Wednesday, july 13, 2016

Visafone loses 1.6m subscribers in four months lMTN fails to rescue operator as 77% customers quit CDMA network Kunle Azeez

E

xpectations that MTN’s acquisition of Visafone would

create a rebound in the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) sub-sector of the nation’s telecoms industry have been dashed,

latest checks by New Telegraph have revealed.

According to findings, of more than three-quarter of MTN’s Visafone-acquired

subscribers, 77 per cent of the total at acquisition, have dumped the CDMA operator so far, following its acquisition last January.

In January, when MTN announced its final acquisition of Visafone, the CDMA network had about 2.14 million active sub-

scribers on its network, according to official data obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

New Telegraph’s invesCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Chaos in N’Assembly Agara

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Senator threatens to beat Tinubu’s wife

Reps in rowdy session, reject immunity for presiding officers Shout of thief, thief, thief rent air }2 David Mark stops impeachment move against Buhari

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, with his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, after a reconciliation meeting at the Government House, Benin City…yesterday.

Leadership crisis: PDP may die, say governors l52 days after, national secretariat remains shut lEdo Guber: Sheriff loses to Makarfi Hope rises for milllions of glaucoma patients

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NEWS

WednESDAY, July 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chaos in N'Assembly over forgery, immunity

Chukwu David Abuja

T

he Senate’s closeddoor session was greeted with pandemonium yesterday as pro and anti-Bukola Saraki senators engaged in a shouting match, with stiff altercation from the two factions persisting for more than 10 minutes.

This was as the former President of the Senate, David Mark, allegedly prevailed on aggrieved senators loyal to the Senate President from going ahead with an impeachment proceeding against President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the exchange of

words, Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) reportedly threatened to beat up Senator Remi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central), the wife of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Melaye was irked by Tinubu’s statement that the Senate should not be reduced to a kindergarten where senators could just issue childish threats.

"I will beat you up on this floor and nothing will happen," Melaye reportedly told Mrs. Tinubu.

Efforts made by New Telegraph to get Tinubu and Melaye’s reaction on the development proved abortive. They neither picked their calls nor re-

sponded to text messages.

A third-term senator confirmed that there was altercation between the two APC senators.

The pro-Saraki lawmakers, who were highly infuriated by what they described as persecution of the Senate by the executive arm, had threatened to commence impeachment proceedings against President Buhari.

Mark also stopped the Like Minds Senators (ProSaraki group) from a proposed suspension of their colleagues, who came up with the forgery allegation that landed Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, into criminal prosecution in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

A senator at the closeddoor session, who spoke with New Telegraph on the condition of anonymity, said that trouble started when some senators loyal to Saraki approached their colleagues, led by Senators Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (APC Kaduna North) and Kabir Marafa (APC Zamfara Central), who dragged their presiding officers to court, to withdraw the petition so that their grievances could be resolved internally.

The senator said that when they refused to heed this plea, Melaye then called for the suspension of all the senators who wrote the petition upon which the presiding officers were being pros-

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose (middle), during his visit to the state’s teaching hospital where some students of Ekiti State University, involved in an accident are being treated.

ecuted.

Melaye was also quoted to have urged his colleagues that the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, must be brought before the Senate to be thoroughly interrogated for charging the Senate leadership with forgery in court.

According to the lawmaker, it was at that point that Tinubu said the Senate should not be reduced to a kindergarten where senators could just issue childish threats.

Tinubu reportedly called on senators to close ranks and seek reconciliation amongst its members.

When she made this statement, according to the source, Melaye got offended and started calling her names, and saying, "I will beat you up on this floor and nothing will happen."

It was learnt that the prompt intervention of Mark, who was moving from one seat of senators to another, stopped the planned impeachment plot being hatched on the floor of the upper chamber, against Buhari, at the closed-door session.

Our correspondent learnt that the Senate, which met for one hour after its two-week recess, had almost concluded the planned move to sack Buhari, before Mark pleaded with them to save the embattled chamber from

Reps in rowdy session, reject immunity for presiding officers Philip Nyam Abuja

M

embers of the House of Representatives almost engaged in fisticuffs yesterday over the passage through second reading of the bill seeking to alter the immunity clause and confer immunity on the Senate President and Speaker of the House, their deputies and Speakers of the States House of Assemblies.

Titled, a bill for an act to alter section 308 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and for other related matters is sponsored by the minority leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta).

Section 308 confers immunity on the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors.

For about 20 minutes, the chamber was thrown into a state of disorderliness as members shouted at one another, expressing their displeasure or otherwise to the controversial proposed immunity for presiding officers of the legislature.

Trouble started at about 12:11p.m., when Speaker Yakubu Dogara, after listening to the opposition to the bill by House Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), did not avail members the opportunity to vote on it, but instead ruled that it be committed to the ad hoc committee on constitution review for further legislative actions.

“Bills like this are sent directly to the House ad hoc committee on constitution review for further legislative input,” Dogara had ruled.

But the development did not go down well with those opposed to the bill and they started protesting and shouting “no immunity, no to immunity, no immunity” while supporters of the bill countered “yes to immunity, yes to immunity”, leading to breakdown of order on the floor.

The rowdiness continued until Dogara was able to break the ice at about 12:34p.m., when amidst the noise he hit the gavel and announced that “in line with our rules, the bill has been referred to the special ad hoc committee on constitution review. We

have experts in that committee, who can advise and when it is presented to the public, if they want, they throw it away completely.

We are not passing the bill today, so, let the rules and business committee enlighten us on the rules of the House” Deputy chairman of rules and business, Olabode Ayorinde (APC, Ondo), cited Order 8 (98) (3) arguing that any bill that seeks to alter the constitution shall be sent to the committee on constitution amendment for legislative advice.

The exchange of words between those for and against the bill degenerated to an embarrassing level when they started jeering at chairman of the committee on appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) “thief, thief, ole, ole, ole”, apparently referring to the controversies they had with the 2016 budget process.

Jibrin is on the forefront of those opposing the bill and was displaying a paper on the floor with the inscription “no immunity”, while the rowdiness lasted.

The lawmaker had an exchange of words with

the chairman of the committee on FCT, Hon. Herman Hembe (APC, Benue).

While presenting the bill earlier, Ogor explained that the proposed alteration seeks to increase section 308 (3) to include senate president, speaker, deputy senate president, deputy speaker, speaker of House of Assembly, deputy speaker of House of Assembly, who are presiding officers of the legislative arm of government.

He argued that the essence of the bill was to strengthen the National Assembly and separation of powers, adding that it was meant for only presiding officers. “The essence of this bill is to avoid unnecessary distraction from the courts and executive; it is not for the whole of National Assembly members.

It is precisely for the presiding officers,” he argued.

According to him, since principal officers of the executive enjoy immunity, it was only proper that presiding officers of the legislature too, be accorded the privilege.

Chairman of the committee on ethics and privileges, Hon. Ossai Ossai, supported Ogor, saying

that the bill was potent tool for the legislators to defend the legislature.

But rising in stout opposition to the bill, Gbajabiamila submitted that as legislators, their primary responsibility was to make laws and represent the people, but in doing so, they must feel the pulse of the people.

He said the timing of the bill was wrong.

“We must feel the pulse of the people we represent. There is something about timing in any piece of legislation and it is important. There are issues in the Senate and I pray it is resolved.

“Because of what is going on in the Senate, you cannot convince the people that this bill is not politically motivated,” Gbajabiamila said.

Continuing, the House leader argued that there is no legislature in the world that enjoys immunity and it will be abnormal for Nigeria, which is a member of the United Nations, to grant immunity to its lawmakers. “We cannot isolate ourselves from the comity of countries that practice democracy,” he submitted.

€40.8m

The estimated transfer value of Roberto Firmino of Liverpool in 2016.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

2

The number of refugees and people in refugee-like situation assisted

by UNHCR in Montenegro at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

another national embarrassment.

The source further confided in our correspondent that part of what provoked the trouble was when the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, David Umaru, briefed the lawmakers on the task given to his committee to meet with the AGF. He said his committee had been having great difficulties in getting the Attorney General of the Federation, who is also the Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, to appear before it in order to explain why he initiated legal action against the Senate presiding officers over the alleged forgery of the Senate’s Standing Order.

Another ranking senator from the South-East was said to have suggested that a bench warrant be issued on Malami since he was deliberately avoiding the Senate’s summons, but some of his colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reminded him that the Inspector-General of Police might not want to carry out the action.

They were said to have argued that the alleged involvement of the Presidency would frustrate the summoning of the AGF by the Upper chamber.

The senator said that it was at that point that another ardent supporter of Saraki shouted, "then let's go for the man at the helms of affairs by initiating an impeachment immediately."

According to the source, the impeachment suggestion received applauds and commendation from his colleagues in the PDP and some pro-Saraki senators.

The strategy was almost being perfected, according to the senator, until Mark moved in and started pleading with his colleagues to forget about the idea because it could boomerang on the Senate.

It was while Mark was still appealing to his colleagues that some senators loyal to the Senate President were said to have appealed to their colleagues in the Senate Unity Forum (SUF), who initiated the legal process to withdraw the case in the interest of peace.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

WednESDAY, July 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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NEWS

4

WednESDAY, July 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Leadership crisis: PDP may die, say governors Babatope Okeowo and Onyekachi Eze

C

hairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has raised fears over the possible survival of the party, saying the opposition party may go into extinction.

The National Headquarters of the PDP is yet to be reopened, 52 days after it was shut.

Mimiko hinged his fears on indiscipline among the rank and file of the party members which has given rise to several litigations in different courts on the leadership crisis in the party.

He spoke at the zonal meeting of the PDP held in Akure, the state capital, yesterday.

Both Senators Ali

Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions are in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja courts contending over the leadership crisis in the party.

Mimiko said it was indiscipline that made people to rush to court over issues that could be settled without interference of the judiciary.

This indiscipline, he said, must be kicked out of the PDP before it kills the party.

Apparently referring to Sheriff, Mimiko wondered how somebody would think of running a political party based on court judgements when all organs of the party have not given him the nod.

These courts cases, he said, may eventually lead to the death of the party and foster one-party state and dictatorial tendency

on the citizens.

His words: "Unless, let me repeat it, unless we exorcise this demonic tendency to rush to the court, this party will never find its feet: the future is jeopardised, the future will continue to be uncertain if each time anybody feels abused the next thing is to go to court.

“I think this is one area we must tackle as a party if we must move forward.

That is the biggest threat and challenge we have as a party. Nobody should deceive himself, especially those who are not direct political practitioners, nobody should deceive himself that trouble in PDP will necessarily translate and remain as trouble within PDP alone.

Ultimately, the PDP that is unsettled is a veritable origination of dictatorship

in our land.”

According to him, the high level of indiscipline in the party has culminated into series of leadership crises at the national level and challenges that also have overbearing effects in some state chapters of the party.

According to him, "there is no question about the fact that recent events within our party can challenge anybody no matter how strong hearted you are. Recent events in our party can set people asking; is this party really jinxed?"

"One of those weaknesses is this demonic propensity to rush to the court for issues that can be settled within. I think the level of indiscipline in the PDP is the number one challenge we have."

Mimiko compared the

The main entrance of the National Hospital sealed by Abuja Environment Protection Agency over N7 million debt in Abuja … yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tigation, however, revealed that between the January acquisition and end of May, over 1.6 million subscribers had dumped the MTNowned Visafone network.

According to official data, from 2.147 million active lines in January, total CDMA subscriptions on Visafone thunderously crashed to less than onequarter, 487,141 lines.

The decline, which represents a loss of over 1.6 million subscribers in a spate of five months, is equivalent to over 77 per cent loss on CDMA subscriptions in the country.

With the development, analysts say it has become clear that the country’s largest mobile network, MTN, was not interested in retaining and managing existing subscribers on the acquired network, but rather in interested in other juicy asset of the CDMA network.

According to findings, while subscription on GSMA networks including Globacom, MTN, Airtel and Etisalat increased from 146.28 million active lines in February to over 148 million at the end of

PDP with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying "as divisive as APC is, in spite of all the different tendencies working themselves out in APC, I have not heard of their cases in court. But, PDP has endless cases in courts.

That is the demon we must exorcise from PDP if this party must progress."

Meanwhile, Sheriff has denied media reports that the senator representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu, is his political godfather.

This is as former National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, has predicted that PDP would come out stronger after its present crisis.

There have been media reports that the leadership crisis in PDP was because of Kashamu who have been nudging Sheriff to keep on laying claim to the party's leadership.

But Sheriff, in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, described it as a smear campaign and urged PDP loyalists to work towards finding lasting solution to the crisis in the party.

"While it remains obvious that the said report was part of the mischief and orchestrated smear campaigns embarked upon by some people against the National Chairman, we wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that, he has no godfather in pol-

itics and Senator Buruji Kashamu could not have been one.

"It is becoming clearer that the PDP National Chairman’s critics have run out of ideas on how to achieve their selfish agenda, hence the resort to blackmail and blatant falsehood in order to distract Sheriff from manifesting his capacity to reposition the PDP," the statement noted.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the party’s national secretariat yesterday reports that its entrance was still locked and manned by men of the Nigeria Police.

As at 2p.m., the time of visit, no fewer than 10 police officers were seen within and outside the secretariat.

A police Hilux vehicle from Wuse Division, marked NPF 6684C, was used to block the access road to the complex.

However, few members of staff of the secretariat were seen hanging around under trees, nursing the hope of having the office reopened soon.

Armed police officers had, on May 22, blocked all the entrance gates to the secretariat, preventing human and vehicular movements to the facility.

The action, according to the police, was to prevent crisis from springing up following the party’s May 21 national convention held in Port Harcourt.

Visafone loses 1.6m subscribers in four months

May, CDMA lines crashed by 77 per cent while fixed line subscriptions dropped to 171,974 lines from 184,666 between February and end of May. Speaking on the acquisition of the country’s only surviving CDMA network in January, MTN Executive, Amina Oyagbola, had said the acquisition of Visafone was in line with a continued commitment by MTN to improve the quality of broadband services for its subscribers.

She said the acquisition, which sought to leverage resources for service enhancement, was also reflective of the company’s concerted efforts to deepen the growth and rollout of broadband services across the country.

According to her, the acquisition of the CDMA network was in support of the National Broadband Plan, for the benefit of Nigerians.

She said: “We are committed to exploring avenues for meeting our customers’ increasing data needs in line with our vision ‘to lead the delivery of a bold

new digital world to our customers’.

“As we work to maximise our data capabilities towards achieving broadband of international quality, our objective is to ensure that Nigerians experience a boost in the quality of broadband Internet services. This will translate to the much needed enhanced data speeds and value to enhance personal and business productivity.

“The acquisition of Visafone highlights MTN’s commitment to Nigeria.

More capacity will facilitate enhanced product/ service offerings and experience in the data space to the delight of our valued customers.”

In the same vein, MTN had, at the beginning of the second quarter, declared that the primary motivation for Visafone acquisition was to obtain the 800Mhz spectrum frequency of the country’s only surviving Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operator, to offer Long Term Evolution (LTE) services.

LTE is the 4G-technology platform that offers very high-speed Internet delivery to telecoms consumers above what 2G and 3G services currently offer in the market.

Already, MTN Nigeria has disclosed ongoing plans to roll out commercial Long Term Evolution (LTE) services by third quarter.

Disclosing this in a transcript of the 1Q Results Analyst Conference organised

by MTN Group among its key management team, which was obtained by New Telegraph, MTN said the primary motivation for acquiring Visafone was to gain across to the LTE frequency.

Commenting on the development, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, in a

$4m

The earnings of Koch Industries in 1967.

Source: Forbes.com

telephone interview with New Telegraph, said the decline in the number of subscribers on Visafone after MTN’s acquisition of the CDMA entity might be as a result of “the feeling of uncertainty” on the part of the subscribers, but added that causes needed to be ascertained.

“We may not be able to ascertain why the drastic decline until a painstaking effort is made to actually find out from both the subscribers and MTN’s perspectives. It is also possible that the regulator can tell us reasons for the decline.

“However, what we all know and which MTN had also talked about is that the juicy spectrum resource of Visafone was an attraction for the acquisition, as through it MTN was able to get additional spectrum to deploy broadband services.

“But that is not to say that the MTN should not maintain existing subscribers on Visafone network to generate revenue.

That is why I felt there is a need to find out first, pos-

sible reasons for the crash in the subscriptions from over 2 million to less than 500,000,” Adebayo told New Telegraph.

In the same vein, President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Olusola Teniola, in an emailed reaction to the trend, said: According to Teniola, “The decline is noted and not a surprise. CDMA subscribers are being migrated as GSM subscribers on MTN’s GSM platform.

Also, the predominant technology existent in Africa is GSM and not CDMA. “MTN will and must leverage common aspects of the core technology such as the mobility management of CDMA and rationalise other parts of service delivery. For purely costs efficiencies, it is for the management of MTN to decide how they wish to utilise the 800MHz spectrum acquired and there are worldwide best practices that MTN is aware of that will ensure that the best technology is adopted to effectively utilise this spectra.”

NEWS

WednESDAY, July 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

5

ExxonMobil, militants bicker over pipeline attack Adeola Yusuf

E

xxonMobil Corporation and militants in the Niger Delta yesterday bickered over claims of an attack on the 300,000 barrels per day Qua Iboe 48"

crude oil export pipeline.

Qua Iboe is Nigeria's largest crude oil stream and exports usually more than 300,000 barrels per day.

The militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) had, late Monday, claimed on its website that it had blown up an Exxon Mobil

Corp facility.

The group had, prior to this, claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on installations in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

Despite the militants' claim of bombing the 300,000 barrels per day Qua Iboe 48" crude oil ex-

Senator threatens to beat Tinubu’s wife CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Some of the SUF members who took the matter to court allegedly explained that the matter was beyond them and their explanation also infuriated Melaye, who urged the Senate to suspend the members who went to court since they were not ready to withdraw the suit.

The source told our correspondent that those who openly supported Melaye in his call for suspension were Senators Danjuma Goje, Jibrin Barau, Isa Misau and Peter Nwaoboshi.

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday gave the AGF the last chance to appear before it or risk a warrant of arrest.

The minister is to appear before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters unfailingly on or before Friday this week, having failed to honour two previous summons issued him by the committee, in respect of the charges of forgery preferred against its presiding officers.

The resolution followed a personal explanation to the Senate by Umaru, declaring that Malami had

not honoured any of the invitations extended to him by the committee since last month.

Ruling on the submission, Saraki threatened that if the AGF failed to appear before the committee this week, the Senate would have no other option than to exercise its constitutional powers in compelling him to appear.

He said: "We all heard the explanation of the chairman on Judiciary, and what he is trying to get across to us here is to tell us the status of the situation because what we have been reading in the papers was of great concern, where the number one judicial officer of the country will be the one that will be flouting the constitution because Section 89 (c) is very clear.

"As such, we will do that and ensure that he does come this time, otherwise we will have no choice than to follow the constitution strictly. So, you will report back to us before the end of the week to let us know the status of that situation. And if that does not happen, we will go ahead and go in line with the constitution very clearly."

Also, the Senate summoned the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, over negative comments he allegedly made pertaining to the implementation of constituency projects contained in the 2016 Appropriation Act. The Senate Committees on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, in collaboration with Finance and Appropriations were mandated to meet with the SGF and report back to the chamber in one week.

port pipeline, Exxon Mobil declared yesterday that it suffered no attacks on its facilities.

Spokesman of the company, Todd Spitler, was quoted by Reuters as saying that the crude oil stream operated by the company in Nigeria had no incident of bombing.

"There were no attacks on our facilities," Spitler said.

No attacks had taken place at ExxonMobil facilities, he added.

Meanwhile, oil climbed from a two-month low yesterday as a new disruption worsened supply problems in Nigeria.

This was also buoyed by global equities rise and a weaker dollar.

The dollar slipped

0.14%

The percentage contribution of NITDEF to total collection for 2015 Q4.

Source: Firs.gov.ng

against many of its peers, while stocks rose on the prospect of stimulus in major economies.

Oil has retreated in recent weeks as a rally, spurred by supply disruptions in Nigeria and Canada and falling U.S. output, lost momentum.

Prices remain up about 70 per cent from a 12-year low in February; a recovery that has prompted American producers to return drilling rigs to service.

The rate of decline in non-OPEC supply will slow next year, OPEC said in a report yesterday.

IRS shuts AMG Petroleum over N27m tax debt

I

n continuation of its tax enforcement exercise, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), yesterday, sealed off the office of AMG Petroleum Energy Limited, located at No. 41, Usuma Street, Maitama, Abuja.

The FIRS Enforcement team, led by Assis-

6.7%

The capital importation percentage share of Financing of Nigeria in 2008.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

tant Director of Enforcement Unit, Anita Erinne, sealed off the premises after directing and allowing all the staff of the organisation to leave the oil company's premises.

According to the FIRS enforcement warrant, the company has a tax debt of N27, 350,579.66, which it incurred between 2009 and 2015.

Erinne said the company would be re-opened as soon as it pays its tax debt.

L-R: Deputy Ambassador, United States of America, Mrs. Maria Brewer; outgoing Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mr. James F. Entwistle; President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Khadija Bukar Ibrahim, during a farewell visit to Buhari in Abuja… yesterday

Group laments political situation in Ekiti Edo guber poll: Sheriff loses to Makarfi Wale Elegbede

A

group of Ekiti Professionals on the platform of E-11 has described the political situation in the state as heart bleeding, stating that recent happenings in the state call for concern.

In a statement yesterday by its chairman, Mr. Femi Ajiniran, the group said: “Though not surprised about the recent happenings in Ekiti State, we are deeply concerned and worried about the future of the state, and the dire consequences upon the future generations.”

While stating that the happenings and scenarios playing out in the state were avoidable and could have been avoided, if Ekiti people had acted according to its warnings before the 2014 governorship election, the group noted that the official and unofficial conduct of Governor Ayodele Fayose has vindicated it.

“We warned seriously about the deceitful tendencies of Mr Fayose, and gave reasons why Ekiti people should not trust him with the sensitive position of a governor for the second time.

“Less than two years into his tenure, our fears are now being confirmed, if not fully confirmed.

When e-11 came together as professionals from Ekiti in 2003, our concerns and interest were mostly centred on the glory of Ekiti, and its people, their welfare, well-being, happiness and prosperity.

“We saw it coming, when a candidate in an election was promising the unemployed indigenes three square meals per day at the government house, if elected. Our people were deceived. There was no clear manifesto or road map of how to tackle the economic problems in the state.

“The antecedent of Mr. Fayose made him unfit

for the office. There was nothing about him that could justify his winning the election and occupying such an exalted office but for our weak democratic system as well as the federal power, money and the role of the Nigerian military that gave him victory.

“Our attempts to use the judiciary through an eligibility case we instituted against him was also frustrated. He sponsored several attacks on our members, our legal team and judges that handled the case inside the court room.

“What is happening in Ekiti at the moment negate the dreams of our heroic progenitors, who saw early in life that education is the torch light through which we can trace the pathway to personal development and by extension community development, and therefore invested heavily in our education, so that we can develop ourselves and our communities,” the group said.

…as INEC accepts Ize-Iyamu as PDP candidate

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

E

mbattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff may have lost the contest for the party's leadership to his rival, Senator Ahmed Makarfiled National Caretaker Committee.

Sheriff's candidate, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, was allegedly rejected as the PDP candidate for the September 10 governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to a source, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who emerged as PDP candidate on June 20, was accepted by the commission for the election.

INEC monitored the primaries, which produced Ize-Iyamu, but said

it would not accept the one that produced Iduoriyekemwen, which was held on June 29, because the constitutionally-required 21-day notice was not given to it before the conduct of the primary election.

Makarfi’s faction produced Ize-Iyamu while Sheriff produced Iduoriyekemwen.

A prominent member of Sheriff's faction confirmed that Makarfi's nominee was accepted by INEC as PDP candidate for the election. He, however, said INEC was in a better position to confirm.

PDP waited for the last day of the submission of candidates' list to forward Ize-Iyamu's name to the commission.

Both Secretary to the caretaker committee, Senator Ben Obi, and the spokesperson, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, confirmed that the name of the for-

mer Secretary to Edo State Government was with INEC yesterday.

INEC said it would issue statement on the matter, but at the time of filling this report, the statement was still being awaited.

A source disclosed that the certified true copy of the July 4 judgement in Port Harcourt was sent to the commission yesterday.

INEC had said it was waiting for a copy of the judgement to enable it take a decision on the conflicting judgements regarding the PDP leadership.

Last Friday, Sheriff failed to get Justice Valentine Ashi of Abuja High Court, which described the 2014 PDP constitutional amendment that confirmed Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Mu'azu as PDP candidate, unconstitutional, null and void, to reverse the judgement.

6

News|NATIONAL

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG to revisit confab report – Osinbajo ...support resource control, state police, not regionalism

Nasarawa deputy governor commends New Telegraph

Temitope Ogunbanke

Mojeed Alabi

V

ice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, assured Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would revisit the report of the 2014 National Conference to implement some of the confab recommendations.

Speaking yesterday during telephone interview on ‘Journalists Hang Out’ programme at Television Continental (TVC), Osinbajo said there were some issues in the confab report that he personally agreed with, which Federal Government can implement with or without legislation.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, few weeks ago, said that the report of the National Conference will be sent to the archives.

But the Vice President, yesterday, revived hope of many Nigerians, saying that there were issues in the report that can be quickly implemented.

His words: “I have read the (confab) report.

There are several issues there that can be quickly implemented and there are issues that cannot be implemented without law and legislation. There are several issues in the con-

fab report that require legislation.

“There are wide varieties of issues including so many issues that we are already familiar with; so many issues that we agree with or we may not agree with. I believe that there are many issues in the confab report that I personally agreed with, which I believe we can implement as a central government with or without requirement of legislation.

“I think it is a matter of looking at it one by one; is it something that we can do or we cannot do? State police is one of the issues

and there are other issues we strongly believe in. But when people say government should implement 2014 confab report, they made it sound as if there are only three issues in the report. There are many issues in the confab report and whatever we find that we can do, we will do it.

Whatever needs legislation, we will push it.”

The Vice President, while speaking on the agitation for restructuring of Nigeria, said he was in support of resource control and state police but against regionalism,

L-R: Political Affairs Officer, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olukunle Bamgbose; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geofrey Onyeama, at the interactive meeting with Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs over the Ambassadorial nominees at the National Assembly in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLUYI

Hope rises for millions of glaucoma patients Appolonia Adeyemi

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cientists have discovered a way to regenerate damaged optic nerves, which makes blindness from glaucoma irrepressible.

According to a report published in the mailonline, the development raises hope that millions of people blinded by glaucoma may one day be able to see again after.

Researchers found that a therapy called high contrast visual stimulation making sufferers stare at changing patterns of black lines - helped the nerve cells grow back.

They combined this

with gene therapy, which increased the amount of a protein known to promote optic nerve regeneration and found this triggered an even greater improvement in sight.

Glaucoma is a complicated disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.

Reacting to the discovery, Dr. Paul Sieveing, director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Eye Institute, which carried out the study, said: “Reconnecting neurons in the visual system is one of the biggest challenges to

developing regenerative therapies for blinding eye diseases like glaucoma.

“This research shows that mammals have a greater capacity for central nervous system regeneration than previously known.”

The optic nerve is the eye’s ‘data cable’, carrying visual information from the light-sensing cells in the retina in the back of the eye, to the brain.

Like a bundle of wires, it consists of around a million of a type of nerve cells called ganglion.

Each ganglion has an axon - a long, thread-like protrusion extending out of it, along which impulses are conducted from ganglion to ganglion.

The sealing off of the hospital followed a court order by the FCT Chief Magistrate which had issued three different court summons to the management of the hospital, which were not honoured.

Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Task Team on the recovery of N9 billion owed the AEPB, Baba Shehu Lawan, after executing

the Court Order yesterday, told New Telegraph that the Court gave the seal off order after lawyers representing the hospital failed to appear before the court.

The Chairman said that the Court had earlier issued three different summons to the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital to appear before it, which he failed to honour.

FCTA seals off National Hospital over N7.8m debt Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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or some hours yesterday, activities at the National Hospital, Abuja were paralysed following the sealing off of the hospital complex by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (EAPB) over unpaid waste management bill totaling N7,776,800.

which some Nigerians are clamouring for.

“I think that the whole idea of restructuring Nigeria is a major concept.

There are many issues surrounding it. For example, I have always been a strong believer in fiscal federalism. That is to say the state must have more resources.

I actually went to the Supreme Court as AttorneyGeneral of Lagos State on issue of fiscal federalism.

As a matter of fact, part of the thing we said at that point was that we were trying to restructure Nigeria federalism by court action.

“We went to court several times on issues like whether state has a right to certain degree of autonomy. We fully supported that and said to create right for autonomy; it could even be extended to their resources. VAT for example must be a state matter. I strongly believe that we must have state police.

“Dividing Nigeria, going back to the region and all those kind of things; I do not believe in it. I don’t think we need to back to region. If there are people who believe that we must restructure ourselves within ethnic lines, I don’t think that is right way to go,” he said.

FG appeals to oil majors not to sack workers

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he Federal Government has appealed to major oil marketers operating in the country not to retrench workers in the oil and gas sector.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, made the appeal yesterday in Abuja at a meeting he held with the leadership of PENGASSAN, NUPENG and the International Oil Companies.

He said that the meeting was a fallout of Monday’s meeting held to address the concern raised by PENGASSAN and NUPENG on the declaration of redundancy by the major oil marketers.

PENGASSAN had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike beginning from July 7 over some issues, including the alleged mass sacking of its members by various oil and gas companies.

Ngige urged the IOCs not to declare redundancy as the last resort if there was economic downturn in the country, saying that it should be declared in the proper manner.

He said: “Government will not say you should not declare redundancy; redundancy will always come if

the economy is not doing well.”

“That is why it is in the Labour Laws of every country; but what we are against is when this particular law is applied strictly as it is enshrined in the labour laws.

“Companies sometimes carry out redundancy immediately without discussion or without even informing the workers. This is very wrong.

“The redundancy law as stated in Section 20 of the Act defines redundancy as when you cannot carry on with the number of staff you have due to circumstances beyond your control.

“You must discuss with the workers or the workers representatives directly and you must show them why the situation is like that.

“This may include showing them the books of the company, explaining to them that the company is not doing well and then you all agree on the difference.”

PENGASSAN President, Mr Johnson Olabode, assured Nigerians that if the issues affecting the unions could be concluded in the meeting, its National Executive Council would call an emergency meeting to call of its strike.

T

he Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Silas Agara, has applauded the management and staff of New Telegraph tittles for what he described as the newspaper’s excellent journalism practice.

In a letter addressed to the newspaper and signed by the Permanent Secretary in the deputy governor’s office, Usman Abu, he enjoined the newspaper not to relent in its efforts at setting standard for quality journalism practice in the country and Africa by extension.

The letter reads in part; “I am also to note the fine quality of the New Telegraph, as well as the style and scope of your journalism. His Excellency encourages you to keep the flag flying.”

38.17%

The percentage of expatriates’ football players of Spain in 20112012 season.

Source: Football-observatory.com

$34m

The pay of Gareth Bale of Real Madrid in 2016.

Source: Goal.com

Prisons redeploy 69 senior officers Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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fter retiring Deputy Controller General and Assistant Controller General of Prisons on Monday, the Controller General of Prison yesterday redeployed 69 senior Prison officers.

This redeployment was contained in statement from the Prison spokesperson, DCP Francis Enobore.

According to his statement: “A major redeployment of senior officers of the Nigerian Prisons Service nationwide has been approved by the Controller-General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed”.

He said: “The posting instruction letter issued on Monday 11th July, 2016 has the Directorate of Inmates’ Training and Productivity now headed by ACG E.O. Ogundele. He takes over from ACG Ali Bala Salihi, who has been retired from service. ACG Musa Usman from Zone ‘D’ Minna now heads the Directorate of Administration and Supply while ACG Charles Ahaotu takes over the Directorate of Works and Logistics.

national | news

wednesday, july 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Unprovoked murder: CAN urges Christians to defend themselves Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors in the country to make sure that perpetrators of unprovoked attacks against Christians and murder of some Christian leaders are brought to justice.

The Christian body said this is the only way the confidence of Christians can be maintained even as it called on Christian faithful across the country to buckle up and be ready to defend themselves against these incessant unprovoked and mindless attacks.

CAN in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake, condemned the gruesome murder of a 42-year-old Christian mother of seven children, Mrs. Eunice Olawale, who was last Saturday brutally killed while doing Christian evangelism.

It noted that her murder came just about a month after Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme, a 74-year-old

Christian, was murdered at Wambai Market, Kano, due to an altercation with a Muslim man who came to the front of her shop to perform ablution.

The Christian body added that just last week, a clergyman of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Reverend Zakariya, was killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

CAN said: "They attacked him on his farm, cut off his arms and legs, then chopped off his head

with a machete. Another fresh but sad news reaching us is that of a Fulani militia group that is now on rampage, killing 81 people in multiple attacks in Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas of Benue State,” it lamented.

While commiserating with the families of the affected people, it described as mindless, orgies of death and destruction of the Christian community in the country. CAN said the recurring decimal of violence and murder of innocent Nigerian

citizens on the basis of religious intolerance demands specific and relevant response from all concerned citizens in the country.

It particularly expressed worry that the government in power seems to have adopted a lukewarm attitude to the evils being perpetrated in Nigeria in the name of religion.

"We pray that God in His mercies shall comfort and strengthen the families of all the Nigerians affected in these un-

warranted murders unleashed upon the nation by religious extremists.

The discrimination against non-Muslims in Nigeria under the Muhammadu Buhari administration is assuming a dangerous dimension that should not be left to the vagaries of time and circumstance to resolve.

Meanwhile, a group, Christian Brotherhood Association of Nigeria, has condemned the gruesome murder of Mrs.

dia Relations Manager, Mr. Etornam Komla.

“We’ve started the recruitment exercise and by the end of July, all of the drivers will be on board,” Komla said.

The recruitment exercise, according to Komla, is part of the company’s objective of contributing to Ghana’s economic growth through job creation and honouring tax obligations. “These are components of the company’s mission in Ghana, which is to stimulate its economy.”

He said the company has also invested $100 mil-

lion in the construction of a new plant in Takoradi in the Western Region. The plant, which will be a stateof-the-art modern cement grinding plant, will have the capacity to produce about 1.5 million tonnes of cement per annum.

