Wednesday, august 17, 2016

CBN approves single digit lending rate for agric, manufacturing …increases BDC weekly supply to $50,000 Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

R

eprieve is on the way of Nigeria's gasping

economy as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday committed to

fast-tracking lending of the special intervention fund to agriculture and manufac-

turing sectors at a single digit interest rate.

Though the apex bank was silent on exact amount to be lent to these two key sectors, which it described

as very critical to reviving the economy from its comatose state, there are N235 billion CBN intervention funds reserved for manufacturing and

Court remands ex-Diamond Bank manager over N24m fraud

}5

another N750 billion CBN intervention funds for agriculture sector.

The banking watchdog, however, refused to divulge which of these funds it hopes to lend to the two CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Vol. 3 No. 910

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Petrol mixed with ethanol in circulation soon –NNPC }5

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Buhari: Nigeria is ready for foreign investors }40

Buhari

15-year-old victim of torture gets scholarship }8

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com @newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

Uzoamaka

Robbers ambush CBN bullion vans, kill two policemen }8

N150

Emefiele

accidental discharge:

IBB: I nearly killed my wife

...says I’m not evil genius

}5 & 10

I had reputation of a playboy Calls for part-time legislature 1

Life in Makoko riverine area 2

1. A woman with her children commuting on a boat at the riverine area of Makoko in Lagos… yesterday.

3

2. A supermarket on water at the area.

3. Children paddling canoes at the area… yesterday.

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Port Harcourt shut down for PDP convention

lGovs, BoT members, senators, stakeholders snub Abuja court A dead person is conscious for some minutes –scientists }39

}6 & 7

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WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Accidental discharge: I nearly killed my wife –IBB

Dan Atori MINNA

F

ormer Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday, made a shocking revelation of how he nearly killed his wife, Maryam (now late) at Dodan Barracks, Lagos, in the course of his military career.

Babangida, who disclosed this while interacting with journalists at his Minna Hill Top mansion as part of activities marking his 75th birthday,

added that he is not as evil as many people have been made to believe.

Born on August 17, 1941, Babangida, popularly known as IBB, was Nigeria’s military leader from August 27, 1985, when he overthrew Major General Muhammadu Buhari (now president) but “stepped aside” on August 27, 1993, after annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Responding to a question on whether he had any record of accidental discharge during his career, Babangida said: “Ac-

cidental discharge! Oh no, I almost had it with someone very close to me, and when I did, the person involved, luckily was not dead. I had it during the course of my service and it was in Dodan Barracks and the person who almost took it was my wife, but she escaped it.”

The Minna born Army General, however, said that the person who was involved in another related incident was not that lucky. He said: “But I also had a situation where I was moving with some of my junior officers. There was

CBN approves single digit lending rate for agric, manufacturing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

sectors.

CBN Director, banking supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, disclosed these yesterday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on outcome of 328 sessions of Bankers' Committee meeting held in Abuja yesterday.

Also announced was a joint decision by CBN and Bankers' Committee to increase limit of banks’ forex sale to Bureau De Change (BDCs) to $50,000 from the $30,000 it was pegged two weeks ago.

Tokunbo accompanied at the briefing by Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Kennedy Uzoka, and his counterparts at Zenith Bank Plc., Peter Amangbo, as well as Executive Director of Jaiz Bank Plc., Hassan Usman, said the decision to utilise the CBN special reserved funds for lending to agric and manufacturing sector was taken to revamp the economy.

"One of the issues that we discussed is the economy. The economy is always high up in our discussion.

Issue came up about lending and how lending can be done to support economic condition as we have it today with low single interest rate. As you may be aware sometimes ago, CBN took some cash reserves – special intervention funds – and this has been with CBN for some time. There was discussion on it and the decision was that those funds would be disbursed to support primary agriculture projects; projects that are core manufacturing.

“Such projects must be ones that support import substitution; projects that will help preserve foreign exchange so that those things that are being imported before are manufactured here. The funds will only be released to these kinds of projects and there will be some ease in the industry. These are important projects that will get financing at lower single

digit lending rate," CBN Director of banking supervision explained.

Another decision taken was to cushion severe impact of forex scarcity and enhance its supply at Bureau De Change (BDCs).

The banking watchdog and banks agreed on raising forex sale limit to BDCs to $50,000 from $30,000 maximum sale it was pegged two weeks ago.

Speaking on this decision, Uzoka said the resolution was arrived after exhaustive deliberation on feedback gotten from the market.

He said: "The issue of making forex available to Nigerians have been at the uppermost concern of CBN and the apex bank has been working very hard to address this.

“Two weeks ago, a policy was released to sell forex to BDCs and the BDCs are supposed to pass this money to Nigerians for their various needs. Again at the meeting today (yesterday), as expected, we got feedback from market and CBN being a responsible regulator decided to move the limit of $30,000 BDCs to $50,000. So, we believe that, we will make cash available to BDCs and increase the supply and this will help in crashing the price.

He said the decision will alleviate the pain students studying abroad and travellers go through in process of procuring forex for their needs.

Uzoka, however, said the CBN warned BDCs and banks not to circumvent the forex sale rules, and promised to ensure strict

$17.3bn

The total amount of the Financial Sector of the Nigeria Stock Exchange for 2014 Q4.

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

135,000

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Bahamas in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

supervision.

Also discussed was the compelling need to deepen savings culture among Nigerians with special focus on rural areas.

Towards this end, CBN and Bankers' Committee agreed to actively participate in the forthcoming October 31st world savings day.

Uzoka said: "We have decided that all the banks must actively participate in the forthcoming world savings day by taking the enlightenment campaign to all the local government across the country. If you look at developed economy, savings is one of the ways to grow the economy."

Hassan said the Bankers’ Committee also discussed the need to broaden financial inclusion.

He said that there would be a month long sensitisation programme in October to educate Nigerians about the need for all to be included in the financial system.

He said that this would reduce the level of those that were excluded and raise the level of financial inclusion from 60 per cent to 80 per cent.

an alarm and the ammunition fell and hit one of them and he dropped dead there. There is nothing you can do, as a commander, you have to move on. Of course, I knew the family very well, because he was my driver. They came, I told them what happened and they took it in good fate, saying that was how God wished it to be, but it was a very painful death.”

Maryam died at 61 of ovarian cancer on December 27, 2009 in a hospital in Los Angeles, California, United States with Babangida at her bedside.

The ex-leader, who reflected on life after his wife’s death, said: “It has not been easy, but I thank God that I have children who show remarkable understanding and have been doing their best by trying to do what their mother was doing. I also have a lot of grandchildren and they take most of my time.”

Babangida also spoke about his relationship with Maryam. “While we were courting, there was

one aspect that she did not believe about me. She did not believe that I was serious because of the reputation I had as a 'playboy', but I assured her that it won't be a problem that I will be a changed person and I am glad I am. I had no problem solidifying the relationship because I knew her and I knew everyone in her family,” he said.

On misconception about his person, Babangida said: “I am not the evil that quite a lot of people consider that I am. I have had a very excellent background and by training, we have to love one another. However, I can understand the feeling. But by virtue of the job I was doing, I was bound to be misconstrued and people will take it like that, but I consider it as an opinion.

As long as I am not what you think I was, I feel satisfied.”

He added: “I read somewhere sometime ago, where they said I stole N12.8 billion and I said: If I stole such money, I had no business staying

in the country. But those are the type of things that one has to live with. I hope the younger generation will carry out research on leadership, individuals and what role they played in the development of the nation, so that they come up with a different conclusion from what is on ground now.”

Babangida, who also spoke on the polity, called for a part-time legislature to cut high cost of governance. “During my public life, there were a number of decisions I took as a military officer or as a political officer, when I was a dictator that if I had the chance again, I would have done differently. For example, in 1989, we proposed that the National Assembly should be optional, that is part-time. I still believe that if I had the opportunity, I would make the National Assembly part time. I believe in that very strongly.

It's all in the effort to cut down the cost of governance,” he said.

See full interview on page 10

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (left), receiving a birthday card from the Chairman, Niger State Correspondents Chapel, Mr. Wole Mosadomi, at his residence in Minna...yesterday.

PHOTO: DAN ATORI

Court remands ex-Diamond Bank manager over N24m fraud Akeem Nafiu

A

former manager of Diamond Bank Plc., Chinedu Oguike, has been remanded in prison by Justice Abdulazeez Anka of the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N24 million fraud.

This was sequel to his arraignment over alleged conspiracy and fraud before the court yesterday by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) Department of the Nigeria Police.

The police, in a charge marked FHC/L/334c/16, accused Chinedu of conspiring with others still being sought sometimes in 2014, to fraudulently obtain N24 million from one

Ufomba Nnabugwu while acting as Oyingbo branch manager of the bank.

He allegedly obtained the N24 million from the customer under false pretence of handing over a property located at Plot E-136, Adelaja Opesanwo Street, Ijegun-Egba, Satellite town, covered by a Federal Government's Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) registered as No. 48, Page 48, volume 52, at the Federal Lands Registry Office, Ikoyi, dated August 25, 1999.

Besides, the accused person allegedly used a fake name, Edwin Obele Ezeakachukwu, to obtain a loan facility from the bank for himself. He then went ahead to use the

property at Satellite Town as collateral for the loan.

The offences were contrary to and punishable under Sections 8(a), 1(1)(a) (3) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offences Act, 2006, and 1(2) (C) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act. Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

However, upon his arraignment, the accused person denied committing the alleged offence.

Consequently, SFU lawyer, CSP Effiong Asuquo, urged the court to remand the accused person in prison custody and fix a date for trial.

Opposing the request, defence lawyer, John Itodo, while making an oral bail

application for his client, pleaded with the court to admit him to bail in the most liberal terms.

He said he was not aware that his client would be arraigned yesterday.

The lawyer further disclosed that a charge filed against the accused person at a magistrate's court in Lagos was suddenly withdrawn by the police.

Justice Anka, in a short ruling, while refusing the defence lawyer's oral bail application, ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison custody.

The judge, while adjourning the matter till October 6, directed the defence to come up with a formal bail application for the accused person.

6

NEWS

WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Port Harcourt shut down for PDP convention Onyekachi Eze

P

ort Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has been literally invaded by delegates and supporters across the country as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds its elective national conventional today.

The convention, which is the first to hold outside Abuja, the nation's capital since the 1999 convention that produced the party's first presidential candidate in Jos, Plateau State, is recording large number of PDP faithful.

Almost everybody that mattered in PDP is present in the Garden City for today's event, despite various court orders regarding the convention.

The only exception is Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and some of his supporters.

Unlike the May 21 aborted convention, members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by its Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, are in Port Harcourt in their number.

Some BoT members,

led by former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, had boycotted the May 21 convention, which was also held in Port Harcourt because of the attempt to impose Senator Ali Modu Sheriff on the party as its national Chairman.

Some BoT members, together with PDP Former Ministers' Forum and other stakeholders, under the umbrella of Concerned PDP Stakeholders' Forum, held a parallel convention in Abuja to protest against the choice of Sheriff.

Apart from the BoT members, PDP Governors' Forum, PDP National Assembly Caucus and PDP Former Minsters' Forum, are also in attendance.

The 90 aspirants, who obtained the party's nomination forms to run for various offices in the party's national executive positions, have been intensifying their campaign to win the heart of delegates.

Despite the attempts, the governors still hold the ace, as they are making sure that state delegates are secured for preferred

aspirants.

The aspirants faced the screening panel at Rivers State Government House on Monday and Tuesday.

There is no reported case of disqualification of any aspirants.

The panel, set up by PDP Northern Forum, also on Tuesday screened aspirants from the region with the aim of arriving at consensus candidates for all positions zoned to the North.

At the time of filing this report, names of preferred candidates were yet to be made known.

Security has been beefed up in and around Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Shark Stadium, venue of the convention, has been cordoned off by security operatives. All roads leading to the stadium are manned by security personnel to restrict movement of people.

Hotels and other paid accommodations in the city have been fully booked while plain cloth and armed security personnel are keeping 24-hour vigilance around them.

The Port Harcourt Airport has witnessed heavy vehicular traffic since Monday, so also is the road leading to the town from the airport.

Petty traders and commercial vehicle operators are making brisk business.

Food vendors have already set canopies at the convention venue to lure would be patrons.

Today's PDP national convention may turn out as well organised as there is yet no ugly incident since delegates began to arrive the city since Monday.

Twelve PDP governors are attending the convention. They are, Nyesome Wike (Rivers), Ifenayi Ugwianyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Okezie

€37.8m $500,000

The estimated transfer value of John Stones of Everton in 2016.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

The total pay from endorsements of Joe Flacco (Football) for 2016.

Source: Forbes.com

L-R: Co-Producer, All Africa Music Awards (Afrima), Mike Strano; Executive Producer, Mike Dada; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Ayo Adesugba; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Head of Delegation/Head of Culture Division, Department of Social Affairs, African Union (AU), Ms Angela Martins, during AFRIMA's visit to the minister in Abuja …yesterday

Petrol mixed with ethanol in circulation soon –NNPC lRejigs partnership with Benue on biofuel project Adeola Yusuf and Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

A

blend of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol mixed with ethanol will soon be in circulation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) hinted yesterday.

The corporation declared that it had already begun moves to rejig partnership with the Benue State Government (BNSG) on the multimillion dollars venture.

The collaboration on the ethanol project, the corporation said, was geared towards production of biofuels for energy sufficiency.

Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Mai-

kaniti Baru, according to a statement by the corporation, made this known while receiving a delegation from the Benue State Government at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

According to Baru, ethanol, when blended with PMS otherwise known as petrol, ensures excellent performance of vehicles.

He stressed that energy sufficiency and proficiency were part of the cardinal objectives of the NNPC. The NNPC GMD revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari had also directed the corporation to commence hydrocarbon exploratory activities in the Benue Trough as part of efforts to guarantee energy security for the country.

NNPC initiated a renewable energy programme in August 2005, which is in conformity with the Kyoto Protocol agreement to which Nigeria is a signatory.

The primary aim of the programme is to link the agricultural sector with the oil and gas industry.

It is also aimed at gradually reducing the nation’s dependence on imported gasoline, reducing environmental pollution as a result of consumption of wholesale fossil fuel, as well as creating a commercially viable industry that can boast of sustainable domestic jobs.

A similar programme in Brazil has a thriving biofuels industry, providing quantum economic

benefits, including creation of hundreds of thousands of employment opportunities for nationals of that country.

Earlier, the leader of the Benue State delegation, Chief Terwase Orbunde, commended the NNPC for resolving the recent fuel supply challenges.

He pledged the readiness of the state government to support the quick take off of the ethanol project, adding that the project would generate jobs for Nigerians.

Orbunde assured the NNPC of full support and cooperation from the state government and the host communities, stressing that the state government fully identified itself with the energy policy of the Federal Government.

Ikpeazu (Abia), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Dairu Ishiaku (Taraba) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe).

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, is leading members of the National Assembly to the convention, including Senator Buruji Kashamu who was in Sheriff's campaign.

Kashamu was sighted at Sheriff's press briefing yesterday. He reportedly held consultation with him before going to Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was yet to receive the Federal High Court,

Abuja’s judgement on the National Convention of the PDP scheduled for today.

INEC’s Deputy Director on Publicity and Voter Education, Mr. Nick Dazang, said that INEC would come up with its position on motoring of the convention, adding that its staff was on standby for further directive.

“Even though the commission has been served the Port Harcourt High Court judgement, it is yet to be served the Abuja High Court judgement by Justice Abang.

“As soon as it (the Commission) is served the Abuja High Court judgement, it will take a decision.

“In the meantime, and following the Port Harcourt judgement, our monitoring staff are on standby,” Dazang said.

Ambode accepts hosting right of 2016 AFRIMA Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has accepted the hosting right of the 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), saying that that state has become more or less the cornerstone for driving the African arts and culture.

Speaking at the Lagos House, Ikeja, when he received the AFRIMA delegation led by Head of Culture of African Union Commission, Ms Angela Martins and AFRIMA President, Mr. Mike Dada, on Monday, Ambode expressed his administration's commitment to continue to support the talents in the industry and promote cultural heritage of the continent.

The governor said the hosting right of this year's edition of AFRIMA was in sync with his passion of using tourism, hospitality, entertainment, arts and sports to promote excellence.

According to him, "I want to thank the African Union and the organisers of the All Africa Music Awards for finding it worthy to once again pick Lagos as the host city. We are very glad that Lagos has become more or less the cornerstone for driving the African arts and culture. I must say that even though this is the third time that Lagos is hosting it, but this is the very first time that the Lagos State Government will be practically involved and that goes to show that there is a convergence of vision between what the African Union stands for and what this particular administration stands for also.

"We are big promoters

of our culture; we believe so much in heritage; we believe also that the creative part of the African identity is yet to be tapped and obviously, we need to intervene in some of the things that are being done individually to be able to put things together so that we can together drive the African identity and that is why it is a no brainier for us as a government to actually say that we are going to participate in this," Ambode said.

Besides, the governor urged those in the creative industry to key into the N25 billion Employment Trust Fund set up by his administration.

In his remarks earlier, Martins commended Ambode for his passion in developing and promoting arts and culture in the continent.

"We want to thank you (Governor Ambode) for always being on the side of artists and on the side of the African continent in the development of the culture and creative industries of the continent," Martins said.

The state's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the hosting right of AFRIMA further attests to the commitment of the governor to promote culture, arts and tourism.

Ayorinde, who reeled out many achievements of the present administration in the sector such as the expansion of the One Lagos Fiesta, the hosting of the International Jazz Festival at the Lagos House and the upcoming celebration of Lagos at the Toronto International Festival in September, said the Ambode administration has, indeed, continued to use the sector to achieve excellence.

NEWS

WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Judges struggle for superiority over PDP convention lJustice Abang stops convention, restrains INEC from supervision

Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

here seems to be a test of might between Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division and Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court as to whose judgement will be binding on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention slated for today in Port Harcourt.

While Justice Abang stopped the PDP from holding the national convention, Justice Watila okayed the party to go ahead with the convention.

Both judges had, on Tuesday, given separate conflicting interim injunctions.

However, yesterday, Justice Watila gave his final judgement that holding

the convention is lawful and legal, while Justice Abang gave an interlocutory judgement stopping the convention, pending when the case before him will be determined.

However, a new twist was introduced yesterday as another PDP chieftain approached an Abuja High Court seeking the enforcement of an earlier judgement, which sacked Ali Modu Sheriff.

Justice Valentine Ashi of an Abuja High Court had, on June 29, delivered a judgement in suit Fct/ hc/cv/1867/2016 nullifying the amendment of the provisions of Article 47(6) of the Constitution of the PDP 2012 by which Sheriff is claiming entitlement to the post of the national chairman.

The plaintiff is, however, praying for the enforcement of the order, which had not, at any time, been

Only Appeal Court can stop convention – Rivers court Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

T

he Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has declared that only the Court of Appeal has the competent jurisdiction to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from conducting its national convention in Port Harcourt today.

According to Justice Ibrahim Watila, the court's judgement of July 4, which annulled the tenure of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff committee, remains valid until set aside by a competent jurisdiction and not a court with the same jurisdiction.

He also made it clear that the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP remains the executive authority in all matters concerning the party, just as he stressed the need for the court's judgement to be obeyed.

Justice Watila said that the defendants are bound by the judgement because they have made no attempt to set aside the judgement or filed any process in that direction.

He reordered the Police, DSS and INEC to participate in today’s National Convention.

He declared that: "It is necessary for the defendants to carry out their respective functions at the August 17thconvention.

"This court will not shy away from protecting the sanctity of its judgement.

The court has held that the appointment of the PDP National Caretaker Committee is valid.

"In view of the subsisting judgement of this honourable court in Suit No: FHC/PH /CS /524/2016, PDP V. Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff and others, the defendants cannot lawfully interfere or prevent the plaintiff from organising /holding the Planned National Convention of the PDP in Port Harcourt on August 17, 2016."

He said that the defendants were duly served all the processes of the suit filed by the Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee, but chose not to contest the facts.

According to him, court records indicate that the proceedings and order of 10th August and the interlocutory injunction of 15th August, 2016 were served on the defendants with proof of service.

After the judgement, counsel to Senator Ben Obi, Dejo Lamikanra (SAN) said the ruling gives effect to the judgement of July 4 of the Federal High Court.

Lamikanra said: "There is only one judgement with regards to the validity of the convention which held on May 21st in Port Harcourt and that judgement is that of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt given on July 4th."

600,700

The number of pregnant women living with HIV receiving the most effective antiretroviral regiments (excluding single-dose nevirapine) for preventing mother-tochild transmission of Eastern and southern Africa in 2010.

Source: Who.int

set aside by a superior court.

The court had, however, fixed today for judgement in the suit.

Justice Abang yesterday, while ruling on an application brought by the Sheriff faction, barred the PDP from holding its national convention.

The court also barred the party from presenting any candidate, electing or recognising anybody as national officer from the convention.

Justice Abang also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring or supervising any convention pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

The court further ordered the Inspector-General of Police to enforce the order of the court, which stopped the convention.

Also, the court directed Sheriff to obtain and fill Form 48 so as to commit

anybody or group who may disobey the orders of the court to prison.

He later adjourned till September 7 to hear the substantive matter.

The judge, who faulted the decision of the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court to assume jurisdiction on the case relating to the PDP convention, also directed that his order be endorsed with Form 48 (Notice of disobedience of court order) and served on the INEC chairman and secretary.

He said failure by INEC or any of the defendants to comply with his order “will attract disciplinary action” provided “the plaintiffs know what to do.”

He made the order after the plaintiffs, comprising Sheriff and others, moved their motion praying for the interlocutory order yesterday.

The judge held that the motion was not opposed as

the respondents, including members of Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the party, failed to file a counter-affidavit opposing the motion.

He said the Makarfiled caretaker committee members who were only on Monday joined as the third to the ninth respondents adopted strategy of not filing counter-affidavit but other processes that were not found in the court file.

“They must sink and float with their legal strategy,” the judge ruled.

Justice Abang said the request by their counsel, Mr. Yunus Ustaz (SAN) and Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), asking for an adjournment after the plaintiffs’ counsel, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), had moved his motion was an afterthought.

The judge blamed the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court for the conflicting orders that had so far been issued by

him and from Port Harcourt.

Justice Abang said the Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, having first assigned the case relating to PDP convention to him as far back as July 4, the Port Harcourt division ought to have drawn the CJ’s attention to the case later filed with respect to the same subject matter.

Justice Abang, however, chided Justice Watila of the Port Harcourt Division for entertaining the PDP matter in spite of the pending suit in Abuja division.

"The Abuja division is not struggling with Port Harcourt division for jurisdiction.

"I am sure if my brother in Port Harcourt division is averse with this decision, he would not have assumed jurisdiction. Let me make it clear here, that the Port Harcourt division cannot overrule me. Any party or person that fails to comply with my decision will have himself to blame," he held.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (right), and Chairman, Hotels Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch, Mr. Eugene Nwauzi, during a visit to the governor in Port Harcourt… on Monday.

Port Harcourt judgement is a hoax –Sheriff Onyekachi Eze ABUJa

F

actional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has described as a hoax, the interlocutory order given by Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court to the National Caretaker Committee of the party to hold today's National Convention.

A visibly angry Sheriff who addressed the press yesterday also called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the Nigeria Judiciary Council (NJC) to look into Port Harcourt division of the judiciary to avoid judicial anarchy in the country.

"The irony of it is that (Mohammed) Liman is the most senior administrative judge there. So, what he did before is asking another

judge to repeat the same thing because he is the senior judge.

"So, this Justice Ibrahim Watila is available to be used," he alleged.

Justice Watila had, on Monday, granted the prayers of the National Convention Planning Committee to allow the convention to hold as scheduled.

The judge had noted that "the July 4, 2016 judgement of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt recognised the May 21, 2016 National Convention which produced the National Caretaker Committee has not been appealed against or set aside, hence it behoves the court to protect that judgement."

But Sheriff expressed shock at the ruling, observing that "all the judges in Nigeria are on annual vacation."

According to him, the Port Harcourt High Court

granted an ex parte order on Thursday and later converted it to interlocutory injunction the next day.

"But let's accept that the judge decides to do that. The life span of the ex parte motion is 14 days, which means you have time to serve the other people to respond.

"On that Thursday, the judge gave ex parte motion.

The next day he converted that ex parte motion to interlocutory order. On Monday, he sat and heard the main case to give a ruling or judgement today (Tuesday) at 2p.m. without allowing us as defendants to defend ourselves.

"This morning (Tuesday), when our lawyers went to court, the judge authorised all the registry staff to run away.

"It took our lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to call everybody in Nigeria that this judiciary should not be destroyed.

From 9a.m. till now, they are receiving our own response to the application.

"The truth about it is that the whole thing is a hoax. First, the matter is already in Abuja. Ben Obi who is also a party in Abuja left the court because they have judiciary at Federal High Court in Port Harcourt," he added.

Sheriff lent support to the complaint by President Muhammed Buhari that the judiciary is a stumbling block to the war against corruption.

"All the problem of Nigeria are few judges in the Federal High Courts. Urgent attention needed to be taken by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Judicial Service Commission. Unless those kind of people are removed completely, Nigeria will have problem," he stressed.

8

wednesday, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Robbers ambush CBN bullion van, kill two police sergeants Musa Pam

Uzoamaka

Jos

15-year-old victim of torture gets scholarship

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aredevil armed robbers yesterday ambushed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bullion van at Hawan Kibo in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Abuja Road.

The gunmen also killed two police sergeants.

Hawan Kibo, shared by Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa states, is a dangerous location which has, for many years, served as haven for armed robbers.

It is a bushy and rocky area with a very difficult terrain.

Hawan Kibo is not far from military check-points in Riyom and Sopp.

It was learnt that the bullion van and escorts of armed mobile policemen left Jos yesterday morning en route to Abuja before the ambush.

Sources said that immediately after a military check-point at Hawan Kibo, the robbers, wearing military uniforms, emerged from the bush and attacked a patrol team belonging to the Plateau State security outfit, “Operation Rainbow,” attached to Riyom Local Government. They killed a mobile policeman on the spot.

A witness, who was travelling from Jos to Akwanga, told our correspondent that the bullion van ran into the robbers who opened fire on the convoy.

The witness, who pleaded anonymity, added that there was a heavy presence of po-

Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

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A bullion van

licemen on the road.

The Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Tyopev Terna, said two sergeants were killed.

Terna added that some CBN workers were injured in the attack and were receiving treatment at different hospitals.

The PPRO said incident occurred about 8:30a.m.

According to him, the police in the state and other security agents are on the trail of the robbers.

He said: “The robbers en-

gaged the escorts in a shootout, leading to the death of two mobile policemen who were sergeants and others injured.”

The police image maker added that three other policemen attached to the bullion van were injured.

Terna said the bullion van was carrying money from Jos to Lafia in Nasawara State.

He added: “It was a clear case of ambush; they were attacked unexpectedly. Policemen escorting the bullion van repelled the attack; unfortu-

nately we lost two of our men on the spot, while three others were badly injured.”

The PPRO, however, said the robbers were not able to cart away money from the bullion van “because our men responded vigorously; they reacted firmly”.

At press time, several security agents were deployed to protect the van which has been parked at the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) office in Riyom on Abuja Road.

business mogul, Ms Rita Nnenna Anoh, has given scholarship to the 15-year-old victim of torture, Uzoamaka Chukwu.

Uzoamaka, an orphan, was stripped naked and tortured in Uburu Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State while her nude picture and video were posted on social media.

Three policemen, Corporals Paulinus Nwodom, Monday Nweke and Obinna Ironsi, are currently facing trial at the state police command over their role in the incident while the Coordinator of Ohaozara West Development Centre, Mr. Ogbonnaya Eneh, and two others have been arrested in connection with the crime.

Succour, however, came the way of Uzoamaka following her adoption by Anoh, who offered her scholarship to the university level.

She is to study in any university of her choice, according to the lady who was celebrated female personality of the year at the 2016 Nigeria Role Models award held in Lagos.

Anoh also took Uzoamaka on a shopping spree and registered her for medical assessment and clinical therapy.

City Briefs

Lunatic attacks schoolboy with iron rod Police step into Alaba market crisis Charles Onyekwere P ENUGU

A

young man believed to be mentally challenged yesterday narrowly escaped being lynched by a whisker as a mob descended on him.

The man hit a boy who was coming back from a lesson on the head with an iron near Edinburgh roundabout, Ogui New Layout. The boy fell down.

A witness said rushed to the place when they saw what happened.

Enraged by what they saw, the mob descended on the ‘mad man’ with stones and wood. They beat him to the ground.

The witness said that the ‘mad man’ would have been killed but passers-by pleaded that he should be spared because he was not mentally sound.

He said: “The mad man was going in the same direction with the boy who was returning from a holiday lesson when the mad man hit him on the head. The people would have killed him if not

that some people prevailed on them that he is mad man.

“Women around the place shouted for help and drew the attention of the angry youths who came with different sizes of wood to kill the man.

“But the same women who drew the attention to the boy’s plight also shouted that the mad man should not be killed.”

The boy was rushed to the hospital for treatment as blood gushed out of his head.

Another witness, Mr. Ben Okoro, said the same thing happened early this year at Ogbete market and Gariki.

olice in Lagos have commenced investigation into the leadership crisis at the Fancy and Furniture section of the popular Alaba International Market in Ojo. The police yesterday invited the executive members of the section for interrogation following the crisis which nearly led to a bloodbath in the market last Monday.

Police sources said the issues raised against the executive included allegations that one of their leaders was a former convict who served 13 years for drug peddling in Thailand after which

he was said to have been wrongly and unconstitutionally elected.

It was gathered that seven members of the executive led by the 1st Vice-Chairman, Acholamukwu Mmadueke, signed a petition alleging, among other things, that one of their leaders registered the union’s official vehicle in his personal name, built 30 container shops, sold and used them to block other members’ shops in the market.

They also alleged that the said leader invaded the market with thugs and cult boys with dangerous weapons and inflicted bodily injuries on some of the traders.

METRO

wednesday, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Criminals now carry weapons in bags –Lagos CP Taiwo Jimoh

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agos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, has raised the alarm of the new method adopted by criminals to ferry arms and ammunition.

Owoseni called on transporters to be security conscious and conduct checks on travellers’ luggage properly before beginning their journey.

The police boss spoke yesterday at the launch of Eminent Persons Forum, Idimu Police Division chapter and the inauguration of a multipurpose hall built by the residents of the community.

Owoseni said the transporters would help in no small measure in checking criminal activities at their motor parks as some of these bad elements had been arrested in motor parks after their bags were checked and weapons were discovered.

He said: “Some criminals had been arrested in motor parks with guns stocked in their bags, while trying to escape and smuggle their weapons out of the state.”

Owoseni also advised parents, who always allow their children to walk alone to school, to desist from it henceforth.

According to him, the action of the parents gives kidnappers the opportunity to operate by luring the innocent children

with biscuit.

T h e commissioner also advised l a n d lords to do backg ro u n d checks on prospective tenants before offering them accommodation.

He said: “Following the ongoing bombardment of militants in the creeks of Lagos and Ogun states, some of them who have escaped from there may be looking for where to hide their guns and ammunition in the state. It is important for you landlords to know the kind of people you rent your house to.

“When you conduct background check on someone who is about to pack into your house, you will be able to know if such a person has a criminal background. Get the picture of the person and do proper checks to avoid calamity.”

Owoseni also warned residents on the type of friends they keep whenever they go to beer joints, because some of these militants use such places as their hideout.

The commissioner said some of the militants cum oil pipeline vandals had been escaping as a result of the bombardment on the creeks of Lagos and Ogun states by the joint military task force.

This, according to him, this prompted the luggage check on travellers and background check and new tenants.

Also, Owoseni said the Eminent Persons Forum would serve as advisory body to the police.

He said: “The Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, has mandated that every command should inaugurate it at their various divisions throughout the country. The forum would make input and partner with the police by fighting crimes in their neighborhoods.”

The police chief also said the

Muritala Ayinla

Owoseni (third right) and members of Eminent Persons’ Forum... yesterday

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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olice in Ogun State yesterday arrested a security guard, Salako Taloju, in connection with the death of four people after excessive consumption of local gin known as “Ogogoro.”

Taloju, who allegedly sold the killer liquor, is said to be the security guard of a frontline politician in the state, Chief Sule Onabiyi.

It was learnt that the deceased took the gin on Sunday evening at Onabiyi’s residence in Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.

Three of the victims were said to have died on Monday while the fourth person passed on yesterday.

Sources said all the victims gave up the ghost at their respective houses.

Although details of the incident were sketchy yesterday, our correspondent witnessed the arrest of the prime suspect at Onabiyi’s residence by four policemen.

Taloju gave the names of some of the deceased as Baba Imeko, Baba Onwenue and Easy, while noting that they used to come around to savour liquor at his shop.

It was learnt that the suspect had been selling the liquor for over 20 years.

Taloju, who was apparently drunk when the security agents arrived, resisted arrest and repeatedly pleaded that he was innocent.

Women’s protest grounds Anambra again Okegwo Kenechukwu

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any Lagos residents and commuters escaped death yesterday when fire gutted a house and when a truck rammed into three buses.

Fire, which broke out about 6:39a.m. at 43, Shogbamu Street, New Garage, Bariga, destroyed property worth millions of naira, while an articulated truck carrying a container hit three commercial buses otherwise called Danfo at Fatgbems bus stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

Speaking on the incidents, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, (LASEMA), Mr. Michael Akindele, said the agency received an alert via the Command Control Room, Alausa about 6.39a.m., which prompted immediate activation of the Emergency Response Team (ERT), Lagos State Fire Service from Ilupeju and Ikeja Fire Stations, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and the police to the scene.

According to him, preliminary investigation carried out by the ERT at the scene of the incident revealed that the inferno was caused by an electrical surge from an electronics shop.

Akindele, who said that nobody died or sustained injury, disclosed that the timely intervention of the Lagos State Fire Service and other emergency responders stopped the spread of the inferno to other buildings.

He said: “However, nine rooms were affected at 43, Shogbamu Street,

Four die after consuming local gin

IG had directed every police officer to work with the public in a robust manner.

He said: “You, members of the public, are the police not we.

Those policemen who collect money on the road are the reflection of the society who give them money. You should also take our mistakes as your mistakes because you are the ones encouraging them to continue.”

The Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Civic Matters, Hon Kehinde Joseph, urged the residents to cooperate with the police in fighting crime.

He said: “With the provision of security gadgets by the state government to the police as well as the proper use of the equipment has made it possible for the police to reduce the crime rate in the state drastically.”

Scores escape death in fire, auto crash

9

Onitsha

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The burning house...yesterday

while one room was affected at 45, Shogbamu Street, while five shops all at No 43 were burnt with goods and property worth millions of naira inside the shops.”

