April 18, 2015 by The Nation

THE NATION

NEWS 3

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

•From left: Special Representative of UN Secretary General for Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily; Special Representative of UN Secretary General for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas and President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari, when the representatives of Ban Ki Moon paid a courtesy visit to the Buhari in Kaduna... yesterday

HERE were indications yesterday that the Presidency is unhappy with the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, for alleged security and protocol breaches. Some forces in government have started mounting pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan to drop the IGP, but the President was said not to be interested in taking any disciplinary action against Abba. It was learnt that Jonathan has made up his mind to leave the fate of the IGP to the incoming administration. Investigation revealed that there had been disquiet in the Presidency over certain steps Abba took during the recently concluded presidential election and since Jonathan conceded defeat to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Some forces in government were disturbed that with the exception of Rivers,

•Clark

T Jonathan under pressure to sack IGP

Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation Delta, Cross River, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom and the entire South-East region, the Nigeria Police did not act the election script written for the force in strategic states like Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Borno, Kaduna and Kwara. The IGP was said to have instructed the Divisional Police Officers in Lagos to comply with the directive of the Commissioner of Police in Lagos and not any Assistant Inspector-General of Police. It was gathered that upon the ‘failure’ of the police in the strategic states, the Presidency was angry that the IGP was at the presentation of

certificate of return to the President-elect by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, contrary to the norm. The Presidency had also noted that Abba was at the airport at a time to receive the President-elect. But a source said that what really “pissed off” the Presidency was the alleged leakage of the presidential directive to redeploy Assistant Inspector-General Tunde Ogunsakin from Rivers State on the eve of April 11 governorship poll. The covert decision was said to have been taken in the Presidency by three officials, including the IGP. A reliable source said: “There is disquiet in the

Presidency on whether or not to drop the IGP for certain missteps. Some forces are angry that the police failed to back the status quo in some states during the recently-concluded poll. “I think the IGP chose a neutral position and opted to live up to his oath of office during the general election. “The IGP’s presence during the presentation of certificate of return to Buhari left many presidency officials dazed because it was alleged not to be within his official “mandate.” “The presence of the IGP at the National Collation Centre with Buhari was rated as a partisan move and a pro•Continued on Page 4

Babangida Aliyu: why President failed O V E R N O R Babangida Aliyu of Niger State yesterday reviewed the recent elections in the country and concluded that President Goodluck Jonathan’s failure at the polls was the price he had to pay for reneging on his alleged agreement with the North to serve for only one term. Aliyu, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’

•Osoba

Jide ORINTUNSIN, Minna Forum, said the President and Peoples Democratic Party’s defeat was therefore not unexpected. Aliyu, who spoke as special guest of honour at the 24th Convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, said the PDP as a party was rejected for failing to meet the expectations of the people.

He said: “Many of us saw it coming. When I reminded us that we had an agreement for one term, they nearly crucified me. And when I led the G7 governors, they did not do what we wanted them to do until five members left, and they later did what we asked them to do.” “I recalled also that when APC came on board, I was the first person to say I was very happy that now we have

a strong party to put PDP on its toes and many people were asking me if I am really a member of PDP. “Up to the last election, the accusation against me has always been that I was a supporter of APC and now you have seen the result.” Nigerians, he added, “wanted a change and Nigerians got the change. “PDP has been around for •Continued on Page 5

HEY came, they saw, but they could not conquer at the general elections. Their albatross was over-confidence, which sprang from the false impression that they could still exert the same influence conferred on them by old glory. Unknown to the old men, times are changing. The elder statesmen, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Edwin Clark, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun and Dr. Femi Okurounmu, did not participate in the just concluded elections as candidates, but many of the candidates they supported or endorsed crashed at the polls. The power brokers of yesteryears could not stop the wind of change the Buhari movement exemplified. The contest was full of instructive lessons. On the slippery political field, there is no actor that is infallible. In the face of glaring odds, politicians are always incurably optimistic. But on occasions, the gap between expectation and reality could jolt them out of their delusion. The courage to remain consistent to avowed principles could fail the feebleminded, making principles that have defined

Emmanuel OLADESU Group Political Editor

illustrious political careers and given form, content and predictability to political behaviour to be displaced by wrong permutations, frantic desire to overcome transient political setbacks, and penchant for acting without deep thinking. When wrong steps are taken on the basis of ego, it is evident that political risk-taking has not been moderated by the power of foresight. On the slippery political field, there is no actor that is infallible. In the face of glaring odds, politicians are always incurably optimistic. But on occasions, the gap between expectation and reality could jolt them out of their delusion. The courage to remain consistent to avowed principles could fail the feeble-minded, making principles that have defined illustrious political careers and given form, content and predictability to political behaviour to be displaced by wrong permutations, frantic desire to overcome transient political setbacks, and penchant for acting without deep thinking. When wrong steps are taken on the basis of ego, it is evident that political risk-taking has not been moderated by the power of foresight. •Continued on Page 6

The battle for Edo State The actual race for a change in Edo State Government House has truly started; with two senators and five House of Representatives members, I believe we have started the struggle to reclaim Edo State. For Edo people, we are never ? going to relent in our position to ensure that we can deepen democracy in the state. This state belongs to all of us. We have a responsibility as a political party to be answerable to our people; to point out the ills of Adams Oshiomhole’s government and I promise Edo people that we are never going to relent in our effort in this regard.

—Edo PDP chair Dan Orbih

It is manifestly clear that God has used you, the electorate, to silence all the godfathers across the state; a small clique that has for about 16 years – at the federal level and 10 years at the state level – feasted on our common patrimony; criminally privatised our resources and presided over the underdevelopment of our state. You have now effectively and permanently retired the four political ruling houses that have kept our state and our people in political bondage.

—Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole

THE NATION

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SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

TUC to South African government: stop these killings now

HE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has asked the South African government to live up to its responsibilities and take immediate steps to stop the ongoing xenophobic killings targeted against foreigners in that country. In a statement signed by the President and Secretary General of the TUC, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Comrade (Barr.) Musa Lawal respectively described the killings as appalling, abysmal and beastly. The union reminded South Africa of various investments of South Africans in Nigeria which they said have operated antilabour policies in the country and frustrated every effort to unionise. The statement reads: “The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria expresses serious concern over the ongoing xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa and calls the Mr. Jacob Zuma-led government to live up to its re-

Tony AKOWE, Abuja

sponsibilities by taking all necessary steps to stop the dastardly act of stealing, killing and taking over of people’s properties in Joburg, Durban and Pretoria. The act at this time and age is appalling, abysmal and beastly! “It is true that the government of South Africa as well as other countries of the world have condemned the attacks. Yet we demand that the government investigate and punish those involved in accordance with the provisions of the law of the land. “Again, if the comments we have read in the dailies and social media credited to the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini and son of Zuma, Edward asking non-South Africans to return to their countries is anything to go by, then it means they have forgotten in a hurry how Nigeria and the rest of the world rallied and mobilised support for the country during its

apartheid experience. “Indeed, what is happening is nothing but a demonstration of shortness of memory and we feel more terrible about the whole thing because of the underground role of some prominent people in government. “Perhaps we should also use this opportunity to let the world know that South African-owned companies in Nigeria are anti-labour in their operations. Several efforts have been made to unionise MTN, DSTV and others, all to no avail,

which cannot happen in their country. “Congress is aware of a number of Nigerian investors who went to invest in South Africa but ran back, abandoning acquired properties because they could not cope with their strict labour laws. “Nigeria is a country that accommodates all and sundry, including South Africa and South Africans, and today, we see this rare opportunity being grossly abused by the likes of South Africa. “They own several multi

billion dollar investments on our soils, yet we co-exist despite all odds. The same people will come here to duhumanise Nigerians? Not anymore. This must stop! This sacrifice is becoming too grave to bear and over-stretched all to ensure peaceful co-existence. “The Congress calls on the Federal Government to immediately, like other affected countries, move in and commence evacuation of Nigerians. “Asking them to remain indoors is not safe as they

could unleash mayhem on them even in their houses. “It is the government’s responsibility to protect its nationals both internal and external. We must not shirk our responsibility to our citizens wherever they are. “Finally, we wish to bring to the notice of South Africans that no man or country has monopoly of violence. Inasmuch as we wouldn’t want to repay evil with evil, we should not be pushed to the wall. A word is enough for the wise.”

APC chieftain dispels rumour of Atiku's defection to PDP

stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Deacon Elijah Afolabi , has dispelled the rumour that former Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, is planning to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking with reporters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Afolabi, an ally of Atiku for many years , said that it was unthinkable that any group would carry out a smear campaign against the Turakin Adamawa and doubt his loyalty to APC in spite of his obvious commitment to the party. He said: “The Turakin personally sent me a text message distancing himself from the group that was said to have defected to the PDP in the South West, led by Chief Bode Ajewole and his rented crowd, with the Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and his executive in attendance. He clearly told me they did not have his mandate to do so. “Another group of so called 120 Atiku Supporters also exploited the desperation of the PDP to swindle them, using the name of Atiku Abubakar, which he also openly dissociated himself from. It must be realised that Atiku is a foundation pillar of the APC, when he led the G-7 governor’s and other stakeholders out of the stage-managed PDP convention in Abuja. “Atiku’s commitment to change, as epitomised by the APC, is not only visible but deep-rooted. Even overtures were severally made to him by the PDP from the highest level but he stood his ground, deciding to pitch his tent with the wind of change that is blowing across the political landscape of Nigeria. “It is obvious that some elements outside the APC are up to some mischief. Atiku is a giant of democracy, who can never be dwarfed by elements with sinister motives.” Afolabi maintained that the

Adesoji ADENIYI, Osogbo former vice president has demonstrated his unflinching loyalty and commitment to the APC in every possible way physically, morally and financially. Afolabi, who noted that Atiku has openly discountenanced those against the APC but using his name, said that the Turakin stood for democracy, good governance, social justice, equity and all that the APC stands for.

•INEC Zonal Commissioner, Lawrence Nwuruku (right), in a handshake with Senator-elect Dr Andy Uba after presenting the latter with certificate of return in Awka . . . yesterday

Boko Haram: Air Force chief warns recruits against reckless utterances

S 484 personnel were yesterday recruited into the Nigerian Air Force, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, warned them to guard their utterances and remain vigilant in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency. The Air Chief stated this in his address during the passing out parade ceremony of the 484 Recruits who underwent basic military training course for six months at the Air Force training centre. Air Marshal Amosu was represented by Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Force Headquarters, Abuja, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) James Gbum, as the parade reviewing officer. The Air Force boss also charged the recruits to do the

nation proud by maintaining the highest standard of professionalism, courage and discipline whenever the need arises, and assured them of better welfare package. He said: “Indeed, you are coming into the Air Force at a critical time, when the nation is facing some internal security challenges. You must therefore remain vigilant, guard your utterances, and mind your conduct at all times. “You are aware of the internal security challenges facing our nation today. As part of the effort to prepare you for the task ahead, the curriculum for your course was reviewed with the

introduction of the internal security module. “Some of you will be involved in internal security operations as you go to the field. You should take advantage of the knowledge and skills that you have acquired during your training to carry out your assignment diligently and professionally, to defend the territorial integrity of the country while safeguarding lives and property. “As members of the Armed Forces, you must subordinate yourselves to civil authority and protect our nascent democracy. You must remain nonpartisan, and do not allow

yourselves to be used by any ‘disgruntled elements’ in the society to cause mischief. “The Air Force is a highly technical force that requires very skilled and mentally alert manpower, to operate and maintain the sophisticated equipment in its inventory. The present leadership is highly committed to the enthronement of professionalism and purposeful training. “Thus, the rigorous military training you received was designed to prepare you for further specialist training and a challenging career in the Nigerian Air Force. “On our part, we shall strive

Jonathan under pressure to sack IGP •Continued from Page 3 vocative initiative. “Some forces in the Presidency believe that Abba should be asked to step aside. The leakage on the redeployment of AIG Tunde Ogunsakin from Rivers State on the eve of April 11 governorship poll has fueled the demand for IGP’s sack.” It was however learnt that the President is not disposed to the exit of the IGP. Instead, he was said to have left the fate of the IGP and service chiefs to the President-elect.

Another source added: “The President might not bow to the demand by some forces to drop the IGP because he is not a vendetta person. He has decided to leave the fate of the IGP and other service chiefs to his successor. “The fact that a former President sacked some public officials few days to his exit does not mean that Jonathan would follow in his footsteps.” A police source said: “You see, the IGP made sure that the police force was non-partisan throughout the elec-

tion period, and this was a departure from the practice in 1983, 1993, 2003, 2007 and 2011 polls. “Naturally, some government officials, governors and politicians will not be happy at all. This IGP is professionally inclined and he has been enforcing this. “If you look at his antecedents even when Rivers State was volatile, he made sure that he was non-partisan. Up till today, the people of Rivers State still celebrate Abba for his professionalism. “He remains loyal to the President irrespective of the

outcome of the election. To the best of my knowledge, he has not eroded the confidence reposed in him by the President. He keeps official secrets and he has never leaked any. Since he came on board, signals or information flow had become more compact.” Responding to a question, the source added: “How can any IGP ignore the President-elect at any airport? Is Gen. Buhari not a former Head of State? Does he not deserve respect as an elder statesman? All these issues they are raising are petty.”

to radically transform the Nigerian Air Force into a fighting force, ready for the emerging challenges of the 21st Century. “To achieve the cohesion required for mission accomplishment, we continually encourage and foster attributes such as comradeship and selfless commitment. “By the oath of allegiance which you took on attestation, you have committed yourselves to serve under all situations, and to subordinate your own interests to those of the Service and the nation. “This inherently imposes limitations on your individual freedom and requires a degree of self-sacrifice. Thus, yourself discipline, proficiency level, and commitment will determine your progress in the Service. “As you are aware, the Nigerian Air Force is a noble profession and it is for those that have the will and courage to face challenges and make sacrifices. “You must therefore do your best to ensure that, the Service always stays at the very top, and no sacrifice could be too big to uphold its honour and good name. “You must maintain the comradeship and regimental spirit as essential elements of high morale, which is a priceless asset. Do not forget that without these elements, the mere acquisition of military hardware would be of little value”.

THE NATION

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SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan will soon begin commissioning of four power projects across the country. This was disclosed by the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, and Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam at the end of the last meeting of the Board of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Ltd. The meeting was chaired by Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Nebo also disclosed that the administration has achieved installed minimum electricity generation capacity of 5,500 megawatts despite unrelenting sabotage of oil and gas pipelines by vandals. According to him, government was losing N120 million monthly and N1.5 billion yearly to repairs of vandalised pipelines.

Electricity supply to hit 5,500 megawatts …as Jonathan gets set to commission four new power plants The Minister said that a pattern of deliberate vandalism of the pipelines, which occurs every two weeks, had made the nation to lose about 1,600 megawatts of electricity at a particular time. He therefore advised the incoming government of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to intensify security surveillance of the petroleum pipelines in the country and consider digitalising the surveillance system. On the commissioning, he said: “Four power plants have been completed and will be commissioned in the next couple of weeks. Sapele is one of them, Ihobor is another one. And hopefully, by the grace of God, we intend

FG rushes immigration recuitment to beat handover •Applicants allege bias, imbalance in invitation for aptitude test which begins Monday

clique in the Presidency is behind the hasty recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) ahead of next month’s change of government in Abuja, The Nation can now reveal. The computer-based aptitude test has been scheduled for Monday, April 20 to Friday, April 25 at designated centres across the country, according to information posted on the website: http:// nis.fedcivilservice.gov.ng. It is supposed to replace the March 15, 2014 ill fated recruitment by the NIS, which claimed the lives of 15 applicants. It was gathered yesterday that the planned recruitment is one of the several last-minute projects being executed by Presidency and federal government officials for the purpose of packing their cronies and kinsmen in strategic positions, thereby loading up the system and creating crisis for the incoming government. It is also alleged that invitation for the aptitude test tilts heavily in favour of a section of the country at the expense of other geopolitical zones. For instance, as many as 4,800 applicants are expected to sit for the aptitude test in some centres as against about 130 in some others. A source familiar with the development pointed an accusing finger at a top Presidency official for the apparent favouritism. President Goodluck Jonathan, in an attempt to redeem the image of his government which was severely battered by the March 2014 recruitment death harvest, had ordered a fresh recruitment by a presidential committee. The panel headed by the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, also comprised the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (OSGF), who doubled as Secretary,

Comptroller-General, Nigeria Immigration Service; Representative of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation; Representative of the Commandant-General, NSCDC; Representative of Controller General, Nigeria Prisons Service; Representative of the Corp Marshal, FRSC; Representative of the Director-General, DSS; Representative of the Attorney General of the Federation and Representative of the Federal Character Commission. It was charged with the responsibility of re-advertising the recruitment into the NIS with a view to starting the recruitment process afresh; processing the applications, shortlisting potential candidates and conducting the necessary interviews for the purpose of the recruitment exercise, among others. However, it was gathered that the Presidential official has since hijacked the functions of the committee to ensure that his kinsmen are the major beneficiaries of the recruitment. The Comptroller of Immigration, Mr.David Parradang, is said to have been sidelined in the process just as he was in last year’s ill fated exercise Recruitment will be in three categories: superintendent, inspectorate and immigration assistance cadres. Federal government’s pledge of assistance for the families of those who lost their lives during last year’s aborted recruitment was not fulfilled until last month, a year after the tragedy, when President Jonathan handed out money and appointment letters to the beneficiaries. Each bereaved family got N5 million in addition to employment letters for three members of each family. President Jonathan said at the presentation that Nigeria would never witness such tragedy again.

Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja to do the commissioning very soon so that Nigerians will enjoy even more of what the current administration has done in the power sector. “There are literally hundreds of other projects that

need to be commissioned. So, very soon, we are going into the commissioning exercise.” On his part, Suswam, who is also a member of the Board, said: “The board resolved to commission some

of the numerous projects under the NIPP programme. Those projects are to be commissioned in the subsequent weeks.” Apart from the new power plants, he explained that the government has completed more transmission lines but would not be able to com-

plete some sales transactions because of some complications in the bid process and inadequate gas supply. The inability to seal the sale transaction deals, he said, was not due to fear of the unknown when a new government comes on board next month.

David-West to Okonjo-Iweala: Buhari doesn't need your advice

former Minister of Petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West, has replied the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over her advice on how the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari can increase revenue, saying the incoming president does not need her expertise. David-West, who spoke to our reporter in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, yesterday, said Buhari is highly experienced in the art of governance, stressing that he knows what to do to manage the economy well. He said that while Okonjo-

Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan

Iweala supervises a Nigerian economy in which a United States (US) dollar exchanges for N190, Buhari, during his days as the Head of State, supervised an economy where N1 exchanged for US$1.5. His words: “I read OkonjoIweala’s advice to Gen. Buhari on how to raise revenue with interest and amusement. I don’t think that Buhari needs any advice from her on the subject. He is not new on the terrain. He is a very knowledgeable person on how to move the economy forward. I don’t believe he needs advice from

Okonjo-Iweala. “When Buhari was in charge, oil was $30 per barrel. It even went down to $15 per barrel. Yet, he managed the economy very well. Oil price is now double that price and they are complaining that oil price has fallen. “Buhari can manage the economy better than OkonjoIweala. He never took International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan. Neither did he flirt with IMF. He refused to devalue the naira in spite of the problem the country was facing from different areas. $1.5 exchanged for N1. But during Okonjo-Iweala’s time, it is N190 to $1.

“Finally, it was N2 to £1. During Okonjo-Iweala’s time, it is N240 to £1. Buhari did not import fuel; he was exporting whereas OkonjoIweala imports fuel with bogus subsidy running to trillions of naira. And she has not been able to arrest anyone involved in subsidy scam let alone get a refund from any of them. “Nigeria is the only country in the world where Okonjo-Iweala is the Finance Minister and coordinating the economy where provision is made for fraud in the annual budget by way of subsidy. So, Buhari does not need her advice.”

•From left: Representative of Ondo State Government, Dr. Ademujimi Kolawole; Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii; National President of AGPMPN, Dr. Frank Odafen; formal INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice M. Iwu and Dr. Omolola Anthony during the award of excellence in honour of Orhii at the 37th AGPMPN & International Annual Science Conference in Ondo State.

Ex-PDP chair, Ogbulafor, in secret meeting with Oyegun

ORMER National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor,who once boasted that the party would rule for 60 years ,yesterday held a closed door meeting with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Chief John Odigie-

Says: ‘Not yet time to join APC’ Tony Akowe,Abuja

Oyegun,in Abuja. Also at the meeting which sources said was a prelude to Ogbulafor’s defection was the Deputy National Chairman of the APC,Engineer Segun Oni. Ogbulafor emerged from

the 40 minute meeting to tell reporters that he was at the APC national secretariat to congratulate its leaders on the party’s triumph in the recent elections. He said it was not yet time for him to switch camps and that he would remain in the PDP until it became neces-

sary for him to join the APC. Reminded about his 2008 statement that PDP “will rule Nigeria, whether they like it or not, for not less than 60 years," Ogbulafor retorted: “when they dismantled governors forum, what do you expect?” Following is the transcript of Ogbulafor’s interaction with reporters:

‘Why Jonathan failed’

•Continued from Page 3 16 years and there is no way you will be around for 16 years and you will not make mistakes. So, there are many reasons that will be put together and we will be able to understand and guide people as to next time, these are some of the things you need to do” Aliyu who spoke on “The role of Law in the Enhancement of Socio-Economic Growth of the Nation,” Aliyu said corruption is not

limited to government officials as believed in many quarters. He wondered how a junior civil servant, for instance, could maintain a family of two wives and over 20 children. “There is no way his salary can take care of those children,” he said. Also speaking, the chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Prof. Ahmed Alkali, described Nigeria as a country at the crossroads

in the fight against corruption because every Nigerian is corrupt in one way or the other. He said:”If Nigeria must fight corruption, we must all check ourselves to ensure that at all levels, we kill corruption. Anything we do in excess is corruption.” Former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Legbo Kutigi, also at the lecture expressed regret that despite the fact that there are criminal code provisions, statu-

tory enactment and administrative institutions for combating corruption, the vice has continued to thrive in the country. He blamed the development on weak legal institutions and culture for dealing with corruption. He said Nigeria and other developing countries should create institutional structures and procedures designed to reduce the opportunities for corrupt practices and behaviour.

NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

• Continued from page 3

The repercussions could be politically disastrous for their image, career and confused followership. When a politician goes to poll with confidence, especially after much bragging and flaunting of experience, formidable structure and other pedigrees, they are hardly sensitive to the reality that the line of demarcation between success and failure is thin. Success has many fathers, but the burden of liability may be borne solely by the casualties of electoral defeat. Young politicians have time to correct the mistakes and strike back because age is on their side. They can return to the drawing board, re-strategise and bounce back. But not all of them would have a second chance. When the first lawyer from Akure, Ondo State, Akinola Aguda, stood for parliamentary election as an independent candidate against an Action Group (AG) candidate, despite entreaties to postpone his bid, he met his political waterloo at the poll. He quit politics for life. However, he later emerged as a giant of the bar and bench. Instructively, once the frontline Awoist, the late Chief Akin Omoboriowo, parted with his leader, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, his political career ended on that note. Also, when the late Chief Hezekiah Davies got employment at the CMS Bookshop during the colonial days, to the consternation of firebrand youths who adored him, their perception of his leadership position in the nationalist movement changed. There was loss of political trust. By the time the Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, appointed Davies as a Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, the old lawyer knew that the appointment was a prelude to his retirement. Indeed, some costly mistakes could mar the chance of old political war horses to spring new surprises. Thus, when the AG National Secretary, the late Chief Ayo Rosiji, lost his House of Representatives seat, following his defection to the defunct Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) led by the late Chief Ladoke Akintola and Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, his political career was on the eclipse. He was the last minister of information in Balewa's government. The brilliant career of the colourful politician ended with the First Republic. In post-Jonathan period, what will be the fate of the President's sponsors in the Southwest, Southeast and Southsouth? Politics, no doubt, is in their blood, but will the pro-Jonathan campaigners remain active at the twilight of life? Will the tragedy of defeat make political retirement more compelling? What will be their role under the new government? Adebanjo DEBANJO is a foremost disciple of Awolowo. His assets are his devotion to Awoism, political consistency, integrity and contentment. Many Nigerians hold him in high esteem. In his own right, the Afenifere and National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain is a renowned pro-democracy crusader, an apostle of true federalism and a dogged fighter for the rule of law and justice. Since he entered politics as a youth activist in the AG, he has never looked back. Adebanjo was a member of the AG Youth Association led by Fani-Kayode, and later by Ayo Fasanmi. He was one of the first sets of the AG Organising Secretaries. In the days of political tribulation, he did not betray his leader. He was a foundation member of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), led by Awo. He was also the National Vice Chairman and later Acting Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He was among the three Afenifere leaders who nominated Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the governorship of Lagos State in 1999. Despite his long stay in politics, Adebanjo has never contested elections. However, the camp of his admirers was split during the recent elections. Adebanjo, a lawyer, is the most vocal and combative Afenifere chieftain. When the pan-Yoruba socio-political group endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term, tongues wagged. The perception of his

•Adebanjo

•Ezeife

•Okurounmu

On their way n Emmanuel OLADESU n Group Political Editor

support for the PDP contrasted with the perception of his backing for the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), which was believed to be a protesting progressive party, in 2007. During the electioneering, Adebanjo did not hide his affection for the President, whose achievements he praised to high heavens. The Yoruba elder from IlishanRemo, Ogun State, also hinged his support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government because the President, in his view, had accepted to implement the report of last year's National Conference. Adebanjo was a delegate to the conference. However, another delegate, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), said that its implementation would be a ruse. He explained that the Yoruba Agenda did not scale through at the conference, thereby validating the earlier warning by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that the conference would pale into a decoy, a jamboree and a Greek gift. A source said that Adebanjo mobilised Afenifere to support the PDP candidate to spite Tinubu, who fell out with them during the protracted AD crisis. Indeed, the crises came from two sources-Bola Ige/Olu Falae struggle for power and Ganiyu Dawodu/ Tinubu rift. But unresolved dispute has polarised Afenifere into Fasoranti and Fasanmi factions. While the former pitched tent with Jonathan, the latter supported Buhari. The damage done to Afenifere by the antagonistic positions of the two factions was monumental. According to observers, when the group supported the conservative government at the centre, it mocked its antecedent as an ally of progressive movements. Indeed, the majority of Yoruba ignored his call to vote for the President at the poll. Their feeling was that the group failed to read the correct mood of the marginalised zone. The question is: can the pro-PDP Afenifere faction now speak for Yoruba under the new dispensation? Ajayi INETY-YEAR-OLD Ajayi is an illustrious son of Yorubaland and a great Nigerian; brilliant, polished, discerning, hardworking and highly diplomatic. He is not a noise maker. He is a man of peace. The Isara-Remo-born Awoist is a lawyer by profession. He was a member of the AG, UPN and AD. He is an ex-Commissioner for Education in the old Western State. Many Yoruba people hold him in

high esteem because he is a non-confrontational and non-controversial figure. He is very passionate about his race and its position in a modern Nigeria. Ajayi is one of the three leaders of Afenifere who called the shot until the group was factionalised in the post-Adesanya period. When Senator Abraham Adesanya was the leader of the group, Ajayi and Adebanjo, who were part of the "controlling leadership," exerted much influence on the Ijebu-Igbo-born leader. When the pan-Yoruba socio-political group was engulfed in crisis, he was distressed by the turn of events. But efforts to resolve the logjam in the Lagos chapter through the 60/40 sharing formula recommended by the committee headed by him did not achieve the desired result. Ajayi, a Methodist knight, was a delegate to the National Conference. Although he strategically stayed in the background during the public endorsement of the President by Afenifere, many Yoruba believed that Adebanjo spoke his mind. With the defeat of his preferred presidential candidate, the elder statesman may recoil into his shell. Fasoranti HE Akure, Ondo State-born educationist and politician became the Acting Leader of Afenifere when the crisis ravaging the group got to a peak. Under his leadership, the group has been decimated by strife, rancour and clash of ego. Fasoranti is an old 'Action Grouper,' having joined the dominant progressive bloc in Yorubaland under Awolowo as a student of the University of Ibadan in the fifties. He was loyal to the progressive cause. A teacher, he served as principal in schools in Oyo, Iwo, Osogbo, Iju-Ita-Ogbolu and Ado-Ekiti. In 1979, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin wanted to make him his running mate, but Awo suggested Omoboriowo for ethnic balancing. Fasoranti served as the Commissioner for Finance. A patriot, he surrendered his private school to the government during the takeover of private schools by the Ajasin Administration without asking for compensation. He later established another private school. In 1999, he was the natural choice for the governorship in Ondo State chapter of the AD, but he declined, saying that he was mourning the demise of his beloved wife. Throughout his public career, Fasoranti has always shunned avarice, opulence and materialism. However, as the Afenifere leader, he has

•Fasehun presided over a divided house. Reconciliation in the fold has been difficult. A parley organised by relatively younger members—Olawale Oshun, Tokunbo Ajasin, Kayode Fayemi, Bisi Adegbuyi, Jimi Agbaje, Ayo Afolabi, Yinka Odumakin and Kunle Famoriyo—to unite the group failed. Fasoranti, Adebanjo, and Fasanmi and Olabiyi Durojaye were present at the Ibadan meeting, but it did not lead to any reunion or renewal of contact. Unlike Adesanya, he has over-relied on the "Ijebu Mafia" in the group in decisionmaking, unmindful of their agenda. For example, his Akure declaration that the AD national convention that produced Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa as the chairman appeared to have substantially satisfied the laid down party guidelines led to controversy, with the other group led by Akande, Tinubu and Osoba calling it quits with the party. When the faction also threw its weight behind the PDP governorship candidate in Osun State against Governor Rauf Aregbesola, many Yoruba started to have a second thought about Afenifere. But the straw that broke the camel's back was the group's support for Dr. Jonathan's re-election bid. It came after the outcry by Afenifere against the regime. At a press conference, Fasoranti had criticised the Federal Government for marginalising the Southwest in the distribution of appointments and social amenities. Thus, the uturn was worrisome to many Yoruba sons

NEWS 7

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Co-ordinating Chairman of the Merger Talks. When the APC was formed, Ikimi became its National Vice Chairman (Southsouth). But he withdrew from the party last year because his chairmanship ambition was not supported by powerful forces in the party. Although he returned to the PDP, the party failed in its mission to install the majority of the members of the House of Assembly during the election. ANENIH HE PDP-BOT Chairman is a strategist and a schemer. But in the last election, he could not spring a surprise in favour of the President and the PDP. At 83, the acclaimed 'Mr Fix It' of Nigerian politics appears to be in a fix. The Iyasele of Esanland and frontline politician from Uromi could not also lead the Edo chapter to victory. The question is: Is pre1999 Anenih the same as the Anenih of today? Anenih has never ceased to be on the firing line since the Second Republic. In 1981, he surprisingly displaced the late Chief Tony Enahoro as the Bendel State Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He led the party to victory in 1983, with Dr. Sam Ogbemudia of the NPN displacing Governor Ambrose Ali. That marked the beginning of his meteoric rise to fame. In the Third Republic, the late Gen. Sheu Yar'Adua's group, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), installed Anenih as chairman. But the national chairman did not lend his voice to the June 12 struggle. In 1994, he became a delegate to the National Conference set up by Abacha. In 1999, Anenih, the PDP leader, became a full power broker. He was the Minister of Works in the Obasanjo Administration. Obasanjo, who held him in awe, called him "My Leader", to the amusement of other chieftains who nodded affirmatively. In 2002, he declared that there was no vacancy in Aso Villa. But the tide begun to change for the powerful man in 2007. The former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Oshiomhole, who ran for the governorship of Edo State on the platform of the AC, had called attention to the evil of godfatherism in the state. At the governorship election, he beat Anenih's candidate, Osaherim Osunbor. After the election, he was edged out of office by Obasanjo as the BoT Chairman. But he regained the seat when Obasanjo resigned. During the 2012 governorship election, Oshiomhole also dusted the PDP candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiabvaire. But ahead of the recent elections, the chief worked harder. Some ACN and later, APC chieftains, defected to the PDP. But unlike before, he could not re-enact the old feat. For 16 years, Anenih basked in the euphoria of federal power. He will now need to adjust to a full opposition role at the federal and state levels. Ekwueme HE former Vice President is a successful architect. He has five degrees, capping it all with a doctoral degree in architecture. In 1979, he became the Vice President. As a member of the National Conference, he served on the Committee for the Structure and Framework for the Constitution. The committee proposed the rotation of power across the six regions. Ekwueme was the leader of the "G-34," which fought Abacha to a standstill. He was the first PDP-BoT Chairman. His ambition is to serve as the President, but the aspiration has always been aborted by powerful forces in the party. When the PDP was in deep crisis, he was the Reconciliation Committee chairman. In the last election, the former Vice President's intervention was limited. He complained that the party had neglected him. When the President later visited him, he urged people to support him. Ezeife: ZEIFE was the governor of Anambra State between 1992 and 1993. In 1999, he was an AD chieftain. Later, he became Political Adviser to former President Obasanjo. During the last general election, he campaigned for Dr. Jonathan. But despite the success of the PDP in the state, victory eluded the ruling party at the centre.

•Anenih

•Ikimi

•Fasoranti

to retirement? the President as the Chairman of the National Conference Consultative Committee. The panel collated views from stakeholders from the six geo-political zones. Many Afenifere chieftains were delegates to the conference. But whether the report will be implemented is doubtful. The Egba-born politician campaigned for Jonathan as a chieftain of Afenifere, but PDP failed at the general elections in the Southwest. Fasehun REDERICK Fasehun, a medical doctor and businessman, rose to prominence with a dint of hard work. In the Third Republic, he was a presidential aspirant in the SDP. A Yoruba patriot, he formed what is now known as the ethnic militia, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC). That was during the agitation for the actualisation of the "June 12" mandate. He was detained for 19 months between December 1996 and June 1998. He was released from detention 18 days after the death of the Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. Recently, Fasehun formed the UPN. The party was disowned by the former members of the UPN led by Awo, who also said that he had embarked on a fruitless voyage. There was a split in the party, with some members alleging that it was set up to drum support for the President's second term agenda. The controversy was still raging when news about pipeline monitoring contract filtered into the public. After the initial postponement of the election dates, OPC's protest in Lagos shut down the mega city. Socio-economic activities were paralysed. The group threatened fire and brimstone. At the close of polls, it was evident that the militia was highly deficient in political mobilisation. Osoba HE veteran journalist is a mentor and role model for many media practitioners. Since the late sixties, Osoba has been a household name in Nigeria. He achieved progression in his career under the military rule, but he maintained contact with the grassroots. As he ploughed back to his community, he extended frontiers of cooperation and tentacles of influence across the country. He left indelible marks in the Daily Times as the Editor and Managing Director, The Nigerian Herald as the General Manager, and Editor of The Sketch. He was a member of the 1988 Constituent Assembly. In 1992, he was elected as the governor of Ogun State on the platform of the SDP. In 1999, he

•Ekwueme and daughters, who felt that the organisation might have sold out. Despite its promise to the President Jonathan, Afenifere failed to mobilise the Yoruba to vote for him. There was a clear disconnect between the group and the people. Okurounmu KUROUNMU is a Yoruba star. The engineer is a former university don. In 1979, he was appointed as the Commissioner for Education, and later Works, by former Ogun State Governor Olabisi Onabanjo. He was prominent in the NADECO/Afenifere struggle for the revalidation of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, the late Chief Moshood Abiola. In 1999, the AD chieftain was elected into the Senate. But he was defeated in 2003 by Senator Ibikunle Amosun of the PDP. Shortly after Mr. Ayo Opadokun was shoved aside as the National Secretary of Afenifere and Okurounmu became the scribe. In 2005, he presented Afenifere's position on the alleged third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. But controversy trailed his submission in 2009 that Afenifere membership was open to all Yoruba, irrespective of party affiliations. In 2010, he also rejected the call for power shift by the North, saying that Dr. Jonathan deserved a second term. Last year, Okurounmu was appointed by

bounced back as the governor on the platform of the AD. He was a delegate to the National Conference. Osoba is a founding father of the APC, but along the line, his attention was diverted by local politics. In Ogun State, crisis had broken out between him and the governor, Amosun, over the control of the state chapter. Osoba's men, including Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Senator Gbenga Obadara, and Senator Akin Odunsi, were up in arms against Amosun. In protest, they opted out of the APC. Osoba supported them to seek fortune on another platform. But their next port of call, the SDP, is a fragile party. It lacks a formidable structure. It is unknown to the people of the Gateway State. During the general elections, the party could not fly. Their governorship and senatorial ambitions crumbled. Today, Osoba is perceived as the backbone of one of the opposition parties in Ogun State. Clark ENATOR Edwin Clark, lawyer, former Federal Commissioner for Information and Second Republic senator, knows his onions. He is a fearless defender of the Southsouth interest. The Ijaw Leader was very passionate about the President's second term project. During the electioneering, he exchanged hot words with prominent Northern leaders canvassing power shift, including Prof. Ango Abdullahi and Dr. Junaid Mohammed. But, Clark lost on two fronts. President Jonathan lost at the election while his wife, Bisola, who was the PDP senatorial candidate for Ogun West District, also lost her deposit. But Clark remains the undisputed leader of the Ijaw nation. Ikimi: HE rich architect from Edo State came into political limelight in the Third Republic when he emerged as the National Chairman of the National Republican Convention (NRC). Before then, he was a member of the Constituent Assembly. He was also a Special Adviser to Abacha and later the Minister of Foreign Affairs. A serial defector, Ikimi defected from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), where he was a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), to the PDP in 2001. He conducted the 2003 presidential convention of the party in 2003. In 2006, he joined the defunct AC. He played an important role in the merger of the legacy parties-ACN, ANPP, CPC and a section of APGA. He was the

THE NATION, SATURDAY APRIL 18, 2015

8 News

Alleged plan to destabilise PDP: APC slams Metuh •Offers him crash course on his new role T HE All Progressives Con gress (APC) has denied having any hand in the crumbling of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), as alleged by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, while offering him (Metuh) a free, sixweek crash course on his new role as the opposition spokesman. Reacting to the allegation by Metuh that the APC has been working to destabilise the PDP, the party (APC) said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Abuja yesterday that during the training, Metuh will be given free lessons by his APC counterpart in the spirit of cooperation and for the advancement of the nation’s democracy. ‘’Metuh will need the training to effectively carry out his new, tough task. It is now obvious that he needs to understand that for him to succeed in his new role, he must be credible, empirical, more sophisticated in language use and very passion-

ate, in addition to being able to operate on a lean or zero budget,’’ it said. The APC said it is ludicrous, to say the least, for anyone to suggest that the APC is seeking to destabilise the PDP, when the erstwhile ruling party has done such a great job of crumbling under its own weight, having gorged on the commonwealth. ‘’Really, it beggars belief to say that the APC is seeking to lure away members of the PDP’s NEC with ‘phantom promises and threats’, with a view to destabilising the party, when everyone knows the rate at which PDP stalwarts have been rushing to jump off the sinking ship called the PDP before it finally tips over. ‘’Our National Chairman and our President-elect have even spoken out publicly on this issue, encouraging the eager PDP defectors to stay back in their party, so they can provide a formidable opposition to

the new ruling party. How then can anyone accuse the APC of either luring away PDP members or seeking to destabilise a party that has done itself in?’’ the party queried. It advised Metuh to take a little time off, so he can engage in some introspection, against the backdrop of the total repudiation by Nigerians of the brand of politics that his party, the PDP, played in its days as

the ruling party. ‘’There is no doubt that Metuh is in a hurry to do his work as an opposition spokesman. He should not worry. He should save his energy because he would need it in addition to the crash course which has been offered to him freely, if he is to function effectively in his new role. Having been in opposition for so long, we can tell Metuh that it is not a cakewalk.

‘’Lies by themselves never travel far enough for the truth not to catch up with them, as the PDP must have now realized when its strategy of muckraking, distortion of facts and blatant falsehood - under the guise of electioneering campaign - failed to turn the tide in its favour during the last elections. But it seems the lead actors in that failed strategy, Metuh included, have not yet

learnt their lessons, hence they have continued to engage in their despicable pastime. ‘’The APC has no time to waste on luring away members of the PDP. We have our hands full as we seek to clear the mess that the PDP has made of Nigeria and the state of hopelessness to which its 16-year rule has plunged the citizens. Because Nigerians wanted change, they voted for our party. How then can the party of change allow itself to become populated by the same folks whom Nigerians have rejected?’’ APC said.

How Buhari can succeed, by Yoruba socio-cultural group

Yoruba socio-cultural group,the Majeobaje Movement, has expressed optimism that succour is on the way for Nigeria as the affairs of the country are about to be taken over by a worthy and competent Nigerian in General Muhammadu Buhari. But the group said the incoming administration must draw from all sectors of the country. The group, through its convener, Chief Akintayo AkinDeko, released a 14-point charter in Ibadan to help the incoming administration streamline its efforts at revamping the core socio-economic sectors in the country. The charter covers eradication of corruption, restoration of security, practice of true federalism, rule of law, reforming the constitution and revamping infrastructural facilities. Others are poverty alleviation, reinvigorating industries, universal health care, functional educa-

Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan tion, sustainable agriculture, electricity supply, affordable housing and youth empowerment. Akin-Deko said: "For us at the Majeobaje Movement, good governance at the federal level remains a precondition for achieving better life in the South West. It is for this reason that we forwarded this open-ended Good Governance Charter to the President-Elect and his vice. It is our hope that they will adopt it as a cornerstone for a social pact through which positive change can be systematically ushered into, and thereafter sustained in Nigeria. "There has never been a contractual agreement between voters and political office holders. We are concerned. We believe Nigerians, especially Yoruba, deserve more than we are getting as a people. We need to set an agenda for any government in South West."

Lagos State Governor-Elect Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (third right); Deputy Governor-Elect Dr. Idiat Adebule (third left); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (right); Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa (left); Alhaji Saheed Adebule and Mrs. Bolanle Ambode after receiving their certificates of return from the INEC in Lagos.

Supreme Court faults ex-LP Rep’s defection

HE Supreme Court yester day faulted the 2011 de fection of a House of Representatives member, Ifedayo Sunday Abegunde, from the Labour Part (LP) to the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Abegunde, representing the Akure South/North Federal Constituency, had defected to the APC in 2011, citing division in his home state's chapter of the Labour Party and insisted

Eric IKHILAE, Abuja on retaining his seat. In a unanimous judgment yesterday, the court's sevenman bench gave reasons why it upheld the earlier concurrent decisions of the Federal High Court, Akure and the Court of Appeal, Akure to the effect that Agunbiade was no longer protected by the proviso to the provision of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution when the division in his former party (LP) when

President-elect urged to provide enabling environment for companies

HE President-elect, Gen eral Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) has been urged to create the enabling environment for small-medium enterprises to grow by giving them access to proper funding through interest-free loan, tax waivers or rebate as a way of fast-tracking economic development of the country. The incoming President was also admonished to concentrate more on the power sector to encourage the SME, and also ensure proper industrialization of all major sectors of the economy, particularly the pharmaceutical industry in order to grow the economy. Speaking on the Buhari-Presidency in a statement in Lagos, Mr. Godwin Ezeoke, Chief Executive officer, Goche Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, said the easiest way to grow the pharmaceutical industry is by providing interest-free loan, tax waiver or rebate and low import duties on pharmaceutical products and equipment which will give Nigerians free access to affordable generic products to improve on the health needs of Nigerians and promote economic growth. On promotion of the health

sector, the Goche CEO, called on the incoming government to pay more attention to establishing specialist hospitals with modern technology as available elsewhere in the world to cater for the health needs of Nigerians at home which will also reduce capital fight to foreign lands. Mr. Ezeoke pointed out that Nigerians are full of great expectations from the Buhari presidency and therefore urged

the incoming administration to assist potential industrialists in the pharmaceuticals health and food processing sectors of the economy to promote massive employment generation in the sectors, leading to fast economic growth. He explained that encouraging generous economic measures with easy access to proper funding through tax waivers or rebate and low-interest loan facilities to industrialists will en-

courage growth of the middle class and reduce the widening gap between the super-rich and the low income earners which the outgoing administration had not paid much attention to. The industrialist also advised the incoming President to place high priority on security, particularly as a retired general to guarantee proper security of lives and property of the citizenry.

