Tuesday, june 9, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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Tuesday, June 9, 2015

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N150

governor Okorocha pushes in-law, Anwuka, for SGF

FG’s unfunded pension liability hits N1.23bn Sunday Ojeme

nfunded Federal Government’s pension liability has been put at over N1.23 billion by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

A document obtained by New Telegraph quoted the debt office as describing the unfunded pension liability as contingent liability. Contingent liabilities are liabilities that may be incurred by an entity depending on the

outcome of an uncertain future event such as a court case. These liabilities are not recorded in a company's accounts and shown in the balance sheet. The Director, Market Development Department at DMO, Ms. Patience Oniha, said the

office issued Pension Arrears Bonds in 2006/2007. According to her, the Federal Government securities have the largest share of pension assets, estimated at 60 per cent. She said the pension reform CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

NEW TELEGR

APH TUESDAY , jUnE 9, 2015

Excellence

My NCE experie says UNIBEN nce helped me, ’s best grad

Interview

Nigerian varsitie says UNILOR s are doing well, IN VC

Education Row ov 25

CONTrOVEr Y

A university don and managemen t of National Youth the Service Corps (NYSC ) have continued to trade words over her ‘missi ng’ discharge certificate 32 years after

Mojeed alabi

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hirty-Two years after completed she sory one-yethe compular Nation Youth al (NYSC) schem Service Corps Ategbe Abibae, Ms Stephania tu Alofuo Ghogomu, is yet to receiv khaiNYSC Discha rge Certifi e her The develo cate. ued to genera pment has contin te malais the NYSC e between Ghogomu and Ms Alofuokhaikuokha), who(formerly Evboi by her employis being challengedpended her er, which has susfrom work failure to over her produc Narrating e the certificate. Alofu okhai her plight, Ms -Ghog omu, rently a lecture curr at the Federa University , l elsa State, Otuoke (FUO), Baywith the NYSC State Code Numb er Call-Up Numb BD/82/3375 and recalled that er FORN/82/9564, the schem she participated in e 20, 1982 and between December December 19, 1983. According to her, she to Nigeria in 1982 after returned cation in the United her eduand enrolle Kingdom d for the one-year Nation mandatory al Youth Servic Corps schem e e. The 1981 The letter Language graduate of Germa of referen n Educa ce at the Manch tion/Sociolog y (now Manch ester Polytechnic, University), ester Metropolitan where she was later retaine (UK), said United Kingdom Graduate Assista d as nt upon comple tion of to the Deparshe was deploy ed Decem the NYSC progra tment mme in Languages, of Foreig ber 1983. n Lamenting (UNIBEN), University of Benin Benin City fuokhai-Ghog her ordeal, Aloold Bende in the then omu l State (now Edo State), Telegraph that her told the New plight began in 2012, when er, the managher current employ They looked eral Univer ement of the Fed-into their “Book based on the sity, Otuoke, acting to ensure law of the institution of Life” and that show eviden all its employees found that I the Nation ce of completion duly of al Youth Servic scheme, reques e Corps registered as kayode olanr NYSC Discha ted for either her a ewaju rge Certifi corps memb Letter of EDITOr, EDUCAT cate or er Exemption kayode olanrewa ION by the schem as issued on Decem ju@ e. newtelegraphonlin ber 20, Alofuokhai-G e.com could not produc hogomu, who 1982 © Daily Telegrap e either, h Publishin explained g Company that rather however, Limited issued the than being discha she was issued rge certificate, with a Letter of

cate, which visit to the led to her freque nt retariat andEdo State NYSC Secters in Abuja,the NYSC Headquarthe Federa Territory. l Capital In a letter NYSC Direct addressed to the tember 25, or-General on SepGhogomu 2013, Alofuokhainarrated turn to the how on recountry on 30, 2012 she December ment with secured an emplo ythe Otuoke, but Federal University , had to be by her employ suspended er on May for “non-a 6, 2013 Olawunmi vailability Johnson, NYSC discharge/ex of DG emption NYSC cate.” certifiReference by the NYSC, She reitera she lamen even as ted: “In view ted despite predic of tempts at securing her several at- Secret ament, I went to Edo my certificate, ariat State the NYSC discharge 2013 with of NYSC on May to provide was unable 8, the hope such. of collect my certific ing She explain ate which ed: “Upon I ly believe pletion of the comd that after had strongthe progra 30 years it presented mme, I was should have been with a Letter waitin ence and of Refer- lection. But on arriva g for colwas employment offered full time that all certificates l, I was told not collect of UNIBE by the authorities by their owner s are usuall ed N. In April turned to university y resent me to 1988, the after two the NYSC headqu arters for furthe weeks. They r study andGermany their looked into “Book 1983 and between 1988 that I duly of Life” and found I consistently before I travele registered d, memb went as a corps to the NYSC State Secret er on Decem ber was then certificate ariat for my origina directed to 20, 1982. I but which l ter confirm collect a letrefused to the schem ing that I did issue.” e registe not only r, but Meanwhile, service with duly completed my since the of her stay period the Univer in nin, among sity of BeGermany fuokhai-Gho other , Aloshe did not gomu noted that could get a letter details, so that I of and hence need the certificate to the headquarters.introduction “However, ing NYSC she stopped bother at Abuja until she - Headq NYSC returned the countr uarters, with to y the help of a lecturing in 2012, and took up one official in employment department, the certification Federal Univer with the Tunde, we simply identified “However, sity, Otuoke. as looked NYSC dischathe request of my of issued certific at the log-book ates for 1981-19 rge certifi service years my new emplo 84 cate by where it was that the yer and could not found produce has which I for whichlast state code numbe my presen put me in a certificate r t predicament 1982/1 was issued fuokhai-Ghog 983 for Bende omu said, ,” Alo- BD/82/3369, l State was the NYSC while my authorities blaming is BD/82 number trating her. /3375. for frus“Meanwhile, According discrepancies as a result of the ty had throug to her, the univer , I siwas 12, 2014 servedh a letter of March back to Benin for asked to go a copy of a reminder call-up letter and her inabili my on her or letter of referparticipation ty to prove her ence but the officia in Following national service. told me that they ls in Benin had chang mand for her the repeated de- offices for more ed NYSC certific and so produc than three times her new emplo ate by might ing such docum yer, the lecture recalled how be difficu ent r in 2013 she According lt.” efforts at resumed to Alofuo retrieving khaiher certifi -

EIGHT pages of EDUCATION

}23

Final showdown CONTIN UED

ON PAGE 26

lSaraki, Dogara dare APC lOsinbajo, govs intervene }8 lPeoples Democratic Party plans surprise

Quick Read

Editorial

Menace of }19 tanker drivers Court voids NDLEA's arrest warrant on Kashamu }12

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc., Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu; Group Managing Director, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo and Chairman, Mr. Olatunde Ayeni, during the bank’s 9th Annual General Meeting in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Germany, France, Canada back Buhari to stop Boko Haram

lArmy HQ moves command centre to Maiduguri }8

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Special Report

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

SATURDAY

SPECIAL REPORT on

The 8 Senate’s Fresh Generation

History is again being made today with the inauguration of the eighth National Assembly. With today’s exercise, the 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives sworn in will, for the next four years, constitute the legislative arm of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There had been seven previous sessions of the nation’s National Assembly (NASS), of which three were in this Fourth Republic. The first session was from October 1963 till January 1966 when the nation’s first democratic experience was terminated by a coup d’état. The second session lasted from October 1979 to December 1983 when a civilian administration headed by President Shehu Shagari was overthrown by the military regime, headed by our current President, Muhammadu Buhari, who was a Major General in the Army then. The third session of the NASS was not inaugurated until ten years after in 1993 during the period of military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, and it ended abruptly as a result of the impasse spawned by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election acclaimed to have been won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola. It wasn’t until June 1999 when the current democratic dispensation and Fourth Republic began that the fourth session was inaugurated. And with the sustenance of the current civil rule came the fifth session in 2003, sixth session in 2007 and seventh session in 2011. With their inauguration today, the 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives, who have taken their seats for the next four years and comprising of returnees and ‘freshers’, will have the responsibilities of broad oversight functions and the powers to establish committees to scrutinise bills and the conduct of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government. In this first part of a special report, we are profiling the senators who are taking their seats in the Red Chamber for the very first time, highlighting their previous accomplishments, which are likely pointers to their performance in the discharge of their duties in the next four years. Watch out for part two of the report. Biodun Durojaiye

AKWA IBOM Godswill Obot Akpabio Akwa Ibom North West Godswill Akpabio is the son of Chief Obot Akpabio and Madam Lucy Obot Akpabio (nee Inyangetor) of Ukana, Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Government Area. He was born on 9 December 1962. He lost his father early in life and was raised by his mother, who inculcated in him the values of hard work, discipline and honesty. He was educated at Methodist Primary School, Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State; the prestigious Federal Government College, Port Har-

court, Rivers State; and the University of Calabar, Cross River State, where he obtained a Degree in Law. He was called to the Nigerian bar in 1988. While at the Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, he was appointed the General Senior Prefect. At the University of Calabar, his charisma endeared him to the students and he was elected the Speaker of the Students’ Parliament. Akpabio had a brief stint as a teacher and as an associate partner with Paul Usoro and Co., a leading law firm in Nigeria. He also worked with EMIS Telecoms Limited, a pioneer fixed wireless telecommunications company in Lagos. In 2002, he rose to the position of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company. In this position, he helped in shaping the future of the burgeoning telecoms industry. He had earlier served as the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies in Nigeria, (ATCOM), while a director of EMIS.

In 2002, he was appointed Honourable Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources in Akwa Ibom State. Between 2002 and 2006, he served as a Commissioner in three key ministries: Petroleum and Natural Resources, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as Lands and Housing. In 2006, he aspired for the governorship of Akwa Ibom State in a hotly-contested primary election and defeated 57 other aspirants to emerge the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). His campaign with the slogan, “let God’s will be done” received mass support and he was elected Governor in 2007. He was re-elected for a second term in office in 2011. The advent of Godswill Akpabio as Governor of Akwa Ibom State on 29 May 2007 marked the beginning of the state’s transformation. His government’s policies and programmes in

Watch out for Part 2 – The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Special Report CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

virtually all sectors of the economy impacted positively on the lives of the people since his inauguration as the third democratically elected governor of the state in 2007, making a turnaround for good in the story of the state. These strides have been referred to by the people of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large as “Uncommon Transformation” and earned him the sobriquet, “The Uncommon Transformer”. In 2013, he was elected Chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors Forum. Earlier this year, he contested and won the Senate seat of the Akwa Ibom North West (Ikot Ekpene) to represent the district. He ran under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), polling 422,009 of the 439,449 votes to defeat Chief Inibehe Okorie of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who recorded 15, 152 votes. Godswill is a Christian of the Catholic faith. He is married to Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, the founder of Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI), a nongovernmental organization providing a platform for redirecting the focus of development efforts on the family as a strategy for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The union is blessed with four daughters and a son.

BAYELSA Ben MURRAY-BRUCE BAYELSA EAST Benedict Murray-Bruce was born on February 18, 1956 in Lagos to Ijaw parents, Mullighan and Margaret MurrayBruce from Akassa, Bayelsa State. He attended the famous Our Lady of Apostles, in Yaba, Lagos and St Gregory College in Obalende. He studied Marketing and Business at the University of Southern Carolina. Ben’s venture into show business didn’t enjoy the support of his parents. An online biography publication quoted him as saying “One time I was dancing and my father saw me dancing. He said, ‘If I ever catch you dancing, you’ll never use those legs again.’ Though his father hated show business, thinking it was a waste of time, but somehow managed to cope with a son who was bent on making a living out of it. According to the publication, he also enjoyed the attention he was getting being the father to Ben. Ben got into show business by accident, a student of the University of Southern Carolina, when he met a ‘teacher’ of notable entertainers like Janet Jackson, Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman who had accidentally knocked on the door of their home in Los Angeles. He developed friendship with him, and Ben was invited to the set of a show he was working on. That was where he met Redd Fox of the Sandford and Sons’ fame, the Jeffersons and others. He ended up meeting a lot of actors and actresses. One day, his friend proposed “Hey, let’s do a show in Nigeria” and they did their first show and the rest is history. Silverbird Productions started in 1980 with a borrowed capital of N20,000; a desk in a small corner of the administrative office of Domino Stores – a departmental store owned by his father – six staff and only two business activities, pageant and programme syndication. Today, with hundreds of staff, the company has turned to a conglomerate, having three radio

stations – Rhythm FM in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt; Silverbird television; the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria; Silverbird Cinemas; Silverbird Entertainment; and Silverbird Galleria. Silverbird Cinema, the first and only cinema multi-plex with five screens, has been a huge success. Ben’s entry into the pageantry business came at a time when the Miss Nigeria franchise was beginning to lose its glamour, the interest of Nigerians and its sponsor. His brainchild, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant eventually took over the market leadership from Miss Nigeria, owned and operated by the Daily Times of Nigeria. MBGN produced the likes of Omasan Buwa, Bianca Onoh and Agbani Darego. Agbani Darego won the Miss World contest and became the first ever Nigerian and African to win the pageant. Ben successfully brought Julia Morley and the whole Miss World show to Nigeria for the 2002 Miss World event slated for Nigeria that year. However, a religious riots sparked by a newspaper article torpedoed the plan. Ben has served as Director or Chairman of Board of several government agencies and parastatals. These include Director of National Sports Lottery Plc; Director General of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) from 1999 to 2003; Chairman of the Board of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria; Member of the Boards of National Arts Theatre, Nigerian Film Corporation, Federal Films Censors Board, National Film Distribution Company and Nigerian Anti- Piracy Action Committee. Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, a motivational speaker and role model to Nigerian youths, is a director of several companies in Nigeria as well as in France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Ben is married to Evelyn, an American, and they are blessed with two boys and a girl.

DELTA Peter Nwaoboshi Delta North Peter Nwaoboshi, a lawyer, was the immediate past Delta state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He hails from Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state. He succeeded Chief Emmanuel Ogidi in 2008, a year after Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan assumed office. Prior to this, he was at a time the state Secretary of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), led by late sage, Chief Olufemi Awolowo. He was also one of the staunch members of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) being coordinated in the state then by the new Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. It later transformed into the present day PDP. He is known by different sobriquets, including ‘oracle’ and ‘miracle’. He holds a chieftaincy title in Ibusa, his home-town and has both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Law. Prior to his election as the state chairman, he was certainly a factor to reckon with in the politics of the state. As one of the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, former Governor James Onanefe Ibori, appointed him as his Commissioner for Special Duties (Abuja). He soon

fell out with Ibori and teamed up with the group of Dr. Eniforo Mallam-Obi, the then factional state chairman of the party, which the wife of the former national chairman of the party, Chief (Mrs.) Marian Nneamaka Ali, his ‘godmother’ in politics, belonged to. As a Commissioner under the former Governor, he perceived to be fearless and independent minded. He is bold and controversial, and never scared to take a solo position on any issue. His political audacity played out recently when he resigned as the state chairman of the party to contest the Delta North Senatorial race against his ‘godmother’, Mrs. Ali, Nwaobosi slugged it out with Mrs. Ali in a keenly contested party primary election and defeated her. He then took former Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei to the cleaners during the election proper on March 28. Chief Ighoyota Amori Delta Central Chief Ighoyota Amori, also known as the Odidimadi of the universe and the Otota of Mosogar Kingdom, was Senior Special Adviser to the immediate past Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. He hails from Mosogar, a stone throw to Oghara, the hometown of former Governor James Ibori, in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state. He recently marked his 61st birthday. Since PDP was founded in the state in 1991, he has been a notable member and a force to reckon with in the politics of the state. Before he fully joined politics, Amori had acquired varied and wide experiences in the private sector and public service. Because he played a major role in surprises associated with partisan politics in the state between 1998 and advent of democracy in 1999, former Governor James Ibori appointed him Commissioner for Education, and again as Commissioner for Water Resources during the ex-Governor’s second term in office. He was considered one of the strongest politicians during Ibori’s tenure. Amori was once seen as the political leader of late Senator Pius Ewherido, the man who defeated him and a host of others during the Delta Central elections in 2011. He was thereafter defeated by the out-going Senator Emmanuel Agwuariavwodo during the bye-election conducted two years ago to replace Ewherido who suddenly died in office. Considered a political strategist, he was appointed political adviser to guide immediate past Governor Uduaghan on how best the PDP could reclaim its lost glory in his senatorial district. Until Amori defeated his closest rival, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege of the Labour Party (LP), being financed by Chief Great Ogboru of the defunct Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), and Hon. Halim Agoda of the All Progressives Congress, who came a distant third in the last Senatorial election, Delta Central axis of the state was the weakest link of the PDP in the state.

Watch out for Part 2 – The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Special Report

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

EDO Matthew Urhoghide Edo South Matthew Urhoghide, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was born on August 8, 1955. He attended Saint Matthew’s Primary School, Benin City (1962-1967); and Eghosa Grammar School, Benin City, (1968-1972). Urhoghide later proceeded to the University of Benin in 1978 and graduated from the Pharmacy department in 1983. Elected under the PDP, Matthew is an astute politician and a key political actor in Edo state. He was President, Students Union Government (SUG) of the University of Benin in 1981. His charisma and drive for active politics led him to contest as an aspirant for Edo South senatorial district under the umbrella of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992. He became a director of Administration, Hope 93 Campaign Organization for Chief MKO Abiola from 1993 to 1994. He was an All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Governorship aspirant between 2002 and 2003, and later formed the Association for Good Governance and Productive Leadership (AGG), a platform that spearheaded his governorship ambition. From 2004 to 2006, he was a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ANPP and later joined forces with chieftains and members of the Action Congress (AC) of which he was a founding member. The party became Action Congress Nigeria (ACN). He became the Edo South senatorial candidate of the ACN from 2007 to 2009. Urhoghide actively engineered the drive towards repositioning the opposition ACN but left the fold to join the Peoples Democratic Party, which he became its state Publicity Secretary. His consistency in the pursuit of his ambition to represent Edo South senatorial district whose people constitute about 60 percent of the entire population of the state, led to his victory in the National Assembly elections held on March 28, 2015. He is married with children.

EKITI Samuel Duro Faseyi Ekiti North Senator Samuel Duro Faseyi was born on the 24th of April 1956 at Iludun-Ekiti in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State. He attended the University of Maiduguri and the University of Ado-Ekiti from where he obtained the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (1989) and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) (2000) respectively. He worked for many years in both the private and public sectors before venturing into partisan politics. He contested for and won the election to represent Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, (which comprises 32 wards in three local governments – Ido/Osi,Moba and Ilejemeje) in the House of

Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007. Faseyi has been honoured at home and abroad by students, institutions, professional associations and communities A few of his awards and honours include: Patron, Boys Scout of Nigeria, Ekiti State Chapter (1997); Award of Honour by Ayetoro Community; and Award of Honour by Olorin-in-Council in recognition of his love for Orin-Ekiti, among others. Fatima Raji-Rasaki Ekiti Central Senator Fatima Raji-Rasaki was born on January 13, 1956 in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State and is married to former Military Governor of Lagos and Ogun states, Brig.-Gen. Raji Rasaki (rtd). A lawyer by profession, she started out as a civil servant in the Survey Division, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Ibadan, Oyo State. The former First Lady of Lagos and Ogun states was elected into the House of Representatives in 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and made it her priority the empowerment of her constituents in various ways. Due to her attitude of impacting positively on the people of her constituency (Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency) while in the House of Representatives, she was honoured with many awards. The awards included: Award of Excellence, University of Ado-Ekiti Students Union, 2007/08; Platinum Award by the National Association of Nigerian Students; and Leadership Award by National Council for Women Societies, among others. Abiodun C. Olujimi Ekiti South Chief (Mrs) Abiodun Christine Olujimi is a broadcaster, journalist, political scientist and administrator. The Omuo-Ekiti born Olujimi holds a diploma in journalism, a degree in Political Science, a postgraduate degree in Public Relations and Marketing and certificate in IT with emphasis on web development from Michigan State University in the United States. She has worked as a journalist with the Nigerian Tribune, Nigerian Television Authority and also worked with Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Delta State, among others. She is not new in politics and has held a number of political offices including being the National Publicity Secretary of the National Centre Party of Nigeria, the All People’s Party, and All Nigeria Peoples Party. She was a Special Assistant to Governor Ayo Fayose and was elected a member of the House of Representatives before she later became Governor Fayose’s deputy during his first tenure in office. She has also served on the board of the Nigerian Communications Commission, among others.

SOKOTO Aliyu M. Wamakko Sokoto North Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State was born on 1st March 1953 in Wamakko, Sokoto State. He attended Sokoto Teachers College, where he graduated in 1972. After graduation he worked as a teacher from 1973 to 1977 before being admitted to the University of Pittsburgh in the United States. He graduated with a B.Sc. in August 1980. Returning to Nigeria, he taught at Sokoto Teachers College. Wamakko later took a job as Principal Assistant Secretary of Zurmi Local GovernmentArea, and was later promoted to Acting Secretary. He worked at Kaura Namoda LGA, and was appointed Chairman of the Sokoto LGA from 1986 to 1987. He became General Manager, Hotel Management and Tourism Board, Sokoto. In March 1992, he was promoted to Director-General, Careers and Special Services, Governor’s Office, Sokoto. He was elected Deputy Governor of Sokoto State to Governor Attahiru Bafarawa in 1999, on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He was re-elected Deputy Governor for a second term in April 2003. He resigned as Deputy Governor of Sokoto State on March 15, 2008. Aliyu Wamakko ran successfully for Governor of Sokoto State in April 2007 on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, and assumed office on 29 May 2007. Following an appeal, his election was annulled in April 2008 on the basis that he was still a member of the ANPP when he won the PDP nomination. However, Wamakko regained his seat in the May 2008 re-run. Wamako, whose second term in office as governor elapsed this year, joined the league of some other governors who contested for and won Senate seats. Ibrahim Abdullahi Sokoto South Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi was elected Senator to represent Sokoto South senatorial district in the March 28, 2015 elections. He is a retired civil servant and new on the political terrain of Sokoto State. He hails from Yabo local government area, retired as a director in the Federal Ministry of Finance, and then joined politics . Abdullahi was said to have been compensated with the ticket to contest the Senatorial seat because he was among those who financed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the campaign activities of immediate-past Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko for the Sokoto Central Senatorial seat. Until his election, Abdullahi was relatively unknow in Sokoto politics, and is considered to be among those who rode on the back of the former governor Wamakko and President Muhammadu Buhari in last polls.

Watch out for Part 2 – The 8th Senate’s Fresh Generation

News

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Final showdown over National Assembly posts Chukwu David, Philip Nyam and Adesina Wahab

ll is set for a final showdown today between aggrieved National Assembly members belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their party over the choice of leaders for the legislature. Notwithstanding the party's position to field Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Senate presidency and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for the speakership of the House of Representatives, other lawmakers dissatisfied with the way the duo emerged as consensus candidates have vowed to pursue the alternative candidacies of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon.Yakubu Dogara. However, in last-ditch effort to stave off the crisis, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and APC governors were billed yesterday night to meet with National Assembly members-elect on the need to present a common front during the election of the leaders of the eighth National Assembly that will be inaugurated today. Their intervention came just as New Telegraph learnt that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was planning to spring a surprise as the leadership tussle in the APC, the majority party in the legislature, deepened yesterday. It was also learnt that Saraki and Lawan have intensified lobbying of their colleagues for votes. Also, a series of meetings were reportedly going on within the party to see if truce could be brokered between the two contestants so that the party would only present a consensus candidate today rather than going for an election. A source said the Like Minds Senators, a proSaraki group, would be meeting at night to perfect their final plans on how to produce the next president of the Senate. Also, the Saraki camp and Lawan's Unity Forum took advantage of the accreditation for senatorselect at the National Assembly complex yesterday to lobby them one-on-one for their support in today's polls. Similarly, New Telegraph gathered that the 49 senators-elect of the PDP met behind closed doors in Abuja, with a view to adopting a common position on their choice of candidates. The PDP senators-elect had held a similar meeting in Port Harcourt about two weeks ago, where they attempted to harmonise

their positions on the election for the next Senate president. However, the earlier meeting which lasted till about 3 pm, was adjourned and it would be reconvened later at night to enable them to take final decision on whom to support between Lawan and Saraki. The Saraki group had earlier said over 80 per cent of the PDP senators was backing its candidate while the Unity Forum believed in one-on-one contact with every senator including those of the PDP, describing the claims of their opponents as propaganda. However, in midst of the heightened tension over the likely outcome of

today's election, the issue of the method of voting to be adopted has also generated controversy within and outside the National Assembly. Although some said the Rule of the Senate had adequately taken care of the procedures for the elections, others countered that the modalities for the conduct of the polls for presiding offices in the Senate would be determined by the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), who will preside over the elections in both chambers. Section 3 (d) of the Senate Standing Rule 2011 (as amended) states that: "If more than one senatorelect is proposed as President of the Senate, the

Clerk shall, after the second nomination, ask 'Are there any further nominations'? And if there are no further nominations, the Clerk shall say 'I declare the nominations closed'. "When only two senators-elect are nominated and seconded as President of the Senate, the election shall be conducted as follows: (i) The Senate shall divide with the proposers and seconders as tellers. (ii) Voting shall be conducted by the Clerks-at-the-Table using the Division List of the Senate with the Tellers in attendance. "The Clerk of the Senate shall submit the result of the division to the Clerk of the National Assembly and (iii), the Clerk shall

then, declare the senatorelect who has received the greater number of votes elected as president of the Senate". However, some of the senators-elect have expressed divergent views on their expectations for the impending election. Senator Abubakar Kyari, a senator-elect from Borno North said: "We are in a democratic setting and we believe in all spheres, people should be allowed to express their democratic ideals devoid of interference." Senator Andy Uba (PDP, Anambra South) expressed optimism that senators-elect would be exercising their constitutional right unhindered today,

warning that imposition of candidate would not augur well for the eighth Senate and democracy. "All I know is that we will exercise our constitutional rights by voting whoever we think that is best for that job as the Senate president. There is no parley between APC and PDP; all I am saying is that by the grace of God, the Assembly will decide who will run that place as Senate president," he said. On the insinuation that the PDP might field a candidate for the exalted office, Uba said the decision of the party would depend on what would happen on the floor of the Senate today. Also, Senator-elect SamCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

L-R: Chairman, Sterling Bank Plc., Mr. Asue Ighodalo; Managing Director, Mr. Yemi Adeola and former Chief Judge of Delta State, Mr. Chris Ajuyah, at the Nigerian Bar Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conference on Business Law in Lagosâ&#x20AC;Śyesterday.

Germany, France, Canada back Buhari to stop Boko Haram Anule Emmanuel and Emmanuel Onani Abuja

hree countries of the Group of Seven (G7), comprising Germany, Canada and France, have renewed their commitments to supporting President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against Boko Haram. The leaders, during the G7 summit, which ended in Bavaria, Germany yesterday, commended Buhari's concerted effort to galvanise Nigeria's armed forces, security agencies and neighbouring countries for a more decisive action to eradicate the sect in the region. Their assurances came just as the Nigerian Army Headquarters began the movement of its command centre to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in line with Buhari's directive, which he gave in his inaugural address. President Francois Hol-

lande of France expressed his government's readiness to give Nigeria and its coalition partners greater support against terrorism and insecurity, including military and intelligence cooperation. France assured Buhari that it would help in overcoming the security challenge posed by Boko Haram and its global terrorist allies as quickly as possible. Hollande also called for greater bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and France in other areas, including trade, economic and cultural relations. According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, during the summit, Buhari also received similar pledges of enhanced support from Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel who he also conferred with. Buhari, in his remarks,

assured the countries that Nigeria will welcome greater support and cooperation from France and other friendly nations for its ongoing efforts to overcome Boko Haram and restore full security and normalcy to areas affected by the group's atrocities. The president said his administration was already taking concrete action to build a more efficient and effective coalition of Nigeria and neighbouring countries against Boko Haram. Nigeria, he said, would appreciate more intelligence on the terrorist group's links with ISIS, movements, training and sources of its arms and ammunition to facilitate the perfection of fresh tactics and strategies being evolved to overcome terrorism and insurgency in the country and its sub-region. Buhari reiterated at the talks with his French counterpart that there was absolutely no link between

religion and the atrocities of Boko Haram. "There is clearly no religious basis for the actions of the group. Their atrocities show that members of the group either do not know God at all or they don't believe in Him," Buhari, who will return to Abuja today, said. Meanwhile, the army has begun the process of establishing a Military Command and Control Centre (MCCC) in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Boko Haram has stepped up suicide bomb attacks on Maiduguri and other parts of North-East in recent time. However, the Army HQ, in line with the presidential directive, yesterday said it had sent a reconnaissance (recce) and advance team led by a Major General, to Maiduguri. It said in a statement by the acting Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Colonel Sani Us-

man, that the team had since commenced work. The statement added that the team comprises "elements of the Office of the Chief of Army Staff, all the relevant Army Headquarters departments and other combat support components." The army is also establishing another "alternate centre" in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. The MCCC, the army said, would add impetus to the existing Operation Zaman Lafiya. "The centre will serve as a forward command base for the Chief of Army Staff and other service chiefs. "The centre is essentially an elaboration of an already existing Army Headquarters Command and Control arrangement. From now on, the fight against terrorism and insurgency would be monitored, coordinated and controlled from this centre," the army stated.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

Okorocha pushes in-law, Anwuka, for SGF Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

ormer National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, may lose out in the race for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Onu was rumoured to have been favoured by President Muhammadu Buhari to occupy the plum position. A source, however, revealed that the delay in announcing the SGF by the president might not

be unconnected with the position of Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha. Although, the Imo State governor was said to have submitted three names – Onu, Senator Chris Ngige and Professor Anthony Anwuka, to the president, since the position was zoned to South-East, he is reportedly pushing for his in-law, Anwuka. Anwuka is the immediate past Secretary to the Imo State Government. His son, Uzo, is married to Okorocha's daughter, Uju. The governor was said to have argued that out of the parties that formed

the All Progressives Congress (APC), it was only the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) that has not been represented in the new government. According to him, the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has been given the presidency, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) got the vice presidency while the ANPP was rewarded with the position of the APC National Chairman. "If you look at the sharing of key positions, you will see that a faction of APGA he took to APC

has not been rewarded. Buhari is of the CPC; his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is of the CAN; John Odigie-Oyegun was a chieftain of the ANPP," the source added. He contended that none of those jostling for National Assembly leadership belong to APGA camp. "Bukola Saraki of the new PDP is contesting the Senate presidency with Ahmad Lawan of the ANPP. Femi Gbajabiamila is also from the ACN bloc while Yakubu Dogara belongs to either ANPP or CPC. I think Governor

L-R: Former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi; General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, ExxonMobil, Mr. Paul Azinze and Vice Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, at the 12-12 Democracy International Polo Tournament in Abuja…recently.

Okorocha is right in his decision to be interested in who becomes the SGF," he added. He, however, added that the Chibuike Amaechi

camp is still fighting for the SGF position in the event that it fails to clinch the Senate presidency or Speakership of the House of Representatives.

FG’s unfunded pension liability hits N1.23bn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

had provided funds for the government to finance projects, including those for infrastructure. “Pension funds have progressively (post 2008) become the largest holder of FGN Bonds (about 40 per cent) and largest participant at the monthly FGN Bond auctions. PenCom, PenOp and DMO have collaborated on several initiatives and some are ongoing. “Pension funds have sustained the issuance of long-tenored FGN Bonds and contributed to the success of corporate and subnational bonds issuance,” she stated. She added that the funds had contributed to the resilience of the FGN Bond markets by providing a strong domestic investor base, which moderated the impact of the exit of foreign investors in 2014. The pension funds, now about N4.67 trillion, have been invested in quoted equities (ordinary shares, global depository receipts); Federal Government se-

curities (FGN Bonds and treasury bills); state/local government bonds; corporate debt securities (such as bonds, asset/mortgage backed securities etc); money market instruments; open/closed-end funds; and real estate investments; infrastructure bonds and funds as well as private equity funds. About N2.7 trillion out of the N4.21 trillion pensions fund assets have been invested in FGN securities as at March 31, 2014 by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), representing 63.39 per cent investment of the fund. The PFAs also invested N602 billion in shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) within the same period. This represents a 14.3 per cent investment of the fund. Oniha also said the DMO, in line with its mandate, would continue to recognise the Federal Government's pension liabilities, issue securities to fund the government’s operations and provide investment outlets for pension funds.

Saraki, Dogara dare APC as Osinbajo, govs intervene CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

uel Anyanwu (Imo East) said: "We have two contending aspirants and PDP is watching. Anything can change on the floor of the Senate. However, we would want to have an independent Senate so that we can defend the democracy and the masses." Like Lawan and Saraki, the duo of Gbajabiamila and Dogara has also intensified campaign for the House speakership. North-Central Coordinator of Gbajabiamila's campaign, Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, told New Telegraph in Abuja yesterday that lawmakers from Enugu, Ebonyi and Plateau states have given assurances that they will vote for Gbajabiamila and not Dogara as it is being touted. He said: " I can confirm to you that our colleagues from Plateau State are going to vote for Gbajabiamila; the Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who is a former member of the House has also directed Enugu lawmaker' to vote for our candidate. In Ebonyi, lawmakers-elect from the

state have all agreed to vote for Gbajabiamila. So, there is no way Dogara will win." However, spokesman for the Dogara campaign secretariat, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin, has expressed optimism that they will stop Gbajabiamila. "We are not going to vote for a speaker with a baggage; we don't want a speaker that will be elected today and removed tomorrow. Dogara is our next speaker, God's willing," he added. In a further push for his candidacy, Dogara has also unveiled a legislative agenda ahead of today's election. At an event yesterday in Abuja, attended by 162 members-elect cutting across all political parties, Dogara said if elected speaker, he would introduce sectoral debate in the House. He said the format of presenting motions and debates would change as the House would devote weeks or months debating critical sectors of the society such as education, employment and health-

care, among others. He added that the method of budgeting will change as he seeks to give the National Assembly a role in budget formulation and conception. However, as the contestants for the positions remained adamant on running, APC governors and Osinbajo have intervened in the power tussle that could undermine the party's control of the National Assembly leadership. A report by an online newspaper, Premium Times, said the governors had called an emergency meeting to resolve the crisis. The meeting, called by the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha, will hold in Abuja. The meeting will discuss how to end the crisis generated by the leadership tussle rocking the National Assembly. Also, Osinbajo has invited lawmakers for a meeting to find a way of resolving the tussle for the leadership of the National Assembly. A supporter of Dogara

who confirmed the impending meeting with Osinbajo, however, said they would boycott it. “We received text messages from the party informing us of a meeting with the vice-president today. However, we see no difference between the vice-president and those trying to impose leaders on the House of Representatives, so we would not be attending,” he stated. New Telegraph, however, gathered yesterday that notwithstanding its vow not to field any candidate for the leadership of the National Assembly, the PDP may change its mind today. A top official of the party said the party was planning to spring a surprise by pursuing two possible scenarios. The party also yesterday drafted its governors to Abuja for a last-minute strategy session on how to actualise its agenda. It was gathered that the national leadership of the PDP, which backed the plot, planned to pay back the APC in its own coin for supporting the former House Speaker,

Hon. Aminu Tambuwal to run against its consensus candidate, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande in 2011. The two options the party is exploiting to upstage the APC are to support the emergence Saraki as Senate president on the condition that he would return to the PDP. The other option is to wait until the APC senators have nominated Saraki and Lawan for the Senate presidency and then a PDP senator would nominate outgoing Senate President David Mark for the position. The source said the party would give the APC a big fight for the leadership of the National Assembly. "The silence of the PDP senators all the while on who emerges the president of the Senate is tactical. We have 49 senators to APC's 60, but 59 now as one of their senators is dead. If the Saraki group agrees to our proposal, the game will be easy. "But while we are still working on the Saraki group, we also have our plan B. We may wait for the two groups in the APC to nominate their candi-

dates before we nominate ours and definitely, they will share their votes and ours is expected to be solid, "he said. While the PDP is optimistic of a good outing in the Senate, it is not too optimistic regarding the House where the APC has over 240 members as against about 120 for the PDP. Meanwhile, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday explained that the action of the party to organise mock elections to select candidates for the posts of Senate president and House speaker was not meant to foist leaders on the eighth National Assembly. Odigie-Oyegun gave the explanation at the party's national secretariat in Abuja yesterday against criticism that the APC leadership was bent on foisting preferred candidates on the lawmakers. Reacting to the angst against the party leadership, he appealed to members to respect the decisions of the party on the leadership of the National Assembly.

