The Nation April 01, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

...59 D AYS TO GO DA

•Jubilation in Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Uyo, Ilorin, others •What the victory means, by Tambuwal, Amaechi, others •IBB, Abdulsalami, Atiku, Anyaoku hail outcome MORE ON •Obasanjo sets agenda for president-elect •AND PAGES 5,7&58

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3171 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH WINNERS ALL

N150.00

Winners and losers •SEE PAGES 4&5

•Odigie-Oyegun •Tinubu

•Abdulsalami

•Jega

•Amaechi

•Kerry

•12 GREAT PAGES OF STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ON BUHARI’S VICTORY BEGIN ON PAGE 2

Buhari...the president-elect •SEE PAGE 6

Jonathan telephones winner at 5:15pm to say congrats

•VICT OR Y SMILES: Gen. Buhari •VICTOR ORY

thank all Nigerians once again for the ‘Igreat opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure you that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure

’

•Dr. Jonathan

THE FINAL SCORES STATE APC PDP •Abia 13,394 368,303 •Adamawa 374,701 251,664 •A/Ibom 58,411 953,304 •Anambra 17,926 660,762 •Bauchi 931,598 86,085 •Bayelsa 5,194 361,209 •Benue 373,961 303,737 •Borno 473,543 25,640 •C/River 28,368 414,863 •Delta 48,910 ,211,405 •Ebonyi 19,518 323,658 •Edo 208,469 286,869 •Ekiti 120,331 176,466 •Enugu 14,157 553,003 •Gombe 361,245 96,873 •Imo 133,253 559,185 •Jigawa 885,988 142,904 •Kaduna 1,127,760 484,085 •Kano 1,903,999 215,779 •Katsina 1,345,441 98,937 •Kebbi 567,833 100,972 •Kogi 264,851 149,987 •Kwara 302,146 132,602 •Lagos 792,460 632,327 •Nasarawa 236,838 273,460 •Niger 657,678 149,222 •Ogun 308,290 207,950 •Ondo 299,889 251,368 •Osun 383,603 249,929 •Oyo 528,620 303,376 •Plateau 429,140 549,615 •Rivers 69,238 1,487,075 •Sokoto 671,926 152,199 •Taraba 261,326 310,800 25,526 •Yobe 446,265 •Zamfara 612,202 144,833 •FCT 146,399 157,195 Total 15,424,921 12,853,162 Total No. of votes 28,288,083

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

Tortuous road to victory Gen Muhammadu Buhari probably scaled fewer hurdles throughout the 24 years that his military career lasted than the ones he was made to scale between October 2014 and last Saturday. Deputy News Editor BUNMI OGUNMODEDE captures the bumps that were placed before the President-elect to frustrate him out of the race.

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HE road to victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) was tortuous. There were landmines from the formation of the party to the polls which eventually held last Saturday.

It took the opposition forces in the three parties that passed for regional movements to come together under the APC to give the self-acclaimed largest party in Africa the challenge.

The parties, now defunct are: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) as well as a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), led by Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

Registration bumps An amorphous group laid claim to the APC franchise and approached the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from registering the new party. The association claimed both the name and the logo belonged to it.

But the APC under the interim chairmanship of Chief Bisi Akande convinced the court that INEC had no such name and logo in its records when the party approached it for registration. The court declined the prayer of the association and INEC eventually listed APC in its register of political parties.

As soon as it secured INEC’s Certificate of Registration, the APC became a platform for the opposition – some genuine, others fair-weather politicians and many strange bird fellows.

The Abuja Convention The Convention which at the Eagle Square, Abuja where the party elected its officials forced the spies and fifth columnists to leave the same way they came into the party. They were bitter that they failed to clinch vital party positions. For instance, former Foreign Affairs Minister Chief Tom Ikimi returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after his kinsman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, clinched the APC chairmanship. Though Ikimi alleged that he was being treated as an outsider in the party he helped to form, the party said it was risky to give those it described as moles leadership positions. Former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sherrif also defected to the PDP. But the victory of the APC at the presidential and National Assembly elections has clearly showed that the exit of some characters was of no political consequence on the APC.

The Lagos Convention The belief was that the APC would go into extinction after its National Convention at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. But the process that led to the emergence of Gen Muhammadu Buhari, a former Head of State, as the party’s standard bearer for the presidential election, further united all the contenders in line with the undertaking they had signed to rally support for whoever emerged as long as the process was transparent.

Running mate It took the APC six clear days after it picked Gen. Buhari to name Prof Olayemi Osinbajo as his running mate.

The choice of Osinbajo, a law teacher and a Senior Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) unsettled the ruling party. Osinbajo laid to rest speculations that the APC would pair Muslims on its ticket.

Religion The APC presidential candidate was

labelled a jihadist who will drag Nigeria into the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), if elected. He was portrayed as a religion bigot who has a soft spot for Islamic militants. But the stain failed to stick. His driver and cook of 20 years according to reports, are devoted Christians. Besides, his running mates during the three previous attempts - at the presidency in 2003, 2007 and 2011 - are Christians.

Ethnicity Those opposed to the Gen. Buhari presidency branded him as an ethnic jingoist, whose passion is limited to the North. This also failed to convince discerning Nigerians, who insited on change – the APC slogan.

Certificate At a point, the issue of Gen. Buhari’s educational attainment was brought up and his opponents said he had not satisfied the educational requirement to run for the presidency. The statutory prerequisite is the West Africa School Certificate (WASCE). He had filled in his INEC intent form that a copy could be obtained in its file with the Military Secretary. But the issue became a subject of controversy when the military said it only has a recommendation letter from his erstwhile principal that he was qualified to be enlisted into the army in 1961. It took the incumbent principal of Government College (Pilot), Katsina to re-issue a file copy of Buhari’s WASCE Statement of Result before the matter was laid to rest, even the aggrieved rushing to court rooms to have him disqualified.

Health Even when his doctor certified him medically fit, his opponents insisted he was terminally ill and urged Nigerians not to vote for him.

Hate Adverts When all failed to stop him, Gen. Buhari’s opponents resorted to hate documentaries and publication of hate adverts to cast aspersions on his person. Several billions went into the drains to sponsor such advertisements, many of which never achieved their intended aims.

Postponement Exactly a week to the presidential and National Assembly elections, the electoral umpire, on the advice of security chiefs, announced a six-week postponement of the elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11.

Beyond the security challenges that were cited in the Northwestern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe as reasons for the polls’ shift, the measure was to allow the ruling party some space to do some damage control taking the advantage of the six-week window. It was also believed that the opposition would have run out of campaign funds to sustain the tempo.

SCRs/PVCs When it dawned on those bent on manipulating the electoral process that the use of the SCRs and the PVCs will not allow electoral fraud, they mounted a campaign against the devices. The biometric verification of the PVCs prevented the illegal use of ware-housed PVCs to vote.

Manipulation The figures returned from some states created an impression that they were doctored and allocated to the 14 political parties that were on the ballot.

A new dawn For 16 years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dominated the political space. Its leaders boasted that it will rule for 60 years. But yesterday, the table turned, as the All Progressives Congress (APC), won last Saturday’s presidential election. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the significance of the new dawn and its lessons for democracy.

T

HE progressives have made history. Since Independence, they have been sharpening the opposition arrows. But, the status quo collapsed yesterday, following the declaration of the results of last Saturday’s presidential election.

The symbol of the victory is Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a former military Head of State and standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He defeated President Goodluck Jonathan, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was the triumph of hope and courage for a man, who had failed in three previous elections. It was the first time an incumbent would be defeated by his challenger. It was a turning-point in national history.

It was also the end of an era for the Ijaw-born politician. Acknowledging the reality of the new dawn, the President conceded defeat to the victor.

Instantly, he became a statesman by respecting the wish of Nigerians who voted him out. He congratulated the President-elect, the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and other opposition leaders on phone.

Through that singular effort, he changed people’s perception about him as a desperate leader itching for a fresh mandate at all costs. His conciliatory move, despite the acrimony that characterised the contest, would herald a peaceful transfer of power on May 29.

March 28 was the defining moment. The credit goes to the sanctity of the ballot box. During the presidential election, democracy was insulated from colossal assault by master riggers and electoral terrorists. The commitment of the electoral agency and its novel Smart Card Readers (SCRs) saved voters from the nightmare.

With the outcome of the election, a precedent has been set. The change of government at the centre by popular vote is now possible in democracy.

The Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is the potent weapon of choice. Gone were the days when the ruling party can go away with its impunity. The lesson is instructive. Change will always be inevitable whenever the government fails to live up to expectation.

But, another factor is also crucial.

Only an unbiased umpire can safeguard the integrity and credibility of the electoral process.

The analysis of the results released by the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reflected a change in the voting pattern. Old alliances and traditional voting trends were altered.

The issues that shaped the 2011 polls, including the sympathy for a ‘shoeless boy’ from Otuoke; the consideration for power shift to the minority ethnic group in the South; the rejection of ‘power shift to North’ slogan and the promise by the embattled President to live up to expectation, gave way. But, after four years, it was evident that the ethnic and religious solidarity was misplaced. The

goodwill evaporated. As Nigerians groaned under the lean period, with the economy lying prostrate, critical sectors wobbling and unemployment soaring, public confidence waned.

The nation thirsted for a new lease of life under a new leadership. The disconnect between the government that has squandered a popular mandate and the bewildered people resulted into bitterness.

Consequently, voters waited till the poll day to vent their anger. In a society ravaged by poverty, misery, want and frustration, money was doled out to woo the electorate. The strategy failed as it could not save the President from a looming electoral disaster. The results underscored the decline in the strength of the ruling PDP, which has been in power for 16 years.

Ironically, its leaders had boasted that the hitherto octopus party will rule for 60 years. The election was a referendum on the performance of the President in the last six years. To analysts, the outcome confirmed the rejection of the inept leadership, which they believe, has plunged the country into the abysmal pit of corruption, economic strangulation and hopelessness.

The poll was conducted across the six geo-political zones in an atmosphere of ethno-religious strife and rancour. Never has the fledgling nation-state been so divided along ethno-religious lines in the post-civil war era. This presents a challenge. In their quest for power, leading lights in the polity across the six regions participated in the election, not as Nigerians bubbling with national outlook, but as Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Junkun and Kanuri, reminiscent of the pre-colonial days of ethnic wars coordinated by tribal champions. Therefore, the President-elect, as the new face of the country and the symbol of unity and cohesion, has to brace for the challenge of national reconciliation.

However, the euphoria of change or power shift notwithstanding, the outcome of the poll has brought some issues to the front burner. Observers may be cautious in placing the new mandate, within the context of bitter struggle for power and lack of meaningful consensus. Unlike the June 12, 1993 mandate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, the mandate conferred on Gen. Buhari may not be viewed as a panNigerian mandate, owing to the voting behaviour along ethnic and religious leanings. Also, the election lacked ideological underpinning. The dichotomy between the blocs - Northern Peoples Congress (NPC)/Action Group (AG); National Party of Nigeria (NPN)/Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and Social Democratic Party (SDP)/National Republican Convention (NRC) - has been absent.

Some political scholars have pointed out that there is no marked difference between the two dominant parties, al-

though APC leaders tend to lay claim to superior manifestoes and sound pedigree of its governors who are role models.

Unlike before, the elite were not aloof. They showed unprecedented interest in the electoral process. To this category of informed citizens, the last six years of the Jonathan administration have been very boring. They believed that the ship of state was sinking under Dr. Jonathan and that Gen. Buhari was on a genuine rescue mission. The response from the Muslim-dominated North to the presidential battle was obviously shaped by its clamour for power shift. Conversely, the voting behaviour of the Southsouth and the Southeast was also influenced by ethnic and religious appeal. But, the resolve to change a non-performing government had a stronger appeal among the wide spectrum of stakeholders.

This is also reflected in the comparative analysis of the 2011 and 2015 election results. In 2011, Gen. Buhari, who ran on the platform of a seemingly fragile Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) got 12, 214, 853 votes, trailing the President, who got 22, 495, 187 votes. The election polarised the country into pro-Jonathan and proBuhari supporters. While the North voted for Buhari, the Middle Belt and the South, with the exception of Osun State, voted for Buhari. Osun’s vote went to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. In that election, Buhari got majority of votes in 12 states namely: Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, and Yobe. President Jonathan won in 23 states of Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Adamawa, Taraba, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia Enugu, Cross River and Rivers. He also won in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

•Dr. Jonathan

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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BUHARI’S VICTORY

n PDP •Nigeria as it was in 2011

But, this year’s result is a wide departure. There is a clean break from 2011. The President was defeated in five Southwest states of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. He lost in Kwara, Kogi, and Benue. The seemingly natural alliance between the North and Southeast/Southsouth, which predated the First Republic, was erased. For the first time, Southwest and the North were in political marriage. In 2011, Jonathan had 1,281, 688 votes in Lagos. last Saturday’s election he got a over 600,000 votes.

But, Gen. Buhari, who scored 189,983 in 2011, moved up. He got over 700,000 votes. In Oyo, Jonathan polled 434, 758 voted in 2011. This year, it dropped to 303,376. But, Buhari moved up from 92, 396 to 528, 620. In Kogi, while Buhari, who got 132, 201 in 2011, scored 264, 851, Jonathan, who got 399, 816, could only garner 149,987. For Gen. Buhari, the 2011 pattern was sustained in highly populated Northern states of Kaduna, Kano and Katsina.

The West, which was more or less perceived as the deciding factor, tended to play contrasting roles. It was not influenced by ethnic and religious factors, although the Hausa/ Fulani in Agege, Apapa, Obalende, and Idi-Araba voted for Buhari in Lagos while the Igbo in Festac/ Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo, Isolo, Okota and some parts of Surulere gave their votes to the President. But, generally, the Southwest states of Ekiti and Ondo were tormented by the PDP arsenal. There were financial inducement, voter’s intimidation and repression in the last six weeks. In Lagos, thevoting pattern reflected the induced ethnic tension between Igbo and Yoruba, aided by the heavy naira and dollar rain by the PDP. In Ekiti, Governor Ayo Fayose, who had objected to Buhari’s candidature and campaigned vigorously for Dr. Jonathan, was combative throughout.

He single-handedly influenced the way the people voted in Ekitiland.

But, in Ondo State, Jonathan’s campaign coordinator, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, could not re-enact the 2012 magic, despite the enormous power and resources at his disposal.

Also, in the West, the President struck a deal with wrong persons. His romance with the traditional rulers, factional Afenifere leaders - Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Dr. Femi Okurounmu and Basorun Seinde Arogbofa - did not yield dividends. In the same vein, his fraternity with both factions of the controversial ethnic militia, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), was counter-productive. It revealed, in part, his shallow understanding of the Southwest politics and knowledge of its true, popular and respected political lead-

APC

•Nigeria as it is today

APC victory: Few thought it possible NEWS ANALYSIS

O

F all the fairy tales that ever came out of Nigeria, yesterday’s victory by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, in the presidential election is probably the most spectacular.

Thirty years after he was ousted in a military coup d’etat, the retired general and former head of state will assume office in May as elected president, the culmination of an incredible, breathtaking journey from three past presidential elections defeat. Tenacious, soft-spoken and generally taciturn, the Daura, Katsina State-born Gen Buhari, 72, won the March 28 election by a an appreciable plurality of about two million votes to beat the incumbent, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, an Ijaw from Bayelsa State. Gen. Buhari swept the Northwest, Northeast, North-Central and Southwest to put the election far beyond dispute. The shape and texture of the victory may also help Nigeria begin the process of healing from self-inflicted injuries caused by probably the most bad-tempered campaign since the inauguration of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

For a campaign that began inauspiciously in January, projections of a Buhari/APC victory were thought to be exaggerated. The APC was formed in February 2013 from a union of some four parties, registered as a political party in July that same year, and presented its road map and code of ethics about a year later. Derided and goaded by the ruling PDP, the party struggled through internal disagreements and defections to hold a surprisingly successful convention in December 2014, from which Gen Buhari emerged as candidate. He was later joined on the ticket by Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of law and former Lagos State Attorney-General, who was selected as his running mate after tough negotiations lasting a few days. Together with their reinvigorated party, the candidates began a gruelling and financially handicapped campaign in January to win office.

The President-elect and his party will, however, face two pressing problems in the next few months. First, given the scale of the damage done to the economy by the outgoing Dr. Jonathan administration, Gen. Buhari and his team will struggle to justify huge public expectations. Quick fixes will not work, nor are they even available. Indeed, in the short run, the new administration will have to take tough choices that may in the immediate future cause a serious backlash and electoral problems. And because everyone’s patience will wear thin, the new president may take options that will make many question his democratic credentials, especially with a wounded PDP unaccustomed to the inconveniences of opposition politics.

Second, having come a fairly short way from formation to winning the

ers. Apart from Fayose and Mimiko, others who claimed to be working for the President in the region could not have successfully mobilised for councillorship candidates in the zone.

According to observers, the events of the last three years have served as the background to power shift. The (PDP) crisis led to its disintegration. Since the defection of Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano) from the party, the PDP chapters have not remained the same. Also, the defection of prominent PDP chieftains, including Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Senator Bukola Saraki, and Senator Danjuma Goje, created a vacuum in the party.

Another factor that accounted for Gen. Buhari’s success at the poll was the rise of a viable platform for

the opposition. With APC’s emergence, a two-party system evolved.

The two-party system does not mirror the one imposed on the polity by former military President Ibrahim Babangida in the ill-fated Third Republic. Unlike the defunct SDP and NRC, the two dominant parties - the PDP and the APC evolved from the people. Their manifestoes were also not written by the military.

In this Fourth Republic, the scattered opposition forces have discovered strength in unity. The prediction of the indomitable leader, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was fulfilled. After the 1983 elections, which were won by the NPN, because the progressives could not float a joint platform, he peeped into the future. Awo said a time will come when progressive forces will come together to present a common

By Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

presidency, rather than a long and testy stay in the wilderness, the APC and its leaders in and out of office will struggle valiantly to manage their stupendous success. There will be disagreements in sharing the spoils of war, and the party will have to devise new and ingenious ways of rewarding those who midwifed the party’s success, including the legacy parties that formed the new behemoth and the individuals that defected from other parties, some as late as one or two weeks to the epoch-making poll.

But perhaps more importantly, the party will have to find ways of rolling back the decay, confusion, indiscipline and stagnation that have entrenched themselves ingloriously in the system for nearly two decades. It will be helped by its dominance of the legislature and the expected success in the state polls of April 11. The security services, which have compromised themselves and become irrationally subjected to the whims of the ruling party, will have to be reformed, reoriented and rejuvenated. Had Dr Jonathan not been defeated, the country would have inexorably marched towards a revolution. The APC will, therefore, have to assemble a crack team of politicians and technocrats to snatch the country from the jaws of anarchy and disaster. Luckily for them, they have a long list of eminently qualified and patriotic Nigerians to pick from. The task is urgent, and the job onerous and demanding. The president-elect must use the about two months left before inauguration to concretise what he plans to do, and the men and women he hopes to use in order to hit the ground running.

What stands the party out, and probably accounts for its quick and colossal electoral success, is its intrinsic and even intuitive ability to dare and envision great things. It owes this fine attribute to the presence in the party of a few people who imbue the struggle and the party with their modernising and expansive views of issues and new political and developmental paradigms. Their talents will be in great demand if the party is to succeed in the challenging tasks ahead.

And considering the almost anticlimactic end to the presidential and legislative elections, which are expected to set the tone for the next set of elections, the victorious party must recognise that after an intensively divisive campaign, a healing process devoid of the fanfare and extravagance of the South African-type truth and reconciliation commission is needed.

That process, surprisingly, was kick-started by Dr Jonathan himself when he called the president-elect and congratulated him even before the final ballots were officially counted, thus taking the wind out of the sail of troublemakers. The task of redeeming and reclaiming the country from the hands of antidemocratic forces and mediocre economic managers is truly urgent. Gen Buhari, the beneficiary of an historic election, the kind never witnessed in Nigeria, must now rise boldly and courageously to the historic challenge before him. front to displace the conservative fold in a power struggle.

When the leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the CPC and a section of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) made sacrifices by dissolving the rival progressive platforms to pave the way for a bigger, broader and formidable party, the stage was set for a titanic contest. Historians will always allude to the Tinubu factor in the evolution of the mega party. Former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, was the motivator, inspirer, and arrowhead of the progressive forces that challenged the ruling establishment. Working with other patriots, including Gen. Buhari, Chief Bisi Akande, the former APC Interim Chairman, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Prince Tony Momoh, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and the deter-

mined governors and chieftains from PDP, he sold the platform to Nigerians as a credible and better alternative.

However, the euphoria of victory should quickly wither away. There is much work for the incoming President to do. A lot of damage has been done by the outgoing government.

Buhari’s second coming is more significant. He will not rule by the barrel of the gun, unlike 1984/85. He will inherit a country in despair. The national treasury is empty. The debt profile is huge. Youths are in a futile search for elusive jobs. The infrastructure battle must be fought. Nigerians may also not be patient with him.

They will want a quick action.

Besides, the two-party system has implications. It has made democratic self-renewal possible. But, it will always make the electoral process competitive.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

Presidential election: I

N any contest, there must be a winner and a loser. The presidential election has produced its winners and losers. But beside the major players, there are other people and institutions that contributed to the success of the process.

THE WINNERS Democracy The change in the leadership was made possible through the democratic process. Since the return of democracy in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dominated power at the centre. The periodic elections every four years offer Nigerians the opportunity to elect the leaders of their choice. In the absence of democracy, Nigeria would have become the property of a cabal. The victory of the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a triumph of democracy.

•Akande

•Ibrahim

•Onu

•Saraki

•Geidam

Winners

INEC & its leadership The commitment of the Prof Attahiru Jega –led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and to a transparent electoral process is a plus for our democracy. The INEC leadership has remained thorough since it came on board. The introduction of the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) and the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has eliminated fraud that hitherto characterised the electoral process. It eliminated multiple voting and fake voters’ register. The use of the devices stimulated the interests of the electorate since it gave them the assurance that their votes will count.

Both local and international observers have described the presidential and National Assembly elections as free, fair and credible by foreign and local observers in their preliminary reports.

The Judiciary The judiciary deserves commendation for not allowing itself to be used to scuttle the electoral process. Unlike in the past when the courts granted frivolous injunctions to confuse the electoral umpire, the judiciary has abstained from such acts despite the fact that many politicians and individuals approached it to frustrate the system.

Nigerians The voters played important role in the entire process. Their resilience in ensuring peaceful elections paved the way for the emergence of a new leadership. Despite provocation and intimidation by the enemies of progress, Nigerians stood by their conviction that change was desirable to save the country from total collapse. They have proved that no amount of inducement will compromise them. Nigerians across the country have through the ballot said no to tribal and ethno-religious politics. From across the six geopolitical zones, they have united against pervasive corruption and inept leadership.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo The resignation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a master stroke. Chief Obasanjo, who single-handedly nominated Dr Goodluck Jonathan as the running mate to former the President, the late Umaru Yar’Adua in 2011, was not happy with the state of affairs under the Jonathan presidency. He complained of lack of security and highlevel corruption in the country and the mismanagement of the economy.

In 2011, Chief Obasanjo risked his life and met with the leaders of Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri,

Losers

•Akpabio

By Leke Salaudeen, Assistant Editor Borno State to broker a truce between them and the Federal Government.

They assured Obasanjo that they would lay down their arms once the government was ready to meet their demands. President Jonathan allegedly refused to act on Obasanjo’s report. The last time Obasanjo talked on the general elections, he advised Nigerians to elect a tested and a visionary leader to steer the ship of the country. With the declaration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the presidential election, Nigerians have heeded Obasanjo’s words of wisdom.

Buhari/Osinbajo The combination of Muhammadu Buhari, a retired army general and Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of Law as presidential and vice presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) symbolised integrity and maturity. Gen Buhari was a onetime Head of State and held several public offices during his days in the military. He was at different times, a military governor, a Minister of Petroleum Resources and chairman, Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). Buhari is reputed of not using his positions to amass wealth or engage in corrupt practises. He was the only former Minister of Petroleum that has no oil well or petrol station. As military Head of State, he restored sanity in private and public life; he restructured the economy and rebuffed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) economic policies that later ruined Nigeria economy. Gen. Buhari had contested the presidency and lost thrice but at the fourth attempt, he won the election with wide margin.

His running mate, Osinbajo, is a senior pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

The legal scholar was the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Lagos State between 1999 and

•Aliyu

2007.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

The APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu is the pillar of the opposition group. But for him, there would have been no formidable opposition party in the country. He and other like minds in the progressive fold initiated the merger of the opposition parties to wrest power from the PDP. His argument was that the opposition parties were too weak to dislodge the PDP from power unless they come together. In 2003, when the PDP took over the Southwest except Lagos, Tinubu remained the only opposition voice in the zone. In 2007, his party – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was able to win in Lagos State.

Through perseverance, the party regained more states and became a dominant party in the Southwest. He used his personal resources to nurture the APC into a formidable opposition party. Tinubu became the rallying point for the APC, hence he is regarded the national leader of the victorious party.

Abubakar Atiku Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was one of the pillars behind the APC success at the poll. The Turakin Adamawa pledged after the presidential primary that notwithstanding his loss, he will support Buhari and work for the APC victory.

He provided the party a lifeline in Adamawa, his home state which was responsible for the success recorded in the state. He also turned down last minute’s overtures to defect to the PDP.

APC leaders Senator Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara State is a pioneer member of the APC. He was one of the leaders of new PDP, a splinter group that stormed out of the party’s convention for what was described as lack of internal democracy. Saraki led 10 other PDP senators who defected

•Anenih

to the APC. Despite intimidation and harassment by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Saraki vowed not to return to the PDP. He has proven his leadership quality in Kwara politics by winning the party for the APC in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko was a member of the seven aggrieved PDP governors referred to as G-7. He and four other members joined the APC at the formative stage.

His decision to bring the state of caliphate was a morale booster for the new party. Members of the State House of Assembly and his commissioners dumped the PDP and joined the APC. Wamakko is a grassroot politician. He is popular among the common people. This, he has demonstrated by winning Sokoto State for the APC. Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, the incumbent governor of Kano State, was also a member of G7. He contested the APC presidential primary but lost. Despite his loss, he pledged to support Buhari and worked for the party’s success at the general elections. He fulfilled his promise as he delivered Kano State with 1.9 million votes. He is an incoming Senator.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State also belonged to the G7. Despite harassment and intimidation by the presidency, Amaechi stood his ground. President Jonathan’s wife, Dame Patience, an indigene of Rivers State, considered it an affront for the governor of her state to belong to an opposition party. That explains for what played out during the presidential and national assembly elections, where many APC members were allegedly blocked from casting their ballot. Amaechi is a courageous for being only the PDP governor that defected from the Southsouth zone. He played a vital role as the DirectorGeneral of APC Presidential Campaign Organisation. He is the Chair-

•Anyim

man of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Like Amaechi, Governor Rochas Okorocha is the only governor from the Southeast in the APC. He contested the presidential primary of the APC and lost. Okorocha said he knew that he would lose but he contested to give his people (Ndigbo) a sense of belonging in the progressive fold. He said it will be dangerous for Igbo people to put all their eggs in one basket. Even though the APC lost in Imo to the federal might, Okorocha was not disgraced. He delivered his local government to the APC. House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwwal has shown from the onset that his body was in the PDP while his soul was with the opposition. While still in PDP, he said the body language of President Jonathan was encouraging corruption. It was not surprising the maltreatment meted out to him after his defection to the APC. His security personnel including driver were withdrawn only to be reinstated few days to the elections. He is the APC governorship candidate for Sokoto State.

Senator George Akume is the Minority Leader in the Senate. He was a founding member of the APC. He was governor of Benue State for eight years. He is the party leader in the state. Through his unilateral efforts, the APC became popular in the state.

The performance of the APC in Benue in this election is an indication of the party’s acceptability. For instance, incumbent Governor Gabriel Suswan was defeated in the senatorial election by an APC candidate, Barnabas Gemade Gemade, a serving senator defected to the APC when he was denied a return ticket in the PDP. Gemade was a former national chairman of the PDP. He tested his popularity outside PDP on the platform of the APC and defeated Governor Suswan, who got

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

5

BUHARI’S VICTORY

n: Winners and losers between two and three million, an attempt to mislead the public. But the result of the election proved him wrong.

Godsda Orubebe Former Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe attempted to distrupt the declaration of results by INEC at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. But for the mature handling of the situation by INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, the declaration of the winner would have ended abruptly. Orubebe was ordered back to his seat by security operatives. He was rebuked for a conduct unbecoming of a statesman.

Godswill Akpabio •Kwakwanso

•Okorocha

•Tambuwal

•Oyegun

•Akume

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio is a confidant of President Jonathan. He is the chairman of the PDP Governorship Forum. He had predicted landslide victory for Jonathan. He is the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

Ali Modu Sheriff Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was the former governor of Borno State. He was very close to President Jonathan.

He was quoted as saying that if APC wins in Borno, Jonathan should hold him responsible. But the APC won the presidential and national assembly elections in Borno convincingly.

Doyin Okupe

•Fani-Kayode

•Fasehun

the ticket.

Aisha Buhari/Dolpapo Osinbajo The wife of the President-elect, Aisha and the wife of the Vice President-elect, Dolapo deserve commendation for supporting their spouses.

They undertook their own campaign programme and they avoided abusive languages at the rallies and town hall meetings they organised across the country. They mobilised the womenfolk and explained the APC manifestoes

National Peace Committee The committee headed by former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar prevailed on the two major presidential candidates to maintain the peace before, during and after the elections. The committee made the candidates to sign an agreement to that effect. It has the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and fiery Catholic cleric, Rev. Matthew Hassan-Kukah as members.

The international community The international community showed concern about the Nigerian election. United States President Barack Obama and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron advised both President Jonathan and Gen. Buhari to educate their supporters on the need to maintain the peace, before, during and after the elections.

THE LOSERS Edwin Clark National Leader of Ijaw people, Chief Edwin Clark is the political godfather of President Jonathan. He was the first to hint that Jonathan would seek re-election. His argument was that this is the first time that a minority from the oil-rich region will be president and so, Dr. Jonathan should have a second term. He threatened that if Jonathan was not allowed another term, the country will be in trouble.

•Lamido

Tony Anenih Chief Tony Anenih is the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT).

He is popularly referred to as “Mr Fix it” in the PDP. Many believe he has the formula of winning election through dubious means. He did not feature in President Jonathan’s campaign activities, making many to wonder what has gone wrong with the Esan high chief.

Pius Anyim Anyim Pius Anyim is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). He is very influential in the Jonathan government. Before Jonathan’s declaration for second term, Anyim organised collection of signatures of PDP supporters purportedly begging the President to recontest the presidency. He had predicted a landslide victory for the President.

Mua’zu Adamu Mua’zu is the national chairman of the PDP. He said five days to the election that PDP would win with narrow margin. It was speculated that he resigned his position as party chairman when he was not seen in public with Jonathan on his campaign tours. Mua’zu, popularly called the ‘Game Changer’, failed to deliver his state – Bauchi to the PDP.

Sule Lamido Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State could not save President Jonathan in his state in the presidential election. APC floored the ruling party in the state with a wide margin. Jonathan failed to secure the required 25 per cent in Jigawa.

Olusegun Mimiko Governor Olusegun Mimiko is the Southwest Coordinator of the President Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation. Mimiko’s defection from the Labour Party has engendered crisis in the Ondo State chapter of the PDP.

•Suswam

The old members rejected the imposition of Mimiko as party leader. The PDP lost in Ondo State. What is more surprising is that the PDP lost in Mimko’s senatorial district.

Ayodele Fayose Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose was critical of Gen. Buhari’s candidature. In claiming that Buhari is too old and ill to be president, Fayose publicly insulted his own mother who he said wears pampers.

He also sponsored hate advertisement copies against Buhari.

Ikimi/Shekarau

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Chief Tom Ikimi and the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau all left the APC over leadership tussles. The duo were members of the merger committee that midwifed the birth of the APC. Ikimi left because he lost out in the struggle for the party’s chairmanship. He joined the PDP. Similarly, Shekarau checked out because of Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso who became the leader of the APC in Kano State. Shekarau failed to deliver Kano to the PDP where APC polled the highest number of votes.

Okonjo-Iweala The co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been fingered as one of those responsible for the defeat of President Jonathan.

Jonathan was rated low because of the mismanagement of the economy under her watch. The naira has fallen to an unimaginable level against other currencies. Former Central Bank Governor (CBN), Dr Charles Soludo alleged that under Okonjo-Iweala, N30 trillion could not be accounted for and that was why former Presient Obasanjo removed her from Finance Ministry. But Okonjo-Iweala denied the allegation.

Babangida Aliyu Governor Babangida Aliyu of

•Yuguda

Niger State was one of the promoters of Jonathan’s re-election. It was Aliyu who disclosed that Jonathan signed an agreement to run for one-term and that he would not seek re-election in 2015. Aliyu later recanted his words.

The PDP lost in Niger State to the APC. Aliyu as a sitting governor also lost his senatorial election to the APC candidate with a wide margin.

Vincent Ogbulafor A former national chairman of the PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor predicted that the party will rule Nigeria for 60 years. The election of Gen. Buhari of the APC has rubbished that claim.

Mujahid Asari-Dokubo The ex-militant leader Mujahid Asari Dokubo has said many times that if Jonathan was not allowed a second term, Nigeria will be set ablaze; that the militants would return to the creeks and make the country ungovernable. Nigerians have through the ballot described his statement as empty boast.

Afenifere/OPC A faction of Afenifere group has boasted that they are in control of the Southwest and promised to deliver Yoruba votes for Jonathan. But the result of the election proved them wrong. With the exception of Ekiti, other Southwest states were won by the APC. The Yoruba are so sophisticated that a group cannot determine who they will vote for.

The two factions of the Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) under the leadership of Dr Fredrick Fasehun and Gani Adams claimed with the numerical strength of their members, Jonathan will win in the Southwest but they both lost their polling units.

Femi Fani-Kayode He is the spokesman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation.

He claimed on Monday that the PDP has won in 23 states and leading with

Doyin Okupe is the Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs. He was reported as saying: “If APC wins, call me ac bastard”.

Now APC has won, will Okupe stand by his words?

Isa Yuguda Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has been flexing muscle with those he called “Abuja politicians”.

His strained relationship caused a split in the Bauchi chapter of the PDP. The PDP lost in Bauchi. Yuguda as a sitting governor lost the senatorial election.

Gabriel Suswam The Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan is a confidant of President Jonathan. He had assured the President of delivering Middle Belt votes. The APC defeated PDP in Benue State. Suswan was defeated by the APC candidate in the senatorial election.

Traditional rulers/clerics Some traditional rulers and clerics turned campaigners for President Jonathan. The traditional rulers promised to influence their subjects in voting for Jonathan to ensure his victory. Similarly, some clerics offered Jonathan spiritual blessings. All this could not save Mr. President from defeat.

Mulikat Adeola-Akande The Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola lost her re-election bid. She was a protégée of former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala who was responsible for her election in 2011. But Akala has left PDP for Labour Party. That explains why Akande was defeated

by Labour candidate.

Hate campaigners The First Lady Mrs Patience Jonathan, Femi Fani-Kayode, Fayose, and Okupe passed derogatory remarks on Gen Buhari.

For instance, Mrs Jonathan said Gen Buhari is brain-dead which was reinforced by Fani-kayode.

Fayose described Buhari as senile.

Okupe said APC is collection of rougues.

6

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

NEWS

•THE VICT OR YD ANCE: Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (third right), Chief Bisi Akande (fourth right), Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi (fifth right), Mr. Dele Alake (in front of VICTOR ORY DANCE: Olusi), Mr. Dapo Thomas (left), Alhaji Lanre Rasaq (second right), Senator Babafemi Ojudu (behind Akande), Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (behind Olusi) Ayodele Adewale (behind Ojudu) and others at Tinubu’s home in Lagos...yesterday.

Buhari: The lucky long distance runner

J

UST moments after the last results for the Presidential elections were read, the Wikipedia profile of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was changed. It was a minor change but no less significant, it designated him as “Nigeria’s Presidentelect.”

There are two things that would define Gen. Buhari who many of his political supporters fondly refer to as Baba. One would be his time as Nigeria’s Military Head of State between December 1983 and August 27, 1985. The other would be his foray into partisan politics and his four attempts at the highest office

By Seun Akioye

in the land. He contested unsuccessfully for the top post thrice in 2003, 2007 and 2011. But he became lucky in 2015.

Gen. Buhari has crafted for himself the image of an incorruptible leader, an anti-corruption czar and a converted democrat. Though hard driving and demanding when need be, many frustrated and angry Nigerians easily gravitated towards him as the man who could salvage the country from an inescapable slide down the abyss following years of corruption and economic ruin.

After three attempts at the Presidency under different political platforms, Gen. Buhari under the mega party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), finally won. He unseated President Goodluck Jonathan – the man who

stopped his third attempt.

Gen. Buhari has come a long way. Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, to Adamu and Zulaihat, he was raised by his mother, after his father died when he was a child.

In 1971, he married his first wife, Safinatu (née Yusuf). They had five children together, four girls and boy.

In 1988, Gen. Buhari and Safinatu divorced. In December 1989, he married Aisha (née Halilu). They also have five children together, a boy and four girls, Aisha, Halima, Yusuf, Zarah and Amina.

But tragedy was not far behind.

On January 14, 2006, Safinatu died from complications of diabetes.

She was buried at Unguwar Rimi cemetery in Kaduna in accordance

with Islamic rites. Also in November 2012, Gen. Buhari’s first daughter Zulaihat died from sickle cell anemia, two days after having a baby at a Hospital in Kaduna.

Gen. Buhari joined the Army in 1961 and rose to become a general.

He remains something of a folk hero to many young Nigerians, especially the youth. His heroic performance as chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and his staunch anti- corruption stand stood him out as the man needed for this time. Many young Nigerians desirous of a change from the status quo flooded to him and his “Change” slogan began a houseContinued on page 60

M

I’ve expanded democratic space, says Jonathan

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan last night thanked Nigerians for their participation in the democratic process.

In a concession statement, he said: “Fellow Nigerians, I thank you all for turning out enmasse for the March 28 General Elections. ”I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word. I have also expanded the space for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process. That is one legacy I will like to see endure. ”Although some people have expressed mixed feelings about the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress. ”As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else. ”I congratulate all Nigerians for successfully going through the process of the March 28th General Elections with the commendable enthusiasm and commitment that was demonstrated nationwide.

Continued on page 60 From Yusuf Alli and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

the announcement of results at exactly 2.47am, said: "Before I announce the results, I will like to express our gratitude to all Nigerians for the opportunity to serve this country.

"We also commend all Nigerians for coming out in large number during the election. I also express our appreciation to our staff, both permanent and ad hoc, who have worked tirelessly for the success of the poll, especially the

young members of the National Youth Service Corps who added value."

After the signing of the results by all parties, Jega declared Buhari as the winner of the election.

He said: "By the powers conferred on me by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, I hereby certified that I was a Returning Officer for the election held on the 28th of March 2015.

"That the election was conducted and that the candidates received the following votes.

"That Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes cast, is hereby declared the winner and elected."

The day started on a sour note when PDP agent Elder Godsday Orubebe almost disrupted the announcement of results. As soon as the process which started on Monday, resumed yesterday, Orubebe requested to make an observation. He was obliged.

He created a scene, swearing and screaming as he accused Jega of bias. The calmness with which Jega handled Orubebe’s Continued on page 60

Total valid votes Rejected votes Total votes cast

28,587,564 844,519 29,432,083

What victory means, by Tambuwal, Amaechi, Onu

Muhammadu Buhari...the president-elect

UHAMMADU Buhari, former Head of State and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was this morning declared winner of last Saturday’s presidential election.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega declared Gen. Buhari winner of the keenly contested election at exactly 3:46am after the collation of results from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The agent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not sign the result.

Gen. Buhari scored 15, 424,921 votes to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan, the candidate of the PDP, who polled 12,853,162 votes.

Gen. Buhari won in 21 states.

Jonathan won in 15 and in the FCT. The number of accredited voters for the March 28, Presidential Election was 31, 746,490.

Although the total votes cast were 29,432, 083, the difference between Buhari's votes and Jonathan's is 2, 571,759.

Flanked by National Commissioners, Jega, who began

ELECTION FIGURES •APC won in 21 states •PDP won in 15 states & FCT Total number of votes •APC 15,424,921 •PDP 12,853,162 States won by APC •Kaduna •Lagos •Kwara •Gombe •Oyo •Adamawa •Kogi •Zamfara •Kano •Kebbi •Jigawa •Benue •Ogun •Bauchi •Osun •Yobe •Ondo •Sokoto •Katsina •Borno •Niger States won by PDP •Enugu •Bayelsa •Nasarawa •Cross River •Ekiti •Edo •Abia •Taraba •Akwa Ibom •Delta •Imo •Anambra •Plateau •Rivers •Ebonyi •FCT How all the parties stand •AA 22,125 •ACPN 40,311 •AD 30,673 •ADC 29, 666 •APA 53, 537 •APC 15, 424, 921 •CPP 36, 300 •Hope 7, 435 •KOWA 13, 076 •NCP 24, 455 •PDP 12, 853, 162 •PPN 24, 475 •UDP 9, 208 •UPP 18, 220

K

EY leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday spoke on what the victory of Muhammadu Buhari means for the nation.

Director General of the APC Campaign Organisation and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi said the party will be magnanimous in victory and show Nigerians that there is basic difference between them and the ruling party.

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

He told reporters at the party secretariat in Abuja that the challenges facing the nation are enormous, saying the victory is not about celebration but the seriousness of governance.

He said: “We will be magnanimous in victory. The challenges are so much. We must show the seriousness between us and the present government.

Continued on page 60

I regret my action, says Orubebe

F

ORMER Niger Delta Affairs Minister Elder Godsday Orubebe last night apologised for his during the release of elections results in Abuja. He regretted that he allowed his emotion to betray him.

He pleaded with Niger Delta youths not to perpetrate violence because of the election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Orubebe, who held up proceedings for about 30 minutes, told re- SEE ALSO porters PAGE 61 in Abuja:

From Yusuf Alli and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

”Election is a passionate thing and I really regret what took place this morning. I was unnecessarily pushed by Jega to get to that level.

“I want to apologise particularly to young Nigerians that look up to take politics as a career to say that Continued on page 60

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

7

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

Oshiomhole, Amosun, Saraki, Fayemi, others greet president-elect

G

OVERNORS and other eminent citizens yesterday congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory.

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole said Buhari’s victory represents a new dawn in the nation’s polity.

Oshiomhole, in a statement, said: “Let me congratulate you sir, on your historic victory at the presidential election, through a process which has been adjudged as free, fair and credible by both local and international observers. Indeed, your victory, on the basis of one man, one vote, represents a new dawn in the democratic governance of our great country “The spread of your victory across the length and breadth of the country shows your national acceptance as the man Nigeria needs at this critical stage to reposition her from the 16 years of misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“I have implicit confidence that, with you as president, Nigeria will no doubt get a true and selfless leadership needed to drive the much-desired change at the centre, which will start the process of reengineering the country and halt the drift, which the country had been plunged in the past 16 years.”

Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun has also congratulated the president-elect.

Amosun expressed the hope that Buhari’s government would bring about the much needed security, economic growth and development.

Amosun, in a statement yesterday by his spokesperson, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, added that the victory was a demonstration of the Nigerian people’s confidence in Gen. Buhari’s strong leadership qualities.

Amosun said: “The people have spoken and demonstrated with their votes, their confidence in the ability of the president-elect to pull the nation out of its present economic woes.

“The trajectory of the presidentelect, his principles and uprightness are some of the qualities that must have endeared him to the electorate.”

To the former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Gen. Buhari’s victory signposts a new beginning for Nigeria and Nigerians.

“History has just been made in our dear country”, declared Fayemi, who hailed Buhari’s victory over the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan as a victory for democracy and the Nigerian citizenry.

Fayemi, in the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said going by the outcome of the election, Nigerians have demonstrated to the entire world their ability and readiness to tow the path of greatness and oneness.

“Nigerians have spoken. They have spoken clearly through their votes.

They want a new direction and a new approach to governance and the APC government under the leadership of Gen. Buhari owes them this and more”, said Fayemi.

He added that the APC, through the victory, is now saddled with the responsibility of making a meaningful change in the lives of the people as promised during the electioneering.

Fayemi, who chaired the APC national convention that produced Gen. Buhari as the party’s candidate, said Nigerians were the actual winners in the keenly contested election, having demonstrated rare courage and determination to effect the change they desired.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki dedicated Gen, Buhari’s victory to the citizens.

People celebrating Gen. Buhari’s victory at an intersection in Kaduna...yesterday.

AFP PHOTO

Jubilation in Ibadan, Lagos, Kano, Minna, Uyo, others

N

IGERIANS took to streets yesterday in Ibadan, Lagos, Kano, Niger, Lokoja, Kaduna, Sokoto, Maiduguri and others jubilating from the moment it was confirmed that All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) would be declared as the country’s presidentelect.

Men, women, youths and children, in joy, shouted: “Sai Baba, Sai Buhari” as they celebrated.

At Sabo area of Ibadan, residents, most especially northerners, brought out brooms, shouting “Sai Baba”, “Sai Buhari” as motorists had hectic time linking Adamasingba due to gridlock.

Some of the celebrants were on bikes, riding up and down the streets.

A cow with the logo of the APC was bought for residents’ entertainment.

A disc jockey was on hand to entertain the people.

It was the same story at Challenge, Gate, Iwo-Road, Felele, Ojoo and other areas.

Lagos residents also trooped out in their thousands yesterday night to celebrate the emergence of the APC presidential candidate and his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

The Hausas took over Ketu and Mile 12 axis of Ikorodu road, shouting: “Say Baba, Say Buhari”.

Lining up the two sides of the express road, they carried high the campaign banners of Buhari/Osinbajo and the state APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode from Mile 12 market towards Ketu/Ojota shouting: “Sai Baba, Sai Buhari”.

T

By Our Reporters

The crowd caused gridlock among vehicles going to Owode/Ikorodu, forcing motorists to chorus the victory slogan.

Some northerners also took to beating drums and playing their traditional flutes as others danced in circles in celebration.

In Kano, it was wide elation, as the news of Gen. Buhari’s victory filtered into town. Youths in their hundreds stormed the streets in celebration.

Some of the youths engaged in acrobatic display with their motorbikes and tricycles, with majority of them waving brooms - the symbol of the APC. Minna, the Niger State capital, was also enveloped with joy as the youth, party members and supporters rejoiced.

As soon as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Returning Officer for the presidential election, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, adjourned sitting for the collation of result from Borno by 6pm, the youth took to the streets.

In what was like an instantaneous reaction, horn blaring cars and motorcycles with jubilating youths took to the streets, waving brooms and APC flags, Buhari’s banners and posters.

From Chanchaga through Tunga to Mobil, Bosso and Tundu-Fulani, the jubilating teams took over the roads.

At Maitumbi, Saiko, Limawa, Nikangbe, Dutsen Kura, Maikukunle and Kapgunku, youths were seen re-

joicing and celebrating.

Thousands of APC supporters also trooped to the streets of Kaduna in wild jubilation.

The supporters, who were on motorcycles, bicycles, Keke NAPEP and cars, carried brooms and started chanting ‘Sai Baba’ and sweeping major Kaduna streets.

Though Kaduna city was very quiet in the early hours of yesterday, at about 4pm, APC supporters stated gathering at major junctions like Ungwar Sarki, Tudun Wada and Ahmadu Bello Way. As at the time of filing this report, rumour of dusk-to-dawn curfew was going round, but the residents were unconcerned.

In Sokoto, thousands of APC supporters and well-wishers of its presidential candidate yesterday started jubilating the anticipated victory of the candidate before the official announcement by Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

The streets of Sokoto, the state capital, were agog with jubilant youths, most of who entertained the crowd with their bikes.

Maiduguri and Emir Yahaya roads were taken over by the youth.

Residents also took to the streets in Lokoja, even as results from Borno State were yet to be officially announced by INEC. Thousands of Maiduguri residents also rejoiced before Gen. Buhari was officially declared winner of the election.

Security operatives also joined in the celebration, shooting sporadically in the air and blowing sirens on high speed with their vehicles on the streets of Maiduguri.

In Yobe State, Damaturu, the state capital, also went into wild celebration as APC supporters trooped out to celebrate the victory.

The youth besieged the Damaturu central roundabout and major streets, chanting party slogans.

The Nation gathered that Potiskum, Gashua, Nguru, Geidam and other major towns were also in celebration mood.

Many of the people were happy that their votes counted.

In Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, supporters of APC were not left out.

They brandished brooms, singing and dancing along the major roads in the state capital.

The state APC governorship candidate, Umana Okon Umana, described the victory as a historic moment for Nigeria.

Umana explained that Gen. Buhari has the required skills, experience and capacity to turn Nigeria around economically and politically.

Also, a member of the Board of Trustees of PDP, Don Etiebet, said the victory was as a result of rebellion against the PDP. Etiebet described President Goodluck Jonathan’s action in congratulating Gen. Buhari victory as a new beginning for the nation’s politics.

Tinubu: victory shows people’s will for change

HE victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential elections was yesterday hailed as one anchored on people’s will to stop the nation’s drift to abyss, the party’s national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said.

The APC leader said the country had been mismanaged and toed a dangerous path under the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was defeated in the contest.

The victory, Tinubu said, would detach the nation’s economy from its current bond to dollar, noting that PDP government wasted time to run the country down. He said Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect, would introduce “common sense reforms” and bring accountability to governance and public administration.

“This is a defining moment for our

By Wale Ajetunmobi

nation. It is the time to turn potentials of our country to realities. The people have suffered enough but we are resilient. Our economy is tied to the dollars when we have arable land and untapped minerals, yet we have no electricity to power the industry.

How can you build a nation in that way?

“The PDP government had enough time to develop the country…we have petroleum industry yet we cannot create enough jobs. We have refined products from petroleum but we cannot turn them around. Who says we cannot be the headquarters of plastic in Africa? It is a matter of creativity and common sense reform.