“This project, when completed, will further cement the presence of Dangote Cement business in Ghana and is a further proof of our commitment to the infrastructural development of the country and will also enable us to meet the growing demands a ross other countries in West Africa.

Philip Nyam

Reps urge IGP to investigate Dangote Cement Ghana to recruit 5,000 Workers murder of Abuja pastor

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s part of the initiative to improve on the availability of cement in all parts of the country, Dangote Cement Ghana, has procured 1,000 brand new trucks to facilitate the distribution of product into all parts of Ghana.

With this, the company has commenced the process of recruitment of drivers, driver assistants and loaders.

The trucks, which came in three different vessels, arrived at the shores of Tema Port between July 4 and July 8, 2016, according to the company’s Me-

L-R: President, Image Consulting Group, Mrs. Remi Duyile; Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; Chairman, Hub Development Committee, Dr. Wale Adeniran and a member of the SpringPort Group, Mr. Victor Olusegun, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to build a Technology, Media City and Agriculture Incubation Hub in Ile-Ife, Osun State … yesterday

ABUJA

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no moral right to oppose the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Senate deputy president.

The party, which reacted on a statement credited to APC National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun, that it was difficult for the party ‘to accept the emergence of a PDP

T

he House of Representatives yesterday urged the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to ensure a thorough investigation of the murder of Mrs. Eunice Olawale, who was hacked to death.

The House also resolved that the perpetrators must be brought to justice and ensure more police presence in the area where the incidence occurred.

The House also urged the FCT administration

Abuja

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person’ as deputy president of the senate, said ‘the APC has no constitutional or moral ground to be displeased with Ekweremadu's emergence.’

Odigie-Oyegun was quoted to have said: "I think the thing that rattled us most was the election of Ekweremadu as deputy senate president.

"Saraki is a member of the APC, much as the main line of the party would have wished a different result and a different scenario. But we all find it very difficult to accept the emergence of a PDP per-

son as his deputy."

But PDP in a statement by spokesperson of the National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, yesterday said Odigie-Oyegun's statement confirmed the rumpus in the senate, including the unrelenting harassment of senate leadership and the recent arraignment of its presiding officers on phantom criminal charges of conspiracy and forgery.

"We, however, want to make it clear that the APC has no constitutional or moral ground to be displeased with Ekwer-

emadu's emergence or to go this ridiculous length to harass, intimidate, embarrass, and malign him and the institution of the Senate on account of a position to which his colleagues, cutting across party lines, elected him in a transparent and televised election in line with Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” Adeyeye said.

723.2m

The estimated total population of Europe in 1990.

Source: Un.org

to demolish all shanties across the FCT in which miscreants are said to be hiding and from which they attack innocent citizens.

This followed a motion under matters of urgent national importance by Hon. Gabriel Kolawole (APC-Ondo), which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

Olawole, moving the motion, said the murder of Mrs. Olawale was gruesome, therefore the need to protect other citizens in the FCT.

Amaechi: No functional National Transport Policy in Nigeria Amadi Nnamdi

PDP to APC: You’ve no moral right to oppose Ekweremadu's emergence

Onyekachi Eze

Eunice Olawale, during routine morning evangelism in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja on Saturday, describing it as outrageous, barbaric, abominable and sadism of the worst order.

The group in a statement by its President, Ayodele Sunday, said it was appalling that Mrs. Elisha, who was also a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in the area, could be slaughtered while preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

he Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday lamented that it was disheartening that after over 50 years of Nigeria's existence, the country has no functional National Transportation Policy.

Amaechi also pointed out that there was gross inadequacy of human and material capacity to tame the ugly menace of road crashes and attendant consequences on the roads.

That was even as the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammad

Sanusi II, called on the Federal Government to provide good road transportation system as well as formulate a good policy framework for the transport sector.

They both made the disclosures at the ongoing stakeholders’ workshop on road transport management and mass transit operations in Nigeria, organized by his Ministry, which took place yesterday in Abuja.

According to Amaechi, “our road transportation systems are bedevilled by a wide range of problems requiring a multifaceted approach, if efficiency is anything to come by.”

APC: We can't afford to lose Edo State Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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he National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday stated that his party cannot afford to lose the governorship election of the state slated for September 10.

The party chairman stated this at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja after issuing the Certificate of Return to the party's governorship candidate, Godwin Obaseki.

According to him, there

was nothing to capture in Edo, “we are just going to go ahead and win. ''We cannot afford to lose Edo State. That thought must never arise because it is significant; it is no longer local politics. ''By God's grace, we will win the election,'' he said.

In his speech, the candidate, who came with his running mate, Hon. Philip Shuiabu, commended the Gov. Aminu Masari-led election committee.

He said: ''The team was truly professional", as he pledged to unite the 11 opponents at the primary election.

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wednesday, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

We collected N1.5m ransom for S’Leonean envoy –Abductors

Emmanuel Onani Abuja

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leven suspects arrested in connection with the abduction of the Sierra Leonean Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Alfred Claude-Nelson, yesterday claimed they collected N1.5 million before he was freed.

Claude-Nelson was abducted on June 30 on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on his way to attend a function in Kaduna State.

The gang was also responsible for the abduction of the Executive Director of Dangote Group, as well as many other undisclosed high-profile kidnap-for-ransom cases, in recent times.

It was learnt that four of the suspects were allegedly arrested at a local government secretariat in one of the North West states.

It was also learnt that a driver attached to the Embassy, now at large, negotiated the ransom, since other suspects could not speak English Language.

Briefing journalists during the parade of the suspects in Abuja yesterday, the

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Dom Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), disclosed that the suspected kidnappers were arrested by men of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

The police attributed the successful smashing of the 11-man gang to “a coordinated operation based on intelligence and technical support”.

The gang, the police insisted, had “for some time now terrorised Kaduna State, the

FCT and other North-Central states of Nigeria”.

“In order to halt the apparent trend in the increase of kidnap for ransom, armed robbery and other anti-social behaviours, the InspectorGeneral of Police, acting IG Ibrahim Idris, has reorganised the tactical operations’ teams to tackle crime and criminality throughout the country,” Awunah said.

The FPRO gave the names of the suspects as Alhaji

Rabiu Yusuf (gang leader), Garba Abubakar (second in command), Yusuf Adamu, Hussaini Musa, Shuaibu Idris, Usman Bello, Musa Ali and Muhammadu Abubakar.

Others are Suleiman Abubakar, Gambo Ibrahim and Balarabe Mohammadu.

Meanwhile, the acting IG has directed state Commissioners of Police (CPs) to improve on the level of response to cases of crime in the country.

Awunah also said the IG had ordered the same intelligence-based operations throughout the federation to flush out all criminal elements.

He added: “Also, the IG has directed the state Commissioners of Police and Technical/Operation Commanders to improve the response rate on issues of crimes and criminality, assuring law-abiding citizens of protection of their fundamental human rights.”

The suspected kidnappers and weapons recovered from them

Ex-commissioner: My grandson with kidnappers since January Muritala Ayinla

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ormer Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, yesterday bemoaned the continued abduction of his four-year-old grandson since January.

This was even as the kidnapped Director of Account working with the Lagos State Government, Thomas Otuyemi and his son have been rescued.

According to the former Commissioner, Michael Ojelabi, was kidnapped in front of his school by an unidentified woman on January 20.

Ojelabi, who served as a commissioner during the second term of former Governor Babatunde Fashola came out to ask question during the second Quarterly Town Hall Meeting of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in Badagry, expressed worry over the spate of insecurity in Ojo and Badagry areas of the state.

Ojelabi told the governor that the police had not done anything about the abduction of his grandson.

Expressing worry about the insecurity in Ojo and Badagry areas, the former commissioner said that the rate at which kidnappers operated had been frightening.

He appealed to the governor tame the scourge of kidnappers, who he said were on the prowl.

Ojelabi said that only last week, three children were kidnapped in Ojo and that the police had not been able to do anything to check it.

The former commissioner added that when he got to the police station in Ojo where the complaint of the kidnapped three children was lodged, about 35 other people besieged the station to complain that their children were also kidnapped.

City Briefs

Family, Ondo monarch’s abductors disagree on N40m ransom Group kicks over seven-year-old boy’s detention Babatope Okeowo Akure

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idnappers of the Laragunsin of Iyansan in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oba Abiodun Oyewumi, and the family have disagreed on the ransom to be paid before the monarch could be released.

While the kidnappers requested for N40 million, the family offered N500,000.

The kidnappers, however, described the amount offered by the family as paltry for the foremost monarch of Ikaleland.

The monarch was abducted from his palace on Monday night by gunmen who came through Owena River.

However, 96 hours after, the kidnappers yesterday opened line of communication through the monarch’s son, Folarin Oyewunmi, who was in the palace when he was abducted about 10p.m.

Folarin said the kidnappers called

his mobile line and requested that recharge cards of N40,000 be sent to them as a prelude to opening discussion on the release of the monarch with the family members.

They reportedly insisted that until the recharge cards were sent, they would continue to keep the monarch incommunicado.

Unspecified amount of recharge cards were sent by the family after which the negotiation on the ransom commenced yesterday.

Folarin was reportedly allowed to speak with his father to show that he was with them and was hale and hearty.

This incident has elicited fear in the residents as reports say the streets have been deserted while the people are now staying indoors.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph, said yesterday that the drag net of the police would soon catch the kidnappers.

Kenneth Ofoma Enugu

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civil society organisation, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has petitioned the acting Inspector-General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, over the detention of a seven-year-old boy, Chibuike Oramalu.

Chibuike, according to the group, is as a primary 2 pupil of Carmelite Nursery and Primary School, Nike Avenue, GRA, Enugu State.

The petition, signed by the President of CRRAN, Olu Omotayo Esq, insisted that Chibuike had been in the custody of police at the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Enugu, since May 30.

Mrs. Nwakaego Oramalu, the victim’s mother, is a single mother of five children.

According to her, Chibuike was arrested at their residence, No. 5/7, Robito Crescent, Independence Layout, behind

Government House, Enugu.

Oramalu, who works as a cleaner and house keeper at No. 5/7, Robito Crescent, was employed by the owner of the property, Mr. Edwin Oforma, who also gave her and her children accommodation on the property.

Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Enere Amaraizu, for reactions proved abortive as his phone lines were not available.

The petition reads in part: “On May 29, 2016, while Mrs. Oramalu was away to Adoration Ministries for a church service, the son of her employer, Chukwunanu Oforma, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member asked Chibuike and his 10-year-old elder brother, Ifeanyichukwu Oramalu, to clean and tidy up his fathers’ room.

“Ifeanyichukwu was sweeping, while Chibuike was laid on the bed. Chibuike saw a gun near the bed and carried it; he showed the gun to Ifeanyichukwu, who asked him to return the gun.”

METRO

wednesday, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Explosion: Anglican priest injured, lover dies The scene of a cooking gas explosion

Pamela Eboh Awka

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reverend with Awka Anglican Diocese in Anambra State (name withheld) was yesterday escaped death by a whisker when a cooking gas exploded in his alleged lover’s house.

The incident occurred at Allen Avenue in Awka largely inhabited by students. The said lover reportedly died in the fire but the reverend father was flown abroad for medical treatment.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a resident of the area said the priest’s girlfriend died in the inferno while the reverend father sustained

high degree of burnt.

He said: “The reverend father’s relative is a friend and he did not say anything different from what you have said.

The girl died on the spot but the priest was hurriedly smuggled away and we heard that he has been flown abroad, apparently to cover traces. Are there no hospitals in Nigeria?

“I have told them to stop covering this story. What do they want to achieve by hiding this story. The truth should be told and shame the devil.”

Another person, however, said the priest was involved in the inferno while trying to save a life.

He said: “All these side talks are not necessary.”

When contacted on the telephone,

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Divorce court

Lover impregnated my wife –Husband

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50-year-old teacher, Mr. Musiliu Yusuf, has told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos that his wife was impregnated by one of her lovers in their matrimonial home.

“My wife committed adultery, she got pregnant for one of her lovers in our matrimonial home,” Yusuf said while testifying in a divorce suit instituted by his wife, Hassana, on Monday. the Press Secretary to the bishop of He added: “My wife is promiscuous; my the diocese, Mr. Abuchi Onwumelu, fellow landlords are her boyfriends. She got said he heard about the incident in- pregnant for one of them, they mock and make volving a priest but had no full facts jest of me whenever they see me. on the story.

“I stopped making love to her in June 2014 Onwumelu promised to furnish our due to her infidelity and in 2015 she told me correspondent with the details later. He, she was pregnant. I rejected the pregnancy and however, did not call at the time of filing even after delivery of the baby, I refused to care the report. for her because the baby is not mine.”

The respondent tendered the list of hotels On his part, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ali Oke- visited by his wife and some of her lovers as chukwu, said the matter was yet to be exhibits.

Hassana, 39, a teacher, who filed the suit to reported to him.

Ali promised to reach the Divisional end her 13-year-old marriage, said that her husPolice Officer in charge of ‘B’ Division band threatened to kill her in order to inherit where the incident allegedly happened what they both acquired. and would call our correspondent.

She said: “He threatened to kill me so that However, the PPRO did not call at he can take over what we both laboured for. He always boasts that nobody will question him press time. if he kills me.

“We jointly bought a coaster bus and two plots of land. We used a plot to build a house, the other a school.”

Delivering his judgement, the President of suspected to be responsible for the abduction of a police corporal attached to the court, Mr. Adegboyega Omilola, said that it Ibafo Division, who has been missing appeared that the estranged couple were tired with his AK47 rifle and other acts of of the marriage and all efforts to reconcile both robbery operations and kidnappings parties had failed.

She said: “Since both parties consented to along the creeks.

“You will recall that in June and ear- the dissolution of their marriage, this court ly July this year, some suspected armed has no choice than to dissolve the marriage. men, have engaged in militancy thereby “The court pronounces the marriage bekilling innocent people at Arepo, Ware- tween Hassana Yusuf and Musiliu Yusuf diswa, Imushin, Elepete, Ajegunle com- solved today; both parties henceforth cease to munities in Ogun State and destroyed be husband and wife. property worth millions of naira.

“Both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation.”

Three suspected militants arrested for corporal’s murder

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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olice have arrested three suspected militants, who allegedly involved in the abduction and murder of a police corporal at Ibafo, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The suspects are Ifeanyi Eze, Sobijo Urel and Pere Ogbozua, who was identified as the secretary of the militant group.

The Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, paraded the suspects yesterday at the state command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, where he also unveiled 42 other suspects arrested for alleged armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, fraud and impersonation.

Ali said the suspected militants were members of a gang which attacked a team of Police Mobile Force and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on patrol at Ibafo and attempted to overrun their Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) about two months ago.

According to him, the militants abducted a police corporal (name withheld) attached to Ibafo Division and also

took away his AK47 rifle.

The police commissioner also said the captured militants were involved in the attack on security teams in the convoy of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, at Ebute-Ibafo when she inspected some of the troubled communities last month.

Ali, however, said normalcy had been restored in the affected communities.

The commissioner urged the fleeing residents to return to their homes.

He said: “The suspects were also

My hubby, a drunk, gambler, wife tells court

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The suspected militants

Pastor, accomplice bag 14 years for fraud

Anga

J

ustice Abubakar Jauro of Gombe State High Court has sentenced Pastor Emmanuel Anga and Atin Generous seven and 14 years imprisonment respectively for conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretense.

The Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission (EFCC) arraigned the convicts on a two-count charge.

The Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Anga and Generous, in November 2013, deceived David Madison into believing that they were employees of Gora Commanding Resources, a foreign exchange investment concern allegedly owned by Philemon Gora (who is still at large) and tricked their victim into expecting that his investment of N500,000 would yield 10 per cent interest on a monthly basis.

Madison only received the 10 per cent interest in the first month of his investment, while all the effort to recover his money proved abortive.

Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Pastor Emmanuel Markus Anga,

Atin Victor Generous and Engr. Philemon Gora (now at large) sometime in November 2013 in Gombe, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did fraudulently obtain N500, 000 from Mr. David Madison under false pretense that the said sum was to be invested in foreign exchange trading which sum you never invested, instead diverted same to your own personal use, thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, LFN 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

But on Monday, Jauro sentenced the convicts to seven years imprisonment on count one (conspiracy), while Generous bagged another seven years on count two (obtaining by false pretense).

35-year-old housewife, Omotayo Adewole, has approached an Ikole Customary Court in Ekiti State seeking the dissolution of her 16-year-old marriage to Ojo Adewole, over his alleged addiction to gambling.

The plaintiff had filed a divorce suit against the defendant on the grounds of drunkenness, failure in parental responsibilities, constant fighting, lack of respect for her parents and nonpayment of her bride price.

In her testimony before the court on Monday, Omotayo alleged that her husband was an addicted gambler and a drunk.

She regretted that gambling had made her husband a wretched and irresponsible family head that could not take care of the five children of the union nor provide for her as a wife.

Omotayo, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NA), said the defendant spent all his income on gambling and drinks.

She said: “He is so addicted to gambling to the extent that he used my three cell phones, cooking stove and other house utensils to gamble.

“He started misbehaving since 2005 but I decided to cope with the situation hoping that he will change from the bad behaviour but nothing changed.

“He fights me, abuses my parents and threatens my life whenever I speak against his gambling habit and am tired of him.”

President of the court, Mrs. Yemisi Ojo, adjourned the case till July 25 for continuation of hearing.

10

NEWS | national

wednesday, july 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari tells ministers to end polio in Nigeria

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate implementation

of strategies by relevant government agencies that will end the prevalence of polio across the country.

The President specifi-

change OF NAME Umar: I was formally known and called as Isah Yahaya, a soldier attached with the Nigerian Army Jaji, Kaduna but now wish to be known, called and address as Isah Umar. That all former documents remain valid by this affidavit and all general public, authority concern should note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

JAMES ALBERIONE CENTRE FOR COMMUNICATION EDUCATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named Centre has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under PART ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act Cap 1 of 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Rev. Fr. Vattakunnel Chako Johnson SSP ii. Rev. Fr. Thomas Sebastian SSP iii. Rev. Fr. Perunnilathil Kora Baby SSP iv. Rev. Fr. Correa Robert Leo SSP v. Rev. Tanko Gerard Ndakaat SSP AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To impart the desired knowledge through the means of social communication 2. To educate the poor and less privileged in the society.

3. To help in the eradication of all forms of illiteracy and promote enlightenment.

4. To instill the need of using the press, cinema and other social media as means to accelerate the spread of the word of God to all the corners of the world.

5. To own, hold in trust, utilize, mortgage and lease such property real or chattel as the case may be for the achievement of the above mentioned goals and objectives.

6. To have branches of the centre in any part of the country for effective operations 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: N.S Ochi Esq., Ksji. Tel: 08098101958, 08033186629

PUBLIC NOTICE

ASSOCIATION OF ROAD TRANSPORTERS IN APAPA

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration with the corporate Affairs Commission Abuja under part C of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Mr Agunbiade Kilani Olantunbosun - Chairman 2. Mr. Fashola Sulaimon - Vice-Chairman 3. Mr. Ibrahim Tunde Zubair - Fin. Secretary 4. Mr. Raufu Azeez Abiodun - Treasurer AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To promote unity and progress among members 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: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

SALVATION AND PRAISE PROPHETIC DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration with the corporate Affairs Commission Abuja under part C of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Mrs Osagie Glory Uyi - General Overseer 2. Mr. Ileti Festus Obosaye - Secretary 3. Mr. Oyeniyi John - Treasurer 4. Mr. Adegbile Benjamin Olaolu AIM AND OBJECTIVE To preach the word of God 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: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

NGWA PROGRESSIVE UNION This is to inform the general public that the above named Union has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part "C" of the Companies and Allied Matters Act N0. 1 of 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Uchechi Eluwa -President .

3. Osinachi Anosike.

5. Chief Chimezie Ihemadu.

7. Kelechi George.

9. Uzoma Enyiazu 11. Promise Ezekiel

2.

4.

6.

8.

10.

Chibuzor Nwanokoro.

Chinedu Nwaosichi.

Eze Akwaramdu.

Kingsley Nnodimele.

Uchechi Amaechi.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To protect and defend the welfare of Ngwa Progressive Union.

2. To establish unity among the members of the Association 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: UCHECHI ELUWA (PRESIDENT)

cally ordered the Federal Ministries of Health and Information and Culture, to reinvigorate its strategies in concert with state governments, to ensure that Nigeria is finally certified polio free by 2017.

The President, while receiving the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, at the presidential villa, said international partnerships were also needed to sustain Nigeria’s polio-free status.

He said: "We have not recorded any case of polio in the last two years but we should not be compla-

Helen

visiting WHO envoy, who was accompanied by Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole and the Minister of State, Dr Osagie Ehanire, that his administration would continue to accord priority to healthcare through regular funding of public health related programmes.

Under the Federal Government health intervention programme, the Federal Ministry of Health would provide free surgery to 10,000 poor and needy Nigerians, who are registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme.

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as Orebibio Sibo now wish to be known and addressed as Helen Sibo. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

Wisdom

I formerly known and addressed as King Udo now wish to be known and addressed as Wisdom King.

All former documents remain valid. UBA bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Ikpome

I, formerly known and addressed as Dachima Philip now wish to be known and addressed as Ikpome Philip. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

Busari

I, formerly known and addressed as Wahabi .O. Busari now wish to be known and addressed as Wahabi Busari. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

Dada

I, formerly known and addressed as Odulana Oluwaseun Temitope now wish to be known and addressed as Dada Oluwaseun Temitope. All former documents remain valid. Sifax Group and General Public should take note.

Amaluko

I, formerly known and addressed as Obi Lawrence .A. now wish to be known and addressed as Obi Lawrence Amaluko. All former documents remain valid. GTBank, FRSC and the general public should please take note.

James

cent. ‘‘The breakdown of law and order in the North East has posed challenges to regular immunization. ‘‘The situation and the condition of children in Internally Displaced Persons camps around the country is very pathetic. ‘‘But I know that the Federal and State governments in partnership with international organizations and NGOs are doing so much to provide healthcare, rebuild infrastructure and facilitate voluntary return of displaced persons to their communities,’’ he said.

The President told the

I, formerly known and addressed as Sokare Okpu Gloria now wish to be known and addressed as James Okpu Gloria. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Ebitimi

I, formerly known and addressed as Success Ebitimi Sese and Patieence Daniel Sese now wish to be known and addressed as Sese, Patience Ebitimi. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Jedidiah

I, formerly known and addressed as Ekpenyong Kingsley now wish to be known and addressed as Kingsley Joseph David Jedidiah. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

Urum

I, formerly known and addressed as Ochunkwo Ogbuanu now wish to be known and addressed as Victor Urum. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Bai

I, formerly known, called and address As Miss Ujunwa Vivian Nworgu. Now wish to be known, called and addresses as Mrs. Ujunwa Vivian Bai. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Amagborall

Formerly known and addressed as Rosemary Ikhumi Irunokha, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Rosemary Ikhumi Amagborall. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

Alatishe

I, formerly known and addressed as Olapade Olubunmi Elizabeth now wish to be known and addressed as Alatishe Olubunmi.

All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Enwerem

I, formerly known and addressed as Eworo Blessing now wish to be known and addressed as Enwerem Blessing Chinweizu. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE KING EMPIRE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH

This is to inform the general public that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part "C" of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Martins Michael King President 2. Mercy Oyidiya Martins Secretary 3. Osuorji Joseph Odinakachi - Member 4. Billy Onwuka Onyike - Member AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. Carrying the cloud of healing to the end of the earth 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: Martins Michael King (President)

Uma

I, formerly known and addressed as Mr. Uma Josiah Agwu now wish to be known and addressed as Uma Josiah.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Ekene

ThisistoconfirmthatthenamesAnigbata MartinEkeneandAnigbataInnocent Ekenerefertooneandsameperson.

Henceforth,Iwishtobeknownand addressedasAnigbataInnocentEkene.All formerdocumentsremainvalid.UBAbank Plcandthegeneralpublictakenote.

Tajudeen

I, formerly known and addressed as Mujidatu Jimoh now wish to be known and addressed as Tajudeen Mujidat Adunni. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public note.

Vurasi

I, formerly known, called and addressed as Miss Aniefiok Jimmy Ubengama now wish to be known, Called and addressed as Mrs. Aniefiok Benjamin Vurasi. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Brownson

I, formerly known and addressed as Mfonobong Emmanuel William now wish to be known and addressed as Mfonobong Etimbuk Brownson. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Adekoya

I, formerly known and addressed as Dipeolu Olajumoke Adeyemi now wish to be known and addressed as Adekoya Olajumoke Adeyemi. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Izibes

I, formerly known and addressed as Festus Saint now wish to be known and addressed as Festus Saint Izibes. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Nwedogu

I, formerly known and addressed as Nwazufu Godwin Nwedeogu now wish to be known and addressed as Nwedogu Godwin.

All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Moses

I formerly known and addressed as Yedein Werepere. now wish to be known and addressed as Moses Werepere. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

Igali

I formerly known and addressed as Monday Paradise now wish to be known and addressed as Monday Diepreye Igali. All former documents remain valid. Diamond bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

FG sacks NPA boss, appoints Usman

Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Federal Government has relieved Habib Abdullahi of his job as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authorty (NPA).

His appointment was terminated yesterday by President Muhammadu Buhari, who approved the appointment of a Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaigner, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, as the new boss of the authority.

This is the second time Abdullahi would be sacked in one year.

In a statement by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mrs Yetunde Sonaike, the president has also appointed three new executive directors for NPA. They are Mohammed Bello-Koko (Finance); Prof.

Idris Abubakar (Engineering) and Dr. Sekonte Davies (Marine Operations).

These appointments took effect from 11th July 2016.

The new Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman was born on January 2, 1976 in Zaria, Kaduna State.

She holds a Bachelor Science Degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and a Post Graduate in Development Studies from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom in 2009.

Strike: Oyo inaugurates salary, education committee

Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

T

he Oyo State government yesterday inaugurated salaries and education committees to review the education proposal of government and salary issues that precipitated the ongoing workers' strike.

Workers in the state have been on an indefinite strike for about one month following the stern opposition by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the state government’s proposed private partners’ involvement in the management of some public secondary schools in the state.

Aside the opposition to the partnership initiative introduced by the Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led government, which the labour unions interpreted to be an indirect way of selling off the public secondary schools to private investors.

11

WEDNESDAY, JUly 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

June 12 NADECO, activists remember Abiola, 18 years after

Politics Theresa May is United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister, following David Cameron’s resignation but she is taking charge at one of the most turbulent times in the country’s recent political history.

FELIX NWANERI reports

Interview Independence of legislature not negotiable – Dogara

12 14

UK: From Cameron to May

I

t is change of baton in Britain today as Prime Minister David Cameron hands over the country’s mantle of leadership to Mrs. Theresa May. Cameron, who has been prime minister since 2010, will officially tender his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace, where he will recommend that she sends for May as his replacement.

He had earlier announced he would step down by October after failing to convince the country to remain in the European Union (EU) in the divisive June 23 referendum that sent shockwaves through Britain's political establishment.

But the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs, which is overseeing the leadership contest in the country, on Monday, declared the Home Secretary since 2010 as the new party leader “with immediate effect.” May is therefore expected to be at the Palace after Cameron’s meeting with the Queen to receive her invitation to form a government and by evening would become prime minister.

In Britain's parliamentary system, the leader of the ruling party is automatically made prime minister but it is unprecedented for a candidate in Britain to run unopposed at this stage of a leadership change. May's quick succession to the country's leadership is therefore raising questions about the whole process.

Some 329 Conservative members of Parliament voted to whittle down five candidates to two for their party's leadership, but the 150,000 party members who were supposed to have the final say did not have an input in it at the end,

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Cameron and May

prompting many to query how a leader can be democratically chosen by so few people.

Those who complained of being left out of the process have demanded a general election.

Some senior Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) have joined the Liberal Democrats and Green Party in calling for a snap general election. Labour's general election co-coordinator, Mr. Jon Trickett, who said it was crucial to have a “democratically elected prime minister” added that he was putting the party on “general election footing.”

The swift transition comes after the expected nine-week leadership campaign was truncated to just a couple of days by leading Brexit campaigner, Mrs. Andrea Leadsom's withdrawal from the contest.

The Energy Minister pulled out of the race following controversy over comments she made about motherhood and leadership.

Her withdrawal meant May, who had been the front runner, was the only remaining candidate in the race. The vote between the duo was supposed to go to the wider Conservative Party of 150,000 people, but being the sole candidate, May sidestepped the party rule.

Cameron welcomed Leadsom's decision to drop out of the race and said he was confident May would steer the country in the right direction, calling her strong and competent, and offering her his full support.

The new prime minister has already said her priorities will be to administer Britain's exit from the EU, unite the country and to create a “strong, new, positive vision for

She would be the UK's second female Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher and the first of the 21st century

the future,” not just for the privileged few, but for everyone.

May, who supported Britain remaining in the EU, reiterated her commitment to Brexit on Monday and promised to make it a success.

“Brexit means Brexit, and we're going to make a success of it. There will be no attempts to remain inside the EU. No attempts to rejoin it by the back door. No second referendum. The country voted to leave the European Union, and as prime minister, I will make sure we leave the European Union,” she said.

Born Theresa Mary May (née Brasier) on October 1956, the new UK prime minister has been MP for Maidenhead since 1997. She studied at Oxford University like Thatcher, and akin to so many others of her generation, found that her personal and political lives soon became closely intertwined.

After graduating with a degree in Geography, May worked at the Bank of England and later rising to become head of the European Affairs Unit of the Association for Payment Clearing Services.

Despite prospects in the corporate world, May saw her future in politics. She was elected as a local councillor in Merton, South London, and served her ward for a decade, rising to become deputy leader. However, she was soon setting her sights even higher.

After unsuccessful attempts to be elected to the House of Commons in 1992 and 1994, she was elected MP for Maidenhead in the 1997 general election. She served in a number of roles in the Shadow Cabinets of William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Howard,

and David Cameron, including Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary. She was also the Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2002 until 2003.

After the formation of the Coalition Government following the 2010 general election, May was appointed Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, giving up the latter role in 2012. Reappointed after the Conservative victory in the 2015 general election, she went on to become the longest-serving Home Secretary since James Chuter Ede over 60 years previously, pursuing reform of the police, taking a harder line on drug policy and introducing restrictions on immigration.

Following the resignation of Cameron in June, May announced her candidacy for the leadership of the Conservative Party and quickly emerged as the front-runner. She won the first ballot of Conservative MPs on July 5, by a significant margin, and two days later won the votes of 199 MPs, going forward to face a vote of party members in a contest with Leadsom.

Leadsom’s withdrawal from the election on July 11 led to May’s appointment as leader the same day. She would be the UK's second female prime minister after Margaret Thatcher and the first of the 21st century.

No doubt, May is taking charge at one of the most turbulent times in UK’s recent political history. Expectedly, the early years of her time in Downing Street may be dominated by the process of divorcing the UK from the EU and the deal she will be able to strike.

12

POLITICS PLATFORM

Paucity of funds affecting development – David Hon. Setonji David represents Badagry Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly. In this interview, he speaks on his stewardship as a legislator, the fight against corruption and the paucity of funds to execute capital projects. WALE ELEGBEDE reports As a legislator, to what extent have you been able to draw the attention of the government to the problems in the grassroots?

The expectation of my people is very high. We are lawmakers and there is a limit to what we can do, but there are challenges in my area, the major challenge we have is that of bad roads. The Badagry Expressway is bad and the roads that link villages to one another too are bad. The roads to the farms are bad, basically, my people are farmers and fishermen.

Like I said, most of the roads in Badagry are bad, and the people expect me to do the roads, but we are lawmakers. Our people are in the villages, but they are enlightened and they know my limit as a lawmaker. There are issues such as unemployment and several other social challenges in Lagos State and in Nigeria generally.

These problems are not limited to anywhere, they are all over in the country.

The simultaneous town hall meeting by the Lagos Assembly has been commended in many quarters.

To what extent is the David government working on those things the people spoke about at the meetings?

I have tried my best to ensure that those things they spoke about at the town hall meeting are put in the budget of the state. Budget is an estimate, it has to be backed up with funds, and we all know the situations of things in the country, including Lagos State, though the state is better than many others in Nigeria. Paucity of funds affected some of these projects, like in my own local governments, the issues that were identified have not been attended to due to funds. I know that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is a listening person, definitely, he would attend to them. You know we have challenges in the country, our resources are limited. Like the issue of schools, we don't have enough schools and infrastructures in my constituency. I know that the Governor is a listening person and he is hardworking, the challenge we have is funding because money is not coming from the Federal Government.

What are the challenges facing the legislature in the course of their duties?

5 Questions

There are several of them, our level of development is there, our value system is also a problem. But, we are better than where we were in 1999. If the system continues, we will learn, it is a learning process. We are improving everytime, the last assembly did their best and the 8th Assembly is also trying their best. So, nobody should dare to truncate democracy in this country because it has been proven to be the best form of government. We are far behind compared to a country like the United States, but we are coming up. We will soon overcome our challenges, what is important is the rule of law. This is the area I know we are lagging behind, it is not the number of laws that we make that matters, but the ones we have made, are people adhering strictly to them. Nobody is above the law, if you go against the law in other countries, you would not go scot free. But here, because people know one person or the other, they are undermining our democracy as well as our laws and justice system in this country.

Governor Ambode is already on his second year in office. What do you think should be his focal points?

The Governor is a listening fellow, he is trying his best.

He should help us to construct Badagry Expressway, as repairs are being done, the rain is sweeping the road away.

But the main culprit is the Federal Government, the road is an international one and they are making a lot of money from the road, but we want the Lagos State Government to do something about the road. If you get to Oko Afo, it is a major town, and Ilogbo is another major town around there, but the link road between Ilogbo and Oko Afo is very bad.

It is a terrible road, if you don't have a jeep, you cannot pass through the road.

Those, who have smaller cars have to trek from Ilogbo to Oko Afo before they could drive their cars. It is a state road, and we want the state government to do the road and several others.

What of the Federal Government, they have fought corruption for one year, what should they focus on now?

It is not the fault of the Federal Government, we have had a government that has bastardised the system for 16 years. They have messed up the economy and the system and the new man wants to tidy up the system. I just want to appeal to the Federal Government that as they are tidying up the system, they should provide a lifeline so that things can get better.

WEDNESDAY, JUly 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NADECO, activists It was glowing tributes for the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, last Thursday at the 18th year commemoration of his death.

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE reports

T

he memory of the late acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, re-echoed last week as chieftains of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), rights pro-democracy activists and his family gathered at his residence at Toyin Street, Ikeja in Lagos to mark 18 years of his demise.