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Woman buys baby for N650,000

DESPERATION A desperate housewife buys a baby boy for N650,000 to keep her husband’s family lineage Flora Onwudiwe

etectives attached to the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a housewife who bought a baby boy for N650,000 to replace her son suffering from down syndrome. The suspect, Mrs Cecilia Nwantu, said she bought the two-year-old baby from his father, one Awurum Kanayo, an actor, in Owerri, Imo State. Nwantu, a mother of two girls and the 10-year-old boy, said that she did not want her husband’s family name and lineage to die with him. According to her, she took the decision to buy a son, whom she named Tochukwu, without the knowledge of her husband. Tochukwu’s biological mother, Kelechi Ugo, 28, said the name she gave her son was Chukwunonyelum Samuel. Ugo, who is already expecting a second baby for Kanayo, her boyfriend, denied knowing he wanted to

Kelechi and the baby

sell the baby. She said: “He told me that our son would be staying with his sister who lives in Port Harcourt. I do not know any of his relations. He said that since he is an actor, the child would hamper our movement. He insisted we drop the baby with his sister.

Kanayo

Nwantu

“I released my baby to Emmanuel Obi, who is a friend to Kanayo. I never knew they had arranged to sell my baby. Kanayo introduced Mrs Nkechi Obi as his sister’s in-law. He said that his sister sent Mrs Obi to bring the baby.” Kanayo and Ugo met in secondary school. Ac-

cording to Ugo, Kanayo promised to marry her, but disappeared after she got pregnant. She said her brother paid the hospital bill after she delivered the baby boy. Ugo and Kanayo later reconnected after a while and moved to Lagos. After a while, Kanayo said he was

going to Port Harcourt to collect their son from his sister. He later called that he was involved in a motor accident and that the baby died. The secret was later revealed by Jerry, Kanayo’s friend in Lagos, who told Ugo that her lover sold their baby. Ugo went to Ikotun Police Station to report and Kanayo was apprehended. Kanayo said he had been planning to sell the baby since he was two months old. He said: “I lied to her that I wanted to take the baby to my sister in Port Harcourt. Three women came to see me; I introduced one of them as the person my sister sent to bring the baby. I told them to pay me N500,000 but they gave me only N300,000.” Speaking further, Nwantu explained that she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, but the child later had a convulsion, which affected him. “I wanted the baby boy I bought to bear the name of my husband’s family,” Nwantu said. According to her, her husband was not aware she wanted to buy a child. She said: “My husband has been on sick bed. The baby was sold for N650,000, but N450,000 was all I had in my account. I collected a loan of N200,000. When they gave me the baby, I quickly put him in nursery school. I named him Tochukwu, meaning, Praise God.”

Ambode raises committee on tanker explosions

Lawyer, group seek probe of death in police custody

Muritala Ayinla

Babatope Okeowo

overnor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State yesterday set up a committee to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the accidents which have rendered many residents homeless and destroyed billions of naira worth of property and goods. The state recorded three major tanker accidents last

Ambode

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

week alone. Two of the accidents resulted into explosions which destroyed no fewer than 37 buildings, 24 vehicles and about 80 shops. The committee was set up in the wake of the latest tanker explosion at Idimu area of Lagos last Satur-

day, razing no fewer than 34 houses and 70 shops. The state fire service said there were four of such incidents in Lagos in the last nine days, saying the state had recorded over 50 tanker accidents since January. But setting up the committee shortly after a meeting with the leadership of stakeholders in the transport sector, Ambode said the government could no longer tolerate the untold hardship that reoccurring incidents of tanker explosion were inflicting on innocent victims. According to him, the committee has two weeks to examine the immediate and remote causes of the tanker explosions that occurred in the last eight days and also prepare guidelines on ethical conducts for tankers and other

truck users in the state. He added that the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, would chair the committee while other members would include the Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Transportation and Special Duties; Deputy Commissioner of Police and State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC). Other members of the committee, according to the governor, include Director Fire Service; Chief Executive Officer of the State Drivers Institute; representatives of the Association of Maritime Trucks Owners (AMATO); National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) among others.

Akure

lawyer, Mr Yemi Aladetoyinbo, and the Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA) yesterday called on the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to probe the alleged torture to death of a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Gbenga Omolo, in police custody. The 70-year-driver, Omolo, was arrested and allegedly tortured to death last week by members of the Ondo State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for yet to be ascertained offence. However, the CNCRA convener, Mr Ifeanyi Odili, said the reason for Omolo’s arrest was suspect, adding that Arase should not allow the case to be swept under the carpet. He said: “The CNCRA calls on the Inspector General of Police to arrest, investigate and prosecute the officers involved with immediate effect. While the date of the prosecution be communicated to us.”

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

How I escaped Idimu fire, by 140-year-old survivor

Pa Ramon

Esther Albert

t is probably a miracle to grow to be 140 years old in Nigeria. It is equally a miracle for a 140-year-old man to escape from a raging fire in the dead of the night. But that is the story of Pa Agbogunleri Ramon, who claimed to be 140 years old. Pa Ramon was caught up in the furious fire which erupted from the Saturday tanker explosion on Egbe-Idimu Expressway at Idimu area of Lagos State. Although Ramon, whose two houses are situated on 21 Ejigbo Road Idimu, was hale and hearty before the incident, is now bed-ridden because of the injury he sustained while running away from fire. While one of his houses was partly burnt, the other containing eight rooms, was completely

Pa Ramon’s house

razed down. About 35 other houses and 70 shops as well as a tricycle were burnt in the inferno which erupted about 12.20am on Saturday while most of the residents of the area were sleeping. Ramon, who was trying to escape from the fire, said he fell down and lost consciousness when he inhaled smoke. He was, however, rescued by youths in the community. According to him, the residents evacuated the house immediately the tanker exploded and started shouting to raise the alarm in order to wake those who were still sleeping. He said: “I was sleeping but I woke up owing to the noise in the neighbourhood. I opened my eyes and the whole place was filled with smoke. I could not see anything because of the

thick smoke. I jumped up but my leg hit a big iron as I was about to rush out. The youth, who came to rescue me, heard my voice. It was a sad experience; I almost died. “The two buildings I own were completely razed down. Property were also lost and I wonder where I will start from at this age. This is the saddest day of my life and I hope the government will come out to assist those of us who were affected. “I built my houses with the little money I earned from farming in those days when there were no houses but bushes in the whole of Idimu community. “I was not able to receive education because my father believed then that any child sent to school would eventually grow up to sell his father’s

house.” One of his children, Saheed Ramon, told our correspondent that he met his father unconscious. “He was almost lifeless. We rushed him out and we were able to revive him with all the first aid methods we could adopt. He is over 140 years old and we were simply lucky not to have lost him,” Saheed said. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Igando Police Division, Ben Osuji, said the police responded to the call from the community and men were mobilised to the scene immediately. According to him, the driver of the tanker with registration number KJA54XA belonging to Mustuk Investment Nigeria Limited has neither been found nor e reported himself to the police. Meanwhile, a storey-building at 268 Idimu Road, miraculously escaped the fire. The tanker fell in front of the house but the fire did not touch it. A housewife, Mrs Mojisola Ibrahim, said the house belonged to her father in-law who died a long time ago. She said: “He was the first chief imam of Idimu community. Sometimes prominent people will come to his grave to offer prayers and make requests in his name. “It is of great joy to us that our house was not affected by the fire despite the fact that the fuel tanker fell directly in front of the house. This is a symbol of true worshippers of Allah because we believe that it all happened this way because of the level of devotion of the owner of the house before he died.”

Ekiti women protest choice of monarch Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

ome women in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State yesterday protested the choice of Prince Jimi Adu as the next Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti. The women, who commenced the protest about 9am, converged on Odo Oja Roundabout singing abusive songs against the kingmakers and some prominent indigenes of the community backing Adu. The placard-carrying women condemned alleged directive of the government that the choice of a new Ogoga should be decided through voting by the kingmakers. They said that the next Ogoga must be determined by the Ifa Oracle in line with the custom and tradition of the town. Some of their placards read: “Money should not de-

Some of the protesters

termine the next Ogoga,” “Mr. Governor, don’t approve Jimi Adu as the next Ogoga,” “Don’t use voting to select new Ogoga,” “It is not in our tradition to choose Ogoga by voting,” “Consult Ifa Oracle, no voting,” among others. One of the protest lead-

ers, Mrs Funmi Adegbesan, said they were protesting the decision to subject the selection process to election which she said was against the tradition of the town. She said: “We want them to commence the process afresh, and they should consult the Ifa Oracle. We don’t want the

Ogoga to be chosen through an election by the kingmakers who have been compromised. “Ikere women have lost confidence in most of them. They should choose the next Ogoga through the Ifa Oracle.” Another protester, Mrs Anike Obasoro, said the women would not allow Adu to reign as Ogoga, warning that there would be terrible consequences if he was imposed as the monarch. She said: “We will not allow Jimi Adu to reign in Ikere, he can become king in Lagos but he will not become king in Ikere because he is not a prince. “If they impose him on us, there will be trouble and the town will not enjoy peace. We are warning them not to impose him on us because government will not be able to control what will happen thereafter.”

City Briefs Nigerian businessman killed in South Africa

50-year-old Nigerian businessman based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr Emmanuel Onyekaozuru, was killed on Sunday by gunmen. The President of Nigeria Union in South Africa, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, yesterday told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Pretoria, South Africa, that Onyekaozuru was shot by two gunmen. He said: “The union has received a report that a Nigerian businessman, Emmanuel Onyekaozuru, was shot in his business premises at 9p.m. yesterday (Sunday). “The report said that the gunmen shot the deceased and escaped in a car. “The incident has been reported to the police and the Nigerian Consul General in South Africa.” Anyene said that the union would work with the consul general and the police to ensure that justice was done in the case.

Two die in Enugu auto crash Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

wo young men lost their lives at Ede-Oballa community near the university town of Nsukka, Enugu State, as their Toyota Camry car collided with a commuter bus going into Enugu metropolis. The two victims are said to be 18 and 20 years old but their identities could not be ascertained at press time. However, the driver of the car survived the crash with injuries. But the car also went up in flames. The accident occurred as one of the drivers was trying to avoid a pothole which has remained a death trap. Ironically, the pothole is in front of a construction firm which has been handling road projects within the university town and its environs in the last couple of past years. A witness said that the two young men, who hailed from Ede-Oballa community in Nsukka Local Government Area, were going into Nsukka town.

Peace Okonkwo turns 63

ishop Peace Okonkwo, wife of the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo, turns 63 tomorrow. She is the founder of the International Women Prayer Conference (IWPC), an interdenominational gathering of women, which holds every month at the TREM Headquarters, Gbagada, Lagos. The women programme, which began in Lagos, has today through its success story spread to other towns in the country including Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu, Asaba, Warri and other nations such as Gabon, Cote D’Ivoire, United Kingdom, Israel and the United States of America. With her ministry all over the world, Dr Peace Okonkwo, who has tremendous concern for the plight of women and the health challenges affecting them as a result of some treatable diseases flagged off the PEACE Campaign on June 9, 2012 to cater for these heath challenges. The campaign with the acronym PEACE, which stands for Providing Early Attention for Cervical Cancer Everywhere, runs free medical check-ups for men, women and children with specific emphasis on cervical and breast cancer screening for women and de-worming for children.

12 News Akeem Nafiu

ustice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday nullified the provisional warrant of arrest secured by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at an Abuja High Court in its quest to extradite the PDP Senator-elect for Ogun East Senatorial District, Prince Buruji Kashamu. The judge, in a ruling on an application by Kashamu seeking an enforcement of a judgment delivered by Justice Abang in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the Ogun East Senator, declared that

national

tuesday, june 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Court nullifies NDLEA's warrant of arrest on Kashamu

until the judgment of the court are appealed against and set aside by the Court of Appeal, no extradition proceedings can commence against Kashamu. The judge further held that the provisional warrant of arrest was obtained for want of jurisdiction in the sense that the judge's attention was not drawn to the existing order barring NDLEA and the AGF from taking any

further steps on the extradition process. The court further declared that the proceedings at the Abuja High Court was a nullity. Justice Abang also overruled the preliminary objections raised by the NDLEA and the AGF. The objections raised are to the extent that the application is an abuse of court's process; the court has no function to perform again since judgement has

been delivered and that there was no personal service of the application on the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade. Justice Abang had while delivering judgment in the fundamental human rights enforcement suit restrained the Inspector General of Police(IGP), Attorney General of the Federation(AGF) and nine others from arresting Kashamu for an onward extradition to the United

States of America over alleged drug-related to offences. Justice Abang dismissed the preliminary objections of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Attorney General of the Federation(AGF), National Security Adviser(NSA) and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC). The judge said for the purpose of determining

whether or not a reasonable cause of action has been disclosed, he is enjoined by law to accept the fact as presented by the applicant. On the objections of the NDLEA, the court held that the insinuations by its Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, that he is not a jurisdistic person does not hold water. The court held that the NDLEA Chairman is a natural person that can sue and be sued.

Okiro denies involvement in alleged N275m fraud

L -R: APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Hon. Nnanna Uzor Kalu; Engr. Segun Oni; Chief (Mrs). Eunice Uzor Kalu; APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu; APC National Women Leader, Hajiya Ramatu Aliyu and members of Reality Organisation at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM

NCAA to investigate Aero's diverted plane Wole Shadare

he Director General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, has indicated that the Aero Contractor’s Lagos – Kaduna service that diverted to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, last Friday, will be investigated. The aircraft type, a Boeing 737 – 500 series with registration no. 5N – BLE and Flight no. NG 181 departed Lagos at 1735 hours with 102 passengers on board. According to him, the regulatory authority has received the Mandatory Occurrence Report (MOR) from the airline and has commenced immediate investigation into the incident. “Our Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) designated to the Airline are already critically studying the report which will assist in the requisite investigation.”

N8bn fraud: Bankers' relatives curse journalists, whistle blowers Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ome relatives of the 22 accused persons charged with conspiracy, diversion, conversion and stealing of N8b mutilated Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cash, betrayed emotions yesterday as they rained curses on journalists and brains behind the travails of the accused persons who are standing trial before the Federal High Court, Ibadan. The suspects, five of who were staff of the CBN

and others of various commercial banks, have been in detention at the Agodi Prisons, Ibadan since their arraignment last week by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following refusal of their oral bail applications by the Judges hearing their case. According to the prosecution, the accused persons by their act contributed to inflation in the country, as mutilated money that were to be taken out of circulation were being recycled into the system.

COMFORT LITERACY INTERVENTION & CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part 'C' of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Achu Ben Olayi 6. Mrs. Glory Iboli Ejeje 2. Chief Godwin Iyala O. 7. Mr. Alasa Gilbert 3. Mr. James Elekwachi 8. Miss Rosemary Onyinyechi Nkwocha 4. Dr. (Mrs) Julia Omang 9. Jacintha Banku Okoi-Obuli 5. Engr. Jacob Owan 10. Dr. James Okpiliya OBJECTIVES a. To reawaken reading culture among primary and secondary school students through our scintillating Literacy Intervention Programs. b. To improve human development by building self-reliant Nigerian youths and getting them acquainted with theories of self-development, selfreliant and self-empowerment through our programs and scholarship scheme. Any Objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Comfort Onyaga Ogon #39, Abong Aseng Lane, Etta-Agbor Layout, Calabar. Cross River State. Tel.:+2347031658559

APC admits Kalu’s mother, brothers as frontline members Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday admitted the National leader of the Reality Organisation, Chief Eunice Kalu as a frontline member of the party. The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who gave the admittance, spoke when the Reality Organization and two sons of Mrs. Kalu visited the National Secretariat of the party. Oyegun described Kalu as a courageous woman to have openly identified with the APC at a difficult circumstance and difficult zone. Oyegun said, "Your coming today is unique because this is the two generations of the family that are here today. That again is very unique. You have created a kind of record and this party formally welcomes you today as a frontline member of the APC. Given the part of the country you come from, you can

only be described as a lady of courage because l met you at Owerri long before the actual election started and for somebody of your class, for somebody of your character, for somebody of your calibre to step out in those uncertain times in the most uncertain zone politically for us in this country was an act courage and l want to compliment you and thank you very much for that singular courage". Making the remarks, the former House of Representatives member, Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu said, "Our journey to the National Office is very simple. Some people said we have come to take over APC in Abia but we want to tell you that it is not so". Also the Chief of Staff to the former governor of Abia State, Hon. Nnanna Uzor Kalu, in his remarks said, "We are here for a simple mission "Our mother was the woman behind the former governor of old Imo State, late Chief Sam Mbakwe. She was the woman leader in 1978. Reality Organisation has branches all over the world and in Nigeria."

he Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mr Mike Okiro, on Monday reacted to the allegation that he defrauded the commission of N275 million and vowed not to succumb to blackmail. Okiri alleged that a staff of the commission, Mr Aaron Kaase, of the Press Unit, colluded with a Journalist and Publisher (name withheld) to blackmail him with the allegation to collect N10 million. The chairman, who spoke in a news conference in Abuja, said the commission received N350 million from the Federal Government to train its staff to monitor the conduct of policemen involved in the 2015 general elections. It will be recalled that Okiro appeared before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences (ICPC) on June 4, following a petition by Kaase that he embezzled N275 million belonging to the commission. “I still believe that a clear conscience fears no accusation and I will not yield to blackmail no matter how long it takes to clear my name. I have nothing to fear. “We (commission) received N350 million for election monitoring/ conferences/training of the staff of the commission and deployed them to states to monitor police conduct during the general elections of 2015,” he said. The chairman said that the commission spent N217.3 million of the N350 million, leaving a balance of N132.6 million in the commission’s project account.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

Special Report

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Congratulations

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

Special Report

to National Assembly members from Delta State

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi Delta North

Hon. Ossai N. Ossai Ndokwa/Ukwuani

Senator Chief Ighoyota Amori Delta Central

Hon. Victor Onyemachi Nwokolo Ika

Hon. Leonard O. Ogor Isoko

Hon. (Barr.) Evelyn O. Oboro Ethiope East/West Uvie/Okpe/Sapele

Hon. Daniel Reyenieju O. Warri

Senator James Ebiowou Manager Delta South

Hon. Nicholas Mutu Ebomo Bomadi/Patani

Hon. Onyeamaechi Joan Mrakpor Aniocha/Oshimili

Hon. Ahwinahwi Solomon Ughelli North South

I felicitate with Senators and members of the House of Representatives from Delta State on their inauguration into the 8th National Assembly. I have no doubt that you all will discharge your duties as federal lawmakers with utmost responsibility, and in the best interest of our country and the good people of Delta State. C o n g rat u l at i o ns ! Signed:

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan

Immediate past Governor of Delta State

Hon. Julius G. Pondi Burutu

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Parliament

Issues before the Eighth N’Assembly

General elections

Unsung hero of presidential poll

Politics Bukola Saraki l Born on December 19, 1962 l Medical Doctor

Ahmed Lawan l Born on January 12, 1959 l Lecturer

Femi Gbajabiamila l Born on June 25, 1962 l Legal practitioner

Yakubu Dogara l Born on December 22, 1966 l Legal practitioner

l Governor, Kwara State (2003 – 2011) l Ex-Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum

l Eight years in the House of Representatives members l Eight years in the Senate

l 12 years in the House of Representatives l Minority Whip (2007 – 2011)

l Eight years in the House of Representatives l Former Chairman, House Committee on Services/Welfare l Dass/Boro/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency, Bauchi State

l Four years experience in the Senate l Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology l Kwara Central Senatorial District

l Ex-Chairman, Senate committee on Public Accounts l Yobe North Senatorial District

l Minority Leader (2011 – 2015) l Surulere I Federal Constituency, Lagos State

Showdown over N’Assembly posts Today, the Eighth National Assembly will be inaugurated. The sole business of the day is the election of principal officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives. PHILIP NYAM previews the likely scenario in both chambers

ince 1999 when the current democratic dispensation commenced, elections into the office of Senate President have not been tensed as what

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

is obtained today. The closest that has ever been witnessed was in the first assembly of the Senate in 1999 when the then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, insisted on having his way by ensuring that late Senator Evans Enwerem emerged as Senate President ahead of late Senator Chuba Okadigbo, who was the most popular candidate. Unfortunately, Enwerem could not hold on for long as he was eventually impeached after a short spell in office. Enwerem’s successor, Okadigbo, also could not last for long and was replaced with Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. Anyim’s election was not much of a problem as he was chosen by the presidency. He was able to complete the term. In 2003, Senator Adolphus Wabara was foisted on the lawmakers by Obasanjo but was later forced to throw in the towel in 2005 after allegations of bribery were levelled against him. Senator Ken Nnamani who succeeded him was chosen by consensus, hence elections into the position have never been acrimonious. Even in 2007, when former Benue State governor, Senator George Akume, damned the ranking provision and contested against Senator David Mark, it did not create sharp division within the party. Mark defeated Akume and would go on to lead the Senate for eight years. These were under the reign of the Peoples Democratic Party

Can Saraki beat the party to the game by flooring Lawan to the exalted position?

(PDP), which was strictly by zoning. But the Eighth Assembly has thrown up a big challenge for the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). The APC declared that it was not interested in zoning any position but has instead adopted endorsement of candidates. But as elections into the position of the president of the Senate hold today, the APC is in a tinderbox, as its choice for the position is being hotly challenged by one of its strongest members. Former governor of Kwara State and re-elected lawmaker, Senator Bukola Saraki, has rejected all entreaties and resolved to contest against Senator Ahmed Lawan from Yobe for the position of Senate President. Lawan has been endorsed alongside Akume as Senate President and deputy respectively. While Lawan is from the North-East, Akume, the immediate past Minority Leader is from the North Central. However, Saraki from the North Central is likely to pair with Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) or Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe). While the Lawan campaign is being spearheaded by the “Unity Group”, Saraki’s candidature is a product of “Like Minds” senators. Perhaps for strategic reasons, the Saraki group has been very cautious on the issue of deputy and instead concentrating its energies on the main position. Before the mock elections held

last Saturday, which returned Lawan and Akume as the party’s preferred candidates, several attempts had been made to convince Saraki to drop his ambition. The party had earlier set out criteria, which if closely adhered to would have edged out Saraki. The conditions set for candidates vying for the position are: ranking status; candidate should be without any allegations of financial impropriety or being prosecuted by any of the anti-corruption agencies and all that. Of course, Lawan is presently the highest ranking APC senator in the Senate even though Saraki is also a ranking lawmaker. Again, Saraki has had issues with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) whereas Lawan has none. This strategy did not work after all and today, Saraki is very much in contention. Hence, the candidature of Lawan and Akume has a bulwark to cross. The question is: can Saraki beat the party to the game by flooring Lawan to the exalted position? Lawan has been in opposition since 1999 starting from the House of Representatives before moving to the Senate in 2007 and now has the party behind him. But can he get the nod of majority of his PDP colleagues? Certainly, Saraki is not a pushover and has garnered a lot of confidence ahead of today’s conCONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

National Assembly complex

Issues before the Eighth N’Assembly The Eighth National Assembly would be inaugurated today. PHILIP NYAM takes a look at the issues to be tackled in the early days of the parliament

he eighth National Assembly made up of the Senate called the Red Chambers with 109 senators and the House of Representatives called the Green Chambers with 360 members will be proclaimed today. The proclamation will mark the commencement of a four-year legislative tenure and the lawmakers will be confronted with a lot of teething issues that need to be tackled promptly. What are those issues that would occupy the mind of the new Assembly as it takes off today? Election of presiding officers The only business that will be conducted on the floor of both chambers today is the election of presiding officers: Senate President and Deputy Senate President in the case of Senate; and Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the case of the House of Representatives. Normally, the majority party and in this case, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to produce candidates for these positions. But as a new party taking over the reins of government for the first time since the return of democracy in 1999, the APC is in

a tinder box on how to resolve the impasse occasioned by the scramble for the presiding positions by its lawmakers. In the Senate, it is a straight fight between former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki from the North Central and Senator Ahmed Lawan from Yobe in North-East. While Lawan, who is the party’s preferred candidate will be running alongside the immediate past Minority Leader and former Benue State governor, Senator George Akume, Saraki may likely pair with former Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume from Borno State, NorthEast. If Saraki does not step down for Lawan, the contest will be too close to call. While Lawan came to the Senate in 2007 after eight years in the House of Representatives, Saraki was elected in 2011. Both candidates are parading figures of the number of senators backing them and claiming to have an edge over each other. In the House of Representatives, the immediate past Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos State, South-West will square up with former chairman of the House Services Committee, Hon. Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State, North-East. Like Lawan, Gbajabiamila is the party’s favoured candidate but he is been hotly challenged by Dogara who has the support of returning members as well as members of the opposition parties. Both Gbajabiamila and Dogara are lawyers; they are competent and have been very successful lawmakers. While Gbajabiamila was first elected to the House in 2003, Dogara came in 2007. The scenario in both houses will be interesting. However, the

outcome of the election in the Senate would impact on what happens in the lower House based on the principle of zoning, equity and balance that has been a key component of Nigeria’s democratic practice. Some of the lawmakers are insisting that they should be allowed to choose their leaders without interference from the party and external influence. If the lawmakers do not back down on this demand, arriving at a consensus candidate before today will remain a wishful thought.

APC is in a tinder box on how to resolve the impasse occasioned by the scramble for the presiding positions by its lawmakers

Allowances of lawmakers As soon as the lawmakers are done with the election of presiding officers, it will be faced with the economic reality of the time and the general expectation of Nigerians on their emoluments and benefits. The Muhammadu Buhari administration is harping on cutting the cost of governance and there has been a general outcry on the “outrageous allowances” enjoyed by members of the legislature. In fact, Nigerian legislators are said to be the highest paid in the world. Against the backdrop of the dwindling revenue base of the nation, it behoves on the legislators as representatives of the people to take another look at their earning. Already, a former member of the House and now a senator-elect, Hon. Dino Melaye, has started the campaign to cut down their financial benefits. For example, the Seventh National Assembly was said to have received over N600 billion in budgetary allocations on annual average of over N150 billion. Although, the exact remuneration of the lawmakers is not known, available records from the Salaries and Allowances for Top Public Office Holders Act of the

Federation 2002 (amended in 2008), which is managed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), a total sum of N60.4 billion is spent on the 469 federal lawmakers. Each member of the National Assembly receives at least N128.5 million annually, out of which only N13 million is paid as his or her annual salaries. Other allowances enjoyed by the lawmakers include vehicle, vehicle maintenance, housing, furniture and domestic allowances. How the lawmakers resolve this knotty issue will go a long way in shaping their relationship with the electorate. At the just-concluded retreat for PDP lawmakers-elect in Port Harcourt, former Senate President David Mark and former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, were locked in an exchange over funds spent on the National Assembly by the Federal Government. Ribadu challenged the lawmakers to be transparent in their allowances. Screening of ministers One of the earliest assignments to be undertaken by the eighth National Assembly will be the screening of ministerial nominees from President Buhari. Already, the 7th Assembly has approved his request for the appointment of 15 special advisers. The 8th Assembly will now be saddled with the responsibility of screening and approving the ministers from the new president. In the appointment of special advisers, the House was also copied but when it comes to ministers, it is a function of the upper house. The extent to which this exCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion After Buhari's cry; what’s left? Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

utside the bluntness of man’s ambition, President Muhammadu Buhari is the oldest known Nigerian that has exhibited the longest sustained determination supported by a now historic cry, in his drive to rule Nigeria. Now that he has succeeded, in the days ahead, Nigerians would be exposed to how prepared he truly is as a president and the essence of lamenting Nigeria’s leadership failure before a world press conference after failing in his electoral bid, 2011. There is no doubt that he has a commendable administrative past which his opponents love to slam as the ‘nondigital era’ or ‘old-time’. And because Nigeria seriously and timeously needs a revamp in most sectors of its national-life, the new President’s opponents fear he would sooner or later come to discover that things have been taken beyond his reasoning age, which could further plunge Nigeria into dire developmental disabilities. Determinedly as his opponents have been emphasizing his inability to cope with the strain of administering a peculiar country as Nigeria under a democratic rule, even at the height of the electioneering campaigns, some feared he might unknowingly harm his health with such burden, and prayed that a higher wisdom or authority could prevail and force him to check into a hospital in London, instead of being

audacious about a campaign streak that took him to Chatham House. However, as a man with such legendary will, President Buhari has for the umpteenth time expressed a resolve that he might not now be brimming with the vibrancy of a military commander. But certainly, he would not allow age to beat him to the point of servitude as to become compromising; and therefore needs to prove that his contributions to Nigeria’s leadership requirements can go beyond mere lamentations. There is something really instructive about President Buhari’s determination. Quite frankly, if he was only driven by monetary quest like most people, he could easily have found a leeway by becoming the Governor of his Northern State of Katsina. He certainly could have won again and again until somebody invokes the constitutional provision which stipulates a governorship’s tenure of not more than two tenures for a single individual. Aside President Buhari’s first coming as a military head of State; even in the democratic dispensation, he has all the same, not been too far from electoral victory. For his worth as an electoral opponent, former President, late Musa Yar’ Adua had acknowledged the not too wholesome electoral process which brought about his presidential electoral victory. Before the latest presidential election, the new President understood the need for a providential alliance with

some vital interest like the political warhorse of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As this alliance survived all tests, perhaps only former President Goodluck Jonathan can truly state what the effect of the alliance did to ridicule the gamut of his electoral efforts and war chest. The congratulating of President Buhari by former President Jonathan on the eve of his electoral victory is significant in so many ways. As the former first citizen of Nigeria, Jonathan has shown what he expects other Nigerians to do with Muhammadu Buhari as the new President. Dr. Jonathan has demonstrated that President Buhari deserves our congratulations as the person God has chosen to rule Nigeria for now. This also includes that President Buhari deserves our respect as a laudable contestant who fights by the rules; that coming from different political backgrounds, President Buhari deserves our understanding because competition tends to inflame enmity; that President Buhari deserves our forgiveness if we at one time felt hurt by him - knowing we cannot afford to keep living in our past; that President Buhari deserves our attention because we must all be focused on the road other countries are taking to the future; that President Buhari deserves our support because the task of nation-building requires everybody’s contribution; and more especially, that the time has come for all to accept the unassailable fact which invest only Nige-

ria masses with the powers to determine who should rule them; as it has become very commanding too, that there is no a right way to do a wrong thing. This time, as we applaud ourselves for casting the search for nationhood beyond the bounds of regional parochialism, we must sustain the positive spirit of President Buhari, who against remaining and enjoying the opulence of his comfort zone as a privileged figure in our country, became restless about solving Nigeria’s problems with a belief and possibility of achieving a pan-Nigerian agenda. Importantly, we cannot pretend that this would be easy, or that there is a quick fix solution. At the instance of a reporter relating that a driver in the Northern part of Nigeria has accidentally driven into a church building, killing scores of worshippers; another reporter could amplify the story by stating that the driver was reported to be a Moslem; and a further report could state bluntly that Moslems have started killing Christians in the Northern part of Nigeria by savagely driving into churches when worshippers are known to be present. Most times when we hear of such, even without hesitating to verify the correctness of the reports, tempers are flared up and the need to retaliate becomes urgent. Our regional sentiments take full swing and the ethnic and religious clashes resume. •Ogbeide-Ihama (mustardaffairs@yahoo.com), sent this piece from Benin -City

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Story of our country

General Buhari’s metamorphosis

AS I write this article, Nigeria is in a ‘shut down’ mode. It is a step short of Armageddon. The princes of hell have descended on us and they are having a good time. Nearly everything has grinded to a halt. The Federal Government is practically nonexistent. Remaining Federal Government appointees who haven't gone on a self-imposed exile are having a ‘good’ day looting the economy; there is no time for governance. Equipment, motor vehicles and government properties are mutating - growing wings and flying to destinations unknown. Worse still, petroleum products like PMS, AGO, ATK, GAS etc are unavailable. In fact, it is easier to get gold stones on the ground than buy fuel. Transportation from Lagos to Ibadan is harder than Lagos to New York, little wonder unemployed Nigerians are trekking all over the country to felicitate with their political mentors. Pardon the ranting, let go back to the subject matter. For those who live outside the country, understand that much of Nigeria’s territorial part is in

“FELLOW Nigerians, I have been invested with the authority as head of state and commander in chief of the Nigerian Armed forces…… …… The civilian government that was overthrown displayed pervasive corruption, indiscipline, incompetence and was inept….. The Political parties rigged the 1983 elections according to the amount of resources each had. This Generation of Nigerians and indeed future generation has no other country than Nigeria. We shall all stay here together and charge it together”. The words above were typical of those General Muhammadu Buhari used very late night of Saturday 31st December, 1983 in his inaugural broadcast to Nigerians on assumption of office after the overthrow of president Shagari by the military which was relayed from the studios of NTA channel 10 Lagos which went network. These words came after the “ I Brigadier Sani Abacha

complete darkness, thanks to the clueless, rudderless and hip hazard government of a happenstance president called Goodluck Jonathan. I will explain the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) privatization under Jonathan with a simple analogy, thus sparing you all the technical jargons and grammar. Imagine your father built a mansion with a huge part of his life’s saving. He buys a land, and then painstakingly begins to build for several years. Years gone past, the house is not yet ready and not big enough for your family of 20, but you start living in it anyway. Since the house is originally built for seven, you need to build more and expand right? However, instead of your father sourcing for funds to maintain and complete the building and then build more, he sells the house. With no place to live, the entire family continues to live in the house; difference is the family now pays rent to the new owner. •Kikiowo Ileowo, Lagos

of the Nigerian Army… .”broadcast of 7:00am on the network service of Radio Nigeria earlier that day 31st December, 1983. The day started with Marshal Music which was played on the same network. Brigadier Sani Abacha’s broadcast was followed around 7:00pm by another broadcast which had Major General Ibrahim Babangida who among other things announced…… “Major Muhammadu Buhari as the new head of state”. Gen. Buhari displayed great level of national patriotism and seriousness in running the affairs of the country and was ably supported by his chief of staff supreme headquarters (CSSH) Brigadier (later Major General) Tunde Idiagbon. However, the administration had no political and economic calendar even though things really improved. With time naturally the administration lost some good will from power brokers within and outside the military and Nigerians especially the

print press who had some of their members convicted under the key decree number 4. This was one of the things the opponents of the government capitalized on to support the overthrow of the government, which came to pass on Tuesday (Sallah Day) August 27th 1985. Thus, the overthrow of the government which was widely welcomed earlier on was not widely opposed. General Muhammadu Buhari had suffered a banana peel. It is hoped that like in December 1983 when Buhari got a nationwide welcome as is now happening in 2015, he will not suffer political banana peel on account of loss of faith by Nigerians, or for that matter by power brokers that put him there who are mainly in the All Progressive Congress Party (APC). We shall examine in subsequent write ups, what and who where behind the banana peel of August 1985 that swept Buhari out of power. • David Beyioku, Lafia

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Menace of tanker drivers

ecklesness on the part of Tanker drivers conveying fuel to various destinations of need is as deadly as the Ebola virus. Precious lives lost in the last two weeks make it look like there is an agreement between the heavy duty vehicles and those who run them to kill and maim at will. It began with the conflagration in Onitsha which went beyond land and buildings. Everything appeared like hell on earth as a petrol tanker, rammed into the Asaba garage , in the very busy Upper Iweka area. The speed demon was coming from the Enugu axis. Hundreds of lives were lost. Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, lost his nerves when he visited the crash site and wept like a baby. While rescue operations were ebbing to a close, another disaster struck, in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. Another tanker, loaded with fuel, fell off the overhead bridge, visiting the entire area with destruction. The good news was that no lives were lost. That is, good news to those who were not affected. So many traders lost goods worth several millions of naira. Over 20 vehicles were burnt . Some of those whose means of livelihood were affected, may just die from the effects of that calamity. Like a relay, the baton was passed to Ondo. A tanker rammed into the popular Owena market on the Ilesha –Akure Road. Casualty figures stood at 10 dead, hundreds injured. Many of those who were lucky

to survive will have to live with permanent disabilities. The death toll could also have risen therafter. Owena was in the news shortly after. Coordinator, Special Marshals of the Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC], in Osun State, Chief S.O. Adewale, had gone to the market to pick a few things while his family waited in his car. That turned out out to be the last time they would see him alive. A tanker crushed the man right as he was shopping. The marathon race of fire was not over yet. A few kilometers away from Iyana-Ipaja,and again in the wee hours of the night, another tanker wrecked havoc in Idimu. That was early Saturday morning. And it was the grace of God that ensured no lives were lost. Idimu market only goes to bed around 1.a.m. The accident happened

This is not a lawless society, there are rules in place to address such wanton destruction of lives and property

when buyers and sellers had left for their various homes. In the last one month, more than 200 lives have been lost to the recklessness of these tanker drivers. They operate as if they are above the law and because of the importance that we attach to fuel, many of these acts go unpunished. Even when there are threats of sanctions, their union will resort to arm twisting moves aimed at painting government black. This is not a lawless society, there are rules in place to address such wanton destruction of lives and property. If some of these stiff measures are applied, sanity could be restored. If every erring tanker driver gets punished for traffic offences, the message would be passed that government values the lives of its citizens. There is also another side to this. The need to boost our railway system arises from the situation dampened by the tanker drivers. With efficient rail services, most of these drunken drivers will look for jobs elsewhere. One train could move more volume of fuel than ten tankers put together. That will no doubt, reduce the number of these bloodletting long vehicles on our roads. There is the danger posed on the roads plied by the tankers. Heavy duty vehicles contribute to the bad state of the roads. No developed nation relies entirely on road transportation to convey goods from one part of the country to the other. If Nigeria truly wants to be among the 20 leading economies in the world by 2020, government must wake

up from slumber to tackle this menace. Lagosians will also not forget easily their ordeal in the hands of these ‘Kings of the road’. Workers and other commuters who use the Apapa- Oshodi Expressway, have no place to, run to, since government has continued to sleep over the torture they go through everyday. Most of the car owners do not drive to work because tanker drivers have taken over the road. Some of them cannot even go to work anymore preferring to operate from the house, and this involves those whose jobs could be done away from the offices, in case of emergency. However, management of various organizations suffers as this could also breed a bunch of undisciplined staff who take advantage of the chaotic situation to abandon their duty posts. The Muhammadu Buhari government will do this nation a world of good in finding immediate solution to this madness going on within the ranks of tanker drivers. Threat is the weapon of their union but they must not be allowed to continue to punish the nation. That is not only sabotage, it is criminal. Stern measures need to be taken . The FRSC has talked so much about limiting the speed of vehicles. They must start with the fuel tankers. Offenders should not only be fined, they should go to jail. Government agencies must not shy away from their responsibility. We have had enough of this madness on our roads and the corollary destruction.