Akindele advised residents to always ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off after the close of work or when not in use at home.

The GM also warned against the use of naked cables and illegal connection.

Meanwhile, four people sustained serious injuries in the auto crash. One of the victims was taken to the hospital by passers-by before the arrival of the ERT, while the other three were given first aid treatment by LASEMA Medical Team and LASAMBUS. They were later taken to the Trauma Centre for

further treatment.

It was also learnt that the accident, which involved a truck with registration number AKD 279 XR and three commercial buses marked BDG 721 XJ, GGE 759 XN and KJA 25 XH, was caused by illegal stopping of the commercial bus drivers picking passengers on the expressway.

Akindele advised motorists to avoid reckless driving and overspeeding.

He also urged them to always adhere to all traffic rules and regulations to avoid accidents.

Other agencies at the scenes of the incidents included Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the police.

omen, who again embarked on protest yesterday, crippled business activities and vehicular movement for several hours in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Vegetable and fruit traders disobeyed the directives of the state government and took to the street. They blocked the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway for hours.

The women carried different placards with various inscriptions such as: “We no gree, we no gree,” “Her Excellency, please ask your husband to leave us at our market,” and “We are comfortable here,” among others.

The women have, in the last three weeks, engaged Anambra State government to protest government’s order to vacate the notorious Coca-cola private market located on Coke plant premises on Asaba-Onitsha Expressway.

Anambra State had, since the administration of Peter Obi, directed the traders in the area to vacate following incessant auto accidents which had claimed more than 35 lives.

Vehicles usually ram into the traders who always block one lane of the expressway while displaying their wares.

Addressing journalists yesterday, one of the women, Mrs. Ngozi Okeke, said they did not want to relocate to anywhere because there was no security in the government-approved market.

She added that there was no enough accommodation to contain all the women.

Another woman, Mrs. Ngozi Ngonnadi, vowed that they were comfortable in their present location.

10 NEWS

I'm not evil genius, says IBB Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, has revealed that a part-time National Assembly is what the country needs to cut cost of governance. In an interactive session with journalists yesterday at his Minna Hill Top residence as part of activities to mark his 75th birthday, IBB said he is not evil as misconstrued by some people. He also revealed how he almost killed his wife. DAN ATORI reports You have been a military officer cum president, which one was more challenging?

Being a military officer is more challenging than being a military president.

Being a military officer, you are leading men into danger, your life and their lives very much depend on you as the commander. If they have faith in you, they will follow you. If you have faith in them, you will go along with them. I see it as more challenging than being the president.

As a military president, you still have to seek people's advice, you interact, you discuss based on the prevailing situations you find yourself, but being a military officer, you are the only one with the troops you are commanding. Their hopes are on you and if you read them wrongly, you will kill a lot of them. If they have faith in you, they will also protect you. So, I consider being a military officer more challenging than being political leader.

subject yourself also to a constituted authority, you will have to undertake tasks or jobs assigned to you by government. And because Nigeria signed some treaties and the rest of them, we are expected to serve in any situation that we may be called upon to serve either by the Economic Community for West African States, African Union or the United Nations. The army is a noble profession and it is a profession that requires a lot of courage.

You fought on the Nigerian side during the civil war. What was your toughest experience?

I think it was the movement from Enugu to Umuahia. It was very tough and challenging. You need to be physically fit to be able to undertake such movement because we were moving on feet and we had to go through the jungles, mountains, hills and so on. You can never tell, but I think it was the toughest experience I've ever had and this was in April 1969.

You have been misinterpreted in the past and people still view you that way. Do you wish you were not misconstrued that way?

I am not the evil that quite a lot of people consider that I am. I have had a very excellent background and, by training, we have to love one another. However, I can understand the feeling. But by virtue of the job I was doing, I was bound to be misconstrued and people will take it like that, but I consider it as an opinion as long as I am not what you think I was. I feel satisfied.

I read somewhere sometime ago, where they said I stole N12.8 billion and I said if I stole such a money, I had no business staying in the country, but those are the type of things that one has to live with. I hope the younger generation will carry out research on leadership, individuals and what role they played in the development of the nation, so that they come up with a different conclusion from what is on ground now.

It has been a while that you lost your wife, how have you been able to cope?

It has not been easy, but I thank God that I have children who show remarkable understanding and have been doing their best by trying to do what their mother was doing. I also have a lot of grandchildren and they take most of my time.

How do you feel clocking 75?

I feel old because what I was able to do 25 years ago, I cannot do physically now, but I thank God that He has spared my life to reach this Diamond age.

What advice do you have for the younger generation?

I only have one advice for them; play hard and pray hard for the country.

What advice do you have for the younger ones who want to join the army under the prevailing security situation?

The basic elements still remain the same up till now despite what we went through. We joined the army for the purpose of being in the force to protect this country. That hasn't changed. Because you

You said recently that you will be giving advice to leaders and the younger generation. How does it feel being an elder statesman giving out advice to leaders?

You feel good because you are not at the receiving end. Based on your experience of the past, you can now be able to offer advice because you might have come across a similar situation during the course of your time.

How do you feel about your death rumour and what came to your mind?

The first thing that came to my mind is that it is not new, they did it to Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and not long ago, to Shehu Shagari. They have also done it to quite a number of elder statesmen. So, it is not a surprise at all couple with the fact that whether I like it or not, I will still die. They are only stating the obvious. The only thing we do not know about death is that we don't know the cause, time or place.

Some sections of the media have described you as a “cat with nine lives.�

WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Babangida

Would you agree to that?

Those who say that I am a cat with nine lives; maybe they know all the challenges that I went through as a person, what should have happened to me but did not happen. I also think it is based on perception. The first time I had one experience was when I was on a flight going to Lagos and suddenly there was panic and before then, everybody was drinking tea and taking coffee. And when we touched ground at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, nobody was talking again. Before the sudden drop, I had my entourage, everybody was drinking tea. I came to cheer them up but I wasn't successful. That was the first time I had an experience.

What is that particular secret you would want to share before you depart this world?

Is there any secret? I have said everything that you would want me to say. But the only thing is that, you may decide to add one or two if you know.

What do you wish you would do differently if you had the chance, either in your public or private life?

During my public life, there were a number of decisions I took as a military officer or as a political officer, when I was a dictator that if I had the chance again, I would have done differently. For example, in 1989, we proposed that the National Assembly should be optional, that is part-time. I still believe that if I had the opportunity, I would make the National Assembly part time. I believe in that very strongly. It's all in the effort to cut down the cost of governance.

When you were young, you must have been very handsome and smashing. Looking back, how were you able to convince your late wife, Maryam, to marry you?

While we were courting, there was one aspect that she did not believe about me.

She did not believe that I was serious because of the reputation I had as a 'playboy' but I assured her that it won't be a problem that I will be a changed person and I am glad I am. I had no problem solidifying the relationship because I knew her and I knew everyone in her family.

How did you ask her to marry you?

I was straight to the point. I told her bluntly that I want to marry you.

In the course of your military career, did you have any record accidental discharge?

Accidental discharge! Oh no, I almost had it with someone very close to me and

when I did, the person involved luckily was not dead. I had it during the course of my service and it was in Dodan Barracks and the person who almost took it was my wife but she escaped it. But I also had a situation where I was moving with some of my junior officers. There was an alarm and the ammunition fell and hit one of them and he dropped dead there. There is nothing you can do, as a commander, you have to move on. Of course, I knew the family very well because he was my driver. They came, I told them what happened and they took it in good fate, saying that was how God wished it to be, but it was a very painful death.

Was joining the army the only option you had in your choice of career?

When I was young, my principal wanted me to go into administration, but I personally wanted to go for engineering. Then politics came, the Minister for Army at that time, one Tanko Galadima, from Bida, came on a recruitment drive in my school. He wanted people from this part of the country to be enlisted into the Nigeria Army because there weren't many of them at that time. He asked how many of us were interested and a lot of hands went up, thinking it was a joke, our names were taken down and within a week, enlistment forms into the army were brought. We sat for the examination; we deliberately decided to pass the examination because we didn't want people to say we failed. So, we passed the examination, we were interviewed, went for medical and aptitude tests. We decided to go into the army because we had a strong backer in the minister in charge of the army.

Despite your position and the roles you have played so far in the history of this country, you seem not to have any honorary doctorate degree or chieftaincy title.

Is it because you don't want or nobody or institution has come to you?

First of all, I kept on thinking, if you give me honorary degree, what will I do with it. When you talk of honorary, I do have one or two; one from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and from the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna. I accepted that of FUT because it is in my town and I thank God I brought about FUT because it was during my time.

And recently I took one or two also. But I don't need to get a job, so, I said I will not take it because I am not going to need it for seeking for or get a job because I had already got a job. So, I turned town quite a number of offers.

11

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Yakubu I’ll prove Oshiomhole wrong at the poll

Politics

Fasehun Military used scholarship to stop me from democratic struggle

12 14

PDP NWC: Candidates go for broke Delegates and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gather in Port Harcourt, Rivers State today to elect new leadership of the party.

Will it be a new dawn for PDP? ONYEKACHI EZE asks

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ll things being equal, new National Working Committee (NWC) members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are expected to emerge in the early hours of Thursday.

Party members and delegates from 36 states of the country and Abuja are expected to gather in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital this morning to elect the new set of PDP national officers, who will pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years.

A total of 21 positions are up for grabs, and a number of aspirants have already obtained the party's nomination forms to seek the delegates' mandate to be part of next executive.

Five persons are contesting the PDP National Chairmanship position. Among them are former Deputy National chairman, Chief Bode George, former Minster of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, PDP former governorship candidate in Lagos State in 2015, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Chairman emeritus of Daar Communications Plc, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja.

The party has expanded its NWC to include two Deputy National Chairmen and six zonal Vice Chairmen. The positions of zonal Vice Chairmen have‎ been filled when PDP conducted congresses last May. The north and southern parts of the country are to produce two deputy national chairmen, and about five persons have submitted nomination forms to vie for

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

George

the positions.

They include former Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and George Turner (for Deputy National Chairman, South); and former National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufa'i Ahmed Alkali, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Jali and Senator Saidu Komo (for Deputy National Chairman, North).

Former National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, former National Treasurer, Alhaji Buhari Bala and Senator Sahabi Ya'u, are the only three people known to have obtained nomination forms to contest the position of National Secretary.

The other various offices also attracted hordes of aspirants, include the position of National Publicity Secretary (NPS), which has about five aspirants.

The contest for the National Chairmanship position is between Chief Bode George and Mr. Jimi Agbaje.

The former governorship candidate is said to be enjoying the support of PDP governors while George enjoys the sympathy of party members who don't want the party to be hijacked by the governors. Nonetheless, the delegates will have the final say on who becomes the next national chairman.

This is the second time PDP stakeholders and delegates will be gathering in the Rivers State capital this year to effect a change in the party's leadership. The first was on May 21. But unfortunately, it ended in a stalemate following a court order stopping elections into three national offices - the National Chairman, National Secretary and

Agbaje

Any sincere PDP members should know that PDP is bigger than an individual

National Auditor.

Delegates to the convention had unanimously voted for the appointment of a seven-member National Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the party for 90 days.

The committee, which is headed by former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, was also charged to organise a fresh convention and handover to an elected NWC members.

The past three months has been tortuous for the party. PDP was embroiled in bitter leadership tussle resulting in the lock up of the national secretariat for about two months now.

Also, the party has been faced with barrage of court cases. Chairman PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin said there are over 15 cases in court over the leadership crisis. Most of these court cases were instituted by the factional National Chairman, Senator Sheriff.

Sheriff was appointed PDP National Chairman in March this year to serve out the tenure of people of North-East. The zone’s tenure, which is supposed to expire the same month, was extended by three months to allow the NWC moblise party members and organise a convention.

The May 21 national convention was scuttled because Sheriff, in connivance with some state governors and other stakeholders wanted to remain national chairman till PDP’s mid-term convention in 2018.

The decision to edge him out before 2018 did not go down well with the former Borno State governor.

And he fought like a wounded lion

to retain his position.

Sheriff had told INEC to ignore a letter by Makarfi-led PDP Caretaker Committee to monitor today's national convention because the caretaker committee is an illegal body and has no powers under the PDP constitution to convene the party’s national convention.

He said in a letter dated August 2, that the only body that can call for and ratify activities culminating to a National Convention of PDP is the National Executive Committee (NEC) as enshrined in Article 31 (2)(a) of the Constitution of the PDP. According to him, "any person or group of persons planning for an event is doing so as an illegal body and in direct contempt of valid court orders.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the only body that can call for and ratify activities culminating to a national convention of our great party, the PDP is our party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) headed by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

"The Senator Ali Modu Sheriffled PDP is not planning any national convention, as he has not been so authorized by the National Executive Committee of the PDP. "This letter is to kindly put you on notice to ignore any such notifications by the illegal Makarfi-led caretaker committee."

Sheriff's actions have unsettled PDP leaders, forcing them to seek intervention from former President Goodluck Jonathan and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.

It was when the move to settle CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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POLITICS PLATFORM

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

I’ll prove Oshiomhole wrong at the poll – Yakubu

National convention:

Former chairman of Esan North East Local Government, Mr. John Yakubu, and the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Edo State election, speaks in this interview, on the claim by Governor Adams Oshiomhole that he is a disadvantage to the PDP. Felix Nwaneri reports

the matter political failed that legal option was resorted to. Jonathan had promised members of the party’s BoT when they visited him that he would do more to reconcile aggrieved party members.

"I have been talking to individuals (members of the party) but not in a way that is exposed to media but I believe I should do more.

"Unfortunately we have been challenged, but I don't think you should not be discouraged. Challenges are part of life; even in families there are challenges.

There are challenges even in the church more than what may be happening at political level. So you should not be discouraged, and I believe, collectively, we can solve it.

"This should not be beyond us but I believe the collectively, we can resolve it.

Any sincere PDP members should know that PDP is bigger than an individual.

And many members have sacrificed their interest for the party," he observed.

Unfortunately, overtures made to pacify Sheriff by party leaders, including a special committee set up by the BoT, failed.

Sheriff was said to be against the venue of the convention and Governor Wike heading the national convention planning committee. He also insisted that the ward, local government and state congresses already concluded and approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) must stand.

"If our leaders have taken their responsibilities, we would never have had most of the problems we are facing today.

"When a leader refused to stand up to his responsibilities, there will be problem. Why am I saying this? Some of our leaders are party to our problem. The moment we want to use one impunity to address another, it will not work," he said.

Former Minister of Information, Prof.

Jerry Gana, who was Chairman of the BoT Reconciliation Committee, said the committee has made enough provisions to accommodate Sheriff and his supporters to actively participate in today's convention.

"We consulted and interacted with relevant bodies and individuals; we interacted with governors, the National Caretaker Committee, National Assembly caucus, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and some of his supporters.

"They were frank, they were open and they gave us what they considered is a way forward. We believe if the BoT considers the recommendations and implement them, we believe it will bring genuine reconciliation in our party," Gana said.

According to Gana, one of the major highlights in the committee's recommendation was the withdrawal of all cases from the court.

"We believe that it is not good for democracy that every little thing is sent to law court. The people's mandate is no longer regarded as sacred. Therefore we have a number of court cases all over the

What is your response to Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s claim that you are a liability to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as you lack the capacity to win election?

I had an opportunity to serve in the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole for a year and 10 months and there after I left to contest the local government election in the state.

In spite of the fact that the governor appointed the officials, who conducted that poll, I defeated his party.

Even when issues over that election got to the court, the presiding judge did mention that it was shameful for the chairman of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, Solomon Ogor, to have released results that were not collated.

While we were Yakubu still at the collation centre in Uromi with the state Commissioner of Police, the Returning Officer and the media, the Comrade Governor invited Ogor and wrote the results for him. Someone had to call my attention, while we were still at the collation centre that Edo Broadcasting Service was announced results.

What do you think informed the comment?

I will tell you two things about that comment made by Governor Oshiomhole about my person. First, is the fact that he stole our money when I was local government chairman. At a particular meeting, the governor directed the 18 local government chairmen in the state to release 10 per cent of their respective council’s allocations to him. But I said that I have to consult my people back home before I can cede even a kobo to him. Before the end of that meeting, a memo came out from nowhere and our names were on it.

The memo was passed to us but when it got to me, I said that it was impossible for me to sit down at the meeting and cede funds belonging to my local government to anybody and I passed it to the next person.

How did your colleagues then react to the

5 Questions

directive?

The other council chairmen signed but I refused because there is no law that says that I should release my local government’s fund to the state. In fact, there is a provision in the law, which says that the state should give the local governments 10 per cent from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state. I insisted on not giving out money that came from Abuja and meant for my people until I consult them. After the governor had taken N.5 billion (N500 million) from the councils, I wrote a petition to the state House of Assembly and what was Oshiomhole’s defence: ‘The council chairmen signed for the deduction of 10 per cent from their allocation but that the chairman of Esan North-East Local Government Area did not sign and for that reason, his council’s money was not taken.’

Was your refusal responsible for withholding of your council’s allocation by the state government at a time?

When my council’s money was withheld for about five months, a commissioner in the Oshiomhole government, advised me to decamp to ruling party in the state, so that the money could be released.

Fo r t u n at e ly for me, we had a meeting with the governor that day and I confronted him with his commissioner’s proposal.

In the presence of the 18 council chairmen and their deputies, the governor said: ‘Yakubu, I have a machine gun in my hand and I will fire you from a distance.’

What value would your choice as the running mate to the PDP governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu bring as the party battles to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election?

While the governor continues to take his time to talk about me, we will keep educating the people of Edo Sate why the local governments are suffering. The councils are not doing anything not because they don’t have money but because the governor took the money from them. He is not even collecting 10 per cent any longer, he is taking more.

He is doing this despite the fact that the state Assembly passed a resolution directing that he should stop the deduction and refund the N500 million he collected. The papers are there to verify this. So, it is unfortunate for the governor to talk about John Yakubu not winning elections. But I can assure you that if I have an election today with Governor Oshiomhole in Edo State, I am quite sure that I will defeat him.

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 2

Adeniran

palce.

"This is the largest problem the party is facing the party. We need to take all cases from the court. If we don't do that this democracy will be truncated. This is not good for survival of our democracy.

Political matters should provide political solution," he stated.

Any doubt about the convention holding was cleared last Monday when the National Convention Planning Committee, through its Secretary, Senator Ben Obi, obtained a court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the convention, and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to provide security for the delegates.

Justice Ibrahim Watila of Federal High Court, Port Harcourt division who gave the order, said it was based on the fact that "the July 4, 2016 judgment of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt recognised the May 21, 2016 National Convention which produced the National Caretaker Committee has not been appealed against or set aside, hence it behoves the court to protect that judgement."

In his ruling, the judge said: “The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants are hereby mandated to provide security for the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, August 17 2016 or any other date and venue pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice or the originating summons as the honourable court may decide.

“The 5th defendant (INEC) is mandated to monitor the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on Wednesday August 17 or any other date and venue pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice or the originating summons as the honourable court may

CROSSFIRE I never wanted to be chairman of the PDP. I was sitting down in my house when leaders of the party begged me to come and help the party -Ali Modu Sheriff

He came to destroy the PDP and if we did not rise up against him and kick him out when we did, he would have succeeded in his mission -Femi Fani-Kayode

POLITICS PLATFORM

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP’s hope of a new beginning

Dokpesi

Adedoja

decide.”

In an interview after the ruling, counsel to Obi, Barr. Wori Nyeche Wori, said with the granting of the interlocutory injunction, the party has the legal backing to carry on with the national convention.

In a related development, the chairman of the PDP National Convention Planning Committee, Governor Nyesom Wike, restated that the convention will hold as scheduled. The governor, who spoke to journalists after the judgement, said everything is set for the for the convention, because it is backed by law.

He said: "Let me assure you that as the chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, we are backed by law and the court that the convention will go ahead.

"The court has recognised the May 21 National Convention before now in its July 4, 2016 Judgment.

Again, today (Monday), the Federal High Court has re-confirmed that INEC should monitor the August 17 National Convention and that the security agencies should provide security as required."

Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Makarfi, also said the convention would still hold as the Abuja Federal High Court is not superior to that of Port Harcourt, which had

We need to take all cases from the court.

If we don't do that this democracy will be truncated

The reality of the times

N

o doubt, the present state of the economy is biting hard on many Nigerians.

What many, however, do not know is that the recession is not only at the doorstep of the common people alone. Even those perceived to be the rich are feeling the excruciating pain of the high cost of products and services in the country.

Recently, Politricks stumbled on a former deputy governor lamenting over the cost of involved in the issuance of international passport for some of his close as-

earlier gave the party the go ahead with the convention. He however, said the Court of Appeal will sort everything out.

The court order was to preempt the one expected from Abuja, which is presided over by Justice Okon Abang. The factional National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff had earlier approached the court to stop the convention.

As rightly speculated by the Makarfi faction, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided by Justice Okon Abang suspended the scheduled national convention.

The judge said he gave the ruling to serve as a “judicial deterrent” for what he described as the “excesses of parties.”

Justice Abang was expected to rule on an application filed by a faction of the party led by a former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi, and a former senator, Ben Obi. He had adjourned Monday’s hearing after granting the application by the faction.

He, however, took another decision after a lawyer representing another faction of the party led

by Ali-Modu Sheriff, informed him that Obi had approached the Port Harcourt division of the Federal High Court to obtain an interim injunction.

The judge said the act deserved

a “judicial response,” saying: “The plaintiff filed a motion on July 20, being an order restraining INEC from monitoring the national convention of PDP August 17.

The court had adjourned the application to allow Makarfi and six others to join till August 15.

“Now that the applicants have been joined as parties, opportunities should be given to the parties to say whether they are opposed to the application or not. The court was ready to adjourn to allow the newly joined parties to prepare their arguments.

“What is shocking is that Senator Ben Obi obtained an order on August 9 from the Port Harcourt division for INEC and the security officers to provide security for the party in the convention. The action of Senator Ben Obi is grossly unacceptable. This is unfortunate and unfair.

“Having found that Senator Ben Obi had obtained an exparte order, there is an urgent need to take a consequential decision. Senator Ben Obi cannot slap the court in the face and expect the court to adjourn the matter without making an interim order. Democracy is not anchored on the whims and caprices of any persons. If we are to uphold the rule of democracy, nobody is above the law,” he said.

Citing a previous decision of the Supreme Court, the judge said the court had restrained parties from securing self-help, and maintaining status-quo pending the determination of any matter before the court of law.

His words: “Lawyers and politicians must ensure that the hard earned democracy is protected.

The court is here to ensure that there is no anarchy. Therefore in the exercise of my disciplinary jurisdiction, as stated by the Supreme Court and to maintain the dignity of the court; “An order is hereby made in the interim to suspend the August 17 convention pending the determination of the application filed on July 20.”

With the conflicting court rulings, there is no doubt that the new beginning which members of the former ruling seek to achieve with today’s convention may not be feasible as the legal battle for the control of PDP by the two factions is unlikely to subside after the exercise.

POLITRICKS

sociates, who needed to travel out of the country for a crucial assignment.

The obviously broke former number two man busted out with shout when an official of the passport office informed him of the cost for the issuance of the passports. Apparently not satisfied with the excuse being given by the official, he insisted in seeing the most senior official in the office with the intent of negotiating the price.

Clearly, this is the reality check of the time.

Lawmaker or lawbreaker?

A

member of legislative arm of government is regarded as ‘lawmaker’ because his constitutional role is to make laws for local, state and federal government. This unique role seems to be one of the reasons while a lawmaker is addressed as ‘Honourable’.

Considering how lawmakers are expected to portray themselves in the society, many people were surprised by a recent show of shame of a Speaker of House of Assembly in a South-West state, who allegedly beat his wife

to coma in a court premises.

The Speaker was reported to have unleashed terror on his wife by forcefully taking away his daughter from his wife right in front of the court, immediately the judge ruled in his favour in a divorce suit filed by the woman.

The action of the Number Three citizen of his state against his estranged wife in a court premises is not expected of a lawmaker, talk less of a man steering the ship of a legislative chamber. Is the Speaker a lawmaker or lawbreaker? The question is left for his constituent and colleagues to answer.

13

POLITICAL NOTES

Garlands for IBB at 75 ormer Military President, F General Ibrahim Babangida Babangida (IBB), clocks 75 years

today. Therefore, to Babangida, his family and friends, celebrating his 75 years birthday today is not a child's play having survived several death rumours.

Since the gap-tooth General ‘stepped out’ of Aso Rock in 1993 after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 and handed over to the Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, there had been several reports about his death, especially when the former President is out of the country on medical treatment. But the death stories usually turned to rumours.

The recent of such rumours, which made many Nigerian curious, was in June when the social media was awash with stories that the former military leader had passed on in Germany, where he went to seek medical treatment. But the news became a rumour when he spoke from Germany on a live programme on television that he is alive and assured Nigerians that he will return to the country very soon.

Speaking to journalists at his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, the capital of Niger State on his rumoured death, Babangida said he is getting use to rumours of his death and wondered why people would constantly peddle rumours of his death at the slightest news of attending to his health outside the country.

“The rumour does not shock me, neither does it bother me because I know I must go and meet God, my creator. There is nothing really to worry about, my religion has told me. As a Muslim, I strongly believe everybody will die, everybody will die and everybody has to die. It could be now or in a hundred years’ time or two days to come but it doesn’t matter. Everybody must die,” he said.

Babangida in the last few years often suffered a relapse of pain from injury received in his right leg as a result of piercing by a bullet during the civil war and he has visited Germany on many occasions for Radiculopathy treatment. And his rumoured death usually comes up whenever he travelled out for his treatment.

Considering how death stories of the gap-toothed military ruler have turned out to be rumours on many occasions, he has every reason to roll out the drums to celebrate his 75th birthday today,

temitope ogunbanke

14

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Military used scholarship to stop me from democratic struggle – Fasehun

Dr. Frederick Fasehun is the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). In this interview with Wale Elegbede, he speaks on his journey into politics and his involvement in the democratic struggle and the several challenges he encountered in the process At over 80 years, how has your political life being?

Politically, I wouldn’t say that I had any political life in my youth but I had my icons when I was in the secondary school. They were Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sir Ahmadu Bello.

Each time they were on campaign, they will go to the various towns and cities, and I took that opportunity to listen to them each time they came near our school – Ondo Boys High School. And because they were preaching the gospel of democracy, that all men and women are born equal, I developed interest because that sounded very attractive to me that it didn’t matter how rich you were, you enjoy equality with us, the students in school.

They gave us the opportunity to ask questions even when some of those questions sounded foolish.

The fact that they were preaching democracy sounded very attractive, and I followed up from there until I travelled out of Nigeria to pursue further education.

What was the experience like in a foreign land?

It was when I got abroad that I really understood the meaning of democracy. The democracy we heard our forefathers talk about was entirely different from what I came across in Britain. In Britain, I was rode on a bus - Bus88, with Harold Wilson, who was then Prime Minister of Britain. He left home in his car but developed a fault, and he had to give a speech in the House of Commons. He abandoned his car for the driver to repair. There was no convoy.

The British Prime Minister at that time probably was the most respected prime minister on earth but he had no convoy. So, when his car developed fault, he abandoned it to the mercy of his driver and hopped on Bus88, inside which I

was a passenger. Bus88 took him to West Minster and he left like an ordinary person to continue his journey to the House of Commons.

That was the epitome of democracy - equality. That made me to become a respecter of the concept called democracy and of course, democracy is the rule of law.

In Britain, everybody is equal and everybody obeys the laws of the land. That’s also made the concept of democracy attractive.

If you go to your constituency to do an oversight job, you are subjected to questioning and you answer such questions with respect to the constituents. And I remember when somebody lost his wife, the member who was representing Aberdeen at that time in the House of Commons had to questions over the incident. Just an individual that died in his house, the lawmaker had to answer questions over the death. He had to explain to the House of Commons why that person died. Can you imagine the number of people that die here every day, every hour, and nobody takes charge? That is why some of us occasionally ask: Is there nobody in charge? Nigerians just die like chicken and no one takes responsibility, whereas government is in place for the security of lives and property of the citizens.

At what point did you join politics?

When I came back from the United Kingdom in 1972, I noticed that what we had here was not right. It was a jack-boot control we had. Everybody was under his or her bed, nobody dared to say anything, we were cowed, we couldn’t ask questions, we couldn’t complain. That was not democratic and there was no equality in that. So, I joined the struggle to complain that what we had at that time as government was far from democratic government. What people like Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Alao Aka-Bashorun and others were preaching was in agreement with my own concept of democracy, and I joined them. And of course, most of these people were nonpartisan. Of these names, only Gani was slightly partisan. Beko and Aka-Bashorun were far from partisanship and I copied them and gradually we started talking to the people and teaching them what true democracy is and before you knew it, many of them joined the struggle for true democracy.

How did the government at that time view your group and its preaching?

True democracy was anomalous to the government of those days, you either comply with what they dictated or you find your way

Fasehun

I thought the average Nigerian doctor was more useful to Nigeria than a politician

out of the country. But I didn’t find my way out of the country, although, in-between, I went for post graduate studies. However, I don’t know why I was given a scholarship to China, when I came back.

Six months after I returned from post graduate studies in Britain, I was given the United Nations scholarship to go and study Acupuncture in China. Acupuncture was not known in this part of the world at that time. The powers that be just wanted me out of the way, so I went to China. Maybe, they didn’t do their homework very well because when I came back, I returned to the struggle.

Was that the beginning of your political journey?

When we succeeded in sending the military back to their barracks, there was pure politics at that time and many of us found our way into real politics. I then joined the Labour Party (LP) as its national chairman. But I soon realised that the party was not making use of its size and its

power. The election was coming and then military leader, General Ibrahim Babangida, dictated that every potential contestant should pay half a million naira to obtain an ordinary form. To me, that was making democracy for sale. I didn’t think democracy should be a cash and carry affair, so I withdrew. And when politics returned three years later, people prevailed on me that I shouldn’t have withdrawn from politics. So, I returned to politics but at a low level.

Unfortunately, the military had bastardised the politics of the country. Politics was for sale and the highest bidder was the winner and you had to bribe your way through to be involved in politics but I didn’t think power should be available for the highest bidder. So, I left politics completely but the democratic struggle was still on. I joined my colleagues, went to the trenches a few times but when ‘true’ politics returned, I found my way into it again with the thinking that we have now sent the military back to the barracks, there was no way people will cow us to run

POLITICS

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

under our bed. Having driven the military back to their barracks, we thought there was no intimidation.

If you intimidated me, of course I will turn back and say ‘you cannot do that.’

Unfortunately, we seem to have returned to that. When true politics came, I joined those who founded the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Why did I join to form UPN? Because putting all the past political parties on the table, UPN led

by Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the most democratic. His achievements are still iconic. He tarred the road from Ore to Ondo and Ile Ife in 1952. That road is still one of the best roads in the South-West uptil today. The money he budgeted to spend on the people, he spent on them. When I was going to Britain, Chief Awolowo made a budget of N19 million for the South-West and from there he founded schools, free education, tarred roads, provided electricity, water and the security in South-West was phenomenal.

We still refer to him because there is hardly any politician that would speak for an hour without mentioning Chief Awolowo.

That’s the public servant that really served the country well. Even when he superintended Nigeria as the Federal Commissioner for Finance under General Yakubu Gowon’s regime, he still managed the country through the civil war and did not incur one naira debt.

Can we say that it was your studies abroad that didn’t give you the space to be part of the movement by Chief Awolowo?

I had just come back from Britain and I had to practice Medicine.

Medicine was paramount to me.

I thought the average Nigerian doctor was more useful to Nigeria than a politician. So, I practiced my profession and returned to have further and better training.

I agreed to go to China to study, so I thought is should be more useful to the country than the available politician of that time.

Some people especially the young ones wonder if you are really a medical doctor. The question they keep asking is: If this man is a medical doctor, why did he leave medical practice for politics?

I didn’t leave Medicine. I still practice it. Two of my doctors were here this morning to ask me questions. I still go to the hospital to practice, but when you consider the situation of Nigerians, most Nigerians are hypertensive and hypertension kills very easily. I thought it might be better to diagnose hypertension using my stethoscope rather than using the stethoscope in the hospital, where patients come to die. So, I thought it might be better for me to use my stethoscope to diagnose hypertension early enough and subject it to prevention. That’s why I veered into politics.

You were incarcerated several times in the course of your political career.

What was the experience like?

Well, I wasn’t the first one to go to prison among Nigerians who fought for democracy and rule of law. The icons, Chief Awolowo, had been in prison for months before I came back to this country. Even Dr. Azikiwe, the most senior of them all had been in prison and Chief Anthony Enahoro, who moved the Independence Bill and many of them had been in prison. So go-

ing to prison for what you believe to be good for the people for the citizenry was not new. Our own ground of struggle was slightly different, from those of the forefathers in that we confronted the powers that be. We showed them that they were wrong. They didn’t accept that they were wrong, but because intimidation was their practice, rather than sitting down to argue things with us, they sent security operatives after us. They arrested us and sent us to prison.

No court ever sentenced me but I went to prison several times.

I went to prisons in Kuje, Suleja, Jos, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Lagos and several others but I don’t regret going to prison because I knew I was pursuing the right goal – honesty, equality, rule of law and democracy. Many of us run from Nigerian to other foreign countries where democracy had taken root. Why do we run to these countries? Because there was electricity, food on the table, education is free, and there is security of lives and property.

Why can’t we practice these things here so that we don’t need to go and spend our naira over there?

At a point your relationship and support for former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha pitched you against some people in the South-West. Why did you to choose to support him?

Because the charges leveled against Al-Mustapha were lies.

People thought Al-Mustapha was involved in the assassination of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, who was my friend. They arrested Al-Mustapha and put him in jail for three years before they filed charges against him. What were they looking for?

Were they fishing for the charges?

Isn’t Al-Mustapha a Nigerian, who should enjoy the dictates of our constitution that no Nigerian should be kept away from his personal freedom for 48 hours without appearing in court? Why did you kept him in jail for three years before you filed charges against him. When he was in prison, various charges were leveled against him including that he attempted a coup even when he was in custody. I don’t think there was any truth in that. Ten times he was tried and 10 times he was discharged.

At one point, they said I was an accomplice to Al-Mustapha but I knew I wasn’t. So, why should I believe that I am not an accomplice and Al-Mustapha was?

I knew they just wanted to liquidate a young man, and the persecution witnesses, two major ones came up, one was called Katako. They came and told the court that AlMustapha conscripted them to liquidate Kudirat Abiola. One of them said he drove the car that ferried the assassins to the scene of the assassination and they were on oath.

