April 06, 2015

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•Obasanjo to traders: re-enact March 28 feat in Ogun MORE ON PAGES •APC’ll learn from PDP’s mistakes, says Kwankwaso 5,47, 48&57 •Hausa, Igbo ’ll vote for Oyo Governor Ajimobi •APC, old PDP members unite for Ondo Assembly poll

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VOL. 10, NO. 3176 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

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I've been in cage for 16 years, says Jonathan

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan spoke yesterday about his sojourn in governance, saying he has been in a cage since 1999.

Dr. Jonathan spoke when the Christian community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) paid him Easter homage at the new Banquet Hall of the State

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

House, Abuja.

He described himself as one of the luckiest Nigerians, having occupied public offices from the deputy governor of Bayelsa State to governor, vice-president and president.

He said: “I thank you for coming to encourage us. This Easter period coincides with

when I’m leaving but I always say I’m one of the luckiest Nigerians. From 1999 I have been in the hands of government. I am yet to see somebody luckier than me. I was in the hands of governments for 16 years, not in government as a parliamentarian, because if you are in the National Assembly or House of Assembly, you take care of

yourself in your house. I was in a cage being taken care of by the government. But I think it is enough and I am happy. Help me to thank God for that.

“I will continue to thank Nigerians for giving me that privilege. I became deputy governor because Baylesans voted for me and governor Continued on page 4

•INSIDE: SEC CANCELS ‘BLACK MARKET’ FOR SHARES, BOND P25 AFDB’S $26M FOR WATER P39

Buhari leads APC’s battle for Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, others President-elect for Imo, Rivers, others From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

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RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari has a packed schedule this week.

He is leading the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaigns in some “battleground” states to lend his popularity to the push by APC candidates.

He is scheduled to visit Lagos, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Nasarawa and Benue states.

Others on the programme are Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Adamawa, a source told The Nation last night.

Ahead of his campaign trips, which will likely be in town hall format, Gen. Buhari has already called on Nigerians to vote APC candidates all the way.

The president-elect will be in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Tuesday. Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the APC, in a statement signed by his Media Adviser Sam Onwuemeodo, said Gen. Buhari will be given a “heroic” reception at the Heroes’ Square, where he will address residents.

Continued on page 4

•Catholic faithful renewing baptismal promises during Easter vigil at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gwagwalada in Abuja… on Saturday night.

Police restore Ekiti speaker’s security •Fayose kicks as lawmakers insist he must go

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HE police have restored Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin’s security team.

Omirin, who leads the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) majority lawmakers, lost his security backing after seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers claimed to have

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

removed him from office.

The restoration of his security on the orders of Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, follows the restoration of the Department of State Security (DSS) personnel attached to Continued on page 4

•Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode (second right) at his endorsement by the Coalition of Christian Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Ikeja...at the weekend. With him are Archbishop Magnus Atilade, Chairman of the group (right), Mr. Ayo Opadokun and Bishop Solomon Fadeyi (left).

•SPORTS P15 •JOBS P35 •CEO P37 •MOTORING P40 •POLITICS P43 •FOREIGN P51

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

2

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

Muhammadu Buhari’s democratic rebirth

Agenda for

Pulling Nigerians together at a time of intensifying regional, religious and ethnic friction will be a daunting task for President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, writes William Wallis in the Financial Times. As the President-elect

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IGERIANS with a grounding in British history have found their analogy for General Muhammadu Buhari’s epic struggle to regain power in the legend of Robert the Bruce.

Before inflicting a humiliating defeat on the British at the battle of Bannockburn in 1314, the Scottish king drew courage from a spider, grappling to spin its web across the roof of a cave. The spider only succeeded after three attempts, inspiring the maxim: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try, again.”

Buhari, who is among a clutch of former generals who rose to prominence in the turbulent aftermath of Independence in 1960, first came to power in a coup in 1983. Professing himself a bornagain democrat, he made three previous attempts to win it back at •Buhari the ballot box, each time gaining only about half the votes he needed.

His resounding victory last week, in the face of bounteous skulduggery, is an object lesson in perseverance and arguably one of the most significant political events on the continent since the 1994 election in South Africa brought an end to white minority rule. For the first time in Nigeria’s history, an incumbent president has been unseated by the electorate, along with the party that has governed (and often misgoverned) Nigeria since military rule ended in 1999.

For the first time also, a sitting Nigerian President accepted with humility that he was obliged to go. Elated by the positive implications for the country’s fledgling democracy, Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president, said last week that if he were to live another life, he would choose to be a Nigerian a second time. The country, he said, had surmounted many crises since Independence.

“Some people in Africa believe an incumbent government cannot be removed by the will of the people,” he added. “We have done it.”

Obasanjo, with whom the incoming president has not always seen eye to eye, said he believed Buhari was “intelligent enough” to move Africa’s mostpopulous state forward. “He is a man who lives a modest life and I believe he will manage the affairs of Nigeria by and large the way he manages his own affairs.”

Although last week’s events are unique, there is also a sense of deja vu about the general’s march to power, 30 years after he first took it in a coup. In 1983, as now, Africa’s leading oil producer was in the throes of an oil shock.

A collapse in state revenues revealed how bloated government had become.

Austerity beckoned, and Buhari imposed it with a “war on indiscipline” in the 20 months before he was overthrown by rival officers.

That period, when hundreds were locked up on the mildest suspicion of fraud, earned him an image of uncompromising ruthlessness that still unsettles many. But it also earned him admirers, who believe he was overthrown by corrupt elements of his own regime just as his policies began to yield results.

“If I had had another two years in office then Nigeria might be a different place today,” he says. His ousting led to a prolonged period of detention after which he divorced his first wife Safinatu, with whom he has five children.

His second wife, Aisha, with whom he also has five children, is now the First Lady-in-waiting. The statuesque beauty of one of his daughters proved to be an electoral asset; when a photograph of her went viral, one social media commentator observed that “anyone who can produce her can produce the change we need.”

In 2011, when Buhari last tried and failed to win power at the polls, change did not seem so attractive. Each of his previous campaigns came at a time when oil prices — on which Nigeria still depends for about 70 per cent of state revenues — were either recovering or close to their peak. His ascetic reputation was a bit of a damp squib when the country was enjoying an oil boom.

Curbing the excesses of the political class — the centrepiece of the lean, 72year-old’s campaign — has a more urgent ring now the oil price has fallen. So has his pledge to tackle the spread of Boko Haram terrorists in the North.

Buhari is something of a throwback, one of a group of generals and coup plotters from yester-year who have remained influential ever since. Their concern, when they joined the army as young men in the 1960s, was to find a way for the predominately Muslim North to catch up with the much more developed and mostly Christian south. That quandary persists today.

Born in the northern state of Katsina, in the dusty brush of the Sahel, Buhari now sits atop a complex coalition that helped win him support in the South, where in the last election, he garnered almost none. He has softened and developed a twinkling sense of humour, as transpired in a recent interview I ran out of paper. “Not ideal for a journalist,” he quipped.

Despite the broad alliance he has built, pulling Nigerians together at a time of intensifying regional, religious and ethnic friction will be a daunting task.

Some southern Christians, conscious of how pockets of their region have modernised and taken off in recent years, remain uneasy that the presidency is shifting back north.

“This is a major northern revival which will take a while for the others to wake up and recognise,” says a contemporary of Buhari’s who served in several governments. “When they do they are going to feel very uncomfortable.

Much will depend on how he exercises power and how sensitive he is to national unity.”

•Culled from Financial Times

Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo are getting set for governance on May 29, a Law teacher at the University of Lagos, Wahab Shittu, draws an agenda that will guide the new president in the arduous task ahead.

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EYOND the euphoria and celebrations that greeted Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the March 28 presidential elections as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there is the urgent need to examine what the president-elect has to offer including the likely impact of his vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo on his administration from May 29.

I have listened to the pronouncements of the president-elect and observed the disposition of the incumbent president since the outcome of the historic elections. I have also watched the comportment of the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega during and after the announcement of the outcome of the election was made. The first point to make is the seeming statesman-like comportment of incumbent President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, which is salutary. He may have raised the bar of democratic spirit and ethical conduct by the swiftness with which he congratulated Gen Buhari even before the formal announcement of his victory by INEC. The whole world is already celebrating this remarkable gesture which is uncommon in this clime.

Starting well The second point to note is the outstanding integrity and comportment of the INEC chairman at the time the results of the election was being collated and proceedings became rudely interrupted by the seemingly unguarded utterances of Elder Godsday Orubebe. The matured manner he handled the proceedings despite the tantrums thrown at him by Elder Orubebe may have elevated the rating of the Nigerian in the consciousness of civilised nations of the world. I commend his maturity in the face of provocation.

The other issue worthy of mention is the magnanimity of Gen Mohammadu Buhari in victory consistent with the democratic spirit. He had extended his hands of fellowship and conciliation to President Jonathan and those who voted against him saying that he has no ill-wind against anyone and describing the incumbent president as a great Nigerian who is still our president.These are pronouncements of a statesman and indicative of a very positive beginning sign-posting the fact that politics ought to be about service to the people without bitterness from the contenders including politicians and their supporters. These actions may have contributed to the deepening of the democratic process including enhancing the quality of the peace process in the land.

Thirdly, the president-elect also pledged to deliver just and peaceful

• Presidentelect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari receiving a congratulatory letter from the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock when the envoy visited him in Abuja...at the weekend.

governance subject to the rule of law including declaring massive war against corruption, saying quit significantly that ‘corruption will not be tolerated by this administration’. He also pledged to tackle insurgency that is ravaging the land, declaring - with a strong resolve - that ‘the strength of our collective will would spare no effort until we defeat terrorism’.

Overall, it can be said that Buhari has started well judging by the quality of his pronouncements. But what are the preliminaryThe issueslist that of he ought to consider moving forward?

Beyond rhetorics The first issue that he needs to address urgently is the unity and cohesiveness of the country because never has our country except during the civil war been so divided by politics, ethnicity, religion and other primordial sentiments making it imperative for him to immediately unify the country as a matter of priority. I am happy to observe that he has also pledged to prevent the discrimination of any Nigerian on account of ethnicity, religion and such other base sentiments. Beyond that however, is the need to walk the talk by putting in place policies and programmes that would make every Nigerian to have the requisite sense of belonging which is indispensable in nation building.

There is the need to reconcile entities within the nation that are severely divided including elements from the Northeast and Niger Delta with prospects of instability and threats to the nation state. The war against terror must be fought to a standstill by enlisting the cooperation of Nigerians, the international communities and the neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad whose cooperation is crucial to forestall illegal movements across borders and check the inflow of illegal weapons. Our security forces must also be well-equipped in terms of weapons, training, logistics, funding and collaboration to win the war of terror. Corruption which he has identified as a major stumbling block in prosecuting the war of terror must be addressed decisively as our country can no longer afford destruction of valuable lives and property including the displacement of Nigerians from their homes.

Walking the talk Secondly, I am also impressed by the president-elect’s declaration that he is now a converted democrat alluding to the fact that having at-

tempted the presidency three times without success and ending up in the Supreme Court rather than resorting to violence, he has demonstrated his belief in democratic tenets. The presidentelect is advised to continue with that spirit as dictatorship in whatever guise is no longer fashionable in any part of the world.

There is also the need to fix the economy and raise the living standards of Nigerians, majority of whom are suffering and living below the poverty line.

In this sense, there is the need to apSenators-elect proach economic development within the context of a major set of problems such as poverty, inequality, population growth, environmental decay and rural stagnation including adopting a problem and policy oriented approach to governance. The present situation comprising widespread poverty, large income and asset inequalities, rapid population growth, low levels of literacy and health, high levels of urban unemployment and underemployment and chronic balance of payments and foreign/debt burdens to name a few.

Empowering the people Nigerians must have access to food, energy, natural resources, technology, information and financial flows. The incoming administration must realise that there is a symbiotic relationship between economic, social and institutional problems of underdevelopment requiring coordinated approaches to their solution at the local, national and international levels. In summary, attempts to boost our economy must address decisively issues bordering on lower levels of human capital, higher levels of inequality and absolute poverty, higher population growth rates compared to available resources, greater social fractionalisation accelerated by displacements arising from insurgency, larger rural populations but rapid rural to urban migrations, lower levels of industrialisations and manufactured exports, adverse geography, underdeveloped financial and other markets, lingering colonial impacts and inadequate public and private sectors participations in driving the economy.

These require agricultural transformation and rural development, involving appropriate policy framework to tackle finance and fiscal policies for development. The widening gap between the rich and poor must be reduced to the barest minimum.

Creating businessfriendly environment It is also important for the presidentelect to make the business environment more conducive and friendly. These

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

3

BUHARI’S VICTORY

President-elect, by lawyer indiscipline in our national life, protecting fundamental rights of the people and generally ensuring good governance.

Leading by example

•Angola’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. E.J. Quibato (right) presenting a congratulatory letter to President-elect Gen. Buhari...at the weekend. With them are embassy officials who accompanied the ambassador.

Task ahead not easy, says The New York Times

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RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari has an arduous task, The New York Times said in an editorial published on-line yesterday.

In the article entitled: “The giant of Africa votes”, the respected newspaper cited falling oil prices, depletion of the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and corruption as some of the problems the new leader must tackle head on.

“The price of oil, the resource from which the government draws the bulk of its funding, has fallen sharply, taking Nigeria’s currency and foreign currency reserves with it, and history shows that a culture of corruption is not easily uprooted,” the paper wrote.

It warned that Nigerians, who voted massively for Buhari, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will not take excuses if he failed to meet their aspirations.

Specifically, it said the APC government will present its scorecard to the electorate in another four years.

The article reads: “But the president-elect has made clear that he is aware of the challenges before him. More important, the Nigerian electorate, which gave him and his All Progressives Congress party 55 per cent of its vote across geographic, religious and tribal lines, has made clear that it is thoroughly sick of corruption and Boko Haram.

“Mr. Buhari promises, this time, to abide by the law. Should he be tempted to slide back into his old authoritarian ways, there is another election just four years down the road.”

The article pointed out that an elected Buhari will be different from Gen. Buhari, who was military Head of State between December 31, 1983 and August 27, 1985.

The article: “When Muhammadu Buhari last became head of state in Nigeria, it was via a military coup in 1983, when he launched a nasty campaign against ‘indiscipline’ and corruption in his vast African nation that earned him a reputation for brutality and disdain for human rights. Hundreds of politicians and businessmen were convicted by military courts, and minor offenses — like cheating on exams — were enough to send Nigerians to jail.

Mr. Buhari was himself overthrown 20 months later, yet now, at age 72, he has returned to rule Nigeria — and, he vows, to continue the war on corruption. The difference is that he has returned through a democratic election.

“It’s a huge difference. The general election in Nigeria on March 28 was the most competitive ever held in Africa’s most populous country, and if the defeated president, Goodluck Jonathan, peacefully hands power to Mr. Buhari on May 29, it will be the first handover between civilians of different political parties since independence. Given Mr. Jonathan’s gracious concession after his crushing defeat, there is no reason to doubt that this will happen, and every reason to hope that other African states follow the example of the ‘giant of Africa.’

“Mr. Buhari’s victory was in part due to selective public memory of his earlier rule. To a majority of Nigerian voters, the trim and austere former general increasingly appeared to be the one leader who could stanch the massive loss of wealth to what the World Bank called a ‘deeply embedded culture of corruption,’ and who could rebuild the army into a force capable of taking on the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, which has spread terror and death for almost six years now through northeastern Nigeria. The outgoing government had claimed some success against Boko Haram, but that was achieved only by hiring South African mercenaries.”

include carrying out performance audit of key regulatory institutions whose activities impact on the private sector with a view to ensuring that these institutions deliver added value

delivering on his commitment to a just and principled governance.

The incoming Buhari administration should also deliver positive change to Nigeria by providing vision-

to the economy.

The foregoing would require the president-elect to put in place an allinclusive team of talented and outstanding Nigerians to assist him in

ary leadership, upholding the rule of law, ensuring transparency and accountability, guaranteeing zero tolerance for corruption, putting a stop to the culture of impunity and

These outlined policy objectives could be achieved if the Buhari administration leads the fight against corruption from the front believing that the leadership below and the followership will take a cue from leadership by example. In this wise, one expects the president to publicly declare his assets and insist that those working under him should also follow the example.

The activities of the anti-graft agencies at all levels must be overhauled to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. This means the anti-graft agencies must be supported with funding, training, logistics, collaboration and equipment to enhance their operations. Autonomy and independence of these agencies are key factors.

The leadership must adopt both preventive and proactive measures in stamping out the menace of corruption. This implies that systems be overhauled; institutions must be strengthened; social traditions must be restored; ethical and moral values ought to be emphasised by putting in place a code of ethical conduct for all categories of public office holders. These measures would no doubt impact on personal behaviours and lead to a change in the orientation and values of our people. When this orientation changes, hard work, discipline, integrity, credibility, honesty, trustworthiness and patriotism would be restored into our collective consciousness as a people and as a country.

The incoming Buhari administration must put in place policy guidelines to address every sector of the economy and our national life and this policy thrust must also guide our foreign policy objectives and direction.

This in turn will restore the image of Nigeria and Nigerians in the committee of nations.

In summary, if the incoming Buhari administration delivers on leadership, rule of law, transparency and accountability, rights protection, zero tolerance for corruption and impunity and above all on good governance the trust that most Nigerians placed on Buhari by electing him in this fiercely contested election would not be in vain.

I wish the president-elect the best of luck.

Asiwaju, a quintessential democrat, says Obioha In this toast to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who turned 63 on March 29, a former chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ralph Obioha, recounts his association with the former Lagos State Governor.

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ENATOR Bola Tinubu, the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a quintessential democrat who displayed a remarkable commitment to the ideals of democracy. I make this toast admittedly with envy but I must quickly add that my envy is green since it is so laden with deep admiration and respect for what he has accomplished for Nigeria.

My encounter with the Senator started over 21 years ago when he was with Exxon as a treasurer and the Managing Director of my bank - First African Trust Bank, Mr. Yomi Tokosi, disclosed that Asiwaju was one of the backers of the bank. It was not long after that, he was elected to the Senate and we found ourselves together in the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Our paths were to cross much closer when the June 12 struggle started.

Asiwaju singled himself out as the major financer of this struggle in the United States of America (USA) and stood as the main pillar of support when the body was displaying fatigue and weariness but Asiwaju, at each turn of the struggle, roused the spirit to sustain the struggle to success. As the case in all human interaction, there were moments of disagreement but now with hindsight, it is a rare gift of vision that he galvanised the sustenance of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO’s) commitment to democracy.

The Asiwaju’s legacy can be summed-up as a great fighter of democracy and by extension of consensus builder injustice visited to their

•Tinubu

•Obioha

son, Bashrun M.K.O. Abiola. They massively elected him the governor of Lagos State. When he assumed office as the governor of Lagos State, no one gave that state any chance of survival but painstakingly, Asiwaju, like a magic, transformed Lagos into a livable modern megapolis. Even hardcore critics gave him kudos for what he was able to accomplish for his dear state and many were quick to add that Asiwaju’s selection of his successor in

the person of Governor Babatunde Fashola confirmed his selfless plans to ensure that Lagos is indeed “The Center of excellence”. Asiwaju was to experiment with various formations of political parties in his unquenchable thirst to move Nigeria forward.

In a masterstroke of political wizardry, he escaped the treachery of 2003 general elections and survived the near political annihilation of the Southwest in that election. True to his char-

acter, he rebuilt the zone and in 2007, won back nearly all the lost states except Ondo.

The icing on the cake is Asiwaju’s remarkable construction of the coalition that metamorphosed into the giant APC. Still more remarkable is his ability to discover the potency of Gen Muhammadu Buhari’s appeal in today’s Nigeria as the leader that could rescue us from the implosion Nigeria was heading into. You may not like the person of Senator Bola Tinubu that is your entitlement but Nigeria, over 25 years ago, lost most of her heroes but a nation must strive to find new heroes, not necessarily to worship them but to set role models for the emerging generations to look up to. For those who are envious of Senator Bola Tinubu, turn such envy into green as I did and join me to toast this remarkable son of Nigeria whose commitment to enthrone an enduring democracy in Nigeria is without question.

Ralph Obioha, is a former chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and former National Chairman of the Justice Party (JP).

4

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

NEWS Rivers youths bust ‘INEC officials’ thumprinting ballot papers

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GROUP of youths in Rivers State at the weekend found some people believed to be officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) thumb printing ballot papers in Khana, a community in Ogoniland.

The officials are believed to be carrying out the act to justify the results posted for the National Assembly elections.

A source said: “One of the officials disclosed that the action was arrived at to justify

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

the results tendered and provide evidence in preparation for tribunal.”

The youths later handed over the materials seized from the officials to Senator Magnus Abe, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers South-East Senatorial candidate.

Abe, at a news conference yesterday which was also atContinued on page 60

Pope worried about bloodshed in Nigeria, Iraq, others •Celebrates Easter Mass in the rain

I •A security patrol team on a street of Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

Police restore Ekiti speaker’s security Continued from page 1

him also at the weekend, a source close to the Speaker told our correspondent.

The Omirin-led lawmakers, who returned from ‘exile’ last week will likely hold a plenary at the House of Assembly complex tomorrow, based on last Thursday’s adjournment.

The police have stepped up security in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and other parts of the state following moves to remove Governor Ayo Fayose from office.

Nineteen members of the House of Assembly who belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have signed a notice of impeachment, which they sent to Fayose and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola.

The lawmakers alleged that Fayose committed eight impeachable offences since returning to power last October.

But the governor described the attempt to sack him as the “joke of the century”, saying the lawmakers were attempting to test the people’s will.

The police are not taking chances as the plot to impeach Fayose has heightened tension in a week the people will go to the polls to elect members of

Impeachment, ploy to distract me, says Fayose

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KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has described moves to impeach him by 19 of the 26 House of Assembly members as a ploy to distract him from concentrating on governance.

Fayose said the people would defend his mandate against those he described as political usurpers whom they had rejected twice in the last nine months.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to sustain his stand of not allowing the use of the judiciary to change the outcome of elections.

He also called on members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to be distracted from their goal of delivering all the 26 Assembly seats in the State to the party.

He said: “Sovereignty belongs to the people and the people of Ekiti State on June 21, the House of Assembly.

Commissioner of Police Taiwo Lakanu yesterday said his command was up to the task in ensuring that there is no breakdown of law and order.

Lakanu said the command had put in place a 24-hour security surveillance around the House of Assembly complex and other flash points.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

2014, surrendered their sovereignty to me to be their governor for four years.

“Instead of respecting the wish of Ekiti people, which they again affirmed on March 28 and will further affirm on April 11, the APC people that were rejected in two free and fair elections have been trying all tricks to return to power through the back door.

“They filed several cases in their bid to stop my inauguration as governor and even committed murder in the process.”

“The Speaker of the State House of Assembly then, Dr Adewale Omirin, was assured of assuming office as Acting Governor and that informed his non-attendance of my inauguration, as he was still hoping that even on October 16, 2014, a court order would be gotten to stop my inauguration.

“Their evil plots against the mandate of

Said the police chief: “I have emplaced security. Personnel have been placed on alert while high visibility patrol is being conducted around AdoEkiti.

“We know the tension generated must have caused some apprehension, but we are being proactive because the security of lives and property

Continued on page 60

and general peace of the people is our topmost priority.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety of our citizens and for everybody to go about their normal business without fear or harassment.”

The APC Youth Wing has hailed the impeachment move.

Continued on page 60

N an Easter peace wish, Pope Francis yesterday praised the framework nuclear agreement with Iran as an opportunity to make the world safer. He expressed deep worry about bloodshed in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa.

Cautious hope ran through Francis’ “Urbi et Orbi” Easter message, a kind of papal commentary on the state of the world’s affairs, which he delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Square.

He had just celebrated Mass in rain-whipped St. Peter’s Square for tens of thousands of people, who huddled under umbrellas or braved the downpour in thin, plastic rain-slick-

ers.

Easter Day is “so beautiful, and so ugly because of the rain,” Francis said after Mass about Christianity’s most important feast day. He expressed thanks for the flowers which bedecked the square and which were donated by the Netherlands, but the bright hues of the azaleas and other blossoms seemed muted by the gray skies.

Francis made his first public comments about the recent framework for an accord, reached in Lausanne, Switzerland, and aimed at ensuring Iran doesn’t develop a nuclear weapon.

“In hope we entrust to the merContinued on page 60

Buhari leads APC’s battle for Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, others Continued from page 1

The governor, who held a thank-you rally in the state, to appreciate the people for their unalloyed support, noted that Imo people contributed significantly to the resounding victory.

The governor urged the people to turn out en masse to receive Gen. Buhari irrespective of their political affiliations, adding that “in the new emerging order, everybody will be carried along and people will not be discriminated against on grounds of their political lean-

ing”.

The Coalition for a Better Nigeria, in a statement at the weekend, said Gen. Buhari will visit the commercial capital on Wednesday and hold “a town hall meeting titled Change 2015”.

It will be the 5th national discourse of the Coalition to review Nigeria’s political history and progressives as well as Nigeria’s march to freedom with the 2015 polls.

Leaders of the party, including National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Asiwaju Continued on page 60

CORRECTIONS •Mustapha Sani was erroneously referred to as the Senator-elect for Niger South Senatorial District. The Senator-elect is Maj-Gen. Mohammed A. Garba.

•The winner of Benue State House of Representatives seat for Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency is Mark Terser Gbilla and not Dr. Felix Gbilla as reported.

The errors are regretted.

I've been in cage for 16 years, says Jonathan Continued from page 1

then. I became VP because Nigerians voted for me and Yar’Adua. And Nigerians voted for me and Sambo. We have to thank all Nigerians.

Wherever I will be, I have to thank all Nigerians. Today is a glorious day for me.”

Dr. Jonathan noted that the key lesson of the Easter celebration is sacrifice.

He said: “Thank you for this Easter homage. It is a period to reflect on the essence of our belief. Because we believe without the resurrection there wouldn’t have been Christianity.

“Whenever we talk about this period, the key lesson there is sacrifice. Somebody sacrificed for our own salvation. So, as a people, as a government, what I always believe we should ask: ‘What sacrifice are you making?’

“Now it is not about supporting Jonathan or government. Now Buhari is coming on board; it is not about supporting Buhari or government, but what sacrifice as individual are you willing to make for government and for the nation?

“If you are a businessman and you say you are supporting government but you don’t pay tax, how do you expect that government to survive?

That government will not survive.”

Continuing, he said: “While in Bayelsa State as a deputy governor, people used to come to me to say ‘I’m loyal’.

Don’t tell me you are loyal, tell me I’m patriotic to the country and that you believe in Bayelsa State.

“To me, whenever I travel to different countries and see things work, those things

didn’t fall down as manna.

People made sacrifice. Therefore, in Nigeria people must also be ready to make the required sacrifice.

“Whoever becomes president is immaterial so long as the citizens are happy. Our children go to school, when we are sick they go to good hospital and of course the economy blossom.

“But for that to take place, people must make the required sacrifice. In ECOWAS sub-region, for example, Nigeria has the lowest VAT 5 per cent (Value Added Tax) payment, other countries pay up to 12 per cent.

“If for instance Buhari decides to increase VAT from 5 to 10 per cent, will Nigerians support him? That is sacrifice and we must make sacrifice.

“Nation building depends on the sacrifice of individu-

als and the patriotism of the citizens. These are two key elements. We must be ready to sacrifice for our nation. We are talking about Boko Haram or terror, soldiers are dying for us to live, police are dying for us to live; that is sacrifice. As individuals, you don’t need to die but there are various roles you need to play. You must make sacrifice.

“The economy of China was threatened but they locked themselves up for a period of time but by the time they opened their doors, they become even a threat to the biggest economy. Are we ready for that kind of sacrifice for the government? Whenever we talk of Easter, these are the key lessons of sacrifice.”

Vice-President Namadi Sambo thanked Jonathan for making Nigeria the pride of Africa and the world.

According to him, Jonathan’s name will be written in gold.

He said that the President had groomed him in the past five years to a doctorate degree level.

Sambo said: “I am proud to be your deputy. You are my brother and teacher forever.

For the five years I have been with you, I have got Phd from you. I am forever loyal to you and we are of the same family.”

He prayed for God’s wisdom for the president in leading the nation.

Among the guests are Cardinal John Onayeikan, Chairman of FCT Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Israel Akanji, and the primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Primate Nicholas Okoh.

Also in the delegation are

•Dr. Jonathan

the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, FCT Minister Bala Mohammed, FCT Minister of State Olajumoke Akinjide and Chief Imam of FCT Hustaz Mohammed Musa.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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NEWS Borno pastor : I didn’t beg Oritsejafor over N7bn bribe From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

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ORNO State-based Pastor Kallamu MusDikwa yesterday accused the wife of Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) President, Pastor Ayo Oristejafo, of lying against him that he came to beg her husband over the alleged N7 billion collected from President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the presidential election.

Pastor Dikwa had accused CAN of collecting N7 billion from President Jonathan to purportedly campaign against the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the rescheduled elections.

The cleric, in a telephone in Kaduna, said he had not “set his eyes on the CAN president for over a year now, let alone going to beg him as claimed by his wife”.

He also denied meeting Pastor Oritsejafor’s wife, challenging her to tell the world where and how he met her husband to beg for forgiveness over what he said he had no regret over.

The pastor urged the CAN leadership to “as a matter of urgency resign peaceful and sin no more and stop tarnishing the image of Nigerian Christians”.

He called on “real men of God to come forward and dissolve the CAN leadership before it was too late”, if it refused to abide by his appeal.

The cleric noted that he was not surprise at the antics of the wife of the CAN leader to blackmail him since other means to armtwist him to meet the CAN president had failed.

Dikwa added: “I have not seen Pastor Oritsejafor for the past one and half years.

They are the ones that have been sending emissaries to me for settlement, but I have always refused to go.

“The wife (Oritsejafor’s) is lying. I have never seen Ayo’s wife in my life. They have used the DSS (Directorate of State Service) to force me to write statements.

They are lying against their spirits and their God. “Let them bring witness (proof) that I went to beg Ayo. Is it in Abuja or Warri?.

“They have been sending men of God to me for settlement. The CAN’s North Central Zone Chairman, Yakubu Pam, even told me that I should go and meet Ayo and that he talked to him. But I refused.

“Many of them (Christian leaders) have been calling me asking me to meet the CAN leader and settle. And I said what for? In fact, they said I should not talk again and that they know that all I have been saying is true.

“Even they have called me, requesting that I denounced that they collected money and that they are going to give me money. But I refused.”

Dikwa warned the president-elect, Gen Muhammad Buhari, to be wary of the CAN leadership.

Obasanjo to Nigerians: re-enact March 28 feat on Saturday

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ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians not to relent in their quest for change with the election of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28 polls.

Obasanjo asked them to reenact the same feat of March 28 by coming out en masse to vote for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in governorship and

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

state Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday.

The former president spoke to reporters at the weekend in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, shortly after a surprise visit to traders at the popular Itoku market.

Obasanjo, in what was seen as endorsement of APC, said:

“They should do exactly what they did last Saturday.

As a member of the community, I have the right to visit my people, especially in the spirit of Easter.

“Since I came back, I have not really visited any market. I have come to do two things. I have come to give them Easter greetings and to find out how they are doing in their market.

“This is my community. As

Jega, Jonathan, Buhari heroes of democracy, says Bakare

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

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•Obasanjo

a member of the community, I want to know what’s going on and what’s happening in the community.”

APC ‘ll learn from PDP’s mistakes, says Kwankwaso

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ANO State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso yesterday said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not commit the mistake of abandoning its members as allegedly done by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Kwankwaso, who spoke to reporters in his office, said the APC would avoid mistakes that led to the fall of the PDP in the presidential elections The APC, he said, must learn not to be like the PDP, which, he added, disrespected those members that defected to the APC through constant insults.

He said the party should recognise that “everybody is somebody in the quest to succeed”.

The governor added: “We need to have a solid government, come together, work as a family and learn from the mistakes of the PDP”.

•Governor flays Lamido, Aliyu for returning to PDP From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Kwankwaso attributed the mistakes of President Goodluck Jonathan to lack of exposure to identify “who is who in the party and the country” and preferring to listen to roadside gossips against those who struggled for the success of the party.

He, however, said it was a show of statesmanship for President Jonathan to concede defeat and went ahead to congratulate the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Kwankwaso urged security agencies to shun partisan politics, praising them for their role in the last election.

The governor maintained that the APC as a government would not oppose vibrant opposition, but would want objective criticisms devoid of

blackmail, propaganda and hate campaign.

But, he said Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babagida Aliyu of (Niger) got it wrong for deciding to return to PDP. Kwankwaso, who is the senator-elect for Kano Central, explained that he was surprised for their return to “PDP despite the fact that the party was not in good shape”.

He noted that both Lamido and Aliyu were the brain behind the Group of Seven PDP Governors’ (G-7) struggle by virtue of their positions as elders and most experienced politically.

Kwankwaso alleged that Lamido was instrumental to the design and the draft of what would be required by the G-7 to float a brand new party, which was vehemently rejected.

The governor added that Lamido’s document provided options of establishing a new party or joining an established party like the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, there was no option of G-7 members going back to PDP in Lamido’s document.

“G-5 were embarrassed by what Lamido and Aliyu did in returning to PDP and what they are now doing in the party could hardly be entrusted with anything,” he said.

Kwankwaso said the big blow Aliyu received from Nigerlites would have taught him a good lesson.

He predicted that Lamido and Aliyu would in future defect to APC to enable all of them work as one family for the betterment of the nation.

ERVING Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has named Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, President Goodluck Jonathan, and President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as heroes of the presidential elections.

In what he termed as the ‘congratulatory part’ of his sermon titled: “Chances, Choices, and Consequences”, at yesterday’s Easter service, Bakare said Jega was deserving of the honour because of the role he played in delivering credible elections and not yielding to provocation.

For graciously conceding defeat, the lawyer-turned-pastor said President Jonathan has defended Nigeria’s democracy.

“You acted when it mattered most. You are one of the heroes of democracy, and we thank you,” he said.

For his patience and tenacity in seeking the presidential ticket since 2003, Bakare said Buhari, whom he called Mr. Integrity, was worthy of mention.

Aso Villa Chaplain: Jonathan lost nothing From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

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•From left: Pastor Segun Babatope; Pastor Asemota and Senior Pastor Alfred Ogene at the briefing...at the weekend.

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Kumuyi: Buhari must not fail Nigerians

HE General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has urged Gen. Muhammadu Buhari not to fail Nigerians.

He said so much is expected of the president-elect as regards tackling corruption, poverty and insecurity.

Kumuyi said Buhari’s victory at the polls and President Goodluck Jonathan’s concession of defeat were possible through divine intervention.

He spoke at a media briefing during the church’s National Easter Retreat. He was represented by the Church Secretary Pastor Jerry Asemota.

According to him, the fact there were no bloodshed following the election as widely feared was a reason to thank God. Kumuyi warned that Gen. Buhari should not be expected

By Joseph Jibueze

to perform miracles once he assumes office, saying Nigerians must be patient.

“We need to realise that he needs time. It’s not something that will happen overnight. We believe that as we pray and he dedicates himself to that cause, that we’ll begin to see results,” he said.

He attributed the peace experienced after the polls to prayers, saying: “God’s children were praying and today the nation is at peace with itself. Our international counterparts never imagined it would be this way.

“We wish him (Buhari) well.

The nation expects so much from him. We’ll continue to pray for the incoming president so that God will grant him the wisdom to steer the country’s affairs aright.

“The church will continue to push for peace within the country,” Pastor Kumuyi.

According to Kumuyi, Nigerians cannot wait to have lasting peace and a reduction of corruption which he said had “plagued” the country.

“It is the desire of everyone that we get rid of those things that have plagued us in the past.

Incidentally, the president-elect has identified corruption and insecurity as two key areas he will work on,” Pastor Kumuyi said.

He said since God knows the end from the beginning, there was no doubt that he would use Buhari for the country’s good.

He praised President Jonathan for being one of the few African leaders, who would lose an election while in government and yet congratulate his opponent, describing it as “significant”.

According to him, Jonathan’s action, which he described as a sacrifice, was worthy of commendation considering that people see election as a do-ordie affair in Nigeria.

“We have seen signs that the transition from one democratic dispensation to another will be smooth. There is no acrimony or infighting.

“For any leader who would build a nation, sacrifice and love are very important. We expect that he (Buhari) would lift this nation beyond the level we are now.

“The nation we know has been plagued by many problems. The church’s responsibility is to continue praying.

“No doubt, President Jonathan had an assignment that God wanted him to fulfill.

The new president, I believe, also has a specific assignment from God.”

HE Aso Villa Chaplain, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, said President Goodluck Jonathan has lost nothing by not winning the presidential elections.

In a sermon marking the Sunday Easter at the Aso Villa Chapel, he said that President Jonathan was just ready to give more service to the nation.

Stressing that Jonathan “is not Jesus”, he likened him to Jesus Christ, who was despised by the world, but later sought after.

He said: “Some will say Jonathan has lost election.

Jonathan has lost nothing; he was to give and not to get. This Jonathan they despite today, they will look for him someday.

“He will be an adviser. He is not Jesus, but he is like Jesus.”

He noted that even some of the disciples did not have the conviction that Jesus was the messiah despite doing many miracles in their presence.

According to him, one of the reasons why Jesus Christ rose from the grave was to go to the Father and to come back to take the saints and believers home.

“He lives and He is changing lives and we have hope in Him,” he said.

Among those who attended the service were Chief of Staff Jones Arogbofa; former Leader of House of Representatives Tunde Akogun, and Executive Secretary of Nigerian Pilgrims Board John Kennedy Opara.

Others are Agriculture Minister Adesina Akinwunmi, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory Olajumoke Akinjide, former Minister of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu and Senator Phillip Aduda.

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, was absent at the service.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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NEWS

North’s governors to citizens: be patriotic

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HE Chairman, Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has called on the citizenry to draw lessons from the selfless life style of Jesus Christ and place the country above themselves.

Aliyu, in an Easter message through his Chief Press Secretary, Israel Ebije in Minna yesterday, said with the collective effort of everyone, the nation would overcome its social and

From Jide Orintunsin, Minna

economic challenges.

He urged politicians to imbibe the maturity witnessed during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, stressing that the beauty of the country’s democracy would be complete if the outcome of April 11 election is peaceful and people-based.

The statement added: “Let me wish Nigerians a merry Easter celebration. Let me also call on Christians and Muslims

to avail themselves in sacrificial duties for the good of Nigeria. We must eschew self, we must view issues from a collective bargain point of view, we must see ourselves first as Nigerians no matter the circumstance, and we must place country first.

“Many prophecies of doom have been foretold that Nigeria will splinter. I am, therefore, glad that we have overcome a major factor that would have made the prophecy become a

reality. We must, however, continue to imbibe the tenets of sacrifice and peace as we conclude elections in April 11.”

The NSGF chair then expressed optimism that the country will continue to grow politically, socially and economically.

He urged all to remain committed to the Nigerian project, insisting that ethno-religious cleavages would not take the country to its desired destination.

Wada sues for peace From James Azania, Lokoja

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OGI State Governor Capt. Idris Wada has rejoiced with Nigerians, especially Christians, on this year’s Easter celebrations.

He enjoined them to emulate the humility and selflessness of Jesus Christ.

Wada, in a goodwill message by his Special Adviser, Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi, said the Easter festivities as symbolised by the Lent and Passion Week, is an invitation to a life of peace, sacrifice and holiness.

While in festivities, he called the citizenry not to lose track of the message of love and hope, which Jesus Christ preached and practised.

He encouraged Christians to convert the “unique atmosphere offered by Easter in an election year to call on God for His continuous protection on our country and for our leaders to overcome every challenge of leadership”.

He advised that in the spirit of Easter, “Nigerians should remain united and put behind them acrimonies of tongue and partisanship”.

Akume preaches love

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•Bishop of Ibadan Archdiocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, leading a procession for the Easter Sunday Mass at St Mary Catholic Church Okepadre, Ibadan...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

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Saraki: we need socio-political resurrection

ORMER Kwara State Governor Senator Bukola Saraki has said the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ aptly applies to Nigeria’s political situation.

Saraki, who is the leader of the state All Progressives Congress (APC), added that

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From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

the nation needs socio-political resurrection to return hope to its people.

The Senate Committee Chairman on Ecology and Environment, in his Easter message to Christians, said:

“At this moment when Nigeria is globally celebrated on the emergence of its new democratic dispensation, I extend a hearty felicitation to our dear Christian families all across the country.

“By historic effect, Easter corroborates quite well with

NSCIA felicitates with Christians

HE Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has congratulated Christians on the Easter celebration.

Briefing reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, the council’s Secretary General, Prof. Is-Haq Oloyede, described Easter as a religious festival commemorating a significant landmark in Christianity.

