Tuesday, february 10, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

A media partner of Sanctity Of Truth

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

Vol. 2 No. 356

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Abdulsalami's ex-CSO, Chris Garuba, named in $182m Halliburton scandal }6

Nigeria: Sitting on keg of gunpowder

nce again, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has dashed hope on the

commission's ability to keep to election timeline with the postponement of the February general elections. Jega did this in 2011 and has repeated the same feat

front page comment in 2015. In the 2011 elections, Jega almost bungled the electoral process when, citing logistics

challenge, he delayed the election by one week. Prior to the commencement of the election in April 2011,

he had assured the nation and the international community of the readiness of his commission to go ahead with the elections. But on Election

Day, after voting had commenced in some states, Jega aborted the process. Elections had to be rescheduled and President Goodluck CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Dasuki: We'll flush out Boko Haram in six weeks }5

Quick Read Editorial L-R: Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje; his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle and US Consul General, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, during the signing of a non-violence accord by the two candidates in Lagos…yesterday

Jonathan loses bid to stop eligibility suit Travel Advisory Your guide to local and international flights 4

lCourt fixes Feb 23 for Buhari's certificate motion Tunde Oyesina Abuja

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday lost his bid to stop

the referral of a suit challenging his eligibility to re-contest in the forthcoming presidential election to the Court of Appeal. His main challenger in the election, Major Gen-

eral Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), however, challenged two suits filed before the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, seeking to disqualify him

from contesting in the presidential poll for allegedly forging his secondary school certificate forgery and committing perjury. When the case to stop CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Nigeria’s }19 uncanny cup defence record

46 days to go... Nigeria votes

2015

ria Nige

s vote

2015

}14 & 15

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Travel Advisory

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 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 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Dasuki: We'll flush out Boko Haram in six weeks Onwuka Nzeshi and Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

ational Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd), has expressed the determination of the military to defeat Boko Haram within the six-week window given to guarantee conducive atmosphere for the conduct of the rescheduled general elections. Dasuki told Agence France Presse (AFP) in a report published yesterday that Boko Haram fighters who forced the delay would be crushed within the coming six weeks while the elections would no longer be delayed. According to him, the military will achieve the

feat of routing Boko Haram in six weeks in view of a new regional cooperation agreed on two weeks ago with neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The multi-lateral effort would pressure the insurgents from all sides and close their escape routes, he explained. “We’ve been fighting it alone for years… Now we are having support,” he added. Nigeria and Chad have claimed major gains over Boko Haram since the start of this month, including the recapture of several towns under rebel control. Asked if the militants can be defeated by Election Day, Dasuki said “all known Boko Haram

camps will be taken out. They won’t be there. They will be dismantled.” “Those dates will not be shifted again,” he said when asked if the polls, which had been initially scheduled for February 14, could be pushed back further. Dasuki had been in the vanguard of the calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reschedule the elections, citing security and hitches in the distribution of Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs). His letter to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega that the military would not be available to provide security for electoral officials and materials for the elections was upon the basis for which

the elections were rescheduled. A gale of criticisms from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the United States and the United Kingdom, among others, trailed the poll shift which some believed the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) masterminded to stave off imminent defeat at the poll. Canada also expressed concern at the postponement of the general elections, urging the government and all political actors in Nigeria to respect the right of the people to choose those who will govern them in a free, fair and transparent process. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human

Rights, Hon. Deepak Obhrai, in a statement given to New Telegraph yesterday in Abuja, said his country was concerned that Nigeria's presidential, legislative and state elections had been postponed. Dasuki, however, rejected the notion that politics was behind his desire for a vote delay. “Somebody looking at it the other way would say I’m helping the APC,” he said, adding that NorthEast states hardest hit by Boko Haram were all opposition strongholds. If the military pacifies the area over the next six weeks, more people can get to the polls, Dasuki said, describing this as his foremost objective. “It’s not everybody who does things for selfish rea-

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Breweries (NB) Plc, Mr. Nicholaas Vervelde; Director General, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema and NB Chairman, Chief Kola Jamodu, during the NB’s management team visit to Stock Exchange to perform the traditional gong beating to close the market for the day, in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI.

Jonathan loses bid to stop eligibility suit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Jonathan came up before Justice A.R Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, he rejected the plea of the president's legal team and ordered that the suit should be remitted to the Court of Appeal for the interpretation of Sections 135 (2) (a) (b) and 137(1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as it relates to tenure of the president. Two plaintiffs, who claimed to be presidential aspirants – Adejumo Ajagbe and Olatoye Wahab – had approached the court seeking the referral of their suit challenging Jonathan's eligibility on the grounds that the suit raised “a substantial question of law” which the Court of Appeal has to make pronouncement on. But the Attorney Gen-

eral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), who is one of the two defendants in the suit, opposed the application. Through his counsel, Kenechucku Nomeh, from the law firm of Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), the AGF argued that the plaintiffs’ application for referral was a ploy to delay the hearing and the disposal of the main suit. AGF also argued that Okeaya-Inneh was representing the president in an appeal on the same subject matter at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, “hence there is no need for the referral.” In his ruling on the objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the referral without assuming the legal right

to hear the substantive suit, Justice Mohammed held that the court can at the same time hear the issue of jurisdiction alongside the referral application. On the objection as to the locus standi of the applicant, the court held that the issues raised by the plaintiffs are seeking the interpretation of some sections of the constitution. The court added that once a suit borders on the interpretation of any section of the constitution, a party needs no prove of a special interest before the court can assume jurisdiction. He, therefore, ordered that the suit should be referred to the Court of Appeal for the interpretation of the disputed sections of the 1999 Constitution.

Also yesterday, the Federal High Court continued hearing in separate suits filed by Chike Okafor and Max Ozoaka seeking to stop Buhari from contesting the presidential election. The court had last week granted an order of substituted service of court processes on Buhari in the two suits. At the resumed hearing, Buhari through his counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) who led about seven other Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) told the court that he is opposing the suit in its entirety and also the order for substituted service. Though he has not file any process as yesterday, he informed the court that he is still within time. He thereby prayed for a

short adjournment to enable him file his defence to the suit. Also, counsel to APC, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), submitted that with the postponement of the elections as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, there is no urgency in the matter and as such the order for substituted service be set aside. He also seek for a short adjournment to enable him file his process to the suit. Plaintiffs in the two suits did not oppose to the request for adjournment. Justice Adeniyi Ademola, after listening to all the parties adjourned until February 23 for hearing of all pending applications.

sons. Some of us have a conscience,” he said. Asked about the reasons given for poll delay, Dasuki added that he had been consistent throughout, but that some of the issues had not previously been made public. With violence in the North-East raging in December, he said he had asked INEC about holding the vote in the region on a different day to the rest of the country so the security forces would not be overstretched. INEC said “that will be very difficult for them,” and the idea was scrapped, he stated. Dasuki said Nigeria had been unable to defeat Boko Haram as it had been "fighting it alone for years... with all the limitations we have -- equipment, support". "Now we are having support. We are having additional troops. We are having additional equipment coming in. We are better equipped and better placed now to take on that thing than we were before." However, Boko Haram's self-acclaimed leader, Abubakar Shekau, dismissed the regional alliance which Dasuki is depending on to bolster the anti-terror campaign. Shekau, in a 28-minute video posted on YouTube yesterday, said the insurgents would defeat the regional force. According to him, Boko Haram is ready to extend its attacks to cover the entire globe. In the second of the latest videos, Shekau, whom the military had claimed to have killed in two occasions, showed images of the leader of the Islamic State (IS) group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; a development, which raises concerns of Boko Haram's likely affiliation with a violent group, that seeks to foist its ideology on Iraq and Syria. He also posted archival images of a historical battle between British colonial soldiers and fighters of the then Sokoto Caliphate. Speaking in Arabic, Shekau said: "Your alliance will not achieve anything. Amass all your weapons and face us. We welcome you. “We never rose up to fight Africa. We rose up to fight the world. “We are going to fight the world on the principle that whoever doesn’t obey Allah and the prophet should die or become a slave. “You send 7,000 troops? Why don’t you send 70 million? This is small. Only 7,000? By Allah, it is small. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abdulsalami's ex-CSO, Chris Garuba, named in $182m Halliburton scandal Adeola Yusuf

eaked records from HSBC, a huge global bank based in London, has indicted chief of staff to former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, now retired Major General Chris Garuba, and a former board member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the late Andrew Agom, in the $182 million Halliburton bribery scandal. The leaked files, obtained by the French newspaper, Le Monde and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), revealed that Garuba, a former governor of Bauchi State, is now chairman of Obekpa Petroleum, a Nigerian oil company. Agom, a senior government official, was killed in an attack on his motorcade years back. The files also revealed new details about the HSBC’s role as a conduit for the bribes and new details about how indicted British lawyer Jeffrey Tesler’s operated. The indictment of the high-ranking Nigerians

not previously named publicly in connection with the scandal, according to the French newspaper, raised the possibility of renewed questions about Nigeria’s handling of the affair. A network of secretive banks and offshore tax havens was used to funnel $182 million in bribes to Nigerian officials in exchange for $6 billion in engineering and construction work for an international consortium of companies that included the then Halliburton subsidiary. Before his death, Agom was a board member of the PDP, which controlled the government when the scandal unfolded. In 2010, Nigeria indicted former United States VicePresident Dick Cheney, who was CEO of Halliburton before he was elected, only to later clear him when Halliburton worked out a $35 million settlement. Agom was, according to the Le Monde, the beneficial owner of an HSBC account linked to a Gibraltar-based company, Hemisphere Services Limited, which held a maximum amount of $797,377 at one point between 2006 and

2007. Africa Confidential magazine previously named a company, Hemisphere Services (Nigeria), as a “recipient of largesse” from Tesler after viewing documents disclosed to the magazine during a French corruption investigation. Agom’s account was opened in 1991, on the same day that an account was opened in the name of former Nigerian Air Force Chief, Abdullahi Dominic Bello. A Nigerian government investigator has previously described Swiss accounts held by Bello as a conduit for “slush funds”. The investigator did not specifically mention HSBC. The HSBC files identified Garuba and his wife, Rita, as HSBC clients; their names are listed along with Tesler’s in an account named Bridlington Enterprises Limited, for which Tesler acted as an attorney. "The files show that the account was opened the year before Tesler sent his first bribe payment to Switzerland, although the files do not show that Tesler transferred money into the Bridlington account, which held as much as $367,547 in 2006 or 2007,"

the newspaper reported. Chris and Rita Garuba did not respond to ICIJ’s requests for comment. In Nigeria, anti-corruption campaigners continue to call on authorities to identify and prosecute Nigerian citizens involved in the scandal. While never publicly released, a 2010 Nigerian government document reportedly included three Nigerian presidents, a vice-president, a minister, intelligence chiefs and corporate titans in a list of bribery beneficiaries. The report did not name Garuba or Agom. “In terms of the personalities and the amount of money involved it is probably the biggest scandal in Nigeria’s history,” Dauda Garuba, Nigeria coordinator at the Natural Resource Governance Institute, said in an interview with ICIJ. Garuba has no connection to the Garuba family in HSBC’s files. “Although we’ve seen the indictment and conviction of foreign companies and their top executives in Europe and America, Nigeria’s own government has not taken action in the very country in which the corruption took place,” Ga-

ruba said. Tesler was sentenced to 21 months in prison and he forfeited $149 million from his Swiss accounts to the US government for serving as the go-between for bribes paid to secure contracts for KBR, the former Halliburton subsidiary, and the other consortium members, the Japanese firm JGC Corporation, Paris-based Technip, as well as Italy’s ENI S.p.A. and its Dutch subsidiary Snamprogetti Netherlands B.V. The Halliburton Bribery Scandal dates to 1994 when the Nigerian government launched ambitious plans to build the Bonny Island Natural Liquefied Gas Project. Tesler began planning the bribe payments in 1994 and transferred small amounts of money through Switzerland in July 1996. But by 2003, his role had escalated. In one brazen episode in Abuja, Tesler directed the drop-off of a travel bag stuffed with $1million in $100 bills in the foyer of a luxury hotel where the pernight cost of a suite can exceed the nation’s average annual income of $3,000. It was one of at least 20

money transfers that Tesler made or directed. The cash was destined for PDP via the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), according to an official Nigerian report. The files obtained by Le Monde and ICIJ show that nine people, including members of the Tesler family and Nigerian nationals, held a variety of roles with accounts at HSBC Private Bank (Suisse) between 1990 and 2003 — months before the completion of the gas plant. Nine of the 12 accounts instructed HSBC to keep all correspondence under lock and key in a bank safe. In response to ICIJ’s questions, an HSBC spokesman said the bank does not comment on specific clients. Bank staff also responded to a request from Agom’s widow to unfreeze her husband’s account, whose post was sent to Tesler’s North London law firm and which was marked as subject to criminal investigations into Tesler. The files do not indicate whether or not the account was ultimately unfrozen. Tesler did not respond to ICIJ’s requests for comment.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

33o C 27oC Thunder Storms

ABUJA

39oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

27o C 19oC Thunder Storms

KANO

38oC

15oC

Sunny

ENUGU

38oC

25oC

Partially Cloudy

IBADAN

L-R: Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari and President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Abdulwahed Omar, at NLC delegates' conference in Abuja…yesterday. 36oC

24oC

Partially Cloudy

CALABAR

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 31o C 24oC Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

Dasuki: We'll flush out Boko Haram in six weeks

38oC 16oC Mostly Sunny

38oC

25oC

Partially Cloudy

We can seize them one-byone. We can seize them one-by-one." Shekau also directly threatened Chad’s President Idriss Deby, whose forces have attacked Boko Haram in the northeast Nigerian towns of Gamboru and Malam Fatori in recent days. Efforts to get official re-

actions from the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) failed, as its spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade, neither picked calls put across to him, nor did he reply a text message. Shekau's video came just as ssuspected Boko Haram fighters launched attacks on three communities in Cameroon, abducting more than 30 people,

including those aboard a packed bus. The assaults by the terror group came as other militants invaded a town in the neighboring Niger for the third time in recent days, underscoring the growing regional havoc by Boko Haram. The militants have stepped up their attacks on neighboring countries

as Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin pledge to send troops to help Nigeria squash the extremist group that has killed more than 10,000 people over the past year. In northern Cameroon, the fighters seized a bus with 20 people aboard late Sunday in Koza and then drove it back toward the Nigerian border, some 18

kilometres away, resident Bouba Kaina told The Associated Press by telephone. Early yesterday, another group of fighters attacked the Cameroonian town of Kolofata, looting food and livestock. The town was recently retaken by Chadian troops who have been helping the Cameroonian military fight Boko Haram.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Nigeria: Sitting on keg of gunpowder CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Jonathan who was in home state, Bayelsa, to vote was embarrassed with the development. Like he did in 2011, Jega has just exhibited his flippancy for the sanctity of electoral timetable, rolled out by INEC. Until Saturday when he finally made a U-turn on his readiness to hold the elections in February as scheduled, he had assured all that he was ready for the polls. However, Jega found a good alibi in the military for the poll shift. While announcing the vote delay, he had cited a letter by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) that the military would not be able to provide the personnel to provide security for electoral officials and materials on the scheduled day because they would be embarking on an intense antiterror campaign in the Northeastern corridor, where Boko Haram had carved out a mini caliphate from a swathe of territories it had seized in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. But to many, Jega's postponement announcement was the voice of Jacob but had the hand of Esau. A few weeks to the decision, the NSA, Col. Dasuki Sambo (rtd), had given an indication of a possible change in the schedule for the 2015 general elections when he told a cross-section of British politicians and policy makers at Chatham House, London in January that the elections should be postponed because INEC was unable to deliver to voters their Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs). Dasuki's statement drew a slew of criticisms and Jega was on record as dismissing his fear, saying that INEC was ready to uphold the sanctity of the election timetable. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) which suspected Dasuki's statement to be a Freudian slip reflecting the mindset of the Peoples Democratic Party-led government, that has been accused of plotting to shift elections for self gain. Amid the controversy, Jonathan convened a meeting of the Council of State to assess INEC preparations for the elections and to decide whether or not the commission should go ahead as planned. In his presentation

titled “Preparations for the 2015 General Elections: Progress Report’ to the Council of State, Jega gave an indication that all was well and the commission was ready to go ahead with the elections. But 48 hours after, Jega, after a series of consultations with critical stakeholders, announced to the world that the February 14 presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on March 28 while the governorship and state legislative elections have been rescheduled for April 11. Jega cited security reasons for the poll shift for another six weeks. The INEC chair stated that on the eve of the Council of State meeting, the NSA office wrote a letter to the commission, drawing attention to the security challenges in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe occasioned by Boko Haram insurgency. According to him, the letter stated that security could not be guaranteed during the proposed period in February for the general elections. Jega added that “this advisory was reinforced at the Council of State meeting on Thursday where the NSA and all the armed services and intelligence chiefs unanimously reiterated that the safety and security of our operations cannot be guaranteed, and that the security services needed at least six weeks within which to conclude a major military operation against the insurgency in the North-East.” However, despite his explanation, Jega cannot be exculpated from blame. One, he admitted before the council that the NSA had raised security issues with him. When he knows that he is not in control of security, what stopped him from opening up at the council meeting that he cannot go ahead with the elections? Why must he keep the nation guessing until a week to the elections? One of the critical steps in the election management process in the country is the setting up of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) since 2010. The membership of ICCES covers all the security agencies, para-military and others. Jega is the chairman of ICCES. Director, Planning and Strategy, Office of

the NSA, Ambassador C.L Laseinde, stated that “the general format of the ICCES meetings is to review past elections, towards lessons learnt, discussion of forthcoming elections, to prepare a general plan for all the security challenges anticipated at such election “All security issues are deliberated upon and strategies for combating security challenges are formulated towards having a violence-free election. Security agencies would before each election, provide to the ICCES a security assessment, location of hot spots, as well as steps taken to deal with identified hot spots.” So, what is the basis of ICCES if there was no adequate and up-todate information on the security situation in the country that may hinder the successful conduct of polls? Does Jega think that he can conduct elections without the involvement of the secu-

rity agencies? So, what has his leadership been discussing in the ICCES? Jega and his INEC owe Nigeria better explanation. He must have admit his failure and apologise to the nation, saying “Fellow Nigerians, I’m sorry. We can’t go ahead with these elections because we are not prepared.” The eventual conduct of the elections will throw up a lot of issues. The postponement has dented the credibility of the electoral process. Whichever way the elections go, there will be dispute over its outcome. Already, the opposition APC believes the postponement was to confer an advantage on the PDP. So, when the elections are finally held and if PDP wins, the APC will surely kick against the results. And if APC wins, the PDP, accusing INEC of compromise, may also reject the results. The PDP and its sympathisers have ac-

cused INEC of working for the opposition, especially in the distribution of PVCs, thus setting the stage for disputatious elections. INEC performance in the distribution of the PVCs has not been encouraging. The electoral body has only succeeded in giving the PVCs to 66.58 per cent of the total number of registered voters. How could an electoral body go into an election with 33.42 per cent of the eligible voters disenfranchised? This is the level of preparedness Jega was boasting about. Another worry is the ability of the military to achieve its set target of routing Boko Haram within the six-week deadline. The doubt is anchored on the fact that nobody is sure of the newfound magic wand the military will wave to make the insurgency that it has not been able to defeat in the last five years in just six weeks. But if the military

fails to rout Boko Haram within six weeks, what happens to the electoral process? There are two options here. One, the nation goes ahead with the polls and damn the consequences. The other option is to seek another extension which will alter the transition programme, which the APC and its presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, have kicked against. Even INEC has stated that it won’t be part of the arrangement. Jonathan has also given assurances that the May 29 handover date remains sacrosanct. The reality, today, is that Nigeria is on a delicate balance. It’s like a nation sitting on a keg of gun powder. The effective management of the elections is crucial to the survival of Nigeria. One hopes that the prediction of Nigeria’s break-up won’t take root in the conduct of the 2015 general elections.

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), receiving the report of 2014 Christian Pilgrimage to Holy land from the leader of the Federal Government delegation and President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Nigeria will not disintegrate, says US T he United States Consul General in Lagos has said that Nigeria will not split in spite of her current sociopolitical problems. Speaking in Lagos at a press conference on the premiere of the movie, Selma, the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James F. Entwistle, dismissed the widely rumoured insinuations that the American government had predicted that Nigeria would split anytime

from year 2015. In his remark, Entwistle said Nigeria was not different from all other countries in the world with various degrees of challenges, but that would not make the country split. He noted that his country, the United States has had her fair share of political challenges and that did not make her split. The ambassador said Nigeria is a strong country that has not shown

any sign of disintegration. He queried why people predict doom for the country rather than work towards its strength. ‘Do you want Nigeria to break up?’ he asked. Earlier, founder, House on The Rock church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, admonished Nigerians to work towards peace and unity of the country. In his press statement delivered at the event, Pastor Adefarasin said: “Knowing that peace is

not the absence of tension but the presence of justice, we must ensure that peace, justice and equity are enshrined in Nigeria.’’ He warned that interest of Nigeria cannot be determined along ethnic or religious lines, noting that ‘the tragic events in parts of this country are a harsh reminder that dialogue, peace and religious tolerance are crucial to our continued existence’’.

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tuesday, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Rivers PDP vows to recover assets Amaechi sold Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

L-R: Representative of the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mrs. Gloria Abumere; Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri; Director General, National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mrs. Dayo Keshi; Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments; Alhaji Yusuf Aballah and President General, Market Men and Women Association, Mrs. Felicia Sanni, at the NOA launch of 'Do The Right Thing' in Abuja …yesterday

Lawyers seek to unseat Tambuwal leave

Some lawyers are not happy with Speaker Tambuwal Akeem Nafiu

wo legal practitioners yesterday asked Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos to restrain Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from continuing to parade himself as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The lawyers - Anthony Nwajiugo and Okechukwu Ebirim, in the suit, argued that having defected from the party upon which he was elected into the House, Tambuwal "cannot remain and has, by his action, lost the competence to remain the Speaker." They specifically argued that the House of Representatives as presently constituted under Tambuwal's leadership,

could not embark on any legislative business including the adjournment of plenary sessions or the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan. At yesterday’s proceedings, Justice Buba directed the applicants to address him on why the matter was filed in Lagos and not Abuja, being the place of business of the sole defendant in the suit, the House of Representatives. Ebirim, who addressed the court, said the matter was constitutional and could as well be filed in the Lagos division of the court. He further argued that the House of Representatives also conduct part of its business in Lagos at its liaison office, saying the court was a proper venue for the matter to be filed. However, in a brief ruling, Justice Buba transferred the matter to the Abuja division of the court and further directed the applicants to approach the Chief

Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for further directive on when the matter would come up in Abuja. In the suit, the applicants specifically formulated two questions for determination and they are: "Whether by the combined effect of Sections 68 (1) (g) and 50 (2) (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Hon. Aminu Tambuwal of Kebbe/ Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State is competent to remain the presiding officer and speaker of House of Representatives? "Whether by the clear combined effect of the provision of Section 50 (1) (b) and Section 50 (2) (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) the House of Representatives is properly constituted with a competent and constitutional speaker as to enable it proceed on its regular legislative business?" In an affidavit in support of the suit deposed to by the first applicant (Nwajiugo), the deponent

averred that by virtue of his citizenship and training as a lawyer, he was aware that Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution provided that a member of Senate or House of Representatives shall vacate his seat upon defection from the party that sponsored him or her before the expiration of his or her tenure. He added that the suit was filed basically to challenge the propriety of Tambuwal presiding over the House business, especially the plans to impeach Jonathan. It would be recalled that Tambuwal had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) over what he termed internal crisis within the PDP in his home state of Sokoto. In the wake of the defection, it was also widely reported that about 215 members of the House of Representatives and 63 Senators had signed to commence impeachment proceedings against Jonathan.

Poll shift: ECOWAS charges military to tackle insecurity Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on Nigerian military to remain committed towards restoring normalcy in the troubled North-East. While noting the concerns and disappointment of Nigerians and all other stakeholders occasioned by the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by six weeks, ECOWAS called on all political actors to respect the deci-

sion by the electoral commission and accept it in good faith. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, ECOWAS urged INEC to take advantage of the postponement to complete all pre-election arrangements, particularly the distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) in order to ensure free and credible elections. While emphasizing its continued support for the electioneering process in Nigeria, the commission stressed the need for the respect of the Constitution. The regional body also cautioned all political

stakeholders to refrain from any utterances and speeches that may incite their supporters or opponents to violence. ECOWAS called on all Nigerians "at this time to abide by the democratic process and uphold the rule of law.” This was as the British government also expressed concerns over the postponement of the elections. In a statement issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the British High Commission in Nigeria, the British Government said: "The decision by the Nigerian electoral commission to postpone the

presidential elections is a cause for concern." According to the statement issued by the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, the British Government further said: "The Nigerian people have the right to credible, peaceful and transparent elections." While urging Nigerians to remain calm, Hammond said there should be no further delay in delivering democracy. "While we support Nigeria in its struggle against terrorism, the security situation should not be used as a reason to deny the Nigerian people from exercising their democratic rights."

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State chapter, has vowed to do everything legally possible to recover state’s assets sold by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that did not pass through due process if the party eventually wins the governorship election. The Director-General of the Rivers PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation, Ambassador Desmond Akawo, who stated this at a rally organised by the New Rivers Women Team, in Port Harcourt, yesterday, lamented that some assets had been sold to the state’s detriment. The rally was aimed at getting the support of the

various women groups, organisations, female professionals and market women in the state for the March 28 and April 11 elections. Akawo said that the party, through its governorship candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike and his deputy, Dr (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, had received the party’s nod to rescue the state and restore its lost honour as the "Treasure Base of the Nation". Akawo said: "Wike is on a mission to rescue Rivers State, supported by his able running mate, a woman of substance and proven integrity, who will work with him to rescue the state. "Wike and Banigo will recover the state from Pharaoh. They will recover the state from Amaechi."

Jonathan receives 2014 Christian Pilgrims Report Anule Emmanuel

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday received a report from the Federal Government’s delegation to the 2014 Christian pilgrimage to Israel. The report indicates an increase of 45 per cent in self sponsorship in the exercise. Jonathan, after receiving the report, dissolved the 2014 Federal Government delegation to Israel and Rome, stating that it will be reconstituted in due course. He said that he was pleased that there were no issues during the exercise, stating that it was an easy task to handle such a

number of people. Jonathan noted that some states were withdrawing from the sponsorship of pilgrims because of the economic implications. He added that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim, will look into the recommendations of the delegation and act accordingly. Highlighting some of the recommendations made in the report which was presented to the President, the leader of the delegation, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said most of the Pilgrims from the North were either sponsored by individuals or themselves.

Court strikes out suit challenging Anambra PDP list Tunde Oyesina Abuja

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday struck out the suit seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from accepting the list of the Peoples Democratic Party of candidates for Anambra North, Central an South Senatorial Districts in the forth coming general elections. Former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, Uche Ekwunife and Senator Andy Uba had instituted a suit challenging the list. It would be recalled that INEC had, following a court order published the names of a former Minister of Transport,

John Emeka, Senator Annie Okonkwo and Chief Chris Uba as the candidates of the party for the three senatorial seats in the state. However, Oduah, Ekwunife and Uba, not satisfied, had through their Counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon, SAN on December 30, 2014 approached the court, asking it to restrain INEC from receiving or acting or further acting upon any lists of candidates or persons rising from the primary elections for the three senatorial districts in Anambra State conducted on December 7,2014 by the National Leadership of the PDP or any person whatsoever, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

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Jonathan to Nigerians: Don't shed blood for my re-election Yekeen Nurudeen

l We're facing hard times, says Buhari

conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, reiterated his earlier admonition that his re-election presidential does not worth shedding the blood of any Nigerian. The president, who declared the conference open, reaffirmed his commitment to end the Boko Haram insurgency. He also said the 2015 general elections would be better than the 2011

Abuja

resident Goodluck Jo n a than yesterday warned his supporters against resorting to violence to ensure his re-election in next month's presidential election. The president, represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, at the national delegate

ones. "Let me make it clear to everybody that my political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. I do not want any Nigerian to die for my sake. I want to assure all Nigerians that the Boko Haram insurgency will soon be a thing of the past in this country," Jonathan stated. Also at the occasion, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential

candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, said Nigerians were facing harsh time due to the effects of the economic policy of the Jonathan administration. He said the devaluation of the naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had caused more hardship for the masses. He cautioned that the situation may lead to rise in the prices of goods, including fuel, bread and

L-R: Senator Bukola Saraki; Governor Musa Kwakwanso (behind), All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi during the party's reaction to the postponement of elections and other national issues in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

food stuff. According to him, Nigeria is in a crisis and needs a group of people who knows what to do about the problems to save it. Speaking on insecurity in the country, Buhari said the nation's security agencies had become helpless despite huge budgetary allocation to the security, which he put at over $32.88billion. "As most of you know, I am not a novice when it comes to participating in the struggle to deliver Nigeria from the power of darkness. Many times, my efforts have earned me the wrath and vengeance of crooks and thieves. What I want to assure everyone in this room and across the length and breadth of this vast country is that I will do my best for you. "Once again, Nigeria is in crisis. Our country is facing grievous challenges in numerous sectors. In the light of recent events, the three most pertinent

I never said Ekiti election was rigged — Adesiyan Wale Elegbede

Moles can wreck PDP, if not checked, warns Nnamani M Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, yesterday warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State and the country of the presence of many moles working to bring down the party when the rescheduled elections hold in March and April. Also in Enugu, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, called on Nigerians to accept the shift of the date of the general elections with understanding and maintained that decision would shore up the integ-

rity of the country rather than smearing its image as is being sold in some quarters. Also yesterday, fiery Enugu Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka fired back at and warned the vocal Anglican Archbishop of Enugu, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, for accusing him (Mbaka) of being bribed by an opposition party to attack Jonathan. Speaking at the PDP campaign rally at his Enugu South Local council area within Enugu metropolis, Nnamani, who spoke just after the former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, addressed the rally,

said: “It would seem to you all here that the greatest opponents are those who left the PDP and are in other parties, but our worst enemies are those who are in PDP but are working for other parties. “So, we should be very careful and watch our people who are neither here nor there, having one leg here and the other in another party and it is a reason you should assume that all was well and that all our candidates are already. Let there be celebration before the victories come. “At night, such people work for the other parties and organize and finance all manners of anti-party activities but in day-time,

they are in our party and we have so many people moving round and deceiving our people that they are in agreement with our governorship candidate but I warn you not to listen to them”, he cautioned. On his part, Ekweremadu, who spoke during a civic reception organized for him by the people of Ngwo Community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, posited that there was the need for Nigeria to conduct elections in line with the best international practices, saying that if the postponement would guarantee the required standard it should be embraced by all.

Diamond Bank, Odogwu know fate over N26.2bn debt, March 18 Akeem Nafiu

ustice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos will on March 18 hear a suit filed by Diamond Bank Plc against a businessman, Sunny Odogwu and his companies over alleged non-payment of N26.229 billion debt. Hearing on the matter before the court was yesterday stalled, owing to

the preliminary objection filed by the defendants. On resumption of proceedings, Diamond Bank's lawyer, Oluwakemi Balogun (SAN) had told the court that the preliminary objection of the defendants was served on his office around 5pm on Friday. He then requested for an adjournment to allow him respond to the objections.

The matter was eventually adjourned till the March 18 for hearing. It will be recalled that the judge had earlier ordered 19 commercial banks in Nigeria not to allow Odogwu and his companies – Robert Dyson & Diet Limited and SIO Properties Limited to withdraw funds from their accounts. The order was sequel

to an order of Mareva injunction sought by Diamond Bank for alleged refusal of Odogwu and his companies to offset the loan of N26,229,943,035.22, they obtained from the bank. The Mareva injunction was granted after the bank’s lawyer, Oluwakemi Balogun(SAN) argued an ex-parte application before the court.

at this time are security, the state of the economy and corruption forming a terrible troika that must be tackled all at once before we can achieve any meaningful progress," he added. In his speech, Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, said service chiefs owed Nigerians an explanation for turning around to say they were not ready to provide security for the elections, when just two weeks ago, they had said they were ready. He said it was the job of the security chiefs to provide adequate security in the country as against dictating to the country. "NLC must comment authoritatively when there are warning signals, when service chiefs want to dictate to us, it is their job to secure the country," he added. Oshiomhole warned against any further postponement of the elections, saying the new dates of March 28 and April 11 elections remain sacrosanct.

inister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan, has refuted reports that he admitted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) colluded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the June 21, 2014 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State to favour Governor Ayodele Fayose against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi. The minister, while reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Wale Akinola, to the

media reports which quoted that he admitted the Ekiti election was rigged through the aid of the security personnel, said the reports were not only misleading and unfounded, but a calculated attempt to tarnish his image. He said: "My attention has been drawn to the media reports, which purportedly claimed that I admitted that the Ekiti election was rigged in favour of Governor Ayodele Fayose. The media reports were untrue and calculated attempt to malign my integrity and portray me in bad light.

'BoI committed to funding cassava bread' Biyi Adegoroye

he Bank of Industry Limited in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has given support to about 174 members of the Association of Master Bakers of Nigeria who have indicated interest in the Cassava Bread Fund Initiative. The scheme involves the provision of fund for the acquisition of baking equipment to enable the bakers achieve principally the inclusion of about 20

per cent cassava flour into wheat flour for baking of cassava bread, as well as other confectionary as part of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration. To this end, the sum of N2.2 billion was earmarked for this category of beneficiaries in form of grants and loans. The members were grouped in two batches. The sum of N989 million has been disbursed to the first batch of 100 beneficiaries which represents 92 per cent of the approved sum of N1.074 billion.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Herdsmen rape mother of three to death CRUELTY Armed men suspected to be of Fulani extraction invade a farm, rape and murder a mother of three

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

ulani herdsmen have allegedly raped and hacked to death a middle-aged woman, identified as Mrs Ayesi Balogun, at Asa in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State. The incident occurred on Saturday when the mother of three was about entering her farm. An indigenous group, Ketu Advancement Front (KAF), has raised the alarm over the resurgence of killing by suspected herdsmen in the area. The group, in a statement signed by its CoordinatorGeneral, Kunle Abiose, and Secretary, Joseph Bankole, disclosed that Balogun’s death brought to 25 the number of “innocent and poor people” who had been sent to their early graves by marauders in the local government. It also decried the failure of the state government to address the deteriorating security situation in the area. The group said: “For the umpteenth time, we members of Ketu Advancement Front (KAF) want to register our strongest protest with the government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun over her callous abdication of her constitutional responsibility of ensuring the security of lives of Ketu people from wanton killing by marauding herdsmen. “We are sad to announce that Mrs Ayesi Balogun, a poor mother of three, was raped and hacked to death on her farm in Asa, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State over the weekend by Fulani herdsmen. On sighting her entering the farm, the

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

killer-herdsmen, who had taken over her farm, pounced on her; probably gang raped her before hacking her to death. “Mrs Balogun’s case brought to over 25, the number of our innocent and poor people who had been sent to their early graves in seriously agonising and dehumanising circumstances not to talk of several others who had been maimed.” The group said the matter had been reported at the Oja Odan Police Station, urging the state government to take action on it. When contacted yesterday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident. Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, however, said the killing might have been a reprisal because an “unidentified corpse” of Fulani was discovered in the area a day earlier. He said that the police had already summoned the leadership of the two warring communities in the area to a peace meeting today in Abeokuta. But KAF accused the state government of not doing enough to protect the lives and property of the people of the area. It said: “Our displeasure is premised on the fact that despite our protest, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with

Juliana Francis

hree men, Daniels Nat, Dennis Edimoh and Peter Oko Amadi have all pleaded not guilty to charges of forgery and fraud. The trio made the plea yesterday after they were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Mahmud Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on a four-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery and conspiracy. According to the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the accused allegedly forged Federal Government Certificate of Occupancy to plot No 42, Block XIII, Federal Government Layout, Gwarimpa District, Abuja, which was duly allotted to one Mr Adekoya Daniel Oladepo. He said: “The trio used the forged certificate as collateral to solicit investment from Ambifel Services Limited, whom they swindled to the tune of N7 million having promised 30

File picture of an armed herdsman

government and the herdsmen in 2014, the government which has the overall duty of security and peace of our people has turned deaf ears and blind eyes to our people’s plight. “Not even our strong and repeated demands for the implementation of the MoU as an instrument of peace endorsed by all parties had moved government a bit to perform its constitutional duty. “It may interest the whole world to know that the herdsmen’s practice is to invade our

land at the dawn of every dry season destroying farmlands, other property and killing the hapless peasants. “Notwithstanding the fact that our people had been forced to abandon their homes and farmsteads since October 2014 to avert breakdown of peace while waiting on government to act, the herdsmen had continued their onslaught on our people. “What the government’s inaction has foisted on us are souls of innocent people

crying for vengeance in their graves, destiny of children orphaned by Fulani herdsmen’s incessant killings and future of hordes of internally displaced people calling for change. “While we will not take the law into our hands, what we want to assure the government of the day is that the day of reckoning has come and our people will definitely take the desired action against a government that places no value on their lives.”