But when the agreement between government agents and these per- Fasehun

I will not give up the struggle of social justice until I enter the ground

secution witnesses did not come to fruition, they recounted. One came and broke down in court, saying he had told a lie against an innocent person. When he was asked: ‘What lie did you tell?’ He said: ‘Al-Mustapha never sent me to assassinate Kudirat Abiola.’ But for that lie, Al-Mustapha had been in jail for 14 years. Katako, who said he drove the assassins to the scene of the assassination also cried like a baby.

He said he had told a lie against an innocent person.

The questions were: Who is this innocent person? What lie did you tell? Did you not do it? He said: ‘I was conscripted to tell a lie against Al-Mustapha. He mentioned names and some of the names he mentioned were some of the biggest names you could find in this country at that time. He was asked where he was on June 4, when Kudirat was killed and he said he was in his village, Kazaure, Bauchi State getting married at 10.am.

While the assassination was taken place about 10.am in Lagos, he was getting married in Bauchi. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back but when they judge was going to give judgement, she read her judgment for over five hours and came out with a verdict. She said: ‘Although the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was unreliable.’ When she said that, many of us had a sigh of relief that she was going to free Al-Mustapha but she followed up: ‘I am convicting him and sentencing him to death.’ At that point, I left the court and said this is a jamboree court.

What informed that belief?

I have always struggled for justice and even if Al-Mustapha had been privy to the assassination, the fact that he had spent 15 years in jail, yet the judge did not find any usefulness of 15 years in incarceration. That is what lawyers would call double jeopardy. Whether he was guilty or not guilty, he was to be sentenced to death. I didn't think that was right and I don't believe in capital punishment anyway, not for even citizens that had been in prison for 15 years for the same offence. That was why I deviated from popular believe to stand behind the truth and many of those who said kill him, crucify him, put the noose on in his neck are no coming to say we spoke against your freedom but we are very sorry that we had to throw that lie.

Al-Mustpaha recently came to give a lecture at Terra Kulture in Lagos, and you can’t imagine the number of people, who were saying ‘sorry, we had just realised that you didn't commit the offence.’

One said openly: ‘I had never thought you were this.’ When he spoke to the crowd of learned people for almost two hours without referring to anything, I thanked God that this type of intellect w a s n o t buri e d

15

wrongly under the Nigerian dirty soil.

You founded the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to champion the cause of the Yoruba but the organisation is factionalised at the moment. Are you satisfied with the way things are going for the group?

There is no faction in OPC. It is media hype. We were awarded some contracts by the government and we did it together. Every personnel we made use of for that job was an OPC member. Whenever I meet Gani Adams, he prostrates for me. There is no element of hate between us. I founded the OPC for certain reasons; to protect, to promote, and to defend the Yoruba race as well as to make sure that other ethnic nationalities were not unjustly treated. It was also formed to protect all other ethnic groups against bad governance, ill treatment, cheating, intimidation and we still do that. What we don't do is standing on roof tops with our arms in the air singing the song we shouldn’t sing. We have adopted a new system but the new system keeps warning the people not to disturb the honest nest.

We recently warned those in government that they shouldn't tell lies because Nigerians have become wiser. We thank God for His mercies. I thank God for his special mercy over me. I will not give up the struggle of social justice until I enter the ground. I am a law obedient person. In other words, democracy is not yet in our land, but we are praying and struggling. We are working very hard so that democracy we saw at the end of this tunnel will mature in our land. And we call the attention of the judiciary to this because only the judiciary can really shape us along this tunnel. So far the judiciary has not exculpated itself. Government still disobeys the law of the land and the judiciary keeps quiet.

Those who disobey the laws of the land should be castigated because nobody is above the law. If the judiciary treats these characters the way they should be treated, it would be a good lesson for the children coming after us. They will know that they cannot disobey the laws of the land no matter how big they are.

Some people think that you have terrestrial powers. How true is this?

The only juju I have all my life is God Almighty. I don't practice magic. If I had such powers, why didn't I disappear from courts? Why did I appear in courts? Why didn't I disappear from prison? Even if it is true, I still believe that all powers come from God. How do you feel when some politicians in the South-West describe you as a not being progressive? Has this ever made you to think of joining them?

Never! I feel sorry for them because they are not following the path of truth. The recent political happenings will vindicate me on this. I believe that those who contravene the law of the land should be published according to the law.

I don't believe you should detain citizens of this country unless someone has been proven guilty.

Democracy does not practice partisanship. What we have now is vendetta, partisan judgement and so on. That's why I don't believe in our system. If you think this is democracy, you are insulting America, Great Britain and Germany, nations that practice democracy.

16

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Godfathers, godfathers and godfathers TREASURES BOLA BOLAWOLE turnpot@gmail.com 0807-552-5533 (sms only)

“Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until they have rebelled they cannot become conscious” – George Orwell

I

n Nigeria, you need godfathers to make it; to climb up the ladder of success; and to survive the storms of public office.

With godfathers, you can get into positions you do not merit; enjoy meteoric rise; and survive tsunamis that will otherwise uproot men of timber and calibre, to quote the late K.O. Mbadiwe. Politicians know this self-evident truth. Few of them get into positions without climbing on the backs of godfathers. Fewer still make astounding progress without standing on the shoulders of giants.

Most importantly, few men and women in public office can survive the treachery and cut-throat competition that go on there without godfathers ready to deflect wicked arrows and dangerous darts for them. In a system ridden with corruption such as ours, the drab and the incompetent make it at the expense of the brightest and best. Who you know and not what you know open as well as shut doors. The loss of a godfather is the most terrible loss any politician can suffer.

Ask ex-President Goodluck Jonathan! No one is too high up on the political ladder not to need a godfather. Even the godfather needs a godfather!

Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s travail is because he lacks a godfather. As the Number Three man, he seems powerful enough not only to stand on his own feet but also provide cover unto others; politics, however, does not play out that way here. Yes, he is a godfather

in his own right. Interestingly, however, he too, needs a godfather! It is like an insurance company needing a re-insurance company to help it carry some of the risks it considers too heavy for it to bear. Saraki has run from pillar to post in search of godfathers to help deflect the barbs coming his way. At the moment, he has two criminal cases hanging around his neck, one at the CCT for fraudulent assets declaration and another at a Federal High Court on allegation of forgery of Senate rules. A godfather in President Muhammadu Buhari is all that Saraki needs; but with the president refusing to lend his back; perhaps the party leadership would have come in handy. Here, again, Saraki has met with brick walls. He must, however, be having not just a relief but also a throaty laugh with the shenanigans currently trending in the House of Representatives.

But Speaker Yakubu Dogara is in this respect many times luckier. He appears to have the listening ears of Mr. President, if not his back. Whereas the allegations against Dogara make a child’s play of the ones they are trying to slay Saraki for, the Speaker seems to be riding the storm. He has even turned the tables on his accuser, Abdumumin Jibrin, who has now become the subject of EFCC investigations on other sundry issues. Stepping out of a meeting with Buhari, an upbeat Dogara boasted to a bewildered nation that budget padding, which he had been accused of, is not an offence known to law and, as such, is not corruption. He went ahead to thumb his nose at those calling on him to step aside so that thorough investigation can be done. He has also shunned invitations by investigators. Presidential aides also appear to be on Dogara’s side, having openly denied that the budget was padded. To cap it, Dogara appears to have the back of party leaders who, borrowing a leaf from PDP, are minded to treat the scandal as “family affairs” by slamming a “speak-not-in-public” order on the combatants.

This, assuredly, is a return to the days of impunity and corruption strutting in the public naked. One thing is sure: If Dogara’s godfa-

If Dogara’s godfathers stand firm, he will scale this hurdle

thers stand firm, he will scale this hurdle. His image and reputation will be battered; in fact, have been shattered already, and both Buhari and the APC will take a bashing, but the man will escape the hangman’s noose all the same.

That is a measure of how critical godfathers are in our convoluted political setting. Dogara has a fate different from Saraki’s because, after both had disregarded party leaders to get into office, Dogara kept it all in the house and also cleverly met party leaders’ half-way whereas Saraki not only adopted the winner-takes-it-all approach, he also traded the deputy senate leadership position away to the opposition PDP. Shhhh! Godfathers are at work in Ondo state!

The two leading parties, APC and PDP, are awash with godfather interference in party primaries in the run down to governorship elections later in the year. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is APC’s godfather while Gov. Olusegun Mimiko is the PDP’s. In 2012, Tinubu and his then Action Congress of Nigeria stumbled at this hurdle: The man he imposed as ACN’s governorship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, was unpopular. But for that, ACN would have won the election hands down because Gov. Mimiko’s popularity had seriously waned as at that time. But in a threehorse race, the incumbent had a narrow escape.

Mimiko’s situation is dire today. Owing a backlog of workers’ salary, he was recently locked out of his office by protesting workers. Tinubu is rooting for one Dr. Segun Abraham while Mimiko’s choice is Eyitayo Jegede. Ideally, both should lose and Ondo voters should elect someone outside of the closets of the two grandstanding godfathers. Tinubu’s APC has failed woefully at the federal level. Worse, the skewed appointments of Buhari have marginalised the Southwest. In all of this, Tinubu has maintained silence. Must he continue to lead us by the nose? Mimiko on his own part has mismanaged Ondo’s resources; despite that he receives 13 per cent derivation as an oil-producing state, Ondo has not fared better than non-oil producing states. Both deserve to be punished! Will our people rise up to the occasion?

George Orwell, quoted above, becomes germane.

What a way to demean a generation Bright Nwelue

A

t times I begin to wonder the rivers of thought in the minds of political scientists and teachers of political science as they witness the reasoning and conduct of many today who pride themselves as politicians. As an Imo man, the freshest in the political front-burner is the Imo PDP State Congress.

In Events management there are three segments namely pre, main and post. Before the Imo PDP state congress which held on Monday August 8,2016, there were promotionals in the print and electronic media notifying listeners to radio and readers of newspapers of the State Congress along with the venue of Nwankwo Kanu Sports Center and time too.

It was talk of the town and even in all the political wards that the Imo PDP State Congress will hold on Monday August 8, 2016 with an additional information that His Excellency Senator Ahmed Makarfi National Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee hadappointed and approved a five-man Imo PDP State Congress Committee led by Rt. Hon. Austin Opara (Former Deputy Speaker House of Reps.) as

Chairman. These media promotionals gave opportunity to members of the state working Committee then to embark on preparations for the congress as scheduled. All relevant agencies like INEC, Security, Party delegates, BOT members and officials were duly put on notice.

Consequently on Monday August 8, 2016 the Sports Centre was a beehive of activities that PDP was busy with their congress that day at the aforementioned venue. Attendance was massive with the presence of a PDP BOT member like Chief Emmanuel Iwuaynawu, PDP Senatorial Candidate for Okigwe Chief Athan Achonu, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (Imo PDP Governorship Candidate/ Fmr Deputy Speaker House of Reps), His Excellency Chief Achike Udenwa (Fmr Governor Imo State), Hon. Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Member House of Reps) Hon. Jones Onyeriri (Member House of Reps), Hon Jerry Alagboso (Member House of Reps) Hon. Bede Eke (Member House of Reps) Hon. Gerald Irona (Fmr Member House of Reps) –Hon. ThankGod Ezeani (fmr member House of Reps) Prof. Jude Njoku (Fmr Vice Chancellor –FUTO/ Imo PDP Governorship Aspirant) Chief Josiah Udunna (Abamaragu) Ward, LGA and statutory delegates

along with members of the state caretaker Committee. Chief Chuma Nnaji (Imo PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate/Fmr Deputy Speaker Imo House of Assembly) Chief Chris Okewulonu (Fmr. Imo SSG/Fed Commissioner) and many other distinguished Stakeholders were all present. The exercise produced a new State Executive with Barr.

Charles Ezekwem as Chairman while Hon. Ray Emeana emerged Secretary and others.

The Congress Committee Chairman Rt. Hon. Austin Opara and his members demonstrated a high level of transparency and capacity in the discharge of that responsibility. I strongly believe that all other agencies that monitored the Congress like INEC, Police, SSS, etc will agree with my submission.

It is therefore shocking to begin to hear that ‘other factions’ of PDP held their ‘Congresses’ same day. I challenge anyone to produce one media promotional that contained notice to the public for any other Imo PDP Congress apart from the one held at the Sports Center.

I feel personally embarrassed when a collective action of a people is zeroed into the name of a particular person as if that individual is the party.

From my image-management lens I see a gang-up of cowards hiding under a

cover to tarnish the image of leaders like Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Gov. Achike Udenwa and Gov. Ikedi Ohakim. When some people whose selfish passions cannot metamorphose into reality they turn round and fly the names of some of these our leaders as those behind the travails of PDP. Somebody wants me to believe that the painstaking efforts and desire demonstrated by all the PDP delegates from all the Local Governments in Imo State to ensure a successful Congress was because of Mr. A or B.? A bunch of nonsense I dare say.

Time has come when people should begin to put their interest in perspectives especially when there is need for cohesion. In a political system it is only proper that some leadership must exist for effective co-ordination and progress.

I feel sad when I see our leaders whom God has given opportunity to excel begin to engage in trivialities thinking it is a short-cut to achieve relevance.

There is no position any one occupied today that no one has occupied in the past and it is also right to know that a current holder of a position of trust especially if it is backed by the people’s mandate deserves some courtesy and authority too.

•Nwelue, events MGT/media Consultant .

17

EDITORIAL

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Total war on drugs

T

he alarming state of insecurity in the country should rattle the Federal Government in its bid to create a conducive environment for rapid development. One area that deserves more serious attention is the prevalence of hard drugs in all nooks and crannies of our society.

To a few of our countrymen, it sounded wicked when Indonesia continued its maximum policy that has seen about seven Nigerians executed for drug related offences on Nusakambangan Island, Central Java. There were pockets of demonstrations in the Federal capital Territory condemning the executions.

Indonesian president Joko Widodo has refused to be swayed by such demonstrations and appeals even from the West. Attorney General Muhammed Prasetyo defended the executions. “ I would like to say that an execution is not a pleasant thing. It is not a fun job. But we must do it in order to save the nation from the danger of drugs. We are not making enemies of countries from where those executed came. What we are fighting is drug related –crimes,” he said.

In April 2015, four Nigerians were among eight drug traffickers who faced execution in the same country. Jamiu Owolabi, Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Okwudili Ayatanze and Martin Anderson rendered songs of praise as they were prepared for a

firing squad. World wide outrage especially by Australia which lost the duo of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan did not matter.

What mattered was that those who led the infamous Bali Nine had to pay the Supreme price.

In July 2016, three more Nigerians, Seck Ousmane, Humphrey Jefferson and Michael Titus were shot in Indonesia. Earlier, the Nigerian Senate had debated the worrisome trend of compatriots filling the jail houses of Far East countries following drug related offences. Gbenga Ashafa and Jibrin Barau were concerned

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

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Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

Managing Editor, South n Emeka Madunagu Managing Editor, North & Abuja n Laurence Ani (Leave of Absence) Editor n Ayodele Ojo Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare Deputy Editor, Group Head, Newsroom n Geoffrey Ekenna

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not helped in the fight against drugs.

While we do not support the death penalty, we are all out for tougher measures that will keep the polity smelling sweeter.

Bringing back the death penalty will take everyone back to the days of military dictatorship.

The issue at the time was not the offence but the wickedness in the punishment. A retroactive decree

While we do not support the death penalty, we are all out for tougher measures

that about 158 of our country men were awaiting death is such far flung places as China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Although the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency [NDLEA] has been busy apprehending offenders around the country, the penalty for drug trafficking is like a slap on the wrist.

We make bold to say that the Federal Government must review the penalty for drug trafficking. If what it will take to fight drug traffickers is life jail, it will help the society. The fact that couriers walk in and out of Kirikiri and Ikoyi prisons has

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Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

was promulgated by the junta to kill young men who in their confession admitted possessing drugs but would not have been into it if they

knew they were going to die for such offence.

The condemnation of the military government by Nigerians forced the Beret Generals to suspend the death sentence especially after a woman, Gladys Iyamah, was going to be the next to face the bullets.

The executions were halted over 30 years ago. Today, drugs have come to assume a dangerous place in our national lives.

In every corner of the inner city, drug joints abound like market stalls. Motor parks are full of drinking spots. Even beer parlours appear so only to the uninitiated. Behind the façade, drugs can come across

the counter.

We need to be asking ourselves why there are deadly cult groups fighting for supremacy even in primary schools. Boys now kill without looking back.

A pass at someone’s girlfriend is just enough to ignite a cult war.

And the truth is that most of these fights are induced by drugs which are available so easily.

The drug fights assume a higher dimension when emboldened by their dutch courage , the youth turn to terrorism under the guise of militancy. It was not so easy to behead fellow humans in our country in the last decade.

Today, if it is not Boko Haram, it is a nephew beheading his uncle or a man axing his spouse.

Government must take a tougher stance on drugs. In a letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007, shortly before the execution of two Nigerians, Amara Tochukwu Iwuchukwu and Nelson Okeke at Changi Prison, the Singaporean Prime Minister wrote, “ Mr. Tochi’s family will find Singapore’s position difficult to accept, but we have a duty to safeguard the interest of Singaporeans, and protect the many lives that will otherwise be ruined by the drug syndicate.”

While we expect a review, government must also begin to revamp the economy by providing jobs to young Nigerians who are forced into drugs majorly because they have been rendered idle by bad leadership.

18

POLITICS

Victor Afam Ogene

"I

have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I gave you this warning that you may prepare your mind for your fate." - John Adams, 2nd President of the United states of America (1935-1826) In penning these words to his wife, Abigail and their five children, Adams was obviously under the clear understanding that the legislature was the anvil upon which every hammer of public discontent descended.

Aged only 39 at the time, Adams had just been elected to the USA's first Continental Congress, as delegate from Massachusetts, in 1774.

Although Adams, a top-notch Federalist and deep-rooted political philosopher went on to become the first Vice President, and later second President of the USA, succeeding the immortal George Washington, the 'burden' which comes with serving in the legislature as against the Executive branch was not lost on him throughout his distinguished career.

Back home in Nigeria, the fear which Adams nursed about public office, especially as it concerns the legislature, continues to titillate the public almost 200 years after the U.S congressman's demise. Between the Senate and the House of Representatives, there is apparently no shortage of theatrics in-between sessions, with the state assemblies offering occasional side-shows to compliment the orchestra of spectacular comic relief. Remarkably, these brickbats, besides providing the citizenry the elixir needed to vent pent-up anger and frustration with life itself, invariably end up with few useful lessons which, going forward, aid the institution of public service to imbibe new moral ethics - thus making living more tolerable.

Yet, to be able to synthesize the positives embedded in any public spat for the general good, society ought to be able to discern between fact and fiction , as well as decipher truth from propaganda. After all, as native wisdom counsels, it is from the black pot that cometh the white pap!

Sadly, in Nigeria, upon the dawn of a fresh 'scandal', the goal is often to applaud the accuser and hasten to convict the accused in the court of public opinion. Just name and shame the fellow(s) concerned, until they are able to prove their innocence, in an inverse application of the standard law which presumes an accused as innocent, until proven otherwise. It does not matter if the pursued, most often in front of the chasing mob, is the one now chanting, 'thief, thief, thief' in order to secure a get-away.

It is against this backdrop that the Nigerian tribe of analysts, commentators and indeed, public opinion influencers ought to, unlike the Roman plebeians, seek an intense understanding of the real issues involved in the Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Representative Abdulmumin Jubrin face-off.

Colunmist, Niyi Akinnaso, writing in the back page of The Punch Newspaper of Tuesday, August 2, captures this mindset succinctly when he asserted thus: "Whatever the outcome of the investigation, however, the alleged culprits have fallen short of the honour and respect due to their ranks, at least in the court of public opinion (emphasis mine)". Really?

Although Akinnaso concedes that "to be frank with ourselves, the Na-

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dogara, Jubrin and other tales

Dogara

tional Assembly is constitutionally empowered to modify the budgetary proposals submitted by the President, by deleting or adding particular items to the budget", such realization was sadly not potent enough to dissuade him from dismissing the concerned institution as "The House of Representative Thieves?"

It is such quick-to-convict disposition and blanket condemnation that usually pitch the public against the legislature. Often, such conclusions arise out of the claim - and sometimes correct charge - that some legislators derive personal monetary and other benefits from their positions and projects which they influence into the Appropriation Act. Well, maybe. But assuming, without conceding that such scenario exist, how is that tantamount to an institutional failing on the part of the legislature? Indeed, if truth must be told, the real culprits, if any, ought to be officials of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), which advertise, shortlist, award, supervise, and effect payment for all projects/ services certified okay.

Agreed that there are chances of being arm-twisted by 'powerful' individual legislators, that still does not detract the MDAs culpability in the event of any malfeasance . Pray, why won't such MDAs whistle-blow, especially as they and all the nation's security architecture belong to the Executive?

Before one loses focus concerning the issues at hand, only one issue could be distilled from the din of cacophony that has trailed the 8th National Assembly, be it in Senate or the House of Representatives; to wit: those who lost out of the equation in both chambers on Inauguration Day 14 months ago, are still sulking and seething. And every crevice in collective unity offers an opportunity to draw long knives and seek regime change, if only to assuage bruised egos.

Remarkably, the current attempt to rail-road the House of Representatives into committing a kind of class suicide, in pursuit of the avenging mission of a distraught member is a familiar path often trudged by legislators who held the short end of a stick after every internal struggle for power and recognition.

If recent memory is anything to go

Jubrin

The avenging mission of a distraught member is a familiar path often trudged by legislators

by, an Etteh ascends the throne and a Farouk misses the all-important Appropriation Committee chair as a reward for his part in the enterprise, and all hell is let loose. Enter a Dimeji Bankole, and a Dino (and friends) don't get the recognition they crave, and the House snowballs into a huge mat for wrestlemania.

But while these two instances could be regarded as internal affairs of the House, the externalisation of similar disagreement, reached a new high in the 7th Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, which I was a proud part of.

Two quick instances, using the 7th Assembly's two Presiding Officers, Tambuwal and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, would suffice. First, on January 6, 2014, preparatory to resumption from Christmas/New Year break, some interest groups went to town to canvass the possible removal of Ihedioha, citing the new-found-majority of the burgeoning All Progressives Congress (APC), following the defection of 37 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House members. As Deputy Chairman, Media and Public Affairs, I have to counter such move, citing, among others, Section 50(1) (b) of the 1999 Nigeria Constitution, as amended, to wit: "There shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves."

The same constitutional provision was to come in handy, when on October 28, 2014 Speaker Tambuwal announced his switch to the APC, and the full weight of the state power was deployed in an undisguised attempt to unseat him.

Instructively, in spite of the clear provisions of the constitution, as stated above, many cheerleaders masquerading as analysts had, in deference to public hysteria, cried themselves hoarse on the propriety of a Tambuwal resignation.

Sadly, under another dispensation, we are yet to see a change in attitude one in which an arm of government is allowed to self-regulate. Speaker Dogara, and indeed, his leadership, serve only at the behest of their honorable colleagues. And the House Rules and the Nigerian constitution clearly spell out how any of them can exit their privileged position(s).

I have searched through both docu-

ments and I could not find where hounding one out of office is cited as a route towards dethroning any of them.

Though Jubrin denounces the word "padding", he seeks to make heavy weather over claims that Speaker Dogara inserted projects into an Appropriation Bill which he authored. Oftentimes, the tendency is to play the ostrich in such matters, when in actual fact, it is generally acknowledged that primus inter pares anywhere in the world, from class monitors, to student representatives, labour leaders and even Presidents get a little more.

Pray, who in his right senses would expect a state governor or President, who ran on the same ticket as their deputies, to wield the same amount of influence?

Without a doubt, Representative Jubrin appears to be on top of the propaganda warfare which he unleashed barely hours after his removal as Appropriation chair of the House. A disciple of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's ignoble war propagandist, Jubrin apparently holds dear Goebbels' notion that "if you tell the same lie enough times, people will believe it; and the bigger the lie, the better."

One such big lie which Jubrin has ceaselessly trumpeted is the claim that he installed Speaker Dogara and some other principal officers.

The question that naturally trails this claim is: how? Perhaps the embattled lawmaker did not reckon with the wise counsel of late French dramatist, Jean Anouilh who cautioned that "propaganda is a soft weapon, hold it in your hands too long, and it will move like a snake, and strike the other way."

If Jubrin contributed funds towards the quest, I wouldn't know, but as an insider who ran the media wing of the Consolidation Group, which produced the Speaker and his deputy, Lasun Yusuf, I challenge Hon. Jubrin to name one, just one member who he convinced to join the Dogara camp, himself having crossed over barely one week to inauguration on June 9, 2015.

I do need to point out, however, that the essence of my intervention today is neither to denigrate Jubrin , nor question his integrity ( members of the 7th and 8th Assembly are free to draw up their own conclusions); rather my concern centers around how to preserve the sacred institution of the legislature, rather than have its disgruntled members lie through the teeth, in a classic rehash of the 'You Tarka me, I Daboh you' episode.

It would seem, regrettably, that Representative Jubrin is perhaps too far gone in his open display of hate for Speaker Dogara, that he could gloss over the timeless warning of his presumptive hero, Goebbels, who himself asserted, "there will come a day when all the lies will collapse under their own weight, and the truth will triumph again."

To Jubrin and his co-travelers, that time is nigh, in September, 2016 when the honorable members of the House of Representatives will resume for plenary. Until then, he may do well to take a deserve vacation, away from the path of propaganda and the denigration of an institution which he ought to help fortify. •Hon. Ogene, a journalist, served as Deputy Chairman, Media & Public Affairs in the House of Representatives (2011-2015).

19

WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Life in the city Ensuring safe driving culture

The Mega City

Life in Mega City Lagos is a city for all

21 23

...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

A residential building in Olodan area of Ijora Badia

Lamentations of Ijora Badia residents Ijora Badia is a very popular Lagos community within the city. But it seems immune to the developments spreading through other parts of the state.

SANDRA DICKSON-OYETAYO reports

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CITY Editor

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

I

t is such a filthy environment that perennial flooding have become part of what makes it tick.

Sauntering into Obale Road in Ijora Badia, a raucous community in the heart of Lagos State, the sight that confronted New Telegraph was beyond shock. It was startling! Obale is a popular street on a long stretch of road with a large pool of brackish water having attendant stench hovering thickly in the air. Commercial buses, otherwise known as danfo, swam in and out of the muddy water to load and offload passengers without recourse to other road users.

Passing through the Olodan community, there seemed to be women and men of easy virtues.

Whenever it rains, it’s a nightmare for all of us

Adults, especially women were seen gathered in small groups chatting and laughing while the young ones played freely on the streets without supervision.

The only dry path on the small accessible road to the community had goal posts mounted by the kids on two sides of the street.

The constant shouts on the lips of the children playing on sighting a truck or vehicle coming towards them in order to link a major road was, “make way, it’s coming.”

And they hurriedly packed their stones and scampered for safety and laughed hysterically, making their way to regroup after the exit of the truck/ vehicle.

The environment, according to Tunde Adenuga, a printer, is a place where the children have the freedom to do what they like.

That is why there are so many teenage parents and errand boys, he pointed out.

“We have both male and female thieves who are well known in our compound and a lot of men around here have as much as four wives. We have lots of young women of easy virtues here but still some children turn out well because their parents are strict,” he explained.

A young woman was spotted leaping over stones to get her baby who was wailing inside a house that could better be described as a partially sinking building, bereft of life and with brackish, moths and mosquitoes-infested water flowing freely from inside the main entrance of the house towards the drainage.

It is the same sad tale on Mosadolorun Road. Flood literally created a pathway for the people to navigate to their destination.

An environment built practically on filth, heaps of dirt litter everywhere, while houses were set apart on the right and left side of the canal by a charcoal black stream which was fenced by garbage. Young boys were seen all round, gathered in different joints and groups. Some were in alcohol joints, lounging, some hung in corners with teenage girls laughing and flirting while a group of young men in their 20s congregated under a big umbrella singing and smoking Indian hemp.

The only sane building throughout New Telegraph’s sojourn in the area was a hotel building located in the middle of the road, which also doesn’t look regularly patronized.

Looking at the inside from the entrance, it looked dingy. The manager of the hotel, Lekan Adefila, attributed the state of the hotel to the bad road within the vicinity. He said: “When the road was still a bit okay, we used to have few people that drive in to patronise us but now that it’s in such a deplorable state, we barely get guests to come in, except very rarely some come on foot to spend short time with their lovers.

“Before, we used to charge N4, 000 for our rooms but now, it is so bad that people could hardly afford N2, 500. We want the government to come to our aid before we all perish due to hunger.”

Incidentally, pedestrians and shop owners are not immune to the murky waters that have created several gorges on the road.

“See my body,” an enraged Mr. Nelson Nwachukwu, said in pidgin English. “See water everywhere, inside my shop. Every time, water would be pouring in my shop and people walking in the space we made to shade our wares. Sometimes they even fell my goods inside this murky water and destroy it when they try to dodge motorists from splashing water on them, and what do I get CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

20 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

in return, ‘sorry Omo Ibo’! I am really sick and tired of what is going on here. No sales; we are barely living as we no longer make sales because of the water problems. I am a young family man who has people to cater for.

People come here every time to interview us. Even yesterday, NTA people came and I spoke to them. That is all we get, interviews upon interviews, nothing more. We have had too many broken promises. There is a gas plant behind here, (behind his shop). They make use of water for their plant then flush it inside a shallow drainage which flows into this road. We have complained and complained but nothing is being done about it.”

He said.

Another trader, who gave his name simply as Henry, disclosed that the road had been in the horrible state for a long time.

“We have had many promises on the construction of the road. Two years ago, the government came to construct this gutter (pointing to a partially done drainage covered with planks by the traders to enable them walk on it and display their goods) and they promised to construct this road when they are done but sadly, we didn’t see them again,” he lamented.

He added that, “when the road was good, people would park their cars and come in to patronise us, but now, even the people that are trekking are in a hurry to leave the road before they get soaked by the dirty water. We hope the government can come around and help us fix this road to alleviate our suffering, also to help our businesses so we can feed our families.”

A member of the transport union who preferred anonymity decried the state of the road saying, “We are suffering too much in this place. As you can see, it’s inside this murky water that we earn our living. Many times, the union would contribute money to repair the road but when this gas plant people pump their water, it flows to this place. We have complained

Lockup shops in Ijora Badia

Lamentations of Ijora Badia residents

but nothing can be done.”

For residents, the water problem poses problems of a different hue. According to Kareem Habeeb, whom New Telegraph met inside a house half swallowed by the swamp, “We are moving out of this place, my parents are already in the new place,” Habeeb said.

“I am only moving out the remainder of our property. We are only two tenants left but after we have finished packing, it would be only one person left.

I was born in this house but it was not always like this. This water issue started about 10 years back and since then, it has gotten worse as each day passes.

It’s really terrible living here. Is it the mosquitoes or the smell that oozes out of this stinking gutter that is enough to talk

about?”

He said further, “It’s usually a nightmare when it rains here because the whole house is flooded and our property gets destroyed.

We even bought a machine with which we drain the water every time it rains. That is how we have been managing all through the years. This house and environment are not fit for humans to reside at all but what can we do? My parents are petty traders and can barely afford the N2, 000 per month rent we’ve been paying here.”

He however advised that the government should try to study the company they give contracts to because the company he felt they contracted the road to, left it worse than it met it.

“Aunty, come and interview us”, a group of young men bing-

In our houses, we live inside the water till there is enough sunshine

Waterlogged Obale Road

Nelson, shop owner

ing near the canal beckoned onto New Telegraph.

Scary as they looked, it took real courage to get close to them because their condition looked really wild as they binged on heavy alcohol and thick smoke of marijuana filled the air.

Jide, a professional dancer, who claimed to be an indigene, was the first to echo out his thoughts. He blamed the environment for their woes and says it’s sad how the government has abandoned them to their fates.”

“They only come to clear the canal occasionally to ensure free flow of water, nothing else”.

The entire group responded when New Telegraph asked about the condition of the place; “Whenever it rains, it’s a nightmare for all of us. We can’t even be gathered like this when the rain falls.

Whenever it rains, many of the residents around here leave the house for some days, and only return when the flood subsides. If there was a proper drainage system in place, the water wouldn’t have been penetrating us like it does.”

He claimed they do not experience any health implication as a result of their filthy environment; they are just used to it. And on the condition inside the houses built in that vicinity, he describes it as deplorable!

“No toilets, no bathroom, no kitchen and no water. And yet we pay N35,000 per annum!”

After about three decades of doing business at Mosadoluwa, the canal side of Ijora Badia, Esther Aderibole, a 65-year-old who claimed she has lived and done business in the canal part says the filth and flood have become a part of their existence.

“When it floods as usual, we swim our way through to anywhere we are going. In our houses, we live inside the water till there is enough sunshine and it drains gradually. We would be happy if the problem of flooding becomes a thing of the past here, and we are appealing to the government to please come to our aid.”

When New Telegraph approached the gas plant alleged to cause the perennial flooding on the road, the manager was said not to be available for comment.

LIFE/IN THE CITY 21

WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ensuring safe driving culture

Some attendees at the Lagos State Drivers' Institute, LASDRI and the Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, sensitisation campaign

Last Thursday, the Lagos State Drivers' Institute (LASDRI) and the Vehicle Inspection Service, (VIS), held a sensitisation campaign for Lagos drivers on safer ways of driving in a Mega City.

MURITALA AYINLA, who was there, reports

N

o doubt, the most dreaded drivers in Lagos are commercial bus drivers also known as Danfo drivers. They are notorious for reckless driving and total disregard for any safety or driving regulations. To them, driving is ability to move a vehicle from one place to the other, irrespective of procedure and rules guiding road traffic.

Most Danfo drivers are more interested in getting to their destinations by hook or crook means; once they can meander or navigate their ways through and as fast as possible.

Hence, driving against the traffic, driving on the road kerbs or driving through a reverse for as long as 500 meters or driving on unapproved roads are known driving cultures of Lagos "Yellow bus drivers".

To this category of drivers, lane mark such as zebra cross-

ing, even traffic light signals and other known traffic light signs have no meaning as they frequently ignore them while on the wheel.

But to ensure sanity on Lagos roads through enhancing capacity of the commercial bus drivers, the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Drivers' Institute, LASDRI, and the Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, took a safety advocacy to the popular Iyana-Ipaja Motor Park, where commercial bus drivers were educated on the gains of safe driving.

Speaking at a sensitisation campaign held for the members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Chief Executive Officer, LASDRI, Philip Ogunlade, charged the drivers to visit the institute once in a year for re-certification.

According to him, apart from Danfo drivers, other motorists in Lagos are fond of flouting road traffic laws.

This, according to him, is the reason the government made it mandatory for every professional driver to visit LASDRI once in a year for certification and re-certification.

Ogunlade described danfo drivers and other drivers who drive on one-way as terrorists.