“We have to have this change to engender competitiveness in thinking and in service delivery. But, a nation that follows a political philos-

ophy of power in reverse becomes the ruler and will not serve the people. If people are not being held accountable, then you have not had a nation. APC will be a good octopus that will start from every aspect and bring good governance to the people.”

At Tinubu’s Ikoyi home, it was celebration galore. Hundreds of youths and politicians converged to celebrate the party’s victory at the polls.

Notable politicians at Tinubu’s house yesterday included Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Chief Bisi Akande, Senators Sola Adeyeye, Babafemi Ojudu, Anthony Adefuye, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Justice George Oguntade, Cardinal James Odumbaku, Mr Dele Alake, Joe Igbokwe and Mr. Demola Seriki, among others.

Also speaking yesterday in a state-

ment, Tinubu described the outcome as “Nigeria’s finest moment.”

“It is a moment when hope is reborn, faith is rekindled and a fresh fire of patriotism is released for the task ahead. I congratulate General Buhari, Nigeria’s President-elect on his hard won victory. I salute our galant party leaders and members for running the long distance to victory.

To millions of Nigerians I say thisthe APC seeks not power for its sake, but for the purpose of bringing a better life to our people and re-building our country”.

This is also democracy’s finest moment. Nigerians alive today have witnessed the beginning of an era of change . They made this happen and they are the true celebrants and they are deserving. Together we share this victory. Side by side we would work together to bring our country back.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

8

NEWS Activist wants Orubebe prosecuted

CJN: judiciary won’t succumb to politicians’ manipulation

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HE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, yesterday assured that the judiciary under his watch will not succumb to the manipulation of some politicians to truncate the nation’s democracy He said the leadership of the judiciary was aware of plans by some “unpatriotic citizens” to use the courts to stop the electoral process, warning judges not to yield themselves as tools to desperate politicians.

The CJN spoke in Abuja yesterday at the swearing-in of Justice Ishaq Bello as the Acting Chief Judge (CJ) of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Justice Bello replaces Justice Ibrahim Bukar, who retired yesterday as the court’s CJ on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.

“Permit me to use this opportunity to again assure all Nigerians that, under my leadership, the Judiciary remains resolute and committed to do its constitutional duty during this election period.

“We will not be swayed or dis-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

tracted from the course of justice in any election matter that is before or comes before the justice system.

“It bears reminding to all heads of courts that you are primarily responsible for the preservation of our nation’s democracy.

“I strongly advise all judicial officers not to allow any party or politician to use the courts to truncate our nation’s democracy.

“We are aware that some unpatriotic citizens may wish to use the courts to stop the electoral process, and I wish to warn in clear terms that we shall not be used as a tool for the breakdown of law and order in our beloved country,” the CJN said.

He urged Justice Bello to work hard and improve on the pace of justice dispensation in the court.

“I note with particular concern the number of corruption cases that

are pending before the FCT High Courts and the number that have been returned by the Supreme Court to the trial courts.

“It bears reminding that posterity does not wear a human face in its judgment. I counsel you to ensure that your work remains like sterling silver that becomes more valuable with age.

“I therefore urge you to be proactive in seeking out ways to improve justice delivery especially as pertains to the case disposal rate in the FCT High Court of Justice.

“Hence, I urge to work cooperatively with the other heads of court and indeed all Judicial Officers in order to ensure cohesiveness and synergy in your resolve to uphold the dignity of the Judiciary,” the CJN said.

Earlier at the valedictory session held for him at the High Court of the FCT, Justice Bukar thanked God that he retired with his head high.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

A

•Justice Mohammed

He noted that for the 33-year history of the court, he remained the only CJ of the FCT High Court to retire honourably, and honoured with a valedictory court service - a development also noted by the CJN in his speech.

Justice Bukar thanked his brother judges for their support during his about two-year tenure, having been sworn-in in 2013.

Justice Bello praised his predecessor and pledged to sustain the legacy of performance left by the retiring CJ.

Senate, House of Reps adjourn over lack of quorum From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

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HE Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday adjourned plenary due to lack of quorum.

Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba moved a motion for adjournment barely 10 minutes after Senate President David Mark said prayer.

Ndoma-Egba referred to the inability of the Senate to form quorum for the day’s business as his reason for seeking adjournment, which was moved to April 14.

Before Mark put the question, he said it was obvious Nigerians were anxiously waiting for the results of the March 28, 2015 presidential election.

He added: “We are all glued to the television. It is going to be difficult for us to form quorum to continue plenary.”

The anxiety that engrossed the country since March 28 over the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly election was also palpable on the floor of the Senate chamber.

Ndoma-Egba, who briefed the press after the adjournment, evaded most of the questions as one of the senators said that it was better to wait for the final outcome of the presidential election before making comment.

Most of those who attended the aborted session were All Progressives Congress (APC) senators.

In the House of Representatives, only 16 out of 360 members showed up.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who spoke on the floor of the house, announced that the house would, therefore, resume plenary on April 1.

“I can say that this is the first time we are recording the lowest attendance of lawmakers in this chamber.

“And I can understand that it is in view of what is going on in the country.

“Since yesterday, results were being released and of course, we are waiting for the big one, which is the announcement of the presidential result,’’ Tambuwal said.

The Leader of the House, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola (Oyo-PDP), moved the motion for adjournment, which was unanimously adopted without contributions from the 16 members that turned up in the House.

•The Head of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observer Mission and former Ghanaian President, John Kuffou (middle), briefing reporters on Nigeria’s general elections at the State House in Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

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Order barring soldiers from Tinubu’s HE order barring soldiers home subsists, says court from the home of the All

Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will remain in force until the substantive suit is heard, the Federal High Court said yesterday.

Tinubu sued the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, over the deployment of soldiers to lay siege on his 26, Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi, Lagos home between February 9 and 11.

The former Lagos State governor is praying the court to enforce his fundamental rights.

Justice John Tsoho, on March 26, granted an interim injunction restraining the army from laying siege to Tinubu’s home.

The judge also stopped Tinubu’s arrest or detention during the period of the general elections.

He restrained Minimah and his privies from “arresting, detaining, harassing or intimidating the applicant” until the determination of the substantive suit.

The suit was adjourned for hearing yesterday, but the applicant’s lawyer, Chukwuma Onwuemene, who stood in for Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), sought a short adjournment.

Minimah was not represented by any lawyer.

Justice Tsoho recalled that the applicant had already secured an

By Joseph Jibueze

interim injunction against his arrest and intimidation by the military, which still subsists.

He said he could not give any date before the Easter vacation, which begins next Monday.

Tinubu is seeking a declaration that the siege on his home was an infringement on his fundamental human right to private and family life as protected under Section 37 of the Constitution.

According to him, the military’s action violated Sections 35 and 42 of the Constitution as well as Articles 2 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights

(Ratification and Enforcement) Act. Tinubu said the siege caused him and his family “psychological and mental torture”.

His aide, Sunday Dare, who deposed to a supporting affidavit, said: “The applicant was exposed to embarrassment as many members of the public asked whether he committed any offence, which warranted the siege.

“The siege portrayed him as a hardened criminal in the society.”

Following one of such sieges, a banner was hung in front of Tinubu’s home, which reads: “This is not Sambisa Forest. Wrong posting.”

Justice Tsoho adjourned till April 20.

Friday, Monday are public holidays for Easter From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

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HE Federal Government has declared Friday and Monday as public holidays to mark this year’s Good Friday and Easter Monday celebrations.

The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.

In a statement by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abubakar Magaji, the minister enjoined all Christians and Nigerians to extend the spiritual benefits of Easter celebrations, which are love, peace, justice and kindness to their daily living.

Wishing Nigerians happy celebrations, the minister urged them to use the occasion to pray for the country’s peace and unity.

CTIVIST lawyer Morakinyo Ogele has called for the prosecution of former Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godsday Orubebe for disrupting the announcement of presidential election results.

Orubebe held everybody present at the National Collation Centre in Abuja yesterday to ransom for about 25 minutes accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of working against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking with The Nation, Ogele, who is also the coordinator of Ekiti Democratic Coalition Alliance (EDCA), said Orubebe’s show of shame portrayed Nigeria in bad light and brought the country into opprobrium.

Ogele said Orubebe was acting a script prepared for him by his sponsors at the Aso Rock, noting that the action of the former minister shocked the whole nation and scandalised Nigerians and people all over the world watching the event on television.

He, however, praised Jega and other INEC National Commissioners for their maturity in handling the matter “in the face of extreme provocation from anti-democratic forces.”

The rights activist expressed his readiness to drag Orubebe to the court of law for causing tension and obstructing a valid process of announcing the result of the eagerlyawaited presidential election.

Ogele said the prosecution of Orubebe would send a strong signal to others who might put up such undemocratic acts in future, adding that the ex-minister’s action was capable of plunging the country to anarchy.

He explained that there were constitutionally-stipulated ways of ventilating grievances, if anybody or party is aggrieved by electoral process or result of any election rather than resorting to self-help.

Ogele said: “Orubebe must be made to face the full wrath of the law for disrupting a peaceful process of announcement of the results of the presidential election.”

Edo declares public holiday for Buhari

E

DO State has declared a workfree today, to celebrate the victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, in the presidential election.

The state governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, invited people to a victory party, which will hold at the Oba Ovoranmwen Square, Benin City, starting from 3:00pm today.

SDP disowns national secretary From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

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HE Social Democratic Party (SPD) has frowned at its National Secretary, Dr. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, for his disapproved participation in the collation of presidential election result in Abuja.

National Publicity Secretary of the SDP Dr. Abdul Ahmed Isiaq said in a statement in Kaduna that the SDP did not have a presidential candidate.

He said, therefore, none of its officers was given any approval by the party to represent it at the presidential collation centre of INEC in Abuja.

“The instruction given is for all party executives, including the National Secretary, to go to their respective states and help the party to win electorates.

“The party does not allowed any of its executives, especially the National Secretary, to be an Abuja politician, whose Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is not useful to the SDP in Abuja.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

9

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY Non-indigene wins in Lagos

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HE first non-indigene to win a federal constituency seat in Lagos, Oghne Egoh, has said he will attract infrastructure to the state.

Egoh, who will represent Amuwo Odofin, made the promise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

NAN reports that Egoh of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 29,761 votes to defeat the incumbent, Ganiyu Olukolu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 20,616 votes.

“In this particular constituency, the biggest problem we have is the decay of infrastructure; there is no water, sewage system is bad, and there are no playing grounds,” he said.

Egoh promised to lobby ministers in charge of the ministries responsible for such facilities for an improved infrastructure in his constituency.

The lawmaker-elect, who hails from Delta State, said his house-to-house campaign paid off, adding that he had been working for the election in the last two years.

Supreme Court fixes April 14 for judgment in Fayose’s case

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HE Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the Ekiti State governorship election petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the victory of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State in the last June 21 poll.

The APC went to the elections petition tribunal sitting in Ado-Ekiti to challenge Fayose’s victory on the grounds of non-eligibility following an indictment leading to his impeachment.

Fayose is being challenged for alleged perjury, after he filled his Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission (INEC) form denying that he was indicted by either an administrative or judicial panel. A candidate convicted of perjury is barred by the law from contesting election.

The tribunal was relocated to Abuja after thugs invaded the premises of the tribunal where the State High Court was located.

A judge was allegedly beaten up and court records in the Chief Judge’s Office said to be torn. The chief judge’s secretary was also said to be beaten up.

The case was, however, dis-

missed at the election petitions tribunal. APC appealed the judgment but the Appeal Court upheld the decision of the tribunal.

It frowned at the deployment of the Army to harass members of the opposition and barred the President from deploying the Army in future elections.

The Appeal Court affirmed that Fayose was legally impeached in 2006, following his indictment in a N1.3 billion fraud case, among others.

A secretly recorded tape by Captain Sagir Koli has shown how the Army helped Fay-

ose to win the election.

It also revealed Fayose talking about how he collected INEC soft copies and got them printed to aid his election.

The major prayer of the APC before the Supreme Court is that the former Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, be declared as the duly elected governor of Ekiti State, having scored the majority of legal votes in the election and since Fayose was ineligible to contest.

The Supreme Court listened to the arguments of all parties in the suit and reserved judgment till April 14.

From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

T

HE Secretary to the Oyo State Government (SSG), Mr Ismail Ali, yesterday described the Presidential and National Assembly elections as the best in the history of Nigeria.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain congratulated the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, for his victory.

He said the result of the poll, which put Buhari in the lead, was a true reflection of the collective wishes and aspirations of Nigerians and must be respected.

The son of the late Chief Bola Ige, Muyiwa, has congratulated Nigerians on the victory.

“This presidential election result is a victory for democracy, good governance and the people. We say goodbye to bad governance, corruption and bloodshed. One must also congratulate Prof.

Attahiru Jega for a job well done, it is all about good leadership, which Prof Jega has proved to the world,” he said.

T

HE winner of the Saturday’s National Assembly election in Ibadan North, Abiodun Dada Awoleye, has dedicated his victory to God and the people.

Awoleye thanked various political stalwarts, groups, associations, traders, traders, youths and others who contributed towards his reelection.

The lawmaker, who contested the election on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), scored 34, 347 to defeat his closest rival with 14,029.

He said:“I urge the people to vote for Governor Abiola Ajimobi and other APC candidates, including Mrs. Bolanle Agbaje contesting Ibadan North 1 and Olusegun Olaleye (Ibadan North 2) in the April 11 elections.”

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

S

A

Oyo SSG, Ige hail polls

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Political thugs clash in Ondo

Lawani dumps PDP for APC PROMINENT member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Mrs. Ayoka Lawani, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Lawani, a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and an activist, who has spent years , empowering women to participate in politics, did not give reason for her decision.

Lawmaker thanks God

• Residents celebrate the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, in Kaduna...yesterday PHOTO: AFP

E

Dusk-to-dawn curfew in Ekiti

KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the state.

The governor, in a broadcast to the people, said the curfew takes effect from 7.30 pm to 6 am.

He advised people to be moderate in their reaction to the result of the presidential election, which the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, won.

The curfew is believed to have been imposed to prevent wild jubilation in the opposition camp, which may provoke members of the rul-

•Urges Nigerians to accept results From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

ing party and other Jonathan sympathisers.

The governor urged Nigerians to accept the result of the presidential election in good faith, saying the outcome of the poll reflects the will of God and Nigerians.

He said the result also reflects the will of all lovers of peace, progress and development of Nigeria.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media,

Lere Olayinka, hailed the resilience and commitment of President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Buhari.

The governor said the election results should not be seen as victory or loss for any party, adding: “To me, Nigerians and democracy won.”

He praised Nigerians for believing in the democratic process.

“By this election, Nigerians have shown that democracy has come to stay in the country.”

Fayose said: “I salute Nigerians, especially the people of

Ekiti State.

“I salute President Jonathan for laying the most solid foundation for democracy in Nigeria. And I salute Major General Buhari for being a resilient and dogged fighter.

“I urge Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation to respect the outcome of the election in the interest of peace, progress and development of the country.

“Nigeria, as a country, is greater than any individual or group and it is my plea that no one should do anything to rock the boat of peace in the country.”

You’re worthy soldiers, APC tells Oyo voters

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has described the electorate in the state as worthy soldiers of change, who deserve to be celebrated for their contributions to the victory of Muhammadu Buhari.

The party recorded 528,620 votes against the 303,376 scored by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the APC hailed the outcome of last Saturday’s

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

polls, which saw the party winning the three senatorial seats as well as 12 of the 14 seats in the House of Representatives.

The statement reads: “Whatever victory the APC recorded at the polls was made possible by God and the patriotic electorate, who defied all odds to vote for all candidates presented by our party.

“Voters in Oyo State have demonstrated their resolve to assist the cause of change, which the APC is championing.

“As a party with a record of performance in the state, we are grateful that voters found virtually all candidates worthy of their respective mandate and we can assure them that none of those elected from the state on the platform of the APC would disappoint them because they are all competent, committed and passionate to perform well.

“However, we further urge the electorate in Oyo State not to rest on their oars by completing the task of nation building. The best way to this is by electing only the APC candi-

dates.

On April 11, our party’s governorship and 32 House of Assembly candidates would be standing for elections and we urge our people to entrust them with their respective mandates.

“The need for continuity of good governance in the state should be established on April 11, when Governor Abiola Ajimobi is reelected for another term of four years, as this would seal the assurance of complete restoration, reformation and repositioning of the pacesetter state.”

CORES of people were injured yesterday as thugs suspected to be working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed in Idanre, Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The clash, according to sources, occurred shortly after the results of the Saturday’s presidential election were announced in Abuja.

During the clash, it was gathered that several people were arrested.

A resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said the “hoodlums” fought in Anaye Market Square, Ojota, Sabo and Palace Road.

The clash paralysed social and commercial activities in the town for several hours.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said the police were on top of the situation.

Ondo bank robberies’ death toll hits 20 From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE death toll of last Thursday’s bank robberies in Owo, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State has reportedly hit 20.

The victims died of complications from the injuries suffered during the incident.

It was learnt that many victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo. Robbers invaded Owo and robbed four banks in the town.

During the robberies, the manager of a new generation bank and his assistant were killed.

A source at the F e d e r a l Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, where the victims were admitted said 16 of the victims died in the hospital.

The source added that many of the victims were in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The assistant manager has been buried at his house in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Police spokesman Wole Ogodo said the command would ensure that the robbers are apprehended.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (left) speaking on the victory ofAll Progressives Congress(APC) Presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the Ikoyi, Lagos home of the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu...yesterday. With them are Asiwaju Tinubu (middle) and Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

•National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress(APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed and a chieftain of the party...yesterday

•Children jubilating on the street of Ibadan...yesterday

•Youths celebrating in Abuja... yesterday

•APC supporters jubilating Ibadan

•Supporters jubilating in Abuja... yesterday

•Local youths celebrating in Abuja...yesterday.

•Members of the Hausa community in Ibadan...yesterday

•Supporters celebrating at Obalende, Lagos Island...yesterday

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

11

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

•Some children jubilating in Ibadan...yesterday

•Youths having a swell time in Jos, Plateau State capital...yesterday

•A vendor of local barbecue popularly known as “Suya” celebrating in Lagos...last night

•Supporters jubilating in Bauchi... yesterday

•A cow painted in APC logo in Ibadan...yesterday

•Members of the Hausa community, Sabo, Ibadan...yesterday

•Celebration in Kaduna...yesterday

•Supporters jubilating in Abuja

•An APC member in Bauchi...yesterday

•APC supporters celebrating outside the party’s secretariat in Abuja... yesterday.

PHOTOS: ISAAC AYODELE JIMOH, ABAYOMI FAYESI, FEMI ILESANMI.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

12

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

•Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva (middle) with All Progressives Congress(APC) National Publicity SecretaryAlhaji Lai Mohammed (left) and Senator-elect, Kogi West. Hon. Dino Melaye celebrating at the party’s headquarters in Abuja...yesterday

•APC Southeast Spokesperson, Comrade Osita Okechukwu (left) with supporters jubilating in Enugu ...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

•Supporters jubilating in Abuja... yesterday

•Supporters in Abuja...yesterday

•More supporters

PHOTO: NAN

in Abuja... yesterday

•Youths jubilating in Abuja.

PHOTO: AFP

•A supporter in Abuja yesterday PHOTOS: ABAYOMI FAYESE

•Youths celebrating in Abuja...yesterday

PHOTO: AFP

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

NATION LEISURE

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

Story of the Christmas Tree

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Just how powerful a symbol is the Christmas tree?

Any Christmas tree, given the right kind of attention, can be perfect, and even humble things take on exalted meaning in the eyes of Christ. · “The First Christmas Tree”Did you know that an oak was the inspiration for the first Christmas tree? In this informative story, we learn how an eighth-century monk named Boniface chopped down an oak tree to prove an important religious point, and ended up viewing a small fir sapling as a miracle. · “The First Christmas Tree Lights”Ever wonder about the origin of Christmas tree lights? This story tells how Martin Luther changed the Christmas tree tradition with the addition of lights, the result of his frightening walk through the dark woods. It reveals the fascinating fact that Christmas trees were originally hung upside down, without lights. · “The Perfect Tree”This delightful story is told from the perspective of a small, unremarkable tree that worries whether it will be suitable for Christmas.

ACROSS 1. Celebration (9) 6. Greeting (2) 7. Documentation (6) 9. Indelible Mark (4) 10. Former (2) 11. Spread Out (3) 12. Final (4) 14, Resounding Noise (4) 15. In direction of (2) 16, Myself (2) 17. Eager (4) 19. Young Boy (3) 20. Father Christmas (10) 24. Being (2) 26. Tinkle (6) 27. Perform (2) 28. Tease (6)

DOWN 1. Impression (4) 2. Cereal (4) 3. Created (4) 4. Amuse (6) 5. Celebration of Christ’s birth(9) 8. Free Air (6) 11. Paths (5) 13. Clawed 18. Deserve (4) 19. Juvenile (3) 21. Story (4) 22. So be it (4) 23. Musical Note (2) 25. Gladness (3)

14

THE NATION WEDNESDAY APRIL 1,2015

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Life

15

The Midweek Magazine E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Text only: 08023058761

•A scene from the play

Saro S aro The M Musical usical:: A usical spectacle on stage -SEE

Temple hosts Kainebi, Isichei

– PAGE 18

16 AGE P N RY O O T S

Osofisan’s Midnight Hotel goes on stage – PAGE 18

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

Like Fela on Broadway, Saro: The Musical made a successful debut in 2013. This weekend the musical concert will return to the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos with spectacle and colours. BEN TOMOLOJU reviews the six day performances holding this Easter.

•A scene in the musical play

I

T pesters. SARO pesters. From the conceptual stage right through the entire production process, it pesters like a bundle of joy wriggling its way into life, and with it a rapturous celebration of music, drama, culture and history.

This is the feeling evoked on one’s mind

by Saro The Musical, created and produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters and scripted by Seun Kentebe and Thomas Odia.

It has been showcased twice between 2013 and 2014. It made its debut at the grand ballroom of Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island the year before. The second outing, titled: Saro The Musical 2, took place during the last yuletide with a clear evidence of the progressive imagination of a creative visioner.

The object of this piece is essentially the sustainability of quality cultural expression of which Saro The Musical is a reference point, but not without a piquant exposition of content and style.

‘Saro’ explores the odyssey of Brazilian returnees after the abolition of slavery and slave-trade in the mid-19th Century. The returnees migrated from Sierra Leone to Lagos.

Etymologically, ‘Saro’ is a Yoruba derivation from the ‘Sierra’, which also explains the historical fact that there is a thriving Yoruba community in Sierra Leone with some members bearing original Yoruba names up till this day.

According to the lead character, a culture connoisseur and unofficial historian, Don Ceeto: ‘We are Saro descendants. In the beginning of the 1830s, our forefathers were freed slaves who migrated from Sierra Leone to Nigeria. Most of them were well-trained and experienced in medicine, law and the civil service whilst in Sierra Leone....When they arrived, they settled in Ebute-Metta, Yaba and Olowogbowo....The Saros were known for their travel in pursuit of freedom and commercial opportunity.’

The expose went on with details of the elitism and cosmopolitanism that characterise this breed of Nigerians, summing up the thematic thrust of the creative exploration.

What follows is a dramatic quest, a country-to-city migration of four musically-gifted village boys - Laitan, Azeez, Efe and Obaro in search of the golden fleece in Lagos City.

In the city, they are dazzled by the ritzy cityscape, the hustle and bustle and, of course, the menacing culture-shock that lands them right in the midst of pimps, pick-pockets, prostitutes, area-boys and all manners of social derelicts. In one swoop of a comically enacted raid, they end up in a police-cell.

Right there in the cell, they raise their voices in an exciting, self-consolatory rendition of Bobby McFerrin’s ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy.’

And this turns out to be providential.

Don Ceeto, the dreamer, visioner and benevolent godfather is around to bail out one of his boys from the cell. The song filters to his hearing. Deeply impressed, he also bails out the village quartet, takes them into his creative custody and grooms them for his

•Another scene from the play

Saro The Musical: A spectacle on stage PERFORMANCE dream-musical project, SARO. Between the odyssey of the Saros and the village-to-city migration of the quartet, Don Ceeto identifies a historical parallel, underscored by the drive for self-actualisation through vintage cultural expression. The main vehicle, this time around, is music, while other forms of art - dramatic and spectacular - fall in place in the unfolding plot.

Don Ceeto grooms the boys in his studio.

He discovers that even his own secretary, Jane, is also a fantastic singer and co-opts her into the group. Don is crazy about talents. He has an eye for excellence. He brooks no nonsense, not even from his own pampered, overbearing daughter, Ronke. He exposes the boys to a broad spectrum of Lagos life - secular and spiritual - to bring them to fullest terms with his ideology. He hones their skill to be at par

with the sophistication which his new vision of cosmopolitan African culture represents.

Thereafter, the young singers are replete with confidence and, in contemporary parlance, one of them interjects the conversations with, ‘We don blow!’

The show, from curtain-rise to curtain-call, was a titillating interplay of sight and sound, rich, whimsical dialogue and comic relief. No dull moment.

It opened with a dance exposition, complemented by colourful costumes - red on black and an aerial pattern toned with a curvilinear play on fans - which was as symbolic as it brought to mind an aesthete’s religion of beauty.

Through this the music flowed. It flowed from the folk-songs of the Delta to Yoruba Bata merged with a pan-Nigerian dance and musical revue woven into the afro-fusion effect of Lagbaja’s ‘Africalypso’.

‘A classy piece like Saro should enjoy optimal presentation. Its viability is already vindicated in virtually every department of theatre production, so much that government, the business community and other interest groups can tap into it for all the relevant promotional objectives’

Africa, in its idyllic setting, was projected on the big screen on the cyclorama showing a serene, romantic Kutuenji (the quartet’s village). The raw talent of the village singers was displayed against this background in a local festival. So was the scene involving the parting of two love-birds, Laitan and Rume, as they delivered the hair-raising song ‘Ma Gbagbe Mi’ (Don’t Forget Me), backed by the polyphonic orchestration of a compact chorus.

One song sailed into another with unbridled fluidity from the boundless repertoire of Nigerian music; highlife, juju, apala, and a medley of contemporary pop.

Scenes dissolved, one into another introducing new segments. Lagos welcomed the village boys with a bold projection of ‘Baba Meta’, the iconic statue of three white-cap chiefs that adorn the Lagos State Gateway at Alausa. At other points, it was either the highrise buildings or a legion of yellow-buses that depicted on the big-screen the peculiarities of Lagos in sympathetic correlation with the action on stage. There were several other pictures projected and, in turns, they heightened the visual appeal of the presentation.

Actions, in Saro, were so pacy, varied and variegated that members of the audience were sometimes propelled to the edges of their seats. Songs were enchanting, dances scintil•Continued on Page 17

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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The Midweek Magazine

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

NTDC gets more information desk

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FTER commissioning of its Information Desk at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation last week unveiled two more desks at the local wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport (MMA2) and General Aviation Terminal (GAT) in Ikeja, Lagos. The events were witnessed by Group Managing Director, Viko Nigeria Limited Mr Lucky Chidi Kanu, CEO, Bi-Courtney Nigeria LImted, Mr Christophe Penninck and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Head of Operation, Mr Dennis Okogwu.

The facilities, a joint venture between NTDC and Viko Group of Companies will provide real time update to travelers on their flights, hotel booking, car hire services and tourism sites across the country.

NTDC Director-General Mrs Sally Mbanefo said the partnership is to create awareness for the nation’s tourism sites, reduce manhour loss of travellers; improve life expectancy of Nigerians and encourage human traffic to sites across the country. She stated that with the opening of other desks in Port Harcourt and Kano international airports, the facilities would increase the tourism contributions to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She said passengers can browse for free and in in same portalaccess and view the tourism sites, tourism activities, as well as make enquiries and book excursions.

“The portal of the corporations is open to the public and tourists. But with this partnership with Viko it has further been exposed to the travelers at our major airports in the country. Today, the Lagos domestic wing has joined the Abuja which was unveiled recently. Kano and Port Harcourt airports are the next airports that we will mount our information desks. The two approvals we got from the Aviation Minister are what we have implemented,” she said.

Mbanefo used the occasion to seek part-

•From left; Kanu, Mbanefo and Okogwu at the cermony on Lagos.

By Ozolua Uhakheme, Assistant Editor (Arts)

TOURISM nership from Nigerians to be able to launch the Tourism TV game show approved by the NTDC board last year.

Kanu said the facilities are meant to ensure pleasant travel experience by providing real time update to travelers thereby

Saro The Musical: A spectacle on stage •Continued from Page 16

lating. The music was pulsating, just as the acrobatics were spectacular.

From ordinary sketches to full-blown enactments, the dramatic elements made compelling statements about our cultural reality, its delicate mix and variety. Religion found a place in it, as Jane’s church choir, later joined by the quartet, treated the audience to soullifting performances of ‘Jesus Na You Be Oga’ and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Waters’.

Then came the show-stopper before the show-stopper, a performance of John Legend’s ‘All For Me’, remixed by Kunle Ogunrombi. With dynamic showmanship and vocal dexterity, the singer opened with the original western pop and suddenly adapts it to a throbbing, syncopative and dance-effective Fuji idiom. The applause was deafening.

But the ultimate show-stopper was the performance of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s ‘Water No Get Enemy’. The MC’s line whet the appetite.

The introduction of the act tuned the musical palate to salivate on a special dish from a grand-master. And, at the mention of ‘Fela’, there was a mirthful explosion our hilarity, whistling, hooting, cat-calls and hauling of ‘Eleniyan!’, synchronised with the fire-effect on the massive screen. The horns led the way with their tuneful harmony, followed by throbbing beats from African drums and the dialogue of the strings. Then spritelike dancemaidens stepped in, wiggling their waists in electrifying waves. The rest was the climax of an evening entertainment that led you to a soothing dream.

But behind these well-deserved was a lot of hard-work. There were well over a hundred members of cast and crew in the ensemble and the skills they displayed were buoyant.

From the majors to the minors and extending to the technical personnel there was clear evidence of the essential synergy.

The quartet, Azeez (Paul Alumona/Frank Konwah), Laitan (Patrick Duabua), Efe (Paulo Sisiano) and Obaro (Gideon Okeke) evinced such ebullience and versatility that places

them in the ranks of total performers, follow-ups to Nigerian classic examples like Jimi Solanke, Tunji Oyelana and Tunji Sotimirin.

The same applies to petit and vibrant Adejoke Laoye who brilliantly performed the role of Jane in dual capacity of actor and singer.

All said, except for a snappy instance of distractive mannerism by Efe and Ronke, an unguarded drift of the follow-spot and intrusive puff of the smoke-effect, the entire package was phenomenal. Team-spirit was taut and indicative of the qualitative pliability of individual talent.

A very important point to note in SARO is the input of a new generation of directors; Kenneth Uphopho (Drama), Yusuf Gbenga (Dance), Ayo Ajayi (Music), their very able Stage-manager, Ibukun Fasuhan and Costumier, Juliana Dede. These young thespians not only showed their resourcefulness and accomplishment on the big stage, they also leave one with the confidence that a brighter future awaits Nigerian theatre given the right kind of encouragement and support.

At the peak of it all, the commanding presence of Dolapo Ogunwale (Producer) and Bimbo Manuel was nothing less than edifying. The duo brought on stage robust experiences in oral communication, through sound and compelling elocution as well as spontaneity in speech and action where the occasion demanded it. Manuel’s stage charisma was a delight. It matched effectively the scripted role of the man in control, Don Ceeto, the captain in an artistic voyage who effortlessly stitched one scene to another with the proficiency of a master.

On that uplifting note, Saro The Musical 2 lived up to its billing. The audience could only shout ‘Encore’.

That ‘encore’ should come. A classy piece like Saro should enjoy optimal presentation.

Its viability is already vindicated in virtually every department of theatre production, so much that government, the business community and other interest groups can tap into it for all the relevant promotional objectives. *Tomoloju is the former Deputy Editor,The Guardian, Lagos.

reducing their stress on issues of flight delay, rescheduling, boarding time, departure and arrival time. He stated that the 23 inches touch screen computer monitor on the desk allows individual travelers to get update on his flight at no cost except the personalised option that sends update to telephone lines.

“We have packaged a comprehensive real time information platform for air travelers and we believe that with access to this plat-

form, travelers can find alternatives when their trips are not going as planned. We also have a comprehensive list of hotels across the country with a direct contact line for easy reservation.

“The facility has several networks for its operations in order to offer 24/7 services.

At MMA 2 alone, we are targeting at between 5000 and 8000 passengers each day,” Mr. Kanu added.

Hotel, tourism conference to host 30 countries

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REPARATIONS are gearing up towards the Nigerian Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference.

The event, which is meant to bring key players in the hospitality and tourism sector together as an avenue to promote Nigerian tourism potentials, is the brainchild of Jonel hospitality, an integrated and comprehensive hospitality consulting company.

The conference, according to Jonel Hospitality Managing partner, Brian Efa, is meant to be a focal point as the government strives towards the diversification of its economy.

He made the statement at a briefing in Lagos, adding that more than 200 industry pro-

By Evelyn Osagie

TOURISM fessionals from 30 countries are expected to attend. “The event is meant to be a networking hub and would serve as expos of investment opportunities in the hospitality sector with a mind of creating employment for the youth.

“And there will also be a significant increase in participants from the Middle East and North Africa. This clearly demonstrates the regional appeal of the event and reflects the heightened activity in hotel investment through the country,” Efa said.

Gospel artiste Obiwon gets double recognition

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RBAN Gospel artiste and music minister Obiora Obiwon received two awards at the maiden edition of Applause Magazine Achievers Awards.

Obiwon received Album of the Year and Collaboration of the Year awards, which, the organisers said, were in recognition of the artistes’s album ‘Gold Water’ and his Hiphop influenced single ‘Hail My King’ which featured Frank Edwards, Eben and Kenny K’ore.

“I am touched and surprised again to be honoured twice,” Obiwon said.

From his early childhood on the streets of Enugu, Obiwon has displayed his affinity for music. After his initial stints with a hiphop group Thorobreds, in 2005 Obiwon debuted as a solo RnB/Soul artiste. In 2008, Obiwon revealed he had undergone a deep spiritual experience and subsequently switched musical focus to the Christian/gospel genre. He has since continued to impact the Nigerian scene with his songs.

“I am now looking excitedly at the rest of this anniversary year. This is my 10th anniversary and projects… Glory to God alone… “ The event, which held in Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, was organised Applause Magazine with Salvation Crusaders Media, creators of the ‘Minstrels TV Show’ on Dove Television and the National Drama Unit of the by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

By Evelyn Osagie

MUSIC The award categories cut across several Christian/gospel accomplishments, including Artiste of the Year (Musical), Actor of the Year (Movies), Movie of the Year, Song of the Year, New Artiste of the Year, Best Male and Best Female Vocalist, among others.

•Obiwon

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The Midweek Magazine

Temple hosts Kainebi, Isichei

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N art exhibition by Rom Isichei and Kainebi Osahenye, opened penultimate Monday at Temple Muse, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The exhibition of 35 paintings and mixed media works shows an intense exploration of texture, colour, scale, style, and technique by two internationally recognised experimental artists.

It is curated by Sandra Mbanefo Obiago and supported by Temple Muse and Ruinart and runs till end of April.

Isichei’s 15 artworks are mostly figurative in composition, focusing on society’s self-obsession and excess consumerism while searching for ideal beauty. His large works are sometimes heavily textured, sculptural mixed media paintings in which he uses glue, sawdust, acrylic paste, and kitchen towels to build up tactile surfaces.

At other times, we see a master painter at work, using intricate lines and strokes which are more classical in nature. His subjects look contemplative, while inhabiting a world of red energy which is expertly juxtaposed by quiet reflective gazes.

Isichei’s broad stylistic diversity is also seen in four unique archival prints from his deification series in which he presents faces created out of found objects such as corks, wire, plastic plates, clips and even a cleaning mop, over which he paints and drizzles with an intense abandonment. “The deification series are mixed media, enhanced archival prints that reference themes of consumerism, excess, and object transmutation which negotiate between local and global culture,” Isichei explains.

These works are juxtaposed with Kainebi’s

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

VISUAL ART intense exploration of the human conditions through intricately layered, small and large collages of hundreds of eyes, which have been cut out of paper and stuck across canvases p Osahenye uses repetition and clustering of eyes to reflect on themes of spirituality, materiality, instability and redemption.

Moving away from his usual large scale installations of found objects including water bottles, burnt, crushed and flattened beverage cans, the artist for the first time is showing a series of much smaller works.

“Our world is suffocated with things. Lagos, the city where I live and work, typifies crowdedness. So, I use an assortment of objects to tackle issues of consumerism, spirituality and the environment,” Osahenye explained.

Osahenye also presents works from his Isolation series in which he paints human figures curled into themselves suspended and almost floating across planes of colour – a totally different vibe from his pulsating, multi-layered busy, repetitive collages.

Viewers see the outer-layer of isolation in some pieces while, at a closer look, a world of eyes comes into view, reflecting a suffocating, over-populated, soul-searching society looking for redemption.

•Isolation III by Kainebi

•Deification by Isichei Both artists are graduates of the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and recently com-

Osofisan’s Midnight Hotel goes on stage

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HE Chief Executive Officer Thespian Family Theatre and Production, Mrs. Ayodele Jaiyesimi captures the essence of two plays Femi Osofisan’s Midnight Hotel and The Wizard of Law to be presented by the company in Lagos April 4 to 6.

Zulu Sofola’s The Wizard of Law was presented last Saturday and Sunday in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Jaiyesimi said: “As thespians, we desire to produce theatrical works that focus on making Nigeria a great nation. Beyond money and fame, we want to see how we can reshape the people’s thinking and actions for the good of all.”

Jaiyesimi, who spoke with Arts Editors in Lagos, said as a follow up to last year’s presentation in Lagos, Ola Rotimi’s The Gods Are Not to Blame will go on performance tour of United Kingdom between April 26 and 30 at the Lost Theatre, London. Midnight Hotel is directed by Israel Eboh while Sola Roberts directs The Wizard of Law. She said the audience of TFT is not limited to Nigeria alone, adding that ‘we are impacting Nigeria and the Diaspora. As we speak unto Nigerians at home, we do same for Diaspora as well as to our friends in the world.’

On the cost of taking The Gods Are Not to Blame to London, she said production budget is modest and affordable because ‘we have good sponsors this year. And this has enabled us to do well.’

The London show which is a collaboration between Thespian Family Theatre and Production and Heavywind managed by a UK-based Nigerian artiste, Lookman Sanusi is to present the authen-

O

YASAF Foundation and UFUK Dialogue Foundation has called for entries from artists and photographers for a photography competition titled: Colours of Harmony, which will hold in April at Abuja.

Selected works will be exhibited in a travelling exhibition. Deadline for submission is April 6.

According to the organisers, the competition is the second collaborative efforts at promoting Nigerian art.

The first collaboration between the two foundations was titled: Art For Peace: Paint African Values. It resulted in a travelling exhibition of works of 13 artists in Abuja, Ethiopia, Istanbul and New York.

This second is a photo competition of different parts of Nigeria, depicting the togetherness and cultural co-existence in our diversity. The photography competition will

pleted their Masters in Fine Arts in the United Kingdom.

Osahenye graduated from Goldsmith’s College while Isichei graduated from the Chelsea College of Art & Design. They have held group and solo exhibitions in Nigeria as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.

Winners emerge in SLCF series

By Evelyn Osagie

MEDIA

F

• Sanusi

•Mrs Jaiyesimi

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

THEATRE tic African culture (heritage) to the Diaspora and the globe especially at a time when Nigeria is going through trying moments. Europe-based Nigerian actors are expected to be part of the casts.

Eboh said the focus of Midnight Hotel, which is a comedy, is to interrogate how Nigerians have been raped by the political and military class, issues of religion and ethnicity, how citizens have not called the leaders to account for their stew-

ardship and how disappointed Nigerians have been. “To make Nigeria better, we all have a role to play. We must take responsibility,” he added Osinaike, who acts Jimoh in Midnight Hotel, said his role symbolically represents the minds of the masses in a country where is so much of impunity. “At this time in Nigeria, we must take something serious and that I will do to my role as Jimoh,” he noted.

Lead actor in The Wizard of Law Abiodun Kazeem (Ramoni Alao) said the play reflects the vicious cycle of corruption in the country, saying: “the joy for me is to make people laugh at ourselves’ misdeeds.”

Foundation calls for entries

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

COMPETITION explore Nigerian culture, diversity and relationship of the different aspects of Nigeria’s cultural lives through the lenses of Nigerian photographers. It will be followed with a travelling exhibition in Nigeria, Turkey, United States, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Benin Republic and United Kingdom.

Each participant is expected to enter a maximum of 4 images of their choice with a 600 word description of each photograph being submitted. Fifty works will be recommended by a jury in Lagos for the Abuja photo com-

petition. Submission of passport photograph of each applicant, submission of filled out form accompanying the works submitted per artist, submission of detailed biography per artist, submission of details of each photograph submitted indicating, title, dimension and year of production.

All entries must be of three megabytes in JPEG or JPG format, at least 300dpi per photograph, digital format and submitted online to our contact e-mail address: oyasaf2000@yahoo.com Participants should indicate the suggested price per artwork and the edition number of each photograph being submitted.

The five prizes will be given out. They are: first prize N250, 000, second N200, 000, third N150, 000, fourth 70, 000 and fifth N50, 000.

OLLOWING its call for entries into the Splendid Literature Series last August, winners have emerged for Splendid Literature Series Competition.

The winning entries for the 2014 Splendid Literature Series Competition are Nnamdi Momah’s The Journey to Nigeria, Izuchukwu Udokwu’s Life in Broken Piece, The Taming of Ekwensu by Ezechukwu Emmanuel Amarachi, Uchenna Ofili’s A Time Machine Surprise, Lesson for Fathers by Elijah Faith, and winning story in the Junior Category is Chibuihe Obi’s Emelda.

The competition, which was established by the Splendid Literature & Culture Foundation (SLCF) for young writers of children’s literature, has become a yearly affair since 2013. According to its organisers, the winning stories would be publish in an anthology and the writers would have public presentation of their works, with readings, book signing and tours arranged for them. They added that each writer would receive royalties for their works.

SLCF’s founder, Mrs Mobolaji Adenubi said the competition is part of its efforts at encouraging young Nigerian writers of children’s literature, resident in Nigeria, within the age range of 11 and 21 to produce imaginative stories that will entertain, enlighten and educate children, as well as encourage them to think in novel ways.

The judges of the 2014 competition are Mr Dagga Tolla, poet, musician and past Chairman of ANA (Lagos); Ms. Sola Alamutu, Winner of the ANA/ATIKU ABUBAKAR Prize for Children Literature in 2004 and the Executive Director of Children and The Environment, CATE; Mr Folu Agoi, lecturer at the Department of English, Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED); Noforija, Epe, adjunct lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), Vice President of Nigerian Centre of PEN International and past Chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos Branch.

“SLCF aims at ensuring that books written by young writers for children readers satisfy parents who continue to buy books for their children, and meet with the necessary standards of interest, development, moral regeneration and enlightenment of the children who read them. The Foundation also runs an annual Creative Writing Workshop for young writers during the long vacation. The Foundation now has a website: www.splendidfoundation.com,” Mrs Adenubi said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

No sense of urgency •Trans-Saharan Gas Project remains on the drawing board 13 years after

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O you often wonder why Nigeria’s economy is still underdeveloped despite enormous natural resources deposit under her soil? Well, a classic example is the TransSaharan Gas Project (TSGP). The project is a 4,400 kilometres long pipeline that will take gas from Warri in Nigeria through Niger Republic to Algeria at the tip of the Mediterranean Sea. It is designed to gather the overabundance of natural gas deposit under Nigeria’s soil for the huge European markets. Conceived in the 1970s, it was only in 2002 that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and her Algerian counterpart, SONATRACH signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for preparations of the project.

In 2005, NNPC and SONATRACH signed a contract for the feasibility study of the project which upon

‘The same lack of seriousness, dim vision, not to mention graft, have characterised most major economic projects that would have helped to lift Nigeria to the status of an industrialised nation. Now that there is a dire need to diversify Nigeria’s economy, the TSGP is a viable option waiting to be kick-started’

completion in 2006, the project was pronounced to be both technically and economically feasible. The project was again kept in the cooler till 2009 when a draft intergovernmental MoU was signed between the three partner countries – Nigeria, Niger Republic and Algeria. Preliminary joint venture agreements were also signed pending the next stage which was ratification of the MoUs and the taking of the Final Investment Decision (FID).

For a project which was scheduled to be completed in 2015, it has remained at the level of FID in the last six years.

What this means is that not a soil has been turned on this pipeline project since 2002 when the first official move was made. The immediate result of this time-lag is that the cost of laying the pipelines which was estimated to cost $10 billion has doubled to about $20 billion.

It was projected to have an annual capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. This would probably have mopped up most of the gas flared in the Niger Delta in the past three to four decades. In an age when gas has increasingly become the major source of fuel for the world, especially the developed West, this would have been an unassailable investment decision. Apart from the direct economic gains, the environmental benefits would be unquantifiable.

The project is considered so viable that most of the major International Oil Corporations (IOCs) wanted to take part in it. Some of the firms that expressed in-

terest include the Royal Dutch Shell, Total S.A. of France, Italy’s Eni SpA, Gail of India and Russia’s giant, Gazprom. Such must be an indication of the viability of the project.

It is apparent that in the last four years or so, the NNPC never brought the TSGP project file for review as its last Group Managing Director (GMD) who spoke about it was Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo. He was fired about three years ago. Barkindo had said then that, “the MoU on the project now awaits resolution of differences and finalisation prior to execution. The challenge before us now is to clean it up.

We will revisit the MoU, and assign the commercial and technical issues to the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) that will govern the project,” he said.

Apparently, this most important economic project was not delayed by a lack of funding or technical considerations but a sheer lack of political will and, if we may add, a blunted vision about the development objectives of the nation.

Had this huge economic project been delivered on deadline which is this year, 2015 it would have taken the bite off the slump in crude oil prices and helped to stabilise Nigeria’s currency.

The same lack of seriousness, dim vision, not to mention graft, have characterised most major economic projects that would have helped to lift Nigeria to the status of an industrialised nation. Now that there is a dire need to diversify Nigeria’s economy, the TSGP is a viable option waiting to be kick-started.

No, Mr. President •Nigeria cannot wait for four years before a serious war against corruption is waged and won

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan was reported last week to have pledged to put an end to the endemic corruption in the nation’s oil sector. As he made to round off his campaign for a second term in office, the President said he would do everything to ensure that the sector that has earned the country the needed foreign exchange is sanitised.

We find it puzzling that it took the President five years to acknowledge what every Nigerian had known that the porous processes and systems of monitoring and accounting for crude oil proceeds were a threat to the national income and, by extension, the stability and cohesion of the country.

This is another step in the wrong direction by a President who had once tried to distinguish between stealing and corruption in a way suggesting that what many call corruption is ‘mere stealing’ and that the cry about corruption in the country is exaggerated.

It is even the more incomprehensible why and how the President expected that Nigerians would wait patiently for another four years before decisive action could be taken to halt the progressive slide in revenue. It is an acknowledgement that the President has little or no plans for the country’s development.

Following the protests that rocked Nigeria’s major cities in 2012, The Federal Government was quick to re-

spond by setting up, among others, the Nuhu Ribadu committee to assess the system of accounting for the oil revenue, identify where things had gone wrong and make recommendations on how to plug the loopholes. In the past three years, the government has done nothing to give effect to the suggestions or adopt any fresh strategies to improve on the existing system.

It sounds to us that the pledge by President Jonathan was merely to buy time and votes. It is incredible that a President of Nigeria could believe that Nigerians would be willing to wait a whole of four more years of suffering amidst plenty. The foreign reserves have been depleted, the naira keeps losing value against major foreign currencies, import is getting more expensive and poverty, squalor and starvation is staring the people in the face.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) remains a citadel of corruption and officials of the agency, led by the minister, keep flaunting unexplained wealth at the people- flying chartered planes all over the world.

Yet, the President does not think it necessary to take immediate decisive action. He thinks merely promising to do so after four years would satisfy Nigerians, especially the youth who have been paying dearly for the inaction of government.

We are surprised that the only move made recently to check corruption is

by awarding multi-billion Naira contracts to militants who are obviously lacking in the needed experience to secure the pipelines. Corruption is a killer. It is the source of almost all the ills plaguing the country. It is therefore inconceivable for any President at this point in time to volunteer the information that he has no intention to combat the evil for about 48 months.

We call on all Nigerian leaders at all levels to declare war against corrupt practices in all facets of life. They must realise that the future of the country depends on how well and fast they could win the war. Corruption is not only financial, all forms of perversion of the established order must stop if Nigeria is to rise and take its rightful place as the hope of Africa South of the Sahara.

‘It is even the more incomprehensible why and how the President expected that Nigerians would wait patiently for another four years before decisive action could be taken to halt the progressive slide in revenue. It is an acknowledgement that the President has little or no plans for the country’s development’

Celebrating Jonathan’s exit

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IR: By last Monday - to be precise, it was obvious that the son of canoe-carver-born former university teacher have lost his reelection bid. Results of the presidential election humbled him. It seems to be the heaviest political fall from grace to grass. The relief of President Goodluck Ebele “Azikiwe” Jonathan’s exit from the nation’s top job would be profound in many ways. If he loses, it would mean that the nation’s participatory democracy has attained some appreciable level of liberal maturation. It will explain that the country’s democratic experiment has taken the will of the electorate into account. It will also give credence to the fact that the era of deploying dollars to buy people’s votes is over. It would again means that no criminally corrupt government, as Jonathan will ever force itself on the nation, indefinitely.

However, there are no indications Jonathan wouldn’t be tempted to use the military to its ultimate destruction, given the thickheaded and irresponsible egoism of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with their politics of cattle trading where national interest is utterly subordinated.

This still cannot deters a people’s resolve that the highest and truest expression of human spirit lies in the volition to determine their existence. It could come by blood and iron.