EFCC arraigns three for forgery, fraud

Amadi

Edimoh

Nat

per cent return on investment after a maturity period of 60 days. Since the release of the fund, they went underground.” Count two of the charge reads: “That Daniels Nat, Dennis Edimoh and Peter Oko Amadi sometime in September, 2012 within the judicial division of the High Court of the FCT being entrusted with the sum of N7,000,000 only, dishonestly converted same to your own use and thereby committed breach of trust in respect of the said amount, an offence punishable under Section 312 of the Penal

Code LFN (Abuja) 1990”. The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them. In view of the plea, the prosecuting counsel, Faruk Abdallah, applied for a date to enable the prosecution to open its case. Counsel to the first accused, N.U Akpan, through an oral application, pleaded for bail of his client (Daniels Nat), stating that bail was a constitutional right. Counsel to the second accused, M. Igwe, aligned himself with the position of the first accused counsel in praying for the

bail of his client. He also told the court that the accused had been on administrative bail and been appearing before EFCC anytime the need arose. While relying on sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Igwe prayed the court to consider his client for bail saying, “the offence is bailable.” Counsel to the third accused, L. O. Ilechukwu, also aligned herself with the prayers of the other counsel, stating that the accused had not breached any term granted him by EFCC.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2015

200 students escape death Gang leader tortures victim to death as fire guts Army school Dominic Adewole ASABA

ore than 200 students escaped death when fire gutted the Command Secondary School, Mbiri, near Umunede town in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State. The fire, it was gathered, razed the boys’ hostel, built recently with allocations from the Education Trust Fund (ETF). The hostel houses over 200 students. The inferno, which occurred

on Sunday night, destroyed the students’ belongings such as books, uniforms, clothes, vital documents, shoes, mattresses, beverage, money, etc. The cause of the fire, which started about 9.30pm, could not be ascertained at press time. Spirited efforts by the students and their house-masters to put out the fire were fruitless. The students later started calling their parents on the phone to inform them of the development.

The fire has paralysed academic activities in the school and caused squatting congestion in other hostels. The commandant of the school could not be reached for comment. But a senior member of the management staff, who preferred anonymity, said the situation would have been terrible if the students were asleep. He said the management had started reaching out to the students’ parents on possible ways of replacing their lost items.

File picture of the scene of a burning hostel

Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

he police in Enugu State have arrested a suspected leader of a notorious gang terrorising several communities in the state. The suspect, identified as Mr Goddey Eko aka Warrior, was apprehended by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at Uyi-Ette in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of the state. Eko allegedly tortured to death one Gabriel Apula. The suspect reportedly tied Apula, said to be his cousin, with rope and roasted his legs. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said the suspect and members of his gang, now at large, had been involved in nefarious activities, including the murder of Apula at Ette community. He said: “The deceased was said to have had his two legs roasted after he was tied him with rope.” According to him, the gang also set ablaze some houses at Ette community, among other nefarious activities. He said: “Eko was arrested recently by the operatives following report against him anchored on murder, armed robbery and arson, among others. “When the operatives stormed his hideout at Ette in the early

Why we accused police of murder –Activist Shola Adefuwa

amily members and friends of one Peter Eyitayo who was killed at the Agege area of Lagos State by gunmen have explained why they blamed the police for his death. The leader of ‘Activists for Good Governance,’ a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), alleged that Eyitayo was killed by a police bullet. Eyitayo and one Lanre Olujimi were shot on January 22, by gunmen. While Eyitayo died, Olujimi survived. There were two versions of how the men were shot. One version claimed that the two men were fighting over pasting of political posters and were supported by their friends before police stormed the scene.

The second version said that they were fighting over collection of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC), assisted by other angry electorate before the police arrived the scene. But family and friends said they wanted to know the person who killed Eyitayo. Ihekaire is pursuing the quest for the truth and justice. He said: “The incident occurred on January 22. I was not in town when the incident happened, but I called and interviewed those who witnessed it after I returned. I called the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate of Orile-Agege. I was told that Eyitayo was shot by thugs attached to Honourable Niyi Raheem of People Democratic Party (PDP). He is contesting for the Agege Federal Constituency. “I called Raheem to hear

his own side of the story. He knows that I’m a stakeholder in the community. When I called him about Eyitayo and Olujimi, he said it was the police that shot them. “He said that policemen who came to safeguard his premises from been set on fire shot the men. I also made enquiries from people and they said the men were shot from rooftop of Raheem’s hotel, along the road where the incident happened. I did not stop there. I called the police station in Agege. The police said that they received a distress call and when they got there, they saw a corpse on the ground.” According to him, the community has already petitioned the Human Rights Commission, asking it to investigate the circumstances surrounding Eyitayo’s and

Abuja

here was a mild drama at the Chief Magistrates Court, Karu, Federal Capital Territory, when a man sentenced to two years imprisonment without option of fine tried to escape through the ceiling of the court’s

cell. The convict, James Anade, who was kept in the court’s cell after his sentence for onward transfer to Keffi Federal Prison, suddenly disappeared from the cell. The prosecutor and other court staff, who were surprised by the development, since the entrance to the cell

was still locked, immediately commenced a search for the convict. A close scrutiny of the interior of the cell revealed a hole made on the ceiling of the cell by the convict. A further search on the ceiling discovered that the convict had also broken the ceiling of the judge’s office in an attempt to escape.

hours of the fateful day of his arrest, a locally-made single short gun and a locally-made single barrelled-rifle with two cartridges were recovered from while most of his gang members escaped. “However, a manhunt for the fleeing gang members is onging,” Amaraizu said. The PPRO said in a statement yesterday that Eko claimed he hails from Uyi-Ette in Olamobara Local Government Area of Kogi State. Ette community is in Enugu State while a section of the town engulfed in crisis is said to be in Kogi State. However, the suspect reportedly told the police that the issue leading to his arrest was not fresh. But he admitted that he was once incarcerated for five years and three months over an allegation of armed robbery but was later discharged and acquitted.

Anambra trade centre to gulp N100bn Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

The late Eyitayo

to unveil his killers. The activist said they would not be satisfied with police investigating the matter because they might be culpable. “The police may not do the right thing, which is why we set up a stronger investigating committee to reveal the circumstances that led to Eyitayo’s death.”

Drama in court as convict attempts to escape Caleb Onwe

IG, Suleiman Abba

Luck, however, ran out on Anade when he was discovered in one of the toilets where he was hiding and probably planning on his next move. He was later rearrested while a fresh charge of mischief was filed against him. Anade was tried, convicted and sentenced for breach of trust by servant.

nambra State Government and Bukham Group yesterday signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to develop 20,000 units of shops at the Anambra International Trade Centre, Oba. The project is expected to gulp N100 billion. According to the agreement, Bukham Group will build 20,000 shops, which include 2,000 warehouses and hotels as well as a primary school, a cinema, police post, health centre, fire station. The project is expected to be completed in five years. After the signing at the centre in Oba near Onitsha, Governor Willie Obiano, who was represented by the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Commerce, Mr Ifeatu Onejeme, said that the government would build access roads leading to the centre from the Onitsha-Owerri Road and within Oba community. Obiano noted that the centre would attract social infrastructure, boost the economy and continue to generate employment opportunities for Oba community and its environs. He said: “Trade and commence development is one of the core pillars of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led administration and what we have done today speaks volume of the strong desire to make Anambra State the major commercial hub in Africa.

News

Kayode Olanrewaju and Adeolu Adeola Osogbo

sun State Gover nor, Rauf Aregbesola, has named a fiveman visitation panel to investigate the crisis at the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), which led to the suspension of the three principal officers of the institution. The Governing Council of the institution, led by its Pro-Chancellor/ Chairman of Council, Prof. Gabriel Olawoyin, had last week announced the suspension of the

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Osun varsity crisis: Aregbesola names five-man probe panel Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Okesina, along two other principal officers, the Registrar and Bursar, alleging that they defrauded the university of several millions of naira and ordered them to appear before an investigative panel that would probe their alleged misconduct. However, the Council’s action has since pitched the management

135,732

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Barbados in 2004. Source: Itu.int

of the university against the governing council, which is challenging the action of the Council Chair, it described as unconstitutional and illegal. The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, in a statement listed members of the panel to include Prof. Adebiyi Gregory Daramola, ViceChancellor of the Feder-

2,128.6m

The total population of Asia region in 1960. Source: Un.org

al University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), who will serve as Chairman. Other members of the panel are Prof. Jacob Laoye Ladipo; Prof. Omotoye Olorode of the Department of Plant Science & Applied Biology at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State; Mr. Babatunde Adebayo and Mrs. O. Kolawole, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of In-

€65m

The estimated transfer cost of Raheem Sterling of Liverpool in 2015. Source: Finance.yahoo.com

novation Science &Technology as the Secretary. Part of the terms of reference of the panel, which has four weeks to submit its report and recommendations; include investigation of the basis of the simmering crisis in the university, as well as the miss-understanding between the management and council with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

131,856

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Bahamas in 2003. Source: Itu.int

L-R: Pastor, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Attah Ogbole; Chief Executive Officer, Learning Management Systems, Dr. Abiola Allen and author, Isioma Okonkwo, at the launch of a book entitled: ‘21st Century Business Principle and Ideas for Start-Ups and Existing Business,’ in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Agbaje lauds polls’ postponement Tai Anyanwu

he Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Lagos, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over the postponement of the general election. He made the commendation yesterday, at the closing of a 2-day International Crusade of the The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement, held at its Park Estate Headquarters at Ijesha, Lagos State. Agbaje, who was accompanied by his campaign team stated that several Nigerians would have been disenfranchised if INEC, had gone ahead to conduct the election on the old time-table. He explained that Nigeria was a large country that cannot afford to get the electioneering process wrong. “If we are not ready for elections, then the best thing to do was to postpone it, as long as we were not contravening the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Also, it is obvious to many of us that there were things that still needed to be put in place. “Don’t forget that the elections were to be held next Saturday February 14, yet many of the electorate were still complaining that they have not got their Permanent Voters’ Cards, which is important,” he added.

Osun holds referendum Court to hear sacked Ekiti speaker’s suit March 10 on creation of new LGAs Akeem Nafiu Adeolu Adeyemo J T OSOGBO

he governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday convened a referendum on Local Government creation in the state with the affirmation that his administration would do everything possible under the constitution of Nigeria to create Local Governments that would meet all required standards. The governor stated this after casting his vote at the Ifofin Ward 8 Unit 1 in Ilesa at the on-going referendum on the creation of new local governments in the state by the Osun Independent Electoral Commission. He argued that the basis for the exercise was the genuine desire and consent of the people of Osun. According to him” the state government is determined to ensure that all

legal, technical and constitutional procedures are followed to the letter in the council creation processes hence the referendum in all wards of the state”. “As it is in democracy, what we are trying to do is to feel the pulse of the people to know what their preferences are. I am sure the state will not have any problem as being envisaged by some people because we will do everything possible to meet the constitutional requirement”. “We are working round the clock as you can see that voting is taking place all over the state to know the feeling of our people on the creation of additional local governments. “We will create councils that will meet all constitutional requirements. It is the genuine desire of the people for self-government,” The governor stated.

ustice Saliu Saidu of a Federal High Court in Lagos, has fixed March 10, for hearing in a suit filed by the sacked Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Omirin, and others to contest the legality of his impeachment. Omirin, and 18 other All Progressives Congress(APC) members of the House, have gone to

the court to challenge what they described as an infraction in the House, following his impeachment by seven Peoples Democratic Party members of the House. During yesterday’s proceedings, Lawyer to the APC lawmakers, Norrison Quakers (SAN), informed the judge that they had been having difficulties in effecting service of the processes in the matter, on the Ekiti State Gover-

nor, Ayo Fayose and other defendants, owing to the security of their lives. He then urged the court to secure an undertaken from the Lawyers to the defendants on the agreement that their clients be served through them. Quaker’ s request, was however, vehemently opposed to by E.O Afolayan, who stood in for, Dele Adesina, for the defendants. In his arguments,

Afolayan, insisted that the order of court as to service of the processes on the defendants must be complied with. The matter was subsequently adjourned till March 10, 2015 for mention. Specifically, the suit was filed by the impeached Speaker, his Deputy, Adetunji Orisalade, and seventeen other APC members of the House of Assembly.

Group demands release of Synagogue collapsed building report Paul Ogbuokiri

human rights group, Committee for the Defense Human Rights, has given the Federal Government two weeks ultimatum to release the security report on the investigation into the collapsed Synagogue Church of All Nations building, which claimed over a hundred lives, on

September 12, 2014. The human rights group issued the ultimatum during a solidarity rally held in support of the Founder and General Overseer of the church, Prophet T.B. Joshua at the premises of the church yesterday. The members of the group, who marched from the gate of the church to the site of

the collapsed building, carried placards with inscriptions like: ‘who owns the plane that bombed the Synagogue building?’ ‘Who is the pilot of the plane?’ and ‘Why is the Federal Government quiet about the bombing of the Synagogue building?’ They further urged the Federal Government to make the report of the

presidential committee public with immediate effect. Speaking to newsmen while inspecting the site of the collapsed building, President of CDHR, Comrade Enenuvwedia, wondered why the presidential committee set up to look into the circumstances surrounding the incident WAs yet to release its report.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, February 10, 2015

Poll shift

Imo

APC: Security chiefs, threat to democracy

Okorocha shuns CAN governorship debate

General elections

INEC

The Patriots back poll shift, oppose Interim Govt

Why we rescheduled polls, by Jega

Politics Jonathan’s ex-ministers as TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE writes on President Goodluck Jonathan’s ex-ministers who have become opposition flag bearers in the general elections

opposition flag bearers

APC control in the state is going to be a minus to the president and the PDP. The people of the state may also use their votes to punish the PDP for the crisis they created in the state last year by instigating the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to impeach Al-makura.

n April 11, two erstwhile ministers in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Labaran Maku (Information) and Samuel Ortom ((State for Trade, Industries and Investment) will test their might against their former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in their respective states. The supremacy battle between the ex-ministers and the PDP was deepened by the fallout of last year governorship primaries, where the dream of some ministers, who just resigned their appointment from the federal cabinet, of governing their states come May 29 was truncated. When Maku, Ortom and other five ministers; Nyesom Wike (State for Education), Musiliu Obanikoro (State for Defence), Emeka Wogu (Labour), Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health), and Dairus Ishaku (State for Niger Delta), resigned from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last October to pursue their governorship ambitions, the expectation was that they would get the PDP gubernatorial ticket with ease. But only Wike and Ishaku scaled through at the party’s primaries in Rivers and Taraba states while Ortom and Maku were unlucky in Benue and Nasarawa states. Chukwu, Obanikoro and Wogu’s hope of being PDP standard bearers in the April 11 governorship election also hit the rocks in Ebonyi, Lagos and Abia states. Former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, who had earlier resigned from the federal cabinet also lost woefully during the Delta State PDP governorship primaries. Former Minister of State for Health, Mohammed Pate, also lost the Bauchi State

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Maku

gubernatorial primaries. Following the lost of governorship ticket, Ortom, Maku and Pate defected to the opposition parties. Maku eventually emerged as All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State while Ortom is the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State for the April 11 election. Maku: Jonathan’s friend or enemy? Before his resignation, Maku was the megaphone of the Federal Government. He was very close to President Jonathan; both served as deputy governor at the same period. As a minister, he was also referred to as PDP leader in Nasarawa State since there was no PDP governor in the state. Despite his political clout, Maku was defeated during the governorship primaries by Yusuf Agabi, a retired federal civil servant. After losing the primaries, Maku expressed his grievances to the party leadership at state and national levels but nothing positive came out of his complaint. Initially, there was rumour that he would defect to Labour Party (LP) to realise his ambition but while waiting, APGA came as an option and he was offered the party’s governorship ticket. Maku will be running against Governor Tanko Al-Makura of the

Ortom

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

He is only going there to reduce our votes. He is a dangerous boy

APC and Agabi. Despite running on APGA platform, Maku has promised to work for President Jonathan’s reelection in the March 28 election since his new party had endorsed the president. But some PDP leaders believe there is no way the exminister can be in APGA and be campaigning for the PDP presidential candidate. Speaking recently at the PDP presidential rally in Lafia, President Jonathan berated Maku for defecting to APGA. “PDP is my party and all those who want to help us should come to PDP and work for the party,” he said. The Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, described Maku as an ingrate. “He is only going there to reduce our votes. He is a dangerous boy,” Ali said. In his response, Maku in a statement issued by the Director, Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, Zakari Edego, said PDP leaders were jittery and panicky about his emergence as APGA’s governorship candidate. As March 28 election draws closer, political analysts are of the view that Jonathan’s chance of winning Nasarawa State is very slim despite Maku’s drumming support for the president. Governor Al-makura re-election bid and

Ortom to reduce Jonathan’s strength Ortom lost the PDP governorship ticket in Benue State to Governor Gabriel Suswam’s candidate, Hon. Terhemen Tarzoor. And unlike some of his colleagues who remained in PDP despite losing the governorship primaries, the former minister dumped the ruling party for APC, and eventually emerged as the governorship candidate in the state. Ortom is a force to reckon with in Benue politics. He has joined forces with prominent APC chieftains in the state to battle the PDP during the general elections. He is expected to canvass for votes for his party’s presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) on March 28 and put up a good fight against Tarzoor in the April 11 governorship election. His position as APC governorship candidate is a minus to the re-election bid of his former principal, President Jonathan. Though Benue State is governed by the PDP, APC also has strong structure in the state with the likes of former governor and Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume and former PDP national chairman, Senator Barnabas Gemade in the party. The general elections will be a battle of gladiators in Benue State and both parties will do everything possible to prove their worth during the elections. Will Pate be a stumbling block to Jonathan in Bauchi? Pate’s hope of succeeding Governor Isa Yuguda was dashed in Bauchi State during the party’s governorship primaries. He lost to the governor’s anointed candidate, Hon. Auwal Jatau; a member of the House of Representatives representing Zaki Federal Constituency. Pate was appointed Minister of State for Health in July 2011 following his success as the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

TUESDAY, February 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC: Security chiefs, threat to democracy Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

fter reviewing the circumstance that led to the postponement of the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to the conclusion yesterday that Security Chiefs are posing threats to democratic governance. The position of the party was made known at a press briefing in Abuja at the National Secretariat of the party. According to the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun, the security chiefs’ letter to INEC was the last joker of the proponent for elections postponement. Oyegun, who chronicled the positions of the security chiefs in the last two months on their readiness for the elections, ex-

pressed surprise how the security chiefs turned around to say that they cannot provide security for the elections. He gave the synopsis of how the service chiefs had reassured Nigerians that they were prepared for the elections and later reversed. APC expressed regret over the activities of the security agencies. He said: “The greatest threat to our democracy today is the way the ruling party has compromised the leadership of the Nigerian military to serve the personal agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. This is a dangerous game. A recent court judgment in Sokoto clearly ruled that the military had no role in the electoral process. What happened with this postponement is that Service Chiefs simply vetoed a democratic process on the directive of President Jonathan. We know what politicisation is doing to our once proud military institution.

“We are aware that the Presidency has forwarded a secret memo to all commanders of divisions and battalions of Nigerian Army for a three-day strategy meeting in Kaduna from today on how to use the military to intimidate voters in APC states to rig election in favour of President Jonathan. “Since recent revelations about the role of the military in Ekiti elections is demonstrable proof of how far this government will go to compromise the military as an institution, could it be that when the Service Chiefs said they would not have enough

personnel to provide security for the elections, what they are actually saying is that they would not have enough soldiers to intimidate voters in favour of the ruling party if the elections had proceeded as scheduled”? Asked if the party was passing a vote of no confidence on the military, Oyegun said: “Let me loudly and emphatically say that we are largely proud of our men and women in uniform. There is no question about that…. But there is no mincing of words, there is something seriously wrong at the top. There is no question at all. The

unfolding events of the last few days has shown in clear terms that there is some collusion between the Service Chiefs and the present political elites in government. We will say that without any apology at all. It is unusual for the military that is clearly supposed to be at the background, advising and assisting their Commander in Chief to sit down and write a letter to an independent electoral body. It is totally unheard of.” Speaking on the position of APC on the postponement, Oyegun said: “This postponement comes with a huge cost to

all Nigerians and everyone involved, directly or indirectly, in this election, including international observers and journalists. However, we should see this as the sacrifice we need to make for the survival of democracy in Nigeria. “We must remain steadfast and committed to the cause of change. Like our presidential candidate, General Buhari said, “our desire for change must surpass their desperation to hold on to power at all cost. We have no other country other than Nigeria, and we must remain focused and salvage it.”

INEC to disqualify Action Alliance presidential candidate Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may disqualify the presidential candidate of the Action Alliance, Senator Tunde Anifowose-Kelani for not having valid voter’s card. This was revealed yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja. But in a swift reaction, Anifowose-Kelani stated that he would approach the court if that happens. According to him, he was not informed by the commission that he needed to re-register to obtain the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC), therefore he cannot be said not to meet the requirement to be a candidate of a political party in the elections. He said he had earlier petitioned INEC over his inability to collect his

PVC and that the commission had not responded. Explaining while INEC cannot invalidate his candidature, he stated that he has a temporary voter’s card. According to him, “the temporary voter’s card was given by INEC and without the temporary card, you cannot have the PVC and not every one that has temporary voter’s card went back to reregister. So, in as much as it is not everyone that has temporary voter’s card was asked to go and re-register, INEC cannot tell me that I am not registered.” He added that INEC had never told him that he needed to re-register for him to obtain his PVC, but only for him to be told that at a stakeholders’ meeting before the postponement of the election that his temporary voter’s card was invalid.

L-R: National Chairman, KOWA Party, Alhaji Umar Mustapha; National Secretary, African Peoples Alliance (APA), Alhaji Samaila Sifawa and National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Alhaji Bashir Ibrahim, at a press conference on the postponement of general elections in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Okorocha shuns CAN governorship debate Steve Uzoechi Owerri

overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State was conspicuously absent from yesterday’s governorship debate organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The event was held at the All Saints Cathedral, Anglican Diocese of Egbu in Owerri North. In attendance were Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho of the All Progressives Grand Alliance

(APGA); Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Chief Osmond Ukanacho of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Ken Ojiri of Accord party and Capt. David Mbamara of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Others are Chief Angus Uzoamaka of APCN and Chief Ngozi Olehi of the Labour Party (LP). Efforts by the moderating cleric, Bishop David Onuoha, to apologise on behalf of Governor Okorocha was met with

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

boos and jeers, as the audience showed their distaste and disappointment at the governor’s absence. Most of the governorship contenders gave ac-

counts of themselves as they were bombarded with questions on every area of public life. Every participating governorship candidate was pointedly asked and made to declare before the audience if he was a member or linked to any secret cult. Thereafter, the Bishops and other clergy men prayed for all the governorship candidates that attended the debate. They also prayed for the peaceful conduct of the general elections.

INEC’s preparations for the elections faulty – US agencies Onyekachi Eze Abuja

ven before the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega announced a shift in the dates of the general elections, two Unites State international organisations, the National Demo-

cratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republic Institute (IRI) have faulted the commission’s preparations for the elections. The organisations which sent Pre-Election Assessment missions to Nigeria submitted their report to Jega about two weeks ago. In the report dated January 20, the delegation expressed concern that “millions of permanent

voters’ cards (PVCs) have not yet been distributed by INEC. Although, INEC plans to move the distribution of the PVCs from the local government level to the wards, the exercise has not started in all the states. Moreover, some Nigerians stated that in a number of states, the distribution exercise has repeatedly been postponed in some locations, leading to further

erosion of trust in INEC. “Some Nigerians are still unsure whether a voter without a PVC, but whose name is on the register, will be allowed to vote on election day and what arrangements will be put in place to adjudicate the matters.” The report also observed that all the card readers are “still underway and not all the card

readers have been delivered to INEC…. Yet some Nigerians are apprehensive about what would happen should the remaining VCRs (voters’ card readers) not be delivered on time or should many of these new machines malfunction on Election Day.” It noted that while INEC has specific plans on recruitment of ad hoc staff that would include

current and former members of the NYSC and students in the tertiary institutions, some members of the public are concerned that training of these workers is yet to begin. Jega had attributed the postponement of the elections to the security situation in the North East, which would occupy the attention of military for six weeks.

Politics 15

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, February 10, 2015

The Patriots back poll shift, oppose Interim Govt Wale Elegbede

he Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerians, has described reasons given for the postponement of the 2015 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as tenable, stating, however, that it is opposed to calls for restructuring by instituting an Interim National Government. In a communiqué issued yesterday after its meeting, the Chairman

of the group, Prof. Ben Nwabueze told newsmen that The Patriots accept the issues of security concerns raised by the commission, stating, however that the INEC must improve on its logistics, just as he urged the security agencies to demonstrate utmost professionalism and neutrality in the discharge of their duties. Nwabueze said: “Security is a highly sensitive matter and we accept the reason of security concerns given by INEC. Only people who don’t

know about security that will try to fault that. There are also issues on the preparedness of INEC, if they are not ready to provide the logistics that is needed for the election, I think it makes sense to extend. “But what we perceive as monstrous is when people talk about extension for two years, but what we have here is just for six weeks and it is still within what the constitution provides. “There is no legal authority for the Interim

Government. Where would they base it in our constitution? You will be acting unconstitutionally, you will create problem that this country may not recover from. “How would you tell the president to step aside and ask someone else to take over? It seems people make calls without considering the implications. Whatever might be the political merits, the constitutional issues against it is so much that the idea will do more harm than good to this country.”

While calling for an effective presidential leadership, The Patriots noted that Nigeria at this period requires a president with good and sound educa-

tional qualification, stating that leaders of political parties should ensure that their followers fully observe the non-violence Abuja Accord.

INEC extends PVC collection by four weeks Onyekachi Eze Abuja

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) by four weeks. The commission said the extension was as a result of the rescheduling of the 2015 general elections. A statement issued yesterday by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, said the deadline for the issuance of PVCs to registered vot-

ers is now March 8. INEC had on Saturday, February 7, rescheduled the 2015 general elections by six weeks due to security challenges. The Presidential and National Assembly have been rescheduled to hold on March 28 while the Governorship and State Assembly elections will now hold on April 11. “The commission hopes that this extension will finally avail every registered person yet to collect his/her PVC the opportunity to do so in readiness for the general elections,” Ogakwu said.

Zamfara guber candidates to sign peace pact Idris Salisu Gusau

Applicants checking for their names on the list of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc staff in Maiduguri … yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

Jonathan has endangered democracy – Tinubu Wale Elegbede

former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu has described last Saturday’s postponement of the 2015 general elections as a by-product of overt political interference which was aimed at undermining the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a statement issued yesterday, Tinubu said the ambition of one man should not be allowed to affect the destiny of 170 million Nigerians, adding that Nigerians have signalled their desire for change and there is nothing the government can do to erase it. He said: “The elections were postponed not because they could safely be held. They were postponed because one man, President Goodluck Jonathan, feared that an election held on February 14 would for him become an election lost. While the mouth was Jega, the words were Jonathan. “He chose to place our democracy at risk than do

what democracy demands by facing and risking the verdict of the people. That he would use our security agencies to provide his excuse only adds insult to injury. “This act was one desperation of a man in fear of defeat. It was not done for the national good. It was the wrong thing done for the wrong reason by the wrong man.” While picking holes in reasons adduced for the postponement by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Tinubu noted that the rationale for using insecurity as the basis for postponement was nothing but a lie draped in a falsehood born by deceit. “For the Service Chiefs to be inserted in the electoral process in this manner and at the 11th hour reveals nothing but a cynical plot to thwart elections. President Jonathan has revealed that he only wants elections where the guaranty is that he shall win. This is not the nature of democratic elections. “This postponement is a smokescreen because what the letter says is that they are advising a postponement of six weeks in the first instance subject

to the amelioration of the security situation in the North East. He wants an elaborate coronation dressed in the garb of an election. The Nigerian people are too smart for this rude trick.” The former Lagos State Governor noted that there is nothing new about the security situation in the last two weeks that has not been there in the past years. “The date and importance of the election was well publicised. Why did they wait till now? They waited because they were given marching orders by the president to delay the elections. “They have gone on an offensive already. However, the true offensive is not against Boko Haram. It is against the Nigerian people and our democracy. “If elections could hold in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, why not in Nigeria where only 14 out of 774 council areas are under siege? This postponement may be the prelude to even rasher more authoritarian action by this desperate, inept government.” Tinubu noted further that, “This postponement has deeply wounded Nige-

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rian democracy. While my party hoped to go into the election and win it that we may offer a new and honest deal to the people. This government continues to feed the people a raw deal.” While calling for calm, the APC National Leader urged the party’s supporters to stay unruffled and do everything to keep the peace, stressing that: “I ask you to renew your determination in the face of this insult to our democracy and common sense. It is inevitable that change shall come and we shall bring it fairly, democratically and peacefully. “They will attempt more tricks before the six weeks is over. Each time, they will be defeated by the power of our commitment to a new day in a new democratic Nigeria,” he said.

head of the March 28 and April 11 elections, all registered political parties and their gubernatorial candidates in Zamfara State are to sign a peace accord. This was the outcome of yesterday’s stakeholders’ forum held in Gusau, the state capital. State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Muhammad Magaji Anka, presided over the meeting which had Governor Abdulaziz Yari, other governorship candidates and party leaders in attendance.

Governor Yari told newsmen after the meeting that it was resolved that politicians and political parties should urge supporters across the state to ensure violencefree electioneering. He said gubernatorial candidates in the state including former governor of the state and PDP governorship candidate, Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi, have all agreed to sign a peace pact on the elections. He said: “The meeting has unanimously agreed to do everything possible to discourage political thuggery, demonstrations against elections’ postponement and ensure violence-free polls in the state.”

Ogun records 40 per cent PVC distribution – Isiaka Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

overnorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Gboyega Isiaka, has disclosed that less than 40 per cent of eligible voters in the state have been able to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs). Isiaka spoke yesterday at a rally in Ijebu-Igbo. He said: “It means that out of every 10 registered voters, only about four have collected PVCs. That is the statistics we got. I urge you that within the extension period

we should collect our PVCs. “I want to also use this opportunity to appeal to INEC to make sure that all that needed to be done is done so that our people can have access to their PVCs so that nobody will be disenfranchised when the election comes up in March and April.” Also, the state chairman of the party, Chief Adebayo Dayo, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to target 90 per cent distribution of the PVCs before the general elections.

16 Politics

TUESDAY, February 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Electoral Violence: Ambode, Agbaje sign peace accord Temitope Ogunbanke, Murtala Ayinla and Wale Elegbede

n a bid to ensure that the April 11 governorship election in Lagos State is devoid of violence even after the declaration of the winner, the two leading governorship candidates in the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday signed a peace accord. There have been pockets of violence in some parts of the state involving supporters of both parties. The cold war has also degenerated to the destruction of campaign posters and banners across the state. But the two leading candidates at the official residence of the United States Consul-General in Lagos, Jeffrey Hawkins, in the presence of the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle, as well as Nigerian religious

leaders signed the peace pact. To seal the peace pledge, each of the candidates was made to sign a pledge that read: “I (Akinwunmi Ambode, Jimi Agbaje), do hereby pledge on behalf of myself and my supporters, to promote peaceful participation in the 2015 election and beyond. “I do further pledge to accept the outcome of the Lagos State election, whatever it may be, and to seek redress for any perceived injustice through legal and legitimate channels.” Thereafter the form was signed by the two candidates, Agbaje and Ambode, as well as Entwistle. Other signatories were Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos; Imam Abdulrahman Ahmad, National Missioner of Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria; Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Senior Pastor, House on the Rock, and Sheikh Abdurrahman Adangba, National Missioner of Fatil-ul-Qareeb

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Islamic Society. The religious leaders appealed to both Ambode and Agbaje to eschew violence and embrace peace no matter the outcome of the election, counselling that they can seek redress in case of any infringement through legal channels. The religious leaders also urged them to call on their supporters to embrace peace and not violence. Entwistle explained that the signing ceremony is symbolic, adding that it was important to focus on what was being done rather than what ought to have been done to ensure hitch free polls. Meanwhile, Agbaje has called on his supporters to

eschew violence ahead of the general elections. Speaking during a campaign in Mushin and Oshodi/Isolo, Agbaje noted that he was particularly happy that not a single death has been recorded since he started his campaign across the state. While urging party members to continue to be law abiding, he noted that the PDP abhors any form of violence by any person or group. According to him, he asked his loyalists not to retaliate when his campaign materials were defaced on the Third Mainland Bridge by All Progressives Congress (APC) members. He blamed the absence of infrastructural facilities after16 years on the ruling APC in Lagos, saying the party’s performance has been far from satisfactory, as the people cannot boast of even potable water. Also, Governor Babatunde Fashola and Ambode have urged Lagosians to remain calm and avoid violence.

L-R: Senator Mamora Olorunnibe, All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; former Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Chief Kunle Ogunade and Olorogun Sunny Kuku, during Ambode’s visit to The Coliseum in Lagos.

Saraki: Poll shift, evidence of Jonathan’s failure on security Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said the postponement of the general elections was an indictment on President Goodluck Jonathan for his alleged failure to make national security a priority since his assumption of office six years ago. The former governor of Kwara State, in a statement yesterday, said that security should not be used as an excuse to delay the general elections and obstruct the nation’s hard earned democracy.

While pointing out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had insisted on free, fair, and transparent elections, Saraki observed that the delay in elections was an obstruction of democracy led by President Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said: “These challenges (security) are not new, it has been almost a year since Boko Haram kidnapped 200 of our schoolgirls in Chibok. Thousands of men, women, and children have now died in the hands of Boko Haram and thousands are displaced. “For over three years, President Jonathan has failed to make national

security a priority. How then does President Jonathan now expect the people to believe him when he says he will tackle the terrorist group in six weeks? “The delay in elections hinders this call. INEC is expected to act independently but unfortunately it is being guided by government who believe they are about to lose an election and have decided to stop the election to restrategise. For the first time in Nigeria, we are seeing a sitting government running away from elections. “The international community has continued to support our view that there must be peaceful, free, transpar-

ent and credible electoral processes in Nigeria and that the country’s security forces would remain impartial so Nigerians can vote safely and without undue delay. They are disappointed about the recently announced postponement. President Jonathan and INEC must be aware that the eyes of the world are on them. “I charge Nigerians to be calm, non-violent and steadfast. We must be determined to make sure postponement does not demoralise or disenfranchise us. We must see this as a challenge for us to remain resolute in yearning for a new democratic government; one that will not see itself as above the people.”