He said: "Any driver, who drives recklessly, is a terrorist. We have drivers who drive like terrorists; any driver who drives facing opposite direction or one-way is more or less a terrorist and it is common among drivers of yellow buses in the

Any driver, who drives recklessly, is a terrorist

state. Although we have drivers of private vehicles who drive on one-way, this attitude is better described as terrorist act."

To check attitude of drivers on the highway, he added that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has directed the institute to ensure decent conduct of the drivers and conductors in order to bring sanity to the road.

He said professional drivers are expected to undergo training in the institute once in a year to enhance their driving skills.

Also speaking, the Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer, Gbolahan Toriola, who was represented by the Head of Operation 2, Adebayo Olusoji, warned the drivers to be safety conscious always, so as not to endanger their lives and that of their passengers and other road users.

Harping on the theme workshop entitled: "Life is worth living, drive safely", he advised the drivers to always comply with the road safety laws and regulations, saying that Vehicle Inspection Officers are on the roads for safety of the drivers.

According to him, "It is when you are complying with the laws that we are happy. We gain nothing from arresting or booking you. Nobody will penalise us for not arresting you, if you comply with the law and ensure that your vehicles are road worthy. Vehicle Inspection Service is not your enemy so also are our officers. We are existing to ensure your safety. Also, alcohol and drug consumption should be totally discouraged among

our drivers. Let's all remember that life is worth living."

He also warned drivers to be wary of hard drugs designed as local herbs and gins saying frequent intake of such substance is responsible for most accidents recorded in the state.

According to him, all the alcoholic substances designed as herbs are dangerous to drivers.

Also speaking, head of LASDRI, Ikeja Centre, Oloriegbe Dennis, who also identified fatigue, poor attitude to safety as major causes of road accident in the state, charged drivers to rest adequately before embarking on driving in the state.

According to him, "Fatigue is another major cause of accident on our roads. The moment you slumber for a second, you have endangered your life and that of others. Sleep adequately and stop stressing yourselves.

You must not rest below eight hours daily.

"Some of you are also in the habit of taking alcohol all in the name of taking herbal drinks.

A lot of hard drugs are being mixed together in the name of local herbs.

"Some people are also in the habit of using OMO detergent and water to do their brake.

This is dangerous. People must embrace periodic vehicle maintenance," Dennis said.

The LASDRI director of training, Bola Tiamiyu, explained that anybody who earns a living through driving is entitled to the annual re-certification at LASDRI.

22 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Navy is not an employment agency, says Ibas Flora Onwudiwe

T

he Chief of Naval Staff (CNS),Vice- Admiral Ibok Ette Ekwe Ibas, has stated that Nigerian Navy was not an employment agency.

Rather, it’s an agency principally set up to train young sailors that will be able to defend and give service to the people of Nigeria.

This disclosure came after the inauguration of 23 Command level Officers’ Course of the ranks of Captains and Commanders held at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Quorra ,Apapa Lagos.

The Naval Chief, who spoke through the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Ifeola Mohammed, said that, “ the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibas asked me to spread the information that the Nigerian Navy was not an employment agency, that when the founding fathers of Navy conceived the idea, it was not to provide an employment.

The Nigerian Navy was set up principally to train Sailors for the people of Nigeria, so that these sailors will be able to defend and give service to the people of Nigeria.

“The CNS directed that as part of the mandate of NAVTRAC that we should also include training for our commanders and the purpose of the training basically is to develop the requisite leadership attributes for the commanders at the various strata,” he said.

The Admiral, who was overwhelmed with joy addressing the seated officers who were rapt with attention, said that they were able to deliver to the people of Nigeria the service which they needed in support of the president and Commander in Chief for the change agenda.

Naval officers at the inauguration of the Command Level Officers' Course held at NNS Quorra, Apapa, Lagos

“ So that we are able to make traction to have our personnel not only professionally trained, not only competent in providing our maritime security , not only competent in defending the territorial integrity of our country, but also being able to superintend over the affairs of the Nigerian Navy through a conglomerate third process wherein everybody sees himself as a stake holder, everybody sees himself as having the ability and capacity to provide quality service both to the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria,” he said.

On the criteria for selection, he said that the personnel who were selected were those who basically within a short time are expected to be in commands and positions. He explained further that they are personnel who have been identified as ones who will be able to deliver services the country requires.

He added that, “what the Nigerian Navy needs was well trained, groomed Naval personnel who have the confidence

Cross section of participants at the inauguration of the Command Level Officers Course

and professional wherewithal, inherent ability and attitude of doubt that will make men, who having passed the crucible can stand and hold their own and defend their nation.”

He however gave reason why the course was important.

“There are particular reports that came from the field as well as feedbacks indicate that there is a need for us to organise a Commanders course or to reinvigorate gaps which es-

sentially make up to the Naval personnel and we think one of the biggest way to achieve passion and mileage is by working with the commanders at various levels and feed the gaps which they need and once they have that we are able to achieve our objectives.”

The four weeks commanders’ course which commenced August 8 and to end in September, 2016 will focus on “Cooperation, collaboration , field

experiences , scenario based development, providing and proffering solutions to real life problems that we encounter when we operate in the field. That is what we bring to the classroom through scenario based system, we sit with them discussed with them and bring down options and we take back to the field and test it and so there is continuous and continual in our system,” he said.

Admiral Osinowo, who gave the highlights of what the officers were to expected at the training, said that Navy of recent has successfully made several arrests, detained the suspects and are presently prosecuting them which is in line with the CNS zero tolerance to maritime illegalities.

Speaking on the need to partner with other agencies in fighting maritime illegalities , he said, “ We have seen the need for us to develop a joint synergy and approach towards managing the arrest , detention and prosecution of those who found on board the vessels who are known or suspected to have been involved in one illegality or criminality in one way or the other within our maritime space.”

The Commandant of NNS Quorra, Commodore Francis Isaac, said that most of their lecturers were very experienced Senior officers, “ both retired and serving officers. We want them to share their experiences with them on how they were able to overcome some of the challenges during their time.”

The Commodore also said that, “ the Nigerian Navy is growing the generation of the new commanders; the concept keep changing in order to bring the people on the same platform.

Then, we need to bring them under the same umbrella to be better commanders than I.”

Climate change to the grassroots

Flora Onwudiwe

I

t was all fun and fanfare at the densely populated Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State when movie stars under the aegis of The Golden Movie Ambassadors of Nigeria (TGMAN) in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos, embarked on a public awareness campaign on climate change.

The President of TGMAN, Ambassador Saidi Balogun, and the National Information Officer of UNIC Lagos, Mr. Oluseyi Soremekun were the main personalities on the awareness campaign that attracted motorists and pedestrians who were excited to see and got engage with their movie idols.

The campaign, which was anchored on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) states on, “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts was aimed at informing and educating

members of the public about climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning”.

During the campaign, they went through LASU-Isheri Road through Idimu to Egbeda area. The movie stars including Actors, Producers and Directors engaged members of the public in Yoruba, pidginEnglish and occasionally in Hausa language.

With mounted sound system on a small truck, the procession stopped intermittently at major bus stops to address the public. Soremekun noted that climate change remained a threat to all, the economy and people’s livelihoods were suffering due to unpredictable weather as lakes were drying up and dry lands were getting drier while flooded plains were increasing.

According to him: “This has serious health implications and urged the public to be vigilant as flash floods have been predicted in some States

Golden Movie Ambassadors of Nigeria creating awareness on climate change

of the Federation. Balogun, urged the public to take tree planting as a way of life, “Tree planting was the best gift anyone could give to himself. Trees break the devastating effect of storms; reduce erosion and flood; and provide cleaner and healthier air for the well-being of the people,” he added.

The SDGs awareness campaign was an outcome of a partnership meeting held between TGMAN and UNIC Lagos a few months ago and it is the first in the series of collaborative activities to leverage on creative arts and the movie industry for the promotion of sustainable development in Nigeria.

LIFE/IN THE CITY 23

WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

THE PEOPLE’S VOICE

Lagos is a city for all

Stories by Oluwatosin Adepoju

H

aving spent more than 30 years in Lagos, basically I will say Lagos has changed in three areas.

During the civilian era when Lagos was governed by the first civilian governor, the state of development then was marvellous. We saw different achievements of the administration, such as the third mainland bridge, the Tafawa Balewa Square etc. Then, Lagos was seen as the capital city of Nigeria. That’s why we have so many attractive structures on the island, where the colonial masters were based and the Federal Government also had their structures there.

But the state of development seems to change a bit when the capital was moved to Abuja. Another thing is that during the military regime, Lagos seems to decline in development and all we are enjoying now is because Lagos was once the base of colonial masters.

Although Lagos is not the capital of Nigeria, it remains the central commercial nerve of Nigeria and even West Africa because people troop into Lagos, do businesses and see how conducive the city is to make ends meet.

Another change I discover was during the return of the civilian rule in Lagos; they revived some projects left undone when the capital city was moved to Abuja.

Lagos has been moving fast in terms of development and we have been seeing several improvements.

I Like Lagos basically because it provides equal opportunity for everyone irrespective of your tribe. Once you have the drive, you will succeed in Lagos and Lagos will bring out the best in you. Apparently one will see that majority of Lagosians are into private businesses and investments and not relying on federal government’s work unlike other states.

In the same vein, Lagos is a city for all because of the development because there is no business or work that can succeed without basic infrastructure. Lagos provides these facilities for everybody, the roads, electricity, security etc. and with this, if you have your own tenacity and drive, you will succeed in Lagos. Despite the Large population, people are still coming into the state because they see

Lagos as a place where if you have the zeal to work, you will earn your money even if its sachet water you sell or you pack waste. Lagos gives you the opportunity to strive hard and make your money.

People come to Lagos because is a place where you can do business and make returns on your money.

Basically, the Lagos state government has been trying in terms of providing basic infrastructures. But other things we need Lagos to improve on, is the health care facilities. The health care centres are always crowded making it seem the facilities are not enough. At the General hospitals, one will see that the ratio of a doctor to a patient is about one to twenty respectively. We have to improve on our healthcare facilities.

Another aspect that Lagos needs to improve is electricity. The people of Lagos have been lamenting about power supply because the electricity supply does not satisfy the users who are demanding it.

One can imagine a place called an industrial area, the amount of electricity that most industries are consuming is not

Olotu

even enough, let alone for domestic use. The government should try as much as possible to see to that.

Lifestyle in Lagos is also another interesting thing, with the popular Yoruba saying that ‘owo eko ,eko lo n gbe’, meaning that most Lagosians earn their money and also spend it here in Lagos.

Nonetheless, some prefer making money in Lagos and going to their local home towns to invest them and build houses and acquire assets.

– Samson Olotu-Chartered Accountant

Lagosians always rushing

O

Adepegba

ver 35 years in Lagos, there have been lots of changes observed. Actually the state has taken the form of a megacity right from onset due to the availability of resources and other developments.

There were certain privileges we were not allowed but we are not enjoying in Lagosright of expression for instance. Before we use to have majorly ‘moolue’ buses, the 9/11, and what we do was to rush after them and get overcrowded inside the bus. But now we have the Lag buses and BRT buses and mass transit buses that brought relief to that. We also have changes on our roads as well as light to some extent. I believe the vision of Lagos now is more enlarged, and we can see that the government is trying to make sure that Lagos can be the best of states in the Nation.

I was born in Lagos and can tell you that in the past years, few roads were tarred with few

Lagos, truly a megacity

H

ave been in Lagos for the past 26 years and it is a good place to be, in terms of business, career, infrastructure etc. From the past years to this time, there have been a lot of changes in the outlook of the environment. Some years back in my environment, the place was very bad such as the road, light, and power system etc. Now we have a lot of changes in terms of good roads, drainage systems to control flooding.

Lagos state is moving very fast in development; even other states are emulating Lagos. A lot of things have been done in the education aspect and so many infrastructures have been put in place.

Lagos is a commercial centre whereby any item put down for sale will help you generate earnings, and I think that is why Lagos is called ‘Centre of excellence.’ Lagos is a state whereby people come in to struggle and get their money, although it might not be easy but whatsoever you do, you will get the reward.

There lot of things I don’t like about Lagos in actual sense. I must commend the effort of Damilare

our current Governor in ensuring the Megacity retains and advance its status.

If one looks at Lagos now one will see that its truly a megacity and everyday Lagos develops.

From the past administration six years back there has been a lot of transformation that emerged from the administration and it still continues. This is why one will continue to hear different people saying I want to be in Lagos. In most states, workers are being owed salary, but in Lagos, such is not the case. Lagosians are paying tax, and our tax is working. It would be a good thing if the other states can also emulate Lagos state.

The only challenge I see in Lagos Is power supply, although it’s a general problem in Nigeria but the Lagos state government should please resolve the issue. And, Lagos should give every of its citizens equal opportunity, both the poor and the rich while they all enjoy the dividends of democracy. Also the administration should continue to protect the interest of its people and make our tax continue to work.

Adekunle Damilare-Artisan

drainage systems, but now the government of Lagos is making things happen in every area of the state. They are really working and we now have more good roads for easy transportations coupled with more bridge constructions.

The availability of more traffic light poles and street lights along our roads is also another good thing.

However, there are so many things that need to be corrected to promote development in the state. One of such is the case of the commercial bus drivers who violate traffic rules. Some of them drive roughly on highways, not minding passersby or other road users.

Another thing about Lagos is that its people are always in haste, you see most people always at every hour of the day rushing to one place or the other.

Moreso, Lagosians have the habit of dumping refuses and indiscriminate waste dispos-

ing which makes the environment unhealthy with the risk of the people contacting diseases.

Although the government is trying through special agencies, but it seems to be like most Lagosian are always indifferent to rules and regulations. In the same vein, people consider most government properties and infrastructures as worthless; they use some of those things carelessly.

Lagos is a megacity, and it’s like a small London which continues to attract different people from all part of the country and even the world. Most people see Lagos as a place where they must get to. This I think is due to the development of Lagos state.

I wish to see more development in Lagos state though. The previous administration tried to promote beautification in the state, and I think that can continue because it a good practice. We also need more of the infrastructures and the likes so as to cater for the population of people in Lagos and those that will still come in. – Sunday Adepegba-Civil Servant

'Love and peace is driving the state forward'

K

abiru Yusuf, a butcher, has been living in the city of Lagos since 1999 and has not had cause to regret it, according to him. For him, it is a city filled with job opportunities but to those who are hardworking and ready to survive.

“There is nothing that you choose to sell in Lagos that people will not patronize you; there are varieties of businesses that you can do in this state as long as it is not stealing. I love the fact that there is love and peace amongst people in the city; the existence of love and peace in the city is what is driving Lagos State forward.

The difference between Oyo State, my home town and Lagos State is that to earn a living in my home town is very difficult, but when you are able to earn small amount of money and take that token amount of money to market, you are going to buy things even beyond your budget and you will still have some balance with you and this is made pos-

sible because things are cheaper over there.

While in Lagos, to earn a living is quite easy because there are plenty of job opportunities, but when you take that amount of money you have earned in Lagos to market, the amount of all the necesYusuf sary commodities you want to buy is greater than your budget which means that things are very expensive here. Lagos city is a place where you will make money and have no savings. To save part of the money you have earned in Lagos either on daily or monthly basis is almost not possible because the money is not sufficient enough to get all your needs. I want Lagos city to be free of corruption and accommodating in all ramifications.

Our government in Lagos State should also find a way to control the inflation of necessary commodities especially food and housing.

– Kabiru Yusuf

24 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

New lease of life at Ogba Retail Market

Recently constructed Abiodun Jagun Street, Ogba, Lagos (inset) the old Ogba Retail Market road

blocked with barricades and no car was allowed to move into or even near the market.

She said: “We lost most of our regular customers during the reconstruction process; most of them would rather patronise a market that they can purchase from without any stress and fear that Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will tow their vehicles. The construction company that the project was given to did the work without even considering what we wanted or how our sales were during the reconstruction. They didn’t do an excellent job and the reconstruction was delayed. It was after they had finish that people began to them to create drains for easy flow of water whenever there is a down pour”.

“However, things have become better after the reconstruction of the road; customers can driver into the market without stress and we have free flow of water whenever it rains, unlike before that everywhere would be muddy. We appreciate the government for the reconstruction of the road but we hope that they

We lost most of our customers during the reconstruction process

can assign some Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) officials to tidy the road on daily basis”.

A food vendor in the market, Deola Osho, said, “The road construction affected our business in this market because the market was locked down for three days and when the market was later opened, our customers could not come in because the roads were barricaded. Our businesses have not been going smoothly of recent and we don’t know if it was the reconstruction of the road or the current hardship of the nation’s economy that have kept our customers from patronising us. The reconstruction was slow and prolonged, but still, we are grateful to the government”.

The owner of a clothing material shop in the market said, “I don’t have much to say but the only problem that we are having in this market is that we don’t have a car park. The road construction is a great development, but it cannot solve all our problems. This market is a famous and one of the most patronised markets in this environment. So, what we really need

is a car park, where our customers would park before coming into the market. For our customers to have access to the market, we need the government to help us build a car park for this market and appoint a union that will help to control and monitor the driving in and out of vehicles so as to prevent any form of traffic”.

David Bolaji, who works as a Fashion Designer in the market gave full analogy of things in the environment before, during and after the road reconstruction. He said, “Before the reconstruction of the road, this environment was unfavourable and impassable, most especially when we have a heavy down pour, but our business was a bit good. During the reconstruction process, our business was awful that we had to organise home services for our customers in order to earn some money to prevent being starved to death.

After the reconstruction, I would say our businesses have been fair because we have lost many of our customers”.

A Sales Representative in one of the shops in the market, Joy Godwin, said, “Before the intervention of the government, the road was very bad and whenever it rained, the road was always messed up.

Business in this market was poor during the reconstruction process; the few of our faithful customers that were patronising us had to park on road and the cars of most of them were towed by LASTMA. Currently, our sales in this market are unpleasant probably because we are have not recovered all the customers we lost during the reconstruction of the road or the problem of the nation’s economy”.

A tricycle rider, Mr. Samuel Akpan, said, “The former state of this road affected our business in so many ways; the pot holes that were on the road then did not enable us to move fast in order to cover more ground and our tricycles break down easily most especially when it rains. The smooth road we have now enables us to cover more ground within few minutes and this has really affected our businesses positively.”

QUOTE

OF THE WEEK

I specially inform our people in captivity in Lagos that they should be patient and continue with their prayers , God will take us to where no one expects and we will rescue them.”-Boko Haram spokesperson in a recently released video ,demanding the release of his detained members.

IN NUMBERS Lagos demolishes 235 shops,125 containers under high tension wire” By Lagos state Government

AU G.

N

aturally, motorists, commuters and traders at Ogba retail market should breathe sign of relief as the Lagos State Government recently concluded the bad road. The transformation is so glaring and smooth that the road now enjoys more motorists’ patronage.

The former state of the environment has not been accommodating for business transactions, most especially when the environment experiences a heavy down pour. The road has been in its former state for a long time before the government intervened and began the reconstruction process in the month of March, 2016.

The reconstruction of the road lasted for three months. Within these three months, economic activities barely took place in the environment, most especially in Ogba Retail Market.

The fate of the market remains undecided as there are rumours within the market that the government wants to demolish and redevelop the market.

But kudos to Lagos State Government for the reconstruction of the road and the development of the entire community; the road has been reconstructed, gutters and drains have been created for easy flow of water and street lights are under construction as they are expected to be up and running in the next few months to brighten the environment.

Unfortunately, the market has become a graveyard as businessmen and women lament over poor sales.

Lives and businesses have become a lot more complex within and outside the market environment during and after the reconstruction of the bad road which serves as the only entrance to the market.

According to a Sales Representative of a shop in Ogba Retail Market, Glory Chukwu, business in this environment was booming before the reconstruction project started, although the market always had issues with customers veering in and off the market when there is a heavy down pour. During the reconstruction, there was a massive reduction in the sales for people in the market due to the fact that customers could not come in because the road was

25

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FCT

Business

Tax burden amid dwindling disposable income

Maritime Curbing menace of expired rice from Thailand

What's new

31

Ilupeju Business Manager, Sterling Bank Plc, Kemi Wilkey; President, Cooperative Society, Hogg Robinson Nigeria, Festus Okiya; Business Executive, Ikeja, Sterling Bank Plc, Eniola Obe and Relationship Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Mojisola Ewarawon at the presentation of Cheque to Hogg Robinson Cooperative Society in the on-going Sterling Plus Cash Reward Promo held recently in Lagos

Idika Kalu: IMF loan could resolve forex scarcity p.26

Shareholders: June 2017 deadline on dividend warrant unrealistic

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE June 2016 ..............................16.5% May 2016...............................15.6% April 2016............................13.7%

p.26

27

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

EXCHANGE RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel Market as at August 12)

(Interbank as at August 12)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N392 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N510 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N430

l Foreign Reserves – $25.901bn as at 10/8/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N310 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N404 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N348

Source: CBN

PIB: 30% planned sale of NNPC shares stalled PROLONGED The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Executive Committee on review stays longer than expected

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Adeola Yusuf

P

lans by the Federal Government to sell 30 per cent stakes in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) through Initial Public Offer (IPO) is stuck, New Telegraph has learnt.

The new presidential committee on the re-draft of the legislation, a member of the committee told this newspaper, is at the crossroads over this plan, based on fresh objection by some members who felt that the corporation should remain a national asset.

This, he added after his identity was guaranteed, was also worsened by the controversy on the fiscal terms and the 10 per cent additional funds to the host communities in the draft inherited from the last

•Re-draft c’ttee at crossroads government.

The executive, it would be recalled, withdrew the PIB draft last submitted to the National Assembly from the hollow chambers on the declaration that the bill is an executive bill and should have been submitted originally by the executive.

This PIB is expected “to particularly trigger the much-awaited reforms in the oil and gas sector,” he said.

With the new PIB, he maintained, “30 per cent equity in the national oil installations and assets was expected to be divested for the public to invest in. But as we speak now, this plan is stuck.”

This is simply because this issue, together with the Host Community Development Fund, are seen as grey areas that must be thoroughly examine in the course of this draft works.

The PIB has been a subject of controversy, as a copy of the last bill given to newsmen, showed that serious consideration was given to the move to transform NNPC into a commercial and goal-driven com-

$680 billion Being the projected revenue Nigeria was expected to earn annually as at 2011, from oil and gas operations

pany.

“We are looking at a company that will compete favourably with other multinationals like Petrobrass of Brazil, Saudi Aramco and others. An oil company that will be commercial and allied company (COMAC)-based,” he had said, arguing that the on-going re-draft works was to make the bill “even better.”

Government, he continued, “has considered names like Petronig, but this would be sorted out immediately after the passage of the PIB.” Government, according to the last draft of the bill seen by this newspaper, also planned to jack up its stake in the Deep Offshore blocks from the current level of 61 per cent to 73 per cent. Our source stated that this was necessitated by prevailing realities in the global oil and gas industry.

“Based on prevailing realities in the global oil industry, it was only natural to review the terms of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

26

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |news

Idika Kalu: IMF loan could resolve forex scarcity PANACEA Fund disburses about $25 billion annually

Tony Chukwunyem

R

espected economist and former Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, has said that the current acute scarcity of foreign exchange in the system could have been avoided if Nigeria had taken a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier in the year.

He said this while commenting on the steady decline in the value of naira in recent times on his facebook page.

The former finance minister said Nigeria had a great opportunity to negotiate for an IMF loan that would have covered up to 80 per cent or even 85 per cent of the projected revenue impact from the over 70 per cent decline in oil prices when the IMF boss, Ms Christine Lagarde, visited the country last January.

He noted that the nation

was still in the same position it was many years ago, adding that current monetary and fiscal policies have not helped the local currency.

Kalu said: “We have watched, seemingly helplessly, using trial and error fiscal and monetary policies, mostly draconian and flagrantly against the run of market conditions, resulting in the drop from about 197 to now 400 in the value of naira in relation to the dollar.”

Besides, he said: “It is rather distressing that we have opted to repeat the mistakes of 30 years ago. When Largarde visited very early in this administration, it was plausible that Nigeria, through negotiations with Fund, could cover up to 80 per cent to 85 per cent of the projected revenue impact from the over 70 per cent decline in the oil price.

“With additional resources

from such other institutions as the World Bank and the AfDB, as complement to Nigeria’s own resources, we should have managed to keep the equilibrium between the demand and the supply of foreign exchange in 2016. This will not only have prevented the precipitous drop in naira exchange rate, but could even have strengthened the currency by improving our reserves level as oil prices improved moderately and as recoveries from looted funds, gains from the single treasury account and other fiscal changes took effect.”

He revealed that the IMF alone disburses about $25 billion annually, pointing out that these funds are designed to bridge the resource gap in commodity dependent countries such as Nigeria.

He said: “These funds are invariably very concessionary in their terms such as low

interest, adequate grace period and long term repayment. As a consequence of such low conditions, such funds are, in fact, usually rationed among member countries. It is not true that the financial institutions ‘push’ such loans. The real issue is that they are provided under the condition or the so called conditionalities that the recipient member country will dutifully implement the remedial policies that would correct the domestic imbalances that created the need for such request for assistance in the first place.”

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had said at the Spring Meetings of the IMFWorld Bank last April that the country would surmount its current economic challenges without having to borrow any money from the IMF. Also speaking with New Telegraph, the Special Advis-

L-R: Dr. Tschirpke Norbet; Dr. Hupfeld Silvia both from Dortmund; Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade and the Mayor of DortmundGermany, Mr. Fuss Friedrich, shortly after a technical session with the governor in Calabar, on the partnership to deliver social housing to the displaced people of Bakassi

30% planned sale of NNPC shares stalled CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Production Sharing Contract (PSC) to reflect current trend,” he said.

On the proposed increase in government stake in the PSC, a document signed by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, had stated: “The proposed increase of government’s stake to about 73 per cent is not only competitive, but considerate, when we look at the scale of other entities around the world like Norway, Indonesia and even Angola with even higher government take.

“The novel 1993 PSC agreement was based on $20 per barrel price of crude oil real time, but records indicate that since the start of production in the PSC fields, crude prices have been on the upward swing, hence the consensus for a review of the terms.”

The PIB, the document stated, provides for a refreshing fiscal regime, which has strong incentives for enhanced exploration of new frontiers, especially in the Inland Sedimentary Basins as well as providing strong support base for the complete activation of the Gas Master Plan.

Under the new arrangement, fiscal regime is anchored on royalties and taxes, which are now predicated on production as opposed to terrain and investment as was previously done.

As at 2011, Nigeria’s annual revenue from oil and gas operations in the country was expected to shoot up to about $680 billion when the PIB is passed into law.

er, Media, to the minister, Mr. Festus Akanbi, said that from information available to him, government had not changed its mind on the issue of seeking a loan from IMF. However, analysts believe that the chances of Nigeria obtaining a loan from the IMF have brightened following the CBN’s introduction of a flexible exchange rate policy and government’s efforts to deregulate the petroleum sector.

According to a financial analyst, Mr. John Odiase, “two key conditions that a country must meet before it can access a loan from the IMF are currency devaluation and removal of subsidy on critical sectors such as petroleum.

Since Nigeria has met these conditions, there is no reason why it should not go for the loan, especially given on-going liquidity challenges in the interbank forex market.”

Shareholders: June 2017 deadline on dividend warrant unrealistic DEBATE The arrangement is an understanding, not yet a law

Chris Ugwu

T

he June 2017 deadline to end issuance of dividend warrants to investors might not be realistic, some shareholders of quoted companies listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have said.

They were reacting to the directive by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to stop the conventional issuance of dividend warrants to shareholders on June 30, 2017.

National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said the date might not be realistic unless the regulators address the knotty issues responsible for the growth of unclaimed dividend, especially the unbanked rural dwellers.

In a bid to encourage more in-

vestors to key into e-dividend platform, the SEC, last week, said that registrars will stop the conventional issuance of dividend warrants to shareholders of companies quoted on the Nigerian capital market on June 30, 2017.

E-dividend simply refers to an online system of paying dividends to investors. When companies declare dividends, which are the profits meant for investors, rather than send it by post, they will just wire it to the investor’s bank account.

To eradicate the difficulty encountered by retail investors in claiming their dividends through their savings account, the SEC, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) in July, last year launched the e-payment platform.

Director General, SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo who stated this at the SEC Second Quarter Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting press briefing in Lagos, said: “At CMC, we have resolved that by June

30, 2017, no registrar will issue dividend warrant any longer, the market has agreed and we are going to implement it.”

Gwarzo noted that the deadline was the only way that would encourage people to embrace e-dividend system of payment, adding that once there is no deadline, people will be reluctant to key into the system.

He said that the Commission was committed to addressing the issue of unclaimed dividend, particularly those that had spent 12 years and above, that are statute barred.

Gwarzo expressed worry over the slow pace on the part of investors to key into the edividend platform.

“We are still having issue with respect to e-dividend.

The report NIBSS gave us was very discouraging, about 6,000 Nigerians have so far registered for the e-dividend. SEC has being in the vanguard of advocating people to go and register for the e-dividend.

But, reacting to this development in a chat with this newspaper, Nwosu said: “If

SEC is giving such an order, there is a lot of jobs to be done, that has been compounded by Know Your Customer (KYC) of banks. Many people in those days used shares as gifts to relatives and friends, which included rural dwellers and up till now many of them have no bank accounts.

All these ought to be taken into consideration before this deadline. That date may not be realistic; it is definitely going to be a problem getting the rural dwellers to key into the system.

“It is estimated that we have about 10 million retail shareholders and only about 6,000 have complied, this means that they need to do a lot of work and that it will take many years to achieve 80 per cent compliance.”

President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr. Boniface Okezie, said the directive might not be feasible unless given a legal backing.

“SEC needs to continue to lobby the National Assembly to expunge the issue of dividend warrants certificates in CAMA.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Four years after a major review, the government, last week, inaugurated a nine-member team to review the National Tax policy, igniting fears of a foundation for hike in taxes to augment dwindling income from oil sources.

Abdulwahab Isa reports

fct business watch

Tax burden amid dwindling disposable income

T

he over N500 billion shared to the three tiers of government - federal, state and local - by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in July, unarguably, was the highest allocation so far in 2016.

Over 70 per cent of the sum was derived from non- oil sources -taxes Adeosun and customs levies to be precise.

An elated Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service nine-member committee to review (FIRS) Mr. Tunde Fowler, gave his the National Tax Policy (NTP) with agency thumb up, declaring: “We are a view to enthroning effective tax proud of the development and we policy system in the country. tell ourselves that this is the time to Recalling the genesis of NTP, fund the budget of the Federal Gov- Adesoun said: “History was made ernment from non-oil sources.” in 2012 with the introduction of Giving the current volatility and the National Tax Policy, which acute revenue loss government contains a set of fundamental prinis experiencing in the oil and gas ciples, which should serve as guide sector, the ongoing revamp of the or barometer in determining what non- oil sector aimed at deepening legislative and administrative acits contribution to the national cof- tion the tax system may require. fers above oil and gas revenue, may The policy builds on the set of prinhave commenced with the inaugura- ciples espoused by Adam Smith in tion, last week, of the National Tax his Wealth of Nations viz: Equity, Policy (NTP) review committee by Certainty, Convenience, and Adminthe Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi istrative Efficiency.”

Adeosun.

“It is over four (4) years now since the document was finalised without Re-visiting Dotun Phillips tax policy any additional updates and it is yet Nigeria’s tax system before 2001 to be fully implemented. In a rapwas one characterised by low con- idly changing commercial environtribution of tax revenue to Gross ment with new business models, tax Domestic Product ( GDP), lack of avoidance and evasion strategies precision in tax statues, pervasive among other activities, a tax policy tax evasion and non-compliance, es- can not be static,” she added. pecially by the informal private and The minister underscored the dethe public sectors. The government, termination of the present adminin 2002, set up Prof. Dotun Phillips istration to diversity sources of its study group. The group, chaired by revenue away from oil, as according Phillips, had other members -tax to her, oil, which was 13 per cent of experts from the federal, states’ tax its economy base, accounts for 70 authorities and the private sector. per cent of its entire revenue.

The group, which developed what She noted:” As you are all no is now known as National Tax Pol- doubt aware, this administration icy, also recommended the creation is committed to diversifying the of an autonomous national customs sources of government revenues and revenue administration author- away from oil. Oil is just 13 per cent ity, strengthening of the Federal In- of our economy but accounts for 70 land Revenue Service (FIRS) and per cent of government revenue. retention of four per cent cost of Our challenge is to ensure that the other 87 per cent of economic activcollection for the agency.

The NTP is expected to undergo ity makes its own contribution to periodic reviews. Unfortunately, this government revenue. An effective has not been the case. tax system is key to this and such However, four years after the last a system must be underpinned by NTP review, the government, last an effective and appropriate tax week, raised a nine-member com- policy. Nigeria has one of the lowmittee to review the tax policy. The est tax to GDP ratios in the world move is not devoid of the admin- at just 5 per cent. There is clearly a istration’s commitment to deepen pressing need for an overhaul of our revenue potentials from the non- oil tax policy and this is a key function sources, with emphasis on taxes and of the Ministry of Finance. levies.

“Businesses react to tax policy and we are determined to ensure Tax policy review that ours send the right message, beMinister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi ing that Nigeria is open for business Adeosun, last week, inaugurated a and is encouraging businesses with

Fowler

a tax system that is easy to understand and comply with. Areas of our tax code and laws that are in need of review will be addressed as part of this exercise, as will modalities for simplifying our processes and reducing the tax burden on small businesses,” she said.

With the current high rate of poverty in the country and the present economic situation, an increase in VAT would be a major financial burden on the average Nigerian

The committee The Committee, chaired by Dr. Adeola Sanni of the University of Lagos, has four weeks to complete its assignment. Its terms of reference include to review the National Tax Policy document, recommend a list of tax laws and regulations that need to be reviewed or amended; make any other suggestions on the NTP to facilitate effective implementation of the document and recommend policy to ensure inter-agency cooperation between the Federal Inland Revenue Service and other revenue agencies toward enhancing the IGR of the Federal Government.

Other areas of reference the committee was mandated by the minister to look into are, expand the treaty network of Nigeria to include the country’s major trading partners and review the existing double taxation agreement and ensure that tax laws are reviewed from time to time to minimise avoidable hardships to taxpayers.

However, she added: “As keen as we are to grow revenues and improve our tax collection, we are equally determined to ensure that our taxes are simplified. The task of growing tax revenue must be pursued with a human face and sustainability in focus. The relevant unit of the Ministry of Finance will be strengthened to enable it play a more vibrant role in tax policy formulation.”

She said the review will be a continuous exercise, as a means of evolving with global best practices and keeping with the domestic socio-economic realities, adding , “Government shall indeed remain committed to the continuous improvement of our tax system as part of a dynamic framework to enhance compliance”.