He said Easter serves as a springboard for spiritual renewal, religious reawakening and rebirth.

The Sultan hoped that “this spirit of reawakening and rebirth would be allowed to define our national course.

“As a people of faith united by our common ancestor, Prophet Ibrahim, the recent history of distrust within our faith communities and weakened efforts at inter-faith communication require urgent attention of all

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

of us.

“Easter serves to re-direct our attention to those values and ideals that we traditionally share in common, which had defined us before the recent expediency.

“Human beings are weak and we are characterised by fallibility. We must have committed errors as leaders, but God, in His infinite wisdom, has granted us the opportunity of this season to rethink. It is an ample moment we should seize to deeply reflect on where we erred as humans and then chart a new beginning of rectitude and righteousness as one people under God”.

Oloyede lamented that both Christian and Islamic studies as independent school subjects have been downgraded to mere topics under a subject in our basic school curricula.

He added: “Other tragedies bordering on trust had

befallen us, but we thank God for this golden opportunity of Easter and its symbolic message of renewal.

“As we congratulate you and our Christian brothers and sisters on the occasion of this important religious festival, we urge you to partner with us in addressing issues pertinent to building a strong and vibrant nation.

“Let us put the past behind us as we deem the largely peaceful elections (about which the world was apprehensive). This period is an opportunity to make a new beginning in the spirit of fasting, prayer, penance and cooperation.

“The Nigerian Muslim Ummah wishes you many happy returns of the holy season. We also wish you and ourselves a renewed commitment to holiness and righteousness in our words and actions to the glory of God, the advancement of humanity and the guidance of our followers.”

Ekiti Speaker Omirin greets Nigerians

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HE Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, has urged Christians and Ekiti people to imbibe the virtue of sacrifice as exhibited by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to save mankind.

He said in the most trying moment of His life, Jesus Christ elevated salvation of mankind above his personal survival.

Omirin, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Wole

Olujobi, urged Nigerians to make service to mankind a major plank of their activities in whatever they do.

“Jesus Christ demonstrated that making sacrifices is a virtue through which we can save our fellow men. Let this spirit guide you in all you do. It is through generosity of the heart that we can make our impact felt by our fellow human beings for the life of happiness,” Omirin said.

He urged Nigerians to pray

for the country, President Goodluck Jonathan and President-elect Muhammadu Buhari for smooth transfer of power at the federal level.

The speaker called on Ekiti people to pray for the state for a government that would enthrone peace to allow Ekiti people enjoy their security.

He advised youths to avoid reckless drinking while also urging drivers to avoid reckless driving during the Easter festivities.

the present situation of our country. Nigeria needs sociopolitical resurrection in order to return hope to its people.

For this to come to life, we all need to make huge sacrifice and place this nation on a high priority.

“As we share love and kind gestures this season, I urge us all to continue walking in the path of God in all endeavours during and after the period.”

ENATE Minority leader George Akume yesterday called for love and peace in the spirit of Easter.

In a message, Akume said: “My heart is filled with immense happiness and I give gratitude to God as I congratulate all Christians, the people of Benue North-West Senatorial District, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of this nation on this year’s commemoration of the death and resurrection of our Lord.

“I am thankful to God for his enduring mercy over us as individuals and as a nation and I also want to appreciate Nigerians for their steadfastness and patriotism in the face of unpredictable political atmosphere. As our Lord Jesus is our spiritual hero by his death and resurrection, so also Nigerians have distinguished themselves not just in the choices they made in the presidential and parliamentary elections, but also in the way and manner they conducted themselves.

“As we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Saviour, we should not be carried away by the festivities, but take out time to reflect deeply on the most important principles of all religious faith, which include love, tolerance and selflessness, and continue to imbibe and practise same in all our interactions among ourselves and with God. “That we are devoted to the celebration of Easter is an indication that we are conscious of our obligations to the Almighty. I urge all Nigerians to show the same level of religious zeal and take the sacred responsibility of participating constructively in nation-building.

“The death and resurrection of our Lord should act as a reminder and as a stimulant that will make all of us join hands with the emerging agents of positive change as we strive to ensure that Nigeria becomes great in the shortest possible time.

“I wish all of us a very memorably Easter and I advise that we celebrate it with love, restraint and respect for our differences, where such exist.”

Cleric urges leaders to be godly

•Bishop Akinde at the service...yesterday.

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RCHBISHOP, Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos/Bishop, Diocese of Lagos Mainland, the Most Revd, Prof. Adebayo Akinde, yesterday urged politicians to be godly.

He said the only agenda for the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, “is God’s own agenda, which is in Leviticus, 11, 44”.

The cleric said: “Every incoming leader must be holy because God is holy.”

He added: “When our leaders are holy, they will seek to

By Olatunde Odebiyi

please God. Let the leaders live a holy life, work for the interest of Nigerians, secure the present and prepare for the future.”

Bishop Akinde, who spoke on his Easter message to Nigerians at the Cathedral of St Jude in Ebuta-Meta, Lagos, said politicians should read Leviticus, 11, 44, “because the scripture demands that we live a holy life because God is holy”.

The cleric said his message for the nation “is that God is set to do a new thing in this country”.

He added: “God, because of his love, gave us free gift of victory. By the shedding of the blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary on Good Friday, he paid the ransom for our sins. For every believer, who confesses and puts his trust in God, our sins are forgiven and by his resurrection, he is offering a new victory.

“Christians should be aware of the fact that Jesus is risen and that the power that God used to roll away the stone is still available to God to roll away whatever problems, difficulties or challenges that may be facing our country, but God wants us to love one another.

“This is not the time for us to say ‘I am Igbo, or Yoruba or Hausa’; we are Nigerians and there should be unity because God is love. Christians must show love to one another and to everybody. Nigerians must ensure unity and love.

“We must be prepared to make sacrifices. Jesus Christ made sacrifice; without his sacrificial death, none of us will have salvation. We must be able to make sacrifice for the coming generation. Our leaders must make sacrifice just as Jesus did by dying for our sins. We should leave a good legacy and Nigerian must be an avenger of good news.”

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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NEWS Adefarati’s son hails progressives From Damisi Ojo, Akure

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HE son of former Ondo State Governor Adebayo Adefarati, Adegboyega, has lauded the pragmatism of progressive leaders, which facilitated the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

He praised the APC leaders for the merger of the legacy parties that formed APC. The Akoko Southeast/ Southwest House of Representatives aspirant congratulated Buhari and the VicePresident elect, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo.

He said with the election result, Akoko people have fulfilled their promise to vote for APC as pledged when Osinbajo visited Akungba-Akoko last week.

Adefarati urged the citizenry to vote massively for the House of Assembly candidate for the constituency in the April 11 election.

APC: Osun must vote out PDP From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State yesterday warned that the state will halt its development, if any candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is elected into the House of Assembly.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, the APC said: “Any PDP candidate in the House of Assembly will have only one mission - to frustrate and stall whatever project Governor Rauf Aregbesola plans to implement.

“Since 2011, the PDP had been boasting that it would reverse all the gains the people have made within the last four years under APC governance, if it won the governorship election. But PDP lost.

“Every vote for the PDP will not only be wasted, it will be seen as a rejection of the economic and special progress, and the development which the APC has effected in the last four years.

“Osun cannot afford to lose the Aregbesola-inspired development, which has put the state on the world map,” the party said.

‘Ajimobi aided my success’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE lawmaker-elect to represent Oluyole Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Olusunbo Olugbemi, has attributed his victory to the achievement and good works of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

In a statement in Ibadan yesterday, Olugbemi thanked the people of his constituency, leaders and executives of All Progressives Congress (APC) for their support during the presidential and National Assembly election.

He called on the people to vote for Governor Ajimobi and Wahab Abiodun on Saturday to ensure continuity and good governance.

Aregbesola: let’s pray for new beginning

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said the Easter season offers Nigerians, especially Christians, a good opportunity to pray for the take-off of a new beginning that would usher in prosperity in all facets of national life.

He urged Osun people to embrace love, peace and

make the necessary sacrifice towards the country’s development.

Aregbesola, in an Easter message by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, to bring positive change to

the nation.

He noted that what the country needed at this time were intercessory prayers to God to continuously stabilise it.

Aregbesola enjoined Christians and people of other faiths to supplicate to assist the in-coming administration on the critical areas of the country’s needs such as insecurity, hunger, unemployment,

decayed infrastructure and corruption, which had all held the nation down.

He added: “Nigerians are tired of mere promises. They want concrete actions. They want to see in practical terms that government is committed to fighting insecurity and restoring the country to its past glory. This is what

Nigeria‘ll be restored, says Osinbajo’s mum

By Olatunde Odebiyi

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OTHER of Vice President-elect Madam Bisi Osinbajo has predicted that Nigeria’s fortune will be restored with the election of a new leadership.

According to her, the country will, from May 29, be in the hands of hardworking men, who will attend to its needs appropriately.

She spoke in Lagos yesterday after attending an Easter service at The Cathedral of St Jude (Anglican Communion) in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

“Nigeria will be restored and the world will worship God with us,” she said on the incoming leadership while describing her son as “a hardworking man who has faith in God”.

She was all smiles as she danced gracefully during the service.

Mrs. Osinbajo could not hide her joy and members of the congregation exchanged pleasantries with her as she sat in the front row, where she has always worshipped.

The vice-president elect is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

On her expectations from the government, she said what she saw when she was praying was that “Nigeria will be restored”.

‘APC will win in Lagos’

By Leke Salaudeen

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•Mrs Osinbajo and former Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) president Balogun Bisi Omidiora...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Manhunt for DPO‘s killers intensifies

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ANY residents of Adekile in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State spent the Easter break away from home in fear of police arrest.

This followed the killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) last Wednesday by some miscreants on the suspicion that the police were covering up an alleged kidnappers’ den in the area.

The said senior police officer was attached to the Agugu police station.

There was heavy police

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the APC government is committed to and so, Nigerians should pray successes in these areas.

“The season, therefore, offers us all the opportunity to pray for a proper take-off of that new beginning for our country to regain her lost glory.

“Events of the past few years, particularly the spate of insecurity in the land, leave much to be desired. I want to call on Christians and every Nigerian to pray for leaders of the nation, because Easter celebration should be used to renew love for one another.”

•Community still deserted From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

presence in the area yesterday. Motorists were subjected to security checks.

Christians, it was learnt, had been warned to stay away by their pastors.

Most residents put up with relatives where they celebrated Easter.

“We are peace loving people here in this community until now that bastards took over the community.

“On many occasions, we invited security operatives to beam their searchlight on some of their hideouts because we believe in cooperation with the police.

“The slain DPO was a very nice man, very gentle and dutiful and on many occasions he had advised us on how to continue to be security conscious. I know all those responsible for his murder will not go unpunished,” a resident, Pa Rafiu

Adekola, said.

Miscreants vandalised a house in the area on suspicion that kidnap victims were kept there.

It was learnt that residents alerted the police after discovering three wells in a building. Tension rose after the police did not make any discovery.

Police spokesperson Adekunle Ajisebutu said the policemen in the area were searching for the killers.

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Lateef Raji, is sure that the party will win Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

Raji, who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, attributed the party’s “slim” victory during the presidential election to low turnout of voters, violence and the police who turned back APC party agents at the polling booths.

“All these factors we have taken note of. The leadership of the APC in Lagos has been brainstorming on the outcome of the presidential election in the state to ensure massive turn-out of our supporters on Saturday for the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“We underestimated the desperation of the PDP and overconfidence was our undoing. They have shown their hands, we will amputate them.

We cannot allow them to destroy the state we have been building since.

“Now that APC has won the seat of power at the centre, we will never allow an opposition party to take over Lagos State. This is the finest hour for us in Lagos. A Federal Government under Muhammadu Buhari will bring a lot of fortune to Lagos State.”

‘Hausa, Igbo will vote for Ajimobi’

HE leaders of the Hausa and Igbo communities in Oyo State have pledged their support to ensure that their kinsmen vote for Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the April 11 elections.

The Ezendigbo of Ibadanland, Eze Alex Anozie, and a leader of Hausa community in Sabo, Alh Yahaya BabaAhmed, spoke in separate interviews in Ibadan yesterday.

Anozie said he was one of the advocates of “Ajimobi must continue”, adding that the governor has achieved unprecedented records in the state and needs to be sup-

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

ported to complete his projects.

“The April 11 elections will be free, fair and credible and I am mobilising my people to vote for Ajimobi and APC candidates because I believe four years is not enough for any government to achieve reasonable growth.

“I am not partial, all other governorship candidates are good but Ajimobi has surpassed them and needs to be voted in again for continuity and development,” he said.

Anozie added that voters should not be deceived by the campaign of calumny against Ajimobi that he has demolished shops.

“Demolition was not done in Oyo State alone, it was done in most states and it was even worse in some states.”

Baba-Ahmed, who is also a leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), said apart from what the Ajimobi administration has done for his community, residents are eager to vote for him because of Muhammadu Buhari’s victory.

He said in the state’s his-

tory no government has included his kinsmen in his cabinet, but the governor appointed a Hausa man as a Special Adviser on Arewa community.

His words: “Governor Ajimobi has a listening ear and he is a people friendly governor who has a passion for the needs of the people at the grassroots.

“A vote for Ajimobi is a vote for development of my people also. He donated a transformer to us when we were in darkness, empowered our people with free motorcycles and he is renovating our central mosque.”

•Ajimobi

He warned former Governor Adebayo Alao- Akala to desist from deceiving the masses with his posters that Buhari supports his ambition.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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NEWS No more police harassment in Rivers, says Amaechi

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IVERS State Governor and Director-General of Buhari Campaign Organisation Rotimi Amaechi has said policemen would no longer be used to harass the people.

He spoke while interacting with All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters during his ward-to-ward campaign in Emohua and Ikwerre local government areas at the weekend.

Amaechi urged the people to vote for the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

Amaechi said: “Next week Saturday, I expect everybody to come out and vote. There will be no police molestation again. There will be no army harassment again. Any police that molests you must be preparing to retire and this time, it will not be retirement, it will be punishment for retirement; so come out to vote. We are looking for you to come out to vote.

“The reason why I am running from ward to ward is to encourage you to come out because after what the police and the army did last time, everybody will be afraid to come out. Saturday, we should all come out to vote and as your governor, I urge you to vote for APC.” He re-emphasised that his administration would set up a commission of enquiry to look into election-related deaths.

According to him, those found guilty by the law would be punished.

“We have agreed to set up a commission of enquiry to investigate the killings so far. So, all those people who killed, we shall punish them. Whether they like it or not, they must account for everybody they killed.

“For the police, we believe that by now they must have learnt their lesson. We believe that by now they must have known that they were politicians and not Nigerian Police.

This Saturday, we expect them to be Nigerian Police and not Nigerian politicians.”

In Emohua, the governor campaigned in Ogbakiri, Ibaa, Obele, Rumuewhor Odegu and Elele.

Also speaking to APC supporters in Ikwerre Local Government Area, particularly in Igwuruta, Ipo, Omademe, Ozuaha, Omuanwa, Isiokpo, Omagwa and Aluu, Amaechi told the people to vote APC

all the way.

Amaechi said the Buhari administration would usher in people-oriented policies, programmes and projects.

He said: “It is important that we all must come out to vote this time around, so that we can stop the PDP from writing election results for us. You cannot sit at home and win election. So, all of us must come out and vote for APC. APC party agents, this time around must take their duties seriously. All of us saw how the APC Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari won the election. We in Rivers State have a commitment to reflect our votes for Dr. Dakuku Peterside, so, we can carry on with development. We still have your roads to complete. The flyover at Rukpokwu, if we vote in APC, Dakuku as our governor, we will indeed have closer ties with the Federal Government, and I assure you industries and other developmental projects will be attracted to Rivers State.

That is why we must all come out en masse to vote for APC in the upcoming Saturday guber and State Assembly elections. There are so many opportunities to benefit from if you vote APC. This is our opportunity and we can’t afford to miss it.”

The governor urged women and youths to resist any attempt by the PDP to rig the Aprill 11 elections.

“From today, women and youths will have to work until the guber and state Assembly elections are over. I can give you an example of what happened in Bauchi State, where youths and hunters took the decision to protect their votes from the polling units to the INEC office, until the votes were counted and declared. Here, our mothers and women should protect our votes from 7 a.m. at the polling units, until after voting and results are declared at the polling units. Please, don’t leave your polling units. The security agents are at polling units to protect you, don’t be scared of any arrest, exercise your franchise without fear."

Amaechi paid a condolence visit on late Ikechi Dimkpa’s family at Ipo community. The late Dimkpa was killed by suspected PDP political thugs during the presidential election.

He promised to support the family of the bereaved. He also received defectors from the PDP.

Airhiavbere, others defect to APC in Edo N ATIONAL Coordinator of President Goodluck Jonathan Support Group Gen. Charles Airhiavbere and his supporters have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Gen. Airhiavbere was the PDP governorship candidate for Edo State in 2012.

He announced his defection at a news conference.

Gen. Airhiavbere said he decided to join the team of change so that the state could enjoy benefits from the Fed-

T

G

OVERNORSHIP candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State Dakuku Peterside has urged the people to emulate Jesus Christ’s suffering and sacrifice as they celebrate the resurrection of “our saviour”.

Peterside, in an Easter message by the Director of Communications of his campaign organisation, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, urged the people to always work for the peace, unity and progress of the state, adding that they should see themselves as one, irrespective of political affiliation and ethnic divide.

“All of us appreciate the fact that Christ died for the sins and redemption of mankind.

That is a classical example of love, selfless service and sacrifice. We must emulate good virtues such as these for the good of our state and society in general.

“Easter is not only about Christ’s passion and resurrection. It is also about our resolve and determination as individuals to reject slavery, oppression, poverty, hopelessness and injustice. I therefore urge you this Easter, to celebrate His resurrection and ascension with complete cheerfulness and hope. After all, Christ came back to life to take away our fear, doubt, pain and suffering. That is the promise of Easter.

“So may this Easter bring all our people together for peace, unity, progress and a greater Rivers State.

Peterside, who described leadership at any level as a huge responsibility, said he is pre-

•Group seeks Ikot Ekpene poll’s cancellation From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

elections which ended up rendering the ballot process a barren exercise.

“All this happened under the watchful eyes of officers and men of the police who accompanied the Commissioner. The impunity did not end there. INEC officials were not given the election result sheets. Rather they were ordered to the Commissioners House where fraudulent election results were written.”

Also the group said in Abak Local Government Area , there was no election material for the polls, a deliberate conspiracy to disenfranchise the electorate and rig the polls.

eral Government.

The former PDP governorship candidate said any politician who meant well for the state would join the APC. He denied collecting money from the PDP to finance his 2012 campaigns as well as getting any gratifications for his group’s support for Jonathan.

Gen. Airhiavbere said: “I know for sure that with APC at the national and state levels, there will be rapid de-

velopment and all campaign promises will be delivered to our state.

“My passion for Jonathan was my personal effort and group’s donation. I did not get any gratification but for the fact that Edo State should remain at the centre.

“I will always be loyal to the centre. We delivered for PDP on March 28. We will deliver to APC on April 11.

My desire is to have a peaceful Edo State. Oshiomhole should enjoy majority at the Edo State House of Assembly.”

•Airhiavbere

Thousands of PDP members led by the Coordinator of Grassroots Youths Initiative, Osarobo Idahosa and former senatorial aspirant, Richard Lamai, defected to the APC at a rally held in Benin City.

Peterside urges Rivers people to emulate Jesus

Furore over Akwa Ibom Senate seat HE Re-claim Essien Udim Group has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the National Assembly election into the Senate for Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

The group described the election as a “sham and a cocktail of electoral irregularities”.

According to the group, in a transparent democracy, both the process and procedure are as important as the final outcome.

They said: “Regrettable, the elections into the Senate as well as the Presidential and House of Representatives elections in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district was characterized by massive rigging of unimaginable proportion before, during and after the

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

In Essien Udim LGA, the hometown of Governor Akpabio, the group said it was an open secret that the Governor had diverted election materials to his private residence where he had camped both electoral officers and NYSC ad hoc staffs.

The stakeholders also said in Odoro Ikot clan, results were falsified.

They alleged that results were also falsified in Obot Akara ,Ini, Ikono, Ikot Ekpene, Ika , Ukanafun , Oruk Anam Local Governments.

The stakeholders thanked the APC teaming supporters across the senatorial district for maintaining the peace despite the action of the PDP and Governor Akpabio which was highly provocative.

pared to provide purposeful and first rate government to the people of Rivers State when elected governor. He promised that his tenure would engender peace, unity, progress, equal and more socio-economic opportunities for every Riv-

ers person. The APC candidate added that as governor, he would also govern the state with the fear of God, bearing in mind that if Christ had not paid the supreme price, there would not have been a sane society today.

He pleaded with the people of Rivers State to come out en mass and vote massively for the APC on 11 March governorship election so that “collectively, we can achieve our dream of a better and greater Rivers State”.

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11

NEWS Emerhor hails Buhari

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has described the President–elect, Muhammadu Buhari, as a change agent ordained by God. He said Buhari’s emergence as the next President signifies God’s kindness to the nation.

Emerhor, who spoke yesterday after a church service in Asaba, described Easter as a period of reflection.

“This is the season of goodwill. God, in His infinite mercy, sent Jesus Christ to die for us; His resurrection brought light to all of us and Easter is celebrated all over Christendom. It is a period of reflection to know how God will continue to sacrifice to keep all of us safe.

“As you know, we just passed through a scary presidential election in the coun-

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba try but by His grace we have peace in this country.

And God also decided it is time to have light in this country. ‘’He made a major change by bringing a change agent, General Muhammadu Buhari, as the next President of Nigeria.

This change signifies that God is kind to Nigeria and the change will happen all over the country.

“This Saturday, change is coming to Delta as Deltans get set for the governorship election, and my message to them is to use this period to reflect and allow God’s will to be done for the state”.

He urged Deltans to vote for the APC in the governorship elections, adding that Delta could not afford to be in the opposition.

Party condemns killing of its members

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has condemned Friday’s killing of nine of its members by thugs suspected to be loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The party also called for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dame Gesila Khan.

Rivers APC Chairman, through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, yesterday in Port Harcourt, said: “We received with shock, the killing of nine members of the APC by

•Seeks REC’s removal From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

hoodlums hired by the PDP leadership in Rivers State, on April 3.

“Reports reaching us have it that some blood-thirsty gunmen, hired by PDP killed an APC chieftain, Chief Adube in Obrikom in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni LGA, with his two sons and six others.

“We learnt that the miscreants moved to Oboh, and destroyed the house of Vincent Ogbuagu, an APC House of Assembly aspirant, before they hit other areas.

“Our local government secretariats at Okrika and Andoni were bombed and our rally at Okrika was on two occasions disrupted by gunmen.

“During the March 28 polls, the world saw the rape of our democracy by the PDP, working in tandem with INEC, soldiers and policemen, thereby denying the people the opportunity to choose their leaders, while allotting votes to other parties as they deemed fit.

“We request President Goodluck Jonathan, whose

mantra is that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian, to call Chief Nyesom Wike and other PDP leaders to order and stop the orgy of bloodletting in the state.

“We call on the InspectorGeneral of Police, Suleiman Abba and the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah, to call their men to order as we will not tolerate the unholy acts exhibited during the March 28 polls.

“Our people must be allowed to vote for the leader of their choice, without any form of intimidation”.

‘Niger Delta will not be ignored’

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HEPresident-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has assured the people that no region will be left behind by his administration.

Speaking through the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Presidentelect Buhari promised that every part of the country would be developed.

He urged the people to vote for the party’s candidates on Saturday.

“As you know, last Saturday our people voted massively for change. APC has been preaching change and

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

the country was convinced that where we are today is not where Nigeria ought to be.

They decided that a new direction, led by Buhari, is where Nigeria should be.

“The President-elect sends his goodwill to the people of Delta and asked me to tell you that he is coming because he takes this state seriously; he believes that Delta is too strategic to be left in the opposition.

“He says Deltans will receive the goodness of his government,” Emerhor said.

Buhari’ll lead Nigeria to a remarkable era, says Ogbemudia

T

WO-time Governor of old Midwest Region and later Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia has said the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, will lead Nigeria into a remarkable era.

Ogbemudia hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding to his major rival, even as he urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to “look inward” and strategise for future elections.

He said: “I have known him since 1963 when he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army. I had the privilege to see some of his confidential reports by his commanders in which he was described as a young officer with boundless energy, and willing to continue when others are tired.

“Energy and resilience he has truly demonstrated in politics by winning a historic election at the fourth at-

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

tempt.

“I am confident he will lead Nigeria into a remarkable era.

The former governor called on the PDP to reflect into what led to the defeat when he said: “To my party, the PDP, this is an opportunity to begin to demonstrate capacity as a viable and credible alternative in the service of the nation”.

A

Delta PDP stockpiling arms, APC alleges

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ouse of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State Mr Robinson Ariyo has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Warri South of stockpiling arms to unleash mayhem on voters.

Ariyo, a lawyer, is seeking to unseat fourth-term

From Shola O’Neil, Warri

lawmaker Mrs Omamuli Udoh, of the PDP. “We have reports that plans have been perfected to repeat the irregularities of last election on Saturday as guns, cutlasses, and axes have been bought to intimidate voters.

“I can tell you without mincing words that I have suffered most of this vandalisation. I am not in government; I am only a struggling young lawyer, who has submitted himself as an alternative for his people,” Ariyo said.

He alleged that in the last elections, the PDP stationed

thugs at the polling units thereby preventing secret voting as required by the electoral law.

The lawyer said APC had formally complained to the inspector general of Police, Warri Area Command as well as INEC chairman about the irregularities.

More calls to redeploy Cross River REC

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•Ogbemudia

Pipeline explosion: Urhobo group claims responsibility GROUP, Urhobo Gbagbako, has claimed responsibility for Friday’s bombing of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Corporation’s (NPDC’s) oil pipeline at Ighwrenene, between Afiesere and Ekiugbo in Delta State.

It also claimed it shut the oil fields in Urhobo and Isoko land.

A statement by its spokesman, Priest Omodjuvwu, said the bombing of the Ekiugbo/

•Wife of the Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama, Nelly, presenting a gift to Mr. and Mrs. Seigha Terry Peanock during their wedding ceremony at the Foursquare Gospel Church, DST District Headquarters (Sector F (DSC) Steel Township, Warri, Delta State....at the weekend. With them is Utuama.

From Polycarp Orosevwotu, Ughelli

Ighwrenene/Afiesere pipeline was in retaliation against persons, who taunted their leaders of the inability to secure the Urhobo side of the pipeline surveillance contract.

“We have now resumed attack on the NPDC pipeline facilities on a massive scale, which shall be unprecedented,” it said.

UMAN rights activist and lawyer Mr Utum Eteng has added his voice to calls for the redeployment of the Cross Rivers State Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Sylvester Ezeani, for alleged partiality in the March 28 elections.

Ezeani came under attack from opposition parties immediately he assumed office. They accused him of being loyal to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party

B

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

(PDP), an allegation he denied.

Eteng spoke at the weekend in Calabar: “I am without equivocation an advocate of the request that the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Sylvester Ezeani, be redeployed.

“His first election conducted in the state is a sham, disgrace and failure to INEC. He poorly handled the March 28 elections. You will

recall that before his coming, the forthright Mike Igini came to the state and set standards. “Igini created confidence in the people; he made people believe that their votes will count. When he was transferred many wept in the state. We knew another era of rigging had come. It is a shame that electoral officers in the state compromised. It was like that before Igini came and stopped it.

“He should be tempo-

rarily, if not permanently transferred, so they can bring somebody else to manage the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“These elections are crucial because they touch the people directly. The people should not be shortchanged again.

“We appeal to the law enforcement agents to be independent and serve everybody, despite party affiliations”.

Gunmen kill ruler, one other in Rivers

ARELY 24 hours after gunmen killed former Chairman of Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, Christopher Adube, his four children and driver, two persons, including the ruler of Egbada have been killed.

Chief Okwu Osia was report-

From Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

edly killed Saturday night by yet to be identified gunmen.

The hoodlums, reportedly in military uniform, also killed a passer-by for attempting to dissuade them from kidnapping an expectant mother.

This puts the number of persons killed in the council in two days to 11.

ONELGA council chairman Austin Ahiamadu said Adube’s killing was politically-motivated.

Residents suspect that the politician was murdered because of his support for the All Progressives Congress

(APC).

Governor Rotimi Amaechi has promised to set up a panel to probe the killings.

The police said a manhunt for them was under way.

Efforts to confirm the incident were unsuccessful as Police spokesman Ahmed Mohammad could not be reached .

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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NEWS EASTER CELEBRATION

•Members of The Apostolic Faith Choir at a concert in Lagos ...yesterday

•President Goodluck Jonathan (left) interacting with children during Easter Day Church Service at Aso Villa Chapel in Abuja...yesterday.

•From left: Former Rivers State Governor Dr Peter Odili, his wife, Justice Mary, Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, Senator George Sekibo and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike at Our Lady of Holy Rosary Catholic Chaplaincy, Port Harcourt...yesterday.

•Bishop of Lagos West Anglican Communion, Rev. James Odedeji (third left); his wife, Lydia; Canon Residential, Ven. Abraham Odumuyiwa (left); Chancellor, Justice Babasola Ogunade (second left); Chief Segun Osunkeye (second right); Dean, Bishop Vining Cathedral, Rev. Abel Ajibodu at the church service in Lagos...yesterday.

•Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (second right); Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Revd. Adebola Ademowo (middle); Chancellor, Diocese of Lagos, Justice George Oguntade (right); Legal/Secretary, Mrs. Sade Adetiba and Lagos State Deputy Governor’s husband Mr. Biodun Adefulire at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina Lagos...yesterday.

•Mr Anthony Anujuka (middle) acted as Jesus Christ on Good Friday at St Dominic church, Yaba, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

•Parish Priest of The Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gwagwalada, Rev. Fr. Rowland Nwakpuda (left) sprinkling holy water on the congregation during the Easter Vigil at the church in Abuja...on Saturday Night.

PHOTO: NAN

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 6, 2015

NEWS

Returning officer for Abia North disowns result

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HE Returning Officer for Abia North, Prof.

I h e k w a b a Chukwugoziem, has denied signing the result sheet of the senatorial election in the zone.

He disowned the results sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja from the zone.

Chukwugoziem, a lecturer of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, told reporters yesterday at a news conference in Umuahia that he never signed the purported result released by INEC. According to the results re-

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

leased by INEC, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate, Chief Mao Ohuabunwa, scored 40,027 to beat Chief David Ogba of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, who got 28,055 votes.

Ex-Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of the Progressive Peoples Alliance came third with 27,002 votes.

The supporters of the other parties had, last Wednesday, protested in the state, alleging manipulation and rigging.

The three major contenders; Ohuabunwa, Ogba and Kalu claimed they each won

Don’t be vindictive, group urges Buhari

the election.

Prof Chukwugoziem said he did not sign the result sheet because the election was marred by fraud.

He alleged that fake result sheets were used in some cases, while ballot boxes got missing in some polling units.

“In such a situation, there is no way any credible person can say the election was free and fair.”

The Returning officer said the atmosphere at the Collation Centre in Ohafia was so tense that the Collation officers were taken to Umuahia under heavy security.

He said his report recommended a rerun to the Resi-

dent Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Selina Oko. Chukwugoziem said the panel set up by the REC to investigate the allegations discovered that the manipulations were more pronounced in Arochukwu.

He said he noticed that besides Ohafia, results from other four councils were flawed, “which forced me to recommend a rerun.”

The Returning officer said he received threat messages from individuals, calling for a rerun.

On the allegation that he was being sponsored, he said: “I am not working for any of the candidates, since I don’t have anything at stake

•Hails Jonathan

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RESIDENT elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo have been urged to see their election as an act of God and a divine victory for Nigerians, and regard themselves as God’s chosen vessel of change to confront various problems confronting the nation.

In a congratulatory message by the group’s chairman, Chief Enock Ajiboso and publicity secretary, Mr Tunji Oguntuase, a faithbased organisation, the Christian Conscience group admonished the duo to put in place strategies to bring back on track our derailing economy, insecurity, massive corruption, and other self-afflicted problems confronting the nation.

“Your election is Godly ordained, you must justify the confidence reposed in you by majority of Nigerians who cried to God for a change for an improved and egalitarian society. You must see yourselves as fathers of a modern Nigeria and forgive those who unjustly crucified your team before the elections’’ .

“For the nation to compete with other developing nations, decisive actions are urgently needed to curb needless wastage in governance as well as to nib on the bud the lingering insurgency in the north western part of the country, Improvement on the lingering epileptic power supply, strive to provide qualitative education and improved infrastructure. The new administration must also build efficient and effective refineries that will put a stop at fuel importation that has become our albatross.

The statement praised the President Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship for conceding defeat even before the final announcement of the eventual winners of the election.

“President Goodluck Jonathan has not only become a statesman by his action, he has written his name in gold locally and internationally because African leaders are known for sittight tendencies but in the face of all odds he has distinguished himself as a worthy leader.

•Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi addressing the congregation at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Onitsha, after the Easter service...yesterday

‘Vote Ambode for continuity’

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Alhaji Taofeek Ajadi Lawa, has urged Lagosians to vote for the party’s governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Saturday.

Lawa, who spoke in Surulere, Lagos, at the weekend, said a vote for Ambode is a vote for the continuity of good governance.

He said: “I implore indigenes and non-indigenes to vote for Ambode and other APC candidates on Saturday.

“A vote for them will ensure the continuity of good governance started by the party’s National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and sustained by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).

“On no account should Lagosians allow the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) take over Lagos State, as this will be disastrous. The party will derail the good governance put in place by the APC. For instance, the Tinubu and Fashola administrations have provided good roads, health care services, decent accommodation, effective transportation system and others.”

Answering a question, Alhaji Lawa said Governor Fashola meant well for Lagosians by banning commercial motorcyclists from the highway.

He also explained that the Fashola administration did not discriminate against the Igbo and other non-indigenes “because an Igbo, Mr. Ben Akabueze, is the commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget.”

Lawa added: “Another Igbo, Joe Igbokwe heads the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance & Regulatory Authority (LASIMRA). ‘’He is also the APC publicity secretary in Lagos State. Governor Fashola is a detribalised Nigerian. APC is a national party. ‘’I assure Lagosians that irrespective of their ethnic group or religious belief, Ambode and other APC candidates will cater ond Niger Bridge where no for their needs and protect their tollgate fees shall be paid by interests, if voted into office.”

Ndigbo and other Nigerians.

As a matter of fact, Ndigbo cannot and shall not accept any bridge where tollgate fees shall be paid, a system not obtainable in others parts of HE Evidence Church, the country.

74, Ladipo Street, “We also demand that roads Chicken George bus in the Southeast, Enugu International Airport and Trade stop, Matori, Lagos, will celFair Complex be completed. ebrate its third anniversary on Seaports and dry ports in the April 12.

The theme of the event is: Southeast should be established and made functional. “The Exploit of Faith” (Daniel We are sad when we see the 11:32).

The programme will start lopsided nature of distribution of amenities by the Federal from 7:30 am and end at 4 pm.

Ministering are Pastor Paul Government and the neglect of Ndigbo 45 years since the Adeniyi of The Evidence Church Civil War ended. We hope ; Pastor Amos Fenwa of the President-elect Buhari will Holy Ghost Christian Centre Lagos; Pastor Festus Akindele correct these imbalances.” of the Christ Evangelical Church, Maryland, USA; The Evidence Life Choir; Big Bob and other clerics.

The host, Pastor Paul Adeniyi, said God would perform wonintroduced into the polity. It ders at the programme. will be 45 years after the civil war this year and God is determined to fulful His promises in the lives of His people.

But it is only the righteous who will benefit from this blessing.”

He urged Nigerians to hold on to God firmly. “That is the only way these promises will be fulfilled. There are many Christians who are just church goers. They don’t really love God. This is the year for them to change if they must partake in God’s glory”.

•Pastor Adeniyi

in the exercise.”

INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity Edwin Enaboh said the Returning officer absconded, hence one of the Collation officers was appointed to take over from him.

He said: “We are looking for him. The Returning officer disappeared from his duty post. If he is man enough, he should come forward and make his observations known.

“Since we are looking for him, he has refused to pick his calls. He even switched off his phones. We had no option but to appoint another person to complete the job.”

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Ndigbo congratulate Buhari

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DI-IGBO Germany (NIG), the umbrella organisation of Igbo ethnic groups and associations in Germany, has congratulated the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.

In a message, signed by the its National Coordinator, Chief Joe Mmeh, said: “We rejoice with President-elect Buhari on his success at the polls and urge him to be the president of all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religion and political affiliations.

“The campaign has come and gone. It’s now time for national healing and governance. In every civilised society, no one takes personal what is said during campaigns.

So Buhari should look forward to uniting Nigerians and avoiding advice from former

•Demand true federalism office holders, who brought hardship and corruption into governance.

“Ndi-Igbo Germany congratulates Buhari as Nigeria’s President–elect and the citizens for peacefully exercising their franchise to elect their leaders. We salute President Goodluck Jonathan for establishing a legacy of democratic freedom and peaceful expression of a vibrant democracy.

“Ndi-Igbo Germany advises President-elect Buhari against ethnicity. He should be magnanimous in victory by forming a government of national unity; picking the best brains among Nigerians, both home and abroad. Meritocracy, instead of mediocrity, should be the watchword on how to

move Nigeria forward economically, politically and technologically. We believe that the God, who gave Presidentelect Buhari victory, wants him to rebuild the country.

We enjoin him to ensure fairness, justice and equity for all.

“Ndi-Igbo Germany supports the indivisibility of Nigeria, but condemns any sort of domination of any part of the country by another. We reinstate our demand for a true federalism and a greater autonomy to the geopolitical zones and that federal allocations and amenities be shared on equal proportion among the six zones.

“We thank President-elect Buhari for his promise during the campaigns to build a sec-

Expect more surprises, cleric tells Nigerians

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IGERIANS have been told to expect more surprises this year because “God is already moving through Nigeria”.

Minister in charge of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, Restoration Parish, Akute, Ogun State Senior Superintendent G. F. Akinadewo, in his Easter sermon yesterday in the church, said the victory of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not of his (Buhari) making but God’s

handiwork “because He has heard the cries of His people”.

Akinadewo told the congregation: “The victory is beyond Buhari. It is not that Buhari is good and Goodluck Jonathan is bad. What is happening is that the hand of God is already moving and it is moving in the right direction, which is Nigeria. God was angry with Nigeria because of the persecution of the righteous, Muslims and Christians. In 2015, God is determined to do the needful and whoever is against this will be dealt with.

“2015 is the year for Nigeria and Nigerians. Numbers 23:19 is already working because God is not a man that He should lie. He promised that Nigeria will be great but because of crimes being committed by people in high places, God was angry but now, He has come to establish Nigeria globally. Nigerians should expect more surprises. According to Joshua 14, it took Caleb 45 years for God to fulfil His promises. After the end of the civil war in 1970, many atrocities were

Church marks anniversary

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Can South West be hoodwinked?

Shocking!

•That Nigeria imported N31b worth of maize in six years is simply disgusting

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T must signpost a total lack of strategic economic intelligence that Nigeria still imports certain agricultural products and their derivatives which she ought to be ‘feeding’ the world with. By the same token, it must be shocking to many Nigerians that this country still imports maize from the United States; she imports starch which is a derivative of cassava and she imports palm oil as well. That Nigeria imports these commodities in this age can only be a pointer to a failure of governance.

Corn for instance, is a crop that flourishes in nearly all parts of Nigeria. With proper water management, it has a 90day cycle which means that four harvests are possible in one year. Anyone who has ever planted corn knows it is not only among the highest yielding, it is also one of the easiest crops to maintain, preserve and process into numerous consumer and industrial by-products. The same applies to cassava which though has a longer cycle of about nine months, thrives nearly everywhere; yields massively and has nearly a dozen derivatives.

On these two crops alone, a serious government can galvanize a massive agroindustrial economy. But it is with utter shock that we received statistics from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) which shows that Nigeria imported about 900,000 metric tons of maize valued at about N31 billion from the US in the last six years.

The imports are mainly for industrial

uses, particularly by commercial feed millers and the production of flour, malt, cornflakes, beer, starch, among others.

Though with an annual production of about seven million metric tons, Nigeria is acclaimed to be the largest producer of maize in Africa but her harvests are plagued by yield losses, poor preservation and unstructured markets. Maize imports had been banned in Nigeria since 2005 but the ban was said to have been lifted because of shortfall in production.

We are the more disturbed by this ‘revelation’ in view of the claims by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, of far-reaching achievements in agriculture under this administration. According to recent literature from MARD, “For the first time, a database of 10.5 million farmers was developed to facilitate efficient delivery of agro-inputs.” Records from the ministry show that farmers in the country redeemed 67,991 metric tons of maize seeds valued at N42.673 billion in the last three years.

