boxing through “Sugar” Ray Leonard and “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler apart from the heavyweights, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Tim Whitherspoon. In 1991, one of the supporters simply referred to as “Mr Anonymous came on board with finance and the parlance “ Poku Lowo E”cheap articles-dubbed the recruitment drive of the reformed club led by one of the country’s foremost sport journalist, Segun Adenuga, who recruited the players and coach Adamu Bebe from rookie teams as far as Taraba.

F’Eagles to test might with Bundesliga sides Okpekpe Race: Alli

expects new meet records

Ifeanyi Ibeh

igeria’s Flying Eagles, currently in Germany in preparation for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, will play three test matches against the U-23 teams of German Bundesliga clubs TSG Hoffenheim, FC Nurnberg and Freiburg FC. According to information posted on the website of the Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday, the Flying Eagles will take on TSG Hoffenheim on Tuesday, May 12 in Hoffenheim with kick-off time put at 3 P.M. local time (4 P.M. in Nigeria). Three days later, on May 15, Manu Garba’s side will tackle FC Nurnberg at their training ground in SudwestPark by 4.30 P.M. May 15 is the date set by FIFA for all New Zealand 2015 bound teams to submit their final squad list for the World Cup which runs from May 30 to June 20 in the former British colony. And it is expected that the team’s technical crew will use the games against Hoffenheim and Nurnberg to finalise their 21-man squad for the World Cup before taking on the U-23 team of Freiburg on May 19 by 2.30 pm.

Charles Ogundiya

Flying Eagles Captain, Muhammed Musa floors Enyimba’s Chinedu-Udoji during the Super 4-Invitational Tournament

lying Eagles captain, Musa Muhammed, has stated that he and his teammates will not be at the World Cup just to make up the numbers. The wingback was quoted by Sl10.ng as saying: “Some people, especially outside of Nigeria might probably think we’ll go there to make up the numbers. But we have a different plan because we are African champions and we are going

igerian track and field legend, Yusuf Alli, is confident a new competition record and world leading time will be set on Saturday, May 16, at the 3rd Okpekpe 10km road race in Okpepke, Edo State. The world record for men stands at 26:44mins set by Kenya’s Leonard Patrick Komon in 2010 while Britain’s Paula Radcliffe holds the women’s record of 30:21mins set in 2003. The competition record of 29:39 minutes for men is held by Ethiopia’s Teshome Asafan while, Wuday Ayalew, holds the women’s record of 32:41mins. “I am confident we are

... ‘We are ready for World Cup’

there as such and the dream is to win the World Cup as well. “This is something my teammates and I have collectively agreed to work toward and we are not just talking about it, we are working towards it”. The 18-year also spoke about their group, which has Hungary, North Korea and favourites,

Brazil. But he says he’s less concerned about facing the Brazilians than he is about facing any other team in the competition. “People talk about Brazil all the time but we also have other countries in our group. So for us it’s not just about Brazil, it’s about playing each game as they come and taking it from there.”

going to see a fast race in Okpekpe next weekend,” said Alli. “The quality of athletes that will be on parade is what is giving me this confidence. In the men’s race for example we have two of the four fastest men in the world so far this year. The duo of Amos Kiplimo Mitei of Kenya who has run 27:58mins this year and Dawi Fikadu who also holds a personal and season’s best of 28:04mins. “This is one of the highest paying 10km road races in the world and the desire to win the top prize will certainly push these athletes to run well and fast.” The winners of both the men’s and women’s events will go home with $25,000 respectively. Speaking further, the former technical director of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria also said any record set at the upcoming road race would be ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations, as well as the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, an association of long-distance running races.