One year of Chibok girls in captivity horrible, says NCWS

HE National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has described as tragic the inability of the Nigerian military with assistance from neighbouring countries to rescue the missing Chibok girls. The NCWS said “it is widely feared that they are not only being used as human shields during the ongoing military onslaught but also married off”. A statement by its Lagos chapter President, Mrs Iyabo Osifeso, said it was sad that the girls had spent an entire year away from their families, just because they wanted to learn. Mrs Osifeso said: "This has been a devastating year for

Tajudeen ADEBANJO schoolchildren in the North Eastern part of the country. We condemn the terrorist group's atrocities, including abduction and use of children for suicide bombings. "As mothers, our hearts beat with sorrow the precarious state the girls must have found themselves for a whole 365 days in the wilderness. "We are equally worried how hundreds of thousands of children have been displaced from their homes and deprived of their rights to live and grow up in safety, dignity and peace. It is unfortunate that majority of

those displaced are children and these children are out of school." The body reiterated the need for government to address the issue with urgency. "It is high time government changed its tactics in engaging the insurgents. Trillions of naira expended on security must be accounted for. The issue of intelligence gathering among the various security operatives must be totally overhauled with the mindset of injecting fresh ideas that would make our security agents stand shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts in developed countries," she said.

he defected, was only at the state level. The Supreme Court had, in its earlier decision on March 19, upheld the decisions by the Federal High Court and the Appeal Court on the issue, but promised to give reasons for its decision on a later date. Yesterday, the court held that by the combined interpretation of sections 68(1)(a) and (g) and 222(a),(e) and (f) of the Constitution, "it is only a dispute or crisis which affects/consumes the national leadership of a political party that entitles the appellant (Abegunde), who had defected from the party that sponsored him, to retain his seat." Abegunde had, shortly after his defection, went before the Federal High Court, Akure on January 26, 2012 seeking to restrain the leadership of the LP in Ondo State and the leadership of the House of Representatives from tampering with his seat. In a judgment on May 30, 2012 in the suit marked: FHC/ AK/CS/31/2012, the trial court upheld the argument of the Ondo State House of Assembly, the Clerk of the House and its Speaker (sued as 1st to 3rd defendants) that Abegunde was no longer entitled to his seat having defected solely on the basis of a division/crisis in the Ondo chapter of the party. The court also granted the 1st to 3rd defendants prayer that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declare the seat vacant and conduct a bye-election for the vacant seat. On Abegunde's appeal to the Court of Appeal, the appellate court in a September 15, 2014 judgment, upheld the trial court's decisions, forcing Abegunde to appeal to the Supreme Court.

In the lead judgment prepared by Justice Musa Datijo Muhammad, but read yesterday by Justice Clara Bata-Ogunbiyi, the Supreme Court held that the principles it enunciated in the two cases of FEDECO vs Goni (1983)LPELR-1266(SC) and Abubakar vs AG Federation (2007) 10 NWLR (Part 1041) at 178 are to the effect that it is "only such factionalisation, fragmentation, splintering or division that make it impossible or impracticable for a political party to function will, by virtue of the proviso to Section 68(1)(g), justify a person's defection to another party and the retention of his seat for the unexpired term in the house in spite of the defection. "Otherwise, as rightly held by the courts below, the defector automatically loses his seat. In the instant case, the two courts are right that the LP that has continued to function as a political party by meeting the conditions required under sections 221 and 222 of the Constitution. "The interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution in relation to sections 221 and 222 of the Constitution, to arrive at the same conclusion does not derogate from the position. The lower court must be commended for its consideration of several clauses of the Constutition and coming out with the harmonious conclusion it has and by so doing, enthroning the real intention of the framers of the Constitution," the court said. Other members of the sevenman panel that heard the appeal - Mahmud Mohammed (the Chief Justice of Nigeria), John Fabiyi, Ogunbiyi, Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Suleiman Galadima and Kudirat kekereEkun - agreed with the opinion as contained in the lead judgment.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

With Buhari’s discipline , Tinubu’s vision and Osinbajo’s law ROM May 29 2015 when retired General Muhammadu Buhari is sworn in as our new president our nation turns a new page in terms of leadership and governance. My mission today is to hazard a guess on the path and direction of that change as well as its prospects alongside the expectations of Nigerians. This is because Nigerians are yet to believe their luck and fate that a new government has resulted from the flawed democratic and electoral process that has become our political culture and has created the myth that the incumbency factor can never yield or give way to a change of government in any democratic election. Now the April 11 2015 presidential elections has made that a thing of the past and our nation Nigeria is on the march again as in that famous NTA network commercial and song. This is a march that can be described as both military and democratic in nature because the APC which won the presidential election is not only an amalgam of both , as is the PDP which it displaced, but it is also a political hybrid of sorts. This is because the vision that created the APC was quite innovative in its perspective that alliances have to be created by whatever means across the north - south divide of our great nation to pose a credible and potent challenge to the mammoth spread and reach of the ruling PDP. This notion and vision appeared to be a gamble then to onlookers, but now it is a gamble that has paid off and very beautifully too in terms of the dividends of democracy. This again is because power has changed hands across the nation seamlessly and effortlessly without rancor and the much dreaded post election violence that the west especially has always invoked as the inevitable result of our electoral and democratic process in Nigeria. Now that myth and misrepresentation has been guillotined by the smooth transition going on in the emergence of retired General Muhammadu Buhari as our president elect until May 29 when he will be sworn in as our president. Today however I look at this march as a march forward and in terms the dictates and philosophy of the discipline of Strategic Management. The take off theory here is that a company, organization and indeed any nation can not be severed from its environment and its strategy must reflect that fact to be realistic and successful. If you substitute a political party like our new ruling party the APC then you have real subject of political analysis that is both educative and revealing especially after our last presidential elections. To have a good strategy an organization must have a vision, stemming from its position as it creates programmes that can enable it to make products and services profitably. Any organization in any environment must have evolved a culture from its way of operations arising from its structure, its systems and the people working for it. Of course the strategy is the compass that will lead the direction of the operational march of any organization in any environment. It is against this background that we take a look at the trio of personalities that have emerged as the leadership of the APC as it takes over power from the PDP after May 29. This leadership involves both the president and vice president elect as well as the National leader of the Party Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos state. In spite of this tripod leadership however we acknowledge that since we run a presidential system, the buck stops on the table of Mr President Muhammadu Buhari. Again if we start from the formal to the informal we shall easily see that in terms of discipline as a soldier and an officer Buhari stands head and shoulder over the other two. In terms

of experience and hunger for the job of president also he has no equal. So the march of progress at his command must proceed at a fast but humane pace as Nigerians expect the creation of jobs for our youths, power for our industries, free tuition in our universities and institutions of higher learning and the final onslaught to terminate the terror of Boko Haram in our midst. This is especially urgent and most desirable now because of the report that the Time Magazine has insultingly named the Boko Haram leader alongside our president as amongst the ‘Most Influential 100‘. Which really is a clear case of bad judgement on the part of the reputable Time Magazine for the simple fact that it is giving a podium of recognition to terrorism and murder of Nigerians just for the simple reason that Nigerians are not Americans and as such honors can be awarded to their killers while the US will go to any length to attack and kill anyone who attacks or kills its citizens. Time Magazine should be told that its mis categorisation of our president on the same platform with the Boko Haram leader, no matter the criteria, is not only insolent and barbaric to Nigerians, it is provocatively promoting terrorism and is just not acceptable. The rule of law creates the enabling environment for democracy and economic growth to thrive any where and Nigeria is no exception. The Vice President elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo brings impeccable credentials to support the president elect both as a professor of law and as a pastor. The law of any society evolves from its tradition and customs and religion teaches moralty and ethics so that citizens respect each other’s rights and beliefs and do not impose their will on others and create anarchy. As a former Attorney General of Lagos state Professor Osinbajo is well placed to lead and guide the march towards a peaceful and prosperous era for Nigerian after May 29 and we can not wait long enough for him to

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The Vice President elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo brings impeccable credentials to support the president elect both as a professor of law and as a pastor. The law of any society evolves from its tradition and customs and religion teaches moralty and ethics so that citizens respect each other’s rights

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assume office with the president elect. The third arm of this tripod of leadership come May 29 is an informal arm of leadership at least for now till May 29 when he must assume a leading position in Nigeria’s march towards economic prosperity from that date. He comes well prepared politically, intellectually and professionally. He is Bola Ahmed Tinibu the visioner of the change that translated into the electoral success that will ensure that a new president is sworn in on the platform of the victorious APC at the last April 11 elections in this nation. This is one laurel that no one can take away from this former oil accountant and shrewed politician who extols and practices capitalism but with a human face. Intellectually he is well prepared and has a prepared text to turn this nation round in terms of economic growth on the march towards prosperity and reduction of the inequalities and poverty that has been the hallmark of the defeated administration. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the joint au thor of the book Financialism –which states that it is on how to get water from a well and how the financial system bleeds the economy. The book is an antidote to the present IMF induced and Washington Concenssus driven conditionalities that have pauperized nations applying it as Nigeria has for years now through the IMF agent in our midst – the Coordinating Minister for the Economy. Luckily that will be over by May 29 when our new March begins. I bet the economic march will dance to the beat and drums Financialism to the betterment of Nigerians, their families and their future. Really Financialism is in the same league as that of the book by the winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2001 Professor Joseph Stiglitz who wrote Globalisation and its Discontent, a book that condemned the IMF and World Bank for imposing a model of economic growth that favored banks and financial institutions while ignoring competing and alternative economc models of growth that reduce poverty and inequalities while embarking on the economic path of realistic and beneficial change. That too is the theme of Financialism and I can not see any Finance Minister better prepared than Asiwaju for the march forward to transform our economy to a prosperous one with its innovative and well researched analysis of economic growth and recipe for poverty reduction and bridging of the gap of economic inequalities. I know and acknowledge that the manifestoes and creed of the APC are in the public domain. I cannot however resist the urge to peep into the minds of our new leaders because their emergence has given us great hopes and expectations. Till May 29 then, hazarding a guess on the direction of this desirable and promising march will be my main occupation on this page. It is an assignment that I hope will be mutually beneficial with readers generally. Again long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

To heal an ailing nation RULY, we all agree that our country, Nigeria is mentally sick, and should not be allowed to die.Nigerians, especially our so called leaders are worshiping mindless accumulation of material wealth and money to the detriment of God and positive spiritual values. Most of Nigeria's problems, particularly the phenomenal corruption that has crippled the country and aborted the realization of her vast potentials can be traced to the Second Republic (1979-1983). This was the period when the seeds of wanton corruption in public life were sown, a problem that was to assume monstrous dimness during the dark years of military dictatorship. Contemporary Nigerian leaders are motivated by greed for money rather than patriotic and selfless service to the people. The Christian scripture is quite right in the book of Timothy when it describes the love of money as the root of all evils. This is certainly true of Nigeria. The love of money is the root of the massive corruption responsible for the mass poverty, endemic unemployment, collapsed infrastructure, epileptic power supply, chronic insecurity, ever increasing inequality and other ills responsible for Nigeria's persistent underdevelopment. The huge money realized corruptly through holding public office is responsible for the fierce and vicious struggle to win elections at all costs and by all means in Nigeria. This is why election campaigns and actual elections in the country are characterized by desperate attempts to perpetrate various kinds of electoral malpractices as well as violence and bloodshed. The excessive quest for money by all means no matter how diabolical is also responsible for crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, ritual killing, prostitution and fraudulent 419 activities. Medically, a well diagnosed disease is partially cured. If we have identified greed and excessive accumulation of I'll gotten wealth as the root cause of Nigeria's problems, then decisive steps must be taken to tackle this menace. For instance, the renumeration and allowances of public office holders at all levels should be drastically reviewed downwards to a more sustainable level that does not constitute a drain on national resources. To address the problem of inequality between the vast majority of poor Nigerians and the minority of wealthy individuals, there should be a limit placed on the amount of money it is legally

Wole OWOLABI permissible for an individual to acquire while the war against corruption and all forms of illegitimate enrichment should be intensified. Excess money realized and acquired from corrupt individuals should be diverted into the establishment of industries, firms, companies, factories and other business ventures where jobless people can be employed in the country. Rich Nigerians should also be encouraged to engage in philanthropy and invest their money selflessly in improving the conditions of the poor masses. To uplift the poor and bring about rapid development in Nigeria, there must be massive investment in three key sectors - health, education and agriculture. These three sectors are today in a pathetic state. The Health Sector is sick and ailing seriously. There is no true and realistic free health care again in the country. There are no cheap as well as affordable drugs and medical materials.Terminal diseases like Kidney problems, Heart problems, Lungs problems and various body cancer problems, just to mention a few are very common and rampant among Nigerians

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Excess money realized and acquired from corrupt individuals should be diverted into the establishment of industries, firms, companies, factories and other business ventures where jobless people can be employed in the country

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(both in young and old people) nowadays. The education sector does not fare any better. It is also sick and suffering as well. There is no true free education in the country. Right from Primary, Secondary to Tertiary institutions, Pupils, students and undergraduates are undergoing a lot of stress while trying to acquire desired educational attachments. In Government primary schools for instance, there is no sufficient infrastructural materials for learning. No adequate chairs or benches for pupils to sit during classes. Most classrooms floors are riddled with pot-holes. Also, at the Government Secondary Schools, there are no library facilities, talkless of free text books which students would have loved to read. Moreover, majority of the Government Secondary Schools in the country are without science Laboratories facilities while the country itself is desiring and aspiring to be scientifically and technologically developing and progressing. In the agricultural sector,many of our local farmers are facing numerous difficulties while attempting to meet the need of the common people in terms of food production. There is no serious and realistic encouragement from the government. No cheap modern agricultural equipment like Tractors, Planters, Harvesters and Caterpillars to use in producing Agricultural crops in large quantities for masses’ needs in the country. Consequently, high cost of food and living is prevalent everywhere in the country and millions of citizens are suffering silently. A critical condition for addressing the problems of mass poverty, deprivation and underdevelopment in Nigeria is the provision of stable electricity supply to all homes in Nigeria as well as for commercial and industrial use. Nigeria is truly and terribly sick, but should NOT be allowed to die. It is thus of utmost importance that our political leadership urgently address these problems in the interest of the toiling masses. “May God save Nigeria” (Amen). • Owolabi a university teacher writes from Ibadan, Oyo State

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

COMMENTARY

My quarrel with tagging Jonathan as democracy hero Saturday S Flakes INCE he conceded defeat to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, on March 30, the news media have been awash with praises of President Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election held on March 28. The outgoing President, whose less than impressive performance in the six years he has been in the saddle saw him roundly beaten by Buhari in the election, had sent a text message, congratulating the APC candidate before counting was concluded at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat after a plot by his foot soldiers to subvert the process had failed prompted many to hail him as not just a statesman, but a hero of democracy. The more lavish of the praise singers, among whom I count former Chief of Army S taff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, even vowed that Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat had made up for all his failures as the nation’s leader for six years. These include his inability to rescue the close to 300 school girls abducted by the deadly Boko Haram insurgents from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State one year ago. Lionizing President Jonathan for conceding defeat after fanning the embers of violence with hate speeches and dividing the nation along ethnic and religious lines is a sentiment that flows from the reluctance of previous leaders to quit office. It sends a wrong message: that an elected president has the option of staying on when he has been defeated in a free, fair and credible election. This unfortunate mentality was foisted on the nation in 1993 when former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, refused to hand over to Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola, the winner of the presidential election held on June 12, 1993. Babangida's refusal to quit and the protracted crisis that resulted had thrown the nation into arguably the darkest period of its political history. But its most enduring legacy is the tragic belief that an elected president is a hero, if he loses re-election and hands over power as he is constitutionally obliged to do. By heaping praises on Jonathan for accepting a fair and square defeat, we are inadvertently admitting that Babangida’s refusal to hand over to an elected President in 1993 was justifiable. It is also an indication that we have not learnt from the ugly experience we had with former President Olusegun Obasanjo who sought to perpetuate himself in office after exhausting the maximum of two terms

With

Vincent Akanmode vincentakanmode@yahoo.com SMS only: 08034426263

mandated by the constitution. Before he became the candidate of the PDP and won the presidential election in 1999, Obasanjo had enjoyed global acclamation as the only military ruler in Africa to supervise an election and willingly hand over power to an elected president. For two decades, Obasanjo was feted by the western world and hailed as Africa’s hero of democracy. So effusive were the encomiums that Obasanjo began to think that he probably made a mistake when he handed over power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari. It was not a surprise that when he became an elected president in 1999, he told himself that he would not repeat the ‘mistake’ he made 20 years earlier. First, he shunned the calls from some quarters that he should adopt the Mandela option and quit after one term. And when he had exhausted the maximum two terms specified in the Constitution, he began to plot for the third. It took the gallantry and tenacity of some progressive

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It smacks of ill-logic that the President would be venerated for dousing the tension he ought not have created in the first place. What favour has a murderer done if he beheads an old man in the sun and keeps the severed head in a cool place?

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minds in the National Assembly to scuttle the illicit and illegitimate agenda. By telling him that he performed an extraordinary act by quitting office after losing an election, Jonathan’s praise singers appear determined to goad him on Obasanjo’s path. Lost on them is the fact that the tension that set the nation up for a conflagration was masterminded by Jonathan himself. He looked away when Ayodele Fayose, Doyin Okupe, Femi Fani-Kayode and his other foot soldiers heated up the polity with utterances that were fit only for the Stone Age. He maintained deafening silence when Dokubo-Asari, Tompolo and other ex-Niger Delta militants threatened to destroy oil installations and set the nation on fire if he did not win the presidential election. He acquiesced all the mudslinging, character assassination and other campaigns of calumny his wife and hangers on launched against the persons of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and some of his backers. Jonathan and his men played their last joker with the crisis orchestrated by Elder Godsday Orubebe during the collation of results at INEC headquarters on March 30. Discerning Nigerians knew that Orubebe was merely acting a script written by the Presidency and the election would have been truncated, if Jega had not handled Orubebe’s outburst with tact and dignity and the nation would have been thrown into unimaginable crisis. But rather than giving Jega who foiled the evil plot the credit, its masterminds are being hailed as heroes. Jonathan gave up when all else had failed and he realised the enormity of the forces he was up against locally and internationally. The tension he is being hailed for dousing emanated from what he did or failed to do as President. If he, his wife and cohorts had invested in governance, half of the energy they dissipated on insulting Buhari and assassinating his character, there would have been no need for tension or the fierce contest that set the nation on edge. Except the adulations are meant to massage his ego and goad him to relinquish power without feeling a sense of rejection, it smacks of ill-logic that the President would be venerated for dousing the tension he ought not have created in the first place. What favour has a murderer done, if he beheads an old man in the sun and keeps the severed head in a cool place? Jonathan deserves credit for realising that the game was up and doing the needful. But arrogating heroism to him in spite of his divisive tendencies as President would amount to making nonsense of the concept.

No basis for deadlock in Abia governorship poll HE contrived deadlock of the Abia State governorship election, which is fast turning out to be one of the few black spots in the otherwise reasonably peaceful 2015 general elections, which took place on March 28 and April 11, is uncalled for and calculated to deny Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu and Abia people their victory, as the facts hereunder would show. At the Umuahia collation centre, INEC had collated, declared and announced results based on the entry in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s EC8D form, which showed the PDP candidate, Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu to be the clear winner, having secured 248,459 votes. This is more than the required 25% of total valid votes cast in twothirds of the 17 local governments. Dr. Ikpeazu’s closest rival was Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), who secured 165,406 votes, which is 83,053 less than Ikpeazu’s votes. The official figures released by INEC and duly signed by Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, Abia State governorship election’s Returning Officer and all accredited agents of the political parties, including APGA’s Chief Ahmadi Nweke, shows that of the 1,217,632 registered voters in the state, 470,900 were accredited. Of this, there were 439,454 votes cast with 430,561 valid votes and 8,893 rejected votes. The unaccounted-for vote is 31,246. These votes could not be cast in areas where there were no elections materials, or as a result of violence. Dr. Ikpeazu’s commanding lead by 83,053 votes are enough to return him elected because even if the runner-up, APGA’s Dr. Alex Otti wins the entire 31,246 unaccounted-for votes, his total votes would add up to 196,652, while the PDP candidate, Dr. Ikpeazu’s lead of 248,459

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The calls for free and fair elections which were made across the nation and in the media does not end with the parties but includes the electoral agency which was itself a signatory to the Abuja Peace Accord

• Jega

Prof. Godwin NWAGUMA

would still make him a clear winner, even though his 83,053 advantage over Otti would be reduced to 51,627. Therefore, the unwarranted action by INEC to declare the election inconclusive is a travesty of justice. It should not stand. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, should intervene in this matter so that the hitherto credible work he has done is not rubbished. This misapplication of justice runs contrary to the positive tones with which results have been received across the nation, because, aside of the party, (APGA’s) verbal query of the figure, there was no evidence put forward to remotely suggest that there was any anomaly or breach of electoral rules in the conduct of elections in the state. The nation is reveling in the turnout for the elections, which is a departure from the gloomy

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picture that the pre-election campaigns painted, and the scattered displays of violence and misconduct. The REC and RO should not short-circuit the nation’s joy. This is imperative because the contradicting position taken by the INEC in Abia State may set fire to the tinder-box of political insurgency in the state if the Commission allows the growing discontent that heralded the decision by Prof. Ozumba and Prof. Oko to declare the already concluded elections inconclusive, persist. The calls for free and fair elections which were made across the nation and in the media does not end with the parties but includes the electoral agency which was itself a signatory to the Abuja Peace Accord. It cannot now engage in an act of partisan affiliations which seeks to deprive the winner of his victory in favor of an opponent in what may be seen as the electoral agency’s officials’ preferred candidate. • Nwaguma is the National Coordinator of Vanguard for Abia Rebirth

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

COMMENTARY

Chibok 219 and a rekindled hope T has been one agonising year of fruitless search with no single verifiable news about the whereabouts of the Chibok girls. Of course, no one thought it would get this far before those kids would be re-united with their families. However, the reality is that it may take much more longer before we get to know the real truth behind the April 14, 2014 Boko Haram insurgents' raid on a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State and the abduction of about 219 girls. First, the authorities thought it was one of those political stunts being played by the opposition to paint the government in bad light. When it finally dawned on them that Shekau and his band of blood-sucking insurgents had actually done the impossible with the huge haul of helpless and inocent girls in their custody, Nigeria had already become the butt of a big joke in the comity of nations. It is not so much about the tardiness with which the news was handled but more about the countless days the authorities conveniently decided to live in denial that any man born of a woman would perpetuate such monstrous act on a set of girls in their dormitories. They fiddled for too long and therefore bungled early possibilities of actualizing a rescue. Today, some 368 days later, the story of the Chibok 219 remains an endless maze of entrapment. It is the shame of a nation. It is interesting that, as concerned Nigerians and the international community are unwavering in their campaigns for the return of the girls, there exist a significant number of people who still see the whole abduction saga as one big fraud and a political tool hyped by the opposition. Pity. While doubters have the right to operate at their whimsical best, it will not be out of order to remind ourselves that a top ranking security official once confirmed that the abducted girls had been sighted and everything was being done to rescue them ‘alive.’ Just that it turned out to be one of those usual dud promissory notes issued by a mindless government to expectant citizens. It did not take long before that hope of a rescue paled into insignificance as the parents, well-wishers and campaigners for the return of the girls continue to endure their pains as days run into months and months into the whole cycle of a year. As the unimaginable agony unfolds daily, hope dims into hopelessness and some parents' lost their lives in prolonged psychological distress. Some have suggested that it is high time we gave up hope on ever finding the girls. Yet that would be defeatist. Not even President Goodluck Jonathan, in spite of the initial bungling, has given up on the matter. His logic that the insurgents would have released a video of the mass killing of the girls, if such had happened, gives a glint of hope. Agreed that Jonathan's kill-and-exhibit analogy may not be the most logical of comments by the country’s Chief Security Officer; that statement, somehow, mediates the trauma and anguish of the parents and every other concerned citizen. We just cannot wish away the disappearance of such a large number of girls in the bloody hands of the unfeeling lot called the Boko Haram sect. Of course, we do know the insurgents’ capacity to wreak maximum havoc with cold-blooded impudence; we just have to hold on to the tinniest thread that hope offers.