Speaking yesterday during APC governorship campaign in Alimosho, Ambode said: “We have resolved not to change our mind and we are also happy that all our members have resolved to be calm against all odds. They thought they will take away our joy by shifting the poll but they cannot change our destiny. “Despite the shift in the date of the elections, we will not relent in our desire to win the elections. We will embark on houseto-house and neighbourhood-to-neighbourhood campaign. Come March 28, vote for Muhammadu Buhari as President and on April 11, vote me as your governor; I will not

disappoint you,” he said. Ambode, who promised to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governor Fashola, urged the people of Alimosho and Lagos at large to vote for all APC candidates in the March 28 and April 11 elections. Also speaking, Governor Fashola advised people to shun every form of violence that could ruffle the system, saying that they must be patient and avoid fighting in the name of politics. Fashola also urged people to vote for continuity in Lagos by voting for Ambode in order to sustain the development efforts in the state.

Abia guber: Traditional rulers, unions endorse Udensi Norman Obinna

he governorship aspiration of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) standard bearer, Sir Chikwe Udensi, has received a major boost as traditional rulers from Isuikwuato and tipper unions endorsed him for the April 11 poll. Speaking at the weekend in Isiukwuato at a ceremony, HRM, Eze Moses Eguoke, the Igbo I of Obayi; HRM, Eze Chris Aboh, Chairman, Isiukwuato Council of Elders, HRM, Eze Ifeanyi Ugoagha, and HRM, Eze Ogbuneke said the cap of the governor fits Udensi. Eze Eguoke spoke glowingly about Udensi, declaring him the kind of governor Abia State needs for positive change. He said that the PPA governorship candidate is the most accessible among the governorship candidates and the one with clear a blueprint for Abia State.

The traditional ruler promised to use his position to ensure that Isiukwuato people vote en masse for the PPA candidate. Also speaking during a courtesy call on Saturday at the PPA’s campaign office in Aba, the representatives of the Abia State Pool and Tippers Unions, Mazi Lawrence Inyama and Mr. Sunday Akaniru, said they are endorsing Udensi to achieve positive change. According to them, they were impressed that an individual will reconstruct three major roads in Aba with his personal funds without being the governor yet. Inyama and Akaniru said they are endorsing Udensi because of his antecedents. The governorship candidate said the endorsements are a massive encouragement to the efforts he is making to ensure that Abia State change for the better.

Jonathan’s ex-ministers as opposition flag bearers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

(NPHCDA), in Abuja. He voluntarily resigned his position on July 24, 2013 to take up the position of a professor in Duke University’s Global Health Institute, USA. The ex-minister rejected the outcome of the primaries. He alleged that the primaries were marred with irregularities and intimidation of delegates. After waiting endlessly for the party’s national leadership intervention, Pate dumped the PDP for APC. The ex-minister is

going to work against Jonathan’s re-election by teaming up with other APC gladiators in Bauchi State to canvass votes for Buhari’s victory in the March 28 presidential election. He will also campaign for APC governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar to stop Jatau, the PDP candidate, from succeeding Governor Yuguda. The decision of Maku, Ortom and Pate to pitch their tent with the opposition parties is a minus to President Jonathan’s re-election bid.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, February 10, 2015

Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Saturday spoke on why the general elections were postponed

Why we rescheduled polls, by Jega

e invited you here today to make known the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the timetable for the 2015 general elections. Let me state from the outset that the Commission’s position was reached after carefully weighing the suggestions from briefings held with different stakeholders in the electoral process. The conduct of elections in a country like Nigeria is invariably a collective venture that involves not just the Election Management Body (EMB), but also a diverse range of stakeholders, notably security agencies, political parties and their candidates, voters, as well as interest groups, such as the civil society organisations and the media. To guarantee successful conduct of elections, there are things that are wholly the responsibility of the EMB. But there are other things critical for the success of elections, which fall outside the control of the EMB. In other words, while INEC must work hard to perfect its systems and processes for conducting elections, and take responsibility for any imperfections thereof, whatever the Commission does may not by itself be sufficient to guarantee the success of elections. There are a number of issues in the preparation and conduct of an election, the most critical of which is security, which is not under the control of INEC. Current state of INEC’s preparedness On Thursday, February 5, I was invited to brief the National Council of State, which is the highest advisory to the president comprising past and present leaders in Nigeria, on the level of preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015 general elections. I made a presentation to the Council titled ‘Preparations for the 2015 General Elections: Progress Report,’ in which I gave a detailed account of what the Commission has been doing in readiness for the national elections (National Assembly and Presidential) scheduled for February 14th, and the state elections (Governorship and State Assembly) scheduled for February 28th, 2015. The summary of my presentation to the National Council of State meeting is that, for matters under its control, INEC is substantially ready for the general elections as scheduled, despite discernible challenges being encountered with some of its processes like the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) by registered members of the public. In addition, INEC has been doing everything it can to facilitate the collection of the PVCs by registered members of the public. As at February 5, 2015, the total number of PVCs collected was 45, 829, 808, representing 66.58% of the total number of registered voters. In the delivery and deployment of electoral materials, INEC is also at a comfort level in its readiness

jega

for the general elections as scheduled. The Commission’s preparations are not yet perfect or fully accomplished. But our level of preparedness, despite a few challenges, is sufficient to conduct free, fair and credible elections as scheduled on February 14th and February 28th. Compared with 2011 when, within a short time, we conducted general elections that were universally adjudged free, fair and credible and the best in Nigeria’s recent electoral history, our processes are today better refined, more robust and therefore capable of delivering even better elections. Other variables But as I mentioned earlier, there are some other variables equally crucial for successful conduct of the 2015 general elections that are outside the control of INEC. One important variable is security for the elections. While the Commission has a very good working relationship with all security agencies, especially on the platform of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) since its inception in 2010, it has become pertinent for it to seriously consider the security advisory presented to it by the Security and Intelligence Services. I would like to reiterate here that INEC is an EMB and not a security agency. It relies on the security services to provide a safe environment for personnel, voters, election observers and election materials to conduct elections wherever it deploys. Where the security services strongly advise otherwise, it would be unconscionable of the Commission to deploy personnel and call voters out in such a situation. Last Wednesday, which was a day before the Council of State meeting, the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) wrote a letter to the Commission, drawing attention to recent developments in four North-East states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe currently experiencing the challenge of insurgency. The letter stated that security could not be guaranteed during the proposed period in February for the general elections.

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INEC not being a security agency that could by itself guarantee protection for personnel and materials, as well as voters during elections, the Commission cannot lightly wave off the advice by the nation’s Security Chiefs

This advisory was reinforced at the Council of State meeting on Thursday where the NSA and all the Armed Services and Intelligence Chiefs unanimously reiterated that the safety and security of our operations cannot be guaranteed, and that the Security Services needed at least six weeks within which to conclude a major military operation against the insurgency in the North-East; and that during this operation, the military will be concentrating its attention in the theatre of operations such that they may not be able to provide the traditional support they render to the Police and other agencies during elections. INEC’s Decision We have done wide ranging consultation to enable us have as much input as is necessary before taking an informed decision. In the series of consultations that we held with stakeholders, the questions consistently posed to them for consideration are: In view of the latest development, should INEC proceed with the conduct of the general elections as scheduled in spite of this strong advice; and if so, what alternative security arrangements are available to be put in place? Or, should INEC take the advice and adjust the schedules of the general elections within the framework of Constitutional provisions? The Commission held a meeting after the consultations, and decided to take the advice of the Security Chiefs and adjust the dates of the elections. We have done this relying on Section 26(1) of the Electoral 2010 (As Amended), which states thus: “Where a date has been appointed for the holding of an election, and there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that date or it is impossible to conduct the elections as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies, the Commission may postpone the election and shall in respect of the area, or areas concerned, appoint another date for the holding of the postponed election, provided that

such reason for the postponement is cogent and verifiable”. INEC not being a security agency that could by itself guarantee protection for personnel and materials, as well as voters during elections, the Commission cannot lightly wave off the advice by the nation’s Security Chiefs. The Commission is specifically concerned about the security of our ad hoc staff who constitute at least 600,000 young men and women, together with our regular staff, voters, election observers as well as election materials painstakingly acquired over the last one and half years. This concern is limited not just to the areas in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria experiencing insurgency; the risk of deploying young men and women and calling people to exercise their democratic rights in a situation where their security cannot be guaranteed is a most onerous responsibility. Under such circumstances, few EMBs across the world, if any, would contemplate proceeding with the elections as scheduled. No matter the extent of INEC’s preparedness, therefore, if the security of personnel, voters, election observers and election materials cannot be guaranteed, the life of innocent young men and women as well the prospects of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections would be greatly jeopardised. Consequently, the Commission has decided to reschedule the 2015 general elections thus: the national elections (i.e. Presidential and National Assembly) are now to hold on March 28th, 2015; while the state elections (Governorship and State Assembly) are to hold on April 11th, 2015. It should be noted that this rescheduling falls within the constitutional framework for the conduct of the elections, notably, Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2) and 178(2). See also Section 25 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended). For the avoidance of doubt, we will under no circumstances approve an arrangement that is not in line with the provisions of our laws. Our hope is that with this rescheduling, the security services will do their best to ensure that the security environment needed for safe and peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections is rapidly put in place. We in INEC reassure all Nigerians and indeed the international community of our commitment to do everything within the law and to conduct free, fair, credible and peaceful elections. We call on the security agencies to honour their commitment to restore sufficient normalcy for elections to take place within the period of extension. We also call on Nigerians, political parties, candidates and all other stakeholders to accept this decision in good faith and ensure the maintenance of peace. As for us in INEC we’ll endeavour to use the period of the extension to keep on perfecting our systems and processes for conducting the best elections in Nigeria’s history. In particular, we believe that we would resolve all outstanding issues related to non-collection of PVCs, which agitate the minds of many Nigerians. Finally, we wish to call on all Nigerians to accept our decision, which is taken in good faith and the best interest of deepening democracy ion our country.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Behind the Nigerian name

Kingsley Charles

good few days ago, while I stood by the newsstand of the University of Calabar Library running my eyes over the newspaper headlines about our political landscape, I met a young bespectacled man, who had the demeanour that suggested he was intelligent. We exchanged opinions on issues about the election and the political parties for quite a few hours. He demonstrated much sagacity in the conversation, buttressing his arguments with logical and factual points. After our argument, I introduced myself and shook hands with him, to herald a new friendship. But my introduction was reciprocated with a name that reverberated with war-like vitality in my eardrums. It sounded: Worship God. I was moved to laughter and then into displeasure. I couldn’t figure out how such an intelligent young man managed to harbour an excrescence on his persona. When I inquired the reason for such a name, he merely responded that it was his parents’ choice. It baffled me; it worried me. In all parts of Africa, names are unique and special in every way. They identify a person and his origin. For example, the names Awoonor and Chukwuemeka both reveal that the owners of the name are of Ghanaian and Nigerian extraction respectively. In Nigeria precisely, during the pre-independence era, Western and English names were widespread. Because of the difficulty encountered by the British colonialists in pronouncing our African names, they foisted English names upon Nigerian employees then. So, the colonialists ensured that those who wanted to get education through the mission schools jettisoned their native names for English counterparts. Ergo, names such as Richard, Francis, Charles, Brown, Elizabeth, Anita and a host of others are vestigial remains of the British enforcement. However, with our political emancipation from the British imperialists, the strength of the Western names began to wane, and our traditional names started to rise, springing to prominence like mushrooms on a Harmattan morning. Consequently, this revitalised our

In the Yoruba culture, for instance, children who die each time they are born are given such names as Kokumo, Kosoko, Durojaiye and several others. These names, it is hoped, will lure such children into staying and not die again multifarious cultures and strengthened our cultural bond. In the past, the process of naming a child was usually rigorous and laborious. It was considered sacred. The choice of names was carried out seriously, as it was believed that names have a special significance on the child. By giving a child a name, parents go beyond viewing the child as an embryological product of cellular fusion but as a gift that should be respected and given an identity. Besides being the child’s identity, names are regarded as cryptic forces which direct the child’s path. They express concern for the child’s future and the parents’ expectation for the child. Traditional names are attributes that the child is hoped to acquire. Unlike the Western names and occidental cultures, African names usually are steeped in myths and fables. In the Yoruba culture, for instance, children who die each time they are born are given such names as Kokumo, Kosoko, Durojaiye and several others. These names, it is hoped, will lure such children into staying and not die again. The circumstances which surround a child’s conception is an important factor that determines a child’s name. Still in the Yoruba culture, the first child of a twin is christened Taiwo, which is an abridged form of Eni ti o wa to aiye wo. When translated in English, this means: he who came to taste the

world. The tale behind that name is that the second child, Kehinde (he who comes after), tells the elder twin to go to the world firsts and give it (Kehinde) a shout if the world is sweet. Therefore, if the first twin, for any reason, does not cry, it will be hard to get kehinde to follow. Traditional names are also given as supplications to the Creator, to protect the child from evil. Chinualumogu (May God fight on my behalf), for example. Eze, Ade, Obio, Omo ovie, Effiom, Ovie are some of the names given to children of royal lineages across Nigeria. However, there appears to be an emergence of an excrescence on our naming culture recently, one which is fast gaining currency in our society. Every now and then, these names bark at me from print. The list goes thus: Wonderful, Worthy, Great, Divine, Destiny, Praise, Possibility, Happiness, Unique Victory, Testimony and even the more ludicrous God is able and Amen. These names are completely bereft of meaning. No doubt they are products of religious dogmatism. Worse still, some of these names are adjectives, which in English grammar do not serve a nominal function. It is seemingly obvious that our slavish adherence and blinding loyalty to religion has beclouded our reasoning and lobotomized our sensibilities. Our cultural values are teetering on the brink of obscurity owing to our religious fanaticism. Our younger generations are no more christened names which appreciate the presence of light in our lives. Gone are the days when stunning beauties bore such sweet names as Arewa, Asake, Ngozi, Irohghene, Onyinye and many more. Such names taste delectable when chewed and sweetsounding when absorbed. Lamentably, our progenies are dubbed names which jar on our nerves when blurted. Might I state here that I don’t mean to appear impious or irreligious? All I clamour for is the revitalitisation of our rich cultural and traditional names. They are our pride. They are the epitome of our freedom and independence. And, above all, they reveal to the world a cultural heritage that emanates from a fascinating history. • Charles writes from the University of Calabar (08038274995)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Alex Otti and renewed hope for Abia State THE people of Abia never had it so bad. The nearly eight years of the administration of Governor Theodore Orji has been an unmitigated disaster for Abians. Many thought the trauma will not come to an end. Until the PDP primaries in Umuahia, that is. A lot of candidates threw their hats in the ring, hoping that, if things were done carefully and properly, the right candidate would emerge as the state’s flag bearer in the gubernatorial election. But Chief T. A. Orji thought differently. He brought an unknown quantity from the crevices and had him declared the winner of the governorship primary election. From that point in time, things fell apart: the centre of Orji’s machinations in Abia State can no longer hold. T. A. Orji’s cup in Abia is, in fact, completely full. He brought his son, a man known by the sobriquet of Ikuku or Wind, and handed him a ticket to run for the State

House of Assembly, telling whoever cared to listen that Ikuku would become the next Speaker of the State House of Assembly. How wrong Orji is. How disappointed the unraveling of things would leave him. Orji maneuvered Senator Nkechi Nworgu out of the senatorial primary election. The distinguished lady, who has done a lot for Abia Central, calmly left and pitched her camp with APGA. The people of Abia Central are now poised to deliver a stinging electoral defeat upon Orji, who groundlessly foresees himself as the next Senator representing the constituency. The most humiliating defeat that awaits T. A. Orji is in the Abia State gubernatorial ballot. His nemesis is in the unimpeachable form of Dr. Alex Otti, the APGA candidate. • Charles S. Uzoukwu (ezestic_ml@yahoo.com) writes from Abuja

Buhari: Between facts and fallacies WITHOUT any doubt, this is the season of desperation, lies, fallacies and monumental propaganda for the ruling People Democratic Party, PDP. In its frantic bid to stalk the current popularity and widespread acceptability of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, the PDP is frenetically embarking on a disparaging smear campaign on his personality. The PDP, which initially proclaimed sticking to an issue-based campaign, now hinges the bastion of its campaign solely on the demonization of the character of the people’s General. If it is not about Buhari’s certificate today, tomorrow it is about his gapped tooth or even his height or his light skin or his wife. For the PDP, things have become so precariously degenerate! Of all the lies being peddled by the PDP to blotch the personality of Gen-

eral Buhari, labelling him a religious bigot is most particularly damning and fraudulent. At the slightest opportunity, the PDP and its cronies resort to the religious card as part of the ploy to portend Buhari in bad light. At the core of this finicky irreverent fabrication is the deception that Buhari has a mission to Islamize the country. What the PDP, the chief custodian and promoter of these lies is yet to tell Nigerians is how a man who ruled the nation as a military dictator and didn’t Islamize the country would do same as a civilian president, with all the democratic checks and balances in place. The truth of the matter is that Gen Buhari is a practising Muslim and there is actually nothing wrong with this. The Nigerian constitution permits every Nigerian to practice the religion that he/she believes in and in the way he chooses to. President Goodluck Jonathan has

been worshiping from one church to the other across the country. He was once in Jerusalem with some Christian leaders and a few Christian members of his cabinet and party. He is actually free to do this as guaranteed by the constitution of the country. But then, why is General Buhari being unnecessarily vilified for his faith? Till date, no one could actually lay claim to any instance when the General has acted in ways that hinder others from practicing their religion. As it is often said, opinions are free but facts are sacred. When General Buhari took over as the military Head of State in 1984, out of the 19 military governors, he appointed, 11 of them were Christians. The record is there for whoever cares to corroborate. • Lateef Raji is the Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Information and Strategy.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

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Nigeria’s uncanny cup defence record

he 2015 Africa Cup of Nations came to an end last Sunday in Equatorial Guinea , the big news from the beginning was the absence of defending champions Nigeria’s Super Eagles who failed to make it to the tournament even when they were drawn in a relatively easy group in the qualifiers. To many, it was a painful miss especially in this season of elections when participation in the continental tourney would have brought some relief to the polity which has been heated up in the last four weeks. However, good followers of the game could not have been taken aback by the country’s failure to defend the trophy. In what has become the Nigerian disease, this development only confirmed what began in 1978 when Enugu Rangers opted out of the Africa Winners Cup which they won in 1977. Rangers had tried unsuccessfully to win the elite Africa Champions Cup[now CAF Champion’s League]. In 1975, the Flying Antelopes romped into the final but were humiliated home and away by Hafia of Guinea. The Guineans won the first leg in Conakry through an Ndj’o Lea strike. In the Lagos second leg, Mathias Obianika’s opener from the

spot gave fans hope. Everything faded away when the Guineans scored twice to win 3-1 aggregate. Hafia’s formidable squad included Papa Camara, Jacob Bangoura and Petit Sory, who scored one of the two goals in Sportscity. Rangers tried again in 1976 and got as far as the semis. Algerian side Mouloudia Chalia stopped them. IICC Shooting Stars would win the country’s first continental club trophy, the Winners Cup same year. The Flying Antelopes went for the Winners Cup in 1977 and won without losing a single game. They dethroned Shooting Stars in the semi-finals.Having won the Nigerian league as well, Rangers went for the Champion’s Cup the following year, caring less about defending the Winners Cup. In 1985, New Nigeria Bank of Benin were set to win the Eyadema[WAFU] Cup for a record third consecutive time. Another Nigerian team Shooting Stars was also taking part in the competition. After scrapping through Eleven Wise of Ghana, the Oluyole Boys confronted Africa Sport of Cote d’Ivoire. The encounter ended in controversy and the Nigerian FA let the competition go . NNB were forced to withdraw. That decision denied Willy Bazuaye and his boys the opportu-

nity of resting the WAFU trophy. And that was one competition that Rangers, Sharks, Spartans and Shooting Stars could not win. It was because of that competition that the Port Harcourt team lost coach Carl Gentleman O’dwyer in a car crash. It was also in the same competition that Rangers enjoyed the services of Adokiye Amiesimaka, who turned out to be the first non-Igbo to play for the Coal City side. His best was a silver medal in 1980[the 1979 edition] that he got in Dakar after Rangers fell 1-2 to Police of Senegal. It was a reversal of roles for in 1977, AS Police lost 1-2 to the Nigerians at the Demba Diop Stadium. Rangers had to escape in a Black Maria on the way to Winners Cup triumph. Ranchers Bees continued with the no Cup defence tag in 1990. The Kaduna side were defending champions and in what looked like Africa Magic drama, they missed their flight and lost the Cup without a strong defence or alibi. Eagles came into the picture once again when after winning their Second Africa Nations Cup diadem in 1994, they failed to fly to South Africa to defend the Cup in 1996.Those were the Sani Abacha years and what Nigeria offered the world was ‘Champagne soccer’.

Diplomacy played an important role following the suspension of our country from the Commonwealth, a decision Secretary- General Emeka Anyaoku could do just nothing about. The South Africans led by Madiba himself Nelson Mandela treated Nigeria like a rogue country. Abacha felt South Africa, having benefitted so much from Nigeria during their liberation struggle, should play an African card instead of toeing the hard lines of the West. The Nations Cup in South Africa was pay back time. Nigeria failed to go. And the hosts won their show. However, it was possible Nigeria would have retained the trophy . Their absence diminished the status of the new champions. And to prove that, the country won Africa's first Olympic Soccer gold at the Atlanta Games, a few months later. That was where Chioma Ajunwa won the nations First Olympic gold medal. Again, she was not even part of the Nigeran team to Sydney 2000. Our sports managers have to learn from this uncanny history of shying away from defending trophies won by Nigeria. Sports is our only language of national unity. Whatever it will take to keep the country together must be done.

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Politics

TUESDAY, February 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Igbo’ll vote PDP in Lagos – Nwulu where; Lagos is almost turning into a slum.

Hon. Tony Nwulu is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency II of Lagos State. The Imo State-born politician speaks on his vision for the constituency if elected. FELIX NWANERI reports What are the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winning the Oshodi/ Isolo Federal Constituency II in a state like Lagos, which is a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC)? Our chances are very

bright and I think we will certainly win because for the past 16 years, APC has failed to deliver true dividends of democracy to the people of Lagos State; it has failed in all ramifications. As you can see there is no area of Lagos

Nwulu

State, except few, where you have good roads that were constructed long before they came into power. You have bad roads every-

What is the possibility of an Igbo man like you winning an election in the South-West? You will see that on March 28. Whereas one party recognised the Igbos and gave them the opportunity to run on its platform for a federal seat, the other party deported them. I think that’s a clear distinction of which party has the interest of Igbo at heart, and the one they should support. The Igbo contribute over 40 per cent in terms of revenue earn-

ings of Lagos State, and I want to tell you that the Yoruba in PDP and those that are non-partisan; not the ones in APC are very accommodating, and they believe in one Nigeria. What new thing would you bring to the table for the people if elected? For the first time, my constituents will have somebody representing them truly; not someone who was appointed by some godfathers. Furthermore, I have a lot of programmes lined up and it’s easier to have things work

out when you don’t have any godfather to service at the end of every month. I believe we will work and I will think outside the box; not depending on government funding and there are very many areas one can access fund, globally. Most of these people are not interested in exploring these opportunities; all they want is sharing government money at the end of the month and that is what makes them lousy politicians. They talk about a mega city but what we are seeing is a mega slum; the kind of traffic you experience in this city is unbearable. Government can do a lot of things; channel funds into developing the waterways if it is sincere to decongest traffic in Lagos. How have you been able to mobilise the Igbo population in Oshodi/Isolo to support your ambition? I can tell you that Igbo in the area have already mobilised themselves and there is no right-thinking Igbo person who will vote for APC. I can also tell you that somebody cannot deport your brothers and you still vote for that person; is it for him to also deport you again? Igbo people in APC are errand boys being used against their brothers. The PDP gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje has been described by many as a strong character. Do you think that will work to the PDP’s favour in the governorship election? Comparing Jimi Agbaje’s candidature with any other is like comparing light with darkness. As far as I am concerned, there is nobody that doesn’t know that Agbaje is light coming to Lagos, so a vote for him is a vote for you to enjoy light. Agbaje is not a candidate who was handpicked by a godfather. So, everyone knows he will represent the interest of Lagosians as well as put that interest above the interest of any godfather. The biggest problem we are having is not that Lagos doesn’t have money; it’s just that money meant for the development of the state goes into private pockets. The change and development we want in Lagos, will start with Agbaje as he will transform the state from a mega slum to a true mega city. What are your fears about the elections? We know that APC is a very violent party, but all we are saying is that they should allow the masses the opportunity to make their choices, and let the votes count. Like President Goodluck Jonathan said, this election does not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Theatre

Rockin-On With Edaoto debuts at Freedom Park

ArtsWajo: Renewed voice for dance, CULTURE

Tony Okuyeme

he Amphitheatre of the Freedom Park came alive with breathtaking dance performances this Saturday, evening as over a dozen excited youths took to the stage dancing, miming and singing. They were cheered on by enthusiastic audience. The event is a unique monthly dance show aptly titled Wajo, a Yoruba word which means ‘Come and dance’. Indeed, the January 2015 edition of Wajo paraded a crop of talented Nigerian dancers from varyious genre. One particularly outstanding performance of the night that wowed the audience was that of Maxwell popularly known as MAXIMUS in which he presented a contemporary dance piece depicting the present situation of the country as it relates to insurgence and how it is affecting the Nigerian people. The thought-provoking dance piece by MAXIMUS drew resounding ovation in the end. Preceding the dance piece, were performances by guest dancers who also thrilled the audience. Particularly significant in the show is that everyone in the audience is given a chance to dance and be part of the creative exploration. In attendance include dancers, corporate people and other dance enthusiasts. Convener of Wajo, Seun Adeleye said the show began out of his love for dance. “I used to be a professional dancer, so I wanted to create a platform for dancers to find expression; a place for dance lovers and enthusiasts to meet, have fun and network,” he said, adding

creative expression on stage

Apex Dance Company performing at Wajo

that over the past 21 months of running Wajo monthly at The Freedom Park, Onikan Lagos, the Wajo team has discovered several issues in the dance industry in Nigeria and are poised to deal with them as they create solutions tailor made to tackle these issues. Explaining further, the Project Manager of Wajo, Kunle Olorunesan said: “Our desire to meet some

of these needs have helped shaped and clarify our vision as the foremost dance institution that will empower dancers to maximize their potential as we work to make dance more prominent and relevant profession of repute through events, television programs and conferences. “The organisers believe so much in this project and are committed

iREP Film Festival holds in March Tony Okuyeme

ocumentary filmmakers around the World will converge in Lagos in March 2015, for the 5th edition of the annual IREPRESENT (iREP ) International Documentary Film Festival. The iREP Film Festival is scheduled to hold from the 19th to 22nd March, 2015, at Freedom

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Park, Marina, Lagos, from 9am daily. This landmark 5th anniversary festival will explore the theme: “Reinventing Documentary Filmmaking in a Digital Space”, and it would form the overriding concern that the keynote speeches will concentrate on, the organisers stated in a release. Though conceived on the traditional iREP thematic framework of Africa in Self-conversation, the theme is premised on the reality that Digital media technology is expanding narrative possibilities and shaping audiences’ experiences of how realities are articulated. “Documentary filmmaking

is coming to terms with these new realities and continuously finding hybrid strategies to navigate the blurred lines crisscrossing verite and satisfying the ever changing temperament of the digital world that is hip, fun-seeking, chaotic, multi-tasking, and attention sapping. For documentary filmmaking, digital technology presents a challenge and an opportunity that would either remarkably transform and redefine what passes as a documentary film or bury the art in its past. More than ever before there is a need to reinvent the art of documentary filmmaking within the space of the new elements that are dictating the trend of media consump-

to it though it has not yielded any financial profit. Till date, Wajo has been funded by Enhance 360, a company managed by Seun Adeleye. This monthly event has been self-sustained for almost two years, the organizers are calling out to corporate Nigeria and well-meaning individual to come on board and join them to push it further as their target is to run this for five years.”

tion and experience globally. We are also conscious of the inevitable movement of Television broadcasting and services into full digital era as envisaged by the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission and that quite a lot of African nations have set same 2015 as deadline for their full embrace of digital broadcasting on the continent.” Highlights of the festival include films screenings, keynote speeches, producers’ roundtable and training/workshop. This festival will screen over 40 films curated around themes and issues in Africa. The specially created Screening Room will screen films non-stop throughout the course of

the festival. Renowned filmmakers and leaders of thoughts will be at the festival to share their perspectives on the theme. The Producers’ Roundtable is a forum that brings international filmmakers and producers together in discussions that cover areas such as collaborations and prevailing industry trends. The training is a two tier documentary filmmaking course on Telling Your Story in the Digital Space and Distributing Your Story in the Digital Space. Also, iREP 2015 will recognize the commitment of those who have made immense contributions to documentary filmmaking in Nigeria. iREP will provide grounds for networking guests attendance from countries like USA, Germany, South Africa, Egypt, Mali, Ghana, Cameroun, etc.

Arts

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rockin-On With Edaoto debuts at Freedom Park

Colossus will be out this year, says Oogbodo

King Oogbodo

wagga 4 Jesus singer and CEO of Blood Entertainment, King Oogbodo, has explained why he went on vacation in Amsterdam, Netherlands, at the beginning of the year. He said that 2015 is going to be a very big year for him because he will be very busy and have no time for vacation once he releases his sophomore album, Colossus, this year. “I can tell you confidently that 2015 is the year King Oogbodo will take over the music industry. I’ve been working on my sophomore album, Colossus, since late last year with the producers Shocker and SO Jeggs and I’ve been working so hard on it that I just realized I had to take a break. “It was also obvious to me that taking a break in Nigeria wouldn’t make sense because I would still have the urge to be going to the studio to work on the ideas I keep getting and that’s why I decided to go on vacation in Amsterdam so that I would be able to have a real break from all the hard work,” he said. Speaking further, the singer-rapper, who is back in the country, said, he will commit his time and energy on Colossus. “We’ve done a lot of work on a lot of songs but we still have to finish work on them and once we do that, I can assure you that Colossus will be 2015’s biggest album. I will just tell everyone to watch out for Colossus. It’s gonna be really massive lyrically and musically and blow everyone away,” he said.

Edaoto in performance

Stories: Tony Okuyeme

frobeat music lovers, friends and teeming fans of Edaoto Agbeniyi, were treated to rich performances by Edaoto and the Afrogenius Band last Thursday at Freedom Park, Lagos. It was the maiden edition of Rockin-On with Edaoto, a monthly performance by the hugely talented afro-culture singer. The show featured performances by the Afro-Soul exponent, Diana Lolade Bada simply known as Diana Bada, who has carved a niche for herself with her beautiful fusion of Hip Hop, Jazz and Reggae; and Sohlah

Babs, whose genre of music is an infusion of Jazz, pop, soul, rock, and highlife. The celebrated singer also thrilled the audience. But it was not all about music alone, as talented poet and writer, Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom gave the show a poetic note with his performance. According to the manager of the band Desola Ajayi, the monthly performance is on every 1st Thursday of the month. “The show will create avenue for the Band’s teeming fans to regularly enjoy its music. If you like soothing songs and lyrics that appeal to the soul, do not miss Edaoto’s monthly show which is tagged “Rockin-On With EDAOTO” (R.O.W.E).

“Edaoto and the Afrogenius Band is an eight-piece band that plays Afrobeat. It is a genre of music that has over the years ascended the apex of world music chart because of its originality of African aesthetics and a blend of intellectual engagement that has culminated into a strong subset of world culture,” she said. Since the Band was established a decade ago, it has traversed the length and breadth of West Africa nations performing its art and stagecraft to standing ovations! The lyrics of the songs are always meaningful and danceable. The album launched by the Band, “CriticallySpeaKIng” is still making waves in the market.

Rotary hosts annual dinner dance

otary International District 9110, Nigeria has announced its readiness to celebrate its yearly Rotary Foundation Dinner Dance. This year’s edition of the Dinner Dance would hold on March 27, at the Grandeur Event Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. Announcing the hosting of the event in a press conference, held at the Rotary Centre, in Ikeja, Lagos, the Chairman of the District Rotary Foundation Committee, Richard Giwa-Osagie said that the Rotary Foundation Dinner and Dance is one of the district’s special events to honour donors to The Rotary Foundation and to attract new donors. He added that the program also provides a platform for the foundation’s programs and executed projects to be showcased. Also in attendance at the press conference which was addressed by the District Governor; Dr. Dele Balogun, the Chairman, Public Image Committee of the District; Past President Kayode Aderinokun who was represented by Assistant Governor, Lanre Adedoyin his Committee’s vice Chairman, Past District Governor, Kamoru Omotosho. Giwa-Osagie, who is also a Past

District Governor of the district, described The Rotary Foundation as “the vehicle through which many Rotary projects and programs are executed with the funds donated by Rotarians and friendly individuals and organization” while tracing the foundation’s history to Rotary International Convention of 1917 where the then outgoing president Arch C. klumph proposed an endowment be set up “for the purpose of doing good in the world”. According to him, the endowment was later renamed The Rotary Foundation in 1928 and since then “it became a distinct entity within Rotary International”. While clarifying the mission of The Rotary Foundation to be “To advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty”, the chairman recalled that the first dinner and dance by the district was held in February 2008, and the district has since then instituted it to be an annual event. He therefore enjoined the press to sensitize the public of this year 2015 edition which would hold on March 27th at the Grandeur Event

L-R: Balogun; Onabadejo; Omotoso and Adedoyin.

Centre in Ikeja, Lagos. Also speaking at the event, Dr. Balogun, while introducing journalists to the “World of Rotary International”, defined Rotary as an organization of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive, last-

ing change in our communities and around the world”. According to him, “Rotary preaches global peace and international understanding while serving the less privileged’. He however emphasized that members of the Rotary International who are known and called

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Rotarians, are people with integrity, expertise and commitment to service and have distinct points of views and unique approaches to the challenges in the society as they “see differently, think differently, act responsibly, and make difference, both at home and around the world.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Interview

Prize

Private varsities deserve TETfund intervention, says Bingham varsity VC

AUN set to win $1m Hult prize

25&26

Education

UNIBEN, Edo govt at war over land WAR PATH

The authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Edo State Government are at war over a disputed landed property.