Intertional Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY MAY 7, 2015

anny Pacquiao is happy to enter into a rematch with Floyd Mayweather after shoulder surgery, his promoter Bob Arum has said. Mayweather has suggested that he would offer his rival a second fight next year and Arum admitted that, although it was a difficult negotiation between the Pacquiao/Top Rank/ HBO and Mayweather/Showtime camps for the May 2 fight, he believes they could make a deal for a rematch. “I think we now know what the pitfalls were,” Arum told ESPN.com. “And, ultimately, with all the aggravation and trouble, look at the pot of gold that we both produced. I think there will probably be less aggravation in a rematch. We understand each other better now. There’s a real possibility it could work even better.” Arum suggested that Mayweather forgo a September fight and simply wait for Pacquiao and fight him in April, which is when the MGM plans to open a new 20,000-seat arena in Las Vegas. “I think the wisest course of action is for Floyd to wait,” Arum said.

Pacquiao seeks April 2016 rematch date with Mayweather Pacquiao has stayed in LA to have surgery to repair the shoulder injury he has had since he fought Oscar De La Hoya in 2008. It will be a three-hour operation and the 36-year-old will be released from the private hospital today (Thursday). Pacquiao will not be allowed to train until at least November. “We first have to make sure the rotator cuff heals well,” Arum said. “Dr. El Attrache is a famous surgeon, one of the best in the business, so I’m confident the surgery will work and if it does why wouldn’t we entertain a rematch?” Pacquiao, who suffered the injury three weeks before the fight, failed to disclose the injury to the Nevada State Athletic Commission on his pre-fight medical questionnaire, which specifically asks if the fighter has a shoulder injury.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao exchange punches during their bout on Sunday morning in Las Vegas

Juve need ‘masterclass’ in Madrid – Allegri Champions League: Real will reach final – Ancelotti J

Allegri

uventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was delighted with his team’s victory over Real Madrid but believes they will need to produce a “masterpiece” next week in Spain to progress to the UEFA Champions League final. “I’m really pleased with my players’ performance,” Allegri said to the Italian press. “It’s a deserved reward from a game that wasn’t easy. They played with extraordinary intensity and afforded Real very little. We defended really well. “We need to recognise how important this result is.

It was a great display from us and we also celebrated winning the Scudetto. We’ve played good football this season. I can only take my hat off to my players.” He added: “It’s a pity we didn’t get a third,” Allegri said. “There were a couple of moments when we could have done better in attack. In any case, we have laid the foundations. My players showed great personality, effort and determination. But I think if we want to make the final, we’ve got to deliver a masterpiece in Madrid.”

Gerrard told me to reject Arsenal for Barca – Suarez

uis Suarez has revealed that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard told him to snub a transfer to Arsenal and wait for Barcelona to make their move. The Uruguayan sealed a £75m switch from Anfield to the Camp Nou last summer, but during the year before that, the striker made it public that he was considering a move to Arsenal. However, Suarez has now revealed

that it was his club captain Gerrard who convinced him to swerve interest from the Gunners. “I do owe so much to Steven when Arsenal wanted to sign me,” Suarez told The Express. “We had a private conversation and he said, ‘give us another season and wait for Barcelona, you are too good for Arsenal’. It is the best advice he could have given. If it was not for him I might not be at Barcelona now.”

Woods reveals woes ahead of Players Championship

iger Woods has revealed that a lack of sleep has affected his preparations for the Players Championship. The former world number one will play for the first time since The Masters when he returns from his latest injury setback at Sawgrass, but a difficult week has caused problems. Woods announced the end of his relationship with Lindsey Vonn on Sunday, which also marked the

nine-year anniversary of his father’s death. “Obviously, it does affect me,” Woods told reporters. “It’s tough. There’s no doubt. I’m not going to lie about that, and on top of that, this time of the year is really, really hard on me. “I haven’t slept. These three days, May 3 and through May 5, are just brutal on me, and then with obviously what happened on Sunday, it just Woods adds to it.”