Another issue is the deceptive propaganda, which soiled whatever reputation President has mustered. The president expects Nigerians to watch the minimal dents his administration made on airports renovations, road rehabilitation in televised advertorials in a country where power stability is less than an hour per day after trillions of naira was looted in the name of power generation! He even swore to go on self exile if he failed to complete the Second Niger Bridge by 2015.

It’s now the butt of joke on ‘Instant Media’ and elsewhere, where the president’s minders regularly ask those against him to go and hug transformer. The responses of those against the president now come with pictures of young boys and girls hugging transformer with the saying: “I been hugging this transformer in the last twenty hours without electricity”. That is how deep the abyss of national wreckage the nation has sunk.

We are in this horrible state because from the beginning, Jonathan has confused himself with the role propaganda can play in modern days society. He seems to believe propaganda creates leaders! Such terrible assumption has robbed him of the earlier empathy, which was wrongly ascribed to him by Nigerians who were deceived by the most ordinary of his simple appearance, but coated in slyness, spinelessness, infinite shrewdness, serpentine slush and gross deception.

Nigerians can now know where Jonathan is coming from and the composite ruin his administration visited on the people. Any gain saying it’s unknown to him that corruption is the greatest problem confronting the powerfully endowed nation and that frontally combating the hydraheaded monster is the CHANGE Nigerians need?

How else can Nigerians celebrate themselves than Jonathan’s rustication? It will be a celebration of an end to his inept government.

• Erasmus, A Public Affairs Analyst writes in from Lagos.

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh • Editor Gbenga Omotoso •Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye •General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye •Editor, Online Lekan Otufodunrin •Managing Editor Northern Operation Yusuf Alli •Managing Editor Waheed Odusile

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu

•Deputy Editor Lawal Ogienagbon

•Advert Manager Robinson Osirike

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: One of the many teachings that I got from my late father is never to come home until what I sought to accomplish on a specific day within the bounds of human efforts is achieved. Saturday March 28, 2015 therefore saw me woke up on a high spirit and left the house at past seven in the morning for my balloting booth in PortHarcourt for accreditation, preparatory to casting my vote in the presidential elections. Even when INEC officials allocated to our unit kept us waiting by not resuming for work until at past 10 am, I still could not leave for home because of my daddy’s advise and also since I did not want to miss the opportunity of my first voting experience.

You would have expected that I was the only person - who was there to vote for the first time, but so were many others - but I was enthralled by the presence of elderly persons, old enough to be my grandparents.

They not only came out early but, stood and waited patiently to exercise their franchise.

The awareness for this election was extraordinary. No one wanted to sit on the fence and this was visibly demonstrated at my polling station where voters expressed their reservations against individuals and support for their preferred candidates, against the electoral law.

For me, the major downsides were the presence of some rabble-rousers who wished the card readers should not work so that, our plans, will reach the summit. But they were reasonably asked by some voters to stop such perverse thinking that could be an incitement for trouble.

Contrary to the thoughts of these enemies of democracy, the card reader deployed to my booth was picture-perfectas it did not record breakdown on any occasion and was so seamless that I imagined why it could have failed in other

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My first voting experience places within and outside PortHarcourt as reported in the media.

I was also taken aback at the goings-on at the booth next to mine.

This booth, long after we had been accredited did not start theirs because the INEC official and Youth Corp member sent there brought the wrong machine and upon discovery, the party agents thereafter protested and it took the INEC official forever to replace. My next displeasure was in the way the party agents in the booth next to mine conducted themselves. They never worked in sync to ensure a unified election.

For instance, when the card reader was not brought on time, all but one of the party agents recommended to the youth corp memberin-charge that they should go ahead with manual accreditations. He amazingly assented to the idea but the agent of a party that is not a major contending party in our national politics stood up to fight for ‘the rule of right’.

He advocated, even though in a hostile way, that the right thing must be done and the right thing would be that a card reader must first malfunction before manual accreditation could be done. He was spot on.

In this instance, the functional card reader had not arrived and yet manual accreditation was suggested. In the end, the lone star had his way for the general good. It taught me a lesson: stand for what

is right always. My polling unit fortunately, did not witness any misfortune and I was more contented for it - being my first voting experience.

Was it worth it? I think it did and wished everyone had this unruffled experience all over the state like I did but unfortunately the report of ballot snatching, Youth corp members beaten, some statesmen not being able to do accreditation because of the absence of result sheets, with REC

joining issues instead of educating such statesmen, elections cancelled and postponed in some wards, voting beginning at six pm in some places gave me a cause to worry.

Will Rivers State ever get its acts right democratically? One can assume how hot-blooded the gubernatorial election in this state will be on April 11 th, 2015. Whatever happens, it is hoped that the outcome of these elections will usher in a type of democracy not witnessed before to lift us from the bur-

The imperative of change

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IR: For Nigeria to start afresh on a path of sustainable development, the kleptocatic regime of Jonathan must be constitutionally and electorally dislodged in earnest, otherwise, Nigeria and Nigerians are in hot soup. Jonathan has succeeded in wasting six precious years in the life of Nigeria, instituting and foisting on the nation a regime of propaganda, abandoned governance and established politics of division based on sentiments and propped up criminals as regional leaders.

In terms of corruption, Jonathan gets gold medal in Africa and his spouse becomes the most vulgar, obscene and un-dignifying in the annals of first lady position in Nigeria. There are more than one thousand and one reasons why Nigerians trooped out last Saturday, not

minding the intimidation from compromised security agencies, especially, the SSS, to vote for change and not the sustenance of clueless, integrity-deficient and deeply corrupt government of Jonathan, that has reduced Nigeria to a laughing stock in the comity of civilised nations.

To end insecurity, eliminate corruption, revamp the economy, rebuild infrastructure, strengthen the naira against dollar and pound sterling, our generation, people born after the end of the civil war, our people have done well by voting against Jonathan.

• Akinrolabu Omonitan, Ikeji-Ile Ijesha, State of Osun.

Babatunde

den of privation and make life bearable.

Even if my preferred candidate loses, I will stand tall, beat my chest and say, “well done Simon, for you are a man who did not behave like others to build bulwark of ethnic, religious, and regional mawkishness around themselves in the choice of candidates but settled for one solely on principle and national interests, only the deep can call the deep.”

• Simon abah, Port Harcourt

Nigeria is almost there

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IR: It is with great joy that I write and the reason for this new found joy is the fact that I know the new dispensation will provide Nigerians with a new lease of life. The fact is that in the next general election in Nigeria coming up in 2019, Nigerians should not have to pick between the devil and the deep blue sea. The country and her elections will definitely continue to improve.

The publicity and the high interest of Nigerians in the 2015 Presidential election has given me hope of a better Nigeria and one is happy to share with you this hope of a recovering Nigeria. And the new lease of hope that Nigeria can work and must work is exhilarating. The onus is now on the people to make the right decisions by subsequently in future elections vote for the right candidate they believe can make Nigeria the country we all wish and pray for. GOD bless NIGERIA. • Joshua Awolowo” awolowojoshua@gmail.com

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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COMMENTS

April 1st Our Girls; One INEC team + One Card Reader/50-100 voters pls; Single day elections in 2019

O

Tony Marinho

UR Girls are still missing since April 15th 2014. Soon it will be one tragic year. Congratulations to our troops and the supreme sacrifice some have had to make against Boko

Haram. We wish they had acted one year ago.

No results are announced by INEC at my press time Monday Am. Nigeria is still afraid of exit polls, which are part of the international political anticorruption arsenal. Why did INEC not quickly collate and announce ‘INEC authorized results’ at local collation centres immediately? We pray that INEC will not be oppressed by the traditional demons against democracy as in the recent past. The election was not ‘pure’.

There were unacceptable incidents of calculated and callous violence, stolen report sheets, bombs, attacks, gunfire, deaths and injuries, violence against the media and a fatal boat incident.

However it ‘appears’ largely free and fair except for some very difficult orchestrated elections in violence-prone states.

Voting should be a pleasant experience and not a dangerous punishment. Patience, perseverance and pragmatism are necessities in Nigerian elections and punishment for violence perpetrators. Voters will not swallow false results of a sham election rigged in their state.

Exposure to scorching sun or tropical rain, no seats, no shade, no toilet facilities, was the order of the voting day. Worldwide we see elections where voters spend seconds or minutes for accreditation with driving licence or passport or voter’s ID and immediately vote with a choice of several curtainedoff polling booths for secret voting. In this last election on the March 28 in my polling booth, INEC arrived at 8.45pm and we spend from 9.15am to 3pm being accredited as one card reader died on us and this was not replaced until the second one died at 1.06pm. Even then, it took the pressure of the

T

HE constitution and Electoral Act in Nigeria do not allow for voting in the Diaspora, a feature of elections in Algeria and Tunisia, which has also been proposed in Angola. Nonetheless, Nigerians in the Diaspora who are interested in the 2015 elections have had to take to the internet to follow the exercise. This is in addition to the online platform of many of the nation’s media channels. In recent times, online media has been a useful channel for engaging people worldwide, whether as electorate or otherwise, presenting an opportunity to be somehow involved in public processes, particularly in elections on the scale of Nigeria’s 2015 general elections.

However, the internet was not the exclusive preserve of those in the Diaspora during the elections. In fact, if it was, then it would not have been as rewarding. Millions of Nigerians who were physically on ground for the elections went to the polling units armed with their personal cameras and smart phones, uploading pictures and videos of the exercise on platforms such as the popular Facebook and Twitter. The large number of Nigerians in the Diaspora who could not be in the country and who were interested in the exercise, hung on to these uploads and reacted to the posts by those on the ground. Soon, the section of cyberspace, which is referred to as ‘Nigerian Facebook’ and ‘Nigerian Twitter’ became an unofficial polling unit, collation center and situation room, all at the same time.

As results from the different polling units poured in, reactions followed and of course, arguments and accusations took over. The internet was buzzing, reflecting the reality of the Nigerian landscape at the time. Early in the polling, a video showing a group of northerners

citizens and a citizen’s vehicle to take INEC officials to HQ for replacements, which arrived at 2pm to accredit the remaining 100 out of about 280 voters. As usual in Nigeria, it was exhausting, time consuming and economically costly.

I personally wiped my thumb and the card reader spent just 2 or 3 seconds to accredit me. However the person ahead of me was accredited on his ninth digit attempt. But even that took just about one minute. Of the nearly 300 voters only three or so had to be done manually. What are the lessons and corrections that can be offered? The card reader was a ‘qualified’ success preventing duplication, multiple voting, fake cards and post-voting stuffing of ballot boxes. The difficulty was when the card readers failed but card readers are multi-purpose anti-corruption device. In some cases where it failed the card reader was maliciously or politically crippled.

Below are my conclusions or Post Mortem Findings.

Post Mortem finding 1: The spending of four hours lining up for one three person INEC team to accredit over 150-500 people is too long and wrong. We in our station were ‘lucky’ as only 300 turned up out of 800 expected. Many voters had registered but only worked there and could not come to vote from home-lost votes. Surely in order to ‘Speed up the process,’ Nigeria have one INEC card reader/50 cards to speed up the accreditation process. The card reader is to be hailed as it severely limited vote rigging and voter number fixing.

Post Mortem finding 2: A planned three INEC staff for 200500 voters are unimaginably poor management. We eventually had two sets of three INEC staff. INEC needs to treat Nigerians better and plan ‘three INEC staff /100 voters’ in each polling station.

POST Mortem finding 3: Nigeria must have a single INEC election with one accreditation and same afternoon election of all offices: President, National Assembly, Governors and State Assembly. Nigerians and Nigeria cannot afford to shut down twice for elections at the cost and loss of many billions to businesses and government. Nigerians should not be forced to go through the mental, physical and financial stress of an 8-12 hour election, more than one day every 4 years. This will halve the INEC budget for police security, travel and

vehicle transport hire, and voter register reproduction for the second election day and also save parties 50% of party agent hire fees and other monitoring expenses. INEC can apply some of the billions in ‘saved’ funds to hiring more INEC staff for a ‘one day election’, which will maximise the value of accreditation and queuing. It will cut wastage of time and energy and financial business losses and reduce security risks.

If allowed to function, The permanent voter card and the card reader remain the best things that have happened to ‘honest elections’ in Nigeria. Of course, no Card reader revolution can totally prevent the massed forces of evil political elements misusing their position and power to intimidate voters, buy voters’ thumbs or steal ballot boxes. These manifestations of maniacal acts of demonic anti-democracy vandalism often characterise struggling democracies where ‘one man-one vote’ democracy is subverted by ‘party and personal perpetuation’ at any evil price.

Serving politicians who have lost elections by legitimate means or had to use illegal means to ‘win’ the elections must ask themselves why they got it wrong? In four years’ time, 2019, when the electorate decides again, we do not want to be challenged by the same political arrogance, insulting electioneering behaviour and prolonged massive financial wrongdoing.

‘The spending of four hours lining up for one three person INEC team to accredit over 150-500 people is too long and wrong. We in our station were ‘lucky’ as only 300 turned up out of 800 expected. Many voters had registered but only worked there and could not come to vote from home-lost votes’

Online facet of 2015 elections frantically pressing their thumbs against the PDP ‘umbrella’ on what appeared to be ballot papers went viral on Nigerian twitter with lamentations of rigging and cries of foul play. This was quickly discredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC), official twitter account which stated that it was a video from the previous elections in 2011 as the ballot papers that could be seen in the video were those used in that election, which are different from the ones currently being used. A subsequent post showing the two different ballot papers was circulated thereafter.

INEC, through its online accounts called on Nigerians to alert the commission of any case of irregularities in any ward or polling unit around the country. Pronto, the opportunity was seized with both hands by many Nigerians who swiftly took to the internet, turning it into a beehive of activities. They reported late arrivals of polling materials, non-arrivals and insufficient materials. Two particular reports that caught INEC’s attention after the discredited video was a picture of a young boy who looked no more than 13 or 14, being attended to by electoral officials. The location was unclear as some posts stated it was in Taraba State, others said it was Gombe or Katsina and many other Northern states. People screaming underage voting in the north subsequently used the same picture in posts.

There was also a post concerning the repeated failure of card readers used during the voting. In one particular ward, a voter discovered that the officials had not peeled off the protective film covering the lens of

‘What is at stake in this election is the future of this great country which is why, the old and young, the elderly and the sick, braved all odds to cast their votes’

the card reader being used at the polling unit before attempting to scan voter’s cards, with no success.

This fault was pointed out to the officials by a technology professional who live in the neighbourhood. After some heated exchange, according to the post on twitter, the film was peeled off eventually and the device worked efficiently after. The post was circulated throughout twitter, advising voters to call attention to this in wards where card readers were malfunctioning. INEC later confirmed this as one of the problems that caused faulty devices at polling units. One video showed a voter screaming “Massive Rigging” and filming events around him while he challenged officials, even though it was not clear from the video what his actual claim was.

INEC, the political parties and the electorate made ample use of the online platforms in the build up to the elections and during the elections. The downside to this platform is the ease with which anybody can make any claim and post them online with little evidence. Even where there is video or picture evidence, it is still subject to verification in most cases, as was the case with the outdated video from the north. For this reason, trying to get a feeler for the direction the election was going was nearly impossible, as conflicting claims emerged from the same polling units, with results posted for wards where elections were still ongoing. Several accounts of popular and notable figures in the society were however more reliable, but where unverified information came from those quarters, it was indicated in the post.

The cyberspace also featured the ethnic and religious controversy that pervades elections in Nigeria, complete with the sentiments that accompany them.

One thing that was certain in the middle of the unverified informa-

tion and misguided comments was that Nigerians were taking a real part in the elections this time. Providing generators to ensure voting was concluded into the night, refreshments for electoral officials and accompanying the result sheet to the various collation centres - all captured in pictures and videos. The message on twitter and facebook and on the streets was clear: “Nigerians want their votes to count in this election.” The voters in the Military camps in Maiduguri, Borno State were shown in some pictures that were circulated. Evidence from the election violence in Rivers State went viral online within minutes.

Perhaps, the criminals who earlier on Saturday hacked into the website of INEC had the intension to use it to post fake messages and results on the elections. They knew quite well that the internet was going to play a major role in this election. Thank God that INEC officials got the hint on time and moved decisively to dislodge the intruders or interlopers before they created havoc on the platform.

By and large, though there were some hiccups here and there, the election appears to have been peaceful as attested to by observers from ECOWAS, the African Union and others. James Entwistle, the United States ambassador to Nigeria personally applauded the decision of INEC to use the Permanent Voter Card in the general elections. Speaking with journalists at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, the venue of the National Collation Centre of the election results on Sunday, Entwistle said: “The Permanent Voter Cards are very high tech.

They are more high tech than my voter card from the state of Virginia in the US. My voter card does not have biometric. It does not have my fingerprint. The high tech gives the process more integrity.”

As I write this Column on Monday, ahead of the release of the fi-

Dele Agekameh nal results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, my intuition tell me that the real challenge could come when the results are finally announced. I believe causing mayhem if the results are not favourable to any party, should not be an option. In a contest like this, there are bound to be winners and losers. The only option available is to approach the court or the election tribunal rather than resort to an archaic tactic fit only for animal farm.

What is at stake in this election is the future of this great country, which is why the old and young, the elderly and the sick, braved all odds to cast their votes. The turnout of voters was overwhelming and unprecedented. Even though false reports from Enugu and other places emanated from the ‘internet electorates’ too, the Nigerian cyberspace now contains hard evidence, available to the electorate, counting done on camera down to the last ballot paper in different wards. For the online medium which was fully engaged, it is a statement of intent, by those on ground and those in the Diaspora helping to circulate the posts, videos and pictures, to amplify that: “the will of the people must prevail.”

Send reactions to: 08058354382 (SMS only)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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COMMENTS ‘Good afternoon sir, interminable GBOSA to you, for this marvelous, outlandish and fantastic write-up. No tricks, antics and fable displays

by Jonathan would earn him people-vote, though he is full of gimmicks and mimics. With God on our side, the new lease of life is around the corner. Did he think because he has begged, solicited and dollarised the kings and many groups he will scale through? He is deceiving himself, chasing shadows. I am sure he’ll be ‘choked’ after the presidential election. I pray God to grant you new wisdom, education and understanding. From Amidu Saheed, Ifo’ •Buhari

For Segun Gbadegesin Jonathan must handover peacefully and sharply if he is not voted. There are many non-violent options of pushing them into historical oblivion. From Onyilo Onyilo, Abuja.

According to your article, there is no one that is free in Nigeria. You people should allow Jonathan to continue. Go to Edo State and Rivers, everybody has political interest. Anonymous I read your article “The responsibility to choose.” Brilliant piece as usual I must say. I’m certain Jonathan will lose. Anonymous It’s quite interesting to know from you that “there is more than enough to go round” in the verbal onslaught between the PDP and APC, leaving aside the subjective judgement of who “cast the first stone”. But recall that remarks were considered too indecent to be hauled on Jonathan by APC before the “semi-literate jackpot” attack on Buhari credited to Wale Oladipo of PDP. Again, APC also helps immensely in “spoiling Jonathan the more” by imagining all sort of tricks he had designed to rig the election, even those never contemplated by him, thereby opening his eyes and mind towards that direction. Of course, it remains a mystery ‘Men at sometimes were masters of their fates.

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.’

——— Cassius:

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NE of the perennial problems that dominate the reflections of philosophers is the issue of human action, and whether such actions are free or determined by some powers beyond human comprehension. In other words, when a person carries out a particular, say, political act, should that person be blamed/praised for the consequences of that act or not? If we are to be praised or blamed for whatever action we initiate—whether social, economic, political or personal—then the implication is that we are morally responsible for such actions. We were not in any way compelled to make decisions. Rather, we arrived at a particular decision after usually painstaking deliberation.

However, if we were compelled into taking any decision—through external or internal duress—then we cannot be held liable for whatever consequences arise from the action.

I have definitely caricatured the debate, which, in the character of philosophical problems, is usually more complex and complicated than my simplistic rendering.

Shakespeare is not really a philosopher, yet the epigraph of this article—taken from his Julius Caesar—shows him taking side in this philosophical issue through the mouth of Cassius. What then can Cassius’ philosophical statement teach us about the project of nation building in Nigeria?

Contemporary Nigeria has a lot in common with ancient Rome. For one, both are highly political societies, always battling for the consolidation of democratic processes. Second, Rome achieved the zenith of national greatness that Nigeria has embarked upon since independence in 1960. The critical difference lies in the fact that while Rome had the privilege of inheriting the cultural and political legacy of Greece, Nigeria inherited the albatross of colonial encumbrances. Thus, Rome rode to its glory almost effortlessly (of course, not forgetting the countless hordes of

to many Nigerians as to how the president would aim at rigging the election and still spent much time and energy consulting with Nigerians all over the country.

He could have sat and designed his rigging strategies in his office, and waited for the election day for their execution.

From Emmanuel Egwu.

You have now been vindicated. There were massive failures of the card readers and shortages of ballot papers. The incident forms were not enough in some wards. Radio Nigeria reported that in Ibeju -Lekki which is a PDP strong hold, area boys were causing trouble. Jega has exposed himself. Anonymous God bless you, sir. Interminable GBOSA to you for your marvelous, outlandish and fantastic article. No tricks, antics and fable displays by Jonathan would earn him peoplevote, though he is full of gimmicks and mimics. With God on our side, a new lease of life is around the corner. Did he think because he begged, solicited and dollarised the kings and many groups, he will scale through? He is deceiving himself; chasing shadow. I am sure he’ll be ‘choked’ after the presidential election. I pray God to grant you new wisdom, education and understanding. From Amidu Saheed, Ifo’

APC supporters are already posting results on facebook. They do not obey any laws. Anonymous Having Jonathan as President again is

like putting fire on the roof, it might burn the house utterly. Who the citizenry needs now is who will bring peace into the country and not who will shrug his shoulder. Apart from that, he doesn’t deserve the saddle anymore because he would turn melody to malady; he must be jettisoned because he is too quarrelsome. From Olude Quadri, Keulere Ifo. For Olatunji Dare Why is it that The Nation never sees anything good in Jonathan’s government.

Would you say the same thing if Buhari did not deliver? Looking at things, Buhari has the upper hand. We are watching.

Anonymous Well-written. We are rather in a nation where majority are ill-informed and burdened with ethnic and religious sentiments. Otherwise, all of us will be in a single queue against Jonathan come Saturday. From Barrister Ngozi Ogbomor.

Thank you for your article. As usual, it’s a masterpiece. A text message is in circulation intended to clone all Buhari supporters’ PVCs. I’m pretty sure you’ll get one soon. God bless and reward you abundantly. Anonymous You are a pride, with all sincerity, sir, to writing, language - not just English - and humanity. We love you and would ever

•Jonathan

be proud of you. From Barrister Lekan Oyerinde The only reason I feel Nigeria is still where it is today (at the dump) is due to sentiments. And I wonder, how could we be so educated and yet timid in the face of tribal sentiments. ‘So long as it hails from my mother’s kitchen, the insidious odour is good’. Anonymous Your article was concise and comprehensive. Kudos to you. God bless Nigeria.

Anonymous Sir, a typical Nigerian leader does not care about history or posterity; it’s about the now. Anonymous Just wish to say well-done for your articles I read in The Nation. It gave me a lot of excitement. Please keep it up. Soonest, the PDP will face the reality of their misfortunes. May God bless Buhari as he climbs the ‘unseatable seat’ of Jonathan, come May 29th. Insha Allah! God bless all Nigerians. From Fati, Kuje.

God bless you for your article The Nation March 24, 2015: “The home stretch, finally” We need fearless journalists like you; God will always protect you from evil doers, amen. From Okosun A Okosun

A philosophical reflection on the Nigerian project

By Tunji Olaopa barbarians along its borders ceaselessly warring to undermine that greatness). On the other hand, Nigeria has had to battle with crippling institutional and value deficits that had crucially slowed its march towards greatness beyond what ought to have been since independence.

What then can we learn from Cassius’ philosophy in Julius Caesar? Julius Caesar was fast becoming the dictator who shook Rome to its foundation with the force of his charisma and brutality. Often, he explained his rise to the fortunate intrusion of the stars, or the fates, in human affairs. For instance, in Act ii, scene ii, Caesar declared: ‘It seems to me most strange that men should fear,/Seeing that death, a necessary end,/Will come when it will come.’

Cassius rejected that fatalistic interpretation.

Of course, he believed that certain events are beyond human control. However, giving the fates the credit for human successes and failures is too convenient a cosmological argument for any reasonable human agency.

That explanation constrains us too much into passive submissiveness. And conveniently, it makes Cassius and the rest who opposed Caesar’s rise cosmologically incapacitated to challenge his dictatorial tendencies!

Eventually, Cassius and Brutus successfully planned and executed the murder of Caesar.

Cassius’ statement reveals a critical reading of the condition and responsibility of public life and performance. If we fail to make our nation work, he seemed to be saying, we should really not blame our stars. Rather, it is our humanity as statesmen and citizens that make us weak or underlings. Brutus, for instance, was torn between his love for Caesar as a friend and his ultimate duty to the Republic as a citizen. And in spite of the pull of love,

Brutus dared to do his duty to Rome as he perceived it. According to him, ‘Not that I lov’d Caesar less, but that I lov’d Rome more.’

Nigeria has been on the road to greatness for more than fifty-two years now. The destination is the achievement of greatness in the form of national integration around the Nigerian Dream which every citizen from Warri to Kontagora, and from Yola to Oshogbo would associate with. The dream of national integration requires the capacity to redirect the people’s loyalties away from their ethnic enclaves to the civil public. The first stage of the Nigerian Project requires that the Nigerian State begins the process of making life comfortable. This involves making the civic public a space of equity and justice, where the public good is available to every citizen.

Once the citizens are convinced of the good intent of the State, then the second phase of national integration begins.

Cassius represents an ambivalent politician.

This is because, in the first place, his intentions about Rome were seemingly genuine. He wanted to prevent the rise of Julius Caesar as a dictator in a republican context. Yet, Cassius also came across as an ambitious person. Yet, in spite of this assessment, he acted for the sake of the Republic. To get a citizen to act often arise from the personal belief that the State is worth serving and defending, or dying for. This is the root of patriotism. Of course, Cassius’ and Brutus’ brand of patriotism may be less than worthwhile, yet Nigeria needs a crop of followers who have enough faith in the capacity of the state to bring their hopes and aspirations to fruition.

Immanuel Kant, the eighteenth century German philosopher, played a huge intellectual role in defining the Enlightenment age in European socio-philosophical history.

For him, the slogan of the Enlightenment is sapere aude! (Dare to think!) We can equally say that nation building in Nigeria requires a serious form of political audacity. We can call it the audacity to dream. Nigeria requires a crop of intellectuals, politicians, statesmen and officials who can dare to dream about justice, patriotism, equity, progress and all the ideals of greatness befitting a nation like Nigeria. These would be people who will give the lie to the doctrine of the fates by seizing the opportunities given them to serve and be different. A nation is not built on the whims and caprices of fate; rather, it is built on courage and the strength to will political aspiration into existence through the force of conviction.

When we get to this level, we can go on then to thank our stars that we have been born Nigerians and had been given the chance to rewrite the political history of a nation that was once floundering but regained its national footing and resumed its march through the concerted efforts of people who refused to be underlings.

‘When we get to this level, we can go on then to thank our stars that we have been born Nigerians and had been given the chance to rewrite the political history of a nation that was once floundering but regained its national footing and resumed its march through the concerted efforts of people who refused to be underlings’

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net Stories by Taofik Salako

NLNG is one of the biggest success stories in our country. From what I am told, the company has invested $13 billion so far since inception, and has become a pacesetter in terms of revenue generation for the government.

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

Skye Bank to complete Mainstreet Bank integration by June

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KYE Bank Plc will absorb Mainstreet Bank Limited in June as it concludes the final round of integration of the operations of Mainstreet Bank.

Group Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, who confirmed this at the weekend, said the integration and merger with the attendant brand name change, workforce and operations convergence were expected to be completed in June.

According to him, a stronger Skye Bank should emerge in June, following the conclusion of the consolidation of the operations of Mainstreet Bank with that of the parent company.

“We are in the process of merging the two institutions; that should happen in June. Then, you will have a stronger Skye Bank,” Oguntayo said.

The Nation had reported exclusively in December 2014 that Skye Bank will merge the operations of Mainstreet Bank Limited and absorbed the bank under its brand name.

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) had on December 19 transferred full ownership of

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

Mainstreet Bank to Skye Bank Plc, giving the latter the control to begin the post-acquisition integration for the acquired bank. The transfer of full ownership took place after a completion meeting where AMCON divested its interest and transferred full ownership of the bridge bank to Skye Bank. Skye Bank had successfully paid 100 per cent of the acquisition value and received regulatory clearance as the new owner.

A reliable source had told The Nation that the board of Skye Bank had decided to pursue full integration and merger of the operations of the acquired bank with that of Skye Bank, rather than operating the acquired bank as a stand-alone commercial bank and a subsidiary.

In deciding on the integration and merger, the source said the directors and top management executives of Skye Bank considered the low-profile brand status of Mainstreet Bank; a name that was adopted after the AMCON acquired the then Afribank

Nigeria Plc. The board also sought to optimise efficiency by reducing operating costs, which would be higher in the event of running the acquired bank as a subsidiary.

Full integration and merger has been a favourite option for mergers and acquisitions in the banking industry.

Access Bank had adopted the same option in the acquisition of Intercontinental Bank while Ecobank Transnational Incorporated had adopted similar approach in the acquisition of Oceanic Bank International.

The board of Skye Bank had then appointed an interim management for Mainstreet Bank, with a dual mandate to run the bank within the immediate period and lead the full integration and merger.

The interim management board comprised Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, the deputy managing director of Skye Bank and Mr. Dotun Adeniyi, an executive director and chief risk officer of Skye Bank.

Between October 3 and October 31, Skye Bank paid both the initial 20 percent mandatory deposit and completed

• From left: Head, Corporate Services, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) Mr Vincent Adubor; Head, Department of Banking and Finance, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Bamitale Ajibola and Head, Membership and Students Affairs, CIS, Mr Babatunde Apena, during a career talk at the Department of Banking and Finance, YABATECH in Lagos

the 80 percent balance well ahead of the November 3 deadline for the 100 per cent acquisition of Mainstreet Bank which has been described by several analysts and financial commentators as a ground breaking acquisition in Nigeria’s financial sector.

Analysts have been unanimous in that the acquisition, operationally, is a game-changer for Skye Bank, given possible synergies and the impact on the balance sheet and profitability of the bank, while it would also increase the bank’s market position in the banking industry and at the stock market.

Analysts have said the potential impact will be big on Skye Bank’s reach and asset size. Mainstreet Bank has nine subsidiaries and a large distribution network comprising of 201 branches across 35 out of 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It equally has nine cash centers and 205 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

Skye Bank, with dominant operations in the Southwest, is also banking on Mainstreet Bank to deepen its penetration of the South-East and South-South regions where it is less represented.

Some 26 percent or 54 branches of Mainstreet Bank’s network are located in the two regions. These two regions also accounted for 28 percent of Mainstreet Bank’s over 1.9 million customers, second only to Lagos with 37 per cent.

With smooth integration, Skye Bank will make valuable in-roads into these two regions without the need to incur huge expenditure, while the acquisition would bring valuable concurrence and synergies from the mutual focus areas of commercial and retail banking of the two entities. Skye Bank focuses on retail and commercial banking which is also the main focus areas of Mainstreet Bank.

The last audited report and accounts of Mainstreet Bank for the year ended December 31, 2013 showed that retail and commercial banking contributed 78 percent, 36 percent, and 18 percent of total deposits, total loans and profit before tax.

Also, Mainstreet Bank’s savings and demand deposits accounted for 21 per-

cent and 43 percent of the deposit mix, which also demonstrated its focus on these two segments. A second generation leader, Mainstreet Bank has a large pool of loyal institutional and corporate customers, which in spite of its status as an AMCON-owned bank, ensures that the bank retained almost its two million customers after the takeover.

Also, Mainstreet Bank has managed agricultural loans, which accounted for 12.6 percent and 16.9 percent of its loan portfolio in 2012 and 2013, second only to ‘general’ sector. Analysts have said Mainstreet Bank’s expertise in managing agric loans made its non-performing loan ratio very negligible at 0.01 per cent, where Skye Bank saw a significant opportunity to improve its expertise in this area, and therefore raise its market share in the agriculture sector. This will position Skye Bank very strategically to partner with and participate in the Federal Government’s short and medium term planned strategic investments and budgetary allocation to the agriculture sector.

Oguntayo has said the synergies between the two institutions had given Skye Bank the competitive edge, which it would leverage to deliver quality customer service and high returns to shareholders.

He said the acquisition has provided the bank the opportunity to optimise cost, assuring that the bank would leverage its superior information technology to block leakage as well as pursuing aggressive expense control.

According to him, as the bank assumes the status of a mega bank following the acquisition, it will place strong emphasis and focus on retail and commercial banking as a way of bringing about a healthy deposit mix to cut its cost of funding.

He highlighted that the new business strategy will also allow the bank to reduce the volume of public sector deposit and term deposit at its disposal for enhanced profitability and business sustainability.

He outlined that the bank would continue to upgrade its information technology continually, while also promoting the usage of point of sales terminals and automatic teller machines to serve its teeming customers.

CPC alerts consumers to dangers of unhealthy foods

T

HE Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has embarked on a campaign to alert consumers to the dangers of eating unhealthy foods.

It said this was part of its activities to mark this year’s World Consumer Rights Day. This year’s event had as theme, Consumers’ right to healthy foods.

The Consumer International celebrates World Consumer Rights Day yearly to promote consumer rights, protest market abuses and social injustice meted out to consumers, and places a demand on business operators that consumer rights should be respected.

The CPC said it was drawing the attention of consumers to the health risks in consuming unhealthy foods, which are low in fibre, vitamins, high on fats, salt, sugar and tropical oils and are of little or no nutritional value.

At a briefing, Head, Lagos Office of CPC, Mr. Tam Tamunokonbia,

By Chikodi Okereocha and Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

said: “As you all know, a consumer is anyone who buys or uses any product or service. Since there is none that does not buy or use products and services, we all are consumers. It is the consumers’ rights to buy and use healthy foods and that is what we intend to focus on this year.’’

He explained that the CPC chose to sensitise consumers on consumption of healthy foods in schools, churches, mosques and other public places to educate Nigerians on their salt and sugar intake. “We intend to enlighten Nigerians on the dangers of consuming unhealthy foods,” he said.

Tamunokonbia noted that in most cases, such unhealthy foods lack the necessary vitamins obtainable from fruits and vegetables. He said unfortunately, these junks or unhealthy foods when taken regularly, cause dietrelated diseases, such as obesity,

Bank CEOs, CBN bicker over N700b intervention funds - P26

cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases-all leading to premature deaths.

As part of the campaign, he said the Lagos Office of CPC was at two Churches, St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, and the Foursquare Gospel Church, OPIC Estate, Lagos, to sensitse the members.

According to him, members of both churches were astonished at the revelations by the council.

“This is expected to continue throughout the year,” he said.

Tamunokonbia said a follow-up to the “Walk for health” by the Council in Abuja, the Lagos Office and other Zonal Offices participated in the “Walk for Health programme” from Ilupeju to

Oshodi to Ikeja through Maryland, Ikorodu and back to the Council’s Office.

Meanwhile, talks have been carried out by various senior and junior secondary schools across Lagos, and a few others are scheduled to take place shortly. In addition, interviews and spotlight programmes are expected to run on radio, television and in national newspapers.

“It is expected that the tempo will be sustained and extended to eateries, supermarkets, restaurants and market places through the year,” Tamunokonbia said.

As part of the sensitisation, CPC has also begun an advocacy for the adoption of a consumer-friendly

‘CPC is advocating that manufacturers adopt the consumer friendly ‘traffic light’ nutritional labelling as it is very simple for consumers to read and understand at first glance’

labelling for beverages and food products in the country.

Its Director-General, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said in Abuja.

She asked for a change in the nutritional information put at the back of these products, which, she said, was incomprehensible.

“The CPC is advocating that manufacturers adopt the consumer friendly ‘traffic light’ nutritional labelling as it is very simple for consumers to read and understand at first glance,” Atoki said, noting that “most consumers lack the skill or time to interpret detailed nutritional information on the back of the package.”

The DG noted that the Council was using the opportunity of the celebration to sensitise consumers to make informed decision on what they purchase and consume, adding that there was also the need for them to check the labelling of these products, as well as for the manufacturers to adopt best practices in line with the council’s mandate.

Empowering women NSE may sanction 150 companies entrepreneurs with ICT skills over delayed results - P28

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

Bank CEOs, CBN bicker over N700b intervention funds

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HE Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have criticised the stringent rules for accessing the N700 billion intervention funds for the key sectors of the economy, The Nation investigations have shown.

A CEO, who pleaded his anonymity, expressed disappointment with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) handling of the fund. He said some of the funds were meant to make policy statements, adding that conditions for accessing them, such as using treasury bills and bonds as collateral, were too stringent for customers.

The intervention projects include the N200 billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme (CACS), N300 billion Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF) and N200 billion Small and Medium Enterprises Restructuring and Refinancing Facility (SMERRF).

The source said bank customers were questioning the rationale for the funds because of the requirements for accessing them. “Sometimes, they just allow a government official or even the President to launch the fund, afterwards, noth-

Stories by Collins Nweze

ing happens. The stringent draw down policy especially as it concerns collaterals makes access to the fund difficult for the people that need them,” the source said.

The bank chief described the relationship between DMBs and CBN as that of between a headmaster and his teachers, adding that no bank dares question the apex bank on what it does. He said the monetary policy was expected to trigger positive change in the economy, including credit flow to key sectors of the economy. He wondered how the real sector could get greater value from the intervention fund when the loans are not accessible. “Banking is all about intermediation and filling the financing needs for the customers,” he said.

Speaking at a workshop in Lagos, CBN Head of Relationship Management, MSME Development Finance Department, Tobin Jonathan, said the apex bank was jolted by low access to the fund by operators.

He saidcomplaints from the MSME operators suggested that the

criteria were too strict, hence the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, decided to relax the criteria across board to make the funds more accessible.

He added that the CBN has also addressed all other complaints raised by participating financial institutions, including the spread of profit to cover their cost of operations.

The CBN had in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources established the CACS in 2009. The CACS was meant to finance agricultural value chain from input supply to marketing. The scheme started operations on April 23, 2009 with the approval of the Federal Government.

The N300 PAIF was meant to facilitate intervention in the transport sector. It was meant provide long term financing that would stimulate private sector participation in the sector.

The Development Finance Department of the CBN will be responsible for the daily administration of the facility while the activities to be covered under the facility are

new, startups and or expansion projects in the following sub-sectors are manufacturing where the company is involved in the production and processing of tangible goods.

It is also involved in manufacturing where the company fabricates,

deploys plants, machinery or equipment to deliver goods or provide infrastructure to facilitate economic activity in the real sector; and such entity must not be involved in the financial services industry.

UBA grows loans to N1.2tr

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HE United Bank for Africa (UBA) has recorded a 14 per cent growth in its loan books to N1.12 trillion.

The bank announced this as part of its December 2014 full year result at the weekend.

This is the first time the lender’s loan book is exceeding N1 trillion.

According to the lender, the loan growth is in line with management’s target for the year. The result reflected in the low Non-Performing Loan Ratio of 1.55 per cent well below the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) recommended maximum of five per cent.

Its Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Phillips Oduoza, said the lender expanded its loan books without compromising its focus on asset quality.

The bank, he said, focuses its lending on emerging growth sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, resource-based sectors such as oil, gas and mining, information communication technology (ICT), power and infrastructure.

He said the bank’s high level liquidity and strong capital base make it the bank of choice for big-ticket transactions in the emerging African markets, where it continues to offer unique financial solutions to businesses and governments.

Also, the bank’s Group Chief Financial Officer, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the lender would continue to support Africa-focused businesses

and governments, given its strong belief in the continent’s prospect.

“We believe the opportunities in Africa far outweigh the risks, given our on-the-ground experience in these markets. We, however, do not compromise our risk management criteria and selective approach to lending across all our target markets, as we focus on quality and profitable risk assets that fit into our sustainable growth principles and objectives,” he said.

Its Group Chief Risk Officer, Uche Ike said the growth in the bank’s loan books, was in line with its moderate risk appetite in the year under review.

He also said the bank was pleased with the quality of the risk assets created as reflected in the low 1.55 per cent NPL ratio and moderated 0.7 per cent cost of risk.

“These measures of asset quality are evidence of our investment in risk management; human capital and ERM tools. We will remain consistent in our responsible approach to lending, especially as we are conscious of macroeconomic headwinds in our core markets. We will continue to maintain a diversified portfolio, with strict concentration limits on obligors, sectors, market segments and markets.

Moreso, we will be proactive than ever in our portfolio monitoring in the years ahead, as we are committed to being the industry benchmark on asset quality,” said Ike said.

Interbank, parallel market rates gap worsens •From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo presenting Hilux Patrol van to Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Kayode Aderanti. With them are the bank’s Chief Security Officer, Peter Okoloh and Police Public Relations Officer, Ken Nwosu, to the state Police Command.

T

EFCC reads riot act to money launderers

HE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned that it will arrest and prosecute money lauderers either during or after the general elections.

Its Head, Legal and Prosecutions, Lagos Zonal Office, Kwarbai Latong, gave the warning at an antimoney laundering and counter-financing of terrorism conference by the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) in Lagos.

He said the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) would ensure that money launders are put on their toes.

“So, basically, the NFIU is still doing its work, passing information on funds movement to the relevant law enforcement agencies.

So, we are still working, and even after the election. The feedback we are getting translates to investigation. Information comes in, which becomes facts that will be investigated. So, basically, we keep getting these facts and we are working on them, and eventually they will become investigable facts,” he said.

Latong said even after the election, if the commission got enough

evidence on a case, it could go to court to prosecute the culprit.

He said the EFCC is carrying out its statutory responsibility and will prosecute any politician involved in money laundering either during or after the elections.

He said: “Once we gather evidence, the next thing is prepare charges in court and we prosecute such persons. Once these things are gathered, then you see us in court.

“EFCC will initiate prosecution against those who we find out that there is evidence. It is not a question as to whether the person is a politician or not. Anybody we believe we have evidence against which can form the basis of initiation of a charge, we will do that.’’

He added: “It is the process/attempt to conceal the true origin and ownership of wealth. It is the process by which proceeds of criminal activities are disguised to conceal their illicit origin(s) and usually entails three stages: the infusion of the proceeds into the financial system (placement); transactions to convert or transfer the funds to

other locations and/or financial institutions (layering) and the integration of the funds into the legitimate economy as “clean” money in various business ventures and/ or assets (integration).’’

He said the global community was concerned with issues related to money laundering and terrorist financing, noting that international, regional, bilateral and national cooperation in form of conventions, protocols, treaties and legislations had been put in place.

Such conventions include the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crimes (UNTOC), United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol On the Fight Against Corruption and the African Union (AU) Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.

Latong said the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) and the Financial Action Task Force were also established.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), he said, is an independent intergovernmental body established in 1989 by the Minister of member-states.

S

TAKEHOLDERS in foreign exchange market have described the gap between the interbank foreign exchange and parallel market rates as worrisome.

Currencies Analyst at Ecobank of Nigeria, Olakunle Ezun, said while the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) administrative measures helped harmonised the foreign exchange market and stabilised the naira around a daily average of N198 after the initial adjustment, the gap between the inter-bank and bureau de change (parallel market) rates is worrisome.

The greenback exchanges at over N220 to dollar at the parallel market, which is about N22 gap between both rates.

He said overall, the CBN has reiterated its commitment to exchange rate stability but highlighted key upside risks to naira stability, including the weakening oil prices, impact of United States’ policy normalisation, the marginal level of oil savings which weighs negatively on market confidence, along with election-related spending pushing liquidity above target.

The analyst said the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN met last month and decided to leave the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) unchanged at 13 per cent, highlighting risks to naira and inflation rate in short term.

“We anticipated the decision to hold the MPR at 13 per cent to allow the monetary policy decisions of November 2014 and the effects of other administrative measures to be fully transmitted throughout the economy until the elections have

taken place, before assessing whether further tightening is necessary. This is important as raising interest rates just before a national election would likely be avoided by any central bank,” he said.

He said the MPC decision to hold policy steady was based on several competing domestic and external factors such as the overall weakening of the economy driven by low oil prices; effects arising from the normalisation of monetary policy in the U.S; currency substitution and partial dollarisation of the economy.

Others are the uncertainty over the growth outlook, which has moderated partly by the effect of low oil prices, naira depreciation and election concerns; inflation rate and outlook which had risen steadily from eight per cent in December 2014 to 8.2 per cent in January and 8.4 per cent in February 2015.

Head Markets, FBN Capital, Olubunmi Ashaolu, said the MPC’s unchanged stance was widely anticipated.

“We are not aware of any such independent committee in the world announcing a change in direction in the week of an important election.

The reputational risks for committees are too high. This does not mean that the MPC in Nigeria wanted to tighten and did not move under external pressure.

“On the contrary, the committee wants to assess the impact of its previous measures, notably the rate rise and de facto devaluation in November as well as the CBN’s decision on 18 February to scrap the retail Dutch auction system (RDAS) of bi-weekly foreign exchange auctions,” he said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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MONEY

Strengthening real sector funding The financial stimulus extended by First Bank of Nigeria Limited to an indigenous original equipment manufacturer, Omatek Ventures, and other firms is an indication that the lender is keeping its promise of funding projects that add value to the economy, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

F

OR First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank), funding businesses that strengthen the economy remains a priority. The funding of Omatek Engineering Services Limited, and the ABS classed Dynamic Positioning (DP2) Dive Support Vessel ‘DSV Vinnice’ built by Petrolog Group are some of the projects embarked upon by the lender to stimulate the economy.

These projects are among the strategic moves by the lender to breathe new lease of life to businesses in the economy and promote entrepreneurship, among the citizenry.

Its Group Executive, Commercial Banking, Mrs. Cecilia Majekodunmi, said the Omatek funding is to enable the firm expand its tentacles locally and offshore.

She spoke during an inspection of the firm’s factory in Lagos. She reiterated that FirstBank is known for financing large corporates and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Mrs. Majekodunmi, who was represented by Group Head, Commercial Banking Group, (Lagos Mainland III) Emmanuel Ogundipe, said the bank’s roles with Omatek Engineering Services Limited, is that of a partner that has put forward the financial support needed to take the firm to the next level.

“We have provided financial support, both locally and offshore to the company. We will also continue to work with the company to ensure that all that needs to be done is done to bring about efficiency in the firm’s operations,” he said.

He said the management of the bank had been strong about providing this support, by not looking back, by playing the role so that any service needed, including assisting Nigeria in ensuring that solar power initiative, is embraced.

“We believe that the solar power will help the companies save cost that can be channelled to other productive sectors of the economy,” he said.

Group Managing Director/CEO, Omatek Engineering Services Limited, Mrs Florence Seriki, an engineer, said the firm is an indigenous company which commenced business about 30 years ago with its core business in the sale and distribution of computers and assembling of Omatek brand of computers.

He said the firm also ventured into providing 24-hour lighting solution and 85 per cent energy/wattage reduction and solar powered street light. He said Omatek’s relationship with FirstBank dates back to 2009.

Minister for Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, praised Omatek for its commitment to providing improved power supply in the country. He said there was need for other lenders to emulate FirstBank and provide financial support for operators in the real sector of the economy.

Before funding Omatek, FirstBank also joined stakeholders in unveiling a brand new ABS classed Dynamic Positioning (DP2) Dive Support Vessel ‘DSV Vinnice’ built by Petrolog Group and financed by the bank.

Speaking at the event in Lagos, FirstBank Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bisi Onasanya, said the lender acted promptly, when the proposal for

negative environment, social and economic effects it has on society.”

In the wake of the emerging shift in stakeholder needs which optimises social responsibility above business profitability, there is a landscape of opportunities for NGOs and corporate organisations to collaborate, increase capacity, sustainability, and deliver service to the community.

According to FirstBank’s spokesperson, Mrs. Folake AniMumuney, the bank said designed it to develop business partnerships between NGOs and corporate organisations to achieve widespread and lasting change in the business environment. The workshop, she said, provided capacity building for NGOs that want to partner with corporate organisations on their sustainability programmes.

“We put our customers at the heart of our business as part of our ‘You First’ ideals to drive sustainable finance, empower the citizenry and grow the economy,” she added.

Rewards customers

• Onasanya

the project was brought to it.

He said: “FirstBank moves at the speed of light in support of viable infrastructure projects. We promptly gave approvals for the transaction. We sent a team to South Africa where the vessel was built. That is the speed at which we work today. When we get involved in a project, no other bank is allowed. Our chief risk officer was involved to ensure that we are funding the right project”.

The bank chief said the lender not only provided the funding, but also insured the project through the FBN Insurance Brokers along with other firms. He said the lender was ready to support local industries in line with its commitment to the Local Content Development Act (LCDA) of the Federal Government.

“At FirstBank, we are delighted to be a part of this milestone achieved through avowed support for indigenous participation and advancement of the local content policy of the Federal Government in the nation’s oil and gas sector, especially the upstream subsector,” he said.

This feat, he said, further demonstrated the bank’s commitment to increase the capability of corporate customers and other operators in the national economy.

He commended the Petrolog Group for staying the course over the past three decades, growing into a renowned multinational private indigenous oil servicing brand with diversified operations on four continents.

• Nebo

The Executive Chairman, Petrolog Group, Dr. Vincent Ebuh, said the vessel is another milestone in the contribution of his firm, to the development of oil and gas industry. He said the company has grown over the years, and expanded to Canada, Venezuela, Costa Rica and is working hard to promote the LCDA of the Federal Government.

Ebuh thanked FirstBank for funding the project, and making the dream a reality. “FirstBank has been helpful from day one and has provided us with the financial muscle needed to succeed in our line of business,” he said.

He advised the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) without delay. “We want them to make history by passing the PIB into law.

Commitment to social investment FirstBank has also partnered with the Lagos Business School (LBS) to train non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporate organisations on best practices in managing Corporate Social Investments (CSI).