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

t was a laudable gift that was celebrated and greeted with expression of love and patriotism, but 43 years after it turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing. Today, all is not well between the management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Edo State Government, led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole as the same gift has torn them apart. At the centre of the crisis is the parcel of land said to have been donated to the university by the then Governor of the defunct Mid-West Region, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovbo Ogbemudia. Established by the region as Midwest Institute of Technology (MIT), the institute was upgraded to the status of a state university before it was later taken over by the Federal Government which renamed it UNIBEN. The state government and the university, no doubt, are on the war path over claim and counter claim that the land having been donated to the university and which now houses several structures should be owned by the institution, but Edo State Government has claimed ownership of the land. While the management and the university lecturers under their union, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are insisting that about 18 structures and properties built on the land locat-

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

One of the demolished buildings

ed at the GRA, Ekenwan campus end of the university and other locations in the city belong to the university, since the land had been transferred to it and which is now occupied by its staff, the state government on the other hand is bent that the land belongs to the state and would never be given out to another in error. But the unfolding drama with its attendant violence and unwarranted attacks by the state government in the last few months, and which has continued to attract public outcry and wide condemnation, has left much to be desired. With the intriguing drama, the university authority and the state government in their claim of ownership of the properties resorted to legal battle. The contentious legal battle in suit number B/74/2013, had dragged on till December 16, 2014, when a High Court sitting in Benin, the state capital, delivered its judgment in favour of the state government. The verdict delivered by Justice E. O. Ahamioje, which copies were made available to journalists stated in part: “I, accordingly direct the 1st Claimants (UNIBEN) and person claiming

The university obtained a stay of execution order, and two days after the court ruling, the state government sent thugs to forcefully eject one of our members...

by or through her to vacate the 16 properties stated in the schedule hereunder and give up possession forthwith to the Defendants.” Equipped with the verdict in its favour, the state government was alleged to have swung to action on January 5, 2015 to take full possession of the alleged properties by forcefully implementing the court judgment by demolishing some of the structures on the land to send a wrong signal to the university authority in order to send the UNIBEN workers packing. Infuriated by the development, the university workers’ unions, led by ASUU took to the streets to protest the demolition of their properties, alleging that the action of the state government has inflicted untold pains on them and the university. Also affected were the properties of the immediate past ViceChancellor, Prof. Godwin Osayuki Oshodin, who like other workers lost their personal effects and vital documents demolition exercise which was alleged to be supervised by the governor. However, the Chairman of the university’s chapter of ASUU, Prof. Anthony Monye-Emina has faulted the action of the governor,

particularly when the university through its counsel had secured a stay of execution order on the case. The order, according to him, would have been heard in the Appeal Court last month, even as he accused Oshiomhole of ”taking the law into his hands” by ordering the demolition of the buildings and structures on the land. The union leader recalled that the university had on December 17, last year appealed against the judgment on the disputed properties. Addressing journalists during the protest, he said: “The university obtained a stay of execution order, and two days after the court ruling, the state government sent thugs to forcefully eject one of our members and beat him and his family members. Governor Oshiomhole, personally led the thugs to pull down the buildings while the occupants were in the buildings. “The governor wants to take back those properties with force. By that action, we feel that this is taking the law into his hands too far and that is why we are on the streets to tell the world about the CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Education

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ekiti varsity gets research grants

kiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti has become one of the five beneficiaries of a research grant valued at $11,875 US Dollars from a Switzerland-based organization, Aztraszeneca. EKSU, a statement by the spokesman for the university, Mr. Olubunmi Ajibade, Deputy Registrar, Information and Protocols, said qualified for the foreign grants out of over 80 applications received by the organisation from top ranked universities and research institutes across the globe from which the final five universities were selected based on merit. Speaking on the university’s successful application, Prof. Diran Famurewa, a Microbiologist and leader of the Principal Investigator, said he is leading a team of

Virologists to conduct a research on “Contribution of Saffold Virus to Acute Flaccid Paralysis of Unknown Origin.” This research work has now received the support of AZTRAZENECA, which would provide financial backing to the university to complete the research work. Receiving members of the team in his office, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Patrick Oladipo Aina lauded the commitment of the research team under Famurewa leadership. The Vice-Chancellor thanked AZTRAZENECA and assured its management that the fund would be used judiciously, even as he challenged other members of academic staff to attract global funding and attention to the university.

Ajimobi, others disagree on state of schools Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ontrary to insinuations in some quarters in Oyo State that there are more private schools than public schools, depicting lopsidedness in the education sector, the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has said that private schools could not boast of the number of schools controlled by the government. Speaking during the governorship debate organised by the Radio Nigeria, in Ibadan, which was anchored by the Zonal Director, Mr. Oyetunji Ogunwale, where no fewer than six governorship candidates participated, the governor said it was impossible to stop the establishment of private schools, but that his administration had taken steps to revamp the public education sector in many ways. While noting that many parents and guardians now prefer public schools to private ones in the state, Ajimobi said: “This administration has improved on the education sector in the state. From the record we have, the number of pupils in public schools in the state has risen to 1,333,000. How many pupils can the private schools boast of ? We cannot stop people from establishing private schools, but what we can do is to improve on the standard of our public schools,” the governor explained. The candidates that participated in the debate beamed live include those of the Peoples Democratic Party, Teslim Folarin; Social Democratic Party, Seyi Makinde; Action Alliance, Taiwo Otegbeye; All Progressives Grand Alliance candidate, Samson Olalere; and Olayiwola Olaide of the KOWA Party.

Ajimobi

Folarin, who disagreed with Ajimobi on the state of the education sector, however insisted that a state of emergency should be declared in the sector, with a view to urgently addressing the rot in the system. Makinde regretted that the state which was once the heart-beat of the nation in terms of provision of qualitative education with the establishment of various education institutions in Ibadan, the state capital, such as the University of Ibadan (UI), the first university in the country, lamented that the glory had since disappeared as a result of underfunding of education by the state government. Otegbeye however, expressed pessimism that the state would not achieve excellence in education, if the old ways were being used to solve modern problems. To this end, he pointed out that the sector needed revolutionary change in the areas of infrastructural provision and motivation of teachers. Olalere, who in his remarks, insisted on his claim that there were more private schools than public schools in the state, said there was the urgent need to ensure that teachers are not only well remunerated, but should be encouraged to register their children in public schools.

Minister donates N.5m to UNN dept

L-r: Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, UNN, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Dr. Valerie-Janet Ogonna Azinge , Dr. Musa Babayo; Mallam Shekarau, and Prof. Ozumba at the 44th convocation of the university.

rom his pocket, the Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekerau, has donated N500, 000 to the Department of Theatre and Film Studies of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). This is just as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba also lifted the department with N100,000. The money was donated by the duo shortly after watching the Convocation Drama, titled: “Wake Up Everyone,” staged by the students as part of activities marking the 44th convocation ceremony of the university. The drama, directed by Ndubuisi Nnanna, a lecturer

Mojeed Alabi

he Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the body saddled with the responsibility of developing curriculum for the nation’s basic and secondary schools, Prof. Godswill Obioma, has described as unnecessary the calls by stakeholders that History should be made compulsory as a subject of study from primary to secondary schools levels. Obioma, in an interview with New Telegraph, said as long as other subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Commerce and Government, among others, are not be made compulsory for pupils, they cannot also be compelled to study History in schools. The NERDC boss, who described school curriculum as very competitive, denied the insinuation that History is no longer taught in schools, adding that at the basic and junior secondary school levels, it has been incorporated in other subjects such as Social Studies and Civic Education. He said: “I think saying that History is no longer taught is a miscommunication because it is being taught in the senior secondary school level. History is taught in the field of Humanities where you also have Government, Literature-

in the Department, centred on the dangers of climate change and the apathy of government in promoting adaptation and mitigation strategies to cushion the effects of the global trend on citizens. The performance was adapted from a play written by Dr. Greg Mbajiorgu, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, and a dramatist with ecological concern. Responding after the performance, the Minister thanked the Vice-Chancellor for organising the show as part of reception in his honour. “These students have made

my night, with what I have witnessed here, Mr. Vice-Chancellor, you have done my convocation,” Shekarau said According to the Minister, the play did not only sensitise the audience on the issue of climate change, but also depicted the level of abandonment the people experience when they elect wrong people to represent them. Shekerau, who stressed that the gesture is to encourage the students and strengthen the department for enhanced performance, urged Nigerians to be more concerned about the people they elected to represent them.

NERDC boss on why History cannot be compulsory in schools

Obioma

in-English, among others. But in the basic system, that is, the primary and junior secondary school levels, History is incorporated into Social Studies. For instance, in Basic Science and Technology, we don’t teach Physics, Chemistry and Biology in basic schools, where Basic Science and Technology is being taught as a condition point to learn the basic rudiments of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. “So, at the primary school level, we teach Social Studies

and Civic Education where History is interrelated with Geography and Economics, among others, as a way of building background for them. “However, we are currently trying to disarticulate History from Social Studies and Civic Education and make it a distinct subject for primary school pupils. This is because at the primary level, the contents are completely different because in primary school we all learnt History as a single subject but because of development in content curriculum, History became integrated into Social Studies. We are now currently working on making it a distinct subject for primary school pupils.” The Professor of Education and Mathematics sought the support and cooperation of stakeholders in the implementation of the newly improved curriculum, saying the development was aimed at addressing some identified deficiencies in the system. He added: “You will recall that for the senior secondary we did not have entrepreneurship studies in the curriculum before but has been incorporated now and also Life Skill. Now, Civic Education is a compulsory subject.”

Education | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Private varsities deserve TETfund intervention, says Bingham varsity VC cruiting lecturers of repute in all the departments. We are working towards meeting the percentages that we have put in already. We require 25 per cent of the senior cadre which comprises professors and the associate professors, 55 per cent senior lecturers to Lecturer II, we are also talking about the 45 that will give us the hundred per cent from Lecturer II to Graduate Assistant. What we have done so unique is that in each department we are offering automatic employment to three best students as Graduate Assistants. Basically, the strategy is to see that before the next four or five years they would have risen to a level whereby we could say, by the time we are leaving here, that they have become the fulcrum of the university’s development and growth.

Prof. Samuel Leonard Kursim, a former Director of International Studies at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos is the Vice-Chancellor of Bingham University, Keffi. In this interview with YEKEEN NURUDEEN, he laments the exclusion of private universities from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) intervention, arguing that fees charged by private universities would reduce if they benefit How would you assess your first year in office as the vice-chancellor of this university? Well, self-assessment is always difficult but I would say it has been a wonderful experience since I assumed office a year ago. I met the university in a condition I felt was unsatisfactory and so in the last 12 months we have been working round the clock to put things together. I would say I give myself a pass mark because I have the management, members of staff and students who have been so supportive behind me and we have worked assiduously over this period. Certain infrastructures that were not here before have been put in place. The standard of the university has risen remarkably; the atmosphere is becoming cordial and conducive while the campus is also becoming a place of honour. People are beginning to know that there is a university around here because they can now feel its impact in terms of corporate social linkages. As a faith-based university would you say the institution is keeping faith with its mandate? Of course, the university is a faith-based university and one of its kinds in the Northern part of the country. Its vision s to transform young men and women into well knowledgeable and skill-driven personalities based on Christ-centred life. We are beginning to witness the realisation of this aspiration because our students are fast becoming total people, who are grounded in academics, spiritual, moral and skills for sustainable self-reliance. We are working assiduously to see that they understand what the university stands for; as a university with a difference with the focus to produce total men and women equipped to serve Jesus

Kursim

Christ and humanity in the way that it will glorify God and also dignify humanity. Some years ago, the students protested over non-availability of some essential utility on campus such as water and electricity. What went wrong? Yes, we came and learned about the ugly incident and what happened. It was a sad development really and from what I gathered it was due to the breakdown of the few boreholes that served the campus at that time. Be that as it may, it was a lesson to learn from. When we came on board, we said to ourselves that in a 21st Century university we shouldn’t experience that kind of problem. Even in places where you don’t have rivers, it is a matter of good planning to ensure that basic facilities like water and electricity are provided on campus. On assumption of office, we had had our own strategy from the onset. We thought we have a lot of aquifer around the university. If you know the university well, it is surrounded by small streams and the terrain is so fascinating that water should not be a problem if these streams and the underground water are well-managed. We have also built good relationship with the Electricity Distribution Company oversee-

ing the university’s jurisdiction.

It is also sad that the Federal Government collects taxes from the private sector to fund public universities, but living out the private universities in the support

What is the accreditation status of the 13 academic programmes currently run by the university? Yes, they are all accredited but they are not all fully accredited. Usually, academic programmes could either have interim accreditation or full accreditation. This means that when it is interim accreditation, it requires two years for re-evaluation while full accreditation has a five year life span before it would be due for re-evaluation by the National Universities Commission (NUC). However, we are still undergoing the final accreditation process for the Medical Sciences, which we are sure that we will scale through this time.. As soon as we are fully accredited, we will begin to run additional courses than we are doing currently. With the accreditation, courses such as Bachelor of Science Nursing, Laboratory Technology, Pharmacy and Postgraduate programmes will be introduced. We have done a lot in getting our academic programmes accredited. In those we have interim accreditation, we believe that before the year runs out, we will invite the NUC and other stakeholders to come and evaluate the programmes with a view to securing their full accreditation. We have done a major work in re-

Does the university have any entrepreneurial training plan that will equip the students with relevant skills that will make them self-reliant before graduation? Since my assumption of office, one of the major areas that have prompted our resolve to make the university more relevant is the issue of entrepreneurship programme. In the recent times, I have been talking with the Director in charge of Entrepreneurship Development at the NUC and she has linked us up with one organisation that has been assisting us regarding the development of the programme. And indeed, very soon we are going to put in place something that will be one of its kinds in a Nigerian university. We are talking about giving our students computer knowledge irrespective of their primary areas of study. Prior to this, it is a policy in the university that all students must have a laptop. And to advance this policy further, we have built and equipped the Computer and ICT Department through the support of the Nasarawa State Government with over 250 computers. Besides, we have a well developed e-learning centre is that equipped with computers, where our lecturers no matter their location in the world could teach their students through a virtual class, which is an exchange platform put in place in collaboration with the ICT University in the United States of America. What would you say has been a major research breakthrough of the university? So far, I won’t say emphatically that there is any breakthrough in our research efforts, but I can confidently say that we are working towards making the university a research centre. It was amazing to discover on my assumption of office that over the last six years, members of academic staff have not been attending conferences both locally and internationally. The first CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Education

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Winners of 6th Lagos school quiz challenge emerge Mojeed Alabi

abeeb Musa and 16-yearold Mariam Lamidi pupils of the State Senior High School, Ikeja have emerged winners of this year’s edition of the annual Brighter Rewarding Future (BRF) Quiz Competition in the Senior School category. The duo defeated the pair of Mubarak Mohammed and Qudus Alabi of Sango Senior Secondary School, Agege with two points. Habeeb and Lamidi won the yearly contest instituted by the Lagos State Ministry of Education with 12 points to 10 points. The pupils are among winners of the various categories of this year’s edition of the annual quiz competition, held at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, where hundreds of primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools pupils with their teachers and principals gathered to cheer and celebrate the winners. In the competition, Ismail Quadri and Tunde Olowu of Angus Memorial Senior High School, Somolu came third, while in the Junior Second-

ary School category, FESTAC Junior College, represented by 14-year-old Michael Abasi-Ifkere and 13-year-old Jimoh Iyanu-Oluwa scored 20 points to emerge winners of that category, defeating Government Junior College, Ketu-Epe, which was represented by 13-year-old Patricia Imarhia and 11-year-old Adetayo Adefarasin, who came second. Community Nursery and Primary School, Ojo, which had Rachael Ayodele and Stella Ogugua as representative emerged winners in the Primary School Category beating the pairs of Chisom Anyigor and Samuel Salami of Maidan Primary School, Kosofeto second position. Hussey Military Primary School, Yaba, represented by Khadri Adekanbi and Great Ofotokun came third in that category In the Best Individual Mathematics Category, Mubarak Mohammed of Sango Senior Secondary School, Agege came first, beating his schoolmate, Martins Ogundele and Master Habeeb Musa of State Senior High School, Ikeja to second and third position respectively. Meanwhile, for the first time in the

annals of the six-year competition, the scope was extended to special schools with Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home, Bariga, which were represented by 17-yearold Jadesola Mogaji and 15-year-old Taiwo Omotosho emerged winners, defeating the duo of Solomon Omere and Eke Aleshi of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Nigeria and Adaobi Nwobi and Raiwi Uche of National Orthopaedic School, Igbobi to the second and third positions respectively. The Education Commissioner, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, while congratulating the winners and pupils, explained that the competition was instituted as a tool for the development of the minds of the pupils in order to make them competent, effective and responsible. She said: “The competitions also aimed at creating a healthy rivalry among pupils of public and private primary, junior and senior secondary schools across the state. I am happy to report that the competition has indeed gained ground and has become so popular such that the level of awareness among the pupils is awesome.”

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Education Ministry, Mrs. Omolara Erogbogbo; Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King; Habeeb; Oladunjoye; Mariam, and the Special Adviser to Gov. Babatunde Fashola on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga.

AUN set to win $1m Hult prize

Dr. Ensign

merican University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State has advanced to the regional finals of the sixth annual Hult Prize. With this, the university stands to win the $1 million prize in startup funding, in which more than 4,000 entries were received. The AUN team in this year’s competition includes Hafsat Adamu, Blessing

Douglas, and Lucy Okonkwo, who were offered a place to compete, and the team was the only one from the country to advance to the Dubai stage of the competition. According to the AUN President, Dr. Margee Ensign, “Part of what qualified us for this stage is our university’s development mission and commitment to fostering development in our region and the continent, as well as the students’ strong and longstanding record of academic excellence, and community engagement.” An instructor in Business & Entrepreneurship, Fardeen Dodo, who coached the last year’s team, said the competition will enrich the students’ college experience. “Apart from the competition, he said the students

will benefit from several workshops, networking and entrepreneurial learning events run by a number of professionals and trailblazing global experts, including Stuart Fleming of Enviroserve, Garett Awad of the Scholl Centre of Entrepreneurship, Ali Edrissi of JP Morgan (UK), and Khaled Gazawi, the CEO of Grameen-Jameel.” However, Dodo described the competition as a “demonstration of how far our students are ready to go, to action up our vision of development and commitment to addressing the longstanding social challenges that confront Nigeria and Africa at large.” In partnership with President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Global Initiative, the innovative pro-

gramme is aimed at solving the planet’s most pressing challenges. On the competition’s modalities, he pointed out that the student teams will compete in six cities around the world for a chance to secure the $1 million prize money meant to launch a sustainable social venture. He said: “The 2015 Hult Prize will focus on building start-ups that provide sustainable, high quality, and early education solutions to 10 million children under the age of six in urban slums and beyond by 2020. This year’s challenge was selected and set by President Bill Clinton, who said: “The Hult Prize is about more than the solution to the problem; it is about how the world has to work in the 21st Century.”

Private varsities deserve TETfund intervention CONT INU E D FROM PAGE 26

thing we did despite our limited resources was to sponsor four staff members to international conferences, and several others to local conferences. We are at the moment working hard to ensure that many of our staff benefit from international and local conferences which will be beneficial to the university on the long run. As I speak now, the management is setting aside between N20 and N25 million as the research fund. The newly appointed Director of Research and Planning, Prof. Nana is working assiduously to see what we can do in terms of raising the awareness for research as well as put those concerned on their toes. What efforts are private universities making to ensure they benefit from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention? It is sad to mention that the policy makers particularly, those who are saddled with the responsibility of implementing our education policy are not aware that both private and public universities produce graduates who go into the public and private sector of the economy, and who also compete in the same labour market. It is also sad that the Federal Government collects taxes from the private sector to fund public universities, but living out the private universities in the support. The TETFund intervention is supposed to go round every university whether public or private. The graduates we all produce go to the same market where the public universities go, even in many cases, many of our graduates work in public universities. Secondly, we are also saying that the government is leveraging public sector universities with almost 80 per cent. While the government spends about N6 to N8 million to augment study cost of a graduate for four years in a public universities, the private sector only collects probably between N500,000 and N600,000 as school fees which in four years will amount to about N2.5 or N3 million maximum. If the government, for instance, gives private universities only 20 per cent of what it gives public universities, our school fees will go down drastically, while more opportunities will be created for young people seeking university education and hence private universities will be more competitive than the public ones. Of course, the private universities have not been folding their arms, we have been advocating for a reversal of the policy that neglects the private university. We pray that the policy makers will one day see some senses in our position. Collectively, we are working on this and we have written to the government that certain percentage of TETFund resources should go to the private universities. We are not making profits; rather we are making efforts to bridge the gap in the falling standard in university education. I want to also encourage proprietors of private universities to see the need why they should go ahead and fund their universities not minding the government’s nonsupporting posture.

Education

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Race for Cowbell King or Queen of maths begins Kayode Olanrewaju

ho will be crowned as the 2015 King or Queen of Mathematics in secondary schools in the coun-

try? This will soon be unveil as this year’s edition of the 2015 Cowbell National Secondary Schools Mathematics Competition (NASSMAC), organised by Promasidor Nigeria Limited, has been flagged off. Instituted in 1998 in Lagos by Promasidor Nigeria Limited, a dairy company and manufacturers of Cowbell brand of milk, the Mathematics competition, which entered its 15th edition, this year, became a national contest in 2001, covering the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. While flagging off this year’s edition of the competition at a press conference held at the Isolo, Lagos corporate head office of the company, its Managing Director, Mr. Olivier Thiry, said the first stage examination will take place on Saturday March 14 at 189 centres in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory. No fewer than three states were exempted from participating in this year’s edition as a result of the rising cases of insurgence in some part of the northern states. The affected states, according to the Head of Marketing, Promasidor Nigeria, Mr. Festus Tettey, include Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. The decision to drop the states, he noted, was in line with the corporate social responsibility initiative of the company not to endanger the lives of the students, in view of rising activities of the Boko Haram sect in the region. Addressing journalists, he said the competition is open to all students between the ages of 10 and 18 years

Solarin, Thiry and Tettey at the briefing

in Junior Secondary School (JSS III) and Senior Secondary School (SS II) attending full-time secondary education in government approved schools in the country. To qualify for the competition, Tettey, who hinted that the best three students in junior and senior categories will represent each school, added that the schools and pupils could obtain the registration forms from all Promasidor Depots Pan Nigeria; Promasidor Headquarters in Isolo; state Ministries of Education; Neo Media and Marketing Limited or download online at www.promasidor-ng.com Tettey said the officials of the states’ Ministries of Education and Promasidor staff will be present at each centre to supervise the conduct of the examinations, even as he assured them that the result of the first stage examination will be available to the public on the company’s website as from May 20. For the second stage, which has

been modified, Tettey said there will be a quiz and that a total of 54 candidates from each category will qualify for that stage, explaining that to be among the 54 students, the best 20 students in each category will be picked nationally irrespective of their states; while the remaining 34 students will be drawn from all the 33 states and Abuja. “This selection will ensure that at least one representative is picked from each state,” he said. The best three students in each category at the state level will receive a cash prize of N25,000, N20,000, and N15,000 for the first, second and third positions respectively. This year’s King or Queen of NASSMAC will go home with N750,000 cash prize, a medal and a trophy as well as an all-expenses paid vacation to an African country; while the first and second runners-up will receive N500,000 and N250,000, a medal and a trophy respectively.

UNESCO canvasses support for open varsity system Mojeed Alabi

he United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has expressed dismay that about 1.2 million young Nigerians who qualified for admission into the nation’s tertiary institutions in the 2013/2014 academic session, were unable to secure space in the institutions. This is even as the global organisation described the development as alarming, but redeemable. UNESCO, which noted that only about 400,000 candidates out of 1.6 million candidates that sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted yearly by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) were able to secure admission, therefore expressed support for open and distance learning system, and the online system of education. Speaking at a workshop organised for the staff and management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Lagos, the Resource Person to UNESCO on Open Education Resources

Tenebe

and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), Abel Cain said the statistics was derived from the National Bureau of Statistics as well as the federal and state ministries of education. For the country to overcome the challenge of limited access to tertiary education, he stressed the need for the nation to support and strength the open and distance learning system. According to Abel, virtually all the leading universities in the world, including Harvard University and University of Yale, among others, have adopted MOOCs as a way of opening up access

to all categories of students. He, however, suggested that for a developing nation such as Nigeria, NOUN with its 60 centres across all the nooks and crannies of the country should be supported with adequate facilities, while governmental and non-governmental agencies should accorded its students and graduates the desired respect and honour. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe said the university is partnering UNESCO to improve its delivery performance by linking up its staff with modern operational tools and facilities. Tenebe, who insisted that every student of the university must be computer literate, noted that the university over the years has evolved a proper interactive method between the students and their lecturers. As a member of the African Council of Distance Education (ACDE) and the International Council of Distance Education (ICDE), he said NOUN is complying with global standard of open and distance education system, and that it has been positioned to improve the system in order to compete favourably with international organisations.

Apart from the cash prize, the winners will also receive Cowbell branded souvenirs such as school bags, Tshirts, pens, notebooks and certificates of recognition, while the Mathematics teachers of the first prize winners will get N15,000 in each state for both senior and junior categories. For the Benson Oweka Memorial Prize, instituted in memory of the late Benson Oweka, the Brand Manager of Cowbell Milk, who died 12 years ago, in a plane crash in Kano, the prize would go to the school with the most consistent and outstanding performance over a three year period. This year’s edition will be between 2013 and 2015. “Promasidor Nigeria Limited, through our flagship brand, Cowbell Milk has remained committed to our passion towards improving the overall performance of Nigerian students in mathematics while nourishing our tomorrow’s leaders with wholesome healthy brands,” Thiry said. While enumerating the objectives of the competition, the Managing Director said NASSMAC was instituted to awaken the consciousness and interest in mathematics among secondary school students in the country; improve students’ performance in Mathematics Pan-Nigeria competition; create a credible platform for identifying outstanding students and encouraging excellence in Mathematics; as well as to nourish the dreams of Nigerian children. The Director-General of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Prof. Adewale Solarin, lauded the competition, saying it is part of Promasidor’s contribution towards the Federal Government’s efforts at achieving technological development for the country. He pledged the support of the centre for the accomplishment of the overall objectives of the competition.

OAU, BUK, others to begin courses in environmental Health Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

ollowing the successful development of its benchmark academic standards, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has declared its intention to re-introduce Environmental Health Science programme into the Nigerian university system. This is even as the commission said Bayero University, Kano (BUK); Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife and the Nnamdi Azikwe University (UNIZIK), Akwa have been selected to commence the pilot phase of the programme, while other universities would begin as they satisfy the criteria for the commencement after the resource verification by NUC. This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, when he received the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHOREGON), led by former Head of Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi. According to Okojie, the programme would domicile

in a department that has adequate manpower and facilities to ensure that the students are properly trained. He, however, advised the delegation to embark on aggressive advocacy to sensitise and enlighten the public on its activities. This was as he assured the delegation of the Commission’s readiness to partner not only with organisations and individuals who are working towards the transformation of the nation’s university system, but also for the development of the country as a whole. While responding, Afolabi explained that the visit was to appreciate NUC for the development of undergraduate BMAS programme in Environmental Health Science. He noted that such an effort would go a long way in complementing the commitment of the Council in ensuring the development of environmental health professionals who would enforce the policy on preventive, rather than curative health system, as well as bridge the gap between environmental health officers and other health practitioners in the country.

Education

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

How land tore UNIBEN, Edo govt apart C O N T I N UE D F R O M PA G E 2 3

threat to our lives and property as being perpetrated by the state government.” Piqued by the development, the students in solidarity with their lecturers also took to the streets to condemn the government’s action by barricading the dual carriage way at Ugbowo end of the Lagos-Benin Road. The students were alleged to have set ablaze two buses belonging to the state government during the violent protest in front of the university’s main gate. Counsel to the university, Hannibal Uwaifo, in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, argued that the institution had appealed the high court ruling, which granted it a stay of execution on the matter on December 19, and which was served the Attorney-General of the state, Mr. Henry Idahagbon. Uwaifo, who lamented that the state government lacked the justification to forcefully evict the occupants, especially, as “all constitutional guaranteed means of appeals are yet to be exhausted, noted that “his cli-

ents have exercised all diligence towards exercising its right of appeal.” The counsel stressed: “It is a case in which the state government and its proxies know that they stand very slim chance of success on the appeal. Hence, they resorted to intimidation, harassment, threat to lives and all other forms of illegal devices with the hope that our clients will be cowed into abandoning its appeal.” According to him, “It really beats our imagination why a party that has obtained a favourable court judgment would choose to acquire the ‘fruits’ of the judgment in the matter that threatens the sanctity of the rule of law of which the courts are the first agents.” Meanwhile, the institution has described as misleading the claim by the state government that the university collected rent for the properties. In an advertorial signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Osasere Orumwense, the university declared that the buildings were not being occupied by retired staff as alleged by the government. The advertorial read in part:

Oshiomhole

“The Governor of Edo State’s claim in his several presentations to the public that the university was collecting rents on the properties are not only misleading, but are maliciously wicked and completely falsehood.” The statement added: “The university also wishes to correct the statement credited to the Edo State governor that the quarters were not being in use and that many of them were occupied by retired members of staff of the university. This

allegation is lacking in any credibility. The University of Benin has always maintained that when assets and liabilities of the defunct Bendel State were shared between Edo and Delta States, these university quarters were not among the assets shared to any of the two states because the properties were known and accepted as Federal Government/UNIBEN properties. We challenge the Edo State Government to contradict this with evidence.” But in his reaction, the governor noted that the university had been served a three years notice by the state government on the takeover of the properties shortly after the court declared it winner of the case instituted by the university. Oshiomhole asserted that as a governor he is vested with the duty and responsibility to protect all properties belonging to the people of the state and holds such properties in trust on behalf of the state government. The governor said: “As the governor of this state, I have the responsibility and duty to protect the interest and assets of Edo State and those properties are not in the name of any in-

dividual. They are in the name of Edo State Government and we cannot fold our hands and allow individuals to continue to occupy the properties belonging to Edo State Government and paying rents to the wrong authority. I remain firm that if the interest of Edo State is involved, I must stand firm and execute it without fear or favour and that is exactly what we have done.” The governor added: “There are many of the lecturers, who have retired and are no longer in the employment of the University of Benin, but who are still occupying some of these properties. They have lived there for the past 30 years and having retired from UNIBEN several years ago, yet they are occupying these properties. Is this in line with public service rule? Are these properties meant to be retirement benefits? However, they have occupied these properties without paying any rent to Edo State Government.” Oshiomhole, however, recalled further that prior to his assumption of office as governor of the state, the Federal Government, had in line with the policy of monetization, abolished provision of official quarters and official cars for certain categories of public officers and they were being paid in lieu of either official quarters or cars.”

Council, management bid Mimiko, AAUA ex-VC, farewell Babatope Okeowo Akure

he Governing Council, management, staff and students of the Adekunle Ajasin Univesity, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), last week bade the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Femi Mimiko farewell for serving the university meritoriously for five years. It was a farewell reception organized in his honour by members of the university governing council, led by the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council, Ambassador Oladele Akadiri. Setting the tone of the reception, Prof Funso Akere, a Professor of English and a former Vice-Chancellor of the university under whose administration, Mimiko served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, described Mimiko as part of the success achieved by his administration. “As my deputy, we together faced the task of rebuilding the university and laying the foundation of progressive leadership,” he said. Akere added: “Prof Mimiko needs to be celebrated for his leadership qualities and tactics which brought to bear on the administration of the university. With prudent management of the financial resources provided by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the state government, I am told and I am sure that you can attest to it that he (Mimiko) executed a lot of projects in the university.” According to him, some of the projects executed by Mimiko’s administration include a network of access roads on campus, an ultra-modern Senate building, 30 units of lecture rooms in the same location, three lecture theatres of 500 and 600-capacity each, a well-equipped university library, a modern university health centre, the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge, the central laboratory, sport centre pavilion and

NDDC Commissioner, Hon. Benson Amuwa, Mimiko, his wife, Bose and Gov. Mimiko

new staff school. He listed other projects to include solar powered campus street lighting, purchase of tricycles for campus shuttle and refurbishment of most buildings on campus, saying Mimiko through his aggressive developmental stride has changed the physical structures and the landscape of the university, which has now become the cynosure of all eyes as a modern university of the 21st Century in terms of infrastructural and academic development. To Akere, though some members of academic and non-academic staff might complain of Mimiko’s tough stand sometimes on staff agitation and occasional misdemeanor, this is to be expected if a leader is to achieve results by not tolerating unnecessary opposition and dissent. He added that Mimiko deserved a standing ovation for what he did in the university for the past five years. Mimiko, who was flanked by his wife, Bose; the Ondo State Governor and Visitor to the university, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; his successor, Prof Ajibefun and the Council Chair, Ambassador Akadiri, was nearly moved to tears as he was eulogised by the various speakers for his meritorious service to the

institution as a lecturer, Deputy ViceChancellor, Acting Vice-Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor between 2010 and January 4, this year, when he bowed out of office. Other speakers who extolled Mimiko’s sterling achievements and quality leadership include the principal officersof the university, management staff, members of the university Senate, top government functionaries, members of academic and non-academic staff as well as family members, other well-wishers and friends of the university. According to them, Mimiko had not only transformed the university in terms of physical structures and changed the mental attitude of members of the university community; he had also placed the university among the Ivy League of world universities. Prof. Sunday Amuseghan, Dean, Faculty of Education, in his remarks, showered encomium on Mimiko for the extra-ordinary success and achievements recorded by the university under his administration. Extolling the virtues of the former Vice-Chancellor, the Visitor to the university, Governor Olusegun Mimiko applauded him for justifying the con-

fidence reposed in him by appointing him Vice-Chancellor, and for being a worthy ambassador of their family. He said Mimiko (his brother) has demonstrated quality leadership in the university, named after the Second Republic Governor of the old Ondo State, the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, without compromising standard. He stressed that the state government deliberately ensured access through introduction of affordable school fees to quality education and health services without compromising standard, thus settling the age-long conflict between access and quality service in the state. The governor assured the new ViceChancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun of the government’s continuous support to sustain the standard of excellence in the university. The Visitor said: “Despite the shrinking resources, we will still do what is necessary to sustain the existing standard. We will give the Vice-Chancellor the necessary support. I will not send any name to you (VC) for admission or for staff promotion. We will support you to continue on the merit-driven admission of the institution.” The governor also pledged that the government would rally round the Governing Council to enable it make meaningful impact on the university. The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, lauded the immediate past Vice-Chancellor for achieving the most significant feat for the university, noting that the rating of AAUA as best state university in the country by the United States Transparency International Standards in 2014, was not unconnected with the modest efforts of the Mimiko-led administration. In his remarks on behalf of the university community, the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, thanked the Governing Council for organising the befitting farewell reception and dinner for his predecessor.

Education

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Oladele Oge UNN

don at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Ikechukwu Onwurah has called on the Federal Government to accord

Ogun students condemn governor over bursary Zainab Balogun LASPOTECH

he students of Ogun State origin under the umbrella body of the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) have threatened the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, that unless their bursary were paid, they would be forced to vote against the governor’s second term ambition. In a statement by the body and signed by its National President, Ajibola Opaogun, the association lamented the state of education in the Gateway State, saying the sector had been characterised by series of industrial actions by workers since the governor took over almost four years ago. According to Opaogun, a 500-Level undergraduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, the governor had in July last year said the bursary would be paid by August, but had since reneged on his pledge. He said the association has written severally to the government without response, alleging the governor of focusing on his re-election campaign at the detriment of the education sector. The statement read in part: “Our tertiary institutions have been suffering under the leadership of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and we, the umbrella body of Ogun State students nationwide have made endless efforts to ensure the payment of the students’ bursary but to no avail. “Very recently, we receive a notification about the signing of the bursary by the governor but we later got to know that he has refused to release fund for the payment which we categorise as deceit. We, therefore, warn that if the governor refuses to accede to our request, we will not hesitate to use our votes to speak in unison.” Meanwhile, the association has also called on its members to shun electoral violence, warning them against being used by those it described as selfish politicians to achieve their selfish interest.

Don seeks support for environmental protection rural environmental protection adequate recognition in the scheme of national development. The lecturer, who condemned the low level of recognition currently given to the sector, also tasked the government to be aware of the role of some actors in the society with a view to enact legislation that will control negative activities. Ikechukwu made this appealed in his welcome address at the three-day international conference, organised by the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

(SETAC) of the University of Nigeria, held at the Princess Alexandra Hall of the institution. The don, who highlighted the importance of the conference in his paper entitled: “The Sustainable Environmental Compliance Monitoring (ECM) Framework; The Role of Government,” charged the government at various levels not to despair in their efforts at finding lasting solutions to the numerous environmental and ecological problems facing Nigerian communities. He said this had become

The participants at the event

necessary in order to improve academic strength and consequently address the environmental health

problems of the people. The theme of the conference was: “Industry, agriculture and environ-

mental sustainability: the role of environmental toxicology and chemistry research in Africa.”