arlo Ancelotti is confident Real Madrid can overturn their first-leg defeat to Juventus and reach the Champions League final. The Italian oversaw a 2-1 loss in Turin as strikes from former Real striker Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez’s second-half penalty cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s equaliser. Real must now win the home leg to stand any chance of meeting either Barcelona or Bayern Munich in this year’s final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. “This result does not fill us with joy but we are confident about turning things around in the Santiago Bernabeu,” Ancelotti told realmadrid.com. “We looked good when we passed the ball around and carved out chances, but Juventus are dangerous on the break. “We could have played better. Throughout the game, we tried to play efficiently and with quality. “A 1-1 draw would have been a

Ancelotti

good result. We played an attacking game, but it became difficult to find space and Juve were extremely dangerous on the break. “They are in great form at the moment. Last season we played them in the group stage while this year it’s a two-legged semi-final. “They are a very well organised team at the back. It is difficult to find a way of breaking them down - it requires patience.”

United blood still flows in Tevez and I – Evra

atrice Evra has claimed that Carlos Tevez still has Manchester United in his blood after the Argentine scored to give Juventus a 2-1 lead against Real Madrid after the first leg of their Champions League semifinal. Tevez left United in acrimonious circumstances to join City after Sir Alex Ferguson opted against signing the former Boca Juniors striker, before establishing himself as one of Serie A’s best players after a somewhat mixed spell on the blue side of Manchester. After another excellent

performance on Tuesday night, Evra, who joined his former teammate in the summer, claimed they both had “United blood” in their veins. “Carlos Tevez is like myself, he has United blood. He’s a champion and he’s working hard, he’s a very good professional,” he said. “I was very pleased to see him again and of course he’s had a fantastic year, but like you say we want to win this Champions League. “We have done good stuff, in the first leg of the semi-final, and we need to make sure we get

ready for the second leg. “It’s going to be difficult but of course I’m really pleased for Carlito because he’s a massive professional.”

Evra

54 Sport

“

I have kept these stories for a long time but I think it is worth sharing some of them with you. It’s true that family matters should be solved internally and not in public but I am doing this so that hopefully all families can learn from what happened in mine. Also keep in mind that none of this is about money. “At the age of 17, with my first wages as a footballer, I built a house for my family and made sure they are safe. As you all know, I received the trophy of African Player of the Year in 2008. I also brought my mother on stage with me to thank her for everything. In that same year, I brought her to London for various medical check ups. When my daughter was born, we contacted my mum to inform her but she immediately hung up the phone and didn’t want to hear about it. Some people said my family and I should consult T.B Joshua. In 2013, I gave my mother money so she could consult him in Nigeria. She was supposed to stay for one week; but two days into her stay, I received a call saying she left. Apart from all that l also gave my mother a great amount of money to start a business of cookies and different items. Naturally, I allowed them to put my name and picture on the products so they could sell more. What else could a son do in his power to support his family? “A couple of years ago, I bought a house in East Legon (Ghana) for $1.2 million. I found it normal to let my elder sister, Yabo Adebayor, stay in that house. I also allowed my half brother (Daniel) to stay in the same house. A

THURSDAY MAY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

ADEBAYOR: MY STORY

Togolese star, Emmanuel Adebayor, provides some insight into happenings within his family that first came to the fore sometime ago. Excerpts... few months later, I was on vacation and decided to go to that house. To my surprise, I saw many cars in the driveway. In fact, my sister decided to rent out the house without my knowledge. She also kicked Daniel out of that house. Note that the house had about 15 rooms. When I called her and asked for explanation, she took about 30 minutes to abuse and insult me on the telephone. I called my mother to explain the situation and she did the same thing. This same sister says I am ungrateful. Ask her about the car she is driving or anything she is selling today? “My brother Kola Adebayor, has now been in Germany for 25 years. He travelled home about four times, at my expense. I fully cover the cost of his children’s education. When I was in Monaco, he came to me and asked for

money to start a business. Only God knows how much I gave him. Where is that business today? “When our brother Peter passed away, I sent Kola a great amount of money so he could fly back home. He never showed up at the burial. And today, that same brother (Kola) is telling people that I am involved in Peter’s death. How? He is the same brother who went and told inaccurate stories about our family to “The Sun” in other to take some money. They also sent a letter to my club when I was in Madrid so I could get fired. “When I was in Monaco I thought it would be good to have a family of footballers. So I made sure my brother Rotimi got into a football academy in France. Within a few months, out of 27 players, he stole 21 phones. “I would not say any anything about my brother Peter Adebayor because he is not here today. May his soul rest in peace. “My sister Lucia Adebayor keeps telling people that my dad told me of bringing her to Europe. But what would be the purpose of bringing her to Europe? Everyone is here for a reason.

