April 20, 2015

Soldiers harass Ado-Ekiti residents

NEWS

Page 4

Newspaper of the Year

•AND MORE •Lagos retirees to smile home with N32b ON PAGES •Constitution amendment cost N4b, says Rep 5,6,8& 55 •Gunmen raid Jonathan’s aide’s house in Bayelsa •Kwara PDP candidate gets kudos for conceding defeat

•Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

VOL. 10, NO. 3190 MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

TR UTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM TRUTH

Why I should get ADB job, by Adesina

N150.00

Chukwumerije dies of lung cancer at 75

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A

GRICULTURE Minister Akinwunmi Adesina is in the race for African Development Bank (ADB) president.

Adesina and seven others are contesting. The others are: Sufian Ahmed, Jaloul Ayed, Kordjé Bedoumra, Cristina Duarte, Samura M. W. Kamara,Thomas Z. Sakala and Birama Boubacar Sidibé .

He told the Voice of America (VOA) in an interview that Continued on page 4

•www.thenationonlineng.net

•The late Chukwumerije

HE Senate lost one of its leading lights yesterday. Senator Uche Chukwumerije (Abia North) died of lung cancer at the Turkish Hospital in Abuja.

He was 75.

The exit of the three-term senator was announced in a statement signed by one of his sons, Che Chidi Chukwumerije, titled: “The pass-

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja and Lekan Okusan

ing of an inspirational icon”.

The statement said: “this evening of Sunday, the 19th of April, 2015, surrounded by his family, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije passed into the open arms of history, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, after a long but gallant battle

with lung cancer.

“His life is many volumes, which can only be told with care and time, of dedication and focus, integrity and discipline, and an unbroken love for the highest ideals of our shared humanity.

“Details of burial arrangements will be anContinued on page 4

•INSIDE: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS SUSPEND STRIKE P5 ‘WHY LAGOS IS IN DARKNESS’ P25

Nigeria counts its losses in South Africa attacks

•SEE PAGES 2&3

300 displaced near Jo’burg Houses, shops burnt Cars damaged, stolen

•SHAME: Hundreds of foreign nationals wait by their belongings before boarding buses heading back to Zimbabwe from a temporary refugee camp in Chatsworth, south of Durban...yesterday.

PHOTO: AFP

?

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

Govt explains cause of strange deaths in Ondo town Irele

STORY ON PAGE 8

Ethanol poison found in victims’ systems, says commissioner

•NIGERIA, ALGERIA PREDICT PERSISTENT LOW OIL PRICES P4 HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS DIE P58

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

2

NEWS THE XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS

•Vice President-elect Prof. Yemi Osinbajo flanked by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Executive Director, Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College, London, Dr Lesley Drake at the London School of Economics Africa Summit in London... at the weekend.

•Displaced people at a camp in Primrose...yesterday.

Xenophobians sending •‘Our efforts to stop attacks yielding fruits’

S •From left: Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor ; Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Folusho Phillips; DirectorGeneral, NESG, Mr. 'Laoye Jayeola and SPDC’s ex-Managing Director, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, when the SPDC’s management team visited the NESG.

•United Capital Plc (UCP) officials all: From left: Group Company Secretary/General Counsel, Leo Okafor; Director, Emmanuel Nnorom; Chairman, Chika Mordi; Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oluwatoyin Sanni; Non-Executive Director, Yoro Mohamed Dialo and Non-Executive Director, Adim Jibunoh at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

•From left: Business Development Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Daesong Ra; Head, Business Development, Mr. Olumide Ojo; Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim; Director, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Head, Product Marketing, Ms Olajumoke Okikiolu and Samsung Electronics Brand Ambassador, Banky W at the public presentation of Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphones.

OUTH African Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said yesterday that government’s efforts to stop the xenophobic violence were yielding desired results.

The minister said some unscrupulous elements have been using the social media to instill fear in different parts of the country by sending out fictitious SMS and WhatsApp messages with fictitious and photoshopped images, warning people of imminent attacks.

He blamed the messages on those he described as elements “bent on taking advantage of the situation create panick among the people.

Gigaba spoke on government’s efforts to prevent the attacks on foreign nationals in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng that have left at least six people dead.

“At this point, we are satisfied that the security measures that are currently in place are sufficient to bring the situation under control,” Gigaba said in Pretoria.

He said President Jacob Zuma led efforts to halt the attacks by calling off a trip to Indonesia to attend to the ongoing attacks.

President Zuma was due to leave for Indonesia on Saturday evening to attend the Africa-Asia summit but his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the summit on his behalf.

The minister said: “President Zuma appointed the ministers of State Security, Home Affairs and Police to spearhead the government’s response to the violence.

“The team was further strengthened by the president when he tasked the whole justice crime prevention and security cluster as well as the ministers of International Affairs and Cooperation, Small Business Development, Trade and Industry and Social Development departments to demonstrate the serious nature of which our government views the violence against foreign nationals.”

Gigaba said Zuma visited displaced foreign nationals in Chatsworth on Saturday to assure them of the government’s support.

The minister said: “The president also engaged with the Umlazi community to spread to the message of peace and tolerance,” Gidaba said.

“He (Zuma) will in the next week, lead a stakeholders’ outreach programme around the country to engage communities to start a conversation within our society.”

Warning perpetrators of xenopho-

bic violence, Gidaba said anybody found wanting will face the full might of the law.

“We want to issue a stern warning to those who lend themselves to acts of public violence. We will find you and you will be dealt with to the full might of the law,” Gigaba said in Pretoria.

According to him, the 307 people so far arrested for related acts since the attacks broke out last week will face prosecution. Special courts have also been set up to deal with perpetrators speedily.

Gigaba informed that there were ‘elements’ that were taking advantage of the violence to plunge the country into anarchy.

“Over the past few days we have noticed a new phenomenon where people make use of social media to instill fear in different parts of the country,” Gigaba said.

“They have been sending out fictitious SMS and WhatsApp messages with fictitious and photoshopped images warning people of imminent attacks.”

He said these messages appeared to be orchestrated by elements “bent on taking advantage of unease in the communities and instill fear among the people”.

“The misinformation that has been taking place on social media should be condemned by all peace-loving South Africans as well as foreign nationals living in our country,” Gigaba said.

Gigaba assured the international community that South Africa was doing everything possible to stem the violence.

He condemned false rumours spread over social media platforms warning of attacks on foreign nationals.

Gidaba said: “There will be no bus or train coming to attack South Africans or foreign nationals anywhere.

We are determined that if there is any such information that is accurate we will stop those buses and act.

“As a government, we remain alert and any credible information that suggests an imminent threat against any community, South Africans will be officially advised by relevant authorities.

“We will not communicate it through WhatsApp messages and anonymous texts.”

“To the countries that continue to invest in South Africa, we want to reassure them that South Africa is a

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

3

THE XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS

•Fleeing foreign nationals carrying their their belongings before boarding a Zimbabwebound bus from a temporary refugee camp in Chatsworth, South of Durban...yesterday.

•Hundreds of foreign nationals waiting at a temporary refugee camp in Chatsworth, South of Durban, to register with the South African Home Affairs officials to temporarily relocate to Zimbabwe...yesterday.

PHOTOS: AFP

g threat sms to foreigners, says S/African Govt Nigerians count losses as Fed. Govt moves to protect citizens

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IGERIANS living in South Africa are counting their losses to the on-going xenophobic attacks in the former apartheid enclave.

The losses, according to Nigerian ConsulGeneral in South Africa, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke, include: looted shops, razed ware points, two torched mechanic workshops, 11 burnt cars and two stolen cars.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ambassador Ajulu-Okeke yesterday put the value of the losses in the neighbourhood of 1.2 million Rand (about N21 million).

She told NAN by phone from Johannesburg, the South African capital, Nigeria was keeping records of the attacks on its citizens.

“Nigerians have compiled damage to their property and it is totalling about 1.2 million Rand or N21 million, which will be sent to constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law.”

“Investors are welcome to do business. Everything is being done to

•Ambassador values losses at N21m

the Federal Government for further action,’’ she was quoted as saying.

The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr. Ikechukwu Anyene, confirmed that efforts were being made by the association in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission to resettle those affected.

He said Nigerians living in Jeppes, a town near Johannesburg, were mostly affected by the attacks.

Ikechukwu said: "We met about 300 Nigerians in Jeppes town, near Johannesburg, who fled for their safety and about 50 of them do not have any place to stay.

"We are making arrangements with the Nigerian mission in South Africa to get them a place to stay for their safety.

restore peace and order. Government will enforce the laws of the country to act speedily [and] decisively on any criminal activity com-

"The Nigerian union has also presented relief materials to those affected by the attacks and we are in touch with various branch chapters of the union in the provinces on their safety and security."

The envoy said that in Durban, two of the three Nigerians who were wounded during the attacks had been treated and discharged from the hospital.

The consul-general promised to return to Durban to assess the situation and meet with the provincial authority on security of Nigerians in that Province.

Her words: “The Nigerian mission in South Africa is on top of the situation. We are working hard to protect Nigerians in South Africa.

“Though, the task has not been easy, we

mitted by or against a foreign national or a citizen of South Africa.”

Gigaba said the government held meetings with church leaders to

are trying our best. In one of the hot spots at Jeppe, near Johannesburg, the mission assisted about 50 stranded Nigerians to re-settle.

“I have also visited the site of the attacks in Johannesburg to assess the damage and it was enormous.”

She assured that the Nigerian mission would meet with all Nigerian Union chapters in the nine provinces of South Africa to find strategies on how to check the attacks.

“I am bringing all Nigerians together so that we work out a vigilance and alert mechanism; they will also tell me what their challenges and issues are,” she said.

Mrs. Ajulu-Okeke said the mission and the Nigerian Union had been working cordially to meet the challenges caused by the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

spread a peace message.

His words: “We unequivocally condemn the maiming and killing of our brothers and sisters from other

parts of the African continent.”

“No amount of frustration or anger can justify these attacks and looting of shops.”

NANS condemns killings of foreigners in South Africa

O

RGANISED students’ body – the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa.

According to reports, 50 Nigerians have been victims in the ongoing attacks on Africans, who are earning meal tickets in South Africa.

In a statement issued and signed its Vice President, National Affairs, Gbenga Ayenuro and made available to reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, NANS accused the South Africans of not showing appreciation to fellow African brothers, who particularly stood by them during the period they were bewildered by apartheid.

It also berated South African President Jacob

From Leke Akeredolu, Akure

Zuma for not doing enough to protect foreigners, particularly those who are blacks in his country.

The statement reads: “The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS condemns the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. It is so disheartening, provocative, distraught, completely unacceptable and bad that a country is unleashing attacks against a fellow country in the same globe.

“NANS utterly frowns at the deliberate targeting of innocent persons, shops and other soft targets by attackers as such atrocious, despicable and barbaric acts of violence ought to have

no place in any civilised society.

“It is so unfortunate that the South Africans, by this attitude, have shown that they are not appreciative of the roles other countries played in liberating their nation from the clutches of the obnoxious apartheid system.

“How quickly did South Africa forget the help and support other countries render to them when they are being bewildered by Apartheid where whites are killing them?

“How quickly did South Africa forget the immeasurable grace that African countries showed to them when their businesses had to strive hard? Did South Africa forget how Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) stood solidly behind them when the South

South Africa to host anti-xenophobia football matches, says SAFA

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WO international friendly matches against neighbouring countries are to be played by South Africa’s national team as part of efforts to sensitise the public on the evils of xenophobia, the South African Football Association (SAFA) said yesterday.

SAFA said xenophobic attacks by South Africans against foreigners, particularly those of African descent, has badly dented the image of the country.

Its Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Dennis Mumble said: “We want to use the two high-profile international friendly matches as an instrument to unite this continent.

“What has been happening in the past few days have really left most people in a shock and dismayed,’’ said SAFA CEO. The SAFA chief said post-apartheid President, the late Nelson Mandela spoke of the power of sport in uniting people from different walks of life “and we want to use the power of football to unite

this continent and kick out this scourge within certain malcontents in our society’’.

Details of the two international friendly matches will be announced

by SAFA shortly, he said.

South Africa has in recent days witnessed a spate of some of the most violent xenophobic attacks with at least seven people killed in Durban and Johannesburg.

“We are one continent, one Africa, we are all Africans and we say no to xenophobia,’’ Mumble added.

Africa hero and foremost democrat, the late Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years before becoming President?

“NANS conveys our heartfelt condolences to the families of those, who died in these xenophobic attacks. May God in His infinite mercies, grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. We hereby urge the South African Government to urgently resolve these lingering issues.

“The United Nations (UN) should bring to justice the perpetrators, supporters and financiers of these devilish, barbaric and inhumane acts. The world at large should join hands to prevent and counter xenophobic attacks and violent extremism.”

MultiChoice Africa: attacks appalling

M

ULTICHOICE Africa, the continent’s premier pay-TV company, has described as appalling the violence being visited on foreigners in South Africa.

In a statement, MultiChoice Africa said those affected by the wave of anti-foreigner violence happen to be brothers and sisters to their assailants.

“This”, the company said, “is abominable and strongly condemnable.”

It urged Africans to see themselves as one, irrespective of differences in nationalities, traditions and religions.

The statement reads: “As a multicultural African organisation, we respect and embrace diversity, and all the different traditions and religions across the continent.

“This is demonstrated through our multinational staff complement, rich African programming and channels on both our DStv and GOtv platforms.”

4

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

NEWS Niger, Algeria predict persistent low oil prices

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•Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima speaking when he led a delegation comprising traditional rulers led by the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, elected National and State Assembly members and other stakeholders on a congratulatory visit and pre-inaugural interface with the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari (second right - sitting) at his residence in Kaduna…yesterday.

Why I should get ADB job, by Adesina Continued from page 1

his many years of work in Francophone and Anglophone countries, coupled with his passion to help eradicate poverty in Africa, qualifies him to become the next ADB president.

He praised Outgoing President Donald Kaberuka, for his work over the years.

Adesina added that there are worrying trends that he will address if elected, including joblessness and inequality among Africa’s youth.

He praised Outgoing President Donald Kaberuka, for his work over the years.

Adesina added that there are worrying trends that he will address if elected, including joblessness and inequality among Africa’s youth.

The election is due to be held on May 28 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Speaking on his plan, the minister said: “First is to focus on smart infrastructure to allow increased productivity and efficiency in growth, to work on the private sectorprivate sector for wealth cre-

ation. The third is jobs for Africa’s youth and jobs for Africa’s women. The fourth area I am going put a lot of emphasis on is reviving rural economies to create shared prosperity and inclusive growth of the continent and finally,… regional integration and prosperity,” said Adesina.

Some Africans have been skeptical about the political will among the leaders on the continent to ensure integration, which they say undermines the ADB’s effectiveness to achieve its objectives.

But Adesina said there is political will among heads of state and government towards integration.

“Africa has no choice than to integrate because if you look at the size of our every single country is a very small market. But we can trade a lot more among ourselves. The amount of trade among African countries is very low, is 12 per cent compared to over 48 per cent in Asia and compared to about almost 47 per cent in the North America free trade area and almost 70 per cent in Europe,” said Adesi-

na.

Twenty-nine African countries have been listed as fragile states, which directly impacts the work of the African Development Bank.

Adesina explained that inclusive democracy could play a key role in ensuring peace and stability in African countries. He cited Nigeria’s peaceful presidential election, where President Goodluck Jonathan lost as an example of how Africa could resolve instability and ensure peace.

“The transition going on in Nigeria is totally smooth and that tells you that Nigeria’s democracy is mature and we need that all across Africa.

“I feel that we need to address the sources of fragility to build institutions, to create jobs to build resilience in our economies, and to make sure that our natural resources, which creates a lot of instability and fragility are managed transparently,” Adesina added.

The ADB operates under the leadership of the President, who serves as the legal representative of the Bank, the

Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and the Chief of Staff of the Bank. The President conducts the current business of the Bank, under the direction of the Board of Directors. The President is elected by the Board of Governors and serves a 5-year term, renewable once.

Outgoing President Dr. Donald Kaberuka, from Rwanda, was elected in July 2005. He commenced his first term on September 1, 2005.

Following his re-election in May 2010, he commenced his last five-year term on September 1, 2010.

The Rules of Procedure Governing the Election of the President of the African Development Bank (Article 1), as amended, require that the Bank hold the election of the President during the Annual Meeting closest to the end of the term of office of the serving President. Accordingly, the Board of Governors will be electing Dr. Kaberuka’s successor on May 28 during the Bank’s Annual Meeting, scheduled to take place in Abidjan, between May 25 and 29.

IL prices are likely to stay low for a long time after falling more than 40 per cent in the past year, said officials from two OPEC nations.

Nigeria and Algeria both warned that oil prices, currently at around $60 a barrel, probably won’t recover to the 2011-2013 level of more than $100 a barrel.

“You forecast at your own risk, but it seems to me that we should be regarding this as a permanent shock,” Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerian finance minister, said on a panel discussion yesterday in Washington near the end of the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings. “We should prepare our economies for that eventuality.”

The comments highlight a growing worry among oilproducing nations ahead of an important meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in June in Vienna. Brent crude has fallen about 42 per cent over the past year, though it has

increased 11 per cent so far this year.

The OPEC meeting is likely to be tense after Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, boosted production to the highest in three decades in March, with a surge equal to half the daily output of the Bakken formation in North Dakota.

OPEC nations such as Nigeria and Algeria are suffering more than Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries the drop in oil prices because they built smaller foreign-exchange reserves.

Nigeria has responded to the oil rout by cutting expenditures and with revenueraising measures including a tax on luxury items such as yachts. Longer term, the government seeks to diversify the economy “beyond oil,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

Asked where she expected prices to be in 12 months, Okonjo-Iweala said $60 to $70 a barrel.

Bank of Algeria Governor Mohammed Laksaci said the Continued on page 57

Soldiers harass Ado-Ekiti residents

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CORES of soldiers in about 12 vehicles stormed Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, last night harassing residents in what looked like an operation to back up Governor Ayodele Fayose’s statement alleging invasion of the state by All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers.

The governor alleged that the lawmakers were leading thugs to the House of Assembly to impeach him.

The soldiers, from the brigade commanded by General Aliyu Momah, were last night on the streets in the state capital.

Brigadier-General Momah was one of those whose voices were heard on tape planning how to rig last year’s election in Fayose's favour in what is now known as Ekitigate.

Earlier in the day, the governor made a televised speech on state media, alleging invasion by APC lawmakers. He urged workers, commercial motorbike riders and drivers to resist the APC lawmakers' attempt to sit over his impeachment.

Very close to the Governor's Office was the Governor's convoy making a stop-over to address the troops.

CORRECTION In the intro to the story on pages 2 and 3 of Friday, April 17, the “Northeast” was inadvertently used as “Northcentral”. The error is regretted.

Three-term senator Chukwumerije dies of lung cancer at 75 Ndoma-Egba, Akume, Saraki mourn colleague

Continued from page 1

nounced in due course.

“We ask only for your prayers and good wishes.

God bless.”

The Senate followed up with its own announcement later last night on its Education Committee chair’s demise.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said Chukwumerije passed on on Sunday evening at the Turkish Hospital, Abuja.

Abaribe described the lawmaker as a “political giant and one of the nation’s finest legislators.”

He added that Chukwumerije during his service at the Upper Chamber easily passed as a repository of legislative tradition and practice.

He said: “The Senate will surely miss his erudite contributions on the floor of the chamber and his painstaking approach to committee work.

“Chukwumerije was indeed an embodiment of legislative tradition and consummate activist-democrat who loved his people pas-

S

ENATE Leader Victor NdomaEgba yesterday described the death of Senator Uche Chukwumerije “as a sad loss for Nigeria” Senate Minority Leader Senator George Akume and Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Chairman Bukola Saraki expressed deep sadness and shock.

In a statement in Abuja, NdomaEgba also described the late Chukwumerije as a political giant and one of the nation’s finest legislators.

He said: “He was eclectic, cerebral and did not suffer fools gladly. He was one of a kind.”

Ndoma-Egba insisted that Chukwumerije would forever be remembered for his deep love for Ndigbo, which was manifested in his relentless struggle for the total political and

sionately.”

According to Abaribe, late Chukwumerije would be remembered for his deep love for Ndigbo, which was manifested in his relentless struggle for the total political and social emancipation of the race over the years.

He also insisted that the late Senator’s love for Nigeria

From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

social emancipation of the race over time.

Akume said the nation had lost one of its legislative titans.

He added that Chukwumerije was an embodiment of hardwork, patience, experience and a quintessential gentleman-activist.

The Senate Minority Leader said the late Abia North senator would be remembered for his principled stand on the issue of unity, patriotism and love of his geopolitical zone and country.

Akume said: “Senator Chukwumerije was a nationalist, true democract, courageous and respected elder statesman whose robust debates on national/international issues will be greatly missed. I pray Almighty God to con-

and her corporate existence was unprecedented.

The late Chukwumerije’s son, Chika, the last of his seven children who won an Olympic Bronze medal in Taekwondo inBeijing in 2008 said of his dad: “He has been an inspiration in ways I cannot explain.” His dad sponsored his pre-Olympic train-

sole the family and grant his soul eternal rest.”

Saraki described the late senator as one of the towering pillars of the 7th Senate.

He described his debates and contributions on the floor of the red chamber as incisive and thought provoking.

The Senator representing Kwara Central said: “Chukwumerije would be remembered for the many truce he brokered between the Federal Government and the academic and nonacademic staff of the nation’s tertiary institutions which in no small measure led to stability and academic growth in the country.

“His loss is a painful one. His contributions to Nigeria will not be easily forgotten.”

ing and competitions which enabled him to win the medal.

Last December, Chuwumerije denied his death rumour as the handiwork of “a few ungodly and irresponsible individuals.” The rumour went viral after the legislator lost his return bid to the Senate. He was said to

have slumped. The five-paragraph statement said: “It has come to our notice that a few ungodly and irresponsible individuals are sponsoring the rumoured demise or incapacitation of our amiable, admirable, adorable and highly responsible senator.

“This is just one of the tactics of a prolonged campaign

of calumny against the person and office of distinguished Senator Uche Chukwumerije, orchestrated by these few unscrupulous individuals who have no fear of God and will go to any length to blackmail, deceive, shortchange, loot, kill and destroy the people of Abia State just for their selfish political agenda.

Senate President David Mark last night expressed shock and sadness over the death of Chukwumerije.

Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, stated that Nigeria has lost an erudite and extraordinary nationalist.

The Senate President lamented that Chukwumerije was one of the brightest and fertile minds in the Senate.

Mark said: “He radiated intelligence, exemplary conduct in both public and private life. He was a team player who brought meaning to Continued on page 57

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

NEWS

Akume, Saraki, Lawan, Goje favoured for Senate President’s race

S

ENATE Minority Leader George Akume and Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Senator Bukola Saraki may have been pencilled down for the post of Senate President, ahead of the June 4 inauguration of the Eighth National Assembly.

Also favoured to clinch the position are Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts Senator Ahmed Lawan and Vice Chairman, Committee on Petroleum Senator Danjuma Goje.

Akume and Saraki are from Northcentral, which is battling to retain the slot of the Senate President.

Lawan and Goje, on the other hand, are from the Northeast - a zone also fight-

•Northwest rejects Chief Whip From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja

ing to clinch the top position owing to its high number of All Progressives Congress (APC) senators in the National Assembly election.

Some governors and senators are said to be in intensive lobbying to ensure that the Senate Presidency remains in the Northcentral.

It was learnt an informal meeting of some governors and senators was held in Abuja on Thursday night.

A source at the meeting told The Nation that Akume, Saraki, Lawan and Goje were considered.

According to the source, the meeting reviewed zoning arrangements at the National Assembly and tentatively agreed to give the Senate Presidency to the Northcentral, subject to the ratification of the APC National Executive Committee (NEC).

It was gathered that the Northeast, which is pushing for the slot, may get the Deputy Senate President.

If the Northeast is considered for the Deputy Senate President, Lawan or Goje is likely to emerge.

The source noted that following the ranking rule, Lawan is now the highest ranking senator having been elected into the House of Repre-

sentatives in 2003, where he served two terms.

In 2011, Lawan was elected into the Senate and reelected on March 28 for a third term in the Senate.

The Northeast, it was gathered, has not given up its fight for the Senate President.

The meeting was also said to have mulled zoning the Senate Chief Whip or Deputy Senate Leader to the Northwest.

Investigation showed that the Senate Leader, which the Northwest is lobbying for, may be given to another zone for balancing.

The Northwest is, however, said to have turned down the offer of the Senate Chief Whip or Deputy Majority Leader.

FAAN destroys illegal structures at cargo terminal

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

I

•Saraki

Senators from the zone were said to have held another meeting immediately after the first one where they rejected the offer.

It is expected that decisions arrived at by the caucus will be conveyed to the national leadership of the APC for consideration and ratification.

Air traffic controllers suspend strike

By Kelvin Osa Okunbor

N

IGERIAN Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has suspended its proposed strike, which was to begin today.

The decision to call off the strike, according to the Deputy President of NATCA, Haruna Bassi, followed President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval of their harmonised rating allowances.

Praising the President, ministers of Aviation and Labour as well as Chairman, Salaries and Wages Commission, for resolving the impasse, NATCA urged its members to continue to render services to the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) for the growth of the industry.

Air traffic controllers on Thursday embarked on a sixhour warning strike to draw the attention of the NAMA management to epileptic air navigation equipment as well as failure to address welfare issues since last year.

At their annual general meeting last year in Kano, members of NATCA, in a communique, complained about epileptic air navigation equipment at the nation’s airports and intolerable working conditions.

T

•From left: President, Anambra State Chapter of Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) Mr. Chinedu Anyaso; Regional Director, Southeast 2, Skye Bank Plc, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze; Duruiheoma V, Obi of Otulu, Imo State Eze Festus Ifeanyichukwu Orji; and Head, Small Business Group, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Ayo Olojede; at the maiden edition of the Skye Bank Business Seminar series, tagged: Nurturing Businesses for Growth in Onitsha.

Police confirm 23 dead in Benue clashes

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WENTY-three persons have been confirmed killed in clashes between two fishing and farming communities in Benue State, police said yesterday.

Police spokesman Austin Ezeani said: “Some 23 bodies have been recovered following the fighting between Ologba and Egba communities in Agatu Local Government Area.”

He said many others were injured, adding that the latest clashes centred on a dispute over fishing rights.

“The two neighbours were fighting over ownership of a fish pond. The violence broke out on Friday and continued until Saturday, with many people injured,” he told Agence France Presse (AFP).

Ezeani said the Egba people accused the Ologba of aiding Fulani herdsmen to attack them last month, killing 82.

“The Egba people believed the Fulani herdsmen could not have entered their community without passing through Ologba. So, they believed the Ologba must have aided the Fulani in that attack,” he said.

He said police had been deployed in the area.

“We have contained the violence. The place is now calm,” the spokesman said.

But local media said between 45 and 60 people were killed in the clashes.

Hundreds of people have been killed in attacks and reprisal attacks between farmers and ethnic Fulani herdsmen in the past few years in the state.

Fighting over grazing rights is common in the area, pitting herdsmen against farmers and frequently resulting in deadly clashes and reprisal attacks.

N4b spent on constitutional amendment, says Rep

HE Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Judiciary, Dr. Ali Ahmad, has argued that if President Goodluck Jonathan refused to sign the amended constitution into law, the human and material resources put into it will amount to waste.

Ahmad said although between N3 and N4 billion was spent on the constitutional amendment, it was still a far cry from the N11 billion the National Conference cost.

He spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, when members of the Ilorin branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Executive visited him.

The former University of Ilorin law teacher said the National Assembly could override the President’s veto.

He urged the citizenry to assist “the National Assembly to ensure that whatever should be done on constitutional amendment is done”, urging the President to have a rethink.

Ahmad said: “It is still a far

From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

cry from the N11 billion the National Conference cost.

We’ve spent about N3 to N4 billion on this constitutional document and we do not have that hope that in the Eighth Assembly, that would be the priority.

“In fact, it shouldn’t because the incoming government is inheriting a lot of problem and there is no money.

“The content of the constitutional amendment is unassailable, if the President still insists on not signing it. We’re bound by the will of the people. These are things the people want. They want independence of the legislature. So, to throw it out, you are still saying that the legislature should be an appendage of the executive.

“There is the issue of interlocutory appeal, which is a problem of our legal system and even fighting corruption.

Look at former Plateau State

Governor Joshua Dariye, he was being prosecuted for seven years. The charge was read; he appealed on the charge being read - he went to the Supreme Court. Then Supreme Court said, ‘go back’ after seven years.

“But with this constitutional amendment, you can appeal all you want on charge; the prosecution goes on and we slam you to prison. Your appeal is still in court, go and be appealing.”

He added: “In the history of this country, we haven’t seen a constitutional document, constitutional amendment or any provision of the constitution where the people, the man on the street had direct impact as this.

“It was a new approach.

Yes, the National Assembly had the power to amend the constitution, but in its wisdom, the Seventh Assembly said, ‘yes, we have the power, but let us take it to the people, let’s see what they think on these

issues’.

“So, they sent us home to our constituencies. We came back to you people. We called conferences; we collated the responses, state by state, region by region.

“Like local government, Kwara State said they want autonomy for local governments. Lagos State didn’t. But when we collated everything, those constituencies that want autonomy for local governments were more.

“So we adopted it. We said this one is a proposal that Nigerians want and that’s what happened for all those 40 sections that we amended. It was the people that spoke. This is the first time that the ‘we’ in the constitution would be answered by people. Now, even after that, we now took it to the floor; we debated it and still scaled through. We sent it to the state, some scaled through and some didn’t.

“After all these troubles, it is now for Mr. President to

sign, he said he would not sign it because of some reasons. I know the budget for constitution amendment in the House of Representatives is about N500 million.

“And for God’s sake, I think we should enact a law that after this fourth amendment, nobody should amend the constitution for another 10 years.

Constitution is a basic document. It is not an Act. So, I would be pained if the Eighth Assembly comes and said it wants to amend the constitution.

“Nigerians should resist it.

Constitution is an Act; it is a fundamental document. Go and try it. Let the court fill the lacunae. Then, after another 10, 20 years, you can come back. So, this constitution must be passed and we are very resolute in the National Assembly.

If I read the mood of the House very clearly, we are ready and I am sure we would override the President’s veto.”

LLEGAL structures were destroyed yesterday during a raid at the Hajj/Camp Terminal, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, by officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

The raid, sources hinted, was supervised by FAAN’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) at the terminal, Mr. Uche Ukeni.

A 31-year-old female suspect was arrested.

Ukeni said the suspect would be prosecuted.

It was learnt that canopies were illegally set up at the site.

One shelter was used as a church, where different types of drinks were found.

It was left undestroyed because Sunday service was on at the time of the raid.

Ukeni said the authority decided to conduct the exercise to sanitise the cargo terminal from touts and hawkers carrying out illegal activities.

He said the illegal activities allowed people with no business at the airport to hang around as touts, causing unnecessary panic and anxiety.

The CSO explained that the arrested suspect claimed to be selling food, but items found with her did not reflect her line of business.

He said: “We seized over 20 cartons of assorted beer, 15 cartons of assorted soft drinks, over 15 pieces of watermelon, one bunch of unripe plantain and five tubers of yam.

“We took away over five coolers of cooked rice and stew, over 50 cartons of bottle water, over 30 packet of pure water and 10 pieces of pineapple.

“These seized items would be taken to the graveyard along the airside at the MMIA for destruction.’’

He noted that any person interested in operating business at airports should approach the commercial department of FAAN for documents and approval.

The CSO said the authority would continue to carry out the exercise, urging the FAAN management to cut off the overgrown grasses opposite the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) cargo offices.

He noted that illegal activities were being conducted around the overgrown grasses, saying that people also used the area as toilet. A cargo operator, Mr. Aliu Danbaba, said people make use of the shanties to relax after work.

Danbaba said the items sold in the area were cheaper than those at the approved shops at the terminal.

“Things are very expensive in the shops here. We prefer patronising these shanties because their items are cheaper and easy to access.

“We are not happy with FAAN to have destroyed these shanties. Where do they want these people to go? These traders have families to care for and this is where they make their daily bread,’’ he said.

But, a security guard at the NAHCO Warehouse, Okechukwu, said the hawkers would be back in a few weeks to start operations.

He said it would not be the first time the authority would be raiding the area, but the touts and hawkers always find their way back.

Okechukwu urged FAAN to create identity cards for people operating at the terminal to check entry at the main gate.

6

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

NEWS Saraki: accountability is antidote to corruption From Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

A

•The Parish Administrator, Rev. (Fr.) Jude Nwigwe blessing a congregation of women during a mass to mark the 2015 Mother’s Day celebrations at the Our Lady’s Queen of Nigeria, Pro Cathedral, Garki, Abuja.

PHOTO: AKIN OLADOKUN

Convene meeting to tackle constitutional amendment, Falana tells Jonathan

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AGOS-BASED lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to convene an urgent meeting of stakeholders with a view to removing the controversial clauses from the proposed constitutional amendment.

He said once that is done, the National Assembly should pass the bill and send it back to the president for his assent.

“Instead of throwing out the baby with the bath- water, the provisions of the fourth amendment to the Constitution should be supported to the extent that it has recognised the right of the Nigerian people to enforce their socio-economic rights enshrined in chapter two of the Constitution”, he said in a statement in Lagos yesterday titled: “Diversionary controversy on constitutional amendment”.

Falana noted that in 2006, 108 amendments of the Constitution were thrown away with the third term agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He warned: “If care is not taken, the over 70 proposed amendments by the legislators may suffer the same fate.

“Therefore, President Jonathan should be advised to convene an urgent meeting of all the stakeholders with a view to removing the controversial clauses from the proposed amendment. Once that is done, the National Assembly should pass the bill and send it back to the President for his assent.”

The erudite lawyer noted that in rejecting the proposed amendment that every child be entitled to free education, the president said there was no di-

By Adebisi Onanuga

chotomy between public and private schools.

He emphasised the need to draw the attention of the President to section 15 of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003 and section 2 of the Compulsory, Universal, Free Basic Education Act, 2004 which have made education free and compulsory from primary to junior secondary school for every Nigerian child.

“Before rejecting the amendment on the right to basic healthcare, the president ought to have been reminded that the National Health Bill 2014, signed into law by him in November last year has directed the Federal Government to fund basic healthcare with not less than one per cent of the consolidated revenue of the Federal Government. Since the amendment has merely enshrined the right to basic education and basic healthcare in the constitution, the President ought to have signed that aspect of the proposed amendments in the interest of the poor and vulnerable segment of the country.

“Since the President rejected the amendments based on the erroneous belief that the requisite constitutional requirement was not met, he ought to withdraw the letter addressed to the National Assembly and review his position on the constitutional amendment,” he said.

He recalled that President Jonathan during the presidential campaign promised to implement the recommendations of the 2014 national conference.

“In fact, the Federal Executive Council has

since passed a resolution for the immediate implementation of the resolutions of the confab.

One of the most important recommendations is that chapter two of the Constitution on the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy be made justiciable. Since that recommendation and a few others are in tandem with the proposed amendment of the constitution, President Jonathan ought to have endorsed the relevant provision.

“To the utter embarrassment of the members of the National Assembly, President Jonathan decided to withhold his assent to 4th amendment to the Constitution. In his comprehensive letter addressed to both chambers of the National Assembly last week, the outgoing President challenged the procedure and the substance of the proposed alteration of the constitution.

“Having regard to the enormous resources invested in the constitutional review, the President ought to have convened a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly with a view to ironing out the grey areas. No doubt, the National Assembly members have themselves to blame for engaging in the instalmental amendments of a Constitution imposed on the Nigerian people by military dictators.

“In view of the clear provisions of the Constitution on separation of powers, the National Assembly acted illegally and unconstitutionally when it conferred the National Economic Council, an advisory body, with the power to appoint the Accountant-General of the Federal Government. As if that

was not enough, the National Assembly wants the National Judicial Council (NJC) to appoint the Attorney-General of the Federal Government.

“The legislators ought to have known that the NJC is only empowered to recommend to the appointing authorities (President and state governors) suitable persons for appointment as judges and recommend their removal from the bench.

“Having taken away the powers of the President, the National Assembly decided to increase its own powers. As far as the legislators are concerned, an amendment of the Constitution will no longer require the assent of the President. Such self-serving amendments were rightly rejected by the president”.

He said, however, that the president made a mistake on the procedure for altering the provisions of the Constitution.

Notwithstanding the approach adopted by the president in rejecting the proposed alteration, Falana urged the members of the National Assembly to refrain from exhibiting arrogance of power in the circumstance.

“The letter calls for a sober examination of the reasons adduced by the president for rejecting the controversial amendments. More so, that some of the amendments are patently illegal and unconstitutional. For instance, one of the most objectionable propositions in the 4th amendment, which was not even captured in the President’s letter is the provision of the scandalous pension for life for former leaders of the National Assembly,” the lawyer said.

Cleric to Buhari: don’t intimidate enemies

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ORMER Chairman of Lagos Chapter of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and Presiding Bishop of Elshaddai Bible Church Bishop Olanrewaju Obembe has urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari not to allow himself to be distracted from pursuing the goal of nation-building.

Obembe, in a statement, noted that Buhari has suddenly found a coterie of friends who mill around him, giving spurious advice and insisting that he should go on vendetta mission.

This, according to him, “will only drag the wheel of progress

in Nigeria backward”.

He appealed to Buhari not to fall into the temptation of going after those who served in the government of Jonathan without recourse to due process, saying service to Nigeria should not be criminalized.

He said: “I have read some unfortunate commentaries asking that people like Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala should be made to face the law. While those who are making such calls have a right to do so, I think General Buhari should not spend his time going after perceived enemies of the state without recourse to due pro-

cess.”

He argued that the preoccupation of the incoming government should be on how to fix Nigeria’s most urgent needs, which is power and strengthening the economy.

Noting that President Goodluck Jonathan has been magnanimous in conceding defeat, he said: “I believe General Buhari should reciprocate this good gesture by being magnanimous in victory. He should avoid the temptation of exclusivity in power, but rather he should stretch forth a hand of fellowship to those in opposition.”

Obembe noted that rather

•Buhari

than throw away all the works of Jonathan, Buhari should look at them dispassionately and continue with the policies that are good while also retaining officials that have been outstanding in the outgoing government.

COMPREHENSIVE and thorough policy of accountability, coupled with proper civil service training and monitoring, is the antidote against the nation’s corruption, former Kwara State Governor Senator Bukola Saraki has said.

Saraki noted that asset declaration is an accepted protocol of statutory disclosure.

But, the former governor said that alone could not reduce corruption.

The senator representing Kwara Central, in a statement by his media aide, Bamikole Omishore, said: “Corruption has been one of the greatest challenges we face as a country in years past and all efforts, both personal commitment and systemic arrangements should be put in place to further cage this endemic in our society.”

He called on all politicians as a matter of national importance to emulate the leadership of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari by declaring their asset and “also committing to transparency and accountability in every aspect of our lives as a nation so as to restore confidence of the citizenry in government”.

Saraki, who said he has always declared his assets before and after every political office since 2003, assured Nigerians that he would continue to that.

Jonathan denies allocating N2tr for re-election From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

T

HE Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, has denied allegation that N2 trillion was allocated by President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the general elections.

A Lagos-based newspaper, which reported the allegation yesterday, added that Jonathan had set up a five-member committee to recover unutilised funds diverted by some party chieftains.

But reacting to the report, Abati said the report was mischievous, false and embarrassing.

He said: “The front-page story alleging that the Presidency spent a whopping N2 trillion on the 2015 general elections, and that a committee of five has been set up by President Jonathan to conduct an audit of how the funds were disbursed by party members and state officials is mischievous, false and embarrassing.”

“The President has not set up any committee as alleged in that story. It is also not true that the Presidency and the PDP used state funds, or spent N2 trillion during the campaigns.

The innuendoes are wrong-headed; the motives behind the story are suspicious.

“The story alleges, for example, that the Presidency spent N2trillion on elections and embarked on a money-sharing spree to party members, support groups and state officials.

The authors of the story and their self-appointed megaphones further insinuate that public funds were deployed in this regard. Their allegation of a theft of public funds is extremely malicious.”

He noted that the claim that N2 trillion, which is half of the Federal Government’s annual budget, was earmarked for the election was aimed at inciting the public.

Dangote Sugar obtains SON food safety certification

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ANGOTE Sugar Refinery has been certified by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as a food safety compliant company.

The company’s management said at the weekend that it successfully obtained the Food Safety Management Systems certification issued by the standard regulatory body.

According to the Deputy Group Managing Director, Dangote Sugar, Abdullahi Sule, an engineer, “the Food Safety Management System is a standard that guides the refinery’s core business, the refining of high quality sugar using safe practices to manufacture finished product using hygienically habits in the production processes”.