MARD noted further that as part of a scheme it termed Growth Enhancement Support (GES), an e-wallet was launched for farmers to receive subsidised inputs via electronic voucher delivered to their cell phones. Dr. Adesina stated that as a result of the e-wallet scheme, national food production increased by 21 million metric tons between 2011 and 2014, surpassing the 2015 target of 20 million metric tons.

We wonder how a government making such unprecedented marks in agricultural production would turn around to lift the ban on a basic, easy to cultivate staple such as maize. It is our opinion that certain commodities like maize, cassava and palm oil products should never be imported into Nigeria in this age. Major industrial users of crops like maize and cassava should be encouraged to embark on a backward integration scheme that would involve communities of growers, primary processors and suppliers. This system will help in developing viable value chains both for farmers and industrial users.

Now that crude oil prices have crashed and there is a dire need to diversify the economy, we suggest that the government should ban importation of maize into the country immediately.

‘It must be shocking to many Nigerians that this country still imports maize from the United States; she imports starch which is a derivative of cassava and she imports palm oil as well. That Nigeria imports these commodities in this age can only be a pointer to a failure of governance’

MultiChoice Vs subscribers The April 1 hike of DStv tariffs underscores the imperatives of sound consumer protection

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HE 10 per cent increase in the tariff of MultiChoice Africa Digital Satellite Television (DStv) has caused a subscriber distemper, with many of the consumers launching a campaign for regulators to hold the pay-tv platform on the leash.

But apart from a reiteration of its “determination” to do its regulation job, mum has been the word from the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the regulator of the market, despite admittance that it has received a torrent of complaints from MultiChoice’s DStv subscribers. Yet, it is imperative consumers be protected, just to ensure that they get a good deal from DStv and other pay-tv players.

Caroline Oghuma, MultiChoice Nigeria’s public relations manager said the tariff hike was overdue, at least in the Nigerian market. “MultiChoice

‘MultiChoice is no charity organisation. It has a right to recoup its investment at a profit. At the same time however, subscribers too have a right to quality at the best price. That is where NBC must come in — and ensure fairness on both sides of the transaction’

implements annual subscription price increase in all its operating countries,” she said, “however, a price increase was not implemented in Nigeria last year.”

But that only fuelled a distemper among its subscribers, with many threatening to drop the platform for others. Others launched a social media campaign, rallying subscribers to boycott MultiChoice, until the new rates are rescinded. Yet, others accuse NBC of a lackadaisical approach to consumer protection, in view of MultiChoice’s alleged progressive sharp price practices, bordering on alleged monopoly.

Structurally, MultiChoice’s DStv is not a monopoly. It has other competitors in its premium market; and also throws a market dog, in Gotv, to compete in the low end of the market segment, apparently to protect its premium brand.

Operationally however, it has a towering dominance of its preferred premium segment. Its content niche borders on the monopoly, such that not a few of its subscribers accuse it of arbitrarily hiking tariffs.

Indeed, the only time its tariff came down was when the defunct Hitv, as a market entry strategy, got the English Premiership franchise, a niche in sporting content, which all players in the market covet. But since Hitv’s demise, following MultiChoice’s regain of the English Premiership franchise, the firm has been virtually untouchable. This latest tariff hike, subscribers allege, is the latest indication of its price whims — and even NBC, its customers allege, seems unable to call it to order.

MultiChoice, which has a subscriber base of no less than two million in Nigeria, may well have been hampered by the recent devaluation of the Naira.

In fairness to it too, the increased tariffs cut across all its markets, in countries across West, Central, East and Southern Africa. So, a charge of a formal monopoly cannot be proved.

But not so, the charge of an operational monopoly, leveraging heavily on its rich content, made possible by its comparatively huger chest of capital.

Take this subscriber family as example.

Latching on to MultiChoice campaign for subscribers to pay early to beat the new charges set to take off on April 1, the family paid the old rate on March 31. The MultiChoice agents collected the rate but later sent a text to the payer that since banks closed early because of the elections, and it had not paid the money into the bank account, the payer should come back to make up for the new rate, since the money would enter the MultiChoice account on April 1!

These are the sort of arbitrary behaviours that make consumers complain about MultiChoice and its pay-tv platforms of DStv and Gotv. That is why NBC should take a special interest in these complaints.

At the end of the day, MultiChoice is no charity organisation. It has a right to recoup its investment at a profit. At the same time however, subscribers too have a right to quality at the best price.

That is where NBC must come in — and ensure fairness on both sides of the transaction.

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IR: It was John Bitten that once said: “In politics, I think it is wiser to leave five minutes too soon than to continue five years too long.” This aptly describes the belated pacification approach of President Goodluck Jonathan to winning the southwest before the conduct of last presidential election. The ubiquitous visit of President Jonathan to the southwest has now shown that our President loves the south westerners only for his reelection. The visit to our Obas’ palaces must have given the President the rare opportunity to compare the heterogeneous collection of artifacts in those palaces visited.

And of course, the President needs to be told that his government has shortchanged the southwest people in terms of human resources and economically. His government is as hellish as that of Abacha. The hoi polloi have been more impoverished. Small and medium scale enterprises have been crippled by the debilitating exchange rate, which is the worst in history.

The southwest roads are worse than its government met them six years ago.

People’s Democratic Party appointed offices were not given to the southwest. It remains an illusion that implementation of the latter-day CONFAB report that was hurriedly put in place to douse political conflagration has now become a campaign issue. It is cheap and spurious. But South westerners nay other Nigerians are wiser. It is difficult to believe that a government that has failed to move us forward in six years can do any magic in the next four years. The hate campaign against General Mohammadu Buhari is only making the man more popular among the people.

Nobody can stop an idea whose time has come. To appreciate the mortality of man, our present political players should hear the word of Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) to wit: “What’s man? A foolish baby, vainly strives, fights and frets, demanding all, deserving nothing, one small grave he gets”. The nub of the matter is that the window dressing of the President in the southwest is hoodwinking and not sincere.

• Adelani Olawuyi, Odooba – Ogbomoso.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: This is my song in honour of a man of many parts, politician of note, generalissimo of the progressive movement, a detribalised Nigerian, a mentor and benefactor; Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Those who don’t known him may say other things about him, but those of us who have been privileged to walk with him can never forget how impactful his hands are on the march to greatness of his associates. He is firm and committed and does not entertain sloppiness. Tinubu never allows you to walk alone, once he shares the vision of your pursuit. I have experienced this attribute first hand and the impression it has left on me is indescribable.

Celebrating Tinubu is the celebration of excellence in all ramifications; little wonder the world is to mark his birthday and giving him a standing ovation worthy of a man who has given himself over to the emancipation of genuine democratic ethos in Nigeria. Tinubu knows what the world needs and is not afraid to go after it. Let them

EDITOR’S MAIL BAG SEND TYPEWRITTEN, DOUBLE SPACED AND SIGNED CONTRIBUTIONS, LETTERS AND REJOINDERS OF NOT MORE THAN 800 WORDS TO THE EDITOR, THE NATION, 27B, FATAI ATERE ROAD, MATORI, LAGOS. E-mail: views@thenationonlineng.net

Tinubu: My song for the generalissimo paint the man of the people in whatever colour pleases their electoral desperation, the world has come to know him as a man of great vision and he is now been celebrated on the global stage. That was why he could stand on developing Lagos state through the creation of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to meet the needs of its large population in the state at a time the powers that be insisted he must not. He suffered for it but I am sure he counted it as a blessing because today, Lagos is doing well through that initiative.

This man of many parts knows what Nigeria needs and he has never been afraid to pursue it, even

if it were to put him in a minority.

Gradually at home, many Nigerians here are coming to terms with the reality of his pursuit, the honesty of his intention and the altruism of his philosophy and they are rewarding him for it. First in Lagos, then Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Edo, Imo, and with the combination of another farsighted Nigerian leader, General Muhammadu Buhari, the acceptance of his dream of a better Nigeria is far spreading beyond the coast of his traditional ‘home page’.

Those who don’t know him may vilify him, but those who have shared sessions of strategies with him know that Tinubu is a master of political brinkmanship. He is deft and calculating but never vin-

Journalism and democratic values

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IR: Journalism is one profession that entails gathering, processing, interpreting and investigating news and information dissemination to widely disperse audience. The media is regarded as the fourth estate of the realm of any society because of its watchdog role. Journalists serve as intermediary between the government and the people. In the on-going elections, one expects journalists to be transparent and fair in their dealings with politicians, in the overall interest of the nation. Mr. Garba Mohammed, president of Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), must encourage members and media platforms to adhere to the principle of balanced reportage because the way the

media portrays the world is the way the people sees it.

The media should give fair hearing to parties and also endeavour to always sensitise the people so as to avoid being used as a tool for violence. Journalism ethic implies that, its practitioners, should at all time, say nothing but the truth in order to gain societal trust. The ongoing elections should not create a difference because it is the only thing that can give the people opportunity to speak out as regards the true state of their country. The media must avoid being used as underwriters but they must be seen as genuine watchdog to government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Although, a free and fair election is always considered to be the task of INEC but let it be known that the media is also responsible for, not only a free and fair election, but for peaceful elections. The media has been working and one is proud to commend their efforts for reporting with utmost professionalism. But the media in general can still fare better with great caution and forthrightness. The media can better help in achieving a free and fair election, peaceful society and better nation through its well researched and balanced reportage.

• Salau Olawale Rilwan, Kwara State University.

dictive. His politician eyes are more than the human two; he sees beyond and across the present. For a man trained in accounting, his forensic knowledge of humanity is awesome and challenging.

Tinubu’s knowledge of humanity is the secret behind the emergence of a Lai Mohammed, the single individual who can wrestle with an entire governmental information machinery and not blink with facts and figures that dissolves doubt about the deceit of some who have been given the privilege to lead but daily show their utter unpreparedness for the task.

I know Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu as a man with a generous heart; indeed generous to a fault. Asiwaju, your life is a bundle of encouragement to many of us. Since we knew you in 1992, when you were elected as a senator representing Lagos West constituency in the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic, you have not ceased to be amazing. Your courage in fighting the dreaded

Abacha regime, as a founding member of the equally amazing pro-democracy group, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which mobilized support for the restoration of democracy and recognition of the June 12, 1993 election as the real watershed in Nigeria’s political emancipation, cannot be forgotten in the book of history.

You stood with your friend and brother, Aare MKO Abiola till the end. You have always stood with people close to you; no let me rephrase that, you have always been standing for what is good for Nigeria. You started with the people of Lagos and today the LCDAs are benefitting the residents, you stood with the people of Ekiti and after years of agonising legal battle, the people’s rightful choice was installed, you stood with the people of Osun state and the same happened just as you stood with the people of Edo state and the reality is showing today.

Now Asiwaju, you are standing for Nigeria. Those of us who know you, know that no amount of blackmail can derail you from the path of honour which you have chosen to meander with the masses. You have always stood for the people and my prayer is simple, sir: May you keep standing to the very end.

• Oba Abdul-Wahaab Kwara state

Congrats, Mr. President-elect

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IR: I want to congratulate the newly elected president for scaling through the hurdles of election thereby emerging as the people’s choice in the end. I pray that his tenure will accomplish great things for our great nation.

Also, I want to charge the president not to represent only his political party but all other parties too; and that he should not turn his back on the people that elected him. In addition, I want to plead

with the president to fulfill all his promises because the country is counting on him. However, the president should try as much as possible to make his tenure peaceful, stable and purpose driven so as to take this nation to greater heights.

• Aroyehun Jesutosin peace Masscommunication Department Kwara State University, Malete

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

COMMENTS HY would anyone want to leave a winning path?

This is the key question for the electorate ahead of the Lagos State governorship election expected to hold on April 11. The question perhaps requires no answer because there may be none; or more reasonably, because there is unlikely to be any reasonable answer. Guided by reason, the voters ought to continue on the path of reason.

Five months before the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State governorship hopeful and frontrunner, Akinwunmi Ambode, 51, formally expressed his ambition at a well-attended October 24 ceremony at the Onikan Stadium last year, he published a piece in celebration of the state’s 47 th anniversary. The May 27 article followed Ambode’s then controversial May 15 public endorsement by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu. The preeminent Lagos monarch had declared at a book launch at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos: “The elders of Lagos have said that Ambode will be governor…The elders have been meeting…We review things regularly…The elders have said that Ambode should be the next governor of Lagos.” It is remarkable that the king’s confident prophecy is on course.

Interestingly, in his piece titled “Happy Anniversary: “Lagos State”, Ambode wrote: “As Lagos turns fifty in the next three years, therefore, the future beckons on whoever would take over the baton in the relay of enduring peoplefriendly policies to solidify and build on these worthy legacies.” His reference to legacies was a tribute to the governmental accomplishments of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was the state governor from 1999 to 2007, and Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, whose second-term ends this year after succeeding Tinubu at the helm in 2007.

It is worth noting that Ambode illuminated his administrative background, and gave an insight into his edge over rivals. He said: “Having been in a vantage position to work with the last two governors for 13 years, I conclude this piece as I share with you all one lesson I learnt from serving under them by using the football anecdote.”

According to Ambode, “My two former bosses, Asiwaju Bola

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‘It is quite reassuring to know that Ambode signified his intention to continue on the path of meritorious governance charted by Tinubu and Fashola by speaking of “continuity of excellence”. Ambode’s “CHELSEA UNITED” football metaphor holds a winning promise that the electorate ought to appreciate and endorse’

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N May 29 2015, Your Excellency will be sworn in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the most populous and most vibrant black nation in the world. Congratulations! There is no doubt that Nigerians survive on hope, but please give us renewed hope for a better tomorrow.

Nigerians appreciate that there are numerous problems confronting our country but the most essential ingredient for citizenship engagement is sincerity of purpose. So, it will be good to see you adopt an open system of administration. The experience of the past 16 years of democratic dispensation has shown clearly that a Nigerian voice is evolving, albeit slowly, and that any serious minded politician or political leader must rethink if he intends to go far.

Most Nigerians can tell you how not to rule this nation.

Nigerians are now, more than ever before, very protective of the integrity of their fatherland and would not appreciate a President that does not pay attention to and invest in creating a positive image for our homeland. The good people of Nigeria want to walk tall wherever they go and with whomever they interact. Indeed, they want to be recognised for all the good things: in academia, sports, entertainment, industry, technology, healthcare, education and now, more than ever before, good governance. Still on corruption, Nigerians feel sad when stolen monies are stashed abroad and the economy suffers as a result.

Mr. President, there is no gainsaying that our youth groan under the yoke of unemployment and under-employment and they frown when economic policies and over-bloated budgets do not translate to employment for them. It is painful that Nigerian graduates roam the streets looking for jobs, unappreciated for upwards of five years and without any support system. For instance, Nigeria needs to keep a databank of these unemployed youth which could then be a basis for prioritising employment interventions and ensuring that the economy benefits.

Infrastructural development must be given utmost priority.

Your Excellency, citizens dislike a fire brigade approach to infrastructural development and worse still, when developments are undertaken solely for political reasons or when cosmetic works are ventured into to potentially hoodwink citizens, the populace get tuned off. The President should adopt a zero tolerance for abandoned projects and the presidency must foster effective collaboration with states on developmental issues.

Though tribe and tongues may differ, Nigerians celebrate their diversity and do not take kindly to a president who rules according to ethnic and religious divides. You can be rest assured that when presidents tow the line of division, cronyism and nepotism, they will be serving the interests of very few people to the detriment of the whole country and this approach will inevitably backfire. Nigerians love federal institutions established to foster unity such as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Unity schools, federal universities, polytechnics amongst others but would appreciate a review of our quota system policies in line with modern trends. For instance, would it not be better to enthrone

Ambode’s ‘CHELSEA UNITED’ Ahmed Tinubu and Mr. Bbatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), are both great supporters of Manchester United, while I, their ward, am a Chelsea fan. I have come to regard Asiwaju as the “special one” because, like the famous bearer of that title, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, he laid the solid foundation for the evolution of modern Lagos. Like ‘Mourinho’, he has the vision and the winning formulae. In May 2003, at his inaugural speech for his second term in office, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu declared that “we will build with vigour on foundation laid in the first term until the momentum of positive change becomes forever irreversible in Lagos State.”

Ambode continued: “But the special one needs a special manager and an ebullient visionary to accomplish the goals.

If Lagos State were Manchester United, His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) is the quintessential and indefatigable Alex Ferguson. He brought in his Midas touch in all facets of governance to actualise that positive change in the development and growth of Lagos State.”

Finally, Ambode wrote: “So, where does that leave me, their student? I learnt first that in any club managed by these two managers, there is no room for a David Moyes. And I pledged to myself that if I am ever entrusted with the responsibility of administering a football club, I will name it CHELSEA UNITED, if just to assure my two bosses that I learnt from their different but complementary styles in building and running a formidable team.”

In an important sense, Ambode is on the threshold of “administering a football club”, if political governance may be seen from such perspective. His experiential empowerment cannot be discounted. To go by the saying, “Experience is the best teacher,” Ambode leads the field by

a wide gap in the governorship race. Of course, it is another question whether Ambode has been a teachable student.

For an answer, it is useful to highlight Fashola’s wellquoted testimonial, which Ambode described as “my gold medal for public service.” It is particularly noteworthy that at the time Fashola wrote the glowing letter of commendation following Ambode’s voluntary 2012 retirement after a 27-year career in the state civil service, it was not a political statement and was not politically relevant.

However, with a few days to the governorship poll, Fashola’s tribute to Ambode deserves to be recognised as a political medallion.

Fashola wrote: “I write on behalf of the people of Lagos to commend your high sense of dedication, selflessness and integrity which you brought to bear on the civil service. I wish to specifically remark that working closely with you has been of tremendous mutual benefit, particularly in the present administration.” He continued: “You have displayed high sense of professionalism and have been a good team player, guided by the philosophy of a true public officer, who must place himself last while rendering service to the public. We are convinced that your brilliance and zeal will make you excel in your future endeavours.”

It is worth mentioning that the medallist’s background includes stints as the Accountant- General of Lagos State from 2006 and 2012, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and Auditor-General for Local Government. These features of Ambode’s profile demonstrate that he is probably the most experienced individual in terms of familiarity with the state civil service operations to seek the position of governor since Lagos State was created in 1967.

What about his impact? Ambode’s critical role in the creation of the State Treasury Office (STO) should be of special significance in rating him as a governorship candidate. The STO has been acknowledged as a ground-breaking development which has fundamentally improved how the state’s funds are raised, budgeted, managed and spent. It goes without saying that Ambode’s confirmed authoritative grasp of treasury issues gives him a superior advantage.

What about his clear-sightedness? “If we take the concept of resource generation, allocation and distribution into cognisance and apply the principles of good governance, we will achieve economic growth and development,” Ambode said while presenting a paper titled “Public Finance: Probity and Accountability” at a workshop organised in August last year by the Lagos State Government and the Lagos Business School.

It is quite reassuring to know that Ambode signified his intention to continue on the path of meritorious governance charted by Tinubu and Fashola by speaking of “continuity of excellence”. Ambode’s “CHELSEA UNITED” football metaphor holds a winning promise that the electorate ought to appreciate and endorse.

Memo to in-coming President

By Olawale Mogaji meritocracy in these institutions by making admissions into them 70 per cent merit and 30 per cent quota so that Nigerians can be better benefitted.

It may be important to have a role for the President’s wife, but please be assertive so as not to allow such roles to distract government from its business so as not to allow frivolity get in the way of good governance with unsolicited gender comments on sensitive national issues. Also, if it is possible, make sure that whatever role the President’s wife is given that it is not funded by taxpayers’ money. Nigerians love their women and the motherly role they play, but not at the expense of the citizenry.

Your Excellency, you will definitely earn the trust of your citizens if you can sincerely commit to providing stable electricity for the country as people feel distressed that this is one product that Nigerians may have the money to afford but cannot find in the market. Citizens are yearning for genuine commitment to privatisation of the power sector; for example, questions have been asked in some quarters as to why very few players with the capacity for huge capital outlay are allowed into the market and that this might be a factor in those granted opportunities to form oligopolies, effectively holding this nation to ransom.

Mr. President, the people of Nigeria cherish exemplary leadership and as you would understand, this is why you have been voted into this incredibly important position. As Shakespeare wrote in his play; ‘Henry IV Part II’: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” and for this reason, it is important that Nigerian citizens do not feel betrayed should ministers and top officials not be answerable to the people.

Nigerians expect that you frown at, and call to task, erring officials as a sign that you fully understand the reasons they have been voted into or appointed to public office. Nigerians are now quick to point out that public office is not the sole preserve or birth right of any class or group of people.

Your Excellency, as soon as you are sworn-in, and given your demonstrated capacity, Nigerians look forward to your assuming the position of President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria rather than that of your party. Nigerians understand that your party may wish to drag you down the route of sectional politics but, as President, you are father of all and as such should put your foot down! Also, as you would be more than aware, as President, your duty is to the entire nation and not only those that have voted for you or against some perceived enemies. One thing Nigerians would want to see going forward in our fragile democratic journey is noninterference with other arms of government as this is an essential ingredient of good governance.

The judiciary and legislature will look up to your office for

orderliness, rule of law, probity, accountability and selflessness. If you can do it, they will not have a reason not to. This also applies to the issue of the huge wage bill and irrational allowances incurred by public office holders at the expense of the people they are supposed to be serving.

Kindly be more magnanimous in constituting your cabinet by including possibly, some members of opposition with impeccable character and excellent track record of performance and avoid recycling very old and redundant hands who are not relevant to the vision of Nigeria in the 21st century. There are very many excellent, world class, selfless and patriotic Nigerians. Pease, take time to look for them to help move our fatherland forward. You can even be more magnanimous by encouraging a shadow cabinet, as this is healthy for any meaningful development where people with contrary views are not perceived as enemies.

Mr. President, our institutions are weak and collapsing, so as a matter of urgency, your office should endeavour to strengthen government agencies and parastatals to ensure they can deliver on their statutory duties. Where possible, please avoid bringing public officers, especially police and the military into partisan politics. Security of lives and property is also one area in which Nigerians want to heave a sigh of relief urgently. Many Nigerians do not believe they are living in the Nigeria of their dreams with the spate of killings and kidnappings across the country. Part of creating an enabling environment for domestic and international business and good governance is security and, children particularly want to feel safe and proud that the government is in-charge.

Your Excellency, the term ‘dividends of democracy’ is tokenistic to the people and it is certainly a military phobia sentiment. Therefore, after 16 years of continuous democratic dispensation, Nigerians deserve the dividends of good governance. As a Nigerian citizen, I have full hopes that this country will be great and I feel I have in my own small way performed my civic duty and contributed to the future that many Nigerians yearn for.

Thank you and Long live Nigeria!

• Mogaji, a development communications expert wrote in from Lagos

‘Your Excellency, the term ‘dividends of democracy’ is tokenistic to the people and it is certainly a military phobia sentiment. Therefore, after 16 years of continuous democratic dispensation, Nigerians deserve the dividends of good governance’

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

COMMENTS

I

N this column last Monday, I wrote under the title “Beyond the elections”. The article which was put together days before the election and published before the results of the presidential and national assembly elections were released, had examined two possible scenarios that could play out after the elections.

These were the likelihood that it may come out rancour free with the results accepted by all. The other simulated outcome was that of violence leading to breakdown of law and order in some parts of the country arising from a disputed outcome. The latter speculation was further given fillip by the foul political environment that arose in the desperation of politicians to control the minds of the electorate and threats of mayhem from sundry quarters should the election go in certain ways.

We also took very serious note of the peace accords signed by both President Jonathan and General Buhari to maintain the peace during and after the polls. On the basis of these accords, we further contended that in a very peaceful election, the nation would have been on the threshold of history as all predictions of cataclysm that have instilled fear in the people leading to many fleeing to their ancestral homes, would have come to naught. So also would the prediction of doomsday for the corporate existence of Nigeria by some foreign interests.

The column also examined the inevitability of change in this country. The main thesis of our presentation was that change was imminent in this country irrespective of which party comes into power as the consciousness of the people have been aroused to its dynamics. That was our summation of the heuristic value of some of the issues raised during the campaigns by the opposition and the possible reaction to them

‘The fight against corruption should also be matched with institutionalisation of a new social order based on equity, justice and fairness; a new order that will consign to the dust bin of history vestiges of alienation and marginalization of the constituent units in this unity in diversity’

D

Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Now change has come by the government in power if it succeeds in winning the election.

That election has come and gone. It has also been lost and won with the emergence of Muhammad Buhari as the president-elect. Its outcome has been generally accepted though it had its own problems. The man at the helm of affairs, President Jonathan displayed a rare show of statesmanship by not only conceding defeat but went ahead to congratulate his opponent at the tension soaked election. That is a rare feat in this part of the world where leaders and sundry political contenders cling tenaciously to power irrespective of their unpopularity and the verdict of the people.

Africa is replete with such leaders. And here at home, matters are not remedied by the inability of politicians to cultivate the culture of accepting defeat. Coming from an incumbent President, there is cause to celebrate. At last, we can beat our chests and say in unison that the peace accord did the miracle. There is a ray of hope in the horizon that we are on the path to parting ways with some of our ruinous political attitudes and orientations. So, we have been left with the first scenario.

Even though subdued anger and disgust cannot be ruled out completely, everybody seems to be happy that peace has after all reigned supreme irrespective of these feelings.

Everybody seems to be satisfied and reassured that Nigeria has been rescued from the precipice of disintegration to which it was irretrievably headed.

With this also, predictions of doom and cataclysm of unimaginable proportion have come to naught, albeit for now. Those who fled their places of residence for fear that harm

EAR Compatriots, I want to take this last opportunity, before we go to the polls on Saturday March 28 and April 11 respectively, to thank everyone who has supported our campaigns. I am humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity to meet so many of my fellow Nigerians who have helped to carry the message of change across our great country.

This is the fourth time that I would be standing for election as the President of Nigeria. All these years, I have been driven by a keen awareness of the potential greatness of our country and the desire to provide the true leadership that will unleash this huge potential. I believe that a stable and prosperous Nigeria is not only important to Nigerians. It is also important to Africa and the rest of the world. The evidence of this is the unprecedented attention that our country will receive this weekend. On Saturday, the whole world would wait with baited breath for the greatest black nation on earth to take charge of its destiny. We must therefore not miss the significance of this moment. We must not let ourselves and our country down.

At no other time in our history is Nigeria in such an urgent need of strong and competent leadership. Sadly, at no other time is this leadership so sorely absent in our country. We live in a time of great opportunities and great peril. It is only a leader that understands these in equal measure that can find the rightful place for Nigeria among the great Nations of the world.

I have travelled extensively around Nigeria in the last three months. In the course of my travels, I encountered directly, what I have always believed: that a Hausa man’s desire for security is not different from the Ijaw woman’s desire to feel secured in any part of our country. An Igbo woman’s desire for her children to get quality education and find employment is not different from the Yoruba man’s dream for his children to become a useful member of our society. A wife’s desperate need for affordable and quality healthcare for her husband diagnosed with prostate cancer in Enugu is not different from a husband’s desire to save the life of his wife diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Lagos.

Invariably, our fears are the same; our dreams are the same; and our problems are the same. Regardless of the language we speak, or the way we understand and worship God, what affects anyone of us, affects everyone of us.

Our economy is celebrated as the largest in Africa, yet our country is home to the continent’s highest number of people living in extreme poverty. Our youth population is larger than the combined population of many of our neighbours, yet our failure to plan and create opportunities for them is turning them to a social time bomb rather than economic catalysts. A band of ragtag terrorist group has threatened our territorial integrity, killed thousands of Nigerians, displaced our people and abducted our children. The almost

may come their way after the election may now return. Perhaps, the relative peace we are now savouring is because Jonathan lost and accepted his defeat in good faith.

Matters would have taken a different dimension if he had disputed the election outcome. The situation may also have been different if Buhari had lost the election.

These possibilities should not be ignored as we celebrate.

In effect, there was the hand of God in all the events that brought about the current pass.

And the gloomy atmosphere has given way to a very bright one. So, there is every reason for people to be happy especially the poor who bear the brunt of the inadequacies of those who superintend over the affairs of this country. They are the ones who would have suffered immeasurably had the elections degenerated into violence. Nobody died after all. Those who reportedly died met their fate while happily celebrating the victory of their preferred candidates. May their souls rest in peace.

Now, the much-clamoured change has come with the successful election of General Muhammad Buhari to run this country for the next four years. Change has come with the defeat of the PDP, a party that has ruled this country for over 15 years and had boasted to rule ad infinitum. That boast is now history.

Change has also come from the ascendancy of the APC into power at the national level.

Change has come for the first time in our history for an incumbent president to be defeated in an election. So change is all over the place especially since that mantra was the key campaign slogan of the APC.

And if we still borrow from our article under reference; that will not be the end to it all. Soon Nigerians will begin to contend with the reality of the new dawn. They will soon begin to contend with the prospects of what this change holds for them. They will begin to look up to the new things to come in the way this country had hitherto been run. They will begin to look out for fundamental changes in the structure and organization of this country in such a way that can unleash the creative energies of the constituents to fasten the pace of development and give a new lease of life to the suffering masses.

The consciousness of the ordinary people has been aroused to the inevitability of change in statecraft. Their minds have been attuned to different approaches in the running of affairs of the government. They desire real change. That change must permeate every strata of the nation’s social fabric. It must proceed beyond vote catching strategy to redirect the resources of this country for the overall public good.

Change cannot take place in the face of the pervasive corruption that has over the years left our people hewers of wood and fetchers of water despite the immense resources nature has placed at our backyard. Change will turn an aberration if ethnic and primordial considerations, which took ascendancy to an all time high during the elections, become prime considerations in the distribution of public resources. Change will only endure when we build national institutions that will serve all Nigerians irrespective of who is in power and from which sections of the country he got the largest chunk of electoral support.

Good a thing, Buhari has made the fight against corruption a cardinal objective of his regime. He says the fight counts most and he is determined to make the difference in this regard. He has said it all. But the challenge can be daunting. If he can achieve that for this country, he would have written his name in gold. But for him to do that successfully, he must be resolute and firm. There are entrenched interests here and there he will have to contend with.

The fight against corruption should also be matched with institutionalisation of a new social order based on equity, justice and fairness; a new order that will consign to the dust bin of history vestiges of alienation and marginalization of the constituent units in this unity in diversity. Then, change would have endured with the country on a steady march to peace, progress and unhindered development.

Time for Nigeria to be great once again

By Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR 60, 000 Nigerians who have become refugees in neighbouring countries represent a budding threat to sub-regional stability.

However, even in the face of these daunting challenges, I see a great opportunity for change. We have to start by rebuilding the trust and confidence of Nigerians in their government. No citizen will respect a government under whose watch more than 200 girls were abducted. This singular act can only portray the government as insensitive, incompetent or both. When I become president, reuniting these children with their families will, without doubts, be a top priority. Rebuilding the army and other security agencies will also be a top priority of my government. I will ensure that never again will terrorists find a safe haven in Nigeria.

Recent fall in international price of crude leaves us badly exposed and vulnerable. Dwindling oil revenue also means that we are going to face serious financial challenges in the months ahead. However, even as daunting as this appears, it also provides us with great opportunity to diversify our economy and finally give meaning to the widely held belief that our prosperity as a nation would not continue to depend on the resources buried under our feet, but on the productive capacity of our people.

No matter how many resources we have, if not properly utilized, it would only create a few billionaires and leave majority of our people in poverty. Under the current administration, corruption has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and this has been at the heart of most of our government failings, including insecurity, broken infrastructure and growing inequality in our country.

My government will have a zero tolerance for corruption.

I will set a personal example and run a government that truly serves the people rather than serve themselves and a privileged few. Like I have repeatedly maintained that if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

We must not allow Nigeria to die. Therefore, we must do all that is necessary to root out this evil that has reduced our great country to a laughing stock of the world. We must begin to rebuild the social fabrics of our society and teach a different experience to our youth in the values of hard work, discipline, integrity and service.

The change that I seek therefore; is a change from the

current regime of mindless of corruption and profligacy; a change from fear and insecurity to peace and stability; a change from religious and ethnic divisiveness to unity, equity and justice. This is the change that my party stands for. This is the change that I am committed to bringing about as President. Give me the chance to lead you in rebuilding a Nigeria that all of us can be proud of once again.

As we come out to vote on Saturday, I appeal to all Nigerians to shun violence in whatever form. It is the right of every adult Nigerian to vote and expect that their votes would count in a free, fair and credible election. However, we also have a responsibility to respect the choice of others and grant them the same treatment that we expect.

I also want to call on all our men and women in uniform, the Judiciary, and all others who have constitutional responsibility to safeguard our democracy, to remember that their responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and the survival of Nigeria. They must therefore not allow anyone to use them to subvert the will of the Nigerian people. I believe that their dreams and aspirations are not different from those of other Nigerians.

I have no doubt that with God being on our side; together we can make our country great once again.

• Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR is Nigeria’s Presidentelect delivered this speech before the March 28 th, 2015 Presidential election.

‘I also want to call on all our men and women in uniform, the Judiciary, and all others who have constitutional responsibility to safeguard our democracy, to remember that their responsibility is primarily to Nigerians and the survival of Nigeria. They must therefore not allow anyone to use them to subvert the will of the Nigerian people. I believe that their dreams and aspirations are not different from those of other Nigerians’

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

JOBS

THE CEO

‘Modular refineries’ll end fuel scarcity, create jobs’ - P. 37

Need job? Try haulage supply chain - P. 35 News Brief

Experts fault Nigeria’s gas reserves estimates

Oando chief urges IOCs to divest more JV fallow fields THE Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu, has urged international oil companies (IOCs) to divest more of the idle or low producing oil fields in their possession to local firms to increase local companies’ oil production and reserves.

–Page 26

By Akinola Ajibade

T

Ajaokuta Steel for fresh privatisation PLANS are underway to commence a new process to privatise the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) in Kogi State, Head, Public Communications, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, has said.

–Page 26

AfDB okays $26m for water project THE African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has allocated a loan and a grant amounting to $25.995 million dollars to finance a water project in Mahe in the Seychelles.

–Page 39

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

$54/barrel $2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

¢132.70/pound

Cotton

¢95.17pound

Gold

$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

$163/lb RATES

Inflation

8.4%

Treasury Bills 10.58%(91d) Maximum lending 30% Prime lending

15.87%

Savings rate

3%

91-day NTB

15%

Time Deposit

5.49%

MPR

13%

Foreign Reserve

$34.5b

• From left: Unit Head Internal/External & Digital Communications, Ogechi Umez-Eronini; Group Head, E-Business, Mr. Benedict Anyalenkeya; Group Head, Internal Control, Chukwudi Essele; and Head, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Theodora Amechi (all from Unity Bank) at the City People Media Group Awards for Excellence in Lagos.

SEC cancels ‘black market’ for shares, bonds N

IGERIA’s capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has proscribed underhand trading in the shares and other securities of unlisted public limited liability companies.

A document on new rules and regulations approved by SEC obtained at the weekend indicated that there shall be no trading on shares, bonds and other securities of unlisted public limited liability companies outside the platform of a registered securities exchange established and registered by SEC for the purpose of facilitating overthe-counter (OTC) trading of securities.

The new rules and regulations will have the force of law as they were made pursuant to section 313, subsection one of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, which empowers the Commission to, from time to time, make rules and regulations for the purpose of giving effect to the Act as well as amend and revoke rules and regulations so made. ISA is the main body of law for the capital market.

C

By Taofik Salako

According to the new rules, all securities of unlisted public companies shall be bought, sold or transferred only by means of a system approved by the Commission and under such terms and conditions as the Commission may prescribe from time to time.

“No person shall buy, sell or otherwise transfer securities of an unlisted public company except through the platform of a registered securities exchange established for the purpose of facilitating over-the-counter trading of securities,” the rules stated.

Any unlisted public company, director, company secretary, registrar, broker, dealer or such other persons who facilitate the buying, selling or transfers of the securities of an unlisted public company other than through the platform of a duly registered securities exchange, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than N100, 000 in the

first instance and not more than N5, 000 for every day of default.

The Commission stated that the aim of the new rules and regulations is to ensure that all securities of unlisted public companies are traded within securities exchanges that are registered with the Commission.

The new rule effectively cancels ‘black market’ trading on the shares of several unlisted Plcs including companies such as Fan Milk Plc and Cappa & D’Alberto Plc among others.

The Nation had earlier exclusively reported that SEC was considering proscribing unregulated trading in shares of public limited liability companies.

The new rules now effectively concentrates trading on the shares and other securities of unlisted Plcs on the only registered OTC platform, the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Plc. NASD is a registered OTC trading platform for

unquoted securities including equities and bonds.

Owned by several investment and financial institutions as well as strategic investors, it is registered by SEC as an organised trading platform for unlisted securities.

NASD started trading on unlisted securities in July 2013. All investment instruments approved by SEC could be traded on the NASD including shares of unlisted multinational companies. After the initial formative period, the NASD plans to trade on commercial papers and then other complex instruments like derivatives and options.

As an OTC market, NASD does not have a trading floor like the traditional exchange but trades through the internet and a hosted platform leased from the NSE. To facilitate its trading, the company had developed an integrated market system made up of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), six settlement banks and some registrars to ensure smooth operations.

Manufacturing sector’s capacity utilisation averages 52%, says MAN

APACITY utilisation in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria has remained at an average of 52 per cent over the last 12 months, the umbrella body of manufacturers in the country, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said.

Its President, Dr Frank

• Urges economic diversification

By Toba Agboola

Jacobs, who spoke at the weekend in Lagos, said the manufacturing sector remained the major driver of

economic growth in the country, adding that its contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) stood at 9.2 per cent.

He, however, warned of

dire consequences for the economy if the Federal Government fails to urgently take steps towards diversifying the revenues base of the country as the fortunes of oil prices, the mainstay of the economy, continue to witness a major downturn.

• Continued on page 26

HE claims by the Federal Government that Nigeria has 187 trillion cubit feet (Tcf) of gas reserves and 600 cubit feet of unproven gas reserves are faulty and cannot stand the test of time, experts have said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Frontier Oil Limited, Thomas Dada and former Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC), Basil Omiyi, who spoke in separate interviews, said the figures were not to be trusted because they have not taken into account the gas used over the years and the possibility of more discoveries through the application of modern technology.

Dada said the figures had been static despite the production activities in the oil and gas sector over the years.

He said gas reserves had not changed since the 60s, despite the fact that the country has been releasing gas for both domestic and foreign consumption.

“Gas reserves have been static over the years. Since 70s, the reserves have been hovering around 187trillon and 600trilion cubit feet. “Does that mean Nigeria is not explore gas again? Perhaps there is no proper book keeping on the quantity of gas reserves owned

by Nigeria. I have been hearing the same thing since I left Shell decades ago. Nothing has really changed in that regard,” he said.

He said geologists, marine engineers, and other professionals have come with conflicting figures on the gas reserves.

Dada, whose firm partnered Seven Energy (a gas infrastructure provider) to develop and build Que Iboe marginal oil field which turned out to contain huge gas deposit) said there are marginal oil fields that have gas, but have not been explored.

He said: “When idle marginal fields are activated in line with the directives of the Federal Government that all marginal fields must be put to productive use, we would see that many of them contain gas.

When you factor all these, one would see that the gas reserves are under-stated.”

Omiyi said he found it difficult to come to terms with the fact that the country has 600 cubic feet of gas reserves.

He said when infrastructure were provided there would be stunning revelations on the potentials of gas owned by the country.

He said the nation’s gas potential could best be utilised when the necessary infrastructure were in place for operators to work with.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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BUSINESS NEWS

Oando chief urges IOCs to divest more JV fallow fields

T

HE Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu, has urged international oil companies (IOCs) to divest more of the idle or low producing oil fields in their possession to local firms to increase local companies’ oil production and reserves.

Tinubu, who spoke on the sideline of an oil and gas conference in Abuja, said if the IOCs relinquished the fallow or low producing oil fields they have in joint venture (JV) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), it would help the independents to boost their production level and increase their reserves.

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

He lamented that most of the fields owned by the independents only produce between 2,000 barrels per day (bpd) and 6,000 bpd before the decline set in.

He advised the marginal field operators to pull resources together for increased value addition especially at this time of low oil price. “Far from diversifying the economy, marginal field operators need to pull resources together to survive this period,” he said.

On challenges, Tinubu stressed the need for government to put in place attractive fiscal policies and

incentives, ensure that good governance and transparency are entrenched, tackle security concerns, find alternative JV funding, reduce or eliminate bureaucratic that exist in contracting cycle, improve infrastructure and give support where and when necessary.

He expressed concern over the layoff of oil and gas industry workers citing an example with the 800 able-bodied rig workers that were laid laid-off. He lamented that the development is dangerous, warning that the industry risked an increase in the incidence of oil theft because such workers know the terrain and technology inside out.

The Oando chief said the government should maximise the benefits and value of oil and gas in-country for Nigerians.