Education

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

UNIZIK graduate hinges entrepreneurship success on diligence Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

fresh graduate of Law at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Universitry (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State and publisher of Aluta newspaper, Agu David, has said that all an entrepreneur needs to succeed in his enterprise are strong enthusiasm for business and a relentless spirit. He disclosed this during the grand finale of a programme organised to encourage and equip young entrepreneurs with skills to succeed in their businesses. The theme of the workshop, which took place at the main auditorium of the university, was: “Entrepreneurship: A Tool for Repositioning the Nigerian Economy.” While welcoming participants to the programme, Agu expressed worry over the pathetic situation of the country in which many graduates are churned out yearly into the unemployment market. He decried what he described as impoverished mentality of the youth who have the erroneous belief that there are already made jobs for them, while calling for a revolution of their mindset. “Our youths should learn to be job creators instead of job seekers as this is the only way to salvage the country from its deplorable unemployment situation,” Agu said. According to him, the programme was initiated as part of his own way of developing entrepreneurial spirit in the youth, especially students of tertiary institutions who are on the verge of joining the labour market on graduation. Agu, while recounting his personal experience, recalled how as a student he initiated some business ventures, which include the establishment of a magazine, The Aluta Newspaper, which he is still

publishing. He said despite the fact that he invested more than what was realised from the newspaper at its formation stage on the paper, he was not deterred but rather was spurred to invest more as a result of his passion for the publication, as well as the joy that the venture was able to engage some youths constructively. About N1 million was presented to some of the participants during the propgramme, who were winners of the various innovation contest on cold water custard making, leather belts making, bags and shoes, writing of story books, artworks, pastries, which have creative slants that are aimed at giving the young entrepreneurs an edge in the market. To win the startup fund, a panel of judges was appointed to drill the contestants who qualified for the last stage of the competition which was based on several criteria including originality of the products, convincing ability and creativity. Other high point of the event was the launch of the Aluta Entrepreneurs Market, a complex of free shops and offices for young entrepreneurs who cannot afford such, while Mr. Eloka Egbunike, a politician pledged his readiness to sponsor five of the contestants to a South African exhibition later in the year. Dignitaries at the event, which include Egbunike and Dr. Emmanuel Abraham, also enlightened the participants more about the rudiments of entrepreneurship, while some people who excelled in entrepreneurship in various enterprises were honoured with awards. They include the former Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Pita Ejiofor and Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, the Chief Executive Officer of Orient Communications Limited.

Some of the items presented by the young enterprenuers who contested at the event

EDUPEACE

with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)  Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

The love of leadership

igeria today faces an acute leadership crisis that has manifested in the unenviable state of the nation and our collective shame before the whole world. I always remember the aptness of the headline of an interview in the Daily Sun newspaper about a decade ago in which someone was reported to have said, “Nigeria has three problems: leadership! Leadership!! Leadership!!!” We are in the era of choosing new leaders and Nigerians are divided between seeking continuity and change. The essential thing in the choice is that values should not be compromised for valuables. Values are eternal, valuables are fleeting. It is lack of good education that makes people seek valuables at the expense of values. A BBC World Service report recently focused on how “Less is more – why getting rid of possessions can make you happier” and many educated people in the United States, according to the report, are shedding off their material possessions. Though everyone is a leader, actually or potentially, it beats one’s imagination that leaders of tomorrow do not make appropriate plans for leadership while decrying the despicable situation of today. It is easy to say that the old ones are not leaving the scene, as many students are wont to say, the question is: what values do the young ones have to add? It is those values that I want to address in the next few weeks as Nigeria seeks leaders into the various political offices. In doing this, I use the morphological approach and I consider leadership as an embodiment of ten qualities represented by the letters of the word, taken as an acronym. This means that leadership to me is the ability to combine love, excellence, action, discipline, example, responsibility, sacrifice, honesty, integrity and planning in influencing others. If you have these qualities, you are a leader; if any of them is missing, you are a dealer in deceit and you cannot be a leader! The first requirement of a leader of today and tomorrow is love. I think loving is leading as a leader pre-occupies himself with the welfare of the led. A callous,

Former AAUA student donates to motherless home Dayo Ojerinde AAUA

graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Akintan Akindele has donated some gift items to Ilu Ireti Motherless Home in Akure, the Ondo State capital. According to Akintan, who also purchased Uni-

fied Tertiary Matriculation (UTME) forms for three indigent students, the gesture was part of activities marking his birthday. Akintan, is a 2009 graduate of the Department of Business Administration, where he was the President of the National Association of Business and Administration Students (NABAMS). While receiving Akintan and others who accompanied

him to the Home, Mr. Ogunleye Richard, on behalf of the orphanage lauded him for what he described as his good gesture, even as he said it really takes a deep thought for someone to give to orphans and to celebrate a birthday with them. “Many people today will rather throw a big party to show up during their birthday, rather than remembering the less privileged. This,

he has done will go a long way to remain in the minds of the young kids,” he stressed. Items donated to the home include food items such as a bad of rice, groundnut oil, palm oil, detergent, packs of bar soap, packets of toothpaste, packets of brush, packs of higher education notebooks, packs of biros and pencils, packs of erasers and three pack of noodles, among others.

If you do not love people sufficiently, do not put yourself forward to lead them because you are a disaster waiting to happen wicked and unfeeling leader has failed the fundamental test of leadership. To be a leader, therefore, it is required that one loves others, regardless of their skin pigmentation, religious affiliation, ethnic background, social status and other sentiments. If you don’t love them, don’t aspire to lead them. Leo Buscaglia said, “Love is life and if you miss love, you miss life.” Leaders also enjoy life when they show love. The same Buscaglia also said, “The life and love we create is the life and love we live”. What life have our leaders created for themselves and Nigerians? A life of hatred and hostility! A leader must love his followers, promote, advance and protect their interests. It is the love of the people and the desire to make their lives more abundant that drive a leader. In this respect, to lead is to love and to love is to serve. In concluding his recent essay, “The Challenge of Change A Burden of Choice”, Prof. Wole Soyinka gives us a poser that borders on love as the driving force of leadership in relation to our national experience: “If you had received news of your daughter’s kidnapping, how long would it take you to spring to action? Instantly? One day? Two? Three? A week? Or maybe TEN days?” What this means is that the mettle of leadership is tested by the love demonstrated for the led. A leader is him followers what a father is to his children. This is why love and leadership are synonymous, so to say. The least the followers expect from their leader is love as well as its related components of kindness, care and compassion. If you do not love people sufficiently, do not put yourself forward to lead them because you are a disaster waiting to happen. In essence, Sri Sri RaviShanker once noted, “Leadership and love go hand-in-hand. Only a leader who loves his people naturally, selflessly and unconditionally will reap success”. Whoever does not love people, sets them against one another, fans the ember of mutual hatred and destruction is not a leader. When leadership is right, every other thing will be right. The first right step is to love!

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Energy

Property

Aviation

Bankruptcy imminent in 18 states – Investigation

Eko Atlantic developers deploy mobile app

18 states may go bankrupt – Investigation

Business What's news

FG summons Nebo over 5,000 MW power target failure The Federal Government is enraged by the incessant vandalism of pipeline and the resultant inability to meet the January deadline set to generate 5,000 Mega Watts (MW), New Telegraph gathered.

p.32

Oil price rout: Slash in Shell’s $6bn assets’ valuation imminent LENDERS First Bank, GTB lead others to bankroll $2.55 billion 45% interest in OML 29

Minister’s consent suffers further delay ing 33,000 bopd from one field and two mmscf/d of gas. OML 29, biggest of the assets, is believed to have been

won by a consortium that includes Aiteo and Taleveras. OML 29 includes the troubled Nembe Creek Trunkline,

which has been under constant attack by oil thieves in the last CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Adeola Yusuf

Nigeria, Turkey trade volume hits $2.3bn, says NACCIMA The trade volume between Nigeria and Turkey stood at $2.3 billion as at December 31, 2013, President of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has said.

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

he steep fall in the price of oil in the international market has compelled buyers of the $6 billion Shell assets in Nigeria to commission a lobby machinery to get the oil firm to slash the initial negotiated price value agreed on by the two parties before the final approval of the deal, New Telegraph has learnt. This, according to information, is liable for the delay in securing the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alision-Madueke’s approval for the assets divested by Shell. Bidders/winners of the Shell’s assets are bound by confidentiality clauses, but long time of bidding showed OML 18, to have been won by Erotron, a consortium made up of Mart Resources, Suntrust Oil and Midwestern. OML 18 produces 21,000 bopd from six fields and 12 mmscf/d of gas. Pan Ocean is understood to have put in the highest bid for OML 24, having decided to go it alone. As a long-term indigenous producer of 7,500 barrels per day from its OML 98, it had the credibility to pull off a sole bid. OML 24 has 25,000 bopd production from three fields and eight mmscf/d of gas. Essar, made up of a consortium of indigenous professionals and a leading financier, is said to have won the bid for OML 25. The block is produc-

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

L-R: General Manager, Customer Services, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Ebele Okoye; Director of Administration, Ikechi Uko, Comptroller of Immigration Service, Murtala Muhammed Int’l Airport (MMIA), Chizoba Dibi; Regional Manager, South West, FAAN, Mr. Remi Aromiwura and NDLEA Commander, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Hamzat Umar, at the FAAN Customer Service Appreciation Day/ Cancer Awareness workshop in Lagos.

Dayo Ayeyemi

his is not the best time for developers of highend residential houses in some exclusive neighborhoods in Lagos as they are being forced to slash the price of their property due to low occupancy rate, New Telegraph’s investigations revealed. While most of them are reviewing their prices downward, others have remained adamant, believing that the financial drought being faced by buyers would soon be over.

High-end property developers cut prices Some of these properties have been built for over three years without occupation. For instance, as part of measures to attract buyers, developers of Cornerstone Estate in Oregun-Lagos, have slashed the price of its duplexes and terraces. The developer is now offering 20 per cent discount off the regular

price of the houses. From N85 million and N75 million per duplex and terrace building, they are now selling at N68 million and N50 million respectively. A Lagos-based estate surveyor and valuer, Mr. Stephen Jagun, also confirmed to our CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE December 2014.........................8% November 2014........................7.9% October 2014............................8.1%

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

EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel as at Feb. 6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N209 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N310 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N237

l Foreign Reserves – $34.09bn as at 02/02/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official as at Feb. 6)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N254.46 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N191.69

Business | News

CLAMP DOWN

Federal Government heightens efforts to criminalise gas pipeline vandalism

Adeola Yusuf

he Federal Government is enraged by the incessant vandalism of pipeline and the resultant inability to meet the January deadline set to generate 5,000 Mega Watts (MW), New Telegraph gathered. A source at the Presidency told this newspaper that the Minister of Power, Professor

FG summons Nebo over 5,000 MW power target failure To clamp down on gas pipeline vandals Chinedu Nebo, who earlier made the promise of 5,000 MW generation by January, was summoned to explain the reason for his ministry’s inability to meet up with the target. According to information, the 5,000 MW power supply was expected to form a part of campaign for government and failure to meet it in January did not go down well with

Property developers cut prices CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

correspondent that other developers operating in exclusive neighbourhoods such as Banana Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island have adopted this same method. He stated that most of the developers were compelled to cut prices of their property because the supply outstrips demand in the exclusive quarters for the rich. Besides, he said that some of the landlords in Ikoyi and Lekki quarters, who used to collect their rent in foreign currency, now accept naira. Jagun, who is the Chairman of Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Lagos, blamed the current situation on the nation’s economic crunch. He said that many people were compelled to cut their spending due to the plunge in oil rev-

enue, devaluation of naira and other austerity measures introduced by government. Despite the on-going crash in property prices in most of the exclusive neighbourhoods, he said that some developers are not under any pressure to sell their property because most of them used private funds. “If they have taken loans or mortgage, they will be under pressure to sell the property in order to recover their money and pay their loans,” he said. “Many people that want to climb the ladder of the rich are incapacitated by high property prices and rent. So, the houses are vacant because these people could not graduate. There is over supply of property for the upper class. So, some of the developers have been reducing their prices.”

Slash in Shell’s $6bn assets valuation imminent CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

few years, even despite a recent $2 billion upgrade by Shell. OML 29 produces 58,000 b0pd from five fields and 20 mmscf/d of gas. It supplies gas to NLNG. Joint production from all four OMLs is about 90,000 bopd (a peak of 140,000 bopd in 2012) and 60 mmscf/d of gas but already identified routes mean production can quickly ramp up to 250,000 bopd and 150 mmscf/d. There can be no certainty of the final winners until they demonstrate their ability to fund their winning bids. Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, with a personal fortune of $20

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

billion and local firm, Sahara Energy, had also bided for the other three blocks, OMLs 18, 24 and 25. Commodity trader, Glencore, said this month it was interested in the assets. Sources said it had since backed away. Glencore officials declined to comment. The push for a cut in valuation of the assets, which delivers a huge premium to the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on the basis of current oil prices, this newspaper gathered, was buoyed by the crash in the price “as well as the naira devaluation between the time of agreement and now,” it was gathered.

Aso Rock. “The minister, accompanied by the Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), were here. They explained that the target would have been met if not for the recent incessant attacks on gas pipelines across the country,” the source said. “You should be aware that efforts have been made to secure all the lines and government is ready more than before

willing to clamp down pipeline attackers. “Everybody involved in the effort to meet the target is on his or her toes and they have been mandated to engage in media campaign to make it clear to Nigerians that the pipeline vandals are to be blamed for failure to meet the target,” he concluded. Two major supply lines; the 210,000 barrels per day Trans-Forcados and 180,000 barrels per day Trans-Niger Pipeline,

have suffered 50 attacks in the last six months. Sources said that the same fate befell Escravos pipeline, alleging that this had forced Chevron to shut Escravos gas supply, a claim, which the Spokesperson for Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Deji Haastrup, denied. Investigation by New Telegraph showed that the increased attacks on pipelines have crashed power generation and supply by over 1,000 Mega Watt (MW), a situation that has

put the Distribution Companies under criticism by millions of customers. To cushion the effects of this supply dip, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), is rationing 2,470 Mega Watts (MW) among the 12 DISCOs, which have embarked on load-shed for the use of over 50 million customers. Both the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo and the Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige, who acknowledged the power supply fall, blamed it on shortfall in power generation, which was caused by fall in gas supply to the thermal plants.

L-R: Brand and Strategy Manager, Startimes, Habeeb Somoye; Winner of Startimes end of the year Promo, Mr Bathelomia Ugele; Public Relations Manager, Startimes, Israel Bolaji and Marketing Manager, Choice International-Lontor, Mr. Peter Ayewoh, at the prize presentation of Startimes end of the year promo in Lagos.

Mutual AIDS

Bilateral trade relationship aimed at fostering cooperation between the two countries Dayo Ayeyemi

he trade volume between Nigeria and Turkey stood at $2.3 billion as at December 31, 2013, President of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has said. Abubakar, who disclosed this during the BUILDMACEX Turkish Exhibition in Lagos, said the trade statistics has continued to reveal that the balance of trade between the two countries is in favour of Turkey. He said: “As we all are aware, Nigeria’s main imports from Turkey includes clothing, food, engine and automobile parts and pharmaceuticals, while in turn, Turkey’s imports from Nigeria include sesame seeds, raw and semi-

Nigeria, Turkey trade volume hits $2.3bn, says NACCIMA processed leather, rubber and charcoal, among others.” He noted that the existence and continuous improvement in the annual growth in the volume of trade between the two countries has given the confidence that the duo have trust in each other, particularly in their products and services. The NACCIMMA boss, who was represented by his Vice, Mr. Tunji Olukoya, expressed hope of more meaningful business relationship that could be explored in the future to improve trade between the two countries. He said that one of such is “the D-8 Supervisory Commence of Preferential Trade Agreement (SC PTA) of which Nigeria and Turkey are actively participating.” This agreement, he said, has reached an advanced stage and would further strengthen other steps that have been taken in D-8 organisation to boost trading volume and economic interaction between the

countries when it finally commences. The D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, also known as Developing-8, is an organisation for development cooperation among Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey. The objectives of the D-8 are to improve member states’ position in the global economy, diversify and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision-making at international level and improve standards of living. Abubakar stressed the need to further expand and strengthen the existing relationship through the formation of joint venture investment projects. “Our Turkish counterparts could also take advantage of the friendly government policies and the abundant resources in different sectors of Nigeria’s economy to expand the existing relationship between our two countries,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Court stops sale of oil firms’ stake in OML 25 p.34

DOWNSIZE

Mass sack looms as oil firms’ profits drop by 23 per cent Stories by Adeola Yusuf

Energy

$3.3bn Egina, other projects safe from oil rout –Total p.35

18 states may go bankrupt – Investigation

ver half of the states in Nigeria face imminent bankruptcy, as the oil price rout mount more pressure of further depletion on the Excess Crude Account (ECA), New Telegraph has learnt. The imminent liquidation, which will manifest after the general elections, according to checks, is expected to hit oil-dependent states harder than their counterparts with fair mechanism for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). This came as mass sack looms in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. “There is a serious issue of insolvency in most of the states,” a source at the Presidency told this newspaper, adding: “It only requires us to conclude the forthcoming elections before they become apparent. “What you will notice is that many of them are already finding it difficult to pay workers’ salaries while they are also deferring most of their financial commitments. They will end it up by going on borrowing spree to salvage the situation,” he forecast. The 36 states of the federation had, through their counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), approached the Supreme Court over alleged retention of the ECA and the transfer of $1 billion to the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). They told the court last Tuesday that the Federal Government had been frustrating every move to settle the disputes out of court. The Federal Government, however, said that the day-today running of the nation’s economy would be put in danger if the application is granted. The governors are seeking an order compelling the Federal Government to pay into the Federation Account N5.51 trillion being the balance of the money that accrued to the central purse between 2004 and 2007 from the proceeds of crude oil sales, petroleum profits tax and oil royalties. They claimed that the Federal Government had classified such earnings as “excess crude proceeds” and “excess PPT and royalties” which were paid into an account termed the “Excess Crude Account.” The governors also asked the court to order the Federal Government to transfer to the Federation Account all money

Oil workers

standing to the credit of the ECA. A seven-man panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, had earlier insisted that the parties should go and settle out of court.

“If lawyers and parties are sincere, then go back and settle this matter out of court. The matter is straight forward, there is nothing this court will adjudicate upon,” the CJN held. The court, therefore, fixed

TARGET

Mines ministry plan to reclaim 100 sites across the country before end 2020 Adeola Yusuf

he Federal Government has denounced hindrance to the N6 billion investments on mine sites recovery. Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, which said this, maintained that the investments profile covered contracts signed between 2007 and 2014. This impediment, according to acting Director, Mines, Environmental Compliance Department in the ministry Mr. Salim Adegboyega, has made it impossible for the ministry to reclaim all the sites because some of the mining ponds were used for irriga-

March 19 for the hearing of the suit after all attempts to make the parties settle out of court had failed. Meanwhile, the profits of energy companies are expected to have dropped 23 per cent, a collapse of fortune nearly un-

heard of outside of a recession and one that has weighed on the stock market. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) hold 55 per cent stakes in the assets and of the firms operating in Nigeria. This forecast has almost turned what had been a strong earnings season into a weak one. Profits for companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index are expected to have grown in the fourth quarter at one of the lowest rates in years, just 2.2 percent. Investors will find out just how ugly the earnings are as oil companies report results over the next several days. So far, things don’t look so good. Several oil producers and service companies have announced layoffs and reductions in spending on new drilling projects. BP told workers last Monday that it would freeze pay for 2015. On Friday, Chevron posted a 30 per cent decline in fourth-quarter profit, a day after Royal Dutch Shell reported a 57 per cent drop. Stocks in energy companies have fallen nearly 12 per cent in three months, nearly cancelling out moves up for most other industries. The S&P 500 is up less than one per cent in that time. Exxon Mobil reports its results on Monday, followed by BP on Tuesday.

FG decries obstacles to N6bn mine sites’ contracts tion farming, fishing and water supply for domestic and industrial purposes. The Federal Government, he said, has, however, reclaimed 20 abandoned mine sites across the country with an investment contracts of N1.5 billion . The ministry had planned to reclaim 100 sites effective from 2007 to 2020 across the country. Adegboyega said that the ministry was able to reclaim 20 due to lack of fund for the project. The acting director said that four were reclaimed in 2007; six in 2008; two in 2009; three in 2010; one in 2011; one in 2012 and three in 2014. The reclaimed sites were, according to Adegboyega, located in Edo, Ebonyi, Pla-

teau, Kano, Borno, Abia, Kaduna, Cross River, Bauchi and Nasarawa states. He said that the ministry had planned to reclaim eight sites yearly within the period, but due to lack of fund, it had been reclaiming less than the targeted plan yearly and would reclaim three in 2015. “So far, government had identified 1,200 abandoned sites across the country and more would be identified, as the field surveys were still on-going,” he said. Adegboyega said that Plateau had 732 abandoned mining sites; Bauchi State, 63; Narasawa State, 36; Borno, 33; Enugu State, two; Katsina State, two and Lagos State, four. The acting director said N6billion was budgeted to

reclaim 100 sites effective from 2007 to 2020 at the average cost of reclaiming N60million per site. He said reclamation of a site could cost as high as N200million and as low as N20million, depending on the size of the site but on the average it was put at N60m. He said that mines’ reclamation was an expensive venture because the cost depended on size of a particular site and the distance of the place where the materials would be brought down to fill the mines and other factors. “We reclaimed based on the environment statutes and the magnitude of danger the abandoned sites posed to the communities; those are the criteria we looked at.”

Business | Energy

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Court stops sale of oil firms’ stake in OML 25 BAD TASTE

Bickering over oil block’s divestment degenerates

Exploration and Production (E&P) Nigeria Ltd and Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited.

Justice Idris made the order after hearing arguments presented by Tayo Oyetibo, (SAN), counsel to

Crestar Integrated Natural Resources Limited, which approached the court to complain against the de-

fendants. Crestar had deposed to a 16-paragraph affidavit in support of the application

Stories by Adeola Yusuf

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has stopped Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) from proceeding with sale of its 45 per cent interest in Oil Mining lease (OML) 25. OML 25 is jointly owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with 55 per cent interests and the three defendants having 45 per cent interest. The court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris, in a case brought before it by Crestar Integrated Natural Resources Limited, stopped SPDC from “continuing to negotiate or engage in any transaction or contract calculated or purported to transfer, sell, farm out.” The order is binding on other defendants - Total

L-R: Public Affairs Officer, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mrs. Bunmi Lawson; Liaison Advisor, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Mrs. Precious Molokwu and Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunshola, at the presentation of an ultra-modern audio visual studio to the college by NNPC-SNEPCo in Lagos recently.

Crazy billing: Local metre manufacturers seek liberalised market DISCORD

Consumers disagree with Discos over billing

he Federal Government can halt the case of crazy billing rocking distribution sub-sector of the power industry with the liberalisation of the meter market. Meter manufacturers, under the aegis of Electricity Meter Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMMAN), which said this in Lagos. They sought the immediate liberalisation of the meter market under which they would be allowed to sell directly to individuals, corporate organisation and Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved vendors. Executive Secretary, EMMAN, Mr Muyideen Ibrahim, who made the call, said that liberalisation of the market is the only way to ensure effective distribution of meters to consumers. He said that this will, no doubt, create market for EMMAN members and also increase production. According to him, government should liberalise meter market so that individuals can buy meters from approved Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission

(NERC) vendors and installers. If the market is liberalised more electricity customers will be metered and it will go a long way in addressing crazy bills and estimated billing system. Electricity consumers and representatives of electricity Distribution companies (Discos) at a recent public hearing on an order revising the fixed charges were into hot debates as to whether there should be a forfeiture of the charge for negligible failure to deliver power supply for 15 days. NERC said the many outcries from electricity consumers on incessant blackouts and continuous crazy billings propelled it into introducing an order revising the fixed charge, a sister component to the Energy Charge (EC) in the MYTO II after a warning to the 10 privatised Discos last March. Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi at the recent public hearing said: “NERC issued an order with ‘Order No: NERC/FC 133’ dated 1st May, 2014 directing that a customer who has not received continuous or cumulative electricity supply for a period of 15 days in a month shall not be required to pay the fixed charge, provided that the disruption is not due to non-payment of electricity bills or customers’ action.”

The commission said the order was a reaction to the clear violation of the Discos’ pact on immediate routine maintenance and investments in the already weak electricity distribution network across the country. But the Enugu Disco represented at the NERC’s parley by its Assistant General Manager (AGM), Regulatory Affairs, Reuben Okoye, submitted that the order was made without due consultations with the operators, and that outages are not caused by Discos’ fault alone as some may arise from transmission or generation failures. Okoye said it is difficult to independently determine customers that had outages in a period and that the penalty for outages should pass across the entire value chain. Many electricity consumers at the forum who minced no words in conveying their feelings said it is either the fixed charge is revised on the condition of ‘No supply, No Pay’ or the Discos step up their electricity supply services and investments. A representative of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Okpe Sunday Adejoh, said over 95 percent of industries in Idu Industrial Area of Abuja have cut off from the grid over incessant electricity outages and continuous charges.

by its Managing Director, Adeniyi Olaniyan. The court also made an order restraining the defendants, their agents, assigns or others acting under their authority from declaring any other bidder apart from the applicant as the preferred bidder for the assignment of the defendants’ 45 per cent undivided participating interest in OML 25 pending the determination of the motion on notice. “An order is hereby made restraining the defendants/respondents, whether by themselves, their management, servants, agents, assigns, privies, proxies, fronts, staffers or any other person whatsoever called acting under their authority from proceeding or continuing to negotiate or engage in any transaction or contract calculated or purported to transfer, sell, farm out or otherwise charge, dispose of or divest the defendants/ respondents 45 percent participating interest in OML 25 to any person, authority or agency pending the determination of the motion on notice,” the judge ruled.

SNEPCo boosts UNILAG medical facilities

hell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) at the weekend boosted its Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) with the donation of an ultra-modern audio-visual studio to the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. The company, which made the announced the donation in a statement, maintained that the facility would make training of doctors “much easier.” The studio, according to a statement, would be used to record lectures and help to provide a more learning friendly platform, making it easier for students to access information around the world. “The project is another demonstration of our commitment to quality education,” the statement quoted SNEPCo’s Business Relations Manager, Ijere Kanu, who represented the Managing Director of the company, Tony Attah to have said at the commissioning of the facility. Attah said: “It is our tradition in SNEPCo to ensure that Nigerians – individuals and institutions – benefit from our presence, and together with our partners, we will continue to expand opportunities for students across Nigeria as

part of our broader corporate sustainability programmes.” In an address he sent to the occasion, Group General Manager, NAPIMS, Engr, Jonathan Okehs said: “We will continue to support projects that will affect the lives and future of the citizens of Nigeria positively just as the audio-visual studio we’re commissioning.” The Provost of College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunshola, said: “A major goal in medical education is to improve teamwork and the love for lifelong learning. And research has shown that students cannot only learn by reading but also by audio-visual where they can interact and engage in intellectual discussions. This is where we need an ultramodern audio-visual studio and we are grateful to SNEPCo and NAPIMS for helping to bring our dream to fruition.” SNEPCo’s donation involves the provision of soundproof padding, high quality video and audio recorders, editing hardware and software, monitor, wireless microphones, speakers, air conditioners and general studio furniture.

Business | Energy

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

$3.3bn Egina, other projects safe from oil rout –Total ON COURSE

Total says it is resolute to boost production to a target of 2.8 million barrels of oil Adeola Yusuf

he $3.3 billion Egina deepwater and other Total’s major oil and gas projects in Africa will not be stopped by the sudden fall in crude oil prices and will help the French company meet its long-term production targets, head of Total’s exploration and production branch in Africa, Guy Maurice, has said. Total has bet on a string of African projects such as Egina in Nigeria, Kaombo in Angola and Moho in the Republic of Congo to help it boost production to a target of 2.8 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2017. The Egina oil field is located 150km off the coast of Nigeria. The field is being developed by Total Upstream Nigeria (24 per cent) in partnership with CNOOC (45 per cent), Sapetro (15 per cent) and Petrobras (16 per cent). Egina is the third deep offshore development of Total in Nigeria. The field is currently under development and the production is scheduled to begin by the end of 2017. Located about 20km from Akpo field, Egina field lies within the block Oil Mining Lease OML 130 and covers an area of around 500 square miles. It is situated at a water depth of up to 1,750m. These are West African projects in deep and ultradeep water - an area where Total is a self-proclaimed specialist but that require costly technologies. “These projects have been engaged and we certainly won’t stop them, which means thousands of jobs will be preserved for projects up to a 20172018 horizon,” Rigzone reported Guy Maurice to have told reporters on the sidelines of a conference. “All the big projects are in the pipeline today. This will allow us to meet our production targets for 2017-2018 as planned,” he said. He said that the recent drop in oil prices – which has seen Brent crude oil plunging by more than half since June – will prompt the group to review certain projects in Africa, country by country, but that no major project was at a stage that re-

ombo project in Angola, which was launched after a $4 billion reduction in costs last year. “Half of the reduction came from us, we changed our requirements, a quarter from our suppliers, and a quarter from the Angolan government, which has accepted a lower level of local content,” he said, referring to producing countries’ increasing demands for the use of often more costly local suppliers and untrained staff for oil projects.

quired a final investment decision. “What could come up tomorrow, in 2025 or something, is not at a pre-sanction stage, it’s still very early in the study phase, we’re not in a phase when we have to arbitrate between doing it or not,” he said. He said that Total would work with partners – subcontractors and producing countries – to help bring the cost of projects down, on the model of what was achieved with the Ka-

Aside from the oil price rout, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Limited and Total Upstream Nigeria (TUPNI) Limited had earlier headed for a collision over the demand by Samsung to raise the cost of the $3.3 billion Egina project. After a 19-month delay, Samsung recently performed the groundbreaking for the construction of a mega fabrication yard for the integration

of Total’s Egina Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel. Egina field infrastructure will include an FPSO unit, an oil offloading terminal and subsea production systems such as risers, 52km of oil and water injection flowlines, 12 flexible jumpers, 20km of gas export pipelines, 80km of umbilicals, and subsea manifolds. Total began the development of a new FPSO for the project. The FPSO will measure approximately 330m in length,

61m in width and 33.5m in depth, and is expected to have an oil storage capacity of approximately 2.3 million barrels. The FPSO will have topsides modules with a gross dry weight of 34,000t. The production from the Egina-5 well is estimated to reach 12,000 barrels per day. The oil field is estimated to reach a peak production rate of 150,000 barrels per day, while the new FPSO will have a production capacity of 200,000 barrels per day.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

36 Gombe paid over N2bn as compensations – Commissioner p.37

Property&Environment

98 foreign exhibitors explore Nigerian construction market p.37

Eko Atlantic developers deploy mobile app CUTTING EDGE Through the technology, investors can view progress of the city for investment Dayo Ayeyemi

he planners and developers of Eko Atlantic City have deployed mobile app to showcase various investment opportunities awaiting investors as the development of the new city progresses. The mobile app was released for use on all new generation smart phone and tablets. Eko Atlantic is a 21st Century city that will compare with United Arab Emirate’s city of Dubai. It is an emerging city in Lagos, adjacent to Victoria Island, covering 10 million square metres .The city is already visible from space. The groundwork has restored coastline eroded by the sea and is providing vital real estate for over 300,000 people to live and work. Already, the frame works of the 15-floor tower to serve as the new

headquarters of Afren Plc have been completed while the paneling has commenced. The project contractor, ITB Nigeria Limited, has showed so much confidence to meet the scheduled project’s delivery date. Also, an impeccable source disclosed to New Telegraph at the weekend that the first building of the five Eko Pearl Towers has been fully sold out off plan. According to the source, the pilling works of two of the structures have been completed. On the workability of the mobile app, Eko Atlantic’s Consultant for Communication, Mr. Brent Sadler, said that it allowed wouldbe investors to see the on-going development in all segments of the new city and investment opportunities in the comfort of their homes and offices through the use of their android phones instead of visiting the site. “The smartest feature on the app is Augmented Reality (AR), a cutting-edge technology that displays a digitally enhanced view of objects or locations. Using the camera and sensors in a smart phone or tablet, AR adds layers of digital informa-

What you can see with the app now takes the visibility of Eko Atlantic to an entirely new level

tion such as video, photos, sounds, graphics or GPS data, directly on top of items in the real world,” he said. In addition to an easy-to-use presentation, the app features a graphic overview of the infrastructure networks progress as well as gyroscope-enhanced virtual tour enabling users to navigate through the Eko Atlantic City development site just by moving their mobile device around. Justifying the launch of the app, Sadler said that the physical reality of the project was clear to see with the naked eye off the shore of Victoria Island, but with the app, the virtual reality has been brought to life. He explained that the technology was made to be interactive with the new Eko Atlantic milestone newsletter available at the project’s sale office and online through the website. He said: “The pre-launch app is a curtain raiser for what comes next. What you can see with the app now takes the visibility of Eko Atlantic to an entirely new level. But we are going to make the app even better, smarter and more interactive.”

“Eko Atlantic’s Milestone newsletter, also online, which is launched with the new mobile app, enables recipients to interact with selected pages of the journal through the AR function. According to a source, the infrastructure works of the new city would advance this year. He said that over 46-kilometre of water drainage had been constructed. The source said: “We have done over 46 kilometres of underground drainage, 77,600 square metres of road has been done and everything about electrical power has been mapped out, while work has commenced since October 2014. “17 per cent of water supply, which is 54.8 kilometres, has been done. For storm water drainage, a total of 63 kilometres has been done, 27 per cent telecom in the entire project has been finished, and 32 per cent of sewage has been completed.” The source hinted that there would be 10 bridges in phases one and two of the project, adding that one of the bridges with underpass canal is at an advanced stage of completion while works on other nine bridges are on-going.

model of one of the Business Districts in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos

agos State government is accelerating works to ensure the completion of all on-going projects. These projects encompass roads, drainages, public buildings and hospitals. The Works Office, a division in the Ministry for Works and Infrastructure, saddled with the responsibility of providing certain facilities, has stepped up activities to ensure that some of these projects are completed as scheduled. Besides, it has commenced the rehabilitation of schools, hospitals, courts and other public utilities while new ones are being constructed where necessary. The office is the consultant to all ministries, departments and

Lagos moves to complete ongoing projects agencies (MDAs) of government on public buildings. Through this function, the office has helped government to save millions of naira on the cost of building construction. The department is also responsible for the maintenance of many government facilities, which include the secretariat complex, staff quarters and some equipment. Some of the projects being undertaken by the office include the construction of Science and Technology complex, multi agency building, magistrate courts located in Ajegunle, Ogba, Epe, Ikeja, Badagry and

the on-going Igando and Lagos arbitration centres. Speaking on the activities of the department, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, reiterated government’s effort towards the completion of the 16 on-going projects. He pointed out that as much as the ministry is interested in early completion of all projects, the issues of quality and sustainability would not be compromised. In the education sector, the Office of Works has completed Lagos State University (LASU)’s senate building, student union

arcade, central library, faculty of management sciences and 3-in-1 lecture theatre. In addition, the department has also embarked on a 3-floor building extension at Harvey Road, College of Health Technology in Yaba and the renovation of Ayinke House at Ikeja General Hospital. Egan-Igando Housing is another on-going project embarked upon by the office. To tackle the security situation across the metropolis, Office of Works has completed the Police Officers Wives Association’s (POWA) Secretariat in Lagos, including Police Model

Area Command, Ilashe, Police Model Area Command, Elemoro in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, including the Police Model Area Command, Idimu. Others are Oyingbo Market, Igando Relief Camp and Agege Stadium, Abesan Sport Centre. On tourism, the office is embarking on the construction of a 48-bedroom hotel, fire service station in Lekki and tourism development in Badagry. Besides, the office, through its research and development unit, is undertaking some initiatives, including fabrication of equipment relevant to the needs of MDAs.