“I was in Ghana when I received the news about my brother Peter being seriously ill. I drove the fastest I could to Togo in order to meet him and help. When I arrived, my mother said I could not see him and I should just give the money and she would solve everything. Only God knows how much I gave her that day. People are saying I didn’t do anything to save my brother, Peter. Am I a fool to drive two hours to Togo for nothing? “I organised a meeting in 2005 to solve our family issues. When I asked them about their opinions, they said I should build each family member a house and give each of them a monthly salary. “Today, I am still alive but they have already shared all my properties, just in case I die. “For all these reasons, it took a very long time for me to set up my foundation in Africa. Every time I tried to help the people in need, they questioned me and all of them thought it was a bad idea. As I am writing this, the main purpose is not to expose my family members. I just want other African families to learn from this.”

TRACK & FIELD WITH CHARLES OGUNDIYA

AFN postpones 1st Golden League

Long distance runner, Aderonke Olumudi, with her awards and a copy of New Telegraph newspaper with Saturday Telegraph’s Editor, Laurence Ani, left and her coach, Abass Raufu, right, during the visit of the athlete to the newspaper’s office in Lagos... yesterday

he Athletic Federation of Nigeria has postponed the 1st Golden League scheduled for this weekend in Port Harcourt until further notice. A release signed by AFN Secretary General, Olumide Bamiduro, on Wednesday, stated: “The 1st AFN Golden League scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on May 9, has been postponed. A new date for this Golden League will be announced.” But according to investigations by our correspondent, the major reason for postponing the meet was lack of funds. The AFN has been battling with shortage of funds recently, and a source at the federation told New Telegraph that the body was yet to receive

any funds from the National Sports Commission this year. Reacting to the postponement, former international, Enefiok UdoObong, on his Facebook wall said the federation had taken the right step rather than resorting begging. Udo-Obong said: “Truth is AFN has no money to hold meets. I think it’s better not to hold any meet than to collect money from the president, Solomon Ogba, and then expect him not to influence things. “As a matter of fact, nothing should be done except funds are gotten from sponsors or government, it’s no use crying for handouts from Ogba, it does not help our sport.”

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fter working so hard to snatch defeat from the jaw of victory in the just-concluded general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in a race to outdo itself in agame of self destruct. Even in defeat, the party still remains its quarrelsome self. It will take the unfathomable wisdom of God to understand why this party, which given its divisive tendency should have died so long ago, is still alive up till now. But that may not be too long in coming in view of its new opposition status from May 29 and the ongoing internecine strife, accentuated by postpoll trauma. It is my long-held view that the self-styled largest party in Africa does not deserve the appellation of being called a political party. It is more an election-winning machinery. It is an atomistic gathering of bounty hunters out there to grab powers which they deploy for selfaggrandisement. That is why the party has never known peace since it made the mistake of making Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, an intemperate leader with a big ego, its leader by virtue of being its first elected president. Obasanjo set the template for the erratic leadership style which has now driven the party to the precipice. Whether it will tilt over and fall to its death depends on how it conducts its affairs as the leading opposition party in the months ahead. Since its clobbering in the justconcluded general elections, its leaders and members have been locked in a bitter blame game over what could have led to the routing of the party. Shocked members of the party and their sympathisers could not understand why a party, that in its height of fame controlled the political space, could fall on such a hard time. Between 2003 and 2007, when the political behemoth was at the zenith of its glory, it was in control of about 25 out of the 36 states of the federation. It also dominated the National Assembly with at least 223 members out of the 360 lawmakers in the House of Representatives and 79 senators out of the 109 in the Senate. It now has to deal with the vagaries of life after barely managing to retain control of about 14 states and transmuting into a minority party in both chambers of the National Assembly. A party that at its commanding height was representative of the Nigerian nation; with a strong presence in every nook and cranny of the 36 states of the federation, now has its stronghold confined to two