Knucklehead With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 Now that Nigeria has wriggled out of the pure chicanery of its hateladen politics, it is soul lifting that the authorities are beginning to cut through the façade of denial that they were once robed. In a rare show of empathy, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, spoke of the government’s determined effort not only in rescuing the girls but also every other person held captive by the terrorists. As the Nigerian military continues to comb all the hideouts of the terrorists with the aim of flushing them out, Dasuki’s revelation that the much-dreaded Sambissa Forest would be liberated before Jonathan’s official departure on May 29 should enliven the spirit. If that happens, then that may as well mark the beginning of the end for a sect that has bloodied the land in the last six years. It could also end up being the most valuable legacy of the

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Some have suggested that it is high time we gave up hope on ever finding the girls. Yet that would be defeatist. Not even President Goodluck Jonathan, in spite of the initial bungling, has given up on the matter. His logic that the insurgents would have released a video of the mass killing of the girls, if such had happened, gives a glint of hope

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Jonathan years. Truth be told, the post-election Jonathan we see today is miles apart from the lethargic, albeit uninspiring, leader that was overwhelmed by the hawks who sold tissues of lies to him as facts. Jonathan’s self-discovery of his humanity in his last few weeks in office is humbling. Now, his aides seem to be toeing the path of responsive and responsible governance. They are saying the right things and taking the right steps. The arrogance and sheer buffoonery of the past five years have simply vanished. If only Jonathan had listened to us when we voiced out our frustrations over how the court jesters held him captive. Then, the President's ears were completely blocked by the sweet lullabies of deceit and he was alienated from the people who did nothing other than task him to act presidential and put an end to the "there is God" farcical drama which eventually went viral on the social media. Did Jonathan remember that we once called on him to shake off his shambolic approach to the Chibok 219 issue at the height of the global outcry? Did he recall how we pleaded with him to ignore the script, ingeniously crafted by some of his men, that suggested that the Chibok story was nothing other than an audience-gripping tele-novella made real by Jonathan’s political enemies? Did he as much as express his displeasure with the way and manner some sponsored groups became tools in the hands of government as they laboured to put an end to whatever the #bringbackourgirls group was trying to achieve? Did he remember the abuse, threat and outright blackmail directed against the key leaders of the Oby Ezekwesili-led group in their persistent efforts to interface with their President on the way forward? Did he remember how the authorities giggled before Malala Yousafzai's soul-searching words as she spewed her outrage over the impotence of government in plotting an early rescue of the girls? Did Jonathan know that some of us still wonder till today how they managed to keep a straight face as Malala tongue-lashed them like a toddler would chastise an adult for failing to live up to the expectations of a doddering infant? Well, we do not need to gloat over the sickening drama of the past. Clearly, where we are today is better than the doubts, denials and cheap politics of the past. Why should we give up when the government has rekindled our hope with a commitment to finding and returning the girls to their homes? With the reported liberation of forty communities from the insurgents and the fortification of border routes in the affected areas, we just have no option but to cling to that flickering hope that the promised final invasion of Sambissa Forest would bring us to the end of the scary saga of the Chibok 219. Somehow, we just hope to see that silver lining at the end of a nightmarish psychological torment that has lasted for a year, holding on to the government's assurance that latest intelligence report "indicates that the present military operation is focused in the area where the girls are believed to be held". What else can we do if not pray and hope that, this time, this government would walk its tough talk after months of flowing with the wind of deceit?

We think we are thinking… (2) S If our educationally retrogressive ‘dad’ is not enough of a challenge in itself, this is given further regressive impetus with the tri-lopsided nature of our economy – the LAP crew – Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt with each selectively playing their own non-developmental role. How so? This is new! Nothing new, if you open your eyes. They call Lagos the ‘centre of excellence’, nope, it is the gateway to consumption. According to Maersk Shipping Line, Nigeria’s import/export container ratio is currently running at 92% import and 8% export (Google this information). This paltry export is dominated by nonprocessed agricultural produce as we cannot even process the 8% produced. So all Apapa and Tin Can ports mostly contribute to Nigeria via Lagos, is to feed our insatiable consumption appetite for imported products which dominate the trading markets in Oshodi, Balogun, Yaba, Mile 2, Mile 12, Trade Fair, etc. Add the transportation sector, Lagos State revenue services, banking and telecom sectors and you get a feel for how all these interwoven dependants efficiently promote the distribution network for our imported feeding frenzy. The second part of this tripod, being Abuja, is in our central geographical comfort zone ruled by the political consumption elite comprising the political class and their accompanying partners in consumption - the ministries, departments and agencies, being masters at perfecting the art of just taking and nothing much to give except laws, rules and regulations. It would be nice if they were followed through or implemented for progressive reasons rather than nothing that much substantial to show nationally for all they get. Our propping up masters in Port Harcourt meanwhile, the third in the economic tripod, contributes the bulk of our foreign exchange, international vagaries of the oil market notwithstanding. Where does propping up come into play here? Fact is, if the foreigners leave Port Harcourt today and they cart along their dredging, drilling, excavating, bulldozing and offshore equipment, we can hardly get that oil or gas – MEND guys excluded of course - at least they know how to bend and send the pipes’ products for their own pre-destined purposes, you have to at least give credit to them on that one. So where to now? What should be the roadmap, blue print, white paper, policy initiative or whatever fancy pansy name we tend to come up with? There is no local government in Nigeria without an agricultural product, mineral resource or abundant human resources. Take a staple product like yam with Ekiti farmers and Ekitians well noted for pounded yam and vegetable stew. What is wrong with organising them into cartels with better guaranteed access to agricultural bank loans via the Bank of Agriculture? One yam processing silo built for

Dele OWOLOWO farming cartels or cooperatives would create hundreds of jobs through the need for security guards, cooks, drivers, admin and accounting personnel, farm processing operatives, including preservation, storage, packaging, distribution, marketing and sales personnel. By the time restaurants, guest houses, entertainment and leisure resorts, retail outlets and far flung markets are added, the impact on the local economy would be revolutionary mind-blowing. Local governments would become proactive money earning establishments rather than reactive money-collection or distribution channels for ‘Abuja’ goodies. This is where the agro-technical institutes come into play in researching, designing and producing improved devices, implements, instruments and machines that can be modernised to plant, cultivate, harvest, gather, or preserve agricultural produce for better yield. With a sure increase in employment, then it becomes relatively easy to track and tax citizens, ramp up internally generated revenue, IGR, spend on infrastructure and other social amenities earned from the sweat of the citizens. At this rate, states would be better placed to seek loans on the strength of their economies at better rates rather than laying the foundation for infrastructural development accompanied with state indebtedness. Without engaging its human capital productively, this provides the backdrop and ample reason(s) for citizens to exclaim – Na road we wan chop! Now for industrialisation - It is in the application of physics that the black race, supposed to be led by Nigeria,

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There is no local government in Nigeria without an agricultural product, mineral resource or abundant human resources. Take a staple product like yam with Ekiti farmers and Ekitians well noted for pounded yam and vegetable stew. What is wrong with organising them into cartels with better guaranteed access to agricultural bank loans via the Bank of Agriculture?

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has been disappointing and that’s why we would never be able to command respect from other races considering the unenviable situation of our techno-engineering sector. Borrowing from the opinion of Mr Chibuzor Asomugha, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics President, his call for reorienting the education budget allocation should be given meaningful attention. In The Source Magazine of July 2014, p 43, he analysed the 2012 education budget of N400 billion with universities getting around N188 billion (47%), polytechnics about N64 billion (16%) and the colleges of education handed close to N43 billion (11%). This outlined the lopsidedness of the education budget towards universitybased education system. If we are serious about technicalvocational development, this should be turned the other way round. But is it possible, to take steps to enable the environment? We have been saying this for decades - if you are waiting for the government that will be forever. I wish we could borrow a cue from Dr Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Motors, and learn that if there has not been an enabling environment in fifty years, then it is high time we learnt to enable the environment. The question is, which government - at the federal, state or local government level? Take the textile ‘adire’ market in Abeokuta, the popular fabricating Panteka market in Kaduna, the acclaimed indigenous technology people in Aba and Onitsha, the cane weavers in Maryland, Lagos who are always complaining of lack of governmental support or harassment from government officials (http://thenationonlineng.net/new/lack-fund-banecane-weavers/) – they are of more earning potential to Nigeria Plc., especially through the state and local governments, than the secondarily useful professionals we everlastingly roll out each year most of whom are aiming for immigration exercise recruitment in Abuja. The answer to Nigeria’s advancement is at any place outside the LAP cities – the available land for all manner of agriculture and industrialisation. Revolutionising and reprioritising the educational budget allocation would be the first meaningful step in this direction. All that is needed is organisation - land is there, human resource in abundance, products already known, rudimentary technology available, markets aplenty – what in heaven’s name do we want more of? Simply just to allocate resources productively is our headache! Don’t worry we’ll get there. But how? Somehow…somehow, you know… Now, do you think we are thinking? •Owolowo, author, ‘Nigeria’s Odyssey…’, is an educationist, trainer and rural entrepreneur with widely travelled background. owolowo.dele@gmail.com,

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Red light girls on the loose as Kuramo Beach resurrects in Lekki, Lagos Story on pages 14,15&16

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Life at the new ʻKuramo Beachʼ in Lekki, Lagos

•Scenes within and around the new ‘Kuramo Beach’

The former Kuramo Beach on Victoria Island, Lagos was notorious for prostitution and crime before it was washed away by the ocean surge. After the disaster, residents of the beach migrated to Lekki and set up businesses near the Lekki Beach. OKORIE UGURU visited the new red light area and reports. from his face. Such scenes are common at New Kuramo, the home of sex and lewd lifestyle. It is a neighbourhood without provision for moral life; the ghetto area of highbrow Lekki Peninsula, beside Alhaji Lateef Jakande Low Cost Housing Estate. It is located on Beach Gate Road, which also leads to Lekki Beach. From

Jakande Second Gate, any resident or commercial motorcyclist could direct a visitor to this sordid hangout where business begins and ends with sex. The New Kuramo evolved after the old one was washed away by the surge of the Atlantic Ocean. “It started as an open place after the Artists Village was demolished by the

The lady in skimpy dress clutched the man’s trousers and shouted repeatedly, “You must pay me! You must pay me!” The obviously embarrassed man could only mutter, “Please, I will pay.” His plea made little impression on the woman who seemed to be enjoying the attention she was getting from passersby. Surprisingly, none of the people in the neighbourhood appeared interested in the strange scene. None bothered to find out the cause of their quarrel. It took some time before one of the elderly ladies, who the reporter later learnt owned one of the lounges that dotted the area, intervened. It emerged that the man held by the angry lady had failed to pay after sleeping with her. For failing to pay the woman the sum of N500, the man did not only suffer public embarrassment and humiliation, the woman also injured him in the face with her long nails and blood dripped

I have my three children with me. That is why I donʼt do all night. I normally keep them with the nanny when I am working. After that, I will go and bring them home to sleep.”

state government,” said a resident who identified himself simply as Super. “A few of them came here and asked to be given space to erect make-shift shelters while they sort out their lives. “The Omo onile (land owners) saw their request as a source of brisk business. I remember that a small space was given to them for about N10,000 and they built the lounges you see close to the Lekki-Epe Express Way, just before the playground. “Before we knew it, others started springing up. Once people knew that there were prostitutes from Kuramo residing there, business began to boom. As at today, you can’t get any space for less than N100,000. They also pay certain sums to the owners of the land monthly.” A lounge in New Kuramo is a makeshift structure constructed with wood. The proprietor of the lounge would build a bar in front displaying assorted

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

neighbourhood, for which they have to pay N50 each time they visit. The bathrooms and toilets are carved out with corrugated iron sheets without top coverings. From all indications, not many visitors to New Kuramo patronise the conveniences because of the smell of urine and faeces all over the place. A peculiar feature of New Kuramo is that it only comes alive at night, as everyone seems to be asleep in day time. Although it is located on the major road that leads to Lekki Beach, many who pass the area in the day may not be

drinks. There is also a sound system with huge outdoor speakers from which music blasts. Coloured electric bulbs hang in front of the lounges owned by men and women. They or their agents sit in front of the lounges to sell food and drink. They also use that to monitor the number of guests their occupants have, so that there would be no excuses when it is time to collect the sum the red light ladies are expected to pay daily. Investigation revealed that the red light ladies pay between N700 to N1000 daily as rent, depending on how new or old the lounge is. Old lounges are cheaper than new ones. After the bar, one heads into ‘rooms’ lined up on both sides of the narrow corridor. Each of them measures about six feet by five. To enter the room, one would have to squeeze through the partially open door as the small bed kept in it has taken up most of the space. The room has a very small window and the fan that hangs above the bed can do little to diffuse the unpleasant odour that fills it. Occupants of the rooms do not have the luxury of bathrooms and toilets. Those who use them have to depend on the public toilets and bathrooms in the

aware of what goes on there at night when cars of different shapes and sizes are parked all over the place. Visitors to the place in the morning or afternoon would only see decent bars and eateries. But that changes as soon as the sun goes down and darkness envelopes the place; coloured bulbs begin to shine and girls of different shapes and sizes begin to show up in skimpy attires. Although the sex trade occurs on both sides of the road, the real hub is on the left hand side as one heads towards

My mother lives in South Africa. My father is here in Nigeria. My mother left in 2002 when we were very small. I have spoken to her on the phone, but if I see her, I may not recognize her. It has been long...

Lekki Beach. Behind the row of buildings beside the main road are others where the real sexual escapades occur at night. Some dark walkways lead to the back buildings where the red light women line up and make all manner of suggestive comments and gestures as a man approaches. If you show any sign of discomfort in their midst, they would laugh derisively. The back buildings are a world of their own. On this day, young men and women were seen dancing suggestively and pouring wine on the head of one of the female dancers. She did not complain as she continued with her suggestive dance. Food vendors hawk their ware in front of their shops. One or two shops were showing football matches. The smell of marijuana was strong everywhere. It was difficult getting the girls to speak. They were afraid that the reporter might be a policeman. Besides, it was night, the prime time for business. They would rather look for clients than sit and engage in a chat that would yield no gain. One of the sex workers who spoke with the reporter gave her name as Uloma, an indigene of Abia State. She was obviously in bad mood. Asked why she did not look happy, she said: “Business is bad. I am trying my best but things are not just working out. I owe my landlady three days rent and I don’t know what to do.” Asked how much she would take to sleep with the reporter, she said N700. Asked to come down from that amount, she agreed to take N500. A patron said they would take as little as N300 if business is dull. The reporter teased Uloma further by asking how much she would take for all night, but she said she could not do it because some of her children live with her in her lounge. “I have my three children with me. That is why I don’t do all night. I normally keep them with the nanny when I am working. After that, I will go and bring them home to sleep.” Pressed further that she would be paid N3,000 if she agreed, she changed her mind, saying that she would have to leave her children with the nanny overnight. . The room that houses Uloma and her three children measures about six by five feet. An individual could hardly be comfortable under such condition not to talk of four. She recalled that she was introduced to the business by a woman she called her school mother and she had to continue in it in order to survive. She would not respond to the reporter’s enquiry as to whether the children were born at the place. One of the girls said she was a Nollywood actress with Ordinary National Diploma (OND) from a school in Port Harcourt. According to her, she only came to Kuramo recently to get money for the production of a movie she had written. She said she would quit as soon as she made enough money for the movie. Another girl, who identified herself as Ohiaze, obviously in her 20s, said she was there because she had to take care of her father and two siblings. She said: “I only did primary school. I dropped out in JSS 1 for financial reasons. My mother lives in South Africa. My father is here in Nigeria. My mother left in 2002 when we were very small. I have spoken to her on the phone, but if I see her, I may not recognise her. It has been long. So, I had to leave school to take care of my younger ones and father. When I spoke to my mum, I asked her why she left us and she said she does not want to suffer. In most cases if you ask me, I will tell you I have no mother. I don’t have any respect for her Continued on page 16

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

•Fun spot at the new ‘Kuramo Beach’

Life at the new ʻKuramo Beachʼ in Lekki, Lagos

You see, this job we are doing, for me, I can compare it to armed robbery in terms of danger. You will either survive or die. It is very dangerous but there is nothing I can do. I have tried saving money to start a business, but after saving up to N40,000, I just collected and wasted it

Continued from page 15 except that she gave birth to me.” Asked about her dad, she shook her head and tears started rolling down her cheeks. “He is my all,” she said. “Do you know what it means to take care of girls? They can be stubborn and difficult. But my dad endured that and took care of me and my sister. He does not give me any money but he is my all in all.” Asked if she was not afraid of contracting one of the deadly sexually transmitted diseases, she said she was, adding that she would never sleep with a man without a condom. She also said she pays a nurse to carry out routine checks on her monthly. She said: “There was a time I was sick and I went to see a doctor. After carrying out some tests on me, he said I might not be able to conceive in future. I was shocked, confused and afraid. I asked how come. I take care of myself very well and I don’t sleep with a customer without condom. I had to go and carry out further tests and I was assured that the first doctor was wrong. “You see, this job we are doing, for me, I can compare it to armed robbery in terms of danger. You will either survive or die. It is very dangerous but there is nothing I can do. I have tried

saving money to start a business, but after saving up to N40,000, I just collected and wasted it.” Some of the girls have come under the protection of some pimps who act as their boyfriends and also serve as their protectors in case anybody tries to cheat or molest them. Ohiaze says she does not have any boyfriend. “Those area boys, in the name of boyfriend and girlfriend, beat some of the girls seriously. I don’t have any boyfriend except my customers. “When I came newly, I had a boyfriend. But after little misunderstanding, he beat the hell out of me. I told him I would not take it. I got him arrested and the police warned him to stay clear of me. Since then, I stay far away from boyfriends.” Asked if she would like to go back to school, she replied: “I can train in handwork and engage in business. I don’t think going back to school is where my destiny lies.” Even though the New Kuramo has been existing for three to four years now, there is hardly any presence of government agencies or NGOs to educate the women on safe sex. According to them, the owners have a kind of association. They put money together to ‘settle’ the police and other law enforcement agencies. According to some people who live in

•A lady and her visitor the area, New Kuramo is dangerous and constitutes a health hazard for the people in the neigbourhood. They say it has led to upsurge of sexually transmitted diseases, while many of young girls from the area are gradually being sucked into the kind of life they see there. A resident of the area, Mr. Ayodele Akin, said: “This neigbourhood is very dangerous. The presence of these girls attracts people of different shades of character to this place. Our children are influenced. Move around, things like marijuana are common among the youth in this area. “This does not mean anything to them. Although there are churches that try to preach and convert people around this area, they are not making much progress. Youths who grow up around this area, except through the grace of God, might not end up well due to the influence of New Kuramo. “You cannot be talking about eradicating HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases without monitoring what is going on here. As at now, it is as if the government does not know that this place exists. The damage this could do to the fight against sexually transmitted diseases is enormous. At least, the government and NGOs should monitor what they are doing, but for now, nothing like that is happening.”

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Bukar

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Bukar

Continued on Page 51

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Ex-CDS Petinrin, Jemibewon’s wife Modupe, others honour textile merchant as daughter weds heartthrob

•Bride, Esther Temitope Jegede with her parents •Chairman of the event and ex-Chief of Defence •Mrs. Mary Eyoita, CEO, M&E Synergy (left) and Mrs. Nwabuzuba Jane, CEO, Janefunder Associates, FCT Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin

•Mobolaji & Temitope signing the dotted lines

•Mr and Mrs Jolayemi

T was a three in one event when on April 4, 2015, top Abuja society lady, Princess Bunmi Jegede gave out her daughter in marriage to US-based business man, Mobolaji Jolayemi. Oke Ana, a hitherto quiet town in Ilesha, Osun State, came alive as visitors poured in even three days to the event. They came all the way from America, United Kingdom, Abuja, Lagos and from other cities inside and outside the country. Joyous drum beats woke family members and guests, who were lodged in hotels around the town in the morning of the event day. And soon, all roads led to the plush home of the Jegedes in the hilly part of the town. Up on the hillside home, the traditional marriage took place amidst fun and laughter as the Jolayemi family along with their well-wishers, arrived into the warm reception of the Jegedes. The colours for this aspect of the event were red, white and pink. This was followed by the Holy Matrimony Church Service at the Rev. S. O. Jegede Memorial Anglican Church, Oke Ana, a magnificent edifice built by the children of the Late Rev. Jegede in honour of their father. Temitope the pretty bride, who is a Chemistry graduate of the University of Abuja, now turned business lady dealing in fabrics, was the cynosure of all eyes in her resplendent wedding gown. Her groom looked adoring, the true gentleman that he is. The church service led by the Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. S. Olubayo Sowale, had in attendance the crème de la crème of society. Some of those who were there to see the new couple take their vows were: Odofin Olayiwola Ogunbambi, Dr. G. T. Alli Balogun,

•Prince Oluseyi Ajayi

•Chairman, Ilesa East LGA, Osun State, Aremo Lanre Balogun

•From left: MTN ‘big boy’, Spending Fatoyinbo, Abiodun Ajayi of Lagos State Ministry of Science & Technology with Engineer Olumide Ajibade, ED, Atlor Nigeria Ltd, Abuja

•Abuja-based textile merchant, Barrister Demola Oluwayemi, CEO, Beautiful Fabrics (left) with Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor, Barrister Toyin Aladegbemi

•Chairman, Oriade Local Government Council, Osun State, Hon. Taiwo Fatiregun with wife

•Dr. Kayode Jegede (right) with other guests at the occassion

•The couple with Chief (Mrs.) Dupe Jemibewon

n Paul UKPABIO n Mr Gregory Ozegbe, Engr. Olatunde Dabiri, Alhaji. Wahab Alli Balogun, Mr Victor Omotoyinbo, Engr. Samson Osoba, Squadron Leader Olusegun Coker, Air Commodore Dickson, Air Commodore Johnson, Engr. Olusegun Olabiyi and a host of others. And they were all there too, at the wedding reception which took place at the sprawling Upper Spring Event Centre, a stone’s throw from the church, a place built by the bride’s aunt. Naturally, former Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, was the chairman at the wedding reception; he was there in flowing white agbada, while the high table was also graced by Chief and Mrs A. Jolayemi, the groom’s parents, the bride’s and Prince Dr. Dayo Haastrup and Hon. Dr. Justice Haastrup. The cutting of the wedding cake was the icing of the nuptial celebration as the couple kissed and fed each other. At this time, the merriment inside the beautifully decorated hall was at its peak with choice wine and designer meals served to guests’ delight. For the couple and their guests, it was time to dance. And on the band stand, was the legend himself, Chief Ebenezer Obey, who the previous day, had a big bash in Lagos, to celebrate his 73rd birthday. This particular wedding event was attended by the high society party crowd. Chief Mrs Dupe Jemibewon was also there with her society clique. They poured out and danced their hearts out into the evening. Afterwards, Mobolaji Jolayemi took his new wife Temitope off to the United States of America.

•Bride with her grandmother, Lady Evangelist Juliana Jegede

•Bride with groom's parents, Chief Adedayo Jolayemi & Madam Olarike Jolayemi

•Princess Olabisi Odunaiya and Muyiwa Akinbolagbe, CEO, Chariot Development Ltd

•Mrs. Dayo Akinbobola (left) & Mrs. Omolara Adelekan PHOTOS: Paul UKPABIO

with Email: bineharriet@gmail.com

Escapades of fun-loving city ladies Co-ordinated by Patience Saduwa 08023201831 (sms only) psaduwa@yahoo.com

18, 2015

NATION S P O RT

18, 2015

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Innocent DURU

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

With Ozolua Uhakheme

58761

e@yahoo.com 080230

Email: ozoluauhakhem

THE NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

From Left: Ovuru, Obi-Obasi and Segawa

Continued next week

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

NEWS

CRIME & OTHER STORIES

Police threaten crackdown on illegal users of siren, tinted glass in Lagos

Landlord

n Ebele BONIFACE n

HE Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, has threatened arrest illegal users of siren and tinted glass cars without official permis-

sion. Aderanti gave this warning on Wednesday while parading suspects who allegedly posed as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to rob bureau de change dealers of their hard-earned currencies. His threat followed the recovery of a siren-installed vehicle used by an alleged leader of a six-man gang, Princewell Eze, who paraded himself as Senator Nwobodo when he and his gang wanted to rob a bureau de change man. Members of his gang also allegedly wore vests with EFCC logo to intimidate their victims by demanding to see their licence. They were also accused of using guns to threaten victims. Aderanti said he would constitute a committee that would be responsible for setting up the squad that would arrest anyone driving tinted glass vehicles and siren-installed cars without permission, as well as those who use walkie-talkie to intercept police signals when the police are pursuing criminals. On the reckless granting of bails to criminals who ought to be remanded in prison pending their conviction, the CP said he would meet with the Chief Judge of Lagos State to find a way of stopping the suspects charged to court for armed robbery, kidnapping and murder but were granted bail.

How gunmen shot and killed voters at a polling booth during elections HE Governorship and State Assembly election has come and gone, leaving behind blood and tears which many families of the victims may not forget for a longtime to come. For the Asom family in Ugondu district , Logo local Government area , in Benue north - east senatorial district life will never be the again as three (3) of their brothers Chiahemba Atim,Mdooter Aondoaver and Terhemen Orkurga where shot and killed at NKST Asom polling unit by suspected thugs belonging to a political party. Narrating the unfortunate incident exclusively to The Nation at the Federal Medical Centre ( FMC) , where those who sustained serious injuries were being treated , The Director - General Ortom/ Abouno Campaign ,Professor Steven Ugba, told The Nation the gun men came in Toyota Corolla and open fire on voters at the polling unit when it was clear that result sheet have been taken away. According to Professor Ugba, who was the governorship candidate on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria( ACN) , shortly after voting and result collated ,which All Progress Congress ( APC) won with a wide margin,gunshot were heard in one direction . Professor Ugba stated further ,after the gun shot which rented the air for more than 10 minutes

•APC Governor-elect Chief Ortom, 2nd left, when he visited the victims of gun attacked at FMC Makurdi. n Uja EMMANUEL, Makurdi n ,Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC ) officer became reluctant to leave for the local government collection center in Ugba, head quarters of Logo local government area. " INEC officials who conducted the election became scar and moved their materials into a compound in Asom village, just few Meters away from the polling unit for safety . At this time one of the agent of a political a party suggested that he will go and get a vehicle to convey officials of INEC and their materi-

als to the collation center. Professor Ugba said shortly after the party agent left a Toyota Corolla vehicle with gun wielding five young me drove to the compound and immediately they alight from the vehicle they open fire on the people and killed three at a spot . They also shot and wounded six persons who are members of same Asom family in Ugondo district. Those who seriously suspend gun shot wounds are now on admission at the Federal Medical Center ( FMC) at Apir ,in Makurdi are Iorvenda Orachii,Saater Gbuwo,Kertorga Naian, Imoter

Asom,Ushafa Tyovenda and Baaku Terver. Some people who witness the shooting and killings ran helperskelter , there was confusion in the entire community. The gun men when they discovered that they missed their real target which was the result sheet which APC won and has been sneak outvoted to the collation center! they jump back into their vehicles and drove away at a neck breaking speed. Professor Ugba stated that the matter has been reported to the police station appealed to the police to go all out and arrest the per-

petrators of the dastardly act as election is not war. APC Governor elect Chief Samuel Ortom who visited the victims at the hospital bed told The Nation that he would ensured that Justice is done to both the victims and the dead . Chief Ortom condemned the attacked on innocent voters who cam our to excise their franchise . The Police Public Relation Officer( PPRO) Amechi Ezeani, a DSP confirmed the incident and said police have lunched investigations into the incident and very soon the perpetrators would brought to book.

NEWS 55

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

olukunle87@yahoo.com

sends SOS to Lagos govt over distressed building N IGERIA’s first cinematographer and former NTA Chief Cameraman, Pa Ganiyu Bolaji Davies, 81years and owner of a property sited at 13, Alhaji Bashiru Street, Ojodu, Lagos State, has raised an alarm over the distressed state of the two-storey building. He has therefore sent an SOS to the Lagos State Government for urgent action to forestall any further calamity, as the building poses a serious danger to both the tenants who refused bluntly to vacate at the expiration of their tenancy and other residents in Ojodu area of the State. According to the landlord, a portion of the building was gutted by fire sometime in 2003 and he invited officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), to assess it in compliance with the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development law. Consequently, the Enforcement Department of the agency, in a notice with reference number LASBCA/IKJ/13/DN 120A and dated 12 May, 2013, observed that apart from the fact that the building is

densely populated, it is in a distressed state and therefore unfit for human habitation. In addition, he said the property was recommended for demolition, while the occupants were given seven days to vacate it. The octogenarian stated further that the tenants have continued to ignore the several quit notices served on them since then, thereby prompting him to ask his lawyers to notify LABSCA of the development and seek advice on further steps to take over the matter. The law firm of P.A.G.E., according to Davies, wrote a petition dated February 24, 2015 and signed by one A.E. Taiwo Esquire to LABSCA, intimating the agency on the refusal of some of the tenants to quit the building despite its visibly distressed nature and several warnings to them on the inherent danger to their lives and those of others in case the building eventually collapses. According to Davies, the building is now on the verge of collapse and that could happen any moment. He therefore urged LABSCA and other concerned agencies to intervene in the matter without delay and with a view of forestalling another case of collapsed building in the state and the attendant casualty that may result there from.

( 08167164657 or 08023910970 )

Police arraign cultists for murder n Stories: Rukayat JIMOH n OUR suspected cultists have been arraigned for allegedly killing two persons at Mushin, Lagos State. The incident happened at about 9.30pm Itire Road Junction, Mushin around 9.30 pm on February 14, 2015. Jamiu Eniola, 34; Benjamin Wilson, 38; Wale Odukoya, 25, and Taiwo Adewumi, 27, are facing an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate's Court on a four count charge including conspiracy, felony and murder. They are alleged to have shot dead Femi Egbekunle and Saliu Maja on the day of the incident. Alleged to have aided them in the act were one Onbe and one Nurudeen, both of whom are on the run. Jamiu, a fashion designer; Benjamin, a barber; Taiwo, a tailor and Wale, a jobless man had clashed with Egbekunle and Maja during which the suspects shot the victims. The charge sheet reads: "That you Jamiu Eniola, Benjamin Wilson; Wale Odukoya; Taiwo Adewumi and others at large on February 14, 2015 at about 0930 hrs at Itire Road Junction, Mushin in the Lagos magisterial district did kill one Femi Egbekunle and Saliu Maja by shooting him with a gun on his chest and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. "That you Jamiu Eniola; Benjamin Wilson; Wale Odukoya; Taiwo Adewumi and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did belong to an unlawful society called Eiye Confraternity and thereby committed and offence punishable under Section 42 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Their plea was not taken. The police prosecutor, Elizabeth Ekuma, applied for the remand of the defendants in prison custody pending legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). The offences according to the prosecutor are punishable under Sections 221 and 42 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The presiding magistrate, Mrs M.O.Tanimola, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody while the case was adjourned till May 18.

Two charged with stealing Card Readers WO persons, Ogunleye Eunice, 55, and Joshua Odubela, 53, have been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate's Court for allegedly being in possession of three card readers. The machines are the property of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The defendants allegedly stole the machines at Salvation Army School, Ayobo Ipaja , Lagos on March 29, 2015. The charge sheet reads in part:"That you Ogunleye Eunice Omolayo 'f' and Joshua Odubela Obasa 'm' on March 29, 2015 at about 1000hrs at Salvation Army School,Ayobo, Ipaja, in the Lagos magisterial district did have in your possession three Card Reader machines reasonably suspected to have been an offence punishable under Section 327 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011." The suspects pleaded not guilty. The offence according to police prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, is punishable under Section 327 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. The defense counsel, Mr Leke Olatunde applied for the bail of his client. The presiding magistrate, Mrs O.I. Adelaja, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N200, 000 and two sureties in like sum. The case adjourned till May 13 for mention.

Mother of one-yr-old Ogun T fire victim acts strangely fire outbreak which burned two kids in Ibafo, Ogun State, to death has landed the mother of one the victims, Saidat Kazeem, in hospital. Saidat was overwhelmed by shock on account of the death of her one-year-old daughter, Nifemi. The early morning fire outbreak which happened on Monday March 9, 2015, at Oremerin Street, Ibafo, was allegedly caused by a woman who operates a black market fuel depot in her residence. A building and six shops were also razed. The Nation had reported how the woman simply identified as Mama Jibola, wanted to prepare meal for her ailing child called Ayo, when she mistakenly lighted a stove close to her fuel containers. Mama Jibola fled shortly after the incident. The fire was said to have raged for several hours as residents tried fruitlessly to

n Kunle AKINRINADE n contain it. The little girl was left in the care of a neighbour by his mother who works in a public property development company somewhere at near by Isheri, Ogun State. Nifemi was said to be asleep when the fire broke out. Neighbours tried fruitlessly to evacuate her from the room where she slept but smoke had covered the room. It took men of the Ogun State Fire Service several hours before they could put out the fire. Nifemi, was burnt beyond recognition while another kid who initially survived with burns died two days after the incident. A source who asked not to be mentioned told our correspondent that Saidat’s husband, Mr Yekini Kazeem, has been running around to save his wife who is yet to come out of the

shock she received following the death of her daughter. She said: “ Nifemi’s mother, Saidat, has gone nuts following the shock of losing her only child after seven years of marriage. She first fell into a coma but regained her consciousness. But she has since not been able to come out of the shock over the incident. She started making incoherent remarks and subsequently lost her senses.” “She was first taken to a nearby hospital from where she was transferred to another hospital where she is currently receiving treatment. Her husband told us he is seriously looking for money to defray her medical bill even as his wife is still battling with mental sickness.” The spokesman of Ogun State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident. He said nobody was willing to volunteer information that could enable police to unravel the mystery behind the incident.

H EALTH MATTERS

ERTAIN foods, allergens, dust and other irritants are the biggest triggers of asthma attacks according to health experts. These triggers lead to breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness and nighttime or early morning coughing which are the main signs of asthma, a disease that affects the lungs. In asthma, the airways, which are tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs, are inflamed. The inflammation makes the airways to narrow, causing less air to flow into the lungs, triggering asthma symptoms like breathlessness, coughing, wheezing and others. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood. The disease affects about 300 million people worldwide, causing an estimated 250,000 deaths annually. In the past thirty years, there has been a wide increase in the prevalence rate due to rapid urbanization and other environmental factors. In Nigeria for instance, asthma was uncommon in the country fifty years ago. Recent reports from different parts of the country, however show a prevalence of adolescent and adult asthma in excess of 10 percent and a rising trend in the prevalence of asthma. This increase in burden of asthma, according to experts, has been attributed to environmental factors such as urbanization, industrialization and adoption of western life style. To Dr Saheed Babajide, a medical practitioner, "asthma is a chronic respiratory problem. It is caused by a constriction in the bronchus from allergic reaction which makes the patient not to be able to breath in and out. It is difficulty in breathing. It can be likened to somebody that is a sickler. Some can have it early. Some can develop it through the environment and due to allergic reaction. That is exposure to things that can make the bronchos to contract."

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Asthma:

How lifestyle, environment trigger attacks

Living with attacks Miss Comfort Agu, an undergraduate in one of the higher institutions in the country is one of the millions of asthma sufferers in Nigeria. The lady had her first attack at sixteen in secondary school. "I was not born with the disease, neither do we have a family history of asthmatics. But one day, I slumped in the school laboratory and was rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that I'm asthmatic. Since then, I have been having frequent attacks, especially when I'm exposed to those things I react to," she disclosed. She confessed that it was not easy living with the ailment because of the attacks which can be uncomfortable and embarrassing especially 'when I'm in a public place.' To manage the disease which has no cure, experts advocate early detection. "The best way is early detection and once that is done, you start medication that would usually take care of it," advised Dr O. Salau, a medical practitioner. Continuing, he stated: "It does not have a cure. There could be some things that the patient reacts to, so you would need to know those things so that they can be avoided. The commonness things are dust, smoke and maybe food." On the role of genetics in asthma, Dr Nnenna Oluge, a medical doctor stated: "It tends to run in families. Genetics play an important role in causing asthma. If your mom or dad have asthma, then you are more likely to have asthma." Describing what happens during an attack, Oluge added: "Asthma can pose a lot of risk to a patient's health if not well managed. And when an asthmatic patient has an attack, which occurs suddenly, the patient experiences what is called in medical term, 'constricted hyposic oxygen deficiency' and if the patient does not get immediate medical attention, the patient

•Asthma triggers

n Patience SADUWA and Paul UKPABIO n can go into coma, which could also lead to death. Poor asthma management can lead to airway remodeling. Airway remodeling is a serious condition that happens when asthma is untreated or poorly managed. The lungs become scarred, asthma medicines do not work as well, and less air is able to move through the airways. Airway remodeling does not have to happen. You can avoid it by taking control of your asthma!" Asthma sufferers, Oluge stated can however live normal lives with proper management and medication. "Asthma is a serious health problem but being asthmatic does not prevent you from living a normal life as long as you avoid those things that can trigger an attack. In fact, an asthmatic patient that takes positive steps to avoid substances that trigger an attack, can live without having any attack. An asthmatic patient can engage in sports activities, as long as there are preventive measures to avoid future attacks. When you breathe, air passes through your nose and down your throat into your lungs. Inside your lungs are branching tubes called airways. With asthma, the airways are often swollen and red (or inflamed). This makes them extra sensitive to things that you are ex-

posed to in the environment every day or asthma 'triggers'. A trigger could be a cold, the weather or things in the environment such as dust, chemicals, smoke and pet dander." When someone with asthma breathes in a trigger, the insides of the airways make extra mucus and swell even more. This narrows the space for the air to move in and out of the lungs. The muscles that wrap around your airways can also tighten, making breathing even harder." Avoiding triggers Experts have identified certain risk factors or triggers in asthma attack. A trigger is anything which starts asthma symptoms or makes asthma symptoms worse. These include food, environment (air pollution from industries, car effluents), lifestyle, pets, allergens among others. On this Salau says: "Cleaning dusty areas is likely to affect an asthmatic person. Even when you wash clothes, the smell of soap can cause it. If you are in an environment with lots of dust it could lead to it. Some people are allergic to sea foods and others and if you work in an industrial environment when there is always smoke, it can lead to an attack." To Oluge, contact with allergens, certain irritants or

H EALTH MATTERS 59

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Beat the heat with delicious watermelon eeling thirsty and wish to refresh your body with something cool, delicious as well as nutritious? Then watermelon is your best bet. With its high water content, juicy watermelon will help you beat the heat and stay cool in the dry weather being experienced presently. Due to its high water content (92 percent), watermelon is packed with hydration power to keep you feeling refreshed, thus preventing dehydration which could cause fatigue, headaches and poor concentration. Besides its sweet, refreshing taste, watermelon is full of health boosting nutrients that are beneficial to the body. For instance, it contains Vit A, C and potassium, a mineral that helps lower blood pressure. Watermelon also contains dietary fiber for healthy digestive tract, thus good for constipation. Another important nutrient in watermelon is lycopene, which is also found in tomatoes and other red vegetables and fruits.

Avoid your asthma triggers, monitor your symptoms or check your airways using a peak flow meter. Asthma is episodic; the patient may experience on and off periods. There are drugs to help expand airways and also injectable drugs and a machine called enabler." But it is always advisable to visit your doctor regularly to help manage your asthma. Without proper treatment, asthma can be extremely dangerous and even fatal." Some of the most common asthma triggers include tobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, allergens from cockroaches and rodents, pets, mold, smoke from wood, grass and other sources. Others are fragrances from perfumes, soaps and body lotions, some food and food additives, sinus infections, allergies, some medicines, breathing in cold, dry air among others.

The first preventive measure is to identify what triggers your asthma, because different people react to different things. Avoid your asthma triggers, monitor your symptoms or check your airways using a peak flow meter. Asthma is episodic; the patient may experience on and off periods. There are drugs to help expand airways and also injectable drugs and a machine called enabler

exposure to viral infections as an infant or in early childhood when the immune system is developing, have been linked to developing asthma. "Environmental irritants and air pollution may also play a significant role in adult-onset asthma.

Furs from animals could also trigger an attack," said the doctor. On preventing attacks, she advised: "The first preventive measure is to identify what triggers your asthma, because different people react to different things.

Lycopene acts as a super antioxidant, stopping free radicals from damaging the body's cells and affecting the immune system. Some research even suggests that lycopene may help fight heart disease and several types of cancer. Like other fruits and vegetables, watermelons may be helpful in reducing the risk of cancer through their antioxidant properties. Lycopene in particular has been linked to reducing prostate cancer cell proliferation, according to research. It also has anti-inflammatory properties due to its lycopene content making it good for arthritis, joint pains and muscle soreness after an intense work out session. Watermelon has skin and hair benefits because of its high Vitamin A and C content. Vitamin A helps keep skin and hair moisturized and it also encourages healthy growth of new collagen and elastin cells. Vitamin C is also beneficial in this regard as it promotes healthy collagen growth which helps the skin retain moisture, plumpness and fresh look. Watermelon can be eaten in a variety of ways including in salad dishes such as tomatoes and watermelon salad, pineapple, apple and watermelon salad, plum, pawpaw and watermelon salsa as well as refreshing watermelon juice.

By Professor Dayo Oyekole Ph.D. (Ibadan), NMD, FNCP Tel: 0803-330-3897 Website: www.holisticlifecare.com E-mail: kolemetric@yahoo.com

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

THE NATION, SATURDAY APRIL 18, 2015

News 63

Eid-El-Maulud

Diezani did not support APC, says Saraki

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday denied reports that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke, supported the party. Saraki, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said it was preposterous to allege that Alison-Madueke assisted the APC through him. The statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Senator on Media and Advocacy,

Sanni ONOGU, Abuja Bamikole Omishore, reads: “The attention of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s media office has been drawn to an online article alleging that the controversial Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, made contribution to the All Progressives Congress through Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki. “This office usually will ignore such reports as we find it completely laughable, baseless and lacking any iota

of truth. “However, for the avoidance of any doubt and to keep with the renewed mandate of accountability and transparency, we find it necessary to assure the teaming supporters of the APC and Senator Saraki that at no time did Senator Bukola Saraki meet, discuss or had any dealings in any form or nature with Deiziani or her agents.

“Senator Saraki, hereby, challenges either the minister, her agent, associates or any other person that might have any evidence or information contrary to the above to share same with Nigerians. “The last time Senator Saraki met with Deiziani was in year 2012 when the minister, her mother and her sister visited the Sarakis on a condolence visit over the death of Dr. Olusola

Saraki, the father of Senator Saraki. “The alleged publication is total falsehood and completely mischievous, therefore, this story can not fly or sell, rather, the promoter should find something else to cling on as they remain with a drowning party. “The credit of the success of General Buhari and our dear party, the APC, across

the country can only be claimed by Nigerians in every nook and cranny of the federation who sacrificed their resources, time and energy to bring about the change this country deserves and that should not be tainted by any individual or group of people who stood as stumbling block to every step taken towards achieving this noble and worthy struggle.”

