The Nation April 08, 2015

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...52 D AYS TO GO DA

•Ondo PDP members give Mimiko conditions •AND MORE •Oshiomhole’s home under aerial surveillance ON5,7PAGES & 57 •Jonathan to politicians: stop gloating over PDP’s loss •Anxiety in Oyo opposition camps over Buhari’s visit

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3178 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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Buhari, Fashola, Tinubu: Lagos won’t discriminate

•ONE LA GOS: Gen. Buhari (holding the microphone) raising Ambode’s hand...yesterday. With them are (from left) Mrs. Nelson, Fashola, Asiwaju Tinubu, Mustapha, Mrs. Adebule and other party LAGOS: ges 8& 56 pag PHOTO: NAN chiefs. See also pa

APC candidate Ambode: we’re all one Oba of Lagos ‘didn’t speak for party’

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RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari returned yesterday to the hustings in Lagos to seek support for All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode.

He also addressed a town hall meeting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to boost

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

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When we conducted an exam and a spelling competition, an Igbo boy, Ebuka, from Anambra, came first and he became the governor for one day...Ebuka was sent to Switzerland computer school and then Obafemi Awolowo University. We did not say he was an Igbo boy...

By Musa Odoshimoke

Governor Rochas Okorocha’s campaign.

Governorship and Assembly

elections are slated for Saturday.

The rally in Orile, Lagos Mainland, an area with a big

concentration of Igbo residents, presented the opportunity for the party leaders to address the reported anti-Igbo

’

comment by the Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu. They spoke before a massive crowd of cheering residents, many of

them excited to see Gen. Buhari, who was visiting the city for the first time since his victory in the March 28 election.

Governor Babatunde Fashola and APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said the party should not be crucified for the Oba's Continued on page 4

Fayose’s commissioner, aides arrested with weapons, charms

STORY ON PAGE 4

Soldiers stop lawmakers from entering state Thugs shut down capital

•TROOPS CAPTURE ALAGARNO P5 P577 KENYANS RALLY AGAINST AL-SHABAB P60

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

2

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

Like Ekiti, like Edo, Rivers Houses of Assembly

Intrigues and Igbo factor in Lagos politics

•No respite yet for legislature

I

N democracy, the legislature is the first and most important organ of government. It underscores the representative nature of modern republican society. As the most vital arm, which has its taproots across the constituencies and grassroots, it is perceived as the anchor of popular rule. Therefore, any assault on the legislature is tantamount to a war against the people, who are the cornerstone of the government.

Three Houses of Assembly - Edo, Ekiti and Rivers - have been troubled. They have become casualties of intense power game between the ruling and opposition parties. The Houses are polarised into two camps, with parallel Speakers and principal officers locked in bitter struggles for the soul of the legislature.

In the three Houses, budget passage has become cumbersome, if not absolutely difficult. Oversight functions cannot be performed. The executive and the legislature cannot rub minds. The fate of many projects remain unclear.

Many indigenes have agonised over the disruption of legislative governance in the affected states.

They have also bemoaned the role of the police in rows. Since power shifted last week, the police appear to be retracing their steps of impunity. There is now an intense agitation for the resumption of legislative duties in the problem states. To stakeholders, democratic governance is incomplete without the lawmaking body.

For over one year, the Rivers State House of Assembly has been under lock and key. The implication is that democratic governance has been at half in the oil-rich state. A free-forall had broken out on the floor.

Some lawmakers were injured. After the commotion, some were charged to court. The crisis that seized the House was the fallout of the division in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which culminated into the exit of Governor Rotimi Amaechi from the party.

The Speaker of the 32-member House, Tonye Harry, from Degema State Constituency, died a year ago.

He is yet to be replaced from his Constituency. When the crisis broke out in the PDP, there was an attempt to impeach the governor. But, 25 of the legislators rejected the plot.

They argued that Amaechi did not commit any impeachable offence.

They elected Otelemaba Amachre as the Speaker. But, the six lawmakers who are bent on starting an impeachment process against the governor, rejected the new Speaker.

The six legislators, who did not defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the governor, are loyal to the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike. Their acclaimed Speaker is Evan Bipi. When the House met on July 9, 2013, Bipi’s group could not muster the strength to sack Amachree. Since they could not remove the speaker, it was difficult for them to gain the control of the House and apply the sledge hammer against the governor.

Today, the Rivers House of Assembly, on Moscow Road, near Police Headquarters, Port-Harcout, has been closed down indefinitely.

Pro-Amaechi lawmakers occasionally met in the old Banquet Hall of the Government House. They claim that the House of Assembly is undergoing renovation.

In Edo, it is the same scenario. The House is divided. It is 15 versus six.

Nineteen legislators are on the side of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Six are plotting his removal. Al-

By Emmanuel Oladesu Group Political Editor

though it has been a peaceful House, the permutations for general elections shattered the peace of the legislature. Ahead of the elections, crisis was orchestrated by the PDP. Four members initially unfolded a plot to impeach the governor. They knew that the plot could not succeed, unless they remove the Speaker, Igbe Uyi. Sensing danger, the speaker moved fast by raising some allegations against them.

Amid the face-off, they were suspended. But, the four insisted that they had removed the Speaker.

They made Festus Ebea the parallel Speaker. The Federal Government and the police took sides with the six anti-Oshiomhole legislators with impunity.

Now, the House of Assembly meets at the Government House, Benin-City. Asked the reason for the temporary relocation, Speaker Uyi explained that the House is being renovated.

In Ekiti, with the second coming of Governor Ayodele Fayose, there has been a renewed battle for survival by the governor and the opposition APC. Fayose did not complete his first term. He was impeached in controversial circumstances by the House on October 16, 2006. When he was re-elected on June 21 and inaugurated on October 16, last year, he met a House of Assembly dominated by the APC. His party – the PDP – had only one lawmaker in the 26-member House.

But, on the eve of his inauguration, six members defected from the APC to the PDP. To get the nod of the House for his nominees for the Secretary to Government and commissioners, Fayose needed the majority of the House, But, he could not get it. Therefore, a crisis was orchestrated in the House. The 19 APC lawmakers were allegedly harassed and forced to relocate from the state to safer havens.

While they were addressing a press conference in Lagos, news got to them that the seven pro-Fayose lawmakers had elected Dele Olugbemi as the new Speaker. The Speaker, Dr. Wale Omirin, was taken aback. He cried foul, saying that no quorum was formed. The seven lawmakers screened the nominees and they were sworn in by the governor. Omirin maintained that they were screened in error.

Last week, the fleeing 19 legislators returned to base and commenced an impeachment process against Fayose and his deputy, Dr. Olusola Eleka iImmediately. But the governor described the APC lawmakers as jesters. He also said whoever will remove from office him would have successfully impeached God from His throne.

Led by Omirin, the legislators listed eight impeachable offences.

These include: the invasion of the House with thugs and miscreants; instigation of seven members to unconstitutionally take over the House in contravention of Section 96(2) of the constitution; prevention of the 19 APC lawmakers from performing their legislative duties; sponsoring an unlawful impeachment process in the House without requisite constitutional approval; running the Ekiti State Government without legally constituted State Executive Council; operating an illegal 2014 budget and instigating illegal sitting of the House.

But, the factional Speaker, Olugbemi, has fired back. He accused Omirin of impersonation, forgery and attempting to cause a

•Oshiomhole

T

HE presidential result in Lagos State was very confounding.

Nobody expected it to be “too close”. The All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 792,460 while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 632,327. The difference between the two rival parties was 160,133. But this may not be as serious as the loss of six House of Representatives seats by the APC to the PDP. The APC lost the Federal Constituencies in Amuwo Odofin, Ojo, Oshodi/Isolo, Surulere I and Ajeromi/Ifelodun to the PDP while Accord party, a seemingly insignificant party in Lagos, trounced the APC in Mushin. The greatest shocker was the emergence and victory of two Igbo candidates namely: Mrs. Rita Orji (Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency) and Mr. Tony Nwoolu (Oshodi/ Isolo Federal Constituency). Both of them are members of the PDP.

The Igbo as beautiful bride

•Amaechi

•Fayose

breach of the peace. According to him, the seven members had impeached him and his deputy, Adetunji Orisalade. Olugbemi said that, since Omirin has gone to the court, he should wait for the verdict of the court. He urged the Chief Judge not to set any panel to investigate the governor.

To observers, Ekiti is in bad news again. The legislators have resorted to impeachment as a survival option. But, more important than the latest phase of the face-off is the compelling need for them to resume their legislative duties, in accordance with the constitution.

Is a factionalised House in the interest of the state? Can there be good governance, if 19 members are not allowed into the chambers and six continue to legislate? How can the interest of their constituencies be protected on the floor? Can there be peace in Ekiti State Government, if there is no peace in the House of Assembly, which is an integral part of the government?

This emerging scenario in particular has thrown up a mind-blowing political configuration in Lagos politics with the Igbo becoming the beautiful bride that is being toasted by both the APC and PDP. The Igbo votes have become so crucial and critical to the victory of Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC or Jimi Agbaje of the PDP. In short, the political space is now being shared by both the indigenes and the Igbo resident-settlers which means, political power no longer lies in the hands of the indigenes alone.

Perplexed by this outcome, Lagosians in both parties have found themselves lobbying the Igbo - whose major objective for coming to Lagos was to explore business opportunities - to use their votes to either stabilise or destabilise extant political arrangement. While the APC is satisfied with the existing political order, that is, progressivism, the PDP is calling for the installation of conservatism, a political philosophy that is not progress and development friendly. By sheer providence, the Igbo are now actively and practically involved in the process and debate for a new political order. In fact, they have become a critical factor in the discourse on progressivism and conservatism. Ordinarily, the indigenes, irrespective of the parties they belong, should have reached an agreement that will engender cooperation on the issue or even decide to allow a new political order to evolve based on local templates and models. However, things have changed.

Lagos and progressive ideology Theoretically, the people of Lagos seem to have identified themselves with the progressive ideology but now, the intervention of the Igbo is likely to cause some disequilibrium in ideological denomination. The danger in allowing third party interference in an existing political arrangement is the possibility of a conflict erupting between contending political forces.

Emboldened by the electoral power conferred on them by their large number, the Igbo appear to have some kind of intimidating political cohesion that is making the two parties to look for how to appease them. As an aside, in his desperation to appease the Igbo

By Dapo Thomas

in his private capacity, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I, at a gathering with some select leaders of the Igbo in Lagos State, was said to have issued what appeared to be a “death threat” to the Igbo. Though the Oba has denied the statement saying that his anecdote of the lagoon which should have put what he said in its proper perspective was mischievously omitted from the context expressing the supposed “death threat”, why should the APC be held responsible for a statement that was made by a man who is not a card-carrying member of the party? The personal expression of the traditional ruler possibly made out of passion and concern for his domain and his people does not carry any political authority nor does it have the power of fulfillment. As far as I am concerned, the Oba is on his own. If he speaks with excitement about the APC, it is just his own way of convincing people about the need to retain the party in the state.

Talking politically and away from this cultural distraction, the major party in the state is the APC, a party that is known for its progressive politics and ideas. The state has always been ruled by progressive leaders hence the reason for its rapid growth and development. The only time Lagos was developmentally stagnant was when the National Republican Convention (NRC) ruled the state between 1990 and 1992. The NRC was a conservative party decreed into existence by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (former military Head of State) and hijacked by reactionary agents and looters of treasury.

The same way the Igbo had shown in the presidential election in the Southeast that they are predominantly PDP, Lagosians have also consistently demonstrated, over a long period of time, that they are predominantly APC or progressive politicians. If therefore the Igbo were intolerant of any other party making any in-road into their domain, Lagosians too are not ready to accommodate political incompatibles. It is even more odious that this whole confusion is happening at a time that the progressives in the state are about realising their dream of enjoying good working political relationship with the centre that is also an APC government.

If it was the collective decision of the Ndigbo that the Igbo at home and in the Diaspora should all vote for President Jonathan and the PDP in the presidential election, I am of the opinion that the Igbo leadership should let their people exercise their discretion in deciding who to vote for during the governorship election since local politics has its own special peculiarities and local heroes and heroines. For instance, in Lagos State, progressive politics has significantly attracted substantial development to the state and it would be ungracious for the Igbo in the state to stop this flow through grand conspiracy with the opposition. The Igbo are daily trooping to Lagos not only because of the hospitable nature of the indigenes but because they are attracted to the state by the level of infrastructural and social development

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

3

BUHARI’S VICTORY

•From left: Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State, Eze Christian Nwachukwu, Uche Baba-Tata and Leader, Igbo Lagos Coalition in All Progressive Congress (APC) , Chief Chris Ekwilo at the endorsement of the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode by Igbo Coalition in Lagos...yesterday. •Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) when they staged solidarity rally at the Lagos House, PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN Alausa, Ikeja...yesterday.

that progressives politics had brought to the state.

Some malicious and mischievous elements anchoring PDP’s propaganda machine have ascribed the Igbo action in the presidential and National Assembly elections to the resettlement of 67 people from Lagos to Onitsha, Anambra State, by the Fashola administration in July 2013. Explaining his government’s position on the issue, Governor Babatunde Fashola, who linked the incident to the 2013 Anambra election stated that the propaganda on the issue was meant to tarnish the reputation and credibility of the APC. Fashola said: “It was unfortunate that my colleague governor (of Anambra State,Peter Obi) made this a media issue…This is a political season and Anambra state would be up for contest and in a political season, unusual things happen…It is really important to say that our hospitality in Lagos state is legendary. It is a global legend that the people of Lagos state are hospitable people. And so is the present government of the state and previous administrations.”

If the governor was not referring to the naming of a major park in Lagos State after Ndubuisi Kanu, he prob-

‘

If the opposition had promised them anything more than what they are currently enjoying, it is sheer political cajolery. The promise of a desperate man is rooted in deception and dishonesty and the Igbo should beware of any promise that was made in moments of desperation

‘

ably was referring to his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose relationship with the Igbos is incomparable.

Handshake across the Niger As a bridge-builder, Bola Tinubu’s association with Igbo leaders is not a recent development. He was close to Arthur Nwankwo, Polycarp Nwite, Orji Uzor Kalu, Rochas Okorocha, Chris Ngige and so many others.

Stimulated by his desire for national integration and undaunted by possible local opposition, Tinubu appointed Ben Akabueze, a prominent Igbo pastor into his cabinet in 2003 and Joe Igbokwe as the publicity secretary of the Lagos APC. In addition, Igbokwe is the General Manager of Lagos State

Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA). I am not aware of any state in the Southeast that has reciprocated this generous gesture.

Carrying the Igbo along These two Igbo sons have been in government for the past 12 years. In fact, Ben Akabueze who is the commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget is reputed to be one of the most powerful members in Fashola’s government. If the Igbo still go ahead to vote for the PDP in the gubernatorial election, then one must question the electoral value and the political relevance of these two government officials. If these people have been in government for the past 12 years and their people in Lagos are fraternising en

masse with the opposition, it is either they are anonymous to their people or that they have not been spreading the dividends of democracy they are enjoying in the government to the Igbo people living in the state. Should the APC win the election, with or without the support of the Igbo, and still feel obliged to appoint Igbo into the cabinet, the criteria and mechanism for selecting who represents the Igbo should be reviewed. There is no point appointing people with no electoral and political value into cabinet position if such appointments were incapable of pacifying their people or preventing their people from conniving with the opposition against the established political structure.

One good turn, deserves...

In appreciation of what Tinubu has done for the Igbo, it is now their (the Igbo) turn to show gratitude to Tinubu by using their number to help him consolidate his political base rather than joining hands with his enemies to paralyse his political machine. Though Tinubu’s political influence extends to every part of the Southwest, Lagos being his operational base, must be protected against incursion. It is indeed an irony that the same Igbo that

Tinubu has been promoting and protecting their interest all through his political life are the same people conspiring with the opposition to threaten his political ascendancy.

Lagos should serve as the micro space for the Igbo to start playing politics of integration. And the right time is now when they have a nationalist personage like Tinubu with tremendous political power both at the state and national levels fighting their cause. Without being patronising, I do not think there is any other person that can protect the interest of the Igbo in Lagos State more than what Tinubu has been doing for them. If the opposition had promised them anything more than what they are currently enjoying, it is sheer political cajolery. The promise of a desperate man is rooted in deception and dishonesty and the Igbo should beware of any promise that was made in moments of desperation. A vote for Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC would be a discretion that is loaded with wisdom and fraternal magnanimity. The Igbo should say ‘No to vindictive and hate politics’.

Dr. Dapo Thomas teaches History and Strategic Studies at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos

APC’s victory and the Buhari/Tinubu alliance Many thought the alliance was dead on arrival. But a union that was hardly given any chance has pulled down strongholds and dislodged a ruling party. The Financial Times Williams Wallis, who was in Lagos, chronicles the role played by All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the first-ever victorious opposition alliance.

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ROM his redoubt on Bourdillon Road in upmarket Lagos, a man popularly known as the Jagaban cemented his reputation this week (last week) as a political Svengali with the role he played helping to orchestrate the downfall of Nigeria’s sitting President Goodluck Jonathan.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose name (Jagaban) comes from a chieftaincy title bestowed on him by the town of Borgu, in Nigeria’s North (Niger State), was from 1999 to 2007 the provincial governor of the country’s economic engine, the coastal state and megacity of Lagos.

The political godfather of Nigeria’s Southwest, Mr Tinubu’s unlikely alliance with the austere former military ruler, now President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, made possible the first opposition victory in Nigeria’s electoral history.

“There needed to be an alignment for us to be able to stare down the government in power. There needed to be a catalyst for that alignment. He was the most prepared for that,” says one of Mr Tinubu’s lieutenants.

The manner in which that alignment evolves, is now among the big questions Nigerians are asking when considering the likely character of the incoming administration.

Described as “deeply Machiavellian” and a “master strategist” by one of his party peers, the Jagaban has cannily built a political empire among eth-

nic Yorubas in Lagos and the Southwest, as formidable, according to allied politicians, as that of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who led Nigeria’s second largest ethnic block at Independence.

He did so over the past decade and a half, having survived a string of bruising turf wars with the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which was forged from political networks across Nigeria during the 1998 transition from military rule.

PDP barons had become so adept since at oiling the electoral machine, that they sometimes boasted the party would still be in power in 100 years.

It was the merger of the Action Congress oF Nigeria (ACN) last year, with the party of the president-elect (Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) strong in the North but weak elsewhere - that made it possible for the opposition to challenge and ultimately defeat the PDP. The two parties between them controlled block support in both of Nigeria’s most populous regions; Mr Tinubu’s in the Southwest and Gen Buhari’s in the Northwest.

Leading opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Mohammadu Buhari speaks during an interview on February 6 in Abuja. Nigeria’s main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari told the AFP he was expecting to win the presidential election by a wide margin, despite talk of a close race. The Febru-

ary 14 poll, in which he is challenging incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, has been seen as too close to call, leading to a possible run-off if neither man secured a first-round majority.

“I am in the same union as Buhari to salvage a Nigeria that is drifting and that has faced a storm of economic deterioration,” Mr Tinubu said at a celebration party at his house this (last) week. Outside the formidable gates, a mob of hundreds of young men ecstatic at the success of their city patron, were shouting “Jagaban”.

Yet the Jagaban is a controversial figure, resented by some for the dominating machine politics he has brought to the Southwest, but adored by others, especially in Lagos, who see his hand behind the remarkable renaissance of the city in the past 15 years.

Once a byword for urban decay, Lagos has begun to thrive under Babatunde Fashola, who Mr Tinubu promoted as his successor as governor, and then sometimes shielded from the rough and tumble of politics as he went about reviving the city with technocratic verve.

Mr Tinubu attributes the success of the campaign, the most disciplined by

an opposition group in Nigeria’s history and sophisticated in terms of the data monitoring it used to keep on top of events, to compromise.

“Our defined objective is on the plank of a progressive social welfare programme. Once we agreed to that then we consolidated the merger,” he says, of last year’s deal, which superseded a less formal alliance that came unstuck in 2011 polls.

Supporters of opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari celebrate an anticipated win for their candidate, in Kano, Nigeria Tuesday, March 31. Nigeria’s aviation minister says President Goodluck Jonathan has called challenger Muhammadu Buhari to concede and congratulate him on his electoral victory, paving the way for a peaceful transfer of power in Africa’s richest and most populous nation.

Gen Buhari faces daunting task of tackling slowing economic growth and controlling inflation.

Against expectations, the party survived a tough contest for the leadership, which saw Mr Tinubu’s candidate, a Christian pastor and Lagos lawyer, Yemi Osinbajo (a professor of Law), win the vice-presidential slot.

The future of the union could now determine how effective Nigeria’s incoming government is in office.

Some leading members of the victorious opposition worry about the compatibility of Mr Tinubu and Gen Buhari and about the influence the former

•Asiwaju Tinubu

might wield, without any formal position in the party, in the forthcoming battle over federal government appointments.

In the immediate future, Mr Tinubu is likely to be distracted by his battle to maintain influence in Lagos, where his preferred candidate for governor is facing a tough challenge in the polls on April 11. “There is no need for a power struggle. We are concentrating our efforts in reversing the decay,” Mr Tinubu says.

He is not a politician who is insecure. According to both detractors and fans, one of his attributes, rare among older politicians in Nigeria, has been to spot talent and nurture it. He absorbed this lesson according to one ally, when working at ExxonMobil.

“We bring talent to governance. We don’t want Lilliputians. We want people who can think and act,” he said.

Among the bright, young crowd in his small, home office in attendance, were perhaps some of Nigeria’s future leaders.

•Culled from The Financial Times.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

NEWS Fayose’s commissioner, aides arrested with weapons, charms

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KITI State Commissioner for Works Kayode Oso, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters Ademola Bello and four others were yesterday arrested by the police at the vicinity of the House of Assembly.

They were among the loyalists of Governor Ayo Fayose who laid siege to the precincts of the Assembly complex, waiting for the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers.

Also arrested are Adeyanju Oluwole, Raphael Adebayo,

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Babajide Adebayo and Wasiu Ogunsakin.

Police sources said they were arrested with one black colour Ford pick-up van with registration number EK 05-B27 and one blue Toyota Hilux van with registration number AA 363 YEK. The two vehicles, believed to belong to the state government, were carrying weapons, including nine live cartridges, Continued on page 59

Impeachment: Thugs shut down Ekiti

A •One of the scenes of the protest in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday

We’ve identified culprits in Rivers’ killings, says IGP

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OLICE chief Suleiman Abba has said some suspects in the killings in Rivers State have been identified.

But the Inspector-General did not name the culprits.

The IGP said three suspects were arrested in Enugu in connection with the blast that took place during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Suleiman spoke in Abuja yesterday during a meeting with Commissioners of Police as part of preparations for the elections.

He said more men would be deployed in Rivers and others during the elections.

On the unrest in Rivers, Abba said: "Let me confirm to you that arrests have been made and there are also suspects identified with the incidents in Rivers, including those that were committed as far back as during the period of campaigns.

"We have identified culprits or those suspected to have been involved or being the master mind of these offenc-

Amaechi: killers of our supporters ‘ll not go unpunished

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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has vowed that all the persons involved in the brutal killings of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, during the electioneering period will face the full weight of the law.

Amaechi made the declaration when he paid a condolence visit to the families of the late Chief Christopher Adube in Obrikom, Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers state.

Adube, along with three of his children, his younger brother, lyke Ikechukwu, and his two gatemen were shot dead last Friday in his Obrikom residence, while two of his children, who were wounded by bullet shots are receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Amaechi, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), also assured the bereaved family members that his administration would fish out the killers and proseFrom Faith Yahaya, Abuja and Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

es. We have not made it public because we are using all other avenues. Our intelligence and operatives are out there to arrest them. Where

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

cute them accordingly.

He said: “All those responsible for this bloody act will pay for it. This kind of killing of APC supporters has gone beyond political violence. Why should politicians go beyond politicking and try to take anybody’s life? They will pay for this, I promise to fish out the culprits.”

The Rivers governor, earlier during his doorto-door sensitisation tour to wards in Khana local government assured that votes during the April 11 governorship and the House of Assembly elections in the state would count at every polling unit.

While addressing crowds of APC supporters in Bani, Bean Ken-Khana, Kaani-Babee, Nwiyakara, Kono-Boue, Uegwere-Boue, Zaakpor, Kaani and Opu-Oko communities, AmaeContinued on page 59

we don't get them immediately, perhaps, after a little while, we will exploit other avenues, including declaring them wanted."

On the deployment of more personnel, the IGP said: "The purpose of our meeting includes strengthening our de-

ployment to Rivers and other states where we feel we really need to strengthen the deployments to prevent lawlessness.

It is not only in Rivers; there are also two or three other states that we will strengthen Continued on page 59

LL was tense yesterday in Ado-Ekiti as the 19 lawmakers who issued Governor Ayode Fayose an impeachment notice were barred from entering the state capital.

A woman, Modupe Olaiya, was reportedly killed in the wave of protests in many parts of the state against moves to remove Fayose from office.

Olaiya, according to eyewitnesses, was shot dead in Efon

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has described as untrue reports that the convoy of the 19 APC lawmakers killed a man at Efon Alaaye-Ekiti on Tuesday.

It said that the report by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, alleging that the lawmakers’s convoy killed a man was the figment of his imagination and one in the

P

RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised to seek credible elections in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled states of Imo, Rivers, Edo and others. Governorship and House of Assembly elections are slated for Saturday.

General Buhari, who was in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on a thank-you visit, said he was aware of the travails of Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and Adams Oshiomhole during last week’s elections.

According to him, Oshiomhole, Amaechi and Okorocha showed uncommon courage and commitment, which have brought about change. They should be commended, he said.

Said Gen. Buhari: “The vote of the people is their strength and if the people’s vote

controversy.

Tinubu urged Lagos residents to vote wisely in the governorship and House of Assembly elections and not to waste their votes on the opposition.

"As you vote on Saturday, pray that God will not let you waste your vote; a vote for progress is a vote for development," he said.

Tinubu said Ambode was chosen as the party's governor-

From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

is allowed to count, they can vote out any government that does not meet their expectations and this is what the APC government stands for.”

Gen. Buhari was received by the cream of Imo and indeed Igbo leaders. Among them was Madam Eunice Kalu, mother of former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.

APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie Oyegun said the party’s leadership was aware of the frustration suffered by APC members during the presidential election in Imo, Rivers and Edo states.

He said: “We are aware of the frustration and intimidation you suffered during the last election and that is why the president-elect decided to come here in his first outing since he was announced the presi-

ship candidate because he had the brain, character, integrity and ability to do a good job.

"Vote for the man that will give you solid development, happiness, hope and great progress in Lagos and in Nigeria.

"We have a president-elect from the party now. We have gotten victory and we will continue with the progress that Nigeria deserves," Tinubu said.

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HE 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday recounted how they were barred from entering Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, by soldiers.

Led by Speaker Adewale Ominrin, they said they were stopped at Itawure, a boundary town, by soldiers.

In company of other 18 members, Majority Leader

dent-elect. But I assure you that it will never happen again. You can go out on Saturday April 11 and vote for the APC candidates without fear.”

Okorocha said Buhari’s victory had given the members of the APC a sense of relief, adding that their experience during the presidential election was traumatising.

He urged the president-elect to ensure that there is a level playing ground for Ndigbo in his administration, adding that they suffered untold hardship and marginalisation under the outgoing administration.

“We are in this struggle to better Nigeria, especially the Igbo nation and may I remind you that you are the President of all Nigerians and not the APC alone so, your administration should carry everybody along,” Okorocha said.

He noted that in the last 16 years, the state had been fair to all ethnic groups.

"In 2011, when Jimi Agbaje asked me to give him the governorship ticket, I told him he was not qualified and I told him I was going to support a man of character and sound mind, who is Fashola.

"Since then, Fashola has performed tremendously well and has not been sentimental, especially against the Igbo," he

Alaaye during a protest that greeted the arrival in the town of the lawmakers who were on their way to Ado-Ekiti.

A statement from Speaker Adewale Omirin denied the death rumour.

The APC lawmakers ran into a barricade erected on the Ado-Ilesa-Aramoko Highway Continued on page 59

series of media spins he had been selling to the unsuspecting public to mislead the people to get sympathy.

Reacting to social and electronic media reports of the purported killing, the Special Adviser on Media to Speaker Adewale Omirin, Mr. Wole Olujobi, said the governor’s aide was on a familiar terrain of mindless propaganda to mislead the public.

Continued on page 59

How soldiers barred us, by lawmakers

Buhari assures of credible polls in Imo, Rivers, Edo

Continued from page 1

Ado-Ekiti

Alleged killing: you lied, APC tells Fayose

Buhari, Fashola, Tinubu: Lagos won’t discriminate statement because he is not a member of the APC and was not speaking for it.

Tinubu said: "To you the Igbo, don't we pay your children's school fees like others?

When we conducted an exam and a spelling competition, an Igbo boy, Ebuka, from Anambra, came first and he became the governor for one day.

"Those that won the competition three times in a row were Igbo. Ebuka was sent to Switzerland computer school and then Obafemi Awolowo University. We did not say he was an Igbo boy and he would not enjoy. He became an executive in Oando and he is now in Canada.

"Another boy, Felix, won and went to Switzerland and OAU. We paid his scholarship; we did not deny him because he is Igbo."

The APC National Leader, who noted that he was the first Yoruba governor to ever appoint an Igbo commissioner, said the Peoples Democratic Party, having failed to win last week's presidential election, was desperately trying to pull the APC into the Oba Akiolu

From Odunayo Ogunmola,

said.

Tinubu added that the PDP has plundered the economy through its agents, such as Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and other bodies.

He said the money meant for the country's development was diverted to private pockets, noting that Nigerians have Continued on page 59

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Churchil Adedipe, at a news briefing in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, gave a graphic account of how they were stopped even when the police were ready to escort them into the state.

Adedipe, who said they notified the police about their coming into the state to resume their legislative duties, vowed that they will not be deterred in their bid to impeach Governor Ayo Fayose.

Adedipe said that he suspected that the soldiers were acting on instructions from Brig.-Gen. Aliyu Momoh, the Commanding Officer of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure.

Adedipe said for over two hours, the soldiers prevented them from proceeding to AdoEkiti, adding that the information gathered by some of the lawmakers who made calls to people waiting for them at the State Assembly complex, indicated that Fayose brought thugs to the premises of the Assembly.

The lawmaker said: “We want to assure the governor that any moment from now, we are going back to AdoEkiti.ý” Omirin said Fayose had committed impeachable offences and willbe impeached.

He said: “Despite officially writing Commissioner of Police Taiwo Lakanu, informing him of our sitting, Governor Fayose, his Special Adviser on Political Matters and Commissioner for Works still led thugs into the premises of the AsContinued on page 59

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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NEWS

Gbemi Saraki, Osunbor, Onoja, others join APC

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HE wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued yesterday with more prominent members of the party joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with thousands of their supporters.

Leading the group was a former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Kwara State, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, who announced her decision in Ilorin.

The party’s youth leader, Chief Segun Olawoyin, also joined the APC at a colourful ceremony in Offa Local Government Area.

Saraki said she left the PDP because of animosity and personal humiliation she suffered because of her identity as a Saraki offspring.

Also yesterday, the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, received over 5,000 defectors in Southern Kaduna area. Receiving the new members, Osinbajo flayed the PDP for harming the Nigerian nation, using religion and playing divisive politics.

The vice president-elect told the leadership of churches in Southern Kaduna Senatorial District that only righteousness would redeem Nigeria and not manipulation of religion for political power.

By Seun Akioye, Adekunle Jimoh (Ilorin), Jide Orintunsin (Minna), Abdulgafar Alabelewe (Kaduna) and Bolaji Ogundele (Warri)

According to him, if Nigerians didn’t stand up to kill corruption, the menace would kill the country and collapse its weak institutions.

Osinbajo: “The PDP has done more harm for Nigeria using religion and playing the religious card to just consolidate power. It is dangerous and more deadly for this nation. I am here to say that only righteousness exalts a nation. The people of Southern Kaduna must rise up to ensure that manipulators of religion are defeated.

“What Nigerians need is nothing but a government that will make necessary sacrifice for peace and development of the country.”

The state APC governorship candidate, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, said: “I am pleased with the people of Southern Kaduna because we did well during the presidential election. The results clearly shows that PDP is being wiped out of Southern Kaduna and the entire state. ”Before, they used to write results. But this time around, the people insisted for

change. We got one House of Representatives seat, it was almost three but for some deliberate diversion. And we will go to court.”

Prominent among the defectors are Maj-Gen. S.B.S. Biliyock (rtd); a former member of House of Representatives, Ruth Jummai Ango; former Commissioner and Attorney General Zakari A. Sogfa; and 114 immediate past councillors from eight local government areas.

From Niger State, former Secretary to the State Government Adams Erena also pulled out with 5,000 critical stakeholders in the PDP to the APC. The new APC members include a member of the state House of Assembly, former commissioners, local government chairmen and former PDP grassroots leaders. They were received at a mega rally in Minna, the state capital.

The state Deputy Governor, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who dumped the PDP in January, received the defectors and urged them to work for the success of the party in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

In Edo State, a former governor, Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbor, announced his defection to the APC.

Osunbor, who was governor from May 2007 to November 2008, declared for APC with his supporters at Iruekpen, Esan West Local Government Area.

The defection came a few hours after a former Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Idada Ikponmwen also defected to the APC. Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who received the former governor and others, attributed the defection to God’s will and the performance of the party..

He said: “ I will be working with a respected professor of Law like you and many of your supporters. We thank God for what he has used us to achieve. I appeal to our people to vote for our APC House of Assembly candidates because they will help me to develop the state rapidly. And with the APC government at the top, the sky is our limit.”

In Benue State, former Katsina State Military Administrator Gen. Lawrence Onoja; a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Dr. Mathias Oyigeya, and other chieftains were yesterday received into the APC. The reception took place at the playground of Jesus Col-

lege, Otukpo in Benue South.

Chief Agbo Oga, former Chief of Staff to Senate President David Mark, Chief Mike Iduma, and Major Lawrence Ugbo (rtd), former PDP state chairmen and Mr. Peter Ochijele, a former member of the Benue State Executive Council were also received into APC. Others were Chief John Ochoga, former Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Mike Inalegwu and Mrs. Theresa Ikwue, former Agatu and Okpokwu chairmen, as well as Chief Inalegwu Ode, former Chief Press Secretary to the governor.

General Onoja explained that the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, was his senior at a military institution in the United Kingdom and that having also served as Military Administrator of his home Katsina State, military tradition required that he lined up behind him.

He said he also decided to end what he described as his political sabbatical to collaborate with other progressives to emancipate people of Benue South Senatorial District.

He assured that incoming APC government would not disappoint Nigerians and urged the people to deliver

block votes to the APC in Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections.

Iduma stated that they took the decision to deepen democracy, join the battle against corruption and to support the election of Dr. Samuel Ortom and his running mate, Mr. Benson Abounu.

APC leader in Benue State Senator George Akume said they took the right decision by leaving “a sinking ship”.

Senator Akume was represented by his wife, Chief Regina Akume.

In Warri, Itsekiri youth leader and former PDP mobiliser Chief Ayiri Emami confirmed his move from the PDP to the APC. Emami, a Warri palace chief and an ally of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, said he was leaving the PDP in the interest of the Itsekiri nation, adding that he would be working to deliver the Emerhor candidature in the gubernatorial election.

Emami said: “I am urging my Ijaw brothers to abandon this PDP ship because it is sinking in Delta State due to the overbearing attitude of one man. Their interest in the PDP is not protected. Instead, it is the interest of one individual, who sees his family and personality as greater than the others.”

PDP laments mass defections From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

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•Some senior police officers at their meeting with Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba, in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

P

Polls: Jonathan warns against intimidation

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday warned against triumphalism ahead of the governorship and State Assembly elections billed for Saturday.

He gave the warning in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

He condemned the attempt by some politicians, groups and individuals to intimidate others and heat up the polity in the aftermath of the presidential and National Assembly elections.

He said: “As the nation prepares for Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly elections, President Jonathan calls on all Nigerians to remain peaceful, united and law-abiding.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

“The President condemns the very unseemly attempt by some politicians, groups and individuals to intimidate others, heat up the polity and cause public disorder and disaffection in the aftermath of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“President Jonathan is especially concerned about the negative triumphalism that has been put on display by certain elements since March 31, which flies in the face of his personal commitment to post-election peace, unity and national stability.

“The President calls on all those, who through their actions and utterances, have been promoting divisiveness, sectionalism and ethnic

hatred in the country following the outcome of the March 28 elections to cease and desist from actions that detract from the true spirit and culture of democracy envisioned by patriotic men and women of goodwill in Nigeria.”

He added condemned the undue harassment of public officials serving under his administration, urging all affected persons to continue to perform their lawful duties without fear.

The statement added: “The President cautions that this should be a time for the healing of political wounds in the overriding interest of national unity, stability and progress, not a time for ethnic jingoism and the settling of scores.”

He said the Federal Gov-

ernment would not condone any attempt to instigate a crisis in any part of the country in furtherance of personal political ambitions.

He assured the citizens that his administration remains committed to national progress and the entrenchment of the best values of democracy for the good of all Nigerians.

Jonathan also urged Nigerians to go out en-masse once again on April 11 to vote for candidates of their choice in the governorship and State Assembly elections with the confidence that his administration will do all within its powers to ensure that they do so in peace, without threats, intimidation or violence from any quarters.

HE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lamented the gale of defections of some of its prominent members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Following the victory of the APC at the presidential election, members of the PDP have been defecting to the APC in droves, a situation the PDP described as painful and sad.

At a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said it was immoral for the members to defect simply because the party lost the presidential election to the APC. His words: “Defection is lawful, but it is immoral to change party because we lost the presidential election. What values and legacy are they leaving for their children.

“We want committed members to remain in the party.

Fair weather members are free to go, but committed ones will stay.”

Metuh accused the leadership of the APC of luring PDP members, including ministers and legislators, with mouthwatering offers, with the aim of depleting the ranks of the PDP. He said: “Recall that we had earlier told Nigerians that the APC had no clear agenda on how to govern our dear country. Rather than concentrate on how to manage the mandate they now hold, they have resorted to seeking ways to stifle opposition and impose a one-party system and complete totalitarian rule in our country.

“Reports reaching the PDP leadership from across the country show that the APC has been desperately seeking ways to destabilise our ranks and weaken our formations by approaching some senior members of our National Executive Committee (NEC) with phantom promises and threats ostensibly to use them to inject crisis in our fold and pave way for our elected members to cross over to APC. “Furthermore, the PDP has it on good authority that part of this agenda of the APC is to intimidate and harass our members, especially officials who served under our administration.

“However, we wish to state in very unequivocal terms that the PDP leadership under the chairmanship of Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu will not condone any witch-hunt on any of our elected and appointed officers, including state governors, ministers, legislators and others who served with clean records, as such will be met with stiff resistance within the ambits of the principles of democracy.

“We will do everything humanly possible within the rules to defend democratic principles and ethics, which we have successfully nourished in the past 16 years. On this note, we charge our members to be vigilant and continue to work with our leaders at all levels.

“Because we are convinced that the APC lacks what it takes to sustain our democracy, the PDP is not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that it returned to power in the next four years to save the nation’s democracy and re-channel our vision of a greater Nigeria.

“The PDP strongly believes that our democratic journey got this far because of the open space our administration gave to all political players, including the APC, and we will not, even in the role of opposition, watch our nation slide into dictatorship.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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NEWS

APC advises security agencies, INEC not to mortgage roles

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ECURITY agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other national institutions connected with Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections have been warned against compromising their statutory roles.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) gave the warning in a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The party said the police, the Directorate of State Service (DSS), the Civil Defence Corps, the military and INEC are all national institutions, and hence, must never again turn themselves to appendages of any political party.

The statement urged them to pro-

By Bola Olajuwon

vide a level-playing field for all parties to the elections.

It said the institutions must strictly adhere to their constitutional roles, exhibit the highest level of professionalism and shun partisanship, in the spirit of fairness and in line with global best practices.

APC said the situation in which security agencies and INEC will collude with a political party to terrorise innocent citizens and brazenly manipulate elections, as was witnessed in the past in Ekiti and

Rivers states among others, would no longer be tolerated.