He added that the Food Safety Management System, FSMS, (ISO 22000:2005); certification is the third in the series of ISO certification on Quality, Process Safety/Security and Food Safety, achieved by the sugar refinery, and thus making it the only sugar organisation in the country with three ISO certification.

He added that in addition to the Food Safety Management System, (FSMS) ISO 22000:2005; Dangote Sugar Refinery is also ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System (QMS), and ISO 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) certified.

These certifications, Sule said, attested to company’s “relentless efforts at achieving its set goal to be one of the world’s leading integrated sugar producers, with high quality products and using best practices in the day-to-day running of its operations, in line with internationally accepted standards”.

He added that the company is working towards the achievement of FSSC 22000, (Food Safety System Certification); a GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) recognised scheme.

The sugar refinery firm is actively pursuing a backward integration master plan with a target of producing a total of 1.5 million tons of sugar per annum. The target is to enable it meet the national sugar master plan.

It plans an additional Investment of N180 billion for four factories in Sokoto and Kebbi states and has 150,000 hectares of land allocated for the project in Kogi, Kwara, Jigawa, Sokoto, Taraba and Kebbi states.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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NEWS

Southsouth, Southeast ‘miracle votes’ must be eliminated, says Oshiomhole

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DO State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said the electoral system needs to be cleaned to eliminate “miracle votes” from the Southsouth and Southeast.

Oshiomhole, who said he was fulfilled that Nigeria has finally joined countries that could be counted to successfully change their government through the ballot box, said “ancestors come out to vote in the Southeast and part of the South south”.

The governor spoke when the State Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) visited him at the weekend.

Oshiomhole noted that he was happy that the coffin of godfatherism in Edo politics had been finally nailed.

He said President Barack Obama refused to visit Nigeria because rigging was deepened in every election.

Oshiomhole said he would be happy to retire from politics because he survived the evil machinations of godfathers and presided over their (godfathers’) own liquidations without any shot but through the PVC (Permanent Voter Cards).

He said: “Indeed when President Obama visited Africa and Nigeria was not on the list, few of us were in the US on the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and visited the State Department and we expressed our disappointment that Obama would not visit Nigeria.

“The Secretary of State for Africa now said, Obama will not come to Nigeria because they do not encourage bad behaviour. He said those of them who are friends of Nigeria, each time we think you are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, they will say let us encourage these people to get there, that when you wake

‘Sore losers behind petition against Imoke’

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‘

When we liquidated the godfathers in this state and ... Abuja put them on life support, they were still able to harass us and even intimidate us and even threaten us even when they are not on ground in the state, but that life support was switched off by Nigerians on March 28, which is why the final political funeral of the godfathers was such an easy task on April 11 From Osagie Otabor, Benin

up the next day you will find out that the tunnel has been removed.

“So, it is so disappointing for those of them who see Nigeria as the key to Africa’s development, both politically and economically. He said Obama will go to Ghana because though Ghana haven’t solved all their problems, they have shown some capacity and their democracy has matured. And the test of that maturity is that the people of Ghana have been able to remove a government through the ballot and elect a government. A ruling party has been defeated by the opposition party and opposition party that formed the government has been defeated by another opposition party. That is the litmus test of democracy, unlike in Nigeria where in one election you deepen the rigging in the next election. Nobody

wants to go and appear to seem to endorse or support such a situation. That was why Obama will rather not come to Nigeria and will prefer to go to Ghana to encourage them to consolidate.

“Today we are happy that Nigeria has joined those nation states that can now say it is possible that a government has been replaced by very ordinary people equipped and armed only by their PVC. So as a Nigerian I am very proud of this country. For all those who struggled and also died in the struggle for democracy we can now say finally we are here. But of course, there are still couple of things to be done, to completely clean up the electoral process so that those part of the country where you still have the miracle votes, where the ancestors come out to vote in the South East and part of the South South, those are areas we need to clean up so that

’

overall, Nigeria will begin to grow.

“And if you recall where we are coming from in this state, you will appreciate how I feel. When I came in, every councillor in this state, local government chairmen, House of Assembly members, the governor and, of course you have the Presidency, now to imagine that from ground zero we came in to challenge this order and of course, we must not forget that when they talk about godfatherism in Nigeria politics, when they talk about the power of godfathers, a small powerful, unaccountable, unelected group, Edo is their home base. That is something everybody knows so much that people from outside this state come here for consultation to consult with the Edo god fathers.

“To imagine that very ordinary people like me and few others who are con-

•Oshiomhole

vinced that this order can be overthrown and liquidated and we started fighting with our bare hands and today we have effectively buried the godfathers, for me the four chapters are closed. For me, the real import of this is that never again will anybody in this state look at any one and say, who are you, because you don’t have a godfather.

To now imagine that when we liquidated the godfathers in this state and somehow Abuja put them on life support, they were still able to harass us and even intimidate us and even threaten us even when they are not on ground in the state, but that life support was switched off

by Nigerians on March 28, which is why the final political funeral of the godfathers was such an easy task on April 11.”

Reps’ Minoriry Whip joins race From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja

H

OUSE of Representatives’ Deputy Minority Whip Garba Mohammed Datti has declared his intention to join the leadership race for the 8th House of Representatives.

Datti, who is representing Sabon Gari Federal constituency of Kaduna State, is vying for the position of the House Leader.

The Deputy Minority Whip, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said being privileged to be part of the current principal officers has afforded him the opportunity to acquire the much needed experience to lead the 8th House.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, who was first elected into the House in 2007, is also the most ranking member of the House from the Northwest.

Believed to be a close associate of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, Datti was the leader of the defunct the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) in the House of Representatives.

•Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr Dakuku Peterside (second right), his wife Elima (left), Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s wife Judith and Secretary to State Government George Feyii (right) at the funeral of Peterside’s father-in-law in Ogoja, Cross River State ... at the weekend.

OVERNOR Liyel Imoke’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, has accused sore losers of being behind a petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged mismanagement of Cross River State’s funds.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Obono Obla, petitioned the commission, calling for Imoke’s probe.

Ita said the petition lacks substance and truth.

According to him, the petition by Obla was outright crucifixion motivated purely by politics.

He said the entire petition drips with falsehood, and accused the petitioner of being a habitual blackmailer and a failed lawyer who was nearly disbarred from the law profession for un-ethical conduct.

“His claim that N15 billion was given to the Cross River State government by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the loss of Bakassi is completely untrue. No such money was ever given to Cross River.

“He also raised doubts about the ownership of Songhai Farm established by the Imoke-led administration. It is only a man with dubious and unstable character like Obla who would seek to suggest that the Farm which belongs to the state government, is owned by the governor.

“In what showcases Obla as a chronic peddler of falsehood and an inconsistent character, he had lied not long ago that the state government collected N18 billion from the federal government meant to cushion the effect of the loss of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. How do you reconcile N15 billion with the N18 he earlier alleged?”

Continuing, he said the petitioner is merely doing the bidding of “a gang of sore political losers who are out to crucify the governor”.

Alleged drug charges: Kashamu accuses U.S. of plotting to abduct him

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OUTHWEST Director of Mobilisation for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ogun East Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu has raised the alarm over alleged plot by the United States to have him abducted and taken to the U.S. for trial over his alleged involvement in illicit drug deals.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had, in a letter to out-going President Goodluck Jonathan, alleged that Kashamu was wanted in the U.S. for his purported complicity in drug related offences. Kashamu later initiated a N20billion libel suit against Obasanjo before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over the allegation.

The trial judge, Justice Valentine Ashi, on the basis of the suit, stopped Obasanjo from publishing and selling

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

his book - “My Watch”, which Kashamu claimed contained similar allegations. The court lifted the restraining orders against Obasanjo on April 15, with the substantive case still pending.

Kashamu, in a fresh petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), accused Obasanjo of working with U.S.’ security agencies to have him extradited to the country for prosecution on drug related indictment.

He is praying the NHRC to investigate the alleged move to abduct him and forcibly take him to the U.S. to answer charges on drug related offences.

The letter dated April 15, 2015 was written for him by his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, and titled: “Prince Buruji Kashamu: Abduction plans by United States of America agents in col-

laboration with law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.”

Kashamu, in the letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, alleged that the U.S. security agents had reached out to the head of the INTERPOL division in Nigeria, Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector General, to assist in his (Kashamu’s) abduction and delivery to the U.S. officials in Nigeria, for transfer to the U.S. Kashamu stated that the plan to abduct him is an admission by the U.S. authorities that there is no case against him.

He accused Obasanjo of instigating the plot to abduct him, alleging that the ex-President seeks revenge against him because he is perceived to be responsible for the humiliation he (Obasanjo) suffered in the PDP. He said pressure on the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) before now to

have him extradited did not work because, up till now, the US authorities has failed to make a formal request for him to be extradited to the US as required under the Extradition treaty between the US and Nigeria as well as the Nigerian Extradition law.

Kashamu said several people close to the AGF had warned him to watch his back, because there are moves to have him extradited to the US. Part of the letter reads: “Kashamu has instructed that we bring certain important facts and records to your attention with regard to the illegality of this plan and the malicious and unpatriotic motives of those behind it and seek your urgent intervention in accordance with the jurisdiction expressly given to your commission by the National Human Rights Act 1995 (as amended) to carry out an inquiry into the mat-

ter in order to establish the culpability and compromise of certain institutions in this despicable plan and to protect our client’s fundamental human right to liberty, life and dignity of ther person.

“Kashamu’s enquiry revealed that indeed there had been moves by US officials within the region, to secure the assistance of the head of the INTERPOL division in Nigeria, Mr Solomon Arase, a Deputy Inspector General, for the arrest and delivery to the US officials of Kashamu for transportation to the US without following the due process required by the Nigeria Extradition Act. Kashamu said despite several decisions both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, which exonerated him from the alleged offences, politicians had been putting pressure on the AGF to instigate an extradition process against him.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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NEWS

Strange ailment not contagious, says govt

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HE Ondo State government has said the strange disease that has killed 18 people since its outbreak on April 15 in OdeIrele, Irele Local Government Area, is not contagious.

Commissioner for Health Dr Dayo Adeyanju said this yesterday at a briefing in Akure, the state capital.

He said findings from the post-mortem carried out on the victims and other laboratory tests showed that the disease was not contagious.

According to the commissioner, preliminary report showed ethanol poison.

“Our investigations showed that the victims, who are commercial motorcyclists, gathered at some local joints to take alcoholic substance mixed with roots and some other local herbs on the eve

•Five blind victims hospitalised in Ondo •WHO: pesticide poisoning likely cause of the outbreak of the disease.

“I can assure you that the disease is in no way contagious. The fact that none of the caregivers has contracted the disease has greatly underscored this point.

“Therefore, the fear of spread does not arise and should be discouraged.

“We strongly suspect ethanol poison and in view of this, we have ordered for another toxicology test for surviving victims,’’ Adeyanju said.

The commissioner, who said there had been no report of new cases in the last three days, explained that 23 people were affected, of which 18 people died of the disease.

He said the five survivors,

who have gone blind, had been referred to the University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, for further examination and monitoring.

Adeyanju said he would not join issues with traditionalists, who believe the outbreak of the disease was due to some angry gods from whose shrines some youths stole some artefacts.

The commissioner said the dead would be buried in body bags to curtail the “spread” of the disease.

Last week, a strange disease hit the town. The symptoms include headache and loss of sight.

The commissioner said the ministry had swung into ac-

tion to curb its spread.

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

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

He warned against sensationalising issues to avoid creating tension.

The WHO said pesticide poisoning was the likely cause of the mysterious deaths.

The "current hypothesis cause of the event is herbicides", WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in a tweet.

"Tests done so far are negative for viral and bacterial infection," he added.

Lagos pays retirees N32.2b

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

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HE Lagos State government has paid over N32.2 billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) of 6,145 workers, who left the public service between 2010 and now.

The Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, said the move was to ensure that retirees got their entitlement.

The commissioner said the monthly deduction of 7.5 per cent from employees’ salaries and 7.5 counterpart funding is now over N16 billion.

The employees’ joint contributions have cumulatively risen to over N57 billion since the inception of the scheme in 2007.

She said the present administration, through the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), in collaboration with the six Pension Fund Administration (PFAs) and five insurance companies, organised seminars to prepare workers for life after retirement.

Director General of the State Pension Commission (LASPEC) Adekunle Hussain said the present administration would review the State Pension Law and increase the monthly pension payment by the government and workers to 10 and eight per cent.

Mimiko: prayers have helped me

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NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has declared that he will not be distracted by the antics of enemies of progress, pledging that his administration will not fail the people.

He said the fervent prayers of the saints have continued to strengthen him in his activities.

The governor spoke at the 50th birthday thanksgiving service of his Senior Special Assistant on Direct Labour, Kunle Ademeso, at the Deliverance Church of God, Oba-Ile, Akure.

He appreciated the church for praying always for the success of his administration.

•Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria, Mr Kabelo Makwane presenting the Top 25 CEO Awards to Operations Director, Fidson Healthcare Plc, Mr Abiola Adebayo (left) during the BusinessDay top 25 CEO Awards held in Lagos.

Mimiko noted that their prayers aided the victory of his party in the Assembly election so that the existing peace and developmental in the state could be sustained.

Governor Mimiko urged the people not to panic over the outbreak of disease in two communities in Irele Local Government Area, submitting that the strange disease is not contagious as no new case has been recorded in the last 72 hours.

He said government put up enough measures to contain the outbreak, adding that its efforts were fruitful, with normalcy returning to the affected communities.

Ondo APC sues INEC on Ilaje poll From Damisi Ojo, Akure

Fayose to APC lawmakers: we’re ready for you

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KITI State Governor Ayo Fayose has said he is ‘’waiting for the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers’’, with his supporters.

This followed rumours that the lawmakers will resume legislative duties today.

The governor said the impeachment saga had won him more public sympathy and popularity.

But the APC lawmakers warned Fayose to stop inciting the people into violence, saying his latest action showed he did not want to resolve the crisis.

The governor spoke yesterday at a thanksgiving to mark his last Tuesday’s victory at the Supreme Court.

During the service at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel (Anglican Communion), Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, he said his return to power after eight years was an “act of God”, noting that the survival or otherwise of his administration would be determined by God. Fayose spoke following reports that he begged the 19 lawmakers, who accused him of committing eight impeachable offences, saying his latest peace move was done because he is the leader of the state.

But he maintained that waving the Olive branch

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti

should not be misconstrued for cowardice.

“Waving the Olive branch does not mean cowardice.

Truth is bitter. Pastors should tell reporters not to twist the truth, but say it as it should. I am hidden in Christ in God. This is why I stood the test of time, despite the odds. It is God who has done this.

“When I contested for Senate, they said I lost and I did not fight anyone. I did not go to the tribunal and I said good things about the government then.

“Making common people my priority has been my sins. I don’t do fetish things I depend on God, my enemies always make me win by getting the people’s sympathy for me. If God has established this government, it will not crumble. “ They said they are coming tomorrow (Monday), we will be expecting them.”

The Dean of the Cathedral, Rev Francis Bankole, urged the feuding parties to bury their differences and work together to develop the state.

Bankole, who urged the people to support the government, also advised the governor to rule with the fear of God. Warning the governor not to incite residents, the APC

•’Stop inciting people against us’ lawmakers, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to Speaker Adewale Omirin, Wole Olujobi, said the governor demonstrated he was not committed to the peace he preached barely 24 hours before his inciting broadcast.

“How do you reconcile this inciting broadcast with a plea he made for peace not quite 24 hours earlier, which Ekiti people and indeed Nigerians thought was a good move to thaw the frozen relationship between him and the lawmakers?

“This is a confirmation of what Dr Omirin said in his Sunday Punch interview that the governor can’t be trusted in any peace move,” the statement said.

“It is shocking that the governor, who refused to make any remark or commitment after the cleric appealed to him to embrace peace, could go on air a few minutes after the service to incite workers, traders, Okada riders and artisans to defend him with their last drop of blood.

“As if his inciting live broadcast was not enough, Ekiti people were shocked when a public service announcement started running intermittently on the state media, urging Okada riders to look out for strange faces

and attack them because they are thugs imported by APC lawmakers.

“They are also to converge on the House of Assembly at 6 am today to prevent the lawmakers from performing their legal duties,” the statement added.

Saying they were not planning any invasion, the lawmakers called the attention of Nigerians to the unlawful acts of the governor.

“We have said for the umpteenth time that the governor would be given a fair hearing. He has nothing to fear. He should continue to have faith in the constitution.

“He had just won a constitutional matter at the Supreme Court. We will apply the same law that the court used to give him victory. He is an Ekiti man. We don’t hope to punish him unjustly,” the statement added.

The statement said Fayose could not benefit from the law and at the same time prevent other elected representatives from enjoying the same benefit.

“The best he and his deputy can do is to appear before the panel to be set up by the chief judge and defend themselves. This is the rule of law which he has benefited from and there should not be an exception to this.”

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the inconclusive Ilaje Constituency 1 and II House of Assembly election.

The suit, filed by APC’s counsel Charles Titiloye, is seeking a declaration to conduct a supplementary election into Ilaje Constituency I and II having declared the election on April 11 inconclusive.

APC is also seeking a declaration that INEC should comply with its guidelines, regulation and manual issued pursuant to power conferred on it by the Electoral Act, particularly the provisions of electoral guidelines/manual, which made the use of Card Readers compulsory for accreditation during the election.

The party is asking the court to declare that INEC and its officers breached the guidelines on the use of Card Readers and the regulation guiding ward collation of result during the inconclusive election at Ilaje.

APC further urged the court to order INEC, for the purpose of the supplementary election, to exclude from the votes of each party scores in polling unit where ballot boxes were snatched, stuffed and where accreditation were done manually without Card Readers.

It urged the court to order INEC to conduct a fresh election in the two constituencies, if deduction of such illegal votes substantially invalidates the election conducted by INEC on April 11.

Lawmaker-elect advises clerics

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ELIGIOUS leaders have been called to remain role models in the society to help quicken the conscience of the society to seek after eternal values.

The lawmaker-elect for Obokun in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, made the call at the inauguration of the New Executive Council for the Obokun Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The lawmaker-elect described the calling of the religious leaders as the highest, saying they should remain committed through preaching and holy living.

Calling them to continue to inspire excellence through intercession and encouragement of men of goodwill, Oyintiloye said for those led to venture into politics, these virtues would bring about rapid development.

The lawmaker-elect, who also addressed the Muslims at the Ibokun Central Mosque, thanked the people for reposing their confidence in him.

He called for their prayers and guidance to succeed in the responsibilities given to him through their votes.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

NEWS I’ll reform Nasarawa, says Al-Makura

7000 benefit from Home Charter

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ASARAWA State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has promised to reform the state to increase its greatness.

Al-Makura spoke yesterday while receiving his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He said: “I have just received my Certificate of Return as the winner of the governorship election in Nasarawa State, which was adjudged as free, fair, credible and peaceful. This shows that the people own the power.

We are only custodians.

“My administration will sustain its policies and programmes, which are anchored on the principles of probity, accountability, transparency, due process, rule of law and above all, the fear of God. “I extend a hand of fellowship to all my cocontestants and I urge them to join me to move our beloved state forward.”

He thanked INEC, security agencies, election observers and other stakeholders for their roles in the election.

Smart Adeyemi heads for tribunal From James Azania, Lokoja

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HE senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has submitted a petition to the National Assembly Petition Tribunal in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

He alleged irregularities in the conduct and the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the March 28 National Assembly election.

Adeyemi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, is challenging the declaration of Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner.

In the result declared by INEC, he came second with 38,148 votes; Melaye scored 41,120 votes.

Filing a petition through his lawyer, J.O Olatoke (SAN), Adeyemi alleged that Melaye was not duly elected or returned by the majority of the lawful votes cast during the election.

In the petition, he claimed to have scored majority of lawful votes and ought to have been declared winner and returned as elected.

•Senator-elect representing Osun East (Ife/Ijesa) Senatorial District Babajide Omoworare(left); member-elect representing Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ajibola Famurewa and member-elect representing Ilesa West in the House of Assembly Tajudeen Famuyide at a thank you tour in Ilesa... at the weekend.

Shun religious manipulation, El-Rufai urges Kaduna citizens

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ADUNA State Governor-elect Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai yesterday thanked the people for voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He appealed to them to shun all forms of manipulations of religion and ethnicity.

He said what the state needs is good governance and genuine development.

El-Rufai, in a statement by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said he is determined to work with resi-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

dents to restore the state’s glory.

According to him, “Our good people of Kaduna State, we are again grateful for the mandate you gave us on April 11.

“I am begging you in the name of Almighty God to live in peace and work together for a new Kaduna State.

“Let’s all strategise for a better state where peace, unity and development

would abound by sowing positive seeds in the minds of our children, create a better state for them and the coming generation by building for them a stronger Kaduna State.”

Insisting that manipulators of religion don’t mean good, El-Rufai added that, “I will continue to say it, those deceiving our citizens using religion and ethnicity don’t mean well; they are dangerous and they retard our progress as a people bound together by God. “We must mobilise our

people to stand up for the common good. I will reiterate again, that the APC led government in Kaduna state will be a responsible and responsive government.

“We will treat our citizens with dignity and the fear of God. We will treat people equally without any recourse to religion, or ethnic and political inclinations.

“We are conscious of the burden God gave us and we will not let you down. We ask for your prayers, support and cooperation for a better Kaduna State.”

Urhobo ex-militants ‘attack’ oil facility

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ORMER Urhobo militants in Delta State have allegedly destroyed an oil facility in the area.

The former agitators said they were angry because they did not benefit from the Federal Government’s pipeline security contracts.

They reportedly attacked a delivery line on OML 30 in Ukoh town, Ughelli North Local Government Area, operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Shoreline Oil Company, between Saturday night and yesterday morn-

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

ing.

Stakeholders among the Urhobo had raised objections to the way the multi-billion naira contracts were shared without their involvement.

A former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (aka Tompolo) and some others among the Itsekiri of Delta State benefitted from the contracts.

Urhobo stakeholders, including community leaders, youth leaders and traditional rulers, kicked against their exclusion in the award of the contracts.

They said since their region produces a good quantity of oil and host thousands of facilities conveying crude to various destinations, they deserved to be included.

Yesterday’s attack on the oil facility was said to have caused a fire, which was still burning last night.

Confirming the development to our reporter in Warri, a community source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the action was carried out by former militants in the third phase of Federal Government’s amnesty programme.

The source said: “There

was a blast last night. A delivery line was attacked at Ukoh, that is, after Ughelli town. The fire was still raging at 10am yesterday morning. I don’t know if it has been put out now.

“You know HOSTCOM has given a final ultimatum. But the youth in the phase three of the Amnesty Programme are responsible for this. The attack is as a result of the Federal Government’s pipeline surveillance contracts and information gathering job from NPDC.” Officials of the NPDC could not be reached for comments.

APC Action Group flays Supreme Court judgment

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HE Action Group Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has flawed the April 14 Supreme Court judgment, which validated the victory of Governor Ayo Fayose.

It described it as miscarriage of justice, which cannot stand the test of time.

The group, in a statement by its spokesperson, Segun Dipe, assured that it will continue to search for peace and justice in the state.

“We express shock and dismay that Fayose could be judged as winning the heavily flawed election, despite all the glaring evidence,

•Seeks justice and peace in Ekiti which pointed to the contrary.

“Notwithstanding the decision of the apex court, which has further exposed the weak link in our judiciary, we will continue to tell the world that Fayose’s victory is fluke and pyrrhic.

“He did not win the election and the world knows it.

The election was a charade.

“We, in the APC AG caucus, however, affirm our respect for the courts and cherish the notion that the Supreme Court is the apex jurisdiction on all legal dis-

putes.

“In line with our right to freedom of speech, we wish to express our shock at the position of the Supreme Court and also to draw the attention of the public and the international community to what we consider as very serious flaws in the pronouncement of the Supreme Court.

“We observed that the judgment came even in the face of overwhelming evidence that raise fundamental questions on Ayodele Fayose’s eligibility and the evident

plots, intrigues and fraudulent conspiracies of a section of security operatives.

“We are worried about Fayose’s several other obvious gross misconducts and nasty violations of not only the sacred norms of the constitution, but also the agelong values held in the highest esteem by Ekiti people.

“Other critical issues that will continue to prick the conscience of all rational, democratic and right thinking people, include the locking out of 19 lawmakers duly elected by Ekiti people,

preventing them from sitting, in the House of Assembly.

“Passing of the budget, appointing of commissioners and running legislative functions with only seven of the 26 elected lawmakers have shown how Fayose affirmed his authority on our silent but grieving people.

“This will continue to attract public disdain and outrage, more so, given the naked audio evidence provided by Capt Sagir Koli, which gave a graphic account of how the last June 21election was manipulated in favour of Mr Fayose.”

EVEN thousand residents of Ogun State have benefited from the Homeowners’ Charter programme to enable them regularise their title documents.

The number of beneficiaries will increase by Wednesday, when another1000 property owners are expected to be issued Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Special Adviser/Director General, Bureau of Lands and Survey Adewale Oshinowo said the issuance of the C of O was in fulfillment of the promise of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

“Government is determined to continue with this exercise, following the promise and commitment of the governor to ensure that applicants receive their C of O speedily as a way of bringing succour and relief to property owners.”

14 dead in road crash OURTEEN people died yesterday when two buses collided near the Joseph Ayo Babalola Seminary in Ikeji, near Ilesa, Osun State.

It was gathered that one of the buses was coming from Akure in Ondo State and the other from Ilesa.

Among the victims were members of a wedding party.

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‘APC’ll change Nigeria’ From Tayo Johnson and Sikiru Akinola, Ibadan

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CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Adeniyi Abdulfatai Adeagbo, has assured Nigerians that the APC administration will givethem the opportunity to see what real development entails.

Adeagbo spoke at the weekend while donating food items and cash across the 10 wards in Itesiwaju Local Government as part of his ‘thank you’ tour to the people for voting for APC candidates.

He said he was confident the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, would perform, considering his antecedent as a former military leader and also because “he has found himself in the midst of those whose great concern is to ensure a Nigeria we will all be proud of”.

“You cannot compare Oyo State to the locust years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“The APC administration led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi has ushered many firsts, which the two previous administrations could not achieve and that led to his reelection.

"You should be joyful and grateful to God as our prayers have been answered.

“You should continue to support the administration because it will continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to your doorsteps just like it has done in the last 46 months.”

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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CITYBEATS

CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

•DANCING TIME! Lagos State Governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode (third right); Deputy Governor-elect Dr Idiat Adebule (third left); her husband, Alhaji Saheed Adebule; Senator Oluremi Tinubu (left); Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa (right) and Ambode’s wife, Bolanle, dancing at their victory party at Archbishop Vining Playing Ground, Ikeja GRA in Lagos.

Estate repairs roads with N3.5m

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ESIDENTS of Gowon Estate in Egbeda, a Lagos suburb, have raised over N2million for the repair of their dilapidated roads.

The community raised N1.5million last year for the same purpose.

The rehabilitation, which began last Saturday, is being coordinated by the estate’s Community Development Association (CDA) which organised the fundraising.

Loads of laterite had been piled up on 34, 401, 411 Roads and on 3rd and 4th Avenues.

Also, tippers have offloaded sand in different parts of the estate; some residents were seen monitoring the work as tractors embarked on grading of 34 road.

The CDA Chairman, Mr Nathaniel Okoro, said government had abandoned the roads since 1976, when the estate was built.

Okoro said the residents, many of whom are retirees, decided to pool resources to fix the roads.

“We are pooling our resources to fix roads to make life easy for us having suffered many years of abandonment by the federal, state and local governments responsible for handling the situation.

“The Federal Government has forgotten us; the state government has forgotten us, so we as a community decided to do what we can within our means to make our lives comfortable.

“The efforts by the CDA in the northern part of the estate have been cumbersome, but it could have been worse if we continue to wait for these tiers of government.

“So far, we have been able to raise close to N2 million to start the rehabilitation.

“Some of the roads that are motorable are due to the efforts we put in last year, this year we have discovered that some of the important roads are becoming unmotorable,’’ he said.

Okoro said the cost of making life comfortable was borne only by the residents adding that they would continue to do so until the government comes to their aid.

He said if their contributions were not enough, they would contribute more to complete the job.

According to him, the residents cannot tar the roads because of the cost implication, but would grade them and pour hardcore stones to make them last.

Okoro said that the poor condition of the roads was affecting businesses, while the cost of vehicle maintenance had increased.

The chairman urged corporate bodies to assist the CDA in making life comfortable for the people, especially the senior citizens.

He praised the residents, business owners, churches and

mosques for their contributions and pleaded for more.

Okoro urged President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to consider the rehabilitation of the estate on assuming office.

Mr Moroof Adeoti, another resident and a retiree, said the rehabilitation would continue to make life easy for residents.

Adeoti expressed the hope that the incoming government would fulfill its promises of rehabilitating all dilapidated Federal Government Housing Estates. “‘It will be our joy if the newly elected government at the local, state and federal levels can come to our rescue because the estate has been abandoned since 1976,’’ he said.

Mr Tobias Atasiem, also a retiree, said the community came together to make life better for itself rather than wait for the government.

Another resident, Mrs Gift Destiny-Onwuka, a caterer, said she was excited with the CDA’s commitment to rehabilitating the roads.

She added: “These roads have been abandoned for years, and the drainages blocked due to lack of maintenance.” Destiny-Onwuka said that the rehabilitation would increase sales and make the road safe for children.

Jealous lover chases friend to death

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34-year-old factory worker, Monday Ekwekoba, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos Mainland for allegedly killing his 23-year-old friend, Wisdom Okafor.

Wisdom was said to have been crushed to death by a vehicle while being pursed with a pestle

by Monday.

The defendant’s fiancee was said to have visited Wisdom in his house on Clem Road in IjayeOjokoro, a Lagos suburb, on March 22 in the evening.

It was learnt that Monday, who also went to visit his friend met

By Rukayat Jimoh

his fiancee in Wisdom’s room.

Monday reportedly felt jealous and beat up his fiancée.

Monday was arrested and arraigned in court on a one-count charge of manslaughter.

The charge reads: “That you Monday Ekwekoba ‘m’ on March 22, 2015 at about 11:30pm along Clem Road, Ijaye-Ojokoro, Lagos in the Lagos magisterial district did cause the death of one Wisdom Okafor, 23 years, by pursing him with a pestle to a moving vehicle that crushed him to death and thereby committed

an offence punishable under Section 227 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

But the defendant denied the charge.

The offence, prosecuting police Inspector, Asu Feddy said is punishable under Section 227 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Defence counsel Ola Ogunbiyi prayed the court to grant the defendant bail in the liberal terms.

Magistrate E.O Ogunkanmi granted the defendant N500, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. The matter was adjourned till May 5 for mention.

‘Tinubu is Joshua of our time’

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ASIWAJU Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the Joshua of our time, who delivered Nigerians from imminent political turbulence; indeed, he is a political legend and hero of our time.”

These were the words of the Minister-In-Charge, C & S Salem Evangelical Church of Christ, Ilupeju, Lagos, Supt. Apostle Babatunde Odele (PawPaw), while assessing Tinubu’s contributions to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just-concluded elections.

He told reporters in Lagos last Friday that after Moses could not lead the Israelites to the Promised Land, Joshua accomplished it, adding: “Today, the APC through leaders like Asiwaju is leading Nigeria to the promised land through overwhelming victory in the last elections. He brought political emancipation to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, gender or religion. God anointed Asiwaju Tinubu as a torch bearer to install truly progressive men and women in offices at various levels of governance across the country.”

“Asiwaju Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu, has etched his name in gold in Nigerian history as the Lord has given unto him the possession of the land unto the progressives as in Joshua 2:9. Bola Ahmed Tinubu revived the political deadwoods; he emancipated the poor at the grassroots with his financial blessings. More blessings to him in Jesus name,” the cleric said.

With the rapid development of Lagos State as a reference point to other governors, he said, Tinubu, brought a younger, dynamic and visionary person, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), to consolidate on his political achievements.

Odele said: “He brought Akinwunmi Ambode, an anointed political technocrat, a Fellow in Accountancy, an excellent public servant, a trusted ally and his loyal political son to continue with the mantle of governance in Lagos State. Asiwaju Tinubu, I pray for you with the blessings given unto Joshua in the holy book of Joshua 10:25: “Fear not, nor be dismayed,

•Apostle Odele

be strong and of good courage: for this shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. So says the Lord.”

Speaking on the church and government, Odele, a former chairman of Mushin Local Government in Lagos State, said the elections were peaceful because of the fervent prayers of the faithful. He called for prayers for all those elected.

Odele, who was also Executive Secretary, Ifako Ijaiye Local Government and Board Member, Ministry of the Environment, said it had become a routine to pray for peace nationwide in his church.

Seeking the cooperation of nonindigenes for the incoming administration, the cleric said: “Asiwaju Tinubu did a lot for non-indigenes in the state during his tenure. In the present government, we have an Igbo Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget (Mr. Ken Akabueze). I implore the Igbos to cooperate with the government, the Oba of Lagos, the paramount Custodian of Culture and Tradition that owns the land where their various businesses are thriving.

“During the last civil war in Nigeria, most of their great grandfathers left Lagos; yet, they all returned to have their properties back intact. Today Igbos and all other non-indigenes must thank God that their businesses are blossoming, their well beings are being guaranteed in the state.”

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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CITYBEATS LINE: 09091178827

Refuse dumps take over National Stadium

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BOUT five refuse dumps have been spotted around the National Stadium Complex in Surulere, Lagos, leaving the arena filthy and unhealthy for users.

The dumpsites are at the weightlifting gymnasium, opposite the mechanic workshop, behind the main bowl by the legacy pitch, and the boxing gymnasium/secretariat.

Some athletes and coaches who train at the stadium decried the awful sight.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the present state of the complex was not good enough and could pose health hazards to

the stadium users.

Many, including sportsmen and women, troop to the facility in the evenings, but mainly at weekends, for jogging and other forms of exercises.

Others also patronise daily, many of the drinking and relaxation joints within the complex. The Joints and their customers generate the wastes.

Okechukwu Elendu, who exercises at the facility, called on the management to be more responsive in ensuring its cleanliness.

Elendu condemned the dumping of refuse at strategic places within the complex, describing it as an eyesore.

“The stadium management is trying but they must do more in the area of refuse dumps; we are not supposed to see or smell waste, it’s dangerous to health,’’ he added.

Ijeoma Iherobiem, an athlete, said the cleaners come around in the morning to do their job, adding that they usually solicit for trash bins to evacuate the waste.

Iherobiem said the place was messed up because of lack of dust bins, adding: “The heaps constitute mainly nylon — sachet water, biscuit wraps, banana peels, empty cartons of wine and bottles.

“I know they used to have a tractor that they used in

evacuating waste to their dump sites. The vehicles must have broken down.

“That is why we now see waste in recent times, the cleaners now use wheel barrows to move huge waste to the dumpsites. The barrows are inadequate to cope with the amount of waste generated daily.

The Stadium Manager, Abolore Alanamu, said the management was committed to ensuring a healthy environment for users.

He said the engineer or tractors used to dispose waste had since packed up, noting: “This is a major challenge to us, management is making alternative arrangements, however.”

According to him, under a new arrangement, cleaners are to gather waste at some designated spots, from where the wheelbarrows would be used to move them to the dumpsite by the Alaka end of the complex.

“Although our tractors are bad but we have a way of managing the dirt collected by cleaners, but we have issues with waste baskets because they are always missing,’’ he said.

The manager said that management would employ more security personnel to man strategic spots and apprehend perpetrators stealing waste disposal baskets and dumpsters.

•The Lagos Water Regatta celebration at Ikoyi (INSET) Chairman, Regatta Planning Committee, Olusegun Jawando (left) and Babatunde Egbedina PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

Boy, four others burnt to death

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O fewer than five persons, including a six-month-old baby boy, died in two separate fires last Saturday in Lagos, Director of the state’s Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe said yesterday.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that four of the victims were burnt to death when a commercial bus popularly known as ‘Danfo’ caught fire at Costain, Lagos.

The baby was burnt to death when fire gutted House 52, Shagari Estate in Mosan-Okunola, Ipaja, Lagos.

According to him, the bus

was carrying nine passengers when it caught fire.

He said the bus was coming from Lagos Island on top speed while heading to Costain when the driver suddenly lost control and hit the pavement.

The bus somersaulted severally, Fadipe said, adding: “The bus burst into flames, burning to death four men beyond recognition. Five others that sustained serious burns were rescued and taken to the General Hospital, Marina, by the Lagos Emergency Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS).

“The police from Iponri

Division removed the bodies to the same hospital. The incident happened on Saturday at about 12.12 p.m,’’ he said.

The director said the Shagari Estate fire was caused by a candlestick lit by the baby’s mother, who claimed to be taking fresh air outside, when the incident happened.

Fadipe cautioned the public against candle use, saying many lives have been lost to it.

He urged parents to always keep an eye on their children while sleeping, advising them against locking up children and leaving home for long.

Court remands man for ‘murder’

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N Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on Lagos Mainland has remanded a 28-year-old man, Joseph Unachukwu, for the alleged murder of a 26year-old man, Ibrahim Yusuf Mohammed.

Joseph is alleged to have punched Ibrahim to death at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on February 15 about 6.10am during a mob action.

The defendant was ar-

By Rukayat Jimoh

rested while others escaped. The court did not accept his plea.

Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Etim Nkankuk, urged the court remand of the defendant in prison pending legal advice from office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Chief Magistrate Abolarinwa Olatunbosun ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison till May 20.

Butchers greet Buhari, Tinubu, Ambode

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AGOS State Butchers’ Association has congratulated President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress (APC) National leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor-elect Akinwunmi Ambode and

other elected APC candidates.

A statement by its chairman, Alhaji Alabi Bamidele Kazeem (a.k.a B K), hoped that Gen Buhari would bring the change Nigerians deserve.

It enjoined Ambode not to forget his campaign promises.

The association urged Lagosians to extend their hands of fellowship to the three senators elected in Lagos.

It said: “As the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Lagos State Butchers’ Association and APC continues to grow, we wish to reaf-

firm our readiness to work closely with all of you to strengthen and enrich our ties, as well as to elevate our partnership.

“We sincerely believe that the current political dispensation will bring good tiding for all of us and Nigeria in general.”

•Alhaji Kazeem

My wife is wayward, says man •‘I still need him; he’s good’

By Basirat Braimah

A

57-year-old man, Solomon Fasade, has pleaded with an Iyana-Ipaja Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve his 17-yearold marriage to Abosede.

Mr Fasade, who lives in Ayobo, a Lagos suburb, is accusing his wife of waywardness and threatening his life.

He claimed that she brought another man to their house.

“Two years after I was robbed, I later got to know my wife arranged armed robbers to my house and went as far as asking them to kill me,” he said.

When the court’s President, Mrs Shalewa Banjoko, asked him how he got to know this, he said: “It was a neighbour who told me the insect that eats up a leaf lives on the leaf.

I was confused and shocked.”

The defendant, Mrs Fasade (43), said the only reason her husband thinks she is a flirt is because she sells alcoholic drinks.

“I sell alcoholic drinks in front of my husband’s house but I am not an harlot,” she said.

She said she never planned to kill her husband.

“I will never kill him because he has been responsible for the upkeep of the children I had from my previous marriage. If it was my intention, I would have succeeded in doing so because I cook for him and we sleep together on the same bed. I will never do such. I still need my husband because he is a good man,” Mrs Fasade said.

Banjoko ordered the couple to be peaceful and adjourned the matter till Thursday.

Group hails Ambode, Adebule

By Adegunle Olugbamila

A

PRESSURE group, Edo Indigenes Support Group 4 Ambode/Adebule (EISGAMBO), has congratulated Lagos State Governorelect Akinwumi Ambode and his deputy Dr Idiat Adebule on their victory.

In a congratulatory message, the group’s coordinator, Oseni Momodu, recalled how EISG4AMBO mobilised support for Ambode, adding: “We the Edo Indigenes Support Group 4 Ambode/Adebule (EISGAMBO), wish to congratulate the governor-elect. We, however, urge him to promote good governance, democracy and equal opportunities for all regardless of tribal, cultural and religious differences.

“We, therefore, wish the incoming government a successful administration and we do hope it will benefit the non-Lagosians based in Lagos,” it said.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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MONDAY APRIL 20, 2015

POLITICS THE NATION

E-mail:- politics@thenationonlineng.net

ABIA POLITICS

Correspondent UGOCHUKWU UGOJI-EKE writes on the controversy trailing the outcome of the governorship election in Abia State.

• When the going was good: Governor Orji (third left) and Dr. Otti (second right), former Labour Minister Emeka Wogu, Deputy Governor Ananaba, and Mrs. Arunma Oteh, at a ceremony in Umuahia, the state capital.

Abia: Agony of an election C

RISIS is brewing over the outcome of the governorship election in Abia State.

Some of the candidates has been agitating for the cancellation of the result. The first to fire the salvo is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nyerere Anyim. He alleged that some political thugs sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were used to rig the election.

