Igbo leaders disagree over Jonathan's endorsement by Advocate Nigeria

ONLINE Vol. 2 No. 106, December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

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Why I want to be Governor of Enugu State – Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi.

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Enugu 2015:

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I was accused of being drunk when I declared for guber – Ayogu Eze

2015 PRESIDENCY:

Igbo leaders disagree over Jonathan's endorsement We must endorse a Presidential Candidate By Ted Peters here are strong indications that – Nwaorgu, Ohanaeze Sec. Gen leaders of the apex Igbo socioorganization, Ohanaeze No, Ohaneaze is non-partisan – Okechukwu, Ndigbocultural have disagreed over the move by some members of inner caucus of the Spokesman APC S-East body to endorse President Goodluck

Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic P a r t y, P D P, a s t h e c o n s e n s u s Presidential candidate for Ndigbo in the 2015 elections. ADVOCATE NIGERIA gathered that while the Ohanaze executive committee led by President General, Nnachi EnwoIgariwey is said to be favourably disposed to endorsing President Jonathan's re-election bid, some members of the opposition political parties especially the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ime Obi Ohanaeze (inner caucus) have kicked against the move insisting that the organization should not be dragged into politics again. Members of the opposition political party in the organization have vowed to resist any blanket endorsement for Jonathan in the current dispensation insisting that Ohanaeze should remain non-partisan like its counterparts in the North and West, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF and Afenifere. There was a heated debate between the Pro-Jonathan/PDP group and the ProNorthern presidency/APC group in Ohanaeze at the last Imeobi meeting GOV_ISREALI AMBASSADOR2: R-L: Enugu State Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime receives the Isreali Ambassador when the issue of 2015 election was to Nigeria, His Excellency, Uriel Palti, during his courtesy call on him in his office on Tuesday

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EVIL!

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PDP clears Clara Chime for Abia Five children sold House of Reps contest Page 7 for N5m to ritualist

December 15, 2014

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Igbo leaders disagree over Jonathan's endorsement Continued from front page tabled for discussion as majority of the participants cautioned against endorsement of a particular candidate or political party ahead of the presidential election. In 1998, Ohanaeze and many Igbo leaders endorsed Olu Falae as the presidential candidate for Ndigbo but he lost woefully at the polls and those behind his endorsement came under attack as they were accused of misleading their people. In 2011, the late Ambassador Ralph Uwechue-led executive of the body gave President Jonathan a blanket endorsement and directed all Igbos in the country to vote for him, which they did and the PDP won landslide in the entire South East zone. However, some leaders of the organisation later disagreed over the endorsement without any documented agreement on what his administration would do for Igbo people even though the then Ohanaeze leadership insisted that they had an unwritten understanding with the president on key projects Ndigbo wanted him to execute in the South East. These include the construction of the second Niger Bridge, the rehabilitation of Federal Highways in the zone, the activation of the Onitsha Dry-Seaport and the completion of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. However, apart from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the Enugu – Abakaliki Federal highway which were partially completed, most federal roads in the zone have remained deathtraps under the Jonathan's regime. The Enugu – Abakaliki single carriageway was constructed under the on-going NigeriaCameroon trans-African highway road project funded by the federal government and international agencies. Although the second Niger Bridge project at Onitsha has taken off, Ndigbo had repeatedly voiced out their anger over the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement adopted in funding the project when similar projects in other zones were funded directly by the federal government. However, the Uwechue leadership later came under heavy criticism when it was discovered that a huge amount of money allegedly exchanged hands and was shared among a few members of the then executive who had maintained that the endorsement was done in the interest of Ndigbo without any pecuniary consideration. But it was later discovered that even though majority of Ndigbo were favourably disposed to J o n a t h a n ' s p r e s i d e n c y, t h e Ohanaeze leaders made good profit from the endorsement to the detriment of their people. The currently move by some leaders of the apex Igbo

organization to carry out another endorsement has not gone down well with some key members who believe that the organization should not be dragged into politics. Dr Joe Nwaorgu, S e c r e t a r y General of Ohanaeze, told ADVOCATE NIGERIA when contacted that consultations were still in progress after matters of Imeobi had made their views known on the direction Ndigbo would take on the 2015 presidency. He stated that a firm decision would be taken after the consultation which he said was not limited to Ndigbo. Nwaorgu said: “There is no official position yet. We are still consulting as we said in the last Imeobi meeting, consultation is not limited to Ndigbo. We did not invite APC, PDP or UPP as political parties to the meeting, we invited members of Imeobi. We did not see them as talking for

Secretary General of the organisation. “We will stand where majority of the people are standing and we will take a position. So it will be clear to everybody including those who say that Ohanaeze is not a political outfit and should not dabble into politics. Ohanaeze was put together by the founding fathers to protect and project Igbo interest. Igbo interest includes taking

preferred candidate,” he Uwechue's burial. The rest they added. say is history.” Continuing, Okechukwu said: “The truth is that Nigeria has reached the zenith of liberal democracy with the registration of APC on 31st July 2013. Zenith in But the Spokesman of the All the sense that we have exited from Progressives Congress in the the one party system where PDP South East zone, Chief Osita was the almighty. APC is broad Okechukwu, who is also a based like PDP, they will contest m e m b e r o f O h a n a e z e the 2015 general elections bumper Ndigbo, said that it would be to bumper in polling units and wrong for the organisation to wards across the country. throw their support behind a “Most importantly, neither of them p a r t i c u l a r p r e s i d e n t i a l will garner 2/3 of the National candidate or political party in Assembly seats nor the governors the coming general elections. or parliament of the 36 states of the He said: “In the last Imeobi federation. To be exact none of the meeting, the leadership of two dominant parties in our multiOhaneze Ndigbo made it party system will win the abundantly clear that they are presidential election with more endorsing neither President than 53% of the votes, so the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, scenario where Jonathan rakes up G C F R n o r a n y o t h e r 24 million votes and Buahri presidential candidate. 12million votes is gone for good. Therefore one is compelled “Accordingly, the true nature of to stand by the position of our democracy is coming to play out. A leadership who said that they are lot of people think that democracy not endorsing anybody. For a close is a revolution, it is not, the growth study of the political climate, in democracy is incremental, slow especially as it concerns our and steady, unlike the great leap in contemporaries in the Nigeria a revolution. Project - Yorubas and Hausas one “In sum, the earlier Ndigbo comes can opine that we are the only one to terms with the hard reality that putting all our eggs in one basket. we are now in a Bi-Partisan era, “Yorubas and Hausas have more or where if you want an additional less 60/40% stake in People's state, you must reach out to both Democratic Party (PDP) and All leading political parties, the better. Progressives Congress (APC); we The era of PDP treating serious

political parties and the views the participants gave were individual. We must therefore take a stand in the next meeting. “Some people say we did the endorsement in 1998, Ohanaeze took a stand then and Olu Falae lost and that we should not do it again. But in 2010/2011 we took a stand stoutly for Jonathan and he cleared the polls, that is more recent than 1998. “I know they are accusing me and the Ohanaeze President, Igariwei of being staunch PDP supporters because of the very visible stand I took in 2010 but then I was not an Ohanaeze official but now I am the

political stand in the interest of Ndigbo.” The Ohanaeze Secretary General further said that “once we conclude our consultations which will be very very soon, the President General, Chief Gary Igariwey will state who we have endorsed.” “Even as Secretary General, I as Joe Nwaorgu have my inclinations and entitled by the constitution of the country to support anybody I want. I am going to vote. As members of Imeobi individual members also have their choice of presidential candidate and nobody will stop them from voting for their

are the only group in the tripod that is 90% skewed in favour of the PDP. Methinks this grave mistake is what Ohanaeze is trying to correct, for we all know the damage we suffered when late Ralph Uwechue led Ohanaeze went ahead to endorse Jonathan, hence putting all our eggs in one basket. “That less than strategic move did not repair federal roads nor improve lives in our region. It was only the political merchants and the stakeholders, who hold our commonwealth that are the sole beneficiaries of the gambit. The repercussion was exhibited during

Ohanaeze is nonpartisan – Okechukwu

national issues as family affairs is gone for good. Examples abound already, as evidenced by the reason why President Jonathan could not get the request for $1 billion loan approved or even get extension of emergency rule passed.” Meanwhile, sources said that Ohanaeze leaders would soon meet at its Imeobi for a final decision on the issue as the proJonathan group is bent on ensuring that Ndigbo did not sit on the fence in the 2015 election and the believe that Jonathan has demonstrated a lot of interest in the affairs of Ndigbo, whom he regards as his own people.

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Abia North Senate Seat:

Chukwumerije should forget 4th term in 2015 – Asiegbu

Dr. Okey Asiegbu

ocial critic and politician, Dr. Okey Asiegbu has advised the member representing Abia North in the Senate, Senator Uche Chukwumerije to shelve his ambition of returning to the senate

for the fourth time in 2015, saying such an ambition could only be explained to be greed and unpatriotism. Speaking with journalists weekend, Asiegbu wondered why an octogenarian like Senator Chukwumerije, whose 12 years in

the senate did not enhance the development of the people of the constituency should seek another term, advising him “to go home and have rest and be grateful to God for His blessing instead of looking for another four years in the upper chambers”.

He said if not for sheer greed, people like Senator Chukwumerije, whose representation had nothing to do with the people, would have been contented with what God had given to them, instead of seeking to remain in a seat doing nothing for their constituents in a country of over 180 million people piled up with heavy load of unemployment that has caused restiveness in the country. In his words, “Please tell Senator Chukwumerije that Abia North seat won't be vacant come 2015 for him to occupy, because aside his debility and feebleness, he lacks political will to handle issues relating to Abia North in which he represents. “This is a man who deceived our people to vote for him in 2011 when he claimed that if we elected him, he will use his experience and position as a ranking senator to give unprecedented and effective representation which he acknowledged had eluded us over the years. But unfortunately, all

that has become a balloon promise with the senator only remembering his constituency now in four years because election is at the corner”, Asiegbu lamented. The PDP leader disclosed that party leaders actually rejected Chukwumerije's third term attempt in 2011 but soft-pedaled after Governor Theodore Orji intervened despite the fact that he never had functional constituency office. He appealed to Governor Orji not to yield to any pressure from Senator Chukwumerije this time around but allow the people of Abia North to elect a more accessible person that would work for the people and deliver democracy dividends that eluded them in the last 12 years. Asiegbu used the opportunity to caution the people of Abia North to ensure they collect any money that would come from Senator Chukwumerije but reject him at the PDP primaries, because the people of the constituency could not afford making another mistake in 2015.

Attack on Ekweremadu's Medical Mission:

Group Faults Enugu Council's Claim By Chiaka Opara

n Enugu based pressure group, the Enugu Rescue Group, ERG, has disagreed with the Administrator of Ezeagu North Development Area, Mr. Okwudili Onuorah over his claim in a national daily that Senator Ike Ekweremadu's Ikeoha Foundation Free Eye Treatment Project was recently attacked and disrupted in Ezeagu because of unlawful assembly and absence of eye specialists to carry out the project. The group made its stand known in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Martin Okenwa and made available to newsmen in Enugu on S u n d a y, d e s c r i b i n g H o n . Onuorah's claims as a “fallacious attempt to justify the unjustifiable.” The ERG said: “Our diligent findings show that there is no element of truth in the claims by the Administrator of Ezeagu North Development Area whom allegedly colluded with his Ezeagu South Development Area counterpart, Mr. Chukwudi Ezinwa, to lead the attack by thugs on the philanthropic gesture, which left many people seriously wounded and medical equipment and medications worth millions of Naira destroyed.

“First, the medical outreach by the Ikeoha Foundation was in conjunction with the Community Eye Savers, a duly registered nongovernmental organisation with fully qualified and duly certified medical professionals who did not need any special approval from the Ministry of Health to carry out their professional and organisational duties. The team comprised of five Doctors of Optometry, OD, and three nurses, including Dr. Uzowuru O.B, OD; Dr Davidson Woko, OD; Dr Chidinma Ugwa, OD; Dr Godswill Ofoegbu, OD; and Dr Uchenna Efughi, OD”. The ERG also faulted the claim by Mr. Okwudili that security reports available to him “showed that supporters of Senator Ike Ekweremadu had converged on the premises of St. Theresa's Catholic Church Oghe within the Ezeagu North Development Centre for an unlawful assembly”. The group observed: “For us, this is a very remorseless remark

Enugu CP, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu intended to add salt to a bad injury. Members of the medical team were simply exercising their fundamental right of lawful and peaceful assembly having been cleared by the Commissioner of Police to hold the medical outreach. But on being told that the CP had cleared the team, Okwudili Onuora, was alleged to have retorted to the medical team:

'To hell with you and your CP'”. “And assuming that the medical mission did not come with the CP's approval and that the team was to be barred from continuing with the medical outreach, which had successfully held in three other LGAs, whose duty would it be to enforce the order: the police or thugs?” the group queried. They called on the Commissioner

of Police, Enugu State, to hasten efforts to apprehend the alleged culprits. “It is unfortunate that the cowards have the effrontery to issue falsehoods even while on the run, but we believe that with more commitment on the path of the police, they can easily be apprehended to face the wrath of the law”, the ERG emphasised.

December 15, 2014

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NIGERIA

MultiChoice rewards loyal subscribers with 20 cars

Chic A

s part of its annual reward programme for its loyal customers, MultiChoice Nigeria, the leading pay-tv content provider for DStv and GOtv, yesterday unveiled 20 Kia Rio as star prizes for its 2014 Super Cruise Promo, which runs from November 14, 2014 to February 6, 2015. M u l t i C h o i c e G e n e r a l M a n a g e r, Marketing, Martin Mabutho, at a briefing said this year's promo in the organisation's usual tradition was meant to surprise its dedicated customers over the years in the festive period. “In the past we have rewarded our customers with trips to Brazil and other

exciting prizes, but for this year, we believe our customers deserve better packages and for this year, we have as grand prizes 20 Kia Rio in partnership with Dana Motors, makers of Rio brand of cars,” he said. He noted that the promo would run in all the regions of the country to give it a more national-based outlook, as well as assured subscribers in other parts of the country that the organisation is not only based in Lagos. He added that beside rewarding its loyal customers with 20 cars, MultiChoice is also giving away 100 Plasma TV screens or 30 DStv Exploras decoders to DStv and GOtv subscribers.

Another fatal accident claims 7 lives on Aba-Enugu Expressway

ess than one week after a fatal road crash which claimed the lives of over 15 persons along the old Enugu - Onitsha road, another fatal road accident occurred Wednesday in Abia State, leaving seven persons dead while several others sustained injuries. The accident, which involved a Hiace commercial bus and a truck, occurred along Aba-Enugu Expressway. An eyewitness said that those who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to Amachara General Hospital in Umuahia South Local Government Area of the State. It was gathered that the bus with registration number ENU 683 XC and a MACK Truck XC 654 Owerri occurred

at about noon. The two vehicles collided while the drivers were trying to overtake each other, around Amaigbo junction. The source said the victims and the injured were evacuated by the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). Confirming the incident, Abia State Sector Commander of FRSC, Rindom Kumven, said the injured were receiving treatment at Amachara while the remains of the dead have been deposited at an undisclosed morgue. The Abia FRSC boss, however, warned drivers against dangerous overtaking, stressing that they should always adhere to traffic rules and regulations guiding safe driving.

Top prison boss bags 7 years jail term

Name: Chidera Ezugwu Date of Birth: July 12 Name: Okoli Brenda Studies Parasitology @ Nnamdi School: Hobby: Modeling Azikiwe University, Awkaand Acting Likes: Honesty Cooking, listening to Travelling, Hobby: Dislike: Music, PrayingDishonesty Email: brendyo417@yahoo.com Honesty, Neatness, Smart, Intelligent Likes: Source: st people santos productions & God-fearing 07067899677 Dislike: Lying, dishonesty and dirtiness

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday November 28, 2014, secured the conviction of a top prison officer as Justice J.J Majebi of the Kogi State High Court, Okene, convicted and sentenced Joseph Friday Idachaba, Deputy Controller of Prisons, to seven years imprisonment for offences bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. The convict is to pay the sum of N1, 403,114.09 (One Million, Four Hundred and Three Thousand, One Hundred and Fourteen Naira, Nine Kobo) in restitution to Nigeria Prison Service. Arraigned in 2012 on a three-count charge, the convict was found guilty on count three of the charge by the trial judge, who, however, acquitted him on two remaining counts. Count three of the charge reads: “That you Joseph Friday Idachaba (m) being a deputy comtroller of Nigeria Prison Service, and Onoja D. Ruth (IP) also a

staff of Nigeria Prison Service, sometime between July, 2012 to February 2013 at Lokoja, Kogi State did with intent to defraud obtained N1,403,114.09 only from the Federal Government of Nigeria via the Nigeria Prison Service with pretence that same amount was the payment of monthly salaries from Nigeria Prison Service, which amount was credited into the UBA Plc account No 2054047736 belonging to one Opia Mohammed Ugbade (now at large), through NIGSS electronic fund transfer (NEFT) between July 2012-to February 2013, that the said Opia Mohammed Ugbade's name found in the Nigeria Prison Service electronic payroll is not a staff of the Service which pretence you knew to be false and hereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) paragraphs A&B and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Free Fraud and Other Related Offences Act

December 15, 2014

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ENUGU EAST 2015:

I am the Game Changer – Frank Nweke II declares

ormer Minister of Information and National Orientation, Chief Frank Nweke II, at the weekend announced that he is the game changer in the Enugu East senatorial district contest in the 2015 general elections. Nweke, a senatorial aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the assertion while addressing the people of the senatorial district from the six local government areas of Enugu North, Enugu South, Nkanu West, Nkanu East, Enugu East and Isiuzo, which constitute Enugu East senatorial district, who gathered at Ozalla in Nkanu West local government area of the state in a civic reception in his honour. Speaking at the reception that turned into a political rally, the former minister stated that he joined the senatorial contest with a baggage of experience, connections and past antecedents of positive contributions to the development of the state and nation at large. “I heard, I observed, I watched developments in the political arena. I watched everything with kin interest; I heard the cries of my people, I saw the oppression of my people, I saw the persecution of m y p e o p l e , I s a w

disempowerm ent of my people; then I said does it mean we don't have people in our land again? Why is it that we are afraid to talk, why can't we walk along the road with our heads high? “The senate I'm going to is not for myself, I'm going for the people of Enugu East senatorial zone; I'm going for our youths, for young women in our Frank Nweke II midst who have no job, I'm going there don't understand, if they did, they b e c a u s e o f o u r would have known that a big fathers and our mothers who have masquerade is on stage, they don't no hospital to go to, I'm going know it is akin to the story of there because of the widows, we David and Goliath. We have are going there because of agreed to change the game students. And we should not be permanently. The previous afraid. positions we held, the experience “The theme of our campaign is, we gained there from, the 'Let's change the Game'. But they education we acquired; that is our

tool to change the game, and this state will never be the same again. And we say so with a deep conviction and deep courage and deep faith in the future and deep faith in God's plan for the people of Enugu East; in God's plan for Enugu South, Enugu North, Enugu East, Nkanu East, Nkanu West and Isiuzo,” he said. Stakeholders from the area including traditional rulers from Nkanu land; former Commissioner for Local Government, Hon Sam Ejiofor; Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Aloysius Okorie (rtd); former Press Secretary to Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Chief Dan Nwomeh and the Director General of Frank Nweke II Campaign Organisation, Sir Herbert Nnadi extolled the sterling qualities of the former minister and endorsed him for the senate. Chief Sam Ejiofor expressed sadness about political development in the state where according to him few powerdrunk cabal held others down, noting that in sane society Frank Nweke II would have been asked to go to the senate unchallenged owing to his experience as former minister and former Director General of Nigeria Economic Summit Group, and current member of World Economic Forum.

INEC inaugurates Committee to investigate 2011 Elections circumstances that led to the Others include to apportion organization(s) in respect of

By Euclid Myke, Abuja nullification of the elections; blames where necessary in person(s) not being staff of the

he 2011 general election may have come and gone but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Friday inaugurated a Committee to investigate the nullification of nineteen (19) elections conducted in 2011 for non compliance with the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and for electoral malpractices. During the inauguration of the committee at the Commission's conference hall, Chairman of the Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, said that the purpose of the Committee was to identify the INEC staff behind the nullification of election results so as to ensure they did not play key roles in the 2015 general elections. The Chairman regretted that the assignment was coming a bit late as 2015 elections was around the corner but expressed optimism that the Committee, made up of experienced lawyers would be able to complete the assignment within record time. The Committee's terms of reference are to examine the

iIdentify factors responsible for the nullification of the elections and identify permanent/or ad-hoc staff or any other person or organizations who contributed to, or were responsible for the nullification of the election.

relation to the conduct of the elections; recommend disciplinary measures against any permanent or ad-hoc staff r e s p o n s i b l e f o r, o r w h o contributed to the nullification; recommend sanctions to other

Commission and to recommend ways to avert such occurrences in future elections, However, the committee is expected to report back to the Commission within four (4) weeks of the date of its inauguration.

South East govs mourn Kano bomb victims

he South East Governors' Forum has condoled with the family members of the victims of last Friday's Kano Central Mosque bombing that claimed over 200 lives. The forum also condemned in very strong terms, the “senseless attack on innocent worshippers.” Chairman of SEGF and Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji who conveyed the condolences of the forum in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa, also commiserated with the people and government of Kano State over the unfortunate incident.

According to the statement, killing of innocent citizens is a condemnable genocide which cannot be tolerated in any sane society. The Forum described as “barbaric and incomprehensible” the activities of those behind the bombing “whose mission and agenda have no trace of sanity.” The South East governors also described as “the height of profanity and disdain for God”, the killing of worshipers at the place of worship. “Anyone that has the temerity to kill a worshiper before his God for whatever reason or cause has no regard for God and can never

claim to be fighting for Him as Boko Haram wants us to believe”. The governors called on Nigerians to be united and close ranks with the federal government in the war against insurgency. They also tasked security agencies to remain committed in the fight against the insurgents, expressing confidence that Boko Haram menace would soon be history. The South East Governors further called for more prayers by various religious groups in the country for divine intervention in the wicked plots of Nigeria's enemies to distablise her through insurgency. They also appealed to the international community not to sit idle and watch Nigeria tackle her security challenges alone before the situation gets out of control.