27

Responding on behalf of the committee, its chairman, Dr. Sanni, gave assurance to the minister of members commitment to deliver diligently on assignment.

Concerns mount over hike in tax The inauguration of the ninemember committee by Finance minister has fuelled speculation on government’s intention to raise tax bars- Company Income Tax , Value Added Tax( VAT) and other tax forms to fill in revenue gap caused by shortfall from oil and gas revenue sources.

Speculation was rife not long ago of plans by government to increase Value Added Tax (VAT) from the present five per cent to 10 per cent or higher. Faced with dwindling revenue sources, the government has had its eye on raising taxes, a move supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF, in its recent conclusion of 2016 Article IV Consultation with Nigeria, called for “a gradual increase in the VAT rate, further improvements in revenue administration, and a broadening of the tax base.”

Only recently, precisely last month, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) advocated a 50 per cent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) from the present five per cent.

The Acting Chairman of the agency at the time, Mr. Shettima Gana, while speaking in Kano at a two-day National Revenue Retreat on strategies to expand the revenue base of government and the new sources for revenue generation, said a rise in VAT was one way government can get more revenue.

Experts have argued that increasing VAT will make goods and services too expensive, which is a disincentive to commercial activities and could trigger inflation.

A consultant tax expert and first female president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mrs. Adebimpe Balogun, who spoke recently at the 8th Wole Soyinka Centre for Media Lecture Series, said any tax increase at this time would be suicidal.

She said: “Dwindling oil revenue has made it pertinent for every state to grow its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), but it is not the time to increase taxes.”

She said that government should be more interested in expanding the tax base to capture portfolio contractors and transactions that escape the drag net of the tax agencies.

Analysts at Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC) had argued that with the current high rate of poverty in the country and the present economic situation, an increase in VAT would be a major financial burden on the average Nigerian.

“The plugging of fiscal leakages, a move, which is currently being enforced by the present administration, can also be further strengthened,” they said.

Conclusion The NTP review committee has four weeks to complete its work and submit its report to government, it’s pertinent to alert the team that, any recommendation suggesting hike in tax, will be a burden too heavy for Nigerians to bear.

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WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |MONEY

Over two weeks after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directed lenders that are agents of approved International Money Transfer Organisations (IMTOs) to sell foreign currency proceeds from such firms to Bureaux De Change (BDCs), the money changers are still finding it tough to access the forex. TONY CHUKWUNYEM writes

Int’l money transfer: BDCs grapple with cautious banks

(KYC) principles in the handling of transactions, the CBN stressed that any authorised dealer and BDC that violated the provision of the guidelines will attract: “appropriate sanction including, suspension of dealership licenses.”

I

n the wake of the apex bank’s statement on July 22 directing Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) that are agents of approved international money transfer firms to begin to sell all foreign currencies obtained via inward money remittances to licensed BDC operators, the general feeling in financial circles was that the BDCs had finally won a victory in their long campaign to be again allowed access to some of the ‘official’ forex in the system.

Stoppage of dollar sales to BDCs The money changers had commenced this struggle in January this year when the apex bank, in a move it said was part of measures to reduce pressure on the nation’s foreign reserves, stopped its weekly sale of $30,000 to BDC operators.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who announced the decision, said BDCs should source forex from the autonomous market.

As he put it at the time: “Despite the fact that Nigeria is the only country in the world where the central bank sells dollars directly to BDCs, operators in this segment have not reciprocated the bank’s gesture to help maintain stability in the market.

Whereas the bank has continued to sell dollars at about N197 per dollar to these operators, they have in turned become greedy in their sales to ordinary Nigerians, with selling rates as high as N250 per dollar.”

The CBN boss further stated that the BDCs’ “rent-seeking behaviour” was leading to a gradual dollarisation of the Nigerian economy with attendant adverse consequences on the conduct of monetary policy and subtle subversion of cashless policy initiative.

However, BDC operators, under the aegis of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), quickly challenged the CBN’s action. In a communique issued at the end of an emergency national general meeting that the association held in Lagos, its President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, rejected the apex bank’s allegations against BDC operators. It called on the regulator to restore the dollar sales, arguing that over 3,000 of the operators would be forced to close shop if the banking watchdog did not reverse itself.

ABCON president, Aminu Gwadabe

The ABCON President: “There are many BDCs doing legitimate business as defined by the CBN guidelines for the industry and the recent increasing compliance culture of BDC operators on return renditions to the CBN. This is a reality that cannot be solved or wished away by stopping dollar sales to BDCs because what the CBN sells to BDCs is less than 10 per cent of what it sells to banks. Hence, the decision to stop dollar sales to BDCs would only worsen the situation.”

Significantly, the association repeatedly argued that the decision to stop dollar sales to its members was responsible for the wide margin in the official and parallel markets exchange rates of the naira to the dollar.

Strict guidelines Thus, expectedly, the CBN’s announcement late last month directing banks that are agents of approved international money transfer firms, to begin to sell all foreign currencies obtained via inward money remittances to licensed BDC operators was widely welcomed by players in that sub-sector.

Under the new rules, all approved international money transfer operators were required to remit foreign currency to agent banks for disbursement in naira to beneficiaries, while such foreign currency proceeds would be sold to the BDCs. The apex bank further stated that proceeds from international money transfer sold to the BDC operators would be retailed to end users in compliance with the provisions of anti money laundering laws and observance of appropriate know your customer principles including the use of Bank Verification Number (BVN).

However, New Telegraph’s findings by the end of the first

Emefiele

Unless a solution is found to the acute shortage of forex in the system, banks, BDCs and other authorised forex dealers would continue to have problems

week when the new guidelines came into effect showed that many BDCs had not been able to buy forex from banks.

Indeed, last Tuesday, the regulator issued a follow-up circular to all banks and other authorised foreign exchange, giving more details on its directive that they should sell dollars to BDCs. In the circular entitled: “Re: Sales of Foreign Currency Proceeds of International Money Transfers to Bureaux De Change Operators,” signed by the Acting Director, Trade and Exchange, W.D. Gotring, the banking watchdog said the authorised dealers should sell forex to BDCs subject to a maximum of $30,000 to a BDC operator per week.

It explained that a BDC will nominate its preferred authorised dealer, a commercial bank and can only procure the said amount from only that bank of its choice in a week.

According to the banking watchdog: “The selling rate by the authorised dealers to BDCs shall be the buying rate from IMTO plus a margin not exceeding 1.5per cent,” adding: “Foreign exchange cash purchased

by BDCs from authorised dealers shall be sold to foreign exchange end-users at a rate not exceeding two per cent margin above the buying rate.”

The CBN also pointed out that the two per cent margin would be applicable to all funds retailed by BDCs regardless of the sources of the funds.

It emphasised: “Authorised Dealers (ADs) shall continue to render weekly returns on sales to BDCs and the BDCs shall also continue to render weekly returns on purchases from ADs.” Warning authorised dealers and BDC operators to ensure strict compliance to the provisions of Anti-Money Laundering laws and observance of appropriate Know-Your-Customer

Banks being cautious Although there were reports last Friday that four commercial banks- United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Ecobank Nigeria Limited- sold the stipulated weekly ($30,000) to some BDCs, a Lagos-based BDC operator, Mr. Mike Okolo, said that efforts by him and his colleagues to buy the forex from the banks were unsuccessful, as the latter claimed that they did not have any to sell.

He said: “We had reports that some of the banks were selling but by the time we contacted them, they said they were not selling, I have tried several banks and what the treasurers keep telling us is that they don’t have remittances in forex to sell to us. We believe this is not true and that they (banks) are not happy with the CBN directive and so are deliberately frustrating it.”

He alleged that banks were introducing rules more stringent than the CBN’s guidelines on accessing the funds. Specifically, he said banks were asking BDCs to produce evidence of rendering returns on previously purchased forex, evidence of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) filings, CBN registration certificate and funding of the beneficiary account.

He further stated: “We (BDCs) were already having issues with the CBN’s complex rules so for the banks to add fresh complications can only mean that they don’t want to sell forex to us. I don’t believe the explanation that they don’t have enough forex because what were they doing with the forex they got from the IMTOs before now? They were supposed to send it to the CBN.” However, reacting to the BDCs’ allegations, a treasurer with a Tier One lender who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak on the issue, attributed banks’ failure to comply with the CBN’s directive on forex sale to BDCs to the shortage of hard currency in the system as well as banks’ general wariness in dealing with BDCs. He said: “The fact is that there is an acute shortage of forex in the system. There are no dollars anywhere; you know what the naira is trading at today against the dollar. In fact, what the CBN is selling at the interbank market currently is not enough even for five banks. The banks are finding it difficult finding forex for Letters of Credit (L/C) so why would they sell dollars to BDCs? CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

BUSINESS |MONEY

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

29

Experts: Naira devaluation may not trigger capital inflow CAUTION Enhanced business environment attracts investors

Tony Chukwunyem

F

inancial experts have cautioned against the widespread assumption that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) introduction of a flexible exchange rate policy, which has resulted in the naira losing over 40 per cent of its value against the dollar, will lead to a significant inflow of foreign capital.

In a note obtained by New

Telegraph, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nextnomics Advisory, Dr. Temitope Oshikoya, argued that there was a lot of evidence from numerous studies, which showed that there was no guarantee that countries that significantly depreciate their countries, succeed in attracting capital inflows.

Dr. Oshikoya, an Economist and Chartered Banker, cited an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, which noted: “Total capital inflows, in particular portfolio inflows into Nigeria, coincided with the period of high oil prices and low interest rates in advanced economies, and the associated search for yield by investors.”

The expert pointed out that the IMF report also showed that the largest impact on Nigeria’s

capital flows generally resulted from rising U.S. treasury yield and the lower oil price: “Which would continue to exert a drag on capital inflows and the external reserves.”

He noted: “The empirical findings point to risks that capital inflows to Nigeria will be lower in the near term than in the recent past. In the short run, Nigeria’s room to maneuver in an environment of low oil prices and rising external interest rates may be limited.

In essence, portfolio flows flood in when you really do not need them, and begins to withdraw when you actually need them.

The IMF concludes that in the long run, removing structural impediments to growth and enhancing the business environment and governance would

be more crucial to increasing capital flows.”

He predicted that Nigeria will likely start attracting portfolio inflows once sentiments towards emerging markets improve, global oil prices begin to rise and global rating agencies start to review the country’s ratings upward.

According to him, “the pull factor is when the Central Bank of Nigeria has raised interest rate sufficiently enough to convince portfolio investors, while sacrificing growth. The inverted yield curve with Treasury Bills rates of 20per cent, which is now above long-dated bond yields point towards that outcome.”

Similarly, the Group Country Director, Jeff & ‘Brien, Mr. Pascal Odibo, has said that in order for the country to attract capital

L-R: Government Relations Manager, Procter & Gamble Nigeria, Ofuani Ikechukwu; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Oyo State, Mr Waheed O. Amao; Commissioner, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Hon. Taibat AdeyemiAgaba and Plant Manager, Procter & Gamble Nigeria, Ibadan Plant, Mr Peter Orji, during a courtesy visit to the P&G Ibadan Plant

IDB approves $745m for projects in member countries

T

he Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) at their 313th meeting in Jeddah, has approved $745.3 million of financing to support socio-economic development projects in member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries.

In a statement, the bank said countries that benefitted from the funds included Senegal ($378.6 million), Turkey ($66.4 million), Côte d’Ivoire($89 mil-

lion), Cameroon ($59.8 million), Niger ($30 million), Mauritania (17.8 million), Kyrgyzstan ($20 million) and Lebanon ($81.3 million).

The meeting also approved $1.5 million as a special assistance grant for the emergency relief programme of the Internationally Displaced People (IDP) by the war in Iraq, $600 thousand as a special assistance operations under IDB Waqf Fund for educational projects in Muslim communities in

non-member countries (Fiji, Thailand, and Canada) as well as a $300 thousand technical assistance grant for strengthening rural community adaptations to climate change in The Gambia.

IDB Group President, Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, asserted that the Board meeting also reviewed a number of administrative and technical documents including the document on the IDB Group’s 10 year strategy, an updated report on the Country Partnership Strategy, as well

as an update on the “Lives and Livelihoods Fund” signed during the 40th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Maputo, Mozambique, between IDB and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which seeks to finance poverty alleviation projects in IDB member countries.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar have already contributed a total of $150 million to the Fund; “$100 million by KSA and $50 million by the State of Qatar.”

BDCs grapple with cautious banks CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 28

They (BDCs) usually don’t keep a good record of their forex transactions so banks are always careful when dealing with them.”

When contacted, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, denied that banks were not selling forex to the BDCs. He said: “It is not correct to say that the banks are not selling the remittances to BDCs. The BDCs could claim that what they are getting from the banks is low but not that the banks are not selling to them.”

He warned that the CBN would

sanction any bank that flouts the directive, adding that so far no lender has been found to engage in such an act.

Targeting exchange rate convergence Interestingly, the Special Adviser, Financial Markets to the CBN Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Ukeje, was recently reported in the media as saying that the CBN’s directive to banks that act as agents of international money transfer operators to commence the sale of foreign currency remittances to licensed BDC operators was aimed at achieving exchange rate convergence.

He stated: “Previously, we

were allocating forex, but we decided that we were not going to be taking money from our reserves to be doing that. So, it is those remittances that are going to banks that we want to use to fund that market, so that rates can come down.

That market is very dry, that was why we decided to open the window.”

He contended that if the CBN did not take any step to support the BDCs, the current exchange rate volatility could continue, thus disrupting the objective of the CBN. As he put it: “We want them to have access to the funds to oil their businesses. So to a very large extent, it should

help ease the pressure in the FX market. What happens is that if they are sure of more sources of forex, people would be calm. Now, if this other source, which is supposed to be supplementing the interbank market gets supply, no matter how small it is, we think it would reduce the panic in the system.”

Conclusion However, while the CBN makes efforts to achieve exchange rate convergence through ensuring dollar sales to BDCs, the consensus among analysts is that unless a solution is found to the acute shortage of forex in the system, banks, BDCs and other authorised forex dealers would continue to have problems sourcing forex.

inflows, it has to ensure that it significantly improves ease of doing business.

Speaking on a Channels TV business programme last Friday, he said: “We must encourage foreign investors; we should not intimidate them. We must also encourage businesses to go beyond our shores and earn foreign exchange.”

He noted that there were several Nigerian businesses operating in countries such as the Republic of Benin and Tanzania that the government did not seem to have a record of.

Industry watchers point out that the major reason that the CBN introduced the flexible exchange rate policy was to lure foreign investors back to the country after they had fled in the wake of the former naira peg exchange rate regime.

CSR: AfDB records progress in 2016

V

igeo Eiris, one of the world’s leading Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) rating agencies, last month completed its biennial assessment of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and found the Bank’s overall CSR performance as advanced in absolute terms, a one notch upgrade from the previous rating of robust.

According to a statement issued by the bank: “AfDB was given a score of 63 out of 100 possible points, a 10-point increase from the previous rating, and is ranked third within its peer group, which, since the last rating review, has expanded from eight to 10 multilateral development banks. The rating and accompanying scores mark a significant improvement in Vigeo Eiris’ assessment of AfDB’s CSR performance, reflecting an everincreasing focus and attention dedicated to all Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) related matters at the Bank.”

In its report, Vigeo Eiris said: “AfDB displays a homogenous approach to the management of its ESG impacts, achieving an advanced performance in all three pillars (environment, social and governance). The institution’s Environmental strategy pillar addresses the material issues related to its business operations, and environmental and climate safeguards are implemented. As for the Governance pillar, ESG issues appear to be integrated in the governance strategy with material ESG issues discussed at board meetings and the related risks covered by internal controls. As regards the Social pillar, AfDB discloses extensive measures to foster consultation of stakeholders in its projects and thematic policies. In addition, tools have been set up to monitor the achievement of its development goals in its member countries.”

AfDB saw improvements in five out of six CSR categories, including the Environment, Human Rights, Community Involvement, Business Behavior and Corporate Governance.

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WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Investor

Trading costs’ cut as tonic for market revival rate capped at 1 per cent. This will enable investors negotiate trading commission with brokerage firms, thus driving competition and best execution.

There is need to shed some weight in transaction costs in order to move the market forward. CHRIS UGWU writes

W

ith the massive sell-offs that have characterised the Nigerian equities market in recent times, there are concerns among market watchers that transactions in equities might return to what was witnessed during the bleak periods of 2008 and 2009 if adequate measures such as enhancement of investors’ confidence and incentives to operators are not taken urgently.

The question market operators and other stakeholders have continued to ask is how to turn around the market. Hence, several players in the market are calling for the Exchange to lower transaction costs and encourage new listings if they want to become more attractive vehicles for raising capital and lure new investment.

However, following the weak condition of the local bourse, market operators believed the time is ripe for the regulatory authorities to heed the advice and toe the line of other countries who have enacted a compelling law to reduce these obstacles, which is holding the market from being the bastion of the economy, noting that this is the only way to set in motion the necessary machinery required to turn around the market.

This is because in Nigeria, it has always costs that had always constituted impediment for market operators even to companies wishing to list their shares. Also, firms already listed are looking for excuses to delist from the Exchange due to excessive charges.

According to reports of transaction costs across global markets, cost appears highest in Ghana, followed by Nigeria, while the United States (US) has the least transaction cost with no charges on stock trades. Hence, lower cost of transaction appears consistent with the level of market development and by implication, market efficiency, as costs are lower in US, China, India and South Africa, which is more developed compared with the Nigerian and Ghanaian markets.

The report noted that a comparative cost analysis embarked on across markets in Africa, showed that Nigeria’s statutory fees (exclusive of brokerage commission) remain the highest not only in Africa but also across major emerging markets across the globe (save for Ghana, which is almost at same level with Nigeria at 0.7 per cent).

Previous efforts In response to the current situation, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) made an amendment on the fees on secondary market transactions of Federal/State/Local Government

NSE building

Bonds and Debentures of Public Limited Companies.

In a notice obtained from the apex regulator’s website, the commission noted that the amendment was expanded to include money market products as well as other derivative products to be traded in the financial markets, particularly on SEC registered platforms.

SEC noted that the applicable rate has been changed from 0.1 per cent to 0.0002 per cent (a 5000 per cent reduction) of secondary market transactions.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) had also embarked on a cost analysis with the aim of reducing cost of transactions and make stock market more attractive, as it commenced the reduction of the cost of its Trade Alert service by about N1.24 billion from March 2014.

This reduction is being achieved through the scrapping of the current charge of 0.06 per cent of every trade on the Exchange and an introduction of an enhanced notification system, XAlert, which will be charged at a flat fee of N4 per transaction, the Exchange said.

Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, Mr. Ade Bajomo, said the enhanced X-Alert is a service that will allow the investing public know when a transaction has been made on their account.

“Each time investors buy or sell a security, an alert is sent to them via a text message to the recipient’s mobile phone or via an e-mail to the recipient’s mailbox. So what that does is to bring real time notification plus transparency to the market at market rates while safeguarding against unauthorised sale or purchase of securities,” he said.

Bajomo noted that the big difference for the investing community was that rather than pay 0.12 per cent of every trade round-trip, investors will now pay a flat fee of N4.00.

He said: “Based on 2013 figures, the trade alert charges with the old system was some N1.25 billion; with the improved notification system however, the annual

Under the revised fee structure, the NSE will no longer charge trading fees on fixed income traded on its platform

cost of the alerts would be some N5.52 million based on a N4 flat fee – that is a reduction of N1.24 billion per annum in the cost incurred by investors transacting in the market”.

The Managing Director, CSCS, Mr. Kyari Bukar said the enhanced service is delivered in real time to customers. He also urged that all customers should ensure that their brokers are provided with up to date mobile phone numbers and email accounts to enable the notification system work effectively and provide timely update on all account transactions.

There are also the added benefits of effective fraud alert in cases of unauthorised transactions on account, reduction in time spent confirming trades and an enhancement of transparency between the trader and its clients.

Current initiatives The Exchange last week announced the revision of the listing and trading fees for securities listed and traded on its Fixed Income Market.

The revised fee structure, which will be effective today (August 17, 2016), will be piloted for an initial six months period and then evaluated to determine if it has met its objectives.

Under the revised fee structure, the NSE will no longer charge trading fees on fixed income traded on its platform.

The initial flat listing application fees of 0.15 per cent for all bond types has been replaced with variable listing application fees. With this, Corporate Bonds exclusively listed on the NSE, with existing equity listing will attract 0.01 per cent listing application fee.

Dual listed Corporate Bonds with existing equity listing and other Corporate Bonds will attract 0.0375 per cent listing application fees. Similarly, the listing application fees for State and Supranational Bonds has been reduced to 0.05 per cent.

The Exchange also replaced the fixed Brokerage Commission of 0.0005 per cent with a negotiable

Benefits of the reduction Speaking on the development, Executive Director, Capital Markets, NSE, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, noted that the fee reduction in the NSE fixed income market is in line with the Exchange’s commitment to boost market efficiency.

He said: “The reduction in listing application fees gives issuers opportunity to raise their profile and increase visibility through listing on a globally recognised Exchange with the highest regulatory standards. The aim is to reduce issuers cost of accessing long term capital and to provide investors with diverse investment products at competitive trading fees.”

Jalo-Waziri described the investment opportunities in the Nigerian capital market as huge, urging issuers to raise cheap long-term capital through bond issuance for business expansion, project finance, loan refinancing among others, and investors to be more active in the bonds segment.

“NSE remains committed to building an enduring marketplace and will continue to pursue initiatives that add value to issuers and investors,” he added.

Operators’ opinion Following deliberate actions taken by capital market regulators and operators to woo retail investors back to the market, Managing Director, Crane Securities Limited, Mr. Mike Eze, who described the initiative as a welcome development, said a reduction in transactions costs will attract more investors.

According to him, the relatively high costs of transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) calls for concern to investors particularly at the retail segment of the market with such charges as the stamp duty still being charged on every transaction, which takes place on an electronic platform.

Also, the President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Mr. Boniface Okezie, who also described the action as a step in a right direction, said the regulators should also extend the initiative to include equity listings.

He noted that transaction cost scares away many investors in equities and that regulators have not made the market attractive enough to encourage companies to remain listed, or even to attract fresh listing.

“There is need for extension of the reduction to equities, which affects retail investors; this is because bonds don’t affect common men but mostly governments and corporate organisation,” he said.

Conclusion In as much as the recent steps taken by the market regulators to reduce transaction fees is a step in the right direction, increased efforts should also be channeled

by NSE and SEC on investors’ awareness to deepen activities in the local bourse.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

maritime

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Rice intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Ogun State

Hundreds of trucks laden with expired rice are crossing the porous Nigerian borders daily from Benin Republic.

Ninety per cent of the commodities are already in the Nigerian markets. BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

D

espite the ban on rice importation through the land borders by the Nigerian Customs Service (NSC), Nigerians are still consuming expired rice smuggled into the country by unscrupulous businessmen.

Customs’ statistics revealed that over 90 per cent of the expired commodity was being smuggled into the country from neighouring ports.

Markets in Lagos and parts of South West were worst hit by the huge influx of the rotten commodity – believed to have been shipped to Cotonuo Port from Thailand.

In March 2015, New Telegraph reported an impending shipment of decayed rice from Thailand to Nigeria when the Asian country decided to rid its stock by auctioning some 14.4 million metric tons of its poor quality rice to foreign buyers from August 2015.

Of the 17 million tons stockpiled, 14.4 million metric tons were substandard, while about 694,000 tons were completely rot-

Curbing menace of expired rice from Thailand ten. Thailand government had revealed that only 2.35 million tons were of good quality.

By July of the same year, the Thai Rice Exporters Association began the shipment from its huge stockpiles to Nigeria and other African countries.

Nigeria is the major importer of Thailand rice.

Some of the commodity was shipped through Benin in order to evade high tariff and charges at the Nigerian seaports.

Customs’ position The Comptroller General of the service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), who was worried about the spate of smuggling, had opposed a request by the President of the Beninoise Rice Millers’ Association, Alhaja Karamatou Ibironke, for a review of the law banning rice imports through the border.

The Customs boss insisted that the Federal Government would not review the law, as NCS lacked the equipment to assess expired rice coming through the borders.

He said: “We have not out rightly placed a ban on importation of rice, what government did was to outlaw its importation through the land borders; because at the borders we do not have equipment to check if it has expired or not.

But at the seaports, we have all the equipment needed to carry out these checks.

Ali explained that the influx of expired rice into the

In July 2016, the service said its antismuggling team confiscated 13,328 bags of rice in Ogun borders alone

country through illegal routes was responsible for the strict restriction.

For instance, in July 2016, the service said its anti-smuggling team confiscated 13,328 bags of rice in Ogun borders alone.

Apart from Ogun State, there are other illegal routes in Lagos, Oyo and Kwara states.

In 2013, when the Federal Government increased rice importation tariff to 110 per cent as against zero duty regime administered in Benin and Cameroon, statistics by Customs revealed that smugglers brought in about 2.5 million tons through the land borders without paying a single kobo as import duty.

Low production The Chairman of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup, blamed the smuggling on the current low production capacity of 30 per cent.

She noted: “It is a fact that local production cannot match the country’s demand, which creates a recipe for smuggling.”

Also, the Chairman of PRAN, an association of local growers and legal importers of rice, Alhaji Habilu Maishinkafa, said that a bleak future was steering investors in the face because of the upsurge in the activities of rice smugglers.

Just last week, the Ogun State Command of the NCS intercepted 18 vehicles loaded with the commodity. The Area Comptroller of the Command,

Multafu Waindu, who decried the increase in activities of rice smugglers, said that the vehicles were intercepted around 3:00a.m at the porous Alari and Ifonyintedo bush paths in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state, where the smugglers abandoned the smuggled bags of rice and the vehicles.

Waindu explained that NCS’s patrol team intercepted 410 motorcycles being used as means of conveyance with each having a capacity to carry eight bags of rice per trip.

He said: “On Monday, around 3a.m, our officers, while on patrol, got a tip-off on some smugglers, who were in a convoy of vehicles loaded with smuggled bags of rice around the Alari and Ifonyintedo bush paths. The smugglers, on sighting our officers, abandoned the vehicles and fled into the bush. They also left behind two locally-made guns.”

The seized vehicles were rebuilt for the illicit trade and some of them had their shock absorbers doubled and reinforced.

President, Rice Millers, Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, alleged that smugglers were able to achieve the feat by paying for only 50 per cent of whatever volume of rice that passed through the borders.

Conclusion Government should embark on strict enforcement at the border in order to protect local producers and the entire country from consuming expired rice.

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business \ maritime

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Operators groan as ships desert Calabar Port

•NPA boss vows to review concession pact CHALLENGES

Port faces challenges of low traffic, power supply and heavy gridlock along access road

Bayo Akomolafe

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ontainer ships and clearing agents have abandoned Calabar port due to low activities.

Already, the three major operators at the harbor are experiencing just 25 per cent capacity utilisation, as they no longer earn revenue from yard operations.

These operators are Intels Logistics Services Nigeria Limited, Ecomarine Terminals and Shoreline Logistic Limited.

Miffed by the development, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Usman, during her three-day facility tour of the port, said that the port concession agreement would be reviewed in order to put all players on the same page.

Usman spoke against the backdrop of many complaints by concessionaires at the port.

She said that the 10-year-old port concession exercise was due for review, adding that the review would broadly examine all facets of the terms of the concession engagement.

Vessel and oil rig awaiting repail at the LADOL base, Tincan Island

Usman noted that the review would cover areas like financing models and the concession environment.

She, however, said that the concession agreement should be adhered to.

Lamenting the inactivity at the port, the General Manager, ECM Terminals Limited, Mr. Kingsley Iheanacho, said that the terminal was just barely managing to remain afloat and operating skeletal services.

He said: “Presently, we are having 25 per cent utilisation and that is what Calabar Port is

all about. We were assured dredging would be completed by December 2006 but this has not been done.”

He lamented that the management of the terminal had spent a lot of money to maintain equipment at the facility.

The Calabar Port Manager, Oluseyi Ogundele, said that the port management had been engaging stakeholders on how to boost container traffic.

He recalled that when he assumed duty in September 2015, he inherited some challenges ranging from the relo-

cation of passenger boat operations from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) jetty to shoreline terminal.

He said: “Today, passenger boat operation is running smoothly at shoreline logistics terminal; public power supply has been restored and the heavy traffic gridlock along the port access road has been contained.

“Again, through the initiative of local port management, the wreckage of a ship, Hope of ECOWAS, which obstructed port operation for a long time, has been removed. Other wreck,

Fake Customs CG seals: Eight fraudsters in jail

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ight people have been sent to two years imprisonment over fake sensitive items and documents belonging to Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Various sensitive documents and items, including two fake seals of the office of the Comptroller General of Customs, stamps releasing officers at Apapa, Tin Can, Seme and Idiroko commands and auction papers, were discovered by the NSC enforcement team.

Deputy Controller in charge of enforcement at the Tin Can Port Command, Mr Kabiyeesi Akintola, confirmed the development when he received the newly-elected executive of Tin Can port chapter of Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs

Agent (ANLCA).

He added that he was personally in court to testify against the fraudsters.

The enforcement officer said that the Customs Area Controller at Tincan Port was worried about the development and was determined to fish out corrupt officers who may be working with the fraudsters in the command.

Akintola stressed: “The ingenuity of these boys in manipulating customs papers cannot be over-emphasised. We have been able to arrest some of them. Last month, eight of them were jailed for two years each.

I even went to court to defend it.

“When we went to Apapa to arrest the group, it was a replica of ‘Oluwole.’ I couldn’t believe what we

found in their system.

There is no paper of the Nigeria Customs Service that is not duplicated.

“They have different kinds of auction papers, as customs is issuing auction in Abuja, they are also issuing their own in Apapa.

But to God be the glory, we arrested them.”

Akintola recalled that he was posted by a former Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi, to the Tin Can Port to sanitise it.

He added that falsifications of papers, flying of containers were flourishing at the seaports.

The deputy comptroller warned customs agents to stop sub-letting their jobs to second and third parties, noting that Tincan Port was noted for touting.

such as Cala Niger, is also on the verge of being removed.”

He listed other challenges confronting the port management to include completion of dredging of the Calabar channel, provision of modern tugs and pilot cutters.

Ogundele also called for guaranteed security in the port and its channels.

He complained that erosion menace within the port, harbour village and the bad state of the common user roads within the terminals were obstructing smooth operation.

The port manager said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) owed NPA N152.8 million in the first half of the year, He said that from January to June 2016, the port generated N450.9 million and $7.5 million, while N106.9 million and $6.2 million were collected in the same period of 2015.

According to him, in the first half of 2016, vessels entered the port with 1.8 million tons against 165 vessels with 2.1 million tons in the corresponding period of 2015.

Ship tow from Nigeria to Equatorial Guinea for repair

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drill ship, MV Pacific Bora, which suffered damage at the starboard hull, off the coast of Nigeria, has been towed to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, for repair, as Nigeria lacks facilities to fix it.

The damaged vessel, which belongs to Pacific International Drilling West Africa’s (PIDWAL), was repaired by the Harris Pye Engineering Group in Malabo.

Assistant Rig Manager, Pacific Bora, Adebo Oladipo, confirmed that the vessel was taken to Equitorial Guinea.

He said: “We were sceptical initially because we weren’t sure of Harris Pye’s experience

working off the coast of Nigeria.”

The Chief Technical Officer of the company, Chris David, said that the repair was successfully evaluated and was carried out in less than two weeks.

David said: “We studied the repair scope and put together a method statement to perform the repair work while the rig is afloat to avoid any dry docking and other cofferdam and divers cost in order to bring the PBA back to 100 per cent operability in less than two weeks.”

He noted that the company was initially skeptical, but later voted for the shipyard after due scrutiny.

business \ maritime

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Challenges of greenfield devt, by terminal operator MOTIVATION New ports need attractive incentives for investors, friendly tax policies and streamlining of operational procedures for smooth service delivery L-R: Director General, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Dr. Aminu M. Yusuf; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello and Director, Legal Services Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Samuel Vongtau, during a courtesy visit to NSC office in Lagos.

Bayo Akomolafe

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subsidiary of SIFAX Group, Ports and Cargo Handling Services Limited has said that unstable government policies was the bane of greenfield port development in Nigeria.

The firm listed other challenges as including lack of safety, security of funds invested by promoters, nonprovision of adequate measures to ensure continuity, lack of infrastructure and efficient transport system.

The Acting Managing Director of the company, Alhaji Mohammed, said these in Lagos, in a statement by the group’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Muyiwa Akande.

He spoke while delivering a lecture titled: “Greenfield Development: Imperative for Port Development in Africa” at the African Day of Seas and Oceans hosted by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

He said that there was need for the Federal Government to find sustainable

solutions to various impediments bedevilling port projects.

According to him, greenfield ports at Lekki, Badagry and also the Olokola on the borders of Ogun and Ondo states have been facing problem of accessibility.

He said: “On the completion of these ports, if some key and fundamental challenges, of which accessibility is the chief, are not addressed, serious environmental and economic issues will arise especially with the Lekki port.”

The acting managing director noted that all the challenges were surmountable if the government could guarantee safety and security of lives and investments put into the development of such greenfield projects.

He advised government

to deploy adequate security within the country’s territorial waters to check the activities of pirates and sea robbers.

Mohammed suggested that the government should provide modern infrastructure, integrated transportation system such as good road network, efficient rail system, revitalisation of inland waterways for the movement of persons and goods, attractive incentives for investors, friendly tax policies and streamlining of operational procedures for smooth service delivery.

He added: “With the continued increase in global seaborne trade and vessel sizes deployed to many routes for economies of scale operation, the need for new ports development with deep draft and large stacking areas for trans-

NIMASA to implement IMO water convention

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he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has called on stakeholders in the maritime industry to protect the marine environment from alien invasive species conveyed by ships into Nigeria’s territorial waters as ballast water.

Director General of the agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, made the call in Lagos during the meeting of members of National Task Force for the Implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention 2004.

In a statement by the agency’s Head of Corporate Communication, Hajia Lami Tumaka, the DG restated the agency’s commitment towards the sustainability of the marine environment.

He called on stakeholders to be mindful of activities that could lead to the deterioration of the marine environment.

Peterside said, “The long

years of exploitation and exploration of available resources in our marine environment have made it fragile but we have a responsibility of ensuring that the environment remains sustainable for the generations yet unborn.”

The DG noted that while vessels carry ballast water for stability, the water and sediments therein have become a platform for the conveyance of alien invasive species into the environment, which makes it mandatory for the agency to tackle the menace in line with IMO regulations.

