April 09, 2015

Court rejects Fayose’s bid to stop •PAGE 8 impeachment

Newspaper of the Year

•Why Lagos should vote Ambode, by Fashola, Tinubu •AND •Oke, Ogunniya, Olunloyo’s daughter dump PDPMORE ON •I’ll not leave PDP, says Senate President MarkPAGES 2,4&10 •Danjuma: Ojukwu should’ve conceded to save lives

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3178 THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Buhari to unveil jobs plan •SEE PAGE 2

2

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

NEWS Danjuma: Ojukwu should’ve conceded to save lives

Buhari in Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi From Yusuf Alli, Abuja •President Goodluck Jonathan with former Minister of Defence Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, during the president’s visit to his residence in Abuja …yesterday.

P

RESIDENT-ELECT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday made last-minute shuttles to Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi states to woo voters for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The three states were said to have been identified as needing help because of the “desperation” of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It was gathered that Gen. Buhari embarked on the shuttles following intelligence reports of alleged plans by the PDP to rig in some states in the North.

He urged APC leaders and members to work for the success of the party’s candidates in the governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.

Continued on page 56

Why Rivers must align with centre, by Peterside

R

IVERS State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr. Dakuku Peterside has urged the people of the state to take advantage of a new dawn created by the emergence of president-elect Muhammadu Buhari by voting massively for the APC. Peterside, who spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, during a campaign stop, warned that Rivers State cannot afford to play opposition politics at the centre, especially at this time because of the dire consequences.

He added that everybody, including his opponents, agree on the futility of opposition politics because of the danger it portents for the state. He urged the people to leverage on Gen. Buhari’s victory for a greater and more prosperous Rivers State.

Peterside said: “As Rivers people, we are minority. Other people can find their ways around things but ours is a bit challenging. My friend, Nye-

•’Army, DSS, police’ll not harass people again’ From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

som Wike, when he was campaigning said the last thing that can happen to Rivers State is for it to be in the party that is in opposition. I am sure many of you heard him when he said Rivers State should never be in opposition. According to him, opposition is bad because we will lose out completely in the power equation. ”Now the party in power at the centre is APC. Do we now use our own leg and walk into opposition? This is the time to align with the centre and ensure we reap maximum benefits from the centre. ”And if you put the two governorship candidates on a scale and look up to God for direction regarding choice, when you eventually make that choice, I know you will never choose PDP. And there are many reasons why your

choice will never be PDP. You know between us the person who is a tout and the person who is decent. You cannot also vote for a man who will bind you and throw you into a raging fire. So make a wise decision. ”Therefore, on Saturday go out early, make sure you are accredited and ensure you vote for APC. There is nothing more to campaign, you know what the issues are, you also know the person who will protect your interest. There is nothing more to say. ”They may give you the impression that your vote will not count, just like the Presidential and National Assembly elections but tell them it will not work this time. I promise you that this time around, from INEC office, people will monitor result sheets to the local government, ward level and to your unit. ”Nobody has written any

result, nobody can write any result so come out and vote because your vote will count.

Come out and vote for APC, we cannot afford to give our state to hooligans, touts and thugs. If we were looking for a tout, a man who can fight very well, we would have gone for them. But now we are looking for governor. ”A man who is competent, honest, God-fearing, that is what I will offer you. We don’t believe in rigging, we believe in law and order. They believe in killing people, we believe in protecting the people. They believe in hatred, we believe in love. They believe that by force, they can get whatever they want; we believe that by placing reason before the people, they will go with us. And as you vote for me, also remember to vote for our Assembly members.”

Also speaking at a townhall Continued on page 56

H

AD former Biafran leader Dim Chukwuemeka OdimegwuOjukwu behaved like President Goodluck Jonathan who conceded after losing the March 28 election, many of the lives lost in the civil war would have been saved, former Minister of Defence Theophilus Danjuma said yesterday.

Gen. Danjuma spoke at his home in Abuja when the President visited him.

The former Army chief is the political leader in Taraba State, one of the three states in the North won by President Jonathan. The others are Nasarawa and Plateau States.

They met briefly behind closed-doors before the President departed for the Presidential Villa.

No reasons were given for the meeting but the president thanked Gen. Danjuma for his fatherly support during the election.

Gen. Danjuma said Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat to Buhari, had set a

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

record in the country.

According to him, if the late Ojukwu had done the same thing after the fall of Enugu, when his government had to flee into the bush, he would have saved the country from further bloodshed.

He said: “The outcome of the election and the manner in which President Jonathan conceded victory to Gen. Buhari is totally unAfrican, it is very important in the history of Africa. ”Ojukwu didn’t do the same after the fall of Enugu. If he had conceded victory to the federal troops he would have saved the nation one full year of bloodshed.

“President Jonathan has set a history, a record to be emulated by the rest of Africa and indeed the whole world. It’s an excellent thing he did.”

Jonathan thanked him for his fatherly support during the election.

Buhari to unfold APC’s job creation, security master plan on May 29

S

OKOTO State Governor Aliyu Wamakko said yesterday that President-elect Muhammadu Buhari will unfold the All Progressives Congress (APC) master plan on job creation and social security-related issues at his inauguration on May 29.

Wamakko spoke while addressing supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Tambuwal, headquarters of Tambuwal Local Government Area of the state.

He said the master plan would also address the security concerns in the country.

The governor, who is also a senator-elect, said the Presidentelect would ensure good governance through the implementation of people-oriented programmes designed to meet the expectations and yearnings of Nigerians.

He said the Buhari presiden-

cy would restore the confidence of Nigerians in governance through the implementation of programmes that would enhance the socio-economic and political development of the country.

“We as progressives are in the system to bring about a responsible change in all aspects of governance, “ he said.

Wamakko said that Nigeria as a nation was blessed with abundant natural and human resources necessary for effective economic growth and development.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria under Gen. Buhari would achieve greatness and prosperity.

Wamakko called on the people to come out en-masse to cast their votes for all APC candidates in Saturday’s elections.

He praised APC supporters Continued on page 56

I was nearly blown off by wind of change, says Oke

A

HUGE crowd yesterday jammed the conference hall of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress(APC) secretariat in Akure the Ondo State capital.

The guests were defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC supporters.

The defectors were led by the 2012 PDP governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke. In the audience was Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi, who defected to the APC two days to the March 28 presidential election.

Oke, who is the former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, said he was nearly blown off by the APC’s wind of change when he resisted joining the party before the presidential election.

Oke said he had surrendered himself as part of the instrument to be used in transforming Nigeria.

The former PDP chieftain was received by Olanusi, the state chairman and his deputy, Isaac Kekemeke and Mr. Ade Adetimehin, Senator Ajayi Boroffice,Prince Olu Adegboro,Mrs Fola Olaseinde Vincent, Mr Bola Ilori,Prince Ademola Adegoroye,Prince Adewale Omojuwa and many other leaders.

Olunloyo’s daughter, PDP, Accord Reps, others join APC

T

HE gale of defections that hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday spread to Oyo State.

A member of the House of Representatives, two former members on the platform of Accord and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a PDP governorship aspirant, a PDP Women leader, former local government chairmen of the PDP and thousands of their supporters joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.

They defectors are Hon. Afeez Jimoh, Folake Olunloyo-Osinowo, Tayo Sarumi, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, Mrs Ayoka Lawani and former Chairman, Iseyin Local Government, Mr Waheed Adeleke, among other party leaders.

From Damisi Ojo and Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Thousands of PDP members came with Oke to join APC an indication that only Labour Party supporters who defected to PDP with Mimiko are now PDP members.

Prominent among the defectors are: Abayomi Shaba, Mrs. Oladunni Odu, former Head of Service Olajide Ajana, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya, Mr. Ayo Fayefunmi, former Head of service, Alaba Isijola and House of Representatives member, Hon. Albert Akin-

From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

They were received at an event at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan yesterday by Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who represented President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The defectors said they were leaving their parties for the APC because they discovered that only the APC held hope for and Oyo State in particular.

Hon Olunloyo-Osinowo, daughter of Second Republic Governor Omololu Olunloyo, said all the members of the PDP in Ibadan South West and Ibadan North West had defected to the APC, stating

toye.

Others are Chief Olufemi Omosanya, Femi Bello, Febi Adeyemi, Segun Odidi, Folashade Gbajobi, Folake Omogoroye, Eniola Akinditure, Mrs. Yinka Ogunbabero, Chris Ayebutuwa, Sunday Kekereowo, Dare Adeniyi, Tayo Akinjo, Gbenga Opetusi, Dupe Ogundimeniha, Sule Oderinde and Nichola Akinbiola The rest are: Eniola Ogunga Hon. Tayo Fawehinmi, Mrs. Jedo, Hon. Olumoyegun, Gbenga Princess, Dupe Adetuwo, Samuel Akinmade, Alhaji

that they identified with progressive ideology and believed that only the party would take the country to the promised land.

“God has deserted PDP and Nigerians have rejected it. That was why we left the party. The APC remains the only party that can take Nigeria to her land of destiny,” she said.

Another former PDP member of the House of Representatives and now a chieftain of the Accord, Hon. Sarumi, said his former party had become a sinking ship that would meet its waterloo at the governorship polls on Saturday.

Former governorship aspirant Dr. Adeduntan urged the Accord governor-

Sule Oderinde and Ibukun Omotehinse.

Oke noted that he did not join the APC just because President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election, but because he wanted the wind of change blowing around to also change the present administration in Ondo State.

He said: “I have passionately resisted to be part of this change, I resisted the wind of change that was blowing until it almost blew me out. Now, I have surrendered, I can’t resist no more.

Continued on page 56

“I have come over not because PDP lost election, but I have come over because the wind of change blowing across Nigeria must blow over Ondo State. Let me commend you leaders for your courage, boldness in bringing about this change. “ In Ondo State, I know what you people have gone through because the forces of darkness that want the status quo to remain but everything in life is constant but change is permanent.

“We have come to add val-

•Oke...yesterday

ue; we are not here to change.

In 2012, when I took the courage to challenge the status quo, I titled my campaign ‘rescue mission’. That rescue mission that I cannot accomplish, the APC has promised a platform for that rescue of Ondo State.

“No power of darkness will stop change from coming to Ondo State. Ondo State is the poorest state in the Southwest and we have no reason to be poor, because we have everything …, but our problem is lack of good leadership, lack of Continued on page 56

ADVERT HOTLINES 08023006969, 08052592524

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

3

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

4

NEWS BUHARI’S VICTORY

The times call for this manAkinwunmi Ambode In the twilight of his tenure as Lagos State Governor, ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU identified Babatunde Fashola as the ‘Best man for the job’. His was a lone voice in the wilderness. But the sterling performance of the ‘SAN with a sound mind’ proved bookmakers wrong. The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has again weighed those jostling for the Lagos Government House and found APC’s Akinwunmi Ambode as the “Man of destiny’.

A

KUNWUNMI Ambode is more than the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor of Lagos State. He is the man most qualified to lead our state that we may continue the journey of the progressive development we started in 1999.

Personal ambition does not call him forth to become governor. The challenges of the moment call him. He is not a man of political bargain and games. He is a man of destiny. The times called upon him because experience, talent and temperament have equipped and shaped him for this moment. He has done his duty by answering destiny’s call. We must now do our duty by electing him to office that he can open a new and greater chapter to the APC legacy in this state.

Do not let this man’s kind and humble nature fool you. He combines keen, creative intellectual power with a tremendous work ethic. He also possesses unparalleled experience for he has devoted his entire career to the service of this state. From that modest start, his obvious ability and excellent performance propelled him to where he became the accountant general for the entire state.

He controlled the purse strings of the state and did so expertly. His rise was not caused by political favour. It was due to unquestionable merit.

Equally now, his candidacy as our next governor was not the product of political favour. His candidacy bears the sign of merit.

He was a major architect and implementer of our progressive development programme for the state. While serving as a governor, I depended on him and trusted him completely to maintain able and honest management of our finances in such a way that we could cut waste and begin the process of rebuilding Lagos into a modern, productive and great state.

During that time, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government did everything it could to scuttle our dream. They sought to break Lagos State. They illegally withheld revenues. They did not want us to realise our development plans because our progress would put their failures to visible shame.

They sought to choke us financially. They failed. Lagos won.

Ambode was a major reason for this people’s victory against oppression.

He worked diligently not just to keep the state afloat but also to find ways to allow it to begin flourishing by implementing the development projects we envisioned for our beloved state.

Now with dwindling revenue to the federal government due to global slide in oil prices, Lagos needs a governor who can bring financial stability to the state. That man is Akinwunmi Ambode.

I marvelled at his dedication to this difficult yet vital task and applauded the superior quality of his work. This man showed himself to be a rare combination of financial probity and creativity, a man who checked every detail but also understood the big, strategic picture.

His name has been unsung but Ambode is one of the most important heroes and a key factor in the progress we have made these past years. Without him helping to lay the fiscal foundation, much of what we

‘

In fair weather, anyone can captain the ship. However, when the seas get rough and amid a raging storm, we need an able and experienced man at the helm. Ambode is that man. He is a man of destiny. He is the man for the times

‘

accomplished would have gone with the wind.

Ambode is a brilliant young man, who, in his Ordinary and Advanced Levels had the distinction of achieving the second best result in the entire West Africa in the Higher School Certificate Examinations in 1981.

Ambode proceeded to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he studied Accounting and graduated in 1984 at 21. By the time he was 24, Ambode had qualified as a Chartered Accountant and had completed his Masters Degree programme in Accounting, specialising in Financial Management.

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 per cent annually. He has built on this track record ever since.

There is no person better qualified than Akin Ambode to steer the ship of Lagos state at this delicate moment.

In fair weather, anyone can captain the ship. However, when the seas get rough and amid a raging storm, we need an able and experienced man at the helm. Ambode is that man. He is a man of destiny. He is the man for the times.

Under my administration, he helped Lagos regain its national and international stature as a Center of Excellence. He supported Governor Babatunde Fashola as he built upon that strong foundation. Now Fashola and I support him to advance even further our collective progressive dream for Lagos.

The progress Lagos has made has not been the trademark of any one man. It has been through the collective and collaborative creation and implementation of a development plan. Ambode actively participated at the very inception of this historic, groundbreaking process. He has been an integral part of a team that shares a common vision.

This election cycle offers Lagos a rare opportunity. With Gen Buhari’s APC government in Abuja, this will be the first time our progressive government in Lagos will be able to work in full harmony and cooperation with the federal government.

Why Lagosians should vote Ambode, by Fashola Rather than go experimental, Governor Babatunde Fashola is asking Lagosians to, on Saturday, vote for All Progressives Congress (APC) Akinwunmi Ambode to take the baton from him.

In this emotion-laden message to Lagosians, the governor says the PDP is on a mission to take the Centre of Excellence out of its comfort zone.

F

•Asiwaju Tinubu

The ramifications of this close connection are completely positive. This is a chance that we have worked toward for many years. The joint infrastructural and employment projects and collaboration between the state and the federal will quicken the improvement of our roads, schools, power generation and the entire array of social services. This new era of cooperation between the state and federal Government promises to be a golden period for Lagos and for all Lagosians to share equally therein.

We see a Lagos that is a fount of learning, enterprise, innovation and prosperity for all. We see a Lagos that is tolerant and welcoming to its people and to all Nigerians regardless of religion or ethnic background. We see a Lagos that does not despise the common man but provides adequate education, healthcare, housing and opportunity to all. We have gone far toward realising these lofty dreams but we are not home yet. Akinwunmi Ambode knows the way home because he helped draw the map. Vote for him. He will bring us closer home.

He is a man of integrity, honour and promise. He is a man of destiny.

He is the man for the times.

Under Jimi Agbaje, carpetbaggers like Bode George will run riot, sucking dry the lifeblood of the state and destroying in months what has taken us many well-planned years to achieve.

Do not sacrifice our future by giving the reins of governance to those with little idea of the challenges ahead and with no notion of how to resolve them.

Agbaje, bless his heart, may be a nice fellow but he is lost in his party and is lost in time and place. He is not to lead us for he will hand Lagos over to the Jonathan gang. This would kill the future of our state as if by execution.

People of Lagos, you have a choice to make that is really not much of a choice. Do you continue to build and grow the state in a manner that holds the promise of a better day for all of its inhabitants or do you give the state over to those who have already ruined the Federal Government? In one hand, there is a blueprint for progress. On the other, a blue print for disaster.

I choose progress. That means I choose Ambode. He is a man of destiny. He is the man meant for this time. Vote for your future by voting for him.

IRST let me thank you all for turning out to vote on March 28 and for doing so peacefully to make history by electing the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Once again, I must address you as we approach Saturday’s elections, when you will be electing a governor who will continue after me and consolidate on the progress we have built together.

You will also be electing members of the State House of Assembly who will make laws on your behalf to assist the governor and his team in the Executive arm.

Although your votes will be cast for one political party or the other, let me remind you that you will actually be voting for your wellbeing, security, prosperity and future.

You will also be voting for the future of your children. You will be choosing candidates and a party that you will entrust your lives to.

Think hard, think clearly and think deeply. Ask yourselves a few questions.

Running on records Who has shown a better record and example of protecting and securing you between the political parties?

Which of the parties cares more when disasters happen?

What is the record of the parties as it relates to the promises they have made to you in the past?

Which of the parties do you see regularly and which one do you see once in a while?

Which of the parties do you see when your life or property is threatened by epidemics like Ebola or by unfortunate accidents like plane crashes?

Which of the parties is showing that you can become home-owners without knowing anybody?

Which party has responsibility for providing electricity for you, and which one is taking up the responsibility to light up your streets and communities at night?

Which of them cares more about your children and their safety?

Indeed ask yourself; which of the parties threatened you with thugs on that sad Monday of March 16th and which is seeking to protect you by supporting the police; with patrol vehicles, fuel and other equipment?

Ask yourself when last you saw the Federal Fire Service in Lagos. The proud men and women of the Lagos State Fire Service have taken over admirably.

Ask yourself who should be supporting the police and who is actually doing it?

Dear Lagosians, your choice of who

to vote for will be easy if you answer these questions within yourself honestly.

Indeed, you have clear choices to make between parties that use your resources to develop your society and community on the one hand, and the party that chooses to bring money to you for distribution when election beckons.

So, you can choose between schools for your children, hospitals for your community, roads for your transportation or in the alternative, you can choose to have these services monetised once in four years.

Remember, that choices have consequences and your vote will decide the choice that shapes your lives.

Dear Lagosians, it is tempting to take the right and opportunity to vote for granted. It is tempting to think that it is too much trouble.

I agree that the process can be made much easier. But it is no excuse to refuse to vote.

Out of 5.8 million registered voters and 3.8 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collections, only about 1.5 million turned out to vote, on March 28.

Think of all the pain, the effort, the sleepless nights it took to get the PVCs to you. Think of the best way to show that the effort was not wasted or in vain.

It seems to me that the best way is to have all these 3.8 Million voters come out to vote.

Refusing to vote is diservice

By refusing to vote, you surrender decision making to a few and you will be bound by the consequences of your choices.

By refusing to vote, you do a great disservice to many who have lived before you, who fought very hard at great personal costs to themselves, to earn you this right.

By refusing to vote, you dishonour the sacrifice of patriots before you who fought for the right to vote.

Remember that when they were fighting for the right to vote, they were not fighting for yesterday, they were fighting for today and tomorrow.

They have handed today to you and I, can we secure tomorrow for the next generation?

Remember that since the capital of Nigeria was moved from Lagos 24 years ago, precisely in December 1991, Lagos has been abandoned by the Federal Government.

Ask yourself when the last major new road in Lagos was built by the Federal Government. It was the Third Mainland Bridge completed in 1990.

The assets the Federal Government left behind almost became a burden but for our resilience to maintain them. Today, the Federal Government is owing Lagos N51 billion, which remains un-

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

5

BUHARI’S VICTORY

•Gen. Buhari

paid.

This is not in accord with the spirit of the promise made to Lagos when the Federal Government first declared Abuja as the capital in 1976.

The Head-of-State at the time, the late Gen Murtala Muhammed, said then and I quote him: “…Lagos will, in the foreseeable future, remain the nation’s commercial capital and one of its nerve centres. But in terms of servicing the present infrastructure alone the committed amount of money and effort required will be such that Lagos State will not be ready to cope.

(But we have coped at great sacrifice) “It will even be unfair to expect the state to bear this heavy burden on its own. It is therefore necessary for the Federal Government to continue to sustain the substantial investment in the area. The port facilities and other economic activities in the Lagos area have to be expanded.

“There is need in the circumstances for the Federal Government to maintain a special defence and security arrangement in Lagos which will henceforth be designated a special area. These arrangements will be carefully worked out and written into the new constitution. Kaduna and Port Harcourt are to be accorded similar status and designated as Special Areas…”

•Fashola

•Ambode

Sadly, no Federal Government and indeed not the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government have done anything to redeem that promise for the 16 years it was in power or to protect Lagos.

Lagos in the past 16 years Instead of assisting Lagos, they attacked her. If you remember the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), in 2006, the same PDP seized your local government areas’ funds and resisted the attempt to bring government closer to you by creating more local governments.

On Monday, March 16, the same PDP continued in their tradition of assaulting Lagos. Their supporters took over a major road in Lagos and threatened your peace and security.

On Wednesday, March 18, the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari came to Lagos and said Lagos will receive compensation for the role she has played in maintaining Federal Government Assets.

Yesterday, on Tuesday April 7, he was here in Lagos in his first political engagement since he became the president-elect and he reiterated his commitment to support Lagos.

This is what I will vote for. This is what I urge you to think about as you vote on Saturday.

This (Lagos) is the place that every Nigerian calls his home. It is the home of displaced people. It is the place where the homeless arrive and are made welcome.

It is the place where generations of Nigerians have arrived without knowing anybody but have, through the opportunities and inclusion, become somebody.

This is the place where the late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya and Owelle Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe consummated the handshake across the Niger and played politics without bitterness.

Tell those who try to divide us that our greatest strength has always been our diversity.

Tell them that you feel safe here, and that I have continuously assured you of your safety as the basis of our mutual co-existence.

Tell them that our waterways have been assets of prosperity and sustenance, for transport, recreation and fishing and they will remain so.

Let nobody now attempt to re-write that history for you.

When they reel out false statistics

•The late Gen. Muritala

about Lagos, please ask them the statistics about the places they governed for 16 years.

When they reel out statistics, please remind them that those statistics do not stand in isolation; they are the burden of a whole nation and many parts of West Africa that Lagos State bears.

When they promise you heaven on earth, remember their broken promises on power, security and many more.

Ask them to show you a plan, if they can produce one, which is doubtful, ask them whether they have implemented it elsewhere.

Keeping faith with promises Tell them that you have seen the Lagos Development plan for 2012 – 2025, that the Lagos Light Rail Project, the Adiyan Water Works Phase II of 75 million gallons a day, the solar power for all schools and many more which are part of the plans for you and your children and which are already being implemented.

Tell them that you will vote to keep a plan that you can see, that is already working, instead of a plan that you have not seen.

Ask them what happened to Vision 20:20, to the Seven-Point Agenda and

to Transformation Agenda.

Tell them that your bird in hand will not be traded for a dozen unseen birds in the bush.

Tell them that this election is not about money, tell them that it is not about ethnicity and it is not about religion.

Tell them that this election is about the place you call your home, the place you earn your living and the place where your investments are the safest.

Tell them that you will not play ethnic or religious politics with your survival. Tell them that you will not vote with anger.

Tell them that you will vote with common sense and for experience.

Tell them that you have seen Lagos survive without federal support, and you wish to see her flourish with federal support.

That will be the most historic thing you will have done, putting Lagos in the centre with your votes.

History and tomorrow beckons.

Don’t turn your backs.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is the Governor of Lagos State.

Fayose courting disaster; Ekiti should not follow him ANALYSIS A MONG the many reasons President Goodluck Jonathan lost reelection, the extreme tomfooleries of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, which manifested especially in uncouth advertisements against the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, must rank very high. Mr Fayose has always been high-strung.

During the last presidential and National Assembly campaigns, he was excessively so: peevish, disorganised, intemperate, sometimes distraught, but more often inane and immoderate. Early this week, attempting to stave off the plan by the state’s 19 APC lawmakers to impeach him on the grounds of eight constitutional infractions, he once again deployed the idiosyncratic and loutish methods of a gangster.

In the estimation of the judicious, one ground is enough to do the job: that of raising and nurturing seven lawmakers to constitute the State House of Assembly of 26 members. Using the most arcane mathematics few politicians or analysts are familiar with, Mr Fayose got the seven lawmakers to ‘impeach’ the real Speaker, Adewale Omirin, muscle out the rest 18 lawmakers, approve the 2015 budget, and screen and approve the governor’s commissioners. Not done, Mr Fayose also instigated thugs and stood conspiratorially by as they manhandled judges who sat over cases in which determined litigants hoped to prove he was unqualified to stand for the governorship election.

A propagandist par excellence, he justified his brutal and Neanderthal methods by arguing that the APC was unwilling to accept defeat and plotting to secure through the backdoor the governorship position they lost through the ballot box in June last year. He is supported in this profane logic by a horde of toughs, trade unions, befuddled Ekiti indigenes, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters who desperately see Mr Fayose as the single most important guarantee to the state trough in which they have locked their snouts. It is not clear how long they hope to sustain the lie they tell themselves, or how plausibly they expect to

By Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

sustain their insupportable and indefensible position. But if history is any judge, it will not be for long. The last time he was thrown out of office in 2006, he managed to avoid jail. This time, he will not be able to avoid incarceration to which his manners, not to say his politics, are deservingly leading him.

It is of course doubtful that the APC would want to return former governor Kayode Fayemi to the governorship. But even if it were true, the plot, if it could be called that, may have served the useful and unintended purpose of unearthing and revealing the malignant tendency and vile disposition lurking in Mr Fayose’s bitter soul. The governor cannot defend the displacement of 19 state legislators in favour of the seven, even if it were true that the majority refused to cooperate with him. He did not give them any chance to prove their bona fides, nor the voters who put him in office to make up their minds that the 19 lawmakers had become truly uncooperative. Instead, he brusquely enacted an archaic form of governorship beside which Uganda’s Idi Amin Dada’s military dictatorship was liberal. And to hear Olisa Metuh, PDP’s publicity secretary and a lawyer to boot, declaim upon how APC was subscribing to lawlessness in tackling Mr Fayose is to wonder where he had been all along when the irascible governor played devilry with the law and the constitution.

What is truly astonishing about the unfolding tragedy in Ekiti is the near silence of the state elite, both traditional and business. If they do not approve of Mr Fayose’s brutal methods, then

their silence can only indicate cowardice. But if they approve of the governor’s style, then, perhaps, their strange and continuing love for the late strongman, Gen Sani Abacha, who created the state, is an indication of a historical, lasting, deeper and more fundamental flaw in the character of the Ekiti indigene. There cannot be two measures of the values of truth and reality, and neither the soil nor the air of Ekiti can admit to or offer any different measure.

But it is not only the Ekiti elite that have abdicated their custodial responsibility of safeguarding the mores and taboos of their state.

(Indeed, the constitution does not presume their active defence of the principles and values upon which any Nigerian society or state is founded and anchored. Instead, the constitution vests law enforcement and security agencies with the responsibility of moderating and mediating attitudes and conflicts in any state). Under President Goodluck Jonathan, the defeated PDP presidential candidate, the law enforcement agencies have also been complicit in the attacks masterminded against the law and constitution

by Mr Fayose. He had made himself available for vile use by the president, and the president had in turn unwisely looked the other way as the Ekiti governor disgraced his state and country.

With President Jonathan’s defeat, it is not known yet whether the law enforcement agencies would find the courage to impartially enforce the law and keep the peace. Old habits die hard. So far, the police have gingerly tried to keep the peace, unsure whether to remain loyal to the outgoing president who selectively and expediently obeyed the constitution, or whether these veritable pickthanks will ingratiate themselves with the incoming

What is truly astonishing about the unfolding tragedy ‘ in Ekiti is the near silence of the state elite, both traditional and business. If they do not approve of Mr Fayose’s brutal methods, then their silence can only indicate cowardice ‘

president who is reputed to be a disciplinarian.

Similarly, it is not known to what extent the 19 APC lawmakers can successfully impeach Mr Fayose, given the limited time at their disposal, nor whether it is even needful to attempt that process notwithstanding the thoroughly offensive and constitutionally injurious manners of the governor.

If the impeachment process fails in the short run, Mr Fayose and his violent supporters will attempt to pack the next state legislature with his supporters in order to make that possibility remote in the medium to long run. But whether short run or long run, Mr Fayose cannot govern either well or at all. He is an unmitigated disaster. He will disgrace himself, as he openly did in respect of his family when he publicised his mother’s medical condition, and he will continue to embarrass the state he so unworthily governs, as he is doing now sending the deputy governor and other cabinet members to man the barricades. He will always lie, cheat and, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges in court, steal. No vice will be too low for him to embrace, and no sewer too offensive to wallow in.

There can be no question, in the face of the law and the constitution both of which he has thoroughly debased and undermined, whether he deserves to be impeached. The grounds of the impeachment are solid and provable. If the legislature fails to do it now, it will be because the state (meaning, the law) has cowardly retreated from the noble fight. But sooner or later, he will be impeached, and he will likely end in jail. This confidence is not because the country loves Ekiti more than they love themselves, nor because Nigeria loves crying more than the bereaved. Indeed, it does not even matter whether the peculiar morality of Ekiti can pass muster. If eventually Mr Fayose is pushed out of office and confined where his excesses can receive medical attention, it will be because nature itself, ashamed for Ekiti and what its people have done to themselves in the past few months, has waded in to save them from misery and self-destruction.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

6

NEWS ‘Nigeria should be certified polio free in July’

By Nneka Nwaneri

T

•From left: Past Assistant Governor of Rotary Tonia Taiwo; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Alhaji Remi Bello; District Governor of Rotary 9110 Dr. Dele Balogun; Chairman of Nigerian National Polio Plus Committee Dr. Tunji Funsho; Mr. Richard Giwa-Osagie, Mr. Yomi Adewunmi and Mr. Kayode Aderiokun, when the Rotary received the Polio Torch at the District office in Ikeja, Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

T

Tinubu to Lagos APC leaders: work for victory in Saturday’s elections

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged the party’s leaders in Lagos State to mobilise and work for the victory of APC’s candidates in the governorship and the state House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

Tinubu spoke yesterday at the party’s state secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja, during a stakeholders’ meeting.

He said the governorship election is important to the APC, warning those working against the party’s interest and fuelling crisis within the Lagos APC, especially at ward and local government levels, to stop or face the consequences.

According to Tinubu, the poor performance of APC and the loss of six House of Representatives seats to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in

By Oziegbe Okoeki

some parts of the state during the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections was not because Igbos voted for PDP as being speculated.

He blamed the loss to internal wrangling and refusal of APC members to work for the party’s victory during the election.

The APC National Leader said party registered members in Lagos State alone were about two million, adding that it was, therefore, worrisome that the APC got fewer than 800,000 votes in the elections.

The party, Tinubu noted, lost in some local councils in the March 28 elections because of low turn-out of party members

at the polling booths.

He said: “The turn-out of APC members during March 28 elections was poor and that was why APC was defeated in some polling units, wards and local governments in Lagos State. I delivered my ward for APC and I wonder why many leaders could not deliver their wards to the APC despite been mobilised by the party for the election.

“Some people said that APC lost in some wards and local governments to PDP because of Igbo votes; that is not true.

“If you mobilise for the party, there is no way APC will lose the election. Igbos are not your enemies. If APC lose the presidential election in Lagos, I will understand why. But losing six House of Representatives seats

to opposition in Lagos State have never happened in the history of Lagos.”

Tinubu promised to compensate any APC ward and local government leader that delivers his ward for the party.

“You are all shouting change and we may likely change any party leader that doesn’t perform. Any ward leader that doesn’t perform will be changed. If you do very well, there would be continuity for you. But if you fail to deliver, there would be change. If you deliver your ward and local government, there would be continuity for you.

“There is no room for repeat in our party. We don’t want failure in our party. So, we will remove those who cannot perform

and replace them with those who can deliver and work genuinely for the party,” he told the party leaders.

Stressing the need for APC to prepare actively for the Saturday election, Tinubu asked the APC leaders to stop public rally and start organising meeting at ward, local government, constituency and senatorial levels to strategise for the party’s victory in the election.

He praised the Arewa Community in Lagos for giving APC block votes during the March 28 elections, urging all other nonindigenous groups and all the APC leaders and members to work tirelessly to deliver their polling units, wards, constituencies and local governments for the party in Saturday’s election.

Chibok girls still alive, says Federal Govt

T

HE Federal Government yesterday denied knowledge of a report, which claimed that the over 200 school girls kidnapped from Chibok community by members of Boko Haram sect about one year ago have been killed.

The Coordinator of National Information Centre (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri, during a security briefing yesterday in Abuja, maintained that all hope on rescuing the girls alive was not lost yet.

He urged Nigerians to be hopeful as recovery of the captured towns and villages from Boko Haram were still ongoing, urging people to disregard speculations.

Omeri said: “The search for Chibok girls continues and that is why even with capture of Bama and the rest, security and military have never relent. And until it is concluded, we cannot begin to believe speculation.

“I think the one year anniversary is next week, and we hope to give a comprehensive report on what we know so far, and how far the searching has gone.

“So, the assurance I will give you is that everywhere is being combed and whatever element we found will be revealed to appropriate authority, and nobody is going to keep anything secret.”

He urged Nigerians to be vigilant during the Saturday governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, adding that military would be ready to

•#BBOG: they won’t be forgotten From Bukola Amusan and Grace Obike, Abuja

subdue any form of attack from any terror group.

Omeri assured that the Nigerian military would be on ground in troubled states to ensure a peaceful election.

He urged the citizens, especially those in the area where the military has been battling the Boko Haram, to remain calm and vigilant.

His words: “Recall that in our statement on the eve of the presidential and National Assembly elections. We reiterated to Nigerians the need to exercise the highest level of vigilance and also scrutinise the activities of unknown and strange persons within their environment.

“In respect of the forthcom-

ing governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, we remind the citizens to maintain a similar level of vigilance and caution to ensure a peaceful and incident-free exercise.”

But yesterday, members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy said the Chibok girls would never be forgotten. #BBOG is organising a Week of Global Action to commemorate the year anniversary of the girls’ abduction with different activities, which will climax on April 14.

The events, according to the group, are to remind the world that the 219 Chibok girls are still in captivity after a year.

The events will include a walkathon, a Special Juma’at prayer in mosques nationwide

and a special Asr Prayer at the Unity Fountain; a Special Sunday services in churches nationwide and a commemoration service at the Unity Fountain; social media chats; a worldwide school girls’ march; the presentation of 219 #ChibokGirls ambassadors, a commemoration lecture by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, and a candle lit vigil.

Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala-Usman, who revealed the activities in a statement, added that in reflecting the global spread of the movement, #BBOG groups in several cities, many other partner groups, communities and individuals all over the world have been informed about the activities in honour of the girls.

They added: “It is soon to be

one year and our #ChibokGirls are not back! We must all continue to lend our voices to call for their rescue. We find their continued captivity extremely unacceptable.

“Our abiding advocacy for their cause is specific in demanding that the Federal Government should give our girls justice that they deserve by immediately rescuing them.

“Therefore, wherever you may be around the world, we urge you to join us in declaring that our innocent #ChibokGirls are global citizens that the world must ensure are #NeverToBeForgotten.

“We cannot afford to move on without a positive closure on this monumental tragedy that befell young women who went to school to be educated. Our girls are crying to be rescued!”

Polls: NYSC DG warns corps members against inducement

T

HE Director-General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.Gen. Johnson Olawumi, has called on corps members, who are participating in Saturday elections to shun any form of inducement or gratification for the sake of their safety and credibility.

He told them to see their involvement in the election as patriotism and part of their contribution to national development, stressing that the little allowances given to them should be accepted wholeheartedly

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

without cutting corners.

The director-general spoke in Kaduna while sensitising corps members on the need to be security conscious in addition to security arrangement put in place by the scheme in conjunction with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Brig.-Gen. Olawumi, who was represented by NYSC’s Director of Procurement, Alhaji Bashir Salisu Yakasai, said the corps members’ total

money for elections allowances was N26,000, payable directly to them by INEC through INEC/NYSC collaboration account.

He warned: “I urge you to be vigilant, behave very well and adhered to rules and regulations of the scheme. No form of inducement or gratification should be accepted by you.

“It is not the matter of how much paid or collected, but patriotism and service to the country. And to compliment that, we have made tangible arrangement with security agencies for

protection before, during and after the election,” he stated.

The State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Hilary Nasamu, revealed that participating corps members were doing it on voluntary ground, and not that they have been forced into it.

He added that their best was expected to play out during the polls.

Nasamu, however, appealed to the citizens to give corps members maximum cooperation and protection during the gubernatorial and state assembly election on Saturday.

HE next four month may be a deciding factor for Nigeria since the last national reported case of polio on July 24, last year.

Chairman of the Nigerian National Polio Plus Committee, Dr. Tunji Funsho, who said this yesterday, added that in the absence of any new polio case by July, “Nigeria and indeed Africa should be certified free of the virus”.

Dr. Funsho, who spoke while displaying the Polio Torch from India, urged Nigerians to make their children available for a national immunisation exercise scheduled to hold from 25th to 27th of this month nationwide.

He said health workers and vaccinators will be going round to administer an oral vaccine to children below the age of five.

A multiple administration, he added, will cause no harm.

The Polio Plus Committee chief said the essence of bringing the torch to Nigeria was to signify that the nation could be certified free from the virus.

Why I want to be Reps’ Speaker,

by Jibrin From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

A

MEMBER of the House of Representatives and Chairman, Committee on Finance, Abdulmunin Jibrin, has declared his intention to contest for the position of the Speaker in the Eighth House.

The lawmaker, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja yesterday, said his ambition stemmed from his desire to ”help deepen the change that has taken hold of the political space”.

In June, the Eighth House will vote to choose a new Speaker and Jibrin, who is in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and hails from Kano State, said he was well-equipped for the position because he has the “requisite qualification, aptitude and experience to hold the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives”.

He said: “The last four years in the House gave me a solid understanding of the workings of the House of Representatives.

To this end, I have designed a three-point agenda, which will guide me in ensuring my colleagues and I strive for an improved performance of our collective legislative duties.”

The highlights of the threepoint agenda, he said, are transparency in discharging the people’s mandate, strengthening the institution of the House and continuity in Legislative Business.

He added that he would make the allowances of House members public.

Federal Govt shuts borders

T

HE Federal Government last night shut land borders ahead of Saturday’s elections.

A similar action was taken ahead of the presidential and national assembly elections.

A statement to this effect said the closure, which took effect from yesterday midnight, will end at 12pm on Sunday.

A statement by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Abubakar Magaji said the move was designed “to allow for peaceful conduct” of Saturday’s vote.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

7

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

8

NEWS ‘PDP planning mayhem in Ondo’

T

HE Akure North candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olu Akinola, yesterday alerted to an alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cause mayhem in APC strongholds.

Akinola alleged that the plan was hatched at a meeting between Governor Olusegun Mimiko and some PDP leaders.

He named some of the units as Iju, Itaogbolu, ObaIle, Igbatoro, Ayede Ogbese, Owode, Ilu-Abo, Bolorunduro, Alayere.

Also, the APC in Owo Local Government has petitioned the assistant inspector general of Police (AIG), Zone 11, in Osogbo, following the alleged refusal of the command to investigate a gunrunning case against the lawmaker representing

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Owo Constituency 1, Ayodele Arowele and others.

In a petition signed by its lawyer, Kola Olawoye noted that the offence was committed on March 28 at the Mapo Hall venue of the collation of election results.

In the petition, the party alleged that “Mr Arowole drove into the premises in a convoy of cars loaded with arms and ammunition”.

“But before security agents could reach the vehicle, the car was hurriedly driven out. In a curious manner, another car was searched and a gun was recovered from it.”

The APC said till now, none of the culprits had been arrested or invited for questioning.

Court quashes suit seeking to stop Ambode

J

USTICE Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed a suit seeking to stop the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, from contesting Saturday’s election.

Two APC members - Olorunfemi Oluwatosin and Dada Joseph - sought to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from allowing the party to field any candidate for the election.

They challenged their alleged disenfranchisement in the primary election, which Ambode won, claiming it was fraught with irregularities.

But Justice Yunusa said the plaintiffs had no locus standi to institute the action, add-

By Joseph Jibueze

ing that they failed to establish any reasonable cause of action to sustain the suit.

“None of the plaintiffs in the instant suit is an aspirant to be conferred with locus standi,” the judge held.

Justice Yunusa agreed with APC that the primary was an intra-party affair.

He held that the plaintiffs failed to show they had sufficient interest to warrant being granted the reliefs they sought.

He, however, did not award cost against the plaintiffs.

Oluwatosin and Joseph alleged that the party’s ward congresses ought to be conducted only in the 20 recognised local governments and not extended to the 37 Local Council Development Areas

(LCDAs), not recognised by the 1999 Constitution.

They also alleged that secret ballot rather than open ballot system was used during the congresses, which they said rendered the process null and void.

APC, INEC, Ambode and other aspirants, namely Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Dr. Leke Pitan, Tayo Ayinde, Olasupo Shasore, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Mrs. Tokunbo Agbesanwa, Dr. Tola Kasali, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Lanre Ope, Tokunbo Wahab, Adekunle Disu and Abayomi Sutton are respondents.

But APC, in its preliminary objection, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to determine the suit, because it was based on an intra-party affair.

The party said since the plaintiffs were neither dele-

gates nor aspirants, they had no legal basis to complain.

“The conduct of the ward congresses for Lagos State governorship primary nomination was done in the constitutionally recognised 20 local governments in Lagos State and not in the 37 LCDAs as alleged by the plaintiffs.