Anyim said the election went well in his Ward 4, Unit 023. The APC candidate did his accreditation in record time and this inspired him to express confidence in the exercise. He said that he would win, if what happenned in his polling unit was replicated elsewhere in the state.

But, the reports he later got from other polling units dampened his spirit. He was informed of the massive rigging in areas dominated by the ruling PDP. He alleged that there were cases of missing result sheets and other sensitive materials and thugs suspected to be PDP agents were preventing people from voting in several polling units.

Former Deputy Governor and APC stalwart, Comrade Chris Akomas, said there were no problems at his polling unit at Obingwa, as the exercise was going on smoothly.

But, he noted that there are some areas within the state where reports reaching him showed that there are no result sheets for the collation of the election results.

The PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who voted in his Umuobiakwa ward 7 equally told our correspondent that the exercise was very smooth in his area and that there were no incidents.

Nevertheless, the PDP candidate said there were reports of pockets of violence at Isiala Ngwa. “The opposition are very much conscious of the fact that they are going to lose the election, so they resorted to violence to dissuade our people from voting,” he said.

Ikpeazu expressed the confidence that he would win the election. He said that was the reason why he he is so composed, unlike other candidates who are jittery. The PDP candidate stressed that security agents should do more investigation in areas where there are reports of violence.

Speaking after casting his ballot at his pollig unit, Governor Theodore Orji expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters for the gov-

ernorship and House of Assembly elections, noting that it was a remarkable improvement from what obtained during the presidential and National Assembly polls.

The governor, who was accompanied by his wife, Mercy, said that there were reports that the card readers were not working in some areas. He assured however that the state INEC commissioner has indicated that something will be done in those areas.

There were pockets of violence in many polling units in Umuahia South Local Government Area. In fact, there was a report that the governorship and House of Assembly elections may not take place in about 50 out of the 121 units in the area.

The Nation observed that there were massive violence in the local government area which made INEC ad-hoc staff to run back to the council headquarters. At the gate of the council headquarters, one of the election observers (names withheld) said that at Ipupe ward and Umuosu High School that the card reader failed to capture the identity of prospective voters.

The observer said she had suggested that manual accreditation be used. But, according to her, agents of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) refused, insisting saying that Prof. Attahiru Jega had stipulated that once the

‘ Prof.

Ozumba said he was cancelling the results of those areas because of reports from international observers who said elections in those areas were marred by malpractices, violence, and ballot box snatching

’

card reader fails, the next step should be to postpone the election till the next day.

“When the INEC officers resisted, arguing that voters came from far, violence erupted,” she added.

She said following what amounted to an argument, APGA agents started beating up the PDP agents with dagger and machetes. “This compelled INEC staff to take to their hills, to take refuge at the council headquarters,” she said.

In his reaction, the Chairman, Umuahia South Local Government Area, Emenike Onuoha, said that the problem was caused by the failure of the card readers to capture the identity of voters.

Onuoha said that were no provision for manual accreditation, in the event of the failure of card readers. “This made some party agents to go on rampage, forcing INEC staff to come here for safety.”

He said with the way things were going that about 50 units in the council area are likely to be disenfranchised and called on the security agents to ensure that election took place in those areas.

At Umuosu Nsulu, there were incidents of ballot box snatching. One of the party agents who does not want his name in print accused one of the supporters of the opposition party as the one responsible for ballot box snatching in the area.

At Ekeakara Road, where the Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation (NNPC) depot is situated at Osisioma, reporters monitoring the election saw a man with several INEC ballot boxes filled with already thimb-printed ballot papers. A young man who refused to give his name said some thugs dumped the boxes along the road.

In Aba, at Abayi to be precise, some sons of a prominent traditional ruler in the area were observed moving from one polling unit to the other, asking people to vote for a particular political party or face their death. After some time, they took the boxes away to an unknown destination.

At the INEC head office in Umuahia, where the collation of the governorship election was holding, it was drama all the way. The two main parties, PDP and APGA, who were represented by their agents, Dr. Solomon Ogunji and

Ahamdi Nweke respectively, were busy entertaining everyone with their theatrics. The tension was so high that the returning officer Prof.

Benjamin Ozumba was forced to stop announcing the result mid way and asked all to go home and come back the next day.

The stopping of the announcement was as result of an objection raised by Nweke who said that there was no election in Osisioma council area.

The returning officer then announced that by the powers conferred on him that he is hereby cancelling the election in three council areas, Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa North.

Prof. Ozumba said he was cancelling the results of those areas because of reports from international observers who said elections in those areas were marred by malpractices, violence, and ballot box snatching.

However there was a twist in the process as Governor Orji, accompanied by some chieftains of the PDP, stormed the collation centre. After conferring with the Resident Electoral Commissioner, the returning officer came out to say that he will revisit the already cancelled council areas and isolate the units where malpractices were said to have taken place.

The announcing of results was to continue the next day. After collation of the results, it became appartent that the number of those who were disenfranchised was more than those who voted for the leading the PDP candidate. “According to the electoral act, if such happens the election will be declared inconclusive, as those who did not vote if allowed to vote may change the cause of the election,” the REC said.

The number of disenfranchised voter are 179,224, while the gap between the leading candidate and his closest challenger is 83,053. The governorship election result shows that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP had pulled a total of 248,459 votes, as against 165,406 scored by Dr. Alex Otto of APGA. Prof Ozumba said that the electoral law stipulates that when the number of those who are disenfranchised is more than the lead votes that the election should be declared inconclusive.

However, the announcement of the governorship returning officer as inconclusive had elucidated many reactions with the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh calling on • Continued on page 18

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THE NATION MONDAY APRIL 20, 2015

Although APC still has more than two-third majority, which means it will not ‘have any problem in pushing through its bills and resolutions, the new configuration is however significant because this is the first time since the inception of this democratic dispensation that opposition party is having as much as eight seats ’

Race for Lagos Speaker gathers momentum

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HE race for the speakership of the Eight House of Assembly in Lagos State has began. All the 20 returning members are eminently qualified to vie for the position as ranking members. But, providence seems to have paved the way for the current Deputy Whip of the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru to emerge as the Speaker.

Of the six principal officers of the Seventh Assembly that is gradually winding down, Abiru, who is representing Shomolu II Constituency, is the only principal officer returning. He is already familiar with the inner workings of the leadership of the House.

Although Abiru is from Lagos East Senatorial District that produced the governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode, and may therefore have to contend with zoning, however, a ranking lawmaker in the House who does not want his name in print advised that zoning should be jettisoned for picking the new speaker.

This, according to him, is because, for the first time, the House is having the highest number of opposition lawmakers. He said: “The House needs a matured, experienced, intelligent and cool headed person to handle that position”.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won eight of the 40 seats in the House.

Eight might be a small number, compared to 32 APC members. But, the legislator said: “You never can know the stuff they are made of and that is why we need a speaker who knows his onion to be able to handle any unforeseen development and navigate every booby trap.”

Although APC still has more than two-third majority, which means it will not have any problem in pushing through its bills and resolutions, the new configuration is however significant because this is the first time since the inception of this democratic dispensation that opposition party is having as much as eight seats.

In the Sixth Assembly, the PDP was only able to secure three seats in the House, which later reduced to two when the then Minority Leader, Hon. Hodewu Suru Avoseh from Badagry II defected to the then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. While there was only one PDP member in the 5th Assembly. In the current Assembly it is an all APC House.

Abiru who will be doing a third term by the next dispensation and the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo were the only serving principal officers that contested the last election,

•Tejuoso

•Abiru

•Eshinlokun

The House needs a matured, experienced, intelli‘ gent and cool headed person to handle that position. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won eight of the 40 seats in the House

’

By Oziegbe Okoeki

others like the Majority Leader, Hon. Ajibayo Adeyeye and Chief Whip, Abdulrazaq Balogun were defeated at the party primaries, while the Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Lola Akande did not signify any desire to come back The Deputy Speaker, Taiwo who is the oldest serving lawmaker in the House was already positioned to take over the office of the speaker of the 8th Assembly but he was defeated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate in his Ajeromi-Ifelodun constituency last Saturday.

Taiwo is spending a fourth term and he would have come back for the fifth time, if he had won the House of Assembly election in his constituency last Saturday.

The current situation which was not envisaged by any one has throw up Abiru who already has been exposed to the nitty-gritty of leadership of the Assembly being part of the leadership structure in the House in the past four years.

Abiru started demonstrating qualities of a capable leader right from his first term as a lawmaker in the House and was nicknamed Barometer by his colleagues because he practically dictates the mood of the House at plenary and most times also dictates the direction of debate.

In his first term he was the Chairman, House committee on Water Front and Infrastructure while he was elevated to a principal officer as

Deputy Whip in his second term, a position he currently occupies.

The lawmaker has an imposing figure which stands him out in any gathering and he is also a quiet and easy going individual. He stands out as a matured, composed, intelligent and very friendly person.

For a House that has enjoyed absolute harmony and tranquillity since the inception of the Fourth Republic, which has in turn contributed immensely to the people-friendly laws and resolutions that has impacted in no small measure on the overall development of the state as well as cordial relationship with the executive, the quality and character of the speaker of the House is very paramount because there is need to sustain that harmony for the betterment of the state and its citizens.

Like most of the returning lawmakers, Abiru has attended several training workshops and seminars locally and internationally on legislative processes and lawmaking and may not be easily rattled by any unforeseen situations in the House because of experience and the mature way he looks at issues. He is somebody who does not lose his cool easily; he is not temperamental. Among workshops and seminars he attended are those of the Leadership Institution Arlington Virginia, Harvard Kennedy School and the Judge Business School University of Cambridge.

He is a scion of the legal luminary, late Hon. Justice Mudashiru Akanbi Olatunji Abiru, who was also a distinguished Senator of the federal

•Obasa

republic of Nigeria in the 3rd republic (1979).

Abiru holds a Masters Degree in Chemistry from University of Lagos, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Lagos University, (LASU) Lagos. He attended Baptist Academy, Obanikoro for his Secondary Education.

Observers also say that what distinguishes him more is his humanity and ability to accommodate and relate to everybody regardless of age or status.

Many insiders see him as an embodiment of many sterling qualities. “He is humble, humane, honest, magnanimous, and simple. He is a politician with difference. In spite of his position and tight schedule, he is always ready to serve, ready to listen, ready to assist without complaints even when groaning under an obvious yoke”, said a legislative aide who craved anonymity.

He has been a member of the Lagos State House since 2007. “His contributions in the House and constituency are impressive, excellent and heartwarming. To those who know Hon. Abiru very well, nothing less is expected of him considering his family, educational, business and political background”, the legislative aide said.

He has positively touched the lives of many people especially the youths through his free computer training programme and other empowerment programmes he organises for his constituents at regular intervals all these years, and also giving further assistance to those with excellent results.

Born into the Abiru family of Ikorodu, a family that prides itself with brilliant and successful sons and daughters in all professions, he is a shrewd businessman and politician.

Before coming to the House he was the Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture, Rural Development, Sports and Youth Development in Bariga LCDA and in 2005 he led Bariga.

Election as nightmare in Abia • Continued on page 18

INEC to cancel the result of the governorship election in the three local government areas of Obingwa, Osisioma and Isiala Ngwa North.

The returing officer for the governorship election, Prof Benjamin Ozumba had earlier cancelled the result of the governorship election in the three council areas, alleging malpractices, violence and reports from international observers.

Umeh said the returning officer had cancelled the results only for him to change his mind after some top PDP members led by Governor Orji visited the collation centre.

Umeh said there were no elections at the three council areas because of irregularities during the election. He said the irregularities included bringing of duplicated result sheets which led to the writing of the results where there were no elections.

He wondered how Obingwa could generate 82, 240 when the same council area was only able to give President Goodluck Jonathan a paltry 16,000 votes, even though APGA supported Mr. President.

The APGA National Chairman said soldiers had during the election caught the council chairman of Obingwa, Prince Nwabiaraije with

already thumb-printed ballot papers.

“I wonder how such number of votes could come from that area with this type of development,” he asked.

In his view, the governorship candidate of APGA, Dr. Otti said looking at the pattern of elections in the state that no council area has delivered 90 per cent of its registered voters in the state, except in Obingwa council area.

Otti said: “It is only in Obingwa that all the registered voters have been able to cast their votes, including all those who are already dead, the PDP riggers believe they are smart, but they have shot themselves on their foot.”

He said that card readers never worked in the accreditation of voters in Obingwa, Osisioma, Isiala Ngwa North, as well as some parts of Ugwunnagbo and Nkporo in Ohafia council area, adding that the card reader must be used as demanded by INEC during re-run.

The APGA candidate said fresh hands must be used for the re-run because “all the INEC workers in the state have been compromised and their sincerity is no longer assured.”

In its reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for the total cancellation of the governorship and State House of Assembly elections,

•Dr. Ikpeazu at a rally in Umuahia, the state capital.

over allegations of electoral fraud.

APC is also asking Prof. Jega to investigate the alleged role of the PDP, APGA and staff of INEC in the alleged malpractices recorded during the elections.

Nyerere expressed displeasure over the high rate of snatching of ballot boxes, shooting and other forms of violence which disrupted elections at various local government areas of the state.

State Chairman of the party Chief Donatus Nwankpa commended

members of the party for conducting themselves orderly during the elections and affirmed the determination of the party to comply with the provisionsof the electoral Act in seeking redress.

In his reaction, the Chairman of PDP, Senator Emma Nwaka, said that his party is ready for the re-run election in some of the area where election was marred by irregularities.

Nwaka said that the party insists that card readers should be the sole means of accreditation during the re-

run, adding that they are not ready to tolerate the use of security agents to intimidate their nmembers and supporters.

On the cancellation of the results of three council areas by the returning officer, Nwaka said that Prof.

Ozumba erred by achoring his decision on the reports of observers. “Observers have no right dictating to INEC; their right do not go beyond observing and reporting back to the body that sent them,” he said.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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COMMENTARY EDITORIALS

LETTER

What a pity!

Why would Nigeria import cooking gas and palm oil that she has in abundance?

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T is a most confounding economic principle that a country keeps importing commodities it ought to be exporting. And this perhaps, happens only in Nigeria. There is a mind-numbing report that Nigeria imported 764,000 barrels of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or cooking gas from the United States last year. This was her first import of the commodity since 2010.

Another disturbing report is to the effect that Malaysian and Indonesian ships are currently at the Lagos ports laden with palm oil worth about N4 billion.

These two commodities – cooking gas and palm oil – are available in abundance in Nigeria. Nigeria is reputed to host the ninth biggest gas reserves in the world with about 187 trillion cubic feet of proven reserve. About three times this quantity is unproven reserves. What this suggests is that she has enough of the commodity for her use and to supply about half of the world’s users.

More curious still, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has been producing enough cooking gas for Nigeria’s domestic consumption since 2007 to forestall any need for such bulk importation of gas last year. It also gets even more curious considering the fact that it was last year that the US import of Nigeria’s crude oil reached zero level – from the largest importer to zero import of Nigeria’s crude oil, engendering deepreaching trauma to Nigeria’s economy.

Apart from US’ zero import of Nigeria’s crude, the prices of petroleum products crashed by about half since last year, thus reducing Nigeria’s earnings by that

margin. At about the same period, the value of the naira crashed against the dollar, leaving the economy almost prostrate. The question is: why would an economy that is seemingly already endangered resort to a massive importation of a commodity it can produce? There must be more to this seeming freak importation of gas from the US last year than meets the eye.

If the importation of gas from the US is wrapped in intrigues, the shipping in of palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia seems like sheer folly. Between the two far-east Asian countries, we imported a total of about 30,000 metric tons of palm oil valued at about N4 billion. According to report, Nigeria has been importing palm oil for industrial uses in the past decade. This is heart-rending if we remember that Nigeria used to be the world’s largest producer of this commodity.

Recall also the now famous tale that Malaysia got her first palm seedlings from Nigeria. It is not that Nigeria’s soil has stopped yielding great harvests of palm trees but in fact, most of the palm plantations spread across the south of Nigeria have been mismanaged and are mainly in a state of dereliction. It is not as if palm oil has grown less in value. On the contrary, the three leading producers, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand collectively control annual export market worth about $50 billion.

Palm oil was one of the casualties of successive Nigerian governments’ abdication upon the discovery of crude

oil in the 60s. While the oil boom provided huge, cheap revenues, government abandoned other hitherto, well developed sources of revenue like agriculture, industry and mining, to give a few examples.

Now that there is a glut in global supply of crude oil and prices have crashed, governments at various levels must diversify by quickly returning to the farms. For a first step, importation of all agricultural commodities that can be produced here must be stopped forthwith. It is also trite to urge government to stop in the shortest possible period, importation of all petroleum products as they can be produced locally, to save valuable hard currency.

It is a perplexing economic paradox that Nigeria still imports commodities she ought to be exporting even as she is beset by a severe economic crisis.

‘The question is: why would an economy that is seemingly already endangered resort to a massive importation of a commodity it can produce?

There must be more to this seeming freak importation of gas from the US last year than meets the eye’

Not yet Uhuru Although the April 11 elections were better conducted, there is still room for improvement

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FTER many twists and turns, and fears of conflagration that could consume the country, the 2015 elections are largely over. Winners and losers have emerged and political parties have seen how they are rated in the states and constituencies.

Generally, the governorship and state assembly elections held on April 11 were better conducted than the presidential and National Assembly elections held on March 28. While the card reader malfunctioned in many polling units in the earlier election, the degree of failure had drastically reduced by the time state elections were conducted. Polling officials reported promptly at their duty posts and materials were distributed in the correct proportion.

It was an election that elicited commendation from journalists, local and international observers who had little to complain about the conduct of the electoral commission’s officials and security agents that were largely less aggressive and obtrusive.

If things continue to improve, Nigerians can say that democracy is growing in the

‘Until officials found to have betrayed the people are prosecuted and where found culpable punished, manipulation of the process would continue. So, we call on the in-coming Buhari administration to continue efforts to sanitise the electoral process by initiating a review of the Uwais commission report’

country. For too long, they have groaned under the yoke of state institutions primed to manipulate the system and process to achieve programmed end. A foundation is now being laid to ensure that leaders could be elected or rejected by the people and their will respected.

It was obvious tha t the result of the presidential election had a sobering effect on the system. In states like Adamawa, Plateau and Benue, the ruling parties were voted out with little or no incidents. In Gombe, despite the failure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) all through the North East, the party was the choice of the people and their verdict was respected. In Taraba, it was inconclusive and a supplementary poll would be conducted on April 25. In all the states of the North West, the PDP fell to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC). Yet, there were no protests on the streets, thus confirming that it represented the wish of the electorate.

In Benue State where the APC alleged that it was short-changed in 2011, it scaled the hurdles effortlessly in the last elections, thus breaking the myth that any political party perceived to enjoy massive support of the Hausa-Fulani would be rejected by the Tiv. In Lagos, the PDP and incumbent president threw everything into the race. It was a close contest, but the APC was returned and peace reigned.

However, evidence of manipulations, irregularities and widespread violence were reported in states like Abia, Akwa Ibom and Rivers. Lives were lost as security men were allegedly compromised and thwarted the will of the people. After protests, the Abia governorship poll has been declared inconclusive as were the Taraba and Imo

elections. It is hoped that the tradition being set would be established and Nigerians would have cause to rejoice.

However, we find it intriguing that despite the protests by the APC about a possible collusion between the PDP, the police and the Resident Electoral Commissioners in some places, necessary changes were not made. In Abia, the returning officer for Abia North said that the result declared for the March 28 election did not emanate from him. We expected that proper investigation would immediately be launched into the commissioner’s complaint, but this was not so. Until officials found to have betrayed the people are prosecuted and where found culpable punished, manipulation of the process would continue.

So, we call on the in-coming Buhari administration to continue efforts to sanitise the electoral process by initiating a review of the Uwais commission report towards ensuring that the people’s input into choosing the commission’s chairman is institutionalised. The commission’s clamour for an Electoral Offences Commission should also be revisited.

The government must acknowledge that electoral corruption represents a virulent form of corruption that is worse than financial and material corruption which has been eating deep into the fabric of the society. It must be stamped out. Similarly, the civil society groups, domestic and foreign observer groups, the media and all lovers of democracy should join in watching the process in the conduct of the supplementary elections of April 25.

Progress has been made, but we are not yet there.

Mass defection, bad for democracy

S

IR: A vital and strong opposition is needed and necessary for democracy to work and develop. It is in the interest of the country as a whole, especially the ordinary people that the opposition should play its role effectively well so that they can give the people a choice whenever they go to the polls. The way the people would get this benefit is to have intelligent, well read and experience politicians on the opposition.

Following the victory of the All Progressives Congress APC and its Presidential Candidate Major General Muhammadu Buhari at the March 28 Presidential election, a wind of defection hit the camp of the People’s Democratic Party PDP. The defection of high ranking chieftains of the PDP, deputy governors and state commissioners even when their bosses, the governors are still members of the PDP has created a worrisome dimension and an unhealthy trend in the Nigerian democracy.

Given the immense role that the opposition is supposed to play in holding the ruling government duly accountable to the people, it is wrong for anyone who truly believes in democracy to celebrate the defection of those expected to form a strong and formidable opposition that would hold the incoming government accountable to the people after its inauguration on May 29.

Quality opposition speaks for the market women, the unemployed youth; it gives voice to the weak and the vulnerable in the society. PDP and indeed all other political parties should therefore rise above the mentality of “I must chop with them” and brace up to the challenge of playing the role of opposition.

Since the formation of the APC though a fusion of ANPP, CPC, ACN and a faction of APGA over a year ago, APC was able to hold the ruling government accountable and the PDP administration was careful in most of its policies and programmes knowing fully well that the APC is watching with keen interest and always willing to criticize and take it head-on. This is exactly the same role Nigerians expect the PDP to play after the May 29 handing over.

PDP should recognize that the reason Nigerians were able to make the informed choice of rejecting and voting her out at the last presidential election was majorly because APC played its role so well. If the PDP is really serious about coming back to power, then they should better get their acts together, put their house in order and move swiftly to halt these defections from their umbrella.

• Hussain Obaro, Ilorin, Kwara State.

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

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

CARTOON & LETTERS

S

IR: As a bona fide Nigerian with deep passion to see this country change and make appreciable progress, I am giving seven tips to the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari for serious consideration.

If this nation must truly change and transform to the country of our dream, the bulk of the work lies on the President. He must be the change he wants Nigerians to be.

Aldous Huxley said, “No social stability without individual’s stability”. No leader can give what he did not have. Our president must lead by example, not by precept. If he wants Nigerians to be following due process, he must show us by practical example. If he desires to see citizens who are law abiding, he must also be law abiding. If he wants transparency and accountability in both public and private sector, he must set the pace. It becomes pretty easier for people to

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Seven tips for the President follow an exemplary leader than a leader who preaches a thing but his body language is saying something different.

Secondly, the president should work toward the independence of the judiciary and strengthening our legal system to make it more effective. When our judiciary is free from the control of the executives and every Nigerian, irrespective of their position, is subject to the law, many things that have not been working hitherto will begin to work. One of the banes of this nation is impunity; a truly free judi-

Pipeline security and ex-militants

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IR: As the euphoria of the Presidential Election douses, the APC must be aware of the enormous tasks ahead in bringing the chant of ‘change’ to reality because the expectations of Nigerians are very high as regards what the in-coming dispensation will bring to the table in terms of formulation of policies and their implementation.

Meanwhile, one of the problems militating against the peace of the country is unemployment and it will do the image of General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) administration good to take analytical look at the situation, immediately he is sworn-in on May 29, in a bid to reducing unemployment to the barest minimum. One of the options he should exploit to tackle the problem of unemployment is the issue of security of our petroleum pipelines across the length and breadth of the country.

Instead of the contract awarded to Oodua People Congress (OPC) and other ex-militants, the GMB administration should employ more personnel into Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps

(NSCDC) and other relevant security agencies as a means of creating employment for the teeming unemployed youth. By this, the government would have also taken care of the problem of securing our petroleum pipelines and other government properties against vandals. It will go a long way in achieving the administration’s electoral promise of creating close to a million jobs in its first year in office.

On the other hand, the government should procure required equipment and weaponry needed to the personnel of the corps to function effectively well.

Handing over the surveillance and security of our petroleum pipelines to militant groups, be they ex- or current militants, can never be said to be the best option in solving the problem of pipelines vandalism and other related offences in the country. Instead, it will lead to a situation where weapons will be in wrong hands and this will constitute security threat to our society in the long run.

• Saidi Salami Itire, Lagos.

ciary will wipe this out.

Thirdly, a new tax-regime should be put in place in Nigeria to boost the income-generating ability of the government in the face of dwindling oil revenue. Nigerian may need to borrow a leaf from UK and US. When every Nigerian (business people, professionals, artisans, politicians as well as corporate institutions) begins to pay appropriate tax, the government will make more money than what we are currently making from oil. The government will thereby have enough money to deliver the dividend of democracy to the people and Nigeria will become better for it.

Fourth, the government should diversify our economy to agriculture. The best economy in the world (U.S.A) has agriculture as her mainstay. Nigeria has better comparative advantage in agriculture than oil. Every part of Nigeria will be better off if we develop our agricultural sector. It will generate more money and employment more than any other sector. Better still, it has a brighter future than oil because agricultural products are inevitable for human and industrial survival. Oil may dry up, and nations are developing alternatives to oil such as biofuel, electric and solar automobiles, engines

and aircraft etc.

Moreover, the President should establish a culture where he personally supervises government projects and programmes. He should not rely solely on his aides and cabinet members who might have compromised and be feeding him with half-truths. This has led to the failure of many past administrations.

Sixth, he should reduce the cost of governance in the country and also plug wastage in our public sector. Unnecessary overseas trips, frivolous allowances, bogus celebrations etc. should be stopped.

Modesty should take the place of extravagance.

Finally, he should beware of sycophants and political jobbers.

They have ruined many previous administrations. He should surround himself with credible people and technocrats.

•Adedayo Adebayo Gwagwalada – Abuja

To whom much is given

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IR: To whom much is given, much is equally expected; there seem to be a thin line between love and hate. It is doubtful whether President Jonathan appreciated these. The outgoing president assumed power in 2011 on the back of a near pan Nigerian mandate. Indeed his was a mandate brimming with goodwill. But very sadly, the president quickly frittered it away in a most prodigal manner.

I’m not sure any other president (including the president-elect) enjoyed as much support from ordinary Nigerians as President Jonathan did. They saw him as coming from their constituency and were prepared to stick out their necks for him. During the illness of late President Yar’Adua when an unconscionable cabal sought to hijack power, while the political elite mostly temporized, considered their personal interests, it was the masses that marched on the streets forcing the adoption of the socalled doctrine of necessity that made him acting-president.

It was the same masses that

largely put aside ethno-religious differences and massively voted him as president in 2011. When during his inauguration speech he promised not to let Nigerians down, the people were over the moon with delight. Alas, hardly did he settle into office than he forgot his pledge. Besides his meager leadership talent, a major cause of President Jonathan’s fall is his disdain for the ordinary Nigerian people while seeking the embrace of power cabals.

The first obvious manifestation of this was in the January of 2012 when he forced ordinary Nigerians to bear the cost of fuel subsidy fraud perpetrated by elites (some within his circle) in the form of fuel price hike. He went further to run mostly a government of cabal by cabal and for cabal. Thus he dashed the people’s hopes. Quite logically, their massive goodwill turned to massive resentment. He was destined to be punished for his shabby treatment of the people. It was on the back of the popular resentment that the APC skillfully rode to power.

It is now over two weeks since General Muhammadu Buhari was elected president. The presidentelect will be assuming power on the back of equally massive goodwill, but also resentment. Many will be wishing that his government fail and may work assiduously towards that end even if only to have the chance to say, “I told you”. This makes his case even more challenging. He is also clearly expected to better the performance of the man who was dethroned for his sake. To do this he must learn from the mistakes of the outgoing president and avoid them like Ebola. At every time, General Buhari must remember that his mandate is not courtesy of any powerful individual or cabal but an army of ordinary Nigerians who not only canvassed support for him on the streets and social media, but also braved the elements to cast and protect their votes for him. It is to this category of citizens that his first duty lies.

• Nnoli Chidiebere, Abia State

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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COMMENTS

Tinubu: What a man, what a leader!

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N these convoluted times, there have been challenges of leadership for good governance in Nigeria. For a while, it has been chaotic quantifying and articulating the real value of desirable and pleasing leadership. Many of the theoretical enlightened would hardly consider that being a leader is a choice - and that in a nation of democracy, it is the people that can decide how to make the preferred leadership manifest.

Many believe since they are advanced in age, then they are the best to lead. It is only those in spiritual realms that could know that older age do not essentially make one superlative in leadership. The chosen of the Creator might be the last born of a family who would eventually emerge on top.

Leading indeed is that enigmatic ability that enables one to turn a vision into a reality. It permeates values, approach and actions.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is by no means a saint. Yet, today, the nation’s transformation now being fashioned through electoral victory under his All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership is, without doubt, admirable. He might have been tagged despicable by his adversaries, but they must now in sensibility apprehend the reality that he is neither ridiculous nor dense.

When you do well, it is then you will become acceptable. Tinubu, a former Senator, two-term governor of Lagos State and National Leader of APC has grandly manifested desired goodness on behalf of the Yorubas. Those who before now would not want to see him as the ‘Asiwaju’ should at this instant in humility appreciate he has become, not only an approved Yoruba Asiwaju, but a politicallyassigned leader of the nation Nigeria.

One main way to lead is by example. When you turn yourself into an example, then you’ll turn into a leader to be followed. A good leader must have strong convictions, not necessarily muscular charisma.

Last week, the Southwest Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senateelect in Ogun-East, Chief Buruji Kashamu, pronounced Tinubu as his role model. He paid a rare tribute to the same Asiwaju that his party had pointed the finger at severally, tagging him as a true hero that every Nigerian should emulate.

For Kashamu, it has become important to honour those deserving of honour now that the elections were over. In the open letter addressed to Tinubu, he expressed him as the architect of modern Nigeria, who made history by leading an opposition party for 16 years and then taking hold of power at the centre. He surveyed that without Tinubu, the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, would

FEW days ago, my eyes were drawn to email on “the book no one would publish.” It was one of the “eclectic excerpts” delivered regularly to my email address. After reading it, I felt like sharing it. The thought-provoking excerpt is from a 2015 book by Brian Grazer, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life.

Commentary to provide context: The first book of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to us as Dr. Seuss, was rejected by twenty-seven publishers before it was finally accepted by Vanguard Press: “Being determined in the face of obstacles is vital. Theodor Geisel, Dr. Seuss, is a great example of that himself. Many of his forty-four books remain wild bestsellers. In 2013, Green Eggs and Ham sold more than 700,000 copies in the United States (more than Goodnight Moon); The Cat in the Hat sold more than 500,000 copies, as did Oh, the Places You’ll Go! and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. And five more Dr. Seuss books each sold more than 250,000 copies. That’s eight books, with total sales of more than 3.5 million copies, in one year (another eight Seuss titles sold 100,000 copies or more). Theodor Geisel is selling 11,000 Dr. Seuss books every day of the year, in the United States alone, twenty-four years after he died. He has sold 600 million books worldwide since his first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was published in 1937. And as inevitable as Dr. Seuss’s appeal seems now, Mulberry Street was rejected by twenty-seven publishers before being accepted by Vanguard Press. .. ”The story of Geisel being rejected twenty-seven times before his first book was published is often repeated, but the details are worth relating. Geisel says he was walking home, stinging from the book’s twenty-seventh rejection, with the manuscript and drawings for Mulberry Street under his arm, when an acquaintance from his student days at Dartmouth College bumped into him on the sidewalk on Madison Avenue in New York City. Mike McClintock asked what Geisel was carrying. ‘That’s a book no one will publish,’ said Geisel. ‘I’m lugging it home to burn.’ McClintock had just that morning been made editor of children’s books at Vanguard; he invited

not have won the March 28 election.

“Truth be told, men like you are made up of sterner stuff and are rare to come by in every generation. Little wonder you are called the Asiwaju and Jagaban of Borgu. I doff my hat,” he declared, praying that they that are younger should truly be like him. “Although I now belong to the opposition, your achievements transcend political divides and I am not ashamed to publicly acknowledge them. There is no denying the fact that your place in the history of the Yoruba race in particular, and, in Nigeria in general, is well etched.”

Kashamu’s further admiration of Tinubu: “By your sheer wit and unwavering commitment to democratic ethos, true federalism and economic prosperity, you led the Alliance for Democracy from a one-state party to a regional party and now a national party that is about to form the government at the centre.”

It does not matter who Kashamu is thought to be, he said it all in the right spirit. True leadership is one value a price tag cannot be put on. He proved that only leaders with vision will inspire citizens and mobilize them for nation building.

When people were taking the wrong step, they found it difficult for things to change for good. But now that the choice already made is expected to become decisive to life, majority of Nigeria voters have proved their desire for change in reality for a legacy.

Also last week, United States Financial Times newspaper praised Asiwaju for being behind Buhari’s success. According to the paper on its front page, Tinubu is deeply a master strategist who has astutely put up empire among Yorubas in Lagos and the Southwest, and built a reputation for himself just like that of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

This is a conviction of the brouhaha generated by an article written by Sam Omatseye, our Editorial Board Chairman in his column of June 6, 2011. Entitled ‘Awo Family without Awo,’ he bewailed the absence of members of the Awolowo family at the inauguration ceremonies of the then newly-elected governors of Ogun and Oyo states.

When the article was published, Tinubu’s opposition people, especially those in Awolowo’s clan fumed out condemning the writer, believing he was working on the agenda set by Tinubu to actualise his dream. The Awolowo family was made to consider that the article was prompted by Asiwaju who was then leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in furtherance of his ambition to become the leader of the Yoruba, apparently vacant since the death of Chief Abraham Adesanya.

Today, the same Afenifere group that endorsed outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan in mouthy essentially to tackle Tinubu and deprecate him as Asiwaju must have now realised the reality of the true leader of Yorubaland widely supported by their own people. The man who they deliberately failed to invite to the meeting of supposed Yoruba leaders organized to discuss the last National Conference has been established to be their leader in truth and in deed. Efforts to push aside the real leaders, particularly those in the APC by the elders have become meaningless. Any Southwest gathering without the Asiwaju and the APC governors with representatives from Ondo and Ekiti states will remain irrelevant to the peo-

A

The writer’s wrestle Geisel up to his office, and McClintock and his publisher bought Mulberry Street that day. When the book came out, the legendary book reviewer for the New Yorker, Clifton Fadiman, captured it in a single sentence: ‘They say it’s for children, but better get a copy for yourself and marvel at the good Dr. Seuss’s impossible pictures and the moral tale of the little boy who exaggerated not wisely but too well.’ Geisel would later say of meeting McClintock on the street, ‘[I]f I’d been going down the other side of Madison Avenue, I’d be in the dry-cleaning business today. ...’

My mind went to Amos Tutuola. One defining moment in Tutuola’s life will just not go away, it will never go away. The famous Nigerian writer who died in 1997 is considered the first African novelist in the English language “to attract international attention” with the 1952 publication of his first book, The Palm-Wine Drinkard, by Faber and Faber in London. In 1953, the book was translated and published in Paris as L’Ivrogne dans la brousse by Raymond Queneau.

A writer noted: “Indeed, he could hardly have had more distinguished literary godparents, because it was T.S. Eliot at Faber and Faber who recommended that his first book, The Palm-Wine Drinkard and His Dead Palm-Wine Tapster in

‘What am I talking about? I’m thinking about the writing space and the publishing environment in Nigeria. I’m thinking about how a writer can repel rejection, pulverise poverty and foil failure. I’m thinking of the future of writing and writers in a country that produced the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Book Capital 2014, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital’

ple.

Indeed, Tinubu did not start his life as an Asiwaju. He battled the challenges of his rather distressing and thorny youth with audacity only workable by the strong-hearted. He laboured courageously and also brilliantly. As sensible, liberal and a grassroots person, he grew up to live meaningfully. He never hesitated to serve with his best contributions and concepts. When he entered politics and was elected a Senator, he distinguished himself as the Chairman of the Senate foremost Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation and Currency. With the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election and the consequent militarization of the nation’s politics, he became a founding member of the prominent pro-democracy National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which encountered the military for the very soul of Nigeria. With harassments and threats to his life, he moved abroad to continue agitation for restoration of democratic governance in the country.

Asiwaju eventually emerged in good fundamental performance as the Lagos State Governor for two terms. As a smart political strategist, he survived the colossal storming of the ruling PDP to the Southwest states as the lone re-elected governor of the then Alliance for Democracy (AD). This led him on regular collision course with the PDP-controlled Federal Government, especially on his establishment of additional 37 Local Council Development Areas for Lagos States. A Supreme Court judgment in his favour later stated that the Federal administration should release the seized statutory allocation of the state’s Local Government funds.

Tunubu was actively involved in the formation of the Action Congress (AC) political party as recourse to the devastated AD. In a while, he transformed the new party as the plausible opposition to PDP. His vast legacy today is built on by his successor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), who served as his Chief of Staff and was rightly chosen by his boss against contrary propositions.

Continuation of Tinubu’s outstanding policies makes the outgoing administration of Lagos State an exceptional and prime government in Nigeria. His leadership efforts too are bringing in the competent Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. If not for what is seen as evident success, PDP’s Jimi Agbaje under its party’s desperation would have snatched Lagos State in the last election. Being a man with vision is making him to excel in politics.

A leader with vision inspires people and mobilizes them for nation building. The one with sparkling motives employ wisdom, foresight, sense of purpose and commitment to stimulate a people towards self-actualisation and propel the national spirit in them. In history, there are few outstanding leaders, true heroes of their time, who set the moral and political tones for their societies. Such people as American George Washington, British Winston Churchill, Indian Mahatma Gandhi, Charles De Gaulle of France, Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore and Nelson Mandela of South Africa, are leaders of repute.

This is the category Buhari whose victory was empowered by Asiwaju who believes another Nigeria is possible might get into if his promises are manifested.

the Deads’ Town, should be published in 1952 and it was Dylan Thomas who gave it its first prominent review, when he praised this “brief, thronged, grisly and bewitching . . . tall, devilish story”.

Tutuola’s early history: “When his father died in 1939, Tutuola left school to train as a blacksmith, which trade he practised from 1942 to 1945 for the Royal Air Force in Nigeria. He subsequently tried a number of other vocations, including selling bread and acting as messenger for the Nigerian Department of Labour. In 1946, Tutuola completed his first full-length book, The PalmWine Drinkard, within a few days.”

Tutuola was quoted as saying, “I was still in this hardship and poverty, when one night, it came to my mind to write my first book The Palm-Wine Drinkard and I wrote it in a few days successfully because I was a storyteller when I was in the school.” It is noteworthy that the novel has been described as “one of the most important texts in the African literary canon, translated into over a dozen languages.”

The gripping image of a tormented soul struggling to escape the punishment of poverty and creatively imagining the liberating power of letters is an enduring metaphor for self-knowledge, self-recognition and selfbelief. Tutuola never fails to arrive whenever I reflect on the writing life and how it can change a writer’s circumstances.

Stories like these show why it is important to “keep on keeping on.” Sometimes, like this moment, I ponder what Roger Rosenblatt calls “the craft and art of writing” and wonder where it may lead me. I have just finished reading Unless It Moves the Human Heart by Rosenblatt, an eyeopening book about teaching and learning writing.

Speaking about writing programmes in America, Rosenblatt said in his book, published in 2011, “Since 1975, the number of creative writing programs has increased 800 percent. It is amazing… all over America, students ranging in age from their early twenties to their eighties hunker down at seminar tables like this one in Iowa, California, Texas, Massachusetts, New York, and hundreds of places, avid to join a profession that practically guarantees them rejection, poverty and failure.”

What am I talking about? I’m thinking about the writing space and the publishing environment in Nigeria. I’m thinking about how a writer can repel rejection, pulverise poverty and foil failure. I’m thinking of the future of writing and writers in a country that produced the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Book Capital 2014, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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COMMENTS

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ARRING a few states where the governorship election was declared inconclusive and a supplementary scheduled, the picture of all that transpired during that election is no longer cloudy. Whether any lesson has been learnt by our politicians on electoral matters has also become palpable from all that transpired. With more than 95 per cent of the results known, and the reported incidents that marked them, statements of empirical validity can now be reasonably made.

This is more so as, the nature and character of the unfolding political environment is getting clearer by the day. As things now stand, the All Progressives Congress APC has become the dominant party having won at the centre and with a majority of the states in its kitty. The party is therefore poised to exert a commanding influence in the nation’s affairs in the days ahead.

By the same logic, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP which before now bestrode the political landscape like a colossus has been reduced to a minority party. With that, its previous ambition to rule the country without interruption has become a pipe dream.

But that is not the issue to contend with now.