The party’s loss is a blessing in disguise to reinvent itself and this could turn into another missed opportunity if it does not organise itself well enough for effective repositioning

out of the six geopolitical zones in the country, South-East and SouthSouth. Like with some human institutions, PDP leaders could not manage their success. They became arrogant, insouciance and disconnected from the people in whose name they exercised power and in the process, they developed an entitlement complex. In fact, one of its national chairmen, Dr. Vincent Ogbulafor, even boasted that the party would rule Nigeria for 60 years. How fast dreams die! However, contrary to the insidious campaign by some members asking for the head of the party’s current National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, for leading the party to its worst outing since 1999, there was nothing the chair could have done to save the party from defeat. So many theories have emerged why the party has now lost its primal position in the polity. One of the allegations is that Northerners in the party sold out by conniving with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to retire President Goodluck Jonathan from politics and free him from the cage he has been in the last 16 years when he came under public charge as deputy governor of Bayelsa State. Outgoing Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, lent much credence to this allegation when he attributed Jonathan’s defeat to his alleged refusal to honour the single term pact he entered into with party leaders before the North backed his presidential bid in 2011. I tend to agree with the belea-

guered party chair that there was nothing the party leadership could have done to save Jonathan and the PDP from a well-deserved trouncing in the general elections. Mu’azu, in several tweets on Tuesday, said the party gave its all to the president, but it lost out because the people were tired of PDP. “The perception of President Jonathan and our party in the North was at an all-time low because of the lies they were told by politicians. Those who blame us for not delivering maximum votes to the president in the North seem to have forgotten that it’s the people who vote,” he said. In this season of home-truth telling, the party’s spokesman, Mr. Olisa Metuh, was spot on Monday when he attributed the party’s resounding defeat to the hate campaign against the APC’s Major General Muhammadu Buhari, championed by First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan; Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose; PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation’s spokesman and Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. In a write-up titled: ‘Our season of absurdities,’ published in this column on March 12, 2015, one had the cause to draw attention to the deleterious effects of this hate campaign on the political fortune of the party. But like a dog destined to get lost, the PDP ignored the whistle of hunters. Now that the party is faced with

Jonathan

Mu’azu

the reality of its new status, rather than collectively finding a solution to it, those who played primal roles in this defeat, including the governors, are in the frontline of trying to shift the blame to others. Jonathan also tried to downplay the crisis in the party that led to its defeat with his claim during the week that the party was rigged out of power. The wrong-headed presidential statement was more steeped in politics than facts. I also considered it as an obfuscation of facts and circumstances that led to PDP’s defeat. Querying Buhari’s victory after Jonathan has garnered accolades for “graciously conceding defeat” also put a stain on his newfound status as a statesman. Like most politicians, the president never believed he could lose. The party had banked on remaining in power based on its reliance on the old way of winning election. But it lost sight of the dynamism of human nature and the fact that the people, especially since Jonathan’s leadership of the party, were fed up with the era of power without responsibility. I am worried that PDP is going into its opposition role in a crisis mode and that could impair its ability to effectively discharge such a function. The party’s loss is a blessing in disguise to reinvent itself and this could turn into another missed opportunity if it does not organise itself well enough for effective repositioning. As an opposition party, the PDP does not have the luxury of the hubris that led to its downfall. What it needs to be able to effectively discharge its new role as an opposition party is less of the crisis, driven by needless power tussle among its chieftains. But unfortunately, from the unfolding postelection crisis that has turned into a tirade war among party chiefs, the party seems to lack what it takes to fit into its newly-acquired shoes. Being an opposition party requires more discipline than PDP has as a ruling party. The fear of losing the patronage that comes with being member of a ruling party is enough to keep people in check, except when they are pushed out as the PDP did to former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar; its former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former five aggrieved governors and Senator Bukola Saraki, among others. But without such a possible loss of perks as an opposition party in this era of cash crunch occasioned by the state of the economy, what cane-andcarrot approach will PDP use now to keep its gluttonous members? Besides, how can an unruly party like PDP keep its members in check with its ingrained culture of impunity? Those are the big issues confronting the party as an opposition group. And it is in the interest of our democracy to ensure the party effectively discharges its new responsibility otherwise, the fear of a one-party state that has confronted us since the swapping of positions between APC and PDP will become a reality. As it stands now, of the 28 parties in the country, only the PDP has the competence and resources to be an effective opposition party. But it seems it is not ready to be that.