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Editor n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editor n Emeka Obasi

Deputy Editor n Ayodele Ojo

General Editor n Iyobosa Uwugiaren Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

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Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

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Politics

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

ercise is handled by the senators would also define the relationship that would exist between the presidency and the legislature. Controversial constitution The Fourth alteration to the 1999 Constitution, which was not signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, will occupy a central place in the activities of the 8th National Assembly. The question agitating many minds is whether the document would be dusted and sent to President Buhari or will it be jettisoned for a fresh process? If the

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Eighth Assembly: PIB, confab report, constitution top agenda lawmakers decide to look into the areas that the former president raised queries on, what happens if Buhari too has his own problem with the document? Some of the likely contentious issue that the 8th Assembly will be confronted with in the amended version is the provision of pension for presiding officers of the National Assembly in the amended

constitution. The amended constitution provides for life pension for Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Deputy Speaker of the House. Confab Report The report of the 2014 National Conference is said to be before the National Assembly and the

new president also has the document; former President Jonathan handed copies of the report to him. Curiously, the APC was not in support of the confab but there are unending agitations by some sections of the country that the report be adopted by the National Assembly. This issue is likely to generate debate and receive the attention of members

of the 8th National Assembly. PIB The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will still resonate in the 8th Assembly. The Seventh Senate failed to pass this bill because of the politics, controversies and disagreements that trailed the document in the National Assembly, but the House of Representatives

passed it on its last sitting day last Thursday. But following the contention that it is only the passage and implementation of the bill that can resolve the intractable problem in the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil sector, the bill will stare the 8th Assembly in the face like a corpse. It is not clear whether even the House that has passed the bill will be committed to seeing to the successful conclusion of work on the piece of legislation. Besides, the House would have to wait for the Senate, which could not make any appreciable impact on the bill to do so. Corruption One of the cardinal campaign promises of President Buhari is his avowed resolve to fight corruption to its roots. Unfortunately, the National Assembly is been viewed as a nest of corruption and it will be unusual if the anti-graft agencies refuse to beam their searchlight on the parliament when the war against corruption begins in earnest. The 7th Assembly left with scars of corruption particularly the Senate. One of such cases was the allegations of bribery levelled against the Senator Aloysius Etukled committee, which investigated allegations of mismanagement of pension funds. The Etuk committee was accused of collecting a N2 billion bribe from the chairman of the Pension Task Force, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina. Although, the Senate had cleared Etuk and his colleagues of any wrongdoing, the public is not convinced that money did not change hands in the probe. This is due to the lack of faith Nigerians have in the legislature when it comes to money matters. In the House, the $620,000 bribery allegation against Hon. Farouk Lawan by an oil magnate, Femi Otedola, in the subsidy probe has remained a sore reference in the life of the 7th Assembly. In fact, Lawan is still being prosecuted by the EFCC over the allegation. Therefore, the 8th Assembly will be faced with the challenge of operating on the same page with the president whose hatred for corruption is legendary and is acknowledged by many. Whether the 8th Assembly will be better than the previous assemblies will be seen at the end of its four year tenure.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2015

Arts

CULTURE

World Culture Day: Fostering exchange of knowledge, cultural heritage, peace Tony Okuyeme

he imperative of culture to national development was again brought to the fore at the events held to mark this year’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development in Nigeria. The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is a United Nations–sanctioned international holiday for the promotion of diversity issues. It is currently held on May 21. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed this holiday due to UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity in November 2001. It was proclaimed by UN Resolution 57/249. “The Day is an opportunity to help communities understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony. It was adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. With ‘Shared Culture for a Shared Security’ as the theme for this year’s celebration, various cultural activities and lectures were held to celebrate the day and interrogate the theme. The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), South-South Zonal Office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in collaboration with Teto Schools, celebrated the Day with performances and a lecture. The event took place at Teto Schools Campus 2, off Ebis Road, Amarata, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. In a lecture, titled, “Shared Culture for a Shared Security: Training the Youths for a Peaceful Tomorrow,” NICO South-South Zonal Coordinator, Mr. James Imohiosen, described culture as the totality of the way of life of a people, and a creative potential of a community or society, adding

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Students of Mypo School, Minna, during the school’s cultural festival

that arts and crafts were the most important facets of culture, and part of the significance of World Culture Day celebration. He emphasised that the annual celebration of culture will no doubt help to promote the incorporation of the objectives of the Cultural Policy for Nigeria and that of UNESCO’s cultural diversity vision centred on creating avenues that will foster the exchange of knowledge, cultural heritage, and best practices to promote peace and security among nations. According to Imohiosen, “our cultural co-existence, diversity and intellect were key agents of promoting peace and security in the country, stressing that peace and harmony can only exist where people of different backgrounds understand themselves and respect one another’s cultural views, knowing full well that no culture is more superior to the other”. He noted that cultural diversity is the shared heritage and the greatest opportunity before humanity that promotes

discovery, cooperation, innovation and creative expressions; noting that the culture is strategic in shaping the society, and that the youths as instruments in this process need to be re-oriented on our positive cultural practices because they are our hope and future leaders. The Zonal Coordinator explained that the creative potentials of our traditions, languages and ways of life strengthen us as a people instead of dividing us, and should be our gateway to promoting peace and security among us, which is the essence of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, urging parents and teachers to train the youths in line with the provisions of the societal norms and values because tomorrow belongs to them. Earlier in his opening remark, the chairman of the occasion, His Royal Highness Chief Goodnews Sokari Amanimefa, urged parents to value their children, admire them and inculcate good morals in them. He commended Teto Schools,

which runs nursery, primary and secondary schools, for their long standing reputation in bringing up good and intelligent children, and appreciated the role NICO was playing as the intellectual arm of the Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation. In her speech, the Proprietress of the School, Mrs. J. T. Timi, lamented that the youths of today cannot show respect for those of the older generation, charging the older generation comprising parents and those in authority as well as churches, schools and mosques, never to relent in the business of training the younger generation to be better leaders of tomorrow. Guests at the occasion were thrilled with colourful cultural presentations, which included indigenous dress fashion parade, traditional dances/drama, traditional wrestling, and indigenous food exhibition. Similarly, the North-East Zonal Office of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Yola Adamawa State,

joined in the celebration of the 2015 edition of the World Day for Cultural Diversity, with the theme: “Sharing Culture for a Shared Security,” at the Conference Hall of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Yola, Adamawa State. Speaking at the event, the Zonal Coordinator, Mallam Isma’ila M. Ahmad, represented by the Head of Orientation and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Hamman Abdul-Rahman, stated that the World Culture Day celebration will enhance people’s understanding of the values of cultural diversity and learn to live together based on our common humanity. He stated that the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) had, over the years, been at the forefront of organizing enlightenment/sensitization programmes for all strata of the society aimed at providing value orientation and placing culture within the context of development; hence, all hands must be on deck to ensure that Nigeria’s cultural values were preserved and diversified.

Arts

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fighting terrorism through visual art Tony Okuyeme

ll over the world, from Asia to Europe, from Latin America to suburban Africa, the Middle East to North America, one common phenomenon that has been ravaging the global community is terrorism. Manifesting in different forms – bombing, maiming, wanton destruction and slaughter of innocent citizens, kidnapping, the dimension it has assumed has become more frightening now than ever before. Here in Nigeria, on account of terrorism only, the country has lost thousands of lives. School, churches, mosques, hospitals, banks, markets have not only remained shut but have been looted and burnt in terrorists infested areas. Children are not spared the orgy of the senseless killings, as many of them are also being used as suicide bombers. It is in this regard that the National Gallery of Art (NGA) decided to focus the theme for this year’s Children In Art Talent Hunt competition on terrorism. The competition/exhibition themed Let’s Fight Terrorism; It Destroys The Nation, is organized by NGA Lagos in in commemoration of this year’s Children’s Day. Held at the Aina Onabolu complex of the NGA, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, event brought together students from various schools in Lagos state. For the excited students, the show, apart from the cultural and musical performances, was a rare opportunity to showcase their talents in various genres of the visual art – painting, sculpture, graphics and textile design. In his statement on the event, the Director-General, National Gallery of Art (NGA), Mr Abdullahi Muku noted that the NGA usually celebrate the occasion by organising art competitions and exhibitions with themes relating to contemporary issues affecting children in the society. “At these events, children are encouraged to depict in their own ways,

The winning sculpture in the Primary School Category by Christianah Samuel of Bacs School

their understanding of the topical issue under discussion. This will in turn ensure that the lesson learned on the day, sticks on the mind of the children for a long time,” he said, adding that this year’s edition with the theme, Let’s Fight Terrorism; It Destroys The Nation, is aimed at exposing the dangers inherent in terrorism and turning children’s mind away from it. “There is need for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians devoid of terrorism and bloodshed.” The head of Lagos station of NGA and curator of the art completion/exhibition, Mrs. Ekene Okoroma underscored the significance of the theme of the show, noting that, the participating children have worked with a lot of passion and zeal thus the array of beautiful works on display this day. She said: “In the quest to continue to make our country greater, our theme for this year’s celebration hinges on one very dangerous and globally unacceptable evil, terrorism. Terrorism in recent times has dealt a heavy blow on the peace and progress of our nation and if not checked will destroy our nation. Hence the theme for this year is ‘Lets Fight Terrorism: It Destroys

The winning entry (graphics) in the Junior Secondary Category by Chigbo Ralchukwu of S.M.A. College, Oke-Afa, Isolo

our Nation’. It is to continue to create awareness amongst our youths and to help them understand wholesomely the dangers of this act and how it will affect their future, the nation and the world at large if not rejected in its entirety, that the National Gallery of Art (NGA), Lagos, carefully selected this theme for this year’s celebration.” Significantly, the array of works on display showed that indeed talents abound in the country. Prizes were presented to the winners in the various categories of the art competition. In the primary school category, Moshood Fathia of Ewe-Nla School emerged first in Painting, while Nifemi Akanbi of Bacs School and Oguike Ikenna of Prime Global School came second and third respectively. In Graphics, Adetola Ogungbemi of Confidence Nursery/Primary School came first; Tishe Oluwaseun of Redeemer International School emerged second; while Anonyai Ezinwanne of Lagoon Primary School, Lekki won the third position; and in Sculpture, Christianah Samuel and Ifeanyichukwu Mazi, both of Bacs School, won the first and second positions respectively. In the Junior Secondary School category, Atta Samuel of Ewe-Nla High School won the first positing in

Painting, while Nwaneri Ohiorenuan Wilson of Yaba College of Technology Secondary School and Owolabi Sodiq of Jumai Comprehensive College got the second and third positions respectively. In Graphics, Chigbo Ralchukwu of S.M.A. College, Oke-Afa, Isolo won the first position, while Ebube Nwaokpani, also of S.M.A. College, OkeAfa, Isolo, and Olasunmbo Delano of Lagoon Secondary School, Lekki, came second and third respectively. The Senior Secondary School category had Moyinoluwa Okulate of Lagoon Secondary School, Lekki, Uto-Dien Jason of Queensland Academy and Bello Muhammed of Rahmah College won the first, second and third positions respectively in Painting; while the first position in Graphics was won by Aluko Oluwadara Esther of Lagoon Secondary School, Lekki; Agboola Alameen of Rahmah College and Afolabi Mandela came second and third respectively. In Textile, Abolarin Elizabeth of Jumai Comprehensive College won the first position and Agu praise of S.M.A. College, Oke-Afa, Isolo was second. Sculpture: Kimberly Adeleke (Lagoon Secondary School, Lekki) first and Jimoh Kudus (Jumai Comprehensive College), second.

GCGT Season Five: Teenage vocalist, Olorunsuyi wins N5million grand prize Tony Okuyeme

Olorunsuyi in performance

t was a sweet song of victory for 17-year old songstress, Olorunrunsuyi Praise Olukemi, as she emerged winner of Season Five of the talent development initiative of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Apapa Family, tagged God’s Children Great Talent (GCGT), after a keenly contested epic finale held at the Expo Hall, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos May 30, 2015. Olukemi sang her way to the grand prize of N5million after slugging it out with other contestants who displayed unique talents before a live audience and a panel of renowned performers and judges in both performing and non-performing arts in various categories which include, musical instruments, drawing, poetry, recitation, singing and dancing. After a painstaking journey which started months ago with over 2000 young people

who auditioned, and series of quarter and semifinals events in various Apapa Family parishes in Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America, 25 finalists emerged and participated at the grand finale. Aside the grand price of N5million, winners of the different categories namely Ikeriugwu Chibuzor Heny (Age 5 – 6) won N1.5m, Temitayo Victor Kayode (Age 7 – 9) won N1.25m, Emmanuel Naphtali & Destiny Atasi (Age 10 – 12) won N1m, and Kola Ajisimisolaoluwa (Age 13 – 15) won N2m .There were other exciting prizes such as educational trust, talent development packages and musical equipment. The Head of RCCG Apapa Family, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, said that the vision was born out of the need to engage children/teens in a positive way, using their talents to glorify God and provide a credible platform for the celebration of

talents in God’s children. “God’s Children’s Great Talent was borne out of a desire to identify and nurture the diverse talents available in children across the Province. We are delighted that multinational brands such as Cadbury Bournvita, Stanbic IBTC, First bank, Airtel and others have identified with this project,” he added. The event had ministrations from popular Gospel acts such as Frank Edwards, Sinach, past GCGT winners, Sisan Kpere-Daibo, Sam Ekeh and Egene Great. Other highlights of the programme included the launch of the first single titled “Oh Lord” by one of the 2014 winners, Sisan, produced by Don Jazzy. This year’s grand finale’s panel of judges included Joke Silva, Sarah Boulous, Dan Forster, Mosa, Ben Ogbeiwi, Wole Oni, Titi Masha, Rachel Kerr and other key personalities. The event was supported by Cadbury Bournvita, Stan-

bic IBTC, Airtel, First Bank, RCCG City of David, The Riverbank School, Laterna Books, Alexander Forbes, GCGT Academy, Iluyomade and Iluyomade & Co, Digital Jewels, VDT Communications, Ruff n Tumble, among others. In her remarks, a Trustee of GCGT Trust and member of the organising team, Pastor Bimbo Ozomah, said “God’s Children’s Great Talent” is a credible platform provided to help identify talents early in children. “These talents are then honed for the greater good of the child and the society. “GCGT has set up an academy focused on developing talents of the GCGT Alumni and other talents across the world. This ensures that there is a structured system to support GCGT talents. The scope of coverage of Season Five of GCGT was expanded to Europe alongside the UK and US-based RCCG Apapa parishes,” Ozomah said.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 9, 2015

Excellence

Interview

My NCE experience helped me, says UNIBEN’s best grad

Nigerian varsities are doing well, says UNILORIN VC

Education CONTROVERY

A university don and management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have continued to trade words over her ‘missing’ discharge certificate 32 years after

Row over ‘missing’ NYSC discharge certificate l NYSC: Her case is suspicious l Don: NYSC not sincere

Mojeed Alabi

hirty-Two years after she completed the compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, Ms Stephania Ategbe Abibatu AlofuokhaiGhogomu, is yet to receive her NYSC Discharge Certificate. The development has continued to generate malaise between the NYSC and Ms AlofuokhaiGhogomu (formerly Evboikuokha), who is being challenged by her employer, which has suspended her from work over her failure to produce the certificate. Narrating her plight, Ms Alofuokhai-Ghogomu, currently a lecturer at the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO), Bayelsa State, with the NYSC State Code Number BD/82/3375 and Call-Up Number FORN/82/9564, recalled that she participated in the scheme between December 20, 1982 and December 19, 1983. According to her, she returned to Nigeria in 1982 after her education in the United Kingdom and enrolled for the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps scheme. The 1981 graduate of German Language Education/Sociology, at the Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University), United Kingdom (UK), said she was deployed to the Department of Foreign Languages, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City in the then old Bendel State (now Edo State),

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

Olawunmi Johnson, NYSC DG

The letter of Reference

where she was later retained as Graduate Assistant upon completion of the NYSC programme in December 1983. Lamenting her ordeal, Alofuokhai-Ghogomu told the New Telegraph that her plight began in 2012, when her current employer, the management of the Federal University, Otuoke, acting based on the law of the institution to ensure that all its employees show evidence of completion of the National Youth Service Corps scheme, requested for either her NYSC Discharge Certificate or Letter of Exemption as issued by the scheme. Alofuokhai-Ghogomu, who could not produce either, however, explained that rather than being issued the discharge certificate, she was issued with a Letter of

They looked into their “Book of Life” and found that I duly registered as a corps member on December 20, 1982

Reference by the NYSC, even as she lamented despite several attempts at securing her discharge certificate, the NYSC was unable to provide such. She explained: “Upon the completion of the programme, I was presented with a Letter of Reference and was offered full time employment by the authorities of UNIBEN. In April 1988, the university sent me to Germany for further study and between 1983 and 1988 before I traveled, I consistently went to the NYSC State Secretariat for my original certificate but which the scheme refused to issue.” Meanwhile, since the period of her stay in Germany, Alofuokhai-Ghogomu noted that she did not need the certificate and hence she stopped bothering NYSC until she returned to the country in 2012, and took up a lecturing employment with the Federal University, Otuoke. “However, the request of my NYSC discharge certificate by my new employer and which I could not produce has put me in my present predicament,” Alofuokhai-Ghogomu said, blaming the NYSC authorities for frustrating her. According to her, the university had through a letter of March 12, 2014 served a reminder on her and her inability to prove her participation in national service. Following the repeated demand for her NYSC certificate by her new employer, the lecturer recalled how in 2013 she resumed efforts at retrieving her certifi-

cate, which led to her frequent visit to the Edo State NYSC Secretariat and the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. In a letter addressed to the NYSC Director-General on September 25, 2013, AlofuokhaiGhogomu narrated how on return to the country on December 30, 2012 she secured an employment with the Federal University, Otuoke, but had to be suspended by her employer on May 6, 2013 for “non-availability of NYSC discharge/exemption certificate.” She reiterated: “In view of my predicament, I went to Edo State Secretariat of NYSC on May 8, 2013 with the hope of collecting my certificate which I had strongly believed that after 30 years it should have been waiting for collection. But on arrival, I was told that all certificates not collected by their owners are usually returned to the NYSC headquarters after two weeks. They looked into their “Book of Life” and found that I duly registered as a corps member on December 20, 1982. I was then directed to collect a letter confirming that I did not only register, but duly completed my service with the University of Benin, among other details, so that I could get a letter of introduction to the headquarters. “However, at Abuja NYSC Headquarters, with the help of one official in the certification department, simply identified as Tunde, we looked at the log-book of issued certificates for 1981-1984 service years where it was found that the last state code number for which a certificate was issued 1982/1983 for Bendel State was BD/82/3369, while my number is BD/82/3375. “Meanwhile, as a result of the discrepancies, I was asked to go back to Benin for a copy of my call-up letter or letter of reference but the officials in Benin told me that they had changed offices for more than three times and so producing such document might be difficult.” According to AlofuokhaiCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

24 Education

TUESDAY, june 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

My NCE experience helped me, says UNIBEN’s best grad Yekeen Nurudeen and Ladi Patrick Abuja

or 25-year-old Jacob Vertor Iorapuu, it is dream come true as he emerged the overall best graduating student at the City College of Education, Mararaba, Nasarawa State and the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City, Edo State. Iorapuu, who led the pack as the best graduating student in the Department of Business Education, Accounting option from the City College of Education in 2008 and 2009 academic session, was also the best graduating student of his class at UNIBEN with First Class in Accounting. The combined convocation ceremony is for the 2006/2007 and 2012/2013 academic sessions. In a chat with the New Telegraph during the maiden convocation ceremony of the education college held in Mararaba, a suburb of Abuja, Iorapuu, who was the cynosure of all eyes at the event, however traced his outstanding performance at UNIBEN to his experience and hard work during his Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) education, which he said prepared him adequately for the task ahead of his university education. “I want to commend the management of the City College of Education for providing the solid foundation that prepared me to compete favourably with my counterparts in all spheres of education,” he noted, saying it was based on the foundation that he was able to come out with First Class in his department. Iorapuu recalled: “Immediately after completing my NCE at the college, I obtained the UTME Direct Entry form and proceeded to the University of Benin where I was admitted to study Accounting in the Faculty of Management Science. I am happy that I also graduated as one of the best students with First Class in Accounting in the 2012/20013 academic session.” Iorapuu, while advising students of the college to put their utmost best to their study for them to come

Dominic Adewole ASABA

lans have been unfolded by the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, to convert some of the existing colleges in the state to technical schools and colleges. According to him, such move has become necessary in view of his administration’s compelling need to accelerate and promote technical and vocational education in the state. Under the arrangement, he said the colleges would not only be upgraded, but also adequately equipped with modern technical and vocational tools and equipment for the all-round training of the students.

Iorapuu

out in flying colour and good grades, he added: “They should take their study seriously and shun all forms of distractions. I never played with my time when I was a student here and I strongly believe that contributed in no small measure to my academic success at the college and subsequently at the university.” While lauding the management of the college for contributing towards teacher education development, the immediate past Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Muhammad Junaid, noted that testimonies by the graduates was indication that the college is providing quality teacher education. He said: “This young man said after his NCE programme, he went to a second generation university and graduated with a First Class, which he credited to the foundation he received from the college. This is quite gratifying for both the college and the commission.” According to Junaid, the Commission has undertaken the review of primary education curriculum in line with the current basic education curriculum so that the projection of

teachers will be in tandem with the need of teachers at the basic education level. Also, the acting Executive Secretary of the NCCE, Dr. Alex Maiangwa challenged the 1,276 graduating students of the college not to relent in their pursuit for higher certificate, even as he said that is the only way through which they could remain relevant in the education sector. His words: “I want to seize this opportunity to advise you to see NCE certificate as the beginning of your academic excellence. You should not stop here, if you want to contribute to the growth of teacher education. You should continue until you get to your peak where you can stand firmly in the reform of teaching and learning process especially at the Universal Basic Education (UBE) level.” Maiangwa, who was represented at the occasion by the Commission’s Director of Finance, Mr. Jonah Obasi called for a uniform standard for all colleges of education in the country. He, however, appealed to the government not leave the development of teacher education in the hands of the private colleges of education alone, saying the main objective is that the private sector is coming in to intervene and support the government in effort to develop teacher education. “The government should reciprocate this by supporting the private institutions so that they can also access the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention fund available to all colleges, including private ones,” he added. According to him, “currently, the government is supporting only the federal and states colleges of education through the TETFund, and I believe that the government can also support private operators provided they meet the standard towards ensuring that their products are of the same level in quality with those produced in the government-owned colleges.” The Chairman of the college’s Governing Council, Ambassador J.A. Imoudu praised the Federal Government over the recent conversion of four federal colleges of education to universities.

Elumelu tasks youth on learning, entrepreneurship T

he Chairman, Heirs Holdings and a leading businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Tony Elumelu, has challenged the younger ones on the need to cultivate the right attitude to learning, collaboration and entrepreneurship, saying that is one of the ways in which they could secure their future. He gave the advice while delivering the commencement address during the graduation ceremony for postgraduate students of the Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State. Elumelu, who spoke on: “Employee, Employer, and Empowerer: Pathways to Success and Impact in an Uncertain World,” however, based his advice on his personal experience and stressed that right attitude to learning is needed to achieve success in life. The bank guru, who dwelt extensively on how to create employment opportunities through entrepreneurship, said: “Entrepreneurship is how we become masters of our destiny and tackle the serious challenges or ills that poverty and mass unemployment pose to the stability of our societies and economies.” While sharing some learning experiences that shaped him for future leadership, Elumelu recalled how his mentor, Ebitimi Banigo assisted him to develop his strategic thinking and to channel his ideas into concrete actions. Elumelu, who was conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degree of the university in recognition of his contributions to economic and educational development of the country, urged the graduating students to always look beyond religion and ethnicity in whatever they do, adding: “Do not allow your religion, ethnicity or nationality to become the chains that limit your vision, your network and your ambition. Rather, use them as bridges to expand your world by embracing the common principles of humanity, solidarity, charity, honesty and the search for the common good.” This address, follows a series of Elumelu’s international speaking engagements where he shared thoughts on the transformative power of entrepreneurship at the Oxford Africa Conference; Oxford University; the White House and Georgetown University, Washington DC, United States. The President and Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. James KayodeMakinde congratulated the graduating students, saying: “To my dear graduating students, I say congratulations.”

Okowa to promote technical, vocational education Okowa described technical and vocational education as one sub-sector in which his administration will be remembered for as having made a distinct mark. The governor, who hit the ground running through constructive engagement with key stakeholders in the state’s education sector, has as part of moves to drive the sector forwarded executive bill, tagged: “Technical and Vocational Education Board Bill (2015),” to the state House of Assembly for passage. The Bill, the governor noted would as a matter of urgency, rapidly boost educational growth in the state and enhance job creation for the

Gov. Okowa

teeming youth in the state. According to Okowa, time-

tested and trusted quick-win strategies and long-term plans would be inaugurated to reflect his administration’s strong conviction that government’s deliberate efforts and action were needed to stem the tide of rising educational decadence. The governor, who acknowledged during his inauguration ceremony, which took place at the Cenotaph, Asaba, the state capital, that some work had been done by his predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to improve on the physical structures of schools across the state, noted that the schools are still inadequate in terms of quality and curriculum to meet the required skills and

knowledge for ICT-driven economy. He said: “Our existing polytechnics will be refocused towards specialization, while Delta State origin outside the state and in the Diaspora will be duly attracted to develop interest on a sustainable basis in the development and upgrading of the quality of education in the state.” The governor, however, pledged that the challenge of inadequate and quality staff, facilities and equipment confronting the state’s education sector would soon become a thing of the past at the primary and post-primary schools, as well as the tertiary levels.

Education | Interview 25

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 9, 2015

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, in this interview with some journalists, bears his mind on some salient issues on the university. BIODUN OYELEYE was there. How would you describe the ranking and standard of education in Nigerian universities? Well, in terms of ranking, I will not say that the standard of universities in the country has fallen. It is a matter of keying-in to the best international practice because several variables are used for the ranking by the various world universities ranking bodies. For instance, they consider the age of the school, amount of assets it has in its endowment purse, the number of laureates it has or produced, funding available for research, visibility on the web, ICT capacity and students population, among other variables. However, it is a matter of beefing up and improving in all these areas Ambali by our universities. I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say that the standard is falling because if you go anywhere outside the shores of Nigeria, even in the developed countries, you will find quite a number of Nigerian graduates from our universities who are doing extremely well in their respective institutions in their postgraduate programmes and positions. If they have not been found worthy, their organisations would have stopped recruiting products of our universities.

Nigerian varsities are doing well, says UNILORIN VC

Some IJMB students of the university were attacked by hoodlums at Fufu, what measure has been taken by the management to address this? We have always advised the students not to go about alone. As all know, the place is on the outskirts of town and is sparsely populated. We have provided recreational facilities there for them in order to cater for their needs. But, we all realise too that the students might want to go somewhere maybe because of their nature as young people. Based on the nature of the area, we advised the students to always as a matter of safety and protection that they should not go about alone but to find someone to walk with or go in groups. When the last incident happened we also drew their attention to that advice and the need for them to adhere to the earlier warning. This has become necessary for us to collectively ensure their safety and protection. There is this rumour making its round that students of the university were raped? Let me say categorically and use this platform to inform the parents and guardians once again that there was no iota of truth in that rumour. We have very robust security arrangements that combine the modern policing system with traditional security method. I want to also stress here that since we started that relationship and security strategy, we have continued to have it so good. Yes, of course, the story behind that rumour is that we lost a lady, who had been on admission for four days at the university clinic. I think she was a sickler and when the clinic realised she needed more attention

The university has also made a mark in terms of accessing research grants

she was referred to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for comprehensive medical attention and treatment. Unfortunately, the doctors were on strike then, and so the student had to be rushed to another facility. She, however, died before they could get to the hospital. Her death coincided with that rape rumour, but there was no rape on the campus. This is to the best of my knowledge and that of the management, which has consistently ensured the safety of the students and other members of the university community. In what way is the university attracting funds to augment the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subventions? Let me emphasise here again that the university has been very successful in accessing its funds in the last two years. This has been done to an extent that as at now, I can say with confidence that we have very little outstanding funds to be accessed from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocation and I can say too that we have been using our money or grants judiciously. The university has also made a mark in terms of accessing research grants. Indeed, we received the highest number of grants from TETFund in the last exercise because out of 20 applications, we got the highest number of approvals. A total of 15 grants were awarded and our university got six, leaving the remaining nine to more than 100 universities. I think that is a good record. It is observed that the rate of expulsion of student by the university is high. How do you react to this? First and foremost, let me confess that the university management

usually feels very sad whenever it has to expel any student. But, all the same, when you realise that we are out to produce graduates who have been found worthy in character and learning, and if we feel that any of them has not met that criteria, we are left with no option than to ask such students to go. The rate of expulsion here is not too high when you compare those expelled to the number of students. The university has over 35, 000 students and their parents expect that we shall be able to take good care of them morally and academically. The university, let me reaffirm here has zero tolerance for cultism, examination malpractices and indecent dressing in which there is already a dress code. However, hardly do we expel a student for violating the dress code; we have other forms of sanction or punishment for that. But, for cases of cultism and examination malpractices, we cannot allow that to go unpunished or close our eyes to such and for that reason, the university has zero tolerance for that. We usually put parents of offenders into the picture and we restrict details to only parents of the defaulters. That is why we do not make public reasons for such expulsion and besides for security reasons. We are of the view that some students may decide to go somewhere else to start all over again and would have shown more remorse and learnt their lessons from what happened to them here. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examination (JAMB) has introduced the Computer-Based Test (CBT) for its examinations and many universities have adopted the test mode. What is your take on this?

Well, by and large, the University of Ilorin was the first institution to introduce the CBT, and I am glad that it is being embraced and adopted by everybody, including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. It was last year that JAMB began or introduced it because before then, what it was doing was 50-50 for CBT and the paper mode format. So, let us give it more time and as the Registrar has noted. Of course, many universities may have to review their stand, if they notice some improvement in the mode, but for now I will say we will keep on watching ourselves. How would you assess the quality of the inaugural lecture series of the university? We have put in place a system in the university in which every lecturer usually puts up his or her paper for vetting by a committee raised for that purpose by the management before presentation. I think they are working very hard in that direction to have quality paper and research work. If I may ask, what is an inaugural lecture in the first instance? It is just an opportunity for a professor to come and showcase what he has done to earn the chair and also what he has contributed to the development of mankind through his or her field of endeavour. More importantly, why do we ask young professors to deliver inaugural lectures, it is because there is wisdom in asking them to do so. The academics field today is so dynamic especially in the area of sciences with so many discoveries such that if you fail to share your findings on time, it may become obsolete. So, we want to encourage our young professors to come and share their findings on time.

