The Nation April 07, 2015

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Heavyweights desert PDP Deputy governor, senators, ex-minister quit in Edo, Kwara, Benue, others

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WAVE of defections has hit the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP).

It was not immediately clear yesterday whether the party’s loss in the March 28 presidential election triggered the defections.

In Jigawa, Kwara, Kebbi and Gombe states, key political figures yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

From Ahmed Rufa’I, Dutse, Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe, Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi, Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

In Benue State, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Michael Kaase Aondoakaa resigned from the PDP. He is yet to join another party.

In Edo State, the PDP candidate in the 2012 governor ship election, Maj.- Gen. Charles Arhiavbere was received into

the APC yesterday by Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He announced his defection at the weekend.

Jigawa State Deputy Governor Ahmed Mahmoud led the defectors at a ceremony in his home town Gumel.

Mahmoud along with a Special Adviser to Governor Sule Lamido, Alhaji Bello Dansokoto; the immediate past executive Chairman, Dutse Capital Development Authority, Alhaji

Bashir Aminu and the immediate past Chairman of Gumel Local Government Council, Alhaji Ya’u Kura, defected, taking with them thousands of supporters.

The defectors were received by executive members of the party and a massive crowd of APC supporters. They described their exit from the PDP as “good riddance”.

Mahmoud, who spoke at the venue, said: “My defection is

as a result of my personal and supporters’ interest that prevailed on my conscience to do the right thing.”

The deputy governor, who spoke amidst shouts of “change” by thousands of APC supporters, added: “I have been loyal to Governor Sule Lamido up to this moment and I pray that all of you should as a matter of respect reciprocate same to me and this party.”

He said he had no regret over his decision to join the APC. Mahmoud becomes the fourth deputy governor to defect – the third to leave the PDP for the APC - after Niger State Deputy Governor Ahmed Ibeto and Ondo State Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi. Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru left the APC for the PDP. Continued on page 4

SOME OF THE DEAD

We’ve lost 56 members in Rivers, says APC •PDP: we’re not to blame From Yusuf Alli and Tony Akowe, Abuja

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PICTURE of the political killings in Rivers State was presented yesterday in Abuja, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleging that it lost 56 members.

Besides, over 150 others were victims of harassment, said the party. It accused security agents and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of complicity in the situation.

At a news conference in Abuja, APC National Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed said the development had become worrisome, considering the fact that these killings were “in the full glare of security agents”.

Continued on page 4

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WILL THE CHIBOK GIRLS KIDNAPPED ON APRIL 15, LAST YEAR EVER RETURN?

•The late Precious Demiari Pepple

•The late Christopher Eneji

•The late Saturday Lekia

are worried that no one has been held responsible even where ‘We our members have been killed, and that the police and other security agencies, as well as INEC, have turned themselves to appendages of the PDP, in what is nothing but the height of impunity

’

I never threatened Igbo over Ambode, says Oba of Lagos Why Ndigbo should support APC, by Obioha

•SEE PAGES 3&4

•NIGERIAN GAINS ADMISSION INTO EIGHT U.S. IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS P6

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

2

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY Who is who in the House of Representatives ONDO PDP APC •Dokun Odebunmi (Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere) •Babatunde Kolawole (Akoko Southwest/Southeast) LP • Friday Olemija (Akoko (Northwest/Southeast) • Segun Ogunwuyi (Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/ • Dr.Bode Ayorinde (Owo/Ose) Oriire) • Afe Olowookere Akure (South/North) DELTA • Bamidele Baderinwa (Idanre/Ifedore) PDP PDP •Leo Ogor of PDP (Isoko North/South) • Mayowa Akinfolarin (Odigbo/Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo) •Julius Pondi of PDP (Burutu North/ South) • Adeniyi Omogbehin (Irele/Okitipupa) •Nicholas Mutu ( Patani / Bomadi) • Kolade Akinjo (Ilaje/Ese-Odo) FCT • Dr Joseph Akinlaja (Ondo East/Ondo West) APC ENUGU •Zakari Angulu Dobi (Abuja South) All PDP PDP • Toby Okechukwu (Oji-River/Aninri/Awgu) •Zephania Jisalo (AMAC\Bwari) • Stella Ngwu-Igbo (Etiti /Uzouwani) ABIA • Denis Agbo (Udenu/Igboeze North) PDP • Denis Amadi (Udi/Ezeagu) • Uzoma Abonta (Ukwa) • Kingsley Ebenyi (Isi-Uzor/Enugu East) • Solomon Adaelu (Ugwunagbo/Osisoma/Obingwa) • Chime Oji (Enugu North/South) • Darlington Nwokocha (Isiala-Ngwa North/South) • Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam (Nkanu East/West) • Sam Onuigbo (Ikwuano/Umuahia) • Ikechukwu Ugwuegede (Nsukka/Igboeze South) • Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (Bende) RIVERS • Nkeiru Onyejiocha (Isuikwuato/Umunneochi) All PDP • Uko Nkole (Arochukwu/Ohafia) • Betty Apiafi (Abua/Odual/Ahoada East) KWARA • Prince Uche Nnam Obi (Ahoada West/Ogba/ APC Egbema/ Ndoni) • Rasaq Atunwa (Ilorin West/Asa) • Jacobson Nbina (Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo) •Abubakar Amuda-Kannike (Ilorin East/Ilorin South) • Kingsley Chinda (Obio/Akpor) • Tope Olayonu (Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun) • Awaji Inombek Abiante (Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro) • Muhammed Zakari (Baruten/Kaiama) • Randolph Oruene Brown (Bonny/Degema) •Aliyu Ahman Patigi (Patigi/Edu/Moro) • Boma Goodhead (Akuku Toru/Asari-Toru) • Funke Adedoyin (Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero).

• Kenneth Anayo Chikere (Port Harcourt I) BORNO • Blessing Nsiegbe (Port Harcourt II) APC • Dumnamene Ransom Dekor (Khana/Gokana) • Mallam Bukar Gana (Kukawa/Mobbar/Abadam/ • Emerengwa Boniface Sunday (Ikwerre/Emohua) Guzamala) • Chief Jerome Amadi Eke (Etche/Omuma) • Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Monguno/Nganzai/Marte) • Gogo Bright Tamuno (Okrika/Ogu-Bolo) • Mahmud Lawan Maina (Dikwa/Mafa/Konduga) KOGI • Mohammed Sanda Ngamdu (Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri) APC •Mohammed Nur Sheriff (Bama/Ngala/Kala/Balge) • Abubakar Bello (Okene/Ogorimagongo) • Bello Ayuba (Jere) • Idris Lawal (Ajaokuta) • Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir (Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok) • Hassan Omale (Ankpa/Omala) • Muktar Betara Aliyu (Biu/Kwaya/Kusar/Shani/Bayo) • Benjamin Ikhani (Dekina/Bassa) • Abdulkadir Rahis (Maiduguri Metropolitan Council) • Buba Jubril (Lokoja/Koto) • Jibrin Satumari (Askira/Uba/Hawul) • Kabiru Ajanah (Okehi/Adavi) YOBE PDP APC • Emmanuel Egwu (Idah/Ofu/Igalamela/Ibaji) • Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Tarmuwa/GujbaGulani/ • Sunday Karimi (Yagba) Damaturu) • Tajudeen Yusuf (Kabba/Ijumu) • Goni Bukar (Geidam/Bursari/Yunusari) IMO • Yakubu Sidi Karasuwa (Karasuwa/Nguru/Machina/ APC Yusufari) •Austine Chukwukere Ideato North/South) • Samaila Gadaka (Fune/Fika) • Chike Okafor (Ehime Mbano/Ihite Uboma/Obowo) • Yau Galadima (Bade/Jakusko) PDP PDP • Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Owerri) •Alhaji Sabo Garbu (Potiskum/Nagare) • Jerry Onyeri (Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba) EKITI • Bide Ekeh (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor-Okpala) All PDP • Obinna Onwubualiri (Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo)• Kehinde Agboola (Oye/Ikole) • Goodluck Opiah (Oguta/Ohaji Egbema/Oru West) • Thaddeus Aina (Ido Osi/Moba/Ilejemeje) • Jerry Alagbaoso (Orsu/Orlu/Oru East • Ayo Oladimeji (Ado Ekiti/Irepodun Ifelodun) • Henry Nwahuba (Ikeduru/Mbaitoli) • Olumide Oni (Ijero/Ekiti West/Efon) • Nnanna Igbokwe (Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise) • Segun Adekola (Ekiti Southwest/Ikere/Ise Orun) KANO • Akin Awodumila (Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East) All APC OSUN • Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya (Albasu/Gaya/Ajingi) APC • Garba Ibrahim Mohd (Gwale) •Lasun Yusuf (Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu) • Alhassan Ado Garba (Doguwa/T/wada) •Adeyinka Anyantunji Ajayi (Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe) • Sani Bala (Tsanyawa/Kunchi) •Mrs. Ayo Omidiran (Ayedade/Irewole/Isokan) • Tijanni Abdulkadir Jobe (D/Tofa/Tofa/R/Gado) •Ajibola Famurewa (Ilesa East/Ilesa West/ • Munir Babba Danagundi (Kumbotso) •Atakumosa East/ Atakumosa West) • Nasiru Garo Sule (Gwarzo/Kabo) •Amere Gafaru Akintayo (Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa) • Danburam Abubakar Nuhu (Municipal) •Prof. Mojeed Alabi (Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo) • Ahmed Garba Bichi (Bichi) •Julius Olufemi Fakeye(Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila) • Badamasi Ayuba (Danbatta/Makoda) PDP • Nassir Ali Ahmed (Nasarawa) •Oluwole Oke (Oriade/Obokun) • Aliyu Sani Madaki (Dala) •Albert Adeogun (Ife North/Ife South/Ife East/Ife Central) • Muntari Muhammed Chiromawa (Kura/G/Malam/ LAGOS Madobi) APC • Nasiru Baballe Ila (Tarauni) •Olufemi Bandele Adebanjo (Alimosho) • Aminu Suleiman (Fagge) •Diya Oyewole Babafemi (Somolu) • Abdulmunim Jibrin (Kiru/Bebeji) •Ayodeji Adebayo Joseph (Apapa) • Garba Umar (Takai/Sumaila) •Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla Mushin II • Shehu Usman Aliyu (Rogo/Karaye) •Akinloye Babajide Hazeez (Eti-Osa) • Sani Mohd Aliyu (Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya) •Bamgbose Joseph (Badagry) • Sulaiman Aliyu Romo (Bagwai/Shanono) •A. A. Abdulkabir (Ibeju-Lekki) • Basher Baballe (Minjibir/Ungogo) •Olajide Jimoh Abdulraheem (Lagos Mainland) • Musa Ado (Gezawa/Gabasawa) •Enitan Dolapo Badru (Lagos Island I) •Muhammad Ali Wudil (Wudil/Garko) •Olufemi Gbajabiamila (Surulere I) • Mustapha Bala Dawaki (D/Kudu/Warawa) •Balogun Yakub Abiodun (Lagos Island II) OYO •Olabintan Timothy (Oshodi/Isolo I) APC •James Abiodun Faleke (Ikeja) • Olasumbo Olagbemi (Oluyole) •Babajinmi Adegoke Benson (Ikorodu) • Adedapo Lam-Adesina (Ibadan North East/Ibadan •Elijah Oluwatayo Adewale (Ifako-Ijaiye) South East) •Adaranijo Taofeek Abiodun (Agege) • Oladele Olatunbosun (Orepo/Orelope/Olorunsogo) •Agunsoye Oluwarotimi (Kosofe) • Ayoade Ojoawo (Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North) •Tasir Olawale Raji (Epe) • Taiwo Akintola (Egbeda/Ona-Ara) PDP • Temitope Olatoye (Akinyele/Lagelu) •Oghene Emma Egoh (Amuwo-Odofin) • Adeola Olasupo (Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa) •Olatunji Soyinka (Surulere II) • Boladale Olatunbosun (Saki East/Saki West/Atisbo) •Nwulu Tony Chinedu (Oshodi/Isolo II) •Akeem Adeyemi (Afijio/Oyo East//Oyo West/Atiba) •Rita Orji (Ajeromi/Ifelodun) •Adeleke Adeola (Ibarapa East/Iddo) •Obasa Tajudeen (Ojo) • Dada Awoleye Accord • Saheed Akinade-Fijabi (Ibadan Southwest/Ibadan •Dauda Kako Are Mushin I •TO BE CONTINUED Northwest)

Why are politicians playing ethnic card in Lagos?

Does ethnicity have limitations in determining the outcome of elections in a cosmopolitan state like Lagos?

Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the activities of politicians playing the ethnic card and how far they can go.

W

ILL the next governor of Lagos be governor of Igbo or Yoruba? The answer is no. The next governor should be the governor of all Lagosians, irrespective of tribe and religion.

But, why are desperate politicians dividing the state along ethnic lines to gain an upper hand at the governorship election billed for Saturday?

Why are they unscrupulously fanning the embers of disunity in the Centre of Excellence?

Since Independence, Igbo and Yoruba have co-existed peacefully in Lagos. During the civil war, many Igbo hurriedly returned to the Southeast. Yoruba protected their property.

The proceeds from their rents were handed over to them when they returned after the war. Igbo settlers have enjoyed the courtesy of their accommodating hosts, who have never discriminated against them.

Since 1999 to date, the Lagos State government has also accorded Igbo in the city-state a sense of belonging.

Their lives, property and businesses have been protected. In terms of teaching and civil service employment, there is no discrimination against them. Igbo has a commissioner in Lagos State Executive Council. There is also an Igbo senior special assistant in the Governor’s Office.

The Publicity Secretary of the ruling party- the All Progressives Congress (APC) - is an Igbo.

But, ahead of the general elections, the cordial relations have been ruptured, following the resort to ethnic politics by the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to observers, the PDP invaded the zones in the metropolis where there is a high concentration of Igbo to commercialise the election and incite them against Yoruba-speaking APC candidates. Unprecedented financial inducement and hate campaigns filled the air. The resort to ethnicity has jerked up the fortunes of the PDP in five federal constituencies where the PDP won the House of Representatives election. But, the opposition party failed the test of numerical strength at the senatorial poll.

During the campaigns, PDP leaders made highly inflammable statements which aroused tribal consciousness.

Some of them dreamt of an Igbo State, which, in their imagination, would be carved out from Lagos State in the future. There was also an inexplicable promise of a rival monarchy, whereby Igbo will have their Ezes in the Lagos State Government Gazette. More slots were promised the Igbos in the State Executive Council. In fact, other struc-

tures have to be re-built structure to accommodate more Igbo in the scheme of things. Thus, when the PDP campaign train rolled into the largest auto spare parts market in Ladipo, Mushin, mainland Lagos, the PDP leaders queried the composition of the market unions. They said since it is a supposedly Igbo-dominated market, Yoruba should not be market leaders.

The Igbo traders hailed the sensitisation. The next day, the Igbo stared agitating for a change in the leadership of the unions. They insisted the Yoruba should give way. There was commotion. But, the police moved in to quickly restore order.

Irked by the attempt to create ethnic tension, a PPD chieftain, who loathed the ethnic campaigns, said it may backfire later. “Igbo have been accommodated by Yoruba in Lagos.

I know Yoruba in the Southeast do not enjoy the same courtesy. That is why no Yoruba has served as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). Can Igbo do all these in the North? Are they not telling the Yoruba that they can lord it over them in their Southwest? The resort to ethnic card is dangerous. I know there may be an imminent tribal re-awakening among Yoruba in Lagos and the repercussion may be inimical to national unity. It may not be now. But, it cannot be foreclosed,” he said.

Another party member, who is from Aworiland, retorted: “I blame our fathers who engaged in indiscriminate sale of land to foreigners.

We their children do not even have inheritance again, in terms of lands.

In the light of the Igbo’s ambitious move to dominate Lagos politics, I know that the Awori Descendants Union will not reflect on the dangers that lie ahead. They will apply the break.”

Gradually displacing the peaceful co-existence in the metropolis is an intense clamour for ethnic consciousness. The offensive slogan - Lagos is a no man’s land - is being exploited with impunity. According to watchers, a clash of ethnic interests can be avoided if politicians refrain from playing the ethnic card. The feeling of tribalism did not exist in Lagos of fifties when Yoruba voted for the nationalist, the late Dr. Nnamidi Azikiwe, to represent Surulere in the House of Assembly at Ibadan. Then, prominent Yoruba politicians, including Otunba Theophilus Benson, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, Chief I.S. Adewale and Prince Adeleke Adedoyin mobilised support for the late Zik of Africa. He was not per-

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

3

BUHARI’S VICTORY

•APC governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode

•PDP governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje

• The late Chief Awolowo

ceived as an Igbo, but a national figure. Also, Igbo in the teaching and civil service in Lagos were not employed based on their ethnic background. Only two factors were considered; their nationality and academic qualifications.

But, in the pre-independence era, there was also a resurgence of ethnicity, following allegations of domination of the scene by Igbo. When Zik said the god of Africa has decreed that the Igbo should rule Africa, the declaration generated intellectual uproar.

Thus, when the great man wanted to move up to the House of Representatives, a Yoruba, Adedoyin, refused to

step down for him. Under the arrangement then, House of Representatives members were selected from the House of Assembly. Zik went to Shagamu, the heart of Remoland, to urge the Akarigbo, the late Oba Williams Adedoyin, to persuade his son to step down. The eminent monarch was an exposed ruler who had fought for the autonomy of his kingdom up to the privy council.

Oba Adedoyin asked from Zik: That place you want to go (House of Representatives), is it not a good place?

Zik answered in the affirmative.

Then, the Akarigbo said, if it is a good place, let my son also go. That was

how Prince Adedoyin was selected.

Other Yoruba House of Assembly members, including H.P Adebola, also refused to step down.

After the Great Zik left the Akarigbo’s palace, the chiefs asked from the Oba: Can Yoruba also represent Igbo in the Eastern House of Assembly? One of the Remo Divisional Council members (councilors) knew where the discussion was heading. He cleverly replied: ‘Why not? But, no Yoruba has shown interest in the Eastern Region.’

The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was endowed with foresight, saw all these happening. He knew

•The late Chief Azikwe

that the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, will become the Premier of the North. He knew that somebody from the East will emerged as the Premier of the Eastern Region.

Therefore, he decided to organise his people to pave the way for the emergence of a Yoruba as the Premier of the West. Zik was compelled to relocate to the East. His kinsmen cried foul when they realised that the Leader of the Government Business, Ita Eyo, was about to become the Premier. The Igbo used their numerical strength in the Eastern House of Assembly to make Azikiwe Premier of the region.

•The late Bello

In demographic studies, there is no way ‘foreigners’ can rival indigenes in numerical strength. What Igbo nationalism in Lagos may result to is the raise the awareness on the part of Lagosians and other Yoruba that there is a threat and an imminent loss of a sense of belonging in their territories. This may be a nasty thought.

After all, the constitution stipulates two years of residency for any citizen of Nigeria to qualify for elections in any part of the country. But, the blame for the development of such thoughts, according observers, should go to the ethnic jingoists and unscrupulous politicians playing the ethnic card.

Five reasons Igbo should vote APC governors, assemblymen, by Obioha The elections are due on Saturday and the presence of the party that has won the presidency and majority seats in the National Assembly in the Southeast is worrisome to some discerning leaders of the geo-political zone. One of them – Chief Ralph Obioha - in this article, entitled: “Let us vote for APC on April 11”, is urging his kinsmen to be on the positive side of history.

M

Y apologies to Igbo are predicated on the reality of check that majority Igbo leaders misled our people and the blame should not be visited on the generality of Igbo. What happened on March 28 was a complete leadership failure and a complete analysis will be disclosed after the April 11 governorship and Houses of Assembly elections. But suffice it to be noted that the unique experiences the Igbo have been subjected to in Nigeria have a lot to do with their mindset to secure safety in the majority.

An inalienable logic when their leaders did not calculate properly that the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) meant that the majority had shifted to the new party.

Some experienced Igbo leaders including Chief Enechi Onyia, a Senior Advocate of Nigerian (SAN), Chief Onwuka Ukwa, Chief Dozie Ikedife and a host of us, observed the dangerous path the Igbo were treading and the depth some of the Igbo leaders were determined to mislead our people. We came together to advise our people to vote for Gen Muhammadu Buhari. We may not have succeeded in winning any of the states in the Southeast for Buhari and it is with pain and not shame that we failed but at least we stopped the outlandish excessive allocation of votes borne out of our loud sanitisation of our people that President Goodluck Jonathan failed the Igbos, Chief Ralph Obioha in the Daily Sun publication of March 26, gave five reasons why Igbo should vote for Gen. Buhari. All that is now history. I urge my fellow Igbo leaders to join me to direct Igbo voters to massively vote for the APC on April 11 for the following reasons.

•The Igbo nation cannot and should not jeopardise its destiny and viabil-

ity on the flimsy reason of “we are PDP” and as such we shall continue to vote the PDP. It will be absurd to swim and sink with a party. The stark is that the party – PDP - did not reward Igbo adequately for the support, votes and investments the Igbo continue to make to the party. The Igbo should ask the plain question of what the party and by extension the outgoing administration did for the Southeast.

•The Igbo nation cannot gamble with positioning themselves into the Nigeria political equation as things stand now. With no senator-elect on the platform of the majority party – APC - in the Senate, it is obvious that the Senate President shall elude us.

The thought of this is painful but our next move can at least show that mistakes made are not repeated.

•The Igbo nation must factor itself into the mainstream of today’s Nigeria and this time with new leaders who henceforth should be accountable. The accountability referred to here is to render selfless service and project the sterling qualities Igbo have earned over time namely: hard work, honesty and unflinching loyality.

•The Igbo nation must reject the buccaneers foisted on us as emergency leaders whose god is money and possess no qualities of leadership and are

ready to mislead the Igbo people into political suicide only to turn around and rush to the APC to seek political appointments without shame or remorse.

•The Igbo nation must wear a new thinking cap and indeed think out of the box and do the obvious and the sensible by ensuring a massive and strategic movement to the APC by their votes on April 11 both as an atonement and good faith gesture to demonstrate a change of mind and attitude.

I have received numerous and uncountable texts, calls and visits from concerned Igbo enquiring what we shall do now. Frankly speaking I do not know but what repeatedly strikes me is the call for Igbo to think now with their heads and do the correct political action – vote APC on Saturday.

I should start with Imo State. If for nothing else, we Imonites should admire our Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, for his outstanding vision to allign with the APC and Gen Buhari.

Every right-thinking Imo voter should cast his/her vote for Governor Okorocha and APC on Saturday. For those holding some reservations about Governor Okorocha, this is not the time for that as the Igbo adage says: “A man should not be catching rats

‘

The Igbo nation must reject the buccaneers foisted on us as emergency leaders whose god is money and possess no qualities of leadership and are ready to mislead the Igbo people into political suicide only to turn around and rush to the APC to seek political appointments without shame or remorse.

‘

whilst his house is on fire”. Imo people should be proud of Governor Okorocha and vote massively for him to retain the governorship and vote in his House of Assembly members to strengthen his hand. The Imo State leaders and stakeholders will be shocked of this stand that I have adopted as many are aware that the governor and I are at daggers drawn.

This my new position should help them to reconsider the entire precautious position in which the Igbos and Imonites have found themselves and that should help them reconsider their respective positions stand down their personal interests and pursue collective interest.

I am calling on the former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu to rise to the occasion and intervene in Abia State and “manufacture” a new coalition to support the APC governorship candidate to increase the Igbos participation in the new emerging leadership in Nigeria. Governor Okorcha cannot do it alone as the Igbos are wont to realise that one man cannot accomplish much. This move can be accomplished if the Igbo can immediately weigh the enormity of what awaits them in Nigeria where they have little or no representation. If there is one man who can change the Abia situation, that one man is Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu but Abia people have many “one man” just to name a few, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Chief Onwuka Ukwa, the Wabaras, Senator Uche Chukwumeije, Prof. Uma Eleazu, Senator Nkechi Nworgu and Chief Victoria Akanwa.

The political giants should answer the call on Igbo to rescue our people from being shut out of the Nigeria equation.

After all, Dr. Ogbonnya Onu, a steadfast leader of the APC is a worthy representative of our people and his hand should be strengthened to effectively

•Obioha

work for our people.

Lagos is a major interest both to the Igbo settlers and the owners of the land. Conventional wisdom dictates that Igbo should do the bidding of their hosts who have an APC National Leader Senator Bola Tinubu, who must not be embarrassed. Besides, it is in Igbo’s core and vital interest to massively vote for the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi.

Ambode. The Igbo, as already stated are hardworking and deeply- determined people, who want to excel in their personal and professional vocations. Politics is, to tell the truth, not in their DNA and so they can easily be misled by their “leaders”. Once they are alerted an issues, trust them to do the right thing. It must be noted that when the election of March 28 is clinically dissected, it will expose the fraud played to obtain the figures posted in the election. It is inconceivable to admit that Senator Chris Ngige will be defeated in Anambra State. The location where the manufactured result was cooked-up will one day be revealed. One mistake for the Igbo nation is enough but two mistakes will definitely spell doom. In the remaining few days, Igbo should all become canvassers for massive votes for the APC to ensure our place in the New Nigeria. I strongly believe that if the Igbos massively vote in Imo, Abia and Lagos for the APC, President-elect Muhammadu Buhari will create a situation to properly situate the Igbo.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

NEWS I never threatened Igbo over Ambode, says Oba of Lagos

T

•THE R OAD TO APRIL 11: Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi addressing members of the Traditional Medicine Association of RO Oyo State at a rally at the Remembrance Arcade, Agodi, Ibadan...yesterday.

Heavyweights desert PDP in Edo, Kwara, others Continued from page 1

But after his action yesterday, the state PDP chapter issued a statement saying it had expelled Mahmud.

The statement signed by the PDP chairman of Galagamma ward in Gumel, Jigawa State Alhaji Ibrahim Kafinta, said the decision to expel Mahmoud was taken during a stakeholders meeting held in his ward.

Kafinta alleged that the deputy governor sabotaged the party during the National Assembly elections.

He said the Gumel Local Government headquarters of the party had endorsed the expulsion.

Former Governor Saminu Turaki also defected to the APC. Turaki requested that his official reception into the party should be held at his Kazaure Emirate home town today.

He was joined on the defection train by Alhaji Abba Anas and Senator Muhammad Dudu. Dudu represented Jigawa North-East Senatorial District between 1999 and 2007.

Receiving the defectors, APC Chairman Ado Sani Kiri said the party had increased from strength to strength. He assured the new members that they would be accorded the same treatment as those they met in the party.

One of the defectors, former House of Representatives member Alhaji Anas, explained why he joined the APC. The former member representing Guri/Hadejia/Kirikasamma Federal Constituency said: ”I am joining the PDP due to the overwhelming support Nigerians gave to General Muhammadu Buhari and one cannot be left out”.

Gombe State House of Assembly Majority Leader Mam-

man Alkali yesterday joined hundreds of others who left the ruling PDP for the APC. The defectors included over 50 Special and Personal Assistants to Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo.

Alhaji Ibrahim Zamfara, a member of PDP Elders Committee, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, said they dumped the PDP because they wanted to avoid a situation where Gombe would end up as an opposition state. ”We have decided to embrace change because of shoddy happenings in the PDP. The party lacks transparency and we are fed up with the discriminatory activities of PDP in Gombe State. ”We feel it will be better for us to pitch our tent with the winning train so that the state can benefit and move forward,” he said.

Receiving the defectors, APC governorship candidate

Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya promised them a fair deal, saying they should feel free and consider themselves as bona fide members of the party.

He said their decision was timely and would further enhance APC’s fortunes ahead of Saturday’s governorship and legislative elections In Ilorin, no fewer than 20,000 supporters of the 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kwara State, Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), have defected to the APC. The defectors were led by Rev. Bunmi Olusona, a close associate of Belgore.

Belgore was the state’s coordinator of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation.

Mr. Adebayo Ajimoti, Alhaji Gobir Mohammed, Alhaji Dele Sarkinwa, Dr. Mohammed Potun, Funso Agaka, Alhaji Continued on page 59

HE Oba of Lagos has denied a statement credited to him that any Igbo who refuses to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, would drown in the Lagoon.

A statement by his spokesman, the Opeluwa of Lagos, Chief Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, said Oba Akiolu’s use of the word “lagoon” was proverbial and was never intended as a threat against the Igbo in Lagos.

The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to a publication in a national newspaper where HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu was alleged to have threatened Igbo in Lagos to make them vote for Ambode.

“Last Sunday, all honorary Eze Ndigbos in Lagos paid a courtesy call to HRM Oba Akiolu. At the meeting, the visitors praised the Oba for his fatherly support for and cooperation with Igbo in Lagos.

“They assured him of their continued good neighborliness with other tribes in Lagos and support everything that’ll further strengthen that harmony.

“Oba Akiolu on his part acknowledged the enviable performance of Governor Fashola and his contribution to the growth of investments in Lagos.

“He gave the assurance that he is not disturbed or angry with the Southeast and Southsouth votes for President Goodluck Jonathan as perceived by the Eze Ndigbos.

“The Oba thereafter called on the Igbo chiefs to show appreciation to Lagos State by supporting his candidate Mr. Ambode for continuity of excellence as they had earlier promised.

“He assured them of his continued support and assistance where needed and the meeting ended with the traditional breaking of kolanut,

By Joseph Jibueze

alligator pepper and bitter kola and pouring of libation on the ground.

“It was within this context that the tradition of Lagos with regard to the lagoon came up. It was noted that whoever works against the throne and the interest and peaceful co-existence of Lagos would end up in the lagoon as per tradition.

“Oba Akiolu stated further that the Igbo people have not betrayed the throne. Lagos has also not betrayed the Igbo people. Lagos has done so much to make the Igbo comfortable and to prosper.

“For this, we expect reciprocal respect and understanding. The Oba of Lagos prays that the lagoon and the throne will continue to bless and protect all those who reside and visit Lagos.

“Oba Akiolu is the father of all, irrespective of tribe, religion or political persuasion.

In Lagos, we have an old traditional proverb that relates to the Lagoon. The Lagoon is unique to Lagos.

“The proverb stresses the need for unity and understanding when you do business in an environment and in this case when you live and do business in Lagos. Oba Akiolu prays for peace for the land of Lagos and prosperity for all its inhabitants.”

•Oba Akiolu

We’ve lost 56 members in Rivers’ violence, says APC Wike: APC only raising false alarm

Continued from page 1

Mohammed is concerned that the killings have increased ahead of the weekend’s governorship and state Assembly elections.

He queried why nobody had been arrested by security agents for the killings.

He said: “We have lost 55 persons so far in the run-off to the elections. APC does not have the capacity nor the will to frustrate elections.

You all saw what happened in Rivers State during the last elections. “ If you did not see anything, at least you saw when the Returning Officer was asked to read the results, he could not because it was not written by him.

“Our party is a party that believes in the Rule of Law. They have the police, the DSS and INEC. They have these three groups which they are using to subvert democracy in Rivers State. Everyday, they are killing our people and nobody is being held responsible.

“We complained that elections did not take place in Rivers. We wrote a petition on that and the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega,

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IVERS State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has denied the allegation that he and his party are involved in killings.

Wike, in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said there was no basis for the allegations levelled against him by the All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesman Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Wike called Amaechi names and accused him of having a killer squad.

His statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a press conference addressed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Lai Mohammed today in Abuja where he alleged that the Rivsaid they set up an Investigative Committee and that what they came out with does not give them any reason to cancel the election. We accept that, but that is without prejudice to our right to challenge these infractions at the Election Petition Tribunal.

“We are saying two things here. First, we are as much concerned for a peaceful, free and fair election as much as being concerned about the safety and security of our people. We are los-

ers PDP governorship candidate, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has continued to mastermind violence against members of his political party. This allegation is false in its entirety and simply meant to divert the attention of security agencies from the several violent attacks on PDP supporters in Rivers State by the APC, which has led to the death of over 42 members ... in the last few weeks. All these acts of violence have been duly reported to the police and other security agencies, including the National Human Rights Commission.

“Two days ago, Amaechi boasted in an interaction with newsmen that he is now in charge of the Police and Army

ing lives everyday and this is uncalled for.

“How come Rivers State has recorded more deaths than any other state in the run-off to this election? Or these people that are dying, are they ghosts? We report every time and we hear that the police are after the killers, yet last night one of our leaders was killed. We are saying all these so that we don’t end up creating a situation that even after elections, we will not have sustainable peace.

High Command, assuring APC members that he will use them to detain PDP members in their numbers before and after the governorship election. He has started carrying out this threat. Today in Ikwerre LGA, Amaechi’s thugs, accompanied by armed policemen arrested several PDP members on concocted charges. We gather that this action is ongoing in several other LGAs. “We are aware that the lies and propaganda being peddled by Lai Mohammed are just the same lies that Amaechi has circulated via several APC media outlets. Rivers people will not be distracted by these lies and the attendant vicious violence being meted out to them by the APC .”

“I do not see why federal institutions should be used to further the interest of individuals or groups. Federal institutions should be neutral. We are not crying wolf but saying that our people are dying daily and we are asking both international and local observers to take a look at this and prevent a total breakdown.

“We have won the Federal Government and so why should we be interested in oil revenue coming from one state? We are running a fed-

eral system of government under which the states have some autonomy. It does not matter who is the governor of Rivers State. Whoever is the governor of Rivers State will have to administer the resources of Rivers State.

What we are saying is, let the people of Rivers State choose who they want.”

The APC accused the PDP and its governorship candidate, Mr. Nyesom Wike, “aided by the security agencies”, of being behind he killings.

“Though this marauding started before the March 28th Presidential and National Assembly elections, it has become progressively worse as the governorship elections approach on Saturday.

“Last week, nine members of our party were killed in cold blood while many others were injured, when armed PDP thugs invaded Obrikom and Obor communities in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government.

These thugs set ablaze the residence of Vincent Ogbagu, our candidate for the House of Assembly elections.

“Dozens of our members have been arrested on frivolous charges, just to put them away. At least four persons were arrested just because they defected to our party.

“APC members have been subjected to persistent harassment and intimidation across the state, using the police in Rivers and the Zone Continued on page 59

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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NEWS

Saturday polls: No going back on Card Reader, says INEC

UN envoy lauds Jonathan’s sportsmanship

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•‘Nail polish, adhesive used to sabotage device’

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has maintained that it will not allow manual accreditation for Saturday elections.

The commission, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said unlike in the presidential and National Assembly elections where the commission relaxed the rules, Card Readers will be used for governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

Consequently, the commission also revealed that it has worked on identified challenges that faced the operation of the Card Reader during the last elections.

The statement by the commission’s secretary, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, explained that there was no way the commission would suddenly replace the provisions in the books.

The statement reads: “The INEC wishes to inform all Nigerians that Card Readers will be used for the April 11, 2015 elections.

“The provision of the guidelines

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja and Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

for the conduct of the 2015 general elections, which outlined what is to be done if a Card Reader fails and cannot be replaced by the commission within a specified time frame (i.e. reschedule the election to the next day), will be enforced.

“The relaxation of the guideline on March 28, 2015 was only with respect to the presidential and National Assembly elections held on that date.

“The commission has reviewed the operation of the Card Reader in the March 28 elections, identified the challenges and has taken adequate measures to address them.”

But, some senior security officers have alleged that nail polish and adhesive were used by many members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to sabotage the operation of Card Readers during the March 28 elections.

The officers, who craved anonymity, said superglue or transparent

nail polish when applied to fingerprints creates new prints, thereby distorting original fingerprints.

Investigations also revealed that superglue contains Cyanoacrylate, which is a generic name for a family of strong and fast-acting adhesives.

It was also found that the vapours of Cyanoacrylate react with the chemicals that are found in fingerprints.

One of the security officials said most voters deliberately applied the substances to make the Card Readers unable to detect their fingerprints.

“They robbed these substances to protect their fingerprints. The superglue and nail polish distorted their fingerprints and rendered the Card Readers unable to capture them.

“This gave room for agitation and confusion. In the process, INEC resorted to manual accreditation. The manual accreditation gave birth to manipulation and irregularities,” a senior security officer said.

•INEC’s boss Prof. Attahiru Jega

He added: “They used it and it worked. They are also planning to use it on Saturday for the governorship and House of Assembly elections. They will create enough confusion that will compel INEC to revert to manual accreditation.”

He asked electoral officials to check fingerprints thoroughly before placing them on the card readers for identification and accreditation.

“INEC officials must do additional work. They should examine fingerings of each voter physically before using Card Readers on them.

Otherwise, the failure rate of Card Readers in the next polls will be worse than the last election,” he said.

HE United Nations Ambassador on Millennium Development Goals, Ambassador Karo Ekewenu, has lauded the sportsmanship displayed by President Goodluck Jonathan on the presidential election, saying that he is the number one agent of change in Nigeria.

Ekewenu said President Jonathan’s name would go down in history as the most democratic president Nigeria has ever had.

“I’m still amazed at the level of independence the INEC has had in conducting and collating the election and its results. Certainly, I am proud of President Jonathan. I am proud of him as a true diplomat,” he said.

He added: “I am happy also that Mr. President conceded. It’s a sign of unity and greater things to come ahead for this nation. I love my country and want the best just as others do. So, we all won as long as our ideologies are never at loggerheads with the path of peace, equity and justice for our dear nation.”

Ekewenu prayed God to grant General Muhammadu Buhari the wisdom and courage to pilot the affairs of Nigeria, adding that the president-elect must continue with the good legacy laid down by President Jonathan.

Unite citizens, group tells Buhari From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

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•Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (third left); his wife Dame Abimbola (third right); Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya (left); Mrs. Funmi-Ladipo (second left); Mrs. Abba Folawiyo (third right); Mr. Kijipa Adewale Adegbite and Mrs. Adunola Adegbaye, at the 50th birthday celebration of Mrs. Fashola at the Lagos House, Marina...yesterday.

PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Boko Haram kills 24 in Borno village

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ILITANTS, who disguised as preachers, killed about 24 people and injured several others in an attack near a mosque in Borno State village, Kwajaffa, a military source and witness said yesterday.

The attackers arrived in cars late on Sunday and gathered people to a mosque in the remote village, pretending to preach Islam. They then opened fire on them, a witness Simeon Buba - said.

The suspected Boko Haram gunmen opened fire on villagers and torched a number of buildings.

A resident, Ahmad Ali, told Agence French Presse (AFP) that roughly two dozen assailants, who were “obviously Boko Haram fighters”, stormed the village of Kwajaffa at dusk yesterday and ordered residents out of their homes.

Locals thought the Islamist insurgents “were going to preach and leave”, but in fact they “opened fire on the crowd”, Ali said.

He said the death toll could likely passed two dozen, but no other witnesses could be reached immediately to confirm the figures.

“They then went on setting fire to

homes, burning half of the village before they left,” he added.

Kwajaffa lies in the southern part of Borno State.

Details of attacks often take time to emerge, given the poor communications.

Babagana Mustapha said a relative, who fled the attack at Kwajaffa, arrived at his home in southern Borno’s commercial hub of Biu, 35 kilometres from Kwajaffa, at 11:30 pm yesterday.

The relative reported similar details concerning the attack, including a number of casualties, Mustapha told AFP.

Nigeria’s military - backed by forces from Chad, Niger and Cameroon - has claimed huge victories over Boko Haram in the Northeast over the last two months, retaking a series of towns and villages previously under rebel control.

But experts have warned that hitand-run attacks by the group could increase amid the added military pressure.

The Islamist militants killed seven people going to a market in southern Chad on Friday, and then set improvised landmines on the road close to the Nigerian border.

NON-GOVERNMENT organisation, Peace and Reconciliation Foundation, has urged the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to reunite Nigerians, who have been divided along ethnic and religious grounds.

The foundation’s women leader, Hajiya Mariam Abubakar, spoke to reporters after presenting Easter gifts and feeding about 350 patients of Niga Rehabilitation and Skill Acquisition Centre, Rigasa, in Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

She said either through omission or commission, politicians have succeeded imparting negative ideas to Nigerians.

Hajiya Abubakar noted that prior to the presidential election, people were seen leaving Kaduna en masse to states, which they considered their own or safe havens.

Her words: “It is also vice versa when northerners start moving from South back to the North, and this is very unhealthy development.

“We are calling on the Presidentelect to return Nigeria back to those days when Nigeria was for everybody, where religion or ethnicity is only secondary. We have to go back to Nigeria, where nobody is forced to stay in one particular area because of religion or ethnic affiliation.

“The united spirit of our founding fathers must be reactivated. Anybody found wanting either for political ethnic or religious gain must be made to be accountable to the law.”

Anenih to president-elect: take Nigeria to greater heights

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HE Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the outcome of the poll has put a lie to the doomsday sayers.

He, however, asked Buhari to take Nigeria to greater heights.

Anenih, who made his views known in a statement in Abuja, urged those aggrieved by the results of the presidential election to emulate the selflessness and magnanimity of President Goodluck Jonathan, who conceded defeat.

In the two-page statement titled: “Marching on with Hope”, Anenih said: “A keenly contested presiden-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

tial election, which many predicted would spell doom for Nigeria, has ended gloriously with everyone a winner.

“I congratulate the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on his victory. Nigerians are expecting great things from him. It is my hope that he will take this great country to greater heights in the journey towards our manifest destiny.

“I salute the statesmanship of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, in conceding defeat, even before the official declaration of results was done. By this noble act,

President Jonathan has made an indelible mark on the sands of time.

History will be very kind to him.

“President Jonathan has worked, selflessly, to deepen democracy in Nigeria. His consistent advocacy of the rights of the people to freely choose their leaders had earlier yielded free, fair and credible elections in some states of the Federation. Now, a peaceful transition is expected to follow after the general elections.”

Anenih said the presidential poll was symbolic as it had proved that democracy in Nigeria is comparable to any other in the world.

The statement added: “The 2015 presidential election, in which the incumbent president lost to the op-

position, has become a source of pride to Nigeria. It has portrayed to the world that democracy in Nigeria compares to the best anywhere.

“I commend the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led Peace Committee for its moral advocacy that culminated in the non-violent reception of the outcome of the presidential election.

“I am also happy that the presidential election has put a lie to the doomsday sayers. We have gone through the most critical of the elections and our country is at peace.

Glory be to God! “I congratulate all Nigerians on the success of the presidential and National Assembly elections and

urge all and sundry to participate in the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, with the same zeal and patriotism.”

He pleaded with those aggrieved over the results of the presidential election to emulate the magnanimity of President Jonathan.

“More importantly, while there are genuine reasons to disagree with certain aspects of the conduct and outcome of the presidential and National Assembly elections, I urge all those who may still be aggrieved, to emulate the magnanimity and selflessness of President Goodluck Jonathan, so that our country may enjoy peace, which is a prerequisite of our march to greatness and prosperity, “ he added.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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NEWS

Fayose’s supporters block Assembly to prevent impeachment

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CORES of supporters of Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose yesterday blocked all access roads leading to the state House of Assembly complex in a bid to prevent any impeachment proceedings.

They arrived at the vicinity as early as 8a.m. and staged a protest around the complex.

Their action was consequent upon a rumour that the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, who form the majority in the assembly, would storm the complex to sit and impeach Fayose from office.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyalists stormed the assembly area singing proFayose songs and lashing at the APC lawmakers for harbouring plans to remove the governor, who they claimed “is innocent of the impeachable offences”.

Backed by some government and party officials, they used a government-owned Ashok Leyland luxury bus to block the access road - Saliu Adeoti Road - to prevent the opposition lawmakers from gaining access to the complex.

Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola; former House of Assembly Speaker, Olatunji Odeyemi and Special Assistant on Information, Youth and Sports, Lanre Ogunsuyi, were

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

on hand to support the protesters.

About nine Toyota Hilux vans belonging to the police and Department of State Services (DSS), conveying heavily armed operatives, were parked at the two main entrances leading to the assembly complex.

The PDP members later turned the blockade into a roadshow, singing and dancing to music at the gate of the House of Assembly Service Commission.

They were prevented from coming near the new assembly complex by the battleready and stern-looking security men, drafted there to maintain law and order.

Many of the protesters, who were weary of singing and dancing and could no longer withstand the heat of the sun, sat under canopies placed in front of the old assembly complex.

Addressing reporters on the purpose of the blockade, Ogunsuyi said Ekiti people were ready to take their destiny in their hands by fighting for the mandate they gave to Fayose on June 21 last year.

The governor’s aide insisted that all the actions of the APC lawmakers reeked of illegality and impunity, saying

Israel to help Nigeria in fight against terrorism, graft From Tony Akowe, Abuja

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HE President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, received a boast to his pledge to fight terrorism and corruption yesterday with a promise from Israel to assist the new government in achieving success, when it is sworn in.

In a congratulatory letter by President Reuven Rivlin, Israel also pledged to assist Nigeria in the development of agriculture sector.

The congratulatory letter, which was delivered by Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Uri Palti, said Nigeria and Israel face “similar dangers and challenges in our daily struggle against those who want to terrorise our citizens.

“The latest news regarding the Boko Haram-ISIS alliance underscores the need for like-minded countries to unite in the fight against such radical terrorist organisations. I assure you that in this important campaign, Israel stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Nigeria.

“I wish you every success in the challenging task ahead and trust that under your presidency, the relations of friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and Israel will continue to expand and strengthen. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Responding, General Buhari expressed his warm appreciation of the Israeli gesture and pledged to work with all countries for mutual benefits.

• A cross-section of the supporters at the assembly complex...yesterday.

PDP: we ‘ll stand by Ekiti governor

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HE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the impeachment move against Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, saying the party will stand by the embattled governor.

A statement yesterday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, described the impeachment notice served the governor by the state’s House of Assembly as “emerging height of political recklessness”.

The PDP called on Nigerians to stand up

Dr. Adewale Omirin was no longer the Speaker and lacked the power to preside over the assembly.

Ogunsuyi added that Omirin was already in court challenging his impeachment, saying he could not be laying claim to the position.

He added that the APC lawmakers were desecrating the rule of law and the constitution.

He said: “The new Nigeria,

From Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

against what it termed “anti-democratic tendencies” and “senseless and unpatriotic impeachment move” against Fayose.

“The PDP totally and unequivocally rejects the flimsy and unsubstantiated allegations concocted by the APC legislators against Governor Fayose. We state in very clear terms that we will stand with him and bear our full weight in defence of the mandate freely given to him by the people of Ekiti State,” the statement said.

which President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari campaigned for is the one that would respect the Rule of Law. “With this convergence, you can see that the people are standing by their governor.

They are ready to defend their mandate.

“Nobody asked Omirin and other APC lawmakers not to come to the Assembly. They only decided to abdicate their

duties since last year November 17.

“Impeachment procedure does not start and end with the Assembly alone. The judiciary is involved. So, this plan is highly condemnable.

“We want to emphasise that they are welcome as long as they are concerned about making laws for the progress of the state. But if it was meant to come and impeach Governor Fayose, we won’t allow that”.

You can’t talk about Rule of Law, APC caucus tells Fayose HE Action Group of the Ekiti State chapter

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of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that Governor Ayo Fayose lacked the moral right to talk about the rule of law.

It was reacting to calls by the governor that the people should rise for him following the impeachment notice he and his deputy, Olusola Eleka, got from the state lawmakers at the weekend.

The group’s reaction entitled: “Fayose must do equity before asking for equity”, reads: “The Action Group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has asked Governor Ayo Fayose to first do equity before asking for equity.

“In a statement by its spokesman, Segun Dipe, APC Action Group wondered why the erring governor has been crying foul when he himself was impunity personified.

“The group argued that Fayose cannot at this point be talking about law and legality when he had dealt a big blow by his many constitutional infringements.

“It urged all Ekiti sons and daughters to ignore Fayose’s false alarm and see his looming impeachment as good riddance to bad rubbish.

“Ekiti is bigger than Fayose and Fayose, Mr. Impunity is unfit to govern Ekiti State.

“Fayose wants to come to

equity with soiled hands, said the group in its reaction to the various inciting statements he made on the programme “Meet Your Governor” where he was whipping up sentiments regarding his looming impeachment.

“Or has he forgotten that G19 APC lawmakers that he has been hounding from performing their legislative functions were also representatives of their people?

“It is, therefore, laughable for Fayose to have described illegal, the notice of gross misconduct and abuse of office issued to him by the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, and the group of 19 APC lawmakers.

Nigerian gains admission into eight U.S. Ivy League schools

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•Ekeh

IGH school senior Harold Ekeh didn’t just get into one Ivy League university. He was accepted into all

eight.

But the really hard part for Ekeh is deciding where to go.

He actually got into all 13 schools he applied to, including MIT and Johns Hopkins.

“I am leaning toward Yale,” he told CNNMoney. “I competed at Yale for Model UN, and I like the passion people at Yale had,” he added.

Some of the Yale students he met became his friends and mentors, offering advice on the college application process. Now Ekeh is trying to do the same thing.

Ekeh, 17, founded a college mentoring programme at his school, Elmont Memorial High School on Long Island in the New York city suburbs. His goal was to get more students into top universities.

American dream: Ekeh was born in Nigeria and came to the United States when he was eight. He wrote his main college essay about the struggle to adjust, including being clueless in U.S. history classes at school. He said he would ask his parents repeatedly why

they moved.

“We had a fairly comfortable life in Nigeria, but they told me we moved to America for the opportunities like the educational opportunities,” he recalled.

The salutatorian is quick to credit his parents, school and community for his success.

“I am very humbled by this,” Ekeh said.

“It’s not just for me, but for my school and community. We can accomplish great things here,” he added.

A passion for science: He wants to major in neurobiology or chemistry in college and later become doctor and, ultimately, a neurosurgeon. He was named a 2015 Intel Science Talent Search semifinalist earlier this year for his research on how the acid DHA can slow Alzheimer’s.

For Ekeh, the cause is personal. His grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when he was 11. One of his proudest moments was running home to tell his mother and aunts about the breakthroughs he was finding with DHA. “When other kids would say, ‘I want to be a superhero or police officer,’ I would say, ‘I want to know what is on the inside of us,’” he

said.

The key to success: Outside of the lab, Ekeh directs a youth choir at his church, plays the drums, is part of Key Club and Model UN and was elected to the Homecoming court. He speaks Igbo and Spanish and has a 100.5 per cent GPA. He’s proud of acing the AP History Exam despite his early struggles with the subject.

Elmont High School is 99 per cent minority. Ekeh is the second student in recent years to win a prestigious Intel Science award.

Principal John Capozzi calls Ekeh “one of the most humble young men I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet.”

The lab where Ekeh did his award-winning research is modest and only staffed part-time by a passionate chemistry teacher, but the community makes the most of what it has.

Ekeh will spend the coming weeks visiting all the schools before making his final decision.

His advice to other high school students is simple: “Like my parents always told us, the secret to success is unbridled resolve.”

Ogunsuyi, however, said the governor as the leader would continue to wave the olive branch to the opposition lawmakers for Ekiti to remain in peace and harmony.

He said: “We want some measures of decorum in Ekiti.

We are not proud of the era when we had three governors within a week. We want a stable government and we will continue to pursue this for Ekiti to be at peace.”

Odeyemi advised the APC lawmakers to put the interest of the state above personal or partisan interests, warning that breakdown of law and order was an ill-wind that won’t blow any good.

He said: “The entire issue calls for concerns. As a former legislator, I am quite aware of the rudiment of impeachment process. But far from this, the issue of the news any impeachment will bring to Ekiti’s credibility is uppermost in my mind.”

‘Rectify problem with Card Reader’ From Tony Akowe, Abuja

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HE Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to correct the anomalies associated with the Card Reader to avoid a repeat during Saturday elections.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, in Abuja, the CNPP described the Card Reader as an antidote to ballotsnatching and other electoral malpractices.

The statement reads: “We salute the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for insisting on the imperative of the use of the Card Reader for the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“In other words, INEC has withdrawn the guideline, which it issued on March 28, 2015 in respect of the presidential and National Assembly elections held on that date; which gave room for padding of votes in certain states that nearly marred the peaceful elections.

“It is our considered view that the Card Reader is an antidote to ballot box stuffing, ballot box snatching and padding of votes; hence ultimate reduction of electoral malpractices and all manner of irregularities.

“On this count, we call on our member political parties to instruct their candidates to place the collective interest of our dear nation above personal political survival by using and relying only on the Card Reader.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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NEWS ‘Emulate Christ’

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HE senator representing Lagos East, Gbenga Ashafa, has called on Christians to emulate the sacrifice, love and selflessness of Jesus Christ.

Ashafa, in his Easter message, said: “The lessons of Easter, which reflected on the excruciating experiences of Jesus Christ and His eventual triumph over death, should never be lost on us.

“I enjoin Christians to emulate Jesus Christ as a good and an exemplary leader without which there will not be Easter today.

“In this sober period, everyone, regardless of religion, should be his brother’s keeper, this is the only way peace can reign.”

Lawmaker-elect thanks residents From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE senator-elect for Oyo South, Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has thanked the people for voting for him.

He said: “I am grateful for the support and I will make you my priority. It is a privilege to represent the people’s interest in such a remarkable district for the next four years.

“I dedicate the victory to my party. A fulfilling future belongs to those with strong vision, patience and resilience. We are happy to win this election, it is a long journey, but eventually we got there.”

Akanbi polled 147,583 votes to defeat his nearest rival, Senator Olufemi Lanleyin of the Accord Party, who got 93,256 votes.

‘Don’t discard Card Readers’ From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to discard Card Readers on Saturday.

In a statement by its spokesman, Kunle Oyatomi, the partysaid it would be 10 steps backwards and regrettable if the commission succumbs to such an idea.

“The Card Readers, despite some hitches in the last election, were responsible for the near elimination of rigging and credibility in the election.

“INEC should not trade off this in its efforts to sanitise the electoral process.

“This will damage the esteem INEC has had since the March 28 election and endanger our democracy.”

Knocks for Gani Adams From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan

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HE National Coordinating Council of the Oodua People’s Congress(OPC) has asked the National Coordinator of the congress, Otunba Gani Adams, to explain what happened to the N1.6 billion he collected from President Goodluck Jonathan and the six million votes he promised the President.

In a statement by the spokesman of the council, Comrade Adesina Akinpelu, the OPC Council said one of the factors that contributed to President Jonathan’s defeat in Southwest was the President’s romance with characters, such as Gani Adams.

•From right: Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Director-General, Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), Femi Ifaturoti; Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Fatai Kolawole and Head of Project Monitoring, BOSS, Wole Idowu, during the governor's impromptu visit to the on-going fabricated school building at Community Elementary & Middle School, Dada Estate in Egbedore Local Government Area. INSET: Pupils welcoming the governor

Don’t waste your votes, Ajimobi tells Oyo voters O YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday urged residents to vote for him and all All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates on Saturday.

He said a vote for other candidates would be a waste following APC’s victory at the centre.

The governor made the appeal on an MITV programme, monitored in Ibadan, the state capital yesterday.

Ajimobi said any vote for the Accord, Labour Party (LP) or Social Democratic Party (SDP) is a vote for the

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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said having demonstrated their love for change and progress by voting for Muhammadu Buhari and its National Assembly candidates on March 28, Oyo State cannot operate as an opposition state again.

According to him, many initiatives of his administration requiring Federal Government’s approval or cooperation could not succeed

because the Federal Government allegedly refused to play its role.

But now the APC has taken over the centre, Ajimobi urged the people to vote for him and the party on Saturday as they did on March 28.

Declaring that he would win on Saturday, the governor recalled that his policies have endeared him to the people.

“We are confident of victory by the grace of God and by the love people have for us as demonstrated in the

Ambode: we must build Lagos together

HE governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has reiterated his commitment to lead a government of inclusion where every ethnic group is carried along in the quest to make Lagos greater.

He said this yesterday while receiving some buses from the Nigeria Progressive Ambassadors (NPA) at the APC secretariat in Ogba, Lagos.

“Every group in Lagos is safe in my hands as governor. I will not discriminate against any religious or ethnic group. It is our Lagos and we must build it together.

“In my acceptance speech after the primaries, I made this note that I will be a governor for all and Lagos is safe in my hands. I want to build on the foundation of unity, peace and progress and development laid by my predecessor.

“I am your best choice for a Lagos that must continue to thrive. And though tongue and tribe may differ we

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From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

last election,” he said.

He recalled that his administration succeeded in bringing peace, improving social infrastructure, such as roads, water supply in Iseyin, Ayete, Saki and Ibadan.

“Oyo State people have demonstrated their acceptance of change. They should repeat the same thing on Saturday.

“Don’t waste your vote, I beg you. If you vote for the Accord, it’s PDP. If you vote for SDP, it is PDP. If you vote for Labour; it is also PDP. And PDP has crumbled as you know,” Ajimobi said.

More endorsements for APC candidate

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GROUP, Coalition of Christian nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), Lagos State, has endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and other APC candidates.

The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South West Zone, Archbishop Magnus Atilade, said the decision to endorse Ambode was based on their assessment of his competence and experience.

He said the gathering, which started with a road procession, became a political rally by the children of God. “The change has started but is not completed because it is one of the first days Christians are coming together, putting their voices together on a political issue.

“Our man of the moment has put himself forward to serve Lagos State; therefore I move the motion to endorse the man of the moment.”

Ambode thanked the clerics for believing in him and promised to represent all interest stand in brotherhood in Lagos from the smallest ethnic groups to the major ones. We are all stakeholders.”

NPA’s General Secretary Miss Vuakpor Ojo described the group as a gathering of young persons, who strong-

By Emmanuel Udodinma and Everistus Onwuzurike

groups.

“Before I started this calling, I sought your permission, everything that God stands for is what APC stands for and that I would definitely stand for,” he said.

Another group, Nollywood Team Buhari (NTB), has declared its support for Ambode.

The group described the victory of Muhammadu Buhari as a welcome development, saying it will bring the desired change in the nation’s creative industry.

The group’s coordinator, Eze Harris Chuma, said: ‘’Our dear President–elect, we are hopeful that you will use your good offices to instil discipline and restore sanity in our creative industry, where issues of corruption and lawlessness will be discouraged. ‘’We will continue to work to ensure the victory of APC candidate in Lagos and other states. We use this medium to re-emphasise our support for Ambode.’’

ly believe in the future of Lagos and the country.

“We are a body of forwardthinking Nigerians ready to partner people with the ability to give an enabling future to this state and sustain its excellence.

“You are one of us, and this donation of 20 buses depicts our commitment to the cause to make a detribalised leader like you, who understands the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos, to govern the state.”

Professionals back Amosun’s re-election

SOCIO-economic group, Ogun Professionals for Development (OPD), has supported the re-election bid of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Dele Taiwo, said: “The actions of Governor Ibikunle Amosun since 2011 are in sync with democratic

norms. Little wonder Ogun State that was ranked the lowest in Nigeria by the World Bank under the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is today ranked among the top five states in terms of being investor-friendly, a noble feat achieved under the leadership of Senator Amosun.

“Ogun cannot afford to return to the

dark days of insecurity, violence, mismanagement of public funds and other atrocities that scared away investors and stagnated development.”

The professional body also noted that contrary to what obtained under the previous PDP government, the opposition could access the state media, move about without molestation and express itself without fear.

Stop lying, Oyo APC tells Ladoja From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has told ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja to stop lying against the Abiola Ajimobi administration in his bid to get voters’ sympathy.

In a statement in Ibadan by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the APC reiterated its threat to force Ladoja into retirement by denying him or his sponsored candidates any victory in the elections.

“The outcome of last Saturday’s elections obviously left Ladoja bewildered because he had hoped that the lies he either told personally or sponsored to set the people against the APC worked against him.

“But rather than being sober and remorseful, he raised his game and came up with more lies to discredit Ajimobi.

“Accord Party agents are all over spreading wicked rumours. They said that should Ajimobi be re-elected, he would sack some workers, carry out a demolition of legal structures, increase taxes and rule as a dictator. But these unscrupulous elements could not back up their claims with any proof.

“Few days ago, some supposed Ladoja-for-Governor campaigners were sighted around Olodo where they told residents that APC members were thumbprinting ballot papers meant for the April 11 election. Some discerning residents told them to report the case to the media and security agencies but they could not do so because they knew it was a false alarm.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Ajimobi has improved the lot of teachers and civil servants more his predecessors’. Never had he embark on anti-masses policies and he would not contemplate such when re-elected.

“We would like to remind Ladoja that the reasons his Accord Party failed to record any significant success in last Saturday’s polls are still there to make him suffer heavy defeat on Aprill 11.

“Voters cannot forget how he exposed them to danger as a result of avoidable political turmoil from 2003 to 2011.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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NEWS God deserves glory for APC’s victory, says Aregbesola

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said the vic-

tory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in last Saturday’s presidential election should be ascribed to God. Aregbesola spoke when some monarchs visited the Government House in Osogbo.

In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, the monarchs praised some of their colleagues, who refused to collect the alleged last minute distribution of foreign currencies by the ruling party.

The monarchs, led by the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Abdul Rauf Adedeji, congratulated Aregbesola and prayed for the APC’s victory on Saturday.

“There is nothing new that the progressives have done this time that is better than what the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, did.

“Sixty-three years ago, politicians, who believed that a certain political climate will give life abundantly to the people, did all they could but they were unable to achieve their desire. Despite their struggles and the will to provide better leadership they could not make it to the presidency.

“After the first attempt by Awolowo and others came the advent of Abiola but he never become the president.

“Here we are today, the victory is still like a dream to me. All the glory must be given to the Lord.”

The governor hailed the doggedness and the fighting spirit of APC’s National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande.

He also congratulated APC governors, adding that after God, APC leaders and party faithful deserve commendation.

You can’t escape impeachment, Speaker tells Fayose

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HE Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, has said Governor Ayodele Fayose cannot escape impeachment.

He said the impeachment notice served him is a constitutional matter and not theatrics to play down serious issues of the law raised in the letter to the governor.

He said instead of hiding to evade justice, it is better to live with the reality that the rule of law has come to stay in the country.

Reacting to media reports credited to the self-styled Speaker, Dele Olugbemi and the governor’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, dismissing the impeachment notice as a joke, Omirin said the two men were still acting in ignorance of the supremacy of the constitution.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, Omirin said the Ekiti issue was to rescue democracy from the gridlock of executive lawlessness and impunity.

He said: “It will soon be clear to Fayose and his aides that the matter at hand goes beyond exuberant media skirmishes being deployed to rally support for the governor.

“The world’s attention has shifted to Ekiti State, following the Ekitigate scandal. Several issues have been raised on the place of the constitution in nurturing democracy and as responsible citizens, we must act fast to make democracy work.”

The Speaker said all allegations raised in the impeachment notice are constitutional matters, to which the governor must be ready to produce answers, instead of his belligerent stance.

Advising the governor to respond to the allegations against him, he said running away from the Government House and using his aides to cover his track would not help him in defending his assault and other infractions on the constitution that were established against him in court.

“It is good that his men are talking in the media about the need to uphold the constitution in this matter even though they behave short of upholding the constitu-

Fayose denies receipt of impeachment notice

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KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has denied receipt of impeachment notice from the members of the House of Assembly, who have accused him of committing eight impeachable offences.

Speaking yesterday evening during his monthly media chat, Meet Your Governor, aired on all major broadcast stations in the state, Fayose boasted that nobody can remove him from office because he holds a mandate given to him by the people.

He said before anybody can succeed in removing him, that individual would have to remove God first and the people of Ekiti before removing him. Fayose called on his supporters to defend their mandate with all their strength.

The governor also dismissed the rumour that he had been advised by President Goodluck Jonathan to resign honourably from office before being impeached.

According to him, the move to remove him and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola, showed that the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers have an ulterior motive to install the Speaker, Adewale Omirin, as Acting Governor.

He said all the attacks on him were because of his support for President Goodluck Jonathan in the run-up to the March 28 presidential election, adding that he has no regrets for his support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.

Responding to a question from a viewer on the invasion of the Assembly premises by PDP loyalists and suspected thugs, Fayose said: “I don’t know of any invasion. I don’t know of any threat to the House of Assembly and I am not aware of any impeachment process. I am aware the House is on recess and Omirin is in court challenging his impeachment in Lagos and Abuja.”

Picking holes on the circulation of the impeachment notice, the governor claimed that he only read online that he had been served.

He said: “They claimed to have served me on Easter Day; can you imagine that? Who did they serve (the impeachment notice) and who received it?

“The enemies of Ekiti people are at work again. I left in 2006, eight years ago and God in His infinite mercy brought me back the same day, the same month that I tion in their conduct.

“Even though the governor trampled on the same constitution when he led thugs to attack judges and tore records in the chief judge’s office, our duty is to follow constitutional path in this impeachment process.

“These men who are flying the governor’s banner will soon see the law in action. This impeachment process is real.

•’I can’t be removed from office’ From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

was removed.

“They are waging war against my people, those who voted me in. Nobody has served anything (impeachment notice). I read it on the Internet the same way you read it on the Internet.

“Because Buhari won an election, they are waging war against me. When I won an election, that was the same thing they did. They are not doing it for the love of Ekiti people but for their personal interest.

“Omirin wanted to become Acting Governor but the Bible says who art thou oh mountain before Zerubbabel, thou shall be removed. They employed every trick to frustrate my inauguration, they failed and I know they will fail again.

“My people, stand firm; don’t be afraid. These Egyptians you are seeing today, you will not see them again.

I know the route you are coming from, I am monitoring your movement.

“If you will remove me, you will have to remove God first who put me there. You can’t unseat God; nobody can unseat me. No matter their number, they can’t remove me.

“I am Peter, it is on this rock that God has built me. The battle is not won by the strength of the Army but by God’s grace. Goliath had all the power but David had only a catapult but he overcame the giant. I am not destabilised.

“I am not the one they want to impeach; it is the people of Ekiti State they want to impeach. I did not run away; run away to where?

“The House is on recess and Omirin has gone to court to challenge his impeachment why can’t he wait for the determination of his case?

“You want to remove the governor, you want to remove the deputy governor, there is a motive there.

Omirin wants to become Acting Governor; you can’t come through the back door.

“Their strategy, which succeeded in 2006 won’t succeed this time around because I am not the one who put myself there, I was elected by the people.”

“We must rescue Ekiti State from lawlessness and fraud. The N1.3 billion poultry project fraud case is still in court. There are still cases of unresolved murders.

“We have again seen the resumption of state-sponsored terrorism with thugs attacking and maiming Ekiti people after a break in 2006, when the governor was impeached for fraud and attacks on opponents.

Owo bank robberies: Police parade three more suspects

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HE police in Ondo State have paraded three more robbery suspects involved in the killing of over 20 residents in Owo Local Government Area, when they attacked four banks penultimate Thursday.

The bandits were among the 91 suspects paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, at the state police headquarters, Akure, the state capital.

Eke said the suspects allegedly killed seven policemen, two bank officials and over 13 residents.

He said the suspects were arrested by a combined team of policemen and military personnel drawn from Ondo and Edo while trying to escape.

“A distress call was received that about 50 robbers were operating simultaneously in A and B divisional police stations in Owo and afterwards attacked four banks.

“The robbers came in several vehicles, including Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and shot sporadically, killing some policemen and civilians in the process.

“Policemen, led by Deputy Commissioner Operations, put up a spirited counter attack, leading to the killing of seven suspects.”

According to him, 12, 000 rounds of ammunition, six assault rifles, 17 AK-47 rifles, three riot gunners, one revolver pistol, one chief revolver pistol, eleven dynamites and 142 magazines were recovered from them.

Also recovered were two submachine guns, six Beretta rifles, two

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

scorpion guns, three large rifles, three Dane guns, Tarakov rifle and three pump action guns.

The police boss said the arms were parts of the ones carted away from Ikare-Akoko and Owo police stations, when robbers invaded the towns last year.

Eke added that N9.3million, police uniforms, 33 canisters of tear gas, police steel helmets and 13 vehicles were recovered from the hoodlums.

The commissioner also paraded seven suspected pirates, who were arrested at Ajapa in Ese Odo Local Government Area and the cache of weapons recovered from them.

The suspected pirates, Eke said, were arrested with the help of Gallery Security Service and military men, adding that 16 militants were killed in a gun battle with security personnel last week.

According to him, armed hoodlums in military uniforms suspected to have been commanded by a militant, Gen Ibori, invaded and attacked Gallery Security base at Akanaku.

He said 16 of them were killed during a gun battle while seven, including Ikes Omosebi, Akpos Atunwase, Uyeweri Zacchaeus, Augustine Goto, Ekuiwasemi Loghoga, Worifaifa Simon and John Omonipere, were arrested with various rifles.

Eke added that 76 suspected cultists and one kidnap suspect were also arrested last week.

•The suspects with the weapons recovered from them...yesterday.

“We thought his impeachment trauma in 2006 would have taught him a lesson, but the governor has proved that he cannot survive in a society where the law works.

“We advise him to come out of hiding and defend himself because we are prepared to give him a fair hearing.

“That is the reality he must face instead of downplaying serious matter of constitutional consequences.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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THE NATION TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2015

NEWS

Parties uncover plot to rig elections

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, alerted to a plot by a party to rig Saturday’s elections.

LP governorship candidate, Mr. Edward Nkwegu, alleged that the party uncovered a plan to manipulate the electors on Saturday.

He said the National Assembly election result was a sham, as it did not reflect the will of the people.

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

“A notable party engaged in the falsification of results and manipulation of the process.

“We will do our best to ensure that our stolen mandate is retrieved. We have compiled documentary evidence, to be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for action.”

Nkwegu urged the electorate to be vigilant.

Said he: “Let no one make a mistake about it. Desperate politicians are not yet

through with their game. In addition to the old antics, they will come up with new tricks in their desperation for power.”

The APGA candidate, Senator Anthony Agno, alleged that the party was aware of a plot by a party to rig on Saturday.

According to him, APGA remained the instrument of hope for Ebonyi people, as it is the only party in the race, with a well-articulated vision and programme.

Agno said the party would challenge the results of the

National Assembly election, as it was marred by irregularities.

The state chapter of the APC also said there were plans by a party to rig on Saturday.

The party’s Chairman, Mr. Ben Nwaobasi, said: “We have received reports that result sheets of the April 11 elections have been sold to the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

He enjoined security agents to investigate the matter, saying it could cause crisis.

Orji: vote for PDP candidates From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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BIA State Governor Theodore Orji has enjoined Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and the people to vote the party’s candidates on Saturday.

Speaking at the Abia Central mini campaign in Umuahia, the governor said he had confidence in the party’s candidates to deliver the dividends of democracy.

Orji urged the Abia Central PDP candidates to be steadfast and to strive to win, stressing that it’s one of the ways to justify the confidence the party and state have in them.

He thanked the people for voting PDP candidates in the Presidential and National Assembly elections and urged them to do likewise on Saturday to show that PDP was on ground.

The governor asserted that the party had prospects for Ndigbo, adding that there is hope for the PDP in the state and the country despite the setback in the last elections.

Minister of State for Defence, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), advised PDP members to ensure the success of the party’s governorship and House of Assembly candidates.

He thanked them for their votes in the March 28 elections.

The House of Representatives candidates-elect; Sam Onuigbo and Darlington Nwokocha, thanked the Abia Central people for returning them and other PDP candidates, urging them to ensure PDP’s success on Saturday.

Abia PDP chief urges supporters to vote APGA candidate Otti

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•Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun being welcomed to Ayetoro in Yewa North Local Government, during his reelection campaign tour of Ogun West Senatorial District...yesterday.

Man allegedly kills cousin in Enugu

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MAN has allegedly shot dead his cousin at Amankpunato in OjiRiver Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The suspect was identified as Ifeanyi Ihejika and the vic-

From Chris Oji, Enugu

tim, Izuchukwu Ihejika.

Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said operatives of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) had begun investigation.

The police spokesman said the suspect used a locallymade pistol to commit the crime.

He said the suspect ran away after the shooting, but security operatives at the Oji River Division arrested him,

adding that the pistol was recovered from him.

Amaraizu said the suspect blamed Satan for his action.

He said the body of the deceased had been taken to the mortuary of Achi Joint Hospital.

Four candidates rally for Ikpeazu OUR candidates in Abia State have stepped down for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

They are Mrs. Ifeoma Okpara of the Citizens Popular Party (CPP), Prince Sunday Isaac of the People for Democratic Change (PDC), Mr. Dan Onyeonagu of

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From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

KOWA Party and Mr. Gilbert Chikezie of the Independent Democrat (ID).

Onyeonagu said they were adopting Ikpeazu out of interest for the state.

He said: “Having considered the political situation, we think it is good to adopt

Buhari to meet Igbo leaders •President-elect to campaign for APC candidates

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RESIDENT-elect Muhammadu Buhari will, today, hold a town hall meeting with stakeholders and Igbo leaders in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The visit, it was learnt, was to drum up support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the Southeast.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said the President-elect would be given a warm reception at the Heroes’ Square, where he will ad-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

dress the people.

The governor, who held a thank-you rally to appreciate the people for their support, noted that they contributed to Buhari’s victory.

He urged the people to turn up en masse to receive the President-elect, irrespective of their political affiliations, adding: “In the new emerging order, everybody will be carried along and people will not be discriminated against because of their political leanings.”

the candidate of the PDP, Dr. Ikpeazu.

“This is our decision to salvage Abia from those who don’t mean well it - those who think Abia is for sale and are out to use their re-

sources to buy it. Our people should rise up and save Abia from backwardness.”

Responding, a PDP chieftain, Longman Nwachukwu, described their action as a show of statesmanship.

CAN congratulates Buhari

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

HE Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State chapter, Dr. Israel Akinadewo, has congratulated President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the March 28 election.

Akinadewo, who is also the Baba Aladura, prelate and the head of Motailatu Church Cherubim & Seraphim Worldwide, said Buhari, being the candidate of the party of the masses, the All Progressives Congress (APC), would deliver the dividends of democracy.

The cleric, who greeted Nigerians for witnessing Easter, said President Goodluck Jonathan should be hailed for being a gallant loser and for showing maturity in defeat.

He said: “CAN greets Nigerians on the celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“Christians are enjoined to imbibe the virtue of our saviour Jesus Christ, as exemplified by him at the point of death, on the cross of Calvary, when he prayed for his accusers and asked for forgiveness on their behalf.

“Nigerians should be selfless in their service to God and mankind. They should be honest in their activities, be faithful to God, eschew violence and be their brother’s keepers.

“President Jonathan and President-elect Buhari should be praised for their statesmanship and maturity before, during and after the election. I pray that God will give the incoming president the wisdom to lead the nation to an enviable height.”

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CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Chief Tony Ukasanya, has urged the electorate to vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, on Saturday.

Speaking at a reception in honour of Otti by an Abujabased businesswoman, Mrs. Josephine Nwaeze, at Ubakala in Umuahia South, Ukasanya said Otti can deliver the dividends of democracy.

Ukasanya, the first chairman of the party in the state and a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), described Otti as the only candidate with capacity to transform the state.

He said having excelled in the banking industry, the former Diamond Bank chief had the experience, exposure and network to attract local and international investors.

Ukasanya said: “He knows where all the financial grants and aids are domicilled in the world and will access them for the development of Abia. Otti will touch people’s lives positively, if elected.

“This is an accomplished man. When he was in school, he came top in class and graduated with a First Class in Economics. I’m sure he will be a first class governor.

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

“We don’t want a governorship candidate, who is being sponsored and cannot exercise self-independence.

The underdevelopment we are experiencing is because of the election of those from poor background as governors.”

Mrs. Nwaeze described Otti’s emergence as a new dawn for Abia, saying God “has remembered the suffering of the people and has beamed his light on the state for success and prosperity.”

She said the women have resolved to vote for the APGA candidate and advised Otti to remember the area when he assumes office.

Otti thanked her and the people for the honour, saying his resolve to join the race was borne out of a desire to rescue the people from poverty.

He said: “I have come to fix our state and save our people from impoverishment by heartless leaders, who are insensitive to the plight of the people.”

The candidate assured the people he would use the resources, foreign aid and grants to develop the economy, if voted in, adding: “You are going to see a new Abia with me as governor.”

‘Why Obiano is not welcome in APC’

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HE Vice-Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information, Mr. Victor Ogene, has blamed Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano for the poor performance of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the March 28 elections.

Ogene, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement, said it would amount to hypocrisy for Obiano to want to benefit from “his perfidy of only a few days ago, when he deployed state apparatus against the presidential aspiration of General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC candidates in the March 28 elections.”

He said: “For a Pharaoh like Governor Obiano, who obviously does not know any Joseph, attempting to cross over to the APC with his liabilities and attitude of polluting any environment he finds himself - as the dire straits he has left APGA after only one year - his entry into the APC will only stunt the expected resurgence of the party in the state and the Southeast.”

Ogene, who represents Ogbaru, said he wondered what value the governor would add to the APC, after leading APGA - in cohort with its National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, down the path of extinction through a combination of autocracy, vindictiveness and self-adulation.

He said: “Is the man we are talking about not the one who, in the words of famed novelist, the late Chinua Achebe, had his palm kernel cracked for him by benevolent spirits, yet he refused to be humble? Where is former Governor Peter Obi? Where are the five House of Representatives members, who Obiano inherited when he became governor? How many seats did he lead APGA to win in the March 28 elections? The questions are legion, yet few optimistic answers.”

Ogene advised Obiano to remain in APGA and clean up the mess he instigated, before embarking on another fruitless political voyage.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

‘Bonga spill affected 350 communities’ From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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HE 2011 Bonga oil spill incident from an off shore oil field by Shell Nigeria Production and Exploration Company (SNEPCo) affected 168,000 victims in 350 communities in Delta and Bayelsa states.

The paramount ruler, Olobia Community at Koluama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Chief Howells Levi, stated this in Yenagoa.

He said the fishermen were ordered by oil industry regulators to withdraw from fishing to avoid catching contaminated fish.

Levi lamented that the fishermen, who were deprived of their income during the clean up were not compensated.

Operational error at SNEPCo had caused a discharge of 40,000 barrels of oil into the Atlantic Ocean.

The House of Representatives and National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) in December last year recommended a compensation of $3.96billion for victims of the incident.

Levi said the verification of claims revealed that six local government areas along the Atlantic coastline in the two states were affected by the incident.

He said: “The Bonga spill incident elicited a lot of claims many of which were very frivolous; initially more than 2,000 communities inundated Shell asking for compensation.

“But when we appointed attorneys and conducted a verification it was streamlined and we found out that 168,000 persons in 350 communities suffered the negative impact of the spill.

“The impacted local government areas are Ekeremo, Southern Ijaw and Brass in Brass while Warri North, Warri South and Burutu in Delta and each of the council areas produced 28,000 victims.”

The monarch explained that the coastal settlements affected by the Bonga spill in Delta and Bayelsa resolved to set up a Spill Impact Verification Committee to fashion out a framework for compensation by SNEPCo. According to him, the victims were scrutinised to ensure that only fishermen who reside along the Atlantic coastline were verified and each person was made to made to depose to an affidavit.

“The purpose was to verify the claims before they are submitted to SNEPCo for payment because we do not want people with frivolous and unsubstantiated claims to endanger the case of genuine victims,” Levi said.

What does corporate governance do? It ensures that you have set up a structure and a culture within the institution that can drive the business in line with given rules. That’s what corporate governance does.

-Seplat Petroleum Managing Director Mr Austin Avuru

Lagos tackles NIWA on tax, tarriff

MFBs bemoan low business

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S

AGOS State government has advised properties owners along the shorelines in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and other parts of the state against dealing with National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on taxes, levies or tariff.

The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, said NIWA does not have constitutional authority or statutory power to assess properties in Lagos for payment of any tax, levy, fee or tariff.

In a statement, Ipaye clarified that under the constitution, the power to assess privately owned houses or tenements for rates is vested in local government authorities by virtue of the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of

By Adebisi Onanuga

Nigeria.

“The Local Government Councils in Lagos State have neither delegated this power to NIWA nor appointed NIWA to act for them in this regard,” he averred.

The state government therefore, advised property owners who have been served with such demand notices by NIWA to forward same to the office of the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice so that the government could take necessary steps to protect affected properties.

The statement titled “Lagos State government regularisation and regulation of properties in Lagos State by National Inland Waterways Au-

thority was issued in reaction to various petitions from concerned property owners in the Ikoyi and Victoria Island areas of the state who were served with demand notices for payments in respect of NIWA’s supposed “Right of Way” and “regularisation exercise”.

The property owners are also being asked to pay various sums of money as processing fee, inspection fee, monitoring fee, shore utilisation fee, and others and to grant NIWA’s field officers access to their private properties for purposes of measuring the shoreline for accurate assessment of their NIWA tariff.

The g overnment said it has carefully reviewed the applicable legislation set-

ting up NIWA “and it is our considered view that its functions do not extend to the assessment, regulation or taxation of properties that are not obstructing any declared waterways.”

It argued that under the Land Use Act, all land comprised in the territory of each state is vested solely in the state governor.

“The Lands (Title Vesting) Decree, which purported to vest title of all land within the 100 metres limit of the 1967 shoreline and all land reclaimed near the lagoon, sea or ocean in the Federal Government has been invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction since 2000.

In effect, that obnoxious Act has ceased to be part of Nigerian Law,” the statement added.

OME operators of microfinance banks in Lagos, said business did not boom as usual as sellers and buyers withdrew in doors days to Presidential/ National Assembly polls fearing that violence would break out.

According to them, the situation affected loan recovery rate of the banks.

Investigations revealed that some traders who collected loans from banks could not meet installmental repayments and that Portfolio at Risk (PaR) of the banks had shot up.

The operators said this was because some traders in Lagos and other parts of the country closed shops due to the uncertainties over the outcome of the polls.

The Managing Director of Bosak Microfinance Bank, Lagos, Mr Kola Bello, said the uncertainties made traders not to trade as usual.

“Anytime our recovery team goes out for loan recovery, they always meet our clients’ shops locked up; this has shot up the PaR of the bank.

“Uncertainties of polls affected most of the entrepreneurs we gave loans; they put their shops under locks and keys.

“Some of them that even opened shops closed early over fear of the unknown.

Food price index dips, says FAO

T • From left: Zonal Head, Edo/Delta states, First City Monument Bank(FCMB) Limited, Mr. Chinedu Ogosi; Chairman, New Benin Market Traders Association (BMTA), Financial Secretary, Mr Samson Ojo; Chairperson, Mrs. Doris Eboigbe; Mrs. Felicia Osarhuorhuomwan and some traders at the launch of the FCMB Personal Business Account in Benin.

Why Associated Aviation crash report is not ready, by AIB A

BOUT 17 months after an Embraer 120 air craft belonging to Associated Aviation crashed less than a minute after take off at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has blamed delay on the release its final report of the crash on the inability of pathologists and coroners to submit their report.

Its Commissioner incharge of Investigation, Air Accidents, Dr Felix Abali, said it will be unprofessional to release the final report of the accident without the input of pathologists and coroners who assisted in the course of the investigations.

The AIB boss said until this was done, the accident’s final report will not be released.

Abali however said the Bureau was expiditing action on the problem.

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

He said: “That takes us back to the problems we are having with coroners and pathologists. We are actually still waiting for their reports.

“Accident as you know could be caused by a lot of factors; assuming that one of the crew member was drunk, how do you determine this? It is through pathological reports that you can know the true state of health of the crew members.

“If we don’t have such information, then the report is incomplete. We cannot go and publish something and leave out some aspects. “What we have been doing is that we try to come to an understanding with them. “We have been trying to write a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them.

“As a matter of fact, we just started working with one of the pathologists who basically has a lot of connections with some of the hospitals in different states. These hospitals will work with this individual who will just report to us. If that works, I think the situation would be alleviated.”

Abali assured that the sector was safe for flying despite some accidents in recent time, adding that accidents could not be eradicated in the industry rather, it could be reduced to the barest minimum.

“Aviation industry is safe globally and will always be safe. Till now, except the one that happened over Ukraine that the people know the cause of it, the other two or three, we don’t know the causes yet and I think in accident investigation, it is not always right

to speculate. It doesn’t do the industry any good and it will not enhance safety in the system.

“Until the black boxes are discovered and the true causes of the accidents are known, we won’t be able to comment much on them. But, I want to emphasise here that aviation is still the safest mode of transportation anywhere in the world.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has identified obesity, sight problem and heartrelated diseases as common problems affecting pilots in the country.

Its Deputy General Manager, Corporate Affairs Mr Samuel Adurogboye, who spke in Lagos, said mental cases was not part of the pilots’ challenges.

He said the authority carries out six-month interval medical tests on pilots, including foreign pilots operating in the country.

HE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Food Price Index has continued to decline in March, dropping 1.5 per cent from February and 18.7 per cent (40 points) below its level last year .

A sharp fall in the price index for sugar, which reached its lowest level since February 2009, together with dipping prices for vegetable oils, cereals and meat, more than offset a rise in dairy prices, and contributed to the lower index, which in March averaged 173.8 points.

The index has been on a downward path since April, 2014.

The FAO Food Price Index is a trade-weighted index that tracks prices of five major food commodity groups on international markets. It aggregates price sub-indices of cereals, meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar. Abundant supplies and rising dollar pushes down international prices of most food commodities.

The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 187.9 points in March, down a sharp 9.2 percent from February. This was mainly due to improved crop prospects but also the continued weakening of the Brazilian currency against the U.S dollar, which is supportive to exports.

The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 169.8 points in March, down 1.1 percent from February and as much as 18.7 per cent below its level a year earlier.

The downward trend this year has been mainly due to large export supplies and mounting inventories, in particular for wheat and maize.

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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THE NATION

BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION

E-mail: ynotaderibigbe@gmail.com

Lagos rolls out new taxi regime •Provisional licences for 14,000 operators

A

NEW scheme, which the government of Lagos State says will make public transportation safer, more attractive and affordable, is on the way.

Taxi-cab operators will be beneficiaries of the new system, which may get illegal taxi operators popularly called Kabukabu off the roads.

Kabukabu is the name called private cars used as cabs by their owners to make ends meet.

Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa dropped the hint while giving 14,000 provisional licences free to taxi and cab drivers at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Lagos.

He said with the exercise, which came to an end yesterday, taxis will soon bounce back and regain their space in the multi-modal transportation system planned by the government.

Opeifa, who represented Governor Babatunde Fashola at the event, said the licences would soon become tradable because of the government’s backing, adding that they could also be used as collateral for bank loans.

He said the licences were given to those on the state’s data bank.

A government research, Opeifa said, showed that the taxi and cab industry is worth N25 billion and this can be pushed to N50 billion in the next five years.

Opeifa said it is worrisome that operators remained poor, while their services have been on a downward slide despite the industry’s potential.

He said: “Beneficiaries are ex-

• The mega taxis Stories by Adeyinka Aderibigbe

pected to take this provisional letters to the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) office, where their vehicles would be certified fit or they would be given some time to fix the problems and thereafter issued with the permanent licence, which would now be a life-time document.

“Though the law puts the life of the vehicles to be admitted to oper-

ate in the state under five years, the governor had to extend this to 12 years, based on the economic realities that make the acquisition of fairly new vehicles impossible for the operators.”

Opeifa said a new fare regime is in place, adding that road metering would begin next year.

Another benefit of the scheme, he added, is that the Black Stripes on

the yellow cabs will be phased out, to be replaced with the state’s colours of: blue, yellow, green and red.

“Henceforth, the taxis and cabs would now be called Mega Taxis.

Gradually, it would no longer be fashionable to see kabukabu on any part of the state as we are trying to strengthen the sector and ensure that operators are respected and responsible people who are not

only making money but creating employment opportunities,” Opeifa said.

The scheme, he said, is part of the multi-modal transportation initiative being put together by the government, adding that there is need for a good taxi and cab regime to fill the gaps being exploited by motorcycle operators.

Opeifa urged Lagosians to support the initiative as the government would ensure that public transportation becomes the public’s preferred alternative.

Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cabs Operators of Nigeria (LSTDCOAN) President Tajudeen Adetoro lauded the initiative, which he said would revolutionise taxi operations as more orderliness would be brought into taxi service.

He said his members were looking forward to the eventual takeoff of the new regime.

The Chairman, Modern Cab Operators Association of Nigeria (MCOAN), Mr, Adeboye Ajakaiye said the new regime would erase passengers’ fears of taxi services in the state, and bring sanity into taxi systems with more governmental presence and control.

Ajakaiye said the corporate operators were looking forward to the take-off of the new regime, which would remove the fears of the older operators about the presence of new and younger operators, adding that the development will bring more businesses and open avenues for private sector investment in the hitherto unregulated industry.

Akwa Ibom transporters to protest stickers sale ban

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RANSPORTERS in Akwa Ibom State are gearing up to protest the purported ban on sale of emblems/stickers to motorists after Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

They claimed that the ban, which was based on a purported circular by the Joint Tax Board (JTB), was wrong.

In a statement issued in Uyo, the state capital, last Friday, they said the JTB had no authority to ban stickers/emblems sale.

The transporters comprise Tipper Contractors Association, led by Elder Udo Uko; Tipper Business Operators Association, led by Comrade Ezekiel Uyire; National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), led by Obong Michael Uwana and the Tipper and Truck Drivers Association.

The JTB, which was created in 2005, claims to be the only authorised body to issue and sell such stickers nationwide.

The transporters’ lawyer, Umo, Umo & Co., said in his clients’ “letter of protest” signed by NARTO’s Michael, and Chairman, Tipper Drivers, Owners, Loaders and Sand Dealers Association (TDOLSDA), Prince Asian Asian: “We write to recall a recent ban on sale of Emblems/Stickers to motorists in Akwa Ibom State by the Chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue and hereby wish to register our strong protest against the said policy because it will impoverish our members with less revenue to the government.

“If the policy is implemented, it will end up enriching only one man and his cohorts in the person of Dr. Ike Anikwendu of National Com-

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

mittee Against Touting, the promoter of this retrogressive policy; Dr. Festus Udo, Mitchel Udo and Elder Udoekong Udousoro”. They pointed out that this policy was rejected in 2005 by the Federal Government then wondering why Dr. Anikwendu still want to continue with it.

Their lawyers, Umo Umo & Co. observed that paragraphs 2 and 3 of the circular from the Joint Tax Board are contradictory. While paragraph two of the circular states that States and Local Government Areas derive most of their revenue

from sale of Emblems /Stickers, paragraph three on the other hand directs States and Local Government Areas to stop issuance of Emblems/Stickers.

The lawyers further stated that the circular is merely persuasive and not mandatory; that Lagos, Delta and Gombe States among others are selling their respective Emblems/Stickers unabated; that the body, National Committee on Touting under which the JTB issues its circular, is a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) with no compelling authority; that the body promoted by Dr, Anikwendu is

unknown to the Constitution of Nigeria; that President Olusegun Obasanjo rejected the idea in 2005; that implementing the policy will create more problems than it seeks to prevent as thousands of people in Akwa Ibom State will be rendered jobless; that the State Government should drop the purported policy as it is not compulsory and at odds with the uncommon transformation policy of the State Government and that that the negative policy will adversely affect the socio-economic life of stakeholders in the transport sub-sector of the state as well as injury the revenue

of the governments across board.

The group’s lawyers have made their position known to the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, State Commissioners for Transport, Works, Police Commissioner and The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

The group under the aegis of Akwa Ibom Transporters issued a notice to its members on March 27, to continue to collect their revenue at their respective posts. The group further said the issue concerning the purported ban on the sale of emblems/stickers is before the Federal High Court, Uyo.

Don’t travel without life jacket, govt warns

T

HE Lagos State Government has warned water transportation operators against the nonuse of life jackets.

It said no one should travel on its waterways without the use of life jacket.

The warning came on the heels of a canoe mishap in Epe on March 28, in which six people, including a prince drowned. None of the victims wore a life jacket.

Commissioner for Transportation Kayode Opeifa said the tragedy could have been averted if the victims had worn life jackets.

Speaking exclusively to The Nation on telephone on Friday, Opeifa said while the state commiserated with the bereaved families, it would continue to make its waterways safe for travellers.

He described the waterways as one area where the state should have a comparative advantage, adding that

everything was being done to make water transportation a viable means of commuting and a pleasurable experience for all.

He said while the state was embarking on the aggressive clean-up of water hyacinth, a major impediment on the waterways, it has also improved safety standards for operators.

He said the government would continue to strengthen its enlightenment campaigns for all operators, irrespective of their size, to use life jackets rather than relying on their swimming skills.

Opeifa said: “Life jackets are to water operator what an helmet is to a motorcycle operator. It enhances the chances of survival on the lagoon or sea anytime there is a mishap and we are yet to understand why some people would continue to operate without it despite all that the government is doing to spread the awareness about its importance.

Last year, government distributed about 2,000 life jackets to all operators especially those operating in commercial transportation in the riverine areas. We will continue to acquire this tool and distribute to them as this remains the only way to ensure that asa many passengers as possible are saved from hazards on the water.”

He said the Lagos State Waterways Agency (LASWA) would continue to enlighten, monitor and enforce operational standards among commercial water transport operators.

As part of government’s efforts to deepen water transportation, the commissioner said more jetties are springing up in many riverine areas in an attempt to make the system safer and encourage more passengers to consider it as a preferred transportation alternative to the congestion on roads.

“We shall continue to make our waterways attractive and soon we

shall take delivery of seven big ferries to take people, but no one should take any ferry or canoe without a life jacket.

“We are determined to make our waterways safe but all the operators and commuters must comply with basic safety standards. With life jackets, these tragedies could have been averted,” he said.

“We have learnt that some of the victims even swam to the shore. This means that with a life jacket, they could have been saved.” I feel bad that many of the victims are educated and that nine of them were crammed inside a small boat meant only for five passengers. The canoe may have capsized as a result of the overcrowding. We sincerely regret the tragedy and would love everyone to take a lesson or two away from the incident and be more determined to make that the last tragedy we would ever record on our waterways,” he concluded.

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS AVIATION Mixed reactions have continued to greet the proposal by African countries to adopt a single sky policy by 2017. The policy is expected to foster liberalisation of the continent’s airlines, improve safety and harmonise civil aviation regulations, writes KELVIN OSA OKUNBOR

Many faces of single African sky policy O

PINIONS are divided among experts over the country’s plan to endorse the proposal by the African Union (AU) to pursue a single airspace policy for the continent by 2017.

The proposal is the brain child of the African Union Commission. It has received favourable disposition by air transport ministers.

But some experts are kicking against the policy on the grounds that most of the countries are not prepared for the policy. This is because some of them have weak airlines, which may not be able to compete favourably if the transport market is open without barriers.

The lack of preparation is hinged on the absence of strong Nigerian carriers to compete with other stronger carriers if the air transport market is open to all players .

Among Nigerian carrier, only Arik Air operates international flights into London, Johannesburg, New York, Dubai, Accra, Abidjan and other routes in the West African Coast.

But some African carriers including Ethiopian Airlines, Egypt Air, Kenyan Airways, Sudan Air, ASKY Airlines fly into many points in Nigeria .

Ethiopian Airlines, for instance, flies into four cities in Nigeria: Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Enugu .

Experts say Ethiopian Airlines is driving the proposal because it has robust airlinesy.

Ethiopian Airlines is one of the strongest carriers in Africa. The airline has also set up ASKY Airlines as its feeder carrier in some parts of Africa to achieve multi-hub operations.

The opposition to adopting the single airspace policy according to some experts, is also coming on the heels of the drawbacks Nigeria experienced over a decade after it signed the Open Skies Policy with the United States (U.S) government.

The experts’ argument is hinged on the demerits of such policies which have made Nigerian market open to all foreign carriers without restrictions.

To make the domestic market open to foreign carriers , experts say, would further weaken the capacity of indigenous carriers, which needs some protection to enable them compete favourably.

Last month, the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka said government is pursuing a single airspace policy for Africa through the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision .

Chidoka said: ”I want to say that Nigeria is ready to utilise its plan of being (the hub of) regional African.

So, we are championing the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision. We are thinking that we should liberalise and democratise our airspace. We are thinking that the days of government stopping private operators is over. We are thinking that the government that we have today will lead us to pushing the other African countries to do more to the Yamoussoukro Decision.

“That decision requires African countries to open their skies to one another.

It requires air operators to operate freely and as we grow a number of these airline operators, we are growing traffic and the potentials of the Nigerian market.

“So, this is what we are offering Nigerians. Nigeria can become a hub and within four hours, you can fly to any part of Africa. We believe that our historical and geo-

•Ethiopian Airlines aircraft parked at the apron.

graphic location will make it possible for us to achieve this.”

But, an industry expert, Mr Olumide Ohunayo, has cautioned the Federal Government on the implementation of the liberalisation and single sky policy for African carriers.

Ohunayo said Nigeria was not ready for the implementation of the policy, stressing that implementation

by African governments had been cloudy over the years.

Ohunayo maintained that for Nigeria to implement the policy, it required vibrant airlines that would collaborate with other carriers, arguing that those airlines that are benefiting from the single sky policy are not solely owned by the governments or individuals even though they are protected by their respective govern-ments.

He insisted that if the policy was implemented by the Nigerian government, foreign carriers, especially Ethiopian Airlines, which has been pushing for the implementation of the policy in the continent would be the major beneficiary of the programme at huge cost to the country.

This is just as he described the open skies policy Nigeria entered into

with the U.S as hasty and unhealthy for the country, adding that the same U.S had refused to sign such pact with China and other major aviation countries around the world.

He said: “On liberalisation and single African sky, the minister needs to thread softly, slowly and diplomatically. Liberalisation in the skies is a different ball game entirely. It is usually documented and encouraged but it is opaque in implementation.

“We signed open skies with the U.S and had a five-year head start which we frittered away till this moment because the decision was hasty with no carrier to take advantage of it. The African single sky being proposed is a baby of Ethiopian Airlines and government and the target is to operate to Europe, Far East and America from Lagos and Abuja. It’s a subtle cabotage that we will make us the usual sitting giant.”

Aviation experts in Africa have declared that for air transport to grow in the continent, African states must implement the Yamoussoukro Decision.

Chief Executive Officer of African

Aviation Services Limited, Mr Nick Fadugba and Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mr Tewolde Gabremariam have endorsed the single airspace policy.

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

Investigations reveal that Gulf states, including United Arab Emirates carriers , European and the U.S, carriers presently have 80 per cent of the market, while African airlines only have 20 per cent of the traffic in African region .

Many African countries have refused to implement this agreement as only 11 out of 54 counties have complied with implementation scheduled to begin in 2017.

The experts noted that these international carriers that erode the African air traffic market employ less than one per cent of Africans in their airlines.

Sources say if the region’s airlines are empowered through government’s support, they will employ thousands of people in the continent as they strive to dominate their region in intercontinental travel.

The experts are craving for government’s support in the area of

lowering of taxes, introducing stricter measures to stop multiple entry of international carriers to African nations, removing bottlenecks in the supply of aviation fuel and reducing the charges on the product so that airlines can buy cheaper fuel from the continent. They also want government to facilitate credit facility for airlines in the continent through single digit, long term loans and assist in manpower development for the acquisition of technical skills in the industry.

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

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

On the fears being harboured in some quarters by some countries and some airlines in the region that opening the skies will enable established African carriers to stifle newly established airlines, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam dismissed the fear and described it as perceived fears instead of real ones, He noted that today non-African airlines have 80 per cent of the traffic of the intercontinental air travel from the continent; yet the region gains nothing from the domination of these mega carriers.

But if African airlines are empowered, it would be a catalyst for economic development of the continent, create thousands of jobs in each country and also enhance movement of people from one part of the continent to another.

“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 is no support from their governments.

NANTA advocates consolidation for members

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HE National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has advocated the need for travel agencies in the country to embrace consolidation as it is the practice globally.

Its National President, Alhaji Aminu Agoha, who made the call in Lagos, said if consolidation is properly handled and successfully implemented by parties, it would not only reposition the parties to face the future challenges but it would also minimise agency default.

Agoha said consolidation is in vogue globally, adding that travel agencies cannot be different.

He spoke at the association’s forum in Lagos while presenting a paper with the theme, “Consolidation in the Travel Industry: The Way Forward” Agoha emphasised that there is the need for a stronger relationship among members, stressing that it would further help to move the industry forward.

On the newly-built secretariat,

Agoha said it was a dream come true, and it has been the dream of the association to have a building of its own.

The project, he said, was done on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) basis, which would not have been possible without the collective efforts of members.

Speaking at the forum, the Country Manager, British Airways, Mr Kola Olayinka, urged NANTA to study what obtained in other climes as it concerns consolidation, noting that with consolidation, the experience of two or three agencies would bring the best out of them.

On his part, the Managing Director of Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, said the issue of trust must be critically looked at when considering consolidation as it is the greatest challenge facing business operation in the country.

He argued that for two parties

to consolidate, there must be trust between them ,adding that if trust is not there the business may not last long before it goes under.

Ms Bunmi Acher of Leadway Assurance Company posited that transparency has very important role to play in the course of travel agencies trying to consolidate.

NANTA’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chairman, Mr Akintunde Akala, said travel agents are not responsible for the increase in airfare as being speculated in some quarters.

Akala posited that sometimes, the taxes are usually more than the basic cost of the ticket, adding that sometimes taxes represent up to 70 per cent.

He said: “I am not of that opinion. We can’t and we have no say in that actually. For example, if you look at your ticket, apart from the basic fare which you pay, all the airlines imposed charges; you pay for security, you pay for fuel, you pay for insurance, you pay all those ones to the airlines, you pay to all the countries you over fly,

you pay when you pass through their airports, all these taxes go out of the country to foreign governments. The only thing that remains here apart from the five per cent sales tax which goes to the government and the airport tax which goes to FAAN, everything is on your ticket.

“Sometimes the taxes are usually more than the basic cost of the ticket.

Sometimes taxes can represent 70 per cent of the value you see in your ticket.

For example, when you have promos; we say, we have promos $399 or $499 and by the time they come to the final cost, it will come to about N159, 000.

So, that is it; agents have nothing to do with the rise in air fare.”

On the major challenge, the travel agencies in the country are facing, Akala said it is unfair competition from their principal, as intending passengers now book online to get cheaper airfare.

On the cost of NANTA secretariat, he could not give the specific amount, except to say that the association spent a lot of money on the property.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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BUSINESS MARITIME

e-mail: maritime@thenationonlineng.net

NIMASA blows over N2b on hotels for ex-militants

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OR allegedly blowing N2 billion in hotel bills for former Niger Delta militants, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) may have run into trouble with the Ministry of Transport (MoT).

NIMASA is said to have spent the money in the past four years on keeping the former militants in hotels in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos.

It was learnt that the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, his officials and NIMASA account staff were shocked when they learnt of the bills.

The minister, it was gathered, was furious over the spending, which he considered reckless, considering that over 90 per cent was spent on former militants in exotic hotels.

The discovery of the huge bills,

• It isn’t true, says spokesman Stories by Oluwakemi Dauda MaritimeCorrespondent

it was learnt, has caused a row between the management and the staff.

NIMASA Deputy Director, Public Relations (DDPR) Mr. Isichei Osamgbi denied the story.

“Completely false. There is no such thing,” he said.

But, according to a senior NIMASA official, some of the exmilitants lived, dined and wined in their hotels for over a year.

An official of one of the hotels in Lagos said the bills rose to over N2 billion because whenever the ex-militants travelled, they refused to submit their keys and returned to their rooms after their trips.

He said when the ex-militants

moved into the hotel, NIMASA did not say when they would leave nor write the management that it would no longer foot the bills.

“The agency did not write us that they will no longer be responsible for the hotel bills.’’

Sources at the Ministry of Transport said some senior officials of the agency had, in the past few days, been trying to keep the information relating to the bills from the public, he said.

A ministry official urged the incoming administration to investigate the matter, saying: “The All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government and the National Assembly must look into this spending

spree by NIMASA. It is a source of great concern to us for agencies under our watch to be spending public funds the way the current management of NIMASA is doing.”

He said the agency’s conduct goes contrary to the government policy on fiscal reform.

“The money is public money.

The leadership of the agency must be made to account for it.

Why should the management allow people who have nothing to contribute to the agency stay in five-star hotels for years?

“The N2 billion bill is a disaster to public relations (PR) and pure maladministration.”

Sources at some of the hotels revealed that the ex-militants splurged on expensive foods

and drinks.

“It is disgusting and highly despicable. The management of the agency took advantage of its privileged position to spend public funds the way it liked.

Those people enjoyed expensive drinks during their stay in the hotels.

“There is no doubt that the country is in a financial crisis.

The price of crude oil has dropped at the international market and the Federal Government has devalued the naira.

Therefore, the N2 billion hotel bill is completely unethical, uncharitable, shameful and selfish. It is offensive to millions of Nigerians. The decision to keep the militants in the hotels is silly, despicable and shameful,” the official said.

Customs gets vessels to fight smugglers

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• From right: Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) and President, Shippers’ Association Lagos State (SALS), Rev Jonathan Nicol addressing reporters on high port charges in Lagos.

PHOTO: OLUWAKEMI DAUDA

Operator invests $350m in Lagos port

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PM Terminal has invested over $350 million on facilities at the Apapa, Lagos port. It has also received an award from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as the “Most Environmentally Conscious Port Operator” in Lagos region.

The award, according to its Managing Director, Andrew Dawes, was in recognition of the terminal’s achievements in safety and operational best practices.

Dawes said: “This achievement is made possible through the safety culture of personal responsibility which we practice and embrace, and through the personal commitment of our staff and business partners working together for a safe work place environment,” he said.

On a company-wide basis, APM Terminals’ Lost-Time Incident Frequency (LTIF) rate declined

from 2.53 in 2013 to 1.81 per million man-hours worked in 2014 across the APM Terminals Global Terminal Network, in facilities managed by APM Terminals.

The APM Terminals Apapa LTIF rate for 2014 was 0.47 per million man-hours worked.

He said: “APMT is the largest container facility serving Lagos.

With a container throughput of

700,000 TEUs in 2014, APM Terminals Apapa is the busiest container terminal in the West African Region, handling 50 per cent of the nation’s inbound containers.”

The company, according to him, invested $350 million in the port when it started its expansion programme in 2006.

“It has resulted in doubling

container volumes and increased productivity significantly, with waiting time for vessel berthing eliminated.

Regular rail service, running three times per week to the inland cities of Kaduna, 730 km (455 miles) from Lagos, and Kano, 960 km (600 miles) distant, was also established in August 2013,” he said.

ITH the acquisition of two new ocean vessels to boost its operation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to fight smugglers.

The vessels, christened Customs Pride and Group of Nine, have berthed at the Grimaldi Jetty in Apapa, Lagos.

They are the first to be acquired by the Customs Area Controller, Western Marine Command, Apapa, Yusuf Umar, said the vessels would help in policing the waters, boost revenue and checkmate smugglers.

The vessels would boost the command’s war against smuggling adding: “Seeing the vessels, he said, on water will send signals to smugglers and oil thieves and others engaged in illegal activities on the waters because we can pursue them with the vessels to any length.”

Umar said the vessels would be inaugurated soon.

“We are awaiting further directives from the headquarters on when the Comptroller-General will commission the vessels. This is a landmark achievement by the management of the service,” he said.

Built in Turkey, the vessels are equipped with communication gadgets including high radar to enable it pick distant signals.

Agents to Buhari: diversify economy

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PERATORS in the maritime industry have urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to diversify the economy and reposition the maritime industry.

The operators under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) led by their president, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said

the industry’s future is bright with the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

He described Buhari’s victory as “the result of patience and perseverance”, saying: “And it is not a surprise either that it’s a close run between two leaders with different orientations.

Here is a sitting president, who

is thinking in the long term and here is an incoming president who is thinking on impacting on the people in the short term.

“All the reports of all the committees that have been piling dust, whether seen or unseen, but without any action taking place on them should be looked into. It is not a matter of setting

up of another committees but the government should look into the recommendations of past committees and move the industry forward.”

He was optimistic that the incoming APC government would review the automotive policy and the amount importers must pay on vehicles after May 29.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Strides in science

•In spite of a poor education ambience, Nigeria still shows world-class potential T is stirring that Nigerians are making strides in science worthy of international attention. Two developments highlight this reality: a discovery of new viruses and a decoration for scientific achievement.

The reported discovery of two new viruses by a team of scientists from Nigeria and the United States of America is even more remarkable on account of the central involvement of a local research centre. The team leader, Dr. Christian Hapi, who is the Director, African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State, gave a useful insight into the significance of the development as well as the importance of the enabling environment. Hapi was quoted as saying, “This discovery points to the fact that the genomics for pathogen discovery platform that we have set up at Redeemer’s University is rapidly advancing health sciences in Africa.”

It is striking that the fever-related viruses, Ekpoma virus-1 (EKV-1) and Ekpoma virus-2 (EKV-2), are named after a local area in Edo State where an investigation was carried out among a study population living in and around Irrua, which is near Ekpoma. Hapi said: “These two new viruses are also related to rabies, which is a very dangerous disease.” He added: “The discovery also shows clearly that there are a lot of potentially dangerous viruses circulating around that science has not yet discovered and there is no diagnosis yet.”

Fortunately, if the experts are to be believed, these viruses do not constitute a

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threat at the moment. It is noteworthy that the Director, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi, who commended the scientific work that led to the discovery, also addressed possible public anxiety. Nasidi said: “There is no potential threat to the country from these viruses for now.”

However, this official reassurance should not be a reason to go to sleep. It would be counter-productive and amount to a defeat for the discovery if the country fails to take advantage of the knowledge. Indeed, what the Ekpoma discovery demonstrates, and which deserves emphasis, is a capacity not only to detect diseases but also to discover their causes; and such capability should be exploited maximally for the benefit of the populace. Hapi correctly observed: “It’s important that the ministry of health should work with us to put in place a surveillance system so that we should be able to identify the pathogens that are responsible for some unknown causes of fever.”

It may be considered a reflection of the abilities of Nigerian scientists that Associate Professor Adeboye Osunkoya of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, United States, was honoured with the Arthur Pardy Stout Award by the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP). The prestigious yearly prize is given to a pathologist under age 45 whose publications “have had a major impact on diagnostic Pathology.” Also, it is worth mentioning that Osunkoya,

who is Director of Genitourinary Pathology at Emory University, previously won another USCAP prize, The Benjamin Castleman Award, for the best paper published in Human Pathology.

There is no doubt that Osunkoya’s recognition and decoration by his peers, particularly in an international context, speaks volumes about what is possible in a space of possibility. It is a testimony to what Nigerians can achieve when structure and infrastructure are available for the encouragement of scientific work.

These attention-grabbing developments should inspire a greater focus and a more practical concentration on scientific development in the country, especially among scientists and the hierarchs at the policy-making levels. The scientific age requires no less; and there is no room for excuses.

‘It would be counter-productive and amount to a defeat for the discovery if the country fails to take advantage of the knowledge. Indeed, what the Ekpoma discovery demonstrates, and which deserves emphasis, is a capacity not only to detect diseases but also to discover their causes; and such capability should be exploited maximally for the benefit of the populace’

Ghana has gone • Nigeria’s neighbour demonstrates superior ability in WASSCE

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IVEN the nature of Nigeria’s fierce rivalry with Ghana, it must have been particularly galling for Nigerians to hear that Ghanaian students once again swept the honours at the West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC) International Excellence Awards that took place in Lagos recently.

The awards are given annually to the top three performers in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination in WAEC’s member-states of Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia. Ghanaian students took the three highest positions out of the 2,016,497 students who sat the examination in 2014.

Hasan Mickail, Kenyah Blaykyi and Archibaid Enninful Henry each recorded eight A1s in the subjects they sat for, scoring 682.0933 points, 680.4287 points and 676.9348 points respectively. Ghana had 397,275 candidates, representing 16.21 per cent of the total, compared to Nigeria’s 80 per cent representation. Ghana has

‘It is vital that Nigeria takes measures to improve its educational system if it is to produce the knowledge workers which are the bulwark of global pre-eminence.

Ghana’s regular triumph in the WAEC International Excellence Awards shows that the implementation of carefully thought-out policies will bear fruit over time, and if Nigeria wishes to achieve similar results, it must do the same’

completely dominated the WAEC awards since 2008. The last time Nigeria got a look-in was in 2007.

Such consistency cannot be solely attributed to luck. Ghana is much smaller than Nigeria, and thus has a correspondingly smaller pool of students to draw upon. It is not as rich, either, and so has fewer resources with which to provide the educational facilities and consumables that are so vital to success.

The real secret of Ghana’s superiority is a commitment to excellence that has characterised its history despite its ups and downs.

School fees have been abolished since 2004 as part of the country’s Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education programme, and a Capitation Grant has been instituted to fund public schools.

Although the country still faces significant difficulties in financing schools, it appears to have gotten the main issue right, namely that of maintaining the high standards established during the colonial era.

Nigeria’s tragedy is that it has failed to preserve an environment within which educational accomplishments can flourish. Funding is a major problem; in 2014, it was stated that about N44.9 billion in counterpart funding for the Universal Basic Education Programme (UBEC) was not being utilised by the states, even though schools are in dire need of infrastructure, rehabilitation and expansion.

The nation is notorious for the frequency of the strikes launched by teachers in primary and secondary schools, as well as lecturers in polytechnics and univer-

sities. Attempts by some states to improve teacher proficiency have been stoutly resisted by teachers’ unions.

The situation is worsened by negative social attitudes to educational achievement. Sport, music and reality shows appear to be far more attractive to the youth.

Intellectual accomplishment is often derided as being irrelevant to socio-economic status. The hard work that is vital to academic success is frequently truncated by widespread examination malpractice. Parental guidance, organised mentorship programmes, scholarships and other forms of assistance are difficult to come by, if they are available at all.

It is vital that Nigeria takes measures to improve its educational system if it is to produce the knowledge workers which are the bulwark of global pre-eminence.

Ghana’s regular triumph in the WAEC International Excellence Awards shows that the implementation of carefully thought-out policies will bear fruit over time, and if Nigeria wishes to achieve similar results, it must do the same.

Funding options like the UBEC cannot lie fallow while primary and secondary schools are in dire financial straits. Teachers’ bodies cannot continue to oppose efforts to raise standards in their profession.

School calendars cannot be continuously disrupted by avoidable strikes. The epidemic of examination malpractices must be confronted with the right mix of preventive and punitive strategies. In essence, Nigeria must do all that it can to restore education to its rightful pride of place.

Still on Transaction and Transformational leadership

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IR: As Nigerians march to another polls this weekend, we must reflect on the ideologies of our supposed leaders and focus on a better and rewarding future for Nigerians as a whole. Political party ideologies are supposedly a reflection of their proposed polices and on how they plan to govern states if they eventually attain power.

A governor that postulate stomach infrastructure which is supposedly the feeding of the belle without providing infrastructural, education or human capacity development at the detriment of the people cannot be said to be a transformational leader but a transaction leader. A transaction leader basically trades your vote for your immediate needs.

Transactional leaders have eaten the fabric of our democratic structure and the people are even misinterpreting stomach infrastructure for even development due to the façade in which stomach infrastructure is portrayed.

Nigeria needs to evolve from an emerging economy or a third world economy into a flourishing economy that is economically viable; politically stable and where the people are intellectually conscious.

A particular political party keeps on clamouring that they are transforming the economy and they have a transformation agenda. Do we call the sharing of money, rice, recharge cards/vouchers, vehicles etc. to the electorate and different stakeholder as transformation? And another political party is clamoring for change and the template in which they proposed have been tested in states in which they are governing. For instance, Osun has experienced development that it has not achieved since creation; Kano’s development is unprecedented; Lagos is an emerging mega city with effective and efficient managers. Are these not the true transformational leaders?

Nigerians need to wake up and judge political parties in which they are set out to vote by their antecedents and what they have achieved thus far in their respective seats of power. Our future is in our hands and we would either reap the benefit of a better Nigeria or suffer the consequences of an economically backward Nigeria.

• Folawiyo Kareem Olajoku, Osogbo, Osun State

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

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Personally, I have been following the story of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), with unalloyed interest since it was established in 2003 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

Only recently, I had cause to, once again, give the Commission thumbs up when it excited Nigerians with the details of convictions it successfully secured in the past four years. It is heartwarming that it recorded a total of 126 convictions in 2014 alone, a development that dwarfed its achievements in 2013 when it recorded 117 convictions.

In all of these, what is incontestable is the determination of the current leadership of EFCC to tether the rampaging bull of cor-

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Of EFCC and stifling budget ruption in our society. But like a sour grape in the mouth, I was, to put it mildly, agitated when I read reports about the drastic reduction in its 2015 budget. Of course, the same fate is said to have befallen other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). But it is particularly disheartening that anti-graft agency like the EFCC is mostly affected.

Against this backdrop, the

APGA candidate’s allegation as ruse IR: I feel obliged to respond to the spurious allegations and deliberate distortion of facts by the APGA House of Assembly candidate for Umunneochi state constituency, Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri; whose alleged congenital mouth diarrhea is an embarrassment.

First, there was no case of ballot box snatching that I am aware of.

With the use of card reading machine for accreditation, it would be ridiculous to attempt to snatch ballot boxes, as only the votes of the accredited voters would be counted and recorded.

Second, the distribution of electoral materials is not within the purview of the Local Government Chairman. So, if there are logistic challenges in the distribution of electoral materials in some areas as alleged, common sense and civility,

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demands that the matter should be taken up with INEC and not to resort to cheap blackmail against the electoral umpire.

Third, I am aware that Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha did not move about on that Election Day. She only went and voted in her polling unit and later reported to INEC office, after the election, to receive her result. Those who saw her knew that her security aides were left in her house, in compliance with the guidelines for the election.

So, Ezekwesiri’s ploy as a punchdrunk man is to contrive a scenario of a skewed play ground, in order to extract greater funding from power desperadoes who masquerade as democrats.

• Jasper Uche is the Chairman of Umunneochi LGA, Abia State

question begging for a satisfactory answer is; how will EFCC and other anti-graft agencies carry out their statutory responsibilities without any hiccup when they are not adequately funded? It will be recalled that during the recent budget presentation by the Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC Chairman, before the National Assembly, he pointed out that the budget proposal of N9.6billion as against the N9.4billion approved by the Budget Office leaves a gap of N110million, which could affect the operations of the Commission.

It is a fact that the EFCC, among others functions, involve in assets recovery and the proceeds from

forfeited assets are paid into the Consolidated Account. But what government actually does with the money leaves much to be desired. Therefore, in view of the funding challenges that EFCC is facing, the Federal Government should ensure that certain percentage of recovered assets are given back to them so as to enable them carry out their operations.

No doubt, a well-funded agency will fight corruption to a reasonable end by removing Nigeria from the world’s corruption index and ensure her growth in the comity of civilised nations.

• Ngozi Alexander Maraba, Nasarawa State

Buhari’s General endorsement

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IR: First of all, I will like to congratulate General Mohammadu Buhari on his victory as Nigeria’s Presidentelect. However, the celebration should not also go like that without extracting some important lessons learnt for record purposes. When Buhari contested the years 2003,2007,2011 elections, we all rejected him as our candidate but when Nigerians are now facing hardships, they quickly embraced change.

Buhari is the one that can

sharpen the economy of this country; his victory can be described as a resounding general endorsement. Kudos should also be given to President Jonathan for creating an enabling platform for smooth conduct of the election and for also conceding defeat by congratulating the elected President. Our Expectations are high and it is our hope that he will fulfill all the promises made.

• Comrade Olawoyin Edris olawoyin4u@gmail.com.

Thinking of civil servants’ welfare!

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IR: There is this general perception by Nigerians that the year when elections are conducted or a year before it is always a blessing to citizens because money would be in circulation to gear people up. But the reverse is the case this year as Nigerians, especially civil servants, are groaning and complaining incessantly about being broke.

The civil servants that toil to make the country a better place now routinely complains about late salary payment and pay shortchange by governments. Whereas, in better managed climes, the civil servants’ welfare ought to be of high priority to government because they are the backbone of the country’s institutional set-up.

Sadly, it is unfathomable to think of their sorry state now, not to talk of when the elections end.

When a new government is elected, it would fault its predecessor, as history has shown, on salary arrears to civil servants and would pledge only to pay some and leave out others deemed to be the outgone government’s debt. Our government should always put the welfare of the civil servants first before election comes, and after election. This is very important; otherwise, the nation would soon lose the confidence and commitment of her most cherished institution, the civil service.

•Salau Olawale Rilwan, Kwara State University, Oyo state.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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COMMENTS for Democracy (AD), to Action FTER the stunning triumph for Congress (AC), to Action Abuja on March 28, the next stop is Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Lagos — Lagos, the South West and to All Progressives’ super-mart and the crown jewel of the Congress (APC), a renascent Nigerian economy.

Lagos has come into its own; And all the arguments that compelled developing decent the federal ruling party’s debacle of infrastructure within its March 28, also compel the Lagos ruling comparatively puny resources party’s triumph on April 11.

— in comparison to the Olakunle But first, some dues. In “So long, humongous but largely Goodluck” (March 24), this column lordbeek1@gmail.com, 08054504169 (Sms only, please) Abimbola wasted resources at the centre hinted at President Goodluck Jonathan’s — secured for itself financial impending defeat and, likening him to independence and, in 16 short the departing expatriate that spitefully defecated on his seat, years, rose from being among feared the president would exit in a huff. the dirtiest cities on the globe Regular readers also bear witness that Ripples had always to one of the cleanest in the opposed President Jonathan, with the sole exception of his West African sub-region. from civil rule to democracy in Nigeria’s 4th Republic. By aborted attempt to rename the University of Lagos What is more? The gospel according to rapid infrastructure the defeat of Nigeria’s ruling party — arrogance, warts, hubris (UNILAG), Moshood Abiola University, Lagos (MAUL). development, driven by focused governance, spread to Ekiti and all — the Nigerian voter would never again crouch before Given the cavalier conceit that suggested Unilag was too (under Kayode Fayemi, which, unfortunately Ayo Fayose is an extant order! Welcome, sweet democracy! “tush” for MKO’s “bush” name, even if the university gladly busy undoing now), Ogun (under Ibikunle Amosun), Oyo It is in this new democratic spirit that Ripples navigates the enjoyed his charity in the past, and the democratic republic (under Abiola Ajimobi), Osun (under Rauf Aregbesola) and April 11 gubernatorial and state legislature elections in Lagos owing its essence to MKO’s martyrdom, Ripples insisted even Edo in the South-South (under Adams Oshiomhole).

— and other South West states of Ogun and Oyo, though no President Jonathan, as visitor to the university, reserved the Indeed, the stark difference, in infrastructure development, thanks to past electoral heists and judicially reclaimed right to rename Nigeria’s first federal-owned university, between Fayemi’s Ekiti (one of the poorest Nigerian states) mandates, only legislative elections would hold in Osun, subject to amending extant laws, of course. and Mimiko’s oil-bearing Ondo (the richest in the South West, Ondo and Ekiti states.

It is from this point of eternal critiquing that Ripples happily outside Lagos), shows the difference in contrasting vision.

Ripples’ grouse with Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic eats crow on how President Jonathan gracefully conceded Besides, the South West-North West political entente that Party (PDP) was simple: Nigeria needed the very best; and defeat. His defeat acceptance speech, both in rendition and drove the APC historic presidential win of March 28 issued service delivery at the centre, despite all the din and threat, sentiments, would appear his best ever. The great irony: largely from the same Lagos thinking. was far from the best.

Jonathan sounded more presidential in defeat than he ever That is why it is preposterous, nay fraudulent, to suggest In 1999, we knew what Nigeria was. In 1999 too, we knew sounded throughout his troubled tenure! that because there has been Change at the centre, Change what Lagos was.

This beatification does not, of course, wipe clean the must be in Lagos — or, for that matter, in Oyo or Ogun State.

Between 1999 and now, Abuja had embroiled itself in so president’s dangerous pre-election manoeuvres: on the If Lagos, even under the most inclement of political much chaos that all it can show is net-retardation, taking down explosive fronts of combustible religion, divisive regions weathers, had got it relatively right; and its success has so many states with it. No thanks to shambolic management and ultra-dangerous ethnic antipathies. But that Jonathan influenced the change at the centre, why would Lagosians of the Federation Account, most states, not excepting the knew when he was licked, and pulled off a dignified bow-out want to vote the dying federal (dis)order?

Federal Government itself, cannot pay monthly salaries. was, indeed, a thing of cheer.

Akinwunmi Ambode comes from the Lagos camp, whose Even humble but rapid infrastructure-developing states, like On that score, he towers above former President Olusegun idea has made the difference. Jimi Agbaje comes from a the State of Osun, have taken a terrible hit, from the Jonathan Obasanjo, his estranged godfather turned bitter enemy, who Presidency’s terrible mismanagement. Osun today, therefore, discredited federal order, that not only ruined itself, but nearly executed a most frenetic dance after Jonathan’s unhorsing. stands a mere shadow of itself; with the freezing of many ruined Nigeria. Can anyone truly imagine four more years But it is to Nigeria’s hefty luck that Jonathan abandoned futuristic roads, a gargoyle of what might have been, had the of a PDP federal government?

Obasanjo’s do-or-die ethos just at the nick of time! That, of state received its due from the federal purse!

Let Lagos, and the rest of the South West in Oyo, Ogun, course, was because Attahiru Jega was no Maurice Iwu Lagos, on the other hand, despite being in political Ekiti, Osun and Ondo vote a new federal order they have (President Obasanjo’s remorseless election fixer); and, for that opposition, had not languished in its 1999 mountain of refuse, helped to midwife. That is the most logical way to work the matter, when the chips were down, Jonathan was no Obasanjo! arrested growth and generally bad infrastructure. work, before savouring the sure prosperity, to follow from By conceding defeat in an election he could not have won, Instead, thanks to the Bola Tinubu-led order from Alliance sure hard work.

President Jonathan hall-marked the long-awaited transition

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epublican ipples

Next stop, Lagos

Adieu, Pa Paul Oni Meduna The Oni siblings, on April 2 and 3, at Iyamerin-Okeri in Kogi State, treated friends, well wishers and guests to a most befitting funeral rites for their patriarch, Pa Paul Oni Meduna.

And boy, was it a funeral to remember!

Pa Meduna must be smiling in his grave. Reason? Given pre-election tension, it was a journey to dread, into the bowels of Kogi, the southern swathe of the North. What if the election

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NE of the happiest moments for many Nigerians was when the cool-headed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, finally announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, as the winner of the just-concluded presidential election in the country.

Buhari, after a fourth attempt at becoming president, polled a total votes of 15,424,921 to defeat Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the incumbent President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 12,853,162 as well as other aspirants that contested the election. Apart from the agile voters, there was also doggedness on the part of special class of electorate – the aged, the sick and the physically-challenged – who defied the heavy rain, scorching sun in many places and trooped out to exercise their civic obligation. Some community were said to have provided generating sets to recharge card readers while Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officials used car headlamps to count votes at polling stations when it became too dark.

The election has been described as the most keenly-contested in recent times in the annals of the nation because the opposition party gave the ruling party, described as the biggest party in Africa, a hot chase for the highest position in the land.

The electioneering was certainly not without its low periods that almost derailed the efforts put in place to have a successful exercise. The postponement of the polls, the adoption of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), smart card reader and the purported removal bid of the INEC Chairman, were some of the controversies that almost truncated the process and eroded people’s confidence in the credibility of the elections, aptly described by the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, as the ‘most vicious, unprincipled, vulgar and violent’. When eventually, the people’s resoluteness prevailed, an attempt by a PDP agent, Elder Godsday Orubebe, to stop the announcement of results resurfaced. Interestingly, Orubebe, a former federal Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, who sought the stoppage of the release of the results, allegedly cited partisanship against the INEC chairman. All of that is now history!

‘APC should not allow carpet crossing of politicians into the party for now. It will be unfair to allow new entrants to hijack power and displace old and committed members. The party should now focus more on winning the April 11 polls’

had gone nasty?

But it became a celebration of newfound democracy — with the officiating priest, at the funeral service, saying the locals voted with anger borne out of hunger! Sweet indeed, is the memory of the just! Rest in peace Pa Meduna, and congratulations, the Oni siblings: Sanya, Tope, Toso and Comfort.

The challenges ahead of Buhari’s Victory

By Adewale Kupoluyi The quest by the opposition party to wrestle power from the ruling PDP was largely hinged on poor performance that is evidenced with the high level of insecurity, unemployment, decaying physical infrastructure, corruption and impunity pervading virtually every sector of our national life. The victory of the APC should, therefore, be a turning point for the common man that have suffered from many years of neglect and deprivation. The reality today is that many people live in abject poverty. Earning a decent living in Nigeria is almost a mirage.

The cost of living is extremely outrageous, as workers’ wages cannot really take them home.

The economy is so much distorted, mismanaged and emaciated that only the rich can now afford the basic comfort of life while a majority – comprising the working class and the dependency stratum including senior citizens – continue to live under untold hardship and abject poverty. Many people have died as a result of hunger, the poor state of our health institutions and complete absence of social security.

Unfortunately, the Jonathan-led government seems to be cutoff from this reality. It is this disconnect between the government and the governed that the opposition party has struggled very hard to bridge by taking over governance of the nation that is abundantly blessed with human and material resources.

Rather than punish public officers found to have compromised their positions, they are even rewarded with national recognitions and appointments. It is in our dear country that abnormality is celebrated as the ideal. The zeal for patriotism, selfless service and excellence no longer have a place in our national life as mediocrity and god-fatherism seem to have taken over. Upholding high moral values is no longer a big deal to many people. It is this desire for bringing sanity into the nation’s affairs that spurred the imperative for change through the ballot. Rather than revamping the ailing economy, as a winning strategy, the Jonathan administration decided to toe the wrong path by dissipating energy and enormous funds on winning re-election through the back door by using people with little or no political weight and relevance. The outcome of the presidential poll has vindicated this. In the process, he

‘Ambode comes from the Lagos camp, whose idea has made the difference. Agbaje comes from a discredited federal order, that not only ruined itself, but nearly ruined Nigeria’ was misled into believing that he still enjoyed large political support.

Now that the wishes of the majority of people have become a reality, it is time for the President-elect to make a difference by turning things around for the better. He should prove cynics wrong that he is neither a religious bigot nor a dictator – the two appellations that nearly cost him the votes of Nigerians.

He should avoid taking decisions based on religious, tribal and parochial persuasions. He should serve the people with fervour within the ambit of the law. He has a lot of work ahead of him especially in the areas of revamping the economy, ending the Boko Haram insurgency, curbing unemployment and ending epileptic power supply, among others. More importantly, he should be careful in choosing his cabinet by ensuring that only sound, committed and qualified persons are appointed into the various positions. This should not be limited to politicians and card-carrying members of the APC. He should search for experienced, committed and hardworking professionals and technocrats with proven integrity.

Buhari should be wary of people who will now pretend to be his friends. This is the period when sycophancy would be at its peak. Many leaders fail and fall because sycophants, who ward-off genuine people having the passion to serve, surround them. The APC should also be wary of politicians that would want to decamp into its fold in a bid to joining the winning train. This should be discouraged otherwise, the party could end up losing focus and this will be a great disappointment to many Nigerians. APC should not allow carpet crossing of politicians into the party for now. It will be unfair to allow new entrants to hijack power and displace old and committed members. The party should now focus more on winning the April 11 polls. Jonathan’s magnanimity of conceding defeat should be lauded considering the fact that it signaled the first time an incumbent Nigerian leader will be defeated at the polls. His display of sportsmanship is impressive. He should commence without delay, the process of handing-over preparatory to May 29.

The efforts of the INEC Chairman, his team as well as international observers are highly commended while carrying out this sensitive and important national assignment. Jega should work harder by improving on the lapses recorded during the presidential poll. These shortcomings include the malfunctioning of the card readers, minimising cases of invalid and rejected votes and other irregularities experienced during the accreditation of voters. These are still crucial tasks ahead for INEC as Nigerians look forward to free, fair, transparent and credible gubernatorial and states’ house of assembly polls in a matter of days.

• Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk .

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COMMENTS

M

ARCH 28, 2015 like June 12, 1993 will go down in history as the day Nigerians decided to take their destiny in their hands. As it was about 22 years ago, Nigerians turned out in their millions to cast their votes for a president of their choice to lead the nation, but unlike the 1993 experience, their votes did count this time around.

After a 72-hour wait, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced to an expectant nation the result of the election and General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner.

But before the final votes were counted and with one state yet to be declared, President Goodluck Jonathan, the candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did the unexpected by calling his main opponent, Buhari, on phone, to not only concede defeat, but also congratulate him on his well deserved victory. And with just that one phone call, President Jonathan saved Nigeria from an imminent catastrophe and thus elevated himself to the status of a statesman.

Prior to the election, the handwriting was clearly visible on the wall that Jonathan and his PDP were heading towards a crushing defeat, but not a few Nigerians were afraid that the president and his supporters might not accept the result and could resort to strong arm tactics to remain in power.

The fear of a major crisis erupting after the election had been heightened by provocative comments being made by Jonathan core loyalists, particularly by his Ijaw kinsmen and two renegade governors from the south west

‘Igbos and Yoruba have been living peacefully together in Yoruba land for centuries and on no account should the Jonathan issue be allowed to divide them or cause trouble between them. President Jonathan who caused it must play a prominent role in healing the wounds, just as the incoming President Mohammadu Buhari must initiate programmes and policies that would integrate all Nigerians wherever they reside irrespective of their religion, ethnicity or gender’

W

HENEVER election is approaching, especially in Oyo State, it is not new to hear people chant the cliché: ”Ibadan kii sin ‘yan leemeji”; literally meaning “no governor gets a second term in Oyo State”. It is baffling because such position has no scientific while it is quite apparent that the mystery behind this myth will be unraveled during the tenure of incumbent Senator Abiola Ajimobi as governor of the pacesetter state.

Rather than for people to tarry a bit so as to have rigorous introspection into the causative factors that have been preventing successive governors from being re-elected, they routinely mouth the baseless sentiment that no governor can rule Oyo State consecutively.

Perhaps the people were right not to have reelected any of their previous governors in the state. Why? If you consider the financial resources at their disposal and what they did compared to what Ajimobi has done within a space of 45 months in office, one might then be compelled to also share their wantonly dispelled sentiments.

With due respect to those who have been governors before Ajimobi in this Fourth Republic, what the incumbent has done so far, in one’s own candid estimation, has surpassed all what previous occupants of the office have done combined.

Talking about the forces that rolled back the landmark achievements of the Awolowo era, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, during his inaugural address on May 29, 2011, said: “What stares us in the face today are nothing but the ruins of that noble pedigree. Even the most generous commentator on Nigeria’s affairs will not deny that Oyo State is no longer the pacesetter that it used to be. The labour of our heroes past has been lost in the vortex of vanity. Our public infrastructure is dilapidated. Our public institutions have been compromised. The psyche of our people has been bruised. Our state has ceased to be the reference point for laudable programmes for which it earned her nobility.

We have, on the reverse, become a staple on reports on violence and brigandage, corruption, street fight and lingering political crises. The duty of government as guarantor of public peace has been performed in the breach”.

The above obviously marked the resolve of Governor Ajimobi’s to make the state re-

Let the healing begin in the run up to the election to the effect that it was either victory for Jonathan or war. The conduct of Jonathan’s agent at the counting centre in Abuja, Elder Orubebe did nothing to calm the fear. But the president rose to the occasion to allay the fear with that phone call and the concession speech that later followed.

As a colleague rightly put it, that was the only good thing that Jonathan has done since he became president and it will surely define his six-year presidency. I agree and also join millions of Nigerians to thank him for that. But whether that would be enough to wipe out his sins to Nigerians is left for history to decide.

Part of those sins was the way he divided Nigerians along ethnic and religious lines just for him to secure enough votes to retain the presidency. It is on record that the 2015 presidential campaign was the most divisive in the history of electioneering in Nigeria and Dr Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience and the PDP were largely responsible for this.

To get the Igbos votes in Lagos and the rest of the south west, Jonathan pitched the Igbos against their host community, the Yoruba, urging them to come together and vote for him and the PDP which they did. The president actively promoted his candidature as that representing the Christians just to get their votes and he did, in large numbers especially in the south east and some states in the north with large Christian majority. No politician has ever done this in the past and if truth must be told, Nigeria is now sharply divided along these lines no thanks to Jonathan’s ambition.

Now the Igbos living in Yoruba land are being regarded as traitors in the house by their host just because they ignored glaring cases of incompetence on the part of Jonathan and

voted for him on account of him being a Christian and from the old eastern region. Nobody here (Yoruba land) would have bothered if they voted the way they did had the president not prompted them. Yoruba pride themselves as being liberal and expect their guests to behave the same way. When they voted for Jonathan in 2011 and fought for him to become acting president two years earlier when then President Yar’Adua was indisposed, they did so based on conviction and not merely because he is a Christian or a fellow southerner.

This sharp division if not quickly corrected could lead to a larger problem politically between Igbos and Yoruba in future. This is why leaders from the two prominent ethnic groups must come together quickly to address the ugly development. Igbos and Yoruba have been living peacefully together in Yoruba land for centuries and on no account should the Jonathan issue be allowed to divide them or cause trouble between them. President Jonathan who caused it must play a prominent role in healing the wounds, just as the incoming President Mohammadu Buhari must initiate programmes and policies that would integrate all Nigerians wherever they reside irrespective of their religion, ethnicity or gender. Buhari has a big role to play here especially in the north, where in most parts the Christians were seen as supporters of Jonathan.

Most importantly, religious leaders must also preach peace, oneness and integration to their followers. I don’t know whether some Islamic leaders did preach against a Christian president to their congregation, but there were instances of some Christian clerics preaching and vowing that Nigeria would never be ruled by a Muslim and urging their congregation to pray against terrorism, both indirectly order-

Oyo 2015: Why we must vote for continuity

By Sunday Ogundipe turn to the glorious era.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) administration led by Governor Ajimobi has left no one in doubt as to its capacity to effect change within the shortest possible time. The state, which was hitherto famed for violence, is now a safer haven for both people and investors.

The establishment of the joint security task force code-named “Operation Burst” has helped in stemming the menace of insecurity in the state. The effect of this is that many investors are trooping to the state. Cases like murder, armed robbery and kidnappings have drastically reduced.

To make water available for the people, many water works across the state including Asejire Dam and Eleyele waterworks were repaired to improve water supply effectiveness from 10 per cent to about 80 per cent.

Once the new Federal Government improves electricity supply, the effect of the repair, which is currently hammered by poor power supply, will be felt by all residents as potable water will begin to run in dry taps and in homes across cities and towns.

In terms of employment for the teeming youth populace, the incumbent administration has scored very high points. In addition to the 20,000 youths engaged under the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State (YES-O), over 5,300 teachers were recently recruited into the service. The beauty of it is that these teachers were recruited within their localities and posted therein.

To make standard of education meaningful, the incumbent administration has rehabilitated many classrooms while the newly introduced model schools in each of the senatorial districts will be a thing of joy for the educational sector when completed. To bridge the gap between graduate primary school teachers, they have been provided

with enhanced salary package while more than 7000 teachers have been trained.

Some people have argued that the incumbent administration removed traders from the roads but they have forgotten that it was done for their own good. They have also forgotten that the two previous administrations before Ajimobi also demolished shops without providing alternatives. But Ajimobi constructed a massive modern market consisting 3,000 shops in Scout Camp area of Ibadan and given free to traders.

The government also provided traders in markets across the state about N500 million interest-free loans. Over 6,000 traders benefitted from the loan policy. Sensing that health is wealth, the Ajimobi administration has brought in about 300 medical personnel to help tackle the scourge of health challenges.

In the area of stomach infrastructure, which has become a norm in the country, this is the only government that has taken the people into consideration. The ‘Ajumose’ free buses are the first in the history of the state. While it is free for workers and students, it is subsidized by about 75 per cent by the government for commuters compared to what commercial vehicles charge.

No one would have thought that a company like Shoprite would have sited two outlets in Ibadan, one of which is its largest outlets in West Africa. States like Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo are still struggling to have one. That means they have seen what many people were unable to see. And another advantage is that the more of these companies we have, the more jobs are offered to residents. The newly rehabilitated Agodi Gardens now plays host to renowned artistes and entertainers while offering world-class recreational services to tourists and fun seekers.

The upgrading of the satellite campuses of the Polytechnic, Ibadan at Saki and Eruwa to full fledged institutions is one of the achievements that will continue to linger in the minds

ing a no vote for Buhari, a Muslim and suggesting he was a supporter of terror/Boko Haram. Utterances like this have far reaching consequences, even beyond the elections. Now that Buhari has been elected, what would these clerics tell heir congregation and how do they expect them to relate with the new administration.

Even after the election of Buhari, some politicians on the other side in spite of President Jonathan’s appeal, are still holding on to the pre-election propaganda that the Presidentelect plan to Islamise Nigeria. I was shocked to read in the newspapers the day after Buhari’s victory a statement by former Anambra State governor Chief Ezeife beating his chest that Igbos voted overwhelmingly for Jonathan because they believe he is one of them (meaning a Christian) and to forestall planned Islamization of the country. When people like him say things like this it is irritating and annoying. These are people who should know and indeed knows but have instead chosen to mislead their people. People like him are not needed in the present dispensation and I am sure the Igbos would note that. We don’t need leaders that would keep promoting the divisions amongst us; we need leaders who can unite us, leaders who would think Nigeria first and rally us all behind project Nigeria. Buhari has that opportunity with his election and he cannot afford to fail. We are in a last chance bus and everybody must be on board to ensure a safe journey.

Why did we elect Buhari and not Jonathan?

Nigerians, tired of widespread corruption that typified Jonathan’s presidency believe that Buhari, with a track record of incorruptibility would clean the system of corruption and end the corrupt tendencies inherent in our officials/leaders. As a former military man, Nigerians expect him to restore discipline into our nation as well as restore our pride as the leader of Africa and the champion of the Blackman. Nigerians expect him to make our country work again, reinvigorate our economy, give us electricity, repair and improve on our decaying infrastructure, return quality to our education, make our military the best in Africa again, and restore our lost glory. But these cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of division that currently pervades the polity hence the urgent need to heal all the wounds created by the acrimonious campaigns that preceded that historic presidential election.

of the good people of Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun.

As against the traditional practice, Oyo State is now a construction site as various ongoing works across the five geo-political zones of the state bear testimonies to the infrastructural development policy of the governor and his party. Oyo State has never had it so good.

His relationship with workers and the good people of the state has endeared him to firstclass traditional rulers and opinion leaders in the state. To the good people of the state, the title of Aare-Atunluse of Ibadanland bestowed on Governor Ajimobi by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana is but an endorsement of another term in office following his urban renewal efforts in Ibadan and infrastructural development across the state.

All these achievements cannot but make me to conclude that it is by re-electing Abiola Ajimobi for another term that the state can move forward. At this point in time when the APC is assuming leadership at the centre, the people of the state must not play into the hands of political marauders by voting any other person than Abiola Ajimobi. Oyo State cannot afford to be in the opposition because one of the reasons why development has been delayed is because those who hold sway in Abuja don’t want progress at the state simply because we don’t allow them to feast on our collective purse.

As we go to the poll this week, a vote for Abiola Ajimobi and all other APC candidates is a vote for continuous peace, stability and development.

• Sunday Ogundipe writes from Oyo State

‘To make standard of education meaningful, the incumbent administration has rehabilitated many classrooms while the newly introduced model schools in each of the senatorial districts will be a thing of joy for the educational sector when completed’

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

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Permit me to use this opportunity to again assure all Nigerians that, under my leadership, the judiciary remains resolute and committed to do its constitutional duty during this election period. We will not be swayed or distracted from the course of justice in any election matter that is before or comes before the justice system.

’

See page 28

E-mail:- law@thenationonlineng.net

As chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Election Working Group, Dafe Akpedeye (SAN) carries a huge burden. The group is a 13-man committee set up to monitor elections, collate NBA branches’reports on polls, train lawyers for elections and liaise with other stakeholders, among others. Akpedeye tells JOSEPH JIBUEZE the group’s observations during the presidential and National Assembly elections, why there is need for electoral reforms and areas the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should improve on.

‘Why accreditation, voting should be simultaneous’ W

HAT is your assessment of the presidential election which you monitored?

Prior to the election, there were fears of violence erupting during and after the polls. This was not the case. The elections were generally acclaimed to be peaceful, despite the initial glitches arising from the late arrival of INEC officials and materials and card reader malfunction. Nigerians turned out in their numbers and waited patiently to cast their votes. Even in places where elections were postponed to Sunday, March 29, Nigerians still came out to cast their votes. I sincerely hope that the peaceful conduct exhibited by Nigerians will continue well into the postelection period.

Were you impressed with INEC’s performance?

INEC must be commended for a largely successful outing during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, despite the glitches with the card readers and the logistics arrangement. However, the Commission still needs to correct the challenges encountered with the card reader to ensure it does not recur in the gubernatorial and State Assembly elections of April 11, 2015.

What were your observations on the arrival and handling of electoral materials?

In a number of polling units visited in Abuja, INEC officials and materials ar-

rived late. NBA observers in a number of states also reported that material and INEC officials arrived late at the polling units. Despite the late arrival of INEC officials and materials, voters could be seen in their numbers waiting patiently for the arrival of INEC officials. Whatever the reason for the lateness, the commission needs to ensure that arrangements are in place to prevent a reoccurrence during the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

Did the ad hoc staff meet your efficiency expectations?

The INEC ad-hoc staff did not appear to be adequately trained for election. Some of them did not appear to have a working knowledge on the use of the card readers. In a number of places where the card readers were said to be faulty this was as a result of the adhoc staff not knowing how to use them. In some places the INEC ad-hoc staff failed to remove the protective film on the lens of the equipment making it difficult for the card readers to read the biometric data in the permanent voter cards presented by voters for scanning How do you compare this election with the previous ones you monitored?

In spite of the challenges encountered with the introduction of the card readers which is to be expected with the introduction of new technology, the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections was a huge improvement when compared to the 2007 and

•Akpedeye

2011 elections. The elections was largely peaceful, there was reduced incidents of snatching of ballot boxes, unlike the 2011 election which saw widespread violence take place in the northern parts of the country following the elections.

Do you think the card readers should have been tested in earlier elections?

INEC introduced the use of the card readers for the 2015 General Elections.There were mixed reports on the performance of the card readers. In some areas the card read-

ers performed well but in majority of the country they had various glitches and failed to perform. The card reader problems included flat batteries, wrong date program, biometric failure and inability of Electoral Officers (EOs) to properly operate them. INEC officials were responsive to complains when contacted and were able to rectify some of the problems. The events of last election prove that the card readers should have been •Continued on page 26

Before the March 28 election, some suits were filed to challenge the eligibility of Gen Muhammadu Buhari to contest the poll. There were fears that the courts may disqualify him.

But Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mahmud Mohammed’s warnings to judges not to be used to scuttle the election seem to have paid off. JOSEPH JIBUEZE reviews some of the cases that could have truncated the election.

Polls: How CJN averted crisis M

•Justice Mohammed

ONTHS before the March 28 presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made an issue of Gen Muhammadu Buhari’s certificate. At every opportunity, the party’s leaders accused him of lying on oath that he had a school certificate.

They contested Buhari’s claim that he obtained his school certificate from the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, which he attended some prominent Nigerians, such as the late Gen Shehu Yar’Adua and a former Court of Appeal president Justice Umaru Abdullahi.

The president-elect said he sat for the University of Cambridge/WASC Examination in 1961, citing his examination number as 8280002. He said he made Second Division.

A copy of the result was released by the school, but the PDP said it was forged. At least 10 suits were filed seeking to disqualify Buhari, heightening tension. There were fears of huge crisis if Buhari is disqualified.

To maintain the judiciary’s sanctity, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Mahmud Mohammed warned judges against subverting justice for percuniary benefits. He urged them to remember their oath in the discharge of their duties.

The CJN first gave the warning last December at the yearly conference of Court of Appeal justices, where he said: “It is most regrettable and worrisome to hear members of the public increasingly criticise judicial officers for playing into the hands of politicians. All too often, these very close critics create unfortunate perceptions and connotations, as insinuations are readily drawn from them.

“It is immaterial whether or not this assessment is fair, for as judges we must be seen to rise above the tide of systemic corruption and other unfortunate afflictions that have become commonplace in Nigeria today...

“I must, therefore, implore all judges to remember that as next year is an election year, we need to be more dedicated and alive to our duties, shun unnecessary delays in the dispensation of justice and reject every illicit approach to compromise our collective integrity. It must also be remembered that every infraction of the law by any judicial officer may subject the entire judiciary to •Continued on page 27

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LAW COVER CONT’D try has become absolutely necessary against the backdrop of election rigging, widespread rejection of declared results, as well as loss of lives and property. More importantly, our electoral laws appear to be ill-equipped to adequately address these concerns. We needs to put in place a democratic process that maintains accurate list of citizens who are eligible to vote and encourages every eligible voter to participate effectively in the process. There is a need to improve the voting system and enhance ballot security. Most importantly, the political class must have respect for the rule of law while we must, as people reject the pervasive culture of corruption in our body polity and be prepared to hold our elected officers accountable for their actions.

•Continued from page 25

tested in the earlier elections. This would have given the commission insight into the possible challenges that would arise from the use of the card readers.

Some say it was a big risk to deploy card readers for the first time in this general election. Do you agree?

Yes.Things could have gone horribly wrong. We received reports of polling units running out of incidence forms. While the card readers functioned smoothly at various voting centres, there were complaints from many others about slow or completely dysfunctional machines. The overwhelming nature of the problems associated with the card reader compelled INEC to issue a directive to all EOs to resort to manual accreditation when there was card reader malfunction. The issue of card reader failure amongst other things also resulted in the decision of INEC to postpone elections in some polling units to Sunday, March 29, 2015. Having said this, I do not think INEC should forego the use of the card readers to enhance elections, rather more efforts should be put into developing appropriate and dependable solutions to glitches that may arise

The electoral tribunals will soon get to work. What are your expectations of judges?

The judges who will serve as chairmen and members of election petition tribunals for the 36 states and Abuja for the 2015 general elections have been chosen and sworn in. Nigerians expect them to live up to their oath of office. Adjudication on election petitions is regulated by statutory rules on time and since the panels do not have the luxury of time in the discharge of their duties, I advise that they consider all the evidence before them carefully and adjudicate swiftly and justly. Members of the tribunals have had the riot act read to them by the Chief Justice of Nigeria during their swearing in where he also sounded a note of warning to them to never again allow themselves to be used as tools to truncate democracy. He enjoined them to be dispensers of justice regardless of fear or favour, position or standing. This is what is expected of them.

What areas would you want improvements?

INEC needs to work to improve on the deployment of materials. Also, adequate training should be given to the ad-hoc staff on the use of the card readers to avoid a reoccurrence.

Were you impressed with the security agents?

Reports we received attest to the fact that the security agents were well behaved. Security personnel arrived and were visible at the various polling units as early as 7.30am. Security was generally commendable. In most of the polling units, our team of observers recorded a minimum of five security agents comprising the police and civil defense in each polling units. The security personnel conducted themselves in a civil, unobtrusive and orderly manner.

Do you think the presidential and National Assembly elections were credible, free and fair?

Yes, I believe the elections were, to a great extent, free and fair. The 2015 Presidential Election was one of the most keenly contested elections in the history of Nigeria. In spite of the reports of pockets of violence and snatching of ballot boxes, Nigerians voted in their choice of candidates for the various elective positions.

Do you think accreditation and voting should be done simultaneously to prevent having to queue twice?

Accrediting and voting simultaneously will greatly shorten the time voters spend waiting after the accreditation before they can vote. If the logistics of how this will be done can be worked out, I think this will be good for our democracy. Nigerians will not have to spend the whole day on the queue to vote. After accreditation some voters go home to return at about 1pm when the voting will commence. More often than not, some voters do not return as they are too tired, having stood for hours under the sun to get accredited.

Do you subscribe to the establishment of an electoral offences commission to deal with violations of the Electoral Act? The calls for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission are borne out of the need to see electoral offenders punished. Nigeria must begin to hold people

What reports did the NBA Voters Registration Complaint Centers receive?

The NBA set up a Situation Room at the NBA National Secretariat for our observers and members of the pubic to call in and give on the spot account of happenings in their polling units. Reports received included the late arrival of INEC officials and materials, inadequate number of incidence forms, lack of result sheets and card reader malfunction.

•Akpedeye

‘Why accreditation, voting should be simultaneous’ accountable for crimes committed and punish those who commit electoral violence.

In past elections, there were reports of electoral offences. In most cases, after the announcement of the arrest of suspected electoral offenders, there was hardly any information on what became of them. It is evident that none of the accused was ever prosecuted for the electoral offences let alone being convicted. In effect, these offenders soon find their way back to the polling centres each time elections are billed to take place in the country or in any state of the federation.

worsening security situation in the country.

It was a truly remarkable thing to see an incumbent President gracefully concede defeat in an election. This act will ensure a smooth and successful transition of power.

The success of the election proves that Nigeria is growing as a democracy and can do well in events of vital importance. It will also help improve the image of Nigeria in the eyes of the international community.

President Goodluck Jonathan has shown himself to be a true statesman. Hopefully this will set an example for other African countries to emulate.

Is Nigeria maturing as a democracy, or is there still a long way to go?

The 2015 election could have become another nightmare for Nigeria, given the

Are there electoral reforms you would want the incoming government to implement?

The need for electoral reform in the coun-

Are you impressed with the contribution of lawyers in the monitoring of the presidential election?

The NBA observer group comprising the INEC accredited observers was on ground in the 36 states and the FCT. Several NBA members, not necessarily the INEC accredited observers, also participated by reporting happenings in their respective polling units. I must commend lawyers for their support and cooperation. The reports we received from them formed the basis of the NBA interim and final post-election statements.

From your meetings with traditional and religious leaders and other leaders of thought, do you think there is enough voter education?

Reports from our observers in the field showed that there was not enough voter education carried out. Voters were largely ignorant about the voting procedure particularly with regards to the card readers.

More work needs to be done by all concerned to ensure that voters are truly acquainted with the nuances of electioneering procedures.

How does NBA intend to ensure that cases of electoral offences are prosecuted?

The NBA is ready and willing to partner with INEC or the police in the prosecution of electoral offenders. We have offered to INEC pro-bono services to actualise this extra-ordinary gesture. We await their response and expect INEC to work out the modalities for the prosecution.

African Bar to partner states on good governance, others

By Adebisi Onanuga

T

•Uwaifo

HE African Bar Association (AFBA) will partner with heads of government in Af rica to enthrone good governance, its President, Hannnibal Uwaifo, has said.

He stated this in a message on the last elections.

He praised Nigerians for ensuring credible election that led to the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari and Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

He said: “The demonstration and steadfastness and love for fatherland displayed by Nigerians has now put Nigeria and indeed Africa on the threshold of democratic culture.

Indeed, Nigeria now truly represents the touch for Africa and growing democracies across the world.’’

The AFBA chief argued that the concession of victory and the congratulatory message by

President Goodluck Jonathan to the Presidentelect, Major-General Buhari even before the final votes were counted “speaks volume of the content of the character of President Jonathan”.

“While we congratulate General Buhari on this well deserved victory, we urged him to live true to his character, ‘’’ it stated.

AFBA suggested eight-point agenda to the President-elect upon assuming duty next month.

It urged the in-coming government to deal with corruption, stressing that there should be a code of conduct for public officers.

It said the rule of law must be adhered to and extra-judicial activities of all security agencies must be checked and punished where it occurred in the new government.

According to AFBA, the independence of the judiciary of the judiciary must be ensured and wrong doings promptly investigated and pun-

ished.

He suggested that official salaries of political office holders be set to reflect the lean purse of the country and to make more finances available for social services, adding that deliberate welfare policies must be put in place as a priority to cater for the vulnerable and less endowed in Nigeria.

AFBA advised that the rate of unemployment among youths must be tackled decisively, adding that government and social services must be also be improved upon for the betterment of the country.

While advocating a robust foreign policies for the country and greater move towards African integration, AFBA canvassed for the encouragement of a free enterprise through deliberate government policies and programmes especially in Agriculture technology and small and medium scale businesses.

27

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

LAW COVER CONT’D

Polls: How CJN averted crisis •Continued from page 25

public accusation.

“I advise that justices should shun such acts and decisions that will cause our courts to fall into disrepute and public ridicule. I must also remind you that it is only when we act with a clear, free conscience that the judiciary will retain its integrity and independence.”

The CJN restated the warning while inaugurating 242 election petition tribunal judges that will handle disputes emanating from the general elections.

“Let me use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to all judicial officers. Do not allow any political party or politician to compromise your integrity or your future.

We must never again be used as tools to truncate our nation’s democracy,” the CJN said.

To further hammer home his point, Justice Mohammed repeated the warning last week at the swearing-in of Justice Ishaq Bello as the Acting Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

He said the leadership of the judiciary was aware of plans by some “unpatriotic citizens” to use the courts to stop the electoral process, warning judges not to yield themselves as tools to desperate politicians.

“Permit me to use this opportunity to again assure all Nigerians that, under my leadership, the judiciary remains resolute and committed to doing its constitutional duty during this election period. We will not be swayed or distracted from the course of justice in any election matter that is before or comes before the justice system.

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

The anti-PVC/card reader suits Judges played a key role in ensuring that the March 28 election held. For one, they were not stampeded into delivering a verdict in any of the suits that could have affected the poll.

At least four suits were filed at the Federal High Court Abuja and one in Lagos challenging the use of card readers and use of the Permanent Voter Cards for the conduct of the forthcoming polls.

The plaintiffs in one of the suits sought for, among other prayers, the postponement of the elections “until the Permanent Voter Cards are made available to the plaintiffs.”

The other suit is praying for an order restraining INEC from using card readers and an order mandating it to allow “every willing Nigerian who has any voter card issued

by INEC to vote at the general elections.”

The anti-PVC suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/ CS/06/2015, was filed by a group, Society for Advancement Protection of Public Rights.

The matter is before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Another suit filed before Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja is seeking to stop the use of the PVCs on the grounds that allowing it could amount to disenfranchisement of a lot of eligible voters.

The suit was filed by the Attorney General of Plateau State; its Speaker Titus Alams, and the chairmen of the 17 local government areas.

Other plaintiffs are Chairman of the Pla-

teau State Council of Traditional Rulers, Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Gyang Buba; and former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Domkat Bali, who is the traditional ruler of the Tarok People in Langtang.

Four political parties – the United Democratic Party, Action Alliance, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria and Alliance for Democracy – also filed an anti-PVC suit, saying the majority of their members were yet to get their PVCs. A PDP chief, Waliu Taiwo, in suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, is seeking an order restraining the commission from using the card readers during the polls.

The plaintiff claims that INEC’s guidelines which stipulate the use of card readers is unconstitutional and should be nullified.

According to him, this is “the first time anywhere in the world where a device such as the Card Reader as proposed to be used by INEC would be used to the effect that it supercedes the content of the register of voters properly compiled by the electoral body”.

Three lawyers, led by Chijioke Emeka, also sued INEC at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking a declaration their civil and legal rights would be breached if INEC does not issue them their PVC. The plaintiffs told Justice Ibrahim Buba that they were told that their data wiped off from INEC’s system after they registered and therefore there was no PVC for them. Among others, they are praying for an order directing INEC to issue them their PVCs or make other alternative arrangements to enable them vote.

The anti-Buhari suits Between January 26 and middle of February, at least 10 cases were filed seeking Buhari’s disqualification over his alleged inability to submit evidence of his academic qualifications to INEC. Within the same period, two cases were filed against President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility to seek re-election. Two others seeking the same prayers are pending before the Court of Appeal in Abuja and may have become academic, Jonathan having lost the election.

Ahead of the case against Buhari, the APC warned against any orchestrated and lastminute disqualification its presidential candidate, saying: “If it is true, as it is being widely speculated across the country, that the Jonathan administration has procured a judgment to disqualify the APC presidential candidate when the Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to rule on the issue, then it portends a great danger for the nation.”

The party said in addition to other reasons, the six-week postponement of the elections might have been used by those who never wanted the polls to hold to shop for such a “satanic judgment.”

“This is why we are hoping that good reason will prevail and nothing will be done, deliberately, to plunge Nigeria into crisis by the same people who have always been quick to say their political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian,” the party had said.

All eyes were, therefore, on the court.

Would Buhari be disqualified? Rather than deliver any verdict on the case, Justice Adeniyi Ademola adjourned it till April 22 and 23.

The judge, after fixing the new dates, explained that his decision because of the

court’s impending Easter holiday and judges’ conference that would follow. He fixed the new dates without entertaining suggestions from lawyers to the parties. Tension was calmed.

The plaintiffs in the three suits want the court to declare Buhari ineligible to contest in the election on the basis of his alleged failure to submit his certificate of academic qualifications along with his Form CF001 to INEC. The plaintiffs claim that Buhari’s failure to submit his certificate contravened provisions of sections 131 and 318 of the 1999 Constitution and section 31(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

With three of the suits earlier struck, there are now three pending suits challenging Buhari’s eligibility.

The judge fixed the new dates after he dismissed separate applications by Chukwuma Ochu and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa seeking to be joined as defendants in the suit filed by Chukwunweike Okafor, describing them as “busy bodies and meddlesome interlopers”.

Buhari, APC and INEC are the defendants in the suit and the other pending ones.

The court had earlier struck out three of such suits, one of which was filed by Ayakeme Whiskey (FHC/ABJ/CS/68/15); and the two others by Friday Ojelaro (FHC/ABJ/CS/20/ 15 and FHC/ABJ/CS/3/2015). The three suits were struck out because they were mere replica of one another.

The suits that were adjourned till April 22 are the ones filed by Okafor, Ayakeme Whiskey (FHC/ABJ/CS/68/15) and Max Ozoaka (FHC/ABJ/CS/14/15).

Suits seeking ‘inclusion’ in polls In Lagos, Justice Okon Abang refused to compel INEC to include the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the elections. UPN is praying the court to order INEC to list its candidates for the elections.

The judge held that since INEC had printed and distributed electoral materials, it could not be compelled to destroy them and print new ones. This, the judge said, was because UPN filed its suit on February 25 after the postponement of the initial February 14 presidential election.

He said the suit came up for hearing on March 6, a period of 21 days to the rescheduled presidential election.

“The applicant (UPN) cannot create problems for this court and indeed the entire country. The court cannot command the impossible. The plaintiffs cannot file this suit 21 days to the election and expect that it must be heard and judgment delivered before the election.

“Even though the plaintiffs have no claim against the APC, the outcome of this suit will affect the party because it is about an election, which the party is participating. This is a pre-election matter and it can be heard after the election,” Justice Abang ruled.

The judge then ordered that APC and Buhari should be joined as second and third defendants and adjourned till May 6 for hearing.

Another suit that created some tension was the one by Young Democratic Party (YDP). Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja ordered the party’s officials to address a press conference and retract the misrepresentation of his judgment delivered on March 4.

•Justice Mohammed

The court had ordered INEC register YDP as a political party but the party officials had claimed that the court also ordered that the party should be allowed to participate in the forthcoming elections or the polls be postponed.

Justice Mohammed, who also ordered the party officials to file an affidavit of compliance, threatened to jail them if they failed to carry out his directives.

The judge had, on March 12, when INEC’s application for stay of execution of the judgment was slated for hearing, summoned the party officials to appear in court to explain how they came about the court pronouncement ordering their inclusion in the polls.

Justice Mohammed, in a bench ruling after listening to the party’s counsel, Kelvin Nwofo (SAN), and INEC’s lawyer, Mr. Wole Balogun, held that a case of contempt had been established against the party officials from the two affidavits filed by them.

He, however, held that because the court was not out to unnecessarily join issues with anybody and that in view of plea for mercy by the party’s lawyer, he would “reluctantly temper justice with mercy”.

The judge said: “It is clear that the court did not order to include them in the ballot papers or to shift the elections.” Besides, YDP did not ask for inclusion in the polls in its amended originating summons dated December 2, 2014.

While some of the cases may become academic, a lawyer in one of the cases, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), was quoted to have warned Buhari’s supporters against celebrating prematurely.

He said the High Court could overturn the presidential election if it finds that Buhari lacked the requisite qualifications.

“In the event, for example, Buhari wins the election, all it simply means is that when eventually we finish this case and the court finds that he was not qualified ... the court will simply dethrone him,” Ozekhome told reporters.

Buhari’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi, said he was “absolutely happy” with the court’s decision as it removed the air of “uncertainty and pressure on INEC ...”

•Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Bello Mahmud (middle); Chairman, Governing Council NBA Section on Business Law (SBL) Asue Ighodalo (4th left first roll) when the Council members paid a courtesy call on the registrar-general in his Abuja office.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

28

LAW PERSONALITY Under the watch of Justice Babatunde Adejumo, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has grown from an inferior court to a superior court of records. As NIC president, he got the National Assembly to enact an enabling law for the court in 2006. Since then, Justice Adejumo, who became NIC president in 2003, has been unrelenting in his determination to make the court stand out. In this interview with ADEBISI ONANUGA, he speaks on his vision for his court.

Wanted: Constitutional courts S

INCE you took over as President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria(NICN) in 2003, what have been your challenges?

We have faced a lot of challenges in the course of administration of this court. A court that have been there for 25 years before I was appointed and there was not much to show for it. For you to get to limelight is not a small feat. We weathered the storm and have gone through all sorts of stages to get to where we are today. It is quite painstaking. I have been to all the states of the federation either by road or air to research on how we can develop the court before we come to this.

I met 129 staff, including five graduates. But today, we have 1,500 staff and over 300 graduates. I met two lawyers but, today, we have about 50 lawyers. I met three members who are not judges. Today, we have 20 judges minus the one who retired two weeks ago.

When we were at Oju Olobun in Victoria Island, you know how the place was but within two years, I was able to build this place and we have courts across the country that can compete with any all over the world. In terms of jurispudence, when I came, there was no enabling Act. The NICN was established under the Trade Dispute Act, which I think was not good enough. We were able to come out with the National Industrial Court Act, 2006. I was able to make the Rules of Court to govern the proceedings in court in 2007 and 2010. We are able to come out with the amendment to the constitution. We had a third alteration. We are now coming out with instruments and rules. I think the court has developed but it has not been easy to achieve that. In the process, there were lots of challenges but we thank God we are here.

What other plans do you have to expand the NICN? Well, I believe we are developing, expanding and growing. We have other heights to attain. We are already in about 24 states; we hope to have our divisions in more states.

We want to have more judges appointed within the next one and half years. Our headquarters project in Abuja is 70 percent completed. We hope to complete it and develop the jurisprudence of the court the more. Very soon, we will be opening our Alternative Dispute Resolution centre. We have the instruments and the rules are already on ground. We are about to present them so that the centre can become operational. This way, when cases are filed in court, those cases would be referred to the centre for amicable settlements that will save time, reduce the degree of bitterness or the rancour that usually surrounds litigation. We have our plans and, with time, we will complete it.

What are you doing in the recruitment of more lawyers, judges and support staff?

We are not going to appoint only one person; we have more that 1000 cases pending in the court. By the grace of God, by the time election comes and goes, more people will come to court. The governors that did not come back would want their allowances and entitlements. If they are not paid, they will come here. Ministers and even Mr. President have the right to come here if they did not pay their allowances. They all have the right to approach the court if any of their outstanding is not paid. So, definitely, we are going to need more hands.

There are agitations from some stakeholders that the Industrial Courts should not be the final arbiter of their cases.

What is your take on this?

You see, the law does not say the National Industrial Court shall be a final arbiter in all matters. Section 243(2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Third Alteration) Act 2010 provides as follows that an appeal shall lie from the decision of the National Industrial Court as of right to the Court of Appeal on questions of fundamental rights as contained in Chapter IV of this Constitution as it relates to matters upon which the National Industrial Court has jurisdiction. This means that an appeal shall only lie from the decision of the National Industrial Court to the Court of Appeal as may be prescribed by an Act of the

National Assembly, provided that where an Act or Law prescribes that an appeal shall lie from the decisions of the National Industrial Court to the Court of Appeal, such Appeal shall be with the leave of the Court of Appeal.

Also, without prejudice to the provisions of Section254C (5) of this Act, the decision of the Court of Appeal in respect of any appeal arising from any civil jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court shall be final.

In essence, what this means on issue of fundamental rights is that you are free to go on appeal. But any matter cannot be appealed unless prescribed by Act of National Assembly. If that is what the law says, it means that it is the duty of agitators to move the National Assembly to come out with an Act that will prescribe an Act that appeal shall arise on decision of National Industrial Court and under Section 243, which was amended to state that where appeal lies from the decision of the court of appeal, it shall be with the leave of the court of appeal, and the decision of the court of appeal shall be final. So, it does not say there should be no appeal on the decision of Industrial Court. Now you don’t need to go and amend the constitution, it has given that power to National Assembly to come out with Act. Prior to when the law was made, the National Industrial Court Act, the third alteration, there were two cases.

Amadi v. NNPC. It went from the High Court to Supreme Court for 18 years before it was sent back to industrial court for trial on grounds of jurisdictional level.

There was another case of Ozuegbu v.CBN, it went from the high court to Supreme Court for 24 years before the Supreme Court sent it back to National Industrial court to start afresh. Now you can imagine the injustices that somebody must have suffered for 13 years before his case is to be retried. Only God knows how many years it will take again before it would be concluded. In order to stop that, in their own wisdom, the law givers believe there should be no absolute appeal at the Court of Appeal. That is why they gave Court of Appeal limited appellate jurisdiction unlike the high court. The high court didn’t have that limitation. On land matters, it can be there for long. One generation will go and another generation will come and it can be in continuity. And like chieftaincy, it can be a continuous struggle. But in an employment service, it is an economy matte. Assuming the Federal government or the State government is fighting with the union, they go on appeal, they refuse to go back to work, these are the reason why they believe that they should not just allow the blanket appeal to be there. But the room is there for agitators to approach the National Assembly and move them to come out with a one paragraph law that we want it to be like the decision of the National Industrial Court to go to the Court of Appeal. Simple. We don’t have any problem with that in our own court. But we must consider consequential effect of any law and the interpretation on the larger society. Nigeria’s economy is what labour deals with either as individual or corporate.

One of the challenges on the Bench and Bar is corruption. How have you been able to manage this in NICN? Well, in my court here, there has been no cases of corruption. No judge has been taken to National Judicial Council on the ground of allegation of corruption. But if you say generally, as a member of NJC and

as a member of Federal Judicial Service Commission, I am privileged to be one of those who have been considering the allegations of corruption against erring judges.

But I will tell you that 80 percent of allegations are unfounded, it was just allegation.

Since the council have started, we have only been able to discipline four judges not on the grounds of corruption but other areas, may be they are found guilty of not handling the case the way it ought to be handled. But when you talk of corruption, that is taking bribe or asking for bribe, this has not been very common, may be one or so.

Judges have been removed on other grounds like if you have a case pending for more than five years or if you are lazy or you have not been able to meet up with your returns or is less than the number of cases you are expected to have handled. But, in most cases that bordered on appeal, that the aggrieved party, instead of them to appeal, urged the council to discipline a judge for refusing to grant him time or adjournment. These are cases for appeal and not issues upon which a judge should be disciplined. So, the council have been able to identify some of these cases and say look, these type of cases should not come here.

Go on appeal to challenge the decision of that judge and whatever the court of appeal says. Some people in their allegations, may be that they don’t want the face of the judge, they don’t want the judge to handle their case, may be they believe they will lose the case, they would start writing petitions. But whenever we found that a judge is found wanting, the council will handle the matter but the council will give the judge and petitioner fair hearing and the council will investigate. So, it is not easy.

What do you think should be done to reduce the time of concluding litigation in the Supreme Court ?

So many things can be done. For example, they are taking 2006, 2007 cases now. It means that any matter you file now will have to stay for long before it gets there and is not their fault because they have back log of cases. That is why National Industrial Court cases are not allowed to get to Supreme Court to reduce the work load.

That is why the law says, it must end here except one that borders on fundamental rights. An interlocutory applications should not be allowed to go to Supreme Court. It should end at the Court of Appeal and that would reduce the work load. Cases that qualify to go to Supreme Court must be with the leave of the Supreme Court. It is not every matter that should go to Supreme Court. If you want to appeal the decision of Court of Appeal, you apply for leave and in their own wisdom, if they think they are trial-able at the appellate level, they will allow you to come. If they believe you are just coming to waste time, they refuse you and that is the end. If they can introduce leave, and make sure there is no allocutory matter taken to Supreme Court, these will reduce workload. For the Supreme Court to be effective in discharge of the appeal, the numbers of cases going there must be reduced. The judges are not more than 16 or 17 and considering the ages of judges, they are elderly people. They have State Supreme Court and Supreme Court in United States. In America, you don’t appeal on everything, here you see a file so big. Ii is not like that in America, may be one or two to three pages, how they do theirs is that, it is on constitutional is-

‘I think the court has developed but it has not been easy to achieve that. In the process, there were lots of challenges but we thank God we are here’

•Justice Adejumo sues, when you go there, they have nine justices only. Six say not to hear, that is the State Supreme Court have handled some of the cases. If you go there, the first thing to determine is if to hear or not to hear.

They vote whether the case have merit or not, if six say no, that is the end. If five say to hear, then they will look at the aspect to hear whether you are appealing against everything said in the judgement or of an area of the judgment. That is why the file will not be bulky. It is that area alone they will look at and see whether there is an issue. Here in Nigeria is not like that.

Another thing is that the National Conference made recommendation on Regional Court of Appeal so that all matters within the state will end there. That will look like Supreme Court of America. But weighty constitutional issue will come to Supreme Court and with the leave of the Supreme Court. If that allows, the Supreme Court will have less work and the Court of Appeal would now be Federal Court of Appeal because very few cases will be allowed to get to Supreme Court.

Do you think 180 days is enough to hear election petitions?

It is enough. Why it was not enough was that people come with interlocutory applications. When you say no, they go to the Court of Appeal, they want to stall the Tribunal. But now, if you have anything against the ruling they say no and continue with the hearing. You can appeal altogether. If you look at the psychology and philosophy behind that, you see that is justifiable. A person will be elected whether rightly or fraudulently and if it is fraudulently, the court says election was not proper and he has stayed in the office for two years, he has been collecting public funds for two years, taking decision that will affect the states for two years.

If the court now says he is not the president, one certain thing he has done cannot be reversed. May be he has signed one or two appropriation bill, or one law or the other, that law has been interpreted. Or he has appointed some people, those people have taken some action, you cannot reverse them.

The best you can do is that the right person should take over. The state fund has been wasted, it is double jeopardy and problem is created. For that, 180 days is enough.

I think the question to ask is whether we have enough judges to handle election tribunal cases? I don’t think we have. Because the moment you take these judges from the high court, industrial court, their work is hanging in their normal duty post. That is just by the side and they will not be visible at the regular cases they are supposed to handle. Cases will die temporarily, only to be awaken when he comes back. That is why I said there should be a Constitutional Court. The duty of constitutional court is to handle election matters. That will reduce pressure in the conventional court. In South Africa, Togo that is the practice. The duty of constitutional court is to make sure that regular court are not saddled with election matters. It is in this regards you are be able to train judges on the constitutional court and the constitutionality. But now, when you take justices of Sharia Court, or from different places, bring them together, that will not solve problem.

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON NORTHERN STATES

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

PAGE 29

INSIDE Drivers relish Shettima’s 450 buses

PAGE 31

The blind also made change possible

•A polling unit in the ruined Kofar Gadu, Wukari

T

HE enthusiasm to cast their ballots clearly outstripped the agony and gloom of bloodshed. The Jukun and HausaFulani in Taraba State have hacked at one another, killing about 600,000 and displacing over 200,000 in addition to wrecking a staggering number of homes.

Clearly, war has exacted its toll on the people. But during the elections, survivors found their way to polling units, some of which located right inside warravaged settlements.

Some of the voters were internally displaced persons taking refuge in stuffy relief camps. Some had fled from their destroyed homes but returned to participate in the general election.

Their narrative is heart-rending.

Greater parts of southern and central Taraba have been turned into killing fields since two years ago. The most affected councils are Gassol, Bali and Gashaka in the central zone and Wukari and Ibi in the southern part of the state. The worst hit settlements include Tella, Sabongida, BornoKurukur, Mai Hulla, Gidin Dorowa, and Wukari which is now a ghost town. The clashes are between Jukun Christians and Hausa-Fulani Muslims, and also between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers.

At least 600,000 residents have been forced to flee their destroyed homes amid continuous violence

Voting amid ruins The cost of inter-tribal war is huge in Taraba State: over 200,000 persons killed, 600,000 forced from their destroyed homes in Jukun and Hausa-Fulani conflicts. Yet, when the crisis abated, the people turned out to exercise their franchise even in their devastated environments. FANEN IHYONGO writes ‘Greater parts of southern and central Taraba have been turned into killing fields since two years. The most affected councils are Gassol, Bali and Gashaka in the central zone and Wukari and Ibi in the southern part of the state. The worst hit settlements are Tella, Sabongida, BornoKurukur, Mai Hulla, Gidin Dorowa, and Wukari which is now a ghost town. The clashes are between Jukun Christians and Hausa-Fulani Muslims, and also between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers’ that has claimed over 200,000 lives, with many residents still missing. But because of the

significance of election –the only means through which people can choose their leader by merely

casting a vote, survivors of the crisis who fled, savoured the courage to go back and exercise their franchise.

One thing was glaring. They were not happy voting in the rubble that used to be beautiful edifices made from their toil. Anyone could look around and still identify from the charred frames of television and radio sets, burnt books or documents, refrigerators, chairs, stoves and some utensils that were once key valuables in homes. The war experience cannot easily leave their memory. Besides, the atmosphere of the blown-up environment is that of uneasy calm that could scare every mortal stiff.

One victim told The Nation that while he was voting, his heart was visualising the crisis. He said he •Continued on page 30

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Security, celebration on victory day

PAGE 34

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

THE NORTH REPORT

Voting amid ruins •Continued from page 29 could still picture how their assailants and killers, wielding guns, long cutlasses and axes, invaded and dislodged them.

“It is something I can’t forget until I’ll die,” he said, adding that he lost three persons to the crisis while his house was destroyed.

At the Ebenezer Primary School Wukari, the presidential and parliamentary elections were held where displaced people were still taking refuge. One of the blocks in the school was used as a polling unit, the other block a relief camp. As the noise that usually accompanies such activities as elections persisted, the displaced persons, largely women and children, stood on the corridors watching the process. What could be their thoughts?

A close look at the displaced persons revealed a pitiable people having the worst of times in their life; they sleep on the floor where mosquitoes bite them at night; they do not have enough food and water to eat and drink; they are always hungry and weak; some are said to be taking illness and dying gradually. They cannot make jokes and merriments because they are resourcefully and emotionally drained. Above all, they are a defenceless and endangered species who are terrified that they could even be killed in the stifling relief camp someday. Yet they have nowhere to go. “If I get another place, I no go deh here,” one victim in the camp who lost her husband to the crisis told The Nation.

Another victim, Mama Aishatu, 67, had difficulties locating her polling unit because of the level of destruction. She desperately approached this reporter for assistance. After referring her to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), he asked her what it was like voting in a war-torn environment.

“Fear,” she responded hurriedly, in what seemed to be an already-made answer.

The Kofar Gadu polling unit in Auyi area of Wukari is located in a completely razed estate. The houses are so crushed that you would think bulldozers demolished them. No, it was done by hand with blunt implements. The terror was lamented as the people cast their votes.

So why would a people fight and destroy their own land?

Our investigations revealed that the crisis is not unconnected to land scuffles and religious

‘At the Ebenezer Primary School Wukari, the presidential and parliamentary elections were held where displaced people were still taking refuge. One of the blocks in the school was used as a polling unit, the other block a relief camp. As the noise that usually accompanies such activities as elections persisted, the displaced persons, largely women and children, stood on the corridors watching the process’ differences, with a long historical genesis. The crisis assumed its fiercest scale when sacked Acting Governor Garba Umar held sway at the helms. He allegedly stoked the embers of war in the area in a manner his opponents believed was for political reasons. The crisis however began to die down gradually when the new Acting Governor Abubakar Sani Danladi was reinstated in November last year.

Other illustrious sons of Wukari have taken upon them the duty to preach peace for the warring groups to embrace truce and cohabit in harmony. One of such peace ambassadors is Agbu Kefas, a cleric, NIMASA chairman and retired colonel of the Nigerian Army.

Col Kefas who voted at his alma mater, Ebenezer Primary School, which he renovated, said he was home, not only to vote but to educate the people on the significance of the election and why they should embrace peace.

Former Minister of Power, Environment and Niger Delta Affairs Darius Dickson Ishaku is also preaching peace in the state.

Ishaku, an architect and flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Takum, has promised the people “a torrential pour of peace” if he is elected governor on April 11. “We don’t want wars in Taraba; we want peace, because we want development,” the candidate says.

•Gindin Dorowa, one of the towns destroyed in inter-tribal violence

•Ishaku talks peace

Shettima defends Igbo in Buhari’s victory C

ONTRARY to insinuations that the Igbo did not

quite support the president-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari in the April 28 elections, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has stressed that every region contributed to the General’s victory.

The governor said there were silent forces that played significant roles in the Southeast, adding that aspersions should not be cast on any particular section of the country regarding the elections.

Shettima who returned to Maiduguri from Abuja after the party’s victory, told thousands

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters that the party’s leaders in the Southeast and Southsouth stood very firm to stop the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from coming out with outrageous votes from the Southeast as against the case in 2011.

His words: “Buhari’s election was a pan-Nigerian movement. I have heard some political analysts making some wrong conclusions that the Ibos in the Southeast didn’t contribute significantly to Buhari’s victory but I think they are missing the point because there are two key contributions to winning elections.

‘I have heard some political analysts making some wrong conclusions that the Igbo in the Southeast didn’t contribute significantly to Buhari’s victory but I think they are missing the point because there are two key contributions to winning elections. One is to give votes and the other is to prevent opponents from rigging, and both have equal relevance’ One is to give votes and the other is to prevent opponents from rigging, and both have equal rel-

evance. ”In the 2011 elections, the PDP got a combined figure of about 7

million votes in the Southeast, some of these states recorded or so they claimed, having almost 100 percent voter turnout. But in 2015, Ibos in the southeast especially our leaders in the APC stood very firm, some of them put their lives on the line, resisted all kinds of humiliation and at the end, they prevented another seven million votes from coming out.

“In Ebonyi the PDP got less than 300,000 votes, in Abia, the PDP got less than 400,000, even in Enugu the PDP got about 600,000 votes, in Imo also the •Continued on page 32

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OBODY expected anything from them. No politician reached out to them, not even during campaigns. It is on record that no political party or their candidates ever reckoned with them.

They remain the ever-forgotten Nigerians. Their condition is pathetic. Majority of them are physically agile; only their sight has failed. So they are never seen to have any electoral value.

That is the plight of the blind across the length and breadth of the country.

But during the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the visually impaired in Niger State trooped out in large numbers, like other eligible voters, to choose the country’s leaders.

The blind also made change possible In Minna, Niger State, eligible blind men and women voters trooped out in large numbers to carry out their civic duty, JIDE ORINTUNSIN reports As early as 7am on Saturday they left their colony in Limawa quarters of Minna for the two nearby polling units. With their walking sticks and infant guides, they formed two orderly, gender-based queues and waited patiently for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc staff.

Their accreditation went with little or minor hitches. The Smart Reader Card machines did not pose much problem either. Done with

that, they moved in droves back to they colony for a call up to come and vote. This civic duty they carried out with the assistance of their guide to the admiration of able bodied voters and with a high degree of fulfilment on their part.

Led by the Sarki Makarfo (Chief of the Blind) Alhaji Rabiu Abdullahi, they all resolved to be part of the process that will give birth to a new Nigeria. They resolved to live above their limita-

tion. With their trusted guides and some public spirited persons they all cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.

The Sarki said the large turnout of his people was a product of deliberate and conscious mobilisation before the election.

Recounting the efforts made prior to the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, Abdullahi said, “We have been relegated. No-

body ever thought of us. We are left in our colony as forgotten Nigerians. Past efforts to fight for recognition have failed to yield positive and desired results and now with the election we felt we should come out en masse to make a statement that our votes can determine who wins and to tell our leaders that Continued on page 32

Drivers relish Shettima’s 450 buses

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ORNO State Governor Kashim Shettima has lifted the spirits of commercial bus drivers who are often attacked

by Boko Haram insurgents. The governor presented them with 450 buses at 50 per cent discount.

Why is the gesture important?

The drivers have been under insurgents’ attack since the end of last year when the terrorists took over every road but one leading into and out of the state capital Maiduguri. The only safe route is the Damaturu-Jos-KanoMaiduguri highway. But drivers often took the risk to convey passengers and goods on other unsafe roads. It was costly because the Islamists frequently struck, hitting the commercial vehicles, passengers and drivers, many of whom died, while women and children were kidnapped.

In appreciation of the drivers’ plight and also to help their business, Governor Shettima presented 450 Sharon buses to the transporters through their umbrella body, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employees Association of Nigerian (RTEAN).

The motorists were appreciative, showering praise on their benefactor.

Beneficiaries of the buses, according to Kashim, will only repay 50 per cent of the cost of the buses after generating income.

They will therefore pay slightly above half a million naira through the union for each of the 10-seater buses that cost N1.1 million.

Shettima in his speech praised the significant role of the union in trying to deliver its services even in the heat of the Boko Haram crisis and the dangers encountered on the highways, adding that such services shouldn’t be neglected.

He said, “Since Borno State started facing the challenges of insurgency in 2009, one group that has remained a silent victim is the National Union of Road Transport Workers. Countless number of commercial drivers who are members of the union have lost their lives on account of moving people from one point to another, to make people succeed in doing businesses, visiting families and keeping our society functional.

We all know that once vehicles, especially commercial vehicles connecting states are out of the road, and then a society is brought to a halt. This is because more than 70% of citizens all over Nigeria depend on commercial transport for mobility of trade, social and cultural activities. We depend on commercial transport for the food we all eat in houses

From Duku Joel, Maiduguri

and virtually all our house hold items. What really surprises me is the courage of members of the NURTW. “Drivers under this association defy all fears and convey people, food items and other essentials of life into Borno State in the darkest days of Boko Haram insurgency.

Some of them even lose their lives in the process but many others still carry on. A lot of them take the bull by the horns. This is a group that keeps Borno connected to the rest of Nigeria and helps in conveying the needs of our people into Borno State so we can all exist as a society. If anyone recalls the attacks of Boko Haram along Ngamdu, Mainok, Benesheikh, Jos, Potiskum as well as the religious riots in Kaduna and reprisals in the southern Nigeria over the years, then he or she will appreciate commercial drivers under the NURTW, because often times, they were caught on the highways”, the Governor narrated.

He explained his administration’s efforts in the area of roads to boost the activities of commercial drivers and other road users.

“As part of our own measures to make activities of members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) easier, this administration has since 2011 embarked on different road projects to creatively open up Maiduguri which is not just our largest city in the State but with the highest traffic of motorists, many of whom are members of the NURTW. You may recall that it was this administration that constructed ring roads around the Mai Doki Roundabout which has made vehicles coming from the four angles ahead of the roundabout to easily negotiate to the right hand side, and connect to other routes without falling into the roundabout traffic. That has decongested the area. Our administration, it was, which reduced the size of the old Mai Doki roundabout is to create additional lanes and since that was done, the nightmare faced due to traffic has significantly reduced if not eliminated.

“We have also built alternative routes like some sort of internal bypass, if we can call them so, and these by-passes such as the long one coming from Airport Road by the Revenue Board, linking with Maduganari-Tashan Kano on one part and also linking Secretariat Road at another end, while at third end, the same road connects with Damboa Road through neighboring Eye Hospital.

“We constructed another long stretch of bye-pass connecting Bulabulin, Gwange and Monday

•Some of the buses distributed

•Governor Shettima

‘Drivers under this association defy all fears and convey people, food items and other essentials of life into Borno State in the darkest days of Boko Haram insurgency. Some of them even lose their lives in the process but many others still carry on. A lot of them take the bull by the horns. This is a group that keeps Borno connected to the rest of Nigeria and helps in conveying the needs of our people into Borno State so we can all exist as a society. If anyone recalls the attacks of Boko Haram along Ngamdu, Mainok, Benesheikh, Jos, Potiskum as well as the religious riots in Kaduna and reprisals in the southern Nigeria over the years, then he or she will appreciate commercial drivers under the NURTW, because often times, they were caught on the high ways’

market with Gidan Madara and Lagos Street. Both roads were constructed with small but important bridges. These projects have gone a long way in reducing traffic for members of the NURTW and other road users in Maiduguri. We have constructed other road projects including investing over fourteen billion naira on community roads and drainages in places like Bulumkutu from Tsallake down to other sections of the very large and

highly populated Bulumkutu which your members now ply without flooding and horrible sites, previously associated with the places. ”I am sure you must have heard or perhaps you know about the Gwange community roads and our slums remodeling programme, in which we use thick interlocks to assemble roads that connect densely located houses with major roads, and all of these have made it pos-

sible for members of the NURTW and other road users to be able to access many communities, so as to pick weak and old persons, pregnant women in labour and those in emergency situations that require vehicles picking them at their door steps. Some, if not many of you, have driven cars on top of many roads we built. Time wouldn’t permit me to list the •Continued on page 32

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THE NORTH REPORT

The blind also made change possible •Continued from page 31 we exist.

“We suffered during past elections. INEC, its officials and even other voters never accorded us any special attention; we never knew the procedure of voting. Many times we were disenfranchised; we were even deceived into voting wrongly.

“In the past Politicians used their agents and capitalized on our predicament to lead us to thumb print for the candidates of their own choice and not ours because we are blind.

“Though we can’t see them physically, we however know these politicians and what they have been doing for the society and the election period is when we can express our appreciation to them but unfortunately, we were misled and made to vote for the wrong candidates,” he lamented.

In order not to fall victim again, the Niger State Association for the Blind organised series of sensitaization of their members with the assistance of the Independent National Electoral (INEC). They were educated on what they are to do and things to avoid before, during and even after the elections.

The Chairman of the association, Alhaji Abdulraham Awwal said the association brought leaders of the blind in all the 25 local government areas of the state to Minna to attend “train the trainers workshop” and to fully equipped members of the electoral law and process and by extension educate other members in their locality.

Awwal, a teacher at Niger State School for the Handicapped, Minna noted that the interactive session paid off, according to him, “We were able to make case for our members who are eligible voters. We raised many issues, especially the challenges we use to suffer during elections and at the end we were allowed to come to the voting centres with our aides leading us to cast our votes or get a trusted person at the polling centres to lead and assist us to thumb print for the candidates of our choice.”

The chairman debunked insinuation that the move of the association was motivated by a political party.

‘We have been relegated.

Nobody ever thought of us. We are left in our colony as forgotten Nigerians. Past efforts to fight for recognition have failed to yield positive and desired results and now with the election we felt we should come out en masse to make a statement that our votes can determine who wins and to tell our leaders that we exist. We suffered during past elections.

INEC, its officials and even other voters never accorded us any special attention; we never knew the procedure of voting.

Many times we were disenfranchised; we were even deceived into voting wrongly’

Hear him, “We are not politicians, we are not card carrying members of any of the registered parties, we are just a pressure group fighting for our rights and for the need to be related or dealt with like any other human being. We educated our people on the candi- •Waiting to vote dates and their parties and we resolved to give our votes to the candidates or party that will half of my stress free governorship election. We take our welfare into consideration so that people appeal don’t want to go through the same to INEC to process and rigours of standing on we too can live a better life” “With our coming out in large numbers, we help reduce if the long queue with the able persons. total hope whoever wins either at the state or na- not tional level will not take us with a pinch of elimination of salt. We too desire and deserve a better wel- the agony we pass fare package. If they cannot come and appeal use for our votes, our coming out to vote is to through in previous elecsend a message to them,” Awwal stated.

The Sarki Maikafo however had a parting shot tions.

“We look •Continued from page 31 for INEC. “Though we had a better treatment at our voting centres last Saturday, I want on be- forward to a roads but you know them. We have embarked on different highways, inter-villages and township roads in the Southern parts of Borno even though Boko Haram succeeded greatly in stampeding our great plans due to attacks on construction workers to the point that most International construction companies with superior technology abandoned Borno State.

“We had to take our destiny in our hands by importing functional construction equipment to engage in direct labour works. Were it not for Boko Haram we would insha Allah, by now, have gone far in reconstructing the MaiduguriKonduga-Bama-Gwoza Highway because the project was provided for in our 2014 budget and when it couldn’t be done due to security problems, we carried over the budgetary provision to the 2015 budget and we all know that Bama and Gwoza roads were seized. We came with so much ambition to remodel Borno State and make it an envy of many States in Nigeria, we wanted to make Borno a place every citizen would be proud of and by Allah’s will, we will succeed. Boko Haram will certainly come to a sustainable end,” he said.

“National President of the dards of Nigerians”, Shettima in- their vehicles on the streets of NURTW, speaking through the formed in the cheering of the jubi- Maiduguri. state leader, Alhaji Bello lant crowd.

The residents mostly youths, Maduganari, said by giving out 450 Meanwhile, celebration in children and adults defied the buses, the Governor has assisted Maiduguri erupted spontaneously Maiduguri curfew and erupted on 4500 families because each of the even before the official declaration the major streets of the metropobuses would have direct impact on of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari as lis shouting Sai Baba Buhari. Un10 families based on known propresident elect by the Independent confirmed reports also indicated jections worked out by the Union National Electoral Commission that some residents in other parts many years ago. He also said no (INEC). of the town equally defied the ban Nigerian Governor has paid attenThousands of Maiduguri resi- on motorcycle which has been tion to commercial drivers under dents including security operatives enforce in the state for more than the union as much as Governor also joined in the celebration shoot- three years now and rode even in Shettima has done since 2011. The ing sporadically in the air and company of security operatives president listed previous support blowing sirens on high speed with without been arrested. the Governor gave to the union

Shettima defends Igbo in Buhari’s victory •Continued from page 30 PDP got less than 600,000 all these were against the big numbers of 2011. We all saw what happened in Rivers, if that was repeated in the southeast it would have been a major source of concern for all Nigerians but the Ibos did very well by resisting every step against Buhari so they are heroes as far as I am concerned.

“This is also the case in some parts of the south-south. In Bayelsa, the PDP could have recorded 600,000 or so votes but they got less than 400,000 because of the efforts of our men in Bayelsa who stood firm. In Edo State, Buhari wasn’t far from President Goodluck Jonathan in terms of votes. And then, if one looks across religious divides, Buhari was voted by all religious groups.

“He wouldn’t have won Ondo if only Muslims voted for him, he wouldn’t have won Benue or get the required 25 percent in Edo and Ekiti. All of these point to one thing that Buhari was voted by all Nigerians and this is why he has promised to carry the entire country along, he has pledged not to rule but to govern and this is the principle of the APC, he is laying the foundation of the change Nigerians need and that change is not about which party is in power, it is about the changes in the security of lives and property, the changes in the living stan-

‘All of these point to one thing that Buhari was voted by all Nigerians and this is why he has promised to carry the entire country along, he has pledged not to rule but to govern and this is the principle of the APC, he is laying the foundation of the change Nigerians need and that change is not about which party is in power, it is about the changes in the security of lives and property, the changes in the living standards of Nigerians’

We should also be seen as human beings and create a separate registration and voting units for us for the forthcoming elections.”

Drivers relish Shettima’s 450 buses ‘As part of our own measures to make activities of members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) easier, this administration has since 2011 embarked on different road projects to creatively open up Maiduguri which is not just our largest city in the State but with the highest traffic of motorists, many of whom are members of the NURTW’ which included N10m and provision of vehicles for operational use by the union’s headquarters in the state.

“Leader of the Road Transport Employees Association in Borno State paid glowing tributes also commended the Governor and pledged continued support to his administration.

Highlight of the occasion was presentation of the vehicles to the beneficiaries and test drive by the Governor.

Some of the commercial drivers were full of praises from Governor Shettima.

Website: http://www.thenationonlineng.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

Page 33

•The victory celebration

Security agents looked set for a long night but instead of violence, the nation’s capital exploded into shouts of victory as Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was declared winner of the presidential election. GBENGA OMOKHUNU and GRACE OBIKE report

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ECURITY personnel had taken positions across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before the final announcement of results and formal declaration of the winner of the March 28, 2015 presidential polls.

Minutes after two of the last three results were declared by chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega at about 5pm, a drive around town that Tuesday showed that security agents were already in

Security, celebration on victory day

positions in anticipation of wild celebrations by members of the winning party.

Four patrol vans of the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and two police patrol vehicles were stationed around streets adjoining the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Wadata Plaza in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

Scores of armed policeman were outside the building.

There was also the visible presence of the police and the members of the corps outside President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign headquarters at Maitama.

The two secretariats appeared desolate and deserted in complete contrast with its status until recently as beehives of activities by politicians, particularly loyalists of the ruling PDP. The bustle of political activities appeared to have shifted to the APC Presidential Campaign headquarters in the Central Business District, where jubilant members of the party were already gathering in anticipation of a victory party after the declaration of their candidate as winner.

Security presence, consisting

‘Four patrol vans of the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and two police patrol vehicles were stationed around streets adjoining the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Wadata Plaza in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

Scores of armed policeman were outside the building’ mainly police and other security operatives, was also heavy around the popular Berger, Area 1 and AYA roundabouts as well as locations like Banex Plaza Junction, in possible anticipation of a possible breach of security.

APC supporters were all over

the streets in motorcades waving their party’s flag and brandishing the posters of their victorious presidential candidate.

Jubilant street urchins were also seen around Amigo Supermarket in Wuse 2 drumming and chanting victory songs in Hausa

as they danced and eulogised the APC presidential candidate.

Sellers of sachet water on that Tuesday evening made a lot of money in Dutse, Bwari area council of the FCT as supporters of the APC used it to celebrate the victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential election as they sprinkled the water on themselves and other residents.

The supporters also took charge of the roads on motorcycles, riding sporadically and shouting to whoever cares to hear, ‘Sai Buhari, sai Baba’.

One of the supporters, Zubairu Ahmed who spoke to Abuja Review said that the victory of Buhari was a victory for all of them, adding that he expects good things and positive change in the country.

Another supporter, Seun Omole stated that surely the vic•Continued on page 34

crafts’

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ABUJA REVIEW •Continued from page 33

tory will bring about development in the country, urging the new president not to disappoint the people who have voted and stood by him.

However, many residents urged supporters to be calm in their celebration, so as not to cause any problem in the peaceful environment.

Apart from the fuel scarcity that truncated the lives of residents to a large extent, most residents and Nigerians living outside the capital where convinced that the election would end bloody, so the week witness a mass exodus of residents from Abuja to other states.

By Friday the 27th, the city of Abuja becameý virtually empty, the number of cars plying the road could be counted and other residents that found themselves in town hurried to get home and seal themselves behind their doors but funny enough and to the surprise of many, Abuja turned out to be peaceful on election day.

Although some parts of FCT, just like in other parts of the country experienced late arrival of election materials and sometimes the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, the pocket of residents left in the capital ensured peaceful and unlike in most states, only a few residents bothered to wait for the counting of their votes as a lot opted to retire to their homes.

Mrs Nkiru Ogonna, a resident of Kubwa, spoke of how scared she was seeing all that kind of displayý, “I don’t understand why this boys have to scare us all with this their crazy stunts, I understand that they are excited and celebrating, but I don’t just understand why they have to do all of this, what if they mistakenly hurt innocent passerby’s, what will they say to them? Sorry?”

After all said and done, the election and its outcome in Abuja was violence-free and by Monday after everything was over, the city was still empty and shops still closed because most people who had trav-

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CHOOLS in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been advised to place more emphasis on agricultural products, safety and environmental management in addition to entrepreneurship.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on School Agriculture, Dr Baraka Sani

•PDP headquarters deserted

Security, celebration on victory day elled outside the city had to take their time returning, but surprisingly by the weekend, Abuja was already returning to the busy city that it had been known to be except of course for most of the government ministries which mostly devoid of staff, most of which had travelled for the election and also took the time to stay back for the Easter holidays.

During the election proper, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ade Abolurin had gone round the FCT and even to Nasarawa and Kaduna to monitor the election which was peaceful.

‘Although some parts of FCT, just like in other parts of the country experienced late arrival of election materials and sometimes the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, the pocket of residents left in the capital ensured peaceful and unlike in most states, only a few residents bothered to wait for the counting of their votes as a lot opted to retire to their homes’ The NSCDC men were at every polling units maintaining law and order.

The NSCDC boss had warned officers not to compromise but work

assiduously as patriotic citizen and ambassadors.

He assured government and international observers of the corps preparedness to adhere strictly to

the rules and code of conduct drawn for its personnel.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, in an interview with our correspondent on the outcome of the election confirmed that no arrest was made during the election adding that the exercise was peaceful.

He said the police force did not leave anything to chance. The police boss advised all to remain peaceful and go about their normal business.

Even the Nigeria Army officers were visible at major highways and all around the FCT.

‘Embrace agro-based products’ From Gbenga Omokhunu gave the advice at a tree-planting ceremony at Government Senior Secondary School Jabi District of

Abuja.

Sani said the ultimate goal of the ceremony through the National School Agricultural Programme (NSAP) was to build young people

who will protect and defend Nigeria, saying that it is her prayer that after the inauguration, they will continue to take care of the plants, with the potential value of Moringa plants.

“The Moringa trees are there for you to nurture. Every member of NSAP is expected to plant 10 of this Moringa plant every year. There is going to be a marking, whereby we can present trophies and badges that would elevate the status of members.

“There is nothing better than see-

ing the seeds that you planted growing into maturity and you are harvesting from them. NSAP is a very interesting programme which will help young Nigerians to be agriculture and nature-friendly.

“We have done part of the programmes and more interesting ones are coming. There will be quiz, debate and the regional, national and international excursion and the exhibition. So, I call on schools that are in NSAP to hold on to their enterprises and ensure that they succeeded,” she said.

‘The Moringa trees are there for you to nurture. Every member of NSAP is expected to plant 10 of this Moringa plant every year.

There is going to be a marking, whereby we can present trophies and badges that would elevate the status of members... NSAP is a very interesting programme which will help young Nigerians to be agriculture- and nature-friendly’ •Children fetching water in Suleja, Niger State

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APC congratulates Buhari

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HE Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the presidential election April 28.

The Secretary of the party in the FCT, Hon. Abdullahi Candido, who also congratulated residents of the FCT and entire Nigerians on the peaceful and successful conduct of the presidential polls, said there was the need for Nigerians to rejoice, because the longawaited change has finally come.

According to Candido, Nigerians should pray for the incoming government of Gen. Buhari, which would be inaugurated on May 29, this year, saying that apart from the immense support which Gen. Buhari had during the election, Nigerians should always pray for the government to enable it to succeed.

“The earnest quest for positive change has been in the heart of every Nigerian. Nigerians, for a very long time, have longed for change because of the high level of corruption which the present administration allowed to eat into the fabric of the society.

“Corruption almost crippled the economy of this country. Now that the needed change has come, we believe that corruption would also be a thing of the past.

“The change has also come to Nigerians, mostly for residents of the FCT, whose rights and privileges have been trampled upon by the corrupt administration of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, who has punished the people with different anti-people policies which have made them to live like strangers in their own land.

“The APC government under Gen. Buhari has promised the people of the FCT a ministerial slot and Permanent Secretary, so that Abuja people would be able to defend and decide their future at the Federal Executive Council (FEC). I know he will fulfill every promise he made to Nigerians.

“Nigerians have made their choice and the victory at the polls was not APC’s victory but victory for all Nigerians whose votes counted. What Gen. Buhari needs now is prayer so that the long-awaited positive change would be reality in our lives when the new government assumes power on May 29,” he said.

In a related development, the Association of Local Government Nigeria (ALGON) has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for what it described as his high sense of maturity and genuine statesmanship. The association noted that by calling to congratulate the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, he doused tension and allowed peace to prevail after the presidential election.

President of the association, Hon. Micah Jiba, who disclosed this while briefing reporters, further congratulated Gen. Buhari on his victory at the polls, saying that the

‘Corruption almost crippled the economy of this country.

Now that the needed change has come, we believe that corruption would also be a thing of the past. The change has also come for Nigerians, mostly for residents of the FCT, whose rights and privileges have been trampled upon by the administration of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, whose several anti-people policies had made them to live like strangers in their own land’ Stories from Gbenga Omokhunu

outcome of the election was the wish of God who gives power to whom he wishes.

Jiba, who described the victory of Gen. Buhari as the popular demand of Nigerians, said it should not be seen as a victory for the APC alone, but for all Nigerians who believe in positive change and wants the success of Nigeria’s democratic process.

“Election is like a football match where a winner must definitely emerge and the spirit of good sportsmanship is for everybody to accept the outcome or result of every competition. Nobody should be seen as an enemy because of politics. We should all see ourselves Nigerians, irrespective of our political and religious affiliation. We should come together to make the incoming government a success.

“President Jonathan proved to every Nigerian that when he said ‘nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian,’ he meant it. That was why he exhibited the true spirit of statesmanship by calling to congratulate the newly elected President of Nigeria, Gen. Buhari, even before INEC officially announced him a winner.

“That singular action by President Jonathan could be described as an epitome of a true Nigerian hero and his name would be written in gold when Nigerian political history is written. This is because it has never happened before in the history of Nigeria. Nigerians should also pray for the incoming government of Gen. Buhari for it to succeed and take the country to the desired change that we all prayed for,” he said.

Residents advised against post-election violence

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HE Guard Nigeria Project (GNP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called on residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other Nigerians to resist the temptation to do anything that may lead to post-election violence.

The organisation also urged politicians and party supporters to accept the results of the election or channel their grievances through the appropriate quarters.

GNP Executive Director, Mr. Promise Amahah who gave the advice at a media briefing in Abuja, said there was the need to respond to the growing apathy among residents of the FCT and other parts of the country. He also said there was the need to stir up the love for country and neighbour regardless of social status during and after the election.

Amahah said it is also imperative to state that one of the core objectives of the Guard Nigeria Project is to restore Nigeria’s system whose absence has been the bane of the nation.

•Participants at the 56th anniversary lecture of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Kaduna

“We are concerned and optimistic Nigerians. We are made up of several ethnic groups and social strata, united by our common identity and love for our country. As we go about during the general elections, the polity has been greatly heated up and has also led to the recent exodus of Nigerians to their respective places of origin nation-wide.

“The situation is saddening and calls for prompt intervention on re-orientation and social engineering, which are parts of our key mandate. Some Nigerians are using the current socio-economic imbalance to manipulate Nigerians against Nigeria during this period. We have become enemies to ourselves and to our country.

“For a paradigm shift to be achieved we must become intolerant of the negative status quo; for whatever you tolerate stays at your address. We are no longer comfortable with the status quo and Nigeria will no longer be the address of all kinds of vice during and after the elections,” he said.

•Heavy traffic on the outer Northern Expressway in Abuja

•Cross section of women at the conference to commemorate 2015 International Women’s Day in Abuja

•Closed shops at Wuse Market, Abuja

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President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega have written their names in gold in Nigeria’s history.

They did these through their roles in the just concluded 2015 presidential elections.

While there have been predictions of doom, one of which being that the election would be the basis for the breakup of Nigeria, the actions and conducts of the two men have nipped every prospect of crisis in the bud.

They have not only stabilised the Nigeria, but have also shown to the world that democracy has truly come to stay in Nigeria.

Through their actions, they have ushered in a new era and beamed a ray of hope for Nigeria to move to greater heights.

Beside Jega’s total commitment to birthing free, fair and credible 2015 general elections, he tactically handled a scene during the collation of the presidential election results on Tuesday that would have not only dented the electoral process but set the country on fire.

Party agent to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, besides disrupting the activities of the commission for about forty minutes in the name of protest, also leveled various allegations against Jega.

Orubebe, who held on tightly to the microphone, was shouting on top of his voice and rolling on the floor in front of Jega and his team in the full glare of the world.

The Ex-Minister was probably waiting for security personnel or anybody in the hall to touch him in order to get the opportunity to turn the arena to free for all fight.

But sensing the trap, Jega and the security personnel left Orubebe to carry out the shameful display unhindered.

Orubebe’s actions, within the period, had started sending wrong signals to Nigerians who were glued to their television sets watching the proceedings.

As Orubebe was carrying out the disruption, many Nigerians who were already apprehensive that Nigeria was going to break up as a result of the 2015 general elections started preparing for the worst scenario.

Many shop owners in Area 11 and many areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who managed to open their shops , immediately shut their shops and started rushing home as soon as Orubebe started the disruption.

In the hall, Jega kept mute throughout Orubebe’s display and

Heroes of our time in the face of accusations. He tactically responded to the issues raised when the situation in the hall was brought under control.

He was immediately able to douse the tension that was being generated across the country by Orubebe’s action.

Jega successfully ended the collation process and declared General Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect.

President Jonathan, while it became glaring that Buhari had won the election, unprecedentedly called Buhari on telephone that Tuesday to congratulate him even before Buhari was declared winner of the election.

In his statement, Jonathan said: “As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else. I have conveyed my personal best wishes to General Muhammadu Buhari.”

Jonathan’s action immediately changed the mood of the nation as Nigerians’ apprehension and fear of war in the country immediately disappeared.

On Jonathan’s action, the Head of the 2015 Elections Peace Committee,

From the Villa

By Augustine Ehikioya Abdulsalami Abubakar said: “We were at the middle of a meeting with the international observers to try to see how we can still water the tension down, when gladly I called Gen. Buhari that we are going to see him, he told me that Mr. President has called him at about 5:15 p.m. and congratulated him and conceded defeat.”

“We were spell bound and the reason we have come here is to thank President Jonathan for this statesmanship. In the history of Nigeria I think this is the first time where a contestant has called his rival to congratulate him and through this point, President Jonathan maintained a

point that the blood of Nigerians is not worth his presidency and by his action he has proved that.”

“He has proved that he is a man of his word because during our interaction on this peace committee he has always maintained that he is going to accept the result of the elections which ever way it is done. And he has proved this,” he added.

Jonathan and betrayals It is no longer news that President Jonathan has conceded defeat to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, General

Muhammadu Buhari.

But he must have learned one new lesson or the other from his experience from the period he picked his nomination form through the campaign tours to the election day.

Was he betrayed by some of those he relied on in the campaign organisation, some of the PDP governors and key aides who were very close to him?

Could these have been responsible for his loss to the APC in the presidential election in many PDPcontrolled states or his loss was due to the massive support for APC in those states that could not be stopped by the PDP? What happened before the election and during the election is now history as the President has already put everything behind him, looking ahead.

Being a simple man who has ensured peace in the country through his reaction to the outcome of the Presidential election, Nigerians, in no small number, expect that in no distant time, Jonathan’s wealth of experience will soon be available for the African continent and the world to tap into.

Corpse discovered in Dutse

R

ESIDENTS of Dutse Sokale in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were taken aback when they discovered the corpse of an unidentified woman that was dumped in the area.

Eyewitnesses said the woman in her late 30s, was discovered by passersby at the early hours of Wednesday, adding that the body was dumped behind a building.

Residents, who heard about the incident, thronged the area for possible identification of the corpse. None could identify her until a woman, Mama Sokale, arrived at the scene.

She immediately fainted on seeing the corpse. The residents made frantic efforts to revive her. When she came to a start, she explained that the corpse was her sister, Felicia who had come from Kaduna to visit her.

She stated that her sister had arrived on Tuesday from Kaduna without prior information, adding that she had left her in her shop following the erratic behaviour of some youths who were celebrating the victory of Gen. Buhari as Nigeria’s President-elect.

From Gbenga Omokhunu

“She arrived at my shop from Kaduna. I did not know she was coming. She told me that she was coming from a burial. When the news came that Gen. Buhari had won the presidential election, I was scared by the way the youth were celebrating. I told my sister that we should go home,” she said.

Mama Sokale further stated that her sister told her that she was waiting behind to see someone; promising to close the shop when she had seen the person.

“I went home and I waited for my sister and she did not come back. I was wondering what happened. I did not know that this is what I will experience today. Someone just called me that there was a corpse and I came, only to see that it is my sister,” she said.

Abuja Review gathered that there was no blood stain or any wound on the body, which might mean that the woman was strangled. The police came to the scene around 9:30 a.m. to pickup the corpse to the mortuary.

•The Industrial Training Fund zonal engagement with stakeholders in Abuja

37

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

LAW & SOCIETY Text of a lecture delivered by Femi Falana (SAN) at the Social Weekend at the Life Theological Seminary in Ikorodu, Lagos.

Beyond 2015 General elections: Delivering election promises

•Falana

•Continued from last week

A

LTHOUGH provisions were made for the costs of production and distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards and card readers in the Appropriation Bill of 2014 approved by the PDP dominated National Assembly and signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan the ruling party has challenged INEC for insist on using them.

Since the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega has decided to follow the law on the use of the PVCs and the card readers the campaign for his removal has been intensified. A few days ago, the campaign was taken to a ridiculous extent when some ethnic groups which had won some juicy pipeline monitoring contracts from the Federal Government, caused their members to stage violent protests in some cities. Accompanied by the anti-robbery squads of military and police personnel the protesters brandished guns and machetes and threatened to make the country ungovernable if Jega is allowed to conduct the elections.

Convinced that the removal of the INEC boss is not likely to be endorsed by the Senate as required by section 157 of the Constitution there are speculations that he may be sent on terminal leave, any moment from now. As I had argued elsewhere, “By the provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Act the retirement age of university professors is 70 years.

Since Professor Jega is 58 he would not retire from the public service until he attains the age of 70 in 2027. In the conditions of service of university staff there is no provision for preretirement leave but sabbatical leave, leave of absence, annual leave, casual leave, vacation leave and maternity leave (for female lecturers). As a public officer cannot go on pre-retirement leave twice it will be absurd to ask Jega go on terminal leave as INEC chairman in 2015

and then as a retiring professor in 2027”.

Unknown to the majority of the Nigerians including registered voters, not less than 14 political parties are participating in the forthcoming general election. But attention has been concentrated on the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) in spite of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act which require the public media to give equal prominence to all political parties and candidates. The media have thrown caution to the winds by colluding with certain politicians to divert attention from the crises of youth unemployment, infrastructural decay, insecurity, corruption, currency devaluation etc. Thus, by giving undue prominence to the campaign of calumny and character assassination embarked upon by some politicians the media have denied the Nigerian people the opportunity to make informed decisions on the candidates of their choice. All the same, the campaign has centred essentially on corruption, insecurity and unemployment.

The anti-corruption crusade As far as President Jonathan is concerned, corruption should be fought with technology as he does not believe in jailing corrupt people.

On his own part the candidate of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari has undertaken to declare his assets, grant autonomy to anti-graft agencies and set up an anti-corruption court.

Although these palliative measures cannot seriously addressed the menace of corruption in a poverty stricken environment it is necessary to examine them. In demonstrating his commitment to the fight against corruption with technology President Jonathan should collaborate with the INEC in ensuring that ghost voters are eliminated through the use of PVCs and card readers in the 2015 general election.

On the creation of a new court being advocated by General Buhari to fight corruption it should be pointed out that the Code of Conduct Tribunal is actually an anti-corruption court. But it has been underutilised in the fight against corruption. Unlike the regular courts, the Tribunal has the power to order a vacation of office or seat in any legislative house, forfeiture of ill-gotten wealth and impose a ban on public officers from participating in politics for a period not exceeding 10years.

Any person convicted by the Tribunal is not entitled to any pardon under the prerogative of mercy provisions in the Constitution. However, to function effectively, the National Assembly ought to amend the establishing the Tribunal to clothe it with criminal jurisdiction in the area of economic and financial crimes including official corruption.

However, the government cannot wage a

meaningful battle against corruption without addressing the root cause of the menace. The capitalist system is based on ruthless exploitation, corrupt practices and fraudulent enrichment of the ruling class at the expense of the actual producers of the wealth of a nation.

Through the imperialist domination of the economy and gross mismanagement by the local ruling elite, billions of dollars are taken out of Nigeria through capital flight. Thus, imperialism and its local lackeys have cornered the common wealth contrary to section 16(3)(c) of the Constitution which stipulates that the economic system shall not be operated in such a manner “as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of a few individuals or a group”. To curb corruption therefore the government has to muster the political will to control the economy in the interest of the people and then proceed to arrest and prosecute individuals and corporate bodies that engage in corruption and allied criminal offences.

The war on terror With the support of the multinational force drawn from neighboring countries the Nigerian armed forces have carried out successful operations against the satanic Boko Haram sect in the last few weeks. In the process, the terrorists have been dislodged from many of the towns and villages in the north east region illegally seized and occupied by them since last year. Although the war on terror has not been fully won the armed forces and the federal government deserve commendation for the success recorded so far in the task of restoring the territorial integrity of the country. With the recent acquisition of vital weapons for the armed forces by the Federal Government it is undoubtedly clear that the troops have been mobilised and motivated to discharge the constitutional duty of defending Nigeria from the forces of internal insurrection and external aggression.

In view of the disclosure by the Federal Government that it has just acquired adequate equipment for the armed forces and invited foreign instructors to train the soldiers on the use of such equipment the officers and soldiers who had consistently demanded for weapons to fight the war have been vindicated. Therefore, the military authorities ought to discontinue the ongoing trial of officers and soldiers by the General Court-Martial sitting in Lagos and set free the 70 soldiers who were convicted and sentenced to death for mutiny by two courts-martial which sat in Abuja last year. Since the alleged offence of mutiny arose from the legitimate demand of the convicted soldiers for adequate weapons to fight the rag tag army of the Boko Haram sect their con-

viction and sentence can no longer be justified.

As the area annexed from Nigeria is being liberated by the armed forces the terrorists have resorted to bombing of markets in the other parts of the North. While the onslaught against the terrorists continues the Federal Government should be prepared to implement the recommendations of the Ambassador Usman Gilmatiri presidential panel on insurgency in the Northeast region. In addition to the joint military operations with the armed forces of the neighbouring countries the Federal Government should embark on special programme to address the problems of child education and youth unemployment in the north east region. Since the police and the armed forces are constitutionally charged with the responsibilities of maintaining law and order and defending the territorial integrity of the nation the award of contracts to militias for monitoring pipelines and policing the country’s territorial waters is illegal and unconstitutional.

Provision of Social Welfare No doubt, there is no ideological difference between the two leading political parties in the country. As unapologetic defenders of the capitalist system they cannot see any basis for confronting imperialism for the destruction of the economy of the country. Although both parties are committed to the status quo they are prepared to grant some concessions in the area of social welfare. At one of the PDP rallies the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Dr. Mrs Ngozi OkonjoIweala claimed that the Federal Government had employed two million people in the last three years. Since that figure translates to about 54,000 employees per state, including the FCT, the Minister should be made to provide details of the newly recruited staff. Although the number of job losses within the period have not been collated the Minister should ensure that fund saved from the removal of not less than 100,000 ghost workers from the payroll of the Federal Government is invested in job creation.

The APC has undertaken to fund an effective social welfare for the vulnerable segment of the society. In particular, it has promised to pay N5,000 to the 25 million poorest citizens per month. The PDP has countered by saying that there is no fund for such ambitious programme. Although the APC has not joined issues with the PDP on the matter it is pertinent to state that there are sufficient funds to provide social security for the Nigerian people beyond the tokenistic offer of N5,000. In the management of the economy the system has continued to provide ‘intervention funds’ for members of the comprador class.

•To be continued nextweek

Court orders EFCC to produce detainee

By Joseph Jibueze

•EFCC Chairman Ibrahim Lamorde

J

USTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce a detainee, Mr Uwem Antia, before him on April 16 when he will hear his

suit seeking to enforce his fundamental rights.

Antia and Alhaji Suleiman Yerima were arrested, following a petition against them alleging financial impropriety. They filed separate suits against EFCC, both before Justice Abang, challenging their arrest and detention.

Parties in Yerima’s suit have argued the case, while Justice Abang will deliver his verdict on April 14.

Antia, through his lawyer Mr Kabir Akingbolu, is seeking a declaration that his arrest and continued detention at EFCC’s Ikoyi office since March 3 without being charged to court is unconstitutional and violates his right to dignity and human liberty.

He is praying for an order restraining the commission from torturing, humiliating or subjecting him to “inhuman and degrading treatment in order to achieve their ulterior motives.”

Antia is seeking an order directing EFCC to release him unconditionally without further delay or charge him to court if there is any complaint against him. He is also demanding N100million as exemplary damages from the commission for allegedly violating his rights.

Akingbolu said since his client was arrested, his relations, including wife and lawyers,

were not allowed free access to him.

Yerima, through his lawyer Mr Ali Adah, is seeking an order restraining EFCC or its officers from harassing, extorting and intimidating him or any of his friends and family members by indiscriminate arrest or re-arrest and detention without preferring any reasonable charge against him.

He is also praying for an order of perpetual injunction restraining EFCC “from transferring or referring the applicant to the AIG Zone II Onikan Lagos, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, SP Abba Kyari-O/C SARS Ikeja Lagos or any of their agents, privies, and or servants for the purpose of torture, further unlawful incarceration on this same case which the respondent is currently investigating.”

Yerima wants the court to hold that his arrest and continued incarceration since March 3 without trial is unconstitutional.

Adah is also praying for N100million as compensation to the applicant, as well as public apology by EFCC to be published in two widely read national dailies.

Akingbolu said he requested for Antia’s bail but was refused. According to him EFCC officials insisted he must refund the money involved. He said on March 5, EFCC asked Antia to fill an assets declaration form, but when he refused, the officials vowed to “deal with

him.”

“True to the respondent’s threat, they brought a group of cameramen and photographer to come and snap them as criminals…,” the lawyer said.

But EFCC, in a counter affidavit, denied the allegation. It said it received a criminal petition against Antia that he fraudulently obtained N672,750,000 from the petitioner.

It said the applicant admitted receiving the sum from the petitioner in exchange for dollars.

“The applicant did claim to have been given the dollar equivalent by Suleiman Yerima for onward payment to the petitioner…It was discovered that only $1,000,000 was paid to the petitioner out of $3,250,000 which is the dollar equivalent of the naira value paid to the applicant at the agreed exchange rate,” EFCC said.

The commission said it served Antia with his bail terms, but he allegedly refused to meet them, instead demanding to be released unconditionally, following which it obtained a pre-detention order from the Magistrate’s Court on March 12 allowing it to remand the applicant till April 16.

EFCC denied bringing photographers to snap Antia, urging the court to dismiss the case.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

38

LAW & SOCIETY As Nigerians await the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, lawyers have set agenda for the incoming administration. Among them are the overhaul of the judicial system, strengthening of anti-corruption agencies, building of collapsed infrastructure and respect for the rule of law. Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU reports

Lawyers set agenda for Buhari, Osinbajo

S

OME senior lawyers have urged the president-elect Gen Muhammadu Buhari and the vice-president-elect Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) to respect the rule of law, overhaul the judicial system and reorganise and strengthen the security agencies to make them effective.

The lawyers spoke in separate interviews with The Nation. A former Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) president Mrs Boma Ozobia said incoming administration should keep its campaigning promises.

“That necessarily implies justice for all, not just those who can pay for good legal representation. Our prisons and police cells are clogged with innocent citizens of this country. The criminal justice system needs a total overhaul to deal with this shameful state of affairs and with a Professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria as the Vice President-elect, I sincerely hope the much needed surgery will be performed under his watch. The magistrate courts are in the frontline and require much support to function optimally.

“Also, we must revisit the issue of community policing as an essential element of criminal justice reform. Sadly, this has been unduly politicised but we cannot shy away from it. As the saying goes, you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs. Finally, in reforming the system, I would hope that the focus would be on restorative justice where possible.”

A former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) First Vice-President Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN) said she expects a change of focus from the new administrations.

She wants them to focus on ensuring that the people’s hopes of new beginnings are not dashed.

Adekoya said: “The new government must ensure that capable and credible leadership is put in place at all levels with a focus on building processes and strengthening the institutions of government.The Buhari/ Osinbajo ticket is a ticket based on integrity, personal credibility and a record of performance – this has to be replicated at all levels of government.

“There is no point complaining if nothing happens. The Public Complaints Commission should be strengthened through effective leadership and its powers as a dispute resolver enhanced so that it can effectively provide an outlet to the many complaints about abuse of power, high handedness and sexual harassment resonating within the public service.

“Allegations of corruption need to be speedily and impartiality investigated, and where a case is made, it needs to be speedily prosecuted. In-house capacity building in the Federal Ministry of Justice, the EFCC and all other prosecuting arms should be a major focus of the incoming administration.’’

On judicial reform, she said: “Justice delayed is justice de-

nied. The wheels of justice at every level, from the Magistrates Court to the Supreme Court, are turning too slowly. The government needs to change this. Not all cases should go to the Supreme Court; only cases that have constitutional, policy or change of law significance should have access. Constitutional cases should go by right; all other cases should be by leave of the Supreme Court. There should no oral hearing for the leave application. As a general rule, the Court of Appeal should be the last court for most matters. Having three levels of appeal allows for the appointment of less than competent Judges to the Court of Appeal, since there is still a further appeal from their decisions.”

A former NBA General Secretary Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN) believes the new administration would be “a great time for Nigeria”.

He said: “Hope is renewed for a better future socially, politically and economically both for individuals and also the country as a nation. This election and, more particularly, the post-election development represents a testimony of Nigeria’s greatness at least potentially. We can now begin not only to boast of practical democracy in Nigeria, but also boast that our democracy is beginning to produce verifiable democrats.

“In real democracy, sovereignty resides with the people from whom power flows. The election has demonstrated this in clear terms. Again, democrats must accept the will of the people as revealed by their choice. This also we have seen in real sence.The encomius that have been coming from the world leaders and international community attest to Nigeria’s greatness.

“In the euphoria of the moment however, we must accept that there is work to be done by the incoming leaders. There is the need to capitalise on this success to renew a real sense of patriotism and promote unity among Nigerians. Nation building is a continuous process. I recognise that there will be an understandable pressure on the new leaders to deliver on their promises. The expectation is indeed very high.

“Luckily, both the President elect and the Vice President elect have well-acknowledged pedigrees for performance, they can therefore not afford to fail.

“With regards to justice sector, there is a lot to be done both in our civil and criminal justice systems. Delay is still rampant. Congestion is still noticeable.The judiciary must undergo a fundamental constitutional reform to address part of the challenges facing it. The truth is that most of the problems are inherently systemic. Nigeria must practice true federalism in the judiciary. For instance, the States must have their own Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court.

“Again, with the Vice President, an accomplished legal practitioner, l expect the judiciary to

•Ozobia

•Adekoya

•Sasore

•Adesina

•Ngige

•Enamhe

improve, rule of law and social justice to enjoy conspicuous patronage and position in the days ahead,” Adesina said.

A former Lagos State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice and Osinbajo’s successor, Olasupo Shasore (SAN), said the Buhari/Osinbajo team at national leadership is truly a blessing.

“This is because I’m aware that Nigerians can expect strong committed vision, experience and fairness; uniting policies, reform and modernisation of the idea of Nigeria. The Vice President-elect being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a former distinguished Attorney-General in no less a place than Lagos State, will commit the nation to strong adherence to rule of law.

“Unknown to many, adherence to the rule of law is not a mere gimmick or political slogan; studies show that rule of law/governance is responsible for over 60 per cent of positive national economic performance. Therefore, the wealth of a nation is in its intangible capital - human resources and strong institutions particularly the justice sector.

“I expect and will encourage them and their team to focus on the constitutional, legislative and human obstacles to beneficial justice sector performance. To devolve prosecution, law enforcement and prison authority to concurrent jurisdiction with states in order to tackle awaiting trial and public confidence; for the first time to articulate a National Justice (including judicial) sector policy document; to remove the constitutional inordinate right of appeal; appoint quality appellate judges from the bar; regulate law reporting; introduce investigative/arrest powers to the office public prosecution.

“We must actualise devolution of power in a way that allows Nigeria to operate optimally. Our dear Prof Osinbajo is well aware of those federal encroachments that must now be removed. Lagos

State must be given its due attention not for parochial purposes but because high economic performance in Lagos is a national asset. We look forward to success,” Shasore said.

Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) said: “With the presence of Prof.

Osinbajo as the Vice-President in the incoming administration, I expect the replication of Lagos Model with modifications in the justice administration of the incoming administration.

“In addition, I expect the Government to tackle the following issues: Collaborating with the stakeholders in resolving the impasse between Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and some governors on the issue of financial autonomy of state Judiciaries. They should collaborate with heads of courts in finding solutions to the causes of delay in the administration of justice, particularly criminal matters.

“The government should ensure the swift passage of all Justice Sector Bills in the National Assembly particularly the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill, collaborate with all heads of courts in the establishment of Anti-Corruption Units in Court premises to ensure that the fight against corruption in the judiciary is brought to the grassroots level.

“I expect a comprehensive reorganisation of the anti-corruption agencies to ensure that their mandates are realised.

“The administration should also collaborate with the heads of courts in reforming the process of appointment of judicial officers and their elevation to the appellate courts with the purpose of making the process transparent and bringing the right calibre of persons particularly from the private Bar to the appellate Bench and the resolution of the logjam in the Rivers State judiciary to ensure that an acceptable head of court emerges and the doors of the court thrown open for judicial administration.

“Strengthening the National Human Rights

Commission(NHRC) by giving it adequate funding and manpower to execute its functions, reorganisation of Legal Aid Council to ensure that its objectives are fully realised, comprehensive reform of many of our laws to bring them up to date and plug the various lacunae in them, amendments of some provisions the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to reflect the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerian people, collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in comprehensively reforming the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2010 to ensure that free and fair elections are conducted and that the mechanism for redress is fair and just to the litigants.

“Finally, finding solutions to the nagging issue of unemployment among junior lawyers, resolving the issue of welfare package for our judicial officers and state Counsel at federal level and esolving the huge debt portfolio of Federal Ministry of Justice,” Ngige added.

Dr. Dorn cklaimz Enamhe said: “The combination of Gen Buhari and Prof. Osinbajo is definitely a great one for two people who attained the heights of their respective careers and have been duly elected to now serve their country.

“I really see the dawn of a new era. I see the hand of God. I see a balanced government. Above all, I see them learning from the outgoing government very quickly, knowing full well that they are holding the peoples’ mandate in trust, being that the people can make a whole world of difference anytime they get to the polls.

“On judicial reforms, the law will take centre stage because both men are men of strong character. I see electoral offenders getting speedy justice so that they can use them to set standard for others to follow. The justice system should be strong, independent and assertive.”

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

39

LEGAL OPINION

Group urges Buhari, Osinbajo on campaign promises

A

GROUP Lawyers for Change (Lawyers4Change) has urged President-elect, MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to deliver on their campaign promises.

In a statement titled: “Thank You Nigerians”, signed by its National Coordinator, Adesina Ogunalana and General Secretary, Gbenga Demola-Ojo in Lagos, the group urged Buhari and Osinbajo to fix the power supply, enhance national security, tackle Boko Haram, end mass unemployment, importation of fuel and tame corruption. among other vices.

It said the task of re-building Nigeria must start immediately.

Lawyers4Change recalled the general elections held on March 28, this year and the subsequent declaration of Buhari and Osinbajo as winner of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days after.

It said the victory of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress was sweet and much expected by the majority of Nigerians, noting that despite the hitches in the exercise, the Nigerians comported themselves and did much to prevent

By Adebisi Onanuga

outbreak of violence despite the stress, hassles and tensions that accompanied the voting exercise.

“We remember that this victory never came easy or cheap giving the desperate and vicious campaign tactics and strategies of the government of the day and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party which include blackmail, muckracking,hate speeches,violence and voters’ intimidation.

Our unpleasant experience in Ondo and Ekiti states in the course of our March4CHANGE campaigns are pointers.

“Nonetheless, we are full of gratitude to the Almighty that despite all the tension, upheavals, disturbances and rumors of disturbances, the election was not disrupted and the process ended peacefully and regularly.

“We join million others to congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari, his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and their party the All Progressives Congress at their victory at the polls. The victory was unprecedently historic as it would be the first ever time the opposition would, in Nigeria, defeat the party in

power in an electoral contest at the federal level and for sure this is the first time that the progressive tendency in our dear country would be taking over the reins of power of the Federal Government,” it said.

The group expressed appreciation to INEC and her leadership, for delivering a relatively free and fair elections to Nigerians.

“We appreciate the industry and maturity of the INEC leadership as well as the grace exhibited under fire.

“We also express our appreciation of President Goodluck Jonathan, the first runner up in the presidential elections for conceding defeat early enough and decently too. This singular action was a very powerful douse against any violent reaction to the result of the announcement, which could easily have led to mayhem at a national scale.

“Our greatest appreciation however is to the masses of our people who made the election possible and gave it her character. Our people stood in the sun, defied the rain, most without food for several hours to ensure that they not only cast their votes but stayed back to ensure that their votes count,” the group added.

•Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Peter N.C. Umueadi (middle) with members of Idemmili Judicial Divison after being declared winner of the Fourth CJ Annual Dinner Award in Awka, Anambra State capital.

Alleged forgery: Court orders law student’s probe

T

HE Federal High Court in Umuahia, the Abia State capi tal, has ordered the police to investigate a forgery allegation against a law graduate, Ejem Onuma Agbaeze.

Justice F. A. Olubanjo awarded N1million against Agbaeze and his friend, Arua Ifegwu for failing to prove a case of violation of their fundamental rights.

The judge urged the Council of Legal Education to exercise caution while considering whether Agbaeze, said to be a student of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, should be called to the Bar. Justice Olubanjo held: “That the issues outlined for determination in this application for the enforcement of fundamental rights are resolve in favour of the first to fourth respondents; that the applicants have woefully failed to prove that their fundamental rights have been violated by or at the instance of the first to fourth respondents; that the reliefs sought are refused and the application is dismissed.

“That the Council of Legal Education should exercise caution while considering whether the

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

first applicant should be called to the Bar; that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja through the Commissioner of Police Abuja is hereby directed to liase with the Medical Director of Bwari General Hospital with a view to investigating the allegation of forgery and charging those who are found culpable to court; that cost of N1 million is awarded against the applicants in favour of the first to fourth respondents.”

Agbaeze and Ifegwu claimed their rights were violated by Abia House of Assembly Speaker Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Francis Okpe, Orji Emeghe and Ude Ogbu Ude in 2011. They demanded N346, 000, 000 damages for allegedly abducting, detaining and torturing them during the 2011 general elections.

Agbaeze had attached some pictures and medical papers dated May 26, 2011 which he claimed was issued by Bwari General Hospital, Abuja.

But the respondents’ lawyer Chidozie Ogunji applied to the

hospital to verify the documents.

Last November 24, the Medical Director, Dr. Ekpe Philips said the medical report was forged, including the hospital’s stamp, phone number, letter head, doctor’s name, the signature and the hospital’s card.

Said the hospital: “Thank you for your request to authenticate the attached medical report of Ejem Onuma Agbaeze ..., which he claimed to have received from our institution, Bwari General Hospital, Abuja.

“We wish to confirm that following detailed investigation from our records, that everything about the medical report was forged viz: letter headed paper, stamp, hospital number, the ref. no, name of the doctor, signature and hospital card.

“We are, indeed, interested in arresting Mr. Ejem Onuma Agbaeze, who is our suspected culprit or who will lead us to whoever gave these entire forged documents to him on behalf of Bwari General Hospital. On no account should these documents be considered as emanating from Bwari General Hospital, Abuja.”

LAW AND PUBLIC POWER

with gabriel AMALU email:gabrielamalu1@yahoo.com For comments: 08033054939 (sms only)

Why vote for Akinwunmi Ambode?

O

NE of the best campaign songs for the 2015 general elections, belong to AkinwunmiAmbode. He is the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, in Lagos state. I referto that campaign theme song that ignites thus: ambooo ambo.ambooo ambo ... After that intro, the music takes the listener through a delectable thematic content and beats, to rally the voter’s mind around the APC’scandidate’s potential. Regardless of the variant, that campaign thematic song, urges the listener to vote Ambode, during the next gubernatorial elections. His opponents, particularly Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have their own theme songs, but none excites, like A+MBODE’s own.

The A+MBODE sign, has to do with the visual theme of Ambode’s campaign.

On this score, the APC candidate surely has his acts together. Among the numerous campaign posters, one of the most memorable also belongs to him.

I refer to the poster, where AMBODE delicately joins his two palms, perhaps in supplication for votes, but more significantly, a pose depicting his devotion to unity and peace. For the religious, it is the Amen or Amin sign. With a chubby, handsome, and peaceful face, solemnly looking ahead, the APC candidate, seems to be praying for a successful election. There, his bright eyes oozes love, while his palms delicately sticking together, is an open plea for all Lagos residents to come out en masse, to unanimously endorse him, as the next governor of Lagos State.

Talking of endorsements, the APC candidate surely has his bag full, with very significant endorsers. The first and perhaps one of the most treasured endorsements, came from the traditional ruler of Lagos. Interestingly, before Akinwunmi Ambode became a household name and a gubernatorial frontrunner,in record time, Oba Rilwanu Lukman Akiolu, openly endorsed A+MBODE as the anointed candidate,to take over the governorship of Lagos state, after the glorious reign of Mr.Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN. With that royal decreeby the preeminent Lagos State monarch, Akinwunmi’scandidacy took a life of its own.

Significantly, Mr. Ambode also has the emblematic support of the incumbent governor of Lagos State. The endorsement by the learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is not half-hearted. It is total, unequivocal and comprehensive.

To sell A+MBODE, Governor Fashola is not leaving anything to chance. He uses town hall meetings, campaign stands, official functions, and indeedall opportunities,to expertly market his candidate. He sells Ambode as more experienced than his closest rival, Jimi Agbaje, of the PDP. He reels out A+MBODE’s excellent performance in public service, and excitedly tell Lagosians that his candidate has the competence, drive and ingenuity to shepherd the state of excellence.

Governor Fashola, himself, with impeccable credentials as governor, dutifully reminds Lagosians of the numerous signature projects of his administration, and the need for sustenance.He warns Lagos voters not to torpedo the Lagos-Badagry rail project that has reached advanced stage; the Bus Rapid Mass Transit programme that has brought modernity to Lagos; the urban renewal program that street by street, is restoring the pride of Lagos. He talks about the free and qualitative strides in education, which has restored the impetus of primary and secoundary education, with all the potentials that it portends for the future of the state.

The Governor of the state of excellence, reminds Lagosians of the need to sustain the financial autonomy and independence of the state. He reminds Lagos residents that AkinwunmiAmbode was at the financial trench, to rout the imperial invasion by the federal government, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which had withheld the funds of the local government councils, to cripple the state. He sells his candidate as a financial genius, an administrative expert, who will hit the ground running, if elected his successor, as he has been part and parcel of the success story of the state of excellence.

Like a proud marketer of an excellent product, BRF excitedly reals out A+’s multiple academic laurels, and the other numerous exhibits of his fecundity.

The man who started it all, to the glory of Lagos state,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, advisedly tellsLagosians that we should all board the Ambode train, as it is sure to lead to further prosperity. The distinguished leader of the strongest opposition party ever, in the chequered political history of Nigeria, we must remember, was the Nostradamus, who saw the brilliant performance of BabatundeFashola, well before he nominated him, as his successor.He reminds us that he was castigated by those without the gift of clairvoyance. But like all true leaders, he stood his ground then, that, Fashola was the man; and true to his prediction, BRF today stands out in shining armour.

Now again, the man with the gift of prophesy, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has prophesied that Ambode is the next man with the Midas touch. I guess it makes a lot of sense to believe him. At his campaign stops, AMBODE the man of the moment has shown his capacity for logic and clear thinking. He has shown a firm grasp of fundamental governance issues. He has been able to connect and empathise with the poor and the deprived. He has shown uncommon acumen and succinct grasp of the big issues that would transform the mega city of Lagos, to one of the best and safest in that class.

Ambode has also shown capacity to connect with the ethnic and cultural plurality of Lagos state. In his campaigns, A+ has gained endorsements from discerning cultural associations of non-indigenous peoples of Lagos, without alienating his kits and kin.For Ndigbo in Lagos, with Mr. Ben Akabueze, the Honourable Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Fashola’s cabinet leading, they have a stake in AMBODE’S triumph.

•This article is being rerun on popular demand

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LAW & SOCIETY

•Lalong

•Abubakar

•Tambuwal

Lawyers root for Lalong, Abubakar, Tambuwal L

AWYERS are drumming up support for their colleagues who will be contesting the governorship election on April 11.

Among those contesting are Simon B. Lalong (Plateau State), M. A. Abubakar (Bauchi) and House of Reprsentatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto).

Leading the call are members of the Arewa Lawyers Forum (ALF), who believe their colleagues would transform the region and bring the much-desired dividends of democracy to their people.

They said lawyers have always shown the light in the leadership of their countries for others to follow.

They cited Bill Clinton of the United States, the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Solomon Lar, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Dr. Godswill Akpabio as lawyers who have demonstrated efficient leadership.

Immediate past Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Second Vice-President Steve Abar, endorsed Abubakar, saying his candidature “is one of the most welcome developments of this year”.

“His candidature represents a struggle for justice, fairness, equity and good governance on the Plateau. He represents unity, progress, development and all well meaning citizens of the State ought to rally round him to deliver the divends of democracy to the people. Abubakar has successfully steered the ship of Arewa Lawyers for the past two years and has, undoubtedly, given a credible and focused leadership.”

“Looking at the way Tambuwal emerged as the Speaker of the House and how he sustained the leadership of the House in the face of serious pressure, you easily attest to his mastery of politics and I urge the people of Sokoto State to vote massively for him on Saturday. Tambuwal will make a good governor for Sokoto State because he cares for the feelings, the yearnings and aspirations of the people. ‘’Only victory for our candidates will reposition the north and fast track the socio-economic and political development of the people.

“The fact that Lalong is contesting for the office of Governor of Plateau State at this time is one of the most welcome developments of this year. His candidature represents a struggle for justice, fairness, equity and good governance on the Plateau. He represents unity, progress, development and all well meaning citizens of the State ought to rally round him to deliver the divends of democracy to the people.

“His previous experiences in governance as a Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly places him in a vantage position to redirect Plateau on the path of true greatness. At this critical time in our nation’s history, Lalong is the way to go for Plateau,” Abar said Former Director, Public Prosecutions in Bauchi, Mr. Haruna Dele Mohammed, listed Abubakar’s attributes as good knowledge, attitude, skill and habits.

He said: “He is well-read in law and administration.

Has travelled extensively within and outside the shores of this country all in search of knowledge, travel in itself they say is education and Knowledge.

“Good Attitude, calm, calculated, good mind set and above all respect other peoples opinion and advice.His skill are immeasurable, he has a lot of experience in his training and practice as a Lawyer as well as in Administration He has gathered administrative

By John Austin Unachukwu

experience serving in the under listed but not limited capacities: DPP Bauchi State,twice Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Bauchi State.

“He was chairman NBA Bauchi and he gave us good and credible leadership. He grew from the ranks, he knows his home state very well, he has always been with the people of Bauchi State and knows their problems and the need areas. He is a man who matches words with action, he is not dogmatic, he is willing to borrow ideas from sister states, technology etc for the benefit and betterment of the people of the state.

“I urge the people of Bauchi to come out en masse on Saturday, April 11, 2015, to vote for him, for transparency, accountability, drive, honesty, security and dividends of democracy for everybody in the state.”

Matthias Tsuwa, a National Executive Council (NEC) member in Bauchi, said he had known Abubakar since 2001, adding that he is a great achiever.

“His having won the primary election of our great party, the APC, is really a great feat because he contested the primary with seven others who are no push overs and for him to have surmounted them is a great feat indeed. In fact, knowing the terrain of Bauchi State very well, I can tell you confidently without any equivocation or shadow of doubt that Abubakar is the Governor of Bauchi State in waiting, the exercise of April 11, 2015 will confer the people’s mandate on him,’’ he said.

Tsuwa said Abubakar would make a very good governor because he is a seasoned administrator. He said Abubakar worked in the Ministry of Justice, Bauchi and became the Attorney-General of the state between 1990 and 1992, adding that his tenure was very eventful. He turned around the fortunes of the ministry and affected the judiciary of state positively. “He later joined INEC and rose to the position of National Commissioner before he retired and continued with his active private legal practice where he left to join INEC. “The people of Bauchi really love him and they have demonstrated this in the rousing welcome he has been receiving from the tumultuous crowds that have turned out to receive him on his campaign tours of the nooks and corners of Bauchi. Also, judging from the past performances of the APC in Bauchi, it is clear that it is the party of choice in the state and Abubakar is only waiting to be sworn in come May 29, 2015,” Tsuwa said.

Danlami Hassan Garba described Abubakar as competent, disciplined and trust worthy; he is legally minded, respects the rule of law and due process; he is experienced as one time Commissioner both at state and federal level, he is Incorruptible and humanitarian in nature. “He is just the person Bauchi people are yearning for, voting Abubakar as the Governor of Bauchi will bring the change we had hitherto desired in the state. Bauchi will surely be better than ever under the leadership of Abubakar as a Governor,” Garba said.

Lalong, former Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly in the Joshua Dariye administration, is seen by many as humble and has leadership qualities that stand him out as the man for the job. “They see him as the man who has the capacity to step into the big shoes of late Solomon D. Lar because he shares the rofessional calling and idiosyncrasies with the late elder statesman,’’ a lawyer

said.

Mr. Nankin Bagudu said: “Anybody who loves Plateau and is outside the state, should be back home from Wednesday, April 8, latest to join in the struggle to free our people from the stranglehold of bad governance.

“To our people this election is a decisive one, we must be united in the single minded determination to vote for change. We have two options, one will make us second class citizens and the other will free us from internal servitude, tribalism and corruption. The rightful candidate is Simon Lalong. Nothing less, nothing else, nothing more.

To do otherwise will be to condemn our state, our children and the future generations to two different societies.

“I believe Simon Lalong is it because he is not an appendage of the current government. He would do things differently and would correct the very many problems that the current government has created for us as a people. He is simple, teachable and ready to work with all manner of people to ensure that there is balanced development in the state.’’

It was reported that some present and former elected and appointed leaders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau, operating under the auspices of Kice Awareness for Change, have rejected the PDP governorship candidate in the state and adopted the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, Lalong.

The Kice Awareness for Change members said at a conference in Jos, that the governor was wrong when he anointed his kinsman from Plateau North Senatorial Zone whereas popular opinion favoured a southern Plateau person as the job.

“We strongly support and endorse the candidature of Rt. Hon Lalong and Prof Sunny Tyoden (as governorship candidate and running mate respectively) in the April 11, 2015 general elections.

We reject in totality, political imposition or hegemonic local imperialism by a microscopic cabal in Plateau State” Kice said.

Former chairman, Jos branch of the NBA, Mr. Caleb Dajan, said: ”I believe that Lalong will make a good governor. Every lawyer, by virtue of his training is a leader. Most countries that have made a choice of a lawyer as either President or Governor have never regretted it. Examples abound in the United States, where we have lawyers as presidents and they performed very well. In Nigeria, we have examples of governors Babatunde Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State, Dr. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and coincidentally, all of them are my mates at the Nigerian Law School.

You have the late Lar of the old Plateau State, who performed very well. I recommend Lalong to the people of Plateau State. He will not disappoint.”

Former Secretary, NBA Jos branch and a member of the National Executive Committee of (NEC) of the NBA Jim Gotom, said: “Lalong’s record of community service has been remarkable. From his excellent record as national president Gamai youth movement he endeared himself to his people. As speaker Plateau State House of Assembly for two terms, he exhibited uncommon leadership. He resisted the offer to be governor by illegally impeaching former governor Joshua Dariye.

That is uncommon principle.”

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HEALTH THE NATION

E-mail:- health@thenationonlineng.net

WORLD HEALTH DAY

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on policy makers, producers and the public to promote food safety as it marks this year’s World Health Day today. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes.

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WHO alerts on food safety

HE World Health Organisation (WHO) is advocating action on food safety. This includes what goes into the food; origin of the ingredients; are they properly and safely handled at every stage of their preparation from the farm to plate and a host of other factors in food production.

According to WHO, over 200 diseases are caused by unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses and chemical substances. The world body also estimated that about two million deaths occur every year from contaminated food or drinking water.

“Food-borne and water-borne diarrhoeal diseases kill an estimated two million people annually, including many children and particularly in developing countries. Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of diarrhoea and malnutrition, threatening the nutritional status of the most vulnerable. Where food supplies are insecure, people tend to shift to less healthy diets and consume more “unsafe foods” – in which chemical, microbiological and other hazards pose health risks,” a report by WHO said.

Unsafe food, it added, poses global health threats and endangers everyone. “Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with an underlying illness are particularly vulnerable,” it said.

As part of its message for this year’s world health day WHO said: “As our food supply becomes increasingly globalised new threats are constantly emerging. Food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances is responsible for more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhea to cancers. Be informed to ensure that the food on your plate is safe to eat.”

The body wants governments to make food

safety a public health priority, as they play a pivotal role in developing policies and regulatory frameworks, which ensure that food producers and suppliers along the whole food chain operate responsibly and supply safe food to consumers.

“Food can become contaminated at any point,” the body said. The primary responsibility of keeping foods safe, the body said, lies with its producers.

The report further said a large proportion of food borne disease cases are caused by foods improperly prepared or mishandled at home, in food service establishments or markets.

“Not all food handlers and consumers understand the roles they must play, such as adopting basic hygienic practices when buying, selling and preparing food to protect their health and that of the wider community,” it said.

The body insisted that everyone can contribute to making food safe and cited some examples of effective actions. Policy-makers, it said, can build and maintain adequate food systems and infrastructures (e.g. laboratories) to respond to and manage food safety risks along the entire food chain including during emergencies. sectoral collaboration among public health, animal health, agriculture and other sectors for better communication and joint action; integrate food safety into broader food policies and programmes (e.g. nutrition and food security); think globally and act locally to ensure the food produce domestically be safe internationally.

Food handlers and consumers can know much about the food they produce and eat by reading labels on food package, make an informed choice, become familiar with common food hazards; handle and prepare food safely, practicing the WHO Five Keys to Safer Food

at home, or when selling at restaurants or at local markets. They can grow fruits and vegetables using the WHO five keys to growing safer fruits and vegetables to decrease microbial contamination.

WHO, according to the report, aims at facilitating global prevention, detection and response to public health threats associated with unsafe food. It also wants to ensure consumer trust and confidence in the safe food supply.

The organisation, according to the report, is helping member states to build capacity to prevent, detect and manage food borne risks by providing independent scientific assessments on microbiological and chemical hazards that form the basis for international food standards, guidelines and recommendations. They are known as the Codex Alimentarius, to ensure that food is safe wherever it originates. The body is also assessing the safety of new technologies used in food production, such as genetic modification and nanotechnology.

The body, according to the report, is helping to improve national food systems, legal frameworks and implement adequate infrastructure to manage food safety risks. “The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) was developed by WHO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to rapidly share information during food safety emergencies; promoting safe food handling through systematic disease prevention and awareness programmes, through the WHO Five Keys to Safer Food message and training materials; and advocating for food safety as an important component of health security and for integrating food safety into national policies and programmes in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR - 2005),” the report said.

WHO, the report said, is working closely with FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and other international organisations to ensure food safety along the entire food chain from production to consumption.

FACTS WHO’s “Five Keys” to safe food are: •Keep clean •Separate raw and cooked food •Cook thoroughly •Cook food at safe temperatures

PSN worried over drug distribution guidelines

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HE Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is worried over the non-commencement of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, which is aimed at ridding the sector of unauthorised open drug market. It was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Health.

The guidelines were to take effect last June but the take-off date was shifted to July 1, this year.

The PSN is concerned that nothing has been done towards facilitating the initiative since last year. “Another postponement of the take-off date will compel stakeholders to treat the National Drug Distribution Guidelines with contempt and levity,” it said.

Its President, Olumide Akintayo, in a statement, said: “PSN is worried in the light of realities that intense politicking appears to continue to take its toll on governance at all levels from the federal and state governments to local government areas”.

The statement said further: “The original take-off date and proposed sealing of all unauthorised open drug markets was fixed for June 30, last year, a date which was postponed till July 1, this year a few days to official commencement in 2014.

“From all indications not much has happened since last year when the take-off dates were adjusted except the recent dialogue between stakeholders and International Finance Corporation in last month. Consequent upon this, PSN strongly suggests that the Steering Committee of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines is energised to immediately begin to work on realisable goals and targets of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines in 2015

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

as another postponement of the takeoff date compels relevant stakeholders to treat the strategic National Drug Distribution Guidelines with contempt and levity.”

The PSN, according to the statement, enjoined the Ministry of Health to reach out to operators in open markets to enable them strategise on how to regularise their business in tandem with existing laws and the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.

The society also expressed worry over the 26-man new Technical Review Committee (TRC) for the National Health Act (NH Act 2014) allegedly inaugurated by the Minister.

The member of that committee, according to the society, is unknown to a sizeable number of key stakeholders. “More importantly is that from all indications, representation of the Technical Review Committee has not been extended to professional associations and trade unions in the Health Sector,” it said.

Akintayo said the committee, which is said to be “cautiously” selected to guarantee representation of the key institutions, has directive for the implementation of the National Health Act. “Naturally, PSN accepts the principle of setting up a Technical Committee, which is also within the powers of the Minister. But from all indications, representation of the Technical Review Committee has not been extended to professional associations and trade unions in the Health Sector. I, therefore, find it necessary to draw your attention to this vital omission,” the statement said.

•Some pupils taking part in a Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) game during the 2015 World Water Day celebration at the Nestlé Agbara Factory in Ogun State.

Ogun residents urged to avoid Schistosomiasis

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HE public has been advised to be hygienic to avoid communicable and non-communicable diseases.

The Director, Public Health Services in the Ogun State Ministry of Health, Dr. Quduus Yusuff, gave this advice in Imala, Abeokuta North Local Government Area, during a forum on the control of schistosomiasis, which manifests as blood in urine, terminal immaturia.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

Describing shistosomiasis as an infection caused by parasites that live in rivers or lakes, Yusuff enjoined them to step up their hygiene to avoid contracting schistosomiasis, stating that it is common in dirty communities.

He advised them to change the habit of washing in river and drinking from it in order not to get infected with the diseases and other water-borne ailments. “To reduce

infection, we have embarked on continuous education, enlightenment and treatment of the affected areas,” he said.

Yusuff advised anyone with the symptoms, which include fever, skin rash, muscle aches and cough to see a doctor and avoid travelling to anywhere that it is widespread, saying that people get infected from the affected river and symptoms can develop few weeks after being infected by the parasite.

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THE NATION

* The Environment * Mortgage * Apartments * Security * Homes * Real Estate

BUSINESS PROPERTY/ENVIRONMENT

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.com 08062722507

property@thenationonlineng.net muyiwalucas2002@yahoo.com

Real estate firm promises transformation

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•Rains...More expected in Lagos this year.

Lagos alerts on more floods T

HE Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, has expressed satisfaction with the efforts to combat flooding in the state.

The Commissioner noted that it is gratifying that while several states were submerged by flood in the last few years, Lagos, through the relentless efforts of its engineers, has received several commendations for its proactive measures at containing flooding.

Bello said the state has equally benefitted from its strategic planning on flood control measures, which according to him, were effective enough to contain attendant storm water. This has earned the state commendations from the Nigeria Meteorological service as the only state that has a deliberate and concerted deflooding programme.

The commissioner however cautioned residents to be prepared for heavy downpour this year. His warning is based on the 2015 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) for the state, which indicated that there will be 260 days of rainfall in the state this year.

“It has been predicted that Lagos State will experience a rainy season of between 245 and 260 days, with the maximum annual rainfall predicted

•Praises flood control measures Stories by Muyiwa Lucas

to be around 1,824mm. The maximum rainfall will be experienced around the Marina area of Lagos Island. In general, this year’s rainfall has been predicted to have a delay onset of about two to 13 days, with Lagos, Ondo, Ogun and some other states expected to have more pronounced delay by eight to 13 days,” Bello said.

The prediction, which was corroborated by NIMET, also said an early cessation of rainfall is predicted for most part of the country. However, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ondo, Akure, among others, will have later than normal cessation as they will experience more growing season.

Bello said with high temperature and humidity being favourable conditions for the growth of pest, vectors and spreading of diseases, coupled with the fact that the higher the temperature and humidity, the more rapid the life cycles of mosquitoes and frequencies in mosquito bites, the state will be affected by mosquitoes. “Lagos

State is expected to be moderately affected by mosquitoes. It is of utmost importance that Lagosians keep their environment clean to minimise the effects of mosquitoes,” he warned, adding that Lagosians should avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse, and blockage of drainage.

Bello also warned that due to climate change, while other states in the federation will enjoy a short break in rainfall between July 15 and August 31 this year, Lagos is not likely to have this break as it will rain throughout the year unlike other years.

“It is going to rain throughout the year; there is no “August break” for Lagos State. There will be days without rain, but there won’t be any long interval of break,” he warned.

The commissioner also warned of strong wind that may accompany rains, which he said will herald the onset and cessation of rains in the state. Therefore, he advised farmers to plant drought resistant crops; dams managers in areas with prospect of above normal rainfall such as Ogun-Oshun River Basin, should prepare for high water inflow due to run-off. He also warned pilots to

•Bello take extra care during landing and take-off to avoid weather hazards caused by wind shear, slippery runways and reduced visibility expected at different periods in the year. Also to be affected are communication firms. This is due to the expected warmer than normal temperature and the expected intense rainstorms and strong winds which are expected to affect communication signals.

Bello assured that within the available resources to government, the Ministry of Environment proactively shall continue to undertake measures to ensure that it copes with the rains.

Sambo hails private partnership in housing delivery

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HE Vice President, Mohammed Sambo, has inaugurated the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria’s (FMBN) Sky Diamond Estate in Kaduna.

At the event, he said the administration was pleased to note that the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development (FMLHUD) and the FMBN were working hard at actualising one of the focal points of the President Goodluck Jonathan Administration Transformation Agenda in housing.

He explained that the crucial role housing plays in the socio-economic development and political stability of a nation made the administration to take determined measures to revamp the sector and unleash its huge inherent economic potentialities for national development.

According to Sambo, the FMBN/Sky Diamond Housing Estate, which con-

sists of 200 units of residential houses will not only add to the housing stock of Kaduna, Kaduna State, but will go a long way in reducing the current estimated deficit in the housing sector. It is also a testimony to the concerted efforts to provide decent housing for the people of this country, which is driven by a National Policy on Housing that places the private sector in the driving seat for housing development.

The estate commissioning, he said, is a statement in support of the fact that the policies, strategies and mechanisms for reducing the national housing deficit in every nook and cranny of the country are yielding results.

Sambo reiterated government’s support for initiatives of this nature and its in-

tention to improve the capacity of FMBN by re-capitalising the institution as part of the wider plans of overhauling housing financing institutions in Nigeria. “This is the exemplary form of synergy envisaged by the National Policy on Housing, which encapsulates a private sectorled housing delivery strategy hinged on governments at both national and sub-national levels, creating a conducive environment,” he said. He commended the apex mortgage institution and the developer Sky Diamond Logistics Limited, for the successful delivery of the housing estate.

He also charged the private and publicly-owned development firms, Primary Mortgage Banks and other stakeholders in the housing sector to redouble efforts in tackling the huge housing deficit, which remains a challenge that must be overcome

for the benefit of Nigerians.

Sambo also assured that the government will not relent in moving the Nigerian housing sector to the next level of sustainable development so as to establish a lasting legacy of affordable home ownership and a thriving culture of mortgage lending for the gain of future generations.

“Undoubtedly, the provision of housing represents the satisfaction of the basic human need for shelter. Beyond this however, it is widely acknowledged that the role housing plays is vital to the socio-economic construct of any society. Housing not only adds considerable aesthetic value to our living spaces, but also contributes significantly to the commonwealth and the national economy,” Sambo said.

LAGOS-based real estate and engineering firm, Pazino Engineering and Construction Company Limited, has said it has a mission to transform Nigeria’s real estate sector to world class by adding new styles and dimension to what exists in the sector.

Its Managing Director, Mr. Patrick Agbaza, who spoke in Lagos, said the firm is set to bring awareness to construction and engineering in the real estate sector of the economy.

According to him, the practice of real estate business has transformed tremendously from what it used to be and there is need to take advantage of developments on the global stage.

“At Pazino, we intend to take real estate from what it used to be to the next level in terms of construction and building type. We have a lot of estates. Apart from the buildings, we have the gardens, the drainages and all of that. Again before now we had few people living in estates, but now we have a lot of people come to appreciate living in estates,” he said.

He said Pazino is determined to make people understand why they should invest in real estate because there are huge potentials for better return on investment in real estate.

“Other than real estate, we want people to come and invest in real estate. Some years ago, it used to be shares and all of that, but with the collapse of shares, the momentum has swung back to real estate,” he said.

He lamented that government has not created the enabling environment for the real estate business to thrive. According to him, government only pays lip service to the development of the sector.

He also blamed banks for not helping the housing industry. “The banks are no longer interested in long term businesses. They are only investing in short term businesses like oil and gas,” he lamented.

Firm relocates

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LEARLINE International Limited, a Health Mainte nance Organisation (HMO), has moved its head office to 290 Ikorodu Road.

The office complex, completed last year, has four floors occupied by operational departments of the firm, while the adjoining building accommodates the board room. An ultra-modern staff canteen, a conference hall with capacity for 120 people, including facilities for training, seminar and workshop.

A walkway bridge links the two buildings together. The bridge is reinforced with solid steel and concrete, which further adds beauty to the building. The aesthetics effect of the building is also a major attraction. The floor is constructed with paved stones and well laid out flower gardens and walk away. The complex, which has an expansive compound, is also fitted with security fittings and fire prevention equipment. It also has a spacious parking lot. Apart from the externalities, the interior furnishing is exquisite.

The property would be a boost to the company from where it would oversee its operations across Nigeria.

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BUSINESS ENERGY

E-mail:- energy@thenationonlineng.net

Shell rakes in $2.437b from two oil blocks sale T

HE Shell Petroleum Develop ment Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and other joint venture firms, Total Exploration and Production (E&P) Nigeria Limited and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited have realised $2.437 billion from sale of their interests in two oil blocks - oil mining lease (OML) 18 and OML 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) and related facilities in the Eastern Niger Delta.

The companies completed sale of their interests in assets last week bringing an end to the controversies that trailed the transaction since last year. The transaction on the two assets ought to have closed since last year alongside other two blocks OMLs 24, 25, but because OMLs 18 and 29 were considered juicy when compared to others and besides there were issues of capacity and capability on the side of the preferred bidders, the transaction lingered till last week.

According to SPDC’s Corporate Media Relations Manager Precious Okolobo, Shell’s interests in OML 18 were assigned to Eroton Exploration & Production Company Limited and total cash proceeds for Shell amount to $737 million while OML 29 and the NCTL were sold to Aiteo Eastern

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

Exploration and Production (E&P) Company Limited and total cash proceeds for Shell amount to some $1.7 billion.

This divestment is part of the strategic review of SPDC’s onshore portfolio and is in line with the Federal Government’s aim of developing Nigerian companies in the country’s upstream oil and gas business, he added.

Shell, he said, has been in Nigeria for more than 50 years and remains committed to keeping a long-term presence there – both onshore and offshore. Through SPDC and its other Nigerian companies, Shell responsibly produces the oil and gas needed to help fuel the economic and industrial growth that generates wealth for the nation and jobs for Nigerians.

OML18 covers an area of 1,035 square kilometres and includes the Alakiri, Cawthorne Channel, Krakama, and Buguma Creek fields and related facilities. The divested infrastructure includes flow stations together with associated gas infrastructure plus oil and gas pipelines within the OML. The divested fields produced on average of about 14,000 bar-

rels of oil equivalent per day in 2014.

OML29 covers an area of 983 square kilometres and includes the Nembe, Santa Barbara and Okoroba fields and related facilities. The NCTL is 100 kilometres long and has a capacity of 600 thousand barrels per day.

It was commissioned in 2010 and evacuates crude to the Bonny Crude Oil Terminal (BCOT). BCOT is not part of the transaction and will remain owned and operated by the SPDC Joint Venture. The divested infrastructure includes flowstations together with associated gas infrastructure plus oil and gas pipelines within the OML. The divested fields produced around 43,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (100 per cent) in 2014.

Total E&P Nigeria Limited and Ni-

gerian Agip Oil Company Limited have also assigned their interests of 10 per cent and 5 per cent respectively in the lease, ultimately giving Eroton Consortium a 45 per cent interest in OML 18 and also assigned the same interests to Aiteo Eastern E&P Company Limited ultimately giving it a 45 per cent interest in OML 29 and the Nembe Creek Trunk Line.

Shell said all approvals have been received from the relevant authorities.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc had said it targets $15 billion from assets sales between last year and this year. The divestments of the assets are part of the steps to achieve the target.

Shell Chief Executive Officer Ben Van Beurden had said the company

had already completed about $8 billion in asset sales and announced plans to dispose of about $15 billion through 2015 adding that the company agreed to sell two natural gas assets in the United States for $2.1 billion plus shale acreage.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, said last year that the value of divested assets by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) including Shell, Chevron, Total and Agip from onshore, shallow water and offshore terrains, would hit about $11.5 billion by the end of last year. She said before the end of last year, at least 20 oil blocks with reserves of not less than four billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) would have been divested by the multinational oil firms.

‘Pipeline vandalism threatens Gas Master Plan’

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HE various acts of vandalism being carried out on the gas pipeline infrastructure across the country may derail the goal of the national Gas Master Plan, the Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige has said.

He said the activities of vandals, which have been on the increase lately, threatens the success of the Gas Master Plan, especially gas supply across the country.

While speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos, he said vandals have helped in destroying many laudable programmes initiated by the government to make wheeling of gas from producers to users, especially power companies possible.

He said: “The Trans Forcados gas pipeline’s vandalism is almost every week now, and it has been going on for some time. In fact, from the 1st January till February this year, the pipeline has been vandalised several

By Akinola Ajibade

times, and each time we have to fix the pipelines, we spend days on it.

“The pipeline has been vandalised consistently. What happened is that people go there and drill holes in multiple points on the pipe; in most cases, they kill the security operatives that have come to intervene. This is how gruesome it has become.”

He said the implication of the activities of the vandals is clear. “It is a major outreach. It evacuates most of the crude oil from our production facilities at Oben, Sapele, Utorogu, and so on through Forcados, which is the main export terminal,” he said, adding that pipeline vandalism is an albatross which NNPC is contending with.

The Federal Government introduced the Gas Master Plan, to maximise the production and the usage of gas, regarded as a major raw material for power firms, fertiliser, and petrochemical companies, among others.

•From left: Aiteo Group Chairman Benedict Peters; Shell Petroleum Development Company Managing Director Osagie Okunbor and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group Managing Director Joseph T. Dawha during the transfer of Shell’s equity to Aiteo after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja.

Govt prosecutes 23 for oil theft, illegal bunkering T

HE Federal Government is pros ecuting 23 cases involving the use of barges and vessels for oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), Major-General, Emmanuel Atewe, has said.

Atewe said the cases are at the Federal and State High Courts in

US record crude stocks set to decline

U

NITED States (U.S) crude oil stocks have grown over 30 million barrels each month this year, leading to a series of record highs and most recently reaching 471 million barrels of crude on March 27, oil and gas analyst Wood Mackenzie’s latest outlook has shown.

Even so, Wood Mackenzie’s latest outlook estimates that the US has about 200 million barrels of unused crude storage capacity.

The Senior Research Analyst for Americas Refining and Oil Product Markets at Wood Mackenzie, Afolabi Ogunnaike said: “Wood Mackenzie does not expect the US to run out of crude storage. On the contrary, we anticipate that the uptick in refinery crude runs and exports will exceed the growth in supply eventually leading to stock withdrawals.”

Wood Mackenzie forecasts refinery crude runs will rise significantly in April as refineries exit seasonal maintenance and gear up for the summer driving season. “Refinery crude runs

could increase over 1.7 million barrels per day (b/d) from the spring lows to the summer high and set new records. The ramp up in crude runs is expected to be the largest factor impacting the trajectory of US crude stocks. As US refineries increase their throughputs, we anticipate they will also increase their imports of crude oil from the March 2015 levels,” said Ogunnaike.

The low crude oil prices have contributed to slower growth of US crude oil supply. Wood Mackenzie expects this growth will be counterbalanced by increasing exports of crude oil and minimally processed condensate.

These exports are supported by a wider Brent-WTI differential.

Although the US has ample crude storage capacity available, Cushing is now about 80 per cent full, according to Wood Mackenzie: “The April 2015 start up of the 250,000 b/d Cactus pipeline from the Permian into the Gulf Coast is expected to reduce pressure on Cushing. This pipeline bypasses Cushing, and moves light crude to the

Gulf Coast refining and storage hub.

Rising Cushing crude stocks could also reach the Gulf Coast by accessing the 1.55 million b/d pipelines connecting the two regions,” Ogunnaike adds.

US crude storage capacity has grown significantly as tight oil supply and takeaway capacity increased. “As storage hubs like Cushing approach capacity, crude may need to be transported further to access available storage sites. These sites could charge higher fees and may be more costly to reach. This logistics factor has a widening impact on Brent-WTI. We anticipate the narrowing impact of the rising crude runs, however, outweighs some of these challenges and compresses the Brent-WTI differential this summer,” noted Ogunnaike.

Wood Mackenzie’s outlook reiterates that despite the rise in crude oil stocks this year, US storage is not close to reaching capacity. “Record high crude stocks will be pulled down this summer as US refinery crude runs rise over 1.5 million barrels per day,” said Ogunnaike.

By Akinola Ajibade

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, and Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He said the cases are at various levels of litigation, adding that the JTF is pursuing the cases vigorously with a view to ensuring that people found culpable are brought to book.

He said the barges and vessels were used to steal crude oil worth several billions of naira, adding that speedy hearing and adjudication of the cases would help in tackling the problem.

He said the cases regarding oil theft and illegal oil bunkering are delayed in Nigeria, urging the judiciary to help in fast-tracking the process of hearing the cases to ensure speedy delivery of judgment.

The jurisdiction to entertain such criminal cases, Atewe said, lies in the higher courts, stressing that JTF’s responsibilities include securing the waterways and oil installations, arresting vandals and thieves, handing them over for prosecution and ensuring that they were charged to court.

Atewe said: “The goals of the JTF are to secure oil wells and others, and not to try offenders in the court. Only the courts have the jurisdiction to try such people. This is after due process by way of carrying out investigation.

Despite this, several cases of oil thefts are pending in courts.”

The senior partner, Falana & Co, Mr.

Femi Falana, blamed those involved in oil theft and bunkering for delaying the process of hearing the cases. He said people that engage in oil theft have huge financial resources with which they frustrate cases regarding stealing and transporting crude oil outside the country.

He said: “Bunkering can be problematic when one considers the fact that people involved in it have the economic wherewithal to frustrate their trials. The legal system has been taken over by these people to frustrate their trials.

They do this by raising objections and filling interlocutory injunctions. When this happens, they have succeeded in delaying hearing and judgments.”

According to him, cases can be delayed for years before they were heard. The lawyer said by the time oil theft cases move from one court to another, the judges handling the cases might have been transferred.

Also, sources close to the National Judicial Council (NJC) said lawyers should be blamed for delaying the process of hearing criminal cases, and not the judges. The sources, who craved anonymity, said lawyers often file interlocutory injunctions to halt proceedings in a case.

“At times, lawyers file interlocutory injunctions to stop a case for reasons best known to them. In the course of filing injunctions to stop hearing in a case, lawyers look for technical reasons to straighten their defence and get justice for their clients. When this happens, cases are delayed for a year, two or more, “the sources added.

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MONEYLINK CBN restates commitment to youth empowerment

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HE Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has restated the bank’s commitment to create an enabling environment for producing citizens capable of positively contributing to the economic growth and development of the Nigeria.

Emefiele stated this in a keynote address at the Child and Youth Financial Literacy Summit held at the bank’s auditorium as part of activities marking this year’s Global Money Week in Abuja.

Addressing the children and youth drawn from select schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the he said the bank’s financial literacy initiatives were specifically targeted at them to ensure their inclusion in the banking population.

He said the National Financial Inclusion Strategy was launched in 2012, in furtherance of the Maya Declaration on financial inclusion, adding that the target

Stories by Collins Nweze

was to reduce financial exclusion rates from the 2011 figure of 46.3 per cent to 20 per cent by 2020.

The CBN boss therefore stressed the need to increase the financial capability of children and youth as well as improve their access to financial services appropriate to their needs.

In her remarks, its Director, Consumer Protection Department, Hajiya Umma Aminu Dutse, said the primary objective of the event was to increase economic citizenship of children and youth between the ages of eight and 18, by enhancing their knowledge and ability to make wise financial decisions; ability to accumulate savings, and the skills to find employment, earn a livelihood and ultimately break the cycle of poverty.

Emefiele thereafter proceeded to the bank’s head office where he declared open the Financial Literacy Fair and Exhibition.

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele Meanwhile, Junior Secondary School, Garki has emerged the winner of the Entrepreneurial Project Competition, carting home N200,000 with its “The Blind Must Read” project, which involved the use of waste materials such as calendars and papers to produce braille textbooks for the blind.

Government Girls Secondary School, Abaji and Government Day Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji emerged first and second runners up respectively with cash prizes of N150,000 and N100,000.

IFAC, ICAN partner on capacity building

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HE Institute of Char tered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has been appointed by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) to provide Capacity Building Services to Professional Accountancy Organisations (PAOs) under a programme funded by the UK Department of International Development (DFID).

Under this programme, DFID will provide £4.935 million to IFAC over seven years to be used to strengthen PAOs in at least 10 DFID focal countries to enable them play a greater role in furthering economic development in their various countries.

Much of the work ICAN will do in this regard will be in countries where DFID is attempting to reduce extreme poverty.

ICAN would provide technical assistance, training and mentoring to professional accountancy bodies in several countries in Africa and beyond to enable them establish and run their own Professional Accountancy Institutes.

This new IFAC/DFID mandate is an addition to the institute’s current mentoring role in Cameroon where it is helping to train and provide technical assistance to the Cameroonian Institute.

(Ordre National des Experts comptables du CamerounONECCA) ICAN is empowered to set standards of knowledge and skills to be attained by persons seeking to become members of the accountancy profession in Nigeria.

The Institute has more than

39,000 members and 120,000 students on its registers and conducts professional examinations twice in a year.

ICAN members hold sensitive positions in strategic management in different local and multinational firms, home and abroad and also serve the public sector in different capacities.

Its vision is to be a leading global professional body while its mission is to produce world-class Chartered Accountants, regulate and continuously enhance their ethical standards and technical competence in the public interest.

The Institute is engaged in broadening the frontiers of the profession in Africa by mentoring sister professional accountancy bodies for international recognition.

Heritage Bank promotes financial management

H

ERITAGE Bank has advised students to take full advantage of the Financial Literacy Campaign being championed through partnership between the Central Bank of Nigeria and other banks in the country to become adept at growing and managing wealth from their formative ages.

According to the bank, the emerging global economic realities have made it imperative for the leaders of tomorrow to have skills in money management matters.

Speaking to senior students of the National Comprehensive Secondary School, Oji Avenue, near Glass Industry Road, Ogbo Hill, Aba, Abia State during the recently held 2015 Financial Literacy Campaign as part of the Global Money Week activities, the Bank’s Customer Experience and Analytical Officer, Kikanwa Akpenyi, said the intention of CBN in launching the Financial Literacy campaign is to teach children and young adults financial

responsibility as well as create a more enabling environment where students can understand what happens in banks where their deposits are lodged.

“The need to be prudent has never become more important than now. The young generation need to learn, as a matter of compulsion, why it is important to be knowledgeable about where they keep their funds. So financial management, money management, savings, how to spend, how to be prudent are basically the things that are needed to be able to live a successful and fulfilled life as an adult; these are the things that are taught during the financial literacy sessions.”

She noted that the initiative prepares the children for the future as they learn and develop skills that prepare them on how to manage needs and wants so as to become more prudent and able to make more choices when it comes to finances.

“And for the larger society, it does not end here; we have proposed that it should go to

the artisans, market women and those who do not know a lot of things about banking. Most of these people just have an idea, but they need more knowledge. For this reason, the financial literacy initiative should be imparted to the larger society”, she said In his own contribution, Mr. Oturu Emmanuel of Junior Achievers of Nigeria, an NGO that partners with the CBN for the 2015 Literacy Day, said, “The efforts of Heritage Bank and others in taking financial literacy to the students deserve commendation because the future of every country is in the hands of the youths and we have to move from a job seeking generation to a job creating generation. Our vision as a country to build business conscientious leaders with work readiness and entrepreneurship acumen will be greatly boosted by this campaign.”

He said if the students apply everything they learnt during the exercise, they will be sure of a safe and wealthy future.

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NEWS

‘Four killed in Kogi post-election crisis’

F

OUR persons have been reportedly killed at Iyano ward in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, following the crisis, which erupted after the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) ward Chairman, Thomas Ejimah, addressing reporters yesterday in Lokoja, urged the federal and state

From James Azania, Lokoja

government, the Inspector General of Police and the Police Commissioner to save his people from extermination.

He said a group allegedly led by a former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly (name withheld), unleashed terror on the community, killing Mr. Emmanuel Ameh.

Ejimah said since the victory

of the APC in the ward during the presidential election, the group had launched attacks on the community, leaving another victim, Gabriel Ejimah, dead, as he was shot in the abdomen.

He alleged that a chieftain of a popular party in the area mobilised hoodlums from neighbouring Edo State and killed a man and his sons, Paul Egwumi and Raymond Eg-

wumi, yesterday, while working on their farm.

The APC chieftain lamented that despite reports made at the divisional police headquarters, the police headquarters and the Department of State Security (DSS), noting has been done to stop the violence.

Efforts to get the ex-lawmaker to respond to the allegation were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.

•From left: Reverend-In-Charge, Church of Christ in All Nations (COCIN), Kagadama, Rev. Zakka Bayero; Northeast Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Shuaibu Byal and CAN Chairman, Bauchi Local Government Area, Rev. John Madaki, at Easter Monday service at COCIN, Kagadama, Yelwan in Bauchi...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

PDP, INEC plot to rig Kogi poll, alleges APC

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was conniving with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use its ad hoc workers to discard the use of card readers.

It said the plan was being hatched to manipulate the house of assembly poll in favour of PDP candidates.

The Chairman, Publicity Committee of the APC Election Committee, Ojapa Ibrahim, who addressed reporters yesterday in Lokoja, said in the bid to rig the election, thugs have been recruited and given weapons to disrupt the poll, especially in APC’s strong-

•INEC: allegation untrue From James Azania, Lokoja

hold.

INEC said the allegation was a pack of lies.

The commission’s spokes-

man, Mr. Ameh Mathew, said it had no interest in any candidate or party.

He said INEC would remain neutral as it demonstrated during the March 28

elections.

APC urged security agencies to forestall crisis.

It enjoined its members not to be intimidated by the PDP, saying they should come out en masse on Saturday and exercise their franchise.

APC seek support for assembly candidates

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Kogi State, Alhaji Hadddy Ametuo, has urged the people to vote for the party’s House of Assembly candidates on Saturday.

Ametuo, who addressed reporters yesterday in Lokoja, said the people’s support for the APC in the Presidential

From James Azania, Lokoja

and National Assembly elections was an indication of their readiness for change.

He said voting APC would enable the state to fall into the mainstream of national politics, adding that Kogi could not afford to be in the opposition.

The APC chairman decried the alleged non-payment of the arrears of salaries of local government workers and teachers.

He promised that if APC wins the governorship election, the non-payment of salary, which he attributed to corruption, would stop.

UN envoy hails Jonathan’s sportsmanship

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HE United Nations Ambassador on Millennium Development Goals, Amb. Karo Ekewenu, has hailed the sportsmanship shown by President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election.

He said the President is the number one agent of change in the country.

Ekewenu said Jonathan’s name would go down in history as the most democratic president Nigeria has ever had.

“I’m still amazed at the level of independence the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has had in conducting and collating the election and its results. Certainly, I am

proud of President Jonathan. I am proud of him as a true diplomat.”

He added: “I’m also happy that Mr. President conceded defeat. It’s a sign of unity and greater things to come for this nation. I love my country and want the best just as others do.

So we all won as long as our ideologies are never

at loggerheads with the path of peace, equity and justice for our dear nation.”

Ekewenu prayed God to grant President-elect Muhammadu Buhari the wisdom and courage to pilot the affairs of the country, saying he must continue the good legacy laid down by President Jonathan.

Council chair to APGA Assembly candidate: your allegation a ruse From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

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HE Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government in Abia State, Mr. Jasper Uche, has described the allegation levelled against him by the House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri, as a ruse.

He said he felt obliged to respond to the allegations and distortion of facts by Ezekwesiri, the APGA candidate for Umunneochi State Constituency, which he said was an embarrassment.

The council chairman, who reacted to the allegation by Ezekwesiri that he and a federal lawmaker, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, committed malpractices during the last elections, said there were no such thing.

Ezekwesiri alleged that in his local government, the federal legislator used security agents to intimidate members of other parties.

The state lawmaker alleged that the federal lawmaker used security agents attached to her to intimidate APGA and their agents and in some cases allegedly snatched ballot boxes in collaboration with the council chairman.

Uche in a statement said there was no case of ballot box snatching that “I am aware of. With the use of card reading machine for accreditation, it will be nonsensical to attempt to snatch ballot boxes, as only the votes of the accredited voters will be counted and recorded.

“The distribution of electoral materials is not within the purview of the local government chairman. So, if there are logistic challenges in the distribution of electoral materials in some areas as alleged, common sense and civility demand that the matter should be taken up with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and not to resort to cheap blackmail against the electoral umpire.”

“I’m aware that Onyejeocha did not move about on the election day. She only went and voted in her polling unit and later reported at the INEC office, after the election, to receive her result.

“Those who saw her knew that her security aides were left in her home, in compliance with the guidelines for the election.”

Northcentral youths back Saraki for Senate President

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HE North Central Youth Coalition for Good Governance (NCYCGG) has supported Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President.

It urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other senators to support his candidacy.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Yahaya Ismail Adesayo, said their call was borne out of the desire to have a vibrant and effective Senate.

He said: “After considering the past and present records of our zone, the Northcentral and the contribution and the experience of Senator Bukola Saraki, it is sacrosanct to advise the leadership of the APC and senators to support Senator Saraki as the next Senate President.”

The call of the group followed the permutation that

•Dr. Saraki From Bukola Amusan,Abuja

the Senate President be zoned to the Northcentral.

“We are making this demand against the backdrop of our zone’s contribution to the victory of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Saraki’s loyalty and dedication to the party and the nation.

“On behalf of the Northcentral youths, I congratulate the people’s General, Buhari, on his victory. While we wish him a fruitful stay in office, we promise our total support for his government.

“We salute the great people of Nigeria for voting for change and finally the change has come.”

Buhari’s victory has shamed doomsayers, says Gowon

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ORMER Head of State General Yakubu Gowon has said the peaceful conduct of the March 28 presidential election won by President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has shamed doomsayers that Nigeria will break up in 2015.

“No one will ever repeat that wild and arrogant prediction that Nigeria will go under; those doomsayers have been shamed and Nigeria will grow from strength to strength,” Gowon told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Jos.

Recalling the prediction that the country would disintegrate in 2015, Gowon said those, who made the prediction did not reckon with Nigeria’s ability to solve its problems.

He said: “The nation has always had the mechanism to tackle its concerns and this election and its peaceful outcome have proved that a united and focused nation will always survive and move toward greatness.”

The former Head of State expressed happiness that the polls were adjudged free and

fair by local and international observers, and hailed the patience and resilience of the voters, who defied the rain and the sun to vote.

“During the elections, I visited polling units in Asokoro, Karu, Nyanya, Maitama and Wuse; the people came early and in many cases waited for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, who came late. I was touched by such commitment.

“I was also touched by the good spirit and camaraderie among the voters, as they

waited to vote; I was happy that they were very friendly and did not allow their political differences to tamper with the fact that they all had one destiny,” he said.

Gowon hailed INEC officials, especially the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, for insisting on doing the right thing, and urged Nigerians to keep that spirit so that democratic governance would come of age.

He praised President Goodluck Jonathan for calling to congratulate the winner, and described the step as a “very

soothing balm that ended fears and anxieties.”

“The President’s congratulation saved Nigeria from violence. That good wish was very timely and saved Nigeria’s democracy.

“There is no doubt that it set the tone for peace because the situation would have been otherwise if he had remained silent and allowed his supporters to interpret that silence their own way.

“It is something that has never happened in Africa, and definitely not in Nigeria, so we must respect that spirit

and challenge other politicians to emulate it,” he said.

Gowon advised Buhari to listen to Nigerians and do their bidding.

“Nigerians wanted a change, so Buhari must offer that change. They complained of corruption, insecurity and a slow economy. The incoming President must address these issues,” he said.

Wishing Buhari divine wisdom, Gowon challenged him to strive to do better than his predecessor so that Nigerians would see and feel the difference.

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NEWS ‘APC will win in Rivers’ From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has said it will win Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

APC said it is convinced its candidate, Dakuku Peterside, would emerge victorious.

In a statement yesterday, state Chairman Davies Ikanya said the party’s chances were raised by the return of Governor Rotimi Amaechi to the state after the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the President-elect.

He enjoined the people to troop out on Saturday to vote in a new governor and the APC lawmakers to join him to complete the job the Amaechi-led administration started.

Rivers APC protests killing of loyalist

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HE Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Jeo Poroma, yesterday, led supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kpite, to protest the killing of Mr. Saturday Lekia, by thugs.

Speaking at the palace of Gbenemene of Tai King-

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt dom, Godwin Gininwa, Poroma said the party supporters should guard against what happened on March 28.

He said Lekia died of blood loss after being shot by suspected thugs loyal to

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The commissioner said a PDP chieftain was being fingered for the murder, urging the monarch to act fast for peace to reign.

King Gininwa hailed the supporters for conducting themselves peacefully.

“I want to plead to you

and your leader to take heart over the death of an Ogoni son.

“The PDP chieftain must apologise to Ogoni people or I will apply traditional means to ensure that he complies with our directive.

“Please don’t retaliate, because if you do there will be more deaths,” Gininwa said.

‘Let peace reign’

A

GROUP of scholars at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has hailed the victory of Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a divine revolution signalling hope for the nation and its citizens.

They urged scholars to regard the Buhari/Osinbajo victory as theirs since Osinbajo is from an academic background.

“We are sure the VicePresident-elect is a wise choice and worthy ambassador of the university community,” the scholars added.

A statement by the Coordinator, Prof. Adamu Ahmad and Secretary, Malam Waziri Isa Gwantu urged ex-Niger Delta militant, Mujaheed DokuboAsari, to work for peace instead of making inflammatory statements.

They criticised DokuboAsari for accusing the North and Southwest of grouping against the Southsouth, saying one “could also accuse people like him, Edwin Clark, Godsday Orubebe, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke of grouping against their North and Southwest brothers”.

‘Remove REC, police chief’

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KWA Ibom citizens in the diaspora have called for the removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Austin Okijie and Commissioner of Police, Mr Gabriel Achong ahead of Saturday’s elections.

Led by Dr Tom MbekeEkanem, the more than 120 professionals, across different disciplines, sent an online protest letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof Athahiru Jega and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, detailing why the duo should be removed.

They accused the REC and the police chief of allegedly aiding and abetting ballot snatching and stuffing; falsification of results in favour of the PDP in the March 28 elections.

•Children holding a class session in an Internally Displaced Persons’ Camp at Durumi in Abuja ...yesterday

PHOTO:NAN

Pipeline fire kills mother, three children in Delta

A

MOTHER and her three children died in an oil spill fire last

week.

The spill emanated from the Shell owned RiapeleForcados Trunkline in Odidi, Warri South West of Delta State.

The Nation gathered that the victims - Mrs Ebosine Photo (36), Siyafa (16), Gift (6) and a toddler, went fishing and got burnt to death

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

while trying to put on a hurricane lamp, unaware the water was polluted by crude oil.

Confirming the incident yesterday, a community leader, Friday Deinghan, said they had contacted the company.

Deinghan said no Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) had been put together to ascertain the cause and extent of dam-

age since the community noticed bubbles on the blowout spot and reported to Shell last Thursday.

“The woman and her children were fishing more than three kilometres away from the spill point, unmindful that the crude oil had spread across the river. It was at night.

“She made to light a hurricane lamp as they mend their nets and fishing traps.

Immediately she lit it and

Ideh hails Buhari’s victory •Says Jonathan’s action is heroic

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TSEKIRI political leader and APC chieftain in Delta State Dr. Alex Ideh has praised President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting defeat.

In a statement yesterday, Ideh described the peaceful election as a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic process.

“The victory has also been acknowledged globally as an important step in Nigeria’s march towards genuine political plurality.

“As one who has been privileged to be part of this historic process, I congratulate Muhammadu Buhari.

“Buhari’s political career is a lesson of principled resilience and must recommend itself to those who seek service. ‘’His is neither an afterthought, nor a bestowal,

‘The victory has also been acknowledged globally as an important step in Nigeria’s march towards genuine political plurality’ thrust by a cabal, upon unwilling shoulders. He came fully prepared.

“Nigerians, considering how corruption has deformed our national development, will also be thrilled

by Buhari’s commitment to fight this malaise. Integrity is unquestionably Buhari’s most distinctive badge of honour.

“And his tenure, though yet to be formally inaugurated, must even now, have left potential felons quaking in their boots. I welcome Buhari and our change agenda for a strengthened Nigeria.

“It is important to also offer kind words for President Goodluck Jonathan, whose chivalry moved him to concede defeat, even while votes were still being counted. That was more than a mere gesture of politeness. In substantial terms, it removed all the bitterness from a political contest, which had been undermined by deep layers of bile and asperity.

“President Jonathan’s peace offering turned the political tide and established a new climate of amity. Indeed, Jonathan’s action remains heroic in the annals of democracy in Nigeria,” Ideh said.

dropped it into the water, the thing caught fire and engulfed the four of them.

“The community promptly notified Shell, asking them to boom the place to arrest the oil from spreading, but they refused.

“As I speak, it is a serious humanitarian concern in the community as the people are confused. People can’t go for fishing; something urgent needs to be done,” he said.

Ogiemwonyi, Benin leaders canvass for APC From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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ORMER Minister of State for Works Chris Ogiemwonyi and members of the Benin Leaders of Thought have urged the people of Edo State to reject any monetary offer meant to induce them to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday.

Ogiemwonyi alleged that the PDP plans to use money to hoodwink the people into an unrewarding opposition, with the ultimate aim of destabilising the state.

At a press briefing yesterday, Ogiemwonyi said a legislature dominated ‘by a poisonous and vindictive opposition is a recipe for strife, instability and retrogression’.

He warned the people not to forget how Oshiomhole’s first year in office was dogged by deliberate truncation of enabling laws for development, including the non-release of ecological funds to tackle erosion problems in the state.

He said: “We cannot afford to be in the opposition. The time has come for us to decide.

We must have APC in Edo as we have in Abuja.

“The politics of inclusion as a panacea for attaining sustainable development is gaining acceptance globally and Nigeria should not be left out. The Yoruba nation, having realised the futility of opposition politics, has keyed into mainstream politicking at the centre.

“It is our belief that our interest in Edo will be better served within the framework of the APC under the leadership of Buhari. Edo people must support this change”.

INEC to punish erring officials From Osagie Otabor, Benin

T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will punish any official, whose actions caused irregularities in the March 28 elections in Edo State.

Resident Electoral Commission (REC) Mike Igini, speaking yesterday, said the erring officials must explain why result sheets were not present at some polling units.

Igini spoke before meeting with electoral officers and other INEC management workers to review the March 28 polls and strategise for Saturday’s elections.

“There must be an account why result sheets were not at the polling units. I am compiling areas where result sheets were not accompanied with other materials. When I distributed sensitive and nonsensitive materials, I gave you everything.

“To say that there was no result sheet is a clear manifest of violation of our procedures, and there must be consequences,” Igini said.

He warned INEC officials against any breach of procedures on Saturday, saying “the outcome of the election must be decided by the people.

“The will of the people must not be compromised because this office is under public trust.

“I don’t have any vote to give to anybody. There are consequences for those who breached our procedures”.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

59

NEWS We’ve lost 56 members in Rivers, says APC Continued from page 4

6 in Calabar. Over 150 prominent members have been victims of this unprovoked persecution.

“And just today, we received another sad news from Rivers. An APC chieftain, Christopher Adube, was reportedly shot dead at the weekend. Adube, who hails from the Egbema Local Government Area, was said to have been shot dead at his residence. These are just some of the instances of what APC members and supporters in Rivers State have been subjected to in recent days.”

Mohammed accused security agents of colluding with PDP thugs to attack APC supporters.

He said: “It is very sad indeed that the terrorising of APC members and supporters in Rivers State has been carried out despite the presence of the police and other security agencies in the state.

“In fact, most of the attacks were carried out with the collusion of the security agencies, who have exchanged the garb of partisanship for that of professionalism.

“Elements of the security agencies have also participated directly in the targeted harassment and intimidation of our members. Even when our members have run to the police for succour, they have found none.

“The case of the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, of the Gokana Local Government Area, Mr. Kadilo Kabari, was

particularly astonishing. He and Senator Magnus Abe, who represents Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, were attacked by PDP thugs right inside the Divisional Police Headquarters at Kpor.

“Their offence was that they dared to challenge PDP thugs, dressed in INEC kits, who were engaged in massive rigging during last week’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. That these PDP thugs could use a police station for rigging speaks volumes about the role of the security agencies in that election.

“Of course, it is needless to say that the collusion of INEC with the PDP and the police to pave the way for unbridled violence against APC members and supporters, and the subsequent rigging of the elections, was spearheaded by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Rivers, Ms. Gesilia Khan.

“This issue is already the subject of a very strong petition which our party has written to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.”

He said the party was confident that its petition was already receiving the desired attention.

Mohammed added: “We have decided to give the details of the relentless killing, maiming, harassment and intimidation of our members and supporters in Rivers

State before, during and after the presidential and National Assembly elections so that Nigerians can see that everything has been done, and is still being done, to make sure that free, fair and peaceful elections do not hold in the state “The attacks, arrests and intimidation targeted at APC members and supporters in Rivers have become even more widespread in the run up to the governorship and House of Assembly elections. We are very concerned that the prevailing atmosphere of mindless violence and brigandage does not augur well for a free, fair and credible elections in the state.

“We are worried that no one has been held responsible even where our members have been killed, and that the police and other security agencies, as well as INEC, have turned themselves to appendages of the PDP, in what is nothing but the height of impunity.

“We are therefore using this opportunity to call on local and international observers, as well as the Civil Society Organisations under the aegis of The Situation Room, to pay a close attention to Rivers State - as well as other states considered to be flash points - during the forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“In particular, they should beam their searchlight on the role of the security agencies and INEC officials in Rivers,

who have decided to jettison their neutrality and join the fray.”

Mohammed said APC is opposed to the attachment of security agents to PDP officials during the governorship poll.

He said: “To prevent the security agencies from becoming the tools of harassment and intimidation in the hands of PDP members and officials, we are opposed to the attachment of security personnel to PDP officials during the elections. This will go a long way in reducing cases of persecution of our members.

“The hierarchies of the security agencies, especially the police and the DSS, as well as INEC, must read the riot act to their members posted to Rivers State for election duties. The kind of mindless collusion with the PDP by the same officials mandated to ensure free, fair, credible and peaceful polls which was witnessed in Rivers during the presidential elections - will not be tolerated this time.

“We appeal to our members and supporters in Rivers State to continue to conduct themselves peacefully, while making sure they document every case of killing, maiming, harassment and intimidation targeted at them, as well as all instances of election malpractice. In the fullness of time, no one who has engaged in this untoward actions will go scot-free as they will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Heavyweights desert PDP Continued from page 4

Nasiru Ubandawaki, Mr. Yunus Abdullahi and Mr. Dada Abiodun also defected.

In a letter addressed to the state’s chairman of APC, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani, the former PDP leaders traced their decision to a meeting they held with the APC leader in the state, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and their realisation that the PDP is “made up of people who do not have the interest of the state at heart”.

The letter, dated April 6, 2015, described their decision to join the PDP in the first instance, as a result of “ignorance”, They lamented that what they found in the PDP was best described as belonging to a “generation of vipers”.

The letter said: “We make bold to tell Kwarans that they should stay away from the party because it is a sinking ship.” The letter claimed that the PDP had been able to produce an array of bad candidates who voters have come to see as clueless politicians.

The defectors also wrote that they were never comfortable with the environment due to what they labelled as the practice of politics of bitterness by “self-seeking and attentioncraving politicians”.

The defectors said “for continued progress and prosperity”, the new APC members directed their followers to freely go to thelr wards and team up with the APC and vote for the party’s candidates for governorship and House of Assembly positions.

Aondoakaa (SAN) sent a letter of resignation “with imme-

diate effect” from the PDP to his ward chairman, asking that his name be struck off the members’ list in Lessel Township Ward.

Aondoakaa, said he came to “this important decision” after due consultation with his family, friends and political associates. He said he would concentrate on his legal practice.

On the governorship and House of Assembly elections, he enjoined the people to vote according to their conscience.

The immediate past chairman of the PPD in Kebbi State and dozens of other leaders have dumped the party for the APC,.

Three aggrieved governorship aspirants - Mansir Mansa, Hussaini Adamu and Zubairu Dabai - also defected to the APC. They accused the PDP of victimising them and expressed a lack of confidence that the party will give them justice.

Other party leaders who moved to the APC are: Abbas Jega, Danjuma Kamba, Shehu Malisa, Bala Gwandu, Rilwanu Auwal, Ilyasu Kambaza, Dambegu Vice, Usman Zuru, Danjuma Zuru, Aliyu Kalgo, Haruna Magarza, Abu Dangoje, and Bello Kaoje, who lost the Suru/ Bagudu Federal Constituency election to an APC candidate.

The running mate of the APC governorship candidate, Sama’ila Yombe, who received the defectors in Zuru on Sunday, said the party was consulting with many other PDP members to join the APC before the governorship election.

“PDP is not a party to remain in,” he said.

60

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

UNIC Lagos organise dialogue on population and development

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OPULATION experts have called for proactive ways of harnessing the window of opportunities in Nigeria’s demography.

They made the call at a event organised by the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos in preparation for the 48th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development holding in the United Nations headquarters, New York from Monday, April 13 to 17.

The event, which was held in partnership with Community Agenda for Peace and Youth Transparency International Nigeria, UNIC National Information Officer, Oluseyi Soremekun, said, was a pre-conference dialogue for delegates and NGO partners.

By Evelyn Osagie

Welcoming participants to the dialogue session, the Director of UNIC Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanja, called for a better understanding of population dynamics by development partners. “Population issues”, according to him, “is very germane to ensuring sustainable development, including the post-2015 development agenda.”

Kayanja, who was represented by Soremekun said the UNIC Lagos would continue to facilitate engagements with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and government partners to stimulate development initiatives within the framework of post-2015 sustainable development agenda.

The Head of Lagos Office,

United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA), Dr Omolaso Omosehin, observed that there was a window of opportunities to harness the demographic dividend which required immediate investments.

He, therefore, called for critical investments on the youth and adolescent girls with regard to sexual and reproductive health, quality education, along with investments on infrastructure development and good governance.

Delivering the keynote address, the Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), highlighted the impact of population movement on the environment and its implication on waste management in a metropolitan city like Lagos. He added that cooperation of the populace with the government was a critical success factor in addressing the issue of population and the environment.

Speaking on the occasion, the National Coordinator of Community Agenda for Peace, Barrister Obuesi Phillips, explained that domesticating discussions on integrating issues of poverty eradication, migration and urbanization into sustainable development goals would form the

•From left: UNIC Lagos National Information Officer, Oluseyi Soremekun; Dr Tayo Oyetunji of the National Population Commission (NPC); the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Women Affairs and Ethics, Mrs Chinyere Anokwuru and the National Coordinator of Community Agenda for Peace, Barr Obuesi Phillips.

bedrock for civil society agenda for Nigeria’s delegates to the 48 th Session of the UN Commission on population and development.

Contributing during the interactive session, the Executive Director of Women in Politics and Governance, Barrister Obiageli Obi, called for a change of strategy in addressing population issues.

She said communications

about family planning for women should directed at men.

Other Speakers were Dr Tayo Oyetunji, representing the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC); the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Women Affairs and Ethics, Mrs Chinyere Anokwuru; the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Association of Small and Me-

dium Enterprises (NASME), Mr Eke Ubiji; an accomplished musician, Dr Tee Mac Itseli and a renowned environmentalist, Mr Desmond Majekodunmi.

The theme of the conference is “Realising the future we want: Integrating population issues into sustainable development, including the post-2015 development agenda”.

Bali Nine Australians’ death row appeal fails T WO Australian drug smugglers sentenced to death cannot challenge the president’s decision to refuse them clemency, an Indonesian court has ruled.

Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were the leaders of the “Bali Nine” group of heroin smugglers arrested in 2005.

They are scheduled to be executed by firing squad in Indonesia soon.

Australia has campaigned hard for their sentences to be commuted and their supporters say they have reformed.

Both men were appealing against an earlier ruling which had barred them from challenging Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s rejection of their clemency pleas.

Their lawyers had argued that Mr Widodo - whose stated policy is to deny clemency

to drug offenders - had not given adequate consideration to the men’s cases.

But the State Administrative Court in Jakarta upheld the earlier decision, saying it had no authority to take the case.

It is not clear where the legal proceedings go now. A spokesman for Indonesia’s attorney-general, quoted by Reuters news agency, said the men had exhausted all possible options.

But a lawyer for Chan and Sukumaran told journalists: “We will continue our legal efforts”.

The men have been transferred to Indonesia’s Nusa Kambangan prison to await their executions

The rejection of the appeal was widely expected. Chan and Sukumaran’s challenge to Mr Widodo’s decision to ban all clemencies was unprecedented both in its audacity and in its legal scope. An Indonesian court had already ruled that it didn’t have the authority to make a decision on a presidential ban.

The legal options that the men now have available to them are limited. Their lawyers can appeal against this decision but they are likely to be unsuccessful as they have been in all of their previous attempts. Analysts say once a death row convict’s clemency has been rejected by the president, it is next to impossible to reverse that decision.

Kenya bombs more al-Shabab bases

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ENYAN fighter jets have bombed positions of militant Islamist group al-Shabab in neighbouring Somalia, a military spokesman has told the BBC. The warplanes had targeted two camps in the Gedo region, used by al-Shabab to cross into Kenya, the spokesman added.

This is Kenya’s first response to the al-Shabab assault which left 148 people dead at Garissa University last week.

President Uhuru Kenyatta had vowed to respond to the attack “in the severest way possible”.

Kenyan army spokesman David Obonyo told the BBC that the military had responded to “threats” by launching the air strikes on Sunday night in the remote region.

Two camps had been destroyed, he said, adding: “The bombings are part of the continued process and engagement against al-Shabab, which will go on.”

Kenyan warplanes have targeted al-Shabab positions in Somalia on numerous occasions since 2011 The bodies of Garissa victims were taken to Nairobi, where relatives identified them Many families are still waiting to identify loved ones killed in the assault The attack on Garissa Uni-

versity, about 150km (90 miles) from the Somali border, was the deadliest by alShabab in Kenya.

The al-Qaeda affiliate says it is at war with Kenya, and wants it to withdraw troops sent to Somalia in 2011 to help the weak government in Mogadishu fight the militants.

China chemical plant hit by explosion

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EDIA caption China Central Television showed footage of the fire which followed the blast An explosion has ripped through a chemical plant in south-eastern China’s Fujian province, sparking a major fire.

The blast occurred on Monday evening at the plant in Zhangzhou. State news agency Xinhua reported one injury.

The plant produces paraxylene (PX), a flammable chemical used in polyester and plastics manufacturing.

The location of PX plants in China has sparked protests from residents, including violent demonstrations last year in Guangdong province.

Many residents fear pollution from the plants is hazardous to health.

The South China Morning Post reported that this was the second blast at the plant in two years.

The plant in Zhangzhou is operated by Dragon Aromatics, one of the largest independent PX producers in China. It has not yet commented.

61

THE NATION TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2015

This cry of anguish which Israel raised to God in her time of dire ‘need and suffering, at moments of deep stress, is also the cry for help raised by all those who in every age suffer for no just cause ‘

...53 D AYS TO GO DA BORNO POLITICS

‘Why Shettima ’ll win second term’ A public affair commentator, Victor Izekor, highlights the factors that will tilt the pendulum of victory towards the direction of Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima in Saturday’s election.

“T

HERE are some occasions in one’s life,” one French philosopher once posited, “Which neither time nor circumstances can change nor obliterate from one’s memory”. The administration of Governor Kashim Shettima in Borno State appears to be one of such occasions. Since Shettima took over the reins of power, the atmosphere in the state has been an administration of admixture of sadness and joy.

During his third year anniversary, Shettima admitted that he is an unhappy governor. His words: “How can I be happy when citizens I am under constitutional oath and with moral and religious duty to protect are being killed. How can I be happy when as we speak, over 200 daughters of Borno are being held somewhere? How can I be happy when hundreds of Borno sons and daughters are six feet under the ground out of cruelty? How can I be happy when, as a governor, I am forced to close down schools? How can I be happy when hundreds have lost their homes and sources of livelihood?

How can I be happy when we have spent over N10 billion that should have been used for developmental needs to resist man’s inhumanity, and yet we are still spending? How can I be happy when people were forced to close their shops, avoid markets, abandon schools and stay away from their relations?

“How can I be happy when the economy of Borno is being grounded to a halt by our own people? I just don’t want to go on, please. Only Allah knows exactly how I feel. Not even I can explain the extent of what goes through my mind every day. There was one night, about one and half years ago, I was thinking that I should resign. I was so frustrated that the insurgents were waxing very strong, I was feeling helpless and I didn’t want Borno to collapse and surrender to insurgents under a regime that had me at the helm of affairs. But, then, I thought that somebody has to be at the helm of affairs in Borno. If I am not there, someone has to be there. By the way, I asked myself, what was it that was to make me leave? Was it fear of death, fear of challenge or just trauma?

“I am a fanatic of motivational quotes. There was one by Meg Cabot that inspires me, which states that “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important that fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all. “That night, I then said to myself, wasn’t it better for a leader to die for good cause than to abandon his own kinsmen and women to live for nothing at all and forever be remembered for abandoning his people? Since that day, I made up my mind to confront whatever challenge is before Borno State and work towards the recovery and progress of the state. I have conquered the fear of challenge, but I live with the reality of the trauma our citizen’s face and that gives me immense headache.”

Shettima revealed that his days of sadness far outnumbered his days of joy. He lamented that the state and the people have suffered much and bear the yoke of the senseless killing for the past three years and thereabout, a development that had made him a sad governor. In his words, “Most of the time I try to wear smiles on my face, but in the true sense. I have had very few moments of inner joy and happiness in the last three years.”

On abduction of the over 200 students of the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok in 2014,

Governor Kashim said, “I have seen very serious moments since I became the governor of Borno State in 2011 at a period of insurgent crisis. I have seen many innocent lives lost for no reason and I mourn every life lost with empathy and high sense of responsibility. But, the last week (the abduction of Chibok girls in 2014) has been my worst days as a governor and even the worst in my life.

“I am troubled as a father, as a leader and as a politician. First, as a father, anytime my young daughter comes around me in the last one week at the Government House, my heart beats very fast, my heart becomes so heavy and I develop serious headache because when I look into the eyes of my young daughter, I wonder how the parents of these our students feel when faced with the harsh reality that their loving daughters are either in the hands of abductors in fear and desperation or wondering somewhere looking for safety, while the parents do not know the status of their children.

“I took a sympathetic note of one particular parent who reportedly said he preferred seeing his daughter’s corpse than the trauma of having her abducted. I strongly believe that all the students will come out of abduction safely one day. But, as a father to a girlchild, I know exactly what is currently troubling the minds of parents and relations who are yet to see their children; I am deeply pained and I very much share the agonies of the parents.

“More than everyone, as the leader on whose area of governance this unfortunate incident took place I am very anxious to have our daughters freed because I know very well that the most important obligation of any government -- be it at the federal, state or local government -- is to ensure the safety and welfare of its good citizens.

“Every good citizen deserves safety as a fundamental human need and right under a democratic system of governance. As a leader and politician, I am also troubled…..”

According to Governor Kashim, “Borno state has been in the eye of the storm; we have suffered deaths, destructions and hardships on scales never witnessed in the annals of our long glorious history. We have experienced unprecedented sorrow, tears and blood”, adding “as Governor of Borno state, I am unforgetfully aware that for every life that is lost in Borno state, I will account before Allah on the day of judgment if the life is lost on the basis of deliberate failures on my part to do what I have the power, resources and influence to do. This administration has never and Insha Allah will never abdicate from its obligations to citizens”.

Writing on: “My Fear for Borno State” in the Daily Trust of August 14, 2014 page 53. Idang Alibi, a columnist said: “…Kashim’s response to the crisis bedeviling his state shows a governor who is truly concerned about the welfare and well-being of his people.

Such a man needs support and not sacking. Almost on daily basis, he is called upon to respond to ugly developments and he has tried to do that admirably well. Instead of being guest of honour at commissioning ceremonies of his well executed projects, he has been forced to become chief victim of honour, consoling victims at bombed out sites and mourning death and horrendous devastation in some places. What an underserved fate to befall a gentleman like Kashim!

Kashim suffers the double jeopardy of being both victim-in-chief and

mourner-in-chief”.

Apart from the thousands of widows and millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), orphans, and Governor Shettima has to contend with broken homes, severed limbs, tattered lives, headless corpses, devastated economy and ruins of private and public infrastructure, including educational institutions. In short, Shakespeare’s “architecture of ruins” has become a tailor made for the Yerwa-born child called Kashim. A legacy of dense dark cloud of uncertainties hanging over Borno, especially, Maiduguri.

Talking about dark cloud of dead silence that hung on Borno specially Maiduguri for the past four years reminds one of the visit of Pope Benedict VI to Auschwitz in May, 2006.

Auschwitz is a concentration camp in Poland during the Second World War where millions of Jews were gassed to death by Nazis in Germany. In a speech at the camp the Pope said: “To speak in this place of horror, in this place where unprecedented mass crimes were committed against God and man is almost impossible. In a place like this, words fail, in the end, there can only be dead silence a silence which is itself a heartfelt cry to God: Why, Lord, did you remain silent? How could you tolerate all this? How many questions arise in this place! Constantly the question comes up “Where was God in those days? Why was he silent? How could he permit this endless slaughter, this triumph of evil?”

Then quoting the word of Psalm 44, the Pope said: “You have broken us in the haunt of jackals and covered us with deep darkness …. Because of you we are being killed all daylong and accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever! Why do you hide your face?

Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? For we sink down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.

Rise up, come to our help, redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love”.

(Psalm 44:19, 22-26).

This cry of anguish which Israel raised to God in her time of dire need and suffering, at moments of deep stress, is also the cry for help raised by all those who in every age suffer for no just cause. Such was the cry of anguish of the people of Borno state in the past four years or thereabout.

When Governor Shettima assumed the governorship of Borno, all was not well with the nation and Borno in particular. Generally, the take-off point was a society riddled with deprivations, hardship, exploitations, oppres-

‘

Apart from the thousands of widows and millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), orphans, and Governor Shettima has to contend with broken homes, severed limbs, tattered lives, headless corpses, devastated economy and ruins of private and public infrastructure, including educational institutions

’

sion, dashed hopes and unrealized expectations for the common man; and wealth, privileges and super profits for a tiny consumer oriented ruling elite.

For Borno state in particular, it is an added night of long knives for the road has been littered with huge boulders and crisis-crossed by several ravines and deep gorges. Road blocks, natural and artificial, expected and unexpected have been mounted on the path. The World Bank has described the central region of the Savannah-Sudan comprising of the areas covered by the North-East Political Zone of Nigeria, the Republic of Tchad, Eastern portion of Nigeria Republic, Northern Cameroons and the Dafur Region of the Republic of Sudan as being one of the poorest regions on earth. The region has very little and mainly dilapidated infrastructure, a population with poor or ill education and highest level of unemployment especially among the youths, little or poor authority for mobilization of people for self-help, a large number of hungry and angry population, inept and bankrupt leadership, little or complete absence of government control, network and other factors for economic progress and social harmony of the area.

The forgoing scenario provides a fertile ground for the emergence of radical organizations such as the Janjaweed Militia of the Dafur region and Jama’atul Ahlul Sunnah Lidda’wati wal jihad (often called Boko Haram by the Nigerian media) in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.

For the incoming governor of Borno state in person of Alhaji Shettima, it was admixture of joy and sadness.

While the traditional socio-economic problems and the related ones were raising their ugly heads, the unprecedented security challenges that engulfed the state and ready to consume it were visible. Even before Kashim’s election under the platform of ANPP, the scenario in the political firmament of the party in Borno had been bloody and suspect. Within the party fold there were political killings here and there. The most outstanding of these were the killings of Alhaji Abacha Ngala, the chairman of the party and Engr. Modu Fanami Gubio, the party flagbearer for the 2011 governorship race who were assassinated.

Bloodletting of politicians and innocent ones assumed frightened proportion. Borno, especially Maiduguri, the state capital was gradually assuming the status of the insatiable grave always demanding for souls.

The destiny of Borno as an entity was shaking and the onslaught of Boko Haram sect already a nightmare to all. Everyone in Maiduguri in particular was a moving corpse as death could strike any moment either from the insurgents or members of JTF in the guise of “accidental discharge, mistaken identity” or for any other reason. Borno state with the cherished and abiding philosophy of “Home of Peace and Hospitality” suddenly donned the toga of “Home of Pieces and Blood” as there was at this time no place to hide. Indeed there was a pervading climate of fear. There was angst in the land of Borno especially in the state capital. As a proof that this declaration was not poetic excess or an exaggerated statement of social pathology, the following facts became manifest. People especially the nonnatives were daily trooping out of Borno especially Maiduguri. Those not leaving were stockpiling foodstuffs in anticipation of dark days ahead. In the banking industry in the

•Shettima

state capital many were closing up their accounts or transferring money elsewhere outside the state. This was in addition to desperate mopping up of foreign exchange for subsequent expatriation. Borno economy was nose diving as traders and commercial houses outside refused to bring into the state goods while most of their counterparts in the state were closing down their businesses. The situation became compounded with increased spate of bombing in the state capital and assassinations.

An assurance from the authorities that the situation was under control was no longer credible. The several appeals by the state government for the fleeing non-indigenes to hold on could not hold water as this continued unabated. Indeed, things were going haywire and falling apart.

It is in this state of uncertainties that the baton of administration was handed over to Shettima by his predecessor Senator Ali Modu Sheriff in Maiduguri, the city in which Kashim was born 48 years back. Since assumption of office, Kashim remains in the battlefield fighting to save Borno from the vice grip of insurgency, economic stagnation and political intrigues all combined and ready to discredit and swallow his administration.

No doubt the election of Governor Shettima at this critical period in Borno has proved to be one of God’s interventions in the moment of trials.

Kashim Shettima inherited a big crisis but with great resilience, patriotism, humility, wisdom, uncommon devotion to duties, determination and faith in God he has been able to steer the ship of the state afloat in the troubled waters with the ultimate hope of landing safely on the shores. Kashim, a silent mover and crisis manager believes in the saying of Martin Luther King that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moment of comfort but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. He remained unshaken in spite of the turbulence he discovered himself as he reminds the people always of the immortal words of Peter Mashall which goes, “…..when we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure”. He admitted that at the beginning, he encountered fear and thought of abdicating the throne but later conquered the fear bearing in mind that the survival of Borno which he has vowed to accomplish with the help of God outweighed his fear. Thereafter Kashim resolved that it is better to die in the flower of youth for the cause of the people to win a noble prize than to live like a dead sheep unknown and unrenowned.

He is indeed an incurable optimist.

• Continued on page 62

THE NATION TUESDAY APRIL 7, 2015

62

Shettima’s cautious approach and honesty in the han‘dling of the sensitive security challenges in the state without rocking the boat is an attestation to his skillful diplomacy, cunning skill and statesmanship

‘

...53 D AYS TO GO DA

PDP members defect to APC in Benue

T

HE victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent presidential elections has had a ripple effect in some parts of the country.

In Benue State, where the APC won two senatorial seats some number seats in the House of Representatives, three top members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have led of their supporters and other party members to defect to the APC. The defectors are: two former council chairmen, Abaji Godfrey Ichoghol and Andrew Ayande and a former Adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswan, Moses Adasu, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Francis Nyibiam and

his colleague, Anta Igbaato.

Former Youth Director, Governor Gabriel Suswam Campaign Organisation, Chief John Akperashi Gum, is also scheduled to defecting to the APC today (April 7). The APC is also believed to be making plans to receive other PDP chieftains such as, former Minister of Justice, Mike Aondoakaa (SAN), Deputy Governor of Benue State, Chief Steven Lawani, and Emmanuel Udende, a PDP member-elect of the House of Representatives for the Ukum, Katsina-Ala and Logo Federal Constituency.

Before the presidential elections, Akperashi withdrew all his campaign vehicles from the PDP Campaign Organisation and rebranded

them with the campaign pictures of Gen. Buhari and Chief Ortom, the APC governorship candidate. He also formally donated an undisclosed sum of money to the Ortom/ Abounu Campaign Organisation.

Meanwhile, a PDP chieftain was beaten and stripped naked by angry PDP members for campaigning for the governorship candidate of the APC in this week’s election.

The incident happened at a birthday thanksgiving service of Solomon Wombo, a PDP member and Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, held at the Akume Atongo Stadium in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area.

Akor Ikyegh, a relation to the wife of the celebrant, a former Youth

Leader in Ushongo Local Government Area and personal aide to Prof.

Daniel Iornem, a member of the Suswam Campaign Organisation, was said to have been caught distributing handbills of Samuel Ortom, the governorship candidate of the APC. It was learnt that irate youths at the event which had Governor Suswam and other PDP chieftains in attendance, descended on Ikyegh after they found a teenager distributing handbills with Ortom’s message titled: ‘Rotation of governorship position among Benue churches: The time for the Pentecostal.’

While beating the unnamed youth, he confessed that the handbills were given to him by Akor Ikyegh.

•Suswam

They then searched for Ikyegh, beat him mercilessly before finally stripping him of his clothes. He was saved from death by men of the Nigeria Police as well as other security agents at the event.

‘Borno ’ll renew Shettima’s mandate’ ‘ ‘

Today, Shettima has so much endeared himself to the people who now say “Sai Kai” (meaning you must come back as the governor). What Shettima has done so far is to prove the pessimists wrong that Borno is already a failed state, waiting for the funeral

•Shettima • Continued from page 61

He never believes in failure. He believes unequivocally that man-made problem must be given the dose of man-made solution. He is indeed tailor-made for Edgar guest who says: “there are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, there are thousands to prophesy failure, and there are thousands to point out to you one by one the dangers that lie ahead. Just take off your coat and go to it. Just start to sing and you tackle the thing that cannot be done and you’ll do it”. This has been the abiding philosophy propelling Governor Shettima as people watch with awe the fast speed at which he drives with dexterity the state’s development in all directions. This disposition has infused confidence in the people, who have come to believe that no matter the circumstance, Shettima would be there for them.

In between efforts to provide water for domestic and agricultural purposes, build more schools and supply other socio-economic needs of the people, Shettima had to struggle with various security challenges arising mostly from Boko Haram insurgents. That he was able to resist the onslaught of various attempts aimed at diverting his administration from its well prepared road map is a great tribute to his statesmanship. From agriculture, education, health poverty alleviation, provision of water, housing down to infrastructural development, Shettima has made incredible mark within a short period of less than four years.

On assumption of power, Governor Shettima articulated the implementation of his promises on the interim and long term basis and this is encompassed in the Programme of Action of his administration. On the interim, he pledged compensation to all the victims of the Boko Haram crisis and this was to be implemented without delay. Others are: · Procurement and distribution of over 10,000 Keke-Napep tricycles and 100 buses to ease in intra city transport within the metropolis. · Purchase of food stuff worth N2billion for distribution to the people to ease hardship. · An economic stimulus package for the business community in the state through micro-finance bank in every senatorial zone towards the provision of soft loans to traders/marketers and cooperatives to boost and position entrepreneurship.

Suffice it to say that all these with regard interim measures have been accomplished in ad-

dition to regular payment of compensation to victims of security challenges daily occurring in the state.

It is rather unfortunate that from the onset on this administration to now, Borno state government has to bear almost the bulk burden of taking care of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) otherwise known as refugees from the state in various camps in Borno and in the neighbouring countries. Running into millions, the state government spends about 600 million naira monthly for the upkeep of the IDPs with some assistance from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) organizations and spirited individuals. Officially, the Federal Government gave 200 million naira in this regard with the state government still expecting response the federally constituted General Danjuma Committee on the rehabilitation and settlement of the IDPs. With regards to destruction of public property especially educational institutions; the state government has embarked on massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected structures. As a matter of fact, Shettima made it clear that if the educational institutions are destroyed “20 times” “20 times” he will rebuild them”. This is in addition to Kashim’s administration master plan aimed at resettling the IDPs whose homes have been destroyed by the insurgents in permanent structures in their various abode. Already about 500 units of two-room houses have been provided by the state government for some of the affected in two separate estates in Dalori area on the outskirts of Maiduguri and another group at Bulabin Nganaram also at the outskirts of the state capital. The estate at Bulabin Nganaram is named “Yerwa Peace Estate” In the long term measures, Kashim pledged among others to initiate the grassroots socio-economic empowerment programme aimed at creating more than 500,000 jobs within four and six years. Agriculture is the centre-piece of the programme and all other developmental initiatives revolve around it. The programme is anchored on three crucibles. Vocational and skills acquisition centres, farming skills acquisition centres and entrepreneurship development scheme. The longterm measure also includes revamping and repositioning of the state educational system towards meeting the challenges of the time. Already, all the promises made with regard the interim measures had been met while various aspects of the long term measures are being prosecuted vigorously. It is the promise made and kept by the governor that has endeared his administration to the people who now yearn for more miracles. The administration mass-oriented programmes, its holistic approach to participatory democracy, it’s even development policy across the state, enhancing and encouraging harmonious living between the two major religions, its policy of equity and justice, prudent management of government resources, poverty alleviation programmes where over 500, 000 youths have been engaged in worthy ventures, total overhaul of the health and edu-

cation system and positive disposition on national issues are the hallmark of the Shettima administration to shore up respect and galvanize confidence in the government.

As the Chief Coordinator for Buhari/ Oshibanjo Presidential Campaign Organization of North East region, Kashim Shettima demonstrated awesome capability and capacity to rake home for Buhari, five of the six states that constitute the zone. Besides, the human face approach matched with faithful diligence and commitment exhibited by Kashim in the handling of millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Borno within and in the neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroun and Niger republic gave him a nod from many quarters.

Shettima’s cautious approach and honesty in the handling of the sensitive security challenges in the state without rocking the boat is an attestation to his skillful diplomacy, cunning skill and statesmanship. This is the testimony of the Defence Headquarters to this. Speaking at the Government House in Maiduguri in April, 2013 on a courtesy call to Governor Kashim, Major general Lawrence Ndugbane, Director of Operations, Defence Headquarters, Abuja pointed out “Governor Kashim Shettima has accorded extraordinary support to the Nigerian Military in an effort to address the security challenges in Borno state.

His support is more than providing so much logistics, he goes extra mile. In the midst of the crisis, Governor Shettima came with innovation through creating what became known as Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). This body is made up of civilians mostly youths and members of vigilante groups who are giving some basic military training and assist the military in the fight against the insurgents. The CJTF has lived up to expectation as they assist in no measure the Nigerian soldiers in their battle against insurgency through providing intelligence in addition to assisting the soldiers in other ways including arresting some members of Boko Haram and handing over to the soldiers. Because of the members proximity to the community the CJTF is an asset to the military as members provide invaluable services to it as well the civil populace.

Today, Shettima has so much endeared himself to the people who now say “Sai Kai” (meaning you must come back as the governor). What Shettima has done so far is to prove the pessimists wrong that Borno is already a failed state, waiting for the funeral. He has given the lie to the pessimists who postulated that ours is a wasted generation. Today, the people of Borno in particular and Nigeria in general know those who used political power for good or for evil; for the people’s happiness or for oppressing them.

Kashim, in spite of the daunting challenges, could heave a sigh of relief for a job well done.

Shettima has made Borno more stable, stronger and viable than he met it. Shettima has given hope to the hopeless, through massive employment and introduction of various poverty alleviation programmes. Shettima has made agriculture the greatest employer of labour through

diversification of its various sectors, modernization and incentives to farmers, especially the youths. Such incentives include free distribution of assorted seedlings and inputs to farmers, provisions of silos for preservation and storage of agricultural goods and outright purchase by the state government of excess goods by the farmers to avoid loss and to encourage continuity in production. Shettima has rebuilt broken homes through rehabilitation and compensation especially to the victims of the security challenges in the state. Shettima has assured all public servants in the state, including teachers that they would be provided with housing facilities and has been living up to this through large scale housing programmes. The assurance is that a reasonable number of them would own house before retirement. The no love lost between the state government and Christian community in the state has become a thing of the past-thanks to the initiative of Governor Shettima. The voice of the minorities in the state is not only being heard but also noted. Shettima has strengthened the weak and there is ample hope for a better tomorrow. Shettima’s administration has demonstrated that leadership is about good and prompt response to official responsibility.

With giant strides in various sectors and the tact and skill in handling the sensitive security challenges, Governor Shettima attracted awards both national and internationally. For example, he was given the Governor of the Year Award (2014) by the Politico Magazine, the Nigeria Union of Journalists Award for Good Governance, the fourth position award in the 2014 National Maternal and Child Health Services and the 2014 award of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Award for the fight against Polio.

According to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-kanemi, “Borno is lucky to have the right person that perfectly fits our challenging time. We are happy to have a very good, compassionate, highly committed and selfless son like Governor Kashim Shettima at the helm of affairs. He is evidently doing everything humanly possible in an effort to address our security problems. He stands by his people and supports them while at the same time transforming all sectors of Borno State. He deserves the support of every son and daughter of Borno”.

General Muhammadu Buhari testimony on Governor Shettima at the APC Northern leaders meeting, Kaduna on October 2014 goes, “From what I have seen in Governor Kashim Shettima today, there is a clear indication of hope in the future of Nigeria; there is still an indication that this country (Nigeria) still has true leaders”.

Though the struggle to liquidate Borno and indeed the North East from the clutches of the Boko Haram and other vices is not yet over until it is over, but the handwriting on the wall now is a pointer that all shall be well soon. With the assistance of the Federal Government matched with his matured wisdom, cunning skill, diplomacy and human face disposition of his administration, Governor Shettima has not only won the confidence of the people (both civil and military), he has demonstrated with the ably support of his wife’s SWOT Foundation that he is the Biblical Moses to take the people off the present holocaust to the promised land. And as he re-echoes his popular pledge “Borno sun shall rise again” the people respond, “Sai Kai”.

THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

63

CITYBEATS

•Nwodo displaying the liqid cocaine

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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested six persons at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, with 16.51kg of narcotics.

The drugs include 10.27kg of cannabis, 1.31kg of methamphetamine and 4.93kg of cocaine. Two of the suspects were bringing cocaine from Brazil; two were taking methamphetamine to Tanzania and South Africa; one was taking cannabis to Doha, Qatar and the only female among them was going to Madrid, Spain with cocaine.

NDLEA commander at the airport Hamza Umar said one of the suspects was found with liquid cocaine

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

•Umari with the parcels of cocaine

•Madu

•Nnamdi

•Anthony

‘Frustration led me to drug trafficking’

•Suspect relives why he became courier

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

in body cream; another excreted wraps of cocaine on a plane.

“We just arrested six suspected traffickers with drugs weighing 16.51kg including liquid cocaine.

The suspects are Nwodo Anthony found with 3.260kg of liquid cocaine concealed in body cream from Brazil and Ikebalum Ogochukwu, who excreted 36 wraps of cocaine weighing 570 grammes.

Madu Okey was caught with 975 grammes of meth-

amphetamine while going to Tanzania. Nnadobe Anthony’s attempt to smuggle 335 grammes of methamphetamine to South Africa failed.

Okoye Kelvin was caught smuggling 10.27kg of cannabis to Doha; the female suspect, Nwaokolo Omari was caught exporting 1.670kg of cocaine to Madrid.

Okey (54) said he is a novice in drug trafficking.

“I own a boutique in Nairobi, Kenya. My friend lured me into drug trafficking. This is my

first time and I was arrested due to my inexperience.

I regret my action”.

Omari (32), mother of three, said she wanted to make quick money but was not lucky.

“I buy and sell clothes. I lived in Spain for about a decade. I came back to Nigeria because of financial hardship. I do not have enough money to go back to Spain. This was how I found myself in drug trafficking. The most painful aspect of my arrest is that I told my friend to look after my children for a few days.

By my calculation, I thought I could quickly smuggle the drugs to Spain and return within one week. I felt so bad when the drug was detected at the airport,” she said.

Ogochukwu (31) said his problem started when he excreted cocaine while on the flight.

“Life has been difficult for me. I met a Brazilian who decided to assist me.

He gave me cocaine and paid for my ticket to Nigeria. He promised to pay me N1 million to start any business of my choice. My problem began when I excreted the drugs while on

the flight,” he said.

Anthony (32) said: “A friend gave me a bag to send to South Africa. When I got to the airport, 11 sachets of methamphetamine were found inside the foodstuff. That was how I got involved. Now I am suffering alone while my friend is on the run.”

Nnamdi (37) said he has no regrets for his action.

“I have worked and suffered as a casual labourer in Doha for two years and I was desperate to change my status. When you are frustrated, you can do anything. I took a risk but I was not lucky,” he said.

micro-businesses.

“We have developed robust micro insurance products that will address the needs of market people,’’ Wiggle said.

Mr Ayodapo Shoderu, President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), said the council was working hard to promote high ethical standards among its members.

Shoderu said the council will not defend any member that violates insurance broking operation standards.

“Let me reiterate the call for compulsory insurance for all Nigerian markets and public edifices, as enshrined in the legal provision under Insurance Act 2003 (Sections 64 and 65) of insurance of public buildings,” he said.

Traders: why we shunned insurance •’Operators not sincere’

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RADERS are averse to insuring their properties despite suffering heavy losses in fires in Lagos in the past one month, it has been learnt.

Traders, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), lost goods worth billions of naira to fires which gutted five markets.

According to NAN, many of the traders said they would not insure their businesses because the insurers were not sincere.

Mr Lekan Oguntunde, the market leader of Oluwagbemi Market on Lagos Island, said most insurance companies did not pay claims in time whenever tragedy occurred.

He said: “The experience of few of our members that registered with them is unpleasant. These insurance companies are diligent in collecting premiums but when it is time for compensation, they will start demanding for unnecessary things.

“One of our members was asked to bring receipts for goods bought many years before the fire that gutted his shop.’’

A fire victim at Ereko Market on Lagos Island, Mrs Remix Bakinson, said Nigerians lacked confidence in insurance companies.

Bakinson said she stopped insuring her business five years ago because she did not see the need for it.

“All that insurance people are concerned about is the

collection of premiums, after that, nothing else. At least, they should be able to tell us what happens to the money if no losses are recorded after a period of time,” he said.

Mr Silva Okereke, leader of fabric sellers at the market, said he distrusted insurance companies because of their high premiums, especially, for comprehensive insurance.

According to Okereke, the companies demand up to N500,000 yearly on businesses valued at N5 million.

He said: “This is just too high; some of us collected loans from the bank to float our businesses and we are still repaying with interest.

We pay almost five million naira per annum as rent on our shops; this is apart from other expenses.

“So, it will be good if insurance companies can bring down the premium they demand.”

Mr Olanrewaju Onigemo, Secretary-General of Electronics Market Traders Association at Alaba, Lagos, said insurance operators had not been visiting them regularly.

“The last insurance company that was here came five years ago and we introduced the company to our members, afterwards we did not see them again.

“Our members lack enlightenment; they find it hard to inculcate other things into their business apart from buying and selling.

•The burnt Balogun Market

“Also, Insurance operators ask too many questions and are not sincere; so they can hardly get five out of 100 persons selling here at Alaba, to buy their policies,’’ Onigemo said.

He urged insurance companies to mobilise and penetrate the markets.

Mr Mohammed Abdul, Secretary-General of Perishable Food Sellers Associa-

tion at Mile 12 market, said it was wrong to force people to take an insurance policy.

Abdul said some traders had not taken up any policy because of their religious beliefs.

Reacting, President of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) Mr Godwin Wiggle said it had taken measures to encourage people to accept its policies, especially in

Clerics salute Nigerians on successful poll

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HE Council of Ulama of Nigeria has congratulated Nigerians on the conduct of what it calls one of the most successful elections in the country’s history.

This, the clerics attributed to the way people came out enmasse to vote, and the orderly manner in which they conducted themselves.

A statement by its Secre-

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

tary General, Dr Muhammad Sadiq Al-Kafawy praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its doggedness, transparency and thoroughness.

The Council appealed to Nigerians to extend similar support to INEC in Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The council hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat even before the final collation.

It urged president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to extend a hand of fellowship to the oppositions.

The council condoled with the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdul Mumuni Kabir Usman, his family and the police on the passage of Alhaji

Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu, a former Inspector General of Police.

“The great statesman had served the country in different capacities up to the time of his death. The council Of Ulama calls all Muslims to remember him in their prayers; we pray Allah to give his (Yusufu’s) soul an eternal bliss,” the statement reads.

TODAY IN THE NATION

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10

NO. 3177

‘Ambode comes from the Lagos camp, whose idea has made the difference. Agbaje comes from a discredited federal order, that not only ruined itself, but nearly ruined Nigeria’

OLAKUNLE ABIMBOLA

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

O

NE of the most improbable transformations wrought by President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformative Agenda centered on Dr Jonathan himself and occurred in the twilight of his tenure.

I have in mind Dr Jonathan’s brief telephone call to the APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, at a tension-soaked moment in the final stages of the collation of the election returns to concede defeat and to invite him to a meeting to kick-start the transition.

Nothing had prepared the public for it.

A PDP stalwart, Jonathan confidant, proxy, and former cabinet minister, Godsday Orubebe, had barely an hour earlier held up proceedings at the collation centre, in a show of petulant contumacy seen around the world, just when all the indications were that Dr Jonathan was going down to certain defeat.

Rather ominously, Orubebe was assisted in this desperate enterprise by retired Colonel Tunde Bello-Fadile, a director in the office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. Whether Bello-Fadile was there representing national security interests or as an attorney for the PDP, his presence was dramatic illustration of how thin the line separating the security of the state from the electoral fortunes of the PDP had become under Dr Jonathan’s administration.

Ebullient as ever, Femi Fani-Kayode, the Jonathan campaign’s publicity chief, was declaring boldly how his private set of facts indicated that his principal had won outright in 23 states and out-polled Buhari by no fewer than 3 million votes.

Not in the least daunted by the disaster unfolding before them—or more likely alarmed by it– other operatives of the Jonathan Campaign, citing unspecified violations, demanded not a review but outright cancellation of the poll’s results in seven states.

Through all this, the word was that Dr Jonathan was confident he would win, if he had not already done so. Among the PDP faithful, the belief that they had carried the day was bolstered by an announcement that Musiliu Obanikoro had congratulated Dr Jonathan on his emphatic election victory.

Obanikoro, who had lost his bid for the PDP gubernatorial ticket in Lagos, had recently been named junior minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by way of compensation. His motive was dubious and selfserving.

But if his example caught on and just a few dollarised traditional rulers were further dollarised to embark on a pilgrimage of solidarity to Aso Rock to pledge their unflinching loyalty to the Jonathan administration

RIPPLES

I TOOK TO ARMED ROBBERY AFTER BEING ROBBED–Robbery suspect

okay, you mean ARMED-ROBBERY IS INFECTIOUS like EBOLA...ehn?

OLATUNJI DARE

AT HOME ABROAD olatunji.dare@thenationonlineng.net

Verdict 2015: The week after

‘

Whether Dr Jonathan made it voluntarily or it was wrung from him, history will record that the concession pulled Nigeria back from a looming abyss. And in the popular consciousness, that singular act transformed him to a statesman of the first rank, nonpareil patriot, and one of the finest and noblest persons of this age •President Jonathan

and its laudable, unprecedented, and farsighted Transformative Agenda, the trickle might soon turn into a cascade, and it would be “June 12” all over again.

A cascade was in fact rendered all the more probable by reports of raging discord in many a traditional ruler’s domain. The paramount ruler, who had been given a sack stuffed with U.S. dollars in the presence of the royal court, carried on for days as if nothing had happened, until the lesser royals were constrained to ask ever so delicately: Kábíyésì, tíbí nkó?

Loose translation: Your majesty, what became of that package?

Whereupon Kábíyésì, feigning innocent forgetfulness, retreated into his boudoir and emerged some ten minutes later with seven bulging, sealed envelopes, one for each lesser royal.. The sheer heft of the envelopes sent not a few of them into rapturous reverie: Just imagine how many young brides they could add to the royal harem, and how many new cars they could buy in the Naira economy.

And they were about to render grateful

A

BSURDITY has reached new heights in Ekiti State under Governor Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It is beyond belief that seven PDP members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, in a move that turned the Constitution on its head, ostensibly passed the state’s 2015 Appropriation Bill into law despite the clear lawlessness of the act. That the lawmakers conducted themselves in a dishonourable manner cannot be in doubt because they did not form a legal quorum in the 26-member legislature.

It is unsurprising, and indeed appropriate, that the embattled Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, described the empty show as “one in the series of comic tales by farcical politicians holding the reins of governance in Ekiti State.” Omirin and 18 other APC members of the House of Assembly are currently fighting to re-establish sanity in the legislature after their dramatically undemocratic marginalisation and the emergence of a dubiously dominant group of lawless lawmakers.

It is interesting that the power-backed seven reportedly approved N80.94 billion as budget, which was about N160 million

’

obeisance to Kábíyésì when a yelp shattered the solemnity of the moment. It had issued from one of the lesser royals as he crashed to the floor from his chair. A heart attack, perhaps, occasioned by the sudden wealth he had just come into?

He had opened the package and found that it was stuffed N200 bills.

His experience could well set off a pilgrimage to Aso Rock by traditional rulers in search of dollar compensation.

But I digress.

Nothing, as I was saying, nothing had indicated that Dr Jonathan would concede. Everything that had gone before suggested powerfully that he would hang in there and hang tough, doing or condoning anything that could secure political advantage.

Had he not waged or condoned the vilest and most divisive electioneering campaign in Nigeria’s history, setting Christians against Muslims, soldiers and the police against civilians, and some nationalities against others? Had his wife not supported him all the way, winning for him and his

HARDBALL Seven is a number higher than the figures presented to them

by Fayose. The governor’s proposal was N80.77 billion. The group leader, Dele Olugbemi, was quoted as saying, “We decided to increase the budget estimate not for any reason but to prove that we are independent.” The difference in the figures was said to be for fixing the leaking roof of the Assembly complex. Even allowing for the benefit of the doubt, considering the ugly history of large-scale official corruption in power circles across the country, it might not be out of place to smell a rat in the narrative.

Also, there was something fishy about comments credited to Fayose who spoke to journalists at the Murtala International Airport, Lagos, on his return from a foreign trip. Speaking about the 19 legislators who are in his administration’s bad books, Fayose was quoted as saying, “The Speaker just called me recently and asking for their Christmas gifts. I told him they should collect from Lagos and Osun State governments or the Speakers of those states.” Isn’t it food for thought that Fayose referred to Omirin

cause at every campaign stop a growing throng of implacable opponents by her habitual resort to coarse abuse, incitement and conduct most unbecoming?

The record does not show that Dr Jonathan remonstrated with her or his aides to temper their incendiary language and provocative utterances.

It was therefore most unlikely that he would concede under any circumstance.

Even if he was minded to, the cabal of which he was a prisoner would have none of it.

The PDP, as one of its leading lights Iyiola Omisore was reported to have said at one of the sessions where the strategy for rigging the last gubernatorial election in Ekiti was perfected, “The PDP is nothing without the Presidency.”

But to everyone’s surprise, and to the discomfiture of the cabal aforementioned, he conceded.

It has been said that the concession was literally wrung from him by retired General Abdulsalami Abubakar, acting at the behest of a consortium of African leaders and the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States.

Whether Dr Jonathan made it voluntarily or it was wrung from him, history will record that the concession pulled Nigeria back from a looming abyss. And in the popular consciousness, that singular act transformed him to a statesman of the first rank, nonpareil patriot, and one of the finest and noblest persons of this age.

Considering the desperation, the divisiveness and the pusillanimity with which he conducted his campaign, and indeed how he has governed Nigeria in the past six years, the praise is in my opinion overwrought.

But it would be churlish to deny that, at the crucial moment, he bowed graciously to the popular will.

He could have refused to concede, believing with his aides that a formula could still be found that would enable him hold on to power. He could have decided that, if he must go down, he would take with him the boat and the crew and the passengers. Between these two options he could have pursued any number of alternatives.

But none of them would have given Nigeria the new sense of purpose, the return of optimism and the possibility of renewal that now perfuse the land. If he ends his tenure on this note, it will be said of him, paraphrasing the Bard, that nothing became him in office like the manner of his leaving it.

Meanwhile, I gather that Omisore’s perceptive remark that the “the PDP is nothing without the Presidency” is set to become the ideology of its most desperate faction, with Omisore himself set to lead by personal example.

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•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above as Speaker, suggesting that Olugbemi is merely being used for the spoiler’s role?

Again, even allowing for the benefit of the doubt, considering the mud-slinging that has marked Fayose’s approach to governance, his remarks are more likely to be a continuation of the smear campaign against the opposition. It sounds far-fetched that the lawmakers on the other side would approach him for Yuletide presents, knowing full well that he is the kind of character who would readily use such a move to score political points.

Fayose further said: “But in my state, you were elected by some people and the people had read the riot act to them that they will not come and destabilise the state. If you attempt it, the power of the people will rise against you because their power is higher than those of us who are in power.”

No one is fooled by Fayose’s democratic posturing. The 19 beleaguered legislators are themselves representatives of the people, and their exclusion through undemocratic means is a reflection of megalomaniacal politics.

Reply, Reply all or Forward | More •This article was first published on January 8

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