According to him, as the 13th largest oil producer in the world, Nigeria imports petroleum products, a development he said did speak well of the countryu.

He said: “Nigeria is the 13th largest oil producer in the world and is the 11th in terms of oil reserves in the world.”

Buttressing the need to maximise the value petroleum in-country, he said: “Nigeria’s crude oil and petroleum products exports to the United States have dropped by 67

per cent to 33 million barrels in 2014.

“Nigeria’s oil production has remained stagnant since 2010 as foreign investment inflows have reduced over the five years. Oil theft takes 30 per cent of national daily production.”

On the way out, he said: “Nigeria needs to develop relationship with growing energy dependent economies such as India and China, create improved regulation and attractive fiscal terms to encourage foreign investments and confidence in the oil industry. Government should ensure efficient security measures.”

BATN to enhance smallholder farming

T

HE British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) is mapping out new strategies to boost agricultural productivity with focus on better ways of enriching smallholder famers to earn decent incomes from their agricultural activities.

Its General Manager, Abimbola Okoya, who spoke on the sideline at a stakeholders’ conference by firm, said: “These interventions have transformed lives of beneficiaries through capacity building initiatives and creation of enabling environment for smallholder farmers to effectively distribute their agricultural produce.”

She said the Foundation’s interaction with the stakeholders was very significant given BATNF’s yearning for sustainable agricultural development, which includes enriching lives of smallholder farmers, providing periodic information on ag-

By Muyiwa Lucas

ricultural development, and sharing learning on agriculture-related matters, and other beneficiaries within the value chain.

One of the major objectives of the stakeholder engagement forum was to devise new and better approaches to driving sustainable agricultural practice that will reduce poverty and make positive, longer-lasting impact on beneficiaries across many communities in Nigeria.

The firm said the implementing partners oversee the execution of the Foundation’s agriculture enterprise development projects by ensuring agriculturally and environmentally sound design and implementation of the projects.

Similarly, it added, they monitor the progress of the interventions and present periodic reports to the Foundation.

Private sector investments in agric rise

A

LOT of firms are exploring long-term land leases as they seek agro-based raw materials to feed their food businesses ,the Project Director, Cassava Adding Value for Africa, Prof Kola Adebayo, has said.

The firms, The Nation learnt, may have decided to the cut reliance on imports to supply their plants by controlling the supply chain from farmer to the shop shelf to protect it from commodity price fluctuations.

While some are buying local agrobased firms and entering into contract farming which involves financing farmers and in return reaching an agreement to use the produce to sustain production,.

Several investments have come in to invest in food processing.

Adebayo told The Nation, that companies have come into the agric industry to process cassava into other derivatives.

He expressed faith that the wave of investments will accelerate agri-

By Daniel Essiet

cultural production and improve the lives of farmers.

According to him, improved investment will help the farms flourish, and producing more food.

Some foreign investors targeted processing of fruits and vegetables as well as arable land for rice farming. Right now, rising foreign investors’ interest are also in sugarcane plantations running into millions of naira.

For watchers, increased demand for food, makes it strategic for food firms to look inward for fertilised areas to grow more food.

This notwithstanding, his concern is that the country may still find it difficulty to investments to its farming and agriculture sectors because of series of challenges, especially procedural and administrative problems, such as those pertaining to land registration, availability, and allocation.

Ajaokuta Steel for fresh privatisation

P

LANS are underway to com mence a new process to privatise the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) in Kogi State, Head, Public Communications, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Chigbo Anichebe, has said.

In a statement, Anichebe quoted the Director-General of the bureau, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, as saying that the Federal Government is exploring amicable resolution of encumbrances with the former investor in the company.

He said when all ties between Ajaokuta Steel and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (GINL), the former core investor, had been severed, the privatisation would begin. He added that the Federal Ministry of Justice was driving the process and was making steady progress on behalf of the Federal Government in resolving the agreement with GINL. The multi-billion naira integrated steel plant was handed over to GINL by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Mines and

By Chikodi Okereocha

Steel under a concession agreement.

The deal was, however, revoked following allegations of non-performance and asset stripping by the Indian firm.

But GINL waged a prolonged legal battle with the Federal Government challenging the revocation.

Dikki said allegations that the initial privatisation of the steel plant failed because of interference by influential persons in the country was untrue.

According to him, all transaction processes followed laid down procedures and was in tune with world best practices.

He said the bureau had proposed the setting up of a Privatisation Tribunal to handle cases of privatised enterprises and that the matter was receiving the attention of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

“When approved, it would quicken the dispensation of justice in the over 200 cases the bureau had in regular courts,” he said.

• From left: Head, Brands, Sterling Bank Plc, Mrs. Peju Ibekwe; Head, Education Unit, Miss Adeola Alli; Dr. Dolapo Ogunbanwo, Executive Director, Caleb Group of Schools and Mrs. Folasade Abiola of Financial Institution Training Centre at the workshop by Caleb Schools and Sterling Bank in Lagos.

‘How to grow air transport in Africa’

A

VIATION experts in Africa have said for air transport to grow in the continent, African states must implement the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD), which is seeking the opening up of the continent’s airspace for African airlines.

The air transport declaration was initiated in 1998 and ratified by countries in the region in 1999 in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.

The experts - Chief Executive Officer of African Aviation Services Limited, Mr Nick Fadugba and Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Tewolde Gabremariam, who spoke with The Nation, argued that the continent’s aviation sector will not grow until the accord in implemented .

They agreed that African airlines have to work together, stressing that this would be enhanced by the open skies treaty in order to curb the incursion of non-African mega carriers.

According to them, Gulf statesUnited Arab Emirates (UAE) carriers, European and the United States carriers currently have 80 per cent of the market while African airlines

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

only have 20 per cent of the traffic in African region.

They lamented that many African countries have refused to implement this agreement. Only 11 out of 54 counties that make up the continent have complied with its implementation.

Fadugba said African governments must open the skies for indigenous airlines to gain market access and free entry and exit.

“We wish African governments will create the enabling environment for African airlines to flourish. The European Union (EU) opened the continent’s skies for European airlines; the African Union (AU) should do the same for African carriers. In other continents of the world, there is vibrant air transport industry, except in Africa,” he said.

Gebremariam dismissed as baseless, fears by some airlines in the region that opening the skies will enable established African carriers to stifle newly established airlines.

He described it as perceived fears

instead of real ones, noting that today, non-African airlines have 80 per cent of the traffic of the intercontinental air travel from the continent, lamenting that the region gains nothing from the domination of these mega carriers.

He said if African airlines are empowered, it would be a catalyst for the economic development of the continent as it will help create thousands of jobs and enhance movement of people from one part of the continent to the other.

He said: “Twenty years ago, the combined African airlines market was more than 60 per cent of the intercontinental traffic between Africa and the rest of the world.

“Back then, there were airlines as big as Air Afrique, Ghana Airways, Nigeria Airways, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) owned airline. The DRC today doesn’t have an airline, but the DRC then had an airline operating more than 30 jet airplanes. They all died because there was no support from their governments. They were not able to fly to their neighbouring countries as much as they did at that time.”

‘Manufacturing sector’s capacity utilisation averages 52%’ • Continued from page 25 He said if the government could sustain with its broad-based incentives, the possibility of capacity utilisation of the manufacturing sector improving further is high, noting that manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP leaped from 6.81 per cent reported after the rebasing exercise to 9.2 per cent.

“Manufacturing is growing strongly, despite power deficit.

The manufacturing sector is a much bigger, faster-growing sector under the new series,” he

said.

He said manufacturers have continued to demonstrate their belief and confidence in the economy through their continued investment in the sector. Major areas of investments include; plants and machinery/spare part, land and building vehicles, furniture and fittings as well as new construction of other infrastructures.

Jacobs warned that a country that is largely dependent on one source of revenue, such as Nigeria, runs the risk of operating an economy that is dictated by external market forces.

Quoting the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) he said: “The nation’s economy still depends heavily on the oil and gas sector, which contributes 82.9 per cent of export revenues, 70 per cent of government revenues and 11.2 per cent of the GDP in 2013.”

According to Dr. Jacobs, despite the country’s oil wealth and the relative improvement in the GDP growth, the United Nations Human Development Index (UNHDI) revealed that poverty was widespread, with over 67.9 per cent of the population living on less than $2 a day in 2013/14.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

27

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

28

Taxation

Taxation: The Swivel of the economy (1)

I

N 1651, Thomas Hobbes during Britain’s Civil War, published a legal theory based on the ‘social contract’. According to him, prior the to social contract, man lived in a state of nature - man’s state of nature was one of a chaotic condition of constant fear and life in the state of nature was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.

To overcome these hardships, man entered into two agreements: • Pactum unionis • Pactum subjectionis Under the pact of unionis, men sought protection of their lives and properties. This resulted in the formation of a society where people undertook to respect each other and live in peace and harmony. With the second pact of subjectionis, people united together and pledged to obey an authority and surrendered the whole or part of their freedom and rights to an authority in exchange for a guarantee of protection of life, property, social amenities and to a certain extent, liberty. Thus, the authority of the government or the sovereign or sate came into being. This authority also includes making policies, one of which is the fiscal policy.

Fiscal policy describes two actions by the government.

The first is taxation- by levying taxes the government receives revenue from the populace. Taxation is a transfer of assets from the people to the government.The second action is government spending. This is in fulfilment of pactum subjectionis and may take the form of wages to government employees, social amenities, security, roads, free or discounted health care, education, transportation or electricity.When the government spends, it transfers assets from itself to the public. Since taxation and government spending represents reversed asset flows, it is nearly given that taxation is the swivel for a sustainable, efficient and effective economy.

History and Principles of Taxation in Nigeria The history of taxation in Nigeria goes back to pre-colonial rule. There was a system of taxation in existence in the form of contribution of compulsory service, money, farm produce, goods and labour, which were essentially meant to support the various monarchies. Mainly, these taxes were levied in the form of ground rent, palm fruit tax, farm produce tax, cattle ownership tax, etc.

The modern tax system in Nigeria was first introduced in the year 1904 by Lord Lugard as community tax in the then Northern Nigeria. He later made changes, which resulted, to the Native Revenue Ordinance of 1917 in Northern Nigeria. The ordinance was extended to the eastern part of Nigeria in 1929. During colonial rule, taxes were imposed on individuals and corporate entities through a series of promulgations by the colonial power.

In 1940, two major legislations were passed; these were the Direct Taxation Ordinance No. 4 of 1940 and the Income Tax Ordinance No. 3 of 1940. The Direct Taxation Ordinance of 1940 applied to all citizens except those in Lagos Township. The Income Tax Ordinance No. 3 of 1940 applied to expatriates and to Nigerians living in Lagos.

The Income Tax Ordinance was passed in 1943 repealing the 1940 Ordinance. The 1943 Ordinance together with the Direct Taxation (Amendment) Ordinance 1943 continued to apply until 1956. In 1956,the Eastern Region passed the Finance Law No. 1 of 1956. The basis of computation of tax provided in the Finance Law No. 1 of 1956 was basically the same as in the Ordinance of 1943.

In 1956 tax allowances were provided for married taxpayers, and additional allowances for families with up

By Embuka Anna to a maximum of three children. It also introduced the Pay-As-Your-Earn (PAYE) system of taxation. The Eastern Region Finance Law number 1 became operative in the region on April 1 1956, thus abrogatingthe application of Direct Taxation Ordinance in the Region. Another law was passed in 1962 repealing the 1956 Law. The Western Region departed from the Direct Taxation Ordinance by passing the Income Tax Law in 1957. The PAYE system was introduced in the region by the Income Tax (Amendment) Law 1961.

To ensure uniformity in both the application and incidence of taxation on individuals throughout Nigeria, the Income Tax Management Act (ITMA) was enacted in 1961, thus repealing all previous laws applicable to individuals, and making the main provisions applicable to all individuals throughout Nigeria. In the same vein, the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) of 1961 was also promulgated. Subsequently, ITMA 1961 was repealed and replaced by Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 1993, which came into being through Decree No. 104 of 1993, while the CITA of 1961 was repealed by the enactment of the CITA of 1979. The tax Acts which went through series of amendments, reassessments and reviews, are now included in the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Thus, codifying them as PITA CAP P8 LFN 2004 and CITA CAP C21 LFN 2004.

Principles of Taxation These are the rules, qualities, conditions, standards or yardsticks by which the quality of a tax system is measured and by which a good tax policy can be formulated.

Adams Smith was noted to have been the first person to mention the principles of taxation, which he called the canons of taxation in his book “The Wealth of Nations” in 1776. Although Adams Smith mentioned only four principles, scholars that came after him made some generally accepted additions. Some of these principles include the following: Principle of Equity: This principle states that a good tax system should be as just as possible by ensuring that all persons who ought to pay the tax are covered by the tax and that each taxpayer pays exactly what is just and equitable considering his circumstance and ability. There are two types of equity i.e. vertical and horizontal equity.

Vertical equity is the unequal treatment of taxable persons with varied taxable income. While horizontal equity is the equal treatment of taxpayers with the same taxable income.

Principle of Economy: This principle states that the cost of collecting tax should not be too high so as to outweigh the benefits derivable from the imposition of tax.

For example if it costs a government N9 million to collect tax revenue of N10million, the tax system is said to lack economy.

Principle of Certainty: This principle states that the amount to collect as tax, the time of payment, the mode of payment and the place of payment must be made clear to the taxpayer, so that the taxpayer is not left at the whims and caprices of the tax authorities. In other words, the taxpayer should be fully informed about taxes to be able to arrive at a conclusion as to the amount of tax payable by him with reference to the provision of the tax law, as well as, to prevent him from being subjected to cheating by unscrupulous people and dishonest tax officials.

Principle of Convenience: This principle states that tax should be imposed at a time, in a manner and at a

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Samuel Ogungbesan

place that the taxpayer is in position to pay, so that collection of tax would be easy for the tax administrators.

For example, a salary earner should be asked to pay tax when he receives his salary and not at the middle or the end of the month when the salary may have been exhausted. This is why PAYE is deducted at source, because it is more convenient than requiring the taxpayer to pay after collection of salary. A farmer should be asked to pay tax when he harvests his crops and not when he is doing the planting or clearing the farm.

Principle of Simplicity: This principle states that a good tax system and the tax law should be as simple as possible, both in interpretation and application. This requirement is particularly important in developing economies where the rate of illiteracy is high and where the culture of record keeping has not been imbibed by most small scale entrepreneurs.

Principle of Neutrality: This principle states that a good tax system should neither distort the consumption habits nor the production decisions of a taxpayer. In other words, a good tax system should not interfere with people’s willingness to work, produce, consume, save and invest.

Principle of Efficiency: This principle states that a good tax system should make it difficult for tax evasion (i.e. should make it difficult for non-payment of tax or illegal reduction of one’s tax liability).

Principle of Flexibility: This principle states that a good tax system and tax law should be such that it can be easily amended when the need arises, without unnecessary protocol.

29

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

ISSUES Experts say the use of agric corridors holds the key to Nigeria's search for sustainable food security. It is an innovative strategy of developing underutilised land areas with great potential to enhance food production and economic growth. They, however, argue that despite its capacity to transform the nation's subsistence agriculture into profitable enterprises, the strategy requires substantial investments in infrastructure, especially in the area of transport networks, DANIEL ESSIET writes.

• Rail cargo transport

How agric corridors can boost T food production HE consensus among experts in the agric sector is that the adoption of new strategies aimed at sustainably increasing agricultural production is key to feeding an estimated 250 million people by 2020.

To them, one sure approach to achieving this is by creating agric corridors, an innovation that encourages the development of underutilised land areas that have great potential to enhance food production and economic growth. The strategy, according to them, is a Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) approach, which takes the entire agric value chain into consideration with the aim of improving efficiency through targeted investments.

The strategy, The Nation learnt, works by recognising the fact that there are regional differences in production of many commodities, and that different agro-climatic zones and other bounteous natural advantages offer immense opportunities for high growth in the agriculture and allied sectors.

For instance, while the southern part of the country is known for vegetables, root and tuber crops, the Northcentral zone or Middle Belt is known for root, tubers and cereals. The thinking is that by exploring the regional competitive advantage to develop all the commodities that the nation is blessed with, Nigeria can ride on the agric corridor approach to increase food production.

The Project Director, Cassava Adding to

Africa (CAVA), Prof Kola Adebayo, said the nation's agriculture is affected by the diversity of climatic conditions, soil types and water sources. What is required to stimulate balanced economic growth, according to him, is for the government to recognise these diversities and limitations and create distinct growth corridors for the production of key crops and livestock.

For instance, establishing agric corridors in the northern zones that focuses on growing grains would give the nation high returns. In the same vein, such facilities in the Southwest will support growers of cocoa and cashew nut. Crops such as ginger will pros-

per in the Northeast and Western part of the country.

Prof Adebayo said the same consideration should be given to livestock production. Emphasis, he noted, should be in terms of environmental advantage and cost merits that support profitable production. Each agric corridor, he said, should focus on a chosen commodity or livestock while government takes into consideration geographical and/or sectorial strengths. In all the corridors, Adebayo said infrastructure and supportive industries such as input production and supply enterprises, meat production lines, fisheries, forestry, commodity processing and storage

‘

There are constraining elements to the performance of agricultural enterprises, one of which is the lack of processing and storage facilities. Others include poor infrastructure, including epileptic power supply, inadequate supply of water among others

’

enterprises are necessary.

The CAVA Project Director listed other important elements to include linkages to enable easy movement of products to consumption areas, including supporting services such as transport, commodity grading and quality control. In locating them, however, he said the aim should be to elevate the overall standard of living and achieve balanced socio-economic development across the country.

By being largely regional, Adebayo said agric corridor developments provide a model that transcends state boundaries, employing a range of modernisation techniques. Nigerians, he said, should be provided incentives to invest in commodity marketing, manufacturing, export and support services.

He, however, noted that there are constraints to agricultural enterprises performance, one of which is the lack of processing and storage facilities. Others include poor infrastructure, including epileptic power supply, inadequate supply of water among others.

According to him, these factors are responsible for the declining export crop production and food shortages. He, therefore, said putting agric corridors in place would help create a national network of agro service centers to facilitate the distribution of modern inputs, including the provision of tractors and farm machinery services to farm• Continued on page 30

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

30

ISSUES

How agric corridors can boost food production •Continued from page 29

ers.

That is not all. Adebayo said other benefits of the agric corridor approach include the availability of raw materials and other inputs, market availability, good climate/environment, high returns on investment, use of modern crop varieties and other technologies. The system, he added, would make other portfolio of technologies available to farmers, including availability of improved varieties, biological control of pests and diseases and processing of raw materials into high quality products. There is also the possibility of linking farmers to agro inputs and industries.

The agric expert however, pointed out that the successful implementation of the strategy is contingent on an enabling environment for agriculture to grow in equilibrium with other sectors.

He said whether trade corridors can be successfully linked to broad-based agriculture development is a question of high-level political will and action.

Publicity Secretary, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Sotonye Anga, said the government should buy into the project since it considers high growth of agriculture and allied sectors as means to accelerate the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, enable farmers to earn more income and ensure food security.

According to him, Nigeria has rich bio-diversity and agro-climatic zones suited for majority of the agricultural and horticultural crops and a long coastline that encourages fisheries.

He noted that despite the nation's inherent natural advantages, the performance of agriculture and allied sectors have been affected by poor traffic infrastructure that has to be upgraded to support production, profitability, competitiveness and sustainability of crops, livestock and poultry. In anticipation of influx of new investments, he said government needs to build effective corridors geared towards the competitive advantage of a territory. He added that agric corridors will draw private capital and large-scale investment to projects that benefit small scale farmers and boost food security.

The corridors, according to him, will foster agriculture in an area connected by lines of transportation such as highways, railroads, ports or canals. The strength of the approach, he noted, is integration of investments, policy frameworks and local institutions.

Since the new vision of agriculture requires the PPPs approach, Anga said investments in farms will follow in form of transportation infrastructure investments. According to him, agric corridors will involve investment in roads and dams, reduction of tax burdens on agribusinesses, promotion of clusters of businesses and infrastructure.

According to him, there is need for an enabling institutional structure for addressing the challenges of facilitating the flow of investment, technologies and modern skill sets to the agric sector. He said agribusinesses need incentives to deploy investments in developing the much needed agric infrastructure and agro based industry units in a fair and transparent manner for ensuring sustainable development. Anga argued that to position the country on the path of sustainable agricultural growth involves creating the enabling framework and infrastructural facilities that will generate higher returns to farming communities.

National President, Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr Femi Egbesola, said government has come up with a plan to increase capabilities and income of farmers and rural communities.

He said the agric sector need a policy drive that benefit land owners, farmers, fishermen, rural workforce, other producers and also improve the competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These, he said, would lead to better unit value realisation, besides facilitating large investments and opening avenues for export markets.

To move the industry forward, he canvassed

•Agric machines.

• Adesina

implementation of a policy, which promotes a holistic and sustainable growth of farming, horticulture, agro-forestry, dairying and animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors, including related and allied industries.

He also stressed the need to harness the expertise of the private sector, as well as a structured and pragmatic approach for the development of agri-infrastructure through PPPs, which will lead to greater industrialisation.

He, therefore, called on the government to establish corridors to ease transportation of goods to and from the interiors and the ports.

According to him, there are lots of activities taking place across the sector, which need to be captured using economically efficient means of transportation. He noted that lack of basic rural infrastructure to bring produce to towns or store them make farming business difficult. If well designed, he said, agric corridors could do more to support agricultural development by creating employment and helping to increase food security. He pointed out that the regional dimension of agric corridors can immediately help food security by connecting food surplus with food deficit areas, and increasing intra-regional trade of food staples.

Egbesola said with the approach, government would be able to identify growth areas with untapped agricultural potential along the corridors and support value chains that may prove attractive for investment. He explained that in the corridors, small producers will be introduced to the clusters and the value chains. He, however, pointed out that in developing agricultural growth corridors, it has to be linked directly to the agricultural development agenda of the government to connect small farmers to markets, achieve

‘

• Adebayo

• Odedina

capacity and competitiveness and assist operators to solve their basic economic weaknesses.

He said ASBON is currently promoting value chain agriculture in Ogun State and that it is making effort to create better business environment for small holders. With agric corridors, he said other associations will be able to cluster small scale and investment in specific value chains and link small farmers with large estates. While stressing that agribusiness is expected to act as growth engine, he said government's efforts should revolve around agricultural and agribusiness development concentrated around a major infrastructure investment or set of interrelated infrastructure projects.

For the Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Dr Samson Odedina, there is need to promote profitable and sustainable production, processing, marketing and utilisation of agricultural commodities and agricultural based products in areas where selected communities/states have some competitive advantage.

The commodities of focus, he noted, should contribute significantly to food security and/ or income generation in the communities/ states. According to him, this has been captured on the staple crop processing zones programme of the government through the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), adding that the programme involves undertaking an integrated competitiveness and feasibility analysis, which leads to the development of production, processing and marketing programme for the selected commodity.

The programme, he said, involves the formation of a cluster that comprises all stakeholder groups including farmers, processors, input suppliers, marketers, transporters,

equipment fabricators, industrialists and others in businesses revolving around the selected commodity. He said by working with the cluster, an implementation plan is developed and implemented for improved production, processing, marketing and utilisation of the selected commodity.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. AdesinaAkinwumi, said government is implementing the Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZ) scheme to reduce post-harvest wastages and creating job opportunities that would develop the rural country side. It is also designed to boost food production and drastically reduce Nigeria's dependence on food import while creating business and job opportunities for investors.

Today, the zones are located within 14 states or corridors to provide services and interventions to mitigate risks at every step of the value chain by linking players from inputs to end markets to streamline the process for investors.

The 14 states and corridors are Anambra/ Enugu, Bayelsa, Benue; Borno, Cross River, Kano Kogi, Kwara Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Rivers, Taraba and Kebbi/Sokoto.

Adesina said Nigeria has transformed in such a way that agribusiness now dictates the pace of economic activities.

The minister noted that tremendous transformation has taken place in the sector since the government launched the ATA in 2011, which set a target of adding 20 million metric tons of food to the domestic output. About 75 per cent (15.7 million metric tons) was achieved two years ago.

Country Director, (Nigeria) United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Dr. Patrick Kormawa, sad globally, Nigeria is reputed to be the largest producer of cassava, yam and food sorghum, at 54 million metric tonnes (MMT), 38 MMT and 6.9 MMT respectively, while the country places second and third globally in citrus and ground nut production.

According to him, processing remains rudimentary, with post-harvest losses for various commodities remaining high as these are associated with inability to meet market requirements.

To overcome challenges to agro-processing, Komowa said providing support for infrastructure has been identified as a key intervention that requires urgency.

Investments in farms will follow in form of transportation infrastructure investments. Agric corridors involve investment in roads and dams, reduction of tax burdens on agribusinesses, promotion of clusters of businesses and infrastructure

’

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

31

MONEYLINK

CITN urges govt on economic diversification

T

HE Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has urged the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to diversify the economy through the instrumentality of taxes.

Its President, Chief Mark Anthony Dike, said the apex tax body linked the victory of General Buhari to the belief, trust and confidence that Nigerians had in the change mantra that featured prominently during the process leading to his elections.

Dike in a statement, said the approval and implementations of the Nigerian Tax Policy document (NTP) would revolutionise the tax system as an effective galvaniser of resources needed for developmental projects.

He reiterated the confidence of

Stories by Collins Nweze

the citizens that under his (General Buhari’s) leadership, Nigeria will maintain political and civil stability, the economy will develop, the living standards of the people will appreciably rise, foreign relations will constantly expand and the country will register great success in its developmental strides.

“Our Institute has meticulously studied the laudable programmes encapsulated in the manifesto of your party, the All Progressives’ Congress which you had always emphasised at all your campaign grounds across the nation. Some of those which caught our attention particularly are the readiness of APC to stabilise oil prices at $100 a barrel, provide free education to all,

pay N5,000 every month to the poorest 25 million people, generate 40,000 megawatts of electricity in four years and payment of allowances to youth corps members, at least, a year after service,” the statement said.

Dike said good as these programmes are, the success of their implementation depends more on the ability of the new government to generate adequate resources needed to bring them to fruition.

Successive governments had largely depended on oil revenue to run the Nigerian economy.

However, the fact on the ground now is that Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil revenue has only helped to place her at the mercy of some powerful nations whose economy and politics now dictate oil prices.

He added that this unfortunate situation was further enhanced locally by the high rate of corruption, inefficiency of government officials, non-accountability of revenue, all which have assisted in the evolvement of informal taxation.

He also observed the lopsidedness in the way and manner national honours were being used to celebrate ineptitude and moral decadence by giving the highest awards in the land to dubious and corrupt people, even when it was obvious that those people had not contributed anything to the corporate development of Nigeria.

The Institute, he added, believed that tax compliance should be a major consideration for granting national honours.

Sterling Bank restates commitment to agric sector funding S

TERLING Bank Plc has restated its commitment to the strategic growth of the agric ector by increasing the proportion of loans allocated to it from the total loans earmarked for disbursement to various sectors of the economy from five percent 10 per cent in 2015.

The bank will also be willing to partner with major stakeholders – both private and government in the sector to ensure that farmers begin to see agriculture more as a business.

Speaking at a conference organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with the International Association of Research Scholars & Fellows (IARSAF), its Group Head, Agric Finance, Mrs. Bukola Awosanya said the five per cent allocated to the sector last year was fully disbursed to the various sub sectors across the value chain

for the financing of various projects nationwide.

Mrs. Awosanya who said the bank is a major financier of one of the largest rice mills in the country as well as a state of the art soya bean oil milling plant, added that the bank had also provided fund to financing poultry businesses.

Mrs. Awosanya who also led a

delegation from the lender to the Deputy Director General, Partnership and Capacity Development of IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashiell said that the decision of the bank was informed by the need to provide adequate funding in alignment with the on-going reforms in the sector aimed at repositioning it as an attractive business proposition, an input provider for the manufacturing sector and a key foreign exchange earner for the country.

•CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

Skye Bank pledges support for women entrepreneurs

S

KYE Bank Plc has pledged to provide female entrepreneurs and professionals with the necessary advisory and technical support services to advance their enterprises.

Its Executive Director, South South/South east, Mrs. Ibiye Ekong, who spoke at an interactive session with women in busi-

ness organised by the bank in Lagos, noted that women were known to be better business managers than men, citing the low default rate among female borrowers to their male counterparts.

She said women were not known for diverting loans to other uses other than what they are meant for and assured that the

bank would work to ensure that customised products and banking solutions are developed for them.

She noted that women in business have been shying away from taking loans to expand their business owing to ignorance and absence of collateral facilities and other factors.

Barclays Africa eyes Nigeria licence

B

ARCLAYS Africa Group has applied for a Nigerian banking licence and wants

to take over the Egypt and Zimbabwe units still ran by its parent company, it said at the weekend after reporting higher profits.

Reuters said that like other South African companies, banks in the continent’s most advanced country are setting up operations in sub-Saharan Africa to tap growth from the robust economies there and hedge against stagnating growth at home.

The lender said it was in talks with its British parent to take over the two African operations left out of a 2013 all-share deal that saw it acquire eight country subsidiaries on the continent.

Zimbabwe and Egypt were excluded from that arrangement because of political crises at the time. Chief Executive Maria Ramos said: “We would be keen to acquire those two countries into the portfolio, but it has to be done at a competitive price.”

Barclays said businesses outside South Africa contributed 19 percent of group revenue, just below the 20-25 per cent the company is aiming for by 2016.

Growth in Africa was key to Barclays, an analyst said.

“Bedding down Africa will be the big driver in the five big markets,” said Patrice Rassou, head of equities at Sanlam Investment Management, referring to South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia and Botswana where Barclays aims to be a top-three bank.

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

ABCTRANS SEPLAT ETI 7UP UBN DANGCEM NPFMCRFBK CADBURY CUSTODYINS CONOIL

0.57 429.50 18.90 156.00 10.66 176.40 1.03 39.52 4.12 39.13

0.59 443.99 9.51 161.00 11.00 182.00 1.06 40.00 4.16 39.50

0.02 14.49 0.61 5.00 0.34 5.60 0.03 0.48 0.04 0.37

LOSERS AS AT 02-04-15

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) April 1, 2015

Inflation: Febraury

8.4%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$33.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$60.91

CHANGE

Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 02-04-15

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

March 31

April 1

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

T-bills - 364

13.92

STERLNBANK

2.20

2.17

-0.03

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

ETERNA

3.06

3.05

0.01

399.00

398.00

-1.00

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

18.01

18.00

-0.01

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

SEPLAT ETI

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

32

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

33

34

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

EQUITIES

Nigerian equities gain N1.82tr on Buhari euphoria T HE negative sentiments and depreciation haunting Nigerian equities gave way to optimism and scramble for quoted equities as the successful conduct of the presidential election and emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as president-elect triggered a massive bullish rally that topped the market with about N1.82 trillion.

As indications emerged on Monday that the March 28 general elections were largely peaceful and credible, and the opposition candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was leading, investors upped demand for Nigerian equities. Quoted equities’ capitalisation, which opened the week at N10.319 trillion, closed Monday at N10.494 trillion. The eventual announcement of Buhari as the president-elect and the concession of defeat by President Goodluck Jonathan spurred the bullish rally.

Market data released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that last week saw the largest gain by Nigerian equities this year. Nigerian stock market is dominated by foreign investors, who account for almost two-thirds of total transactions. Buhari had built his campaign on resolution of three core issues of corruption, insecurity and economic underdevelopment.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed the four-day trading session last week at N12.135 trillion as against the week’s opening value of N10.319 trillion, representing an increase of N1.82 trillion. The benchmark index for the Nigerian stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), also jumped by almost six steps to close at 35,728.12 points as against its opening index of 30,562.93 points. The ASI, a valuebased index, tracks the prices of all quoted companies and it is thus directly related to market sentiments.

The stock market sustained consecutive upswing, rising from N10.494 trillion on Monday to N10.718 trillion on Tuesday and N11.621 trillion and N12.135 trillion on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. The market performance was driven by increased demand for equities as turnover rose consecutively during the four trading sessions. Investors staked N1.84 billion on 196.26 million shares in 3,638 deals on Monday and increased this to N5.05 billion for 379.45 million shares in 4,138 deals on Tuesday. By Wednesday, turnover stood at N10.94 billion for 881.58 million shares in 4,611 deals.

Turnover peaked at N18.75 billion on 1.17 billion shares in 9,006 deals on Thursday. Friday was declared a public holiday in commemoration of Good Friday.

Major foreign and Nigerian investment firms placed “buy” on several Nigerian stocks, a reference to the reduction in the political risk and the attractiveness of Nigerian equities, most of which had been undervalued by sustained depreciation over the past 15 months.

Exotix, a global investment firm, described the successful conduct of the election and the emergence of Buhari as “unprecedented positive”.

“A broadly effective voter card system, largely peaceful voting days, generally orderly announcement of results, concession of defeat and most importantly, the win for the opposition candidate, comprise a remarkable, unprecedented and positive presidential election in Nigeria,” Exotix stated.

The firm noted that some macro level concerns which have driven Nigeria to underperform all major frontier markets have thus been removed. Exotix subsequently raised its recommendation for Nigerian stocks, especially banking and consumer goods companies.

The renewed optimism helped

•From left: Secretary-General, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale; Chairman, ASHON, Mr. Emeka Madubuike; President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Albert Okumagba; Chairman, Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, Mr. Victor Ogiemwonyi; and 1st Vice President, CIS, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe, during a media parley on the state of capital market and agenda-setting for government by capital market stakeholders in Lagos.

By Taofik Salako, Capital Market Editor

the Nigerian market to reverse its dragging negative average-year-todate return to positive, with modest average year-to-date gain of 3.09 per cent. All key indices at the NSE showed widespread positive sentiments, with most equities recording their highest gains so far this year. While the ASI indicated average week-on-week gain of 16.90 per cent, the NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalised stocks, indicated higher weekly gain of 17.91 per cent. The NSE Banking Index recorded the highest gain of 23.97 per cent, reflecting the scramble for banking stocks. The NSE Oil and Gas Index, NSE Industrial Goods Index, NSE Consumer Goods Index and NSE Insurance Index recorded average weekly gain of 16.42 per cent, 13.62 per cent, 15.14 per cent and 3.46 per cent respectively. The NSE Lotus Islamic Index, which tracks ethical stocks on the basis of Islamic rules, also rose by 14.30 per cent.

Price analysis showed that 72 stocks appreciated during the week as against six stocks that depreciated. Several equities rose by almost one –third of their share price.

Fidelity Bank appreciated by 38 per cent to close at N2.07. Nigerian Aviation Handling Company rose by 33.9 per cent to close at N6.75.

Zenith Bank appreciated by 32.5 per cent to N25.05. Oando rose by 31.3 per cent to N17.60. Guaranty Trust Bank added 30.87 per cent to close at N31.88 while United Bank for

Africa rose by 29.8 per cent to close at N4.92 per share.

Altogether, turnover within the four days surged above average to 2.63 billion shares worth N36.58 billion in 21, 393 deals. The financial sector, driven by banking stocks, remained the dominant sector with a turnover of 2.06 billion shares valued at N21.06 billion traded in 12,133 deals; representing 78.1 per cent and 57.6 per cent of the total turnover volume and value respectively.

The conglomerates sector was the second most active sector with a turnover of 178.25 million shares worth N2.352 billion in 1,493 deals while the consumer goods sector placed third with a turnover of 118.96 million shares worth N5.59 billion in 2,816 deals.

The trio of FBN Holdings Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc were the most active stocks as they jointly accounted for 834.17 million shares worth N12.16 billion in 5,089 deals, representing 31.7 per cent and 33.3 per cent of the total turnover volume and value respectively.

Market analysts said the bullish rally might help Nigeria to reverse its negative foreign portfolio investment (FPI) position. The latest FPI report by the NSE had indicated that there was “significant increase in foreign portfolio investment outflow”. The report showed that nearly three-quarters of the transactions on the Nigerian stock market were done by foreign investors during the period, highlighting the

dominant negative trend orchestrated by the foreign divestments.

The report, based on the latest available data for the period ended February 2015, showed that foreign portfolio investment outlook had so far been negative, with year-todate deficit of more than N32 billion.

According to the NSE, foreign outflows totaled N81.60 billion in February 2015 as against inflow of N52.35 billion, indicating a significant increase on the downtrend that started the year when foreign portfolio outflow was N51.08 billion against inflow of N48.03 billion.

Year-to-date, total foreign inflow stood at N100.38 billion compared with outflow of N132.68 billion, representing net deficit of N32.3 billion. The report had underlined concerns that foreign investors were downsizing their portfolios.

Nigeria recorded negative net foreign portfolio position of N154.14 billion in 2014 as against a positive net position of a modest N20.48 billion in 2013.

The latest report also showed continued dominance of the foreign investors in the Nigerian market with foreign transactions accounting for 72.61 per cent of total transactions in February compared with 27.39 per cent contributed by domestic investors. Foreign investors had contributed 52.24 per cent while Nigerian investors accounted for 47.76 per cent in January. Altogether, the proportion of foreign transactions to domestic transactions so far this year stood at 62.28

per cent and 37.72 per cent respectively.

The NSE report is generally regarded as a credible gauge of foreign portfolio investments in Nigeria as it coordinates data from nearly all active investment bankers and stockbrokers. Nigeria presently operates a mono stock exchange, which makes the NSE the sole gateway to the nation’s stock market and the NSE’s benchmark indices, the country indices for Nigeria.

The NSE report used two key indicators-inflow and outflow, to gauge foreign investors’ mood and participation in the stock market as a barometer for the economy. Foreign portfolio investment outflow includes sales transactions or liquidation of equity portfolio investments through the stock market while inflow includes purchase transactions on the NSE. The 12-month foreign portfolio investment report for 2014 had shown that foreign portfolio outflow was N846.53 billion as against inflow of N692.39 billion in 2014, representing a net deficit of N154.14 billion. In 2013, total foreign inflow stood at N531.26 trillion compared with outflow of N510.78 trillion, leaving a positive balance of N20.48 billion.

The report showed a notable spike in foreign transactions, although the negative colouration indicated that the propensity was towards divestment rather than investment. Total foreign transactions rose by 52.5 per cent to N1.54 trillion in 2014 as against N1.01 trillion in 2013.

NSE extends deadline for submission of earnings reports

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has extended the March 31 deadline for the submission of audited reports and accounts by quoted companies for a period of one month.

Companies that operate the Gregorian calendar year as their business year now have up till April 30, 2015 to submit their audited earnings reports for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The extension came on the heels of an exclusive report by The Nation that more than two-thirds of quoted companies have not submitted their audited reports by the expiration of the earlier deadline of March 31, 2015.

The NSE stated that the extension was due to some challenges created by shift in the date of national elections from February 14 to March 28 and the layers of regulations for some audited reports.

According to the NSE, the change

in the election calendar also disrupted the meeting calendar and auditing process of some listed companies while some were not able to obtain the prior approval of their primary regulators.

“While we believe that the timely disclosure of financial information is critical to stakeholders in the capital market, particularly the investing public, the challenges which the listed entities are facing are germane,” NSE stated in a statement signed by Josephine Igbinosun, head of listings regulation department.

The 30-day extension will apply to the full-year audited report as well as quarterly report. The companies will not be sanctioned or tagged for corporate governance failure during the extended period.

Post-listing rules at the NSE require quoted companies to submit their earnings reports, not later than three months after the expira-

tion 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 had indicated that the deadline for submission of annual report for companies with Gregorian calendar business year was Tuesday March 31. They were also expected to submit their first quarter report on or before June Tuesday June 30, 2015. Now, this has been extended to July 30, 2015.

The Nation had last Wednesday had reported that some 150 companies failed to meet the earnings deadline. A headcount by The Nation had 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 Compliance within deadline is generally regarded as a measure of good corporate governance. Companies that failed to meet the earnings deadline will also be sanctioned by the Exchange. They are liable to monetary fines and naming-and-shaming publication of their names.

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.

NSE tags and applies fines on companies that fail to meet earnings reports’ deadline.

35

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• A truck

Are you an employee or retiree, who needs a business that will give you steady income? Do you know how to drive or how to efficiently manage goods transportation from one point to the other? It doesn’t matter whether you own a vehicle or not, try the haulage and logistics supply job. It is lucrative reports OLUWAKEMI DAUDA.

Need job? Try haulage supply chain I

N every state of the country, bulk goods (raw and finished goods) are always transported from the ports to the industries, markets and end-users. No matter the situation, the activity of moving raw or refined goods from one location to the other will continue. In Nigeria, transportation by road is common and this has made the haulage job very lucrative.

If you have just left school or you are

looking for what to do, you may go into this business to start life by offering to transport goods for people from one area to the other.

You can start by hiring someone’s truck if you don’t own one.