On Marble

Yemi Ajayi

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Notes for Gburugburu

n May 29, 2015, history will be made in this country as President Goodluck Jonathan would be stepping aside for APC Presidential candidate and President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. That day will witness a novelty that would go a long way in deepening the country’s democratic evolution.

Already, that historic April 1, 2015 phone call to General Buhari by President Jonathan conceding defeat has elevated the country’s democratic status at international level. While the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is already licking its wounds and preparing for its new role of opposition, the in-coming ruling party, the All Progressive Congress APC is struggling to fit into its own garb as a ruling party. Feelers coming out of the two parties show that none is finding their new roles easy. While APC is trying to contain the squabbles that accompany office sharing amidst divergent interests, the PDP on the other hand is into a blame game apparently in search of faults for its disastrous outing as if it is hidden. But that is as it concerns national level. This week, I intend to go local and discuss emerging issues in my home state of Enugu where a 51-year-old Governor-elect Hon. Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi would be taking over from the out-going Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime on the same symbolic day. Outsiders to Enugu state politics may want to ask why the special interest. Is there any big deal? The immediate answer would be yes, there is a huge deal especially for Nsukka people that domiciles in the geo political area called Enugu North and some parts of Enugu East. A people who have been victims of a prolonged deliberate political marginalization by successive governments in the state. It was in apparent frustration and inability to get the desired accommodation that forced them into desperate search for an entity of their own called, Adada states, which has not been successful. This state was once in the hand of an arrogant governor, who was once asked why he was not spreading his development projects in the state enough to accommodate the rural areas of Nsukka zone and he told his audience that he cannot do everything when somebody comes as governor from the area he would do that. That person has come and he is Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The last 16 years of this democracy have seen the other two senatorial zones, Enugu East and Enugu West occupy the exalted position of governor for eight years each. During this period the role of Nsukka zone was very marginal. In fact, it may be safe to say without fear of contradiction that in the first eight years under Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani there was a deliberate policy of impoverishment for the people of the zone, Even though the situation improved under Gov. Chime, the zone did not get any of its deserved dues. As a result, the zone has the largest number of youth/ graduate unemployment in the entire South East. Under PDP administration at the centre, the governors held the proverbial yam and the knife determining who became what at any level at the federal, state and local Government, Nsukka people never smelt anything juicy at the centre because of who was occupying the almighty gubernatorial position. For instance, in a country that tries to lay emphasis on the spread of positions under the federal character principles as enshrined in the constitution, it is ironic

Political Musings IKE ABONYI

igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 08024024029 (sms only)

Jonathan

Chime

Buhari

Ugwuanyi

Hon. Ugwuanyi deserves sympathy from all concerned political watchers of events in Enugu state in the last 16 years

that all the ministers from Enugu state since 1999 came from the same area as the Governor. The people of Nsukka zone notwithstanding that they constitute about 50 percent of the population of the state, have never smelt the position of either federal permanent secretary or minister, head of any federal agency or Chairman of any serious federal board. The records speak for itself, when Dr. Chi-