“The plaintiffs have not disclosed any injury that the conduct of the ward congresses in the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs have caused them, either individually and or collectively.”

APC described the suit as academic, malafide, an abuse of court processes and one that was targeted at embarrassing it.

It prayed the court to dismiss it and award substantial cost against the plaintiffs.

Aregbesola reassures monarchs

O

SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has assured traditional rulers and people of Ife North and South of executing new projects in the area in his second term.

The governor gave the assurance yesterday when he spoke at a campaign rally for Saturday’s House of Assembly election.

According to Aregbesola, new projects would be sited in Ipetumodu, Asipa and

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

Edunabon.

The governor promised the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba James Adegoke, and his chiefs that a new mega school would be built in the headquarters of Ife-North while old ones would be upgraded.

The governor urged voters not to allow any other party other than the APC win the election on Saturday.

Police arrest 49 for DPO’s murder From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

T

HE Oyo State Police command has arrested 49 suspects involved in the killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ikeokwu Nworgu, at Adekile, Orita Aperin, Ibadan, on April 1.

The DPO and two others were killed by a mob following a false alarm that a house in Adekile was being used for rituals.

Addressing reporters yesterday, Commissioner of Police Muhammed Katsina said the suspects shot the DPO and made away with his service pistol.

“I set in motion a team of detectives, including the ambush squad, which carried out an aggressive manhunt for the perpetrators. As I speak, 49 of them have been arrested.

“The machetes, guns, charms and other weapons used in the crime have been recovered. Also, some property looted from the scene were recovered,” he said.

SDP, three others unite in Ogun

T

HE Social Democratic Party (SDP), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Independent Democrats (ID) and Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in Ogun State have formed an alliance to boost their chances in Saturday’s elections.

This followed the outcome of a meeting in Abeokuta, the state capital, facilitated by the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP).

Speaking at the meeting,

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

the CNPP Chairman, Otunba Owolabi Odebudo, said the alliance was to ensure the victory for SPD governorship candidate, Senator Akin Odunsi.

Odebudo added that “all the parties in the deal held consultations with their supporters and members before arriving at the decision”.

‘Call Fayose to order’

T

HE Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese, Rev Gabriel Abegunrin, has called on the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to call to order Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

The cleric spoke yesterday at an international pro-life and pro-family conference at the Catholic Chaplaincy of University of Ibadan, urging Fayose “to behave as a gentleman for once”.

“During the tenure of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti was peaceful but the state is now volatile.

This is not good for our democracy.

“The case in Ekiti State is

From Jeremiah Oke, Ibadan

disappointing to all lovers of democracy. You contested for election and you won, what else do you want? Do you want to destroy the people you are supposed to be guiding as the chief executive officer?

“It is his role to ensure peace, security of lives and properties in the state but the reverse is the case in Ekiti State.

“The elders and decent people in PDP should be able to call Fayose to order. They should tell him exactly what it means to be a governor and leader. This is not Nigeria of 1960, but 2015.”

•Some of the suspects...yesterday. INSET: Phones and weapons recovered.

PHOTO FEMI ILESANMI, IBADAN

Fayose, deputy, others lose bid to stop impeachment

E

KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose and his deputy, Olusola Kolapo, yesterday lost the bid to stop moves for their impeachment.

A Federal High Court in Abuja rejected their prayers for interim orders restraining House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin and other All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola and others from proceeding with the impeachment plot.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling on their motion ex-parte, granted them leave for substituted services of all processes in relation to the suit, on the defendants.

The judge ordered Omirin and other defendants in the suit to appear before the court on April 16 to show why the restraining orders sought against them by the plaintiffs should not be granted.

The plaintiffs include Joseph Dele Olugbemi (who claimed to be Speaker), the House of Assembly, Fayose and Kolapo.

Listed as defendants are Omirin, the inspector general of Police (IGP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the chief judge The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ahmed Raji, while moving

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the ex-parte motion yesterday, argued that since Omirin was in court challenging his impeachment, he could not act under any guise as Speaker, while Olugbemi was acting in his place.

“The gravamen of our complaint is that a former Speaker (in the person of the first defendant) is trying to impersonate the first plaintiff (Dele), who is the Speaker by holding himself out as the Speaker.

“We urge the court to grant our prayers as contained in the motion in the name of public order, peace and safety of the people of Ekiti State,” Raji said.

He drew the judge’s attention to a newspaper publication that one person had been killed since the move to impeach the governor and his deputy began.

Justice Mohammed granted prayers one to four of the eight prayers contained in the ex-parte motion.

He ordered that court processes be served on Omirin and the chief judge through substituted means; by newspaper advertisement.

The judge also ordered that the chief judge be served through the chief registrar of the Ekiti High Court.

The judge refused the fifth to eight prayers, which were

‘The judge refused the fifth to eight prayers, which were the plaintiffs’ key prayers’ the plaintiffs’ key prayers.

They include: •An order of injunction restraining the first defendant and other errant members of the second plaintiff from taking any step or engaging in unlawful activities relating to the impeachment of Peter Ayodele Fayose and Dr. Kolapo Olusola as governor and deputy governor.

•An interim order of injunction restraining the chief judge from taking any step or action in relation to the request of the first defendant for the purpose of appointing a panel of seven persons to investigate the purported allegations of gross misconduct against Peter Ayodele Fayose and Kolapo Olusola.

•An interim order of injunction restraining the police from continuing to abet, give cover, protection or lend credence to the activities of

the first defendant and other errant members of the second plaintiff for self-help in disruption of legislative proceedings in the House of Assembly.

•An interim order of injunction setting aside the purported notice of impeachment and the steps taken by the first defendant and other errant members of the second plaintiff in relation to the purported issuance and service of the notice of impeachment for the purpose of commencing and concluding impeachment proceedings against Peter Ayodele Fayose and Dr. Kolapo Olusola.

They intended that the prayers subsist pending the determination of their motion on notice for similar interlocutory injunctions, filed with the originating processes.

“Order is hereby made directing the first to fourth defendants (Omirin, IGP, INEC and Ekiti CJ) to appear before this court on April 16 and show cause why the interim order sought by the plaintiffs via an ex parte motion, dated April 7, should not be made by this court.”

Justice Mohammed ordered that hearing notices be served on the defendants and adjourned the matter till April 16.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

9

NEWS 277 candidates for Oyo election

ARG endorses Ambode, Amosun, Ajimobi

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

T

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said 14 political parties in Oyo State have presented 12 governorship candidates and 265 candidates to contest for the 32 seats in the governorship and House of Assembly elections on Saturday.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rufus Akeju, said this yesterday at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Security meeting in Ibadan.

According to him, ballot papers will be distributed on the basis of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected, adding that it is aimed at preventing electoral malpractice that may occur with the excess ballot papers.

Monarch consoles victims’ families From Taiwo Abiodun, Owo

T

HE Olowo of Owo , Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi, has commiserated with the families of the bank robberies’ victims.

He said: “I have gone round the banks to see the evil they perpetrated. God has been kind to us in this town for it could have been worse.

I am deeply moved and shocked by the ungodly act, bestiality and callousness of the robbers. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace.

“I thank our security officers, soldiers and the people who exhibited outstanding gallantry during the raid.

“I am appealing to you all to be vigilant and be at alert and report any suspicious movement or anybody with bullet wounds to the police.”

Banks in the town have remained closed while customers go to Akure , the state capital to transact business.

Okorocha sends delegation to Oba of Lagos From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

I

MO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has sent a delegation of traditional rulers to meet with Lagos, monarch Oba Rilwan Akiolu over the “face-off” between the monarch and Igbo residents in Lagos.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, said the delegation headed by the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Agunwa Ohiri, will deliberate with Oba Akiolu on ways to resolve the “impasse” before mischievous politicians take advantage of the situation.

“Although the Lagos monarch has denied the report, it should not be enough to accept his denial without traditional rulers from the Southeast meeting with him.

“It is not enough to take up the matter on the pages of newspapers, with some of the commentators only keen on causing more problems.

“A new approach that would be more result-oriented should be employed, which includes the visit of the traditional rulers.”

The governor urged Igbo in Lagos to remain calm and be good ambassadors of the Igbo nation.

•Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (centre); Deputy Governor Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs Patricia Etteh (left); Senator Babajide Omoworare representing Osun West Senatorial District (right) and All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate to represent Ife North State Constituency, Tunde Olatunji (second right), during a campaign rally at Ipetumodu.

We don’t need wasteful people in govt, says Ajimobim O YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has said wasteful people should not be allowed to govern the state again.

The governor, who spoke in an interview on a private radio station monitored in Ibadan yesterday, said governance requires management skills because of the need to use scarce resources judiciously.

Ajimobi was responding to a question on why he is not spending as much as his predecessor, Alao-Akala, who is called “Automated Teller Machine (ATM)” by residents.

The governor emphasised that as a developing nation faced with several needs, what is required of elected leaders is how to maximise the lean resources available to them in meeting such needs.

“That is what our administration is doing, not throwing money around aimless-

ly.

“We don’t need an ‘ATM’ in government. We need people who can use money judiciously.

“I don’t share money because there is no money to share. Are you not happy with the way Oyo State is?

Those who emptied the state’s treasury before me were thrown out.”

Ajimobi, who is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s election, said with the election of Muhammadu Buhari as president, the issue of delay in payment of salaries would be addressed.

He added that more money would be available to the states because all the loopholes would be plugged.

Emphasising that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) represents corruption, Aji-

mobi noted that the country was almost brought down in the face of mismanagement of its resources.

On concern about Buhari’s age, Ajimobi observed that if the late Nelson Mandela and Ronald Reagan can perform, nothing will prevent Buhari from changing the fortune of Nigeria.

“The older the better; we have seen enough of these young people failing us.

“We must learn how to serve. Most of those complaining of being broke are coming with this mindset that they must steal government money.

“When they get there and money is not coming, they start complaining. We must warn those who see public office as means of amassing wealth,” he said.

The governor said he enjoys a cordial relationship

with members of the House of Assembly, adding that he did not betray them.

His words: “Democracy must prevail. It was their constituents that rejected them.

“What I promised was that I would support those who performed but what can I do if their people say no?

“Do you think I can impose anybody? What did you think killed Accord? Ladoja alone was choosing the candidates.

In our own case, nobody was imposed.”

On pensioners, he explained: “The secondary school and civil service pensioners are not complaining because we do not owe them, but expectedly the primary school pensioners are complaining.

“Why? The bulk of their money was stolen by the last administration. The case is in court but yet to be determined.”

Fayose petitions IG over killing

E

KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, over Tuesday’s killing of a man, Modupe Olaiya, at Itawure.

In a petition dated April 8, Fayose called for the investigation and prosecution of culprits and complained about some policemen attached to the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers.

Fayose’s petition reads: “I write to call your attention to the murder of Mr Modupe Temitope Olaiya, at EfonAlaaye junction, Ekiti State yesterday.

“Modupe Olaiya was said to be going about his business peacefully when gun shots were fired at him and other people at Efon-Alaaye junction by APC lawmakers, who were coming to AdoEkiti, the state capital, in two unmarked Toyota buses.

“The APC lawmakers were escorted by five armed mobile policemen, who I later

•APC lawmakers: he’s trying to implicate us From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

discovered were brought from MOPOL 20 in Lagos State.

“To my surprise, instead of the police arresting the lawmakers, they were allowed to return to Osogbo, Osun State, where they came from.”

But the APC lawmakers fired back, saying Fayose’s administration has been making efforts to implicate the lawmaker representing Efon Constituency, Folorunsho Ogundele.

A statement yesterday by the Special Adviser, Media, to the Speaker, Wole Olujobi, said Fayose deceived the public by giving money to the family of the deceased to implicate the APC lawmaker.

“Governor Fayose invited to the Government House the victim’s mother and other

family members to implicate Ogundele.

“In a carefully choreographed drama, Fayose called reporters to cover the spectacle.

“The reporters were at the Government House unaware that they were being invited to help in deceiving Nigerians.

“We have confirmed that Fayose gave the woman money and asked her to start crying, rolling on the floor with persistent mentioning of Ogundele’s name as the one who shot the boy.

“The woman was crying and rolling on the floor when journalists came on the scene.

“In reality, Olaiya was killed by security agents while thugs armed with guns and weapons gathered to block the route through which the 19 APC lawmakers were coming to Ado-Ekiti.

“Residents of Efon-Alaaye have confirmed that the incident happened long before the lawmakers arrived at the check-point ,when the thugs became unruly shooting at security agents.

“In the exchange of gunfire, Olaiya was killed. His body was shown to residents by government officials, who alleged that Ogundele, who was nowhere near the scene, killed the victim.

“The lawmakers were not even aware of the incident because they were still far away from the spot when the incident happened.

“So, it will be mischievous if the lawmakers are linked to the incident.

“Nigerians should therefore note the deceit involved in this show of shame.

“Is it the deceased’s family that should visit the governor or the governor visits the family?”

THE Afenifere Renewal Group has endorsed the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states.

The socio-political group, in a statement by its National Chairman, Olawale Oshun, thanked Yoruba voters for speaking eloquently and peacefully with their votes during the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections.

“ARG enjoins Yoruba people to continue to be progressive minded in act and in thought.

“This value must reflect in our action on Saturday as we vote for APC candidates, who best represent our perennial aspiration for development,” the statement said.

It warned Yoruba to be wary of Afonja-styled politicians who for the sake of personal ambition are ready to sell Yoruba patrimony.

The group said: “Yoruba land cannot afford another interregnum - the type that set us back between 2003 and 2011.

“To this extent, we recommend for your adoption Akinwunmi Ambode for Lagos State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun for Ogun State Governor and Abiola Ajimobi for Oyo State Governor.

“ARG is convinced that the current renaissance of good governance, developmental strides and welfare policies that has commenced in our land, can only continue, be sustained and flourish under these candidates.”

The group also enjoined the people of Ekiti State “to take a cue from their kith and kin in Ondo State and break through the reactionary clouds hovering over their space, particularly in their choices of House of Assembly candidates, so that they can soar in glorious sky with the rest of the Yoruba.”

While commending credible Yoruba leaders and groups for rejecting Greek gifts during the presidential election, ARG also thanked Yoruba people for “heeding the call of an assemblage of Omoluabis and authentic and respected monarchs, elders and leaders and for rejecting pretenders who sought to impose a strange leadership culture on us.”

DAWN greets Buhari THE Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) has promised to support the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari, in actualising his message of change.

In a congratulatory message, the Commission noted that Buhari’s message of change, hope, freedom and opportunity resonates with its mission as it relates to the aspirations of people in the Southwest and all over the country.

The Commission said it was looking forward “to working with you not only to provide input, collaborative actions and regional support, but also to concert our efforts in the course of peace, development and the unity of Nigeria.

“Please know that you can count on our support as you prepare to take up the duties as the next President of our beloved nation.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

10

NEWS New REC resumes in Kogi amid tension From James Azania, Lokoja

T

HE Independent National Election Commission (INEC) has posted a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to Kogi State to oversee next Saturday’s governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

The posting came amid allegations of plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in collaboration with some elements in INEC, to perpetrate electoral malpractice.

The All Progressives Party Congress (APC) had alleged plans by the PDP, in connivance with INEC in the state, to use its ad-hoc workers to discard the use of card readers at polling units.

The APC said the plan was being hatched to manipulate the state assembly poll in favour of PDP candidates.

But, addressing reporters in Lokoja, the new REC, Prof. Jacob Jatau, dispelled the allegation, saying he was in the state to conduct free, fair and credible election.

Jatau served as REC in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where he conducted the March 28 presidential election.

The REC assured parties that INEC will not take sides, saying preparation for Saturday’s state assembly election had reached advanced state.

“We are here to conduct election and this I assure you all will be discharged to the best of my knowledge.

We are not here to favour anybody.

That I know,” he said.

He warned that results from areas where there are reports of ballot box snatching will be cancelled The former REC, Hussain Pai, was posted to Kano State, following the tragic death of the Kano REC, Mukaila Abdullahi.

Igbo lawyers congratulate Buhari, Osinbajo

By Adebisi Onanuga

I

GBO lawyers under the auspices of Otu Oka-Iwu have congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for winning the presidential election.

They also congratulated the Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), whom they described as “one of our own.”

This was contained in a statement yesterday by the group’s president, Mr. Zik Obi II, and publicity secretary Mr. Emeka Nwadioke.

The Igbo law society praised President Goodluck Jonathan “for sacrificing personal ambition on the altar of national unity, peace and development,” saying that Jonathan would go down in history “as having kept faith with his commitment to deepen Nigeria’s electoral process and nascent democracy.”

They extolled the president for his uncommon display of statesmanship in congratulating the president-elect, even before the final results were declared.

“This action is responsible for the absence of post-election violence in the country,” the lawyers said.

Lauding Buhari’s steadfastness in continuously seeking a presidential mandate to lead Nigerians, the association said such tenacity “could only have been driven by sheer commitment to make a difference in the lives of fellow Nigerians.

“It is especially gratifying that the president-elect has committed himself and his administration to the promotion of democracy and the rule of law,” the statement said, adding that “his pledge towards just and principled governance, where no-one is oppressed due to favouritism based on ethnicity, religion, region, gender or social status, is eminently refreshing.”

The association noted Buhari’s assurance that a level-playing field would be created in the area of law enforcement, such that Nigerians of all social strata are equal before the law, urging the incoming administration to “speedily initiate reforms that will curb the plethora of ills facing the justice sector”.

Victory celebration death: Buhari visits families in Bauchi T HE President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday in Bauchi re-assured the citizenry that he will not betray them.

He gave the assurance while on a condolence visit to the state and families of some youths, who died while celebrating his victory at the polls.

Gen. Buhari, who was accompanied by All Progressive Congress (APC ) National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Gen. Abdurahaman DanBazau and other party chieftains, asked Bauchi voters “to elect the APC governorship candidate, Mohammed Abubakar, and the party’s state House of Assembly’s candidates for

From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

effective change.”

The president-elect, who was received at the Indoor Multi-purpose Sports Hall by many supporters, thanked Bauchi people for their continuous love for him.

His words: “I have been here three times before. I was here in 2003, 2007 and 2011. And each time, I always get a sizeable number of votes. And this time too, you have shown the

same and I am happy and grateful.

“I have also come to ask you to vote for APC governorship candidate and House of Assembly candidates, because this will make things easier for the administration to implement its policies and programmes”.

Lauding the Bauchi people, OdigieOyegun said: “We know the last election was not easy, but you gave APC 100 per cent. And I am asking you to give APC 100 per cent again”.

The state APC governorship can-

didate explained that the presidentelect was in Bauchi for condolence visit and urged the state’s voters to elect “all APC candidates” on Saturday.

He assured that APC would not betray the electorate.

The state APC Chairman, Uba Ahmed Nana, appealed to “Nigerians to continue to pray for Nigeria and Gen. Buhari, since the task before him is heavy. But with your prayers, he will succeed”.

Gen. Buhari left Bauchi for Gombe State after a personal condolence visit to the bereaved families, including those that were injured.

•A cross-section of Lagos teachers during Vice President-elect Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s townhall meeting with them at the LTV 8 Complex, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos...yesteray. INSET: From right: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, Prof. Osinbajo, Commissioner for Education Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye and Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Mrs. Gbolahan Daodu.

Osinbajo assures teachers of free education, housing scheme

T

HE Vice President-elect, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, has assured teachers that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government will ensure that they benefit from free tertiary education when it takes office on May 29.

Prof. Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday during a consultative meeting with members of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Lagos State, also assured that the government would work out modalities to enable the teachers benefit from housing scheme.

He said continuous education for teachers was one of the core programmes of APC, saying the administration would guarantee regular teacher training.

He added that education and health would receive priority attention in Buhari’s administration.

According to him, “if you look at our manifesto, we would spend a lot of time and money on public education; that is why this consultation is

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

very important. But it is just the beginning of the series of consultations that we intend to have. Fortunately, I am from here; I am one of you, and this means there will be direct access, which will make it easier for us to do all we want to do.

“Lagos is the mode of what we intend to do. For instance, we talk about free education for science, technology, engineering and Math and free education at the tertiary level for teachers.

So, teachers, who want to go to university, will enjoy free education.

“It is a very important programme because one of the basic problems we have is the fact that we have not been able to continue effectively with teacher training. So, continuous education for teachers and teacher training in particular is very important to us. It is important for us in Lagos to know that we are a very important part of what the Federal Government will do in education.

He said the Federal Government would be embarking on housing scheme nationwide as part of efforts at improving the welfare of teachers and other workers in critical sectors of the nation’s economy.

“Many have talked about the welfare of teachers which is very important, but this is always tied to funding just as welfare of other workers. But, one of the crucial things we want to do is housing.

“I think we need to be able to work together with the Federal Government on the issue of housing for teachers. We have a big housing policy. But our housing policy is going to be based on first and foremost on those in the critical sector of the economy, and teachers have been identified as one of those in the critical sector for housing.

“I want us to be extremely well-positioned for it. We need to understand that four years is a very short time and we need to be very organised to take advantage of it.”

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola said the state has made a lot of progress in education, having moved from 10 per cent performance to 50 per cent performance.

He said the state was able to record the achievements it has made in the sector owing to his effective implementation of EKO Project.

He appealed to Lagosians to turnout in large number on Saturday to cast their votes for APC governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, and other candidates of the party, saying the election was not about ethnicity or religion, but performance and continuity.

Earlier, state Chairman of NUT, Mr. Adesegun Raheem, praised Fashola for fulfilling all his promises to teachers in Lagos State.

Adesegun, who pleaded with the Federal Government to invest more in teachers to guarantee development, noted that one of the ways to invest in teachers was making teaching profession very attractive.

I ‘ll not leave PDP, says Senate President •Jonathan greets Mark at 67 From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor, Sanni Onogu and Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

•Mark

S

ENATE President David Mark yesterday denied that he will defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mark said that he would be the last man standing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), even if every other person leaves the party.

The Senate President insisted that it was not true that he was contemplating joining the APC, affirming his loyalty to the PDP.

He spoke at a special church service to mark his 67th birthday at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja.

Mark said: “I have no reason to jump ship. I will not leave the PDP. I will be the last man standing for the PDP. The party gave me the platform to be where I am today.

“I will stay in the PDP to contribute my quota to the rebuilding and restructuring of the party. This is democracy.

Winners emerge and the losers go back to the drawing board and rejuvenate.“ He noted that the outcome of the March 28, 2015 Presidential election in favour of APC was the will of God and majority of Nigerians.

“We in the PDP have accepted the result in good faith,” he said.

The Senate President described PDP faithful defecting to the APC as “fair

weather friends of the PDP.” The defectors, he noted, “are seeking new green areas”, saying: “When the PDP bounces back, they will seek another return to the PDP.” In his remark, the Leader of the Senate, Senator Ndoma-Egba, praised the Senate president for the wisdom he used to pilot the affairs of the National Assembly.

Ndoma-Egba added that Mark’s continued contributions to the nation’s socio-economic and political development remained unparalleled.

Also, Senator Tunde Ogbeha prayed God to grant Mark good health, long life and courage in the years ahead.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, praised the Senate president for his resourceful leadership and harmonious working relationship between the management and the political leadership.

In his homily, the Parish Priest of St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Rev.

Fr. Innocent Jooji, noted that only God determines the destiny of all human beings.

He said: “Whatever the future holds for each and every one of us is determined by God. We should continue to have faith in God.” But, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated Mark, on the occasion of his 67th birthday anniversary.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, praised Mark for his contributions to national development over the years.

Jonathan extolled the Senate President’s outstanding accomplishments to national service.

He said: “On the auspicious occasion of your 67th birthday anniversary, I join your family, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for your life, which has been marked by outstanding accomplishments and enduring fulfillment.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

11

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

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

-Seplat Petroleum Managing Director Mr Austin Avuru

Sahara Group advances activity on oil block OPL 274

S

• From left: Group CEO, United Capital Plc, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sanni; Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Mr. Bola Onadele Koko, during the official listing of N30.5b UBA Bond; the first corporate bond to be admitted on the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, in Lagos...yesterday.

N

Textile workers urge Buhari to reactivate industries

ATIONAL Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has urged the president-elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to prioritise the rejuvenation of comatose textile industries in the country when he takes over the affairs of the nation.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Kaduna, its Secretary –General, Comrade Issa Aremu reminded Gen Buhari that it was part of his campaign promises toresuscitate dead textile industries across the country if voted into power.

Aremu also tasked the president-elect to ensure that smuggling and counterfeiting of textile materials into the country were halted, adding that if such socio-economic activities were allowed to thrive, it would rub on his good image.

He said: “We were encouraged during Gen Buhari’s campaign that he has resolved to revive textile and garment industry as part of his party’s overall strategy to re-industrialise the county

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

and create mass employment for the millions of unemployed.

“We recall that in the 70s and up to early 80s, (when General Buhari and his patriotic team were in power) Nigeria was the largest producer of different range of textile, garment and carpet products surpassed in production only by Egypt and South Africa. We are willing to partner with his administration to reinvent this sector which has propelled newly industrialised countries in recent times such as China, India, Balgadesh and Indonesia among others.

He said: “Twenty-six out of the 36 states grow cotton of both long and short stable lengths; in addition as an oilproducing country, Nigeria boasts of a large polyester base.

“Combined with the 170 million population rich in fashion and clothing and huge labour force of some 70 million potential workers, Nigeria has the potential of producing 1.2 billion meters of cloth per annum.

When we factor the ECOWAS (economic Community of

West African States) sub-regional market, Nigeria is a natural textile destination point in the world.

“The major threat to the realisation of the great potential of Nigeria in textile production is high influx of counterfeit and smuggled goods. The real acid test of Gen Buhari’s incoming administration’s anti-corruption is how he frontally fight smuggling.

“Over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s huge market size is dominated by smuggled and counterfeit goods, killing local companies in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Guzau, Aba and Port Harcourt, and millions of direct and indirect associated local jobs. In addition smuggling denies the government the much needed revenue in unpaid custom duties. While private sector is the engine of growth, it is the government that must “oil” this engine, failing which it will crash as it has with the textile industry.”

He said all nations want to employ their youths, produce goods and services, overcome poverty and underdevelopment. To this extent, he said every nation protects its own

Fed Govt transfers cooperatives to Labour Ministry T

HE Federal Govern ment has transferred the Federal Department of Cooperatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity with immediate effect.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity Dr. Clement Illoh said the transfer is contained in a letter from the office of the Head, Civil Service of the Federation in accordance with the provisions of the Cooperatives Development Act CAP. 23 and Nigerian Cooperative Society Act CAP. N98.

Dr. Illoh said in line with the transfer, a Cooperative Department has been established in the Ministry, charged with the broad mandate of ensuring ef-

From Tony Akowe, Abuja

fective coverage, coordination and improved performance of Cooperative Departments of all sectors of the economy.

He said co-operatives being a good means of alleviating poverty were key to the Transformation Agenda of the government. He assured of the Labour Ministry’s commitment to best practices, delivery of quality services and restoration of people’s confidence in Cooperative Administration in Nigeria.

He announced the appointment of Mrs. Mojisola Sonubi as the Director of Co-operative Development in the Ministry and directed that the Cooperative Officers in the Fed-

eral Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should return with all the documents, records and registers relevant to Cooperative Development in the country, back to the Department of Cooperatives in the Labour Ministry not later than 15th April.

Mrs. Sonubi on her part called on the States Departments of Cooperatives, Federation of Cooperative Colleges, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), other relevant national cooperative organisations and special agencies to cooperate with the Ministry’s Cooperative Department as the coordination centre for cooperative activities in the country.

industry, whether the industry is in ‘infancy’ or ‘adulthood’adding that Nigeria cannot be different under Gen Buhari’s administration which has commendably raised expectations to fight unemployment and grow the economy.

AHARA Group’s Up stream Company said it is making good progress with its activities in oil prospecting lease (OPL) 274, an asset it has a 100 per cent working interest. It is also pressing forward to optimise opportunities in the block where it has achieved first oil.

The firm last year doubled its certified Proved plus Probable (2P) reserves in the OkiOziengbe South field in Edo State, making a new commercial discovery with the Oluegi1 exploration well.

Sahara Group is a privately owned power, energy, gas and infrastructure conglomerate with footprints in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United Arab Emirate (UAE).

The Managing Director of Enageed, Sahara Upstream company operating OPL 274, Segun Ogunwumi said the company has continued to witness steady positive outcomes in its activities in OPL 274 preparatory to moving on to the phase of commercial production from the field.

“We are doing very well with our timelines and remain focused on the target ahead. We have an amazing collection of staff who are working alongside our regulators and key

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

stakeholders and we remain confident that we will achieve our timelines and ultimately extract maximum value from what has been a historic success so far in OPL 274,” he said.

Ogunwumi noted that while the focus on OPL 274 has since taken precedence over other assets where it has interests, the company remains resolute in its commitment to activities in other fields, adding that it would review its position on others following strategic consultations. “We are working closely with the regulatory body and all stakeholders on this,” he stated.

Its Chief Operating Officer, Cohen Curtis Cohen had at the point of discovery of oil in OPL 274 described the feat as representing a number of firsts for the firm. “We shot our first onshore 3D seismic, drilled and operated our first onshore wells, made our first oil discovery and first appraisal, and tested first oil at rates in excess of 5,600 barrels of oil per day.

We drilled the three wells backto-back in just ten months, from a common location and a minimal environmental footprint, and all three wells found commercial hydrocarbons,” he said.

12

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

13

14

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

15

16

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

17

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIALS

Condemnable impunity

•DSS detention, without trial, of INEC’s smart card reader vendor, must not be tolerated in a democracy S it a crime to vend smart card readers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)? Law and common sense say no. But the Department of State Security (DSS) seems to say yes. That is the odyssey of Citizen Sani Musa, in DSS detention since March 24.

It is politicisation of security taken too far.

Mr. Musa has, therefore, approached the courts to press his fundamental human rights, in view of this cavalier assault, asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to order DSS to immediately release him, aside from suing the security agency for N100 million, as general and exemplary damages.

Though the suit has been assigned to Justice Adeniyi Ademola, no date has been fixed for hearing.

Mr. Musa’s DSS arrest burst on the Nigerian consciousness in the heat of the campaigns, four days before the presidential election of March 28. Femi FaniKayode, the Jonathan presidential campaign chief spokesperson, in his usual glib bluff and bluster, claimed Mr. Musa was a visceral hater of President Goodluck Jonathan, in his own way of justifying the man’s arrest.

But even if he were so, and the man has not committed any crime, it is difficult to find a nexus between an allegation of presidential hatred and how his vending of smart card readers to INEC could possibly negatively affect the president’s chances at the elections. Yet, that was the fallacy Mr. Fani-Kayode was trying to establish when he claimed that though he had no information if Mr. Musa had been

I

picked up, it was indeed good news that he had. Of course, Mr. Fani-Kayode’s was the language of power, hardly of reason — reckless power of those not only in government, but also in power (apologies to Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, in his military presidential days).

But it is exactly this recourse to raw impunity that must never be countenanced in a democracy. The DSS, by law, has its functions. Ultimately, it is set up for citizens’ safety and security; and every citizen must appreciate that. Even its cloak-and-dagger operational modus operandi must be appreciated by all, in the context of collective security. Still, not even all these would justify the DSS swooping on a citizen, lock him or her up and virtually throw away the key.

The position of the law is crystal clear in all this: the DSS can detain — but not beyond 24 hours, without arraigning the detainee in court. But that is exactly what DSS has done. To make matters worse, in an affidavit sworn to by Mrs. Sa’adatu Musa, wife of the detained citizen, she said her husband was just a consultant to Act Technology Ltd, the firm that supplied INEC the card readers. But even if he was not, DSS has no right to detain the man, except if it can prove such supply was tantamount to a crime.

That is why the court should accelerate action on Mr. Musa’s suit and do justice to all the parties involved. If eventually DSS is found to have illegally detained Mr. Musa, then the body should receive the full sanctions of the law, to discourage any brazen future attempt to

imprison the law and citizens’ rights, for the pleasure of the sitting government.

In rule of law terms, such an act is execrable.

Still, that such could happen in a supposed democracy is due to the notorious politicisation of the armed and security forces — a thoroughly culpable, despicable and condemnable legacy of the Jonathan presidency, especially at election times. Such executive outlawry must be rooted out, if Nigeria’s bourgeoning democracy must survive.

Justice for Mr. Musa is justice for all.

The courts must not tarry, to prove the point that law, not impunity, rules in a democracy.

‘The court should accelerate action on Mr. Musa’s suit and do justice to all the parties involved. If eventually DSS is found to have illegally detained Mr. Musa, then the body should receive the full sanctions of the law, to discourage any brazen future attempt to imprison the law and citizens’ rights, for the pleasure of the sitting government. In rule of law terms, such an act is execrable’

Reward for voluntary taxpayers • A good idea if well-executed

T

HE Federal Inland Revenue Service’s (FIRS) newly inaugurated leadership has shown early, its desire to broaden its tax dragnet. This is a welcome development at a period of drastic reduction in oil revenue for the nation due to drop in oil prices. And to achieve this goal, the service is reportedly planning incentives for firms and individuals that voluntarily come forward to pay their taxes.

Samuel Ogungbesan, newly appointed Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS at a media parley in Abuja a few days after assuming office said: “The duty of every Nigerian at the 1st of January is to go to the tax office and pick a form and assess himself. We are undergoing a self-assessment tax regime at the moment. There is a continuum we call compliance con-

‘We are happy that Ogungbesan is already planning to create a bonus regime for voluntary taxpayers and also begin an engagement process with all taxpayers to secure confidence rather than embark on unyielding pursuit of the old regime of closing businesses and taking tax evaders to court’

tinuum. These are those who are complying, and there are those at the extreme end who, no matter what action you take, no matter the intervention, no matter the encouragement, they still will not comply. And in-between, there is a hybrid – a mix.’’ He continued: ‘‘so, in between, we have to develop a strategy. So, for those who are complying, our posture is that we will continue to support them; we may even go to the point of giving them concession such as one per cent bonus for complying. They need to be recognised as examples for tax administration. For those who need help and are not able to comply because they don’t understand, we will support them with tax education and assistance in any form until we get to the extreme ones.”

Nigerians no doubt have a particularly endemic habit of tax evasion. And this is rampant in the largely uncoordinated informal sector where people make millions everyday without bothering to give back to government from what they have made. Yet most organised countries fund most of their spending from taxes. Nigeria should not be an exception if she truly desires to meet up with her financial obligations to self and to the citizenry in the face of dwindling oil fortune.

This is why we are happy that Ogungbesan is already planning to create a bonus regime for voluntary taxpayers and also begin an engagement process with all taxpayers to secure confidence rather than embark on unyield-

ing pursuit of the old regime of closing businesses and taking tax evaders to court. The new FIRS order should also see how to make the best of the existing tax initiatives, including the Tax Identification Number System and the voluntary tax assessment system.

We strongly believe that the FIRS as a money generating institution can still do more for the country by injecting significant transparency into its operations. We are particularly bothered that the service could still not effectively address the challenges of multiplicity of taxation on institutions and the people in general.

Perhaps, Nigeria remains the only country where such a thing is happening simply because taxation process is not well streamlined between federal and state governments.

More importantly, the service yearly declares trillions of naira as taxes collected from institutions and individuals.

Yet, the impact of the collected taxes is not felt, thereby creating doubts in the minds of the people regarding the whole essence of taxation. This is without prejudice to some state governments that have really deployed taxes collected from their jurisdictions to better use.

The new initiatives of FIRS are good but, more people and institutions would be encouraged to voluntarily pay taxes if accountability is accorded a pride of place; and when money collected as taxes is deployed to the benefit of the greatest number of Nigerians.

Buhari: Triumph of a resilient fighter

S

IR: General Muhammadu Buhari is one man that is highly respected and loved by many within and outside Nigeria for his simplicity, uprightness and zero tolerance for corruption. Born on December 17, 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari, a professionally trained soldier and former military Head of State between 31 December 31, 1983 and August 27, 1985, has over the years proved himself as a man of rectitude, and demonstrated his commitment towards the struggle to build a better Nigeria in the interest of the masses.

As a dogged, resilient fighter and uncompromising politician with unalloyed forthrightness, he pursued his presidential ambition with great tenacity, despite his failure at every attempt since 2003. The retired Army General’s actually sojourn to the Presidency started in 2003, when he vied on the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party, APP. In that year’s election, Buhari garnered about 12.7 million votes, which represented 32.1per cent to lose to the then President Olusegun Obasanjo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was seeking a second term at that time. Obasanjo scored about 24.5 million votes representing 61.9per cent of total votes cast.

Four years later in 2007, he contested under the umbrella of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), but again lost to Umaru Yar’Adua of blessed memory also of the PDP, polling a meager 6.6 million votes, a far worse performance than that of 2003. Yar’Adua had about 24.6 million votes. Not taking his eyes off the Presidency, by 2011, the unrelenting and persevering Buhari contested on the ticket of a new party he founded-the Congress for Progressive Change. Despite being a new party single handedly formed by the retired General with the support of people of like minds, just less than six months to the election, he scored 12.2 million votes to lose to the incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of PDP who got 22.5million votes in that contest.

However, the figures Buhari had in 2011, as the CPC candidate was an impressive improvement compared to his 2007 outing. In fact, he received commendations from a lot of Nigerians who had maintained that the support for Buhari from the people since he began his journey to occupy the seat of power at the centre in the current democratic dispensation was purely based on his personality and reputation. He is believed to have distinguished himself in all the various positions he held in the past and thereby succeeded in getting endeared into the hearts of the populace.

After the conduct of the 2011 general elections, some major political parties in the country – Buhari’s CPC, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the ANPP and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) commenced talks on a merger that would provide them with a formidably strong platform to unknot the dominance of the ruling PDP. On February 6, 2013, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was founded from the merger arrangement and Buhari eventually emerged as the party’s presidential candidate after a well-organized, transparent, free and fair primary election in Lagos last December.

Today, the former Head of State has made history by becoming the first Nigerian politician to defeat an incumbent President. He polled a total of 15,424,921 votes to defeat Jonathan, who scored a total of 12,853,162 votes to place second in the race involving 14 contestants. His victory has been described by many observers as a welcome development heralding the beginning of a new era in the affairs of the country under a democratic setting. Indeed, most Nigerians cannot wait for this new horizon to unfurl.

•Michael Jegede, Abuja

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

• Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu • Gen. Manager (Training and Development) Soji Omotunde •General Manager (Abuja Press) Kehinde Olowu •AGM (PH Press) Tunde Olasogba •Advert Manager Robinson Osirike •IT Manager Bolarinwa Meekness

•Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) •Press Manager Yomi Odunuga Udensi Chikaodi •Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu •Legal Counsel John Unachukwu •Group Business Editor Simeon Ebulu • Manager (Admin) Folake Adeoye •Group Sports Editor Ade Ojeikere •Acting Manager (sales) •Editorial Page Editor Olaribigbe Bello Sanya Oni

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

18

CARTOON & LETTERS

IR: All is now set for the Governorship and State Assembly elections across most states of the federation. In the last few months, the candidates and their parties have been feeding the people with promises of what they will do when they get to or reelected to power. To this end, one can safely posit that they have done their bits and it is now left to the electorates to do the needful come Saturday 11th April.

However, it will be pertinent to call on the electorate to be wise when choosing the party/candidates to vote for. At this juncture, I will like to concentrate on Lagos, my state of origin and residence.

It is no longer news to hear people from different parts of the country (even foreign visitors) including top government officials using the transformation that has taken place in Lagos as reference point to other governors to emulate so that the people can enjoy true dividends of democracy.

This, is in view, of the fact that a lot of infrastructural projects have been completed and some ongoing; jobs have been created; workers are paid regularly and other laudable programmes have been put in place to pave ways for a better future for the people. So, one can safely say ‘it has been so far, so good’.

Interestingly, members of the opposition parties have also given credence to the fact that the Fourth Republican governments in the state (1999 to date) have performed creditably and that they would have done far better if they had been in the same political party with the government at the federal level.

During the electioneering campaign, the opposition party (PDP) in the state strongly emphasised on the need for people to vote for their party so that more development can be witnessed because of its affiliation with the federal government (PDP). This permutation was based on their unflinching belief that PDP will retain power at the federal level. True to their insinuation, I want to strongly align with their

S

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

April 11th elections: Lagos must be wise position that the progressive government in the state would have done excellently if they have been accorded the required attention and entitlements by the federal government. Be that as it may, it is still safe to say that our progressive leaders have put in their best to lead us to where we are today.

It is in view of the position of the PDP vis-à-vis the efforts and good work of the government and leaders of the APC in the state that I will want to put forward the following tips for our people to consider before casting their votes on Saturday 11th April.

Firstly, by the special grace of Almighty God, the outcome of the presidential elections held on March 28th, clearly shows that the APC will be in charge at the federal level from May 29 th . What this means is that the best thing for every patriotic person in Lagos is to opt for the APC at the state level.

This is in view of the fact that it will ensure continuity of the good work of the progressive government as well as getting the required and necessary support from the federal government.

Secondly, the opposition party should be honourable enough to

still stand by their very unique position and campaign strategy that Lagos will be better off if a candidate of the same political affiliations with the federal government is voted into power.

Thirdly, after the party primary that produces Akinwunmi Ambode as the flag bearer of the APC, some leaders of the PDP in the state came out boldly to say that the APC have shown them the direction to go in selecting their own candidate (that is a Christian and qualified professional). This is an admission of the fact that Ambode is qualified, sound

and capable of ruling the state.

Fourthly, it would not be in the best interest of Lagosians and the state to take a dangerous gamble by putting our future in the hands of those that could not conduct peaceful and rancor-free party primaries.

Fifthly, the state is steadily growing and now the envy of all and sundry. We cannot afford to take chances of experimentation going backwards.