Ban Ki-moon’s envoys visit Buhari •Urge President-elect to sutain war against Boko Haram

HE Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. Ban Ki-moon, yesterday told President –elect Muhmmadu Buhari to sustain the war against the Boko Haram insurgency. The UN's Secretary-General, who sent a delegation to congratulate the President-elect, said the effort to defeat Boko Haram should be sustained to give room for humanitarian development of the North-East and Nigeria in general. The Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General in West and Central Africa, Mr.Fuhamad Ibn Chambas and Abdoulaye Bathily, who conveyed the best wishes of the UN's Secretary-General to the President-elect at his Kaduna office, also appealed to the President – elect to keep to his promises of fighting insecurity, corruption, and improving the economy. Mr. Chambas, who spoke for the delegation, said: "Boko Haram is a threat that was perceived to be in only two states in Nigeria, but it has gone viral and we all know the destruction it has caused to human lives, communities and the whole territo-

Abdulgafar ALABELEWE, Kaduna

ries here in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. "We want to appeal to the President- elect to ensure that this movement of Boko Haram is defeated, so that we can move to the next face of dealing with the humanitarian and development dimension of the Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria and neighbouring countries." The UN also commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the President- elect for the matured way with which they handled the outcome of the Presidential election, adding that the relationship between the two leaders had set a good record for Africa. Responding, Gen. Buhari thanked the UN, the USA and the European Union (EU) for their support which ensued that the elections were credible . He said the war against insecurity “is part of his party's manifesto and would do everything possible to meet the expectations of Nigerians.”

Boko Haram kills 10 in Cameroon — Army

OKO Haram terrorists killed at least ten people in overnight attacks on two villages in northern Cameroon, two senior army sources said yesterday. Soldiers from Nigeria, alongside troops from neighbours Chad, Niger and Cameroon, have driven Boko Haram out of many border areas seized by the group this year, and this was the first attack reported in Cameroon in weeks. "There were consecutive attacks by Boko Haram in Bia and

Blaberi in the district of Kolofata in the early morning," said one Cameroonian officer, who asked not to be named. He said the militants had fled across the nearby border into Nigeria by the time the army arrived. President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to crush the group and try to find more than 200 schoolgirls it kidnapped a year ago.

Sect slits throats of 12

OKO Haram militants have slit the throats of 12 people in Gwoza,Borno State, as the army was trying to evacu ate civilians from the area, a military source and a witness said yesterday. The terror group has been driven out of much of the huge swathe of territory it controlled at the start of the year, thanks to a concerted push by troops from Nigeria and neighbours Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Gwoza, in mountainous terrain, was one of the last places to fall, on March 27, and there remain pockets of Boko Haram activity in the area, security sources say. "Just as troops were trying to evacuate some civilians from the hills so as to safeguard them from a planned air strike ... some Boko Haram attacked them and slit the throats of 12 people," a military source said of Wednesday's attack. A witness, Jonas Musa, told Reuters his parents were both among the victims. He said soldiers had moved one wave of people from the hills around Gwoza, but before they could go back for the second, the attackers struck.

•New Air Force recruits during their passing-out parade at the NAF Base in Kaduna...yesterday. PHOTO: ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE

Chibok girls: Akume seeks global cooperation against Boko Haram

ENATE Minority Leader, George Akume, has called on the international community to rally round Nigeria in the effort to secure the release of schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents one year ago. In a statement made available to The Nation, Akume said it was doubtful if the Nigerian government could singlehandedly secure the release of the schoolgirls and other Nigerians held captive by the sect. The statement reads: “One year ago, over two hundred girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok were forcibly taken away from their school by armed men from the Boko Haram group. Since then, while a few of them have escaped and returned, about 219 still remain in captivity and at the mercy of Boko Haram. I wish to use the opportunity of the first anniversary of this captivity to appeal to those holding the girls to release them immediately. The predicament

•Buhari can secure girls’ release, says Shehu Sani of the Chibok girls has not only brought agony to their family members and Nigerians, but has brought the country to shame and international ridicule. “The girls did not commit any crime and do not deserve to be forcibly imprisoned even for one day. It is a crime against humanity to have incarcerated them for one year now. “Unfortunately, the refusal of their abductors to release them and the failure of the Nigerian government to negotiate their release or forcefully secure same has prolonged their plight and the agony of their families. “It is now doubtful if the Nigerian government, acting alone, can secure their release and that of many others who are held in captivity by Boko Haram. We, therefore, call on the international community acting through such agencies like the UN, AU and ECOWAS to come to Nigeria’s aid in securing the freedom of the girls.”

Akume also called on all Nigerians to continue to support the incoming APC government led by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari “who in the early days of his government will be faced with the difficult task of finding solutions to our security challenges, including the intractable problem of the Chibok girls.” In a related development, rights activist and senator-elect from Kaduna State, Shehu Sani, yesterday recalled how the Federal Government bungled the opportunity to secure freedom for Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents. Speaking during an interview anchored by CNN’s Christianah Amnpour, Sani lamented the refusal by the government to embrace a deal he brokered with the insurgents for the release of their members from detention in exchange for the abducted girls.

He said: “What we tried to do the last time was to open a window of communication with the insurgents and explore the possibility of securing the release of the abducted girls. Unfortunately, the government turned down the offer and the insurgents too refused to release the girls and that was the end of that intervention.” Sani expressed optimism that the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari would seek an end to the activities of Boko Haram. “There were abductions before and after Chibok, but President Jonathan has not learnt anything from the past and they keep making mistakes. I believe that Buhari would do something different going by his promises since his victory at the presidential poll. “I believe that when Buhari is sworn in, there would be fresh effort towards getting the girls released,” he added.

Nigerian attacked in South Africa

HE president of the Ni gerian Union in South Africa, Mr. Ikechukwu Anyene, has confirmed a xenophobic attack on at least one Nigerian, with the United Nations (UN) raising the alarm over the deadly violence which has displaced thousands. South Africa’s neighbours yesterday prepared to evacuate their citizens. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from Pretoria, South Africa, Anyene said the mechanic workshop of the Nigerian was completely destroyed early yesterday in Johannesburg. “In the early hours of today (yesterday), the mechanic workshop of a Nigerian, with 10 cars and all the tools inside, was destroyed by some South Africans. “The build-up to the attack started last night (Thursday)

when the South Africans started gathering in the neighbourhood of the Nigerian. The Nigerians living there did not sleep and early today, the South Africans struck,” he said. He said the attackers defied the presence of the police to carry out the attack. “The attacks are spreading and Nigerians do not sleep again. “They keep vigil to ensure that they are not taken unawares. There is tension everywhere. Nigerians have closed their shops for fear of being attacked,” he said. While confirming that no Nigerian has been killed, Anyeye asked Nigerian and South African governments to reach an understanding to protect Nigerians in South Africa. “South Africa has lots of businesses in Nigeria and they are doing well. Also, South Africans live in Nigeria, and it is on record that Nigerians have never carried

out xenophobic attack on fellow Africans. “Though no Nigerian has been killed, it may get to that because we have had close shaves with death. The real truth is that Nigerians have lost so much in their businesses to the attacks. “The time has come for the Nigerian government to make a categorical statement on these attacks. We are not happy with what is happening and something urgent must be done to stop these attacks.” The federal government has advised Nigerians in South Africa to remain indoors until the situation stabilises. Yesterday, the United Nations (UN) raised the alarm over the deadly xenophobic attacks in South Africa . The anti-foreigner violence, which erupted in the eastern port city of Durban, has left at least six people dead and

spread to the economic hub, Johannesburg. "In South Africa, xenophobic attacks over the last three weeks have displaced over 5,000 foreign nationals," the UN refugee agency said, adding it was "extremely concerned". "We would like to underscore that those affected in these xenophobic attacks are refugees and asylum seekers who were forced to leave their countries due to war and persecution," the UNHCR said. Foreigners who have fled their homes are sheltering in makeshift camps. Neighbouring Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique announced plans to evacuate their citizens, as the violence drew regional outrage. Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa, Isaac Moyo, said the repatriation of about 1,000 Zimbabweans from Durban would start tomorrow.

64 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

N9.3bn surveillance contract:

Urhobos give FG one-week ultimatum

HE Federal Government’s N9.3billion pipeline surveillance contract to some former militant leaders and the leaders of the O’odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) has continued to generate controversy in the Urhobo area of Delta State. The leadership of the Urhobo Ethnic Nationality, Host Communities (HOSTCOM) has given the Federal Government one-week to reverse the perceived injustice or jeopardise the safety of oil and gas facilities in their land. “At the expiration of the one-week, if the Urhobo portion of the surveillance contract is not given to them, then they would withdraw their indigene working in all the oil and gas facilities across the Urhobo nation and from then onward, (we) would no longer guarantee the safety and protection of the facilities.” The warning was contained in a press statement issued by the group and the President General/Chairman, Oil Producing/ Impacted Communities of Urhobo Nation at Udu, headquarters of Udu Local Government Area of the state, on Friday. The statement was signed by Comrade Efe Okovwurie, Moriss Idiovwa, Mrs Mary Otikiri and Hon Kingskley Akpenimor, Chairman Urhobo HOSTCOM, Coordiantor Urhobo Ethnic Nationality, Youth and Women leaders respectively of HOSTCOM. It stated, “The first phase of the contract awarded to some of those contractors that were also engaged in the new arrangement •Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (2nd right); Prof. Amos Utuama, Deputy Governor (right); had no impact in the oil bearing communities because those reHRM, Ovie of Uvwe, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe the I (2nd left) and Hon. Henry Baro, Chairman, Uvwe Local Gov- cruited were from the urban areas where the oil and gas facilities are not located. ernment Area (left) during the Commissioning of the Effurun, Uvwe flyover bridge in Warri “Others were recruited as ghost workers, hence the communities are insisting the Urhobo portion of it, cutting across the eight LGAs of Delta State must be given to the company jointly owned by the oil bearing communities to ensure that indigenes of the communities can benefit.” The groups noted that inforHE Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives eight state House of Assembly constituencies. n Clarice AZUATALAM, Port Harcourt, n Congress (APC) has disclosed that it is about to INEC had postponed elections in the eight con- mation reaching it indicated Mike ODIEGWU, Yenagoa that some groups of persons conclude arrangements to storm the state Elecstituencies, citing insufficient electoral materials. Meanwhile, ahead of today’s rescheduled state astion Tribunal to reclaim its mandate, which it claimed But a coalition of 13 political parties, including the were hired and mobilized from was stolen by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in sembly poll in the state, the candidates of the All Pro- APC, in a press briefing in Yenagoa, said they pulled the Urhobo Nation for protests connivance with the Independent National Electoral gressives Congress (APC) for the state assembly in the out of the elections after discovering that the state of- in Abuja, adding that the host Commission (INEC) and the Police during the gover- six constituencies in Rivers State, where the Inde- fice of INEC had entered into a "concrete agreement" communities did not mandate pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the protest on their behalf. norship polls of April 11. “The agreement reached beIn a press release made available to newsmen on rescheduled election for today have disclosed that undo other parties. Friday and signed by the SSA Media and Public Af- they are boycotting the exercise. The parties, in a statement signed by the Chairman tween the leadership of the varThe aggrieved candidates also said that they have of the APC, Mr. Tiwe Oruminighe, and other leaders ious communities and fairs to the State Chairman, APC Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the Rivers State APC Chair- obtained a court injunction restraining INEC from of the concerned parties, said INEC and PDP had per- HOSTCOM is to accommodate man, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, reassured the people conducting the rescheduled election, which INEC has fected a plot to hoard all sensitive materials meant for all stakeholders, including indigenes of oil bearing and imof the state that the mandate which they freely gave to said would hold today. the election. Speaking on behalf of the candidates in Port Harthe party and to its governorship candidate, Dr. "Their ploy is to hoard all the sensitive electoral ma- pacted communities, the Dakuku Peterside, would soon be retrieved for the court yesterday, Hon. Chid Llyod, who is currently terials, result sheets inclusive, such that after the con- traditional rulers, PGs of kingthe lawmaker representing Emohua constituency, duct of the election with non-sensitive materials, doms, youth and women bodes good of the future of the state. According to the statement, “This brazen electoral listed many reasons for the boycott, chief of which INEC staff, the electoral officers of the eight local gov- ad Urhobo ex-militants and theft by Chief Nyesome Wike and his PDP gangsters was that they have lost confidence in the state Resi- ernment in the state will converge at designated HOSTCOM leaders.” Meanwhile, HOSTCOM has cannot be allowed to stand. These power-drunk anti- dent Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dame Gesila places to enter their manufactured results into the debunked media reports that democratic elements, in their desperation for power, Khan to conduct a free and fair election. original result sheets in favour of PDP", they said. group was against the emerLlyod also said that “there has been no official comwere not discreet in their electoral fraud that saw the The aggrieved parties further accused PDP of per- the gence of President-Elect, Genallocation of a bogus over a million votes to Chief munication by INEC to us and our party, the APC, fecting an illegal arrangement to use the military to eral Muhammadu Buhari of the Wike. The documents and video tapes so far assem- about the so called elections to be supervised by Gesila intimidate, harass and muzzle other candidates and All Progressive Congress bled will surely see many Rivers INEC and PDP chief- Khan, whose handling of the recent elections has been genuine voters to favour the PDP candidates. (APC). “Contrary to some tains being thrown into jail at the end of the day,” most controversial.” The parties said they chose to boycott the elections report, the Urhobo Llyod also said that with the heavy presence of to avoid bloodshed, destruction and maiming which media Ikanya said. HOSTCOM and the general Rivers APC declared that it has an iron-cast case armed militants during the April 11, 2015 election, could be provoked by the "wicked intentions" of PDP Urhobo nation will support and against Wike and PDP, saying that it is not surprised they cannot guarantee the safety of their own lives, and INEC. work with a General Buhari-led that Wike, who cannot win up to 30 per cent of the their supporters and other voters. Party leaders who signed the statement are Gerebo government to move Nigeria to The APC candidates, who quoted the reference Joseph (UDP), Abbey Daniel (APA), Helen Okorodas greater height.” votes in a free and fair election in Rivers State, is now desperately running from pillar to post in a bid to pre- numbers of the court injunction which they obtained (ACD), Tukuwei Powede (ACPN), Bezi William from the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on Fri- (UPP) and Olomu Ebiowei (LP), vent the APC from going to the Tribunal. “We wish to appeal to our members and the entire day, also added that all the relevant parties in the case Others are Edwin Tare (DPP), King-George Lucky people of Rivers State to remain calm and resolute as have been duly served. (CPP), Isaac Eze (MPPP), Oniekpe Prince (SDP) and The constituencies where INEC said it would re- Owei-tongu Woniwei (AD). the party goes to the Tribunal to retrieve their stolen mandate. Our case is as clear as daylight, as even Prof. run the election are: Emohua; Etche 1; Etche 11; However, the state chapter of Conference of NigeWole Soyinka, Ambassador John Endwistle of the Ahoada East 1 and Ahoada East 11. ria Political Parties, (CNPP), dissociated itself from the In a similar development, candidates of the All Pro- boycott. United States of America, the European Union Electoral Observers and other international bodies have gressive Congress (APC) and 12 other political parties The reasons adduced for the boycott, according to since testified that the elections purportedly con- in Bayelsa State yesterday declared their resolution to a statement signed by Chairman of the CNPP, Mr. ducted in Rivers State were a sham,” Ikanaya stated. boycott the elections rescheduled to hold today in Lucky Akpeli, were not strong enough. n Osagie OTABOR, Benin n

Rivers APC heads for election tribunal

•Says poll fraud won’t stand •Party to boycott today’s rescheduled polls in Rivers, Bayelsa

Edo PDP boycott today's rescheduled election in Orhionmwon

Suspected assassin kills NBA chair in Delta HE chairman of the Ughelli branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Austin Icheghe, was Thursday night killed by an unknown gunman. Icheghe, it was gathered, was shot to death at about 9pm Thursday night, at his residence on 14, Ekredjebor Street, Ughelli town in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State by a lone gunman. Meanwhile, the Warri branch of the NBA has alleged that the killing of their colleague was a pure case of assassination, charging security agencies to successfully pursue the case, so as to nip in the bud the rising spate of fatal attacks on lawyers in the state now. The Nation gathered that the killer attacked Icheghe in the presence of his immediate family, shooting him in the face. Relating the ugly incident, a niece of the Icheghe, Egunor Uviesa, said he was killed, just as he was alighting from his car on his way back home from work. “As soon as he came down from his vehicle, they accosted him, and shot him on the head with the bullet

•It was a clear case of assassination –Warri NBA n Bolaji OGUNDELE, Warri n damaging part of his face. He was immediately rushed to a private clinic here in Ughelli were he was confirmed dead,” Uviesa said. Speaking on the incident, the chairman of the Warri branch of the NBA, John Aikpokpo-Martins, condemned the brutal murder of his counterpart, describing it as a murder too many. Aikpokpo-Martins also noted that the fact that he was attacked by a lone gunman further confirmed that the killing was not armed robbery, but an assassination, charging security agencies to step up their game and arrest the rising risk to lawyers in the state. "We condemn it in very strong terms and call on the police and other security agencies to unravel the perpetrators of the crime and bring them to Justice. This brings to the fore what we said the other time that the killing of lawyers without proper investiga-

tion will embolden other people to attack lawyers. This is why there's need that this particular act must be investigated, and in fact, the last one we complained about; the Dafiaghor case, must also be investigated so that this new attitude could be nipped in the bud. "One thing is evident in his death, he was killed by a lone gunman, so it is an assassination, not a robbery and lawyers we don't do any other thing except to talk and defend other people's rights, but some people don't like that," he said. Also confirming the incident on phone, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta state police command, Celestina Kalu (DSP), told The Nation that the matter had been taken up by the police and was being investigated. "He was murdered by unknown gunmen last night. No clue, no details yet, it's still under investigation, we are trying to unravel i,", Kalu said.

HE Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it would boycott today's rescheduled election in Orhionmwon South constituency for the Edo State House of Assembly. Election in the constituency was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 12 polling units spread across three wards. The Residents Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, said a winner could only be announced after the rescheduled elections. The Chairman of the PDP in Orhionmwon, Barr. Nosakhare Ogieva-Okunbor, who announced the boycott at a press briefing yesterday evening, said the party has lost confidence in INEC.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Imo REC is a PDP member, alleges Okorocha MO State governor, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday insisted that the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Ada, is "a card-carrying member" of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and therefore, not competent to oversee the governorship rerun election scheduled for April 25. The governor, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, stated that the REC was never qualified for the position due to his affinity with the PDP. He also alleged that the emergence of Ada was influenced by the PDP governorship candidate, Emeka Ihedioha, to do a hatchet job in the state. According to the statement, “even though the State government was aware that the REC was one-time Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and was sent to the state to do a hatchet

•Allegation unfounded –REC n Okodili NDIDI, Owerri n job for the PDP, we had believed that even when he was sent to work for a particular candidate and party, he could also be guided by wisdom to do the right things. But we have discovered that he has failed or refused to exercise the wisdom that mostly goes with age and experiences in life. "He organized the governorship election in the state with a winner in mind. He underrated the Imo people's love for their governor." The governor alleged further that "when Adah saw that the results of the election were not favourable to the PDP candidate he had in mind, he declared the election inconclusive. An electron a clear winner had emerged, both in spread and in figures, and even

considering the number of seats won by the APC in the Assembly election. "As we write, nobody has seen the result sheets from Aboh Mbaise where the PDP candidate returned more than 55,000 votes, with no result sheets for the figure. Dr. Adah accepted the results, even when he knew that there was no election anywhere in Aboh Mbaise and the other two local governments of Ahiazu and Ezinihitte Mbaise, where the PDP candidate comes from. Ninety-two percent of all the votes he got came from Mbaise area. "The Returning Officer for Ezinihitte doctored the result of the election in INEC Office in Owerri by allocating 48,844 votes to the PDP, and it took the alarm raised by the APC agents to force the REC to

order for the result sheets of the LGA to be looked at again. And at the end of that, it was discovered that PDP had 29,677, which they had earlier allocated to the party. In fact, the REC has been an agent of the PDP. "The REC also encouraged the Returning Officer for Oru-East to claim at the point of submitting the results that she entered the results under duress when there was no case of molestation or intimidation reported by her or any of the security agencies to that effect before the submission of the results at INEC headquarters. Yet, Dr. Adah took her serious. He could not order for her arrest to be investigated and he could not also order for the arrest of the Returning Officer for Ezinihitte who doctored the figures at the point of submission. "It is important at this stage to call on Prof. Attahiru Jega to investigate the activities and conduct of

Dr. Adah as the REC in the state and look into the allegations against him for the necessary actions by the Commission.” However, when contacted, the REC described the allegation as laughable, adding that he does not belong to any political part as an INEC Commissioner. According to him, "I have been INEC Commissioner for ten years for now and I don't belong to any political party. Yes it is true that I was the Speaker of the Cross River House of Assembly in 1999, but that was under the All People's Party (APP) and not even the PDP, and so the allegation that I am working for the PDP is unfounded. "Since 2006 when I joined INEC, I have never belonged to any political party. But in this case both parties are accusing me, but I am not worried as long as I am doing the right thing."

Suspected PDP members disrupted Abia election –Poll observers

RCCG parish marks 15th anniversary

N incident reminiscent of the Godday Orubebe’s tirade at the International Conference Hall, centre of collation of results for the presidential election, was almost repeated in Lagos yesterday when some politicians, suspected to be members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State tried to disrupt a media briefing organized by a Civil Society Election Observers Group. The politicians disrupted the press conference when the election observers alleged that there were irregularities in the elections in four local governments where the ruling party’s candidate who emerged winner in the last governorship election got popular votes. While the group, led by Comrade David Anyaele, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) called for rerun of election in the LGAs, which include Osisioma, Ugwunagbo, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North local government areas, where the observers said there were no elections, the PDP members rose up and started a verbal attack on the observers. They accused the observers of running away from Abia to hold a press conference in Lagos, and maintained that the press conference would not continue until the observers returned to Abia State for the conference. At the heart of the fracas was the cancellation of the election results from the affected local councils, which made the process declared inconclusive, as a result of what the election observers described as widespread electoral malpractices, violence, snatching of ballot boxes and use of fake uniformed men among other electoral offences. A legal practitioner, Ugwuzor Adindu, condemned the position of the observers, saying a returning officer has no right to cancel an election at a stage when results should be announced. “We were angered, because from their comment, they just kept mentioning ruling party, ruling party, all because they have been in power for 16 years. And from the comment from one of them that the PDP brought a stooge because they have been in power for 16 years shows it is obvious they are working for Dr. Alex Otti of APGA. That the press conference is sponsored by APGA. It also shows clearly that from the question that I asked them, which they could not answer, they don’t know their onion with respect to election matters.