Business | Property & Environment

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Gombe paid over N2bn as compensations – Commissioner Shehu Abubakar Durbi is the Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Gombe State. In this interview with BEN NGWAKWE, he says Gombe has paid over N2 billion compensation to those affected by on-going road construction. He also spoke on the contract for Geographic Information System (GIS) project in the state. Excerpt: What is the policy thrust of Gombe State Ministry of Lands and Survey? The Ministry of Lands and Survey, as the name implies, is the ministry that is charged with the responsibility of land administration in the state. When I say land administration, it is something that involves building, lands and allocating lands to individuals, organisations and, maybe, to government projects. Atimes, we generate some revenue from the fees charged by the ministry based on certain services.

coming, the ministry did not do anything and did not appoint people in a way that would enhance the revenue profile of the state government. When I came in, I started strategising and reorganised the ministry to see how we could improve the revenue by trying to charge people for certain services we render to them. We also insisted on the payment of charges before any service could be rendered. We put in place systematic approach. This year alone, we were able to generate over N100 million.

You talked about fee, can you tell us how much you generate in a year as revenue? Before, we used to generate between N25 million and N30 million a year. Again, before my coming into office, the ministry usually generate between N25 million to N30 million a year, but recently the charges were somehow reviewed. Before

How will the state’s GIS benefit the people? Recently, His Excellency approved the contract of Geographical Information System (GIS) that is Gombe Geographic Information System. This is a modern system of land administration and with it, definitely our revenue would double. With the GIS, we would be able to

generate more revenue. Like I said, it is a modern system, some states in the country had adopted it and we have seen how their revenue generation changes, maybe, over 300 to 400 per cent. If a state is generating N100 million with GIS, you can now generate about N500 million to N600 million yearly when we consider the case of Nassarawa State, Abuja and some other states as examples. The system goes a long way in helping government in policy formulation and implementation as well as allocation of resources. It has numerous advantages and numerous ways of helping government. What were your achievements in 2014? So far, we have been able to design one layout despite the fact that I came newly. This new layout has not yet been allocated and once we finish the demarcation, we are going to

98 foreign exhibitors explore Nigerian construction market PROSPECT Nigeria’s population has continued to attract foreigners Dayo Ayeyemi

ver 98 foreign exhibitors, out of which 55 were from Turkey, converged on Lagos at the weekend to explore business opportunities in the Nigerian market. The event, a building, construction and machinery exhibition, provided the exhibitors a platform to display their modern technologies. It also gave them the opportunity of meeting with industrial stakeholders and investors for crossfertilisation of idea. Speaking during the annual BUILDMACEX Exhibition organised by Atlantic Exhibitions Nigeria Limited (AENL) and Armada International Limited, AENL’s Managing Director, Mr. Olugbade Ayodeji, noted that the forum was a platform for exchange of

idea by utilising international standards. International Sale Director, Menjdyen International Fairs Organisation, Turkey, Mr. Nuvit Becan, noted that Turkish government had used exhibitions to develop eight countries for economic cooperation. Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos Chapter, Mr. Ladipo Lewis, justified reasons for the exhibition taking place in Lagos, saying the state offered much business opportunities due its large population. Besides, he said there was a huge housing deficit and infrastructure gap that needed to be filled by investors. According to Lewis, many investors have tapped into the opportunities, which could be seen in the numbers of ongoing construction of malls and high-rise office projects in the range of billions of Naira. He told the investors: “There is need to encourage foreign investment and partnership to develop local

content.” He disclosed that the multi-billion naira Eko Atlantic City projects and Lekki Export Processing zone were some of the schemes begging for partnership. Some of the exhibitors include Starax, Feta, Adakaya, Forend, LP lock, Emre Aluminyum, Corfin lubrication, Bianca, KYM Kablo, Makinsan, Hollyland and De-twilson among others. President of the National Association of Buildings Artisans of Nigeria, Mr. Jimi Osunubi, described Lagos as one of the fastest developing states in the world, urging exhibitors to tap into the opportunity it offers. President of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, urged all exhibitors to use the opportunity provided to showcase their products and services in a manner that would elicit patronage for fruitful and mutual rewarding business interactions.

Durbi

start allocating them. In terms of revenue generation, we have witnessed tremendous increase which I cannot be able to give exact figures now even though, my predecessor have done a lot of works to see that this GIS project came to being, Gombe Geographic System has become a reality. Fortunately for me when I came, I was able to fast-track some of the processes and and to ensure speedy completion which His Excellency has already approved. We have awarded the contract to Suraji Nigeria Limited, a company that has a track record of good performance

and it is one the companies that handled the Abuja Geographic Information System. It is currently handling Nassarawa State Geographic Information System. We gave the contract at the cost of N750 million. During the construction of roads some houses were affected, how much did government pay as compensation? The compensation the state government has paid through this ministry from 2011 till date, is over N2. 4 billion just to compensate properties for all development projects you see.

Firms win UPDC’s 30-storey design competition Dayo Ayeyemi

ACN Property Development Company Plc has selected two architectural firms, James Cubitt and Design Group, for the development of its ‘One Prime’ project, to be located within the neighbourhood of Ikoyi, Lagos State. According to a statement, the selection of the duo took place in a keen competition. The developer recently organised a pitch to engage an internationally recognised master planning/design company that will undertake master planning and preliminary conceptual design work for its new project – a high-end mixed use development. One Prime is a mixed-use development comprising of retail mall, hotel, offices and residences. The development will include a tower of about 30 floors. The project site is located on land size of about three hectares along Alfred Rewane Road/Aromire/Thompson Roads, in the affluent Ikoyi neighbourhood of Lagos. UPDC had invited the architects to the pitch and were chosen with the objective of working with Nigeria-based architects, who are capable of creating and delivering the

architectural designs to the high standards expected by customers. According to UPDC, with the two architectural firms on board, the company is on the verge of unlocking the potentials in one of its assets in Ikoyi, Lagos. Justifying the choice of the location, 3Ivest Limited, an online real estate news portal, quoted UPDC as saying: “This area of Lagos has some of the most valuable real estate in Africa and the location provides for a potential high-end landmark signature development.” On the selected firms, the firm explained that the two architectural outfits submitted good quality design proposals during the pitch, which was held in September 2014. According to UPDC, a team of professionals with significant real estate experience did evaluation of the presentations and the team agreed that both firms of architects should collaborate on the project. The firm promised it would work with the two architectural firms to deliver a stunning edifice, which will change the face of Ikoyi and also re-affirm its position as a leader in the Nigerian real estate industry.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

38 Expert laments zero commission policy p.39

Aviation

X-raying Chidoka’s ‘new’ policy p.39

Arik Air’s B737-800 aircraft in flight

The air transport industry in Nigeria is on the verge of collapse, plagued by shortage of funds, high maintenance costs, multiple taxation and poor business models, among others. Aviation Editor, WOLE SHADARE writes on efforts by Aviation Minister to ameliorate these challenges Arbitrary charges It is obvious that Nigerian airlines are in serious financial difficulty. Not many knew how serious their situation was until a Ministerial Committee on Aeronautical, Non-aeronautical and Passenger Charges in Nigeria, headed by Ahonsi Unuigbe, disclosed last week that there are over 50 different charges imposed on the carriers. Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka had on November 4, 2014 inaugurated a committee to review all aeronautical and non aeronautical (including passenger) charges in the aviation industry as part of his numerous plans for reforming and repositioning the country’s aviation sector. These charges, described as the heaviest in the world are imposed by the three main aviation agencies - the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which in some cases are charged by different agencies for the same service such as the imposition of both port charges, as well as cargo charges by FAAN on the same cargo. Hidden costs With respect to passenger ticket charges, the basis of some of these charges is not known and is quite arbitrary. For example,

Multiple charges rock Nigeria’s aviation the committee analysed the basis of computation of passenger tickets for four domestic airlines, namely, Arik, Dana, Medview and First Nation. The analysis showed that an amount ranging from 40 per cent to 65 per cent of the airfare is hidden as fuel surcharge (also known as YQ). The computation of this fuel surcharge is unknown to both passengers and Government alike. Equally, this cost element has been omitted by the airlines in the computation of both Value Added Tax (VAT) and Ticket Sales Charge (TSA), resulting in significant loss of revenue to the Federal Government. The Committee identified some of the factors responsible for the disparity in the aeronautical and passenger charges across countries and regions to include, inadequate state of support infrastructure; size of airspace; macro-economic environment. Others are continuous changes in government policies and political interference, absence of a national carrier; inadequate business models and absence of transparency among stakeholders. Indictment of agencies Unuigbe disclosed that there is also a prevalence of inaccurate computation of statutory charges and non-remittance of the passenger charges collected by airlines to appropriate aviation authorities. He explained that from the tickets analysed, some airline operators deliberately charge as high as nine per cent of base fare as ticket sales charge as against the statutory five per cent, expected to be remitted to the Government through NCAA. According to him, “One has to wonder the motivation for this

act, and if the statutory charge in question will be appropriately remitted to the relevant government agency or rather, constitute part of the profitability of such airlines at the expense of both the passengers and Government”

In our views, a ‘therapeutic’ consolidation, induced via regulatory requirements such as capital adequacy ratios, working capital requirements, minimum age of, and number of aircraft per fleet, amongst others, would ensure that airlines are stronger, healthier and potentially operate more safely

Poor service delivery The committee chairman disclosed that there is also a prevalence of poor service quality to passengers in the face of non-enforcement of the passenger bill of rights. The passenger bill of rights, as contained in the NCAA Act, clearly entitles passengers to several means of redress, in the event of any infraction. These rights are not known to most passengers nor are they being enforced by NCAA, resulting in a lot of passenger apathy. Bad business model Most domestic airlines are in the situation they are right now because they undertook inappropriate business model. The minimum capitalisation requirement for domestic airlines is only N500 million, which at today’s exchange rate, barely covers the cost of effectively operating and maintaining one aircraft and therefore does not ensure a fleet size that allows for economies of scale. A global consulting firm, Accenture had said in a report on airlines recently, that a combination of consolidation, public listing, provision of maintenance facilities and local refining of aviation fuel, would reduce the risks of the airline business in Nigeria. Accenture, in a review of the nation’s aviation industry, also recommended that operators could adopt the low cost carrier model, that government should engage in massive upgrade in airport infrastructure, as well as institute a more efficient regula-

tory regime. “In our view therefore, a ‘therapeutic’ consolidation, induced via regulatory requirements such as capital adequacy ratios, working capital requirements, minimum age of, and number of aircraft per fleet, amongst others, would ensure that airlines are stronger, healthier and potentially operate more safely. “This approach is based on lessons learnt from other industries in Nigeria, such as banking, where the minimum capital base was increased, and banks were ‘forced’ to merge,” Accenture said. Solution In the light of the findings, the committee articulated in the report, far reaching recommendations to address these issues holistically. The recommendations include amongst others, the harmonisation of various charges. It stated that navigational related charges should be harmonised, such as the merging of en-route navigational charge and terminal navigational charge into a single charge to be renamed as navigational Charge. The committee recommended that violation of airspace fines to be merged with violation of Air Navigation Regulations (ANR); scrapping of the duplication of contractor registration fees by NAMA, as this is also charged by NCAA, so should instead just be charged and centrally controlled by NCAA going forward. It also recommented that the proposed increase in import and export royalties be reduced to five cents per kilo as against 10 per cent earlier proposed by NCAA, elimination of air cargo fees; enforcement of the passenger bill of rights as well as a public awareness campaign to increase public awareness about the bill of rights.

Virgin Atlantic, British Council reward young entrepreneurs SUCCESS The grant will be used for supporting an already existing business or develop a business idea Stories by Wole Shadare

wo budding Nigerian entrepreneurs, Eseoghene Odiete and Nasir Yammama were at the weekend given N1.5 million each by the British Council, in partnership with Virgin Atlantic Airways and Zenith Bank for emerging winners in the Enterprise Challenge competition. “Enterprise Challenge” is an online competition, which seeks to give young, brilliant entrepreneurial minds the opportunity to further develop their skills in

this area and bring their innovative ideas to the fore for possible future development. Country Commercial Manager, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Rachael Coffey told New Telegraph at the presentation of cheques to the duo, that a total of 10 finalists (Nigerians based in the United Kingdom and at home) battled for the top two spots and on June 14, 2014, Odiete and Yammama emerged winners of the competition. “They have since had the opportunity to meet with and be mentored by one of UK’s foremost entrepreneurs and Chairman of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson.” Odiete is an award winning young female fashion entrepreneur and the brain behind Hesey Designs (an African inspired accessories label). Yammama just concluded his postgraduate studies in creative technology at

Middlesex University in London and he is currently developing an agricultural themed mobile application, which he hopes to launch before the end of this year. Other prizes won by the top two include, a five-day entrepreneurship foundation course at the Branson Centre for Entrepreneurship in South Africa and a business support grant of N1.5 million for each individual. The grant will be used for either support an already existing business or develop a business idea. As a show of continued commitment to the development of Nigerian youth, the programme partners have committed to run another cycle of this competition in second quarter of 2015. According to them, this year’s competition will open to Nigerians domiciled in Nigeria who fall within the 18 to 35 year age bracket.

L-R: Assistant General Manager (Group Head, Aviation, Zenith Bank), Edwin Kind Olie; awardees, Eseoghene Odiete and Nasir Yammama; British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock; Country Commercial Manager (West Africa) Virgin Atlantic Airways, Rachael Coffey; Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Sola Oladipo and General Sales Agent (GSA), Virgin Atlantic Airways, Chief John Adebanjo at the presentation of cheques to “Enterprise Challenge” winners at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos at the weekend.

Expert laments zero commission policy

agos lawyer, Mr. Femi Adesina (SAN) has described the removal of commission hitherto given to travel agents as “unfair, selfish and dangerous policy.” He noted that inevitably, the zero commission policy must have led to severe loss of jobs and closing down of shops in the industry. In a paper presented with theme, “Consolidation: The Future of Travel Agencies in Nigeria” at the weekend, Adesina said the fortune of travel agencies began to go down about 1995 when the policy started in the United States of America, Europe in 1999

and lately in Nigeria. He said, “I read that the zero commission policy of the airline operators was adopted as a result of the high cost of doing business among other factors. “In other words, the policy of elimination of payment of commission to the agencies was embarked upon to enable the airlines maximise their profitability, while in so doing maximising the loss of the travel agencies,” he added. The situation, he stated, became imperative for agencies to device means of survival and consolidation has been identified as strategic

survival option for the industry. He however, urged travel agencies in the country to consolidate via mergers in order to remain very competitive in view of the challenges they face. Consolidation, he reiterated may result into total unification of two or more agencies by dissolving existing ones and creating a single and big agency. On the contrary, he said the coming together of two or more agencies under one management may technically not result into the dissolution of any of the consolidated companies.

Ethiopian Airlines to begin services to Dublin, Los Angeles

thiopian Airlines has announced that it had finalised preparations to commence flights from Addis Ababa to Dublin and Los Angeles, starting from June 2015. Ethiopian’s flights to Dublin and Los Angeles, according to a statement, will be operated three times a week with the ultra-modern Boeing

787 Dreamliner, which the carrier said, offers unparalleled onboard comfort to passengers. The statement said that the flights would be the only direct service connecting Africa with Ireland and the West Coast of the US. Travellers from Los Angeles and Ireland will be able to enjoy seamless and convenient connec-

tivity options thanks to Ethiopian’s extensive network in Africa covering 49 destinations. Similarly, as the flights will be the only direct service between Dublin and Los Angeles, the Irish and US travelling public between the two cities will greatly benefit from the opening of the route, the statement added.

AIR RAGE

WITH

Business | Aviation

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Wole Shadare

X-raying Chidoka’s ‘new’ policy

he date was February 3, 2015 and the venue was the magnificent Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos. The hall was jam-packed. It was a launch of a project by the Aviation Ministry, “Aviation Commits Initiative.” All the people that matter in Nigeria’s aviation industry were there. Politicians were also there. The Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Namadi Sambo was expected to be the Special Guest of Honour. He was inadvertently absent due to electioneering campaigns. The occasion left no one in doubt that an important decision to move the sector forward was going to be taken. When it was the turn of the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka to speak, he reeled out some reforms, which if implemented could help to reposition Nigeria’s beleaguered aviation industry. Before that, many wondered why the Minister used a greater part of his time to dwell on politics as he spoke more like a politician rather than focusing on the business of the day. Anyway, nothing should be taken away from the event, which started over four hours behind schedule. He directed all registered private airlines in Nigeria that engage in commercial operations different from their core businesses in the country to regularise their operations on or before February 5, 2015, failing which they will be grounded by Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Chidoka also took a swipe at foreign carriers whom he said charge Nigerians arbitrary air fares compared with what obtains in other nationals for the same distance of travel. He mandated foreign airlines operating to Nigeria to ensure that they have at least one Nigerian pilot as part of their crew, maintaining the carriers must help to develop aviation manpower. This is an area Chidoka got it wrong and one that is very difficult to implement. That call has elicited reactions from stakeholders and foreign carriers. To them, the pronouncement to have at least a Nigerian pilot in their crew is laughable. To them, Chidoka cannot impose policy on foreign airlines when it is yet

to be discussed at bilateral level with home countries of the airlines. Aviation is guided by international standards and not by ministerial declaration. It becomes extremely difficult to employ Nigerian pilots who are not qualified or type-rated on aircraft such as A340, B777 or A340. How is that possible when it was not discussed at bilateral level with the home countries of the airlines? What if there is no unemployed Nigerian qualified to operate for example B777, B787 or B340? To make it effective, it has not be tabled at bilateral level and a timeline agreed. Aviation is not run by decree but by global regulations. Nigeria has Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with over 50 nations, which allows for reciprocity between the countries. Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director of IRS Airlines, Yemi Dada, said he does not know how the policy would be implemented considering that no nation can dictate to anybody or nations represented by their airlines. To him, the government needs to initiate policy that looks implementable not one that makes it very difficult to achieve. Notwithstanding his ‘gaffe’ he must be lauded for helping to sanitise the General Aviation (GA) business by ensuring that private jets owners do not engage in commercial operations. Twenty operators risk sanction. This is a good development, considering the security implications of ‘unregulated’ private jets owners. The nefarious activities some of the owners subject these planes to have serious security consequences to the nation. Just recently, a popular clergy used his private jet to allegedly launder money in South Africa. There are indications that illicit goods, including arms, could be flown into the country through the numerous airstrips that dot the nation’s landscape. Investigations showed that concerned aviation authorities do not know the number of airstrips in the country, which keeps on proliferating as the number of private jet owners continue to increase.

Photo | News

L-R: Bursar, Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Mr. Emmanuel Oresegun; Registrar, Dr. Modupe Ajayi; Chairman, FUTA/Akure partner, Chief Reuben Fasoranti; Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola; Chairman, Prof. Adedayo Fasakin and Librarian, Dr. Femi Oguntuase, shortly after the inauguration of the implementation committee of the new School of Health and Heath Technology recently approved for the institution in Akure.

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (right), with his wife, Rachael, during the PDP presidential campaign rally in Yenagoa.

L-R: Former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa; wife of the PDP Deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Nnaji; Rt. Hon. Chuma Nnaji; Princes Joan Arthur Nzeribe; her husband, Senator Arthur Nzeribe (sitting); PDP governorship candidate, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; his wife, Lady Ebere and PDP Chairman, Imo State, Nnamdi Anyaehie, during party’s governorship rally at Oguta LGA, Imo State.

L-R: Public Affairs Officer, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Mrs. Bunmi Lawson; Liaison Advisor, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Mrs. Precious Molokwu and Provost, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunshola, at the presentation of an ultramodern audio visual studio to the college by NNPC-SNEPCo in Lagos.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Business Development Manager, Centrespread, Yomi Abiola-Olawaiye; Managing Director, DCSL Corporate Services Limited, Bisi Adeyemi; Governor Babatunde Fashola and President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Prince Yemi Adefulu, during a business roundtable in Lagos.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

L-R: Member, Spirit of Lagos (SoL), Chidirim Ndeche; Chairman, Oshodi Motor Park, Shola Babatunde; members, SoL, Ken Adejumoh and Ibrahim Kamal, during the ‘DO The Right Thing’ campaign at Oshodi, Lagos.

L-R: Zonal Coordinator, Rs2, FRSC, Mr. Toyin Kadiku; Lagos State Sector Commander, Mr. Hyginus Omeje; Parish Priest, St. Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, Msgr. John Aniagwu and Deputy Corps Commander, Kikelomo Akinnusoye, at the Commission’s thanksgiving service in Lagos.

L-R: Alhaja Abba Folawiyo; Senator Ita Giwa and Princess Yewande Onileere, at the residence of Late Chief Omolade Thomas-Okoya to pay condolence in Lagos. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Poll shift: Analysts warn of economic effects INVESTORS WARY

Investors wait for uncertainty of the election period to pass before recommitting themselves to Nigerian markets Kunle Azeez

s reactions continue to trail the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) postponement of the 2015 general elections, analysts have warned that the move has created additional uncertainty, which would impact the economy. Commenting on the polls’ postponement, Managing Director, Head - Africa Macro, Global Research at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, stated in a note made available to New Telegraph, that the shift in the election dates would determine whether the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would embark on further devaluation of the naira as well

as delay the formulation and implementation of policies aimed at curtailing the effects of the oil price slump on the Nigerian economy. She said, “We do not share the view of many market participants that the authorities will wait until after the election to announce a large official devaluation of the naira. Many offshore investors, still attracted by Nigerian yields, have been waiting for the uncertainty of the election period to pass before recommitting themselves to Nigerian markets. With prolonged electionrelated uncertainty, the risk is that these FX inflows are delayed. “With oil prices still languishing at low levels, resulting in minimal injections into the FX reserves, we expect the reserves to come under further pressure, perhaps dropping to about six months of import cover,” she added. Khan further predicted that the postponement of the elections makes it more unlikely that CBN will hike the benchmark interest rate - Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)- at its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting

next month. Also likely to be affected, according to Khan, is the speed at which the Government intends to implement some of its cost cutting and revenue generating proposals. Similarly, in a press statement it issued in reaction to the polls’ shift, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), noted that the

move will further worsen the uncertainty in business circles. As the LCCI put it, “Political transition periods are typically characterised by profound anxiety and uncertainty. Prolonging these conditions has adverse impact on the confidence of investors. Major investment decisions are difficult to take at times

he naira slid to a record low yesterday after a sixweek delay to the Feb. 14 presidential election that is stirring concerns about political stability and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) ability to manage a currency hammered by weak oil prices. Despite apex bank intervention, the currency of Africa’s biggest economy and top oil producer closed at N196.50 against the dollar, extending its slide since the start of November to 18 percent, Reuters News reported yesterday. At the parallel market also known as the black market, the naira also remained at N210 to a dollar, the same exchange rate that had prevailed since last week. The currency has been officially pegged at N160-176 to the dollar after an 8 percent devaluation last November but has seldom traded inside that range, fuelling speculation that CBN governor Godwin Emefiele will

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

Naira slides again over vote delay have to re-rate again. “We think a move in the peg is very possible but it’s political suicide to do it before elections - but can they now wait until later, or is that economic suicide?” said Roy Daniels, head of dealing at Rand Merchant Bank in Johannesburg. “Historically in Africa, political sway holds greater than economic sway, so I would say they could probably use more reserves and delay the shifting of the peg for a bit longer.” The banking watchdog’s next policy meetings are on March 23-24, just four days before the rescheduled vote, and then May 18-19, although

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

have an idea of the direction of the country’s political and economic governance in order to manage policy and political risks of investments. INEC National Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, had last Saturday announced the shift in the dates for the polls, citing ongoing security challenges in some parts of the country.

Emefiele can call an emergency meeting at any time if he wants to. Last year, the CBN burnt through 20 percent of its reserves as it spent an average of $20 million a day defending the naira. However, that and the November devaluation failed to ease pressure on the currency in an economy, which gets more than 90 percent of its dollars from oil sales. Although most analysts are predicting another devaluation to around N210, Non-Deliverable Forwards currency derivatives traded offshore - pointed to it being priced at around N255-261 in a year’s time.

Banks intensify efforts on customer biometric registration

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

like these. The tempo of economic activities has expectedly decelerated as a result of the impending elections. Therefore the quicker these conditions are dispensed with, the better for investors. This is a major impact point of the election postponement - a prolongation of the suspense.” The Chamber stressed that investors need to

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

anks under the aegis of the Bankers’ Committee have intensified enrolment of their customers on the Bank Verification Number (BVN). This according to a statement from the Bankers’ Committee is to reduce incidents of fraud and protect customers’ accounts from unauthorised access. BVN involves the registration of customers in the financial system using biometric technology, which makes accounts more secure using unique identifiers such as fingerprint. The BVN is an initiative aimed at protecting bank customers and further strengthening the Nigerian banking system. It is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in conjunction with the Bankers’ Committee meant to address the safety of customers’ funds, avoids losses through compromise of personal identification numbers and other criminal activities in the industry. According to the statement, BVN should also encourage financial inclusion as those who have typically stayed away from mainstream banking due to low literacy levels will be able to open and access their bank accounts using their biometric informa-

tion rather than traditional identification methods. The BVN has been described as a ‘silver-bullet solution’ to many of the challenges in the banking industry. It is a unique identifier for each bank customer across the financial industry, making it possible to build and track customer financial history and activity. This will allow banks access to more reliable information that could inform decisions on customer loan and credit applications and other complex transactions. In addition, banks are also now able to reduce identity fraud within the financial industry and increase accountability levels. As part of efforts to encourage enrolment on the BVN, the CBN recently directed banks to only honour transactions over N100 million from customers with BVN from March 2015. Such transactions according to the apex bank, include but not limited to, money transfers, loans, and contingencies, among others. The CBN, which also urged all bank customers to register for their BVN by June 2015, has warned that any bank customer without a BVN would be deemed to have inadequate know-yourcustomers (KYC) by that date.

Business | Financial Market News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

9-Feb-15

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 434.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 206.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,855.63

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,371.66

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

0.20 1.52 2.21 2.46 2.56 3.30 4.38 4.70 6.97 9.09 13.80 14.28 14.78 15.45 19.44

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

13.49 15.18 15.42 15.47 15.47 15.44 15.39 15.40 15.34 15.30 16.15 16.26 16.39 15.77 15.55

12.71 15.06 15.34 15.39 15.39 15.32 15.29 15.29 15.27 15.24 16.09 16.20 16.30 15.70 15.49

98.12 97.20 99.35 88.83 87.47 88.02 101.85 72.57 104.40 94.65 93.66 79.23 56.52 66.90 79.30

98.27 97.35 99.50 88.98 87.62 88.32 102.15 72.87 104.70 94.95 93.96 79.53 56.82 67.20 79.60

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.28 1.15 1.83 2.19 2.40

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

16.03 17.66 17.35 16.43 16.46

95.57 99.63 97.89 97.16 93.84

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

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

311.81

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.56

4.44

17.67

97.35

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.39

3.23

16.39

98.73

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.91

4.46

19.46

95.64

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.91

3.48

18.49

97.56

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.19

1.00

16.43

88.51

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.46

1.00

16.25

96.89

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.89

1.79

17.25

92.79

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.06

1.80

17.21

94.80

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.07

1.00

16.41

96.03

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.26

1.00

16.44

96.53 89.54

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.26

4.78

20.22

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.46

1.00

16.47

98.16

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

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

2.70 4.78 2.76

1.00 1.00 2.74

16.47 16.40 18.20

98.02 93.80 93.00

‡ /Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.31

1.00

16.44

95.94

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.80

1.00

16.37

89.46

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.89

1.94

17.30

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.55

1.44

16.88

94.10

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.58

1.95

17.39

94.10

97.92

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

91.65

460.61 428.88

Corporate Bonds *UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

5.00

17-Aug-15

0.27

4.88

18.33

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.58

1.00

14.32

98.71

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.66

2.63

16.36

98.60

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

A-/Agusto

‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto BB/GCR

29-Sep-16

1.64

1.00

16.28

95.41

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.71

1.34

16.65

96.50

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

29-Sep-11

13.00

20.00

15.00

30-Sep-17

2.64

1.00

16.47

92.76

BBB-/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.66

1.88

17.17

101.83

Nil

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.66

3.48

18.77

96.33

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.83

5.20

20.54

96.51

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

1.83

5.06

20.40

93.94

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.62

1.00

16.44

93.51

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

1.94

2.29

17.67

97.05

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.02

6.11

21.52

94.82

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.89

2.16

17.62

96.44

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.76

2.76

18.13

89.89

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.64

1.00

16.35

78.83

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.64

1.00

16.35

85.15

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

135.24

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

127.14

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.01

1.00

16.45

85.62

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

16.40

84.09

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

7.11

6.79

98.27

99.83

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.93

5.60

97.54

98.55

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.36

7.16

93.92

95.08

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,448.64

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

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

180.69

33.50

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.96

100.63

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

11.31

91.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

14.07

13.04

81.75

84.08

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

10.52

9.83

86.28

88.22

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

41.31

40.50

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

10.94

84.52

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

15.58

14.44

79.20

82.25

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

13.37

80.00

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

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

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

24.50 13.61 13.84

24.50 13.12 13.84

45.98 81.83 75.00

45.98 83.67 75.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.77

10.40

90.00

91.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,562.34

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

FIXINGS Maturity 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15

Bid Discount (%) 10.97 13.45 11.80 12.95 11.96 13.10 13.60 13.20

Offer Discount (%) 10.72 13.20 11.55 12.70 11.71 12.85 13.35 12.95

Bid Yield (%) 11.00 13.53 11.89 13.09 12.11 13.32 13.87 13.49

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 37.5433 15.7171 16.2307 17.2353

Rate (%)

OBB

53.33

O/N

57.17

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 55.00 56.00

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

196.30 196.61 196.91 197.63 198.97 200.30

196.40 196.72 197.06 198.12 200.01 201.87

0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50

66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.68

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

311.81

06-Jul-17

2.40

1.00

16.46

93.84

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.56

4.44

17.67

97.35

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.39

3.23

16.39

98.73

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.91

4.46

19.46

95.64

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.91

3.48

18.49

97.56

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.19

1.00

16.43

88.51

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY,LAGOS FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Business | Financial Market News

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.46

1.00

16.25

96.89

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.89

1.79

17.25

92.79

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.06

1.80

17.21

94.80

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

2.07

1.00

16.41

96.03

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.26

1.00

16.44

96.53

‡ /Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.26

4.78

20.22

89.54

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.46

1.00

16.47

98.16

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

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

2.70 4.78 2.76

1.00 1.00 2.74

16.47 16.40 18.20

98.02 93.80 93.00

30-Sep-24

9.64

1.00

16.35

78.83

30-Sep-24

9.64

1.00

16.35

85.15

‘NB Plc committed to post-listing requests’

Equities fall by N208bn

*OSUN OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 NEGATIVE shareholders14.75 will be reigerian Brewer27-Nov-13 ‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 iesBBB+/DataPro (NB) Plc will duced,” he said. 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 Stock market in red 31-Dec-13 ensure strong adHe listed other ‡ /Agusto *EKITI 14.50 EKITImajor II 31-DEC-2020 as bears dominate 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 benefits accruable from herence to post-listing TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE requirements of the Ni- the merger between NigeTOTALStock MARKETExchange CAPITALISATIONrian Breweries and Congerian (NSE), Chairman of the solidated Breweries to Corporate Bonds company, Chief Kola from Stories by Chris Ugwu 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 ‡ /Agusto *UPDC include cost saving 12.00 FLOURMILLS BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS Jamodu, has said. the consolidation of sup-9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 he Nigerian He said this during *CHELLARAMS an ply and distribution net13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO official visit by the manstock market yesworks of both companies 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH terday opened agement of the company as a result of improved 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA the week 30-Nov-12 on a operational 18.00 efficiencies to the NSE. He reassured C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 Nil *DANA arising fromMPR+7.00 negative trajectory as integrated investors and other stake09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; *TOWER operations. MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 activities on the shares holders ofB+/GCR commitment MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER to A/Agusto; enhance operational Jamodu noted that the of blue chip companies 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/GCR 22-Sep-11 UBA efficiency and maximise slowed momentum to products of both compa15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 *LA CASERA value for allBB/GCR investors *CHELLARAMS of nies would be manufacMPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS IIsustain 17-FEB-2019 bearish trends, 17-Feb-12 BBB-/DataPro†; DANA II 1-APR-2019 culminating into a 01-Apr-14 loss theNilenlarged company. *DANA tured more 16.00 efficiently 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 NAHCO through their combined of N208 billion. He said the manage182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 IBTC ment of NB Plc was STANBIC at operational capacities. 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 STANBIC IBTC theTOTAL Exchange to formally “Significant cost savOUTSTANDING VALUE introduce the enlarged ing is targeted by disTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION company’s team to the tributing products and Supranational Exchange andBond the invest- selling the enlarged 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 IFC 11-Feb-13 product portfolio of the ingAAA/S&P public. terling Bank Plc has 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AfDB 10-Jul-14 He notedAAA/S&P that the new new company across the opened a branch in TOTAL OUTSTANDING Nigerian BreweriesVALUE Plc entire combined sales Shagamu, Ogun MARKET CAPITALISATION hasTOTAL 11 breweries strategi- and distribution network State. cally spread across the na- of the enlarged company. This, according to a Issuer Issue Date enlarged company isDescription tion, twoRating/Agency malting plants The statement from the lender, andFGN 19Eurobonds brands including expected to extend market stemmed from its focus on the lagers - Heineken, leadership, accelerate rev- the retail end of the mar6.75 JANket 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P‘33’ Export, 07-Oct-11 Star, Gulder, enue growth and expand and its quest to deliver profit capacity . Goldberg, among others. its quality banking servicBB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 BB-/S&P Jamodu restated the “The legacy compa- es to the door steps of its BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL customers, 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 company’s resolve to in- nies have maintained BB-/S&P stable growth in sales crease wealth for shareThe new branch is TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE holders and other stake- revenue and profitability located on Akarigbo TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION in the past five years. The Road, the main commerholders. Corporate “This is Eurobonds expected to be merger of Nigerian Brew- cial nerve centre in the 11.50 FEBcity 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I achieved through major eries and Consolidated . The Bank has01-Feb-11 also 7.50 MAYembarked 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P in the areas GTBANK PLC I 19-May-11 cost savings Breweries is also a boost on the remod7.25 JUL eling 25, 2017 of about 40 of B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC equities market, as 25-Jul-12 to the of interest expenses, disits 6.88 MAYbranches 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY former BANK PLC shareholders of 09-May-13 tribution/administrative nationwide to 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 08-Nov-13 costB+/Fitch; among other operatConsolidated Breweries, reflect its retail position10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II 08-Apr-12 ing. ingB+/Fitch; activities where dupliwhich was not listed in 6.25 APR 22, 2019 BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 22-Apr-14 the Nigerian Stock Excation will be eliminated. The new branch was 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC 21-May-14 Expenses such as annual change [NSE], now have declared open by Oba Mi8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 general meetings, board the 6.63 DECcheal 09, 2020 Adeniyi Sonariwo B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III opportunity to trade 09-Dec-13 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021of Remo24-Jun-14 B-/Fitch; B/S&P fees and comACCESS BANK PLCshares II of directors’ their on the floor (Akarigbo Land 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P munication expenses FIRST to BANK of LTD NSE. Sagamu), who was23-Jul-14 sup10-Oct-13

‡ /Agusto

#{r}

active during the day 10-Oct-20 3.31 1.00 (measured by5.80 turnover1.00 27-Nov-20 volume); with5.89 240.5 mil-1.94 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 3.55 lion shares worth N2.291.44 06-Jan-21 exchanged 3.58 billion by in-1.95 vestors in 1,331 deals. Volume in the subsector was largely driven by17-Aug-15 activities in0.27 the shares4.88 0.58 of09-Dec-15 Access Bank and GTB1.00 06-Jan-16 0.66 2.63 Plc. 29-Sep-16 1.64 1.00 Also, other financial 25-Oct-16 1.71 1.34 services sector, 30-Sep-17 2.64 boosted 1.00 by30-Nov-17 activities in1.66 the shares1.88 of09-Apr-18 FBNH Plc,1.66followed3.48 09-Sep-18 1.83 with a turnover of 525.20 09-Sep-18 1.83 5.06 million shares valued 22-Sep-18 3.62 1.00 at18-Oct-18 N342.1 million in 712 1.94 2.29 deals. 17-Feb-19 2.02 6.11 01-Apr-19 2.89 Further analysis of2.16 14-Nov-20 5.76 showed 2.76 the day’s trading

Consequently, the All14.75 11.10 Share13.50 Index shed87.50 624.53 basis15.00 points or 2.12 5.00 per 14.50 4.55 cent to close at 29,360.55 4.56 basis15.00 points as against 460.61 29,985.08 recorded last 428.88 Friday while market capitalisation of equities depreciated by5.00N208 10.00 12.00 billion or 2.12 per 18.75 cent to 0.42 close 14.00 lower at N9.796 tril13.00 15.00 lion as against N10.004 14.25 5.53 trillion. 13.00 20.00 Meanwhile, a turnover 18.00 0.64 16.00 billion shares 6.30 of 364.4 2.90 worth18.00N6.02 billion in 16.00 0.80 3,782 deals was recorded 14.00 35.00 in the15.75 day’s trading. 2.40 The banking sub 18.00 0.41 sec4.50 sertor of16.00 the financial 2.05 vices 15.25 sector was the most 11.93

0.10

13.25

15.44

that Seplat Petroleum 16.44 95.94 Company Plc topped the 16.37 89.46 day’s 17.30 gainers’ table 91.65 with 16.88 cent to 94.10 10.25 per close at 17.39 while 94.10 N368.11 Dangote Flour Plc followed with 9.50 per cent to close at N4.38 per share Vitafoam 18.33 Plc gained of 4.92 97.92 14.32 to close 98.71 per cent at N3.41 16.36 98.60 per share. 16.28 95.41 On 16.65 the flip side, May & 96.50 Baker16.47 Plc led the losers’ 92.76 table with a drop of 8.67 17.17 101.83 18.77 to close 96.33 per cent at N1.37 96.51 shed while20.54 Stanbic IBTC 20.40 93.94 6.80 per cent to close at 16.44 93.51 N24.0017.67 per share. 97.05 NEM trailed with 6.7894.82 per cent 21.52 17.62close at96.44 drop to 55 kobo 18.13 89.89 per share.