26 Education

TUESDAY, june 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

AAUA VC assures workers of adequate welfare Kayode Olanrewaju

orkers of the Adekunle Ajasin University, AkungbaAkoko (AAUA), have been assured of getting their dues and other privileges without having to agitate for them. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, who gave the assurance last week, while addressing members of staff of the state-owned institution during this month’s edition

of the university’s monthly prayer meetings, expressed the management’s determination to accord the workers’ welfare adequate priority in the scheme of the university’s development. Addressing them, Ajibefun said: “When you are dedicated to your duties, you are laying the foundation for tomorrow. And, as a university, we will do everything within our powers to make sure that whatever that is due to you, we will continue to work hard to provide

them for you. You don’t have to fight for it; whatever is your right, we will give it to you. And in your own little way, you will reciprocate it by doing your job the way it should be done.” Towards this end, the vicechancellor enjoined the workers to be more dedicated and committed to their duties, noting that workers who are dedicated to duty would not, but will get good reward for such. “When we are dutiful and dedicated to our jobs, people

are watching us, and when men of high dedication are needed, they will look for such people. I have never seen any man who is dedicated to duty and regrets it,” he added. In a related development, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Oluyemisi Adebowale, has lauded the Rotary Club of Akungba for donating books to the pupils of the university’s staff school. Adebowale, who represented the vice-chancellor at the presentation of the books,

thanked the club on behalf of the university management for the donation and urged other clubs and individuals to emulate the gesture. He said: “On behalf of the vice-chancellor and the management of the university, I appreciate the Rotary Club of Akungba for this initiative and act of charity.” The President of the club, Rotarian Olu Fawehinmi, however, promised that the club would continue to support the university from time to time.

NYSC, don bicker over certificate C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

Cross-section of MTN staff at the event.

photo: suleiman hussaini

MTN staff set aside 21 days to promote education Mojeed Alabi

s part of their organisation’s corporate social responsibilities, workers of MTN, one of the country’s leading communication firms, have set aside 21 days to invest their resources and skills in the development of nation’s education sector, which is the bedrock of national development. The initiative, which entered its eighth edition this year, was instituted in 2007 by the MTN Group to encourage its workers in all its 22 operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to volunteer their resources, time and skills to assist in developing others and the communities where they live and work. Tagged: “Investing in Education for All,” under the programme, members of staff of MTN Nigeria will engage in a number of activities that will draw attention to the fundamental role of education in the development of the nation and also contribute resources to enhance conducive learning environment in schools. While reiterating MTN Nigeria’s commitment to giving back to communities during the flag-off of the programme in Lagos, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Ikpoki, described ICT and education as vital tools for social and economic development. He said: “Limited access to quality education continues to plague Africa’s growth and development, but the role of digital learning in this era of Information Technology (IT) is becoming more compelling. This is because digital learning brings to the table immediate, diverse and customized access to world-class education and beyond that, a multiplicity of opportunities for advancement.” In the next few weeks, the workers, among other initiatives, are expected to

install digital learning facilities in the libraries of 12 schools across the six geo-political zones of the federation, as well as holding reading sessions to encourage pupils to read and acquire knowledge, and also environmental beautification projects. The Y’ello Tutor initiative, which involves the creation of an online learning hub that will be made accessible to pupils in primary and secondary schools across the country, will also offer them access to learning materials, tutorials, examinations practice questions and other educational resources. Other aspect of the initiative is the implementation of the teacher-empowerment initiative under which the MTN workers would engage teachers on the benefit of ICT and its importance in education through the ‘train-the-teacher project.’ Speaking further on the 21 Days of Y’ello Care initiative, the MTN Corporate Services Executive, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck said that the company’s focus on education in the past four years is driven by its commitment to the promotion of digital learning. He said: “Digitally equipped libraries will be established across the country to drive access to digital learning. Access to the Internet and education will position a great number of pupils on the same platform as their peers in developed countries, as well as helping to ensure that they do not suffer learning disadvantages even though they live in a developing country.” Dignitaries at the event include the Director, Co-Curriculum, Science and Technology, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Muyinat Abimbola; MTN’s Human Resources Executive, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola; Sales and Distribution Executive, Mr. Tsola Barrow; and Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Olubayo Adekanmbi, among others.

Ghogomu, she returned to Benin on July 29, 2013 with the stamped application to the NYSC Directorate headquarters, where the officer in charge of the files had shown her how disorderly the room was, and advised her to pay a gateman to help her search for her file. While bemoaning her situation, she said: “The young man, who was introduced to me charged N10,000, saying he had to engage additional hand in order to do the job, but I agreed to pay him N6,000 in which I immediately paid him N2,000 but the man failed to provide the file.” Explaining further, AlofuokhaiGhogomu noted since her file could not be located in Benin she returned to Germany on August 18, 2013 to search for a copy of the reference letter, which she eventually saw and presented to the NYSC on September 19, 2013. She added: “At that point I heaved a sigh of relief as I presented the Letter of Reference which contains the reference number and other facts that tallied with those in the NYSC “Book of Life.” But unfortunately, I was told I needed to produce original copy as a photocopy was not permissible. That was the height of frustration I am suffering in the hands of NYSC.” When New Telegraph contacted the NYSC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Bose Aderibigbe, who confirmed knowledge of the issue, said the evidences provided by Ms AlofuokhaiGhogomu were not adequate to substantiate her claim. According to Aderibigbe, NYSC management had written to the University of Benin to confirm whether or not the applicant actually served in the institution, but the response from the university was that she was not known to the department or the institution as

Alofuokhai-Ghogomu

claimed by her. The NYSC spokesperson explained further: “I am not in charge of certificate, but I happened to meet the woman in the office of the then Director in charge of certification, Reverend Ajayi, and because I had worked in certification department before, I listened to her story very well and Reverend Ajayi, attended to her and got the details about her service year in the old Bendel State which is now Edo State. But unfortunately they wrote to the University of Benin, where she claimed to have served, and the authorities of the institution claimed they do not have any record of her. This woman now started using several people claiming we are denying her the certificate and even got in touch with our Director-General. But I can tell you that even the details of those who served in 1973 when the scheme started are still with us, and some of them have not even collected their certificates, but checking for her own certificate, we could not trace it and her case cannot be different.” Speaking further, AlofuokhaiGhogomu expressed shock that the authorities of UNIBEN could give such response without verifying her claim to have served in the university. Her words: “However, when I confronted the authorities of the University of Benin with facts and details of my service year there, and following confirmation from my Department, another letter was written by the university confirming my undertaking the NYSC programme in the institution and which has since been forwarded to the NYSC about a month ago.” Meanwhile, in a chat with New Telegraph, the new NYSC Director in charge of the Department of Certification, Alhaji Salisu Taura, confirmed that another letter from the University of Benin confirming the authenticity of Alofuokhai-Ghogomu’s claim had been received by his department and that he had already instructed the department to reply the institution. More importantly, Taura, who also noted that he served in the NYSC in 1982/83, urged the university to provide evidence such as attendance register to authenticate Alofuokhai-Ghogomu’s claim. To him, the issuance of NYSC discharge certificate or letter of exemption is a delicate one which must be handled with utmost care. He said: “We have received a letter confirming the participation of Alofuokhai-Ghogomu in the NYSC scheme from UNIBEN authorities, which has countered the earlier letter, but we need more evidences to be certain since there is no traces of her details in our files, whereas details of those who served before and after her are still intact in the NYSC’s custody.”

Education

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 9, 2015

UNILORIN, George Washington varsity partner on research Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will promote research development and foster academic performance has been signed by the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State and the George Washington University, United States of America. The UNILORIN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, explained during the endorsement ceremony and noted that the partnership would go a long way in assisting the two institutions to benefit from each other. However, in his remarks, the Assistant Professor of Engineering Management, System Engineering at the George Washington University, Ekundayo Shittu, noted that the visit to UNILORIN was to complete the process of cementing the union between the two Universitiesin order for the students of both universities to benefit from partnership. According to him, the United States Government had realised that students’ exchange programmes were capable of extending the frontiers of research and knowledge. Therefore, he described UNILORIN as a highly ranked university across the globe in terms of facilities, infrastructure, personnel development and human resources. Shittu, an alumnus of the University of Ilorin, explained that the partnership between the universities would provide additional environment and extension of research collaboration for the students of the institutions. Meanwhile, he expressed optimism that the collaboration would not only transcend the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, but would also be mutually beneficial. He advised Nigerian students to be more innovative and committed to research, while they should also embrace the culture of hard work in order to be useful in the society.

Daramola and Ajibefun after the lecture

he President/Vice-Chancellor of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State, Dr. Margee Ensign, has been honoured by the American University of Paris. Ensign was bestowed with the Honorary Doctorate of the university in recognition of her contributions to the growth and development of university education. She was conferred with the award along with Lisa Anderson, the President of the American University of Cairo, and Benjamin Millepied, Director, Paris Opera Ballet during the ceremony in Paris. According to the American University of Paris, the honorees are distinguished individuals whose accomplishments are consistent with the university’s mission and core values, hence the decision to recognise the recipients’ contributions to specific fields and to the society in general. The university noted that President

Don sets agenda for agric development Mojeed Alabi

dekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun has set a 10-point agenda for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on how to revitilise the nation’s ailing agricultural sector. This was as he argued that the agenda would go a long way in breaking the jinx of over dependence on oil as the only source of national revenue. Ajibefun, a Professor of Agricultural Economics, who disclosed this at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), while delivering the university’s 69th inaugural lecture, challenged stakeholders on the need to improve and sustain food security as well as harness agriculture as a formidable tool of national development. In his lecture on: “Nigeria’s Agricultural Policy, Productivity and Poverty: The Critical Nexus,” the inaugural lecturer said for the nation to achieve food security and reduce poverty, urgent steps must be taken to invest heavily in research and development. Ajibefun, who identified agriculture as a potent tool for poverty reduction, job creation and food security, said invest-

ing in agriculture is the most efficient way of addressing the food need of the people. In the area of job creation, he pointed out that about 100 million young people enter the labour market yearly globally and that Nigeria’s population which currently stands at over 160 million has about 35 per cent or 58.5 million unemployed. He said “agriculture being the biggest employer of labour in Africa and responsible for over half of export earnings has the potential to play a major role in the continent’s development,” adding that agriculture provides the livelihood of over two thirds of Africa’s poor and assumes even greater importance in the continent’s poorer countries. Ajibefun, however, regretted that despite “the policies and laudable programmes, abundant natural resources, numerous all-season rivers and a favourable tropical climate, Nigeria is yet to achieve remarkable progress in raising agricultural production and productivity” because “these policies and programmes vary only in nomenclature and organisational network. As a way of out of the daunting challenges, the don recommended a number of measures which include deliberate

and heavy investment in research and development; guaranteed and unhindered access of smallholder farmers to productivity-enhancing inputs, particularly fertilizers, high-yielding, diseaseresistant crop varieties by government; adopting different approaches that cater for the diverse needs of both subsistence and market-oriented individuals and groups; ensuring livestock farmers’ access to breed of animals that are highly productive and resistant to diseases that can withstand the stress of the tropical environment. Others are deliberate efforts by the government to enhance rural finance and micro-enterprise development, adaptive research and extension, environmental management, and improvement of livestock production and marketing in an effort to achieve sustainable development of smallholder farming. Besides, the don said strategy and programme should be put in place to promote pro-poor innovative solutions to rural poverty; adoption and implementation of community-driven development approach to strengthen the capability of all actors at the local level such as states and local government areas, elected local bodies, the private sector, local nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs); radical departure from reliance on rain-fed food production through heavy utilization of irrigation; as well as integration of indigenous knowledge and practices into formal climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in Nigeria.

American University of Paris honours AUN president Ensign was recognised for her leadership role in using education to promote peace, community development, and empowerment through a local platform, the Adamawa Peace Initiative (API), which she chaired. The award was conferred on President Ensign in Paris, the French capital, during the American University of Paris Commencement. While responding, Dr. Ensign, who cited the American University of Nigeria’s engagement with the refugees in northeast Nigeria, urge the new graduates to find lasting solutions to old, new and unprecedented problems challenging the world today.

In Paris, Dr. Ensign was particularly acknowledged for undertaking humanitarian relief work in northeast Nigeria and for providing food aid to more than 270,000 internally displaced people sheltering with family members in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, as a result of the Boko Haram insurgence in that part of the country. Dr. Ensign’s other laurels include the African Business Roundtable’s Distinguished Leadership Award for Educational Excellence in 2011; the African Leading University of the Year Award by African Leadership magazine in 2012; the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship in 2012; the Adamawa State Peace Ambas-

Ensign

sador Award in 2012 and the African Leadership Award from the World Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility in 2014.

28 Education | Campus

TUESDAY, june 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Teachers’ Council inducts 784 graduates Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

T Prof. Adeyewa, VC

Dept repositions for centre of excellence in material chemistry Shadrack Yusuf RUN

he Acting Head of Department of Chemical Sciences of the Redeemer’s University (RUN), Prof. Gabriel Adeyemi, has spoken of plans to house the second centre of excellence in the university, especially in materials chemistry. This, he declared will be done in conjunction with his team of researchers through a devoted research capability into the synthesis, characterisation and magnetic property of novel Lanthanide-Rhenium and FerrocenylLanthanide organometallic complexes. He disclosed this at the university’s inaugural lecture series, which was entitled: “Organometallics: A fruitful Amalgamation of Metal and Ligand,” which took place at the institution’s main auditorium. Adeyemi, who demonstrated in his lecture that organometallics are produced through fruitful amalgamation of metal and ligand, enumerated the importance of organometallic compounds, which he said ranges from transformation of many key reactions in petrol chemical industry to materials chemistry. According to him, the studies will provoke academic excellence in the area of designing new ligands for creation of functional molecular materials. The Redeemer’s University, Adeyemi noted has continued to train graduates to be more equipped and qualified in the post-basic level, saying its research output in quantity and quality, has qualified it for grants without any discrimination. Towards this end, the don added that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) grants should not be disbursed to public institutions, but also to private institutions alone, since majority of the tax payers send their children to private universities. “Research grants from Federal Government, especially through TETFund should be accessible to all tertiary institutions in the country, either public or private,” Adeyemi insisted, saying this has become necessary in view of the fact that the objectives of STEP-B, a project on Science and Technology Education at the Post-Basic Level, are also met by private universities. While stressing the need for collaboration between principal investigators from public and private universities, he expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and his management team for the overwhelming support and hand of fellowship extended to the College of Natural Sciences towards the development of the college.

he Registrar and Chief Executive of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Addison Mark Wokocha, has urged graduating students of Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze to take their induction into the council as professional teachers with the highest level of commitment to professionalism. Wokocha, who gave the advice at the maiden registration and induction ceremony for graduates of Masters, Postgraduate Diploma in Education, First Degree and the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes of the college, said the induction was borne out of the clarion call for the professionalisation of teaching in the country. While congratulating the inductees, he disclosed that their induction dur-

ing the graduation ceremony was part of the measures put in place to check quack in the teaching profession. According to him, the council has continued to keep faith with its vision in order to regulate teacher education, training and practice at all levels of education system, as well as to match teachers’ quality, discipline, professionalism reward and dignity with international standards. He said TRCN was out to achieve these by promoting excellence in the education sector through proper registration, certification and licensing of teachers, and promoting professionalism through accreditation, monitoring and supervision of teacher education programmes. Wokocha, however, noted that the council, as a regulatory agency for the teaching profession, is empowered by the Act establishing it to mount, monitor and supervise the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programmes, warning that those who

refused to be inducted would have to write the Professional Qualifying Examinations. He appealed to the inductees to hold the profession in high esteem, while he described teaching as the father of all other professions. The Provost of the college, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, in his remarks, urged the graduates to take advantage of the opportunity that has exempted them from the rigours of the processes of registration for the TRCN. He said: “I want you to count yourself fortunate to have this privilege of being inducted as full-fledged professional teachers by the TRCN. Therefore, the college in affiliation with Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka has produced first degree graduates as well as NCE and PGDE with the latest contents that meet general and specialist pedagogical requirements for professional registration and induction of teachers.”

The Paramedic students showcasing skills on how to handle accident emergencies.

Invest in paramedics’ training, UNIBEN students tell govt Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

igher school undergraduates, under the aegis of the Paramedic Student Association (PASAN) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), have pleaded with the Federal Government to invest adequately in the training of paramedics with a view to reducing the high rate of death in accident scenes in the country. They made the call last week during a seminar organised by the association at the Nurses House of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) as part of activities marking the PASAN week. According to Mr. Osazeee Omorogbe of the Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital, whose lecture dwelt on: “Audit of Paramedic Training in UBTH Since 2008,” inadequate learning facilities such as books and library, professional misconduct and career

structure are some of the problems confronting paramedic training in the hospital. While recalling that UBTH, which is the only Teaching Hospital training paramedics in the country, has achieved huge success despite the challenges, he insisted that more still needed to be done in the area of adequate investment in their training. Meanwhile, Omorogbe listed some the achievements of the School of Paramedic Training of UBTH to include provision of members of staff and students with uniforms and badges, clinical rotations of paramedics students through radiotherapy, appointment of paramedic staff in managerial positions in hospitals, organization of awareness programmes on television, as well as establishment of a pet project for graduates of paramedics and inter-hospital transfer. He admonished the students to be proud of their field of study,

saying: “I tell you, be proud of the course you are studying. Let no one intimidate you. Since 2008, when the course was introduced, UBTH has produced no fewer than 48 paramedics of whom 40 are already employed by UBTH. Out of the figure, one is currently abroad, while six are in other hospitals across the country and one is still seeking employment. As at the last time we spoke, plans are almost concluded for him to secure a better job. The President of the association, Jonah Awoko, noted that the seminar was part of activities lined up for the students’ week, even as he praised Prof. E. Okpere for initiating the paramedic training at UBTH, which he pointed out has been responsible for the training of health workers on accident scene. The high points of the seminar were training on handling of accident emergencies, drama, good will message and dance.

Education | Campus 29

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 9, 2015

We’ll aggressively pursue our goal of best varsity — UNIZIK VC Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

namdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to work towards making the university the best institution in the country. He expressed optimism that such dream would be met, in view of plans already marshaled out by the management to accomplish the goal. Addressing journalists at a breakfast meeting, organised as part of activities marking his one year in office, Ahaneku,

Medical students equip pupils Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

s part of their mission to ensure that pupils of secondary schools are wellinformed on health issues, the 300-Level students and members of the Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have equipped the skills of pupils of Uselu Secondary School, Uselu, Benin City in health care. No fewer than 35 pupils of the school took part in the outreach programme, which lasted for more than two hours. During the campaign, the pupils who were already assembled in a hall were tutored on health-related issues, career counseling, social vices and salvation message. The Assistant Mission Secretary of the association, Emmanuel Afesiumen, noted that the outreach is an annual activity of the association, which has among other objectives to educate the young ones on health relatedissues and provide the pupils the opportunity to learn the act of communication which they acquired in community medicine. Addressing the students in their classes, the association urged them to shun social vices and drug addiction, which it said was detrimental to the well-being of the students.

a Professor of Chemical Pathology, noted that his administration’s first year in office has recorded tremendous progress through hard work to uplift the university. According to him, in the first year, his administration has addressed the problem of impersonation and examination malpractices, upgraded its admission processes to digital method that has proven to be reliable.

He recalled how more than 440 candidates abandoned the institution’s last Post-UTME screening test, due to the thoroughness of the screening exercise, while about 80 other impersonators, who were bent on participating in the exercise were arrested and handed over to security officers for prosecution. The vice-chancellor said: “Through Biometric registration, we have the

data of all our students. We are called upon to serve, and to mentor the young ones, and that is what we are doing under my leadership. “Since I assumed leadership of this university, I can tell you that several lecturers have buckled up. We insisted on doing the right thing, and any form of extortion by lecturers have been abolished. Today, students graduate on record time,

Ahaneku

and if the result or script of any student is delayed unduly, the salary of that Head of Department or

lecturer will be stopped, and we recently sanctioned a lecturer over that.”

30 Education

TUESDAY, june 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Group set to launch online solution to demystify maths Kayode Olanrewaju

orried by the low performance of students in Mathematics in internal and external examinations, a non-governmental organisation, The Mathematics Limited, has developed mathematical solution software that will demystify the core school subject. The software, Practice, Test & Reward, which according to its founder, Mr. Andrew Akhigbe, will be launched on June 19, will address the perennial problems associated with mathematics anxiety and the general phobia for numbers by students in junior and senior secondary schools in the country. “Our ultimate goal is to replace this mathematics anxiety and phobia for numbers with a love for the subject and numbers in general for increased problemsolving skills in the digital age,” he said. Akhigbe, while painting a gloomy picture of the poor performance in the core school subject, he recalled that 70 per cent of candidates who wrote the 2014 November/December Diet of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) failed to score credit pass in Mathematics and English Language. He said: “The study of mathematics has remained a challenge because of the anxiety expressed for the subject and the general phobia for numbers that has become a common trend with students in primary and secondary schools.” Towards this end, Akhigbe, who described Mathematics education as key

to understanding the other core school subjects, such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), however insisted that without a good foundation in Mathematics, students would not be able to compete effectively in this digital age. On the benefits of the software to the students, other partners in the project, Mrs. Scholastic Adeniji-Fashola and Mr. Olumuyiwa Gam-Ikon, pointed out that with the solution model, students could practise mathematics online and monitor their performance over time and ultimately participate in an Olympiad by competing with other students. According to the trio, “Our primary goal is to improve Mathematics understanding and outcomes in WAEC, NECO, UTME and all other local examinations in the country for junior and secondary school students using online teaching of the subject. “Ultimately, we would present these bright minds to the world through the PanAfrican Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) and the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO). Our model seeks to provide an online platform for students to “practise, test themselves and be rewarded,” while continuously assessing themselves as they progress in the study and understanding of Mathematics.” Other institutions partnering with the firm, according to Akhigbe, include Dragnet Solutions Limited and Upperlink, which are IT software and hardware providers, as well as the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Mathematics Department and the National Mathematical Cenre (NMC), Abuja.

L-R: Akhigbe, Mrs. Adeniji-Fashola and Gam-Ikon

NYSC pleads with Delta on 2015 subvention Dominic Adewole ASABA

aced with the challenge of inadequate resources to meet its operations, the Delta State Secretariat of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to approve and release its 2015 subvention without further delay to enable it overcome its various challenges in the state. According to the NYSC, insufficient hostel accommodation, lack of toilet facilities and other relevant facilities are some of the challenges confronting the 2,342 corps members, comprising 1,230 males and 1,112 females, deployed for the Batch A’ NYSC scheme in the state. The scheme, however, noted that for the evidence of service year to reflect in the corps members deployed to the state, the state government must beef up in its financial obligations to the national scheme.

The State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Live Essien Etukudo, who spoke during the swearing in ceremony for corps members for the 2015 Batch ‘A’ in Issele-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, urged the newly sworn in governor to urgently relieve the corps members the aforementioned challenges. She listed other teething problems facing the scheme in the state to include lack of befitting office accommodation, perimeter fence of the orientation camp, electricity transformer, lack of warehouse or storage facility in the orientation camp and nonavailability of inspection vehicles. The coordinator, who praised the corps members for demonstrating high sense of discipline, dedication and understanding despite government’s apathy to their plight, lauded the former governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for supporting the corps members financially and morally, even as she congratulated the new governor (Okowa) on his swearing-in.

EDUPEACE

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

To lead, be disciplined

iscipline is basically the assertion of willpower over base desires. This is what the fourth letter of the word leaDership connotes. The truth of this life is that if you are not disciplined, you cannot go far, either as a leader even as a follower. But discipline is more important for leaders since they are the ones to be emulated. When you look at the life of the man called General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB), the man of the moment, you see a life of discipline. This is not because his military regime introduced War Against Indiscipline (WAI) but because of the way he has lived his life without excess baggage. He has no house in Abuja, no billions in foreign accounts, yet he commands a huge following. What is the force behind Buhari’s personality? It is his character which is shaped by self discipline. Few people can match his reputation. Millions of people still wonder in openmouthed amazement how a former Head of State does not have the means he lacks. He disciplined himself to be different and the reward is glaring. If you are disciplined, the sun of your success cannot be stuck by the mud of detractors. As leaders of today and tomorrow, discipline is central in order to be successful. There are five D’s that Barbara T. Bradford said would guarantee success to anyone. The first ‘D’ stands for desire. You must set a goal for yourself and have an ambition: this is what I want to be in life. The second ‘D’ is drive. There must be something which drives or propels you, perhaps religion, a role model, a philosophy, a book or set of books, an idea or anything of such. There must be a driver. Then, the third “D” is determination, which concerns the courage to confront and overcome the hurdles on the way to success. The fourth ‘D’ is discipline, which is the crux of what is being discussed here. The fifth ‘D’ is dedication, the persistence on what is being done till success materialises. Without being dedicated, a person is liable to give up. Bradford adds that there is another ‘D’, to avoid – and that is distraction. In his matriculation address delivered on January 10, 2014 to the fresh students of the year 2013/2014, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdul Ganiyu Ambali, OON, actually deconstructed discipline which he said “is essentially training to act in accordance with rules and regulations.” He identified four types of discipline – academic, moral, self and financial discipline. According to the Vice-Chancellor, an accomplished leader,

Three things that compromise or destroy discipline are ego or pride, money and women

“academic discipline entails that you manage your time well by ensuring that you attend your lectures punctually, read your books properly and do your assignments diligently. “Moral discipline involves exhibiting values of good character, honesty, sincerity, uprightness and healthy relationship with others. “Self discipline has to do with your ability to restrain yourself from anything that will stain your honour and self esteem. “Financial discipline involves managing your scarce resources well so that you won’t be under any pressure. Please, be disciplined.” It requires a lot of discipline to be above board and avoid the banana peels of corruption and indulgence in frivolities that go with public service in Nigeria. Our leaders steal as if there is no tomorrow and the nation bleeds to the marrow. They are materially successful but they are ultimately men and women of no value. “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value”, Albert Einstein once counseled. To be a leader, restrain yourself and do not be a slave to your emotions. When your head and your heart are in conflict on an issue, let your head take charge. Every fool feels, but thinking is one of the hardest jobs. Feel, it is human, but think more, so that your emotions do not lead you to the abyss. Many people are mentally intelligent. Few people are emotionally intelligent. But emotional intelligence is “25 times more powerful than mental intelligence”. Three things that compromise or destroy discipline are ego/pride, money and women. Those who are egoistic are not disciplined. Barbara Wand, warned: “Don’t get stuck inside your own ego because it will become a prison in no time flat.” Then, money and women destroy discipline, hence leadership. This means excessive love of money and the skirt. The most important thing is to discipline oneself to do right things and do things right. Whoever does so is a leader; whoever doesn’t is a dealer - in deceit.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

Energy

OPEC meeting: Nigeria comes out empty-handed

Property

Aviation

Environment: Experts demand action on biodiversity conservation

Why plane tickets are considered expensive

Business What's news

Africa’s Internet market worth $1.7trn, says NITRA The value of Internet industry in Nigeria and other African countries for business to customer (B2C) transactions level is worth over $1.7 trillion.

p.32

Estate surveyors knock Lagos’ Land Use Charge Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has again criticised the exorbitant rate levied on property owners under the Lagos’ Land Use Charge (LUC).

L-R: Director, Head of Trade Finance, UK, Deutsche Bank, Russell Brown, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo, and Deputy Country Head, Deutsche Bank AG. Lagos , Mrs. Adeola Azaaz, when Fidelity Bank won the Deutsche Bank USD STP 2014 Award at the weekend in Lagos.

Tariff hike: NERC, Discos seek solution to court ruling Distribution firms kick over plan to cap estimated billing

he Nigerian Electricity Regulating Commission (NERC) and Distribution Companies in Nigeria are seeking a way out of the court ruling, which stopped them from going ahead with the planned increase in electricity tariff for residential customers. New Telegraph gathered that a meeting was held between the regulator and the DISCOs with the former telling the latter to

find a way to “engage and negotiate” with their customers on how to agree to a reasonable and workable tariff for them. A source, which revealed this to this newspaper, maintained that this move was to arm-twist the consumers into giving consents to the planned hike in tariff. A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had, last Thursday (May 28, 2015), restrained the Federal Government from implementing the new electricity tariff billed to take effect from June 1, 2015. The judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, in a ruling on an exparte application filed by a Lagos lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi, restrained the government’s agency, NERC and the electric-

INFLATION RATE April 2015................................8.7% March 2015.............................8.5% February 2015.........................8.4%

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

HEARING

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Court begins hearing on Thursday, June 11

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

Adeola Yusuf

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

ity distribution companies from effecting any increment in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of the suit. In an affidavit in support of the suit personally deposed to by the applicant, the lawyer lamented that despite the motto and mission of NERC, which were expressly stated as “keeping the light on and to meet the needs of Nigeria for safe, adequate, reliable and affordable electricity,” most communities in Nigeria do not get more than

N5,000/N18,000 The range of estimated and indiscriminate residential bills paid by the masses

30 minutes of electricity supply, while the remaining 23 hours and 30 minutes were always without light and in total darkness. Adebiyi lamented: “Nigeria’s poor masses are paying an estimated and indiscriminate residential bills ranging from N5,000 to N18,000, spending an average of N15,000 to N20,000 for fuel to maintain generating set. The judge had adjourned the hearing of the suit to June 11, 2015. But the source told our correspondent that efforts are being made by DISCOs to render the possible outcome of the case before the court impotent. “It will be an agreement beCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at Jun 5)

(Interbank as at Jun 5)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N218 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N330 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N240

l Foreign Reserves – $29.343bn as at 4/06/2015

Source: CBN

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N308 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N228

Business | News

POTENTIAL

Uptake of domain names in Nigeria is still low but exudes great economic potential Kunle Azeez

he value of Internet industry in Nigeria and other African countries for business to customer (B2C) transactions level is worth over $1.7 trillion. President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association, Mr. Sunday Afolayan, disclosed this in a chat with our correspondent. Afolayan, who doubles as an active board member of the African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC), also stressed the need to deepen the Domain Name System (DNS) market in Nigeria and other African countries. He said that though research organisations provide the more accurate figure, recent figures for this year has shown that the B2C Internet transaction domains are valued at $1.7trillion. “We should leave the re-

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Africa’s Internet market worth $1.7trn, says NITRA search organisations to come up with estimates. However, remember that there is business to Business and Business to Consumer (B2C) transactions. These are not growing at the same pace. B2C transactions are estimated to be worth $1.7 trillion in 2015,” he said. Considering the population of Africa, he said that one would expect Africa to grow at a very steep rate in terms of B2C transactions, up to 10 per cent of the global transactions within the next five years. He explained that though the uptake of individuals and businesses of Internet domain was still considered low, especially in a country such as Nigeria, there would be more adoption as people come to appreciate the importance of the Internet to their lives and businesses. “There are stages in development. You need to get people to see the need before they move to adopt any form of technology.

Mobile phone penetration in Africa has shown that when a technology in Africa has shown that it can meet the need of the people, they will have no problem adopting it. “Africans will use more of the Internet for commerce if there is improvement in electronic payments, making sure that there is inclusiveness. We need more Africans to develop mobile applications that blend with the language and culture of the people. As more people make money online, many more people will move their businesses to the Internet,” he added. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s DNS space is getting more democratised with the release of 1, 851 domain names from the premium list. Immediate past President of NIRA, Mrs. Mary Uduma, had disclosed this before handing over to Afolayan. She said the decision became impera-

tive with a view democratising use of Nigeria’s domain name through cost reduction to accelerate economic prosperity for the country. “We have announced the release of some .ng country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) premium domain names at the price of second level domain names. This was a total of 1, 851 domain names released from the list. This was in fulfillment of our promise to prune down the number of premium domain names,” she said. However, Nigeria’s DNS space suffered setback last year, as NiRA missed its target in domain names planned for uptake in 2014. NiRA sold about 60,000 domain names in 2013 and had promised in early 2014 that it would encourage an increased uptake of .ng domain names to reach 250,000 by the year end.

This means that the country had a target of 190,000 domain names planned to be registered by individuals, corporate and government agencies both within and outside Nigeria in 2014. But reports show that NiRA failed to meet the auspicious target despite some initiatives put in place to accelerate takeup by over four-folds. According to official data, only 18,870 domain names were registered by NiRA’s over 40 registrars. This is against the targeted 190,000. “Despite not meeting our set target in 2014 in terms of domain name registrations, we can honestly say that we had a good year with increase in awareness of .ng domain names and domain business in Nigeria, growth in the number of registrars and domain names and setting the stage for more growth in all spheres of the domain name business in Nigeria.” Uduma, who listed major activities that boosted .ng awareness in 2014, said NiRA participated in many awareness programmes and events, geared at boosting awareness of .ng domain names and .ng ccTLD.

NERC, Discos seek solution to court ruling CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

tween the supplier and the buyers and the court will hang off from it if evidence is given that it the tariff, which we consider to be applicable and workable, was agreed on peacefully by all parties involved,” the source said. He added that some of the DISCOs, which have been placing notice of the meeting in national dailies, have been planning how to stage-manage the meeting by getting only customers with affinity for them entry into the meeting. “Those who are usually antagonistic to tariff will be tactically barred from the meeting if possible,” he added. Meanwhile, the DISCOs have kicked against the plan to establish Independent System Operator (ISO) and put a ceiling on the amount of consumption an unmetered customer in a particular class could be billed by estimation in a month. This came as Tomi Akingbogun, chairman, Nigerian Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network, said that DISCOs are reluctant to supply pre-paid meters to customers. He added that consumers have resolved not to pay any DISCO that fail to provide meters. The DISCOs, speaking at a public hearing organised by the NERC recently, rejected both proposals, arguing that the ceiling on estimated billing was not in the interest of operators. They also insisted that the establishment of an ISO was in conflict with Section 65(2) of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005, which empowers TCN to engage in system operations (including procurement of Ancillary Services).

L-R: Field Marketing Manager, Schneider Electric, Anne Ezeh; Director, Project and Services, Obinna Uche; Country President, Walid Sheta; Project and Service Technician, Segun Adekoya and Retail Business Manager, Bankole Williams, during an internal session of the company’s 10th year anniversary celebration in Lagos.