It said: ‘’We do not seek any unfair advantage over any other party. We do not seek any favours from any organisation. All we demand is that the national institutions that have any role to play in the forthcoming elections must carry out their duties fairly and professionally,’’ the party said.

It decried the ongoing killings, maiming, harassment and intimidation of APC members and supporters in Rivers State by the police, which it alleged of working with the PDP. The party also warned against

the role played by some INEC officials in the massive rigging of the presidential and National Assembly elections by the state PDP on March 28. ‘’The forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections provide the first real test for our security agencies and INEC to depart from their old, unprofessional and highly partisan path and embrace professionalism and neutrality, because they will be the first elections to be held since Nigerians voted for change.

“All eyes will be watching the national institutions to see if they are ready to embrace the change that has come or they will like to persist in their old, unedifying ways,’’ APC said.

NYSC: no plan to underpay corps members on electoral duty

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HE management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) said yesterday that there was no plan to shortchange corps members serving as ad hoc workers in the on-going general elections.

The NYSC, in a statement in Abuja by its Director, Public Relations Unit, Abosede Aderibigbe, denied an online publication misinforming Corps members that the allowance due to them for participation in the 2015 General Elections is N53,500.

The NYSC said the originator of the false publication was also mobilising them to shun the next election on April 11, unless the money was paid.

From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

In the statement, the NYSC said: “Our preliminary investigation has so far indicated that this publication did not emanate from our Corps members and it is a mischievous circulation by some unscrupulous elements to discourage Corps members from participating in the next election for whatever reasons best known to them.

“To correct the misinformation, management hereby wishes to put the record straight for public awareness and restate to Corps members in clear terms their true entitlement for the elections.

“The allowances for each Corps member are as follows, training al-

lowance of N4,500 only paid directly

by INEC to Corps members for the training held before elections.

“For each of the two elections, a Corps member is entitled to N13,000 only, which breaks down to N9,000, N3,000 and N1,000 for honoraria, transportation and feeding respectively.

“This implies that for the two elections, the total allowance due to each Corps member is N26,000 only.

“The fund for these was approved

by INEC and remitted directly into each of the NYSC state Secretariat’s account a week before the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“Management has confirmed that the amount of N13,000 for the Presi-

dential and National Assembly elections has been paid and any Corps member, who could not receive the payment latest 6pm on Tuesday April 7, should make a complaint through the necessary channels.

“Also, management has directed that the N13,000 allowance for the April 11 Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections should be paid in advance by all NYSC State Secretariats latest by Friday, April 10, 2015.

“Corps members are however to note that for those who receive the advance payment for the April election 11 and thereafter opt out of participation for whatever reason, the paid amount will be deducted from their April 2015 monthly allowance.”

‘Return War Against Indiscipline’ IGERIAN-BORN international lawyer and security expert, Vincent Ikechukwu Oligbo, has congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Muhammudu Buhari, on his election, advocating for the return of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI).

Oligbo, who spoke with reporters on a visit to Nigeria, reiterated what he expected from the incoming administration.

He said: “General Buhari is a well-known disciplinarian and anti- corruption advocate, who would have changed Nigeria for good had it been that he was allowed to stay on in power in 1984.

“I have great faith that he will change the face and the corruption culture of Nigeria.”

He added: “I will be advocating for the return of the famous War Against Indiscipline (WAI). That is exactly what Nigeria needs. The culture of corruption must end; the accepted norm of public servants and politicians enriching themselves with the citizens’ money must be brought under control by any means necessary.”

He praised the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by President Goodluck Jonathan and wished him well.

Oligbo was honoured by the British government in 2007 with the Binney Memorial Award for crime-fighting and for his contribution to law and order in the London Metropolis.

He was conferred with the Ambassador for Peace Award at the United Nations (UN) in New York last year for his contribution to both British and Nigerian society.

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•Speaker of the House of Representatives and Sokoto All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Aminu Waziri Tambuwal with Governor Aliyu Wamakko, at the final phase of the state APC governorship campaign rally in Sabon Birni Local Government Area...yesterday.

DSS cautions against provocative statements From Faith Yahaya, Abuja

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HE Department of State Services has warned those making provocative statement to desist from it, adding that such statements will not be tolerated.

The DSS, while assuring the citizenry of adequate security, urged them to shun political violence as they prepare for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly election.

This is contained in a statement yesterday by its spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar.

It reads: “The attention of this Service has been drawn to certain unguarded, inciting and divisive statements by some persons. We want to warn those stoking these embers of violence and disunity to desist, as this will not be tolerated. We should all strive to strengthen our nascent democracy as we work towards building a better Nigeria.”

Falana, TUC to Buhari: tackle corruption

By Akinola Ajibade

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UMAN rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to carry out a reform of the judiciary to tackle corruption effectively.

He said the judicial system has been taking over by corrupt people, adding that the incoming government owed the country a duty to re-position it for improved performance.

He said: “There is the need for Buhari’s government to address the judicial system, which in recent times has been overtaking by corruptminded Nigerians. The act of messing up judiciary is permitted only in Nigeria. That is why I said the new government has a job to do, if it wants to reduce corruption to its abysmal level.”

Falana told The Nation that cases involving former governors were not heard in 2007 because they were covered by immunity.

Also, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Rivers State Chapter, advised Gen. Buhari to put in place measures that would prevent a waste of government’s resources.

In a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Hyginus Chika, the body urged Buhari to fight corruption to a standstill.

“We urged President Buhari to be dogged in the fight against corruption and the elimination of waste in governance through strengthening the institutions that fight corruption,” it added.

He said offences relating to unexplainable wealth should be punishable to deter others from commuting them.

IGP petitioned over illegal sale of Deeper Life Church’s land

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HE Deeper Life Bible Church has urged the Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba to investigate the activities of land grabbers, who resold the church’s land and destroyed its fence with the alleged help of the police.

The church said it acquired 34 hectares of land near Mowe Town from the Esuruosho, Ogunkayode, Oyebi and Shobowale (Shofidiya) families and made the necessary payments, including N750 million to Ogun State government for a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

Due to incessant trespass on the land, it also obtained a court injunction barring land grabbers from entering the land.

The church said a new generation of the land-owing families started demanding that the church must repurchase the land from them at N8 million per plot. When the demand was not met in 2009, its fence worth N10 million was pulled down by the

By Joseph Jibueze

land grabbers.

While effort was being made to resolve the dispute, the church said the land grabbers continued to sell portions of the land to others.

As a preservative step, the church began rebuilding the fence to demarcate the remainder of its land.

The church said the families descendants brought some policemen to the church under the guise of inspecting the land in March, following which its new fence was again brought down.

“By March 20, 2015, it became obvious that the above police-aided inspection was actually a tactical surveillance action to accurately guide the subsequent heartless destruction of the church’s fence by the land hustlers, their agents and thugs,” the church said.

Besides, the church said the police had been harassing two of its mem-

bers who were invited for questioning, asking them to make an undertaking that the church would not go into its land anymore.

Deeper Life’s Senior Pastor Alfred Ogene, at a media briefing in Lagos, said the fence that was pulled down was 1,500 meters.

“The fence they pulled down overnight is about N25 million. The one they pulled down in 2009 was about N10 million. They came and destroyed it at night. We have all the land’s documents. Deeper Life does not just acquire anybody’s land.

“The families that sold the land to us, some of their heads are late. Their children are now saying that at the time their parents were selling the land to us, they were minors. They asked us to repurchase the land. We said no, that’s not possible, because we have the documents.

“We have court judgments on the land affirming Deeper Life’s ownership. So, we’re legal occupiers of this

land. Before you know it, they ran to the press saying the church took over their land,” Ogene said.

The church’s legal counsel, Mr. Mojeed Tairu, said the church acquired the land legitimately. “ This new generation of the land owners is not denying that the church has ownership and title over this land.

“Their contention is that at the time the land was purchased by the church from their fathers and forefathers, they were mere toddlers and had no share of the ‘cake’. So, what does the church want to do for them?

“They laid series of demands; for the church to make concession of a whole swath of land for them to be used as village extension project.

Then they said we should have to repurchase the land at N8million.

“At another fora, they asked for Owo Ilagbe (foundation money) for clearing of the bush. Notwithstanding the immorality of their demands,

the church paid N10 million so that we can have some peace. They are taking advantage of our peaceful nature. It’s sheer, cheap blackmail.

“All we tried to do in recent time is to make a demarcation of our remedial land so that they don’t take everything. But we’re asserting our right. We’re involving the police to keep the peace.

“These ‘Omonile’ are criminal elements even though they have gained notoriety over the years because many people sleep over their rights.

But there has to be a limit. We cannot continue like this. We have video recordings of where some of the family members were collecting money from the church.

“They even went to court, but their case was struck out. Their lawyer wrote and did not challenge our ownership of the land. They are asking for Owo Ilagbe, Owo Foundation and Owo Iwoku. They’re all illegality,” Tairu said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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NEWS Special prayers for Amosun

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GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s second term bid received a spiritual boost, following special prayers by traditionalists under the aegis of Ifa Olokun Foundation.

The Founder/President, Fakayode Faluade Anikinnikun, the Olu-Omo Edu Agbaye and Olu-Ifa of Yoruba Land, popularly known as Kayode Ajigbotifa, said the prayers-Etutu and Irubowere necessary to ward off spiritual forces that might want to stand in the way of the “performing” governor and his well-deserved victory.

‘I didn’t endorse Folarin, others’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

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HE Sarkin Sasa of Ibadanland, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin Katsina, has denied endorsing the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Teslim Folarin or any other candidate.

Katsina, the chairman of Arewa traditional rulers in the South, spoke yesterday at his palace in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said: “I have just been discharged from hospital and I was surprised to hear that I have endorsed Teslim Folarin and that all Hausa and Fulani should vote for him; it’s a lie.

“Although the governorship candidates have visited me to seek my support and I blessed them and urge them to desist from violence.

“Governor Abiola Ajimobi is my good son and I supported him in 2011 and I will never work against his second term ambition. I am not a politician but a ruler and leader, so I will never campaign for any politician.

“Anybody or politician using my name to campaign should desist from such or else I will be forced to curse them. It is peace that I want in this state. I don’t want tribal or ethnic crisis.”

PDP frustrated, says Ogun APC From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has described the allegation that Governor Ibikunle Amosun plans to rig Saturday’s elections as the “frustrated plot” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP’s governorship candidate, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, alleged that Amosun bought up all unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to rig.

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Sola Lawal, the APC denied such plot, saying the ruling party need not rig an election in which all the odds are in its favour.

APC said it would win on Saturday following the endorsement it enjoyed from the electorate on March 28, in which the party won seven of the nine House of Representatives seats, including Egbado North/Imeko Afon, where Isiaka hails from.

It said the same winning streak would be re-enacted on Saturday, “regardless of idle hoax scream by PDP”.

•Wife of Oyo State Governor Mrs Florence Ajimobi (fourth left) leading women on a walk for the APC governorship candidate, Governor Abiola Ajimobi in PHOTO: NAN Ibadan...yesterday.

Fear in Oyo opposition camps over Buhari’s visit

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PPOSITION parties in Oyo State are jittery as the state All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares to host Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari to a campaign with Governor Abiola Ajimobi, in Ibadan, today.

Governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) Adebayo Alao-Akala, in a statement by his spokesman, Oludare Ogunlana, advised Gen. Buhari against assisting the campaign of Ajimobi.

He said the victory of the APC in the National Assembly election was influenced

by Buhari’s popularity.

But the APC Chairman, Akin Oke, said Ajimobi’s performance would earn him victory on Saturday, stressing, however, that a candidate cannot be separated from his party.

He emphasised that opposition parties, such as Accord, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), should stop being jittery about the planned campaign because Buhari and Ajimobi are members of APC. The SDP issued a statement, urging voters to vote based on the integrity of candidates.

Why Alao-Akala must not return, by Oyo APC

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has urged the electorate to ignore former Governor Adebayo AlaoAkala of the Labour Party.

In a statement in Ibadan by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, the APC described Alao-Akala’s era as the darkest era in the history of democracy in Oyo State, which the people should never allow to repeat itself again.

“Alao-Akala’s renewed bid to infest the Pacesetter State with indecent conduct in power, clueless leadership and reckless mismanagement of public resources would be swiftly resisted by the electorate who, obviously, are for continuity of value restoration, transformation and repositioning.

“He turned Oyo State into a theatre of the absurd where it was one day, one trouble for the hapless citizens. He became a governor by default and his reign was characterised by lethal political violence, high rate of crime and lawlessness. “In all of this, the former governor could not be absolved since he never From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Opposition sources said they fear Buhari’s joint campaign with Ajimobi will raise the APC candidate’s profile in the election following Buhari’s popularity.

But Oke said other candidates were only justifying their impending failure because they know they cannot contest Ajimobi’s accom-

From Bisi Oladele

left anyone in doubt of his culpability and vulnerability.

“He converted the seat of power into an abode of thugs where decent men and women ran away from. Alao-Akala was notorious for reckless spending of public funds at social functions even when he was not invited.

Weekend travel to and from Ogbomoso cost the state huge sums.

“The former governor found his way into the political space by chance and all he could do was to further pollute the system. He mismanaged N39 billion wrongly deducted from allocations due to the state during the Lam Adesina administration and handed over to him.

“It is public knowledge that the former governor has many corruption cases he is facing. Should he be allowed to come back to power, the Pacesetter State would be subjected to eternal ruination and this voters must guard against by ensuring that Ajimobi is re-elected on Saturday.”

plishments.

“Is it the fact that they now sleep with their eyes closed unlike in the days of the two previous governments of the PDP? Is it the fact that there are more jobs offered by the new companies opening shop in the state?

“Is it the fact that we now have dualised roads in virtually all major towns in the

Ekiti monarchs call for peace as crisis grows

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HE Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has urged parties locked in the raging impeachment crisis to embrace peace.

The monarchs scheduled an emergency meeting for tomorrow to deliberate on the political situation in the state, with a view to finding a solution to the crisis.

Chairman of the council, Oba Adamo Babalola, warned against violence, urging any aggrieved party to approach the court for redress.

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

Babalola, who is the Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area, said attempts were made in the past to resolve the House of Assembly crisis without success.

He said: “We have been told the ‘runaway’ lawmakers are coming back to Ekiti State and that impeachment notice has been served.

“I don’t know if it is true, but we need to give peace a chance and allow the obas to

deliberate on the matter.

“We have made attempts severally to settle the dispute between the executive and legislative arms.

“I don’t know why coming to Ekiti should involve impeachment. We will hold a meeting tomorrow to deliberate on the matter.

“People should maintain peace and people should not be disallowed from doing their businesses. The court is there for adjudication and we should make use of that.”

NLC: no planned sack in Ogun

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ogun State has urged civil servants to disregard insinuations that Governor Ibikunle Amosun plans to downsize the workforce, if re-elected.

The NLC confirmed the release of N1.5 billion by the government to offset deductions from the salary of state and local government workers.

NLC Chairman Akeem Ambali urged civil servants to go about their duties without any fear.

“The purported plan to disengage labour leaders in the public service of Ogun State, including myself, and the purported plan to retrench 7,000 workers has been dispelled. The government has confirmed the rumour as baseless, unsubstantiated, wicked and political.”

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Taiwo Adeoluwa reaffirmed that Amosun was committed to the welfare of civil servants and the well-being of the people, describing the sack rumour as reckless and spurious.

state? Or is it the fact that Oyo State has changed for the better under Governor Ajimobi?

“The people spoke on March 28 by their massive support for our National Assembly candidates. And I am sure they will seal the victory on Saturday by voting for continuity of peace and prosperity of Oyo State under the APC.” Oke said.

Fayemi to chair summit FORMER Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi will chair the 2015 National Stakeholders Marketing Summit in Lagos next month.

The Marketing Summit, slated for May 5 at the Civic Centre on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, is being organised by Marketing Edge magazine.

The Editorial Board of Marketing Edge had, in its meeting, nominated Fayemi to chair the morning session of the industry summit. Chief Olu Falomo, former chairman of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), will preside over the Brands Excellence Award in the evening.

In the morning session, brand and marketing experts, including former APCON Registrar, Dr. Josef Molokwu and Managing Director, Noah’s Ark, Mr. Lanre Adisa, will be exploring the ‘Roadmap to Marketing in the Age of Global Oil Glut’ and ‘Nigerian Advertising in a Generational Shift’.

The evening event will be rewarding, as accomplished advertising practitioners and best performing agencies, brands and other outstanding players in the Nigerian Integrated Marketing Communications sector will be rewarded in different awards categories.

Lagos APC apologises to Igbo

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has asked Ndigbo to ignore the statement credited to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, when he addressed some Igbo chiefs at the weekend.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, appealed to Ndigbo to bury the hatchet in the interest of peace and harmony, considering the long standing relationship that has existed between the Igbo and Yoruba since the inception of Nigeria.

“No human being is above mistake. People can make mistakes and correct it thereafter.

“The Oba can make a mistake and we believe that the statement credited to him was a mistake. If to err is human, we plead with Ndigbo to let sleeping dogs lie.

“After the March 28 presidential elections, Ndigbo in

Lagos have been trooping into the Lagos APC fold in droves.

“They have pledged to support the APC candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

The support was total and unprecedented. You can ,therefore, imagine how we feel as a party when this incident came just few days to the elections.

“Oba Rilwan Akiolu is not a member of APC. He is not a leader in APC. He does not speak for APC. He did not speak for Governor Babatunde Fashola.

“He did not speak for our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“He did not speak for the incoming governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. His Majesty is at liberty to speak for himself and he spoke for himself only.

“Lagos APC appeals to Ndigbo not to take the statement as the position of the party.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

8

NEWS

Lagos APC’s pact with Igbo intact, says Ajomale

NURTW marches for Ambode

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro and Wale Ajetunmobi

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HE National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State yesterday staged a solidarity rally for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

The state NURTW Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, led the crowd from the union secretariat in Abule Egba to several areas, including Ikeja, Oshodi and Maryland.

The transport workers described the APC candidate as the best, promising to mobilise members for the party’s victory on Saturday.

Agbede, addressing the rally, said Lagos NURTW members were convinced that Ambode remained the best candidate.

He said: “For several hours, we have been on the road walking from our secretariat in Abule Egba.

“I know that some of you may be wondering why we are doing this.

“I will answer by telling you that we are walking to ensure that we continue to enjoy good governance in Lagos.

“Since the present republic started in 1999, Lagos has remained a reference point for good governance and progressive leadership.

“This was made possible by the good works of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who governed the state for eight years.

“He did well and passed the baton to Mr Babatunde Fashola for continuity.

Now, we want a consolidator who will build on the achievements.

“For us to continue to enjoy good governance and quality dividends of democracy, I appeal to our members and residents to vote for APC.” Agbede said the union had maintained a good relationship with the government, adding the transporters would not support any other candidate.

“On our part, we will mobilise our members to come out on Saturday and vote for continuity in Lagos. Akinwunmi Ambode is our candidate.”

The NURTW members ended the walk at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Addressing them, Fashola condemned those promoting politics of ethnicity and religion.

“Those who introduced it don’t mean well for this country. Their intention is to disrupt the country’s democracy, rather than improve it.

“You see the people who introduced ethnicity and religion into the country’s politics don’t mean well for us.

And that was why I have continued to challenge them as to what have they done for the country.

“As long as there is an APC government in Lagos, we will ensure that everyone has equal rights in the state.

We will ensure that no one, irrespective of his tribe and religion, is discriminated against in the state.

Those things aren’t important.

What is important is our common development.”

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AGOS State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Otunba Oladele Ajomale yesterday said the pact of solidarity and mutual goodwill between the party and Ndigbo in Lagos is intact.

He assured that the mutual understanding cannot be truncated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ajomale’s comments followed the recent remarks of the Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

The APC chairman said whatever statement that was credited to the monarch was made in his private capacity as the Oba of Lagos, adding that the palace could not have spoken for the party.

He cautioned against any attribution by unscrupulous politicians, especially political foes.

Ajomale said in a statement in Lagos that while the monarch has the constitutional liberty to speak on any matter concerning his domain, he should not be perceived as speaking the mind of the party.

He added: “We, as a party, hold the Olowo-Eko, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, in high esteem.

Falana: feel free in Lagos

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AGOS lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Igbo in Lagos to feel free in the state.

He spoke yesterday against the background of the heat generated by the alleged anti-Igbo comment made by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, at a meeting with Igbo chiefs in his palace.

But the Oba has since clarified his statement, saying he was quoted out of context.

The Lagos lawyer, in a statement, said: “The right of every citizen is constitutionally guaranteed. It is pertinent to remember that the Oba has continued to provide accommodation for all Nigerians.

“Hence, after the civil war, there was no case of “abandoned properties” in Lagos.

From time to time, armed militants and other misguided youths, who unleash mindless violence on “non indigenes”, have always been called to order by the government and

By Emmanul Oladesu (Political Editor)

“But, any statement purportedly made by the monarch was made in his capacity as the Oba of Lagos, and not on behalf of our party.

“It is mischievous for unscrupulous elements to twist the remarks of the Oba, which he has clarified, in a way to erroneously convey the wrong and misguided

the people.

“Indeed, the human-rights community has always kicked against discriminatory policies and ensured that all victims of human rights abuse are defended and protected, regardless of their ethnic identity.

“As a senior lawyer, Oba Akiolu ought to have realised that the Electoral Act has not conferred powers on any traditional ruler or any other authority to sanction anyone for voting for a candidate of his or her choice in any election in Nigeria.

“After all, before the just concluded presidential election, the Oba adduced reasons why he could not endorse the presidential candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari.

“He was not harassed or intimidated for exercising his freedom of choice. Since the Electoral Act, 2010 has banned any form of hate campaign the Oba is advised to withdraw the threat credited to him.”

impression that he spoke for our party.”

Ajomale said the APC will continue to hold the traditional institution in high esteem, warning detractors to steer clear.

The party chairman chided PDP leaders, including Chief Bode George, for insulting the monarchy under the disguise of reacting to the statement.

He said: “We will not allow ingrates, such as Bode George, to insult our revered Oba of Lagos.

“The Kabiyesi has the right to air his view on any matter that concerns his domain.

“We will not allow any discredited politician to disrespect the monarchy.”

Ajomale thanked the ethnic groups in Lagos, including Igbo, Hausa/Fulani,

Ijaw, Kanuri, and other nationalities for supporting APC candidates during the March 28 elections.

He urged them to sustain the tempo of cooperation and mutual understanding, assuring that the APC government will always defend their interests and give them a sense of belonging.

The party chairman enjoined Lagosians to vote for the governorship candidate, Akinwumi Ambode, and House of Assembly candidates on Saturday.

Ajomale added: “In the last 16 years, the progressive administrations of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola (SAN) have never discriminated against any ethnic group in the Centre of Excellence.

“We assure you that when our candidate, Akinwumi Ambode, secures the popular mandate through your votes on Saturday, he will preside over a government of continuity that will not relent in giving all Lagosians, irrespective of tribe and religion, a sense of belonging.

“We have a pact to work for the development, progress and prosperity of Lagos in the collective interest of all.

“We assure that no enemy of progress will come between us to truncate the pact of mutual goodwill and solidarity in our collective interest and in an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence.”

Ambode’ll win, says Ashafa

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• Members of the National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW) during their solidarity support for All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwumi Ambode at the Lagos House, Ikeja...yesterday. INSET: Governor Babatunde Fashola (middle), Commissioner for Transport, Comrade Kayode Opeifa (right) and NURTW Chairman Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede (left).

Igbo: support for APC unwavering

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HE ambition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, received a major boost yesterday as a coalition of Igbo communities in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State endorsed him and House of Assembly candidates.

Addressing reporters at the coalition office in Festac, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, Chief Christian Nwachukwu, said despite the controversy generated by comments attributed to the Oba of Lagos, the Igbo would still vote for Ambode.

The monarch, he said, is entitled to his own opinion.

Nwachukwu urged Igbo to vote for the APC governorship candidate to allow for continuity in the state.

He said: “We endorse Ambode as governor. Our being here is to reassure our sons and daughters and ask them to vote for Ambode.

“You have been doing it

•Groups endorse Ambode, APC candidates

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

since 1999 and this time will not be an exception. We have maintained this relationship for many years and we must ensure that it continues.

“We are not here to talk about rights and wrongs, but politics and business. We will do our best to vote for Ambode.

“Our mind is made up and we love the APC government and we have agreed to vote for the party on Saturday.”

In the same vein, a coalition of Igbo indigenes in Ejigbo and Isolo Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) also threw their weight behind Ambode, saying the Igbo have benefitted much from the government.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Ugo Ikeji said Lagos, despite being in the opposition for 16 years, thrived under the APC administration.

He said the outcome of the March 28 presidential elections would seal the progress of the state, if it remains under the ruling party.

“Now that the APC has taken over power at the centre by the grace of God, we will not allow Lagos, which contributed so much to this success, slip into the hands of the opposition, which the PDP now represents.

“We, the Igbo in Isolo and indeed in the state, say that this is the time for Lagos to collaborate effectively with the Federal Government to enhance the lot of Lagos and its people, which we are part of.”

Ikeji said the government has accommodated Igbo indigenes, with some occupying exalted positions in the state.

“An Igbo Pastor, Ben Akabueze, is the Commissioner for Budget and Planning.

“The Publicity Secretary of

APC, Joe Igbokwe, is also Igbo. The past Vice Chairman in Ajeromi and Mrs. Chichi in Ojo Local government are also Igbo.

“Igbo hold supervisory counsellorship positions in local governments and party offices across the state.”

The coalition also endorsed the APC candidate for Oshodi Isolo State Constituency II, Ladi Ajomale.

“It is very important to mention here that our relationship with Chief Henry Ajomale, APC Chairman, has been rosy over the years.

“Apart from that, the younger Ajomale is our inlaw; he is married to our sister from Otolo Nnewi in Anambra State.”

The Eze of Ajao Estate, Fred Nwajiagwu, said the resolve of the Igbo is to ensure that the APC wins on Saturday and continue to implement people oriented programmes for the people.

HE lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has said the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, will win on Saturday.

“The only way to go is with a template that is working. Akinwunmi Ambode will continue the good work and uphold the APC’s legacy of change.

“A man with Ambode’s record of service is to be treasured. We do not need to re-invent the wheel here.”

“Fortunately, the days of unseen transformation are over. The electorate has become more enlightened and this is good for democracy.

“The PDP leadership at the centre has said the party needs to find itself again and plan for the future, following the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan. I think the PDP in Lagos should heed this advice also. 2015 in Lagos is for the APC,” he said.

Also, an APC chieftain, Semiu Ishola Karaole, has appealed to residents to vote for Ambode.

He said voting for Ambode is a move for continuity of good governance in Lagos.

Karaole said voting for the opposition would bring the state backward.

“The Lagos we pray for is one that is projected to move forward continually and not backwards.

“Anybody against Ambode does not wish the state well. He will build on the progress, growth and development in Lagos.”

WEDNESDAY APRIL 8, 2015

9

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Many All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives members-elect are eyeing the position of the Speaker. EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the struggle for power, ahead of the inauguration of the Lower Chamber.

Battle for House Speaker begins I

N June, a new House of Representatives will be inaugurated. It will be dominated

by All Progressives Congress (APC) members. The battle for the Speaker may be narrowed to three lawyers. But, two of them seem to have an upper hand.

The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, is from the Northwest and the Vice President-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), is from the Southwest. The Senate President, according to insiders, is likely to be zoned the Northcentral with Senators Bukola Saraki and George Akume as major contenders. Bukola is a more formidable force within the APC leadership. He enjoys tremendous goodwill. But, being a Yoruba may hinder his chances because the Vice President is a Yoruba.

Akume, is the Senate Minority Leader. He stands a good chance, owing to Buhari’s shocking victory in Benue State, where he is the undisputed leader of the APC. He is expected to rub shoulders with Senator David Mark, who allegedly muzzled APC sn his bid to clear Senator Musliu Obanikoro during the ministerial screening, despite the stiff opposition by the three senators from Lagos State.

The contest for the position of the number four citizen is likely to be between the two lawyers. Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal will not be returning to the House in the next dispensation. He is the APC governorship candidate in Sokoto State and another chieftain has been eolected to replace him.

The race will also be between zones. The Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, a lawyer, has an outstanding record in the House.

He is held in high esteem by the party leadership. He is an experienced legislator. He has a good understanding of the House rules.

With his reelection, he is going for a third term. He is a founding member of the APC. Gbajabiamila also enjoys the affection and goodwill of his leader and benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC National Leader. He is also close to the Vice Presidentelect.

However, Gbajabiamila is from Lagos. It is also believed that Osinbajo is from Lagos, having served there as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, although he is a native of Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State. Observers have said this may be an obstacle.

There are those who argue however, that Tambuwal and Vice President Sambo hail from the Northwest. But, there is a slight difference. Many have pointed out that Sambo and Tambuwal are from two different statesSokoto and Kaduna.

A party source said that it may not be possible to zone the two topmost positions to a zone. Others also differed, saying that it is possible.

According to insiders, the Northeast appears to be in contention. If the slot is zone there, the two lawyers will slug it out.

The first is Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State. He is a defector from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He left the party, ahead of the general elections. He is not a founding member of the APC. Observers have said that this may work against him.

Dogara is the Chairman, House Committee on House Services. With his re-election, he will be going to the House for the third time. Bauchi, where he hails from, is the base of the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu. The APC needs a formidable politician from the state to put the PDP in check in post-Jonathan period. This is important, especially if the APC fails to win the governorship poll in the state.

However, eyes are also on Borno State. This

is because the governor, Kasim Shettima, may struggle for the zoning of the slot to the state.

A party source said that, if the Speaker is from Borno, he will be an ally of the governor in his bid to checkmate the PDP in the state.

Also, it is believed that the APC may zone the slot to Borno as a compensation for two reasons. First, the fact that, since 1999, Borno has been in the opposition right from the days of the defunct All Nigeria Peioples Party (ANPP), which merged withb other legacy parties to form the APC. Yobe State has the same history. But, the state has produced the APC National Secretary. Thus, its chance of producing the Speaker is low, although the party leader, former Governor Abba Ibrahim, a senator, will definitely want the position to be zoned to the state.

Shettima has gone through a lot of challenges as an APC governor. He has been steadfast and committed, despite the PDP onslaught against his administration.

The governor is very active in the APC leadership hierarchy. The lot to read the first communique issued in Lagos after the first meeting of ACN/ANPP/CPC governors and Rochas Okorocha of APGA fell on him.

He has not looked back since he led his people to embrace the APC. Shettima’s refusal to append his signature on a paper zoning the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to the North has further boosted his image in the APC. It was learnt that, in an effort to get rid of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, ahead ofthe NGF’s election, President Goodluck Jonathan invited 20 governors to hatch a plot against the Rivers governor.

Sources said that the President was able to influence them to sign an updated communique zoning the position of the NGF Chairman to the North to stop Amaechi from taking part in the elections.

President Jonathan did not invite ACN governors to the parley. He believed that they were fiercely loyal to Tinubu. The President however invited Shettima from the ANPP, Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, also an ANPP chieftain, and Tanko Almakura of Nassarawa from the CPC. While others signed before the communique, Shettima refused to append his signature, despite Dr. Jonathan’s insistence. According to sources, the President, henceforth, perceived the governor as a foe.

In fact, the source said that the Presidency was irked by subsequent developments.

Shettima became the Northeast Co-ordinator of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

The governor worked with state co-ordinators to work for Buhari.

Apart from Taraba State, the APC won all states in the Northeast during the presidential election. In addition, Shettima was the Chairman of the fund-raising committee of the APC in the build up to the elections.

If the slot is zoned to Borno, two members, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, representing Nganzai/Marte/Monguno Constituency, and Betera Aliyu from Biu/Kwayakusar/ Bayo/Shani Constituency, will compete for the position.

The two were first elected into the House in 2007.

Monguno, a lawyer, is the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture. He is a member of the Constitutional Review Committee. With his re-election, Monguno is serving a third term. He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 1992 on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). Between 2003 and 2007, he was the

•Tambuwal

• Gbajabiamila

Some insiders be‘ lieve the APC is likely to zone the Speaker’s office to the Northeast zone. Should that happen, two lawyers are said to be in contention. Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State, a lawyer, is said to be positioning himself for the number four position

’

•Monguno

•Dogara

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and later, Commissioner for Education.

He is also the Chairman, Borno Caucus in the House. He is loyal to the givernor.

Aliyu is Chairman, House Committee on the Army. He hails from Biu. He is close to the out-going Speaker and this is an advantage. Aliyu has not worked with the Borno State Government, prior to his election into the House. But, he is perceived as a popular politician in his constituency. He is also a level headed person, although he rarely features on the floor of the House during the plenary.

He is also loyal to Shettima. In fact, he rejected the entreaties to defect to the PDP when

his closest friend, Mohammed Imam, defected along with with Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

One factor that could however, hinder Borno’s chances of getting the slot is balance of interest on the issue of ministerial slots.

Borno is entitled to a ministerial slot, but it is also eyeing the extra slot to be allocated to the Northeast. Each region is constitutionally entitled to one ministerial slot.

There are some APC chieftaihns from Borno who want to serve as ministers. This may be an obstacle to the zoning of the position of the Speaker to the state. It may be difficult for the state to get the Speaker and two ministers. .

Another major hindrance may be the disposition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the leader of the Northeast APC. Adamawa State had the opportunity of producing two ministers under the Yar’Adua Administration. There was a struggle for the slot between Bauchi and Borno states. Former Governors Ali Modu Sheriff and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, both of the defunct ANPP, wanted the slots for their states. But, it later went to Adamawa.

A party chieftain said: “It may be difficult to zone the Speaker to Adamawa because Atiku’s men will get it. Gladiators in the APC may feel unsafe to allocate the office of the Speaker to an Atiku loyalist. But, Atiku can clinch the seat, given his influebnce in the APC.’ Permutations in the APC-controlled Senate could also be an impediment to Borno. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume stands a chance of clinching a principal office.

Ndume, the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), was the Minority Leader in the House from 1999 to 2011 before becoming a senator. He is from Borno South District.

For the APC, it is a new time. It has to brace up for the challenge of managing its achievements in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

10

THE NATION WEDNESDAY APRIL 8, 2015

producing three senators and 12 out of 14 representatives ‘inFora single election, Ajimobi has achieved an unprecedented feat in the history of the state. This is particularly so, given that most power brokers in the state refused to join him ‘

...

52 D AYS TO GO ...52 DA

The presidential and National Assembly elections in Oyo State have come and gone. But, the results may have drawn the curtains on the influence of sure gladiators in the politics of the state. Oyo State Bureau Head, BISI OLADELE, examines the rise and fall of the power brokers.

Casualties of Oyo National Assembly polls

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HEN top politicians in Oyo State woke up on Saturday, March 28, 2015, they must have offered thanks to God for sparing their lives to witness another day that they believed their stars would shine again.

They looked forward to a day of laughter, a day of celebration and promotion in their political career.

But, by the time darkness fell, all the power brokers spread across major political parties, except the All Progressives Congress (APC), got a shocker of their lives. The results from the local governments stunned them beyond belief because they were in favour of APC candidates.

In Ibadan, the state capital, where former governor Rashidi Ladoja and his Accord party members and supporters hoped to confirm their strength as the party and candidates to beat, the party came in second or third positions in many of the senatorial and House of Representatives polls. In fact, out of the 14 House of Representatives, the party did not win a single seat. It also performed so poorly in the senatorial election that it did not win any of the three seats.

The story was the same for the Labour Party (LP) led by a former governor and its governorship candidate, Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Alao-Akala failed to confirm his popularity in Oyo, Ibadan, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa zones.

Entering the election with the high expectation of winning all the seats in Ogbomoso land, produce the senator representing Oyo North District, as well as representatives in the zones, the LP only won a House of Representatives seat in Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire Constituency.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also won only one House of Representatives seat - Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere Constituency.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) did not win any seat in both chambers of the National Assembly.

All the seats in Ibadan, Oke-Ogun and Oyo zones were won by the APC in a landslide victory that shocked the opposition parties.

Losers: Senators Lanlehin and Adeseun The greatest losers are the two senators representing Oyo South and Oyo Central districts - Olufemi Lanlehin and Ayo Adeseun. The two senators defected from the PDP to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), prior to the 2011 elections. They picked the tickets, contested and won on the ACN platform, one of the parties that fused to form the APC. But, after spending about three years on the seat, without any threat to their positions, they defected from the APC to other parties, citing an unresolved internal crisis. While Adeseun returned to the PDP, Lanlehin defected to Accord.

Their exit inflicted deep pains on members and supporters of the APC in and outside the state. But, Governor Abiola Ajimobi and other party leaders remained resolute in rebuilding the party.

Both senators picked the tickets on the platform of their new parties, but they

were routed by new candidates of the APC. While Lanlehin was defeated by Hon. Adesoji Akanbi, his brother from the same ward in Ibadan North West Local Government, Adeseun was defeated by the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu.

Ladoja Prior to the election, Accord, which is led by Ladoja, was touted to be the party to beat. Having produced four members of House of Representatives and seven members of the House of Assembly in the 2011 elections, with Ladoja coming third in the governorship poll, the Accord candidate had been seen as the governor-in-waiting by his supporters. But, the results proved them wrong as Accord could not produce a single lawmaker for both chambers of the National Assembly.

So many politicians had rushed to join Accord in the last two years, based on the assumption that it was the party to produce the next set of elected officers.

The development boosted its rating, profile and popularity across the state.

But, the result dimmed the high hopes of Ladoja’s supporters.

With an army of defeated candidates around the former governor, Ladoja is a loser in the new political equation and he may even find it tough to return to Agodi Government House as dreamt.

Contesting for the third time at the age of 70 years, the possibility of a defeat may knock out Ladoja from the league of power brokers in the state.

•Ajimobi

•Folarin

Alao-Akala The power broker experienced a great surprise in the election. With a massive home support and some followership in other zones, Alao-Akala went into the election to confirm his popularity. As a confirmation of his popularity, AlaoAkala picked the governorship ticket of the LP with ease at the eleventh hour.

But, the poor performance of the LP showed the actual political strength of the former governor and his supporters in Oyo State.

The result showed that some top politicians, including Alao-Akala, may have overrated their popularity in deciding to participate in the election, particularly as governorship candidates.

Having committed a huge financial, human and material resources to the election, the results of the election has put his political strength and influence in a proper perspective. If he does not win the April 11 governorship election, Alao-Akala may henceforth only be fully relevant in Ogbomoso politics more than the larger Oyo State politics.

Other losers in the political equation include former chieftains of the APC, Chief Michael Koleoso, Dr Ismail Adewusi and Sharafadeen Alli, who left the party between last year and the election for LP and Accord.

Though Koleoso announced his retirement from politics, it was generally believed that he left the APC, due to discontent, to join forces with Alao-Akala.

With the exception of Koleoso who does not have age on his side, Adewusi and Alli may face a tough time finding their political strength back in the state.

•Ladoja

•Alao-Akala

losers are the two senators represent’ingTheOyogreatest South and Oyo Central districts -- Olufemi Lanlehin and Ayo Adeseun. The two senators defected from the PDP to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), prior to the 2011 elections

‘

Winners The Oyo State people and Governor Abiola Ajimobi are the main winners in the new political trend. While the voters now have leaders of their choice, Ajimobi is rising to become the greatest politician in the state, sending other top power brokers to the back side of history.

For producing three senators and 12 out of 14 representatives in a single election, Ajimobi has achieved an unprecedented feat in the history of the state.

This is particularly so, given that most power brokers in the state refused to join him, but stood in the same election.

Besides, the victory of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, put him in a unique and comfortable position as the governor, if he succeeds in the April 11 governorship poll.

Others winners include Akanbi and Sunmonu who are emerging as the new political leaders in their senatorial districts in the party that is controlling both the federal and state governments.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Herbalist, accomplice held for ‘robbery’

Three robbery suspects in court

By Jimoh Ruqayat

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A

22-year-old man, who allegedly prepares charms for smugglers, robbers and fraudsters, among others, has been arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos.

Jimoh Akeem (a.k.a Bulletproof) was arrested along with a member of his three-man gang, Akinroko Ogunshina (32). The third member, Sunday David, is at large.

Jimoh, it was learnt swindles his clients by lying to them that he could give them bulletproof charms for which he charges them between N50,000 and N100,000.

Besides, the victim would also provide live goats, bags of rice, cartons of beer, crates of mineral, kegs of palm wine and kola nuts, for preparation of the charms.

According to a source, there is a great ceremony on the day Akeem prepares the charm amid drinking, eating and dancing. The client wears the charm and as he is dancing, Akeem would fire a gun loaded with only gun powder without pellets at him. The client, it was learnt, would believe that the charm prevented the bullet from penetrating him.

The client is expected to renew the charm with N25,000 cash and a goat. Akeem, Ogunshina and David work together to hoodwink the client.

•Ogunshina (left) and Akeem

By Ebele Boniface

Akeem is said to have duped many by claiming to cure all illnesses including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, epilepsy, barrenness and impotence.

A source said it is Ogunshina’s duty to locate where the gang can operate at night and collect handsets, laptops, gold chains, money and other valuables; David leads every operation armed with locally made short guns.

SARS got Ogunshina in his Osogbo, Osun State hideout.

He led the police to Akeem’s house.

Akeem said: “I am married with

two children. I built a bungalow at Iwo, Osun State with the money I got from making fake bulletproof charms for my victims. I fire them with gun that contains only gun powder without pellets. I also cure all diseases to get enough money.

I have a harmless snake. I met Ogunshina when I came back from prison. I have two state-of-the-art cars - Murano and KIA Ultima. I also double dollars for traders and smugglers, but they were fake dollars. I bought the Murano Jeep for N730,000 in 2014 and KIA car for N180,000 from Mangoro area of Lagos. The owner said his enemies put salt in the engine of the KIA motor and sold it to me.”

Ogunshina said: “I am from Ilobu in Osun State. I live in the Poultry area of Ikorodu. I am a tractor/forklift mechanic. I worked with Supering Engineering Company from 1998 to 2000 as casual worker. I was paid between N700 and N800 daily with N100 overtime. I left the company because the owners are Chinese people. They made workers to work like donkeys and no provision for industrial accident insurance, even if machine cuts one’s hand or head, no compensation.”

The command’s spokesperson, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said efforts were on to arrest David.

•The protesters...yesterday

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By Olalekan Ayeni

It was learnt that the residents agreed to pay N4,000 monthly on each house because of the poor condition of their metres until they are repaired or replaced with prepaid metres.

The residents also demanded the reconnection of light to some areas, replacement of worn-out cables and transformers, and the cancellation of what they called “crazy” bills.

Coordinator, Youth Alliance for Better Nigeria Adegoke Moruf Niniola said the protest was to show their displeasure with the firm’s services.

He urged the firm to stop billing customers for the electricity they did not consume.

Moricass Youth and Elders Forum National Chairman Aderemi Adeyemo accused the firm of favouring industrial consumers, describing the development as worrisome. He appealed to the com-

Labourer charged with stealing Nokia phone

By Jimoh Ruqayat

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Customers protest poor power supply, workers’ conduct

O fewer than 300 residents of Papa Ashafa, Dopemu and Orile-Agege in Lagos yesterday stormed the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company’s Headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, to protest against its workers’ conduct.

They also complained about poor power supply.

The protesters chanted “Solidarity forever, we shall fight for our rights”, and “All we are saying, give us constant light”. They carried placards with inscriptions: “We are tired of using candles and local lantern”; “Say no to the use of rechargeable lantern”; ‘We need power supply at low rate”; “No more estimated or coded bills,’ and “No light-no pay”, among others.

The protest attracted passersby, some of who hailed the protesters.

The protesters demanded to know why the company breached its agreement with them during their last protest.

HE police have arrested three persons, Kamoli Oladosun (22); Kamoru Ayilara (22) and Agbesanmi Tosin, for alleged robbery.

The suspects also allegedly instigated violence and intimidated people at the Railway Line, Otto, Ebute Meta and environs on Lagos Mainland.

It was learnt that they conspired with others (now at large) to dispossess commuters of their valuables.

The suspects were caught during an exchange of fire with the vigilance group that secures the community at 2.30 am on April 3.

They were arraigned in an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, breach of peace and robbery.

They pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting police Inspector Richard Odigie told the court that the offences are punishable under Sections 409, 166 and 40 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

Magistrate O.I Adelaja granted the defendants N100, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. She adjourned the case till May 18.

pany to ensure that its workers are trained on how to do their jobs without bias.

The IKEDC Area Controller, Mr Dare Oyedotun, praised the residents for the peaceful protest, say-

ing most of the problems were caused by low power transmission.

He said solution would soon be found for “crazy” bills, promising to fish out those using electricity illegally.

25-year-old labourer, Shedrak Aor, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court in Lagos Mainland for allegedly stealing a Nokia handset.

Shedrak, who hails from Benue State, was alleged to have stolen the Nokia C3 handset worth N10,000 and N7,000 cash from his colleague, Meshach Obaje.

Shedrak, it was learnt, works with CRCC Company at 46, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Railway Compound, Lagos Mainland.

The handset was found in the defendant’s jean’s trousers.

The charge reads: “That you Shedrack Aor on April 5 at about 4pm at CRCC, 46, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Railway Compound in the Lagos magisterial district, did steal one Nokia C3 handset valued at N10,000 and N7,000 property of one Meshack Obaje and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”

He pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting police Inspector Silas Emmanuel said the defendant committed the offence.

The defence counsel, Mrs Otigi Beauty, pleaded for her client’s bail.

Magistrate K.A Ariyo granted him N10,000 bail with one surety in the like sum. She adjourned the matter till April 29.

•Members of Akinwunmi Ambode Independent Campaign Group, Amuwo-Odofin chapter displaying campaign souvenir.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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NEWS

APC warns against compromise in poll

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has drawn the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), police commissioner, director, Department of State Security (DSS) and the military to the allegation of manipulation of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

It said the agencies’ personnel compromised, adding that it would not accept a repeat of that on Saturday.

APC recommended the cancellation of the National Assembly election “because it does not reflect the wishes of the people.”

•Rejects National Assembly result From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

It urged the Resident Electoral Commissioner to release the authentic result.

Speaking in Umuahia at a stakeholders’ meeting, the party’s Chairman, Donatus Nwankpa, said APC would not accept scurity lapses on Saturday.

He said: “APC condemns the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the conspiracy of INEC and security agencies, the connivance of ad hoc workers, who are members of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

Nwankpa decried the action of the local government chairmen, who turned the council headquarters to Collation centres. He warned that they should be ready to face the wrath of the people if they interfere in elections again.

Nwankpa advocated the reshuffling and overhaul of the personnel for the poll, including the Presiding officers and assistant presiding officers, saying Card Readers must be used to ensure a credible election.

He said APC would resist

intimidation, advising the people “to ensure that the election is acceptable.”

The APC chairman said: “The proper conduct of the election is the responsibility of everyone, not the exclusive responsibility of the APC. We will not allow another manipulation.”

Nwankpa said the party was discussing with other parties for an alliance “to face PDP.” He enjoined Ndigbo to vote APC candidates and support the party’s national government to avoid being in the opposition.

Okorocha’s aide alleges threat to life •’Allegation frivolous, unfounded’ From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

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MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, has alleged a threat to his life.

Onwuemeodo, in a petition to Police Commissioner Austine Evbakhavbokun, alleged that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, threatened his life for refusing to support his ambition.

But Media Director of the Ihedioha Campaign Organisation, Mr. Enyinna Onuegbu, dismissed the allegation as frivolous and unfounded.

He said the governor’s aide, although from same community with Ihedioha, did not pose any threat to his ambition.

‘PDP plots to rig Enugu election’

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HE House of Assembly candidates for Awgu North and South on the platform of the Peoples for Democratic Change (PDC) have alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plots to rig Saturday’s election.

At a news briefing in Enugu yesterday, the candidates said PDP bigwigs in Awgu had perfected plans to cause confusion with a view to rigging the elections in favour of their candidates.

Their spokesman, Aja

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Celestine, urged men of goodwill, security agents and stakeholders to assist them to foil the plan.

He said their people want change.

“They are boasting that no matter the voting pattern, the PDP candidate, who is a leader in the House of Assembly, will be declared winner,” Aja said.

He added: “Please you people should come to our aide and ensure a free and fair election on Saturday.”

APGA chief petitions IGP From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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•President-elect Muhammadu Buhari (second right), Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha (second left), Senator Chris Ngige (right) and other All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders during a thank you visit to Imo State...yesterday

Ekweremadu: I’ll not defect to APC

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EPUTY Senate President Ike Ekweremadu told his supporters yesterday that he would not defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 28 elections.

Ekweremadu, who spoke at a meeting with stakeholders in Enugu West at his Enugu home, however, said Ndigbo has nothing against Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the Igbo would cooperate with Buhari “in line with our regional agenda and for the development of Nigeria”, adding that they would support him to succeed because he would be President of all Nigerians.

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Ekweramadu, who was reelected as the senator representing Enugu West, said although he would not hold the fort for the PDP stalwarts in the Southeast, he could assure that “on PDP we stand.”

He said PDP leaders in the geopolitical zone were committed to repositioning the party, adding: “We may not have the Presidency, but we are strong in the states and remain the party to beat.”

According to him, although the defeat of President Jonathan was an unpredictable loss, Nigeria won by proving the doomsday prophets wrong.

The senator assured Ndigbo that they had done

nothing to be ashamed of, saying they owed no one any apology for voting PDP. “I have read and listened to many lament what they regard as the Southeast misadventure in view of the emerging scenario at the federal level. But let me assure you that Ndigbo have done nothing to be ashamed of.

We owe no one apology for voting PDP. “For me, this is instead a defining moment for Ndigbo because we spoke with one voice and we are proud of our electoral decision. We took a principled position and take full responsibility of the political choice. I have read statements credited to some opposition elements on how the Southeast and the PDP

will be overrun in the governorship election.

“This is wishful thinking.

They have not taken cognisance of the history of the PDP and the fact that Ndigbo, as personified by elder statesman and former Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme played a leading role in forming the PDP. “By the emerging scenario and as far as the Southeast is concerned, PDP is only coming home to roost.”

On the alleged threat by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, against the Igbo, Ekweremadu said Ndigbo would not be intimidated in any part of Nigeria, “not in Lagos State where our people have contributed to its development.”

Ohanaeze endorses PDP governorship candidate Ugwuanyi

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NUGU State chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has endorsed the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

A communiqué by the Chairman and Secretary of the pan-Igbo association, Chief Eric Ebeh and Chief Fidelis Ojobo, said the endorsement is a fallout of its appraisal of the candidates and “consultations with the rulers’ council, professional bodies, organised sectors, market associations, civil society groups, students’ unions and other stakeholders.”

Ohanaeze conferred on

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Ugwuanyi a prestigious title of Ozo-Igbo Ndu Ndi Igbo (Grand Patron, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Enugu State chapter) in recognition of his contributions to the development of the Igbo nation.

Ebeh and Ojobo said

Ugwuanyi’s philanthropy in empowering Igbo sons and daughters through job creation and employment, human capital development and goodwill, coupled with his excellent records in public service and ability to deliver and sustain the good work of the PDP govern-

ment were among reasons they supported his governorship bid.

The group urged “eligible voters to go to their polling booths on Saturday and vote for our anointed candidate, Ugwuanyi, to take over the mantle of leadership on May 29.”

Church holds programme

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ROWN of Christ Victory Church, 57, Ajewole Street, off Governor’s Road, off Bethel bus stop, Ikotun, Lagos, will hold this year’s three-day special covenant from April 22 to 24.

The all-night session start froms 10 pm.

Chief host Prophet David Yemi Ayilara said the programme, with the theme: “Deliverance

from the power of witchcraft (Isaiah 22:5), is meant for women desirous of the fruit of the womb.

“God will visit expectant mothers and those who want the fruit of the womb.”

Other expected include Bishop Bayo Adejola, Prophet Dayo James and Praise Machine (guest artiste).

HIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State, Dr. Ernest Obiejesi, has said he did not instruct anybody to shoot any policeman during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

He said two of the policemen attached to him were shot and injured on the election day and are hospitalised.

The Nation learnt that two other policemen were killed in the fracas, which erupted at Ihiala Local Government.

Obiejesi spoke yesterday at Okija in Ihiala council when over 2,000 people stormed the area, demanding to see their leader, who was rumoured to have also been killed.

He denied attacking anybody, saying he was beaten up and his (security guards) policemen shot and injured.

Obiejesi, an oil magnate, said he petitioned the inspector-general of Police, the Police commissioner and other security agents.

“Some people wanted to kill me on the election day because we insisted that the right thing must be done.

My vehicle was riddled with bullets and many people were injured.

“Those involved wanted us to keep quiet so that they would perpetrate electoral fraud. But we refused, insisting that the people must rise up against fraud.

“Nigeria is changing for good with the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The wind of change has started blowing.”

Obiejesi said youths were prevented from carrying out a reprisal.

He said: “We will pursue the matter in a legal way because we are peace-loving people.”

INEC got N3b to rig, say candidates

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WO House of Assembly candidates on the platform of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) have accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abia State of receiving N3 billion to rig Saturday’s elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The candidates, Chidi Ufomadu, who is vying for the Umuahia Central seat and Obioma Oburuoga, for Umuahia North seat alleged that the money was given before the arrival of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Selina Oko. Addressing reporters in Umuahia, Oburuoga alleged

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

that the money INEC officials received from the government made them to rig the March 28 elections in favour of the PDP. He said the rigging started with INEC officials hiding the original result sheets, which where customised, while they brought out fake ones.

Oburuoga urged security agencies to ensure that parties abide by the peace accord.

“They should provide a level-playing field for candidates during the election.”

He advised the REC to call the workers, including ad hoc officials, to order.

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

The new magnanimity •Suddenly the security details of speakers have been restored

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IMES are changing fast indeed!

The country’s security agencies, including the Department of State Security (DSS) and the police are suddenly turning a new leaf, returning the security details of some deserving Nigerians that they earlier illegally withdrew, apparently more in deference to political dictates.

The latest beneficiary of the emerging magnanimity is Adewale Omirin, the authentic Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly whose security detail was withdrawn about five months ago, following his illegal impeachment by a fraction of the members of the house of assembly.

Just immediately after the speaker’s security men were restored, the police in Ondo State toed the line, by restoring the security detail of the state’s deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, that had also

‘It is refreshing though that some of these illegalities are now being reversed by the same security agencies that committed them despite the fact that the political leadership at the centre has not changed. But what is best for the country is to have enduring structures rather than those that depend on the generosity of spirit of the political leadership’

been withdrawn on the order of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the state, sequel to the deputy’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – to which the governor now belongs - to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor also ordered the state police commissioner to ground all the official vehicles attached to the office of the deputy governor as well as the stoppage of the salaries of all his aides. Governor Mimiko contested election and won on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) but defected to the ruling PDP for political expediency, without any sanction whatsoever.

The first high profile politician to taste the bitter pills of the withdrawal of security details in recent times is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, whose security men were all withdrawn on the orders of the Federal Government in October last year, after his defection to the APC. Indeed, the police assumed the roles of the prosecutor and judge in the matter, by saying that Tambuwal should automatically lose his seat in the House since he was elected on the platform of the PDP. However, the security men were restored four months later.

The big puzzle in all of these is why the police and other security agencies find it rather convenient to be operating as a rudderless ship. As the chief enforcers of the law, the police, for instance, should know what the law states and be ready to defend it. Unfortunately, they are the ones too eager to trample on the same laws just to please their political masters. We have seen too many instances of blatant parti-

sanship on the part of our security agencies in recent times to make us begin to look for ways of checking such abuses.

Almost all the security agencies, including the military, have been compromised, leading to serious erosion of professionalism and harassment of the members of the public that they are paid to defend.

The media too can help check some of these excesses by denying the people illegally put in offices of the title that they so craved and illegally acquired, as in the Ekiti case which was so glaring. This may prove particularly useful in our kind of environment where the law travels at a snail’s speed.

It is refreshing though that some of these illegalities are now being reversed by the same security agencies that committed them despite the fact that the political leadership at the centre has not changed. But what is best for the country is to have enduring structures rather than those that depend on the generosity of spirit of the political leadership.

Perhaps one of the things to do is to insulate these agencies completely from the whims and caprices of politicians. We may have to tinker with the law to ensure that the authority to hire and fire the inspector-general of police, for instance, does not reside solely in the president. For as long as the police see the president as their employer, the temptation to dance to his tune would be high. Such powers should be whittled down to drive home the point that the agencies are to serve Nigerians and not to protect the government in power, sometimes against the constitution that the security agents swore to uphold.

Handset death?

•Legal questions arise over the sentence of a man who never killed

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N what may shock many fair-minded persons, particularly those without training in legal jurisprudence, a High Court in Delta State, sentenced one Mr. Vincent Okwekwu, to death by hanging, for robbing a victim of a handset and N10,000.00. The court, which sat at Akwukwu-Igbo, found the accused guilty of three count charges, including conspiracy and robbery. So, in addition to the death sentence, the accused also bagged a 21-year jail term on each of the other two counts. In fairness to the judge, while the weight of the judgment may appear far heavier than the worth of the items stolen, the sentence falls within the extant provisions of our criminal law.

Yet the sociological impact for such grievous punishment, for what many would regard as a lowly robbery incident, should be a point of interest for legal jurisprudence. For us, and we guess for many others, we would have been more comfortable with a criminal law that would punish a robbery without a murder, with perhaps a long term of imprisonment. In saying this, we are not unappreciative of the psychological harm, a robbery with or without death does to a society. Our concern is how the law can mitigate the finality of death sentence, taking cognisance of the actual impact of the offence committed.

In prosecuting Okwekwu, the court was told that the accused, with other persons at-large, broke into the apartment of the victims, and robbed them of a handset and N10,000.00, armed with a cutlass and

a gun. So, despite that the sentence appears very harsh, the legal ingredients needed to find an accused guilty of the crime of robbery were met. Still, many in the society would find the punishment and the actual crime committed somewhat irreconcilable. In seeking a solution to this psychological aberration for the society, experts in the jurisprudence of sentencing, should device an acceptable median.

What again may rankle many honest bystanders is the reality that well-heeled people who commit other kinds of crimes that, in their view, impact more on the society, get comparatively a slap on the wrist. Take, for instance, serious economic crimes and sabotage, with a high propensity to harm a greater number of members of the society. In some of such instances, which impact may cause multiple deaths, like petroleum products racketeering, the offender may walk free, while what may be referred to as petty robbery, gets a death penalty.

Another instance is the stealing of public funds like the pension fund, which no doubt results in multiple deaths, of senior members of the society. For many, it is a challenge to legal jurisprudence that a person who has stolen billions of naira of pensioners, gets a few years jail term, or even an option of fine; while a robber who steals items worth not more than N50,000, gets a death sentence. Regardless of the fine points of law, the disparity in punishment, represents the society as an un-

even one.

Such disparity in the punishment for crimes, between that committed by a lowly person and that most likely committed by the high and mighty, may also be very traumatic for the society, just as the aberrance in the disparity between the crime and the punishment in question. In the peculiar Nigerian environment, there is also a challenge for legal jurisprudence with regards to the impact of poverty. This is particularly in circumstances where the lowly criminal, may have poor or no legal representation, while the well-heeled would use quality legal minds to place all manner of subterfuge before the court, to escape even the lesser punishment for more impactful crimes.

‘We would have been more comfortable with a criminal law that would punish a robbery without a murder, with perhaps a long term of imprisonment. In saying this, we are not unappreciative of the psychological harm, a robbery with or without death does to a society. Our concern is how the law can mitigate the finality of death sentence, taking cognisance of the actual impact of the offence committed’

Amosun as architect of modern Ogun

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IR: As many Ogun indigenes will acknowledge, our state is very different today. It is a more peaceful, prosperous, industrialized and better place to live, learn, earn, rest and play in than it was before. To some, Governor Amosun’s sterling qualities and progressive views are grotesque, defective and different. Some have accused him of always playing to the gallery; some detractors would have people believe that the man is an enigma with a stigma.

They distort and misrepresent his steadfastness for stubbornness, his tenacity for dogmatism, his vision for delusion and policies for extravagance. But above all, Ogun has risen, the beautiful ones are here in Ogun State.

Among the 36 states in Nigeria, Ogun State is blessed with human capital and natural resources. The state has produced leaders in governance, business, sports, education and other fields of human endeavour and the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government has done a lot in ensuring that the Education sector of the state becomes the best in the country.

Education they say is the bedrock of any nation. No wonder, successful nations of the world invest a lot of resources in ensuring their children are given the best education so that they can be useful to themselves and the nation in the nearest future. The quality of education is a function of the facilities and inputs that go into teaching of our children.

Gone are the days in Ogun State where students sat on the floor while teachers teach them because the schools lacked adequate furniture; the era of students not having textbooks and notebooks are over since the government of the day introduced free education at the primary and secondary schools’ levels in the state.

Senator Amosun, in his bid to ensure all pupils in the state excel in their studies distributed study materials and textbooks to them to relieve their parents of financial burdens. Each of them received textbooks covering their subjects, which include English Language, Mathematics, Science, Geography, French, Social Studies, Reasoning, Biology among others.

A state-sponsored unified examination was introduced while school infrastructural renewal; teachers’ welfare and training are now key aspects of the education policy.

Knowing the importance of providing world-class education to all and sundry in the state, the government embarked on the construction of 15 model schools with the state-of-the-art facilities, best teachers and best materials. Ogun state government under the leadership of Senator Amosun has really done a lot to improve the standard of education system of the state and this is yielding a positive result.

• Bolaji Odunuga, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: From time immemorial, Lagos state has always proved itself as a progressive state by voting into office, the progressive parties like AG, UPN, AD, AC, ACN, and now APC. Even when former President Obasanjo’s PDP tsunami swept through the south west region in 2003, Lagos state remained standing and will always remain standing like the iroko tree and rock of Gibraltar in the hands of the progressives because of the dynamism, sophistication and enlightenment of the people which is part of our historical heritage and pride as a people.

In the last eight years of building on the pathfinder trail put in place by his dogged and focused predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Fashola has had to contend with the enormity and burden of the task of maintaining, renovating and building public infrastructures in order to actualize the Lagos of our dreams and he has done well.

Worth mentioning is the fact that because of the economic status of Lagos in the life of the country and as a former federal capital, the progressive government of Lagos state has been responsible for not only meeting up to the needs and aspirations of Lagosians, but also cleaning up, renovating and reconstructing facilities worn out by federal government economic activities as a result of the abandonment of Lagos state, the former federal capital which responsibly deserved a special status because of its strategic importance in the life of the country but has been ignored till date.

In the discharge of its mandate, the Lagos state government has lived up to its constitutional responsibilities to the good people of Lagos through massive construction of roads, bridges and drainages, enhancement of security of life and property through modern standard equipping of the security agencies and lighting up the roads, building of health facilities to world stan-

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April 11th: Lagosians must vote progressives dards across the state, provision of innovative mass transportation system through the BRT, building of jetties and provision of its accessories for an efficient water transport system, ensuring stress free commuting on the roads through the creation of Traffic Radio, LASTMA to ensure free flow of traffic, provision of traffic lights at strategic junctions, roads signs and lane markings to allow for safe driving, establishment of the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI) to enhance the capacity of drivers, reducing road accidents and fatalities through restriction of okada riders from the highways, combating environmental degradation and abuse through creation of public parks, gardens and beautification of the environment via tree planting, building of affordable mass housing for the citizenry, establishment of agricultural farms, awards of bursaries and scholarships to indigent students in institutions of

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learning, ensuring public safety through the establishment of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), equipping and decentralization of the Lagos State Fire service, reinvigorating LASEMA, among several others.

The progressive APC government in Lagos has even gone further to embark on the building of a world class road and mass light rail network to link Lagos state and Nigeria with our neighbouring West African countries through the construction of the Lagos-Badagry expressway corridor to enhance easy and free flow of goods and persons in line with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) treaty on movement of goods and persons across borders; a duty that is the statutory function of the federal government, but which it has abdicated to our collective shame.

The massive increase in IGR by

the Lagos state government today which is responsible for the endearing development strides that we have witnessed in the last 16 years and which has made the state to be less dependent on federal allocation and an envy of other states within the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as a role model of responsible governance beyond our borders was laid by an economic genius like Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Under his watch, the State Treasury Office (STO) revolutionized the way Lagos State finances were raised, budgeted, managed and planned. In his six years as the Lagos State accountant-general, the state’s financial performance improved visibly with the budget performing at a remarkable average of 85% annually.

Therefore, in the light of the foregoing, one can only admonish voters in Lagos state to realize that the economic prosperity of Nigeria is tied to the economic prosperity of Lagos and now that the wind of

Where is our revered NANS?

IR: Men have come and gone, but their impacts still remain.

Having carefully watched the modus operandi of our current set of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), leadership, saying that one is surprised is like stating the obvious in view of latest moves on the campus of the University of Lagos. From what is obtainable in their elections down to their activities compared with the days of yore, it is obvious NANS isn’t what it used to be.

Frankly, it has lost its essence.

Gone are the days when NANS rec-

ognized intellectualism, vibrancy and incorruptibility. Touts, vagabonds, sycophants and irresponsible agents of backwardness have now taken over. At this stage, progressives and responsible leaders of tomorrow need to say NO to NANS’ forceful and domineering posture. It is no news that University of Lagos Students Union is back. But the students want it back for good. As such, it will be totally bad if the first administration that should set the pace for a good, reliable and incorruptible Student Union government turns to a will-

ing proxy of the misguided NANS’ leadership at the national level. The students are not oblivious of the latest romance between NANS and a Presidential aspirant for ULSU. Hence, one strongly advice that those concerned should not to ride on the ‘good will’ of NANS if they don’t want to bring the violence, corruption and other vices associated with NANS to our great University of Lagos.

• Omotayo Akinrinwa is Director of Programs, Gani Fawehinmi Students’ Chambers

change has brought about a new dawn at the federal level, it is only appropriate for us to tap into it and benefit from the federal presence which was our bane in the second republic and even now in the fourth republic by consolidating on the responsible and responsive governance that we have witnessed in Lagos state in the last 16 years by voting for Akinwunmi Ambode.

Eko O ni ba je O! • Nelson Ekujumi, Surulere, Lagos

Still on Jonathan and Obanikoro ministerial slot

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IR: The recent appointment and designation of portfolio to one of the newly appointed ministers is an indication that President Jonathan knows fully well that Obanikoro has a hand in the 2014 Ekiti gubernatorial election rigging plot.

With his inability to pick the Lagos state PDP governorship ticket, the only thing that can make Obanikoro support the Jonathan re-election is for him to find his way back to the Federal Executive Council as minister. In an attempt to capture Lagos state, President Jonathan had to re-appoint Obanikoro as minister.

Not forgetting his role in the Ekiti Gubernatorial Election rigging plot, President Jonathan had to indirectly relegate Obanikoro to the position of Minister of State II for foreign affairs, a significantly very junior position that does not exist in the Federal Cabinet.

•Oloruntoba Taiwo Nelson, Ikunri Road, Odooro Ekiti

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

21

COMMENTS

Our Girls; ‘Super Nigeria’; States as ‘Mini Nigeria ’; Federal = non-biased; Lagos: Vote Federal.

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UR Girls are still missing since April 15th 2014. We pray for their release.

Nigerians have elected a new driver for a ‘Super Nigeria’ car, Tony which has nearly been Marinho wrecked, by the last driver and his mechanics who nearly stripped ‘Super Nigeria’ bare.

Congratulations to President-elect Mohammadu Buhari and VP-elect Yemi Osinbajo and all who worked, collected money, and voted even at risk to life. This APC government is already inclusive as many, too many, PDP stalwarts are contributing to election success and they with APC also add to ‘Buhari Baggage’ but must not weigh him down preventing real anti-corruption change. He must not have to ‘appease’ those who ‘without us you would not be here today’.

As a post mortem on President Jonathan’s leadership, he has a good heart but was in lethal party. Did he instigate the human rights abuses, violence and vote stealing perpetrated? Party members who did should be prosecuted for ‘crimes against Nigeria’. Did Jonathan ‘see no evil and hear no evil’? Though over 100 Fellow Nigerians died and are dying in traumatised Rivers State, Jonathan may become ‘Not Do-or-Die Jonathan’ for his exit strategy, which elevates him to ‘Former President’ on the international stage. Clean elections may be nearer but it is not yet ‘Uhuru’.

President Jonathan lost through the weight of political ‘PDP baggage’- violent and greedy, by the political and social excesses of ‘First Lady Baggage’ and of party members and needless debasing vitriolic verbal diatribes by attack dogs. The dollar rain particularly in the last six weeks was a campaign in which they ‘took his money but did not care’ to vote for him. Add the President’s failure to act against corruption and crises including the Boko Haram war, the fulani herdsmen/ farmers war, the fuel subsidy scam and stellagate- now a Senator. Will her immunity hold? ‘PDP-Power’ failed to deliver electric

I

T is necessary in the light of my previous appeal to the Yoruba nation and especially considering the conduct and consequences of the last Presidential Election to revisit my position. In my article, I posted the popular belief that the Yoruba never picked the crumbs. I was jolted by the responses, mostly favourable which I received from across the nation, some in print media, and many more in the social media.

My position then was, and still is, that the Yoruba as a nation has never been opportunistic; they give fair hearing to all contestants in a dispute and they apportion blame or right whichever is appropriate. The results of the last election must be a lasting lesson to many Yoruba leaders especially octogenarians, who despite their age, experience and exposure chickened out like banana fruits. These people have deceived us for a long time with their assumed posture as progressives, activists and welfarists. Up till today, some swear by Awolowo’s name. the question is why should these people fall prey to the entirement and maneuvers of mischievous politicians? Is it poverty? No, it can’t. Is it greed? Yes, it could be. Is it envy or perceived enemy within the Yoruba nation?

Most probably.

The carrots thrown up about the last Confab that the resolutions would be implemented has

power and other infrastructure between 1999 and 2015.

However history may be kind to Jonathan for his inspired handing over without an Obasanjo dance or ‘Babangida Machiavellian Move’, against the advice of hangers-on.

He realises it is ‘Jonathan’, not them, for the history books. It will not be known as a PDP regime, just ‘The Jonathan Years’. With his loss and congratulations to President-elect Buhari, President Jonathan may have stopped post-election turmoil. If he controls the postelection PDP Petitions to Tribunal courts, he may put a clean full stop to his troublesome chapter in ‘The Book of Nigerian History’. If he is exonerated or makes restitution for the Rivers election violations and violence, he may get nominated for the Egyptian Mo Ibrahim’s Democracy Prize for transparent, violence-free transition, worth $5m or N1000m =N1billion divided into tranches of $200,000 = N40, 000,000 at the current worthless naira rates.

In the election of state governors and state assembly, many routine ‘opposition’ states can at last align with the central government –an un-missable opportunity heralding four years of ‘peace’ But not preferential progress. The incoming APC federal government must stand against mistreatment of ‘opposition states’ with the despicably hostility of the PDP with resultant stunted growth, non-payment of subventions and criminal terror tactics which thankfully alienated many Nigerians. Evry state is a mini Nigeria’ bound in mutual harmony with the federal government and has Nigerian citizens from all parties. Federal means non-discriminatory. The evil antics of federal ministers of Lagos State origin need recording in ‘Lagos State History’ and caused huge psychological trauma and developmental losses. When will a Nigerian say to his President ‘I may be your party man but I am here first from my State. I will not act against my state: Campaign yes, criminality no’?

The political alignment with the central government will be a relief and respite for many suffering states. Both Lagos State Governorship candidates have a lot to offer as ‘Our man at the top’. However candidates have ‘party political baggage’ which see Lagos State as a Prize to be robbed or a Crown Jewel in Nigeria’s crown to be polished. What is the ‘party baggage’ your candidate

brings with him? Remember that if Lagos State changes party in governorship, the now homeless outgoing political machinery in Abuja will descend on and relocate to Lagos like ‘A Four Year Plague Of Leeches’. Being senior to the new governor in the party hierarchy they will lord it over him, sucking Lagos dry, with adverse disastrous consequences for development, safety, security and resources. The same ‘Party baggage’ that ruined a whole President Jonathan will certainly ruin a Lagos State Governor, no matter how competent he is. I had this conversation with my late first cousin, Funso Williams.

He was individually great, but the ‘party baggage’ was not equal to him in greatness. He was murdered before he could perform. Lagos has been in ‘opposition’ forever.

Why should it stay in ‘opposition’ when its own resources and personnel helped bring change at the centre and become a ‘war camp’ of the new PDP ‘opposition’ against the APC central government?

Vote wisely on the 11th April for Lagos State and others to be aligned to the new central government. There should never again be violence by the Federal Government against states. Vote for candidate of your choice to place the state in ‘political alignment’ with or ‘calculated opposition’ to the Federal Government, depending on your preference. But Lagos, Oyo and Rivers should please go Federal- for once.

‘Being senior to the new governor in the party hierarchy they will lord it over him, sucking Lagos dry, with adverse disastrous consequences for development, safety, security and resources. The same ‘Party baggage’ that ruined a whole President Jonathan will certainly ruin a Lagos State Governor, no matter how competent he is’

Yes, the Yoruba have kept faith

By Deji Fasuan earned them the sticks. None of our leaders needs to be deceived that it is only the National Assembly, and at least two thirds of State Assemblies can effect any change in the constitution of the land.

Many Yoruba leaders including this writer cautioned these people into attempting to put into the compartment the whole nation.

That we, as a people, have never been known to speak with one single voice. That we inherit a culture of high integrity and diversification of views. That we never sleep in one room, all facing one direction.

The above position was borne out vividly during the Awolowo days. Sure, Awolowo had his Ayo Fasanmis, Akin Omoboriowos, Sam Alukos but so he had his S. G. Ikokus, A. U. Umoren, he also had his J. S. Tarkas and Olawonyins who operated freely in their environment and who gave necessary advice to the leadership of their party. Hence, the Awolowo group though mainly in South/Western Nigeria also had its tentacies in the Cross Rivers that now constitute CrossRiver and Rivers State. The party

‘As we are now embarking on a new journey, the incoming administration should identify such projects that are of benefit to the Nigerian people and should actively pursue them. Not all aspects of our life were totally bad; some programmes after evaluation should be continued’

also was substantially represented in what is now Middle Belt Region especially Kwara, Kogi, Plateau and Benue.

Let us admit it, the voting pattern for the various major nationalities that constitute the Nigeria nation shows the culture, the openness, the healthy diversity and civic orientation of the Yoruba people. In the elections in South/West, APC scored 2,433, 193 while the PDP made 1,821,416. In almost all of the States that constitute the zone, the two main parties achieved the minimum requirement of 25%.

That is how it should be. But the story is different in the South/ South, South/East and North/ West in particular where some candidates scored less than 5% of the votes cast in some States.

The efforts of the do-gooder leaders and self appointed Yoruba crusaders fail to measure up to civilized behaviour.

Now looking ahead, the new Federal Administration should be inclusive. Some people have already been biting their fingers for their brazen and thoughtless mindset. A situation should be avoided by Gen. Buhari whreby a group could corner 70% of Senior Management positions in government. A recent story in one of the national dailies indicated that out of fifty top positions in the Federal setup, the Yoruba occupy only two while a particular nationality had above twenty – five. Nigeria is a country of nationalities and should be so represented in all organs of government especially at senior political and public service levels.

Another thing which the incom-

ing administration should have a good look at is the allocation of resources at Federal level. Presently, about 85% of the nation’s revenue go to recurrent expenditure comprising mainly salaries, wages, other benefits and overheads. In a country crying for development, this is unacceptable. In particular wages and other benefits that are now enjoyed by National Assembly men deserve public scrutiny. It appears the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has been completely incapacitated that it can no more carry out its constitutional duties. Key of these duties are: Recommending revenue formula among the three tiers of government to the National Assembly. I am not sure this has been successfully done in the last fifteen years; this is due mainly to the impunity of the occupiers of Aso-Rock who unilaterally alter the figures and ratios recommended by the Commission. The duty of the President is to forward the recommendation to the National Assembly unaltered, but the Executive distorts them.

One other important duty of RMAFC is to specify the numerations of political office holders and judicial officers of the country. Today nobody knows what our Senators and Members of House of Reps are earning. It is a secret that is not known even to the President. Unconfirmed reports state that a Senator earns more than twenty million naira including other benefits per month. This a atrocious to say the least as our legislatures represent the highest paid lawmakers

‘I am not sure this has been successfully done in the last fifteen years; this is due mainly to the impunity of the occupiers of Aso-Rock who unilaterally alter the figures and ratios recommended by the Commission. The duty of the President is to forward the recommendation to the National Assembly unaltered, but the Executive distorts them’ in the world. The new administration should roll back this national extraordinary bonanza and let the recommendations of the RMAFC stand.

As we are now embarking on a new journey, the incoming administration should identify such projects that are of benefit to the Nigerian people and should actively pursue them. Not all aspects of our life were totally bad; some programmes after evaluation should be continued.

Meanwhile, our do-gooder and false social activities should step aside for once and let this country move forward. God help new Nigeria.

• Deji Fasuan writes from Ekiti State.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

COMMENTS ‘Now that General Buhari is presidentelect, you should dwell on the way forward rather than name calling. Don’t get addicted to unnecessary fights. By the grace of God Ambode will win the Lagos State governorship election come April 11. We need to work harder with the Igbo leaders to ensure that the majority of Igbos residing in Lagos vote enmasse for APC. Thanks and God bless. Chief Kunle Adefule frm LMLG’ •Buhari For Olatunji Dare Your sarcasm is ever so entertaining and enlightening. These days, one has to have a dictionary nearby to unravel the role of new words in the intricate plot! What with words like frazzled and flummoxed in yesterday’s edition! Thanks for making Tuesday mornings always refreshing. From Afolami Steve.

Abeokuta, Nigeria.

“Waiting for Verdict 2015” is apt, cogent and balanced. Continuity and change cannot cohabit in todays Nigeria. Kudos. From Hon Bot B.Jos. The pauperisation of the franchise has been forestalled by the patriotic and statesmanly conceding of defeat by Ebele Jonathan. This is a gigantic plus for democracy and concretises the basis of our march to nationhood. No victor no vanquished, and we must set out at dawn. Congratulations to all Nigerians, Buhari and Jonathan. From Chief Bobson Gbinije, Mandate Against Poverty (MAP) Warri.

“All things,” the Bible says, “worketh together for good to them that love the Lord.”

Nigerians, we all know, love the Lord greatly.

And if God being the ultimate king-maker has now made Buhari one, even those of us who have loved the person of Jonathan and had wanted him to finish his second tenure, would have no choice other than to submit to the Will of God. Let Buhari, I pray, also see this as God-given and do the needful - carry the whole Nigerians along. We had also listened to his assurances of true transformation of the country and now want to believe his word would remain his bond. His must be a revolutionary transformation sweeping across the length the breadth of d country, which must not include any form of vindictiveness in whatever guise. It is not enough removing Jonathan from office, what Buhari would acomplish with the mandate now given him will determine how good or bad Jonathan and his PDP actually were. Congratulations! From Emmanuel Egwu.

For Segun Gbadegesin “A new beginning!” So I thought and believed. No politician will ever hold sway again, never! They will have to queue right behind us. No amount of money, tons of basmatic rice will attract us. We all have taken a stand. Anonymous Even the Holy Bible said it categorically that “if you are born again, you are a new creation; behold old things have passed away.” Therefore, in this new beginning, all the old devastating ways of the PDP should be disregarded and new solutions for a pretty new Nigeria proffered. Any PDP member that wants to join the trend should queue up. Nigerians waited patiently for over 16 years. Anonymous Sir, you’ve said it all; we all have a role to play in this new beginning. More grease to your elbow. Anonymous Indeed, it’s a new beginning. Has anyone thought of the implications of having a weak opposition on the political future of Nigeria?

Is there a dogged leader that can glue together the remains of a PDP that has lost its thinktank, and has been reduced to a league of sycophants? Only time will tell. From Babasola Dawodu.

You captured it all in your title “A new beginning”. I’m a core member of the PDP but I think Nigerians really need a fresh start with GMB. GEJ had good intentions but for the sycophants... From Austine Attah, Enugu Sir, I read your article in The Nation of 3/4/ 15. It is very apt. Thank you for such an interesting write up. From Rose, Apapa.

Re-A New beginning. You gave all the advice.

You x-rayed the past, present and the future.

However, are you sure some of the APC members/leaders wll be controllable? And the

moneybags will not hijack the party and power? We are all waiting for the new beginning. Lanre Oseni.

Congratulation! Congratulation!! Congratulation!!! My President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari. Sir, it takes a brave soldier, determination and corage to win. Your wining is not of man but of the Almight God. Congratulation, once again. FromAPC member Elder Silas in Ijewa word {1} both 006 in Umuofeke, Okwudor, Njaba lga, Imo State.

Strong opposition is the beauty of true democracy, and they gave the PDP a run for their money in the last presidential election. They lost out over non-performance. We are making a head way in democracy process where a president would accept defeat in good faith.The incoming government should keep their campaign promises by delivering all they had promised to Nigerians because tomorrow is another day. They should not play with our intelligence because we voted for change and we need it. Let all political appointments be people of good character that would deliver quality leadership. From Gordon Chika Nnorom, Umukabia “There is hunger for ordinary bread, and there is hunger for love, for kindness, for thoughtfulness; and this is the great poverty that makes people suffer so much”.- Mother Teresa. Resentment, hostility, alienation and selfishness are deficiency diseases. If you cannot love, you are unlikely to remain in good health. Love yourself, family, neighbour, relatives, friends and your country. You must be that change Nigeria deserves. Anonymous Thanks my fellow compatriot - Mr Segun Gbadegesin - for your sincere advice to Gen. Buhari at this pre-take off moments of his second coming! Your comments largely coincide with my humble offer of editions of Gen Buhari’s last response to his first interview with Christiene Amanpour on the question she asked him on “what the General would do differently” to turn around the economy in the face of dwindling oil revenue! Anonymous The political and mathematical calculus of “Bandwagon Effect”consequent upon APC’s victory at the Centre should now galvanise Urhobos to vote massively for O’tega(APC).We need no political ghost to hoodwink Urhobos.

From Chief Bobson Gbinije(Mandate Against Poverty(MAP)Warri.

His Royal Highness, The Abai Ibiono-Ibom., ACN or APC had backed up Ekiti State with Cash in Election like this in the Contest of Segun Oni and Fayose. This time around AkwaIbom State needs even more if nothing must be left to chance. That time is now. APC is the Govt in Waiting in Akwa-Ibom State. APC must not shy repeat shy away from Secuty Power sharing. Anonymous Buhari the our president elect is the one whom built the 4refinaries we hv in ths great country whn I ws small.. “any normal nigerian who doesnt like his victory dnt love ths country” Our General is unique! Anonymous This victory is for all Nigerians. We thank God for life. Life is good may God continually give you and household the grace to live to the fullness of life in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Best wishes and high regards. from Efuntade, Alani Olusegun.

Considering the gigantic and ecstatic ululation and jubilation that bounced on the land for the victory of GEJ it seemed he was the new prophet that was sent to tackle the Pharao of this nation, the citizenry will never forget the unmitigated disasters in the helm of President Jonathan and those flowing stream cheap-talk of animosity that will make people’s head become a Topsy-Turvy. May god use GEJ to revamp this nation. From Olude Quadri Keulere Ifo Your article (“A new beginning”) is a song that all Nigerians deserve to listen to; we graduates in Benue that have been unemployed for the past eight years demonstrated this anger by voting out Suswam, who is the

worst governor, Nigeria must move forward.

I believe I will get a job in the next one year.

Thanks. Anonymous For Gbenga Omotoso Ambode’s vast experience in civil service is a tool to be considered for good governance...AMBO we Believe. From Com Akeju (LASU) Ambode is the right candidate for now. You can see what happened in the last élection.

My people vote for Ambode. Anonymous I love the short piece on Ambode in your editorial. It’s important the team continues to emphasise the giant strides achieved by APC and its continuity plans. I have received a lot of calls from people who were worried by the outcome of the presidential election in Lagos. Though this does not worry me, it is important we don’t run a defensive campaign like the PDP’s. From Wale Now that General Buhari is president-elect, you should dwell on the way forward rather than name calling. Don’t get addicted to unnecessary fights. By the grace of God Ambode will win the Lagos State governorship election come April 11. We need to work harder with the Igbo leaders to ensure that the majority of Igbos residing in Lagos vote enmasse for APC. Thanks and God bless. Chief Kunle Adefule frm LMLG The “Editorial Notebook” has been doing a great job. Please, keep it up. Anonymous Sir, Abba, the Swedish Rock Band, once sang “The king has lost his crown”. Kindly listen to the lyrics and relate it to king Jona. Anonymous.

The headline - “Our longest 16 hours” caught my attention and I bought your newspaper. Sir, with all due respect, you didn’t say anything. From Barr chima I particularly love the man called Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, but I will like him to tell Governor Fashola to let the people know that all what they are saying about Akinwumi Ambode are not true. As for me, I will vote for him. I don’t like the way some talk about him - that he stole money for Asiwaju. Anonymous Re:“Our longest 16 hours”. A great recap of occurrences in the last few months and days of Jonathan and the PDP. All that happened are great lessons for any-would-be Nigeria rulers/leaders. We all need to mock no one.

Rather, any new person on a new saddle must be the one to be careful. Orubebe needs to act the way he did as ‘no one likes to abandon’ the free fund to NNDC! From Lanre Oseni.

In APC, we need to work harder in the governorship election. Anonymous I and my family will vote for you. Please, treasure our votes. From Mike. O. Abia During accreditation, they should write the data page number on the PVC with paper tape so it will be easy to locate during voting. Some people voted without accreditation in the last presidential election because they were busy collecting PVCs. Thanks for “Our longest 16 hours” particularly the comic aspects of the article. Orubebe was well cut to size. From Chief Olabode Majekodunmi, Abeokuta Without being told, Mr. A Ambode has already won! Ride on my Honourable. Thank you. From Jafaru, Abuja.

My take on “Our longest 16 hours” is that Orubebe acted out a script by his pay master, with the view of causing confusion and rendering the whole process inconclusive to create room for annulment. But, we thank God for the maturity and profesionalism displayed by Prof. Attahiru Jega. As for Elder Orubebe, if truly he is an Elder, I wonder how his church would look like. He should be tried for an attempted coup against democracy. For Doyin Okupe, his new name should be “bastard” according to him because APC has won.

From Evang. S. Omirigbe, Makurdi.

•Jonathan For Tunji Adegboyega Re: The war that never was. The presidential election of March 28 was a lesson for all; a caution for us to stop unnecessary insinuations. At last the elections were not postponed as speculated by most columnists and APC antagonists. Jega was not sacked as advertised immeasurably.

Under such dirty thought situations, Nigeria cannot grow and that would not be the fault of only Mr President. The president accepted defeat in good faith and at the quickest time unlike others who immediately would proceed to tribunals and courts. Without mincing words, Jonathan is a man of peace, even when the three Ks finished him/his political party with absurd figures just like in the south south R and D states.

It was only in the southwest that figures were normal. Bygone however; God be glorified with ‘war that never was’. But such figures would never fly under OBJ. From Lanre Oseni.

Indeed, Tunji, a ‘Jonathanian’ war is averted.

From Jj Abuja.

Thanks for your well written piece.

Anonymous.

The Yoruba played this same game of providing the leverage on which the Hausa cabal in Nigeria always hops into power to continue their self-serving born-to-rule and to foist confusion on the rest of the country. Sooner than later, the schism of 1965 in the West that scuttled the first Republic will repeat itself and Nigeria will be worst for it. From Mazi Bende.

Nigerians yearned for change and it has come.

Let’s believe that the APC will put smiles on our faces by delivering good governance where the PDP failed. From Chika Nnorom.

Tunji, you got it wrong. Buhari’s cult-like following in the north is not due to ethnicity or religion but character (his integrity); that is why he is fondly called ‘mai gaskiya’ (the truthful one). Anonymous.

‘The war that never was’ was my Easter gift; it was well written as well as conveyed the message of many Nigerians. From Pastor Sam Igwe.

I enjoyed your write-up. Critical analyses were done by you and I think President Jonathan himself should take time to read it.

Well done. From Taiwo, Osogbo.

From the ashes of the PDP shall arise a new opposition party where the likes of Anenih, Fayose, Fani-Kayode, Obanikoro and Orubebe would find no place but until then, let the PDP lick its self-inflicted wound as we welcome Buhari on board. Anonymous.

That was a well written piece. Thanks.

Anonymous.

If anybody told me that the PDP that had boasted it would rule for 60 years could be so easily defeated, I will tell the person to say something else. It was an impressive exit for the president whose image had been battered by insecurity and bad economy. It is very clear to the president now that those who have been shouting on top of their voices that only Jonathan can do it are doing so for their pockets.

I congratulate the president-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari. I also urge him to be careful because vultures are very much around.

From Hamza Ozi Momoh, Apapa, Lagos.

Personally, I think the only decision President Jonathan took in the last four years without consulting with anyone is the decision to concede defeat to his opponent. Those wretched characters that surround him would have dissuaded him if they knew. Even some of those ‘men of God’ that surround him would have told him conceding is against the will of God. I tell you this; some of them are yet to awaken from their ‘nightmares’. They kept telling the president that in spite of whoever leaves the PDP, he was still going to win in the end; he became the landlord of an empty house. From Simon Oladapo, Ogbomoso.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

23

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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

-Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

No plan to compete with CBN, says NDIC chief

T

HE Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, has cleared the air over reports that the corporation wants to usurp the powers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by seeking amendments to its law.

In a report obtained from the corporation’s website, Ibrahim said the NDIC had no intention to compete with the CBN in licensing and revocation of banking licences as well as in regulation of banks.

He said the corporation had been playing a complementary role to the

By Collins Nweze

CBN in many areas, particularly in the supervision and distress resolution in the sector in the last 26 years. However, he said the banking supervision and failure resolution functions which have been part of its core function of the corporation, cannot be in doubt after many years.

He explained that the corporation is seeking amendment to its enabling law to enhance its performance by ensuring that it has powers to pay depositors after a reasonable time between 30 and 90 days after any bank

closes its premises to depositors whether the licence is revoked or where owners have gone to court to seek injunctions, let depositors have access to the insured sum.

“A situation where depositors have their money trapped in failed banks without access to such funds should not be encouraged. That is the global best practice which must be allowed in Nigeria. That is the power being sought by NDIC,” he said.

The NDIC chief said cases of failed institutions without succour for depositors abound in commercial banks, microfinance banks and primary mort-

gage institutions. He said the amendment will enable the corporation to discharge its core mandate in line with best practices.

The corporation, he added, continues to seek consultation, collaboration, partnership and cooperation with the CBN as well as other members of financial stability groups.

He said the core mandate of the NDIC as explicit deposit insurance are deposit guarantee, banking supervision, failure resolution and bank liquidation.

“The NDIC serves as a lifeline to Depositors through the Deposit Guarantee scheme. The NDIC deposit guarantee payment to depositors up to the maximum insured limit in accordance with its statutory mandate in the event of failure of an insured financial institution. This distinct role allows the NDIC to continue to discharge its mandate and bolster the confidence of depositors in the banking system,” he said.

From its initial guarantee of N50, 000 per depositor of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) at inception, the maximum deposit insurance coverage was increased to N200, 000 in 2006 and N500, 000 in 2010.

“As for the MFBs and PMBs from N100, 000 in 2006, the coverage level was increased to N200, 000 in 2010. At the moment, the Corporation provides deposit insurance cover to the all eligible CBN licensed 24 deposit

money banks (DMBs), 880 microfinance banks (MFBs), 77 primary mortgage banks (PMBs) and one non-interest bank (NIB) operating in the country,” he said.

Ibrahim said that the NDIC as the third pillar of the financial safety-net collaborates with the CBN to conduct risk based banking supervision in line with global best practice.

“It also protect depositors and assist to promote an effective and efficient payment system by encouraging healthy competition and innovation among the insured deposit taking financial institutions through off-site and on-site supervision,” he said.

He said the banking supervision has migrated from compliance-based framework to the risk-based supervision framework which was introduced to identify most critical areas of banking operations on an on-going basis which has encouraged banks to adopt prudent risk management practices.

“This tool enables the CBN and NDIC to effectively evaluate the all areas of risks inherent in activities of banks with much focus on the critical areas while evaluating the various risk management models deployed to achieve their business plans. The NDIC has developed frameworks for Early Warning Signals (EWS), as well as the identification and measurement of Systemically Important Banks (SIBs) whose failure could trigger systemic crisis in the economy,” he said.

AGRIKEXPO organisers partner EU •As event date shifts •From left: General Manager, Business Developer, SaoniTechnologies Limited, Tunde Oyeleye; Pastor Yomi Olusanya; Chief Executive Officer, Phonekings.com Mr. Tayo Olusanya and Regional Manager, Midcom, Sivadoss Vijayakumar, during the media unveiling and launch of www.phonekings.com.ng at Oakwood Hotel, Lekki Lagos.

PHOTO: SOLOMON ADEOLA

Investors’ protection: SEC caps compensation at N200,000

I

NVESTORS can only receive a maxi mum compensation of N200,000 from the National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF) being established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The maximum amount claimable under the NIPF is 50 per cent of the N400,000 limit stipulated by the Investors Protection Fund (IPF) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

A document on the rules and regulations of the NIPF approved by the board of SEC indicates that investors that suffer any loss due to operations of capital market operators.

According to the rules, the maximum amount payable to an investor who has suffered loss shall be N200, 000 or its equivalent in form of shares and units of bonds. However, where the amount of loss is lesser, the investor shall be paid the calculated amount of loss.

Beside the variance in the maximum compensation, the SEC’s NIPF also differs from the NSE’s IPF in the area of recognition of previous infractions and losses. Where the NSE’s IPF took on backlog of complaints from the NSE, the SEC’s NIPF will not recognize any claim prior to establishment of the NIPF. “Any claim prior to the incorporation of the Fund shall not be covered by the Fund,” the rules stated.

However, the amount of compensation to be paid by the NIPF may be

By Taofik Salako

reviewed from time to time as approved by the board of the Fund.

Besides, the rules underscored that “the Fund is not under any obligation to pay compensation to an investor” The rules indicated that beneficiaries of the NIPF would be investors who suffer pecuniary loss due to the insolvency, bankruptcy or negligence of a capital market operator and defalcation committed by a capital market operator or any of its directors, officers, employees or representatives in relation to securities, money or any property entrusted to, or received or deemed received by the capital market operator in the course of its business as a capital market.

The NIPF will cover the entire capital market activities under the regulation of SEC, a broader scope than the earlier IPF of the NSE, which covers only the operations of members of the NSE. SEC stated that the NIPF was in furtherance of the Commission’s mandate to regulate and develop the Nigerian capital market and in particular, its duty to ensure the protection of investors in the capital market.

The NIPF will apply only to defalcations by insolvent or bankrupt capital market operators not dealing members of Securities Exchange or Capital

A gamble that failed - P 27

Trade Points. In other words, the NIPF will be for the purpose of compensating investors whose losses are not covered under the IPFs administered by Securities Exchanges and Capital Trade Points.

SEC is expected to provide the initial take-off grant for the NIPF. It will subsequently generate funds through grants, subventions, donations and annual contributions to be made by all capital market operators not subject to contribute to the IPF of Securities Exchanges and Capital Trade Points. The board of the NIPF is also empowered to obtain loans, subject to approval of SEC. Also, the NIPF can generate funding through assets, properties or cash that shall be realized from liquidated operators after compensation to investors and proceeds from investment of its resources.

However, any client who participated in the wrongful act of the capital market operator shall not benefit from the Fund while the NIPF will also not apply to losses arising from transactions not regulated by the Commission.

According to the rules, an investor must submit application for compensation within 12 months after the investor became aware or ought reasonably to have become aware of the status of the investments. The investor is also expected to back up his claims with relevant evidence.

Fidson shareholders to get N225m - P28

1

51 Products Limited, organiser of the 2015 edition of the annual Ag riculture/Food Exhibition (AGRIKEXPO) is partnering the European Union (EU) Conference on Agriculture for the successful hosting of the event, which would centre mainly on agriculture and allied businesses.

Already, several key companies in the sector have lined up to exhibit benchmarked agriculture, food, beverage, packaging products and services.

However, because of the adjustment in the Nigerian election timetable, the event earlier scheduled to hold this month April has been shifted to November 5-7, following demand from many trade visitors, farmers and exhibitors. According to the organisers, the shift in date also became necessary to allow new government appointees time to settle in to work after the elections.

Project Director, 151 Products Limited, organiser of the exhibition, in Lagos, Mr. Eppellee Oluwadara, stated that the new date was in consonance with the EU Conference on Agriculture, and convenient for many international class exhibitors and visitors.

He added that this year’s event is collaborated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria Agricultural Business Group (NABG), and Nigeria British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC).

Others include National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigeria Investment Promotion

By Chikodi Okereocha

Commission (NIPC), Master Bakers Association of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, West African Association of Food and Beverage Merchants, and numerous other agricultural associations.

According to Mrs. Paulette Van Trier, Economic Counsellor to the EU, AGRIKEXPO would be a good opportunity for various state agricultural development boards to showcase investment opportunities after the elections to major players from various EU member countries who would be attending a conference during the exhibition.

The National Co-ordinator, NABG, Emmanuel Ijewere, commended the shift in date as it will rally the agribusiness community for a more robust participation. He said it will also give more time for preparations, saying “AGRIKEXPO remains a formidable networking opportunity for agribusiness development in Nigeria.”

Marketing Manager of the organising company, Mr. Oluwana Dayo, reaffirmed that all was being done to ensure a high-value-added event for exhibitors, including those engaged in processing, packaging and distribution of food/beverages as local companies prepare to process for exports.

There would also be seminars in the areas of export and enhancement between Nigeria and other countries. The President of the Nigeria British Chamber of Commerce, Prince Adeyemi Adefulu also confirmed that a forum was being put in place using the occasion of the AGRIKEXPO to boost agri/food trade between Nigeria and the UK.

Computer Warehouse Group’s profit drops by 91%

- P37

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

26

THE NATION

BUSINESS MONEY

e-mail: money@thenationonlineng.net

The Economist: $29.8b reserves fit for T six months imports

HE $29.8 billion foreign reserves can only cover less than six months of imports – a threshold that may threaten Nigeria’s balance of payment transactions, Afrinvest West Africa Plc Managing Director Ike Chioke has said.

In a report titled: Nigerian economy and financial markets: After elections ... what next? released last weekend, he said the reserves have tumbled by 14 per cent to $29.8 billion despite the accretion to the reserves.

Chioke said despite the N200 per dollar foreign exchange (forex) rate forecast for this year, the forex pressure may persist after the elections because of the fallen crude oil prices.

The devaluation of the naira, he said, is taking its toll on the general price levels, arguing that as

• Tight monetary policy coming Stories by Collins Nweze

against the eight per cent inflation rate last December; general price level inched higher by 0.2 per cent each in January and February to settle at 8.4 per cent in February.

Chioke expects the fiscal policy to remain tight after the elections, as the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) considers whether to either preserve foreign portfolio investments or ease the monetary environment to encourage lending.

He said: “As a result of the huge participation of the foreign portfolio investors in the Nigerian capital market, the need to attract capital inflow, as well as save the depleting external reserves yearto-date decline of 12 per cent to $29.8 billion may compel the CBN to keep the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 13 per cent, or plus one per cent till end of 2015.”

The persistent decline in crude oil prices, which exposes the economy’s weak revenue structure, has increased the country’s

risk premium, Chioke said.

“In a bid to reduce the challenge of increased lending, we expect the government, through the CBN, to come up with additional stabilisation funds, in addition to the recent N300 billion Real Sector Support Facility to select sectors that would foster diversification of Nigeria’s revenue base.

“In the light of the Single Treasury Account (STA) policy, we expect the CBN to unleash the strings of public sector deposits from current 75 per cent as we expect less public funds will be available to the banks,” he said.

He said the threshold of private sector deposits currently at 20 per cent, may be tweaked plus or mi-

nus five per cent before the year ends, if the exchange rate is stable.

Chioke said it is expected that the CBN would revert the Net Open Position (NOP) to one per cent from 0.5 per cent before the year ends. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) fears.

He said: “In a bid to stabilise the naira and preserve the external reserves, the apex bank devalued the naira by 8.4 per cent last November. However, with sustained pressure of the foreign exchange rate, the CBN shut down official window in February 2015, implying another tacit devaluation of the naira.

“This move led to a relative stability in the currency market as CBN intervenes to meet excess demand through special intervention. We attribute this hike in general prices to increase in price of imported goods resulting from pressure on foreign exchange rate.”

IMF cautions African nations on Eurobonds

T

•From left: Customer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Uche Chigozie; Chief Technology Officer of the bank, Lazarus Okolie; Star winner, Save 4 Scholarship Savings promo, Onuoha Chigozie and Executive Director, Lagos and Southwest of the bank, Ikemuefuna Mbagwu, during the presentation of the prize to Chigozie in Lagos.

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned African countries against rushing to issue Eurobonds, saying they may face exchange rate risks and problems in repaying their debts.

African countries, which are finding it difficult getting foreign aid have been borrowing to fund roads, power stations and other infrastructure, provoking comments that this could raise their debts.

IMF’s African Department Director Antoinette Sayeh, who spoke with Reuters, said: “It comes with some risks; whereas what it costs the countries to issue these bonds can often look lower than what they would pay on domestic borrowing. The real cost in the final analysis will also depend on the evolution of exchange rates in the course of the life of the bond issuance.”

In 2007, Ghana became the first

Visa, Airtel partner on mobile payments

Operator hails CBN policy on loans

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy mandating banks to use, at least, two credit bureaux for all loan approvals is in order, CRC Credit Bureau Limited Managing Director, Tunde Popoola has said.

He said since the policy became effective, top management staff of banks have shown interest in what is going on between the banks and credit bureaux.

That, he added, has also shown how committed the CBN is to credit bureau operations’ success.

He said: “It has been very significant, I must tell you. Since August last year, we got to daily threshold of usage that we have not had for a long time. That showed us that banks take the policy very seriously. So, that has led to significant improvement in relationship between us. We now have banks showing interest in collecting data, updating data.

Even the ease with which they submit data now has increased.

Every bank should submit data not later than five days after month-end. The numbers of insti-

tutions that are submitting data now have increased tremendously. It cannot be less than 25 per cent increase in the number of institutions and volume of transactions.”

Popoola described the competition in the sector as healthy, saying: “As you know, lenders are known. It is a market that everyone knows. What we are trying to do is focus in the formal market, which are the regulated segment of the market, which are commercial banks, merchant banks, the leasing companies, microfinance banks, primary mortgage institutions. So, the competition has been very keen around that area. So we are competing for all these institutions,” he said.

Speaking further, he said: “But the issue has been how you have been how innovative have you been as a credit bureau. Can these people be able to access your platform? How long does it take them to be able to download information from your platform. What is the level of your relationship management. How easy is it for

them to reach you, or for you to reach them?

“And again, the quality of your report and depth of information they get from your platform, which have to do with the quantum of information you have and the number of institutions that are submitting information to you. These are what constitute competitive edge for us at CRC. For us, we have a much more robust credit information report that is rounded and comprehensive.”.

According to Popoola, the company has produced significant products to support our customers.

“We have prided ourselves as the market leader, and we are focusing on thoughtful leadership.

We want to be in the mind of everybody; we have moved from just collecting information from regulated entities to non-formal sectors.

“So, you see some level of patronage from corporative societies, pharmaceutical companies, among others,” he said.

African beneficiary of debt relief to tap international capital markets, issuing a $750 million 10year Eurobond. Since then, previously debt-burdened countries such as Senegal, Nigeria, Zambia and Rwanda have all joined.

He said: “In the last two years, we’ve seen new issuers-Kenya issuing the largest amount of sovereign bond this year and Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), as well also having issued this year and then Rwanda last year.

“In 2014 alone we’ve seen some $7 billion already in sovereign bond issues, which is a record high for the region.”

Tanzania is in the process of securing credit rating and plans to issue a debut Eurobond worth up to $1 billion in fiscal year 2014/ 15. Ethiopia aims to make its first foray into the international bond markets by January, while Rwanda is planning another sovereign bond.

V

ISA and Bharti Airtel are collaborating to bring innovative mobile payment services to Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles and Tanzania.

In a statement, the firms said they would build on existing capabilities of Airtel’s Mobile Money service, allowing subscribers to use their Airtel Money account to pay in stores and online wherever Visa is accepted.

Additionally, customers can withdraw money and make payments from their Airtel Money account using their Airtel Money Visa companion card.

On the development, Vice President of MNO Partnerships for Visa, Vish Sowani, said: “Mobile payments can transform the lives of people throughout Africa who commonly have access to a mo-bile phone, but not a bank.

For mostnew subscribers, this will represent their first payment account and bring some of the latest digital payment advance-

ments into the everyday experiences of Airtel’s customers.”

They firms explained that aside everyday Visa transactions in stores, online and at ATMs, Airtel Money could also be used to make micro-payments, conduct fund transfers, purchase airtime and pre-paid electricity, plus Internet bundles - using an easy, safe mobile experience.

Director/Head, Airtel Money Africa, Chidi Okpala, said: “We are excited to embark on the next phase of development for Airtel Money with our new partner Visa.

“We can look forward tofurther empowering our Airtel Money customerswith access to retail, ATM and online payments using only their Airtel Mobile Phone and companion card to manage all their mobile payment needs.”

Visa and Airtel have launched an Airtel Money Visa Card in Kenya and will roll out services in other markets starting this year.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

27

MONEY Before the March 28 presidential/National Assembly elections, the dollar sold for between N228 and N230 at the black market. Many hoarded the currency, thinking that the election outcome will engender a crisis. They have now released the dollar, crashing the exchange rate to between N210 and N211, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

A gamble that failed

in foreign exchange market and strengthen the various policy measures, already initiated, including the regulation of the Bureau De Change (BDCs) that cut dollar supply to operators from $50,000 to $15,000 weekly. These measures, Emefiele admitted, would help conserve the foreign exchange and support the naira.

Complex crisis get worse

T

HE foreign exchange (forex) market can be tricky. A split second decision by policy makers or a change in political economy could alter the market equilibrium. That was exactly what happened a week after the March 28 presidential elections.

Forex dealers and currency speculators who thought Nigeria would not be able to handle the election aftermath, were disappointed when nothing untoward happened.

Today, the re-conversion of the local currency to the greenback (dollar) has not only strengthened the naira, but has led to huge losses for the speculators.

President, Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, said the confidence in new leadership and the peaceful elections have helped to lift the naira. He expects the naira to appreciate further adding that although the market fundamentals, including the foreign exchange reserves and price of crude oil have not changed, but the peaceful conclusion of the presidential election, has curbed fear and uncertainty in the financial market.

“Before the elections, people were converting naira to dollar, which prompted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele to disclose that more than half of term deposits were in dollar. The peaceful elections have calmed down a lot of nerves, prompting people that had stockpiled dollars to come out and change them to local currency,” he said.

Gwadabe explained that the practice has led to dollar glut in the market, despite the tight liquidity in the money market.

He said the forex reserves are at $29.8 billion, crude oil price is at $54 per barrel. These notwithstanding, the naira has been upbeat because market fundamentals alone do not determine exchange rate.

“The forex market goes with sentiment. It is not only the market fundamentals you look at when you talk of exchange rate stability,” he said.

Besides, the naira has traded in a range of 198 to 200 per dollar since March 3, and remained anchored even as stocks jumped the most in five years and bond yields plunged to four-month lows.

Trading restrictions Analysts at Bloomberg predicted that the naira would face the prospect of a sell-off when the CBN removes trading restrictions imposed last year to reduce volatility. But the question for investors wanting to get back into Nigerian assets is when that will happen.

A money manager at M&G Ltd. in London, which oversees about $1 billion of emerging-market assets, Claudia Calich, said: “If you buy local bonds now, you have to factor in how much the cur-

• Gwadabe

• CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

rency will move. It’s a tricky proposition.”

The naira has slumped 18 per cent against the dollar as oil prices collapsed by almost half since June, prompting the apex bank lower banks’ trading limits and introduce a new dealing system in February that prevents lenders from buying dollars on the interbank market without matching orders from customers needing to import goods.

The CBN also sold dollars to support the naira, cutting foreignexchange reserves to $29.8 billion, the lowest in a decade, according to HSBC Holdings Plc. Those measures have left the currency overvalued, according to investors including M&G, BlackRock Inc. and Investec Asset Management.

“One of the first big challenges the new government is going to have to face is what on earth to do with the naira,” Samuel Vecht, who oversees $2.7 billion in five emerging-frontier-market funds at BlackRock, said by to Bloomberg by phone from London, said: “Steps have to be taken to ensure reserves don’t keep falling.”

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s (rtd) win over President Goodluck Jonathan marks the first democratic transition of power from one party to another since Nigeria’s independence from Britain in 1960. A former military ruler in the 80s who lost the three previous elections, Buhari has pledged to clamp down on corruption, boost growth and create at least one million jobs a year. He won 52.4 per cent of votes cast, according to tallies by the electoral authorities.

Nigerian assets mostly soared

as Jonathan’s concession to Buhari, who will be sworn in on May 29, suggested the transition will be smooth.

Stocks climbed 8.3 per cent, the most among 93 global primary indexes tracked by Bloomberg.

They gained another 3.4 per cent on last week, reversing losses for the year, having been down 20 per cent by February 13.

Yields on Nigeria’s $500 million of Eurobonds due 2023 fell 19 basis points to 6.02 per cent on, the lowest since December 8, and rates on benchmark naira bonds dropped 118 basis points to 13.81 per cent, also the lowest since Dec. 8.

Money changers While naira forward contracts traded offshore and exempt from the CBN’s restrictions, also rallied, they still suggest the currency’s depreciation is far from over.

Naira six-month non-deliverable forwards fell 2.8 per cent to 233.50 against the dollar, the lowest since January 22.

The currency changes hands among unofficial money changers at 226, Alan Cameron, an economist at Exotix Partners LLP in London, said in a March 19 note.

The naira’s current interbank value is appropriate and the discrepancy between that and the parallel rate isn’t an indication that it’s under pressure, Emefiele said at the last Monetary Policy Committee meeting on March 23 to 24.

The CBN may end the so-called order-based trading system introduced in February now elections are over, according to the Lagos-

based Financial Markets Dealers Association, an industry body.

Other policy-makers speak Sub-Saharan Africa Economist at Renaissance Capital and co-Author of the Fastest Billion Yvonne Mhango said the CBN has shown absolute commitment to dealing with dwindling fortune of the naira.

She said while Nigeria cannot do much to influence the oil price, the combination of measures sends a powerful signal to all stakeholders on the CBN’s intent to do what it can to preserve macroeconomic stability.

CBN takes action Emefiele said the CBN under his leadership remains committed to safeguarding the value of the naira. For instance, the lender recently banned the sale of foreign exchange by banks to importers without the requisite shipping documents.

It also directed that only imports, which are backed with evidence of shipment and other relevant documents, will qualify for purchase of foreign exchange.

Only such transactions will be eligible for foreign exchange purchase via the RDAS or the interbank window, it said.

The apex bank said henceforth, all importations involving electronics, finished products, information technology, generators, telecommunication equipment and invisible transactions would be funded from the interbank foreign exchange market only.

The policy, the CBN said, was to maintain the existing stability

‘For now, the continued decline in oil receipts poses a threat to government revenues, limiting the fire power to regulate the naira. Should this continue unabated, the naira’s misfortunes will worsen and the N100 banknote will no longer buy a small loaf of bread for a minor, let alone kill hunger’

• SAVED ON MAC. 70 as 27-31 Issues-Money 08-04-15

The misfortune of the naira seems complex. The thinking is that massive inflow of forex from surging oil prices and the boom in the capital market were responsible for the appreciation of the naira in the past few years.

Unfortunately, oil prices have nosedived and Nigeria capital market is in a shambles. The fall in the price of oil has major consequences on government revenue, aggregate output, capital formation investment, employment, trade and fiscal balance.

The 2008 global financial meltdown also contributed to the naira’s freefall. Chief Executive officer, Financial Derivatives, Bismarck Rewane, said Nigeria was unprepared for the shock.

“The Nigerian economy believed to be one of the most resilient in the world was caught unawares by the global crisis,” he said.

Analysts said a gradual appreciation of the currency will require building confidence in the financial system and price of crude oil in international market.

“This is what is going to drive the exchange rate now and beyond; we cannot isolate what is happening in the global economy like the issue of diversification of energy sources,” they said.

Historical view of the naira From 1980 to 2000, the naira depreciated by N101.50 to N102.10 to dollar, when compared with N0.6 to dollar it traded as at 1981.

Not even the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) introduced in 1985 could have predicted this sharp slide.

The currency first hit double digits, moving from N9.9 to a dollar in 1991 to N17.2 to a dollar the following year. That constituted a significant 73.7 per cent change. Thereafter, a gradual slide ensued, attaining triple digits in 2000.

Although it was considerably stable between 2000 and 2003 (below N120 to a dollar), the recent adverse global capital flows and drop in oil price, among other factors, have culminated in the current all time low.

Moreover, decreasing the value of a currency is much easier than supporting it. When a country wants to depress its own currency, it can create and sell unlimited quantities. In contrast, if it wants to support its own money, it needs to sell the limited quantities of other currencies it holds or borrow from other central banks.

That explains why the CBN has found it increasingly difficult to defend the naira. The solution, according to analysts said, lies in diversification of the economy.

For now, the continued decline in oil receipts poses a threat to government revenues, limiting the fire power to regulate the naira. Should this continue unabated, the naira’s misfortunes will worsen and the N100 banknote will no longer buy a small loaf of bread for a minor, let alone kill hunger.

28

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

THE NATION INVESTORS

Bullish stock market may spur IPOs, new issues T

HE sustained increase in shares prices at the stock market may enliven the primary market and considerable increase in initial public offerings (IPO) and supplementary shares as means of raising funds from the general investing public.

The Nigerian stock market turned positive last week with a modest average-year-to-date return of 3.09 per cent.

The stock market had garnered N1.82 trillion in capital gains after the successful successful conduct of the presidential election and emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as president-elect.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed the four-day trading session last week at N12.135 trillion as against the week’s opening value of N10.319 trillion, representing an increase of N1.82 trillion. The benchmark index for the Nigerian stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), also jumped by almost six steps to close at 35,728.12 points as against its opening index of 30,562.93 points.

Market pundits said the bullish run at the stock market might encourage

Stories by Taofik Salako

companies to float new issues to raise funds, as the negative overhang at the stock market has been a militating factor against the primary market.

According to analysts, rising share prices would overtime correct the undervaluation of shares of companies and encourage the companies to issue new shares based on their assessed fair values.

They noted that some companies had shied away from issuing new shares due to investors’ apathy and undervaluation of their shares citing the recent downtrend where Oando and United Bank for Africa were forced to reduce the offer price of their ongoing supplementary equity issue.

Transcorp Hotels, which floated its IPO, was undersubscribed with a subscription level of 52.3 per cent.

Transcorp Hotels had floated an IPO of 800 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N10 per share with intent to raise N8 billion, but it was only able to raise N4.2 billion from the October 2014 IPO. Managing Director, Finawell

Capital Limited, Mr. Tunde Oyekunle, said companies would naturally move towards equity issues when they realise they could raise new funds at fair prices.

He noted that several companies are facing financial constraints and high costs of fund and will look at options to reduce these costs, including the possibility of new equity issue.

He said the stability of the economy and resolution of major challenges such as power and insecurity would positively impact the capital market and provide a long-term support for the recovery of the primary market.

Head, Research and Investment Advisory, Sterling Capital Markets, Sewa Wusu, said the steep price gain may not be enough to stimulate robust public offering as investors will still wait to gauge the policy direction and economic management ability of the incoming government.

He said that while the share price trend would enable several companies to reduce their undervaluation, government will still need to do more to enhance

investors’ confidence.

According to him, the medium to long term post-election performance depends largely on government policies, the quality of the economic management team and the general direction of governance.

“What the market is reacting to now is the success and credibility of the election and the president-elect.

But companies will still tarry a while to look at direction of government policies,” Wusu said.

Many companies had shelved earlier immediate plans to raise new capital from the capital market due to the negative market position and significant undervaluation of the shares.

However, reports by boards of directors of several companies had indicated that companies were constrained by their inability to source new equity capital due to the meltdown at the capital market while recourse to high-interest bank loans depressed probable returns to shareholders.

Not fewer than eight companies had indicated interests in raising new equity funds. These included

companies, such as Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), May and Baker Nigeria, RT Briscoe, Presco Plc, Skye Bank Plc and Vitafoam Nigeria Plc. Two prospective new listings - Promasidor Nigeria Limited and Notore Chemical Industries Limited.

Skye Bank plans to raise as much as N50 billion in a supplementary equity issue within the next six months.

Group Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, said the bank plans to undertake the supplementary new equity issue between the second and third quarter, though it has not decided on the key details of the offer including the actual size and the offering public.

According to him, the bank is studying proposals on the new issue submitted by various issuing houses.

He said clearer picture of the new equity issue would come after the bank’s annual general meeting noting that the bank will make the announcement for the new issue at the appropriate time.

Presco Plc, a palm oil plantation and processing company, plans to raise some N3 billion through a rights issue. The shareholders of the company had earlier approved the supplementary share issuance.

Managing Director, Presco Plc, Mr. Uday Pilani, had confirmed the commencement of the rights issue noting that the board had decided to undertake the new equity raising to give the company financial flexibility and reorganise its capital structure.

According to him, the net proceeds of the rights issue will be used to reduce the company’s debt and foreign exchange exposure.

May & Baker rewards customers

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From Left: GM Operations & IT, Mr. Bonaventure Okhaimo; Chief Financial Officer; Mrs. Patricia Ahunanya, GM Corporate Banking, Olubowale Ogunrinde and Unit Head, Events/Brand Management & CSR, Mrs. Martina Ike, all of Unity Bank Plc during the City People Media Group Awards for Excellence in Lagos.

Fidson shareholders to get N225 million

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HAREHOLDERS of Fidson Healthcare Plc will receive a 50 per cent increase in cash dividend this year as the company’s earnings firmed up.

The Board of Directors of Fidson Healthcare has recommended distribution of N225 million to shareholders as dividends for the immediate past business year ended December 31, 2014. Shareholders will receive a dividend per share of 15 kobo as against 10 kobo received in the previous year.

The dividend increase was directly related to the improvements in the earnings of the healthcare company. Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Fidson Healthcare for the 2014 business year showed significant growths in key fundamentals.

The company’s profit before tax rose by 249 per cent from N249.6 million in 2013 to N870.8 million in 2014. Profit

after tax jumped by 308 per cent to N631.8 million in 2014 as against N154.9 million recorded in 2013. Earnings per share thus increased from 10 kobo in 2013 to 42 kobo in 2014.

Fidson had relied on impressive cost management and improving operating efficiency to drive the bottom-line. While its turnover rose by five per cent from N9.25 billion to N9.73 billion, it moderated cost of sales to four per cent growth and reduced operating expenses by nine per cent.

The management of the company said its growth trend evidenced its ability to maintain its products’ market share in key therapeutic areas.

“This is driven by innovative products, strategic marketing approaches, robust distribution channels as well as relentless efforts in ensuring quality and various anti-counterfeiting initiatives,” Fidson had

stated.

The management reassured that the company is also well positioned for huge growth opportunities, following the projection of a significant improvement in sales upon the completion of its ultra-modern WHO Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliant plant. The plant is proposed to begin operation in 2015.

The plant is expected to broaden the company’s products base, increase its capacity and consequently profitability and growth opportunities.

Operations Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr. Biola Adebayo, said the new manufacturing plant, which will aggregate the manufacturing lines from other intravenous products, will be a game-changing investment that will further enhance Fidson’s leadership position in the healthcare industry and position it in good

stead to compete for global healthcare funds and orders.

According to him, the new plant would further enhance the local manufacturing capacity of the company with more than two-thirds of its products expected to be produced locally.

He added that the new manufacturing plant, which is being built to WHO standards and certification, will enable Fidson to engage in contract or tall manufacturing for many global pharmaceutical companies, which want to manufacture their products in Nigeria but do not want to establish fullfledged manufacturing plants.

Adebayo noted that the prospects for the company’s growth is huge pointing out that there are no more than three companies manufacturing its new line of intravenous products and the volume needed by the country is so huge.

HE management of May & Baker Nigeria Plc has assured its customers that it will continue to value their input and feedback in the decision-making process of the company.

Managing Director, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, gave this assurance at the company’s Customers’ Forum.

According to him, the company revived the yearly National Customers’ Forum not only to reward outstanding performance but to engender better intimacy with and obtain feedback from its customers.

He, therefore, enjoined the customers to share their experiences in dealing with the company with a view to getting grey areas resolved.

At the event the company distributed various forms of largesse to distributors and wholesalers who showed outstanding loyalty through their patronage of her products in 2014.

Apart from the gifts, the customers were taken on a facility tour of the World Health Organisation (WHO) GMP-certified pharmaceutical plant at Ota where the customers were taken through the production process at the world class edifice.

The company also used the occasion to interact closely with customers and exchange thoughts on service improvement and plans for the year.

A special business management workshop was conducted to enable the customers learn new techniques that would help them to manage their businesses better.

The occasion also presented a platform for the unveiling of seven of the company’s new products’ packs that were launched to the market.

The activities of the day strengthened the customers’ commitments to its target agreements.

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHWEST STATES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

PAGE 29

OYO GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION:

Will Ajimobi break the jinx?

The April 11 governorship election in Oyo State is symbolic. While it will be a make-or-mar exercise for some of the candidates, the election is sure to mark the end of the common saying that no governor gets a second term in Oyo State, writes Senior Correspondent BISI OLADELE

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INSIDE

WO former governors, the incumbent and a former Senate Leader will lock horns on Saturday for the right to occupy the government house at Agodi, Ibadan as the governor of Oyo State. The four, and a businessman, Seyi Makinde, are the top contenders for the job.

Except for the former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, who is the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and

Businesses paralysed as police launch manhunt for killers of DPO in Ibadan PAGE 32

Makinde, who is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), any of the other three that wins the election will be breaking the second term jinx in the state. They are the incumbent, Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rashidi Ladoja of Accord and Adebayo Alao-Akala of Labour Party (LP).

Since the Second Republic, no governor has been re-elected in the state. All attempts by previous chief executives of the state have been futile.

Hence, it has become a popular saying that no governor gets a second term in Oyo State. Judging by the results of the National Assembly election on March 28, none of Ladoja and AlaoAkala can be easily wished away in the race to take Ajimobi’s job, meaning that the jinx is about to be broken on April 11 by one of them.

The National Assembly election naturally puts the APC far ahead of others as it produced the three senators and 12 out of the 14 House of

Ondo police kill six Owo bank robbers, N9m recovered

Representatives members in the state.

Though they were beaten, Ladoja and Alao-Akala look undefeated by the bravery they have been displaying since then. But can either of them or Folarin spring a surprise?

How they stood in the 2011 governorship election Ajimobi, who stood on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), polled 420,852 votes to dislodge the then incumbent, Alao-Akala, who scored

387,132 votes. The latter contested under the platform of the PDP. Ladoja scored 275,773 to come third in the election.

Factors that shaped the 2011 governorship election The administration of the then sitting governor, Alao-Akala, was associated with thuggery and violence. It was also seen as a profligate government which Continued on page 30 and 31

Easter retreat with a difference

PAGES 33

PAGE 36

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

30

SOUTHWEST REPORT

APC

APC

APC

Oyo governorship election: Continued from page 29

undertook so many projects that were poorly executed due to lack of commitment to quality and alleged collection of kickbacks by key functionaries of the administration.

The crisis that rocked his party, the PDP, also grew sharply during his tenure so much so that many of the party stalwarts, particularly in Ibadan zone, worked against his re-election.

Besides, the wave of change represented by the then ACN, was blowing through Ekiti and Osun states which had their PDP governors removed by the Court of Appeal for ACN governors.

But Alao-Akala was generous to people around him, a factor that helped him retain so many people who patronized political power and its privileges.

In the growing discontent against Alao-Akala’s government, Ladoja, who was his predecessor, began to make wave again, rendering the political turf more complex with his defection from PDP to Accord and speedy growth of the party before the April 26,2011 governorship election.

But the wave of change in the region and Ajimobi’s personal popularity combined to earn him the victory in the election, defeating his closest challenger, Alao-Akala, with 33,720 votes. To earn the victory, Ajimobi defeated Akala in Ibadan and Oyo zones with a wide margin and also gave him a very close marking in Oke-Ogun area where he polled 96,667 to Akala’s 97,398. Ladoja occupied a distant third position with his 275,773 votes. As tough as it was, Ajimobi dislodged the then incumbent governor whose party was also controlling the Federal Government.

With this result, however, the three parties produced seven, 13 and 12 members in the state’s House of Assembly respectively to operate as a strong party each. They also produced members of both houses of the National Assembly except Accord which did not produce a senator.

But it went to the March 28, 2015 election with one senator, Olufemi Lanlehin, who defected from the ACN. Yet, the dynamics have changed within the last four years. Because human beings and the society are not static, politicians have criss-crossed the parties to find better comfort and advantage in realizing their personal ambition. New issues and developments have also reshaped the polity to alter voting patterns and interest that determine voters’ choice.

It is, therefore, no surprise that in the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections, the APC produced the three senators from zero level, and also produced 12 out of the 14 members of the House of Representatives.

How the zones voted in the March 28,2015 National Assembly elections Senate The APC won the three senatorial seats. Results of the senatorial election may not be fully suitable for this zonal analysis. However, the results are given below for a better insight.

As shown above, aside keeping its lead in its traditional zones of Ibadan and Oyo, the APC has gained more popularity in Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa zones where AlaoAkala came tops four years ago.

The party did not only gain an inroad into Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa, it’s popularity has increased in Ogbomoso, Alao-Akala’s home town.

The APC chairman in the state, Chief Akin Oke, attributed the gains to what he described as the unprecedented performance of Governor Abiola Ajimobi in the last four years across the state. Oke emphasized that the governor succeeded in touching all the five zones with

THE 2011 VOTING PATTERN IN FIGURES OYO ZONE Accord 18,935 (18%)

ACN 60,230 (57.4%)

PDP 25,855 (24.6%)

IBARAPA ZONE Accord 11,699 (20.3%)

ACN 21,468 (37.2%)

PDP 24,474 (42.5%)

OGBOMOSO ZONE Accord 15,597 (10.3%)

ACN 19,017 (12.5%)

PDP 117,189 (77.2%)

OKE-OGUN ZONE Accord 22,234 (10.3%)

ACN 96,667 (44.7%)

PDP 97,398 45%)

IBADAN ZONE Accord 207,308 (37.5%)

ACN 223,470 (40.4%)

PDP 122,216 (22.1%)

TOTAL = Accord: 275,773

ACN: 420,852

PDP: 387,132

2015 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTING PATTERN IN FIGURES OYO ZONE Accord 16,735 (20.3%)

APC. PDP 38,519 (46.8) 7,711 (9.4%)

IBARAPA ZONE Accord 10,353 (20.7%)

APC PDP. LP 18,876 (37.8%) 13,378 (26.8%) 7,330 (14.7%)

OGBOMOSO ZONE Accord 10,070 (9.3%)

APC PDP 23,704 21.9%) 31,932 (29.5%)

LP 42,485 (39.2%)

OKE-OGUN ZONE Accord 29,945 (15.9%)

APC PDP 81,972 (43.6%) 45,858 (24.3%)

LP 30,184 (16.0%)

IBADAN ZONE Accord 104,572 (27.8%)

APC. PDP. 186,536 (49.7%) 62,311 (16.6%)

LP 21,760 (5.7%)

LP 19,338 (23.4%)

OYO NORTH DISTRICT (COMPRISING OKE-OGUN AND 60% OF OGBOMOSO LAND) APC PDP Accord LP SDP DPP

= 104,056 = 60,480 = 35,220 = 75,469 = 8,887 = 1,504

TOTAL

= 285,616

-

(36.5%) (21.2%) (12.3%) (26.4%) (3.1%) (0.5%)

OYO CENTRAL DISTRICT (COMPRISING OYO ZONE AND IBADAN LESS CITIES) APC PDP Accord LP SDP DPP

= 105,378 = 44,045 = 84,675 = 27,490 = 7,362 = 1,343

TOTAL

= 270,293

-

(39%) (16.3%) (31.3%) (10.2) (2.7%) (0.5%)

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

31

SOUTHWEST REPORT

APC

APC

Will Ajimobi break the jinx?

APC PDP Accord LP SDP DPP TOTAL

OYO SOUTH (COMPRISING CENTRAL PARTS OF IBADAN AND IBARAPA ZONE) = 147,583 (44.6%) = 47,152 (14.3%) = 93,256 (28.2%) = 28,993 (8.8%) = 11,541 (3.5%) = 2,037 (0.6%) = 330,562

unique projects that meet their needs and generally improved the standard of living of residents in the areas. For instance, the politician cited dualization of roads in Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso and Iseyin (Oke-Ogun) as one of such projects.

But Accord did not agree with him. The Director General of the Sen. Rashidi Ladoja Campaign Organization, Hon. Adeolu Adeleke, described the result of the election as sham, saying it was rigged in favour of the APC. The Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kehinde Salawu, also attributed APC’s victory in the election to the overwhelming popularity of Gen. Buhari.

He said the governorship election would be different.

Alao-Akala also attributed APC’s performance in the March 28 election to the popularity of its presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari (rtd).

Speaking through his spokesman, Oludare Ogunlana, the former governor said that most voters are illiterate who could not differentiate between presidential and National Assembly elections.

April 11 governorship election Interestingly all the major parties are approaching the governorship election

The APC’s victory at the centre will play a key role in putting Ajimobi ahead of other candidates because a lot of voters would reason that the state deserves to enjoy the privileges of having the progressive party controlling the centre

with confidence. They largely believe that the tide will turn in their favour, hence, they have stepped up personal campaigns.

In an interview with The Nation, Hon. Adeolu Adekele said in spite of the result of the National Assembly election, “Accord remains undaunted and psychologically stable with optimism of winning” the Saturday election. He said the March 28 election only encouraged the party to strengthen its campaign to prevent rigging in the governorship election.

In his own comment, the PDP candidate, Teslim Folarin, asserted that voters would choose him because the party had educated its supporters to vote only for the PDP this time. He spoke through the State Publicity Secretary, Kehinde Salawu.

He said: “We have educated our

people to vote right this time because governorship election is crucial in any state. That is the government that is closer to the people. And we believe we will do wonderfully well on Saturday.” He said.

The LP candidate, Alao-Akala, also insisted that he would gain people’s votes across the state to return as the next governor because, according to him, Oyo State people are tired of the Ajimobi administration.

But APC chairman, Chief Oke, said it is very clear that voters are very pleased with the transformation, restoration and the repositioning agenda of the Ajimobi administration as shown in the results of the last election.

Factors that will shape the April 11 election Buhari’s victory Never in the history of the Yoruba has its party of choice won at the federal level. Oyo State was among the states that rejected PDP’s president Goodluck Jonathan. Buhari polled 528,620 votes to defeat Jonathan who scored 303,376 votes, leaving him with a deficit of 225,244 votes.

The APC’s victory at the centre will play a key role in putting Ajimobi ahead of other candidates because a lot of voters would reason that the state deserves to

enjoy the privileges of having the progressive party controlling the centre.

Besides, Oyo State has always been home to the progressives’ party.

Except in 2003 and 2007 when it is generally believed that the PDP rigged massively to take over Southwest states, Oyo has always been controlled by the progressives’ party.

It partly accounts for the reason Ajimobi defeated the incumbent Alao-Akala of the PDP in 2011.

Secondly, Ajimobi’s performance in the last four years is unparalleled.

He has succeeded in changing the face and the name of the state among committee of top states through his cardinal programmes including urban renewal, environmental sanitation, integrity, laudable welfare for civil servants and infrastructural development, among others.

His footprints are visible in major towns across the state. This is perhaps the strongest factor that will count for the incumbent governor.

Thirdly, results of the National Assembly election has punctured assumption that Accord was next in strength to the APC in the state, and that it might upstage the former. In the result, while the APC won three senatorial seats and 12 out of 14 House of Representatives seats, Accord did not win a single seat. Only the PDP and LP won one seat each, and both are in Ogbomoso land.

With a total of 357,017 votes in the Senate and 349,618 in the House of Representatives, APC is poised to trounce, once again, other parties who came in distant second, third and fourth positions.

•Jega

Accord that came second overall, scored 213 votes for the Senate and polled 171,675 in the race for the House of Representatives. It’s total of 384,826 is barely about 53 per cent of APC’s 706,635.

The PDP came third with a total of 325,251 votes, which is less than half of the APC’s.

With this result, the majority of voters are likely to see other parties as weak while seeing the APC as strong, and even waxing stronger by the day.

Already, some members of Accord in Ibadan North East Local Government have defected to the APC in a display of death of hope in their previous party.

More of such defections are likely before the April 11 election.

In another perspective, the LP may not record another landslide victory in Ogbomoso as it did in 2011 because of Akala’s defection from the PDP. As shown in the March 28 elections, voters in Ogbomoso are now divided into LP, PDP and APC, with the profile of the APC rising sharply in the last four years.

The result has largely shown that both Alao-Akala and Ladoja, who were considered very strong contenders prior to last month election, no longer possess the electoral strength assumed. In fact, APC defeated Ladoja in his Ibadan North Local Government while Alao-Akala was unable to win all the seats in Ogbomoso or additional seat in Oke-Ogun as he did in 2011.

Fourthly, with three senators, 12 representatives mobilizing support across all the zones, combined with the power of incumbency, Ajimobi is most favored to break the second-term jinx in Oyo State on April 11,2015.

How the election will go Oyo Zone Judging by results of the 2011 governorship election, the March 28,2015 election and the presence of a senator and House of Representatives member, APC’s Ajimobi is projected to coast home to victory in the zone.

Ibarapa Zone Going by the result of the National Assembly election and the projects Ajimobi undertook in the zone such as granting autonomy to two tertiary institutions in the area, Ajimobi is projected to comfortably lead other candidates in the zone.

Oke-Ogun Judging by the results of the last election and the fact that the zone is traditionally progressives inclined, Ajimobi is projected to win convincingly in the area.

Ogbomoso LP’s candidate, who hails from the town, is projected to have a clear lead in the zone.

But APC and PDP candidates are also projected to follow him within a reasonable gap. This is because his defection from the PDP has broken his absolute following in the area. The deputy governorship candidate of the PDP hails from Ogbomoso while an APC senator has also emerged from the town.

All these would combine to reduce the total votes he will garner from the zone.

Ibadan Though Ibadan zone is a loose ground for all the four major parties, Ajimobi is projected to lead other candidates given the 2011 result and that of the last election. He is most likely to be followed by Accord candidate, Ladoja, who is popular in some of the councils.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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SOUTHWEST REPORT

Businesses paralysed as police launch manhunt for killers of DPO in Ibadan Residents of Adekile, Orita Aperin in the heart of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, now sleep with their eyes wide open––no thanks to the flooding of the community with policemen by the State Police Command in search of the killers of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO)attached to the area. He was shot dead by an unknown gunman last Wednesday. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports that businesses in the area have virtually grinded to a halt.

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YO state Police Command was thrown into mourning Wednesday, last week when one of its finest officers, a Chief Superintendent of Police was shot dead by an unknown gunman at Adekile, Orita Aperin, in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of the state during a mass protest by residents over the activities of an alleged kidnapper believed to be operating from the area.

Since the incident which led to the death of the CSP (Ike Nworgu), who was the Divisional Police Officer attached to the Agugu Police Station (covering the area), residents of Adekile, especially the males, have been living in fear as the police intensify efforts to apprehend the killer(s). Security has been beefed up in and around the area as more policemen have been deployed there by the command. Business and other commercial activities have almost been grounded due to the presence of the policemen in the area.

Many residents have fled the area to other parts of the city, leaving the once bubbling communi-

ty deserted. There was panic in the air, with the few people left behind consciously looking for places to hide away from the prying eyes of policemen.

Particularly hit hard by the presence of the policemen are male residents who are being targeted by the security men with the hope that they may hold the clue to where the culprits may be found. Only the females were allowed unfettered access but not without scrutiny. And for the male, he must possess valuable evidence to prove his innocence.

At a point toward Elekuro area, when The Nation visited the area, everybody was asked to put their hands up while passing through police check. Many suspects, including the principal suspect have been arrested, according to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Adekunle Ajisebutu. He however, refused to disclose the identity of the principal suspect in order not to hamper ongoing investigation.

In what looks like a declaration of dusk to dawn curfew, the entire community was quiet and deserted when The Nation visited during the Easter holidays as there were little or no eco-

That is the only problem we have been having in this area. They call themselves different names, but we know they are OPC members and the community most times engage them as vigilante nomic activities in the area.

Social life has also been affected as most of the residents stayed indoors during the Easter festivities as they could not afford to go out to celebrate as usual during such occasions due to the pervading insecurity in the area..

The incident that led to the killing of the DPO began last Wednesday evening when a group of miscreants, led by some armed members of a local vigilante group, inciting other members of the community, vandalised a house in the area on suspicion that kidnapped victims were kept

there by the house owner.

Before the incident occurred, some law abiding residents, it was learnt had alerted the police when the rumoured kidnapper’s den became more pronounced in the community, especially after it was discovered that three wells were dug in the premises.

Tension however rose after the police, who stormed the house acting on the information, left with the owner without any substantial discovery. This infuriated the residents who believed the police did not carry out a thorough search of the house. They thereafter took the law into their hands.

According to one of the residents who simply gave his name as Baba Jamiu said, “The police were called to a property in Adekile area after residents alleged that the owner dug three wells in the premises which they found suspicious. However, the police did not find anything but they left with the owner. The residents then had the belief that the police were protecting the owner. They rained stones on the police and injured one of them. They also descended on the house damaging the property with rocks.”

The rampaging hoodlums, later went for the life of the house owner, but could not apprehend him.

The building, after a futile search for ‘kidnapped victims’ and other occupants, was vandalized and razed down along with two other houses.

Investigation revealed that the trigger happy miscreant who opened fire on the police officer belonged to a vigilante group in the area under the umbrella of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) which claimed to be providing security in the area.

“That is the only problem we have been having in this area. They call themselves different names, but we know they are OPC members and the community most times engage them as vigilante. Instead of doing the work of a true vigilante, they will be moving from one place to the other causing trouble and

smoking Indian hemp and drinking paraga (local herbal mixture prepared with hot drinks)). They are the ones that caused this trouble, first by peddling an unfounded rumour about kidnappers’ den, and then killing an innocent and gentle police officer .

Now, they are not the only ones suffering but the entire community because since the incident happened, every activity has been paralysed. Many have abandoned their houses and fled to evade police arrest. We pray that all those responsible will pay dearly for their sins”, Mr Ayodele Gbadamosi, a retired civil servant who lives in the area told The Nation.

The state police Commissioner, Mr Katsina Mohammed, visibly disturbed by the incident has vowed to ensure that all those involved in the killing of the CSP would face the full wrath of the law.

Shortly after the disturbance, the Police commissioner together with the state governor Abiola Ajimobi visited the scene of the crime.

According to the police boss, the slain police officer had gone to Adekile in response to a distress call by one of the residents who alleged that her baby was kidnapped and kept inside a particular building in the area.

He said the DPO had visited the area and inspected the building in question but could not find anything related to the lodged complaint, but while he was explaining to the youths in the area to remain calm as further investigation would be carried out, the DPO was attacked and shot in the head.

Mr. Katsina explained that the DPO, being a gallant officer before he fell to the miscreants’ bullets, also managed to fire at his attacker who also died on the way to the hospital.

He thereafter reiterated the commitment of the police force to ensure that all culprits in the DPO attack were arrested to face the wrath of the Law. The entire Adekile, Orita Aperin and Elekuro areas are still under a close watch of armed police men while no fewer than 21 suspects were said to have been arrested.

The state governor Abiola Ajimobi, while speaking on the incident harped on the need for peace and security for meaningful development to take place.

He also appealed to the people of the state to avoid violence in all its ramifications as no development can take place in an atmosphere of violence.

The governor pledged his support to the police force to ensure that the perpetrators of the devilish act are brought to book.

Effort to reach the wife of the slain DPO was not successful as she was yet to arrive the country from the United States of America where she resides with his children.

•The late Nworgu

Ondo police kill six Owo bank robbers, N9m recovered The Police in Ondo State have promised tough times for armed robbers and other criminals in the state following revelations that six of the seven robbers that raided some commercial banks in Owo recently were killed and about N9million recovered from them. DAMISI OJO reports.

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HOUGH the dust is settling gradually on the recent bank robbery that shook Owo town in Ondo State, facts have emerged that no fewer than six of the seven armed robbers involved in the operation were gunned down by the police.

The seventh member of the gang was also arrested by the police who also recovered about N9million from the robbers.

No fewer than 20 persons including the manager of one of the four banks raided by the robbers were killed during the robbery attack which took place penultimate

Thursday and shook the ancient town to its foundation.

Sources told The Nation that the men of the underworld struck around 4 pm on the fateful day and robbed four different commercial banks in the town in almost total impunity, killing their victims at random. But they met their match in the police who appeared on the scene not too long after.

As they made to escape, the special anti robbery squad from the state police command arrived the town and engaged the robbers killing six of them. The seventh member was arrested.

But while their operation lasted, the robbers turned the town into a ghost of itself as residents were forced to stay indoors to avoid being caught in any crossfire..

Those living near the banks where the robbers operated moved to other parts of the town apparently for fear of attack by the evil men.

The victims of the robbery incident were rushed

to the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Owo where many of them later gave up the ghost, while some are still responding to medical treatment.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr Isaac Eke who spoke through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state Police Command, Mr Wole Ogodo said the Police swooped into action immediately they were alerted about the robbery incident.

He noted that the efforts of the Police led to the recovery of some amount of money with various arms and ammunition used by the robbers during their operation, adding that the working synergy in the Police assisted them to track down one of the suspect.

He confirmed that six of the robbers were killed by the policemen deployed to the town by the police command and their corpses already in the custody of the Police.

Also, Mr Eke who paraded the deceased armed robbers at the state Police headquarters in Akure hinted that the Police are already interrogating the only surviving suspect arrested in connection with the incident, adding that he was helping the Police in their investigations.

The Police boss disclosed further that three cars used by the armed robbers during the robbery operation were also seized by the Police, while a huge sum of money totaling almost N9million was recovered from the suspected robbers when the Police attacked them.

He said the Police in the state would continue to protect the lives and properties of the people adding that “there cannot be any hidden place for armed robbers in Ondo state with the efforts put in place by the Police in the state”.

The men of the underworld struck around 4 pm on the fateful day and robbed four different commercial banks in the town in almost total impunity, killing their victims at random.

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When Alake prayed to Lisabi for peace in Egba land Every year the Egba people of Ogun State led by their paramount ruler, the Alake of Egba land go to the Lisabi Forest to pray for peace in their land. ERNEST NWOKOLO writes on this year’s edition.

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HE people live closely with one another and inhabit one of the convoluted terrains of the rocky Abeokuta, the capital of modern day Ogun state. They are unique because of their historical acts of bravery and commitment to a cause considered dear to them.

Welcome to the seedy agrarian community of Igbein, the home of the first Balogun (Prime minister) and hero of Egbaland, Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, a warrior who braved the odds to free the Egba people from the tyrannical and exploitative hegemony of the 18th century Alaafin of Oyo. An account had it that he came from Ile - Ife in the Osun state and settled in Igbein area of Abeokuta.

And over 100 years after he was gone, neither his kinsmen nor Egba land in general have forgotten his exploit.

The Nation visited the community this week and was shown an old mud house in various stages of dereliction and which is believed to be the place where Lisabi lived when he walked this earth.

Although he is being celebrated annually since 1972 when Oba Oyebade Lipede before joining his ancestors, declared that a day should be set aside in honour of Lisabi and unite the Egba people, but little is known about him regarding marriage, save that he fathered a daughter or fostered one, who unofficial source said was sent out to meet a tough Prince and warrior from Republic of Benin and since then nothing is heard or known again about her.

And curiously, a man who lived adjacent to the house said to be that of Lisabi, said he never knew that was where the Egba hero once lived before he passed on.

The Lisa of Igbein land, Chief Atanda Odesola, said Lisabi was an Ifa Priest, hunter and a farmer who wielded much influence on his peers and generation with his Ifa mystic power.

Odesola said he helped fight their wars and that shortly after his death his spirit was often sum-

moned to help defend Egba land from external attacks.

The Lisa who spoke through an interpreter, Mr Ayodele Soyoye of Baåogun Idowu Soye Compound, Igbein, rued that their hero does not appear any longer to fight their battle.

He said when Lisabi was lured to the site where he slipped into what could pass for a dungeon, a mystery chain surfaced few days after at the spot.

He told The Nation that the chain in the past was being used to arouse Lisabi to action in the event of any tribal war raging against the Egba but on one occasion, when he (spirit) was called out to defend his people, he emerged and killed many but upon looking closely at the dead, it dawned on him that they were his Egba children.

Since that day, he (Lisabi) vowed that no more would he appear to violently fight the cause of the Egba people but to go about it through ensuring that peace and unity prevail in the land when they gather at his shrine to offer prayers.

Last March, the Paramount ruler and Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, led the Egba traditional rulers, chiefs and sons of the land - all clad in white attires, to the Lisabi’s burial site in a forest (Igbo Lisabi) off Oba community - about an hour drive from Abeokuta, to offer prayers for the unity and progress of Egba land.

The journey to Igbo Lisabi is a spiritual exercise of sort. The Alake officiates at the prayer session and slaughters the sacrificial ram.

At the final point leading to the grove, three priests mount guard.

Here, everybody entering the forest have his feet and hands washed with a mixture of herbs, water and whitish substance.

It is aimed at warding off danger and neutralizing negative forces, it was learnt, even as strangers, in their interest and safety were barred from coming near the forest.

Oba Adedotun said they do not bow to any idol while the rams which are slaughtered during the prayers

•Alake entering the Lisabi Forest for the prayer

•Some of the Chiefs and priest at the forest

•Ayodele Soyoye

Atanda Odesola, Lisa of Igbehin

Lisabi did not die. He did not slow down. They took him to a pit there (in Igbo Lisabi) and threw him down.

He was a giant of a man. The chain used to throw him down is still there for any permitted person to see. He alone killed 250 tax collectors of Alaafin in one day and asked his chiefs to do same in their various townships.” are done within the shrine housing the burial site.

There are various accounts of events leading to his death. The Alake, Oba Gbadebo, said Lisabi was a giant who did not slow down even

with age.

According to the Paramount ruler of Egba, after Lisabi personally murdered 250 tax collectors (Ajeles) in the service of Oloyo (Alaafin) of Oyo, he also instructed others to kill

the Ajeles in their various townships.

Later, he turned his extraordinary strength inward and began to oppress his Egba brethren.

The Egba people who could not cope any longer with his overbearing influence, plotted to get rid of him, rounded him up and took him to a secluded thick forest in the remote Oba village where with a chain, they hauled him alive into a deep pit.

Adedotun said: “Lisabi did not die. He did not slow down. They took him to a pit there (in Igbo Lisabi) and threw him down. He was a giant of a man. The chain used to throw him down is still there for any permitted person to see. He alone killed 250 tax collectors of Alaafin in one day and asked his chiefs to do same in their various townships.”

But the Lisa of Igbein land, Atanda Odesola, said after the killing of the 250 Ajeles, Lisabi knew that the Alaafin would launch a full scale reprisal attack on the Egba and so, prepared before hand to repel such it.

According to the Lisa, after he had consulted an Ifa oracle and was assured that the Alaafin of Oyo would advance into Egba land with his army through the Odo - Ogun (Ogun River) in Lafenwa, he first gathered the women and children and hid them in an underground tunnel (Ogunmeleogun) to shield them from harm.

As expected, the Alaafin soldiers invaded Egba land but Lisabi and his Egbe Aaro were able to successfully repel the invaders and librated the Egba finally from the Alaafin but he was soon to pay for his popularity and prowess.

The accolades he garnered from his acts of heroism soon drew grumbling reactions from his people who were unhappy that Lisabi was singlehandedly taking all the glory of the struggle for Egba liberation.

The grumbling morphed into a conspiracy with his people rushing to the Alake to complain that Lisabi harbours a plot to unseat him and an instruction was given that he be brought to the Ake Palace but along the line, his captors instead took him to the forest (Igbo Lisabi) and threw him into a pit dug for that purpose.

Odesola explained that Lisabi considered the treatment meted out to him by his people as that of betrayal after he had risked his life several times over to deliver them from the Alaafin hegemony.

According to Odesola, Lisabi was said to have made far reaching pronouncements at the time on Egba land to the effect that unity would continue to elude them and that respite won’t come until the 9th Alake who happened to be Oba Oyebade Lipede, ascended the throne and used Lisabi annual festival to unite the people.

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SOUTHWEST REPORT

‘We’ll bounce back aheading 2019 election’

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HE Deputy Senate Whip, Hosea Ayoola Agboola weekend at the expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will soon bounce back ahead of 2019 general elections, saying the recent loss of the Federal Government to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is a temporary setback for the ruling party.

The senator while addressing hundreds of supporters of the party from across the 13local governments of Oyo North senatorial district who stormed his country home? in Igbojaye, Itesiwaju local government area of Oyo State, following his loss in the national assembly election, told the bewildered supporters to put the past behind them and remain resolute saying “tough time never last but tough people do”.

Agboola who preached calmness and peaceful conduct of supporters in the face of glaring irregularities that marred the election culminating in the

Amosun pledges support for TRACE

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From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

party losing the state to the APC, assured them that all hands are on deck to deliver the governorship election for the PDP. He said the party’s candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin would win the governorship as the party had identified grey areas that contributed to the loss of the senatorial district and other areas in the state, stressing that, “INEC partiality, malfunctioning of the card readers and inability of our people to vote accordingly and inclement atmosphere with which our party agents and supporters alike were subjected to, are being looked into with a view to forestalling reoccurrence of such on April 11.”

He told them that there was no alliance between the PDP and any of other political parties, stressing that, “Senator Folarin is still our candidate for the office of the governor while other candidates for the state house of assembly remained across the

•Agboola

32constituencies in the state.”

Agboola said the PDP would gladly welcome those angling to join it before April 11.

He thereafter thanked the people of the senatorial district for their support for him in the last four years, assuring them that there will be light at the end of the tunnel sooner than envisaged.The meeting which was held in Igbojaye in Itesiwaju local government area of the state had in attendance all PDP leaders, party excutives from all the 13 local government areas that make up Oyo North district among others.

‘Andus Foundation is for everyone in need’ Prince Jimoh Olawale Akanni Andus is the founder of ANDUS Humanitarian Foundation, an organisation set up to help the needy.

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HAT is your motivation/inspiration towards philanthropy?

I have been involved in philanthropy for quite a long time now, without any form of publicity. I formed Andus Humanitarian Foundation since 10 years ago. And now that I hold a top chieftaincy title in Ikorodu as the Asiwaju Eleluku, I met with my board members and we decided that it was time people became aware of my gestures and contributions within and outside Ikorodu community, thus bringing about the official unveiling of the foundation today.

Every Foundation has got a particular audience or set of people they intend to reach out to, who is Andus Humanitarian Foundation meant for?

The foundation is not targeting any particular audience; it is open to whosoever is in need and writes to us.

The reason is, if we target a particular set of people, what will become of the others in need, thus limiting the length which our arms could be stretched. This goes against the values which Andus Humanitarian Foundation stands for. For example we have people out there who are not able to enrol for WAEC/GCE; such may be cut off if we target a particular audience. Thus, I stand to declare today that Andus Humanitarian Foundation is formed on a general basis, and open to whosoever is in need. Anyone who comes now will go through a process to ensure that their needs are not of a fraudulent nature.

In the course of helping people you must have faced some forms of challenges; how have you been able to successfully overcome such challenges?

Yes, I have encountered so many challenges in the course of helping people. At times people will call me, craving assistance to bail them out of an urgent problem; after stretching a hand, I will later find out that it was a scam and that there was never a problem that needed urgent attention. There was this faithful day, I received a call from a person claiming his wife was just delivered of a baby through operation and he needed financial assistance to offset the medical bill. I asked for his bank details and sent him N100,000, only to discover after investigating that his wife was never pregnant.

One of the major problems of foundations in Nigeria is poor funding, leading to premature death. How do you intend to fund your foundation?

I earlier informed you that I have been unofficially operating the foundation for over 10 years, and in t h a t

•Andus

time I have never sourced for external funding; I did it personally. God has graciously blessed me financially; so I will continue to fund the foundation individually. I have even sponsored a football competition in the past, a gesture known to people here in Wuraola, Ikorodu. My philanthropic gesture has also been extended to places, such as London and the United States of America.

In the light of the ongoing general election, don’t you feel people will see your foundation as a strategy to be relevant politically?

My foundation will never be attached to anything partaining to election. The foundation was formed to help the people in need and not for electioneering purposes; as you can see, there are no posters, bill boards or flag in my house showing any allegiance to any political party.

Sir, you are a known figure in Ikorodu, and you have your own followers and supporters. Bearing this in mind your population and followership in Ikorodu what will be your response to electoral candidates if they come soliciting your support?

For someone with the intention of being a leader, I cannot be involved in partisan politics. If any electoral candidate comes, I will attend to him/her with equal attention.

It is very clear that you run a busy schedule. How do you share your time with your family, business, foundation and hobbies?

Well, when one plans and organises himself properly things will definitely work out well. I have put in place a working organisational structure, which has helped me delegate duties to capable hands (my personal advisers), thus handling my businesses and foundation. My wife even oversees one of my businesses. I am a man who cherishes his family, I spend ample time with them. Whenever we are on vacation, we spend time together in the United States of America. As for my hobby, I am a football lover and an ardent supporter of Chelsea Football Club (CFC) of England. I have been to Stamford Bridge, the home of CFC; presently I am the chairman, Chelsea supporters Club, Lagos Island chapter.

Is your foundation meant for only people in Ikorodu?

No, my foundation is open to everyone in need, worldwide. It is open to people within and outside Ikorodu. There is no distance or place limitations whatsoever, as far as the person’s need is genuine.

HE Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has commended the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), for its outstanding performance in managing the traffic situation across the state’s roads since its inception.

Governor Amosun gave this commendation through Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, at an event to launch Officers’ Mess Kit and uniform, TRACE Officers’ Wives

He urged the Corps members to build on the foundation he laid to ensure the Corps attain its goal in the enviable height of comity of traffic management outfit.

He said their choice is to build upon it and ensure that the house that was built with lots of toiling do not crumble

Association (TROWA) and the retirement of the out-going Corps Commander in Abeokuta.

He said TRACE in the last 10 years has been able to justify the purpose of its establishment through efficient service delivery with reference to the mandate given to the agency.

According to Amosun, the Corps has been able to proof its worth and displayed professionalism through the efforts of the Corps Commander, thereby drawing the interest of the government to the Corps.

He said the state government would not relent from supporting the Corps and ensure that all needed working tools with the modern technologies are provided to enhance their effective and efficient performances in the course of carrying out their operations.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Transportation, Gbenga Opesanwo in his remark hailed the outgoing Corps Commander Ayodele Sangofadeji for his passion for the job and his unrelented interest in the welfare of his staff.

He urged the Corps members to build on the foundation he laid to ensure the Corps attain its goal in the enviable height of comity of traffic management outfit. He said their choice is to build upon it and ensure that the house that was built with lots of toiling do not crumble” he said.

Opesanwo, urged the officers to work hard to enable the Corps attain the best among other other traffic management agencies, not only in the state but in Nigeria as a whole.

The outgoing Commander in his response appreciated God for his achievement in the Corps and for seeing him through all the challenges in the course of discharging the duty.

He said all he stood for and was leaving behind was professionalism, urging the officers to continue in this trend, giving the assurance of his support even after retirement at 60 years and advises the officers to always work with love and unity and always be discipline while on duty.

He urged them to shun corruption, harassment, improper dressing and be of good manner while at their duty post.

Sagofadeji was eulogized by many guests present at the occasion, among who were: his wife, Mrs Abosede Ogunfadeji, who described him as a man and a father in a millions.

The Ogun State Parking Management Scheme’s Chief Consultant, Engr Wale Yusuf, described the former TRACE boss as a diligent and transparency and accountable man. He said Sangofadeji was highly efficient and worked without stress while on duty.

Yusuf appealed to Sangofadeji remain a public servant despite him bowing out from official service. He urged him to cooperate with his successor for the Corps to attain its aim and objectives.

Nigerians urged to embrace peace

By Basirat Braimah

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IGERIANS have been urged to shun violence and embrace peace for the society to move forward.

Executive Director Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF), Imam Abdullah Shuaib said this against the backdrop of rising insecurity in the country.

Shuaib spoke at an event tagged: “Dialogue of peace: As a religious leader, what is the definition of peace in your religion?.”

It was organised by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), at the Lagos State College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja.

HWPL is a non-governmental organisation registered under the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nothing that Islam was derived from the word – peace, Shuaib said: According to him, “We all believe there is a world after now and the owner of that world is the God of peace. Anyone who aspires to enter into paradise must be a peaceful citizen. That is why one of His (God) attributes is salaam meaning peace. Islam promotes the unity of mankind for peace to reign. It recognises and tolerates diversity in religion.

“Mankind must first strive to accomplish peace on personal level because peace in the society depends on peace within us. When you are lacking peace within yourself there is no way that you can give the society peace. If leaders can conquer their egos, there will be peace in our society.” In his contributions Venerable Kaine Nwashili, Registrar, Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary, said: “In Christianity, we have the old and new testament. These are books accepted for us. In Hebrew language peace is called “shalom”. Peace is between people and between men and God. It is a convenant to join people in terms of promise. Wherever God is, there is peace.

“I feel we have a common ground and that is looking at various religions and various areas of talking about peace. If we can come sincerely and what other scriptures talk about peace and sincere about it then we shall have peace because we need peace in our Nation,” he said.

According to the founder, BAMAS Islamic Foundation, Imam Abd’l wasiiu Bawaallah “If he asked you, give him, if he fights you, answer him. If he wants to borrow from you, assist him. If he seeks for protection, protect him. If he is sick, visit him. If he is dead, bury him. Do not torment him with fried stew without giving him out of it. Do not erect your building crossing his own building ventilation except with his permission. That is how our prophet our leader, teacher and mentor define peace.”

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SOUTHWEST REPORT

•Prof. Samuel Ewuola

Easter retreat with a difference The Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Ikere district, held its annual Easter retreat on its campground along Ikere-Akure highway, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State between 2nd and 5th of April, 2015 where participants received numerous spiritual and physical blessings.

ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

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KERE-Ekiti in Ekiti State was agog during the Easter weekend when the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT), Ikere District with branches in Ekiti and Ondo States held her annual Easter Retreat.

Ministers, workers, members and other residents of the town had cause to thank God for witnessing another Easter period in which they experienced a special spiritual treat.

They utilized the opportunity to gather themselves together, spend quality time in the presence of God for a spiritual exercise to enrich their lives and renew their relationship with God. To make the period a fulfilling and rewarding one, they held their annual Easter Retreat from the 2nd to the 5th of April at GOFAMINT Ikere District Campground, located at Asu Area, on the outskirts of Ikere-Ekiti, along Ikere-Akure Highway.

The venue of the retreat is a serene place away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre giving participants an opportunity for maximum concentration to receive rich blessings from God for the four-day event.

The Retreat which featured sermons, lectures, group seminars and workshops, choir ministrations, drama, choreography, among others had as its theme: “Building for Eternity.”

The Retreat Planning and Working Committee Chairman, Pastor Sunday Ajala, in the address he delivered at the opening service gave glory to God for giving members the opportunity to witness this year’s edition.

The committee chair expressed profound gratitude to the GOFAMINT Ikere District Pastor, Pastor Joseph Akinduntire and the Assistant District Pastor, Pastor Olumide Akinrotohun for their unflinching support for the acquisition and development of the campground.

Ajala said the theme of the programme was timely as many Christians have lost the focus of their eternal abode due to pursuit of mundane things.

He said the theme was also necessary to equip the participants to retain and regain their credibility, honour, integrity and holiness which

are needed to enjoy personal relationship with God and be qualified for a place in the kingdom of God after their sojourn on earth.

The special guest speaker at the event was the Deputy General Overseer of GOFAMINT, Professor Samuel Ewuola.

The Retreat was a special one for Professor Ewuola because the last time he ministered at the Retreat as the guest speaker was in 2005 when the District used to hold event at one of the public schools in Ikere-Ekiti.

The GOFAMINT Deputy General Overseer described the acquisition of the campground by the clergy and laity of Ikere District as historic, wonderful and a great miracle.

Delivering the Retreat Lecture entitled: “Building for Eternity: The Foundation, The Structure and The Finishing,” Professor Ewuola described eternity as a dateless period which has no beginning or end.

He also said that eternity as a large mass of time in which time is not measured by years, century, millennium, decades, years, months, weeks, days hours, minutes and seconds.

In building for eternity, Professor Ewuola harped on the need for a solid foundation on which a Christian builds a strong personal relationship with God that will qualify him for admission into the kingdom.

He said: “Foundation is a major part of any structure. It is the most important as it is the one that determines, to a large extent, the height, the structure, the weight, the utility and the life of the building.

“That is why the Bible declares that if a house is built on mere soil or sand without a foundation, when the rains descend, the floods arise and the winds blow, the house will fall.”

The cleric identified components of the Christian life’s structure to include truth, diligence, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity, righteousness, good works, prayer, avoidance of sin and watchfulness.

According to Professor Ewuola, there must be recourse to old time Christianity which produced better, more matured and strong Christians who have the stamina and ability of finishing their heavenly race well than modern Christianity.

He explained: “Modern-day Christianity relies more on elegance in dress,

status, in titles and social standing among others. It is more decorative than transforming. It seeks conformity rather than confrontation armed with the truth.

“Present-day Christianity is more accommodating in pride, lies, ungodliness, hypocrisy, fraud in high places when social and material benefits are at stake. But can an individual or organization take fire in his/its bosom and not be burnt?

“The love for position and struggle for posts are more common in the church today. Self-imposed positions, lobbied promotions to places of high responsibility are the order of the day.

“On the contrary, old time Christianity never idolized money and wealth. Old-time Christians had developed through thick and thin, they knew the importance of relying absolutely on God in prayers and ministration of the word.

“They relied less on sight and walked more by faith, unshaken by trials and tribulations, enjoyed less of pleasures and labour more for the Lord. For modern Christianity to last till eternity, it has to look farther ahead, change its orientation and start building for eternity.”

Apart from spiritual sermons, teachings and messages, resource persons were also invited to treat topics relating to family, education and health matters.

At the youth seminar during the Retreat, Dr. Kola Ayeni, a lecturer at

the Department of Economics, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti spoke on “Biblical Panacea to All Academic Marah (Bitterness)”.

Dr. Ayeni identified academic bitterness to include cultism, examination malpractices, bribery and corruption, prostitution, Internet fraud, among others.

He identified dependence on God, diligence, doing the right things at the right time and prayer as some buttons to press to achieve victory in such a situation.

Another resource person, Dr. Oke Ajogbeje, a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti spoke at the Family Seminar at the Retreat.

Speaking on the topic “Your Children and Modern Technology,” Dr. Ajogbeje said although the world has benefited immensely from technology, caution should be exercised over the negative influence it is having on the youth.

He tasked parents to be watchful and not allow their children to be driven by urge to misuse technology but to use it to benefit humanity and positively contribute to the development of the family, the church and the society.

The importance of developing good eating habits formed the kernel of a lecture delivered by a seasoned nurse, Mrs. Abimbola Alagbo, at the Health Seminar.

Mrs. Alagbo who works at the Eki-

•A cross-section of the choir singing at the Retreat.

ti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti spoke on the topic “Your Food and Your Habit.”

She identified the right habits of feeding to include ensuring that food eaten contain balanced diet and that such food are of good quality.

While advising against taking heavy dinner, Mrs. Alagbo charged her audience not to take anything in between meals noting that once the breakfast is taken, nothing should be taken in between until the lunch and the dinner are taken at the appropriate times.

The closing service at the Retreat was held on Easter Sunday and it featured variety of programmes including drama, special song ministrations, family meeting.

The farewell sermon was delivered by Pastor Akinduntire who charged participants to be serious about running the race to heaven.

Quoting from First Corinthians 9:24-27, Akinduntire likened a Christian to an athlete running a race who must be disciplined to win laurels.

He said sacrifice, commitment, focus and dedication are needed by the Christian to finish his race on earth well.

The District Pastor appreciated all minister, workers and members who contributed immensely to the success of Easter Retreat 2015 organized by GOFAMINT, Ikere District.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

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THE NATION INVESTORS

Computer Warehouse Group’s profit drops by 91% C OMPUTER Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc witnessed major slowdown in performance in 2014 as revenue and profit dropped by 26 per cent and 91 per cent.

Audited report and accounts of CWG for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed a top-down decline in the performance of the company.

Turnover dropped from N20.67 billion in 2013 to N15.36 billion in 2014.

Gross profit also dipped to N3.05 billion as against N3.91 billion.

Profit before tax dropped by 90.7 per cent from N618.46 million in 2013 to N57.64 million in 2014. Profit after tax slumped by 91.4 per cent from N612.85 million in 2013 to N52.80 million in 2014. Earnings per share thus dropped from 24 kobo to 2.0 kobo.

The board of directors of the company said the earnings shortfalls were principally driven by one-off provision for currency depreciation of not less than N380 million. In a statement, the directors said the currency depreciation was due to exemption of the group from participating in the official foreign exchange market, where it hitherto sourced Dollars for its imports.

The noted that the situation may continue to impact the company warning that the fluctuations may persist.

“Shareholders and potential investors are advised to note that

Stories by Taofik Salako

exchange rate fluctuations are expected to persist in 2015. In addition, the ongoing electoral processes scheduled to be completed by second quarter 2015, are also expected to take significant toll on macroeconomic indices, with resulting impact on business operations for the remaining part of the year,” the company stated.

CWG however expressed optimism that it expects improved performance on the back of its current CWG2.0 initiatives, which are expected to significantly reduce the company’s exposure to foreign components for its services.

Audited report and accounts of CWG for the year ended December 31, 2013 had shown that turnover rose from N18.76 billion in 2012 to N20.67 billion in 2013. Gross profit increased from N3.75 billion to N3.91 billion. Profit before tax rose to N618.46 million as against N339.23 million while profit after tax increased from N339.23 million to N612.85 million. The company had paid a dividend per share of 8.0 kobo.

The performance in 2014 fell below analysts and management’s projections. The management of the company had outlined that turnover could rise to N16.5 billion by the end of 2014 as the company moves to consolidate the income streams from

its traditional business.

In a review of the business outlook of the company, Chief Executive Officer, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc, Mr Austin Okere, said the company plans to optimise and recognise revenues from its traditional brick and mortar business which shall see a 46 per cent increase in revenue in the fourth quarter to close 2014 at about N16.5 billion.

Okere, who founded CWG, said the company could end the year with a net profit of N300 million, some 61 per cent increase on its third quarter performance.

According to him, the group has made great strides in the introduction of its new subscription based business lines and its profit outlook is a reflection of continuing improvement in margins driven by greater efficiency and good focus on the growth of managed services.

“The company is firmly focused on scaling her new subscription

businesses, under the CWG 2.0 umbrella, in order to see a change in the profitability trend by half of 2015,” Okere said.

He outlined that the first among these new businesses is the SMERP, a cloud based ERP product that is ready for roll out and is currently being tested by a few organisations while there are also on-going discussions with multilateral organisations that are focused on SMEs and inclusive growth in Nigeria to collaborate on the roll out of this product.

He added that there is also the flagship e-commerce technology platform, Openshopen.ng, a product, that has been running a beta test with a few organisations, with the plan for a mass rollout in the first quarter of 2015.

“There is also the free to air services which the group will be offering in collaboration with the second largest satellite provider in Europe. This

service would launch with 30 TV channels and is planned to be launched in quarter 4, this year. CWG’s smart grid solution to Electricity distribution Companies (DISCOS) is at POC stage with two of the largest Discos in Nigeria and we expect that this new line of business will be at implementation stage by Q3 2015,” Okere said.

According to him, CWG will continue to focus in growing the brand through initiatives directed towards empowering the African entrepreneur.

“The declining sale is partly reflective of some changes in procurement pattern for ICT goods generally. As part of seeking efficiencies in ICT procurements, users’ procurement processes are increasingly stretched, to find best value from competing offers,” he said.

He said in spite of the challenges, the financial position of the group remains strong with adequate liquidity, leverage and efficiency ratios.

AIICO completes restructuring, cancels 1.87b shares

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IICO Insurance Plc has com pleted its group corporate re structuring and consolidation as the insurance group seeks to enhance its corporate efficiency and reduce costs.

The restructuring included the consolidation of other subsidiaries, such as AIICO General Insurance Company Limited and AIICO Asset Management Company Limited.

The consolidation led to cancellation of 1.87 billion ordinary shares of AIICO Insurance Plc, reducing the issued and fully paid ordinary shares of the company to some 6.93 billion ordinary shares.

It came on the heels of a $20 million convertible loan deal between Aiico Insurance Plc and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

AIICO had indicated in January that it had opened discussions on a $20 million convertible loan deal that may see IFC holding substantial equity stake in the Nigeria-listed insurance company.

Regulatory filing indicated that the IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank, plans to extend $20 million, about N3.4 billion to Aiico Insurance.

Under the arrangement, IFC has an option to convert any unpaid part of the convertible loan to equities in

Aiico, referencing similar strategy that has seen IFC acquiring major stakes in many Nigerian financial institutions.

At market valuation, the convertible loan deal could see IFC holding as much as one third of Aiico’s shareholding. Aiico’s issued share capital of 8.80 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each is valued at N6.86 billion.

IFC had made similar arrangement to invest $12.5 million in Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc in 2012. The Custodian deal came through a 4.5 per cent convertible loan stock, an approximately N1.95 billion deal that allowed IFC to convert the debt stock into equities upon the terms of the agreement.

IFC acquired additional 4.6 per cent equity stake in Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Plc, the financial services holding group for all Ecobank banks, including Ecobank Nigeria Limited.

ETI, which is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) and the BRVM, Abidjan, issued more than 838.32 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to IFC, through convertible loan deals involving two funds being managed by the corporation.

• From Left: Anabel Leadership Academy’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nicholas Okoye, Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Engr.Ernest Nwapa, at the launch of Youth Empowerment Strategy, Oil and Gas Sector in Abuja.

Resort Savings woos customers

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ESORT Savings and Loans Plc has instituted a reward-system for all customers that maintain a certain minimum balance in their accounts over a period of time.

Head, Business Development, Resort Savings and Loans Plc , Mr Yemi Popoola, made this known during a chat with reporters in Lagos on the bank’s efforts at putting smiles on the faces of its teeming customers.

Custodian and Allied records N5b profit

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USTODIAN and Allied Plc grew its bottom-line by 19 per cent in the immediate past business year, sustaining resilient performance that has made the insurance and investment company one of the most active insurance stocks on the stock market.

The group’s total assets base rose to N48.9 billion while profit before tax and profit after tax were N5.15 billion and N4.09 billion, indicating a year on year growth of 19 per cent in profit before tax.

The Board of Directors of the company has proposed the payment of an additional 12 kobo per share as final dividend thus making a total dividend of 18 kobo per share for the 2014 financial year.

It had paid an interim dividend of 6.0 kobo per share in September, 2014.

The management of the company stated that it has continued to maintain its leadership position in the other financial services sector while its subsidiaries lead in their respective subsectors.

Custodian and Allied Insurance is a wholly-owned Nigerian investment holding company with significant investments in general and life insurance, pension fund administration, trusteeship and property holding businesses.

The Custodian Group consists of Custodian and Allied Plc (the holding company), Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited, Custodian Life Assurance Limited, Custodian Trustees Limited and CrusaderSterling Pensions Limited.

In a recent review, Chief finance officer, Custodian and Allied Plc, Ademola Ajuwon, noted that

favourable underwriting income from the insurance subsidiaries and remarkable efficiency gains were factors that contributed to the improved result.

According to him, the performance is a concise representation of Custodian and Allied Plc’s unrelenting commitment to its corporate ideal of exceeding customer and other stakeholders’ expectations at all times as demonstrated daily through customer focus, comprehensive systems, processes and operations integration.

“Barring any unforeseen adverse developments, management is confident that the company’s well-articulated business plans and forecast will be achieved in the short, medium and long terms; ultimately benefiting all stakeholders,” Ajuwon said.

According to him, the bank has over time introduced numerous customer-friendly products while the reward system is the bank’s own way of giving back to its customers.

“Our customer base is growing by the day and a lot of people are getting to identify with us. The only way we can make them have a sense of belonging is to ensure that they are not only rewarded for banking with us, but also for introducing other customers to all mortgage related products,” Popoola said.

He outlined that the rewardsystem will recognize customers who open Resort Reward System Account and build up team by introducing other customers to open accounts with the mortgage bank.

He added that introducing new customers automatically qualifies the facilitating customer to become a team leader while the people introduced become his team members.

“As a team leader you get paid monthly interest on the balances in the account of your team members. The larger your team account balances the higher the reward amount paid to you. Team members can also be elevated as leaders as they introduce customers,” Popoola explained.

The gift to the customers will be commensurate with the balances maintained in their accounts with the mortgage bank.

A customer who maintains a minimum balance of N100, 000 for instance will definitely get rewarded more than those with lower balances. The beauty of this reward system is that all customers will get rewarded so far they maintain a minimum balance over a period of time.

He encouraged customers of the bank to make inquiries at every branch of the bank to know what will accrue to them depending on how much they want to maintain in the bank as their minimum balance.

He observed that the banking culture in Nigeria is improving by the day noting however that there is enough room for improvement in the mortgage sector of the economy.

“Gradually Nigerians are embracing the banking culture but we believe we are still largely under-banked. So many people are still not using the bank and that is why we think a reward system where people get rewarded for banking with us will attract more customers and make them have a sense of belonging. We also believe a reward system will also make customers know that we care for them,” Popoola said.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

38

SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Essiet_daniel@yahoo.com 08180714151

The fashion industry has become a huge sector beyond the conventional art of ‘cutting and sewing.’ The influx of well educated Nigerians into the industry has created opportunities for talented, young entreprneurs with creative ideas to explore other concepts in fashion This has not only resulted into fantastic designs, but swelling their bank accounts. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

Ideas, colour matching as new frontiers in fashion business

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HE evolution in the nation’s fashion industry over the last three decades has been phenomenal. From the traditional ‘cutting and sewing’, to exquisite designs by specialist, which is subsequently translated into sewn clothings, the evolution has not ceased. Now, entrepreneurs and idealistic Nigerians are cashing in on a growing phenomenon in the sector, matching fashion with their clients’ lifestyles and needs.

One of such early birds in this emerging trend is Mr. Gbenga Samuel Olasele, Chief Executive, Fashion Concepts Abode Limited.

Olasele, a graduate of Botany from the University of Lagos(UNILAG), may not have had a formal training in fashion related vocation, his ideas, concepts, and incredible talent, have now endeared him to many in the industry and other fashionistas.

Olasele’s journey with the art started when he was young. He discovered he was fascinated to fabrics, designs and splashes of colour.

Motivated by this, Olasele started learning fashion with his mother’s machine. After mastering how to sew, he got two machines from an aunt. While the interest was the burning, he had to contend with a bigger ambition of reading medicine. Since he couldn’t meet the cut-off point, he settled for botany. This didn’t diminish his love for fashion.

His talent was further honned while in the university, as he was making dresses for his colleagues, which captured the attention of people around. In the process, he learnt skills that have helped to elevate him to a higher level of style. He began to pay attention to artisanal details, luxurious fabrics and designs that flatter the form and spirit.

•Colour combination for fashion designers

•Olasele

Olasele can be described as an artist at heart, who works with several media and derives joy using them as means of expressing him-

self. These later characterised the easy to wear, sophisticated and modern shapes which he seeks to achieve through his works.

Now, his mentality about fashion has changed. Not only does he sees the business as both rewarding and offering ample opportunities to work with different specialists, he considers the business from a socio-cultural and economic aspects, including the whole gamut of delivering production capacity, quality control and management of workers. And to remain competitive and on top of his game, Olasele kept himself updated on current trends, including anticipating upcoming styles and creations in order to stay competitive in the field.

When he graduated in 2002, he

was already experienced to start something on his own. But he had to overcome the challenge of strong competition as a starter.

His talent in colour combination gave him incredible leverage, standing him out among the crowd..

This is because when it comes to fabrics and colours, he ensures they gel well with the theme of his collection. He appreciates colours which carry a statement, and uses colours that matches the mood of the collection or occasion.

His words: “Colours are shining droplets that add to your mood illumination.”

According to him, it is “a serious work recognising colour trends and helping people make a statement by what they wear”.

This is why Olasele has tried to create designs that not only reflect a geographical location, but connect colour to the environment.

As customers want outfits showing many moods- sunshine and happiness, whether at funeral, weddings and anniversaries, Olasele said it is important to produce something that will positively lift spirits, add the luminosity and an ethereal qualities that undulate and vibrate.

His experimentation and sense of what is current and modern, yet traditional, is what makes his combination remarkable. He endeavours to showcase class with cuts and colour combinations that are catchy and memorable to survive in an industry that is not only glamorous and elegant but vibrant, dynamic, vigorous, challenging and competitive. Olasele does everything to welcome innovation, creativity and freedom of expression.

He does not shy away from experimenting with clothes and accessories. Above all, he tries to unleash the entrepreneur inside him.

Beyond this, his mission is to offer quality, colourful, creative, conscious, responsibly made clothing to people who are determined to bring about a positive change and spread their message through artfully designed and carefully handcrafted pieces of fashion that encompass peace, love and freedom.

He wants to be well-known for distinctive use of colours, quality of fabrics, intricate embroideries and gloriously rich aesthetics.

From his look, the future of glamour business is bright, therefore it is attracting thousands of youths to make a living.

‘Self discovery key to business survival’ The renewed drive in the micro and medium scale business sector has created jobs and revenues for Nigerians and the government. More people are now capitalising on these prospects by rendering niche services aimed at moving the sector forward. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

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HEN Doris Onwugamba, Chief Executive, Green Pearls Services, Lagos, graduated from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with a degree in Estate Management, her joy knew no bound.

Full of expectations to turn around the property market and make quick money, Onwugamba secured employment with an estate surveying firm. She, however, lost interest in the job a few months later and opted to work in her family business of producing bean flour. However, getting customers to buy bean flour was then a challenge. She then deviced the strategy of bringing samples to potential clients who didn’t understand what she was offering. Months later, people were impressed and more customers came.

Onwugamba repackaged the bean flour and before long she was supplying a lot of people and sales were growing astronomically. The idea was revolutionary.

To boost the business at that time, there were public

enlightenment programmes to enhance nutritional value, appeal and consumption of beans and bean-based products. All these actually worked for her.

This was the beginning of her idea of having something for the working women.

This breakthrough was godsent and Onwugamba and her team have been working with many customers. The allure for her products was more than just the flour. It’s about the customer service that comes with them.

Enjoying a burgeoning market for she responded by employing more hands to market and promote the product. It was apparent to all that there was a potential market for products processed from beans.

The potential for bean market growth, in addition to the explosive growth in the foods industry, offered a promising outlook for the company.The surge in sales came as more consumers realised its health benefits.

Although, she prided herself in the fact that her products were nutritious and wholesome, she

couldn’t cope with the cost of meeting food regulatory agency’s licensing fees. Dealing with appropriate regulations was too high for small businesses such as hers.

Consequently, the pressure was too much and following incessant harassments her business eventually packed up.

But that didn’t mark the end of the road for her. Not discouraged by her relatively failed business attempt, she saw another opportunity and started taking on random projects for businesses.

She tried her hands on investment management consultancy and made some money. Gradually, she discovered her skill in business restructuring and took the challenge of helping to reposition a company on Lagos Island.

She was satisfied she helped to do something for the firm to achieve growth.

She then started another business with N15, 000. The money took care of letter head paper, business registration and corporate envelopes. And since

2008 when she started her consulting business, Onwugamba has helped a lot of people to hone their skills and launched their businesses.

She assisted them in doing what they want to do, instead of just working for someone else. Her business thrive on word of mouth as passionate customers have recommended her services to others.

The common trend in all her assignments involve building businesses through innovative approaches in market, product, and organisational development.

She has also been successful at growing sales, coaching organisations, establishing new business ventures, and setting up distribution channels.

She connects emerging entrepreneurs to the resources, talent, and funds they require to enter the market place, facilitating wealth and job creation.

Assisting business owners and entrepreneurs, she said, is critical because they are the driving force behind a nation’s economic growth.

•Onwugamba

She explained, however, that it is important to start a business defining or knowing what one’s passion really is.

This, she stressed, is important otherwise, the satisfaction will not be there.

According to her, making the decision to be an entrepreneur with the aim of making more money is good; but it only goes part way to giving one lasting motivation.

Having passion, she added, will keep the business going and create a strong momentum.

According to her, it is important entrepreneurs step back and consider the deeper reasons for starting their businesses, and they will begin to uncover what they truly love about the work they do.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

39

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Lagarde welcomes loan payment commitment from Athens

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NTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde has welcomed news that Athens will make a loan payment due to the IMF this week.

Greece’s Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said his country intended to meet “all obligations to all its creditors, ad infinitum”.

His comments followed a meeting in Washington with IMF officials.

It has been almost five years since the start of the Greek bailout.

Ms Lagarde said in a statement that she and Mr Varoufakis had agreed continuing uncertainty over Greece’s ability to repay its debt was not in the country’s interest.

“I welcomed confirmation by

the minister that payment owing to the Fund would be forthcoming on April 9th,” Ms Lagarde said.

“I expressed my appreciation for the minister’s commitment to improve the technical teams’ ability to work with the authorities to conduct the necessary due diligence in Athens, and to enhance the policy discussions with the teams in Brussels, both of which will resume promptly.”

There had been concerns that Greece would not be able to meet its IMF loan repayment of •450m.

Greece has been in tense, drawnout negotiations in recent months with its creditors over its bailout program.

In February, its government ne-

gotiated a four-month extension to its bailout in return for dropping key anti-austerity measures and undertaking a eurozone-approved reform programme.

But IMF leaders together with the European Union (EU) have frozen aid to the cash-strapped nation until its government comes to an agreement on the reform package.

Last week, the country presented a new package of reforms in the hope of receiving some funding, but the proposal has not yet received approval from EU and IMF lenders.

The delay of about •7.2bn ($7.9billion; £5.3billion) due to be delivered to Greece has forced the government to use its reserves to meet its obligations.

•From left: Chief Executive Officer, Spinlet Group, Mr. Neil Schwartzman; Manager, Digital Media, Etisalat Nigeria, Mrs. Chinenye Faleye; and Director, Business Segments, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Lucas Dada at a public function in Lagos.

Cyprus lifts capital controls

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YPRUS is lifting the last re maining capital controls it imposed on its banking system during the financial crisis of 2013.

Cyprus was the only crisis-hit eurozone country to restrict capital transfers, as it faced a run on the banks.

The controls were eased in January.

There will no longer be a monthly cap of •20,000 (£15,000; $22,000) on transfers by individuals to foreign banks, or of •10,000 for travellers moving money out of the country.

Cyprus received a •10bn bailout from the EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) after its biggest banks nearly collapsed in March 2013 because of huge losses on their Greek investments.

The island’s second-biggest lender, Cyprus Popular Bank (also known as Laiki Bank), was wound up and deposits worth more than •100,000 in the largest bank, Bank of Cyprus, were seized.

Those measures were part of the deal to ensure that Cyprus funded part of the •10bn bailout.

Speaking on Friday, Cyprus Presi-

dent Nicos Anastasiades voiced confidence that the Mediterranean island was recovering well, despite three years of recession.

Lifting capital controls, he said, was “a vote of confidence in our banking system which, now fully independent of Greek banking institutions, can move forward”.

The Greek debt crisis had a severe impact on Cypriot banks, which lost about •4.5bn worth of Greek sovereign bonds - equivalent to 25% of Cypriot gross domestic product, Reuters news agency reports.

Saudi’s Asia price increase lifts oil price

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IL futures climbed more than $1 a barrel on Mon day, after Saudi Arabia raised its prices for crude sales to Asia for the second month running, signaling improved demand in the region.

International benchmark Brent regained ground after tumbling as much as five per cent on Thursday when Iran reached a preliminary deal on its nuclear program with six world powers. More Iranian oil could enter global markets if that is followed by a comprehensive deal by June.

But expectations of an immediate increase in supply have been tempered as analysts warned a ramp-up in exports could take months and would likely not happen before 2016.

“While clearly a bearish headline,

a final deal and full lifting of sanctions still faces a number of obstacles,” Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note.

“Even if a final deal is reached, we do not expect any physical market impact before 2016,” the analysts said.

Brent crude for May delivery LCOc1 touched a high of $56.90 a barrel and was up $1.29 from Thursday at $56.24 by 1436 GMT. U.S. crude for May delivery CLc1 was $1 higher at $50.14 a barrel, after earlier touching $50.97.

There was no trading in either Brent or U.S. crude futures on Friday as markets were closed for the start of the Easter holiday.

The world’s top exporter Saudi Arabia kept output steady and cut its official selling prices (OSPs) sharply late last year in a fight for

market share during a global supply glut.

Its ability to raise prices for April and May suggests its strategy is working, although competition has kept its flagship Arab Light at a discount to Oman/Dubai quotes, analysts said.

It is unclear exactly when sanctions on Iran would be lifted if a deal is reached in June. Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, said on Saturday that U.N. sanctions would be lifted immediately after a deal, but the United States released a fact sheet on Thursday saying that sanctions would be lifted as Iran demonstrates compliance with the terms of a deal.

“Both sides will describe the deal differently,” said Olivier Jakob of Swiss-based consultancy Petromatrix.

Pension cash changes come into force

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HE shake-up is one of the coalition government’s biggest re forms, allowing people who have saved for a pension to do what they want with their money.

It means people who are retiring no longer have to buy an annuity to provide a fixed, regular income.

The changes were announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his March 2014 Budget.

Until now those who were retiring could cash in up to 25 per cent of their pension pot as a tax-free lump sum.

They then had two options: reinvest their pension pot - or keep their current investments - and take an income from their funds as they needed. The second option open to them was to take out an annuity, which provided a fixed, regular income in their retirement.

The changes that have now come into force mean those due to retire now can do whatever they like with 100% of their pension pot, for example invest in property, although crucially they will still only receive the first 25% tax free.

The reforms have been welcomed in principle, but pensions experts have raised concerns about how they will operate in practice.

Many pension companies have said they are not yet ready to allow people to cash in their pensions because it brings extra costs to schemes as well as risk.

More than half of workplace pension schemes are still undecided about whether to offer access to the new freedoms, and 15% say they definitely will not, according to pension consultants Xafinity.

Software glitch hits Google gmail users

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MAIL users around the world saw errors and safety warnings over the weekend after Google forgot to update a key part of the messaging software.

Google said a “majority” of users were affected by the shortterm software problem.

While people could still access and use Gmail many people saw “unexpected behaviour” because of the problem.

Many reported the errors via Twitter seeking clarification from Google about what had gone wrong.

The error messages started appearing early on 4 April and hit people trying to send email messages from Gmail and some of the firm’s messaging apps.

The problems arose because Google had neglected to renew a security certificate for Gmail and its app services. The certificate helps the software establish a secure connection to a destination, so messages can be sent with

little fear they will be spied upon.

Google’s own in-house security service, called Authority G2, administers the security certificates and other secure software systems for the search giant.

Information about the problem was posted to status pages Google maintains for its apps and email services.

In the status message, Google said the problem was “affecting a majority of users” who were seeing error messages. It added that the glitch could cause programs to act in “unexpected” ways.

The problem was resolved about two hours after it was first noticed.

The glitch comes soon after Google started refusing security certificates issued by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). Google said a security lapse by the CNNIC meant the certificates could no longer be trusted. CNNIC called the decision “unacceptable and unintelligible”.

Smile deploys broadband services to oil, gas confab

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MILE Communications a broad band service provider has been commended for providing super-fast Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) internet service to participants at the just concluded Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja.

The speed and reliability of the WiFi internet service provided by the firm excited both guests and organisers of the conference, which earned the broadband company a lot of commendation. The company was commended and praised for providing the conference with very reliable and super-fast internet services.

The annual Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, under the auspices of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), took place between March 16 and 19.

Conference organisers expressed delight that the partnership with Smile helped to ensure that most of the exhibitors and visitors to the conference experienced uninterrupted internet services.

Speaking on the firm’s participation at the annual conference, its Chief Marketing Officer, Alero Ladipo said the firm’s involvement in this year’s conference is in line with its quest of striking strategic alliance with relevant sectorial groups within corporate Nigeria.

She noted that the oil and gas sector is vital to Smile’s corporate objective of helping the overall growth and development of the Nigerian economy.

The conference provided a platform for the Nigerian oil and gas

industry to discuss and debate the most pressing issues facing the industry as well as share successes and network with industry peers.

The speaker line-up at the conference included senior representatives from government, new and existing managing directors of international oil companies operating in Nigeria, independent oil companies, international and indigenous services companies, financiers and lawyers who were able to address the delegates, voicing the different perspectives of the industry.

The conference hosted over 6500 visitors and over 250 exhibiting companies, majority of which were indigenous. The exhibitors were able to showcase the latest technologies, products and services to current and potential business partners to secure deals and drive business forward. Exhibitors were unanimous in their praises for the ISP for providing efficient internet service that helped made the conference a resounding success.

Ladipo thanked the exhibitors and visitors alike for patronising and appreciating Smile and its range of services. She noted that the company’s commendable outing at the conference is in keeping with its transformative objective of using the best and most innovative technologies to provide its customers with high quality, easy to use and affordable communication services. Smile’s vision and mission, she reiterated, remains the quest to be the broadband provider of choice in Nigeria and to enable its customers to fully benefit from the internet world.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

BUSINESS AFRICA

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Cement producers advise Buhari over price

HE Cement Producers Association of Nigeria (CPAN) has advised the presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to take a critical look at the cement sector, arguing that selling the product at N1000 per bag was possible.

Its Chairman, Prince David Iweta, lamented that the N2,200 price of cement per bag was too expensive.

“We wish to use this medium to appeal to you and your government at inauguration to declare a Change of price of cement from

•Root for N1,000 per bag N2,200 per bag to N1,000 per bag.

“This will serve as the first dividend of Change, which the people of Nigeria voted for,” Iweta said.

The group said cement industry after the death of President Musa Yar’Adua has witnessed the worst height of price increase, adding that Nigeria is has the highest price of cement in the world.

He said: “It is worthy of men-

By Toba Agboola

tion that countries that have attained self sufficiency in cement production all over the world sell cement at N500 per bag but in Nigeria where the Federal Government has claimed success in the cement industry and net exporter of cement is selling the commodity at N2,200 per bag. It is a known fact that all West Africa counties, East, North and South Africa sell cement under

N1,000 per bag but in Nigeria, it is selling for N2,200.”

He said new foreign direct investors are barred from venturing into the Nigeria cement industry since the past six years so that cement price will remain high.

According to the group, it is in line with international best practice to allow cement importation at the coastal regions for the purpose of cheap cement for such region instead of transporting the products over a long distance by road, one of the factors which has often been blamed for the punitive cost of the product.

“But in Nigeria the reverse is the case. Cement should be allowed to be imported into Lagos, Warri, Calabar. Even with high degree of infrastructure development in Germany and Iran, cement is allowed to be imported into the coastal areas of these countries because it is cheaper by sea in large volume than by road within same country.

“But in Nigeria, it is the opposite.

Why? The reasons for the above are perpetuated by a single individual that wish to enrich himself enough to buy the country called Nigeria and dictate the industrial policy of government,” he lamented.

Cameroon to issue $92m in bonds

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AMEROON will issue up to 55 billion CFA francs ($92 million) in treasury bonds in the second quarter of this year, the state radio quoted the finance ministry as saying.

The central African state said earlier this year it planned to issue nearly three times as much debt this year as in last

year amid a shortfall in oil revenues due to slumping global crude prices.

The ministry said treasury bonds would be issued on April 30 and May 28 with maturity periods of two and three years. Cameroon issued bonds in the first quarter with a maximum maturity period of one year.

Kenya’s tourism industry under threat •Shilling falls after terror attack

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•Children catching fun during the Easter Monday celebration in Ibadan.

PHOTO: FEMI ILESANMI

Sri Lankan Airlines accused of corruption

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RI Lanka’s new government has accused the national air line of a “culture of corrup-

tion” The Sri Lankan government has launched a criminal investigation into the country’s national airline over allegations of “shocking” corruption.

A statement from the prime minister’s office said that an inquiry had unearthed “major security breaches” at Sri Lankan Airlines.

The statement alleges irregularities in a $2.3billion purchase of 10 aircraft made under the previous

government.

The loss-making airline is 95per cent state-owned and five per cent owned by staff.

It is the latest in a string of corruption allegations made against the administration of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The statement, issued by the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, accuses Mr Rajapaksa of making management changes within the airline to allow the $2.3bn-dollar purchase of 10 new aircraft “despite the availability of more cost-effective alternatives”.

The former chairman of the airline, Nishantha Wickramasinghe, is also singled out by the statement, accused of a “gross abuse of power”.

Mr Wickramasinghe - who is Mr Rajapaksa’s brother-in-law - is accused of exposing the airline to “reputational damage” by his “penchant for young air hostesses”, as well as falsifying documents to lease a luxury sports car.

The statement also accuses the airline of attempting to “hush-up two serious flying mishaps”, although no details are given.

Mr Rajapaksa, in power since 2005, was defeated in an election in January 2015, by Maithripapa Srisena.

African oil producers seek production cut

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HE African Petroleum Pro ducers Association (AAPA), which represents oil and gas producers from Algeria to South Africa, have called for a cut in oil output globally.

The group also includes the continent’s biggest producers, Nigeria and Angola. It’s starting an initiative, led by Angola and Algeria, to seek collaboration between members of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producers to reduce output and stabilise oil prices, which have halved since the end of June.

APPA wants “to set up a platform of commitment at the international level from the producing countries,” said Ousmane Doukoure, director of exploration and production at Ivory Coast’s oil ministry, as he read out a statement at the end of an APPA meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s commercial capital.

African countries from Angola to

Nigeria to Equatorial Guinea have had to cut their budgets in recent months after the plunge in oil prices affected the amount of income they will get from their biggest exports. Countries, including the continent’s biggest economy Nigeria, have slashed growth forecasts.

“We are very concerned by the drop of the price,” said Gabriel Lima Obiang, oil minister for Equatorial Guinea, after the meeting. “We are revising already our budget because of the price and we have been welcoming an initiative by Angola and Algeria to study a way we can work together to stabilize the price in the future.”

Of the African producers only Algeria, Libya, Nigeria and Angola are members of OPEC. While some members of OPEC have called for an output cut the biggest producer in the organization, Saudi Arabia, is opposing any reduction in output.

“The current prices are unfair and are having an impact on the economies of African countries,” Mashallah Zwai, oil minister for the Tripoli-based Islamist government in Libya, said through an interpreter. “We will ensure our voice is heard about this crisis so as to emerge from it as soon as possible.”

Zwai said Africa accounts for about 8 percent of global oil production.

Libya is split with a separate government, based in the Eastern town of Tobruk, recognised by the United Nations (UN).

“It has been a drastic reduction” in the oil price, Obiang said. “What we need to do is think of new initiatives, for example the diversification of our economies, so as we don’t depend on oil.”

Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, relies on the commodity for over 90 per cent of its export income.

Brent crude oil traded at $54.95 a barrel on Thursday. Its lowest level since June was $46.59 on Jan. 13.

OTELIERS from Kenya’s In dian Ocean coast region and sprawling game park reserves said tourists have started cancelling trips to the east African nation after Islamist gunmen last week killed 148 people at a university campus.

Chilling survivor testimonies recounting how gunmen from Somalia’s al-Shabaab militant group hunted down and killed students has shocked Kenya and dealt a fresh blow to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s plans to boost the tourism sector.

Meanwhile, Al Shebaab’s terror campaign is starting to have a deleterious economy-wide consequence. “The sell-off that’s driven the Kenyan shilling to the lowest against the dollar in more than three years is poised to extend after the country’s deadliest attack by Islamist militants in more than 16 years. The currency weakened to its lowest since Nov.16, 2011 after militants attacked a university on April 2, killing 147 people. With Somalia’s al-Shabaab militants threatening more violence, tourism, which has been in decline since the start of 2013, may shrink further, impacting the East Afri-

can nation’s second-largest source of foreign exchange, according to Rich Management Ltd. The shilling has declined for four consecutive weeks.”

A vital part of east Africa’s biggest economy, Kenya’s tourism industry has been in decline since 2013 when al-Shabaab stormed an upscale shopping mall in the capital Nairobi, killing 67 people during a bloody four-day siege.

Since then, repeat al-Shabaab attacks and travel warnings issued by the likes of Britain, US and Australia emptied Kenya’s palmfringed beaches and forced hotels to lay off staff.

Hoteliers say the pre-dawn attack on a campus in Garissa, a remote town 200km from the Somalia border, far off the tourist trail, is likely to spark another wave of redundancies in the hospitality sector.

“We were expecting tourists from UK, Germany, France, Australia and Asia continent but they cancelled their bookings when they learnt of the terror attack,” said Peter Kipeno, the owner of a luxury tented camp in Kenya’s Maasai Mara game park, nearly 600km from Garissa.

Zinox chief chairs BoICT lecture/awards

C

HAIRMAN, Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, has accepted to chair this year’s Beacon of ICT (BoICT) Distinguished Lecture/ Awards Series, widely regarded as the most prestigious annual event available in the ICT industry in Nigeria.

In a statement, Ekeh will chair the occasionl while Managing Director/ CEO, VDT Communications, Biodun Omoniyi, delivers the keynote address. The theme of this year’s lecture is What Next for Nigerian Telecommunications?

The lecture and award ceremony is slated for April 25 at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.

CEO, Communication Week Media, organisers of the event, Ken Nwogbo, said: “The choice of Mr. Ekeh is apt. He has a record of incisive entrepreneurship and he believes that one of his legacies is to alter positively the destiny of many poor Nigerians through his knowledge democracy platforms.

“We are excited to have him at this year’s lecture and awards which is set to be one of the most anticipated annual events on the ICT industry’s calendar.”

Now in its sixth year, the lecture is

•SAVED ON NEWS 10 INSIDE BUS. PAGE RONKE & BUS INTER &AFRICA 8-4-2015 WED

also the largest gathering of ICT practitioners including regulators, financial sector under one roof.

At the inaugural edition of the lecture, former Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, delivered the lecture and foretold a broadband revolution.

The following year, it was the turn of Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa, former Director-General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) who looked at digitisation of broadcasting.

In 2012, Dr. Jean Luc Fort, CEO at OR System France and a specialist in Counterparty Risk spoke while 2013, Prof Chris Nwagboso, Chairman, Knowledge Factory International, United Kingdom and integrated transport and automotive systems specialist with works in innovation and enterprise, delivered the keynote.

He spoke on the theme: “Technology Adaption; Looking IT Straight In the Eye”.

Last year, Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), shared his wealth of global experience in the financial services sector with ICT industry.

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BUSINESS EXTRA Bank manager, court officials held for alleged theft

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• Executive Director, Corporate, International & Investment Banking, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Emeka Okonkwo presenting the keys of Hilux Patrol Vehicle equipped with security gadgets to the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Kayode Aderanti.With them are: Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) J. B. Kokumo in charge of Operations and Head of Corporate Security and Safety, Union Bank, Sam Agbanusi in Lagos.

‘Transact business in dollar and go to jail for six months’

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HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) has warned that anyone who transacts business using foreign currencies in Nigeria risks six months imprisonment or a fine.

A statement by the CBN Director, Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Mu’azu, said the CBN Act “stipulates that any person(s) who contravenes this provision is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a prescribed fine, or

T

From Nduka Chiejina (Asst. Editor)

six months imprisonment.”

It said the apex bank has “observed that some institutions price their goods and services in foreign currencies and demand payments in foreign currencies rather than the domestic currency (the Naira), which is the legal tender in Nigeria. The CBN Act of 2007, states inter-alia that the currency notes issued by the bank shall be legal ten-

der in Nigeria…for the payment of any amount.”

The CBN lamented what it called the increasing use of foreign currencies in the domestic economy as a medium of payment for goods and services by individuals and corporates, warning that whoever “contravenes this provision is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a prescribed fine or six months imprisonment.”

This prohibition, Mu’azu

said, “is without prejudice to foreigners, visitors and tourists who are encouraged to continue to use their cards for payments or exchange their foreign currency for local currency at any of the authorized dealers’ outpost.”

The general public was advised to report any contravention of the provision of this Act to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for appropriate action.

Fed Govt to sanction companies with fake EIA certificate

HE Federal Govern ment has threatened to sanction any erring company, local or multinational, that parades Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) certificate not duly issued by it.

There has been a lingering tussle between National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency(NESREA) and State Ministries and Environmental agencies over the enforcement of the EIA, until it was settled through a landmark judgement of the Appeal Court in December 2014 The EIA law was enacted to regulate development processes that may directly or indirectly impact negatively on the environment. By the Act, no industrial plan, de-

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

velopment or activity can be executed without prior consideration of the environmental consequences of such proposed project.

Speaking on the landmark judgement in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, stated that it was the duty of the ministry to issue EIA anywhere across the country while NESREA was statutorily empowered to enforce compliance.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Nana Mede, therefore insisted that henceforth the ministry would

give punishment to any company that parades EIA certificate not issued by it.

She stated: “It is the responsibility of the Federal Mi is try of Environment to oversee the conduct of an EIA process by a proponent, including the issuance of Environmental Impact Assessment certificate.

“The statutory responsibility of NESREA is to ensure that EIA process is carried out and that the elements/issues identified in the EIA certificate are complied with, as well as to ensure that the environmental audits are carried out in line with the extant regulations and guidelines.”

She insisted that the process of EIA could not be compromised, adding that it was mandatory for any company or regulated community to embark on process before embarking on any development project with potential negative effect on the environment.

In this regards, the minister called on all individuals, corporate bodies and state environmental authorities to cooperate fully with NESREA in the enforcement of the provisions of the EIA Act and other extant environmental laws and regulations.

Reacting, NESREA Director General, Dr. Lawrence Anuka, said that the judgement was key to the realization of the agency’s mandate.

FFICIALS of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and Keystone Bank Plc have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their alleged involvement in fraud, resulting in the theft of about N30million belonging to an ex-Senator, the late Amasike Iwuagwu.

The deceased, who died in 2005, represented Owerri Senatorial Zone at the Senate having been elected on April 12, 2003.

He was former Policy Adviser to former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998-1999), Economist at the World Bank (1985-1987) and Chief Policy Analyst for the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in the Office of the Adviser to the President on Petroleum and Energy 19821984.

Those arrested include a manager with Keystone Bank, Wuse 2, Abuja, Mrs Edna Akpan, a lawyer and Senior Registrar attached to the Probate Unit of the FCT High Court, Luke Oko and an official of the court’s Proc-

A

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

resides in the United Kingdom, had written Sanomi through Televeras’ UK subsidiary - Taleveras Services UK - demanding, among others, 30million pounds, based on a said oral agreement between him and Sanomi, that he (Oghoro) was entitled to 15 per cent of the company’s annual profit, between 2000 and 2005 while their work relationship lasted.

Oghoro took further steps by initiating a pre-action protocol against Sanomi in the UK, which saw Oghoro’s lawyer and lawyers representing Sanomi and his companies - Taleveras Services UK and Taleveras Group of Companies - exchanged letters last year with a view to establishing what was actually owed Oghoro.

While lawyers to parties were still in the pre-action protocol stage in the UK,

Sanomi and TGCL sued Oghoro before the High Court of the FCT, Abuja, denying any contractual relationship with the defendant.

They also complained about the letter, which the plaintiffs said had cast them in bad light before Taleveras UK, who they claimed was a business partner and not TGCL’s subsidiary as claimed by the defendant (Oghoro).

The plaintiffs urged the court to declare among others that the defendant’s claims in the letter dated August 5 last year, were “frivolous, incredible and made in bad faith.” The plaintiffs further sought a declaration that the letter, which they claimed carried the imputation of dishonesty and portrayed them (the plaintiffs) as debtors, is defamatory of their persons.

Sanomi and TGCL urged the court to award

N500million against the defendant for libel in relation to the August 5 letter and another N20million in their favour, as cost of the suit.

They equally prayed for an order restraining the defendant from further claiming any contractual relationship between them, and sought a declaration to the effect that, even if there was any contract between them and the defendant, the cause of action was statute barred and no longer enforceable.

Delivering judgment on March 24 this year, Justice Musa dismissed the defendant’s counter-claim on the grounds that it was statute barred and that it disclosed no cause of action.

Justice Musa refused the plaintiffs’ prayers for N520million in relation to their libel claim and the cost of prosecuting the suit on the ground that they were not proved.

ess Unit, Mathew Ekele. A former staff of Keystone Bank, who later moved to First Bank Plc, Onyekachi Guy Ochiagha is said to be at large.

Court documents, accessed by The Nation, revealed how they allegedly manipulated the probate procedure of the court, with Mrs Akpan and Ochiagha posing as wife and son of the late Senator Amasike Iwuagwu, to claim N27,240,870.13, which was the outstanding balance in the Senator’s account with Keystone Bank before his death. Oko was said to have later destroyed all court documents relating to the transactions, including the probate file.

Their arrest, it was learnt, resulted from a February 14, 2014 letter written by one of the court’s judges, Justice Olasumbo Goodlcuk, urging the court’s Chief Judge to look into the matter. Justice Goodluck’s letter was said to have been informed by a complaint from the late Senator’s actual wife, Mrs Ngozi Mildred Iwuagwu.

Sunmonu joins Pan Ocean

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HE former Managing Director of Shell Petro leum Development Company (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mutiu Sunmonu, who retired from Shell last month, has been hired as an Executive Consultant by Pan Ocean Group, an indigenous exploration and production (E&P) company.

According to Africa oil+gas report, Sunmonu will not work full time for Pan Ocean but certainly will devote significant time for the company.

Sunmonu, who was introduced to Pan Ocean workers at the end of last month, will be reporting to the board.

Pan Ocean Group’s subsidiary, Newcross Exploration and Production bought SPDC, Agip and Total’s divested interests in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 24 in the eastern Niger Delta last year at a cost of $900 million. Shell held 30 per cent in the asset

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

while Total and Agip held 10 per cent and five per cent.

OML 24 produced 24,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) on average in February 2015, the report said.

Newcross Petroleum Limited is the operator of oil prospecting licences (OPLs) 283/A and 283/C) and Newcross Exploration & Production Limited (operator of OML 24). Their activities are part of Pan Ocean Group’s aggressive efforts to substantially boost production Newcross Petroleum Limited, according to the report, has new discoveries in OPL 283/C and is working to convert the licence to an OML. Pan Ocean operates the 9,000 bopd OML 98 located in the North Central Niger Delta basin. It is also developing the Obi Anyima field in OPL 274, for which it is processing an Oil Mining Licence.

Stakeholders caution on food safety

Businessman, firm lose N520m claim against ex-employee HIGH Court of the Federal Capital Terri tory (FCT), Apo, Abuja has refused a N520million claim made against Bishop Oghoro, an ex-employee of an oil services company, Taleveras Group of Companies Limited (TGCL), by its owner, Igho Sanomi.

Justice O. A Musa, in a judgment, held that Sanomi and his company failed to prove their claim to the award of N500million in libel and N20million as cost of prosecuting the suit against the defendant, Oghoro.

Sanomi and his company had, late last year sued Oghoro after he wrote Sanomi on August 5, of the same year, demanding the payment of his final entitlement. Oghoro resigned from the company in 2005 after a disagreement with the owner.

The defendant, who now

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

N

IGERIANS have been urged to pay atten tion to how food and drinks are being handled so as to avoid food borne and waterborne diarrhoeal diseases.

The Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, made this known yesterday at activity marking this year’s World Health Day (WHD). It was in collaboration with Sanofi Paseur.

With the theme Food Safety, and slogan, ‘From farm to plate’, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is alerting governments, manufacturers, retailers and the public to the importance of food safety, and the part each can play in ensuring that the food on peoples’ plate is safe to eat.

According to Dr Kofo Odeyemi of Association of Public Health Physicians, Lagos State Chapter, Food

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

borne and water borne diarrhoeal disease kill an estimated two million people annually, including many children and particularly in developing countries.

She said, “Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of diarrhea and malnutrition threatening the nutritional status of the most vulnerable. Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of diarrhea and malnutrition, threatening the nutritional status of the most vulnerable.

Food can become contaminated at any point of production and distribution, and the primary responsibility lies with food producers.”

Dr Odeyemi said, “However, a large proportion of food borne disease incidents are caused by foods improperly prepared or mishandled at home, in food service establishments or markets.”

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 07-04-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 07-04-14

FirstBank grows assets to N4.3tr as earnings rise

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BN Holdings Plc, the holding company for First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) and its former subsidiaries, consolidated its position as Nigeria’s largest financial services group with considerable growths in earnings and balance sheet.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of FBN Holdings for the year ended December 31, 2014 released yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), showed double digit growths in key profit and loss and balance sheet items.

The top-down growths strengthened FBN Holdings as the leading financial services group with the largest assets and earnings. Total assets rose by 12.1 per cent from N3.87 trillion in 2013 to N4.34 trillion in 2014. Total liabilities meanwhile also increased by 12.35 per cent to N3.82 trillion in 2014 as against N3.40 trillion recorded in 2013. Shareholders’ funds improved by 10.8 per cent from N471.78 billion to N522.89 billion.

•Shareholders to get 3.26b shares, N3.26b

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

Gross earnings rose by 21.3 per cent to N480.6 billion in 2014 compared with N396.2 billion in 2013. Interest income had grown by 12 per cent from N323.6 billion to N362.6 billion. Net interest income rose to N243.9 billion in contrast with N230.1 billion recorded in previous year. Profit before tax rose marginally from N91.3 billion to N92.9 billion. Profit after tax also grew by 17.3 per cent from N70.6 billion to N82.8 billion.

With these, earnings per share improved from N2.16 in 2013 to N2.55 in 2014, representing an increase of 18 per cent. The board of directors of the holding company has recommended combined cash and scrip dividends. Shareholders would receive a total of 3.26 billion ordinary shares of

50 kobo each as bonus shares in addition to gross cash dividend of N3.26 billion.

The breakdown of the dividend recommendation indicated that shareholders would receive a bonus share of one new share for every 10 shares already held and a dividend per share of 10 kobo.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian equities market opened yesterday to a gale of profittaking after it had garnered about N1.87 trillion in capital gains last week. With 42 losers to 20 gainers, aggregate market value of all quoted companies on the NSE dropped from N12.135 trillion to N11.868 trillion.

All Share Index (ASI) also slipped from 35,728.12 points to close at 34,941.79 points. Total turnover stood at 581.77 million shares valued at N8.31 billion in 7,594 deals.

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 07-04-15

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

55

MONEYLINK

Dollar demand falls

CBN rounds off Global Money Week activities

•Official, black market rates at equilibrum

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OR the first time in many years, the official and parallel market rates for the naira closed together at N197 to dollar.

The naira firmed more than six per cent on parallel market as individuals who had stockpiled dollars to hedge against political risk because of the general elections sold off their holdings, black market dealers said.

The naira firmed to N197 against the dollar on the parallel market operated by Bureau De Change (BDC) agents, the same level as the interbank market, from N210 naira last Thursday.

A BDC operator, Mohammed Abdul, explained that dollar demand has fallen to record low, as many travelers who left for fear of political crisis are returning, when the feared violence and instability did not

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Stories by Collins Nweze

materialise.

“There are too many dollars in the market with no naira,” one black market dealer told Reuters, adding that he had bought dollars as low as N226 just before the elections.

Analysts said the black market rally will be a welcome relief to the central bank, which had been spending billions of dollars to keep the currency on an even keel. As at the end of last month, foreign reserves had dropped by a third to below $30 billion.

Meanwhile, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said it plans to raise N70 billion ($352 million) in sovereign bonds with maturities ranging between five and 20 years on April 15.

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele The debt office said in a notice on Tuesday it will issue N30 billion in five-year bond and N20 billion each in 10- and 20-year notes at an auction, using the Dutch Auction System. All tenors are re-opening of previously issued papers, while results are expected the following day.

UBA deploys new IT platform Finacle 10x

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NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has deployed a new and im proved Information Technology (IT) platform, “Finacle 10x” to enhance its services to customers.

The new IT platform, the lender said in a statement, will enable customers carry out quick, efficient and secure services such as internet banking, mobile banking, via the bank’s e-platforms.

Besides, it also improves the uptime period on the bank’s e-Channels like the POS machines and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

UBA’s Group Managing Director/ CEO, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, explained that the lender embarked on major upgrade of its systems to simplify its processes and significantly improve the customer experience across all its channels, including e-channels like smart phones, tablets, laptops and desktops.

With these, UBA customers can now enjoy faster, richer and more secured services on the channels using UBA’s internet banking application ‘U-Direct’ and its mobile banking application ‘UMobile’. The applications are also more accessible with the provision of a seamless, self-service enrolment process.

Finacle 10x, is the very latest generation of banking applications developed

by Infosys, developers of banking applications, renowned for delivering a whole new set of offerings including enhanced treasury and advanced e-banking solutions.

“The system will enhance our multicountry operations by facilitating new levels of process integration across our diverse African footprint spanning 19 African countries, enable rapid innovation and expand our capacity to offer a comprehensive set of products to meet the specific requirements of different

segments of our diverse customer base,” said the UBA’s Deputy Managing Director/CEO Africa, Kennedy Uzoka.

The new platform will improve all segments of the bank’s operations including; retail, trade and corporate banking, deposits and loans management, product development and enhance customer information management.

Also speaking on the successful systems upgrade, Director, Group Information Technology, UBA, Rasheed Adegoke, said “Innovation and cutting edge technology will continue to shape banking operations in the increasingly competitive banking industry. Our new IT platform will enable us be at the forefront of innovation and efficiency in the banking industry, and position UBA for global competitiveness.”.

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has concluded activi ties it lined up to mark this year’s Global Money Week with the Financial Literacy Day/School Mentoring and Reach-out Programme. The event held at two public schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Delivering a lecture titled: “Growing Your Money,” at the Junior Secondary School, Wuse, the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Adebayo Adelabu, encouraged the students to imbibe the culture of saving in order to be able to grow their money and guarantee a secure financial future.

Adelabu, who represented the Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, stressed the importance of saving, investments and insurance, noting that these were key instruments to attaining self-sufficiency as individuals and a country.

He therefore charged the students to cultivate the habit of saving and investment in order to entrench ro-

bust personal financial independence in future.

Similarly, the Deputy Governor in charge of the Financial System Stability Directorate, Dr. Okwu Joseph Nnanna, who represented the Governor at Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja, urged the students to keep their money in banks to reduce the risks of theft and unnecessary spending and also allow the money to grow.

He urged the students to take full advantage of the lecture by embracing the opportunities offered by the financial system in the country at a young age.

Fielding questions from the students, the Deputy Governors used the opportunity of the sessions to expantiate on the Bank’s cash-less policy and financial inclusion, emphasising that the CBN and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation were determined to ensure that the money saved in the banks are secured.

Axa says election process boost to economy

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XA SA, the largest foreign insurer active in Nigeria, sees the peace ful manner in which the country is handling its first transition in political power in decades as supporting economic growth in the country and beyond.

“We think that political stability and the respect of democratic rules in this vote can only consolidate development potential in Nigeria and other African countries,” Jean-Laurent Granier, head of Axa’s global property and casualty business (short-term insurance), said.

Nigeria’s insurance penetration is about a fifth of the average on the continent and less than a 20th of the level in South Africa, underscoring the opportunity in a country with 177 million people.

“We are not making a political interpretation of this outcome,” Granier said. “This reinforces and confirms our will to grow in Nigeria.”

Axa has disposed of 8.9 billion euros ($9.7 billion) of assets in developed markets since 2010 to invest in faster-growing nations, including African markets. In December, it spent 198 million euros to buy a majority stake in Mansard, Nigeria’s fourth-largest insurer. Last month, Parisbased Axa completed the purchase of a 7.2 percent stake in pan-African reinsurer Africa Re for $61 million.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

126.04 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,744.73 1,104.77 112.34 121.16 1.67 1.1978 1.3117 0.7319 1.1349

125.82 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,744.73 1,104.00 111.75 120.30 1.62 1.1912 0.7203 0.7203 1.1349

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

GLAXOSMITH BERGER CHAMPION LEARNAFRCA COSTAIN NEIMETH DANGFLOUR CAP AIRSERVICE NESTLE

51.04 9.06 7.38 1.27 0.70 0.73 4.27 34.00 1.70 936.60

56.26 9.98 8.11 1.38 0.76 0.78 4.48 35.66 1.78 980.00

5.22 0.92 0.73 0.11 0.06 0.05 0.21 1.66 0.08 43.40

LOSERS AS AT 07-04-15

O/PRICE

SEPLAT GUARANTY FLOURMILL ETERNA ZENITHBANK OKOMUOIL UNIONDICON AFRIPRUID SKYEBANK NAHCO IKEJAHOTEL

443.99 31.88 36.82 3.20 25.05 28.29 12.46 2.84 2.64 6.75 5.13

C/PRICE 400.71 28.79 34.01 3.04 23.80 26.88 11.84 2.70 2.51 6.42 4.88

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) April 1, 2015

Inflation: Febraury

8.4%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$33.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$60.91

CHANGE -43.28 -3.09 -2.81 -0.16 -1.25 -1.41 -0.62 -0.14 -0.13 -0.33 -0.25

Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 07-04-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

March 31

April 1

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Statistics All Share Index Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) Deals Volume (mn) Value (NGN’mn)

19 Feb 29,282.04 9,770.36 3,385 564,28 6,087.80

20 Feb 29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

56

NEWS

Buhari must avoid Jonathan’s foreign policy, says Shehu Sani

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HE Senator-elect for Kaduna Central District, Comrade Shehu Sani, yesterday urged the Presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to avoid “cassava bread foreign policy” of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said it was time for the nation to reassert its leadership role in Africa.

He pleaded with Buhari to set up a team of experts to work in consultation with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (INEC) and Council on Foreign Relations to repackage Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Sani, who gave the advice in a statement in Abuja, said: “The emergence of Buhari as president-elect will re-launch Nigeria back to its enviable position as the leader of Africa and the black race.

“President Jonathan’s foreign policy is uncoordinated, unfocused, uninformed, nondirectional and uncolourful.

President Goodluck presided over a government that is ignorant of the continental and global status and responsibilities of the country.

“Under Jonathan, our leadership position in the

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

continent slipped away.

President Jonathan operated a “cassava bread foreign policy.

“President Jonathan administration’s foreign policy is dismal. Under Jonathan, Nigeria lost its teeth in the African Union (AU). Our president was absent at the 50th anniversary of the AU and in the continental effort to find peace in the Central African Republic, Sudan and Congo.

“We failed to take a driver’s seat to help the people of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in the height of their Ebola days. We betrayed the people of Palestine by abstaining from voting for their statehood in the United Nations (UN).

“We helplessly watched as thousands of our African youths sank in the Mediterranean in attempts to cross over to Europe. We attracted condemnation from other African countries for depending on France to come and fight our homegrown terrorism in the Northeast.

“We have no official position on the chaos in Libya and the dangerous presence of ISIS in

the continent.”

Sani, however, set agenda for the President-elect and urged him to reassert Nigeria’s leadership role in the continent.

The statement added: “The President-elect must reassert Nigeria’s leadership role in the continent. Africa should continue to be the centre-piece of our foreign policy.

“We must have a resultoriented and unambiguous position on pressing issues, which affects our continent and the entire black race. President Buhari must rekindle the idea of United States of Africa and give a new life to Pan-Africanism as propagated by the founding fathers of African independence - Kwame Nrumah, Sekou Toure, Patrice Lumumba, Gamal Abdul Nasser and others.

“The new president-elect needs to set up a team of experts to work in consultation with the NIIA and Council on Foreign Relations to repackage Nigeria’s foreign policy with the view of returning Nigeria to the world stage in leadership and in influence.

“Our new foreign policy needs to reflect the interest of our people and our continent and

Aondoakaa: INEC, Jega must not succumb to blackmail over Card Reader

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FORMER AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mike Aondoakaa, yesterday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, not to succumb to blackmail to drop the use of Card Reader for Saturday’s polls.

He said the Card Reader has added credibility to the nation’s electoral process.

He said those opposed to the device are troublemakers, who used to rig elections in the past.

Aondoakaa, who spoke with The Nation in Abuja, said he would soon announce his next political move after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) He advised security agents not allow themselves to be used.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

He said: “INEC and Jega must not succumb to blackmail by troublemakers to drop the use of Card Reader for governorship poll.

“Card Reader works well, it gives credibility to the electoral process and it tells accurate number of accredited voters in any polling unit. The era of rigging, over voting or stuffing of ballot boxes is gone in our electoral history.

“To succumb to pressure is to return this nation to the dark days when votes did not count.

Those who are asking for discontinuation of the use of Card Reader want to disrupt the electoral process.

“If President Goodluck Jonathan can accept the use of card reader, no one can come now and ask for its drop for

governorship poll.”

Aondoakaa added: “Where election cannot hold as a result of disruption of the process against card reader, INEC should postpone the poll till the following day.”

On security agents, he cautioned them against being used to tamper with the electoral process.

His words: “Security agents should not allow themselves to be used. They should continue to be vigilant so that this process will make us to stand tall in international community.

“That is what President Jonathan has done and no one should come below him to lower our democratic standard.”

Responding to a question, Aondoakaa said: “I have left PDP, but I am still consulting with my people on my next political move”.

Don’t take Akiolu’s statement on face value, says Osun APC

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HE Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress yesterday urged Nigerians of the Southeast extraction not to take the statements credited to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu on its face value but rather do soulsearching in order to fully comprehend its import.

The party, in a statement by its Director of Research and Publicity, Kunle Oyatomi, said a Yoruba Oba does not recant over what he says because his words are expected to be myth-

ical and thought through.

The party stated: “Let it be said that the title of all our Obas is Kabiyesi. The meaning is that our Obas are mythical. Whenever they say anything, nobody can challenge it. We have heard what they have said and with due reference to democracy, and the culture, we do not in anyway challenge the right of any individual or group to their right to their opinions. And it is the same right the Oba has to express himself. Nobody must interpret his statements literal-

Clark congratulates Buhari

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JAW leader Chief Edwin Clark has congratulated President -elect Muhammadu Buhari He wrote a letter dated April 3 2015,to wish Buhari well.

The letter reads: “I am pleased to join our other compatriots in this country and friends from the international community to convey my words of congratulations to you and your party, the All Progressives Congress.

“I note that the election was keenly contested but the outcome has been determined by INEC, in the exercise of its statutory duties. We must therefore move forward in the interest of peace, unity and progress of our country.

“I have noted that this is equally the position which you so well stated during your acceptance speech at the collection of your Certificate of Return.”

ly because he knows and we all know that nobody has the power of life and death outside God and our laws.

“To fully understand him, what the Oba Akiolu said is that nobody can come to our land offend our institutions, traditions and our culture and go free.”

The party reminded Nigerians that the Yorubas have been very accommodating to a fault in the history of the country, adding that “This is the only land where there were no abandoned properties after the civil war.”

It stated further, “The Igbos must realise that our acceptance and accommodation of them have been legendary.

Yorubas kept their properties throughout the war period and when they came back, they took back their properties and without any quarrel at all. Therefore, nobody must take Yoruba’s accommodation and calmness for granted. In Yoruba, when the monarch speaks, we don’t question.”

Vote for APC, Fasanmi urges Ekiti

T •Gen. Buhari

not an appeasement to any power. We need to be visibly seen and audibly heard in the world state again.

“The President-elect must lead in the consolidation or search for peace in the African continent; he must lead in the global fight to end the presence of terrorist cells in the continent; he must lead in discouraging and rescuing our young men and women drowning in the Mediterranean Sea in search of “a better life in Europe”.

“Buhari’s election brought relief and a new hope for our people and our country, we must radiate this to the whole continent. Africa must not be a safe haven for tyrants and terrorists. We must champion the cause of the ideals of freedom, democracy, peace and development in the continent.

“Our economic relationship with China must be guided by the philosophy of mutual benefit and respect for the host and the environment.

“President Buhari must operate an open, transparent and accountable government so as to inspire other countries in Africa and help dissolve the remnants of dictators who still parade the political landscape of the continent.”

HE deputy leader of Afenifere, Senator Ayo Fasanmi has called on the people of Ekiti State to vote for the All Progressives Council (APC) candidates for the House of Assembly election on Saturday.

Fasanmi said, in a statement, that Ekiti State has abandoned a long tradition and isolated itself from other Yoruba states. He urged the people to return to the legacy of Awolowo by voting for the APC. “Ekiti people should be informed that the progressives are in control of the Federal Government which policies will be progressive and in tune with the political tradition of Ekiti people. Therefore a vote for APC candidates on April 11 will bring benefits to people of Ekiti State and weaken the hold of the PDP on the state. Support for the PDP, on the other hand, will only lead to marginalisation of Ekiti State.

“Ekiti people have a long and enviable history of supporting progressive political parties such as Action Group in the 1950s , the Unity Party of Nigeria in the 80s and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the early 90s.”

He recalled that Ekiti people also voted for Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) both of them with progressive inclination in this present political dispensation.

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

57

NEWS

Troops capture Alagarno

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HE Defence Headquarters said yesterday that troops have captured Alagarno, one of the routes of Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State.

It said armoured vehicles, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and ammunition were recovered from the militias.

The capturing of Alagamo was said to be ahead of the invasion of Sambisa forest.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, spoke in a statement in Abuja.

The statement said: “Nigerian troops this morning

•Ahead of invasion of Sambisa forest From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

(Tuesday) successfully completed a raid on terrorists’ camps at Alagarno in Borno State. Alagarno is the major haven of terrorists ahead of Sambisa forest. ”A number of weapons and equipment were captured during the operation. Items seized from the terrorists included armoured vehicles, arms and ammunition of various sizes and calibres, generators, gre-

nades, Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs), bows and arrows, megaphones and rolls of copper cable, which the terrorists used as one of the materials to make IEDs. ”Cordon and search as well as mop up of the community are ongoing to make the environment safe for displaced locals to return. ”Besides being one of the strongholds of terrorists in the state, Alagarno also provided the routes used by the terrorists to neighbouring towns

and countries.

“The thick forest in the area made it a safe haven for the terrorists for a long time, as the terrain was not easily accessible and it was endowed with natural hideouts from aerial bombardments.”

A military source said: “The capturing of Alagarno is a step towards the final invasion of Sambisa forest. Troops are on standby for the onslaught against the insurgents in their foremost enclave.

“We are hopeful that the Sambisa forest will soon fall and the fleeing leaders of Boko Haram will be captured.”

North’s Christian leaders congratulate Buhari

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ORTHERN Christian Leaders Eagle Eye (NCEEF) forum has congratulated President- elect Muhammadu Buhari on his victory.

It described his victory as the will of God. Addressing reporters in Kaduna yesterday, the Chairman of the forum, Pastor Aminchi Habu, said Buhari’s victory is not a surprise, as he has worked hard to achieve it.

He hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for organising a free, fair and credible presidential election, stressing that “he has set the pace for the

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

long-awaited change Nigerians have been craving, a new democratic system where the masses’ voices are heard and the people’s choice are considered without rancour and drums of violence.”

Pastor Habu also praised the President for establishing a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections, adding that he showed a sense of statesmanship by conceding defeat to save the country from disaster.

LP candidate withdraws From Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Jos

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HE governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in Plateau State, Bagudu Hirse, has withdrawn from the election.

Hirse, who announced his withdrawal at a news conference in Jos yesterday, said: “The decision to withdraw from the election was taken to allow my supporters vote the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Simon Lalong.”

According to him, “each of the three senatorial zones produced a governorship candidate to contest in the April 11 election, but I have decided to step down to pave the way for an APC victory in the election.

“My reason is simple, with the victory of APC in the presidential election, it will not be in the interest of the state to allow another party win the governorship election because we can’t afford not to be in the mainstream of national politics.

“I therefore use this opportunity to tell my supporters to vote for the APC.”

Ondo PDP gives Mimiko conditions

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HEAD of Saturday’s House of Assembly election in Ondo State, some aggrieved and old members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have set up a 25man committee to meet with Governor Olusegun Mimiko and table the conditions for which they can work for the success of the party’s candidates.

The old members arrived at the conditions at a meeting at the Secretariat in Owo Local Government.

They want Mimiko to involve them in all activities of the party, give them separate mobilisation funds and he must deal directly with members of the committee.

The meeting, chaired by Hon. Femi Adekanmbi blamed the party’s woeful performance in the last Presidential and National Assembly polls on imposition of candidates by Mimiko.

He noted that during the process leading to the elections, old members were marginalised.

They were not mobilised with fund.

Adekanmbi said: “We took some resolutions in the meeting, some said we should go and join APC, others said we should remain in PDP and give the governor conditions that he must recognise old PDP and a committee has been set up to meet with the governor and come out

•Some of the recovered ammunition, IEDs and armoured vehicles...yesterday.

APC members walk out on Assembly

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the Benue State House of Assembly yesterday walked out during plenary.

This followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr. Paul Biam, urging the House to dissolve into a committee of the whole for the purpose of discussing the controversial Chieftaincy Bill for passage, the BIRS Amendment Bill and the blanket confirmation of Local Government Caretaker Committee members sent to it by the Governor. The mo-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

tion was seconded by Mr. David Iorhemba.

Adanyi moved a counter motion calling on the House to jettison the order paper, saying the issues to be considered were not made known to other members of Rule and Business Committee.

He lamented that Biam, the Chairman of the committee and House Majority Leader, did not discuss with any of the members of the committee before slating the issues for debate.

He, however, cited an in-

stance that confirmation hearing of caretaker committees of local governments was slated for consideration, but their Resumes were not circulated to them.

The counter motion was seconded by Mr. James Ochojila, stressing that members ought to have the Resumes of the nominees with them to enable them have informed knowledge on their persons and take a firm decision about them.

Ruling, the Speaker, Mr. Terhile Ayua, assured members that he would wade into the matter to avert recur-

rence.

He said the order paper was considered midway, stressing that prayer, adoption of Votes and Proceedings and announcement were already considered, so it would not be good to jettison it.

He, therefore, ruled in favour of the motion calling for the dissolution of the House into the committee of the whole for the purpose of considering the items slated on the Order Paper.

It was this ruling that angered the opposition members, leading to a walk out.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

with decisions on the way forward.

“We are going to inform the governor personally that if he wants us to remain in PDP, the old members must be respected and carry along in all activities of the party. The people also said they must be mobilised with fund separately from that of new members and that if the governor wants his candidates to win, he must not deal with anybody except the committee set up by them.

“If the governor fails to meet the conditions given, he should be expecting another woeful performance from the party. As at now, series of meetings are going on by leaders of old PDP members in the state, but someone like me, I refused to attend but I prefer to hold a meeting with my people in my primary constituency which is Owo and Ose. “It is unfortunate that Governor Mimiko allowed things to degenerate to this level. But he has realised this issue but what do we do, we must move on. I pray things can still be redeemable, otherwise, I have my fear.

Imposition of candidate caused Jonathan the chance to lose Owo, take for instance in Owo, he went to impose somebody that was not popular.“

El-Rufai alleges PDP plans to rig

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ADUNA State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir ElRufai, has exposed alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig Saturday’s election.

He said PDP was working to undermine Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and card reader device to ensure rigging.

The candidate, who featured in a Freedom Radio Kaduna breakfast programme, ‘Barka da Warhaka’, said PDP is recruiting and arming thugs to disrupt the poll.

El-Rufai alleged that the PDP-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

led government had imported armed thugs to perpetrate rigging, besides sinister dealings with some unprincipled Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, to aid their sinister motive.

He said no one would perpetrate crisis and go free, adding: “It is not war or fight, it is supposed to be a contest. So, no one will escape prosecution if he incites crisis. The incoming government of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari will look into all cases.”

THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

58

NEWS ‘Akwa Ibom REC must be changed’ From Tony Akowe, Abuja

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to allow the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Austin Okojie, conduct Saturday’s elections.

In a petition, state Chairman Dr. Ahmadu Attai accused the REC of manipulating the March 28 elections.

It said the REC declared Governor Godswill Akpabio winner of an election he did not contest.

“The question begging for answer is, whereas there was only one accreditation for the three elections on March 28, why did the REC give different figures of accreditation for the different elections held on the same day?

“In most polling units, original result sheets were not provided and because of this, results were not announced and pasted and there was no collation of results either at the ward or local government collation centres.

“The REC acknowledged widespread irregularities and promised not to release the results but few hours later, the results were released.

Based on these, the APC is demanding that the REC be disqualified from conducting the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.”

They also demand that the originally trained ad hoc workers be used for the election.

Oshiomhole’s home under aerial surveillance

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HE Edo State government yesterday alerted to threats on the life of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

The government said an unidentified aircraft overflew the governor’s country home in Iyamoh, Auchi, for several minutes in low altitude on Monday evening.

The state government wondered what could have warranted an aerial surveillance days after troops were reportedly stationed around Oshiomhole’s private residence.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Louis Odion, warned that President Goodluck Jonathan, as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would bear responsibility for any harm

•State raises alarm that befalls the governor.

“Even as peace-loving Nigerians are still rejoicing and the international community happy over the relative peace witnessed nationwide after the March 28 elections, we note that some anti-democratic forces seem bent on fomenting trouble in Edo State by embarking on acts of sheer provocation.

“At about 6p.m on Monday, April 6, a low-flying aircraft emerged from the blues and for several minutes, overflew the country-home of the Comrade Governor in Iyamoh, Etsakor West Local Government Area. Fortuitously, the incident occurred barely few minutes after the governor departed for Benin City.

“To us, there could only be two possibilities in the circumstance: either a military or civil aircraft. Knowing that no such flight or mission could have taken place without the knowledge or clearance of either the civil aviation authority or the Air Force, we find this development not only an unconscionable abuse of state powers, but also an extreme act of provocation. Had the governor not providentially left home before the mystery aircraft’s arrival, we can only imagine what could have happened if his security guards were left with no choice than to take a peremptory action.

“Only penultimate Thursday (March 26), we had cause to alert the nation to the deployment of an unusually

large contingent of troops around the governor’s private residence in Iyamoh.

“Having been soundly beaten in the presidential ring, we are aware that PDP is presently sorely bitter and like a decapitated serpent, is looking for a target or anyone perceived as staunch Buhari supporter to hurl the venom left in its belly.

“While we cannot deny them their right to grieve, let it be known that Edo people will not offer any consolation prize on April 11 as they will, this time, resist any attempt to steal their ballot through Army intimidation.

“Let it also be noted that as the head of PDP, President Goodluck Jonathan will bear personal responsibility should any harm befall the Comrade Governor.”

S

ENIOR Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Aviation Mrs Ann Ene Ita has hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River State for its conduct of the March 28 elections.

Mrs Ene-Ita, who spoke in Calabar, said the conduct of the elections was free, transparent and credible.

According to her, the government, led by Liyel Imoke also deserves commendation for ensuring a peaceful conduct of the poll devoid of intimidation and manipulation.

She said the peace that characterised the exercise derives from the transparent process that the PDP adopted in choosing its flag bearers.

“The PDP in the state adopted an inclusive approach in choosing the flag bearers. The process was also consultative in nature with the party caucuses, opinion leaders and even rulers being carried along,” she said.

Ene-Ita congratulated winners, including Gershom Bassey, the senatorelect for Cross River South.

PDP financier Okunbo hails Buhari

By Precious Igbonwelundu

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Residents protest ‘questionable bills’ From Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

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ESIDENTS of Mile 1 Diobu, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday stormed the Diobu Business District Office of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to protest what they described as ‘questionable bills’.

The protesters said PHCN denied them electricity but forced them to pay outrageous bills or have their lines disconnected.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as: “No electricity, no NEPA bill”; “Give us electricity and get your bills” and “No electricity, no election”.

The protesters, who converged near Education Bus Stop on Ikwerre Road at about 9 am marched to Mile 1 Police Station, chanting solidarity songs.

On sighting the protesters, PHCN employees shut the entrance.

The protest caused traffic snarl on both sides of Ikwerre Road.

A man, who spoke on behalf of the group, urged them to be orderly.

He said: “Everyday they come with huge bills before the month ends, and before you know it, they will start disconnecting your lines.

“For the past two weeks, electricity has not lasted for two hours, yet they want us to pay NEPA bills.”

‘Cross River INEC should be praised’

•Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi during a condolence visit to the family of the late Chief Christopher Adube killed last Friday by suspected thugs.

INEC sacks two electoral officers in Edo

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sacked two electoral officers in Edo State following disappearance of result sheets.

They were sacked for allegedly causing irregularities during the March 28 election.

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

The affected officials served in Orhionmwon and Oredo local government areas and result sheets provided for the elections in those areas were not available.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr Mike

Igini, who spoke yesterday at a stakeholders meeting, said the affected officials might be prosecuted.

Igini said rescheduled elections would hold in the Orhionmwon, six wards in Uhumwonde, some wards and units in Ikpoba Okhai, Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Oredo.

Akenzua: we can’t be in opposition

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ENIN Leaders of Thought Convener, Prince Edun Akenzua, the Enogie of Obazuwa, has urged Edo people not to heed the counsel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to vote Edo State into mainstream politics.

Prince Akenzua, in a communiqué at the end of an emergency meeting, said their decision was in line with the request by PDP chieftains that the state should be voted out of opposition to the Federal Government.

He noted that it was time for the people to think more

From Osagie Otabor, Benin

about the interest of the state than that of a political party.

“Captain Hosa went on his knees, pleading fervently that the Enigie should recognise the imperative of getting out of the opposition to the Federal Government.

“He said he was not interested in partisan politics but that it gave him pain to see Edo State, particularly Benin, not getting what it ought to get from the Federal Government because it is in opposition.

“Benin Leaders of Thought calls on the Bini to

heed the wise counsel freely given by Captain Hosa, Pastor Ize-Iyamu and Mr. Lucky Imasuen not to put themselves in opposition to the Federal Government.

“We have to vote sensibly this time. We know how much Edo people suffered when the state was in opposition. They came to plead with the Enigie and we have decided to obey them,” Prince Akenzua said.

The Enogie urged the people to vote for all All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates so that the state does not find itself in opposition.

“Orhionmwon election is also important because apart from the Senate, we also have a House of Representatives seat at stake. So the result will also be determined after the Orhionmwon and Uhumwonde elections,” the REC said.

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Captain Hosa Okunbo, yesterday congratulated President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for winning the presidential election.

In a congratulatory message, the businessman and ally of President Goodluck Jonathan described Buhari’s victory as unprecedented in the nation’s political history.

Okunbo said it had been his vision over the years for the people to align with the party at the centre. He urged Edo people to welcome and embrace change.

He also hailed Jonathan for demonstrating the spirit of good sportsmanship.

Okowa’s sure to win, say democrats

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GROUP, Delta Democratic Alliance (DDA), has said Delta State the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ifeanyi Okowa will win Saturday’s election.

Director-General of DDA Mr. Sunday Onyewonsa said Okowa has no rival and that efforts were on to ensure victory for the Ika-born politician.

Onyewonsa said the door-to-door campaign team of the DDA went across wards and units in the three senatorial districts, “preaching the gospel of Senator Okowa”, adding that the people remain committed to Okowa’s victory.

“Of all the candidates jostling for the Government House, Okowa is the most qualified and I dare tell you that the other two major contestants pose no threats.

“So, Okowa has no rival. We have the perpetual aspirants challenging our candidate. They have failed before and they will fail again.

“For us in DDA, we won’t rest until Senator Okowa is sworn in as governor on May 29. We have taken the campaign to riverine areas, difficult terrains notwithstanding, and we are sure victory will come to the PDP family on Saturday,” Onyewonsa said.

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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015

NEWS Amaechi: killers of our supporters ‘ll not go unpunished Continued from page 4

chi frowned at the electoral fraud and rigging of the last presidential and national Assembly elections results by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He warned that any criminally-minded person, who attempts to deprive Rivers people from exercising their legitimate franchise will be made to face the full weight of the law.

The Rivers Governor said: “We are all eye witnesses to what happened during the last presidential election, where the PDP carried out electoral fraud with INEC officials and the police. But now, the police or the military will not harass you again. I came to thank you all for refusing to vote without

result sheets last Saturday (March 28).

“I called one of my friends in the Army and cautioned him about the last election and the victory of Buhari. He told me on phone that: “Sir, parade has changed gear.” What it means is that, supporters of APC will no longer be molested and harassed by the police or the military.

“Everybody can come out and exercise their franchise.

Ensure that your party agents are at every polling unit, at least 50 persons per unit, wait after accreditation and voting before allowing the party agents to follow the results to the collection centres. Our votes for the governorship election will count at the polling units and recorded in the result sheets.”

The NGF chairman also urged Rivers people, especially those of Khana Local Government Area, to massively turn out for the governorship elections on Saturday and vote for the governorship standard bearer of the APC, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside.

He said: “Even if the PDP stole our votes and our mandate last presidential election, they have agreed to behave this time around. You have a duty to come out en masse, do not go to farm on Saturday. It is set aside for you to come out and vote the candidates of your choice. We will all vote for APC and ensure Dakuku becomes our governor.”

Amaechi also admonished the decampees from the PDP to APC to join the party and in-

crease the votes for the APC’s governorship candidate, stressing that it was the only meaningful means of bringing the Federal Government closer to the state, to increase the pace of development after May 29 this year.

He said: “I came to seek your votes for the governorship and state House of Assembly elections. Tell your brothers and sisters in PDP, who are willing to decamp or has decamped to the APC to remain steadfast.

“They should join us to increase the votes of APC. If we come together and vote Dakuku and our lawmakers on the platform of the APC, when Buhari assumes office on May 29, we expect the pace of development in Rivers State to also increase.”

Impeachment: Thugs shut down Ekiti •Unions urge workers to back Fayose Continued from page 4

by the protesters at Itawure on the outskirts of Efon.

The police fired gunshots to disperse the protesters who had held up traffic.

Soldiers mounting a checkpoint at Efon-Itawure junction stopped the APC lawmakers from proceeding on their trip to Ado-Ekiti for their planned sitting.

It was not clear at press time whose directive the soldiers were carrying out.

Many parts of the state were shut down as suspected political thugs and members of drivers’ unions took over all roads leading into Ado-Ekiti and boundary towns.

The hemp-smoking and arms-bearing hoodlums blocked the federal highways as early as 6.30 am with trailers, luxury buses, logs of wood and other objects to prevent human and vehicular traffic.

They were acting on information that the APC lawmakers were on their way to AdoEkiti to hold a sitting at the House of Assembly to deliberate on the notice of impeachment issued Fayose and his deputy, Kolapo Olusola.

The lawmakers are accusing Fayose of eight impeachable offences.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and hoodlums staged violent protests on the streets of Ado-Ekiti and other towns, warning architects of the planned impeachment to shelve the idea or face their wrath.

They protested in Ajilosun, Ijigbo, Odo-Ado, Old Garage, Okesa, Ojumose and Secretariat Road.

Other communities rocked by protests are: Ikere, Ise, Efon Alaaye, Aisegba, Iworoko, Ogotun and Igbemo.

Some of the roads affected

are Ado-Ikere Road which leads to Akure, the Ondo State capital, Ado-Iworoko Road, which leads to Kwara, Kogi, Abuja and other northern states,Ado-Iyin-Igede Road, which leads to Ibadan and Lagos, Ado-Ijan Road, which leads to Ikare in Ondo State.

Passengers were stranded as the thugs made bonfires in many parts of Ado-Ekiti and other towns, such as Ikere-Ekiti, Ifaki-Ekiti, Igede-Ekiti and Oye-Ekiti.

Civil servants and others who live in Akure, the Ondo State capital, but work in AdoEkiti could not enter Ekiti State capital. Others who live in Ado and work in Akure were prevented from going to their places of work.

Some final year secondary school students writing their Senior School Certificate Examinations outside the state capital could not get vehicles to convey them to their schools.

Motorists and commuters passing through Ikere-Ekiti were stopped and searched by soldiers stationed around Odo-Oja Roundabout and on the outskirts of the town before being allowed to proceed with their journeys.

Taxi drivers and mini buses plying intra city routes had a harrowing experience in the hands of the hoodlums who maintained that nobody would be allowed to pass.

Many residents who were on their way to work returned to their homes because of the tense situation. Some of those who ventured out with the hope of boarding taxi cabs returned home, frustrated, after waiting for hours.

Soldiers and riot policemen later moved round the city to clear the barricades and bonfires erected by the hoodlums.

Markets, shops, and govern-

ment offices were closed. Major markets in the state capital, sujch as Erekesan and Bisi, were quiet.

A band of hoodlums stationed at Oye-Ayede-Isan junction in Oye-Ekiti stopped a group of journalists from plying the road, claiming that “it is only a permission from the governor that they would be allowed passage”.

Vehicles going to Kogi State and Abuja from Kwara State were stopped by the thugs.

Passengers were stranded at Oye junction.

A government-owned Ashok Leyland luxury bus was used to block one section of Ado-Ifaki Road, leaving a very little space for vehicles to meander through.

The House of Assembly’s vicinity was like a war zone as scores of battle-ready riot policemen stood guard at the Secretariat Road junction leading to the complex, preventing vehicular movement.

Another platoon of riot policemen blocked the Saliu Adeoti Road, which leads to the Assembly.

They had earlier dislodged a band of thugs who had stormed the Assembly complex.

One of the vehicles conveying the thugs to the Assembly complex, a blue Toyota Hilux van marked AA 363 YEK was impounded by the police after it occupants reportedly engaged security men in a shootout.

The Assembly complex and the House of Assembly Service Commission gates were locked. Another set of armed policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) stood guard.

Eyewitnesses confirmed to reporters in Ado-Ekiti that the APC lawmakers were allegedly coming from Osun State and

•Fayose

had rammed into the barricade mounted by the protesters at Ita Ore , a border town between The Head of Service, Gbenga Faseluka, and organised labour under the leaderships of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NUC), had besieged the Assembly in protest, warning the lawmakers against plunging the state into violence.

Labour, in a statement signed by NLC Secretary Ade Obatoye, TUC Secretary Joseph Adebayo and JNC Secretary Oladele Ayodeji , told workers to see the development as a way of fomenting trouble and put their lives at risk.

Also yesterday, Igbemo-Ekiti residents, led by Chief Agamago Adetunji, visited the governor, declaring their support for him.

“Ekiti people elected you to be their leader and no power under the earth can remove you.

“We are praying for you and assuring you that you will win all the 26 Assembly seats during Saturday’s polls,” Adetunji told Fayose.

The Deputy Governor, who responded on behalf of the governor, likened the APC lawmakers’ action to the biblical war of Egypt against the people of Israel. He is confident that the governor will triumph over his enemies.

We’ve identified culprits in Rivers’ killings, says IGP Continued from page 4

our deployment from senior officers down to other officers so that we take charge and make sure those incidents are not recorded anymore."

Suleiman spoke also on the bombing during the presidential election in Enugu. He said: "We have arrested three suspects in connection with the case and our investigation has gone to a very advanced stage and we were able to identify the factory where those Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were manufactured and I think that alone is a big suc-

cess and investigation is ongoing."

He praised policemen for what he described as their display of professionalism, impartiality and non-partisanship during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Abba noted that 124 suspects were arrested for various electoral offences, adding that some have been charged to court.

His words: "So far, we have 124 incidents of electoral offences that we have investigated and quite a number of them

have been charged to court already while others will still require INEC's intervention."

On the alleged threat against the Igbo by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the IGP said since the traditional ruler has denied the allegation, he was not in any position to state otherwise.

The Inspector-General said: "On the issue of Oba of Lagos making statement about who electorate or voters should vote for in this election, I saw it in the media and I tried all my best to verify whether that statement was made and so far,

what I have been able to gather is the fact that the Oba himself denied it.

"And if he denied it, who am I to say otherwise? However, if for any reason that it becomes a subject of further efforts to confirm if he did it or not, I think we will leave that to the future but for now, this is what I have."

Northerners in Rivers yesterday criticised the continued killing of leaders and supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, describing those perpetrating the act as wicked and callous.

Buhari, Fashola, Tinubu: Lagos won’t discriminate Continued from page 4

been in bondage under the PDP-led government.

He said: "Now they want to sneak into Lagos through the back door.

"Lagos is not for experiment; this is the job for great brains.

And because I supported Fashola, he got angry. I told him I will support a man of character and sound mind. Now, let me ask you people, has Fashola not performed?

"Did he discriminate against the Igbo? He paid your children's WAEC money, school fees and other things like that.

Did he ask whether you are Okafor or Mahmud when you visit government hospital for medication? Did he ask you to pay different money when you are not a Yoruba man?

"That is what you must think about as you vote on Saturday.

Your vote for APC is a vote for the progress of Lagos and, by the grace of God, APC will continue to serve your interest in the state," he said.

Gen. Buhari described Lagos State as too important for the APC to lose to the opposition.

"Defy all elements, whatever it may be, and vote for APC from top to bottom,'' he said.

Gen. Buhari told the crowd that Lagos, with its huge investments, could not be toyed with.

"Don't attempt to be on the wrong side of the centre because we are now the centre.

"Tell your neighbours, your relatives and even the opposition party to please bury the hatchet and fall in line and vote for APC,'' he said.

The president-elect assured the people that they stood to benefit a lot if they voted for the APC. Gen. Buhari said that he will prioritise investment in Lagos infrastructure, noting that the state is a "mini Nigeria".

"Governor Fashola told me how much the state has been spending to maintain Federal Government infrastructure, including roads, buildings and other institutions.

"I urge Ambode, who will be the next governor of the state, to harass me sufficiently to honour my undertaking," he said.

Gen. Buhari praised Tinubu for all he had done to mobilise revenue to sustain development in the state.

He also praised Fashola for his hard work, commitment to the state and to the country.

"I am extremely impressed," he said.

Fashola called for Igbo support saying the APC created the Orile Iganmu Local Council Development Area, which has a large concentration of Igbo people.

He said the state had spent over N51 billion to construct roads, which will benefit everybody, irrespective of where they came from.

"Even if you did not vote us in the last election, you can change your mind and vote us now. We will build Lagos together."

Fashola urged residents to vote Ambode, saying: "We are 5.8 million on the voters' register and I will want three million votes for Ambode.

"Put ethnic sentiments aside, there will be no discrimination.

"As your governor, I have defended you every time you have been intimidated without discrimination," he told the crowd.

Fashola said Gen. Buhari had promised to compensate the state for all Federal Government assets it had maintained.

"That sign of compensation is already here and I know you won't want to miss it," he said.

Ambode also solicited support from the people.

"I want to say a big thank you to you all; March 28 was historic for Lagosians. We said we wanted change and we made it possible.

"We are united on one cause; we will not discriminate against anyone.

"We are all one, be you Yoruba, Hausa or Igbo; that is how we will remain forever."

The huge crowd waited patiently for the arrival for the party leaders. They were entertained by a live.

At 12. 25pm an open roof bus that conveyed the party leaders arrived at the venue. Those in the convoy include: National Chairman Chief John OdigieOyegun, Tinubu, Fashola, Rivers, State Governor Rotimi Amaechi Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, Lagos State APC Chairman Dele Ajomale, Ambode, Cardinal James Odunmbaku and Lagos State APC Women Leader Kemi Nelson.

Others are Dr. Idiat Adebule, Mr. Audu Ogbe, Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Director of Organisation, Buhari Campaign, Boss Mustapha.

Gen. Buhari presented Ambode to the crowd and urged them to support him.

How soldiers barred us, by lawmakers Continued from page 4

sembly to disrupt activities there. ”We have started this process and nothing will stop us from finishing it. We have written Fayose on the allega-

tions against him, including constitutional breaches and preventing Ekiti lawmakers from performing their duties.

We will investigate him and finish this process.”

Fayose’s commissioner, aides held Continued from page 4

10 cutlasses, charms, fake US dollars, a carton of Regal dry gin, a parcel of Indian hemp and six small kegs of kerosene.

Some of the thugs in the entourage reportedly escaped during their encounter with the policemen.

Police Commissioner Taiwo

Lakanu could not be reached for comments on phone proved abortive as he did not pick his calls. Neither did he reply text messages sent to his cell phone.

Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi, in a text message, said he was not aware of the arrest.

Killing: you lied, APC tells Fayose Continued from page 4

“The truth is that no one was killed. Nobody saw a body on the way up to Itawure junction where the soldiers disallowed us to pass. Itawure junction is not the same as Efon-Alaaye, so we don’t know where he got his story from. ”However, we heard that

Fayose removed a dead body from the mortuary and presented it to Efon people, claiming that Hon. Folorunso Ogundele, a member of the House of Assembly from Efon-Alaaye, pulled the trigger to kill a fellow Efon-Alaaye man in order to instigate violence in the town against him,” the statement said.

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FOREIGN

Iran nuclear deal: US there for Israel, warns Obama

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ARACK Obama has moved to reassure Israel that the US remains its staunchest supporter, amid Israeli fears over last week’s outline agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme.

He said Iran and the rest of the region should know that “if anybody messes with Israel, America will be there”.

But he rejected a call by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that any deal be conditional on Iran recognising Israel.

Mr Obama said such a condition would be “a fundamental misjudgement”.

The president, speaking in an interview with National Public Radio, said that it would be akin to saying the US would not seal a deal unless the Iranian regime completely transformed.

“We want Iran not to have nuclear weapons precisely because we can’t bank on the nature of the regime changing. That’s exactly why we don’t want to have nuclear weapons,” he said.

“If suddenly Iran trans-

formed itself to Germany or Sweden or France, then there would be a different set of conversations about their nuclear infrastructure.”

On Monday, President Obama also sought to reassure Oman about the effects of a nuclear deal with Iran.

In a phone call, he told Sultan Qaboos that the US would work “with Oman and other regional partners to address Iran’s destabilising activities in the region”.

Critics have accused President Obama of conceding too much ground to Iran and endangering Israel’s security.

But in an interview with the New York Times, Mr Obama firmly denied this.

“I would consider it a failure on my part, a fundamental failure of my presidency, if on my watch, or as a consequence of work that I had done, Israel was rendered more vulnerable,” he said.

Mr Obama said he recognised the concerns raised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a fierce critic of the

•Iran's Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, was given a hero's welcome on his return from the talks

deal along with the president’s Republican opponents in the US Congress.

He said Israelis “have every right to be concerned about Iran”, a country that had threatened “to destroy Israel, that has denied the Holocaust, that has expressed venomous anti-Semitic ideas”.

But he insisted that the preliminary agreement with Iran - a forerunner of a comprehensive deal, due to be agreed before 30 June - was a “once in

a lifetime opportunity” to curb the spread of nuclear weapons in the Middle East.

Under the terms reached last Thursday, Iran must slash its stockpile of enriched uranium that could be used in a nuclear weapon, and cut by more than two-thirds the number of centrifuges that could be used to make more.

In return, UN sanctions and separate measures imposed unilaterally by the US and EU will be gradually suspended

Russian nuclear submarine ‘on fire’ in Arctic dock

A

RUSSIAN nuclear submarine has caught fire at an Arctic naval shipyard, Russian media report.

Reports say that the fire on the Orel has been contained.

Its reactor is not believed to have been at risk.

The blaze started at the Severodvinsk shipyard during repairs. The Oscar-II class vessel does not have weapons or nuclear fuel on board.

The sub joined the Northern Fleet in 1992, reports say,

and on operations it is armed with anti-ship missiles.

The dock has been flooded with water in order to put out the fire completely.

Despite this, a spokesman for the shipyard told Interfax news agency that it could take another two hours to stop the burning.

“The fire has been contained, they continue to fill the dry dock with water,” he said.

Spokesman Yevgeny Gladyshev also told Tass news

agency that the water would not cause any damage to the equipment inside the submarine because the inner hull remains closed.

A spokesman for the corporation which runs the shipyard, Ilya Zhitomirsky, told The Associated Press news agency that the critical parts of the submarine’s nuclear reactor had been removed before the repair work started.

There have been no reports of casualties.

Local media report that the blaze on the 155m-long (500ft) submarine began when some insulation material caught fire during welding work.

In 2011, the Yekaterinburg nuclear submarine was damaged in a huge fire during repairs in the northern Murmansk region.

Nine people were hurt fighting the blaze that started after the submarine’s rubbercoated outer hull caught fire.

Kenyans rally against al-Shabab

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ABOUT 2,500 people have marched in Kenya’s Garissa town in a show of defiance against militant Islamist group al-Shabab following its deadly assault on a local university.

Students have also protested in the capital, Nairobi, ahead of a candle-lit vigil demanding more protection from the al-Qaeda-linked Somali militants.

The assault on Garissa Uni-

versity on Thursday killed 148 people. Five Kenyans have appeared in court for suspected links with the attackers.

The court in Nairobi agreed to the prosecution’s request to detain them for another 30 days, while police investigate whether they supplied weapons to the attackers, Kenya’s Capital FM reports.

A sixth suspect, a Tanzanian, is being held in the northeastern town of Garissa, which is about 150km (90 miles) from

the border with Somalia.

Last Thursday’s attack was the deadliest in Kenya by alShabab, which was formed in neighbouring Somalia about eight years ago.

The militants have promised a “long, gruesome war” against Kenya after Kenya sent troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight them.

The BBC’s Bashkash Jugsooda’ay in Garissa says both Muslims and Christians took part in the march and

promised to co-operate with the security forces to flush out militants who may be hiding in their community.

However, protesters were also critical of the security forces, saying they were slow in their response to the assault, he says.

They pointed out that both the army and police had bases in Garissa. Yet, four gunmen managed to storm the campus, taking students hostage in dormitories and killing them in a day-long attack.

Greece Nazi occupation: Athens asks Germany for •279bn

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HE Greek government says Germany owes Greece nearly •279bn (£204bn; $303bn) in war reparations for the Nazi occupation during World War Two. It is the first time Greece has officially calculated what Germany allegedly owes it for Nazi atrocities and looting during the 1940s.

However, the German government says the issue was resolved legally years ago.

Greece’s radical left Syriza government is making the claim while struggling to meet massive debt repayment deadlines.

Reacting to the Greek claim, German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said it was “dumb” to link Greece’s bailout by the eurozone with the question of war reparations.

“To be honest I think it’s dumb. I think that it doesn’t move us forward one millimetre on the question of stabilising Greece,” he said.

He said ordinary Greek citizens however deserved “huge respect” for their economic sacrifices under the bailout programme. The Greek elite had “plundered” the country, he complained.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras raised the reparations issue when he met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin last month.

The new figure given by Greek Deputy Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas includes •10.3bn for an occupation loan that the Nazis forced the Bank of Greece to pay.

“According to our calculations, the debt linked to Ger-

man reparations is 278.7bn euros,” Mr Mardas told a parliamentary committee investigating responsibility for Greece’s debt crisis.

Mr Mardas said the reparations calculation had been made by Greece’s state general accounting office.

Berlin paid 115m Deutschmarks to Athens in 1960 in compensation - a fraction of the Greek demand. Greece says it did not cover payments for damaged infrastructure, war crimes and the return of the forced loan.

Germany insists the reparations issue was settled in 1990, before Germany reunified.

The budget spokesman for Chancellor Merkel’s Christian Democrats, Eckhardt Rehberg, reiterated on Tuesday that “the reparations issue is for us closed,

politically and legally - the same applies to the so-called forced loan”.

Syriza politicians have frequently blamed Germany for Greek citizens’ hardship under the austerity imposed by international lenders.

Mr Tsipras is trying to renegotiate the •240bn EU-IMF bailout that saved Greece from bankruptcy. Greece has not received bailout funds since August last year, as the lenders are dissatisfied with the pace of Greek reforms.

A Greek repayment of •448m to the International Monetary Fund is due this Thursday.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has said that Greece “intends to meet all obligations to all its creditors, ad infinitum”.

as the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), confirms Iranian compliance.

Speaking on Sunday on CNN, Mr Netanyahu said: “Not a single centrifuge is destroyed. Not a single nuclear facility is shut down, including the underground facilities that they build illicitly. Thousands of centrifuges will keep spinning, enriching uranium.

That’s a very bad deal.”

But Senator Lindsey Gra-

ham of South Carolina, a possible Republican presidential candidate, said it was “probably the best deal that Barack Obama could get with the Iranians” and that he would wait to see how the final agreement looked before passing judgement.

“I don’t mind giving the administration the time between now and June to put this deal together,” he told CBS.

Battle rages for Yemen ‘ghost city’

T

HE battle for the Yemeni port of Aden has made it a “ghost city”, the head of the ICRC in the city has told the BBC. Robert Ghosen said medical aid was urgently needed in the city, where Shia Houthi rebels are fighting forces loyal to the government.

Aid agencies say more than 540 people have been killed in recent fighting and more than 100,000 have been displaced.

Aircraft from a Saudi-led coalition are bombing the rebels in support of the internationally recognised government.

President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia last month as the rebels pushed south from the capital, Sanaa.

As the rebels have advanced on Aden, the port has also been shelled by Saudi forces from the sea.

Fighting escalated in the city this week, with reports of overflowing hospitals, hijacked ambulances and bodies left in the streets.

The ICRC - the International Committee of the Red Cross says it is ready to send two aircraft to Yemen, loaded with medical supplies, but has so far been unable to do so.

On Monday, an aid flight to Yemen was held back because of logistical problems.

Israel admits killing UN peacekeepers

A

SPANISH soldier who was killed in Lebanon in January died as a result of Israeli fire, Israel’s military says.

Corporal Francisco Javier Soria Toledo was hit by Israeli artillery following a Hezbollah attack which killed two Israeli soldiers, according to a military statement.

The 36-year-old UN peacekeeper was killed near the village of Ghajar, in the Shebaa Farms area, on 28 January.

The Israeli military said there had been no intention to harm UN troops.

Hezbollah said at the time that its attack on the Israeli soldiers was retaliation for an air strike that killed six Hezbollah fighters and an Iranian Revolutionary Guards general in the Syrian Golan Heights 10 days earlier.

Cpl Soria was part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), which is made up of more than 10,000 troops from 38 different countries.

UN demands access to Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus

T

HE UN Security Council has demanded humanitarian access to the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk in Damascus.

One UN official described the situation for the 18,000 refugees there as “beyond inhumane”.

The situation has deteriorated since 1 April, when Islamic State (IS) fighters launched an offensive.

Palestinian militiamen opposed to the Syrian government and some Free Syrian Army fighters are leading the fight against IS. The chair of the 15-member Security Council, Jordan’s ambassador Dina Kawar, called for the protection of civilians, humanitarian access and life-saving assistance.

Delivering a report to the council, Pierre Krahenbuhl of the Palestinian Unwra relief agency said the situation was “more desperate than ever”.

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NATION SPORT

PREMIERSHIP... PREMIERSHIP... PREMIERSHIP... PREMIERSHIP...

Tottenham out of Champions League spots - Neville

Kompany: It’s a good time for a derby G V

INCENT Kompany believes that City couldn’t ask for a better venue for their next game than Old Trafford.

The champions will arrive into the 169th Manchester derby having endured their worst run of results this season but the skipper is certain that Sunday could serve as a turning point.

City have lost their last four away from home, while United have won their last five Premier League matches.

“A derby is a derby,” asserted Kompany. “It doesn’t matter what place you are in the league, it’s a derby.

“If anything, it’s a good moment to go into a derby. I guess the momentum is a little bit with our neighbours at the moment, but it’s the perfect place for us to go and try to rec-

tify what we’ve had.”

City went down 2-1 to Crystal Palace on Monday but Kompany is of the opinion that his team deserved better.

He insisted that the performance of the away side “had a different feel” to the Burnley loss and that he is not overly concerned on the shape of the side going into Sunday's Mancunian showdown.

Vincent said: “We are demanding with ourselves because we have to win, but you guys saw it: did they have a shot on goal except for set-pieces?

“They are definitely a solid team, they are definitely a team who knows how to defend, they had a game plan so credit to them but, for us, it wasn’t a bad game in comparison with other games that we might have lost.

ARY Neville believes there is no way back for Tottenham in their bid to qualify for the Champions League after they drew 0-0 with Burnley on Sunday.

Tottenham - sixth in the Premier League standings slipped seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, who have played a game less.

Mauricio Pochettino's men have won only one of their past three fixtures and now face an uphill battle to finish in the top four with seven matches remaining.

"It's mathematically possible but with a performance like that today, I think you'll find it's difficult really," Neville said on Sky Sports' The Gary Neville Podcast .

"They look a little bit depleted as well. I saw them before Christmas play at home against Everton, and they were really sharp and

•Neville they looked fiery in that game.

"If I'm looking at them in this last month, you think of the game at Old Trafford, they've gone out of Europe, and they've lost the Capital One Cup. "They've had a couple of heavy blows in this last four or five weeks and I think at this point in the season, it looks to me like they've just

Belief from inner Willian: This is the way core was amazing We haven't played well - Rodgers

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IVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers believes recent defeats are down to his players' own failings rather than the opposition having cracked their system.

The Reds' 3-4-2-1 formation, implemented from mid-December, helped produce a 13match unbeaten Barclays Premier League run which lifted them to within a win of breaking back into the Champions League qualification places.

But despite receiving plaudits for the quality of their football, which at times appeared to be unplayable, flaws started to appear a month ago when they were held to a goalless draw

by Sky Bet Championship side Blackburn in the FA Cup. After scraping a win against Swansea they were then exposed by Manchester United and Arsenal, two teams already in the top four.

•Rodgers

W

P

•Kompany

However, Rodgers insists a drop-off in results is more to do with their own performances than those of their opponents.

"I don't think it's about being worked out. We didn't start well (against Arsenal), and it doesn't matter what system you are playing if that happens," he said.

"In the last four games that we've played we haven't created as much, and that's more on ourselves.

ER Mertesacker says the “absolutely amazing” belief shown by the club’s inner core helped the team ride out their early-season struggles.

Following a World Cup that saw 11 Gunners in action in Brazil, Arsène Wenger’s side made a slow start to the campaign.

However, they have hit form in recent months to record 15 wins in 17 games, and Mertesacker credits that resurgence to the trust shown in the players.

“Those who came from the World Cup had no break and no pre-season, we started right in the season and [had to] try to find form,” he told Arsenal Player.

“A lot of players got injured or weren’t in the best form, so it took us a while to be at our top level.

“I am delighted with how the team responded to the criti-

•Mertesacker

cism that came our way because it is a completely new experience for a lot of players to have post-World Cup difficulties.

Newcastle struggled against Sunderland - Carver

J

OHN Carver was left fuming after Newcastle United's 1-0 derby defeat to

Sunderland on Sunday, labelling his side's first-half performance "abysmal".

Jermain Defoe's brilliant leftfooted volley on the stroke of half-time set Dick Advocaat's men on the way to a fifth consecutive Tyne-Wear derby victory.

Carver - in charge of the Magpies until the end of the season was angered by his side's showing at the Stadium of Light, though he refused to criticise goalkeeper Tim Krul or his defence.

"The way we performed first half, we were abysmal. I'm not saying we didn't give 100 per cent but we were poor," he told Sky Sports.

"It was a world-class strike on

•Carver Jermain Defoe's weaker foot but if we had gone in at half-time goalless we'd have been delighted because we were second best.

"We huffed and puffed [in the second half] but it wasn't good enough. We were so negative,

every day we go onto the training ground and I'm most positive person.

"I don't put shackles on players, I want players to be exciting because I've been around exciting teams. Without going into it much, the back four is a makeshift back four and they stuck by their jobs along with the goalkeeper.

"They deserve credit but the other units I'm not happy with."

Krul was spotted congratulating Defoe on his strike at halftime and Carver pressed on whether such a gesture was wise in the midst of a fiercely contested derby.

"If there's one guy who cares about this club it's Tim Krul, whenever we're not happy or we have issues he's always the guy to deal with it and he acts like a captain," the Newcastle boss added.

ILLIAN emphasised the confidence in the Chelsea camp as

the Blues extended our lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League table.

The Brazilian attacking midfielder was in good form in the 2-1 win over Stoke which, combined with results elsewhere over the Easter period, means we are now seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal with a game in hand, having been six points ahead of Manchester City before the current round of games.

Looking back on beating Stoke and at the games ahead, Willian also acknowledged there is still plenty to do.

‘I think we played very well [against Stoke], we have confidence and possession and we have to continue in the same way,’ he said.

‘We have to continue to be strong and concentrate and we have to get points game by game and this is the way.

‘Now we have to stay focused and stay strong because there are difficult games coming and we have to prepare.’

Willian’s ability to press the opposition players in their own half and win the ball back high up the pitch has been a

•Willian

consistent strength of his game, and it was important again in the part he played in Saturday’s winning goal when capitalising on Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic’s loose throw.

‘We played well because we were winning every second ball and we put pressure,’ he said. ‘For the second goal I felt that the ball was coming in that area there and I go. I passed to Eden and then he made an assist to Loic. So I think we played very well and congratulations to everyone.’

Willian also praised the part Jose Mourinho plays in building the players’ belief.

‘He is a great manager and he gives confidence, he gives everything to the players and we try to win all the games.

He explains what we have to do on the pitch and he is a very good coach and he has history in football so I am very happy to work with him.’

Naismith: Europe a 'learning curve' Forward Steven Naismith admits targeting a top-10 finish is not where Everton wanted to be in the final six weeks of the season but believes the experience of this campaign will prove vital in moving the club forward.

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TODAY IN THE NATION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO.3178

‘Being senior to the new governor in the party hierarchy they will lord it over him, sucking Lagos dry, with adverse disastrous consequences for development, safety, security and resources.’

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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HATEVER criticisms anyone may make of President Goodluck Jonathan’s six-year presidency which will end on May 29 – and God knows there’s a hell lot – he cannot be denied credit for his statesmanlike March 31 phone call to his rival, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, in which he accepted defeat ahead of the formal declaration of the opposition All Progressive Congress’s (APC) presidential candidate as victor, the following day.

That simple call was possibly, even probably, the most difficult decision of the president’s political life, considering the unprecedented bitterness that had characterised this year’s general elections, thanks mostly to the hawks the man surrounded himself with, several of whom had sworn, presumably with a wink from him, that Buhari will never be elected president of this country.

However, while the president deserves the praise singing that has been heaped on him for that simple but, at the same time, difficult, phone call, it must be said that the country stands in the grave danger of over-exaggerating its significant, in the sense that it is being made to look as if it is enough to atone for the enormous sins the man, his lieutenants and his Peoples Democratic Party have committed against Nigeria and Nigerians the past 16 years.

No doubt the phone call averted the descent into chaos which many a doomsday prophet not least semi-official American institutions that had predicted Nigeria’s implosion this year - had prophesied for the country. Even then anyone who thinks that that phone call alone has completely dispersed the storm that had gathered over the nation before and during this year’s general election may be in for a great shocker.

There are critics of the president who say his concession was forced. Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn’t. However, a two-page statement issued on Monday by the Chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustee, Chief Tony Anenih, titled “Marching on with Hope” suggests that the phone call wasn’t so voluntary.

“President Jonathan,” Anenih said in the statement, “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.” (Note his phrase, “in some states”, presumably PDP).

Coming from a man who originated and popularised the notorious phrase, “No vacancy in Aso Villa,” the man must think Nigerians are idiots to believe his claim that anybody in PDP can deepen, or has indeed deepened, democracy in Nigeria; after all, advocacy is not practice, and no one resident in Nigeria the last 16 years will agree with “Mr Fix-it” that PDP chieftains ever practiced the principles of anything they preached.

In any case by apparently tagging the election as half-free, it is obvious that his party, and certainly the man himself as its presumed conscience, did not accept Buhari won it fair and square.

Yet, in spite of Anenih’s dubious caveat about the credibility of the election, President Jonathan’s phone call may have been sincere. However, there are at least two tests by which the president can prove his sincerity beyond any reasonable doubt, one immediate, and the other during and after

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OR Jimi Agbaje, the Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the April 11 gubernatorial election, his initials, JK [Jimi Kolawole], have become comely partisan puns ... Just Kidding, Just Killing, Just Keeling ...

Just Kidding: was rascally campaign baptism, with Governor Babatunde Fashola, as probable author, pouring cold water on JK’s chances at an election many a pundit had predicted would be the closest in the state’s history. Mr. Agbaje remains popular among a set of Lagosians; and enjoys name recognition among many others. But his albatross has always been his suspect party. Whether this mix could propel him to the Alausa Ikeja, Lagos House, after PDP’s crushing loss at the March 28 presidential election, is doubtful.

Just Killing: is a classical example of guilt by association. Just Kidding mutated to Just Killing after Gani Adams’s Odu’a People’s Congress (OPC) embarked on its Lagos show of intimidation (looking back now,

People and Politics By

MOHAMMED H ARUNA ndajika@yahoo.com

GEJ’s phone call to GMB: the dangers of hyperbole Re: “Buhari- Fourth time lucky” Sir, Let us join hands and thank God for Saturday March 28, 2015. We asked for it, and He graciously gave it to us.

Chief Tony Chigbo, +23450494477.

Sir,

APC has won the elections. Let sleeping dogs lie.

•President Jonathan •President-elect Buhari

the transition.

The immediate test is his willingness to call to order the governors of PDP states and Abujabacked PDP elements in opposition states who made it almost impossible for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use card readers in their states and generally made their states hell on earth for the opposition in the March 28 elections through the use of thugs, army and the police, notably Akwa-Ibom and Rivers, the First Lady’s home but opposition state. The president should charge these governors and PDP Abuja politicians to allow for free, fair and credible governorship and Houses of Assembly elections in their states this weekend.

In addition, he should prevail on the PDP governors who lost their senatorial bids on March 28 – notably those of Niger and Benue states – not to resort to the Samson’s Option of bringing down the roof on everybody’s head they seem hell-bent upon adopting in the same election as punishment against voters in their states for their rejection.

The second, and bigger, test is how willingly the president cooperates with the in-coming administration in personally accounting for his six-year rule and how far he succeeds in persuading all his lieutenants to do the same.

General Buhari has assured that his administration will not “witch-hunt” anyone. This is as it should be. However, this cannot mean letting all bygones be bygones. To do so would be to teach the wrong lesson that all it takes for politicians and their sidekicks to get away with the kind of corruption and impunity we witnessed in this country in the past 16 years, the last six in particular, is simply for an incumbent to anticipate the formal announcement of his defeat.

+2348057366302.

Sir, Your piece today (April 1) is as usual solid but for the constant recourse to religion and ethnicity.

It’ll be good if you could stop looking at the Nigerian crises from the prism of ethnicity and religion.

Chijioke Uwasomba, OAU, Ife, +2348037058775.

Sir, I don’t know the inner workings of our darling APC, but to ascribe the ‘poor outing’ in the SouthSouth to Gov. Amaechi’s failings is disingenuous and cruel. Please we need to close our flanks.

Mikefe Tanno +2348062322295.

Sir, I hardly reply to articles but in your case of Wednesday April 1, I couldn’t hold myself. Please don’t set a dangerous agenda with your attack on Gov. Amaechi. The fact that GMB won is a testament to the good job he did as DG. You must appreciate the high risk he took in his fight with the presidency on behalf of GMB. Even some of us who were unknown supporters were nearly mobbed in several quarters.

The point I am making is that it was not easy being a Buhari supporter down south. Therefore, your early attack on Amaechi’s style is unwarranted and uncalled for. +2348030784586.

Sir, Your article, “Buhari: Fourth Time Lucky”, was another insightful piece. However, permit me to strongly disagree that Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Director-General of the Buhari campaign team, “came highly recommended”. If truth is not to be turned on its head, Amaechi came to the position with more brawn than brain. That was why he found it almost impossible to run a cohesive cam-

DELE AGEKAMEH

paign where all the various tendencies could have been carried along.

Yes, Amaechi may have been right in trying to check the over-bearing excesses of some leaders, but the limited presence of the other serving Governors and party leaders in the campaign, would have brought Buhari’s electoral bid to grief, but for God’s grace. This is why, without doubt, many discerning minds rightly say the triumph of GMB was hardly due to the efforts of his party.

Segun Adewale Sir, There you go again trying to cause schism among APC leaders and followers. Amaechi never alienated Tinubu and others. They worked together as a team. APC lost the S/E and S/S to money politics, the army and corrupt INEC officials. +2348075476140.

Sir, Thanks for your usual great attempts at an equilibrated presentation. A word, however, on the perennial suspicion of GMB for Islamic fundamentalism.

He is said to have made the application for the thorny membership of Nigeria with the OIC, which IBB later ratified. On the other hand, I read from factchecking.ng in GMB’s defence, that the OIC Conference of Minister, the OIC organ responsible for treating application did not discuss Nigeria during GMB’s military rule, and therefore it was not he who applied for it; in fact, that he refused to sign to full membership of Nigeria because Nigeria was a secular state. In any case, since secrecy has surrounded the ratification of full membership, some of us are still unaware of the details.

Be that as it may, could GMB add to his top restoration agenda the restoration of that secular status please?

I believe this message can reach the presidentelect through you.

Sincerely, JOSEPH AKAA joeakaa@yahoo.com Sir, I have watched good writers of our time like you doing good job. But personally, I would like you people, using your influence and contact, to ensure that that patriotic and uncompromising army captain who leaked the rigging of Ekiti governorship election is reinstated in the army.

This captain must not lose his job. He is the unsung hero of our time.

Alhaji Abiodun Hussain, +2348023311676.

Sir, FFK (Femi Fani-Kayode) is Publicity Director, not Director General of PGEJ’s (President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) campaign organisation. The DG is (Col) Ahmadu Ali. +2348073647104.

I stand corrected. The error was inadvertent. Another error was my reference to Buhari’s running mate as Professor Femi Osinbajo, instead of Yomi. Both errors are regretted.

MH.

•For comments, send SMS to 08059100107

•Hardball is not the opinion HARDBALL of the columnist featured above to “take over” Lagos; and that his party Just Kidding, Just Killing, Just Keeling ... come would rule for 16 years, in the first instance! no more than armed buffoonery), in aid of President Goodluck Jonathan, which secondterm triumph would have given JK a fillip, in his gubernatorial bid.

Indeed, the alleged plot was, had Jonathan triumphed, Mbu Joseph Mbu, the notorious Police Assistant Inspector-General (AIG), over-seeing Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun Police Commands), would swing into action and, should JK stumble, help muscle the vote.

Nobody knows, for sure, if that is true. But given Mr. Mbu’s crass partisan disposition, and rabid penchant to obey illegal orders (as he did as Rivers Commissioner of Police, CP) or gift himself one (as he did as CP, Federal Capital Territory, when he tried to ban the Chibok #BringBackOurGirls lobby, before he got over-ruled by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP), the allegation sounds apocryphal.

For JK, however, the OPC Lagos invasion is

an electoral tragedy — for JK will end up as the electoral scapegoat. Gani Adams is a stark carpenter, who developed huge hubris from freak fortune, which brutally exposed his pathetic starkness in politics, where he is a stark illiterate.

By classical tragedies, Gani is too lowly to be a tragic figure — for he can sink no further.

He is also no Willy Loman, the modern tragic hero in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. But

by JK’s rather reckless empathy with some Ijaw militants’ boasts to wage war should Jonathan lose, JK’s opportunistic mind would appear in tune with the OPC atavistic braggadocio on Lagos streets. Well, he appears set for the resultant electoral comeuppance on April 11.

That drives the point to the last pun: Just Keeling. To tell the truth, JK’s gubernatorial run has been a study in opportunism laced with presumptuousness. The moment he landed the Lagos gubernatorial ticket, JK boasted he had

From his boast, you would think PDP had much to show as Nigeria’s ruling party!

Then, though he craftily played down the PDP symbol in his campaign posters, he bravely “backed” Goodluck Jonathan, suggesting he had what it took to cleanse whatever electoral toxicity that came with the Jonathan name! That was presumption at its most reckless!

In the heat of the moment, he even got embroiled in the ethnic manoeuvring, between Lagos indigenes and residents, while he joyfully mouthed his cant of saving Lagos from “vested interests”! The bitter ethnic undercurrent in the lost presidential election also appeared to have set JK up as a brazen face against the interest of his own people, all for crass partisan gains.

So, JK might just keel over, now that a new political order is emerging. It is the cruel making of JK as Just Keeling ... before the final crash!

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