Sterling Bank opens Shagamu branch

B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

14-Aug-14

135.24 127.14

11-Feb-18 3.01the com1.00 will serve 16.45 85.62 retail both will be added in 01-Feb-21 16.40 84.09 banking ing months to4.75 enable it1.00 and wholesale achieve its 200 mark customers with a combefore the end of the prehensive range of 2015 financial year. The products including the Maturity DatetotalBid Yield (%) netOffer Yield (%) Bid Price banking Offer Price Bank’s branch traditional prodwork currently standsPrices ucts and services with an & Yields at 176. emphasis on technology 28-Jan-21 99.83 According7.11to the6.79 driven98.27 products/services Bank’s Group Head, delivered through an on12-Jul-18 5.93 5.60 97.54 98.55 Strategy & Communi- line real-time technology 12-Jul-23 7.36 93.92 already 95.08put in cations, Mr. Shina Ati-7.16 platform lola, “The opening of place by the Bank. Shagamu branch is part He said, “Our intenof the on-going branch tion is to have in place expansion strategy to by the end of this year 01-Feb-16 the bank’s 180.69 180.69 about33.50 33.50 200 functional expand op19-May-16 100.63 spread 100.63 erations and6.96 branch6.96 branches across 25-Jul-17 across 11.31 11.31 the country 91.50 91.50 network the counto enable us 02-May-18 13.04 to adequately 81.75 84.08 try to enable it14.07 deploy its reach our 08-Nov-18 10.52 86.28 88.22 services to all parts of9.83 customers. The Shagamu 08-Apr-19 41.31 41.31 40.50 40.50 the country and leverage branch also has adequate 22-Apr-19 10.94 10.94 84.52 84.52 on this to successfully ATMs79.20 to ensure82.25 that cus21-May-19 15.58 14.44 increase its share of the tomers are well served 07-Aug-20 13.37 13.37 80.00 80.00 retail end of the market.” provid09-Dec-20 24.50 24.50 without 45.98delay by 45.98 24-Jun-21 13.61 branch, 13.12 ing an 81.83  The Shagamu “all day”83.67 service 23-Jul-21 13.84 75.00 75.00 according to13.84Atilola, availability”.

10.20 12.00 ported by Oba Gisanrin 12.95 Lasisi11.25 Moibi (Oba Odofin 24.95and Sonyindo Sagamu) 21.16 Oba Mufutau Sanni (Oba Aminisan Sagamu) Outstanding Value Coupon (%) It would be recalled ($mm) that towards the end of last year, the lender 6.75new branches 500.00 in opened Festac5.13 Town, Owode Oni500.00 rin, a retail market that deals 6.38 with motor500.00 spare parts along Ikorodu Road, 1,500.00 Itire, and Awoyaya all in 1,448.64 Lagos. Others are the NNPC Depot in Mosimi 11.50 State, Eziukwu 450.00 in Ogun 7.50 Birin-Kebbi 500.00 in in Abia, 7.25 Rumuola 350.00and Kebbi, 300.00 Onne6.88 in Port Harcourt 6.00 and Bank Road in400.00 Ekiti. 10.25 300.00 The6.25new branch ac500.00 cording to the state8.75 200.00 ment,8.25 is an addition 300.00 to the bank’s expanding 6.63 360.00 9.25 400.00 branch programme, 8.00 450.00 just as more locations 8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.77

10.40

90.00

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

91.63

9-Feb-15

3,562.34

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills FIXINGS Money Market Foreign & Forwards) professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or upExchange to date. (Spot We do not guarantee DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBORfor the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability 10 19-Feb-15 10.97 10.72 11.00 17 24 FGN Bonds 31 38 45 Rating/Agency 52 59 66 73 80 87 94 101 115 122 NA 136 143 157 164 171 178 206 297 311 TOTAL OUTSTANDING 332 346

VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 19-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 Issuer 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15 11-Jun-15 NA 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 21-Jan-16

13.45 11.80 12.95 11.96 13.10 Description 13.60 13.20 4.00 23-APR-2015 12.71 13.55 13.05 16-AUG-2016 13.20 15.10 27-APR-2017 10.85 9.85 27-JUL-2017 12.85 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.00 10.70 30-MAY-2018 14.25 16.00 29-JUN-2019 14.15 7.00 23-OCT-2019 14.50 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.40 14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.53 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.65 12.49 22-MAY-2029 14.25 12.10 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.25 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.65 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 13.00 13.80 13.90

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

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

13.20 11.55 12.70 11.71 12.85 Issue Date 13.35 12.95 23-Apr-10 12.46 13.30 16-Aug-13 12.95 27-Apr-12 10.60 27-Jul-07 12.60 31-Aug-07 12.75 30-May-08 14.00 29-Jun-12 13.90 23-Oct-09 14.25 27-Jan-12 14.15 14-Mar-14 13.28 28-Nov-08 12.40 22-May-09 14.00 11.85 20-Nov-09 13.00 23-Jul-10 12.40 18-Jul-14 12.75 13.55 13.65

Description

Bonds

13.53 11.89 13.09 12.11 13.32 Coupon 13.87 (%) 13.49 4.00 13.01 13.93 13.05 13.59 15.10 11.14 9.85 13.29 9.35 13.49 10.70 14.92 16.00 14.85 7.00 15.33 16.39 15.26 14.20 14.37 15.00 13.41 12.49 15.27 12.86 8.50 14.32 10.00 14.10 12.1493 14.62 15.78 16.01

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M Outstanding

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 37.5433 15.7171 16.2307 17.2353

OBB

53.33

O/N

57.17

REPO

Tenor TTM Call (Yrs) 1M 3M0.20 6M1.52

Maturity Date

535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 581.39 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 476.80 27-Apr-17 1M 12.9002 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 13.5529 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 13.5621 300.00 30-May-18 6M 14.4273 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 14.7563 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 16.5531 600.00 27-Jan-22 434.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N)20-Nov-29 200.00 BID($/N) 591.57 195.7850 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 195.8850 206.00 18-Jul-34

4,855.63

Rate (%) Bid Yield 55.00 56.00 13.49 57.00 58.00 15.18

Tenor

(%)

Bid ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M Yield Offer 2M (%) 3M 6M12.71 1Y15.06

2.21 15.42 15.34 2.46 15.47 15.39 2.56 15.47 15.39 :Benchmarks 3.30 15.44 15.32 * :Amortising Bond 4.38 15.39 15.29 µ :Convertible Bond 4.70Management Corporation 15.40 15.29 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 6.97 15.34 15.27 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.09Mortgage Bank of 15.30 15.24 FMBN: Federal Nigeria 13.80 Finance Corporation 16.15 16.09 IFC: International 14.28 16.26 Management 16.20 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 14.78 Aviation Handling 16.39Company 16.30 O/N: Overnight 15.45 15.77 15.70 UPDC: UAC19.44 Property Development Company 15.55 15.49 NOTE:

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Offer ($/N)

196.30 196.40 196.61 196.72 Price 196.91 197.06 197.63 198.12 Bid Price Offer Price 198.97 200.01 200.30 201.87 98.12 98.27 204.86 207.97 214.60 220.43 97.20 97.35

99.35 99.50 88.83 88.98 87.47 87.62 NA :Not Applicable 88.02 88.32 # :Floating Rate Bond 101.85 102.15 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 72.57 72.87 104.40under review104.70 ‡ : Bond rating 94.65expired 94.95 †: Bond rating 93.66 93.96 N/A :Not Available {r} :Issuer 79.23 in receivership 79.53 56.52 56.82 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 66.90 67.20 UBA: United Bank for Africa 79.60 79.30

4,371.66

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.28 1.15 1.83 2.19 2.40

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

16.03 17.66 17.35 16.43 16.46

95.57 99.63 97.89 97.16 93.84

Agency Bonds

FMBN ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUEModified Duration Buckets TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

‡ /Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

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 Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

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

Weighting by Outstanding Vol

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 FGN BOND 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

Weighting by Mkt Value

24.56 2.70 INDEX 112.22 116.70 66.49 Bucket322.68 Weighting

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

YTD Return (%)

1,038.80

1,058.18

32.64

34.70

311.810.33

13.00

15.31

118.3941

1,124.50

1.5032

3<5

1,395.62

1,385.98

42.75

46.62

0.43

46.05

15.33

120.9179

1,023.89

1.1176

797.57

24.60 31-Aug-10 100.00 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11

18.68 12.50 100.00 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50

0.25

40.95 31-Aug-15 100.00 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18

15.71 0.56 15.48 0.39 0.91 0.91 2.19 1.46 2.89 2.06 2.07 2.26

83.9034 4.44 110.9873 3.23 4.46 3.48 1.00 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00

980.98 17.67 1,059.83 16.39 19.46 18.49 16.43 16.25 17.25 17.21 16.41 16.44

2.5855 97.35 0.4406 98.73 95.64 97.56 88.51 96.89 92.79 94.80 96.03 96.53

>5 Market

559.12 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 2,993.55 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

3,241.73

8.50 4.18 4.86 5.73 57.00 25.73 25.00 34.14 9.00 13.73

1.00

Business | Capital Market

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at February 9, 2015

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Features

Tribal marks, a people’s identity I n today’s world, it appears tribal mark has come to stay. Gone are the days that it is seen as disgraceful or treated with disdain. It seems no longer absurd. Tribal mark is part of many cultures in Africa, especially Nigeria. It is a town’s identification mark. It is a trailing mark of the indigene of a town. Many tribes in Yoruba land, mostly use these marks as a form of identification and beautification, which some youths today regard as tattoo. Tribal mark is not only on the face, depending on the tribe and culture; it could be on the lap, arm, buttocks or back. Ile Aberejo is a town in the northern part of Oyo State. It is immediately after Lalate/Tapa town. It is a very receptive and friendly town. As bland and simple as the town looks, it is very strong and tight about its means of identification (facial

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Tribal marks have a long history in African tradition; especially in the era when having a sense of identity was very important to an individual and community. Overtime, the trends dwindle, and individuals who had tribal marks were scorned and even became victims of ridicule among their peers and in the society, OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI writes

and arm tribal marks) and culture. Tribal mark in this town is key to the people’s existence, survival and success. Kemi Agunrege, an indigene of the town, is a beautiful, elegant and successful lady. Right from birth till her mid-thirties, she has never been home but she knows from story that she is an indigene of Ile Aberejo. Tragedy struck unexpectedly and she had to go to her home. Her father died during a machine operation at a clay-making firm somewhere in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos. Hence, she and her mother had to take the remains of the man home for burial. But at home, trouble reared its ugly head. Agunrege was not allowed to bury her father because she was described as a bastard. Reason: The town’s tribal mark is not on her face or arm. After pleading, the elders agreed to allow her to bury her father. However, they did not allow her to pay the last respect of pouring sand on her father’s body She said: “They told me that my

late daddy would not have peace in his grave if I poured sand on him because I do not have the town’s tribal mark, hence, I am not his legitimate child, they alleged.” According to Agunrege, the family elders and the town elders rejected her because she did not have the tribal mark. She said they gave her two conditions - either she should allow them give her the tribal mark right there so that she could perform the rite or be married from that town and give birth to a child that would have the identity of the community. Agunrege added that they told her she would not be truly happy and be successful except she had the town’s tribal mark on her face or arm because that was the town’s culture and covenant. “Well, I have Jesus. They are not to determine my destiny and happiness. Jesus has the final say over my life,” she said. Eniola Adefuwape lost her marriage of 17 years because she ran

away with her baby from being given the facial tribal mark in her husband’s hometown. “I don’t know how my daughter’s face will look today. Her father’s town’s tribal mark is terrible. It is called Pele Ijesha. How will I explain to my daughter today that I allowed such injustice done to her pretty face? Honestly, I don’t regret the divorce at all,” she said. Adefuwape, whose husband is from Osun State, said she was not informed that the tribal mark was compulsory; she probably would have rescinded her decision to go ahead with the marriage at the initial stage. “In this modern age, why will a culture put its people in life bondage in the name of tribal mark?” she asked. While some resent the facial tribal mark, others have no misgivings about it. They even go about it with pride, especially those who have it on other parts of their bodies; they simply refer to it as tattoo. There is a common face in one of the new generation banks in Lagos. She is tall, fair in complexion and always smiling with a gap in her set of front row teeth. She is well known for her smile which many of the customers describe as charming and brings out her beauty. It covers the large mark on each side of her cheeks. Indeed, it makes her look beautiful. She told New Telegraph that her parents could not have done better. “I believe I couldn’t have looked C O N T I N U E D on PA G E 4 6

FEATURES

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

My tribal mark, my pride C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 5

more beautiful than how I am looking now. I believe my parents knew better and they did well. I am very proud of my Ondo town’s tribal mark,” she beamed. For Kehinde Adeyeloye, a beautician from Ilaje, a coastal area of Ondo State, it is a cross that she has come to terms with. “My facial mark is my best asset, as far I’m concerned,” she said. She added that she was initially ashamed of it when she was growing up and that was when her peer group made jest of her. But later, Adeyeloye realised that that is what actually brought out her beauty. “Really, I am proud of it,” she added. According to Oluwanisomo Omoniyi, a public relations guru, philanthropist and high chief in Iloko-Ijesha of Osun State, tribal mark was a means of identification during the Yoruba inter-tribal wars. He explained that it was a means to identify different tribes. It was also used to differentiate the age-grades before the advent of Western culture. Omoniyi said that the purpose of facial marks in the past was to beautify people. It was also to identify slaves. He explained that tribal marks became a necessity in the olden days as a result of the incessant communal wars and slave trade experienced then. Families became separated as people were often taken away as slaves and to avoid completely losing their folks, they decided to mark their faces, hoping it would help to uphold family ties. “Such marks were used by individuals to trace their source, no matter how long they might have been held captive,” Omoniyi added. Because of the health implications and several abuses, it has become an outlawed practice in Nigeria. The high chief listed some of the tribal marks to include Abaja, Keke, Gombo, Ture, Pele, Mande and Jamgbadi, among many others, depending on the culture and tribe. Dr Ernest Ugiagbe, a sociologist at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Benin (UNIBEN), told New Telegraph that tribal mark either on the face or any part of the body, was nothing but a social solidarity and identity, mostly valued in the olden days. “It creates bond within the society. An Itsekiri man, for instance, would feel more obligated towards a fellow man who shares same mark with him,” he said. It, however, has its dangerous side, aside the aforementioned advantages. Ugiagbe said it caused discomfort and embarrassment to carriers. He said most of the people with facial marks had, many times, been exposed to danger. For instance, during the Ni-

Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo

Ancient tribal mark

A young man with tribal mark

A young girl with tribal mark

Facial tribal mark

A baby with facial mark

gerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970, he said, troops used tribal marks to identify their enemies. Carriers were easily sold out by the marks on their faces. Also during crisis between the Itsekiri and Ijaw, the tribal mark, he explained, was the easy vehicle through which they were able to identify each other. “Their different tribal marks identify them out for either safety or danger,” he added. Well, in a situation that ei-

A tatoo

ther the parent or child has no say during the tribal mark incision, the sociologist advised that the person should accept fate and be proud of it, else they won’t overcome the inferiority complex that would come with it. “They should defend inform of attack,” he added. Ugiagbe, however, advised strongly against tribal mark as, according to him, it is no longer relevant in modern age. “It should be single and national and a not a community identity,” he said.

PHOTOS: ONLINE

However, children are no longer given tribal marks. Some Nigerian states have enacted laws to ban giving children tribal marks, imposing heavy fines on violators or prison terms. In Oyo State, for instance, the prohibition of tribal marks is contained in the state Child Rights Law, which imposes N5,000 fine or one month imprisonment or both for violation. It reads: “No person shall tattoo or make a skin mark or cause any tattoo or skin mark to be made on a child.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

EFCC storms Ebonyi over N1.1bn SURE-P fund Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

peratives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have stormed Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, to unravel the alleged missing of N1.1billion SUREP fund by officials of the state government.

New Telegraph gathered that the anti-graft body is is in the state in connection with the recent withdrawal of SURE-P bank account by officials of the state. It was further gathered that the money withdrawn was distributed to the 13 local government caretaker committee chairmen and development centre

coordinators, who got between N58 million and N68 million each, allegedly to pursue the aborted February elections, in favour of one political party in the state and not for any project, which the fund was meant for. New Telegraph inves-

tigation revealed that the amount was withdrawn because all bank accounts of the state, including the joint account and stabilisation account had been frozen on the order of the House of Assembly except the SURE-P account.

Further findings revealed that the EFCC team was invited to investigate how the money was withdrawn, why the money was withdrawn and for what purposes other than for SURE-P projects. But when contacted on telephone, SURE-P

board Chairman in Ebonyi State, Prof. Stella Inyagha, denied knowledge of such account, saying “I do not have banks, as a federal staff, we belong to the federal list and state government gives us vehicles and accommodation. We do not operate any account of SURE-P, except the state ministry of finance and other approving authorities.”

Elechi plans council election despite court order Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

he crisis rocking Ebonyi State government over the conduct of council election may be far from over as the state governor, Chief Martin Elechi, is planning to hold local government election without the determination of the appeal filed by the House of Assembly against the judgement of a Federal High Court, which set aside the law made by the House and which nullified the council election earlier held in the state. The federal high court in Enugu had nullified the former election on the ground that the open ballot system adopted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) negates the right to individual’s privacy, as the plaintiff contended. The crisis, New Telegraph gathered, worsened when Elechi suddenly parted ways with his deputy, Dave Umahi and further planned to impeach him, but the lawmakers stood firm behind

the deputy. The lawmakers have questioned the constitutionality of appointing and swearing in 13 local government caretaker committee chairmen by Elechi without being screened by the House. However, it was gathered that since the swearing in of the caretaker chairmen, an ex-parte motion has been brought before an Abuja Federal High Court, challenging the appointment and release of state’s funds for the caretaker chairmen by the state government. Already, the lawmakers had petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the Nigeria Stock Exchange Commission (SEC) not to release the N15 billion bond proposal to by Elechi, as the governor has not briefed them on how he utilised the first set of N16.5 billion bond, which he procured in 2010. Chairman of EBSIEC, Mr. John Nkwuda, has released the guidelines and timetable for the conduct of the council election. According to Nkwuda, the election would hold on April 25, 2015.

L-R: Former Pro-Chancellor, Abia State University, Prof. Joshua C. Ogbonnaya; wife of former Head of State, Lady Victoria Aguiyi Ironsi; former, Secretary, Umuahia North L.G.A, Lady Nnenna Ogbonna and Sir Joshua Nnanyerem Ogbonna, at the christening and thanksgiving service for twin babies of Joshua Nnanyerem Ogbonna in Umuahia.

Court reserves ruling on Biafra Zionists Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, Enugu State, yesterday reserved ruling on the application for bail filed by the detained leader of the Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF), Benjamin Onwuka and 10 others, who have been in custody for their attempt, last year, to take over the Enugu State Broadcasting Station in pursuit of their dream state of Biafra.

When the matter came up in court yesterday, Justice D. V. Agishi and the court had listened to the application for bail in the case brought against them by the Attorney General of the Federation in the charge: The Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Benjamin Onwuka and 10 others, charge no. FHC/EN/CR/76/2014, but the judge reserved ruling on the bail application for February 19. In the application for bail filed on behalf of the

Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese gets auxiliary bishop Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

he Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis the 16th, has appointed an auxiliary bishop for Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese. He is Monsignor Chidi Isizoh. According to a state-

ment signed by Rev. Fr. Benjamin Ogbunuko, Personal Assistant to the Archbishop of Onitsha, the most Rev. Valerian Okeke, the bishop-elect, Monsignor Chidi Denis Isizoh, had been, up to the time of his appointment, an official of the Pontifical Council for

PPA okays election shift Tony Okafor Awka

he leader of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in Anambra State, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, yesterday commended the Independent National Electoral Com-

mission (INEC) for taking what he called a bold step to shift the elections’ date, stressing that the development would foster peace in the country. He stated this in an interview with newsmen at Umuchu Aguata Local Government of Anambra

Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican since 1995. The bishop-elect, the statement said, was born on January 24, 1956 in the Archdiocese of Onitsha and attended St. Raphael’s Primary School, Awkuzu and St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Ogbunike, all in

Anambra State between 1964 and 1970. He entered All Hallows Junior Seminary, Onitsha between 1971 and 1976 and later proceeded to the major seminary for studies in philosophy at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Ikot Ekpene, between 1977 and 1981.

State yesterday. Ezeemo said in spite of INEC’s insistence that the commission was ready to conduct a credible, free, fair and unbiased elections, the reality on ground did not suggest that. He said: “INEC shifted the elections in the interest of democracy and of the country. “Jega eschewed pride

and ego and made a resounding sacrifice for the country, I doff my cap for him,” Ezeemo said. The PPA leader, who condemned the crisis in parts of the North East, said it was important to restore the lost glory of those affected areas in order to enable the people exercise their franchise.

activists by their lawyer, Olu Omotayo, the accused had maintained in the affidavit and the further affidavit in support of the motion that “Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF),” is a peaceful movement for the liberation of the Biafran people of the former Eastern Region of Nigeria and that the Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF) is not an outlawed organisation in Nigeria.” They further said that the movement has not been proscribed by any law

in Nigeria and that “Onwuka and other members of the BZF had, on June 5, 2014, staged a peaceful protest to intimate the world of the sufferings and plight of the people of Biafra and that they were not armed and neither did they carry any offensive weapon on that fateful day.” However, their attempt to take over the Enugu Broadcast Station became tragic as it resulted in casualties, yet, they claimed in court that it was a peaceful protest.

Uzodinma moves to join APC Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

ndications are rife that Senator Hope Uzodinma, representing Imo West senatorial district in the National Assembly may have concluded plans to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) to seek re-election to the Senate. There have been insinuations that the sympathy of the senator may be tilted towards his kinsman, Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is also the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum. Reports yesterday said the Director General of the Hope Uzodinma Campaign Organisation and a prominent PDP

leader in Imo state, Chief Rex Anunobi, has dumped the PDP for the APC. Samfo Nwankwo, another foot soldier and vociferous herald of Uzodinma’s political project also defected to the chagrin of even hard core PDP loyalists. Nwankwo is the chairman of the influential and most controversial political pressure group in Orlu, known as the Orlu Political Consultative Assembly (OPOCA). As at the time of filing this report, it was not known whether Uzodinma has sacked any of these men from his campaign organisation as it is believed that they are executing his mandate.

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SOUTH-SOUTH

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Police arrest 20 over attack on Akpabio’s convoy Tony Anichebe Uyo

o fewer than 20 suspects have been arrested by the police in Akwa Ibom State, over the recent attack on Governor Godswill Akpabio’s convoy during one of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) campaign rally in Oron, Akwa Ibom State. The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel

74.6%

Ashong, revealed this in Eket yesterday during an interview with newsmen through the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Etim Dickson, stating that the Police have synergised with other security agencies in the state to ensure that they protect the electorate before, during and after elections. The Police boss, warned that nobody including the security officers, would be permitted at the polling booth with

The percentage of the urban population of Falkland Islands (Malvinas) in 2012. Source: Un.org

firearms. He called on the people to comport themselves, as well as provide security for themselves in case anybody wants to foment trouble before, during and after the elections in the state. He also emphasized that even the electorate have the right to arrest anybody suspected to be a thug or any suspicious character at the polling unit and handover such person to the police or

274,557

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Albania in 2004. Source: Itu.int

any available security agent. Speaking on the mass movement of residents of the state over fear of violence, the Commissioner of Police, stressed that the movement of the people has nothing to do with the fear associated with possible violence during the forth coming elections, describing the claim as rumour being circulated by some people in the state. He said that people

$36.4m

The total pay (including salary/winnings & endorsements) of Gareth Bale (Football) for 2014. Source: Forbes.com

were at liberty to travel to their wards and units where they had their registration and prepare for the elections, adding that it has nothing to do with the elections. He emphasized that the police, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, have put measures in place for the safety of lives and property of the people, before, during the after the forthcoming general elections.

0.1%

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

L-R: Head, Voters’ Education and Publicity Department, Rivers INEC, Mr. Godfrey Achibie; Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Gesila Khan and Director, Rivers Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Florence Okwu, during INEC’s sensitisation on violence-free election for Rivers women groups in Port Harcourt …yesterday

MDAs begin budget defence in Cross River Clement James Calabar

he Cross River House of Assembly on Monday began the hearing of budget presentation by Ministries, Department and Agencies MDAs in the State. It would be recalled that the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, had in November presented the 2015 appropriation budget of N149.44billion to the House. Before the presentation of the budget, the member representing Yakurr 2 State constituency, Mr. William Eteng, had intimated the House that the hearing of the budget was to help the state plan for the 2015 projects. Eteng, who is the vice chairman house committee on Finance and Appropriation, said the objective of the budget defence was to see how

the government can affect the people. “This exercise we are carrying on today is for the benefit of the state, and we must take things seriously so that we can pass the 2015 appropriation budget on time,’’ he said. First to present her budget was the Director General of the State Electrification Agency (SEA), Mrs Rosemary Atsu, who presented a budget estimate of N6.8billion for her agency. She said the priority of the agency was to ensure that 36 communities in the state were electrified during the fiscal year. According to her, out of the amount, N669million would be used for maintenance of the projects, while independent power project would take N50million, adding that payment for outstanding jobs done in 2010-2012 would gulp about N308 million.

IYC lauds postponement of elections Joe Obende WARRI

he Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has lauded the postponement of the 2015 general election citing the poor preparation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The group, which spoke through a statement signed by its spokesperson, Eric Omare In Warri, Delta State, said it believed that the postponement was the best decision in the circumstances and commended INEC, for its boldness to take the right decision. It chided some political leaders and parties which, it said, have resorted to whipping sentiments against the government and the electoral umpire over claims of reneging on the earlier promise to conduct the elections on February 14 and 28, as assured by the commission. IYC, however, called on INEC to display utmost transparency in its preparation towards the rescheduled elections so as to let Nigerians know its level of preparedness and whatever challenges it was facing. “INEC should, as a matter of principle, carry out a weekly review of its activities to update Nigerians on its level of preparedness to ensure that all registered voters obtain their voters’ cards in order to enable them participate in the elections,” Omare added.

Peterside will beat Wike despite poll shift, says APC Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would not prevent its governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, from defeating the opposition People Democratic Par-

ty‘s governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike. The party’s State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, who stated this during Peterside’s campaign rally in his Opobo community, said that it was very clear that the elections were postponed because the PDP was afraid of losing. He said that the people of the state had resolved that the next governor of the State must come

from the riverine area in line with the power rotation agreement, saying the victory of Peterside had been concluded. Ikanya said: “Postponing the elections from February to March and April would not, in any way, save the PDP. It is just a matter of weeks, no matter the game plans of the Presidency and PDP leadership, nothing would change the resolve of the people and the plan of God. Any-

body working against the candidature of Peterside is an enemy of fairness in Rivers State. “The unprecedented crowd of men and women, young and old, including non-indigenes in Opobo/Nkoro local government, who in unison assured Peterside of their support, indicates that his victory in the forthcoming governorship election was a foregone conclusion by the grace of God.”

Group appeals for violence-free election Clement James Calabar

he Justice, Development and Peace Caritas (JPDC) has called on Nigerians to ensure that there was peace in the country before, during and after the rescheduled general election. The organization, supported by the Catho-

lic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), made the call on Monday in Calabar, during a stakeholders’ meeting convened to examine issues that could engender peace during the 2015 elections. Speaking at the event, the Director of JDPC, Calabar, Rev. Father Emmanuel Bekomson, said the world was focused on Nigeria, adding that

everyone’s contribution was needed to ensure a peaceful election. “The issue of peace is a continuous thing until we achieve a violent-free election,” he said. Bekomson, urged politicians to always remember that Nigeria remains the only country we can call our own. In his remarks, Assistant Commissioner

of Police (ACP), Hillary Igwe, urged politicians to stop making inflammatory remarks during their campaigns. “Politicians should know that there must be a winner and a loser in any election. That you win is because there is a country called Nigeria and that you lose is because there is a country called Nigeria,” Igwe said.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

tariff war

Manufacturers kick over sudden increase in power tariff Muhammad Kabir Kano

he Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Kano State chapter yesterday threatened to drag the Kano State Electricity

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NORTH

Increase in tariff: MAN threatens legal action against Kano DISCO Distribution Company (KEDCO) to court over what they described as abrupt increase in electricity tariff. Chairman of Sharada/Challawa, Alhaji Safiyanu Baba, who spoke with newsmen in Kano on behalf of the association, lamented the sudden increase of tariff

by the electricity distribution company without consultation. Baba urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to, as a matter of national importance, intervene in the matter to review the tariff to avoid the collapse of industries and loss of jobs in the state,

saying if the commission fails to compel KEDCO to review the tariff, it has no option than to go to court. The association frowned at the increase which, they said, is lower than that of Lagos State that enjoys more power supply than Kano State and manufacturers in

the state are paying less than Kano. MAN hinted that with the present epileptic power supply in Kano, customers should be prepared to buy from Lagos State similar products to those that are produced in Kano, noting that the situation may force factories to close down.

$158m

The estimated transfer cost of Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid in 2015. Source: Finance.yahoo.com

1.86m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Singapore in 2007. Source: Itu.int

1.9%

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

23m

The total population of Oceania region in 1980. Source: Un.org

Wife of Kebbi State Governor, Hajiya Zainab Dakingari (left), presenting refrigerators, sewing machines and irrigation pumps to some rural women in Kebbi …yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Plateau pensioners protest non-payment of allowances Musa Pam Jos

lateau State government pensioners under the auspices of the state branch of the Pensioners' Union of Nigeria (NUP), yesterday in Jos, staged a peaceful demonstration for an upward review of their current N5, 140 monthly pen-

sion to a ‘more humane’ amount. The pensioners in their large numbers, also expressed regret that even the N5, 140 monthly pensions had not been paid in the last six months and that as much as N4 billion gratuities was being owed them by the government. During the protest, the pensioners, who were carrying placards with vari-

ous inscriptions like; “The aged are suffering, treat them with kindness;” “We can't pay our children's school fees;” “Many have died. Many more are dying. Pay our pension;” among others, asked the government to do something about their plight. Executives of the union, who held a meeting in Jos last week, arrived at a decision to stage

the protest till the state government responds to their cries. Chairman of the union, Chief Sunday Jimoh Danladi, who disclosed this in an interview with New Telegraph, said the Plateau State government had not been regular in paying even the current N5, 140 monthly pensions. Danladi said: “The

FIDA: Force your daughter into ‘Lack of rule of law, bane of marriage and go to jail Nigeria’s development’ Dan Atori MINNA

he International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has warned parents in Niger State to desist from forcing their under-aged girl-children into early marriages or be ready to go to jail. FIDA Chairperson, Mrs. Fatima Takuma, gave the warning yesterday during a courtesy visit on the Etsu Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, at his residence in Minna. Takuma told the royal father that the federation

got a report on how a parent in the area forced his girl-child into marriage; and that FIDA was contemplating legal action against the parent. She explained that when the girl refused to be married out, she was beaten to a state of coma and taken to hospital, but legal action against the parent would not be possible without informing the Emir. The chairman said the Child Rights Law provides that any parent found guilty of the act would pay a fine of N50, 000 or serve a one year term in prison or both.

Mohammed Kawu Bauchi

university lecturer, Prof. Salisu Shehu, yesterday said the lack of the rule of law is the bane of Nigeria’s development. He said peace prevails among people in a society only where there is supremacy of the rule of law or when the citizens are equal before the law. Shehu, a lecturer at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) said peace eludes any society that lacks supremacy of the rule of

law or when some citizens are above the law. “Once justice is tampered with, there won’t be peace; justice is the pillar upon which good leadership thrives. Good leadership is built on justice and equity,” he told a seminar in Bauchi. The professor, who spoke at a seminar organised by Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), attributed Nigeria’s development challenges and the problem to bad leadership to the lack of rule of law in the country.

government of Plateau State is not taking care of pensioners at all. We have, for months, been writing letters on harmonisation, review of pension and so on, but to no avail. We did Christmas without arrears and up till now, there is no monthly pension, and our members are dying. We’ve been appealing to our members, but now our backs are to the wall."

5, 000 Wada's kinsmen dump PDP for APC Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

former governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Air Vice-Marshal Salihu Atawodi and Senator Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane, at the weekend, led thousands of their supporters from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State. Other prominent PDP key players who defected to the APC include the former Accountant General of the state, Elder Ubolo Okpanachi, former state Chairman of the PDP, Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja, the former Chairman of the Kogi State Teaching Service Commission, Mallam Sani Ogu and a former member of the House of representatives, Hon. Samson Positive Ihiabe. The defection took place during APC’s zonal rally at Ayingba, in the eastern zone of the state. Addressing the crowd, a former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, said the defection of those he described as political gladiators into the APC, is a clear indication that the reign of the PDP in the state has come to an end. He described the defection as a further boost for the success of the party in the coming general election. While congratulating the politicians for their decision, the former governor urged them to consider themselves as key players in the party, assuring them that they will always be carried along in the decision making process of the party at all levels.

Stay out of trouble, Niger APC tells supporters Dan Atori MINNA

ollowing the shift in the general elections from February to March and April, 2015, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has called on its supporters and members to stay out of trouble. The party while advising them to remain calm; warned its supporters not to sell their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), which he said is the only weapon to be used in bringing the desired change during the rescheduled general election.

APC in a statement issued yesterday in Minna by its Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Vatsa, called on its members to be peaceful, adding that the youths must say no to violence before, during and after the elections. According to him, “The postponement of the election should not be seen as a relaxation period, but a period to work harder and consolidate on the gains of our campaigns based on the popular acceptance of the electorate on the wind of change that will surely blow out the failed government of PDP from the state.”