The pro-democracy activists during the event organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative and Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), were so passionate in paying tribute to the late business mogul as well as taking a swipe at the military junta for annulling the election and preventing Abiola’s dream of ‘Farewell to Poverty’ from becoming a reality in Nigeria.

Present at the event were; Leader of NADECO, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd); President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; NADECO chieftain, Barr. Fred Agbeyegbe; Executive Director, Gender and Development Action (GADA); Ms Ada Agina-Ude; Chief Executive Officer of Humanity Services Project, Comrade Linus Okoroji; Head of Finance and Administration of KIND, Mr. Rasheed Owokoniran; Deputy President of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Deacon Bayo Oguntuase; Abiola’s sons, Jamiu and Abdulmumini; Nollywood actor, Ayo Badmus; human rights activist, Comrade Rasaq Oladosu, among others.

It would be recalled that Abiola, who contested the June 12, 1993 presidential election on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), allegedly died on July 7, 1998 as a result of cardiac arrest after four years incarceration for fighting for the actualisation of his mandate.

The activists who were dressed in a branded T-Shirts with Abiola’s picture printed boldly on it, while laying wreaths at Abiola’s tomb, extolled his virtuous, contributions and sacrifice to Nigeria’s democracy. They also called on Nigerian leaders to immortalize him for paying the supreme price for Nigeria’s democracy.

Speaking at the event, Kanu attrib-

L-R: Obatungashe, Little Darasimi Genzalla; Kanu, Okei-Odumakinin; Children of the Deceased, Abdulmumini and Jamiu Abiola; Badmus and others laying wreath at Abiola's grave last week.

uted Nigeria’s problem to lack of unity and therefore urged Nigerians to be united the way they were united for Abiola during the June 12 election.

“For a country that wanted to become a nation-state, unity is not geography. It starts from sense of belonging of the different people. And it was the sense of belonging that brought the unity that produced MKO Abiola because people voted for him from all corners of the country.

“Today, we are having a situation, where people have less sense of belonging. Our unity is not to do MKO any favour but if we want a nation-state, we must go back and do justice. There is no running away from it. All those who perpetuate injustice in any shape or form must know that if our country does not become a nation-state, they caused it,” he said.

In her tribute, Okei-Odumakin said MKO Abiola is the only truly elected President of Nigeria whose election remains clean, free and fair and adjudged so by the entire global community.

She said Abiola deserved to be emulated because he displayed uncommon courage at the barricade and commitment to democratic struggle during his incarceration. She said Abiola was killed in government detention because of his refusal to relinquish the mandate given to him by the people.

CROSSFIRE Oshiomhole divided Edo North as he picked only Etsako West Local Government Area for development among the six local governments in the senatorial district -Dan Orbih

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Orbih doesn't know the road to his village, otherwise, he can't pretend to be blind about the roads infrastructure we have done in Edo North and across the state -Kassim Afegbua

POLITICS PLATFORM

WEDNESDAY, JUly 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

remember Abiola, 18 years after

Her words: “July 7th marks another anniversary of the unresolved death of President MKO Abiola, the man popularly elected by Nigerians as president on June 12, 1993. We remember Chief MKO Abiola who was eliminated after over four years of incarceration and his blunt refusal to compromise his principled belief that a mandate given by over 14 million Nigerians cannot be overturned by one gap-toothed general and few aides in crime.

“President Abiola displayed uncommon courage, unparalleled dignity and unusual candour in defence of the mandate reposed in him by change seeking Nigerians, who trooped out to vote for him in 1993 and engaged all the illegal regimes that held sway while the legal president languished in jail.

“Eighteen years after his elimination in circumstances that are yet to be resolved, President Abiola still stands tall than all his adversaries and his murderers. He represents what Nigeria is capable of being but which we

Abiola displayed uncommon courage... in defence of the mandate

are not because of the machinations of a greedy cabal.”

Okei-Odumakin while stressing the need for government to honour the late ‘president’ urged the incumbent administration to immediately consider the immortalisation of MKO Abiola by renaming a key national institution or infrastructure in his name.

“As we celebrate this great son of Africa, The Women Arise for Change Initiative, enjoins Nigerians to continue to insist the gazette of June 12 election results as belatedly declared by Prof.

Humphrey Nwosu “We demand post-humours recognition of Chief MKO Abiola as president of Nigeria and his portrait to be displayed among past Nigerian’s presidents and Heads of State.

“The incumbent administration must immediately consider the immortalisation of Chief MKO Abiola by renaming a key National Institution/Infrastructure in his name. A judicial commission of inquiry should be set up to unravel how the high treason was carried out in custody.”

Agbeyegbe, on his part, expressed his bitterness about the present state of Nigeria, noting that democracy which Abiola died for is not in place.

“The democracy that Abiola died for is not in place. Abiola was elected as president of Nigeria but was never sworn into office; therefore nobody has succeeded him as president of Nigeria. And until Abiola is recognised as president, there won’t be peace in Nigeria because he died with his mandate,” he said.

Corroborating Agbeyegbe, the Deputy President of CD, Obatunguase, said it is sad that Nigeria is yet to be peaceful 18 years after Abiola’s death.

“Nigeria has not been peaceful since Abiola died 18 years ago. Abiola laid down his life for Nigeria to progress but the country is not progressing. I want to use this medium to call on Nigerian leaders to look at all the problems facing the country and find solutions to it,” he said.

The Executive Director of GADA, Agina-Ude advised Nigerians to look at things that will unite the country and not what will disunite it. “It is still pos-

sible for us to unite in Nigeria no matter how long we have gone.

We should look at what will unite us and not what we disunite us. I will advice that the report of the 2014 National Conference should be looked into for the betterment of Nigeria,” she advised.

Also speaking, Oladosu urged civil society organisations to mobilise in putting government on its toes to ensure that Abiola’s death was not in vain. He said they should remain consistent in the struggle for good governance until victory is achieved.

Badmus, who expressed bitterness about how Abiola was treated by politicians, said many politicians are killing Abiola on daily basis because of their selfish desire and self enrichment at the expense of the masses.

Owokoniran appealed to Nigerians not to abandoned Abiola’s family. “For many years, we only see people coming to Abiola’s residence during his remembrance day and abandoned us after the day. I want to use this medium to appeal to people not to abandon Abiola’s family,” he pleaded.

Abiola’s sons, Jamiu and Abdumumini, commended OkeiOdumakin and other civil rights activists for their continuous remembrance of his father in the last 18 years.

Jamiu said that his father as an upright man and philanthropist of repute, touched many lives during his lifetime and that was why it was difficult for late General Sani Abacha to charge him for any crime.

He also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, who once declared annulment of the June 12 by the General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime as a crime against Nigerians to ensure that the perpetuators are punished for annulling the most credible, free and fair election in Nigeria’s history.

On his part, Abdumumini, said it is time Nigerian youths take their destiny in their hands by paying attention to issues concerning their future. “Nigerians should know that their lives lie in their hands. The youth should start thinking about the future.

We should see one another as brothers and sisters for a better future,” he advised.

POLITRICKS Fayemi embraces stomach infrastructure Elders feast on Abia guber crisis

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ne man that is known for the concept of ‘stomach infrastructure’ in Nigerian politics is Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State. The governor used the strategy to win the heart of many Ekiti people to his side during the 2014 governorship poll and since then, he has not looked back in implementing the programme.

While Fayose’s stomach infrastructure was condemned by many, others politicians have embrace it and using it to reach out to the ‘masses’ to curry political favour.

And in what seems to be buy-

ing into the concept, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Monday distributed food items to residents of Ekiti State. The immediate past governor of the state donated items such as rice, wheat, and others to residents of the state capital, Ado-Ekiti at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat.

The gesture coming at a period that civil servants in the state are being owed salaries is timely and has put smile on the faces of many citizens of the Fountain of Knowledge State.

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here is no disputing the fact that for any political crisis, there are those who stand to benefit.

The scenario is playing out presently in Abia State as most stakeholders have pitched their tents along the two divides not on principle but what they stand to gain.

The latest to join the fray are elders in the state. While some are insisting that Okezie Ikpeazu remains the governor, another set insist that Uche Ogah should be sworn-in without delay.

No doubt the elders have the right of choice but pecuniary gains cannot be ruled out from what informed their respective choices.

The elders rather than seek for an amicable resolution to the impase to avoid throwing the state into more crisis, have seen it as an opportunity to play politics and perhaps make money.

While it is their democratic right to support whoever they like, Politricks, however believes that they should rise to occasion and save the state of crisis.

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POLITICAL NOTES

Unending calls for restructuring T

he need to restructure Nigeria’s political structure in order to save the nation from an imminent collapse has continued to dominate the political space of late.

The calls, no doubt are predicated on the dangers of ethnicity, religious bigotry and economic deprivation which are rapid destroyers of any society.

While some say that Nigeria is presently on “the road to Sudan,” the question many have asked is: Can Nigeria afford to continue with the present unitary system of government in the guise of federalism.

Others have queried whether Nigeria should continue to operate the presidential system of government, a full-time legislature, among others.

A political school, which insists that there is no going back on restructuring, is of the view that the manner in which the executive and legislature take a large chunk of the nation’s budget is ridiculous.

The presidential system in operation, they further opined, is a complete disaster as it has only succeeded in creating a powerful Federal Government, which sits at the Aso Rock and milk Nigeria dry at the expense of the states and local governments.

While the body language of the present administration shows that is unlikely to heed to the restructuring call, there is another political school, which believes that it is time Nigerians took their destiny in their hands by insisting that the nation should not continue to run the way it is.

Though this group cautioned against resort to violence, it pointed out that no government should dismiss the wishes and aspiration of the people as the Nigerian Constitution in Section 14(2) of the stated that “power shall reside in the people from whom government shall derive its authorities and power.”

Against this backdrop, they argued that it will amount to arbitrary use of power by the government against the citizens, who surrendered their sovereignty to the government in the first place if it continues to shun the calls for restructuring.

Consequently, this group urged Nigerians to sustain their demand for the country’s restructuring despite government’s stand as such is the only solution to the conflagration at hand, the end-product of which may be disintegration.

FELIX NWANERI

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POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

WEDNESDAY, JUly 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Independence of legislature Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, believes that it would be an affront to Nigeria’s democracy if the parliament is strangled. He speaks in this interview on other issues, including the anti-corruption war, one year of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government and the Grazing Bill, among others.

FELIX NWANERI reports Buhari's anti-corruption war You will recall that the fight against corruption is one of the cardinal promises that Mr. President made before assumption of office.

He had course to say that we have to kill corruption before corruption kills us and I know he is committed to fighting corruption to a standstill. The process of doing that has become a subject of concern to some people. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is actually the agency, as we all know, that is in charge of this fight and if you look at what it has done so far, there is even a discussion as to whether they are proceeding in the right direction and whether it is not time for us to sit down and do an assessment of how the fight has been in view of the fact that in the last one year I do not think there has been any major conviction.

It has always been a case of this person has been arrested and detained and some things have been done or he has been charged to court and then the story ends there.

Whether if we continue like this, we will succeed in fighting corruption, only God knows. If the end is just to arrest people, charge them to court and thereafter nothing happens, no one is convicted; because conviction, even if you are not jailed, has a way of deterring people. The fact that you are carrying that negative appellation as a former convict has the potential to deter people from corruption in the future. But if I am just arrested, charged to court and maybe some money recovered from me and at the end of the day, nothing happens, a lot of people may not be deterred in the future from engaging in corrupt practices.

But if you look at the massive looting of the treasury, actually, I have been in government for quite some time, I never could have imagined the scale of corruption that we are witnessing right now, where people took lots of money running into billions and buried them in farms. As we speak they are recovering monies from someone’s farm somewhere around Abuja. It is very unfortunate that people stole money just for the sake of stealing. If you were the one who is in charge of fighting corruption, you would have even been shocked by the scale of the problem.

Dogara

And I guess part of the problem we have is that the scale of the problem far outweighs the anticipation of the agencies. So, if care is not taken in the process, we may not get things right. They will have to keep their heads level to be able to be in charge of this fight and to do it effectively.

Alleged selective war against corruption If we are talking about corruption, naturally, it will relate to those who had opportunity to serve in government. You will recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in power for a number of years, more than a decade and if you were to weigh members of opposition that are in government now and had opportunity to serve, those who would have tendencies to engage in pilfering of resources, majority will come from PDP, except we are not been realistic. Even though we can't claim that all the members of All Progressives Congress (APC) are saints, you pointed out that APC spent money in the course of the campaign, but where did this money come from?

Because as it is, we haven't really had any facts about government officials forwarding money to the cause of the campaign. Majority of the money that was stolen was channeled towards the PDP campaign.

You know that the arms purchase monies, for instance, virtually everything was given for the prosecution of PDP campaign, I don’t think a dime went to any member of the APC. We were all in government then, I can't remember a discussion like that then but I knew when some of the funds were been given to some of our friends as well but I believe that no one that is of APC stock was given that money. The whole thing

Where you do not have an independent National Assembly, you definitely will have some kind of totalitarian tendencies in the government

was scripted.

I don't think the fight has really been one sided. If you recall, one of the closest aides to the president, I don't want to name him, if you recall, when he was picked up, everyone was shocked that the man could be picked up. He had been one of the most dutiful, one of the people that is very close to the president, yet he wasn't spared when evidence was adduced that he benefitted from it and he had to refund the money. And recently, one of the closest people to the Villa as well, was picked up, he has been detained and questioned, some recoveries were made from him and if the intention was that the fight should be one sided, I can guarantee you that if it were to be a case that would have sacred cows, these two amply qualify as sacred cows that should not be touched.

I sincerely believe that the problem is that of evidence. If there is anybody in the APC government that perpetuated corruption and didn't get dealt with, it could be that there is no evidence before the government right now and I know that there will be more that will come under serious searchlight of the antigraft agencies and it doesn't matter where they are. One thing I will say is that in a civil society, what is important is the issue of justice. Justice comes first even before the issue of wealth and power. Following justice is wealth and equality. Without that, you cannot even have democracy.

So, for us to really succeed, we have to apply the rules across board. It doesn't matter if you are a member of the ruling party or in opposition, if you are corrupt, you have to be dealt with.

In Nigeria, politics is not a straightjacket approach; it is not that

if I am in APC, I am going to remain in APC forever or if I am in PDP, I am going to be in PDP forever just like it is in other jurisdictions. In Nigeria, there are frequent cases of crosscarpeting, which will still happen but if the case was that if you are a member of APC, you will not face prosecution, I believe that more PDP members would have cross-carpeted to APC right now. So it is a question of perception.

EFCC’s imperfection Let me state that there is no human institution or process designed by man that can be perfect, and so there is always this question of sitting down to assess how a certain measure is going. If the fight is one sided for instance, if the process is not too good, if an individual steals money and engages you to render professional service and you rendered it and earned your money without knowing where the resources came from and you are asked to refund the money and nobody looks at the value of the service you had rendered to that person. I guess these are questions that we can sit down and say no, I think we cannot cross certain lines.

But a lot of Nigerians are happy about the fight and have said there should be no off limits. So, maybe that is the kind of discussion that is really pushing the agencies to do far more than they are expected to do. But I know we should not talk prisoners when it comes to the fight against corruption but we have to look at the process and if there are abuses, everything must be done in line with the provisions of the law since this is due process and the rule of law. So, everything has to be structured and if there is anything

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

WEDNESDAY, JUly 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

not negotiable – Dogara wrong, if you keep pointing it out from the perspective of the media, I am sure that there will be intervention. So, whether the process is 100 per cent perfect, I believe not, and we will never have it a 100 per cent because it is a human institution and no one is perfect. If you get a perfect human being, he has become God and we will start worshipping him.

And we do not have God in EFCC, so there will certainly be imperfections that we are bound to correct from time to time.

Senate forgery case By virtue of my training, when a matter is in court, I really do not want to offer an opinion on it because as we say, it is subjudice. But I must say that there is an importance attached to all these institutions of democracy, where you have the case of government’s power been carved out and vertically or horizontally shared. They are all for some purposes. I believe that the National Assembly in any country is the bastion of democracy. Where you do not have an independent National Assembly, you definitely will have some kind of totalitarian tendencies in the government. In the past, there has been stability in regards to the work of the judiciary and the executive because usually, during military regimes or intervention, the institution that was suspended was the National Assembly and for obvious reasons. The body that now makes the law is the executive body. Ours is a democracy that is still evolving, it is not as nascent as it used to be but we still have a lot to learn.

If the goal is that they want to strangle the parliament, then definitely, we are going to run into serious problems and that will be an affront, a serious affront, on democracy and that will be totally unacceptable. But since the matter is in court, it doesn't mean that when allegations are made, that they are true. It doesn't. A lot of people have been charged in courts before and at the end of the day, insufficient evidence is given. And in a case of forgery, forgery is a criminal offence and the standard of proof, the burden of proof is beyond reasonable doubt. The Senate has spoken, it is an issue that all of us including the Senate and the House of Representatives will have to really sit down and analyse. As it is, I haven't really seen the papers, I haven't seen the charges, I don't know whether they are grounded or not but I have asked, as a lawyer too, that I needed to see the nature of the evidence against the presiding officers that are being charged to court in a case of forgery.

And if there is a compelling case, we won't say he should be exempted because we are legislators.

I know that right now, there is an ongoing discussion about the propriety or otherwise of immunity being given to presiding officers of the National Assembly. I have had attacks on the social media and the conventional media. A lot of people have expressed divergent views. So, if the view is that we are not entitle to immunity, then it will mean that we are conferring some kind of legitimacy to this kind of trial because in the future, we cannot stop any government that says it wants to proffer charges against a presiding officer and at the

end of the day, if the goal is really to emasculate the National Assembly, that will easily be attained. But like I said, without an independent, effective National Assembly, there is bound to be problems in any given democracy. This thing was said long ago by Lord Acton, when he said ‘Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’

A lot of people believe why do we have the Senate and the House of Representatives, why can't we even have one house? But like they say, if you think that education is expensive, why don't you try ignorance. They are reasons behind the creation of all these institutions.

Social scientists sat, they looked at the act of governance and said, look, this is the best way to guarantee liberty. Their first task was that, a free person can engage in virtually everything, in wealth generation, he can use his freedom to advance democracy and they were careful not to compromise individual liberties and they crafted this system of government to make sure that leaders are made to be true to the oath of their offices. And when there is compromise or an attempt to strangulate these departments of governments, you will find out that the government does not function effectively.

So, if there is no basis for preferring the charge, I believe that the accusation by the Senate may ultimately be right. That is the situation as I have seen myself. The matter is in court, we will allow the judiciary to do their work and I sincerely believe that if they are not guilty as they are alleged, that the proof of evidence will disclose any material allegation against them, then they will be free and we will continue to do the work we do in parliament without fear of any intimidation.

Allegation of government within government I guess the allegation of government within government came against this charge that was preferred against the president of the Senate and the deputy Senate president. We deal with the issues based on perception and sometimes based on the light that is available to us.

Dogara

One year may be a small period of time for us to begin to assess the progress of this government

The Senate president has his own sources of information, he is a close watcher of development of government, he has been in the system far longer than myself and so, for him to have made this allegation, it means he had seen certain things or certain trends that lent credence to what he said. But that is ultimately within the purview of the light that is available to him.

In my own case, I cannot say that I have seen a situation where a cabal that sits in government can make a decision. I don't know, but I believe that since he is the one that said it, he will be in a better position to throw light on this and I wish he were here so that he can better educate us on this government within a government. Like I said, his reach in government is far wider than mine, so obviously he will observe certain things, know certain things, be aware of certain things that I may not be aware of. He has said there is a cabal, that there is a government within a government, so I believe that in due course, he will educate us more, throw more light into it and maybe we can unveil the cabal. That is a job journalists can really do effectively.

Achievement of APC government in one year Fortunately, I am not Lai Mohammed, so I don't speak for the government. I am a legislator but I can't run away from the fact that it is our government and whether I am speaker or not, I have to ply my mind as a politician to what we are doing and whether we are getting it right. I would say that a lot has been spoken about the fight against corruption, which is very important to ensure that the meager resources that we have are not frittered away and there is an ongoing discussion as well as to the effectiveness of the war against insurgency in the North-East, which has helped to improve security in the land. In those days, there were even fears of Boko Haram making incursions into safe cities like Lagos. I think they even attempted. But right now, we don't have that kind of situation, so security has been enhanced.

When you talk of the economy, it

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is something that we have to look at closely. I sincerely believe we need a very strong team that will superintend our economy because we are faced with dire challenges and we have to do something. When Barack Obama came into government in the United States, there was virtual collapse of the economy at that time, he had to look for serious minded people who sat and charted a way out of that crisis. I sincerely believe that in Nigeria as well, we are rich in diverse ways. If we can put together a solid team to manage this economy, it doesn't matter, I don't think under former President Olusegun Obasanjo we had the oil boom, we were earning far less than what we did subsequently, but we were able to manage the meager resources we had.

So, I sincerely believe it is just a matter of management and if we are able to get the right people in place, we will be able to swim through these dangerous waters. But as it is, as they say, we are in the waters, and everything seems to be heading south. Things seem to be defying the traditional way of resolving this kind of problem, so we need new methods. We need a strong team to really be in charge of the economy.

In terms of progress, we cannot make progress without appropriation. If we recall, the budget was passed not long ago, and I had cause to talk about the Procurement Act recently. If you are to procure, by the standard of the laws that we have in place, it will take you, in some cases, minimum of six months. So, we are looking at the possibility of amending the Procurement Act itself because this is the only way we can guarantee that money is pumped into the economy because right now, if you have the money, you want to pay for procurement, the procurement process is just on and it will close to November. Judging by the standard that we have in place, for this procurement process to be complete and before you start drawing out the money, it is almost December.

This has been the process and I think it is unacceptable.

So very soon, we are coming up with an amendment to the Procurement Act in two respects. Number one is to shorten the procurement process to a maximum of two months because now, there is virtually nothing that you cannot get on Google. All you need to do now is Google prices and it will give you virtually everything. I don't see any reason why you will spend six months doing analysis, financial bids, technical bids and all those kind of things when you can sit down with your laptop and in a few hours you are done. We want to reduce the procurement process and then the issue of payment of mobilisation, which is another big problem. It is pegged at 15 per cent and we believe it is unduly restricted, more so that we have this forex prices right now.

If you have a contract with offshore element, 15 per cent of your payment may not even procure a half or even a quarter of what you need. We want a situation where we will raise the bar to not more than 50 percent. The procurement entity will apply its discretion in saying this contract has some offshore elements, CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion When birds devour birds...

TREASURES BOLA BOLAWOLE turnpot@gmail.com 0807-552-5533 (sms only) “He who comes to equity must come with clean hands”.

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ogs, they say, don’t eat dogs but not only are dogs eating dogs here, birds are also devouring one another’s innards. The political elite are at war and no weaponry or tactic is being spared; mudslinging inclusive. Our leaders are fighting dirty; cupboards are being prised open to expose long-held secrets. Cans of worms are flying in broad daylight. If this continues, hardly will any of the leaders have anything near a good name to return home with. Not even President Muhammadu Buhari, the one many had deemed to be incorruptible, will escape unscathed. Already, his wife, Aishat, has been caught in the vortex, accused of being involved in the Halliburton scandal involving a disgraced African\American United States of America legislator, Williams Jefferson.

Efforts by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, and the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, to extricate Aishat have not washed; instead, it has sunk the First Lady deeper into the miry clay. The other Aishat Buhari that had been named has actually come out in the social media to debunk as cock-and-bull the allegation that she, and not our First Lady, is the person involved in the bribery scandal. She lives in the United States, she says, and has not been arrested or questioned; she then challenged our own Aishat to take a step of faith, as it were, and pay a visit to the United States. If she goes and returns unscathed, then, good luck!

Mrs. Buhari has got to carry this heavy

cross because of the holier-than-thou posturing of her husband! President Buhari cuts the picture of a saint in the midst of 140 million Nigerian thieves. He is fighting an anti-graft war in a way that assumes that everyone else, besides his closed circuit of friends and hangers-on, is tainted. Now, his opponents are fighting back or, as they say, corruption is fighting back. I dare to say that this is normal. No one is attacked who does not fight back as the first human instinct is that of survival. And what is unfolding before our very eyes is not novel.

We saw it happen during the Second Republic when Joseph Tarka and Godwin Daboh tackled each other over corruption allegations and the media had to coin “If you Tarka me; I Daboh you”. We saw it again recently when former President Olusegun Obasanjo accused Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of corruption and Atiku, rather than debunk the accusation, simply counter-accused Obasanjo of being “more corrupt” than himself. Morals: He who would remove the speck in someone else’s eyes must first take note of, and remove, the moat in his own eyes. As the above quotation makes clear, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Not only must reformers be above board, they must, like Caesar’s wife, be manifestly seen to be so.

It bears repeating that it is Buhari’s approach to his anti-graft war that is the problem and not the war itself. Everyone seems to be agreed that Nigeria at this point in time must tackle corruption. A time comes in the life of every country that the leaders are compelled by circumstances beyond their control to sit down and speak the bitter truth to one another. Such a time is this; but, unfortunately, we do not have a leader with the temperament and correct reading of the situation. Buhari prefers to fight and scatter things rather than jaw-jaw and build consensus. He is unnecessarily combative and truculent; he burns rather than build bridges, such that he ends up alienating even those who, ordinarily, would have loved to give him support. What we need at the moment is consensus-building amongst the political

The legislators are up in arms against Buhari.

Henceforth, expect him to have it tough and rough in the National Assembly

elite to CHANGE their wanton attitudes and re-position them for the much-needed rescue mission. A collective approach which will rally everyone behind the leader after agreements must have been reached on the way forward is what will deliver the desirable dividends; not a dictatorship of one man imposing his whims and caprices on others. He will be challenged.

He will be resisted. And he will not go far.

The legislators are up in arms against Buhari. Henceforth, expect him to have it tough and rough in the National Assembly. It is unlikely Bukola Saraki will go down quietly, especially after all his peace overtures have been spurned. Legislators can move against Buhari via impeachment once they have the numbers. The opposition PDP is under siege ostensibly under the guise of the war against corruption. But those who are “friendly” are given soft landing whereas those who are outspoken against Buhari like Olisa Metuh and Femi Fani-Fayode are given hard and spinebreaking landing. Governor Ayo Fayose, the remaining voice of the opposition yet to be silenced, is under assault on many fronts.

Recently, we heard that his wife would be sucked into the vortex. We read of the military high command responding to rumours of rumblings in the military. This president must be careful not to suffer the same affliction a second time. The army chief himself has been cited for owning properties in Dubai. Has he been investigated and were the possessions within his means? In the Buhari administration are many who have also been cited for corruption. Unfortunately, the EFCC searchlight is only on opposition figures.

A president who vowed that the Naira would never be devalued is resigned to its bastardization already. Buhari also talked tough, threatening to “crush” pro-Biafra and new Niger Delta Avengers but is now on his knees begging them. What is wrong with Buhari? What is fast turning this man who was a harbinger of hope into a nightmare? His approach to issues, pure and simple! He flexes muscles; he gets carried away by the awesome powers at his disposal; he is dictatorial. That way, his opponents are increasingly being seen as under-dogs, who deserve public sympathy and support.

Obama, the umbrella and our leaders’ arrogance Isa Ismail Jalingo

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et me first of all be quick to say that, I know two things that may come to many minds while reading this piece; firstly, the choice of the heading, and secondly what is new about the subject matter? Indeed, there is nothing new about Barack Obama holding an umbrella and certainly our political leaders arrogance in display of power is not new to us, but the point is; when are we going to change?

Sitting in my room with the remote control in my hand, I watch with keen interest on TV, president Obama’s historic visit to Cuba on the 21th march, 2016 to be precise.

Though not new to me, but seeing the most powerful man in the world coming down from a plane, holding an umbrella for his wife Mitchell and walking some fifty (50) meters in the rain to where other dignitaries, including the Cuban president were waiting for him truly strikes me and left me imagining if our

leaders in Nigeria do not see this.

The TV pictures remind me of my sordid encounter with a convoy of my local government chairman who nearly sent my car tumbling in a drainage simply because I didn’t park by the road side to give way to the over speeding convoy of about twenty cars while coming from a wedding ceremony. It was truly a horrible and scary incident. The thugs, Civil Defence Corps and the Police were all aggressive.

That also quickly reminds me of the story we read of how a particular lady and her family were molested

by Governor Almakura’s convoy for what the governor’s press secretary described as “being rude and disrespectful” by not parking aside the dangerous road to give way to the governor’s convoy. Then the story of Kogi Governors convoy’s brutality to ASUU members in December 2013, and many more similar cases.

Obama, as many leaders of the developed world, was seen doing almost everything on his own, being a husband, a father simple and

down to earths. Hmmm! Imagine if a governor in Nigeria will hold even his file in his hand at the airport, talk less of an umbrella in the rain?

I guess his armoured car will have to be brought close to the plane. Just of recent, Prof. Umaru Pate, of Bayero University Kano, just coming back from an academic conference in Finland, narrated to us how the prime minister of that country who was the special guest of honour came to the event with just a single car which he drove himself, and walked to the stage alone without any security aide, brought out his paper from his pocket and presented his speech and quietly left the way he come.

These type, of stories are numerous, countless and surely very obvious for all our leader to see and they have been seeing. But their attitude of “big manism and arrogance” (sorry for the choice of word) never change.

I keep wondering when they will change. Our leaders from councilors up to the president copy the whiteman’s language, dressing, means of transport home and in fact even how

to eat, but failed to copy these important elements; humility, simplicity and leadership by example.

Yesterday, today and probably tomorrow, Nigerian leaders from even the lowest ranks love demonstration of power.

They need aides to hold their speech papers, umbrella, handkerchiefs, and writing pens and even clean their shoes while sitting at public functions.

In most cases, even ward councillors go around events in convoys, local government chairman with multiple security, not to talk to state and federal legislators and our state governors.

The case of the president is left to be imagined.

My article is not aimed at ridiculing our leaders (make no mistake, I hold my leader in higher esteem and respect), but a patriotic call to our leaders to show compassion, respect and humility to their subject, for we all came with nothing and certainly shall leave this deceitful world with nothing except, of course, our deed.

•Jalingo is a level Four student of Mass Communication.

Bayero University, Kano.

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Unwarranted killings in the South-East

T

he massacre penultimate week of members of the Independent People of Biafra and Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra at a church service to mark the 49th anniversary of the declaration of State of Biafra, was one violent action too many on the part of the military.

Indeed, it underscored the growing culture of impunity and abuse of state power Given the nature of the latest gathering of these groups and their sympathisers at a Roman Catholic Church, one could only imagine that their only weapon was the Bible, more so as they were attending the memorial of compatriots who lost their lives in the Nigerian Civil War. It is inconceivable that those citzens could carry offensive weapons to attend a church where four prominent and respected priests including Cardinal Francis Arinze and the Catholic Arch-Bishop of Owerri, Anthony Obinna were to minister. Pathetic enough, about 50 of them were killed in the encounter.

Like the previous activities of the groups, the commemoration was carried mainly in the form of religious event and was strategically planned hence it held simultaneously on that day

throughout the South-East.

The crux of their agitation is the continued marginalization of the South-East in several fronts especially by the current administration. This, of course is very logical. However, there is no denying the fact that appointment into various offices in the country in the past one year of the current administration have not only be lopsided, they are manifestly skewed in favour of the North to the detriment of other sections of the country.

The same

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

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One undeniable fact is that secessionist tendencies and agitations by the IPOB and MOSSOB have been on for many years

thing goes for the distribution of infrastructural amenities- an action which belies the tenets of one Nigeria and commitment to nationhood.

While we stand for one indivisible Nigeria, suffice is to say that governance of the nation must be done on the principles of justice, equity and fair play. Every section of the country should be given a great sense of belonging in the distribution of the commonwealth in tandem with the principle of National Character which is en-

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shrined in the constitution.

One undeniable fact is that secessionist tendencies and agitations by the IPOB and MOSSOB have been on for many years. And by these agitations manifested in Radio Biafra and demonstrations on the streets, the groups have created apprehension, disturbed public peace and accompanying inciting statements have denigrated the country’s leadership.

Their actions in recent times have disrupted business and social activities,

leaving many people dead.

Often, the streets of Asaba and the Niger Bridge in Onitsha have been grounded, leading to the death of many and destruction of vehicles and other property – those of MOSSOB and IPOB members inclusive.

Whereas these protest-related killings have been most unacceptable, the last bloody incident by soldiers from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu State, is most barbaric, condemnable and uncalled. Not only did

it smack of unimaginable high-handedness, it runs foul of all universally acceptable means of handling protests.

Coming at a time when the founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu is standing trial for treason, it was presupposed that the Federal Government would deal with the group within the confines of the law, especially when there have been no independent confirmation to substantiate claims that they were bearing arms as at the time of the massacre.

On the part of IPOB and MASOOB, we make bold to say it is high time they adopted legal and internationally acceptable methods to achieve their goals in a civil manner.

Sometime last year, Scotland went into a referendum in expression of their determination to leave Britain as done by several countries worldwide and in most cases without any bloodshed.

Above all, this military crush them mentality, as done in Zaria, would only record fleeting success. Only equitable distribution of offices and infrastructure as well as according every section of the country a sense of belonging will elicit patriotism by all citizens and stave off a recurrence of secessionist tendencies.

18

POLITICS

Joe Igbokwe

E

ver since President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 presidential election, he was destined to win having laboured in 2003, 2007, 2011 and then 2015, a very vast preponderance of South-South and South-East indigenes have descended on the President, pouring invectives, calling him names, abusing his person and his exalted office, preaching hate, and ethnic divisions. I have followed this dangerous trend over a year now and it is not abetting. It is growing like wild fire everyday. In recent times the South-South people whose son lost the election have moved on except the criminal avengers, who are fighting for their pockets only and destroying their environment.

I have seen spirited and genuine efforts being made by the leaders of South-South to bring peace to the Niger Delta and I heartily commend them for this. It is in their own interest. But in the South-East our people have refused to move on.

In diaspora, in Nigeria, in schools, in the markets, on the streets, in Churches, in town meetings etc Ndigbo have refused to move on.

Every move the President makes to rebuild and reposition the country is abused, castigated and ethnic meaning read into it.

The dangerous trend has become so embarrassing that one is compelled to speak out. While leaders of South-South have made interventions to make way for harmony and peaceful co-existence, Igbo leaders have maintained a deafening silence but this silence is no longer golden. Ethnic bigotry and hate speeches our people both at home and abroad dish out everyday endanger our people living in all parts of Nigeria. President Buhari belongs to a section of Nigeria and must not run away with the thinking that his people will be happy and clap for us when we malign and abuse one of their own.