Peterside said: “Ballast water and the sediments therein have become a platform for conveyance of invasive aquatic species into our environment, which could be dangerous in the long run, hence the need to tackle the scourge head on before it becomes uncontrollable. NIMASA is therefore committed to ensuring that the Ballast Water Man-

agement Convention 2004 is implemented in Nigeria.”

He charged members of the task force to develop a policy and work plan for the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Roadmap for Ballast Water Movement in Nigeria, which would ultimately protect the environment from alien invasive species.

Earlier, Professor Babajide Alo, chairman of the National Task Force and former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, said that the issues of invasive species had become worrisome, stating that studies had revealed that water hyacinth invasion in Nigeria for instance, was as a result of a fertiliser industry in Lome, which normally pumps its waste into the sea.

He advised Nigeria to take a holistic approach to the issue by considering the entire Gulf of Guinea while seeking solutions to tackle the menace.

shipment and transit cargo are becoming imperative.

“New trends in maritime trade have also dictated that new port development takes into considerations a shift from its traditional roles as only destination of imports for the country and for its

exports, but as hubs for connection and transshipment to other ports. Greenfield port development within supply chain now comes with activities such as cargo/warehousing, sorting, packaging, ship repairs, fuelling, discharge and many more.”

Shippers’ Council, NITT partner on capacity building

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he Nigerian Shippers ‘ Council (NSC) and Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) in Zaria have agreed to partner on capacity building development.

The Executive Secretary of the council, Barrister Hassan Bello, according to a statement, sealed the deal in Lagos during a courtesy visit by NITT’s Director General, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, and top officials of the transport training institution.

The executive secretary said that it was imperative to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the institution on capacity building.

He urged the transportation institute to be creative and competitive in order to stay afloat in capacity build-

ing programmes for the industry.

Bello said that the council was a knowledge-driven organisation and stressed the need for the maritime sector to be driven by specialised knowledge.

He lauded the NITT for training a large number of professionals in the transport sector of the economy.

Speaking earlier, the director general said that the institute had been able to put in place measures to pursue transport education programme for the overall development of the sector.

Yusuf said that NITT had submitted a proposal for a joint two-day workshop with the NSC on the role of transport and logistics in international trade in Nigeria.

NPA to replace ageing workforce

N

igerian Ports Authority (NPA) is to commence the recruitment of younger professionals into the service in view of ageing workforce.

Its Managing Director, Hadiza Usman, disclosed this when she visited Calabar Port.

Usman said that NPA would embark on a recruitment drive by looking at the organisational structure to determine how the recruitment would be carried out.

The managing director stressed that the management was looking at succession planning and recruit-

ment of people.

Usman noted: “We want to recruit specialists, mariners, and critical operational staff. These are those positions that we will be targeting. We encourage every member of the public to be on the look-out for the advertisement of vacancies and to apply.”

She said that as the nation’s economic climate changes, there was need to adjust.

Usman said NPA had a 25year port master plan that would take into consideration the needs of Nigerian ports.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Literature

Arts

The Last One Naira, in Seasons of Siege

A scene in Eko Iwure Olofin

Eko Iwure Olofin: Exploring history, heroes of Lagos Tony Okuyeme

T

wo years after its production started, the trilogy, Eko, an epic television series which captures what has been described as the true history Lagos, is finally set for premiere.

The Eko: Iwure Olofin which captures the life and times of Olofin up to the ascension of King Ado to the throne as the first king of Lagos, is the first of the trilogy and will premiere in Lagos. The premiere is particularly significant as it coincides with the yearlong Lagos at 50 celebrations.

It is part of the highlights of the activities for the Lagos at 50 Third Festival Colloquium themed, Tourism Potential in Yorubaland: Landmarks, Culture

TONY OKUYEME ARTS EDITOR

tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

and History. It will hold on Saturday, August 20, 2016, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The Lecture will be delivered by HRM, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojoja 11, Ooni of Ife. Directed by Femi Ade Eketunde, popularly known as Femi Bright, Eko Iwure Olofin, as the title suggests, is a story of how Lagos came into being, says the producer of the movie, Mr. Fola Onifade, at a media chat held in Ikeja Lagos.

“It is an epic television series about the history and heroes of Lagos. Eko: Iwure Olofin (capturing the life and times of Olofin up to the ascension of King Ado to the throne as the first king of Lagos) is the first of the trilogy. It is the story of how a brave Ile-Ife Prince left his ancestral home in pursuit of family, fame, honour and glory as was the common practice then. Olofin (Yemi Black) was told by the diviner Adifala (Peter Fatomilola) to leave Ile-Ife with his wife Ajaye (Kehinde Fasuyi) and follow a calabash on a river journey. He was instructed to settle in the land surrounding the river where the calabash sank.

“Olofin (Yemi Black) proceeds on the journey with his wife, his diviner Awopegba, who later became Opeluwa (Kehinde Oriola) and 32 other retainers. When they got to Ijebu the calabash stopped and as they heard sounds of drums and songs they waited to investigate, only to meet the Ijebus at the cel-

Eko: Iwure Olofin captures the life and times of Olofin up to the ascension of King Ado to the throne as the first king of Lagos

ebration. They were received and they stayed for some time before proceeding on their journey. They got to a place and the calabash sank; there they established a settlement and called themselves ‘Awori’. After 49 weeks, the calabash resurfaced and they left some of their entourage behind to bear witness that Olofin was there (thus the name Isheri Olofin); they proceeded to follow the calabash top Iddo where it finally sank,” he said.

According to him, “they settled in Iddo and the land flourished and was peaceful. Later they were joined by other peoples especially Bini people travelling between Bini and Ghana. After so many years of peaceful coexistence, a particular woman Aina Agan (Bukky Wright) who was wealthy and powerful clashed with Olofin and his children; she was accused of witchcraft and all her assets confiscated. Thereafter, she escaped to Bini and reported her case to the Oba of Bini who sent a delegation on a fact finding mission to Iddo. The messengers rather than deliver the message went back to Bini and told the Oba they were attacked. On hearing this, the Oba commanded Asheru (Toyin Salako) Ajigbida and Olorungbiwe to raise an army to attack Iddo and bring Olofin to Bini.

The army engaged Iddo warriors led by Alapini (Ganiu Nofiu) and

36

the Bini army was defeated.”

What followed is a gripping story of love, struggle, intrigues, betrayal and battle.

Explaining further on the making of Eko, Onifade said: “The movie was commissioned in 1983 by the then governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, but two episodes were screened before the studio got burnt. I remember vividly growing, we saw the first episode, very interesting piece; and we were looking forward up to seeing the whole story of Lagos, then the fire incident took everything away. The whole clips got burnt with the studio.

Olumegbon Films was the one that shot the first one; so the children came to us and said that they would like to do the story. And when we find the story, we found it very interesting and worthy of investing in, although, it got to a point we started asking ourselves: ‘why did we do this?’ This is because the project was quite heavy; the budget was overshot by over 300 percent.”

According to him, over 400 actors including over 50 top Nollywood stars such as Bukky Wright, who played the female lead role, Yemi Black, who played the male lead, Rachael Oniga, Peter Fatomilola, Kehinde Fasuyi, Olumide Bakare, Iya Awero, Toyin Ayimaku, featured in the movie.

“We are going to show the whole movie on that day August 20. After the premiere, we will be taking it abroad; we are having a Europe tour in October; and U.S and Canada tour in November.

Then we come back to screen it during Christmas and New Year celebrations. Meanwhile, it will go on television from October 1st for 26 weeks. We are also looking at taking it to all Yoruba speaking people in Nigeria and beyond, Onifade said.

“The movie is one hour thirty minutes; the whole duration is 13 hours for the television series but we extracted 10 percent of it.

“Apart from the cinema, we also plan to do private screening for special events or occasions.

It is subtitled in English, French and German,” he added.

Commenting on the choice of the actors for the various roles, Eketunde casting for the movie was strategically thought out, noting that, “You have to pick the right person to get the right result.”

According to him, consideration for choice of Yemi Blaq as Olofin was deliberate. “It is someone who is not featured often in Yoruba movies but he is a very popular actor, someone with an imposing character who is gentle, good-looking.

“So, Yemi Blaq came to mind.

Actors like Yemi Blaq don’t come easy. A lot of people will be surprised to see him speak in Yoruba.”

Eko: Iwure Olofin is also aimed at stimulating in indigenous language as an essential part of culture.

ART

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

35

Drama in conversation Wat’s Dis All About with The Governor returns on stage NEWS

A

fter its thrilling performances before an enthusiastic audience at Freedom Park, Lagos, as part of Eko Theatre Carnival by Crown Troupe of Africa, Toyin Oshinaike’s Wat’s Dis All About, an adaptation of Woza Albert, returns on stage.

This time the show produced by Ibadan Playhouse, and it is scheduled to hold Sunday September 4, 2016, at the Amphitheatre, Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Lagos.

Described as “deep, uninterrupted laughter guaranteed”, Wat’s Dis All About? is written in pidgin, and it is a tow-cast play.

Photography competition calls for entries

N

igeria’s leading telecommunications company Etisalat, has announced the opening of the 2016 Etisalat Photography Competition.

The competition kicks off series of activities leading to the opening of the 7th edition of the Etisalat-sponsored annual Lagos Photo Festival.

The Etisalat Photography Competition encourages emerging photographers to capture and celebrate fascinating pictures that reflect the diversity and daring spirit of our expressions.

The Director, Brands and Experience, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Ogiemwanye, while speaking about the photography competition, stated that submission of entries open from August 8th to September 1st, 2016, adding that this year’s edition of Etisalat Photo Competition is tagged “Performance; action repeated constantly, becomes a ritual, its transference into other spaces of engagement becomes a performance”. We wish to explore further these performances through the strength of photography in depicting our daily routines and celebratory activities and expressions,” he said.

Firms partner on music concert Kunle Azeez

I

nformation and Communication Technology (ICT) firm, Hewlett Packard (HP), has officially endorsed a Yudala Zero Gravity, a music concert, as a Platinum Partner which is the highest partnership cadre.

With this, HP will occupy prominent position in all Zero Gravity concerts this year including the roadshows that will precede each concert.

Yudala Zero Gravity is powered as a mega three-city dual concert featuring the best trending artistes in Contemporary Nigerian hip-hop and Rock Gospel, with other side attractions in store from Africa’s pioneer composite e-commerce outfit Yudala and New Concept Media Group (NCMG).

A statement issued by Yudala and made available to New Telegraph noted that the HP’s endorsement of Yudala Zero Gravity is a major boost in confidence not just for Yudala but for Nigeria as a country.

“The endorsement, at this point in time, is undoubtedly critical to the survival of the E-commerce sector of the Nigerian economy,” the statement said.

The Big Three in The Governor

Tony Okuyeme

S

ince its debut on television, The Governor, a gripping, intriguing drama series has continued to engage viewers glued to their seats, raising hope of sustaining the resurgence of quality television series since the seeming lull over a decade ago.

The Governor is the riveting tale of Angela Ochello, the Deputy Governor of Savannah State who with no governorship ambitions finds herself suddenly entangled in a web of political intrigue after the untimely death of the incumbent Governor, As audiences embark on this journey with Angela, viewers are taking through how with the help of her trusted Chief of Staff, she learns how to maneuver through the rough and shark-infested waters of politics whilst balancing the demands of her matrimonial home.

Produced by EbonyLife TV and EbonyLife Films, The Governor is set in Savannah, a coastal state in Western Africa established in 1964 and extremely rich in iron ore. Known for its widely spaced grassland with temperate weather conditions and unique tourist attractions, Savannah has a population of 15 million people majority of who are fishermen and farmers. The rich cultural diversity and political awareness of the people makes it one of the most politically active states in the country.

Shot on locations in Calabar, the capital city of Cross Rivers State, The Governor takes constituents and citizens alike

Chikezie (middle) as Angela Ochello in The Governor

through the shadowy often gruesome corridors of power and promises to be packed with lots of intrigue, drama and sometimes humour. How or whether Angela can standup to her rivals and assume her place as Governor is among sundry questions which the series explores with all its socio-political intrigues.

But besides this, is a gripping exhilarating experience on the set of The Governor as shared by some of the cast recently in Lagos.

For Caroline Chikezie who plays the role of Angela Ochello, the erstwhile deputy governor who after the death of the governor of Savannah State, and despite all the pressure mounted on her becomes The Governor of Savannah State, it has been an exciting and inspiring experience.

Veteran actor, media consultant, voice trainer, script editor and proofreader, Taiwo Obileye, who plays the role of Angela’s influential father Chief MomohAlli, and the party state chairman, recalls with nostalgia, that “being on set for the production was really nice as it took us out of the regular video experiences; and working with different actors and interacting with them was interesting. The camaraderie was very good as each person did their best.”

He also said that he was very much impressed by the crew. On the challenges of playing the role of Chief Momoh-Alli, he said: “It was exciting, but it was like walking on a tight rope.”

For Kunle Coker, a professional actor of many years’ experience, on stage, television and film, who plays the role of Senator Briggs, a member of “The Big Three” and a major player within the Shining

Light faction of the party, it was “a beautiful experience”. He said: “For me, this is the first of its kind in this part of world.”

Also, speaking at the interactive session, Jude Chukwuka, a consummate actor with several years in the industry, who features as a party chieftain, leader of the Shining Light Faction and manipulator of the “The Big Three”, an old-school, chauvinistic wielder of power, enthused that it was fun. “It was a beautiful and exciting experience. In fact, the city of Calabar received us well. The Governor is an eyeopener,” he said.

This television drama series is a demonstration of EbonyLife TV and EbonyLife Films commitment to telling the full range of African stories as they have never been told before.

“Strongly rooted in Africa but connecting to a global audience through a shared identity and common values. EbonyLife TV prides itself as Africa’s first Global Black Entertainment and Lifestyle Network for premium homegrown entertainment content. EbonyLife Films is poised to expand this vision by becoming one of Africa’s most influential story tellers.

“In the resurgence for telling the story of a new Africa, our first feature film, FIFTY, allowed us to create an honest insight of Africa in contrast to the stereotypical fatalistic stories filmmakers tend to tell of the continent. These stories mould the worldview of Africa as a single story. As Africans living in Africa, we are passionate about telling our stories, of a multidimensional reality that is a burgeoning, pioneering, cosmopolitan and progressive Africa,” the producers stated.

36

LITERATURE

The Last One Naira, in Seasons of Siege

I

have always described poem as an expression of feelings from imaginative minds. Thus, a poet will do well when she/he relies on the immediate environment for inspiration for the conveyance of his/ her feelings in the vehicle of poetry.

This may explains why the renowned Poet, Niyi Osundare, submitted that African Literature, irrespective of its form, should be “endogenous”.

A read of Mr. Dada Olanipekun’s ‘The Soyinka in Me’ is a reflection of this. The poems in the collection are a chronicle of experiences within and around the poet such that spans for years. Of much importance and that which would readily raise “dust” and creates a sort of suspense is the title of the collection - The Soyinka in Me. The “on the surface” understanding of this is that Soyinka must have been a source of inspiration or a mentor to Dada Olanipekun.

A flip through the work confirms this. The first and the last poem in the collection, “Kongi, Eniogun” at 82 and “Kongi in You”, respectively are a tribute to and eulogy of the African’s WS, Wole Soyinka. Of special interest here is the “Kongi in You”. Permit me to chant few lines there from: “KONGI in you, Has influenced in deed “Kongi” in me. Your Yorubaphone Complex deep water front, Dazzles my inspiration, Gives my muse power point powder. Kongi, the poet in you Has stung me, yes stung me! Like bee…The fury writer’s temper, tempo Temperament in you has stung me like A box stringed guitar…”

Reading through the poems in this collection, anyone familiar with the works of Soyinka would readily agree that Dada Olanipekun has indeed been stung by Wole Soyinka.

The striking point of similarity is the theme of poems that are Africanised and or Nigerianised as one would find in almost all the works of Soyinka, a writer who is concern about his immediate society. His works are a comment on the happenings around him. From Dance of the Forest, to The Road, to Kongi’s Harvest ,to Death and the King’s horseman to Lion and the Jewel, to The Man Died, Ake, Isara, The Interpreters, Idanre, King Baabu, Alapata Apata, InterInventions, amongst others one would see a treatment of socio-political issues that have direct bearing on the African cum Nigerian state.

What then should one expect from someone who has been “stung” by Soyinka than to respond to the societal issues in his poems; so as not to make himself irrelevant like that man in an African proverb that left his house burning in pursuance of a fleeing rat from the inferno? Such man can be likened, according to Achebe, to any writer that fails to respond to issues around him through his works. Dada Olanipekun did not fall into the category of such a writer.

He has succeeded, in the 40 page book

Title: The ‘Soyinka’ in me Author: Dada Olanipekun Pagination: 40 Reviewer: Dr. Chris Omotosho

that treats 27 different poems, to address and respond to the socio-political issues in his immediate society and Africa, celebrates nature and eulogises both the dead and living heroes. The tone of lamentation and helplessness in “Saratu” shows the pitiable state of mind of the parents of Chibok girls whose children are yet to be seen, two years after their abduction, simply because the Nigerian state, unfortunately, failed to protect and defend the vulnerable. Poems like “Lagos”, “Nigeria”, “The Last One Naira”, “Seasons of Siege” and “Abuja” treat the themes of hopelessness, suffering, deprivation, marginalization and neglect in Nigeria.

Soyinka is not a pronounced Feminist but his love and soft spot for women and celebration of womanhood in his works cannot go unnoticed. One of the contributory factors that led to the tragic end of Elesin Oba in Death and the King’s horseman was the time Elesin Oba spent with the young maiden in his attempt to leave

Book stand

a “seed” behind after his demise.

We could see the excitement in him not just because of the seed he was to leave behind but much more because, according to him, “I want to travel light”. Thus, sleeping with the young woman would afford him the opportunity of emptying himself to her. One wish he didn’t do it, maybe he would have taken the glory that was bestowed on his son Olunde.

Sidi was celebrated in Lion and the Jewels and Iyalode square up with Elesin Oba in Death…and almost became the heroine in the play. These, amongst others, are the respect Soyinka gave to the womenfolk. It is not a surprise therefore for Dada Olanipekun to have taken this from Soyinka. Thus, women and their beauty, virtue and chastity were celebrated in poems like “The Love on Red”, “Momudatu” and “Iyawo”.

Poems like “God is Weeping”, “Confession”, “I am not Black I am Chocolate”, “I am Water”, “It Rained” and “Here Goes the Day” celebrate nature in its beauty. There is tone of lamentation and a quest for the reversal of unnecessary bloodshed and waste of lives in the poems “Uganda” and “A Friend”. The ancient town of Abeokuta is celebrated in Ode simply titled, “Abeokuta I”& “Abeokuta II”. For the labour and deeds of our heroes past not to go unmentioned, apparently, gave attention and a place of tribute to the Cuban’s Fidel Castro, as a poem in the collection. This also reminds one of Wole Soyinka’s unrepentant respect for heroic figures, one of which was late Mathma Ghandi of India. Olanipekun’s respect, tribute and eulogy for his Mentor Wole Soyinka are aptly captured in “Kongi, Eniogun at 82” where he appreciates Soyinka’s god, Ogun, and prays, I quote: “May your god Ogun oniire protect, prolong you, preserve you at 82, Eniogun, Ase!” Olanipekun has expressed himself to us, to the world, to the generations yet unborn through this 40- page collection of poems that address every facet of life with inspirations from his immediate environment. It is for us to take hold of his messages, savour them and get something out of them.

What we are reading

POETRIP

The Wind Letter Oladipo Kehinde

War and Peace is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. I am a great fan of Tolstoy; I have read a lot of his novels, and I think War and Peace is one powerful book that I really feel is evergreen and fits that description or portrait of a classic.

So, I must say that reading is magical really. To someone like me I just get carried away and find myself in another world when I am reading.

I really enjoyed reading the book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee. It is a story about Atticus Finch, who is a lawyer, as told by his daughter. The story is told from a young girl’s eyes.

I always tell people that reading is the cheapest way to travel. It expands your thinking; and makes you to appreciate people’s challenges the more.

Folu Agoi

Iquo Diana Abasi

TONY OKUYEME ARTS EDITOR

tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The wind letter the voice of my songs to the chambers of my ears My head is sweet with the rhythm of the twin drum I am the bird that sing to the ears of time The words of my mouth ease the burden of the mountain I sing for the upland sun The wind letter the voice of my songs to the chambers of my ears I am the colour of a waking day that Heralds the rainbow after the rain I am the songs of harvest on the farmer’s lips The fruits of my lips is ripe with time I sing for the river that quench the memory of thirst I sing for the upland moon the mother of starry stars and dream The wind letter the voice of my songs to the chambers of your ears I sing for you a love song from the garden of my heart

BUSINESS | Money Line

wedneSDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

37

Bancassurance: NAICOM, CBN disagree over authorisation DEFERRAL The commission has suspended telecommunication companies, airlines, banks and other agents not registered by it from distributing insurance products

Sunday Ojeme

T

he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has suspended the retail of insurance products through channels not properly licensed to carry out

such business.

Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari, disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, at the investiture ceremony of the 22nd Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers’ Association (NIA), Mr. Eddie Ifekoha.

He said that the suspension also affected discussions with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the return of full bancassurance operation into the country’s underwriting sector.

Kari said that the commission was preparing new guidelines and making all efforts to libralise the channels of distribution.

He said this became necessary because distribution played a key role in the propagation and marketing of insurance products to the consumers.

SunTrust Bank pledges to boost SME financing

C

hief Executive of SunTrust Bank, Muhammed Jubrin, has assured operators in the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) sector that his bank will focus on the small businesses by availing financing and thus ensuring that the sector plays its pivotal role in the economy.

In a chat with newsmen yesterday at the official opening of the bank, Jubrin said: “In line with our strategy, we are going to drive SMEs transactions certainly… and part of our strategy is retail banking, we want to create a retail bank of choice and certainly SMEs is the engine room for the growth of any economy and to provide financing services, to support the SMEs will be the only way, we can support the growth of the economy and particularly in line with the vision of the CBN and the current administration.”

On the focus and strategy of the bank, the CEO said:

“Over 90 per cent of banking transaction are being transacted electronically worldwide. Banking is no longer where you go to… the only financial institution that can stand in the future is no longer those with physical branches but only by banking services that will be driven by technology and therefore most customers of tomorrow will no longer be interested in going to the banking halls…

We are a financial technology bank that will bring banking to your home rather than make you come to us…We will be everywhere but we will be nowhere…we will have the minimum branches required to operate as a bank but we will drive financial services through technology…” He assured.

Commenting further on the operations of the bank, the CEO explained: “We will offer telephone, mobile and Internet banking underpinned by the traditional banking ethics of probity and integrity.”

Tax Default: FIRS seals firms in Lagos, Kano, Onitsha

T

he Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), yesterday, stepped up its tax enforcement duties, shutting company offices in Kano, Lagos and Onitsha for non-payment of outstanding tax liabilities.

According to a statement issued by the agency in Kano, the FIRS enforcement team led by Mr. Umar Garba, sealed off Sani Brothers Transport Company Limited, Triumph Nigeria Limited, Multi System Nigeria Limited and NorthWest Cable Manufacturers Limited. The companies owe N12. 3 million, N6.5 million, N3.3 million and N5.8 million respectively.

At each of the company offices, Garba read relevant laws empowering the FIRS to shut down operations. He also told staff of the companies that he was relying on figures from the FIRS.

In Lagos, the enforcement team sealed off the office of Secure ID Limited, situated at 2, Olawale Dawodu Street, Ikoyi, over a tax liability of N151 million.

In Onitsha, the warehouse of Next International Company was sealed. The company has tax liabilities of N20.4million. The breakdown showed that the company has failed to pay Company Income Tax, Withholding Tax and Education Tax since 2006.

Prior to yesterday’s installment of the enforcement exercise, the FIRS had shut down company offices in Lagos, Abuja, Asaba and Onitsha.

In Abuja, the office of Urban Shelter Limited, a property development firm, located in Shippers Plaza in the Wuse Zone 5 Area of Abuja, was shut over a tax debt of N637 million in arrears of taxes accumulated between 2008 and 2016.

He said: “Licensing such channels is imperative to protecting the consumers and also to ensuring ethical and orderly practice and in further protecting the credibility of the insurance sector, which are the principal mandate of the commission.

“However, the employment of such channels can only be utilised if that institution is licensed by the Commission in line with the provisions of the extant law. It is the licensing of those distribution channels that would authorise them to sell, distribute, refer or introduce insurance products through another licensed Insur-

ance entity to their customers and earn a fee or commission.

“As you are aware, the Commission has been in discussion with the Central Bank on the Bancassurance distribution channel for sometime now.

“However, in a letter received last week, the CBN asserted that NAICOM is not in a position to license banks and thus, we cannot go ahead with the arrangement for now.”

The commissioner, however, said that NAICOM would continue to engage the CBN until all the grey areas were resolved.

“The second, however, is that from today, all relationships the

commission had hitherto accommodated where insurance companies pay commission/ fees to banks for insurance transactions, referral or introduction in any guise is no more valid.

“Insurance companies utilising or intending to utilise any institution including banks, airlines, online or web-based aggregators shall ensure that those institutions have been licensed by the commission as we have resolved to ensure strict compliance and impose appropriate sanctions to erring insurance institutions.

You are warned accordingly,” he added.

NDIC: Good corporate governance, key to banking success Tony Chukwunyem

M

anaging Director/ Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, has advised the management of Jaiz Bank Plc to strengthen its corporate governance in order to weather the storm of economic challenges that is currently facing Nigeria’s banking industry.

He gave the advice during a courtesy call by the newly appointed Managing Director of Jaiz Bank Plc, Mallam Hassan Usman and some of his top management staff.

Ibrahim, according to a statement, said that good corporate governance was very crucial to the bank at a time

of planning to expand its operations following its recent issuance with a national banking licence by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

While congratulating the bank on its issuance with the national banking licence by the CBN, the NDIC boss also advised the bank to be careful in its expansion plans in order to ensure seamless service delivery to its customers.

According to him, as a pioneer in non-interest banking, the bank should partner with its peers such as Stanbic IBTC and Sterling banks, which have non-interest banking windows in order to explore more sharia compliant instruments.

He also drew the attention

of the lender to the interest being shown by Muslims and non Muslims to its banking products and advised the lender to step up its public enlightenment efforts on the benefits of its products and services in order to increase deposits’ mobilisation.

The NDIC boss also noted the challenges being faced by the bank in investing its excess liquidity due to the absence of sharia compliant investment windows, such as the “Sukuk” (project financing) and other Islamic bonds and portfolios. He noted that while a lot of countries had tapped into the “Sukuk” investment window, Nigeria was still lagging behind in exploring such sharia compliant investment opportunities.

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 16.5 14 10.77 US$42.62 US$25,859,703,777

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 June, 2016 26/07/2016 Mar 2015 16/8/2016 12/8/2016

Source:CBN

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

Change (%) -2.50 ▼ -0.74 ▼ -0.65 ▼ -0.68 ▼

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

Change (%) 1.12 ▲ -0.27 ▼ -0.17 ▼ -0.11 ▼ 0.03 ▲ 0.42 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 7.67 7.82 -0.51 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.83 30-Jun-16 7.92 8.08 -0.51 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.59 8.34 8.71 -0.31 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.33 8.99 -0.31 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.36 10.28 -0.07 ▼ 9.11 9.98 -0.07 ▼

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

FX

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.57 ▲

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

38

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

wedneSDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Bulls triumph on resumed bargain hunting CONFIDENCE Investors gain N25billion

Stories by Chris Ugwu

T

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) extended its gaining streak for the second trading day, as overall performance gauges, NSE ASI and market

capitalisation, increased by 0.26 per cent, translating to a gain of N25billion.

Market watchers attributed the resurgence of bulls to investors taking position on low prices of stocks.

Consequently, the All-Share Index grew by 72.5 basis points or 0.26 per cent to close at 27,389.02 index points as against 27,316.52 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities appreciated by N25 billion

FMDQ lists 0.60bn C & I Leasing bond

F

MDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ) yesterday admitted C & I Leasing Plc N600,000,000.00 18.25 per cent Fixed Rate Bond on its platform.

The listing came barely a week into the formal admittance of the N16.79billion UACN Property Development Company Plc’s Commercial Paper.

Vice President & Divisional Head, Marketing & Business Development, FMDQ, Ms. Tumi Sekoni, who spoke at the ceremony, congratulated the Issuer and all parties to the listing of the C & I bond.

She noted that FMDQ’s listing service had been tailored to provide, among others, a unique opportunity for issuers to raise the profiles of their issues and access a deep pool of capital, thereby meeting their long term funding needs even as the Nigerian debt capital market becomes aligned with international best practices and standards.

She said that the Exchange would provide continuous information disclosure on the C & I Leasing bond, including price/value data and detailed issuers’/issues information, to stakeholders via the ‘Listings & Quotations’ page on the FMDQ website.

“In addition, to promote an efficient and well regulated market, which will attract and retain both domestic and foreign investors, improve price discovery and transparency for issuers, dealers, regulators and the general public, the Bond shall also be included on the FMDQ-Bloomberg E-Bond Trading System (E-Bond),” she said.

“Managing Director of C & I Leasing, Mr. Andrew OtikeOdibi said: “The current operating environment presents both opportunities and challenges, and as a leading player in the support services industry, an offer of this nature will provide additional capital to enable us expand our marine business operations, repay existing credit facilities and meet working capital obligations, which will ultimately lead to more profitability and growth in market share guided by a robust risk management framework and strong corporate governance.

“We remain committed and

focused on the fundamentals of our business, which are efficiency and service delivery whilst intensifying efforts to boost our revenue generating profile from our other businesses and reduce credit exposures to volatile segments of the market.

“Following the presentation of the listings scroll to the Registration Member (Listings), Managing Director/ CEO, WSTC Financial Services Limited said: “Coincidentally, C & I and WSTC were pioneer Finance Houses as both commenced operations in 1991 and were amongst a handful of those that survived the monumental crash of the industry in 1993.

or 0.26 per cent.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 235.8 million shares in 3,512 deals was recorded in the day’s trading.

The banking subsector of the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 106.2 million shares exchanged by investors in 1.192 deals.

Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activities in the shares of UBA Plc

and Access Bank Plc. Also, the premium subsector, boosted by activities in the shares of Zenith Bank Plc and FBNH Plc followed with a turnover of 80.1 million shares transacted in 5442 deals.

The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 15, while decliners closed at 18.

Shares of Livesstock Feeds Plc led the gainers with 5.56 per cent to close at 95 kobo per share. Sterling Bank Plc rose

T

The Nation eyes listing at NSE

he Nation Newspaper has disclosed plans to grow its business to a point of listing its shares at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Managing Director, Vintage Press Limited, the publishers of The Nation, Mr. Victor Ifijeh stated this while ringing the closing gong on the floor of the Exchange to commemorate its 10th anniversary.

Chief executive officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, commended The Nation for standing out in a highly competitive media market, noting that the newspaper plays a critical role in the stock market that thrives on information dissemination.

He said that the Exchange cherishes its relationship with The Nation as partners for the development of the Nigerian capital market, a partnership that should be deepened by exploring other

areas of cooperation.

He said the newspaper should widen its supports for the market by actively collaborating with the Exchange on its developmental initiatives as the official media partner.

Ifijeh commended the management of the Exchange for the many strides at the stock market and gave assurance to them of the commitment of the newspaper to the development of the market.

Ifijeh, who noted the historic doorstep distribution of The Nation 10 years ago at the Exchange and the metaphorical raising of the newspaper on the closing podium yesterday, expressed the appreciation of the newspaper to the Exchange for its belief and support over the years.

“This is the beginning of better things to come for The Nation and the Exchange,” Ifijeh

by four per cent to close at N1.04 per share, while the Total Nigeria Plc added 3.33 per cent to close at N248.00 per share.

On the flip side, shares of Champion Breweries Plc led the losers with a loss of 8.06 per cent to close at N2.85 per share. NPF MFB Plc plunged 4.95 per cent to close at 96 kobo per share, while African Prudential Registrars Plc dropped 4.94 per cent to close at N2.50 per share.

assured.

He outlined that over the next 10 years, The Nation plans to grow its business and entrench best practices in line with the corporate governance standards at the Exchange with a view to listing the shares of the media on the Exchange.

“We consider it a great privilege to be given the opportunity to close the stock market. In the next 10 years, we will not only come to ring the closing bell but also to ring the listing bell,” Ifijeh said.

Onyema gave assurance that the Exchange would give the newspaper all necessary supports to realise its ambition of listing on the Exchange.

“We will walk with you every step of the way to see the day you will come for listing of your shares,” Onyema gave assurance.

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, WSTC Financial Services, Mr Tofarati Agusto; Managing Director /CEO, C&I Leasing PLC, Mr Andrew Otike - Odibi and Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Mr Bola Onadele Koko, at the Listing of the C & I Leasing Plc Bond on FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange in Lagos…. yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

‘CPMI, IOSCO reports to advance regulatory agenda’

R

eports published yesterday by the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) are aimed at enhancing the resilience of central counterparties (CCPs), an important move towards completing the regulatory agenda for central clearing laid out after the financial crisis.

CPMI chair, Benoît Coeuré said disclosed this in a statement obtained from IOSCO website yesterday.

He said: “Ensuring that central counterparties are safe and resilient is an important prior-

ity for the G20 and these reports deliver on key goals set by the Chinese presidency.

“Although the risk of default cannot be entirely eliminated from the global financial system, we aim to limit potential systemic risks arising from any default by a central counterparty member as much as possible by applying a robust but balanced approach to reinforce financial buffers and risk control,” said IOSCO board chair, Ashley Alder.

According to the statement, the first report, implementation monitoring of PFMI – Level 3 assessment – Report on the financial risk management and

recovery practices of 10 derivatives CCPs, looked at the implementation of the key standards for the industry, the Principles for financial market infrastructures (PFMI), as they relate to financial risk management and recovery practices (the procedures to follow in case a member defaults).

The report noted: “Some gaps and shortcomings have nevertheless been identified, notably in the areas of recovery planning and credit and liquidity risk management. The report also identifies a number of other differences in the outcomes of implementation across CCPs. They may reveal differences in

interpretation or approach that could materially affect resilience; achieving a level playing field across jurisdictions will be assisted by further guidance on the PFMI outlined in the consultative report.

“Looking ahead, CPMI and IOSCO intend to conduct a follow-up targeted review of CCPs’ progress in addressing the most important issues identified in the report in 2017.

“Further guidance on the PFMI, proposes more granular descriptions of how CCPs are expected to implement key parts of the PFMI to further improve their resilience and recovery planning.”

News|NATIONAL 39

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Alleged N48m campaign fund: EFCC quizzes ex-council boss Emmanuel Onani Abuja

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former Chairman of Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Mr. Bala A. Maigoro, has been quizzed by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly collecting N48 million campaign funds.