The sustainability workshop held at the weekend in Lagos for NGOs and corporate organisations is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the FirstBank Sustainability Centre.

The objective is to create, disseminate and apply knowledge, build capacity and promote best practices in sustainability educa-

tion. The progrmme provided opportunity for experts to address social and environmental concerns of customers, investors and the media.

An expert on sustainability issues, Delia Nzekwu, urged corporate organisations and NGOs to take right decisions on Corporate Social Investment by applying professionalism, systematic and pragmatic expertise.

According to her, CSIs should be well-planned with strategic guidelines, well-budgeted for, in-house staff or consultants properly engaged and projects well-monitored. She observed that the key to managing CSI lies in aligning concerned projects with core business of the organisation and getting employees to share in the vision.

“In order to manage CSI very well, employees must be made to share in the vision of the organisation. NGOs should recruit people who are passionate about their vision,” Nzekwu said.

In times of crisis, Nzekwu advised that organisations should promptly take responsibility; recall product in the case of defective items from manufacturers; pay compensation as the case may be; communicate effectively because “communicating what you do is key to stakeholder management.”

Another resource person Dayo Oluwole of Kasher Quality Consulting insisted that “a socially responsible organisation is one that runs a profitable business and takes into account all the positive and

‘FirstBank moves at the speed of light in support of viable infrastructure projects. We promptly gave approvals for the transaction. We sent a team to South Africa where the vessel was built. That is the speed at which we work today. When we get involved in a project, no other bank is allowed. Our chief risk officer was involved to ensure that we are funding the right project’

The bank has said rewarding customers is another priority. It rewarded 480 customers with cash and gifts during the January monthly raffle draw of its savings bonanza in Awka, the Anambra State.

The promo, which kicked off last September ended on February 28, this year; winners would emerge monthly and quarterly, it said.

The draws have produced winners in the past few months. They include 180 winners of 32 -inch LED Televisions, 180 winners of Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, 180 winners of Home Theatre Systems, 180 winners of N50,000 each and six winners of a brand new Hyundai Elantra cars.

Head, Consumer Banking Products, Mrs. Adebimpe Ihekuna, said: “The FirstBank Savings Promo Bonanza is a platform designed for enhancing savings culture in the nation and encouraging the youths as well as the unbanked to embrace the financial services system.”

She added thet they were designed to reward customers for their patronage and loyalty to the brand.

Mrs. Ihekuna added that the bank has been changing the life styles of the average Nigerians with its Savings Promo since 2008.

Recognition for hard work FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has been named “The Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” for the fourth time. It received the award at the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards in Singapore. The award is known for its transparency in selecting outstanding financial institutions in retail banking.

According to The Asian Banker, FirstBank has continued to dominate the retail space with over 40 per cent of the market share in retail customer deposits. FirstBank’s spokesperson and Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake AniMumuney, said the award was an indication of the effectiveness of the bank’s various transformation programmes which are aimed at raising the bar in developing and delivering unique financial products to all levels of customers.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

THE NATION INVESTORS

NSE may sanction 150 companies over delayed results

A

S the deadline for quoted companies to submit their audited reports and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2014 expired yesterday, there are indications that the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) may sanction some 150 companies over their failure to submit their period within the period.

Post-listing rules at the NSE require quoted companies to submit their earnings reports, not later than three months after the expiration of the period. Most quoted companies including all banks, major manufacturers, oil and gas companies, breweries and cement companies use the 12-month Gregorian calendar year as their business year. The business year thus terminates on December 31.

NSE’s regulatory filing calendar indicates that the deadline for submission of annual report for companies with Gregorian calendar business year was yesterday.

The Nation’s check at the NSE yesterday showed that several companies have not submitted their audited reports while several other companies were making last-minute efforts to scale the deadline and avoid the poor corporate governance tag and sanction of the NSE. A headcount by The Nation indicated that less than a third of quoted companies have submitted their audited earnings report. There are more than 230 companies quoted on the NSE.

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

Less than 60 companies have submitted their annual reports as at the last count.

Companies that have submitted their 2014 audited results included Unilever Nigeria, FCMB Group, Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (Nahco), Julius Berger Nigeria, Livestock Feeds, United Bank for Africa (UBA), First Aluminium Nigeria, Sterling Bank, Dangote Cement, Lafarge Africa and Cadbury Nigeria Plc. Others included Zenith Bank, Transcorp Hotel, Guaranty Trust Bank, Nestle Nigeria, Forte Oil, Africa Prudential Registrars, Chams Plc, United Capital, Caverton Offshore Support Services, Eterna, Mobil Oil Nigeria, Fidson Healthcare, Total Nigeria, Greif Nigeria, Unity Bank, Wema Bank, Courteville Business Solutions, Wapic Insurance and Nigerian Breweries among others.

A report on sanctions and fines for similar defaults in 2013 showed that the Exchange slammed about N105.9 million on 48 companies that delayed their results. The fines ranged between N200, 000 and N6.8 million. The NSE had slammed some N60.2 million as fines on 34 companies for failure to meet deadlines for 2011 audited reports. With a range of N3.8 million and N100, 000, average fine for the year was N1.77 million.

A source at the NSE said the Ex-

change was committed to enforcing its rules and regulations, especially the post-listing rules that define the integrity of the market.

NSE tags and applies fines on companies that fail to meet earnings reports’ deadline. Under the corporate governance and rules compliance assessment report known as XCompliance Report, NSE identified four different kinds of tags or symbols to alert investors about the status of each quoted company.

These include below listings standard (BLS), the first degree alert level indicating a company that has not complied with post listing rules such as late submission of financial statements, unauthorised publication, management failures among others.

Also, financial services companies such as bank and insurance companies awaiting regulatory approval will carry the appropriate symbol of awaiting regulatory approval (ARA). Companies that are undergoing a capital reconstruction exercise including supplementary issue, share buyback, split, share reconstruction among others will be tagged with capital reconstruction exercise (CRE) while companies that have indicated that they will be delisting or companies that are being delisted at the instance of the regulator would be flagged with delisting in process (DIP) symbol.

Nahco to distribute N295.3m, 148m shares to shareholders

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HAREHOLDERS of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco) Plc would receive about N295.3 million and 147.7 million ordinary shares as combined cash and scrip dividends for the immediate past business year.

According to dividend recommendation by the board, shareholders would receive a dividend per share of 20 kobo in addition to a bonus share of one ordinary share for every 10 shares held as at the scloure date.

Shareholders of the company are getting this double return on investment even as the company is set to benefit from its free trade zone subsidiary, NAHCO FTZ, which commenced operations last quarter of 2014 and is expected to begin to reap profits soon after significant investments in its development the past two years.

NAHCO ended 2014 with a marginal increase in revenues of N8.133 billion, and profit after tax of N568 million, compared with N8.09 billion and N817 million in 2013 respectively.

The company’s bottom line was affected by the three months Ebola virus scare which reduced the movement of passengers and cargo flights across West African airports by major international carriers, Nahco’s core customers. Also, the company’s ratios withered the general high cost of operations, the slowdown in the economy major macroeconomic volatility preceding the 2015 elections.

The 2014 group was most impacted by pre-operating expenses and sunk cost made in its free trade zone subsidiary reducing its overall profitability and performance relative to 2013 results.

Managing Director, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco) Plc, Mr Norbert Biedermann, noted in a statement that inspite of the unplanned difficulties and the several health and safety flight cancellations and limitations in travels and travel warning coupled with the warehouse

closure, the company achieved marginal growth in a very difficult year.

He expressed optimism that the Nahco Group is on course to deliver its strategic medium term growth and profitability objectives for 2015 and beyond as activities have since stabilised.

“We see improvements income streams from subsidiaries and efficiency improvements in the core business and new routings demand for the second quarter that will gradually add up to group performance,” Biedermann said.

He said that while investments in the FTZ will continue apace in 2015 to 2016, the company will begin to reap the fruits of such investments within this year in a sustainable manner.

Nahcos bonus declaration plus a cash dividend is the first double corporate action by a listed company this year on the floor and reflects company’s continuing strategy for cash retention as development and diversification is deepened in tight market conditionsChairman, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (Nahco) Plc, Suleiman Yahyah, had told shareholders at the last general meeting that a 25-year master plan was being developed for implementation by NAHCO FTZ which will triple its cargo handling capacity in the short term and create a long term pipeline for both its expansion of revenues and consolidate its diversification strategy while supporting Nigeria’s exports earnings and trans-shipments capabilities across the west Africa sub region - The FTZ is projected to attract over $500million in new investments in next five years.

“NAHCO FTZ will afford us the opportunity to import goods in a borderless environment. It will also improve Nigeria’s trade facilitation and competitivess and give us a unique platform to service our value-added aviation-clients and related business.

Cadbury Nigeria declares N1.22b dividend

C

• From left: Chairman, Briscoe Technologies, Mr. Emmanuel Ekong; Technical Director, Briscoe Technologies, Mr. Ralph Schubert and Regional Marketing Manager, Overseas Marketing Department, Hytera Communications Corporation Limited, Mr. Jimmy Jin, during the SECUREX West Africa Exhibition at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.

Diamond Bank’s profit drops to N25b

D

IAMOND Bank Plc has recommended payment of a dividend per share of 10 kobo to its shareholders following a contraction in the bottom-line of the bank.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Diamond Bank for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed that pre-tax profit dropped by 12.4 per cent from N32.08 billion in 2013 to N28.10 billion. Profit after tax also declined from N28.54 billion to N25.49 billion.

Basic earnings per share thus dropped from N1.97 in 2013 to N1.66 in 2014.

However, group recorded a growth of 27.3 per cent in total assets from N1.52 trillion to N1.93 trillion. The growth was driven by a 23.8 per cent growth in deposit liabilities year-onyear, demonstrating the bank’s strong ability to generate cheap deposits from the retail and middle market segments. Deposit from customers grew from N1.21 billion in 2013 to N1.49 billion as at December 31, 2014.

Also, gross earnings increased by 15 per cent from N181.2 billion in 2013 to N208.4 billion in 2014, driven by efficient growth in the volume of business represented by increase in loan

• To pay 10 kobo dividend book, and investment securities following the impressive growth in customer deposits. Consequently, the group achieved an improvement of 9.6 per cent in net operating income from N116.3 billion in 2013 to N127.4 billion in 2014. Group loan to customers recorded a growth of 14.8 per cent from N689 billion to N791 billion.

The group’s capitalisation improved significantly by 50.5 per cent during the year due to a combination of the impact of its highly successful rights issue concluded in the last quarter of 2014, as well as the capitalisation of profits for the year ended 2014. In effect, shareholders’ funds increased from N138.7 billion in 2013 to N208.8 billion in 2014.

Consequent on the enhanced capitalization, return on average equity declined from 23.1 per cent in 2013 to 14.7 percent in 2014. Return on average asset followed the same trend from 2.1 per cent in 2013 to 1.5 per cent in 2014.

Diamond Bank raised $200 million Eurobonds during the year to finance

its long term foreign currency assets. It is one of the eight banks designated as systemically important banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2013.

On the results, Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, said that the bank was pleased with the continued success in implementing its strategy across the group, noting that the asset base grew from N1.5 trillion to N1.9 trillion in 12 months.

According to him, amidst regulatory headwinds that characterized the industry, and a dynamic macroeconomic environment, growth was recorded in operating income although profit before tax declined from 2013 levels on the back of higher operating expenses and loan impairment charges.

“For continued growth and profitability in 2015, we will continue to vigorously drive the implementation of our alternative banking channels including digital banking; this will help to drive down operating costs as well as capture a significant share of new and existing bank account holders as well as a large portion of the unbanked.

ADBURY Nigeria Plc would distribute N1.22 billion to shareholders as cash dividends for the immediate past business year as the food company struggled with notable contraction in earnings.

The Board of Directors of Cadbury Nigeria indicated that shareholders would receive a dividend per share of 65 kobo. Shareholders are expected to approve the profit distribution at the annual general meeting on June 10 and the dividend will subsequently become payable on June 11.

The dividend recommendation highlighted the contraction in the earnings of the food company.

Cadbury Nigeria had distributed N2.4 billion as dividends to shareholders, representing a dividend per share of N1.30 for the 2013 business year. The company had paid a dividend per share of 50 kobo for the 2012 business year.

Audited report and accounts of Cadbury Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed that sales dropped by 15 per cent while pre and post tax profits declined by 80 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.

Turnover dropped from N35.76 billion in 2013 to N30.52 billion in 2014. Profit before tax slumped to N1.47 billion as against N7.42 billion while profit after tax declined from N6.02 billion to N1.51 billion.

Earnings per share thus dropped from N1.92 to 75 kobo.

The decline also affected the balance sheet of the company. While fixed assets slipped marginally from N16.94 billion to N16.48 billion, current assets dropped by 53 per cent from N26.23 billion to N12.34 billion. Shareholders’ funds consequently dropped by 52 per cent from N23.99 billion to

N11.54 billion.

Cadbury Nigeria is looking to consolidate its market share and tap into other expanding markets in West Africa with the resumption of Roy Naaman as its new managing director on January 1, 2015.

Cadbury Nigeria stated that Naaman as a highly experienced brand professional would lead the snacks group’s expansion in West Africa and deliver consistent and strong profit to shareholders.

“In Roy, we are very pleased to gain a highly experienced leader, with a strong track record in driving sustained and profitable growth. In his previous role, Roy was instrumental in spurring business expansion in southern Africa and the Caucasus. He is a most valuable addition to our company,” Romeo Lacerda, President, Markets, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mondelçz International, said in a statement.

Naaman joins Mondelçz International from the Diplomat Group, a global distribution company representing leading brands. With a Bachelor of Arts in business, majoring in finance, Naaman has held a number of positions in the Diplomat Group in several countries, including Georgia, and most recently as a General Manager of its largest market.

He joins Cadbury Nigeria 1st January, 2015.

Mondelçz International, a global snacks powerhouse, holds 74.99 per cent equity stake in Cadbury Nigeria, the remaining 25.01 per cent shares are held by a diverse group of Nigerian individual and institutional investors.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

PAGE 29

Ekiti’s monetised vehicles of controversy Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose’s plan to forcefully recover the official cars of some former public office holders in the Governor Kayode Fayemi administration is threatening the peace. The opposition says it is a ploy to take most of its leaders out of circulation to pave way for a clean sweep for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the general elections. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

INSIDE

NO fewer than 54 political office holders in Ekiti State who served in the administration of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, between October 2010 and October 2014, are locked in a battle with government, which plans to forcefully retrieve the official cars given to them while in office.

The former government officials including the immediate past Deputy Governor Professor Modupe Adelabu were given the cars by the Fayemi administration as part of perks of office but ordered to pay part of the cost over time to the government in line with its monetization policy.

While some have payment before the expiration of the tenure of Governor Fayemi, others who had •Prof Adelabu not done so were expecting the remaining

Council distributes gas cylinders to residents PAGE 34

Joy as Lagos rebuilds Oyingbo market PAGES 35

amount to be deducted from their final entitlement yet to be paid by the state government.

But the new administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose, in a move believed to be borne out of political vendetta, few months ago announced plans to recover the cars from the former political office holders forcefully, if need be, if they refused to pay the balance of the cost of the cars within a stipulated time or hand them over voluntarily within the same time frame.

The affected former government officials, most of who are members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State have however, kicked against the move by the government accusing Governor Fayose of planning to hide under the seizure of their cars to arrest and put them out of ‘circulation’ in the run up to the general elections to allow him enjoy a free reign during the polls.

The standoff between the two parties has heightened political tension in the state in the midst of the general elections being fiercely contested by the Continued on page 32 and 33

Again, rainstorm wrecks havoc in Ibadan PAGE 36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

30

SOUTHWEST REPORT

Ekiti election: walkover for

•Jonathan •Buhari

•Jega

Last Saturday’s election in Ekiti State was a much closer contest between the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), unlike the situation in June, last year few months during the gubernatorial election reports SEUN AKIOYE.

N

OT a few Nigerians expected the Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Ekiti state to be violent even though there will be no gubernatorial elections there on April 11, 2015. This position was further reinforced when several studies and independent analysis posited the state as one of the flashpoints for violence.

The stakes in Ekiti are high. The governor, Ayodele Fayose, only five months ago rode to power on the back of his acclaimed local populism and provincial credentials.

In the election that brought him to Oke Ayoba Government House, he won by a landslide. Thus, he was expected to also help deliver the state to his political party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in similar manner.

Also, in the build up to the election, Governor Fayose has been most vociferous in his campaign for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan. While many would describe his method as “devilish” and unconventional, Fayose insisted he had no regrets for his unabashed support for the president.

It was this scenario that set the mood for the Presidential election in Ekiti state. On Thursday, 26th

March, 2015, Fayose in rounding off his campaign to the Ekiti people boasted on the Ekiti state radio that the election would be a landslide for the PDP. That sentiment was also shared by top members of the party.

However, around the state, there were ominous sign that the election would not be a walk over for the ruling party. The sign around the different local governments visited

by The Nation revealed that the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) would not be railroaded as suggested by the governor. Former governor of the state, Otunba Niyi Adebayo told The Nation in Iyin on the eve of the election that the party was more prepared than the ruling party in sensitization of the voters.

He said: “We are more than prepared; we have done everything possible, we have campaigned, we have gone round the state, much more than the people we are contesting against, we have educated the voters, our level of preparedness is very high. We honestly believe that given a level playing field, we have no doubt that the APC should win all the elections here in Ekiti.”

The aggressive campaign by the APC towards Saturday’s presidential election could serve several purposes but chief among that is to re-

connect with the people and restore the confidence lost during the gubernatorial election. That may also have been the reason why even though the party lost all the 16 local governments to the PDP, it was not with the landslide the ruling party expected, the APC came in a respectable second position in the elections.

Election generally peaceful, despite fracas Despite the threat of violence, residents of the state came out early for accreditation in many of the local governments monitored by The Nation. The general conduct of the election was also peaceful, but there was always the threat of violence and disruptions. Early in the morning, former governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi had set up a command post in his home in Isan Ekiti. Around 10: am, he received a report about a shooting in Ikere Ekiti by persons associated with the Deputy Governor. Dr. Olubunmi Olusola- Ereka.

But Special Assistant to the governor on Public Communication and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka denied that the Deputy Governor was implicated in the shooting. But investigations conducted by The Nation at the trouble spot in Ikere-Ekiti revealed that the victim was taken from Ikere General Hospital to the Ekiti State University Teaching

Hospital in Ado Ekiti.

A doctor who preferred anonymity said: “The man was brought to the hospital around 1: pm, he was shot in the back. We have treated him and he is in a stable condition,” he said. Apart from Ikere, there were pockets of violence in some wards and local governments especially in Gboyin where hoodlums disrupted voting in five polling units.

In the state capital, there were no reports of violence or electoral malpractice and the same pattern was replicated in many of the local government. Former Governor Fayemi told The Nation that despite pockets of violence, the election should be smooth.

But even though voting was concluded early in many of the polling stations, results did not come into the INEC collation center until Sunday morning. The Nation correspondent who spent the night at INEC headquarters reports that at the Registration Area Centers (RAC), results were being collated into the early morning.

Journalists were not the only parties interested in getting the results early, members of Governor Fayose’s media team were also on the prowl in many of the RAC to collate results on Saturday night. One of the aides who spoke to The Nation

said it was to prevent any fraudulent activities regarding the final results.

Not a walk over When the results began to come in, many were surprised at the showing of the APC. For instance, in Ifelodun Irepodun local government, the home of APC chieftain Niyi Adebayo and former Labour party gubernatorial candidate, Opeyemi Bamidele and incumbent governor, Fayose, the PDP defeated the APC by just 3,425 votes. This should be a surprise because of the strong presence of Gov. Fayose.

Another surprising outcome is from Emure local government where the difference is 1,469 votes.

Even more unanticipated is Ilejemeje local government where the PDP led by a mere 799 votes. But the PDP had a field day in Ikere and Ado Ekiti where the PDP trounced the APC 14,091 to 7,990 and 25,411 to 14, 414 in Ikere and Ado Ekiti respectively. The Ikere case is hardly surprising since the deputy governor is said to be “on ground”. But some APC sympathizers claimed that the shooting in the area may have had an effect on the outcome.

However, there were cases of electoral fraud in some wards as reported by the collating officers. For instance in Moba, hoodlums came

Youth groups kick against campaign of calumny against

A

combined youth groupsBadagry Division Youth and APC Campus Connect, have described the recent media war by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against the national leader of the All Progressives Congress Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a mere propaganda that is doomed already.

The groups said when the opposition failed in their machinations; it resorted into campaign of

By Adegunle Olugbamila

calumny against Tinubu in order to assassinate his character.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos the groups’ spokesperson Eniola Opeyemi, said the two groups are also throwing their weight behind a legal suit instituted by Tinubu against a popular private television station for broadcasting alleged defamatory documentary against his person.

Said the groups:”The continuous attack on Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s image is politically driven to score cheap points. We are learned and therefore can’t be blindfolded. The opposition has designed their propaganda some of which they are now pushing through certain media organisations to reduce the status of the Tinubu who represents a new face of politics.

“Asiwaju, unlike the self-cen-

tered politicians in the PDP, have worked to ensure that more people especially youths are employed through his lofty policies when he served as two-term governor of Lagos State, and till date, he still uses his influence to make more families happy. We support Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. We trust him for getting more people established than the so-called self-acclaimed leaders of the Yoruba race.”

The groups lampooned Federal

Government for its failure to provide enough employment opportunities despite its repeated promises, adding that young graduates out of frustration now beg for financial aid, steal, or rob while young ladies are involved in prostitution.

The groups also scored Federal Government ‘very low’ on security, using the abducted schoolgirls from Government Secondary School Chibok Borno State by the

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

31

SOUTHWEST REPORT

Not a Jonathan •Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi’s son –– Adeniyi (middle) speaking when he led All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters to greet the Alaafin after winning the House of Representatives seat for Oyo Federal Constituency.

•Abba

to seven polling stations in Osan with guns and attacked the Electoral officers. The election was cancelled in seven units.

In Oye local government, there was a case of over voting in unit 11, ward 11. The number of accredited voters was 299 but the number of recorded votes was 403. In Ikere, the collating officer declined to write a report on the violence claiming it happened before the election.

“There was no report of any incident and the celebrated incident happened in ward 6 unit 2 before the election began,” he said.

In Emure, ward 6, unit 6, there was a case of over voting, where 188 was accredited 191 votes recorded.

Also there was attack by hoodlums who kicked the ballot boxes forcing the votes to be cancelled.

Also in Gboyin, five polling units were cancelled in Aiyesogba when hoodlums attacked midway into the election. In Ekiti East, there was a case of over voting in two polling units in ward 6, with the number of accredited voters being 262 and votes recorded 269.

There was however a moment of tension when the collating officer for Ijero local government, Francis Adebayo came late to the collating center claiming that he almost lost his life to some overzealous security officials. Adebayo came to INEC without the original white result sheet claiming the Electoral Officer in charge of Ijero had seized it.

According to some of the witnesses, trouble began when Polling Unit officers began to protest over unpaid allowances causing commotion. Adebayo, who returned with the duplicate result sheet, said he barely escaped with his life when security officers refused to provide him security to return to Ado Ekiti.

However, the returning officer for the PDP in Ijero, Retd General Joseph Ayeni disputed Adebayo’s claim. “There was no commotion in Ijero but a disagreement. Every security officer wanted a copy of the result, nobody even touched the collating officer,” he said.

The returning officer of the APC and former chairman of the local government, Hon. Ojo Atibioke corroborated Ayeni’s position.

“There was no fighting and it is unfortunate that the collating officer was saying he was almost gunned down. Trouble began when the security officers began to demand for duplicate copies of the report, but there was no fighting,” he said.

However, the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) in Ekiti, Sam Olumekun gave a pass mark on the conduct of the election describing it as “successful and a wonderful exercise.” On the pockets of violence, he said they were not sufficient enough to affect the outcome of the election. He also said INEC is about to retrieve the white result sheet from the electoral officer.

•Biodun Dada Awoleye, (second left), Principal, Anglican Commercial Grammar School Orita-Mefa Ibadan, Mrs. Oyenike Ibiyode (middle), Chairman, Parent Teacher Asociation, Anglican Commercial Grammar School OritaMefa Ibadan, Mr. Micheal Taiwo Olawole and others during the commissioning of Computer Laboratory donated

by Hon. Dada Awoleye to the Anglican Commercial Grammar School Orita-Mefa Ibadan. PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI.

•Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from Badagry, protesting over an alleged fictitious result from the area at the INEC office in Lagos on Monday.

Tinubu Boko Haram sect in April14 last year as a case in point.

“Insecurity is another heavy burden that hangs on the nation, needless to say that the President has not just shown sincerity in tackling major threats to the peace of the nation.

“Nigeria has witnessed the highest number of terrorist attacks than ever in the history of the country, the worst of all is missing of Chibok girls which triggered the

#Bringbackourgirls hashtag and subsequently the campaign. However, we fear that less than a month to the first year anniversary of the Chibok abduction, Nigeria might just be bidding farewell to the poor girls, owing to government lackadaisical attitude.

The groups urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take a cue from smaller neighbouring countries’ approach to tackling Boko Haram.

•Roof blown off by rainstorm in Ibadan.

32

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

33

SOUTHWEST REPORT ‘Warn your children against violence’

T

HE Southwest Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Magnus Atilade has called on parents to warn their children against any form of violence activity before, during and after the Presidential election.

Atilade made this called at an Intercessory Prayers For Peace in Nigeria organized by Christian Association of Nigeria in collaboration with Coalition of Christian NGO’s held last Wednesday at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The prayer meeting tagged: “Let God arise brought together hundreds of Christian faithful from different denominations which feature thanksgiving service, prophetic ministration and chain prayer sessions for peaceful conduct of the 2015 election.

According to him, parents should caution their children or ward against any form of violence activities during the 2015 election because God himself would arise and over power them and cancel their entire plan.

Atilade noted that the election should not be a do or die affair and anybody should al-

Don’t allow your children to be use as agent of violence and destruction because God himself would arise and over power them and cancel their entire plan.

We have seen the promise land and the promise land is that there would be peace in Nigeria.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha and Adeola Ogunlade

low himself to be used by politician bags to cause mayhem or bloodshed.

He said “Don’t allow your children to be used as agent of violence and destruction because God himself would arise and over power them and cancel their entire plan.

We have seen the promise land and the promise land is that there would be peace in Nigeria.

He appealed to the federal government to deploy all the security agents of government across the country especially to flash point areas for peace during the elections.

Although he asserted that soldiers should not mount polling stations or deploy to suppress or intimate voters, Atilade said soldiers should be up and running in the discharged of their duty to protect lives and properties.

He continued “Military should be on red alert during the election and anyone that is caught perpetrating violence should be duty accosted. We stand for peace and hate perpetrators of evil in our land. All we are saying is that we don’t want army to be use to suppress voters but to maintain peace and orderliness which is their constitutional responsibility” In his words, the state Chairman of CAN, Apostle Alex Bamgbola task Christians to continue to pray for peace as the election approaches because God has promise to answer our prayer when we pray to him in faith He said “God has a plan for our nation and the devil has its own plan too. Thank God for given us Christ Jesus with whom we have our victory. It is only in peace that we can do anything we want to do.

It is only in peace that God can bless us. God is not the author of confusion. God bless the people who bless him, we thank him for what he has done.

Ladoja calls for cancellation of polls •Holds closed door meeting with Akinjide, Folarin, others

T

HE national leader and governorship candidate of Accord , Sen Rashidi Ladoja has called for the cancellation of Saturday’s presidential and national assembly election in the state on the ground of what he described as ‘electoral irregularities”.

Ladoja had earlier had a meeting in his Bodija residence, Ibadan with the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide?, the State Governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen Teslim Folarin, his Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Engr Seyi Makinde, deputy governorship candidate of Labour Party, Alh Sarafadeen Alli, former deputy governor of the state, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and Sen Ayo Adeseun.

The Accord national leader while addressing journalist after their visit, said the Saturday election in Oyo State was the worst conducted in the history of the state, stressing that the party rejects the result and should be cancelled.

“INEC really messed the polls up, most of the problems came form the Permanent Voters Card

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

that were distributed over the night on Friday. INEC said accreditation will start by 8am but mostof the polling centres got the the voting units lately, some came around 10am, while most of the officials arrived in other places around 1pm. “?In some places, election materials got to the voting units lately, while in some places after accreditation ballot papers were not available for voting. For instance in Ido local government, the voting papers got there around 7pm in the night,and the counting was done late into the night and no lightening was provided by INEC. The problem also shifted to the polling units to the collation centres were the results were different from the once announced at the collation centres to the other” Ladoja said According to him, there were many discrepancies by the agents of the opposition parties, as the security men on ground were not adequate.

The Accord leader said the election in the state was either pre-determined to fail or pre-designed to favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the state.

He went further that:” I wonder why INEC didn’t redeploy Amb Rufus Akeju from this state after all the protest and with what he caused in Osun State. He is not capable to conduct credible election” Ladoja warned that if all the anomalies pointed out is not addressed before the April 11 polls, the party will resolved to seek self help by protecting their votes with all means possible.

Commenting on the meetings he earlier had with Akinjide, Folarin, Makinde and others, he said:” They all came to my house to seek my advice on what happened during the Saturday polls. They share similar views with me on it and they also came to the conclusion that the election should ?be cancelled” He dispelled the rumour of the possibilities of teeming up with the opposition parties in the state to dislodge APC.

•Ladoja

Ekiti’s monetised vehicles of controversy Continued from page 29

ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). And the whole country is watching with a bated breath how the issue will be resolved.

The Fayose administration had begun moves to recover the cars from the officials of the previous government on January 30, 2015 when members of a task force it raised for the purpose raided the homes, offices and business centres of the former officials with the aim of recovering the vehicles.

On that day, four of them were arrested by the task force officials who were followed by armed security officers who took them to the state police command headquarters in a bid to retrieve the monetized officials vehicles from their custody Those arrested and whisked to the police headquarters include the former Commissioner for Labour and Human Capital Development, Chief Oluwole Ariyo; former Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Jinadu Ayodele; former Special Adviser (Governor’s Office), Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae and former Chairman, Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Adebayo Orire.

They were at the state police headquarters for about three hours before they were allowed to go home. former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Eniola Ajayi; former Special Adviser on MDGs and Multilateral Relations, Mrs. Bunmi Dipo-Salami and former Special Adviser on Parliamentary and Allied Matters, Mr. Dapo Karonwi were also raided by the task force.

While Dr. Ajayi and Mrs. Dipo-Salami were not at home, there was confrontation between Karonwi and government agents who failed to effect his arrest.

The Nation gathered that the cost of the cars was being deducted from the salaries of the officials until shortly before their last day I office when the administration came up with an arrangement that the remainder would be deducted from their severance package.

But the Fayose administration in a letter dated 20 November 2014 signed

by Mr. Tajudeen Adejumo on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Modupe Alade stressed that no allowance (including severance and furniture allowance) should be used to pay for the outstanding.

The circular was addressed to all Permanent Secretaries, General Managers and Heads of Non-Ministerial Departments.

A letter from the office of the SSG addressed to Dr. Orire which was made available to The Nation reads: “I am to inform you that your outstanding indebtedness on monetized vehicle as at 30th October 2014 is N3, 281, 804.00.

“I am to add that His Excellency, Mr. Governor has directed that no allowance (including severance and furniture allowance) should be used to pay for the outstanding.

“Consequently, I am directed to kindly advise you to pay the sum of N3,281, 804.00 to the government monetized vehicles account or return the monetized vehicle with you to Ekiti State Government within the next 14 days.”

But Orire replied in a letter dated 25th November, 2014 said: “Thanks for your letter received on 24/11/14 requesting the payment of outstanding N3, 281, 804.00 or return the official car within fourteen (14) days.

“I observe that the car was allocated to us as a matter of right of (the) positions we held; a mark of justifying our service to Ekiti State. We also had a term of payment ongoing; thus term may be reviewed and a new

agreement reached for defraying the cost outstanding on the vehicles.

“We are entitled to this honour as the present appointees are entitled to enjoy similar perquisites. I served Ekiti State honourably without blemish and I was not indebted to the government taking into consideration what the government owes me as per furniture allowance, severance pay, unpaid running grants, fuel allowances and terminal salary entitlement.

“We should have a say in the modus operandi of payment of the remainder. It should be a contract everybody should have contributions in reaching a decision on. It should not be a unilateral decision of the government.

“It is the same Ekiti State Government that we worked for that owes us, and if we are indebted to the same government, justice, fairness and equity require that we should not be short-changed, that our outstanding should have been used to defray our indebtedness.

“In case we cannot pay this lump sum, is the government going to refund the previous deductions? The lease condition should have been re- •Fayose spelt out, negotiated and respected.

“It was a right we enjoyed as a result of good service to our fatherland; it will be unfair if we are denied this honour.

“Every government appointee qualified to have vehicle allocation will have to suffer the same fate for this action to be justifiable. I am ready for negotiation on this matter but this present option is rather unfriendly.”

Of the four arrested former political office holders, it was only the monetized official car of Dr. Orire that was impounded with the Police giving Ariyo, Jinadu and Akin- Fasae one week to return cars in their custody.

Speaking shortly after he was released, Orire said their travails could be linked with the general elections arguing that they are still being owed September (2014) salaries, leave bonus, furniture allowance and severance allowance.

He vowed that the alleged harassment would never intimidate them but strengthen their resolve to fight against what he called civilian dictatorship and fascism alleged unleashed on the state by Fayose.

Dr. Orire said: “This has to do with the coming election in a bid to harass us.

Fayose was embarrassed and intimidated by the mammoth crowd that attended the APC presidential rally of January 24 and because of that he has become more dangerous in dealing with the opposition.

“Recently, he personally supervised the tearing of posters and destruction of billboards of APC candidates in all towns and communities in Ijero Local Government Area where I hail from and the residents were intimidated with firing of gunshots in broad daylight.

“Fayose has vowed to withdraw all the monetized vehicles from the officials who served in the Fayemi administration but we are still being owed by the (state) government.

“I want Fayose to know that we cannot be intimidated, this experience will serve as a tonic for us to intensify our efforts to fight this dictatorship and fascism being unleashed on Ekiti people.”

The state chapter of the APC in its reaction condemned the arrest of the former political office holders over the monetized vehicles in their custody. A statement by the Party’s Publicity Secretary in the state described their arrest and forceful confiscation of their official cars as “official harassment carried too far in the governor’s bid to take APC leaders out of circulation ahead of the general elections”.

Olatubosun said arresting them over alleged non-payment for the cars was just a smokescreen behind a larger agenda to take APC leaders out of circulation to enable the governor seize the field for domination and manipulation during the electioný.

Based on Fayemi’s policy on official carý, Olatubosun explained, there was no reason for Fayose to accuse the former officials of owing on the cars, stressing that on the contrary, it is government that is owing them.

Olatubosun explained that before the advent of Fayemi’s administration, the usual practice was that vehicles were procured centrally by the government and allocated to mebers of the State Executive Council (EXCO).

“The usual practice before we came in was that upon leaving office by the respective State Executive Council Members, the vehicles are usually sold at a rebate to this category of the political office holders and any other (persons) subject to the approval of the governor while in line with the common practice, the Permanent Secretaries go with their vehicles without paying for them” he explained.

Olatubosun added: “On assumption of office by the Fayemi administration, most of the vehicles used by the erstwhile EXCO members were poorly maintained and in bad state and wereý taken away without the respective political office holders paying fully for them.

“Some vehicles were retrieved in different locations across the country by the government at a very great cost through the setting up of recovery task force jointly with security agencies while a few of these vehicles subsequently retrieved were discovered to have been damaged thus requiring that the government would need to buy new vehicles for the newly appointed political office holders.

“Also some political office holders took the government to court to stop retrieval of their vehicles.

“However, due to the need to put into effective use the available resources

of the state and to address the problems associated with poor utilization of government properties, especially vehicles by public office holders, the (former) governor approved that EXCO members and other political appointees ýshould bear a certain percentage of the cost of the vehicles making them a part owner, to reduce the burden of the cost on the government, from inception of vehicle purchase rather than a sale at rebate on exit to the political office holder.

“Government also reasoned that officials ýwould be more careful in handling government properties, especially the vehicles, knowing full well that after four years or tenure of office, there is assurance that ownership will vest on the respective political appointees. Consequently, a decision was taken to procure the vehicles by the state government upon the following decisions: “Cost of the vehicle was agreed at 40 per cent and 60 per cent to government and EXCO member respectively after a flat discount of N1m was granted. Cost of the vehicles is to be paid monthly from salary of EXCO members as approved by EXCO.” Olatubosun explained that the vehicle allocated was part of salaries and emoluments and allowances/perks of office due to political office holders, which political office holders shared with the government, which he described as commendable, making it a befitting model for other states across the country.

He added that it is a standard practice globally to offset the outstanding payment on the vehicles through severance allowance, outstanding leave bonus, unpaid salaries and allowances of a retiring employee.

“It is on record that Governor Fayemi paid the severance allowances of office holders who served his predecessors including Governor Fayose during his first term”, he said.

“It is tyranny of the first order for Fayose not to pay all these to former office holders who have already paid more than half of the cost of their cars and yet the governor is still insisting on impounding theseý cars and arresting their owners,” Olatubosun concluded.

But the Fayose administration in its determination to recover the vehicles upped the ante two weeks ago as it rolled out the names of no fewer than 54 officials who served under the Fayemi administration who, according to it, have defied the directive.

The PDP government alleged that the former political office holders are owing N109 million as debt on the monetized vehicles warning them to pay the money or risk arrest to recover the vehicle or the money owed.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, the former political office holders must pay the money for their monetized vehicles without delay to avert a forceful recovery by the Police.

The government said all entreaties to the APC stalwart to pay the N109 million has remained abortive as letters written to them was never replied.

But former officials have described the threat to arrest them as another crude ploy by Fayose to harass and intimidate opposition members, especially those who served in the APC government.

They maintained that they had dragged Fayose and his government to an Ado-Ekiti High Court through a suit filed by the former Deputy Governor, Professor Adelabu and 34 others over the monetized vehicles.

The ex-officials blasted Fayose for grandstanding when he is yet to pay the severance allowance and sundry other allowances being owed them, despite completing their tenure, which qualifies them for the severance pay in line with the laws.

Reacting to the threat which was aired on state radio and circulated via press statements by the government, the former state officials in a statement made available to journalists, described the planned clampdown on them as a deliberate ploy by Fayose to keep them and other notable APC chieftains out of circulation ahead of the March 28 presidential election and subsequent elections.

The officials said that the planned clampdown would be the second attempt

by Fayose and the PDP to get them out of circulation, having made a similar attempt to get many of them arrested in February before the presidential election which was originally scheduled for February 14 was postponed.

Explaining the circumstances surrounding the monetized cars, the ex-state officials said that it was a policy of the immediate past administrations in the state to monetize official cars to public office holders of certain categories.

They said: “Under the arrangement, the officials are to pay 60 percent of the cost of the vehicles while the government would pay the remaining 40 percent.

“Under the agreement, an agreed sum was deducted monthly from the officials’ salaries while the outstanding balance would be deducted from their severance allowance at the end of their tenure.

“Severance payment to public office holders is 300 per cent of their annual basic salary and is payable at the end of their tenure in line with the directive of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

“By the time the Fayemi administration wound up on October 15, 2014, majority of the affected members were at various stages of completion of the repayment for the monetized cars, while government was also owing them some obligations including unpaid allowances, salaries and the severance allowance.

The fact of the situation is that it is the state that is owing most of the officials their severance pay.

Once the government pays the severance allowance, the outstanding balance of the cars would be automatically deducted at source as agreed

“A clearance letter stating the outstanding balance for each of the former officials was given to them as part of end of tenure formalities. The clearance letter indicated how much each member was owing (as outstanding balance on the cars) as well as how much the government was owing as par severance allowance.

“As a matter of fact, the Ministry of Finance did a comprehensive document detailing the outstanding balance (payable by each official), the amount to be paid as severance by government and final entitlement (of each official) after the outstanding balance on the monetized cars is deducted.

“All these documents were part of the handing over note to the incumbent administration and each of the officials was given copies. So it is mischievous and petty for the Fayose administration to claim ignorance of this simple administrative procedure.

“The fact of the situation is that it is the state that is owing most of the officials their severance pay. Once the government pays the severance allowance, the outstanding balance of the cars would be automatically deducted at source as agreed”.

The former state officials reminded Fayose and the State security agencies that the matter of the monetized vehicles is currently before the AdoEkiti High Court, in the case of Mrs Modupe Adelabu and 34 others Vs The Government of Ekiti State & 2 others (Suit NO: HAD/122/2004) filed on 15th December 2014 in which the former state officials are seeking the following reliefs: •A Declaration that the Governor of Ekiti State cannot validly review and revoke the decision of the Executive Council and the approval of the erstwhile Governor of Ekiti State vis-a-vis the Political Office Holders monetized vehicles scheme.

•A Declaration that the Claimants are entitled to and are beneficial owners of the monetized vehicles by virtue of the clearance letter dated 8th October, 2014 and 10th October, 2014 and issued under the hand of the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Governor respectively.

•A Declaration that the Claimants are not indebted to the government of Ekiti State under the vehicle monetization scheme or any other scheme in any way whatsoever.

•An Order of Perpetual Injunction restraining the government and governor of Ekiti State, their agents, privies, assigns or any person howsoever described from harassing, going after, tampering with or collecting the vehicles acquired by the Claimants as former political office holders and members of the erstwhile Ekiti State Executive Council by virtue of the Political Office Holders monetized vehicles scheme.

The matter is yet to be heard because of the industrial action embarked upon by judicial workers in the state.

“Having served the state meritoriously, it is rather immoral, crude and irresponsible for the incumbent administration to continuously harass us and seek very dubious ways to tarnish our image over a state policy that was duly documented.

“We maintain that this attempt to get us out of circulation, like the previous ones would fail. We challenge the state government to meet its obligation to former state officials. You cannot be harassing us over an amount that is less than what we are being owed by your government.”

The statement concluded.

However, the immediate past Deputy Governor, Prof. Adelabu, accused the Fayose government of

feeding the general public with lies on the controversy surrounding the monetized vehicles maintaining that she and many of those mentioned on the list paid for the vehicles allocated for their use when they were still in office.

Accusing the Fayose regime of mischief, Mrs. Adelabu revealed that the government denied her, her constitutional entitlement to two cars as parting gifts for being a former deputy governor.

According to her, Fayose and his henchmen are only playing to the gallery, saying that she, like some other officials, got clearance letters from the Ministry of Finance and got the go-ahead to change the vehicle’s ownership after paying for them.

Her words: “It is an embarrassment. I do not owe as they claim and this applies to as many of us who served under the immediate past regime.

“On the contrary, the governor is the one sitting on the entitlements of former political office holders. As a former deputy governor, I am constitutionally entitled to at least two cars but I was not given.

“So, it is indecent and immoral of the present administration to portray the past officials in bad light before members of the public.”

To prove that she is no longer liable on payment of monetized vehicles debt, Mrs. Adelabu said the final payment of N691,791.00 she made on the ash coloured Toyota Camry with engine number: 2AR0570437 and chassis number: JTNBF4KX03003702 was paid into a government account number domiciled at the First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

Government had written a clearance letter to her through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance as the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). The letter was signed by Mr. Olagoke M.O. She was subsequently issued with a further clearance signed by Mr. Femi Obaparusi, informing her that the ownership of the vehicle had been fully transferred to her.

Mrs. Adelabu wondered why and how the government turned around again to say she was owing N1, 393, 789.00.

“I am directed to inform you that your outstanding indebtedness on monetized vehicle…. as at 30th September has been paid into the designated government bank account number 0147171011 in FCMB (EKSG Motor Vehicle Loan Political Office Holders) with Teller No. 0280538 representing the outstanding indebtedness.”

As both camps continue to fire verbal missiles on the controversy surrounding the monetized vehicles, members of the public are interested in unearthing the truth of the matter.

Although the affected officials have filed a legal action on the matter, the people of the state might wait longer to know the truth as the wheel of justice grinds slowly in this part of the world.

The Ekiti State Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has embarked on an indefinite strike joining its counterparts in other states of the federation where funds for that arm of the government had not been made a first line charge.

It is only when the strike is over and the courts resume that the legal battle on the monetized cars would commence and give the people of the state a hope of a resolution of the dispute.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

34

SOUTHWEST REPORT

12 years after, Ajimobi signs School of Hygiene Bill into law

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BILL to upgrade the Oyo State School of Hygiene in Ibadan to a full fledged college of Health Science and Technology has been signed into law by Governor Abiola Ajimobi.The bill which had been in the making since 2003 has been swept under the carpet and abandoned by previous administrations in the state. But last year, Senator Ajimobi sent it to the State House of Assembly where it was passed by the lawmakers in November and was signed into law shortly after by the governor.

But recently, the state governor,Senator Abiola Ajimobi sponsored the bill to the state house of assembly and it was passed by the lawmakers in November 2014, while the governor signed it into law barely two weeks ago.

•Ganiyu Speaking on the development, the Provost of the college, Mr Siji Ganiyu lauded the lawmakers and Governor Ajimobi for the initiative, stressing that what the past administrations in the state could not achieve in the last 20 years, the present administration has done it within year.

According to him, the implication of this new development for the College is that it will now be fully accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Ganiyu also stated that it will give the state additional manpower to ensure a healthy environmental delivery.

“Since Governor Ajimobi came on board he has

Oyo opposition are paperweight, says APC

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

transformed the school tremendously, our facilities has been upgraded to meet up with international standards. We have six courses before but now we have nine and we are still planning on introducing two move in the 2015/2016 session.

“The courses offered now include ; public health nurding, environmental health technology, pharmacy technicians, community health extention workers, junior community health extention workers, health information management, food hygiene and health assistants. “He said Listing some of the present administration achievements in the school, the provost said some of them include; “creation of additional staff offices and 54-bed-spaces hostel for students usage.

Re-connection of school water system with the state water corporation, production and distribution of first ever student code of conduct handbook.

Provision of additional books and journals in the school library. Beautification and landscaping of the school premises.

Others are;”procurement of two additional 18 seaters departmental buses. Employment of six additional temporary lecturers and restoration of peace and tranquility on campus” Ganiyu also disclosed that the student’s performance has been encouraging, adding that it has increased from 50 per cent to 100 per cent.

He said:” In one or two courses, the student’s performances were a bit above 50 per cent, while in the majority, the performances ranges between 85 per cent and100 per cent.

•Sadare

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has said the dismissal outing of opposition parties in the state has shown them as paperweight parties.

The party, in a statement in Ibadan yesterday by its state Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, thanked the people for keeping faith with the party as demonstrated by the victory in last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

It added that the voting pattern of the last elections clearly showed their belief and support for the APCled administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi as well as their political sophistication.

“Besides, the outcome of the elections has shown that the people will never again fall for the bait of propaganda, deceit, falsehood, character assassination and reactionary politics for which the leading opposition parties’ candidates are known.

“Now that the people of Oyo State have, again shown, their preference for the APC, we strongly advise the followers of Teslim Folarin (PDP), Rashidi Ladoja (Accord) and Adebayo Alao-Akala (LP) to review

Now that the people of Oyo State have, again shown, their preference for the APC, we strongly advise the followers of Teslim Folarin (PDP), Rashidi Ladoja (Accord) and Adebayo Alao-Akala (LP) to review their stance and jump out of the turbulent ship in order not to sink with them their stance and jump out of the turbulent ship in order not to sink with them.”

The APC said the showing of the LP in some parts of Ogbomoso attests to the party’s position that the ex-governor is a local champion.

“With the outcome of the election, Ladoja and his Accord Party should, by now, resign to fate that the people have finally rejected them.

“Again, the people of Oyo State and supporters of the Accord should realise that it is not in their best interest to support the party which neither has root nor foundation capable of protecting their interest at the state and national levels,’’ it said.

The party appealed to the people to embrace the broom revolution sweeping across the country, particularly in the Southwest, by supporting the APC and its candidate, Abiola Ajimobi, for the April 11 Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Council distributes gas cylinders to residents

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INDFUL of the negative impacts which unchecked environmental degradation have had on our environment, governments and groups the world over have come to terms with the need to prevent or mitigate their effects for a safer world. One of the means through which man harms the environment is through felling of trees for charcoal for cooking.

A United Nations’ Conference on the Human Environment notes that “a time has come in history when we must shape our actions throughout the world with a more prudent care for their environmental consequences.

Through ignorance or indifference, we can do massive and irreversible harm to the earthly environment on which our life and well-being depend.

“Conversely, through fuller knowledge and wiser action, we can achieve for ourselves and our posterity a better life in keeping with human needs and hopes…”

Efforts are therefore being made by government to find ways of mitigating or preventing actions that would have uncomplimentary impacts on the environment and the well-being of mankind.

This may have informed the Lagos State Government’s efforts towards ensuring cleaner and

By Ibrahim Adam

safer environment through the Eko Gas initiative through which it makes available portable gas cylinders to residents of the state.

Determined to ensure that residents embrace the use of cooking gas as against charcoal, the state government makes the facility available to all the local government areas for distribution.

Recently, it was the turn of Oriade Local Council Development Area where the Eko Gas cylinders were distributed to residents of the council.

Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the council, Hon. Bola Badmus-Olujobi noted that the programme was initiated and launched by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) to promote a cleaner and healthier environment for residents of the state.

On the benefits derivable from the cooking gas cylinder, she said: “The liquefied cooking gas cylinder has lots of advantages over the traditional systems of cooking such as firewood, coal and electricity. It is cheaper, cooks faster, safer, portable, healthier and cleaner.

“In view of its effectiveness and efficiency, it has been adopted by developed and developing countries the world over. There is no gainsaying that Lagos State Government, being a pace-setter in

From left Hon. Badmus-Olujobi, Head of Department Agric, Mrs Mosun Otaiku Okoka and Chairman, Community Development Committee, Mr Victor Okunola displaying the Eko Gas cylinder at the event

•Samples of the Eko Gas cylinders

matters concerning the welfare of its citizens, has equally adopted and is promoting the use of the liquefied cooking gas cylinder by the residents at the grassroots.”