AMBIGUOUS The formula adopted by the state authority was not known Dayo Ayeyemi

igerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has again criticised the exorbitant rate levied on property owners under the Lagos’ Land Use Charge (LUC). Besides, they condemned the valuation method adopted by the state government in arriving at land charges, saying it is alien to their profession. The experts, who spoke to New Telegraph in Lagos on the LUC and its excessive fee,

Estate surveyors knock Lagos’ Land Use Charge noted that it was devoid of the input of professional estate surveyors. Chairman of NIEVS, Lagos branch, Mr. Stephen Jagun, who stressed the need for a review of the charges, said that the formula adopted by the state authority was not known. Land, according to the Lagos State government,is “its own oil”, being a major source of revenue. In 2013, the state authority generated over N27 billion from land transactions alone. The state government had 13 years ago, came up with the idea of LUC to raise its

Internally Generated Revenue . Since the commencement of the land tax, every appeal to the state authority to reduce its rate had not yielded any result. Another estate surveyors, Mr. Samuel Ukpong, faulted the method adopted for the LUC, pointed out that the tenement rate, which is a revenue source of the local government, was also built in land charge. He said: “ We know that any serious government relies on tax. Major source of revenue comes from tax but it has to do it right. Government cornered all taxes

including tenement rate belonging to the local government. This is unconstitutional.” Consequently, the experts urged the state government to do the right things by engaging estate surveyors to help it with the right method known globally for land use charge’ administration. The experts said that they are ready to partner the state authority to determine appropriate charges in the state, noting that no one knows how the authority arrived at its land value. They said: “It is erroneous to think that property in the same neighbourhood commands the same value, Most times, the government staff don’ t really go to the site before they determine the charges.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

‘Nigeria remains world’s biggest market for generators’ p.34

Energy

Tough time

he move by Nigeria to get a stable price for oil through adjustment of quota by OPEC is understandable. This is because the country has been the biggest casualty in the feud between OPEC and the United States over control of crude market. Nigeria, after suffering downturn from Asia and America’s markets, has turned to Europe for its over 14 million barrels of June-loading crude still seeking an outlet for sale. Already, European buyers have begun showing interest in Nigeria’s June programme, but new sales were slow to filter into the market due to a persistent overhang of Atlantic Basin cargoes. Traders perceived this new development as emerging positive signs for Nigeria, which has suffered immense downtime from its major crude markets. The United States, which was hitherto the biggest consumer of Nigeria’s crude, squeezed the country’s crude grade from its market in the second quarter of 2014. The Asia market, which later served as a respite has also turned down larger chunk of Nigeria’s crude. But with at least 14 million barrels of June-loading Nigerian crude still seeking an outlet, traders said that the focus would likely be Europe, where strong refinery margins are expected to spur strong run rates through the summer. Reuters reported that roughly 15-20 June-loading Nigerian cargoes are still available, along with more than half of July’s 54 cargoes. “Europe is the place for the West Africa programme,” one trader said. “I expect it’s probably going to be the biggest month there.” Elsewhere in the market, Indian refineries were in talks with Iraq to buy crude for strategic storage, and OPEC was not expected to cut its output target during its meeting this week. Traders said that there were some positive signs emerging, including a narrowing in the spread between Brent and US WTI crude, which could enable arbitrage to the West. Brent’s premium to Dubai was also narrowing, which could make Atlantic Basin exports to Asia more viable. Other unusual buyers were also coming out to take advantage of the drop in premiums, including Canada’s Come-by-Chance refinery. However, Indonesia’s Pertamina has issued a tender to buy crude oil for August delivery. In its tender for July crude, it took two cargoes of Qua Iboe from Shell as well as a cargo of Escravos from Chevron. Unmet wishes Prior to the meeting, Nigeria and other oil producing nations, had mooted $80 per barrel as new ‘fair’ oil price. Speaking at the ongoing OPEC International Seminar, Head of Nigeria’s Delegation to the 167th

OPEC Headquarters. Inset: Dawha

OPEC meeting: Nigeria comes out empty-handed Nigeria’s aspiration to get a boost for oil price through quota adjustment by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) failed to yield positive results as the oil cartel left the status quo unchanged after its 167th meeting in Vienna, reports ENERGY EDITOR, Adeola Yusuf OPEC Meeting Dr. Jamila Shu’ara, stated that Nigeria, under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari, a one-time Minister of Petroleum Resources and Head of Nigeria’s Delegation to the OPEC Conference, will continue to work for the realisation of the aims and objectives of the organisation. The Federal Government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, she said, pledged its commitment to playing more proactive and effective roles in the affairs of OPEC. Dr. Shu’ara’s remark was, according to a statement by Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ohi Alegbe, followed by an incisive presentation at the event by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Joseph T. Dawha, under the theme: Technology and the Environment. She said: “I am here to covey to all Heads of Delegation of OPEC member countries and, indeed, representatives of other countries, President Muhammadu Buhari’s gratitude, that of the Government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to member countries of our organisation and, indeed, the in-

The conference resolved to maintain the 30 mb/d ceiling

ternational community, for the keen interest shown and, in some cases, the support given to Nigeria towards the implementation of what has become a very successful political transition programme.” Dr. Shu’ara noted that the Buhari administration is committed to prosecuting the amnesty programme in Nigeria’s Niger-Delta with vigour with a view to bringing about lasting peace and stability in the area as well as in other parts of Nigeria, thus making the operational environment safe and attractive once again. “Nigeria is committed to tackling corruption, especially in the extractive industry and will strive to bring back transparency and accountability in public life, especially in the petroleum industry, which is the mainstay of national economy.’’ On the Petroleum Industry Bill, Dr. Shu’ara noted that although the Bill is still in the National Assembly, the Buhari administration would take a critical look at it with a view to effecting necessary changes that will facilitate its early passage. “I would like to assure industry players that Government will work assiduously to ensure the speedy passage of the Bill and even speedier implementation of

the related programmes.” Dr. Shu’ara said that government shall strive to diversify the economy and put in place essential infrastructure that will aid its growth. “We are committed to investing in the whole petroleum value chain, in order to add more value to our national economy from our natural resources and reduce our over dependence on exported crude oil revenue,” she stated. “I am to assure OPEC Heads of Delegation, of a new dawn in Nigeria and the capacities of a new President who understands and appreciates the prospects and challenges of our Organisation like no other former Nigerian Head of State, having being a Minister of Petroleum Resources before,” Dr. Shu’ara concluded. Nigeria’s budget Nigeria’s budget is based on the international price of oil and the country takes cognisance of this anytime its budget is ready for presentation. In April 28, 2015, the Senate approved $53 per barrel as oil benchmark price for the N4.3 trillion 2015 budget. This adjustment was the fourth attempts made at the benchmark for oil in the appropriation. The Federal Government had made a final proposal of $65 per barrel of crude oil to the lawmakers after two reviews. The former minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Business | Energy

VESTED INTERESTS Vested interests do not want stable power supply

Adeola Yusuf

igeria remains the most lucrative market for generator manufacturers in the world, a data released by analyst at Greater New York City Area and Nexus Capital Markets has shown. Senior Africa Equity Research Analyst at the financial institutions, Jude Fejokwu, who presented this, said that Nigeria may remain in this undesirable economic state until the excesses of saboteurs in its power sector are checked. In spite of the power privatisation, which culminated into the sale of distribution assets and some generation assets to new owners, Nigeria, a country of 180 million people, has continued to face epileptic power supply. Fejokwu, who doubles as Founder, Managing Director, and Principal Analyst, Thaddeus Investment Advisors and Research Limited, said that no country with a population larger than Nigeria has the kind of power supply crisis that Nigeria has. He said: “Clearly in my opinion, vested interests (diesel suppliers, generator sellers, downstream players wrongly benefiting from gasoline importation) do not want all-day every-day power in Nigeria (a country of 180 million.) “My cursory check tells me that no country with a population larger than Nigeria has the kind of power supply crisis that we have. “In other words, Nigeria is the most lucrative market for generator manufacturers in the world.” While throwing his weight behind the deregulation of the down stream sector, Fejokwu, however, said that government should get the timing right for the policy. He noted that the time is yet ripe for the policy in Nigeria until the four refineries in the country are fixed. Besides, he said that the economists, who are now calling for subsidy removal, should “not forget that Nigeria does not have a social security system like in the United States that provides unemployment checks if you are fired or laid-off from your job for all its eligible citizens and residents. Similar scenario, he explained, applies in Germany. The expert said: “My point here is that these countries find a way to subsidise the have-nots from the haves. Government money is spent to ensure that its citizens and legal residents do not suffer untold hardship due to no means of livelihood or earn an annual income below the poverty line as determined by the country in question. “This is a form of subsidy, which at the end of the day,

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Nigeria remains world’s biggest market for generators’ helps its citizens live a life where their basic needs can be met. Nigeria does not have this form of assisted living for its citizens. The only assisted living for the people of the country is paying for gasoline

at below market prices while government covers the real differential.” This, he said, may very well turn out to be truly cheaper than providing monthly payments to the unemployed and

families, which should exceed $12 billion a month if 60 million people are covered and are paid the local equivalent of $200 a month. The expert noted: “Suddenly, gasoline subsidy becomes a

cheaper option even with the corruption. I do hope and expect the leakages to be found and plugged. I also advocate for crude oil to be used to pay the foreign refineries and not dollars.

L-R: Vice President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Theresa Ananyi; Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor; Deputy President of of the Chamber, Prince Dapo Adelegan and the Chamber’s Director-General, Mrs. Joyce Akpata, during a visit to Shell’s Lagos office. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

in December 2014 presented the 2015 budget to the lawmakers based on a speculated oil production figure of 2.2 million barrels per day. At its closed-door session, the Senate said its decision was due to the fact that the current oil price in the international market was between $60 and $62. Former President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded three different Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and Fiscal Strategy documents to the National Assembly between September and December last year with crude benchmark proposals of $77, $73 and $65 per barrel. Other budget proposals include projected oil production of 2.2782 million barrels per day and average exchange rate of N165 to a US dollar. The dollar currently trades at about N199 to a US dollar as the oil-dependent Nigerian economy continues to suffer from the declining global price of crude oil. Earlier, in passing the fiscal appropriation, the representatives had raised the final figure by N134.5 billion, from the N4.357 trillion sent by President Jonathan to the National Assembly. The Reps raised the allocation of some key agencies, including the Niger Delta Development Commission, from N45.78 billion to N46.72 billion; Universal Basic Edu-

Nigeria comes out empty-handed cation’s from N67.3 billion to N68.38 billion, while the budget of the National Assembly was increased from N115 billion to N120 billion. However, in passing the appropriation bill, the Senate said that the crude oil benchmark was projected at $53 per barrel and the exchange rate of N190 to the dollar. The passage of the budget followed the presentation of the report of the Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance by Ahmed Maccido, representing North West (Sokoto). After the passage of the bill, the Senate President, David Mark, urged the executive arm of government to ensure its full implementation. Mark blamed the brief delay in passing the bill on the 2015 general elections, which he said paralysed activities in virtually all sectors of the country’s economy. He spoke of the impact of the fall in global oil prices at the international market, which dropped from a high of $100 per barrel in August to less than $45 before the end of 2014. Outcome of the confab The 167th Meeting of the Conference of the OPEC, which was held under the Chairmanship of its Alternate President, HE Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and In-

dustry of Qatar and Head of its Delegation, left the production quota unchanged. A statement released by the oil cartel said that the group retained its 30 million barrels per day production ceiling. The meeting, according to the statement, had discussed, inter alia, oil market fundamentals and the global economy, with participants concluding that market stability remains a common objective for all producers, attainable through cooperative effort. Participants also agreed to convene again before the end of the year. Besides, the conference reviewed the oil market outlook, as presented by the Secretary General, in particular the demand and supply projections, and the outlook for the second half of 2015. It also noted that the global economic recovery had stabilized, albeit with growth at moderate levels. In the current year, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is projected at 3.3 per cent, with this expected to be at a slightly higher level of 3.5 per cent for 2016. “Recording its continued concern over market volatility and the challenges faced by the global oil industry as a whole, the conference observed further, that the sharp decline in oil prices witnessed at the end of last

year and the start of this year – caused by oversupply and speculation – had now abated, with prices moving slightly higher in recent months,” the group said. The conference said that world oil demand is forecast to increase in the second half of 2015 and in 2016, with growth driven by non-OECD countries. On the supply side, non-OPEC growth in 2015 is expected to be just below 700,000 barrels per day, which is only around one-third of the growth witnessed in 2014. Consequently, the conference resolved to maintain the 30 mb/d ceiling and urged member countries to adhere to it. Member countries, in agreeing to this decision, according to the statement, confirmed their commitment to a stable and balanced oil market, with prices at levels that are suitable for both producers and consumers. Nonetheless, the conference stressed that, given the current market uncertainties, the secretariat should continue to closely monitor developments in the coming months. Conclusion The Federal Government should intensify its efforts to diversify the economy away from oil to non-oil sectors. The era of tying the budget and economic fortunes of a country such as Nigeria with 170 million population to one singular sector should be discouraged.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

Housing: Banks tasked on low interest loan p.36 FOOD WASTAGE Global economy loses $1tn annually Dayo Ayeyemi

Property&Environment Environment: Experts demand action on biodiversity conservation

he United Nations’ Environment Programme (UNEP)’s SecretaryGeneral and Executive Director, Mr. Achim Steiner, has said that a third of the world’s food production is wasted yearly. Steiner disclosed this during the celebration of this year’s World Environment Day (WED) at the weekend. According to him, “one-third of all food produced globally each year (300 million tons) is wasted. This wastage is costing the global economy a staggering one trillion dollars a year.” WED is the United Nations’ campaign to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the environment. The forum has, over the years, grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries. It also serves as the people’s day for doing something positive for the environment, inspiring individual actions and galvanising them into a collective power that generates an exponential positive impact on the planet. Wastage and consequences According to the UNEP boss, industrialised regions account for almost half of the total food wastage. He further said that the food being discarded could still be fit for human consumption and feed over 800 million people worldwide daily. Global food consumption, he said, was already one and half times the earth’s carrying capacity, warning that if the current population and consumption trends continue, humanity would require the equivalent of two earths to support itself by 2030. With the global population forecast to reach nine billion by mid-century, Steiner stated that demands on depleting resources would only be worsened by increasing pollution, conflicts over resources and the effects of an atmosphere being rapidly heated by human greenhouse gas emissions. These, he said, could substantially lower global Gross Domestic Products (GDP). He noted that droughts, floods, choking air pollution and species threatened with extinction had become a regular feature daily. He said: “This is just the tip of the waste iceberg and serves as a proxy for the ‘ecological footprint’ of our entire global economy. Our global food system is responsible for 80 per cent of deforestation and is the largest single cause of species and biodiversity loss. “It is also responsible for over 70 per cent of freshwater

A scene of indiscriminate felling of trees in Nigeria

consumption. A beef burger on your lunch plate could require an incredible 2,400 litres of water to produce. Would you like fries with that? Add another 100 litres, not to mention the impact of pesticides and non-degradable packaging.” Nigeria As Nigeria celebrates WED 2015, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has urged Lagosians to show more concern for the environment in order to achieve a sustainable environment. According to him, the new perspective of the world showed that ecology and economics are two sides of the same coin. He stressed that people cannot continue to do business at the expense of nature without compromising the sustainability of its resources. He said: “If the environment is not in harmony with our ambition, then we must change our ambition to be in perfect harmony with the environment. This is the wisdom we require to live peacefully on earth. We recognise the fact that mother earth can survive without us, but we cannot survive without her.” Ambode urged residents to rise up and save the environment in other to enjoy healthy and sustainable life on the planet. “To solve the problems of the environment, everyone on earth must act; it is not the government business, it is not some people’s business, it is everybody’s business. It is one world, one environment; the problems of the environment transcends boundary. An error by one is a serious

If the environment is not in harmony with our ambition, then we must change our ambition

concern for all,” he stressed. The governor disclosed that the state had prioritised the environment through policies and programmes such as the institutionalisation of tree planting exercise with over five million trees planted to date. Also, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has called on Nigerians in their respective capacities to support a long term action plan to rehabilitate the nation’s forest estates. The Director-General of NCF, Dr. Adeniyi Karunwi, said that the foundation has put in place avenues to engage all stakeholders on environmental issues towards ensuring that the 25 per cent forest cover in Nigeria as recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is achievable in no distant time. The NCF boss stated that as at today, only about five per cent (46,000 km2) of Nigeria’s land area is covered by natural forests with majority located in protected areas like National Parks and Game Reserves. He noted that from 1960 to date, Nigeria had lost about 95 per cent of its forest cover due to deforestation and habitat degrading activities like forest clearance for farmlands, logging and unsustainable land-use practices. This unhealthy habit, he said, had resulted in the loss of biodiversity and the reduced functioning of the ecosystems. Karunwi noted that the flagship species such as the Cross River Gorilla was the most endangered African ape with only about 300 individuals left in the wild, while forest elephants have

also been critically endangered with fragmented populations in southern Nigeria. Karonwi called for action to save the elephant population. The Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, warned that until people see natural resources as actually the gifts of nature that require a stewardship relationship, they would continue on the destructive and obviously unsustainable path. He said: “Degraded soils support degraded lives. Thus, when citizens are forced to live in degraded soils and environments, their right to life and well being is heavily degraded. We only have to think of the pollutions in the Niger Delta, the lagoons of Lagos, abandoned tin mines of Jos and the deadly mining wastes of Zamfara, to see the enormity of the problems.” At Nestle Nigeria, the event was marked with the planting of trees in its Agbara, Lagos factory. The Factory Manager, Mr. Rakesh Verma, who conducted journalists round the facilities of the company, said that Nestle had installed new gas-powered plant instead of diesel and, waste water equipment to generate power and waste before final discharge to the environment. Verma further said that through these modern technologies, the company was able to reduce 50,000 tons of carbon emission per year. Demonstration Steiner and UNEP’s Goodwill CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Business | Property & Environment

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Housing: Banks tasked on low interest loan TACTIC Experts seek appropriate valuation method Stories by Dayo Ayeyemi

ommercial banks operating in the country have been tasked on the need to put in place robust loanable funds for the housing sector at lower interest rates to ease the problems of accommodation. Immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos chapter, Mr. Olusola Fatoki, told New Telegraph that this would enhance

access to affordable housing delivery and homeownership among Nigerians. Recent data from the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has revealed that Nigeria would require an estimated N59.5 trillion to bridge her housing gap with additional two million units added yearly. The figure required to meet the 17 million housing deficit was predicted by the World Bank. Fatoki, who is the p rincipal partner, Sola Fatoki & Company, an estate surveying and valuation firm, noted that funding is an important factor in housing delivery, bemoaning the prevailing lend-

ing commercial rates at N22 per cent, adding that the high interest on loan has discouraged investors in the sector. Apart from this, he noted that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), which was largely responsible for housing loan provision, has failed in its responsibility, suggesting that government should set up adequate financial policies geared towards housing delivery. To urgently solve the problem of finance in housing delivery, Fatoki urged government to encourage mutual savings among citizens, describing it as “an open-end investment system where shareholders’ funds are invested for housing purposes only.”

He also stated that savings and loan associations, as well as cooperative and thrift societies, must invest in housing, tasking insurance companies on the need to increase their investment in the sector. “Various state agencies responsible for housing should be revived and revitalised,” he said. The Lagos-based expert blamed inadequate housing units in the country on bad planning, lack of effective housing finance, problems of land provision, lack of adequate infrastructural services, poor designs and construction and lack of development of

Eko Atlantic: Developer expands city’s road network

eveloper of Eko Atlantic City, Messrs South Energyx Nigeria Limited, has stepped up efforts to make the city a congestion-free community with no on street parking, where traffic will flow freely. For this purpose, the developer has begun the expansion of the city’s main thoroughfares and access roads. According to the firm, over 28 kilometres of roads had been completed to stone-base level while 25 kilometres of the road network had been block-paved. The company assured that Eko Atlantic’s main boulevard and roads would be a role model for 21st century urban planning. It said: “Over the next few months, further road works will be carried out across the

One of the road network within Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.

Group advocates Estate Development Loans’ reform T

he Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (ACHN) has urged the Federal Government to restructure and expand the Estate Development Loans (EDL) being managed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to make adequate funds available for mass housing provision. The experts, who are the chief executives of housing corporations in 36 states of federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), made the demand during their Annual General Meeting and Council Meeting of AHCN in Akure, Ondo State. In a communiqué signed by its President, Dr. Ifenna ChukwuJekwu and Secretary-General, Mr. D.A. HarYusuph, the group said that it was pleased with the available two windows of housing finance, which were the Estate Development Loan (EDL) and the Presidential Mandate Loans

Scheme (PMLS) under the FMBN portfolio operating at an interest rate of 10 per cent over a two-year construction period. To further enhance housing delivery, they argued that the EDL fund should be strengthened to mobilise funds from various sources such as Pension Fund, unclaimed dividends from shares, a percentage tax of corporate institutions and other related idle fund sources. These other sources, they said, “should include annual grant from the Federal Government, specific contributions from state governments, financial institutions’ specific contributory involvement, as well as contributions from investible funds from quoted companies.” The theme of the workshop is: “Repositioning the housing sector as a tool for economic recovery and development in Nigeria.”

Experts at the workshop also agreed that there was the need for appropriate blending of sustainable mortgage market, the development of local building materials and effective implementation of the public-private efforts in housing provision. The experts had earlier lamented the dwindling housing stock in the country, warning that the situation would become worse if nothing positive is done to address the situation. They observed the lackadaisical attitude of governments to the National Housing Fund (NHF) as opposed to what obtained when the policy was newly introduced. The experts, however, insisted that all outstanding contributions to the NHF should be remitted while the statutory provisions of the National Housing Policy should be strictly enforced and applied as well as the sanctions embedded in the policy.

the local building materials, among others. Also, he canvassed for an equitable land reform in the country, believing that such a reform would make land acquisition by ordinary citizens easy and secure than what is obtainable now. He said: “The Land Use Act must be reviewed as already canvassed by the various stakeholders in the building industry. Cost of land acquisition and registration must be affordable. The menace of “omo-onile” must be curtailed if we must have improved housing delivery.”

following Eko Atlantic city districts: Harbour Lights, Marina District (inner and outer ring roads), Downtown, Avenue 1 and Avenue 3 (with direct access to Ahmadu Bello Way). “This work predominantly comprises the build-up of the sand sub-base in all the above areas, with laying of the crushed stone base course in the more advanced roads.” The company stated that the opening of Akin Adesola Road had introduced a second entrance into Eko Atlantic City from Victoria Island, which is crucial for development. It said that this has significantly reduced the drive distance for trucks carrying rocks to the sea wall, “a mile and a half offshore, helping to speed up construction.”

Experts seek action on biodiversity conservation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

Ambassador and football star, Yaya Touré, made their ways to World Environment Day (WED) celebrations hosted by Milano Expo in a standard passenger car retrofitted with an electric engine. The vehicle, with its internal combustion engine replaced by an electric motor by the Italian consortium Confartigianato, was said to be an example of how old products could be reborn with new, environmentally friendly technology. By reusing the old vehicle and by eliminating carbon emissions from a fossil fuelburning engine, experts said that this solution could bring benefits both in terms of reducing waste and mitigating climate change. Present patterns of transportation – based mainly on petrol and diesel-fuelled motor vehicles – generate serious social, environmental and economic damage and are highly unsustainable. At present, according to UNEP, transportation consumes over half of global liq-

uid fossil fuels, emits nearly a quarter of the world’s energy-related CO2 and generates over 80 per cent of the air pollution in cities in developing countries. It said: “These costs to society, which can add up to more than 10 per cent of a country’s GDP, are likely to grow, primarily because of the expected growth of the global vehicle fleet. “If powered with electricity from renewable sources, electric cars can contribute significantly to climate change mitigation. They have the potential to largely improve air quality in cities, leading to an improvement of human health.” Poor air quality is a growing challenge, especially in cities and urban centres, compromising the lives of millions worldwide. To protect the planet from further environmental degradation, the UNEP boss canvassed the need for change in people’s consumption patterns to halt crises caused by deforestation and flooding. The theme for WED 2015 is “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care.”

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FG tasked to review N600bn airport intervention funds p.38

Aviation

Why plane tickets are considered expensive Everyone is always looking for the cheapest flight. While there are ways to get cheaper airfare, the age of rockbottom prices is simply over, writes Aviation Editor, WOLE SHADARE Search for cheap fares If you’ve been flying in the past few years, you might have noticed that ticket prices, even the cheapest ones, have been rising. In Nigeria, competition is forcing airlines to adjust their fares and make it affordable for travellers. But for routes that many airlines do not operate, operators offer cutthroat fares. Save for some flash sale or price war, consumers are just paying a lot more than they used to. If you really want rock-bottom prices, you’ll need to invent a time machine and go back 10 years. Ticket pricing is a complicated and arcane subject. On the international routes, particularly for European, American and Gulf carriers, fares have been on the increase with no control by government. Absence of strong national/flag carrier The lack of national carrier by Nigeria or strong flag carrier airlines has compounded the situation for many travellers from Nigeria. The spiraling down fall of the naira has further compounded what these carriers charge on Nigerian routes. The conscious effort made three years ago by the Federal Government to force foreign carriers, particularly British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, to cut down on what it termed astronomical fares, was a good one, but government at that period did not understand that airfare pricing is a question of demand and supply. It equally failed to realise that you cannot control what you do not own. Reasons for fare hike Ticket prices are high today for a number of reasons. For starters, the industry has consolidated a lot over the last few years. Less competition means less need for cheaper prices. Thanks to bankruptcies and mergers in Europe and the United States, there are now only four major airlines in the US. In Canada, there are two. In Europe, KLM and Air France are now one company, and Lufthansa has its hands in many smaller airlines. (While budget airlines keep prices cheap within Europe, once you leave the conti-

Some of Nigeria’s domestic carriers

nent, those 10 Euro prices disappear), As airlines have partnered up, merged, or gone bankrupt, the incentive to create low fares to win your business has mostly disappeared. Secondly, the price of aviation fuel has increased tremendously. Back in 1996, airline fuel cost 55 cents per gallon. Now, it’s $2.97 per gallon. Airlines can’t absorb all of that increase, so they pass some of that on to the consumer, leading to higher fares. Additionally, airline taxes and security fees have increased, adding a lot to your base fare. Currently, the following fees are added to the cost of your ticket such as $20 dollar security fee, five per cent of cost of the value of the tickets purchased, otherwise known as Passenger Service Charge, $50 airport tax and other hidden charges for travellers from Nigeria. The situation is the same in the US with September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 (up to a maximum of $10 per round trip), passenger facility charge of $4.50 per segment (up to a maximum of $18 per round trip); US Federal domestic segment fee of $3.70 per segment, US travel facilities tax of $8.20 per direction (only applicable to flights to/from Alaska and Hawaii and the 48 contiguous US states or between Alaska and Hawaii). Others are US Immigration user fee of $7; US customs user fee of $5.50 and US APHIS user fee of $5; US international

transportation tax of $16.30 per arrival or departure; foreign government security/tourism/ airport/international transportation taxes and fees of up to $290 (varies widely by destination and fluctuates with exchange rates). That’s a hell of a lot of fees. And it’s not just the United States. Ever fly into London? Half the ticket price is made up of fees and taxes. With fewer planes, less competition, and higher capacity, airlines can charge a lot more for tickets.

Four things that drive prices: competition, supply, demand and oil prices

Why do fares fluctuate? Prices go up and down for many reasons. No one can really predict when or if a price will change. Only the airline knows that. But there are four things that drive prices: competition, supply, demand and oil prices. The first and last items are the ones that really affect prices the most. Together, those four things all affect a lovely thing called load factor. Airlines want to fill their planes and maximise profits, and they do this by calculating a plane’s load factor. Essentially, this is the percentage of seats sold on a flight. They want this number to be as high as possible. A top official of an airline, who preferred anonymity, told New Telegraph that airlines tend to manage their load factor by constantly changing the price of tickets to fill the plane and get maximum revenue. On

many flights in Nigeria and the US domestic flight, there might be 10–15 different price points. The official said: “If the load factor is low and demand is low, an airline will increase the availability of cheap fares. If the load factor is high and demand is high, the airline will raise prices.” Class of passengers In the airline industry, there are two types of passengers: business travelers and leisure passengers. Business travelers are flexible on price (the boss is paying) but not on dates. Leisure travelers aren’t flexible on price (the cheaper, the better) but are on dates. Airlines are constantly trying to strike a balance between these two types so they can make a profit. Why fly a plane full of cheap fares when you can get people to pay more? Conclusion Airlines know that a certain number of people will book far in advance if they can find a decent price. They also know that they need to hold a certain number of seats for business travelers who will book last minute and pay more. Ticket prices jump up and down based on the demand for seats from these two types of passengers. If tickets are selling faster than in the past, the price rises. If a competitor raises fares, the airline will probably raise theirs too.

Business | Aviation

ACCOUNTABILITY Expert decries proliferation of airports

Stories by Wole Shadare

hief Executive Officer of Centurion Aviation Security Services, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd), has called on the Federal Government to assess and review the civil aviation transformation programme of the past administration. The renovation project was said to have cost over N600 billion by way of intervention in two years on both public and private operators in the aviation sector. Ojikutu, however, stated that whatever is the outcome of the review of the programme, government’s policy on the Nigeria Civil Aviation transformation should de-emphasise the hold of the ministry on the management of the aviation parastatals, so as to allow for the efficient development of the sector’s infrastructures. This would also engender effective management and operation of the services

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG tasked to review N600bn airport intervention funds provided, especially by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). Ojikutu, in a paper he sent to New Telegraph, stated that the policy should also, in the main, allow the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to have the requisite autonomy to function in accordance with the laws that established it without undue interference from the ministry. The former Commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, also counselled that Nigerian aviation regulatory body must be encouraged to develop capabilities to adequately have resources and management to carry out safety and security oversight responsibilities and the enforcement of the National Civil Aviation Regulations on both the public and private operators. “It is also very expedient

for the NCAA to urgently establish a Directorate of Aviation Security as a major part of the resources it requires in its management of over 22 airports and over 100 airlines and aircraft operators,” he said. To him, the problems of the Nigeria Civil Aviation are always, not necessarily the lack of facilities and funds, but generally the lack of adequate skilled technical staff, efficient supervision from assigned managers and professionally inclined inspectors for the enforcement of regulations. Above all, he decried the interference from uninformed politically appointed or elected officers in the industry and in the National Assembly respectively. The expert lamented that most of the airports in the country were politically motivated and not necessarily built on needs and consideration for operational sustenance, viability and revenue generation.

Arik Air Business Class cabin

Arik Air gets top rating on economy class N

igeria’s flag carrier airline, Arik Air, has been ranked as one of the top 10 airlines in the world to offer most comfortable economy class seat. According to a report by www.airlinequality.com, Arik Air is among ten airlines in the world that offers the most comfortable seats in Economy Class on its wide-body aircraft for medium and long haul flights. The report noted that whereas the majority of airlines around the world offer 31 to 32 inches with some offering even as low as 29 to 30

inches, Arik Air is one of the “elite few that still provide a comfortable 34 ins seat pitch where travelers will enjoy greatest comfort” Other Airlines rated in this category are: Qatar Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Thai Airways, Asiana Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. Others are Saudi Arabian Airlines, Air China, Garuda Indonesia and Korean Air. Commenting on the rating, Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, said that the rating is an established fact. He added that all Arik

Air aircraft are configured specifically to provide more legroom whether in Economy or in Business/Premier class. Ndulue said: “Our Business class and Economy class cabins are designed to provide a generous legroom. Our Premier class seat actually converts into a full flat bed for maximum comfort. In fact, the comfort we offer our guests cuts across our network, whether you’re flying domestic, regional or intercontinental. At Arik Air, comfort and safety remains our topmost priority.”

He noted that in effect, they put pressure in financial commitment from the revenue generated by just the two viable airports of Lagos and Abuja. “The new aviation transformation policy must put in place programmes for choosing the best skilled and effective manpower as well as establishing sustainable carrier progression and succession development plans,” he added. Ojikutu disclosed that the combined passengers traffic and air traffic movement for Lagos and Abuja alone in 2013,

FAAN statistics indicated that there were 10.1 million passenger, while those for the remaining 22 airports put together are four million passenger traffic. With a national economy gasping now for breath, and at the edge of the cliff, Ojikutu noted that the Nigerian aviation industry has no financial or commercial regulation to firm up its management. He carpeted the administration of Goodluck Jonathan for believing that it made a difference with the airport terminal building remodelling.

AIR RAGE

WITH

Wole Shadare

Security audit: Nigeria cannot afford to fail

he die is cast. Nigeria faces one of its stiffest test yet as the global aviation regulatory body, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), are in Nigeria to commence ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme. The objective of the audit is to determine a states’ capability for security oversight by assessing the implementation of the critical elements of a security oversight system. The team comprising of four members will look at areas such as regulatory framework and the National Civil Aviation Security System, training of aviation security personnel, quality control functions, airport operations, aircraft and in-flight security. Other areas they are expected to beam their searchlight on are passenger and baggage security, cargo, catering and mail security, response to acts of unlawful interference and security aspects of facilitation. Members of the team are Karen Zadoyan, Steven Neu, Nuno Miguel Silva, Ferreira Fortes and Wendy Mueller. The audit will run for nine days and terminate on June

9, 2015, but there is apprehension whether Nigeria would pass the test. The country has found itself in similar situations in the past, even when majority of people did not give it the chance. Some wondered how the country was able to pass the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) category One aviation status. Nigeria had, last, year retained the status against all odds. It even came at a time the sector was at its lowest ebb, occasioned by frequent plane crashes, lack of facilities and monumental graft that further compounded the woes of the industry. One hopes that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has closed all the gaps necessary to scale the hurdle. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is regarded as the weak link in the efforts to pass this test. FAAN, as presently constituted, is the greatest headache of the industry and the success or otherwise of the exercise depends on the seriousness of the agency, as Nigeria cannot afford to fail this crucial assessment.

Murtala Muhammed International Airport terminal, Lagos.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESday, JUNE 9, 2015

Photo | News

First Sarauniyan of Dass Emirate Council, Ambassador Comfort Ene Attah, riding on a horse during her turbarning as first Sarauniyan Dass Emirate Council at Dass LGA, Bauchi State. PHOTO: NAN

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Martins Babale; Governor Muhammadu Bindo; former VicePresident, Atiku Abubakar; Chairman, Madugu Group of Companies, Musa Garba, at the inauguration of the 5 star Madugu Rock-View Hotel in Yola. PHOTO: NAN

L-R: Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyu Agbotomokekere; guest lecturer, Prof. Muftau Abdur Rahman; Chairman of the occasion, Chief Lateef Fegbemi and Chairman Ibadan Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustafa Oyero; at the 5th Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture for good governance in Ibadan. Speaker, Bayelsa House of Assembly, Mr. Konbowei Benson (left), taking oath of office before the clerk of the House, Mr. Aaron Timiye, in Amarata, Yenagoa.

Country Manager, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), Ms. Ijeoma Anadozie (middle), with members of Galactic Team from Obafemi Awolowo University, at the Nigerian finals of the CIMA ‘Global Business Challenge’ in Lagos.

NEMA Camps Coordinator, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello (left), presenting drugs to the Chief Medical Director, Yola Specialists Hospital, Dr. Bala Saidu, to assist in the treatment of injured bomb blast victims in Adamawa State. PHOTO: NAN

A cross section of participants at the Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA) family fun festival celebration held in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Executive Secretary, Ifelodun Local Community Development Association, Mr. Arewa Popoola; Mr. Wahab Adigun and Alhaji Wasiu Ishola, at the fund raising ceremony of Memudu Owode community development project of Kwara State in Lagos.