New Telegraph gathered that Maigoro was interrogated by operatives of the Gombe zonal office - who had quizzed some stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the North East zone - in connection with funds said to have been distributed to states, in the build-up to the party’s 2015 Presidential campaign.

It was further learnt that a former chairman of the PDP in Bagoro Local Council, Bauchi State, Mr. Andrew Adamu, has returned N6 million to the Commission.

A source at the EFCC, who spoke in confidence with this newspaper, said: “the former Bauchi Local Government Area, Bala Abubakar Maigoro, was also quizzed by EFCC over forty

eight million, twenty thousand naira (N48, 020,000.00) poll fraud. ”Maigoro told the operatives of the EFCC Gombe zonal office during interrogation that he (allegedly) signed and collected the said amount on behalf of the local government in the presence of the former member of the house of representative from the State...and the former caretaker chairman of the local government... who signed as a witness. ’Maigoro also (allegedly) told the EFCC that the money was disbursed through the stakeholders of the local government among whom were, the former AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice in Bauchi State..., a former member of the State house of assembly, and... the secretary of the stakeholders committee.

‘They said the money was (allegedly) given to them out of the five hundred million naira (N500, 000,000.00) that was disbursed to Bauchi State in 2015 general election. ’The suspects reported to the zonal office of the Commission...and agreed to return the money to the Commission,’ the source said.

NLC wants Buhari to exclude NHIS from TSA Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) yesterday called on President Mohammadu Buhari to exempt the Nigeria Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) from the Single Treasury Account(TSA) to enable it effectively deliver its mandate which is service oriented.

NLC President, Comarde Ayuba Wabba, who spoke at a meeting with newly appointed NHIS Executive Secretary, Professor Usman Yusuf, noted that allowing the scheme to be captured in TSA would delay service delivery which touched on human health.

He also sought an investigation into N90million allegedly mismanaged by an unnamed Health Man-

Dan Atori MINNA

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resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday congratulated the former military President Ibrahim Babangida on his 75th birthday.

Buhari, in a congratulatory message, personally signed and addressed to Babangida, also saluted Babangida for his ``commitment to oneness and indivisibility of the Federal

agement Organization.

“We are going to write to Mr. President to free the NHIS from TSA, because this is a specialized fund meant to provide service to workers in time of need.

And therefore, it should not involve administrative process.

There is usually no sickness that is predetermined. If Nigerian workers can part with the 10 per cent of their medical allowance, it will be criminal for anybody or a group of people to misappropriate such funds,” he said .

He also canvassed that the scope of the scheme be expanded to enable public servants who are the major contributors derive maximum benefits from it.

According to him, the scheme should be made to cover other diseases areas like cancer and other noncommunicable diseases.

Customs shut aviation handling firms over donkey skin export Wole Shadare

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he Federal Government has shut down warehouses of two reputable aviation handling companies, the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc. (NAHCO) for allegedly housing illegal items meant for export.

The Federal Units Operations of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) had late on Monday shut down Lagos export unit of both handling companies following a tip off about some donkey skin some Chinese were on the verge of exporting through Emirates Airline.

This is coming a few months after NCS arrested two Chinese nationals

for attempting to smuggle 678 pieces of elephant tusks and other prohibited items out of Nigeria through the warehouses of the handling firms.

Just recently, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had at its Annual General Meeting in Dublin frowned at poaching of animals particularly in Africa, saying the activities of poachers would lead to extinction of the animals.

IATA said over $3billion was realised from the illegal animal trade, calling on governments to stem the tide.

New Telegraph gathered that the donkey skin were stolen from East African nations and housed with NAHCO and SAHCOL, leading to their shutdown.

Customs officials said

the skin were brought into Nigeria from Kenya but added that some freight forwarders colluded to help them ferry the item to their country.

Spokesman for SAHCOL, Basil Agboarumi, confirmed the incident, saying it happened late Monday.

Agboarumi said the Customs were doing their job, adding that the agencies did not have power to stop the Customs when it comes to doing the job. He however said the matter would be resolved as soon as possible.

The Kenyan government is worried over stealing and smuggling of animal skin by foreigners.

A visit to the warehouses showed that the export warehouses were locked while the import warehouses were opened.

EmmanuelOnani Abuja

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peratives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a former Ebonyi State Commissioner for Public Utilities,Mr.Benjamin Okah.

The EFCC, in a statement yesterday, by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Okah was arrested on Monday in connection with an alleged abuse of office to the tune of N83 million.

The statement said the ex-commissioner’s arrest followed a petition by the state government over a $12 million contract.

It reads: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on Monday August 15, 2016, arrested a former Commissioner for Public Utilities in Ebonyi State, Engineer Benjamin Ogbonnaya Okah, for alleged abuse of office and collecting gratification to the tune of N83 million.”

Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam (left) and a contestant for the Deputy National Chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, during the screening by the PDP National Convention Planning Committee in Port Harcourt… yesterday.

A dead person is conscious for some minutes –Scientists Appolonia Adeyemi

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gainst the backdrop of controversies surrounding the phenomenon of human consciousness after death, life after death has been “confirmed”.

According to the findings of a report published in The Sun, consciousness continues even once a person’s heart has stopped beating.

The study of more than 2,000 people in which British scientists confirmed that thought persists after death, also simultaneously uncovered convincing evidence of an out-of-body experience for a patient declared dead by medics.

Scientists had believed the brain ceased all activity 30 seconds after the heart stopped pumping blood around the body, and that

awareness stopped at the same time.

However, research from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom (UK) suggested otherwise.

The new study shows people continue experiencing awareness for up to three minutes after death.

Death is defined as the cessation of all vital functions of the body including

Buhari, Atiku, Bello eulogise IBB at 75 Republic of Nigeria.’’

The message was made available to newsmen by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

He prayed to Almighty God to grant Babangida many more fruitful years.

The message read: “There is hardly any major episode in Nigeria’s short history where your name

Alleged N83m bribe: EFCC arrests exEbonyi Commissioner

and contribution does not feature.

“On this special occasion, I pray that Almighty Allah grants you many more years to see Nigeria grow and develop beyond all of our wildest dreams.”

Also, Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has described the former Nigerian Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who

marks his 75th birthday today as an indispensable leader and adviser.

The governor, in a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, said that the former leader has continued to remain relevant in the Nigerian Project.

“Former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has remained

a good man, a father, a role model and a pride to Nigerlites in particular and Nigerians in general.

Also speaking, Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said that Babangida deserved accolades for his contributions to the development of the nation.

This is contained in a statement signed by his Head of Media, Mr Paul Ibe, in Abuja.

the heartbeat, brain activity (including the brain stem), and breathing. Before now, there have always been claims of life after death, there has not been united front on the issue.

Reacting to the study, Head Researcher, Dr. Sam Parnia said: “Contrary to perception, death is not a specific moment but a potentially reversible process that occurs after any severe illness or accident causes the heart, lungs and brain to cease functioning.

“If attempts are made to reverse this process, it is referred to as ‘cardiac arrest’; however, if these attempts do not succeed it is called ‘death’.”

Out of the 2,060 patients from Austria, America and the UK interviewed for the study who had survived cardiac arrests, 40 per cent said they were able to recall some form of awareness after being pronounced clinically dead.

40

NEWS | national

wednesday, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Obasanjo, govs task journalists on national cohesion Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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ormer President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday challenged Nigerian journalists to do more in promoting national cohesion and integration rather than using their practice to fan the embers of discord.

Also, Governors Ibikunle Amosun, Akinwunmi Ambode and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Ogun, Lagos

and Kwara states respectively, urged media professionals to always ensure a balanced reportage of news and desist from giving ethnic or religious coloration to criminal acts.

They spoke at the opening of a three-day National Media Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta.

The summit, with the theme; "The Media and National Unity," was at-

tended by delegates from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Obasanjo, who delivered the keynote address at the event, acknowledged the significant role played by journalists in the political evolution of the country.

Represented by the former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof.

Peter Okebukola, the former President lamented that media professionals

have now backtracked and placeda low premium on investigative journalism.

"If the Nigerian media has been active in promoting Nigerian unity over the years, why should it now be part of national disintegration,?" he queried.

Obasanjo bemoaned a situation where journalists now use the media to torture public office holders, "forgetting that the Nigerian Constitution makes it clear that the media is not given the power to ex-

Buhari: Nigeria is ready for foreign investors

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

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resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said Nigeria was open to investments from local and foreign organisations that could improve the nation's dwindling economy.

The President said the country cannot afford its mistake of the past by not tapping into available huge human and material potentials.

President Buhari spoke while receiving Executive Members of Association

of Africa Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM), led by its Chairman, Mr. Jeff Nemeth, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said: "As a country, we recognised our problems early enough, but allowed our potentials to remain for too long, and so did not achieve much result."

According to the President, "To reverse the trend, we must avoid the mistakes made in the past by both government and manufacturers, and we

are ready to get investment from all quarters, so that we can improve the lives of our people."

He lamented that Nigeria failed to develop on automobile initiatives started in Bauchi, Kaduna and Ibadan and depended too much on oil as mainstay of our economy.

"We are making efforts to start our steel industry all over again."

I see vast opportunities for both the country and those who invest here," the President said.

In his remark, Nemeth said the association comprised potential investors, who were ready to unlock the investment potentials of the African continent.

"We are ready to offer strategic partnership with Nigeria. We want to promote investor-friendly regulatory frameworks and sustainable manufacturing.

"We will equally promote infrastructure development, job creation, and skills transfer," he said.

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME Adeola: I, formerly known and addressed as Ikusika Hammed Abiodun now wish be known and addressed as Ikusika Hammed Adeola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Festus

This is to confirm that Asiegbu Ray Festus and Asiegbu Ray refer to one and the same person. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Asiegbu Ray Festus. All former documents remain valid. Ahaoda Local Government Council and the general public should please take note.

Ayokunle

I, formerly known and addressed as Funmilayo Williams now wish to be known and addressed as Funmilayo Ayokunle. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

Imoke

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ettah, Mary Osu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Imoke, Mary Ben (Nee Ettah). All former documents remain valid. State Universal Education Board (SUBEB) Calabar, University of Calabar, First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Okorie

This is to notify that the names Okorie Ogbonnaya Okorie and Okorie Ogbonnaya refer to one and the same person.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Okorie Ogbonnaya Okorie. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, N.Y.S.C and the general public should please take note.

Ateki

I formerly known and addressed as Obah Livingstone Michael now wish to be known and addressed as Obah Livingstone Michael Ateki.

All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Olowolekomoh

I, formerly known and addressed as Abhulimen Winnifred Osareme now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olowolekomoh Winnifred Faiza. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Odey

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ipuole,Agnes Eka, now wish to be known and addressed as Odey, Agnes Eka. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Gregory

I, formerly known and addressed as Uzor Chuks Kanayor, now wish to be known and addressed as Uzor Chukwuma Gregory. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SOIL AND NATURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under part 'C of the companies and Allied matters Act 1 of 1990 as amended in 2004.

The Trustees are: 1. Nwokpoku Ezekiel Nweke 2. Nweke Esther Osetende 3. Usifoh Omomen AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. For land Rehabilitation 2. For Erosion control and silt management.

3. Project management and Resource protection.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Nwokpoku Ezekiel Nweke

Muhammed: I, formerly known and addressed as Ahmed Isah is the same as Muhammed Isah, now wish be known and addressed as Muhammed Isah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Kpenseme

I formerly known and addressed as Obesi A.S. Miteran now wish to be known and addressed as Kpenseme Somo Miteran. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Onyia

This is to notify the general public that my name was wrongly spelt as Oni Chibuzo Joseph instead of Onyia Chibuzor Joseph which is my correct names. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Onyia Chibuzor Joseph. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Ijeh

I, formerly known and addressed as Mary Oguguwa Ijeh now wish to be known and addressed as Mary Monyei Ijeh. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Saibolo

I, formerly known and addressed as Ikoru Rachel Lawson and Miss.

Ikoru Moses, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ikoru Kigete Moses Saibolo. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. General public please take note.

Enukorah

I formerly known and addressed as Joseph Enukorah and Nnamdi Afauefuna Joseph now wish to be known and addressed as Joseph Nnamdi Afauefuna Enukorah. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

Chris-Ngwu

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Uzor Margaret Confidence Nnenna now wish to be known and addressed as Chris-Ngwu Margaret Nnenna. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Adebayo

I, formerly known and addressed as Olawore Kamila Adebayo now wish to be known and addressed as Adebayo Olawore Abefe. All former documents remain valid. GTBANK, UBA and general public take note.

Hamzat

This is to confirm that Hamzat Romoke Rasheedat is the same person as Hamzat Romoke Rasidat with which my BVN was registered. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as Hamzat Romoke Rasheedat. Also, my date of birth is December 24, 1977. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PRECIOUS STONES BIBLE AND DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Olagundoye Isaac Kayode (Chairman) 2. Ms. Adebimpe Oluwatoyin Akintade (Secretary) 3. Mrs. Awodiji H. O. (Treasurer) 4. Mrs. G. Esho (Member) 5. Mrs. Olagundoye Bosede E. (Member) 6. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adeleke (Member) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To preach the undiluted words of God. 2. To usher souls into the Kingdom of God. 3. To proclaim and teach about the path way of salvation and deliverance.

4. To teach on the principle of giving and love among brethren.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: ADEBIMPE O. AKINTADE (Secretary)

ecute judgement of public officials."

The former President said he had had his ‘fair share’ of rumour-spreading and mongering by the Nigerian media.

He noted that if negatively used, the media has the capacity to destroy a nation and cause mayhem of unfathomable proportion.

He said: "In recent times, I see Nigerian journalists pretending to be oblivious of the devastating role that the media has played in major conflicts on the continent.

"At no time in our history, except probably during the civil war has Nigeria been so fractured in the feeling of oneness and belongingness by the citizenry.

"In the last four months, we have an average of 20 hotspots across the country with huge potential for national disintegration. Among the top three hotspots are the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers in the South-South, Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East and herdsmen-farmers' clashes across all geopolitical zones.

"The twin questions that immediate arise are how did we get to where we are and what actions must we take to arrest the slide towards factionalisation and national disintegration and get back on the national unity track to which the founding fathers laboured and for which many lives were lost during the civil war?"

Lawyer sues CJN, AGF, NBA, others over SANship title Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

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n Enugu-based legal practitioner, Ray Nnaji, has sued the Chief Justices of Nigeria; the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice; the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA); Bar Council and the Body of Benchers before the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for nominating James O.N. Ikeyi as one of the 27 legal practitioners to be made Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

In a suit no: FHC/PH/ CS/ 586/2016, dated August 10, 2016, a copy of which was obtained by New Telegraph, the Plaintiff, Nnaji, in a motion on notice and originating summons, pleaded with the court to restrain Ikeyi from being inaugurated, sworn in, recognised or accepted as one of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to be conferred with such honour.

Nnaji said Ikeyi is not qualified to be conferred with the prestigious honour as he, Ikeyi, has not met with the requisite qualification for nomination into such legal rank.

According to Nnaji, Ikeyi's qualification leaves much to be desired because his conduct as a legal practitioner is ‘highly questionable,’ pointing out that Ikeyi was once chastised and for 'borrowing' briefs of argument from a layman and person described as a crank.

DHQ: 8, 000 Boko Haram suspects have surrendered Emmanuel Onani Abuja

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he Defence Headquarters (DHQ) of the Nigerian Army, yesterday said about 8, 000 Boko Haram suspects have since surrendered to ‘Operation Safe Corridor,’ an initiative by the Nigerian military designed to receive repentant fighters.

Acting Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier-General Rabe Abubakar, who made the disclosure in Abuja, said the repentant suspects were being kept in a camp in Gombe State, where they are expected to undergo a process of de-radicalisation.

This was as the DDI further disclosed that troops involved in the counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operation in the North-East, had rescued over 10, 000 hostages that were held

by Boko Haram.

Abubakar said while some of those rescued have been reunited with their loved ones, others were taken to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps set up by the Federal Government to cushion the pain of displacement.

While reiterating the military's earlier position that the sect has been largely decimated, as it can hardly carry out large-scale attacks, the Defence spokesman said government's preoccupation now was how to reconstruct communities destroyed in the wake of the insurgency, and the return of displaced persons.

On the recent decision of the Nigerian Army to declare a journalist and two others wanted in connection with alleged Boko Haram links, Abubakar assured the people that no journalist will be victimised or treated unjustly.

He, however, advised the media against sentiments.

wednesday, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Family petitions Buhari, seeks justice over son's death Babatope Okeowo Akure

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he Efotan Family of Ori-Oke Iwamimo in Ilaje local Government area of Ondo State has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Naval Staff and the State Commissioner of Police over an alleged killing of their son, Omosebine by some Naval Ratings in the town.

Omosebine, 26 was allegedly killed by stray bullets of the Naval Ratings of the Nigerian Navy at Orioke-Iwamimo Unit at Abe-Oroyo, a riverine community in the oil producing Local Government.

The incident, the family said has thrown them into mourning since it happened earlier in the month.

The family’s spokesman, Mr. Adeolu Efotan told reporters yesterday that the incident which occurred on August 2 had been reported at Igbokoda Police Station and the homicide section of the State Police Command Headquarters, Akure, regretting that nothing had come out of it.

-17.18%

The percentage by which the Consumer Goods sector of the NSE dropped for Jan – Dec 2014.

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

Osun Assembly passes waste management bill Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

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sun State House of Assembly yesterday, passed the State Waste Management Authority Bill 2016, urging the executive to ensure effective implementation of the bill after Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s assent.

Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, who made this known in a statement, also revealed that the State of Osun Public Private Partnership Bill had scaled through second reading with members calling for its accelerated passage.

He however explained that the State Waste Management Authority Bill was passed at the plenary following a motion by the Leader of the House, Honourable Timothy Owoeye and seconded by a member representing Ola-Oluwa constituency, Honourable Ajibola Akinloye.

south-west | news

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Lagos partners media on inclusive governance Muritala Ayinla

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he Lagos State Government yesterday rolled out plans to partner no fewer than 33 grass roots media on a ‘multichannel’ campaign with a view to bringing ‘Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s ideology of inclusive governance’ to the masses.

It said that the media which would include the print, electronic and the online would be empowered to bring governance to the grass roots.

According to Governor Ambode’s Special Adviser on Communities and Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan in a statement, said the administration was partnering with over 33 grass roots media organisations including 21 print media, 10 electronic stations and two online media.

Bamigbetan said: “This novel campaign is a strategic communications initiative inspired by the need to give human face to Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s ideology of inclusive governance. It is the result of scientific seg-

mentation of the media that recognizes the niche that community media occupies and drives messages meant for the people at the grass roots through them.

“As Lagos prepares to turn 50, it is only proper that she brings on board the current successors of the defunct Lagos Express, Lagos Echo, Lagos Weekly Record, among others which provided the platforms for the nationalists’ struggle for independence and enriched the electoral politics put in place by the Clifford

Constitution of 1922.

“As population increases, the pattern of settlement and nature of the residents become more complex. Disseminating information and receiving feedback on what the government is doing to address the concerns of each group requires more innovative communications strategy and tactics.”

Accordingly, Bamigbetan said while the campaign involved a four-page pull-out on the achievements of the Ambode-led administration in energy,

business environment, security and civic engagement in the print media, it will be in spotlights on electronic and broken down as tweets, clips and banner ads on the electronic platforms.

He however reeled out the Community newspapers involved as Oriwu Sun, Ikorodu News, Townwatch, The Impact, Ilupeju Today, Our Community, Ifako-Ijaiye Post, Echonews, Isolo Voice, The Harbinger, Pivot Extra, The Lagosian, Surulere Now, Surulere Watch, Lagos Panorama, Epe-Lekki

Times, Badagry Prime, Grassroots, Kosofe Insideout, The Commoners and Mushine.

While Bamigbetan listed the electronic media to include radio stations running community programming and reportage such as Wazobia FM, Eko FM, Inspiration FM, City FM, Inspiration FM, Radio Continental, Naija FM, UNILAG FM, SMA FM and Radio Lagos.

Insidemainlandonline, Lagos State Today and Agegetvonline form the online segment of the campaign’s outlets.

On-going construction of flyover over bridge on LagosAbeokuta Expressway at AbuleEgba,Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Trouble in Ondo APC as members sack chairman, Kekemeke Babatope Okeowo Akure

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head of the All Progressive Congress (APC) primary to elect candidate for the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State, some members of the party yesterday suspended the Chairman, Hon Duerinmini Isaacs Kekemeke over what they called antiparty activities.

The members in their hundreds stormed the party secretariat, drove out the staff and locked the door and gate leading

to the party secretariat along Oyemekun road in Akure, the state capital.

The action of the aggrived members of the party was as a result of the perceived endorsement given to one of the aspirants by the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The members led by Mr Tolu Babaleye, Gani Mohammed and Wale Williams among others said the tenure of the chairman has ended and must vacate the office with immediate effect.

In a statement made available to reporters by Movement Against Impo-

sition (MAI) signed by the convener, Babaleye, the Secretary, Mr. Adelokiki Francis and Mr. Gbenga Ajayi, the Public Relations Officer, demanded the sack of Kekemeke.

But Kekemeke denied all the allegations leveled against him, saying it was a political incitement from some few ones with inordinate ambition to cause chaos, mischief and distrust in the party.

Undaunted, the group mobilized other groups of the party across the 18 local government area of the state including some APC council executives

to kick against imposition of candidate ahead of the August 27 governorship primaries.

They barricaded and locked down the main entrance of the party's secretariat with placards rejecting endorsement, imposition and Kekemeke as the chairman to conduct the primaries.

Some of the inscriptions read "Ondo State Minus Kekemeke Equals Victory " "No Impostor, No Imposition," "No Endorsement; Ondo ACCOMORAN" "Says No to Kekemeke; Kekemeke Is A Mole in APC" "Kekemeke Is An Unrepentant

Aregbesola to reduce unemployment, NGO canvasses renewed fight commissions job centre against HIV/AIDS Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

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sun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday commissioned Osun Job Centre as a hub for job seekers in the state with a promise that his administration would reduce the menace of unemployment in the state.

Aregbesola made the pledge at the commissioning of a programme held at Ayegbaju Market in Osogbo, the state capital.

The governor said that "the job centre will help applicants to iden-

tify jobs, and painstakingly groom them to get the job.

"There are a lot of things an applicant needs to know and understand before considering fit and competent for a particular job.

"Applicants should be able to differentiate between a Curriculum Vitae and a Resume, there are basic requisite of employment.

"Applicants should also be able to identify and develop their Godgiven intellects and skill, if you are not using your God-given intellect you are backward."

Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

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ions Club International has urged governments at all levels to step up efforts at combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

The President, Ado Ekiti Metropolitan Lions Club, Mr Oyedeji Olajubu, threw the challenge in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital during an empowerment programme midwifed by the Club for some barbers and hairdressers in the state.

Lions maintained it was time for stakehold-

ers to emphasize that the dreaded virus could be contracted through other means aside sexual intercourse, including visiting barbers and hairdressers.

The Club however donated electric clippers, aprons and electricity generating set to participants.

In his presentation, Chairman Lions Club, Zone 10B in Ekiti State, Dr Pius Adeojo, said that it would be erroneous and grossly counter-productive for people to nurse the impression that the virus could be contracted through only sexual intercourse.

Sinner" and "APC Plus Kekemeke Equals Failure," among others.

Babaleye in his statement accused Kekemeke of enforcing the endorsement of one of the 25 aspirants of the party as the candidate in the primary poll, as being directed by their National leader, Senator Ahmed Tinubu.

He said: "Since he came back from Lagos, Kekemeke has made serious efforts to enforce the endorsement. Kekemeke openly informed the state executive committee that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has endorsed an aspirant and has instructed him to tell the leaders and delegates.

"We are not oblivious of the role played by the state chairman who we collectively described as the architect of the current impasse in our party."

Babaleye however warned that if the grievances and resistance were not checked, it may mar the chance of the party in the next election like it robbed the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) when Odunayo Akeredolu was imposed on the party.

Babaleye stated that every leader had the right to support any of the aspirants but berated a situation where party's machinery and structure were converted to favour an aspirant contrary to the party’s collective efforts.

42 News|South-east

Mbaise lauded for preserving Igbo culture T he Government of Imo State has commended the people of Mbaise for preserving the cultural heritage of Ndi Igbo, and assured them of the governor’s resolve to work with them to improve on the infrastructure and general development of Mbaise nation.

The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, made this remark yesterday while addressing the people of Mbaise and the mammoth crowd that thronged the venue of the festival in Aboh Mbaise shortly after performing the traditional “Iwa Ji and Iri Ji.” Madumere, who represented the governor began his address with a message of hope, love, peace and unity.

The deputy governor, who had his childhood and part of his secondary education in Mbaise, said Governor Rochas Okorocha has directed that con-

struction work should commence on some of the roads as soon as the rains are over. He also said that academic activities will soon begin in MbaiseNgor-Okpala campus of Imo State University.

It will be recalled that Governor Okorocha had promised to build a campus of Imo State University in Mbaise-Ngor-Okpala axis as proposed under the administration of late Dr. Sam Mbakwe, which became a mere political tool, but was begun and 80 percent near completion by Owelle Rochas Okorocha led Rescue Mission Government.

Madumere described the Iri Ji Mbaise as the height of celebration of Igbo culture, which is universal in every Igbo community. He said that yam remains the chief-crop of Igbo land and main-stay of agriculture in the traditional Igbo society, saying it is worthy of being celebrated.

WEDNESDAY, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

IPOB hits MEND, says it’s Buhari’s mouth-piece Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

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he leadership of pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has come down hard on the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), describing it as a stooge and a propaganda machine for President Muhammadu Buhari and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Reacting to the recent stance of MEND leadership on the actualisation of Biafra and the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra and leader of IPOB, the group distanced itself from MEND, especially on the allegation that Kanu is willing to renounce Biafra.

A statement jointly signed by IPOB spokesmen,

Emma Mmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, respectively, frowned at overtures being made by MEND to secure conditional release for Kanu when nobody asked it to negotiate on behalf of IPOB or Kanu.

The statement reads: “The Indigenous People of Biafra can confirm that the moribund terrorist organisation known as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has been captured President Muhammadu Buhari and converted to the official media and publicity arm of Nigeria’s Department of State Services. Because of this latest conversion, the organisation is now popu-

£9,720

The daily salary of Nigel de Jong of AC Milan in 2014/2015.

Source: Paywizard.co.uk

larly called Movement for the Enslavement of Niger Delta (MEND).

It is necessary to state for record purposes that any person or persons so far arrested by the Nigerian Army or DSS in connection with the activities of militancy in the Niger Delta area is based on information provided by MEND.” The statement further reads that, “following this promise of early release from prison, MEND was required to issue a series of fake press statements intended to drive a wedge between IPOB and the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) both of whom have since closed ranks.

79.05%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Israel in 2011.

Source: Itu.int

Lawmaker offers free medical treatment to 200 Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

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he member representing Afikpo North West constituency in Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Ikoro Kingsley, has offered free medical treatment to 200 indigent patients of the constituency under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He said 100 out of the 200 persons are already enjoying the free treatment while the other 100 will started theirs this week.

He stated this yesterday at Ozziza Central School in Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state while distributing wrappers to aged widows in the constituency.

He expressed concern over sudden death of persons in the society, which could have been avoided if they had gone to hospitals for medical treatment, and which, he explained, was why he offered the free medical treatments to the constituents.

“We will be paying the premium of this free medical treatment to the NHIS every year and we will continue to cloth the widows and empower the indigents,” he said.

In his remarks, the President of Afikpo Mutual Health Association, Chief Agha Ewah said the free medical treatment will go a long way in solving the health problems of the people.

A soldier attached to 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi State suspected to be leader of a four man gang involved in armed robbery in Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Imo State and other criminals being paraded

by Imo State Police Command in Owerri .… yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

ASUU seeks fresh appointment of Ojukwu Varsity VC Okegwo Kenechukwu ONITSHA

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he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Chuwkwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State chapter, wants the state government to appoint a fresh person as Acting Vice Chancellor for the institution.

The chairman of the union, Mr. Emeka Nwabunnia, who led other executive members, made the call at a news conference at the Igbariam campus of the university.

Nwabunnia said the state government should shelve the idea of appointing the incumbent Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Fidelis Okafor as the Acting Vice Chancellor again as the re-appointment of Okafor by the state government would amount to “tenure elongation”.

He said that the union wrote a letter dated July 25, 2016 which was addressed to Gov. Willie Obiano informing the governor that his tenure would expire on Sept. 4, 2016.

The chairman argued that the institution does not have a properly constituted and functioning governing council since January 2015 that will ensure a smooth appointment of an acting vice chancellor after Prof. Okafor.

“It is the governing council that ought to announce the vacancy for the seat of the Vice Chancellor which is usually made six months to the end of the incumbent’s tenure but that has not been done.”

call for synergy with Abia NULGE appeals to govt Police prominent persons over salary arrears Igbeaku Orji

Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

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he National Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE) Abia State, has appealed to the state government to address the issue of irregular payment and salary arrears of its members urgently.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the state secretariat, Umuahia, after the inaugural State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, the state President of NULGE, Comrade Ijoma Onyenaucheya, “decried the excruciating pains and agonies being experienced by workers in Abia State, especially local government workers as a result of non-regular

payment of salaries and allowances.”

Onyenaucheya lamented that the situation coupled with the present economic recession, “has taken a toll on many workers due to hunger, frustration and hypertension.”

He called on the state government to show sincere concern for workers welfare and “therefore explore genuine options to alleviate the trauma and frustration being experienced by the workers”.

The NULGE president, who disclosed that August would bring the number of months of arrears to four and appealed to the state government to make the workers’ salary first charge, saying that the 10 per cent of the internally

generated revenue (IGR) that should come to the local government was not being given to them. The situation, he said, has dampened the morale of the workers.

He called on the state government to reciprocate the peaceful disposition of the local government workers by living up to its financial responsibilities to its workers, saying that a labourer deserves his wages.

“Consequently, all internally generated revenue, allocations from the federation account both state and local government should be devoted to payment of salaries to state and local government workers before further disbursements and other financial obligations,” he said.

UMUAHIA

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bia State Police Command has inaugurated the Eminent Peoples Forum with a call on prominent individuals in the state to collaborate with the police in their effort to secure lives and properties in the state.

The appeal came at the end of the forum’s maiden meeting in Umuahia, the state capital, with a 19 point communiqué on ways and measures to be taken to ensure adequate policing of the entire state.

According to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting yesterday and made available to journalist, the forum stated that security is no more the exclusive responsibility of the Police and other security agencies, just as it as-

sured that the police in the state have adopted community policing as one of the veritable tools in crime fighting and prevention.

The communiqué reads in part: “The Nigeria Police has resolved to observe the international core values of policing with integrity as well as observe the rule of law. The police have departed from the traditional policing methods to community policing which is now, a global phenomenon.”

The forum agreed that communities should identify areas that are more threatening to their wellbeing and safety, just as it stated that traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders are not expected to perform the conventional roles of providing security to the citizenry, but rather should be able to work as the ears and eyes of the communities.

wednesday, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan too refined to sponsor militants, says kinsmen Chris Ejim Yenagoa

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insmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday dismissed as baseless and mischievous, allegations that the former president was one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). claimed responsibility for the attack on oil and gas facilities in the region.

The former president’s kinsmen, under the umbrella body of Ogbia Brotherhood, said the allegation leveled against the former leader by some militant groups was untrue as he was ‘too refined to sponsor violence against the nation.’

According to the brotherhood, though these allegations were made against Jonathan by faceless groups and mischief makers, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was known to be an embodiment of peace, stability and from his pedigree; he exuded peace and a firm belief in the sanctity of life

Dickson signs revenue court bill into law

and unity of the country.

Members of the Ogbia Brotherhood yesterday in Yenagoa during a media session led by its National Chairman, Chief Benson Agadaga and the Secretary-General, Chaplain Ogiriki Ebutu, said the kinsmen of the former president, condemned in strong terms, the dangerous and spurious allegations against Jonathan.

They said: “It is unthinkable that the former President, by any iota of imagination, could be linked with sponsoring or even establishing an armed outfit like the Niger Delta Avengers to antagonise the Federal Government, where he has just served as President with the goodwill of Nigerians.

“May I add in unequivo-

cal terms, that the allegation lacks substance and does not bear true reflection or semblance of the nature, original beliefs and intent of this prominent son of Ogbia, who hold the revered title of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Ogbia people, for instance, are not historically known for fanning the embers of war or reckless shedding of blood for any reason. Dr. Jonathan appears to have inherited his political disposition from our political father, Chief Melford Okilo, of blessed memory.”

4.3%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Belarus in 2001.

Source: Itu.int

Agadaga, who is a former state Commissioner for Information in Bayelsa, noted that the allegations were targeted at rubbishing the political status of the former President.

“Jonathan cannot be canceled with the hypocritical excuse of nonperformance and failing to develop the Niger Delta region. The Niger Delta cannot benefit anything by eliminating or frustrating Jonathan, our only national and international voice.

“If MEND is in existence and wants to emancipate the Niger Delta, as the name implies, then surely the right way to go is not through sinister moves to pull down and eliminate the divinely given and anointed personalities of the region.

Chris Ejim

L-R: Chairman, Apc Edo State, Mr Anselm Ojezua; governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, and Governor Adams Oshiomhole, at a campaign rally in South Ibie in Edo State…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

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Clark: Six coastal states to dialogue on militancy in Niger Delta

Yenagoa

ayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday signed the Revenue Court Bill into law as part of efforts to boost the state’s revenue drive.

Performing the ceremony at the Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Dickson expressed optimism that the passage and the eventual signing of the bill into law had provided the much needed legal framework for the state government to shore up its revenue profile, using legitimate means.

The governor, who lamented that revenues accruing to the state had dropped almost by a quarter, underscored the need for the government to embark on an aggressive tax drive to strengthen its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base.

He said the legislation, which gives legal backing to the creation of a revenue court to adjudicate over tax-related issues, would not only help to check the problem of tax evasion, but also improve the IGR profile of the state to enable the government meet its development and welfare obligations to the people.

Ola James Warri

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ix coastal states in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country are to meet on Friday in Warri, Delta State, over the vandalisation of oil and gas facilities by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

Elder statesman and former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark, who disclosed this when he addressed newsmen yesterday, said there was urgent need for the coastal states to meet and deliberate on ways to end the raging crisis.

Tony Anichebe Uyo

A

nine-member interministerial coordination committee on bilateral discussion for the 2017 capital estimates and the 2017 to 2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) has been inaugurated.

The committee, whose

The states according to him are Delta, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

Clark, who is also the leader, South-South Peoples Assembly added that “there is urgent need to dialogue. The present problem is not Ijaw’s problem alone. It is pertinent for the six Niger-Delta coastal states to dialogue and chart a way forward with the Federal Government on how to end the crisis.