Some of the products that can be transported through haulage services are containers from the seaport to their final destinations or vice versa. You can also deal in petroleum products such as kerosene, liquefied natural gas (LNG), premium motor

spirit (PMS) or petrol, engine oil, diesel, and other related petroleum products.

Others are consumable goods such as foods and drinks from their manufacturers to distributors or retailers. Sand and stones from dredging and quarry sites can also be moved to construction sites.

Other items that you can use your vehicle to move include building materials such as cement, woods, irons, ceiling boards, corrugated iron sheets and every other construc-

tion materials. Raw materials including agro produce can also be moved from plantations and farms to manufacturing firms for production of various consumables.

The returns on haulage business are enormous, but the return depends on what you use your truck to haul.

Haulage means the transportation of •Continued on page 36

36

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

JOBS

Need job? Try haulage supply chain •Continued from page 35

goods from one location to the other by a competent driver.

Road haulage is clearly a big job with many and varied opportunities for whoever is interested in it.

How to start Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said if you choose to move containers out of the ports or petroleum products, what you need is a trailer or petroleum tanker.

“You need to register with the company you intend to work with or work as a sub-contractor with an already registered company. But if you want to go into building materials haulage such as sand, cement and granite from quarries to construction sites, what you would need is a tipper or a lorry,” he said.

Your start-up capital, Shittu said, depends on your savings and the size of the fleet you intend to own. But a vehicle, Shittu said, is enough for you to key into the job.

“Are you going to buy new trucks or used trucks? There are two ways with which you can get your trucks; you can either purchase them outright or get them on lease. Another option is to look for sub-contractors.

“The trucking job is very wide and to succeed in it, you must carve a niche for yourself. There are different niches in haulage business and the niche you choose would determine the type of vehicles you would need and your start-up costs.

“For instance, will you be engaged in transporting bulk goods or would you be leasing trucks to industries in the transport sector?

“You also need to be sure if you

• Shittu

• Onakoya

are going to outsource your truck to a trucking company or decide to put your truck on hired purchase.

“Other questions you need to ask yourself is whether you are

going to haul short or long distance. Are you going to haul solid or liquid goods?

“If you need the job, these are the questions you must provide answers to before setting out to

start your own trucking business,” Shittu said.

A good driver plays an important role in the distribution of goods and services. Efficient driver is also essential in the supply chain

‘Other questions you need to ask yourself is whether you are going to haul short or long distance? Are you going to haul solid or liquid goods? If you need the job, these are the questions you must provide answers to before setting out to start your own trucking business’

logistics.

One interesting fact about the job is that if you have a functional vehicle and you embark on haulage, all you need to do is sit back and wait for your monthly earning, which can be up to N100,000 depending on the type, age and tonnage of your truck and the number of vehicles you have in your fleet.

As a driver, you must know the type of goods you are planning to transport? Are you going to haul durable goods or perishable goods? Eevery type of freighting business has its set of requirements, so it would be best that you decide on this before you can do the job. The type of cargo you will be able to carry will determine the type of clients you will work with.

Mr. Tayo Arogundade, who ventured into the haulage business, said the job is profitable, but filled with a lot of risks and challenges.

“You need a strong mind and determination to do the job successfully. You must be prepared to deal with dishonest drivers if you are not going to do the driving yourself.

Shady mechanics, accidents and all sorts of challenges that certainly will come up at some points while doing the job.

“Haulage is filled with risks. You would be carrying expensive merchandise, which do not belong to you and would have to be conveyed to its destination safely. “Considering the fact that you would be traveling over long distances to deliver these goods; it is impossible to predict the things that may or may not happen along the way.

“Sometimes accidents may occur, cases of theft may arise, dishonest drivers may even divert the goods elsewhere and this will give the owner of the truck problem,” Arogundade said.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Fishing out your dream job: You need a game plan (IV)

W

E considered cold-calling strategy of uncovering hidden job opening. We ‘hanged-on’ on how to I jump – start or activate this strategy: We looked at these parts of the cold-calling process: • Make a list of potential employers • Get your pitch down pat.

• Practice makes perfect.

• Prepare your cold call toolkit.

We now proceed to discuss the other parts in detail:

Practice getting past gatekeepers One of the hardest parts of the process is reaching the person who does the hiring. Secretaries or operators are there to screen calls for busy individuals. So, a few methods are beneficial in bypassing these gatekeepers. One of them is to take advantage of automated “dial the extension of the person you want” features.

If you do not know what it is, connect at random and courteously ask if they can connect you to the person you’re after. It may take several calls before you compile enough information to find the right person. Remember, this won’t work unless you’re pleasant and nice to the other person, who may be busy too. So use this technique carefully.

How to break the ice Be genuine. Try to avoid reading a script like most telemarketing people do, and open the conversa-

By Olu Oyeniran

tion with intelligent points.

Knowledge of company projects underway and intended areas of expansion and development is crucial to breaking the ice with an employer.

For example: “I remember reading recently that the company was bringing out a new product to the market. I must say, after reading the specifications on this product (try naming the product if you know what it’s called) I am really looking forward to its launch. I we worked in the field of marketing in this industry and I know the potential of this product. I want to be a part of the team to work on this product and I know that I can contribute a great deal of expertise towards the marketing campaign.

Is your company looking at expanding its Product Marketing team for this upcoming launch?”

When the going gets tough…

“Why should we hire you?’ “How will your experience help my team’ “What proof can you give me that you can generate revenue for this company?” Reading off a Resume won’t help you answer these tough questions. You have to anticipate them and know how to respond in a relevant manner.

Don’t let it get to you Be prepared for negative responses but don’t let ‘No’ be the end of your conversation if you

believe that you have a future with this company. Never argue. Practice sidestepping objections by presenting alternative ways to fill a need with your skills.

By preparing for common objections, you stand a better chance of swaying negative attitudes to place you candidacy in a better light. Should the end of the discussion be a dead end despite your efforts, use this experience to prepare for your next cold call. You have a thick skin you know.

When to hang up Be true to your mission - an appointment for an interview or application details and don’t hang up until you’ve either achieved the goal or exhausted all possibilities.

Wind down by following up If ever there was a time to be true to your word, this is it. Make sure you follow up with that email or call, email that response, send in those documents or call back at a better time. This is a representation of your respect for the company and contact, and a measure of your professionalism.

Cold calling may not he the easiest route to a job, but it has proven robe effective and advantageous to anyone on the trail to career nirvana. Whichever way the cold call turns out, you can only win - a new ion, new inside contacts, or valuable information on hiring cycles or practices.

You can create your own job This is another strategy you can use, or better still create! Have you ever thought about how new positions axe created? As a business grows, it discovers that more people are needed to perform all of the duties that need to be done. If you could only know that the situation would be present, you could submit your resume and beat your competition and secure employment. It is very possible to do just that but you must look for growth opportunities!

Everyday we encounter growth opportunities. We see those opportunities on the television, hear about them on the radio, and read about them in the newspaper. The factors to stimulate job growth would be company growth, expansion, reorganisation or relocation.

Examples of company growth would be contract awards, growth in earnings, issuance of IPOs, moving to a larger facility.

Examples of expansion would be introduction of a new product or venturing into a new market. Reorganization would be promotion of an executive. Many new executives are more comfortable hiring new staff and relocation of a company would mean new jobs created.

When learning of a growth opportunity, think about how your skills, experience, and background could benefit that organization.

Tailor your cover letter demonstrating ways you might be of “serv-

ice” to that company. Sometimes companies in “distress” can be a growth opportunity, especially if you can demonstrate an action plan for a business turn around plan of some sort.

Consider how you can help a company? What experiences and skills do you possess that a company in a growth mode may benefit from?

Write a paragraph describing how you could help a company. Next, review the business section of your newspaper or a local business journal, and over a one-week span, identify five companies that could use your help.

The crux in creating a job is organisational need. In other words, what do you provide that an organisation can benefit from? As you review the newspapers or trade journals, keep that thought in mind. Here’s an example.

You read about a company losing money in the last quarter. Why did they lose money? Was it market conditions or more related to an internal problem, procedure, etc? You may discover after a little investigation that an opportunity exists for you to create a job that will assist them in their business turnaround.

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates.

He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

37

THE CEO At the centre of the crisis in the nation’s oil and gas industry are oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism, among others. These have resulted into the loss of an estimated $10.8 billion. But the Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe, says the problems are surmoutable. The agency, he said, has arrested one of the biggest bunkerers, discovered and destroyed several illegal refineries, seized a catche of arms and ammunition used by some economic saboteurs. Modular refineries, according to him, will improve fuel supply, create jobs and grow the economy. AKINOLA AJIBADE met him.

‘Modular refineries ’ll end fuel scarcity, create jobs’ W

HY was the the Joint Task Force (JTF) established?

The government set up the Joint Task Force (JTF) in 2004 to restore normalcy in the Niger Delta region. Prior to this period, armed gangs and criminal groups were seeking control of mineral resources, especially crude oil in the region. This made the government to establish the Joint Task Force, with a primary mandate to curtail the activities of militants disrupting the production of crude oil. Having achieved this feat, the government gave the JTF a new mandate to protect oil facilities to prevent vandals, and thieves from accessing them.

This gave birth to an idea called: “Operation Pulo Shield”; special troops assigned to monitor and secure oil installations.

What is JTF’s strength, given the volatile nature of the region?

JTF comprises the Military, Navy, Police, State Security Service (SSS) and other institutions. These agencies are strong in their own rights. By bringing these institutions together under one umbrella known as JTF, it means the government is committed to the fight oil theft and associated crimes, such as pipeline vandalism and kidnapping.

Little wonder that the Joint Task Force boasts of a strategic, combined and stronger platform that can deal decisively with issues such as pipeline vandalism, oil theft and oil bunkering that have not only become a recurrent decimal in the Niger Delta, but are posing as threats to the nation’s economy. By so doing, the government has lived up to its responsibility of protecting its economy from people who are out to destroy it.

How has it tackled oil theft and related problems in the Niger Delta?

Fighting oil theft and other crimes has been challenging, in view of the fact that people, who indulge in the activity, are resilient because they do not give up easily.

They understand the terrain well; know how, when and where, to dodge when the chips are down. Whenever they break pipelines, they offload its content, put it in a barge, move it to the high sea from where they send the stolen crude to their final destinations, which in most cases are their agents or clients in Europe, United States and others. They make money in hard currencies, a development that informs their decision to stay on in the illegal business.

But in all these, the Joint Task Force has been able to overcome their antics. JTF gets tip-off from its patrol team that some people are trying to escape with stolen crude, and immediately we mobilise our men and pursue them with gun boats. In most cases, we catch them and arrest them. At other times, they escape with the stolen item.

As I said earlier, JTF has a strong and wellcoordinated operation, which has helped it •Continued on page 38

• Atewe

38

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

THE CEO

‘Modular refineries ’ll end fuel scarcity, create jobs’ •Continued from page 37

in nabbing criminals on the waterways. We are trained to protect the pipelines, oil sites and other areas that are prone to destruction. It is worthy of note that oil plays a significant role in the development of Nigeria. Oil is the barometer through which the economy’s growth is measured.

Nigeria derives the bulk of its revenues from oil, hence the decision of the Federal Government to set up the JTF to check the stealing of crude oil.

What are JTF’s major achievements under your command?

JTF has arrested a barge few kilometres from Buruntu Village. The barge contained 10 compartments that were fully loaded with crude.

The arrest marked a major milestone in the history of JTF. The reason is because the compartments are filled with crude oil, which means the JTF has helped the country in saving a lot of money. Also, another barge which contains an unquantified volume of Automated Gas Oil (Diesel) was arrested by soldiers attached to the Anti-Illegal Oil Bunkering and Oil theft Joint Task Force, after a tip off. Thereafter, the troops followed up and apprehended the barge on its way to the sea. The barge and its products were towed to a safer place and destroyed.

Besides, the Force has apprehended 28 suspects for oil theft.

Out of this, 25 of the suspects were arrested in six illegal distribution camps while carrying out oil bunkering and theft. The suspects were arrested at oil bunkering sites at Egbokodo, Beneth Island and Otegele in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. Plastic tanks and drums filled with substances suspected to be stolen crude were destroyed and suspects taken to the JTF custody for interrogation.

Altogether, how many vessels have been arrested so far?

Over 197 vessels and 300 smuggling boats have been arrested by the JTF in recent times. The vessels were arrested on different occasions, by troops assigned to patrol the waterways to rid the country of activities of oil thieves and other criminals. We are intensifying efforts to arrest more oil vessels and thieves, as part of the ongoing efforts to rid the region of criminals.

JTF has just taken delivery of 30 gun boats to strengthening its operations. What is the cost of the boats?

It is difficult to say exactly how much was spent in procuring the boats. JTF cannot provide the amount. It is only the Ministry of Defense that can say how much it spent on each boat. The boats are not ordinary because they have different features. The boats are produced in parts, a development which suggests that many manufacturers have input in the production of the boats. This implies that one must get the cost of each part or equipment in the boat before one can arrive at a total cost of each boat. What I know is that the boats are sophisticated and are found useful by the JTF. The JTF has declared Zero Tolerance on oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta. Has this achieved its goals?

By declaring Zero Tolerance, JTF is only trying to get out punitive measures on such criminals. We want to see how we can bring to book people that engage in oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Once there is stiffer penalty, it would deter others from such illegal activities. For anybody caught stealing oil, when he is brought before the court, he should remain in custody until the

• Atewe

case is adjudicated. We have seen a situation where some oil thieves were released on bail after they have been charged to court. When this happens, they come back to continue the illegal business. We want to put a stop to this, and would not relent in our efforts to achieve the desired results.

How many oil thieves have been prosecuted?

JTF has arrested many pipeline vandals and oil thieves and handed them over to the Police for interrogation and prosecution.

Thereafter, the body ensures that such criminals were brought be-

fore the court for examination.

Many of them have been tried, others have not. We want a speedy trial of the criminals to prevent people from going into oil crimes.

Our aspiration is that the fight against oil theft must be brought to a logical conclusion.

What are the effects of these criminal activities?

These issues are having ecological, psychological and economical effects on Nigeria. Economically, the country is losing billions of dollars to oil theft and bunkering.

This money would go a long way in developing the country. Physi-

ologically, people living in areas where pipelines are being vandalised have been disoriented physiologically. Poverty and its byproduct of frustration is forcing them to go into crimes. Many people in the riverine areas have no concrete means of earning a living. Even those that are employed cannot live a normal life. They cannot access good medical treatment. We discovered that some people use fuel obtained from vandalised pipelines for domestic use.

The destruction of the ecosystem is one of the major effects of pipeline vandalis and oil theft. When

‘A collective approach is required to solve the problems, such as oil theft, pipeline vandalism, bunkering, and poor infrastructure inhibiting the growth of the region.

The Federal and the state governments, the oil and gas companies (both upstream and downstream) operating in the Niger Delta, and the communities must come together to provide solution’

criminals break pipelines, oil flows or spills into the river, leading to the destruction of aquatic system. Fish and other animals are killed, a development that results in water pollution. This leads to spread of diseases and reduction in lifespan of people living in the riverine areas. When you destroy the ecosystem, the ecological impacts in most cases are very grave.

All these have concomitant effects on the standard of living of people in the region.

What can be done to address the problems ?

A collective approach is required to solve the problems, such as oil theft, pipeline vandalism, bunkering, and poor infrastructure inhibiting the growth of the region.

The Federal and the state governments, the oil and gas companies (both upstream and downstream) operating in the Niger Delta, and the communities must come together to provide solution. For instance, the state of infrastructure in the region, especially in the riverine areas, is deplorable and needs to be improved to stop criminal activities. The roads are bad, hospitals are not in place, coupled with the poor standard of living of the people.

The government has started in the right direction by setting up the JTF and further equipping them to tackle oil theft. But a lot still need to be done to proffer solutions to these problems. For instance, the state of infrastructure in the region, especially in the riverine areas, is deplorable and need to be improved upon.

In the course of our inspection of the oil facilities, we discovered that people are living in poverty.

Some use fuel from the vandalised pipelines as a substitute for kerosene because they cannot buy kerosene for cooking. I think when these people get jobs, they would stop vandalising pipelines.

They would also stop stealing crude oil.

Giving the presence of Warri and Port Harcourt 1&2 refineries in the Niger Delta zone, residents, ordinarily, do not have to complain about fuel scarcity . Do you share this view?

If the refineries are working, there would not have been problems such as scarcity and hitches in distribution of petroleum products in Nigeria. I think the country needs modular refineries to refine crude oil. By this, I mean refineries with smaller capacities.When we have modular refineries on ground, they would help in refining thousands of barrels of crude oil and the economy would be better for it. Besides the fact that the development would reduce fuel scarcity, it would provide jobs for people. People that are unemployed in the Niger Delta region would get jobs. An African adage says an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Once people are employed, they would not break pipelines and steal crude oil. Even if they are going to commit such crimes, the rate at which they do it would not be high. Job creation is one way of reducing restiveness in the Niger Delta. I’m advising stakeholders to come together and see how they can build modular refineries, and further provide multiplier effects on the economy.

Are the communities in the Niger Delta cooperating with the JTF to check oil theft and other criminal activities?

The JTF is enjoying the cooperation of the host communities in fighting oil theft. The people have been supportive in this regard. Beyond the support of the oil producing communities, there is the need for the international community to assist Nigeria in the fight against oil theft.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

BUSINESS AFRICA

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AfDB okays $26m for water project

HE African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has allocated a loan and a grant amounting to $25.995 million dollars to finance a water project in Mahe in the Seychelles.

The Mahe Sustainable Water Augmentation Project (MSWAP) approved by the AfDB Board on Wednesday, April 1, this year in Abidjan, seeks to promote the country's economic development by improving water supply capacity and resilience against climate change.

The project aims at achieving the Seychelles 2008-2030 Water Development Plan (SWDP) target supported by the African Water Facility (AWF), which is hosted and managed by AfDB. Currently, the country can only meet about 60 per cent of its potable water needs due to limited storage capacity, increased demand for housing construction, and water losses along the network.

Water shortages are common in Mahe, the Seychelles' largest island, especially during the dry seasons when water rationing is enforced. The project would: (a)

Improve water supply services through reduction of the number of days when water is rationed; and (b) Increase water production capacity to cover areas in the island's northern region.

The project is anchored in the country's Medium Term National Development Strategy 2013-2017 (MTNDS). The strategy focuses on strengthening the foundations of economic growth; improving the quality of life; and ensuring environmental sustainability.

It is in line with the bank's adjusted Seychelles 2011-2015 Country Strategy Paper (CSP), which focuses on infrastructure development, concentrating solely on the water infrastructure sub-sector.

The CSP is keen on enhancing the country's water storage capacity, allowing it to better respond to climatic variability and the increasing water demand. It will also help to promote economic growth by reducing over-

reliance on desalination and improving social development by increasing access to water and sanitation. The Bank's intervention will also contribute to greater diversification and competitiveness of the Seychelles economy.

Direct beneficiaries of the project are the water users on the island of Mahe whose demand is projected to increase by 130 per cent by 2030. Domestic, industrial and touristic use, which currently accounts for 36 per cent, 11 per cent and five per cent of the total water demand, are expected to increase by 140 per cent, 400 per cent and 190 per cent. The main impact of the project will be the improvement in quality of life and reliability of water services for household, industrial, commercial activities and tourism, especially in the dry seasons.

The funding comprises $20.60 million ADB loan and $1.40 million grant from the Middle Income Country Technical Assistance Fund. The Seychelles government will provide the remaining $3.995 million.

W

ORRIED by the rising costs of doing business and its attendant effects on start-ups in the country, Technology Distributions (TD) has unveiled plans to boost the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises(SMEs) in the information communication technology (ICT) subsector.

The firm said it would work through a partnership, which will provide access to a suite of business support initiatives for the beneficiaries including financial management guide, mentoring sessions, business intelligence and credit facilities, among others.

According to it, the initiative is in line with TD's desire to help cushion the harsh effects of the business environment on SMEs and provide a platform for this vital sector to thrive as a means of contributing to the growth of the economy.

The partnership with TDs, number one ICT distributors in Sub-Saharan Africa, will see the beneficiaries join TD's network of resellers while allowing them benefit from the organisation's wide presence and proven expertise in the areas of fiscal management, corporate image building and soft loan financing. In addition, the successful beneficiaries will receive special trainings and business guidance on multi ICT products being represented by TD as largest distributors on the African continent.

TD enjoys prime status as authorised distributors for IBM, HP, Dell, Microsoft, Cisco, Lenovo, D-Link as well as smart mobile brands from Infinix, Techno and Injoo, in addition to a wide range of smartphones, tablets and other ICT devices. Furthermore, a quarterly review system will be de-

TD to empower SMEs in ICT ployed to gauge progress made by the new resellers and assess likely areas of improvement.

"These are indeed tough times and the harsh operating environment is likely to impact more on small scale businesses. Access to funding is even more difficult now as banks are more skeptical about granting loans. This is why we have decided to help provide a way out for these businesses," said its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs. Chioma Ekeh.

"The role of small and medium scale businesses in the growth of any economy cannot be overemphasised. This sector holds the key to generating wealth for the greater number of Nigerians and it is in line with these realities that we have decided to partner with them and empower them to take advantage of the limitless opportunities in the ICT business space and position their businesses for the future," she said.

With branches in major cities coupled with expansion into other African capitals, TDs has forged a reputation for being the prime ICT distributor in the West African sub-region.

Backed by its status as the pioneer manufacturer-accredited local distributor for the sub-region, TD has successfully represented a number of globally renowned brands which has helped maintain its position as the market leader.

CAP unveils copper orange as Dulux colour

•MD/CEO, Unity Bank Plc Henry J. Semenitari with his award as one of the Top 25 CEO’s of Quoted Companies by Businessday Newspaper at the awards in Lagos. Withh him are Mrs. Tomi Somefun (left), Executive Director Unity Bank Plc; Mr. Abba Bello Abubakar, Executive Director Northwest; Mr. Sunny Bakwunye, Group Treasurer and Mrs. Theodora Amechi, Head Corporate Communication.

CHEMICAL and Allied Products (CAP), makers of Dulux paints, a subsidiary of UACN Plc, has named Copper Orange as the Colour of the Year.

Copper Orange was unveiled in line with the AkzoNobel global tradition and the Dulux brand thought leadership positioning in the paint sector at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, Lagos.

The Dulux Colour is a sun burnt colour that is inviting, surprising, warm and adventurous. It captures the natural palette of the earth, human interaction and encourages experimenting because it has a depth that combines perfectly with other colours such as pinks, neutrals, whites and other orange hues, as well as metallic colors and wood tones.

The Group Managing Director, UAC of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Larry Ettah, said the colour signifies the confluence of a great brand and an impactful idea about one of the central themes of life.

One of the outcomes of the initiative is the elevation of the art of colour beyond the mundane and prescribed use and application of colours, including the various icons and manifestations.

Expert advises Buhari on environment, others

A

N appeal has gone to the President-elect Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to make environmental issues part of the focus of his administration.

A member of the Nigeria Environmental Society (NES), Mr Valentine Opone, who made the appeal in Lagos, said Buhari should put environmental management in his draft policy.

He said: "As we know, human anthropological activity is tremendously causing global warming and the environment must be cared for for sustainability.''

Opone, also member of the Drafting Committee, Federal/ states Regulatory Dialogue on the Implementation of regulations of the National Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), said the government must hire experts to handle its ministry and departments of environment, adding that putting round pegs in round holes should be discouraged by the incoming government.

The government, he said, should ensure that its interest for the green and brown environment should not conflict with that of overall development of the eco-

By Joseph Eshanokpe

system.

He said following the insurgency in the Northeast, there was need for a clean-up to eradicate the effects of the deposits which emanated from the deployment of arms and ammunition of both the security agents and the Boko Haram members, saying that most of these could lead to the deaths of some of our water bodies, such as rivers and streams.

"It may sound strange that rivers could die. It was the importance environmentalists attach to the issue that they made it the theme of the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) of NES in Warri, Delta State, chaired by the Minister of Environment Mrs Laurentila Laraba Mallam. It was

aptly titled: Sustainable use of Rivers in Nigeria.

"Similarly, a sustained environment will reduce the outbreak of diseases for men and animals.

This is because a balanced environment will accommodate enough oxygen and greens for healthy living. However, a polluted soil cannot but produce contaminated plants, which are injurious to man.

"These contaminations are the fallout of toxics into the leaching water body, which are eventually taken in by the plants. The morphology of some certain species of organisms can also be altered or made to go into extinction,'' he said, urging the incoming government to plan robustly for the environment.

Another area Opone wants the

‘Another area the government should focus on is urban renewal. This is because the migration of people from rural areas to urban areas is massive; it is causing over utilisation or undue pressure on the available amenities’

government to focus at is urban renewal. He said because the migration of people from the rural areas to the urban areas is massive,and it is causing over utilisation or undue pressure on the available amenities,there was the need to build rural development projects to arrest the situation and balance the ecosystem.

"Industrialisation must be encouraged with modern technology to reduce pollution of any kind. Policy makers must work with the policies and the White Papers of the incoming administrations where it favours the citizens and avoid throwing away every document produced by the outgoing government, '' he added.

He praised the Jonathan government for assisting to make NES a chartered body, its recognition of the group, and support for industries in ensuring that environmental matters were not swept under the carpet.

Specifically, he gave kudos to the Jonathan administration for its afforestation policy and fencing of coastal lines to avoid the negative effects of ocean surges.

He urged Buhari to ban import of fairly used cooling systems,

•Opone

such as air conditioners, fridges because they are not oxone friendly as they emit Chorofloro Carbon (CFC) and Carbon Monoxide (Co2).

He said these systems and used vehicles emit polluting toxic gases. He wants the Buhari government to encourage the recycling of used or abandoned metallic vehicles and machinery.

Opone, member of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), asked the government to assist auto makers to produce cheap and affordable products to reduce the importation of tokunbo( used) cars.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

40

MOTORING

Lagos Motor Fair set for classic auto display O

WNERS of automobiles that are over 35 years old have a unique opportunity of showcasing the antiques at the forthcoming 10th Lagos Motor Fair.

Announcing this as one of the special features of the event scheduled for between April 30 and May 6 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, the Chairman Organising Committee, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, said this would attract special recognition and reward from both the organisers as well as the owners/manufacturers of the brands of such classic vehicles.

The idea behind this, Agwu said, “is for our people especially the young ones to see the models that

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

were in vogue before their birth and also for the owners of such long lasting brands to know that their product still exist in the country. I am sure some of the brand owners will highly appreciate the people for keeping such brand alive and well.”

According to him, there are introduction of some special features to make the fair successful and beneficial to all. These include: Special live interactive radio programme featuring the Managing Directors of some key participating companies; Miss Lagos Motor Fair Beauty Pageant among the participating companies; Raffle draws in which a brand new car is the star prize; Fun and joy filled

weekend featuring: Live performance by a famous musician; comprehensive family and children entertaining programmes; Fashion shows by popular names in the industry; and Award of Certificates of Excellence in recognition of supporters of the fair; Promoters of the development of the automotive sector in Nigeria will equally be amongst the packages.

Agwu noted that the beauty of trade shows is that they take organisations beyond their supposed dreams and into the expected ground of realities.

In what has become an Auto mundial and show of strength among the indigenous and foreign firms in the automotive business,

more firms are confirming their participation in the events. Over 40 indigenous, he said, firms have confirmed their participation while about 100 foreign firms from all parts of the world are storming the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, venue of the event with different world-class products and services from their stables. .

“Virtually all the major brands of automobiles, spare parts, accessories, lubricants, banking, insurance, regulatory and policy making agencies and bodies are taking part.,” he stated.

He noted that the growing number of exhibitors confirmed for the event can be attributed to the importance attached to it by the participants.

Agwu said: “We cannot but attribute the increasing number of participants for the show to the strategic importance attached to it by all the stakeholders in the industry who have been hardworking and consistent with us. It has been a collective effort and all hands have continually been on deck, starting from the private sector to the various agencies of government both at the state and federal level.

“Our aim is to make Lagos the hub of automotive business in West and Central Africa; using the platform of the Motor Fair. We need the cooperation of all and sundry as we cannot do it all alone. The resultant success of these efforts will rub off positively on all the stakeholders.”

Kia wins Red Dot design awards

T

• Posh cars on display at the Coscharis Landrover at Eko Atlantic Beach Polo, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Porsche’ Boxster Spyder for World premiere

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ORSCHE has begun this year’s convertible season by celebrating the world premiere of the new Boxster Spyder at the New York International Auto Show.

The auto show, which started on April 3, will end on April 12.

The new top model in the open twoseater series retains the independent character of the previous Spyder, which has already attained cult status. The classic fabric roof is opened and closed by hand, and the sports car is only available with a manual transmission.

As a true original roadster, the Boxster Spyder offers a traditional sports car driving experience but with contemporary performance. This means a firm sports suspension with a 20-mm lower ride height, brakes taken from the 911

Carrera, more direct steering, and a 3.8liter six-cylinder engine with an output of 375 hp. Drivers and passengers can look forward to outstanding driving dynamics in the lightest yet most powerful Boxster available. It only takes around 4.5 seconds for the Boxster Spyder to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h; the model’s top speed is 290 km/h.

NEDC overall fuel consumption amounts to 9.9 l/100 km.

The distinctive design of the Boxster Spyder includes stylistic elements typical for the legendary sports and race cars from Porsche. As a tribute to the 718 Spyder from the 1960s, the new Boxster Spyder has two prominent streamlined bulges that extend down along the long rear lid behind the headrests. The partially manually operated,

lightweight top is suitable for everyday use and brings to mind roadsters from the past, while the fins that stretch back to the rear lend the vehicle’s silhouette its characteristic design. The front and rear end of the model were taken from the Cayman GT4.

More so than in any other Boxster, the interior of the new top model creates an atmosphere that elicits a feeling of pure driving pleasure. The driver and passenger sit in light sports bucket seats with large side supports, while the new steering wheel with a diameter of 360 mm helps to ensure that the mid-engine roadster can be driven precisely and with great agility.

The Boxster Spyder will arrive local market from next August.

Hyundai to release semi-autonomous cars

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WNERS of Hyundai Motor’s upcoming Equus will be able to take their hands off the steering wheel and feet off the brakes as they are travelling down the highway, and let their car do the driving.

The South Korea-based automaker plans to integrate a host of self-driving features into its premium sedan later this year, transforming it into

I

T is disheartening and shameful to note that Nigeria is second to the last of 193 countries with high rates of road traffic crashes and fatalities globally.

It is, however, more disheartening and worrisome that the Federal and state governments with their agencies are not taking the right steps to stem the dangerous tide.

Rather, they are worsening the situation as we regularly see different forms of accidents, deaths and injuries on Nigeria roads.

In February, this year, I wrote a serialised article in this column on how the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), MVAA and driving schools are increas-

a semiautonomous vehicle.

Highway driving assistance features will allow the new Equus to stay in lane, slow down and speed up as necessary to avoid collisions.

The price of the new Equus hasn’t been determined but should be similar to Hyundai’s current models, ranging from US $61,500 to $68,750, officials said.

The main markets for the new

Equus will be South Korea and the United States, company officials said at a briefing ahead of the Seoul Motor Show, which opened last Friday.

Separately, Hyundai also announced traffic jam assistance functionality, which allows self-driving in cities, where stop-and-go driving at lower speeds is required. The company did not say which models would have this feature, or when the technology would be released.

HE Kia Motors design team has swept the board yet again in the yearly Red Dot Awards, picking up two ‘Red Dots’ for the outstanding product design of the Kia Soul EV and all-new Kia Sorento SUV. The Red Dot Awards programme is one of the most highly-respected international design competitions in the world, and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

This year, the jury – made up of design experts from a range of industries – awarded a ‘Winner’ and ‘Honourable Mention’ distinction to the Kia Soul EV and Kia Sorento, respectively, in recognition of their exceptional design details.

Ever since receiving its first award at this internationally-recognized design competition in 2009, Kia’s design-oriented products have been successful every

single year. In total, 13 Kia models have now won a Red Dot Award, in addition to many other design prizes.

These aren’t the first awards for the recently-launched Kia Soul and flagship new-generation Sorento, both of which have been awarded coveted iF Design Awards in 2014 and 2015. The Kia Soul – the sister model to the EV electric version – also received a Red Dot Award last yera.

“Our international design teams have every reason to be proud of the honours we have won at the 2015 Red Dot Awards, which show just how successful they have been in mastering the different design challenges of these two models”, said Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of the Kia Motors Corporation and the Hyundai Motor Company.

Jaguar Land appoints new Marketing Director

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ISA Mallett has been appointed Marketing and Communications Director for Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and Sub Sahara Africa (JLR SA and SSA).

A part of the JLR team since 2012, when she started as the Product and Pricing Manager for SA and SSA, Mallett steps into the vacancy left by Peter Biven who returned to the United Kingdom last year.

With a degree in Information Management, Marketing Management, and extensive experience in the local motor industry, Mallett has helped JLR change its image during a crucial time in its history.

“It’s a really exciting time to be part of the Jaguar Land Rover team here in South Africa,” said Mallett. “We’ve already started this year on a high note, successfully claiming the South African land speed record for production cars with the F-TYPE R, as well as CAR Magazine honouring us as Company of the Year, and recognising Range Rover Sport as the best car in its category. And that’s just the start – we have many more exciting things on the cards for both brands.”

Mallett’s automotive marketing and product planning experience in

•Mallett

the South African motor industry dated back to 2006, when she joined Toyota South Africa. There, she moved through the ranks ultimately being appointed as senior manager Marketing and Communications for the company’s luxury brand Lexus.

“Lisa has already proven her value to the team over the last few months.

In addition to her previous responsibilities, she also acted as interim Marketing and Communications Director,” said Richard Gouverneur, Managing Director Jaguar Land Rover SA and SSA.

Mass licensing of non-drivers ing the rate of accidents and deaths in Nigeria.

One week after publishing the articles, the FRSC took some steps to blocK some of the loopholes but relaxed the actions this month which is a fearful danger sign.

It is a truism that multitudes of Nigerian men and women as well as students obtained the old driver licence mainly for identification for banking and allied transactions, not for driving.

Whenever it was time for any of such categories of people to learn driving, most of them paid little or no attention to going to driving school for proper training because

they believed they already have the driver licence. After going through the haphazard training sessions with their friends or relations, the VIO are no more in a position to test their competence for licence processing because they are licence holders already(through the back door).

When the Graduated Driver Licensing system was introduced by the FRSC with the involvement of the VIO and State licensing Authorities (Joint Tax Board), the safety conscious Nigerians were happy that only the adequately trained and tested Nigerians will be qualified to own the driver li-

cence. It’s however sad that the new process became more bastardised than the former Licence processing system.

Nigerians with their collaborators in FRSC, VIO and MVAA started obtaining fake old driver licence to process the new driver licence without practical driving tests administered by the VIO. The candidates were only concerned about the FRSC direct capturing to authenticate their new driver licence (a case of using fake old driver licence to obtain genuine new driver licence).

•To be continue next week

Jide Owatunmise Registrar /Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

42

SHOWBIZ

Beyonce, Jay Z celebrate wedding anniversary with new song

F

OR celebrity couple, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, there is no better way to celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary than a romantic new song from the former, exclusively for the latter.

Titled Die With You, the Beyoncé’s song is a straight-up love song to her man. It had such emotional laden lines like, “I wake up just to sleep with you. I open my eyes so I can see with you. And I live so I can die with you,” she sings in a homemade clip that shows them in a personal moment.

The new video is exclusively on the music streaming service Tidal, that they just happen to be heavily involved in.

Jay Z, 45, launched Tidal on Monday along with 16 artiste stakeholders, including his wife, Rihanna, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Jason Aldean, Madonna, Coldplay and others.

This wedding anniversary gift to Jay Z, has been praised by fans of both artistes who just moved to Los Angeles with little daughter, Blue

By Joe Agbro Jr

Ivy. Meanwhile, there have been backlashes over the remix of the Destiny’s Child singer’s Jealous, which features troubled singer, Chris Brown.

The Jealous remix made its way online on Thursday, April 2. And although Beyonce, 33, is yet to comment on the leaked song, she is facing significant backlash from those who take issue with her working with Brown.

The former Destiny’s Child singer used her Beyonce album to declare herself as a feminist, even using audio from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED talk about feminism in her hit single, Flawless. But knowing Brown for what many described as women molestation, especially having left former girlfriend, Rihanna, with gruesome bruises after a domestic violence incident, many saw the move of aligning with the singer as standing in direct conflict to Beyonce’s

• Beyonce and Jay Z

feminist values.

“I never thought Beyonce could disappoint me - until she collaborated with Chris Brown,” a

A

PART from the James Bond and Fast and Furius series, The Transporter is another movie in installments that has elevated action films, using the power of the utility automobile. And Jason Statham, has remained the star of the latter.

But it came as a surprise to fans to discover that Statham is ignoring the brand, wondering what would become of the brand without its celebrated hero.

Setting the record straight, the actor, in a

T

ERMINATOR’ star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the lead Character in the Terminator franchise has disclosed that the fourth instalment of the flick ‘sucks’.

The actor and former governor of California says he isn’t bothered about not having been back for the new production titled Terminator Salvation.

Speaking to Good Morning America recently on the fourth instalment, he said; “Thank God. It sucked.”

Though his schedule as California governor had kept him from filming scenes for the 2009 McG-directed film, Schwarzenegger says he enjoys the three previous franchises for different reasons.

recent interview with Vulture, said the fallout happened when it appears the brand was undermining his worth.

“It was obviously a great experience doing those films, and I would have loved to keep doing it,” said Statham. “But they wanted me to sign on and do three more films without even seeing a script, and they offered me less money to do three than I’d get paid for one!

So it was a business decision.”

The actor also revealed details about his

er

By Ovwe Medeme

N

In his word, “I think that the three that I was in, they all three had their own personalities and interesting storylines.”

Terminator Salvation, which starred Christian Bale and Sam Worthington, grossed $125.3 million domestically and is generally considered by fans to be a disappointment.

OLLYWOOD diva, Omotola JoladeEkeinde is in a class of her own. In recent times, the actress has been garnering recognition of global proportions and it would seem that there is no stopping her.

To add to her list of firsts, an excited Omosexy, as she is fondly called, on Sunday, announced that her Facebook page has clocked two million followers.

“Whoop!Whoop! 2 * #million likes on Facebook today. 5/4/15. Amazing! What an amazing Easter gift. Thanks to you all...remember two years ago, we got to 1million (1st in Africa) on my birthday. Now as we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, you have gifted me with your 2nd million!!! May

D

By Joe Agbro Jr

www.afnigeria.com, or www.institutfrancais-nigeria.com. However, applicants must be over 18 years old, proven experience with electronic music and have their own equipment such as laptops, headphones, MIDI Controllers and other gear. In addition, they should be proficient with electronic music production software such as Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro, Fruity Loops and Avid Pro Tools.

Completed applications should be sent in one email to cultural.tech@afnigeria.com and programme@lagos.goethe.org with ‘DJ/ electronic soundscapes’ as subject off the email. Deadline for submission is April 30.

Organisers will cover accommodation and travel costs for participants resident outside Lagos.

Electronic music has increasingly become popular since the turn of the millennium and the Nigerian music scene has witnessed a gradual infusion. However, it has been difficult for many Nigerian artistes to develop artistically-ambitious music.

everything in all y’all’s life begin to rise and blow your minds in Jesus name,” an excited Omotola posted on her fan page.

In 2013, the actress made headlines when she was listed as number 34 of Times Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.

Artistes express joy over Igbo movie channel

‘Electronic Soundscapes’ calls for application JS and producers with interest in electronic music are encouraged to apply for ‘Electronic Soundscapes’, a workshop being organised by Alliance Française Nigeria, Institut Français Nigeria and Goethe-Institut Nigeria, aimed at expanding the artistic range of Nigeria’s already booming music scene.

The workshop which will see six Nigerian DJs and electronic music producers get training on electronic music genre will be facilitated by three internationally renowned producers. It takes place in Lagos from June 8 to June 12. Afterwards, there will be two concerts – the first on June 13 in Lagos while the second one takes place in Abuja on June 20, to commemorate World Music Day. According to the organisers, the workshop ‘is inspired by the 10cities Project, which presented an intersection of club and electronic music between different European and African cities.’

Interested applicants are to download and complete an application form at w w w . g o e t h e . d e / n i g e r i a ,

upcoming Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Heat) directed action comedy Spy, which puts Statham alongside co-stars Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne.

“I had such a good time working with Paul Feig on Spy,” said Statham. “If I spend the next ten years working for him, I’ll be a very happy man. It was such a revelation for me to do something of that nature, and working with Melissa and Paul … that’s high-caliber people to surround yourself with.”

Omotola celebrates two million followers on Facebook

•A rn ol d Sc hw ar ze ne gg

By Ovwe Medeme

“Let me get this straight....Beyoncé, a claimed feminist, made a remix with a man who beats a woman...okay,” said yet another.