Sixthly, the PDP has engaged in evil personal campaigns against Asiwaju in the state to sell a dummy to innocent electorates and swing votes in their favour.

Finally, now that we have gotten the opportunity that we have sought for years. So, my good people, it is time to VOTE WISELY. • Hon. Rasheed Olu-Ajayi Odi-Olowo Constituency Mushin Lagos

1

A word for Ndigbo IR: Today, I will be speaking directly to our compatriots from the South East for two reasons through Chief Lamidi Adedibu’s stories shared five years ago by Tade Ipadeola in his “Adedibully: A Dinosaur’s last Dance.

Firstly, I served in Adu Achi, Orji River Enugu in 2000 and I was fairly treated. Secondly, I have Igbo family friends-The isiolu’s from Arochukwu, Abia State who are detribalised Nigerians. Because of these two personal facts, Ndigbo must re-appraise their political exploits in the context of Nigerian State.

Last week, electoral blitzkrieg seriously altered the Ndigbo political equations leaving in its wake a despondent and despairing Igbo nation. Ndigbo became dazed because of the disoriented leadership who misled many people to always go with the conservative centre. I know they will rise AGAIN.

S

Ndigbo must make a hard resolve now. The kind of resolve Lamidi Ariyibi Adebibu made one day in 1967 at age 39 when he decided that he would live the rest of his life a teetotaler. Before that fateful day he drank sixteen bottles of stout on the average daily.

1967 was also important in the life of the man for another much less personal reason. In that year, he decided that he would seriously pursue political relevance and power. He was in his own words,”errand boy” in the Action Group up until that point. For good or ill, Lamidu Adedibu has been true to himself in this regard also, and Ibadan, the seat of political power in Oyo state felt his exploits throughout his lifetime.

The feat performed by Adedibu in local power politics through sheer resolve is the mental equivalent of becoming a grandmaster playing blindfold chess. Unlike

inanimate pawns in the game of chess however, the many years of Chief Adedibu was full of many casualties, who bled and die.

The positive sides of Adedibu’s resolve despite all his atrocities and shortcomings are still relevant to many people today. The coming governorship elections provide good opportunities for Ndigbo to pitch their tents towards the incoming progressive Centre.

Civility and maturity have always guided my engagement on national discourse but there come a time when your primary identity cannot be wished away even if you want to do so before I’m accused of ethnic sabre-rattling or raking up old wounds.

Attempting to use Lagos to replicate last week fantasy in the South East will not STAND. Never in history has success brought so much profound contradictions. How come they are claiming political

sophistication in Lagos and not the South East? Let the re-organization starts from home and not abroad.

As they say charity begins at home and they must be guided accordingly. They must exercise their civic responsibility in Lagos and throughout the country with clear conscience. It must not be based on parochial prejudices or trying to prove a point.

It is my wish that other zones should support Ndigbo for Presidency after Buhari’s administration but they must not rock the boat of progressivism so that they do not become a decaying animal in Nigeria political environment. I trust Ndigbo to make right political decisions this time around.

God Bless Ndigbo!

God Bless Nigeria!

• ’Leke Odumuyiwa Lagos

2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

19

COMMENTS GUEST WRITER

Power belongs to the People

N

O Nigerian can claim to be unfamiliar with the PDP’s battle cry.

We’ve all seen the rowdy stadia filled with disinterested crowds and garish decorations. The party stalwarts all take it in turns to bellow “PDP” into crackly sound systems.

Increasingly, jaded youths respond “Power.” “PDP - Power” became so ingrained, so normal that we forgot that a vital part had been amputated. Over the last 16 years, the PDP has utterly failed to deliver on its motto. Power not just for its own sake but power to the people.

The PDP has failed in the most literal sense. Power generation in the country is simply abysmal. Optimistic estimates suggest Nigeria generates 4,500 megawatts of electricity. South Africa, despite having a population of 50 million people, produces nearly 10 times that. Over the past year, South Africans have become infuriated by a relatively minor increase in loadshedding. Nigerians have long since accepted electricity as a fleeting and inconsistent gift. Generators are a necessity in homes and businesses. Constant power supply is fundamental to the sustained growth of the economy. It is no surprise then that Nigeria’s economy continues to flatter to deceive.

The biggest economy in Africa we are told. One of the fastest growing economies in the world they say. With a population of over 170 million, it would be shocking if we weren’t. The reality behind the glossy numbers is that Nigeria is still plagued by rampant poverty and enduring inequality. With all our natural resources, we are still desperately dependent on oil revenue. A slight drop in the oil price sends our economy reeling. The agriculture, tourism and manufacturing industries are anemic at best. We export raw, crude oil and import refined petroleum, which is subject to a government subsidy before being sold to the general public. It doesn’t take a professor to see the absurdity of this situation.

The subsidy is often held up as an example of the endemic corruption in Nigeria. And of course corruption is a massive obstacle to the growth of the economy. Improbably vast amounts of money are directed away from productive activities into the private accounts of individuals. Money that could be used to improve ailing infrastructure and spur development is instead used to buy expensive cars and fuel the private jets that fly corrupt officials to glamorous homes in exotic locations. At times, President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has acted as if it was testing how much strain the Nigerian economy could survive. The most blatant example was the NNPC scandal that took place last year.

In early 2014, then Central Bank Governor, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi accused the NNPC of not accounting for $20 billion. To put that into context, hosting the FIFA world cup costs around $10 billion. $20 billion is about Aliko Dangote’s total wealth, four times Mike Adenuga’s and almost 10 times

B

EFORE the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections, some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains were so sure of victory that they ran their mouths. There was nothing they did not say about President-elect Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his party. Femi Fani-Kayode, the rabble-rouser, was in his element, dishing out lies about Buhari. Fani-Kayode came up with the story that Buhari does not have a school certificate. He said his party was putting Buhari to the ‘’strictest proof’’ to show that the president-elect has that certificate. ‘’Strictest proof’’ or not, Buhari did not have to break a sweat to prove anything. His school came to his aid by releasing his West African School Certificate (WASC). According to the result, he made Grade 2, but the FaniKayodes of this world refused to believe the documentary evidence tendered by the school.

Fani-Kayode, Director of Media and Publicity of the Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation, claimed that the document was forged, but he could not prove his assertion, thereby rendering it valueless.

360 DAYS AFTER

WHERE ARE THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS?

By Faisal Wando Folorunsho Alakija’s; those are the three richest people in Nigeria. And it simply disappeared from our books. $20,000,000,000. Let that sink in. No economy in the world can lose that amount of money and not be affected. Wars have been fought over far less. But Jonathan responded as he did with most problems during his reign – ignore it and it might go away.

To be fair to the President, none of these problems began with him. Irregular power supply has been a problem for decades. No government has adequately addressed economic diversification and no government has succeeded in tackling corruption. However, Jonathan’s administration must accept the blame for the unchecked rise of terrorism and insurgency.

The atrocities carried out by Boko Haram were too pervasive, too tragic and too monstrous to be ignored. It has been almost a year since over 200 girls were kidnapped in Chibok. This captured the world’s attention but it was not the first time, nor the last time, that Boko Haram would kidnap and slaughter innocents.

In the last six weeks, with the help of our neighbours, the Nigerian military has been successful in reclaiming all territories held by Boko Haram. Undoubtedly this is something to cheer but it begs the question why wasn’t action taken sooner?

The first and foremost duty of the state is to exercise sovereignty over its territory. By watching as a portion of the country the size of Belgium was seized by insurgents, Jonathan failed Nigeria. I attribute no malice to him but he is certainly guilty of negligence. Years of ignoring infrastructure development, economic mismanagement and corruption had the vultures circling the PDP but it was the level of insecurity that meant that Jonathan simply had to go.

And go he did. In a week that none of us will ever forget, General Muhammad Buhari of the APC won the presidential election. It hardly seemed possible but on the 31st of May impossible became reality when the PDP conceded defeat. It was poetic that Borno, a state that has been ravaged by insurgency, hammered in the final nail in the coffin. Nigeria’s maturing democracy has now survived 16 years and in 2015 finally passed the handover test. It seems odd that history will forget most of Jonathan’s contentious reign; he passes on into legend, “the man who handed over power.” Many Nigerians will not be able to forget his missteps. Still, Jonathan deserves immense credit for doing the right thing. He can now enjoy retirement as an elder statesman, being paraded around the world as a symbol of democracy.

One man deserves even more credit. Attahiru Jega the Na-

tional Chairman of INEC has just thrown his name in as a prime candidate for Nigerian of the Decade. In a country notorious for election malpractice, Jega has delivered twice. The second time round was even more impressive than the first.

Going into the election, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

How many of you know people who left the state in which they reside, or the country? How many of you decided to stay at home on Monday, just in case? Despite the heated polity, INEC conducted an election that was mostly peaceful and generally fair.

This is Nigeria so of course there were inconsistencies and question marks but INEC handled itself with aplomb, showing flexibility when confronted with issues such as the card reader, while ensuring credible elections took place. With the aid of card readers, permanent voter cards, social media and, most importantly, engaged and passionate voters, rigging was kept in check. Almost more impressive was Jega’s utmost composure under intense pressure, the chairman carried himself with impeccable calm in the lead up and conduct of the election.

Nigeria decided. Step forward President-Elect, General Muhammad Buhari. Problems solved, right? Well as always, it’s never that simple. The issues facing Nigeria cannot be fixed overnight. I suspect that Buhari will suffer from Obama’s syndrome. Just like President Barack Obama, Buhari won the election on a wave of mass popularity and arrives with a mandate for change. With all his landmark achievements – the Affordable Healthcare Act, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the potential diplomatic solution in Iran – Obama’s presidency is considered underwhelming. History may be kind to Obama but it shows the level of success that Buhari will need to achieve. The poor situation in Nigeria could be either a blessing or a curse to Buhari; it will be difficult to do worse than his predecessor but he has little to build on.

Worryingly, Nigerians have been so caught up in the hype that very little scrutiny has been applied to Buhari’s policies.

There has been very little in depth discussion of economic, social or foreign policy. We have heard that there will be a focus on agriculture, infrastructure and security but details are scarce. Now that Boko Haram’s holds no more territory, Buhari must push forward programmes that address the root causes of violent extremism to ensure long term security.

Agriculture and infrastructure are also in dire need of targeted interventions. It will be very interesting to see who forms Buhari’s cabinet.

Buhari has an unquestionable record of upholding rule of law and fighting corruption, as shown by his former stint as head of state. As a friend of mine succinctly put it, “corruption will drop by 30%, even before any policies are enacted, simply because of his name.”

But one man cannot solve all of Nigeria’s problems. But I expect Buhari to bring the determination and fearlessness for which he is known. If he doesn’t, he will have to answer to Nigerian citizens who have now tasted the removal of an incumbent.

Good luck Mr. President.

‘Boy’ George’s empty threat Step in Doyin Okupe, the loquacious doctor-politician, who swore heaven and earth that Buhari will not become president. ‘’If Buhari wins’’, he said, ‘’call me a bas....’’ Okupe, who is always on the side where his bread is buttered, was not done yet. ‘’The choice before Nigerians in this election is either good luck (making a pun of his principal’s name) or bad luck’’. Going by Okupe’s submission, it is our ‘’good luck’’ as a nation that Buhari defeated President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the historic March 28 poll. Buhari won because men are not God; they can only play god but they do not have the power of the omniscient and omnipresent One, who anoints leaders.

He anointed Buhari and that is why the former Head of State won the March 28 election. APC and PDP went into the contest determined to win and as both parties know only one of them could emerge winner. Since the return to democracy in 1999, PDP has been in the saddle. For 16 years, it has held sway at the national level. Its founding fathers had a dream for the party to be in power for 60 years. It is a good intention but it seems it was not backed with a plan of action. If there was a plan for the country, the party did not execute it for the 16 years it held power. Can it then benefit from its mistake?

Why did it not impress it upon its members, who led the country between 1999 and now, on

the need to execute programmes that would make the party the people’s choice?

PDP lost the March 28 presidential contest because the people were fed up with it. The party had run out of ideas. It is good to have a concept to be in power for 60 years; but a concept will remain a concept if not backed with plans and programmes for the country’s growth. Ideas, they say, rule the world. If PDP had bold ideas for moving the nation forward, it would not have suffered defeat in last month’s elections. It had a golden opportunity to turn things round, but it flunked it.

Things got to a head under outgoing President Jonathan, who did not help matters because, as it were, he lacked what it takes to reinvent the wheel.

But we must credit Jonathan for running a good race and for conceding defeat in a sportsmanlike manner. By his action, he nipped in the bud the plan of some people to create crisis. He should remain true to himself to the end by not allowing the hawks in government to use him to foment trouble. The president has acted like a true statesman. He pulled us back from the brink despite the huge cost to his own ambition. If he had played Laurent Gbagbo, the former Ivorian president who refused to leave office after losing election, only God knows where we will be as a nation today.

After the 16-year disaster that PDP was, Buhari will be a breath

of fresh air on assuming office on May 29. The president-elect knows that he carries a huge burden because the people are looking forward to a magical performance from him. He knows too well that the mission to rescue Nigeria from the 16-year rot of PDP is one that must be won, come what may. His party, APC, also knows that PDP and its members will not wish it well.

The Fani-Kayodes and the Okupes will always be waiting in the wings to run it down no matter the good it does. But no matter what they say, the good the party does will always speak for it. The only way to keep their mouths shut is for the party to concentrate on the job at hand. ike Fani-Kayode and Okupe, Commodore Bode George has also been running his mouth. George is still finding it difficult to accept that Buhari has emerged president-elect - about two weeks after the election. George is threatening to go on exile because his party will no longer be in power from May 29. Why does he want to go on exile? Is it because his party has destroyed the economy? Our economy is in doldrums today because of the wrong policies enunciated by the so-called eggheads of the

L

Lawal Ogienagbon lawal.ogienagbon@thenationonlineng.net SMS ONLY: 08099400204, 08112661612

Jonathan administration. So, he should have since gone on exile to protest the bad policies of PDP, which has led the nation thus far. Threatening to go on exile because Buhari won the election is just to draw attention to himself. ‘’What will I be doing here? I can decide to go and live anywhere. So, I am not joking about it; what will I be doing here? At 70, what will I be doing here? All we have been doing to restructure the country has been lost.

We have been trying to ensure balance in the polity, but all that has gone. What will I be doing here?’’ Is he still around? By the time he returns from exile, he would be shocked to see that things have changed for good in the country.

‘Buhari knows that he carries a huge burden because the mission to rescue Nigeria from the 16-year rot of PDP is one that must be won, come what may’

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

20

COMMENTS

F

OR conceding defeat after being thoroughly trounced in four of the six geo-political zones by Buhari during the March 28 election, President Jonathan has been acclaimed a statesman. Nothing except his famed goodluck prepared him for an honour reserved exclusively for “politicians and diplomats with long and respected career at the national or international level”.

His six years in government has been marked by exploitation of our ethnic and religion differences, massive corruption and reign of impunity. But for being shepherded out of office like an elephant in a china shop as a result of tension created by his surreptitious sponsorship of campaign of calumny, hate messages and documentaries, bare faced lies, character assassination, blackmail, PDP stalwarts have been falling over each other to celebrate President Jonathan.

Tony Anenih PDP (BOT) chairman has asked aggrieved Nigerian politician to emulate President Jonathan who he said “has made an indelible mark on the sands of time’. ... Reuben Abati has enthusiastically listed world leaders including US President Barrack Obama, South African President Jacob Zuma President Alassane Ouattara and Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Justin Webby as some of the world leaders that had called to

P

RESIDENT Jonathan remains the most divisive president in our nation’s history. In 2011, President Jonathan openly asked non- Yoruba residents in Lagos to join forces to outvote the Yorubas. In 2015, besides the president’s nocturnal meetings with town associations where huge amount of monies allegedly exchanged hands, he appointed ex governor Obi to mobilise Igbos in Lagos. Now the Igbos in Lagos have hearkened to his call. Two weeks ago, they gave block vote to some of their kinsmen to represent some parts of Lagos whose language they can’t speak in Abuja.

Jimi Agbaje, who has nothing to offer Lagosians beyond his ‘feeling of self worth’, has tried to capitalise on that promising to create a fiefdom for Igbo in Lagos where they will have their own King, a privilege they don’t even enjoy in their own ancestral homes because of their republican nature.

Now they have dragged the Oba of Lagos into their game of deceit. The Oba, who is the custodian of the culture of his people, has threatened to rain causes on those who work against the interest of Lagos. PDP national body has joined Bode George, Obanikoro, Ogunlewe and Jimi Agbaje who the king claims

P

Villains and heroes of 2015 electoral duel congratulate Jonathan for his unique achievement.

But beyond honor so cheaply bestowed on a president who had been cajoled to do what was right and honourable, the real heroes of our 2015 were those who prevented our nations from predicted descent into chaos and turmoil. Leading this group of patriotic Nigerians is Olusegun Obasanjo. He had in

what was described ‘a satanic letter’ to his god son asked Jonathan to stop taking “Nigeria and Nigerians for granted, move away from culture of denials, cover-ups and proxies and deal honesty, sincerely, transparently with Nigerians”.

He then went on to itemise some of the president’s actions, which he believed were injurious to the health of our nation. He cited

his reliance on ‘sycophants who he said are ‘wreckers’ and more dangerous than identified adversaries.’ In this regard, he called attention of Nigerians to ‘serious and strong allegation of non-remittance of about $7 billion from NNPC to Central Bank occurring from export of some 300,000 barrels per day, amounting to $900 million a month, to be refined and with refined products of only $400 million returned and Atlantic Oil loading about 130,000 barrels sold by Shell and managed on behalf of NPDC with no sale proceeds paid into NPDC’.

Nearly everything Obasanjo said came to pass and when the president took refuge under the military to shift the election date, Obasanjo was quick to point out Jonathan’s secret plan to play Gbagbo by refusing to concede defeat. Godsday Orubebe’s tantrums and wild allegations in a futile attempt to disrupt further announcement of the result when it became clear president Jonathan had lost the election was probably part of the script.

Also deserving of honours are professor Bolaji Akinyemi, who first mooted the idea of the gladiators signing a peace accord; Members of National Peace Committee under the chairmanship of General Abdulsalam Abubakar. Others are Kofi Annah, former UN Secretary General; Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary general of the Common wealth amongst others.

Lagosians must reject PDP and its ethnic card is his cousin against the king. There is also a Femi Fani- Kayode, who only two years ago before joining PDP volunteered to lead a battle against any group including the Igbos who dared to lay claim to an inch of Yoruba land.

The common affliction of Lagos PDP men is opportunism. Ogunlewe and Obanikoro became senators under the dominant party in Lagos and used their ticket to cut deals with the federal government. They don’t even seem to understand that the federal and the state, by our constitution, are coordinates with neither being superior to the other since they both derived their powers from the constitution. If you think PDP thugs who with the support of police pulled down bill boards, posters and chased motorists off the roads while brandishing broken bottles and knives were ignorant, wait for Jimi Agbaje and some PDP leading lights defend the shameful act on a national television.

One of them, more out of mischief, in an answer to a question by a Channels Television crew retorted angrily, did Lagos state governor aspirant pay for his posters? The crooked logic

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan assumed the presidency in 2011 with overwhelming votes mostly in the three geo-political regions of the southsouth, southeast and the southwest. The singsong, most specifically in the latter zone then, was that they voted for Goodluck Jonathan and not his Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The satisfaction that greeted the Jonathan presidential victory among those who voted for him was so palpable that it mattered very little—if at all—that some states recorded more votes for Jonathan than the actual number of registered voters.

The electorate then, particularly those from the southern political divide, decided against Muhammadu Buhari largely because of the resentment they had haboured for so long about the hegemonic predilection of the northern dichotomy whence the General comes. Conversely, they saw Goodluck Jonathan as not belonging to the ruinous political class that had held them helplessly in the jugular for so long.

So, when he told them his story about not having any shoes growing up during the campaign trail, it was as if that was the breath of fresh air they had been waiting to inhale. That statement further cemented his ‘outsider’ perception among voters and Jonathan’s fate as the next president of the republic was sealed.

The ‘outsider’ status of Jonathan was also the proof-positive that the Nigerian electorates needed that their new and ‘unblemished’ president would fundamentally re-arrange the polity for sustainable growth and development, thereby giving them a new lease on life. They reasoned that he would be unencumbered and not tied to the apron strings of the deciders of who gets power in the country—military or civilian.

But they misjudged; and very badly too.

General Muhammadu Buhari, on the other hand, though not a stranger to these ‘kingmakers’, derived much, if not his entire support base from a critical mass of the poor from the north. The collective political class from both the north and the south had to be at the barricade against Buhari because, in their enlightened self-interests, a clueless and meek Jonathan was better than an unpredictable, no-nonsense Buhari who could turn off the spigot of the ‘milk and honey’ and haul them into jail because the taciturn general does not share their character traits of sleaze, primitive acquisition and plundering of the common patrimony.

Thus, Buhari is a part of the political class without being a part of the political class. He seemed irredeemably sandwiched between a rock and a hard place. There is perhaps no time in the country’s history in which so much was expected of a chief of state—military or civilian—by the Nigerian populace than the March 28 polls that crowned Gen. Mohammadu Buhari as the president of the next political dispensation starting in May 29. While the bestowal of presidential victory to Jonathan in 2011 by the electorates was largely due to sentiments, Buhari’s

is that if Lagos state enjoys a special relationship with one of its parastatal, such concession must be extended to the federal government. If we extend the argument further, then Lagos state should be able to have access to the use of one the air craft’s in the presidential fleet out of which the president sometimes deploys as many as three for political campaigns.

Or put differently, since The Ports Authority located in Lagos is known to have always made huge contribution towards reelection of all sitting presidents since 1999, Lagos should ask for its own share or resort to self help using thugs like PDP. Driven by opportunism and bereft of vision, PDP has nothing to offer Lagos... Besides one or two kilometers of Lagos -Ibadan expressway constructed by Ogunlewe as Minister of Works under Obasanjo at a period it was alleged about N300 billion budgeted for road construction went in to fighting the 2003 presidential election, all we can remember him for was converting party thugs to traffic controllers, which led to clashes and chaos on Lagos road.

He was also on record as supporting and encouraging Obasanjo who illegally sat on federal allocations despite court pronouncements.

Obanikoro’s short stint as Minister of State for Defence was a disaster for Lagos in particular and other Yoruba states in general.

Intoxicated by federal power under a Jonathan presidency whose other name is impunity, Obanikoro according to Governor Fashola, used soldiers to stop ongoing public work in Lagos claiming the land belongs to the federal government. He has also been accused of deploying soldiers including some hooded security personnel to intimidate opposition leaders during the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections last year.

Agbaje, who has never managed anything beyond his drug shop, is ill equipped to manage a state as complex as Lagos. Lagosians should troop out in two days time to vote for a party with vision, a party with record of achievements to end the dreams of opportunists bent on playing the ethnic card to cause disharmony in Lagos.

Buhari and leadership burden

By Femi Odere assumption of the highest political seat in the land was brought about by the acute awareness of the same electorates that real change must take place in all aspects of national life, no thanks to Boko Haram that has become very significant non-state actors with a considerable chunk of the nation’s territory under their holsters, corruption of monumental proportion and an economy on a free fall, among others—all this on Jonathan’s watch. Thus, the crisis of expectation among both candidates is that while the electorates expected that Jonathan would do something upon becoming the president in 2011, the Nigerian electorates this time around are demanding that Gen. Buhari must do something about their collective national despair.

Now that Buhari’s unflinching quest to situate Nigeria among the comity of nations, bound by universally acceptable moral and judicial precepts has finally been realized through the ballot box, it is extremely important that the next governing party and Buhari’s impending administration keep their eyes on this one-of-a-kind social contract with the Nigerian people. Just as the world was keenly interested in the election that gave him victory, the global community would also be watching Buhari’s every step from here on to see if we’re really serious about our desire to not only add values to ourselves and improve our living standards but positively contribute to humanity at large.

Buhari’s emergence was unusual. Therefore, his government should be unusual if it must meet the people’s expectations in the shortest time possible as well as the long run. The Buhari government must find innovative and inventive ways to governance for the arduous tasks ahead. Once elected, Buhari is automatically conferred with the free rein and the latitude to construct his cabinet as he sees fit. Being made to work with people with very little or no antecedents of job accomplishments could be counter-productive and may be a recipe for failure.

Just as Buhari’s win is akin to inheriting a house whose pillars are so weak that some low level wind gust could collapse the edifice anytime, so also is there a tremendous opportunity to build a new house with concretes that, although may be unfamiliar to the inhabitants, but guarantees a stronger house that will stand the test of time well into the future. Perhaps a good starting point of the Buhari government will be to put all but one or two of the presidential fleet of airplanes on the auction block immediately after it is sworn in and drastically reduce the workforce of the presidency.

By this, the Nigerian people would get the signal that there

would not be any sacred cow when it comes to confronting waste and the hydra-headed corruption monster. Reducing the size of the incoming presidency will not only save a considerable amount of money that is no longer available, no thanks to an epileptic economy that may not regain full consciousness anytime soon, but significantly reduce the recurrent expenditure which has always been the bane of growth in the polity.

By extension, corruption will automatically reduce in this first tier of government bureaucracy. In the age of high and extreme automation, it makes no sense to retain, say, ten personnel when four would do the job just as effective. The Buhari/ Osinbajo presidency should be so compact but highly effective that it should be able to fit in a suitcase.

The mid-term approach in this fight against corruption and waste is for the Buhari transition committee to ask for the Steve Oronsaye’s committee report that has reportedly enunciated how the entire federal bureaucracy (MDAs) can be streamlined before that report grows some wings for swift implementation. The long-term component is the devolution of more powers to the states—which may not be more than two years—to be brought to fruition. When powers are devolved into the federating units, developments become fastpaced.

States and their citizens will be able to make choices whether they want bloated bureaucracies or real growth. General Muhammadu Buhari may be the only one that knows the real reason(s)—except what was publicly stated—why he refused to give up after the first, second or third attempt, the least that Nigerians can do is to support the incoming administration to take this badly abused country to the enviable heights that she truly deserve. The challenges are no doubt daunting. But the opportunities, ironically, are also fantastic and the timing cannot be more auspicious.

• Odere is a media practitioner.

‘The long-term component is the devolution of more powers to the states— which may not be more than two years— to be brought to fruition. When powers are devolved into the federating units, developments become fast-paced’

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

21

COMMENTS

W

HILE reading the excerpts of the media interaction of the gubernatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje in The Guardian of January 23, 2015, and also watching his interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily by the trio of Chamberlin Usoh, Sulaiman Aladeh, and Maupe Ogun, the words of German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche came to my mind.

He apparently had Agbaje in mind when he said: “I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.”

Having unashamedly told lies to Lagosians, it will surely be difficult to believe his campaign promises. When Agbaje told journalists “I don’t have a godfather”, I cringed.

Agbaje should tell that to the marines. One question one must ask Agbaje is: how did he, who joined the PDP a few months to the party’s primary election, emerged as the candidate without the support of the godfathers who controls the party’s structures? Agbaje wanted us to believe that Chief Bode George and Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe who allegedly influenced the primary election and deployed state apparatus in his favour did that out of sheer altruism and without vested interest.

Can Jimi Agbaje dispute the fact that he emerged the candidate of the PDP in Lagos State through a manifestly fraudulent and violent process? Perhaps, it is apposite to refresh the memory of sufferers of selective amnesia as no one can build something on nothing, as it will not stand.

In the primary election that produced Agbaje as the candidate, 806 voters were accredited but 863 votes were counted. This is in line with the PDP’s “democracy” algebra.

To the PDP, 16 is greater than 19 at the Nigerian Governors Forum’s election and seven is greater than 19 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly. Agbaje did not have the capacity to conjure the 57 ghost delegates, as he did not control the structure of the party. It was only the bipolar super power of George and Ogunlewe that could brazenly invent such parody of democracy. Agbaje, tell no lies, claim no easy victory!

I also recall that the cache of weapons recovered by the Police in a SURE-P bus put at the disposal of Bode George’s thugs on the day of the primary election could have assisted the soldiers complaining of ill equip-

A

Y first physical encounter with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega was on Saturday December 6, 2013 at Ugbegun in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State during the burial of former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof.

Festus Iyayi, who was murdered by the reckless convoy of the Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada.

I had relocated to Edo State for about a week to join other activists, comrades and publicspirited compatriots from within and outside the country to give our slain brother in the struggle “a befitting burial”.

Throughout his stay during the interment, Prof. Jega neither uttered a word nor exuded emotions except the occasions he exchanged pleasantries with other sympathisers who came to greet him. As I observed Mr. Jega closely, I could see a well cultured, quiet and decorous personage that does not easily give in to the vicissitudes of life. My admiration for him soared afterwards.

It was therefore not eccentric to me when he exuded equanimity on Tuesday, 31st March, 2015 when Mr. Godson Orubebe sought to undermine his hard earned reputation with his thoughtless, shameful and baseless allegations of bias and compromise during the collation of the presidential election results at the International Conference Center, Abuja.

With the successful conduct of the presidential election on 28 March, 2015 which has been applauded by Nigerians and the international community, the reputation of Prof. Jega has further improved. However, I’m very worried that the respect presently being accorded the INEC Chairman may be short-lived owing to his worrisome disposition towards the evident, widely reported and verifiable compromise of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom State led by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Austin Okojie.

It is sickening that despite the public outrage that has continued to trail the fraudulent conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State, the INEC Chairman has not deem it

Let the truth be told: Agbaje, you have godfathers!

By Shadrack Sewanu ment in the war against Boko Haram. I did not invent this. The serious allegation leveled against Bode George and SURE-P was made by no less a personality than Musiliu Obanikoro, immediate past Minister of State for Defence and victim of the rigging process.

A friend, who passed through Ketu and Ojota on that day, confirmed the scary incident that one of the gubernatorial aspirants donned a bulletproof vest at the venue of the primary election. Television cameras captured this.

What other proof do we need?

George and Ogunlewe could not have deployed “life and death” and “do or die” tactics to secure the ticket for Agbaje if they were not driven by self-serving agenda. They are waiting for huge return on their ‘investments’ if Agbaje is elected. That Bode George has not been consistently seen on the Agbaje campaign train is not because he is old, as Agbaje wanted us to believe, the truth is that he is being kept away from the public glare like a leper. He is considered a liability to the campaign, as he is much remembered by the masses for his alleged heist on the public till at the Nigeria Ports Authority and his days at Kirikiri Maximum Prison for corrupt enrichment, though quashed by the Supreme Court.

Don’t forget that Bode George is the cornerstone of “I don’t have godfather” castle of lies being built in the air by Agbaje. This is what he wants to sell to Lagosians in exchange for their mandate. I say to the electorate, ‘caveat emptor, buyers beware!’ Anyway, Lagosians are too sophisticated for this deceit. Eko oni gba igba kugba, which literally translated means, ‘Lagosians don’t suffer fools gladly’.

Again, at the media interaction, Agbaje put on a “holier than thou” garb. He mentioned the phrase “vested interest” for almost 10 times while aiming punches at the All Peoples Congress (APC). Sadly, there was not a giant mirror in the room; otherwise, he would have seen himself in the mirror with bloodied face

from a self-inflicted injury. He was apparently desperate to ram it in the head of his guests that if elected, his administration will be devoid of vested interest. As Americans would say: “Mr. Agbaje, gimme [give me] a break!”

Is Agbaje saying that he is the sole financier of his multi-billion-naira contest for power project? Or do his campaign financiers see their contribution as donations to charity and therefore no string attached? Ambrose Bierce apparently had Agbaje in mind when in his book, Devil’s Dictionary he defines politics as “strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles”.

Agbaje, tell no lies; you owe three people if you are elected governor: godfathers, campaign financiers and the electorate. It is now left for you to hone the skill on how to strike the balance and draw a right scale of preference.

It is settled that both Agbaje and Akinkunmi Ambode, the APC gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, have godfathers and financiers whose “vested interests” will also be protected if elected while fulfilling the campaign promises to the electorate. The coming gubernatorial elections in Lagos State are a proxy electoral battle between Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of APC and Chief Bode George of PDP! One must be a fool to believe otherwise. Therefore, for me, the criterion to choose the better candidate is the capacity of the candidate. This is why I’ll go for Ambode. Agbaje is an accomplished businessman and he is eminently qualified to become the Lagos State governor. But Ambode, with huge experience and fulfilled career in both public and private sectors, embedded with local and international capacity building, is the best man for the job.

It is interesting to note that Ambode had cause to work with seven governors (civilian and military) in the voyage of his career. The slump in the oil price and attendant decline in federal allocation necessitates having in Alausa a governor that is well adept in financial engineering. Lagos State has experienced

Jega’s silence on Akwa Ibom State is killing

By Inibehe Effiong pertinent to respond, even laconically, to the concerns and grievances expressed by residents of the State, political parties, the media, election observers and other Nigerians. One is tempted to ask whether the INEC Chairman has a special interest in Akwa Ibom State?

It is on record that petitions has been sent to the INEC Chairman by interested persons, particularly by one of the leading political parties in the State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in respect of the March 28 elections in Akwa Ibom State. Yet, there is no indication at the moment that the leadership of INEC has given a fair hearing to the petitioners.

While it is true that politicians do make baseless allegations against the staffs of the Commission for political gains, it is not true that there are no bad eggs in the Commission.

According to the results of the presidential election in the State as presented during the declaration of results by the State Collation Officer, Prof. James Ekpoke, Akwa Ibom State has 1, 644, 481 registered voters. Of this number, 1, 074, 070 voters were said to had been accredited while 1, 017, 064 reportedly voted. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was said to have scored 953, 304 votes while the All Progressives Congress (APC) allegedly scored 58, 411 votes.

For God sake, where on planet earth did INEC get such alarming figures? Certainly not from the same Akwa Ibom State that no elections properly so-called took place. It is note worthy that the results of the March 28 elections were not announced at the State level until about 10 am of Tuesday, 31st March, 2015. Also, Prof. Jega had to stand down the announcement of the results by the State Collation Officer owing to discrepancy in the summation of the results until the

figures were reconciled.

During the March 28 elections, eligible voters were denied their franchise due to the willful and premeditated refusal by the INEC to release sensitive election materials, especially result sheets, to its ad hoc staffs. In most polling units, voters waited endlessly for the arrival of ballot papers and result sheets to no avail. In some places, elections actually took place but there were no result sheets to record same. In other places, known appointees of the State government went about with police and military escorts harassing voters and hijacking materials with reckless abandon.

The rigging was so badly and carelessly done that result sheets were not even supplied at the polling unit of the APC gubernatorial candidate in the State, Mr. Umana Okon Umana in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. It took protest by the candidate for the result sheets to be brought allegedly from the home of a former legislator from the area. The story was the same in most parts of the State.

Surprisingly, the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission led by its Chairman, Prof. Jega has not deem it proper to react or investigate these documented, cogent and verifiable facts and evidence of massive fraud, rigging and subversion of the electoral process. At the moment, the State is literally in flames owing to the fear that the embattled State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Austin Okojie whose actions and inactions smacks of partisanship will still be the one to oversee the forthcoming gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections in the State.

Late in the night on Sunday 5th April, 2015 information went viral on social media that the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling

sharp drop in the accruable revenue in the past when former President Olusegun Obasanjo, with the blessing of Agbaje’s godfathers (Bode George and Ogunlewe), unlawfully withheld the state’s monthly allocations as a result of the creation of additional Local Council Development Areas that were meant to take governance and development closer to the grassroots. Ambode, as the state’s Accountant General, was credited with excellent management of the account at the trying period, which lasted for four years. The state government survived this period without abandoning its responsibility to the people or sacking a single worker. Lagosians need Ambode’s expertise and experience more than ever in this period and when the era of high oil price is over.

More importantly, the recent victory of the All Progressive Congress at the federal level will hasten the 25-year development plan in Lagos, with Ambode in the driver seat of governance, where 24-hour power is possible, National Art theatre and National Stadium will be refurbished, Apapa roads will be maintained and more opportunities will be provided for the hardworking Lagosians regardless of tongue, tribe or gender.

• Sewanu, a Public Relations and Brand Communication Consultant based in Lagos.

‘More importantly, the recent victory of the All Progressive Congress at the federal level will hasten the 25-year development plan in Lagos, with Ambode in the driver seat of governance, where 24-hour power is possible, National Art theatre and National Stadium will be refurbished, Apapa roads will be maintained and more opportunities will be provided for the hardworking Lagosians regardless of tongue, tribe or gender’ Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel was having a meeting with INEC Returning Officers in the entire State. The nocturnal meeting was leaked by one of the Returning Officers (a lecturer) who attended the meeting. An Akwa Ibom State Correspondent of one of the national newspapers has confirmed to this writer that he drove passed the Babangida Avenue where the meeting allegedly took place and that he saw hundreds of vehicles and people at two places. These are serious allegations that shouldn’t be treated with kid gloves by the Chairman of INEC. The State Resident Electoral Commissioner cannot be trusted to conduct credible polls on April 11 in the State.

This is the same REC that refused to accredit local journalists in the State claiming that they were working for the opposition. It took three days of vigil at the State INEC Headquarters by the insistent local journalists before the REC bowed to pressure and accredited them.

So why is Prof. Jega still silent and unconcerned about the despicable, volatile and precarious situation in Akwa Ibom State?

Is it that Akwa Ibom State is not significant to warrant a decisive action by the INEC Chairman?

I humbly advice Prof. Jega to make sweeping changes in the commission before the April 11 gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections in the country. It is only right and expedient for the INEC Chairman to redeploy REC’S and other senior staffs of the commission from States that the March 28 polls were marred by irregularities and controversies. Anything short of this may spell doom for our nascent democracy and may greatly bastardize the reputation of the Commission.

The media, human rights community, local and international observers should take note and follow closely the troubling situation in Akwa Ibom State. Prof. Jega should rise above any primordial consideration and defend the integrity of INEC and the electoral process in Akwa Ibom State.

The time to act is now!

• Inibehe Effiong is the Convener of the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (COHRD).

22

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

23

25

THE NATION

EDUCATION

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Fifty days to the swearing in of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, teachers, students and other stakeholders have sent him a wish list, report KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE, ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, OLUWATOYIN ADELEYE, and JANE CHIJIOKE.

• President-elect Gen Buhari (in white) when he visited a school in Rivers State. With him are his host, Governor Rotimi Amaechi (wearing a hat), APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and others.

Our expectations of Buhari, by teachers, students, others

T

HERE is urgent need to sanitise the education sector, teachers, students and other stakeholders have said.

And they are giving the task to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, who will be sworn-in on May 29.

According to them, the change that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised should happen in the education sector too. They identified areas he should examine to effect changes.

Address academic corruption

corruption, the stakeholders are saying the cleansing should extend to the school system as well. Dr Ahmed Rufai of the Faculty of Education, Sokoto State University, described academics as more corrupt than politicians. He said the government should endeavour to rid

‘

As the President-elect has promised to tackle

Nigerians are more concerned about economic corruption but the incoming government should also beam its searchlight into academic corruption

INSIDE

FUTA, UK varsity sign MoU

THE Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with De Montfort University, (DMU) Leicester, United Kingdom.

-Page 28

the education system of undedicated teachers who cannot defend their qualifications.

He said: "Nigerians are more concerned about economic corruption but the incoming government should also beam its searchlight into academic corruption. Because the system

Teacher employed as clerk seeks upgrade -Page 38

CAMPUS LIFE The world of a polio-stricken student -Page 29

’

is corrupt, it has spiraled into the academia so much that our colleagues now behave worse than politicians.

"I for example, have taught in about four universities so I see these things occur virtually everywhere I have taught. Many of our colleagues in the university system are sub standard and that also tells on the quality of output of our students. Issues like sex abuse, poor quality of research, lecturers' apathy to work; lateness and what have you are all over •Continued on page 26

•A 10-page section on campus news, people etc

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

26

EDUCATION A professor of Computer Engineering and Archbishop of Lagos Province (Anglican Communion), Rev Adebayo Akinde, has advised the incoming Gen. Muhammadu Buhari administration to organise a summit that will appraise the education sector. Rev. Akinde told ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA that he believes the move can pave the way for a new direction in the system.

Y

OU have always been agitating for an education summit. Why do you think this is necessary?

Over the last three years, I have been advocating an education summit for Nigeria. We need to revisit the state of education in our county. God has blessed this country with experienced highly respected and renounced educationists. Thank God they are still alive. Some of them could still be brought from the preschool, to nursery, secondary and tertiary education. I mean education managers and planners. Those who have taught all these years let them come together for at least one or two months and review the state of education in Nigeria. I am sure they will come up with policy document that the government can meaningfully make use of and not just to add to the stack of sundry reports which are hardly implemented.

The incoming administration does not have much time, but there are people that will be invited to give them position papers. Nigerians have been yearning for a change that will bless the present generation, a change that will leave a lasting legacy for sustainable development

Education summit now for the future generations, and a change that will bring respectability to Nigeria in the comity of nations.

So where do you think we got it wrong?

As far as the education is concerned, it is the vital bedrock of any sustainable development in any community. It is important for the incoming administration to know exactly what education means. There is the knowledge, the skill and the experience component. We are not lacking in knowledge but What Nigeria needs is holistic education whereby knowledge with understanding will be what is imparted into the pupils. What seem to be the missing link in our education system now is: do our pupils understand the knowledge we impart?

Could you cite an example?

I will give you one. When we were little in the primary school, we were taught the mental sums-two times one equals two, two times two equals four and so on. If anything, we memorised because when the teacher visited and asked a question, we easily had the answer but without

knowing how those answers came to be. But it is more important for a pupil to have the knowledge of multiplication so you can even do it yourself - that is what understanding is! Knowledge with understanding is most critical. That is what will induce practical expectation. It is only when you have understanding accompanying knowledge that you will get to the point of ability to do.