The failure of the PDP is not much the issue as what it holds for the survival of democracy in this country. From the trend of events since the conclusion of the presidential elections, there have been genuine fears that our democracy stands to face the greatest challenge of our time. The feeling gaining ground is that we may after all, not be prepared for democracy and all it takes to grow and endure.

As a development paradigm, democracy requires certain attitudes, dispositions and orientations. It presupposes a concomitant political culture. But, it is increasingly be-

‘It is another way to steer the ship of the nation away from a one party state. A combination of both approaches will engender faster development by insulating the nation from precipitate crises arising from bitter competition to control the huge resources at the centre’

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Emeka OMEIHE 08112662675 email: EmekaOmeihe@yahoo.com

The way to go coming difficult for that culture to germinate and grow here.

Events are more than ever before giving credence to dominant views among political scientists some years back that the type of leadership Africa needed is benevolent dictatorship rather than democracy. That view took copious perspective of the historical background of the African people, their administrative structure and intolerance to opposition. That was at the period when military rule was the fad in the continent. Military rule is now stale. But its dispositions are still much with us. We claim to cherish democracy and all it stands for. But the reality on the ground is that we are not prepared to allow that culture to take root on our shores. The situation has become such that the little gains that may have been recorded in the last 16 years may come to naught if politicians do not part ways with their decadent pasts.

All the encomiums showered on the presidential election may be rendered useless in the face of the glaring cases of violence that marred the governorship and house of assembly elections in many states.

From Kano to Ebonyi, Lagos to Rivers, we have been treated not only to complaints about subversion of the rules but more seriously, cases of political killings have been legion. With these, it is obvious that the do or die politics of yesteryears is still much with us. These have tended make a mockery of the peace accord signed by Jonathan and Buhari to maintain the peace before during and after the elections.

It would appear the success of that undertaking was only limited to the presidential and National Assembly elections. It has be-

HE 141Megawatt integrated Aba Power Project is a child of necessity. The desire of Aba industrialists, including the small and medium scale industries, and our desire to contribute our quota to increasing power supply in the nation converged 10 years ago. We realized that the best way to ensure that this city will quickly have reliable and affordable electricity was to build this off-grid project that serves the Aba metropolis. The then World Bank President, Mr Jim Wolfensohn, and the then Finance Minister, the current Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, came met the Aba Industrialists, including the Aba Ariaria Manufacturers (SMEs). At the meeting, the Ariaria manufacturers were asked to identify their number one problem which if addressed would significantly improve their production; they unanimously said that it was reliable electricity.

This convergence of desire for reliable electricity was what led us to this historic Aba Integrated Power Project. At that time, our development partners from the IFC of the World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (now known as FMFM) and myself wanted to find a business model for power development in Nigeria that is sustainable, can stand on its own, and can be easily replicated by various investors in other major cities in Nigeria. We recognized that the nation would not be able to afford sovereign guarantee for all of its power needs, we therefore developed a model of customized embedded generation that would not require sovereign guarantee. Consequently, we set about developing this integrated power project to satisfy the electricity needs of Aba metropolis at a time when the Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 was not yet enacted. The Federal Government in 2005 concessioned Aba metropolis to us; this was the only security of the investment in the project instead of the normal sovereign guarantee. We have met the terms of our concession agreement with the Federal Government by building this 141MW Power Plant with state of the art equipment from General Electric (GE) and rehabilitating the entire distribution network in Aba. In addition to the power plant, we have built over 105 km of 33kV overhead lines within the Aba metropolis. The steel tubular poles used to build the 33kV line infrastructure are unlike any other in Nigeria. We have also built over 40km of new 11kV lines in Aba. We have completed five new substations consisting of the power plant’s 3x60MVAs substation; four (4) brand new 2x15MVA substations in various parts of Aba town. In addition, we have refurbished the only three existing PHCN substations which were dilapidated, by building three brand new control buildings with outdoor substation gantries within the premises of the existing PHCN substations. To ensure the reliability of gas

come a huge joke given the sordid events that marred the governorship and house of assembly elections in many states.

During those elections, all the vices that hitherto held our electoral process down and for which people lost faith in it reared their ugly heads. Not only were there snatching of ballot boxes and papers, incidents of rewriting and forgery of election results abound. This is so despite the introduction of the Card Readers to check fraud. Instead of giving the new device the cooperation it needed to succeed, our politicians were busy inventing strategies to frustrate its efficacy.

All these have cast a dark cloud on the prospects of democracy in the days ahead.

This seeming pessimism is further reinforced by the geographical distribution of electoral victory and the conduct of politicians ever since. By this, reference is made to the power equation in this country and how the dominant groups are bound to react to emerging political events.

Apart from Ekiti and Gombe states, the PDP now has the South-South and the SouthEast as its political stronghold. The three zones in the north have all gone the way of the APC. Ditto for the South-West. By this development, the south-east and the southsouth have now emerged as the fulcrum of opposition in the country. They are now expected to galvanize other pockets of loyalties in the north to challenge the ruling party.

How much of this role and to what extent these zones can of it, is left to be conjectured. But if the history of opposition as we know it in this country is any thing to go by, there is reason to expect that the two zones

may not be fully prepared for it. For one, they are not the traditional strongholds of the opposition in this country. They have across time, identified with the party at the centre.

For another, it is difficult to conceive if the zones can reasonably isolate themselves from events at the centre given their peculiar circumstances. Soon, all manner of reasons will emerge as to why they cannot afford not to align with the centre. It is for the same reasons that we have been treated with a gale of decamping by members of that party especially in the northern states.

The south-west known as the bastion of opposition in the country, together with Kano and sections of the north-east are very well accommodated in the new political order.

Unless a new paradigm of political engagement is emerging, we may soon be all gravitating towards the centre with little or no opposition to check the ruling party.

If such happens, we will be left with a situation akin to what obtained when the PDP held sway. Those shunted out of the mainstream may begin to heat up the system and we will be back to square one. The national chairman of the APC, John Oyegun captured this foreboding situation succinctly when he decried the spate of decamping from the PDP. He raised alarm over the issue and urged those decamping to remain in their party and strengthen opposition so that democracy can grow. He has said it all.

Whether that is enough to change the situation will be borne out with time. The fears raised by Oyegun may become the greatest challenge of our time unless certain fundamental steps are taken to tinker with the subsisting structure of this country. For now, there is every reason to expect a continuous gravitation to the centre because of the omnipresence and omnipotence of the central government in the nation’s affairs. This overbearing dominance must be very considerably whittled down to discourage that drift and the systemic stress it engenders.

Restructuring of the country with more powers to the constituent units is the way to go. President Jonathan once floated the idea of successful political parties at the various levels of election sharing power in proportion with their electoral strength. It is another way to steer the ship of the nation away from a one party state. A combination of both approaches will engender faster development by insulating the nation from precipitate crises arising from bitter competition to control the huge resources at the centre.

Travails of Aba Power Project

By Bart Nnaji supply, we built a 27km gas pipeline from Imo River to the power plant and built the gas infrastructure to support the supply of reliable gas to the facility. To date, we have invested over $500million or in today’s money over N100 billion in this project.

This project is virtually completed. The power plant, various substations and 33kV lines have been energised and fuel is available for this project. The remaining interconnection work on the distribution network within the premises of the existing PHCN substations and the 11kv lines should take less than two months. This was the remaining work that was being done by our contractors before the entire Enugu Electricity Distribution Company was handed over to another party by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) without excising Aba from the sale. This action was in spite of our valid concession agreement and assurances by President Goodluck Jonathan that the agreement is sacrosanct. Operators of EEDC stopped our work and chased away contractors from the substations, thereby preventing Aba people from having uninterrupted and quality electricity.

The BPE in effect, double-sold Aba metropolis (which includes Aba and Ariaria Electricity Business Districts) to our company and to Interstate Electrics. This is in spite of the very fact that the agreement we have with the FGN clearly states that whenever there is privatization, our company has first right to purchase the facility in Aba hence our heavy investment in this project. Investors in Aba IPP have developed a world class electricity infrastructure with the belief that their investment is safe in Nigeria. We have made all effort to get the BPE to correct what (for choice of words) may be called an “error”. So far, they have not yielded to doing the correct thing. Rather, they have sought to justify this error and have continued to politicise the situation unnecessarily, thereby playing with the investment of this magnitude by people who have the interest of our country and the people of Aba at heart. Investors in the Aba IPP led by my humble self answered the call of our beloved country to come home and be part of the development of our dear nation. The investors and stakeholders include members of the Aba Business Community, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and our banks, especially Diamond Bank. This travesty has been very cruel to all of us. People in the investment community continue to wonder if this can happen to Nigerian investors with a well-

structured agreement, how then can they be sure that their investments and agreements will not be breached in the future? This action by the government has certainly demoralised and discouraged potential investors. The only instrument for doing business in developing and developed nations across the globe is an agreement, which must be respected and held sacrosanct by all parties. All the various committees set up to look into this issue have come up with the same answer: that our agreement should be respected by the Federal Government and that Aba Power should be offered the Aba and Ariaria Electricity Business Districts as enshrined in the agreement. I was assured by the outgoing Vice President that the Technical committee of National Council on Privatization (NCP) and the NCP Legal Committee have made the same recommendation. However the painful fact is that this critical issue has been left festering since November 2013. It costs our company $3.5m in bank interest charges alone; plus more than N30 million for insurance coverage; other operational expenses every single month to carry a project that is not yielding any revenue due to the deliberate, hostile and crippling action of Enugu DisCo and the BPE over 15 months ago!

So far about eight committees, including committees of the NCP, NERC, and Ministry of Power amongst others have investigated this matter and come up with the same recommendation. There is no more need for another committee; all that it requires is decision and firm action that will ensure the full implementation of their recommendation to sell Aba metropolis to Aba Power. We are therefore pleading with the authorities to take a decisive action today and rescue our company and the people of Aba from the shackles of deliberate man-made mischief. We also ask Enugu DisCo (EEDC) to immediately allow our contractors to complete the interconnection works that will allow Aba to receive this power. Please give the people of Aba an opportunity to get the intended benefit of this project, which is absolute reliable electricity. It is unfortunate that the powerful economic and political saboteurs within the system have denied the administration the golden opportunity of using the Aba metropolis electricity ring-fence as a shining example of the power reform agenda. Nevertheless, we remain fully committed to ensuring that this project will be completed as soon as possible for the benefit of Aba Business Community and the Nigerian people.

• Professor Nnaji, NNOM, CON, the immediate Minister of Power and one of the world’s top engineers, is chairman of Geometric Power Ltd..

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20,2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

BUSINESS THE NATION

E-mail:- bussiness@thenationonlineng.net

JOBS

ISSUES

Big data, big jobs

Selling the marketplace

- P. 35

- P. 29

News Brief IMF to African oil countries: Embrace fiscal discipline THE Director, African Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Antoinette Sayeh, has called for fiscal adjustments among African oil exporting countries in view of the downturn in revenue and limited buffers.

–Page 26

‘Why mergers, acquisitions in aviation sector are difficult’ LACK of fleet commonality, distrust among airline managers, pride of ownership and various ratings for pilots and engineers have been identified as factors inhibiting domestic carriers from doing merger, acquisition and consolidation to remain formidable.

–Page 26

Nigeria gets $21b remittances NIGERIA received $21 billion last year, accounting for two-thirds of all remittances to sub-Saharan Africa, an online money transfer service, WorldRemit has said.

–Page 31

Okonjo-Iweala urges sale of govt’s assets with JV partners, IOCs

T

HE Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has urged the Federal Government to sell off part of its share holdings with Joint Venture (JV) partners and the International Oil Companies (IOCs), in addition to borrowing, to raise the funds needed to meet government’s short-term financial obligations.

She also advised the Federal Government to do less of domestic borrowing but increased external borrowings from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

She spoke against the backdrop of about 50 per cent drop in Nigeria’s revenue as a result of falling prices of oil at the international market; capital flight that was induced by exiting foreign investors who feared possible backlash from post-election violence in the run-up to the last general elections; and the huge financial commitment

• Increased borrowing from World Bank, AfDB From Simeon Ebulu Group Business Editor (Washington DC, U.S)

to prosecuting the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country.

According to her, there is need to unbundle some of the nation’s investments in the oil and gas sector, “especially its share holdings with the JV partners and the IOCs, with a view to obtaining cash to attend to short-term financial needs, and as well invest in other non-oil segments in pursuit of the diversification policy drive.”

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke in an interview, tagged: ‘Focus On Nigeria’ with The African Banker magazine conducted by its Chairman, Omar Ben Yedder, in Washington DC, said sellingoff part of these assets should not be misconstrued as the nation parting with her

“Crown Jewels.”

She said: “It’s not selling the crown jewels. At a time, if your fiscal buffers are tight, or strained, and you’re facing fiscal crunch and shortterm reserves, and you have assets, lots of assets, I think that’s why the assets are there. We are not advocating selling crown jewels, we could realise some of them, sell off some of our shares, not all of them (by any stretch of the imagination), and that could bring in significant resources into the coffers.

“That’s something worth thinking of, and that is why I said, by the kind of assetsbase that we have, we need not be stressed-out about the cash crunch position. We should realise some of the assets, boosts our buffers, and be able to use the outcome to drive economic growth in other areas.”

• Mrs Okonjo-Iweala

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, assuaged fears of a long-term economic gloom saying concerns about further austerity measures are unwarranted.

“Look at the fundamentals of the country; we got a tight fiscal deficit below three per cent, not many countries can boast of that, we have a current account surplus, may be 1.0 per cent running for quite • Continued on page 26

The trail blazer THE Toyota 4Runner is designed to provide real utility.

It’s at its best when you are plugging along on off-road trails, and the numerous upgrades on the Trail and TRD Pro trims only add to the fun.

At the same time, the 4Runner is refined enough for the daily grind, though lots of bumps make it in to the cabin as the rugged suspension and big tires jostles you around.

The 4Runner’s steering feels a little too light in normal driving situations, but this turns out to be ideal for off-roading, as it results in reduced kickback on gnarly trails.

–Page 40

DATA STREAM COMMODITY PRICES Oil Cocoa

$54/barrel $2,686.35/metric ton

Coffee

¢132.70/pound

Cotton

¢95.17pound

Gold

$1,396.9/troy

Sugar

• From left: Head, Investment Research, Afrinvest, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo; Managing Director, Afrinvest Securities, Mr. Charles Egbunonwo; Group Managing Director, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, Mr. Ike Chiokeand Managing Partner, Uburu, Mr. Tony Usidamen, during the media launch of Afrinvestor.com mobile app in Lagos.

$163/lb RATES

Inflation

8.4%

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

15.87%

Savings rate

3%

91-day NTB

15%

Time Deposit

5.49%

MPR

13%

Foreign Reserve

$34.5b

‘Why Lagos is in darkness’

By Akinola Ajibade

T

HE inclusion of power generation and distri bution in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution and huge funds to fund power sector projects are factors hindering electricity generation and supply in Lagos State, its Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Taofiq Tijani, has said.

Speaking on the sideline of an oil and gas forum in Lagos, Tijani said the state government’s ability to produce electricity optimally has been limited by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria He said: “Electricity generation and supply is in the exclusive list in the constitution, and is therefore a limiting factor for the state government.

As a result, the state is continually exploring ways to work with the Federal Government to ensure that power generation is increased through captive and embedded generation. Also, we hope that the sale of the unbundled assets of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) will have a positive impact on the people of Lagos.”

He said various discoveries in the state were pointer to the fact that the state has immense mineral potential.

He said: “We are aware that the offshore Lagos has the potential of being an oil producing region like Niger Delta, if oil exploration and exploitation activities are carried out as at when due.”

Tijani said plans to establish a world-class geo-science laboratory were ongoing, adding that the government is partnering foreign companies to achieve this.

He said the government is committed to the provision of an enabling environment for investors via improving power supply.

He said gas is a feed stock that should be provided to the power generation plants to record improvement in electricity generation and supply.

According to him, the government needs to get investors to put money on ground and capture the gas for power plants, if any appreciable progress would be achieve in this regard.

NLNG invests $9.3b in liquefaction trains

T

HE Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has spent $9.348 billion on building its operational six natural gas liquefaction trains, it was learnt.

Data gathered by The Nation showed that the six trains built between 19 96 and 2007 have liquefied over 4.68 trillion cubic feet of associated gas since inception in addi-

By Emeka Ugwuanyi

tion to unspecified volume of non-associated gas.

According to records, Trains 1and 2 were built at a cost of $3.6 billion, which financed by the company’s shareholders including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) 49 per cent, Shell Gas B.V. (25.6 per cent), Total LNG

Nigeria Limited (15 per cent) and Eni International (10.4 per cent).

The construction of Train 3 took $1.8 billion. The project was also financed by the shareholders with the reinvestment of proceeds and surpluses realised from the first two trains.

“The cost of building Trains 4 and 5 also called NLNGPlus Project was $2.2

billion. This was funded by with a combination of internally generated revenue and third party loans amounting to $1.06 billion.

The third party loans comprised of four Export Credit Agency (ECA) guaranteed international commercial bank loans totaling $620 million, an uncovered international bank loan of $180 million, an uncovered

Nigerian commercial loan of $160 million and an African Development Bank facility of $100 million. The four ECA lenders include US EXIM, ECGD, SACE and Gerling NCM, provided guarantees to a group of 19 international banks led by BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Lyonnais, MCC and West LB” the records showed.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

26

BUSINESS NEWS

Embrace fiscal discipline, IMF urges African oil exporting countries

T

HE Director, African Depart ment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms. Antoinette Sayeh, has called for fiscal adjustments among African oil exporting countries in view of the downturn in revenue and limited buffers.

Ms. Sayeh, who addressed the Africa Region reporters at the ongoing Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF at the weekend in Washington DC, United States (U.S.), said spending cuts should be directed to the extent possible, not only to non-priority recurrent ex-

From Simeon Ebulu, Group Business Editor (Washington DC, U.S)

penditure, arguing that significant cuts in public investments are unavoidable. Where feasible, exchange rate flexibility will also be important, to preserve scarce external reserves, she added.

Ms Sayeh said the drop in oil prices also provides a unique opportunity to advance politically difficult energy subsidy reforms across the region.

She said: “From a more medium-

term perspective, the current commodity price shock is also a powerful reminder of the need to make more rapid progress towards economic diversification and structural transformation to ensure strong and durable growth.

“This will require striking the appropriate balance between scaling-up outlays on human capital and infrastructure development and avoiding an unsustainable public debt built-up.”

Besides, she urged countries in the region seeking to raise funds through sovereign bonds to be

wary of exchange rate volatility especially with the U.S. dollar, which has recently risen in value.

On growth, she was very bullish, stressing that countries in the region will expand by 4.5 per cent and will “continue being one of the fastest growing regions in the world-in fact, second only to emerging and developing Asia.”

Acknowledging that the region’s eight oil exporters including Nigeria, will be hard hit by the falling oil prices, Sayeh stressed the need for spending cuts, diversification of the economy, exchange rate flexibility and structural transformation to ensure strong and durable growth.

Oil prices have plunged by more than 50 per cent since June last year, curbing revenue and investment plans in Nigeria which relies on crude proceeds for about 75 per cent of government’s revenue.

Foreign reserves, which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) uses to defend the naira, have also slumped to $29.514 billion as at last Monday.

Reacting to these developments, the Federal Government late last year announced a set of austerity measures, which included cancellation of overseas training for civil servants and the introduction of luxury taxes for certain goods and aircraft, among other cost-cutting measures.

Expert seeks increased FDI in oil palm estates

T

• From left: Business Development Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Daesong Ra; Head, Business Development, Technology and Mobile, Mr. Olumide Ojo; Managing Director, Mr. Brovo Kim; Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Head, Product Marketing, Information Technology and Mobile, Ms Olajumoke Okikiolu and Samsung Electronics Brand Ambassador, Banky W, at the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphones in Lagos.

‘Why mergers, acquisitions in aviation sector are difficult’

L

ACK of fleet commonality, distrust among airline man agers, pride of ownership and various ratings for pilots and engineers have been identified as factors inhibiting domestic carriers from doing merger, acquisition and consolidation to remain formidable.

The Managing Director, Medview Airlines, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, said at the weekend, that consolidation or merger of airlines would have been the best for airline operators if they could work out a template for such cooperation.

He said if domestic carriers were using the same aircraft model, for instance, a Boeing airplane, such fleet commonality would make it easy to achieve economies of scale in sourcing for aircraft spares, pilots, engineers, flight dispatchers as well as designing a common training programme.

He said merger would have been made easier if for instance, the merging carriers were flying Boeing, Airbus, Fokker, MD 83, Dornier, Bombardier and ATR 72 aircraft types.

Bankole said designing flight,

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

maintenance and operational manuals for different aircraft types according to their manufacturers’ specification may not be easy n if some carriers decided to come together.

He said: “‘It would have been a good thing for domestic carriers in Nigeria to come together in the form of merger or consolidation.

But it will be very difficult in Nigeria. This is because there is the challenge of ego among airline owners who ate afraid of losing their carriers.

“There is also the challenge of lack of trust. But, the major obstacle is lack of fleet commonality, while some carriers are using the Boeing aircraft others use Airbus, Bombardier, Fokker, MD 83, Dornier Jets how will these airlines come together.

“There would be challenges of sourcing different pilots and aircraft engineers type rated on the different airplanes.

“This would cost more money.

Also in terms of aircraft maintenance, how do you source spate prays for different aircraft types, what about training for technical personnel. These are the hurdles to cross before we could achieve merger or consolidation.”

Bankole urged the government to partner Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) firms abroad to invest in Nigeria, to save the industry from collapse.

He said investing in MRO facilities would help breathe life into the aviation industry and save the country of huge capital flight.

Bankole said: “The government should invite MRO companies to invest and partner with them in the country and by so doing, we will be doing our C-checks here. It will reduce the cost of maintaining aircraft outside.”

According to him, airlines’ owners were finding it difficult in taking their planes outside for Cchecks, describing it as capital intensive, adding that the establishment of such facilities would reduce the burden of airlines in the country.

HE Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Akure,Dr Samson Odedina, has called for increased foreign direct investment in oil palm plantations and estates as such ventures improve local economic opportunity and reduce poverty.

He said not only does such projects boost the local economies where they operate,but that they drive inclusive economic growth, improve food security and create job opportunities for skilled natives.

Since workers hired by such companies are offered good incomes, he said this would have a multiplier effect on the communities by way of improved quality of living.

He stressed that investment in cash crops agriculture could help lift many out of poverty.

a while, and a single digit inflation, coupled with a growth rate that is looking up, which, which said the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the rating agencies are projecting at 4.4 per cent and five - 5.5 per cent.

“What that suggests is that the sources of growth in this economy are quite robust, and they don’t have to do with oil, and that’s why it is an attractive place for investors,” she stressed.

On further borrowing, she said the government is considering, and in fact, taking steps to partner with the World Bank Group and AfDB with a view to increasing access to funds from the two lenders, adding that the other option for the incoming government

is tapping from the capital markets.

“Our borrowing strategy is very prudent, and what we will do is that, we have a lot of domestic borrowing than we want. So we are trying to switch and have a little more of external borrowing, but by drawing heavily on the multilateral institutions. So we will be going to the World Bank and the AfDB, and we will also look into the markets, but that will be left to the next administration, to decide.

But for the multilaterals, we have already embarked on discussions.”

According to her, the fundamentals for this option are quite strong and recommended, stressing that “we are very fortunate that our debt-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio is very reasonable at 14 per cent, our external debt to GDP ratio is two per cent.

We want our debt service to reverse, which is very important.”

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said the country, including the next government, will need to focus extensively on expanding the revenue base, which will require strengthening tax administration, in addition to harnessing other readily available revenue yielding sources.

“The IMF estimates that developing countries, with a little more efforts, can add another four per cent points of tax revenue, and if we do that for Nigeria, that’s another $20billion, and I think that is doable,” she said, adding that what this suggests is that the sources of growth in this economy are quite robust, and they “don’t have to do with oil, and that’s why it is an attractive place for investors,” to go with their money.

While location of such agri venture are beneficial,the Provost said promoters should set aside fund to address the need of the local communities.

He said there should be measures to protect the local communities while steps should be taken to prevent land degradation.

While yearning for sustainable agricultural development,he said agrobusiness organisations should consider development projects in communities, including empowerment through poverty allieviation programmes,capacity building as wellas environmental protection.

Interventions,he stressed should impact on livelihoods and enable people earn decent incomes from their agricultural activities.

‘Introduce commodity boards’

A

N expert in policy and eco nomic analysis, Mr. Bala Zakka, has urged the Federal Government to re-introduce Commodity Board to address what he called post-harvest loss.

He decried the losses suffered by farmers as a result of the absence of storage facilities for agricultural products after harvest.

He said the losses recorded by farmers could be minimised if the government could buy the excess farm produce from farmers through the Commodity Boards to stablise prices and also avoid losses due to the absence of storage facilities to store harvest products.

Zakka, who spoke in Lagos, also stressed the need to implement reforms in the power sector to scale down operational expenses of manufacturers who are burdened with energy cost that eats deep into their operational expenses.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said the Federal Government intended to re-introduce commodities marketing boards to ensure that farmers got adequate

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

prices for their products.

The minister spoke at the opening session of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) for registered cocoa farmers in Ondo State.

Adesina said the board would be private sector-driven and would perform all the functions that the defunct marketing boards performed before it was scrapped in 1986, except buying and selling.

He noted with concern that marketing of agricultural produce had become an all comers’ affair since the scrapping of the cocoa marketing board. The development, he noted, had left farmers at the mercy of merchants. He said the government would start the programme with two commodities boards of cocoa and cassava, adding that some foreign experts had been invited based on their experiences on the project.

He said the GES was initiated by the government to remove middlemen from the sale and distribution of fertilisers and chemicals.

Etisalat supports Today’s Woman Brunch series

Okonjo-Iweala urges sale of govt’s oil assets • Continued from page 25

By Daniel Essiet

E

TISALAT has strengthened its commitment to empower women by supporting another edition of Today’s Woman Brunch series.

The event, which held at Clear Essence Spa, Ikoyi, Lagos, provided an avenue for women not only to network and inspire one another but also to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience of key female leaders, chief executive officers and entrepreneurs across various industries.

The Brunch Series organised by media personality, Adesuwa Onyenokwe, is an inspirational quarterly event that celebrates female icons that have made giant strides in their fields of endeavour with integrity, passion and consistency.

Etislat’s Head, Events & Sponsorship, Modupe Thani described the Brunch Series as one of the ways of sharing

the passions of telco’s customers and supporting causes that make impact in the community.

Thani said: “Etisalat Nigeria will continue to invest in women empowerment in order to positively develop and impact the nation as a whole.”

Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Bola Adesola who graced the occasion shared her corporate experiences as well as the giant strides she has achieved in positioning the bank as a major player in the banking industry.

She further mentored the ladies on issues such as developing a road map to getting their desired jobs, combating challenges in gender sensitive environments, indices needed to balance career, marriage and motherhood, identifying the right partner , savings and investing.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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Taxation

Tax relief for pioneer companies

T

HE Nigerian Government has over the years put in place many different and overlapping incentive schemes to attract both local and foreign investment. Tax exemption is generally regarded as an industrial investment device; many developing countries like Nigeria offer it as one of their major incentives. Basically, tax incentives are designed to encourage investments in certain preferred sectors of the economy and sometimes geared towards attracting inflow of foreign exchange to complement domestic supplies for rapid economic development.

Tax exemption otherwise known as tax holiday is one of the most widespread tax incentives. Tax exemption simply means a period of exemption from payment of taxes imposed by the government and this may be complete or partial. The granting of pioneer status, for instance, gives a company a preferred position in getting established, usually through exemption of income tax payment.

A pioneer company is a company that engaged in manufacturing, processing, mining, servicing and agricultural industries whose products have been declared pioneer products on satisfying certain condition as determined by the Industrial Development Coordinating Committee (IDCC) of the Government under the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act Cap 179 LFN 1990.

The pioneer tax holiday is for an initial period of three years or subject to further extension of two years or five years (once and for all without further extension).

• Enabling Act Act Chapter 179 laws of the federation of Nigeria (LFN) 1990 but first enacted by Decree No22 of 1971 and commenced on 1/4/1970.

Commencement Date 1st April, 1970 • “An Act to repeal and re-enact, with major changes, the industries Development (Income Tax Relief) Act and to make provision for tax relief for certain industries that may be issued with pioneer certificates by the minister and other matters ancilatory there to”.

Conditions: • Industry is not being carried out on a suitable scale as required and there are prospects for further development in the industry or its product.

• If it is in the public interest to encourage the industry or its product.

• Application may be made for the inclusion of a product on the pioneer list Mode of Application • All application to be addressed to the Minister.

• State the status of the company.

• Give details of qualifying capital expenditure to be incurred.

• Give sources of qualifying capital expenditure and estimated cost.

• Specify location of Assets.

• Date of production of pioneer products.

• Any by product not being a pioneer product.

TERMS OF PIONEER CERTIFICATE • Must be in terms of the application to which it relates.

• Specify permissible by-products to be produced.

• Specify period within which company must be incorporated and conditions to be endorsed • Pioneer status will only be issued from a date when company was incorporated and shall be effective from a date not earlier than the date on which the application was submitted to the minister or date of incorporation, which ever is the later.

• Any other condition will be specified by the minister • The minimum Tax relief period not exceeding five years to be stated 3(6)(a-b) Amending of Pioneer Certificate to Add New Product Section 4 (1) – (3) allowed a company during its pioneer period to make application in writing to the Minister to add a new product.

RETROSPECTIVE PIONEER OPERATION • Where a pioneer certificate is to be operative from a retrospective date, all acts shall be treated as not having been closed or not having happened and all taxes paid (if any shall be repaid as soon as may after the expiration of three months from the production day.

PRODUCTION DATE • No later than one month when the company is going into commercial production (marketable quantity), the company shall apply in writing for the certification of its production date.

• Not later than one month after the production date or any extended period granted by the FIRS, the company shall make application in writing to the FIRS for the certification of the amount incurred as qualifying capital expenditure prior to the production date.

Cancellation of Pioneer Certificate i) A Company may apply for cancellation ii) If a company contravened any provision of the Act or failed to meet conditions set.

Tax Relief Period i) Commencing from the production date, it shall continue for three years (but can be extended):ii) for another one period of two years (if the standard and rate of expansion are satisfactory), local raw material utilization expansion, training and development of Nigerians, Government Policy Priority) iii) Five years (once and for all).

TRANSITION FROM PIONEER STATUS Conditions of Old Trade or Business of a Pioneer Company • The old trade shall be deemed to ceased permanently at the end of the tax relief period.

• The pioneer company deemed to have set up a new trade on the day next following the end of its relief period.

• All capital expenditures incurred and used by a pioneer company shall be deemed have been incurred on that day next following the end of its tax relief period.

• Where it incurs a Net loss, that loss shall be deemed to have been incurred on the date on which its new trade commences i.e. it will be allowed to deduct all the losses brought forward from the pioneer period • The company must submit to the FIRS a list of its assets for certification.

• Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Samuel Ogungbesan

• At the end; the FIRS will issue a certificate of qualifying expenditure.

• The Board is expected to issue the company for each year, the amount of income as ascertained and loss as arrived at (if applicable).

Treatment of Capital Allowances and Losses • A capital expenditure incurred shall be deemed to have been incurred on that day next following the end of the pioneer period. I.e. regardless of the number of years granted a pioneer company, all capital expenditures incurred in line with the provision of the second schedule within the periods shall be deemed to have been incurred after the Tax relief period.

• For losses incurred within the pioneer period, the cumulative amount will be deemed for computing total profits to have been incurred on the day, next following the pioneer period i.e. it will be allowed as a deduction in the new business.

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED BY FIRS • Memorandum and Articles of Association • Certificate of Incorporation • Answer to standard questionnaire • Pioneer Certificate issued • The period approved • Production date • Products and by-products • For a going concern, the Audited accounts ended before the production date to be furnished (regardless of the number of months).

Rendition of Returns • The conditions governing the submission of tax returns in CITA are applicable to a pioneer company.

• One year from commencement of production date.

• Period of one year successively.

• Last year of the relief period.

• Example: Kano Money Lender Ltd was granted a pioneer status commencing from 1st July, 1999. The company has 31/12 as its accounting date. The period granted was for five years.

• At the expiration of the pioneer period, it submitted accounts for the years ended 31st December, 2004 and 2005 you are given these additional data

29

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

ISSUES The proposed conversion of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) from a member-owned entity to share-based public limited liability company got a major lever few days ago with the publication of the much-awaited rules and regulations that will serve as guidelines for the demutualisation. Capital Market Editor, TAOFIK SALAKO, examines what may be the biggest change in the history of the 55-year-old stock exchange

• NSE trading floor

Inset: African Market

SOURCE:

WWW.TREKEARTH.COM

Selling the marketplace T

HE Nigerian stock market, like the traditional African market, is a hub of trading desks brought together by the mutual interest of each trader. Selling and buying and the marketplace have thrived for centuries on mutuality, with all the stakeholders bounded by the common values being derived from the market. Although the sovereign usually plays important roles in establishing a market, the growth of the market, its integrity, regularity and aesthetics depend on the efforts of all.

The stock market, institutionally represented by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), has thrived for decades on the traditional mutuality of a marketplace. Now, the NSE appears set on a new trajectory where the marketplace will be owned by shareholders and the marketplace itself combines the functions of providing amenable space for profit-making to traders with that of making profit itself to distribute to its shareholders. This is the concept of demutualisation. The NSE has been locked in intense grip of demutualisation in recent years, with various views on the necessity, procedures and timing and other details of the exercise as widely divergent as the multitude of different backgrounds that trade

on the market.

The demutualisation of the marketplace got a major lever few days ago with the publication of the much-awaited rules and regulations that will serve as guidelines for the demutualisation. The release of the rules and regulations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the apex regulatory body for the Nigerian capital market, concluded a four-year exercise to provide amenable template for the demutualisation. SEC had in February released the draft rules and regulations on demutualisation for comments and review by stakeholders.

Demutualisation is the process of changing a member-owned stock exchange, otherwise known as mutual exchange, to a corporate entity owned by shareholders. In a mutual exchange, the three functions of ownership, management and trading are concentrated into a single group, hence the broker members of the exchange are both the owners and the traders on the exchange and they further manage the exchange as well. In a demutualised exchange, the three functions of ownership, management and trading are clearly separated. The new rules by SEC simply defined demutualisation as "the process through which a member-owned organization becomes a shareholder-owned company.”

A volte face from voice vote Established as Lagos Stock Exchange (LSE) in 1960, the Exchange started as a private company limited by shares. It was renamed Nigerian Stock Exchange in December 1977 and was re-incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in December 1990. As a limited by guarantee not-for-profit organisation, the NSE thrives on the goodwill, reputation and integrity of its members. It has also operated over the decades as a self-regulatory organisation (SRO). The NSE altogether has some 350 individual and institutional members including some 255 active dealing members, state-owned investment firms and major high networth investors (HNIs).

While Nigeria's doyen of accounting, Mr. Akintola William, is the only surviving initial signatory to the founding memorandum of the NSE, the membership list of the NSE has always included "the movers and shakers" of the Nigerian economy. Beside stockbroking firms and other capital market operators that are dealing members, members of the NSE included Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Abdul Rasaq (SAN), Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Chief Jerome Udoji, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, Chief Bayo Kuku, Dr. Lateef Adegbite, Dr, Chris Abebe, Mr. Gamaliel

Onosode, Mr. Isaiah Balat, Alhaji Isyaku Umar, Mr. Oba Otudeko, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, Mr. Pascal Dozie, Mr. Paul Ogwuma, Chief Phillip Asiodu, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (rtd.), Senator Udo Udoma, Mr. Goodie Ibru, Mr. Tony Elumelu and Senator David Dafinone among others.

Several State Investment Companies are also institutional members of the NSE, giving the States inputs into the operations of the NSE. These included Adamawa Securities Limited, Kaduna Investment Company, Kano State Investment and Properties Limited, Katsina State Investment and Property Development Company Limited, Kwara State Investment Corporation, New Nigerian Development Company Limited, Niger State Development Company Limited, Sokoto Investment Company Limited and Yobe Investment Company Limited among others.

But the designation of members may soon change to shareholders, with all the trappings of a public limited liability company and with the Exchange itself listed on its own floor and probably other continental and global floors. The SEC's rules and regulations on demutualisation settled a major contention-the probable template for • Continued on page 30

30

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

ISSUES •Continued from page 29

taches to the capital market and the import of such demutualisation on the market. He noted that the engagements and discussions with the stakeholders were geared towards ensuring that government comes up with the right policy for the demutualisation.

President, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, also said the discussions on the demutualisation of the Exchange are ongoing noting that the exercise is of critical importance to the NSE and the entire capital market. According to him, giving the position of the NSE, the demutualisation of the Exchange will require input from both the government side and the private sector.

demutualisation and placed the NSE firmly on the path of potential radical change in ownership and other related structures.

How to sell the market The final body of rules and regulations on demutualisation appears to be a delicate balancing act. With ceiling on single individual and institutional shareholding, total equity interest of trade groups and core investor as well as provisions on procedures, documentations, corporate governance and finances among others, selling the shares of the market may not be as straightforward as buying from the market. For a start, stockbrokers and dealers, who constitute the largest members of the NSE, may have to sell down their shareholdings within a period of five year under the demutualisation of the Exchange. As against earlier ceiling of 40 per cent indicated in the draft rules and regulations, the final rules indicated that the aggregate equity interests of members of any specific stakeholder group such as stockbrokers and broker-dealer in the demutualised securities exchange should not exceed 20 per cent. Also, no individual or entity must directly or in directly own more than five per cent of the issued shares or voting rights in a demutualised securities exchange. The rules, made pursuant to section 313 of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, describe "related entities and persons" as a person or entity that is related to the entity or person that owns the equity or the voting rights.

According to the rules, the stakeholder groups who are shareholders of the Securities Exchange shall with effect from the date of demutualisation reduce their cumulative shareholding in the demutualised Securities Exchange to no more than 20 percent within five years. The 20 per cent ceiling is however an improvement on the draft rules, which stipulated a ceiling of 10 per cent within five years.

The rules stipulate that the securities exchange should initiate a process for determining the accurate list of members of the Exchange prior to the commencement of demutualisation while the process of demutualisation should include an exchange of membership rights in the Securities Exchange for ownership of shares in the demutualised Securities Exchange.

The rules allow the Exchange to give equity interest to a strategic investor subject to establishment of the fact that the strategic investor has technical expertise through previous experience in managing other Exchanges. However, the aggregate number of shares to be offered to the strategic investors shall not be more than 30 per cent of issued and fully paid up capital of the securities exchange. Notwithstanding this, if the Exchange is in dire need of funds, it could issue a higher number of shares subject to approval of the Commission.

As part of preconditions for demutualisation, a securities exchange shall prior to demutualization submit the names and profiles of members of its committee on demutualization, a valuation report, the draft Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Securities Exchange, the proposed rules of the demutualised Securities Exchange, the proposed allotment and the basis of the proposed allotment of shares to the initial shareholders of the Securities Exchange, a list of the directors proposed as the Board of the Securities Exchange, an implementation plan stating the process to be adopted for effecting the demutualisation of the Exchange, including but not limited to the treatment of the rights and liabilities of the existing members of the Exchange and the proposed plan for the independent management of the commercial and regulatory functions of the demutualised Securities Exchange and timelines for implementation of necessary structures to ensure the functional treatment of commercial and regulatory functions for a "No Objection" clearance

by SEC. Any changes to the information provided under the preconditions must also be filed with the Commission for a "No Objection" clearance.

The demutualised Exchange is also expected to implement its plan for the independent management of its commercial and regulatory functions within one year of approval by SEC. On corporate governance, demutualised Exchange shall have a board of sufficient size relative to the scale and complexity of its operations and the board must be composed in such a way as to ensure diversity of experience without compromising independence, compatibility, integrity and availability of members to attend meetings. At least one third of the board shall be independent directors as provided for under the SEC Corporate Governance Code or any other applicable Corpo-

Beyond the silver linings

• Ag. DG SEC, Mounir Gwarzo

•Mr Akintola William

Selling the marketplace rate Governance Code while all appointments of directors and executive management shall require the prior written approval of the SEC. Besides, the demutualized Exchange shall be required to comply, in all other respects with the SEC Code of Corporate Governance for public companies and any other applicable corporate governance code.

Drumming supports for demutualisation Nigerian retail shareholders have expressed supports for the demutualisation of Nigeria's only regular securities exchange. Minority retail shareholders, who usually operate under various groups and see themselves as major stakeholders at the stock market, said the demutualisation of the Exchange would open up the marketplace for popular ownership and enable minority shareholders who have been part of the growth of the market to benefit from ownership of the market.