"Vandalisation and bombing of pipelines is very worrisome, because crisis does not solve crisis, dialogue is the answer. We are part of Nigeria and we

believe in the unity, development and peace of this great nation,” said Clark who was with the former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Bozimo.

According to him, the meeting will attract traditional rulers, former and serving governors, politicians, youth organisations and other notable stakeholders.

Bozimo in his contribution, said Nigeria belonged to all of us, adding “we have been appealing to our youths to give peace a chance, insisting that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of violence, crisis and rancour.

south-south | news

Okowa angry over misappropriation of N50m voted for Ibru’s burial Dominic Adewole ASABA

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elta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, was yesterday said to be angry over the misappropriation of the N50 million voted for the burial of the late former civilian governor of the state, Chief Felix Ibru, last month.

The governor was said to be unhappy over poor arrangement of the burial committee set up by the government, made for the reception of guests at the Ibru's Christian Centre in Agbarha-Otor.

The committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, was said to have spent N20 million on frivolities.

The issue came up after the Chairman of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Joe Omene and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central, lambasted the Ifeanyi Okowa administration for immortalising Ibru with uncompleted structure.

They said the governor goofed by naming the uncompleted Senate Building at the Delta State University after Ibru instead of the entire institution.

New Telegraph, however, gathered from a top government functionary at the Government House, Asaba, yesterday that Governor Okowa has been unhappy over such

poor arrangement by the committee. The source said the governor has since scored the committee low, wondering how the members expended the huge sums of money released to them.

According to the source, the governor has been angry with a member of the committee, representing one of the constituencies in Urhobo ethic nationality at the state's House of Assembly, who allegedly pocketed N10 million of the money.

The lawmaker was allegedly given the N20 million to provide a befitting reception ground for the entertainment of guests and well-wishers, but the lawmaker did not carry the assignment through.

"You saw how rain disrupted the burial that day? You also saw that the governor could not stay under the canopy that was provided because it was extremely hot and those inside were sweating profusely? That tells you the dimension the matter assumed.

"Even the amount the committee quoted for the purchase of the casket also annoyed the governor because he knew that the one bought for the burial of the late Super Eagle Coach, Stephen Keshi, was far better. But the governor could not express his anger against the lawmaker appropriately because of her father's influence on the state."

Oil communities kick against non-passage of bill Ola James Warri

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political group, Delta Oil and Gas Stakeholders, yesterday raised the alarm over the delay in the passage of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) budget for 2016, describing it as a conspiracy to cripple the hope of oil producing communities in the state.

The group in a statement signed yesterday by its President and Secre-

tary, Dr. Tagbiretse John and Josiah Ebidenwei respectively, accused the state government and the House of Assembly of being insincere and ineffective in the implementation of the budget.

Describing the nonpassage of the budget as a situation that does not augur well for the oil bearing communities, the group said if the government was organised and sincere and the House of Assembly effective, the 2016 budget would have been in the final stage of its implementation.

Akwa Ibom inaugurates inter-ministerial committee on MTEF

terms of reference is to prepare the 2017 capital estimates and 2017 to 2019 MTEF as well as evaluate the performance of the 2016 fiscal year, identify gaps and seek ways to close existing gaps, has the Commissioner for Economic Development, Dr. Emmanuel Ating Onwioduokit, as chairman,

while Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akan Okon and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet, are to serve as members.

Other members of the committee are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development, Mr. Emmanuel Essien Es-

43

sien, Permanent Secretary, Budget Office, Nicholas Ekarika, the Director of Planning and Research, Mr. Nsudoh Nsudoh, the Director of Statistics, Mr. Effiong Ekpenyong, while Eyo Abia of the Ministry of Economic Development, is the secretary.

Speaking at the inaugu-

ration ceremony yesterday, the Chairman of the committee said the capital estimates for the 2017 fiscal year would be based on the reality of the economic situation, available resources and current pricing, so as to produce a budget that would not only be realistic, but implementable.

44

NEWS | north

wednesday, august 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

UNILORIN medical team rescues woman with brain tumour

Biodun Oyeleye UNILORIN

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team of medical experts at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) has successfully removed a brain tumour of about 12 centimeter-diameter from a pregnant woman.

The feat, which was achieved in conjunction with a Visiting NeuroSurgeon, Professor Wale Sulaiman, took place last week after an operation that lasted 13 hours.

This was disclosed yesterday by Sulaiman during a lecture he delivered at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin.

The theme was: “TeamBased Approach to Healthcare: Where is the Value?”

Sulaiman, a co-Director at the Ochsner Medical Centre, New Orleans, USA and an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Ilorin College of Health Sciences, noted that the successful operation on the 40-yearold patient, whose right side had already paralysed before the surgery, captured the essence of collaboration and team work in medical practice.

While pointing out that

no member of the medical team, comprising nursing, Anaesthesia and medicine, was dispensable in the success of the operation.

The surgeon, who lamented that superiority claims and territorial mentality were some of the factors hindering quality healthcare delivery, he reiterated that the role of every staff member of health care facilities, including cleaners, should never be under-estimated.

Sulaiman, a Spine Surgery specialist, explained that the medical practice must be patient-oriented and doctors should empathise better once they were able to imagine themselves as patients, even as he charged older practitioners in the medical profession to mentor and carry their upcoming colleagues along in decision making.

This, he added should be done to ensure that responsibilities were proper-

ly delegated and feedback of patients on their level of satisfaction with medical services were sought and acted upon.

On his part, the ViceChancellor of the university, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, who was represented by the Deputy ViceChancellor (RTI), Prof. G. A. Olatunji, commended the college for attracting significant research grants to the university.

He urged physicians,

KANO

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he Kano Electricity Distributions Company (KEDCO) said it has employed 1,500 graduates as new members of staff in order to provide efficient electricity services to the three states under its franchise areas.

According to the company, its recruitment of the graduates was part of efforts to compliment the Federal Government’s drive towards employment provision for the Nigerian youth.

It said the employment of the new workers will ensure that all revenue generated by the company will

be fully collected.

Speaking yesterday during the induction course organised for the new workers, the KEDCO Managing Director, Mr. Jamil Isiyaku Gwamna, noted that the vision of the company was to become the best electricity distribution company in the country.

He however, expressed worry that the distribution company which generated only 1.2 billion monthly, while it spent 2.2 billion, a development in which the company is operating at a loss.

"For this reason, we need to put in place a mechanism that will checkmate the money being siphoned

by some unknown people since whatever we generated, double of it is being collected illegally outside our knowledge," Gwamna said.

"The newly employed members of staff are going to make sure all those areas that our energy is been used freely are covered and our money are properly collected," he added, saying KEDCO would soon become an electricity distribution company to be reckoned with in the country.

Gwamna explained that the harsh economic reality in the nation was already taking its toll on the company, working hard to compliment the government’s employment drive.

Jos

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he Senator Representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Jonah David Jang, has challenged the state governor, Simon Bako Lalong to learn how to conduct himself as a statesman that he is expected to be.

This was as he urged the governor to stop making mockery of governorship seat that the people of the state entrusted to his hand.

Jang, who was react-

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, Alhaji Mahmud Durosinlorun Atiku is dead.

He was 76 years old.

Until his demise early yesterday, Atiku was one of the four High Chiefs of Ilorin Emirate and the most senior among them in rank.

The death of the High Chief was made known yesterday in a statement signed by the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Salihu Mohammed on behalf of the Ilorin Emirate Council.

The late Balogun, who is survived by wives, children and grandchildren, has since been buried ac-

MAKURDI

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ing to the allegations of financial misappropriation leveled against him by the governor through his Media Aide, Mr. Clinton Garuba, advised Lalong not to usurp the powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in his quest to demonise him.

The governor had expressed worry that in spite of the several alle gations against Jang the state government had brought before the EFCC, the anti-graft commission had refused to take any action.

DAMATURU

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lawmaker representing Damagum Constituency in the Yobe State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdul Mamman Zoto, has declared that in spite of the current economic hardship confronting the people, the country would not shut down.

The lawmaker, who disclosed this during a chat with newsmen in Damagum in Fune Local Government Area of the state, said that though it is true that the country is passing through a very

difficult time, however, this did not mean that the nation would be cut off from the rest of the world.

He lamented that the current situation might not be understood by all, but the important thing is that based on the promise made by the government to reposition the country, and to save it from its past economic woes, certain painful decisions would have to be taken.

379,000

The total population of men of Equatorial Guinea in 2012.

Source: Un.org

cording to Islamic rites.

The late chief ascended the throne of his forefathers in September 2005, as the 11th Balogun Fulani of Ilorin.

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari led other traditional chiefs in the Emirate to witness the burial, while the prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Salihu.

The Emir, however, expressed sadness over Atiku’s demise, describing his death as shocking.

The monarch described the late Balogun as a competent and loyal chief, whose services will be highly missed in the administration of the Ilorin Emirate traditional council.

Car loan scam: Benue Assembly's principal officers admit culpability Cephas Iorhemen

Economic hardship won't shut Stop making mockery of country –Lawmaker Plateau State, Jang tells Lalong down Hassan Jirgi

noted that the guest lecturer traversed the North American sub-region in the course of his training as a Spine Surgeon and that he had taken up the Adjunct Professorship at the college in the interest of the younger medical professionals and medical students of the university.

Balogun Fulani of Ilorin dies at 76

Kano Electricity Company recruits 1,500 workers T Muhammad Kabir

L-R: Special Adviser to the President on Social Intervention, Maryam Uwais; Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Ahmed Aliyu and Governor Aminu Tambuwal, during Uwais’ visit to Sokoto… yesterday

Musa Pam

surgeons and other medical scientists in the university to collaborate with people in other fields in order to generate research that will have positive impact on their immediate community.

Earlier in his remarks, the Provost of the college, Prof. W. Johnson

rincipal Officers of the Benue State House of Assembly have accepted culpability in the alleged car loan scandal rocking the Assembly, for which the lawmakers have been dragged before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This is as the principal officers of the House of Assembly have already begun the refunding of the money to the antigraft agency in trickles.

As a result of the alleged scam, the trio of the Speaker, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, his Deputy, Hon. James Okefe and the Majority Leader, Hon. Benjamin Adanyi were on Monday, detained at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja.

However, sources close to the Speaker told New Telegraph that while Hon. Ikyange had refunded N26 million, Okefe and Adanyi had also refunded N15 million and N16 million respectively, adding that all the payments were made in cash.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Bem Abunde hinted that the lawmakers were guests of the EFCC following an earlier invitation by the anti-graft agency to refund the money, adding that they left the com-

mission between two and 3 pm the same day.

Also speaking with journalists in Makurdi, the state capital, the Majority Leader, Hon. Adanyi also confirmed that the members have started refunding the money to the EFCC in bits.

Adanyi explained that the money being refunded was the money the lawmakers allegedly collected in lieu of the Prado Jeep the contractor, who handled the supply of the vehicles could not supply due to variation in the contract sum.

He dismissed allegation that N750 million was misapplied by the House in connection with the supply of vehicles meant for members, adding that the total sum of the contract was less than N400 million.

According to Adanyi, the supply of Prado Jeep at the time the contract was awarded was N12.5 million, but that the cost was jerked up to N14.5 million, which prompted the contractor to demand for variation in the cost.

“But, as lawmakers, who have the interest of our people at heart we decided to opt for cars of our choice at maximum of N10 million per member,” he explained, saying: "Incidentally, someone reported the case to EFCC and thus we were invited.”

45

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Sport

Athletes get equipment grant from ministry

Sports NPFL: Court orders LMC, NFF to reinstate Giwa FC

46 47

It’s now or never!

Siasia’s Eagles face Germany’s hurdle Kanu, Pinnick N t ip team to reach final

igeria’s U-23 team face their biggest challenge in the football event of Rio Olympics as they confront Germany in the semifinal today.

Samson Siasia’s boys have shown that they belong in the big stage after cruising past Denmark in the quarterfinal last Sunday.

They had beaten Japan 5-4 and Sweden 1-0 before coming to a 2-0 defeat in the hands of Colombia to come top in their group in the preliminaries.

Captain Mikel Obi scored the opener for Nigeria before Sadiq Umar doubled the s c o re just ahead of the hour mark to beat Denmark 2-0 last Sunday.

Nigeria U-23 Etebo (right) in action against Colombia

Nigeria may still be without injured Oghenekaro Etebo but midfielder Azubuike Okechukwu is ruled out due to a card offence.

Germany reigned supreme over Portugal in the quarterfinals, beating them 4-0 in what turned out to be a one-sided affair for the World Champions. Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry put the Germans ahead as they ended the first half on the ascendancy. The 21-year-old has scored in each of the four games he has played, scoring six goals in the process.

Germany emerged second from their group behind South Korea, beating Fiji and defending gold medallists Mexico to the knock-outs. The World Champions drew 2-2 with Mexico and 3-3 with South Korea before smash-

Team Nigeria’s athletes head home Adekunle Salami RIO DE JANERIO

A The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

s Nigerian athletes continue the search for a medal at the ongoing 31st Olympiad, some of them are billed to leave the games village on Wednesday (today).

The entire table tennis team including the vicecaptain of Team Nigeria, Funke Oshonaike, are billed to arrive Nigeria in the early hours of Thursday.

This is the first batch of athletes to leave the games.

They will travel with Ethiopia Airline by 10 pm local time (2am Nigerian time) that will stop over for one hour in Togo before heading for Lagos.

Our correspondent learnt

authoritatively that the second batch of athletes and officials would also leave Rio, Brazil on Friday.

By implication, only few athletes will be involved in the traditional closing ceremony of the games slated for Sunday.

The image maker of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Tony Ubani, told our correspondent that Nigeria was not alone in the travelling spree.

“It started on Sunday and became more noticeable on Monday. Many countries are going back gradually but I also realised that most of the athletes involved in combat sports like weightlifting, judo and taekwondo are just arriving the games village,” Ubani noted.

ing Fiji 10-0 while qualifying for the knock-out stage.

Their attack has been one of the best in the tournament but a lack of defensive nous could act as a deterrent as they look to confirm themselves a medal in the final.

Kanu Nwankwo who was the captain of Nigeria’s side that won football gold at the 1996 Games said, “The Olympic Eagles have done well and they deserve a pat on the back; and I want to use this opportunity to call on well-meaning Nigerians to support them at this point.”

Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pin-

nick added, “As a Federation, we have always had confidence in Siasia. We believed in him enough to appoint him to head the U-23 crew and gave him all the support, including organising several friendlies and invitational tournaments for the team over the past 18 months.

“When there was a sudden vacancy in the Super Eagles and we had two crucial matches at hand, we called on Siasia. Personally, and as NFF President, I have confidence that the coach can take the team to the final match on Saturday.”

Rohr to receive $47,000 Aug pay Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

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uper Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr, will receive his first salary as the Head Coach of the Nigeria senior national team on or before September 1st.

According to the twoyear agreement signed by the 63-year-old German last week, the Nigeria Football Federation is expected to credit Rohr’s account with his August salary on or before September 1st.

The salary which is around $47,000 is expected to be paid in foreign currency according to the details of the contract.

Apart from the salary, Rohr is expected to be provided with at least a two

Rohr

bedroom flat in Abuja with a chauffeur-driven SUV. The NFF is also expected to be responsible for the coach’s trips and that of two members of his family or coaching staff anytime he intends to visit Germany, our investigation reveals.

We learnt the NFF, during the negotiations, wanted to cut the salary by $7,000 thus bringing it to $40,000 but Rohr’s lawyer and agent insisted on the $47,000 package a month.

The agent, our correspondent understood, refused to yield ground because of his percentage in the deal.

The NFF has however made it clear to Rohr that he would be responsible for any additional cost outside the stipulated agreement in case he brings in any backroom staff.

The NFF is still wrapping up the details of his contract with an oil firm which has agreed to bankroll the payment.

Meanwhile, Rohr is expected to officially resume duty next week in Abuja after the Olympic Games in Rio and begin preparations for the dead rubber Nations Cup qualifying tie against Tanzania which will serve as warm-up for the World Cup qualifier against Zambia on October 2.

Oduduru, Amusan through to semis

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SPORT NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Olympics

Olympics

Athletes get equipment grant from ministry A

CRUMBS Rio too dull for games

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he City of Rio is just too quiet. Many participants of the ongoing 31st Olympiad are not having the full effect of the competition.

About few kilometres off the Olympic Stadium and the Maracana Stadium, there are no significant changes in the city. As early as 8pm in the evening for example, the entire city is almost asleep. Participants who must have been to the event venues retire back to their hotels early just to stay glued to television and not much happening outside in form of razzmatazz and all. This city is just too serene for the Olympic Games.

fter it was reported few days ago by New Telegraph that Team Nigeria currently in Rio, Brazil, had been competing in their personal kits, our correspondent can exclusively report that the sports ministry have concluded plans to pay the athletes what they call equipment grants.

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games kits for Nigerian athletes are stuck in Sao Paulo with Brazilian customs authorities, New Telegraph can again reveal authoritatively.

The kits arrived Brazil just few days ago and all efforts by the Nigerian officials to get the them to Rio for various sports disciplines have been abortive.

Sao Paulo rush igerians are really eager to hit Sao Paulo for

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many reasons. The U-23 team is billed to play Germany on Wednesday (today) but that definitely is not all there is for many Nigerians. Sao Paulo is a bubbling city that does not sleep. There are plenty of attractions in the day and even in the night. Many Nigerians are there as there are food points where African or ‘Naija’ foods are being sold unlike the quiet Rio. Sao Paulo is also not as expensive as Rio and so rather than travel on match day, many people plan to stay between Tuesday and Thursday in Sao Paulo. It is believed that the two nights to be spent will ‘ease tension’ and pressure at all fronts. The rush to Sao Paulo is not just for the semifinal game of the Siasia boys but a reunion of sort especially for those who were at the World Cup two years ago. Plenty of unfinished businesses...

Sources revealed to our correspondent that the immigration officials in Sao Paulo were making outrageous demands for the release of the kits.

“It is a tough task for the officials of the ministry. What the customs people were asking for was too much and it is believed they were doing so because they knew Nigeria desperately needed the kits. It is unfortunate,” our source said.

Some athletes have since finished their various events with personal kits and the arrangement by the sports ministry is to compensate them.

This grant is however the latest cause of problem in the camp of Team Nigeria here in Rio.

Adepoju: Germany can’t stop Nigeria Ikenna Amadi

IrememberRepublican!

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F

till on the semifinal encounter between Nigeria and Germany, some other Nigerians are heading straight to the Republican area in Sao Paulo. I recall with nostalgia the activities of Nigerians in Republican during the World Cup two years ago. That area is just about three stations away to Santana, where I stayed for the Mundial. Republican is a down town area where things are so cheap but you must be very alert in the streets because of hard drug guys who do their things openly. There is also the angle of the ladies who ply the street looking for ‘clients’ day and night. Plus the availability of Nigerian food, some Nigerians might complete the Games in Sao Paulo.

Oh,that Brazilian Nigeria!

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here is a lady I met at the airport on arrival. She is a volunteer for the Games. We were on transit from Sao Paulo to Rio. She was simply too helpful.

Because our plane had a delay in Johannesburg, we missed the connecting flight to Rio. This lady followed us all through from one point to the other until we entered the aircraft. She went as far as telling the officials about our plight so that we were allowed to proceed for boarding. Her name is Janet. Of course she has my contact and I really hope to see her again.

Such a nice person by nature.

Deaf and dumb volunteers

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nlike the nice and pretty Nigerian in Sao Paulo, Janet, most of the volunteers in Rio are not as good. Due to language problem, they throw participants who seek help into more confusion rather than helping to save the situation. Some will even talk to you with sign language and one wonders why the organising committee for the event did not work on all of these in engaging people as volunteers. It is important for volunteers to be able to communicate and they are duly trained to help.

A colleague, Duro Ikhazuagbe of ThisDay, and I had to trek round the Maracana Stadium trying to connect a bus to the Olympic Stadium. It was tough. Two, three of them are not saying the same thing. In fact, one of them advised we go to the Olympic Stadium via metro when we actually had difficulty getting a bus. We trekked back to where we started from before a bus came, no thanks to the deaf and dump volunteers.

While some athletes were duly paid their equipment grant even without asking, some other were as at Tuesday afternoon yet to receive theirs.

The good news is that all athletes have been paid their allowances while tickets refunds for the last sets of athletes were also paid on Monday night.

“The ministry is making efforts to avoid any type of problem in the camp of Team Nigeria.

That was why the idea of equipment fee came up but how to collect the equipment which are stuck in Sao Paulo is another issue entirely. Maybe, Nigeria will allow it to follow the due process so that the normal charges will be paid,” our source added.

Oduduru finishes behind Usain Bolt in Men’s 200m Heat race

Oduduru, Amusan through to semis

T

he presence of Usain Bolt on Tuesday in the men’s 200m round one heat nine of the ongoing Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, brought out the best in Nigeria’s representative, Divine Oduduru, as he qualified for the semifinal.

The national champion raced to the finishing line in a personal best of 20.34secs behind Bolt who jogged across the line in 20.28sec to keep alive his dream of winning an unprecedented ‘tripletriple’ of sprint titles in Rio. Bolt began to ease down 50m from the line but still did enough to win easily, a marked contrast to Oduduru who was eyeballs out

just to finish in Bolt’s wake in a personal best time.

Coincidentaly, the Sapele-born athlete will be competing in the semifinal two alongside Bolt on Wednesday.

Also on Tuesday, University of Texas at El-Paso’s freshman, Oluwatobiloba Amusan, made it to the women’s 100m hurdles semifinal despite finishing fifth in her heat as her time of 12.99secs was enough as one of the best four losers.

She will however hope to do better in the semifinal to be able to qualify for the final when she files out in lane two of semifinal two later on Wednesday.

ormer Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has expressed optimism on Nigeria U-23 team’s chances against Germany in the semifinal of the football event of the Rio Olympics on Wednesday.

Adepoju who made this claim in an interview with New Telegraph on Tuesday admitted that it was going to be a tough encounter for the Nigerian team but they could come out of it successfully and progress into the final.

Adepoju said the coaches need to work on the defence ‘’ I am sure the coaches are working on the defence and I believe our defenders are improving,’’he said.

Nigeria will miss the services of midfielder Okechukwu Azubuike when they face Germany due to card offences but the former Shooting Stars player believes the team has quality midfielders capable of replacing the vice-captain. ‘’ They have trained very well, so it won’t be a problem for any player to step up and fill the void. We have suitable backups,’’ he stated.

...Argentine referee to officiate match

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orld soccer football body, FIFA, has appointed an Argentine Gymnastics teacher, Néstor Pitana, as the referee to officiate the semifinal tie between Nigeria and Germany billed for the Arena Corinthians, São Paulo on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old Pitana who speaks Spanish is also known to hand out cards during matches, with 1,451 yellow cards and 94 red cards issued in 299 games.

Also appointed are Hernán Maidana and Juan Pablo Belatti as the assistant referees, while the fourth official is Antonio Mateu Lahoz, who is a Spaniard.

WORLD \ NEWS

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

47

Ban Ki-moon: High time the UN had a female leader

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Giwa FC’s Akide Ibrahim (right) being chased

by Ikorodu United players

he secretary-general of the United Nations has said he would like a woman to take over from him. Ban Kimoon said it was “high time” for a female head, after more than 70 years of the UN and eight male leaders.

Of the 11 candidates in the running to take up the post, five are women.

The secretary-general must be recommended by the 15 countries that make up the UN Security Council and elected by the 193 countries in the General Assembly. A

new secretary-general is expected to be announced in the autumn.

By tradition the role rotates between regions of the world. Eastern Europe and Russia, which have never had a representative hold the post, say it should be the turn of someone from that region of the world. Candidates for 2016 come from Latin America, Western Europe and Australasia as well as Eastern Europe.

Mr. Ban did not single out one particular candidate, but he told the AP news agency that there were “many dis-

tinguished, motivated women leaders who can really change this world, who can actively engage with the other leaders of the world”.

Mr. Ban said whoever takes the role should have “a clear vision for the world of the future” and commitment to peace, development and human rights.

He or she should champion the rights of vulnerable groups including women and girls, people with disabilities and people with minority sexualities, Mr. Ban said.

NPFL: Court orders LMC, NFF to reinstate Giwa FC

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urrent Nigeria League season might not end as scheduled, as a High Court in Jos has ordered the League Management Company and the Nigeria Football Federation to reinstate expelled Giwa Football Club.

The order also asked the NFF and LMC to reschedule all the matches the club missed during the expulsion.

It further asked the LMC to return all the players of Giwa FC who left and registered for other football clubs as of its purported expulsion from the league, pending the determination of the motion on notice for the enforcement of fundamental human rights which is pending before the court.

Giwa were expelled from the Nigeria Professional Football League for failing to obey the ruling of the LMC and the NFF disciplinary committee which had banished it to Ilorin for crowd trouble.

The club had argued that it would amount to contempt, since there was a court judgment which declared both the LMC and NFF nonexistent.

Subsequently, the club went to court to challenge the decision to expel it from the league.

According to court papers obtained by our correspondent, an interim injunction restraining the NFF and the LMC from further organising, scheduling or playing any or all matches and or fixtures in the Nigerian Professional Football League without Giwa FC pending the determination of the motion in notice.

Justice I. Kunda, who gave the orders, said, “The respondents are jointly and severally mandated to restore Giwa Football Club to the NPFL pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for the enforcement of the fundamental human right which is pending before this honourable court.”

Former FIFA president, Havelange, dies F

ormer FIFA president Joao Havelange has died in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro at the age of 100.

The Brazilian was Sepp Blatter’s predecessor at world football’s governing body, serving from 1974 to 1998.

He is widely credited with redistributing some of FIFA’s powers to developing nations by expanding the World Cup from 16 to 32 teams, with six competitions held under his tenure.

A law graduate, businessman, and talented sportsman who represented Brazil in both swimming and water polo, Havelange also helped bring international football into the modern commercial era through corporate sponsorship and television rights.

He resigned as FIFA’s honorary president in April 2013 following an

investigation into bribery allegations and was admitted to hospital the following year with a lung infection.

Havelange was an also International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 1963 until 2011, resigning because of ill-health.

young Nigerian footballer, Michael Umanyika, died on Monday while training with Azerbaijani First Division club, Zagatala PFK. Umanyika suddenly stopped and fell during a training session and all efforts to revive him proved futile, all-

Russia bombs Syrian militants

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ussia used Iran as a base from which to launch air strikes against Syrian militants for the first time yesterday, widening its air campaign in Syria and deepening its involvement in the Middle East.

In a move underscoring Moscow’s increasingly close ties with Tehran, long-range Russian Tupolev-22M3 bombers and Sukhoi-34 fighter bombers used Iran’s Hamadan air base to strike a range of targets in Syria. It was the first time Russia has used the territory of another nation, apart from Syria itself, to launch such strikes since the Kremlin

Havelange

nigeriasoccer.comreports.

Monday’s training was the player’s first with Zagatala PFK after returning from vacation in Nigeria.

The deceased joined Zagatala PFK last season and made 20 appearances for the club.

launched a bombing campaign to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in September last year.

It was also thought to be the first time that Iran has allowed a foreign power to use its territory for military operations since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The Iranian deployment will boost Russia’s image as a central player in the Middle East and allow the Russian air force to cut flight times and increase bombing payloads.

The head of Iran’s National Security Council was quoted by state news agency IRNA as saying Tehran and Moscow were now sharing facilities to

fight against terrorism, calling their cooperation strategic.

Both countries back Assad, and Russia, after a delay, has supplied Iran with its S-300 missile air defense system, evidence of a growing partnership between the pair that has helped turn the tide in Syria’s civil war and is testing US influence in the Middle East.

Relations between Tehran and Moscow have grown warmer since Iran reached agreement last year with global powers to curb its nuclear program in return for the lifting of UN, EU and US financial sanctions.

Kenya sacks electoral officials after deadly protests

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Nigerian footballer dies in Azerbaijan

A

Irina Bokova (left) and Susana Malcorra are frontrunners among the women who are vying to be the next SecretaryGeneral of the UN

enya will replace its top electoral officials, a crossparty parliamentary committee said yesterday, granting victory to the opposition which had branded them biased and led protests for them to be sacked.

Nine new commissioners will take over the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission well before next August’s general election, a key demand of Raila Odinga’s opposition CORD coalition which said it had feared a rigged vote.

At least four people died in protests that CORD had been staging weekly, raising concerns of a return to ethnic violence that killed 1,200 people after a disputed election in 2007.

The protests began in April but CORD suspended them after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ruling Jubilee coalition agreed to form a joint parliamentary committee to resolve the dispute.

That committee issued its report yesterday, recommending “a dignified and negotiated vaca-

tion from office” of the electoral commissioners, and setting out how their replacements will be picked to start preparations for next year’s vote.

Parliament must still vote to approve the report and it will also have to be signed off by Odinga and Kenyatta - all steps seen as formalities as the committee had wide support.

The committee also agreed various changes to the electoral laws, including an independent audit of the voter register, another key demand of the opposition.

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Children of insurgency

e must design short and long terms programmes and policies to take care of the children and young persons of insurgency. This, I submit is a matter of national emergency. We do not have the luxury of making a decision on whether to take care of them or not. Taking care of the children and young persons of insurgency is not an object of charity. It is a decision imposed on us by our collective failure to tackle insurgency and or pay attention and take interest in how funds budgeted for or meant for the fight against insurgency was being sourced, appropriated and disbursed. We must therefore take care of the children and young persons of insurgency if we must avert security challenges now and in the future.

The children and young persons of insurgency are in different categories. There are those kidnapped by the insurgents and forced to fight for them. The insurgents drugged some of them and forced them to kill their parents, relatives, brothers and sisters and their friends. The insurgents forced some of them to convert from the religion of their parents to their own.

Some of the children and young persons have seen blood; suffering and human life means little or nothing to them. The gallant Nigerian soldiers and the Civilian Joint Task Force (Civilian JTF) rescued some of them. Some of those rescued are suffering from the trauma of war and all that they have gone through.

There are the children and young person’s that escaped with their parents from the insurgents. Some of the children and young person’s escaped alone without their parents and siblings. Some of them saw and witnessed the execution of their parents and siblings. Some of them who are victims of insurgency escaped to the forests and deserts and fed on grass and other wild fruits until they were rescued by the Nigerian Armed Forces and other civilian intervention forces. Some of the children and young persons are in the camp of internally displaced persons and are forced to fend for themselves and struggle for food and other basic necessities that are sometimes nonexistent.

For some of the children and young person’s the struggle for survival is intense as information available indicates that the food meant for some of them is stolen by those with responsibility for their supply and distribution. In other words, the same forces that stole the funds meant for the fight against insurgency have resurrected in the camps and are now snatching food from the mouth of children and young persons.

In concrete terms, it seems that the male children and young person’s fare better than their female counterparts. Some of the females are victims of male predators that prey on their vulnerability and exploit them sexually and emotionally. Some of them are removed from the camps and turned into sex slaves and house helps with no rights and privileges.

There are also the children and young persons of insurgency that escaped the scorched earth policy of the insurgents and did not check into the camp of the internally displaced. Some of the children and young persons are scattered in the houses of relatives, village heads, and community leaders and some of them

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE festokoye2003@yahoo.com 0805-448-0565 (sms only)

Children in an IDP camp

are abused, exploited and denied the basic necessities of existence. There are others that muscled themselves to the streets and are fighting for survival. Some of them are earning legitimate income and doing legitimate business while others are into drugs and petty crimes.

Some non governmental organisations and international agencies have intervened and are providing education and other basic necessities in the various camps established for the benefit of the victims of insurgency. This is no doubt commendable. But it is the business of my government and their government to cater for their basic needs. Some of the children and young person’s hardly understand why they are in camps meant for internally displaced persons. Some of them really do not understand why their parents were killed and why the government allowed their parents to be killed. Some of them cannot understand why they cannot go to school and have to do with makeshift tents called schools. Some of them are fighting for their lives and some are suffering from communicable diseases and cannot get good medical attention.

The sad aspect of the challenge of children and young persons of insurgency is

Some of them really do not understand why their parents were killed and why the government allowed their parents to be killed

that some people stole their future and happiness through stealing of the funds meant to equip the armed forces to fight insurgency. Some of them believe that their government and my government allowed insurgents to steal their youth, steal their happiness and steal their future through the stealing of the funds meant to fight the insurgents and has once again allowed the same forces to steal their food and monies meant for their upkeep.

In other words, by refusing to feed them properly and by refusing to sanction and bring to book those snatching and kidnapping their supplies the government is complicit in the travails of children and young persons. It is self evident that there are people that do not want children and young person’s to get the caricature education offered in the camps. There are some people that want to deny them basic medical services that can keep them alive.

There are people that want the children and persons to remain domestic slaves for the rest of their existence. Some of these persons are conflict entrepreneurs while some are sadists.

The Nigerian society cannot afford to solve one problem and create multiple problems through careless and uncoordinated approach to solving national problems and challenges. We cannot rescue the children and young persons of insurgency and sow the seeds for the germination of more vicious insurgents and militants. It will be tragic if some of the children and young person’s grow up in difficult circumstances knowing that the Nigerian society abandoned them, allowed their parents to be killed and their houses and communities destroyed. It will be very tragic if some of them grow up without skills and education.

It will be very tragic if some of them leave the camps created for internally displaced persons bitter, frustrated and angry at the

Nigerian society.

There is also the dimension of some of the children and young persons released by the military after two to three years of detention and found to be innocent. The government gave some of them N5,000 to start life afresh. I mean some of them got between N3,000 to N5, 000 to start life after two to three years of unlawful and unconstitutional incarceration. It will be added jeopardy if some of the children and young person’s detained for over two years on suspicion of membership of the insurgent group and found to be innocent are added to the group of the angry.

We must not allow the bitterness and frustration of the children and young persons of insurgency to develop and boil over. We must not allow them to develop their own insurgent and militant groups.

We must not give them the impression that insurgency pays. This is the time to develop short term intervention policies and long term mechanisms to deal with insurgency, militancy and related security challenges. This is the time to develop creative and honest policies and programmes of dealing with and intervening in their challenges.

The Federal and State government must see to it that the children and young persons in the various Internally Displaced Persons camps are treated well.

The government has a responsibility to provide for their feeding, their medicals, their shelter and their education. The Government must map out clear resettlement plans for them. It will be criminal to force children and young person’s to return to their communities that are heavily mined by the insurgents.

The government must restore concrete and verifiable security in the various Local Governments before the IDP’s should be moved back. The National Assembly must accelerate the establishment of the North East Development Commission that will concretely map out the path to the restoration of the North East. Let us save the country and our children and young persons. We must invest in our children and young person’s to safeguard our tomorrow.

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