We do not want theoretical knowledge anymore. By the time our pupils are trained in acquiring knowledge with understanding, they are bound to get to the point of doing researching and developing new skills and expertise to achieve what we need.

How achievable is this against the backdrop of workers' unrest and poor funding?

Let me go down memory lane. I had my primary, secondary education as well as my first degree in Nigeria before I went abroad for post graduate studies. Looking at my first three levels of education, they were very solid. We have no cause to bastardise it but the truth of the matter is that cumulative bad governance is what has brought us to this level.

Workers unrest is a manifestation of something not right in the system.

One, workers will not rest if they perceive inequality; sharp disparity between those governing us and those of us is being governed. Two, if there is transparency, even and equity distribution of national resources in government, of course Nigerians are reasonable. And this was one of the things we had when

there.

"Unfortunately, there is poor or no monitoring mechanism in the system. That is why a lecturer can choose not to come to class or worse still where he even comes spend time on frivolities instead of the teaching and research for which he was employed."

Currently, Rufai said the length of time academics spend in the system does not necessarily translate to quality experience.

"Many of our professors today have questionable rise to their professorship. Many a time, they are moved up not because of the amount of their academic contributions into the system but because many have stayed up to 25 or 30 years and the system feels they should be compensated for being in the system for so long so as to save their face.

"The very good ones are in the minority and others like them would rather work in the industry because they cannot stand the rot in the system," he said.

A student, Judith Daniels agrees with Rufai. For her, if lecturers are made to stop selling handouts, then Buhari would have achieved something significant.

"I want the government to set up a panel that will checkmate lecturers mandating students to buy handouts.

Handouts should not be compulsory, not all of us can afford a number of handouts which they sell to us," he said.

For Pascal Ukezu, a graduate of Abia State University, the handout issue, which is a money spinner for lecturers, is a blight on the system.

"If you do not buy handouts, there is no Continuous Assessment (CA) grade recorded for you. Some lecturers do not even give tests. Your handout is your CA so if you do not buy, you do not have any grade.

"Lecturers get at least N200,000 from selling handouts. Sold at N2,000 or N3,000, a lecturer can get a lot from a class of about 100 students.

Students that do not do well in the examination usually 'sort' (bribe) the lecturer with about N5,000. If about 60 students sort, you can imagine how much that is," he said.

Ukezu also said the revolution in

the university system should address the issue of record keeping. He lamented that improper record keeping, especially of results of examinations, causes a lot of problems for students. He said the common example was that of missing results.

"The issue of record keeping in public institutions needs to be addressed, particularly that of results.

Government should look into it because it keeps students in school longer than they are supposed to be because those in charge do not collate the results on time. Results get missing because of improper record keeping and when students want to access them, they are unavailable. If you cannot find your result, you have to rewrite the course. If you are in final year, it means you are forced to spill, thereby paying extra school fees.

"The entire system should be overhauled. Those in charge of monitoring the universities are not doing their jobs," he said.

Woo the best teachers from 'outside' The best teachers in Nigeria may not currently be teaching in schools.

To attract them, given the positive impact good teachers can make on their learners, Mr Femi Longe, who teaches Literature in English at the Africa International College, Abuja, said the new government should make getting the relevant teaching qualifications flexible for nonprofessional teachers.

He said: "There is so much emphasis on teacher education; you must have a qualification in education before you can go into teaching. I think it is a good idea, but I also think it is militating against education, because most of the best brains are not in the education . Many

we were growing up. Those who led, their children were our peers in school. Chief Obafemi Awolowo's children attended Ibadan Grammar School and St Anne's School also in Ibadan just like every other people.

How often do we have the children of our leaders in government schools? Do they not attend special and fee paying schools irrespective of the cost, largely though not all of them? So these are the cause of frequent unrest.

‘The incoming administration does not have much time, but there are people that will be invited to give them position papers. Nigerians have been yearning for a change that will bless the present generation’

Our expectations of Buhari, by stakeholders •Continued from page 25

•Archbishop Akinde

•Prof Odugbemi

• Dr Rufai

of those who study education in the universities are doing it because it is a last option, not because they want it. They would end up graduating and not even going into education.

"I did not study education, but in my over 12 years as an educationist, I have seen the success of many of my past and current students. So I simply learnt on the job."

Longe said making professional education training available online would encourage more teachers at heart to embrace teaching as their profession.

"If they can reduce the length of time it takes to get that education qualification and also make it available as an online course, so that you do not have to leave work in order to get it. I am using myself as a point of reference. I work in the boarding house, so even the weekend classes are very difficult for me because I have to attend to the children in the boarding house. So if they can make it easier to get the certification online, it would favour many of us. Then the so-called best brains who have found themselves in the education line, can now get certification without quitting their jobs," he said.

Re-examine UBE, National Policy on Education, Quality Assurance Whatever the Buhari-led government decides to do with the education sector, it must not forget the foundation - the primary education level.

Vice-Chancellor of the Ondo State University of Technology (OSUSTECH), Prof Tolu Odugbemi, said the government would do well to take care of that level of education because it has implications for other levels.

Recalling a lecture he delivered during the 2014 Synod of the Ondo diocese last year, Odugbemi said: "The foundation of any viable education system is the primary school level. Successful nations appreciate this and go to considerable lengths to build it as the launch pad for human capital development. Our educational system has been marred by poor funding, ineptitude and sheer irresponsibility.

"Education is a tool for development if properly handled from childhood to adulthood through various systems - primary, secondary and tertiary levels. We should pay attention to the implementation of good ideas if they are to be useful for positive change

‘There is so much emphasis on teacher education; you must have a qualification in education before you can go into teaching. I think it is a good idea, but I also think it is militating against education, because most of the best brains are not in the education ’

in Nigeria. Character building must accompany any form of learning for products of such institutions to be relevant to society development."

In attempting to fix primary education, a teacher in the Department of Early Childhood Care Education, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Oto/Ijanikin, Mr Simeon Fowowe said the incoming government should revisit the blueprint for the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme, which was prepared by Prof Pius Obanya, with the view to ensuring it is properly implemented.

"The incoming government upon assumption should revisit the UBE document as put together by Prof P.A.I. Obanya to see how it can be fully implemented," he said.

For instance, Fowowe said that the UBE is meant to be nine years of uninterrupted basic education rather than the six years of primary and three years of junior secondary education that is currently in operation.

Fowowe is also concerned that contrary to the UBE blueprint, pupils are moved en-masse into the senior secondary school rather than what it recommends that the very brilliant ones should be allowed to proceed into the senior secondary level, while others are awarded a certificate of literacy and allowed to proceed with technical education.

"I want the incoming government to pay more serious attention into this area. The idea of UBE is being practiced by many countries all over the world so it is not something strange. But most importantly, we need to get it right otherwise, it would not achieve its main purpose," he said.

Proprietor of Starland Private School, Ogba, Mrs Elizabeth Olomofe-Kufeji, also wants the new government to find out why the National Policy on Education (NPE) is not well implemented.

"The new government should find out why the implementation of the national policy on education has been impossible; and how Nigerian children have been so messed up," she said.

Mrs Olomofe-Kufeji, a one-time President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Lagos, said in doing so, the government should look into the activities of private primary schools that yield to pressure from parents •Continued on page 27

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

27

EDUCATION

King’s College celebrates Nigeria's culture

T

HE richness of the Nigerian cultural heritage was displayed during the fifth cultural day programme of King's College Lagos.

The boys were dressed in local attires of the various tribes for the occasion that was graced by various dignitaries and parents at the Victoria Island campus of the school.

The teachers were not left out as they also looked radiant in the traditional clothing. The Igbo women group stood out in their yellow blouses on purple wrappers accompanied with matching headgears. They stole the show during a local dance that they did around the field as well.

However, the pupils had been well applauded for the local Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and other dances they presented during the event.

Local delicacies of the major tribes were also a big feature at the event: palmwine, kunu, zobo drink flowed freely along with abacha (igbo) salad; suya, pounded yam and various soups.

Nevertheless, the event was not all about merry making as the Director General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Ferdinand Anikwe, called for a reorientation of cultural values in the youths.

Our expectations of Buhari’s administration, by stakeholders

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Anikwe, in a lecture titled: "To Enhance and Inculcate the Rich Nigerian Culture and Values into our Children to discover and utilize their innate Values", lamented that respect for elders among the youths was fast disappearing , adding that the zeal to imbibe western culture was hindering the development of the country's cultural values.

He argued that if parents and teachers are able to instill cultural values in their children, it would correct the ills.

"Socialisation methods are fast giving way to strange and stinky infiltration from the other side.

Propagation, preservation and promotion of the Nigeria culture are seemingly mandatory to retain our indigenous languages mode of dressing, morality, beliefs and values. The effect is our children's inability to speak and understand their mother tongue; our young men and women behave and appear every inch American," he said.

The director general said the education system should integrate and inculcate the norms and values of the various cultural groups, which would create the consciousness required for social integration and national unity.

"Unity within diversity is a

‘Nigerian education policies and programmes should be the one that children must be made to understand and from which they would learn the values of the differences in our cultures’

•Continued from page 26

•Olapeju

necessary criterion for peace and the development of people, societies, nations and the world at large.

Nigerian education policies and programmes should be the one that children must be made to understand and from which they would learn the values of the differences in our cultures," he said.

In an interview, the Principal of the college, Chief Oladele Olapeju, said there was a relationship between culture and learning.

"They are two interchangeable concepts which combine together form the total man. In the senior class, they have a subject called cultural and creative arts, so they are just putting to practice what they learnt in class and are now displaying that on the field," he said.

Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Chief Emmanuel Oriakhi, was happy about the programme.

"The parents have been supportive.

The cultural day has confirmed that King's College is leading the way.

We want to commend the management for the laudable step," he said.

to graduate children from primary four or five into secondary school.

She also said that private secondary schools that take such underage children should be sanctioned.

She said: "I am concerned because I am sad that the education sector is finishing by the day. I have been a teacher all my life. I know the type of education we enjoyed when we were young and I am ashamed that a whole nation like Nigeria cannot put the education sector in order.

"The childhood foundation of our children is eroded, because the national policy of education says 63-3-4. And it says there is a primary six, after primary six, you go on to secondary school. But because parents are in a hurry and providers of secondary school education are also in a hurry, they have finished that policy right from the foundation. They do not allow children to get to primary six. Some of them admit children from primary four or five. I have not seen a nation like this before, where people would just rubbish the government policy and I keep saying that this policy is as a result of researches. Parents are not supposed to dictate on such an issue."

Deliver on campaign promises and ensure continuity Former NANS President Dauda Muhammed told The Nation that that rather than make suggestions to the incoming government, he would hope the president-elect walks his talk as expressed in his various campaigns.

"I do not think I have a new advice for the president. I remember that during his campaigns, Gen. Buhari vowed that his government would repatriate ill-gotten wealth from those who helped themselves with the nation's treasury and channel same back into the university system. He also promised to effect the 29 per cent bench mark of budgetary allocation as recommended by the United Nations. This is in addition to improving girl child education.

"With that, what do we expect again? We only need to pray that he makes good those promises when he eventually assumes office," Muhammed said.

For Mrs Lydia Abaga, Guidance Counsellor of Africa International College, Abuja, the new government should continue good programmes of the old.

She said: "I would like to see a government that would look into what is already on ground and consolidate. That is to build on what we already have in the education sector. Instead of sitting down to brainstorm and come up with different policies all over again, new proposals, new systems, etc. the government should simply look into what is available and make it better, blocking loopholes. They should train more teachers, push more money, especially in government schools.

"They should make up their minds and stick with one thing. They should simply fortify the education system and make it good enough for the children. Really, no system is perfect, there would always be flaws, but it is the people that run it that matter."

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

28

EDUCATION

Mike Okonkwo Essay Contest begins

JABU FILE Firm donates law books PANAF Chambers in Abuja has donated over 50 different law books to the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) in IkejiArakeji, Osun State.

The gifts came after the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Olajide Olakanmi, visited the university.

He said he chose JABU because he has been blessed by the God of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola – after whom the university is named.

He added that he was also a product of the Christ Apostolic Church Grammar School, Aramoko-Ekiti, Ekiti State, which was one of the best secondary schools at the time.

Olakanmi, a friend of the JABU Vice Chancellor, Prof Sola Fajana, and the Registrar, Mr Wale Aderibigbe (also a lawyer), during their days at the University of Lagos, promised to donate more books.

The Vice Chancellor thanked the donor. He added that the books would have cost the university a fortune if they had been purchased from a bookstore.

The Registrar described Olakanmi as an entrepreneur, who looks for a gap in a system and fills it.

He described his passion to establish a law publishing firm as a feat worthy of emulation.

Also present at the event was the Ag. Dean of the College of Law, Dr Olufemi Arifalo.

Scholarship for PG students THE JABU management has announced a scholarship for postgraduate students who score at least 4.5 CGPA yearly.

This was made known during the orientation for new postgraduate students.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Sola Fajana, admonished the students to take their studies seriously and be ready for the challenges of postgraduate education.

He also told them to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the rules and regulations of the university.

The Registrar, Mr Wale Aderibigbe, said those with a first class could get immediate employment as Graduate Assistants after their national youth service and opportunity of a study leave to do higher degrees either in JABU or elsewhere.

The Dean of Postgraduate College, Prof Emmanuel Akorede and Dean, Student Affairs, Dr. Solomon Owolabi, both urged the new students to be of good behaviour.

VC woos parents THE JABU Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Fajana, has urged parents to be more responsible for the moral growth of their wards.

Fajana, who spoke at a Parents Forum organised by the university, said by so doing they would be supportive partners of the university in its quest to help the students grow into responsible individuals.

The VC also used the medium to update the parents of the university’s achievements, which include: commencement of the law programme, collaboration with College of Social Sciences, Poland for a joint degree programme, and the successful hosting of second JABU annual quiz competition.

“T

•Prof Daramola and Prof Gardner during the signing of the MoU.

HE Nigerian Political Class and the Citizens Quest for Good Governance” is the topic for the 12th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for secondary school pupils.

They have until May 15 to send in a 2,000-word essay on the topic, which will also be the focus of the 16th Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture.

The top 10 essayists would be rewarded on the day of the lecture, which would hold as part of activities to commemorate the 70th Birthday of Bishop Mike Okonkwo, the founder of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) on September 3 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan,

FUTA, UK varsity sign MoU

T

HE Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with De Montfort University, (DMU) Leicester, United Kingdom.

The FUTA Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebiyi Daramola and the Pro ViceChancellor for DMU, James Gardner, signed the aggreement for their institutions to collaborate on academic and other related matters.

Under the agreement FUTA workers and students will have opportunities to undertake knowledge sharing and skills development that will improve creativity, networking, cultural integration, leadership and team work.

The benefiting departments in FUTA are Architecture and Industrial

By Jane Chijioke

Design.

The MoU gives students possibility of transferring from third year of undergraduate programme to complete studies at DMU. There are also provisions for six-month Industrial Training, 10 days short workshops/ courses in summer, winter or Easter break to cover design and theory in Architecture, with a field trip to a continental European city.

Members of staff on the other hand would get opportunity to undergo their PhD in full time, split size six months or by distance learning; cohost conference on Tropical Architecture, conduct adjunct lecturing via Skype and enjoy visiting fellowships.

The collaboration, an initiative of

Dr Dorcas Ayeni, an alumnae of DMU School of Architecture who is a lecturer in FUTA's Department of Architecture, had inputs from the Head, School of Architecture, DMU, Prof Raymond Quek, the FUTA Vice Chancellor, and the Director of the International Office, FUTA, Prof Afolabi Akindahunsi.

FUTA is also collaborating many other universities from across the world including the Fort Valley University, Georgia, United States where the first set of FUTA students are expected for their one year complementary studies in August; and the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, USA where the second set of FUTA students are already undergoing their one year complementary studies.

ACCA prepares Southwest students for careers

T

HE Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, ACCA in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has organised a leadership seminar for university students in the Southwest region of the country.

The seminar tagged, "Inspiring future leaders in finance" was used to develop the students' soft skills, knowledge in finance and expose them to opportunities that ACCA qualification can create.

The event was for Management students of universities in the region to guide them as they navigate a career in finance.

Among invited universities were Elizade University, Afe Babalola University, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Osun State; Redeemers University, Ede; Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti; Oduduwa

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

University, Ipetu-Modu, Osun State, Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo, Ondo State and Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State.

Part of the programme, which featured presentations by ACCA Nigerian team members, was an interuniversity debate on the topic: "The influence of culture on ethical decision making".

There was also an employability session facilitated by the Country Head of ACCA in Nigeria, Toyin Adegbola.

A member of the association, Seyi Olanrewaju, shared his experiences on how joining ACCA helped him.

He advised the students about positioning themselves to be successful in their careers.

The ACCA Business Development

Manager in the northern region, Adeyemi Akinyemi, said the essence of the programme was to prepare the students for the life after school.

He said: "One of our values at ACCA is opportunity. We are actually looking at an opportunity to give people from different backgrounds the access to information, access to knowledge and access to professionalism. It cannot be over emphasised how competitive the job world has become today. Everybody wants to get this job. For every student we talk to, we expect that when you are going for interview, you are equipped enough to be able to compete to an advantage where whatever skills they are bringing to the table, you have those skills too because you have had an opportunity to have been taught those things."

Art Club for April 18

A

PRIL 18 promises to be interesting for children that would attend the monthly art programme of the Children Art Club at the Cultural and Musical Heritage Centre, Olumo Rock, Ikija, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

A statement by Olusegun Adeniyi, Art Director of Teaching Visual Art, which organises the programme, noted that the event would feature art contests, classes and displays of the children's works.

During last month's programme, which held on March 20, the participants created diverse works of art on themes such as: Peace, friendship, nature etc. using art media like coloured pencils, water colour, crayon, collage, and acrylic.

Adeniyi said the art club, which is free, is aimed at providing resources to aid talent development for Nigerian children.

•The children during the March edition of the programme.

•Bishop Okonkwo

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Lagos.

Bishop Okonkwo initiated the lecture in 2000 to sensitise Nigerians to issues of nation building. The competition started four years later to improve the writing skills of secondary school pupils and engage them in public discourse with the aim of challenging them to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s problems.

Winners of the past 11 editions of the competition have emerged from both public and private secondary schools located in various parts of the country. One of the most outstanding winners was Matthew Adeiza, who won the second edition as a pupil of Community Secondary School Adavi-Eba, in Kogi State in 2005.

He was sponsored on full scholarship by the church for his university education at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

Adeiza has followed up with other scholarships, including one to study for his masters at the Oxford University. Some other past winners also won the competition more than once. They include: Idam Ogonnia, who came third in 2006 and 2007 as a pupil of Queen’s College, Yaba; and Mark Nwanbiankae of the Lagos State Senior Model College, Badore, who came third in 2012 and second in 2013.

However Ahia Fego has the unbeaten record of winning the ‘To improve competition the writing thrice.

He came secskills of ond in 2010, secondary and first in 2011 and 2012 school pupils editions as a and engage pupil of Brilliant Child them in public C o l l e g e , discourse Bariga, Lagos. with the aim This year the top three win- of challenging ners with get b e t w e e n them to profN100,000 and fer solutions to N50,000 as cash Nigeria’s prizes, as well as computers problems’ and printers

Community protests against PTI’s recruitment policy

A date with tradition Page 34

Page 31

*CAMPUSES *NEWS *PEOPLE *KUDOS& KNOCKS *GRANTS

THE NATION

CAMPUS LIFE 0805-450-3104 email: campusbeat@yahoo.com THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

Website:- http://www.thenationonlineng.net

email:- campuslife@thenationonlineng.net

The world of a polio-stricken student Students with disabilities may find it difficult acquiring education because of lack of facilities to aid them.

Many keep their challenges to themselves.

But, this is not the case with Martins Onovo, a 100-Level Optometry student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who shares his struggles with EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN (400Level Pharmacy).

•‘I can never beg. God has helped me to overcome that’

D

ESPITE his disability, his quest for education knows no bound. He struggles to go to the bathroom and to leave the hostel for classes. Yet, he is undaunted.

On this cold morning, Martins Onovo Chinedu, 24, could not find anybody to help him push his wheelchair to ‘his class, which is a bit far from his hostel. After being helped down the stairs, he pushed himself to the class.

Martins typifies the challenges most physically-challenged students face in the course of acquiring higher education. Many who cannot withstand the pressure may get depressed and drop out of school. Lack of special facilities for the physically-challenged shows how the nation treats people with disabilities. This may have been why many resort to begging at religious centres, markets and motor parks.

But, Martins, a 100-Level Optometry student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), will not give up. Instead of being worried by his physical state, Martins is worried about missing lectures. He struggled but he could only move at his own pace. At a point, this reporter offered to push him for the remaining distance. As we went along, he told this reporter how he found himself on a wheelchair.

The indigene of Amaechi Idodo in Enugu State said he suffered polio at five. Martins said it all started when he could not get up from bed. His late grandmother, he said, shouted at him to come down to have his bath, all to no avail. Unknown to the woman, her grandson had become paralysed. She discovered that the young Martins could not lift any part of his body and could not speak.

•Martins being helped to ascend the stairs by CAMPUSLIFE reporter and a student

“I was taken to the General Orthopaedic Hospital in Enugu, where my grandmother was told that I was stricken with polio,” Martins said.

According to him, his parents were advised that the disease could only be treated through spiritual power and not by orthodox medicine.

Martins added: “I was then sent to a church called Ascension Ministry, where I spent eight years of my life in the healing theatre. During this period, I was able to raise my upper limb (hands). The pastor in charge instructed my parents to take me back to the house for completion of the healing process.”

Since then, no miracle happened again.

His legs are paralysed. When there was no change after medical and spiritual treatments, Martins resigned to fate. He became an orphan when his parents died while he was in secondary school.

Martins attended a special school for the physically-challenged in his primary and secondary school days. He told this reporter that he got a scholarship to complete his secondary education.

He was happy when he got admitted into UNIBEN. He described the admission as an opportunity to make something of his life.

But, Martins is facing some challenges.

His hostel, he said, is designed for ablebodied students. He usually has to wait for someone to help him ascend and descend the stairs in his hostel and faculty.

He also finds it difficult to use the toilet and bathroom. According to him, he struggles to push his wheelchair to the entrance of the bathroom and then wait for someone to put him in to have his bath.

“As you know, students are always in a hurry in the morning. I have to wait for a very long time outside the bathroom.

Using the toilet is even more difficult because I will need somebody to carry me on •Continued on page 30

•UI expels 12, suspends 23 •NANS, medical students greet Buhari -P32

30

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

CAMPUS LIFE

Against all odds

A

PRIL 13, 2011 was a defining moment. On that date, then presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari - now president-elect - broke down in tears while lamenting the problems confronting the country. During that solemn event in Abuja, candidate Buhari wept intermittently as he managed to conclude his 12-page address.

Then vice presidential candidate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir ElRufai, ex-Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), who were on the podium as Buhari sobbed in between words, were also moved to tears as they used their handkerchiefs to control sipping tears.

The emotions created by Buhari’s sobs inevitably led to the abrupt disruption of the question and answer session with newsmen that were scheduled to follow. In his emotion laden speech, Buhari had said the 2011 contest would be his last pursuit of the presidency, stressing that while he occupied the office of military head of state, he never touched a kobo of public funds.

He thus challenged other presidential candidates who had occupied public office to a public attestation of his claim.

“After being head of state, I am sure I could easily have retired into a life of comfort and ease as an elder statesman, as a contractor or as a beneficiary of anyone of the nation’s many generous prebendal offerings ... I am in this solely for the love of my country and concern for its destiny and the fate of its people. And that is why, despite the many disappointments along the way, I am still in the struggle and will remain in it to the end. I have decided to dedicate the remainder of my life to fighting for the people of this country until their right is restored to them, ‘’ he said.

Fast-forward to 2013 when news started making the rounds about the formation of a credible opposition party to checkmate the PDP. Our “orange revolution” took shape

with the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The general eventually came out of ‘retirement’ and was elected Nigeria’s next president on that platform.

What is so unique about this individual? What factors tipped the balance in his favour? What are the salient lessons we can learn for his life?

I first set eyes on General Buhari -

the toilet seat and bring me out when I am done,” he said.

Asked how he surmounts the challenges, Martins said: “There are special toilets and bathrooms for the physically-challenged and that was what I used in my secondary school.

I don’t need anyone to carry me. I need absolutely no assistance from anyone to bathe.”

Cooking is also a problem. Martins finds it difficult to cook. “I don’t cook here; I give my roommates foodstuff to cook for me. Sometimes, I buy food from restaurants and this has been affecting my pocket money. Some friends also share their food with me.”

The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Friday Osagiede, said the school was aware of the struggles of physically-challenged students and has been looking for ways to alleviate their challenges. He said the management usually gave the physically-challenged the special treatment they deserve.

His words: “We give preferences to the physically-challenged. We allocate some particular type of rooms to them, like rooms that are close to the restrooms. That is all we can do for now. But in the new hostel donated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), we have four rooms on the ground floor specially equipped for the physicallychallenged and also to accommodate those that help carry them around.”

How does he pay the almost N100,000 school fee since his parents are dead? Martins said he remains in

with

Agbo Agbo 08116759750 (SMS only)

as a young boy in my teens - in 1982 when he was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 3 Armoured Division, Jos. My father was a soldier, meaning I grew up in the barracks. One of the virtues that were instilled in me from my formative years is discipline. I later became a soldier briefly and discipline has remained with me ever since. I can confidently say that discipline is one of the key virtues that made Buhari.

Growing up, I heard my dad and other soldiers refer to him as a “no-nonsense soldier.” And when I came to the age of reasoning and started reading stuff about him, I have come to admire his sterling attributes of integrity, honesty, selflessness, simplicity, discipline and accountability. Seeing him up close in his uniform back then, you’d think army uniform is made for him alone.

The road to the presidency was torturous.

His detractors procured a “health certificate” alleging he had a terminal illness. They claim that he has no secondary school leaving certificate – reports had it that the army has “found” it. They also alleged he hold extremist religious views and tendencies. They even claimed he is “brain-dead.” There were many other virulent and venomous accusations. But they all crumbled like a pack of cards.

One of the key lessons for me in this sweet Buhari story is never to give up. After his 2011 loss, he retired to his modest homes in Daura and Kaduna. He had reckoned that by 2015, he would be 72, and might be too old to govern. Those who believe in him – like I do since I started voting in 2003 – advised him to join the race for this last time. He did. And won!

The world of a polio-stricken student •Continued from page 29

Pushing Out

school because of the kindness of family members, some of who do not even know him.

He said he wants to continue with his education rather than becoming a beggar.

His words: “As you can see, I am a man. I want to work to help others. I can never go to the street to beg. God has helped me to overcome that. I applied to study Pharmacy because I wanted to manufacture drugs that can save lives and make life better for others but since I was given Optometry, I appreciate it.

“I have vowed that, no matter what comes, I will acquire university education and work hard to put smiles on the faces of others. I have passion to help others because my admission was influenced by friends, except my school fees, which usually come from family members. If I have scholarship, school fees would not be a problem. But, I remain in school because I want to get education to enable me achieve my dreams.”

Does he participate in sport, Martins said: “I used to play football. I usually stayed at the goalpost for my team. But, now I play only table tennis because it is less stressful.”

Paul Ochio, Martins’ roommate, described him as a friend with a kind heart. “Martins is a special roommate and we all take delight in giving him the help he deserves.

He argues and speaks boldly. In fact, there is no dull moment with Martins.”

•aagboa@gmail.com Was there a parallel in history? Yes there was. The lesson from Abraham Lincoln, the American president popularly called “Honest Abe,” is sublime and readily comes to mind.

He had lost elections many times, before fortune smiled at him. For our young readers who are always aiming for an easy and cosy life of luxury without suffering, they can learn from Buhari the lesson of hard work, commitment and determination in pursuing their dreams.

The next lesson is this; no matter what, we all love integrity and it sure does pay. Buhari has a lot to showcase in a land yearning for heroes and justice. Integrity – I must emphasise - does not come cheap; it comes with an enormous prize and takes years of staying the right course to imbibe. Buhari has been almost everything that can be called something in this country: GOC, military governor, petroleum minister, head of state, chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), everything. Yet, he remains a man of modest means.

It was reported that in his last public position as chairman of PTF, he could not afford to send his daughter to school abroad.

So, what did he do? He sold his house in Lagos. I could hear some people shout ‘you that sit atop billions of naira in PTF, why not simply take money from the till?’ Or better still, place a call to one or some PTF contractors, and the problem is solved. Not Buhari. He rather sold his house. Was it in vain? Certainly not as his honesty has now yielded him the presidency. Integrity pays.

Even the deaf and blind know corruption in Nigeria is systemic; it’s an open fact. But like every vice, it must come to a head someday and people will shout enough is

enough. That time is now when it became stifling, almost asphyxiating. To most Nigerians Buhari can chart a new course.

They thus gave him their overwhelming votes to come on another rescue mission, like he did way back in 1983 to our battered system of governance.

Who says integrity doesn’t pay? It is beyond cash, and no one can buy it with all the cash and gold in the world because it is priceless. There are thousands of popular politicians in Nigeria today, so why did the people line up behind Buhari? You know the answer already.

Another key lesson is having the right strategy and approach to issues. In the murky waters of Nigerian politics you need a national platform to win the presidency.

That is what APC has proven. From the onset, Buhari was re packaged, like an evergreen product that can never lose its shine. He was then sold to Nigerians and they need no marketing expert or salesman to urge them to buy, they know the taste already.

Managing success is another lesson. Along the line, the PDP became arrogant, haughty and prideful, boasting that it would rule for 60 years! But, of course, we all know that pride goes before a fall. Buhari, on the other hand, has remained his humble self, never bragging or boasting. He knows life belongs to God and He alone knows tomorrow from today. Those who placed adverts in the papers deriding old age have now buried their heads in shame. They failed to read the mood that Nigerians need a break from the old order.

Taking a firm position on issues and drawing a line on the sand is another lesson.

In essence, be what you say and let people know where you stand. This entails passing the message to your followers that they have to mirror you. The former Niger Delta militants threatened war if President Jonathan loses in a free and fair election; his campaign spokesman, Femi Fani-Kayode, spew out hate speeches continually, and thought it would not boomerang against his principal. First lady Patience Jonathan led the crew from the rear.These people inadvertently mobilised Nigerians against President Jonathan in the process.

One can write an entire book from the Buhari story, but this will suffice for now.

ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADUATES The Nation, Nigeria, in collaboration with African Liberty Organisation for Development (ALOD) and Network for a Free Society (NFS), is calling for entries into the 2015 essay competition.

Details are as follows: Topic: Government regulations and controls are the biggest threat to jobs in Africa today. Discuss using pratical examples Participants must discuss the topic using contemporary examples.

Qualification: Participant must be a student in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, college of education and technical schools) in all African countries. The format of the text should be in Microsoft Word and not more than 1,500 words.

Interested student can visit: www.networkforafreesociety.org for useful background materials on the theme of this contest. Be informed that no participant is allowed to lift materials directly from works of any author and claim to be his/her own. Plagiarism automatically disqualifies any entry, which contains work of another author.

If any text or sentence is copied from another author’s work, it must be shown in quotation marks and writer must credit the original author at the bottom of the paper.

On the first page of the completed essay, participant must write his/her full names, department, and year of study and name of institution. Also include your email address and functional mobile phone number.

All entries should be sent to: adedayo.thomas@gmail.com Entries will be received between March 26 and June 26, 2015. Late entries will not be accepted.

Winners will be announced on July 29, 2015.

PRIZES 1st-George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5-9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19-23, 2015 2nd-Anthony Fisher (Gold Prize): $700 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5-9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19-23, 2015 3rd-Franklin Cudjoe (Silver Prize): $500 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5-9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19-23, 2015 4th- The Nation CAMPUSLIFE (Media Bronze Prize): $300 and scholarship to the 2015 Liberty Camp in Kenya from August 5-9, 2015 OR Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Ghana from August 19-23, 2015 We also have eight consolation prize of $50 each.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

31

CAMPUS LIFE

Community protests against PTI’s recruitment policy Youths of Uvwie, the host community of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, have protested against the alleged marginalisation of their community during a recruitment. GBENGA OJO reports.

A

LL was set for the first semester examination at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, before residents of its host community came on protest. For two days, youths of Uvwie community picketed the campus, demanding the sack of the Principal, Mr Joseph Orukele.

It was 13 days to the examination; management was forced to shut down the school as the demonstrators threatened violence if their demands were not met.

The protesters alleged that the community was sidelined during a recruitment, which they said was against the Local Content Act and Catchment Area Policy of the government. Both laws, they said, provide that residents be considered for staff recruitment and contract in any agency operating in the oilproducing communities of the Niger Delta.

By 5:30am penultimate Wednesday, the youths moved to the school entrance, barricading the ever-busy route. They expressed anger over

the PTI recruitment, claiming that it was against the Local Content Act. Students looked forlorn as the protesters marched on their campus. Those who tried to prevent the protesters, were cautioned by Students’ Union Government (SUG) officials, who believed the move could lead to violence.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions, such as, “Host community demands immediate dismissal of principal and Registrar of PTI”, “PTI principal is a 419” and “Orukele is not qualified as a principal”, among others.

A protester, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said the youths would not accept the modalities of the recruitment, adding: “They denied the community of its lawful quota and our youths who qualified for the jobs were not considered.”

The institute’s Deputy Director of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Alhaji Aliu Yamah, told CAMPUSLIFE that the protesters’ claims were baseless, noting that the school management followed

•Some of the community youths displaying placards during the protest

due process in carrying out the exercise.

All pleas to the protesters to dismantle the barricade at the school entrance were rebuffed. Rather, the angry youths turned the gate to a kitchen where they cooked their meals. Some applicants who came for examination were denied entrance into the campus.

It took the intervention of the Uvwie Local Government Area chairman, Baro Minabowanre, and the SUG president, Akamune Oke, for the protesters to allow the applicants in for their examination.

Akamune told CAMPUSLIFE that shutting down the campus was the only way to prevent students from clashing with the protesting youths. He said some students were already hurling stones at the protesters when he cautioned them. Some, he said, had scaled the school fence for safety. He said since the protesters were adamant to leave the school gate, “there is no reason for the management to keep the school open”.

To pacify the angry youths, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the

management arranged a meeting with members of the community last Wednesday, where the school promised to get back to its host community in two weeks after getting clearance from the Federal Government. The community, it was learnt, agreed with the school.

At the time of this report, the campus was yet to be re-opened.

Akamune advises the students to be prepared for the suspended examination, noting that the examination may start immediately after the matter is resolved by PTI and its host community.

Students’ unionism has returned to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after a 10-year ban. Last week, leaders were elected for the Students’ Union Government (SUG). MIFTAUDEEN RAJI (100-Level Mass Communication) and KELECHI AMAKOH (300-Level English) report.

Back in action I

TS vibrancy and ideological stance endeared it to many students. The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) was an example of how unionism should be run. But, this was 10 years ago before it was axed by the Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe-led management, following a bloody protest.

The then union leaders led students to attack the Vice Chancellor’s Lodge and official residence of the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA). Some properties, including official vehicles, were torched.

It is believed that the protest was hijacked by cultists, who instigated the violence that disrupted the school calendar. In reaction, management proscribed the union.

Successive administrations did not lift the ban but what seems as a semblance of unionism was instituted during the late Prof Adetokunbo Sofoluwe’s tenure, as faculties’ presidents formed a committee to act in students’ interest.

Students were not satisfied, they continued agitations for the restoration of the union. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, has now acceded to their demand.

Last October, the management constituted a 44-man committee to assist the students to draft an operational document upon which the union’s activities will be based. During the last matriculation, the VC announced that management has lifted the ban

•Students waiting to hear the election results

on unionism, eliciting jubilation by students.

Last month, the management inaugurated a 30-member UNILAG Students’ Union Electoral Committee headed by Dr Alabi Soneye of the Department of Geography. The committee, comprising 20 students from all faculties and 10 members of the staff, held election for the union last week.

The election started with the reading of manifestoes at the Sports Cen-

tre Hall, where contestants reeled out their programmes.

The DSA, Prof Tunde Babawale, urged candidates and their supporters to be peaceful.

He said: “This is an opportunity for students to make decision and that decision is very important at this time. The management expects that students will maintain good conduct and we wish them the best as they choose their representatives.”

Last Thursday, students, thronged

the Sports Centre to vote for their candidates.

Accreditation started at 10am. Voting followed at 1pm. The electoral committee adopted a method, stipulating that each candidate must get 10 per cent of total ballots from each faculty.

Nineteen candidates vied for 12 executive positions. All positions were keenly contested.

Abiodun Martins, a student of Science and Technology Education

garnered 599 votes to emerge president. He beat Olalekan Hassan a student of Microbiology and Olushola Oshin, a Law student, who had 330 and 305 votes.

Also elected are Bisoye Akinsulire, Vice President 1; Olufemi Babalola, General Secretary; Olakunle Adegunoye, Public Relations Officer; Oluwatobi Olanisimi, Welfare Secretary 1; Tunji Bello, Assistant General Secretary; Lekan Mustapha, Welfare Secretary II, Enitan Oguntola, Financial Secretary and Taiwo Suleiman, Treasurer.

Others are Michael Opadoja, Social Secretary; Stephanie Etiaka, Sports Director and John James, Internal Auditor.

Dr Soneye cautioned the elected union leaders not to be carried away by the euphoria of their success at the polls, noting that their election was a call for service.

He said: “The just-concluded exercise showed that students’ unionism has returned to UNILAG. The winners have a lot to do to make ensure the union did not toe a violent path. They must partner with the management to keep the school growing in academics and leadership. I believe all the candidates are good students.”

He expressed satisfaction on the conduct of the election, saying the positions were highly contested. He hoped that the emerged leaders would be peaceful in their conduct.

In his acceptance message, Abiodun said: “I thank my colleagues for the confidence reposed in me. I promise that the mandate given to me would be deployed to promote their welfare.”

The swearing-in ceremony is billed to hold today and will be attended by the VC and other top management officers.

2015 polls: Nigerian students meet in London THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

32

CAMPUS LIFE KWASU contest: N2.2m up for grab From Janet Baba KWASU

•The final year students in group photograph during the first day of the seminar

F

INAL year students of Mass Communication of the Federal Polytechnic in Auchi (AUCHI POLY) have held a two-day seminar with the theme: Mass media research in Nigeria.

The event had a large turnout of students, who trooped to the school’s new auditorium, where it held. The final year students on the first day were clad in white and black attires, with purple ties to match. On the second day, they wore native attires.

Their lecturer, Dr John Edemode, who spoke at the event, told the students the need to study literature review properly before embarking on research. He said: “It is necessary

Mass Comm holds seminar From By Sampson Unamka and Richard Obote AUCHI POLY to identify the problem, which a research is being conducted to solve.

Literature review will help to answer the questions raised, identify the kind of materials you are using to conduct your research and indicate if it is relevant to the subject matter.”

On the uniqueness of the seminar, the Head of Mass Communication Department, Mrs Clara Ogbiti, said she saw good potential in the out-

going students, urging them to work hard to become accomplished scholars in the discipline.

“Today, much interest is accorded to research. I want you to know that grants are made available by the Federal Government agencies to embark on scholarly expedition. I believe if students write good proposals, they can get the grants,” Ogbiti said.

She said research would boost students’ knowledge, adding that the world appreciated research.

A lecturer, Dr Wilfred Olley, spoke on the data analysis, during which

he intimated the students on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

He advised the students to purchase the package, saying it would be useful for their academic and financially goals.

The organising committee chairman, Justice Ajulo, hailed participants and members of the committee for making the seminar successful. At the end of the seminar, students issued a communique on the theme and handed it over to their lecturers.

Lecturers, students parley on examination

OAU elects union leaders amid tension

A

MID tension-soaked atmosphere, Students’ Union Government (SUG) elections of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, were held. At the end of the process, Omotayo Akande, a 400-Level Chemical Engineering student, emerged the president after a twoday election.

The elections could not be concluded within the scheduled period, because of logistic challenges. Of the 13 voting centres across faculties, elections could only hold in 10 on the first day. The remaining three centres were postponed to the following day, after which Omotayo was declared winner, having polled 2,650 votes to beat his rival, Seun Fakorede, who garnered 1,520.

Atmosphere on the campus was tense as rumour was rife that the school management had hijacked the process in favour of its candidate.

This made some students to keep vigil when the voting was postponed.

But when Omotayo was announced as winner, the campus erupted in jubilations as students

From Afees Lasisi and Ifeoluwapo Akano OAU

‘Omotayo is the anointed candidate that most of the OAU students want as leader. We want a union that will fight for the collective interests of students and not those who will promote their personal interest and aggrandizement’ danced round the school, chanting Aluta songs. The students saluted the tenacity of the electoral commission, noting that their will to make their

choice prevailed over management’s.

“The outgoing union executive is not vibrant as its predecessors. It has been hijacked by those who are used by politicians to achieve selfish end.

It is a challenge the president-elect must take up to steer the affairs of our union and make it independent,” a student, who gave his name as Sola, said.

Another student, Damilola Atere, said students’ candidate emerged.

“Omotayo is the anointed candidate that most of the OAU students want as leader. We want a union that will fight for the collective interests of students and not those who will promote their personal interest and aggrandizement,” Damilola said.

Other elected union members are Opeyemi Oladunjoye, vice president; Kelvin Oyekan, Assistant General Secretary; Emmanuel Ojedokun, Public Relations Officer; Ayo Ayodeji, Financial Secretary and Yusuf Hamuzat, Welfare Officer, among others.

Omotayo thanked students for voting him as their leader, saying: “I won’t let you down.”

S

TUDENTS of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Television College (TV COLLEGE) in Jos, the Plateau State capital have been thrown into mourning, following the death of a Diploma 1 student, Joan Jerry-Yusuf, who died in a road accident on Abuja highway.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the deceased has since been laid to rest.