No ethnic group in Nigeria moves and settles in any part of the country like the Igbo. They set-

WEDNESDAY, JUly 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dangers of hate campaigns

Igbokwe

tle and do business in almost every part of the country, and when we throw stones to other Nigerians we endanger their lives and their businesses. The worst sets of Igbo guilty of this dangerous trend are those living outside the country.

While some of them are engaged into meaningful employment, many of them are unemployed.

They have become economic refugees and cultural savages. They have formed an association of hate preachers and wailing bigots. They have through actions and deeds created millions of enemies for Ndigbo in Nigeria while they waste their precious gift of time abroad doing nothing.

Last week, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was at Afe Babalola University, Ekiti State as guest speaker during the university’s convocation ceremony. In the cause of his speech, he told his audience that the Niger Delta Avengers are not

It is time for the Igbo to move on and join other Nigerians to begin the process of rebuilding

freedom fighters but fighting for their pockets only. I saw the story on facebook and other sites on the internet. The one on Facebook caught my attention because of nearly 400 reactions as at the time I read it. I took mental note of the reactions and the names attached to it. Ninety-five per cent are Igbo names and they abused and called the Vice President unprintable names for speaking the truth. This is a shame. Ignorance should not be a virtue. Ignorance is a disease.

Foolishness is a tragedy. This is mental darkness. A roaring lion kills no game. It is only a river that wants to get dried up that forgets its source. A Chinese proverb tells me that “He who blames others has a long way to go on his journey. He who blames himself is half way there. He who blames no one has arrived.”

Now, it is time for the Igbo to move on and join other Nigerians to begin the process of rebuilding Nigeria. I want Igbo governors, senators, elder statesmen, House of Reps members, House of Assembly members, political leaders, traditional rulers, Igbo intellectuals, professionals, market leaders, town union leaders, village heads etc to rise up to defend the integrity and honour of Igbo race. Are these ignorant ones who preach hate speaking for us? Are they representing us? Are they our brightest and bests? Are those asking for Biafra and using it as business venture speaking for all of us? Have we taken a look at the situation in South Sudan today? Shall we continue to sleep pretending that all is well? Can we be honest enough to see the real danger ahead? For how long will our leaders continue to be silent on these weighty issues?

Can elders continue to sleep while the kids wear snakes as necklaces?

Can the young teach tradition to the old? Who will bell the cat in Igboland? Who will call the ignorant kids to order?

Did the Yoruba go to war when June 12 1993 Presidential Election won by their illustrious son Chief MKO Abiola was annulled on June 23, 1993? Those of us who have lived in Yoruba land for years should not only learn how to wear Aso Ebi, eat Ewedu soup or dance Owambe, music. We must have also learn other unique things from them like sharing property to both male and female children, religious tolerance, ethnic tolerance, transferring legacies from generation to generation. We can learn a lot from Yoruba. Yoruba too can learn from Igbo in areas of thinking home, business enterprise, self-help, apprenticeship etc.

A Yoruba woman, a Pastor Mrs Eunice Olawale Elisha of the Redeemed Christian Church of God old NEPA Road Phase 4 Kubwa, Abuja was killed by unknown persons on Saturday morning of July 9, while preaching the gospel around 5.30am. I have followed the reactions on the internet and Yoruba do not behave like the Igbo.

They have been speaking but not preaching hate. They have called for the culprits to be fished out, prosecuted and punished. If Mrs Eunice Elisha had been an Igbo hell would have been let loose.

There would have been abuses and abuses. But Yoruba are not Igbo.

This is civilization. This is strategic thinking. I hope our people can learn from this. Civility is not a sign of weakness. He who fights and run away lives to fight another day.

To have ears is not to listen, to listen is not to hear, to hear is not to understand, to understand is not to put to practice. I know that writing this may not get me many friends among the Igbo but it always get me the right ones.

Case Rested!

•Igbokwe is the Publicity Secretary, Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC)

No sacred cows in anti-corruption war – Dogara C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 5

let's pay 40 per cent, 45 per cent or the maximum of 50 per cent to the contractor or say everything will be locally sourced, so let's pay 15 or 20 per cent. At least, we want to give procurement entities discretion with which to operate. So, I guess one year may be a small period of time for us to begin to assess the progress of this government.

We have not even started implementing the budget in its true sense and that will be done after procurement processes are over. That is one of the challenges that we have on ground.

Executive not honouring invitation The provisions of the constitution are manifestly and patently clear about powers in pursuance of a resolution published in a gazette. In the case of former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, what she did was a clever way of saying there was no publication in a gazette and so we had not complied with the constitutional provision to compel her. That was neither here nor there but the constitution was very clear that in pursuance to our resolution published in a gazette, we can invite any authority in Nigeria to give evidence in clear exercise of our legislative powers. It is manifestly provided for in our

constitution. We will see what we can if it is necessary to approach the court again, maybe the Supreme Court, to make a pronouncement on it.

What we should correct more in Nigeria is this culture of impunity. It is not a question of law, it is just a matter of when an individual feels that to some extent, ‘I can manoeuvre my way through the system so I'm not bound by the provisions of the law.’ Like I said before, due process, rule of law is the foundation of democracy to the extent that it is not the government of men but the government of laws. Anyone who knows and believes in our laws will not have any difficulty honouring the invitation of the National Assembly except that person feels guilty. The Attorney General has had cause to appear before committees of the National Assembly in the past, especially when we were dealing with the issues of Kogi State, MTN and others. So, it is a bit strange to say he is not going to honour Senate’s invitation because he is not answerable to them. It is left for him to explain but like they say in law, you cannot approbate and reprobate.

Grazing Bill We have had bills introduced on the issue of grazing and I know that it has become a highly contested matter in the body

polity. I believe that as leaders, we have responsibility to halt discussions that are not healthy in the polity. That is not the kind of thing we should encourage but as to whether we should have the discussion at all, I agree that whether things are pleasant or unpleasant, we just have to entertain them in a democracy. It is only in the course of entertaining them that they are adjudged to be unhealthy to the system that we can put them aside.

My take on this is very simple, I have had cause to talk to some of the promoters of this bill to say there is this unhealthy discussion about these bill in the National Assembly, so let's just halt and have a small group of people, who will take a look at some of these issues from the contributions of Nigerians and let's advice ourselves before moving on. As it is, that is where we are. We want to listen to opinions of our citizens and at the end of the day it is government of our people, we are going to do what majority of our citizens’ want and not what a few want. As the House of the people, we cannot run away from it, so ultimately, it is the will of the people that will triumph on this matter. So, right now we have halted all further processes on this bill.

Amnesty programme With regards to amnesty, I don't think the

government has stopped the programme.

The contention, as I heard, is that the funds appropriated were not enough. It is not the case that there is an outright ban on the Amnesty programme. All of us believe that this is the right way to approach this. We were in government when this decision was taken and we sincerely believe that it provides a great window for managing this crisis in the Niger Delta, so it is one of the things the executive can simply wish away without some dire consequences. I believe that the only way out is engaging the militants.

We have to do everything possible within government to ensure that we rein them in so that we can have the needed peace.

Not even just for economy exploitation or economic benefit of the whole country, but to ensure that that region develops too, they need the peace because development always flees violence. Wherever you have violence, it will never develop. Development and violence cannot cohabit. It has never been the case in history. So, even in the interest of the people in that region, they need the peace for development to take root. As leaders, it is our responsibility to point that out to the stakeholders in the Niger Delta to ensure that there is peace and whatever can be done to guarantee this peace should be done.

19

WEDNESday, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Life in the city Alternatives to Kerosene

The Mega City

Life in Mega City Dealing with Omo Onile

...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

21 23

Worlds apart An on-going highrise building at the Eko Atlantic Estate, Bar Beach, Victoria Island

Life in the coastline of the Ilaje community in Bariga and the emerging world class Eko Atlantic City appear to have a common appeal. The two communities are enjoying the natural breeze that permeates homes around the open rivers. But in reality, the two are exact opposites.

What defines them makes them poles apart. EZURIKE UGOCHUKWU reports

T

hey are worlds apart, existing on parallel lines. While one is a world of class and opulence, well guarded and sleek, the other is a world of poverty, neglect, filth and open. In a short word, it is squalor!

Elvis Sunday, by stroke of luck, survived being swept off his feet into the ocean. Probably, his bones could have been part of mineral deposits in the ocean base long before now. That was in 2004, while trying to wade his way through the surging water on Ahmadu Bello Way, where his office was located- the

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CITY Editor

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

popular bar beach.

He was determined to go all length to where he could get a bus to his house in Mowe, Ogun State.

Sunday narrated how, having waited longer than necessary for the rains that started around 4:00pm till 8:00pm without any sign of receding, he made efforts to go home, not knowing the flood was so deep and high. Thank God he survived it. Not only was the surge a threat to lives, it was also to property and ecosystem within the Victoria Island.

Today, that anxiety may have been dwarfed in the subconscious mind of Lagosians by technological advancement implored in the area.

Today, the ocean has been pushed backwards over 10 square kilometres, and the large expanse of that coastal shore of the ocean has been reclaimed and now about hosting a world class home, business and tourist beacon of Nigeria.

Undoubtedly, the new city is in the same temperate climate breeze with the slums and shanties, as the Ilaje community who are at the shoreline of the lagoon, stretching obviously along and under the

Single stilt house in Ilaje-Bariga area

Not only was the surge a threat to lives, it was also a threat to property

of Lagos

third mainland bridge.

Ilaje community is a major landmass to behold from the Oworonshoki end of the third mainland bridge, at the right-hand side of the river shore. Many years before now, they have been living in makeshift houses on stilts elevated above five feet water level, constructed within the shores with wood, bamboos and raffia palms as roof.

Residents wade through water to the wooden made staircases into the houses that serve as homes for as much as five to eight family members. They cook and eat their food therein, nurse their babies and even receive visitors, who may have the nerve to climb in.

A resident of the area, Paul Ozuowerie, an Ijaw, who has lived in the area for nine years, said though the houses are small and appear common, they are assets to the owners who are mostly indigenes and Ilajes and Eguns(Cotonue indigenes). “The period

this place was predominantly stilt wooden houses, the Eguns were the ones mostly occupying them with their children. The Eguns were not ready to spend their money on anything expensive as at that time.

Even property, they didn’t buy.

On daily basis, they made average of N4, 000, either as sand miners or fishermen.

All their education is in the sea as they make no efforts to send their children to school. Daily, inside their canoes and engine boats; with their children and wives, who will always strap their babies at their back, they seem to think little of comfort here. Whatever money they made, they took to their homes in Benin Republic. I believe that is where they invest. They move and reside by the sea side like the Ilajes, having as well come from riverine area of their country.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

20 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Emmanuel Uti

T

he world, last week stood still for Muslim faithful, as they gathered en masse at different locations to celebrate the much awaited Eid-el-fitr thanksgiving festival to mark the end of the 30-day Ramadan season.

About 30 days before last week Wednesday, Muslims all over Nigeria had engaged in a fast from sunrise to sunset, seeking the face of God. In Lagos, they were seen steadily going to mosques to pray in numbers. Many who see themselves as true worshippers, abstained from drinking and smoking as dictated by the Quran, bad speeches and they were indeed modest and decent in their carriages.

But as the customs are, after the Ramadan season, they are enjoined to celebrate through a thanksgiving festival called Eid-el-fitr.

In Lagos, celebration was the order of the day in many parts of the state. Many were seen making merry as the period was fun filled, while some who were buoyant enough were seen performing some rites like alms giving. Within the space of three days, declared by the Federal Government as public holidays, most areas in Lagos went wild for the Eid-el-fitr celebration.

For most Muslims, the period was characterised by rites.

Explaining the reason behind the yearly Eid-el-Fitr, Moshood Oladerin, an Ustaz at Toluwalase mosque, Meiran, said it was necessary for Muslims to hold the festival because God would not give His best until He has been appreciated. He said Eid-el-fitr, which means “Festival of the break of fast” is an important holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it is the first between the two festivals God ordained for Muslims to celebrate.

He added that the Eid is a single day which the Muslims are not permitted to fast because the holiday is meant to seal up the Ramadan fast through thanksgiving.

According to him, the Eid is a unifying festival, where all Muslims celebrate God for guiding them towards the right path. He added that the Eid’s day falls on the Islamic 10thmonth, Shawwal.

But what seems unique about this year’s fast is the moon, as it became a subject among many till it appeared. Last week Monday, many were expecting the moon to show up but it didn’t appear till the next evening. By then, many wondered if the Federal Government would declare Thursday a holiday in continuation of waiting for the moon.

Speaking to New Telegraph, Fathiat Olukoya, said that it was necessary for the moon to show up before they ended the edition of this year’s fast as since inception, Muslims had always used the moon as a determining factor to know when to start and end the fast.

She said, “In the olden days, when there was no calendar, we used the moon to determine months and years and even when to start the fast. This is because the moon is accurate.

That is why the Muslims have their own separate calendar.”

A family breaking their fast during the month of Ramadan

Life after Ramadan In his speech, while narrating the ordeals Muslims in Lagos went through while the fast was on, Moshood said that the economy of the country affected Muslims badly. He said that during the fast, the economic hardship affected Muslims from performing some rites like alms giving, and even to break the fast with fruits as prescribed by the Quran was a problem for many.

In like manner, Sanni Shukurah highlighted that the economic situation of the country affected Muslims faithful during the fasting period. She said continuing the fast from the first day to the last day and even the Eid celebration was challenging as prices of things hindered Muslims from doing some common necessities.

“We only managed to cope through during Ramadan

by Allah’s grace because the economy affected the Muslims greatly as the prices of things were two times the initial prices. Foods were costly, even the rich couldn’t afford to give out provisions as much as they used to give during Ramadan. They just couldn’t afford it because they had to consider themselves first too. For the Zabatul Fitr, we do observe very early before we go to Eid, most people used garri-(cassava flake) as they couldn’t afford the price of rice.

This is traceable to the fact that the economy is harsh.”

Highlighting the blessings they stand to receive as a result of their faithfulness during Ramadan, Mohammed Okin, an Islamic cleric, said that God has promised them abundant blessings and paradise. He added that those who wholeheartedly participated in the fast would be blessed beyond measure.

He said, “Allah will also bless the city his children dwell.”

Children celebrating the Ramadan

The moon became a subject among many till it appeared

Similarly, Sanni said that one of the blessings God had promise is security. She asserted that God has promised to keep them safe not only during the fast but forever.

“During the holy month of Ramadan, there are hardly any crises and there are fewer casualties because Allah ensures maximum security. By this, He will sustain Lagos too by blessing it because of his children in it”, she said.

Fathiat also said that Muslims faithful pray a lot during Ramadan especially for their country. She said that some of their prayers are directed at the betterment of the nation.

By that, she said, the nation at large is bound to be blessed during and after Ramadan. She further said that with the various lectures held during Ramadan, people like kidnappers, thieves would reduce in number as they would have been renewed in mind by the teachings such that they forsake their bad ways while God keeps blessing the state.

Although the Eid-el-fitr festival was celebrated by Muslims in Lagos, yet it is not the main celebration for Muslims. Many clerics tagged it “Small feast”.

Ustaz Moshood said that it is only a thanksgiving festival and the main celebration for Muslims, Eid-el-Kabir, will hold in September. According to him, the festival which holds 71 days after the Ramadan ends is the precise one Muslims celebrate enormously.

However, he advised that Muslims in Lagos shouldn’t fall back into sin because they are through with Ramadan. He said that Muslim faithful should continue their good works because in the end, they would receive the promise of God by activating it through their holiness.

“For those that stopped doing what they like because of Ramadan, my message is that you should abide in the power Allah has made available for us during Ramadan. For those that stopped drinking and smoking because of Ramadan, I advise that you should continue knowing full well that Allah will perfect you”, he further advised.

The Cleric added that Muslims in the state should depend on God and never go back to a wayward life. He however urged that the Ramadan public lectures they heard shouldn’t fall on deaf ears but should be nurtured by them maximizing the teachings for their benefits.

LIFE/IN THE CITY 21

WEDNESday, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Alternatives to kerosene

Fire wood cooking

Charcoal stove

Oluwatosin Adepoju

W

hile Lagosians are still trying to cope with the recent increase in the price of the Premium Motor Spirit, (PMS), there have also been murmurings on the persistent increase in the price of kerosene too. Although, this seems not to be the concern of most wealthy people in the state, who have seen the use of gas cooker and other electric cooking appliances as a better option than stove, even if the price of kerosene was cheaply affordable for them.

However, an average Lagosian, who saw the use of kerosene stove as a cheap and fast means of getting dishes ready, might seem to now find it hard to cope with the situation. Therefore, seeking other cheaper and possible alternatives becomes a necessity for some, while others continue to cope in the face of the tight economic situation of the country.

In a chat with Mrs. Chioma Gabriel, who has been in the kerosene business for the past five years, she said that it was surprising to see that the substance increases in price this time. Some of her customers are yearning for reduction in the price as they seek other alternatives while they buy little amount of the commodity to lit the charcoal using the coal pot in which they now see as cheap alternative.

She said that the price of a litre before that use to cost about a N100 is now being sold by different filling stations for between N200 and N250 per li-

Cooking gas

tre.

Another retailer, who buys directly from the filling station to sell to the public, Halimat Kehinde, said that a bottle which she usually sold for a N150 is now sold for N200.

Some even sell it for N250, depending on the cost they get it from the fuel stations. She added that, even as a retailer, she now uses the charcoal pot as it serves as a means of relief to the issue of kerosene, and it is even better and faster.

Idiat Ali in her own opinion,

The long queue for kerosene

Saw dust cooking

said that now that the price has increased, she prefers buying from the filling stations at the rate of N200 per litre. Although it was sold for N120 per litre, it seems better than buying a bottle for N250 as a litre from the filling station contains more than a bottle and half. She added that the situation has also led her to start using the charcoal pot which seems convenient and affordable for her, since it’s now hard to get kerosene in some filing stations.

Adeoba Juliet, a fuel atten-

Lagosians should start embracing the use of gas cooker as an alternative

dant at Techno Oil, along the Abeokuta express way, at IleEpo, Oke-Odo Lagos, said that currently, the commodity is scarce as they also do not have it in supply. She revealed that some filling stations sell for N300 per litre which is not affordable for some people.

Another attendant who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “Lagosians should start embracing the use of gas cooker as an alternative, since the commodity is currently scarce and costly where available.�

22 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

“Depending on the size of the houses, they were paying between N500 and N800 for the plank make shift houses. Such buildings are no longer sprouting around here since after the fire inferno that razed houses here some time ago, a situation that constrained former Governor Babatunde Fashola, to place ban on erecting thatch and bamboo houses, other than block houses here. At present, most of the block houses you see by the river side go for between N3,000 and N3,500 per room monthly.”

Elisha Isaac, also a resident of the area said life by the shore is a fulfiling life, where you spend little and worry less unlike the troubles often experienced in the cities. “We don’t pay to dispose our refuse, we don’t worry about faulty or filled septic-tanks, and we don’t worry about hotness of the weather; the environment is always cool. Some of our children here attend private schools.

It worries me why government refused to build a single primary school here for us.

“We make most of our movements and interaction by the shorelines, and virtually get all our day-to-day needs therein.

Even what people upland may find difficult to get, at times we get them cheaper. We move into some rural areas on water and we come across most foodstuffs even cheaper.”

Isaac said further that since February, 2016, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, through the state Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, announced the closure of sand mining in all Lagos waterways on the heels of the communal clash by rival cult groups in the area, life has become a ghost of itself in the area.

“The business here is so structured that, the boats are manufactured, owned and rented out by the Ilajes to the Eguns, who move them into the river, mine the sand, and drive their boats full of sand to the shore and berth for the off loaders who are mostly Hausas to offload for the owners at the sea shore.”

A resident of the area, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said life in the area is so unregimented. It’s like a lawless zone without a government, and no rule.

“Anything finds its way unimpeded into the homes through the sea; hard drugs, and ammunitions I suspect as well. They all find their ways in. That accounts to why cult activities and many other forms of immorality and negative influences thrive here.

Most people that have good relations outside here prefer to raise their children outside this place for them to only visit on the belief this place is terribly atrocious.

Children here are like night Owl, negatively active at nights.”

According to Isaac, there is thoroughfare around all the houses on this axis of the state.

As such, it is considered an invitation to insult, to question certain movements around houses, “no privacy in our homes. So many girls and women here make their living through prostitution. Many new faces move in and out of this place daily. Drinking and smok-

The Ilaje slum

Beauty and the beast ing here are highly uncensored.

Truly, encouraging somebody to live here, is like selling a pup to the person” He said.

Most services in the area are rented at no cost. That accounts to why the place is a survival of the fittest. That does not mean there are no laws and leaders in the area. There are also punishments for culprits in the area which are cruel.

Taking ones bathe in the sea is the way to go in the area, though there are some very narrow makeshift bathrooms, circled with sack bags or cement blocks for those who prefer privacy mostly visitors. Defecating is a different ballgame especially at mornings. It’s a common sight to see men, women and children squat in a row by the river bank to defecate as if they are waiting for the blast of the whistle for a fishing festival.

They certainly believe that as the ocean tides in and out, their waste deposit are certain to be washed into the river to feed yawning fishes. Ironically, their source of potable water in the area is from the river or well water located away from the vicinity.

Electric cables in spaghetti like manner hang in all the corners and supply light to them, even as their supply is also as epileptic as many other parts of Lagos.

Abiodun Shobule has lived in the area for over 15 years. He said government has not taken any deliberate efforts to improve the lot of people living by the rivers. They only remember them during elections, as well as make good use of the bad boys, who are in greater numbers in the area as thugs.

“Are we not supposed to have a jetty in this place as well as boats for fishing. Go and check the fish drying factory built here, it’s now a ghost of itself as nothing happens there again apart from trading of all forms of wares. They said they want

The chances of exposure to immorality are high

Entrance into the Eko Atlantic City

us to go into fishing. Do we have the equipment and incentive to do that? The last government was tacitly bent on sending poor people out of Lagos as if the state is preponderance of the rich; while there are poor people everywhere.

“Every corner you go, they are destroying poor people’s shop, only to hand them over to the rich. I am not sounding pessimistic to say that now they have asked us to stop sand mining which is what more than 80 per cent here are feeding on. They have not perfected plans with their ‘partners’ as they will always say, to send us out of this place in the name of building mega city? Everywhere in the world, there are places that are the preserve of the poor-the slums and shanties). Not only in Lagos.

Toyin Bankole is a young engineer in his early 30s. He grew up in the Ajegunle area of Lagos before he relocated to live with his elder brother, who now has his accommodation at the Goshen Beach Estate, Lekki, Epe Expressway Lagos.

To Bankole, comparing the modern estates in Lagos especially the budding Eko Atlantic City and the

life in the shanties like Ilaje Bariga and other shanties within Apapa water ways is like comparing heaven and hell, like travelling on an old 911 Mercedes Benz commuter truck and travelling on a Prado Toyota Jeep. He emphasised that, having lived in squalor and now in a posh and highbrow area in Lagos, he can authoritatively say such places are not good for child upbringing; that negative influence is inimitable there.

“That does not mean there are no decent children from such areas but the chances of exposure to immorality are high because parents do not have firm control over their children. For me, I was privileged not to have had all my growing up days in the area. My secondary school days were at Surulere, where I lived with my aunty till I graduated from the university.”

There are many other estates, reclaimed from coastlines and swamps in Lagos that have such modern facilities as; manicured flower gardens, uninterrupted CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

LIFE/IN THE CITY 23

WEDNESday, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dealing with Omo Onile Abiodun Olokode

I

n the quest of making Lagos State a city free of corruption and fraud, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has established a special task force in the state to fight against the violent and criminal activities of land grabbers popularly known as Omo Onile.

Last month, after the inauguration of the special task force established to curb the violent and criminal activities of land grabbers, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said that residents of the state should desist from the act of paying land grabbers any amount of money either for the foundation or roofing of their houses.

According to Kazeem, the activities of land grabbers is a criminal offence and anybody caught in this act will be treated as a criminal according to section 52, 53 and 281 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. The criminal and violent activities of land grabbers are mostly common in developing areas, where there are plenty sites and in a situation where the attention of this task force is required, they can be reached through numbers 09096667123 and 09020085005 or email address viaomoonileTF@ lagosstate.gov. ng.

A landlord, who doubles as an agent in the state, said, “The violent and criminal activities of the so called Omo Onile are the responsibilities of streets and community hooligans who see and utilise the opportunity to earn a living. The activities of land grabbers are supported and recognised by some focal personalities of a community such Obas (Kings) and Baales because they also have a share of the amount that is claimed by land grabbers within their jurisdiction”.

He added: “When a new site is being roofed or floored, land grabbers request for the sum of CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

power supply, underground electric cabling, underground water supply network, central sewage system and treatment plants, as well as satellite facilities, street lighting and central sewage system. Such estates as Banana Estate, Ilubirin Foreshore housing Estate are few examples.

The Eko Atlantic City, called the “Dubai of Nigeria” under construction, according to the management is to compete well with other world class cities as, Kensington Palace Gardens in London, La Jolla in San Diego, California, Tribeca in New York, Shibuya Japan or Victoria Peak in Hong Kong.

A common feature shared by the coastal squalor shanties and the elitist cities reclaimed from ocean is the uninterrupted flow of natural breeze and closeness to nature While the modern estates and the upcoming Eko Atlantic City are synonymous with low

House construction at the foundation level

N100, 000 and N50, 000 respectively.

They request for higher amount of money when an ongoing construction is being decked because they believe that you are buying another land apart from the initial one you are building the house upon”.

He charged the special task force to carry out the responsibilities saddled upon them effectively and efficiently and most importantly, to honour their integrity by desisting from the habit of collecting bribes.

Mr. Ogunnaike Gbenga, who works as an advertiser, said, “I am aware of the task force that was set up to curb the violent activities of land grabbers. The development is good for Lagos State and it is right in time because it will create security for land owners and employment opportunities for the officials of this task force. This Omo Onile issue is a very common and disturbing issue and it discourages

people from acquiring landed properties because of the fear of being defrauded.”

He believes that the existence of a body to regulate the activities of land grabbers will make people feel safe to acquire lands and build houses which will also help to reduce the extortion of landlords because “when we have sufficient houses, the current rent rate will reduce drastically.”

He implores the special task force to do their work diligently, meticulously and to be upright for people to trust them and know that they exist.

Emanuel, said he was aware of the development and he believes that it will help to control and monitor the violent activities of land grabbers. With the full support of the government and the heart to say no to bribery and corruption, the special task force would be capable to regulate the activities of land grabbers.

He urged the special task force to do the work with the whole of their

The activities of land grabbers is a criminal offence

Beauty and the beast human density, the shanties wallow in high density per room and area.

At inception in 2005, it was flaunted that the Estate will be completed by September, 2016.

The project, which began as an attempt to wrestle the Lagos Bar Beach particularly, and entire Victoria Island from being submerged by water, later turned into a massive land reclamation, with a full eight-and-a-half metres above sea level wall built to last 1,000 years, including a concrete Wave Deflector Wall that will include a scenic Pedestrian Walkway.

The area consists of 10 square kilometers (3.86 square miles) of land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean, expected on completion to house over 200,000 residents and further 150, 000 people who will commute in and out of the area in the cause of their jobs in the area.

The project, which is pri-

vate sector driven is handled by South Energy Nigeria Limited.

The Vice Chairman of the company, Mr. Ronald Chagoury Jr, at the inception, said it was now time for international companies to take a much closer look at investment potentials in subSaharan Africa, with a special attention on Nigeria.

“We have a shortage of 16 million homes in Nigeria with a shortfall of five million homes in Lagos alone. Eko Atlantic is 100 per cent privately funded. It is a registered free zone and will have reliable 24 hours utilities such as an independent natural gas power plant, independent water and sewage treatment plants, and a state-of-the-art fibre optic network,” he said.

A Lagos based estate agent, Kehinde Suleman, stressed that such areas as the Ilaje Bariga / Ebute Metta ought to be reclaimed and transformed to a

modern city structure, as its present posture demeans the city to a first timer. “I believe as the government has placed embargo on the mining of sand in many other area as Ilaje Bariga, they have to use the opportunity to develop the place, relocate the fishermen there to another place. In all sincerity, that place does not paint a good picture of Lagos. It is certainly a dent on the concept of mega city.

“We cannot be talking of attaining a mega city height while we have such shanties at the confluence between the Mainland and the Island, at the major roads into the cities, they are unbefitting. Government should resettle residents of the area and build such edifies around the area rather than the risk of sand filling Atlantic Ocean.

Those developed countries have advanced in their technology. As such, are capable of managing

hearts and fear of God. A businesswoman, Latifat Adeboye, claimed not to be aware of this development, but after she was informed, she said the establishment of task force to fight against the activities of land grabbers was an encouraging and promising step towards making the state a better place; where more investment could be made on landed properties without doubt.

She added: “Lagos State Government should give this body the support and resources they require to carry out their duties because the hoodlums that call themselves Omo Onile are very inquisitive and sometimes armed with facilities in which they use to threaten land owners.” She pleaded with the special task force to make themselves available when and wherever they are needed in order to truly cease the violent and criminal activities of land grabber.

inherent challenges,” Suleman said.

A geologist, Dr. Charles Ugwueze, said some of the claims on reclaimed coastal land may be right as they are based on experiment but cautioned against going hook, line and sinker with some claims. He wonders what will be man’s expectation about the Atlantic City when the area starts to experience ‘progradation’, a situation of relative rise in unpleasant sea level when much of land on coastal surfaces starts to submerge.

“If we succeeded in halting the destructive nature of the Lagos bar beach, where would the energy of the long ocean current be dissipated? In Delta region or any other part of the city? Such reclaimed lands area good for men who are up for fame and in the twilight of their business adventures to invest on.”

24 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

T

he Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, recently swore in 57 Sole Administrators for the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the 37 Local Council Development Authorities (LCDAs) in the state.

Talking tough to the new administrators, the governor said that, "it will no longer be business as usual; rather, it will be tough journey requiring character, leadership, commitment and resilience of those at the helm of affairs to actualize our dreams."

Ambode further told them that strict accountability must be their watch word. “Lagosians will be watching you and I will be watching you too.

Your appointment today as Sole Administrators should therefore be seen as a call to service of our people. For the duration of your race, I urge you to run the race efficiently with diligence, so you do not betray the trust that has been placed in you,” Governor Ambode said.

Speaking to New Telegraph on the appointment of the Sole Administrators and the performance of the former Executive Secretaries, Iliasu Bamidele, a Lagosian, analysed that from the governor’s charged speech while swearing in the administrators, it appears Lagos State government will have a better and well managed council devoid of corruption.

“As for me, it is until I begin to see transparency in their transactions before I can believe all these talk about accountability. The governor should have a monitoring team that monitors these local government officials because they are in the world of their own,” he said.

Deji Olaitan, a resident in Jakande Estate, said he was not happy with past administration under the leadership of the former Executive Secretary that was recently dissolved by the state House of Assembly. He told New Telegraph that, the Executive Secretary and his team did not bother to do some repair about his area which was in terrible shape. When asked to mention the area in question, he just said, "They know where I am talking about because representatives raised the issues on the day of the "Stakeholders meeting. So, they cannot claim ignorance of the matter."

Another resident, Itunu Ismail, said, "I cannot really see what the last administration of the LCDAs achieved because things remain how they were before and after their regime. In terms

Igando-Ikotun LCDA gate

Low marks for council bosses

Lagosians will be watching you and I will be watching you too

of road improvement and cleaning of gutters and relationship with the petty traders, they didn’t do well at all,” he said.

At Ifoshi/Fadu and Coker/Lafenwa roads, a community where the two long stretch roads under construction are, a vulcanizer, who said he is better known as Fokato said that the out gone administration has done very well, “even though the road on which I am assessing them is yet to be completed, when the road is finished, it will bring great relief to both private and commercial motorists.

Apart from that, the roads will be clean and devoid of mud."

A son of one of the house owners of an affected building, who refused be identified by name, expressed his feelings to New Telegraph. He said: "In my own view, they have not impressed me at all because they touched some people's property and did not compensate the affected owners. I understand that abroad, once your property is affected when government is constructing, you will be compensated with something commensurate to what they have taken away from you but here in our country, they will prefer to cheat you as a poor person. Here, poor people can't fight government and win because they don't have the wherewithal to do so."

Speaking on the same issue, Omolomo, (not his real name), one

of the oldest tenants in the community said "the issue was that the government did their home work before they commenced the construction work."

According to him, "they had done a great deal of advocacy before hand and outside that, the well meaning people of the community have been craving for better road.

They also understand that you will have to give out something in order to get a new one."

Efforts by New Telegraph to speak with some of the Landlords failed. They vowed not to speak to the press.

When New Telegraph visited Ejigbo Local Council Development Authority (LCDA ) to speak to some of the former Executive Secretary's staff; those approached declined comment and referred the correspondent to the Information officer, who as at the time of filling the report could not be reached as he was not in the office.

At the Law chambers office of the former Executive Secretary of Ejigbo LCDA, Mr. Jaiye Alabi, while reacting to the issues raised by the people he ruled for over 18 months, he said that he was affected by the global decline in the crude price and the truncation of crude production, which has really affected the allocation that is coming from the Federal. “We were able to augment from the little internally generated revenue

(IGR) that we were able to muster and able to achieve through prudent resource management and self denial and that is how we were able to do all those things we did and I leave the rest to the community who are the best judge."

In debunking the accusation that they deceived the people with the socalled empowerment programme which did not see the light of the day, Alabi said that they did a lot of empowerment programmes coupled with vocational training for youths and widows and bought some equipment for them. “Unfortunately, we couldn't give them out to the beneficiaries before the abrupt end of our tenure. I hope that my successor will continue from there, government being a continuum."

On the total figures of Ejigbo IGR, Mr. Alabi said, he did not have the figures and wouldn’t want to fall into the error of saying the wrong figure. He however advised members of the public who wished to know the figures to visit the council office for any verification.

At Isolo Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) where Mr. Jimoh Jibril, was the Executive Secretary, he was rated to have performed below average. Some officials who chatted with New Telegraph but did not want their names to be mentioned said, he tried but would have done better if he had the requisite knowledge. According to a former Councillor, who pleaded anonymity, “Mr. Jimoh doesn't have the technical know- how to move the LCDA forward and that is why we are where we are today. He believes in cheap publicity. I hope the new administrator will bring something new and better this time around as the LCDA has never had good people to serve,” he said.

