April 17, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

Strange disease kills 14 in Ondo

•Abdulsalami: I’m not intervening for Alison-Madueke •Why I abandoned Oyo Govt House, by Ajimobi •AND •Lawyers differ on legality of May 28 handover MORE ON PAGES •INEC to punish Rivers, Akwa Ibom killers 3,5,8&59

NEWS

Page 7

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3187 FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

•www.thenationonlineng.net

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

N150.00

Fed Govt hands over NITEL/Mtel to NATCOM

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HE Federal Government yesterday approved the hand over of Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and its mobile arm, Mtel to NATCOM. National Council on Privatisation (NCP) Technical Committee Deputy Chairman Haruna Sambo, who spoke after the NCP meet-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ing chaired by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the consortium had completed the payment of $252.251million being the cost of the firm’s acquisition.

He said: “You recall that at the last NCP meeting, approval was made for the fi-

nancial bid for NITEL/ MTEL by the bidder, NATCOM Consortium at the cost of $ 252.251m. Today, at the council meeting, the council approved the handover to NATCOM Consortium, having paid the cost of acquisition.

“By this approval, the process has come to a closure and the council has mandat-

ed the BPE to hand over the two companies to the preferred winner, of course, after all other outstanding issues are taken care of.

“With this, the transaction has come to an end and Council asks the BPE (Bureau of Public Enterprises) to hand over the two companies to the bid winner, NATContinued on page 4

•INSIDE: BRENT CRUDE OIL JUMPS TO $63 PER BARREL P11 ATC’S STRIKE DISRUPTS FLIGHTS P5

U.S.: we’ll back Buhari’s security, economic plans American VP Biden telephones President-elect From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

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HE United States will back Nigeria to bring back the 219 Chibok schoolgirls.

Besides, it will support the battle against Boko Haram, Vice President Joe Biden has told President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

Biden telephoned Gen. Buhari to congratulate him on his victory at the March 28 poll.

Here are excerpts from the conversation made available by the All Progressives Congress (APC): “Vice President Biden spoke with Nigerian President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to congratulate him on his victory in the Nigerian elections and affirm that the United States stands ready to expand collaboration with Nigeria on issues of common concern, including economic and security matters.

“The Vice President commended Presidentelect Buhari for his leadership in helping to ensure the elections were conducted peacefully and urged him to continue to foster a smooth, inclusive and peaceful transition with President (Goodluck) Jonathan. The Vice President expressed the United States’ support for Nigeria’s efforts to counter Boko Haram, recover hostages held by the group and protect civilian populations. The Vice President also expressed the willingness of the United States to partner more closely with Nigeria to strengthen its economy.”

In Abuja yesterday, President Jonathan urged world leaders and international institutions to support the incoming Buhari administration.

The President also urged Nigerians to do their best to help Gen. Buhari succeed in leading the country to greater heights.

At separate audiences with the new ambassadors of France, Senegal and Ethiopia, Jonathan appealed for patience, understandContinued on page 4

•A SPECIAL REUNION: The Orekoyas...yesterday.

PHOTO: ABIODUN WILLIAMS

Suspect recalls how she abducted Orekoya kids

By Ebele Boniface, Tajudeen Adebanjo and Precious Igbonwelundu

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HE housemaid, who allegedly kidnapped the three Orekoya kids on April 8, was arrested yesterday by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives in Shasha, Egbeda on the outskirts of Lagos.

The 35-year-old suspect, Funmilayo Continued on page 4

‘

I...packaged two of the kids in a sack and held only one, pretending to be the mother

’

•THE F ACE OF KIDN APPER: Funmilayo...yesterday FA KIDNAPPER:

•AGRIC P14 •POLITICS P17 •SPORTS P24 •MONEYLINK P55 •CITYBEATS P56 •FOREIGN P60

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

2

NEWS GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS

•Aliyu •President-elect Muhammadu Buhari (second right); Kaduna State Governor-elect Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (second left); Serving Oveerseer, Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare (right) and Mr. Jimi Lawal when Pastor Bakare visited Buhari in Kaduna...yesterday.

•Ahmed

Liquidation o Thrice he contested without having a foothold in the entire region. But at the fourth shot, the Northeast was a clean sweep for Gen Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 28 presidential election. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU takes a look at the political earthquake that has hit the region.

I •Ogun State Governor Amosun, displaying his Certificate of Return presented to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta...yesterday.

T was a movement that defied resistance. Those who attempted to resist it were swept away by the political earthquake. In the Northcentral geo-political zone, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Bihari, was unstoppable. Two weeks after the presidential poll, the effects of the governorship elections on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapters in Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Benue, were more devastating.

The APC won the polls, to the consternation of the ‘pompous’ leaders of the acclaimed largest party in Africa. The turn of events may have heralded the gradual liquidation of the party in the Middle Belt.

OGI State was not insulated from the political tremor. At the parliamentary polls, the APC won the majority of National Assembly seats. The three senatorial seats were won by the APC. Before and during the general elections, the Middle Belt and the far North were united on the pursuit of power shift. The agenda gained prominence shortly after the demise of President Umaru Yar’Adua. Although President Goodluck Jonathan constitutionally succeeded the deceased number one citizen, the North perceived his second term ambition as an affront and negation of the principle of rotation and zoning of the Presidency, in accordance with the constitution and convention of the ruling party.

Even, when Gen. Buhari contested on the platform of weak parties - the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2003 and 2007, and the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011 - he shook the PDP. He garnered substantial votes in of the states in the Northcentral.

In fact, the lone CPC governor came from Nasarawa State. He defeated Akwe Doma of the PDP. In the recent elections, Gen Buhari built on his previous electoral victory in the zone.

WARA State had become an APC state, following the in ability of the President to reconcile with the defunct New PDP. The party leader, Senator Bukola Saraki, and his compatriot, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, defected from the PDP. With the Saraki Dynasty out of Kwara PDP, the chapter became a ghost of itself. Members of the PDP who remained - Senator Simeon Ajibola, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi and Mrs. Bola Shagaya - could not

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•Lagos State Governor-elect Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (second right); Senators-elect Mrs Oluremi Tinubu for Lagos West, (secong left); ‘Gbenga Ashafa, Lagos East, (right) and Adeola Solomon, Lagos West) after the senators were presented with their Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Bishop Vining Memorial Hall, GRA, Ikeja...yesterday.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN.

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•Enugu State Governor-elect, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi acknowledging cheers from his supporters 9th Mile Corner, Ngwo, Enugu during a victory rally/thank you visit to the area... yesterday.

fill the vacuum. Aggrieved APC members, led by Mr. Dele Belgore, (SAN), defected to the PDP. But, they lacked mobilisation prowess.

The new configuration threw up Saraki as a worthy successor to his illustrious father’s stool. From 1964 to 2012, the late Waziri of Ilorin and Second Republic Senate Leader, Dr. Olusola Saraki, was the undisputed godfather. He earned power and wielded an enduring influence through professional hard work, grassroots politicking, compassion and a legacy of philanthropy. During electioneering, a member of the Saraki family, who was stranded in the PDP, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, defected to the APC. It was evident that the PDP was divided by the bitter struggle for elective offices, lack of reconciliation and consensus building and absence of a dynamic leadership, which Saraki has offered in the APC. Kwara PDP was divided along Belgore and Shagaya camps. A house divided against itself could not stand on election day.

The people of Kwara trust Saraki for three reasons. Many accept his leadership as a tribute to the selfless service rendered by his father. But, the younger Saraki also knows his onions. As a presidential assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, governor, chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), and senator, he has cut his political teeth and made impact on the polity. After eight years as a governor, he prevented a sibling from succeeding him and handed over to another worthy member of the dynasty, who has not failed the state in the last four years.

Ahmed has successfully built on the imperishable feats of his predecessor.

He has been fair to all the three senatorial districts in the distribution of social amenities, within the limit of available resources. Based on his performance, he earned a second term, unlike his challenger, Ajibola of the PDP, who is not on the same pedestal with him in charisma, carriage and productive service to the community.

HE APC also made further inroad into Benue State. The PDP and the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have been competing for the soul of the state since 2011. Former Governor, George Akume, who is the Senate Minority Leader, has been the opposition leader in the state. What compounded the woes of the ruling party was the pom-

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PO THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

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GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS

•Suswam

•Wada

•Jang

•Al-Makura

on of PDP in Northcentral posity, adamancy and over-bearing attitude of ambitious Governor Gabriel Suswam. Unlike Senate President David Mark, the governor lost his senatorial election.

Benue is made up of three zones.

Akume, who Senate’s Minority Leader, is strong in Zone B. He was re-elected to represent his senatorial seat, despite the combined forces of Suswam and Mark. The duo wanted to thwart his effort. According to observers, Akume has been waxing stronger because he sealed a pact with his senatorial district.

In Zone A, there are two gladiators - Suswam and Senator Barnabas Gemade, a one-time national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While the zone supported Suswam for governor in 2007 and 2011, it also supported Gemade for the Senate in 2011. Gemade has come a long way. He is very popular. He has also made his mark as the General Manager, Benue Cement Company, member of the Interim National Government (ING) and member of the Constitutional Conference.

But, ahead of the elections, there was a clash of interests between the governor and the senator. Suswan wanted to take his ticket and Gemade said there was no vacancy. The governor vowed to dethrone the old man. The old political warhorse dismissed it as an empty threat. Apparently, the power-loaded governor underrated Gemade, a fighter, to his peril. The supporters of the old man reminded the governor that Gemade was the

PDP National Chairman when he was in the House of Representatives.

Suswam’s ambition divided the zone.

The party became hot for Gemade and as a last resort, he defected to the APC, where he got the senatorial ticket.

Gemade defeated the governor, who wielded the power of incumbency.

Gemade won in Konshisha Local Government Area. He also won in Kwande and Vandekia council areas.

Suswam won in Logo and Ukum.

But, it appeared there was a wool on the governor’s eyes. He was insensitive to the effects of declining popularity as an incumbent. To observers, the governor performed in his first term and earned a second term. But, in the last four years, complaints about his style of governance have been mounting. Benue is a civil service state. Yet, salaries of workers have been irregular. During the elections, teachers were aggrieved. Besides, the PDP succession plan was not perceived as a collective project. Many PDP chieftains alleged that the governor handpicked the PDP governorship candidate, adding that the party primaries were not transparent. Thus, members of the PDP also voted for the APC candidate, Dr. Samuel Ortom.

URING electioneering, no analyst gave the APC any chance in Plateau State. In fact, the PDP won the presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections. The puzzle is: why was the governorship poll a departure? Many observers

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pointed out that Governor Jonah Jang, a retired naval commodore from Berom, bungled the chance of the PDP by imposing another Berom, Senator Gyang Pwajok, as the standard bearer.

There are many ethnic groups in Plateau. Thus, the competition for power is latent. Berom is the single largest group. But, it is not the dominant group. Beroms are in Jos North Senatorial District. Jang succeeded Joshua Dariye from Plateau Central, after spending eight years in office.

Next month, the governor will also bow out after two terms in office.

Since 2011, there have been agitations for power shift to Plateau South. The crusaders for power rotation argued that the next governor should come from the district that has not enjoyed the slot in the last 16 years. But, Jang refused. Instead, he imposed his kinsman, Pwajok, on the party, thereby altering the rotational principle. The party was divided during the primaries. Few could challenge the governor into a duel. But, the PDP went into the governorship election as a divided house. Many aggrieved PDP chieftains defected to the APC with their followers, thus decimating the ruling party. The governor was jolted out of the delusion that he was on top of the situation. His candidate lost the election.

N Niger State, there was a mass movement in favour of Gen Buhari but Governor Babangida Aliyu could not read the mood of the people, who wanted him to lead

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Killings in Rivers, Akwa Ibom: Perpetrators won’t go unpunished, says INEC

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ARD times await perpetrators of attacks and killings in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and other states during the March 28 and April 11 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) assured yesterday.

The electoral body, which spoke through its Commissioner in-charge of Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti states, Prof.

Lai Olurode, said anybody found guilty will not “go unpunished.”

Specifically, INEC urged the incoming administration to scapegoat perpetrators of violence during the elections as deterrents.

Olurode spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, while issuing Certificate of Returns to the Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and his running mate, Princess Yetunde Onanuga.

The National Electoral Commissioner said with the help of international organisations, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), those behind electoral violence that left over a dozen of people dead and scores of others injured “will surely be pursued and brought to book.”

From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

Others who got Certificate of Returns include: Senators–elect Prince Gbolahan Dada (Ogun West) and Prince Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central).

Eight of the nine elected members of the House of Representatives were also presented with certificates.

Noting that with the violence and associated killings that were recorded before and after the elections, Olurode said nothing has suggested that “politicians and political elite” have dropped or relaxed the mentality of “the politics of do or die.”

He urged the in-coming administration of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to scapegoat “some prominent electoral fraudsters and purveyors of electoral violence” to serve as deterrents.

His words: “For us in INEC, we feel frustrated by the harrassement, intimidation, maimings and the killings that attended the just concluded general elections in some states.

“We have always canvassed for an Election Offences Commission to deal with election security challenges in

• Prof. Olurode

Nigeria. The country needs to make examples of big men who perpetrate electoral crimes.”

According to Olurode, despite efforts being made by INEC to ensure credible and fair polls, some politicians have made up their mind to “recklessly subvert the due process of credible and fair elections in Nigeria.”

“Unless such politicians are ar•Continued page 4 rested, prosecuted and on punished when found guilty, their inclinations towards electoral frauds may not abate,” Olurode said.

Speaking after collecting the Certificate of Return, Amosun said the victory belonged to the Gateway State and its people, assuring that his administration’s best was yet to come.

them into the Buhari train. But, he was indifferent. He was among the seven PDP governors, who protested injustice in the party. But, he and Sule Lamido, his Jigawa State colleague, waited behind in the party when the others defected. His deputy, Ahmed Ibeto, took up the challenge when he dumped the PDP for the APC. But, the governor launched a war against him. There was a groundswell of opposition against Aliyu’s style. According to observers, he has become a noise maker, instead of sticking to the job he was elected to do. His performance has also been called to question by critics.

During the senatorial by-election, the handwriting was bold on the wall.

Aliyu was losing grip, but, he dismissed the APC threat as inconsequential. The APC candidate won the election, but the mandate was stolen.

The court was infuriated and restored the mandate to the rightful owner.

During the governorship election, APC has grown in leaps and bounds.

The magic wand was Buhari’s name and Aliyu failed to install a successor.

HETHER the Buhari fac tor swung the pendulum of victory towards the direction of the APC governor, Tanko Al-Makura, is debatable in Nasarawa State. Curiously, the PDP got more votes than the APC at the presidential elections in the multi-ethnic state.

Some observers have said that the party bounced back on the strength of the governor’s personality. AlMakura is perceived as a performing

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governor. Others said that the influence of Gen. Buhari cannot be underrated, in view of the fact that the governor rode on the back of the CPC to power in 2011. Working in tandem with the governor was former Governor Abdullahi Adamu, who retained his senatorial seat. The candidates of other parties could not match the APC arsenal because of the soaring popularity of the governor. The proof of his popularity was that he survived an impeachment plot when his party did not even command the majority in the House of Assembly.

One of the governor’s challenger was the former Information Minister, Labaran Maku, who defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), shortly before the polls. He is from Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, a very big voting constituency. But, his people had an axe to grind with him. The Ombatse controversy raged for a long time. According to them, the former minister abandoned them in their time of trial.

In Kogi State, there was no governorship election. But, at the parliamentary elections, there was a fierce battle. In Yoruba-speaking district of Kabba/Yagba/Ijumu, APC candidate Dino Melaye defeated the former Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) President, Senator Smart Adeyemi, who will be completing two terms next month. The party also won many seats in the National Assembly and House of Assembly elections. The APC also won in the two other senatorial districts.

Ortom to Benue electorate: I won’t let you down

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ENUE State Governor-elect Samuel Ortom has lauded voters in the state for entrusting him with their mandate, promising never to let them down.

Speaking through Mr. Tahav Agerzua, the media director of Ortom/Abounu Governorship Campaign Organisation, Dr Ortom, attributed the nationwide electoral victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to God’s intervention in human affairs and the people’s determination to effect change.

Ortom said the victory has placed upon the APC a huge responsibility to turn around the fortunes of the state for the better, stressing that the party cannot afford to toy with what he called a sacred responsibility.

The governor-elect pledged to govern with the fear of God which according to him, will translate to the entrenchment of core values.

He listed truthfulness, selflessness, honesty, transparency, accountability, fairness, integrity, integration, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation, peace and unity as the attributes that will stimulate development.

Ortom urged politicians from all

political divides in the state to be civil and decorum in the discharge of their duties and activities. He promised to accelerate the process of healing and unification.

He also lauded leaders and supporters of other political parties and all other stakeholders for their various roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of elections in the state.

The governor-elect commended Governor Gabriel Suswam, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) its governorship candidate, Prince Terhemen Tarzoor and his campaign organisation for accepting the results in good faith in the spirit of good sportsmanship.

•Ortom

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

NEWS APC to scrutinise Jonathan’s notes with experts, says Odigie-Oyegun

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•President Goodluck Jonathan receiving the Letter of Credence from ambassador-designate of the French Republic to Nigeria, Mr Denis Guaer in Abuja…yesterday.

Suspect recalls how she abducted Orekoya kids Continued from page 1

Adeyemi (a.k.a Mary Akinloye), who hails from Ogboya village in Ife, Osun State, was paraded yesterday at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, by Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti.

Aderanti said the suspect was arrested in Egbeda through “scientific investigation” by a special team led by the Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP).

She was arrested with her maid, Henriatta Odili (16), after she fled her home when she realised police operatives had closed in on her.

The police said contrary to what she told her employer and the OLX portal, her real

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name is Funmilayo Adeyemi and she hails from Osun State. She had earlier claimed Oyo State to avoid being traces.

According to Police sources, Adeyemi is not new in the kidnapping business; she was the mastermind of the December, 2014 kidnap of two boys, Raphael and Michael Esharegaran from their parents’ home in Magodo, Lagos. The boys were reunited with their parents after N2.5million ransom was paid.

Sources said immediately the case was reported, the SARS team swung into action, asking the Orekoyas to pay a fraction of the ransom into the account of an unnamed bank in Sagamu, Ogun State, said to have been

opened in Oyo State. SARS investigation revealed a link between the contact number on the account and that of the nanny.

Funmilayo and her gang withdrew N400, 000 from the account using the ATM as the Police set up surveillance on the account and calls on the mobile phones of members of the syndicate.

According to sources, all plans to lure the nanny out of hiding failed, but sensing danger, she quickly abandoned the children, who were found Tuesday night, thinking the discovery will get the SARS team off her trail but the police stepped up their search.

On instruction of her husband, Kareem, Funmilayo hurriedly left her home in

Coker Estate and lodged in a hotel with the hope of leaving the town the following day. Policemen came into the hotel and arrested her with a maid.

Funmilayo said she was given the operational name Mary Akinloye by their fourman syndicate, comprising the wife of her brother in-law, Akeem Kareem; her husband, Rasheed Kareem, brother’s wife Toke and herself.

She said: “I was working in a hotel on Victoria Island on a monthly salary of N12,000.

I had my Ordinary National Diploma in Land Surveying from Osun State Polytechnic.

I worked there for eight months and left for my Higher National Diploma. I have Continued on page 60

Senate urges Jonathan to return rejected Bill

HE Senate yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to return to it the rejected Constitution Amendment Bill complete with the signature page.

The call followed the Senate’s resolution on the matter which mandated the Senate President to formally write a letter to Jonathan to demand the immediate return the rejected Bill.

Dr. Jonathan wrote a letter to the Senate detailing reasons why he cannot accent to the amended Constitution. It cost

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

taxpayers about N4billion for National Assembly and the 36 states Houses of Assembly to carry out the amendment.

The resolution followed a motion on personal explanation moved by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu who is also the Chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on the review of the Constitution, told the Senate that a two-day retreat called by the committee to ap-

propriately study Mr. President’s rejection letter and report back to the Upper Chamber had to be suspended when it was discovered that the amendment Bill did not accompany the President’s letter.

Ekweremadu said: “We slated a two-day retreat to consider the letter and advise the Senate appropriately.

“In the course of our sitting yesterday, we noticed that in the second to the last paragraph of that letter, the President said he was returning the Bill with the letter.

“Unfortunately, the Bill was not returned with the letter and we could not proceed because we would like to see the returned bill.”

He added: “The committee has asked me to raise this point and to request the President of the Senate, to ask the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to send back the original copy of the bill as sent to him especially the signature page to enable us to proceed with our work.

Continued on page 60

LL Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun yesterday said if necessary, the party may seek experts’ help on some issues in the handover note from President Goodluck Jonathan.

He also said President-elect Muhammadu Buhari will in the next few days name a transition committee which will work with a similar government team headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

He said the May 28 handover date will not in any way create a vacuum before the inauguration of the President.

Chiekf Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke with our correspondent last night, said: “We are aware that the transition committee members of the Federal Government are putting papers and records together.

From Yusuf Alli, Abuja

“We will also raise a transition committee to crosscheck whatever papers or records they are handing over to us. In our own case, we need a lot more consultations and be sure that the right calibre of people are there.

“We will study the handover note and where we need experts’ help, we will seek to make sure that all issues are put in proper perspective for the new government.

“If there are grey areas which experts will have to put us through, we will not hesitate to seek their help.”

Asked when the party will raise its own transition committee, Odigie-Oyegun added: “It is the president-elect that will name the members. He Continued on page 60

U.S. backs Buhari’s plans •Jonathan urges support for President-elect Continued from page 1

ing and cooperation from all stakeholders in Nigeria, which, he said, General Buhari will need to lift the country up to greater peace, security and progress.

Responding to the commendation of his exemplary concession of victory in the presidential election by the new ambassadors, President Jonathan said he acted out of his abiding conviction that the unity, well-being and progress of Nigeria must supersede all personal ambitions.

“Democracy has to be nurtured to grow. Strong democratic institutions are the backbone and future of our democracy. They must be protected and nurtured. As for me, as a matter of principle, it is always the nation first.

“You need to have a nation before you can have an ambition. It should always be the nation first. You don’t have to scuttle national progress for

personal ambition.

“Since I assumed duty, I have been involved in quelling political crisis in some African countries and I know what they passed through and what some are still going through.

If you scuttle a system for personal ambition, it becomes a collective tragedy,’’ Dr. Jonathan said.

He told French ambassador Denis Guaer: “President Francois Hollande was our guest in Nigeria during the celebration of Nigeria’s centenary. He has been very supportive of the country in the fight against terrorism. I expect that the same warmth and goodwill will be extended to the incoming government. I expect that France will continue to work with the new administration, especially on issues of terrorism.

“The United Nations has been supportive as well. Our troops, supported by regional forces, have done very well in Continued on page 60

Govt hands over NITEL/Mtel to NATCOM Continued from page 1

COM consortium.”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali, said the government had settled the emoluments of 98 per cent of exworkers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

He said NCP had directed

that remaining cases should be referred to the BPE for settlement.

Mines and Steel minister, Musa Sada, said the council also discussed reforms of the National Parks and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) with the aim of restructuring the sector and bridging the 17 million housContinued on page 60

Customs releases Obasanjo’s My Watch

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HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s “My Watch” autobiography’s container.

The NCS ComptrollerGeneral, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, stated this yesterday during the inauguration of two new patrol boats of the service in Lagos.

Abdullahi said the container was released following the vacation on Tuesday of the FCT High Court order restraining the former president from publishing, printing or offering for sale, his autobiography: “My Watch’’.

“Customs got the initial order of the court to stop the container and now that the court asks us to release the

container, so be it,’’ he said.

Justice Valentine Ashi ordered the release of the books which had been in the custody of Customs.

Ashi upheld the argument

by Obasanjo’s counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), that the court was misled into granting the orders on Dec. 5 and Dec.10, 2014.

The court granted the orders on Dec. 5, 2014, restraining Obasanjo from publishing his book in the country pending the determination of the suit against him by Mr Buruji Kashamu.

Despite the order of Dec. 5, Obasanjo launched the book on Dec. 9 in Lagos, prompting the court to make the orders of December 10.

Ashi also restrained the comptroller-general from

charging demurrage on copies of the book already confiscated.

Abdullahi described the new patrol boats acquired by the service as equipment needed to perform its exemplary functions in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda for the service to excel.

He said it took two years to build the boats, adding that the customs supervised the construction of the boats to meet it specification.

“We have two boats for now. We will watch their performance and see if there is need to have more.

“With the performance of the boats government will not hesitate to give us money to buy more,’’ he said.

He recalled that one of the boats was named after nine customs officers killed some years ago by smugglers while they were on official duty.

“It is a bad memory. Nine of my officers were really killed on the high sea by smugglers who were carrying petrol.

“My officers tried to intercept in between and they turned their boat against customs and they jumped into water, the two patrol boats went into flames.

“We tried to rescue them, unfortunately, we could not.

These are officers who died on official duty.

“I am proud to say that today we have remembered them,’’ Abdullahi said.

Abdullahi said the service

•The Obasanjo’s book

had tried as much as possible to cover all revenue leakages and live up to its revenue targets.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

NEWS

Lawyers differ on legality of March 28 handover

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AWYERS have disagreed on the legality of President Goodluck Jonathan handing over to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on May 28.

The Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, said at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday that the President would perform the ceremony at a dinner on the eve of May 29.

“By May 28, the president intends to have the formal handover done at a dinner so that we can reserve May 29 for the incoming government.

“By May 28, we are expected to have concluded our own government and we are welcoming the incoming govern-

By Joseph Jibueze and Adebisi Onanuga

ment,” she said.

But, activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) faulted the decision, saying it could create a power vacuum for the few hours between when Jonathan hands over and the morning of May 29 when his successor would be formally sworn-in as the president. He said the plan is not backed by any law.

“The question that arose is that between the time of the dinner, which I supposed would be in the night and the morning of May 29 when the president-elect would take his oath of office, who takes charge as there would be a vacuum? ”As far as the law is con-

cerned, President Jonathan is in charge of the country and remains the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces until the morning of May 29 when the president-elect take his oath of office and assume office,” Falana said.

He said the president cannot cut short his presidency in the name of handing over a day before the actual date for handing over as there is no provision for it.

According to him, the new date is a deviation from the law as a void would be created should he go ahead and handover before Buhari’s swearing-in.

But, a former Abia State Attorney-General and Com-

missioner for Justice, Prof.

Awah Kalu (SAN), said there is nothing wrong with “handing over notes” on March 28.

“Handing over on May 28 is not violating anything. The handover is just passing papers where he has noted the state of affairs as at the date he is leaving.

“His tenure is fixed by the constitution; so it’s not on a piece of paper. That tenure will expire midnight of May 28, whether or not he hands over. So, the handover is simply symbolic,” Kalu said.

A former Ikeja Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Onyekachi Ubani, said it was capable of creating a constitutional crisis.

“What I think they are trying to say is that they want to tidy up everything on May 28.

They want to hand over all the files and then hold the ceremony on May 29.

“It’s just like when you want to marry. Before the ceremony, the in-laws must have met behind closed doors and have settled all bride price issues. So, the day of marriage is just for ceremony.

“I think it means that all the handover of the files, documents will be done on May 28 and the ceremony will be done the next day. That is my understanding of it.

“But I don’t know what is pursuing President Jonathan.

We know that he’s going to Otuoke, but he should hold on

until May 29.

“He should not create constitutional crisis for us, so that we’ll start wondering whether it’s him or Gen. Buhari that is in charge.”

A constitutional lawyer, Mr. Jonathan Iyieke, said Jonathan will not be violating any law.

“The handover by President Jonathan on May 28 has nothing to do with the 1999 Constitution. The culture of handing over on may 29th came into limelight when the Obasanjo administration came into power in 1999.

“It is a mere democratic ceremony that has now gotten recognition in Nigeria without constitutional blessing,” Iyieke said.

Jonathan, service chiefs meet From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa as part of plan for smooth handover of power to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

The security chiefs were led to the closed-door National Security Council meeting by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

Those in attendance included the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu and Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba.

They declined to speak with reporters at the end of the meeting that lasted about three hour.

It was gathered that the meeting was called to provide the president with briefs and strategies on adequate security during the ceremonial inauguration of the new president on May 29.

Mark seeks review of 2015 polls •U.S. ambassador lauds use of PVCs

From left: Abba; Amosu; Jibrin; Minimah and Badeh at the Security Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja...yesterday.

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Passengers stranded as air traffic controllers embark on warning strike H

UNDREDS of passengers were stranded yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed Inaternational Airport, Lagos due to a warning strike embarked upon by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) over welfare package and epileptic air navigation equipment.

The warning strike, according to sources, was a prelude to a total industrial action scheduled to begin on Monday.

At various terminals at the airport, stranded passengers were loitering around after they were told they would not be able to embark on their trips owing to the strike.

At the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), most of the passengers sat on the floor following the cancellation of the

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

morning flights that supposed to have taken off by 6:00am or 7:00am.

The situation was the same at the Murtala Muhammed Domestic Terminal 2 (MMA2).

An Arik Air passenger, who planned to fly to Jos at 11:30am, said he could not because of the strike.

The passenger, who refused to mention his name, said: “We are still hoping that the situation will be resolved because we have been told that we should keep calm as the agency involved was taking up the matter with the association. So, I believe that I can still travel later in the day.”

It was gathered that NAT-

CA went on the six-hour warning strike to drive home its demand over welfare package, which, it said, had been dragging on for some time.

The National President of Air Traffic Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN), Benjamin Okewu, explained in an interview that NATCA is an affiliate of ATSSAN, adding that yesterday’s “action is temporary withdrawal of service”.

Okewu noted that the group gave adequate notice to the Federal Government that it was embarking on the strike, adding that the action would be called off by 1:00pm.

Asked if the strike would affect international flights operation, he said it would not

affect international flights operation since it would be called off by 1:00pm.

The General Manager Public Affairs, Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Mrs. Olajumoke Adetona, said one of the main reasons why NATCA members went on strike was because of their allowances.

Mrs. Adetona added that there were many issues surrounding the industrial action, noting that NAMA was trying to resolve the crisis.

NAMA, in a statement, said it regretted any inconvenience caused the travelling public as a result of flight delays.

Flight operations resumed at the airports later in the afternoon.

S

ENATE President David Mark yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently review the just concluded general elections to address the grey areas before going into the next exercise.

Mark, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, spoke while exchanging views with the United States (U.S.) Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle.

The Senate President insisted that the review of the electoral process was imperative to perfect a system needed to strengthen and consolidate democracy.

Noting that INEC performed creditably, he, however, pointed out that the commission needs to improve on its strategies in future.

He praised international partners, including the U.S., United Kingdom (UK), United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for their supports and contributions to the exercise.

“Our President, Goodluck Jonathan, deserves praises for immediately conceding defeat and congratulating the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari; an act that put paid to anticipated violence and acrimony,” he added.

Entwistle congratulated Nigeria for the exercise.

“I bring you good tidings from America. I am impressed with the successful conduct of the elections. Nigerians demonstrated enthusiasm and exercised their franchise,” the envoy said.

He hailed the introduction of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) technology, which, he said, smoothened the electoral process.

Court adjourns Tinubu’s N150b libel suit against AIT till May 27

J

USTICE Olamide Akinkugbe of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has adjourned a N150 billion libel suit filed by the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, against African Independent Communication (AIT) till May 27 for direction.

Justice Akinkugbe adjourned the suit yesterday after the counsel to the claimant, Ayodele Adedipe, and that of AIT, Jeffery Kadiri, made their submissions before the court.

Asiwaju Tinubu took Daar Communications Plc, owners

By Adebisi Onanuga

of AIT, to court for airing a documentary entitled: “Lion of Bourdillon”.

The plaintiff claimed that the documentary was defamatory of his character.

The judge had on April 1, 2015 granted an order of interlocutory injunction, restraining the broadcast station from further airing the documentary, pending the determination of the libel suit.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, Tinubu’s counsel informed the court that the claimant had filed Forms 17 and 18 and served

same on the defendant.

Kadiri confirmed that the defendant received the processes.

He, however, told the court that the respondent would file a counter-claim and join issues with the claimant.

For this, he said the respondent would require a long adjournment to ensure that all processes would get into the court’s file within the 42 days period specified by the law.

Justice Akinkugbe consequently granted his request and adjourned the matter for further direction to enable parties proceed to Pre-Conference stage.

Under this stage, parties are expected to explore settlement without going into full trial stage.

Asiwaju Tinubu instituted the suit claiming that the documentary, which started airing on March 1, 2015 at 11pm, defamed his character.

His lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said the documentary showcased various properties and companies across Lagos purportedly owned by him and that his client was described as “Nigeria’s biggest landlord”.

Olanipekun said the programme also claimed that

Tinubu was “charged for narcotics” in 1993 in the United States (U.S.).

He alleged that the documentary was politically sponsored to tarnish Tinubu’s reputation in the eyes of the populace.

Olanipekun, therefore, urged the court to award N150 billion as damages against AIT for tarnishing his client’s reputation.

But AIT’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, argued that the content of the documentary were facts, which had been in the public domain for over two decades.

According to him, the in-

formation was already published independently prior to the broadcast and had remained unchallenged till date.

He contended that Tinubu was a former senator, twotime governor of Nigeria’s most populous state and the leader of the APC, which claimed to be against corruption.

Ozekhome said AIT aired the documentary because it had a responsibility to its audience to scrutinise public officers.

He added that Tinubu had not shown how the said documentary damaged his reputation.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

6

NEWS Fashola to host NGE biennial convention

By Olatunde Odebiyi

L

•From left: Idowu, Ahmed, Ayorinde, Egbochuku and Adesina at the inauguration of the electoral committee of NGE Biennial Convention in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: DAVID ADEJO

Multichoice: why we ‘disobeyed’ court’s order on tariff hike

M

ULTICHOICE Nigeria has challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to adjudicate a suit filed against it over the hike in the prices of Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) and GoTV subscriptions.

This was as the plaintiffs filed a contempt charge against the company’s directors for allegedly disobeying a valid court order.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on April 2 granted an order of interim injunction restraining Multichoice from enforcing its planned price increase .

The judge asked parties to maintain status quo until the suit is determined.

The order reads in part: “That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted to the parties to maintain the status quo restraining the first defendant (Multichoice/DSTV) from giving effect or enforcing its planned increase in cost of the

• Plaintiffs want directors jailed

By Joseph Jibueze

different classes of viewing or programmes bouquet, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The suit was filed by Mr. Osasuyi Adebayo and Mr. Oluyinka Oyeniji, a lawyer, on behalf of themselves and individual/corporate subscribers of DSTV and distributors.

MultiChoice, owners of DStv and GOtv, had announced a 20 per cent price increase for all its satellite pay TV bouquets in Nigeria with effect from April 1.

Yesterday, Oyeniji accused Multichoice of disobeying the order, saying: “The order has been flouted brazenly.”

But counsel for Multichoice Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) said his clients did not obey the order because it was made after the new price had

gone into effect.

“An injunction cannot be granted in respect of a completed act,” he said.

“By the time the order was made, the price increase had been effected. The order was made on April 2 and we were served on April 8. The price increase took effect from April 1,” Onigbanjo added.

Besides, he said Multichoice was not bound to obey the order since it is already challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

He also pointed out that the order stated that “status quo” should be maintained, arguing that status quo as at the time the order was made meant the new subscription rates, not the old prices.

But Oyeniji said Multichoice ought to have obeyed the order because the suit was filed before April 1.