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

Buhari

Jonathan

Odigie-Oyegun

Unsung hero of presidential poll Maurice Umeakuka

he United South East Forum (USEF) in a recent advertorial in national dailies highlighted the positive role played by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-East in making sure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) didn’t repeat the 2011 magic during the presidential election. The belief was that a repeat of such magic could have tilted the result of the presidential election in its favour. Members of this forum which cut across seasoned politicians, professionals and the academia carried out a lot of sensitisation exercise in the build-up to the election and during the election proper to draw the attention of the people of the SouthEast to why there was need to have a change of government at the centre. The members of this Forum even followed up the sensitisation exercise with little resources at their disposal as many of them contributed to the Buhari Solidarity Organisation (BSO), the record of which can be ascertained from the bank where the BSO account is domiciled. The simple logic that can be drawn from this is that nobody ever invests in a project without working towards the realisation of that project. Interestingly, the President and Commander-inChief himself is the sole signatory to this account and being whom he is, one believes that at the appropriate time, he will take a cursory look at the fund to know who contributed what. The home truth is that the Fo-

rum had to contend with the opposing group which had virtually everything at its disposal to execute the task at hand. Nothing can be further from the truth if one takes a critical look at the facts x-rayed below to buttress the position of USEF. First and foremost, let me correct this wrongly held view that the people of the SouthEast did not vote for the APC as a political party during the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly election in Nigeria. The truth is that no sane election took place in the region as far as the presidential election is concerned, so no proper and acceptable analysis can be made from such kangaroo arrangement. What actually took place was nothing, but the confiscation of the electoral materials by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members with the active connivance of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who had on the eve of the election manipulated the list of ad hoc staff in favour of the PDP. However, members of the USEF strongly resisted their attempt to write whatever figure they wanted as they did during the 2011 general elections and this resulted in scuffles and even deaths in some places. If one compares the result of the 2011 presidential election from the South-East with that of the 2011 election, one would notice that instead of having higher votes in 2015, which is natural going by the obvious fact that many voters who were not up to 18 years of age in 2011 attained the universal adult sufferage

If the APC members in the SouthEast had looked the other way... the overall effect would have been catastrophic for the APC

in 2015 which now empowered them to vote having gotten voters’ cards during voters’ revalidation exercise that was done, the votes were lower. The available records show that whereas the PDP got 4,985, 248 from the South-East in the 2011 presidential election, it got 2,464,906 votes from the same region in 2015 and this shows a 51 per cent loss from what the party got in 2011. Naturally, one would have expected the figure from the 2015 election to be higher going by the reference made regarding increase in the total number of voters as a result of attainment of voting age by the underage voters in 2011. Again, one can buttress the argument that the APC fared better in the SouthEast in 2015 than in 2011 with a comparative analysis of the results from two states in the region. In Anambra State, for instance, the PDP got a total of 1,145,169 votes in 2011 and in 2015, the party got 660,762 votes. This shows a loss of 42.3% from what it got in 2011. And in Imo State, the PDP got 1,381,357 votes in 2011 whereas in 2015 the party got 559,185 votes. This again shows a loss of 59.5 for the party. This downward trend in the result spread across the five states of the South-East. If one looks critically at the above analysis, one would discover that if the shortfall of 2,520,340 votes which the PDP got from the South-East in 2015 which could have been easily done from its 2011 records, the final results of the 2015 presidential election would have been different as the difference between the PDP’s shortfall

in the region in 2015 and the margin with which the APC won the presidential election is just 47,427 votes. Well, any less informed analyst may argue strongly that 47,427 votes is still a good margin going by the simple majority theory of the presidential system of government, however, such an analyst should as well realise that if the APC members in the SouthEast had looked the other way and allowed the PDP to have its way as it did in some states in the South-South or as it did in 2011 general elections, the party would have gotten nothing less than six million votes from the South-East and the overall effect would have been catastrophic for the APC. To achieve the feat of crushing the PDP rigging machine, USEF members propelled by senior APC leaders from the South-East put their lives on the line. The undeniable truth is that USEF propelled by APC leaders in the South-East succeeded to a large extent in stopping the PDP and its INEC collaborators from re-enacting what they did in 2011 this time around and this made the outcome of the presidential election from the zone to reflect the true will of the people. Finally, one should not lose sight of the fact that USEF was slugging it out with such PDP organs like its propaganda machinery – PDPPCO and its ‘military’ wing – TAN (Transformation Agenda of Nigeria) which had an unlimited access to funds. •Umeakuka is a member of USEF Research and Statistics

Politics

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Saraki, Lawan head for showdown

uted the third highest votes for the APC in the general elections after North-West and North-East and deserved to be rewarded.

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 6

test. Some of Saraki’s supporters have maintained that even though their candidate came late into the APC, he has contributed more to the success of the party than Lawan and should be compensated for his hardwork. According to them, without the likes of Saraki, the APC could not have won the presidency. Having served as governor of Kwara State for eight years and as chairman of the then powerful Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and a key mover of the new PDP before defecting to the APC, Saraki has a kaleidoscopic network of political friends and is effectively employing it to his advantage. But like what is happening in the House, different figures have been bandied by both candidates claiming to be in the pole position to clinch the seat. At the mock election, Lawan defeated Saraki by 32 senators to nil even though, Saraki and his group boycotted the process. It is clear that Lawan’s strength lies within the APC and if he is able to convince an appreciable number of PDP senators to cast their votes for him, he will carry the day. His choice of deputy is also a plus for his ambition. Akume, being a former minority leader has his own followers and this is also a boost for the Lawan presidency. And since David Mark had ruled out the possibility of a PDP senator contesting in the election, the PDP with a sizeable number of senators could dictate the game. There are 59 APC senators, while the PDP controls 49 leaving a difference of just 10. Reports indicate that Mark and former Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, are leading the campaign for Saraki amongst their PDP colleagues. This scenario is not unthinkable because Saraki came from the PDP and still maintains his contacts in the minority party. This is where Lawan will have to sweat it out. However, Saraki also has some issues to contend with. Although, he is from the North Central, some senators are of the view that he is a Yoruba and should not be voted in since the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is also a Yoruba. This may make some senators to withdraw their votes for him. In terms of personality or charisma, both candidates have what it takes to lead the eighth Senate. Saraki is urbane, well educated, articulate, courageous and very charismatic. Lawan on the other hand is a PhD holder, quite intelligent and experienced. But politics goes beyond these considerations and the senators would have to decide for Nigerians today, who they think would direct the affairs of the Senate better. Like in the House, the Lawan/ Akume ticket is formidable but the Saraki challenge is a threat that if overlooked will cost the party its decision to go for anointed candidates. The election will be through secret ballot and any of the candidate can be returned victorious. The House scenario Like the Senate, the 8th Assembly of the House of Representatives will be inaugurated today and the only business of the day

Tinubu

is the election of presiding officers and administering of oath on members-elect. But since the election of April 11, there has been an unresolved disquiet in the camp of the majority party, the APC, over the zoning and allocation of the office of speaker and deputy speaker. Today’s election promises to be the most keenly contested ever in the history of the House of Representatives, at least from 1999. On June 6, 2011, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was elected speaker of the House of Representatives as against the candidate of his party, the PDP, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola. Today, Hon. Yakubu Dogara is challenging the APC anointed candidate, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Can Dogara re-enact the Tambuwal feat? The scenario appears similar but it is because the characters are not the same and the political colouration also differs. However, it is the same game that is being played out. The 2011 experience was not the first time the House defied a party’s directive. It has in the recent past voted against candidates endorsed by parties. In 2007, though the first female speaker, Hon. Patricia Etteh, was the PDP candidate, she could not last for more than four months. Hon. Dimeji Bankole defeated George Jolaoye, who was the preferred candidate of the party in November 2007. But it was in 2011, that the members took the campaign for their independence full scale by backing Tambuwal against all odds to dust Akande-Adeola, who was the sole candidate of the PDP. The mock elections conducted last Saturday by the APC to pick a consensus candidate for position of speaker and deputy speaker rather aggravated the divisions in the party. Although, Gbajabiamila defeated Dogara by 154 to 3 votes to emerge as the preferred candidate of the party, Dogara and his camp remains undaunted and have resolved to dare the party. Dogara representing Dass/Boro/ Tafawa Balewa constituency of Bauchi State is the sole challenger to the APC’s anointed candidate and minority leader in the 6th and 7th Assembly, Gbajabiamila. The Dogara campaign secretariat has

Akume

insisted that it was not part of the mock election and the party cannot foist a speaker on them. It is on this premise that Dogara is on the ballot today to square up with Gbajabiamila who is heavily backed by the APC’s machinery whereas Dogara is banking on APC members who share his political philosophy and largely PDP members whose votes would be critical in determining who becomes speaker today.

Can Dogara re-enact the Tambuwal feat? The scenario appears similar

Gbajabiamila A lawyer like Dogara, his sole challenger, the immediate past Minority Leader, needs no introduction because of his antecedents in the lower house. Representing Surulere Federal constituency of Lagos State, Gbajabiamila came to the House in 2003 and has had a stint in leadership position as minority whip, where he performed creditably well. As opposition leader, he knows when to throw the punches and rattle the majority leadership. A highly committed lawmaker, he knows his onions and also possesses the requisite experience to hold the House as speaker. He is also a delight to the media anytime. As minority leader, he came up with very punchy bills and motions that unsettled the PDP. One of such bills is the state of the nation address bill, which seeks to compel the president to present annually before the National Assembly his stewardship and agenda. He has functioned effectively as opposition leader. The South-South group, championed by Hon. Pally Iriase (APC, Edo), is solidly behind Gbajabiamila. Iriase was also in the race until he pulled out to back Gbajabiamila. Members-elect from the NorthWest and North-East geopolitical zones have resolved to vote en masse for Gbajabiamila today. Spokesman for the group and member-elect from Jigawa, Hon. Sani Zoro, a one-time president of NUJ said the choice of Gbajabiamila was informed by the fact that he has acquitted himself creditable as leader of opposition and is only natural that he should transmute to the position of speaker. He said the South-West, where Gbajabiamila hails from contrib-

Dogara’s chances Dogara is being propelled largely by the Consolidation Group, wzhich consists of old and new members who insist he remains the candidate to beat for speakership. Another group, the Patriots too is drumming support for Dogara. Dogara unveiled his legislative agenda on Sunday at an elaborate ceremony attended by 162 members-elect of the House cutting across all the political parties. Representatives of lawmakers from the six geo-political zones also spoke throwing their weight behind Dogara`s candidature. The candidature of Dogara is a potential threat to the endorsement of Gbajabiamila and it is poised to upstage the APC’s apple cart. Dogara, immediate past chairman, House Services Committee is unmistakably popular amongst the lawmakers having held strategic positions. The Dogara candidature has also gained currency courtesy of the allegations that Gbajabiamila is a Tinubu protégé and the former Lagos governor must be cut to size. Consequently, his candidature is seen as an independent position of the House. The PDP members are more at home with him largely based on this rumour. The message is fast spreading amongst the fresh members who have also been lectured on the need to curtail the alleged hold of Tinubu on the party. The voting The election of speaker and deputy is going to be by secret balloting; therefore all the permutations making the rounds may not be feasible at the end of the day. Both campaign teams have been parading lists of endorsements from different caucuses. This may not necessarily win the election for any of the candidate but the votes that will be cast today. These votes are divided into categories. Out of the 360 members of the House, 232 are freshers while the remaining are returning members. The governing party, the APC has 209 members while the biggest opposition, the PDP has 143 members. The other parties: Accord, Labour, APGA and SDP share the remaining seats. Whoever enjoys the most sympathy of the opposition parties would carry the day. Although there are permutations that the immediate past deputy majority leader, Hon. Leo Ogor may throw himself into the ring for the position of speaker or deputy speaker based on the wrangling in the APC camp, one do not see the PDP making it because such a move would only strengthen the APC to put its house in order. Both Gbajabiamila and Dogara have good chances to make it to the number four position. While Gbajabiamila is the candidate to beat by virtue of being anointed by the party, Dogara is a candidate not to be ignored because his support base cut across all the stakeholders in the project. If the APC do not mobilise properly, Dogara will re-enact the Tambuwal scenario of 2011.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, june 9, 2015

News 43

south national - south

Court okays suit against Gbajabiamila Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday okayed a suit filed by a rights group, Registered Trustees of Social Justice and Civil Rights Awareness Initiative seeking to stop the sole candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Femi Gbajabiamila from emerging as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The group through its counsel, Mike Ozekhome

SAN, had approached the court through an ex-parte application praying for an order of court to stop Gbajabiamila from parading himself as a member of the House of Representatives and also an aspirant for the office of the Speaker. Listed as defendants alongside Gbajabiamila are House of Representatives and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). When the matter came up yesterday, the trial judge, Justice Abdul Kaf-

l Fixes June 18 for hearing arati who heard the matter in Chamber ordered the plaintiff to put the defendants on Notice to come and show cause why the reliefs of the plaintiffs should not be granted. He consequently adjourned till June 18 for mention. The plaintiff hinged its suit on ground that Gbajabiamila was convicted in the State of Georgia for unethical practices and was debarred for 36 months.

The group in its application asked the court to declare that Gbajabiamila is not fit and proper person to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives and as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The plaintiff also wants the court to give an order restraining the House of Representatives from accepting the nomination of Gbajabiamila as an aspirant for the office of the speaker of the

House of Representatives. The group also wants the court to give an order of injunction restraining Gbajabiamila from parading himself as a member of the House of Representatives and also as an aspirant for the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The court was also asked to grant an order of injunction restraining the House of Reps and AGF from recognising Gbajabiamila as a member and also an aspirant for the office of the Speaker of the

House of Reps. The plaintiff had also alleged that Gbajabiamila has a United States international passport even though he has Nigerian descent contravenes the constitution as regards membership of the House of Representatives. The group however submitted that the mood of the nation today will not warrant placing position of the speaker of the House of Representatives in the hands of any individual that has a tainted or questionable character.

Funsho Williams: Court to hear case against Tinubu, others Akeem Nafiu

ustice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday granted a motion initiated by Bashir Junaid, an initial suspect in the murder of a frontline politician and former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Funsho Williams. He is seeking to relist a suit against the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and 10 others. Junaid had gone to court seeking an order of mandamus to compel the Inspector-General of Police to re-open investigations into Funsho Williams’ murder. However, the case suffered a setback when it was struck out by the judge on April 29 for want of diligent prosecution. Dissatisfied with the ruling of the court, Junaid, through his lawyer, Tunji Adesheye, filed a motion seeking to relist the matter. The motion was brought pursuant to Order 26, Rules 1, 2(1), (2), 3, 4, 6, 7(1), 18 and 20 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure Rules) 2009 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court. Arguing the motion, Adesheye informed the court that his client had effected personal service of the concurrent writ of summons on the defendants that are outside the jurisdiction. Justice Ajumogobia, had earlier granted leave to the plaintiff to effect personal service of the concurrent writ of summons in the suit on the Inspector General of Police(IGP) by substituted means.

President Muhammadu Buhari (third right); German Chancellor, Angela Merkel (middle); United States President, Barack Obama (fifth right); French President, Francoise Hollande (fourth right); British Prime Minister, David Cameron (second right); President Ellen Johnson Sir-Leaf of Liberia (fifth left); President Macky Sall of Senegal (fourth left) and others during a working session at the G7 outreach programme…yesterday

APC'll plunge Nigeria into crisis — PRP Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

he Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) yesterday warned that the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the leadership tussle at the National Assembly may snowball into a major political crisis unless the party at the centre takes urgent measures to ensure equity, fairness and justice in the sharing of political power at the centre. Chairman of the PRP, Delta State Chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Igbini, who spoke to journalists yesterday in Abuja, warned the leadership and members of the APC against plunging the nation into an avoidable political crisis. Igbini attributed the brewing crisis in the National Assembly to the refusal of the APC to adhere to the zoning and rotation principle in filling principal offices of the parliament, an ar-

rangement, he said, that had brought peace and tranquility to the polity in the past 16 years. He faulted the move by the APC to shut out the South- East and SouthSouth geo-political zones from the governance of the country, stressing that APC's victory at the last general elections might leave Nigeria more polarised than it had ever been going by the steps taken so far by the party. "We totally condemn the ongoing attempt by the leadership of the APC to jettison this zoning and rotation arrangement that has been adopted since May 29, 1999 by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which guaranteed peace and sustenance of the democratic government for the past 16 years." "APC must recognise the sensitivity of this issue and the consequences of excluding any of the six geopolitical zones from occupying the six most important offices in Nigeria namely."

Airlines loses $150m on C-check Wole Shadare

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been urged to revise the mandatory 18 months timeline given operators to carry out C- check on all aircraft flying in the country. The advise was given by the chairman of Air Peace Airlines, Mr Allen Onyema while speaking with journalists yesterday. Onyema said NCAA, in place of the 18 months maintenance, should

adopt the 4,000 flying hours timeline obtainable in the United States. He said the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires major aircraft to go for C- check after they have flown about 4,000 hours. The airline chief stated that a situation where an aircraft is forced by the NCAA to undergo C- check every 18 months even if the aircraft has not been flying is making both scheduled and charter operators lose over hundreds of millions

of dollars. “C-check is performed approximately every 20–24 months or a specific amount of actual flight hours (FH) or as defined by the manufacturer. This maintenance check is much more extensive than a B check, requiring a large majority of the aircraft's components to be inspected. “This check puts the aircraft out of service and until it is completed, the aircraft must not leave the maintenance site.”

'Ensure proper rehabilitation of Boko Haram victims' Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he National Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association Committee on Girl Child Education, Dr. Chidi Esike yesterday called on the federal government to ensure proper rehabilitation of the girls rescued from members of the Boko Haram Islamist sect. Speaking to newsmen in Abakaliki, Dr. Esike expressed dismay on vio-

lence against the girl child in the society and advocated special attention to the child to curb the menace. He noted that the rescued girls and women may suffer psychological trauma if they are not properly rehabilitated and called on the federal, states, and local governments to ensure that the rescued girls complete their education so as to secure their future. “Apart from the usual screening for diseases and treatment of any illness

detected, the rescued girls should undergo sessions of psychotherapy and counseling with qualified medical and other health personnel and counselors to make sure that they do not suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders and other untoward effects that will truncate their education and productive living in future. “We are of the opinion that not even pregnancy should prevent these girl children from attending their educational goals’’.

Business | Money Line

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria will remain in JP Morgan Bond indexes –CBN MISFORTUNE About $4bn of Nigerian localcurrency bonds could be affected Tony Chukwunyem with agency report

g ainst the background of growing concern that Nigeria may be ejected from JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s emerging market bond indexes by the end of the year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured that the country will remain in the index. In a statement last Friday, JP Morgan had said a decision on whether to remove Nigeria from its Government Bond Indexes (GBI-EM) will be “finalised in the coming months” to give the new government time to settle in. The lender had placed Nigeria on “index watch negative” on January 16, citing CBN’s measures, which it said had reduced foreign-exchange and bond trading and made it difficult for investors to replicate the gauge of government bonds de-

nominated in local currency. But reacting to the development in a Bloomberg report yesterday, CBN’sDirector, Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Mu’azu, stated that Nigeria wants to remain in the indexes and is confident it will do so. He pointed out that the apex bank had been in contact with JPMorgan around the time of the January decision to clarify its policies. Bloomberg quoted him

as saying, “They took their decision based on some wrong assumptions. They were talking about liquidity in the bond market and we have not failed anybody with that.” Similarly, the head of African strategy at Standard Chartered Plc in London, Samir Gadio, said, “It is in no one’s interest to have Nigeria removed from the index. From an investor standpoint, Nigeria is the highest-yielding

diversifier in a GBI-EM context. That said, further normalisation in FX market conditions will probably be needed to ensure long-term GBIEM inclusion.” He disclosed that most foreign bond investors were still able to exit their positions because the CBN prioritises them when it sells dollars in the interbank market. Average yields on Nigerian government bonds were 14.1 per cent

Naira strengthens at interbank market Tony Chukwunyem

or the second time in a week, the naira has again appreciated against the dollar by 5kobo to the US currency at the Interbank market yesterday, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The apex bank, in a statement said the Naira closed at N196.90 from theN196.95 recorded last Friday June 5th. Until last week when it adjusted the rate to N196.95/$, the regulator had since February left it at N197/$ after the local currency’s value was erod-

ed by the fall in oil prices. Although dealers said that the CBN had been selling dollars to the interbank market at the adjusted rate, they pointed out that the change was too small to be considered a revaluation for the naira, particularly in the face of dwindling foreign reserves. But in a chat with Reuters, CBN spokesman, Ibrahim Muazu, denied that the bank had fixed the rate. He was quoted as saying: “We are not fixing rates. The present rate is a reflection of the level of dollar supply in the market.” Analysts, however, said the move would hurt the

country’s unstable forex reserves position, Reuters quoted head of research at Ecobank, Angus Downie, as saying: “By lowering the central bank rate offered to banks albeit very moderately, the central bank is adding to pressures on FX reserves equivalent to around 4.9 months of imports.” Following the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) recent decision to harmonise the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), analysts had predicted that the move would increase liquidity in the system and thus heighten demand pressure on the naira.

As at N19,142,526.05m

Mar, 2015

CPS*

N18,579,219.49m

Mar, 2015

INF

8.7

May, 2015

MPR

4/6/2015

US$60.75

5/6/2015

US$29,343,929,996

4/6/2015

Bonny Light Ext Res**

Source:CBN

Description 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

TTM 1.19 1.89 4.06 6.64 8.77 15.12 19.11

Price 99.16 102.03 106.39 111.11 101.97 68.00 88.16

NIBOR

Rate (%) 11.4333 14.8096 16.0004 17.3217

FGN Bonds Bid Yield 13.79 13.81 13.88 13.77 13.80 15.55 13.93

Change (%) 2.22 ▲ 0.08 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.10 ▲

Change (%) 0.01 ▲ -0.04▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.06▼ -0.03▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔

Price 99.31 102.18 106.69 111.41 102.27 68.30 88.46

Offer Yield 13.65 13.72 13.78 13.70 13.74 15.47 13.88

NITTY

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 10.5110 11.4597 11.4914 13.4594 14.1443 14.3803

Treasury Bills

Change (%) -0.14▼ 0.07 ▲ -0.03▼ -0.02 ▼ -0.21▼ -0.03▼

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 11.16 11.49 0.24 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 11.38 10-Sep-15 11.41 11.76 0.24 ▲ 12.65 13.48 0.30 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 11.83 03-Dec-15 12.90 13.76 0.30 ▲ Bid Offer Spot ($/N) 197.96 198.06 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

Change (%) 0.01 ▲ -0.04▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.06▼ -0.03▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔

Change (%) -0.20▼

NIFEX

Bid Spot ($/N) 198.9000

Offer 199.0000

Change (%) 3.29 ▲ 3.33 ▲ Change (%) -0.03 ▼ Source: FMDQ

democratic transition of power, to ease trading conditions, Bloomberg strategist Mark Cudmore said last month. About $4 billion of Nigerian local-currency bonds could be affected by JPMorgan’s decision, he said.

Ecobank names Citigroup executive Ayeyemi as new CEO

an-African bank Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), parent company of the Ecobank Group, has named Ade Ayeyemi as its new group chief executive, it said in a statement yesterday. The 52-year-old, currently head of Citigroup’s sub-Saharan Africa division, will replace Ecobank CEO Albert Essien, who is retiring at the end of June after a tenure that began in March 2014 when the board fired his predecessor Thierry Tanoh. Ayeyemi, who is Nigerian, will lead a bank headquartered in Togo that has operations in 36 African countries and with assets of $22.5 billion

at the end of 2013, according to the bank’s website. South Africa’s Nedbank acquired a 20-percent stake in Ecobank last year and Qatar National Bank (QNB) also holds a similar stake in the company. “We are delighted to have secured Ade as the person to lead Ecobank through the next phase of its development and beyond as a world-class pan-African bank,” Ecobank group Chairman Emmanuel Ikazoboh said. Ayeyemi said: “I am delighted to have been offered the opportunity to lead this great institution, and commend Albert Essien for his legacy work of helping further the premier pan-African financial institution.

Sterling Bank MD, Soyinka seek private funding of education

Economic Indicators M2*

on June 5, the highest among 31 emerging markets tracked by Bloomberg. Restricted naira liquidity may force President Muhammadu Buhari, who took office on May 29 after ushering in the country’s first

he Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka have called on the organised private sector in the country to compliment the effort of government in funding the nation’s education sector. The duo spoke at the third Convocation ceremony of the Kwara State University, Ilorin, which coincided with the presentation of awards to winners of the Business Plan Competition sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc. They noted that with the rising challenges facing governments at all levels, the growth of the sector relies mainly on private sector participation through appropriate funding and provision of content. Prof. Soyinka, who delivered the Convocation Lecture advised on the need for private sector to take more interest in the education sector and noted that the need to fully develop the sector cannot be overemphasised, as it remains the bedrock of any nation. Mr. Adeola, who was represented at the event

by Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, the Regional Business Executive, South West, expressed optimism that the foray into the sector by the Bank would encourage other financial institutions to see the need to also contribute their quota to the growth of the sector for the benefit of students at all levels. His words: “The challenges in the education sector are three fold – funding, capacity building and content. These have continued to hamper the development of the sector in the country leading to the outflow of foreign exchange as many Nigerians seek better and quality education abroad. “This informed our decision to set up the One Education Desk to constantly seek out and execute ideas that would champion the advancement of the education sector in Nigeria through strategic partnerships, service provision for students, parents, teachers/ lecturers, vendors, school administrators and the non-academic staff as well as the provision of world-class ICT solutions and other services with the ultimate aim of reducing unemployment in Nigeria”.

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

8-Jun-15

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

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 193.73 600.00 573.14 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 299.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,746.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,421.31

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

1.19 1.89 2.14 2.23 2.98 4.06 4.38 4.68 6.64 8.77 13.47 13.95 14.45 15.12 19.11

13.79 13.81 13.81 13.81 13.84 13.88 13.87 13.85 13.77 13.80 17.03 17.54 18.14 15.55 13.93

13.65 13.72 13.72 13.73 13.78 13.78 13.76 13.76 13.70 13.74 16.97 17.47 18.03 15.47 13.88

99.16 102.03 92.85 91.64 92.53 106.39 78.01 105.63 111.11 101.97 89.36 73.93 51.18 68.00 88.16

99.31 102.18 93.00 91.79 92.68 106.69 78.31 105.93 111.41 102.27 89.66 74.23 51.48 68.30 88.46

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

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

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.94 1.50 1.86 2.08

2.27 1.00 2.67 2.85

16.35 14.78 16.47 16.66

100.81 102.04 102.24 98.51

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

297.82

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

301.75

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.23

4.44

16.17

99.08

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.31

3.23

15.58

99.17

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.58

4.46

18.30

97.74

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.59

3.48

17.32

99.01

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.86

1.00

14.80

92.39

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.13

1.00

15.04

98.72

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.56

1.79

15.62

96.66

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.94

1.80

15.60

97.42

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.96

1.00

14.80

98.64

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

1.94

1.00

14.80

99.53

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

1.94

4.78

18.58

93.17

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.13

1.00

14.81

101.11

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

*GOMBE LAGOS

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

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

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

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

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

2.56 4.46 2.53

2.02 1.00 1.00

15.85 14.86 14.83

99.23 98.83 99.85 97.89

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.07

1.82

15.67

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.47

1.00

14.80

95.21

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.56

1.00

14.80

100.72

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

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

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.22

1.44

15.29

98.12

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.25

1.00

14.85

100.31

99.51

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

452.88 440.20

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.19

1.00

12.45

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.25

1.00

12.90

99.78

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.34

2.63

15.16

99.66

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.31

1.00

14.91

97.75

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.38

1.34

15.20

98.80

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.31

1.00

14.82

96.49

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.54

1.88

15.67

103.80

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.59

3.84

17.63

97.85

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.75

1.00

14.80

104.55

101.67

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.75

1.00

14.80

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

3.31

3.00

16.86

92.90

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.86

2.29

16.09

99.41

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

1.94

6.11

19.91

97.16

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.56

2.16

15.99

99.95

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.44

2.76

16.57

95.37

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

6.45

1.80

15.55

94.82

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.56

1.57

15.31

104.58

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

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

30-Sep-14

16.29

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.31

1.00

15.07

105.93

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.31

1.00

15.07

90.99

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

187.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

182.38

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.68

1.00

14.83

90.02

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

14.85

84.92

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.80

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

6.03

5.82

103.38

104.43

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.86

4.50

100.76

101.77

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.17

6.02

101.31

102.26

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

1,527.22

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

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.37

4.47

101.01

102.75

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.99

100.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.90

9.42

90.17

93.63

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.55

7.06

95.41

96.84

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.23

96.75

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.07

9.61

95.79

97.23

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

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

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

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

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

9.17 10.28 9.56

9.17 10.14 9.56

95.70 95.75 92.19

95.70 96.38 92.19

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.29

9.91

92.38

94.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,500.14

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 17 24 31 38 45 52 59 66

FIXINGS Maturity 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15

Bid Discount (%) 11.14 10.75 10.32 10.21 11.00 11.22 11.19 11.43

Offer Discount (%) 10.89 10.50 10.07 9.96 10.75 10.97 10.94 11.18

Bid Yield (%) 11.19 10.83 10.41 10.31 11.15 11.40 11.39 11.67

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.4333 14.8096 16.0004 17.3217

Rate (%)

OBB

11.38

O/N

11.83

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 11.25 11.50

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.96 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

198.06 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

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

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

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

Business | Financial Market News

20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 193.73 600.00 573.14 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 299.50

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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,746.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,421.31

2.14 2.23 2.98 4.06 4.38 4.68 6.64 8.77 13.47 13.95 14.45 15.12 19.11

13.81 13.81 13.84 13.88 13.87 13.85 13.77 13.80 17.03 17.54 18.14 15.55 13.93

13.72 13.73 13.78 13.78 13.76 13.76 13.70 13.74 16.97 17.47 18.03 15.47 13.88

Description

Issuer

MOST ACTIVE

Agency Bonds

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

03-Apr-12

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 09-Dec-11 The banking sub ***LCRM 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 06-Jul-12 sector was the most TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE in consumer goods, oil by N26 billion or 0.22 per active TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

and gas and banking eq- cent as market sentiment Sub-National Bonds remained in the limbo. uities. 31-Aug-10 A/Agusto KADUNA 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 The Consumer Goods Meanwhile, a turnover 30-Sep-10 A-/Agusto *EBONYI 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 30-Jun-11 Stories by Chris Ugwu BBB+/Agusto *BENUE BENUE 30-JUN-2016 Index, the 14.00 oil/gas Index of 337.4 million shares 30-Jun-09 ‡ /Agusto *IMO 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 and the Banking Index worth N2.8 billion in 19-Apr-10 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 30-Jun-10 BAYELSA ‡ /Agusto *BAYELSA he Nigerian fell 0.50 per13.75 cent, 0.9930-JUN-2017 per 3,481 deals was recorded 30-Dec-10 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 ‡ /Agusto bourse sawEDO decent and 0.27 per cent rein the day’s trading. 30-Sep-11 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA spectively. 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 cline in value of The banking04-Oct-11 sub Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER 09-Dec-11 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 equities, as profit Consequently , the All- sector of the financial 12-Dec-13 Bb-/Agusto *NIGER 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 the continued, particShare Index dipped 74.58 services sector was 14-Feb-12 ‡taking /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 02-Oct-12 BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 ularly on shares of LAGOS blue basis points or 0.22 per most active (measured Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN 12-DEC-2019 chip companies. cent to close14.75 at OSUN 33,590.33 as by turnover volume); 10-Oct-13 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 The NSE All Share In- against 33,664.91 recorded with 228.2 million shares 27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 31-Dec-13 dex and market capitalisathe previous day,31-DEC-2020 while worth N1.8 million exA-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agusto EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 tion declined by 0.22;*EKITI part- the market14.50 capitalisation changed by investors in 06-Jan-14 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 ly as a result of declines of equities depreciated 1,226 deals. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

297.82 Volume in the sub301.75 sector was largely driven by activities in the shares 12.50 8.50 of UBA Plc and Zenith 13.00 2.16 4.86 Bank14.00 Plc. 15.50 5.73 Also, other financial 10.00 57.00 13.75 sub-sector 25.73 services of the 14.00 financial services 25.00 sector, 14.00 30.81 14.00 by activities 9.00 boosted in 14.50 13.73 the shares of FCMB Plc, 14.00 10.20 followed 15.50 with a turnover 27.00 15.50 15.09 of 32.06 million shares 14.50 80.00 14.75 25.70 valued at N148.7 million 14.75 10.78 in 54113.50 deals. 87.50 15.00 Consumer goods5.00com14.50 4.55 pany,15.00 PZ Cussons4.56 Nigeria Plc gained five 452.88per

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Modelled

98.72

30-Jun-17

1.13

1.00

15.04

31-Dec-17

2.56

1.79

15.62

30-Sep-18

1.94

1.80

15.60

97.42

04-Oct-18

1.96

1.00

14.80

98.64

09-Dec-18

1.94

1.00

14.80

12-Dec-18

1.94

4.78

18.58

93.17

14-Feb-19

2.13

1.00

14.81

101.11

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

2.56 4.46

2.02 1.00

15.85 14.86

99.23 98.83

92.19

Shareholders ratify Mainstreet Bank takeover

BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

9.56

92.19

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.29

9.91

92.38

ollowing the approval of NAHCO FSDH FMDQ Bond Listing and A/GCR UBA Quotation Rules by the BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING Nil *DANA Securities and Exchange ComA-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER mission (SEC), FMDQ OTC Plc AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER A+/Agusto; A/GCR UBA (FMDQ) yesterday listed on its BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA platform Stanbic IBTC N15.540 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS billion bonds. Nil *DANA A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO The listed bonds are Series 1 BBB/GCR FCMB (Tranches A & B) 10-Year SubA/GCR UBA A/GCR STANBIC IBTC ordinated Notes under a ₦150 A/GCR billion, StructuredSTANBIC NoteIBTC ProTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE gramme due in 2024. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION The bonds are the second Supranational Bond corporate bonds to be admitted AAA/S&P IFC on the FMDQ Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P platform AfDB and the TOTAL OUTSTANDING second of its kindVALUE on a fixed inTOTAL comeMARKET OTC inCAPITALISATION Africa. Listing on the NSE provides Rating/Agency Issuer opportunity for retail investors FGN Eurobonds to take advantage of the fixed BB-/Fitch; returnB+/S&P on the investment grade BB-/Fitch; Notes, through the primary FGN BB-/S&P market, whilst listing on the BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P FMDQ will provide a secondTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ary market platform for instiTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION tutional and foreign investors Corporate to tradeEurobonds the bond. B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I This is coming after the pioB+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC neer listing of the N30.5 billon B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC United Bank for Africa PlcPLC bond B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P earlier in the year. ZENITH BANK PLC B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC The bond, which has 10-year B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC tenure, and B-/Fitch; B/S&Pis a tier2 capital ACCESS BANK PLC II A-/Agusto

#{r}

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

the proceeds be used to en13.00 NAHCO will 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 hance the bank’s capital base. 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 Chief Executive Officer of 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mr. MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 Yinka Sanni, said the listing MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBAExchange II 30-SEP-2018 on FMDQ is signifCASERA 18-OCT-2018 icant15.75 to LAthe bank because it MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 gives16.00 theDANA lender the privilege II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 of joining reputable growing 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 exchanges. 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC 30-SEP-2024 His words: “It is a IAprivilege 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 to be on this Exchange. The price set for the bond is market determined because buyer and seller meet at FMDQ. With 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 this listing, we find ourselves 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 privileged to be in the league of other reputable companies already listed inDescription FMDQ. We hope the market develops and provide instruments that peo6.75 JAN 28, 2021 ple can trade on. “No bank raises 5.13 JUL 12, all 2018 the money it needs forever at once. 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 Otherwise, return on investment will be dampened. So, we are raising sufficient funds that we need for our immediMAY 19, 2016 ate growth and7.50 the good thing 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 is that it is a market that is liq6.88 MAY 09, 2018 uid and investors can 6.00 NOV access 08, 2018 it”. APR 22, 2019 Sanni noted 6.25 that the bank 8.75 May 21, 2019 has raised would be enough for 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 its needs 9.25/6M in the medium USD LIBOR+7.677term. JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