Nwodo

Ekweremadu

maraoke Nnamani was Governor, his Enugu East zone kinsman Frank Nweke was the Minister, and under Governor Chime, He recommended Fidelia Njieze and Prof. Chinedu Nebo all from his village. Now that an Nsukka man is coming as Governor and the people are expecting the tradition to continue and let the abnormality go round for balancing, stories are filtering out from the APC camp, the current controllers of federal booties, that an impatient man who could not withstand the convincing argument of his colleagues in favouring Nsukka had to go violent. We hear of the slapping of the Enugu state APC flagbearer, Barr. Okey Ezea for daring to make a case for Nsukka people. Why all these bemoaning and bellyaching you may ask. The answer is simple. It is to enable me draw premise for an agenda for the incoming governor who may be overwhelmed at the moment with cacophony of demands from the people. Hon. Ugwuanyi deserves sympathy from all concerned political watchers of events in Enugu state in the last 16 years because he is taking over the baton at a time the track upon which the relay is taking place is in a near hopeless condition. The little heat which a PDP controlled Federal Government would have taken off from the Governor is none existent at this time, For instance under Governor Nnamani, Senator Ken Nnamani was Senate President and took off some pressure. Under Governor Chime, Dr. Okweselieze Nwodo was PDP National Chairman, even though

short-lived but it helped to take off some heat. There was also the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who through his position helped greatly in reducing the heat from the governor at home. But as Hon Ugwuanyi is coming, his party has lost the centre thereby multiplying the heat at home. All the party members who would have been hustling for ministerial, ambassadorial, board membership as well as some federal contracts are going to turn homeward. The baggages being carried by these federal party members are yawning for somebody at home, the state governor. Added to all these is the fact that the national and state economy are in the decline because of the dwindling global oil price. Not to talk of the huge debt being left behind by the Chime administration for which he is already tangoing with the outgoing state legislators. What of the huge workforce that we hear that is secretly being overblown as we speak. All these notwithstanding, Ugwuanyi cannot afford to fail and must know that extra-ordinary times like this require extra ordinary behaviour. To achieve this, Ugwuanyi must look up to heaven and ask the occupier of the holy zone to send down his soldiers to guard and guide him against the hordes of sycophants whose presence around is already worrisome. It is a known fact that sycophants are to a person in power what flies are to a sore, but to prevent sore from deteriorating, the carrier always finds a way of protecting the opening. Who are these sycophants around Ugwuanyi whose scheming may ruin him if they are not checked? They are always praising every decision he takes, they tell him how wonderful and smart he is, even if he wears the worst cloth they tell him how nice his wears look, they are flatterers, smooth talkers. They are equipped with deceit and lush words that make their man feel good and since every human being likes to be praised, it often works for them. Ugwuanyi has only one way to get around these people, by letting people around him understand that he will not be offended if he is told the truth even if unpalatable. Perhaps the Governor-elect might need to review his continuity mantra going by fallouts from Governor Chime’s administration at this tail end because if there is some truth in what Enugu state legislators are brandishing in this their fight with Governor Chime, then Ugwuanyi is into more trouble. Although this hero garb the state legislators are trying to put on now at the expense of Governor Chime certainly cannot fit them because their motive may also be selfish. The people are asking why now. Is it because they were denied their allowance? Where have they been? This is however not to diminish the fact that there are disturbing issues from the executive also. In this Executive/ legislative fight, the Governor-elect is boxed in a very difficult corner. Should he be on the side of his godfather, it could be misconstrued as condoning misdeed even when the issue is aimed at protecting his in-coming administration. On the other, if he aligns with legislators, it would be too early in the day abandoning his master. Reports from Enugu as I concluded this piece yesterday showed that the Governor- elect appears to have chosen the wise path in the imbroglio, playing the mediating role, at least to restore stability for him to take over. Reason should prevail at this time because this unfolding political drama is just not too interesting for an in-coming administration. God bless Enugu State.

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