Chairman, Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association (IBZA), Chief Sola Abodunrin, said demutualisation portends good omen for the Nigerian stock market as the NSE can now truly become a national institution in terms of ownership. The zonal shareholders' associations were established by SEC to widen domestic participation in the Nigerian capital market.

National coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said the demutualisation of the Exchange will open up opportunity to minority retail shareholders to be part of the market they had contributed to. According to him, the demutualisation should be inclusive and should encourage participation by the generality of the people including shareholders that have been major stakeholders in the market.

He said shareholders were in support of the provision which limits the maximum allowable equity stake for any individual or entity in the demutualised exchange to five per cent.

"I think it is good for the shareholders, they should allow everybody to participate in the ownership, we are the growers of the market and we should be able to participate in the fortunes we have created. They should however ensure that nobody, no matter how big you are, should own more than five per cent in the Exchange," Nwosu said.

President, Constance Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Shehu Mikhail, described demutualisation as one of the best things to happen to the Exchange noting that it will create opportunities for the general investing public and also for the NSE itself.

Beyond domestic concerns, demutualisation is being driven by global trend, increasing globalisation of the marketplace and the capital-intensive nature of competitive stock exchange. Proponents argue that mutual-ownership does not provide the flexibility to adequately meet these new challenges.

Demutualised entities have wider access to capital and can have wider horizons compared

with mutual-owned exchanges.

A demutualised NSE, for instance, will be able to float initial public offering (IPO) and supplementary equity and debt issues to raise funds from the investing public. While the NSE boasts of superior trading technology relative to other African exchanges, it will need to increase investments in cutting-edge technology and operating systems to realise its dream as the African hub for financial trading. This is further highlighted by the ongoing programme to integrate all stock exchanges and stock markets in the West African region under the West Africa Capital Market Integration (WACMI) programme.

Under the WACMI programme, securities exchanges in Nigeria - NSE; Ghana-Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), Sierra Leone-Sierra Leone Stock Exchange and the bloc of eight francophone countries under the Bourse Regionale des Valuers Mobilieres (BRVM)including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo, will be gradually integrated in phases.

With the removal of jurisdictional restrictions, the defining factor for financial convergence may be technology- with the most seamless, foolproof and smoothest remotely running the regional market. The competitive verve, more than any other factors, has seen conversion of many exchanges from mutual member-owned entities to limited liability companies. London Stock Exchange (LSE), which has significant relationship with the NSE including several dual listings, was demutualised in 2000. The Australian Stock Exchange was demutualised in October 1998.

India started the process of demutualising all the broker-run exchanges with the demutualisation of the Bombay Stock Exchange in August 2005. Many other exchanges such as the Singapore Stock Exchange, Japan's Nikkei and New York's NASDAQ have also converted into shareholding structure.

Besides, many believe that demutualisation will remove inherent weakness in the constitution of member-owned exchange. Mutual exchanges are ultimately geared to maintaining their members' interests. The interests of the members are not necessarily the same as those of the exchange; they are disparate. The separation of shareholders, management, and users in a demutualised exchange makes for better strategic decision-making, rather than protecting vested interests.

Many stakeholders appear keen on the demutualisation. The Federal Government, which played a major role in the founding of the private members-owned NSE in 1960, said it had held talks with the NSE and SEC prior to the release of the rules and regulations. Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, confirmed the discussion between the government and other stakeholders on the demutualisation. According to him, government is engaging stakeholders such as SEC and the NSE because of the importance it at-

‘

Demutualised entities have wider access to capital and can have wider horizons compared with mutual-owned exchanges. A demutualised NSE, for instance, will be able to float initial public offering (IPO) and supplementary equity and debt issues to raise funds from the investing public

’

However, demutualisation also has its own challenges, which may colour the success or otherwise of the entire exercise. One of the most difficult aspects of demutualisation is the adoption of the correct corporate structure. Corporate structure is the first rung of the demutualisation ladder and will adversely affect all other stages unless the optimal solution is implemented. There may be potential vexatious issues that may arise given the status of NSE as an SRO including the issue of conflict resolution mechanism in case the exchange finds itself in a commercial conflict with another company listed on its board and enforcement of disciplinary action especially where such enforcement would hurt the exchange's bottom line. Also, a shareholding structure spread across large number of shareholders without a major controlling shareholder may unduly delay decision making as vested interests jostle to carry the votes while a controlling core investor with larger-than-majority shareholding could return the NSE into a worse private ownership. For the Nigerian market, the demutualisation may not fare better than the entire market, where more than two-thirds of transactions are controlled by foreign portfolio investors and less than five per cent of the entire population participate in the market.

Already, there is a seething rage among the stockbrokers and dealers who feel that the rules and regulations are unfair. Stockbrokers and dealers, the largest constituency of the market, had earlier kicked against the ceiling placed on trade group's final shareholding in the post-demutualised period. With the new rules reducing trade group's stake to 20 per cent, many operators said broker-dealers will be shortchanged in the demutualisation process.

"I have reservation with the demutualisation provisions. The market is owned by the dealing members who are the major stakeholders. The limit of stockbrokers to 20 per cent is unfair while the 30 per cent for core investor may create avenue for a single individual or institution with financial strength to exert major influence in the NSE. The provisions should be fair to all and core investor limit should not be more than 15 or 20 per cent," said Tunde Oyekunle, a broker at the NSE and managing director, Finawell Capital Limited. President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka Madubuike, said the group's sub-committee on the demutualisation, which scheduled meeting this weekend, will come up with a common position on the final rules and regulations.

Many have cited example of the Indian government's scheme for demutualisation of stock exchanges, which was used in the demutualisation of the Bombay Stock Exchange, now BSE Limited. With some 790 brokers, the maximum trade group' holding was 49 per cent with a provision that a minimum of 51 per cent of the equity capital would be held at all times by public other than brokershareholders. The BSE scheme shared similarity with the SEC's rules with regard to the provision that no individual or institution should be allowed to have more than five per cent voting rights. Also, the Nairobi Securities Exchange, which in third quarter 2014 floated its IPO and listed its shares on its own floor, allocated more than three-quarter of its shares to former member-broker-dealers.

The demutualisation's IPO and eventual listing may be the lift several cash-strapped and illiquid Nigerian stockbroking firms have been angling for. The Nairobi Securities Exchange's IPO was the most successful in the history of the bourse. Such a repeat by the NSE's IPO will lay a background for strong post-listing trading.

But the demutualisation is still a long walk for all the stakeholders. It may be a puzzle to the local folks that the stock exchange, where shares of quoted companies are sold, is also up for sale. But to the stakeholders, this demutualisation is about the redefinition of the marketplace.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

31

MONEYLINK

Nigeria receives $21b in remittances, says WorldRemit

N

IGERIA received $21 billion last year, accounting for two-thirds of all remittances to sub-Saharan Africa, an online money transfer service, WorldRemit has said.

Its Marketing and Communications Executive, Martin Schmidbaur said Nigeria remains among the world’s largest recipients of remittances and that remittances to the region are projected to reach $36 billion in 2017. In 2013, remittances financed one-third of the country’s imports.

In an emailed report titled: How

Stories by Collins Nweze

Mobile Money will Power Global Remittances, Schmidbaur said global remittances will grow slowly this year, but accelerate again in 2016 and 2017.

Furthermoore, Schmidbaur said global remittances will this year, reach $586 billion at a slower growth rate of 0.4 per cent due to economic conditions but will accelerate again to reach an estimated $636 billion in 2017.

He said fees are far too high and that the average cost of sending $200 to sub-Saharan Africa remains at 12

per cent of the amount, higher than the G20’s target of five per cent.

This, he attributed to the cost of bricks-and-mortar agent networks of traditional firms. “There is a huge potential for mobile technology to reduce costs on both the send and receive sides,” he said.

According to him, mobile money will grow to play a huge role in remittances and help to bring down fees.

“Worldwide Mobile Money usage is exploding with 261 mobile money services now live across 89 countries with 103 million active users as of December 2014. More

than half of these services currently in operation are in sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.

He said mobile money helps to reduce remittance fees adding that the median cost of sending $100 via Mobile Money is $4, less than half the average cost to send money globally via traditional money transfer channels.

Also, Senior Mobile Analyst at WorldRemit, Alix Murphy, explained that mobile money will play a pivotal role in global remittances, helping to reduce fees, improve speed and convenience for users.

Stanbic, Access, Coscharis in automobile finance deal S

TANBIC IBTC Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc have entered into a partnership with Cosharis Motors that will enable the lenders provide financial support for customers interested in buying cars and paying instalmentally.

Speaking during a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between the parties held at the weekend in Lagos, Stanbic IBTC Executive Director, Personal Banking, Obinnia Abajue said the pact is an opportunity for the lender to empower its customers. He said giving credit to consumers is part of what the lender does on daily basis, to ensure that standard of living of beneficiaries are lifted to new heights.

The bank director said Stanbic IBTC Bank has a track record of success in automobile financing and that the lender will spread the payment for the vehicle across 48 months or less depending on agreement between the parities.

He said that the financed vehicle will serve as collateral while the bank also ensures that there is comprehensive insurance for it. He said the interest rte for the transaction is 16.5

per cent and that the customer also gets three per cent reduction from the total cost for the car.

Access Bank Executive Director, Personal Banking, Victor Etuokwu said the partnership will transform the vehicle finance scheme in Nigeria. He encouraged the bank’s customers to take advantage of the scheme and but cars of their choice at reduced prices adding that beneficiaries can only pay 10 per cent eq-

T

HE Bank Verification Number (BVN) policy is expected to boost retail credit in the banking industry, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Mr. Ade Shonubi, has said.

The NIBSS boss, who is responsible for the implementation of the BVN, in a statement, explained that once banks are able to identify and blacklist fraudulent customers, they would be encouraged to extend

FirstBank supports women entrepreneurs

uity contribution, and gradually pay the balance.

Deputy Group Managing Director, Coscharis Motors, Okey Nwuke advised bank customers to also take advantage of the opportunity and spread their payment for choice cars.

He said the time has passed when people use their life savings to buy a car or wait for years to be able to but a car of their choice.

“The scheme is offering good rates . Whether you are a large corporate or an individual, you cannot get a better deal than this,” he said.

‘BVN boosts retail credit’

•FirstBank CEO Bisi Onasanya

loans to those customers that are credit worthy and do not have any record of being delinquent borrowers.

He said the BVN protects bank customers and strengthen the banking system. Shonubi noted that apart from the challenge of identifying customers, a major hindrance to retail credit in the Nigerian environment was the perception that most Nigerians are crooks who would look for ways of failing to repay loans.

“Most importantly, mobile money is a key enabler of financial inclusion. There are currently two and a half billion unbanked people in the world and that one billion of these people already have access to a mobile phone and so a potential means of accessing financial services,” she said.

She added that for many people, mobile money remains the main or only means of accessing financial services. “That’s why WorldRemit has worked hard to connect to more mobile money services than any other money transfer firm.”

F

IRSTBANK Sustainability Centre has reinforced its commitment to promoting empowerment, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion among women through sponsorship of workshop for women entrepreneurs.

The event, which is the second in the series for women-led Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is part of FirstBank’s SMEConnect Series programme scheduled for April

23 and 24 at the FirstBank Sustainability Centre, Lagos.

In a statement, the bank said the workshop is designed to further equip women for enterprise development as well as assist in the transformation and expansion of women’s businesses into enterprises generating employment, economic benefits and social value.

The event would offer a sustainable growth strategy for womenled SMES as well as teach the women to integrate financial success with societal and environmental advancement.

Facilitators at the event will include Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, CEO, The Chair Center, Dr. Delia, Nzekwu, Sustainability Consultant and Mrs. Pauline Nsa, MD, FBN Microfinance Bank Limited. Other speakers are Mr. Valentine Ojumah, MD, FBN Insurance Limited, and Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, MD, First Registrars Limited.

MEMORANDUM QUOTATIONS AFRINVEST W. A. EQUITY FUND ALANGRAY AFRICA EQUITY FUND ARM AGGRESSIVE GROWTH BGL NUBIAN FUND BGL SAPPHIRE FUND CANARY GROWTH FUND CONTINENTAL UNIT TRUST CORAL INCOME FUND FBN FIXED INCOME FUND FBN HERITAGE FUND FBN MONEY MARKET FUND FIDELITY NIG FUND • UBA BALANCED FUND • UBA BOND FUND • UBA EQUITY FUND • UBA MONEY MARKET FUND

134.67 36,619.23 9.17 1.12 1.19 0.63 1.39 1,784.55 1,059.13 120.26 121.16 1.67 1.2563 1.3443 0.8205 1.1510

134.12 36,619.23 9.08 1.12 1.19 0.62 1.33 1,784.55 1,055.39 119.65 120.30 1.62 1.2493 1.3443 0.8074 1.1510

RTBRISCOE OANDO MAYBAKER CUTIX NASCON UNILEVER UBCAP NEIMETH VONO NAHCO

O/PRICE 0.80 17.30 1.82 1.65 8.10 41.53 1.55 0.91 0.97 6.60

C/PRICE 0.84 18.16 1.91 1.73 8.49 43.43 1.62 0.62 0.95 1.01

CHANGE 5.00 4.97 4.95 4.85 4.81 4.58 4.52 4.40 4.12 3.94

LOSERS AS AT 13-04-15

SYMBOL DANGFLOUR AGLEVENT CONTINSURE AIICO WAPIC STANBIC MOBIL WAPCO CHAMPION CAVERTON NEM

O/PRICE 4.89 1.49 0.91 1.14 1.53 30.00 163.99 92.00 8.00 3.19 0.69

C/PRICE 4.65 1.42 0.87 1.09 1.51 29.00 160.00 90.00 7.85 3.14 0.68

FOREX RATES (NairaVs Dollar) April 13, 2015

Inflation: Febraury

8.4%

Monetary Policy Rate

13.0%

Foreign Reserves

CHANGE -4.91 -4.70 -4.40 -4.39 -3.77 -3.33 -2.43 -2.17 -1.88 -1.57 -1.45

Interbank ($/N)

199.00

$1

Black Market ($/N)

215.00

$1

$33.2b

London Inter-bank Offered Rates (LIBOR) Oil Price (Bonny Light/b)

$60.91

Money Supply (M2)

GAINERS AS AT 13-04-15

SYMBOL

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

N16.42 trillion.

Credit to private Sector (CPS)

N17.2 trillion

Primary Lending Rate (PLR)

16.5%

Tenor 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

April 10

April 13

Rate)%

Rate (%)

0.1735 0.2147 0.2615 0.3841 0.6709

0.1715 0.2108 0.2626 0.3857 0.6744

Nigerian Stock Market Indices NIGERIAN INTER-BANK OFFERED RATES (NIBOR)

Tenor

12-02-15 Rate (%) Rate (%) 13-02-15

Overnight (O/N)

14.683

76.583

1M

15.033

15.977

3M

15.809

17.177

6M

16.493

17.908

Transaction Dates 03/02/2015 3/12/2014 1/12/2014

Amount Offered in ($) 500m 400m 350m

Amount Sold in ($) 499.93m 399.97m 349.96m

Statistics All Share Index Mkt Cap (NGN’bn) Deals Volume (mn) Value (NGN’mn)

19 Feb 29,282.04 9,770.36 3,385 564,28 6,087.80

20 Feb 29,383.93 9,804.36 3,714 377,75 6,568.66

GOVT. SECURITIES YIELD – SECONDARY MARKET

Tenor

April 13, 2015

Rates

T-bills - 91

12.44

T-bills - 182

13.85

T-bills - 364

13.92

Bond - 3yrs

15.92

Bond - 5yrs

17.22

Bond - 7yrs

16.59

32

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

34

EQUITIES

Access Bank assures shareholders as Q1 T earnings rise by 34% HE management of Access Bank Plc has assured shareholders of the bank that the bank is focused on delivering better returns on their investments.

The assurance came as the bank released its first quarter unaudited report and accounts, showing 34 per cent growth in gross earnings and 21 per cent growth in pre-tax profit.

The three-month report for the period ended March 31, 2015 showed that gross earnings rose by 34 per cent to N76.7 billion in first quarter 2015 compared with N57.3 billion recorded in comparable period of 2014. Non-interest income rose by 17 per cent while non-interest income grew by 47 per cent. Interest Income rose from N39.6 billion to N46.4 billion, benefiting from a loan portfolio growth and improved yields on fixed income securities.

Non-interest income rose from N17.6 billion to N30.4billion, driven by growth in net trading income.

Operating income rose by 28 per cent from N42.2 billion to N54.0 billion. Profit before tax rose to N16.5 billion as against N13.6 billion in comparable period of 2014. Profit after tax grew by 11 per cent to N13.7 billion in first quarter of 2015 compared with N12.3 billion recorded in first quarter 2014. Return on average equity improved from 19.7 per cent in first quarter 2014 to 19.2 per cent in first quarter 2015.

Total assets closed March 2015 at N2.14 trillion as against N2.10 trillion in December 2014. Loans and advances recorded a modest growth of two per cent to N1.15 trillion in first quarter 2015 as against N1.12 trillion in December 2014. Customer deposits however dropped marginally from N1.45 trillion in December 2014 to N1.39 trillion in March

come ratio stood at 62.2 per cent in first quarter 2015 as against 64.6 per cent in first quarter 2014.

Commenting on the results, group managing director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, said the first quarter performance underlined the bank’s steady progress towards key strategic objectives.

“Our focus remains on the delivery of sustainable value to our shareholders. We continue to deepen and broaden our top-tier

corporate relationships whilst optimizing and growing our diverse retail customer base to support low-cost liability growth,” Wigwe said.

Access Bank recently floated a rights issue of 7.63 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N6.90. The net proceeds of the N53 billion offer would be used to upgrade the information and communication technology (ICT) systems of the bank to provide better services and build a more

robust ICT platform as well as upgrade the branch network and facilities to serve the growing number of clients and further improve the working environment of staff.

The bank would also use part of the proceeds to further develop its distribution channel infrastructure to provide better and more efficient services to clients while it would also augment its working capital to expand its loan book in its identified sectors of growth in line with its medium term strategic objectives. Access Bank would also use part of the proceeds to pursue opportunities for international expansion.

•Wigwe

By Taofik Salako Capital Market Editor

2015. The bank attributed the decline to run-off of expensive funds and replacement with stable and lower cost deposits as it strived to sustain its margins.

Underlying ratios underscored improved performance. Capital adequacy ratio improved to 19.6 per cent in March 2015 as against 18.4 per cent in December 2014.Credit quality was sustained during the period as the percentage of non-performing loans to total gross loans improved to 2.1 per cent in March 2015 as against 2.2 per cent in December 2014. Coverage Ratio with regulatory risk reserve increased to 165 per cent in first quarter 2015 as against 154 per cent in December 2014. However, net interest margin declined to 5.9 per cent in first quarter 2015 as against 7.1 per cent in comparable period of 2014.Cost to in-

Dangote Sugar Refinery declares N4.8b dividend

S

HAREHOLDERS of Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) Plc will share about N4.8 billion as cash dividends for the immediate past business year, according to the board of the manufacturing company.

A dividend recommendation released at the weekend indicated that shareholders would receive a dividend per share of 40 kobo for the business year ended December 31, 2014. However, the dividend represents a 33.3 per cent on 60 kobo dividend paid for the previous year.

Audited report and accounts of the company for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed mixed performance. Turnover dropped from N103.15 billion in 2013 to N94.86 billion in 2014.

Profit before tax also slipped from N16.27 billion in 2013 to N15.27 billion in 2014. However, with reduction in tax provisions, net profit increased from N10.85 billion to N11.64 billion. With this, earnings per share rose marginally from 90 kobo to 97 kobo.

Total assets increased to N92.80 billion in 2014 as against N83.16 billion in 2013. Shareholders’ funds also rose from N46.98 billion to N51.41 billion.

DSR distributed N7.2 billion to shareholders as cash dividends for the 2013 business year, representing a dividend per share of 60 kobo.

Chairman, Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) Plc, Aliko Dangote,

had assured that the company’s 10-year growth plan would deliver better returns to shareholders and consolidate its position as the largest sugar company in West Africa.

According to him, pursuant to the introduction of the federal Government’s National Sugar Master Plan in Nigeria, DSR has begun it own development plan which would lead to phenomenal growth in its capacity over the next five to 10 years.

“This plan is targeted at the production by your company of 1.5 million to 2.0 million tonnes of sugar per annum from locallygrown sugar cane within the next five to 10 years. This will further consolidate our position as the largest sugar producer in West African region,” Dangote said.

H e noted that the company has taken great care in the preparation of this sugar development plan with the operations being structures to include an increased focused on the company’s backward integration project.

He said the company has a robust growth agenda driven by the backward integration development plans.

“As we commence this journey our priority remains to consolidate our clear leadership of the sugar industry in Nigeria. We will work to ensure ongoing operational efficiency to drive continued growth across our markets,” Dangote said.

•President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, in a hand shake with the President,Association for the Advancement of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr. Faruk Umar, during a courtesy visit to Buhari in Daura, Katsina State

GTBank grosses N79b in three months UARANTY Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc recorded double-digit growths in the top-line and bottom-line in the first quarter, a strong start that triggered a rally on the share price of the stock at the weekend.

Key extracts of the unaudited report and accounts of GTBank for the period ended March 31, 2015 showed that gross earnings and pretax profit rose by 17 per cent each.

After tax, net profit rose by 15 per cent.

Gross earnings rose to N79.02 billion in first quarter 2015 as against N67.58 billion recorded in comparable period of 2014. The top-line performance was driven by strong growth in interest income and effective management of operating expenses and cost of risk. Profit before tax rose from N28.01 billion to N32.65 billion. After taxes, net profit increased to N26.56 billion in first quarter 2015 compared with N23.11 billion recorded in first quarter 2014. Earnings per share improved from 81 kobo in first quarter 2014 to 94 kobo in first quarter 2015.

The balance sheet remained strong with total assets of N3.15 trillion. Customer deposits rose to N1.69 trillion in March 2015 as against N1.65 trillion by the year ended December 31, 2014. Share-

G

holders’ funds however slipped marginally from N374.33 billion in December 2014 to N357.59 billion in March 2015.The bank continued to improve on its credit asset management. The proportion of gross loans and advances to non-performing loans improved to 3.06 per cent as against 3.40 per cent in the comparative period of 2014. Loan book grew by 28 per cent to N1.30 trillion in 2015 as against N1.02 trillion in corresponding period of 2014.

Managing director, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc, Segun Agbaje, said the major focus for the bank going forward is to strengthen market positions with distinctive customer propositions in chosen segments in order to deliver longterm sustainable and efficient growth as well as strong shareholder returns.

He noted that as a financial institution with a bias for industry leadership, exceptional service delivery and innovation, GTBank has experienced tremendous growth since its inception in Nigeria in 1990.

Now, the bank presently employs over 10,000 peoples in Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Kingdom.

GTBank recently distributed N44.15 billion as final dividend, representing a dividend per share

of N1.50 kobo. Total dividend per share for 2014 stood at N1.75 as against N1.70 paid for the 2013 business year. It had paid interim dividend per share of 25 kobo. This brought total payout to N51.5 billion for the 2014 business year as against N50.03 billion in 2013.

Key extracts of the audited report and accounts for the year ended December 31, 2014 showed that GTBank grew its top-line by 15 per cent with gross earnings of N278.52 billion in 2014 compared with N242.67 billion in 2013. Profit before tax rose by nine per cent from N107.09 billion to N116.39 billion.

Profit after tax grew by 10 per cent from N90.02 billion to N98.69 billion. Earnings per share consequently rose by 10 per cent to N3.47 in 2014 as against N3.17 in 2013.

Balance sheet analysis showed that deposits base expanded by 14 per cent to N1.65 trillion in 2014 compared with N1.44 trillion in 2013. Shareholders’ funds also rose by 13 per cent from N332.35 billion to N374.33 billion. Total balance sheet size rose by 12.4 per cent from N2.10 trillion in 2013 to N2.36 trillion in 2014.

GTBank also continued to maintain disciplined and prudent approach to loan growth as the proportion of non-performing loans to total loans dropped from 3.58 per cent in 2013 to 3.15 per cent in 2014.

35

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

THE NATION

BUSINESS JOBS

•Facebook data centre

In the information communication technology (ICT) age, global attention is shifting to data which telcos say is the new frontier to explore as revenues from voice declines. Data centres are springing up in Nigeria and across the globe. The emergence of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, 2Go, Yookos and many others, has changed the face of data. Welcome to the era of big data. The management of this emerging segment of the industry promises millions of jobs, LUCAS AJANAKU writes with agency reports.

Big data, big jobs W

HETHER one likes it or not, big data has come to stay. And with its coming are job opportunities.

Seven fields of specialisation have been identified with very fantastic yearly income that averages about N11.8million.

These openings are expected to catalyse the growth of the economy and boost its gross domestic product (GDP). While it has been projected to create over one million jobs in the United States (U.S), experts say if the current tempo of development in Nigeria’s ICT sector is sustained, big data promises to create twice that.

Definition Big data is a buzz phrase thrown around often, and it really only entered

into the conversations of the American public over the last few years. The number of people searching the phrase on search engine, Google have risen over the last two years or so.

The seven money-spinning job opportunities that big data revolution could bring are:

Software Developers Software developers are people who create and write computer programmes. They are certainly not exclusively involved in big data, but with each passing day, more

people are needed to make the programmes that can effectively and effortlessly collect, synthesise, and process all the data created by these set of people.

For college graduates with degrees in fields such as Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or some other related fields, the future for developers has remained bright over the last one decade and experts say it will remain so for as long as ICT tools are deployed to provide answers to human problems.

Statistisc from the U.S. Bureau of Labour, showed that in 2010, employment in this area stood at 913,100. It is projected to grow

‘Nigerians lost out in the Industrial Revolution. It will be most unfortunate if the opportunities inherent in ongoing ICT revolution are allowed to elude the country again. This an opportunitiy that should be taken advantage of to develop the country, create jobs for the army of the jobless, and improve the living conditions of the citizens.’

jobs by about 30 per cent by adding new jobs of 270,900 by year 2020.

In terms of remuneration, it offered an average salary of $90,530.

With Yaba fast becoming Nigeria’s Sillicon Valley with many incubation centres springing up and angel investors picking up mentorship, millions of jobs are already being created.

Market Research Analysts Market research analysts are professionals that will work in every industry see revenue stream from the massive data that is being generated and collected. They are expected to report their findings for businesses to plan with.

Market research analysts will help companies figure out what goods or services people want; who exactly will buy them and also at what price they should be sold. Since they can work in a variety of fields, from consumer product companies, manufacturing firms, or even banks, demand for people who can make decisions based on all the data that is collected will also go up. A career as a market research analyst is best prepared for with a degree in Statistics or Mathemat•Continued on page 36

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

36

JOBS

Big data, big jobs •Continued from page 35

ics, with course work in Communications or other Social Sciences.

In 2010, this field created jobs for 282,700 persons in the U.S alone.

By 2020, its job creating prospect will reach 41 per cent by adding 116,600 more jobs. The average salary it offered was $60,570 with prospects of an increase as business grows.

Instructors Post-secondary shool instructors (those who teach students beyond high school) will be in high demand as a result of big data. Although this is the largest and broadest field, there will be more and more students who pursue careers in big data. As a result, there will be a need for people who are prepared, capable, and willing to teach them the required skills they need to succeed in life.

In 2010, it created some 1,756,000 employment while this is expected go up by 17 per cent in 2020 by adding another 305,700 new job openings. It is also a rewarding endeavour as on the average, the salary in 2010 was $62,050.

Database Administrators It is very vital to have people analysing the data. But if they don’t have secure and sound data to analyse, they’ll make wrong decisions.

Database administrators are the people that will use the software and tools created by the developers to store and organise the data that will be used by market research and other analysts in the value chain. While a degree in any computer-related field can set someone on the path of becoming a database administrator, one in management information systems (MIS) is often the ideal.

In 2010, data base administration created employment for 110,800 youths in the U.S. and it is projected to grow 31 per cent by creating fresh opportunities for another 33,900. Average salary at 2010 was $73,490.

Computer Systems Ana-

lysts Computer systems analysts are the intermediaries between a corporation’s IT department and its business departments. As big data progresses, computer systems analysts become an essential link to help a business understand its current computer systems and make recommendations for expanded systems and processes to meet the ever-evolving world of big data.

Since computer systems analysts deal almost equally with both technology and business-related tasks, a degree that provides equal weighting in both is of high benef, and so often, management information systems (MIS) can provide that.

A total of 544,400 jobs were created in 2010 from this area. It is projected that job openings in this area would grow by 22 per cent with the addition of 120,400 by year 2020. It is also a goldmine as it paid $77,740 as average salary to professionals engaged in the area.

Information Security Analysts, Web Developers, Computer Network Architects People in this category of career are used in a variety of different ways. Information security analysts ensure that the data is safe and secure, web developers create websites that attempt to capture the best practices wielded from big data, and network architects ensure that data and information flows seamlessly. Like the others, degrees in computer science, pro-

• Aladekomo

•CEO, MainOne, Funke Opeke

•Group CEO, Computer Warehouse Group, Mr Austine Okere

gramming or other related fields is beneficial.

In 2010, it created employment for 302,300 and it is projected to increase its job creation capacity by 22 per cent and open new jobs for 65,700 qualified young men and women. Average take home was $75,660 in 2010.

in an engineering field (whether it be computer or electrical) can also be of immense help.

In 2010, some 347,200 jobs were created in the U.S. from this area.

This is expected to grow by 28 per cent by 2020 with an additional openings of 96,600. Average salary in 2010 was $69,160.

Former President, Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), Sir Demola Aladekomo, said Nigerians lost out in the Industrial Revolution. It will be most unfortunate if the opportunities inherent in ongoing ICT revolution are allowed to elude the country again. This an opportunitiy that should be taken advantage of to develop the country, create jobs for the army of the jobless, and improve the living conditions of the citizens.

Two years ago, the Harvard Business Review declared big data as “The Management Revolution” and a Wall Street Journal report noted that almost two thirds of

companies have invested or plan to invest in big-data technology.

Gartner projects that big-data spending will more than double from $27 billion in 2012 to $55 billion next year.

Though defining big data could pose a daunting challenge, a recent Forbes article wrote: “Big data is a collection of data from traditional and digital sources inside and outside your company that represents a source for ongoing discovery and analysis.”

The world has become a connected village with so much information produced that companies are often inundated with.

IBM reports that “90 per cent of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years alone.” Every interaction from a Facebook ”like” to a Google search or click on a headline from Yahoo! lends to some small stored bit of information. But beyond what is done on the internet, there is the data generated from traffic sensors, sales figures at small businesses, and the immense amount of data utilised in hospitals about patients to help patients.

The biggest challenge cited by the managers surveyed by The Wall Street Journal about big data was “determining how to get value from the data,” and the only way to do that is through people.

Workers in these seven career fields are the ones poised to benefit the most from what has become the data renaissance.

Network & Computer Systems Administrators These are the people that help ensure that a company’s computer networks run and operate smoothly on a day-to-day basis.

With the vast amount of information collected, both internal and external computer networks will be under increased demand and strain; there will be a high demand for the people who can ensure things continue without a hitch. Often a degree in computer or information sciences is a key point of entry, but a degree

‘Every interaction from a Facebook ”like” to a Google search or click on a headline from Yahoo! lends to some small stored bit of information. But beyond what is done on the internet, there is the data generated from traffic sensors, sales figures at small businesses, and the immense amount of data utilised in hospitals about patients to help patients’

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Putting more energy behind your job hunting “M Y job hunt is stuck in the mud. I know I need to fix it, but I’m feeling overwhelmed and I’ve got no energy left. I’ve tried everything and nothing seems to work.”

Does this sound like you or what you feel now?

The simple truth is Hunting for a job can be tiring, demoralising and frustrating for people who have internalised their inability to find work as a sign of personal failure. Confidence and self-image suffer. Not to mention the economic embarrassment. As that happens, it becomes increasingly difficult to present the optimistic, energetic “can do” persona that employers seek.

We all hear the longer you are out of work, the harder it is to get work. One of the reasons for this is that employers are looking for you, Mr/Ms. Jobhunter not to be jaded, tired, and “down.” And, they fear that the longer you are out of work, the more likely it is you won’t have the vim and vigour they seek.

How can you put more energy to your flagging job hunting campaign?

There are things you can do to

By Olu Oyeniran

energise your job hunt. Below are my suggestions. This list is hardly exhaustive, but it’s a good start:

Remember getting a job is a job Treat it with the same sense of professionalism that you would bring to any employment. Show up on time every day. And, at the end of the day, don’t feel guilty about packing the work up, and transitioning to “personal” or “family” mode. As with any job, it’s important to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

Recognise and confront your self-imposed roadblocks Are you frozen in place by fear of possible future failure? Many people have experienced so much rejection that they are afraid to have any more piled on. Such feelings are real, and they need to be acknowledged.

Sometimes inaction can be psychological defence mechanism. It’s important, however, to understand

that inaction is a certain road to the status quo. Try to move forward every day – even if you only do one or two small “baby step” things that can help to build up your self-confidence.

Break out of your isolation Figure out who are the members of your support system – your family, friends, other job hunters you meet at networking groups, members of your church or synagogue and so on. Talk to them regularly. Tell them what you’ve been up to, what seems to be working, and what seems to be frustrating you.

Make them part of your team. Ask for their feedback and advice. Help them to help you by creating a context of “us” instead of “me.” And of course: seek a good job hunting coach who can understand and relate to you, and provide both guidance and the occasional “kick in the pants” when it’s called for.

Balance your job hunting activities You can’t be everywhere, all the

time. Strive to create a balance over the course of a week or two in a cycle. If you think of your search for work as a job hunt, then imagine each tool or tactic as one arrow in your quiver. You need a variety of arrows including: informational interviewing; attending professional meetings and seminars; social networking utilising LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter; writing your blog, and so on.

However, important online activity has become, remember that social networks are but the means to the end of building personal relationships. Nurture your relationships both in the real and virtual worlds.

Stay focused and use your time wisely People who work out of their homes often say that one of the biggest challenges they face is managing their time. It’s easy to be distracted by kids, pets, housework, TV, internet, computer games, and so much else! Organise your day and week in advance. Create an hourly schedule and stick to it by setting alarms on your computer calendar or wherever they will best be seen and heard.

Practise, practise, and practise some more

Rehearse your elevator speech out loud and prepare answers to interview questions that you can anticipate. For example, don’t allow yourself to be flummoxed by opening queries like, ”Tell me about yourself.” Did you know Larry Bird, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, shot 1,000 baskets every day! He was great because he understood the need for constant repetition and skill building.

Maintain your mental and physical health Eat healthy. Exercise at least three times each week. If it’s been a while since you exercised with any regularity, start slow and gradually build yourself back up. Get those endorphins flowing and you will look better, have more energy, and feel better about yourself.

•Oyeniran is Lead Consultant, EkiniConsult & Associates.

He can be reached on Jobsearchhow.com.ng Tel 08083843230 (SMS Only).

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

37

THE CEO

• Asemota

Achieving food security and creating employment have become two major global challenges. The agric sector has answers to these challenges but it is bedevilled with a myriad of problems ranging from land tenure system to the use of crude implements. The Executive Director, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Benin, Edo State, Dr. Omorefe Asemota, says research and funding are two other challenges that should be tackled. He speaks about how the government can restore agric sector’s lost glories, the need for research institutes to have semi-autonomous power over its internally-generated revenue, brain drain and other issues. MUYIWA LUCAS and SINA FADARE met him.

Research, funding vital to improving agric H sector’s productivity

OW would you describe the achievements attained, if any, of the institute?

We have achieved a lot. In terms of research, Nigerian Institute For Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) is a foremost research institution in this country. NIFOR has a number of major contributions to the commodities that it is mandated to investigate. And I must point out that NIFOR is not only researching on oil palm, which is our oldest commodity, but we carry out research also on coconut palm, date palm, raffia palm and shea. Shea is not a palm, it is an oil seed crop. The date palm is a palm but does not produce oil, but the other four produce oils.

We have the mandate to these five major commodities. And it is important to point out that each of these commodities can potentially contribute very significantly to the agricultural economy. It is just that each one needs attention so that it can begin to bring to the table, the fullness of this potential that we talked about.

How can palm oil farming and agriculture be further encouraged in this country?

We must have policies and environment that promote this sector. We have the land, 22 states in this country have the arable land that can accommodate oil palm. We need to encourage people to invest which can be promoted by government support, but it

must be done by the three tiers of government. On the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, there is a place for oil palm. What you find is that while the Federal Government has been prosecuting it aggressively in the last four years, the states have not been doing that, whereas the state and the local government have direct access to land.

There must be synergy across the tiers of government and on top of it, you must have active private sector. That is how it works.

But the most important thing is to have aggressive investment in planting. There are some estates’palm oil that are doing very well and are quoted on the stock exchange, we need more of that. In Southeast Asia, a single estate can be as large as 100 hectares.

We have something similar, but need more of such. It is the aggregate of this that will promote higher national output.

Increasing farm yield is a major concern.

How can this be achieved?

You must have improved agronomy leading to good variety yield. The combination of using improved materials and best agronomy expertise is what brings out maxi-

mum productivity. Of course, you must add improved agronomic practices so that you can get the maximum potential of your crop.

But the combination of the use of improved planting materials and the use of best agronomic practices is what brings out maximum productivity. The drawback in our own system is that we have these huge, wild palms.

They are many and occupy a huge land mass but their productivity is low. On the contrary, the improved plantings represent only a small fraction of about 500,000. It is good to know and we are very proud of this, that there are oil palm estates that are doing very well, but we need many more of that. In Southeast Asia, an estate can be as much as 100,000 hectares. We have nothing similar in this country and we do not need just one.

We need many of such. It is the aggregate of that that promotes higher national output.

That is what is really lacking here. There are small challenges at the level of production now, of land tenure, of access to credit. But they can be resolved if there is concerted efforts by all the stakeholders. What we must do of course, is to involve the communities

in some of the activities. But unless we solve the problem of investment in the industry, then national productivity would continue to be low.

What is the role and impact of private participation in oil palm farming?

Most of the farms you would call big plantations are largely owned by foreigners.

Normally, what should happen, or I should say what has happened in other environments, is that, yes, foreign investors are welcome, we want them to participate, but we also, as a nation must take steps to encourage more and bigger plantations, within which there would be a fraction for foreigners, but there must also be active participation by Nigerians. This does not have to be government funded, it should be private sector led.

Do you think there is an enabling environment for private investment in oil palm?

I agree that we must have policies and enabling environment that promote this investment. We have the land, because 22 states have environments that can favourably accommodate oil palm plantation development. All the southern states and all of the Middle Belts also. All the way to southern Kaduna, Adamawa, Taraba, and some parts of Niger State are suitable for oil palm. However, we needed to encourage people to in•Continued on page 38

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

38

THE CEO

Research, funding vital to improving agric sector’s productivity •Continued from page 37

vest and that can be promoted or caused by government support, no question about that but it must be done by the three tiers of government. There is an ongoing Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), which is a Federal Government driven programme and within that, there is an oil palm component.

But what you will find is that whereas, the Federal Government has been prosecuting this aggressively, especially in the last four years, the states have not been doing that.

Yet, the states and local governments have direct access to the land and own the land.

They have the farmers. Therefore, there must be synergy of policy across the different levels of government. Then on top of that, you must have active private sector initiative and participation. That is how this would work.

But, the sum-total of all this is that we need much more aggressive investment in planting.

Research is vital to development and agric breakthroughs. Funding remains a challenge. What is the way forward?

The truth of the matter is that research demands financial support and that is a global truth. If the support in the financial base shrinks below critical threshold, it can be damaging. Two things I suspect would happen and some are already happening. Some institutions have the capacity to generate some funds. It may not be sufficient, but the institute must have some leverage to be able to at least, use some of these funds without too much constraint, but with oversight.

But the situation that requires that all internally generated revenue be paid back into the consolidated revenue fund of the country directly without guarantees for the institute to be able to at least use some of it to maintain itself so that it can survive and then perhaps hopefully improve, is challenging to the institute.

It would be nice that this be looked at. The other area of innovation would also be to look at alternative sources of funding that are not directly from the government. But even when institutes are able to do that, that pool will still fall within internally generated revenue. So, again, we require that there be some degree of freedom. But, as I said, one must also insist on oversight. I am not saying the institutes should just do what we like, but let there be proper framework that guarantees oversight but leaves the institute with enough revenue to at least function. The institutes must live and survive so that they can discharge statutory functions, because after all, the institutes were established by law.

Brain drain is a major concern for institutes such as NIFOR. What are you doing to discourage it?

Our ability to retain competent staff is key to the long term health and survival of the institute. It is important that our research institutions be vibrant, that they be able to deliver solutions and promptly too. Therefore, it is important that the institutes and this is nationwide, should be able to attract some of the best brains and retain them. This really comes down to a few things like the condition of service, the general framework under which people work or carry out their assignments. People must have some minimum guarantees of tenure, minimum guarantees of career fulfilment, subject, of course, to good productivity. There is also the aspect of reward. Part of reward is promotion, remuneration, which is the salary.