The remains of late Joan was conveyed from Jankwano Hospital in Jos to Cocin Church in Kabong for lying-in state. The body was later taken to Zabolo Village on Zaria Road in Jos for interment.

N

From Augustine Anyanwu TV COLLEGE The late Joan’s colleagues attended her funeral rites in their numbers, condoling with her family for the loss.

The father of the deceased, Jerry Yusuf, said his daughter promised to take care of him after her graduation from the college. “My daughter aspired to get a good job as soon as she was done with school and promised to take care of me and help her siblings,” he said.

The late Joan was recently admitted into TV COLLEGE for a Di-

P

ART-TIME students of Mass Communication Department of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) in Ikorodu, last Saturday held a town hall meeting tagged: Students and the examiners.

The event, which held at the department’s auditorium, created a platform for students to understand their obligation and the role of examiners in examination.

The Coordinator, Mr Yemi Arigbabu, said it was becoming a ritual for students to be sent out of examination hall for lack of proper orientation on examination conduct expected of them, stressing that the meeting was meant to address the issue.

He said: “Examiners are not usually tolerant of people, who indulge in malpractices or any form of cheating. I want to enjoin students to take maximum pre-

UI expels 12, suspends 23

College student dies in road accident

•The late Joan

ploma in Television Journalism. Her death came a week after she finished her first semester examination.

STUDENTS with entrepreneurial skills have been called upon to participate in the business plan contest organised by the Kwara State University (KWASU) Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies.

According to its organisers, N2.2million will be won by winners of the contest to maximise and invest in their skills.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the contest sponsor, Sterling Bank Plc, will splash winner of the first prize with N1 million, while runners up will be given N700,000 and N500,000.

The Director of the Centre, Dr Hakeem Ajombadi, said forms are available at all faculties and Administrative Block, urging students with vocational skills to participate.

Ajombadi said evidence of being KWASU student qualifies one to participate, noting that he or she must have a Campus Hype Account with Sterling Bank and must adhere strictly to the rules and instructions guiding the competition.

Ten students, the Director said, would be selected from all the participants for the final challenge and best three proposals would then be selected.

He said the screening of applications began last Tuesday and selected participants had been contacted.

This was followed by mentorship programme last Monday, while the contest starts next Monday. He said presentation of prizes to winners is scheduled for June 6, which coincides with the school convocation.

O fewer than 12 students were expelled from the University of Ibadan (UI) for various offences, ranging from examination malpractice to gross misconduct. A total of 23 students were suspended for one to five semesters for the same offence.

Three students were reprimanded, while two others from the departments of Philosophy and Guidance and Counselling were discharged and acquitted.

This development was contained in the recommendation of the institution’s Central Students’

From Rukayat Jimoh LASPOTECH caution in the examination hall.”

Part-time programme coordinator, Mr Ade Thomas, urged students to imbibe the habit of reading ahead for their tests and examination.

He said: “It is disheartening to note that many students only read their notes on the day of their examination. The practice is not good because it usually encourages them to engage in malpractice.”

Thomas advised supervisors to be circumspect in their approach by following the laid-down procedure without having to send students out of examination hall for cheating.

Another lecturer, Mr Olugbenga Akanmu, enjoined students to approach their lecturers for help at all times.

From Hammed Hamzat UI Disciplinary Committee (CSDC) published by the Directorate of Public Communication of the university.

The document, which was made available to CAMPUSLIFE, showed that out of 43 cases that were decided by the committee, 11 regular students were caught, while 22 Distance Learning Students (DLS) were held for various misconducts.

The committee’s recommendation showed that Department of Guidance and Counselling has the highest number of students held for examination misconduct, followed by Department of Psychology with eight students, all of whom are in DLS programmes.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

33

CAMPUS LIFE Club advises students on hooliganism

Writing picnic for campus journalists

U

NION of Campus Journalists (UCJ) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), last Saturday held a writing workshop for its members.

The event, which held at the school auditorium’s basement, was aimed at sharpening participants’ writing skills and opening their eyes to opportunities in journalism.

The UCJ President, Tiamiyu Taofeek, a 500-Level Animal Production student, told the participants that the workshop was to engage their intellect and passion for telling good stories. He added that the seminar was the group’s way of building students’ capacity.

The union’s Staff Adviser and UNILORIN’s Director of Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Dr Mahfouz Adedimeji, engaged participants in a writing session, encouraging them to read articles of accomplished writers to hone their skills. He told the students how his passion for writing brought him to limelight, saying: “Writing can make you an authority in a particular field. I would have been a nonentity if not for writing.”

Dr L.A. Abdulazeez, chairman, Editorial Board of UNILORIN Bulletin and a Mass Communication lecturer, taught the participants

From Tosin Adelegan ADO POLY

T

HE Federal Polytechnic, AdoEkiti (ADO POLY) chapter of Junior Chamber International (JCI) has sensitised students on the ongoing general elections, advising them against being used by politicians as political thugs.

The club took the campaign round the campus, starting from the Faculty of Engineering to Halls of Residence.

Led by its President, Ayala Ogunniyi, an HND 1 Civil Engineering student, members of the club carried placards with inscription, such as “No politician is worth dying for”, “Protect your future, say no to election violence”, “Youths are the future”, among others.

The club sensitised their colleagues on why they needed not to die for any politician, advising them to stay away from electoral violence before, during and after elections.

Speaking, Ayala said the purpose of the rally was to change the orientation of students on electoral conduct. He said: “Every student must vote, because that is our obligation.

But, we must not engage in violence while we try to exercise our franchise. We must value our lives; it is only when we are alive that we can achieve our dream.”

•The club members speaking to students during the campaign

•Prof Zuru presenting a medal to one of the winners

M

EMBERS of British Council at the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have organised a track and field competition for male and female students. The race was divided into 100 meters, which had male and female participants, 4x100 meters for male and 200 meters for male and female.

The event, which was graced by guests, including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdullah Zuru, Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Dr Adamu Aliero, Dean of Post-graduate

T

HE legislative arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has congratulated the winner of the March 28 presidential elections and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory at the polls.

In a statement jointly signed by the NANS Senate President, Odoh Ochai and his deputy, Oluwasegun Famuyibo, in Ado Ekiti, the students’ body hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting what it described as free and fair election.

The statement reads in part: “On behalf of the National Association of Nigerian Students’(NANS) senate, we congratulate Gen.

From Abdulazeez Bashir and Olabisi Jelilat UNILORIN how to write news reports. The scholar made the session interactive for participant to get the salient feature of news writing.

He said passion made students in other disciplines take interest in journalism, saying some of the best writers in the country did not pass through the school of journalism.

He encouraged participants to read extensively and study the dictionary to make their articles understandable.

In his motivational talk, Dr Faoziyah Suleiman, a Biochemistry lecturer and author, inspired the trainees with her success story as an author.

Speaking on freelance writing and blogging, Muhammad Abdullah, the founder of Naija Writers’ Coach, an online media, took the participants on how they could start profitable freelance writing and blogging career. He shared his experience with the trainees, revealing how he started using his Nokia phone.

Some of the participants, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, described the workshop as intellectually stimulating, praising the organisers for the opportunity.

•Other winners displaying their medals

British Council organises contest for students From Yasin Olawumi UDUS School and lecturers, among others, held last Saturday at the university stadium.

Prof Zuru, in his remark, hailed the British Council for the track event, noting that it would give participants opportunity to exercise their muscle and relax despite busy academic schedule on

the campus. He urged the group to always inform the management about the yearly event for the school to make necessary arrangement and accept the contest as part of activities in the school.

Dr Aliero said: “Student need this kind of event to build up courage for any event or task in and outside the school. They need to prepare for challenges in all sporting activities, because we can discover

talents that will make the school proud among the participants.”

Before the participants were allowed on the field, medical examination was carried out on them in the school clinic to know their eligibility for the race.

Medals were presented to winners in various categories. The 100 meters (male category) was won

by Isaac Samuel; Muhammad Ismail won the 200 meters (male

category).

The 100 meters (female category) medal went to Blessing Lukuna, while 200 meters was won by Victoria Olanrewaju. In 4x100 (male) group, Ishola Shehu won gold medal. Other winners are Abubakar Rabiu and Yahyah Mustapha.

Ishola, a 200-Level Political Science student, said he was happy to win gold medal in the race. He appreciated the British Council for organising the competition. He urged the group to sustain the event.

NANS, medical students greet Buhari From Eddy Uwoghiren and Yakubu Temitope UNIBEN, ADO POLY Mohammadu Buhari on his victory in the presidential election. In as much as we see the election as the beginning of a true democracy in our beloved country, we also implore the president-elect to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship as displayed

by President Goodluck Jonathan and allow total democracy to take root in Nigeria. We urge Gen. Buhari to sustain the freedom of speech being part of tenets of participatory democracy.”

The association legislators also

•‘INEC has proved its independence’ saluted the courage of President Jonathan for putting the wellbeing of Nigeria above his personal ambition. The senate leaders urged students to continue to be peaceful in the remaining elections.

In similar vein, the National Association of University Student (NAUS) and Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA) have hailed the doggedness of the president-elect, saying his triumph at the polls demonstrated his fighting spirit.

NAUS National President, Jonathan Adekunle, a student of Ekiti State University (EKSU), said the elections have taught the nation some lessons in leadership and interest.

He praised President Jonathan for conceding defeat and congratulating his rival even before the official announcement of results by the electoral body.

NAUS praised students for their peaceful conducts and attitude before, during and after the elections,

stressing that INEC had proved itself to be independent.

NiMSA national president, Muritala Seriki, hailed Gen. Buhari for his resilience and determination, despite being defeated in past elections.

His words: “We rejoice not for Buhari’s victory, but for the powerful wind of change that Nigerians collectively clamoured for. This is only a start as Nigeria will shake the world. As for our expectations, we really hope APC government will invest in healthcare and fund Nigerian medical schools better.”

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

34

CAMPUS LIFE Awolowo Hall at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, was agog last Saturday for Aro (comical display) Day organised by the residents. AFEES LASISI (300-Level Political Science) reports.

A date with tradition A

RO has become an enduring tradition at the Awolowo Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in IleIfe, Osun State. It is a comic display in which students crack jokes about realities of campus life.

The tradition has been sustained for years, and for residents of the hall, Aro Day helps to relieve themselves of academic stress.

Last Saturday, Awolowo Hall was agog for the event. This time, the day was marked with the favourite meal in the hall - beans.

Students contributed money to buy a bag of beans, rice and beef to entertain themselves. They woke up early to prepare the food. Rice was added to the delicacy, following its demand by some students.

The meal was cooked in a large metal pot in an open area within the hall.

By 2pm, the food was ready and students lined up with their containers to collect the food. Some were served in plates while others brought small pots, bathroom buckets, bowls and trays, among others.

The exercise almost turned rowdy when a student, dressed in female clothes, threatened to beat up one of the cooks for serving him a small meat. He threatened: I go eat wetin dey inside the pot if you no find meat for me, biko.

After the meal, students trooped to the celebration venue - Awo Cafe – for music entertainment by mem-

•Some students eating beans from their bowls

bers of the Kegite Club. Female students were not left out; some of them joined the gyration at the cafe.

One after the other, students came out to crack jokes about themselves and their lecturers.

Bayo Owolabi, a fresher, was amused by the hilarity of the event.

He noted that his experience was not different from what he had been told before his admission into the school.

“I had heard about Aro Day before I got admitted into OAU and everything that happened confirmed what I heard. Students speaking different languages came together to dance and sing. This, in my observation, is the message of

the event.”

To Ola Adeola, Aro Day is a period of madness. “The day we are free to abuse anyone and joke about our poor grades without exchanging blows,” he said.

Ola had travelled, but his colleagues informed him of the event.

“I rushed back to school this morning to share my own madness,” he added.

Sogo Ayoade, a 200-Level Public Administration student, said: “Aro and Ewa (bean) Day has become a tradition for not just the occupants of Awolowo Hall, but all students of OAU. We are celebrating real madness on campus and it unites us more than any other thing.”

A female student, Sade Bajo, who entertained the boys with her erotic dance, said: “I left my hostel to be here because I always love any event that is held in Awolowo Hall.”

Aro Day, said Tayo Adewale, signifies an important day in the history of the university. It unites and makes all students equal, irrespective of their levels of study, he said.

“I was served ewa inside a bucket and I will eat it for two days,” Yemi Adeagbo, a 300-Level student, said, adding that the event always reminded him of his friends who could not afford three square meals daily.

He said: “For us, it is a time to share what we have in terms of food and money. Any student is free to eat

from the food we cooked whether he contributed money or not. We do this to show that we are all colleagues whether we come from rich or poor homes.”

“Aro Day is the funniest day I ever witnessed on the campus. I see it as a day when students display maturity and socialise among themselves. We crack jokes on what may be a bad or embarrassing situation for us. Yet, nobody would feel too big or too small to be mocked because we see ourselves as equals. Rather making us to be divided, Aro makes the bond of friendship between us thicker,” Segun Alao, a student of English said.

Honour for the ‘righteous’ Members of the National Fellowship of Foursquare Students (NaFFS) have held their yearly congress. It was tagged Righteousness. Some members of the church were given leadership awards at the event, reports OPEOLUWA SONUGA (500-Level Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife).

V

ICE-Chancellor (VC) of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof Bamitale Omole has added another feather to his cap. He received a legacy award in leadership and administration from the National Fellowship of Foursquare Students (NaFFS) of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria at the Global Students’ Congress at the Foursquare Camp in Ajebo, Ogun State.

The congress is a yearly camping of Foursquare Church youths. The four-day event, with the theme: Righteousness featured sessions on leadership, relationship, nation building and career counselling.

Speakers at the event included the General Overseer of The church, Reverend Felix Meduoye, and his wife, Reverend Olubisi; the Vice President-elect, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Mr Femi Adesina; National Director of Foursquare Home Missions Reverend Abayomi Oyinloye and Deacon Kehinde Lawanson, chairman of Tunde Lemo Foundation, among others.

Presenting the legacy award, the NaFFS national coordinator, Pastor Sam Adebowale, said the honour was the fellowship’s way of appreciating accomplished individuals in the church. He applauded the humility and sacrifice of the awardees, enjoining students to emulate them. He said the awardees were chosen based on their achievements, noting that they are consid-

ered to be righteous in their callings.

The awardees include Prof Omole, who is also a pastor in the church; Pastor Bola Gbalajobi, the founding president of NaFFS and Rev. Meduoye.

The congress featured a family meeting, chaired by NaFFS president, Ayomikun Akintayo and secretary, Bukola Oyetade.

The meeting started with the presentation of a report of their stewardship in the last one year, including the development reports on campus fellowships.

This was followed by a question-and-answer session, where they sought clarification on recent changes in the leadership and administration of the fellowship.

The absence of the senior pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, as speaker at the event, generated interest among members. Pastor Oyeniran apologised for his failure to get Adeyemi’s consent before making public the event.

Oyeniran said he was informed a few days to the congress about Adeyemi’s inability to attend. He said some of the speakers were informed about the event since last year, noting that it was not intentional to use “big names” to pull crowd to the event.

Other highlights included the appreciation and presentation of awards and certificate to the national leadership of the NaFFS. They are Ayomikun, Oyetade, the con-

•Reverend Meduoye (second left) presenting the award plaque to Prof Omole (third right) at the event.

gress chairman, Olasunkanmi Alabi, Sisters Coordinator, Omotolani Adebowale, Financial Secretary and Osun State Coordinator, Bukola Aloba, Public Relations Officer, Olaoluwa Ogunmusesan, Treasurer, Motunrayo Omolasan, Choir Director, Busayo Ogunbayo, Drama Co-ordinator, Folashade Osho, Transport Secretary, Dayo Morenigbade, and Information Technology co-ordinator, Oluwatosin Soremekun.

Others were state co-ordinators, Alfred

Ebiloma (Kwara), Emeka Onyebuchi (Edo), Oluwafemi Williams (Oyo), Mayokun Aderemi (Ekiti), Adewunmi Adebomehin (Delta), ThankGod Ashimi (Kogi), Opeyemi Abifarin (Ogun), Joshua Olowolaju (Lagos), Tobilola Aduloju (Ondo) and Northern states co-ordinator, Segun Okunjemiruwa.

Some participants described the event as spiritually refreshing, noting that it also enabled them to engage in academic networking.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

35

CAMPUS LIFE

Now that Change is here

By Samson Uwala

T

O many a Nigerian, March 28 will stick indelibly to their memory. It was the day the will of the majority prevailed on the expectation of minority and the powers that be. In a process largely seen as free and fair, a powerful incumbent was voted out of power, and opposition took over the central government. This is the first time in history of Nigeria.

Although, the presidential and National Assembly elections may

J

UST like countries where there are universities and degreeawarding institutions, they are organisations, either private or public, accorded the constitutional duty of coordinating and managing the affairs of those institutions.

The major objective, of course, is for the universities to flourish, impart learning and character and, ultimately, improve the human condition. Nigeria prides in one: the National Universities Commission (NUC).

This body was established in 1962 to oversee the universities and other institutions. The NUC is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Education and in its 53 years of existence, the commission has transformed significantly from a small and scanty bureau in the Cabinet Office to an important agency of the government in the development and management of university education.

NUC, inter alia, plays the following pivotal roles: granting approval for academic programmes in universities, giving approval for the establishment of all higher educational institutions offering degree programmes in universities, ensuring quality assurance of academic programmes in universities and a channel for all external support to

E

ARPIECE or earphone is not just a fashionable accessory; it is a device used by Disco Jockey to balance musical sound and notes. In communication, it is used by many people to isolate noise from the process of exchanging messages. In the media, journalists transcribe audio message with the aid of earphone, especially from midget or recording device.

In noisy environment, earphone or earmuff is used to reduce the effect of the noise. And it is moderately used to listen to music without disturbing anyone.

But, looking round public places and higher institutions, it is a common sight to see young people, especially students with earphones, firmly plugged to their ears and listening to loud music blaring therefrom. They nod to the rhythm vibrating from the accessory as they walk down busy roads or streets.

Many of these people do not know the danger posed by their action. Apart from exposing them

have come and gone, but the subtle lesson the elections taught us must not be lost. For many, it was a sweet period for the nation as the event signaled an improvement in our electoral process. It was also observed that such important elections were held without bloodshed. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost to All Progressives Congress (APC) after 16 years in power. The majority of Nigerians voted for change and the results reflected the wishes of the people without interference from any quarter.

The polls were said to be free, fair and credible, especially by local and international observers, but there were hitches that surrounded the process, which the electoral body - Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) - ought to rectify before the next round of elections slated for Saturday. It was observed that introduction of card readers by the umpire delayed accreditation exercise during the elections, because some of the devices were faulty and could not display information of voters on time. Also, the late arrival of electoral officers and materials are among other hitches seen in the last election.

The people’s will to change the

government to what they deserve may have been responsible for their resilience to vote against all odd. But, would the elected leaders respect this historic message of Nigerians?

The political office holders must be mindful of their behaviour while in office, because they have may have cause to meet the people against in another four years.

Given the change that happened at the central government, it goes to show that electorate would hold public officers responsible to every error they commit while in power.

Anyone who does not go back to the people will not be re-elected because this election has set a good precedent for us to follow.

The president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as military Head of State, has had his past and his present achievements may have been product of his past. Some praised his iron-fist regime for reducing corruption and promote discipline in public. Others condemned him for his draconian policies, which sent many offenders to jail. Whether good or bad, Buhari’s 1984 regime became a good reference point in the history of this nation.

But, the questions to be asked are: what should we expect in his demo-

cratic government? Will there be changes from his iron-fist past?

Will there still be zero tolerance for looting and economic sabotage? Will there be revolutionary changes in oil sector? These and many more questions may have come to minds of many Nigerian, but anyone who listened to Buhari’s acceptance speech will know that he is ready to work.

The General still detest corruption as he did in the 1980s. He said his democratic administration corruption will not tolerate sleaze in any form. He promised to tackle insecurity like he fought a dangerous sect called Maitatsine in 1984.

He also promised to generate immediate employments to tackle youth restiveness and rid the nation of crime.

We must be ready to support the new government, because we are having a leader who we can call our own. Buhari introduced a guideline to proffer sensible solutions to myriad of challenges, because since the republic started 16 years ago, there has not been a leader that is prepared for the leadership position in this country. If someone purposely draws a developmental plan to implement before winning election, there is possibility that such

A word for NUC

By Sani Isah the universities.

It is necessary to point out that NUC is performing below expectation. This can be deduced from the fact that the commission is regressing rather than progressing.

The report of the recently conducted study by the Times Higher Education’s World University Ranking, titled: World University Ranking 2013-2014 made it clear because none of the over 100 Nigerian universities made the list of 400 top universities in the world.

But three South African universities made it. This is a serious indictment on a nation which prides itself as a continent’s giant. Also, out of the 100 most reputable universities in the world, no African university made the list. This is quite unfortunate, a sad, shameful and painful incident as well as a challenge that must be drastically addressed.

At present, the global impression is that our educational certificates or degrees are of no value and that the country cannot provide good

university education that can match other world universities. But it is a pertinent question that still lingers in the minds of most Nigerians: what is the NUC doing with this discovery?

The fault may be attributed to the government due to its lackadaisical attitudes and negligence of the education sector but attitudes of the NUC count much more in this case of university education collapse.

Taking the third function of the commission, which is premised on ensuring quality assurance of academic programmes offered in universities, we cannot admit that quality has been maintained so far. Otherwise, many of our universities should be soaring to high heavens.

Basically, NUC is the source of all these problems because where it is supposed to act seriously, it does not. And one wonders if the agency lacks autonomy to paddle its own canoe. Why this skepticism? Some of the practices of our institutions are, at best, disgusting. Take, for instance, a case where a professor at Bayero University, Kano, who was awarded professorship of another

discipline other than his primary constituency. That is laughable and only makes mockery of our system.

The man first obtained professorship in Biological Science Education and later in Media and Cultural Communication. May I ask: what is the line of connection between the two disciplines? The parallel lines are so wide. The only but flimsy excuse put forward was that the man has passion and interest in the second discipline because he has ventured into research and presented papers in the latter discipline. This act is rarely seen in the countries that have advanced educationally. Why would you give a man what he has not worked for?

The implication is that the man does not have sound background knowledge whatsoever in the second discipline he is awarded professorship. And, of course, this will mar the Nigeria’s struggle to attain the glory it wants to accomplish in the education sector of producing good and useful graduates who can stand shoulder-high at the global stage. The professor has nothing to offer his students because he is not

leader would achieve his aim. It is unlike a leader who draws his plan after winning elections.

Buhari’s plan is titled: Covenant with Nigerians and the presidentelect worked out strategy on how he would cause changes in major sectors, such as education, power, sports and agriculture and health. With these, it is important for Nigerians to try as much as possible to get a copy of this plan to read and look for ways to support the APC government.

Buhari’s campaign team spent good time telling us about change. We should let them know that there won’t be any room for excuses for Buhari and his disciples if they fail to deliver on their promises. If, in the next four years, he has not reduced key challenges facing the nation, we would be right to look for solution elsewhere as we did for President Goodluck Jonathan.

Finally, though hard times might be ahead but such juncture also presents Nigeria the opportunity to re-assess its priorities and opportunities. Nigeria can be great but our good actions and contribution are needed to make it happen.

• Samson, ND II Journalism, NIJ Lagos an expert in the field. Indeed, the act betrays professionalism and specialisation. While it is categorically stated by NUC that no one should be awarded professor in a field of study unless he has a minimum of two degrees in the field - Masters and PhD, the man in this case has not even a diploma in the field. Yet, NUC has done nothing about that, despite the devastating problems it may cause. Such laxity undermines the quality of teaching as well as tarnishes the image of not only the universities but the country at large.

Another great cause for concern is that during accreditation, the NUC staff seem to forget their thinking caps and neglect due diligence. By now, Nigerian universities should have advanced, especially in academic and infrastructure. Yet, management misuses the institution’s resources and forget to build infrastructure. And instead of sanction, NUC gives them a pat on the back.

That is not how to make our educational system a reference point in the comity of world universities.

I urge the NUC to sit up and work assiduously so that our universities would reclaim their lost glory and become a veritable hub of civilisation and development.

• Sani, Mass Comm., NSUK

Use of earphone and its effect to the risk of being knocked down by vehicle, it is also dangerous to the ear and poses great risk to health.

Listening to music with earphones is not a problem but when both ears are exposed to audible sound, the eardrum is damaged gradually and such person may eventually go deaf. Often time, many youths are carried away by the music and they won’t hear vehicle honking at them to stay away from the road. In the process, they get hit.

Medical researches show that an earphone is liable to cause impairment in hearing as a result of constant exposure to loud music. Hearing loss has a devastating consequence for physical and mental health. It can also slow down one’s education.

Most students are fond of using

earphones while going to classes.

Some listen to music during lecture hours and some usually have earpieces on while they are asleep. Little did they know that using the earphone while walking, jogging and driving could lead to distraction, which can in turn result in preventable accident.

The crux of the matter is that, the World Health Organisation (WHO) found out that millions of teenagers and young adults are at the risk of impairment in hearing due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices, including smart phones and exposure to damaging level of sound at noisy environment.

More so, sharing earpieces with others is unhygienic because the accessory has capacity to collect a user’s earwax and deposit in another user’s ears. This earwax

could also affect the quality of sound hitting the eardrum and produces unclear sound.

Although the WHO recommends that the teenagers and young people can better protect their ears by keeping the sound volume down when wearing earphones or headphones, students and young people who have obsession for earphones can use the accessory in a safe and comfortable environment; not when they are walking on the road or crossing the highway. Road safety is not limited to motorists alone, pedestrians must also ensure their safety because distraction can come from anywhere.

Parents, teachers, school authorities and the government should embark on awareness on the danger of blocking both organ of hearing while walking on the road and the negative effects of listening to

By Fredrick Umukoro loud music which could cause damage to the eardrum. If possible, the use of earphone on the road should be banned.

•Fredrick is a student of AUCHI POLY, Edo State

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

36

CAMPUS LIFE

Don hails Jonathan’s sportsmanship

A

POLITICAL scientist, Prof Aloysius Okolie, has hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for his sportsmanship by conceding defeat in the last presidential elections.

Okolie, a senior lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said the president’s resolve to call All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, made him a true democrat, who should be emulated by African leaders.

His words: “Jonathan has set a good example in African politics and his action showed that Nigeria’s fledgling democracy is edging towards maturity. It is unbelievable that this could happen in Africa, where leaders fight with last ounce of their blood to keep their political position.

“That a powerful president conceded to defeat immediately indicated that democracy is gradually taking root in Nigeria. I commend Jonathan‘s spirit of sportsmanship and urged other African leader to emulate his good example.”

Okolie stressed that the loss by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential elections must be a lesson for politicians, saying no matter the position of anyone in leadership, people could remove him through the power of ballot.

“This is a clear message for elected public

From Oladele Oge UNN officers, who have been denying their people dividends of democracy. They must avoid being disgraced out of office by electorate,” he said.

The political scientist, however, attributed Jonathan’s failure to get majority votes in some Northern states during the elections to “highlevel conspiracy” by those the president thought were working for him.

“Some PDP big wigs and governors in the North conspired and betrayed President Jonathan in the election. The inability of Jonathan to win in states like Jigawa, Kaduna where his vice president comes from, and Bauchi, the home of PDP national chairman, is a testimony of conspiracy and sabotage by PDP members in those states,” he said.

Okolie urged the president-elect to see his election as an act of God and people’s desire to stop the ills in the country. He advised Gen. Buhari to carry everybody along irrespective of political affiliation, religion and tribe to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

“I will advise Gen. Buhari to select team of technocrats and people with good track records rather than mediocre to work with him. He must avoid using ministerial appointments as political compensation to those who supported his campaigns,” Okolie said.

On and Off Campus By Solomon Izekor 08061522600

•Rebecca speaking at the event.

We are not aliens, physically challenged students cry out

A

N empowerment programme organised by Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Campus Club at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State turned an emotion-filled session when Miss Rebecca Umorhen narrated the struggles physically-challenged students face in the society.

Fighting back tears, Rebecca decried the neglect, loss of affection, lack of care and stigmatisation against students living with disabilities.

Her words: “We are despised wherever we find ourselves. Our fellow students think of us as aliens. At social functions, our siblings and family members introduce us as friends. We can’t play with others when they are playing. We don’t even think of marrying or getting married as people find us unattractive. We suffer neglect and stigmatisation in virtually all facets of life. Most times, we find this life unbearable. It was never our choice to be created or to be put in these conditions we find ourselves today.”

Rebecca reminded the society that the physically-challenged are human beings created by God and deserve to be treated with respect and love. The 300-Level Mass Communication student, who spoke on behalf of over 40 physically-challenged students, maintained that they also have

Faculty honours ‘baby lawyers’

T

HE Faculty of Law of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in AgoIwoye, Ogun State has held a valedictory service for its outgoing students. The event was aimed at building a culture of cooperation and responsibility among the students.

The event was attended by the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Abimbola Mukthar, Senior Special Adviser to Oyo State Government on Media, Mr Dejo Adebisi and the ViceChancellor, Prof Saburi Adesanya, represented by Prof Mojisola Ogungbe, among others.

The Dean of the faculty, Prof Olusesan Oluyide, said the occasion served as a sendoff for the students and a platform to recognise their sacrifices.

The event also featured lecture titled: Ethics of legal profession, delivered by the faculty’s

By Franklin Onwubiko vision and prospects, stressing that they deserved equal right and fair treatment like normal persons.

She urged people to have a rethink and engage the physically-challenged fairly.

She pleaded with government and school authorities to pay adequate attention to their plight, noting that they could not assess scholarship and incentive to make them get education and employment opportunities as graduates.

The founder and outgoing president of the club, Onyekachi Nwankwo, said the club decided to empower the physicallychallenged in the school to give them a sense of hope and belonging as members of the university community.

Onyekachi described them as special students whose zeal and determination to succeed should serve as source of inspiration to other students. He noted that the club was poised to affecting the lives of every student in the school positively.

He frowned at the way people treated the physically-challenged persons, arguing that society must accord people living with disabilities some respect and not treating them badly.

The Ambassador urged the students to remain determined and believe in themselves. High point of the occasion was the presentation of gifts to the students.

From Sanya Boluwatife OOU alumni, Mr Niyi Oladunni and Mr Bunmi Oshifeso.

Miss Aminat Dakeje, the best graduating student, in her speech, described her set as new babies of the faculty, advising her colleagues not to accept impossibilities as answer to their challenges.

Those who distinguished themselves in their studies were honoured. They included Aminat, Oludare Onakoya and Gold Ikebugwu. They got awards of academic excellence. Also, Fadeke Abimbola, Abimbola Suninubi and Gold also got awards of leadership, while John Simon got an award on philanthropy and humanitarian service.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Gold gave God the glory for the honour, saying: “I have experienced good and bad, but I thank God I have scaled through. I also feel fulfilled being one of the awardees in my class.”

Oludare said his stay on campus was interesting. “I faced so many challenges in the school, but I give thanks to God for surmounting them,” he said.

37

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

EDUCATION

How to improve indigenous products, by don

W

ITH the United Kingdom barring up to 42 products manufactured in Nigeria from its markets for poor quality, a professor has advised Nigerian manufacturers to automate their manufacturing.

Umana Thompson Itaketo, an inventor and the first Professor of Electrical/Control Engineering at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), gave the advice at the 43rd Inaugural Lecture of the varsity.

He spoke on "Addressing the quagmire of poor quality products in Nigeria's process industries through applied systems instrumentation, automation and control" .

Itaketo said some Nigerians prefer foreign products to indigenous ones due to the poor quality of the later. He attributed the poor quality to the low quality of raw materials, components of the products or faulty manufacturing and processing methods.

With a good percentage of the materials of products being natural, Itaketo said manufacturing or processing procedures are mostly responsible for poor quality products.

To solve the problem, the Instrumentation and Automation expert advocated the adoption of 'reversed engineering procedure’, adding that this is would enable the country bridge the inequality between her products and the foreign ones.

He also said standards set for the manufacturing or processing of any product should be automated, warning that partial automation or manual implementation could affect quality.

He said: "A good number of the manufacturing firms in the country are still running their operations manually or semi-manually while quite a few are running

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

theirs at 100 percent automation.

Whether operations are run manually or semi-manually, the result could still be poor quality products because of lack of effective implementation of government legislations for industries to produce top-grade products; financial position of the establishment involved; technical complexity of the equipment; fear of inability to obtain spare parts due to location of industries and fear of job losses if automation takes over all stages of the production process. All these fears are at the expense of good quality products."

The don cited low quality products as: iron rods, moulded blocks

used in buildings construction, dry cells (batteries) for radios, locallymanufactured batteries for automobiles, among others.

Itaketo said for manufactured goods to be standardised, systems instrumentation, automation and control must be applied as it is in advanced societies.

The lecturer blamed the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for failing to implement set standards, saying it is the reason manufacturers get away without being sanctioned for inferior products.

He said if SON could establish and sustain yearly awards for "Best Quality Products for the Year" and provide incentives for winners, it

could spur others up to improve upon the quality of their products.

Itaketo advised manufacturing organisations to budget for the procurement of high-tech auto equipment for effective and accurate control of their production operations and application of "cutting-edge" technology in their operations as their counterparts in other countries.

The UNIUYO Vice Chancellor, Prof Comfort Ekpo, regretted the near absence of quality in indigenous products, blaming the authorities for the ugly situation.

"If government agencies, such as SON enforces its regulations as it should, Nigeria will get better," she said.

52 Blind MTNF beneficiaries graduate

F

IFTY-TWO blind students who benefited from the MTN Foundation Scholarship have graduated from the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State.

The graduands were awarded the scholarship after undergoing the selection conducted across the country.

The scholarship covered tuition and book allowances for one year, and was renewable after maintaining a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.5.

The MTN Foundation Scholarship Scheme for Blind Students is aimed at providing academic scholarship annually to eligible blind students in accredited public tertiary insti-

By Toyin Adeleye

tution across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.

In its fourth phase, MTNF has awarded scholarships to 451 new and returning awardees. Under the scheme, each beneficiary receives scholarship worth N200, 000 yearly.

The Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma, represented by Akinolu Oludiran, MTN’s Regional Trade Marketing Manager, Southwest, praised the students for their resilience.

Specifically, he charged them to take advantage of the employability skills they received from MTNF as they pursue other goals in life.

“We enhanced Phase Three of the scheme by including an employability training, which will prepare the beneficiaries for the labour market on graduation. The workshop content included, contemporary ICT skills, JAWS Software training, motivational talks and employment opportunities for blind students,” he said.

A beneficiary, Oluwatoyosi Lawal, thanked the Foundation for enabling him and his fellow awardees to complete his studies.

According to Lawal, the scholarship availed him the opportunity to compete favourably with his sighted mates.

Entries for contest open

C

IMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), has invited entries from undergraduates in universities, polytechnics and monotechnics to participate in this year's CIMA Global Business Challenge (GBC).

The GBC is an international business competition hosted in conjunction with Barclays Bank in 26 countries.

This is the first time that Nigeria will compete in this competition.

The national winning teams will travel to Warsaw, Poland, in August to compete in the global final for the title of GBC Global Winners.

CIMA offers an international qualification in management accountancy and is the world's leading and largest professional body of management accountants with over 227,000 members and students in 179 countries.

Full-time undergraduate students with a passion for business and finance are invited to register as teams of four online for the Nigeria GBC challenge by April 17.

They would analysing a case study based on CIMA's test of professional competence and submit a 3,000 word report by April 28.

Four teams would be selected for the Nigerian final in Lagos on May 30, this year.

Country Manager, CIMA, Ijeoma Anadozie, said: "We have experienced a positive response from our initial discussions with universities and are expecting to receive hundreds of registrations for the competition. The teams then need to ensure that their reports are submitted on time for assessment and marking so that the shortlist of competing teams for the national final can be announced. Last year's GBC Global Finals held in Mumbai showcased talents from 24 teams."

KWARAPOLY FILE Awards for rector, poly KWARA State Polytechnic (KWARAPOLY), Ilorin has been adjudged the most ethically responsible polytechnic in Nigeria by the Centre for Ethics Self Value Orientation.

The Rector, Mas’ud Elelu, also received the “Ambassador of Ethics and Conscience” award.

Presenting the awards to the Rector and the Registrar, Mr Moses Salami, President of the centre, Prince Salihu Yakubu, said the leadership of the poly justified its selection, noting that it blocked loopholes for frittering funds.

He added that the centre has so far evaluated 38 polys in the country and found the leadership of KWARAPOLY to be upright.

He said: “We have assessed up to 38 polytechnics from all over Nigeria and discovered that this Polytechnic is blessed with leaders who are not self centered and corrupt.

We salute your efforts, dogged and determination to bring back the lost glory of the Polytechnics in Nigeria.”

Dons present research THE Kwara Poly Rector, Alhaji Mas’ud Elelu, has praised two lecturers for their research.

At the presentation by Beki Daud Owolabi and Ajadi Bolakale Saheed, Elelu advised other staff members to come up with researches that could add value to knowledge and community development.

He said research is an academic activity that would widen the horizon of academics as well as expose the polytechnic positively.

The Rector also urged the organisers of the event (Staff Development and Orientation Committee) to invite relevant stakeholders whenever such presentations are to take place.

Owolabi presented a research on “Comparative Analysis of Plantation of six Varieties of Rice”, while Saheed worked on: “Effect of Effluents Discharge on Public Health in Ilorin Metropolis”.

New engineering courses coming •Prof Sola Fajana, Vice Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State(fourth right); the Registrar, Mr Wale Aderibigbe (third left), Dr Olufemi Arifalo, Dean, College of Law (second right); and other workers receiving law books donated by Mr Olajide Olakanmi, CEO of PANAF Chambers, Abuja (third right.

Rectors may boycott firms for discrimination against HND holders •LASPOTECH graduates 7,022 today

T

HE Committee of Heads (COHEADS) of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology are set to tackle discrimination against polytechnic graduates in the private sector.

Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Dr Abdulazeez Lawal, said the Committee had resolved to withdraw businesses from organisations such as banks and insurance companies.

Reacting to the HND/BSc dichotomy during a press conference ahead of the institution's 23rd Convocation, Lawal said: "We are looking at how to close the gap. One of the agitation of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) was the dichotomy issue. Government has set up a panel and we are expecting the report.

"At COHEADS level, we also deliberated on this and noted that the discrimination is not peculiar to public service. Some private insti-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

tutions also discriminate.

"We have decided to take a number of steps. Where we see such clear discrimination, like in the banks or insurance sector, we may not patronise them again. We will withdraw our funds."

Lawal said though polytechnics have been scrapped in many developed countries they can still function effectively in Nigeria without discrimination.

"As we are moving in line with theory, the university will conduct research, give us the outcome and then we translate them into innovation. And that is why polytechnics will remain. All we need is for government to remove the discrimination," he said.

At today's convocation, 7,022 fulltime and part-time students who have undergone National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma

(HND) programmes would graduate from the polytechnic.

The Rector said they would be presented with their certificates same day - a first in the history of the 37-year old institution. The convocation would serve as the last to be convened by the rector, whose four-year tenure ends in June.

Lawal said the polytechnic expanded in terms of programmes, facilities and improved on welfare and manpower development. Regarding facilities, the rector said a lot of renovations and constructions have been done on the three campuses of the institution in Ikorodu, Isolo and Surulere.

He added that with the increment in the number of lecturers sponsored for their PhDs locally and internationally, the academic culture of the polytechnic is set to further improve.

Activities to mark the convocation included: prayer sessions for the graduands, convocation lecture, and variety show.

THE KWARA POLY management is set to introduce three new engineering programmes in the Institute of Technology.

Receiving the executive members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Elelu said the new courses are: Welding and Fabrication Technology, Chemical Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering. They will offered at the National Diploma (ND) level.

Elelu, however, appealed to the NSE officials to challenge members to share their knowledge with the students.

“We will be looking forward to see how you will be impacting knowledge to our students free of charge and we shall also partner with the Nigerian Society of Engineers in their efforts to make Nigerian great,” he said.

NSE Chairman, Kwara State Branch, Mr Abolarin Thomas, thanked the polytechnic management for supporting the society by building capacity of members through seminars and workshops and international training.

Abolarin, who teaches at the polytechnic, also said his emergence as chairman, the first to emerge from the poly in the 40-year history of the NSE branch, was a victory for the institution.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

38

CAMPUS LIFE ELIZADE VARSITY FILE

Doctors’ wives praise varsity WIVES of medical doctors have described the establishment of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, as a remedy for the falling education standard in Nigeria.

The doctors’ spouses gave the description during their visit to the varsity as part of activities marking the Annual General Meeting and International Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN).

The women, who were amazed by facilities in the varsity, urged parents to stop sending their children abroad to study, arguing that teenagers are prone to influence that could corrupt their morale.

They spoke through the Chairman, Conference Protocol Sub-Committee, Dr. Ade Tade.

They met with the Founder, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo and Chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Sylvester Adegoke.

According to Chief Ade-Ojo, he established the institution to correct abnormalities he discovered in the nation’s education system.

The founder added that discipline and academic excellence are priortised by the university.

Honour for founder ELIZADE University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State has bagged the Southwest Media Excellence Award as the outstanding private university in the region.

The Nomination Coordinator of the Southwest Nigeria Media Awards, Dr. Ifeoluwa Osundare, said Elizade University emerged winner of the award after “a thorough and extensive voting conducted among media houses and publics across major cities in the Southwest Nigeria”.

According to him, the varsity has endeared itself to many Nigerians through its incentives for students.

In a statement, the Senior Coordinator of the awards, Pastor Honey Olawale, urged the varsity to maintain the standard that earned it the honour.