A trader, Bisi Lasisi, said, "all the recent past administration knew best to do was to harass people on environmental sanitation days. We have not seen any project which they were able to start and finish, despite the fact that Isolo has big industries in its space."

Meanwhile, efforts made to reach the Jimoh to react to the comments proved abortive as his GSM line was not responding. New Telegraph also made an attempt to see the new Sole Administrator but was informed by a staff that he has not formally resumed.

QUOTE

OF THE WEEK

"The state government will not only identify the effects of the problems being perpetrated by these unscrupulous elements on commercial activities and peace of the citizenry but would also find a lasting solutions to the menace."Adeniji Kazeem, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice warning land grabbers in the state.

IN NUMBERS JU LY

Victor Uddo

Group set to provide over 600, 000 jobs for Nigerian youths

25

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Money

Business What's new Stanbic, Rencap, 8 others trade N360bn shares in six months

Concern mounts over health of lenders

Investor Corporate governance as remedy for business failures

28 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2016...............................15.6% April 2016............................13.7% March 2016..............................12.8%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at July 8)

(Interbank as at July 8)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N352 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N470 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N386

l Foreign Reserves – $26.398bn as at 4/7/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N282 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N366 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N312

Source: CBN

p.26

Chocolate market to hit $143bn as cocoa prices surge p.26

L-R: Managing Director, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), Mr Ibrahim Boyi; Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; Head of PAN’s Technical School, Mr. Pakshar Yakubu and Kano State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Garba Muhammed, during the visit of Gov. Ganduje to the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Plant, in Kaduna.

MORE PRESSURE Naira depreciation would require the banks to set aside more naira earnings as provisions, given the loans are in forex

Tony Chukwunyem

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

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

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has instructed four banks in the country to classify their upstream loan to the energy company, Aiteo.

New Telegraph learnt that after the banking watchdog assessed the loan in 1Q16, it had concerns about its performance under prudential standards and instructed the lenders to classify it as substandard and take a 10 per cent provision.

Aiteo, a major player in the upstream, midstream, downstream and power sectors, had through its upstream arm, acquired Shell’s OML 29, in late 2014, a deal, which included the Nembe Creek Trunk Line, one of Nigeria’s major oil pipelines that has been repeatedly attacked by militants.

These information were contained in a note by the global financial services firm, Renaissance Capital, obtained by this newspaper.

According to Rencap, Aiteo’s upstream three-year loans to the four banks amount to $1.5 billion or $2 billion, including Shell’s $512 million loan.

CBN asks banks to classify Aiteo’s $2bn loan The financial services firm reported the banks involved as saying that Aiteo has not missed any interest payments but has faced some challenges in terms of principal repayment.

As the firm put it: “We think Aiteo’s multiple loans across its divisions and negative press on the proprietor may have also raised concerns. Discussions with the CBN are still ongoing, but we understand from the banks that strong early indications are that the loans may be treated in a similar way to the loans to Oando – meaning that the impairment will be passed through equity in the non-distributable noncapital qualifying Regulatory Risk Reserve (RRR), helping to keep profits looking healthy but slightly hurting the banks’ Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR).

“If the CBN approves the Oando-like treatment, the loans should also now be restructured.

Under this scenario, we calculate that total coverage (10 per cent in RRR but the principal not added as NPL) would increase for all the banks, but the CAR could reduce by 20-30 bpts, using the current exchange rate,” Rencap stated.

N649.6 billion Being the value of banks’ nonperforming loans in 2015

Painting a best and worst case scenarios of the final agreement that may be reached on the issue by the apex bank and the lenders involved, the firm said a best case scenario is one in which the banks would not have to classify the loans or take any provisions, although the loans could be restructured. It, however, added that “given the CBN’s concerns about the loans, the best-case scenario looks unlikely to us.”

On the other hand, according to the firm, the worst case scenario “would see the banks classify the Aiteo loans as NPLs and take the requisite 10 per cent provision through P&L.” RenCap added: “Naira depreciation would require the banks to set aside more naira earnings as provisions, given the loans are in FX.” Specifically, commenting on the likely impact on the three Tier one and mid-sized lenders that are exposed to Aiteo, the firm said: “Using the current exchange rate, the Cost of Revenue (CoR) of banks in our universe would rise by 40 bpts on average and by 60 bpts, using a N300/$ exchange rate; Return CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

26

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |news

Stanbic, Rencap, 8 others trade N360bn shares in six months DOMINANCE Top stockbrokers are liable for 58.22 per cent of the total value of transactions year-to-date

Chris Ugwu

T

op ten stockbroking firms in the Nigerian capital market, including Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers, Rencap Securities Limited and CSL Stockbrokers Limited, ended the half year 2016 with an exchange of 74.932 billion shares worth N360.429 billion.

Investigation by the New Telegraph showed that these stockbrokers were responsible for 58.22 per cent of the total value between 04/01/2016 and 30/06/2016 Also, they were liable for 60.45 per cent of the total volume during the period under review.

Further findings revealed that Stanbic IBTC S t o ck b ro ke r s Limited dominated with 12.15 per cent or N75.208 billion exchanged in 5.650 billion shares.

Rencap Securities Limited followed with N67.632 billion or 10.92 per cent exchanged in 4.156 billion shares.

CSL Stockbrokers Limited accounted for N57.129 billion or 9.23 per cent invested in 6.276 billion shares.

EFCP Securities Limited traded N44.990 billion or 7.27

CBN asks banks to classify Aiteo’s $2bn loan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

on Earnings (RoE) would decline by 130 bpts (190 bpts at the weaker rate); while Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) would decline by 4050 bpts at the weaker rate.”

Besides, it stated that excluding a particular leading Tier one lender “(where we calculate the NPL ratio would rise by 4 ppts to 26 per cent at the weaker rate), the average NPL ratio for the other three banks would rise to 10 per cent on average (from three per cent currently). This could affect their dividend pay-outs under current CBN guidelines.”

Re n c a p, h o w e ve r, concludes: “Our core assumption is our base case no NPL classification, but 10 per cent general provision - we have made no change to our forecasts or ratings.”

A recent CBN report reveals that banks had a huge stock of nonperforming loans to the tune of N649.63 billion in 2015.

per cent recorded in 2.652 billion shares, while FBN Securities Limited accounted for N31.579 billion or 5.10 per cent.

Greenwich Securities Limited exchanged N26.588 billion or 4.29 per cent in 27.066 billion shares, while Cardinal Stone Securities Limited staked shares worth N16.054 billion or 2.59 per cent.

Africa Alliance Stockbrokers Limited traded N14.643 billion or 2.37 per cent while Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited exchanged N13.622 billion or 2.20 per cent. Investment One Stockbrokers International Limited trailed with N12.979 billion or 2.10 per cent.

In an effort to stimulate demand and engender competition in the stock broking community, the management of the Exchange had in September 2011 introduced the ranking of the brokers by transaction value and volume.

Market analysts have identified volume of transactions as a major challenge facing stockbroking firms in Nigeria.

According to them, there are a few stockbrokers working with these foreign institutions who collectively control the major volumes traded in the market.

Market watchers believed that the dominance of these brokers appears to be

the reasons why they are currently dictating the tune in the Nigerian market and so anytime they start buying, the bulls return and when they stop buying and take their profit, the bears take over again. This, they concluded, is part of the reasons for the back and forth movements that is being experienced in the stock market.

President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe, in an interview with New Telegraph, said the biggest challenge facing stockbrokers currently was low participation and low liquidity in the market.

“While the regulators and stockbrokers have been

working hard to create new products such as the Exchange Traded Funds, the buy side of the market remains weak, especially from the local end.

“Meanwhile, stockbroking firms have also had to grapple with spiralling costs arising from the recently introduced minimum operating standards.

“Investor’s confidence is still low as a result of massive losses arising from the 2008 global recession, although this is being addressed.

Quoted companies are also going through challenging times with regard to rising costs. This is affecting their dividend paying ability,” he said.

L-R: Branch Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Victoria Island, Lagos, Folake Adebule; Marketing Manager, DStv, Chioma Afe and Head, Retention, MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, during the DStv Customer Forum in Lagos.

Chocolate market to hit $143bn as cocoa prices surge CHANGE Britain’s exit from European Union has forced the price of cocoa to increase

Bayo Akomolafe

R

etail market for chocolate candy is expected to rise to $143 billion by 2017, as the price of cocoa surged to levels not witnessed in almost four decades.

It was learnt that the price of the commodity has climbed to £2,500 a ton for the first time since 1977 following Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The two largest global consumers of cocoa and chocolate products are Europe with 49 per cent and the United States with 22 per cent of the market.

Also, it was revealed that the surge in cocoa price was supported by the weather and uncertainty about supplies in West African countries.

According to International

Cocoa Association (ICCO), 75 per cent of the world’s cocoa is produced in the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria. But disease and drought have affected production. Demand for cocoa is predicted to rise by 30 per cent by 2020, as demand has outstripped supply.

The ICCO explained that due to short supply and high demand for chocolate candy, the price of cocoa has gone up to $3374.96 per metric ton.

The organisation said that the world-wide cocoa production would hit 4.039 million tons in the 2015-2016 production seasons, a 4.6 per cent drop from 2015.

While Ivory Coast’s production is expected to drop from 1.69 million metric tons to 1.65 million tons of cocoa this year, ICCO estimated that Ghana’s production would drop from 840,000 metric tons to 800,000 metric tons.

According to ICCO, cocoa prices in the international market had risen, but supply was a major challenge for the producers of chocolate due to high demand.

Nigeria is the world’s fourth largest producer of the commod-

ity after Ivory Coast, Indonesia and Ghana and third largest exporter after Ivory Coast and Ghana.

According to ICCO, Nigerian farmers have been experiencing poor harvest since the beginning of the year due to dry weather, fungal diseases and aged cocoa trees.

Already, companies such as Hershey’s, Mars and Mondelez, the makers of Cadbury milk bars, are spending about $1 billion to reverse the downfall of cocoa farming. The money is to support sustainable farming practices and research.

However, cocoa Analyst at RJ O’Brien, Peter Moses, explained that the current gap in commodity exports from the West African countries had also pushed up prices.

Meanwhile, a Professor at the University of Sydney’s Department of Plant and Food Sciences, David Guest, had predicted a worldwide shortage of cocoa by 2020, saying that chocolate prices would double as world runs out of cocoa.

Also, Swiss-based chocolate giant, Barry Callebaut, ex-

plained that the demand would likely outstrip production by one million metric tons by 2020, noting that people were consuming more cocoa than farmers were producing.

Also, statistics gathered by New Telegraph revealed that consumers of the product would need 2, 713,326 metric tons for cocoa powder, 2,474,778 metric tons for cocoa cake and 1,962,446 metric tons for cocoa paste.

According to ICCO data, countries in high demand for cocoa butter include Germany, 464,280 metric tons; United States, 453,387 metric tons; Netherlands, 414,183 metric tons; Belgium, 363,818 metric tons; France, 276,581 metric tons; United Kingdom, 185,013 metric tons; Switzerland, 151,780 metric tons; Russia, 149,458 metric tons; Poland, 135,290 metric tons and Canada, 119,536 metric tons.

Other countries demanding for cocoa cake are United States, 781,154 metric tons; Spain, 271,419 metric tons; France, 265,065 metric tons; Germany, 258,995 metric tons; Netherlands, 239,136 metric tons; Italy, 141,405 metric tons; Russia, 140,682 metric tons.

WEDNESDAY, july 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

fct business watch

DMO’s new strategy: A breath of fresh air

President Buhari

The new debt management strategy policy (2016-2019) of the Debt Management Office (DMO) is a clear departure from the past. The new debt guideline gives a reprieve to the nation on debt service payment, ABDULWAHAB ISA writes

W

ith a provision of N2.2 trillion deficit in the 2016 budget, the Federal Government is under obligation to establish sources for financing the deficit.

There are two established sources open to government in financing its budget gaps. They are external and domestic borrowings.

To facilitate funds borrowing on government’s behalf using these channels, is a government agency - Debt Management Office(DMO).

Established in year 2000 to centrally coordinate the management of Nigeria’s debt, which was hitherto done by myriad of offices under the finance ministry and Central Bank of Nigeria, the DMO designed a framework known as Debt Management Strategy (DMS). The framework serves as a working guide for borrowing and management of the nation’s debt profile in a coordinated and

Dr. Abraham Nwankwo

well structured pattern within specific duration. The maiden Debt Management Strategy (2012 to 2015) expired weeks ago, while a new subsisting Nigeria’s Debt Management Strategy covering (2016- 2019) was unveiled recently by the DMO. Economic devt After exhausting the maiden debt management strategy, which covered (2012-2015), the DMO, last month, announced the new debt structure package, which has a three-year life span (2016-2019).

The document earlier endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was presented by the DMO’s Director- General, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, at a recent interactive session with journalists.

He explained that the office took cognisance of the shift in the economic focus of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, with emphasis on diversification of economy to non-oil sector, and the administration’s strong preference for infrastructure development for emancipation of industries.

DMO boss said: “The Federal Government has embarked on a number of sector reforms with a view to diversifying the economy away from crude oil, and boosting productivity in agriculture and solid minerals. It has also committed to developing key infrastructure projects in power and transportation (road, rail and aviation). The new policy focuses on the utilisation of all the borrowed amounts to fund the budget deficit and the amounts would be specifically allocated to fund

identified infrastructure projects. Efforts are also being made to improve governance and efficiency in fiscal operations of the government so as to reduce wastages and leakages.”

The DMO’s newly unveiled debt management strategy guideline will help in diversifying the economy

Latest strategy Unlike previous debt strategy plan (2012-2015) that gave priority to domestic borrowing, the new strategy (2016-2019) adopts a mixture of both for the financing of government projects.

However, preference is given to external borrowing sources and cogent reasons were given in support of this decision.

Justifying the DMO reasons for adopting external borrowing preference, Nwankwo said: “The Debt Management Strategy we are going to pursue over the next four years, takes into account the fact that, for now, Nigeria’s public debt portfolio is dominated by domestic debt.

“After the Paris and London clubs exit between 2004 and 2006, the country took a deliberate decision to develop its domestic bond market and to do most of the public borrowing from domestic sources so as to develop the domestic bond market, that objective has been sufficiently achieved.

“Taking into account that external financing sources are on the average cheaper than domestic sources, it becomes more necessary to slant more of the borrowing in favour of external sources. Therefore, one of the major elements of this strategy is that over the medium term, we will strive to remix the public debt portfolio from 84per cent

27

domestic and 16per cent external to 60per cent domestic and 40per cent external.

“In addition, taking into account other factors, the fact that over the next four years, public borrowing proceeds will be devoted to capital expenditure, an element of the strategy, is to ensure that we remix the current status of about 31per cent short-term and 69per cent longterm to a maximum of 25per cent short-term and a minimum of 75per centlong-term. So, we are remixing between external and domestic and we are also remixing within the domestic, between short and long-term.

“And when we look at the opportunities and possibilities, which are very credible, given our resource base, given the number of things we can do better than we’ve ever done, there’s no doubt then that in the next few years, there will be significant improvements in employment generation, poverty reduction and in the living standards of our people and more importantly, we should be inspired by the fact that the picture of the future, which we see is a sustainable one; it’s not one that will be bedeviled as in the past by volatilities in the oil market.”

Attractions for new strategy The agency boss explained that in the course of a painstaking research on the new debt strategy plan, the team spotted some advantages, which prepared ground for its adoption.

“One of the major advantages of remixing in favour of external debts is that first, we will be able to achieve cheaper cost of funds, therefore lower debt servicing but more importantly, we will be avoiding the risk of crowding out the private sector from access to the domestic markets.

“As you know, within the context of government’s economic programme, which requires massive investment in infrastructure, and diversification of the economy, the private sector is still expected to play the lead role so that as government makes its own expenditure in infrastructure and improves the business environment, you expect the private sector to key in, in developing the various sectors of the economy including agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing among others.”

In the new DMO borrowing template, a ratio of 60:40, the agency said more money will be kept in the hands of private investors in order to spearhead a private sector driven economy.

This, it explained, will drive the agenda of present administration of diversifying the economy and creating more jobs.

Conclusion With the exit of Nigeria from the debt trap of the Paris and London clubs, the DMO’s newly unveiled debt management strategy guideline, if religiously and strictly followed as borrowing plan, will help in diversifying the economy, position the country for export and above all, create room for ease of debt service payment.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |MONEY

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rue, business may not be as challenging for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) at the moment compared, perhaps, with what they went through in the second half of 2009, when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), under the leadership of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, intervened in and bailed out several banks, but there is little doubt that lenders are currently facing some of the toughest times in the industry’s history since its last major crisis.

Indeed, even before last Monday’s announcement by the apex bank that it had constituted a new board and management for Skye Bank to prevent a further weakening of the lender’s prudential ratios, speculation was already rife in industry circles about what the regulator was going to do about three lenders that it had given until the end of June 2016 to recapitalise.

Concern mounts over health of lenders Despite assurances by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that its appointment of a new management for Skye Bank was only a proactive measure to prevent further weakening of the lender’s prudential ratios, the move has triggered fears of a banking crisis, heightening pressure on the entire industry. Tony Chukwunyem reports

June recapitalisation deadline The CBN had, in a report, issued in the last quarter of 2015, given the three banks until the end of last month to recapitalise, after they failed to hit a minimum capital adequacy rate of 10 per cent. Although it did not name the banks, the banking watchdog said they were from the group of 14 lenders that have licenses to operate as regional and national lenders, with respective capital bases of N10 billion and N25 billion.

With a number of banks at the time postponing plans to raise capital due to poor market conditions and coupled with the slowing economy, financial analysts had wondered how the affected banks were going to meet the deadline.

Furthermore, during the same period, the CBN also directed banks to double provisions on performing loans to two per cent to build adequate buffers against unexpected losses, as liquidity ratios fall.

According to the regulator, lower revenues for the government and oil companies occasioned by plunging oil prices have led to unsecured exposures for banks that are likely to increase credit risk and loan losses.

It was also at about this time that global rating agency, Moody’s, issued a report saying it expected Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) in the Nigerian banking industry to rise above five per cent but remain below 10 per cent over the next two years as a weakening naira increases the risk of dollar loans and suppresses bank capital.

Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Access Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria and Diamond Bank Plc. Following the banking crisis of 2008 and 2009, which nearly led to the collapse of the industry, the apex bank had in 2014 ordered lenders it considered too big to fail (SIBs) to boost minimum CARs to 16 per cent from 15 per cent to increase their resilience to shocks.

The policy, which was to take effect from July 1, 2016, was postponed to an undisclosed date because of the poor state of the economy.

As the CBN’s Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, explained at the time, the regulator postponed the rules in order to, “reflate the economy and encourage lending.”

She said that the capital adequacy ratio of the SIBs declined to 16.6 per cent at the end of April from 17 per cent a year earlier as “economic headwinds” increased.

Besides, Martins stated that the average ratio of non-performing loans for these banks rose to 10.1 per cent in April from below 5 per cent at the end of 2014, adding that the CBN was working to bring the ratio within the 5 per cent target by encouraging banks “to improve their risk management and also grow capital organically.’’

Extension for SIBs However, in spite of the foregoing, most financial analysts were still taken aback when Skye Bank, last week, turned out to be the first lender under the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN to have its board and management reconstituted for being unable to effectively tackle liquidity challenges and failing prudential ratios. Reason: In late May the CBN disclosed that it had extended the deadline for the implementation of its policy of executing higher Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) requirements for banks such as Skye Bank which it had designated as Systemically Important Banks (SIBs).

Besides Skye Bank, the other SIBs are Zenith Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank), United

Liquidity worries So, given the extension of the deadline why did the CBN still have to effect the changes that it did to the Skye Bank’s board and management?

Giving reasons for the decision at a press conference last Monday, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, revealed that Skye Bank’s liquidity and non-performing loan ratio have been below and above the regulatory limit respectively for a while and that the regulator had held several meetings with the bank’s board to resolve the issue.

“The basic issue is capital adequacy and liquidity. From what we see, the prudential and adequacy ratios in the bank have been weakening and we don’t want it to get to a point where depositors will be at risk,” Emefiele said.

The CBN boss who also disclosed

Emefiele

Adeosun

It is important that we do not create problems when none exists.

that Skye had been a net borrower from its rediscount window for “sometime,” said that even before the banking watchdog’s intervention, the former Chairman along with the Group Managing Director of Skye Bank had come to the realisation that they had tried their best and had failed to turn around the lender’s fortunes.

Emefiele said, “Given the aforementioned issues and the fact that Skye bank is a domestic Systematically Important Bank (SIB) with significant interconnectedness, the CBN would be failing in its duties if it does not take immediate action to nip the steadily declining health of the bank in the bud and correct the situation”.

New Telegraph in fact gathered that the key reason for the CBN’s drastic measure was the unearthing of the full extent of the severe liquidity challenges facing Skye Bank.

According to a source, the bank’s liquidity problem was fully exposed when the CBN opened a discount window in the wake of the commencement of the floating exchange rate policy. New Telegraph learnt that in the first few days that the window was open, Skye Bank was one of the biggest borrowers of funds.

A financial analyst, Mr. George Nwankwo, pointed out that the lender had been particularly impacted by the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy. According to him, Skye Bank accounted for a sizeable chunk of the over N1.7trillion of public sector funds, which banks had to move to a single Federation Account at the CBN in line with the policy.

Financial analysts believe that Skye Bank’s acquisition of Mainstreet Bank in 2014 in a deal valued at about N126billion was one of the factors that contributed to weakening its prudential ratios. They also noted that the bank was also among a handful of lenders that issued a profit warning on its 2015 full year results, which have still not been released.

Assurance on banks’ health At the weekend, the consensus among depositors and other stakeholders in the banking industry

was that if Skye Bank could have this kind of issues, then the CBN could be on the verge of taking over a few other banks.

In fact, Director, Banking Supervision, CBN, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, was reported as saying last Friday that, “one or two” commercial banks had failed liquidity tests but that their situation was not as dire as Skye Bank’s.

“We have our eyes on one or two other banks right now but they are not in a state of distress.

We have our eyes on all banks,” Reuters quoted her to have said on Channels television.

She, however, said the regulator was working with the banks to restore their ratios, stressing that the industry is healthy and that there is no need for depositors to panic.

It will be recalled that at his press conference last Monday, CBN boss, Emefiele, emphasised that the health of the banking industry was good at this point in time, pointing out that the regulator conducts stress tests at the end of which any lender that has issues would be directed to take measures to address them.

He said, “The strategic health of the banking industry is still good at this time. No doubt there is certain weakening in values occasioned by external shocks but it has not reached the point of distress.”

Similarly, the acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, issued a statement last week, entitled, “No Nigerian bank is in distress”, in which he gave assurance to depositors that their funds were safe and urged them to ignore rumours and speculations that some banks in the country, “might have gone or be going into distress.”

He said,“Going by both the CBN’s examination reports as well as analysis from market watchers, International Credit Rating Agencies, and Development Finance Institutions, the Nigerian banking industry remains strong in spite of the global economic challenges emanating from the collapse of global commodity prices. We therefore urge the banking public to remain calm and go about their normal businesses without panic. It is important that we do not create problems when none exists.”

Conclusion Significantly, foreign investors are equally optimistic that the country’s banks are not in distress. Bloomberg last Friday reported a Johannesburg-based Executive Director at business risk consultancy, Exx Africa, Robert Besseling, as saying that while problems are increasing, Nigeria isn’t headed for the crisis it had in 2009.

He averred that bailout provided to some state governments might be a “mitigating factor” that could help debt repayments.

“Nigeria also now has a freely floating naira, which has released some pressure. Government doesn’t have the ability to bail out banks anymore, but the regulators do have more oversight”, he was quoted as saying.

BUSINESS |MONEY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Long ATM lines throw spotlight on cashless policy Appraisal More efforts needed to boost infrastructure, public enlightenment

Tony Chukwunyem

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bout two years after implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) cashless policy commenced nationwide, available research shows that more bank customers are embracing it thus boosting financial inclusion in the country.

Launched by the apex bank in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, the

policy was aimed at curbing excesses in the handling of cash and promoting the use of electronic payment platforms such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, mobile banking and Internet banking.

However, most Nigerians who visited bank branches throughout the country last Friday to make withdrawals from ATMs did not have a pleasant experience, as they had to contend with terrifyingly long queues to be able to access their funds.

Many bank customers in Lagos, who spoke with New Telegraph, said that although they had expected queues in the banking halls to be long, given that the Federal Government had declared Tuesday, Wednesday and

Thursday as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-fitr festival, they had assumed that they would save valuable time by using the ATM. According to them, their assumptions turned out to be wrong, as the ATM lines were so long that many of them who did not have the patience to wait, either decided to brave the crowds in the banking halls to make withdrawals across the counter or went bank home empty handed.

A vehicle spare parts dealer, Emma Okechukwu, who was at the Isolo branch of a Tier 1 bank said he spent close to half an hour queuing at the branch’s ATMs before he was able to make a withdrawal.

He said, “I have never had that kind of experience before.

The queue was so long that it

almost stretched to the road. I knew banks would be crowded because of the three-day public holiday so I decided to come early. In fact, that was why I succeeded in withdrawing my money otherwise I would not have had the patience to wait.”

Similarly, a bank customer, Samuel Ibegbunam, who visited the Amuwo Odofin branch of another Tier 1 lender, said the long queues at the bank’s ATMs last Friday were, “unprecedented.”

He said the situation was made worse because only two out of the four ATMs at the branch were dispensing cash, adding that when he ran out of patience he left the queue and withdrew his money across the counter.

He also stated that although the banking hall was crowded

ATM queue. Inset: ATM machine

‘Illicit financial inflows, low tax revenue deter Africa’s devt’

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he biggest threats to Africa’s development are still illicit financial outflows and critically low tax revenue, and countries on the continent cannot continue to finance spending through debt and money creation, the first ever Africa Tax Outlook report warns.

The study, published by the Africa Tax Administration Forum, assesses and compares indicators in tax bases, tax structure, revenue perfor mance and tax administration.

The research covers 15 participating countries over a five-year period from 20102014.

The countries’ average total tax revenue as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 17.6per cent — significantly below Latin America (21.3per cent) and 25.7per cent for richer members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Two African countries stack up well over the research period: South Africa at 25 per cent, and

Seychelles, which has a population of just 90,000, at almost 26 per cent.

The differences in these ratios might be related to tax policy decisions, the effectiveness of the tax authority and the degree of fiscal corruption.

Total tax revenue as a percentage of GDP indicates the share of a country’s output that is collected by the government through taxes. The tax burden is measured by taking the total tax revenues received as a percentage of GDP. CEO of the South African Institute for Tax Professionals (SAIT), Keith Engel, agrees that low collections in the region are a widespread problem.

However, he is concerned that the OECD and nonprofit organisations are inadvertently pushing African revenue authorities towards Eurocentric and quick-fix solutions that are leading to “over taxation” of the compliant few.

“Much of the tax gap is caused by the inability to control outright evasion

stemming from informal businesses, outright bribery, dual bookkeeping and weak revenue operational systems.

“Oddly enough, even many so-called first world countries have not fully overcome these shortcomings,” says Engel.

The research shows that the largest single source of tax revenue in 12 of the 15 countries is consumption taxes (value added tax and excise duties), at 43 per cent.

The contribution of corporate income tax in the 15 countries averaged 16 per cent, customs taxes 18 per cent and levies from lotteries, betting, transport fares and special goods and services averaged 10per cent.

A key finding of the research is that Africa is in critical need of more quality tax statistics.

Countries have to develop processes, skills and systems to collect and extract data on critical indicators.

The report emphasises

the importance of data collection. The lack of sufficient and credible data affects the ability to do risk profiling and risk identification, it says. “Statistics are a condition for better policy formulation and fiscal planning. Indeed, without them there can be neither efficient policy nor reform.”

Data-collection challenges facing the 15 countries include the lack of computerised, automated processes and systems, unintegrated systems, lengthy bureaucratic processes, and unreliable data on critical indicators.

The study cites the Global Financial Index, which says illicit flows from sub-Saharan Africa averaged 5.5per cent of GDP a year between 2003 and 2012, compared with 3.9per cent in all developing countries.

“It is urgent that African countries adapt the OECD’s action plans against tax base erosion and profit shifting to their own particular needs,” it says.

with customers, the bank had deployed enough staff that ensured that customers were not unnecessarily delayed.

New Telegraph also learnt that bank customers residing at centrally located areas of the city even had a better experience than people living in distant surrounding towns such as Badagry. According to reports, it was a bleak weekend for residents of these areas, as most of the ATMs did not dispense cash.

This newspaper had last Wednesday reported that following the extension of the Eid-el-fitr holidays by an additional day, banks in Lagos had scrambled to load their ATMs to prevent the machines from running out of cash.

An official of a mid-sized lender disclosed that staff in charge of loading the ATMs during the holidays were warned that on no account should a machine be without cash for a particular period.

He, however, explained that the bank was usually under pressure over ATMs that are located in markets and shopping malls, as these machines tend to quickly run out of cash.

It would be recalled that the cashless policy was implemented in three phases: the pilot run started on the 1 January 2012 in Lagos State; the second stage of the pilot run started in Rivers, Anambra, Abia, Kano State, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory on 1 July 2013, while nationwide implementation started on 31 July 2014.

As part of efforts to ensure compliance with the policy, the CBN prescribed cash handling charges on daily withdrawal above N500, 000.00 for individuals and N3million for corporate bodies.

In addition, the policy stipulated that withdrawals above N150, 000.00 on all Third Party Cheques could only receive value through Clearing House and not across the counter.

Assessing the impact of the policy on the industry in an interview with this newspaper, the President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Dr Uju Ogubunka, said it widened the scope of transactions carried out in the financial services industry and the entire economy.

He said: “So many people are now disposed to doing their banking transactions at various levels. They can stay in their bedrooms, in their kitchens, in their parlours and transact banking business.

So you don’t need to go to a banking hall as it were to do business. And in doing so, you would somehow reduce costs, reduce risks and so on and so forth.”

He, however, pointed out that there were still issues with the implementation of the policy especially in the area of infrastructure and public enlightenment.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Investor

Corporate governance as remedy for business failures

Chris Ugwu writes on the need to create business-friendly environment through the retooling of code of corporate governance

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he hidden potential of any business outfit could only be unleashed for maximum impact that will induce economic growth if good corporate governance is entrenched among the players.

This is because the degree to which corporations observe basic principles of good corporate governance is an important factor for investment decision and the overall survival or collapse of businesses.

That’s why there is need for the entrenchment of a sound code of good corporate governance for any quoted company and others willing to be admitted on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Before a company is listed on the Exchange, there are certain requirements they must meet. Thereafter, there are also standard requirements they must meet. These include regular dissemination of information about the financial performances and any changes that can affect their operations.

However, over the years, many quoted companies have been violating this important obligation, thereby keeping investors in the dark about their financial health among others.

These lapses in adherence to the principles of corporate governance have contributed majorly to crisis in the local boss even as most countries have recovered from the global financial meltdown.

Many ignorant investors have burnt their fingers by investing in some of the dormant companies, which do not furnish the market with their financials.

Following serial infractions by market players, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and NSE had on different occasions, wielded the big regulatory stick by giving notice to some companies on intention to delist or to completely delist them from its official list for violating post-listing requirements.

The reaffirmed commitment by the regulator to do anything to compel operators in the market to obey the rules guiding it informed the decision to tighten the noose on market infractions and other miscellaneous capital market crimes. This avowed determination recently saw punitive measure on BGL Plc and N59 million fine slammed on 19 companies.

Recent actions The SEC recently banned the Managing Director of BGL Plc, Mr. Albert Okumagba and his deputy, Chibundu Edozie, from carrying out capital market activities for 20 years, and also ordered his companies to restitute investors over N2 billion.

NSE Trading floor

The ban followed complaints from investors against Okumagba and his company over failure, refusal and or/ neglect to liquidate their investments in both the Guaranteed Consolidated dated Notes and Guaranteed Premium Notes, two investment products run by the company.

The Exchange on the other hand also recently fined 19 quoted companies N58.8 million for failure to file their audited financial statements after the regulatory due date.

Checks by New Telegraph showed that some of the companies were sanctioned for their inability to meet the regulatory requirements ranging between full year ended December 31, 2014 and first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

The companies include Great Nigeria Insurance Plc, Daar Communication Plc, DN Tyre & Rubber Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Plc, Equity Assurance Plc, Flour Mills Plc, Tripple Gee Plc and African Alliance Insurance Plc. Others are DN Meyers Plc, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc, Sovereign Trust Assurance Plc, among others.

Effects of corporate governance failures The Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), Mr. Jim Obazee attributed the collapse of many businesses worldwide to corporate governance failures.

He stated this recently while addressing participants at the final public hearing on the draft National Code of Corporate Governance (NCCG), which held in Lagos.

According to a statement issued by FRC Spokesperson, Mac Agbamosa, Obazee noted that, corporate governance failures have now been proven to be at the very heart of the financial mischief, accounting for scandals, corporate collapses and financial crisis all around the world.

This, he said has led to interest in corporate governance growing at an exponential rate.

He said that improvements in corporate governance practice are being orchestrated at a global level, adding that international bodies such as the Organisation for Economic

Regulatory strength must therefore be continually reviewed and beefed up to match growth

Development (OED) and similar organisations in major jurisdictions are now enhancing their acceptable standards of corporate governance.

African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) had also blamed corporate failures in Africa on weak corporate governance.

President, ASEA, Mr. Oscar Onyema at the 19th Annual ASEA Conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa, said weak corporate governance was often found responsible for many of the corporate failures in Africa.

“As securities exchanges, we operate powerful platforms through, which we can influence and promote sustainable business practices.

Accordingly, we must increase our contribution and participation in developing our national codes of corporate governance, by setting strong listing and maintenance requirements, and ensuring adequate disclosure of listed companies’ corporate governance arrangements,” Onyema said.

Unified code of corporate governance Obazee said the federal government’s decision to adopt a unified code of corporate governance should be a welcome development to all entities in the country whose aims are to operate in a business friendly environment that guarantees financial credibility.

While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for his national call for change, Obazee said, “At the FRC, our understanding of the change Mr. President is talking about is a change of epic proportions. It is a change of consciousness as well as a change of behaviour. The premise of this requires an understanding of the fact that the pain to be endured from the change must be experienced as a lesser pain to that of continuing the present course”.