“The order was made for a continuing action,” he said.

He also informed the court that he had filed Form 48 (Notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court) and Form 49 (Notice to show cause why order of attachment should not be made).

The applications are seeking to commit Multichoice Managing Director John Ugbe and Manager Public Relations Caroline Oghuma to prison.

The plaintiffs said the two disobeyed the order requiring them to “refrain from the increase in tariff pending the determination of the suit.”

However, Onigbanjo said his notice of preliminary objection supersedes all other pending applications.

“The court is obligated to determine the issue of jurisdiction because anything done without it being resolved first will be a waste of time,” he said.

Justice Aneke adjourned till May 5 for hearing of the preliminary objection.

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola will be the host at the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) biennial convention holding at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th of this month.

NGE President Femi Adesina said the convention would be an opportunity for the guild to look into its activities in the last two years and see how it can project into the future.

He spoke yesterday during the inauguration of electoral committee for the convention in Lagos.

Adesina, who is also the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun, said the convention would be a great opportunity for body to come together and look at issues concerning members.

“We would give reports so far on our stewardship as members of the executive for the past two years; we would look at the things we have achieved and talk about what we still aim to achieve,” he said.

Adesina said he has led the body for two years and by the constitution, he is still eligible to run for another two years.

“I intend to run for the office of the president and I hope to get reelected, because if I get re-elected, I want to do more for the association in terms of training opportunities, building a national secretariat, giving a good image and reputation to the Nigerian editor,” he said.

The Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, added that the highlight of the event would be the election of new officers and standing committee members to run the affairs of the guild for the next two years.

He said the committee inaugurated yesterday would coordinate the elections at the convention.

The committee’s members are to be led by Mr. Stanley Egbuchuku, who is a fellow of NGE; former Managing Director, The Sun Mr. Mike Awoyinfa; a fellow, Mr. Lanre Idowu; former Editor of Next newspapers Kadaria Ahmed; Mr. Richard Akinola; Mallam Abdulhamid Majia, and a fellow, John Araka.

Ayorinde added that the convention will also include presentation of vital papers.

Senate passes independent budget, research office bill

T

HE Senate yesterday passed a bill establishing an Independent National Assembly Budget and Research Office to provide nonpartisan information needed to process the national budget.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business Senator Ita Enang, in his lead debate, said the bill was processed by both chambers of the National Assembly in the Sixth Assembly, but was not assented to.

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor, and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

The bill, he said, is crucial to the work of the Appropriation and Finance Committees of both Houses as well as other relevant committees.

He added that “the establishment of the office would provide relevant committees with essential non-partisan budgetary information needed to process the national budget”.

APC demands fresh governorship poll in Taraba

T

HE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, yesterday expressed worry over alleged plot to annul the mandate of the party’s governorship candidate in Taraba State, Senator Aisha Alhassan.

He said the powers-that-be in the state were influencing the election process to deny the party the opportunity of producing the nation’s first female governor.

He said APC would prefer a fresh governorship poll in the state.

Also yesterday, Senator Alhassan, who stormed Abuja yesterday with her supporters, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the governorship election and order a fresh one rather than the supplementary poll being proposed.

Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke at a briefing in Abuja on the inconclusive governorship poll, said the results of the election were re-engineered when it was glaring that Hajia Alhassan was getting closer to be governorelect.

He said: “As at the date of the election, as results came in, it became very clear indeed that she was destined to be the next governor of Taraba State. Unfortunately, the powers-that-be influenced a process of re-engineering the result, which today has placed her at a relative dis-

•Alhassan exposes how rigging was perpetrated From Yusuf Alli and Tony Akowe, Abuja

advantage and everything is being done in collusion between the authority and powerful influences in that state to prevent and frustrate the will of the people that the distinguished senator be their next governor.

“I will not say more than this, except to say that appeal has been made to INEC that the kinds of cancellation that are being undertaken are token and superficial, whereas the transgressions during the electoral process are of such magnitude that there are only two possibilities.

“Either the election in Wukari and Sardauna local governments be totally discountenanced and fresh election held or the totality of the election in that state should be redone.

“Our candidate is so confident that should this happen, she can give undertaking to accept the outcome of the result. But what will not be acceptable is the gradual engineering of the results in a way that places her at an unacceptable disadvantage.

“I do not intend to speak at this occasion because I want Nigerians to see the quality and calibre of the person. I have not said anything about the gender, but the quality and calibre of

the person that they are trying to rig out of the governorship of Taraba State; rig out of making history as the first female to be, in a democratic process, elected governor in this nation”.

On her part, the APC governorship candidate asked INEC to cancel the election and order a fresh one rather than the supplementary election being proposed.

The senator asked for a complete overhaul of the commission in the state as a pre-requisite for any fresh election.

She accused officials of the commission of colluding with others to manipulate the April 11 election.

She said rather than declare the election inconclusive, “results of all the areas affected by irregularities in the 11 local governments should be cancelled, after which a fresh collation should be done and a winner declared”.

Alternatively, she said: “The result of the entire state should be cancelled and a fresh election conducted. This is in view of the widespread irregularities in most of the state’s local government areas.

“In the event that the overall result is cancelled and a fresh election ordered, such should not be conducted under the supervision of the current INEC officials in Taraba State, as they

have shown sufficient evidence of bias and complicity in the April 11 election. A total overhaul of the INEC in Taraba should be a pre-requisite for any fresh election.

“The National headquarters of INEC should immediately launch a probe into the conduct of the April 11 governorship election in Taraba, to ensure that the rights of the people to choose their leaders are not abridged by conniving INEC officials, security and desperate PDP members.”

She added: “Considering the partisan posture of the security in the state during the April 11 general election, there should be massive redeployment in the interest of fairness and justice.”

Asked whether she would participate in the supplementary election, she said: “My position is before the party’s national body and they are to write INEC stating our position and the prayers they are going to forward to INEC are in line with what I have called for now. We will now wait for INEC to respond.

“When INEC responds to the letter from the national body of our party, then, the party will now decide on the way forward whether to take part in the supplementary election or boycott.

That is entirely the decision of the party and not me. The party

will decide when it is the right time to decide.”

The senator gave details of how the governorship election became inconclusive in the state.

She explained: “As you are very much aware, INEC has declared the governorship election in Taraba State inconclusive, because - according to the electoral commission - the number of cancelled votes was more than the difference between the votes gathered by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) candidate, that is my humble self, and Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“However, that conclusion

by INEC does not reflect what really transpired in the said elections. Hence the need to bring to the attention of Nigerians, and indeed the global community, the true situation.

“I have briefed my party, both at the state and national levels, about the elections, and will summarise here the details of those briefings concerning the Taraba elections. In many Wards cutting across many local governments, the elections did not hold in accordance with INEC guidelines.

“Despite several reports, complaints and protests to INEC (SPOs, EOs, REC and ROs) by our party field officers, myself and the state party chairman on the irregularities while going on and after, at collation lev-

els, the INEC failed to react and went ahead to accept most of the flawed results.

“The affected local governments are: Wukari, Kurmi, Yorro, Karim Lamido, Ardo Kola, Sardauna, Zing, Bali, Lau, Donga and Takum - that’s 11 out of the 16 local governments in which various irregularities were recorded in the state.

“After much pressure and complaints at the state collation centre, the INEC cancelled only the results of Donga Local Government and some few units in the remaining local governments complained of, leaving a chunk of results of other areas complained of.”

She listed the problems associated with the election in the affected local governments as follows: widespread non-use of Card Readers or destruction of the machines; non accreditation of voters; subversion of the rights of the people to exercise their franchise and the use of security agencies in aid of the PDP. Other complaints include kidnap of electoral officials by the PDP with the help of security agencies; ballot stuffing; collation of results in non-INEC designated areas; non delivery of electoral materials in many parts of the local governments; apparent complicity of INEC officials; the resort to vote allocations on results sheets, violence leading to injuries and loss of lives.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

7

NEWS ‘Don’t stop amnesty’

Afe Babalola hails Omirin From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

EMINENT lawyer Chief Afe Babalola has praised the Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker Dr Adewale Omirin for accepting the Supreme Court verdict, which affirmed Governor Ayo Fayose’s victory.

In a three-paragraph letter addressed to Omirin dated April 15, the founder of Afe Babalola University, AdoEkiti (ABUAD) urged Omirin to ensure a cessation of hostilities among warring parties in the state.

The letter reads: “I write to congratulate you on your recent statement published in the media accepting the unanimous Supreme Court decision upholding the election of the incumbent Governor of Ekiti State.”

I

NDIGENES of riverside communities in EseOdo Local Government Area of Ondo State yesterday appealed to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, not to end the amnesty programme.

They said the programme helped to reduce militancy and brought peace to the region.

An open letter by a community leader and Managing Director of Gallery Security Services Ltd Bibopere Ajube aka “shoot-atsight”, said ending the programme would throw over 30,000 youths into the job market.

He urged the people to come together to fight criminals, saying “the nefarious activities of these misguided elements must be resisted and stamped out through legitimate means in the interest of our nation and the Niger Delta.’’

Ajimobi, others get Certificates From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, his deputy, Moses Alake-Adeyemo, and lawmakers-elect will today receive their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The ceremony will take place at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, the state capital, by 10 am.

Expected at the ceremony are party leaders and other stakeholders.

‘Create ministry of Lagos affairs’

A

MEMBER of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Bisi Yussuf, has said the incoming Federal Government should create a ministry of Lagos affairs for the rapid upgrading of facilities in the nation’s commercial capital.

Addressing his supporters at his constituency office in Ipaja-Ayobo Local Council Development Area, Yussuf (Alimosho I), said until Lagos is accorded the rightful status, its mega-city aspirations may remain a pipe dream.

“There is nowhere in the world that a national commercial capital suffers the type of neglect Lagos has experienced in the hands of the Federal Government since it moved the nation’s capital to Abuja, in 1992.

“The deliberate neglect of Lagos by the PDP-led Federal Government since 1999 could best be described as killing the goose that lays the golden egg,” Yussuf said.

He recalled the pressures on Lagos roads following seaport operations and massive haulage business, saying only a dedicated ministry of Lagos affairs would arrest the decay of social infrastructure and meet its rail and road requirements as one of the world’s most densely populated cities.

Monarch hails Amosun’s victory •A cross-section of Islamic clerics at the eight-day Fidau for the late Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Baosari Suara Haruna, PHOTO FEMI ILESANMI, IBADAN at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasigba, Ibadan...yesterday.

Strange disease kills 14 in Ondo

A

STRANGE disease has killed 14 persons in Ode-Irele, headquarters of Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State, Commissioner for Health Dr. Dayo Adeyanju has confirmed.

He said many others were on danger list. The symptoms include headache and loss of sight.

The commissioner said the ministry had swung into action to curb its spread.

He said: “The cause of the strange disease is still unknown but samples have been taken to Lagos to verify the cause.

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

“Four others affected by the disease have been quarantined in a special ward in the General Hospital, OdeIrele.

“The disease is not related to the Ebola Virus. Residents need not be afraid as we are working to curb its spread.”

Adeyanju said the ministry was yet to verify if the disease is contagious.

The commissioner said some personnel had been drafted to the local government. Some Personal Protective Equipment were taken to the area.

Adeyanju said: “The presentation of the disease is bizarre and this was one of the reasons why the ministry is working to prevent the outbreak and I am assuring that we will get to the root within 24 or 48 hours.”

He explained that the disease usually affects the Central Nervous System, causing loss of sight and death in a few hours.

The commissioner said local and international health institutions, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Red Cross, are investigating the cause and treatment of the ailment.

He called on the people to report any case of sudden death or illness to ministry officials.

Adeyanju advised the people not to bury the remains of victims within residential areas to curb the spread, warning against sensationalising issues to avoid creating tension.

He urged the people to rely on information from official sources to avoid causing panic.

A source in the community said the deaths had spiritual undertone, noting that those afflicted by the disease went against the gods of the land.

Ekiti APC alleges attacks by suspected PDP thugs

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has raised the alarm to fresh attacks on its members, barely 48 hours after the Supreme Court validated the election of Governor Ayo Fayose.

The party said the latest attack on its members was recorded in Imesi-Ekiti in Gbonyin Local Government Area.

A statement by the APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, urged security agencies to save the party members from those it described as “thugs working for Fayose and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”.

The APC alleged that many of its members were

•PDP: APC can’t stop lying From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

injured in Imesi and driven into the bush while their houses and property were destroyed.

The PDP State Secretary, Tope Aluko, denied the attacks, accusing the opposition of always rushing to the press to feed the public with lies.

Aluko said: “PDP members did not attack anybody. The people of Ekiti State are tired of lies.

“We have no reason to attack anybody because we are still savouring the victory of our governor at the Supreme Court.

“The APC should stop

blackmailing Fayose, the man has extended a hand of fellowship to the party and it should stop lying against him and our party.”

Olatubosun said the hand of fellowship extended by Fayose was a smokescreen to deceive the people.

He said: “We call on security agents to come to the rescue of APC members, whose only offence is that they belong to a different party.

“We are amazed that the attacks increased and became more vicious on Tuesday after the Supreme Court ruled in Fayose’s

favour.

“We had thought that Fayose was sincere about extending an olive branch to all, including members of the opposition.

“We wonder what else Fayose and his PDP attacking squad want after his victory at the apex court.

“Does he want to exterminate all APC members simply because he has been confirmed as the governor? Does he want to become God?” Olatubosun added that the thugs had expanded the scope of their operations to include alleged attacks on APC members in Ayetoro and EmureEkiti.

Lagos realigns Fourth Mainland Bridge to avoid demolition

T

HE Lagos State government said yesterday it has altered the initial alignment of the proposed fourth Mainland bridge to avoid demolition of about 69 buildings.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Obafemi Hamzat spoke at a briefing with reporters.

He said the government had to do this because the demolition would attract a huge compensation.

Hamzat said some residents moved into the alignment and erected massive structures.

“We carried out a survey to establish the right of way. We looked

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

at various options. The option that seems best for us has about 4km of bridge on the water.

“Unfortunately, when we started the survey and enumeration, people had built on the alignment.

“I think people were speculative in anticipation of the bridge. I think the demolition we have to do is now about 69 buildings, so we have to rethink.

The amount of compensation will run into billions if we have to do that.”

Affirming the government’s commitment to building the bridge, Hamzat said a new alignment is being

outlined, taking into consideration the Lekki Free Zone and other multinational companies coming into the axis.

He said: “Dangote Petroleum Refinery is also coming up, so we are considering the one which makes sense to build. The alignment will shift, it will not be the same again, so you can call it Fourth Mainland or whatever.”

Outlining some projects, Hamzat said 281 roads were built, rehabilitated and delivered in the last four years, adding, however, that litigation and limited funds were challenges faced by the ministry.

THE traditional head of Lisa community in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, Chief Oladele Nojeem Odugbemi, has congratulated Governor Ibikunle Amosun on his re-election.

He said the victory came as a result of relentless hard work, great vision and serious mindedness in governance.

Odugbemi said this proved that the people would always stand by what is good as they appreciate what the governor did in moving the state forward.

The monarch pledged his community’s support and loyalty to the Amosun-led administration.

Ambode’s men greet residents THE Vice-Chairman of the Akinwunmi Ambode Volunteer Group in Kosofe Local Government Area, Kehinde Ogunnusi, has hailed the electorate in Ifako Gbagada and Kosofe for voting for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

He also praised the residents for ensuring victory for the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and Rotimi Agunsoye for the House of Representative in Kosofe.

In a statement yesterday, Ogunnusi thanked Kosofe residents for voting for the Governor–elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and the two House of Assembly xcandidates, Bayo Osinowo and Tunde Buraimo.

‘Ajimobi’s win unprecedented’ From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

THE management of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission has described the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi as unprecedented.

This was contained in a statement by the chairman, Chief Lasisi Ayankojo, yesterday in Ibadan.

“Your landmark victory is a pointer to the fact that the people of Oyo State appreciated your selfless services toward the improvement of their welfare and transformation of the state. May your strength never go less,” he said Ayankojo said observers of Ajimobi’s administration have declared that the governor had succeeded in taking the state out of the parlous situation it was before May 2011.

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NEWS How juju forced me out of Govt House, by Ajimobi

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YO State Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday explained why he relocated from the Government House to his private residence in Ibadan, the state capital.

He said he fled because his opponents directed evil traditional sacrifices (known as ebo in Yoruba) at him.

Ajimobi spoke in Ibadan at the eighth-day Fidau for the late Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Baosari Haruna.

He said ahead of the justconcluded elections, some desperate politicians did their best to send him out of the Government House through many devilish means.

“They first came to you Alfas to give them prayers that will send me out of office, but my own Alfa’s prayers superseded theirs.

“Every morning, I go out for exercise. If you know the Government House very

well, it has many interchanges, popularly called orita, I see all kinds of sacrifices (ebo) placed at these junctions.’’

“Worried by these developments, some of you my Alfas here advised me to move out of the Government House to render their evil plots useless,’’ he said.

The governor said his reason contradicts the tales by his opponents that he packed out of the Government House because he was afraid of defeat.

The governor said he had to leave “to thwart the evil plots of these desperate politicians’’.

The elated governor asked the Islamic scholars to select 10 of them to accompany him to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj ( Umrah) to thank Allah for His mercies on him and the state.

He thanked the people for re-electing him.

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Court refuses to stop impeachment move against Fayose

USTICE Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday rejected an oral application by counsel to Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop the impeachment move against the governor.

The counsel, Ahmed Raji, had shortly before the end of proceedings in the case, applied orally for an order directing parties to maintain status quo ante bellum “to stop things from degenerating further”.

Justice Mohammed, in a ruling, rejected Raji’s prayer and upheld the argument by Terence Vembe, counsel to Ekiti State Speaker, Adewale Omirin, that granting such prayer will amount to the court amending its earlier ruling that the defendants were still within the time frame earlier ordered by the court.

The judge had, last Wednesday, refused Fayose’s ex-parte prayers for interim injunctions restraining Omirin and other defendants in

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

the case from proceeding with the impeachment move.

Instead, Justice Mohammed ordered the defendants to show cause why the orders of interim injunction sought by the plaintiffs should not be granted.

Plaintiffs include Olugbemi Joseph Dele (who claimed to be Speaker of the State Assembly), Ekiti State House of Assembly, Fayose and his deputy, Olusola Kolapo.

Listed as defendants are Omirin, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Chief Judge, Ekiti State.

At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, Raji urged the court to grant the order of interim injunction because none of the defendants complied with the court’s order, directing them to show cause.

“None of the defendants has filed any paper and already a life has been lost on the account of trying to carry out the illegal act (impeachment).

“To save more lives, I urge my Lord to grant the reliefs 5, 6, 7 and 8 on our motion paper.”

Vembe objected and told the court that his client was contesting the mode of service of the court processes on him, which he said, was done through a newspaper publication on April 11, which was a public holiday.

He faulted the service effected by the plaintiffs via a publication in Nigerian Tribune on April 11 on the ground that movements were restricted on that day because of the governorship and House of Assembly elections.

In a brief ruling, Justice Mohammed upheld Raji’s argument that Vembe could not

canvass any argument on the issue of service orally without putting it in writing as required under the court’s rules.

Vembe proceeded to argue that his client was still within time to obey the court’s order directing him and other defendants to show cause.

Although Raji objected to Vembe’s further argument, Justice Mohammed, in yet another brief ruling, upheld Vembe’s argument.

The judge noted that the publication ought not to have been done on a public holiday.

He held that the three days within which the defendants were required to comply with the court’s order began to run on Tuesday, April 14 and will end on Friday, April 17.

“As of today, the first defendant is still within time as provided by Order 36 Rule 13 of the Federal High Court Rules,” the judge said.

Further hearing in the case has been fixed for April 29.

Ondo APC: don’t release Olanusi’s attackers

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday accused the Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, of allegedly releasing some suspects, who were arrested for “attacking” the convoy of the Deputy Governor, Ali Olanusi.

Olanusi’s convoy was pelted with stones and sachet waters on Monday at the Government House because he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, the party accused Governor Olusegun Mimiko of ordering Eke to release the suspects.

The statement reads: “We reliably gathered that these thugs are living in some of the chalets in the Government House, Alagbaka.

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

“An attack on a governor or his deputy is an aberration and it is an attack on the constitution.

“We, therefore, urge the commissioner of police to investigate and arrest the perpetrators.

“Eke should also be reminded that we would not tolerate any illegality.

“The partisanship of the police will not be tolerated, and the era of impunity is over.”

But Eke denied making any arrest.

"We are yet to arrest anyone concerning the attack on the deputy governor.

“Those peddling the rumours about the arrest and release of the suspect should come out and tell us where and when the arrest was made," Eke said.

Ambode, others get certificates

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AGOS State Governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode and the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, yesterday received their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At a colourful ceremony at the Arch Bishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja, Lagos, senators –elect Gbenga Ashafa, Oluremi Tinubu and Olamilekan Adeola and 24 House of Representatives members– elect also got their certificates.

Ambode thanked Lagosians for their orderly conduct during the polls.

He said the state will regain what it had lost since the emergence of democracy in 1999.

The governor-elect said the state did not align, in terms of ideology, with the centre for 16 years.

The INEC Commissioner for Lagos, Ondo and Osun states, Prof. Akinola Salau, praised Lagosians for their orderly conduct during the elections.

He urged winners and

By Musa Odoshimokhe

losers during the elections to consider the development of democracy as the ultimate goal.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Akin Orebiyi, called on politicians to ensure that the peaceful atmosphere in the state subsists.

He called for a moment of silence to be observed for those who died during the elections across the country.

Present at the ceremony were APC chieftains, Sunny Ajose, Lagos APC Chairman Otunba Dele Ajomale, Abiodun Sunmola, Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti, Lagos State Director, National Orentation Agency, Waheed Ishola, Lagos State APC Women Leader Kemi Nelson, JIde Jimoh, Ayodeji Joseph, Rotimi Agunsoye, Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary Gani Taofeek, Prof. Adekunle Ogunmola, Hon. Joseph Bamgbose and others.

•The Ilubirin Lagos Homes Housing Estate, Lagos Island. INSET: Fashola (right), Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources Taofik Tijani (second right), Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development Toyin Ayinde (second left) and Establishments, Training & Pensions commissioner Mrs. Florence Oguntuase (left)...yesterday Photo: Omosehin Moses

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Fashola warns contractors against shoddy jobs

AGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday warned contractors handling the construction of the Foreshore Housing Estate at Ilubirin, Eti-Osa, to guard against shoddy jobs.

The governor gave the warning yesterday during an inspection of the site as well as the Ijora-Badia Homes project, newly-built Apapa Amusement Park and Alausa housing project.

T

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

He explained that the design for the project was carefully chosen by the state executive council and must be executed to detail.

The governor said the housing scheme is built on piles 40 -70 metres deep, and has a dedicated Integrated Power Plant (IPP), central gas supply, police station, Jetty, green area and two main entrances,

among others.

Fashola said the first-phase of about 1,200 housing units was satisfactory, though slightly delayed due to funds.

“The more money we have, the more people we will get back to work.

“The first phase ought to have finished if we did not have issues with money,” he said.

At Badia, Prof. Olusanya of the Building Department,

University of Lagos, showcased the prefabricated pilot project, describing it as the product of his three-year experiment.

Olusanya said the project, with 85 per cent local content value, was about industrialisation; to produce en masse with significant value added.

The first block, of five-storey, 48-apartment building is a test-run, and due for roofing later this month.

Fayose, others oppose withdrawal of suit by HE 19 All Progressives ported “Speaker”, Dele Olug19 APC lawmakers Congress (APC) lawbemi are the respondents. makers’ bid to with-

draw their suit suffered a setback yesterday as the defendants, including Governor Ayo Fayose, opposed the move.

The plaintiffs had sued the governor and others at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

They urged the court to declare that the Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin and his deputy were entitled to occupy their offices except removed by the votes of two-third majority of the Assembly.

They filed the suit, following their “impeachment” last November 20 by seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.

The lawmakers had last week applied to withdraw the

By Joseph Jibueze

suit. They filed a notice of discontinuance.

But counsel for Fayose and others, E.O. Afolayan, yesterday urged the court not to strike out the suit but dismiss it.

The development stalled the withdrawal of the case and led to a further adjournment.

The move to withdraw the suit followed the 19 lawmakers’ return to Ekiti and their bid to impeach the governor.

According to Afolayan, since the plaintiffs have applied to discontinue the case, the proper thing for the court to do was to dismiss it.

This is because when a case is dismissed, it can not be re-

filed in future. But a court action can be started afresh if it is struck out.

Afolayan argued that since Fayose and others had filed a preliminary objection to the lawmakers’ motion on notice, the court could no longer simply strike it out.

He said the court must dismiss it to foreclose it being brought back by the plaintiffs in future.

But the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Onyeka Ofoegbu, said the court could only strike out the suit as it had not been heard.

He prayed the court not to dismiss it.

The Inspector-General of Police Suleiman Abba, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), and the pur-

Others are members loyal to Olugbemi, namely Samuel Ajibola, Adeojo Alexander, Adeloye Adeyinka, Isreal Ajiboye, Fatunbi Olajide, Olayinka Abeni; and the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti.

The plaintiffs had sought a declaration that the attempt to force them to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was against their constitution right to freedom of association.

Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned till May 7 for arguments on whether the suit should be dismissed on struck out.

He said he would deliver ruling the same day.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

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BUSINESS NEWS

Brent crude oil jumps to $63 per barrel O

IL rose more than three per cent yester day, pushing Brent crude to a 2015 high above $63 per barrel.

The increase was due to evidence that U.S. production had dropped, balancing a market that had been in heavy oversupply for more than a year.

Oil prices collapsed in the six months to January, pushing Brent down more than 60 per cent to almost $45 a barrel.

But the market has gradually recovered this year as much lower prices have discouraged oil exploration and

production, especially in the United States.

“People are realising that the U.S. production juggernaut is slowing, at least for now,” said Virendra Chauhan, oil analyst at Londonbased consultancy Energy Aspects.

“U.S. production is down for the second time in three weeks and refinery runs are spiking up, driving demand higher.”

Brent crude futures for June LCOc1 on Thursday hit $63.29 a barrel, the highest

since December.

However, U.S. crude CLc1 was at $56.00, down 39 cents after hitting a 2015 high of $56.69 on Wednesday.

“This whole rally was primarily due to drops in U.S. crude production.

“We see the four-week average for crude production turning negative for the first time since July ’14,” Singapore-based energy brokerage Phillips Futures said in a note to clients.

But analysts say despite the oil price rally, the market remains over supplied and this can reduce the price in the short term.

‘Fed Govt owing construction firms over N500b‘

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RESIDENT, Federation of Construction Indus try (FOCI), Solomon Ogunbusola, yesterday said the Federal Government is owing construction companies over N500 billion.

He lamented that most of his members are currently on the verge of extinction.

“It is distressing to observe that many construction firms are on the verge of collapse as a result of the huge debts owed by the Federal, states and local governments,” he said in a statement.

FOCI is the umbrella body for building and civil engineering contractors, sub-contractors, and plant and equipment suppliers.

While congratulating Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) on his election, he noted that FOCI has contributed in a great measure to the construction of modern Nigeria since FOCI’s incorporation in 1954.

He said: “Reliable sources confirm that over N500 billion is owed by the Federal Government alone. This has led to loss of jobs within the industry. We wish to bring to notice of our presidentelect that at present, the construction companies generally are working at 30 per cent capacity following the mass retrenchment of our workers due to delay/nonpayment of certified jobs by

From Gbenga Omokhunu and Stella Ayom, Abuja

various arms of government.

“FOCI is concerned that if the situation is not arrested in good time, it could lead to further loss of jobs and eventual collapse of the construction industries.

He also noted that with its over 100 registered members across the federation including but not limited to

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dantata & Sawoe, Cappa & D’ Alberto Plc, S & M Nigeria Ltd., Setraco Nigeria Ltd., P.W Nigeria Ltd, Gilmor Nigeria Ltd, Zebercel Ltd among others, the sector is operating below 40 per cent staff strength due to mass retrenchment.

He appealed to the incoming administration for urgent intervention.

• Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCCC), Dr Eugene Juwah (left) receiving the PanAfrican Servant Leadership Award from the Speaker, African Students Union Parliament (ASUP), Comrade Larota Chekibe of the Universite Du Kokodi, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

NERC queries AEDC for over-billing customers

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HE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commis sion (NERC) yesterday issued the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) notice of enforcement action over what it described as ‘manifest and flagrant breaches’ of approved methodology for estimated billing of electricity consumers.

In the notice , it directed Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to explain within seven days why “enforcement action

From John Ofikhenua and Ayorinde Hope, Abuja

should not be taken against you and sanctions meted accordingly for non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the licence granted you, the Methodology for Estimated Billing 2012 and directives to submit a comprehensive data used for the billing of unmetered customers” for the period under review.

Its Head, Public Affairs Department, Dr. Usman Abba

Arabi in a statement yesterday, said the notice is a follow up to previous investigations and forensic observations of electricity distribution companies’ operations through which an unusual increases in estimated billings of electricity consumers were observed within the last quarter of last year by NERC. AEDC and some others were subsequently invited for explanation for the unusual increase in estimated billings.

Kontagora House: FMBN says sensitive materials intact

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HE Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) said no sensitive document was lost in Wednesday’s fire which torched part of its office at Mamman Kontagora House in Lagos.

A statement signed by Lawal K’Sauri, Head, Corporate Affairs, in Abuja also said there was no loss of life or damage to sensitive materials as to have cause for alarm.

It thanked the Lagos State Fire Service, Federal Fire service, Nigeria Police,

Julius Berger, Nigeria Ports Authority, UBA, Union bank Plc., and LASEMA, for putting out the fire.

“The management also wishes to thank the general public for their concern and sympathy,’’ it stated.

It stated that the bank’s Managing Director, Alhaji Gimba Kumo, during his visit assured that the extent of the damage would be made public after the outcome of the risk assessment.

“We don’t have any report to give presently but the preliminary information we

gathered tells us that the fire outbreak is from the generator room.

“We spoke with the facility manager and we have been informed that they tried to service the generator yesterday.

“We leave this to the state fire service and the experts coming to do the risk assessment.

“Everything is going to be done professionally and you will be informed of the development.

“No major document from our side is lost,’’ Kumo said

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Before now, many young Nigerians saw agriculture as a venture without future. To them, it was not capable of giving them a means of livelihood. However, this impression is changing with an increasing number of young agro-entrepreneurs achieving a lot through agric ventures, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

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N the past, many saw agriculture as a career that entailed life-long labour on farmlands.

This view is, however, fast-changing as a crop of new young agric entrepreneurs are coming up.

They are doing well, harvesting thousands of hectares of cash crops, fruits and vegetables for local consumption and export, and smiling to the bank.

Chief Executive, Natural Nutrient Limited, Sola Adeniyi, is one of them.

Adeniyi, a Business Administration graduate identified a gap in the market for moringa and made haste to fill it by setting up a business devoted to the product. Since he began the business, the demand for moringa has increased. He has made a success of his venture Adeniyi said young agric entrepreneurs have incredible potential to make agriculture dynamic, and fill a growing market gap which engages the youth.

He said his business which began as a micro initiative is an example. He has since built it into a successful company, supplying moringa, plantain and other produce to the market.

Adeniyi started with growing moringa for a market he identified early enough.

He first tested the market by supplying a small number of processed products and the result was astonishing to him.

As his company produced, packaged and distributed it in commercial quantities, sales increased overwhelmingly. Along the line, he considered adding value to it.

Consequently, he began producing moringa tea. Gradually, the tea became very popular among the health-conscious.

He has so far diversified into moringa body butter, capsule, oil, soap and powder.

To help those considering investing in moringa production, Adeniyi organises training and demonstration sessions and assists them with disease -free plantlets to start their farms.

Having achieved success, Adeniyi is convinced that young men can make it in agriculture with resilience, tenacity and determination.

This is because of the immense opportunities available for new comers in the industry.

He has established a plantain estate to help busy Nigerians, who need a joint venture arrangement to run their agro-businesses while keeping their day jobs. He is one of the emerging agro-business tycoons in Ogun State today.

But, the success stories in agricbusiness are not wrapped around men alone. Women agro entrepreneurs are equally doing well.

Their impact has continued to draw attention and they have proved to be a force to reckon with.

Findings show that women agro entrepreneurs are active at all levels. One of them is the founder & Chief Implementation Officer, Honeysuckles PTL Ventures, Cynthia Mosunmola Umoru. She is engaged in food production, processing and distribution.

She is also the founder of Farmshoppe, a retail outlet.

Her company distributes livestock produce to fast food companies and restaurants in Lagos. One of her farms is also used for research and training of young farm-

Here come new generation of farming entrepreneurs

•Maikasuwa

•Umoru

•Adeniyi

ers.

During her university days, Ms Umoru was shopping for women, who were busy executives and could not find the time to go to the market.

She then thought of setting up a nice posh market where such women could come to pick their fresh food produce at competitive prices. That gave birth to Farmshoppe. Initially, she was supplying a few quick service restaurants, but they were not paying on time and this affected the business cash flow. She revisited her business plan and changed the strategy to reduce debts and increase output.

Farmshoppe has evolved with different outlets and franchises.

The business has a standard retail outlet and a 25-hectare farmland in Ogun State.

The business focuses on highquality food products using modern packaging and fast delivery, and has its own farms and ponds.

Having achieved so much, Ms Umoru is focusing on ways to get a new generation of young people interested in modern agriculture.

What she does is to get them started on the path to their own successful agric-businesses. And for those whose interests have already peaked, Umoru provides the quality training missing in the general sector to help modernise their ventures.

She also engages schools, governments and businesses to recognise the effect of the absence of infrastructure is having on youth participation in modern agriculture.

Ms Umoru takes students to her farm and combines them with a broader group of aspiring young agribusiness entrepreneurs who have approached her for advice on different aspects of their budding agribusinesses.

Together, both groups witness a real-life example of a modern agribusiness.

During a year-long apprenticeship with Honeysuckles PTL Ventures, participants are taken through all aspects of the value chain, from production to process-

ing.

Those with existing agribusinesses learn modern skills and ideas to incorporate into their endeavours. She then works with them to secure the land, much of which was otherwise lying fallow, and other resources to turn their ideas into reality.

Also, some young farmers are warming up to growing crops in commercial quantities having been inspired by Zanau Hassan Maikasuwa, President, Farmfields Agro-Allied Services, in Taraba State.

Maikasuwa is one of the young farmers thriving in crop farming.

From humble beginnings, his company has grown crops on several acres of land . This has driven him to expand his business to meet the rising demand for crops from neighbouring northern states. He also has a livestock segment.

While he is celebrated as a success today, Maikasuwa said his interest in large-scale farming followed early exposure to the business as a child.

When it was time to attend university, he was admitted to read agriculture even though he had applied to study medicine.

Subsequently, he became more passionate about farming and dreamt of becoming an agropreneur.

On graduation, he went into farming business. He started the business with support from his family. Since then, the business has grown. To create a legacy, Maikasuwa is empowering more farmers.

His target is farmers who plan to expand and those who want to move from peasant to commercial production.

His other compatriot is Clifford Eborgu, Chief Executive, Sendulus Consulting, Oyo State.

Since plantain is primed among leading commodities in returns to farmers, Eborgu is leading a campaign to get young entrepreneurs involve in it for income and food.

For him, plantain farming is the way to go. Through his effort and

others, small scale plantain production is now on the increase and the initiative has been so successful such that there is now a danger of plantain surplus.