She urged beneficiaries to use the cooking gas cylinders as instructed by the manufacturers, saying “you have no need to ignorantly abandon, sell or rent them out to your disadvantage”.

Also speaking, the representative of the Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Adeniyi Steven said there was the need to create awareness on the benefits of

exposed to pollution.”

Noting that it requires rigorous sensitisation for people to key into the campaign on clean environment, Mr Steven said “educating Nigerians on the need to switch to this clean and abundant energy service is very necessary for Nigerians, especially women to adopt the cooking gas as their energy service for all their domestic energy needs.

He further said with the use of cooking gas, there would be less attack on the environment. He, however, expressed his confidence that with “government’s efforts towards cleaner environment, we are

the use of cooking gas.

He also said the use of cooking gas will reduce the heat that emit from kerosene stoves, even as he added that it will also ensure healthy living condition as our kitchens where meals are prepared will be clean enough; it will reduce soot and carbon emissions and general air pollution.

He further said: “Scientists have also indicated that cooking gas has no adverse impact on the environment compared with the traditional energy sources such as fuel wood and coal. With the use of kerosene, women and children are directly

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

35

SOUTHWEST REPORT

Lawmaker promises to complement his achievement

By Jeremiah Oke

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NEWLY re-elected member of House of Representatives Hon. Abiodun Awoleye has promised to consolidate on his past achievements as he returns to the National Assembly.

Hon. Awoleye, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC)representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency made this known when he visited some political stalwarts, elders, community and religious leaders in his constituency to thank them for their support.

Giving a breakdown of some of his achievements since became a member of the House of Representatives, Awoleye said he had facilitated many people-oriented projects as well as empowered over 3,000 constituents including youths, sportsmen, widows, women, artisans and traders,as against the 2,500 that he promised.

He noted that his desire to make the students of the area compete favourably with their counterparts across the world was the rationale behind the commissioning of a N25 million ICT Centre at Anglican Commercial Grammar School, Total Garden Ibadan. The Centre is equipped with 25 desktop computers, full internet facility, generator and other ICT equipments.

Awoleye advised the students and other beneficiaries of his other people-oriented the projects to make wise use of them as he urged Nige-

sure that adequate sensitisation on the need for people to adopt cooking gas as suitable alternative source of energy for domestic use will be sustained. Fears on the part of some landlords concerning the use of cooking gas are unfounded as most often, fire outbreaks are as a result of improper installation.”

High points of the event were demonstration by Mr Steven on how to assemble the cylinder for use and for safety and distribution of the cooking gas cylinders to beneficiaries.

•Governor Fashola commissioning the new Oyingbo market

Joy as Lagos rebuilds Oyingbo market

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By Emmanuel Udodinma FTER years of yearning for a modern market, traders at Oyingbo Market in Lagos Mainland Oyingbo Market needed to be renovated or rebuilt in Local Government Area of Lagos State have line with current realities. expressed their joy and gratitude to Governor “The local government’s estimated that rebuilding Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for rebuilding the market. the market will cost NI00 million.

The traders adorned in their colourful dresses “This failed to deliver a first-class market that the during the inauguration of the market by Governor city can be proud of. Several strategies were evolved Fashola, who they praised for his development until Governor Fashola decided on the best strategy. programmes.

The contract for rebuilding the market was finally Oyingbo Market was established in the 1920s. Then, awarded to Messrs Palmyra Construction Nigeria it was a depot for agricultural produce. The Limited. It was built on a 504 square meters land,’’ he development around Ebute-Metta, said.

Oyingbo and the Lagos Mainland The Commissioner added that the have had positive impact on the During his campaigns as market has all the features of a modern market; making it grow bigger not the governorship candidate market that meets international only in size but also in the volume standards. of the then Action of goods available in the market.

In her remarks, the Iyaloja of In the 1930s, traders around Congress of Nigeria Oyingbo Market, Alhaja Balogun Apapa Road were moved to the commended Governor Fashola for current location to further boost the (ACN), the leader of the his excellent performance in the state size of the market, even as meat market, Alhaja Bashirat in the past eight years in the areas of and livestock were among the infrastructure development, saying goods available for customers. As Balogun, appealed to Mr. the Governor had, within his tenure, a major commercial centre, it Fashola to assist in lifted Lagos to become a reference attracted customers’ patronage point for other state. rebuilding the market from every part of Nigeria.

Commissioning the market, Ever since, there have been when voted into power.

Governor Fashola said he made a attempts to re-build the market promise to rebuild it in 2007 during which was constructed with wood, his electioneering campaigns, adding has been gutted by fire several times. that he had fulfilled his promise by delivering the project.

Successive administrations had made efforts to The governor further said that out of the 633 open rebuild the market without any success. shops in the market, 618 would be allocated to the In 1991, the then Chairman of Lagos Island Local original owners who were displaced when the Government Area, Mr Babatunde Larinde demolished market was gutted by fire and had to be rebuilt. the market in a bid to rebuild it through partnership According to him, with the new market in place, with the private sector. He invited the late business the state government expected that roadside trading Mogul Chief M. K.O. Abiola to lay the foundation of would end in Oyingbo as they could not use the the new market. Chief Abiola had promised to help market for their business. attract the attention of the Nigeria Stock Exchange “You all know I am not seeking any political (NSE) to raise the needed funds for the project. office this time, but I cannot forget that some of you However, during his campaigns as the voted for me. I am here today to keep my word,’’ he governorship candidate of the then Action Congress said. The governor urged the traders to continue to of Nigeria (ACN), the leader of the market, Alhaja vote to for candidates of the All Progressives Bashirat Balogun, appealed to Mr. Fashola to assist in Congress (APC) for more development. rebuilding the market when voted into power.

The market comprises four floor, a car park that can The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, contain 150 cars, 622 lock-up shops, type one and 102 Dr Kadiri Hamzat recalled that Oyingbo Market has lock-up shops type two; industrial borehole, water existed for a long period of time, adding that in spite treatment plant, cold room, sewage treatment plant, of its tremendous growth and expansion over the ground and overhead water tanks,1,000KVA years, it remained mostly at the level of transformers, closed-circuit monitor and 134 toilets underdevelopment. facilities.

“Growing far beyond the plans available,

,

•Awoleye

rian youths to engage in activities that will promote them rather than engaging in acts that will put them in bad light.

“Nigerians, most especially the youth should shun violence, thuggery and any other acts of social vices that may hinder free and fair elections, this is necessary because all eyes are on us, the international community is looking at us to conduct free and fair elections” The lawmaker who had earlier made donations of 111 laptop computers to The Polytechnic Ibadan in 2013,and facilitated 104 computers to Oba Akinyele Memorial Grammar School, Bashorun,promised that similar projects would soon be commissioned for the use of the University of Ibadan Community, Cheshire High School Sango and St Lious Grammar School all within Ibadan North Federal Constituency.

He noted that he had empowered many youths through a vocation centre, Hon. Awoleye Technical and Vocation Educational Centre which has trained over 200 youths in various vocations.

While soliciting the support of his constituents for APC candidates in the April 11 elections,Awoleye urged the people to always do a follow up on their representatives through correspondences, saying this will help the representative to know what the people want.

He noted that his doors are always open for the electorate to interact with him and respond to their requests.

“I am your representative, you should be inviting us to your programs, send correspondences, that is why I opened two constituency offices to attend to the requests of you, the electorate. We are your representatives and you should be sending letters and meeting us to know what you need and how we will be able to respond to them.

“The youths that constitute majority of the electorate should not allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians, they should engage in acts what will improve their welfare not those that will puttheir names in bad light” According to him, “ In my bid to improve the lives of the youth in my area, I have successfully hosted the 6th edition of my football competition, I have established a football club, PacesetterInternational Football Club and I have trained many youths in various vocation through HATAVEC, I urged the youth to make wise use of these opportunities and not to disrupt the peace of the society through thuggery, violence and hooliganism”.

“The students of this school where we are commissioning the ICT centre are advised to make wise use of the centre to improve on their ICT knowledge as this will help them to compete favorably with their counterparts across the world.

“I am of the opinion that this ICT centre will improve their knowledge of computer and its technical knowhow, it will expose them to various computer programs that will enhance their skills and knowledge” “The people in the areas where Primary health centre, security post,transformers and boreholes are cited are also advised to guide these projects well and make wise use of the projects in order to improve their living condition.”He said.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

36

SOUTHWEST REPORT

Again, rainstorm destroys homes in Ibadan •Damages electricity poles, cables, homes

A three-hour rainfall accompanied by heavy storm descended on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Tuesday, last week destroying in the process, several residential buildings, business premises and electricity poles in many parts of the city. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports. tricity to the city of Ibadan and environs, many fish ponds and farmlands were flooded by the storm water in some areas, causing heavy losses to the owners running into hundreds of thousands of naira.

In most of the areas visited by The Nation, nothing had been done to repair the damage since the unfortunate incident, except few areas where electricity has been restored.

At Omi-Adio and Apata areas of the city where the damage was much, electricity had been restored in some places while other areas were still in darkness.

At Ido town, many buildings whose roof tops were blown off were still without any roofing while electricity poles and cables were still lying on the roads. The situation was the same at Iyana-Ido area, especially after the railway crossing with most of the residents without electricity.

In Ibadan South West Local Government where the rainstorm also left its traces, few residential buildings affected by the storm remained unattended to while others have been repaired by their owners.

At Odo-Ona and Ago-Tailor areas of the city, it was tales of woe from the affected residents. They complained of blackout even as they await officials of the power company to replace the damaged electricity installations.

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FTER waiting for several months for the rains to come, residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital had the first rain of the year on Tuesday last week, but it was a bitter-sweet experience for many of them.

While the rain water and cool breeze tempered the excessively hot weather and provided free water for many households without pipeborne water, the accompanying rainstorm damaged many buildings and public property.

At the end of the three-hour heavy downpour, many houses were left with no roof, having been blown away by the strong wind, while many electricity poles were either broken or uprooted, leaving many households without public electricity supply.

As was the case few year ago,in the city. Many residential buildings were badly affected by the wind that accompanied the downpour. Quite a number of concrete electric poles and cables were brought down and smashed into shreds on the roads, causing damage to shops and business places nearby.

Apart from the damage to electricity poles and cables belonging to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), the power company in charge of distribution of elec-

We don’t have the money to buy poles, cable and other materials.

And that is why you see the cables and poles still lying on the roads.

Maybe they wanted us to contribute money to get the materials, but I can tell you that we don’t have that kind of money.

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A farmer who lives in one of the affected buildings Mr Monday Iyasele said “We have been waiting for the officials of the power company to come and repair this light. In fact, we have lodged complaint and we hope they will do something soon to restore our light.

“We don’t have the money to buy poles, cable and other materials. And that is why you see the cables and poles still lying on the roads. Maybe they wanted us to contribute money to get the materials, but I can tell you that we

don’t have that kind of money. They collect money for the electricity and it is their responsibility to repair these damaged equipment. Financially, some are incapacitated even to replace their roofing sheets damaged by the rainstorm.

“We can’t replace the roofing sheets because we don’t have the money to do so. It takes a lot of money to replace them and since the money is not there we have no choice than to bear the consequence of what happened. If there is rain now, everywhere will be full of water as a result of leakages, and we must cope with it because we don’t have any choice. We pray that God will one day provide the money to fix it”.

Even traders, welders, and shop owners who depend on electricity claimed their businesses have suffered a major setback since the downpour.

Mr Wasiu Adebayo who owns a welder’s workshop at Omi-Adio described the blackout as unbearable.

Other residents affected by the rainstorm are still groaning as they are yet to recover from the loss, while the power distribution company is still battling to replace the damaged electric poles and cables.

Although, electricity supply has been restored to some strategic areas of the city, some residents yet to receive supply have been using private

electricians to fix some of the damaged equipment.

Some complained about the conduct of the power company officials who they alleged were not alive to their responsibility.

They wondered why it would take the power distribution company more than two weeks to restore light to the affected areas.

Speaking on the damage to electric poles and cables, a school teacher at Iyana Ido, Mr Kingsley Oke lamented that since the rainstorm caused damage to power installations the workers of the power distribution company have not visited to assess the damage and proffer immediate solution.

However, the management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has pleaded with the affected residents, assuring them that electricity would soon be restored.

The Public Relations Officer of IBEDC, Mr Frank William who spoke with The Nation said” we are working very hard to restore power to the affected areas. Our men are on the field working to ensure that we replace all the damaged installations.

We plead that our customers affected by the rainstorm should exercise patience, everything will soon be normalised .”

Bloody day in Owo as robbers kill bank manager, others

T

HREE months after armed robbers unleashed terror on Ikare-Akoko in Ondo State killing no fewer than 20 persons during a bank robbery, another major town in the state has by men of the underworld.

A seven-member armed robbery gang struck in the ancient town of Owo last Thursday raiding four commercial banks and carting away an unspecified large amount of money. They also killed many people.

Among the victims were a bank

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

manager and his deputy who were felled by the robbers’ bullets.

The dare devil armed robbers reportedly used dynamite to shatter the security doors to penetrate the banks to perpetrate their dastardly act.

It was learnt that the branch manager of a first generation bank in the town and his assistant were killed during the robbery operation.

Eye witness said the two officials failed to “co-operate” with the robbers when they stormed their bank.

The robbers, according to findings seized the town at about 4.00pm and shot sporadically into the air till they got to the heart of the town where they robbed the commercial banks.

Findings also revealed that the armed robbers carted away an undisclosed amount of money from the banks, while many workers sustained injuries.

It was also gathered from unconfirmed sources that some residents of the town were shot dead, while others sustained serious injuries.

The incident however caused pan-

demonium in the town as many residents who read political meanings to the incident protested round the town after the incident.

A source alleged that the Police officers who witnessed the robbery did not challenge the armed robbers while the operation lasted.

A resident of the town who spoke on condition of anonymity hinted that the armed robbers entered the town through the Owo-Abuja highway and moved straight to the heart of the town where major commercial banks are located.

It was gathered that the armed robbers escaped arrest despite the presence of Police officers at the scene of the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ondo State Police command, Mr Wole Ogodo who confirmed the incident said policemen had been deployed to the town to enforce orderliness.

While condemning the incident, some residents of the town blamed the police for shying away from their responsibilities in resisting the robbers.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

37

THE NATION INVESTORS

Chams grows profit by 145% as Aladekomo retires C

HAMS Plc doubled its pre-tax profit in 2014 as the information and communication technology company continued to strengthen its income and profitability.

Key performance indices of the company showed appreciable improvements in overall performance outlook during the year ended December 31, 2014.

Turnover rose from N3.44 billion in 2013 to N4.12 billion in 2014. While gross profit slipped from N1.85 billion to N1.55 billion on the back of higher cost of sales, the company reduced operating expenses to boost the midline. Operating profit rose to N392.3 million in 2014 compared with N320.2 million in 2013.

Profit before tax jumped by 144.9 per cent from N106.92 million to N261.81 million.

Profit after taxes also rose by 48.8 per cent from N188.46 million to N280.43 million. The positive earnings also strengthened the company’s balance sheet. Total assets improved from N10.72 billion in 2013 to N12.09 billion in 2014 while shareholders’ funds increased from N4.68 billion to N5.92 billion.

The improved performance encouraged the board of the company to recommend distribution of N93.92 million as cash dividends, representing a dividend per share of 2.0 kobo.

The latest reports appeared to underline increasing profitability of the company’s operations. Audited report and accounts of Chams for the year ended December 31, 2013 had shown that turnover rose by 21.3 per cent from N2.84 billion in 2012 to N3.44 billion in 2013. Profit after tax rose by 115.3 per cent to N188.5 million as against N87.5 million in the previous year. The company’s net bottom-line was boosted by tax gain of N81.54 million. Total assets grew by 22.9 per cent to N10.7 billion compared to N8.7 bil-

Stories by Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

lion. Shareholders’ funds improved from N4.5 billion to N4.7 billion.

In his recent review, Group Managing Director, Chams Plc, Demola Aladekomo, said the performance of the company confirmed that the various initiatives that had been put in place have started bearing fruit.

“To consolidate on our performance in the last financial year and maintain our profitability is quite commendable and we are confident that things can only become better for us. More gratifying is the fact that we have sustained our topline growth trajectory, an indication that we have continued to increase our market share and remain competitive.

We have entered into some partnership agreements that will have positive impact on our performance in the coming years,” Aladekomo said.

According to him, the priorities of the company in 2014 included completion of the ongoing restructuring across the group and dedication of its energy towards delivering value to all stakeholders; upgrading of its card personalization bureau to EMV-certified standard and fostering strategic alliance with its partners based in South Africa and Israel.

He added that the company would also strive to launch new card products and solutions into the market; sustain growth in its market share; achieve a profit growth of 300 per cent while continuing to engage the investment community and keep them abreast of developments in the company.

In the 2014, Chams drove the implementation of the Bank Verification Number project initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bankers’ Committee. It implemented the one-year project in partnership with Dermalog Identification Systems, a lead-

Wapic Insurance bounces back with N236m net profit

W

APIC Insurance Plc has returned to profitability as the insurance company grew its profit after tax by 214 per cent in 2014.

Audited report and accounts of Wapic Insurance Plc for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed that the company’s profits after tax improved significantly with a 214 per cent increase to close at N236 million over the N208 million loss position recorded 2013.

The company’s gross written premium rose by 38 per cent from N3.76 billion to N5.2 billion. Similarly, underwriting profit increased by 1272 per cent to N1.24 billion underpinned by improved risk selection and greater efficiency in managing underwriting expenses which dropped by 31 per cent relative to 2013.

Wapic Insurance stated that it paid about N1.09 billion in claims within the financial year, a significant percentage of these relate to current period transactions of 2013/ 2014.

According to the company, having paid most of the outstanding legacy claims in

2013, its efforts at implementing a structured approached to risk selection and management has begun to yield results as claims ratio improved significantly closing at 34 per cent in 2014 compared to 80 per cent in previous year.

The company’s shareholders’ funds of N14.2 billion is up 0.15 per cent relative to 2013 position while return on equity grew by 236 per cent from corresponding period in preceding year.

Wapic is a first generation insurance company in Nigeria having been in operation for over half a century. Recently, it became one of only 3 insurance companies in Nigeria with a risk rating following its accreditation of brating on financial strength

by AM Best, a global risk rating company. All indications show that the company’s transformation agenda is on track while the elevated governance standard and commitment to performance for which the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede is known is being brought to bear in helping to steer the Company on the path of sustainable growth.

ing global company in the field of bio-payment. Chams and its technical partner, Dermalog, will work for five years on the Bank Biometric Matching Solution Project, which is expected to create 1000 new jobs for young professionals.

Apart from its benefits to the national economy, which is bridging the formal and informal economy, the Bankers Biometric Matching Solution project and the increasing uptake of identity management products and services by private and public enterprises are expected to usher Chams into a new era of strength, financial stability, improved cash flow and profitability beyond the 2014 financial year.

This will be the last audited report to be presented by the founding managing director, Aladekomo, who retires in April. Aladekomo is retiring as recent strategic initiatives appeared to be impacting positively on the fundamentals of the company.

Chams recently indicated the impending retirement of

Aladekomo and new appointments that will see orderly leadership transition.

Aladekomo, who founded Chams in 1985 and has served the company as managing director for almost 30 years, would be retiring from September 18, this year.

The board of the company had approved the appointments of the Deputy Managing Director, Olufemi Williams as Managing Director and Luqman Balogun, who is the the Managing Director of CardCentre Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Chams Plc, as deputy managing director.

Aladekomo has expressed confidence in the ability of his successors to take the information and technology company to higher level.

He said he was leaving with the conviction that the new management would move the company to greater achievements. Aladekomo had nursed Chams from a private limited liability company to a public limited liability company.

Chams was quoted on the NSE

in 2008.

“After almost three decades with the company as CEO, it is time to move on and transfer execution to a new generation of leadership. I look forward to working with the chairman, board and management team during the seven-month transition period and to being available as an advisor to management after retiring as CEO. I am confident Chams has all its best days ahead,” Aladekomo said.

Chairman, Chams Plc, Mr. Ayo Richards, praised Aladekomo’s leadership qualities noting that he had been able to manage the company through its various transitions and challenges.

“The board is grateful for his innumerable contributions to the company and his distinguished tenure as CEO over the last 29 years,” Richards said.

Aladekomo will proceed on leave in April 2015, handing over to Olufemi Williams as the group managing director and chief executive officer.

Williams takes over from

Aladekomo in alignment with the board of director’s ratified succession planning which emphasises promoting capable internal candidates to leadership positions.

Until the announcement of Aladekomo’s retirement, Williams was the deputy managing director, and a Chams Plc veteran having joined the company in 1990 as a computer engineer. He rose to the position of general manager in January 2001, and held same until he joined SuperCard Limited as managing director in March 2004.

Olufemi was appointed deputy managing director, Chams Plc in January 2012 after the merger of SuperCard Limited with Chams Plc. Prior to joining CardCentre in June 2013 as managing director, Lukman Balogun spent 22 years in banking in a career spanning retail and commercial banking, banking operations and information technology, credit and relationship management, cards and electronic banking, and project management.

• From left: General Manager, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Mr. Joe Mekeliuwa; Head, Global Markets, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mr. Sam Ocheho; Head, Product Management, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Dipo Omotoso; Global Markets Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mr. Steve Osho and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, Mr. Oladele Sotubo at the NSE Retail Bond Workshop at the Exchange in Lagos.

Unilever Nigeria slashes dividend by 92% as profit drops by 49% U NILEVER Nigeria Plc is reducing its dividend payout from N4.73 billion to N378.3 million following a steep decline in the performance of the company. A dividend recommendation released by the board of directors of the conglomerate showed that shareholders would receive a dividend per share of 10 kobo for the 2014 business year as against N1.25 received for the 2013 business year.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Unilever Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed declines in the top-line and the bottom-line. While sales were tepid, the bottom-line performance was however worsened by significant increase in finance charges.

Turnover dropped by seven per cent from N60 billion in 2103 to N55.75 billion in 2014.

Interest expense, otherwise known as finance charges, however rose by 65 per cent from N1.16 billion to N1.91 billion.

This further constrained the profitability of the conglomer-

ate as pre-tax profit dropped by 58 per cent from N6.79 billion to N2.87 billion. After a 78 per cent reduction in tax provisions, net profit after tax dropped by 49 per cent to N2.41 billion in 2014 as against N4.72 billion recorded in 2013.

Earnings per share consequently dropped from N1.25 in 2013 to 64 kobo in 2014. The contraction also affected the company’s balance sheet as shareholders’ funds dropped by 20 per cent from N9.35 billion to N7.48 billion.

Shareholders of the company are expected to meet in May to review its performance and consider the recommended payment.

The audited report came on the heels of the move by Unilever Overseas Holdings, the United Kingdom-based foreign core investor, to acquire additional equity stake in the Nigerian subsidiary in a transaction valued at about N43 billion or £144.5 million.

Unilever Overseas Holdings has already approached the board of directors of Unilever Nigeria Plc about its intention to make an offer to increase its equity stake in the Nigerian company from 50.04 per cent up to a maximum of 75 per cent.

The foreign core investor promises to maintain Unilever Nigeria’s listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Unilever Overseas Holdings has appointed Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Chapel Hill Advisory Partners Limited as its financial advisers on the proposed transaction.

The Nation had reported that Unilever Overseas Holdings proposes to acquire about 944.47 million ordinary shares in Unilever Nigeria at an intended offer price of N45.50 per share in cash. Unilever Nigeria opened this week at the NSE at N34 per share.

The proposed offer price represents a premium of 33.8 per cent on the company’s opening

price today and a premium of 33.2 per cent on the three-month volume weighted average share price. It is intended that the proposal would be effected by way of a tender offer, by giving any shareholder who elects to sell some or all of their shares in Unilever Nigeria the opportunity to do so.

The proposed acquisition is however still subject to the prior approval of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

While noting that it has not reached any definitive agreement to proceed with the proposal, Unilever Nigeria has indicated that the formal offer documentation will be posted to shareholders as soon as the approvals of all the regulators are obtained.

Unilever Overseas reserves the right not to proceed with the proposal or to vary the terms of the proposal in any way and no binding offer will be made in respect of any securities until Unilever Nigeria has announced its final results for the year ended December 31, 2014 to the general public.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

38

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

The role of information technology in business has been recognised globally. To acquiant women entrepreneurs with computer knowledge, the United States Consulate in Lagos has held a workshop for them. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Empowering women entrepreneurs with ICT skills

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HEN Mrs Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi, founder/ executive director, Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), was chosen to lead the forum on equipping women entrepreneurs with information technology skills, she was happy. This was because, in almost seven years’ existence, her organisation has made a mark in the technology industry.

As an Ashoka Fellow and a recipient of the Anita Borg Change Agent Award, her commitment to computing in Nigeria is not in doubt.

From designing mobile apps, software development, to digital advocacy for social causes of women, Somolu Lesi has been involved in imparting technological skills and literacy.

Besides, she has been empowering young women to pursue careers in science and technology.

Mrs Lesi worked for several years in the United States on some projects, which attracted more girls and women to study and work in science and technology-related fields.

So getting women entrepreneurs to acquire ICT knowledge was a familiar terrain for her.

Addressing the Entrepreneurship and Technology Development Workshop for Women in Lagos, Mrs Somolu Lesi said IT skills would help women entrepreneurs contribute to the development of the economy.

This is because ICT-based tools help entrepreneurs get better access to information on upgrading products and services as well as the management of business.

According to her, no company can succeed on the long-term without its owners and staff us-

•From left: Head, Retail Services, Leadway Assurance, Tunji Amokade; Corporate Communications Officer, Group Managing Director’s Office, Union Bank Nigeria, Chienye Ogwo; Ms Watson and Mrs Lesi, during the workshop in Lagos.

ing technological tools.

As the world is moving towards an ICT-based society that demands new skills and new ways of working, interacting and learning, she said women entrepreneurs needed to take advantage of the trend to not only use technology in their businesses but also to become the technology creators and innovators of the future.

Towards this, her organisation is developing training modules to ensure more women acquire ICT skills.

The Head, Projects Solutions Department, Union Bank Plc, Binta Adesida, said it was important women entrepreneurs

adopt and use ICT to strengthen their businesses and become more effective.

According to her, ICT is indispensable to the economy.

She noted that many women’s businesses are now using ICT to connect with their customers, sell products to new markets, forge contacts and obtain market prices.

With ICT, she said entrepreneurs could access key sources of information, explore opportunities to build networks and take advantage of the increasing number of online and webbased mobile-assisted learning tools.

Public Diplomacy Officer,

United States Consulate-General, Lagos, Rhonda Watson, restated her countrys’commitment to encouraging women-led enterprises and entrepreneurs.

According to her, ICT offers opportunities for SMEs to grow their businesses, adding that there are innovative business models using platforms, such as social media, smart and feature phones, computers, tablets and other ICT solutions, to run effective and profitable businesses in rural and semi-urban areas.

Technology Programmes’ Coordinator, W.TEC, Modupeoluwa Darabidan, said it was important small business owners employ mind maps to

manage workflows.

According to her, a mind map is one way to organise information into an efficient and creative manner. She stressed that entrepreneurs needed to create real and meaningful value for their clients. Entrepreneurs at the initial stage of their businesses need to keep growing and dreaming big.

Darabidan also hinted that small businesses could use Microsoft Sharepoint services to share documents and information, and that this could help the project run more smoothly.

According to her, there are tools, such as drop box, which companies can use to manage movement and exposure of documents.

Increased business investment in ICT, she added, would contribute to productivity gains.

To become more productive – to create the prosperity Nigeria wants and needs - she said the economy needed women entrepreneurs to embrace innovation in their business strategy.

According to her, the online platform is an integral part of support for entrepreneurs, adding that there are now portals where people can order items.

The forum was organised by the United States Consulate in Lagos.

At the event, participants learnt how to put together a business plan, move their ideas from conception to fruition.

They also learnt about the business building process, engaging in exercises to help them think critically of their business idea.

Participants shared and explored new opportunities and business ideas, and presented a working strategy on how they would take steps to enhance their use of ICT.

‘Why I left Poland to start a business in Nigeria’

M

AREK Zmyslowski, managing director of Jovago, a popular online hotel booking site in Africa, believes some of his biggest successes have been a result of taking chances.

And leaving his home country Poland to move to Lagos to start an online company is no exception.

“At that time, my knowledge about Nigeria was the so-called Google knowledge. So, I knew what Boko Haram was and 419,” says MarekZmyslowski.

“At that time my knowledge about Nigeria was the so-called Google knowledge. So I knew what Boko Haram was and 419,” says MarekZmyslowski.

It all started when he decided earlier in his career that he wanted to be an entrepreneur. Speaking at a recent TEDxIfe event in Nigeria, he admitted his first attempt was a complete flop.

“Whenever an entrepreneur hopes to start an idea, he thinks about solving his own problems.

That’s mainly how it works. So I built a dating website. And in six months I had failed tremendously, in a spectacular way.”

However, despite the failure, he realised he still wanted to be an entrepreneur in the online space.

And although he was broke, he decided not to give up and started searching for investors for his next big idea.

“I remember it clearly like it was yesterday. I was going to a conference hoping to pitch my idea and didn’t have money for my train ticket. I was actually sitting in the toilet of the train, because I was hiding from the guy who was checking to see if you have your ticket or not,” he highlighted during his speech.

Fortunately, his pitch caught the attention of a venture capitalist, and within two years they successfully managed to build and exit two online businesses.

From Warsaw to Lagos But Zmyslowski had his eye on the US, admitting he had been drawn in by the depiction of the American dream in Hollywood films and MTV videos. However, before he made the move he was approached by the founders of Africa Internet Group’s online shopping site Jumia, who told him what they were doing in Africa. He was invited to Nigeria to set up an online travel website.

Zmyslowski admitted he knew very little about Nigeria prior to this. “At that time my knowledge about Nigeria was the so-called Google knowledge. So I knew what Boko Haram was and 419.”

He managed to find a Nigerian restaurant in Warsaw, run by a Nigerian, who told him a bit more about the country. The result: he

decided to take the plunge.

“After a couple of weeks, I landed in Lagos, not knowing anything about building businesses in Nigeria but having one goal: I want to build the biggest online travel agency in Africa in the next few years. And it took me some time and some pain to understand what it really means to build businesses here.”

For example, he learnt the hard way that being told “I’m coming now” could mean waiting five hours for someone to show up for a meeting. He also struggled getting hotel owners to trust his online marketplace in a country where people are wary of online scams.

Yet, today Jovago.com is a popular online hotel booking platform, with over 15,000 hotels listed across the continent and more than 200,000 worldwide. The company now has offices in Nigeria, Kenya, Senegal and Pakistan.

A greater opportunity Zmyslowski, who now calls Nigeria home, said opportunities on the continent are far-greater than elsewhere, especially when it comes to inspiring change.

“And what I really believe is that this is the time for young Africans and other people to do something in Africa. Not only can you make money building businesses, but

you actually have the ability to change your community, society and environment in a much bigger way than in Europe right now.”

One of the biggest challenges in Nigeria, and across the continent, is unemployment. To solve this problem, Zmyslowski believes professionals should be encouraged to become entrepreneurs.

“You cannot just be a lawyer, you have to be an entrepreneur lawyer that is going to build a law firm and hire people. You cannot just be an architect; you have to be an entrepreneur architect… and so on.”

The greater the risk, the greater the possible reward According to Zmyslowski, taking risks, even when they lead to failure, is essential on the path to entrepreneurial success.

“Whenever you want to change something and solve a problem, you are going to have to take risks.

You are going to have to go out of your comfort zone.”

However, he said the most important thing is entrepreneurs must learn to trust themselves. And he emphasised there is a difference between trusting in yourself and believing in yourself.

“When I came to Nigeria I trusted in myself because trust comes from experience and I have failed many times. But I always know how to

•Zmyslowski,

get up. Believing in yourself means you are just young and optimistic.

Trust comes with time,” he continued.

“When a bird lands on a tree and sits on a branch, he is not scared that the branch is going to break.

Not because he trusts the tree but because he trusts his wings. So solve the problems by taking risks and if your branch is going to break use your wings to fly and search for another branch that hopefully will be stronger this time.

“So, I encourage you to move on, and let’s break some branches together.”

•Source: howwemadeithappeninafrica.com

THE NATION WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 2015

39

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Yanis Varoufakis calls for end to ‘toxic blame game’

Y

ANIS Varoufakis has called for an end to the “toxic blame game” between Greece and Germany.

The finance minister made the call as Greece prepares to finalise its list of economic reforms to present to its international creditors.

The reforms are needed to unlock a new tranche of bailout cash for Greece, which could run out of money in weeks.

Mr Varoufakis said finger-

pointing between Germany and Greece would only aid Europe’s enemies.

Athens and Berlin have been engaged in a bitter war of words as the Greek government seeks to renegotiate the terms of its bailout.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has expressed his anger, claiming last week that Greece “has destroyed all trust”. He also acknowledged that Greece could “accidentally leave the eurozone”.

Writing in the German business newspaper Handelsblatt, Varoufakis said tensions between the two countries “must stop”, adding: “Only then can Greece, with support of its partners, focus on implementing effective reforms and growth-orientated policy strategies.”

Greece submitted plans to the European Union, International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank on Friday night that it says will raise some •3billion

(£2.2billion) in state revenues.

The measures includes plans to combat tax evasion, more privatisations and higher taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, but do not include any “recessionary measures” such as wage and pension cuts.

Piraeus port is set to be privatised by the Greek government However, the measures in their current form do not appear to have been specific enough to win the approval of the lenders, formerly known as the “troika”.

Talks continued over the weekend and the lenders said it could take several days until a proper list of measures was ready.

One senior eurozone official told Reuters: “As they stand, they lack detail and much more technical work will be needed for them to flesh them out into something sufficiently comprehensive and credible to be put to the Eurogroup (of finance ministers).”

Greece faces a crunch point on April 9 when it is due to repay a tranche of funds to the IMF.

UK mortgages hit six-month high

T

HE number of mortgages being granted across the United Kingdom hit a sixmonth high in February, Bank of England data shows.

During the month, 61,760 mortgages were approved - just over a thousand more than in January.

It was the third month in a row that approvals have risen, and the highest figure since August 2014.

Even though the rise was small, economists said it indicated that the housing market had bottomed out,

and was now facing a steady improvement.

Nevertheless, the number of approvals is still well below the recent peak of 75,453 in January last year.

“Housing market weakness has bottomed out, and activity is now gradually turning around,” said Howard Archer, chief UK economist with IHS Global Insight.

Last week the Nationwide reported that annual house price inflation had fallen from 5.7% in February to 5.1% in March.

United Health to acquire Catamaran for $12.8b HEALTH insurer UnitedHealth

•OLX Country Manager, Nigeria, Mrs Lola Masha receiving an award from Public Relations Manager Startimes, Israel Bolaji, at an event at the National Art Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. With them is Mrs Jibe Ologeh.

Stock futures higher as crude oil weakens

U

NITED States stock index futures have risen, pointing to a second straight daily gain as a trio of M&A deals lifted sentiment after a recent bout of weakness.

Despite that, energy shares could come under pressure as crude oil fell sharply, due to a possible deal with Iran that could bring an end to sanctions and allow an increase in the country’s oil exports. Crude oil fell 1.8 percent to $47.94 per barrel.

Separately, an increase in the U.S. dollar could weigh on multinationals.

Both the dollar and commodity prices have given investors reason to be cautious of late, especially going into the first-quarter earn-

ings season, where traders will look to see how much oil prices and the strong U.S. dollar will impact corporate bottom lines. Last week, the S&P 500 fell 2.2 percent, the Dow lost 2.3 percent and the Nasdaq declined 2.7 percent.

In deal news, OptumRx Corp, a unit of UnitedHealth Group, agreed to buy pharmacy benefit manager Catamaran Corp in a deal worth $12.78 billion.

Shares of UnitedHealth, a Dow component, rose 2.7 percent to $121.60 before the bell while U.S. shares of Catamaran added 26 percent to $60.75.

Ireland’s Horizon Pharma Plc said it would acquire Hyperion Therapeutics Inc in an all-cash deal worth about $1.1 billion, while Fujifilm Holdings Corp agreed to

acquire U.S. biotechnology firm Cellular Dynamics International Inc for $307 million.

Hyperion rose 5.6 percent to $45.13 in light premarket trading while Cellular more than doubled in premarket and was among the most active Nasdaq stocks.

The deals follow reports last week of Intel Corp being in talks to buy Altera Corp in a deal that could top $10 billion.

Trading could be quiet this week as investors look ahead to earnings season, which will start in earnest in mid-April, as well as to the March payroll report, which will be released on Friday, when stock markets are closed for the Good Friday holiday, leaving investors unable to trade on the data until the following week.

Miliband: EU poll dangerous to jobs, business

D

AVID Cameron’s pledge to hold a referendum on Britain’s European Unon (EU) membership is “a clear and present danger” to jobs and business, Ed Miliband has warned.

He made the claim as he outlined his party’s business manifesto, which includes a promise to “return Britain to a leadership role” in Brussels.

The Conservatives want to renegotiate Britain’s membership of the EU and will hold a referendum by the end of 2017.

The Lib Dems will hold a poll if more powers are transferred to Brussels.

The Labour leader used the first official day of election campaigning to unveil his party’s Better Plan for Business during a speech at Bloomberg’s European headquarters in London.

To reinforce Labour’s business message, the party has also taken a full-page advertisement in the

Financial Times, setting out its determination to “put the interests of Britain and British business first rather than risk an EU exit”.

Protesters wearing Alex Salmond masks outside Bloomberg where Ed Miliband gave his speech But a spokesman for Siemens said Labour had “over-stepped the mark” by quoting its Chief Executive, Juergen Maier, in the advert.

In it, Maier says: “The prospect of a referendum that may or may not happen, at a date yet to be decided upon, with a choice between two unknown options, is profoundly worrying for business leaders.”

Labour has quoted some pro-EU company leaders in the full page advert the party has taken out in the FT today.

“We would be devastated - as a company that loves London and wants to be in London - if Britain were out of Europe,” is the view of Andrew Mackenzie, chief executive

of the mining giant, BHP Billiton.

My Labour sources were being very careful to explain last night that the business leaders quoted in the advert were not endorsing Labour.

They were simply being quoted to show the strength of feeling about Europe.

What is interesting is that Labour has chosen the first day of the election campaign to focus on an area - business - some see as a weakness for the party.

While the quote is not disputed, a spokeswoman said the firm would be contacting Labour to express its displeasure. “We did not give them permission [to use the quote]. We did not know about this. We are an apolitical organisation,” she said.

Asked about Siemens quotes, Mr Miliband said: “We’ve simply quoted public statements by these businesses about the place of Britain in the European Union.

Group unit OptumRx Corp agreed to buy pharmacy benefit manager Catamaran Corp in a deal worth about $12.8 billion.

Catamaran, formed from the merger of SXC Health Solutions and PBM Catalyst Health Solutions in 2012, helps the administrators of group healthcare plans reduce their prescription drug costs.

UnitedHealth’s offer of $61.50 per share represents a premium of 27 percent to Catamaran’s Friday close on the Nasdaq.

Catamaran’s stock was trading

at $60.50 premarket on Monday, while UnitedHealth’s was up nearly 3 percent.

After the deal, UnitedHealth expects to fill more than one billion prescriptions, the companies said.

The deal value is based on Illinois-based Catamaran’s total outstanding diluted shares as of Dec. 31.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2015 and add about 30 cents per share to UnitedHealth’s profit in 2016, the companies said.

Samsung kicks off Galaxy S6 campaign

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AMSUNG Electronics West Africa has announced that the Future is Now with its latest exciting collection of smartphones, Galaxy S6 edge and S6 duos which will be available for pre-order in Nigeria.

The devices will be available in 32GB and 64GB for the S6 edge and 32GB for the S6 duos.

Its Director of Information Technology and Mobile, Emmanouil Revmatas, said the Galaxy S6 edge and S6 duos represent new standards in design and performance, offering consumers an unmatched mobile experience.

“Samsung is in the business of making life easier, simpler and more productive, delivering smart innovations that will transform the way people work and play. These devices are as a result of relentless innovation aimed at providing our customers with the best in technology,” said Revmatas.

The S6 series was first unveiled on March 1 at the Samsung Unpacked event held at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona, Spain. The phones are a combination of beauty and power comparable to a piece of fine jewelry. The Galaxy S6 duos is the dual sim version of the S6.

Made out of a fusion of corning gorilla glass 4 and high tensile metal, the S6 edge features the world’s first dual curved glass display with an exquisite glass and metal finish giving it a refined look and feel. The device has a super fast charging feature that allows the device run for four hours on just ten minutes of charging, and charges to full battery in about 85 minutes for the

Galaxy S6 edge and just 80 minutes for the Galaxy S6 duos. The Galaxy S6 series also comes with a state-of-the-art wireless charging technology that has evolved to make charging easier; simply place the phone on a wireless charger and charging starts.

The devices run Android 5.0 Lollipop with 5.1-inch high-resolution displays. The 2,560 x 1,440 resolution allows the phone to show a high-resolution image in incredible detail. Consumers can buy the Galaxy S6 edge in two storage options of 32GB and 64GB. The Galaxy S6 edge has a 16megapixel camera with Optical Image Stabilisation, OIS, which enables users take better photos in low light. While the superfast-launching easy-to-use camera allows users instantly capture every precious moment, the tracking auto focus technology keeps every moving object in sharp/clear focus. Selfie lovers can rejoice in the boosted five-megapixel front camera with 90 degree wide angle.

In addition, the camera can capture 360 degrees angle around an object and takes photos in less than 0.7 seconds through the new double-tap home button shortcut.

The OIS feature lets the lens move inside to correct blurry effects that result from movements of the hands while taking a picture. It also automatically adjusts the white balance.

Like a jewel, the dynamic reflective surface produces profound colors at different light angles. Both devices will be available for order in White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum at the beginning and Emerald Green later on for Galaxy S6 edge and Blue Topaz for the Galaxy S6 duos.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 2015

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BUSINESS AFRICA Etisalat appoints Dikko, South African, labour fail to Ogujiofor as Vice Presidents reach agreement on pay E S OUTH Africa’s public service unions and the government failed to reach agreement in pay talks, increasing the risk of a strike.

“Our analysis is very simple: The government want a strike so they can unilaterally implement the offer that is on the table and that won’t be accepted,” Mugwena Maluleke,

general secretary for the South African Democratic Teachers Union, said by phone from Johannesburg.

“An amicable solution is the best for everyone, including the people of South Africa who make use of public services. A strike must be the last resort,” he said.

Labor unions representing 1.3 million public-service employees

are demanding a 10 percent pay increase this year, while the government has offered half that, setting the stage for possible strikes. The inflation rate was 3.9 per cent last month.

Brent Simons, a spokesman for the Department of Public Service and Administration, wasn’t available for comment.

TISALAT Nigeria has appointed Ibrahim Dikko as Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, and Ken Ogujiofor as Vice President Consumer Sales and Service.

Dikko was the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs, responsible for regulation, community and environmental issues.

In his new role, he will be leading the Corporate and Regulatory Affairs teams to achieve the company’s strategic plan of forging and maintaining valuable partnerships among all its stakeholders.

Ogujiofor was the Director, Channel Sales where he was responsible for identifying Channel Partners across Corporate, Distribution and Alternate channels for sales of Etisalat’s products and services.

As Vice President Consumer

Sales and Service, he will play a major role in synergising the mix between direct and indirect sales as well as ensuring quality services across all Etisalat’s touch points.

Its Chief Executive Officer Matthew Willsher, explained: “These appointments are necessary to reflect level and scope of responsibility of the two executives and also to sharpen the organisation’s focus on the customer, drive operational efficiency, and improved results through better alignment of functions with similar priorities.

“At Etisalat, we are committed to empowering individuals and our communities to empower the nation; therefore we look forward to the benefits of the transforming leadership that will follow these new appointments.”

Sameer Africa seeks new markets AMEER Africa Ltd. plans to in Kenya enter Rwanda in the next two

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• Initiator, Project Smile, Dr. Amy Traore-Shumbusho (left), giving her keynote speech during the Project Smile 3.0 media launch in Lagos. With her are: Project Technical Director, Dr. Dada Ayodeji and Project Consultant, Olusayo Odunsi.

Isreali property firm posts big Q4 loss

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SRAELI real estate developer Africa Israel Investments posted a huge loss in the fourth quarter due to a revaluation of real estate projects at its Russian unit, AFI Development.

The company said it had a net loss of 851 million shekels ($214 million) in the quarter, compared with a profit of three million a year earlier. The loss from a revaluation of investment prop-

erty at AFI Development, a Russian real estate developer, totalled $220 million in the quarter.

Revenue in the quarter slipped to 1.37 billion shekels from 1.64 billion a year earlier.

“The challenging situation in Russia ... negatively impacted the value of real estate assets of subsidiary AFI Development,” Chief Executive Avraham Novogrocki

said. “The geopolitical situation is the main reason for this year’s loss.”

One of AFI Development’s key assets is the Afimall City shopping centre in Moscow.

In December Africa Israel, controlled by billionaire diamond dealer Lev Leviev, said the crisis in Russia and the sharp depreciation in the rouble would likely hurt its business in Russia.

South Africa’s rand extends losses against dollar

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OUTH Africa’s rand extended losses against the dollar after a statement by United States Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signalled that the bank was on course to raise interest rates later this year, stoking greenback buying.

The rand had softened 0.28 percent to a week-low of 12.0690 per dollar, remaining above the crucial technical level that is likely

O

IL prices should stabilise in the second half of this year and rise in 2016 and 2017 as consumers respond to a period of much cheaper fuel, a Reuters poll of analysts has shown.

The survey of 34 analysts predicted North Sea Brent crude LCOc1 would average $59.20 a barrel in 2015, up from around $55 so far this year. The forecast is up just 20 cents from the projection in last month’s Reuters survey.

Brent is expected to rise to $72.10 in 2016 and $78.70 in 2017, the poll showed.

Oil prices fell more than 60 percent between June last year and January, and although they have recovered a little since then, they are still around half their level a year ago.

This has encouraged motorists to

to see the unit weaken further towards 2002 lows of 12.6500.

The rand flirted with three-week highs in the previous week before capitulating to a firming dollar, as inflation pressures increased with local petrol prices set to rise 14 percent.

A wage dispute between South African public sector unions, demanding a 10 percent wage hike, against an offer of 5.8 percent, is

also likely to pressure the unit.

“The fact that the government hasn’t made any tangible progress on this matter remains a concerning overarching factor for the rand,” said economists at ETM Analytics in market note.

Government bonds were also weaker, with the benchmark issue due in 2026, adding five basis points to a week-high of 7.88 per cent.

Reuters: Oil prices to stabilise make more use of their cars and let factories and other businesses boost fuel consumption.

London-based consultancy Energy Aspects expects world oil demand to rise by up to 1.5 million barrels per day this year. That’s double the rate of oil demand growth seen last year, according to the International Energy Agency.

“Strength is broad-based,” Energy Aspects analyst Virendra Chauhan told Reuters Global Oil Forum. “Onroad diesel demand has continued at a stellar pace.”

Intesa Sanpaolo analyst Daniela Corsini agreed, saying the rise in consumption appeared to be worldwide.

“Global oil demand will surprise

upwards, driven by the United States, China and emerging Asia,” Corsini said.

Increasing demand should help absorb any extra oil coming onto the market from Iran, if it can agree a nuclear deal with the West that would bring an end to sanctions.

And some analysts see demand outstripping supply.

“The global market is expected to move into supply deficit in the second half (this year), with that deficit reaching 1 million bpd in the fourth quarter,” Standard Chartered analyst Paul Horsnell said.

Standard Chartered, one of the most bullish banks, expects Brent to average $76.00 in 2015.

years and is exploring the possibility of setting up a subsidiary in Nigeria as the Kenyan tiremaker offsets widening competition in its domestic market.

Sameer wants to add to the 11 countries elsewhere in Africa where it sells products, Chief Executive Officer Allan Walmsley said in an interview Friday at company headquarters in the capital, Nairobi.

“We are taking a very big interest in Rwanda despite the market being small,” Walmsley said Friday. “What we are seeing is good governance, and we are seeing the GDP growth of the country being sustainable.” Executives recently visited Nigeria to evaluate the “massive market” and its “very many challenges.”

Sameer had a net loss in 2014 of 66.9 million shillings ($726,000) compared with year-earlier profit of 401.2 million shillings, as revenue dropped 13 per cent to 936.5 million shillings, the company has said. Earnings were hurt by “everincreasing competition from subsidised tires imported from the East” as well as by civil or political unrest or currency shortages in some export markets, it said.

The shares declined nine percent to 5.65 shillings, the biggest twoday decline since August 8. The

company is valued at 1.57 billion shillings.

The manufacturer is among Kenyan companies asking the government to impose a countervailing duty on products imported from China, though a tariff may be difficult to implement because of East Africa Community trade-bloc rules requiring coordinated policies with neighboring countries, Walmsley said.

“Unfair competition” has caused Sameer Africa’s market share in Kenya to shrink to 16 percent from 54 percent, he said.

China overtook India to become Kenya’s top source of imported goods at 14.8 percent of the total value in the first nine months of 2014, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

The tiremaker said in July that it’s in negotiations to sell a stake in its manufacturing unit to an unidentified Asian investor.

“Talks are ongoing,” and included a meeting in Dubai a week ago, though there’s no timeframe for a deal, Walmsley said. “We are not looking for a technical partner alone but one who also will contribute equity” to a possible 50-50 partnership, he said.

Expert seeks more attention to security

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SECURITY expert Thomas Fakile has urged players in both the public and private sectors to pay more attention to security matters in their organisations.

He spoke at the just concluded security exhibition titled: SECUREX West Africa organised by Montgomery West Africa at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Fakile, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dartwood, said many business executives do not see security issues as vital to the survival of their businesses. He cited banks and some organisations were installations of security gadgets are improperly done or fake materials are deployed to save costs. He said even where business executives spend millions of Naira on putting projects in place, the security technology utilisation is between 15 per cent and 20 per cent.

He warned that as long as firms treat security issues with kid gloves so long would their organisations be under threat. He traced the problems in the subsector to quacks.