SCHOLARSHIPS APPROACHING DEADLINE Edinburgh Global Health Academy Master's Scholarship in UK, 2015 THE University of Edinburgh is offering one full-time Master's scholarship. The scholarship is available for students pursuing one of the Global Health Academy programmes. Scholarship will cover the UK/EU "home" rate of tuition fee of up to £8,100. The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is accepted for admission onto an eligible Global Health Academy programme at the University of Edinburgh commencing in 2015-2016. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit. The application deadline is 29 May 2015.

Study Subject(s): Scholarship are

P

OLYTECHNIC education should be expunged from the educational system to boost technical education in Nigeria and breaking into the world’s economy, a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Office Technology Management, Auchi Polytechnic, Dr Peter Iredia, has said.

Iredia delivered the fourth inaugural lecture at the institution’s new auditorium.

He spoke on the topic: The tripod of liberal, vocational and technical education: Politics of dichotomy in Nigeria.

He said: “The only sure way to do this is the development of technology via qualitative and functional education. It is on this basis that this lecture is strongly recommending that polytechnic education should be expunged from the Nigerian education system.

“All the premier polytechnics in Nigeria, i.e Yaba College of Technology, Lagos; The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Auchi, Polytechnic Auchi; Kaduna Polytechnic Kaduna; Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu; and few others that meet

awarded in the field of Anthropology of Illness, Family Medicine, Global Health, Global Health and Public Policy, Global Health and Anthropology, Health Inequalities and Public Policy, Health Systems and Public Policy, Science Communication and Public Engagement, Public Health Course Level: Scholarship is available for masters level degree at University of Edinburgh.

Scholarship Provider: The University of Edinburgh, UK Scholarship can be taken at: UK Eligibility: -The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is accepted for admission onto an eligible Global Health Academy programme at the University of Edinburgh commencing in 2015-2016.

•Applicants who have already commenced their programme of study

on the closing date are not eligible for this scholarship.

•Applicants intending to study parttime or online distance learning courses are not eligible for this scholarship.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Applicants must be both nationals of and resident in one of Nigeria.

Scholarship Description: Edinburgh Global Health Academy Master's Scholarship The University of Edinburgh will offer one full-time master's scholarship for eligible programmes offered by the University.

Number of award(s): It offers one full-time Master's scholarship Duration of award(s): Not Known What does it cover? The scholarship will cover the UK/EU "home" rate of

Scrap poly now, says don

By Sampson Unamka

the required standards should be converted to universities of technology immediately to award Bachelors of Technology (B.Tech), Masters of Technology (M.Tech) and Doctors of Technology (D.Tech) degrees, with the rest polytechnics affiliated to the nearest Universities of Technology,” Iredia added.

If done, Iredia believes the development will give a boost to technology education and place qualifications obtained from them on the same pedestal as other university qualifications so much that recipients will not only be psychologically satisfies but would also be recognised in the public service and labour market.

He said to further plug the dichotomy between polytechnic and university education, some advanced countries are converting some polytechnics into universities.

He bemoaned government’s apathy towards the secretarial profession, noting that modifications in its name and curriculum to correct poor perception of the profession have gone unnoticed by the appropriate authorities.

He denounced some perceptions that inaugural lectures are meant for only universities, citing some polytechnics in Nigeria and overseas that also hold inaugural lectures.

T

O address unemployment among youths, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni Association has organised a seminar for the 2015 set of thegroup.

The workshop, which held at the school's Multipurpose Hall, was also aimed at educating the outgoing set

T

•From left: Emmanuel Ajayi, Mr. James Ajayi, her daughter Kemisola Ajayi, Mr Ajayi's wife Mrs Victoria and Fatile Aderonke Tolulope at the convocation of Kemisola, Aderonke and Damilola at the Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti.

By Adegunle Olugbamila

dent-elect to take up the issues of tuition review which has now become a trend in public institutions nationwide.

"The wave of skyrocketing tuition in the country has become a thing of serious concern that the incoming government must wade into upon assumption. The poor state of the economy, we must realise, places a heavy burden on parents who can hardly provide for their family let alone afford the ever increasing tuition fee.

"Students of the University of Ilorin for instance, now pay about N70,000 per session. But UNILORIN is just one out of the many federal universities increasing tuition at will and to the disadvantage of children who are mostly from poor homes and whose struggling parents could hardly cope

with such rising fees.

"Therefore, let the government support public schools with more and up-to-date infrastructure as against obsoletes ones that dot our laboratories. We want public schools to be better funded. This lack of funding constitutes some reasons management of public institutions give for increasing tuition to augment government allocation."

The duo described Gen. Buhari as intelligent, conservative, and allergic to corruption, going by his antecedent as a military president, advising the president-elect to demonstrate that virtue once he is in the saddle.

Recalling some of the statement Gen. Buhari once made and fulfilled in the fight against corruption as a military president in 1983, urging him to also walk his talk this time around.

The Rector, Dr Philipa Idogho, said the lecture challenges Iredia’s contemporaries to prepare for their inaugural lectures because Auchi Polytechnic would be a model in that regard.

She said hard work, creativity and innovation has placed the institution high above its peers.

Congratulating Iredia, she urged all to be focused on the objective of academic excellence.

UNILAG Alumni offer students employment tips

APC youths admonish Buhari on education HE All Progressives Congress National Students Vanguard (APCNSV), the student wing of APC, has called on the presidentelect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to reduce school fees, especially in public institutions on assuming duties.

The students also insist that the incoming government should change infrastructure in public institutions by replacing those that are obsolete with modern ones, in addition to focusing more on science and technology for the nation to leapfrog technologically.

In a congratulatory message to Gen. Buhari, the group’s Coordinator and Secretary-General Comrade Abdulbaqi Shatta and Ahmed Muyiddden, said the spate of rising fees in public institutions was becoming ubiquitous, and placing heavy burden on parents who live from hand to mouth.

Said the group: "The National leadership of APC National Students Vanguard (APCNSV) wishes to congratulate our president-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on his election victory on Saturday, March 28.

"As the student wing of APC however, we are appealing to the presi-

tuition fee of up to £8,100.

Selection criteria: The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit. Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a UK first class or 2:1 Honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent.

Notification: A Selection Committee will meet in late June 2015 to select the scholarship holders. All applicants will be notified of the outcome in July 2015.

How to Apply: The mode of application is online.

Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is 29 May 2015.

Read more: 2015 Master's Scholarship at The University of Edinburgh, UK Scholarship Positions 2015 2016 http://scholarship-positions.com

"He (Buhari) brought out what was known then as WAI (War Against Indiscipline) in which Lagos metamophorsed to KAI (Kick Against Indiscipline).

"For these reasons, we will like to tell you all that the battle against corruption cannot be fought and won by one man. The good people of Nigeria have shown their thirst, desire and affinity for positivity. To them, congratulations! The people of Nigeria dream and desire a country free from corruption reign.

“Therefore, we, at APCNSV, wish to remind Nigerians that as we all look up to "the people's general" to deliver us this new Nigeria, it is only with our support and solidarity that this can be achieved. We then pray that God, the almighty, grants general Buhari the strength and guidance required to move this country to a greater heights.

By Jane Chijioke

on the reality of the labour market.

The event had as theme: 'Workplace readiness and employability'.

At the maiden edition, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, who spoke on 'personal branding for employability', explained that graduates were faced with unemployment and the competition of young professionals that were laid off or returning from the Diaspora also citizens of other countries competing for the same job and entrepreneurship openings.

This, he said, had created a paradigm shift from the graduates programmes to postgraduate degrees as a benchmark for employment.

He said many youths were investing time and resources in post-graduate education but still fall behind in the knowledge of personal branding.

He explained that branding of oneself had gone beyond seeking employment or apprenticeship; rather one's total personality would be weighed against expectations of the present and the future.

Awoyemi, who is Chief Executive Officer, Proshare Nigeria Limited, also warned the students to be cautious of what they post on social media as it would be a criterion for assessing their employability skills.

"Employers or recruitment agencies will take your name and search your footprints on social media that is the first place to vet your personal brand in today's world. for those who are eager to respond to their first stimuli, to type what comes to your head immediately, to post that sassy meme or to spit out in anger, opens your employability in ways you hardly imagined."

He pointed out that students could take advantage of an additional global language which is an essential criterion for multinational companies.

He advised the students to desist from blaming parents or schools for poor academic training but rather seize opportunities to advance their knowledge. National Social Secretary, UNILAG Alumni, Mr Akin Akinteye, said the event was organised to enlighten the 2015set about the labour market, which would prevent them from the challenges outside school as well as reviewing the cause of unemployment in the country.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

39

EDUCATION

Blind, deaf pupils get financial skills training

B

LIND and hearing impaired pupils of Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted and Wesley School for the Deaf in Surulere have benefited from financial skills training courtesy of Financial Literacy for All (FLA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The NGO enhanced the savings and investment skills of the special needs pupils as part of activities to commemorate the Global Money Week. During the seminar, the pupils learnt how to save and spend wisely.

Project Director, FLA, Laja Shoniran, who presented some financial skills’ books to the pupils, explained that the essence of the programme was to take the financial education, which has been enjoyed by normal people in the past six years to the challenged groups in the society.

He said: "Financial education is a skill that everybody needs so we decided to reach out to the challenged group of our society because they are also engaged in what other people go through on daily basis. So for complete people to still be experiencing challenges in making some decision like fi-

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

nancing, banking, investment among others, how much more of those that cannot see or hear?

"As part of the society, being blind does not separate you from what is happening around you because you also need to make some decisions about money too.

“Being blind does not separate you from what is going on in the market; you can be cheated like every other person but the more you know, the better you have chance to protect what you have worked for."

Underscoring the reason challenged people should be empowered, Solarin added: "There is a report that blind people are about two times prone to poverty than sighted person so they also need to be empowered with the right information on how to save and invest money because failure to equip them with information on how to manage money can make them prone to poverty," he said.

On their part, some of the blind pupils condemned the frequent changes in the currency which takes them time to master.They also urged the banks to prepare

some forms in Braille to help them read before making decisions, and also called for embossment of ATM machine to enable them knows the number they are pressing.

Shoniran said FLA also visited Childville School, Ogudu GRA, Lagos.

He thanked the CommonWealth Secretariat in London, Central

•The band of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos, performing during the school’s inter-house sports competition

NBC launches Water Conservation Clubs in schools

T

HE Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) has reiterated its commitment to set up water conservation clubs in some secondary schools across the country to further drive its water stewardship programme.

Head, Public Affairs and Communications of NBC, Mr. Uzo Odenigbo, made this known at the United Nation's World Water Day in Owerri and Kaduna.

Over 200 pupils from 10 public secondary schools attended the event, which has as theme, Water for sustainable development.

The pupils toured the company's water effluence treatment plants to understudy water conservation initiatives of NBC to replicate them in their schools and communities.

Odenigbo said the World Water Day presents a platform for the firm to enlist water ambassadors in its communities who would

• Secondary school pupils in Owerri on a tour of a waste water treatment plant at NBC as part of the activities to mark the 2015 WWD.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

partner with the company in propagating the message of safe water practices. He said NBC was

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Credit Awareness Nigeria for supporting the project.

The Principal, Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted, Sister Jane Onyemeri, who received the books for the school, appreciated the gesture, adding that the seminar would help to integrate the pupils into the society.

committed to sustainable partnerships and integrated approaches to solving water problems in its communities under its water stewardship programme, adding that the

task of conserving finite natural resources such as water is everybody's responsibility.

While acknowledging that water forms a significant part of NBC's

operations, Odenigbo enumerated the company's water conservation initiatives to include: installation of waste water treatment plants in all its bottling plants across the country to ensure only water that can sustain aquatic and plant life is released back to the environment; increased focus on improving access to safe drinking water in over 20 communities through the provision of boreholes and water storage facilities, benefitting about 300,000 people across the country and reducing the company's water use ratio from 5.15 in 2008 to 2.42 in 2014.

"This year, we have gone a step further to ensure the sustainability of our awareness campaign on safe water practices with the students, by encouraging and supporting them to start water conservation clubs in their schools," he added.

Managing Director of NBC, Mr. Ben Langat, said the organisation's programmes for the clubs would provide opportunity for its workers to share knowledge with young people.

"The water conservation clubs will further provide volunteering opportunities for our colleagues to donate their time and expertise to aid knowledge transfer on safe water practices among students in a sustainable way," he said.

Anglican Communion honours Akinde with science contest

P

UPILS from various private schools in Lagos Mainland thrilled guests with their scientific creativity display during this year’s quiz competition and exhibition in Science and Technology organised for secondary schools in Lagos mainland.

The contest, which took place at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) auditorium, was organised by the Anglican Church to honour one of its own, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Mainland and Archbishop of the Province of Lagos, Prof Adebayo Akinde.

The pupils displayed devices, such as ‘save house’, which detects an intruder in a home, inverter that works with 220 voltage powering electrical appliances as well as solving problems of power failure, as well as insecticide.

Others include a remote-controlled self-propelled boat for sea transport, soil formation, sound detector, among others.

Adedeji Ayojesu, a pupil from Canon James Pearse Anglican Col-

By Jane Chijioke

lege, spoke about the usefulness of science.

She said: “Science is life, it improves everything about us. We just need focus and creativity” Similarly, Tinuke Adefola of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, said: “Science makes us to be problem solvers, and identify the needs in our environment.This, in turn, makes us inventors, and entrepreneurs to live independent with our vocations.”

The guest speaker, Joseph Oke, noted that many schools have fallen behind in the teaching of sciences compared with what it was some years ago.

He said: “All you need to verify this statement is to look at the results of WAEC NECO, UTME in the last few years. This is why science fairs and competitions of this nature among schools should be encouraged.

“We all know that teaching of sciences in our schools go beyond de-

• Pupils of Aaresther Divine Primary School, Ajao Estate, Lagos, when they visited The Nation’s Headquarters in Lagos on excursion.

veloping these junior category of manpower. We need medical doctors, engineers in various specialisations and scientists in all disciplines, if our country is to develop and hold its own in the com-

mittee of nations.”

Oke, who donated the trophies, promised to give N 25,000 yearly to the outstanding pupil in the contest to encourage pupils to study more in sciences.

The Dean of Faculty of Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof Soji Ilori, lamented that Nigeria still remains a consuming nation. He urged the sensitisation of youths on sciences.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

40

EDUCATION

Teacher employed as clerk seeks upgrade

A

32-YEAR-OLD teacher, Mr Ojo Toefeek, has cried out to the Lagos State government to upgrade him to Grade Level 08 of the teaching service.

Toefeek, who was employed in 2009, as a non-academic member of staff at the Islamic Model Primary School, Mushin, studied Economics Education at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The father of three said he started teaching Economics at Bethel Private Secondary School,Mushin, but left because he felt he needed to reach out to pupils in public schools.

"I have been teaching in the private school but I thought that my destiny is not going to be fulfilled there. Those that I actually wanted to reach out to are in the public school. I left when God told me to leave and I did," he said.

However, things did not work out as planned. In 2009, when he applied to the Lagos State Government to work as he teacher, the only opening was for a non-academic position far below his qualification.

"They told me that there was no teaching job for me, except if I could be employed for a Grade 04 job with WASC result, which is a clerical job.

EDUTALK

What hope for WAEC's customer service centre?

By Jane Chijioke

I made them realise I was a graduate but to no avail. Because I have so many responsibilities, I decided to start from somewhere. My hope was that if I am in the system I would monitor it," he said.

Sadly, about six years later, the upgrade to the teacher scale has not happened for Taofeek - despite being given classes to teach as an acting teacher. He received a letter to be an acting teacher.

Having scrounged to educate himself at UNILAG after his father's death and with his passion and determination, Taofeek expects more out of his career.

Though discouraged about his situation, Taofeek said it had not dampened his love for teaching and helping the less privileged.

He said: "My desire is to teach. I cannot just be in the office sitting down. I have to be in the classroom.

They have not increased my salary; they have not increased my level; what I am earning is nothing to write home about. But I keep on doing what I love to do believing that one day, things would turn out for good.

I am just waiting for the time that

•Taofeek

the government would rise to my aid and convert me to Level 08. I am begging the government. I know it is possible.

"The teachers still see me as a nonacademic staff but I am one of them; I am active in the classroom but the sentiments are still there. Some understand that the clerical employment is a demotion but I don't allow that to bother me. I have taught in primary six and they all passed their common entrance exams."

Taofeek's passion to see young children succeed prompted his founding the Children Education Development Awareness (CEDAR) Foundation in 2012 to promote reading culture and moral values.

• From left: Dr. Joseph Odumodu, DG, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and convocation lecturer; Dr Offiah; Prof. Chinedu Nebo Minister of Power, Ambassador Adamu, and Prof Onyeji at the event.

ESUT needs more funding to grow, says VC

I

T was in the presence of 11,458 graduands combined from the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 academic sessions that the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, praised Prof Cyprian Onyeji for contributing to the development of Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) in the last five years.

However, the vice-chancellor said the university would achieve even more with greater financial investment.

Governor Chime, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Rev Ralph Nwonye, at the university's 16th Convocation, had praised Onyeji and the governing council for academic excellence, physical infrastructural development and maintenance, improved funding and staff and students' welfare in the period under review.

He described ESUT as an embodiment of what a higher educational institution is all about, which tallies with the government's policy to deliver quality education to its citizens.

Onyeji attributed his success to the ability to motivate the workers to run with his six-point agenda.

He also praised Governor Chime and other government agencies, such as TETFund, PTDF, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), and NCC for their support

•Varsity graduates 11,456

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

over the years.

"Your exemplary leadership set us on the way to success and we have been able to efficiently and effectively utilise the available resources to progressively nurture some of the best graduates in Nigeria today," he said.

However, Onyeji said the university needs more funding to get "there."

"ESUT, infrastructure wise, is a work-in-progress. What we have done is to reverse the declining tide and put it on the irreversible part of growth. In other words, the base has been thoroughly solidified. It now requires another round of massive funding to kick-start those projects not yet embarked upon, as contained in the University Master Plan," he said.

With the kind of funding not likely to come from government alone, the Vice-Chancellor appealed to the private sector, alumni, friends of the university, and Enugu State citizens to support the university financially so it can achieve its goals.

Also underscoring the need for more funding for the university, the

with

Chancellor of ESUT, Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Wakili of Adamawa, explained that no university, the world over, survives only on government subvention.

"It has always been a joint effort between the governments, private organisations and internally generated revenue (IGR) of the university," he said.

The Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Chilo Offiah, added: "The university system requires funding as it grows in size and that it is very obvious that the government effort will never be sufficient both now and in the future. Therefore, independent sources of funding should remain critical to our survival and the survival of the Nation.”

Among the 11,458 graduands, 10,920 had first degrees; 109, Postgraduate Diploma; 414, Masters, and 15, Ph.D. Four prominent Nigerians were conferred with honorary doctorates in Public Administration and Business Administration.They are: Sir David Ogbodo, Nicholas Okoye, Ambassador Ademu Aliyu, and Mrs Ukamaka Okoye, the first woman to be honoured by the varsity.

Dignitaries at the event included: former Minister of Power Prof Bath Nnaji; his Minister of Petroleum and Education counterpart, Prof Jubril Aminu; Prof Giwa and vice chancellors from over 20 universities.

I

T was with fanfare that the West Kofoworola African Examinations Council (WAEC) launched its first customer service centre penultimate Kofosagie@yahoo.com week.

08054503077 (SMS only) The centre is to act as a clearing house for all issues clients may have. It is expected to give special attention to their requests - whether simple enquiries or issues related to certificate verification or corrections and the like.

Its inauguration was graced by top echelons of WAEC, both present and past, who lauded the initiative because of its potential to address the concerns of candidates and other clients effectively.

However, they also acknowledged the concern that the centre may not be effective if the poor culture of customer service delivery that is typical in public institutions is allowed to take root in the running of the facility.

Prof Pius Obanya, former chairman of WAEC, was apt in describing the front desk officer from hell in his speech, hoping that the new centre would not be manned by such people.

He said: "The best way not to advertise a company is to put terrible people in the front desk - those people who think they are doing you a favour and not earning their salaries."

Anyone who has seen the film, The Meeting, immediately understands the kind of person Obanya described. Rita Dominic depicted that person in the movie and I loved it. She acted as a middle-aged secretary to a minister of the federal republic of Nigeria who treated guests badly.

Rather than screen and send genuine people to the minister, she delayed and exploited them. However, she allowed a girlfriend (who had bribed her with gifts), and the chief of the minister's village to go in.

When I watched the film, I felt like I had met that secretary many times - unfortunately, mostly in public institutions (schools and hospitals). The way Rita Dominic chewed gum, fail to look up at people beyond a condescending glance, and talked so rudely was, sadly, familiar.

We meet such secretaries (or other officials) regularly in schools, particularly tertiary institutions, where they sit in departmental offices, exams and records, alumni offices, among others. You greet them; they do not respond. If they do; then grudgingly. You ask questions; they ignore you. You ask for clarifications; they snap at you. Their looks tell you that you are not relevant. They are so intimidating that you might even stutter in their presence while trying to explain your mission. If you lose your cool, then, to put it in Pidgin, 'your own don finish', because you are unlikely to achieve your aim.

I remember arguing with a records officer once in the hospital over an 'attendance' list. The list was created so that people were seen on a first come, first serve basis. But what usually happened was that people paid the workers to write their names. So, no matter how early you arrived, you may not be among the top five on the list - even if you met no other person in the waiting area. On that day, I told the lady to discard the list and create a fresh one based on the few people that were around but she refused, telling me I could not teach her how to run her office. I proceeded to write my name where I thought it deserved to be. By doing so, I challenged her authority. She reported me to a superior, who confronted me. But I stood my ground; and he 'dealt' with me. My file was declared missing and I was delayed for some time. But for the intervention of a senior nursing officer, that day may not have ended well for me. That was bad customer service. As far as those workers were concerned, they were employed to do favours, not work to earn their keep.

We hope that those that run WAEC Customer Service centres (there are plans to establish more of them in all branch and zonal offices) will not be like the secretary in the movie, or the clerical workers in the hospital.

The Head of National Office, Mr Charles Eguridu, assured us at the event that the workers deployed to the centre underwent special training on how to attend to customers courteously . He also said they would be monitored. Our fingers are crossed in anticipation that they will not disappoint us.

Belo-Osagie

‘We meet such secretaries (or other officials) regularly in schools, particularly tertiary institutions, where they sit in departmental offices, exams and records, alumni offices, among others. You greet them; they do not respond. If they do; then grudgingly. You ask questions; they ignore you. You ask for clarifications; they snap at you. Their looks tell you that you are not relevant. They are so intimidating that you might even stutter in their presence while trying to explain your mission. If you lose your cool, then, to put it in Pidgin, 'your own don finish', because you are unlikely to achieve your aim’

42

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

43

THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Senator Danjuma Goje is All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Gombe State. In this interview with VINCENT OHONBAMU, he speaks about the defection of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to the APC and other issues.

Goje: Gombe APC has no pact with Dankwambo P

EOPLE have been defecting massively from the PDP to APC in the last couple of days now. Could you please update us on the issue?

Today, I received a serving member of the House of Representative who contested election and lost recently. His name is Shuaibu Galadima, he left the PDP for the APC. The Co-ordinator for the person who contested against me for the Senate, Tanimu Usman, who was my former Commissioner and a serving Special Adviser, has also defected to APC. Another serving Special Adviser on Hajj Affairs, Sa’adu Hassan, has also defected from the PDP to the APC. A serving Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Kabiru Kuri Jara, has also defected from the PDP to the APC. Last but not the least for now, a Permanent Commissioner in Gombe State Assembly Service Commission, Abdullahi Magaji Difa, has also defected from PDP to APC. These are the six leaders I received today (Tuesday) with thousands of their supporters. Many leaders are on the way, we’ll let you know as they come What do you think is responsible for this mass defection?

It is a total loss of confidence on the government and the governor of Gombe State as presently constituted under the PDP. People have loss confidence in the government, people are giving up, people have all already concluded that they’ll be defeated on Saturday, and therefore, they want to join the bandwagon; they don’t want to be losers.

There are rumours that Governor Dankwambo is initiating a parley with the APC. What is your reaction to this?

What rumour, I don’t understand; are you saying he’s going to step down, or he’s going to contest, as PDP? He is going to contest as a PDP candidate and by the time he wins, he would crossover to the APC. So, he wants us as the APC to vote for him to win; and then, we will vote against our candidate? Does it make sense? If he had wanted to be in APC, he would have left

‘

He is going to contest as a PDP candidate and by the time he wins, he would crossover to the APC. So, he wants us as the APC to vote for him to win; and then, we will vote against our candidate? Does it make sense?

’

the PDP and joined the APC from the beginning. He believes in the PDP and now the PDP is gone. Governors left the PDP and joined APC. We have a candidate, who is better than him, Inuwa Yahaya, my former Commissioner of Finance for eight years. He is better equipped to become the governor of Gombe State. In fact, Buhari has further endorsed him to debunk all the insinuations of the governor wanting to sneak into the corridors of power through the backdoors by saying he would convert to the APC after winning. No, we don’t need him! Let him stand in his PDP, we’ll stand in or the APC and go to the polls. And I trust the good people of Gombe State will do the right thing, and that is to vote APC. So, you are calling on the people to ignore the rumour insinuations?

It is in fact a meaningless and baseless rumour. General Buhari himself had clarified the situation that those who wanted to contest under APC have already joined APC. Since he is in PDP, we are parallel. How many days remaining now? Just three days to election! So, we are

• Goje

waiting for the elections to come. Let him contest under PDP and we will support our candidate APC and the good people of Gombe will decide. And I advise them (the electorate) strongly to vote for the APC because it is the party of the people; it’s the party of the country now. We cannot afford to be in the minority, we cannot afford to be in the opposition. We are already backward in Gombe State.

We are already devastated here in the Northeast by Boko Haram and other calamities. And the safest way is to be with the Federal Government.

OPC: No rift between Lagos and Ndigbo A

FACTION of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) yesterday warned against any affront on the Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, over his recent intervention in the political process.

The group said any attempt to drag the royal institution in the mud will be tantamount to disrespect for the cherished custom, culture and tradition of Yoruba.

OPC National Coordinating Council (NCC) also said that the Yoruba and the Igbo will continue to co-exist peacefully in Lagos.

A council member, Monsuru Akande, urged Igbo people to reciprocate the kind gesture of Yoruba in Lagos.

Akande said in a statement that OPC will resist any attempt to rubbish the royal stool of Eleko for Partisan reasons.

The statement reads: “The attention of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has been drawn to some unruly and unbecoming comments purportedly in reaction to alleged comments by the paramount ruler of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu and warn all those involved to desist from such unbecoming acts forthwith.

“The institution of the oba is one the Yoruba race hold in high esteem, and the OPC as irredentist defenders of Yoruba culture and heritage would therefore not tolerate anybody -irrespective of their places of birth of conviction- to denigrate what their hosts (Yorubas) hold sacred.

“While we accept that that institution should remain non-partisan, it must also be acknowledged that the Palace of the Oba of Lagos has already claimed that the royal father was misrepresented in the press and pleaded for understanding.

“Be that as it may, the Yoruba’s accommodating and loving nature should not be misconstrued as timidity. As hosts, we have

•Akiolu

given all our visitors enough space and opportunity to bloom and flourish without molestations, and of all the tribes and visitors in Lagos, none has enjoyed the benevolence of Lagos and indeed all of Yorubaland

as much as the Igboman and nation.

“The evidence of the claim above can be found in the fact that Yorubaland as a whole is the most cosmopolitan area in Nigeria. We Yoruba have allowed other tribes to own businesses, properties and even contest and hold political positions on Yoruba soil in a manner unreciprocated anywhere else in Nigeria.

“Using the same Lagos as an example, the fact that the likes of Pastor Ben. Akabueze and Joe Igbokwe have become an integral part of the political frame work of Lagos State for years now is proof enough that Lagos and indeed the Yoruba are excellent hosts.

Akabueze has for the last ten years been directing and coordinating the economic direction of the state from his enviable position as the honorable commissioner for budget and planning while Igbokwe has held sways general manager at LASIMRA and head, UFRU. “Others such as Ngozi Nwosu the popular actress from Imo State who got N6million for overseas surgery, the late comrade Chima Ubani whose family got cash and a gift of 3bedroom accommodation at Marwa Gardens as well as First Consultant Hospital that got N50 million as compensation for involvement in the Ebola case are evidence that the Igbos are not despised in Lagos.

“Nowhere in Nigeria -east of the Niger- is the Yoruba or any other tribe accorded the kind of gesture the Igbos have been enjoying

National Coordinating Council (NCC) said ‘theOPCYoruba and the Igbo will continue to co-exist peacefully in Lagos. A council member, Monsuru Akande, urged Igbo people to reciprocate the kind gesture of Yoruba in Lagos

’

in Lagos in the last 12 or so years since these bonafide Igbo men entered into the Lagos political scene.

“As for the likes of Bode George, FaniKayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and their party the PDP, their outcry is the reaction of a person or group without shame and critical thinking (arojinle). Is it that they have a case of memory dysfunction or are they just plain mischievous. Have they so quickly forgotten that it is their party that started the politicisation of the institution and monarchy with the President’s visit to the same Oba of Lagos earlier this January as the forerunner to visits to many other obas in Yorubaland. None of the PDP members complaining now saw any thing wrong with the attempts to involve our obas in partisan politics until it backfired against them and their party.

“This brings us to the warning we issued earlier, when Gani Adams in his treacherous, sycophantic and reactionary move turned on the good people of Lagos unleashing violence and threat of violence against the perceived enemies of his paymasters.

“If Adams had not behaved like an omo ojuorolari, he should by now be defending the sacredness of the stool of the Oba of Lagos or any other one in Yorubaland for that matter.

“If Adams had not collected the billions he did, along with MASSOB and other ethnic groups, his co-travellers would now be degenerating and abusing our hospitality the way no one can replicate in their homelands.

“In closing, we enjoin all members of the OPC and indeed the Yoruba nation to beware of the enemies within like Gani Adams and with one voice condemn all fifth columnist within our fold. And with the foregoing it is abundantly clear that Gani Adams who brought this odium upon us must quit the OPC.”

44

THE NATION THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2015

‘

Every word in a bill for instance, does not only have 109 interpretations, but also has 109 nuances in accordance with the number of senators in the chamber. Yet, whenever the Senate runs into a rowdy session and there are dissenting voices over the issues being considered, it is usually amazing how Mark deploys wisdom to end such a stalemate in a way that everyone will be satisfied at the end

Mark @ 67: The Journey so far T

O fully bring to the fore an understanding of the man Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark the President of the NIGERIAN Senate since 2007, it is necessary to take a historical excursion of the man who has become a recurring decimal in the socio- political landscape of NIGERIA. Born in the non-descript, inaucous and obscure ancient community of Otukpo in the defunct Benue/Plateau state ( Present day Benue state,) on April 8, 1948 . Mark began his early education at St. Francis Catholic Practicing School, Otukpo between 1956 to 1961 . He proceeded to the NIGERIA Military School, Zaria.

Thereafter, he was admitted into the prestigious Nigeria Defence Academy(NDA) and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1970 making him one of the 3rd sector officers to graduate from the academy. ( Mark is a member of the 3rd regular course of the NDA).

He had further professional military trainings in the United Kingdom, USA, and India . He later bagged a Bachelor Degree in Telecommunications Engineering between 1971 and 1976.

From 1978 - 1979, he was at Command and Staff College, Jaji and between 1990 —1991 , he was at the National Defense University, Washington DC and later at the Havard University, Boston USA between 1991 and 1992.

Mark has always exhibited leadership qualities and traits that constantly stood him out as a beacon among his pears. Till date, Senator Mark is remembered for his honesty, patriotism and orderliness. Decades ago as a young Major in the NIGERIAN Army during the administration of former Head of state General Yakubu Gowon he headed the abandoned property, implementation committee after the 30 months old fraticidal civil war. It was to his credit that GOWON administration implemented the Reconstruction, Resettlement and Reconciliation policy otherwise referred to as the 3Rs to reintegrate the defunct Biafrans into the NIGERIAN society.

In 1984, providence bestowed on Mark as he was appointed Military Governor of Niger State where again he demonstrated uncommon leadership qualities in spite of daunting challenges.

He left a positive footprint in the sand of time in that state. Till date he enjoys the citizenship of Niger state.

As the then Communications Minister , Mark transformed NIGERIA Telecommunications (NITEL) with his hyper tech engineering skill when he introduced mobile phones and digital telephone system in the country. He reorganized NIGERIA Postal Service(NIPOST) and started the city coding system. Under his meticulous watch on NITEL, the Organisation built two ultra-modern digital earth stations in Lagos and Enugu. Unarguably, services improved and internally generated revenue increased and the Organisation became buoyant and independent without having to rely on government for subventions.

Perhaps, It is instructive to note that Mark’s uncompromising position that telephone subscribers then should pay their bills or no services which earned him the wrath of not a few NIGERIANS who interpreted his position that “telephone is not for the poor”. He was vilified. But today what Mark saw decades ago is what is practicable in our country. Under the Global Service for mobile telecommunications (GSM) no one uses the services without prepaid credit. Without any iota of sentiment Mark is a man who saw tomorrow. He deserves commendation .

The end of Mark’s robust military career ushered him a new beginning on another turf-Politics and opportunity to serve his fatherland even better on a higher pedestal . He has contested and won elections in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015 as a Senator representing his Benue South Senatorial zone. He remain the only NIGERIAN who so far enjoyed such good will.

If Mark had a glorified career in the military, what he has achieved in the political turf paled to the insignificant his successful records in the Army.

As a Senator, he gave quality representation to his constituents in sports, education, health, empowerment and scores of infrastructure. But as was discovered later his most superlative qualities were not realized until he was elected President of the Senate in 2007.

From a long, tortuous and implacable posi-

By Paul Mumeh, Abuja tion, the Nigeria’s Senate eventually assumed a model and rejuvenated status and a great deal of legislative stability under Mark’s leadership . He has put paid to the reign of instability which was the hallmark of the upper chamber between 1999 and 2007. Thus the Nigerian Senate which used to be a laughing stock in the comity of nations given its nature and activities, has gradually evolved into a virile, focused and stable parliament.

Prior to Mark’s emergence as President of the Senate, the Red Chamber was an irritation to the vast majority of Nigerians. The Senate within this period was portrayed as an assemblage of uncooperative people as a result of lack of cohesion among members which often culminated in frequent change of leadership.

It is on record that between 1999 and 2005, the Senate changed leadership five times, a situation that was viewed by many as a mockery of democracy. More so that every state in the Southeast to which the presidency of the chamber was zoned at the time had a taste of the office before moving to the Northcentral in 2007.

Thus by 2005, the impression had been created in the minds of most Nigerians that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a Senate President to stay beyond two years on the exalted seat. However, Mark’s emergence in June 2007 proved cynics wrong and changed all that perception as the Otukpo-born retired general turned democrat has succeeded in registering his name in the Guinness Book of Records as Nigeria’s longest serving President of the Senate since 1960 when Nigeria attained independence.

Not only did Mark sustain his position without any threat as President of the Senate throughout his first term of four years in the office between 2007 and 2011, he was also unanimously returned upon his re-election in 2011, a development that was unprecedented in the history of Nigeria’s democracy. It is not only that Mark has sustained himself in the office upon his second coming, he has also not come under any threat of removal from his colleagues who hold him in high esteem. He equally extend more than equal respects to his colleagues. He calls them “ My bosses”.

This reciprocal respect goes a long way to affirm Mark’s uncommon sense of leadership in the Senate and the satisfaction it brings to members. But the question needs be asked at this juncture on how Mark has succeeded in warming his way into the minds of fellow senators and simultaneously fostering stability. The answer to this question is not far fetched.

Upon assuming office in 2007, one of Mark’s first commitments was to phase out the era of “banana peels” which were the characteristics of the Senate prior to his emergence. Before then, “Ghana-Must-Go” syndrome real or imagined was a popular phenomenon in both chambers of the National Assembly. But today, memory of both “Ghana-Must-Go” as well as “banana peels” has completely disappeared in the Senate as Mark has repeatedly said that the Senate under his leadership would not condone any act of bribery and corruption in the course of discharging its responsibilities. He demonstrated this when in December 2007 under late Musa Yar’Adua administration he caused to be returned to the national treasury the sum of N7Billion Naira National Assembly unspent fund.

This resolve has paid off as in the past eight years of Mark in the saddle, the Senate for the first time since 1999, free from frequent scams which cast aspersions on the integrity of the institution and consequently swept away some of his predecessors. Thus the Senate under his leadership has come to embrace the culture of decency, accountability, civic responsibility and

• Mark

indeed salvaged its hitherto soured image in the eyes of the public. This is bearing in mind that some of Mark’s predecessors had either been thrown out through impeachment or forced resignation as a result of “ indictment”, from anticipatory approvals scandal to bribefor-budget scams respectively. However, in today’s Mark’s Senate, issues relating to “banana peels “ are better imagined than seen.

Another factor that has helped Mark to provide a stable and dynamic leadership in the Senate is the combination of his wealth of experience, wisdom and brilliance in the administration of Senate as an institution. Mark brought into the office of Senate President a wealth of experience as a former military governor, federal minister and sitting senator spanning two terms of eight years before ascending the exalted seat. His prudent leadership also stemmed from his ability to develop and establish himself as an institution in legislative business. He is a master of legislative rules and procedures.

Since he assumed office, Mark has never been caught in the web of indecision or ignorance over any issue that arises on the floor of the Senate. He always has an answer to every situation no matter how complex. He has so developed himself in the task of legislation to the extent that more often than not, he provides guidance to his colleagues in a perplex situation by educating them on proper procedures that should be followed in the course of handling issues under consideration.

In terms of wisdom, Mark can best be described as a good student of King Solomon Institution. Though, the Senate comprises only 109 senators, it is by nature a difficult institution to manage. This is largely because it is not a place the Senate President can unilaterally impose his will on senators as it is the case in the executive arm where the president’s position is not subject to any contention but rather has to be obeyed because he appointed members of his cabinet. Reverse, however, is the case in the Senate where all members were equally elected and the Senate President is only the first among equals.

Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba confirmed this much when he said that “ every

‘

the Otukpo-born retired general turned democrat has succeeded in registering his name in the Guinness Book of Records as Nigeria’s longest serving President of the Senate since 1960 when Nigeria attained independence

’

‘

word in a bill for instance, does not only have 109 interpretations, but also has 109 nuances in accordance with the number of senators in the chamber. Yet, whenever the Senate runs into a rowdy session and there are dissenting voices over the issues being considered, it is usually amazing how Mark deploys wisdom to end such a stalemate in a way that everyone will be satisfied at the end”.

A good instance of this came to play on March 7, 2013, after three days of heated debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). The debate had polarised the chamber into two groups with Southerners supporting the provisions of the bill and Northern senators vehemently opposing some of them. Given the level of opposition to the bill by Northern senators, a conclusion had already been drawn that the bill would not survive the second reading. But by the time Mark called for a voice vote, to the surprise of all watchers, there was no longer any single dissenting voice as all senators and sundry chorused “ay” in support of its passage through second reading.

How did he achieve this? In his remark at the end of the debate, Mark had commended the senators for their contributions and described them as an army of patriotic, responsible and well meaning Nigerians who would not kill PIB in view of the vantage position posterity had placed them as well as the numerous benefits the bill possessed for the nation when passed into law. By these persuasive words, Mark had already gotten his colleagues committed as only anyone who wanted to be portrayed as an unpatriotic Nigerian that would sustain his opposition to the bill.

Instances of how Mark had used wisdom to resolve impasse of different kinds in the Senate are numerous to mention.

Mark’s rich leadership style is not only admired by his fellow colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus; senators from opposition parties also adore him. To buttress this point, an opposition senator, Senator Femi Lanlehin (Oyo South), in 2013 said:”I think the opposition by and large to which I belong has kept to the rule. And of course you ao buttress this point, an opposition senator, Senator Femi Lanlehin (Oyo South), in 2013 said:”I think the opposition by and large to which I belong has kept to the rule. And, of course, you are aware that the Senate has the majority membership from the ruling party which is the PDP. But despite that, in my own opinion and to the best of my knowledge, I think we have by and large been able to work together under the able leadership of somebody (Mark) who has a wealth of experience not only in the legislature but also in the executive arm of government. And he has also been a member of the Senate since 1999.

So, we have benefitted very well from his wealth of experience and navigation of Senate through his knowledge. And so far, it has been good because irrespective of party affiliation. We are all here to foster and protect the interests of our constituencies and the man who is from Oyo South, his needs are not different from the needs of those who are from Yobe East or Bayelsa North.”

It must also be noted that it is not only within the National Assembly that Mark has provided stable and productive leadership. Through his prudence, the Senate under his leadership has at different times served as a stabilising force in the entire nation. To this end, Senate’s adoption of the doctrine of necessity on February 9, 2010, to end the impasse which heated the polity like a furnace, following the medical trip embarked upon by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to Saudi Arabia in November 2009 without handing over to his deputy, then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, will easily come to mind. Through this bold, patriotic and responsive move by the Senate, the polity which had in the preceding four months been overwhelmed by tension, heaved a sigh as the vacuum in leadership was quickly filled when the doctrine of necessity conferred the power to act as president on Jonathan.

In the same vein, the complementary role played by the Senate during the struggle to end the fuel subsidy crisis of January 2012 cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

Mark, with the support of his colleagues, quickly moved in to douse tension and as well deploy powers within his reach to end the crisis through various interventionist techniques, dialogue and collaboration which all helped in no small way to end the crisis and restore peace to the hitherto troubled nation.