To a lot of young entrepreneurs, opportunities in agriculture are enormous. As a result, many investors and companies are pouring into the sector. Some focus on supplying seeds while others offer all kinds of services. The area of services has become a destination for a great number of young educated agro entrepreneurs.

Chief Executive Officer, GIGWorld Limited , Wole Oluwole, is one entrepreneur who is luring urban professionals back to land. His service is also a field that fattens bank accounts.

Many companies and individuals that see potential in farming are venturing into it and they seek his advice. Since the potential in agric business is huge and is an opportunity that must not be missed, he is inviting investors to the sector with an assurance for mutual benefit.

Chief Executive, The Thy Consulting Limited, Ismail Abdulazeez, is one farmer whose life has greatly improved thanks to discovering the hidden fortunes in grasscutter and snail farming.

As a child, he had passion for agriculture, having been involved in subsistence farming with his parents. He developed so much interest in farming that he had vowed that no matter how much academic certifi cate he obtains, he would still be a big farmer.

After suffering misfortunes that led to his loss of job, he retired to his own house at Ewupe Ijaniye Village, Sango Otta, Ogun State. Incidentally, it was at that point that the journey into his dream job of being a big time farmer started to materialise.

Being a new site, he and his wife started seeing snails here and there and picked them. He decided to check the articles on snail farming he has been keeping and in one of the articles, he came across the name of one man called Mr. Bright.

He traced him and attended some of his seminars. After the trainings,

he did his own research and started his own farms. As God would have it, everything started flourishing.

For him, market for his snails has never been a problem as there were ready-made markets.

According to him, snail farming has been adjudged to be one of the most lucrative farming ventures presently with far less capital investment and bountiful returns. It has lower risk compared to other livestock farming, while virtually every part of snail is of vital use in food, pharmaceutical, manufacturing and fishing industries. He noted that snail is an export commodity that has value next to gold in overseas.

Having conquered the snail business as it were, Abudlazeez also plunged into grasscutters raring business. Like he did when he started the snail business, Abdulazeez said he went as far as Ghana, Republic of Benin and Ivory Coast to see how they set up standard grasscutters farms.

Today, his farm hostels at least 200 grasscutters which are slaughtered for sale to grocery stores, restaurants and hotels.

The business also provides money to feed his family and pay school fees for his children that attend private schools. A few years ago, he was able to buy some plots of land , bought a car and at least 10 acre property to establish and promote his export business.

His success story has proved the huge and largely untapped potential of young agro entrepreneurs.

There are intervention to encourage more young Nigerians to explore farming and agribusinesses.

These are based on the need to upgrade the value chains and creation of more agro enterprises.

The West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP-Nigeria) is taking steps to support the Agriculture Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN).

WAAPP, through the Rice Value Chain Innovation Platform is training future agro entrepreneurs to use improved rice seeds to increase yields, reduce the cost of production, improve quality and ensure sustainable cropping.

WAAPP said: “An agro-entrepreneurial group made up the Agriculture Graduates in Nigeria have successfully piloted three cycle rice production programme in Niger State in a bid to avail rice seeds to the Nigerian farmer.

“The Agriculture Graduates Association of Nigeria (AGAN), a private sector-driven extension programme for young knowledgeable farmers (Agric.

Entrepreneurs), achieved this by introducing organic farming using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI).’’

The leader of the association, Mr Hassaini Ilyasu, durng the inauguration of the second cycle at Sheshi Bikun, Niger, said the journey towards sustainable food security had began with a successful collaboration with WAAPP-Nigeria and other partners.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

Airlines urged to upgrade facilities to boost agro cargo

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IRLINES have been urged to upgrade facilities to

promote agricultural exports and boost regional trade.

Deputy Director,Department of General Administration, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute(ARMTI),Dr Ademola Adeyemo, said improving facilities at the airports to boost export of commodities would help Nigerians explore trade opportunities in the United States, Europe and others.

He said runway and cargo handling facilities needed to be expanded to start export of fresh

Stories by Daniel Essiet

produce.

As agricultural cargo constitutes a large per cent of the nation’s export tonnage, Adeyemo said the industry requires improvement in infrastructure to cope with increasing volume of trade.

He said exporters are confronting logistics challenges which increase transactions cost.

Outside the airports, he said the farmers producing for export suffer harvest losses and deficiencies in the irrigation systems.

While the government is making efforts to modernise local

food production for domestic consumption, the expert added that upgrading the production chain to be export-oriented on the other hand will help the nation earn more foreign exchange.

He futher urged the government to set up export promotion desks across airports as well as extend customs clearance facilities to boost overall exports activities.

Such desks, according to him, would help government agencies and exporters provid to resolve issues within minimum time frame.

As the government’s long-

term economic plan is to ensure a truly national recovery, Adeyemo noted that this could be achieved more quickly if energies were directed towards boosting export drive.

To aid this, he said most airports should be equipped to offer agro cargo services, including perishable fruits refrigerated terminals.

One mode of transportation the government should improve is the railways which he said still suffers from lack of maintenance.

He added that improving the railways will guarantee

cheaper and safer transportation of agro commodities , especially with the introduction of refrigerating facilities.

On the road network, Adeyemo said it requires large investments to allow efficient land transportation.

He reiterated that the government will do more to promote export by providing good infrastructure and full facilitation, urging for focus on roads,sea ports and power to improve delivery schedule of exports.

He called on the government to drew a road map for inclusive growth and competitive exports.

How to ensure food safety, by experts To mark the World Health Day, experts met in Lagos to brainstorm on how to ensure food safety and other issues, OYEYEMI GBENGAMUSTAPHA reports

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OW can consumers be safe from food borne diseases?

How can stakeholders involved in food handling, begining from farm to plate, play active roles in food safety?

These were the focus of the meeting between the Association for Public Health Professionals in Nigeria (APHPN), Lagos Chapter and Sanofi Pasteur to mark the World Health Day (WHD).

Food Safety- from farm to plate, make food safe was the theme of this year’s WHD The panelists comprise representatives of Sanofi Pasteur and some executives of APHPN, including its chair, Dr Oladoyin Odubanjo; immediate past chair, Dr Kofo Odeyemi; First Vice Chair, Dr Tolu Olufunlayo; General Secretary, Dr Solomon Oyetoyan.

Others are the Permanent Secretary represented by the Director, Occupational Health; Dr Layeni-Adeyemo; the State Epidemiologist, Dr Ismail AbdusSalam and Food Industry Representatives/Food Safety Advocates.

All the panelists said there is the need for collaboration and communication among the various groups. They agreed that government and its agenciespublic health, agriculture, education/research institutions and trade, professionals, food industry and civil society should ensure they play their roles and prevent any weak chain.

The panelists agreed that food chain pipeline is longer and complex, complicating food-borne disease outbreak investigation and product recall fuelled by globalisation and trade. They also said everyone has a role to play.

Stakeholders were urged to deploy the tools of science and technologies in improving food safety.

The panelists said: “It is multisectoral and multidisciplinary.

Governments, Ministries of Health, Environment and Agriculture, food and agricultural

•A cross section of participants during the business training on Empowering Agripreneurs on Agripreneurial and Business Management at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

By Oyeyemi Gbenga-Mustapha

industry (agricultural processing companies, breweries and confectioneries), other producers, professionals/academia/research institutions –people working in nutrition, toxicology, microbiology, parasitology, human and veterinary medicine and health economics.

“An effective team work of all those responsible and the use of mass and social media is expected to assist people make informed and appropriate food choices and embrace acceptable behaviours.

“They should know common food hazards; how to handle food safely and if applicable read/use the information provided in food labeling. Therefore, education and improved literacy is necessary as well as labeling that is suitable to the culture and language of the consumers.”

According to Dr. Odeyemi, antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health concern.

Overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in agriculture and animal husbandry, is one of the factors leading to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in animals may be transmitted to humans via food.

She said: “Food-borne illnesses encompass a wide spectrum and are a growing public health problem world-wide. They are the result of ingestion of contaminated

food stuff, and range from illnesses caused by a multitude of microorganisms to those caused by chemicals. These include a group referred to as diarrheal diseases caused by enteroviruses such as rotavirus, escherichia coli, typhoid (salmonella typhi), dysentery (shigella spp.), cholera (Vibrio cholerae 01 and 0139), amebiasis (entamoeba histolytica). Food poisoning is an acute (sudden onset) gastroenteritis caused by ingestion of food contaminated with a bacteria/bacterial toxins (example is salmonella spp. staphylococcus aureus), fungal toxins (aflatoxin- peanut) or chemicals toxins (lead, mercury, kerosene, detergents and household solvents.”

On preventive measures against these diseases, she said: “Raw food areas where contamination can occur on the farm and at primary production include the use of manure or contaminated feed.

“During growth to harvesting, you avoid contamination with harmful micro-organisms and food poisoning, by avoiding harmful residues of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, disinfectants and other toxic agents. Manure and compost have advantages but health risk should be considered if food is to be consumed raw.

“Chemical fertiliser were commonly used to address this issue. However, with organic foods now popular, the trends are changing. There should be

adequate and hygienic layout of produce and goods in markets to ensure no contamination.”

According to her, food processing involves taking the raw material through processes such as raw food/produce handling, cleaning, mixing, heat exchange, separation, concentration, drying, packaging and storing finished products.

She said areas of contamination in commercial food processing in factories are through cross contamination from other foods, contamination from machinery, poor storage and temperature control, unhygienic slaughter conditions.

She said: “To address these, there should be provision of potable and good water supply, solid and liquid waste disposal methods at factory, good physical and chemical cleaning procedures of equipment, health education of food handlers on personal hygiene.

“Attention must also be paid to food transport, storage and preservation. Contamination may be from the transport equipment, poor temperature, pests and infestations. Food preservation ensures proper control of the number and kinds of microorganisms in food. These include heating (boiling, roasting), drying, freezing, salting, pickling, fermenting, pasteurisation, canning.

“Likewise public food premises must not be compromised on. For instance, meat hygiene. From the

rearing to plate the rearing and slaughtering of animals usually done in unhygienic conditions such as any available space/building, with lack of clean water, poor liquid and solid waste disposal such as blood, waste water, carcass results in foul odour, breeding of flies and rodents and can lead to meat contamination.”

According to her, improvement on these could be seen at the Lagos State abattoir and with the Eko meat vans. Animal and meat inspection for foot and mouth disease, tuberculosis, anthrax, tapeworm, salmonellosis, brucellosis must be carried out severally, she insisted.

She said: “Food preparation in commercial/household kitchens must also be prevented in ensuring food safety.

As direct contamination from handlers and unhygienic premises, contaminated water and utensils, insufficient cooking, poor storage and temperature control can lead to food poisonings. Public food premises are increasing in numbers daily, and are of varying sizes and level of technology.

“It therefore requires supervision as they are involved in mass/commercial food production. The food premise which can just be an available space can range from a one-man food vendor to large restaurants available to the public. Although hospitals, hotels, schools and work/industries are not opened to public catering, they attend to a specific or defined group

17

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari spoke with reporters in Daura, Katsina State, shortly after the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections on preparations to take over power on May 29. The incoming President reiterated his readiness to serve the people and work within the constraints of democracy and party politics to deliver on his promises.

D

URING the governorship elections, there were pockets of violence across the country. How do you feel about this?

I think there was less disruption during Saturday’s elections, compared to the presidential election. I hope that it was as a result of the bandwagon effect because the APC had the upper hand during the last election. But, what happened in the Southsouth and the Southeast the last time cannot be compared to what happened today. There were few ballots box snatching in some local government areas in Bayelsa and a few disruptions in Adamawa State, but that is nothing near to what happened two weeks ago.

I don’t think it is up to 25 per cent of what happened two weeks ago? I think that after the elections, both parties, the APC and the PDP, will perhaps make their representations to INEC or the courts and then more details will emerge. Definitely maybe because the turnout is much lower. From what I have heard, the turnout is much lower from what it was two weeks ago. Maybe the people just wanted a president and once they got one, they just walked away. They are Nigerians and there is nothing we can do, but to convince them that they have to use this weapon which is the Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

Indications are that there were pockets of violence, especially in Rivers and Lagos State. How do you feel about this?

I think we should allow INEC to give its comprehensive report. Meanwhile, as you mentioned in some of the states, especially in Rivers and Lagos, the two parties were 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. 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 a 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 intends 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. We are in this system because we believe in it and we want it to be stabilized because it is better for our country. If Nigerians have the confidence that their votes counts, then they will mind their own business and I assure you that there will be much security in the country. But when people feel that they are abandoned, then they will resist. I think that by nature, human beings are rebels especially in Nigeria. You either try and placate them, convince them and show them that their rights are respected, you will not have peace. For. What we hear about the money that changed hands in this country, it would have been impossible for APC to win anything in this country because we don’t have any treasury in our pocket.

There was no amount of money that could convince Nigerians this time around. A lot of them took the money and did exactly what their conscience wanted them to do, while some even returned the money. Somehow, Rivers and Lagos were somehow seen as strategic to the PDP. Otherwise, how can APC have a marginal 100,000 votes over the PDP in Lagos which is virtually the capital of the APC in the Southwest. A lot of things will come out, but we want to do it basically on facts which can be verified and quantified.

For many years, Nigerians have been clamouring for the punishment of those involved in election rigging. The Uwais committee recommended a special court that should try electoral offenders, but the government has refused to implement that recommendation. Will your government set up a special court to try electoral offenders?

I will solicit for understanding and cooperation of the National Assembly in matters that require a change in the constitution or the electoral act. 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; I have only read a few of the extracts from the papers. But, I think it is a good thing and we will encourage it. We need to get a comprehensive report from the field. The running battle from Rivers, Southeast and the rest of the Southsouth, especially by Governor Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and the Governor of Edo State with INEC officials and law enforcement agencies in lauding the army is remarkable and I think it has to be totally exposed so that Nigerians will know which of the law enforcement agencies and at what levels are undermining the constitution because the electoral acts is derived from the constitution. So, in future, those who are in position 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.

Since your victory at the polls, a lot of PDP members have defected to your party across the country. How do you intend to manage this?

I think that this is mainly a question meant for the party. I wish John Odigie-Oyegun was here to answer you because we have a

‘We’ll justify confidence reposed in us’

• Buhari

‘

I will solicit for understanding and cooperation of the National Assembly in matters that require a change in the constitution or the electoral act. 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

’

system. Just because I am the President elect, I don’t think that the system has allowed me to usurp the power of the party executive.

But, certainly, in multi-party democratic system, fundamentally, it is the number that matters. But, for the party, what matters is the ability to manage the number, so that the majority will have its way, so that there will be justice. No matter what the remnants from the PDP by May 29, I assure you or I assure them through you that there will be justice in the APC. The APC is bent on cleaning the system, but right now, we have a lot of people who are accused of polluting the system moving into the APC. Don’t you think they will also pollute the APC? For those that are coming into the APC, I have no fear because we have our party structure. The fact that you were a party chairman or you were a minister before you join the APC, we appreciate the fact that you remain relevant in your immediate locality.

But, when it comes to the centre, there is some equality in the way the government will handle you. If we win majority of members of the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly in the states, it means that it is with the agreement of their constituencies that the Federal Government has the power that it has. If the Federal Government is insisting on accountability and being responsible, even if they go back to their constituencies, there is nothing they can do about the decision of the government. We are banking on that. I will give you an example of my state, Katsina. In 2011, the CPC won all the senatorial seats and 13 out of the 15 House of Representatives seats, but they lost the governorship. Who did the election? Did people from space come for the election? That is

the bad thing about lack of cohesion in a party. Leadership at all levels must work in concert. Otherwise, what Katsina State suffered, any state or the centre can suffer same. Those were chief executives from local government, to states will be encouraged to work together. So, those that are coming in, I hope they will accept that they are coming to join those who succeeded and they should cooperate with them. They can’t come and say that because they were once ministers under the PDP, they will join the APC and become ministers the following month or so. I don’t think that it will be acceptable even by their constituencies.

In composing your cabinet, what are those criteria you will be using in selecting those Nigerians that will work with you?

It is a difficult time for Nigerians as you all know. I have said it in the past that in the last 16 years, Nigeria has never realised the amount of revenue it received. A barrel of crude oil rose to about $140 and has crashed to about $50 now. During these years, we know some big companies that employ a lot of Nigerians and give them training facilities like the Nigeria Airways, Nigeria Shipping Line. Even the Nigeria Railways is managing to be on paper with some refurbished engines moving from Lagos to Ibadan and a few other places. If you go to their stations all over the country, you will realise that they are in a terrible shape. The important thing in a country with a huge population of youths, with more than 60 per cent of them under the age of 30 who are unemployed, is job creation. You need these institutions to give jobs and training to Nigerians. It is very disappointing that the PDP government virtually failed to use those resources to make sure that the economy continued to grow in a sustainable way. I think the worst thing is the lack of accountability and the terrible budgetary system. Imagine that over 90 per cent of Nigerian budget is on recurrent. How can you sustain development in a developing country like Nigeria with only about 10 per cent of your income? Things just have to change. There must be more money available for infrastructure, for investment in getting the factories back, employment and getting goods and services for the population. I think the sins of the PDP will be coming out for several years to come.

Are you going to set up a Government of National Unity?

Again, you want me to encroach into the party’s main power.

Even if I, as President-elect want to form a broad-based government, I think that the executive of the party will have some influence on that decision. So, for me to maintain a good rapport with the leadership of my party, I want to keep your question in abeyance until further notice.

During your campaigns, you promised to declare your asset if elected. Will you still go ahead with that?

I made a statement which has not been correctly captured by the media. I said that our generation, from Murtala, the late Murtala, made sure that those who had appointments must declare his or her asset and this was later articulated in the constitution. It is up to government to make sure that those who borrow money to build a house and end up with another house somewhere else with 50 bedroom and 20 living rooms should explain to Nigerians how they get the money. I could recall that I declared my assets three times. First was when I got my first political appointment as Governor of Borno State; secondly, when I was leaving government to go to the United States War College. I declared my assets then because I was closing my political chapter then technically. I could recall that Gen. Jemibewon was the Adjutant General of the Nigerian army then. I had to declare my asset, deposit it there to be taken to court before I was allowed to proceed to the United States for my course. The third one was when I became Head of State. From General Obasanjo down till now, those of us that were in the Supreme Military Council, Council of States, Executive Council and even those who were Permanent Secretaries, at the time we got our appointment, the courts should be made to produce our declarations. So, all these noise about people becoming rich and nobody is saying anything about it, why can’t you prick the conscience of the existing government or are some of you part of the cover up?

There have been reports that you promised to end Boko Haram within two months, but your media team reacted saying you never said so. We want you to use this opportunity to clarify that.

I think I am too experienced in internal security to give two months deadline on Boko Haram. I don’t think I would have made that mistake because I tried to look at some of my experiences even when I was in uniform with the rebels from Chad when I was GOC in Jos and with Maitesine. So, for me to say that when I come into office, I will get rid of Boko Haram in two months, I don’t think I would have made that mistake. I didn’t.

As I said on several occasions, those of us that have put on the Nigeria military uniform at one point or the other felt terribly embarrassed that for six years, the military could not bring order to 14 local governments out of the 774 local government in the country after Burma, Zaire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Dafur where Nigerian military earned respect internationally for their performances. To fail to secure 14 out of 774 local governments, I still can’t reconcile myself with that disgrace. We will try and work with our neigbours which is the first time we should have done such as Chad, Cameroon and Niger who are fighting Boko Haram for us. Look at Chad helping Nigeria or Niger, or Cameroon itself.

This nation has been humiliated by PDP. God willing, with our • Continued on page 18

18

THE NATION FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

Thank God, we didn’t struggle for 36 years to install a ‘government at the centre only to let Lagos fall to the PDP. Thank God the PDP, despite the federal might, was made to eat the humble pie by the will of the people

’

‘APC ‘ll fulfil its promises to Lagosians’

A

FTER a peep into the political crystal ball, Joe Igbokwe, the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State had on the eve of the recent governorship election concluded that the party will have its way in Lagos.

He said: “If competence and experience will count on Saturday, April 11, governorship elections in Lagos State, if pedigree counts, if attitude counts, if character counts, if honour counts, if excellence counts, if training, capacity, capability count, Akinwunmi Ambode is the incoming governor of Lagos State. His predictions came to pass.

Igbokwe is of the view that the Lagos State Governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode must be a lucky man to have entered the centre stage at this critical point in the nation’s history. For close to 36 years, Lagos has never been fully connected with the centre in a civilian dispensation.

He said: “But, the hotbed of nation’s politics has always been a pro-

gressive state and home to the progressives.

“For close to 36 years, Lagos has been allowed by the powers that be at the centre to rot and pine away in hopelessness and helplessness. The special status promised by former Head of State, the late Gen Murtala Mohammed never saw the light of the day even till date.

“All the states created with Lagos in 1967 have been split to two, three or four states with but Lagos has remained just a state, despite its 18 million population.

“In the attempt to bring development to the door steps of the people, erstwhile Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu created 37 additional council areas from the existing 20 local government areas in the Centre of Excellence but the government at the centre refused to recognie the 37 local governments till date.”

The APC spokesman said the funds meant for the old council areas were withheld by the Federal Government for 14 months until the state government rolled back the new

council areas and renamed them Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). This was after the intervention of a committee of some wise men chaired by former Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola.

Whatever was given to the recognised 20 old councils has always been shared among the 57. With almost 20 million people, Lagos has been finding it difficult to cope with its challenges without the support from the centre. To add salt to injury, the state has been rebuilding the LagosBadagry Expressway, a federal road without the support from the Federal Government. A light rail project from Iganmu, through Orile/Mile 2 to Okokomaiko has is on going without the support of the Federal Government. All over the world, no state government has carried out such a project without the support of the central government.

“Now you can imagine how lucky Ambode is to come on board at a time when the APC will control both Abuja and Lagos. The curtain will be

drawn on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) 16-year control of the Federal Government on May 29. The ruling party has used everything in its disposal to humiliate and decimate the opposition. Thank God, an end is in sight for this error of history. It is indeed a new dawn for Ambode’s Lagos. This is the very important reason why Lagos must remain in the hands of APC. “Thank God, we didn’t struggle for 36 years to install a government at the centre only to let Lagos fall to the PDP. Thank God the PDP, despite the federal might, was made to eat the humble pie by the will of the people.

Lagosians will want the Federal Government under President Buhari to help them to convert the 37 LCDAs to recognised councils when they are listed in the Constitution. Lagosians want President Buhari to help to recognise the special status promised by the late Murtala Mohammed almost four decades ago. Lagosians want Abuja to help them to build the fourth Mainland Bridge from Lagbasa in EtiOsa to Bayeku, a Lagos suburb in

•Igbokwe

Ikorodu. Lagosians want help from Abuja to complete the Lagos-Badagry Expressway which is a federal road.

Lagosians has not gambled with these gains as they spoke with the ballot on Saturday.

The problems and challenges facing Lagos are far too enormous and monumental that we have to put the state in the hands of an apprentice who knows nothing in matters of governance and public administration.

Configuration of Lagos Assembly changes

U

• Plateau State Governor-elect, Mr Simon Lalong (right), receiving Certificate of return from Independence National Electoral Commission (commissioner), Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi at the presentation of certificate to the governor-elect and National Assembly member-elect in jos. With them is Rec, INEC Plateau, Dr. Godwin Kwanga.

NLIKE the out-going Seventh Lagos State House of Assembly, 40 members from the All Progressives Congress (APC), the emerging picture of the incoming Eight Assembly shows a slight departure.

From the result released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from Saturday’s election APC won 32 seats leaving PDP with eight seats. What impact this number of opposition members will make in the 8th Assembly is not certain for now.

PDP won the two seats of AjeromiIfelodun 1 and 2 constituencies; the two seats in Amuwo Odofin 1and 2 and Oshodi-Isolo 1 and 2, it also picked the one of Ojo 1 constituency and Surulere 2 constituency, giving it a total of 8 seats.

The most upsetting of the loss is that of the current Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo from Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1, who was being positioned for the office of the

By Oziegbe Okoeki Speaker, having spent four terms in the House. If he had come back, it would have been his fifth term. He is nicknamed the Methuselah of the House on account of the number of terms he has spent in the House being the longest serving member.

His exit has thrown up the office of the speakership of the 8th Assembly for contest among the ranking members.

Another upset is that, among the six principal officers in the House, only one won election to return; he is the Deputy Whip, Hon. Rotimi Abiru from Shomolu 2, who Assembly watchers are already fingering may emerge as the speaker, all things being equal.

Taiwo and Abiru were the only principal officers that contested last Saturday’s election. Others had earlier lost their bid at the party primaries or did not make attempt to come back.

Buhari: We’ll justify confidence reposed on us • Continued from page 17

experiences, we will quickly marshal support and we are asking Boko Haram to pack and go.

INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega has said he will not accept renewal of his tenure. Talking about building institutions, what do you intend to do to ensure that the successes so far recorded are sustained and improved upon?

I think that Prof. Jega knows exactly what to do. He has already said that he is not going to accept a renewal of his tenure in June. I believe that he has learnt enough and will submit a comprehensive hand over notes some of which he seems to have written. At the last National Council of States meeting, he submitted a document of INEC activities right from the last general election from 2011 to date with attachment showing the personnel trained, acquisition of election materials, the distributions, security among others and I don’t think that such that report can be faulted. In fact, INEC was forced to accept the six weeks extension by the office of the National Security Adviser. Luckily, those six weeks were accommodated within the constitutional time limit within which election must hold. The law says election must hold 30 days before May 29. So, INEC did not have

much trouble to agreeing to the six weeks extension. As people say, it has come to pass.

When will the Transition Committee be put in place?

We have started discussing about it. Personally, I will make sure that it is not too big because if it is big, they will start thinking of how to influence the choice of ministers either for themselves or those they want to be ministers. But, my hope and my idea is to get knowledgable and experienced technocrats that are really patriotic to study the handing over notes by ministries and make recommendations. I want them to be completely detached people who are patriotic Nigerians who are knowledgable and experienced. If we get majority of politicians involved, it will lead to a lot of squabbling and we may end up with inconclusive recommendations which are not very helpful in our condition. When I get it ready and before it is published, I will show it to the leadership of my party and the terms of reference as well as the time limit and the result of their work, we will quickly study before the inauguration, so that before we are sworn in, we get into action.

There are speculations that widespread looting is going on at moment, after the failure of the President to secure his re-election. What do you intend to do to check this trend?

•Jega

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 advices them to try and document these things legally, so that it can be taken before the court and we will make sure that we register the cooperation of the court, so that we can prosecute those who work against the law, especially those who have lost their immunity. People must not benefit from being lawless. So, whether you are in the opposition or the gov-

ernment, you have to behave yourself.

I think that is the way we can make progress.

You introduced the war against indiscipline as military leader. Several years later, one of the biggest problems in Nigeria today is indiscipline. How do you intend to handle this?

I will mention how it came about.

When we had our first Supreme Council meeting and governors were appointed. It was held in my office and it was only me and the late Tunde Idiagbon. We discussed and agreed that the main problem of Nigeria was indiscipline. If we can get majority of Nigerians to accept whichever level they are, we will make a lot of progress. I could recall that I advised that we should to the Ministry of Information because there are a lot of people with first degree, masters and Ph.D who are sociologists and criminologists who are just warming their seats; they should get together and come up with a programme that will last for years and not just for six months and fizzle out. That was how we came about war against indiscipline. It was very well thought out. It was a military system. In democracy, people want a lot of freedom, but if they see the restraint in advanced democracies in Europe and America, they will realise that disci-

pline is forced on people. There are things that, no matter how much you want to do them, you can’t do them. I think that we have suffered enough as a people and I think that people are more prepared to behave themselves now. About two years ago, I made some remarks in Hausa and people felt because now, some senior civil servants who are directors either at the state or federal can’t educate four children because the level of education has gone down so much. Those that can afford will rather send their children to Ghana or Sudan and those who can afford it more send theirs to America and Europe because the educational system in Nigeria has virtually collapsed. Therefore, we feel that by voting the APC into power, Nigerians are placing confidence in us. On security, economy especially unemployment and corruption, I believe that Nigerians will give us the understanding to make sure that we get our priorities correct. Education is going to be very important because when you educate the people, you solve half of your problems because there is a level that an educated person will not accept.

But when people are sentenced to illiteracy, when they are exposed to all manner of a to social vices such as ethnicity and religion so that people don’t move forward, they are used to fight themselves.

19

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

COMMENTARY LETTER

EDITORIAL

Slayer of Tarzan departs • Prof. Tekena Tamuno (28 January 1932 - 11 April 2015), eminent historian and former vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan, exits

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NE of the inanities of Europe’s Tarzan tales of Africa is that Mungo Park “discovered” River Niger, Africans, lacking neither social order nor great institutions, lived in the jungle with apes — and as a result, Africa had no history!

Prof. Tekena Nitonye Tamuno, who died on April 11 in Ibadan, Oyo State, was one of Nigeria’s first generation of historians who slay those Tarzan tales and, by rigorous historiography, beamed the torch of scholarship on Africa’s past, which must be understood before plotting a glorious future. Still, at his death on April 11, grim electoral tales, of undiluted savagery, issued from Okrika, River State, his place of birth. That harshly negates the Tamuno spirit: undiluted nobility anchored on a grand civic philosophy.

Ironically too — and this tragedy is a panNigeria pestilence, in a country that appears wilfully reluctant to understand its

‘Emeritus Professor Tamuno, at 83, was not a young man.

His passage should, indeed, be a celebration of life. But he departed at a crucial juncture of Nigerian academy when the bright omen for Nigerian scholarship, as signified by his generation, appears not at all given — no thanks to the great destruction of that sector in the long years of military rule’

own essence, so as to get the best from its citizens — there is a virtual fatwa on the study of history in Nigeria’s school curriculum.

So, the Tamuno passage coincides with the virtual labour loss of a scholastic giant, whose brave generation laboured to demonstrate that without a sound grounding in history there can’t possibly be a worthwhile future, to a band of ruling plebs, who career into the future with absolute belief that the past does not matter!

Their rallying cry is “science and technology!” — no crime, to be sure. But which peoples of the world have attained adequate technology, without proper grounding in their own essence, as borne out of the supreme mastering of their own humanity, through history, art and culture, theatre and other exertions in the humanities?

That was the story the first generation of Nigerian historians seemed to teach their compatriots. Of course, with the tragedy of military rule, and a truncation of collective psyche less brutal only to European colonisation itself, that lesson appears to have fallen on deaf ears. Yet, Prof.

Tamuno’s passing should serve as a painful reminder to return to those basics, if the Nigerian developmental agenda, and its dream to compete with the best on the globe in science and technology, would not look like building a grand castle with foundation in the air.

Unlike contemporary decline, borne out of sane and narrow paths not taken, Prof.

Tamuno symbolised rare excellence Nigeria’s academia was easily capable of, in happy contrast to the mediocrity which today looms in that sector. For starters, Tamuno was a globally acclaimed scholar, particularly in his own chosen speciality

of African historiography. Then his generation belonged to that golden age of Nigerian academia, when Nigerian universities exported and attracted the best in global scholarship.

He was also a class act in university administration. He, in 1974, was the pioneer principal of the then University College, Ilorin, under tutelage of the University of Ibadan (UI). That institution would later become the present University of Ilorin. In 1975 too, he became the first UI alumnus to become vice-chancellor of the institution. Earlier, after joining the UI teaching faculty in History in 1963 and becoming a professor in 1971, he had risen steadily as Head of History Department (1972-75), Dean, Faculty of Arts (1973-1975), before becoming vice-chancellor (1975-1979). In all of these exalted positions, he left his administrative mark, apart from keeping pact with rigorous scholarship. He was indeed an academic’s academic.

Emeritus Professor Tamuno, at 83, was not a young man. His passage should, indeed, be a celebration of life. But he departed at a crucial juncture of Nigerian academy when the bright omen for Nigerian scholarship, as signified by his generation, appears not at all given — no thanks to the great destruction of that sector in the long years of military rule.

His passage is therefore a stiff challenge to Nigeria’s contemporary academia: strive to rise up to, and even surpass, the initial promise of the Tamuno generation. If they failed, they would have failed these great founding fathers. Therefore, failure is not an option.

Adieu, great historian, academic and patriot!

Gunter Grass (1927 – 2015) •A man of many parts departs

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HAT will be recorded as his swan song is scheduled to be published in the summer, and his publisher reportedly described it as a “literary experiment” involving a fusion of poetry and prose. It is a testimony to the passion Gunter Grass brought to his writing life that the publisher was quoted as saying, “He was fully concentrated on his work until the last moment.”

Ahead of the release, the final instant came on April 13 in the German city of Lubeck. Grass, aged 87, had a reputation for fictional experimentation that drew comparison with Latin American magical realism, and he was regarded as a European exemplar of that style. Grass called his own style “broadened reality.” It is noteworthy that the Russian-German writer Lev Kopelev said in an insightful essay to mark Grass’s 65th birthday: “Minutely detailed presentations of real things and scientifically precise descriptions of historical events are melted together with fairy tales, legends, myths, fables, poems and wild fantasies to produce his own special poetical world.”

His best known work and first novel, The Tin Drum (1959), which made him internationally relevant, mirrored his lavishly inventive imagination; and when combined with his novella Cat and Mouse (1961) and novel Dog Years (1963), they constitute what is popularly known as the Danzig Trilogy among his body of work. It is remarkable and a tribute to the appeal of The Tin Drum that a 1979 film adaptation of the novel won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival that year and also the Academy Award for

Best Foreign Language Film.

According to an account, “A severed horse’s head swarming with hungry eels, a criminal hiding beneath a peasant woman’s layered skirts and a child who shatters windows with his high-pitched voice are among the memorable images that made The Tin Drum a worldwide triumph.” The novel’s outstanding quality was underscored by the respected Swedish Academy which called it “one of the enduring literary works of the 20th century.”

The Nobel Prize awarding body decorated Grass in 1999, praising him as a writer “whose frolicsome black fables portray the forgotten face of history”.

Beyond his place in the pantheon of Literature, his belated admission that he had served in Adolf Hitler’s Waffen-SS perhaps reduced his standing, especially as it suggested hypocritical self-righteousness. In a sense, the revelation had the quality of “broadened reality” as Grass had led the public to believe he had only been a “flakhelfer” during the Second World War, one of those German youths who did nonviolent jobs like guarding antiaircraft batteries. It may be considered a positive reflection of his humanity that he revealed his Nazi past himself, ahead of the publication of a memoir Peeling the Onion, admitting that he had been a member of the elite Waffen-SS, which was guilty of atrocities.

It is worth mentioning that despite his conscription into the SS in 1944, in the dying period of the war, Grass was never implicated. The autobiography was a study in the complexities of conscience and

memory. Grass, then 78, said: “It was a weight on me…My silence over all these years is one of the reasons I wrote the book. It had to come out in the end…What I had accepted with stupid pride of youth I wanted to conceal after the war out of a recurrent sense of shame…But the burden remained, and no one could lighten it.”

This represented the voice of truth and reflected the beauty of his artistic life.

More than being a novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, illustrator, graphic artist and sculptor, Grass demonstrated the value of social criticism for societal change. Even though he generated intense controversy, his concern for world peace built on human decency remains a worthy objective for mankind.

‘More than being a novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, illustrator, graphic artist and sculptor, Grass demonstrated the value of social criticism for societal change. Even though he generated intense controversy, his concern for world peace built on human decency remains a worthy objective for mankind’

Open letter to NYSC Director-General

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IR, I wish to draw your attention to the outcome of the joint NYSC presidential award ceremony for 2012, 2013 and 2014 sets held on March 2. I have decided on this approach because the issues involved are of urgent public interest.

Records show that 164 (27%) of the 613 nominations were selected. What happens to the 446 who were not selected of which many were best in their respective batches at the state level?

I won the state honours award as the best corps member for batch ‘B’ 2012 in Anambra with 47 community developments projects. NYSC Anambra State paid N50,000 into my account about three months after my service. What about the automatic employment in the state civil service that is clearly written in the orientation guide? A staff in NYSC Anambra State headquarters said it was discretional for states to do so. I think there is need for a little clarification from the NYSC authorities such as yours in this matter.

I renovated the school gate in honour of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe the first president of Nigeria, whom the school is named after. I cultivated a cassava farm for indigent widows in Abagana community, organized the Students Productive Life Initiative (SPLIN) that bothered on cultural reorientation in line with the Subakwa Igbo agenda of the Anambra State Government for 11 secondary schools in Njikoka L.G.A. I produced the Nigeria Peace Jingle in the face of insurgency and violence, I initiated the revitalization of the school borehole sponsored by the state government through the rural water supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) while also embarking on skills acquisition on liquid soap production across three L.G.A in the state.

I think this kind of effort deserves a presidential award on merit. What about Lawal Olabode Emmanuel Prince who served at comprehensive secondary Nawfia in the same L.G.A.? He constructed and equipped a five-bed clinic which was his flagship project; organized the maiden Local Government science quiz competition for 15 schools in the L.G.A and presented 12 medals for winners, including academic scholarship worth N50,000. The sick bay he built is currently serving a population of over 1500 within the school and beyond. The school in conjunction with Nawfia community gave Prince the title, Oka AObuluzor 1 Na Nawfia, meaning a man that will say a thing and will be the first to do it.

The case of Udoh Anthony Ekot who embarked on massive renovation of a totally dilapidated administrative block at Community High School Nawgwu in Dunukofia L.G.A is another case in point. A project the entire community agreed was first of its kind to be carried out by a corps member since over 22 years of the school.

What about Soro Anthony Olubumi who also clinched the title of the corper the year for the 2012 Batch ‘A’. He was instrumental to laudable projects at Girls Secondary School Abagana. These cases mentioned are laced with verifiable evidences at the community, L.G.A and state levels. What then happened to these persons in a whole service year that could not make the presidential list despite their outstanding performances?

I think the Dr Kelvin Ihenetu-led award committee needs to answer some questions. Was the criteria used for the selection same as the ones contained in the NYSC statute book? How did they arrive at selecting only 164 winners representing 27% out of 613 nominations of most outstanding corps members? How come no one was selected in the entire 2012 set in Anambra State? Were there any special considerations that are not documented?

If the award really aims to encourage corps members towards higher societal ideals through selfless service to their host communities and if NYSC must live up to its core values of integrity, efficiency, patriotism and commitment, the just concluded 2014 edition must be revisited with the aim of correcting the obvious lacunas in the selection process.

•Augustine Okorodudu austin4crist@gmail.com

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

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CARTOON & LETTERS

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IR: I believe the above slogan, ‘my people, my people’ is peculiar to no other person but the present amiable governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

This is one Igbo man who over the years has seen himself qualified to be the president of Nigeria. Despite being unsuccessful in various attempts, he has shown an attitude of one who is not just aspiring to be the leader of just a tribe in this country but one who will one day be remembered as a national leader.

The choice to lead a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), which is seen as an Igbo party to the All Progressive Congress (APC) proved this point. He doesn’t want to be a tribal champion. Though not successful in the outings for the presidential ticket in the APC primaries, one thing is sure; he wants history to reckon with him for something more. I see a man who wants to do more for his people and country.

Nigeria, which is still struggling to be a true nation in the midst of so many ethnic groups and affiliations, does not need leaders who care more of their tribal origins to be at the helm of affairs. It will only polarize us more, increase tension and take us back to the dark ages of tribal wars and conflicts. We can’t afford to make the mistakes or tread the path of our founding fathers, who at their time thought having parties representing their ethnic groups would make us better forgetting we were more than Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba.

The just concluded election that brought in General Muhammadu

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Ndigbo: My people, my people!

Buhari will be seen as an alliance between the north and south-west against the South-East and SouthSouth. The south-south obviously voted massively for the incumbent, which I think is a problem. The Igbo as it were have always cried that it has been marginalised in the present dispensation but when you look closely, Igbos have been the cause of their woes. Our people have refused to look beyond personal ambition by focusing on the big picture called Nigeria. From the results of the elections, no Igbo politician under the APC was able to

secure a seat in the Senate as at the time of writing this piece.

This just means that the post of the third person in the political hierarchy that would have gone to an Igbo man/woman since the northwest and south-west have taken the first two will now go to another geo-political zone. It then means that elective positions have eluded the Igbo and we would now be compensated with political appointments. Does this mean there are no Igbo politicians of goodwill that their people can confidently give the mandate through their

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• Emeka Azubuike (eurekamagazine.com.ng)

Defectors on the prowl

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IR: It is mass exodus indeed! Is Nigeria heading for a oneparty system? Are opposition parties being swallowed by the wave of CHANGE blowing across the country? What kind of opposition would the leftover be? These are questions that kept erupting in my mind since the dismantling of PDP’s wing from the centre recently.

For there to be a robust and healthy political environment, opposition must exist to keep the government in power on its toes. This country did not enjoy this since 1999

until the emergence of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which swept the southwest in the 2011 general elections.

A glance at history has shown that cross carpeting or defecting from one political party to another has become synonymous with our politicians who dump platforms which bring them to power at the slightest provocation or when their ambitions could not be realized on such political platforms. Monetary inducement and ethnic considerations are also some of the reasons for political cross carpeting right

Fight against breast cancer IR: There are many survivors of breast cancer today because of early detection, which is the best prevention from dying of cancer. The least we can do to fight breast cancer is to create awareness amongst parents and schools, especially among young girls.

Here are some roles you can play to help fight this disease: Be aware of the disease; know the symptoms and signs of breast cancer: Always

votes? Does this also mean we have no Igbo who can be tagged as a progressive with the clout to garner votes of his people?

I am a proud Igbo but first I am a Nigerian and I believe every Nigerian should speak this way. The diversity of our roots has made it such that we try to consider the ethnic affiliations in choosing some of our political leaders that everyone can be well represented and development coming to every part of the country.

The Igbo, I will say, have been myopic except for a few who see

themselves as more than just Igbo leaders but national leaders hoping to be remembered by history as such.

Our democracy is improving and the outcome of the elections has proved just that. It will be a thing of joy to see that the third largest ethnic group, which I am a part of, will one day, take their place in deciding the future of our great country. We just must be part of this history that is being made in our democratic process. My heartfelt prayer is that the younger generation of not just Igbo extraction will act differently across the country.

I love Nigeria as a Nigerian and as an Igbo I would like to contribute to the greatness of Nigeria that will in turn affect the Igbo and every other ethnic group.

visit an health care professional if you notice anything unusual lump and encourage your family and friends to go to the doctor to get a breast check to rule out the possibility of having breast cancer.

Every person should know the symptoms and signs of breast cancer for the purpose of early detection. If there are no symptoms, regular screenings are always important. Your doctor can check for

breast cancer before you have any noticeable symptoms.

Let’s avail ourselves of these information and avoid the emotional and physical anguish of cancer, not to mention the huge financial cost and possible fatality in most cases just because the disease was diagnosed late.

• Esther Ndubuisi wrote in from the Department of Mass Communication, Kwara State University

from the pre-independence era through the First Republic to the current Republic.

Nigeria recorded its first political carpet-crossing when several of the defunct Western Region House members of National Council of Nigeria and Cameroon (NCNC), led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe decamped to Action Group (AG) led

by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1951, giving AG control over the House and causing the leader of NCNC to beat a retreat to his ethnic base, the then Eastern Nigeria where he formed the ruling government.

During the Second Republic (19791983), Chief Akin Omoboriowo, Chief Fagbamigbe, Senator Lai Joseph, all of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) defected to National Party of Nigeria NPN). In the end, Chief Fagbamigbe was gruesomely murdered while Chief Akin Omoboriowo, former Deputy Governor of Old Ondo State only escaped being hacked down by whiskers courtesy of the protection extended to him from the federal government, as he had to relocate to Lagos, the then Federal Capital.

In the Second Republic, Senator N.N. Anah of the defunct Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) headed by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, defected to National Party of Nigeria (NPN). The first major political carpet-crossing in the Fourth Republic was by the then Vice President to Chief Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who defected to the defunct Action Congress (AC) in 2007 at the peak of his political battles with his boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Also, Senators Wahab Dosummu and Musuliu Obanikoro, Seye Ogunlewe and late Funsho Williams, all defected or cross-carpeted from Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

One can clearly deduce that the motive behind cross carpeting has parochial and not necessarily to serve the downtrodden. It is obvious here that the masses’ plight has never been the concern of some of these political prostitutes we are parading in Nigeria. APC should beware of them!

•Sunday Alifia, Ibadan, Oyo state

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015 16

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COMMENTS

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ITH God all things are possible. If men were God, something would have happened, but men are not God and can never be. The above assertion underscores the victory of the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in the just-concluded presidential poll. The outcome of poll is a big lesson and eye opener to every Nigerian irrespective of religion, status and tribe. Buhari is today the Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria. His tenacity and resilience paid off at last. Despite initial odds and frustration, Buhari even at his age never lost hope or confidence in Nigeria as a country.

He kept faith and hope that the country can be salvaged. His election victory is unique and unprecedented in the sense that for the first time in the country’s political history, an incumbent president was defeated in an election by opposition candidate. It happened at a time pseudo analysts and prophets of doom had prophesied that it was impossible because of power of incumbency.

Ahead of the presidential poll, they vowed that Buhari would never become president of the country again. They threatened that instead of handing over to Buhari, the country would be better divided.

They wished Buhari dead and alleged that he was sick and cannot rule the country well. They said he was brain-dead and cannot recognize anything even his phone numbers.

Everything was thrown into the mud to demonise the person of

Buhari and other members of his party. It was a campaign of calumny like never before. Religion, ethnicity, and primordial sentiments were thrown up. Our great country Nigeria was torn along ethnic and religious lines. A dangerous political precedent was laid and political sycophants who claimed to be leaders were championing and promoting them, insulting our collective sensibility with our patrimony all for selfish reasons.

Nigerians were being brainwashed with all sort of lies and gimmicks. But they all forgot that Nigerians know better and would take wise decision when the chips are down. Not even the sudden shift in the date of the presidential poll discouraged Nigerians because they have bought into the “change” campaign mantra of the APC and saw Buhari as a brand and incorruptible.

I have always asked this question; how many of us were like Buhari?

We are in a clime where what matters most is wealth and power, not how they were acquired or gotten.

No wonder politics has become a do or die affair because most politicians have no second address and lack clear vision, and integrity. But for Buhari, what worked for him in the election is his integrity which he had built over the years.

In trying to demonise Buhari during the campaign, his political opponents could not point at any wealth he amassed, while in office as Head of State or chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund. He lives a modest and humble life and never believed in amassing ill-gotten wealth. Even as a former Head of

‘The process should be made to be transparent, free and fair. Public office holders whether elected or appointed should be made to accountable to the people, and not to themselves as it is presently.

Meritocracy and integrity must be basis for choice of our public leaders and not ethnicity, religion or other primordial sentiments’

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TYPICAL song by the angry demonstrators was “E jeki a mura ogun, eleyi l on je iya (let us prepare for war, this is an insulting behaviours) (Anifowose, 1972).

The high rate of electoral violence (pre and post) following the 1964 and 1965 elections were said to have contributed in no small measure to the collapse of the first Republic.

Continuation of this political violence led to spates of military coups, which prelude the 30-month civil war pogrom.

The electoral process of the second republic (1979– 1983) equally led to various cases of electoral violence across the whole of Nigeria. The most important one was the second election that was conducted after the first administration in 1983.

The structure of politics, despite the alteration in the structure of the federation from three (and later four) regions of the first republic, to nineteen states, was still largely driven by ethno-religious forces, where each party maintained its stronghold in a given regional/ethnic domain (Omotola).

For example, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) dominated the Northern region, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) dominated the Western region while the National People’s Party (NPP) dominated the Eastern region (Abimbola & Adesote, 2012).

The National Party of Nigeria (NPN), obviously NPC’s successor, controlled the federal government between 1979 and 1983. In the 1983 elections, it wanted to extend its reach to other regions, either by hook or by crook. The attempt to achieve this underscored the massive rigging of the 1983 elections, which resulted in an unprecedented outbreak of violence in the Western region, where the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), AG’S successor, held sway (Omotola, 2007).

In the then Oyo and Ondo States, the two UPN states were declared for the NPN. This announcement led to unprecedented violence, in which a writer simply described it as ‘the house of war’ (Babarinsa 2002). Although Ondo state was later returned to UPN at the Election Tribunal, series of violence that accompanied the disputed election results following various cases of alleged irregularities in the conduct of the election led to the collapse of the second republic; thus giving the military the opportunity to seize power on 31 December 1983.

Prior to the Presidential election in 1993, the local government and gubernatorial elections had already been conducted in preparation for the birth of the third republic. It is a known fact that Nigeria since independence has never had any peaceful election devoid of violence and other electoral vices. Thus, the 1992/1993 elections were no exception. Meanwhile, the circumstances that led to the aborted Third republic revealed that Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, a dictator, in spite of his long transition programme, had no intention of handing over power to the civilian. This became

Lessons of Buhari’s victory

By Kenneth Imansuangbon State, Buhari has no house of his own in Abuja or overseas. All these good virtues were to his advantage during his party primaries and presidential election. Even the political class and the APC chieftains saw that there was need for urgent change in the country’s political leadership to save the country from total collapse. Having seen the direction the country was going, sacrifices were made by the political class and Nigerians who realized that if the country collapses, they and their kiths and kin are not safe, and posterity will not forgive them.

Besides, they have no other country of their own except Nigeria. So in Buhari, they saw the alternative and better option. That was the reason they voted for him en masse during poll.

Today Nigerians have decided and Buhari is the president-elect. So the questions are; where are the influence peddlers who are always bestriding the corridors of power, holding the country ransom, dictating who gets what for their selfish reasons. Where are the praise singers and the shameless godfathers who vowed that Buhari would never be president of the country again? Where are the prophets of doom who prophesied otherwise about Buhari’s victory? Where are those who wished Buhari dead and said that he is brain-dead? Where are the Aso Rock cabals who hijacked and misled President Jonathan for so long? Have they seen how transient political power could be? For those that they have ears, let them hear and for those who have eyes, let them see. The change has come and the PDP’s boast that they would rule the country has become a mere talk and a ruse.

I know just like every other Ni-

gerian that the cabal would be disappointed for not being consulted by the President before conceding defeat to Buhari after the poll. But the cabal should bury their heads in shame because President Jonathan acted wisely by conceding defeat, having realised that they are deceits and saboteurs masquerading as political leaders. President Jonathan has proved that he understood the idiom “once bitten, twice shy.”

By President Jonathan’s action, he has written his name in the political history of the country to the shame, and disappointment of the political hawks in who believed that the corridors of power are their ancestral homes. It is obvious that if President Jonathan had acted as expected by these political hawks or merchants by rejecting the poll result and something unusual emanates from it, they will be the first to abandon and blame him when the chips are down.

The victory has renewed my faith in the people of Nigerians that at any crucial moment in the country’s history, they would do the needful to keep the country together. It has also shown that Nigerians are not dociles and dullards as some opportunistic and accidental leaders have believed and thought before now. It has revealed that henceforth no elected leader should take the people’s power for granted on any account. It has underscored the point that history could be made or marred one day and nothing is permanent except change. It has proved that Nigeria is growing and maturing politically and democratically, and that with a square peg in a square hole, the country’s electoral process will be better off.

For the president-elect, Buhari, to whom much is given, much is ex-

pected. The massive support given to him in the election by Nigerians is a clear testimony of the people’s confidence in him. So for this reason, Buhari’s government cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians.

Obviously, there are great challenges ahead for Buhari and his party, but one good thing is that Buhari and his party men are not strangers in Nigeria. They understand the enormity of the challenges confronting the country and are in a vantage position to provide workable solution.

The in-coming government must first of all tackle the monster called corruption headlong and forthwith. It is the greatest enemy of the country since independence and successive governments have treated it with kid gloves. It is root of the country’s numerous problems. Expected to be sanitized by the new government is the country’s electoral process that has been characterized with fraud and irregularities. The process should be made to be transparent, free and fair. Public office holders whether elected or appointed should be made to accountable to the people, and not to themselves as it is presently. Meritocracy and integrity must be basis for choice of our public leaders and not ethnicity, religion or other primordial sentiments.

I believe that with Buhari’s integrity, sincere and selfless approach to governance, the country can be restored to its past glory. No sacrifice is too much at this point by both the political leaders and followers. So all hands must be on deck to salvage the country as there was no loser and winner in the poll.

It is all for the good of the country and the future of the posterity.

• Imansuangbon, lawyer and politician wrote from Virginia, USA.

Violence as threat to democracy-2

By Ayo Akinola,arpa known when he annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was internationally acclaimed as free and fair; and as well described by local observers as the fairest election in the post colonial Nigeria.

The annulment of the election caused series of crises especially in the Western part of Nigeria championed by some groups such as NADECO among others. The post electoral violence, which followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, was what forced Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to form an Interim National Government (ING) headed by Ernest Shonekan, who was later overthrown in what was regarded as peaceful coup on November 17 1993 by General Sani Abacha. This development made the Third Republic an aborted republic.

The above historical analysis of the electoral violence in the post colonial Nigeria in particular contributed immensely to reasons why democracy in the first two major republics (first and second) could not only be consolidated but also be sustained. It could also be argued that the electoral processes as well as the kind of party politics (popularly known as zero sum game, winner takes all syndromes) played in the two republics were parts of the reasons why democratic rule could not be sustained.

The conduct of free, fair and credible periodic elections by unbiased electoral body including its umpire as well as other electoral officials and the adherence to democratic principles of governance remain major factors responsible for the avoidance of electoral violence in any democratic society.

These two major factors were the challenges that the fourth republic had been contending with since its birth in 1999.

Since the birth of the fourth republic in 1999, four general elections have been conducted under a civilian administration in the country in which one can say that democracy was actually consolidated. In other words, the years between 2003 and 2015 witnessed the successful transition of one civilian administration to another. For instance, in 2003, a presidential election was conducted and the incumbent president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the PDP was declared the winner by INEC. In 2007, Late Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua of the same PDP was also declared by INEC as the President elect. In April 2011, another presidential election was conducted by INEC in which Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP, who was initially sworn in first as, Acting President following the critical condition of Late president Umaru Yar’Adua, and later as a

substantive President after its death also contested and was declared winner of the election by INEC. In his quest for a second term, President Goodluck Jonathan contested against candidates from other political parties, including Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, a one-time military dictator, who had contested and lost thrice. The fact that elder statesmen led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, had to extract non-violence agreement from the two leading contenders (Jonathan and Buhari), lead credence to the fear of violence.

The early concession of defeat by incumbent President Jonathan has been applauded nationwide. This gesture did not permeate among other PDP contestants across the country. Pockets of violence, ballot-snatching and outright rigging were observed, despite assurances from security agents.

In spite of the fact that the just concluded elections for the Presidency, Governorship of 29 states as well as national and state houses of assembly witnessed minimal violence, we should be on our guards to sustain this democracy. Thanks to national and international democratic institutions, Nigeria, for the first time witnessed a smooth transition not only from a democratically elected government but also from one party to another. With several deaths on its toll especially in the south-south state of Rivers, as well as recorded malpractices in Ekiti State, where seven assembly members sacked 19 others, resulting in some deaths, and pockets of violence nationwide, a lot still needs to be done to safe guard this democracy from doom. There is the need to strengthen our democratic institutions like the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, encourage internal democracy among political parties, de-emphasize money-politics and the need to play by the rules of engagement.

I will not end this essay without a reference, once again, to the admonition by Asiwaju, a living sage. He says “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 process 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.”(Concluded.)

• Akinola wrote in from Lagos

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

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COMMENTS ‘Deceit is the game of petty spirits.’———Pierre Corneille R. Femi Aribisala was introduced in an April 11, 2015 Saturday Punch interview titled: ‘I’m eager to see how Buhari will end corruption in Nigeria – Femi Aribisala,’ as a controversial preacher and social critic. Surprisingly, this international affairs expert and scholar, upon further scrutiny, was discovered to be a pastor in a church situated somewhere. So, in speech and conduct, one expects sobriety in Aribisala’s worldview on issues - by virtue of his purportedly being a scholar and a supposed man of God. But in recent times, this man, because of undisclosed interests in the failed Jonathan 2015 Presidential re-election agenda, went wild, writing articles that could best be the hallmark of a desperate scholar/pastor in need of urgent rehabilitation. The man, under the guise of analyses that are dubious, has made mockery of his educational attainment, and through deceptive predictions, has denigrated the esteemed position of a pastor.

To start with, Aribisala in the interview said that his interest in the election is basically the defence of rights of the minority in the south south and the southeast. As he put it: ‘My faith requires me to support the weak. Therefore, I will always support the minority against the tyranny of the majority. We cannot be reliant on South-South oil in Nigeria and then treat one of their sons as if he is an impostor for being president of the country. This presidential election was a vicious and malicious gang up of the majority ethnic groups against the minorities. I cannot be party to that.’’ By implication, he is baselessly querying the decision of majority of Nigerians that voted in the March 28 presidential election.

He further exposed his intellectual dubiosity when he laughably said: ‘As I said, I don’t believe the president lost the election and I don’t believe General Buhari won. What I know is that the General was declared the winner, and President Jonathan graciously agreed to accept the verdict in the interest of peace…I don’t have any personal stake in the president’s victory. I don’t work for him and he does not pay my salary. I copied down all the figures released and analysed them. So doing, I reached the conclusion that the result of the election was bogus. Buhari had won the election long before the election. He had been programmed

by INEC to win it.’’

At this juncture, kindly permit this column to bring out the contradiction in the claim of this suspicious scholar and pastor of questionable prophesy; who on April 22, 2014 in a piece titled: ‘The 2015 presidential election will not be televised’ declared in his Vanguard newspaper column: ‘I am not a Goodluck Jonathan supporter and have never been…All I do is

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Is Femi Aribisala on sabbatical?

•Aribisala

•Jonathan

call it as I see it; and this is what I see quite clearly: the result of the 2015 presidential election will be declared the day Goodluck Jonathan finally declares his candidacy. That is the reality of Nigerian politics today. Once Jonathan declares his candidacy, all those currently seeing visions of an APC victory will quickly wake up from their slumber. Those currently sitting on the fence will be constrained to fall in line behind him. Many of those already signing marriage contracts with the APC will soon start filing for divorce.

There will be a scramble to identify with Jonathan so as not to be without good luck come 2015, when it will be payback time.

People like the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who has one foot in PDP and another in APC, will have hell to pay. One thing is for certain; Tambuwal will no longer be Speaker come 2015.’

The Tambuwal he described as traitor in the Punch interview is not only still retaining his seat as incumbent speaker of the House of Representatives but has also become the governor-elect of Sokoto state having won the governorship election of April 11 in the Seat of the Caliphate. Aribisala’s vision and tenuous intellectual analyses belong to the past where incumbent president of Nigeria would never be challenged but had to win election at all costs.

Contrary to his induced phantom predictions,

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ITH the conduct of the gubernatorial and state houses of assembly elections, the general elections can be said to be gradually coming to an end. Inspite of the flaws experienced in the voting process, the presidential election held on March 28 was a watershed in the annals of the nation with the triumph of General Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) over Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the incumbent President and candidate of the outgoing ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The outcome of the presidential and national assembly polls is a reflection of the true yearnings of the people for a change in governance. It is a manifestation of a collective desire to have different faces with distinct ideas at the helms of affairs. The people’s verdict is simply a pointer to the fact that they are tired of the way things are being run in their country that is bogged down by decaying public infrastructure, erratic power supply, insecurity and severe unemployment.

The emergence of APC as a viable opposition party afforded the electorate a promising platform to find an alternative to the ruling party. This optimism eventually paid-off with the APC now becoming the ruling party while the PDP turns to the opposition. If care is not taken, this victory may not be sustained as long as APC continues to give room for all manner of politicians to decamp into the party in droves.

While politics should be played with decorum, decency and discipline, politicians of similar inclination and

‘The current mass defections of politicians from the PDP to the APC will certainly do more damage than good by turning Nigeria into a one-party state.

Therefore, APC should prevent this slide by putting on hold, the acceptance of further decampees into its fold. After all, we still need active opposition for our democracy to really flourish’

this absurd bugaboo had been broken and contrary to his other fallacious predictions, many eager suitors, especially from Aribisala’s covert preferred ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), are daily seeking the hand of APC in marriage. Aribisala’s vision of the stomach has been made nonsense of by votes of Nigerians that demonstrated the true reality of the Nigerian situation.

Aribisala can get help since it is obvious that he needs uplift, but not by his opportunistic abuse of newspaper platform through routine blackmail of notable progressive personalities and his hoodwink of people that are no longer electorally vulnerablethanks to Permanent Voter Card (PVC). His hatred for politically dogged Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and steely General Mohammadu Buhari, the president-elect, for self-ingratiating reasons, is legendary. The trajectory of his writings sold him off as a groveler in search of lucre of power rather a genuine pastor or scholar. On July 1, 2014, he wrote a piece: ‘The beginning of the end of the Bola Tinubu dynasty.’ On November18, 2014, he wrote: ‘The impending betrayal of Mohammadu Buhari.’ On December 9,2014, he wrote: ‘Time to get rid of Tinubu’s cronies in Lagos.’ On January 20, 2015, he wrote: ‘Time to disgrace the self-appointed godfather of the south-west.’ On February 10,2015: ‘The end of Buhari’s presidential candidacy.’

On February 24, 2015, he wrote another: The end of APC’s fabricated momentum. On March 3, 2015 he wrote: ‘Why Nigerians must reject the second coming of Buhari’. On March 10, 2015, he wrote another piece titled: ‘Why Buhari will not agree to a debate with Jonathan.’

On March17, 2015, Aribisala wrote an article: ‘Buhari and the Lion of bourdillon’ where he

exuded misplaced confidence about Jonathan’s deluded triumphalism when his paymasters succeeded in extending the date of election by six weeks to wit: ‘One month ago, the APC had whipped its supporters into frenzy in believing it is bound to win an election it really has no chance of winning.’’ The man on March 24, 2015 wrote a piece: ‘101 cogent reasons why Jonathan must be re-elected.’

At the end of the day, Jonathan lost the election while Buhari was declared the winner.

His treatise that Tinubu’s dynasty would come to an end; that Tinubu’s cronies would be got rid off; that Buhari would be betrayed; that the southwest would disgrace Tinubu and that the APC momentum would come to an end with Jonathan’s declaration fell flat on the face of this shameless writer and purported pastor cum fallacious scholar.

Perhaps, he can be pardoned, though partially, for he confessed in a part of the interview where he gave an insight into his motivating drive to support Jonathan with ridiculous blindness. He asked a rhetorical question: ‘Is it ever possible in Nigeria to support a candidate on principle?’ It could be gleaned that since Aribisala’s support for Jonathan is allegedly ‘cemented,’ far from public glare, his illogical assertion on Jonathan’s scorecard that: ‘Obviously, I don’t agree that President Jonathan has not performed. I have stated in my write-ups that the president performed, and I gave my reasons,’’ makes nonsense of whatever standing he still has in the society.

For instance, what reason would a reasonable and realistic Nigerian give to the obvious downturn in the economy, epileptic power reforms, avoidable devaluation of the naira, the inexorable scourge of Boko Haram, Kidnap of over 200 Chibok girls with no appreciable official response; skewed and unjust deduction of monthly allocations of opposition states, bad and largely un-motorable federal highway roads across the country amongst others, all under the inept Jonathan administration.

It is just a matter of time before hatchet writer like Aribisala runs out of steam when by then his human machine could no longer get ‘diesel’ to surge ahead in this wanton show of opprobrium. Already, his means of propaganda is being threatened as he personally confessed: ‘…since the election, I have written an analysis about how the 2015 presidential election was manipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission. However, some newspapers have refused to publish my views.’’ But for Vanguard publisher’s tolerance, who else can endure the lies of this rabid Jonathan’s man disguising as someone to be taken seriously?

Like his name, Aribisala in Yoruba Language, this man is ‘seeking for where to make fortune.’ This cannot be achieved with his spurious and untenably biased essays!

Defections as political promiscuity

By Adewale Kupoluyi ideology would naturally be expected to come together under the same umbrella in a bid to strengthen democracy. But where defections are simply carried out for the sake of romancing with the winning party so as to become relevant at all cost, it should be discouraged. It is curious and disturbing to know that within the last two weeks, quite a number of politicians, mainly from the PDP have defected to the APC. Some of the questions bothering my mind are: At what point did both political parties become ideological Siamese twins? When was the zeal or passion to move the nation forward under the same political umbrella and manifesto become a mutual aspiration? Which party then becomes the opposition when the APC decides to turn into a protégée of PDP? Or, are we not going to have viable opposition party this time around?

What then becomes the fate of many committed members that had stayed with the APC over the years despite all odds and persecutions that the opposition party had faced from the same ruling party? Who puts the excesses of the executive under control? Which party effectively prevents bad legislation from being passed in the parliament?

Defection or cross carpeting is not a new thing in the nation’s political history but the way and manner in which people defect from one political party to another suggest that integrity, conscience, morality, principle and discipline no longer play a role in partisan politics in Nigeria.

In tune with the tenets of democracy, the importance of virile opposition party in curbing the excesses of the ruling party in providing good governance cannot be over-stated. It not only keep the ruling party on its toes, it serves as the watchdog by bringing out the best in public administration through objective and sincere criticism through ‘checks and balances’ mechanism. The present

practice is totally different from what was obtainable during the First Republic when leaders like late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo the founding fathers of the nation - were guided by ideologies with which they were able to lay solid foundations for the development of their regions.

Today, defection has become part of the character of the present political process, not just a pastime of politicians by tampering with the existing party structures to satisfy defectors, it has also become a trademark of virtually all the political parties. My personal observation is that many politicians that defect from one party to another do so purely for their political survival - either to broaden their political fortune or to remain relevant at all cost in the polity - without necessarily adding any value to either such parties or the nation. It is on this premise that the APC should not allow its party to serve as a platform for all-comers to hijack in festering their personal ambitions.

APC, a party that has been carefully nurtured at a great cost over the years, despite orchestrated plots by some of the same set of people now courting the party. When the Buhari administration is eventually inaugurated and political appointments made in a matter of weeks, this same politicians from different parties should not be accorded any priority. APC should remember that it has a mandate of just four years to perform otherwise, they will be voted out if they fail to turn things round positively by giving Nigerians what they want; which is democratic dividends. The current mass defections of politicians from the PDP to the APC will certainly do more damage than good by turning Nigeria into a one-party state. Therefore, APC should prevent this slide by putting on hold, the acceptance of further decampees into its fold. After all, we still need active opposition for our democracy to really flourish.

• Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

AN 8-PAGE PULLOUT ON SOUTHEAST STATES

Aba lawyers honour Judge

Institute to partner French Embassy

•PAGE 27

•PAGE 37

FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

PAGE 25

Residents urge Obiano to fix road •PAGE 40

•The spring

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O you want to live long?

Then drink from the Amuzi Spring or the Iyi ishi ehi as the natural fountain is called in Imo State.

The people of Umulowu, a sleepy community in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State are known to live long. The oldest man in the community died at the age of 135 and several others passed on at not less than 100.

Today, the community is blessed with hundreds of grayhaired men and women, who, irrespective of their advanced age, still go about their normal businesses with uncommon strength.

This feat is no longer common in modern-day life, where the ageing process is characterised by ailments. But thanks to this legendary spring which seems to

Amuzi Spring: Imo’s fountain of life From Okodili Ndidi, Owerri

have provided the water of life, things are apparently different for the people of Amuzi.

Located in a flourishing rainforest, the Amuzi Spring offers not only ‘life’ but memorable fun to tourists who brave its hilly and snaky path in search of longevity.

The serenity of the environment

is another attribute that makes the Amuzi Spring a tourist’s delight.

Surrounded by a plantation of fully grown bamboo trees, crafted together to form a greenish and beautiful shelter, the Amuzi Spring is, indeed, another wonder of nature.

A native of the community, Chief Innocent Okporo, who lives close to the source of the spring, attested

to its healing and soothing powers.

“The history of the river was passed to us by our fathers,” he said. “Although not many people in the state or beyond believe in the enormous benefits that are derived from drinking from the Iyi ishi ehi, our people live a long and healthy life. My own father died at the age of 118 and my mother

who is over 100 years is still alive and strong.

“The secret of this longevity of life is the Amuzi Spring. People come from far and near to fetch from the River. It is our only source of water and it is purer than the common borehole that is springing up everywhere. We •Continued on page 26

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Amuzi Spring: Imo’s fountain of life drink from the River and wash our clothes with it as well.”

Further confirming the powers of the river, Mrs. Ngozi Ihekworo described the river as a great blessing to the community. She stated that for centuries, the people relied on the river for their health challenges.

She said: “I don’t drink any other water apart from the Amuzi water. I can tell you that the benefits are enormous. For instance, I am over 60 years but I feel like I am still a youth. Nobody in my family has ever died before the age of 90 years. People who suffer from different ailments have been miraculously healed after drinking from the river.”

But, irrespective of these confirmed benefits, not so many people, even in Imo State know about this mystery spring. Others still dismiss the claimed powers of the River as mere superstition that lacks scientific proof.

However, in the midst of this doubt, the Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, embarked on a historic visit to the fountain to have a firsthand account of the tales that have surrounded the mystery pool but majorly to look at possible ways of developing the tourism potential of the River for the benefit of the state.

The breath-taking descent into the valley, which is estimated at 200 feet below water level,

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OLDIERS in Aba, Abia State, have apprehended the Transition Committee chairman of Obingwa Local Government Area, Prince Obinna Nwabiaraije for allegedly being in possession of materials said to belong to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Nwabiaraije was detained for failing to explain why bottles of ink, pads and result sheets, among others, were found in a car on his convoy.

Sources said that the materials were discovered during a stop-andsearch operation by soldiers at the Waterside Bridge along the AbaIkot Ekpene Expressway.

A source who would not want to

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•Continued from page 25

Not many people in the state or beyond believe in the enormous benefits that are derived from drinking from the Iyi ishi ehi, our people live a long and healthy life. My own father died at the age of 118 and my mother who is over 100 years is still alive and strong…The secret of this longevity of life is the Amuzi Spring. People come from far and near to fetch from the River. It is our only source of water and it is purer than the common borehole that is springing up everywhere

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through slippery pathway, could not deter the Deputy Governor and his entourage that were cheered by the villagers.

At the River, Madumere, who was led by a member of the community, Mr. Joseph Umoru, was fascinated by the serenity and charm that exuded from the pool.

•Madumere, with hands akimbo discussing with a woman at the river

The shrill cry of children as they dip into the cool river, added to the allure of the moment.

The Deputy Governor said he got a report about the wonders of the river from one of his staff and decided to make the expedition to see ways the state could harness the potential of the river.

He said the mission of his technical team was also to see how government can improve the welfare

of the people by helping them have access to the water without climbing the steep valley and to develop the water front into a source of tourism.

The Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Technical Matters, Mr. Alba Opara, who was part of the delegation, said it will require the installation of a highcapacity booster-machine to generate enough hydro-pressure to

make the water available for everyone.

He further said it will also require the installation of a water treatment unit and other facilities that will protect the people who drink from the water source.

Umoru, who told the Deputy Governor about the existence of the mystery pool, disclosed that •Continued on page 38

Soldiers detain Transition Committee chair From our Reporter

be mentioned said when the Obingwa transition chief could not give a credible explanation on the presence of the INEC materials, the soldiers ordered him to lie down on the expressway.

The source said that all entreaties by the suspect’s father to release his son failed as the soldiers insisted that they would take Nwabiaraije to their base.

Investigations by The Nation revealed that the Obingwa Transitional Committee Chairman was

later taken to the Ngwa High School Forward Operation Base (FOB) where he was said to have been detained and later released after the father, who was once a former Deputy council chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers’ Council made calls to the powers that be in the state.

Information gathered by The Nation has it that as at the time of this report, the vehicle used in conveying the materials was still in the army’s custody at Ngwa High School near Osisioma.

The Public Relations Officer of 14 Brigade, Ohafia could not be

reached at the time of the report, but sources confirmed that the TC chairman was in the custody of the soldiers on Saturday, as well as the said vehicle.

The governorship election in the state was said to have marred by a lot of irregularities, including snatching of ballot boxes, result sheets, harassing of INEC officials and intimidation of agents of opposition parties by people alleged to be working for the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Anyim and Otti, who spoke to reporters described the election in the state as a sham, citing cases of electoral irregularities such as snatching of ballot boxes, use of fake uniformed men and thugs to harass and intimidate their party agents, among other electoral offences.

Otti said: “There was no election in Abia State. The governor and the PDP, in collaboration with INEC officials, went to various polling units and withdrew the original

result sheets which they replaced with a fake one.

“We have information that the PDP were thumb-printing ballot papers in the official residence of a top PDP member in the state.

“They used thugs who wielded machetes and fire arms, and who shot sporadically in the air to harass and scare people away before snatching the ballot papers and result sheets. They did these things using fake uniformed men to cart away the election materials.

“It is the same situation in Umuahia, Aba North and South, Umuahia North and South, Ohafia, Umunneochi, Isiala Ngwa North and South. In fact, there is no election in Abia State and I am calling on the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega to cancel the election in some of the areas where we have pockets of irregularities because what we witnessed •Continued on page 27

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•From left: Ngozi Nwodo, Project Supervisor CFTD, Enugu; Olivier Mouginot, Director CFTD, Enugu and Godwin Nwuche, Enugu State French Coordinator at the meeting.

We have information that the PDP were thumb-printing ballot papers in the official residence of a top PDP member in the state. They used thugs who wielded machetes and fire arms, and who shot sporadically in the air to harass and scare people away before snatching the ballot papers and result sheets.

They did these things using fake uniformed men to cart away the election materials…It is the same situation in Umuahia, Aba North and South, Umuahia North and South, Ohafia, Umunneochi, Isiala Ngwa North and South

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•Officials of French Embassy and IMT at the meeting

Institute to partner French Embassy From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

nals that would promote the teaching and learning of French language were provided for the department.

Responding, Anyianuka noted that the students who were primarily concerned with just passing the French course needed their interest to be stimulated, stressing that the use of teaching aids such as the screening of French films, the reading of French books and newspapers, exchange of programmes and training of French teachers in capacity building workshops would spur teachers and students to double their efforts in learning the language.

According to the Head, Mass Communication Department, French Language is a very important international language, particularly in member nations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), adding that: “The language is indispens-

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T started with a visit. Now everyone is looking forward to a collaboration and better relationship topped off with improved learning of the French language.

That is the trend at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, which has hosted a delegation of visitors from the French Embassy, Abuja, and Centre for French Teaching and Development (CFTD) Enugu.

The IMT authorities had been looking up to the visit, not just to foster better relationship but also to improve teaching and learning of French Language in the Mass Communication Department of the institution.

Mass Communication Department has remained one of the biggest departments in IMT, Enugu and like other departments, it has various courses; both departmental and borrowed which students of the department must undertake within the period of their academic training.

One of such courses offered in the Department of Mass Communication which has attracted the interest of the international community is French Language; a language that is indispensable in international news reportage.

Hence, the institute is to receive resource and logistics support and the co-operation of the Embassy of France, Nigeria, for the teaching of the French course in the department.

Daniel Rignault, French Government Attaché for Cooperation in Education and Deputy to Head of Service announced this during a recent visit to the institute. He said there was the need for mass communication and journalism students to learn and speak French language effectively.

Rignault, who was accompanied by other personalities from the French Embassy, Abuja and Centre for French Teaching and Development (CFTD) Enugu also inquired to know from the Head of Mass Communication Department, Mr. Chukwudi Anyianuka, other problems areas the Embassy could be of assistance in promoting and sustaining the teaching and learning of the language.

The leader of the delegation who pledged to support the department in the provision of resources and logistics also urged the Director CFTD, Enugu, Olivier Mouginot to ensure that materials; audio-visuals, books and French language jour-

The language is indispensable in international news reporting. The knowledge of French language would prepare graduates of mass communication for positions in international mass media organisations and help them intersect between two key international languages in the highly complex and taxing coverage of international news events

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able in international news reporting. The knowledge of French language would prepare graduates of mass communication for positions in international mass media

•Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha (middle) introducing a PDP chieftain, Chief Jerry Chukwueke to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari during his visit to Owerri

organisations and help them intersect between two key international languages in the highly complex and taxing coverage of international news events”.

Thanking the delegation for the visit, Anyianuka promised to communicate to the Rector of the school, Prof. Mike Iloeje the outcome of the visit, including the areas of co-operation the school desires to enter into with the Embassy.

A lecturer in the Department of French Language, Stanley Oko, attributed the declining interest of students and their inability to adequately speak the language to the limited time allotted for the teaching and learning of the course in the institution, even as he urged management to consider revisiting the former method of teaching and learning French language in the institute.

Other members of the delegation on the visit with Rignault are Tristan Fondalosa, French Project Manager, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja; Olivier Mouginot, Director CFTD, Enugu; Godwin Nwuche, Enugu State French Coordinator and Ngozi Nwodo, Project Supervisor, CFTD, Enugu.

•Commissioner for Health Dr. George Eze (second right); Permanent Secretary, Dr. Moses Ouija (right); Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Mrs. Chika Aneke and Director of Medical Services Dr. Ndubuisi Michael Ejeh at the state council on health meeting. PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

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Widow seeks justice From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

not been seen, while the traditional ruler of Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area, Igwe Felix Onyimadu had been notified on the development.

At the hospital where she was rushed to after the accident, the widow said her husband’s people abandoned her; she was without food for four days and hid the death of her husband from her all in a bid for her not to attend the burial.

A sales girl with the late Egwuatu, alleged that she was chased out of the shop by her late boss’s relations after which they packed everything in the shop.

The sales girl Chiamaka Opara from Imo State gave the name of the relation of her boss as Raphael (akaschool boy) who, she alleged demanded for the keys to the shop which she said she did not know where they were.

During the accident, the widow lost two month-old pregnancy, while the N6 million picked from the shop was money meant for a joint business venture between the couple and two of their friends.

The petition made available to The Nation dated April 2, 2015 and signed

by Uju Akuneziri (Esq), for the firm, is demanding full investigation from the police command with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

The petition, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, said: “Dramatically, sir, while our client was still battling to save her life, her late husband’s siblings, namely Mrs. Angela Mojekwu, Miss Nonye Egwuatu and Mr. Raphael Ojika among others, embarked on the heinous act of carting away everything belonging to our client and her husband.

“They started with our clients’ home at No. 37 Uzoegwu Street Nkpor junction where they cleared everything found therein and left no pin behind for the widow and her children. From there they proceeded

to their two shops at New Parts, Nkpor” “They forcibly broke down the protector and entered our client’s shop at C 1/15, New Parts Market Nkpor. They equally took a cash of six million Naira being money meant for a joint business venture between our client and her two friends.

“With respect to our client’s late husband’s shop at B2/13, they entered •The two abducted children, Chidimma and Mmesoma with their mother, Ogechukwu into it and took over four hundred thousand Naira being the cash at hand in the late Egwuatu’s shop.

“Neighbours and well-wishers witnessed the callous and wanton display of greed and total disregard to the law. They are working in collusion with one Amaka and Oby who are daily contribution collectors. Ojika collected the sum due to the late Egwuatu totalling six hundred thousand.

“Worst of all, they equally abducted the kids aged four years and six years from the hospital without the consent of our client.

“It will interest you to note, sir that the said Mrs. Angela Mojekwu is a police woman attached to CPS Nnewi and has been throwing her weight around the matter all in the name of being a police woman. allowed to spy on her husband’s denied entry into her husband’s “Our client since that incident of burial with a wrapper tied round home and denied access to her abOctober 21 last year has not laid her our client’s chest because her stuffs eyes on her two girls and every ef- and clothing had been forcibly taken ducted kids. Instead, she was chased away on the grounds that she no fort made to bring Mrs. Angela by the twosome.

Mojekwu and Mr. Raphael Ojika to “And what is worst, our client left longer belongs to her husband’s famreason failed woefully. the hospital and returned to her ily and should forever return to her “Most pitiable, our client was only husband’s home village but she was parents.”

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Worst of all, they equally abducted the kids aged four years and six years from the hospital without the consent of our client. It will interest you to note, sir that the said Mrs. Angela Mojekwu is a police woman attached to CPS Nnewi and has been throwing her weight around the matter all in the name of being a police woman. Our client since that incident of October 21 last year has not laid her eyes on her two girls

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HE grief of 29-year-old widow, Ogechukwu Egwuatu, from Adazi-Ani in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State is deep.

First, she lost her 36-year-old husband of seven years, and fractured a leg in a car crash. She was in coma for four days.

Then, their two daughters, Chidinma, 7, and Mmesoma, 4, who had bruises in the accident, were abducted by her husband’s relations while she was in hospital.

Her pains increased, when the same relations of her late husband confiscated all her property, including wrappers. They also, allegedly, took over N6 million meant for their business forcibly from their shops and told her not to come back home again.

Worst still, she attended the burial of her late husband with clutches from Iyienu Hospital where good Samaritans rushed her to after the accident at Ugwu-Nwasike Junction on October 21 last year.

Following the maltreatments from the husband’s family, a firm of solicitors led by Chris Ajugwe, has petitioned the police in Anambra State over the kidnap of the two girls.

When The Nation visited the sickbed of the widow, she was in pains as a result of the maltreatment.

Also, some of the civil society groups and independent human rights activists have taken up the matter to ensure justice.

The Nation also gathered that the main person responsible for the widow’s sufferings is the elder sister of the late husband, one Inspector Angela Mojekwu, attached to the Central Police Station (CPS) Nnewi.

She was alleged to have sworn that the widow would not have peace unless she left the husband’s house; boasting that she has made enough money to prosecute the matter.

Since the children were abducted, The Nation gathered that they had •Continued from page 27 happy that she has gone on appeal; she has gone above all of us. She will be there when all of us will be judged because we are still at a pedestrian level. One day, every person will answer questions on the roles he or she played while on earth. I am not in a position to pass the judgment, but I know that whatever you sow, you will reap.

“I know and can vouch that she was a quintessential lady of a Judge and as a gentleman in a skirt, did her work very well. May her gentle soul rest in peace.”

An Aba-based lawyer who has been practising since 1981 in Aba Judicial Division, Chibuike Nwokeukwu said: “What the executive of the Bar has planned for this lady (Offonry) today is commendable. Offonry was part of us.

She was just a judge and later became the Administrative Audge of Aba Judicial Division. While she was alive, Aba Bar was behind her aspiration to become the Chief Judge of Abia State, but unfortunately that couldn’t happen until she died.

“So, what we are doing for her tonight is in recognition of her services to Nigeria, Abia State and Aba Judicial Division in particular. We celebrated her in her lifetime and we also celebrated her in death.

When she was alive and a judge in Aba, a number of occasions in our dinners, she was honoured for a good job as a judge. Now that she is no more, we still remember her and we still celebrate her with a posthumous award.

“Offonry was a very honest judge. She was never corrupt; everybody would testify to that. She

One day, every person will answer questions on the roles he or she played while on earth. I am not in a position to pass the judgment, but I know that whatever you sow, you will reap

,

•Justices Ory Zik-Ikorha (right); Seyi Olubanjo (middle) and Justice Onyeabor

Aba lawyers honour Judge was equally a very hardworking person.”

The lessons I learnt from her life are that it pays to be honest. It pays to work hard. Offonry’s case made me believe that no matter how hard you work, whatever God says would be would be. I do not think that God destined Offonry to be a Chief Judge, otherwise she merited it, but the powers that be didn’t want her to be and she never was.”

Chairman of NBA Aba branch,

Chidozie Ogunji said: “We decided to honour her even as she is late is because she was too good to Aba NBA. Not only that she was good, she was also an upright judge, incorruptible, so humane that she would always teach the younger lawyers and would never allow the elderly ones to bully them and she has a listening ear; when you come with an application before her court, she will look at it on the merit, she was just a good and ideal judge. So, we are hold-

ing this in her honour. We had some good judges, but she was an exceptional and rare one.

You could recall that after appointing her the chief judge, the (Abia State) House of Assembly refused to confirm her appointment which brought us at loggerhead with the state government and before the process of her swearing-in could be completed, unfortunately she died. For us, she is dear to our heart”.

According to Ogunji, “We are go-

ing to have a lecture this year in her honour. We are also going to give her a posthumous award this evening. They are part of the things that we have laid out to honour her contribution to the growth of the Bar”.

On her relationship with the Bar, he said, she was good. “I learnt humility and understanding. She was quite humble. She was very tolerant. I urge the judges to be more tolerant, more humane, understanding and to really understand that they are judges.”

Speaking after receiving the post•Continued on page 38

Newspaper of the Year

AN EIGHT-PAGE PULLOUT ON THE SOUTHSOUTH STATES

FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

PAGE 29

OTUOKE

MURDER

IJ AW/ITSEKIRI IJA

WHATdoes a town look like when its most prominent indigene loses the highest office in the country? Otuoke, the home town of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, has been in a gloomy state after the last presidential election won by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

TWO Warri-based lawyers were killed about a year ago on their way to court in Ozoro, Delta State. No headway is being made to resolve the murder. Their colleagues are seeking justice. They are insisting that the police must get to the roots of the matter.

THE Ijaw and Itsekiri in Delta State have found it difficult to live together in peace. In the last one decade, violence has broken out regularly between them. A fresh violence in the Escravos area has again brought to the fore love-hate relationship between thse two neighbours.

•PAGE 34

Jonathan

•PAGE 30

•Ekwuaghanju

•PAGE 31

•Uduaghan

Anti-bunkering campaigner’s arrest sparks outrage in Delta The circumstances surrounding the arrest of a local antiillegal bunkering activist, Chief Futek Zikoregha by detectives from Force Headquarters, Abuja, is generating dust in Delta state, especially as it came after the the embattled community leader raised the alarm over plans to frame him up and arrest him. SHOLA O'NEIL, who has been following the activities of the activist for nearly a decade writes on his latest travails, averring that he might be the victim of a wellorchestrated vendetta by a gang that has hijacked Odimodi community •A man whose farm has been taken over by oil

•See stoy on page 32-33

• YOU HAVE STORIES FOR US? PLEASE CONTACT US ON 07066954441 OR 08123521990

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Otuoke ...Gloomy after Jonathan’s loss of the big pie Curbing illegal refineries BOLAJI OGUNDELE writes about the most recent effort of the Nigerian Navy to battle oil theft and illegal oil refining in the deep recesses of Delta State’s creeks

What does a town look like when its most prominent indigene loses the highest office in the country? MIKE ODIEGWU was in Otuoke, the home town of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, to see its state after the last presidential election won by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

P

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan's Polling Unit 39, Ward 13 in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, had a reversal of fortune on Saturday during the House of Assembly elections in Bayelsa State. It lacked the presidential atmosphere and aura it once commanded.

Prior to Saturday, Otuoke used to bubble on each election day, especially after Jonathan was elevated to the highest political office in the country. Each election was like a carnival or as some people said a market of dignitaries. Everybody who mattered in the Presidency used to accompany Jonathan to his polling unit in Otuoke.

Then, the broad road of Otuoke felt the impact of exotic vehicles which tickled the earth and quaked the bridges. Residents of Otuoke were treated and entertained by influx of very important persons to their community. They fed their eyes counting movement of many strange and expensive Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) in their community.

Then, the media community used to relocate to Otuoke. All the media houses, especially electronic media, moved their gadgets to the polling unit of the President to cover him, most times live as he exercised his franchise. Foreign media organisations were not left behind. In fact, the number of reporters almost suffocated the polling unit.

What about the number of security operatives? They were simply uncountable. Like bees they swarmed around the unit and Otuoke. They paraded different sophisticated rifles and looked stern.

The operatives took over the streets of Otuoke and through their eyes they scanned everything and everybody in the community.

With their presence, it was a Herculean task to catch a glimpse of the President. Different security hardware and softwares used to be deployed in Otuoke. In fact, security commanders of all the security agencies in the state took charge of affairs of the President whenever he

visited to cast his votes.

One of the major features of the President's visit to Otuoke on any Election Day was the presence of his wife, Dame Patience and his mother, Comfort. The President enjoyed the company of his wife whose handling of English Language provoked laughter when on one of the occasions she saw a crew of AIT reporters and exclaimed: "AIT, una wan come carry us alive today?" Indeed, Jonathan never voted in the polling unit without his wife.

But everything changed last Saturday. "How the mighty have fallen", a resident from Otuoke exclaimed as he trudged along the road unhindered. The unidentified old man shook his head a number of times as he passed. Apparently, it was strange for him to see a few vehicles, relaxed security and absence of "Mama Peace" in Otuoke on that day.

Nobody believed that Jonathan was in town last Saturday. His polling unit where the people of Otuoke came out in their numbers on March 28 during the Presidential election to identify with him, was deserted.

Nobody believed that such level of disenchantment existed in Otuoke where voting entered the second day during the presidential election.

There was serious voter apathy at the polling unit of the President.

The downcast residents were in their houses and business premises refusing to come out for the election.

Dame Patience 'abandoned' her husband. Madam Comfort stood by her son.

Jonathan arrived the community at about 10:53am and did his accreditation at about 11:05am with minimal number of aides and security details. The disenchanted people of Otuoke went about their normal business and domestic activities leaving officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sitting idly.

INEC officials arrived before 8am at the polling units in the area but waited till about 9:20am before some voters grudgingly appeared for ac-

N

•Jonathan casting his vote at the INEC Ward 13 Unit 39 Otuabla Otuoke during the House of Assembly election on Saturday.

creditation. Some of the residents said there was nothing to vote for since their kinsman lost the presidential election despite their massive support.

"We are no longer motivated to vote. What are we voting for again.

We voted massively during the presidential election but our brother still lost," a lady who was engrossed in her business muttered.

Where was Patience Jonathan?

Everybody was curious to know the First Lady's whereabouts. Why was she not with her husband? Why did she refuse to cast her vote at her polling unit? It became obvious that Patience sacrificed her vote for the soul of Rivers State. She went to her hometown in Okirika to supervise the abnormalities that led to the emergence of Nyesom Wike as the Governor-elect of Rivers State.

But journalists were curious over the absence of Jonathan's wife. So, a female journalist inquired from the President: "Where is your wife?" The President was a little startled. He let out a smile and gave answer suggesting he was playing to the gallery.

•Reporters interviewing Jonathan in Otuoke during the presidential election.

‘‘ different aircraft.

We (Patience and I) used She was expected to be here. We have been expecting her and she will still come. The only thing is whether she will meet up the accreditation period. That is the problem. But she is supposed to be on her way At about 1:45pm, the President said he was still expecting his wife at his community in Otuoke to participate in the electoral process. The President, who spoke after casting his vote at his polling unit, feigned ignorance of his wife's whereabouts claiming that the First Lady who was nowhere to be found in her voting unit did not board the same air-

‘‘

craft with him.

While Jonathan who jetted out of his community shortly after casting his vote, claimed he was still expecting his wife at Otuoke, there were reports that Patience had spent about two days in Okirika, Rivers State, working to ensure the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the polls.

Jonathan said: "Of course, we used different aircraft. She was expected to be here. We have been expecting her and she will still come. The only thing is whether she will meet up the accreditation period. That is the problem. But she is supposed to be on her way."

But Jonathan attributed the low turnout of voters to different levels

of election, noting that some elections elicit more interest than others. "Naturally different levels of elections elicit different interests.

Presidential elections are more interesting. governorship elections are quite interesting," he said.?

He added that there would have been better turnout if governorship election was holding in Bayelsa State. "For the House of Assembly election, the interest is not as high compared to governorship election.

We expect low turnout in states that don't have governorship elections," he said.

On his feeling after conceding defeat, the President said: "I am a Nigerian and I am Goodluck Jonathan and I feel that as a nation, you respect your laws and I am quite pleased in respecting the laws of the land."

The President further expressed satisfaction on the growing democratic ideals of the country. "As a nation, we are quite happy we are consolidating in our democratic efforts. The key thing is that the citizens must directly change government properly. We must do elections every four years," he said.

•CONTROVERSIAL CONTROVERSIAL: CONTROVERSIAL Members of Pan African Women, presenting a report declaring the flawed Rivers governorship and House of Assemly polls as credible.

PHOTO: NAN

•Mr and Mrs Oghenekaro Adasaji surrounded by friends and well-wishers after their wedding in Oleh, Delta State.

PHOTO: SHOLA O’NEIL

IGERIA’S economy has this illicit oil deal was in line with been has been bleeding in the zero tolerance of the Chief of the last few years, largely as a result of some unhealthy activities going on in its various sub-sectors on a daily basis. Perhaps the most damaging of all the malfeasances is the phenomenon of oil theft and the operation of illegal oil refineries in the deep recesses of the Delta’s creeks.

This particular factor has set the economy back in several billions of dollars over the years.

The infractions had, however, not been left untreated as various security agencies have been battling the menace, with the mandate to either end it all together or ensure it is reduced to the barest minimum. The effort in Delta state has been spare headed by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, under the command of Commodore Musa Gemu, though has •Tanks used by operators of illegal refineries made remarkable progress, through the several operations targeted at the destruction of stolen crude and refined products, as well as facilities used for illegal refineries.

One of such operations, described as about the most important, was recently executed in the Warri South council area of Delta state, seeing to the destruction of products and crude running into thousands of metric tons. Concisely, the naval outfit, after carrying out the operation, put the number of illegal refineries destroyed at more than 260 units and the amount of crude and refined products destroyed at about 5000 metric tons as the cumulative figure for the entire operation, which covered many of the communities in the council area.

Speaking on the •Drums used by operators of illegal refineries destruction of the illegal refineries in Otegbene-Agbara community, Bennet Island and Jones Naval Staff (CNS)Vice Admiral Creek, all in Warri South council Usman Jibrin to the issue of illegal area, Commodore Gemu said the bunkering activities and pipeline afffected places were new hideouts vandalism along the waterways, for oil thieves, where they refine il- adding that since those behind this legally and from where they take dastardly act of sabotage have reillegally refined petroleum prod- solved not to stop, the navy has inucts to unsuspecting public. tensified its surveillance operations He noted that the renewed com- and destruction exercise along these mitment of the navy to combating creeks.

While lamenting the damage of the oil thieves to the economy, Commodre Gemu said aside the economy, they were damaging the environment.

“Over 700 metric tons of crude and refined products, with over 35 illegal refineries at Oteghele Ogharaha and equally destroyed over 350 metric tons of both crude and refined product at Bennett Island and Jones Creek. The crude and refined products were found inside over 70 basketball pitch size storages, all in Warri South. This is about the biggest of all our operations”, Gemu told journalists.

“We (Navy) are particularly concerned that in spite of what the federal government, NNPC, NDDC, and DESOPADEC had done and still doing to alleviate the poverty in this region through youth empowerments, job creation and educational up-liftment, some people are just not satisfied. They take to criminal activities as if it’s a way of life and that’s the more reason they indulge themselves in all sorts of criminalities along the creeks.

“Look at the environment here now.

They have polluted the waters in the various communities along these creeks as a result of spills from the damaged pipelines points from where they stole the crude. Now, how do the indigenes of these communities cope? Let’s assume that they don’t drink the waters from this river but at least people rely on it as a source of living especially fishermen and also domestic use but as you can see now of what use is this polluted water to the people? So even the communities suffers so much from this act of sabotage”, he said.

Commodore Gemu warned those behind this dastardly act to desist in their best interest as the navy has improved his surveillance network along to creeks to be able to locate some of the remote hideout where these criminal acts are being perpetrated, stressing that anyone caught in this act should be prepared to face the unpleasant consequences of their actions.

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

Fresh Escravos violence tests Itsekiri/Ijaw relationship in Delta T HE early Tuesday morning fracas between the Ijaw and Itsekiri in Escravos area of Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State once again highlighted how delicate the relationship between the two ethnic groups has remained, over 10 years after the end of the fratricidal war between them from 1997 to 2014.

That war, which was the predecessor of the Niger Delta crisis, led to thousands of death, particularly on the side of the Itsekiris, whose communities were plundered and sacked from Warri South, South West and North LGAs. Trouble again broke out in the wee hours of that Tuesday after three irate Itsekiri boys attacked and brutally wounded an Ijaw security guard working at the site of a deep sea project in the area. The dastardly attack drew a very tough and brutal response from Ijaw militias.

Over 30 youths armed with sophisticated weapon, took off from one of their communities, thought to be Oporoza, and stormed Madangho, an Itsekiri community located opposite the Escravos Tank Farm and Gas to Liquid complex of Chevron Nigeria Limited, in the dead of the night.

For several hours they rained bullets on the town from the seashore.

People, including the elderly women, youths and children who were rudely woken up from sleep, scampered for safety in the dead of the night. Several persons were wounded in their desperate bids to get out of harm’s away. The fleeing persons crawled out of the ‘war front’ on their belly, ostensibly to avoid stopping flying bullets. One source said flying bullets wheezed passed his head severally.

“It was almost a return to the Warri crisis; fathers forgot their children and ran for dear lives. Men, women and everybody took off and ran into the bushes, some jumped into the river and swam away to safe shores. It was the same madness all over again,” a menial laborer in the town who simply identified as Friday told our reporter.

When the staccato of gunfire died, some of the marauders disembarked from their boats, doused houses with petrol and set them afire. They left a trail of destruction on other parts of the town. Hours later, an eerie silence fell over the darkness, reaching as far as Ode-Ugborodo, Ajuadaibo, Ogidigben and Arunto, the other Itsekiri settlements that make up Ugborodo, and even Warri and beyond.

Panicky inhabitants were already packing their bags and girding their loins, ready to beat a hasty exit should the gunfire come nearer their in habitation. Painful memories of deaths, blazing guns and burning houses came back for those who witnessed the seven-year pogrom. However thry were relieved when the gunfire died and reports came that the siege was over.

But the interregnum of silence didn’t last long; the marauders returned again with more weapons and ammunition and the orgy of shooting and violence returned with them.

But this time the sporadic gunfire attracted the attention of a military post in the area.

A source said: “The soldiers came and they faced-off for a while, after which the marauders felt they had had enough. They pulled out and left, but kept on shooting until their boats were safely in the centre of the river and zoomed off.”

Tension had gripped the areas since early January when ex-militants threatened to unleash mayhem if President Jonathan did not win the election. The tension became even more palpable when the APC candidate won the March 28 election.

Will there ever be a time that the Ijaw and Itsekiri in Delta State will live in unity? Events of the last decades suggest it will never happen. S’South Regional Editor SHOLA O’NEIL reports on the fresh violence between the two groups in Escravos

•A scene of destruction in Madangho

•A scene of destruction in Madangho

“That night we monitored the results until the winner was announced. We had people watching the waterways for any sign of impending invasion because we know that they (ex-militants) cannot go and fight the Hausa/Fulani in the north, we would be their targets,” one Ugborodo youth said.

Although the intervention of the military men brought the Tuesday morning party to an abrupt close, it

was clear that the intention of the attackers was not to kill their victims.

“It was more a show of might more than anything. They wanted to show their counterparts that they could still hit them hard if they want to,” a security source in the area told our reporter.

Frantic telephone calls between some notable elements on both sides pulled the attackers out of the brink.

One of the Itsekiri youths, who called

our reporter when the second shooting started at about 3:45am, later said: “We learnt that the council chairman, Chief George Ekpemupolo (sibling of Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), David Tonwe and Tompolo were in constant touch that night and made frenetic efforts to reach out to their people to ensure that the matter didn’t escalate. They have been working together for peace and they were able to calm the situation and ensure

that it didn’t get out of hand.”

The Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Lt Col. Ekong Bassey, confirmed that the leaders from both sides waded into p the matter and we’re working hard to ensure that the situation did not escalate further. He urged both parties to continue to be law abiding and not take action that could torpedo the existing peace in the area.

Still, inspire of the security presence, the aggrieved Ijaw youths mounted blockades on the waterways and prevented boats carrying Itsekiri people or persons from the Itsekiri communities from going to Warri and other destinations. Transport boats taking passengers and commodities to the area from upland towns were also turned back.

Chief Ayirimi Emami denounced the invasion and subsequent burning of houses in Madangho. He traced the initial action of the Itsekiri youths to the disagreement over the project land and the clearing of same site without consultation with the committee set up by the state government.

“Besides, whatever happened at the project site was not enough for some people to roll out guns and visit mayhem on defenseless community people. It is a clear act of banditry and totally uncalled for and must be condemned. There are fights everyday in other communities, people don’t unleash heavy weapons and brute force on their neighbours. This has shown that there is more to it,” Emami told our reporter in a telephone chat on Wednesday.

His claim confirmed persistence of mutual distrust between the two sides over the years, in spite of several attempts at peace building. Our reporter noted that minor disagreements between them are almost always followed by threats of war and reenactment of the seven years of bloodletting and bestiary killings.

Our investigation revealed that the Tuesday skirmish was a carryover of the Ijaw/Itsekiri crisis. Ikpokpo (or Kpokpo), depends on which side is staking the claim, was said to be one of the communities seized by the Ijaws after sacking dozens of communities from their weaker neighbours in the 1990s crisis.

The community, which borders Ugborodo and Gbaramatu, Ijaw and Itsekiri clans, had remained almost fallow since the end of the war. It became attractive following the siting of the $16billion Delta Gas City project in the area by the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Although the project was initially named after Ogidigben, one of five settlements that make up the Ugborodo community, trouble started when the Gbaramatu demanded their inclusion as stakeholder. Their argument was that Ikpokpo, which is site of the deep sea arm of the mega project, was theirs. Chief Godspower Gbenekama, a prominent Gbaramatu leader, said the land was theirs, warning that they would resist the injustice.

The contention and subsequent threat of war by the Ijaw infamously led to President Goodluck Jonathan’s postponement of the groundbreaking ceremony at least thrice. He sited security challenges and threat to peace.

The Itsekiri, in return, famously tagged him an ethnic President, memo they also accused of pandering to the whims and caprices of his kinsmen.

Although the ceremony was later performed on the 26 of March, it was alleged that the President motive merely part of his national vote-hunting drive on the eve of the presidential election,which he later lost, than •Continued on page 34

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

NIGER DELTA REPORT COVER

Anti-bunkering campaigner’s arrest sparks outrage in Delta •Continued from page 29

C

HIEF Futek Zikoregha , as a former chairman of the oil-rich Forcados and a leader of Odimodi community both in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, knows a lot about illegal bunkering and how it affects the environmental, ecological and social fabrics of his society. He knows the dirty community politics over royalties and sharing of oil companies’ largess as well as the tricks some leaders play to extort money from oil companies.

He knows key players in the illicit oil deals in the waterways and has had series of run-ins with some of them because of his objection to the trade.

The first time this reporter met him was in early 2008 and it was in a hideout of an obscured hotel in Warri; he was on the run after blowing the lid on the dirty deals of a prominent local chief. Although barely literate, he knows the effects and devastation of crude oil pollution.

“Our ecology has been devastated, mangrove trees are dying mysteriously; periwinkles-gathering is no longer possible because of oil pollution and our fishes are too leady for consumption just because of bunkering,” he told our reporter in an exclusive interview published in the March 17, 2008 edition of this newspaper.

To further tackle the masterminds of the crime, he formed the Heroes of Peace (HOPE) Initiative, a nongovernmental organization which tracks and reports to security operatives the activities of criminals troubling oil pipelines in the area.

In a recent communication to the Commanding Officer of 3 Battalion dated 2/09/14, the group disclosed that “These said bunkerers are currently using about three to four flat bottom vessels to convey petroleum products… Also they have about 17 to 20 Cotonou boats, which they load on daily basis.”

The letter identified Abrabebe Community near the Forcados NNPC pipeline and Forcados trunk lines, Forcados Export Line and Nigeria Agip’s Beniboye facilities as spots where they criminals are having their day and urged the JTF to take “appropriate steps and actions” to stop the criminals.

Asked why he took upon himself the dangerous task of fighting illegal bunkering, Zikoregha once told our reporter, “I don’t see why we (communities) should be crying foul over oil spills resulting from companies’ legitimate business, when our own people are destroying pipelines and committing worse environmental crimes.”

It was against the backdrop of his

objection to pipeline vandalism and similar crimes in the area that his arrest by policemen from the Force Headquarters, Abuja came as a shock to those who him – some blame it on “crime fighting back”.

Hunter becomes the hunted Zikoregha knows how powerful and vengeful the operators of the illegal bunkering rings and beneficiaries of illegal deals in the area are. But the middle-aged activist failed to recognize how far criminals could go to protect their illegitimate wealth.

“His outspokenness and actions on illegal bunkering and attack on oil facilities may have won him friends in the environmental rights community and the media, it also brought him scores of powerful enemies among his kinsmen,” an environmental rights activist told our report.

Involvement of police, other security agents Prior to his arrest on April 1, Zikoregha had been engaged in a running battle with some factional leaders of Odimodi Community. His faceoffs with the group peaked when the group threatened to shut down operation of Shell Petroleum Development Company in the area. Their gross with the company was the failure of SPDC to award the lucrative contract for the repair of the 48" SBM pipeline, which was attacked by vandals, to a local firm.

An oil industry source said the company does not award such contract to indigenes of community where its facilities are sabotaged to discourage connivance.

Speaking with Niger Delta Report on the threat, the activist said those who signed the paid advertorial where the threat was made lacked the capacity to speak for the community. He said Benjamin Gbesine and Ingo Davies, ‘Chairman’ and ‘Secretary’ of Odimodi, had been disowned by the Amadiwei (traditional head).

He accused them of acting out a script, adding that they are lackeys for a prominent businessman and contractor who was eyeing the pipeline repair contract. He said when the deal fell through, the duo and others issued the threat to arm-twist the company.

Zikoregha was banned from the community. He petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 Benin City, over persistent threats to his life and those of other members of HOPE and his family. He fingered the duo and one Presley Iyalagha, the surveillance contractor, whose section of the SBM line was breached.

Contacted, Iyalagha, debunked the allegation and accused our reporter of

being used by blackmailers and threatened to get him “into trouble”.

He said, “Did you see my signature in any of the documents? You are the same person who wrote about me in your paper; you are going to get your company into trouble”, he thundered, in a very heated telephone chat when our reporter sought his comment.

However, Zikoregha, in the petition, told Zone 5 AIG that he had information that a meeting was held on the 23rd of February, where a decision was taken to frame him and other members of the group with “heinous crime of illegal possession of firearms” and other weighty crimes.

“We are fully convinced that these characters possess the requisite capacity and intent to implement their evil design,” he said and appealed to the AIG to call those fingered in the plot for interrogation and possible arrest, if they found guilty.

But fate forced him back to Odimodi when he lost his elder brother, Capt Jacob Kiyagha. He said he was attacked by agents of his traducers when he took the corpse for burial. Youths armed with cudgels, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons beat him to pulp, forcing him to abandon the corpse and run for dear life.

•The dilagidated library

•Gbesine

•Iguobazuwa residents: rebuild our library

Help rebuild our library, Iguobazuwa residents beg govt From Osagie Otabor, Benin

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An ‘unblessed’ peacemaker But for the intervention of the Vice Chairman of the community’s youth, identified as Mr James Benarode, he said he would have been lynched.

Sadly, for the peacemaker, for his ‘interference’, he was given the beating of his life and still bore a scare from the incident.

Benarode told NDR on Monday morning that he was not only beaten black and blue, but was detained at a ‘prison’ operated by the gang.

Worried by the threats, the victims went to the Warri High Court to obtain a restraining order against the group to prevent further attack. The affidavit deposed in support of the motion accused the group of using security operatives, including an officer of the Nigerian Navy identified as Lt Comd R K Ruma, to terrorise the community.

They said although the matter was reported to the Nigerian Police station at Burutu, there was no response. Worried by the police’ silence, Zikoregha said he asked his solicitors “to write a fresh complaint to the Area Commander, Warri to take urgent steps to save my life and others…”

It was while the suit was pending in court that he was served a cruel April Fool Day joke when he was arrested by policemen from the Ugborikoko Police Station on the behest of FCID.

•Benarode after his incaceration in Odimodi

It was gathered that he was arrested when he went as a pointer with a bailiff who was serving the court processes of the pending suit on one of the defendants. He was whisked away in the presence of the stupefied bailiff and swiftly moved to the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja. Reports that could not be independently confirmed indicated that detectives demand N2m to ‘bail’ to free him.

‘Police aiding reign of terror’ Meanwhile, his family and perceived sympathizers like Benarode, in the community say they have become victims of daily haunts and threats from the powerful clique, which is believed to have usurped the traditional leadership of the community.

Benarode told our reporter: “I have been in hiding because I rescued someone they wanted to beat to death. They took me to their guardroom and the next day they brought navy to threaten me. My life has not been the same since them. They are threatening my family members who are still in the vil-

•Benarode during his incaceration in Odimodi

‘

If I had heard about this matter early enough, I would have by now gotten to the roots because we are talking about a human life now and I don't joke with that.

This case you are talking about is something else and I can sincerely tell you that the navy is not involved lage; my elder brother called me this morning. He said they asked him to produce me or face dire consequences.

They have gone to my employer and asked him to sack me. I am scared to move around because they are using police to harass us, using false allegation to cow everybody,” The Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, Celestina Kalu (DSP) who was contacted by our reporter, said she was not aware of the incident.

DSP Kalu promised to investigate and get details of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ugborikoko before getting back to us.

‘

She was yet to do so at press time. But a source at the station told our reporter that the instruction to arrest Zikoregha came from above, adding, “We were instructed to follow up.”

Odimodi under siege; elders are helpless – Prince Ikirie One of the aggrieved leaders of the community, Prince Wilfred Ikirie, told our report that the community was under siege by persons who use brute force to silence those who spoke out against them. Ikirie, a former youth

leader of the community said the elders are afraid and cannot speak because of threat of retributions and unpleasant fates of Zikoregha and others.

He said. “There is a cartel in Odimodi who assume control by using their militant strength. A constitution that the Amadiwei, is the sole authority and leader to inaugurate the leadership of the community has been abandoned.

Unfortunately, this cartel is armed with militant power; they have taken over and overshadowed him. They forcefully swear-in themselves. Anybody who attempt to speak out and say the truth becomes their enemy.”

“They said I took the community to court, but I said no, I only took impostors to court. For this they say my sisters must pay for lawyers to stand for them or else they would be banished from the town. We are under siege of militants and criminals parading themselves as leaders of Odimodi.”

Navy’s reaction The Commander of the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) Delta, Commodore Musa Gemu, said such an arrest could not have been made by him, pointing out that he had fought the oil theft war

without reservation, adding that he would rather have defended the victim if he had been informed of his activities. According to him, no naval officer could have made the said arrest without his knowledge and that he would have done so, if he had known of any case as that, in the glare of media.

"He was not arrested by the navy, there's no way anybody will be arrested by my command and I won't know about it, not to talk of transferring the case to Abuja. I am the chief officer here and nothing of such nature happening escapes my attention.

When I arrest, I don't hide it, I make sure I invite you people (media) to be witnesses.

"However, we are not unaware of people impersonating the navy, we just recently arrested some persons impersonating the army. If I had heard about this matter early enough, I would have by now gotten to the roots because we are talking about a human life now and I don't joke with that.

This case you are talking about is something else and I can sincerely tell you that the navy is not involved, we didn't make any such arrest," Gemu said.

ESIDENTS of Iguobazuwa in Ovia South West Local Government have appealed to the Edo State Government to help renovate and rehabilitate the only library building in the community.

The library located at the community public field is a shadow of its former self. The roofs have been blown opened while the doors are destroyed and hanging loosely. A handful of books could still be found on some shelves. Rodents and termites have since taken abode in the library building whose surrounding is unkempt.

It could not be ascertained when the library was built but Executive Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Rev. David Ugolor, said he used to study in the library when he was in secondary school.

The residents expressed their concern about the library at a stakeholders meeting organised by the League of Awareness in collaboration with Edo Study Groups (ESP).

Rev. Ugolor in his speech recalled how he used to go to the library after school hours to read before joining his parents at the farm. He said it was the books he read at the library that helped to shape his present status.

Ugolor who lamented the absence of a community bank at Iguobazuwa community despite it being a local government headquarters ascribed the situation to lack of unity among the people.

He said the essence of the meeting was to educate the people on the wind of change blowing across the country to enable them key into it and warned against collecting money to vote during election.

Rev. Ugolor said the meeting was for the people to cross check the development strides of Governor Oshiomhole with a view to knowing which political party meant well for the people.

According to him, “Edo need a steady political system that would join forces with Iguobazuwa to ensure that the community is not forgotton by Oshiomhole’s administration”.

“What is happening in Igoubazuwa cannot continue, we need change. I am not a member of any political party but I know Oshiomhole meant well for the people.”

Former Commissioner for Investment, Public and Private Partnership, Dennis Idahosa, urged the people to work together for the purpose of developing the community.

Idahosa said the community need industries, soft loans for farmers as well as a tertiary institution.

Chairman of Iguobazuwa Development Association, Joseph Ohonbamu, said the money used to bribe voters during the general elections should have been used to create jobs for youths in the communities.

In his speech, Chairman of Ovia South West local government council, Morris Ogunrobo-Ovia, described the meeting as the beginning for a better tomorrow for the community Lamenting the under-development of Iguobazuwa in spite of array of personalities from the community, the council boss revealed that his administration has taken deliberate steps to redress the situation by embarking on several developmental projects across the locality.

The theme of the meeting was “ From Stomach Infrastructure to Sustainable Development,’’ in Edo State.

34

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

NIGER DELTA REPORT FEATURE

A year after, controversy persists over Delta lawyers’ murder TWO Warri-based lawyers were killed about a year ago on their way to court in Ozoro, Delta State. No headway is being made to resolve the murder, writes BOLAJI OGUNDELE

A

YEAR ago, two Warri-based lawyers, Horace Eguono Dafiaghor and Samuel Ekwuaghanju, were killed in cold blood by yet to be identified gunmen. They were representing a couple of kidnap suspects at a High Court in Ozoro, they were on their way to perform their duties in the case when they were trailed and killed along the road in Ozoro.

The incident, sad as it was, generated a lot of passion and reactions, especially from the Warri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which then demanded in immediate investigation of the killing of its members. It should be pointed out that prior to their brutal murder, one of the two victims, Dafiaghor, had reported to his professional association that he was receiving threats and that when some of the phone lines being used were traced, they led to policemen. This singular claim prompted the NBA to particularly charge the police to do a sincere in depth investigation and and resist pressure to cover any liable person up.

At that time, both police and the state government promised to

uncover the mystery surrounding the circumstances of the lawyers’ death. Police, under the former Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikechukwu Aduda, said it had tasked a crack team to investigate and unravel the killing. “That while we deeply regret the gruesome Murder of the two ministers in the temple of Justice – a crack team of detectives led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police State CID Asaba had been constituted to unravelled the mystery behind the sordid act.

“Finally we want to reassure the good people of Delta State that the Command will never succumb to the temptations of extra judicial killing or be a party to same, but will rather remain undeterred or discouraged by any act of blackmail and will continue in our present efforts to ensure that the evil of kidnapping and violent crime is consistently fought head-on no matter whose ox is gored”, Aduba had said.

However, one year after the sad incident, the case still remains unsolved and no culprit punished, hence the protest by members of the

•Lawyers protesting the non-resolution of their colleagues’ murder.

NBA decided to steer the state’s police command into action by organising a protest to express their dissatisfaction over failure of the police to live up to its billings.

During the protest, the NBA, led by its branch chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins, said it would not relent until the police does its work and bring the killers of its members to Justice.

Speaking during the protest, the chairman of the Warri branch of the NBA, Aikpokpo-Martins, said

nothing had been heard or seen as a sincere effort from the police to bring the murderers of the slain lawyers to book.

“On 27 April 2014, the NBA promptly made a petition directly to the Inspector General of Police (IG) in view of the suspected persons involved in this condemnable act wherein we made passionate call for comprehensive investigation into the murder of our colleagues.

“Nothing has been heard thus far, giving the ominous belief that this

is one murder the police is reluctant in investigating and bring the culprits to book in the circumstance in spite of the pressure made to bear on the police”, he said.

He said further that the body had again written to the IG to awaken the “smothering coals of police investigation in the matters”, stressing that “we are watching and at the right time we would declare a new line of action if the police remain reluctant. We shall not relent.”

Fresh Escravos violence tests Itsekiri/Ijaw relationship in Delta

•Clearing of the controversial Kpokpo land

•A scene of destruction in Madangho •Continued from page 31

because he felt genuinely committed to the project, as the Itsekiri had threatened to vote massively against him.

Prior to the March 26 event, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which oversees the Federal Government’s stake in the project; Delta State Government and other stakeholders from the two eth-

nic groups met severally to hammer out a mutually satisfactory peace deal. According to the term of the deal, the gas project remain in Ogidigben, while the deep sea port recede into Gbaramatu in order to create a win-win scenario for all parties.

Despite that deal, some stakeholders, particularly the Itsekiri people remained unperturbed and unimpressed. Notable among the disgrun-

tled member was the effervescent Chief Emami. He insisted that the NNPC had not come out to explain to the Itsekiri if it was acquiring a fresh parcel of land from the Ijaw or it if was the same land that they have earmarked for the project.

Notable Itsekiri politicians and aspirants kept their part of the deal and worked with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to ‘deliver’ the President

and other candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the general elections. Emami, who was uncomfortable with the deal, left the PDP and pitch his tent with the opposition All Progressive Congress. Emami, He accused some of his kinsmen of selling their tribe for their business and political interests.

At the time of this report on Wednesday, calm had return to the

area; the waterways was opened to nor business and people of the sides have left the trenches. Yet, some persons believe that the existing peace is merely the peace of the graveyard.

In the words of one of the beleaguered residents, “Nobody knows when another round of shooting will take place. We are not sleeping with our eyes close yet, not today or tomorrow.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

36

NIGER DELTA REPORT COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

M

OSEYN Ekiw is all smiles. He is in his tastefully-furnished sitting room.

A bottle of Louis XIII wine, which costs at least £5,000 or some ?1,500,000, stands majestically on a side stool. A portion of it is in a golden tumbler in his left hand.

He sips from it from time to time and each time he does that, his eyes light up in a manner suggesting: this is the life!

It is 6am. The crowd will soon start trooping in. Since his status changed to governor-elect of Waters State, the crowd in and outside his compound has increased.

They troop in as early as 7am. He knows that many of them are with him because of what they can get and not because they love him.

His gold edition of Thuraya phone soon starts beeping. The man on the other end is Modu Leunamme, the governor-elect of Abasi Ibom State. Ekiw picks the call and screams: “My brother.”

“Good morning, bros,” Leunamme, a former bank top executive drafted into politics by the outgoing governor of Abasi Ibom State, replies.

“Hope all is well? This one that you are calling me this early…”

“I am calling so that we can discuss how things will be well.”

“Okay, what is the problem?”

“You know we share a common fate. We are both governors-elect and we know more than anybody else that we did not get the status on merit. It was through fraud. The elections that we claimed to have won, as international and local observers have observed, were sham. They were a rape of democracy. I can admit that before you, but outside I will defend it and hide my shame…”

Ekiw cuts in: “ I agree with you my brother, but it is not strange in our region.

We had always written the results of elections in private homes. VIPs’ guest houses have always served us as collation centres and if we had done anything contrary, these men sweeping everywhere in the country with broom would have taken over our states. That is the only weapon we have and we must guard it jealously…”

“My point exactly. These change people will not take it lightly with us. They sure will go to court and challenge the results of the elections that brought you and me to power.

We need to think fast. Assemble a team of lawyers— senior advocates— and get them to tell us what we need to do to keep these mandates that we stole…”

“You know each time I hear senior advocates, my heat skips. Those guys can drain you all in the name of defending you and when they know you are desperate like us, they are more daring. I will use them but I will also use another strategy…”

“And what will that be?” Leunamme asks.

“All the ex-militants in this state are in my hand. I used them during the elections and I will use them in the struggle to keep this seat.

I will not give up without a fight and even if I will be sent away one day, I will make sure I find a way to drag this thing for at least one year. If the tribunal rules in their favour, I will appeal. If the appeal rules in their

OLUKOREDE YISHAU

ABOVE WHISPERS

•A weekly intervention on Southsouth people and matters

olukoredeyishau@gmail.com

Stolen mandates

‘

Now, I am governor-elect and on May 29, I will be sworn-in as governor. You can see I have gone too far to give up just anyhow. I will fight to keep this mandate. Let them call it stolen or not, I don’t give a damn.

Mandates have always been stolen in our geo-political zone favour, I will approach the Supreme Court and why I am doing that, I will be scaring them with the militants…” “ How will you use the militants effectively when by that time the change people would have taken over at the centre? You know we were able to use the security agents at the state level because we still control the centre.

All that stops on May 29 and I know that these change people will go all out to equip the security to effectively cow your militants.”

There is silence for some seconds. “ My brother, you know I really did not think very well about what you just pointed out. But we will cross the bridge when we get there. I will not leave without putting up a fight. I will fight till the last and also see how to rally the people around me. I know it will not be easy, especially with the stupid

LAST WORD

‘

reports from those foreign observers. Those people are stupid. Why can’t they just mind their business? This is our region’s brand of democracy and we have always done it like this. Even Timiro got his second term through a similar manner. You know the Supreme Court gave him his first term without election.” “ I will like you to come to Uyo on Sunday.

I want to have a thanksgiving service…” “ I can’t make it. I am also having a second thanksgiving on Sunday and aside that I plan to visit some big churches here to plead with the people to accept the outcome of the poll…”

“But you had one thanksgiving the day you were declared?”

“My brother, one thanksgiving service is not enough in this special circumstance…”

“I was just shaking my head when I heard

you making promises about not prosecuting anybody and saying people should believe you because you were talking before men of God…” “Why were you shaking your head?”

“Because I know you were only making a political statement and dragging men of God into it. You the ruthless one. God sure is gentle. If He were a man, He would have struck you dead right there.”

The duo burst into laughter. “ We need to keep comparing notes from time to time,” says Ekiw,” the people who helped us to steal these mandates would be out of power by May 29. So, we will be on our own. There will be little they can do for us at that stage. We have to be our own men.” “ I agree with you.”

“Thanks for calling my brother,” Ekiw says as he drops the phone.

The time is now 6.45am. The crowd will soon start building up. His first comes down and sits by him.

“Good morning darling,” she says.

“Morning honey,” he replies “Goodluck charm has brought us this far.

How further can it take us? I am afraid of disgrace after a few months in power…” “ Don’t worry, I will work out how we will keep the mandate…” “ The way the mandate was stolen was too brazen and with the foreign observers saying what they are saying, I am afraid. The people we are up against will be in control at the centre then. There will be no Goodluck charm again.”

Ekiw’s phone gives a signal that a text message just comes in. He reads it: “Congrats your Excellency, I will be willing to serve in your cabinet. Prof Nelson Ipadibo.”

He shows it to his wife and she hisses. “ Dear, we have come a long way. At a point, I told people it would be wrong of me to want to be governor because I am from the same ethnic stock with the outgoing governor. At a point, I was drafted into the race. At another point, I was almost dropped because of the sentiment that the People on Water should take the next shot. Then I thought of taking a UNICEF job in Paris and relocating. Then the Goodluck charm was promised me again after some political moves on my path. I had to fight men within Umbrella Peoples Party (UPP) to get the ticket. Thanks to the Goodluck charm. Even you did not believe the Goodluck charm was capable of making me governor. You said so to me a couple of times. Even traditional rulers ganged up against me, but Goodluck charm proved potent. Now, I am governorelect and on May 29, I will be sworn-in as governor. You can see I have gone too far to give up just anyhow. I will fight to keep this mandate. Let them call it stolen or not, I don’t give a damn. Mandates have always been stolen in our geo-political zone.”

He hugs his wife and they both cling to each other for some time. As far as he is concerned, an era has ended and a new one is beginning. He vows to take it one step at a time.

BY ROSEMARY NWISI

Ogoniland’s request from President-elect Buhari

T

HE President, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers in Rivers State, His Royal Majesty King Godwin Gininwa has seen his land awash in oil.

Farmlands are awash in crude oil. Streams are not spared. The side effects of this are numerous. Strange diseases, food shortage and crushing poverty are some of the side effects of the oil spills that have turned Ogoniland to a sorry state.

The United Nations Environmental Project (UNEP) investigated the extent of the destruction to the Ogoni environment and its verdict was damning. The oil giants operating there have been reckless and insincere.

As change begins at the federal level on May 29, the people of Ogoniland are expectant.

Aside the clean-up of their land, King Gininwa also expects President-elect Mohammadu Buhari to appoint Ogoni indigenes into prominent position.

King Gininwa, who believes that Nigeria would fare better under Buhari, also appealed

to the in-coming President to include Ogoni clean-up exercise as one of the projects that would be celebrated in his first 100 days in office.

The Gbene-Mene Tai, who is also the Chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers’ Council made the appeal when officials of the Association of Ogoni Oil Producing Communities Traditional Rulers Council (OPTRACON), paid him a visit in his Palace at Koroma Tai, in Ogoniland recently.

The monarch said the recruitment of his subjects into the mainstream of the new government is imperative for guiding the new President on issues of development in Ogoniland.

He reiterated his support for the proposed take-up of oil production in the land by an indigenous oil firm, Belemaoil and Gas, owned by a Rivers state indigene maintaining that his support is in agreement with that of oil producing communities in the four Ogoni Local Government Areas.

The King described oil as leading

development instrument in the world and recalled the alleged unfair treatment by Shell to the people of Ogoni and its environments, which he said attracted the wrath of the people against it. He warned that the indigenous company would not be treated any differently if it deviates from the agreement reached when it gets the authorisation to start production.

“If Belema has met the communities that have the oil and you have agreed with the conditions presented, there is nothing wrong with my supporting you, that is not a criminal offence. If you have thoroughly investigated him and are convinced that he will keep to the agreement of lifting the environmental and welfare status of the people of Ogoniland please go ahead with him, you have my support.

“We appeal to Gen. Buhari to as a matter of urgency, come and clean up Ogoniland within his first 100 days in office after which oil activities should resume in the land, we have

suffered for so long.

“I am not only asking Gen. Buhari to implement UNEP report, but also recruit Ogoni indigenes into various jobs in his government. I have already told him that Ogoni people are honest and serviceable and will serve him well.

“How can we have oil and still continue to suffer in the midst of plenty? Ogoni has oil, Ogoni has oil, but when you come into Ogoni you see nothing. We are appealing to our dear President-Elect to try and help Ogoni people out from this poor state of life and environment.

“We have not been treated well as oil producing communities, but this time around, we want to be treated fairly. Ogoni people are impoverished today because of the poor treatment we received from Shell, if it pleased God to put the resources that sustains governments in our land, then we are not supposed to be poor, but that is not the case with us.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

37

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

I

•Officials of French Embassy and IMT at the meeting

Institute to partner French Embassy From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

nals that would promote the teaching and learning of French language were provided for the department.

Responding, Anyianuka noted that the students who were primarily concerned with just passing the French course needed their interest to be stimulated, stressing that the use of teaching aids such as the screening of French films, the reading of French books and newspapers, exchange of programmes and training of French teachers in capacity building workshops would spur teachers and students to double their efforts in learning the language.

According to the Head, Mass Communication Department, French Language is a very important international language, particularly in member nations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), adding that: “The language is indispens-

,

T started with a visit. Now everyone is looking forward to a collaboration and better relationship topped off with improved learning of the French language.

That is the trend at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, which has hosted a delegation of visitors from the French Embassy, Abuja, and Centre for French Teaching and Development (CFTD) Enugu.

The IMT authorities had been looking up to the visit, not just to foster better relationship but also to improve teaching and learning of French Language in the Mass Communication Department of the institution.

Mass Communication Department has remained one of the biggest departments in IMT, Enugu and like other departments, it has various courses; both departmental and borrowed which students of the department must undertake within the period of their academic training.

One of such courses offered in the Department of Mass Communication which has attracted the interest of the international community is French Language; a language that is indispensable in international news reportage.

Hence, the institute is to receive resource and logistics support and the co-operation of the Embassy of France, Nigeria, for the teaching of the French course in the department.

Daniel Rignault, French Government Attaché for Cooperation in Education and Deputy to Head of Service announced this during a recent visit to the institute. He said there was the need for mass communication and journalism students to learn and speak French language effectively.

Rignault, who was accompanied by other personalities from the French Embassy, Abuja and Centre for French Teaching and Development (CFTD) Enugu also inquired to know from the Head of Mass Communication Department, Mr. Chukwudi Anyianuka, other problems areas the Embassy could be of assistance in promoting and sustaining the teaching and learning of the language.

The leader of the delegation who pledged to support the department in the provision of resources and logistics also urged the Director CFTD, Enugu, Olivier Mouginot to ensure that materials; audio-visuals, books and French language jour-

The language is indispensable in international news reporting. The knowledge of French language would prepare graduates of mass communication for positions in international mass media organisations and help them intersect between two key international languages in the highly complex and taxing coverage of international news events

,

able in international news reporting. The knowledge of French language would prepare graduates of mass communication for positions in international mass media

•Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha (middle) introducing a PDP chieftain, Chief Jerry Chukwueke to the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari during his visit to Owerri

organisations and help them intersect between two key international languages in the highly complex and taxing coverage of international news events”.

Thanking the delegation for the visit, Anyianuka promised to communicate to the Rector of the school, Prof. Mike Iloeje the outcome of the visit, including the areas of co-operation the school desires to enter into with the Embassy.

A lecturer in the Department of French Language, Stanley Oko, attributed the declining interest of students and their inability to adequately speak the language to the limited time allotted for the teaching and learning of the course in the institution, even as he urged management to consider revisiting the former method of teaching and learning French language in the institute.

Other members of the delegation on the visit with Rignault are Tristan Fondalosa, French Project Manager, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja; Olivier Mouginot, Director CFTD, Enugu; Godwin Nwuche, Enugu State French Coordinator and Ngozi Nwodo, Project Supervisor, CFTD, Enugu.

•Commissioner for Health Dr. George Eze (second right); Permanent Secretary, Dr. Moses Ouija (right); Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Mrs. Chika Aneke and Director of Medical Services Dr. Ndubuisi Michael Ejeh at the state council on health meeting. PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

38

THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Amuzi Spring: Imo’s fountain of life •Continued from page 26

the water sits at an estimated 65 meters or over 200 feet below ground level. He said the water flows from under a huge high rock through four channels.

He also said, according to mythology, the river was discovered “when one of the cows belonging to a wealthy member of the community whose house was seated atop the rock encasing the water centuries ago, broke off the rock with its horn and the water started gushing out to form the Iyi ishi ehi, which means the river of cow head, which has continued to flow till today”.

But some who are indigenous to the community hold a different view about the claimed powers of the mystic spring.

Mr. Uzoaru Okafor, had this to say: “The claimed powers in the Iyi ishi ehi, as well as its origin are more of a folktale than reality.

Come to think of it, if the claims were true as we were made to believe, why is it that people from the community still suffer from ailments and die prematurely?

G

OVERNOR-ELECT Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi described his victory as an act of God. He promised the people good governance, saying he would bring his experience as a former insurance executive and a member of the House of Assembly to bear on the job.

He spoke on Tuesday, at his campaign headquarter, while giving his acceptance speech after being declared winner of the election.

He paid tributes to those that supported his “march” to the Lion Building, Enugu.

They include Governor Sullivan Chime, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President Ken Nnamani; former governor of old Anambra State Jim Nwobodo and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

“Granted the river has served our people over the years as the only source of water, with modern technology, which has created better means for accessing better and safer water, it is no longer advisable to take the risk of climbing the valley to fetch water from the spring.

Mrs. Faith Ejerenwa dismissed the claim that the longevity of life in the community was as a result of drinking from the spring as fetish. “I think it is mere ignorance for people to believe that the water from the Amuzi River or any other river can prolong their lives.

It is mere superstitious believe that cannot be substantiated,” she said.

Describing the belief as idol worship, Mr. Kingsley Ibechodo, a student of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), said: “I go to swim in the Amuzi River each time I return to the village for the fun of it. I don’t attach any other meaning to it. My father told me that the story about the healing powers of the river has been on for centuries, which is just a folktale passed from one generation to another in the community.”

Aba lawyers honour Judge •Continued from page 28 humous award on behalf of the Offonry‘s family, Ogechi Ogbonna, cousin to the late Offonry and an Abuja-based lawyer, thanked the Bar for remembering his aunt.

Ogbonna described the award as recognition of hard work, a challenge to rededicate themselves to the things that are good and promote excellence, adding that the late Justice loved God and human beings, was a strict but firm person that exercises discretion in the things she believed in and never looked back while doing such.

He said it was a challenge for lawyers and judges to dedicate themselves to hard work in pursuit of excellence, stating that hard work will always pay.

“The cloud may appear to have been overshadowed, but behind the frowning providence, there is light.

On behalf of the Offonry and Enyeazu’s family, we are indeed most grateful and as we stay here, we are wishing everyone fulfilment in all they do. We are most grateful.

Highlight of the event was the presentation and handing over of the posthumous award to Mr. Ogbonna which was performed by Hon. Justice Onyeabor on behalf of the Aba branch of the NBA.

•The mystery pool

Governor-elect pledges good governance From Chris Oji, Enugu

Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Ugwuanyi, who also extended a hand of fellowship to the opposition said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, April 12, 2015, announced my humble self as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Enugu State.

The result showed that an overwhelming majority of the voters elected me as the next Governor of Enugu State. From all the 17 local government areas, the people spoke eloquently with their votes and entrusted in me the responsibility of rendering selfless service

to our dear state.

I am deeply humbled by that mandate reposed in me and I hereby accept it with all sense of humility and gratitude.

“Therefore, this is the day the Lord has made. We all rejoice and are glad in it. It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. I am grateful to Him who makes kings, raises the common man from the dust, lifts the needy from the ash heap and makes them to sit with the nobles of the land. This victory, indeed, belongs to God. “Ndi Enugu, on behalf of my running mate and your Deputy Governor-elect, Hon. (Mrs.) Cecilia Ezeilo, I want to tender my heartfelt gratitude to you. I salute the

commitment and sacrifice of the ordinary Enugu men and women both at home and in the Diaspora towards the actualisation of this victory.

“In particular, I pay special tribute to the people’s Governor, the political enigma of our time, God’s gift to Enugu State, His Excellency, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, the Leader of our Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, for his great and heroic roles in making this feat possible.”

Continuing, Hon. Ugwuanyi also appreciated the support of members of the National Assembly from Enugu State under the leadership of the Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (CFR), Ikeoha Ndigbo.

He said: “I am equally grateful to our respected elder statesmen, the former Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Ken Nnamani (GCON); former Governors, His Excellency, Senator Jim

Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, His Excellency, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, His Excellency, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, His Excellency, Admiral Allison Madueke (rtd) and His Excellency Anthony Oguguo, among others for their support and encouragement.

“I salute our party men and women, especially its leadership at the national, state and local government levels. I also recognise the untiring efforts of the support groups.

“I am happy that you have resoundingly chosen me as your next Governor. But for me, it is even more important and heart-warming that my election has been widely acknowledged as transparent and credible, devoid of any moral burden or legitimacy crisis.

In this regard, the INEC should be commended for conducting free and fair polls. I also wish to appreciate our security agencies and •Continued on page 39

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•From left: Enugu State Governorship candidate of APC, Okey Ezea; his deputy, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku and the party chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye at a press briefing on the governorship/House of Assembly election.

PHOTO: OBI CLETUS

Ndi Enugu, this is your victory. Democracy only qualifies to be seen as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people when the electorate holds the sole franchise to making and dethroning their leaders. So, in electing me, you have confirmed the acceptance of the proposals we offered during the campaign season

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

•Enugu State Governor-elect, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi flanked on his immediate left by the Deputy Governor-elect, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo; Enugu East Senator-elect, Prince Gil Nnaji (second right); Mrs. Fidelia Njeze (right) and Director-General, Enugu State PDP campaign organisation, C. O. C. Egumgbe (third left); Secretary, Ms. Rita Mba (second left); Enugu North Senator-elect, Chuka Utazi (left) during his acceptance speech

Governor-elect pledges good governance •Continued from page 38 other related bodies for ensuring peace and security.

He said his election as the next governor of Enugu State wouldn’t have been possible without the electorate who he said defied rain and sunshine to ensure that their votes counted. He described them as the true heroes of democracy, even as he assured them of reward, which he said will be in form of good governance.

Ndi Enugu, this is your victory.

Democracy only qualifies to be seen as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people when the electorate holds the sole franchise to making and dethroning their leaders. So, in electing me, you have confirmed the acceptance of the proposals we offered during the campaign season.

Once again, I re-commit myself to all our campaign promises in the 17 local government areas. I renew the message of peace, hope and development of our dear state, and to

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ATIVES of an Anambra community, under the aegies of Concerned Citizens, have petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abbah about the activities of Chief Ifeanyi Ubah and Chief Emeka Offor.

In the petition, they accused the oil magnates of troubling the state.

Copies of the petition were sent to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, Commissioner of Police, Hosea Karma, Governor Willie Obiano, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Offor and Ubah were accussed of being behind the violence in Ekwusigo and Ihiala during the March 28 and April 11 elections.

The petition, signed by Ichie Norbert Anagbogu (PresidentGeneral), Ichie Goddy Agbasi Nwanekezie, Comrade Raphael Nnorom (Secretary-General), Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gozie Malizu (rtd), Col. Emmanuel Udeaja (rtd.) and Ichie Josephat Chukwuma, accused the

the principles of seamless continuity and consolidation. Government is a continuum. And when a people are lucky to have been blessed with a leader with foresight who has laid a solid foundation for the socio-economic development of our state within the last eight years, it is only rational to continue and consolidate that vision.

“He Said: “I promise to reaffirm my commitment to seeing through the legacy of the present four-point agenda, namely physical infrastructure, economic expansion and employment, rural development and service delivery and to usher in the new four-point agenda namely; employment generation, social services and good governance, rural development, security and justice, both running concurrently.

To those who contested with him both in the party primaries and general election, he appealed to them to join hands with him in moving the state forward because, he said, “there is great work to be done.”

•Party women acknowleding Ugwuanyi

Group petitions IG over Offor’s, Ubah’s impunity duo of perpetrating their acts brazenly with the assistance of security personnel.

The petition reads: “Sir, what we have just recounted may sound incredible but that is exactly how it happened. The most shocking is that these men performed these criminal acts under the protection of armed police, Naval and Army officers.

“It was such a brazen, audacious and lawless act for such prominent and supposedly respected men to be personally engaged in. The truth, however, is that both have a track record of such thuggish and lawless conduct at election periods.

“Sir Offor had previously done such in Ozubulu, with impunity in the service of PDP in 1998, 1999 and 2007. Ubah, in the present election cycle, did so at Ihiala, Nnewi North and Nnewi South INEC offices with impunity, distorting the results of earlier elections.

“These men are proud of their

actions and have boasted to do worse to ensure their will prevails in the rescheduled elections.

“These men have been relying on their wealth and influence to acquire the license of impunity. They have used their resources to buy the law and constituted themselves and their hirelings into parallel governments with more influence than the legitimate government.

“To avert a potential mayhem, these men or any other interested in repeating such criminal acts of April 11 must be appropriately nipped in the bud before April 18.”

They called on INEC to address the matter before the supplementary elections on Saturday.

The signatories to the petition made available to reporters in Awka, were

Ichie Norbert Anagbogu (President-General), Ichie Goddy Agbasi Nwanekezie, Comrade Raphael Nnorom (Secretary-General).

Others who signed the documents were Assistant Commissioner of Police (rtd), Gozie Malizu, Col. Emmanuel Udeaja (rtd.) and Ichie Josephat Chukwuma.

Abia governorship, assembly re-run holds April 25

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HE Abia State branch of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has scheduled the governorship rerun for the state for April 25, to complete the election which had been declared inconclusive.

The re-run is to take place in the affected polling units and wards in 9 local government areas of the state.

The areas affected is located in

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

these local government areas; Aba North, Aba South, Bende, Isiala Ngwa South, Isiala Ngwa North, Umuahia South, Bende, Arochukwu, Ohafia and Osisioma.

In a similar vein, Saturday, April 18, has been slated for a re-run into the Umuahia North state constituency which is the only house of as-

sembly election left for INEC to make the result public.

It will be held in three wards in Umuahia North state constituency, which as today has not been concluded.

These re runs are due to the inconclusive elections in the affected areas, which has left the entire state in a political limbo since the governorship election was held last weekend.

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THE SOUTHEAST REPORT

Police chief to traders: be security-conscious From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

from such act.

“We have tried to ensure there is maximum security of lives and property in our markets and will not just seat and watch unscrupulous individuals to come and breach the peace existing in Aba, because they want to achieve their selfish aim.

“I want to urge you to strengthen your internal security, know when to open and close the market. It will enable you to monitor the movement of people in and around the market.

“You must guard your markets jealously and avoid acts capable of breaching the peace, law and order in your markets. Your property in the markets is worth millions of Naira and if for any reason it was destroyed, you will be the one that

,

A

BA Area Commander of the Nigeria Police, Mr. Peter Wagbara has called on traders and shop owners in the commercial hub of Abia State, and its environs to be security conscious.

Speaking in his office during a meeting with stakeholders, chairmen and their executive from various markets located in Aba, Wagabra urged them to be vigilant and report to the police within their markets of suspicious objects and strange faces.

The Aba Area Commander said it has become necessary that traders tightened up security around the markets and their shops and to be able to identify strange faces in the market owing to security reports that some people were planning to perpetuate mayhem in one of the markets in Aba. He said: “The police warn anyone who wants to cause disaffection among traders which would bring civil unrest in the market to desist

I want to urge you to strengthen your internal security, know when to open and close the market. It will enable you to monitor the movement of people in and around the market. You must guard your markets jealously and avoid acts capable of breaching the peace, law and order in your markets

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will bear the loss.

“So, you are expected to collaborate with the police and report every incident and suspicious movements to the police so that police can take

prompt action. Things dropped where they are not supposed to should not be neglected. Call and tell us. The police anti-bomb detecting department will be alerted to inspect

such items before it will be disposed.

“We have a robust patrol team that will always respond promptly to your emergency calls. All we are asking is for you to do your bit and alert the police whenever you are in doubt or suspecting anything around you.”

In their separate speeches, the chairman Ariaria International Market, Mr. Lucky Akubueze, Director of Taskforce Ngwa Road Market Chief Friday J. Nwulu and Chief Agbawo Chidi thanked the police chief for his concern over the security of the traders.

They promised to pass the message across to their members as soon as they go back to their respective markets, even as they promised to cooperate with the police in protecting their lives and property and also in ensuring that there was peace in various markets in Aba and its environs.

Residents urge Obiano to fix road O

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NE of the oldest roads in Anambra State has fallen into such disrepair that residents of the area have appealed to Governor Willie Obiano to fix it.

May-rose Road in Amawbia, said to have been in use since the pre-colonial era, links Nise and other communities in the state, but it has neither been maintained nor rebuilt over the years.

Consequently, motorists face all sorts of challenges on the road. Pedestrians, too, especially women carrying farm produce or articles of trade sometimes fall and fracture their legs.

The poor state of the road adds to the unflattering profile of the state through successive administrations.

In his time, Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju did his best with meager federal allocations, but the only thing that collapsed his administration was the salaries owed to teachers and workers in the state, which led to the closure of schools for over one year.

Despite these challenges, Mbadinuju deployed the meager resources at his disposal to open up some of the areas.

Dr. Chris Ngige, who succeeded him brought what the people of the state regarded as liberation from the clutches of godfathers, when he fought them to a standstill to pave way for development. Many more communities opened up through new roads, schools and health centres, among others.

Governor Peter Obi, who came after Ngige, continued to build on what his predecessor left.

Today, Chief Obiano, who vowed to surpass what his predecessors did, is on the road to doing so. His one year in office has brought some changes in the capital city Awka, and tourism and leisure have returned to the city.

But residents would have the hardworking governor go round capital territory to see the imperatives of prioritising infrastructure, some of which are access roads in Awka.

This, according to the residents, will ease the traffic gridlock in the capital city.

May-rose Road, for instance, has been abandoned for decades.

If nothing is done by the government of Chief Obiano, there is the likelihood that some of the established schools, hotels and other facilities will be adversely affected.

Some of these facilities along the 2.5km road include Kabe Primary School, Kabe Secondary School which boasts over 4,000-strong student population, Amawbia High School and May-roses Hotels, among

Everybody here is sad; we are in pains because the children who are attending these schools are suffering; the women who walk through this road suffer pains. Obiano is trying his best, but his best will just be enough if he comes to inspect this road and just award it to reduce the pains of the people. This road is very important to the people of Amawbia

•A portion of the road

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From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

others.

They said the road has a long history, where the people of EnugwuAgidi in Njikoka, Achalla in Awka North Local Government Area, among others, link Nibo in Awka South Local Government Area, Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area and Mbaukwu in Awka South Local Government Area.

The only means of transportation in the area is through motorcycle operators otherwise known as okada, while some of the residents who have cars park their vehicles outside their domains.

Speaking with The Nation on the abandoned road, one of the community leaders, Chief Ifeanyichukwu Nwokoye, who is the Ide-Amawbia, said the only thing that will make the people happy is when the state government comes to the aid of members of the community.

He said for the past 200 years, the road, which was once a path way in the olden days has become so important that no government could abandon it.

Nwokoye further said that the community had, before now, taken their case to the state government for it to fix the road, but all to no avail, as the past government of Obi reneged on its promise.

The community leader said: “Everybody here is sad; we are in pains because the children who are attending these schools are suffering; the women who walk through this road suffer pains.

•Another portion of the road threatened by erosion “Obiano is trying his best, but his best will just be enough if he comes to inspect this road and just award it to reduce the pains of the people. This road is very important to the people of Amawbia.”

For another community leader, Edward Dije, an engineer, the road has become a nightmare to the people and the people are only waiting for a day to say “thank God.” Also, Kabe Onyeogu, an engineer and Okwy Erike, a lawyer, told The Nation that some of the children and women have fractured their legs because of the quantum of dilapidation.

When The Nation visited the community some days ago, the only area that is good for vehicles to ply was

the beginning of the Onitsha–Enugu end of the abandoned road.

Apart from this road, there are other important link roads that require the attention of the state government, including the road at the back of the Governor’s Lodge at Amawbia that also links Nibo community and other communities.

The proprietor of May-roses Hotel, who pleaded for anonymity because he didn’t want his name in print, expressed hope that both the state and local governments should appreciate the contributions of the proprietors of hospitality industry and accord top priority to tarring of the road.

When The Nation visited the hotel,

it discovered that it boasts a 24-hour power supply, hydraulic lifter, technological power water borehole and other enthralling facilities similar to what obtains in civilised climes.

The sad story of dilapidated link roads was evident in other hotels at Nibo, Nise, Okpuno, Amansea and Mbaukwu, all in Awka South Local Government Area.

The proprietor of the hotel, The Nation gathered, was former governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state and who is state coordinator of Muhammadu Buhari campaign organisation in 2007 presidential elections on the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in Anambra State.

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COMMENTARY

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FEMI ABBAS ON

OUR EXCELLENCY, This is the first letter coming out of ‘The Message’ column to Your Ex-

cellency General Muhammadu Buhari (GCON) as Nigeria’s next President. At the least expected time in your life, the same ladder that had failed you several times in several years suddenly lifted you to the pinnacle of your life’s ambition. And by the time you are sworn in on May 29, 2015 as the substantive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the grace of Allah, the reality of Prophet Muhammad’s Hadith will dawn on you that “the leader of a community is actually the servant of that community”.

The first lesson to learn in this is that no human being, no matter how rich or famous, can occupy any position in life without the consent of the Almighty Allah.

Thus, your ascension to that exalted seat is not because you are wiser, more pious, better informed or more experienced than others. It is rather a fulfilment of Allah’s promise thus: “Who are those that arrogate the duty of portioning out your Lord’s mercy (according to their whims) to fellow human beings? I (Allah) am the sole distributor of those sustaining bounties in this world (being their Creator) and I elevate some people above others in positions to enable some to be servants while others are masters. Surely the mercy of your Lord is better and more prosperous than the material wealth they amass”. Q. 43:32

Power as a sword Your Excellency, power in the hands of a ruler is like a sword in the hands of a warrior. It can be used to attack (foes) or to defend (friends). It is also like destiny which can be used to demote the aristocrats or promote the hopeless downtrodden peasants. Power may serve as an instrument for dismantling hegemonies and enthroning hope in the hopeless masses.

It is capable of being used to appoint or disappoint people across tribes, religions and interests. It can also be used to elongate or terminate lives depending on who wields it.

But, sir, beyond every human power there is a Supreme Power which neither wanes nor ends. It is to that Supreme Power that all the power wielders in this world will finally surrender and render their accounts especially on how they used the power entrusted to them. As a Muslim sir, you must understand that everything in this world is ephemeral. The world has witnessed, in various countries and millennia, how men of ‘timber’ and ‘calibre’ ruled positively or negatively and what eventually became of them. History has always been an eyewitness.

Basic attributes of governance Your Excellency, after security, law and justice, nothing else is held more sacrosanct in Islam than governance which can be likened to a magnificent canopy under which the people are supposed to take cover during torrential rains or burning sun.

In a democratic environment, such canopy is owned, not by those who keep custody of it but by the citizenry who entrust its custody to them. Its custodians are just servants keeping the canopy in trust for the people. Perhaps that was one fact which most of your predecessors did not realise during their tenures.

Sir, a similar letter was written to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umar Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan through this column shortly after their assumption of office in 1999, 2007 and 2011 respectively. But it seems that the lotus of office was too overwhelming for each of them (except Yar’Adua) to resist. In the letter, yours sincerely reminded each of them of two important incidents in the history of Islam both of which today serve as indelible models for world rulers, especially those of the West.

One of the incidents was a letter which the fourth Caliph in Islam, Ali Bn Abi Talib wrote to Ashtar Bn Malik whom he appointed as Governor of Egypt. The other was the practical example of good governance exemplarily demonstrated by Caliph Umar Bn Abdul Aziz who ruled the Umayyad dynasty about 85 years after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Caliph Ali’s Letter Your Excellency, please, find below an

femabbas756@gmail.com 08115708536

Beware of friends demands revenue without helping land cultivators (or the workforce) ruins the state”.

Plight of the Poor

• President-elect Muhammadu Buhari excerpt from Caliph Ali’s letter which has since served as a code of conduct in governance for all people who aspire to rule well.

You may have some benefits to derive from it. It goes thus: “In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Be it known to you Oh Malik, that I am sending you to a country which had experienced in the past both just and unjust rule. The people you are going to rule will scrutinise your actions with searching eyes just as you used to scrutinise the actions of those before you. They will speak of you just as you did speak of those before you. Note that the public speak well only of those who do well. It is they, who furnish the proof of rulers’ actions. Hence, the richest treasure that you may covet should be the treasure of good deeds.

Keep your desire under control and deny yourself that which you have been warned against. By such abstinence alone, you will be able to distinguish between good and bad”.

“Develop in your heart the feeling of love for your people and let it be the source of kindness and blessing to them. Do not behave to them like a barbarian in power and do not appropriate to yourself that which belongs to them. Remember that the citizens of the state are of two categories. They are either your brothers in religion or your brethren as human beings. Some of them are subjects of infirmity who are prone to making mistakes. But you must forgive them as you would like God to forgive you”.

“Bear in mind (you Malik) that you are placed over those people as I (Caliph Ali) am placed over you. And there is God Almighty above him (Ali) who has given you the position of a Governor in order to look after those under you and be sufficient for them. You will be judged by what you do for or to them”.

Temptation “Do not be tempted to use power and authority of office without exhausting investigation and facts concerning the matter at stake as that will corrupt your heart, weaken your faith in religion and create disorder in the state.”Never take counsel of a miser, for, he (or she) will vitiate your magnanimity and frighten you with poverty around. Do not seek advice from a coward, he (or she) will weaken your resolution and dampen your morale. Do not take counsel of a greedy person, he (or she) will instil greed in you and turn you into a tyrant. Miserliness, cowardice and greed deprive man of piety and push him into unbridled desperation. The worst counsellor is one who had served a tyrant before and shared his crimes. Do not appoint such a person as your adviser. He will lure you into crimes and turn you into a criminal”.

“Great care should be exercised in revenue administration to ensure, not only the prosperity of the tax payers but also that of the masses. You should regard the proper upkeep of the land in cultivation (or economic resources of the nation) as of greater importance than the collection of revenues. He who

“Fear God when you are dealing with the problems of the poor who have none to patronise or protect their interest. They are forlorn, indigent, and helpless as they have become victims of the vicissitude of time.

Assign for their uplift a portion of the state exchequer (Baytul Mal) wherever they may be. Let no state preoccupation slip them away from your mind for no excuse whatsoever, will be acceptable to Allah for neglecting their rights.….”

“Finally, dear Malik, shun self-adoration.

Do not indulge in self-praise nor encourage others to extol you because of all the viruses that undo good deeds of pious men, Satan relies most on praise and flattery.

Breach of promise annoys God and man alike. Do not act in haste nor defer the execution of a good decision. Do not insist on wrong doing or slackness in rectifying the wrong already done”.

“When people as a whole agree upon a thing, do not impose your own view on them just because you are in power. Note that power is transient and you will eventually exit or be forced to exit from it one day. And, remember that you will be called upon to render account to God while you remain in the negative chapter of history if your performance is abysmal....”

Caliph Umar Bn Abdul Aziz Your Excellency, Caliph Umar Bn Abdul Aziz who was cited above as the second historical incident was a famous Caliph of the Umayyad dynasty. He became Caliph about 85 years after the demise of the Prophet.

In a particular year during his reign, the state made so much money from the collection of Zakah that the problem was how to spend it. The tradition, according to Islamic injunction, was for the state to dispense Zakah to the poor among the citizenry from the much money made through the collection of zakat just as social welfare is dispensed to the jobless, the aged and weak in some sane countries today. But when this was to be done, it turned out that nobody in the entire state was so poor as to be a zakat recipient. The huge amount earmarked for zakat that year had to be returned to the state treasury. It is taken for granted here that a state without poor people is surely a state without beggars.

Umar Bn Abdul Aziz, who became so famous in history as an ingenuous economic manager, ruled for only three years from 717 to 720 C.E. Yet, he died at the age of 37.

The secret of his success was his ability to identify two major areas of economic management in governance. One was to regulate the cost of governance by ensuring that those in government were neither too many nor paid undeserved salaries even as he ascertained that the poor public employees were not enslaved (if psychologically) to the privileged political appointees or those elected to legislate for the state. And there was an independent body responsible for the determination of public workers’ remunerations.

Second Secret Caliph Umar’s second secret of success was his official recognition of the middle class as the greatest employer of labour.

He knew that if two million professionals or artisans in the state were able to employ three staff each, the burden of gross unemployment would be off the neck of the gov-

ernment because eight million people would have been effectively employed. And that would not only have ordinarily brought the rate of crime in the state to its lowest ebb it would have also enhanced the state economy tremendously.

What he did, in emulation of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), therefore, was to use the resources of the state to encourage selfemployment through professionalism and artisanship. He knew very well that whatever was spent on such a vital venture would return to the state treasury in many folds through taxation. Not only that sir, he also facilitated an education curriculum to suit that design.

Heritage of the West Caliph Umar’s economic genius thus became the heritage of the Western countries and they are thriving gloriously in it today. Any government that eliminates the middle class as in the case of Nigeria automatically opens the gate of poverty and crime to the populace.

Your Excellency, this is not the time to tell Nigerians any gory story of bad economy and a possible removal of fuel subsidy. They already know how economically ruinous the outgoing government had been in the past six years. And they do not believe in the existence any fuel subsidy which they had unwillingly accepted as an instrument of slavery.

Oil Subsidy Most Nigerians are at a loss over the issue of subsidy because they are yet to know what the billions of Dollars realised annually for years from the oil sector has been used to achieve, especially when the Federal Government alone takes a lion’s share of 52 per cent of accruing oil revenue.

To most if not all Nigerians, the year 2012 was a year of Armageddon. That was the year in which new vehicle number plates were rolled out and every vehicle owner was forced to purchase at exorbitant amount, despite the overwhelming poverty that had gone viral in the land. It was also the year in which new drivers’ licences as well as new vehicle particulars were introduced all at unaffordable prices and at a time when the removal of oil subsidy was being forced down their throat willy-nilly.

Till date, the question remains unanswered about what became of the money realised from the ‘fuel subsidy’.

Electricity Your Excellency, you do not need to be told much about the situation of electricity in Nigeria because you are a Nigerian living in Nigeria. Until a couple of weeks before the Presidential election that you just won, the electricity tariff had been spirally increased without the consent of the people. And that was done in anticipation of improved generation and distribution of that essential energy which was transferred to certain privileged Nigerians in the name of privatisation. All these are telling on them economically. Yet, power remains, shamelessly, a luxurious commodity today in a country where it is supposed to be a dire necessity. With stable power supply the problem of mass unemployment will be solved to a great extent and that will drastically reduce the crime rate in the country.

Insecurity Your Excellency, as a retired Army General of worth, you do not need to be tutored on the issue of insecurity. It is a familiar terrain for you. But by and large sir, in steering the ship of this giant country, I pray the Almighty Allah to give you the faith of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), the patience of Prophet Ayub (Job), the courage of Prophet Musa (Moses), the bravery of Prophet Daud (David), the wisdom of Prophet Sulayman (Solomon), the innocence of Prophet Isa (Jesus) and the truthfulness and trustworthiness of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Through the constant and genuine prayers of the ruled, rulers are able to measure their performance and their acceptability. Remember that the bitterest enemies are invariably found among friends. Only those who are close to you can kiss or bite you.

Sir, gold and silver, this column (THE MESSAGE) has none to offer you. But a genuine piece of advice based on pure intention may be more valuable than all the ornaments of this world.

As-Salam alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu

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MONEYLINK Nigeria makes list of top 20 economies Inflation rises to 8.5 per cent , says NBS

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LOOMBERG report on new world economic order has ranked Nigeria’s economy to be among top 20 largest in the world by 2030.

Nigeria is the only African country on the forecast report, ranked 19th, just above Netherlands, which is 20th.

Though the forecast falls below the 2020 projected by the Federal Government under former President, Olusegun Obasanjo to arrive at the top

Stories by Collins Nweze

20, this is the first time such report is projecting the country in the top global economies.

Recent global economic reports have placed Nigeria as one of the fastest growing economy in the world, a report which tallied with last year’s rebased gross domestic product (GDP) figures placing Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa, pushing

South Africa to second position.

The Bloomberg report was derived from Economic Research Services (ERS), the United States international economic development research agency’s latest global economic research report.

The ERS International Macroeconomic Data Se t provides historical and projected data for 189 countries that account for more than 99 per cent of the world economy.

DMO auctions N70b bond at lower yields

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HE Debt Management Office (DMO) yesterday said it raised N70 billion bonds at lower yields across all tenors during an auction held the day before.

The debt office said in a notice that total subscriptions stood at N184.72 billion, compared with N119.14 billion at

the last auction.

The office said it had sold N20 billion worth of the fiveyear bond at 14.44 per cent, down from 16.49 per cent at its previous sale on March 11.

The 10-year paper was sold at 14.22 per cent against 16.84 per cent previously, raising a total of N25 billion, while N25

billion worth of the 20-year debt note was sold at a yield of 14.45 per cent compared with 16.99 per cent previously.

The low yield at the auction was in tandem with prevailing yields at the secondary market, which have been falling after Nigeria held peaceful national elections.

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HE National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the inflation rate in the country rose from 8.4 per cent in February to 8.5per cent last month.

In a statement yesterday, the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, said the rate showed a 0.1 per cent increase between Febuary and March.

It stated that on a monthon-month basis, the highest price increases were recorded in fruit, fish, potatoes, yam and other tubers, and vegetables groups.

It further stated that the average annual rate of change on the food sub-index for the 12-month period ending in March over the previous 12month average was 9.5 per cent.

According to the NBS, the 12-month rate of change has held steady for 10 consecu-

tive months.

“On a month-on-month basis, the core sub-index increased marginally by 0.8 per cent after increasing at the same pace in the previous two months at 0.7 per cent.

“The largest increases were recorded in the air passenger transport, miscellaneous services relating to the dwelling; appliances, articles and products for personal care, and repair of household appliances groups,’’ it noted.

It said the average 12month annual rate of rise in the index was recorded at 6.9 per cent for the 12-month period ending in March which did not change from the 12-month rate recorded in January.

“On a year-on-year, both the urban and rural price indices recorded faster increases in March.

“The urban index increased

by 8.6 per cent and 0.2 percentage points from February.

“The rural index increased marginally from 8.3 per cent in February to 8.4 per cent in March.

“On a month-on-month basis, both the urban and rural indices increased at a faster pace in March, increasing by 0.9 per cent,’’ it said.

The bureau said the pace of increases in all items less farm produce which excluded the prices of volatile agricultural produce increased at a faster pace for the third consecutive month.

“Prices rose by 7.5 per cent (year-on-year), up by 0.5 percentage points from 7.0 per cent in February with the strongest increases recorded in the clothing and footwear, and miscellaneous goods and services divisions,” the statement added.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

56

CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

We paid dearly for our mistake, say Orekoyas

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HE Orekoyas said yesterday that they made a mistake in placing their jobs above their children, who were released on Tuesday night after eight days in kidnappers’ den.

Reliving their ordeal, Mr and Mrs Adeleke Orekoya said their mistake was of the head and not of the heart, adding: “we paid dearly for it”.

They spoke with reporters on their Lawanson Road, Surulere, Lagos home.

They said they had no regrets hiring the woman, Funmilayo Adeyemi aka Mary Akinloye, who kidnapped the children, through OLX, an e-commerce agency.

Mr Orekoya said: “Indeed, we had our own fault which is that we prioritised work to a large extent, over our assets, including our children and as a result, we paid dearly for it. The trauma we went through cannot be described because there were some other things that came up that we didn’t discuss with anybody here.”

He lamented that fraudsters attempted to cash in on their plight to fleece them.

No fewer than four occasions did scammers pretending to be the kidnappers, calling to collect money from the family, he said.

Orekoya said: “One even called last (Wednesday) night after we

A

LANDLORD was killed yesterday when fire gutted his apartment in a two-storey building in Egbeda, a Lagos suburb.

The man identified as Suberu was said to be living with his son and a domestic servant in the house on Alhaji Rasak Street, Egbeda.

The others were not hurt.

The fire was said to have started around midnight but was not noticed by residents.

There was no light when the fire

By Tajudeen Adebanjo

have recovered our children, telling us that the kids are with him, demanding for money. You can imagine how evil some people can be.”

The family, he said, had learnt its lessons.

“We made a mistake but it doesn’t mean someone that doesn’t make mistake cannot be subjected to what we went through.

“The people who can hit you the most are the people closest to you; so someone that is far from you cannot know when you would not be at home. More so, you cannot always be with the nanny and children at all times. In fact, nobody can tell me that if he has a nanny, he or she has never left home, leaving the nanny and kids alone, except we are deceiving ourselves,” he said.

Orekoya said he knew his children would be released the day they were told to go and pick them at Egbeda, a Lagos suburb.

He said: “Although we knew that they were going to be released that day we saw them, but we were not given the actual time before they were finally released around 10.30 p.m.

“We were called to go and get them at Egbeda and when we got to the place, it was an uncomplet-

•Mr Orekoya...yesterday

ed building and they were naked.

“We took them to the hospital for treatment before we brought them back home.”

On how he got Funmilayo, Orekoya said she was the third nanny he hired through OLX. He said: “I do not have any regrets getting her (Funmilayo) from OLX because I have been using OLX for more than three years now.

“As a matter of fact, I have had three different nannies over the past two to three years and I got them from OLX. In fact, I must say that two nannies before this, I got

•Mrs Adebisi Orekoya...yesterday

them through OLX. One stayed with us for two years without any issue. The agent contacted us; we recruited her and she stayed with us for two years. When it was time for her to leave, she gave us one month notice and left thereafter.

“After that, we got another one who absconded without any information whatsoever. We gave her Easter break; she went and didn’t come back. She did not even call.

And then we ran into this one.

“It can happen to anyone with a nanny whether she has been with you for three years or one day or

Landlord dies in Lagos fire

By Basirat Braimah

started.

A resident, who gave his name simply as Mr Sule, described the late Suberu as a philanthropist.

“Alhaji was a detribalised man who would allow non-indigenes to be maltreated. He was always willing to help within his means if

one confronts him with his or her problems; it is just unfortunate that such a good man would die in this manner. Ah! He was generous to a fault,” Sule said.

Another resident, Mama Razak, whose building is opposite the deceased’s,said she and her household were attracted by the smoke from his flat.

She said: “As we contemplated on what to do, the smoke was accompanied by huge fire which took three trucks of the fire fighters to put out. I wonder what might have caused the fire.”

The deceased has been buried in his compound, according to Islamic injuction.

even 25 years. The most important thing is that prayer is the only way that can safeguard one from what we went through.”

His wife, Adebisi, said she had not fully recovered from the trauma even after her children’s return.

According to her, Funmilayo behaved like an angel the first day she resumed duty.

“The way she performed on the first day, in fact she behaved well, cleaning and taking care of the children and thus leaving no chance for suspicion. She was like an angel. The lady who spent one month here could not do what she did in one day. She is a clean person and well-trained,” Mrs Orekoya said.

She added: “It was Funmilayo’s behaviour that convinced us that she was a very experienced nanny and left us with no reason than to allow her to take care of them (the kids) before the incident. This is not our first time of hiring nanny from OLX and they did fine but the way I see this one, I think she is a professional kidnapper. I advise that people should do a thorough check before hiring a nanny.’’

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

57

NEWS

Gemade petitions rights’ body against alleged assault by military

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HE Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Barnabas Gemade, yesterday petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on the alleged assault by officers and men of the 72 Battalion, Makurdi.

He said he was not only assaulted, but harassed and intimidated by personnel of the 72 Battalion during the April 11 elections.

The lawmaker submitted a two-page petition to the Executive Secretary, NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, in Abuja.

Gemade claimed that some of his constituents too were subjected to inhuman treatment by soldiers, led by the Commandant, Colonel Timothy Lagbaja.

He alleged that the soldiers invaded his countryhome on excuse that there was information that he (Gemade)had fake soldiers in his com-

From: Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

pound.

Gemade noted that although he had no issue with Col. Lagbaja leading soldiers, apparently to offer support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure free and fair election, “the conduct of the army officer was strange to me.”

He said as a candidate on March 28, when Lagbaja began his alleged hostility and intimidation, he exercised restraint.

The senator said: “About 10:30 am on April 11, I heard some noise and shouting at the gate of my compound.

“I saw soldiers rushing round the yard harassing and beating people.

“Then I saw Col. Lagbaja, whom I recognised, shouting orders to the soldiers to ‘arrest them, arrest them.

“I called him by name and

‘

Gemade noted that although he had no issue with Col. Lagbaja leading soldiers, apparently to offer support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure free and fair election,...

’

sought to know what was going on. Col. Lagbaja then walked up to me, shouting at me, saying all manner of things.”

Gemade said the commandant accused him of keeping fake soldiers in his home.

The politician, who defeated Governor Gabriel Suswam at the National As-

sembly election, prayed the commission to declare “the conduct and behaviour of the army officer towards him and his constituents as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.”

He asked for an order compelling Col. Lagbaja to apologise to him and compensate his constituents.

Gemade said the incident should be investigated and adequate punishment meted out to the army officer, if found culpable.

“In addition, I recommend his prosecution for the violation of our rights,” he said.

Prof. Angwe hailed Gemade for not taking the law into his hands and for his respect for the commission.

He assured that the commission would investigate the allegation and ensure that anybody found culpable faces the full wrath of the law.

Sanusi advises leaders on sacrifice, honesty

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HE Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, has urged politicians to put the interest of the people above vested ones.

He spoke yesterday when he visited Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, the senator–elect for Kano Central, at the Government House, Kano.

The emir said: “Leaders are elected to serve the people, to protect their interest and to promote their welfare.”

According to him, under ideal circumstances, political leaders should be ser-

Christian leaders hail Ambode

By Tokunbo Ogunsami

HE All Christian Leaders/Ministers Forum (ACLMF) has congratulated Lagos State Governor-elect Akinwumi Ambode and his deputy, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, on their success at the polls.

A statement by the group’s National President, Dr. Sam Ogedengbe, said a new ray of hope had come for residents of Lagos, with the support given to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Lagos is now connected to Abuja, a feat that has eluded the state since 16 years,” Ogedengbe added.

He hailed the achievements of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, “who has become a role model for other governors” and prayed God to give Ambode the ability to take Lagos to an enviable height.

The ACLMF national president saluted the courage and leadership role of the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying his efforts liberated the people from oppression and neglect.

He prayed God to give him wisdom and good health to continue his good work.

T

From Kolade Adeyemi Kano

vants of the people, who brought them to power through the ballot box.

He said while people have a right to vote for candidates of their choice, elected leaders should justify the mandate by being honest and committed to the socio-economic changes promised the electorate.

The emir appealed to Governor Kwankwaso, as a senator-elect and other legislators-elect to make legislative presentations

for the interest of Nigerians, especially Kano citizens.

He enjoined Governorelect Umar Abdullahi Ganduje to maintain the policies and programmes of Kwankwasiyya, saying voting for APC candidates was an indication that the people were satisfied with the leadership of the administration.

Governor Kwankwaso said Nigerians, irrespective of their differences, should regard APC’s victory as a victory for all.

He thanked the emir for the visit and urged the

•Sanusi

Kano Emirate Council to enlighten people on the importance of education.

Jime, Waku to withdraw suit against Ortom

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HOSE involved in the crisis trailing the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State have embraced peace.

This followed an application for an out-of- court settlement in the suit challenging the emergence of the former Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom (now the governor- elect), as the party’s candidate.

The plaintiffs, otherwise called the G4, comprising Senator Joseph Waku, Prof.

Steve Ugbah, Emmanuel Jime and Chief Mike Iordye joined Comrade Abba

B

From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

Yaro, Dr. George Akume (Senate Minority Leader/ party leader), the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

During proceedings, one of the plaintiffs, Chief Iordye, opted out.

He alleged that his signature was forged and his name was struck out.

When the case came up yesterday, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Sunday Ameh (SAN), told the court that his clients were pursuing an out-of-court settlement and needed time to concretise

the peaceful process.

At the last adjourned date, counsel to Ortom, Mr. Sabastine Hon prayed the court to stay proceedings due to a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Moving his application, Hon, who relied on relevant legal authorities, told Justice Evoh Chukwu that once a court becomes aware that an appeal is before the Court of Appeal, the court has no other duty than to stay proceedings on the subject or adjourn sine dine to await the outcome of the appeal.

The case was adjourned till April 30.

Ortom hails Benue electorate

ENUE State Governor-elect Samuel Ortom has hailed the people for giving him the mandate to rule.

In a statement by the Media Director of the Ortom/ Abounu Governorship Campaign Organisation, Mr. Tahav Agerzua, Dr. Ortom attributed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to God’s intervention in human affairs and the determination of the people to effect change.

He said the victory conferred on the APC a responsibility to turn around the

fortunes of the state, stressing that the party cannot afford to toy with this sacred duty.

According to him, the people voted for change, which they must get.

The governor-elect pledged to rule with the fear of God, which would translate into entrenching core values.

He listed these as truthfulness, selflessness, honesty, transparency, accountability, fairness, integrity, integration, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation, peace and unity.

Ortom enjoined politicians and citizens to be civil and exercise decorum in their conduct and speech, eschew violence and take steps to accelerate healing and unification.

He praised Governor Gabriel Suswam, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its governorship candidate, Prince Terhemen Tarzoor, and his campaign organisation for accepting the results in good faith.

The governor-elect promised to promote excellence and merit above sycophancy and mediocrity.

‘APC ‘ll produce Kogi governor’ From James Azania, Lokoja

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N All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Chief Clarence Olafemi, has said the party will produce the governor next year.

He said the opposition would consolidate on its success at the Presidential, National and House of Assembly elections ahead of the October 2016 governorship election.

The former Kogi State acting governor told reporters yesterday in Lokoja that the race for a change in the Lugard Government House had begun.

He said the outcome of the general elections showed that APC remained a viable alternative for good governance.

Lagos is not a Yoruba ‘town’ •Continued

from Back page

Like London or New York or even latter-day Dubai, great cities will inexorably evolve to be no-man’s land. For example Nigerians and especially Yoruba have won important council elections in England. By their growing number and importance, in less than 50 years a Nigerian of Yoruba extraction could be mayor of London, or even prime minister. When the time comes, there is nothing anyone can do about it.

When the time came for Barak Obama, a Black American of Kenyan origin to rule America, there was nothing anyone could do about it. Not even the White Ango-Saxon Protestants (WASPs) who believe they own America. Not the inimitable Jewish clan. Who runs Dubai today? Does it matter? I think not; what matters is that they have a complex city, the mall of the world to run and they seek a throng of ‘strangers’ to come have a stake.

A city is like a brothel which thrives by the very traffic of strangers. It is a prodigal that grows by undoing its progeny. A true city is not home to indigenes strapped in bante (loincloth) smudging the glistening sheen of modernity. A city is an open sesame, a spell for making barriers fly open and engendering massive growth and development. What is a city without the throng of ‘visitors’, paying huge taxes, laying massive investments and shooting skyscrapers into the skyline in morbid capitalist quest?

Takeaways and what Akin Ambode can do: The incoming governor must take off where Governor Babatunde Fashola stopped; he is here to build a megacity, a global top 20 not to nurse the wound of indigenes. The best cities in the world thrive on state of the art infrastructure, unflappable security and water-tight rule of law. Apart from fast-tracking modern infrastructure, he may need to set up an agency to take charge of non-indigenes (non-Yoruba more appropriately); what really is their size, what are their grievances and special needs; why would they vote against a ruling party, etc.

What are the best avenues to reach the critical mass of nonindigenes? Another election will soon be here and the thinking party will get the votes. The best cities of the world are judged by the quality of their laws, the soundness of institutions and the astuteness of minds running it.

Finally, I sincerely think Ndigbo deserve some respect and understanding for their enormous contributions to the making of this mega city. If someone could quantify how much taxes, levies and dues derived from their work and business activities daily, it would be clear that this city needs Ndigbo as they need the city. It also must be stated that Ndigbo have nothing to be ashamed of for choosing to sink with PDP; they will have to live with the consequences anyway. It will smack of “negative triumphalism” to borrow Reuben Abati’s tautology for anyone to pillory Ndigbo for their choice.

And Okonkwo comes to town: My cerebral colleague, Olakunle Abimbola writing in his column (Republican Ripples) The Nation last Tuesday brought Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’s’ (TFA) protagonist – Okonkwo, into the fray. But his perspective is flawed because he does not quite grasp the sociology of the Igbo man. Using the TFA analogy, it is not for nothing that the book opens with a wrestling match. That signifies gamesmanship, rivalry, chivalry and strength. Again, nowhere in TFA is found any concept of monarchy or over-lordship. What is preponderant are forums of elders trading in wisdom, young men of valour, industry and free-spiritedness that border on irreverence.

That is what we are; that is the constitution of our DNA and it will be unfair to expect us to change overnight because we live in Lagos or London.

Historically, Igbo abhor monarchy. Never mind the selfcrowned aberration found on nearly every street of Lagos and beyond, they don’t represent Ndigbo. Again, most of the so-called paramount rulers in Igboland cannot trace their crown a hundred years back. This is in contrast to some stools in Yorubaland that may date back nearly a thousand years.

So here are two peoples of vastly contrasting cultures and acculturation. What this means is that each of our peoples have strengths we can tap into and build upon. They also have their foibles, their peccadilloes which we must understand and tolerate.

We must acknowledge and regard each other from these perspectives. But most important, we must always remember that what counts ultimately is our common humanity under one maker. And whatever else we may claim to be, whether indigene, aborigine or stranger element would not matter at the end of the day. What would matter is the quality of life we extract from this space; the smiles we are able to evoke from our neigbhours, colleagues and associates regardless of tribe or tongue. How do we improve on this space we find ourselves today and make it even better for our children? Finally, we often forget too quickly that we are but mere mortals – here today and gone tomorrow, but the city abides.

58

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

NEWS

$16b gas project: ‘Blame NNPC for Ijaw, Itsekiri violence’

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HE Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been blamed for the “misinformation,” which led to Tuesday’s clash between the Ijaw of Gbaramatu and Itsekiri of Ugborodo in Warri Southwest of Delta State.

Many were injured in the early morning invasion of Madangho, an Itsekiri community, by armed Ijaw youths.

The attackers were said to be replying an attack by Itsekiri youths, where an Ijaw man working at the $16

From Shola O’Neil, S’South Regional Editor, Port Harcourt

billion gas city project site, got injured.

Dr Ayo Ayomike, the secretary of the Itsekiri EPZ Interface Committee, said the initial attack, was carried out in error because the youth misunderstood the clearing of Madangho, which had been removed as the project’s host.

He said: “Based on the understanding between NNPC and the parties (Ijaw and Itsekiri), Kpokpo and

Madangho, which were earlier proposed for the deep sea port, were removed because of the dispute. The port was relocated to Gbaramatu.”

Ayomike said the Itsekiri did not envisage that clearing was going to take place at Madangho because of the relocation.

The spokesman said the clearing followed the decision of the NNPC to move the tools for the project to Madangho for lack of fund.

He said Madangho was chosen for the power and water plants because the site

had been sand-filled by Chevron Nigeria Limited.

Ayomike added: “It was the failure by NNPC to let the committee know their decision to bring the utilities – power plant and water plants - to Madangho that led to the attack. They didn’t tell us. If they had told us, we would have been aware and educated our people.

“Since they did not tell us, the people who took the laws in their hands did what they did. We are not saying what they did is right, but if the NNPC had told us we

would have averted this problem.

“Even though it can be argued that Madangho can be a link from the gas city to the port, you cannot link the site of the project and the proposed new position of the port without building a road.

But at this early stage, it was necessary for NNPC to let the EPZ committee know.

“It is this penchant by the NNPC for not carrying the committee along that caused this problem. The issues that we have to deal with today would have been averted, if

Amaechi inaugurates panel on Rivers political killings

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IVERS State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has inaugurated a nineman Commission of Enquiry on politically motivated killings in the state.

Prof Chidi Odinkalu is its chairman and Sir Samuel Egbe its secretary.

Other members are: Prof Nlerum Okogbule, Prof Owunari A. Georgewill, Dr. Richard Ofuru, Mrs. Asivosuo M. Oriye, Dr. Joy Ejiofor, Mrs. Ayo M. O. Obe and Rev. Father Michael Akiri.

At the inauguration yesterday at the Government House, Amaechi said the probe panel would complete its assignment within 30 days.

The governor explained that the panel would investigate why victims of violence were killed, who killed them, and under what circumstances.

He urged the commission to make recommendations that would assist the government to forestall a future recurrence.

Amaechi said: “When I visited Obirikom, in the Ogba-Egbeme-Ndoni Local Government Area, in the household of the late Chief Christopher Adube, nine persons were killed by assassins.

Those killed were his three children, his younger brother, two security guards and two others. Two of the late Chief Adube’s children are still receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Rivers Assembly rerun holds tomorrow •APC leader threatens boycott • Governor Rotimi Amaechi (left) greeting the chairman of the commission of enquiry, Prof.

Odinkalu, after the inauguration in Port Harcourt ... yesterday

“There was a day I was arguing with the police commissioner, now posted to Enugu. I said I was told 11 persons had been killed. He said: ‘No, only seven persons.’ Again, in the same Omoku, whether it is seven or 11 persons, these are human lives.

“At Okrika, when the All Progressives Congress

(APC) went there on campaign, where the governorship candidate of APC was seated, he would have been hit by a bullet. But God saved him; he had left that place. It was the first day APC went on campaigns in Okirika, and the police were present...”

Oshiomhole is Edo political leader, says Airhiavbere

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FORMER Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Maj.-Gen. Charles Arhiavbere, has described Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a leader the state politics.

Arhiavbere, who recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), addressed reporters yesterday in Benin, the state capital.

He said: “The Lord is working in our favour to turn the tables. APC is having the highest number of seats in the House of Assembly

Ex-students to restore school’s glory From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

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EMBERS of Urhobo College Old Students’ Association (UCOSA) have pledged to transform the school and restore its past glory.

UCOSA’s National President Admiral John Kpokpogri (retd) spoke at the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) at the palace of the Ovie of UmiaghwaAbraka Kingdom in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The retired naval admiral noted that despite the challenges of running the association, its officials remained focused to achieve its long-term and short-term objectives.

From Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin

election in Edo State. With this victory, it has shown that Oshiomhole is the leader of Edo politics. We are all here to support him and to ensure that the people get the benefits of democracy.

“Democracy has matured in Edo State. The people have spoken that Oshiomhole is a leader and if you see the trend

of results coming out and from what we are hearing from other states that contested governorship election, you will know that APC has come to stay.

“The Comrade Governor will be energised from what he has seen and we can still see the APC ruling this state in 2016.”

Also, APC state Chairman Anselm Ojezua reiterated the

party’s commitment to discipline as more defectors join the party, especially from the PDP. He said: “The Saturday victory was a good way to end the elections. We are grateful to God for giving our people the wisdom to do what they did. All we ask God was a majority but what he gave to us was a fantastic result.

“APC has always been the party to beat in Edo State for some time now. As I always said, every political party must be in the permanent state of mobilisation. So, it is always a good thing when people come in, so long as they are willing to subject themselves to the leadership and the rules and regulations of the party. I have no problem with it.”

Ogboru rejects Okowa’s election victory

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ELTA State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, has rejected the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, in the April 11 election.

Ogboru said the LP would ask the court to set aside the victory of the senator as governor-elect on the grounds that he did not win the election.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area, the LP candidate said: “Okowa did not score majority of the lawful votes cast in the election and did not meet

From Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

relevant constitutional provisions.

“His return is based on electoral irregularities and malpractices that cannot be ignored by any unbiased umpire.”

Ogboru alleged that the use of Card Readers was restricted to Delta Central with over 50 per cent of eligible voters.

The LP candidate said Card Readers were not used in Delta South and North.

He said: “We note that Card Readers was largely restricted to Delta Central, which has over 50 per cent of

eligible voters. Card Readers were strictly used for accreditation and collation in most of Delta Central.

“In a curious somersault, Card Readers were overwhelmingly not used in Delta North and South. The election was conducted arbitrarily, as dictated by PDP chieftains, who took over the duties of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) personnel in those two senatorial districts and parts of the central.”

Ogboru alleged that election materials for wards I and II in Oshimili South were diverted to the home of a PDP leader in Oko.

According to him, ballot papers were thumb-printed there overnight.

He added: “Valid votes exceeded the number of registered voters in parts of this local government.”

Ogboru listed other areas where alleged irregularities occurred as Isoko South, Orogun, Ughelli North, Ukwuani, Ndokwa East and West.

The LP candidate warned that the party “shall be making representations at the highest level of leadership in this nation for an investigation of the activities of some security agents”.

Ndoma-Egba’s supporters join APC in Cross River

S

they had carried the committee along.

“If the coordinates were known by us, we would have known and told our people.

If Madangho is known to be owned by the Itsekiri and you bring a company to work there, shouldn’t they let the Itsekiri know that such a company is working or is coming to work at that place?”

The spokesman said the community would always cooperate with the NNPC through the committee.

But it advised the parties to carry the community along so that the people would know what NNPC was doing.

Ayomike said: “NNPC cannot claim to have spoken to one strong man here or there. There are recognised bodies that have been put in place that they ought to be dealing with. If they had dealt with the body, the problem we had wouldn’t have arisen.”

UPPORTERS of Senate Leader Victor NdomaEgba, especially those from Cross River State Central, yesterday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Leader of the defectors,

From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

Ernest Irek, told reporters at the APC secretariat in Calabar, the state capital, that they would add value to the party and not create friction.

Irek, who was the directorgeneral of the Victor NdomaEgba Campaign Organisation

in the PDP, said scores of his supporters in the six local governments under the senatorial district would soon join APC. He said many of them had been marginalised in the PDP, adding: “We have forgotten about the party.”

APC state Chairman Usani

Usani urged the defectors to register with their new party in their wards.

The chairman said the party believes in internal democracy, adding that the new members should abide by the party’s principles and guidelines.

From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said areas where last Saturday’s House of Assembly elections were inconclusive in Rivers State will hold a rerun tomorrow.

The Governorship and the House of Assembly elections were cancelled in Emohua Local Government Area.

INEC said elections would hold in all the wards in the area.

Elections are also expected to hold in Ahoada East - wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12 and 13; Opobo/Nkoro wards 1, 2, 7, 9 and 11; Etche I - wards 10, 12, 17, 18 and 19 and Etche II - wards 1, 7, 8, 13 and 15.

A statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by the Resident Electoral Commission (REC), urged voters in the affected areas to come out en masse to elect their leaders.

But an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and the lawmaker representing Emohua in the House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, accused the INEC of attempting to scuttle the rescheduled poll in the local government.

The lawmaker said APC was not officially informed of the rescheduled date for the election, adding that only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was duly informed.

He said his party would not be part of the election, since its process had been taken over by PDP and its cohorts.

Lloyd said: “My party and supporters may boycott the rescheduled election on Saturday. PDP members have been fixed as ad hoc workers for the election.

The plan is to hijack the process. This is one of the fraudulent mechanisms that led to the cancellation of election in the area.”

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

59

NEWS Orji, others get Certificates of Return From Ugochukwu UgojiEke, Umuahia

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UCCESSFUL candidates in the National Assembly elections in Abia State have been issued Certificates of Return.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Chief Lawrence Nwuruku, handing out the Certificates, urged the candidates to place state interest first.

The candidates are Governor Theodore Orji (Abia Central – PDP); Chief Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North – PDP); Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South – PDP); Ossy Prestige (Aba North/South –APGA); Uko Nole (Arochukwu/Ohafia - PDP); Darlington Nwokocha (Isialagwa North/ South –PDP); and Solomon Adelu (Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo - PDP) Also, we have Nkem Abonta (Ukwa East/Ukwa West – PDP); Sam Onuigbo (Umuahia/Ikwuano), Nnenna Ukaeje (Bende – PDP), and Nkiruka Onyejiocha (Umunneochi/ Isuikwuato – PDP).

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Abdulsalami: I’m not trying to stop Alison-Madueke, others’ probe

ORMER Head of State and chairman of the 2015 General elections Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar yesterday said he had not been intervening to stop the probe of any minister by the incoming government.

He spoke yesterday after a meeting at the Presidential Villa.

President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has declared his intention to investigate the activities of key ministries after his inauguration. Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, was reported to

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

be lobbying the former Head of State to intervene on her behalf.

Yesterday at the Villa, Gen. Abubakar and the minister arrived few minutes apart at President Goodluck Jonathan’s office at the Villa.

Gen Abdulsalami told reporters who asked him whether he attended a meeting with the minister of petroleum as part of the alleged plan tom intervene on her behalf: “I think people are just trying to be mischievous, I have been meeting with a lot of people

and a lot of ministers in the course of this transition. So there is nothing strange in me meeting with anybody.

“I wonder if you go through the records to see the number of meetings I have been engaged in, I don’t know why the last one will be a subject of media chat.

“This is not the first time I have been meeting with her and a number of ministers, so I don’t see what the whole hullabaloo is all about. People are just being mischievous.”

On why he visited the President, he said: “As the chairman of the peace committee,

there is always interaction between the incoming administration and President Jonathan in order to ensure that the peace we have been able to get is sustained.”

Asked if serving as intermediary between Buhari and Jonathan was necessary, he said: “I’m not serving as an intermediary. I told you I’m coming here as the chairman of peace committee and naturally we have to interact, I go and see Gen. Buhari and I also see the President all in an effort to make sure than that this transition goes on smoothly and we maintain the peace.”

A

•Ojugbele

From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba

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COALITION of civil society groups in Abia State has called for new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to serve in the governorship rerun in the state.

INEC on Wednesday announced April 25 as rerun for elections in Abia, Taraba and Imo States.

The groups - Justice Development Peace and Commission (JDPC), Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), among others, in a statement by some of their leaders; Leonard Onyemeri, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Comrade Innocent Anozie Nkowocha, said the rescheduled elections would be a sham, if conducted by the same “compromised and corrupt” officials.

‘I didn’t remove transformer’ From Jeremiah Oke, Ibadan

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Ogun Rep eyes speaker MEMBER from Ado Odo/Ota Federal constituency, Ogun State, Jimoh Ojugbele has indicated his interest to contest the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Ojugbele is a returning member. He served between 2003 and 2007.

During this period, he was the Deputy Chairman; Petroleum Refinery and Product Marketing and a member of other committees including Water Resources, Housing and Habitat, Youth Sports and Social Development.

‘Change INEC officials for rerun’

•Public Relation Manager, Dufil Prima Food, Mr Tope Asiwaju addressing a news conference to kick off this year’s edition of Indomie Independent Day Heroes Award in Lagos...yesterday. With him are Brand Manager Amber Kumar (left) and Managing Director, BD Consult, Mr Tola Bademosi.

Why fuel scarcity looms, by marketers

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IL marketers under the aegis of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) have decried the government’s alleged failure to disburse the outstanding payments for the import of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) under the Petroleum Subsidy Fund scheme.

It warned that this could lead to another round of fuel scarcity if not promptly resolved.

In a letter to the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweaka, the association through its Executive Secretary, Mr Thomas Olawore, said despite assurances from the government, they have not been reimbursed.

“At the previous meeting, you empathised with the marketers and committed to full restitution provided these were verified by the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

“You also assured marketers that they would be fully reimbursed for the interest (incurred due to the late

By Joseph Jibueze

payment) and foreign exchange (Forex) differential elements of their Under Recovery 30 days of the meeting.

“Furthermore, you committed to immediately issuing Sovereign Debt Notes (SDNs) for the outstanding Under Recovery with full payment on or before the 28th of April, 2015.

“Regrettably, despite your above commitment and assurances, the industry to date has only received approximately N30billion in Forex differential claims out of the N100billion owed.

“In the same vein, only N345billion has been received in core subsidy payments covering payments up to Q2, 2014. Specifically only three companies out of the six MOMAN companies received payments for Forex differentials and no company, MOMAN or Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association (DAPPMA) has been paid interest charges on delayed payments,” the group said.

It urged the minister to quickly intervene to avert another round of scarcity.

Olawore on behalf of the major marketers had several meetings with the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke as regards payment of the debt. Olawore had told reporters in February that Okonjo-Iweala had assured the marketers that the government would pay the debt by end of February but unfortunately reneged on the promise.

Olawore stated that MOMAN as at end of 2014 was being owed N250 billion in unpaid subsidises noting that N95 billion of the N250 billion was the cost of foreign exchange (Forex) and interest on loans while the real subsidy for the marketers was N155 billion.

He also expressed worry over the N200 billion earmarked for subsidy in the 2015 budget as the marketers considered it inadequate

for the year because it is not up to the outstanding debt of N250 billion from last year.

However, should MOMAN members stop importation of fuel; it would be disastrous because economic activities will also be brought to a halt. Currently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) imports on 50 per cent of the national fuel requirement while other marketers including MOMAN and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) import the remaining 50 per cent.

Unfortunately, IPMAN members hardly import now because of unpaid subsidy.

Most of their imports it was learnt, didn’t scale the verification exercise. Therefore, should MOMAN members make real their threat, it would have serious negative impact on the economy as the responsibility of meeting the national fuel requirement would fall on NNPC alone.

The Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria consists of Mobil, Oando, MRS, Total, Conoil and Forte Oil.

EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in last Saturday’s election in Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin yesterday debunked rumours of retrieving electrical transformers from Sabo, saying the transformers were donated in good faith.

Rumours were rife that Folarin had called for a return of the transformer donated to the Hausa community before last Saturday’s elections in Ibadan.

In a statement by the Director-General of his campaign team, Alhaji Asimiyu Alarape, Folarin wondered why such actions would be credited to his personality.

He urged the people to remain steadfast as his decision to serve remains unshaken.

Funeral for elder

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HE funeral services for Pa Samson Famoriyo, who died in December at 84 years, begin this weekend.

Pa Famoriyo, from IleIfe in Osun State, will be buried at his home, 4, Ogbon-Agbara Street, Ile-Ife, today, after a wake at the same venue.

An Outing /Thanksgiving Service will hold at C.A.C Ojoyin Street, Ile-Ife, while guests will be entertained at Oranmiyan Grammar School, Road 7 (Sabo Area) in Ile-Ife. Pa Famoriyo is survived by children, among whom is the Chairman of Motfam Newspaper Agency, Omotayo Famoriyo, grand-children and great-grand-children.

Jonathan opposes deployment of foreign troops against Boko Haram

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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged the United Nations to focus more on helping Nigeria with the rehabilitation and reconstruction of persons and communities affected by terrorism in the North rather than deploying an international force to the country.

He made the remark dur-

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

ing an audience with the Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and Central Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas and Abdoulaye Bathily at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to a statement

by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan also expressed the view that UN intervention in Nigeria should not be based on Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which relates to military enforcement of peace, but on Chapter 8.

The statement reads:

“The President said that the provisions of Chapter 8 of the UN Charter, which recognizes the role of regional bodies such as the African Union in working with the United Nations for the promotion of peace and security, were robust enough to tackle insurgency in Nigeria and other African countries.”

He told the UN envoys that with the cooperation of neighbouring countries, the Nigerian military had already regained most of the territories seized by Boko Haram in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states, and had now commenced a final push to take the last stronghold of the insurgents in Sambisa Forest.

•The late Pa Famoriyo

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THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS

Govt may evacuate Nigerians from South Africa

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INISTER of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Aminu Wali yesterday said Nigerians in South Africa will be evacuated if the xenophobic attacks on foreigners get worse.

Some South Africans have carried out attacks against migrants who they accused of taking jobs meant for the locals.

Speaking after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, the minister said no Nigerian had been attacked.

• Reps fume From Augustine Ehikioya and Bukola Amusan, Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

Stressing that Nigerians in South Africa had been warned to close their shops and continue to be law-abiding, he said efforts were on to end the attacks.

He said: “With the discussions I have been having with Nigeria’s Head of Mission in

Pretoria, no Nigeria has so far been affected. ?They informed me that they have called the Nigerian community and addressed them and told them to close their shops, stay home and keep out of trouble and obey the laws of South Africa.

“They have also confirmed that the South African authority have moved in to take actions that would forestall any further disturbance.”

“If it gets worse it is the duty of our country to make sure our people are brought back, and we are taking that duty

serious.

“We are not prepared to allow any of our nationals to be subjected to such inhuman treatment.” He said.

The Nigerian Representative in the African Union, Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) Permanent General Assembly and the Chairperson, Social Affairs and Health cluster committee, Dr. Tunji Asaolu, has called on African countries to unite against the xenophobic violence in South African.

He urged the South African government do all within its

ability to stop the violence and protect all foreigners in the country.

In response to the continuous xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan was yesterday advised by the House of Representatives to recall Nigeria's High Commissioner to the country pending when the attacks will stop.

The lawmakers warned that Nigeria will no longer tolerate killings of its citizens.

The resolution followed the adoption of the prayers of a motion of urgent matter of

public importance by the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The attacks was believed to have been instigated by a statement from t Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who allegedly said African migrants should return their countries as they are no longer welcome in South Africa.

In their resolution, the lawmakers appealed to the federal government to apply the diplomatic principle of reciprocity in dealing with South Africa.

Zuma condemns attacks as citizens hold rally

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O fewer than 5,000 people yesterday took part in a rally against xenophobia in Durban following attacks on foreigners.

President Jacob Zuma condemned the violence, which have claimed at least five lives,

as “shocking”, and called for calm to be restored.

The Zulu king has been accused of fuelling the attacks. He denies this.

Many jobless South Africans accuse foreigners of taking jobs in a country where the unem-

ployment rate is 24%.

“No amount of frustration or anger can justify the attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops,” President Zuma told parliament on Thursday.

Protesters marched through Durban chanting “Down with

•Thousands of people take part in a peace march, protesting for an end to the violence against immigrants in South Africa ...yesterday.

NEWS Suspect recalls how she abducted Orekoya kids Continued from page 4

four children. The eldest is seven years old. I did not actually get married to my husband but we stayed together at Coker Estate in a new building that had not been painted and had no number.

“One day, my brother’s wife called and said somebody was looking for a househelp and asked me if I was interested. I told her that though I was looking for money to enable me do my HND, I did not like househelp job. She then said that I had been a hindrance to my husband’s family. I then accepted and called the woman looking for househelp. She asked me to meet her at PWD along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Lagos, where she promised to be paying me N15,000 monthly. From there, she took me to their house.

“On Wednesday, the husband of my employer went to work and left the children with me. I then packaged two of the kids in a sack and held only one, pretending to

be the mother. I boarded a bus to Ojuelegba through Iyana-Ipaja to Shasha, Egbeda, Lagos. When I reached Shasha, I called my husband who said he was already waiting at home. When I asked him if a ransom would be collected, he said being his relations, he wanted to have them with him through the holidays.”

Funmilayo went on: “One day I was watching television and I heard that the Orekoya family wanted to pay N15 million ransom and I asked him ‘why’. My husband asked me not to worry. Later, I saw on the television again that they agreed to pay N13 million. They (the Orekoyas) were already in agony. They promised to give me my own share after collecting the ransom. Unfortunately on Monday, policemen came into the hotel where I was relocated and told me that I was under arrest as a suspected kidnapper. That was the second time I would operate with them. The first one was at

Makoko where a woman employed me as a househelp. When she went out for work, I called my husband and he collected N2 million and released her kid. I got N30,000 commission.

“I really took good care of the children. They never missed home because I treated them well like their mother. I gave feeder to the 11month-old kid. On Monday morning, I was told to leave house and they lodged me in a hotel at Ogunbiyi, Shasha in the Egbeda area.”

She advised mothers to try and create time to be with their children, no matter the demands of their jobs, adding that wives should know who their husbands-to-be are before they marry them.

One of the agents who had worked for them as a housemaid and sales girl, Miss Odili Henriatta (16), said: “I completed my Senior Secondary School (SSS) and I was looking for a job. When I saw the publication on the internet that they needed a househelp, I applied. They

employed me and took my phone number. The day they brought the three Orekoya kids, they told me that they were only two, whom they brought to stay with them for holidays, but I later saw three.

“They don’t allow us to watch TV. They were paying me N10,000 as a househelp and sales girl. I worked for five months but they paid me for only two months and promised to pay the rest anytime I was ready to go. I did not know that they kidnapped the three kids because they said they were children of their family relation who would stay with them for the holidays.”

“I came to Lagos from Benin on November 12, 2014 after finishing my secondary education in Ekenwan Secondary School, Benin City,” she added.

The Command’s spokesman, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said investigation was ongoing to arrest all those involved in the case.

Senate urges Jonathan to return rejected Bill Continued from page 4

“Especially since he had indicated in his own letter that the letter was accompanied by the Bill, so we would like to have the bill in its original form, especially the signature page.”

Senate President David Mark, said he would act on the resolution of the Senate and write formally to the President

to return the Bill to the Senate “within the earliest possible time.”

Mark said: “It is a personal explanation so there will be no need to put it to debate. I think the important thing is that if the floor accepts that I send that letter then I will write a letter to Mr. President to return the original copy of the Bill to us.

“This was referred to your

committee, so if that is the decision of the committee then we have little or no option on the floor here.

“There is a bit of urgency on this so in writing that we should have it at the earliest possible time, we cannot put a time frame like `within two days or three days’ that would not be correct. The motion as it is a correct motion without the time frame.”

xenophobia” and “A United Africa”, led by the city mayor and the premier of KwaZulu-Natal province.

Marcher Vanessa Govender told the BBC: “It’s just a mammoth show of support for all those foreigners who have fallen victim to the past two weeks of xenophobic violence.”

As the march was held, antiimmigrant protesters clashed with police, but were reportedly dispersed by water cannon and pepper spray.

The African Union described the xenophobic attacks on foreigners as unacceptable and called for an immediate halt.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Chairperson, AU Commission, said in a statement that “whatever the challenges we may be facing, no circumstances justify attacks on people whether foreigners or locals.”

APC to scrutinise Jonathan’s notes with experts, says Odigie-Oyegun Continued from page 4

will do so in the next few days.”

He said the party was indifferent to the May handover date because it will not create any vacuum.

Odigie-Oyegun said: “On the May 28 handover date, I am not aware of any consultation with us by the presidency. I do not know whether or not it was an issue discussed by both the President and the President-elect. I may have to find out.

“As far as we are concerned, we are getting an extra day and it will give us an opportunity to prepare more for the task ahead. So long as our can-

didate’s tenure is not shortchanged by a day, it might not be an issue.

“I think May 28 will just be for the formality of papers, the actual swearing in/ inauguration will still be on May 29.

“I do not think that there will be a vacuum because the President will still be in charge till May 29 until the inauguration is done.”

Odigie-Oyegun said the Presidency had written the party to nominate members into the Inauguration Committee.

“I know they have set up Inauguration Committee, we will send our list to them soon.”

Govt hands over NITEL/Mtel to NATCOM Continued from page 4

ing deficit in the country.

He said: “Another area was that of the Federal Housing Authority. Every body knows that we have about 17 million housing deficit in the sector.

For us to be able to build and recover this deficit, we must be ingenious in the way we

handle the deficit in the country.

“There is no country that succeed without the involvement of the private sector. So the policies must be right first. The committee presented reports on how to restructure the housing policy to meet the housing needs.”

U.S. supports Buhari’s plans Continued from page 4

fighting the terrorists in recent times. What we need now is support to help our people get back their lives,’’ he said.

The ambassador said: “Nigeria is not only an economic power in the world today, but also a great democratic example. And it is all by your effort, Mr. President. The last elections and your response was truly a great achievement

and you will always be remembered for it.”

Mr. Guaer, the new Ambassador of Senegal, Mr. Baboucar Sambe and the new Ambassador of Ethiopia, Samia Zekaria Gutu, who were at the Presidential Villa to present their letters of credence to President Jonathan, also assured him that they will do their best to strengthen relations between Nigeria and their countries.

THE NATION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015

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TODAY IN THE NATION

FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL.10 NO. 3187

‘The process should be made to be transparent, free and fair. Public office holders whether elected or appointed should be made to accountable to the people, and not to themselves...’ KENNETH IMANSUANGBON

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

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INCE its debut in 2006, this column has been concerned with the fat lie that we tell ourselves regarding our democratic credentials as a country. It has invited critical attention to the failure in leadership, especially at the federal level. I have often sought an analogy between the state of affairs we champion and the Hobbesian state of nature which leads to the war of all against all because of the reign of ego in climes lacking an impartial authority in command.

If we are honest with ourselves, we must agree that we missed the boat right from the beginning. This means that the Jonathan administration, far from being its originator, only pursued its inheritance of impunity with more zap. The Obasanjo administration mocked the rule of law in a spectacular and odious manner in the way it contemptuously ignored the judgment of the Supreme Court regarding the Lagos State Local Government fund. Odi was the predecessor of Baga, and Ekitigate only reminded us of the perversion orchestrated by partisan election umpires and security agents in the first eight years of this republic.

What Hobbes taught us, which we have hitherto neglected to our detriment, was simply that the state of nature is a metaphor for lawlessness. It is a condition in which the rule of law exists only in name.

Therefore it can be experienced in a civil society even with a government in place.

Hobbes’s insight is ingenuous in three respects. First, he taught us that egoism is part of human nature and therefore not necessarily bad. Second, he explains how egoism impels us to quit the state of nature and create a political community based on mutual interests. Third, Hobbes suggests to us that once out of the state of nature egoism admonishes us to do whatever we can to remain in the political community we created because it is unwise to go back to the state of nature.

There are different ways to conceive the state of nature. In our case, we have also experienced it in various forms, in the “might makes right” mentality that characterised our previous conditions from pre-colonial societies to colonial rule, to military dictatorship. The naturalness of egoism—individual or national— was manifested in each of those moments of our national journey. When we finally confronted colonialism and initiated a new contract of association as a republic, we failed to be guided by the admonition of Hobbes to do

SEGUN GBADEGESIN gbadegesin@thenationonlineng.net

A new social contract

•President-elect Buhari

whatever we can to remain in the political community we created because it is unwise and against our egoistic interests to go back to the state of nature. That was the reason for the fall of our former republics.

Before I am accused of unfairness, I should clarify. It is certainly not the generality of the citizens that is included in the “we” that failed to be guided by the admonition of Hobbes and those included know themselves. They are the ones who went back to the state of nature mentality of “might is right” even when we have ideologically and constitutionally established the notion that right is not a question of might and that everyone is equal before the law. Living in the political community governed by the rule of law but operating with the mentality of the rule of might has been the narrative of our national existence in the last 16 years.

How has it been possible?

If everyone did it, it would have been utterly disastrous because it would have meant

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ITUATING the debate Now that the 2015 elections have been won and lost, it will do us some good to give more perspective to the Lagos debate in order to achieve some logical conclusions. Last Friday, in my pre-election prognosis, I had started on the premise of that age-worn Igbo maxim: O biara be onye abiagbulaya, mgbe o ga-ala mpu-mkpu apu kwa laya. It simply means live and let live but pithier and more beautiful in its literal sense: bear no ill-will against your host lest you be afflicted by hunch back as you return home. This and several other Igbo dictums are indications that the Igbo universe has a deep culture of mutual respect and reciprocity.

Recall that the Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, had sparked off a latent ethnic controversy a few days to the April 11 governorship election when in one anxious moment, he had ‘decreed’ that Ndigbo and other non-indigenes in Lagos would have the Lagos lagoon to contend with if they failed to vote his candidate.

His ‘fatwa’ was even more irksome in concluding that “what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere you cannot do it here.”

Surely this comment coming from a paramount royalty exhibits a rare form of intolerance and bigotry that should never be allowed in the 21st century. Understandably, the Oba’s bombshell is triggered by the March 28 presidential election in which APC in Lagos lost five House of Representatives’ seats with Igbo PDP candidates winning two. There was therefore apprehension among some Lagosians and in Lagos APC that the numerical strength of Igbo voters in Lagos could cause an upset in the guber race, thus the unrestrained threat: ‘vote APC or perish.’

One is taken aback at the dissemblance of

the clash of egos in a most pervasive and anarchical way. But a few to whom we granted the authority to govern on our behalf and moderate the egos of everyone for the mutual advantage of us all decided to play a fast one on the rest of us. At every turn, they acted on behalf of their ego, abusing the power that we gave them, marginalising everyone else, and in the process alienating all. They were helped by the fact that the majority still hung on the spirit of the social contract and still reined in their ego, while the few ruthlessly advanced theirs.

What the few failed to pay attention to is the law of nature to which even the mentally unbalanced responds. Extend a piece of elastic as much as you care; when it reaches its limit of endurance, it would snap. Push a crazy man against the wall and he quickly realises that to survive he must turn back and challenge your audacity. On March 28, Nigerians realised that they had been pushed to the wall and they can’t take it anymore. That was the meaning of the defeat they handed the ruling party.

Now that we have a new ruling party, do we also have a new social contract? There are two primary areas of concern. First from the outcry against the current ruling party in the last 16 years, our people have clearly indicated that they contracted for a republic and not a fiefdom. Therefore they would rather be governed in accordance with the rule of law which they themselves established and in accordance with the norms of human decency. Second, and along with this first point is that the people also want their government to pay undivided attention to their well-being. What they did with their votes in the just concluded elections was a rebuke of the current ruling party for failing to deliver on these two areas, and at the same time, a brand new contract with the opposition which has now become the new ruling party.

STEVE OSUJI

EXPRESSO

steve.osuji@yahoo.com

•Columnist of the Year (NMMA)

Lagos is not a Yoruba ‘town’ Yes, let’s probe NNPC; declare assets

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HILE this column is in favour of a President Muhammadu Buhari drawing the line from June 1, 2015 and moving on swiftly with the enormous tasks at hand, an enquiry into the activities of our petroleum behemoth is in order. All appointees declaring their assets is also sine qua non for anyone to hold any post in the new era.

The activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as well as that of a few other strategic national agencies need to be reviewed and put into perspective as a tool for revamping the economy. Never again must such savaging of NNPC as happened under Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke be allowed to happen - ever.

some Yoruba commentators, even highly enlightened ones, who are expected to serve as guiding lights to the illogical hoi polloi. Not a few have made excuses for the monarch, positing that he is kabiyesi – he that cannot be questioned. But we also know many obas in history have been deposed, de-throned or even put down! Well, a few issues have been thrown up by this episode: First, Ndigbo in Lagos have not run foul of any law of Lagos State by voting Jimi Agbaje

or the PDP. It is democracy at work and as the electoral process gets better, the people will increasingly vote their conscience and their votes will continue to count. And it is unfair, if not hypocritical for anyone to seek to abuse Ndigbo as if they have broken any law by exercising their democratic rights.

While we are at it, why are Ndigbo always singled out and made a scapegoat?

There are hordes of aggrieved Yoruba in Lagos and the Southwest who got huge cash

I would like to believe that the new contract is based on the attraction to the people of the manifesto of the APC and the President-elect’s Covenant with Nigerians. If I am right, then the people have a right to expect that APC will deliver on its own side of the contract. I also think that the incoming administration has a keen understanding of its obligations to the people and the nation.

In his Covenant statement, President-elect Muhammadu Buhari was clear about the challenges facing the country: “building a country that is fair to all of its citizens; a country in which all individuals feel and know that they are valued members of the society with constitutionally guaranteed rights; a country that respects human dignity, promote human development, foster human equality and advance human freedom.” This recognition of the basic minimum of governmental responsibility to citizens is the starting point. For many of our people, this is all they want to be assured of. They can deal with other matters themselves.

It is reassuring therefore that Candidate Buhari pledged to “lead a government founded on values that promote and protect fundamental human rights and freedoms… promote the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law, affirm separation of the powers of government and support an independent judiciary.” The fulfillment of this pledge is the most important of all the tasks that the President will be faced with because it is the foundation of our democratic system from which every other matter follows. Get this right and you cannot be wrong. But it is certainly human to be distracted.

Of all distractions that can get in the way of delivering fully on this pledge, ego is still the most destructive. It could be personal ego. It could be the collective ego of party, cabinet, National Assembly, governors, or leaders and advisors. Ego is destructive if it succumbs to irrationality. Fortunately, ego is also constructive if it submits to rationality. In the moment when ego rears its destructive head, assuring the new power brokers that they are all-in-all, it is hoped that rationality will prevail and the voice of reason will come to their rescue with a forceful reminder that it is in their egoistic interest to suppress destructive egoism and deliver on their covenant with the people.

•For comments, send SMS to 08111813080 inducement and they voted for PDP. Nearly all the Southsouth people in Lagos and the Southwest would have voted for PDP as well. So it is sheer ethnic baiting to make it seem as if only the brash, ungrateful Ndigbo plotted to undo the APC in Lagos.

Nobody, no matter how highly placed, is allowed to issue hate messages that are liable to lead the untutored mass to violence and tribal frictions. Election is not a do-ordie affair and we must refrain from making it seem as if losing is the end of life.

This brings us to the issue of the status of Lagos. So many commentators are hinging their logic on Ndigbo doing in Lagos, what they would not accept in their place and I think that is simply asinine if not an illiterate argument only heard in motor parks. The point is that Lagos is in a class by itself – a mega city. Providence, geography, colonialism and Nigeria’s geo-political history have made it so. Lagos is willy-nilly carrying a role foisted upon it by these factors way beyond its control. Lagos is at least one hundred years removed from Onitsha, Ibadan, Kaduna or any other Nigerian city.

Lagos is no longer a Yoruba town as some of my Yoruba friends would want to so circumscribe it. Come to think of it, Lagos is not even a Yoruba word, we seem to forget that! Lagos is a burgeoning cosmopolis which is striving to earn her pride of place among the world’s cities. One merely chuckles when some folks get provincial and seek to own Lagos. Yes, there are indigenes; yes, they may own Lagos but they cannot circumscribe Lagos.

•Continued

on page 57

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