It requires us to dream of Nigeria differently. This is the journey we must undertake now in our consideration of this National Code of Corporate Governance. It is not the hero’s journey but the collective journey of each of us together, he said.

On his part, the Chairman, Steering Committee on the draft NCCG, Mr. Victor Odiase, said one

of the major objectives of this code is to address the persistent interest clashes between majority and minority shareholders and to ensure that such clashes are averted or avoided, thereby making sure that both parties are protected in relation to their investments.

“As against opinions from some quarters that FRC was responsible for the development ,and implementation of the NCCG, the efforts to develop a code of this nature to replace the existing six persuasive codes of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN),Securities and SEC ,National Insurance Commission(NAICOM),National Pe n s i o n s Commission (PENCOM), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Commission(NDIC) was beyond the council as the final draft of the code would be to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, for presentation to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as an ‘Executive memo’ to be considered for adoption.

He appealed to stakeholders to ensure they make their inputs on the code even beyond the public hearing, noting that the code at this stage is still an open draft that is expecting comments and suggestions to enable the council produce a statutory code that is all embracing.

Operators’ voice The Managing Director Crane Securities, Mr. Mike Eze, said the decision to adopt unified code of corporate governance is a welcome development. He said this would boost investors’ confidence in the economy and the stock market.

Eze said the initiative would reconcile various interests and position the country as investment destination in Africa.

He added that investors need an enabling environment to take informed decisions and the companies could only achieve this if there is adherence of good corporate governance.

To a founding member of Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association and one of the leading shareholders’ activists, Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, said, “the initiative is great and it shows that the regulators are alive to their responsibilities”.

He noted that the unified code of conduct would make companies sit up and ensure that they provide investors, analyst and stockbrokers the platform to predict the real value of the companies.

Conclusion As the market grows, especially in terms of the nature and variety of players as well as in transactions size and activity, regulatory vigilance must grow. The bigger the market gets, the more real the scope for efficiency but at the same time, the greater the tendency for sharp practices and downside market risk. Regulatory strength must therefore be continually reviewed and beefed up to match growth.

Failure to do that will undermine the attractiveness of the Nigerian capital market and dampen its return prospects.

WEDNESDAY, july 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Containers stacked at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa

The decision by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to collect Practitioners Operating Fee (POF) from freight forwarders at the ports is expected to strip the Council for the Registration of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) of its statutory responsibility. BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

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n 2015, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) banned professional fee collection by all freight forwarders associations at the ports in order to put an end to unhealthy rivalry among them.

The council for the Registration of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) introduced the Practitioners Operating Fee (POF).

The introduction of the fee followed a directive by the Federal Ministry of Transport in July 2015 that freight forwarders operating in the country’s ports and borders must pay it.

The council had targeted N2billion annually from the professional fee but crises among the freight forwarder groups crippled its efforts.

Genesis of crisis The Ministry of Transport had directed CRFFN to commence the collection of POF through a letter by the then minister of transport.

The authorising letter referenced T.4252/s.46/C.3/1/177 was dated February 26, 2015.

The ministry added that the five accredited freight forwarders’ associations should meet to agree on the sharing formula of POF. The affected groups are Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF)

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Council at crossroads over practising fee collection and the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFFN).

Others are the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and the National Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC).

According to Section 30 of Act No. 16 of 2007, CRFFN defines the freight forwarder as “any person or company who arranges the carriage or movement of goods and associated formalities on behalf of an importer or exporter along the international boundaries of sea ports, cargo airports or land border stations.”

Conflict of interests Not satisfied with the arrangement, ANLCA dragged the ministry, CRFFN, Attorney-General of the Federation and four registered freight forwarding associations to the Federal High Court in Lagos to stall the directive.

Also, the President NCMDCA, Mr Lucky Amiwero, insisted that customs brokers were regulated under the Customs Excise Management Act (CEMA) and not by the CRFFN. While insisting that the power of revocation or suspension of licences lies with the Federal Ministry of Finance and not the Federal Ministry of Transportation, he said that there could not be two regulators.

He maintained that the CRFFN had no board that can regulate the practioners.

Amiwero stressed that those who should concern themselves with CRFFN registration should be mainly transporters who move cargoes.

The approved charges are: N1.50 per kilogramme for air cargo, N1,000 per 20-foot container, N2,000 per 40-foot container, N500 per car/

suv and N1,000 per truck or 20-foot equivalent.

Others are N2,000 per truck or 40-foot equivalent, N3.50 per tons for general cargo and N1.00 per tons for dry bulk cargo.

The mandate was given after a committee set up to investigate the crisis reported back to the ministry

Minister’s action In order to end the crisis, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, recently mandated the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to collect the fee so as to revive the dying CRFFN, which is statutorily empowered to collect the fee.

The mandate was given after a committee set up to investigate the crisis reported back to the ministry.

Also, it was learnt that a portion of the fee would be disbursed to the freight forwarding associations in accordance with the gazette.

According to the sharing formular, CRFFN would collect 60 per cent from the revenue, while the five registered associations would share 35 per cent, and registered companies that handle the cargo would share the remaining five per cent.

Amaechi had said that there was no reason why some freight forwarders or customs agents would not want to register with the CRFFN as provided in the law establishing the council.

He noted that since NPA was in charge of the port, the authority would instruct the various terminal operators to collect the money by building it into the debit note of freight forwarders during the clearing process.

When contacted on the commencement date of the collection at the ports, the NPA General Manager, Public Affairs, Capt.

Iheanacho Ebubeogu, said that he would confirm the report from the appropriate department.

Conclusion There is need for the Federal Ministry of Transportation to organise a summit for the groups on why an agency of the government should be involved in the collection of such fees.

Improved naval patrol reduces cargo theft in Nigeria

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s the Gulf of Guinea piracy becomes more sophisticated, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has declared that the improved naval patrol in Nigeria has made cargo theft more difficult and dangerous for sea robbers.

The bureau’s report explained that criminals had shifted to illegal business where less time was spent onboard vessels because of naval patrol.

It noted that cargo theft, particularly of large amounts of refined oil products, takes time to steal.

Also, a report by Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) explained that the Gulf of Guinea was the most dangerous region in the world for seafarers.

It revealed that there had been 32 kidnaps for ransom during 2016 in the Gulf of Guinea, surpassing the total number of 19 incidents recorded by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in 2015.

According to OBP, the IMB itself had recorded 10 incidents in the Gulf of Guinea in the first quarter of 2016 and the kidnap of 16 seafarers.

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WEDNESDAY, july 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Govt agencies plan joint fund for crude oil vessels ABSURD

Nigeria lost more than $100 billon in five decades to foreign shipping lines

Bayo Akomolafe

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ndications have emerged that the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), have resolved to explore the possibility of floating a joint fund to purchase or finance the building of Nigerian owned crude oil lifting tankers.

The decision is part of efforts to enable Nigerian ship owners participate in lifting of crude

oil.

It was estimated in 2013 that Nigeria lost more than $100 billon in five decades to foreign shipping lines.

At a forum organised

by NCDMB in Lagos, the agencies and other stakeholders pledged to grow the quantum of Nigerian content in lifting Nigerian crude by developing the indigenous capacity to international standards.

They agreed at the event themed: “Crude Oil Off-takers Nigerian Content Deliverables,” that indigenous shipping companies that had invested in ownership of crude oil lifting vessels would be given first consideration in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. The Acting Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Patrick Daziba Obah, who was rep-

resented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Tunde Adelana, described crude oil lifting and marketing as a major activity in the oil and gas value chain, despite the fact that Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), were highly capital intensive to acquire.

He noted that Nigeria would remain a

major oil producer and not a major oil business value adding nation if its citizens do not own VLCCs. According to him, VLCCs require manning by certified crew, while crude oil lifting attracts opportunities for financial, insurance, inspection and other services.

Other spend points in

the value chain include the use of lubes and maintenance of VLCCs. Obah explained that NCDMB introduced Nigerian Content requirements for crude oil lifting in 2013 in order to maximise the value retention opportunities.

According to him, the Nigerian Content requirements for crude lifting contracts re-

Concessionaire mulls container weighing for export liners

T

he concessionaire of Lagos container terminal, APM Terminals Apapa Limited and West Africa Container Terminal, has put measures in place to ensure that each container loaded by shipping lines for export have a valid Verified Gross Mass (VGM).

The move is part of ef-

forts to comply with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulation.

The organisation had said that the gross mass of a container must be verified before being loaded into a ship in order to ensure that the millions of containers carried by ships were

optimally stowed to prevent loss of stacked containers overboard.

According to IMO, some 170 million containers are loaded by ships each year, bringing vital commodities and consumer goods to billions of people around the globe.

In a statement by the company’s General

L-R: General Manager, SIFAX Haulage and Logistics, Mr. Saheed Lasisi; CEO, SO&U, Udeme Ufot; President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Prince Adedapo Adelegan and Executive Director, Human Resources and Administration, SIFAX Group, Dr. Fola Rogers-Saliu at the NBCC networking and members induction night.

Liners impose fresh charges on Cotonou, Togo ports

N

igerian importers who have been avoiding government’s fiscal policy and high import duty charges by using Lome and Cotonou ports will have to pay more on their cargoes as shipping lines slammed fresh charges on containers.

Container liners calling at the Port of Lome, Togo and the Port Autonome de Cotonou, Benin Republic have imposed Ter minal Handling Charges (THC) on consignees.

The shipping linesTHC is an additional cost which the consign-

ees pay to the operators of the port.

One of the container carriers, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), explained in a statement that cost recovery of terminal handling charges was introduced to maintain service levels.

The liner stressed that the charges would be applied to all cargo shipped on board on or after August15th, 2016.

It stated: “MSC is compelled to introduce a new charge for all import and export cargo to the port of Lome, Togo and Cotonou, Benin.

quired that tankers/ vessels that were selected to lift Nigerian crude would grow Nigerian Equity Ownership (NEO), create sea time attachment for five Nigerian cadets, employment, training opportunities and utilisation of Nigerian service providers such as financial, insurance, legal and inspection services.

The charge, which can be paid on a collect, prepaid or elsewhere basis, will be charged to our customers at cost.

“Historically, MSC has absorbed the terminal handling charges at these ports, however, the deterioration in ocean freight levels means this cost must be recovered.”

The additional charges as listed by MSC are $105 on 20-feet containers and $155 on 40-feet containers for Lome, while consignees in Benin will pay $100 and $145 for 20-feet and 40feet containers respec-

tively.

Also, French container carrier, CMA CGM, explained: “As a common practice in the shipping industry worldwide and considering the challenging market environment with significant operational cost in Togo, CMA CGM announced the implementation of a Terminal Handling Charge (THC) in Lome and at Cotonou.

“As from August 15th, 2016, THC will be applicable in addition to the ocean freight for import and export cargo and payable at

Cotonou as follows: Dry Containers: EUR 95 per 20 – EUR 135 per 40; Reefer Containers: EUR 140 per 20 – EUR 195 per 40; Special Containers: EUR 145 per 20 – EUR 205 per 40.

“As from August 15th, 2016, THC will be applicable in addition to the ocean freight for import and export cargo and payable at Lome as follows: Dry Containers: EUR 100 per 20 – EUR 150 per 40; Reefer Containers: EUR 145 per 20 – EUR 270 per 40; Special Containers: EUR 150 per 20 – EUR 285 per 40.”

Manager, Communication and Sustainability, Augustine Fischer, in Lagos, the company established SOLAS compliant Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) capabilities with the shipping lines in Nigeria to share VGM information prior to vessel loading planning.

He said that export containers, which arrived at the company’s facilities without a valid VGM, would be generally accepted.

He, however, noted that if they were not eligible to load on a vessel, they would be segregated and be subjected to additional re-handling and storage.

The general manager recalled that in 2014, IMO had approved amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, noting that from July 2016, containers would require verification and documentation before they could be loaded onto vessels.

Fischer said: “This can be accomplished by either weighing the loaded container with calibrated and certified equipment, or weighing the cargo prior to loading and adding it to the tare weight of the empty container.

“The purpose of the VGM regulations is to ensure safety of the vessel, as well as dockworkers and other cargo handlers by preventing overweight or otherwise misrepresented containers from jeopardising shipments or container movements.”

Also, the company’s Head of Global Operations, Jack Craig, said that the company’s first priority was to ensure safe and efficient operations for the supply chain.

He added that it was crucial that the regulations were met in a way that does not create congestion bottlenecks, which would ultimately impose additional risk and cost for all stakeholders.

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NPA seeks diversification to boost port operations DECLINE Overall cargo throughput dropping significantly at the seaports due to low container traffic

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he Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has urged agencies and players in both public and private sectors to join the Federal Government in its efforts to diversify the Nigerian economy to cushion the effects of the crash in global crude oil price.

Managing Director of the authority, Malam Habib Abdullahi, lamented that the level of operational activities at the ports in the first quarter of 2016 dropped significantly when compared with the same period of 2015.

In a statement by the authority’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, the managing director explained that importation of various cargoes declined during the period.

Also, he noted that containers and general cargo traffic contributed significantly to the overall drop in cargo throughput.

Abdullahi said: “There is an urgent need to complement the efforts of NPA’s massive investments in infrastructural renewal and automation of our port operations by generating enough export cargo to make up for the shortfall of imported cargo in our ports.’’

The managing director stressed that this could be attributed to the reduction in government expenditure, the exchange rate volatility and the global economic crisis.

Abdullahi said that the position of NPA had been communicated to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

He stressed the need to sensitise Nigerians on how to fill the vacuum through export commodities, especially with mines and agro-allied products.

Meanwhile a report by the authority has revealed that a total of 1,131 oceangoing vessels and crude oil tankers with a total Gross Tonnage (GT) of 59.4 million called at Nigerian ports in the first quarter of 2016.

According to NPA, Rivers Port complex recorded a total gross tonnage of 1.2 million, showing 14.2 per cent drop from 1,4 million gross tonnage recorded in the corresponding period of 2015.

It explained that a total of 79 ocean-going vessels were handled within the period by the port.

It added that Onne Port complex recorded a gross tonnage of 9.8 million, reflecting a decrease of 13.4 per cent from 11,3 million gross

tonnage recorded in the corresponding period of 2015 with 176 vessels handled within the period.

The report said that Lagos Port complex recorded a gross tonnage of 8.1 million, indicating a decrease of 11.5 per cent from 9.2 million tonnes achieved in 2015.

The authority stressed in the report that a total of 296 vessels were handled in the period at the LPC. It said: “Tin Can Island Port handled a total gross tonnage of 11.8 million, showing a decline of 1.2 per cent compared to gross tonnage of 12.2 million achieved in the corresponding quarter of 2015.

“A total of 417 vessels were handled at the Tin-Can Port in the period under review.

“Calabar Port complex handled a total gross tonnage of 776,718, showing a decline of 15.4 per cent from 918, 237 gross tonnage recorded in 2015. A total of 46 vessels were handled in Calabar port this same period.’’

It added that Delta Port complex during the period under review recorded 1.7 million gross tonnage, depicting an increase of 4.7 per cent over the 2015 figure of 1,6 million gross tonnage, with 117 vessels handled.

“Crude oil terminals recorded gross tonnage of 25.7 million, indicating a decrease of 12.5 per cent from gross tonnage of 29.4 million recorded in 2015 with 221 tankers, ‘’ the report added.

It noted that the cargo

throughput recorded in the first quarter stood at 43.3 million tons, translating to a decrease of 12.6 per cent from 49.6 million tons recorded in the same period of 2015.

Cargo throughput is the total volume of cargo (inward and outward) handled in all the port locations during this period.

According to the report, an analysis of cargo throughput revealed that general cargo was 1.8 million tons, a decrease of 48.1 per cent from 3.6 million tons recorded in the corresponding period of 2015.

Dry bulk cargo stood at 2.1 million tons as against 2.3 million tons achieved in 2015, indicating a drop of 5.6 per cent.

The report noted that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ship-

ment was 5.07 million tons compared with 5.4 million tons recorded in first quarter of 2015, representing a drop of seven per cent.

The report said: “Refined Petroleum products stood at 5.03 million tons, indicating a drop of 4.6 per cent from 2015 figure of 5.2 tons. Laden Container throughput was 194,304 Twenty Equivalent Units (TEUs), a decline of 12.6 per cent from 222,363 TEUs recorded in 2015.’’

It explained that empty container throughput was 123,427 TEUs, showing a drop of 19.5 per cent from 2015 figure of 153,366TEUs. Crude oil shipment was 25.7 million tons, depicting a decrease of 12.5 per cent from 29.4 million recorded in 2015.

Idle cranes at the Calabar Port Complex.

Stakeholders fret over hike in import duty Bayo Akomolafe

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he sudden increase in the exchange rate from N197 to N282 will halt Customs agents’ businesses, they said in a statement.

The agents insisted that the extant rate issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is

the basis for duty calculation.

They noted that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) now calculates its import duty with N282 to a dollar.

Besides, they said that the hike in import duty by the service would lead to higher inflation and cargo diversion to neighbouring ports.

Also, they stressed that it would further weaken the purchasing power of Nigerians in the urban and rural communities.

It was learnt that the service had earlier in the year attempted an increase in the exchange rate to N282 for the purpose of calculating payable duty and

Council, ITC to train women on non-oil exports

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he Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) will soon commence training of no fewer than one million women on prospects in non-oil exports.

The council’s Director, Export Development and Incentives, Mr. George Enyiekpon, explained in Lagos that ITC team would be coming to Nigeria to train the women on how to process and make shea butter, palm kernel, soaps, fabrics and other items that are globally acceptable.

He said: “The training will also include how to benefit from the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) as

it has also been one of our major concerns too.

“Most non-oil export businesses are run by women, and they need a lot of support to break through.”

Enyiepkon said that the Director of the ITC, Arancha Gonzalez, would be in Nigeria to launch the programme soon.

He noted that Gonzalez would be hosted by Mrs Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Enyiepkon added: “We have so many programmes for women in export, and in fact, there is a special unit in the NEPC that provides support for women in local produce suitable for exports.

“There are so many women in export business, but we need to equip more of them on how they can export their items. Most of the women are clueless on what to do as regards exporting their items.”

In January, the DirectorGeneral of the NEPC, Mr Segun Awolowo, had said that the council was working towards increasing the volume of non-oil exports in Nigeria.

He noted that non-oil exports would help to revive the falling exchange rate of the naira at the international market, generate revenue for the government and create more jobs.

rates, but it was denied by the finance ministry.

A former national President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Ernest Elochukwu , who was miffed by the action of NCS, said that the import duty hike would not only fuel inflation but would worsen smuggling of goods across Nigeria’s frontiers.

Also, Managing Director, Okpoto Logistics Limited, Mr. Sam Elem, said that the NCS’s decision would bring more hardship on Nigerians, while the government revenue generation would rise at the port and the borders.

He added that consumers should be expecting to pay more on goods and services.

Elem said that some importers might likely abandon their consignments in the port because of the sharp fall of the naira.

The managing director added that the development would lead to serious smuggling from Cameroon and Republic of Benin.

He said that cargoes were already being diverted to Cotonou port because of the unfavourable government import policies in the port sector.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Literature

Arts

Background check as panacea for national security

36

National Troupe in performance

Lagos @ 50: National Troupe thrills with Ajoyo, unity dance Tony Okuyeme

A

s part of the buildup of the Lagos at 50 celebrations, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, who is the Chair of Lagos at 50 celebration, invited the National Troupe of Nigeria to join the Foot Prints of David in a spot dance performances around Lagos, as a way of sensitising the public and getting them into the celebration mood while showcasing the beauty and rich culture of the “State of Excellence”. The performances were also for the public to know that something very important is happening in Lagos.

And in doing this the National Troupe put together from its rich repertoire, dance performances that got not just the teeming live theatre enthusiasts, but also Lagosians, who were excited and watched in awe. Added to these

TONY OKUYEME ARTS EDITOR

tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

were performances by the spectacular Foot Prints of David which gave the children angle to the show.

The performances which took place at different locations in Lagos started at the main gate of the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja where both troupes served the excited Lagosians rich menu of dance drama presentations that resonated with culture and creativity.

And given the 50th anniversary celebration as the focus, the National Troupe of Nigeria presented an excerpt from Ajoyo (celebration), a dance drama. It showcases the rich culture of Lagos and inviting everybody to be a part of the celebration.

Ajoyo, no doubt, underscores the significance of dance as a universal language.

It was also a showcase of the rich traditional Yoruba costumes, depicting the rich cultures of the people, as the National Troupe presented dances that cut across the different parts of Yoruba land. The crowd grew with every song and by the time the Foot Print of David, featuring young dancers, took the ‘stage’ and gave contemporary interpretations to traditional dances which wowed the ecstatic crowd.

The vibrant young dancers awestruck the crowd with their performances and acrobatics displays which attracted more people to the show, including civil servants and others.

And with the Police officials on ground, controlling the surging crowd was not difficult. Some members of the Lagos State Transport

It is a build up to Lagos at 50 celebrations.

So the cultural aspect of Lagos is being deployed here in Ikeja

Management Agency (LASMA) also joined in the directing traffic.

From the Lagos State Secretariat, the performances moved to the Ikeja roundabout (under bridge) which became a theatre stage of sort. Both troupes gave the people memorable performances to remember.

The second day saw performances at Allen Avenue Roundabout, Mary Land and Ojota areas of Lagos respectively.

For many of the people who watch the shows, it was a rare opportunity to see such performances. “This is beautiful. I am particularly impressed with these dances showcasing our rich cultural heritage,” said Dan, a trader.

“I hope to see this again and again,” he added.

A woman who simply identified herself as Iya Segun, described the show as beautiful, adding that, “It is great. These people (dancers) are something else, especially the kids.

Lagos is great,” she said.

The Assistant Director of Dance, National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Arnold Udoka explained that the show is for the public to be aware of the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of Lagos State.

“It is a build up to Lagos at 50 celebrations. So the cultural aspect of Lagos is being deployed today in Ikeja; there are other divisions as planned by the committee that we will also take the performances to, but this is spe-

cifically for Ikeja. The idea is to take the show to the owners of the show – the public.”

On the dance presentations, he said: “The first one is Ajoyo (celebration). We are celebrating the creation of Lagos State; we have a reason to celebrate. You saw the dance performance from the children angle too by the Foot Print of David.

He added: “You can see some members of the public are even performing with us; many of them are singing along with us. So, already the spirit of the celebration has already caught up with everyone; they are performing with us; some of them are even ready to drum with us. So everybody is willing and ready for Lagos at 50.”

For the founder of the Foot Prints of David, they have been able to senticisize the people about Lagos at 50 celebrations, through the performances showcasing the rich culture of Lagos in particular, and Nigeria in general. “Our special focus in Foot Print of David is to do present performances for children and by children. So we are taking care of the children arm of the festival, as were mandated by Prof. Wole Soyinka to make sure we try as much as possible to show the whole Lagosians about the rich culture of Lagos, and the rich culture of Nigeria. And we are doing just that.

“The dances we presented are majorly the contemporary versions of some traditional dances,” Awobajo said.

ART

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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NEWS Filmmaking, our most important cultural diplomatic tool – Odugbemi Tony Okuyeme

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he CEO of DVWorx Studios & Zuri24 Media Lagos, Mr. Femi Odugbemi has stressed the significance of filmmaking to the development of a nation and indeed, the African continent.

He also said that telling the African story is the obligation of Africans and every nation on the continent must deliberately choose how the rest of the world perceives its people, its identity and its civilisation.

Odugbemi, a filmmaker and cofounder/director, I-Rep Documentary Forum, stated in his Keynote address at the 1st graduation of the Mainframe Film and Media Institute, Abeokuta last Friday.

According to him, “filmmaking is our most important cultural diplomatic tool providing us a viable platform to define who we are for the rest of the world, but it won’t happen unless we make a conscious and deliberate intervention to empower our young talents with a systemic structure.

“We need to begin to create filmmakers who understand the visual arts, filmmakers who understand the impact of colour and lighting, literature and poetry, sound and music, yes filmmakers with strong filmic storytelling intelligence.

“We need to be able to create the right kind of curriculum in our film training but it has to be a curriculum that is standardized, adopted nationally with a focus on our cultural and development objectives as a filmfriendly nation.”

Odugbemi further stated that “our universities must assume leadership, not only in developing curriculum for film studies, but a functional template to systematize the Nollywood process of filmmaking in a way that other countries with similar sociology can replicate its model.”

He charged the graduating students of the institution to make films to make a point; make films that matter.

Odugbemi

Osofisan

Mrs Amosun

Challenges Or Not; I Love My Country for WSICE Tony Okuyeme

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ll roads will to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital as this year’s edition of Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange kicks off various activities.

As part of the programmes, the First Lady of Ogun State Dr. (Mrs) Olufunso Amosun will hold a special mentorship session with the students of the State and other youths at the main Hall of The Ogun State Cultural Centre, Abeokuta on the topic “Challenges Or Not; I Love My Country”, and the writing competition will feature 82 students tackling the topic – in a reality televisionlike setting. In addition, 18 past winners of the yearly competition will be congregated to write commemorative essays on same topic.

The two-day event, which ends tomorrow, coincides, as is traditional, with the 82nd birthday anniversary of the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who is the grand motivation behind the project, and after whom it is named.

Organized yearly under the auspices of the Open Door Series as designed and promoted

by Zmirage Multimedia Limited in collaboration with the USbased GlobalNewHaven, also one of the highlights of this year’s edition is the presentation of cheques to the remaining winners of the Project WS Essay competition from 2014 and 2015 who are yet to receive their scholarship money. “The management of the project has faced some financial challenges in the past two years due to lack

of sponsorship. This year’s event is not any different as sponsorship has been scarce but we do not want to drop the ball on the event as we are aware of the immense impact it has had on some of our past participants, both teenagers and adults,” the executive producer of the WSICE, Alhaji Teju Kareem said.

He added that, in line with the theme for this year’s event, the organizers “want to walk their talk by ensuring that all promises made have been fulfilled as promises made, with intention of not fulfilling, can also be termed corruption”.

The Panelists will be speaking on the topic “Corruption as it Affects Children, Women and Our Humanity”.

The Chairperson of the event, Professor Omofolabo Ajayi-Soyinka is an interdisciplinary scholar, whose teaching, research, and creative works encompass theatre, literary and gender studies, including the theories that inform them. Her works examine discourses on

Ojewuyi

Guests and theatre lovers can look forward to an intellectual, but fun evening at the advocacy lecture

power, gender, race, and nationality especially in Africa and the Diaspora. Author of several books and chapters, her recent publication is a co- edited collection of poems, “Reflections: An Anthology of New Works

by African Women Poets (2013).

Choreographer and dancer, she has worked with several playwrights, directors and given performances both in Nigeria and internationally.

Expected at the Advocacy lecture this year are the all-female Panelists: Hafsat Abiola Costello, a Nigerian human rights, civil rights and democracy activist, founder of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND); Kadaria Ahmed, an international journalist, editor, social commentator and TV personality; Sola Salako (The Anchor), a freelance writer and industry critic; and Rose Moses, who was the South West Editor of the Authority Newspapers Limited.

According to Kareem, the Special Guest of Honor is renowned dramatist and theatre scholar, Professor Femi Osofisan, while the Keynote speakers are: Comrade Tunde Fagbenle, a media entrepreneur, and Professor Segun Ojewuyi, a scholar and theatre director.

“Guests and theatre lovers can look forward to an intellectual, but fun evening at the advocacy lecture of this year’s Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange Project,” Kareem stated.

He added, “This year, along with the mini competitions, we will be showing a film titled, “Yeepa!!!”, Tunde Kelani’s adaptation of Femi Osofisan’s Who’s Afraid Of Solarin.”

36

LITERATURE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Background check as panacea for national security Book stand Tony Okuyeme

T

he spate of insecurity in Nigeria has turned a worrisome dimension, as all efforts at providing security for the teaming populace has almost become a mirage, more so as efforts of the government and its agencies seems to be hitting a brick wall.

This book National Security and the Background Check Option written by Frank Oyorhigho, a highly resourceful and remarkable professional, with over 12 years of experience in corporate communications and background checks terrain, is about changing the battle strategy.

The author calls for a more proactive rather than the current state of reactiveness. He notes: “Let us shift the responsibility of securing the country from the government and its agencies alone to all the citizens.

“This is not taking the responsibility of national security from the government but, asking the citizen to compliment government efforts by taking the issue of background check more seriously.”

He posits further that the subject of background check is seen only from the perspective of employee management. This, according to him, is wrong. “If every citizen will take the time to check the people living and/or working with them, a revolution of consciousness would be engendered.

“The Landlord will know his tenants. The car owner would know his driver. The madam in the house would understand the true identity of her domestic staff. The employer will know the kind of people he has in his employ. The neighbours can identify the people residing in the environment. Before a stranger will come in to steal and kidnap anybody, it will involve a higher level of criminality.”

He also notes that this drive however “will have to be kick started by the government by giving a strong backing to background check through legislative actions and pronouncement. This is the message of this book.”

In the preface, Olurotimi Vincent Adegborioye (OVA) underscored the significance of the book when he notes that, “the issue of national security at this time of our national history requires every means legally possible. This is why I will say this book came at the right time.

The government must give support to all efforts by every well-meaning Nigerian to put the mind of Nigerians at peace domestically.

“This book is to bring to our consciousness the fact that Background Check is one of the panaceas for national security and it must take the top burner position if we must achieve security for our people. The book will let us know that Background Check is a tool that does not require too much efforts and materials. It is cost effec-

Book title: National Security and

Background Check Option Author: Frank Oyorhigho Publisher: Primex Consulting Number of Pages: 175 Year of publication: 2016

tive and time saving. Rather than reacting and expending funds to procure weapons to fight insecurity when it has happened, this book is a clarion call for us to support the proactive attitude of the use of Background Check.”

The government, he also notes, has a lot to do in this regard by promulgating a law that makes Background Check compulsory especially for all employers of labour both in the corporate and private businesses whether big or small.

“The government must take a stance that failure to conduct Background Check will lead to being prosecuted for negligent hiring and retention.

“House and property owners must be told that they are on the wrong side of the law if they rent their properties out without conducting Background Check on the prospective tenants. It is time the landlord understood that renting an apartment out goes beyond finding out if the prospective tenant

is rich enough to pay the rent and gainfully employed to continue to service the rent.”

According to him, when government set the ground rules and follow it up with a national orientation campaign on the relevance of Background Check, the consciousness will begin to grow and overtime it will become a national culture.

“This book is therefore an attempt to ensure that Background Check becomes a national culture, and enforcement is also not taken for granted. Once this is done, integrity would be introduced into the system and everyone will be cautious in dealing with one another and insecurity will be greatly reduced. This is the message, and request all relevant authorities to support this laudable move by Frank and all advocate of Background Check,” Adegborioye posits.

The author Oyorhigho was one of the pioneer staff of the premium background check company, Background Check International (BCI) in 2004. He left Background Check International in 2009 as a Senior Manager, Business Development and Marketing to join Skye Bank as the Head of Internal Communications.

At Skye Bank, he was saddled with the responsibility for developing and applying internal communications strategy to engage internal stakeholders towards enhancing business results. His responsibilities also included formulation/enforcement of internal Communications Strategy/Guidelines to effect and support change. He monitored internal messages to ensure close alignment with the bank’s communications strategy and corporate focus.

Frank now runs and manages a background check company, Primex Background Check Limited.

His concern for the neglect of a valuable solution for the resolution of internal national security prompted him to put together his experiences in this book to help the government and the people understand that we have a simple solution we are yet to explore.

What we are reading

POETRIP

In the Country: Stories by Mia Alvar is about Filipino diaspora; it is about Filipinos all over the world. Why the book is so brilliant, I think, is because it captures diaspora mentality of people who are pushed outside their country.

And you will find almost similar situation in Nigeria. So I really identify with the book; it struck a chord with me.

You can never overemphasise the importance of reading books. It opens your world; you travel through place, through time by reading.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates is basically a commentary on race relations in America. I find it particularly riveting in the sense that it was written as a letter to his son, sharing his own personal experiences as a black man, as a black intellectual coming up within modern day America with its claims to have moved past racism. And it reminded me particularly of James Baldwin’s The Fire Within, and I had to actually go back to read The Fire Within after reading Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me.

TONY OKUYEME ARTS EDITOR

tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Helon Habila

Efe Paul Azino

Planting Fresh Hope Oladipo Kehinde I am planting fresh hope in the garden of my heart I am not afraid of the threat of the weeds I am not afraid of deluge I am not afraid of strong winds I am not afraid of harsh weather I am holding up to the upland sun I am holding up to the rain I am holding up to the voice inside me I am holding up to time To fulfill my dreams I am holding up to tomorrow To see my seed grow And flourish I am planting a fresh hope in the garden of my heart The voice of my heart Hold the dreams in my eyes

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

37

CBN bars banks from unauthorised commercial papers’ deals Clears FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange for CPs’ quotation

Tony Chukwunyem

I

n continuation of its efforts to deepen the financial market, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has barred Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Discount Houses from dealing in Commercial Papers (CPs) not registered on authorised exchanges.

In a letter to DMBs and Discount Houses posted on its website yesterday, the apex bank also announced that it had cleared FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange for the quotation of CPs in the country.

The regulator stated that following the new directive, which came into effect on Monday, July 11, “banks are prohibited from transacting in CPs in any capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to as Issuer; Guarantor; Issuing, Placing, Paying and Collecting Agent (IPPCA), Collecting and Paying Agent (CPA), etc., from the effective date.”

The CBN also disclosed that FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange was cleared for the quotation of CPs because the company’s quotation rules had already received its (CBN’s) approval.

According to the apex bank, DMBs and Discount Houses would be, “updated on subsequent clearance of additional exchanges from time to time.”

It would be recalled that the CBN had in November 2009 issued guidelines to banks on the issuance and treatment of Bankers Acceptances (BA) and CPs. The guidelines defined a CP as, “An unconditional promise by a person to pay to the order of another person a certain sum at a future

date. Such an instrument may or may not carry the bank’s guarantee.

“Where the bank guarantees the CP to make it more marketable in the money market, the instrument acquires the force of a BA and the bank incurs a contingent liability.

Where the CP is not secured or guaranteed by the bank (clean

R

espected analyst and Chief Economist, Africa, at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, has said that the success of the flexible exchange rate policy recently launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will depend on its ability to attract greater foreign portfolio inflows.

In a note obtained by New Telegraph, Khan argued that for the policy to attract forex inflows there has to be further monetary tightening as well as an increase in domestic confidence in the naira.