THE NATION THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2015

45

It is on record that, in the eight years of the Akpabio Ad‘ministration, no economic enhancing projects have been initiated in the state to help the teeming population of university graduates who daily pound the streets of Uyo, with forlorn faces without any hope or access to social safety nets

‘

Uwem Ankak reflects on the malpractices that married the recent presidential and National Assembly elections in Akwa Ibom State and warns about the danger of rigging in the next Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

‘Votes must count in Akwa Ibom’ ‘

Make no mistake, Akpabio and his goons are no respecter of persons or institutions. Ask Obong Victor Attah, the ex governor of the state, whose regime gave Mr Akpabio the leeway to state and national limelight

’

• Umana

F

OR almost eight years, the people of Akwa Ibom have been under the suffocating influence of Governor Gods’will Akpabio, who, in active connivance of the federal might, had subjugated the people to a dizzying and unbearable level of mental and emotional torture, self doubt and humiliation in the name of governance. They persevered, prayed and hoped that someday and somehow, and by some touch of providence, they will have a Daniel come to judgement and free them from the internal slavery which they are subjected.

The few daring ones who attempted to voice their concerns and raised a voice in protest are either in a permanent silent mode or have traumatic tales to tell. Make no mistake, Akpabio and his goons are no respecter of persons or institutions. Ask Obong Victor Attah, the ex governor, whose regime gave Mr Akpabio the leeway to state and national limelight, and you would be regaled of what he went through in a state he can, at best, be referred to as one of the founding fathers. Chief Don Etiebet, undoubtedly, a veritable face of the Akwa Ibom people, whose company offered Mr Akpabio a job and was one of the referees for his march to governance as a state commissioner, has unpleasant tales to tell. For Obong Attah, I am sure he won’t forget in a hurry the humiliat-

D

ing experience he got while going to attend the burial ceremony of Chief Tony Emenyi, the pioneer State Chairman of the Peoples democratic party. The ex-governor advance party was waylaid and barricaded on his way to Oron and was forced to turn back. The man had to beat a hasty retreat and went home. Talk of the Machiavellian principle of having to eliminate and decimate your godfathers to have a safe rule.

But, this duo and a couple of others like Wing Commander Sam Ewang, a former military Administrator of Ogun State; Chief Ime Sampson Umanah, a well-known businessman and philanthropist, and a former deputy governorship candidate; General Edet Akpan, a former Director General of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), were lucky to be alive to narrate their tales of woes. Others, like Chief Paul Inyang, a PDP chieftain in the state; Chief Robert Obot, the Okuibom and head of the Ibibio traditional and chieftaincy institution; and more than 180 were not that lucky.

They are cold, six feet beneath, in the grave!

These are incidences that Akwa Ibom people would not forget in a hurry. No arrest, prosecution or even a reprimand have been recorded. The perpetrators have tacit support of the state as demonstrated by the lopsidedness in the way those cases were handled. And this is about deaths, attempted deaths, kidnapping ( a strange phenomenon our people never knew, even at the height of militancy in the Niger Delta), cultism, rape, child theft, etc.

If the people were frightened of untimely deaths, they were overwhelmed by the quan-

tum of financial recklessness in the state. Apart from the published accruals to the state from the federal account, the income from internally generate revenues has always been, in the almost eight years of Mr Akpabio’s reign, in the realm of speculation and gossip by the citizens of the state. An insight into the way the administration spends the state funds could be gauged by the comment of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who, in a convocation speech at Babcock university, Ogun state, told an astonished audience that Akwa Ibom State had not spent up to 10 percent of its revenue from the Federation in the development of the state. Every Akwa Ibom person knows this truth to be absolute. For those who follow the uncommon transformation series on television across Nigeria, and who may have been hoodwinked by the aesthetics and colouring of that programme, you would have noticed that since 2009, you have been watching the same pictures with different narratives and from different angles.

You probably must have seen the concentric flyover, few kilometres of roads, e-library, underground water drainage (...IBB road, Uyo and other places were flooded during the rain last week), Ibom Tropicana, completion of airport (started by the Attah administration), Ibom power plant which the previous administration had commissioned a section, etc.

These were projects you were seeing in the uncommon Transformation series since 2009.

After that, the major project you will see would be the football stadium in Uyo, the one aptly tagged ‘ The nest of champions (really?) The ongoing project, I will like to add charitably, are the specialist hospital, which contractors have moved out of site for non payment, the Uyo – Ikot Ekpene highway, a less than 22 kilometre stretch. Decorations, roundabouts dots a few places. But, the most debilitating is the debt profile of the state, put conservatively at about N600b. Adams Oshiomhole, Edo state governor gave an insight some weeks ago on the state of debt and a state which is moving steadily to a debt slavery.

In all these, the Akwa Ibom people have not seen any industry, even at cottage level, which the administration has built. The few ones which the late Dr Clement Isong, former gov-

ernor of old Cross River State sited in now Akwa Ibom State such the Battery, Biscuit, Ceramic, Qua Steel mill, Paint Industry are moribund and we are told, have been sold out to the brothers and cronies of the state governor. It is on record that, in the eight years of the Akpabio Administration, no economic enhancing projects have been initiated in the state to help the teeming population of university graduates who daily pound the streets of Uyo, with forlorn faces without any hope or access to social safety nets.

Rather, what we see are white elephant and entertainment spots like the Tropicana (a cinema house), an e-library which are not even equipped for the benefit of even those who need it. But, this is a state who earned over five trillion naira from the federation account in the last eight years! This sum is almost equivalent to the revenue that accrues to all the five eastern states of Nigeria! In Anambra state alone, we have seen a state that not only established Orient Petroleum, but made the environment very conducive for one of the biggest brewing companies in the world to establish a plant! In the neighbouring Cross River State, big businesses are pouring in also, and thanks to the former governor Donald Duke (another president Nigerians desire), the world biggest electric company is building a plant there. There are farm settlement and international processing plants everywhere. It is today the hub of fruit juice business in Nigeria today.

In Akwa Ibom State under this present regime, we have seen a state that drove away a refinery project, Amankpe Refinery. This a project that some well-meaning indigenes of the state put together in far-away United states of America and was frustrated from take off.

This company should have delivered more than 5,000 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs. The full story of the botched Amankpe refinery would be told to the world sooner than later. Nigerians would be shocked to know how pettiness, selfishness in government drove away a multi billion dollar project and denied its citizens the opportunity to earn a living, and ultimately benefit from the valuechain the business would have provided.

‘Okowa has bright chance in Delta’ ‘

ESPITE the power shift at the centre, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State is optimistic that it will win the governorship and House of Assembly polls. The reason for the optimism is simply because of the party’s dominant posture in the state.

Since 1999, the party has dominated politics in the state like a collosus.

Through thick and thin, the party has developed a bond with the people and has built up leaders that continues at different levels to work for the party in spite of occasional desertion. It is the core of these leaders, past, present and serving that the party will rely upon to do the job of mobilising the people as it has done for so many years, in delivering the party at this week’s elections.

It is also true to a large extent that the party has kept to its core principle of inclusiveness, which includes spread of appointments and projects, spread of benefits and opportunities and ultimately its adherence to the principle of equity and justice.

In the beginning, it was James Ibori, an Urhobo from Delta Central that governed the state for eight years. He was succeeded by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, an Itsekiri from Delta South. So, in line with this zoning principle, the party in December settled for Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, from Delta North, as

From Paul Odili, Asaba

Uduaghan’s successor. Thus, closing the loop of justice.

In truth, for politics to remain an arena of shared goals and beliefs there must be equity and fairness, otherwise it would become a tool of oppression and exclusion. Delta State PDP abhors injustice, but adheres to the core values of equity and justice, knowing quite well that society must have this critical balance for progress to be made.

In Okowa, the PDP has a candidate that has shown his readiness for the job. He has campaigned in different parts of the state, with vigour and style. According to observers, he has displayed an understanding and knowledge of the state during such campaigns. Amongst other qualities, Okowa’s antecedents suggest that he comes to the turf ready to deliver.

Okowa’s stature has left the opposition bewildered, because it it is difficult to judge what they stand for.

Okowa’s bid is hardly threatened by the candidacy of Mr. O’tega Emerhor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of Great Ogboru of the Labour Party (LP). The politics of the two candidates are perceived as divisive. They are seen as spoilers who have no plan for the state.

The two candidates are have been appealing to the ethnic sentiments of

Everybody wants affirmative right: a right to be seen and respected as a stakeholder. Half of the whole by the opposition is politics of exclusion and marginalisation. And this is politics of the past. The 16 years of PDP has stabilized Delta State and created integration in ways many did not know was possible

the Urhobos, the largest ethnic group in the state, for support. But, so far the Urhobos have been divided among the three major candidates.

Thus, observers believe that The kind of politics that the opposition plays may have worked in the past but not anymore. They pander and promote ethnic agenda and seek to situate this as the only route to political Eldorado. But they are mistaken. Having being together in the last 16 years with PDP in the vanguard and with the evolution of politics in the state, our people are wiser and more comfortable on a platform that gives equal opportunity and access to everyone.

Today, in Delta every component part of Delta feels a sense of ownership of the Delta project. We all feel that given the dimension and direction of things, it is better to be equal part of the whole than to be half of the whole. Okowa and the PDP preach equal part of the whole, while the opposition preaches half of the

’

whole. The danger is that the politics of the opposition frightens people, it disturbs the Urhobos. Because the Urhobos know what is being said and presented is not who they really are.

People rightly fear politics of domination and control. Everybody wants affirmative right: a right to be seen and respected as a stakeholder. Half of the whole by the opposition is politics of exclusion and marginalisation.

And this is politics of the past. The 16 years of PDP has stabilized Delta State and created integration in ways many did not know was possible. A vote for the opposition will completely reverse this.

In this sense Okowa and the PDP in Delta state represents the future of the state. A future in which according to Okowa plan prosperity will flow in Delta state. There will be more investment in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, power and industrial parks. Okowa has promised to further develop the rural economy, there will be great empha-

•Okowa

sis on agriculture and ago-processing— the value-addition, the economy needs to be able to grow and reduce poverty. Okowa has rightly identified environmental and urban renewal as a focal point which means he will further extend efforts in combating climate change and environmental degradation.

The Okowa plan is also mindful of the place of education and health care system that will ensure further growth in human capacity. His emphasis on universal health insurance policy for all Deltans is admirable and is the logical next step to ensure that Deltans are healthy. In truth, what Okowa offers is by far qualitatively superior to what the opposition is putting on the table, which is actually nothing.

46

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

47

NATURAL HEALTH

Anti-aging tips for Buhari in change era (1) A

LL things being equal, as economists say, former Military Head of State Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) should succeed President GoodLuck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan on May 29. The choice of this date as a political succession day for Nigeria’s president, governors and parliaments may have petty origins on the surface, but, deep down, plugs into an important date in the universe. Traditionally since independent on October 1, 1960, this October day in which British colonialists transferred sovereignty to Nigerians has been Nigeria’s political transition day until the switch to May 1 now described as Democracy Day. In some spiritual circles world-wide, may 29 regarded as the peak of Pentecost, the outpouring of power from the Holy Spirit for the maintenance of creation.

Christians recognise Pentecost as a one-off event when disciples of the Lord Jesus received power from on High after his earthly departure. But, say the spiritual circle aforementioned, Pentecost happens every year.

From the highest planes of the spiritual realms, power surges downwards into creation like blood pumped out by the heart, for the maintenance and strengthening of everything which absorbs it. The regeneration observed in the spring season has been linked to the outpouring. So has the energising of human character and deeds, for good or ill.

For this power, like electricity or atomic energy, is neutral, pliable into any form for which the “potter” bears personal responsibility.

Commenting on this subject a few years ago, this column suggested many riots which have occurred in Nigeria’s history in this season, including the onset of Nigeria’s Biafra civil war (1967-70) on May 27, may have been due to the forging of this power into negative ends.

For it merely helps to actualise inherent volition. Ideally, the inherent volition of man should be the transformation of earth-life into paradise-like beauty. But since his soul filled with poison, his use of this power can only be for ignoble ends.

As we stand in the era of change, which president-elect Buhari promised in his election campaigns, our prayer is that he be clarified about these matters, see himself as an upbuilding tool in the hands of his creator, connect and attach to Him, act only under His guidance, open himself to the helping rays of the power of Pentecost which transcend religious frontiers and, as Nigeria’s leader of the moment lead us to loftier heights.

If he does this, change would have meaning, significance and impact in our lives.

Road to change The journey will be rough, we shouldn’t deceive ourselves. For the last thing many people desire and resist is change. And is because the spirit, tenant in the physical body we all legs about in, is in deep slumber.

When I was 40, in 1990, I took one day off work and traveled to Abeokuta, Ogun State to re-connect with the radiations of the town in which I grew up. I found, to my shock that if I was blindfolded, I would on my own find my way from the high on which I parked my car, to St. Andrews Primary School, Ileara, where, thanks to Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free Primary School education project, I began school in January 1956, the year Chief Awolowo began free education in Western Region. My father was a colonial policeman and may have been unable to afford the bill.

Nothing has changed in the environment between 1950 and 1990. The neighborhood was blighted.

Even the once lushful lawn of the parade ground of Ibarra police barracks where a reception was held for Queen Elizabeth II in 1956 had become patched and blighted.

Since the spirit forms the physical environment where it exists, it can be assumed that the state of the environment is the state of the spirit. Nigeria is replete with stories of successful people hesitant to build houses or make other investments in their villages out of fear that they may be killed.

Aging Buhari

T

HERE is no doubt that, at over 70, Gen. Buhari (rtd) is aging and would require bouncing health and energy to pull through his promises of four million jobs in one year, free education at all levels of schooling, steadying electricity all day long, curb of corruption, improvement of security and professionalism in the military, among many others. Add to these subtitle picture of voting patterns in the presidential election of March 28 which has led many people to conclude that wounds of the 1967 to 1970 Biafran war are far from healed. Thus manifested in grave ethnic divisions that need to be addressed.

Ethic division.

The voting pattern was the geography of the biafran war… the Eastern- Region (South- East and South- South) pitched against the North and the West. Some political observers blame it all on the South–West. Their thesis is that nowhere in history does the victor nation in a war relinquish power to the loser.

They site Germany and Japan as examples. Both nations lost the second world war to Britain. The United States, France and the Soviet Union (now Russian). Till this day both nations are forbidden to manufacture offensive military weapons. Besides, foreign troops from the victor nations except perhaps China are stationed in Germany and Japan to monitor them. By this logic, Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan should not have become Nigeria’s President after President YarA’dua’s death midterm in office.

The North opposed his ascension. But the South–West, backing constitutionalism, literally made him President.

back home and not seek to make a home of a host land.

Even Igbo soldiers in the Nigeria army returned home after skirmishes in the barracks in which some of them were killed by Northern soldiers. The mood in the East was for a breakaway from Nigeria. Lt. Col Yakubu Gowon, Head of State of Nigeria at 32, found this a daunting challenge. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of thought in the West, made the remarkable Statement: “If by commission or omission the East is allowed to go, the West will also follow.” The situation called for mediation and reconciliation. Ghana threw its doors open to Nigeria. All the regions met in Aburi, Ghana, Where Lt. Col Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, military governor of the Eastern regions, as opposed to federation, and Lt. Col. Gowon agreed. Lt. Col. Gowon rejected the agreement on his return to Nigeria, when the implications were explained to him. As was to be expected, Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu stuck to his guns, stating ON ABURI WE STAND. Chief Awolowo was to head for the East for a reconciliation meeting. It was at this meeting that the East said Chief Awolowo promised the East that, in the event of war between the East and the North, the West would fight in the side of the East.

It is instructive that the bitter struggle between the North and the South–West, Dr Ebele Jonathan, as Vice-President, kept mute, like the South-East and the South-South regions.

With victory achieved for Jonathan in both the left over two years of YarA’dua’s tenure and, later, a full four years term for himself, President Jonathan would display open pathological hatred for the South-West vengeance against the North. He was to describe South-Western as a pack of “rascals”, re-engage in puletic office known foes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from the South-West, who set the stage for Dr Ebele Jonathan, as governor of Bayelsa State, to become Vice President of the YarA’dua Presidency.

The South-West was diminished in key appointments as well. As for the North, President Jonathan adopted a carrot and stick approach. The carrot was key appointments, especially in the security terrain. The “stick” came in the form of folding arms pretending to have no immediate solution for the Boko Haram insurgency, before which the well-respected Nigerian military would appear to flee.

President Jonathan said he was not a “general”, in response to call that he engage the insurgents. Some critics of his Administration say the plot was to let a North –on-North war weaken the North for an easy political rout during the next Presidential election.

This would be facilitated by a sudden and victorious military assault as Boko Haram which would position President Jonathan as a tie-President who was latter left alone for another term. But it would seem the agenda, if there was one, miscalculated politically that the North and SouthWest, sworn political enemies since 1959, could offer a common political front in Nigerian history, and even fracture fortresses of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP). That the North/South-West coalition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was able to defeat President Jonathan was not just a question of the game of numbers but more of intellectual sagacity.

While President Jonathan and the PDP were busy trying to destroy the person and image of Gen. Buhari (rtd) and image of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a master architect of the APC, the APC was busy abroad internationalising the coming election. They knew the APC would win the polls and the PDP would attempt to rig them and deploy soldiers to suppress protests. They were dead right in what happened in Port Harcourt and Abia State, among other discomfitures of the elections.

Many people have said President Jonathan played the Statesman by unconditionally accepting defeat, a feat, it is said, for an incumbent African President. Somehow I do not share this view. I believe the President merely succumbed to international pressure reigned against him and accepted a negotiated settlement for a soft landing in which he would not be probed personally.

There is a veiled reference to this in Gen. Buhari’s reply to President Jonathan’s congratulatory message in which the President–elect promised that the President would be treated with “respect” and “understanding”.

We must now proceed from the geography of the presidential election to the psychological war inflicted ethnic injuries which a Buhari administration should tackle, which may sap his energy and for which, in the coming series of this column, it would be shown how again people like him can make themselves biologically younger than their calendar or calendaric ages and fulfil all their tasks as if they are young people and without a scratch or dent in their health

Ethnic war injuries The South–East has a grouse with the (1) North (2) South– West and (3) parts of the South–South.

The North Hundreds of thousands of igbos were killed genocidically in the North in 1966 which security forces, either helplessly or in full support, looked the other way. Naturally Igbos fled eastwards, to their homeland. It was a clear lesson that the generosity or warmness of a host land, not withstanding, there is no place on this earth that is a NO MAN’S LAND. It is better to invest the fruits of adventure

e-mail: femi.kusa@yahoo.com or olufemikusa@yahoo.com

The West HIS thinking dominates the thinking of the average man and woman in the East today, and explains why the East persists in its traditional opposition to anything originating from the West, however good or beneficial to the East, and why the East would wish the West dismantled and its star city, Lagos, regarded as a no man’s land.

Yet Chief Awolowo, in post-war speeches and in the books, have denied making such a promise at the meeting with Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu. A tape of the meeting recovered by Federal troops in Enugu following the fall of the capital city, and reviewed by the Nigerian Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Gen. Gowon (as he later became) found no such promise. Even Odumegwu Ojukwu after his return from exile did not insist such a promise was made.

The gap in this Eastern thinking and reality has led scholars to conclude that a promise of support from the West for secession by the East must have been invented by proseccession and pro-war intelligentia in the East to galvanise the population for a war of seccession.

T

Incapacitation of the West

The bitterness in the East over the West fighting alongside the North during the Biafra War takes no account of how the co-alition Federal government of the East (NCNC) and the North (NPC) emasculated the West in the civil service and the Armed forces, excused the Mid-West region (later called Bendel State, now Edo and Delta State) from the West as a part of that emasculation, encourage break up of the Action Group (AG), government party in the West, and sent the leader of the region, Chief Awolowo, to 10 years imprisonment on charges that he plotted to overthrow the NPC/NCNC Federal government. Reasonable people should have asked: how would Chief Awolowo have done this when his Yoruba kinsmen were little present in the Army under the said emasculation? An evidence of the emasculation presents itself in the story of Brigadier Ogundipe. After the killing of Maj. Gen. J.T.U. Aguiyi Ironsi, an Igbo, who was the Head of State of Nigeria, in the counter coup of July 1966, Brig. Ogundipe was the most senior Nigerian Army officer around. But when he commanded a northern private, the latter declined to obey until the head received instruction from a northern officer. Brig. Ogundipe had no Yoruba soldiers to enforce his order. So, like Igbo officers, he took refuge… in a naval ship commanded by a fellow Yoruba, who took him to England. With this kind of scenario, how did the East expect the West to fight a war. In any case, northerners controlled all the army barracks which rank up the West.

In Lagos, there were Myong Barracks, Abalti Barracks, Bonny Camp, Doddan Barracks, Ojoo Cantonement and Ikeja Cantonement. There were army garrisons in Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and other towns. In any case, the Yoruba are guided by the wisdom of the proverb of the elders that “ti owo omode ko ba ba ida, kii bere iku to pa baba re”, that means until he has firmly gripped the handle of the sword, a child doesn’t seek vengeance against the killers of his father.

In the East at the time, Lt. Col. Banjo, a Yoruba, was in the custody of Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu. Lt. Col. Banjo was one of the four officers who staged the first coup in January 1966. They handed over to Gen. Ironsi when the coup failed.

Banjo and Ifeajuna were released by Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu to work with him. When it would appear the West was not forth coming in striking a military blow, Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu decided on an invasion of Lagos from across the Niger through Benin. Banjo and Ifeajuna objected.

He had them executed. Biafran troops from Onitsha crossed to Asaba and seized Bendel State which they renamed Republic of Benin.

From Benin, they moved towards Lagos but were stopped at Ore by troops commanded by Maj. Gen. Muritala Muhammed. Had Biafran troops succeeded, it was possible a Republic of Oduduwa would have been declared. But many people in the West doubt this intention.

Why, they wonder, did Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu not make the East the theatre of war by invading the North through the East-North border. Why force a war on the defenceless West? In any case, what were the justifications for the air bombings of a supposedly friendly or neutral Lagos?

Tel: 08116759749, 08034004247, 07025077303

48

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

49

50

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

51

52

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

53

54

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

55

MONEYLINK

Nigeria’s oil exports to drop by $52b Stories by Collins Nweze

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

T

HE International Mon etary Fund (IMF’s) Ar ticle IV Consultation Staff Report has said Nigeria’s oil exports will drop to $52 billion this year, from $88 billion the previous year.

This represents a reduction of six percentage points of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and would reduce the external current account balance and international reserves.

The Fund’s report released yesterday said Nigeria’s outlook for growth is expected to moderate as the economy adjusts to permanently lower oil prices.

According to the Fund, fiscal oil revenues are projected at 3.4 per cent of GDP, down from 5.8 per cent last year, limiting fiscal spending. It said staff projects that these aggre-

gate demand shocks could lower growth by about 1.5 percentage point from 2014 to 4.3 per cent this year—the overall impact on non-oil sector GDP will come from cuts in public investment and a reduction in real purchasing power of oil receipts.

It said the depreciation of the exchange rate will add to inflation, reflecting the passthrough of higher domestic prices for imports, but the effect is likely to be contained, in part due to lower food prices from increased local production of staple food crops.

The IMF said the outlook is compromised by low fiscal and external buffers, which have reduced the capacity to absorb shocks relative to the experience of the 2008-09 financial crisis.

The lender said government expressed it determination to implement appropriate measures to manage risks.

“They agreed that the oil price shock is significant and, at least in part, permanent, but saw a smaller effect on economic activity than staff, owing to measures targeted at sectors critical for growth (agriculture, power, small enterprises) and

the impact of remittances.

They noted that rising food self-sufficiency would limit the pass-through to inflation and activity in housing construction would continue,” it said.

IMF said although small, Nigeria’s exports to Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries have been increasing from $1 billion in 1990 to about $6 billion in 2013.

It said the implementation in January this year of the Common External Tariffs (CET) for ECOWAS member countries is expected to reduce incentives for informal trade and simplify customs procedures, potentially increasing recorded trade volumes.

IMF said: “Moreover, the slowdown in Nigeria will adversely affect informal exports to Nigeria. Anecdotal evidence indicates that goods that are subject to import restrictions in Nigeria have become key export goods for neighboring countries.

“Those informal exports to Nigeria are important sources of income for some neighboring countries and outward spillovers may be nontrivial.”

Stanbic IBTC Bank funds Lagos transport sector

D

ESIROUS of contribut ing to the improve ment of transportation in Lagos State, Stanbic IBTC Bank has financed the acquisition of Tata buses by Southdrift Investment Limited for operation under the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme of the Lagos State government. The buses were commissioned at a ceremony in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, recently.

Southdrift, which will operate the buses on dedicated routes, has a five-year BRT contract with LAGBUS Asset Management Limited, operator of the Bus Rapid Transit scheme, to run a particular route within the Lagos metropolis till 2018.

Speaking at the commissioning event, Head, Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Lloyd Onaghinon, said the bank has a professional vehicle and asset finance unit which understands the needs of the market and its customers. He said Stanbic IBTC Bank has established a robust relationship with LAGBUS and Southdrift and is ready to work with both

organisations to improve transportation in Lagos. “At Stanbic IBTC Bank, we understand the needs of our clientele and we constantly strive to provide innovative banking solutions tailored to meet those needs. With the vehicle financing, we hope to deepen our healthy relationship with LAGBUS and Southdrift as well as the Lagos State government to engender an efficient transport system in the state and across Nigeria,” added Onaghinon.

The latest financing demonstrates Stanbic IBTC Bank’s pedigree in vehicle and assets financing. Stanbic IBTC Bank, under a deal with the state government, financed the acquisition of 100 Tata waste compactor trucks for refuse disposal in the state.

Head, Franchise Management, LAGBUS Asset Management Limited, Mr Ogunyankin Olubodun, commended Stanbic IBTC Bank for its support in transform-

ing the Lagos State transportation system to meet the needs of Lagos residents. According to him, “We commend Stanbic IBTC Bank for its intervention in the Lagos State transportation sector.

LAGBUS is determined to ensure that the state transport system is well run and we will continue to extend the necessary assistance to our franchisees, including Southdrift Investment,” he said.

Director of Operations, Southdrift Investment Limited, Mr Olatunji Baiyewu, while thanking the bank for funding the acquisition of the buses, assured Lagos residents of better quality transport services at affordable prices.

“The new buses clearly show our resolve to constantly improve our services. Commuters deserve the best and we will continue to provide them comfort as they commute within Lagos,” Baiyewu said.

Keystone Bank unveils Pink Network

K

EYSTONE Bank Lim ited has unveiled Pink Network, an initiative for women entrepreneurs and professionals to share business ideas and interact.

Speaking during an interactive session in Lagos, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN), Mrs. Debola Osibogun, said: “Keystone Bank Limited has creatively set up this platform to cater for the dreams and aspirations of women SMEs and the professional working class women.

“This initiative, beyond supporting the Central Bank’s Financial Inclusion Policy, would also solve some of the challenges built around markets and infra-

structure that SMEs face.”

Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank, Mr. Philip Ikeazor identified the possibilities that Pink Network offers to include financing of ventures in “agriculture, technology, education, hospitality and tourism, media and entertainment, professional services and advisory.

Once it is a small and medium scale venture, the possibilities are endless.”

According to him, a lot has been written about women, from girls in their teens, to women in middle ages, from student entrepreneurs, to mummy entrepreneurs, from women who quit their jobs to start a business, to women who were made redundant and so started a busi-

ness. “I strongly believe that the Pink Network can offer a platform for the success story that every woman entrepreneur needs to make an impact to family, friends and the community at large. We want that when you tell your success story as a creator, a businesswoman, an entrepreneur and that it is a PINK story.”

Its Executive Director in charge of Operations and Technology, Mrs. Yvonne Isichei spoke about the motive behind starting the Pink Network: “We were inspired to build this platform for women from our vision of creating utmost value for our stakeholders and our mission of being the preferred partner.”

56

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

NEWS Why Rivers must align with centre, by Peterside Continued from page 2

meeting in Abuloma, Peterside assured every adult of voting age of maximum protection during the April 11 elections.

He said that those who unleashed violence and mayhem on the people during the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections are already aware of a new Nigeria that abhors lawlessness and impunity.

He said: “I am sure everybody remembered what happened on March 28. They used the army, police, SSS and mil-

itants, seized result sheets and hijacked ballot boxes. They also arrested many people all to favour PDP. ”But God had a different plan. Despite the intimidation and stuffing of ballot boxes, God said it was not time for Goodluck Jonathan to continue in office. God said he wanted Buhari, can any of us challenge God? ”After that election, the spirit of Commander-in-Chief changed. Everybody now looks forward to a new Commander-in-Chief, a new person who will command the Army,

Navy, Air force, SSS and Police. If anybody today calls the Army and gives instructions to intimidate innocent people, there are chances that they will not obey because if they obey, in two months time, they will answer questions. ”If anybody calls the police now to arrest you unjustly, the police will not obey because they know that there will be consequences in two months.

This is so because we have a new president who will protect every Nigerian. So, be rest assured that nobody can harass or intimidate you again.”

Olunloyo’s daughter, PDP, Accord Reps, others join APC Continued from page 2

ship candidate, Senator Rashidi Ladoja to prepare for the Olubadan stool as he would be retired finally from politics on Saturday. He said former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala should also prepare for his retirement from politics.

Mrs. Lawani said she left the PDP because of the sterling performance of the APC-led government, adding that with the APC occupying the centre in Abuja, there would be quicker development in Oyo State.

Receiving the defectors, Ar-

egbesola said the Presidentelect and other leaders of the party could not attend the event due to other party engagements. He said they sent their appreciation of the massive votes that the people of the state gave the APC in the presidential/National Assembly elections.

Aregbesola called on state electorate not to identify with the people he called “emergency progressives” whom he said wanted to reap where they did not sow, saying that it had shown that they were fake.

Ajimobi congratulated the

defectors for what he called the decapitation of “the sore thumb of Oyo politics”.

Ajimobi debunked “the sinister rumour” that immediately he is re-elected, he would increase hotel tariffs and taxes.

He promised that the old and new members would benefit from the government.

Others at the ceremony were Osun State Deputy Governor Mrs. Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Mrs. Abiola Ajimobi, former House of Representatives Speaker Patricia Etteh, all senators-elect, House of Representatives-elect and many others.

Buhari in Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi Continued from page 2

The source said: “In one of the sessions, Buhari told party leaders that his victory at the presidential election is incomplete without a team to work with.

He said he cannot succeed at the centre without governors to work with.

“He pleaded with APC leaders and members to be united and work harder and ensure the party’s success on Saturday.

“He also advised them to avoid violence in whatever form in order not to play into the hands of PDP. He said with their ballot they can effect the needed change in the affected states.”

“In Adamawa, Buhari held a meeting with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and top APC leaders on how to support

the governorship candidate, Sen. Jibrilla Bindow.

“He asked APC members not to separate presidential election from other strands of elections because the party is one.

He urged APC members to sustain the winning streak in most states to give the nation the required change.”

The Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, said: “The President-elect went to generate support for states that need help. These states are Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi where the incumbents have more or less become desperate.

“Gen. Buhari went to these states because the governors in these states are ready to cling to any straw to retain their

states for their party, which is no longer accepted.

“So, the President-elect went to encourage APC leaders and members to be steadfast. The fear of losing these states is not the issue at all.”

It was gathered that a plot to intimidate APC members in Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Benue, Jigawa, Kaduna and Taraba had been uncovered.

A party leader said: “We are keeping a tab on some of these states in the North where the PDP is hell-bent on influencing the governorship and Assembly elections.

“We are determined to be peaceful and ensure that our votes count. But we have asked our members to be vigilant in protecting the sanctity of the ballot.

I was nearly blown off by wind of change, says Oke Continued from page 2

vision by those who are the privileged to preside over our affairs.

“They changed a good government and replaced it with bad government and today there is penury in the land; deceit, unemployment. No industry, no employment, no job, no contract are being awarded and what we have are broken promises, deception and corruption at its peak.

“Olokola that was supposed to be the desire, change to the state was killed. The last time I met Baba Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Baba said his priority is for the revival of Olokola in Ondo State. Mr. Chairman, we have come to join you so that this can be accomplished.”

Oke went on: “Our belief is that for Ondo State to grow, you must open up the coastal resources and the forest resources. Today, what we have is replacement of priority. What is the meaning of mega primary school? It has no useful purpose. I called it mega nonsense and they were querelling with me and today, I call it mega wastage. What we see in Ondo State, debts; no project is going on and our money is being taken to Abuja on weekly basis to be a good boy in Abuja. I am

happy that the priority of Mr. President-elect is to fight against corruption.”

The three-term senator representing Ondo Central, who is a kinsman of Governor Olusegun Mimiko,Chief Gbenga Ogunniya, described his defection to the APC as the formalisation of a process which he started since September 2014.

According to him, he stopped attending PDP functions, rallies and meetings, even as he was relating with APC leadership and strategising with them since then.

Olanusi urged the party members and the new memebers to work hard and ensure they repeat on Sunday the feat recorded during the presidential elections.

Kekemeke said he believed that their coming together was to rescue the state from one man who believed he is smarter than others.

“The Igbotako Accord is that we must all come together to put an end to the looting. Today, we have another accord, which is Great Ondo Accord that all political parties coming together to deal with the governor. Ondo State is bigger.His ambition is to be the handsome, the richest, best fighter that everything that comes to the state must pass through him.

“Today, he is shedding crocodile tears and we must not be deceived. He piloted the state as if there was no Assembly.

We must quickly make sure we put an end to that.

“We are expecting nothing less than 25 per cent to the additional strength of the party from our new members. We must come together against one man who believes he’s the best in all things.”

Buhari to unveil jobs plan May 29 Continued from page 2

for defending their votes during the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections and urged them to do the same in the last round of the elections.

Wamakko said that the APCled administration would continue to initiate policies and programmes aimed at moving the state forward.

“We have done a lot in the areas of health care delivery, education, roads construction, agriculture, job creation, among others,” he said, adding that the incoming administration would continue with the laudable programmes.

He also called on party supporters to shun violence and provocation in order to ensure peaceful polls.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

57

NEWS

Obasanjo in secret meeting with Elechi

F

ORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday held a meeting with Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi in Abakaliki.

Although no official statement was issued, it was learnt that they deliberated on the governorship and house of assembly elections.

The Nation gathered that Obasanjo visited Elechi on Tuesday and they held a marathon closed-door meeting, which lasted till yesterday.

A source told our reporter that the former President, whose son married from

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

Elechi’s hometown, Ikwo, did not want the visit to be made public.

The source added that Obasanjo, who was sad about by the political development in the state, condemned the situation.

Governor Elechi yesterday warned against manipulation of this Saturday’s elections.

In a live broadcast to the people, Elechi said: “Those who have perfected plans to bring in mercenaries into Ebonyi State to camouflage

either as soldiers, policemen or youth corps members should know that there will be no hiding place for them and their sponsors or anybody else for that matter in the event of the expected social unrest.

“Many people are prepared to protect their votes and will not tolerate any falsification of election results.

“Provocations whether in the form of silent recording of false votes or brazen snatching of election materials or firing of guns to scare away people in order to create an opportunity for elec-

tion malpractices, are actions which people can no longer tolerate.

“Any INEC official, who refuses to declare results as he is mandated to do by law on the spot, is incurring the wrath of the voters. I do not, by this pronouncement, incite anybody to violence, instead it is a warning that whatever will trigger off any discontentment and unpeaceful reaction should be avoided.”

He decried the violence, which greeted the National Assembly elections in many parts of the state.

T

APC accuses INEC, PDP of plan to void votes

HE Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some ‘unscrupulous elements’ in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are planning to tamper with the March 28 election of the Osun East Senatorial District.

In a petition to INEC by the APC state Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun, the party accused both the PDP and INEC of wanting to use the snatching and subsequent mutilation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Form EC8C from the Returning Officer by chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in respect of Osun East Senatorial District on Sunday March 29, 2015, to engage in this unethical and shameless characters.

“Information reaching us has suggested that PDP is planning to collude with some unscrupulous elements within your establishment to “void” some of our votes or thumb-print some more ballot papers in favour of PDP. We are not just unnecessarily edgy. We have threaded this path before.

“The cases of Abiodun Awolola (Egbedore State Constituency), MuritalaAdegboye Akintunde (Osogbo State Consituency) and Nathaniel Agunbiade (Ijesa North Federal Constituency), are too recent to be forgotten.

“In those matters, we verily believe that the ballot that were casted for us were voided in the custody of INEC. We do not have any iota of confidence in INEC on this matter.

Workers endorse Ahmed From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

W

•From left: Managing Director, A&J Estate Ltd, Mr. Abiola Soyemi with buyers, Mr. Saidu Olusola, Mrs. Aralola Towolawi and Mrs Bolanle Awomuse at the handing over of keys of the first phase of Dreamville Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos.

More support for Ambode

‘Reciprocate Tinubu’s gesture’

By Seyi Odewale

GROUP, Democratic Dividends Initiative (DDI), has advised Igbo in Lagos to desist from purposeless politics and embrace politics of vision and plan.

The DDI gave the advice after its meeting at Festac town chaired by Paul Eze. He said the seat of the Senate President may elude the Southeast because of lack of collective political plan for the zone.

He warned that for the Igbo to have their share in the leadership, there is the need for a political clearing house, irrespective of party affiliation.

The group called for support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) In Saturday’s governorship elections.

“Let the Igbo and their organisations vote for APC not only for their good performance in Lagos but also to consider Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill and love to the Igbo.

He noted that Lagos is the only state in Nigeria, outside Igbo states with good number of Igbo in the government, appointed as Commissioners, supervisory councillors, since 1999, when Tinubu was governor.

GBO lawyers under the auspices of Otu Oka-Iwu have congratulated President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on winning the presidential election.

They also congratulated Vice President-elect Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), whom they described as “one of our own.”

The congratulatory message was contained in a statement issued yesterday and signed by the President and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Zik Obi II and Mr. Emeka Nwadioke.

The Igbo law society hailed President Goodluck Jonathan “for sacrificing personal ambition on the altar of national unity, peace and development.” It said he would go down in history “as having kept faith with his commitment to deepen Nigeria’s electoral process and nascent democracy.”

The Igbo lawyers extolled the President for his display of statesmanship in congratulating the President-elect even before the final results were declared, stressing: “This action is responsible for the absence of post-election violence in the country.”

Group donates items to the needy

Party, candidate sue INEC for alleged exclusion in Anambra

A

Lagos market leader, Tairu Odunosho, has called on Lagos residents to vote for All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Akinwumi Ambode and House of Assembly candidates in the centre.

Odunosho, who is the Baba-Oloja of Odo-Eran Market Association, Itire, Mushin Local Government Area, said a vote for Ambode is a vote for continuity of the good works of Governor Babatunde Fashola.

His view was supported by his woman counterpart, Mrs. Bernice Gboluwaga, who said Fashola’s achievement must be consolidated upon.

“It is important that we allow Ambode to finish the good work that Fahsola is doing and has not completed. That is why I am calling on all Lagosians, especially market men and women in Mushin Local Government Area, to vote for Ambode, Mrs. Funmi Tejuosho and Omititi,” Odunosho said.

The market leaders urged traders to disregard religious and ethnic rivalries and reciprocate the good gestures they have enjoyed under the APC government in Lagos.

Oke-Ogun indigenes support Ajimobi, deputy governor

O

ORKERS under the umbrella of the Kwara Labour Congress have endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a joint statement, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Farouq Akanbi, Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Olumoh Nasir Kolawole and Chairman, Joint Negotiation Council, Kehinde Kolawole, said the governor has remained workers-friendly.

They listed a 31-point achievements of the Ahmed administration concerning workers’ welfare including the implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage from August 2011, prompt payment of salary on or before the 25th of every month to core service, teaching service and State Universal Basic Board (SUBEB).

Other achievements of the governor, according to the workers, included “training and retraining of civil servants, downward review of Pay as You Earn (PAYE) which was effected during the minimum wage implementation by about 38 per cent as well as the pact not to retrench workers on account of dwindling federal allocation.

“We may not have achieved the best, but certainly we are not among the worst despite the financial situation of the state and country. Governor Ahmed has done his best for workers.”

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

KE-Ogun indigenes in Oyo State have declared their support for the re-election of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his deputy Michael Alake Adeyemo.

They also drummed up support for the House of Assembly candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The indigenes spoke at a reception organised in honour of Adeyemo at Ogboro in Saki East Local Government.

The Acting Chairman, Oke-Ogun Development Council (ODC), Chief Joseph Oladele, said the event was organised to express the solidarity of the Oke-Ogun indigenes for their son, Otunba Adeyemo.

He described him as a worthy ambassador of Oke-Ogun, who had shown commitment to the development of the area, saying: “Otunba Adeyemo is a silent achiever and a loyal party man, who did not betray the confidence reposed in him by his boss, Senator Ajimobi.”

The ceremony, which was attended by personalities in OkeOgun, featured speakers, who supported the Ajimobi/Adeyemo ticket.

They included Amb. Layi Iyanda; the former Chief Medical Director (CMD), National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Olusegun Ajuwon; ex-Commandant, National War College, Admiral Amos Adedeji (retd) and former Chairman, Saki Parapo, Alhaji Bayo Akande. The people stressed the need for Oyo State to be in the mainstream for socio-economic development.

A

A

non-governmental organisation (NGO), Eko Volunteer Campaign Group has embarked on mass mobilisation of people to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly elections billed for Saturday.

The group, an arm of the APC is interested in improving the well-being of the downtrodden. Recently, the group visited residents of Ajeromi/Ifelodun and Lagos Island areas to distribute several items aimed at enhancing their well-being.

Men, women, young and old as well as the aged thronged different spots to receive the items which included rice, beans, vegetable oil and tomatoes among other items which were given to them free.

Led by its leaders Alhaji Ganiyu Badmus and DirectorGeneral, Akeem Apatira, members of the group turned their rally to carnival of sorts.

The NGO’s mandate is to bring smiles to the faces of the lessprivileged persons in the society. Since the inception of the group, it had enhanced financial and social capacities of many Lagosians by providing them with basic amenities and essential commodities.

Apart from consumables, other items provided for the residents of the areas they visited were writing materials, books, clothes and machines.