Sometime ago, there was parity between the institute and the universities. But that parity as of now, is not complete. It would be nice if the remaining aspects are looked into to encourage productive scientists, brilliant scientists, to stay. Indeed, from my experience, the best brains in the universities actually want to go to the research institutes. This is because there, they are able to carry out research without the extra burden of having to be distracted. Examples abound worldwide. But the reason that happens, which must also be the case in Nigeria, is because such institutes have the best of everything that keep the scientists functioning at maximum productivity levels. The same must happen here.

So, how is NIFOR coping?

At the policy level, we encourage our policy makers to keep looking at these areas so that continuous corrections can be made. We encourage our scientists to also know that there is joy in being able to reach out to farmers and improve their lifestyles.

Efforts are also being made nationally, at

• Asemota

‘It is true that this country is blessed with a whole variety of environment that is suitable for almost every kind of agricultural productivity; we must begin to take advantage of it. We have already seen that a significant part of that is research, but a significant part is in investment. It is the synergy between these two that bring the productivity that we need, but governments at all levels, private people that have some funds, must begin to think differently so that between the policy and the investment, we would have a very sustainable but mutually beneficial synergy that will help us to grow the economy especially in this agricultural area that we are talking about’

• Asemota

the level of agricultural research council and ministry and the institutes to encourage scientists to begin to network much more than before because in doing so, scientists relate with other colleagues more openly and are more confident. In that process also, sometimes, some are able to attract some support externally and that also makes the job a little easier.

What can research institutes do to bring Nigeria back to the glorious days of agric?

Everybody agrees in this country that there is need to diversify the economy. What must happen is that the necessary things must be done. Some of it may be difficult, but nothing must be spared to transform this coun-

try sustainably. A significant part of that transformation must be from agriculture.

That therefore, must mean that conscious efforts must be made. And that effort must be at the level of sustainable policy, sustainable investment that is not just for four or eight years, but long way down the road.

This must be made to promote agriculture across the landscape. It is true that this country is blessed with a whole variety of environment that is suitable for almost every kind of agricultural productivity; we must begin to take advantage of it. We have already seen that a significant part of that is research, but a significant part is in investment. It is the synergy between these two

that bring the productivity that we need, but governments at all levels, private people that have some funds, must begin to think differently so that between the policy and the investment, we would have a very sustainable but mutually beneficial synergy that will help us to grow the economy especially in this agricultural area that we are talking about. As this happens the input of research will become more and more appreciated, it would become more and more in demand and that would be to the benefit of all stakeholders.

What can be done to position NIFOR for better contributions to the economy?

We have had major contributions, the biggest is oil palm. Those contributions require a number of factors for us to do them well.

The most important is human capital. In that case, the quality of the scientists, the environment and with the work, that is infrastructure such as the quality of our laboratories for instance, supply of inputs; the infrastructure base and to some extent, the human capital development develops from funding.

What other challenges are you confronted with?

Funding is not everything, it is only significant. At some point, research institutes nationwide, including NIFOR, had to grapple with dwindling human capital, dwindling number and strength of research workers. We had that problem because, obviously, there were embargoes on employment. But there was also a time when the conditions of service for researchers and scientists were inferior to those in competing areas of the national economy.

The wages were lower than that of others in the same field in the universities. Our scientists and researchers could not aspire to the highest level of professional attainment because, at that time, the conditions were poor. Although those conditions have been largely redressed, it is still work in progress; but they are much better so we are now able to retain a bigger pool of scientists. But when it was poor, what used to happen was that mid career, most scientists used to leave and that affected the institute’s advancement. The reason was because we operated in the very tight pyramid but the space is beginning to open up.

We also had challenges of the capacity of the institute to expose the scientists to the best trainings that the world can offer. And that is where the problem of funding comes in again. The truth is that scientist must be trained and must be given opportunities to retrain as their careers evolve. So you must train them well to give a good foundation; you must continue to expose them to further training because scientific investigation continues to evolve. If you do not retrain, then very soon, the scientist would become stale. Unfortunately, because of funding constraint, the quality of training we were giving to our scientists did not meet up to what we would have loved. What I mean is that there was a time when we could expose our scientists to the best training institutions in the world, because we could afford it. But that has since changed.

In addition to giving that initial training, however, we also still need to continue to expose them to new developments. That also is a funding challenge and we have not been able to meet those two. It is true that the quality that we are able to provide locally is improving, but there is so much more that can be desired. That now impacts on the output of research nationally. Therefore, whereas there was a time when this institute was, if not the foremost, one of the foremost research institutes for oil palm research, but because of poor funds and infrastructure, in the last two decades or so, we have kind of fallen behind. These are things we would really love to correct.

Science also depends on good quality facilities. You need equipment, minimum guarantees of for instance, light and water. The environment should be conducive. Regrettably, the Nigerian environment has sometimes been harsh. Provision of inputs has sometimes posed major challenges. That has not changed. But in the face of these challenges, it is good to say that the scientists and the support staff are working. In the institute, we work as a team. People have been making some heroic efforts to move the commodities forward because we are very conscious of our primary calling, which is to generate research output that will touch the lives of our people, which will ultimately improve the standard of living of our people.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

39

BUSINESS Nigerian Breweries (NB) is not resting on its oars to retain its leadership in the market. After unveiling Ace Roots to tackle Guinness Orijin, whose brand coverage is spreading fast, NB has also spread its tentacles with Ace Roots to get into the regional market, writes ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

Battle of the titans A

FTER a successful merger with Consolidated Brewer-ies (CB), upping its brand portfolio to 21 products, Nigerian Breweries Plc is set to further sustain its leadership in the brewery market using an offensive marketing approach.

Bragging with bigger marketing budget, a more robust research and development unit, the leading brewer in the country threw the first jab at its oldest rival, Guinness Nigeria, with the launch of Ace Roots, a Ready-ToDrink (RTD) herbal drink, to kick-start the marketing war with Guinness for this financial year.

While most brands suspend the execution of most of their marketing plan for the year as a result of electioneering, observers said NB did well in keeping the intelligence of the launch from watchdogs until it unveiled Ace Roots, which appears to be an offensive against Guinness Orijin herbal flavoured drink.

However, the ambience of Havens Event Centre in Ikeja, where the product was launched, was kept secret even before Ace Roots was unveiled.

Approaching the venue, guests, made up of mostly key distributors, suppliers and the media, were received with the big, black and bold banner inscription “Let’s take you back to your Roots”.

One guest said the place looked like a music event, but nit wasn’t.

Unknown to the audience except the discerning ones, it’s a play on the name of the new entrant (product). The stage décor, use of cultural paraphernalia, especially the leafs, reveal the upset it is set to create.

With the brand eventually unveiled amid pomp, NB explores the weakness of the first entrant into the herbal drink market, Orijin, to market its unique selling points to its trade partners in Lagos. The Sales Director of NB, Hubert Eze: “The reality is that to communicate what your brand stands for and who you are, you need to link the consumer needs to, maybe existing needs, and bring it out in a

proper way where people that are not quite well read like you would understand and connect, with what you are saying.

Comparative marketing is not illegal, it’s in the books. If you want to describe two beautiful women, you would always look at one and say this one is taller than the other. If we cannot compare, we cannot make choices and life is about choices,” he said.

To sell the product beyond Lagos, NB has taken the brand to regional market, starting from Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomosho, Oshogbo, Ilesha/Esa-Oke trade zone, the NB enlightened trade partners, distributors, retailers, entertainment spot operators and consumers on Ace Roots unique selling points.

Muscling low-end herbal drinks With the new entrant from a big brewer, it appears both Ace Roots and Orijin are set to deplete other smaller players who discovered the potential of the market. But with their strengths, the two products are bringing new standards into a market that has thrown standards into the winds. Orijin came in two variants. Orijin Bitters, a spirit drink of about 40 per cent alcoholic content made simply by mixing flavours with distilled spirits, and Orijin, a simple cocktail of fruits, flavours and alcohol.

While Guinness used Orijin Bitters to deplete a section of the market fighting known brands, such as Alomo, Ogidiga, Koboko, Baby Oku, Yoyo Sappiro Lemon and Ginseng Liquor.

Rather than throw a product into the fray merely to answer

competition or impulsively react to the yearnings of the market, NB said it decided to research and consult critical stakeholders before joining the market, adding that they are not out to study anybody.

“Our innovations don’t target products; it goes to satisfy consumer needs. So, we did not target anybody, we did not study anybody. We studied what consumers wanted and we made a product that fit what consumer wanted,” said Eze. The company’s Zonal Business Manager, West, Opeyemi Oluwalusi, comparing the product with what the consumers are used to, said Ace Roots is the product of research and consultations executed by the firm over a long period to come out with the best for the consumer. “It is our response to consumers yearnings and demands, our answer to the feedback we got from your our trade partners - retailers and distributors bar owners and entertainment spot operators during consultations with you critical stakeholders.

“When our competitor came up with her brand sometimes last year and stakeholders like you and our teeming consumers started asking when is Nigerian Breweries going to come out with her own brand of herbal mixture drink? We responded by appealing to you to exercise patience as we need time to carry our proper research and consultation. That was exactly what we did. The result of that painstaking research and consultation is Ace Roots,” he said.

Eze also noted that Ace Roots is the result of a research carried out NB carried out.

Why NB, Guinness are playing in herbal drink market The booming alcoholic herbal drink market is inspired by the need to cater for the African taste for herbal content while enjoying and sharing moments with friends on alcohol, especially liqueur. Right from when the first set of herbal liqueur (Alomo Bitters) forayed into the market, the phenomenon has since seen the alcoholic beverage section of the market littered with assorted brands of these cocktail of fruits, flavours and alcohol products, many of which are produced locally, with others imported.

Makers and marketers of these herbal products invaded the market, unsubstantiated claims about their efficacies.

Such claims include that the herbal liqueurs have the capacity to remove harmful toxins from the body (cleanse/wash) and purify blood, prevent oedema and numbness, boost immune system, eliminate worms, cure internal heat and reduce stomach sores (ulcer), among others.

Some even claim their products eliminate acute waist pain, enhances quick erection, improve sexual performance, boost sperm count, prevent bacterial infections and typhoid, reduce excessive fat and pot belly, and also reduce blood sugar level.

However, with the success being recorded by Orijin, the NB entry with Ace Roots, according to analysts, might stir competition among the old rivals considering that NB is capitalising on certain contents of Orijin to offer new value.

Oluwalusi said: “The herbal mix comes with the lowest

sugar content in the market.

Whereas there are herbal mixtures with as much as five cubes of sugar, Ace Roots has very low sugar content of just one cube. Aside this, Ace Roots is made with actual herbal juice extract from age-long roots, leaves and herbs. Its alcoholic content is moderated at six percent, that’s a little higher than lager beer and slightly lower than stout beer beverages. More importantly, Ace Roots is entering the market with great value that takes care of the consumers’purse. I can assure you that Ace Roots will not bore holes in your pockets.’’

Unlike Orijin, he listed some of the USP of Ace Roots to include natural herbal extracts from roots, tress, leaves, kolanut, ginger roots, chilli pepper, sweet orange, bitter orange, ginseng roots, cocoa bean, ASPARTME plus seven other fruits, spice and herbs.

Oluwalusi added that the beverage is sweetened with low calories that were tested and accepted as healthier replacement for sugar.

NB’s Marketing Director, Walter Drenth, said: “Ace Roots symbolises a call to action for everyone; customers and consumers to go back to their roots of true African herbs, fruits and spice extracts with low sugar. It’s a great innovation, one that we, at Nigerian Breweries, are very proud of, and we are confident our young and vibrant consumers will appreciate this game changing brand.”

No doubt, while NB is gradually penetrating the market with Ace Roots, the market supply chain is expecting response from Guinness Nigeria.

Hollandia introduces Evaporated Milk

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IKE is a chemical engineer who works with an oil company. He lives in Lagos with his wife, Sheila, a banker.

They have a set of seven-year-old twin boys - David and Daniel.

Mike and Sheila live a very busy life and are trying to balance very hectic work schedules and being good parents.

The couple start their day early – getting ready for work and getting

the boys ready for school. Mike makes sure the boys are up by 6:00am to take their baths, while Sheila prepares a quick breakfast of some toast and oats for Mike, a smoothie for herself and a bowl of cereal each for the boys, all of which she makes even tastier with a 215 ml pack of Hollandia Evaporated Milk.

To keep their routine going smoothly, when she goes shop-

ping, Sheila buys Hollandia Evaporated Milk 215g packs. She it gives a ‘25 per cent more’ than any other evaporated milk brand at same price, and that it is tastier and creamier.

Hollandia Evaporated Full Cream Milk is the first milk brand in Nigeria to be packaged in Tetra pak, taking product packaging and convenience to a whole new level.

The product is designed to provide

consumers with creamy, great tasting, highly nutritious and affordable evaporated milk in handy 215g packs. Hollandia Evaporated Milk’s 215g unique packaging ensures supreme convenience as the innovative Pour, Cap and Keep pack eliminates the hassles of milk storage and the design ensures longer safety from spoilage and contamination.

According to Chi Limited’s

Managing Director, Mr. Deepanjan Roy, “we want to draw consumer’s attention to the 25 per cent extra milk in Hollandia Evaporated Milk 215g pack when compared to any other milk brand at same price. We are committed to ensuring that our loyal consumers continue to get value and satisfaction for money whenever they buy Hollandia Evaporated Milk”.

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BUSINESS

MOTORING

Toyota 4Runner: The trailblazer

•Toyota 4Runner

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There are only a few SUVs left these days that utilise body-on-frame construction for serious off-road capability. Not only is the 2015 Toyota 4Runner one of them, it also offers three-row seating, a spacious cargo hold and Toyota’s prime reputation for reliability. If you are hoping to find all of those attributes in one vehicle, the 4Runner stands alone in this price range, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO with agency reports.

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HE Toyota 2015 4Runner is designed to provide real utility. It’s at its best when you are plugging along on off-road trails, and the numerous upgrades on the Trail and TRD Pro trims only add to the fun. At the same time, the 4Runner is refined enough for the daily grind, though lots of bumps make it in to the cabin as the rugged suspension and big tires jostle you around. The 4Runner’s steering feels a little too light in normal driving situations, but this turns out to be ideal for offroading, as it results in reduced kickback on gnarly trails.

The 4Runner’s V6 engine is strong enough for most needs, but there is no denying that you get more grunt from rivals like the V8powered Grand Cherokee and Durango. The 4Runner’s five-speed automatic transmission provides well-timed shifts, but we certainly wouldn’t mind another gear to calm the engine on the highway and eke out another mpg or two.

It won’t give you the fuel efficiency or ride comfort of a car-based crossover, but the 2015 4Runner stays true to its roots as an SUV that is ready for almost anything.

Even in base SR5 trim, the 4Runner is primed for off-road action. Standard equipment includes items like mud guards and skid plates, while four-wheel-drive models add a dualrange transfer case, hill-start assist and hill-descent control. The Trail trim adds advanced electronic aids for more precise off-roading, but the big news this year is the range-topping TRD Pro trim level, which boasts beefier tires, highperformance Bilstein shocks and distinctive styling elements. Bottom line, any 4Runner can bust trails with the best of them, and there is more capability than ever for 2015.

If you spend most of your time on the pavement, however, there are better family vehicles available. Specifically, the 4Runner has a difficult time smoothing out potholes in the city with its busy ride, and its fuel economy is woeful compared to most V6-powered crossovers.

The optional third row is best reserved for kids,

so if you want adult-sized space back there, youwill need to look elsewhere.

There are several notable 4Runner alternatives to consider. The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of our favorites if you don’t need three seating rows, and it offers competitive offroad performance, several engine options, more robust towing capacity, better fuel economy and an upscale interior. The related 2015 Dodge Durango also has more towing capacity and a premium cabin, and it comes standard with a third-row seat. The two-row 2015 Nissan Xterra is relatively basic inside, but it’s quite similar mechanically to the 4Runner, and it’s considerably cheaper. If you can do without all the trailbusting hardware, the 2015 Toyota Highlander offers room for eight passengers, a carlike ride and superior efficiency and acceleration.

But if nothing less than a traditional threerow SUV will do, the 4Runner is the only game in town. It may be among the last of a dying breed, but the 2015 Toyota 4Runner still has a lot to offer and is one of our top picks for a midsize two-row SUV in our 2015 Buying Guide.

Body Styles The 2015 Toyota 4Runner is a midsize SUV offered in four trim levels: SR5, Trail, TRD Pro and Limited. The SR5 and Trail are divided into standard and Premium sub-trims. Fivepassenger seating is standard, but an optional 50/50-split third-row seat on the SR5 and Limited models raises capacity to seven.

The SR5 comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, skid plates, mud guards, a tow hitch, hill-start assist and hill-descent control (4WD only), a rearview camera, foglights, heated exterior mirrors, rear privacy glass, LED taillights, roof rails, a power liftgate window, a windshield wiper de-icer, keyless entry, cruise control, air-conditioning with second-row vents, cloth upholstery, a six-way power driver seat with power lumbar adjustment, a leatherwrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and 40/20/40-split folding and reclining rear

seats. Standard electronics includes Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and an eightspeaker audio system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen interface, voice controls, a CD player, HD and satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface.

The SR5 Premium adds a sunroof, upgraded exterior mirrors, leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery, heated front seats, a power front passenger seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and an upgraded version of Entune with smartphone app integration and a navigation system.

Go with the 4WD-only Trail trim and you’ll get all of the base SR5’s standard features plus unique 17-inch wheels, a hood scoop, silver exterior trim accents, a locking rear differential, selectable terrain modes and crawl control. The Trail Premium model adds the SR5 Premium’s standard features.

The 4Runner Trail models are exclusively eligible for the optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which automatically disconnects the SUV’s stabilizer bars in lowspeed off-road situations to improve suspension articulation over deep ruts and boulders.

The TRD Pro comes with most of the Trail Premium’s standard equipment, adding or substituting matte-black 17-inch wheels with special off-road tires, automatic headlights, a TRD-stamped aluminum front skid plate, Bilstein shocks, upgraded front springs, a higher ride height, a unique black front grille and various TRD-themed aesthetic upgrades.

The 4Runner Limited includes most of the Trail Premium’s feature content, but it lacks the mud guards, locking rear differential, terrain-mode selector and crawl control. Its available full-time 4WD system instead employs a locking center differential. Other Limited highlights include 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive roll-reducing dampers (X-REAS), automatic headlights, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and a 15-speaker JBL sound system

and Toyota’s Safety Connect telematics.

Many of the higher-end standard amenities are available as options on lower trim levels, but availability can vary depending on the region of the United States in which you live.

Stand-alone options include fixed running boards, automatically deploying/retracting running boards, a sliding rear cargo floor (tworow models only) and roof-rack crossbars.

Powertrains The 2015 Toyota 4Runner employs a 4.0-liter V6 engine that produces 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a five-speed automatic. The SR5 and Limited models are available with either rearwheel drive or four-wheel drive, while the Trail and TRD Pro are 4WD-only.

Four-wheel-drive SR5 models have a parttime 4WD system with low-range gearing, while the Limited uses a full-time 4WD system with low-range gearing and a locking center differential. The Trail and TRD Pro models come standard with the part-time 4WD system and also include a locking rear differential, crawl control (for use in low range) and selectable terrain modes. Properly equipped, the 4Runner is rated to tow up to 4,700 pounds.

Safety Standard safety features on the 2015 Toyota 4Runner include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, front knee airbags and active front head restraints. All 4WD models feature an off-road traction control system known as A-Trac that helps keep you moving on slippery terrain by redirecting engine torque to the wheel(s) that have traction.

A rearview camera is standard across the board, but front and rear parking sensors are only available on the Limited trim level. The Limited also comes with Safety Connect, which includes automatic collision notification, a stolen-vehicle locator and emergency assistance.

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NEWS

Promoting global peace, Gulen’s Example

Fethullah Gulen (Right) and other renowned peace advocates/right activists. From Left is Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Daisaku Ikeda

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Y all standards, Cleric Fethullah Gulen is one of the most remarkable and influential personalities in today’s world, especially in the context of using religion as a tool for promoting peace and development.

It was therefore not surprising when the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, United States, honoured the US-based Turkish Islamic scholar with the prestigious Gandhi King Ikeda Peace Award recently.

With the award, Gulen has now become the first and only Islamic cleric in the world to be so honoured, joining the prominent list of past recipients, which Nobel laureates Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Michael Gorbachev, as well as Rosa Parks.

The moderate Islamic leader, who is well known for his non-violent teachings that have continued to stimulate mutual understanding and tolerance between cultures, race and religious bodies, was honoured for his life-long dedication to promoting peace and human freedom.

Before the honour from the Morehouse College, which is the alma mater of the popular civil right activist, Martin Luther King Jr, Gulen was also awarded with an honorary doctorate of education by Leeds Metropolitan University for his contribution to education, peacemaking, intercultural and religious dialogue.

While many people have blamed religion for some of the conflicts rocking the world today, the cleric inspired movement known as Hizmet or Gulen movement, which command millions of supporters continue to spread peace and rapid development in various part of the world through humanitarian services devoid of discrimination and rancour.

The movement currently spread across more than 160 countries around the globe and has a vast network of schools, charity organizations, health institutions and cultural dialogue centres. The volunteers of the movement often have to confront all odds in various countries they serve, including Sub-Sahara Africa, where its volun-

teers continue to provide education and other humanitarian services.

It is against this background that the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel decided to bestow the award on Gulen.

Lawrence Carter, the dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, had during the award’s presentation disclosed that it is only presented to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary global leadership toward reconciling differences.

“We are honoured today to present this award to Fethullah Gülen..., who contributes to global peace. ... We are honoured because he has expressed that humanitarian value and morality is a shared value of every human being.” Carter was quoted saying in Today’s Zaman newspaper.

While the dean also revealed how the college was also honoured to present the award to Gülen, because of his consistent condemnation of suicide bombing attacks and killing of innocent people in the name of jihad, Scott Alexander from Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union who delivered the keynote address to explain Hizmet movement to hundreds of participants, likened the Islamic scholar to the modern-day Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi, a great sufi mystic and poet known for his preaching of tolerance about seven centuries ago.

Though he was unable to make a physical presence at the award giving ceremony, Gulen acceptance statement read by Alp Aslandoðan, the president of the Alliance for Shared Values, was basically dedicated to the sympathizers of Hizmet movement, who left their comfort zones to different countries in the world to serve humanity.

“I am humbled by the kindness of the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College to consider me as a recipient of the prestigious 2015 Gandhi King Ikeda Peace Award,” said Gulen, who also top the list of “the world’s top 20 public intellectuals” of the magazine; Foreign Policy and Prospect in 2008..

‘

Gulen has now become the first and only Islamic cleric in the world to be so honoured, joining the prominent list of past recipients, which Nobel laureates Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Michael Gorbachev, as well as Rosa Parks “I can only accept this award on behalf of the participants of the Hizmet movement who devoted themselves to serving fellow humans without expecting anything in return.

“Educators who served thousands of miles away from their homes near arctic circle in subfreezing temperatures; those who continued to keep their schools open in northern Iraq despite the threat of ISIS occupation; those in Nigeria and Afghanistan who provide educational opportunities to girls; doctors, nurses and humanitarian relief workers who served in Somalia and Sudan under dire conditions; and entrepreneurs who compete in donating to charitable causes despite facing economic hardship themselves.

“These devotees of love who come from different nations, religions, and ethnic backgrounds are the ones whose work is recognized with this award,” According to Gulen, Hizmet movement has many things in common with the ideas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, especially in the area of commitment to the dignity of every human as a sign of respect for their Creator.

“What unites them (Hizmet members) and the pioneers of hu-

‘

man rights in Asia, in Africa, in the United States, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and all around the world is their commitment to humanity. To hold every human as dignified and to be committed to the dignity of every human is a sign of respect for their Creator.

“I have always prayed to God that He would include me among these blessed individuals but never considered myself as the leader of any of them. You were kind enough to recognise their efforts and sacrifices and I simply accept this award on their behalf.” Gulen, in his usual characteristic humility added.

But many say what make this great Islamic scholar so influential to command huge respect from millions of people across the world, is not only his passion to promote human development through massive establishment of secular schools, but also the speed which Hizmet movement is spreading inter-religious harmony among countries grappling with sectarian rivalry.

In Nigeria, where ethnic and religious conflicts have been rampant in recent years, activities of Hizmet inspired groups continue to play major role in promoting unity among adherents of different faiths. Ufuk Dialogue Founda-

tion, which also share in Gulen’s vision of fostering interfaith and intercultural dialogue, regularly organise workshops, seminars, love conferences, thereby contributing to a peaceful coexistence in the country.

Prominent religious leaders in Nigeria; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar and the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan among other opinion leaders, took part in the love conference recently organised by the foundation in collaboration with the federal government to promote peace in line with the ideas of Gulen.

The highly respected Gulen, who has met with several leaders of other religions, including the late Catholic pontiff, Pope John Paul the II, the Greek Orthodox Patriach Bartholomew, among many others, is said to draws his motivation in promoting interfaith duologue from the harmonious relationships that took place in the Ottoman Empire which consist Muslims, Christians, Jews and some Zoroastrians.

It is widely believe that the moderate Islamic cleric may have through his positive actions found a cure for the misgiving some people have about religion.

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NATION SPORT

EUROPEAN... EUROPEAN... EUROPEAN... EUROPEAN... EUROPEAN...

Pastore’s double sends PSG top A

Iniesta can be the difference for Barca - Mendieta

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WO goals from Javier Pastore and one from Edinson Cavani were enough for Paris SaintGermain to see off Nice 3-1 on Saturday.

Having seen their Champions League dreams effectively dashed by a 3-1 quarter-final first-leg defeat to Barcelona in midweek, PSG turned their attentions back to an enthralling battle for the domestic title with seven-time champions Lyon on Saturday.

And, despite the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic - banned for three games for a foulmouthed rant following last month's 3-2 loss at Bordeaux and injured captain Thiago Silva, PSG did enough to see off a determined Nice side at the Allianz Riviera and move back to the top of the table.

The defending champions took the lead thanks to an assured 39th-minute finish from Pastore, only for former PSG man Mathieu Bodmer to equalise just before the interval.

Laurent Blanc's men found another gear in the second half, though, and Pastore duly restored PSG's advantage with a powerful finish into the bottom-right corner.

A 69th-minute penalty from Edinson Cavani made sure of the points after the Uruguay striker had been fouled by Jordan Amavi, securing a victory that sends PSG a point clear of Lyon, who host SaintEtienne on Sunday.

Nice started brightly and went close to opening the scoring in the 15th minute when Algerian forward Said Benrahma curled narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

PSG, also without the presence of the banned Marco Verratti, struggled to get into any sort of rhythm in the opening 45 minutes, which Nice largely controlled without creating much in the way of goalscoring opportunities.

The hosts' failure to take advantage of their period of superiority was punished by Pastore six minutes before the break.

The Argentina international latched on to Lucas Moura's pass and coolly slotted the ball beyond Simon Pouplin.

But Nice responded well and equalised on the stroke of halftime, as Bodmer flicked home

Benrahma's low drive after PSG had only half cleared a left-wing free kick.

Pouplin was forced to show brilliant reactions to preserve parity three minutes minutes after the interval, the goalkeeper turning David Luiz's close-range strike over the crossbar following Nice's failure to deal with a corner.

Salvatore Sirigu then demonstrated his reflexes at the other end, as the Italy international dived to his left to tip Carlos Eduardo's header against the right-hand post.

Yet it was Pouplin whose goal came under more sustained pressure in the second half. The former Rennes man did well to cut out Lucas Digne's crosscum-shot before seeing Luiz clatter the underside of the crossbar with a header.

Pouplin's goal was finally breached for a second time in the 63rd minute, though, Pastore lashing a shot in on the rebound after his initial volley had been blocked by the Nice shot-stopper.

Just six minutes later, the game was put beyond Nice as Amavi tripped Cavani in the box, allowing the former

I've not decided yet on juve - Tevez

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ARLOS Tevez has called for an end to the constant speculation surrounding his future at Juventus yet admitted that he has yet to decide if he will stay in Turin beyond the summer.

The Argentina international has made it clear that he intends to return to Boca Juniors, his first professional club, when his current contract with the Italian champions expires next year.

However, Boca president Daniel Angelici made headlines when he claimed that the Buenos Aires club were "close to bringing Carlos home".

The striker's agent dismissed the claim, insisting that his client fully intends to honour his contract with Juve, but the rumour mill went into overdrive again on Saturday when Tevez celebrated his strike in a 2-0 win over Lazio with a chicken dance, which was interpreted as a reference

NDRES Iniesta is playing a different game in a different system for Barcelona this season. He has missed a lot of matches through injury and because of Luis Enrique’s rotation, and he has not scored in La Liga, nor had an assist, in more than a year.

But Iniesta remains a key figure who can play a leading role, says former Spain international and Barcelona midfielder Gaizka Mendieta, as his team attempt to overcome Paris Saint-Germain to reach the last four of the Champions League.

“It’s a case of new coach, new system,” Mendieta, who played at Barcelona in 2002, the year when Iniesta made his debut, told Goal. “Gerardo Martino tried to do it last season but the players were too much in the habit of playing the way they had done under Pep Guardiola and then Tito Vilanova – it was too much in their heads.

“But this season the transition from midfield to attack is different. The main way of going forward in the past was through Xavi and Iniesta, then playing the killer ball to link the midfield and the strikers.

“That was when Barca had two men up front, Lionel Messi and one other, maybe Pedro.

That way of playing helped the midfield to have more possession. Now they have Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez up front, and a threeman attack makes the role of the midfield completely different, especially with Xavi not there now and Cesc Fabregas gone.

“Calling the midfield secondary perhaps sounds too harsh, but it’s something like that. The front three are

•Iniesta attacking more openly, passing between themselves more, the important ball from midfield is not happening so often.

“Iniesta is finding himself in different parts of the pitch, he’s in his own half more, he’s even making more tackles. But he is adapting well – he is a very clever footballer, still very much a Barcelona footballer.”

Under the new system Messi has three Champions League assists this season, the same number as Iniesta. Last season the Argentine had none.

In a recent television interview, Iniesta himself said: “My stats haven’t been good this season, far from it, but I’ve never looked at my game purely in terms of statistics. I’m still happy with what I’ve done.”

“The numbers show how much Luis Enrique has changed the style, made it more direct,” added Mendieta.

“They show he has got it right, too, even though he had a lot of criticism early in the season when he started with rotation from the first game.

•Tevez

to a crucial goal for Boca in a Copa Libertadores semi-final clash with great rivals River Plate in 2004.

•Ronaldo

Messi has always been my idol - Lucas Moura

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•Moura

ARIS Saint-Germain attacker Lucas Moura has revealedBarcelona'sLionel Messi has "always been his role model in football".

The 22-year-old moved to the French capital from Sao Paulo in January 2013 and took time to adapt to European football before emerging as one of Laurent Blanc's key men this season.

Having previously been criticised for his lack of end product, Moura has scored eight goals so far this term and will hope to add to that tally against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

PSG face the Catalans in the first legonWednesdayhavingalready met in the group stage of the competition before Christmas,

with the forward relishing the chance to face the man he says is the best in the world.

"He has always been my idol," he told AS. "For some time I've been obsessed with his way of playing.

I think he's the best player in the world, above all the rest.

"We must be realistic and Messi is the best. Of course, there is always a rivalry between Brazil and Argentina but we are a football country.

"It will be very difficult to play against him. We will have to work hard to stop him. If we get the victory it will be close.

"It's always nice to play against them. It will be a challenge and a very close tie. We are very excited."

Ronaldo scores first free kick in almost a year

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RISTIANO Ronaldo finally ended his free kick drought on Saturday against Eibar, scoring his first set piece for Real Madrid in almost a year.

The 30-year-old has been criticised in recent weeks after it was revealed that he'd had more than 50 attempts since he last scored from a set piece.

But Ronaldo lashed home a swerving long-range strike to break the deadlock on 21 minutes at the Santiago

Bernabeu, although Eibar goalkeeper Xabi Irureta is likely to have been disappointed with his attempt at saving the shot.

The last time Ronaldo had scored from a free kick for the Blancos was during the 4-0 Champions League semi-final second leg win over Bayern Munich on April 29, 2014.

Real Madrid began the day on Saturday four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.

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NEWS Ortom: our govt’ll punish corrupt officials

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•Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and governor-elect (right) displaying his Certificate of Return presented to him by the Independent Nastioanl Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gombe...yesterday. With him is INEC Supervising National Commissioner for Gombe State, Dr Nuru Yakubu (left). PHPTO: NAN

ENUE State Governorelect Samuel Ortom has said his administration will punish corrupt government officials to curb corruption.

The governor-elect spoke at a church service at NKST Yina, in Makurdi, the state capital.

He said one of the ways to conserve scare resources to confront the financial challenges confronting the state is to tackle corruption in consonance with the principles of the Muhammadu Buhari administration at the federal level.

The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, noted that at the personal level, he had forgiven those who offended him during the campaigns.

Ortom promised to allow the law to take its course on those who offended the state.

The governor-elect said his spiritual powers saw him through with the prayers of the Christian community, irre-

Soldier, lawyer die in Bauchi road crash

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SOLDIER, serving with the 195 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Agenebode, Edo State, Lance Corporal Zaphaniya Jonathan, and a lawyer, Umar Abubakar, at the weekend died in a road accident on the Azare-Bulkachuwa road in Bauchi State.

In a statement, police spokesman for Bauchi State Police Command, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the accident.

He said it occurred at 2.20pm on Friday when an Opel Sharon, skidded off the road and somersaulted.

The statement said: “On April 17 at 14.20 hours (2.20pm), there was a lone fatal motor accident on the Azare-Bulkachuwa Road. It involved an ash Opel Sharon with number plate DJ-245-ABJ, driven by an engineer, Ismail Abdullahi, 51, of National Water Research Institute, Ka-

duna.

“The accident occurred when the vehicle’s tyre rod pulled out while in motion. It skidded off the road and somersaulted.”

The statement said the police patrol team attached to Azare Division of the command visited the scene and evacuated the casualties to the Federal Medical Centre, Azare.

It added: “Two persons were certified dead on arrival by a

doctor. The particulars of the deceased are: L/CPL Zaphaniya Jonathan, 195 Battalion, Nigeria Army Agenebode, Edo State and Umar Abubakar (legal practitioner), male (38) of Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, Maiduguri, Borno State.

“The bodies have been deposited at the mortuary for post-mortem examination.”

The statement said the matter was being investigated.

Buhari’ll inherit polarised nation, says ex-ACF chief

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FORMER spokesman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, has said the incoming government, to be led by General Muhammadu Buhari, will inherit a polarised nation.

He urged the incoming government to bring all Nigerians together to address the collective challenges facing the nation.

Sani, in a statement yesterday in Kaduna, urged the incoming government not be coaxed into the politics of zero-sum game or winner takes all.

The former ACF chief said the government should balance competing demands among the various parts of the country.

He said the 2015 elections

had been adjudged to be relatively better than previous polls in transparency, fairness, freedom to choose and credibility, adding that it was the first time in Nigeria an opposition had defeated an incumbent, who has conceded defeat.

Sani, who was also a member of the National Conference, said: “The

Kano okays N242m for 2015 pilgrims’ accommodation

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HE Kano State Government has said it approved over N242 million for the payment of intending pilgrims’ accommodation in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.

Information Commissioner Ladidi Garko addressed reporters yesterday on the outcome of the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting in Kano.

She said the council also approved over N26 million to reimburse tuition and other associated fees for 27 statesponsored students in China.

She said: “The council also approved N191.8 million for the settlement of outstanding debt in favour of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).

“The council approved N10.6

million for the production of one million seedlings for 2015.”

Garko said N15 million was also approved for pipeline extension and reticulation from Kwankwaso Market to Sabon Garin Kwankwaso.

She reiterated government’s determination to develop infrastructure to improve the people’s welfare.

conduct of the last elections, though with some problems here and there, was relatively better than those of the past exercises. What is more: this was the first time that an incumbent government has been unseated by an opposition, and the President conceded.

“All these show our democracy has come a long way and improving by the day. All that our leaders need to learn from the results of the elections is to be able to make a distinction between entrusted power and the claims they make on its behalf.

“Now, all one can say is to appeal to the winners to be magnanimous while basking in the glory of victory, just as those who lost should do so with equanimity, precisely because victory and defeat are never final...”

Groups hail Kwara PDP’s candidate for conceding to Ahmed

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OCIO-POLITICAL and religious groups in Kwara State have hailed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Simeon Ajibola and his running mate, Alhaji Yinka Aluko, for their spirit of sportsmanship.

They lost the governorship bid and promptly conceded to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

In separate statements, leaders of three socio-political organisations - Alhaji Haroun Adams, of Forum For Good Governance; Mr. Olusegun Adeola, of Vanguard for Continuity and Mr. John Folorunsho, of Christian Professionals for Good

Governance - told reporters that the unity and cooperation of all stakeholders were needed form the progress of the state.

Ajibola polled 115,220 votes and Ahmed 295,832 votes.

The groups, which also urged PDP chieftains and supporters to take a cue from the show of statesmanship and brotherliness exhibited by the political leaders, said they should put the elections behind them.

The organisations, which hailed the people of Kwara State for their peaceful and orderly conduct throughout the election period, also appealed to them to join hands with the APC administration.

The groups stressed that it is

under peaceful and harmonious atmosphere the state could have enjoy development.

They also wished Ahmed a more successful second term for the people of the state.

The organisations urged the governor to prepare to tackle the challenges in education, agriculture, health and infrastructure and bring new lease of life to the residents, irrespective of their political differences.

They also urged him to make people’s welfare, security, job creation for unemployed youths and quality education for students the priorities of his administration.

They said: “We congratulate

Governor Ahmed on his reelection victory at the justconcluded governorship election.

“We salute the foresight and doggedness of the governor and we must emphasise that unfolding events in Nigeria and in Kwara State have shown that his decision to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) was the best decision he could have taken, given the circumstances of those times.

“It was not an easy ride or a walkover to victory, as some people would say; this victory is neither by fluke but the result of his hard work, diligence and performance in office.”

spective of their denomination.

He said his emergence as governor-elect had convinced unbelievers of the existence and power of God and strengthened the faith of believers who saw God’s power in his favour during the election.

According to him, his administration will provide a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive.

Ortom urged those with creative and viable business ideas to bring them forward for funding.

The governor-elect said they would be sourced from within and outside the country.

He pledged to implement the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which would provide free and compulsory primary and secondary school education in the state.

Resident Pastor DKurugh Antyev hailed Ortom for showing appreciation for his victory.

Man jailed six months for having three PVCs From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi

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35-YEAR old man, Malam Ya’u Ismaila, has been jailed for six months by a Yelwa Magistrate’s Court for possessing three Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Ismaila, who resided at Tsohon Makabarta, Jahun in Bauchi, was convicted for possession of multiple PVCs by the court presided over by Kasimu Mohammed.

The three cards bore the names of Yau Ismail, Koyabi Kela Bason and Ismail Koyabi, who were said to have registered at Fadan Bayak Jahun Quarters in Bauchi but having Ismaila’s photographs on them.

The court said there was one PVC bearing his name, photograph and registration at Jaja Quarters.

When the matter came up, Ismaila pleaded guilty to the offence.

The prosecutor, Mallam Mohammed Ali, said the offence “is contrary to Section 120 (c),(d) of the Electoral Acts 2010, as amended”.

The prosecution said on March 28, at 12pm, Ismaila was arrested at a security stop-and-search point mounted by soldiers at Rafin Makaranta on the Bauchi-Ningi Road on his way out of Bauchi town.

Magistrate Mohammed said: “Based on the facts before this court and the nature of the offence, the voluntary admission of guilt by the accused, I can only be lenient to you, since you admit guilt instantly. You have saved this court the energy and time that could have been wasted.”

The magistrate sentenced the accused to six months imprisonment or an option of N100,000 fine.

APC sweeps 27 of 34 seats in Kaduna Assembly

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 27 of the 34 seats in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the remaining seven seats.

The results of the April 11 House of Assembly election released at the weekend in Kaduna by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed that only six of the 34 members retained their seats.

The six lawmakers include Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani (APC, Igabi West); Aminu Abdullahi Shagali (APC, Sabon Gari); Nasiru Abdullahi Maikano (APC, Ungwan Sanusi); Bityong Yakubu Nkom (PDP, Kaura); Labari Tella Shelly (PDP, Jema’a) and Kantiok Irimiya Ishaku (PDP, Zonkwa).

Other APC winners include: Dr. Abdulsalam Dalhatu (Igabi East), John Audu Kwaturu (Kachia), Hassan Abdulkadir Turawa (Soba), Sagir Zubairu (Maigana), Aliyu Ismaila Abdullahi (Giwa West), Mohammed Rilwan (Giwa East), Salisu Isa (Magajin Gari), Yahaya Musa (Kakangi), Markus Zarmai Yari (Chikun)

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

and Abdulwahab Idris (Ikara).