CTIVITIES marking the 15th year anniversary of the Strongtower parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) will be rounded off tomorrow with a thanksgiving service, scheduled to hold inside the main auditorium of the new church building located at 12, St Finbars College road, Akoka, Lagos. The Pastor-in-charge of Lagos Province 44 (LP 44) of the RCCG, Pastor Amos Emovon, is expected to deliver the sermon. Activities marking the anniversary kicked off on Thursday with a Special Teaching programme delivered by Pastor Saheed Ogunsola of LP 23. On Friday, a praise/variety night, featuring drama, dance groups and various performance by the choir held inside the church’s old auditorium, located at 3 Community road, Akoka. Saturday witnessed free health check programme for members and their family, as well as evangelism march round the area. Speaking on the importance of the celebration, Pastor Joshua Olaleye, the Pastor-in-charge, said the anniversary is particularly important at this period because God is ready to take His people to the level of stability. Pastor Olaleye said the theme of the celebration, Beyond Limitation, was informed because God has been faithful to the church. “We want to give all the glory to God for the 15th anniversary of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Strongtower, Akoka, LP44. God has been faithful to His people over these years with diverse testimonies and that is why th anniversary theme is Beyond Limitation did not come as a surprise, knowing God is set to take His people to a greater level beyond their ability.”

n Adedeji ADEMIGBUJI n

•Enugu State Governor-elect, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left), receiving his Certificate of Return from INEC National PHOTO: OBI CLETUS. Commissioner, Dame Gladys Nwafor…yesterday.

INEC issues Certificates of Return to Ekwunife, Oduah, Uba, others in Anambra HE three senators-elect in Anambra State were yesterday issued Certificates of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They are Senator Andy Uba, Anambra South; Princess Stella Oduah, Anambra North and Hon. Uche Ekwunife, Anambra Central. Nine House of Representatives candidates who were declared winners by INEC after the election also received their certificates from INEC, with the exception of Orumba North, South, Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia federal constituencies. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Edwin Nwatalari, said the Orumba North and South federal constituency had an issue in court, while the winner from Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia federal constituency, Okey Ezeh was absent. While handing over the certifi-

n Nwanosike ONU, Awka n cates to the winners yesterday at INEC office in Awka, the Zonal Commissioner of INEC in the area, Lawrence Nwuruku, said anybody with grievances should channel his or case through the tribunal. According to him, “power comes from God, If God says yes, nobody can say no. If you lose election, try again, I have never gone to court before. But I have lost election, I’m not discouraging anybody from going to the tribunal.” The REC said his phone line has been bombarded with calls by politicians after the elections in the state, adding that the only person that had not called him was God. “I will never disobey court orders if given. As far as I am concerned in this office, every decision taken by any court will be adhered to,” the REC said. Members of the House of Rep-

resentatives who received their Certificates of Return yesterday were Peter Madubueze (Anambra East and West), Emeka Idu (Onitsha North and South), Anayo Nebe (Awka North and South), Emeka Anohu (Ihiala). Others were Chuchu Onyema (Ogbaru), Eucharia Azodo (Aguata), Gabriel Onyenwife (Ayamelum and Oyi), Obinna Chidoka (Idemili North and South) and Chris Azubogu (Nnewi North, South, Ekwusigo). Two former speakers of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Anayo Nnebe and Eucharia Azodo were elected to the National Assembly. Speaking on behalf of others, Senator Andy Uba thanked INEC for a job well done, and called on those who lost during the elections to close ranks for a better Anambra State. Ekwunife called on Chief Victor Umeh and others to forget what happened during the election and come together.

THE NATION,

66 NEWS

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Again, hoodlums shut down Ekiti over impeachment scare

OR the second time in one week, hoodlums and members of transport unions yesterday took over Ado-Ekiti and other major towns in Ekiti State, following a rumour that 19 members of Ekiti House of Assembly would impeach Governor Ayo Fayose. Federal civil servants, bank workers, workers in the private sector, business owners and senior secondary school students currently writing their final year examination, who were not affected by the directive of the labour unions in the state to stay off work had harrowing experiences in getting to their destinations Labour unions including Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) had

Odunayo Ekiti, suffered untold hardOGUNMOLA, Ado-ekiti ship in transit as their vehiduring a rally on Thursday directed civil servants to observe Friday(yesterday) as a work-free day to pray for peace of Ekiti. The labour unions also directed commercial drivers and motorcyclists to stay off the streets between 6.00 am and 12 noon. But hoodlums capitalized on the directives by the labour unions to molest innocent residents going about their normal activities. They moved to the streets of Ado-Ekiti to enforce the ‘order’ as early as 6.30 am erecting barricades on major highways that lead to AdoEkiti, the state capital. Travellers from neighbouring states like Kwara, Kogi, Osun, Ondo passing through

cles were delayed for many hours. Bonfires, used tyres, iron rods as well as broken tables and chairs were used to block all access roads. Policemen and traffic wardens were nowhere to be found as traffic gridlock took over Okesa area of Ado Ekiti. Not a few residents were subjected to trekking long distances to their destinations. The Nation gathered that other major towns were shut down by pro-Fayose protesters who moved from one place to the other to ensure that commercial and private vehicles were prevented from moving. Some parts of Ado-Ekiti where the partisan transporters and thugs had free reign

include Ajilosun, Fajuyi, Ijigbo, Basiri, Adebayo, Odo Ado and Old Garage . Other towns that witnessed the dose of shut down include Ikere, Ikole and Ifaki. Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Most Revd Felix Ajakaye, and other bishops were delayed as they were

making their way to AdoEkiti for the celebration of the 80th birthday of the retired Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop Michael Fagun coming up on Saturday. The mob however left the bishop and is entourage off the hook when they were

identified as clerics. As at press time, normalcy was yet to return, even as the spokesman of Ekiti Police Command, (PPRO), Mr Alberto Adeyemi, assured that men of the state command were on top of the situation.

Ajimobi to opponents: let’s build Oyo together

OVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, yesterday, waved olive branch to his opponents in the recently concluded governorship election, asking them to join him in building the state. He made the call shortly after he was handed his certificate of return in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) as the winner of the governorship election.

Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan

Ajimobi said: “Now that election is over, there is no need for acrimony or any form of bitterness because the people of the state have spoken and they did so very clearly.” He stressed that there was no loser in the election, noting that victory belongs to the people of the state and democracy. He added: “We owe gratitude to our people in the state who defied scorching sun and rain to cast their votes to candidates of their choice without any act of violence. This victory belongs to them and also to democracy which is growing gradually in our dear country. ““As in many human races, different crowns await all participants. Let’s surrender to the

will of the people and the choice of the Almighty. Let’s work together. We need development in Oyo State. I invite all those who ran the race with me to come together to run Oyo State. They have qualities I don’t have. Let’s combine our experiences and qualities to move Oyo State forward.” Earlier, the National Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti, Ogun and Oyo states, Prof. Lai Olurode, in his keynote address, lauded the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Amb. Rufus Akeju, for doing a good job. All the three senators-elect and 14 House of Representatives members-elect received their certificates of return at the ceremony held at Premier Hotel, Ibadan.

APC chieftain advises Buhari on governance

ORMER Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Tourism in Ogun State and the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ogun State, Chief Jide Ojuko, has advised Nigeria’s president -elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to manage the resources of Nigeria judiciously to develop the all sectors without discrimination. In a statement, Ojuko admitted that the last elections in

•Oyo State governor and winner of last Saturday's gubernatorial election, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (centre) displaying his certificate of return collected from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ibadan on Friday. He is flanked by his wife, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (right); his deputy, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo (left); INEC National Commissioner for Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti States, Prof. Lai Olurode (second left); and the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Oyo State, Ambassador Rufus Akeju... yesterday

Ondo APC demands investigation of Ilaje bloody clash

HE All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, yesterday called for investigation of violence that erupted in the coastal areas during the recently concluded state assembly election. It was learnt that the attack between some Naval officers and suspected political thugs claimed lives. Consequently,elections into the two constituencies in the council area have been declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral

Damisi OJO, Akure Commission(INEC). An APC leader in the area,Chief Adewale Omojuwa, urged the relevant agencies to look into the immediate and remote cause of the incident for prosecution of the perpetrators. “We learnt that some thugs suspected to be supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) clashed with Naval Officers at Ugbonla which reportedly claimed lives.” Omojuwa alleged that the

thugs hijacked election materials meant for polling units in Ayetoro community. The former chairman of Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), said the thugs who armed themselves with offensive weapons also carted away voting materials at OdeUgbo. He stressed that the same hoodlums invaded Ilowo community and seized money earmarked for mobilisation of party personnel that participated in the

conduct of the election. Another APC chieftain,Adebowale Ehuwa, said nearly all electoral materials in the affected polling units were hijacked and kept in a secret place where results were written. He said the same thing happened in all the units in Ugbo Ward 1, where the electorate were barred from voting. Ehuwa lamented that the report of the incident which claimed lives was yet to be officially made known to the police.

How Buhari can succeed,by Yoruba socio-cultural group

YORUBA sociocultural group, Majeobaje Movement, has expressed optimism that succour is on the way for Nigeria as the affairs of the country are about to be taken over by a worthy and competent Nigerian in General Muhammadu Buhari. But the group said the incoming administration must draw from all sectors of the country and not just on politicians that are teeming to join the APC. The group,through its

Bisi OLADELE, Ibadan convener,Chief Akintayo Akin-Deko, released a 14-point chatter in Ibadan to help the incoming administration streamline its efforts at revamping the core socioeconomic sectors in the country. The chatter covers eradication of corruption, restoration of security, practice of true federalism, rule of law, reforming the constitution and revamping infrastructural

facilities. Others are poverty alleviation, reinvigorating industries, universal healthcare, functional education, sustainable agriculture, electricity supply, affordable housing and youth empowerment. Akin-Deko said: “For us at Majeobaje Movement, good governance at the federal level remains a precondition for achieving better life in Yoruba South West. It is for this reason that we forwarded this openended Good Governance Chatter to the President-Elect

and his vice. It is our hope that they will adopt it as a cornerstone for a social pact through which positive change can be systematically ushered into, and thereafter sustained in Nigeria.” “There has never been a contractual agreement between voters and political office holders. We are concerned. We believe Nigerians, especially Yoruba, deserve more than we are getting as a people. We need to set agenda for any government in Southwest.”

Courier operators lament decline in fortunes

HE Association of Nigeria Courier Operators has expressed concerns over the declining fortunes of its members, especially the indigenous ones, in recent years. The group, in a statement, regretted that the situation had resulted in loss of jobs, loss of government revenue and closure of many courier companies. “293 courier companies were registered in the country. Out of this, only 80 are active. Many have closed down in recent years and many more are on the verge of closure. The dwindling trend is attributable to lack of regulation channel and absence of proper regulation. Inimical activities of local government employees on Nigerian roads and non recognition of viability of courier industry by the Federal Government are also part of the factors.” Proffering solution to their plight, the group urged the National Assembly to pass the Postal and Courier Services Commission Bill. “ We sent the bill to the 6th and 7th assembly for debate and subsequent passage. The bill was not passed until the two assemblies wounded up. It is our demand that the present assembly passes the bill before it winds up.

Nigeria were not devoid of hitches in some parts of the country, the APC chieftain in Ado-Odo/ Ota Local Government said the elections were after still free, fair and credible. He congratulated both Buhari and the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for their successes in the elections. He gave kudos to the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the success of the APC at the national and the state level. He charged the defectors from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the state to bury their differences and return to APC which he described as “the only formidable and democratic party in the country.” He appealed to various communities in the state to cooperate with the state government in its quest to develop Ogun State.

Monarch congratulates Amosun

HE traditional ruler of Iseluland, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has felicitated with Governor Ibikunle Amosun, on his reelection as governor of the state. In a release signed by the monarch, he congratulated Amosun on his victory at the just concluded governorship poll. He also admonish the people of Yewa in Ogun West to take the outcome of the election as the will of God. “The betterment of our state is greater than our personal objectives and it is our collective responsibility to move the reputable state to a greater height irrespective of any differences.” “I also want to urge the governor to ensure that the people of Ogun West enjoy some of the dividends of democracy, while the people of Yewa should equally support Amosun’s administration.”

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

THE NATION,

NEWS 69

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015 Segun, I read your write up in The Nation of 11 April. You failed to hide your hate feelings for GEJ. You allowed your ethnic and political bearing to overshadow your profession. It is a pity that journalists like you fan embers of disunity. GEJ is my hero,” AnyiamAjomiwe, 08160428900

Reactions to ILLUMINATIONS

Re : Beyond GEJ’s phone call

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“Hello and thank you for ‘Beyond GEJ’s phone call’ of April 11. Nigerians seek for relevance even where none exists. What is the big deal in GEJ congratulating GMB? What else would he have done? Nigerians always looking for cheap ways out,’ BiodunBalogun, 08055867682 “Segun, your article ‘Beyond GEJ’s phone call’ has distinguished you as a lexicon of ingratitude and an apostle of ethno-centric criticism. It is only wicked men like you that could not see the affection in Jonathan’s concession of defeat in abstinence from the popular OBJ philosophy of do or die politics. Metaphorically, you are only expressing disappointment that the blood you expected to flow did not. Nigerians and the entire world are happy with the development so if you are dissatisfied, you are free to hang yourself,” Elder Sam Ubochi, Ibadan, 08038956146 “My brother, I just read your article ‘Beyond GEJ’s phone call’. You published my heart. I thank you for the masterpiece of an article. Our moral value is so low in this country that we celebrate people when they do what is expected of them. God bless you my brother,” Otomewo, 08023084499 “What your strange article of 11th April portends is that anybody in the position of Jonathan any day in the circumstances Nigeria found itself before, during and after the election should be at liberty to do with the election result as Babangida with June 12. Whether it means the entire country going down the drain consequently doesn’t matter to you. Thanks to the world and Nigerians who understand better the unAfrican display of uncommon statesmanship by Jonathan and have appropriately acknowledged that. Those of who saw the Nigerian civil war would forever remain grateful to Jonathan for saving us from the group-constructed catastrophe for the country so twisted by his detractors and heaped on his head,” Emmanuel Egwu, 08037921541 “I must confess Segun that you are a good writer. I share your sentiments. One does not become a hero because you concede defeat. God bless you,” Roberts, 08036454379 “Thank you for ‘Beyond GEJ’s phone call’. We are the Common Sense Revolution

•Jonathan Vanguard’, Dr AbdullahiJibril, Abuja, 08037864101 “Your writings illuminate my mind. I wonder why Nigerians are falling over each other to congratulate a man who accepted defeat as a last joker! Why wasNigeria Governors Forum 16 greater than 19 and Ekiti 6 greater than 19? Or has he just realized we have to call a spade a spade? For Buhari/Yemi, it’s not yet Uhuru like you rightly said until they deliver. One thing is sure – Nigerians now know when/how to effect the only thing that is constant…CHANGE! God bless you,” Kelvin, 08037090389

...All that post-mortem on Jonathan is gratuitous – hitting a man when he’s already down! So Nigeria would have remained calm if Jonathan had contested the outcome? Come on, be objective for once and channel your energy to highlighting what will make GMB succeed in the largerthan-life role you people have created for him!

’

promotes and averts calamity for any people of any nation merits equal decoration. Jonathan is my hero…his act merits many credits,” Bounmi, 09090018593 “You spoke my mind. GEJ is not a hero. I am one of those who believes that if he had plunged the nation into any crisis after his widely expected and well deserved defeat, he would have been among the first victims,” Daniele S.O, Abuja, 07056540383

“The quick concession was largely the president’s only means of preventing his wife’s and possibly his own indictment by the ICC if violence had erupted after the elections. Before the elections a petition had already been written to the ICC. If there had been widespread violence, it reasonably could have been connected to the provocative comments of the First Lady during the campaign. So conceding defeat and preventing chaos was, in my estimation, more about self-preservation and not nationalistic considerations,” 07038758298

“What a down- to- earth write up! I wholeheartedly doff my heart for you for this brilliant piece. You are an icon, keep it up,” 08072416616 “SegunAyobolu, your hate write- up against the rest of the world’s commendation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s humility compared to your stupid arrogance smacks of a man without pedigree and seeking attention and political appointment. Sorry you missed it. Your likes are the problem Nigeria is suffering. But the God whom I serve shall surely reward you in your own coin,” Mrs Ivan Ogunkanmi, 08033021198

“I read your article of April 11, ‘Beyond GEJ’s phone call’ where you down played the good act of President Jonathan. Let George Washington champion their independence and Mao put food on the table for a billion people – a laudable achievement- and Mandela decorated for spending years in prison for a just cause as you said. But add this to your archive that not only every heavyweight act attracts commendations but any act of self- sacrifice that

“Thanks Segun for baring the truth so comprehensively. Jonathan knows what he’ll personally lose if he did not concede defeat. Jonathan’s desperate elections’ eve N9.4 billion oil pipeline security contracts to so-called militants is a slap on our face, contracts he must rescind before he lives office if he’s a true statesman.What about his profligate milliondollar gifts to so-called royal fathers? These are treasonable and must be investigated. Yes,

there’s a divine angle to our many precipitous situations but we too must take our destiny seriously,” Tunde Smith, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, 08037194148 “Hi Segun. In your illuminations on ‘GEJ’s phone call’ just like your many other articles, no one has spoken my mind like you do. Keep it up or is it turn it up?,” Benco, Makurdi, Benue State, 07036036348 “It’s like you’ve made up your mind not to write anything good and appreciative of President Jonathan. What fault did you see in his admission of election loss! You wrote nothing all the three times General Buhari would rush for saviour at the Tribunal/ Supreme Court. Just to allow sleeping dogs to lay, elections you called ‘free, fair and credible’ was completely opposite in Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Delta, Rivers. Yet, Jonathan allowed those to go. His phone call congratulating Buhari saved so much chaos,” LanreOseni, 07064181043 “Bayelsans must declare a week of mourning. Bayelsans must think. Goodluck did not represent any of us but he represented himself. Goodluck was not man enough to rule Nigeria. Goodluck was implementing an Ogba agenda. There’s nothing like him being a statesman for conceding defeat because there was nothing else he would have done. Goodluck was a shame that has happened to the Ijaw man. He must from now on remove his hands fromnBayelsa politics. He stayed in Aso Rock Villa for six years and didn’t make any impact in Bayelsa. There’s nothing to show that we had our son as the President of Nigeria. What a shame,” 08037273716 “A visionary and sincere write-up: in fact the very best since that GREEK gift (phone call). As usual, we (IGBOS) are the worst for it. Take a look at what is happening in Lagos now. Always be yourself,” Onyekaozuru, 07039117492 “Segun, just finished reading your piece in The Nation. You could do better than that. All that post-mortem on Jonathan is gratuitous – hitting a man when he’s already down! So Nigeria would have remained calm if Jonathan had contested the outcome? Come on, be objective for once and channel your energy to highlighting what will make GMB succeed in the larger-than-life role you people have created for him!,” 08115016129 “Sir, you are just biased. Just try to be fair to all. GMB has never congratulated any presidential election winner! 2019 is coming and we are watching,” David Sule, 07038263259

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Seven reasons Jonathan, Obasanjo fell apart HE nation's presidential election has been won and lost but those who survived its intrigues knew that it was not an easy battle. The peak of the battle was the cold war between ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan. While the two leaders engaged in makebelieve that all was well, they were firing at each other under the table. At a point, they spoke in parables for only the wise to decode. There were allusions to 'motor-park' touts. But the war claimed its casualties too. All those associated with Obasanjo, who crossed the shooting range or strayed into the range, were fired.

The beginning of the intrigues The crisis of confidence between Jonathan and Obasanjo started manifesting in 2011 but it reached a crescendo in 2013 with what a presidency source described as a “satanic” letter by the ex-President. A reliable source said when the relationship was getting sour, Jonathan once summoned the courage to confront Obasanjo for allegedly undermining him. Jonathan had accused Obasanjo of allegedly being behind the rebellion of the G-7 governors in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But Obasanjo denied the allegation and assured Jonathan of support. The source gave seven reasons on how the two leaders got to an ‘irreconciliable’ stage in their relationship. The seven issues are: • Rejection of some ministerial nominees and chief executives of departments and agencies from the South-West from Obasanjo • Alleged refusal of Jonathan to consult Obasanjo on key policies and decisions of the government to sack some heads of parastatals linked with the ex-President from the South-West • Disagreement on the leadership of PDP at the national level and in the South-West, especially the sack of Obasanjo’s loyalists like ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ex-Governor Segun Oni, and Bode Mustapha • The rise of G-7 and ultimate defection • Obasanjo’s allegation of Jonathan’s administration of lack of direction, especially on anti-graft war. • Use of international fora to write off the administration of Jonathan • Second term aspiration of Jonathan. The source added: “Obasanjo’s disagreement with Jonathan started from the ministerial nomination. The ex-President sought input into nominations from the South-West but Jonathan restricted him to Ogun State. He said Obasanjo cannot single-handedly nominate ministers from the South-West when there is PDP structure in place. “The ex-President was also not happy that the Jonathan administration does not consult him on all policy issues, decisions of the government and strategic appointments. The exPresident felt the President had been hijacked by those he did not want in government. “One of those who allegedly offended Obasanjo in the past was the outgoing Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim. His appointment was done on merit and without consultation with Obasanjo. Even at that, Anyim personally went to meet Obasanjo and sought forgiveness in whatever manner he had offended the ex-President. And he said he had forgiven Anyim. “But Anyim was said not to have changed as he allegedly bared his fangs on Obasanjo’s loyalists. For instance in removing Otunba Olusegun Runsewe as the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the President was made to believe by the Office of the SGF that only an Executive Director was being replaced. Although Jonathan has respect for Runsewe, he had approved his removal in error before he got to know what went wrong. “The emergence of Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman of PDP and the attendant crisis in the party deepened the crack in the relationship between the two leaders. And the hijack of the South-West PDP structure from Obasanjo pained the ex-President. But with anti-second term campaign for Jonathan, it was strategically important for the PDP to restrict Obasanjo to his only vote at the PDP National Convention for presidential primaries than to allow him control the party structure and wreak havoc. “Intelligence reports on Obasanjo’s remarks during public lectures or seminars at international fora, including some in the USA, upset the presidency. The victims When two elephants fight, the grass, they say, suffers. Some of the victims of the cold war between Jonathan and Obasanjo were a former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former National Vice Chairman(South-West) of PDP, ex-Governor Segun Oni; the party’s former National Auditor, Sen. Bode Mustapha; the immediate past Chairman of the of the Board of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Lt. Gen. Martin Luther Agwai; ex- DG of NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; ex-DG of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa; and the immediate past Executive Secretary of PTDF, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye, a son of Maj-Gen. J.J. Oluleye who was a former Federal Commissioner (Minister) of Finance. Some of these party leaders and government functionaries were removed from office based on pettiness, the fear of the unknown, grand plan for Jonathan’s second term in office, sheer ethnic politics, sycophancy, dummy security alarms and antiObasanjo’s hatred by some forces in the Presidency. A reliable source said: “Like the President said he was caged for 16 years, he realised the truth in some instances after such public officials had been sacked. Take the case of ex-DG of NBC, Yomi Bolarinwa, he was on top of the game before he was sacked for allegedly being disloyal. Unknown to the President, Bolarinwa’s successor, respected Emeka Mba, had served two-term tenure as

• How ex-president’s men became victims A core issue, which accounted for the strain in the relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and his erstwhile political godfather, exPresident Olusegun Obasanjo was the alleged maltreatment of some loyalists of the former President in government and in the hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this piece, YUSUF ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation, examines the politics of the cold war and the ‘sacrificial lambs’.