Why Jason Statham is pulling out of Transporter

• Jason Statham

Arnold Schwarzenegger derides Terminator 4

fan tweeted of Beyonce. ”I was really hoping the Beyoncé + Chris Brown collaboration was an April fool’s joke,” said another.

By Joe Agbro Jr

T

HE much-anticipated Africa Magic Igbo channel on DSTV finally berthed last Thursday. And expectedly, some Nollywood practitioners in that genre were particularly excited. Mike Ezuruonye was one of them.

Taking to his Instagram account to register

his joy, the dashing Nollywood actor wrote in Igbo: ‘Cha cha cha IGBO KWENU.....Iyaahh..Kwenu Iyahhhh...Kwe zue nu....Iyooooooooohhhhh....Ngwanu Ndi Nkem, CHANNEL nke Anyi a’bia go!!!!!!!’

However, more entertaining was the way in which Rita Dominic welcomed the birth of the Africa Magic Igbo channel.

In a posted Instagram video, the actor, director and producer greeted in Igbo, saying; ‘From the soil that brought you some of the biggest names in Nigerian entertainment, Africa Magic Igbo. Igbo na kpotu.’

Africa Magic Igbo which launched on April 2, is on Channel 159 on DSTV. It joins Yoruba and Hausa which also have their own channels on Africa Magic. By this move, Igbo movies can be watched in 40 African countries on this platform.

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MONDAY APRIL 6, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Who will the people of Delta State vote for on Saturday? OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE examines the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates and the issues that will shape the election.

Okowa, Emerhor, Ogboru: Who becomes Delta governor?

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HE stage is set for the governorship election in Delta State. The contest is among the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP).

The APC has O’tega Emerhor as its governorship flag-bearer. Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is the PDP flag bearer and Great Ogboru is the candidate of the LP. Zoning, the ethnicity, the strength of political parties and popularity of candidates, rather than governance, have dominated political discourse.

But, events during the PDP primaries suggest that Deltans may have transcended such mundane biases in choosing their leaders as shown

by Okowa’s victory over other aspirant from the supposedly dominant ethnic groups.

The clamour for power shift among the Igbospeaking population in Delta North District and the resolve by the Urhobo in Delta Central senatorial District to wrest power has created conflict between the ethnic groups.

The Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), the apex Urhobo socio-cultural group has openly canvassed for a governor of Urhobo extraction while the Anioma Congress made up of Delta North traditional rulers led by the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Obi Chike Edozien, with the support of Anioma political leaders, have backed an Anioma son or daughter to become governor. With neither side willing to back down, the stage appears set for a titanic battle.

The battle resonated at the last PDP primaries when on the eve of the primaries the UPU urged delegates to vote for David Edebvie, an Urhobo man.

Deputy Governor Agbe Utuama, an Urhobo, in a statement, said he withdrew from the race on account of the UPU directive, but, Okowa scored a resounding victory over the UPU candidate at the primaries, polling 406 votes to Edebvie’s 299.

Okowa is from Delta North senatorial District, Emerhor is Urhobo from Delta Central senatorial District. Ogboru is also an Urhobo man from Delta Central.

The battle is a straight fight among the APC, PDP and the LP. The question is whether there will be an upset at the polls or whether the PDP will maintain its stranglehold on power?

Emerhor, who hails from Evwereni community, Ughelli North is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a banker, an Insurance guru and a tested turnaround expert. He is a major player in the nation’s financial subsector.

The entry of the APC into the political landscape has changed political calculations in the state. The APC has seen its fortunes grow geometrically with the emergence of Emerhor as its flag-bearer.

Emerhor’s chances received a further boost when the All Progressive Congress won the presidential election. The Urhobos, not wishing to remain in opposition party, may mobilise support for the APC candidate.

Emerhor, who contested the Delta Central Senatorial District by-elections in 2013, may be the preferred choice of the Urhobos as they have been shopping for a viable candidate, following the loss of their candidate at the PDP primary elections.

The APC candidate may benefit from the famous Uvwiamuge Declaration of March 28, 2014, which stated that should the PDP fail to give the party’s governorship ticket to an Urhobo candidate, the Urhobo nation will move enmasse to a political party with national spread.

Another factor in Emerhor’s favour may be the need by his kinsmen to promote a new face with fresh ideology in the battle for Delta’s top position.

The Urhobo desirous of reclaiming the governorship after the tenure of James Ibori may settle for Emerhor. Emerhor is a philanthropist, who has donated to Urhobo causes and has quietly built a reputation amongst his kinsmen. He has actively participated in grassroots politics

•Uduaghan

•Okowa

•Emerhor

•Ogboru

over the years. He was the second highest donor when the UPU was building its secretariat.

Emerhor had the assumed structures of the late Senator Akpo Ewerhido following the demise of the Urhobo politician and this may stand him in good stead in the election.

He is the chairman of the UPU Special Fund Management Board instituted to raise funds for the development of the Urhobo nation.

Emerhor may face an uphill task in his bid for votes in Delta North senatorial district, especially as the Anioma people may choose Okowa over him or Ogboru.

But, the APC candidate has picked his running mate, ex-CBN Director Vander-Puye Abanum, who hails from the Ndokwa ethnic group with three local government areas, including Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East and Ukwuani.

This may help APC get votes from Delta North senatorial district a perceived stronghold of the PDP, as the Ndokwa ethnic group have often complained loudly of marginalization politically despite their contributions to the economic wellbeing of the State.

Delta North, populated by the Ibo-speaking group with nine local government areas, remains the only major ethnic group not to have produced governor.

Analysts believe Emerhor lacks the capability to translate his prowess in boardroom politics to the political terrain, even though he has mounted an effective campaign in the run-up to the governorship election Another snag to his ambition is that Emerhor will have to contend with Ogboru for Urhobo votes as they are both of the Urhobo ethnic stock. Analysts believe this may not augur well for both candidates.

A prominent Urhobo leader, who preferred anonymity, said: “I worry for the two Urhobo sons contesting in the Delta governorship election. Unless one steps down for the other, our chances may go up in smoke and we remain in political wilderness .It is painful when you consider that we are superior numerically”.

Ogboru is an astute politician and multi-millionaire business man. He hails from Abraka,Ethiope East, with maternal roots in Ukwuani community in Delta North.

Ogboru has always contested elections since 2003. In 2011, his party the Democratic People Party (DPP), put up an astonishing performance to win an unheard-of eight seats in the House of Assembly and a seat each in the House of Representatives and seat. Can the People’s General muster the finances to fight for the number one job in Delta State? Ogboru

I worry for the two ‘Urhobo sons contesting in the Delta governorship election. Unless one steps down for the other, our chances may go up in smoke and we remain in political wilderness .It is painful when you consider that we are superior numerically

’

is a crowd puller and a factor in Delta politics.

But, can Ogboru still count on Urhobo support, especially with the emergence of Emerhor?

Ogboru is a determined and consistent politician. He has wide appeal across the three senatorial district and has experience, having contested elections in the past.

Analysts are of the opinion that Ogboru’s of running-mate from the Isoko nation, Elder Peter Erebi, the ex-President General Isoko Progessive Union (IPU) may work against his ambition as numerically the Isokos constitute a small political unit in only two local government areas, Isoko, South and North.

But, Erebi has the support of his Olomoro clan, who have promised to work for the L.P candidate.

The chairman of Olomoro Community Development Union (OCD) described Erebi as a selfless and trustworthy man. He said: “We are happy for this great opportunity of the choice of our son, Peter Erebi as Deputy-Governor in the April11 election we will vote for the L.P candidate’.

“When Erebi was President General, he used his hard earned money to run the union without levying any clan throughout his tenure, so there is no going back on the choice of Ogboru and Erebi. It is a battle already fought and won.”

Okowa is a popular grassroots politician from Owa-Aliero community in Ika North-East. He contested the 2007 governorship election against Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and put up a strong showing that rattled the PDP hierarchy.

A consummate politician, Okowa has established political structures in the three senatorial districts, clinching the PDP ticket.

He represents Delta North in the National Assembly where he is Chairman, Senate Committee on Health. His intellectual capacity is also one thing that stands him in good stead for the job. Within three years as a senator, he sponsored 12 bills, including the National Health Bill, which was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Okowa was the Secretary, Ika Local Government, and first Executive Chairman, Ika North East Local Government. He was Commissioner of Water Resources, Agriculture and Health in the Ibori administration. He also served as Secretary to the Delta State Government during the first tenure of Dr Uduaghan Analysts see his choice of running mate in Kingsley Utuaro from the Ijaw ethnic group in the Delta South Senatorial District as a strategic move. The Ijaw is the major ethnic group in Bomadi, Burutu, Patani and, at least, half of Warri South West. The Ijaws are expected to rally round him now that President Jonathan is returning to Otuoke after May 29. It is believed that, if he can carve out some votes from the Isoko nation and parts of Delta Central, he will win in Delta North.

However, Okowa has been trailed by the allegation that he sold out his candidacy for Governor Uduaghan to emerge at the 2007 PDP governorship primaries in Ogwashi-Uku. While this allegation lacks authenticity, his enemies have always tried to use it against him in Delta North. With pressures from the UPU on Ogboru to step down for Emerhor, a possible gang up between the Urhobo and the Isoko is also a major threat to his aspiration. But, Okowa is a dogged politician, who has fought many political battles. Whether he will come out unscathed in this remains to be seen.

It is clear that none of the candidates can win by the support of a major ethnic group, not even the Urhobos who claim to be in the majority.

The successful candidate must have a simple majority of the votes cast plus 25 per cent in two thirds of the 25 local governments in the state. Out of the 25 local governments, Delta South and Central have eight each while Delta North has nine. Out of the 2million registered voters in Delta state, Delta Central has 38 per cent, Delta South 34 per cent and Delta North 32 per cent. It promises to be a titanic battle.

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THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 6, 2015

have been difficulties identifying the finger prints ‘ofThere some duly registered voters. This has slowed the process a little. But, with the washing of hands, the card reader could easily identify the bearer of the card. So, I want to advise our people to wash their hands properly before presenting themselves for accreditation

...54 D AYS TO GO DA

‘APC ’ll fulfil promises’ From Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi

FORMER Governor of Kebbi State Muhammad Adamu Aliero has expressed appreciation over his election into the Senate.

Addressing reporters in Birnin-Kebbi, shortly after the result was declared, he described the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a grand revolution in the country.

Aliero, popularly called GSM,(Governor, Senator, Minister) by his friends and associates, was in the Senate before he was made Minister.

He assured his supporters of robust representation, urging them to vote massively for the APC governorship candidate in April 11.

Abaribe thanks Abia South for victory at polls SENATE spokesman Enyinnaya Abaribe has thanked the people of Abia South Senatorial District for renewing his mandate in the Senate.

Abaribe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 101,433 to beat his All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) rival, Chief Chris Nkwonta, who got a total vote of 70,502 in the result announced by the returning officer for the zone, Dr. Okwulehie, Ikechukwu Cyriacus at Aba town hall-headquarters of the zone early Monday.

The senator, who will be having his unprecedented third term in the Senate, said in a statement that he was gratified by the overwhelming show of support by the people of the zone.

“I am overwhelmed by the enthusiastic followership and show of love by my people. I thank them immensely and promise to continue delivering effective representation, which is a tradition I have established over the years in the senate”, he said.

The Senator-elect, who was a deputy governor of Abia State however extended his hands of fellowship to other contestants adding that doing so would advance the cause and development of Abia South Senatorial district.

Abaribe urged the people to troop out en-mass on April 11 to cast their votes massively for the PDP governorship candidate, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and other PDP candidates.

• Abaribe

’

For many reporters that monitored last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in Badagry, finding their way around the historic town was the immediate challenge. Correspondent MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, who covered the elections in the town, looks at the contest between the two major parties and some of the hitches experienced during the polls.

APC, PDP in stiff contest in Badagry T HE ancient town of Badagry was a beehive of activities on that fateful Friday evening when one arrived the former slave port for election duties. Residents were trying to do last minute shopping before the historic March 28 election. One’s first assignment on arrival at the town was to secure accommodation. The next thing was to make arrangement for transportation to move round during the exercise. This is because the usual restriction of vehicular movement during elections.

To this end, a commercial motorcycle rider was engaged.

But, moving around with the bike rider during the election was a tall order. One had expected that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pass in one’s possession will cover both the reporter and the bike rider. But, on approaching the Badagry Roundabout, en route to one’s place of my primary assignment, stern-looking military men stopped one and demanded to know why the bike rider was on the road.

After due explanations, the reporter and his companion were allowed to resume the journey. But, only to be stopped once again a few meters away. After a brief dialogue, it became evident that, that was as far as the bike man could go with the reporter.

So, the remaining part of the journey to the polling unit where the Peoples Democratic Party Deputy Governorship candidate Alhaja Sarufat Abdulkareem is registered was done on foot. Most of the reporters who monitored last Saturday’s elections in Badagry did so to keep tab on the governorship running mate’s constituency. Badagry is known for its conservative views and support for political parties with that orientation.

That was perhaps why Alhaja Abdulkareem, who is from the town, was chosen as running mate to the PDP Governorship flag bearer Jimi Agbaje.

Minor hitches were witnessed during the exercise, but it was largely peaceful. Prospective voters were at the polling unit as early as 7.30am in most polling units in town. But, the process of accreditation did not start until about 9.00am in most polling units. At least that was the situation at Alhaja Abdulkareem’s polling centre. Nevertheless, by 9.30am she had been accredited. In an interview with our reporter afterwards, she noted that the whole process was impressive, but added that the card reader was an issue. She said the card reader slowed down the process a little bit.

In spite of that, she pleaded with the voters to be patient with INEC. She urged the commission to double its efforts, so that the process could be concluded in good time.

She said: “The exercise is okay but the challenge is the machine. There have been difficulties identifying the finger prints of some duly registered voters. This has slowed the process a little. But, with the washing of hands, the card reader could easily identify the bearer of the card. So, I want to advise our people to wash their hands properly before presenting themselves for accreditation.”

Moving round town was not easy.

At every check point, all those monitoring the elections were stopped to identify ourselves.

But, generally, the ancient commu-

•Abdulkareem after casting her vote.

nity was calm; children were seen playing football along major roads.

Adults who were not interested in the election were seen in the front of their houses, attending to domestic matters. At some polling units, some women took advantage of the large gathering of people, by putting up one food item or the other for sale.

At Olorunda Local Council Development Area, the traditional ruler, the Alapa of Apa Kingdom, Oba Oyekan Adekanmi Possi, was in the company of some of his chiefs. They were relaxing under one of the trees in the front of the palace. The chiefs commended the process and urged whoever wins to develop the kingdom.

The monarch equally expressed optimism that the election would make politicians to sit up and deliver democracy dividends to the people.

He said: “The days when politicians take the voters for granted is becoming a thing of the past. One could see that the people are more interested in those who lead them.

“That is why people are coming out in large numbers to be part of this election. As a traditional ruler, all I can tell my people is to participate in the electioneering process. My people have shown keen interest; the people of Apa kingdom are part of the movement to usher a new beginning.”

At the polling unit where the former chairman of the Badagry West LGA, Joseph Bamgbose voted, reporters monitoring the election spoke with the former chairman. Bamgbose claimed that the land border at Seme was opened to allow some foreigners in on the morning of the election.

He alleged that the infiltrators were allowed in to undermine the voting process. He was however confident of victory despite the coming of the mercenary voters. He said the Federal Government that is supposed to protect the sanctity of the election is rather creating more problems for the

‘

process.

He said: “We learnt some people were allowed from the neighbouring Republic of Benin. The border was opened at Seme, some people wanted to protest, but we don’t want a situation where that will become a problem.

Bamgbose added: “Some people were not happy with the development; the infiltrators have Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC). That means they had come into the country before now, to collect their PVC. “I think it was pre-arranged; they had done what they wanted to do, we would go on with the election.

This does not however mean we are crying foul. We are confident that we will win.”

The Executive Secretary of Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Ade Agoro said INEC performance is above average.

He noted however that the batteries of the card reader do not last long.

This, he said, compounded the problem.

He said: “From what I can say, I think INEC has scored about 62.5 per cent. Again, Badagry West has been very peaceful during the conduct of this election. We have conducted ourselves in orderly manner and the outcome of the election will be embraced.”

APC chieftain Sunny Ajose said the inability of INEC to get voting materials to some polling units on time was responsible for the delay in accreditation and the eventually the commencement of voting.

He listed some polling units that were affected by the shortcomings.

He said the electoral umpire needs to forestall similar challenges that are likely to surface in coming elections.

“The peaceful nature of Badagry is one of the features that helped in the conduct of the election. However, INEC must get its act together during the next election such challenges.”

Speculation was rife and tension kept mounting. People were apprehensive that danger lurked around the corner. They advised their loved ones, particularly women and children, to leave the scene

’

At the Ward C, Unit 001 in Jossoro, Badagry West, youths in the community protested because over a 100 registered voters could not be accredited.

The INEC ad hoc staff on duty had stopped the accreditation, because the time for the exercise had elapsed. The youths in the community threatened to beat the INEC staff if the remaining persons are accredited.

Soldiers had to move in. They fired shots into the air to disperse the angry youths and during the ensuing melee, they whisked away the INEC official into a waiting vehicle. More solders were drafted to the venue, to facilitate the continuation of the election. Some of the youths had to flee.

The people of Badagry were very enthusiastic about the election. In the event that the election is not concluded in daylight, generators and other sources of power had been procured to enable the Badagry people cast their votes.

At INEC Secretariat, the Returning Officer for Badagry, Mr. Ayo Adeleke, was seen deploying relief materials to places where election was still taking place at night.

By 2.00am, the INEC office had become a beehive activity. This is because stakeholders, including the commission staff, party agents, party supporters and reporters, had converged at the secretariat for collation of the final result.

People were anxious to know the outcome of the election. But, a few hours after, it became obvious that the commission was not in a hurry to announce the result. The waiting game persisted till Sunday evening.

In the interim, party members were seen cross-checking their records, to ensure that it tallied with what INEC would pronounce. Speculation was rife and tension kept mounting. People were apprehensive that danger lurked around the corner. They advised their loved ones, particularly women and children, to leave the scene.

The APC and PDP loyalists were confident of victory. But, INEC was not in a hurry to release the result.

Soldiers had to be drafted to the secretariat to disperse the people.

In view of the brewing crisis, INEC officials took the initiative to move the electoral materials to the INEC Office in Lagos, from where the results were finally declared.

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THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 6, 2015

Akwa Ibom, INEC polling officials reported late ‘atInmost of the polling units. But there was something even worse than their late arrivals. They, nearly all of them, reported for duty without result sheets with which to record votes as cast for the candidates

‘

‘Tejuoso deserves another term’

‘How election was manipulated in Akwa Ibom’

Veteran politician and politician Bayo Osiyemi writes on why the House of Assembly member from Mushin, Hon. Funmilayo Tejuoso, deserves another term in office.

L

ET me begin from the very beginning. I have been active in the politics of Mushin in Lagos, Nigeria since the mid-70s from the Ijebutedo? ward in Somolu when it was part of Mushin Local Government Area.

And when I got invited from my Daily Times base (I mean the real Daily Times that was then Africa’s second best newspaper after AlHaram of Egypt in terms of size, content and coverage) by my senior colleague and boss, Alhaji Lateef Jakande to join him in his bid to contest for the gubernatorial tiara in Lagos State , I was not a total neophte in the Lagos political terrain.

The electioneering of that period from mid-78 to the conclusion of the elections in 1979 must rank among the most rigorous governorship campaigns ever undertaken in this state on land and water - from Orugbo, Isiu, Lekki island, Orimedu, Ibonwon, Odosiola, Agboyi, Tomaro, to Ibeshe, Akesan, Igbologun, Topo Idale to the farthest end of Lagos State in Badagry division.

This uncommon opportunity makes me declare that I know this lovable Lagos State, breadth and width, like I know the lines on my palm; it’s people such as the late Adeniran Ogunsanya, Theophilus Owolabi Sobowale Benson, and Chief Alade Sonubi (Allan Show) of Ikorodu Division; Barrister Sanu Sobowale, Chief Tele Olukoya, and Otunba Bayo Dejonwo of Epe Division; H,H, Hakeem-Habeeb, Hilario Baba Akerele, Samuel Akanbi Onitiri, Chief Raufu Williams (Raw Cash) and First Republic Senator Alhaji Anifowose, Chief Davis ( Baba Rigimo) of Lagos Division; Alhaji Raufu Isola Solomon ( father of our own Senator Ganiu Solomon), , Prince M.A. Taiwo, Chief Aguntasolo of Ijeshattedo, Chief Wahab Irawo (father of today’s Oba. Fatai Irawo of Odi-Olowo, Chiefs Banjoko and Ekerin of Oshodi, Chief Rafiu Jafojo and Alhaji Akinyemi and Alhaji Oreelope (father of out-going Deputy Governor Joke Adefulure), and Mrs Biola Babatope (wife of the boisterous radical-turned conservative, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, all of Ikeja Division; and Chiefs Senu, Bolaji Senu Hundeyin, Richard Ege, Stephen Dansu, Afolabi James, the Togan of Badagry( who later became an oba in one of Badagrys satellite towns).

But, none of those politicians, especially of the female hue, that I know in this state, is as enigmatic as the longest serving female member of the

•Hon. Tejuoso

state legislature, Hon. Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuoso (nee Smith), who is seeking another term into the House of Assembly from Mushin Constituency 1. Beautiful and brainy (she has a masters degree in law) and is undoubtedly a toast in the Lagos social circuit, oftentimes in the company of her husband, Kayode, a prince and son of the reigning Osile, Okeona Egba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

But, behind her soft exterior is a lady of steel, who is largely misunderstood or misrepresented. Bold, principled and articulate, she’s any knowledgeable persons candidate for the Speakership of the House anyday.

When it comes to gender issues, she is reputed to be passionate; no wonder she has a number of related bills to her authorship. And, on issues of empowerment of the young and educated and the care of the elderly and the widows, I doubt if any legislator at the state level, male or female, had done better. It perhaps could be situated in her character of not given to blowing her trumpet that much of these had not gotten adequate mention in ths media.

If I am to influence the voting on April 11, I won’t hesitate to garner all the votes for this candid candidate of my All Progressives Congress

I am the first among equals in the Central Working Committee coordinating the ongoing 2015 Elections in Mushin One Constituency and that has afforded me the opportunity of knowing this lady many love to hate, at really close quarters. Those who know me know I am not given to platitudes. And when I put my thoughts to paper, the subject must be really worth it. I find this honourable lady quite engaging. She’s brilliant, she is articulate ( making me wonder what business the dull and door benchwarmers have being in the legislative houses), she’s principled and brutally frank in calling cant’ and humbug by their real names.

Uncharacteristically of the typical politician of low repute, she doesn’t talk from both sides of the mouth and she’s my ideal poltician whose position on any given issue is clear with no ambiguity. This may explain why she’s so largely misunderstood or misrepresented, such that all manners of atrocious behaviour are falsely attributed to her.

As one who, immodesty be damned, has seen the world and exposed to quality politicians/lawmakers, the stuff of which make a nation great, Hon Tejuoso is a quintessential lawmaker which any sincere and sane society should cultivate and embrace, rather than be stigmatised.

If I am to influence the voting on April 11, I won’t hesitate to garner all the votes for this candid candidate of my All Progressives Congress.

Tejuoso is human and may not be unbothered by the barbs being thrown at her, especially from known quarters, some of who had once benefitted from her large heartedness and from unknown quarters? who sadly but innocently are in the majority. She needs not bother much, for a number of reasons. One, she’s in good company of good but unfairly assessed politicians like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Nigeria’s toast of democracy and scourge of political revisionists, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Ttinubu.

I’m convinced that where Awolowo and Tinubu succeeded, Funmi Tejuoso too will succeed. All she needs do is to continue to stay positive, convinced in the thought that some of the best days of her life hasn’t happened yet? Point is I have been enriched by experience to conclude that one should not feel bad when people say something false and bad about you, and judge you as if tgey truly know you, remembering that dogs bark if they don’t know a person.

• From left: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (second left), his wife, Florence, the Senator-elect for Oyo South, Hon Rilwan PHOTO:TAYO JOHNSON Adesoji Akanbi, and his wife, Folake, when they paid the governor a visit at Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

By Bello Imam

• Achong

T

HE elections of March 28, when Nigerians voted to elect the nation’s new President and members of the National Assembly, are now part of Nigeria’s political history. But the implications of the deleterious actions taken by political actors on that day will live with us every moment of our life.

I witnessed some of these actions while on election duty in Akwa Ibom State. Though I stayed on in Uyo, I was able to tap into a network of contacts comprising accredited journalists, election monitors and local politicians for information about the goings-on in the various local government areas.

Electioneering in Akwa Ibom was at its most intense during the leadup to polling. The voter turnout on election day was expectedly high, in fact very high. This was where the good news ended.

From thence on things spiralled down the valley. In Akwa Ibom, INEC polling officials reported late at most of the polling units. But there was something even worse than their late arrivals. They, nearly all of them, reported for duty without result sheets with which to record votes as cast for the candidates.

The result sheet is one of the sensitive materials that INEC cannot do without and which party agents must look out for at the polling units on Election Day. The absence of the result sheets stoked curiosity and provoked queries from among the voters and party agents.

At his ward in Ndiya, Nsit Ubium local government area, for instance, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, APC governorship candidate for the state, demanded explanation on why the result sheets were not available at the polling unit.

The polling officer said right away that the result sheets were taken away by the electoral officer for the area. Umana insisted that the result sheets must be produced as part of the materials needed for the elections. He called the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Austin Okogie to lay a complaint about the missing result sheets. Okogie gave the assurance from his office in Uyo that he would look into and resolve the problem. Of course he never did. Now back to Ndiya. The electoral officer, seeing that Umana and his supporters, rearing to vote, would not budge without the result sheets, quickly produced some copies of what resembled the result sheets. But on closer examination it was not the result sheet issued by INEC. The result sheets produced by the electoral officer lacked the bar code or security feature that sets the genuine, INEC-issued result sheet apart.

Further enquiries as to why the allimportant result sheet was missing led to a mind-boggling revelation that the result sheets were removed and sold to the PDP which is bankrolled by the state government. The full story alleged that most copies of the result sheets were in the possession of the state government, which had set up situation rooms to fill them up with numbers of accredited voters relayed to the situation rooms by compromised INEC ad-hoc staff recruited from the NYSC. The concocted results were later passed on to INEC for collation and announcement, the story further alleged.

Two days after the elections, Umana,

the APC candidate, led a protest march from his party headquarters on Atiku Abubakar Avenue in Uyo and walked a distance of more than seven kilometres to the INEC office on Udo Udoma Avenue to address the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Austin Okogie, over the widespread irregularities that marked the elections.

Mr. Okogie, who did not deny offering to address the issue of missing result sheets as complained of by Umana (which of course he failed to do), however said materials were deployed to the local council areas in the state from the INEC head office in Uyo with all the sensitive components intact.

His comment was drowned in a din of boos by the crowd around him, which distinctly shouted an allegation that the REC had been compromised to do the bidding of the state governor in the elections.

Another point of interest to react to is the role of the police in the elections. I witnessed and learned of actions that are inconsistent with the constitutional duty of the police in the country. I witnessed at a polling unit in a primary school in Ikot Arankere, Ukanafun local council area, where a well known PDP member arrived to cart away a ballot box, ably assisted by officers of the Nigeria Police.

I would learn later that for most part of Ukanafun and Oruk Anam local council areas, the same PDP member, went around simply collecting ballot boxes from polling units, conspicuously assisted by the police.

Reports from my field contacts in Ibesikpo Asutan show that the attacks on the integrity of the elections were even more brazen and lethal than what happened in Oruk Anam. I learnt that a commissioner in the state went around Ibesikpo Asutan with more than 50 policemen who were shooting and snatching ballot boxes. The police allegedly shot and killed two young men who tried to resist the snatching of the ballot boxes. Before the elections, Etuk had warned parents in the area to keep their children away from coming out to vote for opposition parties to avoid harm befalling them.

A similar level of brigandage attended the polls in the five local council areas in the Oro nation; in Etinan, where the police, allegedly following orders from a functionary of the state government, shot and wounded three supporters of the APC for resisting the snatching of boxes in the area. Reports from Ikot Ekpene, Abak, Eket, Ikot Abasi, Nsit Ubium, Attai, Itu, Ikono, etc, painted similar pictures.

At the end of the day, PDP declared total victory in the NASS and Presidential elections in the state. But APC, has protested that there were no elections and petitioned the election umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission to annul the polls. The party has also demanded the reassignment of the current Resident Electoral Commissioner and the Police Commissioner in the state for their roles in the election fiasco.

APC has complained that in the presidential contest it had to face the combined onslaught of the PDP, INEC and Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Police. It said the two institutions of state, namely, the Nigeria Police and INEC were taken over by the state government and used to deliver the elections to the PDP contrary to the wishes of the people.

They party has consequently called for the redeployment of the heads of the Police and INEC in the state. It argued that their continued stay in their positions would undermine the integrity of the governorship and state house of assembly polls on April 11.

• Imam writes from Lagos

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THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 6, 2015

are so many reasons Lagosians should not vote ‘forThere the PDP in Lagos. It is the PDP that frustrated the Lagos State Government’s plan to build the 4th Mainland Bridge that would have eased traffic on Eko Bridge, Marina Bridge and the 3rd Mainland Bridge ...54 D AYS TO GO DA

Between Sule Lamido, opposition parties and the media “Only reason can convince us of those three fundamental truths without recognition of which there can be no effective liberty: that what we believe is not necessarily true; that what we like is not necessarily good; and all questions are open”.

—Clive Bell (1881-1964) British art critic

S

ULE Lamido means different things to different people. To some, he is an intellectual and active individual who has distinguished himself in the political arena for so many decades; others think he is an outstanding, dedicated, committed and diligent leader, while others think of him as an arrogant, radical and a controversial person.

The entire local, national and international media have been in undated with hearty sessions of comments and indeed intellectual psychiatry of the recent Nigerian political brouhaha. In malevolence of the much dramatic eccentricity of the present political struggle in Nigeria and precisely the stand and opinion of Sule Lamido, which has gone to the extent of the major opposition party, the APC of accusing and attacking him for his stands and refusal to decamp with other rebel governors is unnecessary and baseless. Sule Lamido always says his mind, which in all cases aligns with the interests of the common man. He is not stampeded by persons or sentiments. He does not ebb and flow with the current as so many politicians do; rather he stands rooted to principle and to progressive politics and he brings rich personal experience to bear in all he does.

Sule Lamido has one undeniable fact of respecting the rights of an individual which the political dispensation has sustained the freedom of expression. Unlike in the dark days of military, which the citizens hardly flee without being asked to explain their actions. The stunning success of this present administration one can-

By Adamu Muhd Usman

not disqualify is the gesture of this liberty to express yourself freely without any coercion and harassment. Lamido believes that, strong opposition is good for our democracy. Opposition should be very grateful to Sule Lamido and his administration especially in Jigawa.

PDP administration has promoted the right to vote and be voted for and strengthened the holiness and integrity of democracy by ensuring that votes count.

In one of his response to accusation levelled against him, Lamido pointed out that despite all negative comments and hullabaloos against him and his government, nobody can complain of intimidation, victimization, humiliation and deprivation among the people living in Jigawa irrespective of tribal, religious or political affiliations. In short, there had not been any political prisoner in the state, also the administration of Lamido had been able to stabilise the state assembly by not interfering with their operations. This, he explained, is his own way of decentralizing power by strengthening institutions because Lamido focused on the building of strong institutions that would anchor the state’s development agenda rather than making himself or anybody serving under his watchdog a dictator.

Speaking on the 2015 general elections, the governor urged political parties to shun sentiment as they prepare to elect their flag-bearers during the elections. He said an aspirant does

• Lamido

not need to be popular among his party’s leaders before he or she is allowed to be nominated, adding that what is important is the aspirant’s popularity among party members and his or her capacity to deliver. He also said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had, over the years, achieved its objectives by delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians and called on Nigerians to support its transformation agenda and vote for its candidates in the 2015 elections.

“It is either the PDP or PDP; there is no alternative to our party. It is the only party that is owned by Nigerians,” he said.

Sule Lamido appealed to the journalists to center their lenses on important national issues, instead of wasting ample time and space on issues of ethnicity and tribalism. He said that having been in politics for several decades, he knew the influence of the mass media in shaping opinions in the society. Such power and influence, he said, should be deployed in promoting Nigeria’s unity and progress.

Governor Lamido reaffirmed that, no society can truly develop or progress without good and

‘

unbiased journalism which informs and educates the citizens on important national issues.

He warned that if journalists fail to deliver on this critical role, the problems already bedevilling the country would be worsened and democratic order truncated. ”Use your pen fairly at all times. Those of us who are from the South should inform their readers correctly about the realities of northern Nigeria, while those of us from the North should also inform readers accurately about the realities of the South. That way, all Nigerians will be well informed and unnecessary acrimony due to language and small cultural differences will be averted,” Lamido said.

For Sule Lamido, what gives people hope and meaning is the pursuit of meaningful and noble purpose. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about issues that bother us. One of the easiest ways to change your society is to help others achieve their dreams. Lamido also use the opportunity of being a renowned politician, committed leader and the Talakawa liberator to change the society for good.

You know, if you are doing the right thing people may try to distract your attention and you just have to continue with your job. To make mark in this life, you have to live a life of purpose, you have to believe, love and focused on what you are doing and go against all odds no matter the situation or what is happening around you. As Steven Convey once said, “The challenges is not to manage time but to manage our selves Lamido always hope and pray for a peaceful conduct of the 2015 elections and urged Nigerians to love one another and avoid politics of religion. Some might say that these issues that he raised are self evident but they bear reiteration and emphasis from a man who saw it all due to present happenings in the country.

Lamido’s message about unity of purpose should also attract more than a passing interest from Nigerian citizens. This great stalwart of the old PRP and one of the PDP founding fathers knows what democracy and citizenship with a unity of purpose look like. God bless Nigeria.

APC, old PDP unite for Ondo Assembly poll

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HE leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state and Dr Olu Ogunye- led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have entered into an accord to ensure total victory for all APC House of Assembly candidates at the election.

The pact tagged “Igbotako Accord” was signed by the APC Chairman,Isaac Kekemeke, factional chairman of the PDP, Ogunye, and the convener of the meeting, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim.

APC and PDP by the accord have decided to work together for the success of all APC candidates during April 11 election.

Sources said the alliance has sent shivers down the spine of the new

From Damisi Ojo, Akure PDP under the leadership of the former Commissioner for Community Development, Clement Faboyede, who is working for Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The leaders in a communique signed at the end of the meeting in Igbotako residence of Chief Jimoh Ibrahim called on the electorate to vote massively for APC candidates to stop the drift in governance in the state.

The meeting deliberated on the political, economic situation and the political realities on ground in the state and concluded that a United front of both APC and PDP is required to restore the hope of

the people in governance and stop further economic and social slide.

This according to the leaders prompted the call for all citizens in the state to vote for all APC candidates as a way of strengthening the legislative arms of government in Ondo state.

‘The Nation’learnt that the PDP’s dismal outing in the state has forced Mimiko who is the Southwest Coordinator for President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation to lobby various groups including civil servants,religious groups,traditional institution and students body to bail him out of total disgrace in the next saturday Assembly poll.

According to a source,the gover-

nor believed the state legislative election would determine his fate whether he will complete his second term or not.

The Jonathan’s Campaign Coordinator could not fulfil his earlier pledge to deliver over one million votes in Ondo state to the incumbent President.

Consequently,it was learnt that Mimiko has fixed a meeting for tomorrow with the public servants where he is expected to placate the state working force on the need to vote for his candidates at the polls.

However,feelers from the state public servants hinted that they have resolved to vote according to their conscience without any form of threat or intimidation.

‘PDP won’t reap APC’s labour in Lagos’

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OR what it called the sins of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the people of Lagos, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said the rival party entered the governorship race in error.

The APC said it was wrong of the PDP that once opposes the creation of additional local government areas to hasten development and supported the seizure of local government funds meant for the state for 14 months, to be asking for the votes of the people.

It expressed optimism that the electorate will renew its mandate for another four-year term on April 11, saying the law of harvest abhors the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reap what the APC laboured for in the Centre of Excellence.

“We’re confident that the enlightened and sophisticated voting

populace will renew our mandate by endorsing our governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and our House of Assembly standard bearers at the polls,” the party said in a statement signed at the weekend by its spokesman Joe Igbokwe.

He said the outcome of the presidential election which our candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari won convincingly has set the template for continuity and progress in the Centre of Excellence.

Igbokwe said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be daydreaming if it thinks Lagosians will pitch their tent with a party that has been rejected by the generality of Nigerians.

His words: “Is it now that our party is controlling the central that our people will vote for a dying PDP? Would Nigerians have rejected the party on March 28 if the

PDD had done well in the past 16 years?, the APC asked.

The statement went on: “We should not forget that Lagos has been the envy of other states in term of development, good governance and performance since 1999 under the same political platform and despite victimisation and lack of cooperation from the Federal Government.

“If the APC government in Lagos has been able do this much and take the state to enviable position in 16 years without federal support, then things can only be better now that the APC has won the presidency “There are so many reasons Lagosians should not vote for the PDP in Lagos. It is the PDP that frustrated the Lagos State Government’s plan to build the 4th Mainland Bridge that would have eased traffic on Eko Bridge, Marina Bridge and the 3rd Mainland Bridge.

Reacting to this development,the state APC media Committee secretary, Charles Titiloye commended the leaders of the two parties for their patriotism and uncommon courage in reaching an accord aimed at salvaging Ondo state from current mismanagement, lack of focus and direction.

The party noted that the state which is the only oil Producing state in south-west has little to show for billions of Naira accruing to it,stressing that all citizens of the state must use the opportunity of this week house of assembly to inject sanity and good governance to the state by massively voting for all APC house of assembly candidates.

APC states have delivered, says group Ambrose Nnaji

•Okorocha

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) states, including Lagos, Edo, Imo, have delivered the dividends of democracy to the people, Voice of the People has said.

The group called on the people of Imo State to vote Governor Rochas Okorocha for a second term in office on April 11 to give him the opportunity to accomplish the promises he made during his campaigns President, Comrade Maxwell Adiele, who made this call, said that

Okorocha’s government has delivered the dividends of democracy to the people.

Apart from the free education scheme, he said the administration has delivered in the area of infrastructural and developmental facilities that would give meaning to the lives of the people including good road network system, hospitals, electricity, water etc.

Adiele said that the government has provided free education at the primary, secondary and university worthy of commendation.

Speaking in Lagos, Adiele however, urged the people of the state to put away sentiments and party interest and vote Okorocha a second term in office who according to him will deliver to the people the true dividends of democracy

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

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51

NEWS

Ethno-religious crisis affecting development, says Oloyede

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HE Secretary-General Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof Is-haq Oloyede, has described the incessant Ethno-religious crisis as the bane of the nation’s development.

According to him, the ethnic and religious conflicts in the country affect all aspects of national life – most especially resource allocation and management of public institutions.

Oloyede spoke yesterday during a Public Lecture/ Luncheon organised by Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) at Lagoon Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, (NIREC) Executive Secretary/Coordinator, noted that the problem has produced several bloody crisis across the country in an addition to the 1967-1970 “Nigerian civil war”.

Oloyede lamented that the country’s cultural diversity has been politicised and exploited by the elite in such a way that retards the nation’s growth and progress.

“The most threatening of the problems is unhealthy ethnicity. At national level, the ethnic conflicts are largely among the three dominant groups: the Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo. At local level, the conflicts are among ethnic neighbours and these vary from one state to another. At each of the locations, groups compete for the available economic, material and political resources and institutions and these are often done in a manner that threatens national peace and stability,” he said.

The former University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Vice Chancellor stated that the crisis has crept into the education sector, tertiary in particular.

According to him, the na-

•From right: Chairman on the occassion Mr Yusuf Alli (SAN); UNIFEMGA National President Prof Wahab Egbewole and BoT chairman Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti at the event...yesterday PHOTOS: SOLOMON ADEOLA •Prof Oloyede...yesterday

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

tional crisis negatively affects higher education in terms of how ethnic groups

compete for the location and management of Federal Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Colleges of Agriculture.

The university system, he said, is the most contested.

“The aggressive competition between the diverse groups in Nigeria for the

control of the universities derives from the assumption that these institutions have significant roles to play in elite formation and recruit-

ment in addition to the fact that the institutions generate local employment and economic regeneration,” he said.

Save us from hoodlums, auto technicians tell govt

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UTO technicians in Lagos have appealed to the state government to save them from the hands of hoodlums.

They alleged that the hoodlums always entered their premises to harras and extort them.

The technicians, under the aegis of Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigerian (MOMTAN), are seeking the intervention of Commissioner for Transport Kayode Opeifa to the incessant attacks.