Although the group is an offshoot of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, its leaders are at the grassroots where they show commitment to mobilisation and development of the rural areas. To this end, the group used the occasion to campaign for continuity in the state.

Igbo lawyers congratulate Buhari, Osinbajo

By Adebisi Onanuga

I

By Joseph Jibueze

T

HE United Democratic Party (UDP) and its candidate have sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, for allegedly being listed in the wrong constituency for Saturday’s House of Assembly election.

In the suit filed by their lawyer, Mr. Chijioke Emeka, the party and its candidate Mrs. Angela Nnaneme seek an order compelling INEC to list them for Anaocha II State Constituency.

According to the plaintiffs, UDP filed all the required forms and submitted them with Mrs. Nnaneme as the party’s candidate for Anaocha II. Surprisingly, INEC listed her for Anaocha I State Constituency in its January list, prompting her to petition the commission for correction. She said the petition was acknowledged by INEC in Awka.

Despite the petition, INEC published a reviewed list in March and failed to correct the error, as the candidate remained listed in the wrong constituency.

In a supporting affidavit, the plaintiff said after submitting her papers for Anaocha II Constituency, she campaigned, only to realise that INEC had by its action excluded her from the election.

She, therefore, prayed the court to compel INEC to redress the wrong so that she would be included in the election.

Although INEC has been served with the Originating Summons, no date has been fixed for hearing.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

58

NEWS Igbo leaders in Lagos endorse Ambode

I

GBO leaders in Lagos State have endorsed the candidature of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, noting that the needed transformation from the centre will be achieved if Ambode’s ambition is supported.

They spoke after a meeting with traditional rulers in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, at the council Secretariat, Festac Town, Lagos.

The Igbo leaders averred that Lagos has been their home and they will always support the progressives.

They enjoined all Igbo to vote for Ambode.

The Chairman of Ndi Eze, Lagos, Eze Gordian Dim, also refuted the “hate” comment by the Oba of Lagos.

“What transpired at the Oba’s palace was not what was painted by some media organisations. I engineered the whole process, and I can say confidently to you that the Oba statement was misconstrued and should be discarded.

“His statement was a joke and we all laughed through it, we even promised him a wife,” he noted.

The Onilado of Ilado and Inagbe Island, Oba Mobadenle Oyekan thanked them for the visit and assured them that Lagos is home to all and the government would never deny any citizen his or her right, as well as discriminate anybody irrespective of tribe, religion or ethnic background.

Ijaw National Congress endorses Peterside

T

HE leadership of the Ijaw National Congress, an umbrella body of Ijaw people, yesterday endorsed Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

But some members believed to be sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, faulted the endorsement.

There was a heated argument yesterday between the executives and some members over the endorsement. The altercation attracted the Police and managers of the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt, venue of the news conference.

Financial Secretary of the INC Eastern Zone Mr. Frank Hart read out a communiqué saying the INC had resolved to endorse a candidate of Ijaw extraction.

The communiqué indicated that the Ijaw elders and leaders had without prejudice endorsed Peterside as the next governor

•Pro-Wike members kick •Elders seek support for APC From Bisi Olaniyi, and Clarice Azuatalam, Port Harcourt

of Rivers State.

It reads: “Following the resolutions and communiqués of the INC Eastern Zone in past programmes held in October 2013, June and September 2014, we hereby reiterate our resolve to endorse a governorship candidate of Ijaw extraction without prejudice to the political party. In the spirit of fairness, good faith and good conscience, which have guided Rivers people in electing our past leaders.

“In the light of this and in line with the time-honoured principle of power rotation, the Ijaw National Congress, Eastern Zone, the authentic voice of Ijaw people, Ijaw elders and leaders have endorsed Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside of the APC as the preferred, most

viable and qualified candidate of all.”

The Rivers State Elder and Leaders Council yesterday appealed to the people of the state to vote for Peterside to avoid opposing the government at the centre.

Chairman of the council, Chief Albert Horsfall, who made this call in Port Harcourt yesterday, explained that it had been a tradition in the to allocate principal offices to persons from the same ethnic area.

He said it would be unfair for a governor from Ikwerre extraction in the person of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi to hand over to another Ikwerre man.

The security expert urged the youths to shun any act of violence and lawlessness, adding that Rivers needs to make friends and negotiate from its position of strength and natural wealth.

“Has it or has it not been the tradition in this State that we do not allocate the principal offices of the State Authority, e.g.

Governor, Federal Minister, Chief Judge to persons from the same ethnic community?

“That is what would likely happen if you vote in another Ikwerre as governor of the state.

We must not goad or encourage our youths to project or be involved in more acts of lawlessness, violence or defiance.

“Dear Rivers People, can we, once again, remain in opposition to the Federal Government and see our people continuously deprived in a land where we have made so much contribution and sacrifice? That’s what we get when we vote a PDP candidate for governor! So think again, my dear Rivers people”.

Horsfall, however, pleaded with the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to appoint Amaechi into a position that would benefit the state, adding that largesse from the Federal Government had eluded Rivers for the past six years.

T

F

ORMER Deputy Minority Whip in the House of Representatives Emma ArigbeOsula, who hails from Edo State, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Arigbe-Osula said: “The fact that I am coming out to say I am joining the APC is a mere formality because your (referring to Governor Adams Oshiomhole) superior position in the uplifting of this state, more than any one has done, has earned you the support of the people.

“We can say today that you have done a true transformation in the real sense of it, not just in words. Edo State was left shattered after eight years of PDP maladministration.

“In 2012, I came out to say that we must re-elect you. Now I am coming out to say having elected the President in which you have a hand, indeed it was your project and I want to say thank you for bringing development to our state. I know you are a great fighter, victorious in many fights but I never knew you have the ability to raise the dead because the state was almost dead before you took over the state.”

LP uncovers plot to rig elections

First Lady visits Okrika HE First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan arrived yesterday in her home town, Okrika, Rivers State, to a warm welcome.

Mrs. Jonathan’s visit is the first since the March 28 Presidential election, which President Goodluck Jonathan lost to his challenger President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

The first lady, who expressed surprise at the large turnout of people, thanked them for their love and support.

She described their warm welcome as a demonstration of their genuine love and affection for her.

She also thanked them for their prayers, support and belief in her husband’s leadership.

Some of the people, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said they were proud of the first lady.

One of them, Mrs Remi Kuku, said the women of Nigeria had never had it so good until the first lady came on board.

“History will be kind to her, no matter what anyone or group says about her; she is a goal-getter and I wish her well’’, Mrs Kuku said.

Mr James Bright said President Jonathan had contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of Okrika people.

“She is the voice of the Okrika people; she fought for our cause and we owe her a debt of gratitude.”

Ex-Chief Whip Arigbe-Osula dumps PDP

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

•Former Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor displaying his All Progressives Congress (APC) membership card at a rally in Benin.

With him are Governor Adams Oshiomhole (left) and APC Chairman Hon Anselm Ojezua.

Shipping firm delays N3b containers at Lagos port

O

VER 6,000 containers worth over N3 billion are trapped at the Lagos port following the importers’ and their clearing agents’ inability to get their Delivery Order (DO) from the management of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Apapa, and move their goods out of the port, it emerged yesterday.

Source said the importers and their clearing agents are finding it difficult to get the DO because of the ongoing industrial crisis.

At the shipping company yesterday, over 1,000 importers and their clearing agents were inside the MSC office, waiting needlessly and endlessly without anybody telling them when the crisis would be

By Oluwakemi Dauda resolved.

Importers and members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said the problem started on Monday.

One of the affected clearing agents, Mr Kayode Ogunsanu, said his company has more than 20 containers waiting for clearing and wondered why the management of the company has failed to key into the trade facilitation programme of the Federal Government and delaying cargo processing procedures.

“At the Port and Cargo Terminal (PTML) where we are having our containers, we are facing serious problem to approach the terminal operator

because we are yet to collect our delivery order from the shipping company. It is now three days since we requested for it but we are yet to be given. The Shippers’ Council and the Minister of Transport.

Many containers are trapped at the port and very soon the terminal operators may be asking us to pay demurrage. There is bound to be crisis and that is why we are urging the Federal Government to address the problem before it degenerates.

“As it is now, unless the Shippers’ Council comes to assist us, there is no cargo that came into the country through the MSC that will not pay demurrage,” Ogunsanu said.

An official of the company said some of the officials were not making things easy for the

Airport Car Hire Operators back Lagos APC candidate

A

IRPORT Car Hire Operators yesterday declared support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode .

The car operators, at a rally at the airport, said they believe the APC candidate would initiate adequate policies that would grow the transport sector.

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor The coordinator of western zone of the Car Hire Association of Nigeria, Mr Olagbadebo Joshua ,said the operators have made their position known to the APC chieftain, Lanre Rasak ( KLM), who visited them at the airport.

He said the airport car hire operators are favourably dis-

posed to supporting the APC governorship candidate in Lagos to pursue continuity in governance.

He said:” We are fully in support of Akinwunmi Ambode because we do not want Lagos State to be in the opposition again. We are in support of the APC governorship candidate to foster the development of Lagos State.”

importers and their clearing agents by not addressing the problems facing their workers.

“We the junior staff are not happy with our management.

The Managing Director and other senior officials of this company are also not helping matters.

The condition under which we are working is very bad.”

An importer said he took a loan to import some of the items that are trapped at the port.

According to him, importers pay as much as N 12, 600 on 40ft container per day to the shipping company and additional N12, 600 at the terminal as demurrage.

“Majority of us in the importation business take loans from the banks to remain in the trade. Once there is a delay in bringing the goods out of the port, our investment would suffer and we would not be able to make profit let alone paying staff salary “Don’t forget that in the last few days, the cargo processing method stopped. EEC couldn’t move our containers out of the port and at the end of the day we we may end up to pay a lot of money to the same shipping company that caused the unnecessary delay and the terminal operators unless the Shippers’ Council intervenes,” he said.

T

HE Labour Party (LP) has alerted to a plot to rig Saturday’s poll in Delta State.

The party alleged that the ‘powers that be’ already have result sheets for the elections.

Addressing reporters in Abuja, party National Chairman Alhaji Abdukadir Abdulsalam said there were signs the alleged fraud of March 28 would be repeated on Saturday.

He said: “Delta State, being a peculiar case, had various credibility issues o March 28, and has shown signs of concluded rigging arrangement for Saturday.

“May it interest the public that the result sheets of the yet to hold elections is already in public domain”.

The party’s Secretary, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, also called for a cancellation of election results in some states on account of alleged manipulation.

He listed the states as Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Borno, Ebonyi.

Ajulo warned that if their demand was not attended to, the party would pursue its grievance in the law court.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

59

NEWS

10,000 youths protest in Anambra

O

VER 10,000 members of eight youth groups in Anambra State yesterday protested alleged rigging by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in connivance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the March 28 elections.

They marched on the grave of the Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, in Nnewi, to express their grievances.

The groups, Igbo Gadi Mma, United Igbo People’s Congress, Anambra Youth

•‘INEC, PDP rigged March 28 polls’ From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Forum, Anambra Youth for Peace, Anambra Traders Club, Igbo Youth Initiative, Igbo Students Forum and Good Governance Progressive Forum, also protested at Agulu, former Governor Peter Obi’s community; Prince Arthur Eze’s Ukpor community and Chief Ifeanyi Ubah’s community, alleging that they were involved in the electoral fraud.

Their leaders are Comrades Sylvester Emeka, Uche Madugadi, Emmanuel Oliseh, Emeka Okolo, Alloy Obi, Ositadinma Echefuna, Okechukwu Okonkwo and Kingsley John.

In a statement, they said said: “Igbo youths demand that the resident electoral commissioner (REC) and field Returning officers be redeployed by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, before Saturday’s elections.

“We are ready to protect our people’s votes and areas from political criminals and thieves, who have no regard for the welfare of Ndi Anambra.

“We warn students, motor park touts and cultists used as thugs by the PDP as instruments of election rigging to desist.

“The House of Assembly election must be free and fair.

Let the people’s wish and votes count. We want a peaceful Anambra State for the sake of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.”

Group raises alarm over plot to dump PVC in Plateau

T

HE Plateau State government has directed voters who have no Permanent Voter Cards to use their Temporary Voter Cards on Saturday, it was alleged yesterday.

“We want to tell our people categorically to disregard the statement regarding the conduct of the next elections,” the Redemption Integration Group said at a news conference addressed by Hon. Nankin Bagudu.

It described the directive that people can use temporary voter cards as mischievous, done in bad faith and “a calculated attempt to rubbish our people and cause chaos in the state.”

“The recent statement ascribed to the leadership of the state is suggestive of a serious deliberate intention on the part of the government to scuttle the conduct of the next elections or create crisis within the state.

“This we regard as unfortunate, irresponsible and unbecoming of a matured leadership. We are therefore calling on the people to stand firm and be watchful as there is deliberate effort to create crisis in the state,” the group said.

The group said it also learnt

By John Austin Unachukwu

of another plot for thugs be used in All Progressives Congress (APC) strongholds to cause chaos and disrupt the elections by snatching ballot boxes.

“We are equally disturbed by the conduct of the INEC commissioner in the state.

There has been series of allegations of compromise and deliberate collaborations between him and the PDP government in the state.

“It will appear that these allegations are true since the INEC commissioner failed to react to the comments on the use of the Temporary Voters Card.

“We expect that such a sensitive issue will definitely engage the attention of the INEC commissioner to the extent that it will require his immediate reaction and clarification to the people of the state with regards to what the INEC guideline provides with respect to the issue.

“His tacit silence can be seen as support to the attempt to cause chaos. We hereby express our lack of confidence in the neutrality of the INEC commissioner,” the group said.

College matriculates 800 students for NCE

T •Some of the women during the protest

Women protest ‘manipulation’ of poll’s results in Abia

O

VER 1,000 Abia State women, dressed in black, have protested in Umuahia against what they described as the falsification of the National Assembly election results in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They alleged that the election, which was peacefully conducted, was rigged by the PDP in connivance with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Operating under the aegis of

Abia Women for good Governance, the protesters demanded that “our votes must count.”

They said the results of the poll were not the reflection of the people’s votes.

The leader of the group, Ms Jennifer Ukaobasi, said: “We freely voted for the candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the National Assembly election, but we were surprised that our votes did not count.

“We are tired of the status quo. We want a change in Abia and we voted APGA.”

Ukaobasi, who led the women to the INEC office in Umuahia, said: “Enough is enough.”

A 75-year-old woman, Madam Patience Eleleme, the leader of grassroots women, who were part of the protest, said: “We stood under the scorching sun to vote APGA, but INEC declared PDP candidates as winners.

“Our grouse is that we voted for APGA, but the PDP government rigged the results in connivance with INEC officials.

“What we are asking is that our votes must count.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Selina Oko, expressed worry over the protests, which have trailed the results of the elections.

She said she was disturbed because the protests portrayed her as having not done well, “despite my efforts to ensure that the exercise is credible.”

Prof. Oko urged the protesters to assist her with the documented evidence of the alleged malpractices, including the one involving her officials, to enable her take the matter to the highest level.

AI Solarin College of Education (TASCE) Omu-Ijebu, ogun State has matriculated about 800 students into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes for the 2014/2015 Academic session.

At the ceremony held at the College Main Campus, OmuIjebu, the Provost, Dr. Abiodun Ojo enjoined the students to take the vocational training they would be exposed to seriously.

He noted that vocational training is the only antidote to the current perennial unemployment challenge in the country since no government or organised private sector could employ all graduates.

Ojo urged the new intakes to shun act that would jeopardise their studies, noting that cultism, which is an albatross in higher institutions of learning, is a significant avenue for self-destruction and bleak future.

The Provost noted that any student that joins a cult group has made himself a target of attack, a prospective physically challenged individual, a convict and probably a dead person in due course of time since cult members rarely attack non-members; he therefore advised the matriculating students to be involved in all activities that would protect the integrity of their family names.

Ojo enjoined the students to disassociate themselves from the Termite Club and join the Bee Club. According to him, the Termite destroys to the point of collapse. The patient Bee tarries for tree to flower, picks the pollen grains and produces the honey at the same time leaving the tree alive.

‘Vote Ambode, APC candidates’ • For Lagos to receive its due from FG

A

•Members of Ladipo Traders Association led by its President-General, Kingsley Ogunor (right) and Executive Secretary, Mushin Local Government, Hon Jide Bello (second right) at a rally in support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode...yesterday.

PHOTO: NNEKA NWANERI

HEAD of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, a Commissioner in the Lagos State Civil Service Commission and one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Olorunda Local Council Development Area in Badagry, Pastor Israel Olufunso Alagbe has appealed to residents to vote for the party’s governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode and other candidates.

Pastor Alagbe, one of the leaders of the Badagry Divisional Forum and also a contestant to the House of Representatives in the Badagry Federal Constituency made the appeal in Badagry yesterday.

He said: “Voting APC to govern Lagos State at this time with the same party at the federal level will bring great development to the state and its residents. It will be a round table conference of the

By Oziegbe Okoeki

same family where decisions that would benefit the state would not be opposed.

“Our local council development areas would be confirmed as local government areas. We were cheated because some states with less population have more local governments while Lagos with greater population has been denied approval of more local governments. It is because we are not in the same political family with them.

“Now if we vote APC in Lagos the road will be smooth to remove every political bottle neck intentionally created.

If we actually want better government in Lagos State, vote APC members of House of Assembly, vote Ambode for governor. Enough of sufferings as an opposition state.

Let us get our share from same source for the benefit of all of us”, Alagbe said.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

60

FOREIGN

D

ZHOKHAR Tsarnaev was convicted yesterday in the Boston Marathon bombing by a federal jury that now must decide whether the 21-year-old former college student should be executed.

Tsarnaev kept his hands folded in front of him and looked down at the defense table as listened to the verdict, reached after a day and a half of deliberations. He was found guilty on charges that included conspiracy and use of a weapon of mass destruction — offenses punishable by death.

His conviction was practically a foregone conclusion, given his lawyer’s startling admission during opening statements that Tsarnaev carried out the attack with his now-dead older brother, Tamerlan.

The two shrapnel-packed pressure-cooker bombs that exploded near the finish line on April 15, 2013, killed three spectators and wounded more than 260 other people, turning the traditionally celebratory home stretch of the world-famous race into a scene of carnage and putting the city on edge for days.

In the next phase of the trial, the jury will hear evidence on whether Tsarnaev should get the death penalty or spend the rest of his life in prison.

In a bid to save Tsarnaev from a death sentence, defense attorney Judy Clarke has argued that Tsarnaev, then 19, fell under the influence of his radicalized brother. Tamerlan, 26, died when he was shot by police and run over by his brother during a chaotic getaway attempt days after the bombing.

“If not for Tamerlan, it would not have happened,” Clarke told the jury during closing arguments.

Tsarnaev convicted in Boston Marathon bombing

•Scene of the Boston bombing masaccre. Inset (Tsarnaev) convicted yesterday.

Prosecutors, however, portrayed the brothers — ethnic Chechens who moved to the U.S. from Russia more than a decade ago — as full partners in a plan to punish the U.S. for its wars in Muslim countries. Jihadist writings, lectures and videos were found on both their computers, though the defense argued that Tamerlan downloaded the material and sent it to his brother.

The government called 92 witnesses over 15 days, painting a hellish scene of torn-off limbs, blood-spattered pavement, ghastly screams and the smell of sulfur and burned hair. Survivors gave heart-

breaking testimony about losing legs in the blasts or watching people die. The father of an 8-year-old boy described making the agonizing decision to leave his mortally wounded son so he could get help for their 6-year-old daughter, whose leg had been blown off.

Killed were Lingzi Lu, a 23year-old Chinese graduate student at Boston University; Krystle Campbell, a 29-yearold restaurant manager; and Martin Richard, the 8-year-old.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology police Officer Sean Collier was shot and killed during the brothers’ getaway attempt.

Some of the most damning evidence included video showing Tsarnaev planting a backpack containing one of the bombs near where the 8-yearold was standing, and incriminating statements scrawled inside the dry-docked boat where a wounded and bleeding Tsarnaev was captured days after the tragedy.

“Stop killing our innocent people and we will stop,” he wrote.

Tsarnaev’s lawyers barely cross-examined the government’s witnesses and called just four people to the stand over less than two days, all in an effort to portray the older brother as the guiding force in

the plot.

Witnesses testified about phone records that showed Dzhokhar was at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth while his brother was buying bomb components, including pressure cookers and BBs. A forensics expert said Tamerlan’s computer showed search terms such as “detonator,” ‘’transmitter and receiver,” while Dzhokhar was largely spending time on Facebook and other social media sites.

Also, an FBI investigator said Tamerlan’s fingerprints — but not Dzhokhar’s — were found on pieces of the two bombs.

Yemen crisis: Rebels push into central Aden

F

RESH fighting has been reported in the southern Yemeni city of Aden between Houthi rebels and militiamen loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Several houses in the central Crater district were set on fire after being hit by rockets as the rebels advanced, residents told the Reuters news agency.

Warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition, which backs the

government, meanwhile bombed rebel targets to the north.

Iran is also reported to have sent navy vessels to the Gulf of Aden.

Navy commander Rear Adm Habibollah Sayyari was quoted as saying by state-run Press TV that a destroyer and another ship would be deployed off Yemen as part of an anti-piracy campaign “safeguarding naval routes

for vessels in the region”.

Tehran has denied Saudi accusations that it is providing military and financial assistance to the Houthis, who adhere to a branch of Shia Islam known as Zaidism.

The campaign by Sunniruled Saudi Arabia, which seeks to “defend the legitimate government” of Mr Hadi, has so far failed to stop the Houthis’ assault on Aden.

Humanitarian organisations have struggled to treat those wounded by the fighting in Aden The president took refuge in the second city in February after fleeing the capital, Sanaa, where he had been held under house arrest by the rebels. When the Houthis reached the outskirts of Aden on 25 March, he left the coun-

try.

On Wednesday, dozens of rebel fighters and allied troops reportedly pushed into the district of Crater, near the city’s port. Residents told Reuters that the rebels were backed by a tank and two armoured vehicles.

They also said that from loudspeakers on Sunni mosques a call had rung out for local people to “rise for jihad” against the attackers.

Reuters also reported three explosions in northern areas of Aden, which residents said were strikes on rebel weapons depots.

Little is going in or out of war-torn Sanaa these days, apart from Air India.

The airline has been running rescue missions for its own nationals and for for-

eigners from more than 26 countries. We flew with them from Djibouti to Yemen - a four-hour round trip.

Once on the ground, there were signs of the escalating conflict. We taxied past aircraft hangers targeted in the recent air strikes. From the runway we could see smoke rising in the distance beyond the airport.

A lone Houthi rebel was waiting on the tarmac. After asking a few questions he posed for a group photo with the Air India crew.

Within minutes passengers were rushing onto the plane. Young and old were crammed in, some sitting six to a row. The aircraft had a capacity of 182, but took off with about 240 on board.

Mass graves in Tikrit might contain 1,700 bodies

U

P to 1,700 bodies may be recovered. ISIS claimed to have executed that many soldiers captured in June outside Camp Speicher, a fortified Iraqi base near Tikrit.

A total of 47 bodies have been exhumed from two of the 11 mass graves discovered in Tikrit, an Iraqi government official said Tuesday. Hundreds are believed to have been executed by ISIS in June 2014 Grieving Iraqis, apparently not related to the soldiers, gathered to pray over the bodies. When the first three

bodies were found, 10 Iraqi soldiers saluted the dead by firing seven shots into the air. The national anthem was played while soldiers wept.

All the bodies were decomposed. Some had their hands bound, Damon said.

The remains will be sent back to Baghdad for DNA tests to establish identify, said Ali Tahir, a director in the Iraqi morgue who was supervising the digging and extraction.

Damon said there may be eight mass graves inside the presidential palace complex, which contains the residences of former Iraqi President

Saddam Hussein, and two other sites outside the city.

The presidential palaces complex became ISIS headquarters after the militants occupied the city. Iraqi soldiers and Shiite militias retook HYPERLINK “http:// www.cnn.com/2015/04/01/ middleeast/iraq-isis-tikrit/ ”TikritHYPERLINK “http:// www.cnn.com/2015/04/01/ middleeast/iraq-isis-tikrit/” a few days ago after a fierce battle.

Damon interviewed a soldier who said he survived the massacre by playing dead.

EU is world’s largest aid donor in 2014

T

HE European Commission has said that European Union and its member states kept their place as the world’s largest aid donors in 2014.

The commission stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Brussels.

According to the data published on Wednesday by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), EU collective Official Development Assistance (ODA) reached 0.42, representing per cent of EU Gross National Income in 2014.

It said EU and its member states provided over half of the ODA reported in 2014 to the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for the OECD. EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica said EU had upheld its place as the world’s leading provider, in spite of the difficult economic situation it found itself.

He, however, said EU still had some way to go in meeting its ambitious targets.

“I firmly believe that we should recommit to reaching the 0.7 per cent target as a crucial contribution to securing an ambitious outcome to the post-2015 negotiations,’’ he said.

In 2005, the EU and its member states pledged to increase their collective ODA to 0.7 per cent of EU Gross National Income by 2015.

Activists: 2 deadly car bombs hit rebel bases in Syria

A

PAIR of car bombs targeted two rebel bases north of the Syrian city of Aleppo on Tuesday, killing and wounding dozens, two activist groups said.The attacks targeted compounds belonging to Islamic opposition groups in the countryside north of Aleppo, a strategic stretch of territory because of its proximity to neighboring Turkey.

Long a stronghold for Syrian rebels, the area has been a flash point since the Islamic State group advanced into the region several months ago.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the first bombing hit the town of Marea, killing at least seven people, including two rebel leaders, and wounding dozens more. It said a second explosion in the Hur Kilis area killed and wounded up to 40 people, although the Observatory did not have exact figures.

The Aleppo Media Center activist group put the toll in the first blast at 12 killed and more than 15 wounded. It reported at least 30 casualties in the second attack in Hur Kilis.

The discrepancy could not be immediately reconciled, but differences in casualty figures are common in the chaotic aftermath of attacks in Syria.There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but suspicion fell on the Islamic State group, which frequently carries out such attacks.Also on Tuesday, the Lebanese army said it killed three militants and wounded four others in a raid near the border with Syria.

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

61

63

THE NATION THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

NEWS

Tinubu: The quintessential political strategist

T

HE evolution of the All Progressive Congress (APC) into the governing party and the emergence of its candidate, Gen. Muhammad Buhari as the President-elect prove a fundamental truth. A single visionary blessed with courage equal to his vision is ultimately more powerful than a vast multitude that is devoid of sight, courage and sound counsel.

Gen. Buhari, a personification of integrity, stalwart patriotism and decency, was the inevitable candidate and is the right man to be President this time. Complementing him as the necessary strategic catalyst of this great democratic feat was Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Never in the history of our nation has an incumbent President lost to his challenger. For that to happen is a profound feat. For that feat to come about through a newly merged political party is something bordering on the edge of the impossible. Yet, in our Nigeria, that is exactly how our democracy has been secured and our chance for a better future revived.

As the primary architect of the APC, and a key strategist in its drive to become the government of this nation, Bola Tinubu has earned history’s verdict as a true and committed democratic.

At moments when others threatened to quit or did quit, Tinubu stuck doggedly to the course. When the Alliance for Democracy (AD) ran into stormy weather and was hijacked by the reactionary elements funded by the government in power, Tinubu established a another progressive party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN). From his solitary redoubt in Lagos, the ACN cast its progressive message and Tinubu attracted able and committed people to the democratic cause and to his course in it.

The epic turn from governing a single state to governing a nation had begun. Few believed, as Asiwaju did, that this achievement was within reach.

The ACN went on to win six states and secure the Southwest for the progressive cause.

And when the time came to re-shape the opposition nationwide into one body, Tinubu took the lead in sowing together the different political parties into a workable whole. In the face of state-sponsored attacks and spirited attempts to scuttle the merger, Tinubu led the team of political fighters to make APC a reality. The period between the formation of the party, the inauguration of the party’s executive, to its convention in Lagos, the national presidential campaign and now the elections was one charactererised by dangerous moves, plots and turns against him. Tinubu survived them all and remained standing.

As the intellectual force behind the APC, Tinubu never waivered. Gen. Buhari and Chief Bisi Akande were the strongest and most faithful of allies in this great effort.

These are statesments of high-caliber personalities who never shook when the adverse wind blew.

If along the way Tinubu had wavered, many would have wavered with him. The story today would have been a different and inferior one. He remained standing even when many tried to make him fall.

By Sunday Dare

Tinubu is brave at heart and large in vision. He has the fortitude to stand when times get tough and when doubt becomes as thick as fog. He forges ahead while others succumb to fear.

He stands alone when others are tired and sit down. This rare man chooses to take risks and stake everything he has for a just cause. He stands alone when he makes unbelievable sacrifices in order to achieve a greater goal.

He excels in the wee, lonely hours; when others are asleep, he pours over Nigeria’s problems in search for solutions. He stands alone when he makes the tough and necessary decisions, not minding how he will be perceived. He stands alone when he refuses to join the doubters and holds on to the belief that it is possible.

For standing against the tide of greater power and might all these years, Tinubu has achieved something for all us.

He is truly an architect of modern Nigeria, a driving force behind a new Nigeria and one of the fathers of a truly democratic two-party system.

Tinubu has ushered Nigeria into the meeting hall of democratic nations. By staying the course, by investing his intellect, experience and resources in the struggle for a better country and by working with people of like minds, Tinubu has helped lift the nation from its despair.

APC’s electoral success is not a fluke. It was earned. It came as a result of great sacrifices and through the effort of the key drivers and other leaders who kept steadfast even when hope seemed lost. The long hours on the road and in the air, crisscrossing the nation, spreading the message of change and urging others to join the party bore fruit. The APC ship got many on board. Not even the attacks from the PDP could sink it.

On the campaign trail, Tinubu was a firebrand. He easily excited the crowd whenever he spoke.

People were sure to taste of his wit, his incisive political jabs and his commanding vision about what APC can do to change Nigeria. Perhaps the greatest lines of the 2014/2015 presidential campaign that will never be forgotten and will remain in the books for a very long time is that from Tinubu.

Responding to attacks by the PDP that the APC presidential candidate Gen Buhari was a former general and should not be trusted, Tinubu had a reply for them in full measure that shut them up. Tinubu roared at the Abeokuta campaign: “When France needed to get out of political troubles, it tapped Charles De Gaulle; when America needed solid political leadership, it called on Eisenhower; Nigeria needs fixing and the man for the job is Gen Muhammadu Buhari”. This answer and analysis from Tinubu settled the argument. It won many over and shut the mouths of the politicians on the other side. On the campaign trail from the South to the North, Tinubu was a delight. Fired up and in his elements, he was unrelenting. He saw what many did not see that APC will not form the next government and restore hope to Nigerians.

Whenever the history of this political era in Nigeria is written, it will be said that there was

‘

one man, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who stood firm in commitment and courage to make the difference for Nigeria. Tinubu is a class act and is in a class by himself. From the corporate world, he took the political storm by storm in Lagos. This was after a commanding performance in the pro-democracy struggle to liberate Nigeria from the clutches of military dictatorship. He was at the vanguard of democracy in the days of the National Democartic Coalition (NADECO) struggle. Since then, he has never looked back.

As governor of Lagos state, he excelled in governance. He brought out the excellence in Lagos through a combination of pragmatic decisions and financial and social engineering that turned into a model city.

Lagos, today, is a reference point. He took over the Southwest, reshaping the political landscape in a positive and dynamic way. He was instrumental in identifying six men, who today remain some of the best governors this country has ever known. On the national stage, he was a constant voice of opposition. Unwavering, unbowed, unbeatable, Tinubu was the fulcrum of opposition politics. His voice rang out loud and clear against injustice, impunity and miss-governance.

For his progressive views and opposition to government, Tinubu suffered. His businesses suffered. His political structures came under severe assaults.

Enemies sought to ruin his reputation. They dragged him to court, hoping to jail him but failed. In all, he survived and remained standing. Through all of this, he has remained humble and self-effacing.

In the explosive celebration that followed the victory of the APC in the presidential elections someone in the tiny crowd that gathered in his office said: “Your Excellency Tinubu, this is your finest hour”. Tinubu shot back, “No. This is Nigeria’s finest hour and it is the best birthday gift I can ever wish for”. He went on in his major reaction to the victory to describe the victory of the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen Buhari as Nigeria’s finest moment in its political history.

“It is a moment when hope is re-born, faith is rekindled and a fresh fire of patriotism is released for the task ahead”.

That is the measure of a man who sees ultimate victory in the emancipation of his people and the triumph of good over evil.

Tinubu has seen it all. Today he stands tall in humility. He has survived where others were crushed. He has achieved what others failed to achieve for our country politically. He has been this generation’s’ most consummate and strategic political mind. History will record that.

If anyone ever doubted the veracity of a sobriquet – The Last Man Standing - given to Tinubu, they should doubt no longer.

The title is more than valid. More importantly, this last and only man standing dedicated himself to a great and selfless task that we all may stand to feel the morning rays of genuine democracy shine upon us. This man is a hero. What no one dared to do, he did.

Now, friend and foe alike, we are all the better for it.

Sunday Dare is Chief of Staff/ Special Adviser on Media to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

‘

www.thenationonlineng.net

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

RIPPLES

HEAVYWEIGHTS DESERT PDP FOR APC–News

TRANSFER WINDOW has OPENED!

‘Buhari knows that he carries a huge burden because the mission to rescue Nigeria from the 16-year rot of PDP is one that must be won, come what may’ LAWAL OGIENAGBON

VOL. 10, NO. 3179

C OMMENT & D EB ATE EBA

A

FTER three failed and agonising attempts, retired Army General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the recent presidential election with a resounding victory over the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It was a well-deserved victory and we should all offer him our congratulations. He waited patiently for 30 years, for the right moment, to regain the power he lost as a military ruler in 1985 when he was ousted by his military colleagues. Buhari, previously considered locally by many as unelectable, beat President Jonathan by a margin of over 2 million votes of the 28 million votes cast. He won in 16 of the 19 states in the North and five of the six states in the Southwest. As expected, he did poorly in the polls in the Southsouth and Southeast regions both of which were easily swept by Jonathan.

Buhari won because he ran a strong, determined, courageous and focused campaign, skillfully and brilliantly exploiting the weaknesses and failures of the Jonathan PDP Federal Government. It was a bitter and hateful campaign. The stakes were high. But it was relatively peaceful with only a few regrettable fatalities. And the elections were considered free and fair by both local and international observers. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) team, particularly Professor Attahiru Jega, its chairman, must be fully commended for their political neutrality in the conduct of the elections. After 16 years of drift under the PDP Federal Government, it was definitely time for change. The electorate decided to vote for change instead of the continuity offered by the PDP that led the nation to nowhere.

President Jonathan must be commended for his gracious and magnanimous statement, promptly conceding defeat to Buhari.

It was a rare display of statesmanship in the annals of Nigeria’s political history for which he will always be remembered. It was the first time in our country that a ruling party had been defeated at the centre. Had President Jonathan disputed the results of the election, political agitators and roughnecks in the PDP would have taken advantage of that to inflict mayhem and violence on the country. By that singular act of conceding defeat to Buhari, Jonathan averted needless violence in our country. We must be grateful to him for his sense of decency and fair play. In victory Buhari too has been gracious. That is the way it should be in a mature democracy.

Now that Buhari has reached the top of the greasy pole, he must know that our country is gripped by high and rising expecta-

TODAY IN THE NATION

DAPO FAFOWORA

FROM THE SUMMIT dapo.fafowora@thenationonlineng.net

Difficult task ahead of President-elect Buhari

•President-elect Buhari

tions after a decade of drift. A few days after the election, one could see that business activities have resumed almost fully in the country. There is an air of cautious optimism in the nation about the future. The value of stocks has increased by nearly 25 per cent after the election. There will be renewed confidence in the business community here and abroad about Nigeria’s political and economic future. Investments in the economy that are currently on hold due to economic and political uncertainties will be reviewed favourably. The fact is that despite our current economic difficulties, Nigeria is still the largest economy in Africa with far greater economic potential than any other African country. It should be the first destination in Africa for foreign direct investments. Its middle class is growing faster than that of any other African country as is its population, the largest in Africa. Its work force is one of the best in Africa and the entrepreneurial spirit of its people is unmatched in Africa.

But the President-elect, Buhari, has to contend with a legacy of grave economic and

T

HERE are indications that the expressions of goodwill by the losers in the country’s March 28 presidential election may be no more than lip service after all. This shouldn’t be surprising as it may require superhuman humanity on their part to come to terms with the reality of the fall from power, especially given their delusional egoism.

Beyond the surface, it is likely that the real thoughts and feelings in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following President Goodluck Jonathan’s loss to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) can be more reliably observed from the utterances of the spokesmen.

Who are these revealing spokesmen? Of course, they are none other than the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP presidential campaign, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, and the Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe.

By their words, both men showed no remorse for the offensive malevolence that characterised the campaign for Jonathan’s reelection, and they might well have been

social problems, such as the prevailing massive public corruption, the mass unemployment, particularly of university graduates, the fall in the price of oil and the consequences of this for the national revenue that has declined by nearly 50 per cent, the Boko Haram insurgency, the continuing threat to public safety and law and order, the rising cost of public administration and the decaying infrastructure, all of which constitute major impediments to our overall economic growth. All these will have to be vigorously tackled by the new Buhari APC Federal Government. It is a tall and formidable order.

It is unlikely that Buhari will be able to solve all of these formidable economic and social problems in the short period of his four years in office as president in the first instance. And considering his advanced age, he may not be disposed to run for a second term in office by which time he will already be 76. Time is therefore of the essence. He must hit the ground running immediately.

There is no time to be wasted. But he will need to prioritise his reconstruction agenda and concentrate on those problems that he can best solve in the time frame of four years.

Of these, public order and safety is the most critical for political stability. Next to this is a massive review of our current economic strategy that has grown the economy but has failed to create jobs. Since 1986, we have religiously followed the prescriptions of the World Bank and the IMF in the restructuring and management of our economy. Some success in economic stabilisation has been achieved in this regard, but this was made possible more by the favourable international economic and financial climate, particularly the staggering rise in oil revenue, still the mainstay of the economy. But our economy is still not yet mature. Our efforts to diversify the structure of the economy away from its dependence on oil exports have not quite succeeded, leaving us still

utterly dependent on the vagaries of an economy based largely on oil exports and revenue.

As President, Buhari will need to consider other viable and sustainable alternatives to the existing World Bank/IMF economic and financial strategies that have failed to create the jobs the country needs for its social, economic and political stability. He will need to change the nation’s entire economic management team that, after six years, has simply run out of ideas, and replace it with more imaginative and innovative economic planners and managers. The aim of economic planning in the new dispensation must be strong economic fundamentals in an economy driven largely by the private sector, with the government creating a fair playing ground for all investors. I am thinking here of the Chinese, Indian and possibly Brazilian models. In these three countries, billions of people hitherto stricken by poverty have been pulled out of their misery by an economic strategy that has as its focus the creation of jobs on a massive scale.

In less than a generation, the Chinese leaders lifted over one billion of their people (about the entire population of Africa) from poverty into the middle class. They have created the largest middle class ever known in the world’s economic history. This accounts for China’s social and economic stability in recent years. It is not a question of ideology. Rather, it is one of visionary leadership that has been lacking in our post-colonial history. Of course, to achieve this economic revival and growth, public corruption must be stamped out ruthlessly. Without doing so, no economic strategy will work in our country.

Nigeria needs a strong, effective and competent Federal Government to accomplish all these. But it also needs a compassionate government; one that will place the welfare and economic well-being of the poorest in our nation above all other considerations, or narrow selfish interests. A nation’s real wealth is not measured by the size of its economy, or its GDP growth rate, or the opulence of a tiny minority of its people, but by the welfare and living conditions of the vast majority of its people. This is no time for political recriminations and rancour. The incoming APC Federal Government and the new PDP federal opposition must work together harmoniously to move our country forward. Failure to do so will be very costly. Unless great care is taken, the large and growing army of the unemployed will constitute a far greater danger to our national security than the Boko Haram insurgency that also has its root in mass poverty.

• For comments, send SMS to 08054503031

HARDBALL

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Shameless spokesmen

course of defending our turf, the engagements have been knuckle-breaking and often outrightly vicious.” He added: “The fight and contest for power from time immemorial has always been fierce and intense, it has never been a sport for the lilylivered or the faint-hearted.”

In other words, both men more or less said that if they had another chance, they would play the game no differently. It is lamentable that they are yet to awaken to the lessons of their loss, including the public thumbs-down for electioneering excesses. If they have learnt nothing about the importance and superiority of the issuebased political campaign, it may suggest that they are incurably unteachable.

There is no doubt that the contest for power is usually marked by combative competition, but there must be limits lest it becomes animalistic. The beastly model offered and endorsed by Fani-Kayode and Okupe, and which reflected the standards of both men and their party, was thankfully discredited by the electorate. Do they know the meaning of shame?

speaking for the party. Fani Kayode said at a media briefing in Abuja: “We did the right thing during the campaign. We have no regrets about our candidate or the way we conducted our campaign and we live to fight another day.” This is the language of thoughtlessness, and it is a wonder that FaniKayode stubbornly tried to present the senseless as sensible. It is on record that the PDP approach, which was popularly defined as a “hate campaign”, attracted wide condemnation; and Fani-Kayode’s approving perspective does not make it any less condemnable.

Okupe perhaps betrayed a tortured soul and sought unsuccessfully for rationalisations. He said in a statement: “On our part, we have run a good race and fought an intense and unrelenting battle from the beginning to the end. Sometimes in the

Published and printed by Vintage Press Limited. Corporate Office: 27B Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Lagos. P.M.B. 1025,Oshodi, Lagos. Telephone: Switch Board: 08034505516.

Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mila 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790. WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO