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Ambode, Ajimobi, Ahmed, Amosun, others win polls Tinubu hails Agbaje’s ‘good spirit’

WINNERS ALL

Tambuwal, Ortom, Ugwuanyi elected

By Our Reporters

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) seems unstoppable in its winning streak. The party has won majority of the governorship seats in Saturday’s elections.

APC candidates carried the day in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Kwara states.

Akinwunmi Ambode will take the baton from Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola on May 29. He defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Jimi Agbaje with 152,206 votes.

Ambode, 51, a former permanent secretary/accountant general of the state, polled 811,994 votes. Agbaje got 659,788 votes.

Ambode won in 16 of the 20 local government areas – he lost in Ojo, Oshodi/Isolo, Amuwo Odofin and Surulere.

In Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun shrugged off PDP candidate Gboyega Isiaka’s challenge, scoring 306, 988 votes as against Isiaka’s 201, 440. The SDP candidate, Senator Kamarudeen Odunsi, got 25, 826 votes.

There was jubilation in Ibadan as Governor Abiola Ajimobi was declared winner.

He defeated two former governors - Rashidi Ladoja of Accord and Adebayo AlaoAkala Labour Party (LP) - and the PDP candidate, former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin as well as young industrialist Seyi Makinde to retain his seat. Ajimobi broke a jinx, becoming the first Oyo State governor to get re-elected.

Ajimobi scored 327,310 votes. Ladoja scored 254, 520. Alao-Akala polled 184,111.

Folarin got 79,019 and Makinde 54,740.

APC also won 18 seats in the House of Assembly. Accord won eight. LP got six seats.

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha retain his position after a stiff challenge from House of Representatives Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, the candidate of the PDP. Until it Continued on page 2

?

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

By Wale Ajetunmobi

•Tambuwal (Sokoto) APC •Ajimobi (Oyo) APC

•Ahmed (Kwara) APC

•Ambode (Lagos) APC

•Ganduje (Kano) APC

•Geidam (Yobe) APC

•Amosun (Ogun) APC

•Dankwambo (Gombe) PDP •Masari (Katsina) APC

•Ortom (Benue) APC

•Yari (Zamfara) APC

•Ugwuanyi (Enugu) PDP •Bagudu (Kebbi) APC

•El -Rufai (Kaduna) APC

•Ayade (C/River) PDP

•APC wins in 12 states •Leading in four states •PDP wins in four states •Leading in two states •Imo poll inconclusive •More results today •Abubakar (Bauchi) APC •Bello (Niger) APC

•Bindow (Adamawa) APC •Emmanuel (A/Ibom) PDP

INSIDE •AND •INEC probes 66 incidents recorded in 19 states MORE ON •Yero, Ribadu, Agbaje, Alao-Akala concede defeat PAGES •Winners and losers in the governorship elections 4,5,6,61&62 •APC sweeps Edo Assembly as PDP wins Ondo, Ekiti

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was last night excited over Akinwunmi Ambode’s victory at Saturday’s governorship election.

He ascribed it all to the party’s members’ hard.

Tinubu said Ambode’s victory was predicated on the radical transformation and well-articulated programmes he started 16 years ago, hinting that Lagos would start another race in its transformation drive given its alignment with the federal government.

The former Lagos governor hailed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje, for his statesmanship, describing him as a man of good values and character.

“We must bear in mind that a good democrat must accept result of a free and fair election.,” he said.

Tinubu said Agbaje showed good spirit by calling Ambode on telephone to congratulate him and for accepting his party’s loss in Saturday’s poll.

Tinubu said: “Our victory in Lagos is as a result of hard work I started 16 years ago. Constistent radContinued on page 2

Foreign observers: Rivers elections bloody, fraudulent

STORY ON PAGE 11

Monitors disappointed at REC’s declaration of ‘sham’ results

•EX-UI VC TAMUNO DIES AT 83 P7 EU SEEKS NEW TAX REGIME FOR RICH NIGERIANS P7

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

NEWS GOVERNOSHIP AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS RESULTS

•SWEET VICT OR Y: All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Tinubu (right) hug- •Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (right) , Governor-elect Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (second VICTOR ORY ging Lagos State Governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode who visited him at home in Ikoyi...last night. left) , Ambode’s wife Bolanle (second right) and Deputy Governor-elect Dr. Oluranti Adebule (left) at With them are Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and APC National Vice Chairman (West) Chief the State House, Marina...last night.

Pius Akinyelure

APC kicks as Wike leads in Rivers

A

LL Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Rivers State have rejected the results of last Saturday’s declared by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

The elections were marked by violence - shooting, ballot box snatching and killings.

The irregularities made the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dame Gesila Khan, to declare elections inconclusive.

She said elections would be held the next day at Abua/ Odual, Ward 1, Asari/Toru Ward 13, Bonny Ward 12, Degema Ward 11, 12, 13, Emohua Ward 4, Obio/Akpor Ward 15 and 16.

APC agents at the INEC collation centre were amazed when returning officers of the local government area where shooting and ballot box snatching said there was no problem in those areas.

They also discovered that unregistered political parties appeared on the result sheets in six local government areas.

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, the retuning officer said there was no violence. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner with 67,894 votes. The APC was said to have recorded 9,532 votes.

The APC chairman in the area, Mr. Felix Ejechi, who confirmed the killing of its members in Saturday’s elections, said the returning officer lied that there was no violence in the area.

He said most of the polling units in Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area witnessed shootings and hijacking of INEC materials by armed thugs allegedly suspected to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said: “Gunmen took hostage of most of the wards and units in the area. Our APC youth leader in the area and a party supporter were killed. Most of the materials brought in were fake and we protested. I wondered why the returning officer

THE RIVERS RESULTS SO FAR Abua/Odua Asari Toru TAI OMUMA Eleme Ahoada West Andoni ONELGA Opobo/Nkoro Khana Ahoada East Gokana Ogu/Bolo Obio Akpor Oyigbo Akuku Toru Okrika PH City LGA Ikwerre LGA Etche LGA Degema LGA

PDP 46,392 32,150 32,988 10,735 3,079 15,575 70,317 67,864 2,345 33,559 14,100, 62,218, 33,559 224,888 7,559 64,498 47, 891 82,289 23,511 33,954 31,103

could not say the simple truth.”

At about 11 am yesterday, there were shootings in Emohua Local Government Area after a disagreement between supporters of APC and the PDP over which ward and units were cancelled by INEC.

APC 90 566 2,219 3,376 10,522 13, 175 5, 278 9,532 5,455 9,532 4,011 734 742 9,844 6,529 3,010 1631 24,367 10,555 6,488 1,244

The REC cancelled Emohua Ward 4 over irregularity but APC leaders in the area said it was not only Ward 4 that was marred with irregularities and demanded the outright cancellation of the result.

In Etche Local Government Continued on page 60

Ambode, Ajimobi, Ahmed, Amosun, others win polls Continued from page 1

was declared inconclusive.

The APC won in Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina where former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Massari, won with 943,085 votes as against PDP candidate Musa Nashuni’s 476,768.

Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate Yakubu Lado came third with 50,361 votes. Masari will take over from the PDP Governor Ibrahim Shema.

The APC displaced the PDP in Benue, Bauchi, Kaduna, Kebbi and Adamawa states.

APC candidate and former Federal Capital Territory Minister Nasir El-Rufai won 1,117, 635 votes to defeat Governor RamallanYero of the PDP who won 485,833 votes. The APC won in 17 local government areas. PDP won in six.

Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, a lawyer and APC candidate, is Bauchi State

governor-elect. He defeated PDP candidate Auwal Jatau, backed by outgoing Governor Isa Yuguda with 654,934 votes to Jatau’s 282,650.

Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of APC retained his seat.

He scored 334, 847 votes to defeat his PDP opponent Adamu Maina Waziri who polled 179, 700.

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of APC, won his reelection without breaking a sweat The APC also won all the 24 seats of the house of assembly.

Ahmed polled 295,832 leaving his PDP opponent Senator Simeon Ajibola with 115,220 votes.

Deputy Governor Umar Ganduje and APC candidate was last night declared governor-elect.

Kano State INEC Collation officer, Professor Mohammed Hamisu, said Ganduje scored 1,546, 434 votes to defeat his PDP opponent,

Malam Sagir Takai, who polled 509,726 votes.

Ganduje won in all the 44 Local Government Areas.

But the PDP retained Gombe State where Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo won with 285,369 votes, beating APC’s Inuwa Yahaya who polled 205,132.

House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal won the governorship seat in Sokoto to consolidate the APC’s hold on the state. He is to take over from Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

Tambuwal defeated Senator Abdalla Wali, the PDP candidate, scoring 647,609 as against PDP’s 269,007.

He won in all the 23 local government areas.

The APC candidate in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, seemed set for victory.

The result of only one local government, Buruku, was being awaited.

With 22 local government areas governorship election results announced by the

electoral agency, the APC candidate is leading with 91,564 votes.

The APC received 387, 753 votes. The PDP got 296,189 votes. Its candidate is Terherse Tarzoor, a member of the House of Representatives.

APC won in 14 local governments. PDP won in eight.

APC supporters were already dancing in anticipation of the official delaration of the results.

One major upset in the election was the defeat of PDP in Otukpo Local Government Area where Senate President David Mark hails from.

The PDP candidate in Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, won 482, 277 votes to edge out Okey Ezea of APC who polled 43, 839 votes. Outgoing Governor Sullivan Chime is of the PDP. Deputy Governor Dave Umahi of PDP was declared winner of the Ebonyi State governorship election.

Umahi garnered 289,867 Continued on page 60

GOVERNOSHIP RESULTS LAGOS Akinwunmi Ambode (APC) Jimi Agbaje (PDP) OGUN Ibikunle Amosun (APC) Gboyega Isiaka (PDP) OYO Abiola Ajimobi (APC) Rashidi Ladoja (Accord) YOBE STATE Ibrahim Gaidam (APC) Adamu Maina Waziri (PDP) KANO STATE Umar Ganduje (APC) Sagir Takai (PDP) KWARA Abdulfatah Ahmed (APC) Simeon Ajibola (PDP) KATSINA Aminu Massari (APC) Musa Nashuni (PDP) KADUNA Nasir El-Rufai (APC) Ramallan Yero (PDP) BAUCHI Mohammed Abubakar (APC) Auwal Jatau (PDP) GOMBE Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP) Inuwa Yahaya (APC) SOKOTO Aminu Tambuwal (APC) Abdalla Wali (PDP) ENUGU Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (PDP) Okey Ezea (APC) EBONYI Dave Umahi (PDP) Edward Nkwegu ( LP)

811,994 659,788 306, 988 201, 440 327,310 254, 520 334, 847 179, 700 1,546, 434 509,726 295,832 115,220 943,085 476,768 1,117, 635 485,833 654,934 282,650 285,369 205,132 647,609 269,007 482, 277 43, 839 289,867 124,817

Tinubu hails Agbaje’s ‘good spirit’ Continued from page 1

ical transformation of Lagos and well-articulated programmes, including education, infrastructure, urban renewal, innovative system of finance, knowledge-based economy and job creation in partnership with private sector. That resulted in leap development of Lagos.”

The APC leader said there would always be a winner in all contest, congratulating Ambode for his success.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola described the APC victory in Lagos as

product of good leadership exhibited by the outgoing governor, saying the victory came with a task to meet people’s expectations in service delivery and good governance. He praised Ambode’s fighting spirit.

Lagos Commissioner for Environment Tunji Bello said the victory would take the state to another level of development.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

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NEWS GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

The curtain was at the weekend drawn on the general elections, with the election of governors in 29 states and lawmakers in 36 states. Deputy News Editor BUNMI OGUNMODEDE, Assistant Editors, LEKE SALAU and SINA FADARE present some of the winners and losers in the governorship polls.

WINNERS

Winners and losers

WINNERS

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) affront to unseat the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos in Saturday's election was to humiliate the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in his stronghold.

But Tinubu proved that his hold on the politics of Lagos since 1999 is not a fluke. His preferred candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, won the keenlycontested governorship election with 811,994 votes to beat PDP's Jimi Agbaje, who polled 659,788 votes.

The PDP wanted to demystify APC chief in his domain in retaliation of the dislodgement of the PDP government at the central and in many of the states under its control.

Tinubu is at the vanguard of the coalition of the opposition that humbled President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential election on March 28.

After the APC lost five House of Representatives seats to the PDP and another to the Accord party at the National Assembly election, Tinubu summoned a meeting of APC stakeholders last Thursday and encouraged the leaders to double up efforts.

The President also flew into Lagos late last Thursday and met with key PDP men to perfect strategy on how to demobilise Tinubu's political machine. Although, the margin was a far-cry from the figures of 2003, 2007 and 2011, the former Lagos governor has proved a point that he is a hard nut to crack in the politics of Lagos. The victory has given enough room to the APC to return to the drawing board.

Fashola: Maintaining the chain of development After serving for eight years as Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, had a burden of not allowing the chain of development to break and he fought relentlessly to ensure this.

He was the chief marketer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was until last year, his Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance. With the emergence of Ambode as his successor, Fashola can sleep with two eyes closed after bowing out of office on May 29. He is sure that Ambode will keep the tradition of raising the bar of governance in the Centre of Excellence.

In an emotion-laden message to Lagosians last week, Fashola stated more than a dozen of reasons the electorate should vote for Ambode.

Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nasir El- Rufai won the Kaduna State governorship election by a landslide based on 80 per cent results from polling units across

the state. The diminutive former minister defeated the incumbent governor of the state, Ramalan Yero, by a wide margin in most of the 23 local government areas of the state.

El Rufai was leading Yero by at least 500,000 votes in 16 out of the 20 local government areas announced by the Kaduna office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Even with the results still being collated, incumbent Governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conceded defeat to ElRufai of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Yero, a political godson of Vice President Namadi Sambo was elevated as governor after the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa in an air mishap from Yenagoa. Spokesperson of the Kaduna State APC Campaign Council, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed Yero’s concession yesterday.

In a statement, Aruwan said Yero called El-Rufai at around 3pm to congratulate the latter on his victory.

Aruwan said: “He (Yero) congratulated El-Rufai and wished him success. He prayed for peace and development of Kaduna state and Nigeria at large. El-Rufai in his response thanked Yero and wished all the best and hope to see you him soon.”

Amosun...against all odds in Ogun Against all odds, Governor Ibikunle Amosun was declared winner of Ogun State governorship election. He polled 306, 988 to beat the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) Gboyega Isiaka, who scored 201, 440. Incidentally, Isiaka, who was the standard bearer of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in the 2011 governorship election, trailed Amosun of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the parties that fused to form the APC. In the run-up to weekend’s election, all the three APC Senators, his deputy, Prince Segun Adesgun and some bigwigs the party, defected from the party to a new political platform, Social Democratic Party (SDP). One of the Senators, Akin Odunsi challenged Amosun under the auspices of the SDP. Yet, Amosun won in a fantastic manner, all because of his sterling performance. Odunsi’ SDP polled 25, 826 votes. The state’s Collation and Returning Officer, Prof.

Duro Oni, who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, declared that Amosun polled the highest number of votes in Saturday’s governorship election, having won in 11 out of the 20 local government areas in the state.

Ahmed: Keeping the tradition in Kwara Kwara State Governor and All

Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Abdulfatah Ahmed, was leading with a landslide margin in the race to be re-elected as the governor of Northcentral state. In the 14 local government results announced so far, the APC had polled 262,218 votes to beat Senator Simeon Ajibola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a distant second with 102,911 votes while Dr. Mike Omotoso of the Labour Party (LP) trailed with 2,840. The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, announced a break of the collation session pending the arrival of the collation officers from the two remaining council areas of Kaima and Baruten. Ahmed had defected with his predecessor and political mentor, Senator Bukola Saraki from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. The duo defected with the entire PDP machinery in the state.

•Tinubu

•Fashola

LOSERS

Tinubu, proving a point in Lagos

Senator Bukola Saraki With the victory of the APC in the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections and the governorship and House of Assembly elections at the weekend, Senator Saraki may have stepped into the shoes left behind by his father, the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, who was the strongman of Kwara politics. The elections were battles for the former governor, whose authority was challenged by the Labour Party (LP’s) candidate in the weekend’s governorship poll, Dr. Mike Omotoso.

Omotoso had boasted to trounce incumbent Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to end the Saraki’s hegemony in Kwara politics.

Ambode:= Keeping the flag flying The 156,106 difference separating Akinwunmi Ambode's victory from the loss of Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was good enough to put to rest the keenly-contested governorship election between the ruling APC and the PDP in Lagos State. Ambode's APC polled 811, 994 to beat the PDP for the record fourth time. Agbaje, whose PDP scored 655,788, conceded victory to Ambode last night. This was after initially expressing optimism that he would win the election.

The governor-elect has a great task of not only maintaining the record laid by his predecessors - Tinubu and Fashola, he has to work extra hard to surpass them by raising the bar of development in Lagos. As a seasoned public administrator, who rose through the ranks to become the State Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary in the public service, Ambode has no reason not to build on the legacies of Tinubu and Fashola, who were both his supervisors. In his acceptance speech last

•Agbaje

night, he congratulated Lagosians for entrusting him with their mandate and asked for their cooperation.

Oshiomhole: Proving a point in Edo Saturday’s House of Assembly election meant a lot to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who will be serving out his two-term tenure next year. Members of his All Progressives Congress (APC) have to dominate the 24-member House for the smooth implementation of the APC manifesto in Edo State. Although he lost the presidential election and two Senatorial seats to the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on March 28, the governor led his APC to floor the PDP in the House of Assembly election at the weekend. The APC won 21 out of the 24 seats in the House of Assembly. Oshiomhole also scuttled the PDP plan of blocking the APC presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, from securing 25 per cent in any of the states in the Southsouth geo-political region. He secured more than 25 per cent of the total votes in Edo State for Buhari, who eventually won the election to defeat incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. Besides the three State Constituencies in the Edo Central Senatorial District, which is the zone of the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, the APC candidates swept all 21 seats in the Edo South and Edo North Sena-

•Alao-Akala

torial Districts.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu Polling 482,277 as against his closest rival, Okey Ezea of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled a distant 43,837, House of Representatives member, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was yesterday declared winner of the govership election in Enugu State. Ugwuanyi was the preferred candidate of incumbent Governor Sullivan Chime.

The ruling party also cleared all the 24 House of Assembly seats in the results that were announced by the INEC Returning Officer in the state, Prof Hillary Edogawho, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Umuahia, Abia state.

But the opposition APC has however called for the cancellation of the entire election in the state, alleging widespread irregularities in all the 17 council areas. The party in a joint press conference addressed by Ezea, his running mate, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku and the state chairman, Ben Nwoye, said it was rejecting the results because the PDP did not only collude with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police to manipulate the process but their members were seriously attacked in most of the polling units in the state.

Aminu Bello Masari, Katsina Former Speaker of the House of

PO THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

5

GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION LOSERS Yero The incumbent governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Ramalan Yero failed to secure a second term as he lost the election to Mallam Nasir ElRufai of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Yero had boasted that he was sure of winning the election given his performance. He even told opposition that there was no vacancy in the Government House.

Namadi Sambo

•Saraki

•Oshiomhole

shola

Vice President Namadi Sambo is perceived as political godfather of Yero. Sambo was Kaduna State governor until 2010 when he was appointed Vice President by President Goodluck Jonathan. Dr. Jonathan assumed office as President following the death of Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua. The former deputy governor of Kaduna State, the late Patrick Yakowa stepped as replacement. in as governor. Sambo influenced the appointment of Yero as deputy to Yakowa. He has remained loyal to Sambo. Observers believe Sambo is ruling Kaduna from Aso Rock, Abuja.

Suswam The outgoing governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan failed in his bid to make the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Terherse Terzor his successor. He was defeated by the APC’s Samuel Ortom. Suswam frustrated Ortom out of the PDP by imposing Terzor as candidate against the popular wish of the people. Suswam also lost in the senatorial election which was won

by Senator Barnabas Gemade, who defected to the APC few weeks to the general elections. Suswam lost at the senatorial election to Gemade.

Agbaje

Alao-Akala

•George

Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari, was yesterday declared winner of the governorship election in Katsina State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Masari was Speaker between 2003 and 2007 during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo The Returning Officer, Lawal Bilbis, said the ex-Speaker polled 943,085 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Musa Nashuni, who scored 476,768 votes in the Saturday election. Seven political officers participated in the election.

Mr. Bilbis said the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate, Yakubu Lado, got 50,361 votes and Umar Abdullahi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured 42,302 votes.

Ajimobi...breaking the second term jinx in Oyo Governor Abiola Ajimobi's victory in Saturday's governorship election has broken the jinx that no sitting governor can keep his seat for a second term in Oyo State.

Incumbent Governor Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 327,310 to win a fresh fouryear mandate in the Agodi, Oyo Government House.

Two of his predecessors in the Pacesetter State- Alhaji Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja and Adebayo AlaoAkala - tried to retain their seats but they were rejected at the polls in 2007

•Sherif

‘

Two of his predecessors in the Pacesetter State- Alhaji Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja and Adebayo AlaoAkala tried to retain their seats but they were rejected at the polls in 2007 and 2011. They were both of the Peoples Democratic Party. and 2011. They were both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Interestingly, the duo of Ladoja and AlaoAkala, flying the banners of the Accord party and Labour Party (LP) contested against Ajimobi but lost to the incumbent. Ladoja's Accord party scored 254,520 and Alao-Akala's LP polled 184,111. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin scored 79, 019.

Dankwabo: The lucky survivor in Gombe Ibrahim Dankwambo yesterday retained his seat as the Gombe State governorship seat under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after polling 285,369 votes to beat All Progressives Congress (APC's) Inumwa Yahaya, who pulled 205,132 votes, in the results announced by the Independent

‘

National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday. In a rare display of sportsmanship, the APC candidate conceded defeat in the election.

Dankwanmbo, who lost the state to the APC in the presidential and National Assembly polls on March 28, thanked the people of Gombe in his reaction to the victory yesterday. He dedicated the victory to the electorate.

The lucky survivor said: "We will continue to ensure that we live in peace and we will continue to ensure that the dividend of democracy reaches to the down trodden people of Gombe state.

"I assured them once again that we will do everything possible to ensure that we develop, enhance and create wealth for the ordinary person in Gombe state. I assure you that we will not fail them."

Tambuwal, transiting from lawmaking to CEO in Sokoto Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was yesterday declared the winner of the Saturday Sokoto State governorship election.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated his main rival of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Abdalla Wali in the contest.

Announcing the result collated in the auditorium of the Sultan Muhammadu Maccido Institute for Koranic and General Studies, Sokoto, the Returning Officer, Prof Abdul Bagudu, who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of the Usman Danfodio University, said Tambuwal polled the highest votes and has been returned as the winner of the contest.

The PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has crashed out in his bid to govern the state. Agbaje had boasted that he would win and be sworn in as the next governor. This is not the first time that the pharmacist-turned politician would lose election. In 2007, he contested on the platform of Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP) and lost woefully. He scored three per cent of the total votes cast. He told some reporters at the Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja shortly after he clinched the PDP ticket that he would not want to add a former, former governorship candidate to his resume. He conceded defeat to the APC candidate, Akinwunmi Agbaje last night.

Wada There was no governorship election in Kogi State. But Governor Ibrahim Wada failed to deliver the House of Assembly seat to the PDP. They were swept by the APC, which had on March 28, won the presidential and National Assembly elections in the Northcentral state.

The APC won many state constituency seats in Saturday’s election. To observers, it is an indication that the PDP has lost grip in Kogi.

President Goodluck Jonathan After the shock of being the first incumbent President to be defeated in an election conducted by him, Jonathan mustered the last courage in him to join forces with other PDP members to ensure that the party wins Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Rivers State, to fund the rebuilding of the party. It was even alleged that he stormed Lagos in the eve of election with N10 billion to sway the support of Lagosians.

Unfortunately, the President lost •Continued on page 62

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

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NEWS GOVERNORSHIP AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS RESULTS

•SWEET VICT OR Y: All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains celebrating the victory of the party in governorship election in Lagos...yesterday. Vice President-elect Prof. Yemi Osinbajo VICTOR ORY (fifth left), National Leader of APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (sixth left), Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (fourth left), House of Representatives member Abiodun Faleke (second right), Senator Olorunimbe Mamora (behind Asiwaju), Mr. Ademola Seriki and Mr. Dele Alake (behind Osinbajo) and others.

INEC probes 66 violent incidents in 19 states

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is probing 66 violent incidents in 19 states during Saturday’s governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.

It vowed to bring the culprits to justice after the conclusion of its investigation.

The commission, in a statement in Abuja, asked those aggrieved over the results of the elections to seek redress in tribunals instead of taking the laws into their hands.

It, however, claimed that the elections were generally peaceful with 88.9 per cent of polling units opened for accreditation between 8am and 10am.

The statement said: “Overall,

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

many parts of the country remained relatively peaceful during the elections. Some states, however, recorded a significant number of violent incidents, the most affected being Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi and Ondo states.

“INEC’s records show that there were 66 reports of violent incidents targeted at polling units, the commission’s officials, voters and election materials.

“These were in Rivers State (16 incidents), Ondo (eight), Cross River and Ebonyi (six each), Akwa Ibom (five) Bayelsa (four), Lagos and Kaduna (three each), Jigawa, Enugu, Ekiti and Osun (two each), Katsina,

Plateau, Kogi, Abia, Imo, Kano and Ogun (one each).

“The Commission is investigating these incidents and will do everything within its powers to bring culprits to justice.”

INEC advised those aggrieved about the outcome of the elections to go to tribunals in line with the Electoral Act. The statement added: “INEC commends Nigerians for once again demonstrating their resolve and commitment to participate in the electoral process and by doing so, contributing to deepening democracy in our country.

“The commission calls on every citizen to maintain the peace as the results of the governorship and State

Assembly elections are being processed, and to accept the official outcomes.

“It would like to emphasise that winners can only emerge after collation of the official results and on the basis of the requirements prescribed by the legal framework. Any aggrieved persons or groups are encouraged to seek redress at the tribunals.

“INEC would also like to remind all stakeholders that the process is not yet completed and urges restraint in their comments, as we strive to bring this process to an orderly, peaceful and credible conclusion.”

Notwithstanding, the commission said a general assessment indicated that the elections were smoother and largely peaceful.

Ajimobi breaks second term jinx in Oyo

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday broke the second term jinx, winning the governorship election.

After he was declared the winner at the state Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) headquartres, the ancient capital city, Ibadan, erupted in jubilation as hundreds of men and women, young and old took to the streets in honour of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate.

At about 5.15pm shortly after the INEC made the announcement of the results, many party men, who kept vigil at the commission’s state secretariat at Agodi since Saturday, embarked on victory dance in groups, waving brooms.

Many of the residents also joined the train, which marched through Mokola to the Oluyole residence of Ajimobi on foot.

Outside the city, residents of Saki,

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•APC gets 18 Assembly seats •Ladoja rejects result From Bisi Oladele, Tayo Johnson and Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

Iseyin, Oyo, Okeho, Iwo-Ate and Ibarapa also rejoiced as the news broke that Ajimobi had been officially announced winner of the keenly contested poll.

The governor polled 327,310 to beat his closest challenger, Rashidi Ladoja of Accord, who scored 254,520. Labour Party (LP) candidate, Adebayo AlaoAkala, came third with 184,111 votes.

Ajimobi won in 20 local governments. Ladoja got seven and Alao-Akala won in six.

They were followed by the candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Teslim Folarin, who scored 79,019, Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) polled 54,740, to come fifth.

Of the 32 House of Assembly seats,

the APC won 18, Accord won eight. LP won six seats.

An elated Ajimobi dedicated his victory to God. He also described his victory as the triumph of democracy, promising to serve the people with all his heart.

“The people of Ibadan have spoken.

The people of Oyo have spoken. The people of Oke-Ogun have spoken. The people of Ibarapa have spoken and we appreciate all of them,” the governor said.

Ajimobi was grateful to his fellow contestants, particularly Alao-Akala and Makinde, who he acknowledged had called him earlier on telephone to congratulate him, even before the result was announced.

Acknowledging his victory as a unique success, Ajimobi said the only reward he could give the people in

return was to serve them with all his heart.

His residence at Oluyole Estate suddenly became a huge arena hosting crowds of supporters.

Everyone struggled for an opportunity to congratulate him on his success.

Folarin conceded defeat Saturday evening after recognising that he could no longer win the election based on reports from his agents across the state.

Alao-Akala followed suit shortly before the result was collated.

But Ladoja rejected the result.

His agent, Nureni Adisa, who witnessed collation of results at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), refused to sign the final result.

He said he was instructed by the party leadership not to endorse the INEC result sheet.

Tambuwal extends hand of friendship to opponents

HE Sokoto State Governorelect, Aminu WaziriTambuwal, yesterday extended a hand of fellowship to all his opponents, who wish to partake in building the state.

He said: “We have nothing, but respect for our political opponents and we wish to commend them for running such a competitive campaign and for opening our eyes to so many perspectives regarding our democratic process. Our hand of friendship is again extended to all those who wish to join us in the great task of moving Sokoto State forward.”

In his remarks in Sokoto after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of the election, the Speaker

From John Ofikhenua, Sokoto

of the House of Representatives thanked electorate for voting him in the Saturday election.

Expressing his gratitude to the people for reposing their confidence in him, he said: “I am grateful to Almighty Allah for this glorious moment. I want to thank the people of Sokoto State for their remarkable display of confidence in our dear party - the All Progressive Congress (APC).

“Myself and the deputy governor-elect are truly humbled by your sustained support, trust and confidence in the face of orchestrated provocation and attempt to subvert the will of the people. We remain grateful for honoring us

with their mandate.”

The speaker described his election as a responsibility he and his team would not take lightly as they would endeavour to provide good governance in the state with utmost transparency and fairness.

He attributed the victory to the goodwill and perseverance of the people to make the right choices.

“We owe our victory to the generosity of a great many people, who have given their energy and resources to make this day possible,” he noted.

Tambuwal also stressed that the epoch-making election was due to the efforts of the incumbent governor, Aliyu Wamakko, who garnered the sympathy of the people through the APC.

Assuring the governor that his contribution to the growth of the state would ever remain fresh in their memory, the speaker said that his administration shall sustain the programmes of Wamakko.

The speaker said his team was determined to make the government responsive to the needs of the people.

He assured the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of continuous support for his incoming administration to jointly consolidate the hopes of Nigerians.

Wamakko maintained that with the incoming government of the APC, the citizenry can now sleep with their eyes closed.

Ambode defeats Agbaje

By Remi Adelowo and Precious Igbonwelundu

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HE Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, was yesterday declared winner, polling 811,994 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Agbaje got 659,788 votes.

Announcing the result at the Independent Nigeria Electoral Commission (INEC) state headquarters in Lagos, the state Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who is the vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, said Ambode won after satisfying relevant provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act. Agbaje congratulated Ambode, even before the official declaration of the result.

But the PDP state agent at the collation centre, Wahab Owokoniran, refused to sign the result sheet.

The PDP alleged irregularities.

Ekiti LP accuses INEC, PDP of robbery From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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HE Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rob the party of four House of Assembly seats at Saturday’s polls.

The constituencies, where the LP claimed its candidates won which results were allegedly overturned in favour of PDP, are Moba 1, Moba 2, Emure and Ekiti Southwest 1.

Speaking with reporters yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state LP Chairman, Akin Omole, expressed the readiness of the party to challenge the result in the four contentious constituencies at the Elections Petition Tribunal.

Omole said the party has evidence to prove its case before the yet-to-beconstituted tribunal that the results were rigged in favour of PDP. The LP chair accused Electoral Officers, security men and PDP chieftains backed with state instrument of coercion of committing the alleged electoral fraud which, he said, denied the rightful winners of their mandates.

The state LP leader and House of Representatives member, Opeyemi Bamidele, called on INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure that the erring electoral officials are sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

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NEWS ‘Tariff drop not for homes’ From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

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HE management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has said the 50 per cent reduction in electricity tariff by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will not affect residential consumers, most of who fall under the R1 and R2 tariff categories.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the company said the clarification was necessary following misconceptions by some of its customers that the reduction by NERC was for all categories of consumers and, therefore, resisting payment of their electricity bills.

According to AEDC, the tariff for customers in the R1 & R2 tariff class was not adjusted in the last tariff adjustment by the NERC, and hence these classes of customers were not affected in the new tariff reduction, which it said was meant for commercial and industrial customers alone.

Quoting the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, in confirmation of its position, AEDC said “majority of the residential customers in the R2 and R1 categories did not experience the January 1, 2015 increase in tariff. They will not also see any reversal or reduction in tariff as the industrial, commercial and high-end residential consumers, whose tariffs were increased”.

JNI, Umar deny collecting bribe, contract from Jonathan A PEX Islamic body in the North Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) yesterday denied speculation that the religious body received N12 billion from President Goodluck Jonathan.

Also, former Kaduna State Military Governor, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, said he never collected any oil contract from the President.

JNI, in a statement by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, in Kaduna yesterday, said nothing of such happened and nobody and or any party gave them any money.

The organisation said it had no political romance with the government before and during the elections.

It said: “The attention of JNI National Headquarters had been drawn to a purported news item/article by Obinna Akukwe, which went virile in the social media and other electronic media platforms, alleging that JNI received N12 billion from the President. The most unfortunate part of the article was its deliberate scantiness in the paragraph JNI fea-

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

tured, details were not provided, whereas to some extent, nitty-gritty were provided for the other stated organisations.

“JNI is, therefore, worried over the scandalous allegation, and considering the various concerns raised by well-meaning individuals, as a result of the weightiness of the allegation, we wish to place on record and for posterity that such never occurred.

“We don’t really understand the ill motives of those behind the release. Or is it because some other faith(s) are said to have collected the Presidential largesse? Hence, Muslims most be asserted to have collected same? Why do they want to discredit and smear the JNI at all cost? Why is the allegation coming now, despite knowing that the JNI never had any political romance with the government before and or during the elections? What really

is the mischievous intent of writing and releasing the article?

“It is our firm belief that the purported write up was orchestrated to smear the name of Islam and Muslims, who suffered undue discrimination and deliberate marginalisation under the government, and to cause bad feelings among the Ummah.”

But, Umar, in a statement, said his friendship with Jonathan was without material favour.

He condemned those defecting en masse from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Such defectors, the former military governor said, could renounce God if they had the opportunity.

The ex-governor opened up following controversy on his decision to stick to Jonathan during electioneering.

He said he would remain steadfast in his relationship in or out of office.

The statement said: “Come May 29, 2015, President Jonathan will hand over power to the winner of the March 28, 2015 presidential election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

“With this seeming loss of political power, he will also lose a large retinue of friends and loyalists; people who would swear by his name a couple of weeks ago.

“The President, like most of his predecessors, will suffer the pain of betrayal.

“I, however, assure him that there are still genuine friends who will be by him through life’s challenges out of power.”

He added: “I also wish to advise him to ignore the treacherous actions of those opportunists, who are defecting from his party, the PDP, to APC at this late hour.

“These are people who will not hesitate to renounce God in their pursuit of ephemeral worldly power. “ Umar denied securing oil contract or gaining any material benefit from Jonathan as a friend.

Dangote Cement output to rise in Cameroon

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HE Dangote Cement Plc has assured Cameroon that it will help shore up local production of cement following the ban on importation of the product.

The assurance came in the wake of the formal launching of the company’s high grade 42.5 cement type into the Cameroonian market after a successful inauguration of 1.5m MTPA capacity plant in Douala.

Company officials told reporters that it appreciated the gesture of the Cameroonian government and that the ban was a vote of confidence on the ability of cement manufacturers in the country, especially Dangote Cement, to meet and surpass local consumption demands.

With the addition of the Dangote’s 1.5m MTPA, General Manager and head of Cameroonian factory, Abdulahi Baba, explained that the country’s three manufacturers of cement were about to surpass local consumption demands.

He added that Dangote management was looking towards export prospects to Cameroon’s neighbouring countries.

With a consumption growth of eight per cent, and with a local production of 2.9m MTPA, Baba said the Dangote management was looking at export potential in Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Togo.

He explained that the plant has one of the most recent facilities to ensure that there was no dust emission during production.

From left: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Afriland Properties Plc Uzoamaka Oshogwe; company’s chairman Erelu Angela Adebayo and company secretary/legal adviser Mr. Obong Idiong, at Afriland’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

EU canvasses new tax regime for rich Nigerians

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HIGHER tax regime for rich Nigerians in accordance with their earnings will accelerate the growth of the country’s economy, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria Michel Arrion has said.

Arrion said although Nigeria is adjudged the biggest economy in Africa, its economy was still small compared to other countries in Europe.

The EU ambassador, who also heads the delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), spoke with reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

The envoy urged the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to de-radicalise Boko Harram prisoners, saying that would permanently end the insurgency ravaging the Northeast.

The ambassador, who was in Kwara State for a two-day visit as part of his mission of “discovering Nigeria”, recommended that “the future of Kwara be based on agriculture” while Nigeria should embark on “diversification of the economy”.

On the outcome of the elections, Arrion said the nation was “showing a good ex-

ample” to the rest of Africa, especially with the action of President Goodluck Jonathan, who, according to him, in a rare demonstration of sportsmanship, conceded defeat to his challenger at the presidential elections.

He urged the continent to “invent in its own democracy” and leverage on the opportunities provided by ECOWAS to boost the economy of member countries.

Arrion, on arrival in the state, visited the leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bukola Saraki, at his Ilofa GRA residence.

He stressed the need for Nigeria and Africa to ensure that

peace reigns supreme.

Senator Saraki urged the EU to support the incoming administration of Buhari to fix infrastructure and fight poverty for the citizens to savour the dividends of democracy brought about by the wind of change.

He added that the success achieved during the elections were possible due to the technical support friends of Nigeria, including the EU, provided to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Saraki said: “The victory of the elections was not just APC victory. It was victory for all Nigerians.”

Unpaid salary: JUSUN to freeze two states’ accounts

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HE Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has begun moves to have the accounts of Plateau and Benue states frozen over alleged refusal to pay the salaries of court workers for five months.

JUSUN’s President Marwan Adamu said this in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

Adamu said the union’s lawyers have concluded plans to seek court orders to freeze the accounts of both states.

He said such treatment would be extended to the 15 states, whose courts were still on strike, owing to the governors’ refusal to allow financial autonomy in the states’ Judiciary following the January 13, 2014, judg-

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

ment of the Federal High Court.

He listed the states as: Kaduna, Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Anambra, Abia, Enugu, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Cross River.

Adamu, who blamed the governors for the prolonged strike, said the industrial action would have been suspended had the “governors done the needful to save the sector from further ridicule by enemies of democracy.”

The JUSUN president, who hailed the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, for his

success in the election, urged him to, on assuming office, treat the resolution of the crisis in the judiciary as a matter requiring utmost attention.

He urged JUSUN members in the 15 states still on strike not to waver, but remain “resolute in the struggle to free the justice sector from the excruciating control of the governors.”

Adamu, who urged well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and prevail on governors of the 15 identified states to comply with the subsisting court judgment, assured that his group would not succumb to any intimidation or blackmail.

Ex-UI VC Tamuno dies From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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FORMER Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Emeritus Prof. Tekena Tamuno, is dead.

He died in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Saturday at the age of 83 years.

Tamuno was one of Africa’s renowned professors of History and former president of the Nigerian Academy of Letters.

His death came as a shock to friends and colleagues as he was said to have recovered and looking healthy after returning from the United States (U.S.), where he was reportedly treated for prostate cancer last month.

Details of his last moments were sketchy as at yesterday.

Reacting to Tamuno’s death, the Secretary of NAL and fellow historian, Prof. Olutayo Charles Adesina, said the Nigerian academic community and the nation had lost “an extremely cerebral historian and foremost scholar of the humanities, who combined the rigour and flexibility needed for a better understanding of his field”.

Adesina, a former head of UI History Department, where the deceased taught, said the late historian was an extremely approachable professor with excellent interpersonal relations qualities.

“They don’t build them like that anymore; he was a study in humility,” the NAL secretary said.

Prof. Tamuno served as chancellor, Redeemer’s University; chairman of the Presidential Panel on National Security from October 2001 to December 2002 and Panel on Policing Nigeria Project 20022003.

A poet and historian, Prof.

Tamuno was a fellow of both the Nigerian Academy of Letters and Rockefeller Foundation and a member of the National Universities Commission.

Born on January 28, 1932 in Okrika, Rivers State, he attended St. Peters School, Okrika, 1938-46; Okrika Grammar School, Okrika, 1947-51; University College, Ibadan, 19531958; Birkbeck College, University of London, 1960-62; and Columbia University, New York City, U.S.A., 1965-66.

He began his career as an Assistant Lecturer in History, University College, Ibadan in 1962; and was promoted Lecturer, 1963; Senior Lecturer, 1967; and Professor in History, 1971-1990, and was head of Department of History, University of Ibadan, between 1972-75.

The late Tamuno was appointed the dean of Arts, 197375; chairman, Committee of Deans, University of Ibadan, 1974-75; Principal, University College, Ilorin, 1975; vice chancellor, University of Ibadan, 1975-79; pro-chancellor and chairman of Governing Council, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, 1981-88.

The late Prof. Tamuno

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

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NEWS

APC alleges violence, fraud in Ekiti Assembly polls

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has claimed that last Saturday’s House of Assembly election was marred by intimidation of the electorate, violence and irregularities.

The party said the election was neither free nor fair as there were cases of theft of ballot papers and boxes, attacks on opposition members by thugs and policemen and violation of electoral regulations by agents of the ruling party.

A statement yesterday by APC State Publicity Secretary Taiwo Olatubosun revealed that the alleged statesponsored intimidation of opposition members began on Friday. This, said the APC, accounted for the low turnout of voters across the state.

Some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who served as ad hoc staff, the party said, were not spared

APC wins 24 seats in Osun

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

the intimidation by those APC described as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs to allow for illegal thumbprinting of ballot papers.

The places where such electoral infractions took place, according to the APC, include Efon Alaaye, Ilupeju, IjanEkiti, Oke-Ako, Ado-Ekiti, Itaji, Ayede, Ilemeso, Ilafon and all communities in Ilejemeje Local Government Area.

The party said: “To be specific, APC members were driven to the bush into many towns across the state.

“They included Efon Alaaye, where PDP thugs did not allow any APC member to participate in accreditation while no party agent was allowed to stay in any of the polling units in the town.

“In Ijan, the traditional ruler of the town personally banished some dwellers in the farm settlement of Ilupeju-Ijan because of their refusal to vote

for the PDP as he decreed.

“The dwellers in their hundreds left their abodes and could not vote for the party of their choice.

“Also in Ijan-Ekiti, PDP agents forced corps members, who worked as ad hoc staff, to abandon card readers in three units, namely Eyingbe, Ogbontitun and Imekun to enable them stuff the ballot box in support of the PDP candidate, who is from the town.”

The statement alleged that APC members in Ilejemeje Local Government were driven into the bush while thugs and policemen from the Government House did most of the thumb printing of the ballot papers.

It added:” In Ikere-Ekiti, thugs and policemen from the Government House did not allow APC members to vote while party agents were driven into the bush.

“In Afao-Ekiti, Fayose’s town, many APC members were not allowed to vote as

they were driven into the bush by Fayose’s thugs imported into the town last night.”

The party also noted that in Oke-Ako, town of factional Speaker Dele Olugbemi thugs and fake policemen were shooting to scare voters to allow thumb printing of ballot papers.

“In Ijero Local Government, it was the same story as thugs chased away voters and carted away voting materials, including ballot boxes and later thumb-printed papers and deposited them in the ballot boxes.

“In Ado-Ekiti, policemen attached to the Government House, who were not accredited to monitor election, arrested APC members illegally but were only released when the people protested that they were on an illegal mission. They were thereafter detained.

The APC said PDP candidate in Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency Two, was mov-

ing from his town Eyio to Esure and Iropora with fake policemen harassing voters.

“In Itaji, Ayede, Ilemeso and Ilafon, thugs under the command of Dr. Omotoso raided polling units and carted away ballot papers, which they later thumb-printed.

The statement said in Igogo, thugs and policemen from the Government House carted away ballot boxes after shooting into the air to scare away voters. The people went on protest over this.

“This was the trend in most parts of the state. Added to this is the fact that result sheets were not available in many polling units while voting materials came late.

“We strongly believe that most of the results of the election were written at the Government House.

“Aderemi Adedara, who was APC candidate in Ikere Constituency Two, was illegally arrested at his polling unit by a purported mobile police man in mufti.”

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has won 24 of the 26 seats in the House of Assembly.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the remaining two seats in the poll in which only five parties participated.

The results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are as follows: Boripe/Boluwaduro APC 14631, PDP 6181; Ifelodun APC 12,292, PDP 3,367; Ila APC 11,657, PDP 3,847; Ifedayo APC 3,820 PDP 1,366; Irepodun/Orolu APC 18,200, PDP 8,378; Odo-Otin APC 11,549, PDP 7,054; Olorunda APC 15,182, PDP 3,267; Osogbo APC 22,803, PDP 4,854; Atakunmosa-West and East APC 14,253, PDP 2,407; IfeCentral APC 8,534, PDP 9529; Ife-East APC 7,768, PDP 7,886; Ife-North APC 7,490, PDP 5,921; Ife-South APC 8,806, PDP 5,401; Ilesa-East APC 9,195, PDP 1,469; Ilesa-West APC 8,550, PDP—1,618; Obokun APC 9,499, PDP 7,130; Oriade APC 11,738, PDP 6,990; Ayedaade APC 10,775, PDP 5,550; Ayedire APC 7,542, PDP 4,732; Ede-North APC 11,481, PDP 9,423; Ede-South APC7,682, PDP 5,308; Egbedore APC 7,682, PDP 5,308; Irewole/Isokan APC 20,176, PDP 6,248; Iwo APC 17,580, PDP 5,875; Olaoluwa APC 6,912, PDP 3,540; Ejigbo APC 17,956, PDP 5,455.

Olugbo: I didn’t snatch box

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HE Olugbo of UgboIlaje in the oil-producing coastal area of Ondo State, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan, has denied allegations linking him with ballot-box snatching and intimidation of voters in Ilaje Local Government.

He said: “I am hearing these allegations for the first time and it amazed me that some people would link me person with such acts.

“For the avoidance of doubts, I was at my palace at Ode-Ugbo. I am a traditional ruler and the paramount ruler so there was no way I could be involved in partisan political affairs as the father to all. Whoever spreading rumours is just lying.”

•Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (in white) , his wife, Florence and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu surrounded by jubilant residents shortly after his declaration as the winner of the governorship election...yesterday.

PDP wins 25 seats in Ekiti From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued its winning streak in Ekiti State, winning 25 seats.

Ilejemeje Constituency’s result was still being collated at press time.

The implication of the result is that no member of the current Assembly-either on the PDP side or the All Progressives Congress (APC)- will return when the Fifth Assembly is inaugurated in June.

The result hands control of the House to the PDP which is expected to enjoy overwhelming majority when a new Assembly is sworn in.

Bamidele gives N2m to candidates From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

HOUSE of Representatives member, Opeyemi Bamidele, has donated N500,000 to the victorious Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 1 of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olamiposi Omodara.

Bamidele gave the cash to Omodara, when he visited the winner on Saturday night.

Labour Party (LP) candidate Opeyemi Oguntuase and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bisi Dada got N250,000 each.

The lawmaker extended the gesture to the two candidates for putting up a good fight and displaying maturity during the election.

The PDP and APC candidates are from Bamidele’s Ibedoyin Quarters; Oguntuase is from Oke Ilawe in Iyin Ekiti, Bamidele’s hometown.

A statement yesterday by Bamidele’s media aide Ahmed Salami said the cash gift decision was to cement the tie of brotherliness in Iyin and to prove a point that politics should be a game to unite the people.

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Folarin’s transformer causing ripples From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Ondo REC declares Ilaje poll inconclusive

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared inconclusive the House of Assembly election in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, following irregularities that marred the poll.

Materials for some wards in Ilaje Local Government with two constituencies were hijacked by thugs.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Segun Agbaje said only the national body could give a directive on what to do concerning the election in the council.

In the results released so far, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 19 Assembly seats. The All Progressives Congress (APC) got only five.

PDP won in Owo Constituency I, Ose, Akure Constituency I, Akoko North West Constituency II, Akoko South East, Akoko North East, Idanre, Ifedore, Ondo West I and II, Ondo West, Odigbo I and II, Idanre,

•PDP wins 19 seats •Discontent over results • Oke hails INEC From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Akure North, Ese-Odo, and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo.

APC won the Akure South Constituency II, Owo Constituency II, Akoko South West I and II, and Akoko North West Constituency I. A former PDP chieftain, who recently joined the APC, Chief Olusola Oke, yesterday praised INEC for declaring the election inconclusive.

In a statement by his media assistant, Rotimi Ogunleye, Oke praised INEC for looking into the complaints and acting in the interest of justice and democracy.

He said: “Our opinion is that the election ought to have been cancelled, instead of declaring it inconclusive.

“The election was characterised by violence orchestrated and supervised by government agents.”

There was outrage in Akure, the state capital, yesterday over the outcome of the Assembly election, which mostly favoured the PDP. Scores of people were seen discussing how poverty forced many voters to succumb to the paltry N1,000 per head being distributed in virtually all the polling units across the state.

Observers said the distribution of money had started since last Wednesday, with residents allegedly thronging Akure daily to collect their own share of the commonwealth.

It was also visible at every polling unit on Saturday how money ranging from N1,000 to N5,000 exchanged hands.

The APC described the poll as a contrive fraud aimed at providing a soft landing for

Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who has lost favour with the masses.

In a statement in Akure by the Secretary of APC media committee, Charles Titiloye, the party noted that PDP deployed unconventional strategies to rig the election.

It noted that the election was marred by electoral irregularities, swapping of ballot papers to disenfranchise APC supporters, threats and intimidation to APC supporters, open ballot box snatching by PDP agents and unprecedented monetary inducement of voters.

“In Igbotako, Ijuodo and Odeaye ballot papers/electoral materials meant for other units were deployed to units in the area to ensure that the election did not start as scheduled.

“The outcome of the election was a confirmation of our warning to INEC and security agents of the plan by PDP to rig the election and use all means to ensure victory for its candidates.”

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HE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Teslim Folarin, has allegedly ordered his loyalist in Sabo, Ibadan to remove the transformer he donated to them.

The Seriki Hausawa of Ibadanland, Alhaji Ahmad Dahiru Zungeru, announced this to reporters at his palace in Ibadan yesterday.

“Folarin donated a transformer to Sabo community and it was placed around our central mosque.

“One of his aides, Basiru Maiborno, brought it to us. But yesterday morning, I received a call that Maiborno has taken back the transformer.”

According to him, later in the day the transformer was returned back but we refused it and asked his aide to return it.

Maiborno, a former councillor in Ibadan North, said: “It was not because Folarin lost in Sabo that we removed the transformer.

“I got the information that some hoodlums wanted to steal the transformer, which was why I removed it. Folarin does not know anything about it.”

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NEWS GOVERNORSHIP AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTION RESULTS Militants hijack materials in Cross River From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

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ATERIALS for the Saturday Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State were hijacked by militants, the Collation Officer, Prof Austin Obiesekie, said yesterday.

While announcing results at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Calabar, Obiekesie said the incident led to the cancellation of elections in most polling units.

He said other irregularities, such as non-availability of materials in about eight units, following transportation challenges, also contributed to the cancellation.

Bayelsa speaker escapes death From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

S Journalists at an INEC results collation centre for governorship and House of Assembly election in Lagos...yesterday PHOTO: NAN

APC alleges attacks on members in Cross River

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has condemned “the high-scale violence” allegedly perpetrated against its members by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s elections.

The APC also alleged compromise by security and electoral officials.

A statement by APC’s National Vice Chair, Southsouth, Mr. Hilliard Eta, reads: “High-scale violence was unleashed by PDP thugs against our members in Cross River during last Saturday’s polls, a situation which saw some of our members either beaten up, macheted or detained unlawfully.

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

“Unfortunately, this unwholesome activity was backed by security operatives, thus paving the way for electoral fraud in connivance with INEC officials.

“In Ikot Offiong Ebe (Akamkpa ward) of Odukpani, our candidate for the Southern senatorial district, Mrs Maria Ukpanyang escaped lynching but two supporters were macheted by thugs hired of PDP; they are in a critical state.

“At Ekim Ebebit in Odot ward, members of the state emergency response team aided the beating of APC agents and whisked away two

of them - Inyang Okon Asuquo and Umo Okon Asuquo. Their whereabouts are still uncertain.

“Also, the Ward 3 Chairman in Calabar Municipality, Mr. Benjamin Archibong was arrested at Diamond Hill Polling Unit for requesting to see the result sheet.

“In Calabar South 1, our agent in Abasi Edem, James Edet, was attacked.

“In all these cases, result sheets were carted away, filled in private places and returned to INEC for declaration.

“Our concern here is that the police exhibited a clear case of compromise and incidentally this questions the resolve to deepen our democ-

‘Tinubu, Oshiomhole architects of new Nigeria’

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ORMER Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been described as the leader, architect and pathfinder of an emerging new Nigeria.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. John Mayaki, while congratulating the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on his victory, said: “the likes of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rivers State Governor Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of Edo State and others, should be congratulated for leading a most ferocious battle against a most desperate Federal Government un-

der President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Mayaki described Governor Oshiomhole as a steadfast, courageous pathfinder and democrat, who provided effective leadership for the people even as he called on those who left the party to consider returning home.

“We made it to the other side after the PDP captivity, the turbulent and fearful crossing (transition) of the sea to the other side of victory and Promised Land for Nigerians.

“It is not easy to be in opposition. Comrade Oshiomhole has again proved his onions. He is never intimidated or cowed. He is courageous and at his best when intimidated. He was steadfast and focused throughout.

“Today, Edo State was in

the league of states in the opposition party, which dethroned a corrupt-ridden Federal Government.

“Oshiomhole fought with other democrats to rescue Edo State from the grip of the PDP, which almost snuffed life out of the state.

“I want to appreciate those who have joined him from other parties and encourage others who are yet to catch the joy of liberation with the governor to do so in the interest of the state and the country.

“It is a matter of leadership. Oshiomhole has done this again. He has shown leadership and if you think you no longer find leadership in PDP or any other party, why not join the pathfinder - Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole,” Mayaki said.

SDP candidate wins Assembly seat in Delta

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HE Social Democratic Party’s (SDP’s) House of Assembly candidate for Uvwie constituency in Delta State, Efe Ofobruku, has been declared winner of Saturday’s election.

Ofobruku polled 14,022 votes to fend off his closest challenger, Matthew Tsekirii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 9,122.

Ofobruku defected to SDP from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he lost the party’s primary.

Ateke Tom: Niger Delta’ll support Buhari

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ORMER leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Movement (NDVM) “General” Ateke Tom has said the Niger Delta people will support the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

He also said ex-militants, having embraced the Federal Government’s amnesty programme, would not return to the creeks, the defeat of President Jonathan notwith-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

standing.

Ateke spoke at the weekend at his Okrika home at an interactive session with reporters.

The ex-militant said he would continue to believe in the Ijaw cause, even as he admonished youths, especially those from the Niger Delta, to shun violence.

“We (Niger Delta’s ex-militants) are ready to work with Muhammadu Buhari. We believe in Buhari’s ability to perform well and move Nigeria forward. Nobody will return to the creeks to fight or break pipelines. I am one of the top fighters in the Niger Delta.

Nobody should follow anybody to the creeks. The boys (youths) should embrace peace,” Ateke said.

racy.

“Now, our demands are that the police should release our agents and arrest the perpetrators”.

PEAKER of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Mr. Kombowei Benson yesterday escaped unhurt after a clash between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

Three persons were feared dead while some Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc workers were injured.

Guns reportedly boomed for over two hours during the clash at the INEC’s Collation Centre in Southern Ijaw, Oporoma.

INEC workers were said to be collating results when over 150 party supporters invaded the area and unleashed havoc, despite the presence of security men.

They were said to have scattered materials, overturned tables and smashed chairs. Officials reportedly abandoned their duty posts and fled for safety.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

NEWS GOVERNORSHIP AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS RESULTS •Rivers State APC governorship candidate Dakuku Peterside (left) speaking at a joint news conference he addressed with APGA governorship candidate Mr Charles Harry (middle) and SDP governorship candidate Rev. Minaibim Harry asking for cancellation of the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Port Harcourt ...yesterday.

•Returning Officer Prof. Ayobami Salami (left) announcing the results of the governorship election in Ibadan...yesterday. With him are Resident Electoral Commissioner for Oyo State Amb. Rufus Akeju and A.I.G Zone II,Mr Ikemefuna Okoye (right).

•Jubilant residents and party faithful celebrating with the Ogun State GovernorIbikunle Amosun (centre), his wife, Olufunso (right) and the in-coming Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga (left), following Amosun’s victory in Saturday’s Gubernatorial election in Abeokuta, the state capital...yesterday.

•APC governor-elect Samuel Ortom (in cap) during a visit to Senator George Akume (third right) ... yesterday . With them are Mrs Akume and Professor Ugba. PHOTO: UJA EMMANUEL

•Bauchi State Governor-elect Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar of APC and his wife after he was announced winner of the governorship election in Bauchi ...yesterday.

•Supporters of Governor Abiola Ajimobi jubillating over his vctory in the governorship election in Ibadan...yesterday.

Supporters of Kaduna governor-elect Malam Nasir El-Rufai jubilating over his victory in the ...yesterday.

•Supporters of Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State jubillating over his victory in the governorship election...yesterday.

•Protesters calling for the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State...yesterday.

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NEWS GOVERNORSHIP AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS RESULTS

Observers: Rivers elections bloody, fraudulent

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BSERVERS from the African Centre for Leadership, Strategies and Development have said last Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State were bloody and fraudulent.

They noted that the results were cooked and, therefore, unacceptable.

The observers urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the polls.

They also said they were disappointed about the conduct and attitude of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dame Gesila Khan, especially for declaring the results from areas where elections did not hold.

The leader of the independent observers, Humphrey Bekaren, who was accompanied by Yaniv Dabah, addressed reporters yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

They said: “We are shocked and extremely disappointed that INEC’s REC, Mrs. Gesila Khan, disregarded the widely-reported violent irregularities to begin the process of declaring results.

“We request all lovers of democracy to join us in call-

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

ing for the outright cancellation of the phony elections. Unless this is done, we would have sown the seed of destruction that could eventually grow into providing a shade of fear and death over us. We have done our part. We hope and believe that those who are constitutionally empowered to set things straight will listen and do the right thing.”

The observers described themselves as leaders of civil society groups and advocacy organisations, who were shock by the malpractices that took place during the April 11 elections in Rivers State.

They stressed that what happened in the state on Saturday was a far cry from what elections should be.

The observers added: “What we saw did not meet the accepted international standard of electioneering, not even the ones set by INEC. There were reported events of deliberate delays and diversion of electoral materials, attacks on electoral officers, widespread arson, snatching of electoral materials, killings, voter intimidation, with active connivance with security agencies.

“In many polling stations visited around Port Harcourt up to 11:30am, there were no signs of electoral personnel or materials from INEC. For places close to the INEC office in the city, where the materials were stored, we wonder whether the delays were as a result of incompetence or premeditated sabotage.

“More disturbing was the organised disruption of the process by hoodlums, who had a free reign, despite the presence of security personnel. In many areas of the state, people who had no business at the polling units, hijacked the process, chased away voters, took possession of materials and engaged in mind-boggling irregularities, presided over by some politicians. The mayhem unleashed on the state led to the reported death of several persons by the last count.”

The team also “strongly and totally” condemned the abhorrent scale of violence and mindless bloodletting that fits into crimes that shock human conscience and fall into the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“We observed also noted several cases of over-voting, where political parties that

were not on the original ballot papers printed by INEC had scores on the results sheets, presiding officers were not willing to follow INEC directives that card readers must be used.

Rather, they proceeded with manual accreditation, against the rules set by INEC. “Card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were allowed to bring in results of their Local Government Areas into INEC office (in Port Harcourt). For instance the Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo (an indigene of Abonnema-Kalabari, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA of Rivers State), brought in the results of Akuku-Toru LGA about 0.55hrs on the 12th of April.

The Nigerian Ambassador to South Korea (Desmond Akawor) brought in the results of Oyigbo LGA to INEC office at about 3.30 am.”

The observers insisted that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who was described as a man of integrity and character, should not allow the “manufactured” results of the April 11 elections in Rivers State to stand, to ensure credibility of the electoral process, thereby writing his name in gold.

Udom Emmanuel wins Akwa Ibom governorship poll

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HE Akwa Ibom State Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship candidate, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, was yesterday declared the winner of last Saturday’s election.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer Prof James Ekpoki said Emmanuel won with 996,071 of the total votes.

The Al Progressives Con-

From Uyoatta Eshiet, Uyo

gress (APC) came second with 89,865 votes.

Other parties and their scores are: Accord, 10,598; AA, 587; AD, 689; APA, 768; APGA, 823; DPP, 347; ID, 243; LP, 8,600; NCP,516; PPA, 1,012; PPN, 247 and UPN, 214.

Prof Ekpoki said registered voters were 1,548,531 while accredited voters were 1,158,624.

The INEC officer said the valid votes were 1,110,580; rejected votes were 12,256 and the total votes cast were 1,122,836.

PDP’s State Chairman Obong Paul Ekpo expressed appreciation to the people for voting for his party and supporting INEC at conducting what he called “a free and fair governorship election”.

He urged the losers to

Bayelsa Deputy Speaker loses seat to APC

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AYELSA State Deputy Speaker Victor Ateki has lost his Brass Constituency 1 seat to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sunny Igoli.

Igoli, the erstwhile aide to former Governor Timipre Sylva, won the House of Assembly election by a landslide.

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said he scored 4,328 votes to defeat Ateki, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 2,766 votes.

Irregularities recorded in Warri, says INEC

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HE Electoral Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Fidelia Omoile, has said the commission received reports of irregularities during last Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The INEC man said it was investigating the irregularities.

This happened as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate for Uvwie Constituency, Efe Oforbruku, was leading in the number of votes being counted at the time of filing this report last night.

It was learnt that the election in Warri South was riddled with irregularities, such as diversion of materials, intimidation of electoral officers and il-

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

legal change of polling units.

Omoile said the commission would decide on the complaints by some parties.

When our correspondent spoke with Omoile at the INEC office in Warri a little past 3pm, at the collation centre for the votes in the council area, she said the collation was still going on, adding that results would be ready yesterday.

Omoile said: “I will say the exercise was okay, but not to say that we didn’t have challenges. We had reported cases of violence in some wards, diversion of materials, of units and such things.

These ...are being handled in this office. We have reports from our presiding officers and Special Polling Officers (SPOs) in such areas where such problems occurred. The

complaints are being handled.

“The collation is still going on. We are progressing; there’s no problem. In areas where agents dispute a particular result - either it’s not corresponding to what they have – we’ll put heads together with the Returning Officer and take a decision, either to cancel or not.

“In areas where materials were snatched, taken away or where officers were cajoled to follow them to places that are not the actual polling units, it’s all harassment; when you force ad-hoc workers to move away from where they need to be is harassment.”

Also, the collation of results at the Uvwie Local Government Area’s collation centre, as at the time of filing this report, put SDP’s candidate, Efe Oforbruku, an incumbent, ahead as the likely winner.

emulate President Goodluck Jonathan’s good example and congratulate the winner.

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‘Police plan to ‘doctor’ Rivers elections report’

HE Rivers State Government yesterday accused the police command of planning to write a fake report on the violence that marred last Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

In a statement byDavid Iyofor, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the government said the police wanted to change the statements of 110 persons, who were arrested for various electoral offence and crimes in Tai Local Government Area.

The statement added: “ “The persons arrested include 75 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who are ad-hoc staff of INEC. They were arrested with the electoral materials of about nine wards by Mopol 56 in Rivers State. They were caught thumbprinting ballot papers for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the private residence of a PDP chieftain in Tai. “The governor has been informed that the police now want to doctor their statements, in a bid to exonerate the culprits caught thumb-printing ballot papers for the PDP in Tai Local Government Area, so that the culprits can be subsequently released.”

Southsouth community hails Jonathan for averting crisis

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From John Ofikhenua, Abuja

NDIGENES of Southsouth residing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for ensuring that the negative predictions against Nigeria did not come to pass in the March 28 presidential election.

In a statement by its president, Compol Lawrence Alobi (rtd), the Southsouth community said President Jonathan played a critical role in averting post-election crisis by sacrificing his political ambition for peace, unity and progress of the country.

The statement reads: “President Jonathan’s legendary concessionary telephone call to General Muhammadu Buhari, even before the winner was declared, and his nationwide broadcast will remain evergreen in the annals of our history as one nation bound in freedom.”

It noted that the President did not only make history as a hero of Nigeria’s democracy but also laid a solid foundation for the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.

The Southsouth community urged other politicians to emulate the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by Dr Jonathan.

It congratulated President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari for his landslide victory at the poll.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

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NEWS GOVERNORSHIP AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS RESULTS

In Lagos, path of continuity and progress assured The acceptance speech of Lagos State Governorelect Akinwunmi Ambode delivered at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba last night.

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ELLOW LAGOSIANS, yesterday, election day, history beckoned. Courage stood tall. Fairness and Justice raised their heads. Democracy blew its trumpet. You, the people, the electorate, answered its call by marching to a victory only you could achieve.

You contested against an old and ancient device, the use of money and power to manipulate the result and thwart democracy. In the end, the sovereign will of the people proved worthier than money and mightier than brute force. Your collective voice remained the voice of Lagos.

Now, the official announcement from INEC has come.Democracy has triumphed once again. INEC has declared methe 14th governor-elect of our beloved Lagos. I know that it is only God that crowns KINGS. To Him be all the Glory.

I may have won your vote but it is you, the people, who won the election.

The true winners are the people of Lagos state. I accept this victory on your behalf.

Let me congratulate INEC for a Job well done and keeping alive Nigeria’s hope for a brighter democracy. To my main opponent, Mr. JimiAgbaje of the PDP, I thank you for a keen contest and invite you,alongside other gubernatorial candidates,to join hands with me in moving Lagos forward.

The people of Lagos have spoken.

With one voice they have chosen continuity over an uncertain future. You came out peacefully to cast your vote.

Not even the threats of our opponents

to unleash mayhem could have kept you from having a date with destiny.

And because you have answered our call to come out and vote and handed your party, APC victory at the polls you have sealed a pact with democracy and good governance.

I am humbled that you have placed your trust and faith in me. The love of this state and our common belief in what we can accomplish, our belief in what this state already is, and in what it is destined to become binds us together in a social and moral contract of high purpose.

I shall honour that contract with every fiber of my being. This day I pledge to you that I shall devote myself to bringing even greater prosperity, growth and development to every inch of this state, that I shall build on the legacy and progress of the Bola Tinubu and BabatundeFashola administrations, I shall bring the best of Lagos into my government and I shall make you proud and glad that you chose me as your next governor.

I thank all those who voted for me.

And even those who did not vote for me or never voted at all. To the electorate, I salute and applaud all of you for making this a fine day in the march towardsNigeria’s democracy.

The people of Lagos have demonstrated that Lagos is not about ethnicity or religion but about a common desire to enthrone good governance.

Lagos under my watch will not discriminate. It has not in the past. And will not in the present. Not even in the future.There will be no political victim-

ization. Like in the words of the former American President, Abraham Lincoln during his second Inaugural address, “With malice toward none, with charity for all …”

In your collective wisdom, you refused to reward a party that failed at the national level by giving that party the stewardship of our beloved Lagos.

Continuity of progress shall govern this state in the next four years under the banner of the APC. History has been made this day because you have achieved an outstanding feat. By affirming your faith in the APC and in me, you have, for the first time in 16 years, married progressive governance at the national level with progressive government at the state level.

Finally, our state government and the Federal Government will be of one vision, one mind and one accord and that is to govern you wisely not rule over you rudely.

The ramifications of this harmonious unity 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.

Lagos will enjoy optimal development and growth through APC governance working in tandem at the state and federal levels. This cooperation and enhanced policy harmony will surely pay handsome dividends.

Let me again place on record my thanks, particularly to the Lagos state

•From left: INEC Returning Officer for Lagos State,Prof. Isaac Adewole; Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Akin Orebiyi and AIG, Zone 2, Mr Joseph Mbu during the collation of results of the governorship election in Lagos...yesterday.

•Ambode

Our state government and the Federal Government will be of one vision, one mind and one accord and that is to govern you wisely not rule over you rudely chapter of the APC, everyone from the State chairman to the volunteers have been wonderful and committed. My campaign team, who worked tirelessly with me to actualize this dream, I thank you all.

I thank President-elect, GeneralMuhammaduBuhari for lending his stature and charisma to our effort. I look forward to working with his incoming government to effectuate the APC vision and bring greater progress to theentire nation.

There are two men I must single out. Governor BabatundeFashola; you have been excellent at the job. You have taught me a lot. Moreover, you have been a tireless, selfless and inspiring campaigner for this cause.

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; you are the

greatest political mind of our generation. Without your vision, and dedication to a higher political purpose none of this would have been possible. This day vindicates all that you have done. You are a foremost hero of Nigerian democracy and you still have more to do.

I thank my running mate, Dr. IdiatOlurantiAdebule, for her steadfast and strong support. She will surely be an excellent Deputy Governor.

I thank my wife and children for the sacrifices they have made over the past two years to support me on this journey. I look forward to the same support.

There is no way I can name everyone at this time that should be named.

So please forgive me, knowing that I appreciate your contribution and sacrifice made to turn a distant dream into this imminent reality.

We ran a campaign devoid of hatred and concentrated on key issues affecting our people. We are proud of this achievement and encourage other politicians to embrace this paradigm shift.

I have been declared the victor in this election but this is no time for gloating or boasting. I am now to be the servant of this state in its entirety, not just for APC members but for all Lagosiansno matter their political stripes, ethnicity or religious affiliations.

Today, we celebrate democracy and its triumph. Tomorrow, we get to work to fashion an incoming administration that, with the best management team Lagos has to offer, will carry forward the legacy of the progressive administrations that preceded it.

You have voted for me. Now, I shall work for you and your cause. That cause is to extend and expand the process of development and growth in this state.

The task ahead is not an easy one.

Nor is it impossible. With wisdom, creativity and strength of purpose we can accomplish great things for this great state. By God’s grace, we shall make this our way. The only sure way to achieve change.

•From left: INEC Administrative Secretary for Bauchi State, Mr Emmanuel Umegheh; Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Tukur Sa’ad and Collation Officer for the State, Prof. Mohammed Faruk, at the announcement of results of governorship and House of Assembly elections in Bauchi...yesterday.

•Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime flanked on his right by Governor-elect Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Deputy Governor-elect Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, the Deputy Governor’s wife, Mrs. Rita Nwoye, Deputy Governor, Rev. Ifeanyi Nwoye, SA to the President on NEPAD, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, Hon. Mrs. Stella Ngwu and State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Ikeje Asogwa, Minister for Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Mrs. May Oji, Ozo Mmamel, Hon. U.S.A. Igwesi, Enugu North Senator-elect, Mr. Chuka Utazi, left, among other dignitaries, during a victory party held at the Governor’s lodge, Enugu...yesterday.

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MONDAY APRIL 13, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has broken the second term jinx, following his re-election at the weekend. Group Political EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the struggle of the Ibadan-born politician and how he overcame the obstacles to his re-election bid.

Ajimobi breaks second term jinx

•Governor Ajimobi being welcomed after the victory.

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HE governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has made history. He is the first governor to be re-elected in a hotly contested general election in the Pace Setter State. The Ibadanborn politician has therefore, broken the second term jinx.

The governor polled 327, 310 votes, defeating the Accord Party (AP) candidate, Senator Rashidi Ladoja (254,520), the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala (184, 111)O and Senator Teslim Folarin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (79, 019).

Ajimobi succeeded where his predecessors-Alao-Akala, Ladoja, the late Alhaji Lam Adesina, the late Chief Kolapo Ishola and the late Chief Bola Ige (SAN) failed.

A year ago, the governor had moved out of the Government House, Agodi. He relocated to his private house. The house, which was built almost 30 years ago, was renovated. Inside the expansive compound is a storey building, which serves as an office. At weekends, the governor conducts the affairs of the state from the building.

A year ago, few gave him a chance. They thought that he lacked the magic wand to change the tide. Since the Second Republic, no governor has been re-elected. Their tenure has always been consumed by the crisis arising from strife and rancour in the ruling party, rigging and military coup.

The first civilian governor, Ige, was a colourful politician. He was also a performer. He was elected on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Ige was a household name in the country before he became the governor. The eminent lawyer was the National Publicity Secretary of the defunct Action Group (AG), former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in the defunct Western State and member of the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) set up by former military Head of State, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, to make proposals for the 1979 Constitution.

In 1979, Ige assumed the reins after defeating First Republic Minister of Education Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), the candidate of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPC). He was supported by prominent Ibadan UPN chieftains, including the late Venerable Emmanuel Alayande, the late Chief Busari Adelakun and the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu. But, ahead of 1983 elections, the NPN, led by the late Chief Adisa Akinloye, was bent on capturing power in the state. Akinloye, former member of the House of Representatives and minister, was warming up for the 1987 presidential election. He wanted to deliver his state to have a base. Crisis has also broken out between the governor and Ibadan political leaders. Following the protracted rift, Adelakun and Adedibu defected to the NPN. When he defected, Adelakun, the strongman of Ibadan politics, started calling for the enthronement of the ‘son of the soil.’

He also played the ethnic card, saying that Awo, from IjebuRemo, imposed Ige on Ibadan, which has the largest population. “That was what Awo has been doing. Under military rule, he nominated Bola Ige from Ijesa, Bisi Onabanjo from Ijebu, Ajayi from Ekiti as commissioners. He did not recommend any Ibadan

man, not even our father, Alayande, who was always with him.

Awo hates Ibadan,” Adelakun said at a rally in Ibadan.

The NPN set up a search team to look for a suitable candidate. They found a party sympathiser, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, who contested and defeated Ige in controversial circumstances.

Thus, despite his performance, Ige’s bid for a second term crumbled. The masses protested the alleged rigging by a massive protest. The residence of some NPN chieftains were torched.

Scores of party stalwarts were injured. Ige challenged the outcome of the election up to the Supreme Court. But, the apex court affirmed Olunloyo’s victory.

However, Olunloyo’s tenure was short lived. Despite being an NPN governor, many expected that he will perform, owing to his antecedent as a cerebral scholar, former university don and commissioner. He set up a good cabinet. But, barely three months in office, he was sacked by the military, following the coup of December 31, 1983.

In the aborted Third Republic, the SDP candidate, the late Ishola, defeated the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He did not even complete his term before the late Gen. Sani Abacha sacked the interim contraption headed

by Chief Ernest Shonekan.

In 1999, Alhaji Adesina, former teacher, principal, unionist and Second Republic House of Representatives member, was elected on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He was captured as a ‘prisoner of war’ by the former military governor, Col. Ahmed Usman, during the onslaught against the members of Afenifere/National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) fighting for the revalidation of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, the late Chief Moshood Abiola.

Adesina, an Awoist, defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo. He also implemented the manifestos of the party.

However, crisis seized Afenifere/AD in the Southwest. Many party chieftains defected to the PDP, ahead of 2003 polls. Also, AD governors, with the exception of Senator Bola Tinubu of Lagos, played into the hand of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. There was a pact between Obasanjo and the governors to campaign for his second term, with the assurance that he will also protect their interest at the governorship election.

In fact, Adesina and his Ogun State counterpart, Aremo Segun

I will break the jinx”, he said, as‘suring that his performance will make him win the election. Some politicians defected to the APC, ahead of the poll. Some also defected from the APC to other parties

’

Osoba, became Obasanjo’s campaign managers. During the election, a political earthquake swept across the Southwest.

Adesina was defeated by the PDP candidate, Ladoja.

Ladoja, an engineer and Third Republic senator, also could not win the second term battle. He was installed by the Ibadan strong man, Adedibu. The old man openly asked for a portion of the state treasury. His request was turned down by the governor.

Crisis broke out between the godfather and his political son. An impeachment was concocted. Ladoja was shoved aside in a controversial manner. He was impeached by the House of Assembly members loyal to Adedibu. For 11 months, Ladoja’s deputy, AlaoAkala, was made the governor by Adedibu. But, following the verdict of the court, Ladoja was reinstated and the impostor reverted to his spare tyre position. Despite the reinstatement, the war between Ladoja and Adedibu intensified.

During the primaries, Adedibu insisted that Alao-Akala should be the PDP candidate. At the zonal rally in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, the flag was given to Akala, to the consternation of Ladoja, who had hoped that good reason would prevail at the last minute and the party will consider him for a second term. On that note, his ambition to serve for a second term hit the rock. Since then, Ladoja has not given up on his ambition to bounce back. But, luck has eluded him. Alao-Akala defeated Ajimobi, who contested on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Ladoja’s controversial successor, Alao-Akala from Ogbomoso, was governor between 2007 and 2011. He had the support of Adedibu. But, the kingpin, who was his backbone, died before the poll. The vacuum created by his demise could not be filled.

During the preparations for the 2011 polls, Ajimobi sought for the support of Ibadan leaders for his ambition. Alao-Akala relied on the power of incumbency, the support of Ogbomoso and a section of Oke-Ogun. But, he was defeated by Ajimobi.

Ajimobi is a long distance runner. After he left the boardroom for politics, he contested for the Senate and won on the platform of the AD in 1999. He had wanted to contested for the governor in 2003, but, Adesina was not ready to step down. In protest, he defected to the ANPP. But, he was defeated by Ladoja. Also, in 2007, his ambition hit the rock. He was defeated by Alao-Akala.

But, the outcome of the election generated controversy. The leaders of the ANPP alleged that the poll was rigged.

In 2011, Ajimobi picked up the gauntlet, despite being a serial loser. He defected to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and rallied the progressives and Ibadan leaders behind his aspiration. But, despite the fact that he defeated Ladoja of the Accord Party (AP) and Alao-Akala, his party had to enter into an alliance with the Accord Party in the House of Assembly to produce the Speaker.

Ajimobi swung into action immediately after he was sworn-in.

He had a vision for the state. The governor blocked the financial loopholes. He converted Ibadan into a huge construction site. His urban renewal project was fascinating to the people. The governor fought the infrastructure battle across the state, within the limit of the available resources. However, he was blackmailed by detractors who reeled out falsehood about his administration.

The governor made the first class monarchs in the state the cornerstone of his administration. Thus, the blood of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Ajagungbade, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, were flowing in the veins of the administration. Their children are commissioners and power brokers in the administration. Also, Prince Akeem Adeyemi, an APC chieftain and former Chairman of Atiba Council, has won the House of Representatives election in Oyo. Prince Oye Oyewumi, a lawyer, contested for the House of Representatives.

Exuding confidence, the governor told reporters in Ibadan that there was no cause for alarm over the threat to his second term bid. “I will break the jinx”, he said, assuring that his performance will make him win the election. Some politicians defected to the APC, ahead of the poll. Some also defected from the APC to other parties. The campaign was hot in Ibadan and other towns. There was poster war. In some towns, campaigns were marred by violence.

Ajimobi’s opponents-Ladoja, Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin of the PDP and Seyi Makinde, an engineer from Ibadan and candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) were unsparing in their criticisms of his government. Three of themLadoja, Folarin and Makinde-are from Ibadan. There was the fear of a poll split. Observers also thought that, if the four of them could form an alliance against the governor, his second term ambition could be jeopardised. But, it did not happen.

The first test was the presidential election. The ruling party won the three senatorial seats. Ajimobi’s opponents were jolted out of their delusion that they were still popular. The APC also won majority of the House of Representatives seats.

However, the defeat of the LP, AP, PDP and SDP did not dampen the morale of their governorship standard bearers.

They returned to the drawing board immediately to plan for the governorship poll. However, the power brokers of yesteryears fell at the poll.

In the House of Assembly election, APC also won 18 seats, Accord won eight and LP won six.

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THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 13, 2015

When there is violence and harassment, there will be low ‘turnout.

When there is escalation of violence and the lives of people are threatened, every hour every week, we are given the impression that we are not civilised. We are educated

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How Agbaje’s optimism was cut short

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S at 10.30 a.m. when the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, did his accreditation, he was optimistic that he would win the election.

Agbaje, who spoke to reporters, shortly after the accreditation, at Ward 3, Unit 9, Duala Street, Apapa said: “I am very optimistic; even before casting my vote, I know I will win the election. I have been optimistic and I remain optimistic. I believe that all things being equal the victory will be ours.

“I am going to be the next governor of Lagos State, all things being equal. I think going out there the people are on our side. But, the challenge facing the people was that they needed to ensure that their votes counted. I believe this election will be in our favour.”

The governorship candidate urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the exercise was credible in the way and manner the polling units and collation centres were handled, how the collation is handled against the background of reports of intimidation of voters across the state.

He said reports reaching him indicated that there were still some issues with card readers. According to him, the problem being experienced with the card readers could delay the election process, especially in places that were densely populated.

Three hours later, Agbaje changed the tune, when he alleged

By Leke Salaudeen

that the governorship and House of Assembly polls were marred by irregularities and violence. He alleged that some people believed to be sympathisers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) prevented supporters of the PDP from being accredited in some parts of the state.

An INEC official had announced before the commencement of voting that 1,200 persons registered in Agbaje’s polling unit and that only 128 turned up for the accreditation.

When the votes were counted, Agbaje failed to deliver his polling unit. He scored 88 votes, while his opponent, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 124 votes. Agbaje also failed to deliver that polling unit during the presidential election.

An indication that the PDP had lost the election came when the party leader, Chief Bode George, also alleged that some hoodlums sympathetic to opposition prevented members of the PDP from doing their accreditation in some parts of the state.

George also complained that nonindigenes were prevented from doing same in Coker/Aguda, Okota, Isolo and Ifako-Ijaye. He said the police also prevented some PDP agents from doing their work at some polling booths. He said several reports were made to the police and the State Security Service (SSS), accused the police of being lackadaisical in addressing the complaints laid by the PDP.

Ex-Finance minister, others defect to APC in Yobe

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ORMER Minister of State (Finance) Dr. Yerima Ngama and some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State.

Speaking at at a press conference in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, Ngama called on his supporters to support the APC. Ngama made the statement through his representative, Mr. Aliyu Jajare.

Ngama was the PDP senatorial candidate for Zone C in the March 28 election. He lost to incumbent Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan.

The former minister was also the PDP governorship aspirant for the state but was schemed out by Adamu Waziri.

The PDP candidate from Bursari

From Duku JOEL, Damaturu

Local, Zanna Danani also stepped down for his APC counterpart. He called on the people to forgive him for leaving the party.

Senator Jalo Zarami, a staunch loyalist and former deputy governorship candidate, was also one of the big wigs that the PDP lost to the APC. The former commissioner in old Borno State, Lawan Gana Lantawa who spoke on behalf of the decampees, noted that Yobe cannot afford to be in opposition.

He noted that their decision to join the party is unconditional.

The National Secretary of the APC, Mai Mala Buni who is the facilitated of move thank the decampees for making the right decision to return to the APC.

E

•Oshiomhole

• All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle); Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right); Lagos State Deputy Governor-elect Dr. Idiat Adebule (second right); her husband, Alhaji Saheed Adebule (left); and Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora during a thank you visit by the Adebules to Asiwaju Tinubu at Bourdillon, Ikoyi, Lagos... yesterday.

‘Electoral violence dangerous for democracy’ All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu spoke with reporters, shortly after he cast his vote at Alausa, Ikeja, on the conduct of the governorship and parliamentary elections, security arrangement and danger of electoral violence. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU was there.

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HAT is your assessment of the election so far?

I think the INEC has prepared well and organised the election well. The card reader is working, unlike last time when the card reader was not recognising voters. This time, at first attempt, I was recognised and accredited. The voting process is smooth and the organisation of the voting process is well done. The only thing we will be looking out in the future is something that will help the INEC to improve. The card reading process is no more dependable, easy and understandable very well. Then, we can just be accredited and go straight to voting. It will reduce the cases of accrediting, going back and not returning to vote or the congestion that is building up at the polling units.

What is your reaction to the low turnout of voters?

The low turnout is not a big deal yet. It appears that people are not excited as other places in this area.

The assessment of the turnout should be based on the demographic evaluation of the various constituencies across the state. I can’t comment much about that now. Observers can comment much more about

that.

What is your assessment of the security situation?

The security situation, to me, is too early to assess. So far so good. I cannot use the situation in one polling unit to measure the security arrangement. There are reports. The alarming one is the lack of police reliability. We heard that the AIG was to take charge of the security and the Commissioner of Police, more or less, relegated to an Area Commander and the DIG is now the Commissioner of Police in charge of elections. That is not good enough in the confidence building process.

If there is no reason for it, it should not be possible for anybody, no matter highly placed, to make an oral posting of the police officers.

There have been reports about violence in Rivers State...

It is barbaric. We have to remove violence from our body politic. Election is about people and service to the people. That is why democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is not a process of gun and war and violence. It is power by all means necessary that leads to violence. We need to eschew that, allow the proc-

ess to run its course, nurture the institutions of democracy, respect the rule of law and the lives and property of Nigerians. The right of the people to choose their own leader for a specific period of time should be respected. All these riggings, violence are not necessary. You are talking about low turnout. When there is violence and harassment, there will be low turnout. When there is escalation of violence and the lives of people are threatened, every hour every week, we are given the impression that we are not civilised. We are educated. What is the value of our education? If the police and army is used to terrorise people as the police and army of one man or one party in power, the country is heading for danger. For every action, there will be a reaction.

Throughout the week, before the election, there were a lot of gunshot across the state. That was scaring to the people. That is why they didn’t come out. That is a method of rigging. It is because you are not popular. If you are popular, you will want the crowd to be there and make their choice. The abuse of power in this nation must stop. It takes a commonsense revolution to do that.

Oshiomhole may probe senator’s alleged anti-party role

DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole is considering a probe of the alleged antiparty activities levelled against a senator in the presidential and National Assembly elections, it was learnt yesterday.

Besides, there are indications that the state government will also probe the role of some traditional rulers and chieftains of the party who reportedly worked against the state government’s interest.

The report, according to sources, said Edo State Government had summoned and queried some top party chiefs in the state over their non-committal role and anti-party activities

during the presidential and National Assembly elections, especially the shocking defeat experienced by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in some parts of the state.

The source quoted Edo South, where the APC lost woefully to the PDP as evident in the House of Representatives result and the rescheduled Senatorial contest.

In Edo North, The sitting Senator was reported to have mobilized men and resources against his party and the interest of the Governor smarting from some carried -over

animosity and political injury allegedly inflicted on the Senator during the party primary.

The senator lost a return ticket to preferred candidate, who is said to have hailed from the Governor’s local government.

According to the source, the senator wanted to take his pound of flesh and as such abstained from the party’s campaign and subsequently worked against the election of the new senator and Comrade Peter Akpatason for Senate and House of Representatives.

“What am telling you is the talk of the town in the Senator’s local government and his home town.

They even alleged that he, in collaboration with a ruler to work for the PDP House of Representatives candidate, Mr. Oladele Balogun who won all the polling units in the two wards of his town.

“I can tell you categorically that the Governor is worried about this development. A couple of other traditional rulers are not spared from this anti-government stance and they have been summoned. It is, however, not clear if the ruler was among those in Government House”, the source said.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

19

COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

Stop that, Seplat!

•We should not tolerate the firm’s decision to pay dividend in foreign currency

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HE decision of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc to pay its dividend in foreign currency is unlawful and should be stopped immediately. We also call on all other Nigerian business entities that engage in similar acts of economic sabotage to stop such conducts . Should Seplat and indeed other companies operating under the Nigerian legal regime ignore this notice, the various security agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should institute a probe, and where any of the companies is found culpable, the full weight of the law should be brought to bear on such irresponsibility.

We also urge the Nigerian shareholders to exert all influence within their powers, to resist the attempt to force them to open domiciliary account, in order to receive their dividend. As they already observed, it is strange that while the shares were sold in naira, the shareholders are now asked to open domiciliary accounts to receive the dividends due to them. Accepted that Seplat is listed on the London Stock Exchange, the officials of the company must realise that in Nigeria, the company is a local company under the country’s laws.

Indeed even without the intervention of the security agencies, we consider it strange that companies operating as indigenous companies, under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990, would

seek to undermine our national legal tender. The company’s officials and similar culprits deserve to answer for their irresponsible conducts. If there is a loophole under which such economic sabotage is operated, then it should be plugged immediately, as Nigeria should not allow a parallel legal tender operating independently as alternative means of exchange.

Unfortunately, because of the laxity in the enforcement of our national laws, a lot of Nigerian companies and individuals freely demand for rents and other payments in foreign currencies. They engage in such unlawful conducts because, over the years, the enforcement agencies have failed to do their work. This must stop, in the interest of our national economy, which had suffered from duplicitous conducts of our national economic managers in the past. Part of our challenge has been the application of different standards for different operators in the economy.

One glaring outcome of this laxity is what is commonly referred to as the rent economy, for which our nation has paid dearly. Under that system, many so-called frontline businesses are run on dubious paradigms of abuse that destroy instead of grow the national economy. The result is that many operators are mere parasites, who rely on illegal benefits at every opportunity. Such economic hooliganism is made possible because the regulators are either compromised or incapable of policing the national economy. What the government must do is to set clear common

national standards and insist on their enforcement.

We urge a change of heart, both by the security agencies and the executive authority, if we truly desire change.

With the impending change in the leadership of the country, it is expected that the in-coming Federal Government would live up to its slogan. We expect that the change would happen at the policy making level, and also at the implementation and enforcement levels, to wrought a new national economy that is founded on the rule of law, instead of the rule of the thumb. To allow the current duplicity as exemplified by Seplat to continue, is to dig deeper, even when our economy is already in a hole.

‘The company’s officials and similar culprits deserve to answer for their irresponsible conducts. If there is a loophole under which such economic sabotage is operated, then it should be plugged immediately, as Nigeria should not allow a parallel legal tender operating independently as alternative means of exchange’

Long overdue INEC ‘s decision to insure its staff is belated but welcome all the same

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HE aphorism, ‘better late than never’, aptly captures the revelation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), that its officials and adhoc-staff that participated in the last general elections were given life insurance worth N1.99m each. The policy, reportedly shared out amongst several reputable insurance companies, was meant to ensure commitment from personnel deployed during the elections.

It is good that the firms were paid their premium before commencement of the elections.

Noteworthy also is the report that these underwriting companies had, upon request by INEC, developed political insurance policies to cover losses likely to emanate from violence, accidents and other losses during the just concluded elections. This is the first time the elec-

‘Until elections in the country become a routine exercise under which exposure to danger has been eliminated as is the case in better managed climes, or drastically reduced considering Africa’s peculiar situation, it should henceforth, be a compelling necessity for INEC to increase the value of life insurance cover for this class of people’

toral body is embarking on such policy, or rather making it a public issue.

The idea, in our view, should have been introduced earlier by INEC, having regards to the reality that elections in the country have been prone to violence.

What a shame that less endowed African countries have since innovated special insurance covers to mitigate the impact of terrorism and violence during elections.

Sadly, Nigeria that is so blessed is just following suit when it ought to be the first to introduce such initiative.

Prof. Lai Olurode, INEC commissionerin-charge of the South West confirmed the scope of the cover: “INEC employees have insurance and we have cover in place for the ad-hoc staff, especially the youth corps members who are serving as presiding and assisting officers during the 2015 elections.’ Bose Aderibigbe, Director of Press and Public Relations of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), attested to this, to wit: “We are in partnership with INEC and there is an insurance cover for the corps members in the MoU we signed with INEC.” A breakdown of the compensation shows that in the case of outright death in the course of election duties, N1.99million is payable to the relatives of a victim; in situations of injuries, the affected will get compensation worth N108, 000. We hope that victims of various shades of losses in the just concluded polls would be justly compensated. We have in mind reports that three ad-hoc employees of INEC died in Benue State during the presidential election. The three purportedly died in

different road accidents while on election duty.

This insurance move is a good, responsive start to protecting the lives of electoral staff; but we still ponder over why otherwise noble election duties should become death trap for volunteers in this country. Even some unscrupulous INEC officials are alleged to have criminally promoted or induced violence through corrupt/compromised stance at election venues. No wonder the parents of many corps members are always wary about their wards’ involvement in the exercise.

Until elections in the country become a routine exercise under which exposure to danger has been eliminated as is the case in better managed climes, or drastically reduced considering Africa’s peculiar situation, it should henceforth, be a compelling necessity for INEC to increase the value of life insurance cover for this class of people. It sounds ridiculous to note the meagre value placed on human life in this last cover despite the fact that no compensation can sufficiently atone for a lost life or one that is badly injured in the course of election duties.

We understand the sanctity of human lives not only during elections but at all times. This is one salient reason why those who kill during elections should be apprehended, arraigned and sentenced appropriately if found guilty. All said, the insurance cover, though belated, should be encouraged because the nation must start from somewhere.

Can South West be hoodwinked?

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

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

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

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

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

• Adelani Olawuyi, Odooba – Ogbomoso.

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

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20

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: Though the Nigerian Army started the first public safety campaign in 1972 when it initiated an annual road safety week, the very first deliberate government policy on road safety was the creation in 1974 of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) by the then Military Government.

The impact of that commission was, nevertheless, not sustained. But in 1977, The Military Administration in Oyo State established the Oyo State Road Safety Corps that made some local significant improvements in Road safety and road discipline in the state.

This lasted till 1983 when the Federal Government disbanded it.

With the emergence of oil boom in Nigeria in the early 1970s, the trend of road traffic accidents spirally escalated and turned the country into one of the most road traffic accident (RTA) prone nations in the world, second only to Ethiopia. To address this dangerous trend, the Nigerian Government established what is now called the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in 1988 with certain spelt out duties and functions.

Some relevant parts of such functions as contained in Decree No.45 of 1988 as amended by decree No.35 of 1992, passed and named by the National Assembly as Federal Road Safety Commission (establishment) Act 2007 which established FRSC are as follows: To design and produce driver’s license to be used by various categories of vehicle operators and determine, from time to time, the requirements to be satisfied by an applicant for a driver’s license; To prevent and minimize accidents on the highways and clear obstructions on any part of those highways; To educate drivers, motorists and other members of the public generally on the proper use of the highways; To design and produce vehicle number plates and standardize highway traffic codes; To give prompt attention and care to victims of accidents and conduct researches into causes of motor accidents and methods of preventing them as well as putting into use the result of such researches.

Also, the FRSC is empowered to determine and force speed limits for all categories of vehicles and adopt the use of speed limiting devices; To cooperate with other bodies or agencies or groups in Road Safety activities or in preventing accidents on the highways; To

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FRSC and statutory functions make regulations in pursuance of any of the functions assigned to the corps under this Act; To regulate the use of sirens, flashers and beacon lights on vehicles other than ambulances and those belonging to the Armed forces, Nigeria police, Fire service and other para military agencies; To provide roadside and mobile clinics for the treatments of accident victims free of change.