On the ongoing elections, he canvassed the use of drones. “Let’s have drones in polling booths. They are

By Joseph Eshanokpe

cheap. Ten drones are enough. But wherever they are should not be disclosed to people,’’ he said. Praising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Fakile said: “When people know that when they commit crime they will be caught, they will be careful.

General Manager Hallogen Security Mrs Gbemisola Adejumo, who praised the exhibition, emphasised its importance. She, however, said only one third of those who originally shown interest, actually came. She hoped that next year, more participants would attend.

Managing Director Montgomery West Africa Tori Abiola, said her firm held the event to sensitise the public on the evils of insecurity to business and display the latest materials and skills in the subsector.

She was sure visitors to the exhibition gained tremendously from it, despite the reduction in attendance as result of the postponement of the Presidential election from February 14 to March 28. She promisied that a better event awaits participants next year.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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SHOWBIZ

Mariah Carey and Brett Ratner fuel romance rumours in the Caribbean

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VER since Grammy-winning singer, Mariah Carey, called it quits with former lover, Nick Cannon last year, she has been seen too frequently with film director, Brett Ratner, fuelling rumour that both artistes might be having a romantic affair.

Although Carey and Ratner had denied this report, recent events have again heightened the speculation, as the two were spotted strolling arm in arm, in the Caribbean.

Not just that, both celebrities had a joint birthday bash in St. Barts, as Carey turned 45 on Friday, and Ratner, 46 on Saturday. The lavish soiree reportedly took place on a yacht, Sunday night.

Earlier in the month, Carey posted

a shot of her and the filmmaker “hanging out in the girls room” together. A few weeks later, they were seen having dinner along with Courtney Love.

It will be recalled that Brett and Mariah do have a long history of working together professionally, since directing the singer’s I Still Believe music video, in 1998. Ratner had directed seven more videos for the singer ever since.

One of the people who have shot down popped up romance rumours, was a rep of Carey’s who described reports of a romantic relationship between the pair as “ridiculous.”

However, the cuddly pictures that followed the denial seem to be telling a different story.

In a picture posted by TMZ, Ratner and Carey were spotted quite close, sitting on a cushion with Brett’s arm around Carey’s and two glasses of champagne nearby. And as though to divert the mind of rumour mongers, hours later, the website posted shots of Ratner kissing a girl who was not Carey.

Carey broke up with Cannon last summer, after the Americas Got Talent host, filed for divorce in December 2014. Their twins, Moroccan and Monroe, will turn 4 next month.

Cannon on the other hand is reportedly dating a model, Jessica White. The two lovers also, are perceived to be keeping their relationship from the public.

• Mariah Carey and Brett Ratner

Nigerian Idol: performance puts judges to sleep

• Nigerian Idol Top 30, Group 1 Contestants with Show Host, Ill rhymz

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humorous incident occurred over the weekend when two of the celebrity judges on the Nigerian Idol Season 5 TV re-

By Ovwe Medeme

ality show took a sarcastic nap while one of the contestants, Iheanacho Nancy, who goes by the stage name Nana, was

performing.

Afrobeat maestro, Dede Mabiaku and R ‘n’ B crooner, Darey ‘Art’ Alade could not face the disappointing perfor-

Afrocandy’s politics of hate

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M

• Afrocandy

The post drew the ire of majority of her contacts which prompted her to issue another post; “Some N..gas wanna kill themselves on my page o, all because of the election cursing and backing (sic) when I don’t even give a rat … about them... In fact I’ve blocked and banned all day so tey Facebook stopped displaying peoples profiles when I click on their names cos they know am gonna click block.”

Visa for Music calls for entries

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USICIANS, DJs, VJs, documentary filmmakers and music and video directors can apply for the second edition of Visa For Music (VFM) which holds in Rabat, Morocco from 11 to 14 November, 2015.

Interested candidates who want to participate can get more information on www.visaformusic.com. Entries are however, due by 15th of April.

Twenty four artistes will have the opportunity to perform in front of professionals in the event which brings

up.

“You sang like you were singing to yourself. You have a lot to offer, not this. Even your auditions were better than this,” Yinka Davies jibes at her.

Speaking shortly after the show, Nana, who prides herself by her husky voice, blamed her poor delivery of the song on the difficulty in combining the mastering of the lyrics and delivery on stage, a task she claimed was made more difficult by her lack of previous knowledge of the song.

Meanwhile, eight other contestants also performed

in the first batch of the group stage phase. These include, Ogunmoyero Modolowamu (Dolu), Iwuchukwu Franca (Franchesca), Oyinkepreye Deborah Toun (Preye), Edema Paradise Weyinmi (Paradise), Okukusie Precious Ajiri (Play P), Ekeoma Victor Chibuzor (Prime), Efuetanu Tobore Ezekiel (Tobore) and Orah Ojochenemi John (Blue C).

The fifth season of the Nigerian Idol competition currently airs on both terrestrial and satellite stations and, according to the producers, it continues in the weekend of April 4 and 5, across the country.

PDP celebs go quiet on social media

By Ovwe Medeme

ANY know her as the Nigerian queen of porn, but Judith Mazagwu, aka Afrocandy, has a lot more going for her. The divorcee, mother of two, made headlines when she released what has been described as the first ever Nigerian X-rated movie.

Known for taking controversial stand on issues, it didn’t come as a surprise when she took to her Facebook page on Monday, spewing hate messages to supporters of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Among other things, the actress cum singer issued a diatribe on those who are in support of the candidacy of APC’s General Muhammadu Buhari when they are not of northern extraction. “I pity all these people chanting ‘Sai Buhari’ when your name is not ‘Malam Dauda’. It is clear this is a tribal election and Hausa people stood by their own.

They came out in mass (sic) with their underage voters, even their cows, goats, sheep and ram, voted too while you sold your soul and the souls of your generation for peanuts. When the chips are down, that’s when Buhari unfolds what he has in his agenda. It may not be today but he will surely do. He won’t recognize your name unless it sounds like ‘ABOKI’,” she posted on her wall.

mance by the contestant, and to express this, they decided to lay down their heads on the table in a mock expression of sleep.

After some bland showing earlier by some of the contestants who made the first batch of ten from the pool of 30 contestants, the judges had expected Nana to put up a reassuring performance in keeping with her potentials and past experiences on the show, having featured consecutively in the past three editions. But as it turned, the 23-year-old, who performed the song Bin, Bing, Bang by Katy Tiz, failed to measure

By Joe Agbro Jr.

together African and MiddleEastern Music. Also, a series of cultural events are planned to cast spotlight on established and emerging artistse.

The first VFM which held in November 2014 was a success. According to the organisers, the event attracted more than 1000 professionals around the world to Rabat, Morocco. And artistes came from Lebanon, Colombia, Egypt, Benin, Mali, Cape Verde, including the host country, Morocco. Highlights

of the event included 950 speed meetings, four tributes, five film showings, six conferences and six trainings.

VFM is the first professional platform for African and Middle-Eastern music. VFM aims to foster the development of a music market in the region, increasing the visibility of the cultural and artistic sector. The salon gathers professionals of the music industry: Artistes, professional organisations, agents, record companies, cultural institutions and foundations and the media.

By Joe Agbro Jr. BENGA ADEYINKA: WE HAVE SHOWN that we can change a gloating in victory, I would government like to appreciate all those Kunle Afolayan: Now Federal who stayed the course deand Lagos, commercial hub of spite abuses, dollarised Nigeria can synch for the first tempatation and all. Once time again, Mahatma Gandhi is There was an unusual right as he said so many ‘quiet’ on the social media, years ago that “First they as the result of the presiden- ignore you, then they laugh tial elections were being col- at you, then they fight you, lated yesterday, in Abuja. then you win.” This victory The tide, was against sup- however, is not for a party porters of President but for the whole of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan, and ce- - For all those who believed lebrities who are known to and even those who did not. flaunt the president in what This is a time for rebuilding they had thought would be of our great nation and not a smooth victory, immedi- to gloat. Our Nation needs ately stopped their hate cam- help. We have done our part paigns, abuses and mockery by voting. We have shown of the candidate of the All that we can change a governPeoples Congress (APC), ment. In my book this is a G e n e r a l Muhammadu Buhari.

“Lancelot, Yomi Fabiyi, Segun Arinze, Akanni Ola Balogun, and co, what have you got to say,” asked Pompollo, a member of naijahottestgist, apparently concerned about the sudden ‘quietness’ of the men on the social media group.

One of the few people who broke the silence was comedian and MC, Gbenga Adeyinka, • Afolayan who said: “While not

revolution and the APC government must not let us down. Once more, congratulations to all Nigerians.

Gbenga Adeyinka.”

In the same vein, awardwinning filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, sent a broadcast message, hailing the outcome of the presidential election.

“This is what my Yoruba people call Omi tan leyin eja.Translate yourself if you can. My utmost joy is that, now the Federal and Lagos which is the commercial hub of Nigeria can synch for the first time. My wish, exchange rate should revert to $1 to N1. Am dreaming abi?” he teased, adding, “One love and all the best to all Nigerians.”

• G b e n g a Adeyinka

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

The All Progressives Congress (APC) went into last Saturday’s National Assembly elections with no senator in the Upper Legislative Chamber. It had three members in the House of Representatives. But, the table has turned. Correspondent BISI OLADELE examines how the party last weekend won the three seats in the Senate and 12 in the House of Representatives. helped a great deal.

In addition, Ajimobi’s performance had increased the fortune of the APC in Ibadan generally. The governor also embarked on a tour of the 33 local governments towards the end of last year to explain his policies to the grassroots people and mobilise support for his administration. The tiring exercise paid off eventually, as the votes from the five councils in Ibadan helped Sunmonu to emerge as the new senator. This combines with her gender appeal. The result: APC 105, 378 votes, Accord 84, 675, PDP 44, 045, Labour 27, 490 and SDP 7, 362

Oyo South

•Ajimobi

•Lanlehin

•Adesiyan

How Ajimobi led APC to victory in Oyo T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has cause to celebrate. It has resolved the crisis that engulfed it within one year to emerge winner in all categories in last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

When the party won the governorship election in 2011, it also produced two senators and five members of the House of Representatives, as well as 13 members of the state House of Assembly.

But, just after one year in the saddle, the coalition that produced the victory began to crack due to the ambition of some of its leaders, who questioned Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s style of leadership.

The power blocs were unwilling to shift ground. The governor equally stuck to his gun, saying that his leadership style is in the best interest of the state. The party tried to manage the crisis internally for one year. But, the bubble burst last year, when two senators —- Ayo Adeseun (Oyo Central) and Femi Lanlehin (Oyo South) — defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord respectively.

Two members of the House of Representatives —Hon. Kola Olabiyi (Iseyin/Itesiwaju/ Iwajowa/Kajola Constituency) and Kamil Akinlabi (Oyo Constituency) decamped to Labour Party (LP) to team up with former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala who is currently the governorship candidate of the LP in the April 11 election.

Aside opposition to Ajimobi’s style and vision, the aggrieved party chieftains criticised his urban renewal policy and noted that their political future was unsafe in an Ajimobi-led APC. Observers, politicians and others saw their departure as the APC’s death knell. This is bacause they were believed to have gone with their supporters and that the development may deplete the membership and support for the APC. This raised fears among political observers as the general elections approached.

Having lost such number of leaders to other parties, it was widely believed that the state would fall from the hands of the APC. Fear also gripped APC leaders in other states, particularly within the Southwest region. They expressed serious concern about the future of the party in Oyo State. But, Ajimobi remained resolute and focused on the job on his hands.

As the 2015 general elections approached,

Oyo North

•Voters on the queue in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

opposition parties and their candidates prepared for the polls with uncommon confidence, believing that the APC would suffer defeat at the polls.

But, when the results of Saturday’s National Assembly elections started to trickle in, it became clear that the people of Oyo State appreciated what their governor has been doing. In a massive electoral victory, the APC did not just win the seats they initially had in 2011, its candidates trounced all those who defected from the party and even won additional seats at both chambers of the National

‘

The moment Adeseun decamped to the PDP last year, the seat became the agenda of Oyo Zone, which has not produced its occupant in the last 16 years

’

The incumbent senator, Femi Lanlehin, was also defeated by Hon. Soji Akanbi, who hails from the same ward with the former in Ibadan North West Local Government.

Except in 2007, when the PDP was believed to have rigged elections across Southwest, this district has always been represented by progressives.

The incumbent also won the seat on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 before he decamped to the Accord Party. That was probably why the APC picked Akanbi, a traditionally progressive politician of no mean strength, to contend with his brother. Ibadan South West Local Government factor also played a part in the victory. Ibadan South West is the most populated local government in the state and this is the local council where Governor Ajimobi hails from.

With Ajimobi’s performance, particularly in Ibadan, the population strength of Ibadan South West, the granting autonomy to a satellite campus of the state’s college of education in Lanlate, as well as granting the Eruwa satellite campus of the Polytechnic, Ibadan full autonomy, among others, it was easy for the APC candidates to coast to victory in the entire district. Lanlehin defeated Akanbi only in Ibadan North East where the Accord Party has been holding sway since 2011.

Most people were also not impressed with the decision of Lanlehin to defect to Accord and his attempts to rubbish what Governor Ajimobi has been doing. Many observers believe that he should have waited for Ajimobi to complete his two terms before expressing interest in the governorship race in the state.

In some quarters, his actions were viewed as betrayal and a display of discontentment, having defected then from the PDP to the defunct ACN to contest for the governorship ticket and eventually landed at the Senate.

These factors, among others worked in favour of the APC candidate.

The result: APC 147,583, Accord 93,256, PDP 47,152, LP 28,993 and SDP 11,54

Assembly.

Besides, the APC returned the remaining three members of the House of Representatives with all its candidates defeating their rivals comfortably.

Oyo Central The following are the factors that worked in the candidates’ favour in Oyo Central. The incumbent senator representing the district, Ayo Adeseun, hails from Ogbomoso. Two councils in the town -- Surulere and OgoOluwa -- belong to the district. The remaining nine are in Oyo and Ibadan.

The moment Adeseun decamped to the PDP last year, the seat became the agenda of Oyo Zone, which has not produced its occupant in the last 16 years. Realising the interest of the town, the APC quickly zoned the seat to the ancient town, which has four local governments. Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, who is currently the Speaker of the House of Assembly, hails from Oyo. She picked the ticket during a keenly contested primary.

With the APC already doing very well in two out of the five councils in Ibadan and its growing fortunes in Egbeda and Ona-Ara, Sunmonu’s chances were considered bright.

The party’s soaring strength in Oluyole also

This district presented perhaps the most shocking result in the election. The new senator, Hon. Fatai Buhari, hails from Ogbomoso South, one of the three councils in Ogbomoso that was merged with the 10 councils in OkeOgun area to make up the district.

In spite of the fact that the serving senator, Hosea Agboola, hails from Oke-Ogun and that the LP candidate, Hon. Tajudeen Kareem, who is also from the zone, is a serving member of the House of Representatives, Buhari successfully built on the various developmental projects of the Ajimobi administration in Oke-Ogun to corner the votes from the zone.

The developmental project of the Ajimobi administration in the zone include: the dualization of Iseyin Road, the granting autonomy to the Saki campus of the Polytechnic, Ibadan and the offering of several appointments to politicians from the zone, as well as the recruitment of 2,000 primary school teachers from among the people. This helped to catapulte the party to victory in nine of out of the 10 local governments in the zone.

With this impressive result, the governor has ended up as the highest contributor to the success of the APC from Southwest. Consequently, with victory in the kitty, it is convincing to believe that Ajimobi is leading the APC to final victory on April 11, 2015.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 2015

...59 D AYS TO GO DA

I foresee that the election will come and go like ‘every other normal day without any violence, but we must not leave anything to chance ’

Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship running mate Dr Idiat Experts advocate Adebule was unhappy with the ineptitude of some Independent National violence-free transition Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc staff at her polling unit at Iba Local Council

By Nneka Nwaneri XPERTS have called on all the Development Area (LCDA). She spoke with reporters after voting about some of stakeholders to work towards a peacethe lapses that threatened the exercise. TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO was there ful transition, saying there is life after

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Adebule: How we averted card reader crisis

H

OW would you assess the electoral process so far?

First, I will say it is too early for us to do an evaluation of the whole process, but the little that we have seen, the ad hoc staff of the Independent National electoral commission (INEC) came a bit late. To my amazement, people came out as early as 7am; they lined up peacefully, waiting for them and the INEC officials did not get to our polling unit until around 10:30am. It took them a while to settle down and commence the accreditation process. But, unfortunately, one of the card reader machines in my centre did not work and we had large number of voters. We had about three voting points at Ward 29, Iba and one of the card reader machines was faulty.

The INEC official took it away to change it, but she could not do that and so she came back and she was like people would have to come back tomorrow (Sunday) and at that point, I had to step in to say that one of the remaining card reader machines should be used for others. People that their names start from alphabet A to D were assigned to that particular INEC staff and my advice worked.

That was how we were able to resolve the problem until about 4:30 to 5pm when I left the centre, everything was going on smoothly.

People were already on the line voting.

Do you subscribe to the idea that more still need to be done to address problems associated with card readers?

Sincerely, a lot still need to be done. Except we want to kid ourselves, we must continue to fine-tune the process. People left their houses very early in the morning to come and vote. There should be some level of assurances that they will be attended to promptly.

I mean, people should be rest assured that when they get there, they would be accredited within a reasonable period of time, so that they can return home. This is particularly because they are expected to return to the polling centre to vote later. For now, you discover that most people could not even go back home after their accreditation; they had to wait to vote because the time for the accreditation was more than the normal time allotted for accreditation. So, a lot still needs to be done on the issue of card reader usage.

My advice for INEC is that they should go back to the drawing board; review all the challenges that people are facing now and find ways to address them. For instance, I don’t

expect them to make it a four-year affair. Immediately after this election, by the grace of God, they should urgently address all the issues and I pray that the election will be peaceful all over the country. So, what I’m saying in essence is that they should really go back and see why the card reader machines are not working in some areas and working in other areas. If there is any particular component of it that they should remove or review or replace, they should do it and off course, they should do a trial test all the time to see that those things are working. And, off course, those who are yet to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), they should find a way to ensure that as many as possible people get their PVCs. They should not just go and lock the PVCs somewhere; they should open their offices and let people come at their convenience to get their PVCs. At least, there are people who are being paid for this job, so they should just deliver by being in their offices and be doing this job. This way, all the headache we normally have when election is coming will at least reduce to the barest minimum.

Again, the issue of ad hoc staff must be seriously looked into. I really want to beg INEC to please, let the presiding officers be people who have been thoroughly trained. The presiding officers in each of the polling units should not be ad hoc staff. They should be people who have been seriously trained. Off course, this afternoon, we realised that the reason why some of the card reader machines are not working is basically because some of the ad hoc staff were not properly trained to handle the device. In some areas, persons from another polling units had to come to help out and the thing worked. So, for me, I think these are the things INEC should pay attention to.

Still on the ad hoc staff, what are your takes on their attitude to work?

Well, sincerely where I did my own voting, I must tell you that those guys there were not committed. Their disposition to people; their level of tolerance is equally not encouraging.

The level of knowledge of some of them, I’m sorry to say, is nothing to write home about.

They cannot comprehend the responsibilities they are being given to them. At every step, we have to be guiding them; we have to be telling them ‘do it this way, do it this way.’

At a particular point, they were telling us that certain number of people can’t do this and

•Dr. Adebule

all that. For instance, we were already on the queue and they said all the electorates on ‘Alist’ should move, all B-list should move and I had to tell them that what they are doing is capable of disrupting the exercise and that it will take us another one hour to settle. Therefore, I had to suggest to them to write say A to D on their table and people whose name start from A to D will just walk up to the table and others will look for their own appropriate table. So, I think generally, the NYSC people need proper training. We can’t continue to use ad hoc; I’m looking at a process where we will improve more than what we have now. I cannot say precisely as I’m speaking with you which direction INEC should take. But, I know this process must be reviewed; we must re-evaluate the process we are using now. We must improve on it; we must get it to a standard that is acceptable worldwide.

Despite all these challenges, do you still have confidence in the ability of INEC to deliver free, fair and credible poll?

Look, Rome, they say, was not built in a day. First, we must have that confidence in them. If we don’t, that is a bad start. We must have that confidence in them because, really, do we have an option? There must be an umpire when you are conducting an election and in our instance, we have said INEC is the umpire that will conduct elections in our country. So, first we must have faith in them, but we must not stop identifying those areas that they need to improve upon; talk about it and challenge them to improve on it.

Ex-minister warns against acts capable of scuttling democracy

•Gbadamosi

F

ORMER Minister for National Planning, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, has warned politicians not to engage in any act capable of scuttling democracy in the country.

The ex-minister who was part of General Abdulsalami Abubakar’s administration that

By Raymond Mordi returned the country to civil rule in 1999 appealed to all the stakeholders involved in the conduct of election to join hands together to make a success of the exercise .

Gbadamosi who spoke in Lagos recently urged politicians across the political divides not to see the various elections as a do –ordie affair. He also he enjoined them to shun violence or any action capable of endangering the current democratic experiment.

He said: “Sixteen years after return to civil rule, we have come a long way and so we should see the 2015 general elections as an opportunity to deepen democracy in Nigeria.

This is why I’m appealing to all the political parties and their leaders to give peace a chance.

We should avoid politics of hatred and bitterness. I was a member of the military government that returned the nation back to demo-

cratic rule in 1999 and therefore I’m interested in having our democracy being nurtured to greater heights.

“In any election, there is bound to be winners and losers. If you are aggrieved or feel cheated, don’t resort to violence. Refrain from making inflammatory remarks and don’t incite people to violence. The appropriate channel to seek redresss is through the courts. The judiciary is there to listen to your grievances. Never take law into your own hands.”

Gbadamosi noted that the whole world is watching Nigeria and that the country cannot afford to fail this time. His words: “We have a lot at stake in this election. The whole world is watching us, we can’t afford to fail.

This is why we must all ensure that the election succeeds. It will be sad if we can’t conduct an election without rancour and violence 55 years after independence.”

the current contest for elective positions and Nigerians should move on, irrespective of the outcome of the general elections.

This was the consensus of security experts at a series of seminars on national security awareness and prevention of political violence held in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja in the eve of the March 28 presidential elections. The seminar, which was organised by the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), in collaboration with Real Strikers Security Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, took place place under the theme, “There is life after election. It is your life, save it for another election”.

A guest speaker at the Lagos seminar and a lecturer of the Sociology Department of the Lagos State University, Dr. Franca Attoh, said it is imperative for the Department of State Security Service to deploy its men to all potential flashpoints for surveillance and information gathering.

Attoh said political violence is usually planned and could be nibbed in the bud, provided that security experts are ready for such incidents. She said: “I foresee that the election will come and go like every other normal day without any violence, but we must not leave anything to chance.”

Government agencies and parastatals that were represented at the seminar include: the Department of State Security Services (DSS), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nation Orientation Agency (NOA).

•Alex

Support group for Alex Otti

A

GROUP of progressive Abia indigenes in Nigeria and Diaspora have floated a support group to ensure victory for the candidature of the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, during the election.

The group converged to lend their voices, experience and financial support to the crusade to restore the glory of Abia through the candidature of Otti. They said the former managing director of Diamond Bank is their preferred candidate because of his proven record of achievement in the private sector.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees, Support Group for Alex Otti 2015, Mr. Uduma Kalu, said the group was put together to ensure proper coordination of the support for Otti’s campaign.

The group is urging all those who are nursing an ambition for a better Abia to contribute effectively towards Otti’s victory.

Kalu said his group is compelled to support Otti because of his accomplishments and his courage to jump into the political arena that frightens the elite class. He said left his cozy job in Diamond Bank to try to restore the state to its rightful position in Nigeria.

Kalu said the use of violence by the opposition party has significantly enhanced the resolve of the Abia people to effect change in the leadership of the state.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

The Midweek Magazine

Y

OU can help save the life of threeyear-old Fatai Owolabi who was born like every other normal baby. The mother gave birth to him without complications but problem began after she was discharged from hospital. The child has to be flown to abroad for special treatment in order to live a normal life.

Fatai was diagnosed of Cerebral Palsy at the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja. He requires about N4.8million for special medical treatment in Indian.

His father, Sulaimon Owolabi told The Nation that Fatai cannot talk, sit or stand.

According to him, Fatai does not eat or take breast milk but sometimes takes some fluid. He said he had gone to many traditional medicine practitioners, spiritualists and churches seeking solution to the problem. He stated that he had spent all the money he had on the boy’s health, yet there is no positive result.

He said he sold his piece of land to raise money to secure adequate treatment for the child.

He lamented: “I cannot even calculate or say exactly how much I have spent on him.

I have been on this matter since his birth and I didn’t know it was a medical issue.

The problem the boy has is from the brain and the doctor said it is called cerebral palsy and that we need to fly him out for special treatment, and that will cost us N4.8million.”

He is, therefore, appealing to the Lagos State Government and other good spirited individuals to rally support for him to raise this sum of money to enable him take his son to overseas for treatment “I started carrying him about for help, some gave us stipend, some did not respond to our request at all. Even the Governor of Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, who saw the boy promised

E-mail:- ozoluauhakheme@yahoo.com

‘Help save my son’

•Fatai

By Ambrose Nnaji

HUMAN that he would help us. He sent someone to us but we are yet to hear from him,’’ he said.

On how the problem started, Owolabi narrated: “The mother gave birth to him a normal delivery and after about five minutes he cried but when we took him home the following day he could neither cry, take water nor breast, his eyes began to go up.

We took him to hospital where he spent

about a month and half and when they discharged him to us we felt that the problem was over, but after three months we expected him to respond, but he couldn’t respond to us”.

“The mother began to get worried but I tried to calm her down urging her to still examine him for some time but after the sixth and seventh months he couldn’t respond even to the call of his name that was when I started looking for solutions The Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Dr. M. A. Salisu, in a telephone call con-

‘I started carrying him up and down for help, some gave us stipend, some did not respond to our request at all. Even the governor of the Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who saw the boy promised that he would help us. He sent someone to us but we are yet to hear from him’ firmed that Fatai was diagnosed of Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy of moderate severity. In addition, the boy suffers from sensory deficits, including visual, hearing and speech impairment.

In a report presented to The Nation, Dr. Salisu said that management of the boy’s condition would be long-term and would involve the use of medications, rehabilitative procedures and expected inter-current illnesses. It is recommended that he attends the paediatric neurology clinic bimonthly.

For donations, an account has been opened with GTBank with the Account Number 0140780425.

Museum as an agent of change, innovation

M

USEUM has been defined differently by scholars. It is a place where heritage materials are kept for display, learning and relaxation and have been seen as a non-profitable institution where people view and enjoy the display of cultural heritage. In 1979, ICOM defines museum as a non-profitable permanent institution in the service of the society and its developments, opened to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits for the purpose of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of man and his environment.

In 2004, as a rejoinder at the Curators’ seminar in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, museum curators countered the non-profitable ICOM definition of museum since museums are now generating funds for their upkeep.

Change refers to outcomes, results, accomplishments or preconditions. It can also be defined as a passing from one phase to another thus making a variety. Innovation on the other hand means, a new way of doing something: incremental, radical and revolutionary, changes in thinking, products, processes or organizations. Innovations are ideas applied successfully: in organizational context; it is linked to performance and growth through improvement in efficiency, productivity, quality, competitive, positioning, market shares. All organizations try to be innovative in their operations: hospitals, universities, governments etc. As individuals, innovation occurs when someone uses an idea or invention to change the world outlook; how people organize and conduct themselves. Innovation is distinct from improvement in that it permeates society and causes reorganization. It is also distinct from problem solving but may cause problems, in this view, it has positive or negative results but it is generally understood as a successful introduction of a new thing or method.

Innovation is therefore an embodiment of combinations, or synthesis of original knowledge, relevant, valued as new products, processes or services which begins with creative ideas. Innovation can fail if it is seen as an organisational process whose success

From Adedokun Adebola Feyikemi

HERITAGE stems from a mechanistic approach because it has an emphasis on control, enforcement and structure, but it is the only partial truth in achieving development and can be used to counter an organization’s orthodoxy.

However, space for fair hearing of innovative ideas is required to balance the potential of auto-immune-exclusion that quells an infant innovative culture.

A newly born child in Africa, Asia, America or Europe is born without knowledge or culture. Education is designed to guide such a child in learning a particular culture, model his/her behavior towards his eventual role in the society. In pre-literate societies with no formal learning system the entire environment the activities served as school while the adults served as teachers.

As societies grow more complex the quality and quantum of knowledge to be passed on from one generation to another hence, the more selective means and efficient means of cultural transmission. The outcome of this is formal education: the school and the specialists called teachers. Overtime, societies grew more complex and schools became institutionalised, experiences gained therefore became far less directly related to daily life: less a matter of showing and learning in the context of the work a day world, abstraction from practices, distilling, telling and learning things out of contexts.

The concentration of learning in formal atmosphere allows the child to learn his/her culture through observation and imitation.

The society attaches more importance to education, in that it also began to formulate the overall objectives, content, organization and strategies for education giving birth to education as a distinguished discipline that is constantly being refined and redefined in various countries to meet national goals and aspirations.

The museum has as part of its roles to the society the duty of transmitting cultural roles from generation to the other; therefore museum education is the transmission of cultural information of a given society from one

•National Museum, Benin City.

generation to another using the platform of museum exhibitions. From museum inceptions, one of the fundamental objectives of the museum is to educate by using its collections and exhibits. Therefore, it follows that museum education is an in-depth transfer of pertinent “cult” information using museum exhibits, this process should not be evaluated in terms of what is imparted, but also on how it received and further transferred.

Therefore, the aim of the museum education to foster contact between people (children or adults) and its exhibits, not to teach the facts alone but to sow a seed of interest and a spark of inspiration.

Purposes of museum education are many, among which are: promotion of public awareness, developing the creative capabilities of the visitors, interpreting museum collections to all categories of people; promoting the museum institution as a centre of public learning. Museum’s educational role therefore is to liaise with formal education authorities when school curriculum and scheme are prepared. Museum education liaises with formal education authorities to enhancing the planning of school curriculum.

It can also provide space for teaching groups of people within museum premises. In this wise, it help the informal learning system. It is the function of museum education to improve the provision of facilities for visitors particularly for schools, families and even

disabled people.

The museum is an educational resource centre that aids in the field of human learning. A Chinese proverbs says “a look is worth a thousand words”, illustrates the values of viewing, teaching and learning. Having resource materials at hand results in a more effective learning process of facts, information and skills in a short period of time than verbalisation. When properly used, resource materials can facilitate the following supplying of a concrete basis for conceptual thinking they making learning more permanent through reality of experience and self-activity thereby developing continuity. Resources like motion pictures, museum objects etc contribute to the growth of meaning and concepts. First hand experiences not easily obtained elsewhere are gotten from the museum resources and display. Museums all over the world are replete with many resource materials ranging from educational, archeological, ethnological, architectural, and natural history materials. The museum is a vital element in establishing a national cultural identity and the transmission of cultural heritage. The museum is a repository for many kinds of research, and in most cases it has a well equipped libraries, life specimen manuscripts, research results often very useful as educational materials.

•Adedokun is of the National Museum, Osogbo.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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Who are you?

T

OO many people hold on to the past and allow the negative experiences of the past define their present and future. This should not be. Where you are coming from should not in any way determine where you going.

In his book, The Call; The Passion; The Destiny, Abiodun Mabadeje helps you understand that the success you desire to attain is predicated on how you move from your present state into the future you desire, irrespective of the circumstances of your past. If you desire to move forward, you cannot keep looking back into your ‘unfortunate past’.

Life is full of challenges. The road is never smooth for anyone and running away from challenges will not solve them. Many dwell only on what they have gone through in life, unable to look beyond their past or present circumstances. To succeed, you have to confront and overcome your circumstances. You must not allow fear and pessimism hold you back.

One very fundamental point the book explains in the detail, which many people are ignorant of, is the law of attraction. To succeed, you have to align yourself with the reality of the Law of Attraction. This Law states that “I attract into my life whatever I give my attention, energy and focus to, whether positive or negative.”

This raises questions which you must an-

BOOK REVIEW Title: The call, the passion, the destiny Author: Abiodun Mabadeje Reviewer: Detoun Ogwo swer: “What do you give your attention to?

What do you focus on? What do you expend our energy on?” When you fill your mind with negative thoughts, the Law of Attraction states that you will simply get more of the same. It is time for you to think deeply so

as to determine whether the challenges you currently face are self-afflicted as a result of attraction or by reason of your thoughts.

In Chapter Two, the author raises another critical question: “Who are you?” This is a question of identity. It is one you must answer, because if you do not know who you are, you will not know what you are about or why you are here.

If you cannot answer this question, you will have the problem of misplaced identity. Many people are trying to be who they are not – they talk, walk and even dress like someone else.

Knowing who you are helps you function as you should; living your own life and not someone else’s.

You must note that to truly identify who you are you must go back to your source, the One who created you - God Almighty – because you were created not by accident but to fulfill destiny. He has the blueprint of your life.

As the author clearly states, you MUST have a vision: a comprehensive sense of who you are and where you are going. Anyone without a vision does not have a future. Your vision might seem gigantic and your challenges insurmountable. However, keep the Law of Attraction in mind, envisage the future you want, forget the past and project into the future.

Everyone is called to do something or be something. What are you called to do or be? It is time to step out and be bold, bearing in mind the Law of Cause and Effect; that actions determine reactions and input determines output.

Get out of the “Good Old Days” mentality.

To live in the future you dream of, consider the words of Isaac Newton, “Everything (or object, or life) remains in a state of constant rest until an external force is applied”, and do what you need to do right away.

Towards rebuilding a derelict society

T

O what extent can honesty and personal integrity inform a positive change in governance across all ramifications? The book-‘Honesty/personal integrity still the best policy...How Fashola became Governor’ tells it all.

The book is simply an expose on how virtues such as integrity and honesty can promote and exalt individuals and societies.

The author Grace Fehintolaoluwa Osifekun, espouses how a nation like Nigeria facing economic and social challenges can triumph over her present travails.

According to Osifekun, the book is a reproduction of address delivered by the distinguished lawyer/academic and running mate to General Muhammadu Buhari under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

The talk, Osifekun recalled to The Nation, was delivered by Pastor Osinbajo during an annual conference organised by a popular church in Ilupeju, Lagos with the theme Divine Abundance in 2010. ‘From the very day the message was delivered, Osifekun flashed back “I felt it was not a message for the local church but for all Nigerians. By chance, two years later, I met Pastor Osinbajo at a function and I asked for his permission to transcribe the message for public consumption. Pastor Osinbajo gave me the approval. The title of the message was: The challenges of our time. The book which iswell garnished with lots of Biblica quotes, argues that each time a society experiences a setback, its citizenry especially Christians should have themselves to blame rather than point fingers of accusations at government. “The word of God says you and I must provide direction. Mather 5:14 says: “You’re the light of the world. A city that is set of a hill cannot be hid....

“In other words, it is your responsibility and my responsibility as far as the Bible is concerned. It belongs to you and I to define that direction for our generation, to define the direction of our community. In other words, who is responsible for what we are experiencing today...It is you and I who are called by the name of Jesus Christ,” Osinbajo argues in the book.

The book provides several examples of societies like the UK, USA and Japan, once riddled with corruption but were reformed and serve as models to other countries today through the instrumentality of the

BOOK REVIEW Title: Honesty/personal integrity still the best policy... How Fashola became Governor Author: Grace Fehintolsoluwa Osifekun Reviewer: Adegunle Olugbamila Protestants who exhibited certain principles contained in the Gospel of Christ.

The book outline the principles to include: honesty/personal integrity, handwork and innovation, modesty and frugality, as well as time management and precision.

Osinbajo argues that at that time, the aforementioned societies sank their diverse cultures, adopting Christ’s.

“People will say today, that the English man’s word is his bond. That is simply taken purely out of scriptures. It was because the Puritans insisted that your yes must be yes and let your no be no, in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ,” the book posits.

Just as the Puritans provoked industrial revolution in Europe, Osinbajo tasks Christians in other parts of the world to do same and make a difference in their immediate environment.

“The factories in Europe, 75 per cent of

them were started and owned by bornagain Christians...As they began to change their nation, everyone began to pay attention. Later some born-again Christians, some Puritans went to America, those who were described as pilgrim fathers...three men led these men...all of them with the same puritanical ideals, that was later to transform America.” As Christians, Osinbajo said one should make a difference by being very committed and hardworking. “People must know that a Christian works here. If people do not know, there is something wrong. If we’re complaining ‘My boss is an unbeliever!

Don’t mind him! In fact, witches fly all over our office...! Trust me, you are not the Christians that you ought to be. We’re supposed to be examples of Christianity in every way.”

Using the Nigerian example, Osinbajo laments that most Nigerians Christians inclusive, have lost the virtue of honesty and integrity even in little things. “...But all of us called by the name of Jesus Christ, we are the people who must set the standard. Without us, the world and our nation are already in chaos. We are the ones who must set the standard of honesty and integrity, that high standard.”

Honesty and integrity, Osinbajo explained, catapulted outgoing Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola for the top job.

Osinbajo recalled how according to the former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he entrusted his property to him (Fashola) and fled into exile at the height of persecution of NADECO members

by General Sanni Abacha’s government.

Tinubu, in the book, was aid to have returned to the country four years later only to find his property in Fashola’s care still intact, including money of some property Fashola sold off on his client’s behalf.

“Not one kobo was missing” Osinbajo said while quoting Tinubu. “I am an auditor so if he (Fashola) borrowed the money and replaced it, I would see that he had borrowed and replaced. ..I even asked him ‘you should have...when you were looking for money for a fairly used car...”

“This is a book every family should have” Osifekun said’ “I am very sure and confident that no one will regret going through this book. It is that preaches virtues that can make a home and society thrive regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations,” she concluded.

BOOK REVIEW Title: River people (Short story) Author: Peter Ukwa Reviewer: Medinat Kanabe

Story of the river people

W

RITTEN in first person narrative, the short story was set in a village called Obir in Port Harcourt, South-South of Nigeria. (The writer’s maternal

village).

The writer focuses on the time of his life from the early 90’s to the year 2000; during this period the British had built gigantic oil refineries in the Niger Delta but the people were impoverished and their youths were not employed in the companies, yet the community suffered oil spill.

He described his mother’s village as more civilised than his father’s. According to the writer, just like his father’s village he imagined his mother’s village to be characterised by “rustic setting where children played hide and seek with relish; where they frolicked in the sand and listened to moonlight tales of Tortoise, the antagonist of lore. I dreamt of a place where elderly men made merry with companions as palm wine flowed from calabashes to enthusiastic throats in front of huts roofed with bamboo and raffia. And I envisioned maidens with lithe limbs returning from the farm or marked with trays of ukwa and ogiri balanced on their heads.”

But when he got there to spend his holidays as his father had travelled to England to study, he discovered his mother’s village had big structures of oil refinery and a maze of oil pipelines.

In irony, the writer showed that even with the difference, appearance of the villages, the people of his father’s village were happier as they didn’t suffer oil spill or lived in abject poverty.

Ogochukwukamma (The writer) soon settled in his mother’s village and had a friend called Sangha who showed and took him everywhere.

The writer showed he was an intelligent child when he mentioned that he was only nine and read Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart from his mama’s library, and Ngugi Wa Thiongo’s Weep Not Child and many other African books even though they were just to overcome the sultry tiring days.

He expressed this when he stated that his mama was surprised that he could read the books at that age.

In the beginning of the story he said ‘Tuesday died on Thursday’ but didn’t explain who Tuesday was until he and Sangha were coming from the River Pama, they arrived at a field crossed by an oil pipeline, Sangha asked him to wait then went to defecate. A man materialised from nowhere and Ogochukwukamma froze.

He described the man as looking grim, “his eyes were jaundiced, the colour of sunset. Fear gripped me and my heart beat faster. The man was huge and dark in complexion. When he said, ‘how are you?’ his voice appeared to come through a loud speaker. A lump in my throat stifled the reply forming in my mouth. ‘What are you doing here, he said with greater, if intended menace.”

He continued: “Trembling I let go of the fish.

‘Are u waiting for somebody?’ No, yes, I said as I stopped to pick the sand-ridden fish. When he walked past me with a cutlass in his hand onto the path we had just left, I watched him from the corner of my eyes to make sure he didn’t swing at my neck with the double-edged machete that looked more like a sword.”

Sangha revealed the man’s identity to be Tuesday, popularly called old soldier because he was a former soldier.

Sangha further explained that Tuesday owned the fish pond near where he defecated, how many people are afraid of him and how he is fearless of even the British. “He told us that one day he would chase all those oil companies away if they were not willing to employ our youths in their companies, Sangha told Ogochukwukamma.”

When he got home he was told by his mama that his holiday has been extended due to an indefinite strike by teachers.

Ogochukwukamma didn’t bother about the strike or any other thing but instead in his child’s mind, he imagined how strong old soldier is and how he can single-handedly chase all the company owners away if they refuse to employ their youths. He imagined that old soldier would go to them and say: “Come I am sick and tired of all your troubles in our land.

Now, pack your things and go!”

He also imagined that old soldier would gather all the companies and their machinery into one gigantic wheel-barrow, the size of an ocean liner, and, with muscles bulging and veins bursting, push them off the land.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

CELEBRATING THE WRITTEN WORD Angelique Kidjo performing with Nigerian Idol Season 4 winner Evelle, and Nollywood actor OC Ukeje at the Etisalat Prize for Literature Award ceremony in Lagos.

‘Bintu is meant to teach moral’

K

ABIRAH Kafidipe, producer, BINTU, a new film about a lady, who was raped by her close friend, has described her BINTU as a very touching story capable of influencing the youths in moral upbringing.

She said the desire to write the story started in 2011 when she read about the experience of the victim of rape. “Today, we chose to premiere the film because the industry is tough.

In the past 20 years my sister and I have been trying to prove that we are no stranger to the industry,” she said at the premiere of BINTU in Lagos.

The 100-minute film packaged by Karfy Communication Concepts Limited is about a young lady who got raped by a very close friend at a time she was trying to see that her sick mother gets off the sick bed. So, the story is about layers of crises that lust, rape and other related vices often caused.

To Kafidipe, the film is about a simple every day story told in a captivating way. She disclosed that the story was adapted from a real life incident where a girl got raped by a close friend but had difficulty narrating the experience to her family members. She maintained that the film is meant for all categories of persons since it is preaching moral adding that she got the support of veteran actor Dele Odule to realise the production.

She said: ”It is about how a lady can be careless and not mindful of what they do when they are with opposite sex.

Sometimes, men when they like us, they are so lust that they could get out of control. So, the guy has affection for a lady but to the lady, they are just friends, and she trusted him. The guy lost control and raped her and she could not get out of that trauma.”

According to her, she decided to reproduce the story in a film format because it was a terrible encounter for the lady, which many ladies also get into and usually cannot explain how it happened. She said that after she heard about the event, she started writing the story in 2011 but was not very sure if to shoot it at that time because she never wanted to be a producer.

By Ozolua Uhakheme Assistant Editor (Arts)

FILMS On her experiences while shooting in US, Kafidipe said: “In America some people wanted me to shoot it and I almost did it then before returning home later in 2011. But in 2014, when I traveled to America, friends started asking me again when the shooting would be done. It was then; I felt we could do it.

So, with supports from friends, we put heads together and invited a veteran, Dele Odule, to join us in Chicago and we produced it. And I actually loved the outcome. I am going to travel back to America because we are going to be celebrating it there.

“It was not easy at all because we had to make it as nice as possible and was not out to compete with anybody, I was just trying to make a good film. So, you can imagine what making a standard film can take from you. However, the crew members were very supportive. We are all youth, we put heads together and with the support of uncle Dele Odule we were able to achieve this much. We started the shooting in the United States and we brought it back home to complete.”

‘It is about how a lady can be careless and not mindful of what they do when they are with opposite sex. Sometimes, men when they like us, they are so lost that they could get out of control. So, the guy has affection for a lady but to the lady, they are just friends, and she trusted him. The guy lost control and raped her and she could not get out of that trauma’

•Kafidipe

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS Myanmar army and rebels sign draft agreement

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•Representatives of the Iran nuclear talks yesterday.

Iran nuclear talks statement imminent

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UCLEAR talks between six world powers and Iran could go on past a midnight (22:00 GMT) deadline, US officials say.

Representatives are reportedly preparing to issue a general statement focusing on points of agreement, which would be enough to allow for a new phase of talks on a comprehensive deal.

But there is no sign that the most contentious issues have been resolved.

The world powers want to restrict Iran’s nuclear programme in return for relief from crippling sanctions.

The so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia

plus Germany - are seeking to ensure Iran could not assemble a nuclear weapon in less than a year.

Media caption The BBC looks at how hard it is to actually build a nuclear bomb?

The Iranians insist that they have no such ambition.

Foreign ministers met several times at Lausanne’s BeauRivage Palace hotel on Tuesday morning in a high-level push to meet the self-imposed deadline to agree a political framework agreement by the end of the day.

Russia’s top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, announced that prospects were “very good

and promising”, and said he was returning to the talks after leaving for another engagement on Monday.

Journalists are gathered outside Lausanne’s Beau-Rivage Palace hotel, waiting for news from the talks US Secretary of State John Kerry said the Monday had produced “a little more light” On Tuesday afternoon, a senior US official said the meetings might go beyond the deadline “if we are continuing to make progress, including into tomorrow, if it’s useful to do so”.

The BBC’s Barbara Plett Usher, who is at the talks, says there is no sign that the most intracta-

ble problems have been resolved.

Officials told the Associated Press that there were plans to issue a “framework understanding”, accompanied by documents outlining more technical details.

This would be enough for all parties to continue negotiations in a new phase aimed at achieving a comprehensive accord by 30 June, our correspondent says.

Six days of intense talks which always ended late and started early are, as predicted, going into the final hours, if not beyond, of a midnight deadline.

Germanwings crash: Lufthansa told of co-pilot depression

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THE co-pilot of the Germanwings plane crash, Andreas Lubitz, told his flight training school about a previous bout of depression, Lufthansa has said.

The airline revealed last week Lubitz had taken a break from training, but refused to say why.

In a statement it said it had

now shared documents with prosecutors, including emails from 2009.

They show Lubitz told his flight instructors “about a previous episode of severe depression”.

A recording from the cockpit of the aircraft suggests the 27year-old deliberately caused the disaster last Tuesday, which

killed 150 people.

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr previously said that the company was not aware of anything that could have driven the copilot to crash the Airbus A320.

“He was 100% fit to fly without any restrictions or conditions,” he told reporters.

Lubitz resumed training with the airline in 2009 follow-

ing his break and had passed all medical tests, according to the company.

He eventually completed his training and started working with Lufthansa subsidiary Germanwings in 2013.

German prosecutors said on Monday that Lubitz had received treatment for “suicidal tendencies”.

YANMAR’s President Thein Sein has witnessed the signing of a draft ceasefire agreement between the government and 16 rebel groups.

The agreement, which came after seven rounds of talks, is a significant step towards ending decades of conflict.

Negotiators from the armed rebel groups still have to consult with their leaders before giving final approval.

Rebels from the newest and most active conflict in Kokang did not attend the talks.

The United Nations said the move was a “historic and significant achievement” and provided a basis for “genuine and lasting peace in the country”.

Myanmar has been engaged in armed conflict with various ethnic rebel groups seeking greater autonomy since independence from the British in 1948.

Uganda prosecutor in al-Shabab bomb case shot dead

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ECURITY had been stepped up in Kampala after warnings of attacks Joan Kagezi, the top Ugandan state prosecutor in the trial of 13 men accused of a deadly al-Shabab bomb attack, has been shot dead in Kampala.

Ms Kagezi was targeted on her way home by motorbike gunmen, officials say.

The trial of the men, accused of links to the 2010 Kampala suicide bombing which killed 76 people, has been suspended.

Last week, the US embassy in Uganda warned of a possible “terrorist” attack.

Ms Kagezi, the senior principal state attorney, headed the directorate of public prosecution’s anti-terrorism and war crimes division.

Kampala police spokesman Patrick Onyango said: “They were trailing her on a motorcycle... They shot her dead.”

Syria donors pledge nearly $4bn at UN confab

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ONORS at a UN conference in Kuwait have pledged $3.8bn (£2.6bn; •3.5bn) for victims of Syria’s civil war.

The pledges came as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon warned that the Syrian people were “victims of the worst humanitarian crisis of our time”.

Donors have previously been criticised for not making good on similar pledges, but the UN says donors have been better over the past year at delivering.

More than 200,000 Syrians have been killed in four years of armed conflict.

More than 11 million people have been forced from their homes as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other, as well as the Islamic State militant group.

LENT

Theme: Worry not for your stones shall talk!

Text:”.... if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40)

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T is unexceptional for people that are in privileged positions by virtue of power being wielded and wealth acquired, that were products of God’s grace, (1 Corinthians 15:10) to often brag about their ability to determine certain things in the lives of other people with lower life wherewithal. Some of the words in the lexicon of these privileged people in their relationships with other beings are, “I will deal with you”, “Are we in the same category?”, “Am I your mate?”, “I can survive without you!”, “I worked hard for my money”, “I can determine your promotion” etc. The Bible in sundry places certify the futility of such empty boasts because no human being has absolute powers - all that are being bragged about (talents, treasure, position, power, position etc) are God’s exclusive endowment!

(Isaiah 66:1-2; Colossians 1:16). It is apt to state that God can make stones (inanimate objects that are not created to speak) to sing His praises, when mouths (that are created to speak by God) are forbidden from speaking or testifying of His goodness.

David attests to it when he said “..... promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another (Psalm 75:6-7). It was God’s grace that lifted King Nebuchadnezzar up to become King of Babylon but when he became puffed up and adorned himself with the toga of pride, God brought him to his feet and “stones sang” (Daniel 4:28-32). The same applied to King Saul when he went beyond the boundary set for him by God, who chose him as King of Israel, and with a word, He removed him and replaced him with a person of lower pedigree ( 1 Samuel 15:22-23).