I don't know how bullets left my AK-47, dismissed DPO tells court

former Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Segun Fabunmi, attached to Pen Cinema Division of Lagos State Police Command, had recently, told a Lagos High Court that he could not explain how the ammunition allocated to him left his rifle. Fabunmi, who had been dismissed, is standing trial for allegedly killing one Ademola Daramola and injuring others during the mass protest on fuel subsidy, organized by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Nigeria, in January 9, 2012. The alleged offence was committed at Yaya-Abatan, Agege, during the protest. At the resumed hearing of the trial, Fabunmi said the AK-47 rifle was opened, while on his way to the scene of protest, adding that after Daramola died, he could no longer remember how many rounds of ammunition were left in the rifle until he was about being detained. Fabunmi, who was being crossexamined by Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, told Justice Olabisi Akinlade that he neither chased anybody nor shot to injured the people. He said: “I did not run after the late Ademola Daramola, may his soul rest in peace. I do not know him. Why would I chase him? It is ridiculous. “I never ran to anywhere neither did I fire any shot at anybody.” The defendant also told Justice Olabisi Akinlade that on January 9, 2012, he received a distress call that hoodlums at Yaya Abatan Junction, Ogba Agege area, were breaking people's windscreens and holding innocent people hostage. He said when he got there, there was break down of law and order and that immediately the hoodlums saw him and the other seven police officers, they started throwing bottles, sticks, cutlasses, stones and Molotov Curtails. When asked if he knew that some ammunition got out of his gun, Fabunmi said: “Yes. I knew that some ammunition got out of my gun when the hoodlums were trying to dispossess me of my rifle, after I sustained injury. “It took the grace of God for them not to have collected the rifle from me. The other police officers all ran away.” He said he had only been DPO of Pen Cinema Police Division for two months and that he went to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for treatment, but that he could not remember the name of the doctor that treated him. However, Justice Akinlade adjourned the matter to February 18, 2015, for the adoption of written addresses.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Alison-Madueke elected first female OPEC President M

embers of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, have elected Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum, as its president, making her the first female president of the oil cartel. Alison-Madueke, who is currently the Alternate President of OPEC, was elected at the 166th meeting of the OPEC Conference in Vienna, Austria, and will assume office from January 2015. She is expected to take over from Abdourhman Atahar Al-Ahirish, Libya's Vice Prime Minister for Corporations. The conference also elected Dr Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar and Head of its delegation as Alternate President. The Federal Government had, in June nominated Alison-Madueke for the post of Secretary-General of the organisation to succeed the incumbent, Abdullah al-Badri, whose tenure ends in December. Speaking shortly after the election, Alison-Madueke maintained that there were no quick fixes to sliding oil prices, adding that “the strategy the Federal Government of Nigeria

Diezani Alison-Madueke

intends to deploy to cushion the effect of the fall is to develop the country's gas infrastructure for domestic use.” She said the current trend would make Nigeria to look very stringently again at the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which is already before the National Assembly to ensure that the enablers therein are explored to make it more competitive in the global energy market. She said the burden of falling oil prices was impacting on both OPEC and non-OPEC member countries. She explained that OPEC would provide a veritable platform for member countries to find a remedy and deal with the challenges posed by shale oil and gas from the United States and the current decline in crude oil prices. She said: “US shale oil and gas had a lot of impacts on all major oil and gas producing economies. It is a major game changer for all stakeholders in the energy mix across the globe.” Allison-Madueke further stated that in the months ahead, OPEC would provide a veritable platform for member countries to

find a remedy and deal with the issue frontally.

Member countries retain 30mbpd crude output

In a statement announcing decisions reached at the conference, Ohi Alegbe, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said at the end of the conference, members of OPEC agreed to maintain the current production level of 30 million barrels per day as was agreed in December 2011 in the interest of restoring market equilibrium. He stated that OPEC member countries also expressed their readiness to respond to developments which could have an adverse impact on the maintenance of an orderly and balanced oil market. He said: “OPEC also directed its secretariat to step up its close monitoring of developments in supply and demand as well as non fundamental factors such as speculative activity and keeping member countries fully briefed on developments.”

Enugu 2015: Forum promises to swim or sink with Ugwuanyi By Chukwudi Anosike

s political intrigues on who wins the party primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State deepens, one of numerous support group canvassing support for the par's Consensus Governorship Candidate, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has said that it would remain steadfast in their support for him whether he wins or loses. Addressing journalists in Enugu at the end of their meeting, state Chairman of United Enugu State Forum for Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Hon Jude Ude, and the patron of the group, Hon Afam Ngene stated that after a critical analysis of all the governorship aspirants in the state, the Forum settled for Ugwuanyi due to his sterling qualities. Ude described Ugwuanyi as a quintessential philanthropist who has created a lot of jobs for the teeming unemployed, and offered scholarship programmes to many indigent students of the state. He said the Forum, with over 17,000 members across the state, has already moved to the grassroots to sensitize the people and converse support for Ugwuanyi. The chairman of the Forum also said that they have produced radio/television jingles as well as printed banners and posters in

addition to door-to-door campaign for their man, Ugwuanyi. On his part, the patron of the Forum, Ngene said Enugu State United Forum is a Forum of progressively minded young men

and ladies, women and men, adults and youths that have come together to champion the course of Ugwuanyi's emergence in Enugu State as the governor of the state come 2015. “This forum is about one year old, it started before the pronouncement of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi by our

amiable governor, but it's a group that has been looking for a platform to sell good governance to the people of Enugu state.” They have been praying, they have been tinkering among themselves on how to find someone that they will support. “By the special grace of God our

amiable governor Barrister Sullivan Chime came out with that idea, with the entire state holders of Enugu State, that Ifeanyi is the man to follow and since then the Forum adopted him and decided to swim and sink with him come rain come sunshine,” he said.

PMT, FRSC partner on drivers' training

leading road transport company, Peace Mass T r a n s i t , P M T, i s conducting a 4-day training programme for over 4,000 drivers under the company's last quarterly training exercise in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corp, FRSC. The exercise tagged, "safety consciousness as a driving habit" is the company's tradition to train drivers on safety while driving especially during the festive season. Addressing the participants,, the Managing Director, Peace Group, Dr. Sam Onyishi, represented by the General Manager,GM,Mr. Slyvanus. Ozioko said the aim of the training was to educate drivers on the need to be defensive while driving He said: "Drivers should not be bent on claiming right of way. Drive in such a manner that you will be alive to claim your rights. "The idea of defensive driving is

to ensure that you are alive. You must not insist on your right of way when you know that your life is at stake.” Also addressing the drivers,

Assistant Corp Marshal, Samuel Obayemi advised them to be conscious of safety while driving especially during the ember months.

“Drive to get to your destination safely. You should be patient, tolerant and adhere to all driving rules to ensure safety," Obayemi admonished.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Politicians that destroyed Mbadinuju's government are killing PDP in Anambra – Ezeibe

PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu

Pioneer Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and one time Chairman of Finance Committee of the party in Anambra state, Chief Ben Ezeibe said Thursday that the problem with the party has continued to linger because the founding members have kept quiet while the hawks took over the party. Worried by the current state of affairs in the state chapter of the party, Chief Ezeibe said that the founding members are meeting to seek ways of repositioning the party to greater height. According to him, very soon the founding members of the party will chase out the hawks that were originally from the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP whose stock “is destroying governments of PDP and milking the state dry.” Chief Ezeibe lamented that all the founding members in the party are no more remembered in the scheme of things of the party, instead the 'traders' who have no vision about the party, who destroyed former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju's administration have taken over everything in the party and are using it as their commodity for making money from aspirants. “They are trading with the party because the founding members have not risen up to stop them, some of us that formed the party are no more remembered in the scheme of things, very soon we will ask them questions, we are still alive, and we cannot suffer to form a party and leave it for hawks to take over and be doing business with it. “We have funny characters in the party and these people that are causing problem in the party are not pioneer members of the party, they came to market with the party for their selfish interest, collecting money from aspirants, that is their only interest, they do not care on how the party can forge ahead, all

they want is their pockets getting fatter with aspirants money. “The same people who destroyed the administration of Dr. Mbadinuju are the hawks that are

causing problem in the state PDP, the same people dealt with Mbadinuju after destroying his government, they are self centered, what they want is their

pockets and they are ready to do anything to have their way. “Dr. Mbadinuju learnt his lesson with them, I am sure that if Mbadinuju is given a second chance he will do well, Mbadinuju was a gentle man, with them but in politics is not like that, you have to be strict, he was a nice man who tried not to offend anybody, but in politics you must offend people and get ready for criticism but he was soft with them and they ruined his political carrier and they are at it again, this time, to destroy PDP “During elections they will come out and be struggling for who leads the party and after the elections they will go and will not even call a meeting of the party, until another election time they will come out again to do their business of collecting money from the aspirants” Ezeibe told newsmen. The politician cum businessman, who once served as State Treasurer of the party, said in

between 1998 and 1999 PDP had its way in Anambra State, “but when these political harlots came in and hijacked the party everything about the party collapsed, you can see what is happening to the party and am sure the President has seen what is happening to the party in the state”. “These hawks who have taken over the party, have also made it possible for their co-traveling political harlots who today they are in PDP for a ticket to contest and when they are denied, they jump to APGA and when they win in APGA, they will come back to PDP and when they are denied ticket again they run back to APGA, those people are part of the people causing problem in PDP. “What we are doing in Anambra state is political prostitution, jumping from one party to another for ticket, but we have resolved that if you are not in PDP you will not get ticket; we will not tolerate jumping from one party to another any longer is either you are with us or not,' he said.

PDP clears Clara Chime for Abia House of Reps contest

he estranged wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Clara Chibuzor Chime has been cleared by the

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Screening Committee to contest the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal House of Representatives

Representatives. Mrs. Chime packed out of the Government House, Enugu in seat in Abia State. Mrs. Chime's name N o v e m b e r l a s t y e a r a f t e r is among the nine complaining that she was aspirants cleared forcefully confined to the b y t h e P D P Government House by her S c r e e n i n g husband and vowed never to Committee for the return. f e d e r a l But Governor Chime denied the allegation saying that the First constituency. T h e l i s t o f Lady had some health challenges c o n t e s t a n t s and was being attended to by a released at the PDP medical expert before she s e c r e t a r i a t i n requested to quit the Governor's U m u a h i a Lodge and he obliged her. T h u r s d a y, a l s o The former Enugu State First indicated that Mrs. Lady reportedly tendered an Chime would slug apology to the governor and the it out with three women of Enugu State in o t h e r w o m e n September this year begging them i n c l u d i n g H o n . N k i r u k a to forgive her for all she did during O n y e j e o c h a , t h e m e m b e r that period,. currently representing the She had been out of the state since constituency at at the House of November last year.

Eser staff lament victimization by management By Chiaka Opara

taff of Eser West Africa Limited, the firm handling the federal government contract for the rehabilitation of the Eastern Railway line from Port Harcourt to Makrudi, have complained over the alleged victimization, proscription of labour union and indiscriminate sack of workers by the company. The workers also complained of alleged plot by the company to deny them of their legitimate severance benefit and other entitlement as the company winds up in February

2015. Eser will on December 2, 2014 hand over the rehabilitated rail line from Port Harcourt to Enugu after which rail transport would commence from the South-South through South East to the North Eastern part of the country before final wind up of the company from Nigeria. Group Managing Director of Eser in Nigeria, Mr. Tugrul Karaduman, however denied the workers' allegations, saying that money for payment of the severance benefits w a s available except that the workers union leaders have not done the needful.

Karaduman also said that the company is not only laying out Nigeria workers but also sending back its expertriates to Turkey because its job has reduced drastically. Chairman of the Eser workers union, Sampson Nnamani had alleged that the company has violated some of the agreements it reached with workers on their welfare in 2011 by unwarrantedly sacking the Human Resource Manager, Mr, Chioma Ejim and frustrating labour union in the company. Nnamani said that the workers embarked on sit-down strike to

protest maltreatment of the workers but regretted that the company decided to replace them with new staff even when they have not been formerly laid off. “That is why we are afraid that Eser wants to close the company without paying us our severance and other benefits because they have withdrawn the staff bus among other suspected frustrating measures. “We therefore pray the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, the International Labour Organization and the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to please come to our rescue,” said Nnamani.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Enugu PDP Crisis:

Court refuses to vacate injunction, adjourns for out-of-court settlement By Ted Peters & Chiaka Opara

here was an uneasy calm in the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Friday as the State High Court declined to vacate earlier order restraining the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from using the list of delegates elected during the November 1, 2014 ward congresses of the Enugu State PDP for the conduct the primary elections. The Court also failed to rule on preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit. The position of the state's High Court presided over by the Chief Justice of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, came against the reported peace talks between the two feuding camps loyal to Governor Sullivan Chime and the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu wherein it was reliably gathered that both camps had agreed to work together, and that the pending court cases in Enugu instituted by the Chime camp be withdrawn. However, in what appears to be a twist, the Enugu State High Court, Friday, declined to vacate its earlier order and rather adjourned further proceedings in the suit to December 12, 2014 when both parties are expected to return to court to brief it on the outcome of the out-of-court settlement. The judge had adjourned the matter to Friday for ruling on the preliminary objection raised by counsel to the PDP, Alex Izinyon, SAN, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the motion, which subject matter was the same as that decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja last Monday. When the case came up for ruling Friday, counsel to the Plaintiff, Mrs. Justina Offiah, SAN, told the court that she had the instruction of his client, Mr. Charles Okafor (plaintiff) to inform the court that the parties were already holding discussions with a view to settling the matter out of court. She urged the court to suspend its ruling on the preliminary objection to enable the parties conclude the ongoing peace process. She said: “I have the instruction to inform the court that the parties herein and others concerned with this matter are right now in the middle of discussion for amicable resolution of their differences. The consensus is that the court should allow the process of settlement and we hope to come back and inform the court of the final settlement”. Mrs. Offiah asked the court to

Chime graciously adjourn the ruling and adjourn further proceeding so as to afford a conducive atmosphere that would enable the parties exhaust the process of settlement. But the counsel to PDP, Mr. Obinna Nnaka, who stood in for Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, opposed Offia's application saying he had no instruction of his client or his principal to consent to the application to arrest the ruling on preliminary objection, submitting that the ruling should be delivered as it would go a long way to determine whether the matter should continue or not. Justice Umezulike therefore asked the lawyer to contact his principal and client on phone to inform them of the new development, which he

Ekweremadu did by stepping out of the court room to contact them. Nnaka returned to the courtroom after about three minutes and said that he had instructions to request that if the scheduled ruling should be suspended, the interlocutory order earlier made by the court should be vacated, while the peace process should go on or the entire matter should be withdrawn from court. In the same vein, Chief Tagbo Ike, counsel to the second set of defendants/applicants, Messrs Chinenye Orji, Orji C. Orji, and Cletus Akalusi, argued that it would be wrong to keep the ruling on the court's jurisdiction in abeyance without vacating the earlier order of the court.

Chief Ike said: “I am aware that the parties communed to settle. I am also further aware that they have settled and my instruction is that the plaintiff will withdraw the suit this morning to solidify the settlement. The application for adjournment by the plaintiff's counsel without first vacating the earlier order will go against the settlement because it will give the impression that the parties are still at war. You cannot say you are settling when one party is at arm and another has no arm. “If the court must adjourn without the suit being withdrawn, our application is that the earlier order of the court should be put in abeyance. Leaving the matter

Nigeria cancels Military training with US

he US embassy in Abuja said Nigeria has asked the United States to discontinue military training for its army. "At the request of the Nigerian government, the United States will discontinue its training of a Nigerian Army battalion," the embassy said in the statement, World Bulletin reported. The statement said that Nigeria has given no particular reason for discontinuing the program. The US embassy regretted the cancellation of the military training, saying it would have been a boost in the battle against insurgency. "Based on mutual assessment of the Nigerian Army and US trainers, a third iteration of training was agreed upon with the intent of developing the battalion

into a unit with advanced infantry skills," the statement said. American officials have repeatedly angered Nigeria in their criticism of its human rights record.

Two weeks ago, the Nigerian envoy to Washington criticized the US for frustrating the country's counterterrorism campaign by refusing to sell required arms to Nigeria.

pending is like a farmer going to farm to cultivate corn and carrying squirrel with him.” The defence counsel added that both parties have their eyes focused on Saturday's Primaries and a situation where they go to the primary election and one of the parties has the court order in his pocket does not help the process of peaceful settlement. But Mrs. Offiah insisted that since the peace process, which was already on course would be holistic, all processes of the matter should be put on hold pending when the parties returned to court to inform it of the outcome. Chief Ike and Chuma Oguejifor insisted that if the matter should be stepped down as requested by the plaintiff's counsel on the strength of the out of court settlement, the application brought by the three other defendants who were among the PDP delegates elected during the November 1 Ward Congresses should be heard first since they were not party to the said reconciliation process. However, the Chief Judge agreed with Offiah's contention that the application could not be heard in isolation and directed that the three defendants should be carried along in the peaceful resolution of the matter. However, after listening to the submissions by both counsels, Justice Umezulike ruled that the matter be adjourned to December 12 to enable both parties conclude the process of out-of-court settlement. He said that the Enugu State High Court law encouraged settlement of disputes by parties outside the court and would therefore not do anything that would be in conflict with the process of reaching the peace accord. Speaking with newsmen after the court session, Chief Ike said: “What the court did today was to stay the ruling. The court ought to have determined whether it has jurisdiction on the matter or not, but with the indications of the parties that they have either settled or that the settlement is still ongoing, the court has to promote settlement and reconciliation because part of the rules of the court is that the court should as much as possible encourage parties to settle. “The implication is that the primaries (of PDP) will still go on because under Section 87 (11) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, no court can stop the holding of primary or general election. And don't forget also that there is an existing judgment of the Federal High Court on the issue at Abuja. So everything is now in place, the parties can still go ahead with their primary.”

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Governor Chime's peace with cudgel in hand By Okwudili Edeh

or me, the point of shame in the crisis ravaging the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not that we have crisis, because every big family and party has its headache. The shame really is how some people refused to climb down their high horses until the flood got to their noses. Although Governor Sullivan Chime who is getting much more than he bargained for in the state PDP's political debacle tried to sound conciliatory in the Vanguard Newspaper publication of Sunday, November 23, 2014 entitled “Chime on 2015: I Have No Personal Squabbles w i t h A n y b o d y ; We Simply Want Proper Thing Done”, it is clear that sound judgment and true sober reflections are yet to prevail. The publication, which is a transcript of the Governor's address during a recent meeting with Enugu PDP stakeholders loyal to him, is sadly fraught with the usual tales by moonlight, blame trading, chest thumping, and harvest of lies. To begin with, it was a highly diluted version devoid of the Governor's widely talked about biles at the meeting. For instance, defending his “consensus arrangement” (twin brother of imposition) for all elective positions, he reportedly claimed rather sarcastically that what he was doing in Enugu PDP was not different from what happened in Abuja recently where the red carpet was, according to him, rolled out to coronate one man as PDP's sole presidential candidate. Hoping and nursing the illusion at the time that the PDP would annul the Enugu PDP ward congresses like other states on that same day, he further boasted that it was a lie that he agreed at a meeting with President Jonathan not to run for the Enugu West senatorial district. He insisted that Enugu was for Enugu people and Bayelsa for Bayelsans. Two, I do not agree with Chime that he is fighting godfatherism in Enugu politics or that he had conducted four local council elections where he had allowed the people to choose their leaders. To start with, Chime is a product of godfatherism. It is common

knowledge that he became governor in 2007, not because he had the open ambition let alone the structure or clouts, but simply because former governor Chimaroke Nnamani anointed him. He cannot therefore wish away the fact that he is the political godson of Ebeano. And being so, would Beelzebub cast away demons? Meanwhile, even the last local councils (s)election (2013) was the worst since 1999 because numerous chairmanship aspirants were allowed to pay various fees, which came close to N500 each, for nomination forms, etc., but only for the Governor and the former state party Chairman, Vita Abba, to sit in the Enugu

distribution of elective positions)”. What agreements? Is that the Enugu West senatorial seat should be zoned from Greater Awgu to Udi/Ezeagu to bring it closer home for his grab? Is it that the Udi/Ezeagu House of Reps seat must leave Ezeagu to Udi (his home) so that his son-inlaw (husband of his first daughter) could grab it, while Ezeagu people go empty-handed like Aaron? Is it that the Enugu East Senatorial seat must be dashed to his former Chief of Staff and his clan's sister married to Nkanu man, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo? Already, his f o r m e r D e p u t y, S u n d a y Onyebuchi was shoved for this reason. Or is it his efforts to replace the House of Reps

Government House to list names, which were sent to the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) for a mere confirmation exercise called election. We had no primaries; let a lone one that is fair or unfair. No refunds were made to the disenfranchised aspirants. Instead, they were told that it was part of their sacrifice as no cockerel goes to the shrine and returns with owner. I also disagree with Governor Chime that “We're having similar challenges today like it happened in 2010/2011 because some of our brothers and sisters (in the National Assembly) now want to go contrary to the agreements we had earlier (on zoning and

Member representing Enugu South/North (Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo) with his cousin, Chime Oji? Is it about his design to replace Hon. Kingsley Ebenyi of Enugu East/Isiuzo Federal Constituency with his brother-inlaw, Prince Cornelius Nnaji whom he imposed as both the Chairman of Enugu East LGA and Chairman of ALGON in the state to ensure that local governments "behave". To the best of my knowledge, all these are the governor's decrees and infatuations. There was never a time that it was agreed that all ranking members of the National Assembly from Enugu State must retire to make way for Chime and his cronies. For instance, if there was any

agreement in 2010/2011 that Enugu West Senatorial District would be zoned to Udi/Ezeagu as Chime has consistently, but falsely claimed, how come his Special Adviser, OAU Onyema, who also hails from Udi like him, contested the PDP primaries for the senatorial seat against Senator E k w e r e m a d u d u r i n g 2 0 11 election? The governor also quickly took him back, reappointing him an Adviser after Ekweremadu trounced him. Indeed, it was Governor Chime who had serious challenges returning in 2015 and the same people, including Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who helped fight his battle are the ones he turned against upon re-election, undermining and vowing repeatedly to retire them. Governor Chime has also mistaken the mass condemnation

of some perceived political highhandedness and impunity in Enugu for media attacks. Did he expect Enugu people to clap for him over the dishonourable and petty manner he disposed his Deputy Governor of over 7 years in a chicken impeachment? Or hail him for unjustly deposing royal fathers or taking N11 Billion loan in the twighlights of his administration or mopping of newspapers and magazines that say what is not sweet to his ears? On the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS), it is wrong for Chime to claim he hasn't deployed it to flogging his opponent. He can only say that it hasn't had the required effect since many parts of Enugu hardly get the radio and TV

signals. Only a fortnight ago, a traditional ruler and former broadcaster, Dume Nnamoko was put on the state radio to attack Chime's “Abuja rivals”. Indeed, refurbishing the ESBS transmitters at the twilight of the governor's second term (obviously for 2015 election) is good, but refurbishing the minds and building the “stomach infrastructure” at the ESBS to power the transmitters are important. Don't allow the premises to be overgrown by grass, the workers arrears, and the office blocks to lie decrepit. Over 140 staff of the station who are known professionals were weeded out and are now hanging at the state secretariat begging to be reabsorbed like their Daily Star Newspaper counterparts who had been abandoned with several months of salary arrears to die. It is important to sound it that Governor Chime's return to the negotiation table with the Ekweremadu's camp was because he was boxed to a corner. If he was disposed to peace, he would not have repeatedly sought to impose Ikeje Asogwa as the Acting Chairman of the Enugu PDP against the party's constitution, the PDP national leadership's directives, and subsisting court rulings. He would not have queued behind an imposed Chairman for the ward congresses, but only to turn back to claim there were no ward congresses on November 1, 2014. Indeed, he would not have backed out of the initial peace efforts brokered by the President to seek to undo the ward congresses and undermine Elder David Aja as Acting Chairman, but only to return to the negotiation table like the prodigal son after he has been dazed by the Ekweremadu camp in various courts. Pray, what man makes peace with a cudgel in his hand? Sullivan's last-minute desperation to get President Jonathan to reactivate the peace process after he willingly breached the initial pacts and lost on all fronts is pure blackmail, especially knowing that Chime would never have allowed anybody near the sharing table if he had had his way. Nevertheless, while it will be discourteous for Ekweremadu's camp not to listen to the President and be magnanimous in victory, they had better be careful in dealing with a man who talks peace with a cudgel in hand. 2015 is still a long way. – Edeh writes from Enugu