At a briefing in their Alausa, Ikeja secretariat, their chairman, Alhaji Morufdeen Arowolo, said the hoodlums always carted away valuables whenever they came.

He said: “As soon as some

•A mechanic workshop

By Duro Babayemi

of our members close for the day and leave for their homes, hoodlums from God knows where will hijack the premises. Some of our members who were still around

PHOTO: FILE COPY

were constantly intimidated by these hoodlums. They do all sorts of atrocities. They have made our premises their hideouts scaring our members away.

“Whenever our members try to challenge them, it re-

sulted in fracas and we know these hoodlums can overpower our men because some of them are armed. We call on government to extend its arm of security to our members. This situation is becoming very embarrass-

ing and we want government to intervene on our behalf.”

MOMTAN Alausa branch chairman Morufdeen Oyebade called for deployment of security personnel to stop the attacks.

Ex-convict charged for stealing motorcycle

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N An 18-year-old labourer, Tunde Agoro, has been a rraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing a motorcycle.

Agoro, a native of Ogbomoso in Oyo State, an ex-convict, was jailed in 2010 for his role in Apapa road crisis.

It was learnt that he complet-

By Rukayat Jimoh

ed his five-year jail term last Monday.

Agoro and one other person, who is at large were said to have stolen a motorcycle worth N80, 000, property of Mr Thomas Omisore, at Yaba Railway Quarters in Lagos two days after he left prison.

It was reported that some

people in the community caught and beat him up before handing him to the police, which arraigned him on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The charge sheet reads: “That you Tunde Agoro and one other at large on April 1 around 3am at Yaba Railway Quarters, Lagos in the Lagos

magisterial district did steal one red Bajaj Motorcycle with registered number as OJ373FKJ worth N80, 000 property of one Mr Thomas Omisore and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 289 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

He pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting police Inspector Etim Nkankuk told the court that the defendant committed an offence punishable under Sections 409 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

Magistrate O.I Adelaja granted him N10, 000 bail with a surety in the like sum.

She adjourned the matter till May 9.

•Agoro

•Member, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) Managent Board, Hajia Marufat Otubu (right) presenting a washing machine to Mushin Local Government Female Coordinator, Hajia Mutiat Daud during a Get-Together organised by ZSF for its staff at University of Lagos Mosque Hall, Akoka, Lagos.

•Members of Akinwunmi Ambode Independent Campaign Group, Amuwo-Odofin chapter led by Alhaja Qudrat Dada (right) on boat on the way to the riverine area

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

THE NATION FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2014

Kenya mourns victims of al-Shabab attack

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ENYA is holding three days of mourning for the 148 victims of an attack on students by militant group al-Shabab.

Easter ceremonies are being held to remember those who died on Thursday at Garissa University.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to respond to the attack “in the severest way possible”.

One of the four gunmen who carried out the attack has been identified as the son of a government official, the interior ministry has said.

He was named as Abdirahim Abdullahi, whose father is a local chief in Mandera County in the north-east of the country.

P

OPE Francis has called for peace “above all” in Syria and Iraq during his traditional Easter Sunday message.

He urged the international community to address the “immense humanitarian tragedy” in both countries.

The Pope also called for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine, Libya, Yemen, Nigeria, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

And he once again referred to the persecution of Christians in many countries.

Addressing the faithful in a rain-drenched St Peter’s Square, the Pope said: “We ask Jesus, the victor over death, to lighten the sufferings of our many brothers and sisters who are persecuted for his name, and of all those who suffer injustice as a result of ongoing conflicts and violence.

“We ask for peace, above all, for Syria and Iraq, that the roar of arms may cease and that peaceful relations may be restored among the various groups which make up those beloved countries.

“May the international community not stand by before the immense humanitarian

“The father had reported to security agents that his son had disappeared from home... and was helping the police try to trace his son by the time the Garissa terror attack happened,” ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka said.

Abdullahi studied law in Nairobi and was an “upcoming lawyer”, Mr Njoka added.

I met Tabitha Mutuku at the Chiromo mortuary in the capital, where bodies of the victims have been taken for identification. She has been desperately looking for information about her son, a student at the university, and had been to all the hospitals.

At the mortuary she told me that she had to go through

20 pictures as she tried to identify the body of her son.

She didn’t find him. In tears, while being held by another relative, she told me how frustrated she was by the slow pace of identifying bodies.

But there was joy for some families who were reunited with students brought from Garissa. They arrived at night at a packed city stadium. Parents hugged and kissed their children, some overwhelmed by emotion.

Many more, however, still wait for news. The country is in shock and mourning but there is also tension. Security has been increased not only in Garissa but in major cities, where there are intensified checks of those going into

churches and shopping centres.

The four gunmen were killed during the siege, and officials said they were holding five people for questioning.

The Kenyan Red Cross says that so far 54 of the victims have been identified by relatives at a morgue in the capital, Nairobi.

Buses are transporting more than 600 students and about 50 staff who survived the attacks to their hometowns.

Almost all of the 148 killed were students and another 79 people were injured Both Christians and Muslims have denounced the attack. On Sunday, Sunni Islam’s most respected seat of

Pope Francis: Easter message urges peace

•Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday.

tragedy unfolding in these countries and the drama of the numerous refugees.”

The faithful gathered in heavy rain for the Easter Mass in St Peter’s Square He also said his thoughts and prayers were with the young people killed in last Thursday’s massacre at Garissa University College in Kenya.

Referring to the outline agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme recently reached in the Swiss city of Lausanne, he

expressed hope that it might be “a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world”. The Pope concluded his address by saying: “We ask for peace and freedom for the many men and women subject to old and new forms of enslavement on the part of criminal individuals and groups.

“Peace and liberty for the victims of drug dealers, who are often allied with the powers who ought to defend peace and harmony in the human family.

PHOTO: REUTERS

And we ask peace for this world subjected to arms dealers.”

Two days ago, during a Good Friday service in Rome, the Pope condemned what he termed the “complicit silence” about the killing of Christians.

The service came a day after almost 150 people were killed in the attack on the Kenyan university by Islamist militants who are said to have singled out Christians as their victims.

learning, Cairo’s al-Azhar University, said it condemned the “terrorist attack”.

Services took place on Sunday morning to honour the victims of the the attack Prayers were offered for the dead and their families Pope Francis used his traditional Easter Sunday message to pray for the victims.

In Kenya, people took the streets to protest against the killings and reject the idea that al-Shabab had succeeded in dividing the country, “What I can say is that here in Eastleigh [a Somali and Muslim Nairobi suburb] both Christians and Muslims are doing business together. There is harmony... There is no religion that says people should kill one another,” one man told the BBC. On Saturday, President Kenyatta said that al-Shabab posed an “existential threat” to Kenya.

He vowed to “fight terrorism to the end” and said the militants would not succeed in their aim of creating an Islamic caliphate in Kenya.

Families were reunited with survivors of the massacre Meanwhile in Garissa, people saw the bodies of the dead gunmen on display There has been criticism in Garissa, which is 150km (100 miles) from the Somali border, at how the security services dealt with the attack.

Only two guards were on duty at the time of the assault, despite official warnings that an attack on an institution of higher learning was likely.

Al-Shabab, which is based in neighbouring Somalia, has pledged a “long, gruesome war” against Kenya.

The group said its attacks were in retaliation for acts by Kenya’s security forces, who are part of the African Union’s mission in Somalia against alShabab.

Media caption Uhuru Kenyatta: “We will do everything to defend our way of life”

African leaders to hold Boko Haram summit

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EADERS of central and west African states will hold a summit next week to try to draw up a joint strategy against Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants, a statement from organisers said Sunday.

The April 8 summit will be the first of its kind since Nigeria’s election a week ago which was won by Muhammadu Buhari, a former military leader who has vowed to rid his country of the “terror” of Boko Haram.

“In the face of the mounting and increasingly bloody attacks by the fundamentalists against Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad and the series consequences for these countries, and the real reask of destabilising western and central Africa, the two organisations have decided to take action,” a statement from regional bloc ECOWAS said.

A coalition involving troops from the four countries has been waging offensives against the Islamists in a bid to crush the insurgency, which has now spread across borders from Boko Haram’s stronghold in Nigeria.

The meeting in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, is being jointly organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

It was not immediately clear if Buhari would be attending as he will not be sworn in as president to succeed incumbent Goodluck Jonathan until May 29.

The Boko Haram insurgency has led to the deaths of more than 15,000 people dead since since 2009, UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said last week.

“Countless more children, women and men have been abducted, abused and forcibly recruited, and women and girls have been targeted for particularly horrific abuse, including sexual enslavement,” he told the UN Human Rights Council.

Immediate ceasefire needed in Yemen, Red Cross says

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HE Red Cross on Saturday called for an immediate 24-hour ceasefire in battle-torn Yemen, saying many more people recently wounded in airstrikes and ground fighting will die if not tended to soon.

The call came just before the U.N. Security Council met late Saturday morning to discuss the situation in the Arabian Peninsula nation, where Shiite rebels are pitted against external Arab air forces and fighters loyal to Yemen’s displaced Sunni president.

A pause was needed especially in and near the southern Yemeni port city of Aden, where intense fighting has happened in the past two weeks, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

Food, water, medical items and personnel need to get into these areas, the group said.

“Otherwise, put starkly, many more people will die. For the wounded, their chances of survival depend on action within hours, not days,” Robert Mardini, the ICRC’s head of operations in the Near and Middle East, said.

Another Red Cross official said people are running out of food, water and fuel.

“Medical supplies need to be here yesterday. The situa-

•Saudi Arabia airstrikes on the capital increase as jets hit military facilities in Sanaa •The U.N. Security Council meets to discuss the situation •Social media: A senior al Qaeda commander stands in a presidential residence after a jail break tion is difficult,”said MarieClaire Feghali, a spokeswoman for the ICRC who is in the capital, Sanaa. “We need to save the lives that can be saved.”

Meanwhile, residents of Sanaa, witnessed the fiercest Saudi strikes since the air assault started last week. Military facilities, including two bases, within the city limits have been targeted, three senior security officials in Sanaa said.

At the Security Council, Russia submitted a draft resolution calling for a halt to the airstrikes that a nine-country regional coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, has been conducting against the rebels in Yemen for more than a week.

The meeting adjourned with no decision announced.

One diplomat said the draft was missing what the envoy called key elements. It doesn’t call for the Houthis to stop fighting, and it does not call for political talks between the belligerents, the diplomat told CNN on condition of anonymity.

Yemen has been descending into chaos in the weeks since Houthi rebels — minori-

ty Shiites who have long complained of being marginalized in the majority Sunni country — forced Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi from power in January.

The Houthis put Hadi under house arrest when they overtook Sanaa in January. But Hadi escaped in February, fled to Aden and declared himself to still be president.

Houthis and their allies, including those loyal to Hadi’s predecessor, then fought Hadi’s forces in the Aden area.

Hadi fled Aden in late March, ultimately for Saudi Arabia, when the rebels and their military allies advanced on the city.

The conflict prompted Saudi Arabia, a predominately Sunni nation and Yemen’s northern neighbor, and other Arab nations to hit the rebels in Yemen with airstrikes.

A Saudi source told CNN that special forces supplied weapons and communication equipment to Yemeni fighters in Aden loyal to Hadi.

The Houthis were retreating from areas in the center of the city, including the presidential palace there, the source

said.

The United Nations said Thursday that at least 519 people have been killed in Yemen in the past two weeks. An additional 1,700 have been wounded. Tens of thousands have fled to nearby Somalia and Djibouti.

In Aden alone, fighting has killed 58 people and injured 200 more in the past two days, Yemeni security officials said.

At least 24 of the dead were Houthis.

Complicating matters in Yemen is that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula — not the

Houthis or Hadi-loyal forces — holds sway in the country’s east. AQAP is considered one of the most ruthless branches of the terrorist organization.

Also late this week, photos circulating on social media purported to show senior al Qaeda leader Khaled Batarfi — whom Yemeni defense officials said militants busted out of jail on Thursday — posing in a presidential residence in southern Yemen.

Israel prepares lobbying strategy against Iran deal

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N official Israeli analysis has drawn up a list of alleged shortcomings of the nuclear framework agreement between Iran and world powers, providing a basis for what is expected to be months of furious lobbying by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reshape or cancel the deal.Netanyahu, an outspoken critic of the negotiations with Iran, has already criticized the deal as insufficient. He is expected to lobby heavily against the framework deal as its language is finalized ahead of a June 30 agreement.

The framework agreement was announced on Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland, by U.S.led world powers and Iran. It seems to cut significantly into

Iran’s bomb-making technology while giving Tehran quick access to assets and markets blocked by international sanctions.

The commitments, if implemented, would substantially pare down Iranian nuclear assets for a decade and restrict others for an additional five years.According to a U.S. document listing those commitments, Tehran is ready to reduce its number of centrifuges, the machines that can spin uranium gas to levels used in nuclear warheads, and submit to aggressive monitoring and inspections of its nuclear facilities.But the Israeli analysis, drawn up by officials in Netanyahu’s office over the weekend, claims the system of inspections is not as

thorough as proclaimed by negotiators because it does not explicitly force the Iranians to open their sites “anywhere, anytime.”It also claims the agreement is vague about what happens to Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, a key ingredient in producing nuclear bombs, or how sanctions might be re-imposed if Iran violates the deal.

While Iran is not supposed to enrich uranium with its advanced centrifuges for 10 years, the deal permits limited “research and development” of the advanced centrifuges, according to the U.S. document. Israeli officials say this means that Iran could immediately put these centrifuges into action after the deal expires or breaks down.

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FOREIGN NEWS

Yemen officials say rebels free hundreds of prisoners

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HIITE rebels freed more than 300 prisoners in the southern city of Dhale, Yemeni security officials said, as the rebels fought pitched battles with supporters of the country’s beleaguered President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in the southern port city of Aden.

The Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, have been trying to take control of Dhale in order to open up a corridor to Aden, a stronghold for Hadi loyalists.

Since their advance began last year, the Houthis have overrun Yemen’s capital, San-

aa, and several provinces, forcing Hadi to flee the country.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists, said that after the Houthi fighters took control of Dhale’s central prison, they gave inmates a choice between joining their ranks or remaining incarcerated.

A Saudi-led coalition continued to carry out intensive airstrikes overnight and early Saturday morning targeting Houthi positions in north and east Aden. The airstrikes con-

tinued in the Houthi stronghold of Saada in the north of the country.

As night fell, the airstrikes rocked northern Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, prompting dozens of families to flee their homes.

The rebel-controlled Ministry of Interior said 11 people were killed, including four children, when a coalition airstrike hit the village of Hajer, west of Sanaa.

In Aden, pro-Hadi militias are facing off against a combined force of Houthi fighters aligned with forces loyal to

Hadi’s predecessor — ousted autocrat Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Eyewitnesses said rebel snipers are shooting at their adversaries from the city’s rooftops.

Coalition planes airdropped weapons to fighters battling the Houthis in Aden early Friday, the first such airdrop since the strikes began 10 days ago.

Medical officials said six civilians were killed Saturday during fighting at the entrance of al-Ma’ala, a town on the outskirts of Aden.

Critics of the Houthis charge that they are an Irani-

an proxy. Iran has provided aid to the rebels, but both Tehran and the Houthis deny it has armed them.

Egyptian President AbdelFattah el-Sissi met with his country’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to discuss Egypt’s role in the Saudi-led Yemen campaign.

“Egypt will never abandon her brothers in the Gulf,” he said in remarks following the meeting and carried on state and private television channels.

El-Sissi added that he and his Gulf allies considered the

Bab el-Mandeb strait an issue of national security.

The Houthis and their allies took up positions last week overlooking the strategic strait, which serves as a gateway to the Suez Canal, raising the risk they could threaten the key global shipping route with heavy weapons.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdel Salam said in a statement that “sowing fear about the Bab el-Mandeb aims to support aggression in Yemen,” adding that the rebels are open to talks with Egypt about the issue.

Popular Mobilization Forces, comprised mainly of Shiite militias, have been a driving force in most of the successful battles against the militant group. But little remains of those towns with several human rights groups pointing to the militias as the culprits for that destruction.

The powerful, Iranian-backed militias have been accused in the past of atrocities ranging from driving Sunni families from their homes, to kidnapping and, in some cases executions.

In Tikrit, fighting damaged many homes. Access to electricity and water is sporadic and roads are cratered and impass-

able in some parts of the city.

While the government has blamed criminal gangs for loot, others have blamed the militiamen.

Efforts to merge small, but symbolic Sunni battalions with the Iraqi military were tested in the Tikrit battle, with as many as 200 men, mainly from al-Jabour tribe, joining governmentbacked forces. The objective is ultimately to plant the seed for a local national guard force that would remain in Tikrit and other recaptured cities.

But rising tensions between the Iraqi military and the Popular Mobilization Forces is raising

concerns. Several pulled out of the Tikrit operations after the U.S.-led coalition began airstrikes there to boost the thenstalled operation. They quickly rejoined the fight, but the temporary division among Iraq's military and the militias highlighted growing tensions.

As Iraq looks ahead to its next battlefront - most likely in Anbar province - the government has a key opportunity to demonstrate its desire to protect Sunni communities and empower the Sunni tribesmen to oversee law and order once the Islamic State group is abolished and normalcy is restored.

Iraq: After Tikrit victory, new challenge looms over Sunnis

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RAQ won the battle to retake the city of Tikrit from the Islamic State group, backed by a coalition of the unlikely in Iranian advisers, Shiite militias, and U.S.-led airstrikes, but the country now faces what could be its most important battle: Winning the support of the Sunni.

Sunni tribes played a key role during the U.S. occupation fighting back al-Qaida in Iraq, the Islamic State group's predecessor, and their distrust of Baghdad's Shiite-led government eased the extremists' takeover last summer. But as Tikrit now sits in ruins, still patrolled by fractious Shiite militias, the powerful Sunni tribes remain as distrustful as ever as further offensives in their heartland loom.

The government "needs those local tribes to secure the territory and hold the fort until government function is restored in these areas," said Sajad Jiyad, a senior researcher at alBayan Center for Studies and Planning in Baghdad. "The government needs to make sure that everyone who fights today has a future in Iraq tomorrow and not just to find a short-term military solution today and forget about them later."

Sunni grievances mounted during the eight-year rule of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, widely seen as pursuing sectarian policies. Al-Maliki responded to rising Sunni protests with a violent crackdown, further stirring dissent. By December 2013, security forces withdrew from Ramadi after

•Government forces celebrating victory over Tikrit...yesterday.

dismantling a protest camp, allowing Islamic State militants ultimately to take it over.

When the Islamic State group swept across a third of Iraq last summer, many Sunnis initially greeted them as liberators. Analysts believe members of Saddam's outlawed Baath Party, stacked largely with Sunnis, also aided the extremists.

The few Sunni tribes that stood up against the Islamic State group have paid a heavy price. In the Salahuddin town of Duluiyah, a mass grave holds the remains of 150 people from the al-Jabour tribe, killed by the militants in December. The mil-

itants also killed more than 200 men, women and children from the Sunni Al Bu Nimr tribe in Anbar province in November.

The mass killings offered a stark warning to others considering aiding the government.

With Tikrit taken, Sunni residents in Islamic State-held Anbar province, home to Fallujah, and Nineveh province, home to Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, expect the Iraqi offensive to now turn its attention to their regions.

But many remain fearful of both the Islamic State group, as well as the Shiite militias involved in the Iraqi offensive.

The government-backed

Yemen conflict: Evacuations continue as fighting intensifies

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OUNTRIES including Pakistan and China are stepping up efforts to evacuate their citizens from Yemen, as its humanitarian situation worsens.

A Pakistani aircraft will fly to the capital Sanaa on Sunday to rescue 170 people.

Flights from China, Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti are also scheduled, according to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Shia Houthi rebels.

The Red Cross has called for a 24-hour ceasefire to bring in medical supplies.

Saudi air strikes continued for an 11th night on Saturday, despite the plea from the agency. Fighting on the ground between the Houthis and forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi also intensified.

An Algerian aircraft rescued 160 of its citizens along with other north Africans on Saturday.

Russia, India and Indonesia are among the countries to have

already carried out evacuations amid increasing international concern.

Requests from other nations including Canada, Germany and Iraq were also being processed, the coalition said.

It has continued its air campaign, despite the calls from the Red Cross and Russia for a pause to allow further evacuations and humanitarian aid deliveries.

Air strikes hit the capital Sanaa, causing explosions at bases housing army units loyal to the rebels.

The Houthis took control of the capital in September and continue to make gains in southern port of Aden, a stronghold of those loyal to President Hadi.

He fled to Saudi Arabia last month.

On Sunday the rebels advanced further into the city, bombarding residential areas and setting fire to several buildings, AFP reports.

The Red Cross described the

situation there as dire, with streets “strewn with dead bodies” and the wounded “streaming” into hospitals and clinics.

At least 185 people have been killed and 1,282 injured since in Aden on 26 March, health department director AlKheder Lassouar said.

The toll does not include rebel casualties or victims of air raids, he added.

Houses have been destroyed by air strikes carried out by Saudi Arabia Charities says more civilians will die unless they are allowed to deliver aid The Red Cross said “all air, land and sea routes must be opened without delay for at least 24 hours,” or more civilians would die.

The United Nations Security Council is considering Russia’s call for a pause in air strikes.

The council’s president, Dina Kawar, who is also Jordan’s UN ambassador, said

members needed time to “reflect on the proposal”.

Over the past two weeks, fighting in Yemen has left more than 500 people dead and about 1,700 wounded, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said.

The Houthis have said their aim is to replace President Hadi’s government, which they accuse of being corrupt.

They are supported by troops loyal to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted in the Arab Spring protests.

Saudi Arabia says the Houthis have military backing from regional rival Iran, which denies the allegation.

The Houthis: Zaidi Shia-led rebels from the north, who seized control of Sanaa last year and have since been expanding their control President Hadi: Fled to Saudi Arabia after rebel forces advanced on his stronghold in the southern city of Aden

British teenagers arrested on terrorism offences

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WO teenagers from northern England have been arrested on suspicion of preparing for acts of terrorism, British police said on Sunday.

A 14-year-old boy from Blackburn and a 16-year-old girl from Manchester were arrested on Thursday and Friday respectively as part of an ongoing investigation and have both been bailed until May 28, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

The boy was arrested on “suspicion of preparing for an act of terrorism” following the examination of several electronic devices, police said, while the girl was arrested “on suspicion of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism”.

Police said the arrests were not linked to the case of nine British nationals from nearby Rochdale, who were detained

by Turkish security forces earlier this week as they apparently attempted to enter Syria.

Last year Britain raised its terrorism alert to the secondhighest level and has warned of the threat posed by radicalized Britons returning from fighting in Syria and Iraq. Security services estimate some 600 Britons have gone to join militant groups there, with about half of them thought to have returned.

West Midlands police on Sunday said they had been given more time to question six people arrested at the southern English port of Dover on Friday on suspicion of terrorism offences related to the ongoing conflict in Syria.

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FOREIGN NEWS Cuba’s Fidel Castro makes a rare appearance

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OFFICIAL media reported that Fidel Castro, 88, appeared “full of vitality” The former president of Cuba, Fidel Castro, has made his first appearance in 14 months.

He met a delegation of Venezuelan officials on a solidarity mission to Cuba at a local school.

The 88-year-old revolutionary icon was described as “full of vitality” by local press.

He was last seen in public in January 2014 at the opening of a Havana cultural centre sponsored by one of his favourite Cuban artists, Alexis Leyva.

This time, official media showed images of a seated Mr Castro shaking hands with the Venezuelan visitors through the window of his vehicle, wearing a baseball cap and windbreaker.

PHOTO: AFP

•Former President Fidel Castro in a rare public appearance in Havana yesterday.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, oil-rich Venezuela has become Cuba’s closest ally.

Mr Castro was a close

friend of the former Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, who ensured Cuba received cheap oil. In return, Cuba sup-

plied its ally with Cuban advisers, doctors and teachers.

Fidel Castro provisionally stepped down due to illness in

Ukraine: Six government soldiers killed in east

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IX Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in two separate incidents in the east of the country, government officials say.

Four died after their vehicle was reportedly fired on by proRussian separatists in Schastye, close to the separatist stronghold of Lugansk.

Two others were killed when their vehicle hit an anti-tank mine near the government-held port city of Mariupol.

A fragile ceasefire has been in force in eastern Ukraine since February.

There have been isolated violations of the ceasefire, which was agreed by leaders from Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.

In the Schastye incident, the four Ukrainian government troops are said to have died when their vehicle was hit as it drove across a bridge.

Initial reports said rebels "had fired an anti-tank missile", the inte-

rior ministry said in a statement.

In the mine explosion near Mariupol, two soldiers died at the scene while a third was wounded and taken to hospital, the army said.

On Saturday, the government reported the deaths of three soldiers in a mine explosion near Donetsk, another separatist stronghold.

Some 6,000 people have been killed since fighting broke

out in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian government a year ago.

The Ukrainian government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia has helped the rebels with heavy weapons and soldiers. Independent experts echo that accusation.

Moscow denies it, insisting that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers".

Afghan Taliban publish Mullah Omar biography

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HE Afghan Taliban have published a surprise biography of the reclusive Mullah Mohammed Omar, to mark his 19th year as their supreme leader.

The 5,000-word biography on their main website clarifies disputed facts about his birth and upbringing.

It lists his favourite weapon - the RPG 7 - and says he leads a simple life and has a “special” sense of humour.

It says Mullah Omar, whose whereabouts are unknown, “remains in touch” with day-to-day Afghan and world events.

The US state department has a $10m bounty on Mullah Omar, who has not been seen since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

It was Mullah Omar’s backing for al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden that sparked the campaign.

It is unclear why the Taliban have chosen the 19th anniversary of his supreme leadership to publish the biography but some analysts say it may be an attempt to counter the growing influence of Islamic State in Afghanistan.

Commentators and Taliban watchers have been unable to agree on many facts about Mullah Omar, including his birth and heritage.

The biography says he was born in 1960 in the village of Chah-i-Himmat, in the Khakrez district of Kandahar province, in the south of the country.

It refers to the supreme leader as Mullah Mohammad Umar “Mujahid” and says he is from the Tomzi clan of the Hotak tribe.

It says his father was Moulavi Ghulam Nabi, a “respected erudite and social figure” who died five years after Mohammed Omar’s birth. The family moved to Uruzgan province.

There have been very few images of Mullah Omar The biography says Mullah Omar abandoned his studies in a madrassa school after the Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan and became a jihadist “to discharge his religious obligation”.

It lists his military feats fighting the Russians between 1983 and 1991, saying he was

wounded four times and lost his right eye.

In 1994 Mullah Omar took over leading the Islamic mujahideen to tackle the “factional fighting” among warlords that followed the collapse of the communist regime in 1992.

Then in 1996 he was conferred the title “ameer-ul-momineen” (head of the pious believers), the biography says, becoming supreme leader.

After taking Kabul and establishing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the biography tells of the “arrogant infidel powers of the world” who “could not tolerate Sharia

law” and launched a joint military invasion.

In a section entitled “His daily activities in the present circumstances”, the biography says: “In the present crucial conditions and regularly being tracked by the enemy, no major change and disruption has been observed in the routine works of [Mullah Omar]”.

It says he “keenly follows and inspects the jihadi activities against the brutal infidel foreign invaders” adding: “He remains in touch with the dayto-day happenings of his country as well as the outside world.”

Amanda Knox outside her mother’s home in the U.S. city of Seattle after Italy’s highest court quashed the 27year-old American’s conviction for the murder in 2007 of the British student Meredith Kercher.

PHOTO: REUTERS

2006, and formally announced his retirement in 2008, handing over to his younger brother Raul, 83.

He occasionally writes a newspaper column and receives dignitaries at home, but rarely appears in public.

FM: Iran could resume nuclear activities if West withdraws

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RAN's foreign minister said Saturday that Tehran would be able to return to its nuclear activities if the West withdraws from a pact that is to be finalized in June.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator, said on a talk show on state-run TV that Iran has the power to take "corresponding action" and "will be able to return" its nuclear program to the same level if the other side fails to honor the agreement.

"All parties to the agreement can stop their actions (fulfillment of their commitments) in case of violation of the agreement by the other party," Zarif said.

Zarif said the framework nuclear deal announced by Iran and six world powers Thursday in Switzerland was not binding until a final agreement is worked out by a June 30 deadline. The framework agreement, if finalized, would cut significantly into Iran's bomb-capable nuclear technology while giving Tehran quick access to bank accounts, oil markets and other financial assets blocked by international sanctions.

Zarif said the deal, if finalized, would nullify all U.N. Security Council resolutions against Iran's nuclear program and lead to the lifting of U.S. and European Union sanctions.

Zarif's remarks appear aimed at reassuring hardliners in Iran who strongly oppose the framework agreement as a good deal for the West and disaster for Iran.

Despite criticism by hardliners, the deal has been overwhelmingly backed by Iran's establishment, including President Hassan Rouhani who pledged in a speech to the nation on Friday that Iran will abide by its commitments under the nuclear deal.

Zarif said Iran is "committed" to implementing its part of any final agreement providing Western countries fulfill their promises.

He said Iran wants to have a "moderate, constructive and proud presence" in the world.

Zarif received a hero's welcome upon his return to Tehran on Friday. Crowds of cheering supporters surrounded Zarif's vehicle and chanted slogans supporting him and Rouhani.

In the TV interview, Zarif said he "objected" to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry using the word "suspension" rather than "termination" regarding sanctions against Iran in the statement on the framework deal announced Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Zarif attributed Kerry's action as being aimed at addressing rifts between the Obama administration and Congress over the deal. Republicans are almost universally opposed to President Barack Obama's diplomatic effort; Democrats remain divided.

Zarif said the agreement showed that the West cannot halt Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran insists is for peaceful purposes such as power generation and cancer treatment. Western countries suspect that Iran's nuclear program has a military dimension.

Without naming any country, Zarif assured Iran's neighbors such as Saudi Arabia which are concerned about Iran's nuclear ambitions that Tehran is not after regional domination.

"We are not after a nuclear bomb. We are also not after hegemony in the region, too," Zarif said. "Security of our neighbors is our security, too."

Saudi Arabia has expressed concern about growing Iranian influence in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon which have large Shiite Muslim populations. A Saudi-led military coalition is now carrying out airstrikes in Yemen against Shiite Houthi rebels who are supported by Iran.

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NEWS

Ex-NUJ President Zorro cries out over ‘PDP’s stockpiling of arms’ A FORMER President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Sani Zorro, yesterday petitioned Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba over alleged stockpiling of arms by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State, ahead of the elections on Saturday.

Zorro, the head of Public Communication and Strategy Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said there were plans to “unleash mayhem and disrupt voting at select polling units.”

He asked the IGP to reduce tension and avert bloodshed.

The petition reads: “I am constrained to alert you as Nigeria’s chief law enforcement officer of plans being hatched by the PDP in Jigawa State to cause chaos and mayhem at select poll-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

ing units with a view to sabotaging the last lap of the general elections scheduled for April 11.

“Specifically, I wish to draw your attention to the following: That under the watch of incumbent Governor Sule Lamido, PDP leaders in Jigawa State have stockpiled weapons, such as cutlasses, machetes, daggers, knives, bows and arrows, sticks, etc, with which to unleash mayhem and disrupt voting processes at select polling units, statewide. “ Their devilish plans also include attacks on targeted party leaders and candidates of the APC to kill them or inflict injuries on them, including my humble self as the

K

ANO State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said yesterday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not make the mistakes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by abandoning its members.

Kwankwaso, who spoke to reporters in his office, said APC would avoid such mistakes, which led to the failure of the PDP in the presidential election.

He said APC must learn not to be a monster as the PDP, who disrespected the members, who defected to the APC, through its insults on the integrity of the members.

The governor advised that the party should recognise that everybody was important in its quest to succeed, saying: “We need to have a solid government, come together, work as a family and learn from the mistakes of the PDP.” He noted that the composition of the APC government would speak volumes because the essence of going to school was to learn from the mistakes of the past and make adjustment by taking the right path.

Kwankwaso attributed the mistakes of President Goodluck Jonathan to lack of exposure in identifying who is who in the party and the country.

“Rather, he preferred to listen to gossips. He refused to recognise those who struggled for the success of the party by denying them their legitimate dues.”

According to him, for President Jonathan to concede defeat and congratulate President-elect Muhammadu Buhari could be described as a show of statesmanship, adding that his name should be written in gold for standing for the truth.

He urged security agencies to shun partisan politics and hailed them for their roles in the election.

The governor said APC would not oppose a vibrant opposition, but would want objective criticisms, devoid of blackmail, propaganda and hate campaign.

House of Representatives candidate for Gumel/ Gagarawa/Mai Gatari/ SuleTankarkar Federal Constituency.

“Take note, however, that we of the APC have no plans to engage in violence despite our superiority in numbers, political will and capacity over our desperate rivals in the PDP. “Therefore, we will like to rely on your assurances for the protection of our teeming and law-abiding members as they prepare to exercise their civic rights to vote freely and peacefully for the candidates of their choice in compliance with the laws of the land.”

Buhari’s integrity an asset to economy, says Makarfi

Kwankwaso: APC ‘ll learn from PDP’s mistakes From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

•Petitions IGP

Zorro said the alleged unguarded statement of Governor Lamido was fuelling tension.

He added: “Clearly on the throes of political extinction, our rivals also plan to induce voters with money and/or deploy traditional ward heads (Bulamai) and heads of Fulani hamlets (Ardawa), to intimidate voters at polling units.

“Most worrisome, however, is the continued unguarded statement(s) of the Governor, who has allegedly given assurances to his supporters that he is working hand-in-hand with the Inspector-General of Police – as the latter is an indigene of Jigawa State, and from the same senatorial district as the former.

“Although we have so far

refused to believe this narrative, it is of utmost importance on the part of the InspectorGeneral of Police to take steps, to dissociate himself from the grave allegation.”

Zorro asked the IGP to avert bloodshed by seizing the deadly weapons.

He said: “We want an immediate visit to Jigawa State to help de-escalate tension, order for the seizure of the deadly weapons from our opponents and restore confidence in the election.

“While we pledge to cooperate with the security and intelligence personnel for the maintenance of law and order, we, however, will not stand-by and watch our leaders and supporters killed by thugs on the orders of “do or die” politicians faced with imminent defeat and political irrelevance.”

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HE former Kaduna State Governor and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has said the integrity of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari remains an asset that will boost investors’ confidence in the economy.

Senator Makarfi, who contested a senatorial seat in the March 28 National Assembly election, but lost to Alhaji Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, his former com-

From Blessing Olaifa, Assistant Editor, Abuja

missioner for Finance and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, said: “Gen. Buhari has all it takes to take Nigeria to a higher level.”

He told The Nation yesterday that given the track record of Buhari, he was confident that the economy would be revived and the masses would reap the dividends of democracy.

Makarfi said he conceded

defeat to Hunkuyi because it was the will of God, as expressed by the people.

He congratulated the people who participated in the elections and were victorious.

The former governor, who served between 1999 and 2007, expressed gratitude to his political associates for their support and understanding when he served as the governor and senator.

“In particular, I wish to send my hearty congratulations to Gen. Buhari on his

•Makarfi

victory in the presidential election, believing that he will use his wealth of experience, integrity, fairness and discipline to lift Nigeria higher,” Makarfi asserted.

Chibok girls’ rescue must be prioritised, says Ezekwesili From Grace Obike, Abuja

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HE former Minister of Education and leader of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has said the group would not relent in its struggle to ensure the rescue of the Chibok girls, even with the change in government.

She said the group intended to write, to say that the rescue of the Chibok girls must be prioritised.

Dr. Ezekwesili said they would not relent until the Chibok girls were rescued.

She added that they would ensure that during the transition, politicians prioritised the rescue of the girls.

Her words: “Anybody thinking that there is a new administration, therefore we are going to be quiet, will be disappointed because we will not relent until our daughters are brought back alive.

“We are not relenting, we will not retreat and we will not surrender until our girls are rescued. We intend to write that with the transition government being put in place, our daughters must be given priority so that they can return before the handover date of May 29.

“During the transition, we want to see the efforts of our politicians to ensure that the rescue of our daughters is given priority.

“To mark the one year anniversary of the abduction of our girls, the advocacy will hold a seminar. We will invite President Goodluck Jonathan and President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

•From left: Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan; Vice President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed; Minister of State FCT, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide; Rt Rev. Nicholas Okoh and Chairman, FCT CAN, Rev. Israel Akanji, during the Easter Sunday service at the Aso Villa Chapel, State House, Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN.

‘Ignore Suswam’s call for REC’s removal’

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, to ignore Governor Gabriel Suswam’s call for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

The party’s Chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro, in a statement refuted Governor Suswam’s allegations that the REC, Prof. Istifanus Dafwang, colluded with the APC to deny him victory in the National Assembly election.

He said the allegations were the antics of a bad loser looking for a scapegoat.

Yaro said the call arose

from the governor’s inability to dictate to Prof. Dafwang and make him dance to his tunes, adding that instead of removing him, Prof. Jega should praise the REC for his rectitude and for performing well.

He said the APC, which had the support of the electorate, needed not seek the influence of the commissioner or ask any favour from him.

Comrade Yaro said it was the PDP, which frittered away the goodwill of the people and therefore had no hope of winning their votes.

He said APC agents reported to him that the cancelled results, which the governor complained about,

were voided, following over voting, falsification and mutilation of declared results as well as ballot box snatching and stuffing by PDP agents.

The APC chairman said Prof. Dafwang and INEC officials were not responsible for Governor Suswam’s loss, but his inept administration, which brought hardship to the people and the desire of Nigerians to effect change in the leadership of the country.

He said the APC received reports that the governor was planning to perpetrate atrocities in Saturday’s election and that his call for the replacement of the REC with someone not familiar with the terrain would facilitate his plans if obliged.

Fire guts INEC’s office From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at Nworie-Ubi in Mbaitoli Local Gov-

ernment Area of Imo State has been gutted by fire.

The building, surrounded by bush at the council headquarters, was set ablaze by yet-to-be identified people on Saturday, resulting in the loss of vital documents.

A witness said the fire started about 1am, adding that efforts by fire fighters to put it out failed, as the building was in flames before their arrival.

Police Commissioner Austin Evbakhavbokun confirmed the inferno.

He said the incident occurred when a generator exploded, igniting the jerry cans of fuel stored in the building.

The police boss said the generator operator has been arrested.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Gabriel Adah, could not be reached for comments.

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NEWS

Pastors drum up support for Ambode, Tejuoso •Igbo to vote for APC •ICAN hails candidate

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HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, will win Saturday’s election, Bishop Kayode Williams has said.

The national coordinator of Pastors for Change, an independent support group, described Ambode as the right leader for Lagos, urging Christians to vote for all APC candidates on Saturday.

Bishop Williams spoke at a briefing at Ilupeju Recreational Centre, which had several pastors in attendance. The briefing was held to drum support for Ambode and Mrs. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, who is seeking re-election into the House of Assembly.

The cleric said Lagos had suffered in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government, which he accused of denying the state its needed impetus to self-development.

He said: “We are mobilising our members for Ambode to ensure continuity in Lagos and we are confident that God, who we serve diligently and faithfully, will hear us again.

“Nigerians have proven to be resilient, but we have been plagued with bad leadership in the last 16 years.

“Despite frustration by the PDPled Federal Government, Lagos, under the leadership of Babatunde Fashola, has achieved tremendous development with its meagre resources.

“Lagos State, under the management of APC, has been gradually transformed to a better place that most of us can be proud of.

“Gone are the days when they say pastors should not interfere in politics. Today, when you see that a candidate is good and God has convinced you, speak to your congregation to vote for that candidate.

“It is not a secret, it is a mandate from God. A truthful person must say the truth and that is why we must mobilise our congregation.”

Bishop Williams congratulated the president-elect, Gen. Muhammad Buhari and his deputy, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, saying he had long prophesised APC’s victory.

He said: “They have my letters with them (APC). I told them the revelation I got from God on the general elections.

“I even advised them not to conduct primaries because Buhari would defeat all his rivals. God has anointed him. Today, the revelation has come to pass and I am also telling you another one on Ambode.”

Bishop Williams accused the PDP of wasting billions of naira to capture Lagos, noting that such huge amount could have been spent on infrastructure or human capacity development.

He said Lagos could not afford to be in the opposition, if its potentials must be achieved.

Buhari, represented by Dr Tunde Ayeye, said Lagos would enjoy all its privileges under his government, promising to work with Ambode after his election.

Ambode, who spoke through Mrs. Tejuoso, thanked Nigerians for voting APC in the presidential election, urging Lagos residents to vote for continuity in the state.

Mrs. Tejuoso urged members of the group in Mushin 1 Constituency to vote for the APC. She said for religious leaders to openly support the APC, the party was doing well to lift people out of poverty.