The background story of our text is that some persons were either blessed with, or went to the market to buy an ass based on the assumption that the purchase of same was either for domestic or commercial purpose for the ass to be used to transport goods for the beneficiaries or carry them from one location to another; the sole reasons God created the ass, and which of course should be the essence of its fulfillment. When however the ass got to the hands of the new owners, they decided that

“that stone will not speak” - the ass was tied and prevented from being a beast of burden - her destiny became perverted.

Jesus Christ discovered the ass from a distance and ordered a release of the ass together with the colt from that junction of destiny distortion and removed the injunction placed on them by people that had decided that “the mouth must not speak”.

When they brought the ass to Jesus Christ, clothes were placed on it and for the first time, “the stone spoke”.

The sight of Jesus Christ on that ass into Jerusalem heralded ecstasy and songs of praises from the people but when the Pharisees in the crowd heard the noise, they said unto Jesus, “.......... Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out (Luke 19:39-40). Jesus Christ introduced another theology here that, with Him nothing is impossible. We know from history that when the Israelites were thirsty in the wilderness, a touch on the Rock, (which Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians referred to as Jesus Christ) and water came from Him to quench their thirst (1 Corinthians 10:4 cf Exodus 17:5-6). When the Israelites were warred against by five powerful kings, heaven opened and stones came from above to destroy the allied forces. (Joshua 10:10-11). It was same when Goliath raised up his head as an object of intimidation and oppression against the Israelite army; with a stone, God destroyed Goliath and restored the peace, joy and confidence of Israel (1 Samuel 17:45-49).

Beloved, Jesus Christ has the final say and not any being. He has promised that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5; Job 22:29). In Jesus Christ, there is no hopeless case as anyone can become anything. Even, a dead tree has hope of resurrection at the scent of water (Job 14:7-9). In Christ, anybody can become anything and with Him, anything can happen - a generally agreed under dog can become a celebrity and a clinically dry or dead bone can rise, walk and talk (Ezekiel 37:1-10 cf Psalm 1:1-3). He can “..... make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19) , create an expressway in the river (Exodus 14:21-22; 2Kings 2:13-15) or

a pathway on water for His children to walk on majestically (Matthew 14:29).

In Him, human laws that some ladies can never have husbands based on whatever circumstance can be suspended because “stones can talk”.

In addition to the laws of procreation that stipulates that a lady that has reached the stage of menopause, inflicted with fibroid or severe infection, or a man with low sperm count can never have a child can be suspended because in Him, “that stone can talk” (cf Genesis 18:915). The laws of economy that guarantees success when a business has right resources, right tools, right team or qualified workforce and operates in the right time can be suspended for a flourishing business, because in Him “stones can talk” (cf Luke 5:1-11; Genesis 26:12).

Beloved in Christ, don’t allow anyone play God in your life.

During this passion week, His suffering towards the cross can, and will change your story for His glory. There is no person that can determine your future. Whatever position that God has destined for you to get to, be rest assured that you shall get there, no matter the gigantesque opposition against you at home, working place, family or at your commission. People that are boasting to deal with you or hinder your lift up are being emboldened by sheer ignorance of God and what He is capable of doing. God who sent ravens to feed Elijah with roasted meat from the heaven’s abattoir and His divine kitchen every morning and evening, is a God that can make “stones talk” ( IKgs 17: 1-7). The God who replaced the heat of a fiery furnace with the cool breeze of an air conditioner for His children is the God that can make “stones talk” (Daniel 3:22-27; Isaiah 43:2-4).

The God who literarily turned carnivorous lions into herbivorous lions is a God that can make “stones talk” (Daniel 6:21-22).

To be a partaker of the miracle of stuttering of stones and shame powers that don’t want mouths to speak, you need to give your life to Jesus Christ, surrender your battle to Him, ask Him to free you from every road junction injunction, liberate you from known and unknown captivity, frustrate whatever satanic judgment placed on you, deliver you from inherited challenges, give you latitude to eat what you want and not what you see and make you a celebrity like that ass.

Prayer: Where they have said there is no way, O Lord, make ways for me and let the stones of my life begin to talk and sing, in Jesus’ name.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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NEWS THEVERDICT VERDICT THE

Godsday Orubebe...What manner of elder?

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E is an elder. Not on account of his age. He is 56. A church found him worthy of answering this appellation. And, wait for this, he also owns a church, Glory Sanctuary Christian Centre (GSCC), Ogbogbagbene, Burutu Local Government, Delta State and preaches the gospel. His church has a capacity for no fewer than 10,000 worshippers.

The vision of the church, which was established in 1998, is to preach the gospel and win souls in the creeks of the Niger Delta and beyond.

But yesterday, Elder Godsday Orubebe, said many, did not behave like a true elder when he tried to stop the collation of the presidential election results because defeat was staring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the face.

He cut a pitiable sight as he sat on the red rug close to where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega and other senior officials of the electoral umpire were, insisting the process must be stopped. He had started his theatrics first standing and when he seemed to be making not much sense to Jega, he sat on the red rug and for close to 30 minutes, he held everyone hostage and no plea could make him leave the stage. He screamed, shouted and giggled like a man desperate to have his way.

His eyes also spoke volume about the pains he was going through at the suffocating fate of his darling party under whose platform his dream of governing Delta State crashed like a pack of cards.

He kept jumping up and down and raising his hands to drive home his point. All he wanted was for Jega to return to his office and empanel a body to investigate his party’s petition.

He said Jega was biased against the PDP and deliberately not investigating the complaints about events in some All Progressives Congress (APC) stronghold. Orubebe, an Ijaw man from Ogbobagbene, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, who was born on 6 June 1959, could not stand the coming fate.

He later said he had to do that because the INEC chairman was not listening to their cries.

Yesterday’s event or non-event was not Orubebe’s first ‘public show of shame’. His quarrel with boxer Bash Ali while he was Minister of Niger Delta brought him into ridicule. The contents of text messages between the duo became public knowledge and the sort of language Orubebe deployed put a question mark on his character.

The crux of the matter between Orubebe and Ali was whether or not the Ministry of Niger Delta promised to sponsor Ali’s championship bout. Orubebe said he never committed his ministry to sponsoring the proposed Guinness Book of Records bout of the ex-World Boxing champion. Orubebe, in a telephone interview with this newspaper at the time, said his ministry had nothing to do with sports. He added that all he did was to recommend Ali to the National Sports Commission (NSC). Ali, however, insisted he had a commitment from the ministry, through the minister, to sponsor the bout.

Ali’s claim, said the minister, shows that he needed psychiatric help.

Orubebe said: ”That man came to me with his proposal and I said these are things that can be done by the National Sports Commission (NSC). I gave him a recommendation note to see the Minister of Sports at that time.

“Later he came to me that some people told him that the programme will be included in the budget of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

“I said if other people are lying, I will not lie. The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has nothing to do with

•Orubebe (left) and two other PDP chiefs while holding the presidential election collation centre hostage...yesterday

APC, TMG blast ex-Niger Delta minister

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HE All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) yesterday condemned former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Elder Godsday Orubebe for attempting to disrupt the collation of the results of the presidential election.

The organisation’s Director of Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja, said Nigerians should watch out for such antics from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its agents in the coming days.

Shehu described the ex-minister’s action as “bizarre show of shame”, adding that it underpins a larger plot of the PDP and the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to foment crisis and subvert democracy.

“Much as disgraceful as the action by Elder Orubebe was this morning, it typifies the kind of things Nigerians should expect from the PDP and its agents, in an expression of their desperation and pent-up frustration with the popular decisions of Nigerians in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“We cannot under-rate the frustration of these people, and we anticipate that they will not hesitate to do the unthinkable to subvert the course of the electoral process and, indeed, democracy in the country.

“We wish to alert that Orubebe’s drama aimed at disrupting the announcement of the results of the presidential election is just act one scene one in a plot that has many more acts and scenes ahead. The elements of the drama might involve a breach of law and order.

“We therefore call on Nigerians to be watchful, vigilant, and prayerful and remain resolute to protect our democracy from the machinations of agentsBy Olukorede Yishau, Assistant Editor (News)

sports, the programme could not have been part of our budget. So, it is not in our budget.

“This agitation of Ali is dated back to the tenure of ex-President Umaru Yar’Adua. At a point, he was so impressed with my assistance that he wrote a letter to Yar’Adua telling him that I am the only minister who speaks the truth. I still have a copy of the letter with me.

“Sometime this year, he sent me a text that is it because he insisted on a transparent deal that the budget for the programme was not released? I asked: What has my ministry got to do with Sports?”

“Bash Ali is a big fool. He is good enough for the psychiatric hospital in Uselu. I think it is a mental case and I want to advise his family to take him there. I am not bothered about what he is saying about me.”

However, documents obtained by this newspaper at the time showed

From Tony Akowe and Bukola Amusan,Abuja

provocateurs.”

TMG condemned Orubebe saying he caused Nigeria a monumental embarrassment by his behaviour.

TMG Chairman Ibrahim Zikirullahi, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, said: “This is an act of desperation taken too far. For a national election that has been hailed by Nigerians and the international community for its peaceful conduct so far, it is disconcerting that one side of the partisan divide is beginning to take the law into its hands.

“As far as we are concerned, Elder Orubebe’s unbecoming conduct at the collation amounts to a deliberate attempt to truncate the voices of millions of Nigerians who spent hours in queues to exercise their civic rights on Election Day.” TMG urged an inquest into “this disgraceful conduct that has attempted to taint what has been an otherwise laudable process”.

“We call on all Nigerians across the country to remain calm and peaceful, notwithstanding the attempt by some desperate elements to inflame passions.

“TMG therefore calls on President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP leadership to prevail on their agents to put the good interest and image of Nigeria first throughout this electoral process.

That requires they put on a conduct that is deemed fit proper and orderly.”

that Ali had a deal with Orubebe’s ministry to sponsor the bout. The ministry also championed the setting up of a Local Organising Committee (LOC) to stage the fight.

Orubebe’s ministry, in a letter, asked the NSC to nominate one of its senior officials to serve on the LOC. In the August 27, 2009 letter, the Ministry of Niger Delta, wrote the Chairman of the National Sports Commission on its readiness to support Ali’s fight. The letter, signed by Dalhatu Sule on Orubebe’s behalf, reads: “I am directed to inform you that the ministry is in the process of supporting an International Boxing Tournament between Bash Ali of Nigeria and John Keelon of Britain.

“We are therefore seeking for your nominee to serve as member of the committee that will work out the modalities on how to arrange and finance the tournament.

“Your nominee should be an officer of not below the rank of Assistant Director.”

In another letter, also signed by Sule on Orubebe’s behalf on September 8, 2009, Ali was assured that “a committee has already been set up to work out the modalities for the great fight.”

But, after some months, Orubebe changed his mind. So, in a December 15, 2009 letter Sule, on Orubebe’s behalf, wrote the fighter that the ministry had no money to sponsor the bout, which it had earlier set up a committee to organise.

The letter reads: “I write to refer to your letter of 24th November, 2009, on the above subject matter and to inform you that we are just a fledgling ministry that barely took off this year and as such, extreme budgetary constraints has been a problem to grapple with. In this regard, the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry would not be in a position to sponsor the historic boxing defence bout between Ali of Nigeria and Keeton of Britain.

Please accept the warm assurance of the Honourable Minister’s highest

•Orubebe...yesterday

regards.”

While it is not in doubt that Orubebe actually gave Ali the hope that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs would support the fight, why he had a change of mind is hazy. Ali claimed it was because of his refusal to part with some of the $14.2m allegedly budgeted for the fight under skill acquisition in the ministry’s budget, an allegation the minister denied. The minister said the fight was never budgeted for by his ministry.

For Orubebe, recovering from the shame of his action yesterday will take some time. History will surely record him and the verdict may not be different from what Wikipedia added to his profile some minutes after the outing: “On the 31st of March 2015, he attempted to disrupt the proceedings of the 2015 presidential election collation, but was escorted from the building”. And this verdict may overshadow his records in public offices, which included supervisory councillor in Burutu Local Government Area, member of the Education Board, local government chairman and minister.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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BUSINESS EXTRA Envoy urges economic ties between Nigeria, others

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From left: Mr. Madubuike; Mr. Okumagba; and Mr. Ogiemwonyi, during the media parley on the state of the capital market in Lagos... yesterday.

Equities gain N224b as market chiefs set agenda for new govt

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HE bullish rally at the Nigerian stock market gathered momentum yesterday as the market responded positively to definitive figures showing that All Progressives Congress (APC’s) General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) would form the next government at the centre.

The upswing that started late last week as it became certain that Nigeria’s presidential and national assembly elections would hold as scheduled on March 28 rallied further on Monday as the market opened to news of early lead by the opposition candidate.

The market opened yesterday with a comfortable lead

by Gen Buhari, a disciplinarian that has promised to reshape the national economy.

With 41 advancers to nine decliners, all indicators at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed positive outlook. Aggregate market value of all quoted companies at the NSE rose

by N224 billion to close at N10.718 trillion as against its opening value of N10.494 trillion. The market had opened this week at N10.319 trillion.

The All Share Index (ASI), a value-based composite index that tracks prices of all quoted companies, rose by 2.13 per cent to 31,744.82

By Taofik Salako

points compared with its opening index of 31,082.48 points. Investors staked about N5.05 billion on 379.45 million shares in 4,142 deals.

Meanwhile, capital market groups yesterday set agenda for a new economy by the incoming government.

The market groups including the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) and Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria (AIHN) outlined strategic issues that the Federal Government must put in place as a matter of urgency to reposition the market for enhanced liquidity and capital mobilisation.

President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Albert Okumagba said there were several opportunities for long term capital in the capital market, adding that certain things must be put in place to harness the opportunities.

According to him, the capital market can finance the entire infrastructural gaps if the government can deploy fiscal incentives to deepen the market by encouraging the companies in the telecoms, power, aviation,

and oil and gas sectors of the economy to get listed on the securities market.

He said the core capital market operators are prepared to work with the government to ensure full utilisation of the capital market.

He also advocated for the development of commodity market to increase the number of tradable securities including futures and options derivative instruments on the underlying assets in the commodity market.

Chairman, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr Emeka Madubuike said incentives should be given to listed companies and prospective companies to be listed so as to have some advantage over unlisted companies.

He said: “We propose some tax incentives for listed companies and those that are in the process of getting listed.

Policies that would promote marketability of agricultural products should be enunciated and implemented to boost operations of the commodities exchanges.

“Governments at the highest level must continue to make positive statements and assurances that will engender investors’ confidence.”

Chairman, Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria

(AIHN), Mr Victor Ogiemwonyi urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to strive towards reduction of the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to stimulate activities in the bond market.

According to him, government borrowing rate in the capital market should drop to avoid crowding out of funds and to make the market attractive for private sector to raise funds.

He said the government should revisit privatisation in order to allow for listing of government enterprises that are operating suboptimally.

“The government needs to set up a capital market committee to work with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to drive the process,” Ogiemwonyi said.

He promised the readiness of capital market operators to support the Federal Government in advisory capacity on how the capital market can be fully utilised to drive economic growth and development.

They group also called for regulatory support for the two existing over-the-counter (OTC) markets – National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and FMDQ platform to enhance expansion of their operations in the financial market.

OPEC’s oil output hits highest since October

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HE Organisation of Pe troleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) yesterday said its oil supply has jumped in March to its highest since October as Iraq’s exports rebounded after bad weather and Saudi Arabia pumped at close to record rates.

Nigeria is a member of OPEC, pumping about 2.2million barrels per day to the cartel’s basket. The increase from the group adds to excess supply in the market, despite some signs that the halving of crude prices since June last year is encouraging higher oil demand.

OPEC supply has risen in March to 30.63 million barrels per day (bpd) from a revised 30.07 million bpd in February, according to Reuters survey based on shipping data and informa-

By Lucas Ajanaku with agency reports

tion from sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants.

An analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt, Carsten Fritsch, said: “Demand might be a bit stronger than expected at the beginning of the year, but I don’t think it is strong enough to absorb the entire oversupply.

There’s still oversupply in the market, which is reflected in the inventory builds.”

Besides Saudi Arabia, the main reasons for the rise are the resolution of involuntary outages - Iraq lifted exports due to improved weather and Libya managed to nudge production higher despite unrest.

If the total remains unrevised at 30.63 million

bpd, March’s supply would be OPEC’s highest since 30.64 million bpd in October 2014, based on Reuters surveys.

Saudi Arabia was the driving force behind OPEC’s refusal last year to prop up prices by cutting its output target of 30 million bpd, in a bid to discourage more costly rival supplies. The group holds its next meeting in June, and comments from OPEC officials suggest it will not alter the policy.

In March, the largest increase has come from Iraq, whose southern oil exports recovered following bad weather that delayed tanker loadings, according to shipping data and industry sources. Northern exports were slightly lower.

Based on this survey, Iraq’s exports have come close to

December’s record high of 2.94 million bpd, depending on whether tankers at the southern ports on earlier on Tuesday actually depart in March. Iraq was hoping to reach 3 million bpd of exports this month.

Saudi Arabia has increased output to within a whisker of 10 million bpd on average in March, sources in the survey said, due to higher demand from export customers and an increased local requirement in new oil refineries.

“The Saudis say they are responding to higher demand and I tend to believe that, looking at the strong refining margins in Singapore,” said an oil consultant.

Margins are well above the annual average in Asia, which buys the bulk of Saudi Arabia’s exports.

HE Nigerian Ambas sador to Senegal and Mauritania, Mrs Katyen Jackden has called for stronger ties between Nigeria and other African countries.

She said the trade volume between Nigeria and Senegal has been largely in the informal sector and in favour of Senegal as many Nigerian traders troop to the country to buy textile materials and other fashion accessories.

Speaking in her office in Dakar, Senegal, she said .the trade imbalance has led to the quest of the Nigerian government to push for the establishment of the Nigeria/ Senegal Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs. Jackden said before now, the two countries cooperated in the oil and gas sector but with the discovery of oil recently in Senegal, other sectors such as tourism, social housing and agriculture would be explored.

She said investors can invest in several sectors of the Senegalese economy, noting that the economy has proved over time to be stable and prosperous.

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

She berated some entrenched colonial interest in Senegal who she claimed wanted to truncate the investment stride of Dangote but hailed the Senegalese government for supporting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). She said: “Dangote’s competitors were behind the challenges and hurdles it went through before it finally rolled out its bags of cement.”

According to her the investment has helped to promote regional and African integration.

On the population of Nigerians in the country, she said the number is up to 10,000 but regretted that officially the embassy has less than 5,000 Nigerians registered. On the challenge of marketing Nigeria to her host country, Jackden said: “We need to do more aggressive marketing to let the world know that we are good people, great nation. Senegal is import dependent especially on spare parts and agriculture and we need to take the advantage of the cordial relation between us to market our potentials.”

Marketing Edge holds summit, rewards agencies

B

RANDS and marketing publication, Marketing Edge, is set to hold two high profile events. They are a National Marketing Stakeholders Summit and Brands and Advertising Excellence Award.

Both events will take place May 7 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The summit which has the theme “A Roadmap to Marketing in the Age of Global Oil Glut and Nigerian Advertising in a Generational Shift” will hold in the morning while the awards take place in the evening.

Advertising professional and former registrar, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Dr Josef Bel-Molokwu, will be the guest speaker and deliver the Lead Address while the Managing Director, Noah’s Ark, Mr Lanre Adisa will deliver an address on Nigeria Advertising in a Generational Shift. Former APCON Chair, Chief Olu Falomo, an icon of the advertising profession will chair the occasion. Key players and gladiators in the integrated marketing communications

sector are expected to grace the summit where the challenges of advertising and marketing in the present era of dwindling oil prices will be examined and solutions proffered.

The awards which are in several categories will reward marketers and advertisers such as Sir (Dr) Chris Ogbechie and Sir Chris Parkes who will both receive the Lifetime Marketing Achievement Award. The Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of STB-McCann, Sir Steve Omojafor, will have the Brand Personality of the Decade Award bestowed upon him. Also, Chief Falomo will bag the Outstanding Advertising Icon of the Decade while the CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya will be honoured as CEO Brand Personality of the Decade.

Other categories are Outstanding Telecommunications Company of the Decade, Experiential Agencies of the Decade, Outdoor Agencies of the Decade, Outstanding Media Buying Agency of the Year, Marketing Personality of the Year, Outstanding Company of the Year, amongst other distinguished awards.

Guinness records 1000 days safety milestone

G

UINNESS Nigeria said it has recorded yet another feat in the area of ensuring the safety of employees and visitors in their breweries and sites by achieving 1000 days free of Lost Time Accidents (LTA) in one of its operational sites, Benin Brewery of Guinness Nigeria.

In a statement, the firm said the record site is now the third manufacturing site of the brewing giant to cross this milestone achievement following its Ikeja and Aba sites which also recorded over 1000 LTA free days all in the current financial year.

By general standards, an LTA is defined as any work related incident, involving injury or illness, where either Guinness Nigeria or a

healthcare professional recommends one or more days away from work, or where the employee is absent from work or unable to return to work for the next shift or where the employee is attending work but unable to carry out normal duties. This assessment is made without regard as to whether or not the person was scheduled to work those days (off days, weekend, holidays, vacations,).

According to Cephas Afebuameh, Supply Director, Guinness Nigeria,, “Reducing accidents at all our brewery sites has long been an active strategy of Guinness Nigeria through our Zero Harm Culture which seeks to create a consistent and proactive culture for safety across all our operations.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

54

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 31-03-15

GTBank appoints chairman as shareholders praise Imomoh

G

UARANTY Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc yesterday appointed Mrs Osaretin Demuren as the new chairman of the board of directors following the retirement of Mr. Egbert Imomoh.

Imomoh, who presided over his last annual general meeting yesterday, retired after the meeting amidst encomiums from shareholders of the bank.

The new chairman, Demuren, had a successful career with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which spanned over 33 years, during which she served as Director, Trade and Exchange Department and was deployed to serve as the Director, Human Resources Department in 2004; a position which she held until her retirement from the Central Bank of Nigeria in December 2009. She was the first female Director of the apex bank.

Demuren holds a Masters Degree in Economics and Statistics from the Moscow Institute of Economics and Statis-

•Shareholders get N51.5b dividend

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

tics, Moscow, and a Diploma in Russian Language and Preliminary Studies from the Kiev State University, Kiev.

She joined the board of GTBank in April, 2013. She had served as a member of the Board Risk Management Committee from April 2013 and became the Chairman of the Committee in July, 2014.

She was also a member of the Board Remuneration Committee and the Board Information Technology Strategy Committee.

Shareholders who spoke at the annual general meeting yesterday commended the leadership quality of Imomoh and the performance of the board under him. They commended the board and management for the impressive performance of the bank.

National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir

Sunny Nwosu, said the performance of the bank was commendable noting that the banking industry is facing many challenges due to tight regulations.

President, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association (NSSA), Chief Timothy Adesiyan, also commended the performance of the bank pointing out that its growing deposit base and low nonperforming loans are indications of good management.

Shareholders approved distribution of N44.15 billion as final dividend, representing a dividend per share of N1.50 kobo. Total dividend per share for 2014 stood at N1.75 as against N1.70 paid for the 2013 business year. The bank is paying final dividend of N1.50 per share. It had paid interim dividend per share of 25 kobo. This brings total payout to N51.5 billion for the 2014 business year as against N50.03 billion in 2013.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 31-03-15

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

55

MONEYLINK

Fight against graft begins, says RenCap T HE Global Chief Economist at Renaissance Capital (RenCap), a global investment and research firm, Charles Robertson, has said the fight against corruption and introduction of reformist policies, including austere fiscal policy, will be the focus of the new government that will be formed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In an emailed report titled: Nigeria has Spoken released yesterday on the heels of the victory of the party at the presidential polls, Robertson said there would also be more effective handling of the Boko Haram insurgency.

He said less corruption could lower

Stories by Collins Nweze

the cost of doing business, particularly for small businesses, and a more secure Nigeria would allow isolated regions to re-engage with the rest of the economy.

The economist said the vote for the APC is a profoundly important moment in Nigeria and indeed Africa’s history, adding that the country accounts for one in six Africans, and one fifth of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“This is Nigeria’s first election in which voters have supported a tran-

sition from one party to another. It is a testament to the building blocks of civil society that have emerged since the end of military rule,” he said.

Robertson said the stalling of economic activity under a first-term president tends to be protracted, as it implies a mostly new cabinet and potential restructuring of ministries and departments. He said Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) would come into office at a time when Nigeria’s fiscal and external buffers are at their lowest in several years.

“The drop of the 2015 budget oil price to $53 per barrel from $77.5 per barrel 2014 implies the Federal Government’s 2015 fiscal revenue is

Fidelity posts N15.5b profit

F

•Buhari likely to drop by one third.

“The near-depleted excess crude account implies no access to savings to offset the decline in revenue,” he said.

Diamond Bank’s assets grow by 27.3 % to hit N1.93tr

D

IAMOND Bank Plc has grown its total assets by 27.3 per cent from N1.52 trillion in 2013 to N1.93 trillion in December 31, 2014.

The lender said the asset growth was driven mainly by growth in deposits, which surged 23.8 per cent from N1.21 billion in 2013 to N1.49 billion, demonstrating its strong ability and network to generate cheap deposits from the retail and middle market segments.

Also, the lender grew its loan portfolio to customers from N689 billion to N791 billion, representing 14.8 per cent

increase.

Its Group Managing Director , Uzoma Dozie, attributed the growth to management’s focus on the strategic projections.

He said: “We at Diamond Bank are pleased to announce continued success in implementing our strategy across the group, following another year of strong top line growth and an asset base that grew from N1.5 trillion to N1.9 trillion in 12 months.”

He said gross earnings increased by 15 per cent from N181.2 billion in 2013

to N208.4 billion, showing an increase of 9.6 per cent while net operating income stood at N116.3 billion previous year to N127.4 billion. However, Profit before Tax (PbT), declined marginally by 12.5 per cent from N32.1 billion in the previous year to N28.1 billion, reflecting the harsh regulatory headwinds that hallmarked business operations last year.

He said: “Amid regulatory headwinds that characterised the industry, and a dynamic macroeconomic environment, growth was recorded in

operating income although our profit before tax dropped from 2013 levels on the back of higher operating expenses and loan impairment charges.

“For further growth and profitability in 2015, we shall implement our digital banking strategy rigorously, and this will go a long way to reduce operating costs and drive customer acquisition as we seek to increase market share by converting existing bank account holders and attracting those who are owning formal bank accounts for the first time.”

Heritage re-affirms backing for MSMEs’ financing

H

ERITAGE Bank has re-af firmed its business principle to empower more Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

Speaking during the roundtable discussion and MSME success stories, with The Economic Outlook-What Future for MSMEs in Nigeria? as its theme, its Group Managing Direc-

tor, Mr. Ifie Sekibo said the commitment to empower the SMEs led to launch of SMEs clinic that will help small businesses address challenges associated with setting up businesses while mitigating the effect of certain decisions that may be taken.

He said although small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) have proved to be the crucial engine of

industrial growth in developing economies such as Nigeria, it is necessary to create strategies that could withstand the dynamics of the changing business environment rather than focusing on funds generation.

He said since the SMEs clinic was established, many small businesses have sprung up and have been

successfull in their operation due to not only the funding, but business advisory it freely offered, adding that financing is not the only problem SMEs face, but other necessary input.

He said business built on enduring business platform, and business model among others stand the chance to get loan from the bank.

IDELITY Bank Plc yesterday released its audited financial results showing a Profit before Tax (PbT) of N15.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2014. The lender also proposed a dividend of 18 kobo per share.

In a statement, the lender said its interest income increased by 21 per cent to N104.3 billion from N86.3 billion in 2013 while net interest income before impairments increased by 58 per cent to N48.8 billion from N30.8 billion the previous year.

The lender also announced an operating income which increased by 15 per cent to N72.6 billion from N63.3 billion the previous year. The bank’s total expenses also increased by five per cent to N57.1 billion from N54.3 billion in the previous year.

It said PbT increased by 72 per cent to N15.5 billion from N9 billion the previous year. Profit after Tax (PaT) increased by 79 per cent to N13.8 billion from N7.7 billion in 2013. Net loans and advances increased by 27 per cent to N541.7 billion from N426.1 billion in 2013. Customer deposits increased by two per cent to N820 billion from N806.3 billion in 2013.

Its Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo, said: “Our 2014 performance is a testament to the significantly improved optimization of our balance sheet. PbT growth of 72 per cent was driven by a 27 per cent growth in the loan book while cost of funds declined over the period. This translated to a 58 per cent growth in net interest income and a 200 basis points growth in net income margin to six per cent.”

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.1978 1.3117 0.7319 1.1349

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.1912 0.7203 0.7203 1.1349

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

ASHAKACEM CHAMPION CONOIL FIDELITYBK TOTAL NASCON FCMB NAHCO ZENITHBANK INTBREW

18.50 6.38 35.60 1.57 165.00 6.90 2.66 5.44 19.87 18.00

20.39 7.02 39.13 1.72 180.00 7.50 2.88 5.81 20.98 18.90

1.89 0.64 3.53 0.15 15.00 0.60 0.22 0.37 1.11 0.90

LOSERS AS AT 31-03-15

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) February 23, 2015

Inflation: December

8%

Monetary Policy Rate

CHANGE

Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$33.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$60.91

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 31-03-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

19 Feb

20 Feb

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Statistics All Share Index Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) Deals Volume (mn) Value (NGN’mn)

19 Feb 29,282.04 9,770.36 3,385 564,28 6,087.80

20 Feb 29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

REDSTAREX

3.75

3.60

-0.15

WAPIC

0.52

0.50

-0.02

DIAMONDBNK

4.18

4.05

-0.13

T-bills - 91

12.44

SKYEBANK

2.46

2.40

-0.06

T-bills - 182

13.85

FBNH

8.90

8.70

-0.20

STERLNBANK

2.20

2.17

-0.03

ETERNA

3.06

3.05

0.01

03/02/2015

399.00

398.00

-1.00

18.01

18.00

-0.01

SEPLAT ETI

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

Amount

Amount

T-bills - 364

13.92

Offered in ($)

Sold in ($)

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

500m

499.93m

3/12/2014

400m

399.97m

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

1/12/2014

350m

349.96m

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

Transaction Dates

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

56

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY ‘Buhari like Lincoln’

F

ORMER Chairman of Mushin Local Governmentý Area of Lagos State Bayo Osiyemi has likened the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, to the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.

In a statement yesterday, Osiyemi said: “By his historic victory Buhari has, by providence, become Abraham Lincoln of our time “Like Lincoln, who after several failed attempts, clinched the US presidency, several decades ago, ýGMB, in his fourth attempt, has emerged the president-elect of Africa’s most populous nation.

“Given the desperation of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)ý, the pres-

idential election was fought by the ruling party truly as a last ditch battle in which all arsenals of war were employed.

“Money, including foreign currency, was freely and unashamedly distributed to the low and high in the Nigerian society.

“To be sure, there’s evidently the hand of Godý directing the affairs of Muhammadu Buhari in this tortuous and nerve-racking journey to this epic and incredible feat of unseating a sitting president.

“God certainly knows this country has suffered too much affliction under this PDP Federal Government; and like he decreed in Nahum 1:9 “our affliction shall not rise a second time.”

Atiku: journey to rebuild has begun

F

ORMER Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar has said the journey of rebuilding Nigeria has begun with the election of the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

In a congratulatory message, Atiku said the party will stand behind Buhari in actualising his electoral promises.

He said: “Dear GMB, the journey has just begun.

Millions of Nigerians have put their trust in you, because they were not satisfied with the status quo.

“You represent the hope of a new generation of Nigerians, and you cannot afford to fail them.

“Our party has made a promise of change to our

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

young people, to secure and rebuild our country, create jobs and opportunity, and improve citizens’ welfare. We will stand behind you to ensure we keep those promises, just like we did during these elections.

“My hearty congratulations to His Excellency, General Muhammadu Buhari, for being elected the next president of our beloved county, Nigeria. .

“To President Jonathan, I want to specially thank you for conducting a historic election. Your party may have lost the elections, but you have won the admiration of the world by not interfering with the wishes of Nigerians. History will be kind to you.”

Abdulsalami, Anyaoku, others hail Jonathan

M

ILLIONS of Nigerians, including former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar and former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku yesterday lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting defeat.

Jonathan reportedly called the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, even before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared the winner of the keenly contested poll.

Abubakar, who led members of the 2015 election peace committee to the presidential villa in Abuja, expressed happiness that the President contacted Buhari before the committee arrived.

In Abubakar’s team were former Chief of General Staff, Navy Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe; Cardinal John Onaiyekan; Primate Nicholas Okoh; former president of the Nigeria Bar Association, Priscilia Kuye; the President’s Special Adviser on Inter-party Affairs, Ben Obi and industrialist, Aliko Dangote.

Describing Jonathan’s action as statesmanly, Abubakar noted that it was the first time in the country’s history that a loser would call his opponent to admit defeat in a presidential poll.

From Augustine Ehikioya and Precious Igbonwelundu

Abubakar said: “We are here to ensure that peace is maintained at this moment we thank Nigerians and the international community.

“The elections have been very peaceful, despite the hitches. At the end of the elections, there were a lot of upheavals but thankfully they have been contained.

“We were in the middle of a meeting with international observers, when I called Buhari and he told me that Mr. President has called him to congratulate him.

“We were spell bound and the reason we have come here is to thank President Jonathan for this statesmanship.

“In any contest there is always a winner and President Jonathan has accepted that he lost and we want to thank him.”

Anyaoku said by conceding, President Jonathan has set a worthy example to fellow Africa countries.

Similarly, millions of Nigerians took to social media to appreciate the President for being a ‘honourable gentleman’.

According to APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed, President Jonathan is a hero for conceding defeat.

An ardent supporter of the President, Ohimai Amaize commended the president for his action.

•Supporters set fire to an umbrella as they celebrate the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, at Obalende, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

Why Buhari’s victory is significant, by IBB

F

ORMER military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida yesterday said the victory of the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari, has broken ethnic and religious barriers.

He said Buhari’s success has also shown that incumbents can be defeated in any democratic process.

Babangida, who made his views known in a statement he signed, said Buhari’s triumph indicated there is good reward for perseverance and hard work.

He said: “I have just finished watching the proceedings of the declaration of results of the March 28 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the emergence of my friend, professional colleague and former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, as the Presidentelect.

“Let me, therefore, formally congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for this well-deserved victory.

“This victory to me conveys two significant statements on our political history and evolution. First; that incumbents can be de-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

feated in any democratic process if the people’s aspirations are not fulfilled.

“Second, that there is good reward for perseverance and hard work. General Buhari has been very consistent in pursuing his political aspiration. In fact, he reminds me of former American President Abraham Lincoln, who was very dogged in pursuing his political aspiration and enriched the contents of democracy in America.

“General Buhari lives true to his military calling by remaining very consistent, resilient and courageous right from 2003 till date. This enviable feat to me further enriches our democratic process and matures us into the top echelon of nations where democracy has taken firm root.”

Babangida urged Buhari to be magnanimous in victory by reaching out to other contestants.

He added: “The beauty of democracy is that it is an ongoing process that gives room for improvement, provides opportunity to make amends, and affords

‘I trust that the President-elect will live up to the expectations of many Nigerians who crave for change; and lift Nigeria to greater heights’ the people the opportunity to make a statement with their ballots during elections.

“With this election and its outcome thus far, Nigeria has once again recorded another milestone in its march through the enviable ladder of democracy. Our leadership role in Africa will further be enhanced by the way and manner we manage the gains of this process.

“But I trust that the President-elect will live up to the expectations of many Nigerians who crave for change; and lift Nigeria to greater

heights.

“I wish to implore the President-elect to reach out to other contestants in the spirit of one Nigeria, as he settles down for the task of leading this nation in the next four years. “ Your victory has no doubt broken the barriers of ethnicity and religious inclinations; two sensitive issues that undeservedly dominated the campaigns. I am confident that this victory will usher in a new perspective in our political history and development.”

He praised President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat.

Babangida said: “That President Jonathan has indeed conceded defeat and congratulated the Presidentelect is also cheering news.

“Let me also congratulate other presidential candidates of the other political parties, especially Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for putting up a good fight in the elections. “ I wish to also commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting such a free, fair and transparent election despite all the initial hitches and challenges.”

Ekiti APC: victory dawn of new era

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has congratulated Nigerians for their peaceful conduct in Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections that produced the party’s candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, as the winner.

The party said despite provocations, inducements, harassments and infractions on their rights by the force of state powers, APC members, supporters and people still managed to record that remarkable votes that shocked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders.

It also asked Ekiti people to defy Governor Ayodele Fayose’s curfew order, banning celebration of APC’s candidate’s victory.

It urged the police not to allow themselves be used as anti-democratic agents to unleash terror on Ekiti people and APC members.

A statement by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said Buhari’s victory marked the beginning of sanity

in the polity charactarised by lawlessness, corruption and impunity.

“It is not only victory for Ekiti people, but victory for Nigerians for a successful transition from one civilian administration to another.

“Nigerians from all walks of life are celebrating this special moment, Ekiti cannot be an exception. We are not mourning but celebrating.

“It is sheer wickedness on the part of Governor Fayose to want to prevent this celebration,” Olatunbosun said He said the victory of APC’s candidate is a vote for transparency, performance and building of hope among Nigerians, assuring that Buhari would take Nigeria back to her deserved position in the comity of nations.

Olatubosun said the APC-led Federal Government would implement its lifelifting programmes that would give Nigerians hope again, assuring that the new President would make the law work again in Nigeria.

He said: “Signal is being sent to the

peddlers of impunity that the end has come for their lawless acts. Corruption will have no place in the APC-led Federal Government. Our government will give justice, including economic justice, to Nigerians.

“Our party has asked its members to defy order barring them from celebrating their party’s victory because it is their legal right. We are not fighting; we are celebrating.

“Fayose should remember that he urged Ekiti people to defy Governor Kayode Fayemi’s curfew order when there was apparent threat to peace in the state. This time, there is no threat to peace and so there is no authority that can bar Ekiti people from celebrating our liberty and this victory.

“All democratic institutions will operate unfettered within the ambit of the law.

“On this note, we urge our 19 members in the House of Assembly to return to work immediately and take control of the affairs because a new era of law and order has returned.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

57

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

Abia youths protest results

Y

OUTHS in Abia State have marched on the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They protested the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The youth, under the aegis of Abia Youths, alleged that

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

there were irregularities during the elections.

Their leader, Dr. Johnson Gabriel, said the results of many wards and constituencies were written on papers, while in some cases, wrong result sheets were used.

He said INEC customised result sheets for the election, “but to our surprise, the result sheets of the 2011 election were brought for this election and where this year’s result sheets were available, the wrong ones for the wards were brought.”

The youth leader urged

INEC to release the result of Abia North, to avoid problems.

The placards read: “Stop sharing our results,” “INEC release our results”, “No more delays in the release of the results of Abia North”, “Let peace reign in the state”, among others.

APGA candidate laments declared result

T

HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Abia North, Chief David Ogba Onuoha, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release results of the district.

He alleged that there were malpractices during the elections.

Addressing reporters at the

•PDP candidate: I won the poll From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

INEC headquarters in Umuahia, Onuoha alleged that the polls were marred by fraud by agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He alleged that the PDP candidate, Chief Mao

Ohuabunwa, aided by Transition Committee chairmen, falsified result in most units.

Onuoha enjoined INEC not to accept the purported declaration of the PDP candidate as the winner of the poll, saying it was illegal for Collation officers to declare the winner of the election in-

stead of the Returning officer.

But at a news conference, Ohuabunwa dismissed the allegation, saying the results declared at the councils showed that he won the election.

He said Onuoha only expressed his annoyance, following his defeat at the polls.

I won Anambra South seat, says ex-NCC boss Ndukwe

T

HE former Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe, has said he won the Anambra South senatorial election and not the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

Ndukwe, who contested the election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to issue a Certificate of Return to any candidate.

He addressed reporters yesterday at Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government. According to him, from the results recorded on Form EC8A1 at the polling units, it was clear that he won.

Ndukwe said: “The people of Anambra South Senatorial Zone voted massively for me in the seven local governments, but it is disheartening that some people decided that the wish of the people should be thwarted.

“Everybody knows that the result of every election comes from the polling unit. Unfortunately, because the Card Readers did not work, voting started late and ended at night.

Because there was no electricity, there was no collation at

•All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate in Ogun State, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, monitoring the collation of votes last weekend at Science and Technical College, Ijebu Ode.

•Warns INEC not to issue Certificate of Return the ward. Everything was taken to the local government Collation Centre.

“That was where the security agents joined members of the PDP in rigging the election by intimidating INEC ad hoc workers.

“Form EC8A is there to prove it because you cannot get a different thing in the field and then announce a different thing as the result.

It is not done. I think in the

course of time, my people will have the leader they voted for.

“No proper collation was done anywhere in Anambra South Senatorial Zone.

There was falsification of results and inducement.

Corps members were influenced.

“PDP stalwarts forced another INEC officer to announce the falsified results.

“I urge INEC not to allow

this charade to stand by not issuing a Certificate of Return to PDP, because there were irregularities.

“It was even surprising that Andy Uba was announced as the winner in Nnewi.”

He said if the election was conducted 20 times, he would win because the people yearned for change. Ndukwe hailed the voters for supporting him and his party during the election.

Abia APC rejects results HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Dr. Nyerere Chineye Anyim, has said the party has rejected the results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Speaking in Umuahia, he said they rejected the results based on malpractices, fraud, mutilation of result sheets and abuse of the electorate by security men.

Anyim said the party expressed shock and disappointment about the results, adding that it was the worst election held in the state.

He hailed the peaceful way

T

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

the people comported themselves.

The APC governorship candidate said the idea of mobilising security men to intimidate the electorate meant that there was no election, as results were manipulated at Ikwuano and Ugwunagbo, adding: “Result sheets were not brought.”

He alleged that the government took the result sheets and went to the local government headquarters to write the results, especially in Obingwa Local Government.

Anyim said what hap-

pened in Obingwa also took place in Ohafia “where about 20,000 people were accredited, but the results showed that 28,000 people voted, which is a fraud.”

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider the result of the presidential election as announced by the Returning officer and enjoined it to investigate the result.

The APC Chairman, Mr. Donatus Nwankpa, advised the public to be peaceful but proactive, stressing that the task of cleaning the country is for all.

PDP wins legislative seats in Ebonyi •LP rejects results, urges cancellation From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the nine National Assembly seats in Ebonyi State.

They include three senatorial and six House of Representatives seats.

In Ebonyi North, former Governor Sam Egwu polled 78,620 votes to beat his Labour Party (LP) opponent and a member of the House of Representatives, Chief Peter Ogeali, who scored 53,890 votes.

In Ebonyi South, the senator representing the zone, Chief Sonni Ogbuoji, polled 80,753 votes to emerge victorious.

His LP counterpart, Darlington Okereke, got 27,229 votes.

PDP also won in Ebonyi Central where the governor’s son, Nnanna Elechi, contested on the platform of LP and was defeated

by Chief Obinna Ogba, a former chairman of PDP. In Abakaliki/Izzi, the Returning Officer, Dr. Nwali Okata, declared the lawmaker representing the constituency, Chief Sylvester Ogbaga, as the winner.

He said Ogbaga, a PDP candidate, polled 38,240 votes to beat Helen Nwaobasi of the LP, who secured 30,460 votes.

In Afikpo North/South, Chief Idu Igariwey, ex-chairman of Afikpo North, defeated the member representing Afikpo South West, Eni Uduma Chima.

Igariwey of the PDP polled 29,567 votes against the 13,616 votes of Eni of the LP. PDP also won in Ezza South/Ikwo, Ezza North/Ishielu and Ebonyi/Ohaukwu.

LP urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the National Assembly election, describing it as a robbery.

The Deputy Director, Media and Publicity of its Heritage Campaign Council, Chooks Oko, said: “While the people freely went to their polling booths to vote for candidates of their choice, they had their wishes subverted.

“Even when they succeeded in expressing their choice, their wishes were thrown overboard by the rewriting of the results, falsification of figures and brazen announcement of figures that could only have come from the imagination of the Returning officers, as in the case in Izzi, Abakaliki, Ebonyi and other local governments.

Aregbesola: APC has rescued Nigeria

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described the victory of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives (APC) Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as the best thing to happen to the country after allegedly enduring 16 years of misrule at the centre.

He said Nigeria has been rescued from the jaw of death after 16 years of social, political and economic strains.

Aregbesola, in a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strat-

egy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, congratulated Nigerians for the “doggedness, perseverance and commitment to voting out a party that had held them hostage for 16 years”.

Describing Buhari’s victory as the best thing that could happen to a nation under political and economic strains like Nigeria, the governor said the overall results of the elections and the general conducts of the electorates demonstrated that Nigerians really wanted change in the country.

Banjo greets citizens

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HE former Ogun State National Conscience Party (NCP) governorship candidate, Otunba Lanre Banjo, has congratulated the citizens for exercising patience and demonstrating maturity in the face of annoying processes to enthrone positive changes.

Banjo, in a statement, said: “We have become a source of pride to all the black people worldwide and lovers of democracy. Prof.

Attahiru Jega and his good

and patriotic men cannot be left out of the equation.

“On behalf of all patriotic Nigerians, I thank him and his team for exhibiting principles and patience with irritating act of certain Nigerians in and out of government.”

He praised the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, for freeing Nigerians from the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) “captivity”.

INEC sets up panel to verify results •Tension grips party supporters

By Our Reporter

F

EAR has reportedly gripped candidates and supporters of parties in Abia State. This followed the decision of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Selina Oko, to set up a panel to verify results of the three senatorial districts and some federal constituencies.

Some of the affected areas include Abia North, Abia South and Abia Central where the opposition parties alleged that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) manipulated the results.

The Nation learnt that although the parties adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as their presidential candidate, they were irked by attempts by the PDP to influence the outcome of the polls, which they said did not tally with the certified results their agents obtained from INEC officials.

We gathered that it was based on the allegations and others that the REC decided to review the results.

Sources said since the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, directed a review of the results, some candidates, whose areas were affected, had become frantic.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY INEC confirms Lawan as PDP candidate From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed Alhaji Gambo Lawan as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno State, instead of Alhaji Mohammed Imam.

The Nation reports that the crisis in the Borno PDP worsened when Lawan, who emerged as the party’s candidate after a mini primary election in Abuja, was replaced by Imam.

In a memo dated March 27, from the INEC headquarters in Abuja, signed by the Secretary of the commission, Ibrahim K. Bawa, with reference number INEC/ LEG/DR/356/VOL.1/79 directed the Resident Electoral Commissioner to effect the change.

Confirming the replacement, INEC’s spokesman in the state, Tommy Magbuin, said they have received a directive to add Lawan as the PDP candidate.

Saraki dedicates Buhari’s victory to Nigerians From Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Polls: Obiano, PDP trade blames

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NAMBRA State Governor Willie Obiano and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are trading blames over what transpired during last weekend’s elections.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) said it would challenge the National Assembly results de-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

clared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the election petitions tribunal.

Briefing reporters yesterday in Awka, Obiano, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima, said the re-

sult did not reflect the will of the people.

The party described it as a monumental electoral injustice and urged INEC to redress the situation.

The Chairman of Election Operations Committee of the PDP in the state, Chief Ken Emeakayi, said Governor Obiano and APGA should accept defeat

in good faith, as the result showed that Ndi Anambra rejected APGA. He told reporters that APGA should realise that the people had never supported it, rather their support was for former Governor Peter Obi, Uche Ekwunife and others, who had defected from APGA to PDP.

Obasanjo sets agenda for Buhari

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XPresident Olusegun Obasanjo has set an agenda for President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

In a congratulatory message to the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer, the ex-president said fighting corruption and providing employment for the teeming youths should top his priority.

He said: “I hasten to congratulate you on your success and victory in the presidential elections of March 28, 2015. Your success and victory after three previous unsuccessful attempts must be great object lessons for you and for all politicians, particularly in Nigeria.

“For me, the totality of 2015 elections hold many

lessons for our democracy and democratisation process which are both maturing.

“On this occasion, the system has been unnecessarily overheated before and particularly during the campaigns when emphasis was more on trivialities and hate, divisive, undignifying and disrespectful statements and comments rather than on pressing issues requiring attention.

“I know that in victory, you will be magnanimous to start binding the wounds and bitterness occasioned by the campaign and the evil disciples.

“With so much harm already done to many national institutions, includ-

‘I know that in victory, you will be magnanimous to start binding the wounds and bitterness occasioned by the campaign and the evil disciples’ ing the military, which proudly nurtured you and I, you will have a lot to do on institution reform, edu-

cation, healthcare, economy, security, infrastructure, power, youth employment, agribusiness, oil and gas, external affairs, cohesiveness of our nation and ridding our land of corruption.

“Your varied and wide experience will undoubtedly stand you in good stead. I am also sure that there are men and women of goodwill, character and virtue across the board that you can mobilise to join hands with you in the reform, repairs and re-direction that will be imperative to put Nigeria back on the fast lane of good governance, unity, cohesiveness, development and progress,” he said.

•Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) celebrating the victory of the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in Obalende, Lagos...yesterday AFP: PHOTO

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

NATIONAL Youth Service Corps (NYSC) yesterday denied a media report of the death of two corps members, who served as ad-hoc workers in Gombe State during the Presidential and the National Assembly elections.

In a statement by the Director of Press, Mrs. Bose Aderibigbe, in Abuja, the corps said the two people, whose names were broadcast

by Channels TV, were INEC ad hoc workers and not corps members serving as ad hoc workers.

She, however, commiserated with the families of the deceased.

Suswam loses senatorial seat to Gemade

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ENUE State Governor Gabriel Suswam has lost in his bid to return to the National Assembly after an eight-year stint as a governor.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Suswam was elected governor in 2007 after serving two terms as a member of the House of Representatives.

Suswam lost to a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barnabas Gemade,

who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Announcing the results at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Makurdi, the Returning Officer for Benue North, Prof.

Mohammed Adah, said Gemade polled 140,715 votes to beat Suswam, who polled 118,603 votes.

He said 661,067 voters registered for the election, with 290,446 accredited, while 266,232 votes were

counted as valid.

Adah said rejected votes were 5,096 and the number of votes cast was 271,328.

Mr. Emmanuel Udende of the PDP won the Sankera Federal Constituency seat.

He beat Shimataver Atezeh of the APC to retain his membership of the National Assembly.

Announcing the results in Makurdi, the Returning Officer, Mr. Moses Agbaji, said Udende scored 71,359 votes to beat Atezeh, who had 24,358 votes.

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State won two Senate seats and five House of Representative seats in last weekend’s elections.

The result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that APC won in Makurdi/Guma, Gboko/ Tarka and Buruku federal constituencies.

APC also won in Jechria Federal Constituency, as Iorwase Hemmbe was returned. In Kwande/Ushong, William Wayo of APC won.

Emmanuel Udende Jika Tor Dwem of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Ukum/Logo/Katsina Ala Federal Constituency.

Senator George Akume and Barnabas Gemade of the APC also won their elections.

APC sweeps National Assembly seats in Niger From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

A

THE Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday dedicated the victory of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, to Nigerians.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Advocacy, Bamikole Omishore, in Abuja, however, urged the President-elect to be magnanimous in victory.

He enjoined him to use his status as a statesman to reunite the country and heal whatever crack that might be in the political demography due to the electioneering process.

The senator representing Kwara Central in the upper chamber advised Nigerians, irrespective of political leanings, to join Buhari and the APC in working to establish a stronger and more united country.

NYSC denies death of corps members

APC wins two Senate seats, five Reps seats in Benue

The PDP agent for the senatorial election, Mr. Solomon Wombo, called for the cancellation of the polls, alleging irregularities in four local governments.

NAN reports that both results were declared in Makurdi, instead of Katsina-Ala, the headquarters of the senatorial district, because of protests that broke out during the collation of the results, which led to the burning down of an INEC office at Ugba.

LL Progressives Congress (APC) won the National Assembly seats in Niger State.

Its candidates won the three seats in the Senate and the 10 seats in the House of Representatives.

APC’s candidate in Niger South Senatorial District, who polled 72,572 votes, defeated the incumbent and Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate, Zaynab Kure, who had 64,214 votes.

Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, the PDP candidate, who scored 82,094 votes, was defeated by David Umaru of the APC, who polled 257,831 votes to clinch the Niger East senatorial seat.

Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi of APC won the Niger North seat. He defeated PDP’s Aliyu Mohammed Haliru.

The 10 seats allotted to the state in the lower chamber of the National Assembly were won by APC candidates.

The major casualty was the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Mukatr Ahmed. He lost the Gurara/Suleja/Tafa Federal Constituency to the former National Youth Leader of APC, Abubakar Lado Abdullahi.

Taraba Acting Governor wins senatorial seat From Fanen Ihyongo, Jalingo

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ARABA Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi has won the Northern Zone senatorial election.

Danladi, who had been impeached by the House of Assembly, but was recently reinstated, polled 106,163 votes to beat Sani Kona of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 99,446 votes.

Philip Kundila of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) came a distant third with 17, 963 votes.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

NEWS THE VERDICT ‘I didn’t sign any result sheet’

Buhari’ll return Nigeria to a respectable country, says Peterside

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

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CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Mr. Steve Worgu, has denied signing the presidential election result sheet in Ikwerre.

He said the allegation was false and a strategy to cover up the fraudulent act that occurred on Saturday.

The APC chieftain threatened to sue the REC, Dame Gesila Khan, if she did not apologise for mentioning his name as a signatory to the election results.

“I did not sign out the presidential result sheets from my local government as being claimed by Dame Gesila Khan, who went ahead to publish my name in the Punch.

“I am not an INEC official or the one responsible in my local government to sign those result sheets, except INEC and its agents decided to forge my signature.

“On this note, I am demanding apology from the REC or I will sue her,” Worgu said.

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OVERNORSHIP candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State Dr Dakuku Peterside has congratulated Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for winning the presidential election.

Peterside, in a statement last night, said Gen. Buhari would return the country to prosperity and respectability.

He congratulated Nigerians for electing Gen. Buhari, a respected statesman, as leader of a new Nigeria Peterside called on the people to support the former head of state as he begins the process of rebuilding Nigeria.

The APC candidate, who described Gen. Buhari as a

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

great source of inspiration because of his exemplary character and transparent disposition, said the victory of the president-elect has ushered Nigeria into a new dawn.

The statement reads: “Nigeria is lucky to have a leader like Buhari at this critical point. To say that our country is at the crossroads today is an understatement, especially against the backdrop of our collective experience in almost all spheres of our national life. But I am confident that Buhari will return Nigeria to a respectable and prosperous country where the citizens can be proud of their

heritage.

“Let me also state that the president-elect will bring as assets to his exalted office, his good name, anti-corruption posture, courage, honesty and patriotism. These virtues could not have come at a better time.

“I know that the President fully appreciates the fact that this historic opportunity to serve his fatherland again and at this time comes with huge responsibilities. Our country has never been this divided and factionalised along ethnic and religious lines. This election came with brazen divisive campaign speeches and comments that exploited our fault lines, emphasised our differences and inflamed passions.

“This victory is victory for every Nigerian, irrespective of party affiliation or geographical location. Nigerians have spoken and Nigeria is the winner. Therefore, you have the unenviable task of uniting our people and restoring confidence in every Nigerian at home and in the diaspora.

Pointless to add that our country needs healing and reconciliation but as we look up to you for the right leadership, I also urge you to reconcile our battered people”.

Peterside, who wished Gen. Buhari the best as he takes over the mantle of leadership, urged him to immediately begin the process of rebuilding Nigeria and its fractured institutions.

Ex-PDP chair wins seat in Delta From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Delta North, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, was yesterday, declared winner of last Saturday’s senatorial election.

He polled 156,604 votes to beat his closest opponent, Mr Victor Ochei of the Accord Party, who scored 67,580 votes.

Nwaoboshi was declared winner despite protests from Victor, who alleged that the results were manipulated in favour of Nwaoboshi.

The Chief Returning Officer, Prof Sunday Akparovie, said “the candidate of the PDP, Chief Nwaoboshi, having satisfied the provisions of the Electoral Law, is duly declared the winner for the Delta North seat”.

CNPP seeks poll cancellation From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

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HE Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in Akwa Ibom State has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the results of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly election.

In a letter addressed to INEC Chairman Prof.

Atahiru Jega, the group said the election was conducted in a ‘shady, fraudulent, biased and undemocratic manner’.

It said its position was based on observations, reports and facts from the field by their agents.

The group claimed accreditation was not done on time; electoral officers failed to present materials for inspection, and that there were no result sheets in many units, and only a photocopy without INEC’s security seal, in most cases.

CNPP said INEC in Akwa Ibom did not follow due process and in view of these, the Presidential and National Assembly should be cancelled and rescheduled.

REC promises prompt probe From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

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ELTA State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak has assured the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, that he will look into the complaints of his party.

Emerhor led party faithful to Asaba yesterday to register the party’s displeasure.

He said: “Deltans voted for General Muhammadu Buhari and all APC candidates.’’

APC’s Director of Media & Political Communication, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe said PDP had perfected plans to increase the doctored results with over 200 per cent.

All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Delta State protesting the outcome of Saturday’s election in the state ...yesterday

APC candidate rejects Edo Central results

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Edo Central, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the National Assembly elections in his area.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Chief Inegbeneki accused the PDP

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

of rigging in the area.

He alleged that there was widespread multiple thumb printing of ballot papers as well as the use of soldiers by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to intimidate and harass APC members “Apart from the fact that they induced our people

with money at the polling units, soldiers were used to chase away APC members and arrest some of them.

“In most polling units in Uromi, Irrua and Ekpoma, the PDP were giving people N5,000 and N10,000 on the queue to vote for them.

“They brought in soldiers to intimidate, harass and arrest our leaders as well as

members and prevented them from voting.

“In Uromi and Igueben, they were thumb printing ballot papers. So we are rejecting the result of the exercise and calling for its cancellation.

While our people were working hard to campaign, PDP was planning to use soldiers to intimidate our people, which they succeeded in doing”.

Police arrest ex-Delta lawmaker HE Delta State police command has arrested a former member of the House of Representatives, Napoleon Gbinije, for allegedly tearing election results sheet.

Gbinije, who represented Okpe, Uvwie and Sapele between 1999 and 2003, contested for the same seat in last Saturday’s elections on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

It was gathered that Gbinije, not satisfied with the results from his constituency, grabbed the results sheet and tore it.

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From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

Although he reportedly escaped from the scene, he was later apprehended and now being held by the police.

Command spokesman Celestina Kalu said Gbinije was in custody for committing an electoral crime.

“Is it not that politician, who tore result sheet? He is still with us. You know that is a serious offence”, she said.

She said the offence was bailable but she was not sure that could happen yesterday.

Tension in Bayelsa as banks lock out customers

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HERE was tension yesterday in some parts of Bayelsa State, especially, Yenagoa, the state capital.

Many people did not open their business premises.

Roads were deserted as residents were glued to their television sets to hear the final verdict from the Independent National Electoral

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Commission (INEC).

Banks were closed to customers, as people were advised to use ATMs. The banks claimed they had a security report that there would be violence if the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu

Buhari (rtd), wins.

A bank official, who spoke in confidence, said the banks got a security report mandating them to close their branches because of tension in the state.

A top security source confirmed that security operatives had been put on the alert.

He added that security

agencies had taken measures to heighten security around major oil facilities and pipelines.

“There were insinuations that if President Goodluck Jonathan loses, aggrieved persons will register their grievances by violent protest. But security agencies have been put on the alert about a possible breach of the peace,” he said.

Why polls were peaceful From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

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HE General Overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministries in Delta State, Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin has said last Saturday’s elections were settled in the spirit realm.

According to him, it took God’s intervention to avert what could have been a bloody election, adding that God listened to the prayer of Nigerians and settled all that could have resulted in bloodshed.

Prophet Fufeyin also told reporters that God revealed the winner of the presidential contest to him, but he did not reveal it due to security concerns.

He said God also revealed the winner of the governorship election in the state.

“This is one of the most peaceful elections in the history of Nigeria. It was peaceful not because of man power, but by the intervention of God. “My message to Nigerians is that they should continue to pray so that the election will end peacefully. Nigeria is walking on the path of peace and progress,” Fufeyin said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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NEWS Buhari...the president-elect Continued from page 6

•ALL FOR BUHARI: Supporters of president-elect Gen. Muhamadu Buhari celebrating his victory at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo...yesterday. INSET are: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (second right); his wife Sherifat (right); former Osun Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs. Tit Laoye-Tomori

distraction saved the day.

But the day ended on an exciting note as President Jonathan conceded defeat even before the final tally. He called Gen. Buhari a little after 5pm, to congratulate the APC candidate.

Jonathan’s action did not only douse tension but earned him accolades.

Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar told reporters after meeting with the president at the Villa that Jonathan told him that he called Gen. Buhari around 5.15 p.m.

The APC also confirmed the “historic call”.

“President Jonathan called at 5.15pm, “Gen. Buhari’s campaign spokesperson Garba Shehu said.

Asked if Jonathan conceded, he said: “Yes, and General Buhari has accepted and thanked him for this.”

The president confirmed his call to Gen. Buhari in his message to Nigerians last night, saying: “I have conveyed my personal best wish-

I regret my action, says Orubebe Continued from page 6

Buhari: The lucky long distance runner Continued from page 6

hold chorus.

But is Buhari a man for this season? The leader of the APC and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu thought so. In one of the campaign stops in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Tinubu went down memory lane saying when nations were at the time of crisis, they usually call on their retired Generals. “Nigeria is in crisis, we are calling on Gen. Buhari,” he said. The crowd agreed with him.

Gen. Buhari is also viewed as an enigma by millions of the ordinary Nigerians, who his opponents have rudely labeled as his “foot soldiers”.

But to many of his opponents, Gen. Buhari was a hardened, uncompromising dictator who is not attuned to democratic tenets. They

also viewed him as a religious fundamentalist. But one thing they have been unable to accuse him of is corruption enrichment.

Gen. Buhari was aware of the undesirable toga that hung on him going into the 2015 Presidential election and to diffuse it, he never shied from flaunting his new found democratic credentials and religious tolerance.

During an interview, Gen. Buhari accepted responsibility for the actions during his time as military Head of State. Though he tried to justify the decisions taken at the time, he insisted it was the best thing for the country. He also acknowledged that he has been able to learn the democratic tenets and is ready to work with all as a democrat.

But the allegation that seemed to pain Gen. Buhari

most is that of being a religious fundamentalist and it took many painful explanations for him to extricate himself from this hateful allegation. The Vice President designate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor and lawyer also came to his aid many times to debunk the allegations.

Having been elected by Nigerians to lead the nation in a new direction, is Gen. Buhari a reformed democrat? A peep into his speech on March 17 2015, at an interactive session with the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) reveals so much.

Gen. Buhari said: “I have said elsewhere that I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. Dictatorship goes with military rule as do edicts such as Decree 4. However, I am a former–former; note the emphasis on the word

‘former’–military ruler and now a converted democrat, who is ready to operate under democratic norms. I am not only subjecting myself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time, but even after being elected, I will continue to promote the consolidation of democracy in our great country, Nigeria, by guaranteeing that the media’s freedom is not compromised in any way.

“I give you my full assurances that the Nigerian media will be free under our APC government. I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to you to use your media outlets in shaping positive public discourse and eschew hate speech mongering and slanderous political rhetorics which heat up the polity for the sake of peace and stability of our dear nation. “

What victory means, by Tambuwal, Amaechi, Onu Continued from page 6

“If we say there was incompetence, we must show competence, if we say there was corruption, we must show that we will not be corrupt, if we say that people were denied their basic rights, we must protect people’s right. If we say there is impunity, we must show there is rule of law. Once we show that, you will see the basic difference between us and the current government.

“As director General of the campaign, I will be proud to tell my children that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the opposition party was able to root out the government in power by presenting a different picture of what life looks like and giving the people the courage to confront the current government and confront what was going on. Confront corruption and the reality of the fact that Nigerians are hungry. They don’t go to same market that Nigerians go to.

“They have the kind of

•Tambuwal

•Onu

funds they want to have and eat the kind of food they want to eat. Let Nigerians know that Boko Haram was not all about religion alone and that there was element of poverty and ignorance as well as the issue of unemployment in the north and in the south and also the fact that we are one nation and that religion is not an issue in Nigeria.

House of Representatives

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said: “The mood is of thanksgiving to God and of course we are all happy with what is happening in the country”.

Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipriye Silva said “the victory signifies positive change. It has been a hard- won victory as you know. They tried everything to subvert the victory, but God Almighty has granted

us victory and we are happy.

“You can see very clearly that democracy is maturing and coming of age in Nigeria.

“In spite of what they tried to do to subvert democracy, in spite of what they did to muscle people in the Southsouth and the Southeast, democracy triumphed which is the most important thing today.

“We built a national party around the General and of course it was that party that delivered him. This is not a sectional party but a party that cut across the country. It is a national government that is going to be formed because it was a national victory”.

Party leader Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu said: “We all know that Nigerians want change and we are happy that the.

Change will come. For the party, we feel happy that Nigerians have accepted us and are giving us the opportunity to govern and we are going to show Nigerians that many of the problems that have remained intractable will be solved.”

es to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.”

It is the first time in Nigeria’s history that a sitting government will be defeated in an election.

President-elect Gen. Buhari shelved his planned address to the nation at about 12:45am. It was shifted till 11.000am this morning Party officials announced the decision to cancel the address after a long wait for INEC to formally confirm Buhari’s victory.

Before the announcement, supporters besieged the party secretariat to catch a glimpse of Gen. Buhari, dancing and singing. The podium was already set and leaders of the party, including House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, were at the secretariat.

The supporters left disappointed, but with great enthusiasm and anticipation.

All streets leading to the party’s secretariat were taken over by youths celebrating Gen. Buhari’s victory.

The youths, holding broom were singing and drumming.

what happened was not intended to cause them any embarrassment.

“To Nigerians generally, I regret my actions as even an elder in the church, and a leader, the young men expected to see a lot from me and I believe that if there was any disappointment they got from me I apologise to Nigerians and to the youths of this country.”

A sober Orubebe asked Niger Delta youths not to take the laws into their hands on the outcome of the Presidential Election.

“We have always talked about peace in this country and remember that when there was crisis in the Niger Delta, I was one of the architects that sacrificed to got the creeks to tell the militants that we need peace in this country alongside President Goodluck Jonathan.”

On President Goodluck Jonathan’s sportsmanship attitude, he said: “Two things are in place. The president is the president of everybody. As a statesman and as a president; he has done what he should do.”

On how the PDP will take the defeat, Orubebe said: “I cannot decide for the PDP. It is a large family. We were sent on an errand to

‘

To Nigerians generally, I regret my actions as even an elder in the church, and a leader, the young men expected to see a lot from me and I believe that if there was any disappointment they got from me I apologise to Nigerians and to the youths of this country

’

come back to report. We will go and report to the party and the party will take the necessary action it has to take.

“You remember what happened in Ekiti’s governorship election when the governor congratulated his opponent and the party went back and said this is what they have seen. The candidate is not the party, he is a candidate and he has acted very well as a statesman, and as the president, the father of all. For us, we are agents to be here to see what transpired here and give report to them.”

‘I’ve expanded democratic space’ Continued from page 6

”I also commend the Security Services for their role in ensuring that the elections were mostly peaceful and violence-free. ”To my colleagues in the PDP, I thank you for your support. Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather than mourning. We have established a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections. ”For the past 16 years, we have steered the country away from ethnic and regional politics. We created a Pan-Nigerian political party and brought home to our people the realities of economic development and so-

cial transformation. ”Through patriotism and diligence, we have built the biggest and most patriotic party in Nigerian history.

We must stand together as a party and look to the future with renewed optimism. ”I thank all Nigerians once again for the great opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure you that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure. ”I have conveyed my personal best wishes to General Muhammadu Buhari. ”May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. ”I thank you all.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

61

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

F

ORMER Niger Delta Affairs Minister Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe failed yesterday to stir up trouble at the collation of Saturday’s presidential election results in Abuja.

Orubebe and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agents were, apparently, planning to abort the process.

But Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof.

Attahiru Jega was calm all through.

Shortly before the resumption of collation of results at about 11.15am, Orubebe raised a point of observation. Jega obliged. The ex-minister got the microphone and launched into a bitter criticisms of the process. He kicked against INEC’s decision to probe alleged election malpractices in Rivers State.

He also accused Jega of making the results of the Presidential Election available to the All Progressives Congress( APC).

At about 11.34am, Orubebe moved to the red platform where the results were being collated and hurled abuses at Jega.

Though agents are barred from getting to the platform, a charged Orubebe, who was wearing a ash colour blazer with a black hat, sat on the red carpet about 10 meters to Jega and started screaming.

He was later joined by the second agent of PDP, Dr. Bello Fadile, in challenging Jega.

Apparently acting a script for some forces, one of them was intermittently receiving calls in the midst of the confusion they created.

The more the calls came in, the more Orubebe was emboldened to charge at Jega.

The drama left National Commissioners bewildered but Jega remained calm and insisted that the collation must go on.

He ignored Oribebe’s demand to suspend the collation and return to the office to investigate PDP’s petition(s) on results from Kano, Jigawa and other states in the Northwest.

Orubebe, who was blocked by a police officer from advancing towards Jega on the platform, said the PDP had lost confidence in Jega.

He said: “We have lost confidence in what you are doing. We have lost confidence in what you are doing. If we can send a protest and you cannot take that protest then what are we doing here. The essence of sending any protest is to enable you to look at the matter and see whether it has merit or demerit.

“But when APC brought their own, you went all out to send a delegation to Port Harcourt. We have complained about Kano, we have complained about Katsina, we have complained about Kaduna, and Jigawa you have not done anything.

“Mr. Chairman, we are not going to take that, we have lost confidence in you because you are partial, you are selective. We don’t believe in you any more. We don’t believe in you any more. We cannot go on the way you are going because you have compromised. You have compromised.

You have compromised and we are not going to take it from you, until something is done on our letters, we will not continue with you.

“Until you do something to our letter the way you did to APC, we will not continue with you. That is our stand, we will not. Until you do something the way you did to APC we will not continue with you.”

Orubebe resisted attempts to collect the microphone from him.

He added: “The press should look at this ( a purported result sheet) is already printed. We can not take it.

You are tribalistic, you are selective.

You are tribalistic, you are selective, you are partial; we will not take it from you.

“Until something is done to our protest we will not allow you to continue with this. You will not. We will not allow it. Nigerians will not allow

Jega aborts PDP’s plot to annul poll results •Ex-Minister Orubebe create scenes at collation centre From Yusuf Alli and Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

this. Nigerians will not allow this. This matter must be taken seriously; we will not allow it. We will not allow it.

Look at the result that has already been printed by Jega and APC. Look at it. The press should take it. This is already printed by Jega and APC. We will not take it. Look At it. This was done yesterday, this was done yesterday.

“We will not take it, we will not take it. No please. No please; this is the way Jega understand. We will not take it until something is done.

“Until something is done. We went to Jega to complain, he did not take it; we went to him quietly, he did not take it because he was compromised.

Jega had to send his people to return our protest to us. Jega had to return our protest Please, leave me, Please, leave me. Please, don’t come near me, if you need peace in this country; don’t come near me. Jega is tribalistic and partial; we will not take it. We will not take it. Let him check Kano result, let him check Kaduna result, we sent him our protest Jega didn’t take it.

“When it came to Rivers State, he was hurrying going to Rivers State.

We cannot take it. We are not fighting; we will not take it.

“Jega, do something. Let him set up a committee. Let Jega set up a committee to go to Kano,to go to Katsinan, to go to Kaduna, to go to Jigawa; otherwise we will not take it.

“Jega is tribalistic, he is partial he is selective, we will not take it. That is not what the constitution empower him to do for this electoral process.”

All moves by Jega to prevail on Orubebe were rebuffed.

The following altercations occurred between Jega and Orubebe.

Jega: Mr Orubebe Orubebe: This country belongs to everybody. Jega cannot take us for granted. We will not take we will not allow it. Jega has nothing to say here, let him go back to his office to set up a committe for Kaduna, Kano.

Jega has nothing to say here; he did not come here before he did something about Rivers State; let him go to his office. I will not leave here.

(Jega: Please, may I respond) Orubebe roared: You can not respond here; you can not respond here, you cannot respond here. You did not come here to respond on the issue of Rivers State. You can not respond here; he cannot respond here.

Jega: You have ...

Orubebe: You cannot respond here.

In Rivers State, he did it in your office; let him go to his office and respond there.

Jega: You have laid some allegations but...

Orubebe: Go to your office and respond. Tell him to go to his office and respond to our protest. Let him go to his office and respond to our protest.

Jega: But you made them here.

Orubebe: You cannot respond here.

In Rivers State he did it in his office; let him go to his office and respond and respond to our protest.

“We quietly gave it to him in his office. Tell him to go to his office. Prof.

Jega, please go to your office. Go to you office and do what you did in Rivers State. We can’t take; we cannot take it. He cannot do it here, he cannot do it here.

He cannot do it here. He did it in his office; he cannot do it here. In the case of Rivers, he did it in his office, he should go to his office. Let him go to his office and do it.

“We complained to him quietly; he refused it. He even had to send somebody to throw the papers at us.we won’t take it.”

When another agent rose up to chal-

lenge him, Orubebe retorted: “Is Jega not present? What is wrong with you?

What is wrong with you? Jega is not empowered by the constitution to be selective, to be partial; he is not empowered by the constitution to be tribalistic. That is not the power given to Jega.

“Anyway, the point I want to make; this thing cannot continue. If Jega wants to continue I will come back here. If Jega wants to continue, I will come back here.

Jega: can you please call the next person.

Orubebe: Prof. Jega, you cannot continue. You cannot continue. You said you are going to respond to the issue. Prof. Jega you cannot continue.

You cannot. Why is he not responding? Why did he not respond to our protest? Why did he not respond to our protest?

Why did Jega not respond to our protest? Why is Jega not responding to our protest? When it was APC, he was quick to respond. We protested to Jega yesterday; he threw the protest at us.

“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria did not empower Jega to be selective, to be partial. .

Jega is tribalistic and we will not take it.

Dr. Bello Fadile said: “ Chairman sir, I think you should speak on this result we have here. If you compare with the results you have released, it is the same thing with the one that had been released and similarly with the ones here. We don’t know of the ones that have not been released.

“The ones that have been released are similar with the one here from the situation room of APC. That is our point. Who gave them this? How did they come about this result? We have seen the ones that have been released are the same with those that are here from some of the states. We have compared them and that is why

we are raising observations.”

Jega was, however, cool and confident when he responded to issues raised by Orubebe and Fadile.

He denied either refusing to accept PDP’s petition or giving results to APC. Jega’s cogent and lengthy explanation earned him applause from all at the NCC. The response left Orubebe humbled and sober when the collation of results resumed.

Jega said: “ You made two points.

One is that you submitted a petition which I refused to accept. Secondly, you claimed that there was a result released by the APC which you alleged we gave to them or I gave to them.

“With regards to the first point, yesterday, after we went through the first batch of results and as we declared a recess until 4pm, as I was walking down back to the office, my PA came to me and said that here are some papers that Dr. Bello Fadile, a representative of the PDP, said he should collect it and he said Dr. Fadile said I should give him those papers. “ I told him I did not tell Fadile to give any paper to him. I asked him to return the papers because Fadile after we declared recess came on to this platform(as a party agent, he is not supposed to do that) and gave some documents to my PA, who is writing returns here. And I am sure some of the agents and some of the press men must have seen that. And I told my PA, give back those documents to Fadile if he told you I told him that you should collect it; I did not. Return it to them.

“Subsequently, Fadile sent me a text message saying that there were petitions, and he wants to submit them. I told him we don’t collect petitions on a platform when we are declaring results. Then he now said I should have left my office open so

that they can submit those petitions in my office. I told him that the Secretary to the Commission is not here in this hall, she is in her office. And her business is to receive communications. If hey are important enough, she will bring them to me here. “ I have started collation, I cannot be receiving petitions in this hall and on this platform. And when I replied that text message, he replied again and said ‘okay’ he will see what he can do, which I interpreted to mean that he was going to take that petition or whatever document he had to the Secretary to the commission. “ As I speak with you now, I have not received anything from the Secretary to the commission. That is with regards with the issue of the so-called petition.

“With regards to what you said about results allegedly published by the APC on its website, I do not give results to anybody. The results will be announced formally by INEC as declared here. I have warned everybody to be careful and to ensure that they do not dignify results which we have not officially announced.

“So, as far as I am concerned, I have not seen any results. I have not given anybody any results. For you to even engage me on that issue, I think frankly it is not fair to me. I have not seen any results; how can I speak about something I have not seen?

“Let us be careful about what we say or do and let us not disrupt a process that has ended peacefully and in a matter of hours, we will be able to finish it. Mr. Orubebe, you were a former Minister of the Federal Republic; you are a statesman in your own right; you should be careful about what you say or what allegations or accusations you make and certainly you should be careful about your public conduct.”

APC Action Group congratulates Buhari

T

HE Action Group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has congratulated the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, for emerging victorious in Saturday’s election.

The group also hailed the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for the great sacrifice and selfless contribution he made towards the historic success.

It said Tinubu had once again proven to be a priceless and dogged leader with eyes permanently on the goal.

The leader of the group, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, described Buhari’s victory, which came quicker than many pundits had predicted, as neither accidental nor financially induced, but achievable through singleness of purpose, doggedness, determination, prop-

•Supporters jubilating in Ibadan...yesterday

er focus and resilience.

The group also extended its congratulations to the people for peacefully exercising their sovereign and democratic right to elect Buhari.

The choice they have made, Action Group said, is a tribute to their courage, as well as their determination to safeguard their dignity and keep the country firmly on the road to development.”

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

62

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

How prince, lawyer, four others died in canoe mishap

•The ill-fated canoe (right) and others at the bank of the river... on Monday PHOTO: TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO

•The late Prince Adewale

E

PE, a coastal community in Lagos, is yet to get over the death of its prince and five others in a canoe mishap last Saturday.

Prince Azeez, son of Olu of Epe Oba Sefiu Adewale, his friend Wale Mogaji. Mogaji's brother Gbolahan, who just returned from London; a lawyer, Muheez Bello, his personal assistant Shamsideen Agoro and son of the canoe owner died when it capsized.

Bello's widow Monsurat, the canoe owner and another of his sons survived.

The late Bello, a lawyer with Chevron was aspiring for Epe Local Government chairmanship under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.

They were coming from the riverine area where Mrs Bello went to vote.

An eye witness, Rasheed Bello, said the canoe capsized barely five minutes after it took off.

"We left for the riverine area at 12 noon and we were about leaving when they arrived. He asked us not to leave and wait for him and the person in the boat asked him what he was going to do at the back of the Lagoon, he said he can't leave his wife that she wants to go and vote there.

When they were about to board, the first thing they asked for was life jacket and they were told there was no life jacket and he said no problem.

We moved and he and his wife began to take pictures including their friends. When we got there, they dropped and we left for elsewhere.

That's all I know," he said.

Another eyewitness said they were seen taking pictures before the

•The late Wale Mogaji

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

canoe capsized.

The news of the accident went through Epe like wild fire.

Many, including the royal family, the Mogajis, the Bellos, the canoe owner family and their friends virtually did not believe the report, describing it as "rumour".

"We were waiting for him to come and cast his vote and we started hearing different rumours and nobody knows what exactly was wrong. In fact, I even asked one of my brothers to find out and he couldn't go," Prince Dapo Adewale told The Nation.

The remains of Prince Adewale, a director in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, were among the first to be brought out.

He was rushed to the hospital. "… but when we moved near the Lagoon, I saw his (the late Adewale's) T-shirt because he was wearing one red T-shirt and I was like 'Kileleyi ke, kilode meaning what is the meaning of this? What happened?' So, we found him and took him away from there thinking there is still hope. We took him to the hospital. It was there a doctor confirmed him dead," Prince Dapo said.

The late Bello's uncle, Alhaji Adekunle Bello, relived how he heard the news, saying: "As far as I am concerned, it is one of his senior brothers that can answer that because I wasn't there. I went to cast my vote at the Primary Health Care near Oliwo Market. I was at the voter registration centre when my phone rang and my younger brother told me that his (Bello's) canoe has sunk!

•The late Agoro

‘

...but when we moved near the Lagoon, I saw his (the late Adewale's) T-shirt because he was wearing one red T-shirt and I was like 'Kileleyi ke, kilode meaning what is the meaning of this?

What happened?' So, we found him and took him away from there thinking there is still hope...

’

I asked 'what happened?". They said 'they cannot even say'. All they said was nine of them entered the boat instead of them to wait because they went with a very big boat but unfortunately, I think they have a lot of programme in Epe that Saturday; so he was planning to return early because only his wife went there to vote; he escorted his wife with others. When he was going, he sat down here and I was asking him 'where are you going?'

He said 'Ere Ise.' And that was all."

Alhaji Bello noted that they should have opted for a bigger canoe or boarded it in batches instead of nine of them at once.

"Unfortunately, the canoe cannot contain four people but they want

•The late Bello and his wife, Monsurat

•Alhaji Bello

•Prince Dapo Adewale

to manage it with the hope that they will get to Epe quick from there. The boat sank because there were heavier men inside the boat," he said.

According to Alhaji Bello, his late nephew was planning a big 38th birthday party for that fateful day.

"He greeted everybody that Saturday, telling them to continue enjoying themselves till he returned because that Saturday was his birthday and he has promised some people that there is going to be a big ceremony to mark the birthday," he said.

"Whenever he comes to Epe, he will come down to my house; take his bath and dress up in my room and go out. It is a great loss not only to both the family and the local government, but the world. He was well known and I wasn't surprise when Ambode (Akinwunmi) and Osinbajo (Prof Yemi) came to pay their condolences.

Prince Dapo, who teaches at the Lagos State University (LASU), described the accident as a "big tragedy".

He said: "It is a serious tragedy because we are not talking about a single individual but six persons. The whole community has been in a devastating mood since Saturday," he said.

According to him, the 48-year-old late Prince Adewale was with him and others on that fateful day, preparing to cast their votes.

"There was a problem with the INEC card reader machine and I took the INEC people to their office and when we came back, we were accredited and other people were doing their accreditation. He came with two of his friends - Gbolahan

and Wale Mogaji. When they sorted out the issue, the three of them left in a car. That was all."

He described him as an easy going person and a perfect gentle man.

"We are so close, we went to the same school and I remember we did O' level together, slept in the same room and on the same bed. We have never had one minute quarrel even after graduation, we moved together, rented a flat and lived together before I was giving an official contract and I finally moved out.

"Apart from that, he was a very intelligent man. Whenever there were serious issues, he had a way of handling it even when people take it too serious and he will take it with levity and before you know it, the problem is solved," he said.

The late Bello's political associate, Modupe Bello said she still didn't believe it's real.

"It was very sad. I was called by one of our campaign teams that, did I hear that MB (as Bello was fondly called) went on water and the boat sank? I told her he did not tell me anything and I was confused. I miss him so much and I still don't believe because it looks like a drama till now," she said.

According to her, their last conversation was on Bello's birthday.

"He called on Friday that he wanted to have his birthday on the 28; Election Day and told me to make some enquiry about the things we are going to use for the birthday party," she said.

"He was a very accommodating person; he accommodated both the young and the old," she said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

63

SPORT EXTRA

Siasia drafts foreign pros to Dream Team VI

Athletes dazzle at Skylink athletics meet

•Players set to hit Abuja camp on Monday •Awoniyi, Mohammed, others join team today

N

IGERIA’S U- 23 national team called Dream Team VI has invited four foreign based players to join the other three players also invited from the Africa Youth Championship Champion; the Flying Eagles to boost his team ahead must-win return leg, final round qualifier of the 2015 All Africa Games slated for Congo Brazzaville.

Sporting-Life exclusively gathered from the Dream Team VI’s Chief Coach Samson Siasia yesterday in Abuja that he had already sent invitations to the players’ clubs through the Nigeria Football Federation and the players invited are: Club de Africaine of Tunisia’s attacking midfielder, Patrick Nwankwo , Paul Nwachi from Denmark, Atanda Ololade Sodiq from Apolonia Fier FC of Albenia’s central defender Atanda Ololade Sodiq and Osmanlispor of Turkey’s

From Segun Ogunjimi, Abuja midfielder Aminu Umar.

The four players are expected to hit Serob Hotel Abuja camp of the team latest next week Monday after helping out in their club’s weekend matches while the three Flying Eagles invitees: striker Taiwo Awoniyi, right back Musa Mohammed and left back Mustapha Abdullahi will join the team today.

“Yes it is true I have discussed with the Nigeria Football Federation to send invitations to the following players Patrick Nwankwo, Paul Nwachi, Atanda Sodiq and Aminu Umar to join the team for our return leg match against Zambia in Lusaka.

“Also three of the invited four Flying Eagles players namely Musa Mohammed, Taiwo Awoniyi and Mustapha Abdullahi will join the team tomorrow morning (this morning) for

preparations for Zambia’s match too”, Siasia told Sporting-Life shortly after the team’s workout at the main bowl of the Abuja National Stadium yesterday.

Sporting-Life can also report that goalkeeper Dele Alampasu of the Flying Eagles who was also invited could not make it as a result of injury.

Coach Siasia was initially unhappy that the Flying Eagles trio failed to join the team as scheduled since Sunday but had to pardon them and gave them up till today to join the team.

“We don’t have the luxury of time on our hands and there is need for these guys (players) to have more training time together to blend and gel together. But they have told me that it was the elections that prevented them from coming to camp on time. So I am expecting them to join the team tomorrow (today)”, Siasia disclosed.

•Pupils of Skylink children school Ikorodu during their second biennial inter-house sports held recently at the Ikorodu fun factory...... House of Prosperity won the trophy.

S

• Siasia

European clubs chase Abdullahi

S

POTLIGHT FC and Flying Eagles’ defender Mustapha Abdullahi may soon leave the country for a move abroad, a reliable source has informed SL10.

The left-back, who was recently invited to the U23 side, has been scouted by two European clubs.

“I can confirm that two European clubs have shown interest in Mustapha, but it's all up to his representatives to decide on his future,” the source told SL10.

The source didn't want to be drawn into revealing the names of the teams that have shown interest in the young defender at this stage, as it only came to his attention last weekend.

“It's still a new issue and it only became concrete this past weekend. So, we will wait and see what is going to happen from here,” he said.

Mustapha has been previously linked with a move to a club in Norway, but the proposed move hit a snag at the last minute.

Spotlight are unlikely to stand in Mustapha's way, provided the offer is good.

•Abdullahi

Red House dominates Gold Bunch sports meet

T

HE University of Lagos came alive last week when Red House emerged the winner in the overall school sports competition of the second edition of the Gold Bunch School.

Red house dominated the medal table with 11 gold 10 silver and eight bronze medals to win the trophy, leaving Green house as the second position with 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals, while blue

house emerged the third position with seven gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze medals.

In the match past, Blue house was at their best as they outshone other houses with 69 points, as parents, teachers, and guardians were on ground to cheer their wards to victory.

Games such as slippers race, 25m race, sack race, shuttle relay race, skipping race and invitation schools relay was keenly contested

for by both the junior and the senior athletes.

Despite the intimidating weather, the teachers and parents were not left behind as they also competed in the parent s and teacher's race.

Speaking during the prize presentation at the event, the Chairman of the e v e n t , D e l e Ogundimu,expressed satisfaction for the keenly contested events, adding that the pupils displayed high level of

sportsmanship. He also advised parents to continually encourage their wards to take part in sports.

According to him, "It's indeed important for every parent to allow their children to participate in sports because it awakens their mental alertness both in and outside the class a whole. This is what we have continually instilled into the minds of these ones to enable them focus on their careers", he said.

TUDENTS of Skylink Children School displayed exceptional skills to the admiration of their parents and guardians at the second biennial inter-house sports competition of the college held at the Ikorodu Fun Factory in Lagos.

The colourful march past thrilled the spectators, while four houses competed for honours at the one-day championship.

With the presence of dignitaries led by the chairman of the occasion, Prince Aderogba Ogunseye leading other guests like the chairman board of governor Landmark College Ikorodu, Isiaka I. Oyebamiji, Olalekan Ogunseye, Adedeji Mufutau, Kayode Owoeye, Funmilayo Babalola and Bukola Adeyemi.

Blue house, Red house, Purple house and Yellow house competed in different events such as march past, 50m, 100m, 200m, 4x400m, egg and spoon, staff race and parents race.

House of Prosperity (yellow house) lived up to their name as they clinched the day's trophy. The second position

went to Love house (Red house), while House of Royalty (purple house) and House of Peace (blue house) secured third and last positions respectively.

According to Obasa James Jonathan, Chairman Skylink School said: "Producing a total person out of our children is our watchword and we shall not relent in our efforts towards achieving this noble goal". He added that as students compete with their fellow peers and competitors, they are engaging in physical and mental activities that will guide them to learn more about solid work-ethic, the importance of practice, and the imperativeness of their determination. Moreover, competing in sports will certainly expose students to opportunities to enhance their personal and physical abilities and fitness level.

Obasa emphasised that the essence of the biennial inter-house sports is not for who wins and who loses, but to make the pupils fit physically, mentally and to bring out the talents in them so as to help them channel their choice appropriately in life.

Wolves restate commitment to CAF Confederation Cup

W

ARRI Wolves, the N i g e r i a n representative in the CAF Confederation Cup, has reassured its fans on the club's commitment to the African club competition.

The media manager of the Warri based club, Moses Etu informed SL10.ng on the Seasiders plan to honour the return leg of the Confederation Cup against Dedebit in Ethiopia after a 2-0 win in Warri.

According to Etu, there are reports that the team may not be able to honour the return leg of the CAF Confederation Cup in Ethiopia and may end up the way of Dolphin FC of PortHarcourt.

“I wish to state it clearly that the Government and those in charge of the Club are working seriously to see that the team leave the shores of this country as planned,” Etu stated.

“The players, 20 in number have been moved to the Club Camp in Warri since Monday morning to prepare their mind for the journey as the team is expected to leave Warri on Thursday morning and will spend the night in Lagos before flying to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Fridaymorning.

“However, we wish to assure

our fans and the general public that we have a dynamic Sports Loving Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who has remained a source of inspiration to the Club and I am sure will not allow such thing to happen,” Etu insisted.

•Warri Wolves players’ celebrate after scoring a goal

TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO.3171

‘What is at stake in this election is the future of this great country which is why, the old and young, the elderly and the sick, braved all odds to cast their votes’ DELE AGEKAMEH

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HEY said he will never be elected president of this country and used every trick in and out of the book of politics to make sure. Three times he tried, beginning from 2003, and three times he failed. But the man simply refused to be deterred.

Part of his problem seemed to be where he came from – the northern part of Nigeria whose leaders, in mufti and in Khaki (including himself), had ruled the country for much of its existence as an independent country. Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, the director-general of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation, once alluded to this at the time he had pressed himself into the service of President Olusegun Obasanjo, the estranged benefactor of his current political master. This was back in 2002.

Because the North had ruled the country for so long, he said in an interview in Sunday Vanguard (July 21, 2002), “We also have to be able to rule for possibly close to 50 years.” By “We” he, of course, meant the South where Obasanjo and himself came from. But not only did the South deserve to rule for nearly half a century in compensation for the longevity of Northern rulership of the country, he also believed, he said, good governance was a preserve of Southerners.

“I also believed,” he said in the same interview, “that their people, their ordinary people, are actually better-off being ruled by people from the South. Because the benefit of good governance trickle down.” That year General Muhammadu Buhari ignored Fani-Kayode’s empty theory, ran against President Olusegun Obasanjo and lost.

Even without the benefit of any reliable opinion poll, it is obvious from the dismal lot of Nigerians since 1999 that the gentleman’s fanciful theory of good governance being a function of one’s geographical origin was exactly that – fanciful; in the last 16 years, a Northerner has ruled this country for barely two years, but no one in his right mind would say Nigerians have been better off all these years than they were in the First and Second Republic or even during the military interventions in between.

Certainly no one can say the last six years under Fani-Kayode’s new political master has been a happy one for Nigerians, with, of course, the exception of those in the president’s charmed little circle. Yet this did not stop the president’s friends and supporters from trying to make the geographical origin of the major contenders in last Saturday’s presidential election an issue.

General Buhari’s second problem stemmed from his faith. Not being someone who has a way with words, even his most innocent affirmation of his faith provided his enemies with weapons to paint him in the image of an Islamic extremist. It seemed to make little or no difference that, for example, his cabinet as military ruler between December 1983 and July 1985 had more Christians than Muslims or that he severely curtailed the number of Muslims that went on pilgrimage to Mecca in

RIPPLES BUHARIWINSPRESIDENTIALELECTION–News

R.I.P....PDP

People and Politics By

MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

Buhari: Fourth time lucky

•Gen. Buhari

his time, to the great annoyance of Muslims in the country.

Three times the man ran for the country’s presidency and three times the authorities used his origin and faith to defeat him. A less determined person would have given up after the third attempt since there is nothing he could do about his origin and, at well over sixty by 2003, he was highly unlikely to change his faith.

Apparently the man was determined not to give up. So for the fourth time he entered the presidential fray last year. This time he grabbed the opportunity to forge a formidable opposition party with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu - one of the most astute and formidable politicians of this country since the Third Republic - a couple of some opposition parties and a disaffected rump of chieftains of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party – an opportunity he had turned his back on in the run-up to the 2011 election, much to the joy of the PDP. Thus emerged the All Progressives Congress last year as the main opposition party which has now proved the nemesis of the PDP, the ruling party that had boasted that it will remain in power for at least 60 years.

However, that Buhari has succeeded in his fourth attempt is due less to the organisation of his party than in the faith the ordinary Nigerian seems to have in the man’s personal integrity and credibility. For, if truth be told, the APC nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in Saturday’s elections but for the fact that most Nigerians were simply fed up with the sheer incompetence, arrogance and impunity of the ruling party, plus also the fact that its campaign of undue personal denigration of the man seemed to have backfired and created

more public sympathy for him than hatred.

Part of the problem with the party was not so much its choice of the director-general of Buhari’s campaign organisation but his conduct once he took over the organisation. No doubt Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, the River’s State Governor, came highly recommended as a formidable opponent of the president and his overweening wife, Patience, who is from his state. Rivers is also one of the wealthiest states in the country. But for some inexplicable reason, no sooner did he take over the Buhari campaign organization than he alienated Tinubu and several serving governors in the party, including Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Kano’s governor who came second in the APC presidential primaries.

Equally inexplicably, he also alienated several party chieftains from the South-South and the South-East like Mr Osita Okechukwu, Chief Ikechi Emenike and Temi Harriman who had helped in securing the general’s landslide victory in the party primaries and who would certainly have helped in narrowing the wide

Re: Yorubaland as battleground Sir, Let me humbly correct the wrong comparison in your article titled “Yorubaland as Battleground”, (March 18). You said the AIT has since transformed into the propaganda arm of the PDP alongside the NTA, and that the latter’s disposition is understandable being a medium of the PDP- run FG. I think that comparison is unfair to the NTA, which has been far more temperate and moderate in its political broadcasting in this election season than the AIT. I wonder how much of the AIT you have watched in the past one month. I have been a regular watcher of the station till I stopped a couple of days back to save my mind from burning anger and sheer nausea. No TV station, since Awolowo established WNTV in 1959, has spewed out - in the name of political advert - such bile as can lead this country into anarchy as the AIT has done and is still doing. I think Chief Raymond Dokpesi, its proprietor, has allowed short term gains to obfuscate his strategic, long-term calculations.

I find myself today switching often to NTA as my next option after Channels TV in terms of local stations. It used to be Channels and AIT. Dokpesi is demolishing the edifice he has built like an inscrutable, if not insane, bird Ghanaians call eghagha, that in a matter of days, tears apart with its beak and legs a nest that it had painstakingly and artistically sewn together.

Dr.Femi Olufunmilade femiology@gmail.com Sir, Please refer to your column of Wednesday March 18. Writing on “Yorubaland as battleground” kindly note the fixed expression: “have your cake and eat it” and NOT “eat your cake and have it.”

Femi Melefa. +2348033141978.

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HARDBALL

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N Palm Sunday, a day after the presidential election of March 28, it looked like time for soul-searching at the church service at Aso Villa, Abuja, where President Goodluck Jonathan was among the congregation.

According to a report, “Before this time, the Chapel was always filled beyond capacity anytime President Jonathan was worshipping there. But those in attendance yesterday, besides the choir, did not exceed the first three rows on both sides. Workers and few security aides and reporters occupied the last seats.”

It seemed like the picture of a fall and the loneliness that comes with it. From all indications, Jonathan was on his way out. Interestingly, in his sermon, Rev. William Okoye, the guest minister and a former Aso Villa Chaplain, possibly speaking under divine influence, suggested the probability of Jonathan’s electoral failure. Okoye said: “If God gives us another opportunity there are things we must do: One, we must acknowledge God as our source of victory and helper.

Two, review all you have done in the past, learn from past mistakes because you have done well but you must admit you have made mistakes. Thirdly, repackage the mistakes

margins by which the president defeated the general in the two zones, wide margins which contributed in denying him the landslide victory he deserved in the elections as a candidate who eschewed hate language in all his campaigns in spite of all provocations but instead focussed, along with his running mate, Professor Femi Osinbajo, on issues.

Clearly APC’s apparent writing-off of South-South and South-East as too hopelessly loyal to the president was a mistake. This should be obvious from the fact that the president, though admittedly under greater pressure than Buhari in the contest, never gave up seeking for votes in Buhari’s North-West, North-East and South-West strongholds. The president was, of course, more endowed than Buhari but what mattered more was getting value for money not just throwing it at people as PDP did, apparently to not much avail.

In a back-page piece as a guest columnist of Thisday on Election Day, Chief Osita Chidoka, the youthful Minister of Aviation wrote about was he called “The death of the African Big Man.” Even among Nigeria’s military rulers, he said, Buhari ranked lowly because he had no plans to hand over to civilians, isolated Nigeria diplomatically and passed laws retroactively.

“The question We ask Nigerian watchers and voters,” he said, is “with a record of seizing power through force, of brutally oppressing the people, and of triggering economic turmoil – would you find him to be a suitable leader?”

Presumably Nigerians pondered over Chidoka’s query and the majority of them obviously decided to take their chance with a persistent but honest 73 year-old than with a 57 year-old who had made such a hash job of their country in the last six years.

Sermon after election you have made so that you can launch out in full force. Every leader in public office is in a position of trust, we must account for the position we have been given and do things right.”

Thank God, Okoye said: “If God gives us another opportunity.” However, for his information and instruction, the poll was about what and who the people want. Perhaps Okoye should be reminded of the saying, “The voice of the people is the voice of God.” Okoye sounded like a priest prescribing medicine after death. His words to Jonathan, “repackage the mistakes you have made so that you can launch out in full force,” may be coming too late; and in this case, it isn’t better late than never.

It was apt that Okoye’s priestly voice ultimately provided useful enlightenment for those who have ears to hear by defining public office as “a position of trust.” Maybe unintentionally, he succeeded in delivering an

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above important message that seemed specifically targeted at Jonathan when he said, “we must account for the position we have been given and do things right.”

The presidential poll represented a formal public assessment of the Jonathan presidency and whether the man at the top had done things right during his four-year term which he sought to extend by seeking reelection. To employ Okoye’s language, it was time for Jonathan to account for the presidential position he was given.

Curiously, it appeared Okoye was speaking for Jonathan when he said: ”Thank God we have a president that says I want to serve but I’m not desperate. So it is not a question of do or die thing.” Okoye continued: “This election is not a do or die. If we lose, we will go and use the experience to serve humanity. So, there is nothing to worry about.

I know with what this government has done, if given another opportunity, Nigeria will be better.”

Questions: If Jonathan failed to serve Nigeria in power, of what use can he possibly be to humanity after leaving office? If Jonathan failed to make Nigeria better during his first term, why should he be given another opportunity to make things worse?

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