She said, “Nigeria’s decision to liberalise its FX regime, adopting a managed float on 20 June, has created much more interest in its monetary policy. In real terms, Nigeria’s policy rate is negative (the central bank rate is 12 per cent; official CPI inflation accelerated to 15.6

per cent y/y in May). Across its local currency yield curve, real yields are also negative (excluding short-lived spikes at primary auctions).

“However, the success of Nigeria’s currency liberalisation effort is likely to depend on its ability to attract greater foreign portfolio inflows. Further monetary policy tightening that restores positive real returns is necessary for Nigeria to attract more FXsensitive, yield-seeking flows.

It is also necessary to instill greater domestic confidence in the Nigerian naira (NGN)”, she stated.

She also pointed out that the, “perceived quality of economic management” is likely to emerge as a much stronger influence on the naira’s value in the future especially in this period when the country is in the process of diversifying its economy from oil dependency.

As at N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 15.6 12 10.77 US$44.78 US$25,738,439,068

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 April, 2016 28/03/2016 Mar 2015 12/7/2016 11/7/2016

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 104.96 114.56 112.10 120.50 109.35 100.24 83.91 98.09

1.08 3.25 3.87 5.83 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.30

NIBOR

Rate (%) 15.0000 10.6864 12.4601 13.8466

Bid Yield 10.09 10.57 11.56 11.46 12.32 12.45 12.43 12.41

Change (%) 2.17 ▲ 0.20 ▲ 0.24 ▲ 0.22 ▲

Change (%) 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.25 ▲ -0.07 ▼ 0.08 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.04 ▲

Price 105.11 114.86 112.40 120.80 109.65 100.54 84.21 98.39

Tenor (Months)

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.4817 7.3699 7.8938 9.2453 9.3846 10.0913

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 9.95 10.47 11.47 11.40 12.26 12.40 12.38 12.37

Change (%) 0.04 ▲ 0.00 ↔ 0.25 ▲ -0.07 ▼ 0.08 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.04 ▲ 0.04 ▲ Change (%) 0.25 ▲ 0.06 ▲ 0.29 ▲ 0.60 ▲ 0.45 ▲ -0.44 ▼

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) Change (%) 30-Jun-16 8.15 7.90 8.06 0.26 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 12.67 0.00 ↔ 8.32 0.26 ▲ 22-Sep-16 8.71 8.46 8.82 0.46 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 13.75 0.42 ▲ 9.10 0.46 ▲ 16-Mar-17 9.31 10.22 0.00 ↔ 9.06 9.92 0.00 ↔

Spot($/N)

Bid 198.45

FX

Offer 198.55

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

“Since the instrument is negotiable, title to it is transferred by endorsement. It is a marketable instrument and allows a bank to finance its customers without necessarily utilising its loanable funds.

Instead, funds are provided by investors who are willing to purchase these obligations on a discounted basis.”

Khan: Foreign inflows’ll determine success of forex reforms

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

CP), it needs not be reported as a contingent liability,” the CBN stated.

Similarly, the guidelines defined a BA as, “a draft drawn on and accepted by a bank, unconditionally ordering payment of a certain sum of money at a specified time in the future to the order of a designated party.

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

Noting that the CBN’s rate setting body, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will have “big” decisions to make when it meets later this month, Khan said that the committee would be torn between further tightening to attract foreign investors and not tightening because of the slowing economy.

As she put it, “Failure to tighten in a credible manner may erode faith in the curren-

cy. However, a renewed spate of banking-sector worries, as well as widespread economic concerns, could influence the authorities’ appetite for aggressive tightening nearterm.”

Meanwhile, Standard Chartered Bank’s Standard Chartered Premise Consumer Price Tracker (SC-PCPT) for Nigeria rose 2.11per cent m/m in June according to a note issued by Razia Khan.

Fitch: Nigerian banks to remain profitable in 2016 Tony Chukwunyem

D

espite the expected impact of rising Non Performing Loans (NPLs) and other economic headwinds, global ratings agency, Fitch, has predicted that Nigerian banks will remain profitable in 2016 due to what it describes as their “still strong earnings generation.”

In a note entitled, “Rating actions on Nigerian Banks on sovereign downgrade,” the agency stated, “Despite slower asset growth and higher loan impairment charges, Fitch expects banks to remain profitable in 2016 due to still strong earnings generation. Strong regulatory capital ratios have helped offset the one-off impact from the devaluation arising from Nigeria’s new FX regime.”

According to the agency, “Sustained low oil prices and continuing production disruptions in the Niger Delta could cause industry NPL ratios to rise more dramatically. We also expect loan impairments to rise in the wake of the naira devaluation. Devaluation will primarily affect those Nigerian companies that are not adequately hedged by foreign currency income streams, and which will find it more difficult to service their foreign currency loans at the current exchange rate. The devaluation could also affect customer demand in the domestic economy.”

Commenting on its downgrade of the ratings of some lenders which followed its downgrade of Nigeria’s sovereign ratings last month, Fitch said “it believes that the willingness of the Nigerian authorities to support domestic banks continues to be high (as demonstrated in the past).

Nonetheless, it added, “However, the state’s ability to provide support, particularly in foreign currency, is weaker due to falling oil prices eroding Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves and foreign currency revenues.”

The agency last Monday downgraded First Bank of Nigeria Ltd’s (FBN) and United Bank for Africa’s (UBA) the Long-Term Foreign Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to ‘B’ from ‘B+’ with stable outlooks.

It also downgraded the National Long-Term Rating of FBN Holdings Plc (FBNH), the parent holding company of FBN, to ‘BBB+(nga)’ from ‘A(nga)’.

Similarly, it downgraded the Bank of Industry Limited’s (BOI) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘B+’ from ‘BB-‘ and Support Rating to ‘4’ from ‘3’.

However, it affirmed the IDRs of eight other Nigerian commercial banks and affirmed the Viability Ratings (VR) of all the banks.

Fitch has affirmed the issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of eight other Nigerian commercial banks and affirmed the Viability Ratings (VR) of all the banks.

The Outlook on the Long-Term Foreign Currency IDR of one of the banks, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), has been revised to Stable from Negative due to continuing strong earnings and stronger-than-expected liquidity.

According to the agency, the IDRs of UBA, Access Bank (Access) and Wema Bank (Wema) are driven by both their standalone strengths, reflected in their VRs, and by the likelihood of sovereign support, reflected in their SRFs.

38

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

WEDNESDAY, JUly 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stock market halts 5-day losing streak REBOUND Equities got a fillip from resumed bargain hunting activities

Stories: Chris Ugwu

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he local bourse yesterday made a rebound on the back of shares of industrial and consumer goods subsectors halting five days losing streak.

At the close of business, NSE Consumer Goods Index firmed up by 0.94 per cent atop shares of Nigerian Breweries while the NSE Industrial Index grew by 0.61 per cent to return

the market activities to the upbeat.

Consequently, the AllShare Index gained 43.83 basis points or 0.15 per cent to close at 28,857.34 basis points as against 28,813.51 recorded the previous day while the market capitalisation of equities appreciated by N16 billion or 0.15 per cent to close at N9.911 trillion from N9.895 trillion.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 207.6 million shares was exchanged in 4,542 deals.

Banking subsector of the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 73.5 million shares exchanged by investors in 1,493deals.

Volume in the subsector was largely driven by activities in the shares of GTB Plc and

Sterling Bank Plc. Premium subsector boosted by activities in the shares of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank Plc followed with a turnover of 27.02 million shares in 671 deals.

The number of gainers at the close of trading session was

T

He said: “You also recall that in the 90s you had the Asian crisis where a lot of stock markets especially within the Asian countries went down and a few countries within the region, Asia and Malaysia prepared a very robust Master Plan.

“Malaysia had a Master Plan from 2001 and they religiously implemented their Master Plan and after the completion of the Ten Year Master Plan the market was able to grow in terms of recapitalization of the market, new products, more listings and quality of operators in the market. They were also able to address a lot of management issues at that time,” he said.

He noted that since the new management came on board, they decided to implement the plan that the entire market prepared and that is why every year the SEC comes up with some initiatives that the market can drive.

Gwarzo listed some of the recorded achievements in implementing the Master Plan to

On the other hand, GSK Plc led the price losers’ table, dropping 9.67 per cent to close at N18.77 per share. Skye Bank Plc followed with 7.59 per cent each to close at 73 kobo per share, while Tranex Plc trailed with a loss of 7.27 per cent to close at N1.02 per share.

Markets devt : AfDB signs MoU with ASEA

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he African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) have signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to amplify the impact of their strategically aligned joint efforts to promote resources mobilisation to fund Africa’s economic growth.

SEC seeks collaboration on Master Plan he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has sought the collaboration of media organizations in the country to ensure effective implementation of the Capital Market Ten Year Master Plan.

Director General of SEC Nigeria, Mounir Gwarzo said this during a meeting in Abuja yesterday.

He said a successful implementation of the plan was necessary to attract retail investors to the market and address some of the challenges that Nigeria’s Capital market faced during the global capital market crash that occurred in 2008-2010 and also raise the standard of the market.

According to the DG, the market went down and a lot of investors lost money in this market and sometimes two years after, the Capital Market Committee (CMC) felt there was a need to come together and prepare a document that will be able to address some of these challenges.

14 while decliners closed at 29.

Nacho Plc led the gainers’ table 4.92 per cent to close at N4.05 per share while Fidelity Bank Plc followed with 4.39 per cent to close at N1.19 per share.

AIICO Insurance Plc added 4.11 per cent to close at 76 kobo per share.

39

include Recapitalisation, Direct Cash Settlement, E-Dividend, National Investors Protection Fund (NIPF), and Corporate Governance Scorecard among others.

He emphasised that the only way to attract retail investors back to the market is to ensure that concrete steps are taken to adequately address their concerns especially the issue of unclaimed dividend.

“The issue of unclaimed dividend which according to our records is in excess of N80billion will also be a thing of the past. These unclaimed dividends came about from dividends of small stakeholders like you and me and we need to ensure that they are claimed.

“Once we are able to get through with the registration process, those dividends that are less than 12 years, once the registrars can certify that the people are the owners, they should be able to pay them.

Gradually we should be able to address their problem of unclaimed dividends” he said.

This MoU according to a statement, will provide a collaborative framework for harmonising and coordinating the efforts of AfDB, the premier international development financial institution for Africa, and ASEA, the premier body of African stock exchanges, towards deepening and connecting African financial markets.

The partnership will also facilitate various projects of mutual interest to both the association and the bank targeting areas such as financial markets infrastructure development, introduction of new products in the market, improving market liquidity and market participation, information sharing and capacity building amongst other programmes.

President, AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said in a statement that the strengthening and deepening of Africa’s financial markets, as a powerful tool to mobilise domestic and international savings at an efficient cost, and channel them towards funding Africa’s private sector, was critical to accelerate the pace to achieve the bank’s 10 year strategy 2013-2022 for green and inclusive growth in Africa.

“It is therefore integral to the bank’s High 5s Priority Agenda to ‘Light up and Power Africa’ to ‘Feed Africa’, to ‘Integrate Africa’, to ‘Industrialise Africa’ and to ‘Improve the Quality of Life of Africans’, all of which embody core elements of the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The maiden project to be undertaken under this cooperation initiative will be the African Exchanges Linkage Project (AELP).

Collaboration will extend to other joint projects or programs over time.

“Co-initiated by ASEA and the bank, the AELP is aimed at addressing the lack of liquidity in African capital markets by creating linkages across markets. It is envisaged that the linkage would allow cross border visibility and open-up markets for investors to trade in any of the linked markets,” he said.

According to the ASEA President, Mr. Oscar Onyema, the African Exchanges Linkage Project (AELP) will primarily commence with the four pilot Exchanges selected by ASEA as regional hubs during the incubation phase of the project, namely the Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE), the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NbSE) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and will eventually be rolled out to include the other ASEA Member Exchanges.

With regards to the AELP, Onyema said the linkages would support innovation, stimulating the creation of suitable products in relations to instruments listed on the various linked markets creating more investment opportunities for the investor community.

40

News|south-west

We executed N115.6bn projects in 6 months, says Ambode Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday said his government has spent N115.624 billion to execute major projects in the last six months.

Besides, the governor, who said his administration was strategising on how to strengthen the state’s economy with a view to reducing its dependence on federal allocation to 10 per cent in three years and thereafter zero per cent, disclosed that N20 billion had been earmarked to revamp the

health and education sector in the next six months.

He said this yesterday at the second edition of the 2016 Quarterly Town Hall meeting in Badagry.

He said: “We hope to reduce our dependence on federal allocation to 10 percent in three years . We also have plans to achieve zero percent as we develop our potentials in tourism and services. The future of Lagos is about service and tourism .”

According to the Governor, “Revenue recorded 73 percent performance for the half year 2016 despite the challenging economic environment. Your government spent a total of N115.624bn on capital proj-

ects during the half year 2016 leading to the Capital/ Recurrent ratio of 50:50 with the plan to improve this ratio to 58:42 provided for in the 2016 Appropriation Law in the remaining half of the year.”

Harping on the overall budget performance as at half year was 70percent, which he described as an improvement over the corresponding period in 2015 when the performance stood at 63percent.

On his administration’s projection for the next quarter, Ambode said the government had commenced a comprehensive action to rehabilitate and upgrade the facilities in all

government hospitals.

Ambode said: “Modern equipment will be procured to facilitate treatment and we will invest in capacity building of our medical staff. We intend to spend over N10 billion on our hospitals across the state before December this year. We will recruit and train medical professionals in areas of rare specialization and special needs.”

On the strategies to improve education sector, the governor said his administration would establish a Technical and Vocational School in Badagry, adding that the ground breaking would be done in September, 2016.

Fayose accuses APC of plans to cause mayhem Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has alerted residents, especially members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of surreptitious plans by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cause trouble within the state.

However, the governor appealed to the people not to allow themselves to “be drawn into needless battles by desperate politicians.”

Fayose spoke in AdoEkiti, the Ekiti State capital while interacting with journalists after inspecting some ongoing projects in the capital.

In a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Sec-

retary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor cited series of unprovoked attacks on commercial motorcyclists and passers-by by the APC members when they held a rally in the town last Thursday.

It reads: “When they saw that most people boycotted their rally and many only stood by to watch their display of ignorance, they

resorted to attacking innocent people. Their aim is to draw my supporters out for fight and they did not succeed and they won’t.

We know of their plans to even kill their own members and lay the blame on me and my party.

“When they were in government, Ekiti people saw how they shed innocent blood,” he said.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Court fines Oyo NLC N250, 000 for beating court official Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

F

or assaulting an official who went to effect service of a court process at the Oyo State Teachers’ Secretariat, off Ring Road, Ibadan, the National Industrial Court, Ibadan Division yesterday fined the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) a sum of N250, 000.

Justice Firstina KolaOlalere, handed down the order on the union when he was informed that a court bailiff was beaten up by some staff of the teachers’ union when on June 23, 2016, he went to serve them with a court

Oyo inaugurates salary, education committees to end strike Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

A

s a way out of the industrial logjam currently pitching the Oyo state government against the labour unions, the Oyo State government yesterday inaugurated salaries and education committees to review

L-R: Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Olamilekan Adeola Solomon; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluranti Adebule and GovernorAkinwunmi Ambode during the 2016 Second Quarter Town Hall meeting at the Muslim Community Playing Ground, General Hospital Road, Badagry, Lagos … yesterday

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

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he Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, yesterday signed a memorandum Of understanding worth $1.4bn with the Spring Port Technological Group to build a Technology, Media City and Agriculture Incubation Hub in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The amount would take care of the first phase of the project and this would create employment opportunities for job seekers in the town, while the startup phase for master plan would begin with investors in London and Asia.

In his remark after the signing of the MOU that

Ooni signs $1.4bn MoU to develop Ife would be presented to Elliot Jones, representing Maya Angelo Foundation and American investors in the town, the monarch said that “the project would span development across Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria and Africa at large.”

According to him, “the partnership with House of Oduduwa was hastened to ensure the success of the project. The initiative is an encouraging one and I urge the team not to relent. When I visited the USA, I met Nigerians and told them that people built USA, it did not just develop. Just like the USA citi-

zens built America, I am glad that some Nigerians in the Diaspora are also keen for the development of their mother land.”

“I am totally in support

$160m

The net worth of Ashton Kutcher in 2016.

Source: Fropky.com

1.28

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Mauritania in 2004.

Source: Itu.int

of the project. I have never started a project without completing it and I hope this will be completed within the stipulated time”.

“We don’t want this to be a typical project that will start and won’t end and because of that, we need to sign the MoU today.”

Stakeholders want OAU reopened, acting VC appointed Mojeed Alabi

S

tudents and staff of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have sought the intervention of stakeholders, including the leadership of the National Assembly over the continued closure of the institution, despite the dis-

process. The order was given during the hearing of a suit filed by the state government against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) sequel to the ongoing strike.

Having found the union guilty of the offence, the judge gave the order that the sum must be paid by the NUT within a month from yesterday that it was pronounced.

The judge said that the teachers who were supposed to impose etiquette on the masses were found maltreating the court bailiff for doing his lawful job.

“Such attitude is highly condemnable,” she said.

solution of its Governing Council and removal of the embattled Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayobami Salami.

That was even as they called on the Federal Government to appoint an acting vice-chancellor to oversee the affairs of the university, pending the determination of all the matters before the court.

the education proposal of government and salary issues that precipitated the ongoing workers’ strike.

Workers in the state had been on an indefinite strike for about one month following the stern opposition by the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to government’s proposed private partners’ involvement in the management of some public secondary schools in the state.

Aside the opposition to the partnership initiative introduced by the Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led government, which the labour unions interpreted to be an indirect way of selling off the public secondary schools to private investors, the workers had demanded payment of their salary arrears running to seven months.

The committees have members drawn from labour unions and the government hierarchy.

But the chairman of NLC in the state, Waheed Olojede, said the formation of the committees was part of the labour demands from government.

He said they would be vital to solving major problems that had led to the strike, adding that suspension of the strike would depend on the submission of the committees to the NLC. In an interview with the Head of a group of lecturers on the campus under the umbrella of Concerned OAU Lecturers, Prof. Ade Akinola, he explained that having dissolved the Governing Council and suspended the processes leading to the appointment of Salami, the ideal thing for the Federal Government was to announce an acting vice-chancellor and reopen the university.

News|South-east

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

S’East, S’ South groups demand referendum over confab report Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

O

ver a dozen groups from the South East and South South geo-political zones of the country yesterday called for an early referendum on the 2014 Confab report. They said its resolutions, was the only way forward to save Nigerian.

The groups which rose from a meeting in Umuahia, condemned alleged hounding, arrests and intimidation of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other innocent youths, “whose only sin is their loss of faith in the lop-sided, unfair and

unjust unitary Nigeria, where some regions are continuously treated as conquered people.”

They also condemned the alleged decision by President Muhammadu Buhari, “to consign the only solution to myriad of problems afflicting Nigeria to the archives”, insisting that the document must be retrieved from the archives, and early referendum conducted to determine the fate and future of Nigeria.

They condemned the apparent decision of the federal government to crush dissenting voices, insisting that dialogue and negotiation were the only solutions to save Nigeria.

Enugu PDP laud Ugwuanyi

T

he Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has declared that the people of the state have no need for another political party, insisting that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has wiped away their tears having kept his campaign promises.

Speaking at Ikem and Nkwo Nike, during the inauguration of newly elected PDP executives in Isi-Uzo and Enugu East Local Government Areas, respectively, the state Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, praised the efforts of the PDP government in the state, saying that the governor’s unprecedented developmental strides and peace initiatives has made the repositioning process of the party easy.

Nnamani noted that Ugwuanyi has kept his

campaign promises to the people through massive roads construction with drainages, brand new classroom blocks for public schools, as well as other infrastructure, especially in the rural areas.

While stressing that Enugu has no option than PDP, the party chairman enjoined the newly inaugurated party executives to remain steadfast and deploy their effort to mobilize and sensitize the people at the grassroots on the good works of the governor as they wait for 2019 elections.

“In Enugu, we don’t have need for another party because the governor has put smiles on the faces of the people. We believe in what we see.

Nobody will bring propaganda here because the government is doing well.”

Umahi dissociates self from social media account Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

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bonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, yesterday disowned social media accounts bearing his name and pictures being used to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

Umahi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, advised the public to disregard such accounts on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.

The statement reads: “The attention of Engr.

David Umahi, the governor of Ebonyi State has been drawn to the existence of accounts on Facebook, Twitter, etc operated by unscrupulous individuals, asking unsuspecting people to apply for jobs and contracts on the social media by paying for forms.

“One of such accounts on Facebook asks people to pay to one Dr. James with mobile telephone number 0813 939 3872.

“Governor Umahi does not directly or indirectly operate accounts on Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms. When he decides to, the public would be informed accordingly.

“His Excellency will never ask anyone to pay for jobs or contracts as being demanded by the impersonators. The general public is therefore advised to disregard such demands.

“People should be extremely careful with those they transact business with on the social media, especially those claiming to be public office holders.

“Ebonyi State Government publishes contracts, job vacancies and other activities in newspapers and not on social media platforms.”

Abia North rerun: Lawyer seeks adjournment as witnesses goof Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

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awyer to Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, in the Abia North rerun petition, Mr. Mike Onyeka, yesterday hurriedly asked the Tribunal to adjourn sitting for the day after opening their defence with two witnesses.

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, is challenging the return of Senator Mao Ohuabunwa by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the Abia North

23

The life expectancy of women at age 60 years of El Salvador in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

rerun election of March 5, 2016. Dr Kalu concluded his defence with the presentation of over 23 witnesses last week.

Apparently dissatisfied with the performance of the first two witnesses, Onyeka protested to the Tribunal that the respondents had no documents of the Petitioner and the Tribunal proceedings, saying that the non-availability of the exhibits affected the presentation of their witnesses.

The respondents had six days to call witnesses and ended the first day with only two. The third

627,337

The total area (in sq. km) of land of Somalia.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

witness was about being called when Onyeka protested. The first witness, Onyebuchi Luke Kanu, a PDP polling unit agent at Amankwu in Arochukwu Local Government Area told the Tribunal, under cross examination, that he neither tendered the letter of appointment as PDP agent nor any result before the Tribunal. He also denied that there was any violence in the area during the election despite the charge sheet of those convicted for various electoral offences provided by the Petitioner’s counsel, Kelvin Nwufo (SAN).

The second witness, Chinyere Eke, PDP polling unit agent for Amankalu Akoli in Bende Local Government Area, could not differentiate the colour of the document he signed

41

as party agent even as he claimed to be conversant with everything that happened during the election in the unit. He also said that the result sheet shown to him by the respondents lawyer for the unit was not the result of the rerun for the area.

As the next witness was about to be called Onyeka told the Tribunal that they need the record of the Tribunal and petitioners’ documents to enable them conduct their case properly and speedily.

At that juncture the Tribunal Chairman, Justice James Abundaga asked the clerk and the secretariat to explain why the materials had not been made ready for the respondents, to which he said that the copier broke down and had not been repaired.

Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Enugu State, Hon. Augustine Nnamani (left); Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi and others, during the flag-off ceremony of the inauguration of the Local Government Area Party Executives in Enugu East LGA, Enugu State… yesterday

Injustice behind Biafra, MASSOB’s agitation – APGA chair Pamela Eboh AWKA

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he National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Oye yesterday in Awka said that the continued agitation for the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), was as a result of frustration over perceived injus-

tices in the country.

Addressing reporters at the NUJ Press Centre, Awka as part of activities lined up to mark his 60th birthday and 30th anniversary of his marriage, Oye noted that the agitation would come to an end as soon as the glaring imbalances and marginalisation against Igbo people are addressed.

He said: “The Igbo man does not believe in destruction. They suffered so much during the Nigeria civil war and they have not recovered from the effects of that war.

They believe in the unity of Nigeria, but the inequitable distribution of amenities, which is not in their favour, is what is driving the agitation.

“Once they are properly recognised and a sense of belonging in the country, the whole world will see that Igbo people love Nigeria. If they are given good roads, jobs and treated fairly and equitably in the distribution of appointments, there would not be any agitation, and this is certain.

“When the people drive on the dilapidated Onitsha

–Enugu road, Oba – Nnewi – Okigwe road, Aba – Port Harcourt road, Owerri – Port Harcourt road, Enugu – Umuahia – Aba road which are all federal roads and watch the way appointments are being made in the country, naturally they should be agitated.”

Speaking on the much publicised crevice between Governor Willie Obiano and his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, Oye described it as a figment of the imagination of some people who do not mean well for Anambra State.

Groups seek Buhari, AGF’s intervention to install Ogah Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

T

wo pro-democracy groups, South-East Democratic Coalition (SEDC) and Abia Progressives Forum (APF), have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abuba-

kar Malami, to order the immediate swearing-in of Dr. Sampson Uchechukwu Ogah as the Governor of the state in line with the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The groups said this was the only way to avert the looming anarchy in Abia state.

The groups, in separate

statements made available to journalists in Enugu, yesterday, insisted that there were no constitutional or legal hurdles stopping the swearing in of Ogah, more so, when Justice Okon Abang refused to grant a stay against his judgment of June 27.

Specifically, SEDC, in its statement signed

by its Coordinator, Dr. Maduka Okebanama and Secretary, Barr. Eunice Oke, noted that, in refusing the Stay of Execution application, Justice Abang ruled that since the Certificate of Return has already been given to Dr. Uche Ogah, he does not see what to stay anymore in his judgement.

42

NEWS | south-south

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

E

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, yesterday appeared to have settled their political differences ahead of the September 10 governorship election in the state.

Reports yesterday said the two leaders, before the watchful eyes of party leaders and the leadership of the state House of Assembly as well as other aggrieved elders of the party, finally bid bye to all grievances arising from the outcome of the June 18 governorship primaries in which Mr. Godwin Obaseki emerged as the party's candidate.

Speaking during a meeting held at the old executive chambers of the Government House, Benin, Oshiomhole also declared the reinstatement of suspended party members who were considered loyal to Odubu, from their various offices following their uncomplimentary remarks in the wake of the gubernatorial primaries.

Odubu had since the conclusion of the APC primaries, distanced himself from all entreaties by emissaries sent by Oshiomhole and his foot soldiers,

wednesday, july 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oshiomhiole, Odubu settle differences ahead Sept 10 poll D

Delta magistrates to sit as mobile traffic court

for possible reconciliation.

The silent posture of the deputy governor had raised serious concerns in government circles barely a month after Obaseki emerged the party’s candidate.

However, in a rare spirit of comradeship and oneness, Oshiomhole at a press conference hugged and reconciled with his deputy, saying that “the primaries have come and gone, we all knew that even if all 12 were angels, only one angel was required and in choosing that one angel, nobody re-

quires to give reasons why he preferred one angel to the other and that is simply what has played out in our party.”

He ‘acknowledged the fact that in the cause of the tension, statements were made, some fairly, some unfairly.’

According to him, “as a governor, I took some decisions, some of which clearly affected some of the supporters of my brother the deputy governor.”

Meanwhile, the governor yesterday called for a review of the law against rape and defilement of

minors, saying incidents of rape and defilement, especially by adults, had become rampant in the country.

He also decried the spate of such violent crimes committed against women and the need to tackle such for harmonious and peaceful coexistence in the society.

The governor also called on relevant agencies, particularly the various state Houses of Assembly to expedite action in the process of law making and to ensure the passage of laws that would

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (middle), with others, during the demolition of the hideouts of suspected cultists and kidnappers at Mini-Okukwu and Mini-Ihunwo in Port Harcourt… on Monday

10,320

The total area (in sq. km) of water of Somalia.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures. com

Dickson's CPS, Iworiso-Markson, loses mum

C

hief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has announced the death of his mother, Mrs. Salomi Iworiso-Markson.

A statement issued on Monday in Yenagoa by the spokesperson to Governor Seriake Dickson, said his mother died on the night of Friday, July 8, 2016, in Port Harcourt at the age of 71.

She was said to have suffered a prolonged terminal illness, which spanned several years, until her unfortunate demise last Friday.

He said: "She was everything, a matriarch and a pillar of support, who was known and loved for her positive influence and contributions to the lives of everyone who knew her," the family said.

Fondly called Sisi by those who knew her, she is survived by six of her remaining children, an extended family and eight grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements would be announced later.

without fear or favour, help check the ugly menace, which he said was ‘unacceptable.’

Speaking when he played host to the new leadership and members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Edo State branch, led by Mrs. Maria Edekor, at the Government House, Benin, the governor said he could still not understand why an adult would want to defile a child age between six and 10, adding that such persons must be sent to prison to serve as deterrent to others.

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onscious of the metering gap existing across various customer classes, Benin Electricity Distribution Plc., (BEDC) has announced plans to install additional 100,000 meters for domestic and commercial customers for the remainder of 2016.

The company made the announcement on Monday at a press briefing at the seventh monthly power sector stakeholders’ meeting held at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) along Sapele Road, Benin.

Benin DISCO plans installation of 100, 000 meters in 2016 The company said it would strive to achieve 100 per cent metering of all industrial and Maximum Demand (MD) customers by November this year.

Speaking at the press conference, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, said the company will also achieve the

metering of at least 2,000 distribution transformers in order to adequately account for energy billing to customers.

“The company has been proactive in the installation of meters, having installed over 120,500 meters since the takeover of the company. We have taken advantage of both the industry CAPMI

Repair road to your headquarters, Wike tells AGIP Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

R

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has asked Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to rework the road that leads to its administrative headquarters in Port Harcourt, noting that the state of the road does not befit the oil giant.

Speaking during a facility tour to the administrative headquarters of Agip, Wike condemned the poor state of the road and urged the oil giant to also provide electricity to its host community.

However, the governor pledged to partner with the company on development projects and programmes that would benefit the people, just as he said that government would demolish all shanties that harboured criminals around the company's headquarters.

He said: "I commend the Nigerian Agip Oil Company for its numerous corporate projects across the state. But the state of the road to the administrative headquarters of the company gives the company a negative image.

"I urge the company to

reconstruct this road. I also call on the company to ensure that they provide electricity to the host community of its administrative headquarters as it has done elsewhere."

Wike urged the leaders of the two communities that host shanties near the company to settle their land dispute or risk their land being taken over by the state government.

The Group Managing Director of NAOC, Mr. Marco Rotondi, had earlier noted that the company had carried out some corporate social projects in its host communities.

Scheme and own funded meters. More than 25,000 of these have been installed this year alone,” remarked Osibodu, who was represented by Fidelis Obishai.

BEDC she noted has also commenced some projects to ensure the health of the customer meters, including 100 per cent recertification and rectification of existing Maximum Demand customers; massive meter sealing exercise for domestic and commercial customers, prepaid meters recertification and rectification exercise, and shifting meters from customer premise to external visible locations.

Speaking on the company’s Enforcement and Network Monitoring Team, she said the objective was to ensure that connections to the network were in line with safety standards, and to ensure only paying customers were on the network, and that by-pass or illegal connections were not allowed on the network.

elta State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, has designated some magistrates in the state to sit as Mobile Traffic Court at four locations.

The magistrates are Ezenweali John Alero, who is to preside over the Mobile Traffic Court in Asaba, Mrs. Mesiri Frances, in Ughelli, while Epete Diodemise and Mrs. Ewherido Tekpevwe Rita, will man the Traffic Court in Warri and Effurun respectively.

A statement issued by the Chief Registrar, Mrs. Celestina Dafe, said proceedings of the Mobile Traffic Court will hold in public unless the magistrate considered that in the interest of justice or public safety, a private sitting of the mobile court would be held.

The statement added that a traffic offender, who wishes to waive his rights to a court trial, may pay the stipulated fine on the fine tickets into designated state government bank account.

It further disclosed that any fine imposed on an offender should be paid to the traffic court or a designated state government bank account and where it was imposed by a road traffic office on highway patrol or a mobile traffic court, the offender should obtain an official ticket showing the offence committed and the amount paid.

Akwa Ibom begs retirees over unpaid pension Tony Anichebe Uyo

A

kwa Ibom State Government yesterday pleaded with retirees of the local government service system to exercise patience as measures were being put in place to review the issue of unpaid pension and gratuities so as to alleviate their sufferings.

Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, Victor Antai said this during an interview with journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

Antai said the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel does not owe workers except those who had issues with their Bank Verification Number (BVN).

He said the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was working round the clock to ensure that pending arrears were cleared.

north | news

wednesday, july 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

43

Herdsmen’s attacks: Police confirm 22 dead as Ortom debunks killing of 81 Cephas Iorhemen and Johnchuks Onuanyim

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he Benue State Police Command yesterday confirmed that 22 people were feared killed in 14 communities in some parts of the state as a result of unabated Fulani herdsmen attacks.

This was even as the Command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu denied

the killing of 81 people as reported in some sections of the media.

He described such reports as a gross misrepresentation of the true facts of the situation in the state, saying that the coordinated killings occurred between May and June, this year, only in over 15 communities where property worth billions of naira were destroyed.

While giving a breakdown of the casualties

recorded in the affected communities, the command said 11 persons were killed at Vaase, Tse-Aondo and Tse-Ankyou communities in Ukum Local Government Area on May 30; seven in Mbachom community in Turan Council Ward and Tse-Gabo village in Nenzev Council Ward, while another four were killed in Anyiin, the homestead of former Governor Gabriel Suswam.

According to Yamu,

mobile police men had already been drafted to effectively checkmate the activities of the Fulani insurgents and we are assuring the people of the command's efforts in fighting crime of the state.

He, therefore, appealed to all citizens to remain calm and report suspicious persons and activities to the police for necessary action.

Meanwhile, the Governor of the state, Sam-

Niger State secretariat sealed as soon as the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress declared an indefinite strike, but later reopened by officers of the Nigeria Police Force after a court injunction restraining workers from embarking on strike...yesterday.

N1.124bn

FMC Bida to get N152m CT scan machine

Niger workers defy court order, begin indefinite job boycott MINNA

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ivil servants and workers in Niger State have defied a court order restraining them from embarking on an indefinite strike following the expiration of a two-week ultimatum given to the state government to pay their full salary.

The court injunction, however, ruled out any strike by the civil and public servants in the state, saying the planned action had become null and void and indeed of no effect.

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to prove their ac-

tion as inevitable, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), had directed all civil servants in the state to proceed on an indefinite strike action from midnight of Monday July 11.

This was as the state government said it did not cut the workers’ salary.

A copy of the court injunction made available to the New Telegraph and signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, restrained the NLC Chairman, Comrade Idris Yahaya Ndako and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Yunusa Tanimu, from

NEMA partners Kogi on flood awareness campaign Zacchaeus Ozovehe Lokoja

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), yesterday reiterated its partnership with Kogi State Government to sensitise the people on possible flood this year and its attendant effects on them and the environment.

Addressing stakeholders by the emergency management agencies in the Government House, Lokoja, the state capital, the representative of the Director-General of NEMA, Dr. Bamidele Onimode, said disaster management should be seen

as a prerequisite for growth and development which are ingredients for stability in a democratic setting.

The governor also indicated that the federal and state governments were working in synergy towards bringing the farmers and pastoralists conflict under control, even as he advocated a roundtable discussion between the affected groups to fashion out lasting solutions to the lingering crises.

On his part, the Minister said that the Federal Government was working with various state governments to resolve the farmers and pastoralists skirmishes in different parts of the country.

The total revenue of 2015 Government Quarterly Actually Collection from NITDEF for the 2015 Q4.

Source: Firs.gov.ng

PHOTO: DAN ATORI

Dan Atori

uel Ortom yesterday debunked the recent media reports on mass killings in the state, saying the killings as were reported never took place.

The governor, who spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Retired Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Damabazau, in his office, called on the media, particularly the social media, to shun rumourmongering and unnecessary speculations so as to reduce tension and disaffection in the country.

According to the statement from the Director of Press, Ministry of Interior, Willie Bassey, the governor also called for harmonious and peaceful co-existence

as a security matter, even as he stressed that it was a proactive step to be always prepared for any possible flooding in order to avoid a repeat of the 2012 experience.

He said: "What we are trying to explain is that the duration of the seasonal rainfall may be shortened but the volume may be heavier than expected.

This makes percolation more difficult and hydrological run-off becomes higher, which leads to flooding."

The NEMA boss advised those living around riverine areas to be on the alert as prevention of flood would start from them.

calling their members (civil and public servants) in Niger State on a strike pending the determination of the motion on notice, which is fixed for 15th of July, 2016.

This is coming on the heels of the failure to reach a consensus between the state government and the organised labour on the payment of full salaries to the workers.

But, in a statement jointly signed by the NLC and TUC, the organised labour called on all civil servants in the state to embark on an indefinite strike until the state government rescinds its decision.

However, Vatsa said in the statement that the exparte order was granted

by Hon. Justice P.O Lifu (JP) of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria Holden in Abuja after considering Suit No: NICN/ ABJ/259/2016 and also joined in the ex-parte order are Incorporated Trustees of both NLC and TUC in Niger State.

According to him, "the Judge's decision was premised on the provision of section 254 paragraph "k" of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which gives the court exclusive powers on issues bordering on dispute arising from payment or non-payment of salaries of any employee.

Dan Atori MINNA

A

s part of effort to improve health care delivery in the country, the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Niger State is set to install a Computerized Tomographic Scanning (CTS) machine valued at over N152 million.

Already, the FMC had installed two Kidney Dialysis Machines, while plans had also been concluded to acquire additional two equipment before the end of the year.

The Chief Medical Director of the centre, Dr. Usman Aminu, who made this known while chatting with newsmen in Bida, said the provision and installation of the medical equipment, would go a long way in reducing the cost patients and their relations have to pay in getting medical treatment.

He, however, noted that the lack of these equipment had always left the centre with the option of referring its patients Federal Medical Centre, Gwagwalada, Abuja or other states in the far north with such facilities for the treatment.

The Chief Medical Director also disclosed that the centre had acquired and installed one of the most modern oxygen plants, which provides oxygen to all the wards in the hospital through laid pipes thereby de-emphasising the use of gas cylinders.

Apart from this the plant, the medical centre, Aminu pointed out currently supplies the IBB Specialist Hospital oxygen free of charge, saying in the last one month the centre had been able to rescue or safe 45 premature babies majority of whom were delivered outside the hospital.

Army pledges to stamp out cattle rustlers, banditry in Zamfara Yobe: NLC lauds governor over Idris Salisu payment of salaries Hassan Jirgi T D Gusau

he Nigerian Army have pledged its readiness to flush out cattle rustlers, armed banditry and other criminal activities in some parts of the north, especially Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Niger and Kaduna states.

The army formation, which lamented that such activities had continued to bedevil the socio-economic development in the geopolitical zone, disclosed this yesterday while briefing newsmen at the NUJ Secretariat in Gusau, the

Zamfara State capital.

According to the Acting Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Army, Coloniel Sani Usman Kukasheka, this year’s edition of the Nigerian Army Day celebration scheduled to hold next week at Zamfara State will be flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the activities for the Army Day include the demonstration and testing of the army war equipment, training and retraining military personnel as well as provision of free medical treatment to members of Dansadau and Gusau communities.

DAMATURU

espite the security challenges and harsh economic situation ravaging the country, especially in the north-eastern states of Borno and Yobe States for more than seven years, the Vice-Chairman of Yobe State wing of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Mohammed Inuwa Gulani, has lauded the government for prompt payment of the workers’ salary.

He gave the commen-

dation while addressing newsmen in Damaturu, the state capital, and called on the civil servants in the state to reciprocate such gesture with hard work and dedication, saying “to whom much is given, much is expected.”

He urged other states of the federation currently engulfed in the salary crisis to emulate Yobe state government by making concerted effort at ensuring the salaries of their employees were paid promptly and as at when due.

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WORLD \ NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

20 killed, dozens injured as trains collide in Italy

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wenty people died and dozens were injured yesterday when two passenger trains collided at high speed in southern Italy, sending debris flying into surrounding olive groves.

Three carriages were torn apart by the violence of the impact after the two trains hit each other head-on as they traveled down the same stretch of track that links the small towns of Corato and Andria in the region of Puglia. “Unfortunately the death toll has risen to 20,” said Giuseppe Corrado, deputy

head of the local province. He appealed for blood donors to go to local hospitals, with at least 30 people hurt in the crash.

There was no immediate indication of what had caused one of Italy’s worst train disasters in recent years, but the government promised a full and swift investigation. “Tears and grief for the victims and their families, but also a lot of anger. We demand clarity over what happened in Puglia this morning,” Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Twitter.

He was expected in the region later yesterday.

The crash happened at around 11.30 a.m. (5:40 a.m.

ET) on a fiercely hot summer’s day. Both trains were made up of four carriages. The front carriages on each were pulverized as they slammed into one another. Sky Italia TV quoted sources as saying one of the drivers had died, with no word yet about the fate of the other one. “It looks like there has been a plane crash,” said the mayor of Corato, Massimo Mazzilli.

Rescue services parked their ambulances and fire trucks among the olive trees and set

Rescuers work ing at the site where two passenger trains collided in the middle of an olive grove in the southern village of Corato, near Bari, Italy yesterday.

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announced that a Chinese civilian aircraft had successfully tested two new airports in the disputed Spratly Islands. And China’s Defence Ministry said a new guided missile destroyer was formally commissioned at a naval base on the southern island province of Hainan, which has responsibility for the South China Sea. “This award represents a devastating legal blow to China’s jurisdictional claims in the South China Sea,” Ian Storey, of Singapore’s ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, told Reuters. “China will respond with fury, certainly in terms of

rhetoric and possibly through more aggressive actions at sea.”

The United States, which China has accused of fuelling tensions and militarizing the region with patrols and exercises, urged parties to comply with the legally binding ruling and avoid provocations.

“The decision today by the Tribunal in the PhilippinesChina arbitration is an important contribution to the shared goal of a peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China Sea,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

Opposition parties boycott Burundi’s peace talks

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epresentatives of five opposition parties that participated in Burundi’s general election boycotted the second round of peace talks in the northern Tanzanian city of Arusha yesterday.

Burundi has been mired in crisis that has killed more than 450 people since President Pierre Nkurunziza pursued and won a third term last year. Opponents said his move violated the constitution and a peace deal that ended a civil war in 2005.

Dialogue in Bujumbura last year between the government and opponents failed to bridge differences, and talks mediated

by Uganda earlier this year also swiftly stalled.

The five parties were unhap-

alongside her husband, whose head was swathed in bandages.

Another survivor said he was thrown to the floor by the impact.

“When I got up, I saw hellish scenes around me.” Kicking up clouds of dust, helicopters landed in a nearby field to pick up the most seriously injured.

South Sudan: Ceasefire in Kiir, Machar

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ceasefire appears to be holding in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, after four days of heavy fighting between rival forces left more than 270 people dead.

The city is quiet, with no reports of helicopter gunships in the sky or tanks on the streets but shops remained shut.

President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice-President Riek Machar, announced a ceasefire which came into force on Monday. Clashes between troops loyal to the two men had threatened a recent peace deal. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 but its short history has been marred by

civil war.

Mr. Kiir and Mr. Machar are under intense diplomatic pressure to end the violence.

The UN said about 42,000 people had fled their homes during the fighting, with 7,000 of them taking refuge at its compounds.

The US, Kenya and Uganda said they were preparing to evacuate their citizens from South Sudan.

The UN called for an immediate arms embargo, as well as attack helicopters to strengthen its 13,000-strong peacekeeping force. Two Chinese UN peacekeepers and one South Sudanese UN worker were among those killed in the fighting.

Venezuelan army deployed to control food production, distribution

Tribunal rejects Beijing’s South China sea claims n arbitration court ruled yesterday that China has no historic title over the waters of the South China Sea and has breached the Philippines’ sovereign rights with its actions, infuriating Beijing which dismissed the case as a farce.

A defiant China, which boycotted the hearings at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, vowed again to ignore the ruling and said its armed forces would defend its sovereignty and maritime interests. China’s state-run Xinhua news agency said shortly before the ruling was

up a field hospital to treat the injured. The sound of crickets rang out as the first bodies were extracted from the site in metal caskets. “I dug through the wreckage and managed to save my husband.

But I saw people cut to pieces,” said an elderly woman standing

py over the decision of the mediator, former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, to invite Burundians accused of human rights violations and involvement in an attempted coup against Nkurunzinza in May 2015.

The five parties, FNL, FROLINA, PIEBU ABANYESHAKA, RADEBU and FRODEBU are concerned by the inclusion of Pacifique Nininahazwe of FOCODE party, Armel Ningoyere from ACT party in Burundi and Minani Jean in the dialogue.

“We are very surprised by their inclusion in the dialogue after all the humanitarian crisis they caused in Burundi,” Jean Didier Mutabazi, RADEBU’s president, told reporters at the venue of the talks. “We don’t see the

point of continuing with the dialogue.”

The government in Bujumbura also expressed its unhappiness over the inclusion of some participants with Willy Nyamitwe, Nkurunziza’s communications adviser, complaining on Twitter.

“Jean Minani, Nininahazwe Pacifique, Armel Niyongere are being prosecuted and can’t be invited in Burundi dialogue in Arusha,” Nyamitwe wrote. Earlier in the day, three former presidents of Burundi were seen walking out of a closed session chaired by Mkapa. Domitien Ndayizeye, Sylvester Ntibatunganya and Pierre Buyoya demanded the arrest of Ninihazwe, and the other two wanted in Burundi, a source in the Burundian delegation said.

V

enezuela’s military has started monitoring ports and food processing plants, in a new effort to guarantee supplies of food and medicines. In a decree, President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the army to co-ordinate the production and distribution of items.

Venezuela is going through a deep economic crisis, despite having the world’s largest oil reserves. Basic products are increasingly scarce and many say they struggle to feed their families. Mr. Maduro says the measure is to fight the “economic war” he claims is being waged against his government by political foes and businessmen, with US backing. But the opposition says the government has mis-

managed the economy, and has called for a referendum to oust the president.

Mr. Maduro created a government initiative called Great Mission of Sovereign Supplying, which will be headed by the country’s defence minister. Among other things, it can establish how purchases and distribution of food, medicine and household goods are made. Meanwhile, Mr. Maduro accused Citibank of mounting a “financial blockade” on the country, after the US bank decided to close the government’s international payments account with it.

Citibank said the decision followed a “periodic risk management review”, but did not explain further. It would be implemented within 30 days, it added.

Dallas shooting: Obama to pay tribute to slain officers

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resident Barack Obama is expected to arrive in Dallas to pay tribute to the five police officers who were shot and killed during a deadly sniper attack. Mr. Obama will deliver remarks at a memorial service for the slain officers, who were killed last week at a Dallas protest.

The gunman was killed by a bomb delivered by a police robot during a standoff with authorities. Mr. Obama’s trip comes amid mounting racial tension across the country.

Micah Xavier Johnson, 25, opened fire at a protest held over the recent police shootings of Philando Castile in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana. He killed five po-

licemen and wounded at least nine other officers and two civilians.

The Army veteran told police negotiators he was upset by recent shootings and wanted to kill white people, specifically officers. First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will also meet privately with the families of the victims today.

As Barack Obama often points out, he has had plenty of experience during his seven years as president consoling the nation following a mass-shooting tragedy. He has also been afforded numerous opportunities to comment on race relations and how it can adversely affect law enforcement in American society.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Did you know?

Sport

That France defender, Patrice Evra has lost five final European matches between 2004 and now. He lost in the UEFA Champs League final in 2004, 2009,2011, 2015 and in the European Championship in 2016

Refs threaten to boycott league

International Ronaldo out for five months

46 47

Dalung: U-23 Eagles’ travails not my business

Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

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inister of Sports Solomon Dalung dropped another bombshell on Tuesday when he said that the travails the national U-23 football team is facing in the United States of America was none of his business.

There were reports of the hardship the players and officials of the Olympics football team were facing at their US training base. The team is currently hit with acute funds and kits shortages.

But Dalung said the sport ministry was not aware of the team’s trip and should not be held responsible for any hardship confronting the players and officials of the side.

Dalung said this when speaking with journalists in Abuja shortly after the press briefing on official handing over of Team Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Nigeria Olympic Committee and investiture of Mr. President as Grand Patron of NOC. “Our U-23 team suffering in the United States of America? Wonderful! I am hearing this for the first time and they did not tell us what they are there for and who took them there.

“That they

are a national team and in the US having problem is not our business? Were you told we were informed when they were travelling to America?

“So, if somebody is celebrating a birthday of his friend and move a team to go and play to commemorate it, you cannot come back and ask me to account for that.

“For instance, I was in Benin Republic when I was told they were ejecting Nigerians and it was painted as if we sent them there to face the problem.

But when I investigated the incident, I discovered that our people did not have correct documentation of their travelling. So, we cannot take responsibility for anything that is done outside the protection of our laws.”

He added that, “If they (U-23 Eagles) were thrown out of the hotel, we should know who took them there.”

Dalung

Okagbare, Ogunlewe lead Team Nigeria to Rio 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

Charles Ogundiya

N

igeria fastest sprinters Blessing Okagbare and Seye Ogunlewe top the list of Team Nigeria athletes to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

In a statement signed by Olukayode Thomas, head Media and Communication Athletic Federation of Nigeria, Okagbare will be competing in the sprints, long jump and the 4x100m relay in Brazil.

Others in the women 100m and 4x100m are Madu

Jennifer, Gloria Asumnu, Peace Uko, Agnes Osazuwa, Zainab Sanni, Cecilia Francis, Khadijat Suleman, and Olivia Ekpone.

The women 400m and the women 4x400m are Patience Okon-George, Margaret Bamgbose, Omolara Omotoso, Regina George, Yinka Ajayi, Rita Ossai, Blessing Mayungbe and Ekundayo Sogbesan.

Oluwatobiloba Amusan will be competing in the 100m, Amaka Ogoegbunam 400m hurdles, Doreen Amata high jump, Ese

Brume long jump, Chinwe Okoro discus, Nwanneka Okwelogu shot put and Uhunoma Osazuwa heptathlon .

Apart from Ogunlewe, Egwero Ogho-Oghene and Monzavous Edward will be competing in the 100m men.

Odele Oghenetega and Oduduru Divine in 200m men.

Orukpe Eraiyokan 400m, Anthon Hicks 110m hurdles, Ukaoma Miles 400m, Oke Tosin and Olamigoke Olumide, triple jump and Stephen Mozia shot put.

Okagbare

Rio: Rizespor make U-turn, stop Oboabona

Pg 46

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SPORT NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rio: Rizespor make U-turn, stop Oboabona …as Akpeyi rejoins team July 22 Emmanuel Tobi

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he hope of Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona, to represent Nigeria at the forthcoming Rio Olympics in Brazil suffered a huge setback on Tuesday as his Turkish club Rizespor backtracked on the earlier agreement to release the player for the tournament.

Oboabona who was included in Nigeria’s 35-man provisional squad by Coach Sam-

son Siasia expressed disappointment while hoping the Nigeria Football Federation can help salvage the situation.

“It’s so sad that my club has refused to release me to join the U-23 Eagles in Atlanta,” Oboabona told New Telegraph from his Turkish base on Tuesday.

He added that, “I think they have sent a letter to the NFF that they won’t be releasing me but I believe it is only the federation that can help in this

situation.

“I have resumed for our pre-season in Turkey since July 6 but I’m not happy that I won’t be able to help my country at the Olympics.”

Meanwhile, Chippa United goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi will rejoin the U-23 Eagles training camp in the Atlanta, USA, on July 22.

Akpeyi who is one of the three overage players returned to South Africa for his club’s pre-season games after playing

against Mexico in a friendly on July 2.

“My club has approved my trip to join the Olympics team on July 22 instead of the earlier date of July 24,” the former Warri Wolves keeper told New Telegraph.

The Absa Premiership season has been postponed due to South Africa’s participation at the Olympics as the league will now begin on August 23 two days after the conclusion of the Olympic Games.

Foreign coach no guarantee for W’ Cup ticket –Bassey Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

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espected sports journalist and member of the Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee, Paul Bassey, has stated that engaging a foreign coach for the Super Eagles does not guarantee Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He assured football fans in the country that the technical committee would do a thorough job by recommending a quality coach for the national team to the NFF for approval but warned against high expectations, saying that winning a World Cup ticket goes beyond hiring of an expatriate to handle the team.

The NFF chiefs had predicated their decision to hire an expatriate for the team on the sentiments that such tactican could use his expertise to galvanise the Eagles to sucess in the qualifying series.

He stated that although quality technical personnel is key to a team’s

Refs threaten to boycott league

success, there are other variables that could help the squard to glory.

“Please don’t let nobody tell you that he is sure this coach will win the World Cup, Nations Cup or qualify you for any tournament but with prayers, hard work we may get there.

“Having recommended coaches to the board, it has the right to endorse or not but like I said earlier, there is no guarantee that whoever you bring will qualify you for any tournament.

“We want to pray that he succeeds, we want to pray that we have money to pay him as at when due, that is what we are doing, there is no guarantee that he will qualify us to the World Cup,” he said.

The committee has shortlisted Frenchman Paul Le Guen, Belgian coach and former Ethiopia national team handler, Tom Saintfiet, as well as Eagles caretaker coach Salisu Yusuf for the plum job.

There are indications that the new manager would be unveiled on July 18 and reports had suggested Le Guen was in pole position to land the job.

Emmanuel Tobi

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he Nigeria Referees Association has threatened to boycott Nigerian league matches following incessant attacks on its members.

The NRA President Tade Azeez stated this in a statement following attack on the referee that officiated Sunday’s league match between hosts Warri Wolves and Wikki, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

“Attacks on referees have surprisingly continued with Sunday’s assault of the referee who handled the Warri Wolves vs Wikki Tourists match.

“The NRA has considered it

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layers of Nigeria’s U-20 male team, the Flying Eagles, are expected to resume training today for their return leg match of 2017 Africa Youth Championship qualifiers against Sudan.

The Flying Eagles won the first leg 2-1 in Sudan at the weekend courtesy of goals from Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen.

The players of coach Emmanuel Amuneke- tutored side were given a two-day rest by the technical crew and will resume training on Wednesday

necessary to boycott all matches involving teams referees are either harassed or physically assaulted by them and their supporters.”

Tade Azeez

Zone 3 wins NAS national games Charles Ogundiya

Victorious Flying Eagles resume training Emmanuel Tobi

Oboabona (right)

evening at the pitch of the FIFA Goal Project.

The players are expected to train for one week in Abuja before traveling to Lagos on Thursday next week ahead of their clash on the July 23 against Sudan.

While in Abuja, the team will play at a test game before leaving for Lagos for the Sudan tie.

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one 3, the hosting zone of this year’s edition of the National Association of Seadogs annual games in Benin, Edo State, came top of the two-day competition at the weekend, with participants coming from all parts of the country.

The annual NAS games which afforded participants the opportunity to truly experience the unifying power and essence of sports lived up to its billings as members came from all the seven zones competing for medals in various games like tennis, table tennis, football, snooker, scrabble, drafts and sprints.

Zone 3 came top with six gold, four silver and four bronze medals, followed closely by Zone 4 with four gold, five silver and three bronze medals. Area six came third with one gold, two silver and two bronze while Area 7 came fourth on the medals table with one gold, two silver and one bronze medal. Area 1 recorded no gold, but won a silver while area 5 won only one bronze medal.

The National President of the Association, Ifeanyi Onochie, while giving out the prizes, explained the importance of the annual games which goes beyond bonding, unwinding and fun.

Supersport urged to stop romance with LMC

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L-R: Trustee, Lawn Tennis Club, Mr. Tunde Oremule; President, Mr. Rotimi Edu; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Group Captain Ita David Ikpeme (rtd) and Trustee, Captain Yemisi Allan, during the inauguration of new Exco members of the club in Lagos…at the weekend.

here appears to be no respite in Nigerian football crisis as the Nigeria Football League Limited has been mandated by the Nigeria Football Federation, led

by Ambassador Chris Giwa to take over the management of the elite league immediately.

NFLL Secretary, Kasali Obanoyen, said that a letter had been sent to the Chief Executive Officer of SuperSport in South Africa, Mr Brandson Foot, to discontinue its broadcast rights spon-

sorship relationship with the League Management Company insisting that the NFLL was the legal body recognised by the Nigerian law to manage the league.

In a copy of the letter made available to the press and signed by Adama Yahaya, the NFF board advised SuperSport to stop henceforth all dealings with the LMC “either as a committee or as a so-called limited liability company.”

“I also categorically state that the LMC LTD’s

claim to the NFA mandate letter authorising it to deal with SuperSport in respect of Nigeria Premier Football League matters especially its properties such as the broadcast rights is a deliberate misleading and unauthorized NFA mandate letter,” the NFF said in the letter to the South African-based satellite television owner.

“However, may we intimate you that we are the bona fide authority managing Nigerian football.”

INTERNATIONAL

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Injured Bolt leads Jamaica’s team to Rio Olympics

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print king Usain Bolt was named to the Jamaican Olympic team in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m races despite an injury that kept him from qualifying at trials, the Jamaican Olympic Association said on Monday.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist was forced to withdraw from his country’s trials earlier this month with a hamstring injury but was allowed on Jamaica’s team headed to the Rio Summer Games after applying for a medical exemption.

The inclusion of the world record holder in both the 100m and 200m on the Riobound Jamaican team came a day after Bolt posted a photograph from Germany

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eal Madrid and Portugal attacker Cristiano Ronaldo could be ruled out for up to four or five months due to the injury he suffered in the final of Euro 2016, according to reports.

The 31-year-old was on the end of a heavy challenge from France midfielder Dimitri Payet early on in Sunday’s final, and despite trying to play on he was eventually forced to leave the game on a stretcher in the 25th minute.

Ronaldo was in tears as he was carried off, but returned to the touchline with

his knee bandaged later in the match to cheer his side on to their surprise 1-0 triumph over the tournament hosts.

However, Managing Madrid reports that the first tests

by Portuguese doctors have suggested a partly-torn ACL, which could see the three-time Ballon d’Or winner ruled out until the latter stages of the year.

Should that be the case, Ronaldo would miss the start of his side’s Champions League defence and La Liga season, in addition to the European Super Cup meeting with Sevilla.

Henry leaves Arsenal after Wenger’s ultimatum

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rsenal legend Thierry Henry has departed from his coaching role with the club after an alleged ultimatum forcing him to choose between the Gunners and his TV punditry work.

The Frenchman - Arsenal’s all-time top scorer had been working with the side’s youth players as part of his UEFA A Licence course and was offered the chance to coach the under-18s by manager Arsene Wenger.

Wenger reportedly insisted that should Henry accept the role, he would have to relin-

Transfer

Barcelona confirm Umtiti signing

of himself back in training.

Unlike in the United States, where the first three finishers in the trials win Olympic berths, Jamaica’s selection policy allows medical exemptions.

The Jamaican roster was submitted ahead of the July 18 deadline for preliminary entries but final changes to the track and field team can be made up to August 10.

T h e f u l l 63-member Jamaican contingent consists of 59 track and field athletes.

Ronaldo out for five months

Henry

quish his job commentating on games for Sky Sports, where he earns around £4m a year.

The 38-year-old refused the demand, however, and has now left the North London side.

Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams has instead been appointed U-18s manager, while Freddie Ljungberg takes charge of the U-16s.

B

Bolt

Pepe deserves Euro award than Griezmann –Leboeuf

F Ronaldo

Working with Mourinho excites Rooney

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anchester United striker Wayne Rooney has suggested that he expects the club to earn success under new manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho has replaced Louis van Gaal in the dugout at Old Trafford and after his achievements at Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, Rooney admits that he cannot wait to work with the Portuguese.

The 30-year-old told Inside United: “I’m really excited to be working with Jose this season as he’s one of the best managers in the world, and it’s an exciting time for Manchester United.

“I’ve always respected him both as a man and a manager, he’s a nice guy and one of the most successful managers of all time.

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ormer France international Frank Leboeuf has criticised UEFA’s decision to name Antoine Griezmann player of the tournament at Euro 2016 and feels Portugal defender Pepe deserved the award more than the Atletico Madrid forward.

“We have to be critical. We only saw him from the quar terfinals on.

He got two chances in the final, but he did not take them. We Leboeuf did not see too much of him otherwise.

“But UEFA has always worked like this. They always give man of the match to the player who scored, too.

“For me, there was someone like Pepe, you had Gareth Bale who led Wales the way. There were a number of players who showed a lot of quality.

arcelona have confirmed the signing of Samuel Umtiti from Lyon on a five-year deal.

The 22-year-old was part of the French side that made it all the way to the final of Euro 2016, making his debut in the quarter-final victory over Iceland before keeping his place for the last two games of the campaign.

Umtiti was heavily linked with a move to the Camp Nou during the tournament, and has now completed the switch in a deal worth £25m (£21.1m).

The club also

confirmed that the centre-back has a buy-out clause of £60m (£50.6m), and is contracted to the Spanish giants until 2021.

Umtiti

U-20 qualifier: Globacom commends F’Eagles

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he Flying Eagles have been commended for recording an important away win against Sudan in the first leg of the final qualifying match for 2017 U-20 African Cup of Nations.

Globacom, in a press statement released in Lagos on Monday, congratulated the team for the victory in Khartoum which gave the team a brighter chance of qualifying for the next U-20 AFCON scheduled for Zambia in February, 2017.

According to Globacom, “The Flying Eagles were outstanding in their performance against Sudan; we urge them to sustain the momentum during the return leg in Lagos in a fortnight so as to pick the ticket and fly Nigeria’s flag at the continental championship.”

“The match was tough and the weather was harsh. We commend the team for their hardwork, concentration and never-say-die spirit which earned them the away victory.”

The Sudanese had taken a lead in the 27th minute of the encounter before Flying Eagles levelled the scores in 67th minute through Samuel Chukwueze while Victor Osimhen increased the tally in the 86th minute. The 2-1 victory thus placed the team in a vantage position ahead of the second leg in Nigeria.

Globacom enjoined Nigerians not to relent in giving the much needed support to the Flying Eagles through prayers as they prepare to cross the hurdle to Zambia 2017.

Dalung plans fund raising gala for athletes Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

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igeria Olympic Committee will formally present the Team Nigeria to the President Muhammadu Buahri on July 19th at Presidential Villa in Abuja The team requires additional sum of N2bn and the NOC believes the President will use his good office to solicit for support during the fund raising dinner at the Aso Villa.

Although, the government has approved the sum of N500 million naira for the team, Sport minister, Somolon Dalung, says the money will not be enough to take care of the expenses of close to 95 already qualified athletes.

Dalung said: “The vision of the event is to assist the NOC in its quest to provide Nigerian Athletes with better opportunities, resources, and financial aid in order to achieve competitive excellent and sport success.

“In this regards, I will like use this opportunity to urged all Nige-

rian who have not yet, to support the NOC and the gala committee in its endeavour to do so.”

He appealed to all Nigerian to stop specualting doom for Nigeria adding that nothing will stop country to be in Rio: “I want to appeal to media to stop speculating doom for our athetes we should try and encouraging the athletes “Our local content did not speak well of ourselves, there is hope for Nigeria and Nigeria will be great,” he said.

NEWS 48On Marble

“There are laws. There are rules.

And when you break them, there are consequences. Laws of nature and laws of life. Laws of love and laws of death.”

Sanctity of Truth

When birds devour birds...

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Amy Harmon

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Bola Bolawole

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

}16

N150

Political invasion of the bench

he Nigerian Bar Association must rise to the challenge of the current incestuous relationship existing between a section of the Nigerian Judiciary and the political elite. This incestuous relationship is manifested in the churning out of orders and judgments that sane and honest lawyers can hardly defend. Unfortunately, some members of our profession, the legal profession, trained in the fine traditions of the common law are at the heart of the challenge facing the Nigerian judiciary. This is because if there is no criminal receiver somewhere, theft and robbery will reduce considerably and we are aiding and abetting the humiliation of our own profession.

The Nigerian people and even legal practitioners cannot really understand what is going on in relation to the leadership challenge facing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Nigerian people cannot really understand the role of the judiciary in the whole challenge. The people cannot really understand the role of the members of our profession in the whole saga and I will explain why. The second matter that challenges our democratic institutions and the major stakeholders relates to the matter between the major players in the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State. A Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the Certificate of Return issued to the current Governor of Abia State Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu should be withdrawn and a new one issued to one Dr. Sampson Uchechukwu Ogah. The Court also ruled that the said Dr. Sampson Uchechukwu Ogah should be sworn in immediately and that Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu must vacate office immediately.

The challenge in relation to these two matters under consideration is not that a party or an individual has gone to court to ventilate his or her grievances. No. Every Nigerian is entitled to approach the Courts to ventilate grievances. The essence of constitutional democracy is that government and its institutions must be run in accordance with the rule of law and due process.

Constitutional democracy also entails that institutions must be put in place and empowered to resolve issues and challenges between the people and the government and between government and those that are aggrieved. It also entails that those that are aggrieved with the conduct or actions of democratic institutions, organs and agencies are entitled to approach the courts and have such challenges and grievances adjudicated upon. So, the challenge is not really that some persons have approached the courts for the resolution of issues.

The challenge in the two matters highlighted is that there is an orchestrated plot to destroy the Nigerian judiciary and render it completely useless and this plot is driven by the political elite and packaged by members of my profession. In the case of the Peoples Democratic Party, Court Orders and Judgments are flying up and down from different judicial Divisions of the Federal High Court and from differ-

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE festokoye2003@yahoo.com 0805-448-0565 (sms only)

Ikpeazu

Ogah

ent States of the Federation. Some of the Orders and Judgments assert that Senator Ali Modu Sherriff remains the National Chairman of the PDP. Some of the Judgments assert that his tenure as the Chairman has expired.

Some of them assert that the National Convention of the Party which is the Supreme Decision making organ duly and properly appointed a Caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of the Party. Some of the decisions assert that the Party Primary Elections organized by the Caretaker Committee relating to the Governorship Elections for Edo State is legal. Another Court Order has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to accept only the list from the Senator Ali Modu Sherriff ’s faction of the Party as the authentic list.

In the case of the current Governor of Abia State Dr. Ikpeazu and Dr. Ogah, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) promptly carried out the order of a properly constituted Court of Law. Now the Court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission should immediately withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Ikpeazu and a new one should be issued to Ogah. I have heard people say that the Commission was hasty in carrying out the order of the court.

For me, this is a new dimension to our electoral problems. I was taught that a Court Order takes immediate effect and that public authority and institutions are duty bound to obey the orders of court. Those insisting that INEC was too hasty in issuing the Certificate of Return to Ogah are really

saying that the Commission ought to have allowed them and given them an elbow room to continue with their manoeuvres and abuse of court process.

The incumbent Governor of the State who has been asked to vacate office is really the one engaged in incestuous relationship with a section of the Judiciary. He was the one that left the office of the Chief Judge of the State in Umuahia, Abia State. He did not file any matter there but sneaked to a High Court in Osisioma Judicial Division of Abia State where His Lordship C.H. Ahuchogu being fully aware of the orders of the Federal High Court, a Court of Coordinate jurisdiction proceeded to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from issuing a Certificate of Return to Ogah (knowing full well that the said certificate had been issued) and ordered that Ikpeazu should remain in office as the Governor of Abia State.

What is going on around the country in relation to some of these cases is clear and malicious abuse of court process. Some members of the political elite have kidnapped some members of the bench and run to them to obtain any form of judgment or court order that serves their temporary political interest and advantage. Some of the members of the political elite have planted their sons and daughters in the judiciary. Some of them have planted their relatives and cronies in the judiciary and are now using them to humiliate other honest members of the bench.

We must resist this dubious invasion of the bench because the credibility of

the judiciary and the orders made depend on what the members of the public feel about it. Our electoral process and our democracy will hurt badly the moment the Nigerian people withdraw their support for the judiciary. The judiciary is primed and supposed to be the guardian of our constitution. As an institution, it must be protected and guarded from those that would want it to serve their personal interests. To this end, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Chief Justice of the Federation must see what is going on as a huge challenge that demands remedial and long term action. The present abuse of the judicial process must not be allowed to continue and the principal officers of the judiciary must put an end to it.

I think that legal practitioners handling some of the cases should be forced to swear to an affidavit when they are filing some matters disclosing that the matter or a similar matter is not pending before another court of law and if it is pending, they must give full particulars of the issues involved and their role in it. This will prevent them from hoodwinking some of the unsuspecting members of the bench.

The members of the bench must also be very careful and cautious when politicians run to them to obtain an ex-parte order. Putting the other parties on notice enables a Judge to have the full picture and saves the honest Judge from embarrassment and political earthquake.

The Nigerian Bar Association must also descend heavily on senior members of the bar that are aiding and abetting the political elite in humiliating the judiciary and bringing it into disrepute. We must be concerned about the health of our profession. We must be concerned about the public perception of our work. We must be concerned that the Nigerian people blame members of our profession for some of the challenges the country is facing.

HIGH CHIEF

BUHARI CAN’T CONTINUE TO RULE BY FIAT –Fayose

- Don’t forget that old soldiers never die!

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488) Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: AYODELE OJO.