•Agwai the DG of the National Films and Censors Board. Bringing him to NBC would amount to third term in the same capacity. “The hate advertisements and documentaries on the Presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, during the just-concluded campaign and the belated intervention of the NBC pointed to why the change in the commission was effected by the Office of the SGF.” How did Obasanjo’s loyalists get into trouble? Agwai Born on November 8, 1948 in Kaduna State , Agwai was appointed Chief of Army Staff by Obasanjo in 2003, and elevated to the rank of full-star general and Chief of Defence Staff in 2006. After retirement in 2009, he was engaged in a number of international assignments until he was appointed the Deputy Chairman of the Board of •Oyinlola the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SUREP) by President Goodluck Jonathan in February 2012. In November 2013, he became SURE-P Chairman following the “sudden” resignation of Chief Christopher Kolade. But Agwai ran into trouble when he delivered a “toxic” lecture at the 78th birthday of Obasanjo in Abeokuta. In the lecture titled, "Imperatives of a national security framework for the development and progress of Nigeria", Agwai warned against military’s involvement in politics and added a clincher that Nigeria needed a “change” of government when he knew the 2015 poll was a few months away. The same slogan of “change” was the campaign gimmick of the then opposition party, the All Progressives Congress(APC). The presidency saw his lecture as the hand of Esau’s and the voice of Jacob. He was given the boot while abroad. Otunba Segun Runsewe Otunba Segun Runsewe was the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC). He was removed by Jonathan under controversial circumstances while on official assignment in Dubai selling the tourism potential of Nigeria. A tourism ambassador par excellence, Runsewe carved a niche for the nation in the international community as he bestrode everywhere with a peculiar pan-Nigerian identity. The floating of the Nigerian Tourism Village during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa remains unequalled till today. Before the NTDC assignment, this Ijebu man was appointed a former Executive Director of the National Orientation Agency by Obasanjo. He was also saddled with the responsibility of being

•Mustapha the chairman of the Media Committee of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting(CHOGM) in 2003. But some forces in the presidency were uncomfortable with what was described as his “increasing profile”. Loved by the President but his replacement was technically done as the forces in the Office of the SGF made Jonathan to realise that there was a vacancy for an Executive Director (ED) in NTDC as if the ED will work under Runsewe. Jonathan wielded the big stick without knowing he was firing a friend. Dr. Oluwole Oluleye A son of a former Federal Commissioner of Finance, Gen. J.J. Oluleye, who was a colleague and friend of Obasanjo in the military administration of MurtalaObasanjo between 1975 and 1979, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye was the pioneer Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) in 2003. He was humiliated out of office because he resisted the cabal seeking to perpetrate fuel subsidy fraud. Some influential marketers wanted to be paid for fuel not imported and Oluleye allegedly refused to cooperate in spite of the glaring offer of bribery cuts for him by the fuel subsidy cabal. Apart from serving as a member/secretary of the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee in 2010, luck smiled on Oluleye again when he was appointed as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Development Technology Fund (PTDF) on May 15, 2013. A source said he ran into an ethical trouble again in 2014 for rejecting plans to use part of PTDF funds to finance the governorship project of PDP, which led to the election of Governor Ayodele Fayose. There was also a phantom report on his alleged “closeness” to the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of the APC. For standing aloof on Operation Conquer Ekiti by PDP, Oluleye was disengaged by the presidency. Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa Engr. Yomi Bolarinwa was appointed Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) in March 2007 and held the position till May 2013. He was sacked by President Goodluck Jonathan in hazy circumstances, which no one has explained to him today. But sources said Bolarinwa’s exit, eight months to the expiration of his tenure, followed alleged issuance of TV licence to the opposition, which led to the birth of TVC. Bolarinwa was also allegedly removed due to the conspiracy that the South-West has had enough of its days in NBC. But

THE NATION, SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015

Conquering fixation • Continued on Back Page

•Dr. Oluleye

•Oni the presidency might have given him the boot to hijack the agency for the bitter campaign, which dotted the 2015 poll. Oyinlola Following consensus by PDP governors, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola was elected as the National Secretary of the party at its National Convention in 2012 but because of his closeness to Obasanjo, some bigwigs in the party, especially exNational chairman of PDP, Alh. Bamanga Tukur, were uncomfortable with him. As an Obasanjo man, some loyalists of the President felt Oyinlola might be an obstacle to the second term aspiration of Jonathan. These forces took undue advantage of the law and ensured that Oyinlola was sacked by the Federal High Court, Abuja in January 2013 for being improperly elected to the position. Rather than take the laws into his hand, Oyinlola appealed the judgment of the lower court and won. But all attempts to reinstate him into office were frustrated by Bamanga Tukur, who in turn was forced to step aside in 2014. He later followed the honourable path by defecting to the All Progressives Congress(APC). Imbued with courage, Oyinlola does not pretend as a die-hard loyalist of Obasanjo. In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, he made it known that he has no other name than loyalty. He said: “I wish to respectfully state that I do not go back on my words, just like I don’t abandon my friends, associates and leaders, no matter how hard the situation might be. That explains why as a state governor, I remained very loyal to my boss, former President Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR, even when he had some issues with the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I wish to respectfully recall very respectfully, that Chief Obasanjo never made any attempt to move against me on account of these differences. The same spirit today drives me as I maintain my loyalty to former President Obasanjo, who may, or who may not have any relationship with your government. It was that same spirit that made me insist on your approval of my candidature, in your capacity as national leader of the party and president, before I agreed with my brother-governors request in 2012, to contest for the position of PDP National Secretary. I should like to state that I am not a fair-weather fellow. To my friends, the spirit is very similar to marital vow." Segun Oni An anointed political son of Obasanjo from the way he emerged as the elected Governor of Ekiti State in April 2007, after losing his mandate in October 2010, Oni remained a committed party man until March 2012 when he was elected the National Vice Chairman South-West of the PDP. However in line with a grand plot to relegate Obasanjo to the background in the PDP in the South-West, Oni was removed from office by the Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee of the PDP as a result of

•Runsewe

•Bolarinwa a court ruling that nullified the party congress that led to the emergence of Oni. Instead of allowing the judicial process to run its full course to the Supreme Court, the Bamanga Tukur team employed impunity to its fullest. Oni had no choice than to leave the PDP for APC where he was elected as the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC. Chief Bode Mustapha A former National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Bode Mustapha lost his seat in the National Working Committee of the party following a court ruling that his election was improper. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisah Metuh, who tried to justify Mustapha’s removal, said: “Report of the Decision of PDP NWC on Ogun State Exco & South West Zone Exco; Following protracted dispute on the Ogun State and South West Zonal Exco of the Party, a series of suits were filed on the matter, which include FHC/L/CS/1248/2011, FHC/L/CS/282/2012 and FHC/L/CS/347/2012. "The Peoples Democratic Party is to rectify its records by deleting the name of Chief Bode Mustapha as National Auditor and replacing the same with Alhaji Fatai Adewole Adeyanju. “The National working Committee of the party met on 14th February 2013 and gave careful consideration to the issues and decided that, in line with respect to the rule of law which is a cardinal principle of the present administration, the PDP as a law abiding party, will immediately comply with the said judgment. This is all the more so that same has not been set aside or reversed by any superior court.” Mustapha later defected to the APC alongside other Obasanjo's loyalists. Reaping the benefits of anti-Obasanjo’s agenda Although some strategists of President Goodluck Jonathan might disagree, the gradual alienation of the South-West and the removal of public functionaries from the zone from public office created a political liability for the President during the general election. Out of about 50 choice appointments, the South-West had only two or three. At a stage, Jonathan took his destiny in his hands by embarking on shuttles to traditional rulers in Yorubaland, but it was too late as the Yoruba were not ready to condone his explanation for sidelining the principle of Federal Character in the 1999 Constitution. The APC latched on the costly mistake of Jonathan’s administration and the rest is history today. What becomes of these Obasanjo’s men? Now that a new government is in place, the question, is what becomes of these Obasanjo’s men. They were part of the sacrifices made to effect the sweeping change now in the country. Some of them were harassed out of office, displaced, and even subjected to deprivation for no fault of theirs.

letes. How do you engage the car in the reverse gear yet expect the vehicle to move forward. We have refused to change the administrators with their warp ideas. Coaches and players now hobnob with the Presidency; a distasteful development that has made impossible a smooth transition in the Eagles, with the NFF going against its wish for the team. I digress! Today, Taiwo Awoniyi is the hottest striker in the country. Awoniyi was a marvel to watch at the last U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets won. He has taken his prolific goal-scoring act to the flying Eagles, scoring goals with aplomb, in the absence of Kelechi Iheanacho. Rather than draft Awoniyi to the Dream Team VI after completing the Flying Eagles assignment, such mundane talk of him being over-used were proposed by our coaches and their ilk without asking Awoniyi if he could cope with both roles. Those who advanced that argument must cover their heads in shame because it has taken Awoniyi’s profound scoring skills to hand Nigeria the qualification ticket for the All Africa Games. Awoniyi reminds me of Henry Nwosu. His knack for scoring goals brings back memories of the late Rashidi Yekini. Iker Casilas was here in Lagos for the 1999 World U-20 Youth Championship, which Spain won by beating Japan, then handled by the White Witch Doctor, Phillipe Troussier 20, inside the mainbowl of the National Stadium in Lagos. Casilas is still Spain’s goalkeeper, 16 years after breaking into the team as a 20-year old. The advantage of playing outstanding players, such as Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidera Eze, in the senior category is that they will remain there for a longer time. Besides, others at the grassroots would be buoyed to give their best, knowing that they too could be like them, if they improve on their game. The argument of former internationals, such as Victor Ikpeba, that Awoniyi would be ripe for the Eagles in two years time is bunkum. This is why Ikpeba didn’t leave the Eagles with a testimonial game, in spite of his remarkable contributions, including winning the Africa Footballer of the Year award in 1999. Players get the impetus to live their dreams in a football team through their skills, not age, especially the gifted ones. We must strive to reduce the average age of the Super Eagles from its unacceptable 32 to what others have – between 21 and 28. The game is now being played by young and enterprising players, who are hungry for glory. Little wonder the avalanche of new players that come into prominence after every big competition. Need I waste space to list boys who hit it big time as teens, not forgetting the king of soccer, Pele? Whenever I watch Manchester United play with De Gea in goal, I cry. Why? In 2007, a Nigerian ‘kid’ Dele Ajiboye, was adjudged the best goalkeeper at the U-17 World Cup which Nigeria beat Spain 20. It would be ludicrous for any bookmaker to draw a comparison between Ajiboye and De Gea today, more than eight years after. Do you see my pain? Who blinks first? By the time you are reading this column today (baring any last minute changes) , Stephen Okechukwu Keshi would have returned to his Super Eagles job at humbling terms. Keshi’s return has been controversial, with the NFF chiefs’ body language not favourably disposed towards working with him. This cat-and-rat setting may be the Eagles’ biggest problem, if Keshi plays the ostrich. Unfortunately, NFF men are not ready to tell us the terms of reference in Keshi’s deal, based on a certain clause which forbids either party to make such disclosure. But, I’m damn sure the wall of secrecy will eventually collapse and details of the contract, will be subject of beer parlour talks - when the coach fails to get his salaries and entitlements promptly. NFF men must tell us the dos and don’ts in Keshi’s contract now not when he infringes on any. Nigerians deserve to know what would happen to the coach if the Eagles fail to fly. I don’t see how an all-knowing Keshi will allow his list to be vetted, yet he refuses to carry the can when the team fails. I also don’t see how Keshi will work with any document given to him by the technical study group and the technical department and yet we expect him to take the credit for victories arising from such group initiatives. Keshi isn’t a team player. I also don’t see how Keshi will stop John Mikel Obi from playing for the Eagles even when he is a bench warmer at Chelsea? Will Keshi forgive Sunday Mba et al to give the Eagles the desired fillip to fly higher? Will Keshi swallow his pride and play the functional 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 or even 4-3-3 to bring out the best of our players who shine in their European teams which play these formations? Does the NFF have a plan B when Keshi’s tantrums begin, especially if, the federation fails to pay the coach promptly. Would the NFF be right to sanction a man whose fees they haven’t settled, irrespective of the reasons given for the delay? I pray that Keshi becomes a team player in this new dispensation. He must do away with those busybodies around him who run their mouths in the media. They are the ones who told us that seven countries were chasing the Big Boss to train their teams. Where are those teams today? These lickspittles shouldn’t tell us in the future how certain powerful men in the fading government begged the coach to stay. Keshi has been jobless. Countries touted to be chasing him picked others even though he denied applying for those jobs. Keshi signed a contract he tagged ‘slavish’. I hope he remains humble because he thrives in having power without control mechanism. This NFF board has provided such control mechanisms. I hope the Big Boss can submit himself to control.

TOMORROW IN THE NATION PUNCHLINE

But the cause of corruption deserves as much attention as its effect. Strong institutions and a political system that is not designed to facilitate corrupt behavior are matters that should be of concern to the Buhari administration —Ropo Sekoni

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.9, NO. 3181

N spite of his many sterling qualities, I had always harboured the fear that the Presi dent-elect, General MuhammaduBuhari’s virtues could also be the source of a serious weakness that could sabotage his best intentions for the country. The ascetic General is widely revered for his record of integrity and incorruptibility. He is a man of character. Discipline is the defining essence of his life. Buhari is, in many ways, a moral exemplar in a vast ocean of ethical decadence. Millions of ordinary Nigerians see him as a secular saint of sorts. They thus expect him, on assumption of office to deal decisively and ruthlessly with corruption and the corrupt elements in our midst. General Buhari, they believe, has the magic wand to abolish corruption in Nigeria ‘with immediate effect and automatic alacrity’ in military parlance. Of course, the trust and confidence of the vast majority of the President-elect’s country men and women in his moral integrity is a huge social capital on which the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) administration will draw on its mission of national redemption. For, the erosion of trust between the leaders and the led due to decades of serial betrayals by the latter has been one of the most formidable obstacles to good, effective and productive governance in Nigeria. But such extravagant expectations on the part of the populace can easily engender feelings of political ‘messiahnism’ on the part of a leader. This is a feeling of political self-righteousness, of being on a national Salvationist mission, which must not be hindered by constitutional or other systemic constraints. General OlusegunObasanjo provides a good example of the limits and drawbacks of the Messiah complex. The wily Ota General has been variously described as imperious, vindictive, abrasive, intolerant and much more. But his fundamental weakness derived essentially from his sense of self-righteousness, of possessing a superior patriotism and commitment to national development than his fellow country men and women. This is why, for instance, he declared in his controversial new memoirs that there are only two honest and incorruptible Nigerians – he and General Buhari. In Weberian terms, a Messiah complex leads to a situation in which a leader believes that his legitimacy derives more from his own personal charismatic and moral qualities that can easily override constitutional and institutional restraints in the national interest. Thus, Obasanjo was honest and sincere when on assumption of office in 1999, he promised to launch a frontal assault against corruption. To his credit, he set up the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFCC) in pursuit of this objective. The only problem was that Obasanjo tended to see everybody else as corrupt except he and those within his inner circle. Thus, even though the EFCC under MallamNuhuRibadu’s leadership did a lot of good and effective work, the anti-corruption effort soon became unduly personalised and

Buhari’s amazing transformation

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His is clearly the most extraordinary transformation yet in Nigerian politics rivalled only, perhaps, by the late MKO Abiola’s transition from pro-establishment business tycoon to a courageous Martyr of democracy

•Buhari politicised under Obasanjo. It became a weapon to hound his political opponents and constitutional provisions were not allowed to stand in the way of the administration’s zealous war against graft. The Messiah complex is disdainful of systemic controls and ultimately results in impunity. It was the root cause of the Third Term Agenda pursued by those who believed that Obasanjo’s continued personal rule after two constitutional terms was imperative for the sustainability of socio-political and economic reforms. It is against this background that I was pleasantly surprised at the President elect’s profound insight into the nuances of power and politics in a democratic context in the media interview he granted during last Saturday’s governorship and State Assembly polls. His is clearly the most extraordinary transformation yet in Nigerian politics rivalled only, perhaps, by the late MKO Abiola’s transition from pro-establishment business tycoon to a courageous Martyr of democracy. It is obvious that Buhari does not intend to run a one man show. He has no desire for personal heroism. His will be an administration predicated on team work and strict commit-

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ment to the rule of law, due process and respect for institutional autonomy. For instance, on the massive rate of defections to the APC in the aftermath of the party’s presidential election victory, the President elect said “I think this is mainly a question meant for the party. I wish Chief John Oyegun was here to answer you because we have a system. Just because I am the presidential candidate and the President elect does not mean that the system has allowed me to usurp the power of the party executive”. This is fantastic, almost unbelievable. Under Buhari, there will be a distinction between government and party. We will not have the kind of unhealthy situation under the PDP, in which the party lost its autonomy and became subordinate to the presidency. The President became the leader of the party and could manipulate the removal and election of party officials at will. This is the root cause of the gradual but steady inner decay and ultimate implosion of the PDP as a viable political party. General Buhari reinforces this point in his response to a question on the composition of his party’s transition committee. In his words, “…my hope and my idea is to get knowledge-

able and experienced technocrats that are really patriotic to study the handing over notes by Ministries and make recommendations…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 it before the inauguration so that before we are sworn in, we get into action”. This is another evidence of the President elect’s belief in the autonomy and supremacy of the party. One would have expected General Buhari to get emotional and partisan in his response to questions on the violence that characterised the elections in states like AkwaIbom and Rivers. This is because his party was at the receiving end of the violence and lost the elections in the states. But his response was restrained, statesmanlike and demonstrated, once again, his firm belief in allowing requisite institutions to function without interference or hindrance. According to him “I think we should allow INEC to give its comprehensive report…I think we have to take our time and let us get as much report as possible in accordance with the electoral Act. I personally want to be legal about this so that people will appreciate that we believe in a system. What we need to do is to modify the system according to the law if we don’t like it and that no one should come out and do to the system whatever he likes”. Of course, General Buhari asserts firmly that the electoral violence in Rivers, AkwaIbom and other parts of the country would be thoroughly investigated and culprits made to face the law so that “In the future, those who are in position will know that they are not beyond the law”. On governors of his party who have had running battles with security agencies in states where they are supposed to be the Chief Security Officers, Buhari’s response is once again very insightful: “We discussed and advised them to document these things legally so that it can be taken before the court so that people who work against the law are prosecuted, especially those who have lost their immunity. This is the best way to stabilize the system. People must not benefit from being lawless. You can’t be in a position by virtue of the constitution, subvert the constitution and continue to enjoy the privileges of the constitution…So, whether you are in the opposition or the government, you have to behave yourself. I think that is the way we can make progress”. Well, need I say more? These edifying words by the President elect offer glimpses of hope into a more ennobling future under his leadership. Buhari clearly does not suffer from the Messiah complex. Under him, we are likely to have a restrained and cultured presidency that subordinates itself to the constitution and the rule of law and respects the autonomy of other institutions of state. This is certainly a necessary condition to actualize the change Nigerians voted for on March 28.

•See reactions to Illuminations on Page 69

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Conquering fixation G

HANA’S Black Stars captain Andre Ayew was 19 years old when he broke into the senior national team. He is 25 years now and he is almost being tagged a veteran of the game. This is one of the benefits that Ayew’s early introduction has done for the Ghanaian national team. But that is not all. At the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Ayew’s younger brother made the squad, with both playing regularly. By the time Ayew is 28, he would have surpassed his dad Abedi Ayew’s record in the Black Stars. Besides, Ayew’s younger brother, Jordan is in tow to break their big brother’s and father’s records with the national team. The message being sent to the world is that Ghana has a rich pool of young players who are eager to replace ageing stars, for as long as the country’s football federation sustains this trend. The other perspective rests with

the fact that the European clubs are watching. Soon their scouts would invade Ghana to pick the young boys for Europe. The spiral effect of this kind of invasion will be the movement of Ghanaian kids. This will invariably increase the revenue bases of the domestic league. Not forgetting that the grassroots would be invigorated by youths eager to emulate those who have moved to Europe. Again, Ghanaians’ interest in the game would be increased, culminating in box office returns at the stadium gates during matches. The allusion to what is happening in Ghana is significant because it should push Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) chieftains to insist on introducing our exceptionally gifted youths into the Super Eagles. It must be noted here too that Ghana’s Black Stars were about the youngest team at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations held in Equatorial Guinea. It wouldn’t shock pundits if the Black Stars lift

the diadem in 2017. It must be noted also that all the young boys who did well for Ghana at previous agegrade competitions across the board have been integrated into the team. Very few old men are in the team. And Ghana’s Israeli coach, Avram Grant has tactically dropped them to the bench. He massages their egos by giving them cameo appearances in the second half, only if they suit his plans. No mutiny from the players who have seen the way the younger boys beat them in training for first team shirts. The Ghanaians are celebrating. They were not too unhappy with the penalty shootout loss to the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the finals. Their solace lay in the fact that they had a team for the future - to rule the world. At the 2009 U-17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria, Neymar was always introduced in the second half for the Brazilian team and each time he came in, it was clear to every-

one who saw them play at the Teslim Balogun Stadium that he would be a star. Today, Neymar is living his dream by playing for one of the biggest European teams, Barcelona FC of Spain. He is now the captain of Brazil’s senior team. Did I hear you say two examples of investing in the future? Absolutely, but more importantly is the need to ask previous NFFs where those who played with Ayew and Neymar are? Shocked? Don’t be. We have only paid the price for cheating. We are experts in parading men as kids. We enjoy pyrrhic victories. We are experts in quick-fixes not minding how it affects our game subsequently. Our administrators are specialists in attending competitions with two aims in mindcollect quantum estacodes and struggle to put themselves in international sporting bodies, even if Nigeria doesn’t do well in such sports. Little attention is paid to producing developmental plans for each sport. Emphasis is on recycling people in our sports administration, coaches and even ath

•Continued on Page 71

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