Contrary to the above duties and functions of the FRSC, vehicles and other materials causing obstructions on the major highways is a regular feature on our roads. Apart from the fact that vehicles which have been damaged as a result of accident or mechanical faults constitutes obstructions on the roads, thereby hampering free flow of traffic, the activities of some motorists who by one way or the other feels they are above the law of the land

and parks their vehicles in such a way that obstruct the flow of traffic thereby infringing on the rights of other road users. Many of these road obstructions end up spending weeks and months on our highways without any positive response from the FRSC. Rather, the FRSC itself regularly constitutes road obstructions of some sort in the name of carrying out unnecessary checks, which in their own wisdom should only be carried out during festive periods.

It is a well-known fact that one of the major causes of accidents on the Nigerian roads and elsewhere in the world is drunk driving. Unfortunately and ridiculously too, when one takes a stroll along the streets of the major cities in this country, sights of bars and beer parlors are quite obvious and glaring everywhere, especially within the hours

of 6pm and 12midnight, most of the customers who patronize such bars and beer parlors usually go in their vehicles. One now begins to wonder if drunk driving is really an offense in Nigeria? If motorists can freely park their vehicles along the road sides of major streets, take as many bottles of alcohol and then are allowed to go on to drive their vehicles on the same roads with innocent Nigerians, then the FRSC is not doing enough as regards our safety on the roads.

A visit to some of the major parks in major cities shows that the sale and consumption of diluted local gins called paraga, ‘push me-I push u’ or ‘taju-taju’ is a regular feature.

Most of the divers wouldn’t take off without taking one or two “shots” of these diluted local gins. What is surprising is the way the FRSC has always pretended as if it is not

aware that such things happen in Nigeria, thereby deliberately putting the lives of innocent Nigerians at risk.

Rather than focusing on generating funds or revenues for the government, which is not even part of its statuary duties and functions, the FRSC should concentrate more on saving lives on Nigerian roads and it should remain within the confines of its functions. It should beam its searchlights on the activities of the sales and consumption of alcohol in parks and on the streets of major Nigerian cities. Regular and routine surveillance should be carried out on the highways to ensure that obstructions are cleared in order is prevent accidents and enhance free flow of traffic. The FRSC should not always wait until it is festive season to go all out to ensure maximum safety on our roads but this should rather be a daily routine. In line with the functions and duties of the FRSC, roadside and mobile clinics should be established at regular intervals along the major highways to serve as first aid points to accident victims..

• Hussain Obaro, Ilorin-kwara state

Open letter to Gen. Buhari

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IR: Dear People’s General. I write to congratulate you on your victory at the presidential elections. You will agree with me that it is a double victory for Nigerians. Victory number one: You won a historic election. A victory that shows that the Nigerian electorate are now capable of voting out an incumbent. It is a victory for Democracy in Nigeria. You are therefore a hero of Democracy in Nigeria. Your name is already written in gold.

The number two gain is that the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan conceded victory to you in a gallant way that is not common in Nigeria, thereby averting any violence that was waiting for the echo of his voice. This action also produced another hero of Democracy in President. This is a great achievement and great legacy. I therefore recommend that you treat President Jonathan as a hero throughout your tenure. He should be regarded at all times as a Statesman beyond party lines.

Here are the things I suggest should occupy your attention in your first 100 days in office: Security: Let physical and digital security become your priority immediately. To this end, I suggest that the Police be made the central force for our internal security. Let us improve on the intelligence gathering and total skills of the police force. Let the Federal Government offer all graduates of Universities in Nigeria with first class and second class upper division or Distinction and upper credit HND opportunity to enlist into the intelligence arm of the police force. Then improve the conditions of service of the police force making it an elite force.

Also let there be room for short service commission for experienced professionals from the private and public sectors to enroll into the police force. Let there also be Degree awarding Police training centers as we have for the army.

These efforts will increase the intelligence gathering of the Police

force and make it far more effective. Secondly, let the Federal Government and State Governments and the Federal capital territory embark on the installation of cameras to provide evidence for all crimes to make investigation easy.

Later on, this will reduce drastically such crimes as kidnapping, 419, armed robbery and ritual killing.

Corruption: Start by declaring your assets and make it a condition that anyone who will serve in your cabinet must declare his/her assets. Strengthen the existing institutions like ICPC, EFCC, National Orientation Agency and create more. Re-introduce War Against Indiscipline (WAI). Do not spare any corrupt officers. Agriculture: Let there be a proper framework for agriculture. Do not tell us the successes of your agric policy and efforts on the pages of newspapers and television screens. If agriculture is working, the common man will know, it does not need advertisement. The common

woman will come back from the market with a basket of tomatoes at N100. It should be like the GSM, which impacted the common man without any advert from government. Also take note that any policy or program that you have to spend money to convince Nigerians is not in the interest of the masses that voted for you. Address also the issue of recurrent versus capital budgets of this country. Do not create any groups that will start singing your praise; it is a waste of time and resources of Nigeria.

Please start with the three items above, after which education, infrastructure development will start. Sir , this is the time to start work. I suggest that every appointee into your cabinet must pass an interview and sign a document of performance commitment before appearing before the senate. If finally appointed, performance must be regularly measured.

•Ezenwa Uche , Lagos.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

COMMENTS

Nigeria: Fresh hope for worthless challenges W

HEN man begins to see himself in wisdom, there is need to watch the true spirit in him. Today, there are those in self-interest pains who could not see this year’s general elections as a most competitive race but ending peacefully in Nigeria.

Dr. Femi Aribisala, a “controversial preacher and columnist” surely has his right to choose the politician he wants to support. But his personal will can never match the will of God. Who he has been defending was rejected by majority of Nigerian voters who see six years’ leadership in cluelessness that downgraded the glory of the country virtually in all spheres. It is appalling that some people could not recognize the worthless labours of government in their constituency.

Anyone claiming to be a preacher must have the right spirit in him to manifest the good purpose of God. Reality goes beyond pronouncing self interests. Severally, Aribisala in his newspaper column, wrote condemning Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and abusing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He would make judgment upon them as if he is a perfect judge rather than minister in the way God wants life to be. By the same strength, he will justify the one in power as if he is living in righteousness that can exalt this embattled nation. To him, the politics of stomach infrastructure and sharing public resources to woo voters is justifiable and not condemnable.

It is as if he is not justly aware of the level Nigeria has been downgraded into.

Sometimes, Aribisala writes as if his spirit is in line with that of Ekiti State aggressive Governor Ayo Fayose. He even predicted, as if he got the revelation from the Lord, that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will lose the general elections massively. But his prophesy failed as he could not convince rational people to align with him. Results of the elections came contrary to the plans and purpose of men living in self-interests.

In an interview published in last Saturday Punch, he reminded us of how he analysed and blamed Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for manipulating the 2015 presidential election.

He was uncomfortable with the usage of PVC and voters cards which did not allow rigging. His claim that Igbo was deliberately disenfranchised is disgusting of a seeming caliber. He could not understand that the reduction of voters in the South East could be an indication of the true numbers of those who are available to vote.

That he did not believe President Jonathan lost the election and that General Buhari won is not rational from a genuine man of God. That God once saved him from the hand of Buhari could not make him leave him as his enemy. Not forgiving the man who he claims has not repented is to say he too has not been appreciating the grace

OW did it happen that three Igbo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in Lagos State won elections into the House of Representatives in the March 28 polls? How did the winners defeat Yoruba rivals from the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is the ruling party in the Yoruba-dominated state?

A report said: “In Amuwo Odofin local government, which has a very high Igbo population, especially in areas like Kirikiri, Satellite Town and FESTAC, the PDP candidate, Oghene Egboh, who is from the Niger-Delta, defeated Mr. Ganiyu Olukolu of the APC. In Ajeromi/ Ifelodun, which is one of the most densely populated areas in Lagos State and is home to Ajegunle (another Igbo dominated area), the PDP candidate, Mrs. Rita Orji, who also hails from the South-East, defeated Taiwo Adenekan of the APC.” The report also said: “In Oshodi/Isolo federal constituency 2, the incumbent, Mr. Akeem Munir, lost to Mr. Tony Nwoolu of the PDP.” The account continued: “The story was the same in the Igbo-dominated Ojo LG, where the PDP candidate, Mr. Tajudeen Obasa, won the seat. In Surulere federal constituency 2, which is home to Aguda and a few Igbo settlements, Mr. Tunji Soyinka of the PDP defeated Mr. Hakeem Bamgbala of the APC.” In addition: “In Mushin federal constituency 2, the APC candidate, Yemi Alli, lost to Dauda Kako-Aare of the Accord Party. Kako-Aare, who is the incumbent, lost at the APC primary last December to Alli and defected to Accord.”

These striking developments suggest the strength of a particular non-indigenous group and it is not surprising that the election results have given rise to an emotionally charged controversy on the so-called Igbo factor in contemporary Lagos politics. However, this may be a matter in which appearance is different from reality. In a stakeholders’ meeting ahead of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections on April 11, the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, was quoted as saying, perhaps simplistically: “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 lo-

of God that made him remain alive till he eventually surrendered his life to Jesus.

It does not matter what the enemy wants to attain wherever God is available and showing interest. God, the Creator is stronger than all and has the capacity to do all things the way He wants it. After all, Jesus did not pick those who are in perfection as His disciples. All He did was to teach those He chose the way to perfection. What man is today might not be who he will remain tomorrow. Peter as a failure eventually succeeded. Paul started ingloriously but ended in glory.

If indeed Buhari who lived a life similar to that of American Abraham Lincoln in flowing failures eventually emerged victorious, we must know that there is still a good purpose of God upon such life. The late Nelson Mandela of South Africa was in prison for 27 years as if that would be the end of his story. He ultimately became the number one citizen of his nation and a legacy to the continent.

What sincere nationalists ought to do is to pray for the one God might have chosen to move Nigeria forward so that the good intentions will be fulfilled and become triumphant leader where he might have failed in the past. If Buhari truly works to wipe off corruption and terrorism, his past unrighteousness too will be wiped away and the nation will become better that it is at the moment. The purpose of God need not be attained in so short a moment as challengers want contrary to the time divinely dedicated for true transformation.

That Buhari was not disqualified because of availability of a certificate of the school he evidently attended is to show that what matters to God is not what the enemy is stealing out of life, but the value of abundant life he is offering. After all, he doesn’t need to obtain a Ph.D and then end up as failure like Jonathan.

The Almighty God brought Jesus Christ into this world in a manger through a carpenter family. For the worldly spirit, God’s son should deserve a high-profile birth in the most elegant maternity.

But God’s true Son made His appearance on earth in the lowliest of circumstances. The humble birth conveyed an amazing message to creation: the inspirational God stooped to come to us. Instead of coming as a pampered, privileged ruler, Jesus was born in humbleness, as one of us. The one who is the King of kings came lowly, and His first bed was a manager.

What mattered most was the way the Son fulfilled the purpose of His Father in spite of challenges. Jesus was crucified; He died, rose up and was eventually glorified and given a name that is above every other name at the mention of which every other names still keep bowing.

Contrary to Aribisala’s inspection, Buhari was not programmed

by INEC to become the president of Nigeria at the age of 72. His choice of Yemi Osibajo, a law professor and pastor of Nigeria’s

H

‘It is generally understood that indigenous peoples have historical ties to a specific territory as well as cultural distinctiveness; but there needs to be an understanding that the inclusion of outsiders, especially in the political space, may not necessarily be negative. But it may not necessarily be positive either’

Outsiders inside cal governments in Lagos State…Some people said that APC lost in some wards and local governments to PDP because of Igbo votes; that is not true?”

So, what is true? Tinubu observed that “losing six House of Representatives seats to the opposition in Lagos State has never happened in the history of Lagos,” referring to the period between 1999 and 2015 which witnessed an exclusive reign by the ruling party in various stages of its metamorphosis. There is no doubt that what is particularly alarming about this latest historical redefinition must be the rise of non-indigenes who are also nonYoruba, specifically Igbo.

It is interesting that the PDP presented Igbo candidates for the National Assembly elections in the first place. How such candidates emerged in a Yoruba-dominated state presents a sociological question that may well beget a sociological answer. It may well be that an old order is being reordered; and this possibility deserves the attention of those used to the usual.

It is noteworthy that the new Igbo federal lawmakers representing Lagos were elected in areas with a reportedly influential Igbo presence, which suggests that political consciousness among the diverse populace of the megacity is not only expanding but also escalating.

The success story of Egboh, for instance, who polled a total of 29,761 votes over 20,616 votes scored by the incumbent Olukolu, is instructive in a number of ways. He was quoted as saying: “My success as member of House of Representatives-elect was very significant being a nonindigene to have won the seat for the first time in Amuwo Odofin, Federal Constituency. Again this is the first time the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency.”

It is significant that Egboh was said to have “linked his

largest Pentecostal movement as a running mate might not have been an error. He picked a man who can back him up to do even what he is unable to do. This might have been in realization that Nigeria needs a president who can deliver good governance by ensuring order, enabling peace and providing pathway in prosperity for the people.

If today’s emergence is believed as the will of God, then the chosen can end gloriously if the will is allowed to function in deed and in truth.

Fayose: What a power drunk!

“When trouble sleeps Yanga go wake am up Wetin you go get?

Palaver you go get.”

When I was about writing this piece, the above song by late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was coming forth suitably on a radio station. I found it quite fitting to what was in my heart.

Since returning to power as governor in October 2014, Mr. Ayo Fayose and astute Ekiti State people with those legislatures in legitimacy have been locked in shackle.

From onset, Fayose started running contrary to his pledge at election campaign that he has changed from the unruly he used to be known as. The moment he was sworn in, he didn’t allow courts in his state to function in tranquility. He sent his hooligans to disrupt court sittings and beat up judges on seat in a way beyond human susceptibility.

To reign and rule without opponent, he declared the state Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Olajide Awe wanted over murder charge, and ensured that he fled out of the state. Even when the man obtained restriction against arrest from a Federal High Court in Jos, the governor dismissed the court’s declaration as a “black market injunction.”

That the same man would now run to Abuja to get an injunction from similar Federal High Court to restrain the 19 lawmakers from impeaching him is inexplicable. Perhaps, this might be why the court in its wisdom turned his request down.

The unchanged governor who permitted seven legislators to control the 19 others in unity to stage a purported impeachment of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Wale Omirin is not ready to respond to the allegations constitutionally made against him by the majority.

Should Fayose continue to bulldoze the integrity of Ekiti State?

Time will tell.

success to hard work, focus and the experience of being a politician having served two terms as councillor, both in Amuwo Odofin and Ojo Local Government Areas.” Also, he “said his house-to-house campaign had indeed paid him, saying he had been working for the election in the past two years.” This is evidence of a gradual but sure redesign of the state’s political landscape.

Irrespective of the outcome of the state governorship and legislative polls, it is reasonable to expect that the Igbo victories in particular will inspire and encourage other ethnic outsiders in Lagos to have big political dreams. Perhaps such dreams may be less fantastic in the cosmopolitan environment of Lagos, which is perceived as a melting pot.

It is relevant to note that in July last year the National Council of State formed a committee to address the alleged discriminatory promotion of indigenousness in states across the country and work towards ending the institutionalisation of indigenity. The committee included the governors of Sokoto, Niger, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Ondo and Gombe states, representing each of the country’s six geo-political zones, and they were expected to identify discriminatory practices in all states of the federation.

Of course, it is no news that Lagos has been tagged “no man’s land” in certain quarters, especially by those who view its richly diverse populace and cultural variety as evidence of its alleged non-ownership by a particular ethnic group. However, it is easy to note the flaw in such perception, which denies the reality of an autochthonous population in the land. The journey to this juncture dates back to the 14th century, according to historical sources. A society called Eko is said to have existed before the coming of the Portuguese in 1472. The Lagos community is said to have emerged in the 18th century, while Lagos became a British colony in the 19th century. Lagos State was created in the 20th century, specifically May 1967, and the 21st century has witnessed its transformation to a megacity with a population put at over 10 million.

At the heart of what might be considered a growing ethnicity-based political rivalry in the state is the indigene-settler question, which is not peculiar to Lagos, although the peculiarity of its diversity probably accounts for the intensity in this case. As regards Lagos, there must be such a thing as the core of the cosmopolis. This is food for thought and cannot be wished away by those who want to belong without a sense of belonging.

It is generally understood that indigenous peoples have historical ties to a specific territory as well as cultural distinctiveness; but there needs to be an understanding that the inclusion of outsiders, especially in the political space, may not necessarily be negative. But it may not necessarily be positive either.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

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COMMENTS

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HOSE who have been full of praises for the outcome of the presidential and national assembly elections may have to pause for a while. The elections have largely been adjudged free and fair though they were not without peculiar problems.

Despite these, there seems some understanding that we should let go especially given the heated political temperament that characterized the campaigns. There seems some consensus that no sacrifice should be considered too much for the corporate survival of the country. So has been the understanding. At another level, encomiums have been showered on the country for not falling for earlier predictions, much of which was on the negative side. These testaments have dwelt largely on the prospects of the successful conclusion of the elections to deepen democracy on these shores. President Goodluck Jonathan’s commendable move of going ahead to congratulate Gen Buhari even before the official results were announced attest to this new thinking largely on the acceptance of defeat.

Much of the comments locally and from the international community have focused largely on the prospects of the new development charting a new path for democracy not only in this country but Africa as a whole. It is a different kettle of fish if this turn of events was foisted on Jonathan, done out of his volition or thrust on him by an intricate web of contradictions. The fact remains that these monumental decisions and events have taken place and they will for a long time, shape the direction and perception of Nigerian politics.

They will form the new basis for assessing

‘These are the challenges facing our democracy. They can be checked through a decisive war against corruption and devolution of powers to make the center less attractive. Only then, can we discourage fair weather politicians and shameless contractors from gravitating to the winning party’

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Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

Of fair weather politicians elections and their outcome in this country.

But to what extent can we push the optimism that this singular act is all that is needed to redirect the attitude of our people on political matters for the better? How far can we push the idea that given the same set of circumstances, or a slightly different configuration of events, another leader in Jonathan’s shoes will behave the way he did?

In effect, how far can we carry the optimism that democracy will be deepened by the singular action of Jonathan?

Perhaps, insights into these posers can be gleaned from the attitude of some politicians since the results of the presidential election emerged. Reports from across the country have been a plethora of sundry politicians parting ways with their political parties in a new found love for the winning party, the APC. Even before the governorship and state houses of assembly elections were conducted, many chieftains of the ruling party, the PDP had started decamping to the APC. Matters were not remedied given that key among those decamping were very prominent people in the PDP. Some of them even ran for the governorship tickets of their parties while others hitherto held important political positions.

And we ask, what has happened or what new things have they suddenly seen in the APC that they had to ditch their parties so soon after? What interests are more likely to have weighed in favour of such precipitate actions? How much does selfish interest count in this calculation and where is it likely to lead us in the quest to grow democracy? These are some of the moot questions. The way they

HERE was euphoric feeling across the land as millions of jubilant Nigerians celebrated the triumph of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded May 28, 2015 presidential election. The chant: ‘Sai Buhari, Sai Baba’ rented the air. The defeat of the much-touted largest party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, was seen by many as offering Nigeria an opportunity for a new and wondrous beginning.

Given this scenario, the first 100 days in office of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are going to be critical days - in fact the defining period of his Presidency.

The stakes are high, just as the high expectations of traumatized Nigerians. As the saying goes, morning shows the day, so the morning of the Buhari Presidency will indicate if it is going to be good day for Nigeria. As a former Head of State and someone who had thrice doggedly fought for this trophy, it is expected that the General already has a blueprint of public governance to be rolled out, at the go. It cannot be seen as misplaced high expectations. The challenge, therefore, for President-elect Buhari is being able to take off in a dead run – right from inauguration day on May 29, 2015.

I believe the President-elect has appropriately defined the arduous task ahead of him with that evocative caption of his acceptance speech – ‘The Die is cast’ – on being presented with his certificate of return by the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega. The Nigerian people gave him their votes because they are frustrated with the under-performing government of President Jonathan and were no longer willing to give the ‘humble boy’ from Otuoke, Bayelsa state, the benefit of the doubt for another term. So, in line with philosopher John Locke’s ‘Doctrine of Social Contract’ between the people, as the popular sovereign authority in a democracy, and the agents they elect into government, the electorate exercised its right by terminating the Social Contract with the Jonathan Presidency and awarding the governance contract to Gen. Buhari.

Apparently, the President-elect understood this ‘Social Contract’ philosophy when in his acceptance speech, he declared: “There shall be no ruling party again: APC will be your governing party. We shall faithfully serve you. We shall never rule over the people as if they were subservient to government”. The practice had been that the agent becomes the Overlord of the people.

Gen. Buhari earned his reputation on law and order that has endured for 30 years since his first coming as military Head of State in December 1983. The day now beckons for him to go on ‘Action Station,’ for a repeat performance. It is therefore no surprise that he identified the twin evils of corruption and insecurity/terrorism as the two major woes fac-

are resolved will chart the future on the prospects and growth of the democratic culture.

No doubt, we are in a democracy. Some of the pristine tenets for which democracy has become the fastest growing development paradigm are its capacity to offer unlimited freedom to the people. Key to this is the freedom of choice; the freedom to decide which party to belong. So those who are decamping are still within their inalienable democratic rights and no attempt is being made in this column to deny them of that.

However, this right cannot escape public scrutiny since all are concerned with the growth and stability of those attitudes that can make democracy endure. This is more so given the positive sentiments that have come to be associated with the success of the presidential and national assembly elections. It would therefore appear that the mad rush to decamp to the winning party a few days after the elections smacks of indecent haste. For one, it portrays those involved as people lacking in principles.

Ideally, political parties ought to offer alternative persuasions to the electorate.

The alternatives which the APC offered were there before the elections and all those who believed in them had ample time to take a decision. And many did.

For another, it is nothing but obvious interests that are largely self-serving that propelled those decamping after the results of the presidential election had been declared. Among these are political contractors and fortune seekers. In this

category are those who eye the enormous resources at the control of the central government. Buoyed by the huge corruption in official quarters, the thinking is that it will still be business as usual and you need to gravitate to the center to have a share of the national cake. That has been our problem.

That is why it has been difficult to talk of principles in Nigerian politics. It is for the same reason that politics has become the biggest industry in this country attracting into its fold sundry contractors and the criminally minded that switch camps without giving a hoot. It is for the same reason that competition for political offices has remained very rancorous and deadly.

Ironically, these set of people have captured political power in many states and would not let go. They will go to any length to ensure they remain relevant. The illegal monies they have acquired have become their greatest strengths and it is difficult to wish them away. The APC is within its rights to admit the new decampees. After all, it will be happy to increase its membership so as to gain advantage over its opponents. But the optimism about the growth of democracy may be threatened if this trend is not carefully watched. We may inevitably be gravitating to a one party state as was almost the case when the PDP held sway. It took the combined efforts of some committed Nigerians to float a strong opposition through mergers to save the situation.

That visionary action has today paid off in the successes of the APC. Now, if we again find ourselves in a situation where there is no strong opposition, we would have reversed the huge efforts to give Nigerians two credible alternatives. That will detract substantially from all the optimism about the growth of democracy in this country. It will also speak of something fundamentally wrong with our politics and with us as a people. But the expectations of these desperate politicians can be checked without denying them the freedom of a party of their choice.

They can be discouraged by the incoming administration ensuring probity and accountability in public offices.

These are the challenges facing our democracy. They can be checked through a decisive war against corruption and devolution of powers to make the center less attractive. Only then, can we discourage fair weather politicians and shameless contractors from gravitating to the winning party.

Buhari Presidency’s first 100 days-1

By Bisi Olawunmi ing the country, which he is resolved to battle, resolutely.

While pledging to demonstrate State Power in decisively tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, he sees corruption as worse than terrorism and vowed: “We shall strongly battle the evil of corruption...Corruption attacks and seeks to destroy our national institutions and character…By misdirecting into selfish hands funds intended for public purpose, corruption distorts the economy (and) creates a class of unjustlyenriched people”. He noted that such filthy rich will attempt to buy government and pledged his resolve: “We shall end this threat to our economic development and democratic survival… I repeat that corruption will not be tolerated by this administration”.

Strong words. Reassuring words. Now, the die is truly cast for President-elect Buhari to translate words into action. He invites us to make input, by way of suggestions – “I seek your voice and input as we tackle these problems”. I take him up on the offer and suggests as follows: Wanted is an agency for public order. Protection of lives and property is the primary obligation of government and deserves top priority attention. There has to be a unified, holistic approach to tackling endemic insecurity in the land that has created pervasive fear and shut down night economy, as people abandon the night hours to marauding, violent criminals. It got to a point that a police chief even advised people against night travel as robbers waylaid motorists during night journeys!! It was police surrender to criminals.

So, today, life is very cheap in Nigeria, as people get killed on daily basis, with impunity, even by police officers paid to protect lives. The prevalent general disorder and indiscipline throughout the country highlight the failure of relevant regulatory agencies.

Therefore, a public order institution or Commission, whatever name that may be appropriate, headed by a passionate individual and committed rank and file, has become imperative, to tackle the pervasive lawlessness in the country. Such activist Public Order Agency, working in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Servicom, should have as its focus the activities of The Nigeria Police and the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC) among others, the two being institutions of government whose inefficiencies, compromises and connivance have contributed largely to lack of safety at home, at work and on the road.

The Nigeria Police, an institution central to public order,

has lost credibility with people with tragic consequences for all. This must be urgently reversed. The government would be seen to be pro- people if one of its first acts is to announce that heads of police jurisdictions, Divisional Police Officers, (DPOs) et al, will henceforth be liable for criminal activities in their jurisdictions and sanctioned appropriately and speedily, where they fail to effectively discharge their responsibilities. This is enforcing responsibility and accountability, both of which have been lacking in many government agencies. Establishment of a hotline, perhaps in The Presidency, where people can report compromised police officers will be a measure of performance monitoring by the public. The impunity of police brutality, which alienates the public, must be stopped as the first step to restore a much needed policepeople friendly relations. When the demons in the Nigeria Police are exorcised, the people would be more willing to volunteer information about criminals, a prerequisite for police effectiveness. It is instructive that within the police leadership, there was a former reformist Inspector-General of Police who scrapped police roadblocks, where many people had been killed and maimed by police officers, with impunity. The proposed Public Order Agency or the Justice Ministry, as documented by NHRC, should review the cover up of such killer policemen, with prosecution.

These measures, which should attract saturation publicity, will boost public confidence in The Presidency as peopleoriented and strengthen reformists within the police. When people fear, rather than have faith in, the Police, it can only be to the advantage of criminals. With regard to the FRSC, it is saddening that succeeding governments/leaders and agencies have not shown any outrage about the horrendous killings on the roads where thousands have lost their lives.

The Buhari Presidency can begin to make a difference here as part of security of life. The establishment of FRSC is a recognition of the grave situation of road killings (road accident is a misnomer) by homicidal drivers, even in governors’ motorcades, and where thousands more are maimed for life and rendered economic liabilities. Killer drivers often go scot free to continue their homicidal rampage on the roads. Unfortunately, the FRSC has turned out just another government employment agency with poor service delivery. (To be continued tomorrow) • Dr. Bisi Olawunmi, Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun state, is former Washington Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

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THE CEO

N700b intervention funds to create new jobs - P. 35

‘Banks hostile to funding manufacturing’ - P. 37

News Brief PenCom boss: revised pension guidelines’ll widen market THERE is going to be an increase in the Retirement Saving Accounts(RSAs) from 6.5 million to 20million, creation of new portfolios, and a deeper market whenever the Revised Investment Guidelines (RSGs) is ready, the Secretary/Legal Adviser, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Muhammad Sank Muhammad, has said.

–Page 26

NATCOMS completes NITEL, Mtel’s acquisition THE Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) at the weekend, said the preferred bidder of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and its mobile arm (Mtel), NATCOM Consortium, has paid $176,575,700 (N29,696,469,600) — being the outstanding 70 per cent of the $252,521,000 bid price for the acquisition of the assets and business units of the enterprises.

–Page 26

Oil rises towards $58 OIL rose towards $58 a barrel on Friday, heading for a weekly gain, supported by an easing of concerns that the interim accord over Iran’s nuclear work will lead to a rapid rise in Iranian oil supplies.

–Page 27

LCCI to Buhari: focus on agriculture THE Agric Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the incoming Federal Government to focus on the review and implementation of agricultural policies to boost local food production and enhance food security.

–Page 27

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

$54/barrel $2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

¢132.70/pound

Cotton

¢95.17pound

Gold

$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

$163/lb RATES

Inflation

8.4%

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

15.87%

Savings rate

3%

91-day NTB

15%

Time Deposit

5.49%

MPR

13%

Foreign Reserve

$34.5b

•From left: Director, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, Mr Samuel Nwanze; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Peter O. Ashade and Chairman, Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi, at the firm’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos.

CBN bans dud cheque issuers from clearing, loan access

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HE Central Bank of Ni geria (CBN) has directed commercial banks to ban customers that issue dud cheques from using the clearing system for a period of five years.

In a circular at the weekend, its Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, said the banks are to also ban the serial issuers of dud cheques from accessing credit facilities from the banking system for a period of five years.

She noted with great concern the impunity with which some customers of banks issue dud cheques on their accounts despite the provisions of the Dishonoured (Dud) Cheques Act of 1977 and the apex bank’s recent directives to bank custom-

By Collins Nweze

ers to desist from such practice.

She said the names of the offenders should be forwarded to the three Private Credit Bureaux (PCB) and the Credit Risk Management System (CRMS), adding that no institution shall, except with the prior written approval of the CBN, remove such a person’s name from the three Credit Bureaux and the CRMS. Mrs. Martins said the customers’names would be listed on the database of the private credit bureaux and CRMS for a period of five years from the date of submission, after which offenders will be eligible for removal.

However, if the offender is

found wanting after the name is removed, such an offender shall be permanently reinstated in the data base of both the three Credit Bureaux and the CRMS. The CBN director said where an institution fails to report a serial dud cheque issuer in its return to the CBN, CRMS and PCB as required, it shall be considered as concealment and misrepresentation of material fact and the affected institution shall be penalised in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, LFN 2004 CAP B3 (BOFIA).

Martins said to sustain the positive achievements already recorded in the payment

system, it is essential that confidence and integrity in negotiable instruments, especially cheques, should be restored and enhanced.

“Consequently, it has therefore become imperative for the CBN to implement further measures to dissuade the issuance of dud cheques to the barest minimum. The CBN has put in place additional regulatory measures against dud cheque issuers. Upon CBN’s compilation and dissemination of information on serial issuers of dud cheques based on bank returns, banks would be required to recall/cancel all unused cheque books issued to serial issuers of dud cheques,” she said.

‘NCAA undermining aviation sector’s growth’

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HE arbitrary suspension of airline operations by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is undermining the growth of domestic airlines in the country.

Already, the regulator has withdrawn the Air Operators Certificates (AOC) of the IRS Airlines and Discovery Air. Instead of sanctioning the airlines, experts said the regulatory body should have engaged the operators on how to remain afloat.

But the NCAA said it would continue to carry out its statutory duties one of which is auditing domestic carriers to ensure that they are solvent and safe.

Chairman, Discovery Air, Babatunde Babalola said the airline has lost over N1 billion in the last four months.

The loss, he said, is in revenue that would have accrued from ticket sales, char-

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

ter fees and other commercial engagements.

He spoke against the backdrop of the continued suspension of its AOC by the NCAA. He lamented that the continued suspension of the carrier’s AOC is blocking its attempt to secure over N4 billion from a foreign company to boost expand operations.

He said the continued suspension of its AOC is sending wrong signals to foreign investors who are willing to assist the airline in many respects.

He said the NCAA erred with the suspension of its AOC in January, this year following alleged maltreatment of its passengers sometime last year.

Babalola lamented what NCAA ought to have done was to ground its operations

pending when the issues raised were resolved, adding that the suspension of its AOC has led to massive business loss for the airline.

He insisted that the offence of the airline did not warrant the suspension of its AOC, adding that since the airline was not involved in an accident, its AOC ought not to have been revoked by NCAA and called for consistency in the regulatory environment.

He emphasised that the letter written to the management of the airline on its suspension ordered it to address three issues before it would be allowed to return to operations.

The issues, according to him, were refunding of airfares to its passengers who were not satisfied with the way and manner they were treated by the airline; refund of compensation to the passengers and workers’welfare issues all of which he said had been ad-

dressed by the airline.

He agreed that the airline had financial issues before it was suspended, but required bridging loan to sustain its operations from financial institutions.

He said: “On the salary welfare of the workers, we had a meeting with them to pay them for the months they have worked and even the January that we were suspended. The other thing we did again was to issue them post-dated cheque for the backlog of salaries we owed them. The cheque would be presented on April 30.

“If you are trying to build an enviable aviation industry, then you have to engage the airlines. You cannot just say ‘you give them seven days to correct some things’. “Seven days to do what? It is just too short. Even if you are going to give seven days, you should call for a meeting for interactions.”

Agric vital to industrialisation, says expert

By Muyiwa Lucas

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RESEARCHER at the National Root Crops Research Institute at Umudike, Abia State, Mr. Solomon Afuape, has said any nation that wants to develop has to first develop its agricultural sector because it is the spring board to industrial revolution and development.

He told The Nation that Nigeria has to come back to agriculture, especially with the plummeting crude oil price, to ensure food sufficiency, not only for human consumption, but also to position the country to supply the materials to develop a vibrant industrial base.

But to actualise this, the researcher said there was urgent need to develop research institutes to help solve the problem of development of a new variety of crops, processing techniques, storage facility and new food form that appeal to the emerging need of the society.

“It is the agric base that will supply the raw materials that will sustain the industries.

Now that oil price is crashing, it behooves of research institutes, as the repository of knowledge, and following on their mandate, to think about the farmer’s problem and how to solve them.

Therefore, if we do not develop the research base to solve problem, we are doomed,” he warned.

He agreed that Nigeria has the capacity to enjoy food sufficiency, especially with the foundation being laid by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, whom he said has taken bold steps in this direction.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

26

BUSINESS NEWS

• From left: Chief Security Officer, Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC), Mr. Felix Nnachi; Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Aigbe Olotu; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Abiodun Ajifowobaje; and Head, Technical Service, Mr. Min Jea Park, at the inauguration of the company’s Emergency Response Team at its headquarters in Lagos.

Expert faults Fed Govt’s entrepreneurship programmes

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IRECTOR-General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Youth Chamber of Commerce (NYCC), Comrade Peter Ayim, has faulted the Federal Government’s Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin) programme, arguing that it is an initiative that cannot facilitate growth of start-ups.

The NYCC chief said though the nation’s policy makers seemed to appreciate the positive impact of entrepreneurship and may have embraced the concept, it is evident that they have not been able to develop a result-oriented and sustainable policy framework and intervention mechanism targeted at supporting accelerated promotion and development of functional youth entrepreneurship.

On the YouWin programe, he said: “Such short-term measures are usually handouts and tokenism that cannot in any sense facilitate and grow a functional start-up or microenterprise.”

According to him, the prevailing evidence of the outcomes of most of such interventions is merely subsistent for those that are actually determined to start a business.

Noting that the government has demonstrated commitment to promoting youth entrepreneurship through short-term intervention programmes, he regretted that most of the intervention programmes are limited and do not benefit a broad spectrum of aspir-

By Chikodi Okereocha

ing youth entrepreneurs to facilitate start-ups or assist youth entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses.

YouWiN is an innovative business plan competition launched by the Federal Government to create jobs by encouraging and supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youths to develop and execute business ideas.

But Ayim argued that the scheme is limited in scope, adding that since the government has demonstrated its commitment to encourage and support development of entrepreneurship through diverse intervention programmes, it is also important for the government to explore other credible vistas so that more people can participate in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector.

“A dynamic mix of micro-leasing, micro-insurance and demanddriven business development services offered within a cluster should be encouraged,” he said.

He added that this approach will enable more aspiring entrepreneurs who cannot meet the conditions of accessing available funding options to access appropriate equipment under a micro-leasing arrangement for their businesses while existing entrepreneurs access equipment to grow and expand their businesses.

‘Don’tturnNigeriaintofishdumpingground’

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PROFESSOR of Fisheries, Martins Antekhai, has urged the Federal Government to strengthen anti-dumping to prevent foreigners turning Nigerians into a dumping ground for all manner of fish products.

He said there arevarious laws, regulations,administrative proceedings and practices that should be implemented to achieve this.

This, he added, should include remove all obstacles and open horizons to stimulate the production, distribution and export of fish.

With the agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) in place, the don advised all efforts should be targeted towards promotingeconomic activities in the fisheries sector, generating employment for fishermen for sustainable livelihood and protecting nutritional security of the rural poor.

While urging the government to allocate more fund, at least 30 per cent of the budget to the agric sector, the expert appealed also that agricultural education incorporate at all levels of formal and informal education, including training to assist artisanal fishermen to adopt modern fishing practices.

By Daniel Essiet

He proffered increased institutional finance to the fisheries sector, reduced power tariff, tax concessions for entrepreneurs in the sector, and ensuring adequate water supply.

Others were incentives and tax holidays to large-scale fish farmers as well as adequate and timely credit to investors in fishery business.

According to him, efforts must be taken to resuscitate the local aquaculture industry as it provides an opportunity for an alternative livelihood for fisher-folk.

Antekhai urged the government to review bilateral agreements on fisheries to ensure fishers lives are not put at risk and there is concerted attempts to intensify the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

According to him ,there is need to identify concrete shortcomings and amend legal framework to combat IUU fishing, and quarantee effective implementation of international fishing laws and regulations will enhance the growth of the industry.

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Local oil firms’ production hits 300,000bpd

NDIGENOUS players in the ex ploration and production (E&P) value chain of the oil and gas industry account for 300,000 out of the about 2.2 million barrels (bbls) of oil produced daily in the country, it was learnt.

The daily production, according to data, is supposed to be between 2.4 million barrels and 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd), but owing to vandalism and oil theft, the volume sometimes drops to 2.1 million bpd.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, an indigenous E&P firm, Mr. Abdulrazaq Isa, who spoke on the sideline of an oil and gas event in Abuja, said local players are driving production growth, adding that there was need for government to support them.

He said the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) should support the growth of indigenous E&P firms by urging the international oil com-

T

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

panies (IOCs) to release assets (oil fields) they consider commercially less viable or low producing fields to the local companies to encourage them make more investments.

Isa said flow stations and gas stations have been built and they are just there unused or under-used. NCDMB collaboration with the IOCs, according to him, will ensure that percentage production matches that of reserves, improve cash flow which will be deployed to construction of refineries. IOCs develop oil and gas for their countries, let’s do the same here, he added.

Indigenous operators also said the Local Content Act has given local production and contribution in the oil and gas sector a great deal adding that 20 per cent or more of the oil reserves is held by the independents,

which is between nine and 10 billion barrels.

Before 2010, when the Nigerian Content Act came into effect, only a few indigenous firms were producing oil and the percentage contribution from the locals to the total daily production was less than seven percent but, indigenous E&P firms contribute well over 11 per cent to daily national output.

Waltersmith is the operator of the Ibigwe marginal field, which is located in the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 16. It was awarded to Waltersmith about two years ago, with a farm-in agreement with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) signed in April 2004. The company has built a 15,000 bpd capacity flow station.

The company also said it was considering building a 5,000 bpd capacity at Ohaji-Egbema in Imo State, where the Ibigwe field is located to make petroleum products available in the country. The refinery, according to Isa, is expected to cost about $40 million.

Revised pension guidelines’ll widen market, says PenCom boss

HERE is going to be an increase in the Retirement Sav ing Accounts(RSAs) from 6.5 million to 20million, creation of new portfolios, and a deeper market whenever the Revised Investment Guidelines (RSGs) is ready, the Secretary/ Legal Adviser, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Muhammad Sank Muhammad, has said.

He told The Nation that the guidelines would provide a platform that would widen the capacity of the Commission to increase its investment outlay and further grow the pension industry.

He said the guidelines would enable the Commission to provide bring the informal sector to the

By Akinola Ajibade

pension contributory nets.

He said: “When the RIGs ready, more people would be able to participate in the pension scheme.

The current 6.5 million Retirement Saving Accounts is small when you place it side by side with the population of 170million in Nigeria. By the time we deepen the pension fund via investment in the real sector, the market will blossom.

“The pension market is huge given the fact PenCom has been able to get 6.5 million accounts in less than 10 years. We are targeting 20million accounts in the next five years. We hope to achieve this

through the investment guidelines that is currently under reviewed and other initiatives packaged by the Commission.”

According to him, the Commission would improve on its infrastructural facilities in order to be able to expand its market.

He said: “We need to do a lot of work, especially in the area of deploying the necessary information communication technology (ICT) tool. There are millions of people in the informal sector that want to be part of the contributory pension scheme. There is immense potential in the informal sector and the only way to tap the opportunities in the sector is to bring its people into pension saving nets.”

NATCOM completes NITEL, Mtel’s acquisition

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HE Bureau of Public Enter prises (BPE) at the weekend, said the preferred bidder of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and its mobile arm (Mtel), NATCOM Consortium, has paid $176,575,700 (N29,696,469,600) — being the outstanding 70 per cent of the $252,521,000 bid price for the acquisition of the assets and business units of the enterprises.

Its Head, Public Communications, Chgbo Anichebe, said the company paid the 70 per cent balance April 2, four days ahead of the April 7 deadline for payment.

NATCOM had on January 6, this year paid $75,756,300 (N12, 727,058,400), being 30 per cent of the bid price in line with the offer letter by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), which mandated NATCOM, to make an initial de-

By Lucas Ajanaku

posit of 30 percent of the bid price not later than 14 days from the date of the offer letter.

With the earlier 30 per cent payment, NATCOM was expected to pay the remaining balance of 70 percent of the bid price within 90 days which was to expire on April 6, this year but due to the public holiday arising from the Easter celebration, the deadline was extended to April 7.

The National Council on Privatization (NCP) had at its meeting of February 27, 2012, approved the privatisation of Nigerian Telecommunications Plc (NITEL) and Nigerian Mobile Telecommunication (MTEL) through “guided liquidation”.

The strategy was adopted by the

Council after due consideration of other options and in the light of the previous failed attempts to privatise NITEL and MTEL through Strategic Core Investor Sale and Negotiated Sale strategies and the huge liabilities to creditors to the tune of over N300 billion.

Under the guided liquidation strategy, all the core assets and business undertakings of NITEL and MTEL were to be sold a qualified bidder by the Liquidator under the general guidance of the National Council on Privatisation.

Thus, the bidder that acquires the assets of NITEL and MTEL will pledge to continue to operate the assets to provide telecoms services. This is as against the traditional liquidation of an enterprise by assets stripping.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

27

BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL

Nikkei hits 20,000 level for first time in 15 years

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NVESTORS focused on Japan on Friday as the country’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index traded above 20,000 for the first time since April 2000.

The high was short-lived however with the index closing down 0.15 per cent at 19,907.63 points after hitting 20,004.99 in early trade.

Shares were boosted by Wall Street ending higher after US energy stocks per-

formed strongly.

The Nikkei was also boosted on Friday by Japan’s Fast Retailing.

Shares in Asia’s largest clothing retailer closed up more than 3.5 per cent on Friday following its announcement a day earlier that it had raised its income forecast for the full year to August by 20per cent.

Investors had also hoped for larger shareholder re-

turns and a recovery in domestic consumption.

The Nikkei is up nearly 15% this year.

Shares on mainland China reached a seven-year high on Friday as the Shanghai Composite benchmark index crossed the 4,000 mark for the first time since 2008.

China’s consumer inflation rate remained at 1.4 per cent in March. The lukewarm data may see China introduce fur-

ther easing policies amid its slowing economy, analysts said.

The country’s producer price index showed that factory deflation continued with prices down 4.6per cent, although analysts had predicted a 4.8per cent fall.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index continued its week-long rally. It closed up 1.22per cent at 27,272.39, also marking a seven-year

high.

The chief executive of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange said it would “substantially increase” the quotas for the stock connect program between Hong Kong and Shanghai.

His comments came after Chinese investors used up the entire 10.5billion yuan ($1.7billion; £1.1billion) daily quota for buying Hong Kong stocks through the trad-

ing link for the first time on Wednesday, sending turnover to a record.

Australian shares were also higher through the day, closing in on a seven-year high.

The S&P/ASX 200 index ended the day up 0.6per cent at 5,968.4.

Shares of mining giant BHP Billiton weighed on the benchmark, closing down 0.15 per cent on lower iron ore prices.

PTV levels go change promo winner gets car

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TV Ltd, a major phone retail company, has organised its ‘level go change promo’ as a reward scheme for consumers nationwide.

The final draw event was the climax of a four-month activity, which saw final 20 participants picked from thousands of entries across the country.

Some of the participants came from Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kwara and other states. To qualify, consumers were given promo vouchers upon purchasing any brand of phones from PTV outlets nationwide.

The winner of the grand prize, an Hyundai Accent brand new car, Abiodun Akano ,who works with an electronic card reselling company, said he had ignored several calls put through to him by PTV Ltd to invite him for the raffle draw unknown to him that he will be the person to go home with the car. “I was skeptical at first when I was invited to participate in the draw; today here I am holding the keys to a brand new Hyundai Accent car. I am very happy to be the lucky winner and I thank PTV lim-

ited for their genuineness,” he said.

He praised PTV because he never believed anything of such could happen. He thought that the phone calls were unreal until he decided to respond to the company’s enquiries. He praised PTV for a credible consumer promo that would instil public confidence in the industry Managing Director, PTV Ltd Mr Banji Adesanmi, said the promo is aimed at deepening shopping experiences for phone consumers across the country. “PTV is poised to create exciting moments for consumers and the promotion is one of the avenues to leverage the values of the PTV brand to make quality phones affordable for Nigerians. The promo is also a reward scheme to appreciate consumers’ patronage while guaranteeing quality customer service and customer satisfaction,” he added.

The Assistant Director National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr Fidelis Ajigbogun, praised PTV for a very transparent and credible promotion.

He said the commission monitored the promo from

Oil rises towards $58, heads for weekly gain as Iran supports

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IL rose towards $58 a barrel on Friday, heading for a weekly gain, supported by an easing of concerns that the interim accord over Iran’s nuclear work will lead to a rapid rise in Iranian oil supplies.

Evidence this week of ample global supplies, including the biggest jump in U.S. inventories since 2001, a glut of unsold Nigerian crude and Saudi Arabian output reaching a record high, limited the rally.

Brent crude LCOc1 was up $1.16 at $57.73 a barrel by 0948 ET, remaining on track for its third weekly gain in four weeks. U.S. crude CLc1 rose 50 cents to $51.29.

“The latest agreement with Iran does not open the floodgates for a significant return of Iranian oil on the market as many had feared,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity markets strategy and oil strategy at BNP Paribas.

World powers and Iran announced the interim accord last week. But on Thursday, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded all sanctions on Iran be lifted on the same day as any final agreement, while the United States maintains that sanctions would be lifted gradually.

Crude was also supported

by expectations of stronger demand after data this week from the United States and Germany bolstered the view that world growth is slowly perking up. Oil’s rally came despite a stronger U.S. dollar .DXY, which tends to weigh on commodities priced in the U.S. currency.

The price of Brent has halved from $115 hit last June, a drop that deepened after OPEC in November decided not to cut output, choosing to defend market share instead. Top exporter Saudi Arabia was the driving force behind the policy shift.

“Most of the fundamental factors are still pointing to lower prices,” said Eugen Weinberg, analyst at Commerzbank. “At the moment, we have an oversupply of more than 1 million barrels per day.”

While some OPEC members are urging output cuts to boost prices, Saudi Arabia has shown no sign of a rethink. Oil Minister Ali alNaimi told reporters on Tuesday that Riyadh had boosted its crude production to 10.3 million barrels per day, the highest rate on record.

Further pressuring prices, a U.S. government report on Wednesday said domestic crude stocks surged by nearly 11 million barrels last week, the biggest gain in 14 years.

•From left, Managing Director of PTV Ltd,Mr Banji Adesanmi,the grand prize winner,Mr Abiodun Akano,the Assistant Director, National Lottery Regulatory Commission,Mr Fidelis Ajibogun and Head,Monitoring/Enforcement,Mr Jude Ogaga at the event in Lagos.

Pound at five-year low against dollar on weak output

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HE pound has fallen to its lowest level against the dollar for nearly five years on weak United Kingdom (UK) industrial output figures and uncertainty over the outcome of the election.

Sterling was down by about a cent against the US currency at $1.4618.

Earlier, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said UK industrial output figures rose by just 0.1per cent in February from January.

The small increase was be-

low analysts’ forecasts for a 0.3% gain.

A number of opinion polls that showed Labour ahead of the Conservatives also unsettled traders.

One said the pound could fall far further if there were to be a prolonged struggle to form a government in the absence of a dominant party.

“A $1.40 level for sterling/ dollar is certainly not out of reach if the election aftermath turns ugly,” said Steve Barrow, currency strategist at Standard Bank.

Oil and gas production fell sharply, while the construction sector contracted by 0.9 per cent in February, compared with forecasts for a rise of two per cent.

The figures suggest the economy has slowed down this year, after a strong showing of 2.8 per cent growth in 2014.

Manufacturing output showed the best growth within the industrial output measure, with a gain of 0.4 per cent in February, bouncing back from its drop of 0.6

per cent in January.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: “Clearly this all bodes ill for economic growth in the opening quarter of the year. It’s now looking like the economy slowed, and possibly quite markedly, compared to the 0.6 per cent expansion seen in the closing quarter of 2014.

“The trend should improve in March, however, according to survey data.”

The ONS’ industrial output data covers 14.6 per cent of the UK economy.

Extra Easyjet flights to tackle France strike backlog

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ASYJET will run “res cue” flights and may put bigger planes on busy routes to deal with the after-effects of strikes by French air traffic controllers.

The airline cancelled 248 flights on Wednesday and 340 flights on Thursday,

making it one of the operators worst hit by the two-day strike.

No cancellations were expected on Friday, but Easyjet said some affected passengers still needed flights.

Two more stoppages are expected in the coming weeks.

French air traffic controllers have scheduled the first from 16 April to 18 April and the second from 29 April to 2 May. Some passengers have been stranded in European cities after Easter breaks following the latest strike, prompting Easyjet to operate five “rescue” flights

on Friday.

The flights will bring three parties of schoolchildren back to the UK. The additional flights will run from Luton to Paris, Paris to Barcelona, Barcelona to Luton, Gatwick to Madrid, and Marrakech to Gatwick.

Online platform, phonekings.com.ng, eyes 30% market share

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N online platform, phonekings.com.ng, has said it is targeting 30 per cent of the total market share of the country’s ecommerce space over the next eight months, adding that its superior customer service remained its unique selling point.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Tayo Olusanya, who spoke during the media unveiling of the platform in Lagos, said the firm is not afraid of playing along with already established names in the virtual market place, insisting that the market size of the online segment has not been fully harnessed.

He said: “In the short to medium term, we are targeting at least, 30 per cent of the market share in this segment. It is achievable because we believe the sector is still virgin with

By Lucas Ajanaku

great potentials that are largely untapped. Though we understand that there is high competition in the market space, we have the cutting edge technology and required man power to capture not just the 30 per cent market share but also over take the projected figure.

“We have done our feasibility studies and discovered that Nigeria is a large market. A market of over 170 million people is certainly not a small market anywhere in the world. We also discovered that there is low penetration of information technology (IT) in terms of online retail stores.

With all these, we came out with the concept of phonekings.com.ng and we believe that it is one big inno-

vation of getting people to buy at the best and cheapest price ever without stepping outside their living room.”

He said the firm had done its feasibility studies and discovered that online businesses often face high degree of infant mortality rate, adding that the result of its studies would serve as a compass to guide its operation.

“From our research, we have found that online businesses around the world tend to die within a short live span, within two to three years. That is why we have put in a mechanism and a well articulated blue print when it comes to distribution logistics.

“Yes we understand the huge problem in Nigeria in terms of house numbering and also hiccups with logistics, but we have been able to put together

a good and detailed blue print and work force so that we can get the product out there to customers as at when due and within the shortest possible time. Our delivery target time is a maximum of 48 hours. That is, if you make your orders today, you should be expecting to get the delivery of your goods and services within the next 48 hours. We have tried as much as possible to make that possible. We know that it comes with challenges though because it’s a difficult territory, but we will overcome that,” Olusanya said, adding that as the firm rolls out services to customers in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja where IT penetration and adoption is highest, it will expect the Federal Government to take steps to increase broadband penetration in the country.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

AFRICAN BUSINESS

LCCI urges Buhari to focus on agriculture

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HE Agric Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the incoming Federal Government to focus on the review and implementation of agricultural policies to boost local food production and enhance food security.

The group noted that lack of implementation had been the bane of “good agricultural policies”formulated by successive governments.

The Chairman, Agric Group, LCCI, Mr. Wale Oyekoya, said at a briefing in Lagos: “Our fact-finding shows that our government has made serious efforts at making good agricultural policies through schemes, programmes and institu-

By Toba Agboola

tions, but has not been able to implement or backed them up with adequate budgetary allocation and financing, coupled with corruption in the execution of the formidable policies.”

Oyekoya, who is also Managing Director, Bama Farms Limited, listed policies, such as the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, Nigerian Incentive-based Risk-sharing in Agriculture,Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund Act, Agricultural Development Trust Fund Credit, Guarantee Fund Credit, Agricultural Produce Finance and Multi-Channels Agricultural Financing

Scheme, among others, as some of the good policies.

“But the same government has failed woefully in implementing all these laudable policies. Propaganda and corruption have taken the stage of our policies, and farmers suffered the consequence,” Oyekoya said.

He added that a lot of funds, including loans and grants, such as the N200billion CACS scheme in 2007, $3billion by USAID in January 2013, World Bank’s $300,000, should have made the country self-sufficient in food production rather than depending on importation, claiming that a big chunk of the money was embezzled.

Oyekoya said: “Our com-

mercial banks need to be restructured and mandated to fund real farmers and not political farmers. No farmers can survive on the current commercial interest rate of 26 per cent. The agriculture sector accounted for less than one per cent of the portfolio of banks.

“Nigeria still spends about N1bn daily to import rice into the country and depleting our foreign reserves.

Yearly, we import foods worth over N450billion; foods that can be produced in Nigeria by local farmers if the business environment is conducive. All these food items can be abundantly produced in Nigeria, but corruption, selfish interest of our leaders and propaganda have

crippled the sector.”

According to him, farmers are closing up their farms because of inconsistent government policies, policy somersault, lack of funds, high cost of feed materials and poor infrastructure.

He said foreign investors would automatically come into the country if the environment was conducive.

“The government has over the years formulated good agricultural and financial policies meant to encourage food production but such policies have been found inefficient and ineffective since the intended results were not realised,” Oyekoya said.

The LCCI group recommended that at least 10 per

cent of the country’s annual budget should be devoted to agriculture and the review of subsisting schemes and reforms to make them more supportive of farm output.

Others include to encourage family farming and capacity-building; encourage local production; ban the importation of foods that can be produced locally; tighten the nation’s porous borders; tackle corruption; facilitate access to funds with single-digit interest rate and less cumbersome requirements; access to farm lands; provision of modern farm equipment to farmers to boost production, processing and value chains; and consistent local content policy.

13 Africans for Dangote fellowship

T

• From left: Zonal Business Manager, West, Nigerian Breweries (NB), Opeyemi Oluwalusi; Regional Trade Marketing Manager, Ibadan Brewery, Ayodeji Oke, and Regional Business Manager,West, Joseph Bodunrin, at the launch of Ace Roots by Nigerian Breweries in Ibadan.

BAT reiterates commitment to sustainability

T

HE British American Tobacco (BAT) has said sustainability is at the core of its stakeholder engagement.

Chief Executive Officer, BAT, Nicandro Durante, said: “Sustainability is not a choice or something that is ‘nice to have’, but something crucial to securing the future of our company and for creating shared value for our consumers, our shareholders and our stakeholders.”

In its Value Shared publication, BAT’s engagements with a cross-section of its stakeholders were highlighted. The new report, which details the company’s sustainability initiatives, showed how BAT enhanced its approach with the development of a new sustainability agenda that is focused on the most important issues for the business and its stakeholders in 2014.

Some of the issues raised in the report include harm reduction, sustainable agriculture and farmer livelihoods as well as corporate behaviour. These have clear commitments to research and development as well as promotion of a range of less risky alternatives to regular cigarettes and working to enable prosperous livelihoods for all farmers who supply tobacco leaf. This is in addition

to operating to the highest standards of corporate conduct and transparency. “The concept of shared value, for us, is ensuring mutual benefits for our shareholders and society, while also underpinning the company’s whole approach to sustainability,” said Durante.

British American Tobacco has a long history of focusing on sustainability. The company has made significant progress in that time, which is reflected by the Group’s inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the last 13 years, 12 of which have been as industry leader.

The report highlights issues that include its leading role in innovative nicotine product licensed as a medicine, publication of the Group’s new human rights policy, detailing its commitments to eliminating child labour, no exploitation of labour and respect for freedom of association, the Group’s youth smoking prevention activities and publication of new principles for engagement as part of the Group’s commitment to transparency and integrity in lobbying.

Other key highlights of the report include: investing more than £65 million each year in providing on-

the-ground advice and support for over 100,000 contracted farmers worldwide, helping them to build successful, profitable businesses; achieving a 45 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from 2,000 baseline and a 24 percent reduction in water use from 2007 baseline; and more than £50 million invested each year in the fight against the tobacco black market – a trade that cheats governments out of an estimated £30 billion

each year in taxes, puts consumers at risk and actively markets and sells tobacco products to children.

Durante said: “These areas are not only where we face some of our biggest challenges, but also where I see the greatest opportunities.

They can add value to society, as well as helping to ensure we deliver our Group strategy and BAT continues to grow and thrive in the long term.”

HIRTEENAfricans rec ognised as Young Glo bal Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF) are to benefit from the Dangote Fellowship instituted by the Dangote Foundation.

The African youngsters were part of the 187 young leaders from 66 countries honored for leadership and service to society by the WEF. The Dangote Fellowship, created by the WEF and Aliko Dangote, President/ Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group, was designed to increase the quality and quantity of young African leaders across the continent by supporting the engagement of African YGLs in the community, such as those from small enterprises or the non-business sector.

The Fellowship helps YGLs from Africa attend YGL and World Economic Forum events and funds the organisation of an YGL Africa Education Module.

Dangote said the institution of the fellowship award was his own way of contribution to the intellectual development of exceptional young people of African descent.

The YGLs come from diverse backgrounds and bring a range of expertise to the community from across the world. Over 50 per cent of the new intake are women, half come from the private sector and half from the public sector, including academia, arts and culture, civil society, government, media and not-for-profit organissations.

According to John Dutton, Director and Head of the

Young Global Leaders Community at the World Economic Forum, “The World Economic Forum has announced the leaders under 40 who are shaping the future of industry and society. About half of the new class of Young Global Leaders (YGLs) come from emerging economies with 17 from sub-Saharan Africa.

The list of YGLs has a strong representation from women leaders and is split 50-50 between business and nonprofit sectors (academia, arts and culture, civil society, policy and government, media and social entrepreneurs)”.

The class of 2015 joins a community which has been growing in significance since it began 10 years ago.

Current and former YGLs include 11 heads of state and government, 10 heads of Fortune 500 companies, 15 UN Goodwill Ambassadors, six Guinness World Record holders, four Oscar winners, three Olympic gold medalists, two Nobel Prize winners and an astronaut.

He said: “The YGLs include the world’s most pioneering, next-generation leaders who have developed in their journey to produce positive, tangible impacts in their countries, industries and societies. The class of 2015, together with the community over the past 10 years, shows how the future of business and public leadership is becoming more geographically diverse, more varied in its expertise, more genderequal, and is challenging established ways to get things done.”

Winners in Indomie promo get ipads, others

I

NDOMIE manufactured

by Dufil Prima Foods Ltd has given out 100 Iiged in the just concluded Indomitable Sticker Promo.

Other prizes given include 20,000 goody bags, 30,000 comic books and several other prizes. The promo which started late last year, witnessed huge participation

from all across the country.

For the Indomitable Sticker Promo, participants were required to flash a particular code embedded in every Indomie pack.

Once a participant flashed that code, the phone number is automatically saved in a database. Phone numbers are then ran-

domly selected from the database for winners to emerge.

Its Brand Manager, Mr. Amber Yadav, said the motivation for the Indomitable Sticker promo was essentially to put smiles on the faces of consumers by giving them the opportunity to win fantastic prizes.

Manager Public Relations and Events Dufil, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, said the promo was about making consumers happy. His words: “As a brand, there are so many things we have lined up for our consumers.

Indomie will continue to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians”.

General Electric to sell $26.5b property portfolio

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ENERAL Electric (GE) has announced it will sell nearly all of its property portfolio, worth $26.5billiosn, to funds including Wells Fargo and Blackstone.

The sale is the biggest commercial property deal in the

US since 2007.

GE has been retreating from its property investments globally as it focuses on its industrial operations.

Without its properties, the company says it expects its other, “high-value” operations to bring in 90 per cent of earn-

ings by 2018.

The plan allows GE to buy back nearly two billion of its outstanding shares. A further $4billion of commercial real estate assets will be sold to other buyers.

GE said it hoped the divestment would make it a “sim-

pler, more valuable” company.

Chairman Jeff Immelt said: “This is a major step in our strategy to focus GE around its competitive advantages.”

The US-based company’s operations include energy management, aviation and transportation.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

ISSUES

Post-election: Equities, financial indicators rally The financial services sector is on the upbeat, following the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as the President-elect in the March 28 election. In this report, Capital Market Editor, TAOFIK SALAKO and Senior Finance Correspondent, COLLINS NWEZE look at the underlying trends across the markets.

N

IGERIAN equities are riding on the momentum of the successful conduct of the general elec-

tions. In the past eight trading session since March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections, equities have traded on the upside for six days, with two days of profit-taking discounted by another surge in demand for Nigerian equities.

Against the background of negative average year-to-date return of -11.81 per cent on March 27- eve of the presidential and national assembly elections, Nigerian equities opened today with a modest positive average year-to-date return of 0.8 per cent. Over the past eight trading sessions, Nigerian equities have retained capital gains of more than N1.58 trillion, in spite of the profit-taking that momentarily slowed down the stock market last week.

With the successful conduct of the presidential election and emergence of Buhari as president-elect, the negative sentiments and depreciation haunting Nigerian equities gave way to optimism and scramble for quoted equities. As indications emerged on Monday, March 30 that the March 28 general elections were largely peaceful and credible, and the opposition candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was leading, investors upped demand for Nigerian equities. Quoted equities’ capitalisation, which opened the week at N10.319 trillion, closed Monday at N10.494 trillion. The eventual announcement of Buhari as the presidentelect and the concession of defeat by President Goodluck Jonathan spurred the bullish rally.

Market data released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that the announcement of the presidential election triggered a massive bullish run that saw the largest gain by Nigerian equities this year. Nigerian stock market is dominated by foreign investors, who account for almost two-thirds of total transactions.

Buhari had built his campaign on resolution of three core issues of corruption, insecurity and economic • Rail cargo transport underdevelopment.

Aggregate market value of all quoted equities closed the four-day week ended April 2 at N12.135 trillion as against the week’s opening value of N10.319 trillion, representing an increase of N1.82 trillion. The benchmark index for the Nigerian stock market, the All Share Index (ASI), also jumped by almost six steps to close at 35,728.12 points as against its opening index of 30,562.93 points. The ASI, a valuebased index, tracks the prices of all quoted companies and it is thus directly related to market sentiments. The stock market had sustained consecutive upswing, rising from N10.494 trillion on Monday to N10.718 trillion on Tuesday and N11.621 trillion and N12.135 trillion on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. The market performance was driven by increased demand for equities as turnover rose consecutively during the four trading sessions.

Investors staked N1.84 billion on 196.26 million shares in 3,638 deals on Monday and increased this to N5.05 billion for 379.45 million shares in 4,138 deals on Tuesday. By Wednesday, turnover stood at N10.94 billion for 881.58 million shares in 4,611 deals. Turnover peaked at N18.75 billion on 1.17 billion shares in 9,006 deals on Thursday. Friday, April 3, was declared a public holiday in commemoration of Good Friday.

All key indices at the NSE have shown widespread positive sentiments, with most equities recording their highest gains so far this year. The renewed optimism helped the Nigerian market to reverse its dragging negative average-year-to-date return to positive, with modest average year-to-date gain of 3.09 per cent in the first week. By the close of trading on April 2, the ASI indicated average week-on-week

gain of 16.90 per cent. The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalised stocks, indicated higher weekly gain of 17.91 per cent. The NSE Banking Index recorded the highest gain of 23.97 per cent, reflecting the scramble for banking stocks. The NSE Oil and Gas Index, NSE Industrial Goods Index, NSE Consumer Goods Index and NSE Insurance Index recorded average weekly gain of 16.42 per cent, 13.62 per cent, 15.14 per cent and 3.46 per cent respectively. The NSE Lotus Islamic Index, which tracks ethical stocks on the basis of Islamic rules, also rose by 14.30 per cent.

Altogether, turnover within the first four days surged above average to 2.63 billion shares worth N36.58 billion in 21, 393 deals.

The financial sector, driven by banking stocks, remained the dominant sector with a turnover of 2.06 billion shares valued at N21.06 billion traded in 12,133 deals; representing 78.1 per cent and 57.6 per cent of the total turnover volume and value respectively. The conglomerates sector was the second most active sector with a turnover of 178.25 million shares worth N2.352 billion in 1,493 deals while the consumer goods sector placed third with a turnover of 118.96 million shares worth N5.59 billion in 2,816 deals.

With the N1.8 trillion gains in the first four days, the market opened last week with a tinge of bearishness induced by profit-taking transactions from investors seeking to monetise their capital gains. Aggregate market capitalisation of all quoted companies, which opened last week at N12.135 trillion,

‘

closed the first trading session lower at N11.868 trillion. By Wednesday, the market value dipped to N11.608 trillion. The market however resumed the bullish run on Thursday with the market rising by N155 billion to close at N11.763 trillion. The market further consolidated the uptrend on Friday with a gain of N140 billion to close at N11.903 trillion. The ASI also started the week, dropping from its opening index of 35,728.12 points to close at 34,941.79 points.

It dropped further to 34,175.24 points on Wednesday. However, the ASI picked up to 34,520.14 points on Thursday and rallied further to 34,930.02 points at the weekend.

Market activity also remained above average last week. The market opened the week with a turnover of 581.77 million shares valued at N8.31 billion in 7,587 deals. It rose to 704.06 million shares valued at N4.66 billion in 6,742 deals on Wednesday. Market turnover dipped to 601.18 million shares worth N4.17 billion in 5,724 on Thursday. Ahead of the April 11 State election, the expectant market railed on Friday with a turnover of 1.62 billion shares valued at N8.05 billion in 6,783 deals.

Major foreign and Nigerian investment firms have placed “buy” on several Nigerian stocks, a reference to the reduction in the political risk and the attractiveness of Nigerian equities, most of which had been undervalued by sustained depreciation over the past 15 months. Exotix, a global investment firm, described the successful conduct

‘The renewed optimism helped the market to reverse its dragging negative average-year-to-date return to positive, with modest average year-todate gain of 3.09 per cent in the first week’

’

of the election and the emergence of Buhari as “unprecedented positive”.

“A broadly effective voter card system, largely peaceful voting days, generally orderly announcement of results, concession of defeat and most importantly, the win for the opposition candidate, comprise a remarkable, unprecedented and positive presidential election in Nigeria,” Exotix stated.

The firm noted that some macro level concerns which have driven Nigeria to underperform all major frontier markets have thus been removed. Exotix subsequently raised its recommendation for Nigerian stocks, especially banking and consumer goods companies.

“In contrast to the public apprehension that preceded the March 28 elections, the generally peaceful conducts of the Presidential election and the attendant acceptance of the outcome by major political parties has significantly doused political tensions and lifted investors’ confidence.

The Nigerian equity market rallied 12.2 per cent in two days after President Jonathan conceded defeat, while yields were pressured downwards in the fixed income market as investors hunted for bargains,” Afrinvest Securities, an investment firm at the stock market, noted in a review at the weekend.

Analysts at Afrinvest Securities pointed out that the market will continue to draw on the positive sentiments that have characterised the elections. Analysts expected the momentum in the equities market to strengthen in the coming week on the anticipation that events in the polity will stabilise.

“As the curtain however finally draws on the cyclical election phase, we expect investors to further re-price risks in the Nigerian economy and financial markets, discounting for political risks. Consequently, we expect a bullish capital mar• Continued on page 30

30

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

ISSUES

Post-election: Equities, financial indicators rally •Continued from page 29

ket next week, similar to the one witnessed after the presidential election,” Afrinvest Securities stated.

Market analysts said the bullish rally might help Nigeria to reverse its negative foreign portfolio investment (FPI) position.

The latest FPI report by the NSE had indicated that there was “significant increase in foreign portfolio investment outflow”.

The report showed that nearly three-quarters of the transactions on the stock market were done by foreign investors during the period, highlighting the dominant negative trend orchestrated by the foreign divestments.

The report, based on the latest available data for the period ended February 2015, showed that foreign portfolio investment outlook had so far been negative, with yearto-date deficit of more than N32 billion.

According to the NSE, foreign outflows totaled N81.60 billion in February 2015 as against inflow of N52.35 billion, indicating a significant increase on the downtrend that started the year when foreign portfolio outflow was N51.08 billion against inflow of N48.03 billion.

Year-to-date, total foreign inflow stood at N100.38 billion compared with outflow of N132.68 billion, representing net deficit of N32.3 billion. The report had underlined concerns that foreign investors were downsizing their portfolios. Nigeria recorded negative net foreign portfolio position of N154.14 billion in 2014 as against a positive net position of a modest N20.48 billion in 2013.

The latest report also showed continued dominance of the foreign investors in the Nigerian market with foreign transactions accounting for 72.61 per cent of total transactions in February compared with 27.39 per cent contributed by domestic investors.

Foreign investors had contributed 52.24 per cent while Nigerian investors accounted for 47.76 per cent in January. Altogether, the proportion of foreign transactions to domestic transactions so far this year stood at 62.28 per cent and 37.72 per cent respectively.

The NSE report is generally regarded as a credible gauge of foreign portfolio investments in Nigeria as it coordinates data from nearly all active investment bankers and stockbrokers. Nigeria presently operates a mono stock exchange, which makes the NSE the sole gateway to the nation’s stock market and the NSE’s benchmark indices, the country indices for Nigeria.

The NSE report used two key indicatorsinflow and outflow, to gauge foreign investors’ mood and participation in the stock market as a barometer for the economy. Foreign portfolio investment outflow includes sales transactions or liquidation of equity portfolio investments through the stock market while inflow includes purchase transactions on the NSE. The 12-month foreign portfolio investment report for 2014 had shown that foreign portfolio outflow was N846.53 billion as against inflow of N692.39 billion in 2014, representing a net deficit of N154.14 billion. In 2013, total foreign inflow stood at N531.26 trillion compared with outflow of N510.78 trillion, leaving a positive balance of N20.48 billion.

The report showed a notable spike in foreign transactions, although the negative colouration indicated that the propensity was towards divestment rather than investment. Total foreign transactions rose by 52.5 per cent to N1.54 trillion in 2014 as against N1.01 trillion in 2013.

The money market and foreign exchange market have also shown considerable upbeat since the presidential election. For the first time in many years, the official and parallel market rates for the Naira closed together at the weekend at N197 to dollar.

The naira firmed more than six per cent on parallel market as individuals who had stockpiled dollars to hedge against political risk because of the general elections sold off their holdings, black market dealers said.

The naira firmed to N197 against the dollar on the parallel market operated by bureau de change (BDC) agents, the same level

• CBN Gover, Godwin Emefiele

• CEO, NSE, Oscar Onyema

• Ag. DG SEC, Mounir Gwarzo

as the interbank market, from N210 naira last Thursday.

A BDC operator Mohammed Abdul explained that dollar demand has fallen to record low, as many travelers who left for fear of political crisis are returning, when the feared violence and instability did not materialise.

“There are too many dollars in the market with no naira,” one black market dealer told Reuters, adding that he had bought dollars as low as N226 just before the elections.

Analysts said the black market rally will be welcome relief to the central bank, which had been spending billions of dollars to keep the currency on an even keel. As of the end of last month, foreign reserves had dropped by a third to below $30 billion.

Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Bola Adesola, said the Bankers Committee, the group of banks in Ni• Adesina geria, wants stability in the forex market and has met all legitimate demand in the market. She said that actions so far taken by the apex bank has led to the stability and convergence in the forex market between the interbank rate and parallel market rate.

Adesola also said that some of the speculative demand in the market has disappeared leading to the stability currently enjoyed. She said that the CBN is not a vending machine for forex, and therefore is not the only source by which users access the fund. She said that aside the official market, customers can also access the forex from international oil companies, and from bureau de change operators.

The Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Emeka Emuwa said the Committee is also working on cutting the limit of naira debit card from $150,000 downwards when they are used abroad. This, he said would reduce the volume of forex that used by account holders, and channel same to the real sector of the economy.

“The naira debit cards used abroad is putting a drain on forex that should be used in funding industries. Cutting the limit on this card will help the CBN in conserving forex,” he said.

move. It’s a tricky proposition,” Claudia Calich, a money manager at M&G Ltd. in London, which oversees about $1 billion of emerging-market assets, said.

The naira has slumped 18 per cent against the dollar as oil prices collapsed by almost half since June, prompting the apex bank lower banks’ trading limits and introduce a new dealing system in February that prevents lenders from buying dollars on the interbank market without matching orders from customers needing to import goods.

The CBN also sold dollars to support the naira, cutting foreign-exchange reserves to $29.8 billion, the lowest in a decade, according to HSBC Holdings Plc. Those measures have left the currency overvalued, according to investors including M&G, BlackRock Inc. and Investec Asset Management.

“One of the first big challenges the new government’s going to have to face is what on earth to do with the naira,” Samuel Vecht, who oversees $2.7 billion in five emerging-frontier-market funds at BlackRock, said by phone from London on Wednesday. “Steps have to be taken to ensure reserves don’t keep falling.”

Yields on Nigeria’s $500 million of Eurobonds due 2023 fell 19 basis points to 6.02 per cent on, the lowest since December 8, and rates on benchmark naira bonds dropped 118 basis points to 13.81 percent, also the lowest since Dec. 8.

While naira forward contracts, traded offshore and exempt from the central bank’s restrictions, also rallied, they still suggest the currency’s depreciation is far from over.

Naira six-month non-deliverable forwards fell 2.8 per cent to 233.50 against the dollar, the lowest since January 22.

The currency changes hands among unofficial money changers at 226, Alan Cameron, an economist at Exotix Partners LLP in London, said in a March 19 note.

The naira’s current interbank value is appropriate and the discrepancy between that and the parallel rate isn’t an indication that it’s under pressure, Emefiele had said at the last Monetary Policy Committee meeting on March 23 to 24.

The CBN may end the so-called orderbased trading system introduced in February now elections are over, according to the Lagos-based Financial Markets Dealers Association, an industry body.

Sub-Saharan Africa Economist at Renaissance Capital and co-author of the Fastest Billion Yvonne Mhango said the CBN has shown absolute commitment to dealing with dwindling fortune of the naira.

She said that while Nigeria cannot do much to influence the oil price, the combi-

nation of measures sends a powerful signal to all stakeholders on the CBN’s intent to do what it can to preserve macroeconomic stability.

Meanwhile, investors including Morgan Stanley, Aberdeen Asset Management Plc and Landesbank Berlin Investment GmbH cut their local bond holdings in the last quarter of 2014 as the price of crude oil, Nigeria’s main export and source of more than two thirds of government revenue, fell by 37 percent during the period.

While naira government debt offers the highest yields among 31 developing nations tracked by Bloomberg, foreign investors have to factor in the increasing risk of a currency devaluation that will hurt returns when converted to dollars.

However, most analysts agreed that the financial markets will still contend with the tough macroeconomic variables as the new government struggles to build on weak earnings and poor public infrastructure.

“Political risks have diminished but the other risks are still in place: a very low oil price and pressure on the naira,” Lutz Roehmeyer, who oversees Landesbank Berlin’s $1.1 billion emerging-markets debt portfolio, said. “You can still expect devaluation. I see a lot of local-currency investors waiting for that to happen before they re-enter Nigeria.”

Afrinvest Securities also noted that notwithstanding the current optimism, the continuous decline in the level of external reserves, low oil prices and fiscal challenges remain a drawback on investor sentiments.

Head, Research and Investment Advisory, Sterling Capital Markets, Sewa Wusu, investors would still wait to gauge the policy direction and economic management ability of the incoming government before making long-term commitments that can stimulate sustained stability in the financial markets.

He said while the share price trend would enable several companies to reduce their undervaluation, government will still need to do more to enhance investors’ confidence.

According to him, the medium to long term post-election performance depends largely on government policies, the quality of the economic management team and the general direction of governance.

“What the market is reacting to now is the success and credibility of the election and the president-elect. But companies will still tarry a while to look at direction of government policies,” Wusu said.

Managing Director, Finawell Capital Limited, Mr. Tunde Oyekunle, said the stability of the economy and resolution of major challenges such as power and insecurity would positively impact the capital market and provide a long-term support for the recovery of the primary market. Analysts agreed that such sustained mediumto-long-term stability will bolster the lackluster primary market, providing the economy with the much-needed funds to drive long-term growth.

But, nearly everyone agreed on the pointthat Nigeria has started on a journey of hopes.

Trading restrictions Analysts at Bloomberg predicted the naira would face the prospect of a sell-off when the CBN removes trading restrictions imposed last year to reduce volatility. But the question for investors wanting to get back into Nigerian assets is when that will happen.

“If you buy local bonds now you have to factor in how much the currency will

‘

‘The Nigerian equity market rallied 12.2 per cent in two days after President Jonathan conceded defeat, while yields were pressured downwards in the fixed income market as investors hunted for bargains’

’

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

31

MONEYLINK

Interbank rates rise on N72b cash withdrawal

P

LANS by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to withdraw about N72 billion from commercial lenders to enforce its cash reserves requirements (CRR) have induced an upsurge in inter bank rate.

The measure is in line with the apex bank’s policy to maintain its current Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR). The CBN requires commercial lenders to set aside 75 per cent of public sector and 15 per cent of private sector deposits in cash in their respective accounts with the regulator. The CRR

Stories by Collins Nweze

is a portion of banks’ deposit kept with the CBN as regulatory requirement.

This has led to overnight lending rates rising sharply on Friday to 27 per cent from 10.25 per cent following a scramble for funds as lenders sought to meet a CBN’s CRR requirement, making demand for funds very high in anticipation of the CRR debit this week.

A dealer said he expects the market to be tight next week, while rates should hover around 25 per cent

until central bank repays some matured Treasury bills.

Also, the apex bank at the weekend, raised N183.64 billion in Treasury bills with yields falling compared with the previous sale last month.

The lender said Treasury bill yields fell in tandem with declining yields on fixed assets on renewed investor interest in the local debt market after a peaceful presidential election in Africa’s biggest economy and most populous country.

It raised N20.15 billion in the three-month debt at 10.5 per cent at

the auction held on Wednesday compared with 10.69 per cent at the March 25 auction.

The bank also sold a total of N33.49 billion worth of the sixmonth paper at 14.1 percent, lower than 14.55 percent at the previous auction.

The bank raised N130 billion of the one-year note at 14.15 per cent, down from 14.85 per cent at the last auction. Investors - mostly domestic banks and pension funds - submitted bids worth a total of N433.13 billion against N297.06 billion at last month’s auction.

Union Bank deploys ‘Oracle Flexcube’ to lenges and customers should underNION Bank of Nigeria Plc (UBN) has deployed the boost operations stand this; but is for their own long term benefit; because we would have Oracle Flexcube Universal

U

Banking Solution 12.0, a new core banking application introduced to modernise its infrastructure, improve operating efficiency and customer service delivery.

The latest version of Oracle Flexcube was deployed by the lender as the single operating platform for its countrywide network.

The bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Emeka Emuwa said the new platform is in line with the bank’s goal of becoming a highly respected provider of quality banking services within six areas of focus. He said the lender is focusing on quality of customers experience, quality of client base, quality of talent, quality of banking platform, quality of professional standards and quality of the banks’ earnings.

Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the bank, Yomi Akinade said with the new platform, the lender would be enhancing and standardising its operations across the country by leveraging on the capabilities of the new technology. “We will have a

common operating platform in our extensive network of over 320 branches across Nigeria,” he said.

Akinade said the software, already deployed, puts lender at the top with this state of the art technology.

He said since the bank embarked on restructuring in 2010; his team has implemented well over 70 technology projects. “There are three key areas on the over 70 technology projects, which include: improving customers’ services, securing customers and the bank’s data as well improving our productivity as an institution,” he affirmed.

He disclosed that during the time of the upgrade, customers and the general public may experience some challenges, but measures have been put in place to ensure continuous seamless service delivery in case of disruptions during implementation.

“As you well know, when you go live with a major massive complex project like this, there would be teething issues. So, there are chal-

a much more superior service offering when the system runs fully,” he added.

He affirmed that the bank is trying to bring all of its third party applications up in the earliest possible time, when over 90 per cent of those applications would be working.

He listed some of the challenges being experienced with the current system as the maintenance of multiple servers in branches, constant need for system enhancement when a new field is required on the system.

According to Akinade, others are income leakage since some charges and new products could not be automated or configured, customer mandate maintained on third party applications instead of the core banking application, complexity in report generation, audit trail on maintenances and issue of account replication from the retail to the corporate modules are some of the challenges with the old version.

•CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

Western Union signs payment pact with Skype

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ESTERN Union, a global money transfer company, has announced an agreement that allows for Skype customers to replenish their accounts at more than 50,000 Western Union Agent locations throughout the United States.

A report by payments.com said Skype Credit, the payment service that enables calls to mobile and landlines worldwide — as well as text messages to mobile — on the Microsoft-owned video, voice chat and messaging service, is now able to be topped up through the Western Union Quick Collect service.

The service facilitates consumer-to-business payments.

While Skype-to-Skype calls are free, Skype Credit is required to call landline or mobile numbers.

Western Union President for the Americas and European Union, Odilon Almeida, said, “The relationship is a logical one, as both

Western Union and Skype have a mission to connect people when they are apart. Western Union is optimising its money transfer system to link cash and digital for money movement and payments across the globe. We are driving our innovation on the back of what our customers want. Skype is a classic example; where customers can enjoy full digital access with a walk-in payment option.”

Director of Business Development at Microsoft, Enrico Noseda, said: “Through Skype, Western Union customers can stay in touch with loved ones to let them know about money transfers and share everyday experiences,” said.

Western Union’s Skype partnership comes just a few weeks after it announced a new partnership with Hyperwallet, and a few months after Western Union announced it would accept Apple Pay at several flagship locations.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

134.67 36,760.55 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,780.11 1,045.43 120.13 1.67 1.1978 1.3117 0.7319 1.1349

134.12 36,760.55 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,780.11 1,045.43 119.45 1.62 1.1912 0.7203 0.7203 1.1349

SYMBOL

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

CHANGE

BETAGLAS OANDO FCMB SKYEBANK NPFMCRFBK SEPLAT NB NAHCO DANGFLOUR GUINNESS

23.69 15.75 3.37 2.50 1.00 370.00 155.98 5.84 4.67 133.46

26.11 17.00 3.61 2.64 1.05 338.50 163.76 6.13 4.90 140.00

10.22 7.94 7.12 5.60 5.00 5.00 4.99 4.97 4.93 4.90

LOSERS AS AT 07-04-15

O/PRICE

C/PRICE

PRESCO CHAMPION INTBREW INTENEGINS WAPIC CONSTINSURE CAVERTON UNILEVER NEM FIDELITYBK AIICO

28.50 8.15 20.58 0.53 0.55 0.89 3.00 43.00 0.69 2.07 1.02

26.70 7.76 19.65 0.51 0.53 0.86 2.90 41.72 0.67 2.02 1.00

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) April 1, 2015

Inflation: Febraury

8.4%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

$33.2b

Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$60.91

CHANGE -6.32 -4.79 -4.52 -3.77 -3.64 -3.37 -3.33 -2.98 -2.90 -2.42 -1.96

Interbank ($/N)

197.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

210.00

$1

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR)

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 07-04-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

March 31

April 1

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Transaction Dates

Statistics 10 March 20 Feb All Share Index 34,282.04 Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) 9,770.36 Deals 3,385 Volume (mn) 564,28 Value (NGN’mn) 6,087.80

29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

Feb. 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

Amount

Amount

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Offered in ($)

Sold in ($)

03/02/2015

500m

499.93m

3/12/2014

400m

399.97m

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

1/12/2014

350m

349.96m

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

32

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

EQUITIES NIGERIAN STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-04-14

DAILY SUMMARY AS AT 10-04-14

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

33

EQUITIES

Share reconstruction: Unity Bank to cancel 105.2b shares

U

NITY Bank Plc will reduce its outstanding shares by some 105.2 billion ordinary shares under the ongoing share capital reconstruction. The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will today place Unity Bank on full suspension to facilitate the share reconstruction.

The shares of Unity Bank will be placed on full suspension throughout this week, implying that there will be no transaction on the stock during the period.

A regulatory filing obtained at the weekend indicated that Unity Bank will issue one new share in replacement for 10 shares already

•NSE places stock on full suspension

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

held by the shareholder.

Unity Bank currently has total outstanding shares of 116.89 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

With the one-for-10 exchange ratio, the bank will have 11.69 billion ordinary shares by the end of the share restructuring, cancelling about 105.2 billion ordinary shares.

Normal transaction in the shares of Unity Bank is expected to resume on Monday, April 20, 2015.

Market analysts said the share

reconstruction would enable the bank to consolidate its recovery and hasten the accretion of returns to shareholders.

Unity Bank had made a remarkable turnaround in 2014 as the commercial bank returned to the green with a pre-tax profit of about N14 billion. Against the background of loss before tax of N33.64 billion in 2013, Unity Bank rode on the back of improved capital base, growing top-line and better cost efficiency to record a full-year profit before tax of N13.64 billion.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of the bank for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed that gross earnings rose from N62.83 billion in 2013 to N77.07 billion in 2014. Interest income had grown from N52.2 billion in 2013 to N62.64 billion in 2014 while net interest income rose from N30.14 billion to N45.45 billion. Fee and commission income stood at N10.71 billion in 2014 as against N7.33 billion in 2013. Other incomes totaled N3.72 billion in 2014 compared with N3.30 billion in 2013.

After taxes, net profit stood at

N10.69 billion in 2014 compared with net loss after tax of N22.58 billion in 2013. Earnings per share thus turned positive with a modest 17.45 kobo in 2014 in contrast with loss per share of 58.74 kobo recorded in previous year.

The balance sheet of the bank also firmed up substantially. Total assets rose to N413.31 billion in 2014 as against N403.63 billion in 2013.

Total liabilities meanwhile dropped from N375.42 billion in 2013 to N337.04 billion in 2014.

Shareholders’ funds closed 2014 at N76.26 billion as against N28.21 billion in 2013.

Learn Africa optimistic on future earnings •Declares N93m dividend

L

EARN Africa Plc is optimistic that it strategies will lead to quantum leap in sales and considerable improvement in profitability in the business year.

Managing Director, Learn Africa Plc, Mr. Segun Oladipo, said the performance of the company was hindered in 2014 by the violence in the Northeastern part of the country and myriad of macroeconomic challenges.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of Learn Africa for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed that pleased turnover dropped marginally to N2.21 billion in 2014 as against N2.28 billion in 2013. Profit after tax however halved from N100.13 million to N58.68 million.

Oladipo said the performance of the company was affected by the security challenges in the North Eastern part of the country, which prevented the company from securing orders from states in the region, which are now preoccupied with spending huge sums on security matters. He said the security challenges also hindered the company from pushing its products widely as its sales and marketing team was confined to the safe areas.

He however noted that the company was able to grow open market sales to schools and booksellers by 27 per cent in 2014 in line with one of its corporate objectives to reduce dependence on patronage by government ministries, departments and agencies.

He pointed out that the outbreak of Ebola epidemic adversely affected the company’s operations because of the closure of schools for several weeks, which coincided with the sales season when the company usually get orders from bookshops and schools.

He outlined that the recurring issue of book piracy also made it difficult for the company to fully harness the potentials in its market as the pirates have become more daring in the distribution of illegal copies of widely recommended titles across the country.

According to him, the company also had to contend with the high inflation rate, strong and persistent pressure on the disposable income of an average Nigerian family, remarkable increases in the prices of imported raw materials and the poor reading culture in this country.

Oladipo noted that in spite of all the challenges that we encountered in 2014, the company was able to achieve a profit after tax of N58.6m and has proposed a dividend of 12 kobo, representing gross dividend of N92.6 million.

“As part of the measures to achieve a quantum leap in sales figures during the current financial year, we have introduced new product lines into the market. We feel confident that the release of these

products will enable us to compete effectively, increase our market share significantly and sustain our reputation as market leaders in the industry,” Oladipo said.

He added that the management has also been examining other cost containment measures to reduce overheads and run the operations of the company more efficiently.

“We are optimistic that the end year result for 2015 will reflect a very significant improvement on last year’s performance. Our position is based on the premium quality of our learning resources, our extensive and aggressive promotions, the wide sales and distribution network, competitive prices and greater operational efficiencies,” Oladipo assured.

•Managing Director, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Nnamdi Okafor, presenting a plaque to Mrs, Abosede Kazeem, Managing Director, Tanimola Pharmacy Limited, at the Customers Forum of May & Baker in Lagos.

Shareholders approve Africa Prudential Registrars’ N700m dividends A FRICA Prudential Registrars (APR) Plc would today distribute N700 million as cash dividends to shareholders following the approval of the dividend recommendation at the annual general meeting of the company.

APR, Nigeria’s first and only share registration company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), would pay a dividend per share of 35 kobo to all shareholders. The payment of the dividend will be made on April 10, 2015 to all shareholders on the register of members of the company as at the qualifying date of Tuesday, March

17, 2015.

Addressing shareholders at the meeting, chairman, Africa Prudential Registrars (APR) Plc, Chief Eniola Fadayomi said that APR’s dividend policy aims at rewarding shareholders by increasing their wealth, consistently.

She noted that though market performance in the first half of the year showed momentary positive runs, the second half was far less impressive, pointing out that in spite of the inclement operating environment, the company re-

corded significant gains when compared to the previous year.

Managing director, Africa Prudential Registrars (APR) Plc, Mr. Peter Ashade, reassured that the company remains true to her goal of becoming the leading and dominant provider of share registration services in Africa.

“As a result, our focus for the year will be to continue to profitably grow our businesses while providing our clients and stakeholders with appropriate alternative solutions. We will strive to manage our

operating costs by optimizing our processes while concurrently improving the level of service delivery to our clients,” Ashade said.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of the company showed steady growths in all key performance indicators. Gross earnings rose from N1.85 billion in 2013 to N2.11 billion in 2014. Profit before tax also rose from N1.21 billion to N1.30 billion. After taxes, net profit stood at N1.22 billion in 2014 as against N914.46 million in 2013.

Earnings per share showed corresponding increase from 46 kobo in 2013 to 61 kobo in 2014.

May & Baker records improved earnings

M

AY & Baker Nigeria Plc recorded impressive growths in the top-line and bottomline in 2014 as latest earnings report showed that the leading healthcare company has begun to overcome the challenges associated with building and depreciating its world class pharmaceutical plant.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of May & Baker Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2014 released yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed that turnover rose by 10.2 per cent while the company replaced its loss position with profit.

Group turnover rose to N7 billion in 2014 as against N6.3 billion recorded in 2013. Gross profit also rose by 13.2 per cent from N2.3 billion to N2.6 billion. Profit before tax stood at N101.1 million in 2014 compared with a pre-tax loss of N11.4 million in 2013. After taxes, net profit was modest at N63 million as against net loss of N103 million recorded in 2013.

The report indicated that cost containment and efficient resource utilisation were responsible for the rebound. The company reduced fi-

nancing charges, distribution, sales and marketing expenses to optimize the top-line growth and return the bottom-line to the positive side.

Operational profitability rose by 16.2 per cent while sales and marketing expenses dropped by three per cent. Finance costs also dropped by 4.2 per cent. However, finance cost still remains a challenge to the company.

It should be recalled that May & Baker had raised her capacity to produce more products with the construction of the world class pharmaceutical centre known as the PharmaCentre located in Ota, Ogun State. The facility has raised May & Baker’s production capacity by over 60 per cent.

However, the company got under pressure from financing charges and depreciation allowances as a result of its new pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, which was financed largely by loans during the 20082009 capital market recession.

Finance costs rose by 34.3 per cent to N630.71 million in 2013 compared with N469.63 million in 2012, while the company provided about N240 million annually in 2013 and 2014

out of its gross profit for the depreciation of the new pharmaceutical facility with monthly depreciation average of N19.8 million. Depreciation on the new plant started in second quarter of 2012.

The Pharma Centre is a mega investment in the pharmaceutical sector targeted at making Nigeria one of the leading producers of quality medicines in the world. It is one of the few Nigerian pharmaceutical facilities that were recently certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). The PharmaCentre is currently undergoing the process of WHO pre-qualification for its specific products.

In a recent interview with The Nation, Managing Director, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okafor, said the company will consolidate its performance in the years ahead.

According to him, with the completion and stability of the new factory, which is now running well, management’s focus has shifted to how to optimise the potential of the new factory to generate returns for shareholders.

“Just on its own, we are going to get a lot of returns from that facility going forward because the output is getting better, the efficiency of the processes is improving, and with that we believe the products should be coming out at a lower cost unit as we do more volumes and our margins will also get better. But beyond that, we have taken a look at our products portfolio and we are repositioning the company in a way that we put emphasis on those products that are not what everybody is doing in the market. Those products surely will give us better returns,” Okafor said.

He said The Pharma-Centre as a centre of excellence would soon begin to do specialised products that will have better margins and will lead to higher profits for the company.

He noted that with the WHO certification, the company has been getting a lot of enquiries from multinational companies abroad which want to manufacture on contract basis from that facility, and some Nigerian companies that want quality products; wanting to do their products from the Pharma-Centre.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

34

Taxation

Taxation: The Swivel of the economy (2) The Nigerian Tax System HE Nigerian tax system has undergone significant changes in recent times. The tax laws are being reviewed with the aim of repealing obsolete provisions and simplifying the main ones. Taxation in Nigeria is within the administrative purview of the three tiers of government, i.e. federal, state, and local governments as stated in the constitution, with each having its tax space delineated by the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act. In pursuing a vibrant tax fiscal policy, the Nigerian government has since 2002 embarked on series of tax reforms at the federal level. Beginning with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Establishment Act, 2007, the drive has been on institutional reforms and modernisation of the Nigerian tax system at the federal level.

These reform efforts cut across tax policies, tax laws and tax administration.

Tax Policies Tax policies are general statements of procedure, which guide the thinking and action of all concerned towards the realization of the stated tax objectives. The tax policies of Nigeria are to: a) pursue a low tax regime which aims at reducing individual tax burden and thereby encouraging savings and investments; b) move from the traditional coercive method of taxation to voluntary compliance; c) engage in taxpayer education through public enlightenment; d) deliberate movement of emphasis from income tax to consumption tax which is less prone to tax evasion; e) introduce self-assessment to encourage taxpayers participation in the tax assessment process which is more realistic in approach and democratic in nature; and f) reduce tax evasion and avoidance using the due process of law and the mechanism of an efficient tax administration.

T

In an effort to consolidate and achieve the objectives above, the Federal Inland Revenue Service collaborated with the Ministry of Finance and the Joint Tax Board to launch the National Tax Policy in 2012. The National Tax Policy is a document that will revolutionize the Nigerian tax system and place it at par with global practice. It is a big step in the modernization of the Nigerian tax system and provides a firm basis for tax legislation and improve the efficiency of tax administration by laying down guidelines and regulations. It also enhances the climate for doing business in the country.

Tax Laws The various legal instruments put in place to ensure the realization of the tax policy objectives of the government have also been undergoing series of reviews and amendments. The notable ones are: PITA CAP P8 LFN 2004 (as Amended in 2011), Transfer Pricing Regulations, 2012, and currently, the redrafting of all tax laws in plain English which is on-going.

Tax Administration There has been a repositioning of tax administration system ranging from tax campaigns, automation of processes, to entrenching a vibrant tax refund mechanism.

The Integrated Tax Administration System, ITAS is the biggest of the repositioning efforts. It is a revolutionary tax administration system that will ease tax payment as well as administration.

ITAS is designed to increase revenue yield on a phenomenal scale. It is to be implemented with the Standard Integrated Government Tax Administration (SIGTAS) software solution- a solution designed to meet the needs of developing countries that wish to increase their control over state revenue. The specific objectives of ITAS is

to make operations faster, increase voluntary compliance, increase revenue generated for national development and improve the efficiency and skills competence of employees in the FIRS. Overall taxation as a concept should be viewed as a pivot, if not the pivot of economic development and the platform upon which fiscal policies are developed and implemented. In this regard, expenditure being the other plank of fiscal policy must always be tied to revenue and, given the general consensus that expenditure should as much as possible be based on available and sustainable resources, taxation provides the best option for achieving this harmony between revenue and expenditure especially in developing countries. In this way, taxation would play a key - if not the central role in sustaining fiscal policy in any economy.

It is therefore pertinent to look at the objectives of fiscal policy with a view to analyzing how taxation impacts these objectives and helps to attain them. By and large, fiscal policy in Nigeria is focused on addressing the major developmental challenges of providing revenue for sustainable expenditure and also ensuring that expenditure is productive i.e. channeled towards areas, which will in turn stimulate growth and development in the economy and provide additional avenues for raising revenue through taxation. Some of the ways in which taxation has impacted fiscal policy in Nigeria include: Taxation of resource revenue to develop other sectors of the economy: Nigeria has a significant source of resource wealth, such as oil, gas and natural and solid minerals. Although resource wealth is usually easier to realize in the short term, it is generally not viewed as a sustainable source of revenue. It can however be used as a platform for developing other sustainable sources of revenue by utilizing revenue from such areas to stimulate growth and production in other areas of the economy, which are more stable and sustainable than resource wealth. Taxation in this regard, can be used to raise higher revenue from the identified sectors, which is then ploughed back into other areas through a conscious policy which government seeks to develop in the long and short term.

Use of tax revenue for sector focused development:This is closely related to the option above, but different in that, under this option, tax revenue from a particular source is utilized only in a particular area.

This means for example that as fiscal policy, taxes from the oil and gas sector will only be utilized on capital or infrastructural expenditure, while taxes on personal income will be utilized only for recurrent expenditure. In this way, government is able to regulate its expenditure as it can only utilize what is available from the specified source for expenditure. A positive spin-off on this is that it would ultimately lead to improvement in each revenue source as government seeks increased revenue to fund the beneficiary sector.

Use of consumption/indirect taxes to raise revenue and to encourage or discourage consumption: Consumption and indirect taxes such as Value Added Tax (VAT) and other forms of sales tax are usually viewed as a more efficient means of taxation and also as more effective tools for regulating taxpayer behavior. Fiscal policy could therefore be focused on consumption taxes i.e VAT, which have a potentially wider tax base and could be more easily collected and accounted for. Other than raising revenue, consumption taxes could also be used to manage expenditure by government and taxpayers alike, by imposing higher or lower rates on specific items depending on the applicable policy to be implemented.

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Samuel Ogungbesan

Use of tax incentives and special dispensations to attract and retain investments and stimulate growth in a particular sector– Over time, governments, especially in developing nations have had to grant tax incentives to investors in order to encourage such investors to make or retain investment in their economies. Incentives could be sector based or granted on individual basis, although it is preferable that incentives are always sector based and granted on some clearly defined basis rather than to individual companies or investors. Such incentives are effective tools for managing and sustaining fiscal policy, especially where the benefits are carefully monitored and measured to ensure there is an overall positive impact on the economy and on government fiscal policy.

Use of tax policy and legislation to shape fiscal policy: Tax policy and legislation being integral parts of taxation and indeed the major planks on which it rests are key tools, which can be utilized to develop and sustain fiscal policy. Tax policy provides the general framework and guidelines for the tax system, while legislation makes specific rules and regulations for implementation. A combination of the two will put in place a definite framework, which is backed by force of legislation and must be observed by Government. Examples of such policy and legislative directives could include periodic review of tax rates, tax incentives and provision of rules for regular review and amendments of tax laws amongst others.

From the foregoing, it becomes immediately clear that the role of taxation cannot be over-emphasized. Indeed without taxation, there cannot be a fiscal policy, seeing as it is the second of the two legs that constitute fiscal policy. One important thing to note is that, careful and diligent implementation of effective and proactive tax policy can have a measurably beneficial effect on the economy in particular and development in general.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

35

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

• Small business operators at work.

The government has rolled out many intervention programmes to boost the economy. They include the N200 billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme (CACS), N300 billion Power and Aviation Intervention Fund (PAIF) and N200 billion Small and Medium Enterprises Restructuring and Refinancing Facility (SMERRF). If these intervention programmes are well implemented, new jobs will be created for Nigerians, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

N700b intervention funds to create new jobs I

F the Federal Government’s interven tion funds through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are properly channelled and prudently executed across the sectors concerned, they will create millions of direct and indirect jobs.

The government made interventions of N200 billion in the Commercial Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme (CACS), N300 billion in the Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF) and N200 billion in the Small and Medium Enterprises Restructuring and Refinancing Facility (SMERRF). Supporting key sectors of the economy via funding from the N700 billion intervention fund and other facilities extended to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are critical to fixing the the huge army of the unemployed.

Banks have recognised that proper use of the intervention funds will create significant growth potential for the economy and trigger increased job opportunities for Nigerians, especially the youth. Both the CBN and money deposit banks now see the funds as a viable means of building sustainable wealth and keeping the unemployed off the streets.

For the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, the funds are a game changer in tackling the country’s job challenges. The CBN had in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources established the CACS in 2009. The CACS was meant to finance agricultural value chain from inputs supply to marketing. The scheme commenced operations on April 23, 2009 with the approval of the Federal Government. The CACS was meant to fast-track

the development of the agricultural value sector of the economy through the provision of credit facilities at a single digit interest rate to large-scale commercial farmers. The intervention was made in recognition of the number of jobs the agricultural sector can create, from the farm to where the produce are used as raw materials for refined products.

The N300 PAIF was meant to facilitate intervention in the transport sector. It was meant to provide long-term financing that would stimulate private sector participation in the sector. The CBN said the Fund provided the banks a window to finance power sector projects as well as restructure and refinance outstanding facilities in the aviation sector on a long-term basis of about 15 years at a concessionary single digit interest rate of seven per cent.

It said the PAIF helped in relieving the banks of the burden of non-performing loans on their balance sheets and improved the credit rating of the beneficiary institutions, thereby providing them access to additional funds for their operations. As at September 30, 2013, N109.3 billion had been disbursed to 21 firms by 11 banks. The fund, has among others, financed the construction of 125 - kilometre gas-to-power pipeline and the generation of about 800 megawatts (Mw) of power mostly by members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), principally to guarantee stable and reliable power supply and to free supply from the national grid to other electricity users.

The CBN said the intervention would help ensure a reduction in credit defaults in the sector and harness the entrepreneurial skills in the youths and young graduates. The apex

bank said it will through its Anchor-Lending Programme, provide grants and SMES loans to graduates who develop interest in agribusiness. The regulator pledged support for Federal Government’s national development agenda and the objective of growing the economy through new jobs and SMEs. “We affirm our commitment to financial deepening of the economy, improving financial access to key sectors of the economy, innovative solutions for the critical financing of generation, distribution and transmission value chain of the power sector, provide finance for SMEs, as well as the agriculture sector and jobs for the youths,” Emefiele said.

The Executive Director, Ovie Brume Foundation, Mrs. Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, said many suitable graduates are being churned out for jobs that are available, adding that it is important that Nigeria’s educational system is structured in a way that fresh graduates are able to fill vacancies.

On entrepreneurship, Mrs. Akin-Jimoh said: “So, it is even better that people don’t graduate and be looking for white collar jobs. They come out with skills that enable them start their own businesses. So, instead of looking for a job, one can be a job creator. We need people to think more along the line of creating jobs, rather than seeking fo jobs.’’

Banks key into projects Skye Bank, Access Bank, Diamond Bank, First Bank, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Bank of Industry (BoI), Heritage Bank, among others, have intensified new drives to get SMEs off the ground and keep them running. BoI recently signed a memorandum of understand-

ing (MoU) with Ecobank Nigeria to provide loans at low interest rate to the SMEs sub-sector.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive, BoI, Mr. Rasheed Olaoluwa, said Ecobank and nine other banks were selected based on their support to SMEs, adding that the low interest rate will heighten activities in the sub-sector.

According to the MoU, the 10 banks would provide working capital loans to SMEs qualified by the BoI at interest rate of Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) plus six per cent, with tenor ranging from between six and 12 months. The BoI on the other hand would provide Term Loans to the qualified SMEs at interest rate at between nine and 10 per cent with tenor ranging from three to five years, and moratorium of six to 12 months. He said the BoI and SMEfriendly banks will collaborate to provide long-term loans to qualified SMEs based on its risk acceptance criteria set by BoI. The Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi, said the selection of Ecobank by BoI was in recognition of the massive support the bank has offered the sub-sector overtime. He observed that the support has won Ecobank several awards and recognitions in recent times.

He further assured that Ecobank will continue to partner other agencies to develop the sub-sector.

The Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, represented by the Executive Director, Personal Banking, Victor Etuokwu, reiterated the bank’s com•Continued on page 36

36

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

JOBS

N700b intervention funds to create new jobs •Continued from page 35

mitment to financial empowerment for SMEs and the youths in Africa. At the Africa Sustainable CEO Business Roundtable in Lagos, Wigwe said the bank is financing youth entrepreneurs and SMEs in the continent. He said traditional problems such as access to finance, environment and the right knowledge of the society where they operate, were some of the factors affecting youths.

He said the lender has a team that drives and adds value to SMEs in the bank. “What we have done in Access Bank is that we have a team to drive and add values to SMEs. Finance is not the major issue but building capacity, understanding things around. We also have programmes that support women entrepreneurs because we find it interesting working with them,” he said.

Stakeholders An entrepreneur based in Lagos, Monday Okozua, said the SMEs subsector has the capacity to create two-thirds of the jobs needed to tackle unemployment, making the subsector more significant. He said the subsector holds the ace to taming unemployment in the country and, as such, must be made active if the unemployment rate, put at 28 per cent of adults between 18 and 60, is to drop.

“Nigeria must tackle the challenges of infrastructure, especially power and roads, to create new SMEs or keep existing ones in business. There is also the need to create access to market and provide capacity, especially in keeping company financial records,” he said.

The CBN defined SMEs according to two parametres. These are an asset base of between N5 million and N500 million, and a staff strenght of between 11 and 300.

Banks are increasingly becoming interested in the SMEs sector as yields on government

• CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

• Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity Alhaji Kabiru Turaki

securities drop. Equally, the raising of Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) on public sector deposit to 75 per cent from 25 per cent makes SMEs the best place for banks to raise cheap deposits.

The Director, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Pan Atlantic University, Peter Bankole, said if a country wants to develop, it must start taking SMEs’ lending seriously. He said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) survey conducted last year showed that the SMEs sector will continue to play a dominant role in job creation in the economy.

Bankole said the challenge remains that the

majority of SMEs are micro, stressing that the government was trying to move as many as possible from micro to small businesses because that will give better multiplier effects for the economy and create more jobs.

General Manager, IBM Africa, Taiwo Otiti, said SMEs tools help entrepreneurs manage their businesses properly, and in the process, making it attractive for banks to grant them loans and subsequently create jobs. He said SMEs remain the engine of growth for the economy, adding that they are the largest employer of labour within the economy. He said when the SMEs businesses are run well, they will have

the capacity to employ more people.

“Part of the SMEs teaching is how to package their businesses to attract bank loans making it easier for them to create jobs,” he said.

A Lagos-based SMEs Trainer and Facilitator, Chima Maduka, said the subsector constitutes an important vehicle for national development and could integrate a large segment of the populace in productive economic activities. He said the economies of the Asian Tigers or Asian Dragons of the highly free and developed Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, owe their climb to economic pre-eminence largely to the existence of well organised and efficiently run SMEs. He said SMEs remain a vehicle for employment generation and they provide opportunities for entrepreneurial sourcing, training, development and empowerment. Developing nations such as Nigeria are characterised as low income earners by the World Bank, value SMEs for several reasons.

FirstBank is giving SMEs the opportunity to grow their businesses so they can create jobs.

The bank said though the sector has the potential to employ a large portion of the population, lack of support from banks has derailed the sector’s vision.

Diamond Bank reiterated its commitment to supporting small and SMEs to contribute to sustainable economic development. The bank said there was need to empower micro and medium entrepreneurs in areas where there are lack of funds.

Heritage Bank has unveiled plans to provide funding for the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sub- sector of the economy.

At its MSME Clinic in Lagos, its Managing Director, Ifie Sekibo expressed the lender’s commitment to assisting MSMEs to become large organisations that can be quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) in the next three years.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Olsen to take over as CEO LafargeHolcim

T • Olsen

HE Boards of Directors of Lafarge and Holcim have approved the appointment of Eric Olsen as future Chief Executive Officer of LafargeHolcim. He takes over once the merger project is completed.

Olsen is presently Lafarge’s Executive Vice-President, Operations. He has been a member of the Group’s Executive Committee since

2007. Olsen, 51, has dual American and French nationalities. Olsen has an international and extensive experience. He successfully held senior positions in operations and in the fields of finance, human resources and strategy.

Eric Olsen also benefits from a deep experience of driving change linked to the roles he has played in matters of inte-

gration and organisation in multicultu-ral environments.

Commenting on the appointment, Chairman of the Holcim Board and future coChairman of LafargeHolcim, Wolfgang Reitzle, said: “I very much welcome Eric Olsen as future CEO for LafargeHolcim. With his broad international experience and insights in key markets, he is best positioned to

lead the combined company for the benefit of employees, shareholders and customers.

Bruno and I will support Eric Olsen in creating a new joint culture that will be the key driver for our premier competitive position.”

For Lafarge Chairman and CEO, and future LafargeHolcim co-Chairman, Bruno Lafont, “Eric has been proposed as future CEO of

LafargeHolcim both for his personal and professional qualities. He has a deep knowledge of our activities, clients and markets. He is driven, with energy and determination. He is a true leader, with the ability to bring the teams together to drive a strong value creation culture for our shareholders.

I have every confidence in his ability to deliver the synergies announced and ensure the development and the success of LafargeHolcim.”

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Fishing out your dream job: You need a game plan (V)

W

E are presenting the last in the series designed to provide job seeker the road map to nitty-gritty of the tough aspects tackling the job market and making it available for you, no matter where it is.

Job fairs Job fairs are being utilised by an increasing number of recruiters.

They offer a cost-effective and convenient way to contact a large number of candidates in a relatively short them. Job fairs also offer similar benefits to candidates — as long as you know how to work them.

Plan in advance and your job fair visit will be very worthwhile. Be sure to investigate all participating companies in advance. When possible, obtain a list of these companies from fair organisers, and begin to research about six to ten companies that may be of particular interest to you.

In making your decision, consider the type of candidates sought, company location, company reputation, etc. Once you’ve drawn up your list, do some research on these companies at your local library, on

By Olu Oyeniran

the worldwide web, or through directly contacting the company.

Be sure to uncover basic information such as company product and services, company size, etc.

You may even want to explore what the company’s philosophy or approach is. In particular, what they emphasise in their literature.

Write this information obtained on index cards, a notebook, or in a PC file.

Your next step is to check out your own communication tool for the fair, your resume. Be sure to give it a make-over to make sure that it highlights and showcases your skills in a professional and concise way for the job you are seeking.

If it doesn’t, revise it in advance of your visit to the job fair. Now it’s time to put both items together.

For each company that you have researched information on, write down the basic details obtained.

Next to this information, list some skills, qualifications, achievements, or specialised training from your resume that would match the company’s “ideal” candidate. A typical entry in your notebook may look like this:

XXYYZZ Nigeria Plc • Manufacture and sell office products and equipment.

• Lagos-based; • 550 Employees; • Family Owned and Operated with Strong Commitment to Customer Service; • Looking for Sales Professionals; • Five years Outside Sales Experience and an Associate’s Degree in Marketing; and • Worked in retail during school, completed an internship, have strong letters of recommendation for friendliness and courtesy to customers.

As the date for the job fair approaches, check out your logistics.

Make sure that you know where the event is being held, where to park, job fair hours, etc.

Depending on the number of companies scheduled to attend, it’s a good idea to allow yourself at least one and a half hours to talk with prospective employers.

Be sure to dress appropriately for the fair, and bring along 10 to 12 copies of your resume.

Plan on arriving about 45 minutes to one hour after the official

start time.

Look for your targeted companies, did they all show up? How busy are they at the moment? If a recruiter is busy talking to other candidates, look for another targeted company whose table is free.

The trick is to minimise waiting in line, and maximise talking with prospective employers. Be sure to shake hands with the recruiter and introduce yourself Provide them with a copy of your resume to look over, along with your references, or any letters of recommendation you may have.

As they review your resume, describe your background and qualifications. Make this a brief, to the point presentation recapping your skills and abilities.

At this point, the recruiter may have some additional questions about your qualifications and also provide you with information about current job vacancies. Keep your talk concise — your total time spent with a recruiter should not be more than eight to ten minutes.

To wrap up, thank the recruiter for their time, express an interest in a more formal interview in the future, and ask for a business card in order to send a follow-up thank-

you letter.

After you’ve talked with the recruiters of your “targeted” companies, talk with other employer representatives if time allows. By doing so, you can often uncover information about certain companies and jobs that you were unaware of prior to the job fair.

Finally, make one last tour of the area before you leave, and stop by the tables of any recruiters who had been especially helpful or interested if your background.

Reintroduce yourself remind them of your earlier meeting, and reiterate your interest in scheduling to meet with them at a later date.

Visit a local job fair and interview with at least five companies and collect at least 10 business cards.

However, I will say that you do not put too much stock into this strategy.

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates.

He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

37

THE CEO All over the world, the manufacturing sector plays significant roles in growing the economy and providing employment for the youth. In Nigeria, the majority of the factories have been shut while churches have taken over the factories. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) says commercial banks are not doing enough to help manufacturers. Its President, Dr. Frank Jacobs, accuses the Bank of Industry (BoI) of restricting itself to the finance of machinery acquisition. In this interview with TOBA AGBOOLA, Jacobs urges President-elect Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to address the nation’s fiscal outlook through the effective implementation of sound economic policies and blockade of fiscal leakages when his administration is inaugurated.

W

HAT is your assessment of the manufacturing sector in the last one year?

The manufacturing sector has progressed in the last one year. This is in spite of the daunting economic challenges the sector encountered. For instance, the manufacturing sector experienced a boost, particularly, through the gross domestic product (GDP) rebasing. The sector’s contribution to the GDP stood at 9.2 per cent. Also, manufacturing real output growth remains at 21.8 per cent. Manufacturing is growing strongly, in spite of the power deficit.The manufacturing sector is a much bigger, faster-growing sector under the new series. In 2013, it recorded substantial growth of 22 per cent (as against 14 per cent in 2012), comprising onethird of total growth. Food, beverage and tobacco producers account for half of the manufacturing sector. The sub-sector’s growth accelerated to 12 per cent in 2013, against seven per cent in 2012. The sector maintained its level of confidence in the operators since the second quarter of last year despite numerous challenges occasioned by erratic power supply, logistics, finance, infrastructure as well as government policies. So, really, the sector has not done badly.

What is the capacity utilisation rate in industries now?

It is at an average of 52 per cent. It is pertinent to note that efforts made up till today to improve capacity utilisation are at the operators’ cost through self-provision of power at higher cost, a situation that has made the end products uncompetitive. Aside from losses that arise from power cuts or outages leading to enormous wastages in terms of raw materials and finished products, process and machines’ life span are distorted. The implication of this is additional and frequent cost of maintenance on factories. However, the sector remains the engine room of growth for the economy. From our records, there was an increase in manufacturing capacity utilisation from 46.3 per cent recorded in the first half of 2013 to 52.7 per cent. At the end of 2013, the manufacturing production value was estimated at about N483.53 billion, while about N353.2 billion was estimated at the end of first half of the year. This is a huge increase over our 2012 result, when the manufacturing production value was estimated at about N218.64 billion. From the survey of factories activities conducted from January-June 2014, the production value was estimated at about N270.86 billion, which is less than the figure recorded for the same period in 2013.

What are the major challenges of the sector?

The major challenge is inadequate supply and exorbitant cost of electricity. Energy cost constitutes about 40 per cent of production cost. This is the reason Nigerian products are not competitive. For instance, the average number of power outage per day across MAN industrial zones in 2014 is five times, while that of a number of hours electricity is supplied per day is six hours in 2014. Over the years, the sector has been greatly constrained - with high energy cost which is affecting productivity and profitability of investments. These challenges resulted in a decrease in sales/turn-over and margins across the manufacturing sub-sector and rare cases of expansion, diversification and new employment while importation of technical skills required by the industry affected the bottom line.

However, it is pleasing to report that our interactions with the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is also producing desired results. The monthly fixed charge vide a recent memo of NERC has been reduced by a margin of between 17 and 50 per cent depending on the distribution company (DISCO) area that service your facility. In fact, members experiencing continuos or cummulative power outages for a period of fifteen days in a month are no longer liable to pay the monthly fixed service charge.

‘Banks hostile to funding manufacturing’

• Jacobs

Another problem is multiple taxation. When taxes are harmonised, illegal taxes will be eliminated, cases of multiplicity will be addressed, our production cost will reduce, our products will be globally competitive, enforcement will be cheaper, compliance rate will increase enormously and government will enjoy steady revenue.

Another major challenge faced by the manufacturing sector in the course of the year include insecurity in most parts of the North and few spots in the South, which impeded turn-over and distribution throughout the year, raising cost of production due to high cost of capital and alternative source of power, increasing cost of la-

bour due to scarcity of required skills, new minimum wage legislation and unabated influx of finished consumer goods as well as substandard products into the country.

Are the banks doing enough for the sector?

•Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

38

THE CEO

‘Banks hostile to funding manufacturing’ •Continued from page 37

Well, commercial banks are not manufacturing friendly as their interest rates are usually very high; therefore, commercial banks remain a major challenge to the sector. Even the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) framework, which pegs interest rate at nine per cent, only finances machinery acquisition; it does not cater for working capital. However, we are pleased with the BoI funding of machinery, even though there is a need for improvement.

It is in this regard that we welcome the Development Bank of Nigeria and hope it will deliver on its mandate. May I also inform you that in response to the recent CBN policy on foreign exchange bidding affecting our members, a letter was forwarded to the CBN Governor to allow our members have access to foreign exchange for import of all inputs required for manufacturing. An appointment has also been scheduled to pay an advocacy visit to CBN as a follow up.

How will you rate credit facilities to the sector by banks?

Below expectation. The issue of funding remains a challenge to the manufacturing sector. The current situation where manufacturers pay double digit interest rate is not manufacturing-friendly. For instance, last year, bank lending rate averaged 22.5 per cent. At a high

lending rate of 22.5 per cent, definitely there is a credit challenge in the sector.

What is the way out for operators in this sector?

Manufacturing in Nigeria needs significant attention of the government to continue to move forward.

The government should continue to engage in dialogue with manufacturers on policy issues and implementation. For instance, the effect of the low capacity along with other factors, has led to current policies that are favourable to the manufacturing sector and should be sustained. Such policies include the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), and government position on ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). We also called for the diversification of the economy because any country that is largely dependent on a single source of revenue runs the risk of operating an economy that is dictated by external market forces.

What is the impact of devaluation of naira and high exchange rate on manufacturing?

Manufacturing in Nigeria depends on foreign exchange to thrive since large proportion of raw materials used in the sector is imported. For instance, last year, based on the outcome of bi-annual

‘MAN is expectant that the Buhari government will as, a matter of urgency, honour all outstanding obligations on Export Expansion Grant (EEG) to rekindle the motivation for export oriented industrialisation and comprehensively review the EEG in a way that will further promote exports. We will appreciate a reduction in the electricity fixed charge from N110,000 to N25,000 for all categories of companies and streamline electricity tariff to reflect the actual consumption’

• Jacobs

survey of MAN, an average of 53.53 per cent of raw materials in the sector are imported. By implication, the devaluation of the naira will lead to high input cost in the sector.

What are the success factors of manufacturing or entrepreneurship in Nigeria?

Well, the environment is not yet business friendly, but I think it is improving; we will get there.

However, to be successful in business in the country, tenacity and perseverance are important. Planning and understanding the dynamics of the macro-economy are also prerequisite to the success of a manufacturing business in Nigeria.

Unemployment is threatening the nation. How can it be tackled?

Nothing happens in a vacuum; the high unemployment rate in the country is as a result of economic imbalances in Nigeria. For instance, the economy lacks necessary diversification platforms that could create jobs; the manufacturing sector that should generate more employment is still challenged by poor infrastructure, among other constraints. If these challenges and constraints are addressed adequately, the manufacturing sector would be able to contribute more to employment generation.

So, what is the future of the manufacturing sector?

The future of the manufacturing sector remains bright considering its huge potential. All the indices of the sector have been positive and increasing up to 2014. The future will continue to remain bright if the government continues to support the sector with appropriate policies and address infrastructure deficit.

What are your expectations from the new government taking off on May 29, 2015?

With a new government, it will be somehow difficult to predict the movement of the entire economy.

For the manufacturing sector however, we are optimistic. We expect a mutual relationship with the new government. MAN is expectant that the government will as a matter of urgency, honour all outstanding obligations on Export Expansion Grant (EEG) to rekindle the motivation for export oriented industrialisation and comprehensively review the EEG in a way that will further promote exports. We will appreciate a reduction in the electricity fixed charge from N110,000 to N25,000 for all categories of companies and streamline electricity tariff to reflect the actual consumption by the industries to drive further improvement in power supply. We want the incoming government to facilitate adequate local sourcing of low pour fuel oil (LPFO), especially for supply at reasonable price to industries operating in areas without gas network. We also want the government to deepen the on-going efforts geared towards further diversification of the economy and consolidate the transformation in the Agriculture and Solid Minerals and other sectors. It would be of immense benefit to all, if the Buhari administration can continue with the development in the sector.

Nigeria as giant of Africa would, in short time, reclaim her position, if the new administration can put manufacturing and industrialisation in the front burner. One of the major programmes is the NIRP, which is the bedrock of a new industrial revolution within the country, it should be highly implemented. We urge the president to put adequate policies in place that

• Jacobs

‘There are many youths willing to work, especially in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which is the engine of growth.

So, this sector, as well as the multinational companies, should be provided with the enabling environment. If the new government can work more on the implementation of the existing policies and programmes, the nation will move forward and more jobs would be created’ would encourage massive manufacturing, as most graduates have even resorted to manufacturing and agriculture due to lack of jobs.

There are many youths willing to work, especially in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which is the engine of growth. So, this sector, as well as the multinational companies, should be provided with a more enabling environment. If the new government can work more on the implementation of the existing policies and programmes, the nation will move forward and more jobs would be created. The remaining part of the yet-to-be-disbursed N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Fund should be given urgent attention to empower SMEs. How would you assess efforts by government to diversify revenue sources for the country?

Government has been doing well in this regard; although there is still room for improvement. The policies and agenda in this regard are quite commendable. The agricultural agenda; the Automobile Industry Policy (AIP); Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB); the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), among others, are catalysts to economic diversification.

What is your take on faking and counterfeiting?

The manufacturing sector in Nigeria has been under the siege of fake and counterfeited products for some years. In fact, Nigerian manufacturers are now big victims of large-scale product adulteration, faking and counterfeiting of established local brands, increasing incidence of smuggling, dumping, illegal, importation of unregis-

tered products, under-invoicing and considerable evasion of duty payments. All these undermine the sector and its export potentials and erode the revenue base of the nation. A cursory look at the Nigerian case has shown that unfriendly countries subsidise fakes and counterfeits, which are dumped into Nigeria to kill local initiative, create unemployment and increase poverty level. Fake, counterfeit, smuggled and dumped products have practically displaced local brands in the domestic market.

Consequently, MAN recommends that the government should impose heavy sanctions/penalty on shipping companies guilty of collusion to ship goods or falsify shipping manifests, investigate the role of banks in funding fakes, counterfeits and smuggling and strengthen the inspection system of the CBN to detect dubious fund transfers and sanction offenders.

Also, a special task force involving MAN should be established in the Presidency to monitor trade malpractices in the country.This will formulate recommendations to the government through NAFDAC, SON and other regulatory agencies on how to eliminate smuggling, diversion from Export Processing Zone, EPZ, under-invoicing, importation of unregistered products and erroneous approval of illegally imported products. The government should create an enabling environment that will empower appropriate agencies to effectively monitor, follow up and track manufacturers and distributors of fake and counterfeit or dumped products in order to identify means of eliminating such practices.

39

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

BUSINESS

MOTORING

Unveiled: New Dodge Grand Caravan • Dodge Grand Caravan

The 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan is a culmination of everything most minivan buyers want. With plenty of engine power combined with reasonable fuel economy and instant disappearing second-row seating, the minivan is a family hauler and all things-to-all-people caravan writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency reports.

A

LL manner of vehicles, particularly the ever-growing “crossover” class, purport to be family-oriented, but if you have either a lot of family or a lot of cargo to consistently move from place to place, it’s still almost impossible to beat a minivan. And in many respects it’s hard to beat the originator of the genre, Dodge’s allthings-to-all-people Grand Caravan.

Chrysler long had a rather confusing array of minivan models from both its Dodge and Chrysler brands, but buying one is much simpler now that each brand’s lineup has been pared to a single model.

For many drivers simply doing the weekly school run and grocery-store duties, the Grand Caravan’s shortcomings may not even be noticeable. But longer trips likely will reveal that the Dodge people mover doesn’t ride as compliantly as its Japanese competitors, nor are its engine and transmission as smooth or silent. There is a little more road and wind noise, too, although once again, this is conspicuous more at highway speeds than around town. The Dodge Grand Caravan (DGC’s) cabin finishes also aren’t quite up to the competition’s standards in a few places.

These are small flaws, certainly, but they show up nonetheless when comparing the DGC to its well-executed rivals such as the 2015 Honda Odyssey and 2015 Toyota Sienna.

Both of these popular choices have fine engines, nicely appointed cabins and excellent road manners. The Sienna can also handle up to a total of eight occupants, where the Grand Caravan’s limit is seven. Slightly rarer though no less worth your consideration is the 2015 Nissan Quest, nor should you overlook Kia’s fully redesigned 2015 Sedona this year.

As there is a rich pool of strong entries, we recommend thoroughly considering all the

choices for a minivan. But given that a wellequipped Caravan is generally less expensive than the competition, that advantage could be the ultimate deciding factor in the Dodge’s favour.

Body Styles The 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan is a sevenpassenger minivan offered in six trim levels: American Value Package (AVP), SE, SE Plus, SXT, SXT Plus and R/T. The bargain priced AVP trim has a reasonably solid standard equipment list: 17-inch steel wheels; heated mirrors; power locks, mirrors and front windows; dual-zone airconditioning; a second-row reclining/folding/removable bench seat; an overhead console; a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel; a conversation mirror and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack.

The SE adds rear privacy glass, tri-zone climate control (with rear air-conditioning), second-row captain’s chairs with the Stow ‘n Go fold-into-the-floor feature, a front floor console and a six-speaker audio system.

The SE Plus gets body-color heated side mirrors, special upholstery and trim, an overhead console and power windows for the second and third rows.

The SXT adds alloy wheels, roof rails, power rear windows and a larger floor console. Moving to the SXT also brings a power liftgate and power sliding rear doors as well as access to certain optional equipment and packages, including a rearview camera and a Blu-ray DVD rear-seat entertainment system.

For the SXT Plus, you get the SXT’s standard equipment along with the U-connect hands-free group (which also includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, voice command capability, an autodimming rearview mirror, steering-wheel

audio controls and satellite radio) and an eight-way power driver seat Top of the line for the 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan is the R/T. It incorporates all of the standard equipment of the other three trim levels, plus 17-inch alloy wheels with special tires, a body-colored grille, a performance-tuned suspension, remote engine start, automatic headlights, foglights, black interior accents, unique interior lighting, tri-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather first- and second-row seats, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar adjustment), a rear overhead console, a trip computer, a 115-volt power outlet, a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone connectivity and an upgraded nine-speaker audio system with satellite radio and a USB port.

For the midlevel SE and SXT, a singleDVD entertainment bundle is available. It adds the R/T’s standard touchscreen and audio system along with a 9-inch secondrow display screen and an HDMI input. The SXT Plus and R/T can also be outfitted with a Dual DVD/Blu-ray Entertainment package that boasts 9-inch screens for the second and third rows as well as the touchscreen display.

Performance There is a single engine for all versions of the Grand Caravan: a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels.

In Edmunds testing, a Grand Caravan accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8 seconds, an average time for a minivan. Its EPA-estimated fuel economy is a combined 20 mpg (17 city/25 highway). The combined rating for competitors is a bit better, with the Honda Odyssey achieving a 22 mpg com-

bined rating and the front-drive Toyota Sienna earning a 21 mpg combined rating.

Safety Standard safety features for the Grand Caravan include stability control, antilock disc brakes, active front head restraints, a driver knee airbag, front seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Optional features in the Safety Sphere Group — available only for the Grand Caravan R/ T—include a blind-spot monitoring system, rear parking and cross-traffic sensors and a rearview camera.

Special Features One will find good outward vision from an upright front-seat position, but some drivers, particularly taller ones, are likely to find the seat placement awkward, mostly because the pedals seem too close to the driver. Gauges are simple and usable. Cabin plastics and other materials, including the cloth seat upholstery, are satisfactory, but the Japanese vans’ interiors manage to look and feel a little more upscale.

It’s hard not to love Dodge’s ultra-useful Stow ‘n Go second-row seats that disappear into the floor with the flick of a lever. The Stow ‘n Go seats are standard for every Grand Caravan except the base AVP model, where they are optional. Transforming from max people-carrying mode to max cargocarrying mode couldn’t be simpler, while the third-row seats fold backward into a deep cargo well, although they demand a few extra strap and lever pulls to make the transition. Luggage space behind the third row is a useful 33 cubic feet, while you can open up a maximum of 143.8 cubic feet, a space similar to most other minivans, by dropping all the rear seats.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

40

MOTORING

BMW out with Gran Turismo, M5 T ALK about sedan, touring, and active hybrid, the Gran Turismo (GT) and M5 sedan are the most advanced BMW 5 series ever.

In addition to impressive elegance and performance, these vehicles also have a range of diverse qualities that make them indispensable in everyday use.

The lines of the BMW 5 series GT makes its attraction very clear, the stylish presence of a sedan combined harmoniously with the sporty elegance of a coupe. This gives the BMW 5 series GT its individual character.

They are impressive on the outside and even more so on the inside. The elegance of the frameless doors is the first indicator of what awaits within:

•BMW 5 series

Stories by Tajudeen Adebanjo

The interior of the BMW 5 series GT treats all passengers to stylishly selected materials, lovingly crafted with plenty of attention to detail.

The uniqueness of the BMW 5 series GT highlights one thing: absolute comfort and surroundings in which you can feel at home whenever you happen to be seated. The centre console is aligned towards the driver.

The glass roof opens up new perspectives. The additional light let in by the roof also highlights the exceptional interior atmosphere of the car. If the sun is too intense, the double floating headliner can be closed electrically.

The BMW 5 series GT is turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-

valve inline-6 with aluminum block and head. It has a direct fuel injection, 182 cu in, 2979 cc, fuel economic advantage and a warranty of 4years and/or 50,000 miles.

As soon as you switch on the ECO PRO Mode, everything is geared towards a greater efficiency and de-

Kia global sales rise in March

K

IA Motors Corporation has announced its March 2015 global sales figures (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) for passenger cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles, recording a total of 269,749 units sold. This figure represents three per cent yearon-year growth compared to the same month last year.

In March, Kia posted year-onyear sales increases in China (11.3 percent growth with 61,431 units sold), the domestic Korean market (8.5 percent growth with 42,305 units sold) and North America (7.9 percent growth with 65,426 units sold).

Cumulatively through the first three months of this year, Kia’s global sales totalled 690,775 units for a year-on-year increase of 0.5 percent. Korea (114,512 units sold), North America (155,659 units sold) and China (166,641 units sold) have seen a 6.0 per cent, 5.8 per cent and 2.0 percent rise in sales, respectively.

Kia’s bestselling model in overseas markets last March was the Bsegment Rio (known as ‘K2’ in China) with 39,934 units sold. The Sportage compact CUV was the second best seller with 38,165 units sold, while the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Forte’ or ‘K3’ in some markets), Optima D-segment sedan and mid-size Sorento CUV followed with 35,698, 22,479 and 19,060 units sold, respectively.

Meanwhile, KIA Motors Nigeria

•Continued from last week

I

TOOK time to interview a few of such people who confessed to me that they did not know how to drive. Some of them are half-baked Drivers while some of them paid between N15,000.00 to N20,000.00 to obtain the Driver Licence as against the official rate of N6,350.00.

About 3 years ago, we were celebrating that Nigerian Driver Licence is being accorded recognition in some European Countries.

But today, reports have shown that there are hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who don’t know how to drive, yet they are proud owners of the genuine new Driver Licence. Are these halfbaked Drivers and untrained holders of Nigerian Driver Licence worthy to be good Ambassadors of Nigeria on the roads of other Nations? If the global recognition is withdrawn, can we blame such Countries?

Even though the last set of old Driver Licence produced by FRSC expired since last year (2014), they are still being used to renew and obtain the new Driver Licence thereby boosting

• Firm appoints dealer in Warri has announced a new partnership with Class Motors Limited in Warri, Delta State to further expand its market and ease access to customers in the country.

KIA has continued to keep pace with consumers’ evolving wants and needs to remain competitive.

The shifting consumer interests and the need to meet their expectations with exceptional service delivery propelled the automobile firm to sign the dealership agreement.

Speaking on the partnership, Kia Motors Nigeria Assistant Vice President, Mr Sanjay Tatpati, said: “This joint venture with Class Motors is an important step in our expansion plans for the Nigerian market. Finding the right partners to work with in satisfying our customers is very vital to us. We are

delighted to work with the experienced team of Class Motors and are confident that our customers and automobile enthusiasts will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this relationship.”

Mr Ben Edoja, Managing Director, Class Motors Limited, said, “Our relationship with Kia Motors Nigeria is in furtherance of our corporate mission to provide customers with quality vehicles and services. We constantly seek ways to exceed our customers’ expectations and we believe this partnership will give us the opportunity to do just that.”

Edoja said the new Kia franchisee will offer full range of Kia vehicles, from the Kia Picanto to the Kia Quoris, wherein the customers will have ease of access and buy their preferred Kia cars.

pending on your individual driving style, this results in a reduction in the fuel consumption of up to 20 percent (according to an internal BMW fuel consumption study).

BMW engines have always been ahead of their time because that has been the core competency of BMW

since 1917. The engines of the BMW 5 series GT provide particularly impressive proof of this. With outstanding performance, spontaneous response and commendably smooth running, it meets the highest standards of cultivated driving comfort.

Rolls-Royce Wraith film out

R

OLLS-Royce Motor Cars has unveiled the new Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’ edition, which made its debute last week at this year’s New York Auto Show, and now available to order for Rolls-Royce customers in Nigeria for a limited time.

Wraith ‘Inspired by Film’ celebrates Rolls-Royce’s long heritage in film, with the pinnacle of automotive luxury taking leading roles in movies since the dawn of film-making, featuring in hits such as Goldfinger (1964), The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964), The Thomas Crowne Affair (1968) and The Great Gatsby (both the 1974 original and its remake in 2013) to name a few.

This limited edition also celebrated the acceptance of the ground-breaking Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Wraith launch film, ‘And the World Stood Still’, into

the BFI (British Film Institute) National Archive, the world’s most significant collection of film and TV. The film, which won a Gold Award at the 26th International Visual Communications Association (IVCA) Awards, caught the attention of the BFI’s Senior Curator for Non-Fiction Films, Patrick Russell, who considered it a striking piece of contemporary cinematography and so decided to accept it into the archive.

“We are delighted to see RollsRoyce’s Wraith launch film enter the BFI’s collection,” Russell said.

“We selected it for preservation as it is an outstanding and awardwinning example of modern corporate promotional filmmaking.

It’s a powerful use of the film medium for product launch purposes, executed with impeccable craftsmanship,” he added.

Hyundai Motor breaks ground for plant in China

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YUNDAI Motor broke ground on its new fourth plant in Changzhou, Hebei Province, last week. Hyundai Motor’s Vice Chairman Euisun Chung, Governor of Hebei Zhang Qingwei, Korean Ambassador to China Jang-soo Kim and other 600 distinguished guests were present at the ground breaking event.

Vice Chairman Chung promised to rewrite the legacy of ‘Hyundai

Speed’ and ‘Hyundai Miracle’ with the Chinese partners by the construction of the plant.

Changzhou Plant, built on 1.92 million square meter site with a floor space of 250,000 square meter, will be a fully equipped plant with press, body, paint and assembly lines, in addition to an engine plant. The construction for Changzhou Plant will be completed at the end of 2016 with ca-

pacity of 200,000 units, producing strategic small cars. Changzhou plant is planned to expand its capacity to 300,000 units in 2018.

Hyundai Motor will establish high-tech automotive manufacturing facilities and know-how to make Changzhou Plant a smart, environment friendly plant. By installing the latest automation facilities in press, body, paint and assembly lines, a flexible produc-

tion system will be in operation.

Also, Changzhou plant will implement recycling system, including recycling gas emission, water and waste discharge.

In addition, Hyundai Motor will break grounds on its Chongqing Plant in the second half of this year to advance into Midwest China, which is expected to surge in demand for cars through government in-land development efforts.

Mass licensing of non-drivers the mass production of fake old Driver Licence for the purpose of processing and obtaining the new Driver Licence whether or not you know how to drive.

Why do some Nigerians and their collaborators (FRSC, VIO, MVAA and the Board of Internal Revenue) derive pleasure in sacrificing lives on Nigeria roads for filthy lucre or selfish interest?

If the Federal Government, the 36 State Governments, Federal Capital Territory, Federal Road Safety Commission, Vehicle Inspection Officers, Motor Vehicle Administration Agencies, Board of Internal Revenue, Driving Schools and other Stakeholders in the processing and production of Driver Licence are truly sincere in promoting safety on Nigeria roads, the following suggestions must be supported, publicized and enforced in all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.

1. The use of old Driver Licence (genuine and fake) to process Driver Licence must be stopped henceforth.

2. Anyone that knows how to

drive (whether he holds the fake or genuine old Driver Licence) must go to Driving School for refresher course and be certificated to process fresh Driver Licence within a period of not more than 4 weeks with all the Candidates and training information captured into the database of FRSC as it obtains for Basic Learners or Freshers.

3. The period for the processing and production of the Temporary Driver Licence should not exceed one week for any Licence Applicant. In addition, only Driving schools should have the right to issue Learner’s permit because they trained the Candidates and they alone can say whether the Candidate is competent to drive on the road or not.

4. The VIO must take every step possible with the support of their State Governments to conduct appropriate Tests for the Driver Licence Applicants before recommending them to FRSC for Capturing.

5. The State MVAA, Board of Internal Revenue or Licensing Authority must desist from placing of-

ficial or personal income generation above the safety of irreparable lives and valuable properties wasting away on the roads every day.

6. The FRSC must structure their website properly to ensure that it blocks every possible loophole which hitherto has promoted Driver Licence racketeering in Nigeria.

7. FRSC must carry all the Stakeholders along in the use of their new internet system as well as ensure early take off and fraud – free or trouble – free operations.

8. All Driving schools must refuse to compromise with the Government Agencies because whatsoever a man or woman sows, he or she shall reap. The law of Karma is still active today.

9. Government Officials, Officials of Government Agencies and other highly placed people must always exhibit Leadership qualities by patronizing and directing their wards to patronize Driving schools and follow the due process for the safety of lives and properties in the country.

10. Driving schools must not

Jide Owatunmise Registrar /Chief Executive, Professional Driving and Safety Academy

compromise their training standards for any reason whatsoever.

11. The Federal Ministry of Transport must ensure the right steps are taken to move Nigeria to the International Standard of administering well Structured Theory and Practical Tests before any Applicant can proceed to the next level of Licence processing.

•To be continue next week

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

43

SHOWBIZ

HOA Polls: Desmond Elliot, Mercury Picture boss win •As Funke Adesiyan concedes defeat

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OLLYWOOD actor and candidate of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Desmond Elliot, has won his election bid to represent Surulere Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Though, official results are yet to be released as at the time of this report, there are indications that the Nollywood star came tops, going by tweets from his party supporters.

Responding to a tweet from @vanguardngrnews, a conservative Elliot wrote, ‘I appreciate you so much.. waiting for an official announcement RT’ He also posted pictures of water being poured on him by supporters in celebratory manner.

The Nollywood star who introduced ‘Olusola’ to his name during his campaign purportedly defeated his closest rival, Bayo Smith, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In the same vein, another entertainment industry personality, Abdullahi Abdulrasheed of Mercury Pictures, who contested for the Kwara State House of Assembly under the APC is also said to

•Water being poured on Desmond Elliot

By Joe Agbro Jr.

have won the election, while actress Funke Adesiyan who contested for Ibadan SouthEast Constituency in Oyo State, under the PDP, lost the bid, and has since conceded defeat.

Adesiyan, Sunday morning, accepted the outcome of the election via naijahottestgist.com, a nota-

ble social media platform, saying, “…I thank everyone for their support and prayers.

Though we didn’t win, yet we didn’t lose. I am a better ME! We live to win another day if we refuse to lose focus and derail. Funke Adesiyan.”

Congratulating the actress for her sportsmanship, Alex Okoroji said, “Well done Funke Adesiyan, I’m very proud of you darling.

Progress isn’t always about winning. It is about growing.

And this process will definitely elevate you to an even better leader. You are a courageous woman and I celebrate you for doing what others can’t - and pursuing your desire to serve. May God’s grace be with you always and may your feet lead you where your heart will be pleased!

Keep the spirit alive.”

Mike Ezuruonye shares social media accounts

I

N a bid to authenticate his social media accounts and prevent his fans from falling into the hands of fraudsters, popular Nollywood actor, Mike Ezuruonye, over the weekend, took to his Instagram to reveal his official accounts.

“Time for fraudsters who pose as me to take a hike,” Ezuruonye wrote. “Am back on Facebook and here are my real/true handles....And now I say to you my friends. Let our communication extend on true grounds and know no impostor.”

In the picture posted by the actor, he is seen carrying a placard which displays the names of his accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Face-

By Joe Agbro Jr.

book. Going by the placard, the actor could be reached via @realmikeezu on Twitter, @mikeezu on Instagram and @mikeezuOfficial on Facebook.

Fraudsters have often laid siege on social media accounts of entertainers.

Yemi Alade’s Instagram account was hacked into recently. Also, Reekado Banks, who is signed to Mavin Records, had someone impersonating his Facebook account recently. The fake Facebook account holder had asked his fans to send their details in order to win some television sets, phones and laptops.

DIFF announces partnership with Berlin

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HE industry development programme for young filmmakers, Talents Durban, in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, will take place from 17 to 21 July as part of the 36th Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) which runs from 16 to 26 July. The DIFF reminds participants to apply for the programme before April 13, 2015.

Forty selected participants from all over Africa will be given a chance to forge relationships with their global counterparts in an intensive programme of seminars, hands-on training, workshops and industry networking activities, as well as having access to hundreds of film screenings at the festival.

“The theme of the programme this year is StartMotion,” says Tiny Mungwe, Project Manager at the DIFF. “At the turn of the 20th century, early filmmakers used stop-motion techniques to bring a sequence of still images to life on screen, astonishing audiences with the fantastical new medium.

Throughout the history of film, new technologies have continued to revolutionize the way we make and watch films.”

“The 8th edition of Talents Durban aims to identify the compelling new voices of emerging African filmmakers and invites them to reinvent the approach to mak-

Tonto Dikeh’s puppy gift

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OG-loving actress, Tonto Dikeh, has presented a gift of a one-month-old puppy to Nollywood filmmaker, Katung Aduwak and his wife.

This gesture came few hours after the filmmaker announced the death of his third dog on Instagram, blaming the mishap on a popular pet store. “@katung_aduwak, I have a gift for your wife.

It can’t replace your loss, but it sure will comfort you and keep Mila close to your heart. He is onemonth and three weeks old. He is a Lasha. His mother is my best friend and 1st dog, Muzik.”

Aduwak appreciated

•Mike Ezuruonye

Skit on Orubebe trends on YouTube

•MC Shakara

T

HE presidential election may have come and gone, but memory of the events leading to the

emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as President-Elect lingers on. One of such was the hugely criticised public conduct of a chieftain

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Godsday Orubebe, when he attempted to stampede the announcement of the results.

The scenario, which has largely rated the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega as having a gentle and matured personality has been replicated in a satirical video, produced by award-winning standup comedian and filmmaker, Ayo Makun, aka A.Y. Interestingly, the skit which depicts all the charac-

ters of the election has recorded over 450,000 views on YouTube ever since it was shared by the comedian last Friday.

A.Y himself plays Jega in the humorous drama, while another comedian, MC Shakara, projected the public ranting of Orubebe. Added to the cast is Naija FM’s Ushbebe who mimicked the sign language interpreter in equally hilarious manner.

The skit also features Seyi Law, Still Ringing, Helen Paul, Funnybone and MC Acapella.

ing films on the continent.” explains Mungwe. “With this, the idea of Start-Motion is born. It is how we bring together the knowledge of traditional practices, combined with the latest techniques, to create momentum for emerging African filmmakers to harness and use to fuel progress in our global society. Furthermore, the approach highlights changes in the current mode of storytelling in Africa, encouraging filmmakers on the continent to share their stories through their own cultural, economic and political lenses.”

With access to screenings throughout the festival and through participating in conversations with experts from around the world, Talents Durban seeks to boost the already rising flow of current filmmaking in Africa. The 8th Talents Durban programme will consist of master classes lead by leading experts in filmmaking, panel discussions by the key industry players, networking opportunities with fellow Talents Durban participants and over 600 delegates of the Durban International Film Festival and Durban FilmMart as well numerous project orientated skills development programmes.

Combined these elements will set off a chain reaction of perpetual motion in the contemporary African film industry that will continue to expand and thrive.

•Tonto Dikeh

By Ovwe Medeme

the actress’ gesture with a reply; “@tontolet there is no wonder why your light shines so bright...I will tell of your goodness on the mountain tops.

You know what it means to have no lose.”

Katung, a former Big Brother Nigeria housemate alleged recently, that a popular pet store is responsible for the death of his dog, Mila. According to Katung, Mila’s death is the third occurrence. He also alleged that the management of the pet store has refused to pick the phone calls made to them by him and his wife.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

BUSINESS NEWS

Stanbic IBTC secures $90m credit from FMO

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TANBIC IBTC Bank has con cluded a $90 million credit fa cility from the FMO (Nederlands eFinancierings M a a t s c h a p p i j v o o r Ontwikkelingslanden N.V).

The purpose of the facility is for Stanbic IBTC Bank to end to small and medium sized companies for the financing of projects in the infrastructure sector, which include agriculture, oil and gas, power, ports, telecoms and others.

The facility which will run for a term of five years was provided to Stanbic IBTC Bank by FMO along with European Financing Partners (EFP) and DEG - Deutsche Investitionsund EntwicklungsgesellschaftmbH).

The primary lender, FMO, is a Dutch development bank that was established in 1970 by the Dutch government, commercial banks, the national employers’ association, labour unions, and private investors, in order to make investments in private sector projects within developing

•Gates ISO certification Stories by Collins Nweze

countries and emerging markets.

FMO is present as a development finance partner in over eighty different developing countries and emerging markets around the world.

The company’s mandate is to provide long term capital for projects in these countries.

Thereby, maximising development impact with a methodology designed to ensure that FMO’s return on investment is not just financial but also has positive environmental and social effects.

The secondary lender, DEG, is a subsidiary of KfW andone of the largest European development finance institutions. For more than 50 years, DEG has been financing and structuring the investments of private companies in developing and emerging market countries.

DEG invests in profitable projects that contribute to sustainable development in all sectors of the economy,

from agribusiness to infrastructure and manufacturing to services.

The financial sector is a further focus in order to facilitate reliable access to investment capital locally.

DEG’s aim is to establish and expand private enterprise structures in developing and emerging countries, and thus create the basis for sustainable economic growth and a lasting improvement in the living conditions of the local population.

The Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni, said the commitment of the lenders shows the confidence they have in the Stanbic IBTC brand. He further emphasised that the facility will enable the bank continue its SME sector growth efforts and move the economy forward.

Linda Broekhuizen, FMO’s CIO commented: “This second facility to Stanbic IBTC Bank is further testimony to the long and good relationship between the Standard Bank Group and FMO. This syndicated loan facility will assist Stanbic IBTC Bank in expanding its leading role in financing of infrastructure develop-

ment and providing long term funding to small and medium sized companies, contributing to job creation in Nigeria.”

Stanbic IBTC Bank has also received the ISO/IEC 27001 Certification. The certification follows an extensive and painstaking standardisation process on information security by the lender.

The ISO/IEC 27001 is an internationally recognized best practice framework for an information security management system, which helps businesses to identify risks to important information while putting in place the appropriate controls to help reduce such risks.

Strategic Delivery Director at British Standards Institution (BSI), Mr. Pietro Foschi, said the lender complied with the requirements of ISO/IEC 27001 certification, which entails development, operations and maintenance of the processes related to services provided and managed by the bank’s Information and Technology (ICT) Department.

Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC

Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni, commended the bank’s team for making the certification possible. He noted that the award is in recognition of the pivotal role of information security management to growth and innovation, which is in turn dependent on having a secure and robust platform that enhances efficiency in service delivery and customer satisfaction.

“We are delighted about the ISO/IEC 27001 certification. We appreciate it as yet another demonstration of our drive to improve service delivery across various channels. Stanbic IBTC will continue to deliver exceptional performances across all segments of the business,” he said.

Among the benefits of the ISO/IEC 27001 certification include identifying risks and putting controls in place to manage or reduce the risks; flexibility in adapting controls to all or selected areas of the business; gaining stakeholder and customer trust via data protection; and demonstrating compliance and gaining status as a preferred institution.

•From left: DCP JB Kokumo of Lagos Police State Command; Executive Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Emeka Okonkwo; Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Kayode Aderanti; Head of Corporate Security and Safety, Union Bank, Sam Agbanusi; Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ken Nwosu and Chienye Ogwo of Corporate Communication, Union Bank Plc at the presentation of Hilux Patrol Vehicle donated to Lagos State Police Command by the bank.

Ecobank M.D. Aku offers investment tips

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HE Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Jibril Aku, has said one of the best ways to grow money is making investments. Aku gave this advice recently while lecturing students of Government Secondary School, Lugbe, Abuja on the topic “Growing Your Money” as part of Global Money Week.

He described investment as something that is purchased with money and expected to produce income or profit, stating that, investing money reduces risk of theft, spending and gives chance for the money to grow.”Generally, investments are broadly divided into ownership (equities) and lending (debt). The higher the risk involved, the higher the return and interest rate; the longer the period of investment, the higher the interest rate,” he said.

The Ecobank boss also took the students through investing in real estate,

precious objects, bonds, mutual funds, adding that “just like you eat good food and take vitamins to protect your body from sickness and allow you grow, you need to protect your money and investments in a similar way by getting insurance.”He explained that “Stocks are securities that allow you become a part-owner of the company whose stocks you purchase.

Examples of stocks are shares. When you buy the shares of a company, you are given a share certificate and entitled to dividends only if the company makes a profit. Shares also allow you to attend the company’s general meetings and sell your shares for capital gains in the stock market when the price of your shares increases.”

He also counselled the students on the need to save money in the bank, noting that “to register with a financial institution, you opened an account and are provided with an account number. The

commercial banks generally offer ordinary savings account; current account; time savings deposit account and foreign exchange deposits.

“The Global Money Week is a global money awareness celebration that takes place between March 10 and 17 every year to engage children globally in learning the concept of savings and investment. The day is being marked to focus attention on children and youth in primary and secondary schools nationwide and to empower them by enhancing their financial knowledge and planning skills. During the period, financial institution chief executive will visit; teach selected students from the schools a module of a Financial Literacy curriculum specially designed

by Junior Achievement Nigeria – a non-governmental organisation focused on educating children about their economic environment.

Bonds yields to fall on vote outcome

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IELDS on Nigerian debt could fall by around 100 basis points next week amid an anticipated surge in demand, while Kenyan Treasury bills are expected to remain steady.Yields on government bonds have fallen sharply since opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari won a peaceful presidential election last week in Africa’s biggest economy. The local Debt Management Office has said it plans to raise 70 billion naira ($352 million) in bonds with maturities ranging between five and 20 years on April 15. Traders said some investors are selling off at the secondary market ahead of the auction to enable them take fresh positions.

“Counterparties expect next week’s auction yields at 15-15.5 percent levels, so they are selling off all the positions they had bought at low levels so they can buy at auction,” a senior dealer said. At the previous auction, the debt office sold the five year paper at 16.49 percent, 10-year at 16.84 percent and the 20-year bond was sold at 16.99 percent.

Sterling Bank to elect directors at AGM

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TERLING Bank Plc will hold its 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday April 30, 2015 in Lagos where the shareholders are expected to elect and re-elect directors of the bank. he bank in a statement signed by the Company Secretary, Mrs. Justina Lewa said the Directors of the bank at the AGM will receive the audited financial statements for the year ended 31st December, 2014, together with the reports of the directors, auditors and the audit committee; declare a dividend; elect/re-elect directors; approve the remuneration of the directors; authorize the directors to fix the remuneration of the auditors and elect members of the audit committee.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts of the bank for the year ended December 31, 2014 released last week at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed appreciable growth in all key performance indices, sustaining the strong performance outlook of the lender in spite of industry-wide headwinds.

For instance, Sterling Bank Plc announced gross earnings of N103.7 billion and a profit before tax of N10.7 billion, an increase of 13 percent and 15.4 percent over its 2013 figures respectively.

Major highlights showed that net interest income leapt by 20.1 per cent to N43.0 billion in 2014 as against N35.8 billion recorded in 2013. This was driven mainly by an 11.4 per cent growth in interest income to N77.9

billion, which far outweighed the 2.2 per cent increase in funding costs to N34.9 billion. This underlined the increasing cost efficiency of the lender as cost of funds dropped from 6.1 per cent in 2013 to 5.3 percent in 2014. Similarly, non-interest income grew by 18.3 per cent from N21.8 billion in 2013 to N25.7 billion in 2014. This was boosted by an 82.2 per cent growth in net trading income to N6.8 billion.

The bank continued to strengthen its mid and bottom-line performances as its increasing focus on cost reduction credit risks management and operating efficiency cushioned macro headwinds and retained value for shareholders. Net operating income rode on the back of growth in net interest income and a 10.5 per cent reduction in impairment charges to N61.4 billion in 2014, an increase of 24.4 per cent on N49.3 billion recorded in 2013. While the Bank recorded a profit before of N10.7 billion it’s profit after tax increased by 8.8 per cent to N9 billion.

The bank’s balance sheet also emerged stronger. Net loans and advances increased by 15.4 per cent to N371.2 billion in 2014 compared with N321.7 billion in 2013. Customer deposits rose by 15 per cent to N655.9 billion as against N570.5 billion while shareholders’ funds increased by 33.5 per cent from N63.5 billion to N84.7 billion. Total assets closed 2014 at N824.5 billion, representing an increase of 16.5 per cent on N707.8 billion recorded in 2013.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

45

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

DOWN

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

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

SUDOKU To play the game, simply fill in the missing numbers in the grid such that every row, column and 2 by 3 box contains the numbers 1-6.

SANDS OF TIME GARY COLEMAN

PERSONALITY MAZE Solve the puzzle by providing alternative words to the clues below.

Each letter of your word has a place in the grid as indicated by the numbers beside the clues.

1.

9

2

8

3

7

CLUES Press (1,9,5,6,7) Roof (2,8,3,4)

4

5

6

Your answer will unfold an appendage of the photo inset

Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, voice artist, and comedian, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in Diff’rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as “one of television’s most promising stars”.

Without a doubt Gary Coleman was THE child TV star of the late 1970s and early 1980s. A refreshingly confident little tyke with sparkling dark, saucer-like eyes and an ingratiating, take-on-anyone burst of personality, the boy charmed the pants right off of TV viewers the minute he was glimpsed in national commercials. Amazed by how mature he came across, Gary was in truth older than he looked, which was brought upon by a congenital kidney condition. Sadly, the pint-sized phenomena outgrew his chubby-cheeked welcome and found the course of his grown-up Hollywood career brutally rough and patchy.

In addition to his life-long health issues, Gary’s adult problems came in the form of scattered financial and legal entanglements, as well as scrapes with the law. He was once arrested in 1999 for punching a persistent female autograph fan, in which he was fined and ordered to take anger-management classes. He also had many disorderly conduct and reckless driving charges brought up against him at various times. He would admit that the tally of his life problems led to more than a few feigned suicide attempts In 1989, Coleman successfully sued his adopted parents and business manager after they allegedly pilfered his youthful fortune for their own self interest totaling $3.8 million in losses, and he won $1,280,000. Despite the large settlement, all of the money was soon spent on taxes, legal fees,

Pep Talk

CROSS NUMBER Find the correct numbers to fill in the missing spaces in the grid to ensure that vertical numbers total to figures below, horizontal numbers total figures on the right while diagonal numbers total figures on top and bottom right

COLEMAN CONT’D as well as his increasingly high medical bills for his continuing dialysis treatments.

In 2007, he married the much younger actress Shannon Price, whom he met on the set of the low budget film Church Ball (2006), but the quickly marriage dissolved quickly into domestic squabbles that put him in front of the court system yet again on domestic abuse charges Filed for bankruptcy in 1999. In order to earn money, he worked as a security guard.

As a gag, he ran for California’s 2003 governorship during its recall election.

The fragile condition of his health coupled with this lack of adult career acceptance, sparked an aggressively defensive behavior mechanism in his adult years and led to great personal unhappiness, chronic legal/financial hassles and early death.

The brain hemorrhage that eventually led to his death, was a result of a fall at his home in Utah (on May 26th) that put him into a coma. His ex-wife Shannon Price, who was with him at his home at the time of the fall, made the 911 call. It was also Price who eventually made the decision to take Coleman off life support.

“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things”. - Thomas S. Monson

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

46

With ekpoita :funtreatsvilla@yahoo.com / 08077706130

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

DOWN

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

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

SANTA PUZZLE Find alternative words to the clues below and fill them in their spaces in the grid.The answer to the first word on the grid “ORICK” has 4 letters which should be placed in their spaces in the grid being 1,8,6, and 15 as shown besie the word. The star word, an 11letter word denoting the yuletide will be revealed when done .

1

Story of the Christmas Tree

9

10

11

POETRY

The Legend of Christmas Tree

2

8

3

7 4

5

6

Just how powerful a symbol is the Christmas tree?

Any Christmas tree, given the right kind of attention, can be perfect, and even humble things take on exalted meaning in the eyes of Christ.

“The First Christmas Tree”Did you know that an • oak was the inspiration for the first Christmas tree? In this informative story, we learn how an eighth-century monk named Boniface chopped down an oak tree to prove an important religious point, and ended up viewing a small fir sapling as a miracle.

• “The First Christmas Tree Lights”Ever wonder about the origin of Christmas tree lights? This story tells how Martin Luther changed the Christmas tree tradition with the addition of lights, the result of his frightening walk through the dark woods. It reveals the fascinating fact that Christmas trees were originally hung upside down, without lights.

• “The Perfect Tree”This delightful story is told from the perspective of a small, unremarkable tree that worries whether it will be suitable for Christmas. Through the inspired care of a family, it fills the bill perfectly. Try reading this uplifting tale to a child — it will teach him or her some valuable lessons about caring for others.

• “The Tale of Three Trees”What if Christmas trees could talk? What would they say? In this profound Christmas tale, three trees have grandiose hopes for their wood after they’re harvested, and all three are disappointed — temporarily. Eventually, they all play meaningful roles in the life of Jesus Christ. Make this inspirational story part of your family’s Christmas tradition.

• “O Christmas Tree” The brief on Christmas Tree Stories ends here with the story about a “special” Christmas tree everyone thought was too small. Read ‘O Christmas Tree’ to find out how this special tree turned into a bright, beautiful spectacle that would remain with one happy family forever.

Pep Talk

Humour * What did Adam say to his wife on the day before Christmas?

Answer:It’s Christmas, Eve! * What for the trumpet of Ken was kept in the freezer?

Answer: Because he loves cool music. * What is the popular carol in Desert?

Answer: Camel ye Faithful. * Why the Christmas tree can’t stand up?

Answer: It doesn’t have legs.

“The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things”. - Thomas S. Monson

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THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL, 13, 2015

NATION SPORT

EUROPEAN... EUROPEAN...EUROPEAN...EUROPEAN...EUROPEAN...

Ancelotti wants revenge against Atletico C

ARLO Ancelotti says Real Madrid's sixgame winless streak against Atletico Madrid this season is providing his team with extra motivation ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Atletico were victorious in both Liga meetings this term – the most recent a 4-0 thrashing in February – and knocked Real out of the Copa Del Rey as well as beating their city rivals in the Supercopa de Espana back in August. Los Blancos' last win over Atletico, in fact, came in last season's Champions League final.

The seventh meeting between the teams in 2014-15 takes place at the Vicente Calderon and Ancelotti is

brimming with confidence after his team kept the pressure on league leaders Barcelona with a 3-0 success over Eibar on Saturday.

"The last results against Atletico give us extra motivation," the Italian coach said.

"We are convinced it will be a different game, but difficult as always when we play Atletico.

"But we are in a good place at the moment, full of motivation for the European competition and we are going to give our best.

"We haven't got any doubts that it will be an intense game. We do know intensity will be an important part of the game, but then there are other things as well which we have to use."

Bayer Leverkusen cancel’s Spahic's contract

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•Ancelotti

Mandzukic fit to face Real Madrid

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ARIO Mandzukic has been passed fit for Atletico Madrid's Champions League home clash with Real Madrid

•Mandzukic

following an ankle injury.

The Croatia international has missed the last two games after coach Diego Simeone revealed he had been suffering with a longstanding injury to his right ankle.

However, the 28-year-old striker trained on Sunday and will be available for Tuesday's quarter-final first leg at the Vicente Calderon.

Atleti are looking to extend their unbeaten run against city rivals Real to seven matches this season, having not tasted defeat in the derby fixtures since last year's Champions League final.

Former Bayern Munich forward Mandzukic has scored twice against Real in that run, including the final goal in February's 4-0 La Liga rout at the Calderon.

Mandzukic has scored 20 goals in 37 games in all competitions for his club

AYER Leverkusen have cancelled Emir Spahic's contract after he headbutted a steward after his side's DFB-Pokal defeat to Bayern Munich.

Following his side's elimination on penalties in the cup competition, Spahic was caught on camera in an altercation with some stewards.

The defender appeared to aim a headbutt at one steward, having previously made a running leap at him and later insisted he was defending his brother, who was allegedly offended by the security team.

The prosecutor's office have since opened an investigation against the centre-back, but the club have acted quickly

•Spahic

Mauri hails great Lazio victory AZIO veteran Stefano Mauri hailed his side’s victory 4-0 victory over Empoli on Sunday, as the Aquile moved into secondplace in Serie A. The 35-year-old now has nine goals in 23 appearances in 2014/15 after providing the opener in another large win for the Biancocelesti, dispatching the Azzurri clinically to condemn the visitors to only their fifth away league defeat all season.

“It was a great victory,

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Torino [who drew 1-1 with Roma] gave us a hand and we are pleased to take secondplace,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

“Early in the season we realised we had a great team with good new signings, then we proved this in recent weeks and have made a great comeback.

Indeed, the Aquile now sit above Roma in the Serie A table with an eight-point gap over fourth-placed Napoli after sealing an eighth straight league.

and terminated his contract.

"Bayer 04 Leverkusen will mutually terminate the current contract of Emir Spahic following the incident after the cup game against Bayern Munich with immediate effect," a statememt read. The club's CEO, Michael Schade, spoke highly of the 34-yearold, but insists the club had "no choice" but to part ways with him.

Allegri: We got it all wrong

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OTTOM-placed Parma inflicted just a second league defeat of the season on Juve and ended a run of 20 unbeaten games.

Jose Mauri's goal was enough for the Gialloblu to make it seven points from their last three games, and 16 for the season, while putting a minor dent in the Bianconeri's hopes of a fourth-straight league title.

Allegri was disappointed with the result and told juventus.com: "It was an important game that would have enabled us to almost wrap up the league and maintain our exact points advantage over Roma and Lazio with eight games remaining.

"We got our approach all wrong. The absent players are no excuse. The fact remains that below-par displays don't win games.

"We didn't win a tackle out there and that tells you a great deal about the spirit

Parma played with. They put in a decent performance, while we were slow and allowed them three or four breaks due to our errors in the second half."

Juve's lead at the top of the table could be cut to 11 points this weekend, although it was clear that their focus had already shifted to a more important midweek appointment, without taking anything away from a deserved victory for beleaguered Parma.

Juventus take on Ligue 1 side Monaco at the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Allegri added: "We didn't take the game to them. Our first-half performance was average and we did nothing after the break, deserving to lose.

"It will be a different game against Monaco, but today Parma was the most important match for us.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL, 13, 2015

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PREMIERSHIP ...PREMIERSHIP ...

NATION SPORT

Coquelin: I knew I'd succeed at Arsenal

RANCIS COQUELIN admits he always knew he'd become a first-team regular at Arsenal.

The 23-year-old has become a mainstay in Arsene Wenger's midfield this year following successful loan spells at Lorient, Freiburg and Charlton.

The former France Under21 midfielder recently signed a new deal at the Emirates after an impressive fun of form, keeping him at the club until 2019.

And after his man of the match performance in the 10 win over Burnley, Coquelin claims he never doubted his ability.

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"I always knew that I could do a job for the team, I just needed a chance to show it," he said. "The loan spell at Charlton really helped me get my confidence up.

"We have been winning games and playing well - we have the FA Cup semi-final coming up as well - we'll just have to see where it all takes us."

On the triumph at Turf Moor, he added: "It was probably one of the hardest victories in this run. Lots of teams have dropped points here and they played direct football, but I think we coped well."

Mignolet tips Origi to settle quickly at Liverpool

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•Coquelin

Ramsey brands QPR concentration 'appalling'

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HRIS Ramsey was highly critical in his assessment of QPR's 10 Premier League defeat at home to Chelsea on Sunday.

QPR head coach Chris Ramsey says his players' concentration was "appalling" after conceding a late Cesc Fabregas goal in a 1-0 Premier League defeat to leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

The Loftus Road outfit looked destined to register a hard-earned and valuable point in their relegation dogfight until Fabregas struck in the 88th minute Chelsea pouncing to punish a poor Rob Green clearance.

And, despite his side's creditable performance for the vast majority of the match, Ramsey was highly critical in his post-match analysis.

"I am very, very disappointed to lose," he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "Detail kills you and when you have top players

•Ramsey

like they do, you get done.

One shot or two shots and the top players score.

"We have let two or three goals in from the same position the last few weeks and the players haven't been able to concentrate enough.

"We are still in with a fight, everyone is disappointed and I just feel sorry for the crowd.

"We have ourselves to blame because of our

concentration.

Our concentration has been appalling. We have let late goals in in most games.

"The players don't need lifting, they will lift themselves."

The result leaves QPR two points adrift of safety having played a game more than most of the teams around them.

Midfielder Joey Barton was more positive in his reflections, as he said: "Real

IVOCK Origi will be ready to challenge for a first-team place at Liverpool when he joins ahead of next season, according to Simon Mignolet.

Liverpool signed the young forward from Lille in July and immediately loaned himback for 2014-15 to the Ligue 1 club, for whom he has scored 15 goals in 82 appearances.

Mignolet has trained with the 19-year-old during international duty with Belgium and is backing Origi to settle quickly at Anfield.

"I have spoken with him a fair few times about next season, pre-season and how he is going to settle in - not only at the club, but also in the city," Mignolet told

Liverpool's official website.

"He's looking forward to next season and I think he'll be ready for the team when he comes in.

"He's only a young player but I'm sure, from what I've seen in training with him, that he's a very good player and will do really well for us.

"He's very quick, he's got skill, he can hold the ball up and score a goal as well what else do you want from a striker?

"He's got a good attitude to work hard in training, which is always important; he's willing to learn and accepts advice. I can only speak in good terms about him."

Origi has netted seven times in 26 league appearances for Lille this season.

Madrid and Barcelona do not play sides in the bottom three and have such tough games, and that's what makes the Premier League so great.

"You have to compete.

They are big physical players. You have to match the desire and that's why they are going to become the champions.

"We just focus on us. We have a number of games and feel our destiny is in our hands if we play like that."

Alderweireld focused on Europe

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OBY Alderweireld insists he is not thinking about his Southampton future and is focused on the Saints’ push for Europe.

The Belgian defender, who is on loan from Atletico Madrid, has been linked with a switch to Manchester City and Tottenham, although Ronald Koeman's side have the option to make the deal permanent for just £6.8m.

The 26-year-old has expressed a desire to stay at Saints but the Spanish side can cancel the buy-out clause by paying them £1.5m.

However, Alderweireld says he is happy at the Premier League club and is aiming to help them finish in a Europa League spot.

"I saw something in the Spanish papers," Alderweireld said. "I don't know, I didn't hear from them. We will see.

"It is not (frustrating) because it does not matter what they say, what is in the papers.

"I am just focused on Southampton and we are playing for a European spot, so it is going to be a special season.

"I am focused, I am happy here, so, yeah, no problem for me."

Southampton’s 2-0 win against Hull on Saturday saw them equal their record Premier League points tally of 56 set last year after James Ward-Prowse's penalty and a late Graziano Pelle strike.

The Saints are now up to fifth spot and have an outside chance of bettering their fifth-placed position in 1985.

"It is has been a very nice season," Alderweireld added.

"We just have to look to

ourselves and not to look to other teams. We know we have six games left, so it is going to be a hard sprint.

"The games are all tough, like next week Stoke away. It is a very difficult game, but

we are going to try and win our games.

"We know we have Tottenham at home so we can do good business, but first we have to go to Stoke and that is going to be difficult."

•Mignolet

Pellegrini: Third goal was pivotal

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•Alderweireld

ITY’s run of derby wins is over after a soul-sapping 4-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Despite an excellent start which saw Sergio Aguero put the visitors 1-0 up after eight minutes, the champions were undone by four unanswered goals which were scored in twos, either side of the half-time break.

It was an afternoon to forget for Manuel Pellegrini and his team but he refused to point the finger of blame at referee Mark Clattenburg or his assistants despite Juan Mata appearing to be offside before scoring United's third goal.

“They [United] played very well after the first 20 minutes when we had played very well and had two or three clear chances to score but we didn’t and they started probing,” he reflected.

“From the moment they drew level they started to

play well and from then the third goal was a pivotal moment as they were two goals ahead and they were playing with a lot of trust.

“I repeat: I don’t want to analyse the referee’s decision – they have to do their work. Maybe the third goal was offside but that was just one thing that happened during this game."

Marouane Fellaini put United ahead with a header before half-time to ensure that Louis Van Gaal’s side went in the break ahead.

Pellegrini argued that Yaya Toure had done a good job marking the Belgian in the first-half but admitted United had picked off his side in the second half as City chased the game.

The City boss said: “Fellaini’s in a good moment but Yaya marked him very well in the first half – after that we had to take more risks and they had space - finally they won the game.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS South Africa: Opposition leader steps down

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HE leader of South Africa’s opposition, the Democratic Alliance, has said she will not stand for re-election at the party’s congress next month.

Helen Zille said the “time was right” for her to step aside, adding that the DA would benefit from fresh blood.

She will remain as premier of Western Cape province until 2019.

Ms Zille, a former journalist and anti-apartheid campaigner, has led the party since 2007.

“These kinds of decisions are a long time coming, but in the end they are made suddenly,” she said.

Ms Zille was born in 1951

to German immigrants. She has been a staunch defender of South Africa’s liberal constitution, keeping a check on the leading ANC party’s overwhelming power.

In the past, she has openly criticised President Jacob Zuma and led a campaign to bring him before the courts to face allegations of bribery.

Mr Zuma denied the claims, insisting he was the victim of a “political conspiracy”.

The DA’s support is mainly concentrated in the Western Cape, which has a large white and mixed-race population, but Ms Zille had tried to make inroads into the black electorate.

Syrian government airstrikes kill at least 9 in Aleppo

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SYRIAN government air raid struck near a school in an opposition-held neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo on Sunday, killing at least nine people, including five children, activists said.

The Aleppo Media Center and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the air raid hit the oppositionheld Ansari neighborhood.

The bloodshed comes a day after rebel shelling and government airstrikes killed more than 30 people on both sides of the divided city, which is carved into government- and rebel-controlled areas.

The Observatory said at least nine people were killed in Sunday's airstrike, and warned that the tally could rise because many of the wounded were in critical condition. The Aleppo Media Center put the death toll at 10 and said dozens of people were wounded.

Also Sunday, the head of the U.N. agency that supports Palestinians visited refugees from the embattled Palestinian camp of Yarmouk in Damascus.

The Palestinians fled Yarmouk, where heavy fighting has raged since Islamic State militants stormed the district more than a week ago, for a nearby government-controlled area of the Syrian

capital.

UNRWA chief Pierre Krahenbuhl met with some 120 Palestinians who have found temporary refuge at a school in the Tadamon neighborhood. Now safe, the Palestinians recalled the humanitarian crisis inside Yarmouk, where residents have already endured a more than two-year government siege, starvation and disease.

"The conditions were very difficult," said Rahaf Qadri, who left Yarmouk 10 days ago.

"There was no food, and diseases have started to spread."

Qadri said her husband is still in the camp, and has joined Palestinian factions trying to protect Yarmouk from the Islamic State incursion.

Another Yarmouk escape e , 5 0 - y e a r - o l d M o h am mad al-Halabi, deplored the lack of food and electricity in the camp. He said the situation worsened with the attack by Islamic State fighters.

"We saw some people being beheaded and heard gunshots to terrorize people," al-Halabi told The Associated Press.

"They warned us that unless we join them, our heads will be cut off.

"We refused and later the Palestinian factions came and we left with them," he said.

•A huge crater opened up following the deadly blast in El-Arish...yesterday.

PHOTO: AP

Deadly bomb attacks hit Sinai

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HUGE crater opened up following the deadly blast in El-Arish Twelve people have been killed in separate bomb attacks in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, security forces have said.

At least five people died and 30 others were injured in an explosion outside a police station in El-Arish.

Elsewhere, seven soldiers lost their lives and two were wounded in an attack on an armoured vehicle, near the

northern town of Sheikh Zuweid.

Militants from the Sinai Province group have said on social media that they were responsible, AFP reports.

A statement on a Twitter page attributed to the group read: “An armoured personnel carrier for the army of the apostates was destroyed... killing and wounding all aboard.”

Hundreds of people gathered around the police station to examine the damage

Rescue teams are searching the rubble for further casualties In El-Arish, residents said the neighbourhood shook as a bomb was detonated at the entrance to a police barracks, killing one civilian, three soldiers and a police officer.

The explosives were concealed on a truck, which was driven to the front of the station, according to AFP. The three-storey building was badly damaged by the blast and security forces have been

searching the rubble for further casualties.

The Sinai Province group, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, has been behind a string of deadly attacks on the peninsula in recent months.

It says it is seeking revenge for a police crackdown on supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.

The army has sent troops to the area to target the militants and has imposed stringent security measures.

Kenya wants U.N.’s refugee camp relocated

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ENYAN Deputy President William Ruto on Saturday gave the United Nations’ refugee agency three months to relocate refugees from the Dadaab camp — the world’s largest — to Somalia, or “we shall relocate them ourselves.”

“The way America changed after 9/11 is the way Kenya will change after Garissa,” Ruto said in Nyeri, according to a statement from his office.

Al-Shabaab gunmen stormed Garissa University College in eastern Kenya this month, killing 147 people. Kenya’s government says that attack was masterminded by senior AlShabaab leader Mohamed Mohamud, whose “extensive terrorist network within Kenya” extends into the sprawling Dadaab complex, according to a Kenyan government document.

Ruto, who is the second highest-ranking person in Kenya’s government behind President Uhuru Kenyatta, said his government has had discussions

with United Nations officials about what to do with the camp.

On Saturday, a U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees officer said the agency had not received any formal request from Kenya’s government about moving Dadaab. The U.N. refugee agency manages the Dadaab complex, having set up the first camps there in late 1991 amid Somalia’s civil war.

The agency and the governments of both Kenya and Somalia agreed in 2013 on a process for the repatriation of Somali refugees. But that was supposed to be mutually agreed-upon and voluntary, in accordance with the refugees’ “freely expressed wish and their relevant knowledge of the conditions” where they’d end up, according to the pact.

None of those things, it seems, applies now to the move pushed by Ruto on Saturday. It’s not clear where he expects the refugees to go, other than somewhere into Soma-

lia and out of Kenya.

Any mass move would be a monumental task, disrupting the already difficult lives of more than 600,000 Somalis who call the camp their home.

Simply meeting basic needs is a challenge in the vast complex, which has seen devastating droughts, contagious diseases and other travails that have tested its residents and those trying to help.

Still, as tough as conditions there are, they are seen as a better alternative to life back in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab is based and has carried out violent attacks for years.

Yet the Islamist extremist group hasn’t confined its terror to its homeland, as illustrated by the Garissa attack and the 2013 siege of Nairobi’s upscale Westgate Mall, which ended with at least 67 dead.

The Dadaab complex came under government scrutiny after the Westgate Mall attack, too. But just a few weeks later, CNN’s Nima Elbagir managed to go from Somalia to the

Dadaab refugee camp undetected by taking one of the panya, or “rat routes,” just like many others have done, Al-Shabaab sympathizers among them.

Such illicit travel along porous borders as well as police officers’ willful ignorance of migrants’ fake IDs, as acknowledged by then-Interior Minister Ole Lemku, illustrates Kenya’s challenge in keeping out threats from Somalia.

That’s why, in addition to moving the Dadaab camp, Kenya is building of a 435mile (700-kilometer) wall covering most of the Somali border from Mandera to Kiunga — a wall that Ruto says has begun to prevent Al-Shabaab elements from getting into Kenya. The deputy president also vowed that any businesses collaborating with the militant group will be shut down.

These measures are in addition to Kenyan airstrikes on AlShabaab camps in Somalia in the days after the Garissa massacre.

Turkey anger at Pope Francis ‘genocide’ claim

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URKEY has recalled its envoy to the Vatican after Pope Francis described the mass killing of Armenians under Ottoman rule in WW1 as “genocide”.

Turkey has reacted with anger to the comment made by the Pope at a service in Rome earlier on Sunday.

Armenia and many historians say up to 1.5 million people were killed by Ottoman forces in 1915.

But Turkey has always disputed that figure and said the deaths were part of a civil conflict triggered by WW1.

The row has continued to sour relations between Armenia and Turkey.

The Pope made the comments at a Mass in the Armenian Catholic rite at Peter’s

Basilica, attended by the Armenian president and church leaders.

He said that humanity had lived through “three massive and unprecedented tragedies” in the last century.

“The first, which is widely considered ‘the first genocide of the 20th Century’, struck your own Armenian people,” he said, in a form of words used by a declaration by Pope John Paul II in 2001.

Pope Francis also referred to the crimes “perpetrated by Nazism and Stalinism” and said other genocides had followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Burundi and Bosnia.

He said it was his duty to honour the memories of those who were killed.

“Concealing or denying evil

is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it,” the Pope added.

Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan welcomed his comments, saying they sent a powerful message to the international community.

Many members of the Armenian clergy were at the ceremony Turkey rejects the use of the term “genocide” to describe the 1915 mass killings of Armenians But Turkey immediately summoned the Vatican’s ambassador to Ankara for an explanation, and then later recalled its ambassador from Rome.

The foreign ministry said it felt “great disappointment and sadness” at the Pope’s remarks, which it said would

cause a “problem of trust” between them.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted: “The Pope’s statement, which is far from the legal and historical reality, cannot be accepted.

“Religious authorities are not the places to incite resentment and hatred with baseless allegations,” he added.

Pope Francis, who visited Turkey last year, would have been perfectly conscious that he would offend the moderate Muslim country by his use of the word “genocide”.

But the Pope’s powerful phrase “concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to bleed without bandaging it” extended his condemnation to all other, more

recent, mass killings.

It now remains to be seen how far his remarks will impact upon the Vatican’s future relations with moderate Muslim states. It was a bold decision but totally coherent with Pope Francis’ philosophy of open discussion about moral arguments.

Pope Francis’ focus today on Armenia, the first country to adopt Christianity as its state religion, even before the conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine, serves as yet another reminder of the Catholic Church’s widely spread roots in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

In 2014, for the first time, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences to the grandchildren of all the

Armenians who lost their lives.

But he also said that it was inadmissible for Armenia to turn the issue “into a matter of political conflict”.

Armenia says up to 1.5 million people died in 1915-16 as the Ottoman empire split.

Turkey has said the number of deaths was much smaller.

Most non-Turkish scholars of the events regard them as genocide. Among the other states which formally recognise them as genocide are Argentina, Belgium, Canada, France, Italy, Russia and Uruguay.

Turkey maintains that many of the dead were killed in clashes during World War I, and that ethnic Turks also suffered in the conflict.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS Obama bemoans partisanship on Iran nuclear deal

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NITED STATES President Barack Obama has said that partisanship over the Iran nuclear deal has gone too far.

He rebuked the stance of some Republicans in the US Congress.

But one of those criticised by the president - Senator John McCain - said that there were discrepancies between US and Iranian versions of the deal.

An outline agreement on the future shape of Iran’s nuclear programme was reached after marathon talks with six major powers earlier in April.

Some Republicans have argued against the deal, saying that Iran has received too many concessions.

Mr McCain suggested last week that Secretary of State John Kerry’s explanations of the framework agreement were “somehow less trustworthy” than those of Iran’s supreme leader.

Mr McCain has repeatedly expressed his reservations over the deal And he argued on Saturday that discrepancies between US

and Iranian versions of the deal extended to inspections, sanctions relief and other key issues.

“It is undeniable that the version of the nuclear agreement outlined by the Obama administration is far different from the one described by Iran’s supreme leader,’’ Mr McCain said in a statement.

“I strongly agree with two of America’s most eminent statesmen, former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, who last week laid out the serious consequences of this deal for our nation’s security.”

The deal aims to prevent Tehran making a nuclear weapon in exchange for phased sanction relief.

A deadline has been set for 30 June to reach a comprehensive pact. Tough negotiations still lie ahead.

President Obama, speaking after a regional conference in Panama, said he remained “absolutely positive’’ that the deal was the surest way to prevent Iran obtaining nuclear arms,

Al-Qaida says US drones kill two leaders in Pakistan

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NITED STATES drone strikes in Pakistan killed two leaders of al-Qaida’s South Asia branch earlier this year, a spokesman for the militants said Sunday, confirming a major blow to the affiliate only months after its creation.

In an audio message, spokesman Usama Mahmood said a Jan. 5 drone strike in North Waziristan killed Ubaidullah, who was in charge of the group’s Afghan affairs, while a later strike killed deputy chief Raja Suleman. He said both had fought under aliases. His claim corresponds with the dates of previously reported U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal region near the Afghan border.

Mahmood said Suleman graduated from Islamabad’s International Islamic University and that Ubaidullah was from Pakistan’s central city of Multan.

Mahmood also lashed out at Pakistan over a military offensive launched last summer in North Waziristan, along the Afghan border.

“This operation is being carried out under direct supervision of American forces, its leadership, and with their direct help through drones and jets,” Mahmood said. “Pakistan’s army is in fact just providing intelligence against the targets America wants to hit.”

Mahmood said U.S. drone strikes had killed some 50 members of his group, known as al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent. Pakistani officials had no immediate comment on the claims.

Hillary Clinton set to run again for president

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ILLARY Rodham Clinton was hours away from announcing her much-anticipated second presidential campaign on Sunday, preparing to debut a message that will focus on strengthening economic security for the middle class and expanding opportunities for working families.

The former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state planned to enter the 2016 Democratic race with an online video posted on social media, to be followed in the days ahead with small events with voters in early-voting states.

Campaign officials said she would seek the White House as a results-oriented “tenacious fighter.”

The opening strategy was described ahead of the announcement by two senior advisers who requested anonymity to discuss her plans.

Clinton’s strategy has parallels to the approach President Barack Obama took in 2012. He framed his re-election as a choice between Democrats focused on the middle class and Republicans who sought to protect the wealthy and return to policies that led the country into recession.

Republicans pounced even

before Clinton’s announcement.

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus has outlined plans for a broad effort to try to undermine Clinton’s record as secretary of state while tying her to Obama’s most unpopular policies.

Early Sunday, potential GOP rivals Jeb Bush and Rand Paul previewed their case against Clinton.

“We must do better than the Obama-Clinton foreign policy that has damaged relationships with our allies and emboldened our enemies,” Bush, a former Florida governor, said in a video.

Paul, a Kentucky senator who launched his presidential campaign last week, pointed to the Clinton family’s foundation, saying it was hypocritical for the Clintons to accept money from Saudi Arabia, which places public restrictions on female movement and activity.

“I would expect Hillary Clinton if she believes in women’s rights, she should be calling for a boycott of Saudi Arabia,” Paul said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” ‘’Instead, she’s accepting tens of millions of dollars.”

Clinton intends to sell her-

self as being able to work with Congress, businesses and world leaders, the advisers said Saturday. That approach could be perceived as a critique of Obama, who has largely been unable to fulfill his pledge to end Washington’s intense partisanship and found much of his presidency stymied by gridlock with Congress.

Clinton was not expected to roll out detailed policy positions in the first weeks of her campaign. Advisers said she planned to talk about ways families can increase takehome pay, the importance of expanding early childhood education and making higher education more affordable.

It’s not clear whether that would include a noticeable break with Obama on economic policy. The GOP has hammered Obama’s approach as anti-business and insufficient in the wake of the recession. The White House says the economy has improved significantly in recent years.

The unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent in March, but manufacturing and new home construction slowed, cheaper gas has yet to ignite consumer spending and participation in the labor force remains sluggish.

•Clinton

Clinton is seen as the overwhelming favorite for her party’s nomination. Still, her team has said her early strategy is designed to avoid appearing to take that nomination for granted.

The early events were expected to include discussions at colleges, day care centers and private homes, and stops at coffee shops and diners. After about a month of such events, Clinton planned to give more specifics about her rationale for running.

Clinton’s husband, Bill, and daughter, Chelsea, are unlikely to appear at her early events.

Bill Clinton, the former twoterm president, said recently that he wanted to play a role as a “backstage adviser” in his wife’s campaign. Advisers said Bill Clinton has been engaged with his wife in some of the policy discussions leading up to this weekend’s rollout.

Shooting at Tripoli South Korea embassy

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WO people have been killed and another wounded in a shooting outside the South Korean embassy in the Libyan capital Tripoli, security officials say.

Gunmen opened fire from a passing car on a security post, killing a guard and a civilian, and wounding a second guard.

There were no South Korean casualties and the embassy was empty at the time, the country’s Foreign Ministry said.

The militant group Islamic State said it carried out the

attack.

Bullet holes were found in the guard hut outside the embassy A South Korean Foreign Ministry official, quoted by AP, said the attack happened just after midnight on Sunday.

Three South Korean nationals - two of them diplomats - were in the official residence at the time, which is in the same compound, the official added.

They were unhurt.

The embassy itself has been closed for several months, but officials continue to use it.

978 migrants rescued in one day in Mediterranean Sea

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ESPERATE migrants from Africa and the Middle East keep heading to Europe, with 978 rescued Friday in the Mediterranean Sea, the Italian Coast Guard said Saturday via Twitter.

The migrants were picked up 30 miles off the coast of Libya, said European Parliament member Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy’s far-right Northern League.

In the first three months of 2015, Italy registered more than 10,000 migrants arriving, the International Organization for Migration said, and about 2,000 were rescued at sea during the first weekend of April in the Channel of Sicily.

Most migrants recorded this year come from countries in West Africa as well as Somalia and Syria, the IMO said. They use Libya as a country of transit.

At least 480 migrants have died while crossing the Mediterranean since the beginning of the year, often because of bad weather and overcrowded vessels used by smugglers, the IMO said.

•Aram 1, Head of the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia (right), speaks with Pope Francis...yesterday.

PHOTO: AP

Yemen’s exiled president appoints deputy

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EMENI President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi appointed his former prime minister as vice president yesterday, a move apparently aimed at improving the chances of a peaceful settlement to the civil war that forced Hadi to flee to Saudi Arabia.

“The president issued an order today appointing Khaled Bahah as his deputy,” a presidential advisor told Reuters.

Bahah is popular across Yemen’s spectrum of feuding parties and may be seen as a figure who could calm tensions and bring warring parties to the negotiating table.

“The appointment of Bahah may help in finding a political solution as part of efforts to revive the dialogue process sponsored by the United Nations,” the Hadi aide told Reuters.

There are no signs that the war will let up anytime soon.

Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Arab allies have been bombing

Yemen for over two weeks, hoping to slow the advance of Iranian-allied Houthi militias towards the southern port city of Aden.

Saudi Arabia dismissed Iranian calls to end air strikes and hit a military camp in Taiz on Sunday, killing eight civilians, according to a medical source.

The air raids on the central Yemeni city targeted a site held by soldiers loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh who have joined up with Houthi fighters against local militias in the south, the source said.

Saleh was forced to give up power in 2012 after mass protests against his rule, but his loyalists in the military remained in place and now fight alongside the Houthis.

The conflict has raised fears that a sectarian proxy war between rivals Riyadh and Tehran will further destabilize the Middle East and potentially destroy the Yemeni state.

“How can Iran call for us to stop the fighting in Yemen?”

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud alFaisal said at a news conference in Riyadh with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius.

“We came to Yemen to help the legitimate authority, and Iran is not in charge of Yemen.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday that the air strikes were a “crime and genocide” and President Hassan Rouhani called for a ceasefire and dialogue among Yemen’s factions.

Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Arab allies fear that Shi’ite Iran seeks greater regional influence by backing armed Shi’ite groups in the region, a charge the Islamic Republic denies.

Tehran says it has given no military support to the Houthis and on Sunday denied a claim by militiamen in Aden that they had captured two Iranian military officers advising the rebels.

“Iran has no kind of military

force in Yemen,” state news agency IRNA quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian as saying.

Suspected militants from al Qaeda, the Sunni militant group that has used the chaos to press its own advantage, killed an army colonel in the central Shabwa province on Sunday, a local official said.

Separately, an al Qaeda leader was killed in an apparent U.S. drone strike on a group of militants west of the port city of Mukalla on the Arabian Sea, residents told Reuters.

It was the first reported drone strike against the powerful Yemeni branch of the global militant group since the United States evacuated about 100 special forces troops advising Yemeni forces last month.

According to the United Nations, the conflict has killed 600 people, wounded 2,200 and displaced 100,000 others since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in September.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

53

FOREIGN NEWS

Kerry says he stands

by Iran’s nuclear deal

U

.S. Secretary of State John Kerry defended yesterday his presentation of a framework agreement on Iran’s nuclear program after a different interpretation was offered by Iran’s supreme leader, and a prominent U.S. senator said Kerry was “delusional.”

“I will stand by every fact that I have said,” Kerry told ABC’s “This Week.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had strong words last week about Iran’s agreement with major world powers, declaring that once a final deal was reached it should result in an immediate end to all sanctions on Iran.

Kerry has said the sanctions would be suspended in phases.

“You know, they’re going

•U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (R) arrive to deliver statements after nuclear talks at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne.

PHOTO:Reuters

to put their spin on their point of view and obviously they’ll allege that we’re putting a spin on our point of view,” Kerry said of the Iranian comments.

There were also differing U.S. and Iranian interpretations of a previous interim agreement with Iran, but Iran upheld that agreement, Kerry said.

Iran and major world powers - the United States,

Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - reached a framework nuclear agreement on April 2 that would curb Iran’s nuclear program and prevent it from being able to develop a bomb, in exchange for the West lifting economic sanctions. Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Kerry noted that President Barack Obama on Saturday delivered a public rebuke to

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day the agreement goes into effect.

Iran backs regional militant groups that fight Israel, including Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as forces fighting in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Sharpton thanks mayor, police chief for response to shooting Where They Stand: Clinton on issues of the 2016 cam-

S

for a wide turnout, and many expect a repeat of the vote-rigging that took place during the first multi-candidate election in 2010, when al-Bashir won with 68 percent.

And yet the vote is not entirely meaningless, at least for al-Bashir himself, and religious authorities have instructed Muslim clerics to encourage people to vote.As long as he remains in office, al-Bashir will not be sent to the International Criminal Court on charges of orchestrating genocide during the Darfur conflict, which left 300,000 people dead and 2 million displaced.

The president also hopes to preserve a veneer of legitimacy as he tries to improve relations with countries that can help bail Sudan out economically. Sudan recently joined the Saudi-led coalition bombing the Houthi rebels in Yemen, perhaps hoping for aid from the petroleum-rich Gulf.

The 2011 secession of South Sudan, which ended Africa’s longest-running civil war, deprived Khartoum of a third of its territory and population, and nearly 80 percent of its oil revenues. Smaller armed conflicts are currently raging in the country’s east, west and south.The economic losses forced al-Bashir to embark on austerity measures in 2013 that sparked the largest anti-gov-

N Egyptian court’s decision to sentence 14 men to death and jail 37 others accused of ties to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood was “politically motivated” and “blatantly unjust”, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterd.

The court condemned Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie and 13 other senior members of the group to death on Saturday. AmericanEgyptian Mohamed Soltan, the son of a Brotherhood preacher who received a death sentence at the same hearing, was among those sentenced to life in jail.

The men were among thousands of people detained after freely elected Islamist president Mohamed Mursi was toppled in 2013 by the military under Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is now president. Sisi describes the Brotherhood as a major security threat.

The White House has con-

A

•Nentayahu

paign Spieth, Rose start Masters final round with matching birdies

Sudan leader set to extend rule in vote UDAN’s President Omar al-Bashir, the world’s only sitting leader wanted on genocide charges, is expected to win a landslide victory in elections this week, extending a 25-year reign in which the country has endured multiple insurgencies and the secession of the oil-rich south.Despite Sudan’s seemingly perpetual unrest, al-Bashir survived the 2011 Arab Spring.

His ruling party dominates the parliament and local councils, and the massive security apparatus has left the once-vibrant opposition a husk of its former self.Al-Bashir has ruled the country since taking power in a 1989 coup, but billboards across Khartoum showing him in traditional robes or military fatigues proclaim: “We lead reform, we continue the renaissance.”Nearly 13 million people are registered to vote for president and the 450-member legislative council starting Monday.

Some 11,000 polling centers will be open through Wednesday, and results are expected on April 27.The vote is being greeted with widespread apathy, in part because the 15 candidates allowed to compete with al-Bashir are virtually unknown to the public. The government is nevertheless hoping

gress on the deal on Monday and Tuesday, warned lawmakers not to put in place any conditions that would impede implementation of the Iran deal. The framework is meant to be the basis of a final agreement to be reached by the end of June.

Congress is poised to advance a bipartisan bill to give lawmakers the right to review any final deal and to have a vote on whether sanctions im-

posed by Congress should be suspended.

Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, a co-author of the bill, on Sunday did not rule out that senators would change a provision that has irritated the Obama administration. It would require the administration to certify that Iran is not involved in terrorism attacks against the United States.

Brotherhood verdicts ‘unjust’: Human Rights Watch

Israel's Netanyahu says sanctions should remain on Iran RIME Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has harshly criticized the U.S.-led framework deal with Iran, which offers relief from sanctions in exchange for scaling back its suspect nuclear program.

Netanyahu said Sunday that a better deal would tie the lifting of all sanctions, "to an end of Iran's aggression in the region, its worldwide terrorism and its threats to annihilate Israel." Iran demands that all sanctions be lifted on the

Republican Senator John McCain for having called Kerry “delusional” in an interview in which McCain questioned whether Kerry was being forthcoming about the deal.

Kerry added that Russia, not a U.S. ally, had issued a statement saying that the facts about the deal as expressed by the United States were “reliable and accurate information.”

Kerry, who will brief Con-

ernment demonstrations of his rule. As protests erupted in several cities, including affluent parts of Khartoum, the security forces clamped down, killing some 200 people and arresting hundreds more.Opposition candidates might have hoped to translate that frustration into electoral gains and even challenge alBashir, but a raft of new laws and a heavy-handed crackdown have made that virtually impossible.

Amnesty International said last month that 15 newspapers have had editions confiscated since January, and that security agencies have detained and interrogated journalists while threatening to shutter non-governmental organizations.

One female chief editor faces charges punishable by death.This week, the European Union said it doubted the vote would produce credible results.Abdullah al-Aqib, a candidate from a party close to the government who is running for parliament in Khartoum, said the opposition’s failure to compete was its own fault.

The opposition parties are “far away from the masses,” he said, adding that participation in the election was the only way to bring about change.

demned the verdict against Soltan, who was found guilty of supporting the veteran Islamist movement and transmitting false news.

Saturday’s case was known in local media as “The Rabaa Operations Room” trial in reference to a sit-in at Rabaa square in 2013 in which hundreds of people protesting at the overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi were killed when security forces tried to clear the area by force.

Cairo defended its actions, saying it had given protesters the opportunity to leave peacefully and that armed elements within the Brotherhood initiated the violence.

“It appears that the case against Muslim Brotherhood members leading to death sentences of 14 men is politically motivated,” Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s executive director for the Middle East and North Africa, calling it a “a sham pro-

ceeding”.

“The fact that those who publicized the mass killings of 2013 could go to prison for life while those who did the killings receive official accolades perfectly symbolizes the abject failure of transitional justice in Egypt,” she said.

The verdicts can be appealed in Egypt’s highest civilian court.

Officials in Egypt’s foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment.

An online campaign to free U.S-educated Soltan says he was not a member of the Brotherhood and that he had spoken to international media in 2013 because of his ability to converse in fluent English and Arabic.

HRW also criticized a recent U.S. decision to end a freeze on military aid to Cairo at the same time as the Egypt judiciary had been passing sentences against journalists and the political opposition.

15 police officers killed in Mexican ambush

F

IFTEEN police officers were killed and five were injured when they were ambushed by suspected gang members in Mexico’s Jalisco state, the state attorney general’s office said Tuesday.

The attack, which took place along the Mascota-Las-Palmas highway, happened Monday.

Gunmen opened fire at a state security convoy, which was headed toward the metropolitan area of

Guadalajara, killing 15 members of the United Force of Jalisco, the attorney general’s office said.

The state is home to the “Jalisco New Generation” drug cartel.

Turkey recalls ambassador over pope’s genocide words

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OPE Francis on Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the slaughter of Armenians by calling the massacre by Ottoman Turks “the first genocide of the 20th century” and urging the international community to recognize it as such. Turkey immediately responded by recalling its ambassador and accusing Francis of spreading hatred and “unfounded claims.”

Francis issued the pronouncement during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica commemorating the centenary that was attended by Armenian church leaders and President Serge Sarkisian, who praised the pope for calling a spade a spade

and “delivering a powerful message to the international community.””The words of the leader of a church with 1 billion followers cannot but have a strong impact,” he told The Associated Press.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century.

Turkey, however, denies a genocide took place. It has insisted that the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.Francis defended his words by saying it was his duty

to honor the memory of the innocent men, women and children who were “senselessly” murdered by Ottoman Turks.He said similar massacres are under way today against Christians who because of their faith are “publicly and ruthlessly put to death - decapitated, crucified, burned alive - or forced to leave their homeland,” a reference to the Islamic State group’s assault against Christians in Iraq and Syria.Turkey has fiercely lobbied to prevent countries, including the Holy See, from officially recognizing the Armenian massacre as genocide and reacted strongly to Francis’ declaration.”

THE NATION MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

54

NEWS GOVERNORSHIP AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS RESULTS

Rivers governorship candidates call for polls cancellation •APC: PDP chieftains hosted poll riggers •Elections inconclusive in 23 councils, says INEC

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HREE of the 18 governorship candidates in Rivers State have rejected the results of Saturday’s elections.

They called for the cancellation of the polls, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fix a new date for the polls.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside; his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) counterpart, Charles Harry and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Rev. Minaibim Harry, addressed reporters on Saturday night in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on what they called sham elections.

Peterside’s Greater Together Campaign Organisation, through its Director of Communications, Ibim Semenitari, alleged that a former governor and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), surrendered their homes in Port Harcourt to election riggers.

But the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dame Gesila Khan, insisted that elections took place in the 23 local government areas although they were inconclusive.

The REC said polls were concluded in six local government areas yesterday.

Khan said accreditation was between 9 am and 2 pm, adding that voting took place from 2:30 pm.

The inconclusive elections, the REC said, were concluded yesterday in Abua/Odual Local Government Area’s Ward 1, units 1 to 20; Asari-Toru’s Ward 13; Bonny’s Ward 12, Emohua’s Ward 4, Obio/Akpor’s wards 15 and 16 as well as Degema’s wards 11 and 12.

The REC said no election was conducted in Ward 13 of Degema Local Government Area, although elections held in the area on Saturday.

Khan noted that the Saturday’s elections were cancelled

From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt

only in places where electoral materials were snatched.

It was learnt that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Zone 6 in Calabar, Tunde Ogunsakin, who supervised Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ebonyi States, was ordered out of Rivers State at 5 am on Saturday for arresting senior police officers caught with electoral materials and supporting suspected PDP poll riggers.

It was learnt that the directive to Ogunsakin, a former Rivers State police commissioner, to leave the state, allegedly came from Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba, who was said to have been instructed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ogunsakin was said to have immediately returned to his base in Calabar.

Semenitari said: “The Greater Together Campaign Organisation wishes to condemn unequivocally the unashamed rewriting of the results of the April 11 Governorship/House of Assembly elections at the Port Harcourt homes of ...a former governor of Rivers State and ...an ex-Rivers commissioner. “...A former chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area was committing similar breaches at St. Andrew’s School, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, in criminal conjunction with INEC, the PDP and security operatives...

“We will not accept any subversion of the people’s will...

We agree with Rivers people that this time, their votes will be counted and their votes will count. Never again will the impudence of March 28 be repeated.”

Peterside’s campaign organisation urged INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure that the people’s votes were not stolen in vain.

‘Poll results recorded under threat’ From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

A

COLLATION Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) attached to the Uruefong Oruko in Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Akpan, yesterday admitted that the election results in the area were recorded under serious threats and beating.

Akpan, who was at the INEC office with swollen eyes, did not state who threatened him or those who beat him up.

When asked by the Governorship Election Returning Officer to announce the scores by each political parties, Akpan said: “The election results were recorded under serious threats and beating.”

The INEC officer said he got swollen eyes from the beating he received from unnamed assailants.

He was asked to vacate his seat until a later time.

Attempts to speak with him failed as the security agencies prevented reporters from gaining access to him.

The Collation officer for Esit Eket also shocked observers and reporters when he was asked to announce the scores by the various parties.

He said: “I am sorry. We don’t have the total number of accredited voters.”

•Some of the protesters ...yesterday.

Protesters shut down Akwa Ibom over killings, ‘ballot boxes snatching’

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KWA Ibom State residents have shut down Uyo, the state capital, and its environs, following alleged electoral malpractices and snatching of ballot boxes by suspected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs during Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in 31 local government areas.

Five people were feared dead in five local government areas.

The protest followed the announcement of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was leading where the protesters claimed no elections took place.

The protesters were mainly members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They blocked the popular Oron Road, near Asong Ama

by Udo Udoma Junction.

The protesters urged INEC to stop the announcement of the results.

But they were prevented from entering Udo Udoma Avenue by armed security operatives, who used an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and Hilux patrol vans to block the road.

A helicopter was hovering over Uyo. Some of the protesters carried placards, such as: “PDP ran away with our ballot boxes”; “Our votes must count”; “INEC should stop announcing the results”; “and Akpabio should stop using police to intimidate us”, among others.

Others read: “No election took place in many of the local government area, yet INEC is announcing results”; “Let the wishes of the people prevail”; “Akpabio wants to turn Akwa Ibom into his personal estate”; “He wants to impose Udom Emmanuel to cover up”; “We won’t allow this” and “We want cancellation of results.”

The protesters also alleged

APC seeks poll cancellation

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HE Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the cancellation of Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The party alleged widespread irregularities in many polling booths across the state.

It accused some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains of hijacking electoral materials with the connivance of security agencies.

APC’s governorship candidate Umana Okon Umana said election materials were taken to the home of a senator in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.

Umana accused a special assistant to Governor Godswill Akpabio of thumb-printing ballot papers.

He said: “Voting materials were not brought to my polling unit. That was also the position in every unit in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area. I received reports that materials were diverted to the home of a senator. This was violently done by thugs, who assaulted party agents and INEC officials on their way to deliver the materials.

“We protested and, with the assistance of security personnel, we traced the materials to where they were taken to. When they raided that location, they found out that the materials From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

that ballot papers were thumbprinted in the homes of some commissioners in the Godswill Akpabio administration.

During the polls, some party agents said there were cases of violence in almost all the 31 local government areas by suspected PDP thugs, who allegedly snatched ballot boxes.

Former Governor Victor Attah, who addressed reporters in Uyo, said he witnessed policemen carting away ballot boxes.

Attah, who was also disenfranchised, said he could not cast his vote because INEC officials informed him that electoral materials had been carted away by gunmen.

The former governor said such incidents were not limited to his unit but occurred at several units across the state.

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

had been thumb-printed. This was being supervised by a retired Captain...”

Umana noted that instead of INEC to bring 1,571 ballot papers to his unit, it brought only 450.

He said: “The Presiding officer could not account for the balance of the ballot papers.

The voters protested and he was compelled to write a report that only 450 ballot papers of 1,571 could be found.

“At that point, the voters said there was a breach and could not continue the process. So, the divisional police officer (DPO) came and took away the election materials.

“This is a total sham. From our situation rooms all over Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket, it has been the same situation.

“In the circumstance, we have not had any election in Akwa Ibom State. We could not have had elections where we did not have accreditation. This is our position and we are calling for the cancelation of the election in Akwa Ibom State.”

In Uyo, Etinan, Onna, Eket, Nsit Ubium, Oron, Uruan, Ibiono, Nsit Ibom, Oruknam, suspected thugs were allegedly moving in company of the security agencies, snatching ballot papers.

He added that there were no elections in most parts of the state.

According to him, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) at his polling unit pleaded that he should ensure that my people do not make trouble.

Attah said: “I told INEC I wanted to vote and do my accreditation. They said it was not possible. I asked why it was not possible. They said at the centre for the distribution of electoral materials, some people came with machetes and guns and shot into the air. They were said to have carted away all the materials, including INEC Card Readers.

“This was not just in my unit; several other units in my area were also affected. INEC arrived there without electoral materials and Card Readers.

The shooting and attacks were

so widespread. Carting away of election materials, including Card Readers was surprising.

What does anybody want to do with a Card Reader?

“My appeal to everybody is to accept the fact that truly there were no elections in Akwa Ibom State. The elections should just be cancelled.

I am not talking about my units alone. I am talking about cancelling all the elections in Akwa Ibom State and conducting new polls as soon as INEC finds it possible so that all eyes would be on Akwa Ibom State.

This way, people would do proper elections.

“I now begin to understand why Akwa Ibom State is regarded as a battleground. I didn’t come to fight; I only came to do an election. I witnessed police in uniform carting away ballot boxes.”

APC wins 21 seats, PDP gets three in Edo House of Assembly

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 21 of the 24 seats in the Edo State House of Assembly.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won three seats.

This followed the announcement of the results in last Saturday’s legislative

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

election.

With the clear majority, APC will control the House of Assembly in the next four years.

The party won in Edo South, comprising Orhion-

mwon South, Orhionmwon East, Ovia Northeast I and II, Ovia Southwest, Egor, Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo West and East and Uhunwode.

In Edo Central, where PDP’s top chieftains Tony Anenih, Senator Odion Ugbesia and Tom Ikimi hail from, PDP won three seats

and APC won two.

PDP’s controversial Speaker Festus Ebea lost his seat to the APC candidate.

All the candidates in Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Edo North won.

Also, the suspended Edo South senatorial election in Orhionmwon was held on

April 11.

Though APC won the local government, the margin was not enough to clear the deficits accruing from the six councils for the National Assembly election held on March 28.

APC’s Samson Osagie, who is House of Represen-

tatives’ Minority Whip, lost the election to his PDP opponent, Matthew Urhoghide.

With these results, PDP now has two senators, APC one. House of Representatives, PDP five, APC four.

House of Assembly APC 21, PDP three.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

55

NEWS Ugwuanyi wins in Enugu

Five die in church during heavy rain

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IVE worshippers died at the weekend at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Oduma in Aninri Local Government, Enugu State during a downpour.

The incident occurred

From Chris Oji, Enugu

about 8pm. Several people were injured.

The church reportedly caved in when the parishioners were in supplica-

tion.

Police spokesman Ebere Amarizu said the cause of the incident was not known.

His words: “Yes, I can confirm to you that five persons

died following the collapse of St. Anthony Catholic Church about 8pm on Saturday. But we are yet to know the cause.

“We have begun investigation into the incident.”

Yero, Ribadu concede defeat to El-Rufai, Bindow

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ADUNA State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard-bearer Ramalan Yero has conceded defeat to his rival, Nasir ElRufai of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spokesman for APC Campaign Council Samuel Aruwan said yesterday in a statement.

According to him, Yero called El-Rufai about 3pm to congratulate him on his victory.

“He congratulated El-Rufai and wished him success,” Aruwan said.

His words: “He prayed for the peace and development of Kaduna State and Nigeria at large. El-Rufai thanked Yero and wished him the best.”

The APC candidate led with over 500,000 votes in 16 of the 20 local governments announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with the results

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

of three local governments yet to be announced at press time (4:05 pm).

The governorship candidate of the PDP in Adamawa State, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday conceded defeat to Senator Jibrilla Bindow of the APC. He said he took his loss in good faith because leadership was a product of God’s anointment.

Ribadu made his position known in a concession address to the indigenes.

He said: “My dear people of Adamawa State, I greet you in the best form of greetings. I had dreamt of coming back home to lead our dear state to greater height after years of underdevelopment.

“I started this journey in August last year and got the mandate of the PDP to fly its flag in the April 11 governorship election. I came into this race knowing that political

contests are two-way traffic – one either wins or loses.

“As a man of faith, I was aware that leadership responsibility is a product of God’s anointment.

“In the course of this journey, I have seen support and encouragement from the people of Adamawa State.

“Individuals from Adamawa and beyond contributed to keeping the campaign going and others devoted their time, energy and intellect to see to the success of this project. I sincerely appreciate this belief in my person and my ambition.

“The support I got from my party’s leadership and members from President Goodluck Jonathan to the party agents in our polling units was overwhelming.

“The party leader, Bala James Nggilari and Chairman, Chief Joel Madaki, led their lieutenants in making this journey memorable.”

•El-Rufai

Ribadu said he had no choice but to accept the preference of the majority for Bindow.

He added: “I came into this race with lofty dreams and clear vision for our dear state, but the voice of the majority has not given me this chance.

I take this in good faith.

“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the winner and pray that at the end of it all, our dear state will witness the needed progress and development it so much desires. God bless Adamawa State, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

•Ezea urges cancellation

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has emerged the winner of Saturday’s election.

He polled 482,277 as against his closest rival, the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) candidate, Chief Okey Ezea, who scored 43,837 votes.

The results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 17 local governments showed that Ugwuanyi led in all the councils.

S/No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

From Chris Oji, Enugu

Ezea, however, said what happened was not an election but a charade.

He alleged that the poll was rigged, using “imported” thugs and security agents.

APC Chairman Dr. Ben Nwoye has petitioned INEC to cancel the election.

The results showed that Ezea, for the first time, lost in his local government (Igboeze South) to Ugwuanyi.

In the two previous elections he won in his local government.

THE RESULTS Local Government PDP ANINRI 39,216 ENUGU NORTH 17,829 ENUGU SOUTH 15,889 EZEAGU 32,995 IGBOETITI 21,524 IGBOEZE NORTH 51,948 IGBOEZE SOUTH 18,120 ISIUZO 21,651 NKANU EAST 12,571 NKANU WEST 16,683 NSUKKA 41,625 OJIRIVER 13,484 UDENU 40,120 UDI 26,892 UZO UWANI 17,947 AWGU 30,123 ENUGU EAST 63,660

Total: PDP 482,277.

APC 886 2,050 1,633 1,307 2,256 2,482 6,231 1,813 975 1,148 9,416 2,394 1,463 3,934 1,915 1874 2,062

APC 43,837.

Ekweremadu hails Ugwuanyi

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•Ad hoc workers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) waiting to move election materials during Governorship and House of Assembly elections at Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State ... at the PHOTO: NAN weekend.

PDP lawmakers lose re-election bid •Otti leading in Aba North, South federal constituencies

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HE hopes of incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers representing Aba North, South and Central state constituencies to be re-elected were dashed, as they lost their seats to the candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Announcing the results, Dr. Comos Chikezie Ogbu and Ngongeh Lucas, the returning officers for Aba South and Aba Central constituencies said Emmanuel Clinton (APGA) polled 2959 votes to

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

defeat incumbent Blessing Iheasimuo (PDP), who had 2613 votes, while Sir Abraham Oba (APGA) of Aba Central State Constituency got 16, 734 votes to defeat his closest rival, Kate Ijeoma Maduako of the PDP, who polled 3123 votes.

It was learnt that Blessing Nwagba, the legislator representing Aba North State Constituency, lost out like her counterparts, as she was defeated by Emeka Nnamani of APGA.

Addressing reporters after the results were announced, George Ezikpe Okeiyi, the coordinating director of APGA campaigns in Aba, described the election as credible.

He said the results showed the love the indigenes had for APGA. According to him, the victory was not only for APGA, but for democracy, promising the voters that the party would not disappoint them.

He said: “It is going to be a new beginning and a fresh start. Things are going to be

done differently. We have been part of the system here.

We have been part of the pains, we have been part of the struggles and for this moment, we are desirous of the change that we have got and we will make good of it.”

The governorship results collated at wards in Aba Federal Constituency, Aba North and South local governments showed that the governorship candidate of APGA, Dr. Alex Otti, was leading his PDP counterpart, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

Wada, deputy lose constituencies

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OGI State Governor Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost his Dekina/ Braidu Constituency to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s House of

From James Azania, Lokoja

Assembly election.

His deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, also lost his Mopamoro Constituency to the APC.

According to an unofficial result from Mopa, APC polled 2, 985, PDP, 2, 231 and AP, 2, 208.

The governor and his deputy lost in their areas to the opposition APC in the

March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Other constituencies where PDP lost to APC include Ankpa I, Ankpa II and Lokoja I.

HE Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on his victory in Saturday’s governorship election.

Ekweremadu said Ugwuanyi’s victory was expected, as PDP was not only the party on ground in Enugu State, but also because of his popularity.

He said: “This is a welldeserved victory. Enugu has always been a PDP state since 1999. We marketed an unbeatable product in the person of Ugwuanyi. Therefore, the poll was more of a

From Chris Oji, Enugu

coronation ceremony.

“Ugwuanyi is a man with a good heart. He is very knowledgeable about Enugu politics. He has garnered experience from the centre as a ranking member of the House of Representatives. He is a grassroots person and he has a vision about what he has set out to achieve. Hence I have no doubt that Gburugburu will take Enugu State to greater heights.”

Ekweremadu urged those who contested against the PDP standard-bearer to support him to move the state forward.

PDP wins Ebonyi governorship poll

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COMPREHENSIVE result of Ebonyi State governorship election, as presented by the collation officers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at its headquarters in Abakaliki, shows that the party has won last Saturday’s governorship election.

The result is as follows: 1. OHOAZARA LGA APC. - 364 APGA.- 92 LP. - 2307 PDP. - 32,402 2. EZZA SOUTH APC. - 2135 APGA.- 186 LP. - 8,457 PDP. - 18,095 3. IVO LGA APC. - 346 APGA - 229 LP. - 6497 PDP. - 11,729 4. EBONYI LGA APC. - 1249 APGA - 621 LP. - 12431 PDP. - 14,229 5. AFIKPO NORTH APC. - 446 APGA - 289 LP. - 9406 PDP. - 15,519 6. AFiKPO SOUTH

APC. - 307 APGA - 267 LP. - 3456 PDP. - 28,380 7. ABAKALIKI APC. - 1255 APGA - 804 LP. - 16,670PDP. - 18,779 8. ONICHA APC. - 620 APGA - 143 LP. - 4229 PDP. - 41,428 9. IZZI APC. - 214 APGA. - 355 LP. -25,218 PDP. - 26,399 10. ISHIELU APC. - 11348 APGA. -1139 LP. - 7958 PDP. - 19,177 11. IKWO APC. - 864 APGA.- 354 LP. - 19649 PDP. - 38,168 12. EZZA NORTH APC. - 5731 APGA.- 493 LP. - 2643 PDP. - 10,337 13. OHAUKWU APC. - 2704 APGA.-12,999 LP. - 5896 PDP. -15,285 The Returning Officers any moment from now will declare, Engr Dave Umahi winner.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

56

CITYBEATS We don’t have N13m, Orekoyas beg kidnappers T

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

HE Orekoya family appealed yesterday to kidnappers of its children for mercy, saying it does not have the N13 million ransom being demanded for their release.

The kids - Ademola (6), Adedamola (4) and Aderomola (11 months) were abducted by their housemaid, Mary Akinloye (23), last Wednesday.

Mary, who kidnapped the children from their Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos home and her accomplices have ignored the Orekoyas’ plea to release their children.

They are insisting on collecting the ransom before releasing the kids.

When The Nation visited the family’s residence, the kid’s mother, Mrs Bisi Orekoya, burst into tears on seeing her children’s pictures in The Nation’s Friday edition.

Family members, friends and some of her colleagues gathered to console her.

“Have faith in God that your children will all return alive,” a friend told her.

Another one prayed God to touch the kidnappers’ hearts and release the children.

They later prayed with the family, urging God to continue to protect the children wherever they are.

A distraught Mrs Orekoya said

•Aderomola

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

“Amen” to the prayers amid tears.

According to some family members, she seems to be mentally disturbed.

“It is not easy – three children at a go; who will not be incapacitated by the housemaid’s actions. You

•Mrs Orekoya

•Ademola (left) and Adedamola

can imagine the trauma she is going through now. It’s unfortunate that a once happy family is in sad mood for whole five days,” a family member said.

The children’s father, Mr Adeleke Orekoya, told The Nation yesterday that his wife “is mentally disturbed”.

The nightmare, he said, is un-

bearable.

“Coupled with the fact that we do not have the money they are asking for made things difficult.

It is true the whole issue is affecting her mentally,” he said, looking at his wife’s direction.

A family friend simply identified as Abiodun wondered what the society is turning to.

Civil Defence chief hails Lagosians over polls

How woman stopped her attacker

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N a rare display of bravery, a woman failed a plan to rob her at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) portal in Ajah, Lagos.

The woman, according to the police, lifted the robber, who held a toy gun, and hit him on the ground.

Initially, the woman was trembling with fear but when she noticed that the gun Collins Ebong was pointing at her was a mere toy, she pounced on him, grabbed him at the waist of his trousers, shouting ‘you must die here today’.

Her action attracted passersby who joined in beating Ebong before handling him to police. He was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS for discreat investigation and possible arrest of his gang members who escaped when the woman overpowered him.

Ebong (26) from Uknafun town

By Ebele Boniface

in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State was paraded by SARS at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, last Friday.

The police said: “When the woman came out with the money, Collins went to her and pointed a toy gun at her and ordered her to hand over the money she had just collected from the ATM.” Ebong said: “I had gone to prison remand once but when I came out I had no money to buy food. Majority of my friends are criminals and no one gave me useful advice when I needed help. I stayed in Ikoyi Prison for 10 months. When I came out in February, I was on my way when I saw a woman coming out from a Bank’s ATM counting money openly. I went to her with my

toy gun to collect her money but she gave me a surprise of my life as I pointed the gun at her and stretched out my hand to collect the money from her but she grabbed my hand with force and wrestled me down. She started pounding me which attracted people who joined her to beat me, see my eye; they nearly blinded this eye, it was on March 10, they handed me over to Ajiwe Police Station at Ajah and later transferred me to SARS. “I studied in Government Secondary School, Shawo in Kwara State between 2003 and 2008. I did not make my papers. It was in prison I found out that they had good teachers so I re-registered for those papers and cleared them as follows English C6, Mathematics P7, Economics C5, Government B2, CRK A1, and Biology C6.

“If I am released, I will go back to school. I would like to study

He described the kidnappers’ action as shameful and inhuman.

“How could people descend so low; abducting children you were hired to protect and demanding an audacious amount? I think the world should stand with this (Orekoya) family and ensure the children return to their parents in safe condition,” he said.

By Basirat Braimah

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•Ebong

Journalism or Mass Communication. I also want to worship God. I had a calling to serve God. I want to be a pastor to tell my experience that a thief can still be useful. I will try and win souls for Christ.”

OMMANDANT, Lagos Command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Gabriel Abafi has hailed Lagosians for their good conduct during last Saturday Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

He spoke with reporters while monitoring the elections in some parts of Ogba, Agege, Mushin, Alapere, Surulere, Itire, Somolu,Yaba, Akoka, Ogudu, Alimoso and Isolo in Lagos.

Abafi attributed the low voters’ turn out to fear of possible breakdown of law and order.

Lagosians, he said, displayed maturity and sensitivity to electoral issue.

Abafi also visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Yaba, Lagos Mainland to report his findings.

Spirit of Lagos honours patriots May 27

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HE Spirit of Lagos, a behavioural transformation initiative, will on May 27, honour individuals and corporate bodies for their “selfless acts to the city.”

Its Project Director, Mr Olaniyi Omotoso, said at a media briefing in Ikeja, that the ceremony, tagged: “Citizens’ Day”, is part of activities to restore, share and protect those values that made Lagos great.

He said the ceremony, which would be in three categories – individual, public service and corporate organisations – would be chaired by Governor Babatunde Fashola at a grand event to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the creation of Lagos State.

The individual category, he explained, includes Lifetime Achievement Award for an elderly citizen, living or dead, who has

By Dada Aladelokun

positively on the state; Award for Community Development for a citizen, who has impacted on his community; Award for Exceptional Community for a community that has been able to do exceptional things through collaborative efforts; and Award for Exceptional Youth for a young resident between 18 and 25 , with a strong commitment to societal good.

The Public Service categories according to Omotoso, cover Lifetime Achievement Award, Role Model Award and Rising Star Award; it will reward Lagos State civil servants who have been in their duties.

He said the corporate organisations category would honour socially responsible corporate bodies, such as multinationals, emerg-

•From left: Omotoso, Mrs Fasehun and Mrs Shasore at the briefing

ing corporate bodies and small and medium scale enterprises, that have, given back to the society they operate.

He said: “The award is to inspire and acknowledge good behaviour as well as engender and sustain attitudinal change among Lagos residents. The search for these exceptional citizens and organisations will extend to all the 57 local gov-

ernment areas/local council development areas in the state and will give residents of the locale the opportunity to identify and nominate those who they feel are worthy of the awards in their localities.”

A panel of judges comprising eminent men and women, he added, would shortlist the prospective nominees, who will be voted for by the public to determine the win-

ners.

Also at the briefing were: Folasade Fasehun, Director, Development Partnership Department, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget; Shola Shasore, Office of Public Private Partnership; Ronke Daniels, Spokesperson, Akoka CDA, and Kelechi Nwosu, Managing Director, TBWA Concepts.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

57

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Mbu scores Lagos polls high

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HE Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone 2, Lagos, Joseph Mbu yesterday described the Governorship and Assembly elections in Lagos as peaceful, free and fair.

He praised the security agencies for “a job well done”.

Mbu who was at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) state collation centre at Yaba, to witness the collation of results, stated that anyone who emerged winner in the election merited it.

While addressing reporters, Mbu described the election as the best ever conducted in Lagos.

Mbu said: “This is going to be one of the best elections ever conducted in Lagos State. Whoever wins is

By Remi Adelowo and Precious Igbonwelundu

winning on merit, whoever comes out as governor is doing so on merit and nobody should begin to cast aspersion on the police or INEC. “We have done our best and there is no problem. I am not in possession of the results but I know it was a keenly contested election, and this is democracy.”

Commending his men and other security agencies for exhibiting high professionalism, he said: “You know me and I hope you know my antecedent. The elections in Edo state, I was there, I was Commissioner of Police (Mobile) then.

“As a junior officer, I was in Yobe, I conducted election in Geshua, one of the

most violent and critical flashpoint. When I was in Niger State, I was Assistant Commissioner then, I did the same thing in Suleja, I did the same thing in Kontagora.

“The policemen here are under my control. You know Lagos has three senatorial zones and each of the zone is being controlled by a Commissioner of Police.

So, Commissioners of Police have been reduced to Zonal Senatorial Commanders and I as an AIG have been reduced to Commissioner of Police because I have left my office and operated from the CP’s office.”

Asked if the police made any arrest with respect to places were violence was recorded, Mbu said: “We are not in heaven where ev-

Three killed in Ife clash

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•Mbu

erything is perfect. We haven’t made any arrest because nothing serious happened. The people conducted themselves very well and the security agencies were readily on hand.”

O fewer than three people were reportedly killed in Ile-Ife, Osun State, yesterday, following violent clashes that greeted the released results of the House of Assembly poll.

It was gathered that supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) engaged each other in the clash in several Ife neighbourhoods.

However, the identities of the deceased could not be confirmed at the time of filing the report but unconfirmed reports said two people were killed in Gbodo Area of the ancient town.

The two victims of Gbodo clash were said to be siblings of a notable politician in the area,

From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo

whose house was also razed during the crises.

Investigation revealed that the clash, which started in the downtown spread to Enuwa, not far from the Ooni’s Palace.

It was further gathered that dangerous weapons, including cutlasses and charms were freely used by the hoodlums.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, was said to have summoned leaders of the two political parties to plead with them to allow peace in the town.

Police authorities could not comment on the incident as mobile phone of the police spokesperson, Folasade Odoro, was not reachable.

Man arraigned for duping church member

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26-year-old man, Samuel Aroma, has been arraigned before the Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for fraudulently obtaining N160, 000 from one Onyinye Nwachukwu on the pretext of securing a job for himself.

Aroma was charged with a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

He pleaded guilty to the offence which the prosecutor, Olatunde Kehinde, said contravened Sections 285 and 312 of Criminal Law of Lagos State.

The claimant, Onyinye Nwachukwu, said she wor-

By Basirat Braimah

shipped in the same church with the accused Onyinye said she gave Aroma N20, 000 the first time he told her about securing a job which he promised to refund after getting a job.

“Since he was a church member, I decided to assist him. He came to me severally for money which I gave him. There was a day he phoned me saying he was in Abuja and they requested an International Passport where he worked so I sent him money. The day I called his mobile line, some-

one else picked his call and when I asked where the person was, he said he was at Agbado crossing in Lagos. I traced the address and I saw him there. It was then I knew he had been lying. I also got to know he was not in search of a job.

“I reported him to Ilupeju Police Station and he was arrested,” she said.

Onyinye, who lives at Adekunle Odunlami Street, Ilupeju in Lagos, said she wants him to refund her money.

Magistrate A.A Fashola adjourned the matter till June 3.

•Egoh’s car with broken glasses

Gunmen attack lawmaker-elect

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•Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (left) congratulating Lagos State Deputy Governor-Elect Dr Idiat Adebule in Lagos...yesterday

OME unidentified gunmen last Thursday reportedly attacked a House of Representatives member-elect, Mr Oghene Egoh, in Lagos.

Egoh told The Nation that the gunmen trailed him from Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos to Mile 2, where he was reportedly attacked around 10pm.

Egoh said he hid himself inside his car, praying to avoid being hit. His car’s side glasses were shattered.

Egoh said he was saved by occupants of a car in front of him, who came down to ascertain what was amiss when his driver hit them from behind.

He said: “The two cars were trailing us, unknown to me, but my driver was driving fast; one was pursuing us, the other was

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

trying to block us. I had to caution my driver, not knowing what was happening. Orile was free until we got to Mile 2, very close to the bus stop, there was traffic around. I just heard ‘gba! gba!’ only to discover that my car side glasses had been shattered completely. I tried hiding in my vehicle, praying to God. “Unfortunately for my attackers, my driver hit a vehicle in front. The owners of the vehicle, four of them, came out but those who attacked us ran, thinking that they were part of my security.”

Egoh said he escaped in a Coaster bus going to Okokomaiko, adding that he alighted at Alakija bus stop before joining another bus to Area “L” Police Command to report

•Egoh

the case.

He thanked God for saving his life.

Egoh said: “The attackers were saying ‘we have been looking for you, we have been looking for you.

You think you can escape from us,’ but they did not mention who sent them.”

He said nothing was taken from him.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

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NEWS

APC candidate Ortom decries killing

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, has condemned the killing of three supporters at Asom in Logo Local Government during last Saturday’s elections.

He vowed to bring to book the perpetrators of the attack, which also left six people in-

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

jured.

Speaking to The Nation after he visited some of the victims at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Apir in Makurdi, Ortom decried the attack on harmless APC members.

Briefing the APC standard-

•Six injured bearer on his arrival at the FMC, the Director-General of Ortom/Abounu Campaign Organisation, Prof. Steven Ugba, said the gunmen in a Toyota car stormed NKST Asom polling unit when the results were being collated and APC was leading.

He said they shot dead

Chiahemba Atim, Mdoter Aondover and Terhemen Orkurga.

According to him, among the injured were Iorvenda Orachii, Imoter Asom, Baaku Terver, Kertorga Naian and Saater Gbuwo.

Ugba condemned the killing. He urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute the culprits.

Dankwambo wins in Gombe

By Vincent Ohonbamu, Gombe

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OMBE State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has been re-elected.

The governor, who won on the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) platform, polled 285,369 votes to beat the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) candidate, Inuwa Yahaya, who got 205,132 votes.

Declaring the results yesterday, the Returning Officer, Prof. Saminu Ibrahim, said Gombe State has 1,102,853 registered voters with 535,081 of them accredited.

Ahmed retains job From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

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WARA State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard-bearer in last Saturday’s election, is coasting home to vic-

tory.

He is leading in the results of the 14 local governments so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Kwara has 16 councils.

These are the results: Isin LG Oyun LG Asa LG APC 5,523 APC 10,277 APC 18,363 PDP 4,202 PDP 4,916 PDP 6,186 LP 99 LP 36 LP 56 Ekiti LG Offa LG Oke-Ero LG APC 6,629 APC 18,569 APC 6,637 PDP 4,329 PDP 4,778 PDP 3,815 LP 299 LP 110 LP 36 Ilorin South LG Patigi LG Irepodun LG APC 21,220 APC 16,335 APC 14,970 PDP 11,439 PDP 333 PDP 7,380 LP 519 LP 13 LP 103 Edu LG Ilorin East LG Ifelodun LG APC 22,963 APC 25,700 APC 25,528 PDP 9,229 PDP 10,923 PDP 8,086 LP 36 LP 296 LP 163 Moro LG Ilorin West APC 16,614 APC 53,284 PDP 6,330 PDP 18,196 LP 521 LP 555

•Youths playing football on Minna road during Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Suleja…at the weekend.

Voting extended in Borno From Duku Joel, Borno

V Abuja residents push for Kwankwaso as FCT Minister

HE Abuja Residents Forum (ARF) yesterday urged Presidentelect Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

ARF, which spoke at a news briefing in Abuja by its leader, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, said the governor has the experience and records of performance to turn Abuja into a masterpiece.

He said: “Yes, we are aware that Kwankwanso has just been elected a senator, but it is our belief that he will be better utilised as a minister under the envisaged dispensation, as Nigerians are eager to reap the benefits of electing Gen. Buhari. It is only tested hands that can help to achieve this.

“Remember that he was governor between 2003 and

T

From: Yusuf Alli, Abuja

2007 before he took a break to serve as the minister of Defence. He returned to Kano Government House in 2011where he performed his development miracle in the state.

“The FCT does not have a governor. So, residents lack the power to elect who governs the territory. Appointing Kwankwanso as FCT minister will have the multiple advantage of ensuring that someone with a sound pedigree and great antecedents is put in charge.

“Kwankwaso is noted for infrastructural development. The FCT will benefit from such a leader with a vision.

“The residents also need a

minister with a listening ear and also someone who can give the President peace of mind. Kwankwanso’s dependability makes him fit into this bill.

“He was deputy speaker, House of Representatives, between 1992 and 1993 and board member (Rep Northwest) Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) “Over 1,000 students from the state are studying in universities in Nigeria and abroad on government scholarship in addition to other first class institutions he established within the short period.”

The forum leader said it decided to make a recommendation to the Presidentelect because of the need to make Abuja a model city.

He added: “Our aim is to see to the progress of FCT and improvement of welfare of its residents. “ We congratulate the President-elect, Gen. Buhari, on his well-deserved victory after three strenuous trials. Your victory is a lesson for the younger generation of Nigerians in perseverance, dedication and patience. “ We hail President Goodluck Jonathan for displaying statesmanship, humility and exemplary attitude for humanity to emulate in conceding defeat even before the official announcement of the results.”

On the occasion were some of the executive members of the forum including Olushola Emmanuel, Comrade Mohammed Usman, Alhaji Hussaini Yusuf, Evangelist Charles Okehislem and Mrs. Veronica Joseph.

Police arrest eight for post-election protests IGHT persons are being held by the police in Kwara State for alleged post-election protests in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The suspects, mainly youths, were allegedly caught wielding guns, knives and charms. They reportedly embarked on a shooting spree yesterday to harass people.

It was learnt that the trouble began when news of the All Progressives Congress (APC) victory in the governorship election was broken in some parts of the

E

•Hoodlums invade monarch’s palace From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

state about noon.

The Nation gathered that youths believed to be supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Niger Street, Ikokoro Street and Taiwo Isale, armed with weapons, trooped out to protest the outcome of the poll.

Sources said the hoodlums allegedly engaged security operatives in a shootout on Niger Road in

Ilorin about 9am, but they were overpowered and arrested by the police.

Also, supporters of a party went on the rampage at Osi in Ekiti Local Government to protest APC’s victory.

The thugs were said to have invaded the palace of the Osi monarch, Oba Ibrahim Arowobeku II, vandalising his car.

Two other cars parked in the community were also destroyed.

Police spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi confirmed

the arrest of the suspects. He said they would be prosecuted.

According to him, nobody died in the violence.

OTING continued yesterday at IDPS camps in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, following logistic and operational hitches.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Samuel Madaki, said the shift of the poll was caused by the late arrival of materials on Saturday due to poor weather condition.

Some of the camps where voting was held included Yerwa camp, Arabic Teachers College, Metro Police Ground, Government College and others in the Maiduguri metropolis.

Ganduje beats PDP candidate in HE Peoples Demohis council cratic Party (PDP)

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governorship candidate, Malam Sagir Salihu Takai, lost in his local government, Takai, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard-bearer, Dr.

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Takai polled 19, 855 votes and the APC candidate got 32,012 votes.

APC accuses PDP of disrupting poll From James Azania, Lokoja

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of disrupting the Dekina/Okura Constituency 1 election.

Addressing reporters yesterday at Ayingba in Dekina Local Government, the APC Returning Officer, Patrick Ojogbane, alleged that the thugs loyal to the PDP, during accreditation at some polling units in Iyale and Egume communities, snatched election materials and destroyed them.

He alleged that fake ballot papers were also brought to the polling units at Ayingba and its environs, while the original ones were thumb printed at the Kogi State University Guest House and three other locations in Ayingba.

Ojogbane said: “We reported the matter to the police at Ayingba, but they ignored us. We attempted to access the area, but the institution’s security operatives denied us access.

“When the pressure was much, the police later went there and arrested the Special Assistant to the Governor on MDG, Haliru Abdul and two other special assistants.

“When we got to the police station, the AIG told us they have been taken to Lokoja, but we later discovered that they were taken to Idah, where a deal was struck to release them. We later learnt that the elections have been cancelled.”

50 Corps members regain freedom after 20hrs detention

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IFTY members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nasarawa State and other ad hoc workers held hostage by villagers in Assakio, Adogi and Shige, Lafia Local Government yesterday regained freedom.

Narrating their ordeal to

From Frank Ikpefan, Lafia

reporters in Lafia, the state capital, one of them, Mr. Adamu Anzalu, said they and others were picked up by security operatives on Shendam Road, close to Assakio where they were held captive.

He said they were held

hostage because the collation and returning officers absconded and the villagers insisted that unless the officers arrived, they would not release them.

Anzalu said: “I have to persuade the villagers that the results would not be altered before we were released 20 hours after.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

59

NEWS Agbaje congratulates Ambode •Alao-Akala hails Ajimobi

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HE Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has called to congratulate his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on his electoral victory.

Agbaje called Ambode at 6:50 pm and prayed for the governor-elect. He said he looks forward to a more prosperous Lagos.

Also, in Oyo State, Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate Adebayo Alao-Akala has hailed Governor Abiola Ajimobi for his victory at the poll.

A statement by Alao-Akala’s Director of Public Affairs, Oludare Ogunlana, said the former governor called Ajimobi before the result was announced.

He said his decision to congratulate the governor was borne out of the need to respect the people’s wish.

Alao-Akala advised the governor to be magnanimous in victory and devise ways of taking the state higher.

He reaffirmed that he did

not see himself as a loser as he heeded the people’s call to serve.

Emphasising the need to run a people-oriented government, he said: “At this point in time, all governmental policies must reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

“The governor should deploy all resources at his disposal for the development of the state, leaving no region behind.”

Alao-Akala thanked those who voted for him and other lawmakers-elect, saying “defeat makes people stronger.

We will go back to the drawing board to see where we went wrong and readjust for future aspiration”.

“Our supporters should not be sad; rather they should be happy that a party they joined few months ago is able to make a good showing at the poll.

He also advised the people to cooperate with Ajimobi.

“No government can work on its own; the people must cooperate and contribute their quota to the development of the state,” he advised.

Aregbesola: let’s guard democracy

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SUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has called on Nigerians to guard democracy jealously.

The governor made the appeal during a broadcast in Osun, titled: “Watering the tree of democracy with love and determination,” yesterday.

He praised the people for their conduct before, during and after the elections, saying Osun was among the few peaceful states.

“The pattern, shape and the result are indications of your diligent planting and nurture of the tree of democracy in the last 16 years; and the buds of

its early fruits.

“Election is now assuming its true definition as political empowerment for the people.

With your voter card, you now determine those who rule over you.

“This is the most critical first test of democracy since 1999, a free and fair election in which the people choose their leaders, and you have passed it in flying colours.

“I congratulate you for this historic achievement. What we need to do now is to guard it jealously and build on this solid foundation the superstructure of productivity, development, security and life more abundant for all.”

•Chief Observer, European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission in Nigeria, Santiago Fisas, speaking on the governorship and House of Assembly elections at St. Paul School, Breadfruit Street, Lagos Island on Saturday.

PHOTO: NAN

Victim’s mum shocked over impersonation

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HE true mother of Modupe Taiwo, who was killed in last Tuesday’s violence at Ekiti State, has expressed shock over an alleged impersonation by Mrs. Apeke Olaya, who claimed to be the mother of her late son.

Mrs. Deborah Akinyemi, in a chat with The Nation at her home in Idagba Quarters of Efon Alaaye, said she was surprised that Mrs. Olaya could claim to be the mother of her son at a news conference held at the Government House, Ado-Ekiti in the wake of the killing.

The news conference on Wednesday was organised by the government, with Mrs. Olaya telling reporters that her ‘son’ was killed in the April 7 violence at Itawure, on the outskirts of Efon Alaaye, as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and supporters were protesting the impeachment proceedings against Fayose.

Mrs. Olaya cried and rolled

•Exonerates APC lawmaker of complicity From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

on the ground, claiming she was ‘pained’ by the death of her ‘son’.

Mrs. Olaya accused the House of Assembly member representing Efon, Folorunso Ogundele, who belongs to the All Progressives Congress (APC), of complicity in the killing of Modupe, who was a father of two.

The maternity scandal is already causing ripples in both families and the community.

But the authentic mother of Modupe, Mrs. Akinyemi, who was surrounded by mourners and sympathisers when reporters visited her, said Mrs. Olaya was an aunt to the deceased as she (Mrs. Olaya) is the younger sister of the deceased’s father.

The distraught mother also queried the claim in government quarters that Ogundele, the lawmaker representing

Efon, was responsible for the killing of her son.

Exonerating Ogundele of complicity in the killing, Mrs. Akinyemi said she had accepted her fate and left justice to God. Mrs. Akinyemi said she gave birth to the deceased from her marriage to her first husband (Mr. Olaya) who, according to her, was killed in the violence that rocked the 1983 election before her marriage to her husband.

She said the state government had not sent a message to her on the killing of her son, whom she said left behind a wife and two children.

Mrs. Akinyemi said Mrs. Olaya did not obtain the family’s permission before going to the Government House to claim she was the mother of the deceased, saying she was embarrassed to hear the news from neighbours and her family, who

watched the ‘drama’ on the state television.

Mrs. Akinyemi said: “I don’t know who killed my son. I don’t know; I can’t say.

They were saying it was one lawmaker, who killed my son, how can that be?

“I last saw him (Modupe) two days before his death. He was my fourth child and was born in May 1982. His colleagues said he was among those protesting.

“The woman, who went to the Government House, was his aunt. I’m his true mother.

She (Mrs. Olaya) went there without the knowledge of the family.

“I was shocked when the woman claimed she was the mother. She didn’t bring anything to me, but I know she is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member.

“I have not seen his body since. My son is irreplaceable. There is nothing I can do as a poor widow but I have left vengeance to God.”

Jubilation in Ogun as Amosun floors Isiaka

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• Ogun State Deputy Governor-elect,Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga during the governorship election... at the weekend

GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun was yesterday declared winner of the governorship election.

He was declared winner at the situation room of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abeokuta, the state capital, at 11:55 am by the Returning Officer, Prof.

Duro Oni Oni, who is deputy vice chancellor, University of Lagos, said Amosun emerged winner by scoring 306,988 votes against his main challenger, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 201,440 votes.

Other candidates include Senator Akin Odunsi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Rotimi Paseda of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and 13 others.

Odunsi, who came third, got 25,826 votes while the fourth, Prince Rotimi Paseda, scored 10, 923 votes.

Amosun won 11 of the 20 local government areas to retain his seat for another term of four years.

The APC also got 17 House of Assembly seats against nine for the PDP.

•APC gets 17 assembly seats, PDP nine

By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor, and Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The state capital was thrown into jubilation once Amosun was declared winner. Residents poured into the streets for a victory celebration.

Amosun, his wife, Olufunso, the deputy governor elect, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, and other APC chieftains led the crowd through the popular Sokori road, thanking the people for their support and votes.

The victory train stopped over at the Amosun family home at Ita-Iyalode in Abeokuta North, where the governor prayed at his father’s grave.

A breakdown of the election result showed that Amosun won in Obafemi - Owode, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ewekoro, Odeda, Remo North, Ikene, Ifo, Ogun Waterside, Sagamu and Ado - Odo/ Ota local government areas.

Isiaka won in nine councils; Egbado North, Egbado South, Ijebu North, Ijebu East, Ipokia, Ijebu Ode, Odoogbolu, Ijebu North East and

‘Ogun people should expect the best from Governor Amosun in the next four years. He is going to take the state to another level’ Imeko-Afon.

Prof. Oni said elections did not hold in nine polling units; Odeda, Ogun Waterside and Sagamu - areas with 2,343 registered voters, noting, however, that the number could not invalidate the results.

After signing the final results at the INEC headquarters, the Director-General of Amosun Campaign Organisation, Chie Bode Mustapha, praised the electoral commission for introducing the Card Readers, which, he said,

helped in making people’s votes to count.

He said the performance of the governor in the state informed his victory.

Mustapha added: “Ogun people should expect the best from Governor Amosun in the next four years. He is going to take the state to another level; I can assure the people.”

But, the Isiaka Campaign Organisation (GNICO), in a statement after the declaration, described the election “as unfortunate and a travesty staged to help the APC achieve victory”.

It added: “Whereas, INEC declared APC the winner with 307,008 votes and the PDP second with 201,440 votes, we are not oblivious of the manipulations, misrepresentation, underhand dealings and outright rigging by the APC; and most unfortunately with the culpability of INEC. “Let us quickly state emphatically that we are displeased with the outcome of the governorship election, particularly as being irregular in most aspects. It is clearly not a true reflection of Ogun people’s wish and it will be challenged as appropriate.”

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

NEWS APC kicks as Wike leads in Rivers

APC's Bagudu wins Kebbi governorship election

Continued from page 2

where a police officer was arrested with ballot papers and result sheets, the APC supporters yesterday protested that election did not hold in their area.

When The Nation visited the area on Saturday, there were no INEC officers or Corps members in the three Obite communities in Etche.

Voters waited till 4pm before they departed to their various homes after they discovered that election was not going to take place.

A House of Assembly candidate for the Advance Congress of Democrat (ACD) in Etche, Hon. Samuel Ali, said elections did not take place in the area. He said: “The people of the area are calling on the INEC to come and conduct election in the area.

“This morning we discovered that why election did not hold in the area is because some certain politicians hijacked both the INEC officials and the materials to their houses where election

From Sanni Onogu and Kadijat Saidu, Abuja

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OVERNORSHIP candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi State, Senator Atiku Bagudu, yesterday won the state's governorship elections.

Aside Bagudu, almost all APC House of Assembly candidates also won their elections.

The APC won 19 local governments of the 21 Local Governments in the state leaving only two for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Gen. Sarkin Yaki Bello.

Kebbi comprises 21 local governments.

The results were announced by the collation officer for the governorship election in the state, Prof. Lawal Mohammed.

The PDP won only two local governments.

The APC won the elections landslide.

According to Lawal, the total registered voters in the state is 1,454,369 of which 873,542 were accredited vote.

•Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke (left) embracing PDP candidate Ben Ayade at his Itigidi home in celebration of victory at the polls.

Jubilation in Epe over Ambode’s victory

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ANY drinking spots in Epe, Lagos State, were on Sunday thrown open to supporters and well-wishers of All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Akinwunmi Ambode who was declared winner of the state’s governorship election.

INEC had announced that Ambode secured 811,994 votes to beat his closest rival Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 659, 788 votes.

Ambode is from Epe. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that residents trooped in their thousands into the streets jubilating over the victory of their son as soon as the announcement was made.

NAN also reports that youths in their hundreds rushed down to Ambode’s resident at Papa area to celebrate the victory only to discover that he had travelled to Lagos to await the announcement of the result.

However, those who thronged to the governorelect’s resident did not come back empty-handed as they

were t entertained by musicians and given gifts such as hand towels, rice, sugar and cash.

NAN correspondent also reports that some APC stalwarts in the area organised parties in their houses to celebrate the victory.

Some of the residents, who spoke with NAN, said that they believed the victory would bring some positive developments to the community.

Mr Ibrahim Agbadanla, former councillor, ward A3 said that over the years, the community had suffered from lack of amenities and believed that Ambode’s victory would change the situation.

Agbadanla said that Ambode, who he described as a true son of the community knew what was lacking in the community and would do his best to ameliorate the situation.

Also speaking with NAN, Mr Alao Magaji, a local politician said that the community had every reason to celebrate as it was the first time that one of their own had made such a significant achievement.

Abia governorship election result stalemated

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HE results of Saturday’s governorship election in Abia stalemated midway following the reversal of the cancellation of three local governments results by the Returning Officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba.

Ozumba had announced the cancellation of results from Osisioma, Obingwa and Isialangwa North Local Government Areas on the grounds of “incontrovertible evidence of violence’’ and reports from international observers.

The returning officer reversed the decision after Gov. Theodore Orji-led chieftains of PDP consulted with the Resident Electoral Officer (REC), Prof. Selina Oko and Ozumba.

Ozumba said the cancella-

tion was reversed due to fresh information concerning the conduct of the election in the three council areas.

He said that polling centres with issues would be isolated and decisions taken on them later.

The polling agent of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Ahamdi Nweke, had questioned the rationale behind the decision by the returning officer to reverse his earlier pronouncement.

Nweke insisted that elections did not take place in Osisioma, adding that the party would not accept any result from the area.

He tendered a hand-written note reportedly signed by the Commissioner of Police, Mr

Ambode, Ajimobi, Ahmed, Amosun, others win polls Continued from page 2

LAGOS GOVERNORSHIP RESULTS APC PDP Ibeju Lekki 14,696 11,292 Lagos Island 34,232 16,111 Badagry 27,086 22,664 Ajeromi Ifelodun 42,954 52,596 Eti-Osa 28,082 24,486 Mainland 31,836 26,889 Ikeja 33,178 26,419 Amuwo Odofin 6,349 35,168 Oshodi Isolo 42,835 43,904 Ifako Ijaiye 46,485 26,898 Epe 31,498 13,425 Ikorodu 52,061 35,259 Apapa 22,169 19,486 Surulere 51,404 54,202 Mushin 60,220 38,620 Agege 46,909 32,885 Ojo 31,910 34,693 Kosofe 53,890 40,253 Alimosho 90,558 67,480

Habila Joshak, indicating that electoral materials recovered from the bush in Osisioma were in the police custody.

Joshak, who was at the centre, did not controvert the Nweke’s assertion.

Proceedings were later disrupted after an international observer, Ms Shirle Wilson, from Noble Leadership Initiative, United Kingdom, testified at the centre that “0election did not take place in Osisioma’’.

Wison said that election in the area was marred by violence and snatching of ballot boxes and other electoral materials by hoodlums.

The pronouncement heightened tension at the centre, leading to the adjournment of further announcement of results.

The controversial result from Osisioma, which had earlier been announced, showed that PDP scored 42,442, while APGA polled 1017.

Meanwhile, results from 10 local government areas have been announced.

In his reaction, APGA governorship candidate Alex Otti described the governor’s appearance at the collation centre as “an abuse of power, designed to intimidate and exert undue influence on the electoral officials’’.

The governor was accompanied by the Minister of State for Defence, Rtd. Col. Austin Akobundu, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, and Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, among others.

for the area took place. Don’t forget we arrested police officer with electoral materials.

“One person was killed in the area and an INEC official was caught diverting electoral materials. There is no election. INEC must admit that all these things took place on Saturday. We are saying INEC must conduct election in my area.

In Obio/Akpor Local Government area, the home town of the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Nyesom Wike, got 224,888 votes as against the APC’s 9,844 votes, in spite of the fact that armed men invaded the area and carted away electoral materials during the elections.

At Obio/Akpor Ward 15 and 16, INEC materials were hijacked but APC supporters ensured the elections were cancelled.

After the declaration of the result in the area, APC leaders allegedly said the results were written in Wike’s bedroom.

votes to defeat Labour Party (LP) candidate Edward Nkwegu, who got 124,817 votes.

The APC candidate in Adamawa State, Senator Jibrilla Bindow, is ahead .

With results from 17 local governments so far released, he has polled 280,160 votes.

His closest rival, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Markus Gundiri, scored 162,072.

The local government won by the APC are: Yola North, Yola South, Jada, Mubi South, Shelleng, Mayo -Belwa, Gombi, Girei, Song, and Maiha.

Gundiri, won in Madagali, Michika, Lamurde, Hong, Numan, Demsa and Guyuk.

Results were being awaited from three local governments.

The PDP candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a distant third with 74,957 votes. Dr Ahmed Modibbo of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) scored 7,220 votes The APC governorship candidate in Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, took an unassailable lead winning in 17 of the 18 local government areas where results were declared yesterday. There are 25 councils in the state.

The APC candidate is ahead of PDP’s Umar Nasko who had a good showing only in his council, Magama Local Government Area.

Bello got 443, 393 votes.

Nasko had 171, 986. Elections were still going on in four local government areas.

Nasarawa State Governor

Tanko Al- Makura took the lead after results of nine local government areas were announced. He won in eight of the nine. All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate and former Information Minister Labaran Maku won in his home local government Nasarawa Eggon.

Almakura won in Wamba, Obi, Akwanga, Keffi, Karu, Keana, Kokona and Nasarawa local government areas.

Results from four local governments were being awaited last night.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima of the APC maintained a steady lead in the 15 local government areas so far declared by INEC 184,094 votes, with the PDP trailing with 7,951 votes. But the full result will not be released till today because elections were rescheduled in some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp.

Besides, results were being awaited from 12 local government areas.

•Shettima

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY RESULT OSUN: BAUCHI: EBONYI: OYO: EDO : EKITI: KWARA: KANO:

APC 24 seats, PDP 2 seats APC – 28, PDP- 2, PDM-1 PDP-23, PPA-1 APC - 18 seats, Accord - 8 seats, Labour Party - 6 seats APC- 16, PDP-0 PDP 26, APC 0 APC 24, PDP 0 APC 40, PDP 0

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

61

NEWS GOVERNORSHIP AND HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS RESULTS

•Lagos State Governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode (third right); Deputy Governor-elect Dr. Aderanti Adebule (right); Ambode’s wife Bolanle (middle); Lagos All Progressives Congress Chairman Chief Henry Ajomale (second right); APC Deputy Chairman (West) Cardinal James Odumbaku (third left); and others at the Ambode’s victory celebration at the party’s secretariat, PHOTO: NIYI ADENIRAN ACME Road, Ikeja...last night.

APC candidate Ortom coasts home to victory in Benue

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, is coasting home to victory in the governorship elections held in the state on Saturday.

With 22 local government areas governorship election results announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) electoral officers, the APC candidate is leading with 91,564 votes.

Of the 22 local government area results announced, APC received 387, 753 votes. The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) got 296,189 votes.

APC has already won in 14 local governments while the PDP won in eight.

Only one local government area, Buruku, is still being awaited.

Observers said that the only outstanding local government would not make any

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Makurdi

difference in the entire result.

Already, APC supporters in the state have taken to the streets in wild celebration of their victory.

One major upset in the election was the defeat of PDP in Otukpo Local Government Area, where the Senate President, David Mark, hails from.

The APC candidate received 15,715 votes to PDP candidate’s 14,519 votes.

Other votes announced included Gwer East Local Government, APC 23831 votes while PDP got 12,657 votes; Oju Local Government, APC16,948, PDP 10,491.

In Vandekya APC got 33,075 while PDP received 15,228 votes, Tarka Local Government, APCGOT 14,888 votes to defeat PDP which received 3,571 votes.

In Makurdi Local Government, APC had upper hand

with 33,245 votes while PDP got 23,550, Obgadibo Local Government also had upper hand with 7,892 votes to PDP’s 7,358 votes.

In Obi Local Government APC 7,786 votes while PDP got 8, 440 votes also in Okpoku Local Government APC 7,209 votes while PDP received 10,849 votes.

In Apa Local Government, APC got 7,132 votes while PDP received 7,582 votes.

In Gwer West, APC secured 11,844 votes while PDP received 13,033 votes.

In Agatu Local Government APC got 5, 860 while PDP received 15,032.

In Logo Local government, Governor Gabriel Suswam’s local government, PDP got 26,964 votes while APC received 8,852 votes.

The returning officer said that only PDP agent endorsed the result. He also said that 11 polling units were cancelled while there

were cases of ballot box snatching, kidnapping and burning down of INEC office in the area.

Other results announced included, Katsina Ala, where APC got 17,266 while PDP received 25,841.

In Gboko, APC scored 55,002 while PDP got 17,042.

Ushongo Local government: APC received 24,199 votes to PDP’s 13,122 votes. In Ado, APC got 6,618 while PDP received 7,123 votes Guma local government: APC got 11,545 votes while PDP received 26,917 votes.

In Konshisha, APC received 31,410 votes while PDP secured 8,268 votes.

Also, in Ukum, APC received 13,735 votes while PDP got 9,471 votes.

In Kwande, APC got 33,701 votes while PDP received 19,132 votes.

APC received 6,294 votes to defeat PDP with 6,135 votes in Ohimili local government.

Navy foils pirates’ attempt to hijack ship

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TTEMPTS by 10 suspected pirates to hijack a foreign vessel, MT IMAS was at the weekend foiled by the Nigerian Navy (NN) on the Lagos waterways.

The operation, which was carried out by personnel of the Western Naval Command (WNC) who were on pre-election patrol, led to the arrest of one of the suspects identified as Shola Sama.

It was learnt that the other nine who had successfully boarded the distressed vessel opened fire upon sighting the NN but later bowed to the superior force of Naval personnel.

Sama, 31 and father of three, however denied being a pirate, claiming he was a businessman going about his lawful duty, adding that he was nabbed while trying to rescue his younger brother who fell into the water after his boat capsided.

He claimed that he sells food and other things such as recharge cards to ships with his passenger ship, in exchange of petrol.

By Precious Igbonwelundu

He said that he usually bought the items for about N2000 and would sell for as much as N4500 and went as much as thrice a day.

He said: “I went to sea to collect my product with a 50kg jerrican. I was with my younger brother, Gbenga and I had N400 thousand with me. That is how we usually drive around and I am not the only one in the business.

“After filling the keg, the wave came and there was a vessel that was pumping sand when it passed, the wave hit my boat and it capsided with my younger brother so I was trying to rescue him, it pushed me away .

“I was swimming and shouting to ship that was coming. A man said they should throw rope for me.

They threw rope and I was begging them to allow me come into their ship that I used to buy market from them.

“He said they were coming. They called a white man and they said I should wait.

The next minute, they brought a lifebouy and I went to the boat. They asked what I was doing I explained.

The next place I found myself was Navy base.”

But explaining how the suspect was caught, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), WNC, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango said the distressed vessel radioed the NN that she was under attack by pirates.

He explained that NN boat was deployed and after exchange of gun fire with the pirates who had two boats, some of them sustained injuries and were dislodged, while Sama was nabbed.

Ango said: “As part of our preparations and actions for the just conducted election, we deployed our ships to cover the inland waterways and also to protect the ships and patrol the territorial water.

Fortunately for us, one of the ships, MT IMAS, raised the alarm around 01:20 that she was under attack by pirates and one of our patrol boats that was close by went

immediately to her rescue and in the process, saw two boats loaded with pirates and there was an exchange of fire.

“We managed to dislodge the pirates from the attack.

We injured a few of them and we also captured one of them whom we brought here for proper investigation .

“Their intention was to board the vessel and either kidnap the foreigners on board or steal the product. Or take the ship as ransom and go and sell the product somewhere. But the alarm raised through the distress channel which we all have, foiled their attempt.

“This is part of the measures we are taking to assure Lagosians especially and Nigerians in general that the NN is very much ready for the security of the water ways “And if there are miscreants or hoodlums who think they can use the waterways to cause any harm or damage, we want to let them know the NN is very much ready and up to the task to prevent them from doing that.”

Elliot, Lai Mohammed’s son, others win in Lagos

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OLLYWOOD actor Desmond Elliot of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday polled 23,141 votes at the Surulere state constituency l to emerge winner.

Mr Bayo Smith of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 12,546 votes.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Dr Mariam Quadri, made the declaration at the Surulere Collation Centre.

For Surulere Constituency ll, the Returning Officer declared Mrs. Mosunmola Sangodara-Rotimi of PDP winner with 33, 583 votes closely trailed by Mr Abiodun Awobotu of APC with 32, 767 votes.

Mr Folajimi Mohammed, the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, who is son of Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC’s spokesman, was declared the winner of Ikeja Constituency l House of Assembly election.

INEC Returning Officer, Mr Onochie Mordi, said Mohammed scored 13, 603 votes and James Ndubuisi of APGA scored 35. ‘Adetoye Ibrahim, LP scored five and Obhafuoso A. Robert of the PDP scored 10, 537 votes.

INEC also declared Adedamola Kasunmu (APC) winner of Ikeja Constituency ll seat. He scored 19, 909 votes to emerge the winner.

Mr Adekunle Salvador, the Returning Officer, Lagos Island Constituency 2 for State House of Assembly Election, said that Shakirudeen scored 16,645 votes to defeat Mr Lateef Oluwanisola of PDP who got 7,676 votes.

Also, Mr Adekanye Oladele, the APC state House of Assembly candidate for Lagos Mainland I was on Sunday declared the winner of the constituency election held on Saturday.

An Associate Prof. Monday Ubangha, the returning officer for the election in the constituency, declared Oladele the winner of the election having polled 18, 000 votes to defeat his major challenger Mr Ishola Jelili Balogun of PDP who scored 16, 641.

Mr Moshood Olarenwaju Oshun, the APC state House

of Assembly candidate for Lagos Mainland II, in early hours of Sunday, was also declared the winner of the state constituency election held on Saturday.

Mrs Ifueko Bello, the returning officer, declared Olanrewaju the winner having polled 12, 147 votes to defeat his major challenger Mr Ibrahim Ajiga of PDP who scored 9,985.

The APC won the two constituency seats in the Mushin House of Assembly election.

INEC announced the APC Candidate, Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho, as the winner of the Mushin House of Assembly Constituency 1.

The commission also declared Hon. Olayiwola Olawale of the APC as the winner for the Mushin House of Assembly constituency II. PDP’s Dipo Olorunrinu and Hakeem Bello were on Sunday declared winners of Amuwo Odofin State Assembly Constituency I and II seats.

Also, Mr Mudashiru Obasa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner for the Lagos State House of Assembly elections in Agege Constituency 01.

Similarly, Mr Ishahu Gbolahan and Mr Kazeem Alimi, of APC won the two seats in EtiOsa constituency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Oluwa Olatunji Fatai of the PDP was on Sunday returned as the winner of the House of Assembly election for Ajeromi-Ifelodun Constituency Two. The PDP candidatesShokunle Hakeem and Emeka Idimogu- were declared winners in the two state constituencies in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area.

•Elliot

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

62

NEWS GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

•From left: APC National Leader ;Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President-elect, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, his wife, Dolapo , Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Behind Aregbesola is Lagos State Deputy Governor, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire at the celebration of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode’s victory as governor-elect in Lagos...yesterday.

•Continued from page 5 everything.

Bode George The embattled PDP chieftain had dreamt of becoming a political godfather by backing the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos state, Jimi Agbaje. George had initially threatened to go into exile if Buhari wins the presidential election. But he mustered the last courage in him to see whether he would make history by installing Agbaje as governor. Like he failed in 2011 in the bid to install Dr. Ade Dosumu as governor, George lost again in the second attempt.

Political pundits are still expecting when the ‘Lagos boy’ will bid Lagos bye state as he had earlier threatened.

Musiliu Obanikoro Obanikoro is the Minister of Foreign Affairs II. He is most controversial minister, a position he got after losing the party’s ticket to Agbaje. Obanikoro was roundly criticised by stakeholders, who believed the slot should have gone to another person. Though his political balloon was punctured mid-way, Obanikoro still believes that if the PDP could win Lagos, it would be the beginning of political reformation for him as a politician, unfortunately the party lost to APC.

Nuru Ribadu Ribadu was the former anti-graft czar, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who made his mark as anti-corruption crusader, a platform that gave him a political leverage when he veered into politics. Ribadu, who in his early political life pitched his tent with the progressives by joining the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

He was the ACN standard bearer at

Winners and losers ‘ mattered most.

Shekarau, the current minister for Education, eventually pitched his tent with the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and was a party to the formation of the APC. At this point, he fell apart with the progressives and joined the PDP. He was quickly compensated with a ministerial slot. the presidential election in 2011.

However, he defected to the PDP where he was the party’s candidate in Saturday’s governorship election where he lost the battle to APC.

Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa Attahiru Bafarawa was the twotime governor of Sokoto State under the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

After his tenure, he was a frequent guest to the EFCC for an alleged N6 billion fraud. In order to be left off the hook, he joined the PDP and contested for president in 2007.

Saturday’s election in the state eroded his political credentials as the APC candidate, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal won the governorship election.

Ibrahim Shekarau Shekarau was one of the chieftains of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples

‘

Party (ANPP), where he was elected as governor twice. When the political storm blew across ANPP to the extent that the party was on verge of collapse, Shekarau remained the last man standing, a feat that attracted the Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka to visit him. The literary icon gave him a pat on the back for withstanding the political storm of that era.

Shekarau, the current minister for Education, eventually pitched his tent with the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and was a party to the formation of the APC. At this point, he fell apart with the progressives and joined the PDP. He was quickly compensated with a ministerial slot.

With the new political order in the state and the political revolution going out in the country, Shekarau the great mathematician failed to deliver Kano State to PDP when it

Tom Ikimi

Chief Tom Ikimi was former Foreign Affairs Minister. In his recent political sojourn, he pitched his tent with the progressives and was one of the frontliners to negotiate the merger of the defunct ACN with other political parties to become APC. However shortly after the merger, Ikimi, who was eyeing the chairmanship of the APC, lost to his kinsman, Chief John OdigieOyegun. This forced him to his former party, the PDP. With Saturday’s defeat of the PDP candidate in his Edo state, once again he has been given the humble pie to eat and possibly put where he belong politically.

Tony Anenih Chief Tony Anenih in the last 20 years has been in the main stream of the nation’s politics. He used to play the role of the ‘Big Boss’. At a point, he was nick-named ‘Mr. Fix it’. His voice is always loud in the PDP. He is the chairman of the Board of Trustee (BoT) of the PDP, a position he has used to his advantage to become a king maker. However, his political balloon was deflated when APC candidate, Comrade Adam Osihomole defeated him at home and made nonsense of his so -called larger than life image. He managed to win only three seats in the 24-member House of Assembly in Saturday’s election, losing the rest to the APC.

Rasheed Ladoja Ladoja was the former governor of Oyo State on the platform of PDP. He was however caught in the political storm of the party when he parted ways with his political godfather, the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu and he was impeached.

Though the impeachment was reversed by the Supreme Court, things never remained the same for Ladoja in the PDP. By the time he re-launched himself into politics, the PDP was in tatters in the state. This forced him to form the Accord party where he made some impacts and taught he could ride on the party’s platform to the Government House in Ibadan. But the election proved to the ship the magnate and businessman that politics in not a tea party.

Adebayo Alao-Akala Alao-Akala is the former governor of Oyo State. The former police officer is a grassroots mobiliser, a feat he used in getting the ticket to the Government House under the PDP. When Alao-Akala wanted to re contest, the Ogbomoso-born politician could not withstand the storm in the PDP. He defected to Labour Party (LP).

Alao-Akala, who believes he can rely on his previous political sagacity to turn things round in his new LP, he met his political waterloo.

Dr Mike Omotosho Omotosho was in supply Chain Management and Distribution before he veered into politics. He joined the PDP in Kwara State and participated in the House of Representatives primaries, which he lost. He crossed to the LP and decided to give a shot at the governorship. Omotosho, whose nickname is Omotosure boasted to his supporters he was on a mission to take Kwara out of bondage by uprooting the political dynasty of the former governor of the state, Senator Bukola Saraki.

With the Saturday elections, Omosoho’s ambition was just a mere wish and an illusion. He lost to incumbent Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of the APC.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015

NEWS

Buhari: violators of constitution, election riggers ’ll be punished From Tony Akowe, Daura

•Gen. Buhari

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OVERNMENT officials and agents subverting the nation’s constitution should not expect to go unpunished, the Presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari, has warned.

Buhari told reporters at the weekend in his Daura hometown, Katsina State, that anyone, whatever his political allegiance, found to be working against the constitution would be brought to book.

Saying he was ready to work in concert with the National As-

sembly to ensure constitutional amendments where necessary, the president-elect added that he would encourage the implementation of the Uwais report, especially in the area of institution of a special court to try electoral offenders.

He said: “I will look for understanding and cooperation from the National Assembly when a change of the constitution or Electoral Act is necessary.

“So, for me to make up my mind here and later try to lobby is out of it because some of them, if they are very hard, they will give me a tough time.

“I will say that I haven’t read the Uwais report. But I have read a few of the extracts from the papers. I think it is a good thing and we will encourage it.

But we need to get a comprehensive report from the field.”

He cited the lawlessness that characterised the elections in parts of the country, especially Rivers, Imo and Edo states.

Gen. Buhari said Nigerians deserve to know “which of the law enforcement agencies and

at what levels are undermining the constitution of Nigeria because the Electoral Act is derived from the constitution of the country. So, that in future, those who are in positions will know that they are not beyond the law.

“I think that is what will bring more stability into the system. In view of that, I will try and work with the National Assembly to make sure that we do something about it.

“I will like to work within the system because we believe in it.

I have just told you about three governors and the battle they have with the law enforcement agents in their states.

“We discussed and advised them to try and document these things legally so that it can be taken before the court and we will make sure that people who work against the law are prosecuted, especially those who have lost their immunity and those who think they have immunity because this is the best way to stabilise the system.

“People must not benefit from

being lawless. You can’t be in a position by virtue of the constitution, then subvert the constitution and continue to enjoy the privileges offered by the constitution. I don’t think that will be acceptable by the APC. So, whether you are in the opposition or the government, you have to behave yourself. I think that is the way we can make progress”.

On the violence in Lagos and Rivers states, Buhari said: “I think we should allow the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to give its comprehensive report. Meanwhile, as you mentioned in some of the states, especially in Rivers and Lagos, the two parties are slugging it out. I think we have to take our time and let us get as much report as possible in accordance with the Electoral Act. “I personally want to be legal about this so that people will appreciate that we believe in a system. What we need to do is to modify the system according to

the law if we don’t like it and that no one should come out and do to the system whatever he likes.

“For what is happening in Lagos, I think that for whatever political reason, the PDP wants to have Lagos by all means.

“I have a lot of respect for the governor of Rivers State; for his courage. It has been a long time, as you all know, where at a certain time, the Commissioner of a Police virtually hijacked the state and the governor was virtually sentenced to the streets, fighting thugs without law enforcement agents to survive as governor, while the constitution made it very clear to all of us that the governor is the chief security officer of the state.

“So, a lot of unconstitutional and lawless acts of the PDP are on record and we intend to make the PDP understand it and make sure that according to law, those who are responsible for that are taken to the court and properly charged.”

Akinwunmi Ambode: The story of the Nigerian Dream •Idowu Ajanaku, a journalist, writes on the success story of Lagos State Governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode

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VERY champion’s journey begins with a dream.” So goes the payoff message of the Academy for Sports Excellence, ASPIRE, based in Qatar. We may not be talking sports here and now, in spite of the fast approaching World Cup in Brazil and the global fever it is generating but in every sphere of life, winners are those who dare to dream big. And more importantly, take determined steps to actualize those dreams, against all odds.

Agreed, life itself is a test of will power; of grit and guts from people propelled by the CAN- DO -IT spirit. America, especially the U.S. with several self-accomplished citizens who started with barely anything but rose to the top of the socioeconomic ladder prides itself with the American Dream. Here, in Nigeria the quest is still on.

So, what makes the quintessential Nigerian Dream? What really defines it? What unique characteristics of greatness etch them visibly in the portrait of the persona of the archetypical Nigerian success? Is it the usual rags-to-riches story? Or, is it the challenging story of that hitherto unsung individual who by sheer determination to succeed pulls himself up by the bootstrap and moves from total obscurity to that of social, economic or political limelight?

Whichever way we view it, the inspiring story of Mr.Akinwumi Ambode, a Public Finance Management Expert and the Chief Executive Officer of Brandsmiths Consulting Limited, whose compelling biography, The Art of Selfless Service was recently launched in Lagos to critical acclaim should illuminate our concept of the Nigerian Dream.

More so now that he has become a beacon bearer of no mean stature, pointing the way forward to oth-

ers still trapped in the dark pits demonized by gnawing ignorance and grinding poverty.

A public finance and management-consultant with deep knowledge of the Nigerian public sector, Ambode is a former Accountant General of Lagos State serving in that capacity between 2006 and 2012.

He also served in several other capacities including Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Auditor General for Local Government and across all cadres of Lagos state’s civil service for a total of 27 years before his voluntary retirement in 2012. He gained recognition for outstanding excellence by the Joint Tax Board (JTB)/FIRS on the successful organisation of the 1st National Tax Retreat in Nigeria in 2005.

With a humble beginning, from the backwaters of Epe, a sleepy town in Lagos, Ambode was determined to make a headway in life through the acquisition of sound education, against daunting circumstances. Incidentally, those odds started manifesting with the death of his father when he was still in his tender years.

With that rude shock of losing the family’s breadwinner, his dream and aspiration of achieving his lofty academic goals seemed to have come to a dead end!

Worse still, was when the uncle he approached to tell him of his ambition to someday qualify as an accountant ridiculed him: “You, this small boy become an accountant?” came the words of derision from the man. At that point, the words pierced like a hot knife deep into his very soul. But it served as a wakeup call. Not one to lament his saddening situation, he took up the gauntlet; as a great challenge rather than allow it to cow him to submission.

And as fate would have it, he graduated from the University of Lagos at 21 with a degree in Accounting. Subsequently, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant at 24 combined with a Master’s Degree. The Alumnus of Whartton Business School, Advanced Management Programme has also attended related relevant courses at several renowned institutions, in-

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With a humble beginning, from the backwaters of Epe, a sleepy town in Lagos, Ambode was determined to make a headway in life through the acquisition of sound education, against daunting circumstances.

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cluding Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield, England, the Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland, INSEAD Singapore and Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Boston, U.S.A. Armed with a Master’s degree in Accounting (Financial Management) his well-heeled professional expertise cannot be in doubt. To reinforce this, he is a Hubert Humphrey Fellow in Accounting and Finance from Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

With that proud professional pedigree in the highly demanding job of accountancy many would have expected him to head straight into the world of private business.

But the uncommon passion for selfless service in him saw him pitching his tent with local government administration in Lagos state. Going through several of them as the Auditor General offered him the valuable opportunity to understudy the nuances and challenges of that most neglected level of administration in Nigeria.

The scenario was no less different when he emerged as the best student in an accountancy course while on Rockefeller Foundation scholarship in the United States. The expectation then was that he would

stay back there and feather his professional nest. But true to type, as one desirous to impact on his community as a selfless servant he returned home, to fulfill the Nigerian Dream.

This time however, he requested to be transferred to the Ministry of Finance. And as the hand of providence would have it, it was there his unique professional competence and rare ingenuity in the accounting profession was discovered by none other than the then state governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The distinguished Nigerian with the uncommon knack for discovering talents took a closer interest in the self-effacing man driven by the mantra to serve his people to the best of his abilities.

Typical of his career trajectory, he rose to the enviable position as the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Lagos State at the young age of 37,in a system that normally takes years to attain. He worked with other professionals and colleagues well into their fifties and early sixties. The age difference notwithstanding he was humble enough to gain from their wealth of long years of experience, while they gave their maximum support that saw the Ministry reaching unprecedented heights in a symbiotic relationship that placed the entire state’s finances in good stead.

With the zeal to excel, the team he led was able to re-engineer the financial base of the Centre of Excellence. That saw to it that the state survived during the trying months when the Chief Olusegun Obasanjoled administration unilaterally and unconstitutionally stopped monthly allocation to the local governments of the state. It would also be remembered of his exemplary selfless service that he it was who ensured that cheques for contract works completed which had piled up for years got the desired attention as the beneficiaries got paid with the desired dispatch and promptitude. Not for him is that deliberately contrived bureaucratic bottleneck that keeps files unattended to for eons. No! Little wonder that at 48 he left the

•Mr Ambode

service after 27 years of meritorious service, with his head held high.

Here indeed, one good Nigerian had discharged his duties to the best of his abilities driven by the philosophy of selfless service.

For him, Lagos remains the epicenter of his professional calling, the place he returned to after being fully equipped with both the Chartered Accountancy and a Master’s degree; the home where he had come back to and offered to rebuild as circumstances demanded. That Lagos, is to him today a land of unlimited possibilities, a land of vast economic opportunities and indeed, the Centre of Excellence that would forever remain home to every Nigerian citizen, irrespective of ethnicity or religion, social background or gender.

According to Sophocles, the Greek writer in his play Antigone, “No other touchstone can test the heart of a man, the temper of his mind and spirit, till he be tried in the practice of authority and rule.”

Ambode has been severally tested with challenging jobs and has never disappointed anyone. Now is therefore, the auspicious time for him to be given a worthier responsibility, to fulfill his Nigerian Dream.

MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 10 NO 3183

TODAY IN THE NATION ‘These are the challenges facing our democracy. They can be checked through a decisive war against corruption and devolution of powers to make the center less attractive. Only then, can we discourage fair weather politicians and shameless contractors from gravitating to the winning party’ FEMI MACAULAY

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

S

INCE the Oba of Lagos uttered his controversial Lagoon jibe, Lagos has come under a certain attack. It is the foray called, “No Man’s Land.” By that the settlers say Lagos is Nigeria’s city and no ethnic group should lay claim to it as their own.

The position came into play in the justconcluded governor election. It also reared its insular head in the aftermath of the National Assembly and presidential polls in which non-indigenes scooped a haul of seats by besting indigenes.

This sort of attitude is not only arrogant, but also inherently disrespectful.

No one settles in a place and displays a proprietary disdain because the indigenes open their hearts and minds and money to them.

The point often made is that Lagos was Nigeria’s capital city, and because of that it soared into a special status in the country.

On that score, they argue, the indigenes have lost the right to claim it. It is now Nigeria’s Jerusalem where every tribe and tongue and worshipper has as much right as the other.

This sort of thinking is defective on a number of points. One, it is historical revisionism. That Lagos was a capital city did not happen out of a whim. Where were the other ethnic groups when the indigenes fought wars, built the city, and turned it from a near wilderness into the mustard seed of city? Did they know when Kosoko and Akintoye duelled for the throne? In the colonial era, Lagos was not the only city they treasured. Others included Calabar, Port Harcourt, Lokoja, et al. The reason Lagos transcended others is rooted in the indigenous population’s attitudes to others, their cultural liberalism and economic expansiveness. The colonial authority focused on it, and developed it because it opened itself to such fertility of progress.

Lagos also allowed itself to flower during the fury days of nationalism, breeding names like Azikiwe, Ojike, Mbadiwe, Awolowo, Adelabu, etc. In fact, the dominant party was NCNC, and it was an umbrella for all tribes. The non-Yoruba politicians learned Yoruba, and that itself was homage to the indigenes. How do you learn the language of the indigenes and say it is no man’s land. Zik was fluent in Yoruba, and it helped him ascend the roof in the high noon of Nigerian nationalism. Lagos was not the only port city, and was it the only city that persons surged to make a new beginning? But Lagos exceeded others because of its indigenous people’s open arms.

What happened in the past few weeks with the Igbo against the Yoruba was unfortunate because both ethnic groups have lived together in Lagos for a generation without

RIPPLES

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

•Winner, Informed Commentary (DAME)

Who owns Lagos? ‘ the Where were

•President Jonathan

•Oba Rilwan Akiolu

much rancour. In fact, many of the Igbo have resided in Lagos without a sense of alienation as the indigenes have given them free rein in commerce and culture.

But it was the last election that triggered this, and it was the shadow of President Goodluck Jonathan that we should blame. He came to town to incite the non-indigenes, including those in the Niger Delta, against the APC. By implication, he characterised the APC as a Yoruba and Hausa party. He even held meetings with them without decency and in one of such outings he said INEC was discriminating against them in the distribution of PVCs. Those who are quick to call him a statesman should note this.

Jimi Agbaje, the PDP governorship candidate, fuelled this by ratcheting up the emotions of the Igbo against the ruling party in the state. This ethnic card led to the vote pattern in the presidential poll. Southsouth and Southeast people decided to vote against the ruling party based essentially on ethnic as

WE NO LONGER WANT KESHI –Football group

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well as religious grounds. The factor of faith ossified the revulsion against the APC. Even though the APC prevailed, the pattern revealed ominous fault lines of faith and tribe.

The concept of no man’s land is a prostitution of the constitution that allows residency in Nigeria, and therefore allows any person of whatever tribe to contest elections anywhere as long as they are constitutionally accepted as residents. It is prostitution because few adhere although all should. If Lagos accepts and acts it, it is expected to be respected by all. But as far as I know, it is rare to see what happens in Lagos anywhere else in the country.

It is this lack of hostility to strangers that has now been taken to mean acquiescence.

Only Lagos has grown to accept the spirit of residency requirement for election. Other parts of the country accept it, but only philosophically.

But before Jonathan, the indigenes have

HARDBALL

I

You mean he has OVERSTAYED his WELCOME?

other ethnic groups when the indigenes fought wars, built the city, and turned it from a near wilderness into the mustard seed of city?

T is said that adversity brings the best out of man but this certainly does not seem to apply to that man called the Nigerian politician. He abhors adversity and lean times. In fact he has no such discernment to appreciate the imports of turning points and watersheds in the rise and tide of man.

Why, Hardball is tortured by a wave of exhilaration and melancholy in a flux of steady currents. Yes, the tide turned as the presidential election coasted to a salubrious finale. Instead of the rat-tat and boomboom of guns and IEDs, it has been the feisty back-slapping as happens in a win-win scenario. The loser’s spirited capitulation lifted the black incubus the nation and a bright new celestial light has wafted in so strongly that everything comes alive once again. Suddenly, a burst of new-found virility surges from our loins.

But another phenomenon that would dim the new light is the horde of opportunists jumping ship from the fallen party to the victorious one. Imagine an anxious crowd of passengers escaping from a sinking ship and unthinkingly, rushing into another ship.

not openly challenged Lagos as Yoruba land.

The last time it significantly caused rumpus was in the 1950’s when Zik wanted a Yoruba man, Prince Adedoyin, to step down from the legislative seat for him. He refused and Zik went to his father, and his father, an Oba, shunned him. Zik had earlier boasted about the role of the Igbo as the tribe of destiny in Africa, and that led to ethnic self-awareness among the Yoruba who had naively believed that the Igbo elite were playing politics without tribal fidelity.

The Yoruba, especially with the Ibadan People’s Party, scuttled Zik who was on his way to become the first premier of the Western Region. Zik cried foul, and lobbed a charge of tribal politics against the indigenes. He did not especially help himself when Eyo Ita, a minority in the East, was denied the chance to be premier of the East.

The Yoruba self-awareness in stopping Zik reflects Shakespeare’s words in Hamlet: “Beware of entrance into a quarrel; but being in, bear it that the opposed should beware of thee.” That self-awareness is palpable today in Lagos.

The bad blood in the past few weeks contradicts the feeling of mutual peace both ethnic groups have had for over a generation.

Even during the civil war, the Yoruba did not only keep Igbo property, but kept their rents. It is unfortunate that it took the serpentine zeal of a Jonathan to rake up suppressed bad blood. It is the same Jonathan that did not fulfill any major promise to the Igbo and who only fattened its opportunistic elite with juicy contracts and appointments. In Lagos, all ethnic groups have enjoyed dividends of good government. It’s not perfect, but Lagos has remained the state of example.

The United States has always called itself a melting pot, and that means all who come from outside should not impose their will, but be part of the society. That is in contrast to Canada known as a mosaic. In a mosaic, outsiders maintain their full will but outside the mainstream.

The poet Walt Whitman noted this about America. “I am large/I contain multitudes.”

But we have to go back to healing now, and learn to live together. No group needs to be punished for how it voted. It is part of the beauty of democracy. But it means we should learn to understand that diversity calls for the acceptance of the other side in a bid to build a society not hampered by clannish virtues but riding on the wings of merit.

Kudos Ambode

H

IS is a victory for healing. We have a first-class brain with a profusion of experience in Akinwunmi Ambode. Again Lagos is in good and fertile hand. As they say, no shaking

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above

Scourge of odious defectors Of course that is a recipe for doom as they will capsize the other ship too.

Such is the story with members of the crushed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rushing heedlessly to join the new gravy train – the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hardball had never experienced such odiousness before. Someone must open a hall of shame for all the over-night defectors into APC; the fair-weather politicians who would only want to be with the party in power must be properly identified, documented, segmented and annotated.

It must no longer be business as in the PDP; it must no longer be anything goes and we must refrain from living by the gravy alone but by some finer principles and precepts.

By the last count last Friday, no fewer than 20 prominent PDP members have openly and shamelessly rushed over to the party in vogue today.

One remarkable example is Chief Olusola Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who until last Wednesday was the Legal

Adviser of PDP and its governorship candidate in 2012, but who jumped ship late last week to the chagrin of his PDP clan in Ondo State. His decampment speech was particularly instructive and a study in the art of mea culpa. Her him:”The wind (of change) almost blew me off, but I have now surrendered. I can no more resist this change. The change that has blown in the federal must also blow in Ondo State.”

He spoke further that the forces of darkness (meaning his erstwhile party, PDP), fought against change to happen but the only thing that is permanent in life is change. “We have come to add value to the APC and salvage the state from bad and visionless leadership with broken promises across the state,” the former PDP kingpin surmised.

Another prominent PDP deserter, Senator Jonathan Zwingina from Adamawa State also spoke rather peculiarly: “After careful identification of the best of the current circumstances facing the state…” Gee! Some cud to chew isn’t it?

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Editor Daily:08099365644, Marketing: 01-8155547 . Abuja Office: Plot 5, Nanka Close AMAC Commercial Complex, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja. Tel: 07028105302. Port Harcourt Office: 12/14, Njemanze Street, Mile 1, Diobu, PH. 08023595790 WEBSITE: www.thenationonlineng.net E-mail: info@thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 Editor: GBENGA OMOTOSO