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

I will lead a general turn around in Nigeria, says Buhari

ormer Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) says if elected president in the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he would galvanize the economy and lead a general turn around in Nigeria. He said he also wants to provide gainful employment to the masses. Buhari spoke during a visit to Rivers State to solicit the support of APC national delegates in the state ahead of the party's presidential primaries. Addressing the delegates at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt, Wednesday, Buhari bemoaned the infrastructural decay in the country and the poor leadership offered by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “My message is just to remind all of us about the condition we are in this country and that next year 2015 is another political watershed in this country. If we allow by any means the PDP to continue, I don't think by the end of their next term of four years even Nigerians can recognize their country, because all you need to do is to compare what state we were in 1999 when the PDP took over the centre and most of the states. “In terms of infrastructure, we used Nigerian Airways, we used Nigerian railways, we used Nigerian Shipping line, even power at that time was relatively stable, more stable than it has been now after spending 20 billion US Dollars. “Instead of seeing improvement in infrastructure, in way of life, quality of education, healthcare that immediately concerns the people, everything is going down, so Nigerians must vote PDP out next year. It is a question of survival. If you want our country, you want your son and your grandson to get education, to get healthcare, to get drinking water, to get security, you have to vote PDP out and I am here to ask you for your understanding and support because the journey of a million miles starts with one step. “This is what APC is all about. We agreed to come together because we found out, no single political party could make any difference. As I said from 1999 till now,

collapse of infrastructure, economy, manufacturing, therefore lack of jobs, therefore crises of all sorts,” Buhari stated. He accused the PDP of lacking accountability and wondered how Nigeria could progress without an accountable leadership. “How can we go forward in this country if there is no accountability?” He queried. On insecurity in the NorthEast, Buhari lambasted the federal government for failing to arrest the situation. He said efforts made by federal lawmakers to probe finances allocated to the country's military were frustrated by government agents. Buhari also dismissed claims that he would Islamize Nigeria if elected as the country's President, explaining that he had no powers to Islamize Nigeria. “I have no powers to Islamize

Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors' Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has upheld the virtues of General Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a true nationalist. Amaechi who earlier addressed the state national delegates of the APC, said Buhari is a good presidential choice for the country to bring about change. Again, he refuted claims that the former head of state is a religious fanatic. “When I went to Ignatius Ajuru University yesterday, one young woman got up and said governor, 'you have convinced me, I will vote for APC, but I have a problem', and I said, what is your problem? She said 'they say APC is an Islamic party, it will Islamize Nigeria,' and I said they are referring to Buhari, so let me address her straight: Buhari's driver is a Christian, his cook is a General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) Christian, who else, the most Nigeria. No Muslim can Christianize Nigeria. Nigeria important staff for a big man Islamize Nigeria as no will remain Nigeria,” he said. is his cook before his driver. C h r i s t i a n c a n a l s o Meanwhile, Rivers State So, if a man (like Buhari) can

insure his life to somebody who does not belong to his religion, how else will he show you that he is not a religious bigot?” “Now, those of us who have known him, we want to present him to you. If he wins primaries, we will present the true Buhari to Nigerians because they need to know that he is a different person from what these selfish politicians have portrayed him to be,” Amaechi said. He urged party members to be dedicated and work for APC's victory next year and advised national delegates from the state not to accept any financial inducement at the party's forthcoming presidential primaries in Lagos. “If Buhari will bring money, we will reject it. If Atiku will bring money, we will also reject it”. Amaechi also appealed to party members to get their permanent voter's cards and sensitize other APC supporters in the grassroots to also get theirs or go for fresh registration.

Obasanjo blasts Jonathan over corruption, poor governance

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday blasted President Goodluck Jonathan administration and the National Assembly for promoting corruption and poor governance. “For quite some time, the covered and hushed-up corruption has had its toll on the economy,” Obasanjo said. He said the increasing corruption under Jonathan had damaged the economy, warning that “in the future, we will have a budget that cannot be funded.” “We may have to borrow to pay salaries and allowances. Revenue allocation to states and local governments has already drastically reduced. Capital projects at all levels may have to be drastically cut or stopped,” he added. The ex-President spoke in Abuja at the presentation of books by a former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related O ff e n c e s C o m m i s s i o n , retired Justice Mustapha Akanbi. Obasanjo was the chairman of the occasion. He said, “Nigeria cannot continue to indulge in disdain of truth, elevation of c o r r u p t i o n a n d incompetence, reinforcement of failure, condonation of heinous crimes and

Boko Haram, Obasanjo said that it is a terrible mix of poor J o n a t h a n ' s d e l a y e d education or lack of education; misinterpr etation of what Islam and the Q u r a n teach and stand for, p o v e r t y, unemploy m e n t , injustice, drug, gun trafficking, h u m a n trafficking, fallout f r o m Libya, revenge, Ex President Obasanjo and President Jonathan frustration, struggle understanding of the menace against inequality, imitation celebration of mediocrity, posed by the group caused the of international terrorism tribal bigotry, fomenting worsening insecurity in the leading to training and part of violence and anti-democratic country. the absorption by practices in states and He said, “Boko Haram is not international terrorist groups National Assembly. simply a menace based on and general poor governance, “Corruption in the National religion or one directed to including corruption. I have Assembly also includes what frustrate anybody's political always maintained that the they call constituency ambition. It is essentially a solution to Boko Haram or projects, which they give to socio-economic problem that any organisation like it lies in their agents to execute, but is tainted with religion. It is a the application of carrot and invariably, full payment is gargantuan danger to the stick approach.” made with little or no job nation and to all Nigerians. However, Obasanjo did not done. “ I n i t i a l l y , P r e s i d e n t go unchallenged at the forum “In all these, if the executive Jonathan's understanding of as the Oba of Lagos, who was is absolutely above board, the Boko Haram phenomenon also the chief launcher of the offending members of the suffered from wrong reading Akanbi books, Oba Rilwanu National Assembly resort to and wrong imputation. That Akiolu, accused Obasanjo of subtle or open threat, is what led us to where we are failing to account for the intimidation and blackmail of today. barrels of crude oil sales the executive.” “It took even the President despite boasting he would do On the escalating insurgency more than three years to so before he came to power. by the violent Islamic sect, appreciate and understand Akinolu said Obasanjo,

before he assumed the Presidency in 1999, pledged to ensure transparency in the Nigerian oil sector “but later reneged on his promise as the oil sector was besieged with quantum corruption.” “Obasanjo failed to address the problems with the number of crude oil per barrel produced daily; how many barrels are exported for sale as well as the use of the proceeds”, the monarch alleged. The ex-President fired back that it was during his tenure that allocation to states became transparent with the publication of monthly revenue to the three tiers of government. He said his government “also worked out modalities to enthrone accountability and transparency in the oil sector.” Vi c e - P r e s i e n t N a m a d i Sambo, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant (Monitoring), Mr. Femi Oladele, commended Justice Akanbi's effort on anti-corruption and commitment to service. He said by carving a niche for himself in the fight against graft, the jurist had left indelible footprints in the sands of time. In his remarks, Akanbi observed that although there were allegations of witch – hunt during the Obasanjo administration, the exPresident never interfered with his job in the ICPC.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Fence-climbing lawmakers suspected thugs – IGP

embers of the House Committee on Police Affairs were shocked Wednesday when the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Sulaiman Abba, told them that he would not address Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Abba drew the ire of the committee members when in his submission addressed the Speaker as Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and also described the lawmakers who scaled the gate last Thursday as suspected thugs. At this point, Rep. Akeem Muniru, APC, Lagos declared that ”if the Inspector General of Police cannot appropriately address the Speaker on whose ticket we were appointed as members of this committee then I will honourably leave here.” Chairman of the committee, Hon. Usman Kumo, PDP, Gombe quickly interjected, appealing to his members that the InspectorGeneral of Police has the floor and should be allowed to deliver his submission without interference. Members openly complained, particularly Hon. Shuaibu Gwandu, PDP, Sokoto and Hon. Rufai Chachangi, APC, Kaduna, declaring that the IGP should retract what he said. After about five minutes, the chairman successfully calmed frayed nerves. Reading his submission, Abba said: “My deep sympathy goes to those who sustained injuries in what happened on November 20 and let me say here that it hurts my own person as the events of that day traumatised me. “What transpired on that day was unprecedented worldwide as policemen were disobeyed, beaten and many things that followed after that date. In the process of safeguarding the security of the National Assembly on November 20, we collaborated with the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms according to laid down procedures where members were being asked to identify themselves before they could be allowed into the premises. “And at the gate there, a tear gas exploded when 'Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal' was being asked to identity himself. We still don't know the circumstances surrounding the explosion and we are investigating it.”

I a c t e d o n c re d i b l e information —IGP He claimed he acted based on credible information to deploy his men to the NASS on the said day, adding that the action was also due to what happened on the 19th when Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and

other APC supporters besieged the Force Headquarters promising to do worse things the following day, including going to the National Assembly. He said: “Considering what happened in Burkina Faso on October 30 where the palace was invaded, we had no choice than to go for reinforcement to curb the situation.”

Suspected thugs The IGP insisted that there were reports that those who scaled the fence on that day were thugs. Asked whether the so-called thugs include the lawmakers who resorted to scaling the fence after being locked out by the Police, he said the actions that were taken were based on the need to forestall breakdown of law and order as witnessed recently in Bukina Faso. “ We a c t e d o n c r e d i b l e information about suspected thugs who wanted to invade the Assembly and because we didn't want what happened in Bukina Faso to repeat itself here, we had to take stringent security measures,” the IGP said. Lawmakers were, however, furious on the manner in which the Police chief addressed the person of the Speaker as a mere Alhaji whose name has no protocol and national significance whatsoever. Chairman of the Committee,

Hon. Usman Kumo, then called the IGP to order, insisting that the Speaker and his office must be respected and addressed accordingly. After observing that the IGP was not forthcoming, Hon. Hakeem Muniru (APC Lagos) demanded that “the IGP must retract his statement calling the Speaker, 'Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal' or I take my leave as I would deem this sitting as an illegal one. Because I can't participate in a hearing where the office of the Speaker through whose authority we are having this meeting is not even recognised by an appointee of the executive.” Hon. Victor Nwokolo (PDP Delta) said: “I agree with the

earlier speaker on the issues at stake which has to do with the IGP retracting his disrespectful statement about the office of the Speaker.” Kumo, however, failed to obtain compliance from the IGP and told his colleagues that he would report back to the House what transpired and therefore adjourned the hearing sine die. Meanwhile, spokesman of the House of Representatives, Zakari Mohammed, has said that all relevant laws would be looked into to checkmate the Inspector General of Police. Apparently reacting to the outcome of the public hearing held at NASS complex where the IGP refused to properly address

the speaker appropriately, Mohammed said: ”When we resume we shall invoke the right laws to deal with the situation. Since the IGP has assumed the position of another arm of government, we will handle the situation the right way very soon. The issue here is that the IGP has turned himself into the judiciary.” Another top ranking member of the House said: “We will ensure that this particular IGP goes down in history as one who wanted to desecrate the sanctity of the National Assembly. He must certainly pay for his act of indiscretion and mischief.”

Don't blame me for your woes, Gov Orji tells Kalu ranting of a drowning man.” “Kalu knows very well that even if he contests election today, he cannot win election in the state again because he is a liability. He should stop deceiving himself as being a member of PDP which he is not.” Governor Orji also described as false, the allegation by Kalu that he played trick on some prominent Abians who resigned their plum positions to contest for the governorship race when he

had already made up his mind to hand over to his anointed candidate. “Everybody has the right to aspire for any position of one's choice, and I lack the constitutional powers to prevent one from testing one's popularity in an open contest. Resignation from public office is part of the requirements for political office seekers, hence, it will be wrong for anyone to blame the governor for an action one deliberately

took in conformity with the electoral laws”. The governor who said he had not anointed or imposed any candidate, said he strongly believes that PDP's flag bearer will emerge from a credible primaries in line with the party's position that Abia South should be allowed to produce the next governor in the spirit of fairness and equity. He said that Kalu should be ignored as he is only bent on blackmailing the state government for selfish political reasons.

CHANGE OF NAME Theodore Orji,

bia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has told his predecessor, Orji Uzor Kalu to stop pointing accusing fingers to his direction for his (Kalu's) political woes. Governor Orji who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ajunwa, denied allegation by Kalu that he (Orji) had handpicked all the candidates for various elective positions in the 2015 elections, describing it as “spurious and the

AGU – I formerly known as Miss Agu Diana Dinuju now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Okonkwo Diana Dinuju. All former documents remain valid. Industrial Training Fund, IMT Enugu, NYSC and the general public please take note.

IFIONU – I formerly known as Miss Ifionu Chinwendu Oluchukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. IfionuNwankwo Chinwendu Oluchukwu. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State College of Education (Technical) (ESCET), Enugu and the general public please take note.

ENWEREM – I formerly known as Miss Joy Nnenna Enwerem now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Joy Nnenna Edike. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State College of Education (Technical) (ESCET), Enugu, ESUT, UNTH Ituku-Ozalla and the general public please take note.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Enugu 2015: I was accused of being drunk when I declared for guber – Ayogu Eze By Chukwudi Anosike

hairman, Senate Committee on Works, and a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Enugu State, Senator Ayogu Eze said in Enugu at the weekend that when he began to nurse the ambition of governing the state in 2015, a lot of people accused him of being drunk and that he was going out of his mind. Senator Eze also unveiled the system of government he intends to run, if elected into office as Enugu State governor next year, saying his administration would not employ technocrats to run the affairs of state. He disclosed that one of the cardinal goals of his government would be to create massive employment opportunities for the teeming jobless youths in the state. Addressing thousands of supporters during a rally Saturday at his Independence Layout residence, Enugu, after returning from Abuja for the PDP gubernatorial screening, Senator Eze who represents Enugu North senatorial district in the National Assembly, said when people continued to accuse him of being drunk, he accepted it but added that “I was drunk of the wine of the Holy Spirit.” Senator Eze, whose speech was punctuated with loud ovation from the cheering crowd, told his listeners: “When you are drunk with the wine of the Holy Spirit, it

moves you to impossible places. It removes fear from you; it gives you courage; it makes you bold and you mount up with wings like the eagle. I'm drunk with the Holy wine and since then I've been moving without going wary because God is with us.” The politician further asked his supporters: “ T h e revolution that has happened in this Enugu State in this political dispensation, if anybody told you in two months ago that that was possible, would you believe it?” The huge crowd replied with a resounding “Nooooooooo!” But according Eze, he said he “knew deep down” that such revolution was possible in the state because “it is God first; it is God second and it is God third, and it is God all the way,” adding that “God has built our ambition on a solid foundation,” hence “no termite can eat away our ambition; no storm can sweep it

Senator Ayogu Eze away; no rain can beat it up.” Eze has been vocal in strongly condemning the process of selecting a member of House of Representatives, Rep Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as the governorship consensus candidate of the PDP in Enugu State for the 2015 governorship election. He, alongside some other PDP governorship aspirants in the state have insisted that a level playing field be provided for all the aspirants to contest in the primary election to determine the

candidate that will bear the party's flag during next year's election. Although he said that his opponents have wondered the source of his strength, he quickly explained that God and the masses of Enugu are two major sources of his strength. “I derive my strength from two sources: God and all of you the people of Enugu State.” Giving an insight into t h e t y p e o f government he will operate if elected into office as governor of the state, Senator Eze said his government would belong to all the people hence “there will be no Godfather since our Godfather is in heaven and incidentally the Godfather belongs to all of us.” He further said: “I want to assure you that in that government, there will be justice for all; there will be opportunities for all; we will do things here people will not believe is possible in a state like Enugu. We will change the face of Enugu, and I will generate employment. We've mapped out our strategies. We will be monitoring creation of employments on monthly and quarterly bases as they do it in

America. And we will publish it. On why his government will not use technocrats, Eze said: “You know in the past, when politicians finished doing their work, those who were elected into offices will go and look for technocrats to come and work. No. This time around, these are all the people that are going to work in my government: I'm going to empower those who are working and toiling. The technocrats are in their offices with their laptops and computers working in air-conditioned rooms. But the harsh sun and cold rain will be beating all of us here in the open. You mean that when we finish, I will now go to their air-conditioned offices and bring them? No way for that in my administration.” He further said: “My government will be a government of politicians by politicians and for politicians. And this government is going to make sure that we bring everybody in. There will be no discrimination. I've been answering all the text messages that I received since I got my phone in November 2001. I will continue to answer all the text messages that you, the people send; is possible that when I become governor, I may not take all the calls but there's no text message that will come into my phone that I will not answer. I will not change my number. I will use the same number that I've been using since 2001, so that everybody can reach me by sending text messages.”

A vote for PDP is vote for insurgency, corruption, unemployment — Atiku

ormer Vice President and All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has advised Nigerians to be wise in casting their votes in the 2015 presidential election saying a vote for Peoples Democratic P a r t y, w a s a v o t e f o r continuation of insurgency, kidnapping, oil bunkering, corruption and unemployment, among others. The former Vice President insisted that the PDP had nothing to offer Nigerians, but showcase propaganda, blaming insurgency, kidnapping, and lack of jobs. Addressing Enugu State delegates, ahead of APC national convention, Atiku said PDP-led government was very good at

p r a c t i c i n g government of propaganda, lamenting that since he grew up, he had never seen Nigeria governed the way it was being governed today with no sense of direction and purpose. He said: “The PDP government is only good in propaganda. They build railways only on television. There is insecurity everywhere. There is unemployment. Most of the problems in this country, insurgency, kidnapping, oil bunkering is done by youths because they

Atiku Abubakar

don't have jobs. Once they have jobs, they will not engage in such. “None of them boasts of this experience. I have contributed to democracy more than all of them. Even when the situation favoured m e p e r s o n a l l y, I rejected it for the benefit of the entire country. Records are there for everybody to see. I have prepared myself. I have experience and I want to serve. If you go to APC states, you see what the Governors are doing. If you go to Rivers, Nasarawa,

Lagos, Sokoto, you will see what the Governors are doing. You can see it.” He said he decided to join the presidential race to make a change, and save the country from destruction, arguing that APC, as reformers, would change in Nigeria for the better. Atiku added that he was the most suitable among the four aspirants vying for the APC presidential ticket, having had the longest political experience, occupied the highest political office in a democracy and worked in every part of the country. Speaking on behalf of the Enugu delegates, a member of APC Board of Trustees, BOT, Brigadier General Joseph Okoloagu, (rtd), said he was convinced that Atiku Ababukar had the capacity to deliver the country, if given the chance.

NIGERIA

December 15, 2014

The Nigerian Nationalist

Melford Okilo M

elford Obiene Okilo (30 November 1933 – 5 July 2008) had a long and distinguished career as a politician in Nigeria from the start of independence in 1960 until shortly before his death in 2008. He was a member of parliament (1956–1964) and a Minister in the Nigerian First Republic. He was Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria (1979–1983) during the Nigerian Second Republic.[1] Later he was Senator for Bayelsa East, in Bayelsa State (1999–2003) during the Nigerian Fourth Republic.

Early career Okilo was born on 30 November 1933 at Emakalakala, Ogbia, Bayelsa State, and was of Ijaw origin. He qualified as a lawyer, but entered politics at the age of 23. Okilo was a Member of Parliament between 1956 and 1959. In December 1959 he was re-elected to represent the Brass constituency on the Niger Delta Congress platform. The Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, later appointed him Parliamentary Secretary and Minister. He played a significant role in the enactment of the Niger Delta Development Board (1961), which sought to address problems of the neglected Niger Delta region. While visiting New York in 1965, he came across a book about Walter Russell, The Man Who Tapped the Secrets of the Universe, which had a profound influence on his t h o u g h t . Wa l t e r R u s s e l l ' s University of Science and Technology later published his books, and in the late 1990s he served as president of the university. During the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon, Okilo served in the government in Rivers State first as Commissioner of Education, and then of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Resources (1971–1975).

Second republic During General Olusegun Obasanjo's regime, he was a member of the Constituent Assembly (1977–78) leading to the Nigerian Second Republic. He was Chairman of the Rivers State branch of the National Party of

big fish or animal, the villagers or community expresses their appreciation ... by first giving him or her the best part of the animal or fish before the rest of the meat or fish is shared." He served as Minister of Commerce and Tourism during the General Sani Abacha regime. In January 1994 he was a member of a ministerial committee that toured Ogoniland following disturbances by Ogoni protesters against Shell activities in the area. Although the committee's report was sympathetic to the plight of minorities in the oil-producing areas, little was done. Okilo was dropped from the government in July 1995 as the military consolidated their power. Returning to the United States, he became president of the University of Science and Technology, which had earlier published his philosophical writings including his 1991 book The law of life.

Fourth republic

Melford Okilo Nigeria (NPN) (1978–1983), and was elected on the NPN platform as governor of Rivers States in 1979. As governor, Okilo established the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. He opened the Independent Power Plant at Imiringi in Ogbia local government area, now in Bayelsa State, a major gas turbine power station. He created fifty development units for the much neglected rural areas, introducing a policy where local people were given the responsibility and power to govern and develop their local communities. He undertook programs to reclaim land, control erosion, construct roads and canals, and build rural housing scheme and industrial estates. President Shehu Shagari awarded him the honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic

of Nigeria in 1983. He was reelected on the NPN platform in 1983, losing office when General Muhammadu Buhari took power in a military coup in December 1983. Soon after taking power, Buhari established military tribunals to try public officers from the Shagari era who had been accused of embezzling public funds. In July 1986 he was acquitted of his accusations and regained his freedom following a judicial review of the tribunals and later freed by Babangida.

Later career In June 1989 Okilo was a speaker at a conference on World Balance: Action to Save our Planet held in Aspen, Colorado. Writing in 1992 on the question of oil revenue sharing, Okilo referred to traditional morality, saying that "when an individual kills or finds a

In January 1999, shortly before the return to democracy and while running for office, Okilo was briefly detained by the outgoing military government following disturbances among the Ijaw in the Niger Delta. Okilo was elected Senator for Bayelsa East on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform, serving from May 1999 to May 2003, but failed to be reelected in 2003. As senator, he served as vice-chairman of the committee on Natural Gas and chairman of the committee on Identify Card. He remained a director of the University Of Science And Philosophy, and became a director of the board of Vision In Action, an institute formed in 2003 to share and communicate experience on issues of leadership, creativity, visionary and strategic thinking. In 2005 he read his own obituary after a mistaken story that he had died. Later he addressed a press conference, saying he was in a coma for four days and was mistaken for dead. Speaking in July 2006 in Brixton, London, Okilo called on leaders of the Ijaw to take their case over sharing oil and gas revenue to the International Court of Justice. At the same time, he asked youths of the area to give up violence, and seek peaceful means to address their grievances. After a prolonged illness, Okilo died at the age of 74 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on 5 July 2008.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Tukur can't return as Natonal Chairman, PDP, Mu'azu tell court

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, on Wednesday at a Federal High Court in Abuja opposed the move by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to return as the leader of the party. Tukur resigned as the National Chairman of the party on January 15, 2014, but he has asked the court to reinstate him to the position. He urged the court to declare that he remained the party chairman arguing that his resignation letter did not meet the requirement of the PDP's constitution, which made it mandatory for 30 days notice to be given before the resignation would become effective. He also maintained that the National Deputy Chairman ought to have taken over the affairs of the party and not Mu'azu, who was only appointed and not elected at a national convention as prescribed by the party's constitution. This is is contained in a counterclaim which he filed in a suit instituted by another member of the PDP, Aliyu Gurin, who is challenging the propriety of Tukur's resignation and the subsequent appointment of Mu'azu as the National Chairman of the party. But the PDP and Mu'azu, through their counsel, Mr. Solomon Umoh (SAN), said both the main suit and Tukur's counter-claim constituted an abuse of court processes and urged Justice Evoh Chukwu to dismiss them. Umoh argued that Tukur was, by his prayer, seeking to benefit from his wrong act of walking away without giving the party the 30 days notice. “The court should hold that the 2nd defendant (Tukur) cannot take benefit of his wrongful act,” he added. He said contrary to Tukur's contention, the deputy chairman of the party took over the affairs of the party and not Mu'azu, after his (Tukur's) resignation. The lawyer argued that it was the national deputy chairman, who summoned the meeting which produced Mu'azu as the national chairman, and that the party was only waiting for the time of its national convention. “We have practically shown when the 2nd defendant gave a beautiful speech and walked away and the deputy chairman

the deputy national chairman summoned a meeting as minutes of the meeting would show, and this gave birth to the current national chairman.” Umoh also said such counterclaim filed by Tukur, who is a defendant in the suit, was unknown to the law as there was no provision f o r a defendant to f i l e a counterAlhaji Adamu Mu'azu claim. “By virtue of provisions of Order took over in line with the party's 13 Rule 35(15), all that a constitution and on January 20,

defendant is expected to do is to file a counter-affidavit and showcase his exhibit,” he said. He also argued that the suit was premature as the plaintiff ought to have exhausted the remedial mechanisms prescribed in section 60 of the PDP constitution before approaching the court. But the plaintiff's counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oguneso (SAN), argued that the defendants had not denied that Mu'azu was not produced through an election as stipulated by the party's constitution. He urged the court to grant his prayers as compliance with provisions of the law was mandatory and not optional. Tu k u r ' s l a w y e r, A d e b o r o Adamson, insisted that his client's counter-claim was not an abuse of court process as Order 10, Rule 3 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009 made provision for the filing of a counter-claim by a defendant. But Umoh insisted that the provisions of the Order 10, Rule 3 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules were only applicable when a defendant

“seeks remedy against the plaintiff,” which he said was not the situation in the suit. The Independent National Electoral Commission through its counsel, Nelson Ani, said it would remain neutral in the case. Like the plaintiff, Tukur maintained that he remained the national chairman of the party “in the eyes of the law”, claiming that his purported resignation from office on January 15, 2014 was null and void as it flouted provisions of section 47(5) of the party's constitution. He also asked the court to order the PDP, the incumbent National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, and the INEC, “to recognise and permit him to continue to preside over the affairs of the party till 2016.” He maintained that having been elected for a four-year term in 2012 he ought to legally remain in office till 2016 but was forced to “step aside” from office on January 15, 2014. Justice Chukwu, after hearing parties in the suit reserved judgment, saying the date for delivering the judgment would be communicated to parties at the appropriate time.

CPC can't maintain case against Gov. Wada – Supreme Court By Euclid Myke, Abuja

he Supreme Court on

Friday dismissed the appeal filed by the defunct Congress for Progressive Change )CPC( challenging the election of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State. The defunct party, which was the leading opposition in Kogi State, had approached the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal dismissed its appeal challenging the decision of a federal high court which refused to entertain the party's case against Wada who won the election under the Peoples Democratic Party. The court of appeal maintained in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice I.T.A. George-Mbama that the issues raised in the appeal were electoral matters that should have been taken to the electoral tribunal for adjudication. Delivering its judgment, the Supreme Court held that since the CPC which filed the appeal had merged with the other political parties to become the All Progressive Congress (APC), it ceased to be a political party and therefore could not file or sustain the appeal. Justice Tanko Muhammad who

delivered the lead judgment of the apex court held that the m e rg e r o f A c t i o n Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and the CPC on July 31st, 2013 signalled the death of CPC. He said: "CPC from that date was no more a political party and lacked the capacity to carry out any legal business transaction including filling an appeal.” According to him, following the death of the CPC on July 31st, 2013, no appeal or any process for that matter is maintainable in the name of the CPC before any court of law. "If there is an appeal or

process or anything hinged on the appeal, such is afflicted by the death of its initiator )the appellant(," he added. The court also ordered CPC to pay N100,000 as cost to all the respondents which included Independent

Gov. Wada National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party, Captain Idris Wada, APC, ANPP, Elder Ubolo Okpanachi and James Ocholie,SAN. It upheld the decision of the trial court noted that the appeal challenged the election of Wada

a n d h i s qualification to contest the governorship election in the state. This, the court said, could only be done at the election tribunal and not the Federal High Court. He cited sections 285 (2) of the constitution, which provides that an election can only be quashed by an election tribunal.He also cited Section 138 of Electoral Act, which stated the ground upon which an election c o u l d b e questioned.He said: "Where a court l a c k s t h e competence to determine a matter, an appellate court will uphold the decision of the high court declining jurisdiction. “We hold that the trial court was right in holding that it lacked jurisdiction."The court had earlier upheld Wada's election in an appeal filed by Jilbrin Isah, a member of the same party with Wada, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Ekweremadu secures N300m for NOUN Study Centre in Enugu West Senatorial Zone academic assistance to our people to help them to go through school, if by the grace of God I return to the senate in 2015, we are going to focus on job creation by next best Centre in this four years. What we will do, all country. the youth centres we have, we are "Already, I have going to equip them and get secured the sum of people from abroad to run them N300 million from and transfer technology and skill Tertiary Education to our people so that they can T r u s t F u n d employ themselves. (TETFUND) to help “I will also get my friends from the school to take off. different parts of the world to We will go out and get come and set up industries in my more money for them. senatorial district. We are not I will like to appeal to going to worry ourselves about our children to take government, we will provide job advantage of this directly to our people without s c h o o l . T h e government. interesting thing is “So by 2019 when we will be t h a t t h e Vi c e finishing the next tenure, we will Chancellor has reduce unemployment in Enugu assured me that all West and indeed Enugu state by at Senator Ike Ekweremadu those that will work in least 70 percent," he pledged. this institution at least 80 percent "That takes me to the issue of Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of of them will come from this employment; we have provided locality.

*Inaugurates Awgu Study Centre

eputy President of the Senate,, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, Monday, inaugurated Awgu Special Study Centre of the National Open University (NOUN), in Enugu State even as he announced that he has secured N300 million from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for the development of infrastructure at the Centre. Ekweremadu, who noted that the university is the first tertiary institution in his senatorial district, Enugu West, assured that he would work hard to attract a Federal Polytechnic in the zone before the end of next year. "As you can see, the ViceChancellor has given me admission also as a doctorate student in this place, this is my school bag, I hold a Ph.D in constitutional law, and I'm ready to enroll again for another doctorate degree in Public Administration just to encourage this university. "I have also accepted to teach in the National Open University free of charge. So whatever we can do t o e n c o u r a g e y o u , Vi c e Chancellor, we will do that including the budgetary support and other supports that can encourage this Open University. "I want to promise ViceChancellor and his team, today you are seeing this Centre as it is, I give you one year, it will be the

Bonga Oil Spill:

Fishermen applaud National Assembly on $3.96 billion compensation

he Artisanal Fishermen Association of Nigeria ( A R FA N ) o n h a s commended the National Assembly for recommending a $3.96 billion compensation for the December 2011 oil spill from Bonga oil fields. House of Assembly Committee on Environment last Wednesday endorsed a compensation of $3.96

recommended by National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA). The House directed Shell to compensate the communities impacted by the oil spill from.Bonga fields operated by Shell Nigeria Production and Exploration Company (SNEPCO) Dr Idris Musa , Director at NOSDRA, was quoted as saying

that some 40,000 barrels of oil spilled into the Atlantic Ocean and polluted the waters compelling fishermen to suspend fishing.. Reacting to the development, Rev. Samuel Ayadi, Coordinator of the fishing group in the Niger Delta said in Yenagoa on Friday that recommendation was a welcome development. He commended the oil spill agency

FG not behind Boko Haram – Sambo V

ice President, Muhammad Namadi Sambo, Monday distanced the Federal Government from the activities of Jama'atul Ahalil Suna LIdawatul Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Harama. The vice President who spoke during a condolence visit to the emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sunusi II at his palace, described as untrue the insinuation in certain quarters that Government has hands in the insurgents' activities. The Vice President maintained that political undertone being attached to the action of the insurgents was the handiwork of those who knew nothing about the security challenges. Sambo who spoke in Hausa

NOUN, Prof Vincent Tenebe urged the people of the area and Enugu State in general to take advantage of the institution to acquire university education, saying it was the first Study Centre in the entire South-East zone of the country. Prof Tenebe said NOUN is unique from other conventional universities, stressing that even though it runs full time course accredited by National Universities Commission (NUC), NOUN uses new technology to deliver education to diverse people in their offices, market, farms and other places. Highlight of the event was inauguration of office blocks by Senator Ekweremadu and handing over the key of the study centre to the Vice-Chancellor by the traditional ruler of Ugwuleshi Community, Awgu LGA, HRH Igwe Godwin Okosisi Nwobi.

dialect during condolence visits to the e m i r stressed,” the f e d e r a l government has no hands i n t h e ongoing insurgency in Nigeria. The government is saddled w i t h responsibility of protecting lives and Namadi Sambo property of its subject, as well as ensuring challenges in the country, pointing out that, government peace in the nation, he said. He disclosed that the Federal has adopted proactive measures Government was deeply worried to address the menance. by the unfolding security Namadi Sambo, disclosed that

those saddled with the task of ensuring security in the country, are from the north, and are adherents of the religion of Islam, stressing that, no rightthinking person would love to take solace, or derive any pleasure in the atrocities committed by members of the Boko Haram sect. ”Take the issue of the Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, he is a Muslim and from Zamfara State; the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, is also a Muslim from Sokoto State; the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Suleman Abba is also a Muslim from Jigawa State and my humble self hail from Zaria town, Kaduna State.” He stated therefore that “It is unfair for anybody to think that as Muslims and northerners holding political positions in the federal government, we can connive or aid anyone or group of persons committing atrocities in the north and the nation as a whole.”

for their painstaking efforts in conducting studies on the spill incident and making their report a basis for the house committee to arrive at a conclusion. He said the decision of the house had rekindled the hope of fishermen affected by the spill. He recalled that some 6,000 members of the association were compelled to suspend fishing activities for more than three months to pave way for clean up activities. Ayadi urged the management of SNEPCO to comply with the directive which would resolve the lingering compensation claims on the spill. “We he have cried to the government and national assembly and we are happy that they responded by bring Shell to the negotiating table and compelling them to resolve all pending compensation, we applaud and thank the government for these,” Ayadi said. Ayadi said that the Bonga oil spill was responsible for the scarcity of fish as the more than 40,000 barrels of crude discharged into the Atlantic polluted the waters and wiped off the fish stock. “Due to that spill we can no longer get 'Bonga' fish which the platform derives its name from within our territorial waters; the remaining fish migrated deeper into the ocean where artisan fishermen cannot reach. “ We l o o k f o r w a r d t o t h e compensation so that we can come back to business now that the waters have been cleansed,” he said. Public Affairs Officials of Shell declined comments on the decision of the House when contacted.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

ENUGU 2015

December 15, 2014

ENUGU 2015

Why I want to be Governor of Enugu State – Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi. through ongoing profit making micro finance institutions that have existed for more than 5 years. Dealing with cooperatives will be preferred and encouraged. My experience in Micro Finance Banking will be very useful here. I am already supporting the poor and needy in my capacity as the Chairman of a Micro Finance Bank; so, I know how it works.

Citation of Chief Samuel Maduka Onyishi (MON)

amuel Maduka Onyishi (Onwa Nsukka) hails from Nsukka, Enugu State. He was born on November 23rd, 1963. He is married to Mrs. Ify Onyishi and blessed with children. He is a Christian.

He obtained his FSLC at Enugu Road Primary School, Nsukka in 1976; his WASC at St. Theresa's College, Nsukka in 1981 and later proceeded to University of Nigeria, Nsukka and obtained his Diploma and B.Sc. in Social Work and Community Development in 1995 and 1999 respectively. He holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship from The Institute for Transformative Thought and Learning – Doctoral Research Centre and University (ITTL-DRC), Phoenix, Arizona, (USA) 2011. He is the Chairman, Peace Mass Transit Ltd. (A Transport Company that has more than two thousand mini buses and over four thousand employees), Peace Express (Courier) Services Ltd, Peace Petroleum Ltd, Peace Capital Market Ltd, Peace Micro-Finance Bank Ltd, Peace Bureau de Change Ltd and PMT Beijing Trade (China) Ltd. He was the President of Nsukka Town Union, Kano Branch; President of Nsukka Youth Association (Two Terms); President of Amukwa Youths Association (Two Terms); the Proprietor of Peace Football Club; President of Nsukka Today; Former Member, NITEL Board; Chairman, NITEL Board Technical Committee and presently the Patron of Nsukka Town Union. Samuel Maduka Onyishi was an immediate Former Chairman, Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, during which the iconic Igbo club, known as the flying antelopes became renowned for national, regional and continental titles. Samuel Maduka Onyishi is a legendary philanthropist who has impressed God's footprints in the sands of human hearts and people's lives. He acts more like a God-directed biblical Good Samaritan who has been used as a Jesus model of humility in giving than a man who cares after his name or ordinary human praise. He has been doubly recognized for this as a foremost educational philanthropist, social entrepreneur and business mentor for millions of Nigerians. As a philanthropist since 1998, his Peace Foundation has started business for several thousands; some of whom he has only met for few days or weeks before giving them lifelines, business support or both. He has continued to train other thousands, known and the unknown to him in schools. His architectural philanthropy and infrastructural partnership with schools and educational projects in Nigeria and the Diaspora are worthy of being recounted for posterity. At the University of Nigeria, where his father served as a member of the works Department and died during active service, Sam God's will Onyishi has built a partnership that spans over 20 years, contributing enormously in the educational and infrastructural transformation of the University and changing the lives of both students and staff under different Administrations of the University. Evangelist Sam Onyishi has built a gigantic 16 Rooms Office Block for Faculty of Social Sciences, U.N.N. For many years after that event, he continued to silently sponsor students in their career choices unnoticed, giving out cheques to thousands of anonymous students in his belief in educational poverty reduction, knowing that it is through the power of education that the youths of tomorrow can adequately be prepared for tomorrow's leadership. For this reason and many divine inspirations, when he was approached by the University of Nigeria, under the administration of Professor Chinedu Nebo, for a project partnership between the University of Nigeria and the Sam Onyishi family, to institute a foundation that will help indigent and poor students of the University he agreed and rolled out his resources to support and sponsor this partnership project in the University. Till date, after over six years of operation, the Samuel Maduka Onyishi African Entrepreneurship Foundation, University of Nigeria, (SAMOAEF), has been the model reference point for educational philanthropy, youth empowerment, and help for the physically challenged and sustainable social poverty reduction in Nigeria. No wonder the president, in giving him the prestigious national award of Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, referred to him as a notable and iconic educational philanthropist. Through Samuel Maduka Onyishi African Entrepreneurship Foundation (SAMOAEF), he has endowed 100 million Naira scholarships for indigent and physically challenged students in Nigerian Universities through his partnership with the University of Nigeria. Through SAMOAEF, domiciled at the Institute of African Studies, UNN; scholarships has been given to over a thousand students in Nigeria and abroad. Till date, since its establishment, Samuel Onyishi has used the agency of SAMOAEF and partnership with the University to make effective contributions to the growth and achievement of the vision and mission of the founding fathers. He has contributed fifty million naira support to the University of Nigeria for the gigantic new Institute of African Studies. In the first year of instituting the Foundation, five indigent students were sent to China for further studies. Today the first Department of Chinese Language studies are being coordinated by one of the graduates and beneficiaries of SAMOAEF from the 2005 scholarship sponsorship. Through SAMOAEF, he has succeeded in establishing the annual Igbo Language Competition in tertiary Institutions in Nigeria to preserve the structure and speaking of Igbo language in the country. This competition, which brings together students of Igbo origin in all the higher institutions in Nigeria, has now become a flagship SAMOAEF event. If I mention these SAMOAEF events without recounting the award of scholarship to hundred students annually, then we have overlooked a very important item. Today, through SAMOAEF, Sam has become known as the indigent child that fathers the fatherless and the motherless. For these and many others, he has received several awards and titles such as Transporter of the year by Rotary Club of Nsukka, Grass root Transporter by NUJ Enugu State, Chieftaincy Title of “Onwa” by Amukwa Community and 'Onwa Nsukka' by Nsukka Town General Assembly for success of Peace Foundation, Excellence in Business by Igbo National Council, Chieftaincy Title of “Oyi-Oha” by Orba Community for his role in the NITEL Board, Pillar of Development Award by Anambra State Development Foundation, Shining Star Award 2008 from Nsukka USA Inc. Best Inter-State Transporter of the year 2008 at the Abuja Int'l Auto Fare by BKG Exhibitions, He was appreciated on Gold Category for being one of the top volume buyers between 2006 – 2012 by Elizade Nigeria Limited; an appreciation that was packaged as 2 Brand New Toyota Avensis Cars. In addition, Toyota Nigeria Ltd. awarded him No 1 customer of the year 2012 which also came along with a gift of a Brand New Toyota RAV 4 Jeep. He received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Communication Arts and Public Administration from (Institute of Journalism, Management and Continuing Education, Enugu), African International Fellowship Award-AIF from (African Biographic Centre, Nigeria), Honorary Fellowship Award from Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu. Today, he is a Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Science and Technology – FNIST, Fellow of the Federal Polytechnic Unwana Afikpo. Ladies and gentlemen, it is heartening to know that Samuel Onyishi is the first nonresident Fellow of the Institute of African Studies, UNN; since her over fifty years of existence. He was awarded Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration (Hon. DBA) on May 11, 2013 by Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). After this, he got a Service Recognition Award by the Association of Heads of Federal Establishments in Enugu State on June 20, 2013, and an Award of Pillar of Community Service and Development in Enugu State on September 27, 2013 by the South-East Network of Professionals. Early in the year 2014, the Enugu Chamber of Commerce and Industry on February 1, elevated Sam to a beneficiary of their prestigious Key man award for business excellence and integrity. Another star was yet added to Sam Maduka Onyishi when on March 29, 2014, University of Nigeria Nsukka decided to award an honorary Doctorate degree in Business Administration to him. On September 17, 2012, he was meritoriously awarded a National Honor of Member of the Order of Niger (MON) by the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR).

s the contest in Enugu Maduka Peace Mass Transit manifesto that will to the path of driven by his experience from the Being a man that God nothing, who has equipped to people,

to occupy the Seat of power state thickens, Dr. Sam Onyishi, proprietor of ltd has unveiled his revolutionalize the state sustainable growth training and wealth of private sector. raised from b e e n serve his to the glory o f God ,I

Health Care I will improve our health delivery through Public Private Partnership, PPP, and Build Operate and Transfer, BOT, and updating existing hospitals at local government level and building a modern full scale hospital in every zone where it is lacking. It is because of my interest in the health of our people that in my own small way, I built the Peace Health Centre at Umunkaka where I bring UNTH resident doctors to attend to those in need. I give monthly subvention for the running of this hospital. I do this in fulfilment to a promise I made to God in 1993, that if He blesses my business, that I will use it to serve Him.

Industrialization/ Development

Infrastructural

I will reactivate our industries and encourage new entrants by using my experience in business and lubricating my local and international contacts. Investors will always be attracted to opportunities where they are allowed to own their investments. We can achieve industrial and infrastructural development through BOT, WOFE and PPP. This will create jobs for our youths and reduce insecurity. I have already created over 4000 direct jobs from nothing, so, I am talking about what I know how to do.

Wealth Creation

will focus on the following areas if given the opportunity to serve as governor:

Education As a philanthropist, I give scholarship to about 120 students out of about 2400 applicants every year; just around 5%. If I have the resources, I will like to give scholarship to 1000 persons yearly. As a governor, if it is possible, I will give free education to the citizens of my state. It gives me joy each time I remember that part of the five Enugu youths that I trained in China have established the Chinese language unit in the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Afe Babalola University Ekiti. This is what I call service to God. Education in the life of a man is as important as air. I have received National Honours Award on philanthropy in 2012 from President Goodluck Jonathan, so, this is a call to do more. If as a young businessman, 14 years ago, I built a 16 room office block for the faculty of Social Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka and also built a hostel block for St. Theresa College, as a governor what will I not do for education to thrive in Enugu state.

the last 20 years loan is enough and reliable m a t e r i a l

As an investor and the Chairman of an investment Company, I will encourage a savings culture for the state, to serve as a hedge against any future “allocation shock” which has become likely; given the continuous decrease in the price of crude oil which happens to be the nation's major source of revenue. As a money manager and entrepreneur, I will try to improve on our internally generated revenue, reduce administrative expenses by putting in more checks and transparent engagements. We will start from the known to the unknown. It is not about how much you make, but about how well you use the available resources. To have grown Peace Group of Companies, in from 2 buses, without a evidence that I am a good manager of human and resources.

S o l i d Developm

M i n e r a l ent:

Agriculture

In further pursuit to improve the wealth of the citizens, I will embrace solid m i n e r a l development – by trying to attract serious investors to revive the Oji Power plant; using coal and also look out for ways of harnessing oil deposits in Ehandiagu, UzoUwani and any other place in the s t a t e . Anambra state did it, so why can't we do it. I will also look at the viability of the limestone deposits in the state for possible cement production.

I will boost agriculture by encouraging one man one farm; skill acquisition in agriculture, and supporting ongoing farms with micro credit loans

We shall create employment opportunities through industrialization,

Security/Job Creation:

agriculture, skill acquisition, micro credit support, formal and informal education and also develop our tourism industry. For me, in addition to strengthening the security agencies, the easiest way to fight crime, is to create job opportunities. An idle mind is the devils workshop. If as a young man, 12 years ago, I built a 10 room office block for Nsukka Police Division, as governor, what will I not do to improve the performance of our security agencies?

Transparency/Accountability As a capital market operator who understands the heartbeat of stakeholders, I will publish a monthly financial report of my administration and have a quarterly audited account with representatives of religious leaders, traditional institution, and relevant professional bodies, shall be members of the State Audit Committee. Trust is earned; and this I will pursue from day one. Without trust, you cannot grow a big business. I have achieved this, so, I can be trusted.

Civil Servants Welfare I will minimize corruption and encourage output among civil servants by paying them at least their minimum wage and also introduce some performance related packages; to get the best from them. Pensioners will not be left out as they will receive what is due to them promptly.

Youth and Sports As a sports administrator, and facilitator; which was why the administration of Chimaroke Nnamani appointed me as the chairman, Enugu state football association and the administration of Governor Sullivan Chime appointed me as Chairman, Rangers International, football and other sporting activities in Enugu state shall be revived, so that we can take our rightful place in the sporting arena as it was during the time of Dominic Nwobodo and Christian Chukwu.

Appointments All political appointees shall be nominated from their local government or state constituency. Our administration will take one person out of every three nominees, for any position. Also, our administration shall observe 35% of positions for women in all appointments. Merit must be observed in all appointments as we shall need appointees who will require minimal supervision in their day to day running of government business. Corporate Governance is key to success. This is how I am able to run 7 profit making companies in Nigeria and China In all, I want to prove to God that He did not make a mistake by raising me from grass to grace. I also want Enugu people to enjoy the product of the u n c o m m o n patronage which they have given to my businesses that made it possible for me to grow N1,200 from 1995 to a conglomerate in a very s h o r t period, and to Nigerians, I want to show leadershi p by example. To God be the glory! Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi (MON)

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

N11 BILLION LOAN CONTROVERSY:

Enugu House of Assembly is a rubber stamp â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Okey Ezea

Chief Okey Ezea is a leading Governorship Aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State. He spoke with journalists at his Enugu residence on the controversial approval recently given to the State Government by the House of Assembly to obtain N11 billion loan and other contentious issues in the State. Excerpts coming to an end is now calling for By Ted Peters their money. Now, they are asking UBA to give them N11 billion to There seems to be uproar in pay back GTB and use the other E n u g u n o w o v e r t h e one for ICT Contract of N300 approval given to the million at the new secretariat and Governor by the House of the new Government House. From was stated in that motion Assembly to obtain N11 what paper by the House of Assembly, billion loan. How do you see they have not accounted for even the development? N5 billion. And they are going to It is very unfortunate. It is one of take N11 billion. In fact, what was those illegalities associated with totaled there does not total up to Enugu State Government and the House of Assembly. Perhaps, the House of Assembly does not even understand the procedure for approving loans for the State Government. First and foremost, that loan must have been part of appropriation of that year. And I do not think that the Enugu State House of Assembly had earlier appropriated or made a law for the Government of Enugu State to obtain loan, as they are trying to do now. And to that extent, that approval is null and void and of no effect, and if UBA goes ahead to advance that money, they will be doing so at their own risk because the Court of law may declare it null and void and of no effect, and the incoming government may not be bound to repay that loan.

We have seen people give all kinds of interpretations to the loan. Some people say they want to use it to fund elections. Some are saying it is retirement benefit for the Governor. Do you share in this suspicion? Yes, it is unfortunate that in spite of all the billions that came into Enugu State in the last seven and half years which they have mismanaged entirely, they still have the temerity to go out to obtain loans and impoverish the people more and in the circumstance, encumber the incoming administration. It is very unfortunate. As I speak with you, if you go to Debt Management Office (DMO), their report of 2013 states that as at 31st December 2013, Enugu State has a debt portfolio of N12.061 billion. N12.061 billion was what was on the records of DMO, as what Enugu State was owing. Nobody has told us when that money was borrowed, for what purpose it was borrowed and how it has been managed. Now, in the course of 2014, they borrowed N5 billion from GTB bank. Now, GTB knowing that their tenure was

So, N207 plus N300 million, is it not N507 million? When you add N2.6 million, is it not N510 million? Is it because of N510 million that you are going to borrow N10 billion. What is stated on the motion paper is that they are asking for N510 million. And now they are saying they are borrowing N10 billion.

They requested for N11 billion.

billion at DMO. So, N12 billion plus N11 billion, is N23 billion. That is the debt overhang they want to leave behind. And I can assure you that this N23 billion in the next one year will hit up to N30 billion in terms of interest charges, in terms of management fees, commitment fees and all that is paid when you take a loan. In any case, it may interest you to know that the motion paper presented at the House did not even have a copy of the offer letter from UBA, telling them the tenure and the conditions of the loan. But, what is in the motion paper is that this loan will be fully repaid by the 31st of March 2015.

D o you dou bt th e capacity of Enugu State Government to repay the debt at the agreed time?

What is the revenue profile of Enugu State that it will pay N11 billion between now, November, and 31st March? We are talking about four months. So, Enugu State will pay N3 billion each month. N11 billion is just the principal sum. If you look at what it generates each month, you know what it means. Therefore, it is obvious that there is more to this loan than meets the eye. And we asked them, when they were taking over in 2007, what was the debt profile of Enugu State Government. They didn't tell us they were owing anything. Therefore we assume and until contrary is proved that they met no loan, even if it was a zero purse. Even if there Okey Ezea was a loan, at least they have N2 billion. I read the motion paper That N1 billion on top of that N10 not told us. For us, we see it as the to you. In the motion paper, they billion is the one they want to use reason for the endorsement. said they are looking for N2.674 to settle GTB bank. They said they Which endorsement are you million for CCTV and access have paid up to N4 billion. So, they talking about? control in the Enugu State New are now asking for N1 billion to They want to endorse a Secretariat. They are also looking complete the repayment and N10 governorship candidate who will for N300 million for supply and billion for these expenses, which come and cover up N23 billion. In installation of Information and totalled up to N510 million. This is any case, is the priority of Enugu Communication Technology borrowing N10 billion for the State a new Government House? facilities in the New Secretariat purposes of N510 million Is the priority of Enugu State a new building and the new Lion expenses. secretariat when General Building Governor's office. They Hospitals in Enugu State are not What is the bone of said the cost is N300 million. They working? Are these priorities are also looking for money for contention now? when some children go to school installation of audio visual Therefore it goes to reason that under the mango tree; when some conferencing solution and they want to use the money to run youths are roaming the streets? Do for 2015 elections. They want to Integrated Electronic you know what that money would Documentation Management use the money and pay themselves have done to Enugu State if it was System (EMDS) at the Executive a s r e t i r e m e n t b e n e f i t s . used to reactivate our industries Chambers at the new Governor's Meanwhile, remember I told you that are dead? These industries that they are owing N12.061 office at the cost of N207 million.

would have employed young men? Do you know that money would have done in our Agriculture? We set up rice mills at Ugbawka and Adani rice and so on and so forth. I know that when they wanted to start this secretariat, Enugu State cried blue murder. We had so many problems in Enugu State. And we still have the problems. People are dying of hunger. Enugu State civil service is the least paid in Nigeria. Our public schools are dead. The teachers are ill-motivated. Everybody is running to take his or her child to private school. Meanwhile, all the people in government, the governor, the commissioners, the whole bulk of the elite, they all went to public schools. Today, public schools are dead. If you go to Osun State, every primary and secondary school child has a computer. Nobody is talking about that in Enugu State. Meanwhile, the age now is a computer age. There is nothing you can do in the society now without being computer literate. In Enugu State, nobody is talking about computers in secondary and primary schools. Nobody is talking about that. These children are going to compete with their mates from Osun State, Rivers State, Lagos State. Therefore if they were taking a loan, one that satisfies the good purpose, even the Fiscal Responsibility Act says that loan you have to take, you must get them the cost benefit analysis. What is the cost benefit analysis of this N11 billion?

What does this approval say about the House of Assembly in Enugu State? We have always said it. And that is why we are talking about change in Enugu State. The people of Enugu State must take their destiny in their own hands. We need change. We will not continue as usual. For 16 years, in Enugu State, the only Assembly that was worth the name a legislature was the State House of Assembly in 1999. From 2003 till date, the State House of Assembly has been a rubber stamp because nobody voted for these people. The criterion for nomination to the House of Assembly is being a 'yes man' or 'yes women'. It was the same House of Assembly that impeached the Deputy Governor b e c a u s e h e h a d p o u l t r y. Meanwhile, everybody is being asked to have a farm. It is a farm. It

Continues on page 19

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Enugu House of Assembly is a rubber stamp Continued from page 18 is part of production. It is part of food production. Instead of commending the man for having a farm to produce, even if it is the one he is eating, even if he will leave the ones in the market for others, he is now punished for producing food. As if that was not enough, they have reconvened even when they are under recess or whatever, they reconvened in the night. Why I said in the night is because nobody knew they would reconvene. Press men were not there. Nobody was there when this motion was taken. And they could not even ask simple questions. They were not even given a copy of the offer letter from UBA. So, we are using this opportunity to warn UBA that their money is at risk. Their money is terribly at risk but if they have too much money to give to anybody, fine. They can. But we are sure that Enugu State people will not want this money to be paid, assuming they are giving them. But we are advising them not to risk their funds, depositors' funds. This money will not be of benefit to Enugu State people. It also tells us they have no vision of governance. It is one of these consequences of endorsements. Some people were not prepared for the offices they are occupying. If you want to borrow this kind of money, it must go into a regenerative investment, that is going to generate more funds that the cost benefits analysis, is such that the benefits coming out of it is enough in terms of interest that the money generates. In this case, it is enormous interest. They say it is 17 percent per annum. Do you know what 17 percent of N11 billion is? It is almost N2 billion. Then you talk of other charges. Then, a particular month you are not able to pay it, of course, it is compounded. Therefore, it is not in the best interest of Enugu State to

administration.

Okey Ezea give this administration that is almost winding up, N11 billion, plus the N12 billion in DMO. It is going to be terrible for Enugu State.

In what sense, do you mean? We foresee a situation where in the next few years; we will not be able

to pay staff salaries. We will not be able to pay teachers salaries. We will not be able to buy chalks and s c h o o l materials for our children. Of course as w e a r e talking, no g e n e r a l hospital is working in Enugu State. So, the people h a v e n o access to medical care. The only medical care that the State runs is Park-Lane. And if they have no money to even buy ordinary drugs in Park-Lane like panadol, it means that the people are in danger. It is really a regrettable thing that this administration that is almost coming to an end is contemplating taking N11 billion, six months to the end of the

But, in spite of these inadequacies you've pointed out, people in Enugu tend to say that Chime has done well, especially in Urban renewal. Does it not contradict what you are saying? I have always said it that the mistake people tend to make is this immediate comparison between the Government of Chimaroke and Government of Sullivan. Once you do that, Sullivan will have 200 over 100 percent. I am not holding brief for Chimaroke, but, they fail to compare the amount of money that came to the State between 1999 and 2007 and the amount available now. I am stating facts because I have access to these figures. They are published. They are in the internet. If you go to the website of Federal Ministry of Finance, you see them. They are published in newspapers. Once people make that comparison, Sullivan scores very high. But, you should compare Sullivan Chime against a Peter Obi in Anambra State. Peter Obi told us he handed over N75 billion in March this

year. It has not been controverted. The only questions that were raised was that he awarded contracts that would consume the whole N75 billion. That the money was not there, but that the money was tied to projects, which means he didn't leave any debt. Which means that for every obligation he involved the State, he left money to meet those obligations. Even if they met a zero balance, no problem but there was no negative. But here we are in Enugu going to inherit N23 billion and somebody tells me the person is doing well. Now, I want to ask those who are saying Sullivan is doing well. What was the cost of Ogui Road? Nobody was told. What was the cost of Okpara Avenue? Nobody was told. What is the length of Bisala Road? Nobody was told. What is the cost of Ugwogo-Opi road? We don't know the distance. We don't know how much was spent in Enugu State. If you go to Imo State, they have a standard amount of money per kilometer. What is the standard in Enugu State? After every State Executive Council meeting, the Information Commissioner will come and say they awarded so, so and so road. How much was that road awarded for?

Onu unveils manifesto, calls for public participation

overnorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon. Chinedu Onu will on Wednesday hold a public presentation of his manifesto or otherwise blueprint for Enugu state if elected as governor come 2015. In a release signed by the secretary, Chinedu Onu Media Organisation, Herbert Nnadi and

made available to journalists Monday, it stated that it is part of his ongoing engagement process with the people of the State towards development of an acceptable and enriched programme for the State. According to statement, all professional bodies in the State, town unions and other community-based organizations, traditional rulers, non-

governmental organisations, f a i t h - b a s e d o rg a n i s a t i o n s , institutions, educational bodies, students and members of the Academia, labour unions, youths and women groups, and the general public have been urged to be part of the public discussion of Chinedu Onu's intended programmes for the State on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at I n g r a c e E v e n t s C e n t e r,

Independence Layout, Enugu. The statement further said, “The work, which is still in consultative edition, is arranged into 5 chapters and covers his governance mindset, social service and welfare programmes, economic agenda and contribution authored by other individuals in support of his programmes. “It is hoped that the presentation will set in motion further collaborative activities towards institutionalizing the culture of good governance in Enugu State”.

NEWS

13,000 quit church over gay marriage row M

ore than 13,000 people have left Finland's Lutheran Church in three days in a row over gay marriage after an archbishop said he “rejoiced” that it could soon be legal. Archbishop Kari Makinen said he “rejoiced from the bottom of his heart” on Friday at parliament's vote approving a people's petition that paves the way for a same-sex marriage

law. However, high-level Lutheran official Jukka Keskitalo said on Sunday the vote “doesn't change (the church's) idea of marriage,” which remains the union between a man and a woman. The conflicting comments managed to enrage both conservative and liberal wings of the church in the last Nordic country where gay marriage is not legal.

From Friday to Sunday more than 13,000 people quit the church in protest, according to eroakirkosta.fi, a website set up to help people leave Finland's state churches. Quitting means they will be no longer pay church taxes, which are gathered for the Lutheran Church by the state. “The archbishop's message was destined for liberal members of the church, but it turned against the church itself,” said Petri

Karisma, president of the League of Free Thinkers, which created the site. Some 5,200 people left the church on Sunday alone, the largest number in a single day in four years. About 4.1 million Finns, or 75 percent of the population, belong to the Lutheran Church, compared to over 90 percent in the 1970s. Finland's parliament voted on Friday in favour of same-sex marriage in a victory for campaigners who gathered thousands of signatures to force

it to examine the issue. The “citizens' initiative” will not automatically result in legalising gay marriage but simply launches the process for parliament to examine the issue before a final vote. Campaigners collected 166,851 signatures, more than three times the 50,000 required by Finnish law to force a vote in parliament. Finland has recognised samesex partnerships since 2002. The new marriage law, if approved, is not expected to come into force before 2016.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Why we seek Change in Enugu State –Okey Ezea Says Enugu hasn’t faired well under Chime

he 2015 general election is at hand and this gives us the opportunity to assess our journey, since 1999, in civilian democratic governance, to determine our successes and failures. For so many years we have been under civilian authoritarianism in Enugu State and because our people have failed to ask questions of those who purport to lead them, it is getting worse by the day. All the institutions of democratic governance have been so weakened and personalised, that we no longer have a choice as to who should represent us. This has become the culture and practice of PDP over the years in Enugu State. To them, the opinion of the people does not matter. At each election year, PDP turns it into a selection process, in which one man, the Executive Governor personally hand picks the Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, all the Members of the House of Assembly, Chairmen and Councillors of Local Government Areas. The suffocating implications of the State of affairs, we have lived with since 2003, stare us all in the face. The only attempt at fair and free elections was only in 1999, as we have continued to slide into oneman-dictatorship since then. Unfortunately our elders and statesmen have been cowed into submission. We wonder if they don't care any longer what happens to this society, what happens to their children, and what happens to generations yet to come. We do not accept this obnoxious State of affairs. The Leaders and Members of the ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, A.P.C. Enugu State do not accept this condition. We say no to the choking dictatorship of one-man rule and a band of cowardly yes-men, who shamelessly accept that the Emperor can do no wrong just to partake in eating the crumbs from the master's table .A.P.C., therefore seeks a CHANGE in the way things have been wrongly done in Enugu State. We seek an end to corruption; we seek a government that is chosen by the people; we demand accountability from the government to the people. We seek a democracy, in which the people truly participate and decide who their representative shall be. We want a House of Assembly that is not just a Rubber Stamp to the imperial Governor who would capriciously ask the House of Assembly to impeach the Deputy Governor for running a poultry farm! We need a House of Assembly that can ask how much was our Revenue and how it was spent, including the reason for the demolition of our Eastern Region Secretariat with N4 Billion of Tax payers money and another contract of N13 Billion to build a new one when no general Hospital is functional and our Children sit on bare floor and under the mango trees as classrooms!!

APC has a Vision not an Ambition The ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, A.P.C, has a Vision to rescue Nigeria, especially, to save Enugu

State, from the misrule of the PDP. We seek an end to corruption and abuse of office in Enugu State. Fiscal corruption and electoral corruption have combined to put Enugu State as one of the most backward states in Nigeria and the elite have compromised and acquised in this bare faced rape of our people and all we stand for as a people. We have a vision to Reduce Poverty among the masses of our people, and create wealth for them so they can be economically empowered to ask questions when they must have gained self confidence. PDP deliberately keeps our people, especially our youths down, with poverty and helplessness so they would forever be

available to be manipulated, and used as thugs at elections only to be dumped thereafter. We don't just have the ambition to be called the “Ruling party” or called, the “Executive Governor”, we have a vision to create employment for the masses of our youth roaming the Streets; we plan to implement a policy of free and qualitative education for our children of school age from primary to Senior secondary school with a team of highly motivated teachers who are well trained, continuously retrained and periodically supervised on Key performance indicators. At A.P.C, we plan to run a health care system that is free for pregnant Women, Children and the Aged. We want to bring health care nearer to the people by

revamping the existing General Hospitals in the state and bringing them to international standards whereby they are capable of diagnosing and treating patients instead of immediate referral to Niger foundation, Parklane, and UNTH. The tragedy of Governance in Enugu State is that it has been reduced to resurfacing of roads and provision of street lights powered by generators, while other states are already building, some have built, or are participating in Independent power Projects. This is Latin in Enugu State With all due respect, government is not just about awarding contracts, and pocketing kickbacks from road rehabilitation. Any empty head can do that. For us at A.P.C, governance has more to do with ideas on how to solve the problems of the people and society. Ideas rule the world, the saying goes. We w a n t ideas on how to eliminate corruption, r e d u c e poverty, improve education, p r o v i d e health care at affordable cost, and m o r e importantly, improve the life style of the people; i m p a c t positively on their lives. Then you may ask, between 1999 and N o w, 2 0 1 4 , how has the governance of PDP positively impacted on the lives of our people, and the answer is that life was better before 1999,but for those of them who got new Cars without the economic base to even maintain them. The supply of the cars was a contract for family members. This state of affairs has remained mainly because the people do not participate in the choice of who governs the state. The incumbent Governor was foisted on us by Dr.Chimaroke and we said nothing. The Consequence is a regime of impunity where the opinion of the people means nothing to government. The result is that there is no accountability to the people they purport to govern. We do not know how many Billions of Naira was available in the last Eight (8) years and how it was spent. We shall come back to you later on how

much federal Revenue was available to Enugu State between 2007 and now, while internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has remained a closely guarded secret for the “rulers only”. One other remote cause of leadership that has no ideas on how to improve life for the citizens is the anointing of people who were not prepared and very ill equipped for governance. The PDP system does not condone “courageous Aspiration” but underground manipulation and cringing to power pretending to be loyal so as to be “anointed”. There is no need for ideas, nor knowledge of the problems of the state, let alone how to solve them. There is neither a need for a vision, nor a manifesto which is the mission towards attaining the desired end. It is after the person has been anointed and rigged into power, that he foists an ill digested 4 point or 7 point agenda, of which there is no discipline to implement. If we may ask, does anyone still remember Sullivans (0) point Agenda? Were they implemented or not? And we clap along that he is performing. But we fail to ask “How much money has been made available to this government since 2007, including Local Government Allocations and Internally Generated Revenue”??? And we may never know. Between May 2007 and June 2011, the Enugu State Government got N137 Billion from Federal monthly Allocation only. This is without, ecological Funds, Excess crude Account, and Internally Generated Revenue. By May 2015, it would be above NGN274 Billion. Local Government, got NGN140 Billion within same 2007 to 2011 and it would be over N280 Billion by May 2015.The cumulative sum for the state is that they would have spent over N554 Billion by May 29th 2015.(source: Federal Ministry Of Finance Abuja)

Our people Deserve truly Democratic Governance For many years our people have become dumb and accepted that the person leading them can do no wrong. There is nothing democratic about governance in Enugu State. The people are not even allowed to vote to decide who becomes their councillor, let alone the Local Government Chairman. They are all chosen from the Government House. Today the situation is not different. Last year all APC and APGA candidates were disqualified, a week to the so-called Local Government Council Elections for no reasons. We challenged anybody to show us any Local Government Chairman or Councillor that was popularly elected by the people, including even within the PDP internal process! The same thing is being planned for the 2015 elections in Enugu State. Even the PDP members would not be allowed to choose their candidates. It has all started with the endorsement of President Jonathan as sole presidential candidate. The implication of this ugly state of affairs is that the spirit of Competition is killed in our young ones. Competition drives the modern society. How do we bring up our children under this value system to imbibe the false impression that the only way to survival is by manipulation, sorting, bribery and corruption. These children would grow up tomorrow to face competition among Yorubas, Edos, English, French Americans, Japanese, and

Continues on page 21

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Why we seek Change in Enugu State `Continued from page 20 Chinese etc. They would never cope. They would remain very inferior. Associated with the above is the culture of unaccountability that has become the rule rather than the exception in Enugu State. From the state government to the Local Governments, there is nothing called Accountability and Responsibility. Every month they collect Federal Allocations and nobody tells us how they spend the money. Most Local Governments do little or nothing with the money, they except share it among the stakeholders and the chairmen return to their choice Homes in Enugu. None of them resides within his jurisdiction. They are visiting armies of occupation. This brazen dictatorship by one man has to stop. The most critical of these impositions is at the State House of Assembly. Ordinarily, this is supposed to be a training ground for young people in leadership and the tenets of good governance. Because the people are not allowed to choose, PDP subjugates them to yes men and Rubber Stamps. They take orders from the Governor and not from the people they purport to represent. Next time there may be a directive to them to impeach the Deputy because the Deputy is keeping to only one wife, which “is a grave violation of the constitution” as recently demonstrated by Enugu State House of Assembly. It is a demonstration of how much public opinion no longer matters in Enugu State that a government unilaterally demolished the Polo Park and sold it to Chain Supermarket owners when Virgin Land exists all over. That was why against all plea advice and suggestions, the Eastern Region Secretariat was pulled down and a new one contracted out as if that was the most important problem of Enugu State, at a whopping cost of about N17 Billion. We of APC Enugu State, demand a positive change from the current state of Affairs. We cannot continue with any Regime of Impunity where a governor wakes up to demolish houses of and confiscate land belonging to past Leaders of the State and reallocates the lands to his cronies. It is in our State that a Governor would refuse to hand over to his Deputy while going overseas on Vacation only to come back to impeach that same Deputy, who never raised a finger nor a voice against the Governor, just because the Deputy showed interest in the Senate that had been “allocated” to favoured aide. At APC we advocate a Truly Democratic Governance of Enugu State where government is truly for the people, by the people and of the people. It is only in a truly democratic and participatory government that our cardinal programmes of:

Ø Free Education Ø Jobs for the Youth Ø Economic Empowerment Ø Free Health for Mothers, Children and Elders Ø Integrated Infrastructural Development Ø Security of Life and Property Can be guaranteed and achieved. Hence we urge you to support APC for a positive change in Enugu State. A Word for Our Nsukka Brothers/Sisters I know that some of our Brothers and

Sisters of Nsukka Cultural Zone would ask, why is Okey Ezea speaking long grammer again? Has it not been agreed that an Nsukka person shall be the governor? Yes we agree that we need an Nsukka Governor, but the method of his emergence and the programme and type of government he intends to run is very important. He should NEVER be a governor of Nsukka p e o p l e o n l y, b u t Enugu State Governor of Nsukka Extraction. It would diminish his status and capacity if he does not emerge (nomination/election) from the popular support of the people. It would be difficult for him to mobilise the people in support of his Vision and Mission, which he must have! Nsukka people must never succumb to the lazy mindset of “This Is Our Turn” (Onime Bu Turn Anyi), and therefore nobody should tell us what is to be done. We should never continue along lines of corruption and abuse of office, we have suffered marginalisation and as we did not like it, we should never practice it. Remember the

This is what APC Enugu State and Nsukka chapter stand for. Therefore we seek your support for APC to bring the POSITIVE CHANGE we pray for.

CONCLUSION As we gradually approach the lifting of the ban on political Campaigns, APC Enugu State, and The Campaign organisation of Okey Ezea-“SAVE ENUGU 2015” do hereby solicit your support in our efforts to save Enugu from despotism, autocracy, one man rule, corruption, nepotism, abuse of office, undemocratic practices and from a regime of impunity. We need a change of our conditions in Nigeria, and Enugu State. We demand that leaders be elected not selected; we demand accountability in government, we demand that regard to public opinion and the wishes of the masses. We maintain that:

Biblical injunction “Do Unto others as you would like them do unto you” Matthew 7:12. The Enugu State Governor of Nsukka origin must have a comprehensive strategic master plan on how to move the state forward anchored on the principles of Triangular Equilibrium, even development, justice and fair play. Then and only then shall we be the proud citizens of Enugu State.

Ø It is the right of our people to be educated free, at least up to the senior secondary school level. Ø Our youth have a right to jobs to earn a decent living. Ø The vulnerables mothers, children and the Aged must have the right to free health care. Ø Life and property must per force be made secure by government. We therefore urge you to support APC Enugu State for the POSITIVE CHANGE we all yearn for. Thank you for your time and Remain blessed. OKEY EZEA ESQ IDEKE SAVE ENUGU 2015.

Defection: Court grants PDP leave to declare Tambuwal seat vacant

Speaker, Nigeria's House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal

Federal High Court in Abuja granted the People's Democratic Party to apply the go-ahead to file for a mandatory order compelling either the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare vacant the Kebbe/Tambuwal seat being held by Aminu Tambuwal vacant. The Speaker defected from the PDP to the All Progressive Congress recently which

necessitated the move to remove him as the presiding officer of the House. Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in an ex-parte ruling on Monday granted the PDP leave for an order of mandamus compelling the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to give effect to the provisions of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution by declaring the Kebbe/Tambuwal federal Constituency

seat vacant.” By the leave granted it, the PDP is now required to file a formal suit to achieve its aim. Those named as respondents in the motion are Tambuwal and Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives PDP's lawyer, Mike Ahamba (SAN), while moving the motion for leave to apply for an order of mandamus, said his client only wants whoever occupies the seat of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps to perform his/her responsibility under the constitution. “Section 68(2) renders section 68(1) (g) non-self-operating. Where a person defects from his party, the person can defiantly stay in the House and maintain his seat until either the Speaker or the Senate President performs his responsibilities under Section 68(2). “We are asking the Speaker to declare the seat of Kebbe/Tambuwal Constituency vacant following the defection of the 2nd respondent (Tambuwal),” Ahamba said. He said the PDP will also apply for “an order of injunction restraining the 2nd defendant (Tambuwal) from performing or continuing to perform the functions of the 1st respondent in the House of Representatives, or sitting or continuing to sit in the House as a member consequent upon the order of mandamus.”

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Naira not devalued – CBN explains

he Central Bank of Ni-geria should be (CBN) Deputy Governor p a t i e n t . designate, Dr. Joseph Unfortunately, Nnanna, has explained that the Nigerians are apex bank had not devalued the always in a naira as widely reported in the hurry. Let us give media. the central bank Nnanna said the CBN mere-ly time to pursue a announced a new exchange rate in policy that will compliance with market forces. be a blessing to He stated this when he ap-peared all of us. I before the Senate Committee on commend the Banking, Finance and other CBN for being Financial Institutions. “The central proactive with bank did not devalue the naira so to the policy.” speak; it only followed the three Nnanna said principal markets in Nigeria – the another way to official, the retail and the parwriggle out of allel.” the economic He also explained that the CBN crisis would be will not pursue the policy to recapitalise permanently, adding that it will development elapse with the current positive banks with a transformation in the ag-ricultural v i e w t o sector, which would make it Godwin Emefiele encouraging possible for products to be exported to bring more foreign when we will have import control, them to lend at controlled interest exchange to the country. which would bring about essential rates. “We better do it now than later commodity crisis. Nigerians He said, “My take is that since we

Amaechi blames Rivers' dwindling economy on Presidency Christians. He said: “The p o l i t i c a l economy of Rivers State has been stagnated b y t h e Presidency and their detractors. They do not mean well for our state.” Governor Amaechi, who spoke against another Ikwerre man succeeding him as governor accused a member of the P e o p l e s Democratic Party, PDP in the s t a t e o f Governor Rotimi Amaechi allegedly overnor Rotimi Amaechi diverting public funds meant for of Rivers State has the construction of internal roads blamed the Presidency for in the new Adokiye Amiesimaka the stagnation of the state's s t a d i u m b u i l t b y h i s administration. economy. The governor, at an interactive “I am an Ikwerre man who has session with students of Ignatius ruled for eight years and I am Ajuru University of Education, surprised to hear that the PDP is UOE, Port Harcourt, also jostling to bring another Ikwerre dismissed insinuations in some governor in 2015. The PDP man quarters that the All Progressives who they want to bring as their Congress, APC, was an Islamic gubernatorial candidate is an party with hidden intentions to Ogboni man and not a Christian.” He appealed to residents of the Islamise the country. According to him, the National state to ensure they collect their Chairman of the party, Chief John permanent voters card, adding that Odigie-Oyegun and some other those yet to register should national leaders of the party, were endeavour to do so.

have development banks like the Bank of Indus-try (BoI), Nexim Bank, Bank of Agriculture, and so on, we can recapitalise all of them and mandate them to lend at a fixed interest rate to entrepreneurs and other investors willing to invest in the Nigerian economy. “If we recapitalise the BoI and we tell the Managing Di-rector to lend at a specific interest rate, he will oblige us because it is the taxpayers money. “We cannot force the management of a private com-mercial bank to lend at a fixed rate because they will take into consideration the risk premium, especially when most people borrow without the intention of repayment.” Meanwhile, the Interna-tional Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday gave its support to the action taken by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Mr. Gene Leon, IMF Mission Chief for Nigeria, in a statement Wednesday, said, “We are supportive of and welcome these actions, which we view as comple-

mentary and moving in the right direction. Of course, the global situation remains fluid and the key issue is be-ing ready to manage downside risks and for the authorities to be prepared, based on assessments of credible scenarios, to consider additional measures, as necessary.” The statement further added, “In a combination of actions, most recently the communiqué after the Central Bank of Nigeria's Monetary Policy Committee meeting of November 24-25, the authorities have an-nounced a set of policies aimed at mitigating the impact of the recent significant fall in global oil prices on the economy. These include: adjusting the exchange rate, resubmitting the Medium Term Expenditure Framework to the National Assembly with proposed tax and expenditure measures to achieve the deficit target con-sistent with a lower budget oil price and tightening monetary policy as necessary.”

Don't panic over falling oil price, says Okonjo-Iweala

he Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has given an assurance that the government has put strategies in place to deal with falling oil prices for as low as $60 dollars per barrel. The Minister said the scenariobased approaches developed to cushion the unfavourable effects of the falling prices are comprehensive and supported by extensive consultations with global analysts such as the International Monetary Fund. She said short to medium term strategies, mainly targeted at the poor and vulnerable, had been developed. “People should not get fixated on the $73 dollars. It is just the midpoint of the range we have. If it falls to $70, we are ready with additional measures. We have organised a set of measures around $73 dollars. We have further measures at $65 and a third set of measures at $60,” she said. Dr Okonjo-Iweala said part of the medium term strategy was a revenue target of three billion dollars over the next three years with substantial cuts on expenditure both recurrent and capital. She, however, said the cuts would not affect priority sectors – infrastructure, health, education and security – that would focus on the poor and average Nigerians. While presenting a master plan for the Nigerian capital market towards global competitiveness, at an event that brought together

This is what the master plan developed by the Securities and E x c h a n g e Commission, the body regulating the capital market, is set to tackle. The plans so far announced by the key players in the financial economy are targeted at creating wealth and opportunities for many Nigerians. The Finance Minister emphasised that although the global environment was uncertain, Nigeria Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had the strategies to experts and key players in the cushion the effects. financial economic sector, held Crude oil sales is Nigeria's major on Thursday in Abuja, the source of revenue and the price of Minister tried to ease Nigerians crude has in the last few months nerves, as the recent devaluation hovered around $80 and the drop of the Naira had started showing i n p r i c e h a s f o r c e d t h e multiplier effect on cost of goods. government to adjust the crude Key issues in the economy came oil price benchmark used in the up for discussion and first among proposed 2015 budget that has them was the falling oil prices not been submitted to the and the consequences on the National Assembly. economy. In the midst of the drop in price, The minister also assured the t h e N i g e r i a n g o v e r n m e n t participants that the medium term announced austerity measures strategies to cushion the falling aimed at cushioning the effect of oil prices would prioritise sectors the drop in crude oil price. that directly affect the poor and The development coupled with vulnerable. the Central Bank of Nigeria's But for most of these strategies to devaluation of the Naira had work, a robust capital market that triggered fears over the economic will provide long term finance for situation of the country and the developmental projects is days ahead. needed.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Five children sold for N5m to ritualist ...Mother slumps, dies as Father Collapses

double tragedy has o c c u r e d i n Wa r r i community in Delta State where the mother of five school children who were allegedly sold to a suspected ritualist, slumped and died. It was gathered that the pupils whose ages range between two and eight were sold for N5 million by a tricycle operator, who conveyed them to school.

Investigation revealed that the tricycle operator allegedly sold the children for N1million each to a ritualist. The inhabitants of the sleepy town of Otokutu, where the incident occurred were said to have been shocked when the sad news spread across the community. Sources said that the deal was blown open when a female friend

to the mother of the children called to tell her that her children were not in school. Shocked by the news, the woman ran to the school but did not see her children. She immediately rushed to the residence of the tricycle operator, who the family had trusted so much and met the man moving his belongings apparently in a bid to escape. The man was immediately

arrested by youths of the town, who subsequently handed him over to the police. At the police station, the suspect allegedly admitted abducting the five children and selling them to a suspected ritualist from the northern part of the country. Unfortunately, efforts to track down the buyer failed as he was said to have escaped with the children.

Overwhelmed by the pain of losing her children, the woman was said to have slumped and died instantly. Her husband was also said to have collapsed and has been receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital. Meanwhile, Warri and the neighbouring Effurun community are again, under siege following daily cases of armed robbery in the town.

Snake withdraws cash at Barclays Bank ATM L

Social media was awash with pictures of the incident. A large crowd of the onlookers had also gathered to see what was going on. When the crowd mobbed the car and asked the driver to explain the bizarre occurrence, he professed ignorance and unperturbedly asked them to release him so he could go home. He said: “I don't know what you are talking about, let me go home.”

ast Saturday a strange accident happened in Harare, Zimbabwe. According to a report, a snake slithered to an ATM machine at Barclays Bank Angwa Street and then entered a car. Passers-by surrounded the car to get a closer view of the snake and its owner. Others were busy taking photos from the onset and managed to capture pictures of the snake and the car that it later entered.

Prison inmate Two children burnt to death, as jilted mother goes after lover impregnates four unknown destination till 2a.m. picked another lady to marry. female prison Guards wo children, aged four on Monday, when she returned “She lit a candle before

and two, lost their lives in a fire that gutted their apartment at Kabong area of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State. The kids were said to have been locked in a room by their mother, Talatu, a local beer seller in the area, who allegedly left them for an

his notorious prison inmate Tavon White got four female guards pregnant while serving jail time. According to Daily Mirror, Tavon White is serving 20 years in the Baltimore City Detention Centre for attempted murder. During his incarceration, he impregnated four female prison guards and rose to become the “kingpin” of a breathtaking world of corruption. He still managed to make tens of thousands of dollars a week by smuggling in drugs and mobile phones, CBS Baltimore reports, and was once heard saying: “This

is my jail. My word is law.” Prosecutors have said that gang members hold the balance of power inside the prison, and sex between guards and inmates led to four guards becoming pregnant. The two of the four women have tattoos of White's name, one displaying a “Tavon” tattoo on her neck and the other on her wrist. However he is a member of the Black Guerilla Family who is also known as “The Bulldog”, and he is now set to become a star witness in the prosecution of two other inmates and five prison guards over money laundering, drugs and conspiracy charges.

to find her apartment burnt. The mother of the deceased children could not be reached at press time, but a neighbour who did not want to be named, described the incident as sad. The neighbour said: “Talatu abandoned the children in her room and went to confront her fiancé, who had suddenly

leaving. But before she returned, the candle had burnt low and lit the mattress. The children got burnt without anyone knowing.” One of the children died in the inferno, while the other who was rushed to the hospital also gave up the ghost.

Man, 24, commits suicide in church

24-year-old man, Lanre Falodu, has reportedly committed suicide in a church premises in Owo area of Ondo State, where he was taken for deliverance. The deceased brother, Tunde, according to a police source, took him to the church located at Imola area of Owo to seek spiritual solution to his problem. It was learned that the deceased, who had been in church for some time,

reportedly escaped at about 5:30a.m. on the ill-fated day but was later found hung on a tree within the church premises. His lifeless body was discovered by the pastor of the church, who informed Police in Owo. A team of homicide detectives was dispatched to the scene, where the deceased's body was removed and deposited at Owo General Hospital morgue. Ondo State Police Command Image-maker, Wole Ogodo, said the matter had not been reported at the state police

command in Akure, but promised to contact Owo Divisional Police Officer, DPO. But a police source in Owo said the pastor of the church and father of the deceased had been questioned. He confided in our correspondent that the deceased might have some mental challenge hence his sojourn in the church for spiritual deliverance. The state police command has insisted in conducting the autopsy to ascertain the cause of his death.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Gunmen kidnap Kano mosque attack, sin Nsukka town against God – Pope union president

he President, Nsukka Town Development Union in Enugu State, Mr. Augustine Alumona, has been kidnapped by gunmen. Alumona was kidnapped on the new Opi-Ugwugo Nike road on his way to Enugu on Thursday. A close relation of the victim who pleaded anonymity said in Nsukka on Friday that Alumona left home at about 6a.m. on Thursday. “I saw him on Thursday morning when he said he was going to Enugu to attend a meeting. “I was surprised some hours later when the news of his kidnap came. “He is an easy-going human being who has been piloting the affairs of the town very well. “I wonder why he will be a target of kidnap'', he said. The Secretary General of Oha Nsukka Assembly, Mr Ikechukwu

Obayi, described the incident as shocking and unbelievable. “Alumona is a good man who has been conducting the affairs of the community to the admiration of members of the general public, as he could hardly hurt a fly. “The matter has been reported to Enugu state police command and I hope that he will be rescued soonest'', he said. The Area Commander of Nigeria Police, Nsukka, Mr Musa Haladu, confirmed the incident. He, however, said the matter was being handled by Enugu state command “since it is within its jurisdiction.'' Haladu said the police will soon uncover the circumstances surrounding the kidnap. Alumona hails from Echara in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State

I'm yet to complete C my tenure as governor – Ohakim

Chief Ikedi Ohakim

ormer Governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has declared that he is the only candidate in PDP who is running on the ticket that has only four years to complete his tenure. He made this declaration recently while addressing Imo indigenes in United States through a conference call. According to the former governor, since Gov. Rochas Okorocha is running on the ticket that he has four years to complete his tenure; the only other person that has four years to complete a tenure is Ikedi Ohakim and the only person again who has programmes and projects to compare with Rochas Okorocha's is himself. He stated that throughout his regime as governor, no single contract failed in Imo. “No single contractor ran away with one Naira of Imo money and that he ran the government the way it should be run,” Ohakim said. He therefore described anyone from Okigwe who is trying to run for governor when he, Ohakim, still has four years to go as playing the

spoiler game. Shedding some light on the highlights of his administration in Imo State, Chief Ohakim decried the imbalance going on in the state pointing out that Imo won national recognitions on some of the programs that he created and scored number one in four major programs. “One is the clean and green initiative where Imo won the first price of the Federal Ministry of Environment for four consecutive years: 2007, 2008 2009 and 2010. The other is IROMA which is the Imo Rural Road Main tenance Agency which also earned Imo state an award from the World Bank. These are some of the substantive programs created during our administration”, he added. The former governor reaffirmed that he has all it takes, including lots of votes waiting to be harvested, to face Gov. Rochas Okorocha; be it popularity, structure and funding, adding that he is popular and has name recognition just like the incumbent governor. He posited that he created 10,000 graduate jobs and 50% of the autonomous communities in Imo state. Ohakim further recalled that the entire 44 development centers in the state were instituted by his administration. The former governor stressed that the entire town unions that Gov. Rochas Okorocha demolished were b e i n g f i n a n c e d b y h i s a dministration. Similarly, all the democratically elected local government executives Okorocha demolished came into power during his administration adding that “I will allow them to serve out their term.”

atholic Pontiff, Pope Francis has condemned the deadly attacks that occurred at the Emir of Kano's Central mosque in Kano, which claimed about 200 lives, describing it as an “extremely serious sin against God.” Pope Francis made the comment Sunday, the final day of his trip to Turkey. Apart from those killed, about 135 people were wounded when two suicide bombers blew themselves up and gunmen opened fire during weekly prayers on Friday at the Grand Mosque in Kano. In a meeting with Turkish political and religious officials, at the start of his second trip to the Middle East this year, the Pope further urged Muslim leaders to condemn the “barbaric violence” being committed in Islam's name against religious minorities in Iraq and Syria. The Pope's comment is coming two days after the attack in Kano, which was also condemned by President Goodluck Jonathan, who has ordered full-scale investigation into the attack, emphasising his administration's commitment to ending the incessant attacks which the Red Cross says had displaced more than 400,000 persons. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the Boko Haram sect is the prime suspect, as the group had carried out similar attacks in the past. In like manner, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who condemned the attacks urged Christians and Muslims to join forces to defeat the terrorists.

Health workers suspend indefinite strike To reduce the number of deaths arising from the attacks, the leadership of the Joint Health Workers Union has directed its members to return to duty, urgently. The Secretary of the health workers' union, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir told journalists that its

indefinite strike “is hereby suspended following the Friday attack on Kano central mosque where hundreds of worshippers were now rushed to the hospital.” Members of the union at Aminu Kano teaching hospital and N a t i o n a l Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala had joined their counterpart across the country on indefinite strike over age-long demands from the Federal Government. Meantime, thousands of residents, Sunday, trooped to hospitals to donate blood in response to the clarion call to assist victims of the blasts. At Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, voluntary donors patiently waited to donate blood. Chief Medical director of Aminu Kano Teaching hospital, Prof. Zakari Muhammed, confirmed that the hospital recorded large turnout of voluntary donors who were eager to assist the victims. “The large turnout of people here this morning is quite impressive and we are very happy to have them and on our part we have deployed our staff to ensure the exercise went smoothly,” Professor Zakari said.

term, these repeated acts of terror being unleashed on Muslims and calls on Muslims to remain calm and keep vigil over happenings around them; take all defensive measures within the purview of the laws to protect themselves since government has clearly failed.”

Christians, Muslims must join hands to defeat terrorists – Tinubu National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, condemned the Kano terrorist attack, urging Christians and Muslims to join forces to check the terrorists. Commiserating with the people of Kano and their Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi Tinubu, in a statement by his media office said: “During the last few days, Nigeria has suffered intense attacks and grave loss of lives due to the evil work of terrorist group, Boko Haram. Attacks against numerous locations in the North-East demonstrate how heinous and debased Boko Haram and those who sponsor it have become. So depraved, they have become heartless and filled with enmity against all that is good and proper. This was not the act of human beings. These attacks could only have come from the hands of those who do not know God or serve God. This is the act of godless people. “Those of us who love peace, who love unity and who love Nigeria can never allow this vile group to achieve its objective – to turn us into a bloodied and divided nation. Nigeria can and will defeat this terrorist machine and those behind it. We have no other home. We have no other choice.”

We won't be deterred —JNI CAN condemns Kano Umbrella body of Islamic groups in blasts Nigeria, Jama'atu Nasril Islam, JNI, has said that it will not be deterred nor cowed by the way Muslims were being killed in Nigeria, particularly in the North. In a statement by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, JNI said: “We are indeed shocked and pained beyond words over the news of the bomb blasts in Kano Central Mosque, which claimed the lives of over 100 innocent Muslims. “But must blood be spilled to justify the extension of state of emergency? Why is it that anytime, the ineffective state of emergency is about to elapse and or an extension is being sought, attacks are carried out with sophistication? Are we really aware of the repercussions of spilling the blood of innocent souls? What is the essence of the government's war on terror and its attendant huge budget? Where are the intelligence and security agencies? Can we afford to continue relying on them for our safety and security? Why? We ask ad infinitum with no satisfactory answers. Without mincing words, Nigeria is being misgoverned to the brink! “JNI condemns in the strongest

Umbrella body of Christians in the country, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN also condemned Friday's attacks in Kano, saying that “the entire Christian community in Nigeria received the news of the latest in the series of bomb explosions, this time around at the mosque near the emir's palace in Kano, with shock and disbelief. This is most unfortunate given the number of people that lost their lives in their bid to offer prayers to their Almighty in the usual Friday worship at the mosque.” On behalf of the entire Christian community under the auspices of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor commiserated with the families of the victims especially those who lost their lives in the attack. CAN said a recent interfaith meeting that had representations from the hierarchy of both faith in attendance emphasised the need for dialogue, mutual relations, cooperation and unity in the renewed fight against insurgency in

Continues on page 26

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Anambra, 1st S-East State to embark on hi-tech Capital City mapping By Uche Chukwu, Awka

nambra State is the first State in the South East geo-political zone to carry out a hi-tech mapping with 10 centimetre resolution that is capable of aerial capturing of items as little as a big hand phone in the completed Master Plan for Awka Capital City, so says the Board Chairman of Awka Capital Development Authority, Arc. Chika Egwuatu. Disclosing this when he led the Board of the Authority comprising of the Secretary, Arc. Willie Okafor, Arc. Don Ifejika and Ezugo G.C. Okoye on tour, the Chairman of the ACDA Board, recalled that governor Willie Obiano on assumption of office in March 2014 promised to give the State a befitting Capital City. Egwuatu who represented the State governor, Chief Willie Obiano in the ongoing familiarization tour of local government areas that fall under the 10 kilometres capital territory radius sought a working relationships with royal fathers and the Council chairman of Njikoka, Hon. Emeka Onuorah and his Awka North counterpart, Hon. Sir Cosmas Okonkwo to achieve the objectives. He noted that the Awka Capital Territory would in few years time begin to take shapes of good aspects of Dubai, Seoul and Kigali models after which it is modeled, lamenting that 23 years after creation of the State, there is no Master Plan to aid development. According to him, good aspects of the Dubai, Smart City of Seoul and UN-Habitat Pilot Model City of Kigali, were the three models selected by ACDA out of ten models examined, asserting that those models were achieved because their leaders were visionary and had political will to follow up the conceptual project. In this respect, he said the State boasts of a governor in Obiano who according to him has a vision and political will to give the State a befitting State Capital of international repute in line with his inaugural speech. Dwelling more on Dubai, Arc. Egwuatu noted that governor Obiano had a fancy for the Dubai Model City after the heart of most Nigerian tourists and businessmen, stressing that “a street in Dubai had only three high-rise buildings in 1990, but by 2013, some 23 years after, the same street is dotted by scores of magnificent high-rise buildings. Egwuatu who is a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) pointed out that ACDA has taken

Gov. Obiano control of the pathetic situation, by developing a 204-page Development Control Manual which he said is like the Bible of Development, as well as Awka Capital City Model, noting that as soon as the 8-man Adhoc Committee set up by the governor to ratify the documents completes its work, the Capital City project will be officially bided and awarded to a competent architect. He explained that the Board had to come up with the Development Control Manual will help to control erosion, check hazard structures springing up within the

territory and serve as a guideline on p r o j e c t s development. The ACDA boss stressed that a Multi-City concept is being envisioned whereby the Big Model City will exist within Awka while other satellite Cities will be spread to other locations within the capital territory and be documented in a g a z e t t e . Egwuatu said the State with no fewer than 200 billionaires desires to have the Capital City Model since, according to him, Anambra State is the second after Lagos State in terms of land mass and boasts of 1,000 people per square kilometer, adding that efforts will be made to maximize the scanty land in the State. Also speaking, the Secretary of the Board, Arc. Willie Okafor noted that all the six towns of Nawfia, Enugwu-ukwu, EnugwuAgidi, Abba, Abagana, and Nimo, that make up Njikoka LG belong to the territory. Arc. Okafor who appreciated the performance of Njikoka Council stated that the Awka Capital

Master Plan will sooner than later engender an unprecedented development in the State, emphasizing ,”In the next six months, what will be happening in Awka Capital Territory will be d i ff i c u l t t o c o m p r e h e n d . ” On his own part, another member of the Board, Arc. Ezugo G.C. Okoye observed that ACDA has a mandate to cover the five communities of Mgbakwu, Urum, Amansea, Isuaniocha and Ebenebe towns in Awka North that fall under the territory, which he said faces a dilemma of failure, but swiftly pointed out that “ACDA is ready for business.” Arc. Okoye observed that, by setting up the ACDA, governor Obiano has given the best to Ndi Anambra and stressed that the major thrust of its responsibility lies with the production and implementation of the Master Plan with topography of 10 centimetre resolution for the Aw k a C a p i t a l Te r r i t o r y. He stated that there is no substitute to planning else there will always be a dilemma of failed cities, citing his horror of a failed cities where citizens cannot get about to do their business promptly because the city is not working. Responding, Njikoka LG Council Chairman, Hon. Onuorah who was the past State President of NIESV, expressed happiness with the calibre of professionals

assembled by the governor, noting that the State Chief Executive, by such appointments has planned from the onset to succeed. Hon. Onuorah disclosed the State does not expect anything less than the best from the Board which he described as a great team and praised them for the hard work which resulted in their churning out the document modeled after Dubai, Seoul and Kigali within six months. He described the Obiano administration as being practical and called for more enlightenment so that the populace will adhere to planning principles before developing any project, and adjust after the expected initial resistance. While urging indigenes of the state to embrace the Think Home Philosophy and invest at home, Hon. Onuorah said his Council is prepared for a synergy with the ACDA and he looks forward to ACDA helping to drive the system so that there will be a well laid down development Plan. He revealed that the commercial city of Onitsha was not wellplanned such that everybody heads towards one direction in the morning and returns to same direction at close of business, adding that the Multi-City concept which makes people to move to different directions will address the snag.

MTN launches the 'Akanchawa' product brand in South East By Rex Arum

TN Nigeria has launched a product brand tagged, 'AKANCHAWA' a package where subscribers will have to pay less after loading with as little as N100. The product brand which is specifically meant for the MTN customers in the South Eastern states of Nigeria will afford the subscribers 10 minutes free call, 10 free SMS and 4MB for internet users. The Product Manager Operation, MTN South East, Mr. Obinna Nweje, said during the launching in Enugu Wednesday that the new MTN package is in appreciation and return for the huge patronage the people of the South East have given to the network since it's inception. According to him, subscribers can access the product by recharging with N100, and to recharge, one would have to dial *311* to 12 digit pin. Once the subscriber subscribes the AKANCHAWA product brand, he will only check

the balance by dialing *312#. “One good thing about the AKANCHAWA product brand is that one would have to enjoy it for a period of three days and will continue to enjoy so long as one continues to subscribe through the brand. He stated that without the active participation by the people, there was no way MTN would have been able to stand these years.

It is against the background of the huge patronage by the people of the South east, Nweje stated, that necessitated MTN to be sponsoring festivals like Ofala, new yam festival, Igu aro and other such programmes in the zone as part of “our corporate social responsibility adding that Akanchawa would make life a lot better for the people of the zone especially during the Christmas

period”. “MTN is committed to answering to your aspiration. We want to see Akanchawa make your life a lot better this festive period. The General Manager Consumer M a r k e t i n g , M r. R i c h a r d Iweananoge pointed out that the festive period was the season of surprises and pointed out that if MTN surprises one, one would then surprise others.

222 University of Ibadan Students graduate with first class

he Vice chancellor University of Ibadan (UI) says the institution is on the part of excellence as shown in the recent convocation ceremony November 17 which had 222 students graduating with first class Degrees. A total of 7,786 graduating students receive their first degree certificates during the convocation.

In his address during the c e r e m o n y, T h e Vi c e Chancellor, Professor Isaac Adewole said that due to strike action embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 2013, the convocation ceremony could not hold. The VC explained that 1,885 students graduated with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) and 4,147 graduating

students made Second Class Honours (Lower Division) while 786 and 223 made Third Class Honours and Pass respectively. The university also had 5, 959 graduands higher certificates from 13 Faculties and Centres. The figure comprised 46 M.Phil, 123 Masters in Public Health; 4, 467 Academic Master's; 1, 313 Professional Master's and 153 Postgraduate Diplomas.

December 15, 2014

The Advocate Gospel This Week

NIGERIA

Pope becomes first house guest in controversial Erdogan palace

TEXT: Matthew 24:36-39 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. (NIVUK)

NARRATION Jesus was telling His disciples about His Second Coming. They had asked when it would happen (Matthew 24:3). It was a sensible question: if we know when something important is going to happen, we get ready for it; we can make a special effort, look good for an evening, be fresh in the morning, prepare an excellent presentation at work … some of the time. But God wants us to be ready to welcome Jesus every day. He is looking for an eternity-long relationship with us and not a special effort on one day. Jesus said that only the Father knew the date. Some say that this was an admission that He was not God in the flesh. They are wrong. When God the Son came to earth He chose not to have all the attributes of God; if He had retained eternity and infinity He could not have died (Philippians 2:6-8). It was to be a divine secret that cannot be disclosed until the Last Day. God reveals all that is necessary for us to live holy lives (Deuteronomy 29:29). Telling us the date of His return would remove the urgency to get right with God and witness to His grace. So, when Jesus comes again, only those with a living relationship with Him will be hungry to see Him, and be ready for Him. The others will assume that God will never come to trouble their self-filled lives. It was like that before the flood when only Noah, his family and the animals were saved. Everybody else thought that they could do whatever they liked with their lives; they thought they were accountable to nobody and did not care about God. That seems to be a fair description of our modern world; a world where money rules and self-satisfaction is the goal. Even the trimmings of religion seem designed to increase a sense of wellbeing without repentance and lifestyle change. Even the church has got sucked into this dangerous spiritual stupor; draining it of true worship and vibrant witness. And outside the church are millions who have never been told that Jesus is coming back as King and Judge. Hell is just around the corner for many but they do not know it. Firstly we need to wake up. If we are not eager that Jesus should return today we have a problem … if what we are doing now is bigger than what God will do through all eternity, that is serious cause for concern. Worship and witness are the two key expressions of holiness. Let us ask the Lord to give us a new desire to be with Him for ever, and live now as though He will return today.

Prayer: Loving God. Thank You that You desire a relationship with us and not a series of heartless offerings. Forgive me for the times when I have been more preoccupied with what I am doing, than with what You are doing. I am sorry that the Second Coming is not my daily motivation for worship and witness. Please give me a new desire for a relationship with You which is authentic and help me to see Your return as a challenge to my personal holiness, and to the need to explain the gospel to those around me who are sleepwalking to hell. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Pope Francis

he vast gates swung open and the host personally welcomed his distinguished visitor with all the pride of someone who has just acquired a new home. Pope Francis on Friday become the first foreign dignitary to be received at President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's new presidential palace, one of the most controversial building projects in modern Turkey. While the palace, dubbed Aksaray (White Palace) by the press but known officially simply as Presidential Palace, has been used in the last weeks for the occasional meeting and reception, the pope's visit marked its true unveiling to the world. Smiling broadly, Erdogan strode out to the gates to greet the pope and then guided him through the honour guard lined up on the vast grounds in front the building. The visit marked a first chance for much of the Ankara press corps to visit the much-talked-about but hard-to-access palace. Some 250 reporters were accredited, shepherded by security personnel who seemed, at times, to still be finding their own way round. Erdogan and the pope delivered press statements in a vast auditorium that appears capable of hosting a symphony orchestra as much as news conferences.

There had been calls on the pope not to visit the palace. But the Vatican made clear it had no intention of entering into a polemic and the pope would go where the hosting side invited him. The complex takes up an area of 200,000 square metres (2.1 million square feet), has 1,000 rooms and draws its architectural inspiration from Turkey's Ottoman and Seljuk heritage. The cost amounts to a cool 1.37 billion Turkish lira ($615 million). However it is smaller than the pope's walled Vatican City State which is 440,000 square metres. It is marked by columns, atriums, countless meeting rooms and the vast front esplanade reminiscent of a square in front of a grand mosque. It is decorated with the rich geometric patterns so important in Islamic art, where images of living things are generally proscribed. – Dogged by controversy – However in a sign that it is still not entirely finished, an AFP reporter saw that building works were still in progress and it appeared that there had been a hurry to ensure it was ready for the papal visit. For the opposition, the palace is more evidence of the willingness of Erdogan and the Islamic-rooted ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to ride roughshod over the legacy of modern Turkey's secular founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Ataturk set aside the land on which the new palace was built as a farm. He himself worked — like all Turkish presidents until now — in the far more modest Cankaya presidential palace in downtown Ankara. The opposition has compared the new palace to the notorious Palace of the People of deposed Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and even suggested the money could have been better spent on sending a probe to Mars. The Romanian tyrant's gigantic Casa Poporului (Palace of the People) was still unfinished when he and his wife were shot dead by firing squad in the revolution of 1989. In another element of controversy, the new palace was originally intended to replace the cramped offices of the prime minister in Ankara but then was transferred to the presidency when Erdogan himself switched from the post of premier in August. Erdogan has repeatedly defended the palace, describing it as a “work of art” essential to present the face of a modern and fast-developing Turkey to the world.

Kano mosque attack, sin against God – Pope Continued from page 22 the country.

B/Haram has rendered one million Nigerian homeless –Red Cross Meanwhile, the Nigerian Red Cross Society said more than one million Nigerians have fled their homes and over 8,600 civilians have been killed since 2013 following Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. Secretary General of the Nigerian Red Cross, Mr. Bello Hamman made this revelation in a press release made available to Vanguard at the weekend. He revealed that over 70 towns and villages in the

mostly affected Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Kano, and Kaduna states have been deserted because of Boko Haram attacks. Those mainly affected are women and children seeking refuge in some states in Nigeria and neighbouring countries of Cameroon and Niger republics. As part of it social and humanitarian concern and responsibility to the Internally Displace Persons IDPs, the Nigerian Red Cross has launched CHF 2,777,899 appeal fund to reach 150,000 IDPs in the country. The organization calls on individuals and corporate bodies to support the Red Cross to enable it assist IDPs in areas of improved health care, provision of clean water, sanitation facilities, emergency shelter, non-food items and hygiene among other things.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

OAU students deny booing, stoning President Jonathan

he President, Students Union Government of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Mr. Isaac Ibikunle, on Saturday, vehemently denied report circulating in some social media that students of the university booed, and throw stones at President Goodluck Jonathan during his visit to the campus on Friday. According the student union leader” It was an amateurish report, it was totally not true. And for anybody who reads and believe that, it is an amateur kind of blackmail. He said that students of the university insisted on discussing with Jonathan on the increment of the fees charged by the school and the President obliged. His word, “We read some reports that the President was stoned,

would act on it fast. “I asked Mr. President to come down from the car and address us and he came down. He is our president, we did not harass him.” Ibikunle added that the President

was even hailed by the students and those present when his helicopter was taking off at the university's sports Centre. He also said that no traditional ruler was embarrassed contrary to the reports in some online media. Some Yoruba leaders held a

Nigerian student killed by suspected Commander, Deputy robbers in Ghana Superintendent of Police (DSP)

Technology (ICT) at the Sikkim Elizabeth Tiekuwa Dankwa, Manipal University at Kwame who confirmed the incident, disclosed that one person has Nkrumah Circle, Accra. According to reports the been arrested in connection students were attacked in their with the robbery attack. room at the New Town, an Accra suburb at about 3.30a.m on Saturday by three masked men, who were armed with kitchen knives and inflicted booed and harassed when he came serious injuries on them. to our campus. This is not correct. The three students were rushed “Security personnel initially to the Korle-Bu Teaching prevented us from seeing the president but we insisted that we Hospital by neighbours but wanted to discuss with him and Nazifi was pronounced dead on he Governor of Abia we were allowed to see him. arrival by doctors. He was said state, Chief Theodore “We told him that the increment to have sustained deep cuts on Orji, has order was too high, and gave him a his chest. reduction of tuition fee being petition concerning the exorbitant The Kotobabi District Police paid by students of Abia State fees and he assured us that he University, Uturu by 20 per cent. In a statement signed by Secretary to Abia State Government, Professor Mkpa W h i l e l a m e n t i n g t h e topic “Exploring the Roles of Agu Mkpa, Governor Orji bastardization of the journalism Broadcasting in Entrepreneurial said the gesture was to boost of your research project.” profession by fake journalists, Mr Development” urged students to education in the state. Also speaking at the event, the Nwosu challenged the students to be versatile in their learning and “Following the present Executive Director of Sun take advantage of their access to flow along with changes in economic crunch in the Newspapers, Mr Steve Nwosu, modern information technology modern digital technology. country occasioned by the oil advised Mass Communication and enthrone professional The Dialogue which lasted for prices in the international students to develop passion for journalism practice in the social two days, was chaired by the market, as a result of which their profession as that would media and other online channels. Immediate past President of enable them overcome whatever Furthermore, Chief Omeaku Public Relations Consultants students of ABSU and their challenges they might encounter Okwun, a veteran broadcaster and Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) parents are in great difficulty in their line of duty. Acting Public Relations Officer and Chief Executive Officer, coping with the demands of Nwosu, who spoke on the topic; of the University of Nigeria, Blueflower Limited, Mr chido their school fees in the “from classroom to newsroom” called for the establishment of Nwakama. In attendance were; institution, His Excellency, urged students to identify their professional Institute of communication scholars, media the Governor of Abia State, areas of interest in mass Broadcasters in the University of practitioners, public relations C h i e f T. A . O r j i a s a communication while still in Nigeria in order to boost the practitioners and over 200 school to enable them pursue a number of broadcaster trained in students in the field of Mass d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f h i s sympathy with the plight of focused career when they the University. Communication and other related the students, their parents and graduate. Chief Okwun who spoke on the disciplines g u a r d i a n s , h a s magnanimously approved the reduction of school fees payable by all students in Abia State University by 20 per cent across the board. “This kind gesture by His Excellency seeks to ameliorate the hardship currently being experience by parents and students as a result of the said oil price fluctuations. Government therefore expects the staff, students and management of Abia State University, Uturu, to reciprocate the Governor's kindness by remaining Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu (2nd right) and other dignitaries during the disciplined and law abiding at inauguration of Awgu Study Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria NOUN last Monday all times.” andemonium struck over the weekend at the Sikkim Manipal University Accra following the stabbing to death a Nigerian Student , Nazifi Osman Muhammed, by suspected armed robbers at his home. Our correspondent gathered that two other victims and brothers to the deceased, Jamiru Osman and Mustapha Musa are receiving treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as a result of the injuries they sustained during the robbery incident. The victims are all students of Information Communication

3rd UNNDMC:

Prof Ogwo Challenges Staff, Students on Grant Writing

tudents as prospective grant writers have been challenged to upgrade their ICT knowledge especially in the use of Microsoft word as that would enhance their writing skill and portray their personality better. Speaking at the 3rd University of Nigeria Nsukka Dialogue on Media and Communication (UNNDMC), Ben Ogwo, a Professor in Industrial Technical and Workforce Education and former Grants and International Development Officer of the UNN, said it would be difficult for any academic to conduct meaningful research which sponsorship is tied to the researcher's salary. He advised researchers to keep abreast with the latest trend of the social media and also seek research funds from local and international organizations, government agencies as well as private individuals. Prof Ogwo highlighted some of the skills required of a prospective grant writer to include; cognitive skill, writing skill, ability to use the internet and word processing skill. According to him “the way and manner you comport and carry yourself and the people you know is key to securing a grant because your funders will have to run a background check on you before releasing money for the execution

summit at the Oduduwa Hall of the OAU and Jonathan was invited as a special guest of honour at the event, which had the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and other prominent obas and Yourua leaders in attendance.

Gov. Orji reduces tuition fee at Abia State University by 20%

December 15, 2014

Anambra to immunise 2.4m women, children

rimary health care centres and other designated places. Determined to reduce neo-natal, maternal and child mortalities in the state, the Anambra State government has commenced routine promotive and preventive services to about 2.4 million citizens, including children and women. In a chat with journalists at an event to mark the first round of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Awka We d n e s d a y, t h e s t a t e ' s Commissioner of Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, said the exercise would involve giving out Vitamin A supplements, de-worming, allround routine Antigens, Tetanus toxide vaccines and antenatal care, targeting children, pregnant women of child bearing age. He said during the period, government would deliver services including nutrition screening, counselling for malnourished children, birth preparedness and complication

readiness for pregnant women. Others interventions are HIV prevention information, distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Treatment Nets (LLINs) to prevent malaria, health education on key household practices, including exclusive breast feeding (EBF), management of childhood illnesses and demonstration of proper hand washing among others. Akabuike assured that all vaccines were free and safe, urging care givers to avail themselves of this opportunity while ensuring their children receive these interventions between 24 and 28 of this month. He further gave the breakdown of the target population to include children 6-59 months 88,7533; children 0-11 months 197,427; pregnant women 246,783 and women of child bearing age to account for 1,085,847, adding that the exercise would take place in all government-owned

Back page cont. the amount can provide. It is thus obvious that Chime's government does not possess the capacity for such expediencies in fiscal policy. Within a year of the above request, a subsequent demand for an extra loan of N863 Million at 17% interest (N149 million) was placed via FCMB. This questions the rational of the earlier request for a State Bond. Also, a list of the MDG projects has to be made available to the House of Assembly and the viability of these projects paying back the said sum should have been debated before the masking of figures under counterpart funding and blanket approval given for debt procurement. This is an observed outrageous, but consistent pattern in subsequent MDG projects counterpart funding requests for N835 Million and N600 in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The situation in Enugu State summarily suggests confusion as to what constitutes a development fund and what source it should be raised. Besides, the manner in which these requests are made, are in complete violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and further contravenes all laid down rules for an effective fiscal regime. The observed ambivalence and the lack of coordination amongst the ongoing projects have compounded governance in the State. The greatest drag to the state investment policy is lack of adequate framework and complete absence of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) plan. In fact, socalled PPP in the State is more of a conjecture by Chime Administration for the continued deceit of Enugu people. The same goes for the continued remark

NIGERIA

Ebola death toll hits 7,000 -WHO T

he death toll from the worst Ebola outbreak on record has reached nearly 7,000 in West Africa, the World Health Organisation said on Saturday. The toll of 6,928 dead showed a leap of just over 1,200 since the WHO released its previous r e p o r t o n We d n e s d a y , according to a Reuters news agency report. The UN health agency did not provide any explanation for the abrupt increase, but the figures, published on its website, appeared to include previously unreported deaths. A WHO spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. Just over 16,000 people have

been diagnosed with Ebola since the outbreak was confirmed in the forests of remote southeastern Guinea in March, according to the WHO data that covered the three hardest-hit countries. Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have accounted for all but 15 of the deaths in the outbreak, which has touched five other countries, according to the previous WHO figures. In a separate development, Sierra Leone will soon see a dramatic increase in desperately-needed treatment beds, but it's not clear who will staff them, a top UN official in the fight against the disease has said. Sierra Leone is now bearing the

brunt of the 8-month-old outbreak. In the other hard-hit countries, Liberia and Guinea, WHO says infection rates are stabilising or declining, but in Sierra Leone, they're soaring. The country has been reporting around 400 to 500 new cases each week for several weeks. Those cases are concentrated in the capital, Freetown, its surrounding areas and the northern Port Loko district, which together account for about 65 percent of the country's new infections, Anthony Banbury, head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, said in an interview with the Associated Press news agency.

Debt Burden and Development in Enugu State

about financing on-going projects. The standard practice is for loans to be investmentdriven or be able to catalyse production and development as in the case of k e y infrastructure. This well, it is able to offset itself. It is not really so in E n u g u . Between 2011 and 2014, a total of N4.8 billion has been requested from Governor Sullivan Chime v a r i o u s Commercial Banks in loans to fund Conferencing Solution at the the secondary education level. Executive Chambers of the Sadly, they were largely ill Governor's Office at the cost of targeted. For instance, how would N207 Million in addition to many 16-seater busses distributed to other on-going projects that were secondary schools with a loan of not mentioned. How would the over N1.5 Billion address the N13 Billion Secretariat being built infrastructural decay and poor with loans offest the lone? teacher morale arising from poor From the selected loans also, a total and inconsistent salaries? request of N3 billion has been The House of Assembly in its made to expand Agricultural records acknowledged that part of Projects in the State between 2012 the N11 Billion loan would be and 2013. That would have been a utilised for Supply and Installation good one for a state that is largely of Security (CCTV) & Access farmers. But there are no details of Control Systems in the offices of where the projects are sited or what the New Secretariate Building kind of projects that would gulp the valued at the cost of N2.674 requested amounts. Results are not million; Supply of Information felt. A mention of a Pineapple Technology Facilities in the New project was made in one of the Governor's Office at the cost of loans without explanations on N300 million; Supply and investment return and other Installation of of Audio-Visual multiplier effects from such

venture. Are we going to have pineapple juice factories? But to begin with, where are the pineapples, two years after? Indeed, the comparative assessment of revenue, expenditure, and debt stock of Enugu state descriptively portend increased danger of a bubble ready to burst. Aside that, recurrent expenditure growth outweighs the maximum Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and questions are being asked as to where all the purported investments from the loans have gone. Thus, the possibility of sustaining the already incurred debt in the state is highly improbable. The State revenue and expenditure estimates are very much at variance with the actual revenues collected and expenses made. In-addition, the State forecasting principles and fundamentals are weak and this gives disjointed figures, making planning an up-hill task. Furthermore, the State Ministry of Finance and Planning have not conducted any study of the tax elasticity or buoyancy of the State to determine its Fiscal Capacity in relation to the expanding debt profile. This would have provided an evidence-based analogy vis-àvis alternative scenarios for debate on the procured debts in the state by all stakeholders'. In concluding, it is imperative to warn that generally, the impact of huge public debt on economic growth may not be immediate, but could be overwhelming in the long run if it is not utilized judiciously. This makes the current debt burden in Enugu State worrisome and humongous with disastrous consequences if not checkmated i m m e d i a t e l y. T h e S t a t e

Government has relied excessively on domestic debts to drive governance; amidst lack of transparency and due process that in turn fuel official corruption; amidst poor project profiles; accumulating principal; interests; payment arrears and penalties. Enugu State is borrowing too much and thus has to bear the saddle of servicing high levels of debt. When debt is too high, as in Enugu's case, the ability of the current State Government or future administrations to finance it decreases, leading to a high probability of default and subsequent downgrading by creditors. Too bad! There is also the moral burden of a departing government acquiring an N11 Billion loan instead of worrying about offsetting existing huge debts. The idea of the House approving the loan in a closed-door session, and the rising political temperature in Enugu PDP over 2015, have therefore lead Enugu groups and the opposition to allege, and rationally so, that the loan is an election largesse. A moratorium is urgently needed on the procurement of all debts henceforth by the State Executive. The State Assembly must insist on cost-benefit analysis of all approved loan requests, detailing the economic and social benefits of the purpose to which the borrowing was applied and how the investments would pay back the Loans in the short to medium term. Above all, on the N11 Billion loan, I vote “Nay”; and the Enugu House of Assembly must reverse the approval, while the UBA should back off the loan. Okoh, an economist lives in Enugu

NIGERIA

December 15, 2014

Entertainment plus

Jude Okoye now a proud father S

I would have married Juliet Ibrahim if I was single – Yemi Blaq

till mourning the shocking passing away of their late father, Engineer Jude Okoye, the elder brother of P-Square musical duo and his pretty wife, Ify just had a cause to rejoice. The two lovebirds who got married in July welcomed an adorable baby girl in the United States of America. Ify gave birth at 7.29pm on Saturday at Northside Hospital Atlanta, Georgia. The little angel has been named Princess Emma Adanna Okoye. The new father excitedly shared a photo of the baby girl with the caption “As we mourn the passing of our Dad, please help us thank the Lord for His n a very inciting interview, newest gift of life, our bundle Nollywood actor Yemi of joy Princess Emma. All Blaq opened up about his glory to God the father," he relationship with Ghanaian wrote. actress Juliet Ibrahim. Blaq who acted alongside Juliet in one of her movies 'Number 1 Fan,' confessed that he would have settled for the actress if he were still single. When asked if he will settle for the actress were he single, he said; “Yes, she's my kind of

Exposed:

Married actor, Damola Olatunji allegedly impregnates actress, Bukola Awoyemi

uxomy actress, Bukky Awoyemi, popularly known as 'Arugba' is pregnant for married actor, Damola Olatunji. Bukola who hit fame on account of her role in Tunde Kelani's blockbuster movie, Arugba, has since gone off radar as friends claimed she is undergoing a nine-month course of pregnancy. It should be recalled that Damola, who is famous for his roles in Yoruba movies got married to UK-based Raliat at the Ikoyi Registry in April 2013, while he had his Bachelor's Eve at the Troy Lounge, Lekki, Lagos. Meanwhile, not much has been known about Awoyemi's romantic liaisons before now. Meanwhile, sources claimed her new status has created chaos in the home of Olatunji whose wife has been helpless and unable to handle the situation such that very few insiders in the know within the industry discuss the matter in hush tones. Sources close to Damola Olatunji hinted the actor may be settling for a new life with Bukola whom he confided in some of his colleagues is a lady after his heart. Recently, he gave his wife the option to live with it or opt out of the marriage, our source hinted. The absence of his wife, the sources said is not unconnected with the illicit romance that led to the pregnancy. Sources claimed the romance thickened when Bukola played the lead role in Damola's latest movie production, IpinL'ese sometime in may. In an enquiry, sent to Damola the sms below:

person. She's smart, dedicated, but it's a pity I'm not single. It's a great thing I met my wife first and if you ask me, 'If I had to do it all over again, would I change anything?'. I'd tell you it's nice to be with someone with whom everyday is a new day with its own challenges, rewards and beauty. My wife is creative, crazy, lovable and she's my love.”

Omotola Jalade to Celebrate 20yrs in Entertainment announce to u that in the yr Industry by 2015 2015!!!I will be Marking 20

doubt if anybody has ever addressed her as one of the veteran actresses in Nollywood, but that is what age has actually made her. Star actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has announced that she will be celebrating her 20 years in entertainment industry come 2015. “It's my pleasure to “Hello Damola, I will be glad to have your response to the story that your dalliance with Bukola Awoyemi better known as Arugba has resulted into pregnancy? In his response which came about five hours after several unanswered calls, he said: “Bukola is not pregnant for me. I don't know where that news could have come from. It's been two months I set my eyes on her at The Movie Ambassador (TMA) meeting. I don't know if she is pregnant. She had only acted as a lead in my movie, Ipinl'ese. When probed further to disclose his wife's whereabouts, he said: 'She's studying in UK and we have issues over her relocation to Nigeria. While all efforts to reach Bukola Awoyemi proved abortive as she ignored all calls and text messages, According to reliable sources she is actually pregnant for Damola and currently lives with him.

years in entertainment. Thank you lord! 20 years in entertainment! 2 decades! Can you believe it? Just like yesterday!!!” Aside acting, Omotola the mother of four children delved into music and has equally made many of her fans proud with singles and album. Congratulations to Omotola!

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

By Okey Anyichie

As the 2013/2014 football season ends... What’s next?

he End of 2013/2014 Football Season has come to an end with Kano Pillars Football club winning the premier league soccer championship with 65 points while Enyimba football club of Aba came second with 64 points. Both football clubs will be the Nigerian flag bearers at Africa league soccer championship next year. Enyimba football club of Aba won the continental league soccer championship in 2013 and 2014. Again Enyimba football club of Aba won the confederation cup last week after beating Dolphin football club of Portharcourt 2 – 1. But Dolphin will as a result of being the runner up of this competition represent Nigeria in the confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Cup competition. They will play along in this continental soccer competition with Warri Wolves Football club that came third in the 2013/2014 premier league soccer

competition. As this year's Football season has come to an end, these Football clubs are getting ready to trade tackles for Nigeria in the two continental soccer competitions. The new season which will kick- off in February or March next year, is expected to bring a lot of good tidings for the teeming Football fans in the country as this year was a very disappointing year. Hence Nigerian 'Super Eagles' failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa cup of Nations to be hosted next month in Equitorial- Guinea. None of the Nigerian Football clubs made a significant impact in the continental soccer competitions for both Africa league soccer championship and CAF cup soccer Fiesta. With this dismal performances by Nigerian Football clubs and the national Football team, the super Eagles, the year 2014 has a very low score card. It is left for the Nigerian soccer body called the

Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to go back to the drawingboard and prepare for a positive

outing next year. Hence football has turned into money –spinning industry that

definitely should not be left into the hands of mediocre who don't know the game.

No new contract Enyeama Fails to Win BBC African Footballer for Keshi – NFF of the Year Award

Stephen Keshi

he Nigeria Football Federation have denied reports that they have agreed terms on a new contract with out-of-contract Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi. News has been making the rounds that Keshi will sign a new oneyear contract worth N84million at N7million per month, but the NFF have moved swiftly to dispel such reports. President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick says they haven't gotten as far as

agreeing a new contract for Keshi, despite confirming the 52-yearold will continue. “We have not come to that yet as it concerns Keshi. I'm not around, I'm in a CAF meeting in Equatorial Guinea but we have not come to that,” he said. The NFF have said in no unclear terms that Keshi remains the Super Eagles coach, but have always kept mute on whether they plan to offer the former Nigeria captain fresh terms, with Keshi's contract running out at the end of Nigeria's participation at the

World Cup in Brazil. And in the same development, NFF's director of communications Ademola Olajire has also rubbished reports of a new contract with Keshi, saying they will make it known whenever Keshi signs a new deal. “People should have patience and let the NFF come out officially to speak on the issue. But as I speak with you, I really cannot say there is anything like that and if something like that were to come up, you will know,” he concluded.

he effects of the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations are beginning to manifest as the team captain, V i n c e n t Enyeama, failed to clinch the 2014 BBC African Footballer of the Year Award. Instead, Algeria and Porto forward, Yacine Brahimi, emerged the winner, beating Enyeama to second place. Brahimi shrugged off competition from likes of Ivorien star and former holder, Ya y a To u r e , Gervinho PierreEmerick Aubameyang and Enyeama to become the first ever Algerian player to be so honoured in the continent. Many had thought that Enyeama who has been a phenomenal figure in-between the sticks for the Super Eagles and was key to Nigeria making it to the round of 16 of the last World Cup in Brazil will nick the top prize.

Enyeama If he had won, Enyeama would have been the second Nigeria after Jay jay Okocha to win the BBC award. Many will now hope to see Enyeama scoop the ultimate, which is the CAF African footballer of the year award which he is amongst the final five shortlisted for the award.

December 15, 2014

NIGERIA

Siasia consolidates on his U-23 build-up N

igeria U23 team coach Samson Siasia has stepped up his build-up for an All Africa Games qualifier against Gabon in the New Year. Siasia has ordered the selected home-based professionals to report to a training camp on January 4 after the players would have proceeded on a break from December 20. Over 1,000 players based locally have attended the screening, which began last month. Foreign-based professionals are expected to report to training camp in Abuja from December 7 and a test game against a yet-tobe-named team in Bauchi on December 12. In February, Siasia's team take on Gabon with the first leg away in Libreville and the return leg early March in Nigeria. The winners of that fixture square up with the winners of the fixture between Zambia and Madagascar in late March. The 11th All-Africa Games will be staged by Congo Brazzaville in July 2015.

Nigeria's delegation to the draw for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada will be led by Falcons coach Edwin Okon and will depart the country on Thursday. Okon, who led the Falcons to clinch a seventh African title in Namibia in October, will be joined by team administrator Ruth David and team media officer Gracious Akujobi. The draw ceremony for the 7th FIFA Women's World Cup finals will be held in Canada's capital

Samson Siasia city, Ottawa, on Saturday, with 24 finalists to be divided into six

groups of four teams each. Already qualified for the finals are host Canada, United States of America, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, N o r w a y, S w e d e n , England, Japan, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon, China, Korea Republic, Thailand and New Zealand. The last spot will be taken by the winners of the intercontinental play –off between Ecuador and Trinidad and Tobago. Both teams battled to a scoreless

first leg in Quito with the return leg taking place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Tuesday, December 2. The finals will be staged 6th June – 5th July, 2015 in six Canadian cities, viz: Edmonton (State of Alberta), Moncton (State of New Brunswick), Montreal (State of Quebec), Vancouver (State of British Columbia), Ottawa (State of Ontario) and Winnipeg (State of Manitoba). Nigeria have featured in all six previous editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup - 1991 (China), 1995 (Sweden), 1999 and 2003 (USA), 2007 (China) and 2011 (Germany), with a quarter final berth in 1999 the country's best showing so far.

Real Madrid criticize EUFA

eal Madrid have hit out at UEFA president Michel Platini for suggesting the Ballon d'Or should be awarded to a World Cup winner this year rather than Argentina international Lionel Messi and former Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

Los Merengues admitted their 'surprise' that the Frenchman made his personal views public before saying the award should be based on individual merit. Although six Germany players have been named in the 23man shortlist, Ronaldo is still favourite to retain the honour after helping Madrid to a 10th

European title last season. The 29-year-old has scored 48 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti's side this year although his World Cup group stage exit with Portugal may count against him if Platini's comments are echoed by voters. Four-time former winner

Lionel Messi is also well in contention after another prolific season for Barcelona which has seen him add another title to his long list of accolades, having surpassed Raul's record of 71 Champions League goals. The Ballon d'Or will be announced on 12 January in Zurich.

Injured Moses will not Paul Bassey calls for play again this year Keshi's replacement

toke have confirmed that on-loan Chelsea winger, Victor Moses, is carrying a “significant thigh injury,”

which will keep him out of action until after the New Year. The Super Eagles' star has impressed for the Potters

following his arrival on a season-long loan from the Blues in August. Moses had featured in 10 of their 12 games in the Premier League this season, with his last appearance for Mark Hughes' side coming in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Burnley. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during the second half at the Britannia Stadium and was replaced on 56 minutes by Marko Arnautovic. He is now expected to remain on the sidelines for the rest of this year, with Stoke as yet undecided on where Moses will undergo rehabilitation over the next few weeks. Potters assistant manager, Mark Bowen, told the club's official website: “He has a significant thigh injury which is likely to keep him out for several weeks.” He added on BBC Radio Stoke: “At the moment we're deciding with Chelsea whether to go back and have the rehab there or stay with our team.”

member of the Nigeria Football F e d e r a t i o n Te c h n i c a l a n d Development Committee, Paul Bassey has said that the Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has nothing left to offer the national team, saying that his last five months with the team had not been productive. Bassey, who is a Confederaions of African Football's match commissioner explained that it would be expedient for the NFF to replace the 2013 African coach of the year. Bassey also suggested that Keshi's failure with the team was about his choice of a poor collection of players without the quality to carry the team as well as the 'bad chemistry' Keshi imbued in the squad. “A lot of Nigerians say Keshi is the best thing that's happened to Nigeria football, But with

Paul Bassey due respect to him, a Manager is as good as his last match.” “If the Federation disassociates itself from Keshi today, it'll not be because he's a bad coach but so much is fundamentally wrong with the team,” “The chemistry of the team and the quality of the boys he put together was totally defective. We need a change and with Keshi in the last 5 months there's need to alter how things are done,” Bassey said.

Vol. 2 No. 106, December 15, 2014

ONLINE

Back Page Comment

NIGERIA

Debt Burden and Development in Enugu State By Chief Jerome Okoh

he Enugu State House of Assembly, as recorded in its Votes and Proceedings of the November 13, 2014, unanimously authorized the State Government to obtain loans of N11billion from UBA at an interest of 17% annually to refinance a subsisting facility from GTB and fund an on-going infractural developments in the State. Interestingly, the House reconvened from its break to approve the loan in closed-door session. This is even as the media have raised the alarm over a possible Executive-Legislature showdown owing to the alleged refusal of the House to give a retroactive approval for another N7 Billion loan. Expectedly, the loan has continued to generate monumental controversies. There is no gainsaying that every government has goals to achieve, especially towards improving the standard of living of its citizens, increasing economic growth potentials, and developing its wealth base. However, the resources needed to achieve this is scarce, hence the search for external resources. Economically, Enugu is predominantly rural and agrarian, with a substantial proportion of its working population engaged in farming, although trading and services (mainly in the urban areas) account for about (19%) and (13%) of output respectively. The total Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in Enugu State averaged about N1.7 billion between 2007 and 2011. Enugu's 7.8 IGR is the lowest percentile, compared to the other South East states. The same goes for total revenue. Revenue estimates in the State suggest that about 85% and 75% of the revenue was sourced through FAAC in 2012 and 2013, respectively. These values depict an increasing reliance of the state revenue on the Federation Account- talk about Feeding Bottle Federalism. To worsen matters, annual budget law in Enugu in about the last 7 years lack a clearly defined appropriation for all spending authorities to be voted, including all transactions of statutory extra-budgetary funds within the budget. There is a serious lack of information on financial plans and operations of statutory extra-budgetary fund in the State. The State has not been able to produce medium-term fiscal documents anchored on the political Four (4) Point

Agenda showing government priority and the means to achieve them. Enugu runs into deficits because it lacks the mechanism to forecast the macroeconomic environment and revenue within a fiscal year. There is no clear sectorial policy amongst the MDAs. This would have provided credence for fiscal management and budget process supporting the already mounting debts. This presents a huge problem because the most critical step in budget formulation is

Governor Sullivan Chime to forecast effectively the resources that will be available in the future for informed fiscal decisions. Today, therefore, Enugu is sweating profusely under the heavy weight of loans/debts, which purposes and applications leave so much to be deserved. A peep at the documentation for loan approvals (2009 - 2014) State Executive Council (Exco), including a few submitted to the State Assembly excludes fiscal policy objectives, the macroeconomic framework, the policy basis for the loan, major identifiable fiscal risks, complete information on past and projected spending under any permanent appropriation which is not annually voted. This operation pattern has justifiably increased the fiscal risks of the State both in the short to medium term On September 30, 2009, the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting voted in favour of N20 Billion State Bond. On August 18, 2010, the Exco approved an

N89 Million First Bank loan to fund observed gap in budget implementation and purchase vehicles for government use. On the same date, an FCMB loan of N863,552,203 was approved by Exco for payment of counterpart funding for 2009 MDGs executions. On August 5, 2010 a N12.5 Billion loan was approved for financing ongoing and new projects in its Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Nexus Ltd. A Bank PHB loan of N3 billion was approved by Exco on April 14, 2010 to bridge resource gap and fund capital projects. A Skye Bank loan of USD275,000 was approved on October 13, 2011 for counterpart funding of AIDS control project with World Bank. Diamond Bank loan of N1,551,000,000 was approved by Exco on October 13, 2011 for purchase of 300 units of 16seater busses for the public secondary schools in the State. On September 7, 2011, Exco approved a loan of N5 Billion from GTB for infrastructural development (primarily the New Secretariat Complex). N1.8 Billion loan (Fidelity Bank) was approved by Exco on December 8, 2011 for counterpart funding for the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Another Fidelity Bank loan of N1 Billion was approved by Exco on September 12, 2012 for the expansion of agric projects in the State and purchase of machinery for State's pineapple project. FMCB and Skye Bank loans of N835,459,032.7 were approved by Exco on October 30, 2013 for counterpart funding of MDGs 2012 capital projects. A N120 Million First Bank loan was approved by Exco on November 26, 2013 for purchase of vehicles for traditional rulers. Exco also approved a N1 Billion UBA loan on March 28, 2014 for refinance of N5 Billion GTB loan ealier itemised. Exco approved yet another loan of N1.5 Billion (Stering Bank) on March 28, 2014 for counterpart funding of the UBEB. Then on April 16, 2014, a First Bank loan of N600 Million was approved by Exco for MDGs. Looking at the scenerio closely, the bond request of N20 billion Naira in 2009 did not meet the basic requirements, for such bond out to accompanied by a fiscal framework detailing the investments and opportunity costs of every expenditure. Furthermore, the argument made by the State Exco to the House of Assembly regarding the cost of the bond (N540 Million) being negligible in comparism to a commercial bank loan is unattainable when compared in absolute terms of what

Continues on page 28

Garba Lawal (born 22 May 1974 in Kaduna) is a former football midfielder from Nigeria who works as the General manager at Kaduna United F.C.

Career Lawal has had his most successful time at Roda JC in the Dutch Eredivisie. He also played for Julius Berger F.C. in Nigeria and Chinese side Changsha Ginde. In August 2009, he announced his return as a player-coach for Makurdi side Lobi Stars, He was named General Manager of Kaduna United in February 2014.

International career Lawal is regarded as one of the most versatile players in the Nigeria national football team of the 1990s and early 2000s often being used for any position ranging from defence to attack on the left wing. Lawal took part at the FIFA World Cups in 1998, where he played a key role in the 3-2 win over Spain in Nigeria's first match of the tournament, and in 2002. He won the Olympic gold medal in 1996. He represented Nigeria at four editions of African Cup of Nations: 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006, scoring in all but the first.

Coaching career In August 2009 was named as the assistant coach of Lobi Stars F.C. In the same year, he was employed as team coordinator for the Nigeria national under-17 football team.

Published by ADVOCATE Newspapers Ltd, Corporate Office: No. 30 Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu. Phone: 08087631127. Editor: Rex Arum 07066097362. website: www.theadvocatengr.com ADVOCATE NIGERIA (ISSN 2408-4824) e-mail: editoradvocate@ymail.com