Other lawmaker elected on the platform of the party are: Junaidu Yakubu (Kudan) Kassim Iliyasu (Zaria City), Ahmed Mohammed (Zaria Kewaye), Dr. Isaac Auta Zankai (Kauru/Chawai), Mukhtar Isa Hazo (Bassawa), Bello Sani Gimi (Makarfi), Muhammad Hashimu Abubakar (Kubau), Yusuf Liman Dahiru (Makera), Ibrahim A. Ismail (Tudun Wada), Idris Abubakar Abdullahi (Lere East), Muhammad Kabir Ibrahim (Lere West), Nuhu Machu Goro Shadalafiya (Kagarko), Aliyu Abdulrahman (Kawo) and Haruna M. A. Inuwa (Doka Gabasawa).

PDP’s members are: Bako Obadia (Jaba), Tanko Samuel Ubankato (Kajuru) and Danladi Angulu Kwasu (Zango).

The seat for Sanga, which was won by the PDP, is subject of a court order.

Also, Speaker Shehu Tahir, Majority Leader Muhammad Yunusa and Minority Leader Muhammad Ali, among other principal officers, lost their return bid to the Assembly.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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Millions gone in Ogbe-Ijoh market fire

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FIRE on Saturday night destroyed goods and other property worth millions of naira at the popular Ogbe-Ijoh Market in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The cause of the fire had not been ascertained last night, but our reporter recalled a similar incident recently at the market.

It was gathered that the fire started at 8 pm and spread quickly because fire fighters did not arrive early.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was in Warri at the time, rushed to the scene and instructed the state Fire Service Department to tackle the fire.

Our reporter, who visited the scene yesterday, said burnt goods, including edibles, littered the place.

The victims were lamenting and crying over the loss of the source of their livelihood.

One of the traders, who gave her name as Patience, said she lost over 150 bags of

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

A

•The burnt market...yesterday.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

crayfish, at 50,000 per bag.

Another trader, Madam Maria, said the fish she lost was worth about N1 million.

A section of the market was razed earlier this year.

Among other things, a Skill Acquisition Centre at the market, lost its equipment in an earlier fire.

Although nobody died in the incident, some residents described it as “wanton destruction”.

The Regent of Ogbe-Ijoh, Chief Samson Mamamu, said he suspected a foul play.

Also, an activist, Comrade Austin Ozobo, described the fire as an unnecessary destruction of the people’s livelihood.

Gunmen in uniform raid Jonathan’s aide’s home

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IGHT gunmen, who allegedly dressed in police and military unicamouflage, at the weekend, burgled the home of the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Matters, Mr. Waripamowei Dudafa, in Yenagoa.

The gunmen were said to have stormed the expansive compound, near the Okaka Estate in the Bayelsa State capital, at 7:30 pm, on Saturday.

They reportedly left at 12:15 am, after operating unhindered for five hours.

Some aides to Dudafa yesterday took reporters round the ransacked home.

The armed men, who reportedly, combed the politician’s cupboards and other vital areas in the building.

The three policemen guarding the building were said to be off duty when the hoodlums stormed the com-

Accord Party urges INEC to cancel Akwa Ibom polls

•Police begin investigation

From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

pound.

The gunmen, it was learnt, removed the mattresses and other beddings and rummaged through Dudafa’s study.

The hoodlums were said to have broken into the strong room, where they located a safe. They reportedly worked on the safe for hours, eventually breaking it with axes.

Although Dudafa’s aides feigned ignorance of the contents, it was gathered that the gunmen removed from the safe an unspecified amount of money.

One of the two night guards, who simply gave his name as Mohammed, said the hoodlums rode a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).

The security man said the other guard, who he identi-

•A room in Dudafa’s house turned inside out...yesterday.

fied simply as Ibrahim, was away to buy food when the gunmen came.

Mohammed said: “They kept banging on the gate and when I demanded to know them and their mission, they said they were policemen. I peeped and saw that some of them were dressed in police uniform. When I tried to open the small gate, they pushed the gate and pinned me to the wall.”

The security man said the hoodlums tied his hands and legs, taped his mouth and ordered him to lie with his face down on the floor.

He added: “They asked for the keys to the rooms but I refused to give them out.

They threatened to kill me.

Later, they searched my bag and found the keys. When my brother returned, they tied him and took him to the living room.”

Pere Okoru, a cousin to Dudafa, who lives in the house, said the gunmen operated with torches because there was no power supply.

He said: “I came back from watching the Chelsea/ Manchester United game. I parked my car and went in to sleep. I soon slept off. But before I knew it, the security man started calling my name.

“He asked me to open the door. Immediately I opened the door, some guys just pushed it towards me and slammed my face with it.

They slapped me twice and demanded to know the whereabouts of the policemen attached to the building.

“I told them they were not around; but they didn’t believe me. They threatened to shoot my leg and took me to the policemen’s door.

They discovered that the policemen were not around.

They took me to the security gate and tied me there.

“They were dressed in police camouflage. Four were watching over us while others were in the house. Three hours later, they started communicating with some persons. Somebody was asking them whether they had seen something, but they said no.

“They later called the driver of their vehicle, who came to pick them. I saw them dragging something out of the house.”

The incident occurred the day the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted rescheduled elections in eight constituencies of the state.

Police spokesman Butswat Asinim, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the incident.

Asinim, who noted that the robbery might have been an inside job, said the police were investigating it.

He said the police were contacted three hours after the incident, adding that the command had not ascertained the valuables the hoodlums stole from the house.

KWA Ibom State Accord Party (A) governorship candidate Bishop Sam Akpan has called for the cancellation of the April 11 elections.

Akpan called for the cancellation in a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.

The letter noted that electoral materials were diverted and hijacked by Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) agents, allegedly in conivance with the police and armed thugs.

The letter reads: “I am the governorship candidate of Accord Party and I contested the April 11, 2015, election.

As at 11:30 am on the fateful day at my Unit 16 at the Primary School, Abak Ishiet, Onna, INEC did not turn up; I was later told that the materials were hijacked by the PDP. “The Accord Party chapter at Onna, through the party’s agent, has formally made a protest to the electoral officer for Onna Local Government as it also affects other polling units. The attached photocopies of protests submitted to INEC at the local government areas from my party agents at other polling units throughout the state indicate gross violation of the electoral guidelines with regard to the April 11 elections.

“I am properly informed by our party agents that electoral materials were diverted and hijacked by the PDP agents in collaboration with the police and armed thugs to private homes.

“Throughout the state, evidence abound that there was no election. I urge that the purported election in Akwa Ibom State be cancelled and a new date scheduled under the watchful eyes of Prof. Jega.”

‘Plot to malign Abe will fail’

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HE Magnus Abe Campaign Organisation has said it is aware of plots to malign the character of the senator.

In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, by its Head, Media and Publicity, Honour Sirawoo, the organisation said the plan would fail because it was anchored on falsehood.

The organisation was reacting to comments by Rivers State Governor-elect Nyesom Wike on a live TV programme monitored in Port Harcourt.

Wike was said to have accused Abe of orchestrating the attack on a home in Bera, Gokana Local Government Area.

But the organisation said it would have ignored the “irresponsible comment” but for its misleading impact on the public.

It said: “We are aware of gang-up against our senator with a view to assassinating his hard-earned reputation.

But such enterprise will fail because it is based on falsehood.”

The organisation expressed shock that even if Wike’s comment was part of a plot to get rid of Abe, following what it called “based on available information”, it added that Wike, being a lawyer, should have considered

•Abe

the implication of his utterance.

The statement said: “Those in leadership positions owe the society the duty of being wary of their actions, utterances and the way they whip up sentiments, because of the sensitive nature of our environment.”

It cautioned those celebrating today, following “their perceived victory in the purported elections in Rivers State” to look for better ways of wriggling out of the situation they created, instead of using Abe’s name as subterfuge.

The organisation urged All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Rivers State to be steadfast.

It assured that the rape of democracy, which the state suffered during the elections, would be subjected to “appropriate legal responses”.

APGA wins seat in Bayelsa Assembly From Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

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HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has won a seat in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly in Saturday’s rescheduled election in eight constituencies.

The results of the election showed that APGA’s candidate for Kolokuma-Opokuma 2, Mr. Ebiye Tarabina, defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Ongore Ebikeme.

The Returning Officer and a senior lecturer at the Federal University, Otuoke, Dr. E. Roselyn, said Tarabina polled 3,962 votes while Ongore got 3,182 votes.

But PDP candidates won in other seven constituencies.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and 12 other parties boycotted the poll after accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the state government of planning to rig the election.

The PDP now has 22 of the 24 seats in the Assembly.

APC and APGA have one seat each in Brass 1 and Kolokuma-Opokuma 2.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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Akwa Ibom Assembly candidates seek REC’s removal •Demand release of results

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OME Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly candidates have demanded the immediately removal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr Austin Okojie and his staff for not releasing results of the April 11 elections.

The candidates, represented by Dr John Harry, who contested for the Nsit Atai State Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), wondered why the results had not been released over a week after the elections.

“How did the original result sheets find themselves in the hands of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and government officials, instead of being sent to the polling units?” they asked in a statement at the weekend.

The candidates called for Okojie’s arrest and prosecution for supervising an election which they said was worse than robbery.

They added: “The sham and charade exercise of April 11 called elections should be

We’re ready to challenge Akwa Ibom polls, says Umana

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KWA Ibom State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Umana Umana yesterday said the party had engaged a formidable legal team to challenge the outcome of the governorship election.

Umana spoke during a meeting attended by leaders, elders, members and stakeholders of the party in Uyo, the state capital.

He said: “We will ask for the purported election to be upturned and a proper one conducted for indeed there was no election on April 11 in Akwa Ibom State.”

Umana noted that the lawyers, led by a renowned Lagos-based Senior Advocate of Nigeria with deep experience in pre- and post-election dispute

By Joseph Jibueze

cancelled totally. By this we mean both the governorship and the state Assembly elections.

“A new REC, Electoral Officers (EOs) and other officials should be recruited and fresh should be conducted within the time frame allowed.”

The candidates said the results should have been announced at the Local Govern-

From Kazeem Ibrahym, Uyo

resolution, were hired by the national headquarters of the party as a sign of unflinching support in the fight to reclaim the people’s stolen mandate.

Umana said the State House of Assembly election would also be challenged.

Also speaking at the meeting, the State Party Chairman, Dr. Amadu Attai, noted that the APC had collated an avalanche of evidence to prove clearly that there was indeed no governorship election in the state.

The chairman said that the PDP was busy looking for disgruntled APC members, especially chapter chairmen that were previously disciplined, to get them to sign a congratulatory mes-

ment collation centres on the night of the election or early the following day, as the law and electoral guidelines stipulate.

They accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of hurriedly manufacturing the results for the governorship election, and is at apparently at a fix as to how to allocate figures for the House election.

According to them, the fact that House of Assembly re-

sage to Udom Emmanuel.

His words: “If there were a proper election, the PDP wouldn’t be scouting around for signatures of people to congratulate them. We will surely reclaim our stolen mandate in the next few months.”

At the end of the meeting, party members were assured that a new election would be held under a new and better political environment with zero tolerance for impunity, intimidation, violence, politically motivated killings and misuse of the security forces.

The DG of the campaign, Mr. Sunny Udom, thanked party members and supporters for their overwhelming turnout to vote, and urged them to prepare for another election soon.

sults were yet to be released confirms their allegation that there was no valid election in most of the polling units on April 11.

“We note that the two elections were conducted simultaneously on the same day.

So how can one result be released and the other withheld till now?

“Indeed by INEC Guidelines, the House of Assembly results were to be released at the Local Government colla-

•Osun State House of Assembly member-elect Bosun Oyintiloye speaking to a congregation in a mosque ... at the weekend.

tion centres while the governorship results would then be released at the state capital.

“The question then is: why did INEC not release the 26 House of Assembly Results at the Collation Centres, and why have they not been released until now?” the candidates asked.

They recalled that independent observers, such as the European Union, the US Embassy, the British High Commission, Civil Societies Organisations, among others all reported that the elections were “irredeemably flawed and should be cancelled.”

The candidates said: “The elections were marred and disrupted by violence, killings, ballot box snatchings and many other vices. The nation has been horrified by gory pictures of Nigerians hacked to death in Akwa Ibom State by gangsters, cultists and thugs.

“These violence and killings were so wantonly carried out because there was security failure. And there was security failure because the Chief Security Officer of the State – the State Governor – had compromised the whole institutions of the state that participated in the elections: INEC, Police,

NYSC, etc,” they alleged.

The candidates said since there were no elections in Akwa Ibom on April 11, the delay in releasing the House of Assembly results is because the REC is allegedly facing serious problems trying to manufacture election results for an election conducted simultaneously with the governorship election.

Harry said: “In trying to cook up the numbers for our 26-member House of Assembly, Okojie and his fellow fraudulent Electoral Officers (EOs) are in a mathematical fix as there really was no election and so they cannot share the numbers without contradicting themselves with the already released results for the governorship election. This is a clear case of working from answer to question, and it has proved to be a nightmare scenario!

“They plan to allocate these fabricated numbers to the political parties in the state.

But how will the REC determine the sharing formula for the ‘manufactured votes’ since no voting took place in most polling units – about 2,000 of them - in the first place?

“How will Mr. Okojie and his band of mathematical magicians announce these results in the polling units, as the law stipulates; and how will they fabricate and allocate their numbers to the 329 wards and 31 LGAS? There is of course the Card Reader angle to all this. Everything must synchronise with what those devices recorded!”

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Don Etiebet, had accused INEC of aiding fraud in the elections, asking: “Why should INEC participate in a fraud, announce false results and then turn around to expect people to go to court?”

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information Mr Aniekan Umanah had denied the allegations, saying: “Those things they are saying are false.”

Foundation urges parents to embrace local dialects

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Constitution review: Group urges National Assembly to override Jonathan

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LEGISLATIVE advocacy group, Association for the Promotion of Parliamentary Relations (APPAR), yesterday asked the National Assembly to override President Gooluck Jonathan’s veto of the constitution amendment.

APPAR, in a statement by its Lead Facilitator, Paukl Onwde, said it received with rude shock the news of the refusal of Jonathan to sign the Constitutional Amendment Bill.

Onwude said it was a very rare privilege and courtesy extended to the President to ceremonially sign the bill which he does not have a role.

He said the President cited several reasons ranging from: not satisfying the requirements of section 9(3) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, whittling down Executive Powers, giving Executive Powers to the Legislature and the Judiciary, including casting aspersions

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor

on the procedures of the National Assembly by querying the Voice Vote procedures used by the National Assembly.

Onwude noted that though the President is entitled to his opinion, “however, he can keep his opinion to himself because he cannot be wiser than 109 Senators, 360 Members of the House of Representatives and the 36 State Houses of Assembly representing over 170 million Nigerians, who were duly consulted and have all agreed on the provisions of the amendments.”

He insisted that the opinion of one man – The President- cannot invalidate the majority approval of the Constitution especially when his opinion is not even required by law.

He said: “It is important to state here that by our Constitution and practices in the presidential system like the

United States of American, the President does not have a role in the Constitutional Amendment process.

“The President can only use what is called the “Bully Pulpit” to lobby for or against proposed amendments during national consultations like the House of Representatives’ Peoples Assembly or the Senate’s Zonal Public Hearings.

“Some Presidents in the USA have signed Constitutional Amendment Bills before, however, it was just ceremonial. The US Congress and the State Legislatures are the ones that have the mandate to amend the Constitution in the USA as directed

by Article V of the US Constitution. The only Executive Arm/Branch Public Official authorized in the USA to participate in the process, according to provisions of 1 U.S.C. 106B, is the Federal Archivist, who normally directs his/her staff, the Director of the Federal Register to

•Jonathan

publish and document the amendments.”

He noted that according to Section 9(3), of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the approving authority of the Constitutional Amendment or alteration in Nigeria are the 36 State Houses of Assembly that must approval it by 2/3 majority vote and same for the two chambers of the National Assembly, notwithstanding the provisions of sections 58(1) and Sections 100(1) of the Constitution that empowers the President and the Governors to sign bills into law, respectively.

N Abuja NGO, Teen Global Foundation has called on parents to communicate with their children in their mother tongue to preserve local dialects.

Its spokesperson, Miss Ijeoma Idika-Chima, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that some indigenous languages were gradually going into extinction due to the embrace of Western culture.

According to her, the mother tongue is what a person has learnt from birth, and thus becomes the basis for social identity.

She said that there was a need for teenagers to change their perception about the country’s indigenous languages.

“Most teenagers think that speaking their local dialects is “old school’’ and therefore prefer to speak English to prove to their peers that they can speak better than them.

“The Western people are proud of their languages; we should also be proud of ours.

Some children and teenagers cannot even speak their mother tongues at all; that is

not good,’’ Idika-Chima said.

She underscored the role of language in the preservation of values and morals of societies.

Idika-Chima said that if Nigerians must continue to hold their heads high amongst other people of the globe, they must preserve their true identities. ”We should not forget our language, which is part of our culture, if the language dies, the culture dies,’’ she said.

Idika-Chima noted that some parents discourage their young children from speaking in their dialects.

She further advised schools, parents and the society in general to encourage the youths to learn to speak and read in their indigenous languages.

The foundation’s aim is to train teenagers through the difficult phase of their lives using various programmes that will positively impact them as they become adults.

Other objectives is to promote and organise programmes to teach teenagers their different mother tongues.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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Why PDP lost to APC, by Elechi

BONYI State Governor Martin Elechi has identified disobedience and refusal to do things right as reasons why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost in the elections.

Elechi spoke yesterday at the Government House, Abakaliki when the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) visited him. He said disobedience to President Goodluck Jonathan and elders of the party caused the party’s failure.

His words: “I am a stick-

From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

ler to doing things the way we have agreed. If you have an agreement (party’s constitution), a consensus with the highest authorities, we must respect them.

“But because that was not done, the party started having problems.

“The President summoned a meeting in Abuja to iron things out and ordered that primaries should not hold in Adamawa, Taraba, Ondo and Ebonyi until

issues emanating from the first congress of the party in those four states were resolved, but the directive was not respected.

“Some people who felt they were more powerful and influential than the President flouted that order.

“Many felt aggrieved and decided to leave the party. I decided to remain in PDP and that was how we disintegrated from being the leading party into an opposition party.

“We who obeyed the

President were vilified and castigated while those who disobeyed him with impunity became angels and saints in the party and this is what I can’t understand till today.”

The governor said he would follow the path of peace and resolve his differences with those who opposed him.

He urged CAN to pray for the incoming government to succeed saying, “if it succeeds, we shall be better for it”.

Kidnappers’ dens demolished in Anambra

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WO buildings, allegedly used as kidnappers hideout, has been demolished by the Anambra State government.

The demolished buildings are in Umuikwelle, Eziowelle, Idemili North and Umugbom, Azigbo in Nnewi South Local Government Area.

The demolished six-bedroom bungalow at Eziowelle was allegedly used by Obinna Okadigbo and his gang.

The second building, a four-bedroom bungalow at Azigbo, owned by the late Mr. Simon Ikwukeme, was used by another gang, led by Emeka Chukwuka, Chukwuka Nkpuechina and Onuegbu Onyekachi.

Governor Willie Obiano said the state had not experienced kidnapping in the last one year because security operatives were equipped to nip such threats in the bud.

He said men of the ‘Operation Kpochapu’ would deal with anyone involved in crime.

Governor Obiano said: “In the past one week, we have donated a gunboat to the Navy to enable them patrol the River Niger and stop inflow of arms into the state.

“We also took delivery of 15 speed boats and six water ambulances to assist in quick dispensation of healthcare services to riverine communities.

“I also wish to assure potential investors that we have machinery in place to protect their interest and ensure their safety”.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Agugosi said the buildings were pulled down in accordance with provisions of the law. He said it was also a measure to restate government’s commitment to rid the state of kidnappers.

“The government is, with this exercise, demonstrating its resolve to stop kidnappers and criminal elements from operating in Anambra.

“It is also to show that the police and other security operatives are not relenting on their job to ensure a crime-free Anambra,” Agugosi said.

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NYC: military plans to scuttle rerun From Bukola Amusan, Abuja

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OUTHS, under the aegis of Nigeria Youth Congress (NYC), has alerted to plans by some top military brass to deploy military personnel for the rerun elections in Abia State.

NYC’s President Comrade Yakubu Shendam said the heavy presence of soldiers during the April 11 elections was alarming.

Shendam said there was sufficient proof that soldiers were being mobilised ahead of the April 25 date for the rerun election.

He maintained that the electoral process had been peaceful because it reflected the people’s wishes, even as he warned against acts capable of disrupting the peace and tranquility.

“Despite the court injunction restraining the military from participating in elections, the case of Abia was different as military men were seen harassing people. If soldiers were not used in other states, why should Abia be an exception?

“We appeal to military authorities working with some retired military top brass to give peace a chance. Let the Army concentrate on its primary responsibility of defending the country from foreign aggressors and allow the Police to take care of internal security,” Shendam said.

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•Eziowelle kidnap den before demolition

HELL Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has extended its Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) to Anambra

State.

The scheme, in partnership with the Anambra State Government; the Idemili CHIS Board; and two Health Maintenance Organisations (HMO) – Proserve and Avon, was launched at the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital.

According to SNEPCo’s Managing Director, Tony Attah, who was represented by Business Relations Manager, Kanu Ijere, “the initiative will increase health care access for the people, particularly women and children who form a large percentage of health care seekers.”

Shell’s Regional Community Health Manager, Dr. Babatunde Fakunle, commended the Idemili communities, Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital and the HMOs for the collaboration and for their commitment towards the success of the project.

CHIS was first launched by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) operated joint venture at the Obio Cottage Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

•Azigbo-kidnap-den being demolished

Kerosene fire burns woman in Ebonyi From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

ible, indicates that all the Presiding Officers (POs) during the elections in Enugu were summoned by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) to the INEC office in Enugu for the purpose of signing the ballot papers on Friday, April 17.

The POs were said to have been directed to thumb-print and sign the ballot papers to cover up the fake results INEC declared.”

Ezea warned INEC not to tamper with the ballot sheets already submitted to his office as this constitutes elec-

toral fraud. The illegal act, he said, ‘will not stand as we have evidence that some of the results declared did not represent the true situation of the voting and the winners announced.

He maintained that thumb-printing and signing of ballot papers after elections amounted to electoral offence that should be investigated by security agencies if they did not support or encourage the illegality.

The candidate said the APC in Enugu had been pressing for a cancellation of the April 11 election and a

rerun conducted.

“The APC in Enugu State have lodged a complaint to INEC chairman through the REC in Enugu, rejecting the fraudulent elections and the results announced. We called for cancellation and a fresh election to be held.

“We have also made our stand known to the public through the media. We use this medium to call on our supporters, some of whom were brutalised and humiliated, to remain calm while we seek justice through the right channels,” Ezea said.

Umeh takes PDP, INEC to tribunal HE National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has challenged the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra Central at the Elections Petitions Tribunal.

He said the fraud was too obvious to be ignored, adding that PDP perpetrated the act with ignominy.

“I decided to come to court to challenge the proc-

From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

HE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has won 27 seats in the Anambra State House of Assembly election rerun, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the remaining three.

Four incumbent lawmakers, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lost their seats to APGA members.

Minority Whip Paully Onyeka of APGA also lost to his PDP opponent.

Before the rescheduled elections, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared APGA winners in 25 of the 30 seats.

SNEPCo extends health insurance to Anambra

Don’t tamper with ballot papers, Enugu APC warns HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to tamper with the ballot papers, used and unused.

In a statement, APC’s governorship candidate, Okey Ezea, said the electoral body should not attempt to justify the bogus results it announced for the April 11 elections.

The statement reads: “Information at our disposal, which we believe is cred-

Anambra rerun: PDP wins three seats

ess, which we had on March 28 because it was flawed.

PDP agents in Anambra State manipulated the process.

“We have enough evidence to show that we won the election, and we have brought here Certified True Copies of documents, which we have presented before the tribunal. We are hopeful that we will reclaim our mandate because it is not the first time we have done this.”

Umeh also urged President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to investigate happenings during the elections.

“I also call on the President-elect, Buhari, to investigate the presidential election in the Southeast. It has always been the norm for PDP bigwigs to sabotage the people.

“We believe that our coming to court will help to retrieve our mandate, and the electoral reform

A

N expectant mother in Ugwufie, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, at the weekend, suffered severe burns from a fire caused by adulterated kerosene.

It was learnt there was an explosion as the victim, Mrs. Patricia Ndukwe, attempted to light her lamp.

Sources said her neighbours intervened and saved her from burning to death.

Mrs Ndukwe, however, lost her property in the fire.

The mother of two suffered burns on her face and hands and was taken to a cottage hospital in Ekoli Edda.

A hospital official, Chioma Onu said Mrs. Ndukwe was unconscious when she was brought in, adding that she was responding to treatment.

The victim’s husband, Mr. John Ndukwe, said the adulterated kerosene was sold in the area.

“Government should check the sale of adulterated kerosene to prevent future disasters,” he added.

Funeral for Archbishop Nwator

A •Umeh

which the President-elect is to champion, will help us to achieve success,” Umeh said.

RCHBISHOP Friday Osaro Nwator, from Ogale, Eleme in Rivers State, who died on April 6, will be buried on May 23. He was aged 74.

Nwator, a philanthropist and a United Kingdom-trained doctor, was an adviser on Health to President Shehu Shagari; national president, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and founder, Health Services Department, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

The late Nwator holds the National Honour of Order of the Niger (OON), and was a member of the Constituent Assembly in the Second Republic. He chaired the Nigeria Red Cross Society in Rivers State.

He is survived by his wife and four children; Mr. Dominic Nwator, commissioner, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), six grand children and relations.

A statement by Dominic Nwator said he would be buried on May 23.

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

NEWS Xenophobic attack: Reflection of poverty, unemployment, says NLC

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday attributed the xenophobic attacks by South Africans on their counterparts to the crisis of governance. It described it as a reflection of the worsening poverty and unemployment rates in Africa.

According to the workers’ umbrella body, the attacks were desperate and reckless actions of jobless youths of South Africa, saying such actions have a link with the disconnect between governments and the governed in the continent. Not ruling the possibility of such attacks in Nigeria, the NLC said both Nigeria and South Africa have high levels of unemployment rates of 23.9 and 24.3 per cent respectively, going by International Labour Organisation (ILO) statistics.

In a statement by its Deputy President, Issa Aremu in Kaduna, the NLC, however, condemned the attacks and said the serial xenophobic attacks on innocent African workers are grossly unwar-

From Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

ranted, condemnable and unacceptable.

Aremu said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) hereby joins our counterpartFederation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATUU) to condemn the reckless violent attacks on African working people and nationals in South Africa with unacceptable resultant avoidable destruction of lives and properties. The xenophobic attacks had claimed several lives.

“The latest round of attacks was reportedly instigated by the Zulu King in the Kwazulunatal region in South Africa. It has since spread to other commercial cities like Durban and Johannesburg. Similar attacks in January this year claimed several lives. In January, looters burnt businesses owned by foreigners.

“In 2008, Seven years ago, in Johannesburg, anti-immigrant violence claimed many innocent lives. Most of the

victims were Zimbabweans who had fled repression and dire economic circumstances.

As many as 200 people were arrested on various charges, including rape, murder, robbery and theft.

“These serial xenophobic attacks on innocent African workers are grossly unwarranted, condemnable and unacceptable.

“Right to work is right to life. We believe that African workers have a right to seek legitimate work anywhere in the continent based on the dream and ideals set by the founding fathers such as Kwame Nkruma, Julius Nyerere, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nelson Mandela among others.

“The xenophobic violence in South Africa is a reflection of the crisis of governance in Africa as reflected by the worsening poverty and unemployment rate in the continent.

“The ILO harmonised unemployment rate refers to those who are currently not working but are willing and

able to work for pay, currently available to work, and have actively searched for work.

“The desperate and reckless actions of the jobless youths of South Africa are not unconnected with the unending disconnect between the governments and the governed in Africa.

“What is happening in South Africa can happen in Nigeria. According to the ILO both Nigeria and South Africa have high levels of unemployment rates of 23.9 per cent and 24.3 per cent in 2014 respectively. As many as 20,000 people have died in the Mediterranean Sea en route to Europe.

“It is a clear indication of the level of bad governance going on everywhere in the continent. It is a very sad development that at a time the other continents are forging unity and economic integration, Africans are killing Africans in constant reckless xenophobic attacks.

“The Constitutive Act of the Africa Union (AU) launched

•Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (left) and former military President Ibrahim Babangida when the latter paid a visit to Atiku at his Asokoro residence in Abuja …yesterday.

Chukwumerije dies of lung cancer at 75 Continued from page 4

hard work. He was focused and determined to make positive difference.

“We shall miss him. No doubt he left a vacuum that would be too hard to fill.

He was a consummate and passionate Nigerian who believed in the sanctity of the peace and unity of the nation,” he said.

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu also expressed shock and sadness.

Ekweremadu described him as “a patriot who gave his best towards the peace, unity, and development of Nigeria”.

Ekweremadu’s statement, signed by his Special Adviser (Media), Uche Anichukwu, said: “I am most saddened by the news of the passing on of Distinguished Senator Chukwumerije. It is the exit of a lion senator, brother, friend, brave comrade, seasoned journalist, credible mobiliser, social critic, pro-poor politician and a legislator par-excellence.

“Comrade was a highly principled patriot who detested political excesses and injustice of any form to any people. He was a most

detribilised Nigerian who believed that every part of the country deserved the respect, opportunities, and rights intrinsic in their membership of the Nigerian commonwealth.

“He loved his people, Ndigbo, and gave his very best towards protecting their interest and working for the development of the region.”

Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East) described Chukwumerije’s death as “unfortunate”.

Ashafa said his incisive contributions to issues of national importance will be greatly missed.

According to him, Chukwumerije will be remembered for standing firm in defence of policies that will benefit the downtrodden in the society.

“He (the late Chukwumerije) was outspoken when he served as the Senate Committee Chairman on Education, especially during the committee’s oversight functions.

He wanted the best for our educational system,” Ashafa said.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also lamented the senator’s death.

A statement by the party

said: “The national chairman, on behalf of the National Executive Committee, mourns the death of Senator Chukwumerije.

“We are indeed deeply saddened by the loss of this great Nigerian, a highly respected statesman who has made immense contributions to the development of our dear nation. ”Senator Chukuwumerije was a patriotic Nigerian and a brilliant lawmaker who gave his all and discharged his responsibilities with unequaled forthrightness, loyalty and commitment to the service of our dear fatherland. ”He was a democratic icon and an outstanding partyman who remained committed to the ideology of the PDP and the visions of the founding fathers. ”We will greatly miss him.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to his family as we pray God to give them the fortitude to bear this great loss.”

Chukwumerije was born in November 1939. He was elected a Senator in 2003.

Chukwumerije served as minister of Information in the dying days of the military regime of Gen. Ibrahim Ba-

bangida. He was retained in the same position in the Interim National Government (ING) led by Chief Ernest Shonekan, which was installed after Gen. Babangida’s forced exit from power.

In the Fourth Republic, the late Chukwumerije was first elected to the Senate on the PDP platform. He fell out of favour with the party’s leadership and joined the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) platform in 2006. He was re-elected to the Senate in 2007. Chukwumerije was elected for the third time on the PDP platform in 2011.

The late Chukwumerije, who was divorced with seven children, studied economics at the University of Ibadan (UI).

A confidant of the erudite Senator in Abia State, Mr Godi Udeaja, described him as a very good Igbo man, a serious-minded man who was a man after justice and fair play.

Udeaja, who described the late senator as a rugged fighter of Igbo cause. The Igbo race has lost of its main defenders, while the senate has lost one of its brightest and erudite.”

in 2002 by the Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was INSPIRED by the noble ideals which guided the founding fathers of our Continental Organization and generations of Pan-Africanists in their determination to promote unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States.

“One notable objective of the AU is to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.

“We hereby call on workers and millions of jobless youths to turn their anger on their government who have abandoned their duty to wealth and jobs creations and welfare for their citizens. To this extent NLC and COSATUU will partner to engage our governments on job creations that must start with reindustrialization of the continent.

“We therefore call on the African Union to prevail on the South African authorities to take immediate measures to protect and safeguard the lives and properties of migrants and indeed all nationals resident in South Africa

and ensure that real compensations are paid to the families of all who lost their family members and relations and also for the loss of properties.

“It is time that governments on the continent are compelled by their citizens to work for the common good of the people. In this direction, we will liaise with our counterpart in South Africa to join in the struggle to ensure that migrant workers do not suffer irresponsible losses anymore.”

Similarly, the Muslim Students Society (MSS) has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency evacuates all Nigerians especially students from Yemen and South Africa because of the total breakdown of law and order in Yemen and the Xenophobic terrorists gangs in South Africa.

The National Vice President of the Society, Mallam Yusuf Yakubu Arrigasiyyu stated this while speaking to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

According to the MSS Vice President, it has become imperative to bring back Nigerians in this country in order to save their lives because the government of the two countries cannot guarantee their safety.

Civil society groups slam NSCDC for assault on Ikhide

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COALITION of civil society organisations and human rights activists in Edo State has criticized the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for its members’ assault And Adviser to Osun State Governor Erasmus Ikhide on April 11 in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo state.

Convener of the groups Austin Osakue, who spoke on behalf of the others said: “While vehemently condemning this unwarranted assault on our colleague, we are particularly perturbed by the fact that: Our senior colleague was attacked on the prompting of a political thug as a a comrade Ikhide went about the peaceful exercise of his constitution-

al right to vote.

The Police have up till now failed to effect the arrest of “these vandals in uniform.”

“We have therefore resolved to issue the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force a seven-day ultimatum to arrest the assaulters and commence their prosecution after due investigation.

“We have also briefed our lawyers to commence civil proceedings against the attackers and the Nigeria security and civil defence corps, NSCDC which we hold vicariously liable for the barbaric actions of its operatives.

“We finally wish to reiterate that Nigeria is operating a civil democracy and any acts that tend to depict the country as brutish and authoritarian will be resisted.”

Niger, Algeria predict persistent low oil prices Continued from page 4

“drastic” oil slump has eroded the country’s foreign reserves and budget position.

Algeria’s hard currency reserves dropped in January by $11.6 billion, the biggest monthly drop in more than 30 years, according to a data from the IMF. “Given that oil prices are generally expected to remain low for a prolonged period, the degree of resilience of our economy may rapidly erode,” he said during the panel, declining to estimate where prices will be a year from now.

Mauricio Cardenas, the Finance Minister of Colombia, which over the past five years has become a big producer, agreed on the longer-term outlook, though he said the price of Brent crude may rise to $70 a barrel in the next few years.

“We think of this in the framework of a permanent

reduction in oil prices,” said Cardenas, who estimated prices in a year will be $65 a barrel.

While the IMF projected last week that low oil prices should boost global growth, it warned that the combination of a strong U.S. dollar and depressed crude market could bite hard in emerging economies that rely heavily on oil exports.

David Lipton, the secondin-Command at the Washington-based lender, said during the discussion that oil futures imply a modest increase in prices over the next five years.

“From the standpoint of policy makers, I think the smart thing to do is presume this will be durable because we’ve seen that it’s come from the supply side.

“It’s not something that’s going to go away just with the economic recovery.”

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS Pope expresses sadness for Chicago prelate’s death

•Pop Francis

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OPE Francis has expressed sadness for the death of Cardinal Fran-

cis George, the retired Chicago archbishop.In a condolence telegram Saturday sent to current Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich, the pontiff offered “heartfelt condolences” to the prelate, clergy and other faithful of the third-largest U.S. archdiocese with 2.2 million parishioners. George, 78, died on Friday after suffering from cancer.Francis also expressed gratitude for the cardinal’s service to the church and long years in the ministry in Yakima, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and Chicago.

China jails journalist over leaked ‘state secrets’

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UTHORITIES say Gao Yu leaked a sensitive document that was then widely reposted abroad China has jailed a top journalist for seven years for leaking a confidential paper to a foreign website.

Gao Yu, 71, had “illegally provided state secrets to foreigners”, the court in Beijing said.

China has not confirmed which document the case relates to, but it is thought to be a Communist Party strategy paper known as “Document No 9”.

The paper is said to call for aggressive restrictions on democracy, civil society and the press.

Amnesty International called the sentence “an affront to justice”.

Gao was “the victim of vaguely worded and arbitrary state-secret laws that are used against activists as part of the authorities’ attack on freedom of expression”, said William Nee, China researcher at the rights group.

Shang Baojun, one of her lawyers, said they were “very disappointed” with the verdict and would appeal.

Gao is a rarity in China an outspoken reporter who chose to work outside the mainstream state media outlets. She filed Chinese language stories to overseas media outlets that were eager to publish her insights.

She was also unusual because she appeared to have access to relatively high-level information about the Chinese government and the ruling Communist Party.

Though that does not mean, her lawyers insist, that she is guilty of leaking state secrets.

Somewhat ironically, the internal Communist Party memo Gao is said to have leaked warns of the dangers posed by “Western-style” media outlets.

“Some people, under the pretext of espousing ‘freedom of the press’ promote the West’s idea of journalism,” the document reads.

“The ultimate goal of advocating the West’s view of the media is to hawk the principle of abstract and absolute freedom of press, oppose the Party’s leadership in the media, and gouge an opening through which to infiltrate our ideology.”

Mediterranean migrants: Hundreds feared dead after boat capsizes

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UNDREDS of people are feared to have drowned after a boat carrying up to 700 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, the Italian coastguard says.

The vessel, thought to be just 20m (70ft) long, capsized at midnight local time in Libyan waters south of the Italian island of Lampedusa.

So far only 28 people have been rescued and 24 bodies retrieved.

Italy’s PM said it was a European tragedy and called for an extraordinary EU summit on the migrants issue.

Matteo Renzi said he could not verify the number of deaths, but that it would be a “dramatic amount”.

The UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, said the latest sinking could amount to the largest loss of life during a migrant crossing to Europe. At least another 900 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean this year.

Media caption Italian Prime

Minister Matteo Renzi says the trafficking of migrants amounts to a “new slave trade” Italian naval and coastguard ships, the Maltese Navy and cargo vessels, along with three helicopters, are involved in the rescue operation, 130 miles (210km) off the coast of Lampedusa and 17 miles from the Libyan coast.

The Italian coastguard’s spokesman told the BBC the operation was still focused on search and rescue, “but in time it will be a search [for bodies] only”.

Migrants died attempting the crossing between 1 Jan and 15 April •31,500 Migrants have arrived from North Africa so far this year •218,000 Estimated to have crossed the Mediterranean in 2014 •3,500 Migrants died attempting the crossing last year The migrants reportedly fell overboard when they rushed to draw the attention of the

passing Portuguese merchant ship King Jacob, causing their ship to capsize.

The Italian coastguard says the 28 survivors and 24 bodies are now on its vessel the Gregoretti.

Media caption Richard Bilton describes how crossing the Mediterranean can be a perilous journey Lampedusa is scrambling to react to the latest horror in the seas off its coastline. Much of the harbour has emptied.

Coastguard, customs and fishing boats all left before dawn to help with the rescue.

Marta Bernardini works for the charity Mediterranean Hope, which is based on the island and works with migrants. She told the BBC: “We are very sad. It’s so difficult for us who live and work in Lampedusa every day, to know that a lot of people die in this way, in the Mediterranean Sea.” Lampedusa is the most southerly point of Italy - nearer Africa than the Italian main-

•The Italian coastguard engages in the search, joined by cargo vessels and Malta's navy

land. Locals say that since January - when the EU took control of patrolling Europe’s maritime borders - between 9,000 and 10,000 migrants have arrived on the island.

Maltese PM Joseph Muscat said rescuers were “literally trying to find people alive among the dead floating in the water”.

Mr Muscat told the BBC: “What is happening now is of epic proportions. If Europe, if the global community continues to turn a blind eye... we will all be judged in the same way that history has judged Europe when it turned a blind eye to the genocide of this century and last century.”

Media caption Moath from Eritrea tells Peter Musembi about his frightening crossing in a small boat from Libya Urging the EU summit, Mr Renzi said: “It is unthinkable that in the face of such a tragedy, there isn’t the feeling of solidarity which Europe has shown in other instances.”

PHOTO:AFP

Israeli leader struggling to form coalition

•Netanyahu

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ITH a resounding election victory last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to have an easy path toward quickly establishing a coalition government with his traditional nationalist, religious and ultraOrthodox Jewish allies.

But after weeks of negotiations with potential partners, Netanyahu is finding the task harder than expected and is flirting with the idea of reaching out to his main dovish rivals to form a unity government. As he decides which path to take, he will seek an additional two-week extension to put his coalition together.

Which way Netanyahu goes will have broad implications. If he sides with the hard-line allies that he often

calls his “natural” partners, Netanyahu will have a solid parliamentary majority of like-minded parties that could avoid much of the infighting that plagued the outgoing government and provide some welcome political stability at home.

But such a coalition - averse to peace moves with the Palestinians and in favor of expanded settlement construction in the West Bank - would quickly find itself on a collision course with the international community at a time when Netanyahu is already feuding with his allies over the moribund peace process and a nuclear deal with Iran that he loathes. A unity government that includes his leftist rivals would help blunt that looming international isolation.

Throughout the heated campaign, Netanyahu ruled out the possibility of joining forces with Isaac Herzog and his center-left Zionist Union and vowed to rule from the right.

Election results gave his Likud Party 30 seats and secured him a potential 67-seat majority of the 120-seat Knesset along with his traditional allies. In negotiations however, these allies have made demands to head powerful government ministries, and an

initial four-week window to form a new government is now set to expire.

On Monday, he is scheduled to meet the largely ceremonial president, Reuven Rivlin, and seek a two-week extension. Under Israeli election rules, if he fails to form a coalition during that time Rivlin can then assign someone else the task of doing so.

Few expect it to come to that, and the 67-seat rightwing government seems to be the most likely outcome.

Netanyahu looks close to finalizing deals with two ultra-Orthodox parties, Shas and Yahadut Hatorah, who are seeking ministries and parliamentary committees with large budgets catering to their constituents. He also appears to be close to a deal with the centrist, economicsfocused Kulanu party.

But large gaps remain with the two other pieces needed to complete the puzzle, the nationalist Jewish Home and Yisrael Beiteinu parties, both of whom are led by longtime Netanyahu associates who have a tumultuous relationship with the boss.

Despite disappointing election results, both parties are demanding top Cabinet posts and major influence that are disproportionate to

their numbers. Netanyahu has yet to budge and has signaled he may leave them out.

Tsahi Hanegbi, the deputy foreign minister from Netanyahu’s Likud Party, said the prospect of Herzog joining the coalition was only becoming a possibility due to the hard-ball approach of the right-wing parties. ”It is rising only as an extreme scenario whose chances of coming true are a result of the Jewish Home or Yisrael Beitenu, either both of them or one of them, stubbornly refusing to show flexibility,” he told Israel’s Army Radio Sunday.

While the threat may be a pressure tactic, there are large issues at stake. Despite his rhetoric, aides acknowledge that Netanyahu is concerned about clashes with his allies in the U.S. and western Europe.

Increased settlement construction, a prolonged absence of Palestinian peace talks and nationalist legislation that undermines Israel’s democratic nature would surely draw a strong rebuke and perhaps even calls for sanctions and boycotts. With his relations with President Barack Obama at a low point following clashes over Mid-

east peace and the Iranian nuclear talks, there is a real fear that Israel’s top ally may rescind its automatic protection of Israel at the United Nations and other international bodies.

Netanyahu has partnered with his adversaries in the past to shield himself from similar fallout.In 2009, he added Labor Party leader Ehud Barak as his defense minister and point man to the West.

And in his last government, he brought in dovish ex-foreign minister Tzipi Livni to be his chief peace negotiator.

Herzog is under heavy pressure from his followers not to offer Netanyahu that political cover again. Both men have denied reports of a secret meeting. Over the weekend, Herzog vowed to go to the opposition.”Sitting in the opposition is not a default choice but a preference,” he said. “Our place is in the opposition. We will replace the Likud government.”But Herzog’s Labor Party, the main partner in the Zionist Union, has a long history of ousting its defeated leaders, so Herzog also may be tempted to jump at a chance to gain some influence and job security -

most likely as Netanyahu’s foreign minister.

Herzog is the seventh leader of the party since it last won a national election in 1999.Herzog’s only hint of common ground with Netanyahu was a position paper issued by his party that backed Netanyahu’s opposition to the recent U.S.-led framework nuclear deal with Iran.

On this crucial matter, it said “there is no coalition or opposition” in Israel.So far Herzog’s party rank-and-file seems to oppose joining Netanyahu and appears eager to watch a hard-line government fail. But there are also growing voices in Israel saying that Herzog’s Zionist Union does not have the luxury to make that kind of cold political calculation. ”Its presence in the coalition is critical to preserving Israel as a liberal democracy,” liberal columnist Carlo Strenger wrote in the Haaretz daily.

“Ultimately, the idea of staying in the opposition is based on a deep illusion: It is that the liberal center-left is likely to regain power in the foreseeable future, and that Israel’s electorate just has to realize how destructive the political right’s policies are.”

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

FOREIGN NEWS IS releases new ‘killing’ video of Ethiopian Christians

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SLAMIC State (IS) militants have released a video purportedly showing the killing of up to 30 Ethiopian Christians in Libya.

The victims are believed to be members of the Ethiopian Church seized in Libya by IS-linked militants.

The video is similar to previous ones posted by IS, including the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians in February.

The latest tape is 29 minutes long and bears the official logo of the media arm of IS. Its authenticity has not been independently verified.

In the video, a masked militant with a gun is seen making a statement threatening Christians if they do not convert to Islam or pay a special tax.

IS has in recent months published a number of videos apparently showing the killing of its hostages, drawing condemnation around the world.

Islamic State kills Ethiopian Christians in Libya

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SLAMIC State militants in Libya shot and beheaded groups of captive Ethiopian Christians, a video purportedly from the extremists showed Sunday. The attack widens the circle of nations affected by the group’s atrocities while showing its growth beyond a self-declared “caliphate” in Syria and Iraq.The release of the 29-minute video comes a day after Afghanistan’s president blamed the extremists for a suicide attack in his country that killed at least 35 people and underscores the chaos gripping Libya after its 2011 civil war and the killing of dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

It also mirrored a film released in February showing militants beheading 21 captured Egyptian Christians on a Libyan beach, which immediately drew Egyptian airstrikes on the group’s suspected positions in Libya. Whether Ethiopia would - or could - respond with similar military force remains unclear.

Ethiopia long has drawn the anger of Islamic extremists over its

military’s attacks on neighboring Somalia, whose population is almost entirely Muslim. While the militant in the video at one point said “Muslim blood that was shed under the hands of your religion is not cheap,” it did not specifically mention the Ethiopian government’s actions.The video, released via militant social media accounts and websites, could not be independently verified by The Associated Press. However, it corresponded to other videos released by the Islamic State group and bore the symbol of its al-Furqan media arm.

The video starts with what it called a history of Christian-Muslim relations, followed by scenes of militants destroying churches, graves and icons. A masked fighter brandishing a pistol delivers a long statement, saying Christians must convert to Islam or pay a special tax prescribed by the Quran.It shows one group of captives, identified as Ethiopian Christians, purportedly held by an Islamic State affiliate in east-

ern Libya known as Barqa Province.

It also shows another purportedly held by an affiliate in the southern Libyan calling itself the Fazzan Province.

The video then switches between footage of the captives in the south being shot dead and the captives in the east being beheaded on a beach.

It was not immediately possible to estimate how many captives were killed or confirm their identities.

In Ethiopia, government spokesman Redwan Hussein said officials were in contact with its embassy in Cairo to verify the video’s authenticity. Hussein said he believed those killed likely were Ethiopian migrants hoping to reach Europe.

Libya has become a hub for migrants across Africa hoping to cross the Mediterranean to enter Europe for work and better lives.”If this is confirmed, it will be a warning to people who wish to risk and travel to Europe though the dangerous route,” Hussein said.Abba Kaletsidk Mulugeta, an official with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo

•Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen (C) waves goodbye from the catwalk for the final time before retiring from modelling.

PHOTO:AFP

Church’s Patriarchate Office, told the AP he also believed the victims likely were migrants.”I believe this is just another case of the IS group killing Christians in the name of Islam.

Our fellow citizens have just been killed on a faith-based violence that is totally unacceptable. This is outrageous,” Mulugeta said. “No religion orders the killing of other people, even people from another religion.”After the February killings of the Coptic Christians, Egypt’s military responded with airstrikes targeting the militant stronghold of Darna. It has not launched further strikes, though its president is trying to form a pan-Arab military force to respond to extremist threats in the region.

The Islamic State group, which grew out of al-Qaida’s former Iraqi affiliate, now holds about a third of Iraq and Syria in its self-declared caliphate. It’s called on Muslims across the world to join it. Its online videos and propaganda, including scenes of its mass killings and beheadings, have caught the attention of many extremistsIts influence has grown since it seized large areas of Iraq last summer. Insurgents in Egypt’s strategic Sinai Peninsula also have pledged to the group, while another purported affiliate in Yemen claimed a series of suicide bombings in March that killed at least 137 people. On Saturday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani blamed an affiliate in his country for an attack on a bank branch in the country’s east that killed 35 people and wounded 125.

An affiliate also operates in Pakistan.However, it remains unclear what kind of central commandand-control structure the Islamic State group operates. ”The Islamic State in Libya is still focused on this consolidation phase of announcing its presence through these very high-profile executions,” said Frederic Wehrey, a senior associate for the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “But they face some structural limits in terms of how much local support they can get because they haven’t captured real revenue streams.”

FOREIGN ANALYSIS

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T is saddening that an Egyptian court has confirmed the death sentence given to Mohamed Badie, one of the leaders of the Muslim brotherhood, and 13 other members of the group, after being imprisoned along with thousands of people that were detained when Muhammad Morsi, the nation’s first democratically elected president was unlawfully overthrown in 2013, through a military coup that claimed thousands of lives, under president, Abdel Fattah el sisi.

For those who are sincere advocates of justice, truth and respect for human sanctity, the blood of the deceased innocent people of Egypt, especially that of the members of the Muslim Brotherhood, is writing a message of reminder to us, to fully discern the tough challenges on the path of truth, and to also understand the ferocious evil of the people of darkness.

One may know that the Muslim Brotherhood has dominated the news over time, and it has been the only robust Islamic Movement that has resisted extinction, despite the pressure from the anti-Islamic machinations of some factions of the West, Zionist movement and those who are benefitting from the remnant of corruption of the power that be, like the Gulf States and of course the recent Saudi Monarchy. The enemies of the spirit of truth do not have problem with the mere appellation of the Movement (Muslim Brotherhood), but with its principles, its balanced ideology that can strengthen the brotherhood of the Muslims all over the world and its codes of conduct.

Egypt and Genocide of Justice

By Yusuf Jimoh Aweda

All of these are complex issues. But the Center For Human Rectitude wishes to simplify it into three matters so that you may understand beyond the shores of the delusional Western Conspiracies. First, is the “ideology”. The enemies have recognised that the Movement of the Muslim Brother is not only based on the revelation of the Quran and Sunnah alone but also on its moderate ideology. And they also know that it has been the most organised Movement that has been careful in spreading the message of Islam under the tenets of its tranquillity. So, they felt there was a need to prevent the “moderate Islam” from reaching the people, which the Muslim Brotherhood remains the only advocates of and also the sets of peaceful and unifying ideology that the faction of the west and their allies dislike, these ideas have remained the strongest reasons the Democratic government of Muhammad Morsi was frustrated fiercely.

All of the propaganda against Islam by the enemies of Islam would not have had a viral growth if the real Islam which shuns extremism is allowed by the power that be to get to the consciousness of people.

Asides this, they fear it would be difficult to continue to enslave the Muslims world if there is a body working assiduously to unite the Muslims under the umbrella of the Quran and the Sunnah that is nur-

‘This is a battle against some sets of ideologies that are consistent with the pristine messages of Islam which promote love, kindness and peacefulness in its entirety’ tured with admiring Islamic tolerance. This is why the Muslim brotherhood has become a “threat” to the western anti Islamic and anti human conspiracies.

This is a battle against some sets of ideologies that are consistent with the pristine messages of Islam which promote love, kindness and peacefulness in its entirety.This is a battle against every sane Islamic body or personality that stands up to promote the balance and untainted Islam of the Prophet and his companions which strictly shuns the extremism that the West and its allies want to promote, in order to nail the tongue of the Muslims to their throat.It is therefore essential to realise, that this is an ideological idea

driven war against Islam, it is not a direct battle on the Muslim Brotherhood necessarily,because there is a recognition and acknowledgement that Islam does not only represent the physical presence alone in terms of names alone, but also the tranquil sets of ideas and principles the West and its allies dread so much.

So, the question surrounding the unending attack on the Muslim Brotherhood is just a deliberate intimidation to jolt the others who may want to openly project their balanced ideology.The second matter is the “sustainability”. This is the most simplest of the tools but extremely diabolical. This includes a formation of a devastating machine to crush any set of ideas and Islamic principles that are ready to address the Palestinian issues.

The Zionists and their allies have hidden the sustainability of their evil in the deprivation of the Palestinian freedom, the slogan is old, but still wondrously effective. And it is, “ If Palestine is free, then the dawn of the Islamic civilization has come, which would ultimately put and end to the arrogant civilization of the advocates of the spirit of darkness”.This is another unforgivable offence of the Muslim Brotherhood to their enemies. The Brotherhood is perceived to be the only single undefeated Movement who seems to understand the Palestinian issues and has also not hidden her concern publicly whenever it has the opportunity to do so. This was the

case when Muhammad Morsi opened the Rafah border within his first few days in office, in order to provide relief materials to the suffering Gazans in the hands of the Zionist Jews.

The Third matter is the most embarrassing, which is the “cloning”.

Who amongst us found it pleasing when the late Saudi King applauded the deadly coup by the tyrant Sisi?

Who amongst us appreciated the quietness of the gulf states when thousands of Egyptians were murdered during the peaceful demonstration to resist the military coup?

Who amongst us enjoyed the role of the Arab League in the deliberate killing of children and women in Syria and Palestine ? None of us I am sure.So, there can be little doubt, that the West has designed its own sets of Muslims, who would look like Muslims in the physical composition but with the thought to manifest the Zionist interest.

The Center For Human Rectitude hereby humbly calls on every organization that gives the truth the priority to interfere in the deadly judgment issued by the Egyptian court, either by writing the appropriate quarters, talking about it at appropriate places in a move to make the court retract it’s deadly statement.Because the unjust killing of the advocates of truth is a genocide on justice.May Allah restore peace in the world and give us the will and the wisdom to reason has humans, who would find so much joy to live peacefully together.

Aweda is the Director, Centre For Human Rectitude

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

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THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

SHOWBIZ

Nigerian Idol judges decry voting pattern

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•Ibu

Mr Ibu is bereaved

By Ovwe Medeme

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OMIC Nollywood actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu is bereaved. The actor is currently mourning the passing of his mum, Victoria Okafor.

According to information, Okafor lost his mum last Saturday, April 18, after the 90year-old surrendered to a long battle with diabetes.

It was further reported that the actor was by his mum’s side in the hospital, in Enugu, when she breathed her last.

Mr Ibu is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most popular comic characters. His humorous roles are usually characterised with stupidity, hilarious imbecility and a sharp disconnection from reality. He has acted in more than 70 movies including Mr. Ibu, Mr Ibu in London, Police Recruit, 9 Wives, Ibu in Prison, Keziah and a host of others.

T is almost a yearly occurrence to find fans of Nigerian Idol judges frowning at the public’s voting pattern. This time, fans of the reality show drew the ire of the three judges again when, some participants they expect would be voted into the Top 12 stage were evicted.

Celebrity judges; Dede Mabiaku, Yinka Davies and Darey ‘Art’ Alade expressed disappointment, as the likes of Shayee, Modele, Sther and Classic Tunez did not make the top 12 cut during the eviction show for top 30 Batch 2 contestants.

The eviction show was designed with the double task of easing out some contestants while also ensuring the progression of the best performers, but Shayee, Modele and Sther lost out to Nex2 and others, courtesy of superior vote count from the viewing public.

The judges did not mince words by pointing out that Nex2, particularly, had put up the worst performance

during the show and should not have merited a top 12 place.

“We don’t need to do any crap here,” said Dede, when asked by show host, Illryhmz, about his views on the results. “They have removed the top performers and then you want me to choose. I no choose, I am sorry. The worst performer last week is on the chair. He knows that, he admitted himself. So, what are we talking about when voting takes precedence over everything? We are supposed to be focusing on values here, but it’s been thrown overboard.”

Darey too, made mention of some contestants that shouldn’t have been voted into the Top 12, saying, “Clearly, what we observe or what we thought was not so great in terms of performances as dictated by the likes of Brenda, Tama and Co is not what the audience think. So who are we?”

But Nex2 described his qualification for the Top 12 as an act of God. “I am in-be-

•Nigerian Idol 5 Judges- Darey, Yinka and Dede.

tween surprise and relief. In fact, I am so surprised because the judges last week gave me credit for my vocal ability that I was good but that they did not like the choice of song that I did at all and that affected my performance so I felt like I was not going to make it to the Top 12, I did not have hope, but I had some encouragement from someone who encouraged me to go get votes.

I got in touch with some friends who told me that I did not do badly, that I was ener-

getic, I used the stage well.

They also said that the performance was not really me, that I gave my best to the song. I think that was just it, they say it. I am just grateful to God, this is a shocker to me; God has really shocked me, this is not me doing this.

So I am grateful to every person that voted for me.”

Nigerian Idol focuses on discovering youths with talent in music and giving them a unique platform to take shots at stardom. The eventual winner goes home with

Industry Nite plans memorial show for late Da Grin

•Idakula

Bez wants fans to write for him

By Joe Agbro Jr.

P

ERHAPS in a bid to connect with his fans as well as spruce up contents of his website, www.bezworld. com, alternative soul musician Bez Idakula, has asked his fans to contribute write-ups which would be published on his blog.

Making this announcement on his official Twitter page over the weekend, Idakula said, ‘I’m looking for people’s write-ups to feature on my blog on my site.”

In a following tweet, he wrote, ‘If I LOVE the write up, I’ll feature it on my site and share with your name, handle, and all that.’

Bez also shared his email address, bez@bezworld.com, where fans could send whatever they have written, in a tweet.

Bez is a distinct and global Nigerian artiste whose music is a contemporary infusion of soul, rock, jazz and R&B. His latest single is titled There’s A Fire.

His debut album, Super Sun, was rated among the Top 10 World Music Albums of 2011 by the Boston Globe.

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HE life and times of the late pioneer of Yoruba language rap, Olaitan Olanipekun, aka Da Grin, continues to impress his colleagues, five years after the demise of the music star.

To this end, this week’s edition of music industry gig, called Industry Nite, has

been dedicated to the memories of Da Grin.

The event holds on April 22, at Spice Route, Victoria Island Lagos.

The All-black event which will be hosted by Jimmie and music by Dj Spinall, is expected to look beyond the pain of his demise, by pulling all the breaks to cele-

brate his legacy on April 22nd, the exact day he was pronounced dead five years ago.

Artistes such as Olamide, 9ice, Reminisce, TeeBlaq, Seriki, Lord of Ajasa, YQ, Sossick, WondaBoy, BaseOne, JahBless, PoslyTD, Chinko Ekun and CDQ along industry heavy-

weights and fans will be paying respect to the iconic hip hop act on the night.

Industry Nite is a weekly Wednesday showcase of the brightest entertainers put together by El Carnaval, YSG Hubs and Smirnoff. The show’s media partners are The Beat FM and Pulse. ng.

Why my husband was celibate for six years,

by Lola Maja

By Ovwe Medeme

E

XCITED about being featured in the Sunday edition of The Nation, celebrity stylist and make-up artiste, Lola Maja, took to her Instagram page to talk more about family, the journey so far and what she terms her

‘lack of prenuptial noookie.’

“Now before anyone wants to come find skeletons in my closet, my husband was celibate for six years as a promise to God that he would wait for his wife. Lucky guy. God answered all his prayers.

“He waited for me the most awesome wife in the universe. I was given the greatest gift in a husband, a best friend. And yes, it worked after all that time.

We have two children. I was pregnant within six months with Tega and one week after his 1st birthday with Tallulah. So obviously, there’s a lot of post marriage noookie going on,” she wrote.

She also talked about how she wasn’t in a rush to have kids. “We didn’t plan it, they

just happened. He’s the second oldest out of 12. I’m just saying. I’m fine with my two angels so no need for prayers of twins on my behalf. I appreciate the thought but I’m good. Shout out to all the Christians in the house. He was in my life for six years as my friend, he wasn’t on my radar, I wasn’t convinced he was the one, my spirit ruled over my mind as many people thought I was crazy marrying someone I never dated.. But all I can say is ‘There is God Oh,’” the stylist added.

N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new car, a recording deal worth N7.5 million with Universal Music label and some high-end devices.

The show airs on Saturdays and Sundays on terrestrial and satellite TV Stations Meanwhile, the Top 30 stage continues this weekend with a Wild Card show for the judges to pick the final three for the Top12 from the pack of contestants who were voted out during the period of the Top 30 stage.

Rita Dominic, Femi Jacobs star in Mary Magdalene

By Joe Agbro Jr.

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OLLYWOOD actress and producer, Rita Dominic, has revealed she is working on a new flick, Mary Magdalene.

Dominic, the co-founder of Audrey Silver Company, said that she has been up to ears in work, tweeting, ‘What we’ve been up to in the last one week and still on it’ and posting a picture of herself with fellow actor Femi Jacobs.

According to her tweet, she hinted that at their (she and Jacobs) characters, on Instagram where she wrote ‘Meet Pastor Benjamin and Pastor Magdalene’ in a soft reference to the picture.

She also disclosed that Mary Magdalene is a Mercury Green and Pointblank production and is being directed by Afe Olumowe.

It will be recalled that at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award (AMVCA), Rita Dominic won Best Actress (Comedy) for her role in The Meeting while Femi Jacobs won Best Actor (Comedy) also for his role in The Meeting.

THE NATION MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015

63

SPORT EXTRA

Pinnick: we ‘ll work with Keshi P

RESIDENT of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has maintained the body will work with Stephen Keshi and that no one is forcing the coach on the federation.

Pinnick’s clarification comes on the heels of media reports that the NFF are stalling on a new deal for Keshi until a new federal government led by President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has assumed the mantle of leadership on May 29, after Friday’s public presentation did not hold and there was no official explanation to that effect.

“I am shocked at these insinuations because the NFF executive committee gave the go-ahead for a new contract with Keshi at its meeting in Uyo last month, and Keshi and his lawyers have looked at the

contract agreement and are satisfied with every word in the final draft,” explained Pinnick.

“As a federation, we have gone ahead to arrange some refresher courses for Keshi, at nobody’s prodding, and which are meant to enhance Keshi’s knowledge and improve the man’s capacity as a world-class strategist. We would not be doing that if we are not ready to work with him.

“No one is forcing Keshi on us.

We have sat down with him and he have both agreed to all terms that we put down and he is ready to work to lift the Super Eagles back to glory days.”

Pinnick, who is on a private visit to London, said on Sunday that Keshi’s new contract will definitely be signed early this week.

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to the popularity of the martial art in Nigeria cannot be underestimated.

In a statement signed by Che Chidi Chukwumerije on behalf of the family, said: “On the evening of Sunday, the 19th of April, 2015, surrounded by his

• Keshi “There were a few ends to tighten and Keshi himself understands perfectly and is comfortable with the arrangements to have the contract sealed early this week. We are not dribbling him,” he said.

family, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije passed into the open arms of history, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, after a long but gallant battle with lung cancer.”

It added: “His life is many volumes, which can only be told with care and time, of dedica-

Giwa FC shocks Rangers in Enugu ANGERS lost at home to Giwa FC 1-0 in a Week 4 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game on Sunday.

Giwa now have seven points from four games, while Rangers have three points from same number of matches.

Shaibu Ibrahim scored the back-breaking goal in the 50th minute and all efforts by Rangers to score were futile as the Jos-based

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team stood its ground to go back with the three points in their kitty.

Shaibu Ibrahim was denied a second goal by Rangers goalkeeper Akor Itodo who kept out his long-range effort.

Odah Onoriode had his effort at goal come off the goal post.

In Makurdi, Lobi and Sharks shared the points in a four-goal thriller. The visitors made their intentions known as they took the lead in the eighth minute through

• Pinnick “He won the Africa Cup of Nations with the team and led Nigeria to the Round of 16 at the World Cup in his first term. It is the belief of the NFF that Keshi can still perform at the highest level.”

Jaiyeola Yusuf.

Two minutes to the end of the first half, Uche Ihurualam equalised for Lobi.

In the 61st minute, the hosts took the lead for the first time in the game through Idakwo Eche's glancing header off Terpase Tsafa's assist.

As the hosts were thinking of victory, Bode Daniel scored the equaliser for Sharks with two minutes to the end of the game.

tion and focus, integrity and discipline, and an unbroken love for the highest ideals of our shared humanity. Details of burial arrangements will be announced in due course. We ask only for your prayers and good wishes.”

Uche Chukwumerije was born on November 1939 and he was elected a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in April 2003, representing Abia North Senatorial District.

Chukwumerije served as minister of information in the dying days of the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida.

Chukwumerije served as minister of information in the interim national government of Ernest Shonekan. His son, Chika won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the late economist funded his son’s training.

Agent dismisses Kelechi Nwakali's Man City medical rumours

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• Nwakali

EPORTS suggesting that Golden Eaglets’ skipper Kelechi Nwakali is in the United Kingdom undergoing a medical with Manchester City are incorrect.

In February, SL10.ng exclusively reported that Manchester City had monitored his performances at the CAF Under 17 Championship.

Kelechi Nwakali's agent , Klay Ekeocha, has not denied that The Citizens are exploring ways to sign his client but has put to bed rumours

Fenerbahce eyes Joel Obi

A

FTER being linked with Serie A sides Atalanta and Genoa, Nigeria midfielder Joel Obi is reportedly a target for Turkish giants Fenerbache.

The 23-year-old has found game-time hard to come by at

RESULTS England - Premier League Man City 2 - 0 West Ham Newcastle 1 - 3 Tottenham England - FA Cup Aston Villa 2 - 1 Liverpool Italy - Serie A Sassuolo 1 - 1 Torino Chievo 1 - 1 Udinese Empoli 2 - 2 Parma Palermo 2 - 1 Genoa Roma 1 - 1 Atalanta Cagliari 0 - 3 Napoli Inter 0 - 0 AC Milan Spain - Liga BBVA Rayo 2 - 0 Almeria Granada 1 - 1 Sevilla Villarreal 0 - 0 Cordoba

Inter Milan after a productive loan spell at Parma towards the end of last season and he is now heavily tipped to depart the team in the summer after a failed move to the Middle East in January.

Fenerbache, according to reports in Turkey sourced by SL10.ng, are willing to make a bid of around 5 million pounds for him in the summer, which is said to be his release clause at Inter Milan.

Obi contracted to Milan till the summer of 2017 is also reportedly being eyed by teams in England but Fenerbache are hoping his Super Eagles teammate Emmanuel Emenike will help persuade him to join them.

This season he has turned out 10 times in the Serie A scoring his first career goal in November against AC Milan, while in the Europa League he played five times.

BAFEMI Martins was on target for the second week running, helping Seattle Sounders to a 31 victory over Colorado Rapids in the MLS. A brace from Lamar Neagle put Sounders two 2-1 ahead of their host but with the home side piling on the pressure for an equaliser, Martins put the game beyond their reach with his side's third with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper.

Martins used a beautiful individual effort in the 73rd minute to score his fourth goal of the year. After using interchange of passes to bypass the middlemen of Colorado, Andy Rose sent a long ball over the top of the Colorado defense. Martins' back-heel first-touch split two defenders and he chipped goalkeeper Clint Irwin.

The Nigerian, who was the top scorer for Sounders last season,

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Taekwondo pioneer member, Uche Chukwumerije dies at 75 NE of the pioneer members of taekwondo in Nigeria, Senator Uche Chukwumerije has passed on at 75.

The late lawmaker was a strong supporter of taekwondo while his immense contribution

Martins on target for Sounders

claiming that a deal is imminent. ''The report is incorrect. We are still discussing with Manchester City and Kelechi Nwakali is in Imo State (Nigeria) not the UK,'' says Klay Ekeocha to SL10.ng. ''Of course there has been contact with Manchester City, you know I have been in UK to arrange everything. ''It's right to say Manchester City lead the race for his signature, but the race is not over yet. '' The Belgian-based agent added that Nwakali is yet to attain the age of majority and

can't sign a professional deal with The Citizens or any other European club for that matter. ''I can not deny that we are getting closer to City lately, but nothing is signed. And we are discussing with a lot of teams. ''Kelechi is underage so there's no rush for him to sign a contract with any club,'' Klay Ekeocha concluded.

Agent Klay Ekeocha is best known for brokering the deal that took Nigeria international Kenneth Omeruo to Standard Liege in 2011.

Ehiosun wants Eagles return

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NE time Super Eagles wonder-kid, Ekigho Ehiosun, has told SL10.ng he is looking forward to a return to the Super Eagles.

The 25-year old, who currently plays for FK Gabala in the Azerbaijani Premier League, was once touted as the next big thing in the Super Eagles, where he showed a lot of promise and was seen as a future Super Eagles’ regular.

But since his move to Europe, very little had been heard of him and he has not been a part of the national team set-up since 2011.

That notwithstanding, he says he will play for the Super Eagles again when the opportunity present itself.

Hear him: “Of course I will play again when the chance comes,” he told sl10.ng in an exclusive interview “It’s a matter of time and

chance and when it comes again, I will take it,” he said confidently.

“Me no longer being in the Super Eagles for now doesn't mean the Super Eagles is not in me. I'm an Eagle, I soar high always and keep soaring higher. I know I'm working hard and doing well and by God’s Grace I will be back,” he posited.

is proving his performances last season was not a once off, as if he sustains his present form that has seen him score four times in five games he might surpass his last season tally of 17 goals from 35 games.

Still only 30-years-old, he announced his retirement from the international football last year, citing a bad relationship with coach of the team Stephen Keshi as his reason.

• Martins

Pillars edge past Enyimba

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HE much anticipated top clash in the Glo NPFL this weekend saw Kano Pillars defeat ten-man Enyimba 1-0 at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

The first goal mouth action happened in the fourth minute and it came off a long throw from Samuel Tswanya but Moses Ekpai failed to direct his header beyond Moses Ocheje in goal for Enyimba.

Pillars dominated the game in the midfield but failed to create any clear cut openings and it was Enyimba who almost broke the deadlock in the 28th minute.

A well taken driven by Kamal

Sikiru went over the bar but has it been a little lower than that goalkeeper, Theophilus Affelokhai, would have been left with no chance to stop it.

A combination of good goalkeeping from Ocheje for Enyimba and poor efforts from the league defending champions kept the scores at 0-0 until the dot of half time.

Closer to the half time break, Pillars got the breakthrough their dominance deserves when Ukpai released a long ranger which beat Ocheje much to the delight of the crowd at the Sani Abacha stadium.

TODAY IN THE NATION

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

VOL 10 NO 3191

‘It is another way to steer the ship of the nation away from a one party state. A combination of both approaches will engender faster development by insulating the nation from precipitate crises arising from bitter competition to control the huge resources at the centre’ EMEKA OMEIHE

COMMENT & DEB ATE EBA

S

OME persons had problems with my outing last week, and they could not hesitate to tag me a bigot.

I had looked at the question of who owns Lagos, and my views spewed out a binary effect. The Yoruba came in aplenty to applaud while the Igbo responses were overrun with venom. I wrote neither to please the Yoruba nor rile the Igbo. But truth is a furious bullet and, in this case, it seemed to have lodged itself in an Igbo spleen. As Apostle Paul wrote, “we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth.” I wrote in surrender to the truth. If it hurts, it is because of human failure to embrace what they fear.

My historical conscience forbids me to act like the character in Shakespeare’s Tempest who, for personal ambition, “made a sinner of his memory to credit a lie.”

The issue of who owns the land wakes up hidebound loyalties in trenches of tribe and faith. We may recall the Itsekiri saga and how the Urhobo wanted to seize Warri from the Itsekiri by changing the title of the monarch from Olu of Warri to Olu of Itsekiri, even though his palace is ensconced in Warri.

The rampaging Urhobo – and my mother is Urhobo - conflated their numbers with proprietary rights. A similar travesty unfolded in Ugborodo in Delta State over the EPZ crisis between the Ijaw and Itsekiri, a problem that President Goodluck Jonathan turned into another episode of chauvinism in his now documented reign of divide and rule.

President Jonathan stoked the ethnic firefight between the Yoruba and Igbo in Lagos. He failed to rein in his opportunistic self-interest even as he freely played the ethnic and religious cards, all in the pursuit of ambition.

Those who say Lagos is no man’s land have turned it into a sort of cause celebre by levitating the fate of the Igbo as a race of victims.

But victimhood has morphed into a weapon.

So, if Anyim Pius Anyim, as secretary to the government, filled the parastatals with his kinsmen, it was because they deserved it since Igbo were marginalised in the past. So, if Okonjo-Iweala said the Igbo exceled in tests, they should be given job priority. And when former army chief Ihejirika filled posh positions with his kinsmen, he should be excused because of his people’s history.

This is not only victimhood but also victimisation of others. You don’t endanger the future by avenging the past. Society is about living and let live. Even in the United States where blacks have been left behind, the society has choreographed a system of affirmative action that negotiates, at least constitutionally, a process of rehabilitation for the coloured folks based on social contract. It anticipates conflict, so it works by understanding, not by imposition.

The Igbo say they developed Lagos, and

RIPPLES

PDP NOT DEAD–GOV Aliyu

Forget it, PDP is DEAD...We’re only waiting for the BURIAL on MAY 29

SAM OMATSEYE

IN TOUCH

intouchnation@gmail.com 08054501081(sms only) Twitter: @samomatseye

•Winner, Informed Commentary (DAME)

Who owns Lagos? (2)

•President Jonathan

•Oba Rilwan Akiolu

therefore they have a right to determine who wins an election. No one can deny the Igbo contribution to anywhere they go in the country. They have done well, especially in the area of merchandising. But to say they developed Lagos? That is a fallacy. History should bear us out. Most of what we know as Lagos today was created not only by the Yoruba indigenes but also by the Yoruba non-indigenes. Whether it was Surulere, or Ikeja, or Badagry or Ikorodu, or Epe, it was borne out of the pioneering genius of Yoruba non-indigenes, especially the contiguous Yoruba like the Egba, the Ijebu, even the far-flung citizens in Ondo and Ekiti. Lagos was a major part of the western region and the resources of the western region under Awolowo and later Akintola turned Lagos into its kaleidoscope of today. The Yoruba, for commercial outreach, set up Ajegunle. Even they don’t claim to be indigenes but see Lagos as Yorubaland. And it is. If the constitution al-

lows residency, Lagos should not be both guinea pig and sacrificial lamb. If others don’t play by the rule, why should Lagos? Fair is fair.

The port has been cited as a major asset of the city, but it’s by no means the only city with a port. Lagos bloomed because of the indigenes’ laissez faire culture, their syncretic worldview, erecting a big tent that has winnowed prosperity from the gifts and efforts of all.

Others who came to Lagos have contributed and they should not turn that into proprietary disdain. If the Igbo claim they helped developed Lagos, we have to put it in perspective. They have been good at merchandising, what some call buying and selling. A modern city is about its technological forays, its innovation in commerce, its new ideas in culture, its ability to turn the soul of a place around by its bona fides in these lights. You don’t claim to be innovative when you ape and fake another’s genius and sell it as original. That’s not technology, and it is not innovation.

So other than making profits for themselves buying and selling, few other roles have been claimed by them in the unfurling of the progress of Lagos. Other ethnic groups live in the city, and many who come from southsouth have not trumpeted their bona fides like the Igbo. As Soyinka said, a tiger should not proclaim its tigritude.

Again, Nigerians in Europe and the United States have won elections as mayors and councillors, etc. When I was a Gordon N. Fisher fellow in Canada, an Igbo young man won a student union presidential election in a university in Ontario. He vied not as Igbo, but as a fellow student. If he canvassed his ethnicity, he would have lost. The Yoruba fellow who won a Houston election barely a decade ago was praised for his ideas and warmth to all city dwellers. But in the Lagos

HARDBALL ADAM Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has managed to create her own fairy tale wonderland over these past few years as Nigeria’s prime minister. Well, why not, even her title as Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME) is an aberration that became her to the ill of her colleagues and even the polity. That title never amounted to much after all nor was the economy coordinated by any stretch either.

To be sincere, Hardball actually gave up long ago on President Goodluck Jonathan’s superstar Minister of Finance, Dr. OkonjoIweala. Not because she is not a brilliant economist, no. She was indeed a renowned World Bank fellow which was part of her credentials for getting the top job under two presidents. But Hardball wrote her off upon discovering that she is of the abstract and magical ‘school’ of economics.

Economics for the sake of it: Economics of rates and ratings; of marginal inflationary indexes, positive outlooks and such jargons.

In her nearly one decade at the pinnacle of Nigeria’s finances and economy she would always tell us about high growth rates projections and positive outlooks from the World Bank yet in all these periods, Nigerians have sunken deeper into wretchedness.

M

Ngozi in ‘wonderland’ Not once under her watch was the annual budget passed on time and she could never radically bring down Nigeria’s crazy recurrent expenditure. For about a decade, a country of about 170 million people was running on about 25 per cent capital expenditure, yet we wondered why infrastructure remained at its nadir.

Under her watch, the treasury leaked like a sieve and Nigeria hardly got 50 kobo worth for her naira. She feigned ignorance of this festering corruption at best and at worst she denied or wrung her hands in utter helplessness. Ironically, in the last five years, Nigeria earned the most income in her history with her Brent crude price selling at over $100 per barrel all this time. Yet old refineries were never properly fixed nor new ones built. A season of massive petroleum products importations persisted through her time with pervasive graft.

In her time, everything that could go

case, an Igbo candidate sees himself not as a Nigerian candidate but an Igbo candidate, and some of his kinsmen are now boasting that their sights are set on Alausa.

This is the sort of triumphalism that even Chinua Achebe – no innocent in this clannish game – condemned in his There Was A Country. If you claim a place as no man’s land and you act with a superior air, it means the expression “no man’s land” is tongue in cheek, a rhetorical subterfuge. It is paradoxically a euphemism implying that you own it.

If the Igbo claim to own Lagos like the indigenes, I would like to see them do things with selfless virtue for the city. They should build schools, hospitals, or construct roads, or give scholarships or any of such things that benefit not just them but the city at large. If they see Lagos as home, let us see some charity.

When you live in a place for profit, it does not show love until you give back. Paying taxes is good. But that is a face-saving argument. No one comes to Lagos to pay tax but to make profit and a living. But that is all right. Let us not be hypocritical. One of the reasons they voted for Agbaje is that the candidate promised tax relief. All great economies thrive on taxes. Check the UK and U.S. The tension between the Igbo and Indigenes arises from the sense that Igbo do not know how to play the balancing act between being Igbo and Lagosian. When you vote in an election in Lagos and vote Igbo rather than Lagos, it means you see yourself as an alien who is here to conquer. That is the wrong spirit, and Agbaje did not help matters when he promised to install an Eze for opportunistic reasons. He forgot that there are other ethnic groups here. If he won and fulfilled the promise, he would have opened an ethnic can of worms. If the Oba’s lagoon effusion was inelegant, it was prompted by such harebrained campaign promises from Agbaje. He borrowed from Jonathan and his PDP whose Igbo project began when they wanted Agbaje to run with an Igbo running mate.

The concept of no man’s land rides on love.

The best example was in the First World War during the Christmas Truce. British and German soldiers abandoned battle to hug, exchange banter, cigarettes and prisoners between opposing trenches. The space between the trenches was called no man’s land. They even played soccer as Robert Graves – novelist, poet and author of Goodbye to All That relates in an account.

We should avoid a gloating triumphalism, but embrace a cooperative élan. My identity should not drown yours. That is often the root of all crises. It inspired Jean Paul Sartre’s famous line, “Hell is other people.” The incoming governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has a task to rid Lagos of the Agbaje and Jonathan incubi of division and unite all. Given his level-headedness, he will. It has been done before and it can today.

•Hardball is not the opinion of the columnist featured above wrong about the economy did and hardly any critical sector was galvanised by the studied effort of the Federal Government. The more revenue the country earned, the more she was mired in the morass of underdevelopment. But the crash in oil prices caught her pants down so to speak and had her completely unraveled as no attempt was made to diversify the economy from crude, crude oil export.

As noted earlier, Hardball had long given up on Madam CME because a man (or woman) could not possibly learn to be ambidextrous in old age. But when Madam begins to tell us that all is well with us though we be actually in deep stuff then we must stir. During an interview with the CNN last week, she was asked if Nigeria was broke.

Madam was full of equivocation.

Hear her: “Under this administration, we began the work of truly diversifying the economy and the proof of that is that much of the growth in this past few years that has come to the country, has come not from the oil sector but actually from non-oil sectors like agriculture, telecommunications, manufacturing and the creative industries…”

Really, this Ngozi must be living in wonderland!

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