“We 29-Sep-11 expect to deliver decent 13.00 15.00 25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 returns30-Sep-10 to our investors. It is 13.00 20.00 the type that they will be happy 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.56 09-Apr-11 16.00 5.40 that they invest with us. We are 09-Sep-11 18.00 2.54 happy that these days, more and 09-Sep-11 16.00 0.70 30-Sep-11 are interested 14.00 35.00 more people in 18-Oct-13 15.75 2.10 doing business with our bank,” 17-Feb-12 18.00 0.36 he said.01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 Managing Director /C EO, 20-Nov-14 14.25 26.00 FMDQ-OTC Onadele 30-Dec-14 Mr. Bola16.45 30.50 0.10 Koko, 30-Sep-14 commended 16.29 Stanbic 30-Sep-14 13.25 15.44 IBTC for being second company 187.44 to be listed on the market. He 182.38 reiterated the FMDQ’s commitment to the development of 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 the Nigerian markets, 10-Jul-14 financial11.25 12.95 24.95 through its efficient platform 21.80 for the registration, listing, quotation and valuationCoupon of bonds. Outstanding Value Issue Date (%) ($mm) He further highlighted that listing of debt securities on 500.00 FMDQ 07-Oct-11 provides a wide6.75 range of benefits12-Jul-13 across the debt market 5.13 500.00 value chain to include global 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 visibility and transparency to 1,500.00 the listed debts, improved secondary market liquidity, price 1,527.22 formation and benchmark pric19-May-11 7.50 500.00 ing, positively impacting the 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 Nigerian debt capital market 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 (DCM) 08-Nov-13 stakeholders such 6.00 as is400.00 22-Apr-14 houses, investors, 6.25 500.00 suers, issuing 8.75 200.00 market21-May-14 makers and regulators, 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 and resulting globally 24-Jun-14 in a more 9.25 400.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

96.66

99.53

2.53of Skye 1.00 ation and 14.83approval. 99.85 hareholders 10-Oct-20 3.07 1.82 15.67 97.89 Bank Plc yesterday Explaining the benefits 27-Nov-20 5.47 1.00 14.80 95.21 31-Dec-20 14.80 of the scheme, 100.72 at the 9th5.56Annual1.00 and effects 31-Dec-20 3.22 1.44 15.29 98.12 General Meeting (AGM)1.00 which gives legal100.31 seal to 06-Jan-21 3.25 14.85 ratified the entire issued the acquisition, the Group share capital of Main- Managing Director/Chief street Bank Limited and Executive Officer of the 0.19 12.45Timothy 99.51 all17-Aug-15 relevant steps taken by1.00 bank, Mr. Ogun09-Dec-15 0.25 1.00 12.90 99.78 the board of director in retayo, said the proposed re06-Jan-16 0.34 2.63 15.16 99.66 lation to the acquisition. would97.75 create 29-Sep-16 1.31 1.00 structuring 14.91 25-Oct-16 1.38 15.20 a platform where 98.80 signifiThe ratification ac-1.34 30-Sep-17 2.31 1.00 14.82 96.49 cording to a statement cant synergies could 30-Nov-17 1.54 1.88 15.67 103.80 be 09-Apr-18 1.59was the 3.84 obtained 17.63 97.85 from Skye Bank, for the benefits 09-Sep-18 1.75 1.00 14.80 104.55 highpoint of the1.75 court-or-1.00 of the shareholders, em09-Sep-18 14.80 101.67 30-Sep-18 3.31 16.86 92.90 and dered extra ordinary gen-3.00 ployees, customers 18-Oct-18 1.86 16.09 99.41 eral meeting held yester-2.29 the economy as a whole. 17-Feb-19 1.94 6.11 19.91 97.16 day immediately after the2.16 He further identified 01-Apr-19 2.56 15.99 99.95 14-Nov-20 5.44 16.57 other benefits of 95.37 the rebank’s 9th annual general2.76 20-Nov-21 6.45 1.80 15.55 94.82 meeting 30-Dec-21 in Lagos. 6.56 1.57 structuring 15.31 to include 104.58 the 30-Sep-24 15.07 105.93 During the 9.31 consider-1.00 opportunity to reposition 30-Sep-24 9.31 1.00 15.07 90.99 ation of the bank’s pro- the enlarged Skye Bank posed scheme of exter- as a tier 1 bank within the nal restructuring, which Nigerian financial serdeals with the acquisition vices space based90.02 on the 11-Feb-18 2.68 1.00 14.83 and how to consolidate benefits 84.92 arising 01-Feb-21 4.75 1.00 expected 14.85 the operations of both from economies of scale banks, the chairman and scope. of the bank,BidMr. Tunde “A business combinaMaturity Date Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price Ayeni, disclosed that the tion of this nature will po& Yieldslead to revenue Securities and Exchange Prices tentially 28-Jan-21 6.03 103.38 104.43cost Commission (SEC), had5.82 enhancements and given its clearance to the4.50 savings100.76 for the enlarged 12-Jul-18 4.86 101.77 scheme. Skye Bank with a wider 12-Jul-23 6.17 6.02 101.31 102.26 He said after the re- customer base”, Ogunceipt of the scheme clear- tayo explained. ance from the SEC, an The Skye Bank boss application was filed at said that the scheme 19-May-16 6.37 Court,4.47 would 101.01 102.75 the Federal High provide an addi25-Jul-17 6.99 6.99 100.50 100.50 which directed the meettional buffer to the exist02-May-18 10.90 9.42 90.17 93.63 ing of the shareholders base 96.84 of the 08-Nov-18 7.55 7.06 ing capital 95.41 of22-Apr-19 the banks be7.23 convened7.23 bank in96.75 the event96.75 of sub21-May-19 10.07 97.23 and the scheme be pre-9.61 sequent95.79 recapitalisation 07-Aug-20 9.17 9.17 95.70 95.70 sented for their10.28 consider-10.14 directives 24-Jun-21 95.75by the CBN. 96.38

440.20

FMDQ OTC lists N15.54bn Stanbic IBTC Bonds

Valuation Yield

(%) Price per share. On the flip side, shares 03-Apr-17 0.94 2.27 of Nacho 16.35Plc led 100.81 the los08-Dec-16 1.50 1.00 14.78 102.04 4.91 per102.24 cent to 19-Apr-17 1.86 2.67 ers with 16.47 06-Jul-17 2.08 2.85 close at16.66 N5.81 per98.51 share. cent to close at N30.66 Trans Exp Plc plunged per share. Transcorp Plc 4.69 per cent to close at trailed with a gain of 4.95 N1.22, while Beta Glass 31-Aug-15 99.08 per cent to close0.23 at N2,97, 4.44 Nigeria16.17 Plc dropped 4.55 30-Sep-15 0.31 3.23 15.58 99.17 30-Jun-16 0.58 while UBA Plc added 3.50 4.46 per cent18.30 to close at97.74 N42.00 30-Jun-16 0.59 3.48 17.32 99.01 per share. per cent to close at N5.33 1.00 19-Apr-17 1.86 14.80 92.39

Corporate Bonds

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

93.00 91.79 92.68 106.69 78.31 105.93 111.41 102.27 89.66 74.23 51.48 68.30 88.46

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stock market falls by N26bn

Rating/Agency

92.85 91.64 92.53 106.39 78.01 105.63 111.11 101.97 89.36 73.93 51.18 68.00 88.16

94.00

8-Jun-15

3,650.00 3,500.14

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute Money Market or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS FIXINGS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up Exchange to date. We do &not guarantee Foreign (Spot Forwards) 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 17 25-Jun-15 11.14 10.89 11.19

**Treasury Bills^ professional, financial 24 31 38 45 52 59 Rating/Agency 66 80 87 94 108 115 129 143 157 178 192 213 NA 220 227 234 241 248 255 262 269 283 290

2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 Issuer 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 1-Oct-15 15-Oct-15 29-Oct-15 12-Nov-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 NA 14-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 28-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 11-Feb-16 18-Feb-16 25-Feb-16 3-Mar-16 17-Mar-16 24-Mar-16

FGN Bonds

304 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 318

10.75 10.32 10.21 11.00 11.22 11.19 Description 11.43 10.90 11.24 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 11.41 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 12.07 13.04 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.23 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.27 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.33 12.90 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 12.82 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.10 15.54 13-FEB-2020 13.38 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 13.04 13.41 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.19 15.00 28-NOV-2028 13.33 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.29 13.29 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.32 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.98 ^12.1493 13.12 18-JUL-2034

10.83 10.41 10.31 11.15 11.40 11.39 Coupon 11.67 (%) 11.17 11.54 13.05 11.76 15.10 12.51 13.60 9.85 13.88 9.35 14.00 10.70 14.14 13.76 16.00 13.74 7.00 14.18 15.54 14.55 16.39 14.19 14.67 14.20 14.44 15.00 14.66 12.49 14.64 14.69 8.50 14.77 10.00 14.43 12.1493 14.64

Bonds

7-Apr-16

13.25

13.00

14.89

21-Apr-16

12.69

12.44

14.27

12.95

12.70

14.68

12.79

12.54

14.64

332 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 5-May-16 360

10.50 10.07 9.96 10.75 10.97 10.94 Issue 11.18Date 10.65 10.99 16-Aug-13 11.16 27-Apr-12 11.82 12.79 27-Jul-07 12.98 31-Aug-07 13.02 30-May-08 13.08 12.65 29-Jun-12 12.57 23-Oct-09 12.85 13-Feb-15 13.13 27-Jan-12 12.79 13.16 14-Mar-14 12.94 28-Nov-08 13.08 22-May-09 13.04 13.04 20-Nov-09 13.07 23-Jul-10 12.73 18-Jul-14 12.87

2-Jun-16

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

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

Description

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 581.39

Rate (%) 11.4333 14.8096 16.0004 17.3217

11.38

O/N

11.83

REPO

Maturity Date

NITTY

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

OBB

16-Aug-16

Rate (%) 27-Apr-17 10.5110 11.4597 27-Jul-17 11.4914 31-Aug-17 13.4594 30-May-18 14.1443 14.3803 29-Jun-19

233.90 23-Oct-19 193.73 13-Feb-20 NIFEX 600.00 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N)14-Mar-24 573.14 BID($/N) 198.9000 75.00 28-Nov-28 OFFER ($/N) 199.0000 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 299.50 18-Jul-34

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

Bid Yield (%) 11.50

Rate (%) 11.25

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

11.75 12.00

Tenor

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

1.19 13.79 13.65 1.89 13.81 13.72 NOTE: 2.14 13.81 13.72 :Benchmarks 2.23 13.81 13.73 * :Amortising Bond 2.98Bond 13.84 13.78 µ :Convertible AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.06 Management Corporation 13.88 13.78 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.38 13.87 13.76 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 4.68 Finance Corporation 13.85 13.76 IFC: International 6.64 13.77 Management 13.70 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 8.77 Aviation Handling 13.80 Company 13.74 O/N: Overnight 13.47 17.03 16.97 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 13.95 17.54 Company17.47 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement 14.45 18.14 18.03 15.12 15.55 15.47 19.11 13.93 13.88

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

197.96 198.06 201.81 201.93 Price 202.28 202.13 202.87 203.37 204.24 205.31 Bid Price Offer 205.60 207.21Price 206.28 213.47 220.29 226.27

99.16 99.31 102.03 102.18 92.85 93.00 NA :Not Applicable 91.64 91.79 ^ : Market Prices 92.53 92.68 # : Floating Rate Bond ***: Deferred coupon bonds 106.39 106.69 78.01 78.31 ‡ : Bond rating under review 105.93 †: Bond 105.63 rating expired 111.41 N/A :Not111.11 Available {r} :Issuer in receivership 102.27 101.97 89.36 89.66 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 73.93Bank for Africa 74.23 UBA: United 51.18 51.48 68.00 68.30 88.16 88.46

4,746.32 4,421.31

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM Modified Duration Buckets

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

Volume(Bn)

03-Apr-12 17.25 2.40 09-Dec-11FMDQ FGN 0.00/16.00 BOND INDEX 112.22 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 116.70 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 66.49 Weighting by Weighting by Mkt

Outstanding Vol

Bucket Weighting

Value

297.82

1,436.76

1,409.48

40.58

42.84

3<5

1,251.06

1,173.14

33.77

37.30

666.31

891.07

25.65

19.87

3,354.13

3,473.69

Sub-National Bonds

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

Market

100.00

12.50

8.50

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

Mod_Duration

0.94 1.50 1.86 2.08

Implied Yield

2.27 1.00 2.67 2.85 Implied

Portfolio Price

16.35 14.78 16.47 16.66

INDEX

100.81 102.04 102.24 98.51 YTD Return (%)

0.41

18.27

13.83

105.9457

1,187.01

0.34

39.52

13.78

111.1019

1,108.58

9.4822

0.26

42.21

14.87

78.8520

1,108.27

10.0550

14.25

100.7370

1,138.32

7.8789

301.75

31-Aug-10

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

1.00

100.00

31-Aug-15

0.23

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.31

3.23

15.58

99.17

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.58

4.46

18.30

97.74

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.59

3.48

17.32

99.01

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.86

1.00

14.80

92.39

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.13

1.00

15.04

98.72

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.56

1.79

15.62

96.66

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.94

1.80

15.60

97.42

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.96

1.00

14.80

98.64

A/Agusto

KADUNA

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

BBB+/Agusto

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

4.44

16.17

7.1455

99.08

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

Obasa emerges Lagos speaker as Ambode seeks Assembly’s support Muritala Ayinla and Wale Elegbede

strive to maintain the standard set by the outgoing 7th Assembly so as to drive his developmental policies. The governor told the house that he has handed over his proclamation of the 8th Assembly to Clerk of the House, Mr. Ganiyu Olsegun Abiru, based on section 3, subsection 105, of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. There are 40 members in the house, out of which 32 were elected on

News 47

SOUTH WEST

the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), while 8 of them emerged on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). There are four females in the house, 3 belonging to the APC while one belongs to the PDP. Governor Ambode said: “ As we commence a new dispensation, it is important to note that we have a great task ahead. Assuring the House that he would respect their views and opinions

irrespective of the party that they represent , Ambode, also promised to seek the approval of the lawmakers over all policies of his administration. While urging the lawmakers to maintain close relationship with their constituencies as the only to way their aspirations can be gauged and harmonised into laws and policies, the governor also reminded the House to put Lagosians at the centre of all their actions.

Amosun’s loyalists emerge principal officers in Ogun Assembly Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

oyalists to the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday emerged as principal officers of the State House of Assembly. At the inauguration of the 8th legislature held at the Assembly complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the 26-member House elected Suraj Adekunbi, from Egbado North State constituency I as the Speaker. The lawmaker representing Ifo I, Olakunle Oluomo, emerged as the

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday inaugurated the 8th State House of Assembly with a call on the lawmakers to work harder in collaboration with the Executive arm of government so as to exceed the achievements of the 7th Assembly. At the inauguration, Mudashiru Obasa, a fourth term lawmaker who representing Agege Constituency 1 was elected Speaker of the 8th Assembly in the state while Wasiu SanniEshinlokun, emerged as the Deputy Speaker. Obasa who emerged unopposed was nominated by Olanrewaju Oshun, (Mainland Constituency II) while Sola Giwa of Lagos Island constituency II seconded the motion for his nomination. Speaking at the brief ceremony, held at the new chamber of the State House of Assembly, governor Ambode, said the lawmakers must consciously and diligently work hard to secure a better life and greater opportunities for the people through viable, pragmatic laws and other legislative instruments that would ensure visible social, economic and infrastructural transformation in all the 40 Constituencies of the state. According to him, the lawmakers must brace Speaker of the eighth Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, taking the oath of office before the Clerk of the House, up for the task ahead and Mr.Ganiyu Abiru, during the inauguration of the Assembly in Lagos…yesterday

Bamidele charges Ekiti Reps-elect to be good ambassadors Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

n outgoing member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central Federal constituency I, has advised the Federal lawmakers representing Ekiti in the House to be good and worthy ambassadors of the state. Bamidele, who was elected in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Ac-

tion Congress of Nigeria (CAN), also thanked the members of his constituency for giving him the opportunity to serve them, saying the gesture will forever be appreciated. In a statement he signed in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, he said though the elected representatives were members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, that the charge became imperative in view of the people’s expectations for a better performance.

Osun judiciary workers shun govt’s plea to suspend strike Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

sun State Government’s plea to the state Judiciary Union of Nigeria,(JUSUN), workers to call off their fivemonths-old strike suffered a set-back yesterday as the workers insisted that that there was no going back on the industrial action until their demands were met. This development came as the persuasion of the

Lagos APC cautions tanker drivers TemitopeOgunbanke

he Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has cautioned tanker drivers in the state to be mindful of the safety of lives of Lagosians as they carry out their businesses. The party described a situation where two tanker accidents happened in a spate of

few days, inflicting serious damages on the people as worrisome and that tanker drivers must take extra caution to avoid a repeat of such horrible incidents. In a statement issued yesterday the party’s Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party said the two tanker fire incidents were too many in a spate of days they hap-

Deputy Speaker while Adeyinka Mafe, from Sagamu I and Idowu Olowofuja, from Abeokuta South II emerged as Majority Leader and Chief Whip respectively. Hon. Wale Alausa, representing Ijebu-Ode State Constituency, emerged as the Minority Leader. The House had during the 7th legislature been sharply divided between lawmakers loyal to Amosun and those supporting ex-governors Olusegun Osoba and Gbenga Daniel. But following the April 11 House of Assembly election, the ruling APC, won 17 seats while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured nine seats in the state legislature. Shortly after emerging as Speaker, Adekunbi, administered the oath of office on other newly elected members of the House. He expressed delight that he successfully led the 7th legislature and vowed to encourage transparency, accountability and good governance, in line with international best practices, in running the affairs of the current parliament. According to him, the 7th legislature passed 44 bills and 60 resolutions as well as executed 161 constituency projects across the state in the last four years. Adekunbi said, “The policy thrust of my new leadership is to collaborate with the executive to stimulate growth, create wealth through the enactment of enabling laws and passing of useful resolutions.

pened, stating that any reoccurrence will be too much for the people of Lagos to handle. While sympathizing with victims of the two tanker fire incidents, the party aligned itself with the pledge by Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to ensure the victims were helped to go back to their normal lives in the shortest possible time.

leadership of the union to their members that the plea of the state government be considered met stiff resistance, leading to a division among the workers on the issue. At an emergency congress held at the State High Court premises, Osogbo, which lasted for five hours, the Chairman Nigerian Labour Congress Osun State, Mr. Jacob Adekomi, said, “ the union would continue with the strike since JUSUN is affiliate of

Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

his year’s Egungun festival in Oyo State has turned awry for a custodian of the popular Ogunmola Masquerade of Ibadan, Sikiru Oyewale as the Oyo State police command arrested him for allegedly inciting his followers to participate in destruction of people’s

the NLC, which directed the current strike in the state.” Adekomi charged members of the union to stay away from work until further directive by the NLC and appealed to state government to urgently look into all labour related issues in the state to save workers from untold hardship. In his speech, the chairman of JUSUN Osun State chapter, Alhaji oladapo Oseni ,told members that the government

has promised to grant full autonomy to the Judiciary by September and that was why the strike should be suspended. He, however, maintained that, the union had no option than to abide by the directive of NLC that the strike should continue saying” NLC was supreme organ of all labour unions in the state.” It would be recalled that JUSUN leadership had announced the suspension of its five months old strike last week Friday.

Oyo police arrest masquerader properties during the celebration. The suspect was paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Katsina, at the state headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan. Represented by the Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu (DSP), the police boss disclosed that as a way of forestalling

any break down of law and order, the command had earlier summoned a peace meeting to discuss the modality for ensuring peace during the Egungun festival and Oyo State in general. However, Sikiru, the custodian who caused breakdown of law and order in Ayeye Area of Mapo was arrested.

48 News

tuesday, june 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

south - south

south - east

Amaechi maltreated me, says ex-deputy gov Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he immediate past Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Tele Ikuru, yesterday said that the former Governor of the state, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, maltreated him by refusing to give him a parting gift when their tenure ended on May 29, 2015 despite his contributions to the state for more than seven years. Ikuru, who disclosed this at St. Simons Anglican Church, Ikuru town in Andoni Local Government area during a thanksgiving service

organised for him, said Amaechi did not give him anything to go home with. It will be recalled that Ikuru dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) few days to the general elections, declaring that “the APC was a party of rebels, insurgents and anarchists, clothed in robes of pretense and deceit.” The former deputy governor revealed that he saved the state over N200 billion by returning to the state’s coffers funds he did not spend completely on projects. He, however, glorified God, and noted that he had never expected any re-

ward from man all his life, but has always depended on God. Ikuru said: “I served this government for seven years and seven months under Amaechi, because I was with Omehia for five months. “At the end of the seven years and seven months, Amaechi did not think that I deserve any parting gift in spite of the fact that in the course of this administration, by reason of the office I occupied, I returned several monies to him valued over N200 billion cash at different times during one work or the other. “By reason of my contribution to this govern-

L-R: Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; Speaker, state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror and the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bright Osayande, after the proclamation of the 7th Assembly…yesterday.

MASSOB warns police against attack on members Steve Uzoechi

Crisis brews in UNICAL over appointment of VC Clement James Calabar

here are indications that the University of Calabar (UNICAL) may be heading for a serious crisis in the next few months over the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor of the institution, who is expected to succeed the incumbent, Prof. James Epoke, who will be completing his tenure in December. New Telegraph reliably gathered that a group within the university has petitioned Governor Ben Ayade to intervene in the matter, claiming that some interests are bent on sidelining candidates from the northern part of the state. The group, known as the Cross River Northern Senatorial Zone Academics (CRNZA) of the university, yesterday in Calabar claimed that the northern district has

never produced a vicechancellor since the inception of the university in 1975, demanded that justice be done its favour. The petition, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of CRNSZA, Prof. Edde Iji and Dr. Liwhu Betiang respectively, claimed that the move to raise the years of being a professor from the usual five to 10 years, was meant to sideline contestants from the northern district. The petition titled; “The Vice-Chancellorship of the University of Calabar - Justice for the Northern Senatorial Zone,” reads in part; “While it is an established academic tradition that whoever is to be considered as vice-chancellor must be a professor, the details of years of experience as one and other prerequisites are drawn by the governing council, taking into cognisance the peculiarity of the university.”

Edo Assembly gets new speaker Cajetan Mmuta Benin

he Edo State House of Assembly was yesterday inaugurated in Benin, the state capital, ushering in24 lawmakers representing the various constituencies in the three senatorial districts of the state. Among those who took the oath of office and allegiance administered on them by the

Clerk of the House, Mrs. Suro Ogbebor, include 21 legislators elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and three others elected on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively. The state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, had in a letter to the house, urged the lawmakers to ensure that they pass laws that would positively impact on the lives of the people.

Wike asked to sack electoral, judicial commissions Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday voted to empower Governor Nyesom Wike to remove members of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission (RSJSC) and that of the state Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) based on the unsatisfactory manner the two commissions were run. The House took the decision after quizzing the Secretary of RSJSC, Mrs. Kate Baridor, a Chief Magistrate Grade 1 and the Chairman of RSIEC, Prof. Augustine Ahiazu. The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Ibani, who presided over the plenary, had divided the house to get their position on the advice to give the governor. This was quickly followed by a vote, which saw 29 lawmakers voting for the sacking of RSJSC members, while the only All Progressives Congress (APC) member, Josiah Olu absented. Twenty-nine lawmakers also voted for the dissolution of RSIEC, while Olu of the APC voted against it. It was after the voting that the speaker, Ibani said “the governor is hereby given the power to remove the chairman and members of RSIEC from office,” just as he directed that the members of the RSJSC be sacked.

OWERRI

he Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has warned authorities of the Nigerian Police in Imo and Ebonyi States to desist forthwith from attacking its members over the hoisting of the Biafran flag, among other issues. The Assistant National Director of Information, MASSOB, Mr. Sunny Okereafor, gave the warning in a statement he issued yesterday in Owerri and made available to newsmen. Okereafor, who accused the police in Imo and Ebonyi of indis-

criminately arresting, harassing and detaining members of the group condemned the alleged incessant attacks on the group by the police. "MASSOB is warning the police in Ebonyi and Imo States for the last time. They should stop molesting our members because we are non-violent. Biafra is our right and we must fight for its actualization until success is achieved. "Police say it is illegal for two flags to be flown in one country. MASSOB's position is that Biafran flag is not illegal. It is not illegal for two or more flags to fly in Nigeria," Okereafor stressed. He queried why only the police in the two South-East states were

always clamping down on MASSOB members because of alleged hoisting of Biafran flag when the same flag was flying in other states of the South East geopolitical zone and beyond. The MASSOB spokesman, alleged that police authorities in Ebonyi and Imo were using the clampdown to cover-up their lapses in tackling the rising wave of crime and general insecurity in the two states. He urged the police to concentrate on curbing the recent upsurge in kidnapping, armed robbery, assassination and other organized crimes in the state instead of dissipating energy on haunting non-violent MASSOB members.

Ebonyi debt profile now N50bn, says Umahi Uchenna Inya

ABAKALIKI

overnor David Umahi of Ebonyi State yesterday said the debt profile of the state presently stands at over N50bn. Governor Umahi made this known yesterday in Abakaliki, during the inauguration of the fifth House of Assembly. He called on the people of the state to pray for his

administration to overcome the challenges posed by the high debt profile inherited from the past administration. ‘’We made so many promises during our campaigns and the people of Ebonyi voted for us with great expectations. We are not going to disappoint them at all. ‘’We are aware of the dwindling state of the national income, the high level of corruption in our

society, high debt profile in the state especially from loans and on-going projects which is over N50bn to date. "We are not afraid to confront this monster we met on ground and we must do so." We can only do this if we are all determine to work hard and fight corruption. Our administration is going to be tough with corruption and fraud because no nation ever became great with corruption and fraud’’, he said.

Ikpeazu’s govt will be devoid of lies, says aide Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

bia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has come to the governance of the state with a different approach to what is hitherto known as he would neither engage in media hype nor

the use of his portrait to harrass contractors. The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Mr Godwin Adindu, has said. He said he was going to orchestrate a revolution in the information management in the state where the people would not be fed with bare-faced

lies. “We are going to tell the people how things are and why they are the way they are. We are going to do explanations” Adindu said, adding that the government was not going to go into media hype rather " we are going to use those funds for media hype to develop the state".

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

News 49

NORTH

Boko Haram suspects, soldiers in gun duel Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

here was an uneasy calm in Unguwan Keke village, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State yesterday, where two Boko Haram suspects were said

to have escaped after a gun-battle in a part of the state. The gunduel was said to have ensued between the insurgents and a joint security team, leading to the death of one of the operatives. An eyewitness, who did not want his name in print, said the security

patrol team raided the area about 1a.m., when there were gunshots in the area, which lasted for hours. According to the eyewitness, although the two Boko Haram suspects, whose names could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, have

not been arrested, their wives were arrested by the operatives after the gun duel that left their building shattered. The women were, however, taken away to an unknown destination, the eyewitness stated. Corroborating this, the Dagaci, the Village

Head of the area, Mallam Suleiman Mohammed, also confirmed the gunshots about 1a.m. He said the team of security operatives, which was made up of soldiers and the State Security Service (SSS) personnel, later asked people in the neighbourhood to come out while ordering them

to leave the area to avoid being victims. When our correspondent visited the area yesterday, the building allegedly housing the Boko Haram suspects was in completely shambles as the bloodstains of the dead security operative could be seen on the floor.

Benue resident doctors begin strike Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

L-R: Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Nasiru Yunusa; Personal Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Unekwu Sule; Governor Idris Wada and the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, during the governor’s visit to the police headquarters in Lokoja … yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

Garba, NUJ president, makes Kano commissioners’ list Muhammad Kabir Kano

ano State governor, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, yesterday sent the list of his commissionersdesignate to the state House of Assembly. The President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Muhammad Garba, made the list. The Speaker of the House, Hon. Kabiru Alhasan Rurum, who said the house would operate an open-door policy, promised that members would make laws that would better the lives of the people. The House had earlier been inaugurated with

Rurum, from Rano Local Government area of the state, emerging Speaker, while Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim Cidari, representing Makoda Local Government, emerged the deputy speaker. In his acceptance speech after his election, Rurum said: “I accept this honour and call to service with sincere appreciation, each one of us members is capable of leading this house. We thank Almighty Allah, who with His infinite wisdom, has destined, through you that my humbled self (Rurum) will be the speaker of this honourable house.” He also assured the executive and the judiciary arm of government of

his readiness and commitment to work as a team to bring the dividends of democracy to the people of Kano State. “I would also like to assure the people of Kano State and our teeming supporters of our sincere commitment to the fulfilment of the promises we made during our electioneering campaign. As the representative of the people, we shall be resolute and focused and continue to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.” According to him, “High standard‎ legislation shall be paramount in the affairs of the eighth legislature through the improvement of the general well-

being of our people and would be targeted at all times towards the general improvement of the welfare of our people, so as to ensure good governance in the leadership of the state.” He urged all members to cooperate with each other so as to achieve the desired goals. However, Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim Cidari, the former deputy speaker of the seventh assembly, has now returned as the deputy speaker of the eighth assembly, while Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, representing Fagge constituency and Baffa Babba Danagundi emerged Majority Leader and Deputy Majority leader respectively.

Yuguda denies leaving N125bn debt in Bauchi Mohammed Kawu Bauchi

he immediate past governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, yesterday denied leaving a debt of N125 billion in the state, describing such claim by his successor, Mohammed Abubakar, as a lie meant to smear his name. He said it is unfortunate that the governor

would be talking in such manner. Yuguda said: “We took a bond from the capital market, which is N52 billion, and we completed the airport, the specialist hospital and we also have N7 billion arrears of gratuity and 1.3 billion of contractor obligation. We inherited about N20 billion foreign debt, which is payable in 30 to 40 years.” The former governor

in a telephone interview with newsmen in Bauchi added; “These are the only debts that we know of, so if there is any other debt apart from this, maybe Governor Mohammed Abubakar, may have taken the debt.” Yuguda said all the loans he handed over to Governor Mohammed Abubakar was not up to N80 billion, including the loan he inherited from his

predecessor, Adamu Muazu, which includes foreign loans that would be service for a period of 40 years. “These are the figures that I handed over to Abubakar, if you convert the debt that you are going to pay for a period of 30 to 40 years is not up to N80 billion. So what the governor is saying is a white lie, it’s unfortunate that somebody in his position will be talking like that,” said.

he Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi chapter, will today embark on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of their wages. Negotiations between the union and the state government during the administration of Gabriel Suswam, concerning the payment of about three months’ outstanding wages, had reportedly hit the rocks. A senior member of the association told New Telegraph in confidence that there is no going

back in today’s planned strike, adding that “that information is not far from the truth.” When asked if there have been any official statement to that effect, the source promised to avail the media of all information today. “As it stands, if our salaries are not paid as at Monday night, we will not be at work on Tuesday,” he further stated. He also confirmed that it would be an indefinite strike, urging the government to resolve the issue in time to avert such strike. The association had embarked on a threeday warning strike three weeks ago to press home their demands.

Kwara Assembly elects Ali speaker Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Dr. Ahmad Ali, yesterday emerged the speaker of the eighth session of the Kwara State House of Assembly. Similarly, Mr. Matthew Okedare, from Ejidongari Ward in Moro Local Government area of the state emerged the deputy speaker. Ali, a Harvard-trained lawyer and former university teacher, who contested the assembly election for Ilorin South constituency, was the sole candidate in

the election conducted by the Assembly’s ClerkDesignate, Mr. Olatunde Oyeniyi. In his acceptance speech, the new speaker promised to ensure that the state becomes the first to enact a version of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and warned against allowing the fact of having no opposition in the 24-member assembly to affect the commitment of members to their duties. To avoid complacency, he asked members to immediately establish constituency offices in their communities to maintain close touch with the people and avoid an electoral loss in the years ahead.

Lalong pledges to finish uncompleted road projects Musa Pam Jos

lateau State governor, Simon Bako Lalong, has pledged to complete all uncompleted road projects started by his predecessor, Jonah Jang, in the state. Lalong also called on all the citizens, particularly residents of Jos-Bukuru metropolis to bear with the government as efforts are being made to address the

difficulties being encountered driving around the city. The governor in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Samuel Emmanuel Nanle and made available to New Telegraph yesterday, said government has taken a careful look into the road situation in the state and understands the challenges faced by motorists especially in the metropolis.

50 News

WORLD | News

NASS: How PDP plans to upstage APC

Six dead, 2,500 quarantined in South Korea over epidemic

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

s the nation awaits the emergence of the leadership of the 8th National Assembly after inauguration today (Tuesday), there are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plans to spring a surprise by pursuing two possible scenarios. Our correspondent gathered that to actualise its plan, the PDP yesterday drafted state governors elected on its platform to

Abuja for last minute strategy planning and reaching out to senators and members of the House of Representatives elected on its platform and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was further gathered that the national leadership of the PDP was also part of the scheming and that it supported paying back the APC in its own coin, pointing to the Aminu Tambuwwal saga of 2011. The two options the party is exploring to upstage the APC are to sup-

port the emergence of former Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki, if he would agree to later retrace his steps back to the PDP. The other option is to wait until the APC senators nominate both Saraki and Ahmad Lawan for the Senate presidency and then a PDP senator would nominate outgoing Senate President, David Mark. A top notch in the PDP told our correspondent that the party would give the APC a big fight for the leadership of the National Assembly.

FRSC set to curb tanker crashes Mojeed Alabi

he Federal Road S a fet y C or p s (FRSC) has expressed its concern over the rising spate of destructions being caused by frequent crashes of petroleum tankers across the nation, saying henceforth; strict enforcement of safety standards on the tankers shall be observed. This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Media Assistant to the Corps Marshal, Superintendent Route Commander Sani Abdullahi, who stated that FRSC in its efforts to avert such fatal

crashes involving articulated vehicles proactively launched the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme in 2007, which made adequate provisions for regular training and retraining of the tanker drivers as well as maintenance of vehicles by fleet operators who must have safety managers that are professionals. He said the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi has stressed that the scheme provided for regular safety checks by the FRSC and other relevant agencies to ensure that vehicle standards were carefully observed by fleet operators

and drivers, expressing concern, however, that despite such measures, some operators fall short of the standards which compromise the safety of other road users. Oyeyemi, while commiserating with the families of the bereaved in the recent series of crashes, assured that all necessary measures were being taken to ensure that the nation does not experience a repeat of the calamity, stating that he is in touch with relevant unions like NUPENG and NARTO and other stakeholders on how to avert future reoccurrence.

Jonathan shares history with Gowon, says group Mojeed Alabi

he decision by former President Goodluck Jonathan to concede defeat by congratulating his main challenger and now President, Muhammadu Buhari even before the final collation of the presidential election’s results has been compared to the proclamation of “no victor, no vanquished” by the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon shortly after the end of the civil war. This position was voiced by a group of pub-

lic policy formulators and analysts, First Sysco Consulting Group, which insisted the decision by the former President was neither induced nor forced on him, but a clear indication of his commitment to his earlier pledge of not placing his ambition above the peace of the country. In a statement issued by the group and signed by its Chairman, Chuma Igwe, it claimed that if the former President was interested in fomenting trouble, he could have capitalized on the difficulty encountered during his accreditation to insist that the process was not free and fair and

so called for cancellation. The statement reads in part; “In losing popularity and the 2015 presidential election, First Sysco believes that former President Jonathan’s perceived failure to rein-in corruption and the Boko Haram menace despite his apparent successes in the restructuring of the Agricultural and Power sectors, among others, dealt fatal blows to his reelection. Ordinarily, this would have formed the core of the dialectics of the Jonathan Story, but the events of 28th and 31st March, 2015 changed his place in history.

Oil company workers call for AMCON boss’ sack Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

or failing to clear 22 months arrears of staff salaries after the purchase of SEAWOLF oil and gas company, staff of the firm yesterday staged protest at the Abuja office of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria AMCON de-

manding outright sack of AMCON Executive Chairman, Mr. Mustapha Chike Obi. The protesting staff, who are members of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria PENGASSAN, SEAWOLF Branch, said the AMCON boss deserves to be sacked for reneging on an agreement he had with them.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues. Mr. Femi Akpata said AMCON has defaulted in payment of staff salaries to the tune of 22 months, adding that, there was no point for Obi to remain as AMCON CEO when he is unable to keep to his promise of salary payment after buying the company SEAWOLF from its owner.

utside of Saudi Arabia where the Middle East respiratory syndrome or MERS was discovered, the country that's been hit hardest has been South Korea. And the picture there grows dismal every day. Yesterday, South Korea reported its sixth death from MERS, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 87. More than 2,500 people remain quarantined, either at home or in health facilities. And more than 1,800 schools remain closed. The latest death is that of

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

an 80 year old man who was receiving treatment at a hospital in Daejeon, South Korea's fifth largest city. Among the new cases is that of a teenager, the first school aged person to be infected, the health ministry said. MERS, which surfaced three years ago, is not well understood. Because the virus is still fairly new, doctors and scientists do not know the exact source or mode of its transmission. MERS spreads from close contact with an ill person, such as living with or caring for them, according to the US Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention. The South Korean outbreak had its first case on May 20. The vast majority of the cases are hospital clusters, and the deaths were among people with pre-existing health conditions. Experts from the World Health Organization who have dealt with MERS are coming to South Korea to assess the pattern of the virus spread and to look at public health response efforts. The outbreak in South Korea has been the largest outside Saudi Arabia where the virus was discovered. But South Korea is far from alone in the battle.

Safety precaution taken over outbreak of MERS in South Korea.

Pistorius sets for freedom in August

scar Pistorius, the South African amputee sprinter who shot dead his girlfriend, is set to be freed on parole in August after serving just 10 months in jail, officials said yesterday, sparking anger from her family. Pistorius, who became a global hero after competing in both the Paralympics and Olympics, claimed he mistook Reeva Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four shots through a locked bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2013. The 28-year-old

athlete was found guilty last year of culpable homicide a charge equivalent to manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. "The Correctional Supervision and Parole Board... approved the placement of Oscar Pistorius under correctional supervision with effect from 21 August," a government statement said. But Steenkamp's family voiced dismay at the announcement. "Incarceration of 10 months for taking a life is simply not enough," Reeva's parents June and

Barry Steenkamp said in a statement released online. "We fear that this will not send out the proper message and serve as the deterrent it should." The statement added that the family had "forgiven" Pistorius and did "not seek to avenge" the death of their daughter, 29, a successful model and television presenter. Zach Modise, commissioner of the correctional services, told AFP that Pistorius would likely be kept under house arrest with one hour of free time each day before the restrictions were gradually eased.

G7 leaders agree to strive for low-carbon economy

roup of Seven leaders agreed yesterday to wean their economies off carbon fuels and supported a global goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but they stopped short of agreeing their own immediate binding targets. In a communique issued after their two-day summit in Bavaria, the G7 leaders said they backed reducing global greenhouse gas emissions at the upper end of a range

of 40 to 70 percent by 2050, using 2010 as a basis. The range was recommended by the IPCC, the United Nations' climate-change panel. They also backed a global target for limiting the rise in average global temperatures to two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial levels. "We commit to doing our part to achieve a low-carbon global economy in the long-term, including de-

veloping and deploying innovative technologies striving for a transformation of the energy sectors by 2050, and invite all countries to join us in this endeavor," the communique read. G7 host Angela Merkel of Germany, once dubbed the "climate chancellor", hoped to revitalize her green credentials by getting the G7 nations to agree specific emissions goals ahead of a larger year-end United Nations climate meeting in Paris.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2015

Sport News

U-20 World Cup

Nigerian-born German set to stop Awoniyi

Côte d’Ivoire take positives from 10-0 rout

Omeruo wants Mourinho’s attention in pre-season

Sport

Women World Cup

Did you know?

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Emmanuel Tobi Live from

Canada

That Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Ter Stegen was the first German to win a treble with a non German club and also the youngest goalkeeper ever to win UEFA Champions League.

Don’t call Eagles super chickens – Enyeama Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama, in this exclusive interview with News24 Nigeria, said they the team was ready to start their 2017 Africa Nations Cup qualifiers with a victory over Chad this weekend. After a few training sessions, how are you looking forward to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad? Nobody wants to be a part of a losing team, I can tell you that. We all know what is at stake and we know how we felt when we lost out the last time so we want to take the qualifiers seriously from day one, irrespective of the opponents we are facing. We are going to play a match and we know it will be a strong game and we just want to win. In the last Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Eagles lost first game at home. Looking at it, doesn’t it put you under some pressure? I’m not thinking of what happened last year because it’s gone. Ivory Coast have won that Africa Cup of Nations so we can’t be thinking of that now and if we are not thinking of that, there is no way we’ll be playing under pressure. We don’t have to play under pressure because there is

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

no need for that. We have to focus on the next championship. So Chad aren’t exactly the biggest team on the continent ? (cuts in) They are the biggest team we could possibly play at this time. Is that the mindset going into the game? Yes that’s my mindset. Chad is our biggest threat right now and that’s the way we have to see them. And they are between us and qualification right now. So which means you support Stephen Keshi’s decision to have a strong squad for the game? This is not even our strongest squad if you go by names. Obi Mikel is not here, Emmanuel Emenike is not here and Austin Ejide is not here as well, so not exactly our strongest squad. But the coach knows what he’s doing by inviting these set of players. Nobody gave us a chance when we won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 with a similar squad so all we need is

Let’s talk about your club career now, you were earlier linked with Arsenal and now it’s Liverpool. Would you be interested in a move? The truth is I will not be leaving Lille for any club if I am not guaranteed of playing regularly and earning more money. I won’t take a pay cut to move to England just like some players do, I won’t do that. If I am moving, it has to be because I will play regularly and earn more money. I don’t like jumping into offers because it’s always very difficult when you change club. My family is settled in Lille and I am settled there. So it will take a guarantee of regular football Enyeama...on duty for Nigeria and more money to move.

Nadal drops to lowest rank since 2005 F

• Serena retains top spot in women ranking

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

for Nigerians to start with us as we’re starting a new page. They should support us and not call us (Eagles) Super Chickens because when you keep calling us Chickens, it doesn’t give some players the confidence to play. They need to stop calling us that and forge ahead. We need to be as a team and go for the kill.

Nadal

ourteen-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal has dropped to 10th in the latest world rankings - his lowest position in more than a decade. The Spaniard, 29, has fallen after losing to world number one Novak Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals last week. It is Nadal’s lowest ranking since he was 11th as a teenager in April 2005. Swiss Stan Wawrinka, who beat Djokovic to the Roland Garros men’s singles title on Sunday, climbs to fourth. Despite his defeat, 28-year-old

Djokovic stays ahead of Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Britain’s Andy Murray, who was beaten by the Serb in the last four. Serena Williams, who claimed her 20th Grand Slam singles’ title, increased her margin at the top of the women’s rankings. The 33-year-old American’s nearest rival is Czech Petra Kvitova, who has risen from fourth. Russian Maria Sharapova, 28, drops two places to fourth following her fourth-round loss to eventual finalist Lucie Safarova, 28, with the Czech player moving to a career-best seventh.

Sport

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Email reveals Blatter’s involvement in $10M scandal

n Email seen by The Telegraph has revealed that outgoing FIFA President, Joseph Blatter, discussed a $10-million payment for the 2010 World Cup with then-South African President Thabo Mbeki. The disclosure of the email comes amid controversy surrounding the South African bid for the 2010 World Cup, with the country being accused of “winning” the right to host the event through bribery, something South African authorities deny. The payment is believed to have been transferred in 2008 from a FIFA account to the account of former senior FIFA executive Jack Warner, at the request of

Secretary General Jerome Valcke. “I have never received confirmation but more important I would like to know when the transfer can be done,” Valcke said in the email from December 7, 2007. In the email, Valcke went on to say that its content was based on discussions between FIFA and the South African government, as well as “between our President and H.E. President M’Beki.” A FIFA spokeswoman, however, said that the email did not prove either Blatter or Valcke’s involvement, but only constituted information. She pointed out that the transaction was authorized by the then-chairman of the Finance Committee.

Omeruo in action for Middlesbrough

Ogu wants permanent Eagles’ place

apoel Be’er Sheva of Israel midfielder, John Ugochukwu Ogu, says he is working toward retaining his spot in the Super Eagles. The 27-year-old was gradually becoming an integral member of the Super Eagles in 2013 when he made his debut, and even featured at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, but eventually lost his place before he was recalled for the friendly games against Uganda and South Africa in March, and he says he is looking forward to being more consistent with the team. “It feels great to be back with

the team and I want to do everything possible to prove to the coaches that I am here to stay. “I have to do all I can to keep myself in the team and I have to do my best whenever the coach calls on me. “But first I have to prove it during trainings and also during games and I have to do everything they ask me to do. “Basically it’s all about proving myself which is what I am willing to do and by the grace of God I will live a lasting impression on the coaches. I will always give my best whenever I’m called upon,” he said.

Omeruo wants Mourinho’s attention in pre-season

helsea defender Kenneth Omeruo has said he will have to prove himself to manager Jose Mourinho that he deserves a place on the team during the next pre-season with the English champions. The Nigeria international has spent the last two seasons on loan at Dutch club, Ado Den Haag and then English championship side, Middlesbrough, and says he will have the pre-season to prove his

quality to Mourinho. “I have the pre-season to try to prove myself to the manager,” he told News24 Nigeria. “I know I have to work hard to see if I will get into the team and that is just my plan for now, to fight my way into the team,” he said. The 21-year old, however, admits he isn’t sure where he will be next season. “Well, I don’t know yet and I can’t say for now,” he ad-

mits, “I have to see what happens in pre-season and then I will know,” he said. The central defender also explains why he couldn’t get more playing time for ‘Boro toward the end of the season. “It is the decision of the manager to play whoever he wants but I kept working hard in training to get back into the team but things didn’t go the way I wanted but I did learn a lot from that experience and it is time to move on.”

ITTF Egypt Junior Open: Nigeria defeat Qatar, Iraq Akpeyi joins Chippa United Ajibade Olusesan

igeria, on Monday, opened their International Table Tennis Federation World Juniour Tour with emphatic victories over Qatar and Iraq. The boys’ team led by Olasunkanmi Oginni was in superb form against the Qataris as his combination with Nuru-

deen Hassan dazed the highlyrated Gulf team with a 3-1 win. Few hours later, the team returned to the table to deal with Iraq with a 3-0 rout to set up a final group clash against Egypt Team B. Also, the girls’ team inspired by Esther Oribamise showed what to expect in the competition as they pum-

melled Egypt Team D 3-1 to record their first group win in the junior girls’ event. It was a mixed fortune for Nigeria in the cadet event, as the boys’ team spearheaded by Abayomi Animasahun wasted no time in dismissing Egypt Team D 3-0 while the Nigerian girls’ team led by Muibat Bello and Vivian Oku fell 3-0 to Egypt Team D.

Bauchi FA sets up UNIPORT honours Ogba devt committee T Mohammed Kawu Bauchi

he Bauchi State Football Association has constituted a five-man committee to prepare a road map for the development of football in the state especially during the 2015/2016 football session. The state FA chairman, Alhaji Yahuza Ningi, said the committee was saddled with the responsibility of preparing a blue print for football development in the state and has one month to submit its report. He said the terms of reference of the committee included fashioning out roadmap for football development in the state as well as to consider modalities that would ensure successful outing of all the football teams in the state. Adamu stated that the committee was given the mandate to recommend suggestion that may pave the way for football development in the state.

he President of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba, will on Saturday be awarded a Doctorate Degree by the University of Port Harcourt for his developmental stride in sports. According to a letter of notice signed by Matilda Nnodim (Mrs), Registrar and Secretary to Council of the University of Port Harcourt, the honour is for achievers both nationally and internationally, with all the qualities, to persons who have made outstanding contributions in all recognised branches of scholarship as well as public service. With that in view, UNIPORT has decided to confer on Ogba an Honorary Degree of Doctors of Science (D.Sc. Honors Causa) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Sports development worldwide. The conferment will be

hippa United have signed Daniel Akpeyi to strengthen their goalkeeping department for the 2015/16 season. The 28-year-old shot-stopper has been playing for Warri Wolves in the Nigerian Premier League. Akpeyi was in goals for Nigeria in their international friendly game against Bafana Bafana earlier this year. He saved Andile Jali’s penalty as Bafana and Nigeria

played to a 1-1 draw in their game at the Mbombela Stadium in March. A source close to Akpeyi’s club in Nigeria confirmed to the Siya crew that the goalkeeper has concluded a deal with the Port Elizabeth-based side. “Daniel Akpeyi has signed for Chippa United. He is a good goalkeeper from Nigeria. He played for Warri Wolves in Nigeria. Chippa beat strong interest from other PSL clubs to his signature,” said the source.

FIBA Africa Zone 3 - 3 x 3 Tour

Ogba

made at the 30th Convocation ceremony of the university, which is scheduled to hold on Saturday, June 13, at the Convocation Arena, University Park, University of Port Harcourt. “The instrument that established the University of Port Harcourt empowers it to award degrees, among others, to persons who have made outstanding contributions in all recognised branches of scholarship as well as public service, both nationally and internationally,” the letter read.

Ghana, Cote D’ Ivoire, six others confirm participation

he FIBA Africa Zone 3 - 3x3 Tour powered by the AMK Foundation, taking place in Lagos, Nigeria from 18th - 21st June, 2015, is set to roll off the ground with all the eight countries under the Zone confirming their participation. Guebre Boukary and Idrissu Ayambire of Burkina Faso and Ghana Basketball Federations respectively confirmed their participation having registered with the FIBA Africa Secretariat who are coordinating the event with FIBA Africa Zone 3. Zone 3 Board President,

Col Sam Ahmedu (Rtd) of Nigeria who attended the second meeting of the Organizing Committee also confirmed the participation of the eight countries under the zone. “I am glad to confirm to you that the all the National Federations under the Zone have confirmed participation through letters and emails. I can also confirm that they have registered their teams with the FIBA Africa 3x3 department in Abidjan. Some of the National Federation Presidents have also called in to assure us of their presence during the period of the Tournament,” he said.

Sport

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JUNE 9, 2015

FIFA U-20 World Cup

ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES Wednesday 10 June Ghana v Mali

5am

Wednesday 10 June Serbia v Hungary

5am

Wednesday 10 June USA v Colombia

8:30am

Wednesday 10 June Ukraine v Senegal

8:30am

Thursday 11 June

Austria v Uzbekistan 5am

Thursday 11 June

Germany v Nigeria

8:30am

Thursday 11 June

Portugal v N’Zealand 8:30am

Thursday 11 June

Brazil v Uruguay

8:30am

Kaita hails team’s mentality

ormer U-20 midfielder Sani Kaita has praised the Flying Eagles’ relentless effort that has guided them to the second round of the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Manu Garba’s lads qualified for the second round of the competition in the wee hours of Sunday after a Taiwo Awoniyi brace ensured a 2-0 win over Hungary in the third match of Group E, and Kaita has urged the team to remain focused if they are to go beyond the next round. He said the Flying Eagles could afford to be complacent if they do not want to kiss the competition goodbye against Germany on Wednesday. “I said it before their last two matches against North Korea and Hungary that these boys have the potential to go all the way and their problem may lie only in themselves,” Kaita told Goal. “With victories in their last two matches, they have proved to Nigerians that they have the mentality to overcome every challenge that they face at the ongoing World Cup. They were awesome against Hungary and I will implore them to get even better against Germany.” Kaita featured in the Flying Eagles squad led by Samson Siasia to the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup played in the Netherlands. Nigeria’s U-20 team were losing finalists to Argentina on that occasion after Lionel Messi inspired his side to a 2-1 win in the final.

FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP

Emmanuel Tobi Live from

Canada

Côte d’Ivoire take positives from 10-0 rout

frican representative at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, has taken positives from the 10-0 rout suffered in the hand of Germany on Sunday. Speaking on the game, the coach of the team, Clementine Toure, while congratulating the Germans for the handsome victory, said it was a good experience for the players. “We want to thank and congratulate the team of Germany, they are a great team.” The coach said. “From this game, we have positive points we can take out - the experience. It’s our first participation in the World Cup, and there was a great crowd here. “Our girls discov-

ered something today a high level of competition, and it did have an effect on us a little bit. “We must forget the score from today, forget the negative points, and learn from this. Playing the best team in the world is also the best way to learn for us.” Côte d’Ivoire will be up against Thailand on Thursday in their second game of the competition. Meanwhile, Germany coach, Silvia Neid, has said the African offers little resistance to her girls and hope to find a tougher opposition in Norway on Thursday. Neid said: “We had judged them to be better than they were today. We were very focused and concentrated heading into the match.

Nigerian-born German set to stop Awoniyi

igerian-born Kevin Akpoguma will be on parade for Germany when they battle Nigeria for a place in the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand on Thursday. The 20-year-old central defender, who is the captain on the Germany U-20s, has been a Trojan in the defence of the team and will be the major challenger of Taiwo Awoniyi-led Flying Eagles attack in the round of 16 game in Christchurch. The youngster is big defend-

er with an imposing figure, standing above six feet. He is currently playing for Bundesliga side Hoffenheim and has played all the matches for Germany so far in this competition with a goal against Uzbekistan. He has represented Germany at U-16, U-17, U-18 and U-19 levels before now. Nigerians should watch out for him on Thursday and in case he decided to change is mind on his international status, Nigeria may see him in the Super Eagles.

F’Eagles land in Christchurch for Germany clash

igeria’s Flying Eagles arrived Christchurch Monday evening ahead of Thursday’s U20 World Cup Round of 16 clash against European champions Germany. The African champions have checked into Rydges Latimer Christchurch, where their rivals for a place in the last-eight of the World Cup are also putting up. The Flying Eagles, led by NFF executive commit-

tee member Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’, flew out of New Plymouth, where they have played all their group games, for Auckland. They had a two-hour transit in Auckland before they departed for Christchurch, which was in 2011 hit by a massive earthquake. They will have their first training in Christchurch on Tuesday evening by 6pm local time.

Akpoguma in action

WOMEN’S World Cup ‘Foreign transfers will improve Falcons’ SNIPPETS from Canada

ormer international, Ayisat Yusuf-Aromire, believes the Super Falcons will be stronger and more competitive if more players are plying their trades outside the shores of Nigeria. Ayisat who was in Falcons’ squad that drew 1-1 with Sweden at the 2007 Women World Cup in China says the experience garnered abroad will help the players to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts at international competitions like the World Cup and Olympics. “Our style of play evolves round energetic power play but we must complement it with technical and tactical approach which is the strength of international teams,

Yusuf-Aromire (right) with Lionel Messi

she said.” “Our players need more international exposures by playing abroad which will definitely propel them to greater heights. This current team has players like Onome Ebi, Asisat Oshoala, Fransica Ordega, Desire Oparanozie and a host of others playing abroad and this has enhance the depth of the team compared to the previous squads in recent times.” Ayisat who ended his professional career in Finland and now a member of Finland FA sub-committee on Fight Against Racism, urges the Nigeria Football Federation to redefine the template setting up the Nigeria Women Professional League.

Compiled by Emmanuel Tobi, Winnipeg

Almost getting lost We almost got lost after my travelling partner, Arafat Aliu of Cool FM, Abuja and I decided to cut our cost on transportation on our way from the stadium on Saturday. After taking the city bus (like our BRT in Lagos), we decided to alight at a popular street, St Mary in Winnipeg, thinking we could do a short trip like Ojuelegba to Stadium, only to find ourselves perambulating in one location for about 30 minutes in the rain. We had to take the expensive cab of $6 which we earlier tried to avoid. Indians everywhere It is not only in Nigeria that you find Indians everywhere. In Winnipeg, the Indians who dominate the airport cab shuttles can be found in every nook and crannies of the beautiful city. They also operate most of the casinos and malls here in Winnipeg. Struggling to adjust to time Aside the expensive transport fare (Cab) and hotel accommodation, one of the most challenging issues for us is trying to adjust to time difference. While our neigbours sleep, we are always awake struggling to catch sleep due to the five-hour time difference and the Canadian time seems too slow for us. “Naija spirit of hurry hurry never leave we body”

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Special Report

Hon Agbonayinma: His Election Is Call To Duty

society has made some bookmakers to put his name among the crop of emerging politicians that Edo people can look up to for a positive direction towards taking the state to the next level.

is mission in the 8th National Assembly is to use his vast experience in political settings and business ventures — locally and internationally — to contribute to the development of his nation.

Many people may be wondering why Hon. Agbonayinma came from USA, where he has achieved so much, to join politics in Nigeria and what he hopes to achieve.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, popularly known by his friends as 'E.J.', was elected in the March 28, 2015 general elections to represent Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency (Edo State). A Coordinator (Africans) for the Bill Clinton Campaign Team in Houston Texas, USA, in 1991 and 1995 respectively, his CV speaks of the massive experience he is bringing to bear in the House of Representatives. He attended Agbado Primary School, Benin City, between 1973 and 1978; Airewele High School, Benin City (1980 to 1983) and later proceeded to the University of Houston, Texas, USA in 1988, where he studied Security Intelligence. He was also at San Jacinto College, Texas, USA (1989 to 1990), My Real Estate School, Texas (2004) and Tombail College, Texas in 2006, where he obtained different certificates. Hon. Agbonayinma’s working career stated in 1983 in Nigeria - when he joined the then National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), Imo State branch as Technical Officer in the Communication Department. Between 1987 and 1989, he worked at O’ Hare Flight, Houston Hobby Airport, Texas, as Assistant Manager - in the Communication Unit. In 1989, he established EJ Auto Dealership in Houston Texas – the first automobile dealership owned by a Nigerian and licenced by the State of Texas. Hon. Agbonayinma was the Floor Manager at Bill Heard Chevrolet, Sugar Land, Texas and conducting sales and marketing of inventory, preparing budget, recruiting, training and supervising staff members and providing quality assurance to the employees of the company. He was appointed as Advisory to the State of Texas, Forth Bend Country PCT. 2 Police Department in USA in 2003. His interest in public service in Nigeria started in 2003 when he was appointed Chief Consultant to the National Assembly (House Committee on Petroleum). Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State later appointed him as Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs in

Hear his response: ‘’I hope to achieve a lot; I see myself as a good politician. Like they say every politician in Nigeria is a crook; I do not think so; I am here to do what people can see. You know it is not about what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country’’.

2009 but he resigned in 2011. Hon. Agbonayinma was appointed as Executive Director of Westminster International, a security firm in over 60 countries – with its headquarters in UK. He is also a Board Member of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. He has a reputation built on integrity and customer services and is committed to valued added businesses as well as developing new generation of innovative business solutions that meet the everchanging energy/gas and real estate needs of the populace. Hon. Agbonayinma is the President/CEO of Texoil Energy & Gas Nig Ltd, Texoil Global Corporation USA and Century Property Consultants based in Texas. Today he is one of the few real estate agent practitioners that has taken it to a different height. In fact, he is licenced as Real Estate Practitioner by the Texas Real Estate Commission in USA. An astute businessman cum politician, Hon. Agbonayinma belongs to many professional groups: Members, State of Texas, USA Registered Lobbyist; United States Chamber of Commerce; Houston Association of Realtors, Texas; National Association of Realtors, USA; etc. E J is a household name in Edo State politics. His pedigree, charisma and dedication to assisting the down-trodden as well as the development of the larger

True, Hon. Agbonayinma’s aspiration derives from the fact that he really wants to serve his people. Those who know him very well have consistently said that his purpose of coming from US to participate in Nigeria's politics is to contribute his quota to the development of his community and not basically to enrich himself. ‘’I have used my personal resources to try to assist my people, but I have also realised that holding an elective office in trust for the people will afford me a better opportunity to do more. So, I urge them to put me in their prayers so that together we can make a difference’’, he recently stated. As a registered lobbyist in US, Hon. Agbonayinma in 2014 helped to facilitate the formation of the Congressional Nigerian Caucus in US parliament. The Caucus is to spearhead pro-Nigerian initiative and legislative efforts and foster continued friendship, understanding and cooperation between the United States and Nigeria and provide the people of Nigeria and US more jobs and economic opportunities. A very influential US Congress member, Sheila Jackson Lee, had acknowledged Hon. Agbonayinma’s efforts in a ThankYou-Letter she wrote him on July 24, 2014 saying: ‘’Thank you for your leadership and persistence to organise a congressional Nigerian Caucus’’. As the 8th National Assembly is inaugurated today, Hon. Agbonayinma has a message for his colleagues: ‘’Our election is a call to duty and we must respond to the clarion call. We must accept the challenge of building an egalitarian society in Nigeria’’.

Special Report

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

Senator Urhoghide: A Journey Of Vision Starts Today

institutions, Ministries, Departments and Agencies and represents his primary district or constituency. Senator Urhoghide is very conscious of these duties. In his calculation, the representation will include the convening of quarterly Town Hall Meetings with stakeholders within Edo South Senatorial District so that the people of the district can have access and connect with governance in a participatory way.

lthough he is a first term Senator, he is coming to the 8th National Assembly with huge political experience. Senator Matthew Aisagbonriodion Urhoghide, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was born on August 8, 1955. He attended Saint Matthew’s Primary School, Benin City between 1962 and 1967, and Eghosa Grammar School, Benin City from 1968 to 1972. He later proceeded to the University of Benin in 1978 and graduated from the Pharmacy Department in 1983.

He said the decisions reached at these meetings shall form the work programme of his senatorial duties. The proposed regular Town Hall Meetings between the representative and the represented, according to him, has not been a practice before now in Edo South Senatorial District. Hear him: ‘’My commitment to these statutory duties is sacrosanct.’’

Elected under the PDP, Urhoghide is an astute politician and key political actor in Edo State. He was the President, Students Union Government (SUG) of the University of Benin in 1981. Perhaps, his charisma and drive for active politics led him to contest as an aspirant for Edo South Senatorial District - under the umbrella of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992. He later became the Director of Administration of Hope 93 Presidential Campaign Organization of late Chief MKO Abiola from 1993 to 1994. He was an All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship aspirant between 2002 and 2003, and later formed the Association for Good Governance and Productive Leadership (AGG), a platform that spearheaded his governorship ambition. From 2004 to 2006, he was a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ANPP and later joined forces with chieftains and members of the Action Congress (AC) of which he was a founding member. The party later transformed to the Action Congress Nigeria (ACN). He became the Edo South senatorial candidate of ACN from 2007 to 2009. Urhoghide actively engineered the drive towards repositioning the opposition ACN, especially in Edo State but left the fold to join PDP, which he became its state Publicity Secretary. His consistency in the pursuit of his ambition to represent Edo South Senatorial District - whose people constitute about 58.5 per cent of the entire population of the state – led to his victory in the National Assembly elections held on March 28, 2015. He is married with children. An idealistic and focused politician, the distinguished senator promised during his electioneering to pursue laudable projects that would enable members of his senatorial district feel the impact of his membership of the Senate. His well-articulated vision includes introduction of Edo South senatorial district scholarship scheme, by encouraging the seven local government councils in

With these set objectives in mind, which he said are achievable with the cooperation of the people of Edo South Senatorial District, Senator Urhoghide promises to bring back the pride of Edo South and all its institutions to national relevance, prominence and visibility where due respect and portion of the national resources are guaranteed.

Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South)

Edo South senatorial district to create a fund for the purpose of helping indigent students as education scholarships and bursaries - as they used to have in times past. The fund, according to him, will be known as the Edo South Senatorial District Scholarship Fund. Contributions to the fund will be from the local government councils, well-meaning individuals like him and organisations. Senator Urhoghide believes that human capital development is always adjudged as one of the best achievements of any society or government. ‘’The development of science and technology that drives the world today is based on education. I strongly believe that education forms the bedrock for the development of any environment and its people; education therefore must be given its top priority and massive funding’,’ he stated during his campaign. The Senator knows the importance of infrastructure in the development of Edo South Senatorial District and he has promised to attract quality physical development from the centre to the senatorial district that will be evenly distributed. In line with the nation’s constitution, a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria statutorily makes laws for the good governance of Nigeria, performs oversight functions for the development of national

The quest for a vocal defence of the Benin aspiration is finally here, and the collective determination of his people to build a new political culture that will form the basis of a sustainable socio-economic development of all the people in Edo South Senatorial District is the impetus for his desire to represent the district. For those who know Senator Urhoghide very well, his desire came to the fore and was tested at the first opportunity to serve in an appointive capacity. As Chairman of the Management Board of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, he was said to have facilitated the employment of over 36 Edo indigenes in positions as Honorary Consultants, Resident Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses and Administrative cadre staffers without regard to their ethnicity. For him, one of the qualifications for these beneficiaries outside of their educational appropriateness was their Edo origination. To be sure, sustenance of this love for his people would enlarge the coast of progressively increasing number of Edo indigenes and that, by and by, would guarantee access, prominence, relevance and visibility for those he was elected and sworn to represent. To his friends and political associates, Senator Urhoghide’s journey for his vision, which will form an endurable foundation on which the collective will, aspiration and ambition of his people can be built just like the other domineering ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, starts today.

On Marble

Sanctity of Truth

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

World Record

Most popular Inauguration: President Barack Obama inauguration, Washington, USA as the 44th president sets world records, both live (over two million people) and online (45.5 million video streams).

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TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

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Buhari: Vindication of nkiruka Mike Ahamba

he 2007 Presidential election had come and gone, we had ‘lost’ our petition at the Presidential Petition Tribunal (the Court of Appeal) in which we were misrepresented as having proferred evidence from only four states when, indeed, we had evidence from 33 states properly documented on record, and our appeal at Supreme Court was pending. I had rushed to the United States for my routine medicals usually under the guidance of my younger sister, Rev (Dr.) Ruby Ibekwe. It was late in September when the alarm rang out that I was afflicted with a serious ailment which required urgent surgery. I worried very much about what would be the fixture of our presidential petition appeal hearing at the Supreme Court which was being expected at the time. Ruby was scared that I was so concerned that I had, in fact, made it clear to her that I would submit myself to surgery only after my address before the Supreme Court. A combined effort of my sister and her friendly colleagues yielded a Robotic Surgeon at Methodist Hospital, Houston. Date fixed was 27th October, 2008. Robotic surgery is very expensive. I informed GMB and he dispatched substantial assistance. I was grateful for this, but that was not what touched me most. About mid-October, I got news that hearing had been fixed for 23rd October, 2008 at the Supreme Court. There would be only three days in-between the hearing and the fixed date for the surgery. Flight time would reduce it to less than a day. But pre-surgery tests and examinations required at least seven days. I told my sister that the surgery had to be postponed. Argument ensured, the husband Dr. Sam Ibekwe intervened. But I informed them that I would feel better if things went wrong in the Court in my presence, not in my absence. I told them I had disconnected my reverse gear on the issue, and insisted on further postponement of the surgery. I then called G.M.B and told him about the effect of the Supreme Court fixture on my surgery date. It was at this point that he made a statement that really touched me very much. He said: “Mike, please if your coming for this case will put your life in any type of risk, forget the case, it is not worth your life” Then he added ‘please Mike allow your doctors to decide” I thanked him. However, I insisted on going home. Fortunately, my doctors said that there was not likely to be any change in my health condition within two months. Thank God, the Robotic surgeon co-operated and rescheduled me for 4th November, 2008. I came back to Nigeria and addressed the Court on 23rd October,

President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife Aisha during the signing after the oath taking at Eagles Square, Abuja.

2008, and proceeded from the Supreme Court straight to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport en route USA same day feeling very relieved. As President Barack Obama was being elected, I slept under anesthetia for 111/2 hours. I was supposed to recuperate for at least two months in the USA post surgery. But I came back after three weeks promising to keep all the rules, and I did, substantially though. I was, in addition to the Presidential Petition concerned about the Niger State and Kaduna State Governorship election appeals then also pending. Judgment day at the Supreme Court was fixed for 12th December,

So I cut it short and simply said: “Thank you My Lords, ‘Nkiruka’!". And I resumed my seat

2008. By the grace of God I was able to attend, camouflaging my problems effectively. The Justices came in, and I listened calmly as a lead judgment that had no business with the record of Appeal was read out by Hon. Justice NIki Tobi (retired). If the Court of Appeal judgment was an assault on individual conscience, Justice Niki Tobi’s lead judgment was like taking me to a judicial abattoir for dissection. The election was no longer the issue; Mike Ahamba was. I found myself in both physical and emotional pain in Court that day. At the end of the 4-3 majority judgment, lead counsel from all sides addressed the Court. When it came to my turn, I struggled, I must confess, against succumbing to emotion. So I cut it short and simply said: “Thank you My Lords, ‘Nkiruka’!". And I resumed my seat. The CJN (Presiding) asked with apparent anxiety: ‘what does that mean?’ I responded that the Igbo word simply meant that the future was greater! I recollect the occasion now because the future has proved to be greater for G.M.B. How prophetic that divine-directed statement has proved to be. Buhari is now President of Nigeria! This could not have been contemplated on that afternoon of 12th December, 2008. The future will always be greater for those who do not stay down on being knocked down, but do stand up and slug on. Twice under my watch

PHOTO: LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

G.M.B was knocked down with belowthe-belt blows. He did not stay down. The third knock down was not under my watch; but he did get up a third time. Now the mission is accomplished. ‘Nkiruka’ is a principle of faith to be clung to by the courageous, the resilient, the perseverers, the patient, and the objective-driven persons. G.M.B had in his political efforts exemplified the principle in this simple Igbo name usually for females. I verily believe that this life which we all live is a video clip shot by the Almighty God Himself. What we see is what is momentarily on the screen, our today. Our knowledge of what the next scene, the tomorrow, portends is denied us by our Creator. The principle of ‘Nkiruka’, as an elixir of hope and drive into the unknown tomorrow, sustains the dynamics of life. It sustains achievers, it has sustained our G.M.B. So for our dear country, for all of us the citizen thereof, and even for our new President my message remains: NKIRUKA. We must in unity look forward to that future, collectively protect and preserve it to make it greater as General Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President Federal Republic of Nigeria has done. Congrats, Mr. President. May Nigeria be further blessed through you while once again, I solemnly declare: NKIRUKA! • Ahamba (SAN), wrote in from Owerri.

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