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG delivered 25,000 km of road Putin in Egypt to expand Russian influence in 36 months, says Minister Yusuf Shuaib Abuja

inister of Works, Mike Onolememen, said yesterday that the Federal Government has rehabilitated and constructed 25,000 kilometers of roads across the country in 36 months. The minister explained that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan met about 4,500km of fair roads in 2011 and the ramped up kilometres of good roads of more than 25,000km in just 36 Months with some road alignments comparing favourably with the developed parts of the world. “Federal Government is determined to involving credible private sector infrastructure devel-

opment agencies with a view to ensuring sustainable improvement of road infrastructure in Nigeria, as encapsulated in the recently approved National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan NIIMP”. “To effectively bridge this noticeable infrastructure gap and sustain infrastructure development in Nigeria, we must continue to rely on the inadequate budgetary provisions if we must improve on our dilapidated and inadequate infrastructure; hence we adopted similar developmental frameworks in developed and emerging economies of the world where infrastructure development is driven by private investors”, Onolememen said. The minister, however, revealed that the huge investments and assets needed to be pro-

tected, especially as it is positioned against the backdrop that over 90 per cent of freight transportation in Nigeria is by road, using trailer trucks and tankers that are more often overloaded. On the other hand stakeholders suggest that the basis of “User pays” principle, to stimulate private sector investments in road development in the country will be in line with international best practice. Onolememen, however, called on stakeholders to deliberate as to evolve realisable methodologies for effective private sector’s participation in the funding of road infrastructure development, with a view to adopting appropriate paradigm that will attract both foreign and local investors in the road sector development.

resident Vladimir Putin arrived yesterday in Egypt as Russia seeks to expand its reach in the Arab world's most populous country at a time when Cairo-Washington ties remain frayed. Putin's first visit to Egypt in a decade comes after a 2011 popular uprising that ousted ex-strongman Hosni Mubarak, whom he leader met on his previous trip in 2005. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Putin on arrival at Cairo's inter-

national airport where the two leaders held talks for half an hour, officials said. From the airport they proceeded to Cairo Opera House in the capital's central district of Zamalek for a cultural evening. Putin is a key non-Arab backer of Sisi, who faces harsh US criticism for his deadly crackdown on dissent since Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the then army chief in July 2013. Hundreds of Morsi supporters have been killed and thousands imprisoned in a subsequent crackdown.

Experts say Putin's visit is also aimed at showing that he is not isolated internationally, despite the crisis in Ukraine. "The leaders will pay special attention to ramping up trade and economic ties between the two countries," the Kremlin said ahead of the visit. They will hold formal talks today and sign several agreements after which Putin and Sisi will hold a joint news conference, Sisi's office said. They are also expected to discuss Iraq, Syria and Libya, as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Police promises adequate security for polls  Gbeaku Orji Umuahia

he Abia State Police command has assured the public that its men were being trained to ensure adequate security for the elections in the state. Abia State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Ibrahim told journalists that there would be no need to fear and urged the electorate to feel free to exercise their franchise. The police Commissioner also used the event to parade some suspected criminals apprehended across the state, including a car snatching syndicate

arrested with a Toyota Sequoia bearing the campaign poster of Hon Nnenna Elendu Ukeje, the member representing Bende Federal Constituency and the PDP candidate for the area. The Police Commissioner said the suspects did it to escape arrest.  He said that the two men, Uchenna Ibero, 24 and Ifeanyi Agbai, male, 27, were arrested by the police at Amaiyi Obilohia in Isuikwuato council area after snatching a campaign bus from a politician. The Abia CP said that the suspects had earlier snatched a Mitsubishi campaign bus with registration number APP 376 CV, belonging to Chief Karibe

Pascal Ojigwe, a former international footballer and a candidate of the APGA for Abia House of Assembly.  He said that the suspects snatched the bus at gun point from Ojigwe. “My men went after them and traced them to Isuikwuato, where Agbai was arrested and during a search in his house, we recovered one AK47 rifle with serial number 05934. The Police also recovered one AK47 magazine containing three rounds of live ammunition, one locally made revolver pistol, one APGA T-shirt and one black polo with the inscription, ‘Gallant MOPOL, including the snatched bus.

FG, NPA others sued for N20bn over Calabar dredging Clement James Calabar

Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has fixed February 18 for the hearing of an ex-parte application challenging the award of the N20 billion Calabar dredging contract by the Federal Government. The trial judge, Justice Obilo Emmanuel yesterday granted a lawyer’s request after dismissing the initial motion withdrawn by the Reginald Osere.

Osere, who represented Sam Meje, the complainant in the matter, had informed the court that he was ready to withdraw an earlier motion he had filed on November 27, last year and was ready to substitute it with another motion, claiming that the court’s Bailiff could not serve notice on Calabar Channels Company as well as other defendants, including the Nigerian Port Authority and Federal Ministry of Transport. However, while dis-

missing the earlier motion, Justice Obilo said the motion was partially moved and did not have the particulars needed to grant such a request.  According to him, even the lone exhibit attached to the affidavit had no source and could not stand the test of scrutiny. He, however, dismissed the motion while fixing February 18 for a fresh motion with the hope that the plaintiff would have used substituted motion to serve the defendants.

People walking past a banner with a picture of Russian Vladimir Putin in central Cairo yesterday.

Greek markets plunge as defiant PM clash with EU

reek financial markets sank further yesterday after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made a speech showing little intention of sticking to the terms of the international bailout keeping Greece afloat. Other European markets also felt some limited selling pressure due to concerns about Greece, which had its credit rating cut by Standard & Poor's on Friday. An index of Greek banking stocks fell almost 10 percent close to record lows, pushing the Athens bourse's main index nearly to the lowest levels since the country's 2012 debt restructuring. Government bond yields

< 0 # G RT S Y = T W E B > rose by up to 3.7 percentage points, with three year yields nearing 22 percent. Having returned home emptyhanded from a week-long European tour in search for allies, Tsipras laid out a list of measures to reverse the austerity imposed by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund and vowed not to extend the current bailout deal. Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis kept up the rhetoric, calling the impact of the bailout "toxic". "The possibility of Greece leaving the euro zone has increased with this speech from 35 percent to 50 percent," said Gary Jenkins,

chief credit strategist at LNG Capital. Varoufakis warned that the euro would collapse if Greece were to leave the shared currency. There was little sign that EU capitals were willing to accept a reversal of Greek austerity measures or to extend loans that would buy time to negotiate with Athens. The market pressure on them to ease their stance was also limited. Spanish, Italian and Portuguese 10-year bond yields were up 8-12 bps on the day, with the fact that the European Central Bank will start buying government bonds next month tempering contagion from Greece.

Bosnia presidency names PM-designate

osnia's three-member inter-ethnic presidency named a prime minister-designate yesterday, in the first step towards forming a national government needed to push through economic reforms sought by the European Union. Bickering over jobs has

slowed the formation of governments at different layers of Bosnia's complex system since an October election despite appeals from the European Union for swift action. The EU has promised to unblock Bosnia's stalled bid to join the bloc in exchange for reforms.

Bosnia's unwieldy system of power-sharing is the legacy of a peace accord that ended its 1992-95 war and split power along ethnic lines. This has slowed reforms, stifled development and left Bosnia trailing its ex-Yugoslav peers on the road to EU membership.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

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International Sport

I am a lucky coach, Renard declares

We have to make this fight happen, Mayweather tells Pacquiao

Elections: Sports Festival faces further shift

Sport

AFCON 2015

Did you know? That Hervé Renard is the first coach to claim two AFCON trophies with two different teams following his continental success with Zambia in 2012 and now Cote d’Ivoire in 2015

Quadri inspires Portuguese club to title defence Olusesan Ajibade

Quadri (left) with teammates

igeria’s number one ranked player, Aruna Quadri, at the weekend helped his club, GD Toledos, to a successful defence of the Portuguese Table Tennis Cup, defeating pre-tournament favourites, Sporting Lisbon, in the finals decided in the city of Porto. It was a third successive Portuguese Cup title for GD Toledos, and Quadri, who was named International

Table Tennis Federation Star Man of the Year in January, was in superb form all through the two-day tournament as he won all his matches without dropping a game. Although Quadri and his GD Toledos teammates faced a Herculean task in the final against Sporting Lisbon, he ensured that the cup remained in the trophy cabinet of his Portuguese side for another year as he led them to a 3-1 win.

Quadri was delighted with the victory, insisting it would go a long way in putting him in the right frame of mind for the Kuwait Open and the Qatar Open, with the former getting underway on Wednesday in the Middle East country. “I feel so great winning the title again, and team work was crucial in delivering the Portuguese Cup once again,” said Quadri. “I have won the title thrice in a row and retaining the

I need regular games for more goals – Ideye W Ifeanyi Ibeh

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

est Bromwich Albion striker, Brown Ideye, is delighted to have scored his first goal of 2015 and is now keen on scoring more goals for the Baggies. To do that though, the Nigerian believes he needs to spend more time on the pitch rather than on the substitutes’ bench. Ideye came off the bench for the eighth time in 14 English Premier League appearances to rescue a point for West Brom in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Burnley in what was the Nigerian’s second league goal for the Baggies. And he told New Telegraph: “I am very happy. It really meant so much to me because that was what I was brought here to do. “When the ball went in the only thing I could think of were the fans. They had come all the way from our base to cheer us, and I felt their joy and relief and Ideye hope I can now start doing that

regularly, especially whenever I get to play.” The former Dynamo Kiev star, who also scored a goal for West Brom in last September’s 3-2 win over Hull City in the English League Cup, had before Sunday’s strike against Burnley not found the back of the net for the Baggies since their 3-1 loss to Manchester City on Boxing Day when he came off the bench to grab his side’s only goal. Since that December 26 loss to City, Ideye has appeared in seven out of the eight league and FA Cup games West Brom have been involved in. But the 26-yearold has only started two of those games, appearing as a substitute in the other five, including his last four appearances. In fact, Ideye has only been on the pitch for 95 minutes in his last four appearances for West Brom. But with the club’s fans clamouring for more goals from their £8.8 million record signing, Ideye is confident he can finally embark on a long awaited scoring run,

title again has increased my confidence for the Qatar and Kuwait Opens. I think last weekend’s matches in the Portuguese Cup has prepared me for the upcoming pro tours due to the fact that I played some tough matches. “I will be very happy if I can surpass my previous performance the pro tour. I have never qualified to the main draw in any major series of the ITTF World Tour and I will be glad if I can do that in Kuwait ,” said Quadri

especially if he gets to spend more time on the pitch. “Each time I score it boosts my confidence whether it is on the training ground or in an actual game,” continued the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner. “I want to play and score more regularly but to do that I have to make sure I make the most of any opportunity that comes my way. “I am not saying it is going to be easy but I am confident,” added the former Sochaux of France star. Meanwhile, West Brom manager, Tony Pulis, has challenged Ideye to go on a scoring spree following his goal against Burnley. “We’re hoping Brownie can keep scoring,” Pulis said. “We have Saido (Berahino), Brownie and Victor (Anichebe) - they’re our strikers, so we hope they can help us. “Brownie hasn’t played badly. He’s just missed opportunities. And with goal scorers - especially when you pay that much money - you expect to score. “So hopefully that will help his confidence because he’s a good lad.”

SPORT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sultan tasks Eaglets to conquer Africa Ajibade Olusesan

s the Golden Eaglets get set to depart Nigeria for the African Under-17 Championship, taking place in Niger Republic, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV, the Sultan of Sokoto, has called on the team to strive to win the cup. The tournament takes place from February 15 to March 1. The Golden Eaglets who have been in Sokoto to finalise their preparations for the tournament, on Monday, paid a courtesy call on the Sultan at his palace where, in the presence of some of his high-ranking chiefs, such as the Kogunan Sokoto, Mallam Danladi Bako, he advised to be disciplined and focussed on the assignment at hand in Niger in order to bring

Elections: Sports festival faces further shift Charles Ogundiya

honour to the country. “I’m very happy to receive you all on behalf of the hospitable people of Sokoto and I want to believe this is the first time some of you are coming to the palace,” said the Sultan. “In fact, this is the first time we are hosting a national team here at the palace and I’m particularly delighted to formally welcome all of you to the palace as this would afford you the opportunity to know that the Sultan is a human being like you.” He added: “We want you to be good ambassadors of this country when you go to Niger and personally, I want you to go and bring the trophy again to Nigeria. But even as you do this, you must be disciplined and listen to your coaches because without discipline you cannot achieve much even as a footballer.”

he National Sports Festival scheduled to start on April 9, may suffer another postponement following the recent shift in dates of general elections in Nigeria. Chairman of the Inde-

pendent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, on Saturday announced that Presidential Election will hold on March 28 while the Governorship election will hold on April 11. The festival earlier billed for November 2014 was shifted to April 2015 and may likely suffer an-

U-20 World Cup draw to be streamed live T he tournament that helped launch the careers of Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi and countless others is coming to New Zealand, and the draw for the U-20 World Cup will be beamed live on FIFA.com. The draw will include an intriguing mix of familiar names and new faces, with traditional heavyweights such as Argentina, Brazil and Germany in the mix alongside debutants Fiji and Myanmar.

The teams will be excited to learn who stands between them and progress at the U-20 finals, which will take place across seven host cities between May 30 and June 20. The draw show begins at 17.30 local time as fans will be able to watch it all unfold on FIFA.com, with updates also available on @FIFAcom on Twitter and at the official FIFA U-20 World Cup Facebook page.

Boxing action from National Sports Festival

Okocha, Kanu, Amodu, others off to London l As Taleveras redeems pledge

he trip of the first batch of highly –qualified Nigerians for match reading and backroom analysis technique programme in the United Kingdom is a done deal, as sponsors Taleveras Foundation on Monday released the cheque for the amount of money to cover the trip and the programme. Chief Executive Officer of Taleveras Foundation, Mr. Igho Sanomi said on Monday in Abuja that his

organisation was extremely proud to be involved in a process meant to facilitate the rapid development of Nigerian football. “We are doing this based on our belief that the potential is there for Nigerian football to be much better than what it is now, and everyone who has something to offer should come forward and be counted. NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, just back from CAF duties at the 30th

Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, praised Taleveras Foundation for the organisation’s professionalism, integrity and keen interest in the development of football in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. “I like to commend Taleveras Foundation for redeeming their pledge. I have been reliably informed that most of the persons listed for the trip have already secured entry visas into United Kingdom.”

other delay due to the general elections. Some of the stakeholders who spoke with our correspondent expressed displeasure on the elections date shift stressing that preparations ahead of the All Africa Games billed for September in Brazzaville may be affected. According to Athletic Federation of Nigeria President, Solomon Ogba, the festival might not hold again this year because of the election postponement. “It will be difficult to have the festival again and if we are going to have it, it may have lost its glamour because some of the expected athletes have scheduled their programme to accommodate the April date. “As an association, we are looking forward to the festival to get some athletes that can be part of Team Nigeria to some of the major competitions in the year, but with the situation of things, I don’t really know what will happen,” he said. Similarly, the director of organisation of Oyo State Sports Council, Gboyega Makinde, maintained that there was nothing anyone could do about the imminent postponement of the festival. He added that the state was waiting for the National Sports Commission to make an official statement on the issue.

Directors of Sports commend NOC on regular training Ifeanyi Ibeh

irectors of Sports from across the country, who successfully completed the recent international Olympic Committee/Nigeria Olympics Advanced Sports Management Course held in Lagos, have commended the Nigeria Olympic Committee for bringing the course to Nigeria. The commendation was made at the weekend during the closing ceremony of the course at the secretariat of the NOC in Lagos. Course facilitators, Prof

Clement Fassan of the Lagos State University and Jonathan Dyagas of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, equally commended the Habu Gumel-led executive committee of the NOC for the good initiative and prayed for more of such courses which they believe would go a long way in boosting the abilities of the country’s sports administrators. Assistant professor, Akeredolu Oluwole, however called on the NOC to increase the number of participants during the next stage of the course.

Nigerian Unity Cup: Misau emerges Bauchi champions isau Local Govern- for U-19 players. Ibrahim said they had M ment Area on SaturThe National Project Di- discovered young and talday emerged winners of rector of the competition, ented players that could

Tony Obot, MD,CEO Kandaval Communications (sporting white hat) presenting a trophy to Dare Gbadamosi, winner of Boys Singles event of Kandaval Table Tennis championship held in Lagos at the weekend.

the Nigerian Unity Cup in Bauchi State. Misau defeated Bauchi LGA 5-3 on penalties in an explosive final played at the Abubakar Balewa Stadium, Bauchi. Earlier in the thirdplace match, Gamawa LGA defeated Ningi LGA 2-0. 20 LGAs participated in the competition meant

Comrade Moses Ebahor, hailed the state co-ordinator of the tournament, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim, for making the event a success. Ebahor said the tournament was meant to promote peace and unity among youths in the 774 local government areas in Nigeria through football.

represent Nigeria internationally through the competition. He called on corporate organisations and individuals to support the tournament, which he said, would help reduce restiveness among Nigerian youths. “Football is a veritable tool to preach peace among Nigerians,” Ibrahim said.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Sanchez ready for Leicester, says Wenger

Mayweather (right) lands a punch on Maidana

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Alexis Sanchez will be back in the squad for the visit of Leicester on Tuesday. The Chilean forward missed Saturday’s 2-1 derby defeat at Spurs with a hamstring strain but is in contention to start against the Premier League’s bottom club. However, Wenger also reported that England man Alex OxladeChamberlain would be out for another two weeks due to a groin problem. Wenger said on Monday morning: “Sanchez will be back in the group and we don’t have any injuries from Saturday. Everybody looked fine yesterday (Sunday). “Alexis is our best goal scorer and one of our hardest working players. Physically, I think we suffered a little bit on some occasions on Saturday and it is good to have him back.” Regarding Tuesday’s match, Wenger added: “Leicester are a team who are fighting to survive in the Premier League.”

We have to make this fight happen, Mayweather tells Pacquiao

loyd Mayweather has uploaded a short video on his Instagram account which shows the undefeated American telling Manny Pacquiao that they have to fight before retirement. “Before we leave this sport, of course, we have to make this fight happen,” said Mayweather in the video uploaded on Sunday. He added in a caption: “from the look of this

video… I’m telling Manny Pacquiao that we have to give the world this fight.” The latest development in one of the most protracted sagas in sport will likely have little effect on fans who have waited for over half a decade for the bout. Mayweather’s video comes just days after Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, said that Showtime and HBO had come to a deal to finalise their side of talks to broadcast the

highly anticipated super fight. “We had four issues and we resolved two,” he said. “Now we’re working on resolving the other two. Unless something else comes up at the last minute, that’s what my take is.” But within moments of the story’s release, representatives on all sides of the negotiation vehemently denied the story – leading to reports that the fight looked doubtful.

Conte under investigation for match-fixing

taly coach Antonio Conte is among 130 people being investigated over allegations of match-fixing in a case that stretches back nearly five years. Conte was formally notified by a state prosecutor on Monday that he is being investigated for committing sports fraud when he coached Siena in 2010-11, al-

Basketball Flakes

allas Mavericks forward, Al-Farouq Aminu, has described how he was able to limit Portland Trailblazers’ All-Star forward, LaMarcus Aldridge, to only 25 points in Dallas’ 111-101 overtime victory over Portland at the weekend. Nigerian national team star, Aminu, fondly referred to as ‘Chief ’ by Dallas fans, and ‘Air Nigeria’ by fans of Nigeria’s D’Tigers, acquitted himself well defensively against Aldridge, 29, even managing to score nine points and grab nine rebounds, in addition to two blocks against the Blazers.

though a charge of criminal association was dropped. More than 50 people have been arrested in Italy for match-fixing since mid-2011, with matches under investigation by prosecutors in Cremona, Bari and Naples. Others named Monday included former Lazio captain Giuseppe Signori, current Lazio captain Stefano Mauri

Aminu shines against Blazers All-Star, Aldridge

Sanchez

and former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni who were each arrested and have each been handed sports bans. Conte is accused of involvement in fixing matches at the end of the season when Siena had already clinched promotion to Serie A and other clubs were still fighting to qualify for a playoff.

with Ifeanyi Ibeh 08054175662

Ahmed ready for D’Tigers challenge

C Al-Farouq Aminu (right) stopping LaMarcus Aldridge

The 24-year-old also had one assist, one steal, two blocks and one 3-pointer in 31 minutes of action. And in a report posted in the Star Telegram, Aminu said: “I know he really likes to go middle, so I just tried to cut off the middle and just make it hard for him off the catch and things like that. “He exerts a lot of energy just to get the ball and (I) just play him tough,” added the 6-9 tall Aminu. After 6-11 tall Aldridge grabbed 13 of his points in the third quarter to give the Blazers an 83-70 lead, Aminu and company did a good job

oach of Nigeria’s men’s national team, Sani Ahmed, has set his sights on developing a D’Tigers team capable of qualifying for the 2015 African Cup of Nations. Ahmed, who assisted the national team’s erstwhile coach, Ayo Bakare, at the London 2012 Olympic Games, has been tasked by the Nigeria Basketball Federation with the job of nurturing a team capable of securing a ticket to not only the 2015 Afrobasket in Tunisia, but also a spot at this year’s All Africa Games, holding in the Congolese capital, Brazzaville. It is a task the Kano Pillars coach is confident of fulfilling

on the 26-year-old in the final quarter as Dallas went on to overcome a 16-point fourthquarter deficit and rally for a 111-101 win. “Aminu did a great job on him,” Dallas coach, Rick Carlisle, said. “Nobody is going to play a perfect game against LaMarcus Aldridge, but it’s a different kind of body athlete, length kind of guy for his size to throw at one of the great players in the league. “It’s a lot of scrambling, it’s a lot of helping each other. You’ve got to have a lot of persistence and you’ve got to have some good fortune, too, and we had both.’’

even though he only currently has at his disposal players from the domestic championship. “Who says the players from our league are not good enough to take us to both the Afrobasket and the All Africa Games? We have a lot of good players in this country and I think we have been able to get the best from the league,” said Ahmed. Five players from league runners-up Mark Mentors – Stanley Gumut, Abdul Yahaya, Moses Odaudu, Victor Anthony and Timothy Kwaor – made the 14-man list of invitees, while Azuoma Dike of the Dodan Warriors and La-

gos Islanders’ Ibrahim Okpe were also called up. But players from league champions Kano Pillars lead the list of invitees with seven. They are Kano Pillars captain and current Nigerian league MVP, Abubakar Usman; Mathew Omonya, Ibrahim Yusuf, Onyeka Okeke, Dele Ademola, Adeolu Ojo and Abdulwahab Yakubu. And Ahmed, a former star of the Nigerian league, believes having players who already have an understanding of each others’ game will go a long way in helping to achieve his and the NBBF’s dream of qualifying for the 2015 Afrobasket and the All Africa Games.

D’Tigers in action against China at the FIBA Stankovic Cup

SPORT

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reaching World Cup final was dream come true – Di Maria Manchester United winger, Angel Di Maria, in an exclusive interview with FIFA.

In 2014 com speaks on Brazil 2014, leaving Real Madrid, playing alongside Cristiano you helped Real Madrid Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and a dream he still harbours. become European champions and with couldn’t play, it was still the most where many wonderful things You’re one of the few to have Argentina you beautiful moment of my career. happen. I heard bits from my been long-time team-mates of reached the World family about the sheer num- both Cristiano Ronaldo and LioCup final, would you When you picked up that injury bers who were travelling and nel Messi. Do you tire of people asking you to compare them? say it was a bittersweet against Belgium, did you realise how committed they were. 12 months? immediately how serious it was? No, because I always say Yes, I knew it might be a bad Have you ever wondered what No, no… I’m very happy the same thing: that they’re about what happened. Aside one from the pain. I was on a might have happened if you’d two completely different playfrom injuries, which can af- run and accelerating past the de- played in that Final? ers. Leo features in every No, because I firmly believe game, making short bursts flict anyone, I achieved big fender and about to break clear. things, like winning la déci- That’s when I felt the pain. things happen for a reason. If it and nonchalantly dribbling ma with Madrid and helping However, I have great faith was God’s will that I didn’t play past one, two or three playArgentina reach the World and believed I’d be able to play in that final, then it’s because ers with great ball control Cup Final after many years. again, and I did everything in I wasn’t meant to be there. in tight spaces. Cristiano is Then there was how we got my power to be fit for the Fi- The players that started gave more about power, long range there – showing immense nal. But football’s like that. It absolutely everything. We shots… they’re different. If I desire and bravery with a can put you out of the World had every chance of winning were FIFA, I’d have two Balspectacular group of play- Cup, and it can also give you a that game and many scoring lon d’Or prizes, one for that ers. It was well deserved and chance to make amends. Hope- opportunities, but the ball pair to fight over, and another I was more than satisfied with fully I’ll get that opportunity. just wouldn’t go in. They had for everyone else. two chances: one hit the post what we accomplished. Have you watched those World and the other went in. That’s There’s been a lot of talk about Cup games since? football for you. Messi of late, even rumours that If you had to single out one moNo, I try not to watch them. he’d consider a move to Chelsea. ment from 2014, what would it be (laughs) Football aside, how are you getAs someone who spent time and why? ting on in England? working with Jose Mourinho, could It might sound strange but it’d be reaching the World Cup Not even your goal against SwitVery well. The weather is you see them together? F i nal. It’s some- zerland? the only thing… it doesn’t In principle, I don’t think Leo thing I nevThat one, yes. From time help a lot. (laughs). But I’m wants to leave Barcelona. It’s er thought to time I watch some clips on very content here. The people hard to walk away from a club I’d be YouTube, though it’s mostly have a lot of affection for me, that’s given you everything, part of, ones featuring the fans. When which is the most important where you effectively grew up. even as a you’re actually part of a thing. It’s what I value most, But to answer your question, no boy. And World Cup, you don’t see any and I have that here. I don’t think he’d have any probalthough I of what’s going on outside, lem working with Mourinho.

Di Maria

fallout OF 2015 AFCON

I am a lucky coach, Renard declares

ôte d’Ivoire coach Hervé Renard admitted they were lucky after scooping the continental crown at the Africa Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea 2015. The Elephants stunned Ghana in a dramatic penalty shootout in Bata on Sunday night

following a goalless final, to repeat their feat of 1992 against the same Black Stars in Dakar. “We are lucky, we were down 0-2 and we came back from behind,” the Frenchman told Supersport. “The two teams were tired after five games. It’s coming from God, but

you have to be strong. “It’s like in 1992. I believe in history and I am a lucky coach,” Renard added, before paying tribute to Ivoirian legend Didier Drogba who retired from international duties last summer. “It’s a shame Drogba is not here. He deserves

it. You don’t achieve something in just one month. “The team spirit made the difference.” Hervé Renard is the first coach to claim two AFCON trophies with two different teams following his continental success with Zambia in 2012.

Atsu wins best player, goal of tournament

lAs Ayew emerges top scorer

hana midfielder Christian Atsu has been named the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations most valuable player and also won the best goal of the tournament. The Chelsea player, who is on loan at Everton, had a slow start but peaked as Ghana progressed to the final. Atsu won three man of the match awards and also grabbed two goals in the competition both coming against Guinea in the quarter-final. Atsu’s curler from the edge of the penalty box which zoomed into Naby Yattara of Guinea’s goal was adjudged the goal of the tournament. Meanwhile, Ghana deputy cap-

tain Andre Ayew won the top scorer prize with three goals. The Olympique Marseille man also doubled as the player with the highest number of assists. Ayew converted a spot-kick in the 2-1 defeat to Senegal in their opening Group C match and registered a trademark header in the comeback 2-1 win over South Africa in the final Group match. He was set up by striker Kwesi Appiah and directed the pass into the net for the third goal in the 3-0 semi-final win over Equatorial Guinea. Ayew was presented with the Pepsi highest scorer prize minutes after the final.

Ghana, team for the future-Grant hana coach Avram Grant has laudG ed his team’s performance at the just ended 2015 Africa Cup of Nations

despite failing to end their trophyless run. The Black Stars lost to the Ivory Coast 9-8 in a dramatic penalty shootout in the 30th edition of the tournament hosted in Equatorial Guinea. Grant says he has a side capable of competing now and in the future. The former Chelsea manager is adamant that his youngish side showed remarkable improvement and is now a force to reckon with on the continent. “We are a very young side but we have shown what we can achieve as a unit,” Grant told SuperSport TV. “I think we have a team not only for now but for the future.”

Barry dedicates win to former players

Ghana’s Christian Atsu (left) and Cote d’ Ivoire’s Siaka Tiene

ote d’ Ivoire goalkeeper Boubacar Barry has stated that their Africa Cup of Nations triumph has been 15 years in the making. The 35-year-old played a pivotal role in the penalty shootout victory over Ghana, saving two penalties before converting the final spot-kick himself to give Les Elephants a 9-8 win. “I thank everyone who’s contributed to the national side since 2000, they made it possible and we’ve finally received our reward,” BBC Sport quotes Barry as saying.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

On Marble

The mirror will only lie, when you look at it through a mask. – Anthony Liccione

Sanctity of Truth

World Record

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

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Danny Ramos Gomez, who has been dubbed the 'wolfman', has a condition called hypertrichosis, which causes his body to produce extra hair, especially on his head and chest.

Ohanaeze and Jonathan: Heart of the matter

impletons, by the very fact of their limitations, are often quick to draw erroneous conclusions. The Nigerian society is populated, unfortunately but naturally, by a fair percentage of simpletons. This segment of the population, whether Igbo or not, has consistently and with a sense of quiet satisfaction, drawn simplistic conclusions about Ndigbo. Simplistic and erroneous can be a very dangerous combination in a competitive human society. The politics of Ndigbo, more than any other aspect of their culture, has been a subject of historical derision from the perspective of their compatriots. The charges are numerous and particularised: money for hand back for ground; disarray; duplicitous; disunited; greed; arrogance; compromising. The epithets can easily run all the way to the bottom of this column. But you get the point. It must be stated that Nigerians are what they are. You may discount religion, tribe, region and gender. Still, within the soul of an essential Nigerian, you will find the essential Nigerianness that defines him. The epithets enumerated above apply without distinction – often to the same degree and with the same implications – to all the regions and tribes that it has pleased God to confound this clime with. I will resist the temptation to bring the adversarial impulse of a trained lawyer to the defence of a grossly misunderstood people. Such a defence, were it to be mounted, would not have served to protect from external assault as much it would have laid bare the internal assault and self-sabotage that emits the wrong signals at every turn. The recent endorsement of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan by Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the open contradiction of that endorsement by a renegade band of Igbo political merchants have created yet another opportunity for the negative epithets to be dusted off and deployed like cannons in the discreditable field of ethnic warfare. In its paid advertorial in the Daily Sun on February 6, 2015, the authentic leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey, had this to say: “Today, we are once again faced with one simple but fundamental question: should Ndigbo support Dr Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan to complete his constitutionally guaranteed second term in office? As a people, we believe in the principles of fairness, equity and justice. These are the essential ingredients for peace and stability without which our country cannot advance or survive as a united entity....Given the peculiar nature of our experience and history as a people, it is quite clear that our interests are better served and protected when we act and speak with one voice.... we may not have realised all our expectations in the present administration. However, we must acknowledge that there has been a considerable improvement in our infrastructural development and a general sense of belonging.... After several months of consultations with

Broadside EMMANUEL ONWE agubata@aol.com

Jonathan

the Council of Traditional Rulers, the leadership of major Igbo Organisations both at home and in the diaspora, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has come to the positive conclusion...that President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan remains the best option to take Nigeria forward.... We therefore have no hesitation in endorsing him for re-election....” In its contradictory advertorial published in the New Telegraph on February 8, 2015, a self-styled Caretaker Committee of Ohanaeze led by Chief Ralph Obioha, declared that “Since there

President Jonathan has commenced the construction of the Second Niger Bridge and Ohanaeze Ndigbo is right to reward him with a positive recommendation for re-election

has been no concrete agreement with any of the Presidential Candidates on the four cardinal issues of security... infrastructural development in Igboland, reparation for atrocities and war crimes against Ndigbo...Ohanaeze Ndigbo is unable to commit Igbo voters at home and everywhere to the blanket support of any of the presidential candidates....” In dismissing the submissions of the pathetic Caretaker Committee, I simply have to make clear that in the currently binary nature of Nigerian politics, it is suicidal for any group of people to outsource the onerous burden of choice. The mealy-mouthed admonition to individuals to pray and then follow a nebulous heavenly instruction and cast their votes accordingly is a sorry abdication of responsibility. The endorsement by the authentic leadership of Ohanaeze represents a choice informed by both history and prevalent circumstances. Tafawa Balewa built the First Niger Bridge and an Igbo son rewarded him with assassination. President Jonathan has commenced the construction of the Second Niger Bridge and Ohanaeze Ndigbo is right to reward him with a positive recommendation for re-election. In a piece entitled: JONATHAN, NDIGBO AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SYMBOLIC POLITICS, this column had presented a much more sophisticated analysis of the breathless support that Jonathan enjoys among Ndigbo: “When people question, and many have done, the basis for the overwhelming support that President Goodluck Jonathan enjoys in the South East, they miss the point altogether. Firstly, what are the comparative bases for assessing the question? What has any central government since 1970 done for the South East? Secondly, the Igbo support for Jonathan is anchored on emotions enlivened by historic injustice and not on commonplace bread and butter politics. The motivations at play are driven more by symbolic gestures and not necessarily by infrastructural accomplishments. “Even if Jonathan had not commenced the second Niger Bridge or renovated the airports in Enugu and Owerri, Ndigbo would still rise for him. The dredging of the River Niger, building of a dry port in Aba and the completion of the Inland Port in Onitsha, to name but a few of the promises he made in 2011, may have suffered relegation to blank memory. But Ndigbo will still rise for Jonathan. “The most important contribution

that President Jonathan has made to the evolution of post-war Igbo in Nigerian politics in the past four years is the systematic shredding of the federal code of discrimination against Ndigbo. He set about this endeavour not by physical reconstruction of a region that still bears the pockmarks of war but by psychological re-engineering. There is no question that Ndigbo were treated as the vanquished and the north wallowed in the swagger of the victor. The “no victor nor vanquished” slogan was, to borrow a phrase from Alhaji Murtala Nyako, “typical bullshit!” “One of the marvellous gestures that has captured the imagination of Igbo people in a very special way is the genuine restoration of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu to his proper place in Nigerian history by President Jonathan – of course President Shehu Shagari’s credit remains undiminished. But it was Jonathan who took matters to their logical conclusion, as he granted, funded and led from the front, the grand enactment of a befitting state burial for the Igbo icon. The ceremony was complete with full military honours by the Nigerian Army. Jonathan proceeded to clear the path for the posthumous conferment on Ojukwu of the degree of Legum Doctor (LLD), honoris causa, by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Other Nigerian leaders had overruled the university authority on this matter.” I will conclude by noting another significant psychological trigger in the Igbo psyche. Ndigbo feel that the convening of a National Conference by the Jonathan administration was a fruition of their long quest for Nigerians to face the fundamental challenge of the state of our republic. Of course, it was a total disgrace that a country that fought a civil war would confer on the challenges of its history, existence and prospects without as much as casting a passing glance at the cause, cost and consequences of that war. However, it was a moment that offered an opportunity for the Ohanaeze PresidentGeneral, during a visit to the Nigerian President, to observe: “Yes, controversy has trailed your initiation of a national dialogue/conference. Negative motives and dark intentions have been alleged and insinuated. But we applaud you for your courage and foresight in this regard. We urge you to dedicate your time and energy, without reservation, to carrying through this extremely important agenda for our country. There is absolutely no doubt that it is by dialogue that we can ask questions; and by asking questions we gain wisdom and understanding of our nature and status as a country; and through wisdom and understanding we shall fashion for ourselves, as a people, a genuine nation whose foundation is embedded in social justice, equality of opportunity, cooperation among equals and the entrenchment of trust and true patriotic solidarity one with another”. The disputation that has erupted does not stand as a repudiation of the endorsement. In fact, it enhances its validity in the Igbo cultural setting and legitimacy in a democratic Nigeria.

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