“I am confident that APC would win by a landslide in Lagos State, because people have seen everything that is going on in the country and now would be more ready

By Musa Odoshimokhe, Wale Ajetunmobi, Ibrahim Adam and Evaristus Onwuzurike

to vote the party at the state level.

We are happy we won the federal elections, but Lagos will achieve more development, if it remains in the same party with the Federal Government.”

Igbo traditional leaders have promised to deliver their domains to Ambode.

The leaders who were in the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, promised to vote for the APC on Saturday.

The Chairman, Eze Ndigbo in Council and title holders, Lagos State, Eze Gordian Dimojiaku, said Igbo had resolved to vote for Ambode, unlike what happened during the presidential election where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Igbo dominated areas.

He said: “We are very sorry for what happened last Saturday. We came here today to tell the Oba that on Saturday, you will see a change.

“Contrary to the insinuations that the Igbo did not vote for the APC, we voted for the APC but maybe our efforts were not enough.

“But I want to assure the Oba that this Saturday there will be a difference. We have started to work in the 37 local council development areas and the 20 local governments.

“When we leave here, we will go back to our people and tell them what to do. We have agreed with the Oba in the presence of everybody that we will deliver on Saturday,” he said.

Dimojiaku called on all Igbo resident in Lagos State to vote for experience.

He noted that continuity in Lagos will protect the Igbo’s huge investments in Lagos.

Oba Akiolu said Lagos had provided unparallel opportunities for Igbo to grow in their business, public and private lives.

He said Igbo had never been discriminated against.

The monarch said the visit was not just for support for Ambode but for the progress of Lagos.

“They are showing their solidarity for the progress, growth and development of Lagos. Ambode is just an individual, a symbol that will deliver the message which I, the Oba, the number one traditional citizen of Lagos, other obas and stakeholders, will send him.

“He is going on a mission and by the grace of God, he will consolidate on the gains recorded. He will make Lagos better for everybody. I want to urge the opposition in Lagos to wait for their time.”

Ambode has been hailed for his extraordinary leadership qualities and professionalism.

The APC candidate was the special guest at a lecture organised by the Ikeja District of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (IDSICAN) yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.

Ambode was the focal point of an academic research titled: “The Effects of Leadership Quality on Public Expenditure Management: Evidence From Lagos State Treasury Under Akinwunmi Ambode As Accountant General” According to Prof Kabiru Isa Dandago, who presented the research paper, the APC candidate proved to be a exemplary leader, who has mastered the art of exercising the principles of leadership along the lines of accountability, transparency and prudence.

“This study aims to explore the potentials of quality leadership on public expenditure management

• From left: President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Aderemi Bello, Ajaegbu, Ambode and ICAN Vice-President Femi Deru.

Why we stepped down, by 10 candidates

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EN governorship candidates, who stepped down for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, have said they took the decision to ensure the continuity of development in the Centre of Excellence.

Their spokesman, Akinola Obadia, of the Independent Democrat (ID) told reporters in Lagos that the state has witnessed tremendous change in the last 16 years under former Governor Bola Tinubu and his successor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

He hailed Fashola for building on the solid foundation laid by Tinubu, urging Lagosians to vote for Ambode in the spirit of continuity.

The politician said the 10 candidates have decided to team up with Ambode to give Lagos a deserving government.

Obadia said: “Fashola is a model governor. Lagos State is number one in terms of infrastructural development, internally generated revenue and good governance.

“Variety is the beauty of democracy. Multiplicity of choice adds value to life. All of us cannot be in the same party. But, we can have the opportunity to contribute our quota to the development of our state.

“But, we cannot drag back the wheel of progress in Lagos State. We will be knocking our heads on the wall if we stupidly fight against an obvious winning team.

“We must rise against primordial sentiment and selfish ambition. We, as a coalition of 10 governorship candidates of different parties, have unanimously and (PEM) towards a better life for the citizenry.

“It specifically examines the effects of leadership quality on PEM performance, using the six-year tenure of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the Accountant General (AG) of Lagos State as the focal point.

“In the comity of states, Lagos has distinguished itself as a state with distinct PEM credentials in the six-year leadership of Akinwunmi Ambode as AG. “It is, therefore, important to

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Group Political Editor

collectively decided that our ambition should not be greater than our collective course of progress and we have decided that our ambition should therefore, be shelved in the interest of 21 million Lagosians.”

Other candidates under the umbrella of ‘Coalition of Gubernatorial Candidates in Lagos State’ include Ishola Aregbesola (Action Alliance), Sesan Olatunde (New Nigeria Peoples Party), Adegbe Ojochide (Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), Adeshina Olayokun (All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Adeniji (Kowa), Adeshina Buruji (Accord), Abiodun Oyegunle (All Progressives Alliance (APA) and Slyvester Eze. Obadia described Ambode as the consolidator, who will continue to pursue the progress of Lagos in the postFashola era, adding that he has the record of excellent public service.

He added: “Ambode as the accountant-general helped in saving Lagos from trouble in the time of serious economic hardship when former President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld allocations to the state.

“He stuck his neck out using his financial wizardry to pull Lagos State out of the doldrums. He was able to midwife the increment of the state’s internally generated revenue.”

Urging Lagosians to vote for the APC, Obadia said: “We are saying in clear terms that the 10 of us have shelved our individual ambitions and aspirations as we give our unwavering solidarity to Ambode on Saturday.

“We urge our supporters across the state to vote for the dynamic candidate of the APC because he will take Lagos to the next level.”

examine Ambode’s underlying leadership qualities for the period under review (2007-2012) and to highlight the lessons, which can be replicated elsewhere.”

He, therefore, recommended that “Lagosians should strive to exercise their rights to vote a professional, who has exhibited concern and care for them, long before showing interest in serving as their chief accounting officer and chief security officer.

“A vote for Mr. Ambode is clearly a vote for improving the

lives of the present generation of Lagosians and for laying solid foundation for sustainable wellbeing.”

ICAN President Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu praised Ambode and the results presented by the study.

He said: “With 19 qualities of leadership and 16 signs of professionalism acumen that this study makes us see in Akinwunmi Ambode, it has proven beyond doubt that accountants make the best leaders in the world. Lagos is blessed to have him.”

Oyo candidates flex muscle over governorship poll

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AJOR governorship candidates in Oyo State yesterday boasted about winning the election.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi is flying the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his predecessor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, is the Labour Party (LP) candidate.

Rashidi Ladoja is contesting on the platform of Accord and Teslim Folarin is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer.

Speaking in Ibadan, the state capital yesterday, the candidates expressed unusual confidence of coming tops in the election.

Though the APC defeated other parties with a wide margin in the presidential and National Assembly elections on March 28, candidates of the defeated parties insisted that they were only beaten not defeated.

APC won the three senatorial seats and 12 of the 14 House of Representatives seats.

The party also controls the

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

House of Assembly with 18 out of 32 members.

Opposition parties also believe that the governorship election would not go the way of the March 28 elections because, according to them, voters were carried away by the popularity of the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

In separate chats, Ajimobi, who spoke through the party’s State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, said Oyo people have always chosen light by aligning with the progressives, adding that they also reconfirmed it by their massive votes for the APC in the March 28 elections.

He said voters will, once again, show their preference for the transformation, reformation and the repositioning of the state being undertaken by his administration by voting for him and all APC candidates in the House of Assembly election.

Ladoja, who spoke through the

Director General of his campaign organisation, Adeolu Adeleke, said Accord remained undaunted, despite the result of the last election.

He said: “We remain undaunted and psychologically stable with optimism to win the election.”

Alao-Akala, who spoke through his spokesman, Oludare Ogunlana, said what the party suffered in the last election would be regained on Saturday.

“Whatever we suffered, people are ready to respond with their votes on Saturday.

“The way Gen. Buhari was voted for across the country is the way Alao-Akala would gain people’s votes across Oyo State on Saturday,” he said.

The PDP State Publicity Secretary, Kehinde Salawu, was also optimistic that his party would win the elections.

He said the party had embarked on educating its supporters on how to vote for only the PDP.

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NEWS Police restore Ekiti speaker’s security Continued from page 4

Youth Leader Femi Ogundare described the lawmakers’ action as “timely and courageous to save Ekiti from the grip of one-man dictator who has violated the Constitution he swore to defend”.

Ogundare said Ekiti people were tired of what he called the unending rape of the Constitution going on under Fayose’s watch, adding that the emerging new Nigeria would not tolerate the impunity and lawlessness being witnessed in the state.

“No single individual can be bigger than Ekiti. A governor is on the executive seat by the grace of the mandate of the people and anytime he carries •Abe (middle) speaking with reporters before handing over the thumb printed ballot papers to the CID...yesterday. With him are Giadom (right) and Gokana Caretaker Committee Chairman Kadilo Kabari.

Rivers youths bust ‘INEC officials’ thumprinting ballot papers Continued from page 4

tended by the Director-General of the Greater Tomorrow Campaign Organisation, Victor Giadom, urged the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) unit of the police to investigate and prosecute the INEC officials and policemen involved in the act.

Abe said: “As you can see

before me are INEC ballot papers from Khana. At about 12noon (Thursday), youths stumbled on some INEC officials in their office in Bori, where they brought in presiding officers and supervisors to thumbprint ballot papers and doctored results all in favour of PDP. “I called the Area Commander, Bori and the DPO

who told me the INEC officials were in Bori to collect their stipends on the last elections; I called CP Karma, who asked me to report the matter to the CID; I decide to inform the Nigerian public before proceeding to the police CID.” Abe urged INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega to redeploy the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner

(REC), Gesila Khan, before next Saturday’s elections “for showing executive recklessness in collaboration with PDP and the police”.

He also called for the cancellation of the “concocted elections, because the votes counted in favour of the PDP were not cast by Rivers people”.

Impeachment, ploy to distract me, says Fayose Continued from page 4

Ekiti people failed then, but up to now, they are not relenting.

“However, let me warn the APC as a party to respect the wish of Ekiti people as the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan respected the wish of Nigerians on the election of Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

“Any attempt to undermine the sovereignty of Ekiti people, using whatever instrument will be resisted by the people themselves because power belongs to the people and they have handed it to whom they desire to exercise till October 16, 2018.

“The APC gladiators in Ekiti should therefore emulate President Jonathan and the PDP by waiting till 2018 to try their luck again.”

Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye has described the impeachment

notice as a “political comedy”.

The minister, in a statement, said “posting notice of impeachment of a governor online when the House of Assembly never sat to pass any Motion for Impeachment is not only ridiculous, but criminal.”

The minister said it was necessary that the Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari should call members of APC to order so that they don’t by their desperation for power in Ekiti State truncate democracy in Nigeria.

He said it was disheartening that APC members in the state were capitalising on Buhari’s victory to cause crisis in the state, adding: “If President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had behaved the way APC people are behaving in Ekiti State now, the country would have been in chaos by now.”

Adeyeye, who described the purported impeachment notice as “laughable”, said legislative businesses are conducted inside the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly, not online.

He said: “Is it online that lawmakers sit to move motion for impeachment, adopt the motion and serve impeachment notice?

“Dr Adewale Omirin, who signed the purported impeachment notice as Speaker of the State House of Assembly is in court, challenging his impeachment and if he is still the Speaker, what then is he challenging in court?

“Also, the online notice of impeachment was dated March 9, 2015 and the governor was given seven days to respond to the allegations purportedly made against him. So, what has happened since March 16, 2015 that the seven days ultimatum end-

ed?”

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ado-Ekiti Branch, has advised political gladiators in the state to tread cautiously.

The branch chairman, Dr. Foluke Dada, urged the PDP and the APC to advise their members to exercise restraint and give peace a chance.

She expressed regret that lack of political tolerance among the two leading parties is causing tension in the state.

The Ado-Ekiti NBA chair promised that the lawyers’ body would continue to work with major stakeholders, the police and all political interests to ensure that the Ekiti project succeeds.

Dada called on the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to suspend its strike so that all pending matters affecting the state could be adjudicated upon in the interest of all.

Transition: Jonathan halts signing of amendments to constitution into law

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OLLOWING the discovery of an extraneous recommendation, President Goodluck Jonathan has halted the signing of amendments to the 1999 Constitution into law.

The outgoing President decided to avert creating any problem for President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

According to sources, the National Assembly, after harmonisation, amended 71 sections and some Schedules to the 1999 Constitution.

The amendments include Sections 4, 7, 9, 45, 50A and 90A, which enshrine in the Constitution the establishment of National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Service Commissions. Other sections passed include 59, 65 and 106, 67, 81, 82 and 122, 84 (4) (A F), 89 and 129, 121, 124, 134 and 179, 174 and 211, 225, 228, 241, 251 and 285.

But Jonathan and his team disagreed with the clause seeking to empower the National Judicial Council (NJC) to recommend the candidate for At-

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

torney General of the Federation to the President. They believe that by allowing NJC to recommend the Attorney-General of the Federation will amount to abuse of the principle of separation of powers.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President was almost signing the new amendments into law until the extraneous recommendation was discovered. The power to appoint either the Minister of Justice or the Attorney-General of the Federation cannot be ceded to the NJC by the President.

“Also, the government looked at the functions of the NJC and there is no power allowing the body to appoint the Attorney-General of the Federation.

“So, it is like whittling down the Executive powers of the President for no justifiable reasons. Whatever is the intention of the lawmakers, it is illegal to ask the NJC to appoint the AGF.

“The President may send this amendment back to the National Assembly to take a second look at it.”

Another source said: “Signing the amendment empowering the NJC to appoint the AGF will amount to creating a challenge for the President-elect.

Though the amendments preceded the election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the new government might not see it so.

“The President does not want to create any constitutional obstacle or crisis for the incoming administration and decided to withhold his assent.”

In withholding his assent, it was not immediately clear if the President was also wary of the public outrage over pension for life for the President and Deputy President of the Senate; the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

One of the amended sections says: “Any person who has held office as President or Deputy President of the Senate, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall

be entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of the incumbent President or Deputy President of the Senate, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

The Constitution (Fourth Alteration) Bill, 2014 was passed in the Senate and House of Representatives respectively on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 15th October, 2014.

The National Assembly transmitted same on Tuesday 28th October, 2014 to the State Houses of Assembly to fulfill the requirement of Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

The 36 State Houses of Assembly have forwarded their resolutions on the provisions of the Bill.

Having satisfied Section 9( 2) of the Constitution, the amendments were processed in line with the Acts Authentication Act and transmitted to the President and Commander-InChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his assent.

out any act that violates the Constitution, the House of Assembly is there to perform their functions.

“The people of the state have witnessed unprecedented infractions on the rule of law, etiquette of public office standard of governance and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The emerging new Nigeria won’t tolerate the serial illegalities being witnessed in Ekiti State and something urgent must be done to halt the slide into anarchy in the Land of Honour.

“Nobody is above the law and the law must take its course to deal with any act that violates the Constitution,” Ogundare said.

Pope worried about bloodshed in Nigeria, Iraq, others Continued from page 4

ciful Lord the framework recently agreed to in Lausanne, that it may be a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world.”

Decrying the plentitude of weapons in the world in general, Pope Francis said: “And we ask for peace for this world subjected to arms dealers, who earn their living with the blood of men and women.”

He denounced “absurd bloodshed and all barbarous acts of violence” in Libya, convulsed by fighting fueled by tribal and militia rivalries. He hoped “a common desire for peace” would prevail in Yemen, wracked by civil warfare.

Pope Francis prayed that the “roar of arms may cease” in Syria and Iraq, and that peace would come in Africa for Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and Congo.

He recalled the young people,

many of them targeted because they were Christians, killed last week in a Kenyan university, and lamented kidnappings, by Islamic extremists, that have plagued parts of Africa, including Nigeria.

He also cited bloodshed closer to home, in Ukraine, praying that the Eastern European nation would “rediscover peace and hope thanks to the commitment of all interested parties.” Government forces have been battling Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine, months after a cease-fire was proclaimed following international diplomatic efforts.

On Good Friday, Pope Francis chastised the international community for what he called the complicit silence about the killing of Christians. On Easter he prayed that God would alleviate “the suffering of so many of our brothers persecuted because of his name.”

Buhari leads APC’s battle for states Continued from page 4

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande and Senator Biyi Durojaiye, will be joined by Governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) for the meeting at the Airport Hotel in Ikeja, the state capital.

“We expect some outings, possibly town hall meetings in some critically challening states but nothing has been finalised by way of programming,” spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Mallam Garba Shehu said yesterday.

Director of Organisation of the APC Campaign Council Boss Mustapha said the full

campaign programme will be out today.

Mustapha, who said he was in his home state of Adamawa campaigning for governorship candidate Jubrilla Bindow, said: “You know Gen. Buhari is no longer a candidate but president-elect.

“His programes are no longer completely in our hands. You know many countries are making contacts with him, among other engagements.

By Monday, we will be able to give you a final programme.”

Elections into the governorship seats will be held in 29 states. Ondo, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Osun and Bayelsa states are excluded.

African leaders meet on Boko Haram

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EADERS of central and West African states will hold a summit next week to draw up a joint strategy against Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants, a statement from organisers said yesterday.

The April 8 summit will be the first of its kind since Nigeria’s election a week ago which was won by Muhammadu Buhari, a former military leader who has vowed to rid his country of the “terror” of Boko Haram.

“In the face of the mounting and increasingly bloody attacks by the fundamentalists against Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad and the series of consequences for these countries, and the real reask of destabilising western and central Africa, the two organisations have decided to take action,” a statement from regional bloc ECOWAS said.

A coalition involving troops from the four countries has been waging offensives against the Islamists in a bid to crush the insurgency, which has now spread

across borders from Boko Haram’s stronghold in Nigeria.

The meeting in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, is being jointly organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

It was not immediately clear if Buhari would be attending as he will not be sworn in as president to succeed incumbent Goodluck Jonathan until May 29.

The Boko Haram insurgency has led to the deaths of more than 15,000 people dead since since 2009, UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said last week.

“Countless more children, women and men have been abducted, abused and forcibly recruited, and women and girls have been targeted for particularly horrific abuse, including sexual enslavement,” he told the “This despicable and wanton carnage, which constitutes a clear and urgent menace for development, peace and security, must be stopped,” Zeid said.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Pastor held for ‘stealing’ A

PASTOR is in police net for allegedly stealing from churches in Lagos.

Pastor Tope Kolawole (45) was said to have broken into churches, carting away music instruments, wall clocks, offering and tithe.

One Alausa, who allegedly buys the stolen goods from him, is at large.

Lagos State Command’s spokesman Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the pastor was arrested when he attempted to rob a church at Iyana Ipaja in Lagos on March 31 around 3:30am.

He allegedly packed the stolen one amplifier, two music mixers, one keyboard, one stabiliser, two DVD players and one Samsung plasma 32 inches television together and went to look for a taxi to convey them.

A Good Samaritan was said to have alerted the Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, on noticing what was happening.

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad led by

By Ebele Boniface

their leader, Abba Kyari, a superintendent of Police (SP), was said to have arrested the pastor.

The pastor allegedly confessed that he once spent one month in Kirikiri prison for breaking into churches.

Kolawole said: “I specialise in stealing from churches. I steal music instruments.

I have a receiver and buyer known as Alausa. Without him, I would not have gone to churches to steal. When he heard that I have been arrested, he went into hiding. I steal in the churches I worship to avoid suspicion. I have been succeeding except this one.

“I was remanded in Kirikiri prison by Task Force from Alausa for hawking on the highway. I am a qualified pastor because I went to theological school and was ordained pastor in 2008 at IleIfe by Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) but I worship at Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at any of their parishes. It is the devil that caused my frustration that made me to steal in

used to gather items at about ‘I 10:30pm and by 5am, I go to nearby road to look for taxi to take me to Oshodi. Where the taxi driver is in doubt, I call Alausa who claims to be the General Overseer of a particular church I once stole from. He is the one that pays the taxi driver once I deliver the goods the house of God. “My wife Bunmi is a nurse with children. I live in Sango and go to Lagos to operate because Ogun is good for hiding after operation. It was what the Task Force did to me that made me to become a thief because they made me lose everything I had got in 10 years.

“I used to gather items at about 10:30pm and by 5am, I go to nearby road to look

A

23-year-old man, Idong Effong, has been arraigned before the Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing some items worth N73, 225.

Effong is being tried on a one-count charge of stealing before Magistrate A.A Fashola.

The charge reads: “That you Idong Effong on 19th day of March 2015 around 1 pm at Maysun Hotel, Mafoluku-Oshodi in Ikeja Magisterial District, did

Police not incompetent, says spokesman

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HE Lagos State Police Command yesterday reassured residents of its resolve to detect and prevent crime.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said, the command had been proactive in crime investigations.

Lagosians, he said, should disregard any report describing the police as incompetent.

“For any crime that is committed, we are to do investigation, nobody tells us how or when to do this. Our duty as police officers mandates us to do so and as a command that is very proactive to issues like this, we do that,” Nwosu said.

He noted that it was the police responsibility to prevent or detect crime, adding: “We are to do investigations on every crime committed either detected by the police or reported by the public.

“It is one of our paramount duties according to

•Nwosu

Section 4 of the Police Act. We try to prevent crime, if we cannot prevent it, we detect and it is during investigation that we detect.” he said.

Presidential poll: Group demands detained APC members’ release

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NON-governmental organisation, Coalition for Change and Good Governance, has demanded the release or prosecution of four All Progressives Congress (APC) members allegedly arrested before the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections.

In a statement yesterday by its coordinator, Rasaq Olasunkanmi, the group listed those allegedly arrested as Ismail Abiodun, Sakiru Abiola, Olalekan Akin Taiwo and Yemi Taiwo.

It alleged that they were arrested about three days to the elections, adding that they are being detained at the State Security Service (SSS) facility in Shangisha, Lagos.

Olasunkanmi said more than a week after the elections, the APC members had neither been released nor charged to court.

He claimed that they are being denied access to their family members, adding:

By Adebisi Onanuga

“Their continued detention has put their families in psychological and emotional turmoil.”

The statement reads: “By this token and in the spirit of national healing, we call on the security agents that arrested these APC members in Bariga area of Somolu Local Government during the build up to the March 28, 2015 election to release them immediately.

“We also call on the President to prevail on the SSS to effect the release of these people immediately as their only offence is choosing to support a particular candidate. We implore the leadership of APC not to abandon these people to their fate but to engage the relevant agencies to facilitate their freedom.

“Democracy goes beyond voting. Deepening our democracy is not limited to change of political baton but include all preand-post election best prac-

’

for taxi to take me to Oshodi.

Where the taxi driver is in doubt, I call Alausa who claims to be the General Overseer of a particular church I once stole from. He is the one that pays the taxi driver once I deliver the goods.”

Kolawole claimed to have repented, saying: “I am now a born again; if I am released, I will open a church and appoint those suspects elders of my church. We will not rob again but work for God.”

tices. Hence, releasing the arrested persons for supporting some candidates or party will put our democracy on the path of greatness.”

•Pastor Kolawole

Man arraigned for stealing

By Basirat Braimah

steal a digital camera worth N14, 175, three phones worth N37, 800, phone chargers worth N4, 725 and Jewellery worth N5, 500, totalling N73, 225, - all property of one Olofinikan Oluwole and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of

Nigeria 2011.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Fashola granted him N50,000 bail with one surety in the like sum.

The judge ordered that the surety must be a relation of the defendant and must show evidence of tax payment for three years.

He adjourned the matter till April 20.

FRSC takes safety campaign to churches, mosques

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HE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) yesterday in Lagos urged motorists to adhere to safety rules to reduce the high accident rate.

Its Unit Commander in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, Mrs Chiwendu Iwuoha, made the appeal during a church service at SS Timothy and Titus Catholic Church in Isheri-Oshun.

She called for attitudinal

change by motorists on the roads, saying that taking safety campaigns to churches and mosques were part of the strategic measures to meet the Corps’ 2015 target of reducing road accidents.

The irreparability of human lives, she said, made it compulsory for Nigerians to take road safety serious and be ambassadors of the crusade.

“Nobody can pay for a life as no amount of compensation can bring back lives lost to road crashes.

“When you visit hospitals and mortuaries, you will see what disobedience to traffic rules has made many Nigerians to become.

“This issue calls for total commitment of everyone as road safety is a joint responsibility of all,” she said.

•All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos Governorship running mate, Dr Idiat Adebule (second left) exchanging pleasantries with an Igbo leader, Chief Chris Ekwuilo. With them are Princess Chichi Funmi Gbadero (middle); Chinyere Anokwu (left) and others when Ndigbo in Ojo Local Government pledged their supports for APC candidates for the Governorship election.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

SPORT EXTRA D'Tigers seeded against Tunisia in Afrobasket 2015 Draws

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HE Nigerian senior male national basketball team, the D'Tigers have been pitted against former champions and host Tunisia in Group A at the draws for the 2015 FIBA Africa Basketball Championship which took place at the Carthage Acropolium in Tunis on Saturday.

The D'Tigers who are now the 6th ranked team in Africa( 40th on the FIBA World rankings) will be hoping to roar past no 4 ranked Tunisia, who last won the competition in 2011. Also seeded in the group is a little known Uganda who are making their debut at the continental showpiece and the 1st of 3 wild card teams which will be announced at the end of April by FIBA Africa.

The tournament which will be held from 19-30 August in the Tunisian cities of Nabeul and Tunis will serve as a qualifying event for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

In Group B, defending champions Angola who will be gunning for their 12th title under the tutelage of new but experienced

coach Moncho Lopez , will battle against Mozambique, Morocco and another Wild Card entry.While Afrobasket 2013 runners up, Egypt will hope to go a step further than their fairytale run carried them in Abidjan as set up an interesting match up against West African foes in Cameroon and Mali who threw up a suprise to qualify ahead of 2013 bronze medalist Senegal alongside Gabon makes up group C. Finally the Elephants of Cote d'ivoire who dramatically ended up 4th at home in 2013 will have the Nigerian born Alex Uwora tutored Cape Verde to battle against, debutant Zimbabwe and the 3rd wild card pick to compete against in Group D. It is the third time that Tunisia will get to stage the Afrobasket, having previously hosted it in 1965 and 1987.

Seven teams tabled bids for the 3 Wild cards available to the Tunisian showpiece. Amongst which are South Africa, Algeria, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Senegal, Congo and Guinea.

Sand Eagles to play Seychelles, Egypt, CIV N

I G E R I A ’ S Supersand Eagles will play host nation Seychelles, Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A of the 2015 African Beach Soccer Championship in Seychelles this month. The competition takes place April 14-19.

At the Draw Ceremony inside the CAF headquarters, 6th October City, Egypt on Sunday, CAF General Secretary Hicham El Amrani was assisted by Member of CAF Executive Committee and chairman of the Organising Committee for the African Beach Soccer Championship, Ahmad, from Madagascar. Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Madagascar, will play in Group B. It means that Nigeria will play the host nation in the opening match of the tournament – as happened to the U-17 team at the African U-17 Championship in Niger Republic and the U-20 team at the African Youth Championship in Senegal earlier this year.

The Audu Adamu Ejo wards will be to glad to avoid bogey team Senegal in the group phase, but Cote d’Ivoire have improved tremendously over the years and Egypt qualified after a 16-6 aggregate hammering of Tanzania in the only qualifying round. The Ivorians turned back Mauritius 18-6 on

aggregate.

Supersand Eagles finished third at the Power Horse Invitational Tournament in Durban last month, beating Ghana and South Africa but losing to Senegal, and then reached the African finals after Libya withdrew from the race.

Ghana reached the finals with a 22-8 aggregate

Nigeria battles Burkina Faso for 2016 CHAN spot

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•Kanu

Kanu: Nigerian clubs don't prepare for CAF Cup games

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ORMER African Footballer of the Year, Kanu Nwankwo has tasked the organisers of the Nigeria Premier League, League Management Company(LMC) to create more enabling environment that will ensure that right clubs get to represent the country on the continent.

Kano Pillars FC and Enyimba FC the two CAF Champions League representatives were bundled out of the competition in the first round after they lost out to North African clubs, Moghreb Tetouan of Morocco and Smouha SC of Egypt last weekend.

Kanu who was the African best in 1996 and 1999 told Nationsport in Owerri that Nigerian clubs must do more if they want to go far on the continent.

He also stressed that clubs that are carrying Nigeria's banner on the continent should be more prepared whenever they qualify for the

From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

continent and should not only rely on the Super 4 from the LMC if they do not want the country's clubs to continue to struggle on the continent.

Kanu said: "The league is growing and it is coming up.

It is better than it used to be in the last two years. We have to give credit to LMC and also the clubs. But all the same we need more investors to pump money into the league. Without fund in it, nothing can happen we will only be complaining. Like what you said, I think whenever Nigerian clubs qualify for the continent they don't tend to prepare very well. Their concentration level is not as when they are preparing for the league.

They need to stop that attitude. They should know that they are not representing their states but the country.

"LMC must also give more enabling environment to all clubs so that the right clubs get to qualify."

IGERIA'S homebased Eagles will battle Burkina Faso for a place in next year’s CHAN in Rwanda.

Nigeria, Ghana and Niger were seeded in Zone West B, while Burkina Faso, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire were not.

Nigeria ‘B’ team will therefore take on Burkina Faso with the first match in Nigeria by the weekend of October 16-18, while the return match is fixed for a week later in Burkina Faso.

Nigeria made its debut at the 2014 CHAN in South Africa, where it placed third after they were beaten by arch-rivals Ghana in the semifinals.

The 2016 CHAN will be played from January 16 to February 7 in Rwanda.

Libya are the defending champions of a tournament reserved for players who feature in their respective domestic leagues.

S

•Simon

Enyimba to report Tunisian match officials to CAF •Alleges poor officiating From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

E

Simon could miss Flying Eagles’ camp L10.ng understands that Gent striker Moses Simon has been named in the Flying Eagles' provisional Fifa

trouncing of Uganda; Morocco bombed Djibouti 16-1 in an only leg played in Casablanca; Madagascar steam-rolled South Africa 9-3 in two matches in Durban and; Senegal sailed into the finals after Mali withdrew.

The Nigerian team is presently at a training camp in Badagry and will depart for Seychelles on Friday.

Under 20 World Cup squad list called up to attend a training camp ahead of the tournament in Oceania.

Due to commitments with his Belgian club, there had been fears that the teenager, who is dubbed as the Nigerian Ronaldo, would not be available for the tournament which starts on May 30.

If the Fifa rules are followed, the likes of Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali and Moses Simon must be released for the competition latest May 16th.

Unlike Simon, the other three players will have no problem meeting up with

the Nigeria Under 20s on or before the deadline.

The Golden Boot Soccer Academy product has very important matches to play for Gent in the month of May, most especially against Anderlecht six days before the start of the tourney.

Moses Simon has pleaded not to be left off the Flying Eagles roster, and it is understood that talks have taken place between the player and Gent to find a way around the problem.

The 19-year- old has been in outstanding form since he joined Gent from AS Trencin in the January transfer window, scoring 6 goals in 9 matches in the top division.

NYIMBA FC has said it would officially complain to CAF about the level of officiating in their CAF Champions League First Round, second leg tie against Smouha SC of Egypt.

The Egyptian side scored two late goals to eliminate the People's Elephant 2-1 on aggregate but Enyimba are still pained at the handling of the match by the Tunisian match officials who gave the visitors a late penalty kick and sent Sokari Kingsley off through a straight red card and also allowed the second goal scored through ball handing.

The Chairman of Enyimba FC, Felix Anyansi Agwu who spoke to Nationsport from Egypt said the club would officially report the match officials' handling of the second leg match to stop its further recurrence.

Enyimba's players will return to Nigeria today to prepare for the remainder of the league season.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

63

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 10 NO 3176

‘It is quite reassuring to know that Ambode signified his intention to continue on the path of meritorious governance charted by Tinubu and Fashola by speaking of “continuity of excellence”. Ambode’s “CHELSEA UNITED” football metaphor...’

FEMI MACAULAY

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

T

HIS is no time to gloat. Several weeks to March 28, some irate readers and followers of President Goodluck Jonathan laid ambush on this columnist. Not physically but intellectually. They did it through letters to the editor, tweets, Facebook, emails, phone calls and text messages. They warned that I would be disgraced if Jonathan won again, and they would personally poke fun at me in public for my pig-headed consistency in unleashing salvos at the nation’s number one citizen week after week for the past four years.

After the Buhari win, the intellectual battlefield has been empty. All the Internet rioters seem to have fled. When Jonathan won in 2011, I congratulated him while confessing to voting for some else, specifically Buhari. I, at the least, expected my critics to evince some charity and say how wrong they were, and how prescient I was. No worry.

I lay claim to no special wisdom or courage.

As the Russian poet Yevtushenko wrote in one of his flashes of brilliance, I did what I had to do. I am not gloating that Jonathan lost. I bear him no malice. He is a Nigerian like myself who had an opportunity to serve, even if he bungled it mightily. I never wanted him to be president because I believed he lacked the wherewithal.

I persistently fulminated because Nigeria was larger than all, and the presidency was not for anyone not qualified, ill-prepared or not visionary enough for the complexities of politics, economy and the diversity of the people. The past six years show he ran the country on impunity and footloose accounting, leading to a rot in values and crash in standard of living.

There was too much theatre of the absurd, not only in errant rhetoric but also in symbolic imbecility. Yet, he has half-deservedly earned praises for his graceful admission of defeat after the last poll. But those who pour plaudits on him should not forget all that happened in his name in the run-up to the polls.

We should not forget the renegades of the west who ratcheted up tension and allowed Lagos to rise to the teeth of fear with invasions of contract-happy goons. Also some militants promised war if he lost. He also came to Lagos and the west to inflame ethnic division, inciting the non-indigenes against the indigenous Yoruba. That is apart from making himself bride with a flurry of royal bribes. The president never saw anything wrong in all these.

We also saw how an obstreperous elder called Orubebe made a show of obloquy in the midst of vote count. His kids and family must regret their blood ties this man and his moment of global dishonour. Contrast that with Jega’s unflappable demeanour and tempered response.

In spite of all, we cannot take away the grace of President Jonathan’s concession because a preponderance of hawks around him wanted

RIPPLES KESHI MUST SAY SORRY–NFF

Na sorry we wan ‘CHOP’?... I beg give us BETTER COACH

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

•Winner, Informed Commentary (DAME)

Look back electronic voting. We need the courage to move ahead.

We must not forget the bitterness of the campaign. It was the worst in our history.

Even clerics did not help matters, and some openly supported Jonathan and made their adherents believe they heard from God. How silent they are today. They remind us of the prophet’s Jeremiad: “A wonderful and terrible thing is committed in the land. The prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear •President-elect Buhari

otherwise. I wish he exercised this amount of grace in the past four or six years! He might have repulsed the impunities of his fellows and shown single-mindedness in pursuit of education, infrastructure renewal, anti-corruption crusades and health reform. But no amount of valedictory grace can wipe out the sordid picture of the past half-decade.

But I don’t need to gloat. As Winston Churchill said, “In war, resolution. In victory magnanimity.”

If we must tell the story of Buhari’s victory last week, it was the triumph of technology.

Those who rigged, especially for the PDP, could not exceed the registered voter count.

That is why in the southeast the numbers were relatively tame. Where are the 1.3 million who voted Jonathan in 2011 in Imo State, or the I.1 million in Abia who lined behind Azikiwe in 2011?

That explains why the PDP stalwarts did not want the PVC. It was the revenge of technology in 2015. Some theorists of democracy have argued that technology, while enhancing certain aspects of democracy, is a minus because it takes away the human connection that crowds and face-to-face dynamics provide.

Philosophers like Hannah Arendt even believe that technology enhances despotism. Not in the case of the PVC. What this calls for is that in the next election cycle, we should introduce

For Lagos, For Ambode

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REMEMBER an incident a few years ago when President Jonathan was asked by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, to give the state a special status. The governor of example must have been bewildered when the President responded with a chilling parable. He said his uncle made his money in Abuja and spent it in Lagos.

That is the hazard when a major state, and the nation’s most important city, is ignored in the centre. Since Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s reign, Lagos has had to survive with imagination.

The centre ignored it and even harangued it, a la Obasanjo. As the city with the biggest population, influx and diversity of people from elsewhere and business hive, Lagos is like New York or London or Los Angeles. In spite of the political hue of the city, the centre in those countries acknowledges their places and roles. Under Asiwaju and BRF, it has been a fight against the grain.

Now, the battle to get the centre started from Lagos, with Asiwaju, the best politician ever in the nation’s history, gaining the centre with adroit work of coalition with the APC. Now that LAGOS has gained the centre, how could it go to the opposition? And lose all it fought for in about two decades? Not to a man who once joined Tompolo and company to call for trouble if Jonathan lost, or who went ve-

HARDBALL

O

NCE upon a time, in a certain large and shambolic country, there lived a man of immense affluence known as Chief Cleanface. He was of such means that all the nobles, princes and judges of the land would always gather in his palatial abode for one purpose – to quaff champagne.

Chief Cleanface loved that bubbly, fizzy, golden popper. Of course he loved all the good things of life and he can well afford nigh everything money can buy but he had a thing about the ‘champ’. He had it specially blended for him from vines in farflung lands. Champagne was his particular and especial passion.

One day, the unexpected happened to Chief Cleanface: a local miscreant dared to desecrate his pristine abode. The misbegotten fellow managed to scale the high and imposing fence of Chief Cleanface’s pad, and having beaten the security, like a rat, he scurried into Chief’s living room.

Bedazzled by the wanton opulence of Chief’s lounge, the young man trembled notwithstanding that he held Chief at ‘gun’ point. Unable to withstand the awesome presence of his ‘victim’ any longer, the pale intruder grabbed a fancy object within

rule by their means. And my people love to have it so. What shall ye do in the end thereof?” The same Prophet Jeremiah wrote that, “he that hath a dream, let him tell a dream,” adding that God did not send them and they act on their own imagination.

(Jeremiah chapters 5 and 14.) Isaiah lamented, “the leaders of these people cause them to err and they that are led of them are destroyed.”

Our clerics will learn from this, as well as our divisive politicians.

Nor is the media spared. The proprietors of both print and electronic media ought to sit and reflect on a disgraceful season. Unprintable material, by all ethical standards, were allowed to be published in the name of advertisements. Deliberate falsehoods passed as news stories. Slants are forgivable and it is allowed for a newspaper to pursue a cause.

But all should be done within bounds of decency.

Buhari’s speech showed grace and class, and a lack of malice or bitterness. He needs to reach out to our people in the south-south and southeast to emphasize his lack of malice. Lincoln made a famous speech when he said, “with malice towards none, and charity to all.” He noted that his work was too vast and diverse for any malicious dealing. That is the first task of healing, and Nigeria can take other steps more confidently.

•Ambode nal and asked his supporters to compare who was more handsome between Jonathan and Buhari.

The APC In Lagos has been a serious business with foundation set, and then improved with imagination. And Akinwunmi Ambode, ex-Harvard, Ex-Wharton Business School, Pennsylvania, first-class accountant in school and practice, who worked in all parts of Lagos and lived there, is the natural man for the job. Governing Lagos has always been a serious matter and not a contest of handsomeness. We need a man who will take Lagos with a steady hand to the next platform. We want a man who has experience but not an experimenter.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Champagne jurisprudence – a fable reach and made for the door. Of course the hapless fellow was soon ensnared in the exotic security web of Chief’s equally exotic palace.

The miserable bugler was soon arraigned and put on trial post haste. The entire judiciary was agog and judges fell over each other for this special assignment. What cheeky, little, vermin dared to try robbing the Right Honorable Chief Cleanface; a noble of no match, a philanthropist of oceanic magnitude? This miserable young man must be taught a lesson never to look great men in the face how much more contemplate robbery, the judges thought.

Soon the celebrated trial began. Of course no counsel stood for the poor son-of-gun save for a state prosecutor who all the time wondered why the state would waste so much time with a rascal. It turned out that the ‘gun’ the blighters brandished was only a toy pistol. It also turned out that all he ‘stole’ was an empty champagne case that resembled a compact stereo set.

Even Chief Cleanface sobered up as the

case reached its ugly crescendo. The intruder was an armed robber and the punishment was death. According to the judgment, he was found guilty of an offence bordering on conspiracy to commit armed robbery and was sentenced to death by hanging.

Soon the Brahmins of the community repaired in Chief’s abode to celebrate his ‘survival’ and the triumph of the rule of law. Of course champagne flowed like water but Chief wallowed in private melancholy.

He was a much tortured man and as soon as the crowd dispersed he lapsed deeper into sorrow. He remembered he had changed his name to Cleanface after pulling off a multibillion naira pension scam. He had hired six seniors advocate; he had had to part with half of the loot in a quiet plea bargain. He still had about 10 billion with which he relocated far from the city and begun a new life as Chief Cleanface. Yes, his face - head, beard, eyebrow and all - he shaved clean in his new life. If this boy is hanged… he thought, as he turned in his golden bed later that night.

Moral of the fable: the law is an ass….

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Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO