August 02, 2015

Newspaper of the Year

DSS bursts nationwide kidnapping syndicates Arrests 28 suspects

Page 12

Ooni: Ife women

stay indoors over Oro ritual

Page 4

Nigeria’s widest circulating newspaper

Vol.09, No. 3295

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

SUNDAY

AUGUST 2, 2015

N200.00

PDP NWC faces sack over N12bn scandal Jonathan, BOT under Stop blaming APC I am ready for pressure to fire Secondus, for your woes Page 5 EFCC probe, says Metuh Metuh, Oladipo, others - Party's workers

THE BUHARI PRESIDENCY Behind the scenes Pages 9-11

Senators Page 6 scramble for leadership of ‘juicy' committees

BUHARI: B’HARAM MONEY LAUNDERING: OSAMA BIN LADEN'S WILL BE DEFEATED CBN MOVES AGAINST FAMILY MEMBERS Page 69 DIE IN PLANE CRASH

BY DECEMBER Page 7 BANKS

Page 4

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

Zimbabwe restricts hunting after lion killing IMBABWEAN wildlife authorities have suspended the hunting of lions, leopards and elephants in an area favoured by hunters following the killing of a lion popular with tourists.

The National Parks and Wildlife Authority said yesterday that bow and arrow hunts have also been suspended unless they are approved by the authority’s director.

The organization said it was also investigating the killing of another lion in April that may have been illegal. It said it only received the information last week.

The announcement followed an international outcry stemming from an American hunter’s killing of a lion named Cecil that was allegedly lured out of a national park. Zimbabwean authorities say the hunt was illegal and are seeking the extradition of Minnesota dentist Walter James Palmer.

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CAPTURED

A rapper’s delight Each one is a star in his own firmament.

One a hip-hop superstar, the other a political leader. It was a meeting that elicited mutual delight. Here, National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presents superstar musician, Akon, a gift during the latter’s courtesy visit at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, at the weekend

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FRICA is now home to more than 160,000 people with personal fortunes worth in excess of $1m (£642,000), a twofold increase in the number of wealthy individuals since the turn of the century that highlights the problem of deepening inequality as some of the world’s poorest nations register strong economic growth.

The combined wealth holdings of high-networth individuals – those with net assets of $1m or more – in Africa totalled $660bn at the end of 2014, according to a report by New World Wealth, a South African market research firm.

Meanwhile, the number of poor people in Africa – defined as those living on less than $1.25 a day – increased from 411.3 million in 2010 to 415.8 millon in 2011, World Bank data shows.

By 2024, the number of African millionaires is expected to rise 45%, to approximately 234,000, according to the report.

During the past 14 years, the number of highnet-worth individuals in Africa has grown by 145%. The rate for the Middle East over the same period was 136%, while in Latin America it was 278%. The global average was 73%.

The report said that by the end of 2014, the number of people worldwide worth more than $1m had reached 13 million with a combined worth of $66tn, although the number of million-

sunday@thenationonlineng.net

Africa Wealth Report 2015: The rich get richer

• Aliko Dangote - Nigeria

aires can vary depending on what assets are included and different methods have produced different figures.

New World Wealth, for example, do not include primary residences when assessing wealth or net assets.

The World Bank has forecast an average of 5.5% economic growth for sub-Saharan Africa over the next year, though it warned that “extreme poverty remains high across the region”.

Nick Dearden, director of the advocacy group Global Justice Now, said the report shows deepening inequality across the continent. “It’s no wonder that rich individuals in Africa are getting richer, because we’re seeing a form of ‘development’ … which

• Isabel Dos Santos - Angola

hugely benefits the wealthy but makes the lives of the poor even harder. Aid money, trade agreements and corporate ‘investment’ pushed by Britain are locking countries into a form of growth which is all about making the rich even more rich and the poor even more poor.”

Mauritius has the wealthiest individuals in Africa, with average per-capita wealth of $21,470, according to the report. The rankings show that people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are the poorest, at $230 a person.

To put Africa’s wealth into context: the global average wealth per capita is $27,600, with top-ranking

• Patrice Motsepe - South Africa

countries such as Switzerland and Australia boasting per-capita wealth of more than $200,000.

“Over the last year there’s been very strong growth in places like Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. Going forward, we expect Mozambique to continue to be the fastest growing market for high-net-worth individuals in percentage growth terms.

So I’d say that Mozambique stands out in this report,” said Andrew Amoils, head of research at New World Wealth.

Angola, where per-capita wealth rose from $620 a person in 2000 to $3,920 in 2014, recorded the highest growth over the 14-year period analysed.

In Zimbabwe, the worst performing country, wealth per capita dropped from $630 a person in 2000 to $550 a person in 2014. Zimbabweans have until September to turn in their Zimbabwean dollars before the currency is discarded.

The southern African country was one of the wealthiest countries in subSaharan Africa on a wealthper-capita basis, said the report’s authors, but the country is now bottom of the rankings. They also note that while other low-ranked countries on the list such as Libya and Tunisia have been affected by uprisings and political instability, Zimbabwe remains under the same leadership.

The study identifies erosion of ownership rights in Zimbabwe, ongoing political intimidation, election fixing and investor confusion arising from the banning of the independent media in the early 2000s as key reasons for the country’s poor performance.

South Africa is home to the highest number of millionaires on the continent at 46,800 in 2014. Egypt comes in second with more than 20,000, followed by Nigeria in third place.

Amoils said African economies benefit from rich citizens: “A lot of [highnet-worth individuals] keep their wealth locally, so normally, for most African countries, it’s between 50% and 70% local wealth.

There’s lots of advantages because a lot of [these individuals] are business owners and a lot of them start businesses even if they are in corporate environments.”

Dearden said: “From Nigeria to Mozambique you can see poverty rising at the same time as rapid growth. What does this mean? The growth is being gobbled up by the super-rich and transnational capital. And that means ordinary people, by comparison, find their lives even more impoverished.

“It could be different: with decent government spending on public services, progressive taxation, regulation to control capital and regional trading relationships to wean countries off dependency on western markets.”

• S o u r c e : www.guardian.com

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

The king did not die T

HE king is dead, long live the king! This paradoxical formulation all but summarizes the acute existential dilemma of all people with kings. For such people, the death of kings is not a funny matter at all. It is a terrible disaster. It portends chaos and millennial disorder. It is a radical disruption of the sacred order of being; the reign of anarchy. Things fall apart indeed and the centre can no longer hold.

So therefore for these people, the king cannot and in fact must not die. As the sacred and supreme lawgiver of the tribe, the king cannot die just like that. As the father and protector of the tribe, the death of the king provokes a sense of panic and a feeling of acute helplessness and vulnerability. The people feel naked.

Who will now defend them against the cruel marauders from across the great rivers and the mighty mountains? Who will shield them from the fiery swords of sworn enemies and the outrageous arrows and slings of fortune?

Who will take their propitiatory offerings to angry ancestors? And who will save them from themselves?

Far away from home, and in bitter captivity, the ancient people of Israel remembered their king: By the Rivers of Babylon, where we sat down And then we wailed, when we remember Zion For the wicked carried us away in captivity And required from us a song How can we sing King Alpha’s song in a strange land?

For people of kings, the mystery-shrouded disappearance of a particular king after the end of his golden tenure this side of the abyss of transition is but a minor coitus interruptus in a long and intense copulation between the ruled and their ruler. It is romance. It is a labour of love and affection. In the absence of pressing contenders, death itself is magically transformed into a stout ally of the ruling class; the principal Praetorian guard of the sacred order of divination and secular divinity.

The king does not die. He can only magically transit to the other side in a world of continuity and contiguous reality between the liv-

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ND whilst we are still on the subject of the fearsome confrontation between the old order and the forces of rampaging political modernity, it is meet to report that after the initial hiccups and frontal insubordination to the dictates of the majority party, the House of Representatives is settling down to good and honest business at last.

Snooper monitored the proceeding last Wednesday and was very impressed by the depth and clarity of presentations. Particularly outstanding in deportment and submission was Honorable Shehu-Shagari.

The Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, was masterfully in charge, evoking calm comportment and regal equanimity.

It was all redolent of promise and good tidings.

Meanwhile as this was happening in the lower chamber, the upper chamber, the senate, compromised in the eyes of discerning compatriots by forgery and fudge and by the sheer illegality and illegitimacy of progeny and provenance of its leadership, was digging in. The old axiom that when you are in a hole, you stop digging does not cut any ice with its leading lights or lightlessness. They are furiously digging in.

The senate began business with a rousing acclamation of its errant leadership. This motion was sup-

power of modern states not to talk of traditional kingdoms.

This past week, the Yoruba people of Nigeria experienced what is it like to be caught in the whizzing whirlpool of the unequal contest between tradition and modernity and the ceaseless surveillance which often leaves the state better surveiled than it is capable of surveilling its own citizens and better electronically patrolled than it is capable of electronically patrolling its determined denizens. It is an epic confrontation on the scale of Things Fall Apart and Death and the King’s Horseman.

But this time around, it was not canons and maxim guns booming but computers bleeping and sophisticated phones flashing.

Satanic twitters and tweets abound.

The pressing and ever present conflict between modernity and unsecured tradition always leave the latter holding the wrong end of the stick. This is even more so in an inchoate multi-national nation like Nigeria without an overriding national ethos.

On Monday evening, snooper began picking some unusual vibes and signals from the international tell-tale circuits. The global electronic eavesdropping commune began converging like virtual vultures. The heavy hints all led towards one conclusion: something unusual was happening or about to happen in the principal House of Oodua. A caller asked yours sincerely to investigate from local sources, but the columnist quickly met a brick wall or got gnomic evasions for answer.

A few days earlier, snooper had stumbled on the information that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, had been flown abroad in an air ambulance following serious medical developments which could not be readily accommodated in any Nigerian hospital. This information was considered to be too politically sensitive to be inflicted on the public. In any case, it is believed that among Yoruba royalty,

S

COLUMN

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nooping around With

Tatalo Alamu deliberate orchestration of death or its brutal proximity is part of an elaborate ritual of life enlongation.

Buyers beware.

When snooper reported back to the person who had initiated the original inquiry, he was told to forget it because the great Iroko fell a few minutes earlier. After a brief silence only punctuated by pained sighs, the person requested for an immediate adjournment of conversation. Yours sincerely spent the next hour listlessly roaming around the house. Then at about 11.30pm, a phone call came through which all but confirmed developments. If he was still in doubt, snooper was admonished by the caller, the news was already on the facebook. That did it.

Thirty six years earlier when the last Ooni, Sir Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi, joined his ancestors, the forces of globalization were yet to take firm roots. There was no viable internet, no gsm, no bb, not to talk of facebook, twitter,hashtag and all what not. The royal transition was superbly choreographed, with early warning signals and coded palacespeak.

The world has since become one vast cyber Kibbutz. One pin drop from one end of the globe instantly registers in another part thousands of miles away. The first sign of defeat for tradition was the very moment the Ooni was taken out of his palace for medical rehabilitation in a land thousands of miles away from home. That sealed the route for a quiet return to the palace in whatever form and turns the royal translation into the first publicly enacted departure of a major sovereign .

The following day after most national dailies had broken the news of the passing, Ife palace chiefs rallied valiantly by insisting that it was all a rumour, drawing attention to and sustenance from similar mischief in the past. But a few hours later, Saharareporters, the impish and irreverent on-line news service, swiftly countermanded this by insisting that the king had truly departed. A day after, a major daily

reported the Nigerian High Commissioner in England paying a condolence visit to the family of the monarch.

There are important lessons to be learnt from this remarkable encounter between the old order and rampart forces of the new world.

You cannot argue with an earthquake or remonstrate with its scalding and molten lava. In the unending and ceaseless confrontation between globalizing modernity and the forces of tradition, wise societies and sober nations negotiate their own terms of entry and accommodation.

This is what Singapore, Japan, India and the Asian Tigers did and is what China is doing. This what Russia did politically and militarily but not economically. This is what the heroic Cubans did after a tense half a century face off. You must never allow yourself to be frogmarched and dragooned to modernity. The failure of Nigeria to live up to its billing often shows up in dramatic and expected ways. The irresponsibility of our ruling class haunts us and hunts them in a way and manner we can never foresee.

When you shortchange others, you also shortchange yourself. Had we used a fraction of the money stolen to build good roads, many lives, including our traditional rulers often slaughtered like propitiatory rams on our high ways, could have been saved. Had we built world class hospitals, there would have been no need to airlift our revered monarch abroad in the first instance and the notable Yoruba culture and tradition might have been spared a humiliating encounter with the rampaging forces of unrelenting modernity.

So, did our great father, the Alase ikeji orisa and Arole Oodua die on Monday? No, no, the king did not die and the king cannot die. But when we allow modernity to trump tradition through our careless greed and gluttony, the kingship institution suffers a near fatal wound. May the throne of Oduduwa survive for many more epochs.

Forgery and fudge in the senate

Since tenacious occupation irrespective of legality confers partial ownership in the eyes of the law, the senate may yet get away with blue murder. Worn down by sheer attrition, the ruling party and the public may decide to move on and overlook the historic infringement. In a typical Nigerian judicial and constitutional fudge, it might even be argued that there is no point in disrupting legislative harmony and stability no matter how it is conjured.

But that is assuming that a leopard can ever change its spots. After securing its flanks, this senate will resume its destabilization of the executive and the country as a whole in a most vicious manner. Its leadership, having been outed as retrogressive charlatans, can only find relevance on the corpse of a new Nigeria. They will fight tooth and nail to maintain the dead order and its diseased detritus.

In the event, President Buhari must be prepared to take his case directly to the Nigerian people. There can be no doubt who at the moment is the overwhelming favourite of the Nigerian populace, no matter the shameless antics of the ousted party and its unreconstructed collaborators in the ruling party. Something tells snooper that this may yet end in a stormy confrontation.

•Ooni Sijuade

ing and the dead. When this great ritual of royal disappearance is managed very well by the crack custodians of the commonwealth, the great sages and savants of the traditional society, it is a seamless and painless transition. But when it is not, it is Anubis resurgence.

The world shakes with stress and distress.

Time, however, has proved the greatest enemy of the old order and its ruling classes. In Africa after they have failed to shake off a particularly vicious post-colonial sovereign, they often leave things to inevitable death, better known as a biological coup d’etat. For example, in Zimbabwe they are all reconciled to the fact that the old Wizard of Harare might be around for quite some time. Human agency is eventually put in the shade by human ageing.

It is obvious that the ancient framers of the Yoruba constitution and its kingly passage never reckoned with the passage of Time itself and the colonial irruption which abridged the power of traditional authority. Neither could they have bargained for globalization and its dire consequences, particularly the virtual abolition of time and space and the eruption of global means of communication which subvert and undermine the

ported by a whopping two and a half dozen senators purportedly elected under the APC platform. That just about did it. The aromatic smell of food in the guise of imminent juicy committee memberships could induce a feeding frenzy and unhinge the most loyal party members. This is not the time for fancy theories about party supremacy. As one of the senate’s leading luminaries has fa-

mously put, “the senate is not a party secretariat”. The goat eats where it is tethered.

In a classic case of chutzpah, the senate even had the great immoral courage and the brazen temerity to admonish members of the public against media-slamming of its members and to caution the security agencies against witch-hunting family members of distinguished senators.

The Rip van Winkle at the EFCC who has just woken up after a millennial nap, must take this serious admonition to heart or be prepared for more mass invasion from the Tartar hordes led by the infamous brawler from Kogi.

It is clear that this lot are beyond soap and water, and there is no point in any further remonstration or appeal to logic and national interest.

Okon avoids accidental discharge

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ND still on the confrontation between modernity and tradition. Marshal Goering, the notorious NAZI sybarite, once famously observed that whenever he heard of culture, he usually reached for his gun. In a multi-national nation, one man’s culture is another man’s horror.

For some time now, Okon has been making some denigrating remarks about the Yoruba tradition and its people.

“Oga, how come all dem Yoruba people who dey dance kpalongo round dem Buhari man dem come vamoose patapata? Abi agaracha don return home?”, the mad boy demanded from

snooper.

“Who told you bloody fool that?” snooper snarled.

“Ha oga na hunger make dem Yoruba drummer waka go Sabo.

But dis time he be like if say dem mala tira come scatter Yoruba juju”, the mad boy crowed before snooper chased him away.

As the rumoured death of the great Yoruba monarch gained traction, snooper devised a plot to give the mad boy his terminal comeuppance.

“Okon, you will go to my aunt in Ife and collect the herb known as ewe omugo”, snooper ordered with unsmiling sternness. The crazy boy eyed snooper with a mischief and

genial malice.

“Ha oga no be dat one dem they call accidental discharge?”

Okon snorted with street savvy.

“And what is accidental discharge about collecting herbs?” snooper demanded.

“Ha oga accidental discharge na when police kill person and come say na accident. He get time like dis one when dem Oba don kaput and dem Yoruba people dey hunt other people, dem dey kill dem, dem dey cook dem and dem come dey whack dem. Oga, Okon dey for discharge but him no dey for accident”, the mad boy sneered and quickly disappeared to our chagrin.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

NEWS

OMEN residents of the ancient town of Ile-Ife remained indoors yesterday as the annual Oro festival entered its second day.

Although the organizers said on Friday that residents, especially women, should keep off the streets from 7pm, and that it has nothing to do with the speculated death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the women did not want to take chances.

Oro is a deity worshipped across Yoruba land, which forbids women from going out at night

Ooni: Ife Women stay indoors during the period of the festival.

Some women told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was better to be on the safe side by staying indoors during the period than to fall foul of the traditionalists' warning.

Mrs Rebecca Olaide, a market woman, said she would remain indoors to avoid any unexpected circumstance.

Olaide said she had

asked her eldest son to help her to manage her business until the festival is over.

Another woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she had restricted her movement because of the Oro festival.

She said the Oro festival might not be unconnected with the reported demise of the monarch.

Another lfe resident who simply identified herself as Sade, said she had decided

to remain within her vicinity to avoid any unexpected happening.

She said "although women were asked not to go out only at night, I decided not go out during the day too until the festival is over.''

However, palace sources said the Oro was an annual festival in the town to appease the gods to ward off evil and usher in an era of prosperity.

The source said people

in Ile-Ife usually celebrate Oro festival and other traditional festivals like Olojo, Orunmila, Edi, Oranmiyan, Esu, Obatala among others annually.

He said the celebration of Oro festival had nothing to do with the controversial news about the demise of the Ooni.

"The Oro festival does not have anything to do with the reported death of the royal father. It is an annual festival

in the town which normally holds for seven days and it is taboo for young and old females to go out during the period.

"During this period, traditionalists will perform necessary rituals that will make the town more peaceful,'' he said.

The source, who maintained that the monarch was still alive, said the closure of markets for businesses and ringing of special bell were the two major significant signs to indicate an Ooni had joined his ancestors.

Hajj 2015: Airlift of pilgrims to start Aug.18

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HE National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announced yesterday that the transportation of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year's hajj will commence on Tuesday, August 18.

The Commission Chairman, Malam Abdullahi Mukhtar, said in a message to the inauguration of the Medical Team for the hajj in Abuja that all necessary arrangements had been put in place for the religious obligation.

Mukhtar, who was represented by Dr. Saleh Okenwa, the Commissioner in charge of strategy, said the that the Commission had provided medical facilities for Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and urged them to discharge their duties as expected of them.

He promised that this year's exercise would be different from previous exercises because of the level of the Commission's preparation.

In his remarks, the Commissioner in charge of the Medical Team, Dr Ibrahim

Kana, commended the Commission for the medical arrangements put in place for this year's exercise.

He said that ``with what I have seen on ground, I have no doubt in my mind that this year's Hajj will be exceptionally successful. With the kind of professionals that made up the Medical Team, the sky is just our starting point.''

Kana promised the team of adequate accommodation in the Holy Land, and warned, however, that team members should not occupy a whole room for whatever reasons. ``The culture is one bed space per person and not a whole room per person and please people should not lock rooms for whatever reasons.

We will make sure nobody suffers, whatever the team is entitled to will be given, no denial.''

Kano also urged the team to give the best services to the pilgrims and promised them of safety of their luggage.

He added that ``gone are the days when luggage spend several weeks before getting to the owners."

Police discover 'baby factory' in Delta

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HE Delta State Police Command said yesterday that it had discovered a "babyproduction" factory in Asaba, arrested the operator, and rescued eight pregnant girls.

Spokesperson for the command, DSP Celestina Kalu, said in a statement in Asaba that the baby-making factory was discovered after detectives, acting on a tip-off, swooped on the premises.

"On July 30, 2015, Police detectives from GRA Division Asaba, while acting on a tip-off, raided a suspected baby factory

opposite the Federal Radio Corporation, Asaba, and arrested its operator, Mr. John Ihezun.

"Detectives also arrested two boys, one Prince Chukwu and Obum Nwankwo, in the premises of the baby factory," Kalu said.

The command said it found eight pregnant girls (names with-held).

The command said it had commenced investigations into the matter, saying that any person found to be involved, would be prosecuted.

Boko Haram turns school into bomb factory

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OLDIERS who retook Dikwa, in Borno State from Boko Haram penultimate week made a curious discovery in their subsequent mop-up of the town: the terrorists had converted the chemistry laboratory of the College of Education in the town into a bomb-making factory.

Items found at the laboratory included a welding

machine and a mine detector, spokesperson for the army, Colonel Sani Usman, said yesterday.

Also recovered during the operation were four Toyota Hilux pick up vans .

"The gallant troops are in a very high spirit and more determined to further pursue the fleeing terrorists to all known enclaves and sanctuaries," Col Usman said on his Twitter handle.

•President Yayi Boni (3RD right) and President Muhammadu Buhari, at a military parade to mark the Republic of Benin's 55th Independence anniversary in Cotonou at the weekend

Buhari greets Adelusi-Adeluyi at 75

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with former Minister of Health and Social Services, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi on his 75th birthday anniversary today.

As the former Minister attains the milestone of three score and fifteen years, President Buhari saluted his unwavering commitment to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria over the years and his

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

outstanding support for several national and international developmental goals.

Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also lauded Adelusi-Adeluyi's remarkable entrepreneurial and leadership skills which propelled him to the Chairmanship of the Oodua Investment Group and also

led to transformation of his well known Juli Pharmacy into the first indigenously promoted company to be quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The President joined Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi's family, friends and associates across the country in celebrating the renowned promoter of commerce who has also attained enviable heights in other areas of human endeavour as the pioneer President of the Nigerian

Academy of Pharmacy, former National President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, and first District Governor of Rotary International in Nigeria.

Buhari wished Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi very happy 75th birthday celebrations and prayed that Almighty God will grant him many more years of inspirational service to his community and country.

Bin Laden's relations killed in UK airport plane crash

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AMILY members of Osama Bin Laden were killed in a private jet crash in Hampshire on Friday, the Saudi Arabian embassy in the UK has said.

It came down near Blackbushe Airport, close to the Surrey border, killing the pilot and all three passengers.

The Saudi ambassador in the UK, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud, offered

condolences to the Bin Laden family.

The embassy said it was in contact with the British crash investigators.

The statement said: "His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud... has paid his condolences to the family and relatives of Mohammed bin Laden at Blackbushe airport in Britain for

the great loss they have suffered as a result of the crash of the plane that was carrying the family."

The embassy added that it was working with the British authorities to ensure the speedy handover of the bodies for funerals and burials in Saudi Arabia.

The plane - an Embraer Phenom 300 - is reported to have belonged to an aviation firm

owned by the Saudi-based family of the former al-Qaeda leader.

The plane, which was arriving from Milan, Italy, crashed into a British Car Auctions site at the airfield shortly after 15:00 BST, exploding on impact.

Eyewitnesses at the scene said there had been a "ball of flames" and "several explosions".

FAAC calls for review of laws, price regime in gas sector

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HE Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has called for the speedy review of laws, fiscal regime, licenses and price regime of petroleum products in the country.

The committee in a communiquĂŠ at the end of its

National Seminar held in Benin said that a quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would fast track the holistic implementation of the Gas Master Plan.

It also asked government to strive to create a balance between export of gas and the

usage in the domestic market by encouraging local gas consumption as a stimulus for development of our economy.

It also advised government to expedite the power transmission project to enable the power plants evacuate the power so that

stranded gas could be utilized.

Government, it stressed, should deliver the required infrastructure to link offshore gas to existing/ planned facility while synergies between operators need to be driven by the regulators to deliver stranded gas.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

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ORKERS at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday insisted that the party’s leaders were the architects of its current misery, and should therefore stop blaming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for their woes.

The workers are currently at war with members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) over a planned 50 percent slash in their salaries and allowances.

The NWC had, through a circular by PDP’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, also given notice of a 50 percent reduction in secretariat staff strength.

But the workers responded to the NWC’s move by dismissing the officials as corrupt, insensitive and reckless.

They also staged a protest at the party’s secretariat on Friday, and threatened to drag the NWC members to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, did not take kindly to the workers’ action.

He accused them of acting the script of the APC with a view to destabilising the PDP. However, the workers, under the aegis of the PDP Staff Welfare Association, dismissed Metuh’s accusation as “absolute bunkum, clumsy, and blundering blackmail.”

The association’s Chairman, Ngozi Nze and the Secretary, Dan Ochu-Baiye vowed, in a statement, to expose more of the party leaders’ corrupt practices.

Describing Metuh’s stand point as “a weak shot from a mortally crippled arsenal of witch hunt”, the workers said such blackmail would not break their resolve to see the NWC members investigated and prosecuted.

Their words: “Metuh’s allegation is a wide window into the impressionable character of the man who has been in the saddle as the party’s image-maker and an ominous signpost into the shallow manner the publicity of the party has been run.

“We wish to state that this is a man whose conduct, demeanour and media outings have been a repulse to professionalism and a source of embarrassment to party members.

“We therefore place it on record that the majority of the

NEWS

PDP workers to party leaders: ‘Stop blaming APC for your misery’ •Metuh replies them: ‘I am ready to face probe’ From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

establishment staff of the PDP are not just unrepentant members of the party who have spent over sixteen years in service; who have assimilated the PDP ethos as a way of political life, but are also the repository of the party’s institutional memory whose spirit can hardly succumb to the ephemeralty of power loss.

“Who plays anti-party? you may ask. Staff members who are genuinely resisting the morally repugnant and obsessively corrupt NWC so that the PDP will survive, or the likes of Olisa Metuh who have a track record of antiparty given his open endorsement of APGA candidate in the 2013 Anambra governorship election.

“What with Metuh’s subsequent denigration of the PDP candidate and his chances on live television programme less than 24 hours after the election, even as the result was being awaited?

“Earlier in January 2010 Anambra governorship elec-

tion, Metuh as National Vice Chairman, South East, abandoned Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the PDP candidate while openly galvanizing support for Hope Democratic Party candidate, his friend and benefactor.

“The PDP did not only woefully lose in Otolo Nnewi Ward 1 of the Party’s zonal vice chairman, but came a distant third in his polling booth!

What a faithful party officer!”

They queried Metuh’s support for former President Goodluck Jonathan in the run up to the last election and wondered what happened to “a whopping sum of N450 million media fund earlier approved for the office of PDP Publicity Secretary by President Jonathan.”

They also cited the recent congresses in Anambra as “another signpost to the destructive trajectory which the likes of Olisa Metuh is driving the PDP to.”

They added:”as we write, the party is still waiting for the result of the congresses a week after it was held, pending when Metuh is done with his

conclave of distortion and extortion.

“This is the same man who we reliably gathered, is surreptitiously scheming to emerge as the Organizing Secretary of the party next year.

To do what? Turn the party organization into Idumota Market and institutionalize extortion, graft and impunity.

“This is a man who started in 1999 as a zonal youth leader, then National Ex-officio, Acting National Auditor, Zonal Vice Chairman and now publicity secretary. It is either his umbilical cord was buried at Wadata Plaza or that he can’t survive on any other thing except the PDP. “We make bold to add that the worst form of anti-party is the mindless plunder of the party resources by the NWC which Olisa Metuh is an integral part. He is, in fact, the leader of the body’s extortion gang.

“Recall that the same man was the Chairman of Kogi State congresses which held last week and match it with the fact that the widely rumoured request for one billion

Naira from the state governor emanated the same week.

“Indeed, labelling the staff of the PDP could be a veiled attempt to justify the huge sum of N70 million which Metuh collected in July in the name of fighting the APC in the media.

“We wish to therefore advise him and the NWC to respond to gritty issues raised in our press briefing without which the fortunes of the party will continue to dwindle.”

The workers had, among others, accused the party leaders of squandering N12 billion realised from the sale of nomination forms during the last general election.

They also alleged that the party leaders had compelled delegates to pay N10,000 each into a private account of a company called Morufi Nigeria Limited only to squander the over N1 billion realised from the transaction.

Metuh in his reply to the workers volunteered to be investigated by the security agencies over the allegations of corruption against him.

In a statement by his Per-

L-R: Assistant Corps Marshal, Command Administration and Strategy, Mr. Augustine Aipoh; Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, FRSC, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi; and Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, during a special operation 'Scorpion' patrol targeted at trailers and tankers in Lagos at the weekend.

PDP NWC faces sack over N12 bn scandal • Jonathan, BOT under pressure to fire Secondus, Oladipo, Metuh, others

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EOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, embarrassed by the litany of corruption charges against members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), have commenced consultations on moving against the officials.

Workers at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja, had accused members of the NWC of massive corruption including alleged sharing of about

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FROM: Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

N12billion realized from the sale of forms for the March general electionS. They also alleged that N1billion changed hands during the recent congress of the party in Kogi State.

The allegations came on the heels of the planned reduction in the staff strength at the secretariat by 50 per cent and salary cut by the same ration.

For a party still reeling from the effects of its loss of power in the March and April elections, the workers’ allegations have not gone down well with party leaders including former President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

Party sources informed The Nation last night in Abuja that the workers had forwarded their grievances to Dr. Jonathan and other stakeholders.

It was gathered that the stakeholders have already launched into consultations to save the party from further embarrassment.

Sources said the stakeholders were being pressurized to prevail on the National Executive Committee (NEC) to dissolve the NWC forthwith on account of the allegations.

A top source in the party said: “The workers have taken their protest to

Jonathan, who is the leader of the party and the BOT. They are mounting pressure for the sack of the NWC by NEC. “They said with the present NWC in charge, the PDP will die. Some BOT members have started consultations on the way out of the challenge at hand.

“I think we may end up convening an emergency meeting of NEC in order to save the party this unnecessary embarrassment.”

sonal Assistant, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, Metuh said the workers’ actions were meant to bring to public odium and to distract him from his duties.

He said he was being persecuted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) through the workers, for his relentless criticism of the policies and programmes of the administration.

According to him, “This is not unexpected given the role of the National Publicity Secretary in the rebuilding of our great party and how uncomfortable the ruling APC has been for his outspokenness.

“We are aware that the anti-PDP forces have easily found a handful of disgruntled PDP staff as willing tools to attack Chief Metuh with a view to bringing him to public odium, distract him and deny our party a credible voice to propagate its positions.

“These forces had even gone to the extent of engineering some discontented PDP members to portray statements by the National Publicity Secretary as his personal opinions in the attempt to discredit and intimidate him.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the National Publicity Secretary will not be deterred or detracted by such threats and cheap blackmails as he remains committed to his role in the rebuilding of the PDP and in providing firm, credible and issue based opposition to the ruling party.

“This office would not join issues with these elements, however we make bold to state that Chief Olisa Metuh, being aware of the challenges that come with his new role has offered himself, his office as well as all his private companies for probe by the Department of State Services (DSS) or any other government agency for that matter.

“We also find it laughable that anybody would criticise the recent PDP congresses in Anambra and Kogi that have been widely applauded to be transparent and credible as established by the peace and harmony that characterised the processes.

“One also wonders how the issue of congresses helps the case of welfare matters being pushed by the staff, if not for the ulterior motive of destroying the PDP publicity”.

Metuh said his accusers have deliberately refused to appreciate his immense contributions to the party and the fact that he became the longest serving member of the National Executive Committee due to hard work and the confidence members of the party reposed in him as an individual.

He expressed relief that his accusers are now calling for his investigation instead of resorting to plots to assassinate him.

“However, we restate that the National Publicity Secretary will not in any way be cowed or intimidated by the threats, blackmails and attacks by anti-PDP forces to abandon his mandate as spokesperson of our great party”, the statement

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Obiano offers scholarship to three orphans • As tears flow during burial of accident victims of father, wife, son From Nwanosike Onu, Awka

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T was all tears yesterday at Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka local government area of Anambra State when three members of a family who died in a recent motor accident were laid to rest.

Joseph-Mary, his wife, Celestia and son Richard Odinigwe died in the Sunday, July 12, accident at the AguAwka junction in Awka, the state capital.

Three other children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Odinigwe survived the accident.

Governor Willie Obiano, speaking at the funeral mass for the deceased at St Anthony Catholic Church, EnugwuUkwu, said the state government would sponsor the education of the survivors to university level.

The governor who consoled the Odinigwe family for the tragic loss described the survival of younger Odinigwes as a miracle.ý “There is no doubt that God’s mercy was at work. Anyone who visited the site of that accident like I did with my wife after visiting the children at the hospital can attest to the miracle. May their souls rest in peace,” he said.

In his sermon, the Spiritual Director of Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Ukeh, Rev Fr. Emmanuel Obinma, said death is a leveller that spares no one, and that it comes with pain and sorrow “when we lose friends and relatives.”

He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased.

Until his death, Joseph – Mary Odinigwe was Personal Assistant to the Father Obinma.

“I was out of the country, but I tried very much to reach him on phone to no avail, perhaps the message would have altered his movement on that day,” the priest said.

Federal varsities’ governing councils not dissolved, says presidency From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja HE governing councils of federal universities have been exempted, for now, from the dissolution of boards of government parastatals, agencies, institutions and companies announced on July 16,the presidency said yesterday.

All Vice Chancellors of federal universities have been informed of the exemption through a circular issued by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, according to the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

NEWS

‘Why Buhari should be interested in N/Assembly leadership’ P

R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to remain neutral in the leadership struggle in the National Assembly may end up thwarting key policies of his administration, a former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly has said.

Senator Abba Aji who served the late President Umaru Yar ‘Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan between 2007-2011, said the leadership of the National Assembly must always be on the same page with the ruling party.

Buhari’s present aloofness in the leadership crisis in the National Assembly, Aji said in Abuja, might be inappropriate and counter- productive.

He insisted that the president must be interested in who occupies leadership positions in the Senate and the House of Representatives for his executive bills to get smooth passage.

According to him, the President’s constitutional relationship with the legislature is such that the dichotomy between the executive and the legislature is purely a theo-

From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja retical one.

He asked the President to “look at separation of powers from a different stand point because his current view point is not the appropriate one in my view.”

He added:”technically speaking, President Buhari is a member of the legislature and he is the most important member of the National Assembly because unlike other members of the legislature, he is the only one that technically is a member of both chambers.”This is so because 90 percent of bills that occupy the business of legislation emanate from the President.

Secondly, the President’s bills are presented, argued and lobbied for by the leaders in the two chambers.

“When the president withholds his assent to any bill, it will take two-thirds of both chambers to override it. That technically makes him a voting member for that purpose.

“Whenever he gives his assent to a bill, it means he has technically voted in the Senate and the House of Representatives. You can now see that he

is more important a legislator than the Senate President or the Speaker”.

Abba Aji insisted that leadership positions in the Senate and House of Representatives are party positions, and the President and the party must have a say on who should occupy the positions.

“That is why the party with the majority, which is usually the President’s party should produce the leadership, otherwise, you cannot sync the Presidency and the legislature unless they are synchronised together” he said.

He recalled that as the President’s Adviser on National Assembly, he had had cause to drag the leadership of the sixth National Assembly before the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on several occasions over executive-legislature friction.

“I remember when I was Adviser to the late President Yar ‘Adua, whenever there was delay in certain things that we did not expect, I used to drag the leaders to the party headquarters.

“I dragged David Mark and Dimeji Bankole and their

teams to the national headquarters of the PDP on several occasions to iron out some areas in executive-legislature conflicts.

“So, in practical terms, the President cannot be separated from the legislature because all his policies must go to the National Assembly. The leadership of the legislature must share his vision and mission, otherwise, his programmes and policies will be frustrated.

“That is why it is important for the President to decide who becomes the leader of the National Assembly, particularly those that present his bills.

“The President does not just present bills; he has to go round the legislators and campaign and at the same time seek support for his bills to be passed.

“Standing aloof can be destructive to his programmes because the legislators may continue to delay his bills by demanding for more information that may not be necessarily relevant to the matter on the table”.

Aji recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

From Left, Assistant Senior Secretary, Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Gbenga Bamidele; New National President NUJ, Mr. Abdulwaheed Odusile; out going President NUJ, Mallam Muhammed Garuba and National Secretary, Shuábu Lema, during the handing over note to the new president in Abuja on Wednesday.

Senators launch struggle for juicy committees

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SENATE President Bukola Saraki has sparked a fierce struggle for juicy committee membership in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly after asking senators to signify interest in committees of their choice.

He asked them to pick forms from the office of the Clerk to the Senate to indicate their preferred committees.

The committees’ main responsibility is their oversight role in holding the executive arm, through each ministry or agency, accountable for its actions and ensuring that such ministries and agencies implement policies in accordance with the laws and budgets as passed by the legislative arm.

Consequently, such committees as Senate Services, Appropriation, Finance, Petroleum (down and upstream), Defence and Army, Communications, Aviation, Interior, Rules and Business, Judiciary,

From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor Human Rights and Legal Matters, Federal Capital Territory, Education, Niger Delta, Agriculture, Environment and Ecology, Power, Gas, Works, Marine Transport and Health which are considered influential have always attracted more interest than the rest.

They are classified as Grade A committees. Saraki said each Senator should indicate interest in about five committees.

The body of principal officers, also referred to as the Selection Committee with the Senate President as its chairman, has the responsibility to assign Senators to the committees based principally on the interest shown by individual Senators.

Although the 54 committees in the upper chamber are supposed to be equal and made to receive the same allocation,

some are considered more ‘lucrative’ than others.

The Senate Services Committee was constituted last week with Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir from Sokoto State as chairman and Senator Abubakar Kyari, from Borno State as Vice Chairman.

Other members of the special committee are: Senators Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo central) Olufunke Raji-Rasaki (Ekiti Central) Sunday Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South), Mohammed Hassan (Yobe South), Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South) Philip Aruwa Gyunka (Nasarawa North), Tijani Yahaya Kaura (Zamfara North) and Ibrahim Rafiu.

A reliable source close to the Selection Committee, told The Nation that “since Saraki’s announcement on the constitution of standing committees, the traffic of Senators to the Senate President’s office has dramatically increased.”

Although the source described lobbying for committees as a normal legislative practice, he said: “It is interesting to observe that what is going on cuts across all political interests in the Senate.”

According to him, “It seems as if nobody wants to be left out in the choice committees.”

A new Senate rule stipulates that the committees should be shared equitably among the geo-political zones.

Some All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators have criticized the rule, saying that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Seventh Senate did not adhere to such sharing formula.

It is also not clear when the committees will be constituted but going by the emerging spirit to move the Senate forward, the committees are likely to be formed before the end of August.

Principal officers: Southeast APC is angry, says Rep From Victor Oluwasegun and Dele Anofi, Abuja HE leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must explain the justification for ignoring the Southeast geo-political zone in the resolution of the principal offices faceoff in the House of Representatives, a member has said.

Southeast has two first time members in the House, both from Imo State.

Austine Chukwukere (APC, Imo) said the demand became apparent because the resolution was in contradiction of the change and equity being preached by the party.

He noted that the compensation promised the region following the development does not amount to demanding for the rights of the people of the region.

Besides, he said that the resolution was at the expense of Southeast supporters of the party that faced untold challenges from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for daring to identify with APC. Chukwukere, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, said the leadership of APC ought to realise that the Southeast should be courted rather than pushed away.

He said: “We are keen on the procedure on the selection of principal offices with every zones deserving of getting an officer for equity and justice and that was why we canvassed it as enshrined in our constitution.

“Unfortunately, the announcement was made with Southeast shut out despite working for APC against the rampaging PDP. We were not deterred despite all manners of obstacles thrown our ways, all those times it was like we were committing suicide, yet we were resolute to stick with APC. “For that, it behoves on the party that believed in equity to redress the situation. Our people also want to know why Speaker Dogara that had been supporting our aspiration suddenly backed out.

“The party must respond to these questions as our people are hungry for answers because the reason that non ranking members is not eligible for principal offices is not tenable because as soon as being sworn in as a lawmaker, you get the required experience demanded by that office.

“We remain very loyal to the party because we played vital roles for the emergence of APC but to be shut out this way demand explanations.

One can only imagine the kind of pressure Governor Rochas Okorocha would be going through because of this development.

“We are aware of the promise of compensation but that does not amount to demanding for explanations why we were shut out like we weren’t part of this country anymore.”

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

NEWS

Mark awards N500million scholarship O fewer than 15,700 students in tertiary and elementary schools in Benue State and beyond have benefitted from David Mark Scholarship Foundation.

The scholarship has gulped about N500million since inception in 2007.

The beneficiaries included 14,703 students from various universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, as well as school of nursing.

A statement by Media Assistant to Senator David Mark, Paul Mummeh, said that the beneficiaries were classified into five categories including students of tertiary institutions, gifted girl child, orphans and vulnerable children as well as special awards.

While distributing the awards to beneficiaries in Otukpo, Benue State, over the weekend, Mark restated his passion for education.

He said: "For me, education is a passion. I wish that every citizen has access to quality and functional education.

"This would eliminate ignorance, diseases and societal vices. Besides, some people would not take advantage or manipulate the uneducated needlessly."

He promised to sustain the scholarship foundation no matter the challenges.

The immediate Senate President said: "I cannot play politics with this foundation.

I don't need to. For those who criticise me, they should not bother or worry.

"They can simply do theirs. I believe that if every other person who is well placed under takes to train at least two uneducated citizens annually, we would be able to wipe out illiteracy in our society in no distant time."

Uboh urges EFCC to probe Offor, Jonathan's campaign director

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Kogi 2015: Bello picks APC's form

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OGI State gubernatorial aspirant Yahaya Bello has picked the All Progressives Congress (APC) form at the party head office in Abuja.

Bello lamented that Kogi State created 24 years ago has remained undeveloped, stating it took United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai the same years to be transformed from a desert.

According to him: "With all the enormous resources we have and what is accruable to the state over the years, there is nothing to show for it."

He said that his entourage came from far and near across the length and breadth of the state to support his aspiration.

Bello said he was offering himself to serve after pressure from the people, vowing to implement a five-point agenda to transform the state if elected.

He regretted that the current administration is not paying attention to internally generated revenue.

"Kogi State has more than 80% of solid minerals in Nigeria which some powerful cabals are illegally mining to their own benefits.

"We will make sure that Kogi State is prosperous and other states will come to learn from us," Bello pledged.

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• Founder, David Mark Scholarship Foundation, Sen. David Mark (r) presenting cash award to a student of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Miss Regina Joseph at the 2014/2015 scholarship foundation award in Otukpo, Benue State at the weekend. With them is the chairman of the Foundation Prof. James Alachi.

Osinbajo defends bail outs, lauds Kano on IDPs V

ICE President Yemi Osinbajo has defended the bailout fund policy of the Buhari administration.

Stating that the measure was designed at taking distressed states out of financial woods, he said it was not the first time government was taking the decision.

The Vice President spoke yesterday in Kano while assessing the standard of living of 100 children adopted by state government.

He disclosed that the 36 states of the federation owe commercial banks N685 billion, which has negatively hampered

From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

their ability to settle most of their commitments in respect of salaries and other entitlements.

This, he said, is why the bailout becomes imperative.

According to him, the Buhari administration operates zero tolerance to corruption, insisting that the era of looting public fund was over.

He pledged that the federal government will pursue to a logical conclusion, the implementation of social welfare policy that will alleviate poverty

and ensure that democratic dividends gets to the door step of the common man.

Osinbajo expressed satisfaction with the condition of the children being educated and rehabilitated through Kano state Ministry of Education and Ministry of Women Affairs.

He described the Kano experience as a model and pledged support of the programme by the federal government.

He vowed that the administration will not relent in

its effort to assist affected victims of Boko Haram insurgents.

The Vice President said the government had already set up a Presidential Fund Initiative for North East Boko Haram victims headed by General T.Y. Danjuma, which will among other things fashion out ways of assisting the victims in terms of education and provision of basic infrastructure for resettlement.

The Vice President said he was excited at the level of good condition he found the children, adding that the action of Kano State Government for adopting the children from Borno state was in the right direction.

Boko Haram will be defeated before December, Buhari vows a great sacrifice on the part of

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R E S I D E N T Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared that the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) of the Lake Chad Commission will defeat the Boko Haram terrorists by the end of this year.

He made the remark in Cotonou during the gala lunch held in his honour by the President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi.

Buhari, who was on a oneday visit to Cotonou as the special guest of honor at the 55th independence anniversary of Benin Republic, commended Yayi for increasing the number of Benin troops to 800 for the MNJTF.

From Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

He stated, “And I assure you that we will defeat Boko Haram by the end of this year.”

Noting that he was overwhelmed by the honour of inviting him for the independence anniversary, and by bestowing the national honour of the Republic of Benin on him, he noted that even when he was a military head of state, Nigeria has always learnt to live peacefully with her neighbours.

He said: “I am impressed by your concern and critical approaches by increasing your contributions to the multinational task force of the Lake Chad Commission. This is

the Benin Republic....

“Even in my first coming into office under a different arrangement, we have learnt to live in peace with our neighbours. Within the week I was sworn in, I went to Niger, Chad. I was supposed to go to Cameroon but I was summoned by the G7 leaders to brief them about the security situation in Nigeria concerning Boko Haram which declared allegiance to ISIS which gives it international dimension”.

Speaking earlier, Yayi had pledged that his country was ready to send about 800 troops as part of its contributions to the fight against terrorism.

He promised that his

country would collaborate with Nigeria in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Your Excellency, I am by your side. You are not alone. We are ready to send about 800 men,” he stated According to him, the Republic of Benin is the 37th state of Nigeria as he described Buhari as a man of integrity who was concerned about the integration of the sub-region.

He said: “You are a man of integrity. The integration of the sub-region is your concern. Your coming here brings our two countries together. Our customs services should meet about economy. Benin is the 37th state of Nigeria.”

Delta NURTW crisis: 2 policemen shot, 44 suspects arrested

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WO policemen are receiving treatments in Warri from gunshot injuries sustained during last week's Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers ' (NURTW) unrest in Uvwie.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta state police command, Celestina Kalu (DSP), said no fewer than 44

From: Bolaji Ogundele, Warri

suspects had been arrested in connection with the unrest.

The incident paralysed activities in most part of Uvwie and some parts of Warri South council areas of Delta state last Wednesday.

It was gathered that the unrest was allegedly caused by forceful takeover of motor

parks management in Uvwie council area resulting from a political struggle between the chairman of Uvwie council area, Henry Baro and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Evelyn Oboro, reported to be an ally of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

According to Kalu, two policemen were shot by the

rampaging NURTW members in two different incidences. He said an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was shot at Jakpa junction while a Sergeant was gunned down at Dofegt part at Effurun.

The Police spokesperson said normalcy has been restored to the area while investigation was ongoing.

Fayose disowns hoodlums attacking Ekiti residents

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kiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has disowned those he referred to as "unscrupulous people who go about attacking innocent residents claiming that he sent them.”

In a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose urged security agencies to arrest

From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado Ekiti

anybody caught assaulting law-abiding residents dropping his name in the process.

It reads: "We have it on good authority that the plot of these unscrupulous elements is to go about attacking notable indigenes of Ekiti State and claiming that they were sent by

Governor Fayose.

"By announcing that they were Governor Fayose's boys, the motive of the criminals has no doubt been exposed and it cannot be anything other than to set the people against the governor.

"We therefore wish to state categorically that Governor Fayose does not harbour criminals. He does

not have boys anywhere, not to talk of sending them to attack innocent residents of Ekiti State.

"Anyone caught attacking or assaulting residents of Ekiti State in the name of "Governor Fayose's Boys" should be apprehended and handed over to law enforcement agents for appropriate action."

human rights activist and Managing Director of Panic Alert Security Systems (PASS), George Uboh, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to quiz Sir Emeka Offor, the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDP-PCO), Dr. Ahmadu Alli, and the Campaign Organisation's Director of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman.

He said they should all be probed over their alleged roles in the handling of the campaign finances of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement in Abuja at the weekend, Uboh accused Usman and the Head of Media of the PDP Presidential Campaign Committee, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode of financial donations in excess of INEC's monetary support limit for candidates.

Uboh said he has been monitoring a case of unpaid campaign debt against PDP, Ahmadu Alli, and Nenadi Usman by a company, Silon Concepts Limited, through its lawyers, Festus Keyamo Chambers in suit no: FCT/ HC/CV/2017/2015.

He queried why Usman refused to use the PDP PCO account to receive and disburse the alleged multibillion naira for the presidential election funding but made use of Jointrust Dimentions Nig. Ltd, which he alleged as the former minister's private company.

Ayade dedicates victory to God •Hails Cross Rivers citizens ROSS River governor Ben Ayade yesterday dedicated his victory at the Abuja Federal High Court at the weekend to God and the good people of the state.

Ayade, who said this shortly after he was cleared of any wrongdoing by Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, stated that the ruling offered everyone in the state the opportunity to join hands to deliver on his administration's Signature Projects.

While thanking God for favour, he expressed gratitude to the people of the state for their prayers, love and solidarity.

The governor extended a hand of fellowship to Joe Agi (SAN), who instituted the case against him.

According to him: "As far as the ruling of the Federal High Court is concerned, there is no victor and no vanquished.

"It was purely democracy in action and it is all part of the process to deepen our democracy."

Continuing, the governor said: "The winners in all of this are the people of Cross River State and God who gives wisdom and understanding to rule over people.

"It is for this reason that I am dedicating the victory to God and to the people. It is not my victory, it is a victory made possible by God for the people of Cross River State."

He implored everyone irrespective of political leanings to team up with him for the onerous task of advancing the growth of the state.

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Women must aspire for elective positions, says Tinubu

By Wale Ajetunmobi O effectively combat vices that have impeded the nation's progress, women must play key roles and divest their efforts for Nigeria to achieve greatness.

Senator representing Lagos Central, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, gave this admonition while speaking at the inaugural lecture of the National Union of Lagos Students (NULASS) held at the Faculty of Education of the University of Lagos. She spoke on the theme 'Students as panacea in the emerging new Nigeria'.

Tinubu, who said the quest for a better Nigeria would only be achieved if women willingly aspire for elective positions, added that women must be part of the country's policymakers if bad policies that encouraged vices and corruption must be changed.

She said: "Power is never served a la carte; you have to fight for it. I have said this during political campaign. I want women to aspire for elective positions, because that is where we can change bad policies. Of all the eight women in the last National Assembly, I am the only one who returned. It is very disheartening and sad.

"How are we going to stand for women? I don't think I see that possibility. More women should flood the National Assembly and areas where they can make decisions, so that we can lead this country to the Eldorado we want."

Tinubu noted that education remains vital to the growth of the nation, stressing that the country would face a dangerous future if the leaders fail to educate the youth. She said government must invest hugely in education, noting that the past administrations' efforts were not enough to stabilise the education system.

The former Lagos First Lady said she was proud of the Lagos students for their foresight and their thought on issues affecting the wellbeing of the nation, adding that students have a key role to play in nation building.

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Group plans conference for Nigeria's Independence

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

NEWS

S Nigeria prepares for her 55th Independence a n n i v e r s a r y celebration on October 1, a group, Volunteering for Change Group (V4C), has concluded plans to hold a threeday change national conference in Abuja.

With the theme 'Change begins with you-be the change,' the conference will be an annual event, with the maiden edition scheduled to hold between 2nd and 4th October. An estimated 5,000 participants are expected at the event.

According to the organisers, renowned motivational speakers, workshop facilitators and activists including Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Chief Femi Falana (SAN), among others, will make presentations at the conference.

Spokesman of the group, Rotimi Vaughan, disclosed that details about the conference will be released within the next few days at a world press conference.

Oyo Election Petition: Ladoja, Ajimobi set to present witnesses T he Governorship Candidate of Accord Party in Oyo State, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, and the state governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, have been slated to present 202 and 150 witnesses respectively at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan, the state capital.

Ladoja is challenging the victory of Ajimobi in the April 11 governorship election in the state.

At yesterday's hearing, Olumuyiwa Aduroja and Babatunde Aiku, both SANs, held brief for Chief Wole

From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan

Olanipekun (SAN) and Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) for the first and second respondents respectively.

For the petitioners (Senator Ladoja and Accord), their counsel, Richard Ogunwole (SAN), informed that his team was prepared to present 202 witnesses within 14 days as permitted by the law, while the first and second respondents

told the Tribunal that they are ready to present "about 150 and 141 witnesses" respectively also within the statutory10 days permitted by the law.

For third and fourth respondents (Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ambassador Rufus Akeju and INEC), their counsel, Adeboye Sobanjo, informed the tribunal that they will be presenting 160 witnesses also within the

statutory 10 days.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Aliyu Mayaki, after its sitting on Saturday, adjourned proceedings till Tuesday, August 4, 2015, informing that the pre-hearing session will also be extended by one week.

The tribunal also granted first and second respondents five days each to file their report on documents in respect of the petitioners' report from inspection of electoral materials earlier inspected.

• L-R:Parents of the groom, Mr. and Mrs. Abdul Yekini Adetoro; bride, Lateefah; Osun State Gov., Rauf Aregbesola, who was the chairman of the occasion; groom, Muhammad Adetoro and parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. Musbau Oyefeso, during the Nikkah/ Wedding of Oyefeso’s daughter, which was held in Lagos at the weekend.

PHOTO: MUYIWA HASSAN

Rep calls for legislation against abandoned projects

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member of the House of Representatives representing Oyo Federal Constituency Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, has called for legislation for the completion of all abandoned projects scattered across the country.

Moving a motion on the

From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo

floor of the House, Adeniyi said top on the list of such projects include the dualisation of Ibadan/Oyo/ Ogbomoso/Ilorin highway that links the South-West with the North, which is about 70 percent completed, but abandoned at the Oyo/ Ogbomoso axis.

While lamenting the high rate of accidents on the highway, the lawmaker said, "Many people are at a loss as to why the much- publicised rehabilitation work on the road has not been completed, thus resulting in increased road carnages and fatal casualties."

He urged the federal

government to immediately order the contractor handling the project back to work, adding that it should also provide adequate funding for the quick completion of the project.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) legislator also called for the completion of abandoned Erelu water project.

‘Structural defect caused crack in Ondo Govt House’

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REDIBLE sources have attributed the alleged crack inside the new Ondo State government house at Alagbaka in Akure, the state capital, to a structural defect and not a thunderstorm as it has been insinuated in several quarters.

The development, according to sources, has forced the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to relocate to his private residence in Ondo town.

There have been concerns

From Damisi Ojo, Akure

that the building, which construction started in 2011, was allegedly hit by heavy thunderstorm that was not unconnected to alleged spiritual attack.

It was learnt that the expansive structure where the new government house is being built was originally constructed by the first civilian governor of the state, late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin.

The building project, which sources said has been reawarded at N700 million, was initially planned to be the office of the governor's wife, but later converted to a residential apartment.

Sources revealed that the state government allegedly awarded the contract for the reconstruction and design of the structure to a blood relation of the governor, who also heads one of the key agencies in the state.

The state Ministry of Works was allegedly sidelined in the execution of the project, which prevented its officials from monitoring the construction work.

A source said, "The design of that edifice is alien to the state Ministry of Works; the main problem with the building is structural defects."

It was learnt that a close friend of the governor who is an engineer pointed his attention to the crack.

How housing deficit can be tackled, by expert

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OVERNMENT at all levels must invest massively in the construction of low scheme houses in order to bridge the gap in housing deficit.

A United Kingdom-based forensic property expert, Dr. Dapo Williams, gave this advice while speaking in an interview with our correspondent.

According to him, affordable houses for low income workers is achievable if the three tiers of government put the provision of houses for the people on the front burner.

Besides providing shelter for the millions of Nigerians, Williams, who holds a doctorate degree in Forensic Property, said the programme is capable of generating massive job opportunities and also boosting the revenue base of the

By Remi Adelowo government through taxation.

Williams, who is also the Chairman of the Buhari-Osinbajo Diaspora Organisation (BODO), said: "The government should adopt a long-term housing strategy; we should be building about 250,000 homes every year nationwide. It is not a rocket science. We have experts on our BODO professionals' database."

Dismissing claims that affordable houses provided by the government for the people is not achievable, he explained, "All we need to do is to carry out research into affordable and low cost housing strategy that will suit the Nigerian people. The repayment system must be affordable and the mortgage banks should be carried along or the state becomes the landlords. We can even introduce part-tenant, part

landlord's scheme. There are so many ways we can go about providing shelter for every Nigerian."

While urging the government to tap into the expertise of Nigerians in the Diaspora to bridge the 17 million housing deficit in the country, Williams said the country boasts a huge number of internationally recognised housing experts that are willing to offer their services to the nation.

Also speaking on the state of the nation, Williams urged the federal government to tackle the insurgency in the North East region of the country, adding that all hands must be on deck to rid the country of terrorism.

He noted, "Our leaders need our support and I believe the country is in a position to get assistance from world powers

to tackle insurgency. With the great recommendation President Muhammadu Buhari got during his recent trip to America, you can see that Nigeria is on the trail of success.

However, we need change of attitude by the Nigerian people.

If we can go back to the WAI era, Nigeria would be a fantastic place to live.

He expressed confidence in the ability of President Buhari and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to restore the country on the path of greatness, saying, "The two men were sellable products during the campaign so, I was proud to sell them to the Nigerian community in the UK and in Nigeria through the social media. PMB's past records on fighting indiscipline and corruption are there for all to see.

Buhari urged to revive culture of discipline

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HE most potent way to curb corruption among the new generation is to revive and instill discipline among youths in the country.

To this end, President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to set machinery in motion to fight social disorder, indiscipline, as well as renewal of pursuit of a civil discipline that will respect the rights of Nigerians.

The call was made by a member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, while speaking on the spate of moral decadence among the younger generation at a programme organised by New Era Youth Forum in Osogbo, the state capital.

According to him, if the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) of the Buhari/Idiagbon regime introduced in 1984 had been sustained by successive administrations, the spate of indiscipline among Nigerians would have reduced drastically.

Lamenting that indiscipline has become a norm in the society, the lawmaker called on the federal government to commence a reorientation campaign to discourage indiscipline especially among teenagers.

To actualise this objective, Oyintiloye said the federal government should strengthen all enforcement institutions, in addition to setting up a Discipline Corps to restore sanity in the society.

He said: "It is important for all of us to realise that our society is suffering from lack of discipline and this has eaten deep into all sectors. This is one of the primary problems facing Nigeria as a nation as most people do not see corruption as a social vice that most be corrected."

The lawmaker identified gaps in society, which include high level of chaos on highways, market places and disorderliness in public places among others, saying orderliness is the first law in heaven and an indicator of civilization in any society.

Oyo workers' salaries will be paid within three months, says Ajimobi From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan YO State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has assured civil servants in the state that their outstanding salaries would be settled within the next three months.

The governor gave this promise while addressing journalists in his office.

Disclosing that he had just approved the sum of N2billion for the payment of junior workers, while fresh funds are being expected within the next few weeks to clear the April salary, Ajimobi further explained that with the state government would have enough funds to clear its debts as soon as the federal government's appeal to commercial banks to stop all deductions from states' allocation takes effect.

The governor confirmed the receipt of about N2.3 billion from the NLNG money shared by all the states of the federation, which he said is not a bailout.

He said: "I have approved a sum of about N2billion naira for the payment of workers of lower cadre and with the efforts we are making now, I can assure you that within the next three months, the issue of salary would be resolved."

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

•Buhari

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ONTRARY to the awkward and uncomplimentary claims of a governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the countdown to the March general election, President Muhammadu Buhari is waxing stronger by the day. His capacity to cope with the workload has remained amazing to his aides, friends and associates.

And in the last two months, it is becoming obvious that a new dawn is imminent for the nation. There can be no better testimony than that of President Barrack Obama, who lodged Buhari at the famous Blair's House meant for philosopher leaders, and gave Nigerians a lot to cheer about their president. Obama said: "President Buhari came into office with reputation for integrity and a very clear agenda that is to make sure that he has been bringing safely security and peace to his country."

Trailing Buhari in the last two months has revealed many dimensions of the new President and the how he is laying foundation for a robust future for the country.

Buhari's unusual schedule causes stir in The Villa Apart from going through some discomfort (through a make-shift life) before packing to the Presidential Villa, the President lives an austere life. He works from 7am to the wee hours of the night with intermittent time for his five daily prayers. He consults with few underground advisers (close and old associates of many years) in House 7 and aides on daily basis to weigh options. Talking on the tight schedule of the President, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu said: "Maybe because of his military background, the President wakes up early and he is an avid listener to radio stations. Before he reports for

The Buhari Presidency:

Behind the scenes Since President Muhammadu Buhari took over the reins of power on May 29, his governance style has been a major discourse among citizens. His traducers, especially the oppositionPeoplesDemocraticParty(PDP),haveturnedfault finders overnight and won't give him a breathing space. In this piece, YUSUF ALLI, MANAGING EDITOR, NORTHERN OPERATION explores the 'slow and steady' pace of Buhari and his unsung silent initiatives which may turn the nation around. work by7am, he must have listened to all the talk shows on radio and you will be amazed how he picks you up on some national issues discussed on radio. Most times, he starts his day by 6am.

"The President works from the early hours of the day till 1am and 2am. In fact, there was a time the team around him had a meeting and expressed worries that the President was having only three hours of sleep. They therefore redesigned his schedule by saying no more appointment by 9pm. The new policy did not last more than one week. After that,

the President worked till 1am." Responding to a question, Shehu said: "I think it has to do with his military training because it got to a point that one of the youngest staff working with the President could not cope with his schedule."

Unveiling Buhari's moral curtains Coming into power with a hard-earned reputation, Buhari has changed the face of Aso Rock - the seat of government. Unlike in the past administrations, loafers, busy bodies, political heavyweights, multi-colour businessmen masquerading as investors,

chieftains of banks seeking to influence financial policies, portfolio investors and money bags do not have easy access to the Presidential Villa again. Instead, they now loiter around the corridors of the Senate and House of Representatives to have a peripheral feeling of what Buhari or the Federal Government is up to. This is the first time since 1999 when those who usually alter the fortunes of Nigeria at night over champagne have been shut out of the Villa. They can no longer drive in and out of the Villa at will; they cannot have gossip dinners with the President and have no access to every file signed by the President or a privileged knowledge of appointments and government policies again.

The situation got to a ridiculous stage under the late President Umaru Yar'Adua that a businessman was always getting the copy of policy statement even before Ministers or Permanent Secretaries knew of the government direction. While ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was in charge, some businessmen and money bags could influence policies within minutes after a shuttle to the Villa. They sought monopoly of everything in the country, they wanted waiver to direct the economy as they like or determine how Nigerians breathe, and some of them manipulated the oil, industrial and financial sectors from the tip of their fingers. At a stage under Jonathan, Ministers feared these money bags and Presidential friends than the ex-President himself. All the luxury is gone with Buhari in charge. A source said: "To Buhari, any businessman, political heavyweight or money bag visiting the Villa must come to add value and not to diminish

•Contd. on page 10

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

NEWS REVIEW

•Contd. from page 9 or deplete the system."

These men of means are unhappy being on the same pedestal with the poor but Buhari is unruffled. Besides having quality time to meditate on the state of the nation and plan, the Vila is saving huge cost often spent on accommodation at state expense, choice foods and exotic champagne like Vodka which was the delight of some people in the last government.

Instead, Buhari runs a tight administration with a code of conduct for his immediate family and aides. Aides must live above board and keep sealed lips on official secrets, especially crucial policies and itinerary. Once you cross the border line, you are either redeployed or isolated or ejected from the Villa. To the shock of every staff in the Villa, Buhari woke up one day and relieved his Chief Security Officer, Abdulrahman Mani and Administrative Officer Widi Liman of their jobs. Although the government has kept mute on the removal of these confidants, findings revealed that Mani might have been redeployed for allegedly "leaking Buhari's itinerary to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke who strove to travel on the same flight to London in May. It was also learnt that Mani was sent out of the Villa following power tussle between him and the Aide-de-Camp of the President, Lt. Col. Muhammed Abubakar Lawal over the security changes effected in the seat of government. Another source said Buhari was unhappy with Mani and Liman on how they mismanaged the 'opportunity' to take care of his appointments. He suspected some connivance when unwanted guests or some corrupt elements were placed on appointment list.

Also a desperate businessman looking for an oil block had attempted to bribe a brother-in-law, Musa Yola, to get access to the President but the in-law paid dearly for it. The dubious transaction was not only busted, Buhari ordered the arrest of his inlaw in handcuffs. He ordered the State Security Service (SSS) to investigate the scam.

This is the first time that the First Family will be under some restrictions. Buhari has listed no go areas for his wife and children in order to avoid abuse of power. When his wife and children went for lesser Hajj (Umrah) a few weeks ago, he made sure they travelled on Emirates Airline, a commercial flight with a caveat that they must not receive any gift from wealthy Nigerians who are usually using the pilgrimage to curry favours. A top source said: "President Muhammadu Buhari has adopted a strict policy on the use of presidential aircraft in order to save cost.

His wife and relations have been restricted to the use of the aircraft in the presidential fleet.

"A situation where the aircraft were used anyhow by some friends, associates of the President during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan can no longer be applicable in this dispensation.

"For example, the Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari and three children travelled for lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia on Emirates Airline instead of using presidential aircraft.

"Buhari is determined to ensure the judicious use of the presidential aircraft to save cost. He is also setting a new template for governance. Do not be surprised if you see the President using commercial flights."

Findings also revealed that Buhari is blazing another moral trail as a leader because his wife still cooks for him. While hosting some children to Eid-el Fitr festival, the wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, made the unusual disclosures. She said: "I'm going to leave you soon. I want to go back home to cook for my husband.

Because my children are here playing with you, nobody is at home, only my husband.

I want to go back home to be with him and also cook dinner for him." As at the time of filing this report, Buhari is yet to acquiesce to pressure to make his wife to go about with the appellation of the 'First Lady'.

A source added: "I think the President

The Buhari Presidency: B

•Buhari with Obama at the White House

does not want the Office of the First Lady hijacked by vested interests as the case between 2010 and 2015 when Jonathan was in charge. So far, Hajiya Aisha Buhari is known and addressed as the 'Wife of the President.'

Awaiting the fate of presidential jets Going by his level of contentment, it was apparent that the President does not need all the aircraft in the Presidential Fleet but he is yet to make up his mind on what to do. During the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, about N9.08billion was spent annually to maintain the 10 aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF).

The aircraft are two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulf stream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and Gulf stream IVSP. Others are one Gulf stream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.

A presidency source said: "Do you know that it costs about N747 million to fuel the aircraft in the presidential fleet per annum. President Buhari said his administration cannot afford such a luxury. He has limited the use of presidential fleet by his wife, immediate family and friends.

"The US President, Barrack Obama uses only two Boeing jets and one helicopter.

So, Buhari is determined to cut cost. In any case, he lives an austere life. If he can ask his wife to fly on a commercial jet, then other public officers must emulate his standard."

How he is running government without ministers Gradually the President is restoring the old glory of the nation's civil service in line with the 800-page report of Ahmed Joda

Committee, which was submitted on June 11. Ahead of his appointment of ministers next month, the President is running the government with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, Permanent Secretaries (who are the accounting officers of ministries) and the Chief Executives/ Directors-General of parastatals and his key aides like some Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants.

The Permanent Secretaries and the CEOs of agencies are enjoying every bit of freedom because for the first time since 2007, they can now make suggestions, rub minds with the President and implement without anyone breathing down on them. The Senior Special Assistant on Media, Shehu said: "The Permanent Secretaries are there to assist him and he has given them independence to take decisions (including financial ones) unless it is something extraordinary."

Reforms/ the coming structure of government and new ministers Sources in the Presidential Villa confided in THE NATION that the report of the Ahmed Joda Committee and the 2012 document of Steve Oronsaye panel will go a long way in shaping the surgical reforms which Buhari will carry out. These reforms may include merger of ministries and agencies, cutting waste in public service and putting in place a culture of transparency and accountability. In its report, the Joda committee said: "There is no direct relationship between the number of ministries and efficacy of service delivery.

The US with a population of 316million and with GDP of $17, 328 trillion (30 times Nigeria's GDP) has 15 ministries. India has 24 ministries while the UK has 17.

"The current structure of the Federal

Government of Nigeria with 28 ministries and 542 agencies (50 of which have no enabling laws) results in very high cost of governance. The portfolios of ministries are not responsive to all the major critical national challenges such as family and child affairs; religious affairs; vulnerable and elderly group affairs as well as the North-Eastern crisis.

"There is an apparent conflict between the desire of reducing the cost of governance through cabinet downsize and the constitutional requirement of a cabinetlevel ministerial appointment from each of the 36 states of the Federation."

More than any group, the new ministers coming into Buhari's cabinet may not enjoy the same luxury like some of their reckless predecessors in the administration of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, the late President Umaru Yar'Adua and exPresident Goodluck Jonathan. Shehu said: "The President has said he will cut wastes everywhere. He used to tell us that as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, he was always applying to the Federal Executive Council for estacode each time he was going for OPEC meeting. You can predict his policy."

But the only challenge Buhari might have is about his plans to reduce the number of ministers from 42 to 18 or 19 because it will amount to a violation of the 1999 Constitution unless the relevant Section 147(1-3) is amended.

The section says: "There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

"Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

NEWS REVIEW

y: Behind the scenes

•with Cameroon’s President Paul Biya

•with Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou person to such office is confirmed by the Grid has recorded another peak of 4,662 Senate, be made by the President. megawatts (mw) of electricity. The TCN's "Any appointment under subsection General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Seun (2) of this section by the President shall be Olagunju said: "Power generation and in conformity with the provisions of section transmission have been recording new peaks 14(3) of this Constitution: above 4,500mw following improvements in "Provided that in giving effect to the gas supply to the generating stations as well Provisions aforesaid the President shall as equipment/ infrastructure upgrade and appoint at least one Minister from each state, enhanced human capacity of system who shall be an indigene of such state." operators."

When contacted, one of the strategists of Revving up anti-corruption agenda the new administration said: "The President Contrary to the posture of his is still keeping the list of ministers to his chest; predecessors who used to receive brief from he has not disclosed any list." the Economic and Financial Crimes What has changed in the past few weeks? Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft Nothing sums up the turn-around being agencies, Buhari has only left these championed by Buhari than a confession by agencies to "read his lips and be on the one of the immediate past ministers who said: same page" with him in fighting "I don't believe that everything can be done corruption. A presidential aide, who in an orderly manner as presently the case. spoke with our correspondent in strict Buhari's personal leadership qualities, confidence, said: "Do you know that including hard work, have made a difference. Buhari has not asked any of the antiFormer President Jonathan said he was caged corruption agencies to arrest anyone? He but I have realized that we were all caged." has not called for the file of any suspect Without firing any shot as a military General or given them a list of the untouchables. or visiting any establishment, the President's Suddenly, these agencies increased their body language has done much magic in the pace because Buhari does not place any past few weeks. The system is working in inhibitions on their way, no presidential every Ministry, Department and Agency interference at all." In the last few weeks, because public servants and government some heavyweights either quizzed or officials know that Buhari will not take arraigned in court were ex-Governor nonsense. Since no one wants to incur the Sule Lamido and sons; ex-Governor president's wrath, civil servants now report Martin Elechi and son; ex-Governor Ikedi at their desk on time.

Ohakim; Mrs. Oluwatoyin Saraki (the The same body language charm afflicts wife of the Senate President); Hajiya the electricity generating, transmission and Zainab Dakingari (the daughter of the distribution companies such that the nation's late President Umaru Yar'Adua); expower supply is reasonably stable since May Governor Murtala Nyako and son; a 29 when Buhari only inherited a "historic former Director-General of the Nigerian low" of 727 megawatts (mw). According to Maritime Administration and Safety the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziakede on Wednesday, the National Transmission Akpobolokemi and Mrs, Ifeoma

Nwobodo, who was the Chief of Staff to the former Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sullivan Chime.

Asserting the principle of separation of powers For 49 days, the National Assembly was on the verge of brinkmanship because the President refused to interfere in the internal affairs of the Legislature.

There were conflicting reports on whether or not ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo prevailed on Buhari to intervene, it was however obvious that the President took a constitutional risk which almost overshadowed his victory and the electoral gains of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In the end, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Speaking on a live interview chat with NTA on Monday, the President explained why he refused to interfere.

He said: "I have to be very sensitive to the Constitution of the country. I do not like to be told by anybody, especially the legislators that I am interfering in their matter. There are three arms of government: the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Over the years, they have developed the system of choosing their leaders.

"There is no way I can directly interfere. All I can do through the party is to appeal to their conscience that what I already observed, we should go over it as soon as possible. When I say we, I mean the APC." Corroborating his claim, the APC National Chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun said Buhari stuck to his stand till the end. He said: "Mr. President made it once again clear that everybody has no alternative but to listen to what the

11

party says. He emphasized the fact that all of us were what we are thanks to the platform that the party provided for everybody. I think this message resonated very intensely with all the members of the House. He still did not interfere and his parting words to us were that the leadership of the House and the party should go and resolve whatever issues that were militating against a resolution."

Buhari's unique visit to the US This trip was a major breakthrough for Buhari because it came early in the day of his administration and he can now settle down for work. Besides mending the strained diplomatic ties between the US and Nigeria, Buhari was able to seek support for the nation's war against Boko Haram and anti-graft campaign which may lead to the repatriation of about $6billion looted funds. The shuttle also fetched a commitment of $2.1billion loan from the World Bank (through its International Development Agency) to rebuild the insurgency-ravaged North-East. While the first 10 years of the loan will be interest free, additional 30 years would attract interest "lower than capital market rate." On its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) might invest about $300million on immunization against malaria. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is expected to work with Dangote Foundation for a zero polio free system in the country. A former Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora told THE NATION's correspondent during the week that the gains of the trip were significant. He said: "It is a measure of goodwill Obama and the United States have for President Buhari and his administration. That goodwill goes beyond America; it also extends to international community especially the Western world."

Giving anti-terror war a new bite Since the appointment of new Service Chiefs, the nation's counterinsurgency campaign has heightened. Troops have seized many camps of Boko Haram, killed more than 300 insurgents and set free hundreds of captives including a sixday old infant. Buhari has also initiated a military alliance with Chad, Niger Republic, Cameroon and Benin Republic. A military source said: "With the way we are going about the campaign, we will rout out Boko Haram in the next six months if we sustain the tempo."

Bail out for states Worried by the collapse of the economy of most states, the President has reeled out some bail out measures including the release of N713.7billion intervention funds for states; N413.7billion represents special intervention funds; and the balance of about N250billion to N300billion as a soft loan to states. While about N413.7b ($2.1b) was sourced from the recent LNG proceeds, the remaining N300b came from a Central Bank-packaged special intervention fund. The Debt Management Office (DMO) is expected to assist states to restructure over N660billion commercial loans crippling their economy.

What should Nigerians do?

National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during the week asked Nigerians to be patient with Buhari to effect the much desired change. He said: "Change is not by magic, it is driven by the people… You see, we have had so much problem in this country in the past because we run into policy blindfolded without adequate and effective planning.

You don't have results unless you plan well. The time it takes you to plan, examine, re-jig, re-evaluate is more important than the time you just rush into taking action because you are either being sentimental, being emotional and being driven by forces that are not expected."

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

NEWS

At 9, The Nation praises God

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•From left: Seyi Odewale; Manager (Admin), Folake Adeoye; Editor, Online, Lekan Otufodunrin; Deputy Editor, Nation’s Capital, Yomi Odunuga; Executive Director (Finance & Administration) Ade Odunewu; Guest Minister, Pastor Yomi Olurinto; General Manager (Training & Development), Soji Omotunde; IT/Pre-Press Manager, Bolarinwa Meekness; Deputy Chairman, Editorial Board, Adegboyega Tunji; Chief Internal Auditor, Adeleke Sunday and Credit Control Manager, Kehinde Adegbola at the service

Taraba: Tribunal refuses INEC’s relocation request •Insists on hearing petition against Ishaku in Abuja

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HE Taraba State governorship election tribunal has declined a request by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate to the state.

The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bilkachuwa, empowered under the Constitution to constitute election tribunals in respect of disputed elections, set up the Taraba governorship tribunal in Abuja owing to security challenge in the state.

Tribunal Chairman, Justice Musa Abubakar, in a ruling yesterday, rejected INEC’s opposition to the tribunal’s sitting in Abuja.

He also dismissed INEC’s motion, challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction to sit in Abuja and hear a petition filed by the All governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election, Hajia Aisa Alhassan, and her party.

Justice Abubakar held that the tribunal was validly constituted by the Court of Appeal President in line with her constitutional powers.

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HE Department of State Services (DSS) has burst a number of kidnap syndicates and arrested some of the masterminds of the gangs across the states.

The gangs have been terrorising their victims and members of the public, particularly in the South-South, South-West and the NorthWest zones of the country in the last few months.

Some of the victims were raped, maimed or murdered by the gang members, thereby inflicting psychological pains, humiliation and grief on the victims and their families, even after collecting huge sums in ransom from their families.

A statement yesterday by the Acting spokesman of the DSS, Mr. Tony Opuiyo said the suspects were arrested in special tactical operations across flash point states.

Among the suspects arrested were Victor Afikparobo of the Federa Gang operating within Ikorodu/ Otta axis in Lagos and Ogun states. He was arrested alongside some of his gang members on July 20.

From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

INEC had, in its motion, challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal President to direct the tribunal’s sitting in Abuja.

It argued that the tribunal ought to sit in the state where the election was held.

It also noted that the state’s legislative election tribunal was currently sitting in Jalingo, the state capital.

INEC urged the tribunal to relocate to the state.

The tribunal chairman upheld the argument by lawyer to the petitioners, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) to the effect that since INEC was, by its motion, was challenging the Court of Appeal President’s exercise of her constitutional power, it should go before the Federal High Court, with powers to determine constitutional issues.

The petitioners are challenging the outcome of the last governorship election in Taraba State, won by Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Alhassan and her party are of the view that the election was marred with irregularities. They want the election voided.

Magaji’s request for the tribunal to proceed with the hearing of his clients’ petition was opposed by lawyers to the respondents - Ishaku, PDP and INEC).

While Magaji was of the view that the tribunal could hear the petition along with motions, challenging the competence of the petition, respondents’ lawyers led by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN) urged the tribunal to act otherwise.

They contended that it was the tradition that a court or tribunal must first deal with motions challenging the competence of a petition or a suit before assuming jurisdiction over suit a suit or petition.

They argued that the tribunal must first determine whether or not the petition was competent for it to determine whether or not to exercise its

jurisdiction to hear it.

Magaji, in a counter argument cited the provision of Paragraph 12(5) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act which, he said, made it mandatory for an election tribunal to hear any objection to the competence of a petition along with the petition.

He argued that since election petition proceedings were peculiar, the regular rules of court do not apply. He noted that time was of the essence in electoral cases.

Magaji faulted the respondents’ reliance of the provision of Paragraph 18(7)(d) where it was provided that a tribunal may decide any objection before proceeding to consided the main petition.

He noted that the tribunal had, at its inaugural sitting, cautioned parties against delay and elected to take all preliminary motions with the petition.

Justice Abubakar has adjourned to August 3 for ruling on whether or not to hear pending preliminary motions with the petition.

HE management of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspaper, at the weekend, held a thanksgiving service to celebrate the 9th anniversary of the newspaper’s establishment.

The service, which was held at the 27b Fatai Atere Way corporate office of the company, was attended by members of staff and top members of the management team.

Amidst songs of praises and dancing, Pastor Yomi Olurinto, an Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), RCCG Lagos province 17, who ministered at the event, expressed his delight at being part of the celebration.

“Whenever I go through newspapers, I take note of the statement on the logo of The Nation as newspaper of the year.

“If a paper can be using that type of statement and other papers are not using it, then it speaks volume of the standard of the paper.

“My prayer for the organisation is that God, who has made you the head, will not make you the tail,” Pastor Olurinto stated.

Speaking on the time of change, Olurinto said change forces us to focus on new opportunities.

He added that the only way to improve living is to cause ourselves to make sacrifices which will yield positive results in the future.

He charged members of staff to work towards unity and seek God’s wisdom that creates ideas to survive new evolvement in technology as it relates to the newspaper business.

The Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Ade Odunewu, who addressed the staff, disclosed that there is a cause to rejoice as individuals and an organisation be-

DSS bursts notorious kidnap syndicates, arrests suspects From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja

John Felix, Rowson Anufa and Obukoko Emoabe operating along Lagos-Ikorodu Road and Owo in Ondo state were also arrested on July 22.

The statement said, “On 24th July, 2015, about 0230 hours, at Uduere, village in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State, one Joseph Ojobor, aka chairman was also arrested.

Subject is the leader of the Lagos cell of the “Federa” kidnap syndicate. He had also been linked to some incidents of illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

“Also, on the same 24th July, 2015, about 0500 hours, the team arrested another member of the Lagos cell of the “Federa” kidnap syndicate, one Timothy Japhet in his house at Onokpasa Avenue in Okhan village in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State.

“Earlier, on 19th July, 2015, another member of the notorious gang, one Howell Anufa was apprehended by the Service. The suspect was

instrumental to the kidnap of the Regent of Akungba in Ondo State.

“Anufa also participated in the spate of kidnap incidents, carried out by the gang in Lagos and Ogun states respectively, before he relocated to Warri, Delta State, where he was eventually arrested.

“Furthermore, same date, the Service arrested one member of the Ekiti kidnap syndicate, Ayodeji Oluwafemi. Also, one Rachael Oladapo, a female, who was used by the gang as a reconnaissance spy and informant, was equally apprehended.

“In a follow-up tactical raid in Ekiti State, five (5) other members of the notorious Ekiti kidnap gang were intercepted by operatives of the DSS. They are Felix Omaiwa, Bose Ajayi, Tope Gabriel, Olayemi Ogunmola and Damilola Obamoyegun.

“Also, on 26th July, 2015, about 2000 hours, at Ibokun in Obokun LGA, Osun State, Service tactical team arrested three (3) kidnap suspects,

Owolabi Olarewaju (aka Owo Blow), Olajide Ayobami (aka Gongo aso) and Gbenga David (aka Oruma)”.

The DSS also said another gang member, operating within Abia and Imo state axis, Henry Chibueze was arrested on July 16. He was described as a ruthless criminal who derived joy in shooting his victims in the leg whenever there was delay in ransom payment.Chibueze was said to have been arrested at his hideout in Ohafia, Abia State, where he was being treated for an injury he sustained when he escaped during an earlier operation in Owerri, Imo State.

Also in the net is Akeem Bello, a lance-corporal who deserted his unit in the Nigerian Army when he was deployed in Maiduguri, only to join vampire’s kidnap gang.

“Between 19– 20th July, 2015, at varied locations in Danko-Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State, the Service apprehended four (4) suspected kidnappers of one Maryam Mohammed

Rabiu, the daughter of Mohammed Rabiu who was abducted on 13th July 2015.

“The gang has been identified as the syndicate which perpetrated the recent kidnap of Abbas Mohammed Jega, the driver of the brother of Attahiru Jega (Prof), former Chairman of INEC. “The gang in its bid to evade detection, used one of the three (3) mobile phones stolen earlier from Maryam Rabiu, to establish contact with the family, in which they demanded a ransom of Twenty Million Naira (N20m).

“On 24th July, 2015, at Mailaka village of DankoWasagu LGA, the Service also arrested three (3) key members of another kidnap syndicate operating across Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, FCT, Kwara and Oyo States.

“These elements are Umar Gide (Dudu), Ibrahim Mugu and Baban Garna Dudu was found to be involved in the kidnap of the daughter of former Council Chairman of Danko-Wasaju LGA and the

By Hannah Ojo

cause God has been good to the company.

Odunewu explained: “Out of the nine years just ending today, in the last 12 months we have won the highest number of awards in the media industry.

“We have started on the path of excellence and we will never depart from it.

“We are pursuing change and it is assured that 12 months from this time again we are going to enjoy better than what we are doing today because we are going to record more success.

“As today marks the 9th year of this organisation, we have cause to thank God because some papers that came to the industry after we were born are no longer operating in the press industry today.

“In nine years, we have not owned any salary. All these are made possible by the grace of God and the dedication of members of staff.”

Odunewu, who stated that many people never gave the paper a chance when it started nine years ago, applauded the Editor- InChief, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, and members of staff for giving their best to the service of the organisation.

He disclosed that as the paper reels into another year, the 10th year anniversary will be marked in a grand way where all directors and principal stakeholders of the company would be present.

The General Manager Training and Development, Mr. Soji Omotunde, encouraged members of staff to continue in the strides of excellence.

He said greater things were set to happen in the coming year, which he said will better position The Nation as the first newspaper of choice in the country. mother of the Post-Master General of the Federation, among several others.

“Another member of the gang, Mohammed Sani, a.k.a Sani Maja, was arrested by the Service in Zamfara State,” the statement added.

The DSS said the operations were still ongoing to arrest fleeing members of some of the identified kidnap gangs and others hibernating at various areas across the federation.

The service added that judicial processes were being perfected to arraign the suspects in court.

It assured the citizenry that it would not relent in its efforts to checkmate the activities of any criminal gang that terrorising innocent citizens anywhere in the country.

The DSS urged members of the public to freely volunteer useful information that could assist in apprehending members of the criminal gangs anywhere they may be hiding.

The service assured that such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality and dispatch.

Ropo Sekoni

13

Page 14

Femi Orebe Page 16

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

Confusion over the Ooni tunjade@yahoo.co.uk 08054503906 (sms only)

A case of culture clashing with modernity otufodunrin@thenationonlineng.net

L

AST Wednesday, the news was all over town that Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife, Olubuse II, had passed on at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London, United Kingdom (U.K), where he was being treated.

He was reportedly flown out penultimate Friday in an air ambulance for treatment at the hospital when his health suffered a relapse. But Ife traditional chiefs quickly dispelled as ‘wicked rumour’ the news of the Ooni’s death. According to them, the foremost traditional ruler in Yoruba land was ‘hale and hearty’. Ever since, the confusion has continued as to whether the Ooni is dead or alive. While the media stuck to their stories about his demise, the traditional chiefs have also maintained their stance that he is well. As of the time of submitting this piece on Friday, a condolence register had not been opened for the Ooni, thus giving the impression that the chiefs’ position is the authentic stance on the matter.

It is instructive that none of the media that reported the death of the monarch retracted the story, thus putting the Ife chiefs who insist the paramount Oba is alive on the defensive. Apparently the editors must have been waiting for the Oba to debunk the rumour of his death by speaking from wherever he is. As at Friday however, that had not happened.

The chiefs had said that the Oba would be at the wedding of one of his sons, Adegbite, with ace television presenter and actress Dolapo Oni, today. I am not in a position to say whether that happened as this write-up went to bed on Friday. But, as a colleague jocularly said, if the Ooni appeared at the function, even the children would ‘pick race’.

At 85, the Ooni is not too young to die; so, naturally his death should not be controversial. Many people would wonder that if, as Shakespeare said, death is a necessary end that will come when it will come, why then would someone’s death be a subject of controversy? The answer lies in the Yoruba tradition that Obas don’t die. Thus, when an Oba passes on, the Yoruba simply say ‘Oba ti w’aja’, which means he has joined his ancestors.

Not only this, there are also procedures for announcing such passage. The Oba is not just anybody whose death should be heard of first in the media or on the street.

Even in the days of yore before the advent of the mass media, the town crier could not just go to town with the news of an Oba’s passage; he had to be instructed by the appropriate authorities before breaking the news. It would appear the bypassing of that protocol by the mass media and the social media is responsible for what is now making the Ooni’s issue controversial.

Yet, we may just be seeing the beginning of such defiance of culture, especially with regard to traditional rulers. It is simply a case of tradition caught in the web of modernity. The mere fact that Oba Sijuwade had to be taken abroad for treatment had made it impossible to hide anything concerning him or his health, worse

•Oba Okunade Sijuwade

still, his death if he died abroad. Apparently the culture that forbids announcement of the death of an Oba until certain rites are performed, or until certain protocol is observed, did not envisage that an Oba would be flown abroad for medical attention, not to talk of him dying there. Apparently, too, that culture did not reckon with the fact that a time will ever come when the world would become a global village that today’s world has become, with the advent of the ubiquitous internet. If Oba Sijuwade had died in London, that is an open society and the demise of such a personality cannot be a guarded secret for long. This, indeed, is why it is surprising that the chiefs are angry that the media broke the news of Oba Sijuwade’s death or rumour of the death (since the Ife chiefs appear to prefer the latter). There is no hiding for the fish; not a big one as the Ooni of Ife. But, Nigeria is a country where we have had many examples of deaths and rumoured deaths. Prominent Nigerians rumoured to have died included the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. Indeed, I remember that of Zik vividly because I had the onerous responsibility of splashing his pictures on the centre-spread of The Punch title on the day he was reported dead in 1989, appropriately titled “The life and times of Zik”.

Moreover, this year alone, the Ooni is not the first traditional ruler that has been rumoured to have died. The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolopkolo, Erediauwa, was also said to have died since about a year ago because he had not been seen in public. In February, the Benin Traditional Council had to refute publicly, the

“Apparently the culture that forbids announcement of the death of an Oba until certain rites are performed, or until certain protocol is observed, did not ... reckon with the fact that a time will ever come when the world would become a global village that today’s world has become, with the advent of the ubiquitous internet. If Oba Sijuwade had died in London, that is an open society and the demise of such a personality cannot be a guarded secret for long”

rumour of the Oba’s death, which intensified with his inability to personally receive President Goodluck Jonathan in his palace when the president visited during his campaign for reelection on February 4.

Secretary to the council, Mr. Frank Irabor, explained that it was the responsibility of the council to issue a formal statement, if such a development (death) did occur. “They have been peddling that rumour for more than a year now, because the Oba has not been coming out. If there is anything like that, there is usually a statement from the palace or from the Benin Traditional Council”, he said.

However, in March, the same council came out with the news that the Oba was indisposed. The council said in a statement signed

by Irabor that: “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that, in the Palace parlance, ‘Uhunmwun ve Ekpen vbý’ Ato,’ meaning the Leopard is ill in the Savannah bush. The explanation is that Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolopkolo, Erediauwa, CFR, Oba of Benin, is indisposed. Public engagements, including courtesy visits, hearing of complaints from individuals, families and communities, and in particular, complaints over inheritance and land disputes, are therefore suspended until further notice. All palace chiefs and functionaries are to note that their routine traditional duties continue as usual.”

Mum has been the word from the palace or the council since then. The point I am trying to make is that because the rumour and counter-rumour making the rounds about the Oba of Benin are all happening within our shores, it is easier for the palace and the traditional council to manage the information. This is not the case with the Ooni. If anything happens to a big fish like Oba Sijuwade outside our shores, that thing is of significance not only to Ife people; it is something that would interest the entire Black race because of the importance of Ile-Ife to many of them. So, it cannot be made a secret.

Another point though is that culture itself is dynamic; it is ever changing; never static. A time there was when albinos were an endangered species. If they walked aimlessly, even in daytime in many places in those days, they were done for. A time there was when people with hunchback could also not move freely without the fear of being caught for ritual purposes. A time there was too when twins were also thrown into the evil forest in certain parts of the country until Mary Slessor came and put a stop to the barbarity.

Anyway, whatever becomes of Oba Sijuwade is expected to unravel in a short while. This is much more so when the chiefs had reminded us that this would not be the first time Oba Sijuwade would be rumoured to have died. They said it was so in 1982 and 2004. So, is this a reenactment of those years’ rumours? Time will tell.

CHIBOK GIRLS: STILL ON MY MIND

08050498530(SMS only)

Celebrating Uncle Daddy Sam

I

F he had his way, he would not have agreed to any form of celebration for his 80th birthday which was marked with a lecture and book launch last Thursday in Lagos. Apart from his normal very reserved nature which explains why he is not fond of any loud celebration, the publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Sam Amuka, popularly known as Uncle Sam, according to the organisers of the Thursday programme, did not want to appear insensitive about the distressed state of the media.

Amuka did not see any justification for any celebration when media organisations, like some state governments, were owing workers salaries for months.

He was said to have agreed that the modest celebration hold on the condition that it would focus on how to enhance the media industry in the country which he has been part of for several decades.

The highlight of the occasion was, therefore, the launching of Voices from Within: Essays on Nigerian Journalism in honour of Sam Amuka and a lecture titled Today’s Newsroom, Tomorrow’s Newspaper: How to survive and thrive in the Internet Age. I join in congratulating Uncle Sam, who the representative of the presenter of the book deservedly renamed Daddy Sam, happy birthday.

Notwithstanding the distress in the media industry and the country, he deserved to be celebrated while alive for his immense contribution to journalism and other walks of life.

He has, indeed, paid his dues through his career from the old Daily Times to The Punch and Vanguard newspapers where he has helped raise and continued to mentor a generation of journalists who will forever be grateful for his impact in their private and professional lives.

I don’t have the privilege of any close contact with the famed Sad Sam columnist of the defunct Sunday Times that reportedly sold in excess of 250,000 copies in its heyday, but what I have heard about him and read confirm he is, indeed, a rare gift to the media industry.

I really appreciate his concern for the industry that necessitated the publication of the invaluable book which the present generation of journalists will learn a lot from about the past, present and future of the media in the country.

The excellent lecture by the Managing Director of Daily Independent newspaper, Mr Ted Iwere, is a timely wake-up call for media managers in Nigeria. At a time many traditional journalists still prefer to live in denial of the reality of the new media which will define the future of our industry, Iwere was able to carefully examine the present state of our newspapers and proffer solutions on what needs to be done to prevent the doomsday prediction about print publications.

As Iwere rightly noted, Nigerian newspapers have no option but to adapt or face the danger of imminent death.

“I am optimistic that Nigerian newspapers are not going to die. But if my optimism becomes unfounded and our newspapers die, my hunch is that the coroner’s report will not be that they were killed by the Internet. The cause of the death will most likely be suicide. It will be that, like the dinosaur, our newspapers failed to adapt to the demands of our time,” Iwere stated.

A word is enough for the wise. Happy birthday, Uncle Daddy Sam.

14

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

COMMENT

Still in immunity mode months into a change regime Democracy is more than a political system; it is also a moral system. It is a political system which is characterized not by particular procedures, such as regular elections of government, but primarily by being based on certain fundamental moral principles. In a genuinely democratic society, the government’s policy must accord with those principles. And, furthermore, all social institutions must also be established and conducted within the same moral framework, which invariably includes equality, freedom, and respect for the rights of the individual.—A. V. Kelly

B

Y immunity in this piece, I do not mean the formal protection against arrest and prosecution of president, vice president, governor and deputy governor which those who occupy these positions enjoy in our country and which makes leaders of the executive branch of government the most powerful and protected political office holders in the world. I mean the general lack of respect for laws, rules, and conventions among those accorded legal immunity by the constitution and those that are not covered by such protection. In other words, I am using immunity in the sense of an individual’s or group’s belief that he or she can do anything without being answerable to the principle of equality before the law.

It is intriguing that despite the fact that majority of Nigerians voted for General Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the belief that the new president and his party would be in a better position to right the wrongs of the past under the regime of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the culture of business as usual is still thriving two months into the Buhari presidency. For example, the recent lucid analysis by JitiOgunye of the conduct of lawmakers in the National Assembly, particularly in the Senate illustrates how the culture of immunity and disregard for laws, rules, and conventions reigned on June 9 in the hallowed chambers reserved for regulating the lives of the nation and its citizens through establishmentof the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ that in normal situations sustain modern polity and civilisations. Ogunye demonstrated in a jargonfree interpretation that the election of Senators

A Senate with 83 senators that passed a vote of confidence in someone elected about one month ago and with the temerity to warn the police not to ‘harass’ their members seems to have sufficient numbers to frustrate policies and bills designed by the president and his party to fight corruption Saraki and Ekweremadu as president and deputy president of Senate was based on forged rules and thus need to be declared null and void, if deliberations under existing leadership of the Senate are to have integrity.

Even after the police has revealed in its own investigation that the rules cited by the Senate for its conduct on June 9 are products of forgery, senators in support of the outcome of the election still find it comfortable to warn the police and other security agencies against allowing themselves to be used to harass the Senate, senators, or their spouses. Put in other words, the senators are warning the police not to do its work: investigation and detection of crime and presentation of suspected criminals to the court of law for trial. Instead of showing qualms, senators involved in the election of officers in June now show bravado as they threaten law enforcement officials for attempting to perform their lawful duties. This attitude from 48 PDP senators and 35 APC senators signal disaster for change, if the other branches of government— the executive and judiciary— fail to act in defence and protection of the rule of law.

Stealing of the country’s patrimony, particularly crude oil in the millions still took place until July 3, according to President Buhari’s recent statement. This is an indication that the lawlessness that characterised the last government was still in vogue even after a new president had been sworn in. The courage of politically connected oil thieves during the last administration to engage in illegal bunkering even months after their principals had vacated power shows how ingrained the culture of impunity has become.

What this signals is that there are collaborators in all sectors of the polity, including the nation’s security system who are still ready to work with economic saboteurs even under the nose of an anti-corruption federal government.

Furthermore, using the media to deceive citizens through blatant lies that was a past-time of the administration in the last four or so years has

not abated even two months into the new administration. For example, nobody in the country including those in power can say with certainty the exact location of the $15 million that was smuggled toward the end of Jonathan’s government to South Africa to ‘buy arms’ with which to fight the Boko Haram insurgency. As recent as last week, the South African High Commission was unable to confirm if the money had been returned to Nigeria. The South African envoy’s encouragement on July 23: “So, I advise you to check with the agency from where the money was released for the arms acquisition deal,” implies that the location of the money still remains unknown after several months of claim by the Jonathan administration that the funds had been returned to Nigeria.

As we write this piece, many citizens are rejoicing that the crisis in the House has been settled with Dogara’s acceptance of the list of APC nominees for offices other than that of the Speaker. People are forgetting fast the issue that the election of House Speaker and Deputy Speaker was conducted outside the framework of the laws that guide such elections in the House.

Many of such enthusiasts are saying that we need peace in the House to be able to embark on the crusade of change. How realistic is the optimism that the crusade for positive change can be facilitated by House officers who finally agreed to a compromise after being given a deadline to ‘do the needful’?

It is not that actions and statements referred to in the paragraphs above had taken place in Nigeria that is a novelty in a country that had for decades become the poster child for political and bureaucratic corruption in the world. What is worrisome is that such unwholesome acts as conducting election in the federal legislature with forged rules; senators’ threatening of the police for planning to enforce the laws of the land; and solidarity messages from supporters of lawmakers purported to have used rules not known to the law smack of a growing tolerance for impu-

nity under the nose of a regime of zero-tolerance for corruption.

It is not the capacity of President Buhari to fight corruption with sincerity and vigour that is likely to be a problem, given his own strength of character. What is scary is the capacity of a Senate led by leaders elected on the basis of forged rules to constitute a stumbling block to Buhari’s efforts to clean the Augean stables the president has inherited from the preceding administration. A Senate with 83 senators that passed a vote of confidence in someone elected about one month ago and with the temerity to warn the police not to ‘harass’ their members seems to have sufficient numbers to frustrate policies and bills designed by the president and his party to fight corruption. It is not out of place to think that the current senate leadership is in a position, if adequate care is not taken, to disrupt good governance by instigating crisis that can disrupt the change agenda.

The matter of election of senate leaders must not be left to compromise among party members, more so that police investigation has revealed that the election of such officers took place on the strength of forged Senate Rules. The executive and judiciary must not shirk in their own responsibilities on a matter that has been politically unsettling since June 9. This is the most appropriate time for the Buhari presidency to insist on equality before the law. If indeed there was forgery of Senate rules, those behind such forgery, regardless of their position in the polity and society, should be brought to book immediately.

Citizens who want their mandate on change to be put to good use need to stand firm and give support to the executive and the judiciary when they act to protect the country’s constitution, especially its commitment to the rule of law, without which democracy cannot deliver good governance. Citizens must not leave protection of the moral system that subtends all viable democratic systems in only the hands of office seeking lawmakers.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

COMMENT

15

Unapologetically venal?

Rallying for its leadership, without addressing the alleged forgery at its election, only diminishes the Senate

C

LOSING ranks for legislative sovereignty cannot be a bad idea. For one, the presidential system sits on a strong pillar of clear separation of powers; and its handmaiden, checks-and-balances. The legislature is therefore constitutionally primed as a bulwark against executive excesses.

For another, by Nigeria’s unfortunate political history, the legislature is the least developed, no thanks to a relay of military coups that lay this polity prostrate in the past. Each time a coup d’état broke the democratic order, only the legislature got buried under its rubble.

The executive continued in business — and even purported to constitute itself into some junta legislative assembly, rolling out decrees. So, did the judiciary, many times condemned to interpreting harsh laws.

So, if the current 8th Senate of the Federal Republic is ultra-sensitive on its independence, the least it expects of other stakeholders is empathy. We grant the Senate that — so long as its angst is founded on solid legality, sound morality and crystal-clear conscience.

Which is why we wonder what the Senate hopes to achieve by its current vote of confidence in its leadership, under Senate President Bukola Saraki, despite a police investigation which showed Senator Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, might have been elected by crooked procedure.

Even with the slightest whiff of illegality, what is that vote of confidence worth? That the Senate, supposed bastion of law, embraces a leadership that came about via an alleged willful rape of its own rules?

Or that, even with the unsavoury direction of police investigations into the matter, the majority in that distinguished chamber are unapologetically venal? We sincerely hope not!

These are the allegations, which police investigation has all but confirmed as a “forgery”. On June 9, the extant Senate rule, at the legislature’s prorogation, was Standing Orders 2007 (as amended). For the Saraki/ Ekweremadu elections however, Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) — the alleged forgery — was used.

Thereafter, a segment of the Senate petitioned the police, alleging an illegal insert into “Standing Orders 2007 (as amended)”, gave birth to the “forgery” dubbed “Standing Orders 2015 (as amended)”, claiming no such amendment existed. Across party lines, many members of the 7th Senate confirmed indeed that the

T

HESE are certainly not the best of times for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

From allegations of non-remittance of oil revenue to those of operating above the laws of the land and constituting itself as a parallel government to the Federal Government, the antiNNPC sentiments have come full-cycle and assumed the dimension of a mob action with the recent call by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to “kill NNPC”.

As is usually the case in every mob situation, objectivity and truth have been sacri-

extant rule, as at the end of the 7th Senate, was Standing Orders 2007.

Besides, the process to amend Standing Orders is clear: a senator pushing the amendment would write the senate president; his proposed amendments, if approved by half of the seated (after forming a quorum) would be debated at plenary. After the debate, twothirds would then agree before the amendment is passed.

So, if “Standing Orders 2007 as amended” was the signing-off rule at the 7th Senate, and the 8th Senate was prorogued the day senators Saraki and Ekweremadu were “elected” to their posts, who then sat to amend “Standing Orders 2007 as amended” to produce “Standing Orders 2015 as amended”?

This is the notorious query awaiting an urgent answer — and not even a million “votes of confidence” can wish it away, if the Senate must retain Nigerians’ trust and respect.

Now, let us get something straight: politicians play games; and we hold no brief for any of the blocs across the divide. The bloc that screams “party supremacy” as its war cry has its motive. So does the bloc that yells “legislative independence”. None of them we dare say, from the configuration of Nigeria’s current realpolitik, would probably bow to principle qua principle, if that principle is not laced with some current power exigency. That is unfortunate; and only further political evolution in the right direction would cure it — hopefully with time.

But political rascality and alleged forgery, a willful and premeditated crime to illicitly and illegally skew

TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM

•Editor Festus Eriye

•Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh

•Deputy Editor Olayinka Oyegbile

•Chairman, Editorial Board Sam Omatseye

•Associate Editor Sam Egburonu

•General Editor Adekunle Ade-Adeleye

LETTERS

The NNPC, missing funds and subsidy debacle ficed even by those who have been given the assignment to investigate allegations of financial malfeasance against the Corporation by the National Economic Council. But try as we may to deny the reality of the financial situation that is upon our country by engaging in a mob action against NNPC or any other institutions or personalities, the truth is that the days of oil boom are over (at

least for now) and the earlier Nigerians wake up to that reality with a view to taking responsibility to diversify the economy and develop alternative revenue sources for the country, the better for us all.

It is a known fact that since the last quarter of 2014 the price of crude oil, the major export and revenue earner for the country, has been falling. From about $95 per barrel in Septem-

Open letter to NECO Registrar

W

HILE I am not among those in support of the scrapping of the National Examination Council (NECO), it really becomes imperative to chip in a word or two on certain wrongs being made by the examination body, especially on wrong names of candidates that sat for the NECO examinations.

A lot of candidates that sat for NECO had tales of woes to tell based on giving them wrong names in the examinations conducted by the body. I was a victim because my name was wrongly written.

In 2007, I sat for the pri-

the process, are not quite the same thing. That is the unflattering situation staring at the Senate, “vote of confidence” or not.

That is why those trying to launder this alleged crime must clamber off their silly horse. Even if Saraki and Ekweremadu didn’t know of the forgery — if proven — that alone cannot clear them of culpability.

At best, they would be receivers of stolen goods, and a terrible moral burden to the Senate.

Even then, as motives go, they both would appear not beyond fair suspicion. Saraki “won” the election with the whole 49 opposition senators and a smattering of his own ruling party senators, at a time when majority of his own party senators were away at an aborted meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ekweremadu is a beneficiary from the alleged forgery; and he was, as former deputy senate president, also part of the National Assembly management under the ancien regime. Former Senate President, David Mark, also among the bulk PDP senators that supported the Saraki-Ekweremadu election, is also in the loop. So, is the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikisuwa, the highest ranking bureaucrat in the National Assembly management.

So, the least the Senate could do, for its own collective sanity and brand equity, is quietly letting the law run its full course — instead of some laughable bluff and bluster, masquerading as “vote of confidence”.

If indeed forgery is judicially proven, there is technically no leadership to pass — or refuse — a vote of confidence. An election erected on a crooked law cannot stand. If, however, all within legitimate suspicion are cleared, the Senate would have demonstrated its robust commitment to law and due process.

In ancient Athens, the Areopagus — the equivalent of the modern Senate — was peopled by nobles of high learning and even higher character. In Rome, the Senate, despite the proclivity of individuals, was home to the finest of Romans. The Nigerian Senate cannot afford a lesser pedestal, in this crucial era of building Nigerian democracy.

That is why it must toe the path of patriotism and nobility, not venality and banality, in this latest scandal of alleged forgery involving its leadership.

vate November/ December examinations, having sat the previous year’s examination which I did not meet the requirement. On my registration, I used my full name: Usman Garba Santuraki. But on receipt of the time table for examination, I was confronted with a wrong name. Santuraki in my name was omitted and an abbreviation A was substituted with it. I confronted the officials at the Yola office, only for them to tell me that they are not in a position to effect any correction and that the best alternative for me was to travel to the head office in Minna and complain to the Registrar as he is the only person that could

effect any correction.

I really find this incomprehensible and so absurd, that the office in Yola cannot officially forward my compliant at this age of global advancement to the head office.

A lot of candidates who sat for NECO examinations are in my shoes, but to their amazement, the usual answer to their problems is always the same.

It is therefore in this light, that I am using this medium to highlight my predicament and that of others who have similar problems, but cannot travel down to Minna.

•By Usman Santuraki, Demsawo, Jimeta-Yola.

ber 2014, it dropped to about $85 (a difference of $10) in October that same year. This trend has been sustained over this period with the unfortunate consequence of dwindling oil revenue flow into the nation’s coffers for onward distribution to the Federal, states and local governments as has been the culture. But rather than look for creative ways of shoring up national revenues in the face of dwindling oil prices, all that we have seen so far is the demonization of the revenue generating agency for the oil sector, the NNPC. This is not a defense for the national oil corporation that has been hobbled by years of government interference and scandals. It is rather a call for a barefaced and critical look at the situation on ground with a view to averting the calamity the nation is certain to fall into if we choose to continue on the path of trading blames instead of rolling up our sleeves to work to build a prosperous nation. This work should include, of course, recovering every penny misappropriated

by NNPC or any other institution or personality and meting out appropriate sanction on them to serve as deterrent.

It should not be restricted to

the NNPC. This is because, at the end of the day, it would be discovered that much of the so-called unremitted or missing oil revenue for which the Corporation is being pilloried emanated from the federal government policy of fuel subsidy which it has to implement. This much has been stated by NNPC in the past when it contended that it was erroneous for Nigerians to talk about missing oil money when it (NNPC) is saddled with the uneconomic task of bringing in kerosene and petrol at the cost of N100 and above per litre and selling at N50 and N87 per litre. The huge loss resulting from this is what is referred to as fuel subsidy. Ironically, while Nigerians, including the government, insist on having fuel subsidy, they turn around to label the cost of the subsidy as unremitted oil revenue or missing oil money and castigate NNPC for it. This was why a former Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, once declared that if oil money was missing, then it got missing in the pockets of Nigerians who bought kerosene and petrol at less than the cost price.

Other components of the

unremitted or missing oil revenue, according to the explanations offered by NNPC, are the losses arising from crude oil and products theft and losses during the frequent cases of pipeline breaks. But to the Nigerian public, including those in government, it is convenient to charge these losses to NNPC insisting that they are unremitted revenue or missing funds.

When the price of oil was high enough to guarantee a sizeable allocation to the various tiers of government, the huge losses were not noticeable or were rather overlooked. But with dwindling oil revenues on the back of falling oil prices, the losses have suddenly become very noticeable like a sore thumb.

But rather than look at them dispassionately and think up ways of cutting the losses while at the same time creatively diversifying the economy to break away from dependence on oil revenue, all we have been treated to is the anger and fury of a mob.

But mob action is not known to solve any problem, much less the gargantuan type that is starring us in the face.

Now is the time for us to think and come up with solutions to the dwindling oil revenues and the mono-economy anchored on oil before our march on the road to Greece gets to an irreversible point.

•By Usman Sanni, Abuja.

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16

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

COMMENT

The prince polyglot at 75: Whither Ekiti?

However, writing about Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi is, without doubt, the equivalent of carrying coal to Newcastle

‘F

OR example, by sheer manipulation, Ekiti was represented by five members, Ondo nine, Ogun 19 inclusive of the opportunists called civil society groups. In a restructured Nigerian society, the imbalance, even in the West, would be so obvious that we would be exchanging one imperialism with another (with Ekiti five and Ogun 19", for instance). This, of course, is totally unacceptable.’ – Chief Oladeji Fasuan, MON, JP on President Jonathan’s 2014 talk shop.

As at the last count, he speaks some six different modern languages and that, by the way, is only a minuscule part of this incredible human being, this senior citizen of a great country, who has, and continues to leave his mark on several areas of our national life. However, writing about Prince Julius AdelusiAdeluyi is, without doubt, the equivalent of carrying coal to Newcastle. Too much has already been written about him, his background, and student activism at the then University of Ife which culminated in his election as the Secretary-General of the World Student Movement, a position which took him to about 140 countries, his impressive and continuing involvement in the organised private sector, as well as his philanthropy, the last leading his law firm to be mostly involved in pro bono services.

Therefore, in order not to just merely celebrate him on his 75th birthday, I decided to pidgeon-hole him - not an easy prospect – zeroing in on the usefulness to Ekiti, or otherwise, of the IGBIMO URE EKITI

(IUE) which he founded. After all, has he not told us that “the template had been laid to ensure that URE does not end up as a nine day wonder?”

Consisting the likes of Sir Remi Omotoso, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Dele Adesina (SAN), Professor Peter Adeniyi; Chief Sam Bolarinde; Admiral Dehinde Joseph; Ambassador Bayo Ayeni , Dr.(Mrs) Funke Adebajo, and several distinguished Ekiti citizens, IGBIMO, from its published statements, ‘is open to all qualified Ekiti indigenes who imbibe the core values of the Ekiti people, including dignity, reliability and integrity; who are committed to the development of the state; understand their psyche and the need for reason, accommodation and patience in handling matters of mutual interest, who are passionate for results, but are not involved in partisan politics. Proven leaders in their professions, businesses, vocations or community and who are socio-economically stable. “IGBIMO,” we are further told, “aims at bringing together people of impeccable integrity who are prepared to pool their resources towards re-establishing the state’s respectability, political stability, peace, progress and development.”

I paraphrase below my reference to IGBIMO in my write-up on the occasion of Prince’s 71st birthday in 2011: “If there were an organisation oga would have wanted me enlisted in but which, however, proved impossible because of my not-so hidden involvement in po-

litical activities, it is IGBIMO. I was obviously one of the first people he discussed IGBIMO with and it is no self-glorification when I say that he was kind enough to ask me to do the draft of his speech at the body’s inaugural meeting, before settling down to carve it in his inimitable style.’

So, to the meat of this entire article.

If IGBIMO URE EKITI is all we have been told it is, and Prince, the founder is alive and kicking, aging more gracefully and the organisation waxing stronger, why is Ekiti in its present dire straits? What has the body done, or how does it intend to help the present government settle down to proper governance, now that the governor is no longer bogged down with any threats of impeachment?

I would be the very first to admit that mediating the Ekiti conundrum is not the easiest thing on planet earth. Many, including the respected Prince, are aware that in spite of my not being in governor Fayose’s political party, I contacted, in the heat of his troubles with the G.19, eighteen distinguished Ekiti non political icons, pleading with them to kindly intervene in what was obviously a major blur on the state. That effort led directly to Chief Deji Fasuan calling a joint meeting of Ekiti Elders and the rump of the committee for the creation of Ekiti. Unfortunately, like the one at the instance of Aare Afe Babalola, it led nowhere. I subsequently took the matter up with Prince who then informed me that he had much earlier involved both Chief Olanipekun and Elder Adesina, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and two of those I had earlier contacted and discussed with severally by phone. Unfortunately, even after they had been promised

a meeting with the two groups, nothing eventually came from their efforts. My suggestion then which I once published on these pages, was that the House should drop all threats of impeachment in return for a guarantee by Fayose of an unfettered resumption of legislative duties and payment of the legislators’ outstanding entitlements. In addition, fearing that the state might graduate into an orgy of armed robbery and kidnapping, which has since happened, I suggested that all political thugs, especially the imported members of the Niger Delta volunteer force, should be paid off after all the dangerous weapons shelled out to them must have been meticulously withdrawn.

So what now do I want Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi and URE to do?

Effective 5th June, 2015, circumstances changed completely in Ekiti. As things stand in the state today, political contestation has literally receded into the doldrums since my party, the APC, would first have to sort out its own internal convulsions which, among other things, has enabled Fayose metamorphose into something of a conquistador. That situation has been further accentuated by the fact that it does not appear there is anybody in the state today, whose word he respects or whose advice, he will readily take. To further worsen matters, he equates the party in Ekiti; which reminds me of a PDP top shot, indeed, a former LG Chairman in Ekiti, who walked up to me in church last Sunday and said: “Oga, you people should get ready to receive Fayose in the APC because we are going to run him out of our party”. I know that the governor and his aides will vigorously deny and denounce my conclusions here, the best they can.

Aging I hope to grow old too, if only to be able to oppress the young ‘uns with my white-haired wisdom. With toothless gums, I want to be able to say, ‘when something wuns, shomething elshe mush wun with it’, and leave them, and me, mystified

I

HAVE come to the unsavoury conclusion that it is dangerous to become an aged person in this country. Don’t get me wrong. I want to become old, but I don’t want to suffer, not just from the known diseases of old people, but THE Nigerian disease of old people: abandonment, total abandonment. No one seems to mind old people anymore, so they have taken to begging, being passed from one impatient relative to another, or sitting out their days in the dark, waiting.

Someone told a story not long ago that was a mixture of sadness and mirthless mirth. While out on an errand one dusky evening, a young man came upon an aged couple sitting quietly in front of their house. The evening grew dark but the couple sat on. While returning from his errand, the young man saw that the couple had not shifted even though it was very dark. What was the problem? There was no electricity. The couple had a beautiful house, complete with amenities including a power generating set; but they lived alone because the children all lived abroad and no one lived with them. Obviously, due to old age, they found it difficult turning on the generating set.

The young man was now in a quandary, as the story went. If he turned on the generating set for the old couple, who would turn it off? If he left a candle burning, would they remember to snuff it out? He then did the next best

thing. Oh no, he didn’t ask them to move in with him; he simply bought them a rechargeable lamp and showed them how to turn it on and off. He also silently prayed they would remember to switch it off.

Are you laughing dear reader?

Please don’t because this story is fast becoming the Nigerian story. Parents who have worked very hard to stow their children in foreign countries are now sitting in front of their houses on dark nights counting the costs. Yes, you’re right; there were good, cogent reasons that necessitated the stowing away in the first place. After all, are boats not being picked up north of Africa full of emigrants desiring to run to foreign countries all the time and all?

So yes, all parents want to give their children the best education all the time, even if it means getting money by fair and foul means to send the poor little things out of the country for it. After all, it is not the children’s fault that children in Nigerian schools cannot speak English the way it should be spoken; well, because they were not taught. It is not the children’s fault that teachers speak very bad English themselves anyway because they really cannot spare the time for selfimprovement. It is certainly not the children’s fault that the government does not pay its teachers as, at when, and what is due, leading to strikes (a la

ASUU) or diversion of teachers’ attention to coke selling (a la school teachers). Between the two, who has time to teach English? One parent confessed that when he listened to the bad English of his child’s teacher, he promptly sent the child abroad.

True, it was not only the bad English of teachers that drove many parents to this desperate measure. There is the pride too. And how is X child?

‘Oh’, the parent enthuses, giving a sigh of deep satisfaction, ‘he’s doing great.

In fact, I have only just now spoken to him. He has just got a new job and house. In fact, I have pictures of my grandchildren here,’ making to open the bag before you beat a hasty retreat.

I must admit though that even when parents have not sent their children to go and school and work abroad, many children all over the world appear to have been bitten by the wanderlust and have upped and taken off for parts unknown by themselves.

Many years ago I read a report on how a husband and wife in Britain had problems managing their home and health issues and suffered from loneliness. What was the problem? Their adult children had earlier migrated, like birds, to Australia. I thought then that that could not happen to Nigerians. Later, I read another report on how successful adult Japanese children who were too busy to have time for their parents had resorted to paying firms to send flowers and messages to their parents on their behalf. I thought again

that that could not happen in Nigeria.

Why will children not have time for their parents in Nigeria? On both counts, I have been proved wrong.

The truth is that as children continue to do well for themselves, gleefully climbing one ladder rung after the other, the previously proud parents have continued to grow more and more alone. Oh yes, what we are witnessing now is the direct result of our new and improved life style: living for oneself in one’s bungalow or mansion rather than in one large compound of cousins, aunties and uncles.

I think it is called modernity or something.

Have you noticed the number of people managing to make it past the government’s average life span is somehow increasing, against all expectations and aggravations? Oh, I would not say it’s because of any improvement in the average life style in Nigeria. Have you forgotten non-functioning hospitals, embezzling chief executives, blood pressure-raising missing funds, Nigeria’s cleverly designed road hazards, boko haram, kidnappers, ... should I go on? In spite of them all, many find themselves in old age by some hook, crook or careful living.

Yet, the government has sort of abandoned the care of the aged to their various larger families. Unfortunately, the family system is evolving into something confused and unrecognisable in Nigeria right now.

In my view, however, the time has come for a body of eminent personalities like URE to now seriously engage the governor to, at least, let him know the consequences of the prevailing state of affairs. I know from interactions with several Ekiti compatriots who no longer dare go home, and those at home who can still whisper their honest feelings if there is no chance of their being overheard by Big Brother, that the state economy , already in the doldrums, is heading into more dire straits. Nor does any serious minded businessman any longer consider Ekiti worth visiting except he is a PDP member out to get some contract. My plea is that URE should, on this glorious occasion of its founder’s birthday, decide to meet with Governor Fayose and advise him to deliberately reduce the prevailing tension and fashion out a genuinely people-friendly mode of governance. It is not enough for Okada riders to claim they are in Eldorado. That chimera does not a state make. He must change course and become everybody’s governor. The only time I saw him at his first coming as governor, was when he visited Ekitis resident in Lagos. He could very well go on such trips again and reassure citizens outside the state of their security whenever they visit, rather than this seeming eagerness to act as PDP’s national leader. He needs Ekitis everywhere to come help him out of the present miasma.

I know from discussions with those who should know, that Governor Fayose holds Oga Juli, Wole, and Dele in very high regards. These three could be in an IGBIMO delegation of about five or six persons to seriously engage him on the way forward.

Happily, the next election is a long way away. He should therefore be able to see that their effort is beyond politics.

Here is wishing our delectable Prince many happy returns.

Therefore, the larger family is not able to come in and take care of aged permanent secretaries, professors, directors, generals, business executives, etc., when they have aged beyond being useful to the community and now need care themselves. This means they have more freedom to spend many dark nights sitting in front of their houses.

I tell you, this thing worries me o.

First, I ask myself, will I get to become one of them old ‘uns? Honestly, I do; I hope to grow old too, if only to be able to oppress the young ‘uns with my white-haired wisdom. With toothless gums, I want to be able to say, ‘when something wuns, shomething elshe mush wun with it’, and leave them, and me, mystified.

My son has assured me I should not worry. He will make sure I am not a nuisance to myself, the society or him. He will put me in an old people’s home. Now, all we have to do is find one. When I was growing up in Lagos, there used to be one. Instead of that one to multiply and give birth to more homes, the thing rather shrank in number from one. So now, old people’s homes are scattered all over Nigerian homes, only they are badly run, indifferently financed and give inmates too many nights sitting outside in the dark.

I think there is a need for the government to step up. It needs to compel the building of more old people’s homes in each state, city and possibly local government. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that while bones and skins are still hanging on to their owners, they should be cared for, rather than being left alone to become beggars. In the meantime, the new old people must be prepared to combine homes or live near relatives, friends or children. This is easier said than done, I know, but it sure beats sitting outside in the dark waiting for providence.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

COMMENT

17

(127) Between Sagay and Falana: the law, the people and the social cannibalism of corruption (1) The first thing we do is kill all the lawyers.

Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 2 Doctors are just the same as lawyers; the only difference is that lawyers merely rob you, whereas doctors rob you and kill you too.

Anton Chekhov, Russian dramatist

O

N Saturday, July 13, 2013, I gave a public lecture at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) under the auspices of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

The lecture was titled “The Freedom of Information Act and the Dictatorship of Corruption and Mediocrity”. In the extensive research that I conducted before writing and delivering the lecture, I came across many facts, figures and statistics that both depressed and enraged me to no end. Of these, no item among my discoveries was as depressing and infuriating as my finding that a Sub-Committee of the House of Representatives had issued a comprehensive report on the oil subsidy mega-scam of 2011 in which the names of all those who had wrongfully and illegally benefitted from the scam had been published, together with the astronomical sums that each of these Nigerians had looted. I swear that before conducting that research for my lecture, I had been completely unaware that the names of the mega-scam looters were known, that they were not shadowy figures who had forever disappeared into the night of personal anonymity and legalistic oblivion. But together with my astonishment that these men and women were known and indeed meticulously identified, there was also my greater frustration that they had all without exception tied up the cases pertaining to their prosecution in the law courts by all manner of so-called “interlocutory injunctions” and “stay of execution” writs. That was in the year 2013. Two years later, the cases are still tied up in the law courts and not a single one of the men and women indicted in that oil subsidy mega-scam has either paid a kobo back or gone to jail. Their lawyers and the judges before whom their cases are being tried have seen to that; they have provided what seems to be a permanent and impregnable juridical cover and protection for these men and women whose looting of our national coffers has caused untold suffering and hardship to millions of Nigerians. In this context, the law may be said to be the last refuge, the last redoubt of the looters who, as human vampires, are sucking the blood from the economic arteries of our national commonweal.

If the language I am using here seems too emotive, too sensationalistic, I plead guilty to the charge.

Even more, I plead guilty to the charge of deliberately clothing my-

•“The Supreme Court” - Shakespeare did not have this building and its occupants in mind when he wrote, “the first thing we do is kill all the lawyers”!

self in a long tradition of savage linguistic and literary critique of lawyers and the law as moral cesspits wherein some of the most unscrupulous and cynical professionals can be found. This is the context that makes the extraordinarily ferocious attack on lawyers in Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part Two, that supplied the first of the two epigraphs to this piece seem not too harsh, not too extreme: “The first thing we do is kill all the lawyers”.

This was said by a character in that play against the background of a looming uprising of the people against centuries of oppression by their social superiors in which lawyers had played a significant role in maintaining the legal infrastructures and practices of a dog-eat-dog social order. I quote the words here in the hope, the wish that the lawyers and the judges who have for long prevented the men and women bleeding our country and its resources dry may perhaps get a glimpse of the sentiments that some of the world’s greatest literary minds have expressed about them and their kind.

The second epigraph from the great Russian dramatist, Anton Chekhov, seems a tad gentler in its critique of lawyers and the legal profession on the same count of being always prone to acting as accessories to cynical, merciless robbery: “Doctors are just the same as lawyers; the only difference is that lawyers merely rob you, whereas doctors rob you and kill you too”. However, if we juxtapose this ludic and playful Chekhovian quote with the one from Shakespeare’s play, we can see that lawyers, like incompetent and

conscienceless doctors, kill too.

They “kill”, not directly and interpersonally but by the indirect and epiphenomenal effects and consequences of the legalistic protection and cover that they give their clients, the looters who, it seems, can never be successfully prosecuted in the law courts of the land.

If all this talk about “killing” seems unwarranted in its application to lawyers and judges that are, after all, merely practicing their lawful profession (no pun intended), please consider the N2.53 trillion naira that was looted in the oil subsidy mega-scam; consider too, the fact that thanks to lawyers and judges, not a kobo of that loot may ever be recovered; and finally, consider the number of lives that could have been saved or made richer and more fulfilled if a fraction of that N2.53 trillion naira had been productively spent to create jobs, build roads, improve hospitals and clinics and raise the quality of teaching in our primary and secondary schools. And indeed, there are no literal cannibals anymore, if ever they existed as a distinct social or “tribal” group; what we have now and have aplenty, thanks to many of our best trained lawyers and judges, are social cannibals who have not the slightest inkling that they are “killing” hundreds of thousands, millions through the sense of total protection that they feel when they loot, and loot, and loot yet again.

At this stage, it is perhaps time in this discussion to bring into our conversation two lawyers who indeed recently have had much to say on these issues. Moreover, they are eminent, progressive and pa-

triotic lawyers. These are none other than Professor Itse Sagay and Mr. Femi Falana, SAN. In an article published in The Nation on Sunday, July 19, 2015, titled “Politics, Public Service, Morality and Integrity in Nigeria”, Sagay more or less admitted that the law and the manner in which it is applied in our law courts at the present time make it near impossible to recover stolen loot and put an end to rampant corruption. Indeed, so sanguine was Sagay on this point that he was quite willing to go as far as to suspend the protection of the individual rights (of looters), if any headway is to be made in the struggle to recover stolen loot and curb corruption in our society. Perhaps it is best to hear directly from the Professor himself on this point: “There will a need to amend our laws to strengthen the state at the expense of individual liberty at least for a short while, if we are to get to redemption point. All legal provisions permitting preliminary objections to prosecutions for corruption must be repealed from our laws. The power of any court to issue an order of injunction against a trial for a crime, particularly corruption, should be repealed. Interlocutory applications, in cases concerning corruption, should be banned.

You cannot read such words from the pen of a lawyer who is also a teacher of lawyers and still repeat, like a robot, the savage indictment from Shakespeare, “the first thing we do is kill all the lawyers”! For in the struggles against the social cannibalism that is at the root of the corruption that has penetrated so deep into the political,

economic and juridical order in our country, some of the most eloquent voices have, in fact, been that of lawyers. As everyone knows, Sagay and Falana have been frontline professional and intellectual activists in those struggles.

And indeed, the main point of my bringing Sagay and Falana together in this piece is precisely to try to reconcile what seems to me to be a tension, a contradiction between recent pronouncements of both men on this issue of the seemingly immovable obstacle that the law and its operations in our country pose to the fight against corruption by the new administration of President Buhari. On the one hand, Sagay says laws must be repealed and that we may even have to suspend protection of individual liberty, at least for a while. But on the other hand, Falana says that the enabling acts have now been enacted by the National Assembly and that all that is required now is for the bills to be forwarded to Buhari for them to be signed and made into effective laws. How did I come by this information? Well, Falana himself through an email forwarded to me a speech that he recently gave that contained these claims. The speech was a keynote address that he gave at the 7th Annual Distinguished Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (Lagos Chapter) on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. The lecture bore the title, “Involvement of the Nigerian people in the anti-corruption war”. Here’s a relevant quotation from the lecture: “While the decision of the Federation (sic) Government not to interfere in the work of the anti-graft agencies is a welcome development, the National Assembly should forward to President Buhari for his assent the Witness Protection Bill and the Whistle Blowers’ Bill. The National Assembly deserves commendation for enacting both laws together with the Administration of Justice, 2015.

Under the new Act, the granting of stay of proceedings and other delay tactics have been banned in the trial of criminal cases. Accordingly, a criminal trial shall be concluded within 6 months unless there are exceptional circumstances which may prolong any trial beyond that period. Indeed, the elevation of trial judges to the Court of Appeal will no longer lead to fresh trial before other judges as judges will be given the fiat to conclude part heard matters.”

Have the issues raised in Sagay’s article been resolved by the revelation of the passing of new laws by the National Assembly in Falana’s lecture? And is this a matter to be settled only by and among lawyers? These will be our starting points in next week’s concluding piece.

Biodun Jeyifo bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

COMMENT

18

T

HE subject of wage increase has been a contentious one in our nation over the years. In 2011 for instance, agitation by various labour interests over the minimum wage palaver nearly threw the country into a state of confusion. While labour stuck to its gun, some State governors outrightly claimed that they did not have the resources to pay the N18, 000 minimum wage being demanded by labour. Till date, it is yet to be ascertained if all Sates of the federation have fully complied with the spirit of the agreement reached with labour on the issue in 2011. As for the private sector, most employers of labour are yet to actually embrace the 2011 minimum wage act.

Based on the provision of the Minimum Wage Act signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2011, the minimum wage is supposed to be reviewed every five years. The implication of this is that the current wage will be due for appraisal by next year. Consequently, some labour leaders have been advising the federal government, and rightly so, to begin the process of the preparation in terms of gathering information and analysing them, in order to have the law reviewed for another five years. Indeed, at a recent parley with the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Ayuba Wabba, revealed that labour is already working on a wage increase proposal which he urged the senate to quickly approve considering the biting economic situation in the country.

Particularly hinging their argument on the dwindling economic fortune of the country and its ensuing hardship on

Labour and the clamour for wage increase

By Tayo Ogunbiyi

workers, some labour leaders are already benchmarking N90, 000 as the most reasonable minimum wage for workers in the country.

Undoubtedly, labour is both morally and constitutionally correct to negotiate for a new minimum wage with the federal government. On the moral side, it could be argued that since the political class has learnt how to take care of its share of the national cake, labour leaders equally have a moral obligation to protect the interests of their members. Indeed, considering the hard reality of our current economic predicament, labour is well justified to demand for wage increase. Similarly, as previously stressed, by the spirit of the 2011 Minimum Wage Act, labour has a legal ground upon which it could justify any agitation for the appraisal of the current minimum wage.

However, in as much as labour has a good ground to start clamouring for wage increase, it is, however, important to stress that labour should, for once, change strategy and consider other options. If, indeed, the welfare of Nigerian workers is paramount, as one would want to believe it is, to labour leaders in the country, insisting on wage increase as the only way out of workers’ current and obvious economic woes would

be counter- productive. As a public servant, one is a critical stakeholder on this issue.

Hence, one is actually arguing from a pragmatic point of view.

It needs to be emphasised that, from experience, previous wage increases, over the years, only helped to assuage workers economic miseries over a short period of time before the inflationary reality of such increase begins to agonizingly dawn on them. Consequently, any rigid insistence on wage increase by labour leaders, especially with the present economic downturn in the country, might eventually consume rather than console the workers. Since wage increase agreement is always announced with much fanfare by government and labour, one does not need to be a classical economist to conjecture how market forces and other variables would immediately react to such increase. Your guess, of course, is as good mine.

Alternatively, therefore, one would like to canvas that our labour leaders should concentrate more energy on ensuring that government make more concessions in areas that would have direct and immediate impact on workers’ welfare such as provision of housing loans or indeed, affordable houses. As a matter fact, labour should constructively engage all tiers of

government on the needed to effectively and creatively meet the housing needs of workers across the country. Aside, food and clothing, shelter remains one of the most essential elements required for human survival. Hence, labour leaders need to properly engage the government on how to creatively fashion ways through which this all important human need could be practically met. Once a man is assured of shelter, half of his problem is considered solved. Of what essence is a salary raise that ends up in the hands of shylock landlords?

Equally, labour must as a matter of urgency engage the federal government on the need to improve the power situation in the country. With the current unstable state of power supply in the country, many Nigerian workers spend a quarter of their earnings to fuel and service their various generating sets.

One would rather advocate for labour to embark on industrial action over the state of power in the country than doing same over wage increase. Once there is a marked improvement in power supply across the country, workers would have more money in their pockets as they wouldn’t have to spend excessively on their generating sets anymore.

In same vein, labour leaders must engage both federal and state governments as well as federal and states lawmakers on the need to the increase funding

of the education sector. Labour should enter into helpful dialogue with government at all tiers on the need to lift the standard of public education in the country. In the 70s and 80s, most Nigerians attended public schools. By then, private schools were not really in vogue. It is the collapse of public schools in the 90s that led to the springing up of private schools. Today, the average Nigerian worker spends quite a fortune educating his children. Once the quality of education on offer at public schools improves remarkably, most workers and, indeed Nigerians, would be willing to send their wards to public schools. No matter, what the national minimum wage is, if the state of public education remains unchanged, Nigerian workers would continue to spend a large chunk of their earnings on the education of their wards.

On a final note, the NLC and other workers unions in the country must begin to look beyond wage increase agitation as the only answer to the improved welfare of their members. The NLC and its affiliate bodies should begin to take on critical issues in the society such as decayed infrastructure, incessant power failure, corruption, bad governance, declining education standard, poor state of the refineries, security, poor public health system and other such vital issues with the same vigour and passion as they do with wage increase. Realistically, irrespective of how much the workers take home, if these issues are not bluntly tackled, the misery of Nigerians workers might continue for sometime.

Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

NCC: Regulating in whose interest?

W

HAT exactly is happening in the Nigerian telecoms industry? Whose interests are the operators serving? And more importantly, in whose interest is the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) regulating the industry? These questions have been nagging at one’s mind for a while. Things however came to a head when not long ago news filtered in that the NCC was attempting to stop an operator from offering lower tariff rates to its customers.

Technical-sounding reasons were given for the ban, but it is clear that there is more than meets the eye.

If you are a subscriber to any of the “Big Four” networks in Nigeria – and who isn’t? –Then you must have noticed how aggressively competitive the operators are. The industry is acclaimed to be one of the most competitive in the world, for good reason.As we all know, the good thing about competition is that consumers are ultimately the highest beneficiaries. Who can so soon forget that persecond billing was introduced into the Nigerian market as a result of competition, not regulation? Or that of all the goods and services produced in Nigeria, only telecoms services have recorded significant price

By Ada Ezedi

drops– from about fifty naira per minute in 2002 to less than seven naira per minute currently.

Also, it was competition, not regulation, that drove the price of SIM cards from about N20,000 (yes) in circa 2002 to less than N100 in 2015. If telecoms networks have grown to provide coverage all over the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and literally democratized “talking”, it is because of competition, not regulation.The value added services, the houses, cars, millions of naira and other gifts showered on consumers to keep us talking on their networks has been the results of competition, not regulation. Indeed, if the industry is today one of the brightest spots in Nigeria’s corporate future, it is because of competition, more than anything else.

It is for this reason that we as consumers must be apprehensive when we notice that competition in the telecoms industry is being jeopardized.

We should be even more concerned because there are indications that the industry regulator may have been captured by interests other than that of the consumer, and that it is protecting these interests above that of consumers in very blatant ways.

Flashback to 2013 when the NCC declared two of the operators as dominant operators and ordered them to make certain changes in order to prevent them from abusing their so-called dominant status. As a result of that declaration, the biggest operator (MTN) which then had about 50 million customers on its network was asked to charge the same tariff rate for its on-net and off-net calls. Now, the reason given by NCC was that they needed to make the market more competitive. But the impact of that decision was that MTN was forced to charge its customers higher tariff rates than what was charged by its competitors. So whose interest did NCC protect by that decision? Was it the interest of the over 50 million Nigerians on MTN who had to either pay more to MTN (as if MTN wasn’t making enough from them already!) or were forced to buy SIMS on other networks – and new handsets to go with it, just to enjoy the lower tariff rates that the other networks were charging. For some reason, neither MTN nor consumer protection advocates did anything about the folly in this decision.

Recently, we again heard that NCC had directed MTN to withdraw a tariff rate plan that

it allegedly launched without NCC approval. We will not hold brief for MTN here – their publicists are paid well enough to do that! Apparently, NCC’s letter was leaked to the press and it went viral. This is a shame in itself. Why any self-respecting regulator would leak official communication in the media is beyond us, but again, the NCC as one of Nigeria’s most wellheeled regulators can speak for itself. What concerns us is that the tariff rate that NCC asked MTN to withdraw is probably the lowest tariff rate MTN has ever charged its customers. This is in the interest of consumers.

We all know how stingy the folks at MTN are, so why should the NCC ask MTN to withdraw this rare gift to its consumers, when NCC should be the one asking operators to charge less!? What is even more troubling is the fact that the tariff rate of N6.60 which NCC is trying to deny MTN’s over 60 million consumers is freely available to subscribers on other networks!

So we ask, whose interest is NCC protecting, and on whose behalf is it regulating? Given the curious speed by which the news back then hit the airwaves (it was reliably gathered that it even trended on twitter – pushed by professional publicists and “twitter

marketers”) it is almost certain that it was one of MTN’s competitors that tried to force a reversal of this low tariff rate.

There are still indications that the competitor is still up in arms using proxy, but it would be a sad day indeed if a government institution funded by tax payers is now turned into a willing tool to force anticompetitive actions against the interests of the largest block of consumers in the market.

No doubt, the Nigerian telecommunications industry has witnessed remarkable growth over the years.

Understandably, pundits are quick to credit the NCC for this success. However, the NCC’s recent actions are beginning to call into serious question its capability to protect the interests of consumers.

Regardless of whatever technical issues there may be between MTN and the NCC, it is unfair to deprive its over 60 million consumers of the benefits of lower tariff rates.

Competition is at play here, and we must all insist that the NCC should stand firmly behind consumers, regardless of whose ox is gored. NCC should protect consumers, not MTN’s competitors.

•Ezedi, a telecoms analyst wrote in from Lagos.

LIFE

19

SUNDAY

•Continued on Page 20

20 SUNDAY LIFE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

•Edose Ohen

• Uche Pedro

•Mark Essien

• Abiola Olaniran

SUNDAY LIFE 21

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

Rex Idaminabo • Ola Orekunrin

•Affiong Williams

•Bankole Cardoso

•Iyin Aboyeji

•Emeka Akano

22 SUNDAY LIFE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

TRAVELOGUE Sunday Oguntola, who was one of the nine specialists that attended a one-week religion reporting workshop by Thomson Reuters Foundation in Central London, United Kingdom, recently, reports on his experience.

•Entrance of West Minster Abbey, Central London

•The participants with Rabbi inside the synagogue

SUNDAY LIFE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

Following the death of Bobbi Kristina, daughter of the late Whitney Houston, early last week, Yetunde Oladeinde reviews the life and habits of celebrities and how it rubs off on their offspring and society.

L

The clay magazine recently held the maiden final edition of its Literary and creative Writing Competition. Daniel Adeleye who was there reports.

• Winner of the Literary and Creativity Writing Competition, Juliet Ememanka (3rd from right), th nd Mrs Abimbola Tunji-Ogunsanya (4 from right), Kehinde Oluwadusin, (2 right) and Wintope Esther (2nd from left)

23

24 SUNDAY LIFE

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

•Anifowoshe

By Sunday Oguntola

•Adeyemi

30

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

ETCETERA

SUNNY SIDE

Cartoons

By Olubanwo Fagbemi

POLITICKLE

deewalebf@yahoo.com 08060343214 (SMS only)

Steel serpent and other reflections Steel serpent

THE GReggs

IT is late evening, and the serpent splits the dense foliage. With a terrifying hiss, the shimmering beast rushes in and, moments after, stops dead in her rusty tracks. Eyes blazing and belly creaking, she incites animated chatter at a shelter nearby. “It’s very long!” “It’s taken on too much!” and “It’s so crowded there’s hardly any room inside.”

“It’s like ants on a lifeless millipede, or worm, for that matter,” I think.

In apparent response to the remarks, ‘her reptilian majesty’ slowly sheds old skin. Then she takes on fresh colour, first on one side, then on the other; even on top, behind and, yes, in front. Here goes the hiss again. It is warning enough. “Stand clear, for I come through; hang about, to your peril!”

I stand clear. I have seen this monster of deceptive sluggishness do dreadful things. I have seen her churn, crush and discard victims in motion.

I have heard helpless mothers scream and distraught fathers wail upon the trail of destruction. Yes, I have witnessed her numbing, dreadful worst and do not wish a repeat.

With a distinctive screech, forward lurches the symbol of stagnated development and colonial relic. Never short of desperate patronage, the steel serpent leaves a chain of inconsistencies that none but clueless government would dismiss.

Because of Lulu

OH, LIFE!

PERHAPS Jimi seemed far-away, for the young, plump woman beside the guy next to him on the pavement offered a sweet. He declined. The spirit of giving associated with the Yuletide has set in, he thought with a smile.

But the woman persisted. “Take it, now,” she said with the air of one unaccustomed to being refused.

“Don’t force him to take it, now,” said her male companion, on whom she leaned.

She insisted. “Take. Because of me – because of Lulu.”

Jimi took the sweet. It was tempting. Or maybe it was her. The soft, almost musical pronunciation of her name drew a smile. Jimi unwrapped the sweet, and tossed it in his mouth. The pair chatted beside him. Relieved, he returned to his thoughts. He would normally suck but he chewed straightaway.

From her room, Fyafa’s squeaky voice and distinctive laughter reached him just then. Hers was one of five in the compound. Her visitor appeared to be Iwedu, one of the sappy fellows forever about her. Almost choking with jealousy, Jimi fought the urge to get up and walk away.

He felt helpless. He wondered why he was there until he remembered that he chose to come. He needed to assess competition for Fyafa’s affection.

He smiled as Pato approached. His friend wasn’t convinced. Fyafa laughed again. Pato glanced in her direction. “Man, this girl is in love!” he said.

Jimi shrugged. He wondered whether Fyafa was truly in love, or, knowing her as he did, in love with the idea of being in love in the season of love. Well, all he knew was that he hurt double. And Pato twisted the knife because Lulu held him back.

All the best

CHEEK BY JOWL

IT’S year’s end and you may or may not be far from where you would love to be. But thank God for little mercies. Think what a privilege it is to breathe, to thrive, and to pursue and enjoy the things you crave. Poverty, sadness and strife may proliferate, especially in a poorly organised society as ours, but positives abound.

For some, the ‘thirteenth month’ – coinage for end-of-year bonus in organisations – is guaranteed. For others, it’s the long-awaited promotion.

And despite lofty economic statistics bandied by government officials in defiance of stunted growth, business looks promising for the hopeful employer as much as the employee.

But have you smiled at someone today? Really? Loved ones barely count, for kindness towards them is routine. If you must know, kindness is the only investment that never fails. As long as society exists, there will always be room for compassion.

No thanks to the Boko Haram insurgency, the number of internally displaced people across the country daily alarms. While the nation waits for the government to display a keen sense of responsibility, you can do your bit. Reach out to a stranger today. Help steady the stumbling child or vulnerable old folk. House the hopeless. Clothe the exposed. Feed the needy. There is no better time. Do good, and do the best you can.

Jokes Humour The Escape DURING WW II an American fighter pilot was shot down over Japan and he was captured.

He was wounded, so the Japanese doctor amputated his left arm. He requested that they drop his arm over his base in the U.S. The Japanese did.

The next week they amputated his other arm and he asked the same thing. The Japanese complied.

The next week they amputated one of his legs, and he again asked for them to drop it over his base in the U.S. The Japanese doctor said, “Sorry, we do dis no more!”

The pilot asked why not, and the Japanese said, “We think you trying to escape!”

References A MARRIAGE broker offered Mathew a beautiful young girl, a real prize, to be his wife. But Mathew was stubborn.

“I’m a businessman,” Mathew said.

“Before I buy material from a mill, I look closely. So before I get married, I need a

sample too.”

The broker had no choice but to relay the message to the girl. “He says he is a good businessman, and he has to know exactly what he’s buying. He insists on a sample.”

“Listen,” the girl said. “I’m good at business too. A sample I can’t give. But, I can give him references!”

Fat Plate TO celebrate his 40th birthday, the boss, who was battling middle-age fat, bought a new convertible sports car. As a finishing touch, he put on a vanity plate with the inscription “18 Again.”

The wind was let out of his sails, however, when a salesman entered the office the following week.

“Hey,” he said out loud, “who owns the car with the plate ‘I ate again’?”

Sub-standard Deviation HE: Would you like to dance?

She: Not with you.

He: Oh, come on, lower your standards a little ... I did.

•Adapted from the Internet

Writer ’s Fountain OW to write and win: French scholar Georges Polti these primal drives. If the protagonist is not personally threatened or engaged in these identified only 36 master plots in all the primal areas, he must become emotionally stories of the world. His first master plot involved with a character who is challenged involves a Persecutor, a Supplicant and a in one or more of them. dubious Power which may favour one side For example, a crime story may appear, at or the other. The theme of this master plot? first glance, to involve no primal drive. It The power of mercy over hate. could be a grim whodunit or escapist Have you engaged the original emotions? entertainment. But the heroine, a forensic The theme must engage the protagonist’s and expert, is obsessed with a passion to avenge the reader’s primal emotions or carnal drives. the dead – to re-assert the values of a civilised Defined in the crudest terms, these include community and so protect the ‘tribe’. That’s a sex (or procreation), physical survival (for primal drive. self, family or tribe), emotional comfort The author can invoke a primal drive (love, friendship and community), and explicitly, as in a suspense thriller, or tacitly, spiritual survival or advancement. as in a literary story which fits into no obvious The theme and ensuing conflicts in a genre. But it must be done. If your story entails strong story should involve one or more of all these, and is well-written, it deserves to Queer remarks: be mentioned for an award. Otherwise, no •Monday is the only day of the week that plotting, characterisation or dialogue can help. The stories will simply fall flat and not has an anagram: ‘dynamo’.

•If you live to be over 100, you are engage the reader.

There is a lot more to writing great stories, considered a Centurian.

•French was spoken in England for though. Some stories may break these rules and still resonate. Keep learning and, sooner hundreds of years.

•In literature, the average length of a or later, you will find a formula that strikes a winning chord. sentence is around 35 words.

H

PAGE 33

AUGUST 2, 2015

• Zakari

INEC chairmanship: Zakari to stay or go?

Pages 36 & 37

Rumpus in Kogi APC over Audu's gubernatorial ambition Pages 34

Anambra PDP: How far can Emeakayi go?

Pages 41

‘I have never been against Gbajabiamila's ambition’

Pages 40

34

Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports that Prince Abubakar Audu's interest to contest for the All Progressives Congress' governorship ticket in Kogi State has raised the stakes ahead the October governorship election in the state

T

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

POLITICS

HOUGH it started as a rumour, whispered in hushed tones, as the people of Kogi State prepare for the 2015 gubernatorial ambition scheduled to hold in October, it is now public knowledge that their former governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, is interested in returning to Lugard House to serve in the same capacity for a third time.

While the news of the exgovernor's renewed ambition is being received across the state with mixed feelings, it appears his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), may have been thrown into a serious internal squabble as groups within it battle for and against Audu's ambition.

Already, there are allegations and counter allegations. While the former governor's camp accused his critics of ganging up against him for no reason, other governorship aspirants within the party are accusing Audu of plotting to acquire the party's ticket through undemocratic means.

"Prince Audu's ambition is an ill wind that will blow nobody any good.

He knows he cannot win the primary election of the APC and he is planning to subvert the process and award the ticket to himself," a governorship aspirant lamented. But an aide of the former governor debunked such allegations, saying "these people who before now feel the APC cannot achieve anything in Kogi are now shouting. They are confusionists out to distract the party."

The Nation learnt that trouble started within the party following Audu's decision to finally make his ambition public after months of insinuations and indications. Few weeks back, the former governor announced that he would heed the call of the people of the state to again come forward and contest the forthcoming governorship election.

He spoke at his Ogbonicha country home in Ofu Local Government Area of the state at a civic reception he organised for his party, the APC's national and state assemblies' members in the state. Justifying his decision, Audu said the state was his ''baby'' which he would not abandon.

"The voice of men are the voice of God, the people are yearning for me to come back because of my performance between 1999 and 2003. A lot of people have been wallowing in abject poverty with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in power in the state. A lot of people are dying. As a matter of fact, Kogi is my baby and if I turn my back against my baby, it means I am an irresponsible father," he said.

And as if responding to widespread questions from his critic as to what he is coming back to do, the APC leader said, "I am coming back to salvage; rescue the state and place it back

Rumpus in Kogi APC over A to where I left it in 2003 and even go beyond that."

Stiff opposition It took little or no time for the public announcement to attract responses from within the party. Expectedly, the first group to reject Audu was the one loyal to the former governor's arch-rival and fellow party man, Barrister James Ocholi.

According to party sources, the group is opposed to Audu because of the running political battle between him and Ocholi.

"After the successful merger of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), these two leaders, Audu and Ocholi have been locking horns over who becomes party leader in the state.

Naturally, members who came from the CPC were sympathetic to Ocholi, while those in the ACN group were sympathetic to Audu. Those who came from other parties either followed Audu's group or Ocholi's group. As a result of the situation, the CPC group has Muhammed Mabo as their chairman, while the ACN group picks Alhaji Hadi Amentur as the party chairman.

But they were later reconciled by the party's national leaders. Hence, Hadi became the chairman in an election supervised by the officials of the party from the national headquarters without the presence of factions. The division was again brought to limelight again during the primary election to pick candidates for the National Assembly and State Assembly elections as election materials were said to have been hijacked by Audu's group, led

by Dino Melaye," a party source alleged.

Beside the Ocholi group, some elders are also opposed to Audu's ambition for some reasons and they are voicing their rejection of him loudly even as the former governor and his team go about seeking the support of groups and individuals within and outside the party in a bid to ensure the success of his ambition.

T h e elders,

under the aegis of the All Progressives Elders Vanguard, called on the party and President Muhammadu Buhari to save the party from imminent collapse under the leadership of Audu. They claimed that Audu had hijacked the party machinery to his benefit, warning that the APC would lose the goodwill it enjoyed during the presidential election if Audu was not called to order.

The elders, in a letter to Buhari, warned that the outcome of the state assembly election could be replicated during the governorship election in 2016 except the former governor is prevailed upon to drop his governorship ambition and also allow the rule of law to take root.

The elders said the party's misfortune in the National Assembly election in the state was due to the ambition of the former governor. The party was victorious in the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections, but performed dismally in the governorship and state assembly polls.

The letter signed by Isa Sani Omolori, chairman of the APC Elders' Vanguard, Kogi Central, also accused Audu of being interested only in building structures for his governorship ambition than working for the collective good of the party.

The letter read in part: "The main problem of the party (APC) in the state is not that of followership but leadership, which zeroes down on former Governor Abubakar Audu, whose dictatorial politics would destroy rather than build the party. " W h a t happened at the last national elections was for Audu to put up structures t o launch h i s

governorship ambition rather than abide by the party's constitution and follow due process in the primaries."

Another group, Kogi Renewal Group, kicked against Audu's quest to get the APC governorship ticket.

The Chairman of the group, Dr. Abubakar Yakubu, told journalists that Kogi needed change but the change the state needed was not the return of Audu to Lugard House.

The group advised him to canvass support for other aspirants outside Kogi East Senatorial District to become governor in 2016, stressing that Kogi State had been generous with their support for candidates from Kogi East in the last 16 years. To them, Audu's ambition is against the principle of equity and fairness.

Alhaji Suleiman Baba Ali, a former health commissioner in the state and APC governorship aspirant, also want his former boss to quit the race. "As I said, I worked in an administration led by Prince Audu, 1999 to 2003. You must give that to him. I have said that every time.

Among all the governors we have had in Kogi, his performance is still the best. I'm proud to have been associated with that government.

But basically, we think this is the time for others to have their hands on governance in Kogi. Those of us who have learnt from him and imbibed good things from him, this is an opportunity for us to do well, while he plays the fatherly role and stays back. He should give advice on how to make Kogi a better state.

At the same time, he should be able to fight for Kogi at national level so that he can get bigger and better things because of his fatherly role. He may not be able to get these things directly if he is the governor himself. That is the role of the leadership of the party at national level.

They should look at it and I believe they are looking at those possibilities," Ali argued.

Counter position But the Kogi Peoples Assembly (KPA) chided some self acclaimed politicians in the state who it claimed are bent on frustrating the governorship bid of Audu, saying they can't stop him from returning to Luggard House next year. Speaking to journalists in Abuja over the unfolding political power play ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state, the group's coordinator, Engr.

Solomon Adaji, said Audu's position as the leader of the APC in the state was not contestable.

Describing critics of Audu's leadership political status in the party as political neophytes, Adaji specifically condemned the recent statements credited to those he called faceless persons operating under groups against Audu, saying they "are jittery over the unwavering and high status of Prince Abubakar Audu in APC".

•Audu

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

POLITICS

35

er Audu's gubernatorial ambition

•Ocholi

"Audu represents the agent of change and a gift to any nation like ours which is in desperate need to attain democratic advancement. They had tried in vain to ridicule a man of integrity, honour and prudence; a principled and transparent individual; a revered political colossus, a quintessential achiever", Adaji noted.

He described as arrant nonsense suggestions from some quarters that Audu was more interested in building structures for his governorship ambition than working for the collective good of the party. Describing Audu as a shrewd politician, Adaji explained that the former governor does not need to build new political structures to actualise his governorship ambition in the next dispensation.

He said, "Audu had in place magnificent structure in Kogi State, dating back to 1991, when he ran for the position of the governor of Kogi State under the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC). It was under the same 1991 structure that Audu used in 1999 to emerge victorious as governor of Kogi State under the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP).

"To put in perspective Audu's political structure and followership transcends the landscape of Kogi State.

As an internationally recognised politician cum business mogul, Audu is not an individual in the political scene of the nation as erroneously expressed by these critics.

"Audu being a household name in Kogi State, with unprecedented political followers, admirers and supporters across the nooks and crannies in the state will not capitalise on any new structures to win the forthcoming governorship election.

"Audu has built structures within and around notable political parties across the country, and one of which transformed into the political tsunami, called the All Progressive Congress (APC) today.

•Melaye

"He single-handedly formed a rainbow alliance with the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Action Congress (AC) and Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD) aimed at rooting out PDP's misrule in the State".

He noted that Kogi State was in a deplorable condition under the present leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would therefore require a banker of repute in the person of Prince Abubakar to rescue it.

Another group loyal to Audu, Confluence for Change, responded, saying Prince Audu is the leader of the APC in the state.

The group said, in a statement signed by its chairman, Isah Ibrahim, that Audu had remained a rallying point for the APC not only in Kogi State but in the North Central zone.

Also, thousands of youths from the 21 local governments of Kogi State staged a peaceful rally at Murtala Muhammed Bridge on Abuja-Jamata-Lokoja Road in support of the governorship ambition of Prince Audu. The APC Youth Leader, Omale Moses, who led the rally, said since the former governor left office, the state had collapsed socially and economically, adding that they wanted him to come and save the state from bad leadership.

Also, a chieftain of the party, Alhaji Linco Ocheje, believed that there was

neither a division nor a problem in the APC over who would become the governorship candidate. He said Audu and any other party member were constitutionally guaranteed the right to vie for the governorship seat in a free and transparent primary election.

He likened the Kogi scenario to the contest among Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso during the presidential primary election when people believed that the APC would have scattered but came out stronger at the end.

A crowded race Findings by The Nation revealed that opposition to the former governor's ambition is not just verbal, as many aspirants are already warming up to wrestle with him for the APC governorship ticket. The primary elections have been fixed for between August 25 and September 15 by INEC. Aside Audu, who was the first governor of the state and leader of the APC in the state, there are about ten other aspirant eyeing the APC ticket. The exgovernor was denied a return to Lugard House by Alhaji Ibrahim Idris in 2003.

He had contested all subsequent governorship elections in the state but had always lost.

Pundits say one major factor that may affect his chances this time around, in spite of APC's seeming good stead to defeat the ruling PDP, is the agitation for power shift from his native Kogi East

One can only wait to see how President Buhari's partymen will manage the situation in the Confluence State ahead of the battle for the Lugard House

which has been ruling the state since its creation in 1991. But his handlers believe his popularity and the numerical strength of his zone will deliver the votes for him.

Other aspirant seeking the party's ticket include budding political giant, Yahaya Bello, also called "Fair Plus", which is his business name, according to sources. He is from Kogi Central, a zone highly favoured by proponents of power shift. This factor, coupled with his popularity across the state, especially among the youths, is expected to work in his favour.

Audu's arch-rival, James Ocholi, is another strong contender for the APC governorship ticket from the eastern flank of the state. The 55-yearold Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the state. His closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari is being bandied as a selling point by his supporters.

Also in the race is Salihu Atawodi.

He is a retired Air Vice Marshal. A reckoned politician, he, alongside other ex-PDP chieftains, joined the APC shortly before the general election.

Although considered an aspirant of note by many, his critics say he is too new in the party to be trusted with the ticket.

Other chieftains of the APC said to be keen about contesting the primary election for the party's governorship ticket are Aliyu Zakari Jiya, Habeeb Yaqeen, Suleiman Babe Ali, Onukaba Adinoyi Ojo, Lanre Ipinmisho, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, Rotimi Yaqub Obadofin, former Deputy Governor, Alex Usman Kadiri, Nicholas Yahaya Ugbane and Olusola George Olumoroti.

Fear, assurance Consequent upon the open opposition to Audu's quest to fly the party's flag and the crowded race to the primary election, keen watchers of the development are warning of a rancorous contest within the party which may affect its chances at the general election later in the year.

But the APC chairman in the state, Hadi Amentur, insists there is no division in the party. Amentur is confident that there is no cause for alarm because of his belief that there was no PDP in the state at the moment.

He said it was normal and constitutional for any member of the party to aspire to get the party's ticket for the governorship election.

According to him, any member of the party can contest any position in the party as long as he or she is a member. Nobody can stop anyone from contesting the governorship ticket. He said the constitution allowed those who wanted to contest to do so through the primary election, stressing that those saying somebody should not contest were only making noise because the party constitution clearly spelt it out.

"We won three senatorial seats, six House of Representatives and 11 State House of Assembly seats. More seats will be collected through the tribunal.

With the poor performance of the PDP, led by Idris Wada, it would be an easy ride for the APC," he said.

With such reassuring words from the leadership of the party in the state, one can only wait to see how President Buhari's party men will manage the situation in the Confluence State ahead of the battle for the Lugard House.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

POLITICS

INEC chairmanship:Zakari to stay o I

T was supposed to be an historic appointment. A woman was asked to head the nation's electoral body for the first time. But so far, it has generated vitriolic criticisms. Since President Muhammadu Buhari announced Mrs. Amina Zakari as Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not a few have raised serious objections.

Zakari, whose tenure ended as National Commissioner of the electoral body on July 21, was appointed by Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, through a statement by the Director of Communications, Office of the HoS, Haruna Imrana.

The terse statement said Zakari was appointed with immediate effect from June 30th, 2015 pending the appointment of a substantive chairman for the electoral body.

While many women organisations jubilated and praised Buhari for daring to put the highly influential INEC in the hands of a woman, many condemned the move.

A plethora of objections First, to raise an eyebrow is the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, took Buhari to the cleaners, saying the appointment was lacking in morality and promotes nepotism.

The party rejected the appointment, vowing it would not recognise INEC as long as it is headed by Zakari.

According to Metuh: "President Buhari, in appointing Mrs. Zakari, failed to take into cognizance the moral call to detach himself from the operation of the electoral body thereby completely eroding the independence of the commission.

"We want Nigerians to know that with this appointment, INEC has been stripped of its independence and can no longer command the confidence and respect of the citizens and other critical stakeholders in the nation's electoral process."

Not done, the PDP continued: "We ask is the spokesperson of the President, oblivious of the public fact that the Acting Chairman of INEC was once a staff of the Afri-Project Consortium, a company well associated with the President?

"Is he by any means feigning ignorance of the fact that Mrs. Zakari also worked in the past as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Social Development and later that of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Federal Capital Development Authority then under a current APC governor of the Northwest?

"Even where we concede to the worn-out argument that the President has the powers to appoint any person he deems fit as the INEC's chairman, does moral obligation not demand that in doing so, he should take into cognizance the sensitivity of the position? Otherwise, he can as well appoint his wife or brother as the electoral umpire on an argument of merit.

"Whilst the PDP might not be opposed to Mrs. Zakari becoming one out of the numerous national electoral commissioners to be so appointed, we completely reject her being an executive chairman who takes major decisions in an independent electoral commission while having a strong relationship with the President and a prominent APC Northwest governor.

"Indeed, never in the history of Nigeria has there been an executive chairman of the electoral body with such strong relationship with the President of the country.

The PDP said: "Having in the last 16 years reformed the nation's electoral system to an enviable status that is being commended by the international community, we cannot sit back and watch too early in the days, its gradual destruction by partisan interest.

"The party therefore urges Nigerians, especially key stakeholders in the democratic process to rise above sectional, religious, gender and partisan biases and put the independence of INEC, the credibility of the electoral process and the overall interest of the nation above every other consideration in their comments and views in the appointment."

Immediate Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, handed over to Mohammed Wali, a National Commissioner of INEC. That was on June 30 when his fiveyear tenure ended. The tenure of the Sokoto-born Wali ends

by August 11. But Buhari appointed Zakari in an acting capacity.

More and more objections A public analyst, Dr James Eze, said the appointment was unconstitutional. "The President knew that Jega was going to retire by June 30. Why didn't he appoint someone at a substantive capacity? The constitution didn't mention anything like Acting INEC chairman. What the President has done is unknown to the laws and a flagrant violation."

He further challenged that since Zakari's tenure ended by July 21; it amounted to "irregularity to ask her to stay a day longer. She should have been asked to go. What the President has done is to cover-up his illegal action with a quick appointment. That appointment does not nullify the expiration of Zakari's tenure."

Gbenga Ogunniran, a lawyer, also contended with the choice of Zakari. According to him: "President Buhari erred seriously in many ways. First, there is nothing like Acting INEC chairman either in the constitution or the Electoral Act. Where he got the contrivance is strange to our laws.

"Two, this woman is from Jigawa, the same political region with the President, for God's sake. You cannot do that in a country with many states and people. Is Jega saying there are

The appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari, a pharmacist, as the Acting Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been generating ripples. Sunday Oguntola considers the argument for and against the appointment

• Zakari no good people to take charge of INEC outside his region?

What we have is a situation where it appears the President is more interested in having someone malleable to him than serving the interest of the nation."

Kudos for Buhari But the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties (COPP) an umbrella body for 13 registered political parties in Nigeria berated the PDP for condemning the appointment of Zakari. In a statement by its national chairman, Mallam Bashir Ibrahim, the coalition decried what it described as "the dangerous precedent, whereby a political party is trying to decide for the country who becomes the INEC chairman".

Ibrahim said: "Any interference by political parties in the appointment of INEC officials is tantamount to politicising the process and the commission itself, which is capable of creating dangerous schism in the commission and generating unnecessary tension in the country.

"INEC is an independent election management body which must be insulated from politics and irresponsible politicking.

The power of and procedure for the appointment of the Chairman of INEC is a constitutional matter and not subject of bargaining by political parties, especially those who are yet to come to terms with the fact that Nigeria is on a very strong change trajectory.

INEC is an independent election management body which must be insulated from politics and irresponsible politicking. The power of and procedure for the appointment of the Chairman of INEC is a constitutional matter and not subject of bargaining by political parties, especially those who are yet to come to terms with the fact that Nigeria is on a very strong change trajectory

"INEC is also a regulator of political parties. It is an anomaly for the parties, which the commission regulates, to dictate who the chairman becomes. Obviously, for some parties, it is still midnight."

It added: "Mrs. Zakari was not appointed to the Commission

by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. She was appointed as INEC National Commissioner by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 and by the time she was appointed acting INEC chairman, she had the distinction of being the most senior INEC National Commissioner in terms of time served.

"She is well educated and had served the commission as chairman of a number of its committees, including the sensitive Election and Political Party Monitoring Committee during President Jonathan's administration.

"If she is good to be a national commissioner of INEC and chairman of its committees under President Jonathan, then she is good to be the Commission's acting chairman at any other time."

The Jonathan's precedent Checks revealed that Zakari is not the first to serve as acting chairman of INEC. Former INEC chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, refused to hand over to a national commissioner, Philip Umeadi.

The duo had public spat. Former President Goodluck Jonathan went on to appoint Solomon Soyebi as acting chairman. That was on May 11, 2010.

A statement signed by the Secretary of the commission then, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaigama, said the appointment was in "conformity with Section 14 (1a) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"Of the three National Commissioners serving in the Commission at the moment, only Prince Solomon Soyebi, who is over 50 years old, has met this requirement, hence the basis for his appointment."

Before then, there was confusion in the commission. Iwu had been directed to hand over to the most senior commissioner in INEC. Chukwuani, who was the most senior commissioner, had retired with the ex-INEC boss. Of the remaining commissioners, Umeadi was the more senior.

But Iwu, who had a running battle with him, refused to hand over to Umeadi. He instead chose to be meeting with Kaigama and other senior staff to prepare his handover notes.

He allegedly vowed he would never hand over to Umeadi.

That was the situation until the appointment of Soyebi. He was the national commissioner in charge of Ogun State.

Zakari speaks Reacting to controversies trailing her appointment, Zakari said: "My tenure would have expired on July 21st but my letter of appointment as Acting Chairman claimed categorically I should

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

y or go? act pending when a new (substantive Chairman of the) Commission is put in place."

On the controversy surrounding her appointment, she stated: "I think we should not distract ourselves from the issues at hand, I have been in the Commission, I am a National Commissioner, I passed through the Senate screening to become a National Commissioner, and by virtue of that I am appointed Acting Chairman in the Commission.

"So there shouldn't have been much controversy. But be it as may, I have a job to do and I am set to do that job".

Sagay, Keyamo, Ubani back appointment Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, backed the appointment of Zakari. He said it followed the due course of the law. Sagay told our correspondent: "I find nothing wrong with the appointment. It is not a substantive appointment but in an acting capacity."

Asked if there was provision for appointment of an acting INEC chairman, Sagay explained: "The law cannot make provisions for everything. As long as there is nothing that prohibits something, you can do it. When there is a vacuum, you have to fill it as long as you do not violate the constitution."

He berated those calling for the removal of Zakari, wondering why they didn't raise an eyebrow when former President Goodluck Jonathan suspended former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido, despite the fact that the constitution "made no provision for that."

Human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo, wondered what disqualifies Zakari from acting. By making her an acting chairman, Keyamo contended that President Buhari has not technically made any appointment. "Since she is acting, no appointment has been made technically. She is just there to fill a void. Her appointment in acting capacity will allow the President consult well before doing a final one," Keyamo stated.

On the contention that the Federal Character Code has been breached by the appointment, Keyamo explained that would have been the case if there were two INEC national commissioners from the same zone or region. "But since this is in relation to the President, it does not count because they are not occupying the same position or working for the same body,'' Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja chapter, Barrister Chima Ubani, also faulted the calls for the resignation of Zakari. He contended that the expiration of her tenure on July 21 only applied to her appointment as a national commissioner.

"What we have now is a new appointment that nullifies her former tenure. There is nothing wrong in her continuing until someone else is appointed or she's considered worthy of becoming a substantive chairman," Ubani argued.

He added that if the President has the right to appoint a substantive chairman, nothing stops him from appointing someone in an acting capacity.

Already, human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to nullify the appointment of Mrs. Zakari.

In his origination summons last week, brought pursuant to Sections 154 (1),(3), 155(1)C, 157 & 162 OF the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Adegboruwa said Zakari's appointment was in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

He joined President Muhammadu Buhari and Attorney-General of the Federation as well as INEC as respondents.

Adegboruwa, in an affidavit in support of the application, stated that Zakari is not qualified to claim to be acting chairman of INEC as she was not appointed in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

He argued that her stay in INEC expired on July 21, 2015 and same cannot be renewed by the President via a letter without consultations with the Council of States and without confirmation of the Senate.

POLITICS

37

Aregbesola and Osun’s financial realities T is generally agreed that a worker is truly deserving of his wage. This is functioned on the singular fact that it is the worker's efforts and contributions in the production process that creates the wealth which the socio-economy depends on for survival. A worker's wage is therefore not charity but truly just a fraction of his total creation and contributions to the Gross National Product (GNP). It is his share of his contribution to the bottom-line of any organisation; be it public or private, which is often infinitesimal compared to the quantum of his total contribution to the national effort.

When it is realised that workers depend on their salaries for sustenance and for taking care of their extended families and discharging their obligations to the larger society, one begins to understand the crisis which the withholding of these from the worker portends not only directly for the worker and his immediate dependants but for the society at large. A worker's salary is his lifeline. As a lifeline, it ought not to be treated with carelessness or any form of irresponsibility as that would amount to either suspending the lives of some people or actually destroying them outright.

I hold the opinion that when a worker is denied his salary, he becomes stripped of his humanity as he becomes castrated of the capacity to discharge his social obligations and carry out responsible and dignified activities within the society. This is traumatic and humans ought not to be allowed to go through this experience in a modern society especially in a democracy.

We hold therefore that any organisation or employer for that matter, which includes various governments at different levels, that intentionally withholds salaries from her workers stands condemnable for subjecting fellow human beings to sub-normal conditions.

The persons or group involved ought to be held in contempt of all civilised societies and ostracised from public discourses and conversations. It is truly criminal. The Holy Books say so, our Laws and conventions reject it and our social morals seriously frown at it.

However, in reaching these conclusions, it becomes imperative that we make further inquiries as to why a sane employer could subject her employees to such harrowing conditions. Is it out of sheer wickedness; out of inexplicable carelessness and irresponsibility; out of a degradation of our moral values; out of a loss of focus for the central place the worker occupies in our production chain; out of greed and avarice or perhaps are their objective conditions such as the unavailability of funds or paucity of capacity to meet the salary demands?

This plank forms the basis for our intervention in this recent national conversation around the huge and accumulating salary arrears which is almost turning into an outrage amongst the citizenry and the various interest groups. Truly, most of these cases in some of the states of the federation cannot be excused under any circumstances especially when we look at the cheeky manner some of the state governors are going about trying to explain this comeuppance against Nigerian workers and Nigeria. And, when we factor in the financial buoyancy of such state governments at the backdrop of the small comparative recurrent expenditure we cannot but question the nature of the conscience of such leaders.

The case of Osun State under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola immediately comes to mind and seems to stand at a cursory look in contrast with the very well-known and publicly stated beliefs of the governor who has always maintained that the welfare of the workers in the state remains top most priority.

When you however peel the veneer, one will objectively observe why the salary of

I

•Aregbesola

By Olumuyiwa Wahab Jimoh

workers in the state became unfortunately delayed over these past months.

His was truly not one of those borne out of irresponsibility, greed and utter neglect of the welfare of others based on the feeling that they are not part of the people in leadership in the state. It was not because public funds were criminally diverted or misapplied for other selfish purposes. It was purely borne out of conditions that are extraneous to his sphere of control and thus the econometrics will call it the intrusion of the X variables or the stochastic variables which as we know cannot be easily handled no matter how clever we are in our planning effort.

State Osun at creation had peculiar circumstances and we would therefore attribute part of the present salary overhang to a historically generated phenomenon which was unavoidably thrust unto the state at birth. Can we then call it a genealogical defect? No! But one that truly poses a deep challenge and has continued posing challenges to those who have had the opportunity of leading the state and are presently leading it.

When Osun State was created, a very large percentage of the workforce of the old Oyo State moved with the new State Osun to Osogbo. We would therefore say that while Osun inherited heavy recurrent expenses from the Old Oyo state, it however came away being a new state with smaller portion of the internal capacity for wealth generation. In essence, it had a heavy recurrent expenditure confronting it right at birth with inverse capacity for wealth generation needed to satisfy the inherent expenditure profile. This put the state at birth to a negative balance in its financial standings. This it has struggled with since then and which receipts from the Federation Account has helped in meeting all these while.

It was the realisation of this financial gap that propelled the present leadership into making a case for accelerated development of the state and to build internal capacities within in order to create multiple streams of revenue for the state and wean it from dependence on the Federation Account for survival. That explains the myriads of projects that dot the major cities of the state which are all geared towards solving this natal challenge.

These have however created two major challenges. While the financial imbalance makes it imperative that it has to look for externals to augment its position to fund its activities, the drop in its receipts from the Federation Account, of which the state is one of the lowest in Nigeria as a result of the huge drop in international oil prices, further exacerbated the situation and made its finances very precarious, thus unable to meet the expectations of its major stakeholders, especially the workforce.

His quest to make the state independent of the Federation Account was the second challenge. It meant that huge funds were quickly allocated to capital projects and most of these projects have not been realised when suddenly the national financial crunch struck. While the expenses persisted, the source of augmentation has dried up and the projects that was hoped would catapult the state into a commercially viable destination have not come on stream yet to contribute to the state's effort; this seems to be the present quagmire which the state seem to have found itself.

The unpaid salaries was not therefore a creation of the state government but a product of unexpected national financial crisis as a result of not just international price adjustments in crude oil but also deep and systemic corruption that pervaded governance at the federal level under the PDP-led administration of Nigeria for the past 16 years. Osun State's case must therefore be seen for what it is; a historical and structural problem. It was not internal but externally induced.

Another example of this debacle is the presence in the state of two state Polytechnics and two Colleges of Education including the State University each making humongous demands on the treasury of the state. I still do not know of how many States in Nigeria with such number of state educational institutions. I also do not think that outside Lagos state in the whole of the South West of Nigeria, there is any other state with the size of workforce which Osun state has. The import of this is dizzying within the context of the revenue capacity of all these states comparatively.

There is however, a good side to all these for despite these disadvantages, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been able to empower the people reducing absolute poverty in the process to the minimum and making the state one of the best states in terms of poverty index in Nigeria. The recent report of the study of all the states in Nigeria as compiled under the MPI shows that while Lagos State has the lowest poverty rate, Osun stands next in rank while Anambra State follows. This is commendable and shows that it is always better to invest in the people as the governor has been able to do in Osun. His good works in the state are beginning to show in diverse areas especially in the psyche of the average Osun citizen. This is truly commendable. –Honourable Jimoh, who represents Apapa Constituency II, is the Deputy Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

POLITICS

APGA repositioning for the future

Last week, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) held a national retreat where representatives engaged in a rare self assessment of the party in the past 13 years, setting out new strategies to move the party forward. Yinusa Ibrahim in Lafia reports

F

OR three days running, about 100 executive members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), drawn from the 36 states of the country and Federal Capital Territory FCT, converged in Abuja at the weekend, for the first retreat of the party since the change of guards in the APGA hierarchy, barely a month ago after its inauguration.

The excitement knew no bounds as the purpose of the retreat, as profusely encapsulated by the National Chairman, Dr Victor Ikechukwu Oye, is to afford members opportunity for frank appraisal of the journey so far, the new heights they would envisage APGA to attain; what are the merits of such assemblage in terms of their individual contribution at the retreat for the propagation of the ideals of the party and also what roles have been played individually or corporately in the growth and development of the party?

Oye urged the representatives at the retreat, which included members of the National Working Committee, six zonal and 36 state branch chairmen, to be frank as ever and provide sincere answers to these burning questions. Applauding APGA for taking the lead, the National Chairman commended the party saying: 'This is the first time any registered political party in Nigeria is staging a retreat for this category of party executive members."

His opening and welcome address highlighted the essence of the retreat which would among other things build the desired harmony and synergies for the advancement of the cause of the party.

The brainstorming, sharing of conviviality and breaking into working groups in addition to incisive lectures by academics and top party officials, were all meant to change the face of APGA from a regional party to a more acceptable national party as the top brass of the party left the retreat hall agreeing to work assiduously and without rancour on how to reposition the party to enable it play its deserved role in Nigeria's democratic firmament.

As they went into close sessions, the words of the National Chairman became the binding voice as his in-depth presentation became adopted and was the lever of the retreat. Nothing could best express the mood at the retreat than the assurances that 'the era of division and in-fighting in our party is gone forever. We are in a new era, where love will prevail and hatred banished, resourcefulness and had work will be richly rewarded, party discipline entrenched as a creed, and constant interaction and capacity building sustained as ethos.

'We are, therefore, challenged at this retreat to eschew bickering, malignant and tendentious outbursts, bad blood, festering and nagging. We must see one another as brother and sister's keepers, ever ready to put the past behind us and look forward to a more promising future. We must come up with strategies on how to sustain and surpass the successes we achieved in the past 13 years and see how we can deploy our talents and even, resources to the development of the party.'

Perhaps more than ever are the threeprong approaches of the new executive of the party, which according to Mr. Labaran Maku, former Minister of Information and Defence and the APGA Gubernatorial Candidate in Nasarawa State and now the APGA National Secretary, includes the issue of a revalidation of new membership cards and new part registers. As a matter of fact, the National Chairman displayed to the excitement of the delegates copies of the cards and the new registers. He admonished every card carrying member of the party to reregister with just a N100. Members are also to renew their membership dues monthly

• Oye as that was the surest methodology to keep their party afloat so that the party could meet its numerous responsibilities. The party has printed about a million cards and hopes to generate funds from the issuance of the cards to party members across the country. The party now also has in its kitty a million Membership Registers which would be coordinated by party state chairmen. A note of warning of severe punishment and disciplinary measures awaited anyone that would defraud the party in the

exercise which is commencing almost immediately.

Once a party is solvent, it would build its structures and be answerable to the people and not the whims and caprices of individuals.

There is a major leap in relocating the party headquarters to a more befitting edifice that will epitomise the real APGA, not in the obscure decrepit office that now houses the party's National Secretariat.

Oye was upbeat and disclosed that a gigantic six-storey structure is on the card, capable of providing adequate offices, including guest houses for members of APGA visiting Abuja instead of going to hotels to pay exorbitant hotel bills for accommodation. In between applause, he said a member of the party, an architect, has volunteered to do the architectural designs free of charge including producing a master piece of sculptural engraved work of the real symbol of APGA the Cock.

APGA is also working on an effective and comprehensive data base that would be installed at the headquarters. The IT organisation handling this major IT networking is executing this lofty project with the Guarantee Trust Bank. When completed, all information on APGA would, at the touch of a botton, become easily accessible by all, including party members worldwide.

Said Oye: ' We are building a very strong portal about APGA and the online platform with Nigerians in Diaspora- the USA, UK and South Africa, to name a few. We are in touch with our members in the 51 states in the US and our desire is for APGA to become a global brand.'

The National Chairman is optimistic that the party's governorship candidate, Mr. Labaran Maku, now pursuing his case at the

Governorship Election Tribunal in Nasarawa, would eventually be declared winner of the last elections in that state. He was also hopeful that APGA governorship candidate for Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, would also be declared winner at the tribunal in Umuahia.

The National Chairman expressed the party's sincere appreciation to the National Leader and Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano (Akpokuodike), for his practical love and support for APGA. He said the party was also doing tremendously well in Kogi and Bayelsa states and members were warming up to the governorship elections coming up on October 21 and December this year. Ditto, Edo State, with assurances given that Edo North had witnessed massive defection of politicians from the ruling party, APC, to APGA, a positive development that APGA's Cock was going to crow in Edo State soonest in subsequent elections especially the Local Government Elections slated for early next year in Edo State.

With the new face of APGA, which has like minds from all over the country and also with astute politician, Barrister Ifeatu Obi-Okoye as the party's Chief Spokesperson (National Publicity Secretary) and the helmsmen of the duo of frontline journalists, Dr Victor Oye as National Chairman and Mr. Labaran Maku as National Secretary, it seems a new dawn may have broken for APGA. They have an uphill task to show a difference and present an alternative to Nigerian electorate and international community, that APGA has become the emergent Nigeria party waiting on the wings to contest power in 2019.

Why APC must expel Bukola Saraki

T

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in its attempt to house those dispersed from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have unwittingly taken among its faithful, whose hands may be those of Esau with the voices of Jacob.

APC must first scan its membership to rid it of enemies that are posing as friends within the party while working as thorns ready to choke the lush vegetation of the party. Many of them are in the APC to run with the agenda of the PDP and the earlier they are recognised and neutralised the better for the survival of the APC. There is no hesitation on my part that the first person to be neutralised in the bid to make APC have the peace and unity to carry out its programme and ensure success as a government is the person of the current Senate President. The man known as Senator or do I address him as His Excellency Bukola Saraki, the scion of the Saraki dynasty of Ilorin should have no part in the APC now or ever. He is a chip of the old block of Oloye Olusola Saraki who also at one time was recognised for his role in the politics of the country.

Any keen observer of the social, political, historical trends of the Saraki family will bear me witness that the Sarakis are not known to have true allegiance to a political order unless it will feather their own nests to the detriment of others in the party. The late Oloye invented the act of political duplicity in Nigeria and the son seems to be honing it to perfection.

Perhaps some snippets about the political style of the Oloye in his heydays as the grandmaster of Kwara politics will trigger the memories of many Nigerians about his unsavoury methods which are being deployed by the son. Many followers of Nigerian politics may have dismissed the event then as insignificant or mere coincidences but they were a pattern consistent with the man in achieving his aims of squeezing the party for his own advantage.

In the Second Republic, Oloye fell out with Attah over the issues of the 1983 elections for which he felt he was not properly "recognised" for the role he played in the victory of the governor. He turned against his party to bring the rival in the person of Cornelius Adebayo of the Unity Party of Nigeria to power. Many attributed the anti-party stance of the Oloye to the failure of Attah to ensure that the flow of the pecuniary gains were commensurate with the stature of the man who was pulling the political strings in the state.

•Saraki

By Olu Ayela During the aborted Third Republic, the man raised political chicanery to a height unknown in this clime. In his campaign programme and in the run down to the primaries of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Oloye had two political campaign posters; one for the North, another for the South-West. In the poster for the North he is known as Alhaji Abubakar Saraki while he answers Oloye Olusola Saraki in the posters meant for the South-West. For running with that kind of style there was certainly no way he could have pulled the wool over the eyes of party members who saw beyond his antics.

As a foundation member of the All Peoples Party (APP), it is on record that while many of the party members were supporting the party with their money and goodwill, Oloye refused to contribute any significant amount for the running of the party. A mild drama played out in 1999 to buttress his unwillingness to support the cause of a party unless his interests are uppermost. I was at this period the Special Assistant on Media to Chief Mahmud Waziri, the then National Chairman of the APP. Waziri launched an appeal fund for the party to prosecute the party's election campaigns where Oloye Saraki was running for nomination as the party's presidential candidate.

The man who wanted to be president held on to his purse and vehemently refused to contribute to the party's funding of campaigns until well after the councils and governorship

elections. Also contrary to the party's financial regulations that all donations should be made in the name of the party, he wrote a cheque of N20 million in the name of Chief Waziri asking as well that the donation be given publicity. His intention was to have Chief Waziri to endorse his candidacy and also cause disaffection among party members. The plot fell flat on its face just like his two-faced political posters.

Fast forward to APC and we see a replay of the antics of Oloye Saraki in Bukola Saraki.

For his over vaulting personal ambition, he has started a storm in the party that will set the members against each other and the party on a deadly course of attrition. With a sleight of hand, he has played the cards and secured for his loyalists, the principal offices in the Senate to the utter consternation of the APC. His emergence as Senate President has set in motion, the tone of the Senate that will make laws for Nigerians in the next four years unless the spirit of rancor, indiscipline, distrust and brigandage is quickly and effectively exorcised.

This flagrant disobedience of the party will create other dangerous antecedents for the party if the Senators who have been given positions in the Senate refuse all entreaties to retreat and surrender their positions.

Imagine an APC-led government with the position of the Deputy Senate President in the hands of a PDP Senator in the hue of Senator Ike Ekweremadu is tantamount to giving all legislative powers to the PDP. This office is too powerful to be left in the hands of the PDP and unless Saraki is removed one way or the other from that seat, the Senate will not know peace and by extension the APC and the nation will continue on the downward spiral that the PDP experienced.

The APC got to this cross road because it failed to check its flanks for men and women with a long history of working against party interest. It is abundantly clear that the work for the APC has just begun. Removing PDP from power is now certainly not the end but the beginning of more work. The party must go back to its bag of strategies to find the formula for removing the vestiges of the rogue attitude in many of the members it gave shelter from the PDP. Bukola Saraki is the face of this odd character in the APC and it is only that move that will bring a semblance of sanity into the party and ensure its grip of the political future of the country. –Ayela, a veteran journalist is based in Lagos

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HE leadership crisis in the House of Representatives has suddenly been laid to rest at a time Nigerians least expected. How was such amicable solution achieved?

Let me start by saying that all through the crisis, our leaders left no one in doubt that they are capable of resolving the matter.

They were very consistent and committed to peaceful resolution while hammering on party supremacy, loyalty and discipline. And once we were able to put those on track, all issues were easily resolved. What transpired eventually was the triumph of the internal democracy of the House of Representatives and this triumph is also anchored on the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It is the result of patience, maturity, patriotism, reason and rationality. All these factors were what guided the steps taken by the entire House of Representatives in resolving this issue. And with this triumph of dialogue and reason, members of the 8th House of Representatives have shown that we are matured politicians.

Above all, APC lawmakers have shown that we are firmly committed to the objectives of the party alongside our commitment to national interest.

We have exhibited the ability to marry these two all important acts of loyalty and patriotism in the discharge of our duties as federal lawmakers and party men and women.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has consistently said the new APC federal government is either too slow or not working at all. What is your take on this as a federal lawmaker?

It is important for us to first understand that the PDP may not say anything better than what they are currently saying, at least, for now. This is because of how they were massively rejected by Nigerians during the last general election. And the APC and President Buhari are the beneficiary of that rejection; so most of their criticisms should be seen for what they are. However, to say Buhari is not working is untrue. I sincerely don't see that as a serious criticism of a sitting government.

Rather, I will say this government is extremely focused and systematic. A good look at the style of President Muhammadu Buhari as he goes about restoring good governance, will show you that he knows what he is doing and how to go about them. We cannot expect him to do things hurriedly, especially coming after the manner of administration the country witnessed before May 29, 2015.

Even President Barack Obama of the United State, described Buhari as a man of integrity with a clear agenda during the recent visit to the US. So, what are they saying about him being too slow? I think it is better to go easy and get it right than to rush and compound the problems.

The task of putting Nigeria back on track requires patience and concentration, not haste and confusion.

For me, I think I see President Buhari working hard every day in the priority areas of tackling security and corruption, rebooting the economy to provide jobs for our teeming youths and generally to restore good governance. These are the things I see and I want to tell those not seeing these yet to open not just their eyes, but also their minds.

You won with a landslide at the last National Assembly

Perspective on Saraki's intransigence ENATE President Bukola Saraki could be regarded as a man of destiny. He, today, presides over the senior chamber of the National Assembly where his late father, Dr, Abubakar Olusola Saraki, was once the Leader. The younger Saraki is obviously an ambitious man.

This is no sin. As a matter of fact, anyone without ambition is a man without vision. He is doomed.

I have no problem with his ambition; what I quarrel with is his mission. He seems to be a man in a hurry and thus desperate to arrive at his destination without taking steps.

Those who trod such a path in the past ended up ruining their career. They may record victory or even victories; they are pyrrhic. Such men are usually left bruised, dejected and frustrated at the end.

In the beginning, like the grass, they blossom. People wonder how they seemed to be making it despite the obstacles.

But, in the end, they get so used to shortcuts that they permanently ignore the straight path whereas only the straight path could lead to peace and good success. The choice by the Senate President to ignore his party's position, strike a deal with the opposition and damn the consequences is tantamount to subverting the logic of human existence if he were to succeed in the long run. It would mean treachery could sometimes triumph over faithfulness; and pride over humility.

It has often been said that there is no morality in politics and that only the tough survive.

Or that politics is the art of the possible where, like the Hobbesian state of nature, the fittest survive.

But, those who trust in and believe in God know that whatever you do disregarding the good order is like a house built on sand. It does not even take a storm to pull it down.

While the foul could perch on a thin rope for a short while, it must fly off in no time because for the period it enjoys the limelight, it is at a great cost. It is a painful experience.

It is doubtful if the banana peel at the entrance and along the corridor leading to the office of the number three citizen of Nigeria has been swept away.

That seat has remained hot since Chief Evan(s) Enwerem took it at the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999. Enwerem, Wabara, Okadigbo, Anyim and Nnamani rotated the authority of the King of the Senate in the first eight years of this Republic.

The man who had the guile, cunning and understanding to withstand the gale and walk the

S • Benson

How patience, maturity resolved House crisis - Benson Jimi Benson, who represents Ikorodu Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, told Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, in this interview that the leadership crisis that rocked the Green Chamber was finally resolved not just by the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari, but also by the high level of maturity and patience exhibited by the lawmakers involved in the tussle. election. Tell us how you achieved that being a new entrant into politics?

The election was quite interesting. Some people thought it was close but the margin was about 25,000 votes difference between me and the next person to me. That can fill up Onikan Stadium. Also, Ikorodu delivered even more votes than we've ever done in any election. Ikorodu people believe in President Buhari.

They believe in the leadership style of the great Lion of Bourdillon, former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They have faith in the APC and trust on its representatives. All these, coupled with the fantastic team God assembled for me before, during and after the election, made victory possible.

Some say the name of your uncle; the late TOS Benson also worked for you in this election.

How true is this?

A good name will always pave the way. I thank God that I had a great uncle who contributed a lot to Ikorodu and beyond. I also pray to leave a legacy for my own children to tap into. I believe I am hard working and I follow instructions.

It all worked for me in the election.

Above all, I want to believe my election was the desire of God who saw the yearnings of the good people of Ikorodu and answered our prayers. We worked very hard for that victory. My team, led by Mayor Deen Sanwoola, worked day and night. They left no stone unturned in reaching out to the people and selling my candidacy to them. Ours was a team of selfless volunteers.

Professionals, politicians, youths, women, traders, students, community leaders and even business people who wanted change and were prepared to work for it.

Your predecessor, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to some people did very well while some felt she did not perform well. What will you say is her score card?

Hon. Abike Dabiri did very well. Like I always say, she laid the

German floor upon which I want to start building now. For a thing, she is very popular on the floor of the Lower Chamber. When I tell my colleagues at the Assembly I am from Ikorodu, her name comes up. She has been a worthy ambassador of Ikorodu. Back home, I think some people mistake the functions of a legislator for that of the executive. But if you ask me again, I will say she came, she saw and she conquered.

What are your plans towards influencing development projects to your constituents?

In my community, there are lots of roads that are federal roads needing attention. I will make sure I put pressure on them to make sure all these roads are done. There is a federal hospital at Igbogbo area, which has been abandoned for a while. I am going to use my influence to make sure it is fixed.

With the crisis over at the National Assembly, how do you see APC lawmakers relating with one another?

I consider what happened at the National Assembly as part of politics and in spite of the bad blood that was generated during NASS leadership election, we remain one family. If there are still issues to resolve, I believe the caucus of the party and other party organs would meet to see to that.

Crisis is normal in any system and we want to assure everyone that APC has surmounted the crisis and come out stronger and better than it was known before. We are aware that Nigerians are yearning for the change we promised and indeed we shall deliver on our promises.

Ours is a party of disciplined and orderly people and that is why we are able to still resolve the matter the way we did. If this sort of crisis had befallen another party in this country, even the former ruling party, it would have become something else. So, there is nothing to worry about again. Now, it is time to give Nigerians a new nation they can be proud of.

slippery corridor was David Mark. Before Mark mounted the saddle, he had watched and been part of the proceedings for two full terms. He took time to study the politics and dynamics of legislative business. He was also lucky to have been produced outside the Obasanjo regime. In any case, he survived. He belonged to the majority party and managed to give the impression that he was a loyal party man and one who would not betray the President, whatever might be his cause.

But, the setting is different now. The All Progressives Congress is now the leading party. It ought, by tradition, if not ordinance, to produce the leadership - President and Deputy President of the House.

But, desperate to make the mark, Saraki repudiated tradition and convention. Like Afonja of Ilorin, he chose to strike a deal with the opposition, daring his party to do its worst. While the President meant well when he said he would not interfere in legislative affairs, Saraki seized on that to subvert logic and commonsense. The coup he plotted led him to the podium.

It is surprising that he has continued with the perfidy; choosing his own Senate Leader and other APC principal officers over and above the party choice conveyed to him in writing.

Now, he believes he is sitting pretty. While a common ground was found in the House of Representatives where there was a similar (not exactly the same) crisis, Saraki, a former Kwara State governor and exchairman of the Governors' Forum, has been intransigent.

Now, the President has awakened to the reality. The party is affronted and yet Saraki believes he could contrive some funny Vote of Confidence to deceive Nigerians into accepting him as leader of the legislative arm of government.

This is an error. First, the Senate Leader is supposed to bear some moral weight. He is expected to be respected whenever he speaks. This is not the case. Unless he makes up with the President who is seen as the nation's Moral Ambassador and Mr. Integrity, whenever he kicks, he would be doing so against thorns. For now, President Buhari has not swung into using the weight of his office overtly or covertly against the unwanted Senate President. It is yet early days.

The music would soon change and Mr. Saraki would find himself alone in the boat. Those who know him should advice the man to brace up for the storm on the high sea.

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he misconception about the personality of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sulaimon Olasunkanmi Yussuf, could be said to be responsible for the erroneous impression that he, as the Deputy Speaker, was against the emergence of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the Majority Leader. The man Lasun is an epitome of calmness even as he is reserved. His close associates are saying that this aspect of his character was exploited in this case by those bent on creating a wedge between the two.

According to one of his associates, Bimbo Daramola, a former House member, "One fact that must be established is that there was no basis for Lasun's antagonism of Gbajabiamila for the fact that as Deputy Speaker, his position was fait accompli since June 9th. He was elected on that day with the Speaker and there was no controversy over the process that puts them up. Equally instructive is the fact that there is no way the emergence of Gbajabiamila can undermine the position of the Deputy Speaker as both offices have clearly defined responsibilities. In other words, there is no basis for antagonism from either sides. Rather, Lasun can only benefit from the experience and depth of Gbajabiamila while not ruling out the fact, since no one is an island of knowledge, Gbajabiamila too can learn from Lasun in the discharge of his legislative responsibilities."

Another associate, a serving member of the House said the manipulation of the reserved disposition of the Deputy Speaker contributed hugely to the laid back perception of Lasun by those who are not close to him. This, on its own makes it easy for him to be underrated as an astute politician but to those who know him; he has never been a pushover. It must count for something for the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara to have stuck to him as his Deputy.

"The drafters of our constitution were not unmindful of the fact that whoever is going to be the Deputy Speaker must be able to earn his worth, otherwise they would have said when the Speaker emerges, let there be no Deputy but they said there must be an election for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. Then, there were other conditions which Lasun met before he was voted as Deputy Speaker. More importantly, for 203 of his colleagues to have voted for him as Deputy Speaker meant that they believed he has something worthwhile to offer to the legislature, as an institution and Nigeria's democracy. In view of that, as some people would want Nigerians to believe, one wonders how Lasun would have been threatened by Gbajabiamila becoming the House Leader.

Furthermore, by job description, insinuations that Lasun was against Gbajabiamila can still not hold waters because the responsibilities of the two offices were clearly defined. While the House Leader liaises between the President and the House, bring correspondences and so on, the Deputy Speaker's scope is wider, deeper and more extensive. He is an alternate Speaker, the rules say so. In situations when the Speaker is not available, the Deputy Speaker presides. Like we saw on the day the Principal officers emerged; if you recall, Speaker Dogara left the plenary to attend to another important state matter, Lasun presided until the Speaker came back to announce the names of the principal officers. So, how could Gbajabiamila have been a threat to Lasun? In other words, there's no competition because there is no basis for it. He can learn from the experience and depth of Gbajabiamila and vice versa.

"At this point in time, people should not stoke up embers of discord between the two, it is not necessary. The introvert

‘I have never been against Gbajabiamila's ambition’ There were reports that the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lasun Yussuf, was against the emergence of Femi Gbajabiamila as the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. In this report, Dele Anofi in Abuja quoted some associates who previously worked with Yussuf as saying it was the Deputy Speaker's introvert nature that was exploited to give vent to that insinuation

• Yussuf

nature of the Deputy Speaker should not be manipulated and taken for granted by mischief makers to disrupt harmonious flow of legislative work in this Assembly.

His being calm does not compromise the fact that he is intelligent; this is a second degree holder in Mechanical Engineering.

He didn't get his Masters 10 year ago, but about 24 years ago," he said.

But people are quick to point out that Lasun was little known. We learnt however that the Deputy Speaker belonged to about six standing committees of the House, including Appropriation. He was a member a Selection Committee, constituted immediately the 7th House was inaugurated.

"As a member of Selection Committee in the 7th House, to put people together, to allocate committees to 350 members and to get it right, that's a lot or work. And for the fact that neither controversies nor bad feelings followed the selection says a lot about those that put that together. It is instructive to note that it was when the team of Lasun and not Tambuwal, not Ihedioha, not any of the former principal officers, got it right at the level of Selection Committee and turn it over that the leadership could approve what every lawmaker later identified with without rancour. That is serious work that only analytical minds can accomplish. Another member said Lasun is an assertive

legislator, who is very difficult to sway once he makes up his mind on an issue.

According to him, he takes his time to observe thoroughly before making his conclusion. "Once his mind is made up, it becomes difficult to fault his argument because he will present a superior argument, often times backed with facts and figures. We find ourselves going with his suggestions most of the time during our committee activities. He is well known and feared by most MDAs during oversight duties because his knowledge of the workings of the MDAs was legendary. Once he is in the team, it is not difficult to see how jittery any organisation we are visiting gets because they know that there won't be room for mediocre session".

Apart from carrying out his legislative duties with diligence, Lasun is a man who has no inhibition about discussing his background; he doesn't hide the fact that he comes from a rustic village of Ilobu.

According to Ismail Mustapha, President of the Abuja Chapter of Ilobu Development Association, Lasun endeared himself to the people of Ilobu and Osun State with his humility.

"You see the pride oozing out of him when he talks about his father, who is a carpenter at every given opportunity. He is never shy of his background. That is something that should count for something," he said. Lasun's assertiveness

was on display when the group paid him a courtesy call a week ago, where his closeness to the grassroots became apparent. At the meeting, he showed a glimpse of how assertive and independent-minded he was, he also stressed the need to reward hard work, as a way of encouraging others to follow suit. He made it known that his home town Ilobu paid its dues towards the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) and should be rightly rewarded.

At the meeting, he explained that justice should always prevail in all human endeavors, politics apart. He wondered how his resignation as Deputy Speaker would serve any useful purpose, as insinuated in some quarters.

His stance on justice eventually came to pass with the peaceful resolution of the principal officers' saga.

At the meeting, Lasun noted that having contributed immensely to the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at both local and national levels, it would amount to an injustice to ask an Ilobu man to vacate the seat. He told the gathering that "It is important to state that Ilobu has been a big supporter of our party even beyond Osun. After Osogbo, Ilobu is the only town whose progressive elections have never been rigged. When we had the 2015 elections, every Nigerian knew at that time that it was the election in Osun that will probably dictate whether APC will be in existence or would be strong enough to dislodge PDP. If you recall, everybody moved to Osogbo either as observers or participants. It was reported that about 76,000 security agents were deployed to Osun for that particular election. Statistically, Ilobu as a town was sixth in quality of votes to the emergence of Governor Aregbesola with a staggering difference of 7,000 votes out of 100,000 that APC got over PDP in that election. So, if an Ilobu man is made the Deputy Speaker today, we deserve it because we contributed our quota. So anyone talking about Lasun Yussuf to resign only want to cheat Ilobu people that have toiled day and night to make what APC is today. When I look at that angle alone I laugh, and I want to say this nature itself has a way of regulating things; we cannot want to benefit from where we have not sowed".

So, he vowed to do everything within his capacity to assist his town's socio-economic development. He assured the group that, if it is going to be the only thing he could do, with the assistance and support of his colleagues in the House, a dilapidated bridge built in 1954, liking the town with other parts of the South-West would be rehabilitated. He said it was painful and frustrating that successive governments have ignored the bridge that now takes over two hours instead of minutes for motorists to access due to unending traffic hold ups.

A devout Muslim, Lasun was born on October 4th 1960. Though, an alumnus of University of Ibadan, he started his education from home at the Local Authority Primary School Ilobu.

He has Bachelor and Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. This background was responsible for his being made the chairman of Osun State Capital Territory Development Authority and those conversant with Osogbo would know that a lot must have been accomplished by those saddled with the responsibility of turning the capital around. Lasun was one of them.

As stated by one of his Chief of Staff, Hon Bimbo Daramola, who was a former legislator and a contemporary of Lasun in the 7th Assembly, the Deputy Speaker is a man that should be given the opportunity to showcase his potentials. According to him, Lasun is roaring to go, to correct the misgivings about him in the last House.

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Over the years, the influence of the super rich and the politically strong has been blamed for the incessant crisis and factionalisation in Anambra State's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Following the return of Prince Ken Emeakayi as the party's state Chairman, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports on the challenges before him and how far he can go to reconcile the warring factions and reposition the party in the state

Anambra PDP: How far can Emeakayi go?

• Emeakayi

T

HE future of Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been a source of concern both to members of the party and to other observers. This is because of the varying interests of powerful elements in the party, which have not only led to incessant clashes and factionalisation but also to lack of a generally acceptable leadership of the state chapter of the party.

Even the recent election of the new State Executive Council (SEC), where Prince Ken Emeakayi and Mr. Joemartins Uzodike emerged as Chairman and Secretary respectively, is yet to assuage the fear over the future of the once ruling party in the South-East state. Some observers, who are still worried that it would take unexpected twists to conclusively resolve the ongoing crisis in the state chapter of the party, said Emeakayi, who is the immediate past chairman of the state chapter of the party, has been involved in the crisis over the years, having been the arrow head of one of the leading factions.

Such critical observers of the politics of Anambra State are therefore wondering if his return as PDP state chairman, barely nine months after the party's former State Executive Committee (SEC) was dissolved by the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP will bring the needed peace, unity and progress. According to them, "it should be clear to all that except something more concrete is done to really reconcile the powerful godfathers behind the factions; it would be difficult for Emeakayi to carry all along.

Even the way he emerged the new chairman, according to an insider, who belonged to the other faction, is "obviously suspicious."

It would be recalled that Emeakayi was the sole candidate for the position of chairman in the election that led to his return. But the Returning Officer at the congress election, Mr. Ike Abonyi, said at the end of the voting that a total of 968 votes were cast, 10 votes were voided, while 958 votes were accepted as valid.

So, evoking the power conferred on him by the PDP Constitution, Abonyi declared Emeakayi winner. Some of the stakeholders who witnessed the congress included, the members representing Aguata Federal Constituency, Hon. Eucharia Azodo, her Awka/South counterpart, Hon. Anayo Nebe, Idemili Sorth/South, Obinna Chidoka, Nnewi North/South-Ekwusigo, Hon. Chris Azubogu, and Dr. Alex Obiogbohu among others.

Years of crisis: Crisis in Anambra PDP, which was primarily blamed for the party's loss of political power in the state to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) over eight years ago, still manifest in the current factionalisation within the party.

Although all the party chieftains agree that the party has since remained out of power in the state, primarily because of the internal crisis, each of the influential leaders of party has seemingly refused to cooperate with the other, leading to factionalisations. This problem was well pronounced in 2013 prior to the 2014 governorship election in the state when the party clearly split in two with the national leadership of the party recognizing one faction while the other was recognized

by INEC. At the primaries, the two strong factions came up with different governorship candidates. The Ken Emeakayi-led faction, which was backed by the national executive, produced Tony Nwoye as its candidate while the Ejike Oguebego-led Executive, which was backed by INEC, produced Senator Andy Uba as its governorship candidate.

At the commencement of the drama, Oguebego-led Executive had approached a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. At first, the court gave an exparte order restraining both INEC and PDP from dealing with the Ken Emeakayi faction until the main application is heard. Later, the trial Judge, Justice H.A Nganjiwa, ordered that the result of the Ejike Oguebego-led Executive, backed by INEC where Senator Andy Uba emerged winner, should be accepted pending the hearing and determination of the suit before the court.

The confusion deepened when the national leadership of PDP formally declared that its candidate in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State was Comrade Tony Nwoye, who won the primary election conducted by the Emeakayi faction of the party in the state while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State maintained that it won't recognise the Emeakayi-led faction of the state chapter of PDP. The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state then, Professor Chukwuemeka Onukogu, had explained in Awka why the commission did not monitor the primaries conducted by Oguebego faction, which produced Senator Uba as its candidate.

He had said: "We have taken our position and as a person under authority, I am bounded by the decision of the commission. We, as a body are guided by the rule of the law. If the PDP does not follow the law guiding the electoral process, they may not present a candidate in Anambra election. They must follow, they have to follow and it's incumbent on them to follow the electoral law. Once they do that we don't have any problem with them."

The Anambra REC added: "The party said their candidate is Nwoye but I wasn't there. I didn't monitor it. We didn't monitor the two primaries for obvious reasons. One, we don't recognise the Emeakayi faction and I will have nothing to do with it until there is an order from the court of law against what we have.

Secondly, for the other one, it should have been the national office of the PDP that should have invited us to attend, not the state.

"The state branch invited us but going by the law guiding the political parties, it should have been the national office in Abuja that would invite us. So, we stayed clear. When my chairman tells me what to do, I will know but for now, we are dealing with the Oguebego faction. I have instructions to deal with that faction; we monitored their ward congresses substantially. We didn't monitor the other one. We respect the law of the land and what my chairman tells me is what I'm going to do. Nothing more, nothing less."

By December of that year, unknown gunmen kidnapped Emeakayi. Early reports of his kidnap said he was on his way to Awka, the state capital from his village in Okija when his car was intercepted at Anyafulujiji Junction, Nri by his abductors.

As would be expected, his abduction worsened the crisis and distrust within the state chapter of the party. He remained in the kidnappers' den for two days until he regained his freedom.

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of his abductors, Emeakayi alleged that his captors were instructed to assassinate him but that divine intervention saved his life.

"On Sunday, the first day of December, 2013, I was on my way to Awka from Ihiala my local government when on reaching Anyasoijiji, a junction between Agulu and Nise on that Agukwunri junction, one RAV4 SUV overtook my car and blocked me and about four young men inside the vehicle, well-armed with weapons opened fire on me and my vehicle.

"After some minutes of steady firing, one of them pulled me out of the vehicle and blindfolded me and pushed me into their waiting RAV4 vehicle and took me away to an unknown destination".

He said after some hours of driving, they pulled over and disembarked from the car and trekked for about 15 minutes until they got to a river bank he could not recognize, before his blindfold was removed.

According to Emeakayi, from the interrogation by his abductors, it was obvious that his kidnap was political, just as he added that the leader of the gang which he said has about 80 men under his command from what he could count promised to call him and tell him the politician behind his abduction.

The controversy or the rivalry between Emeakayi-led faction and its opponents continued all through 2014.

In November of that year for example, there were conflicting reports over allegations that police operatives sealed off the secretariat of the Emeakayi-led faction in Akwa.

This followed the controversy then that Emeakayi's tenure had ended on the 24th of October, 2014 when the PDP's National Working Committee (NWC) dissolved it, paving way for Ejike Oguebego to take over the leadership of the party in the Anambra State.

2015 controversial primaries, elections The crisis and the controversies continued during this year's National Assembly

primaries and National Assembly elections. Several factions backed different aspirants even as many accused the party leadership of high handedness and imposition of favoured candidates.

The poor performance of the party during the National Assembly elections in the state have been blamed largely on the confusion occasioned by this alleged imposition and other actions that have further divided rather than unite the party in the state.

This situation was predictable even before the February elections. This was because of the large scale disaffection of many of the members. For example, in a lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Awka, last December, Chukwunweike (Chike) Maduekwe, a senatorial aspirant in Anambra State, while accusing the party of conducting "shady primaries" asked the court to declare that the PDP failed to conduct any primaries to elect candidates for the 2015 National Assembly election in the state.

He urged the court to rule that "the PDP cannot use any gimmicks to circumvent its obligation to hold proper primaries that are consistent with the party's electoral guidelines and the Electoral Act of 2010 (as amended): that the party, having failed to conduct primaries, may not field candidates for the National Assembly elections scheduled for February 14, 2015; that the PDP be compelled to refund the sum of N4.5 million it had collected from him as a nomination fee for the party's senatorial ticket; and that INEC be restrained from accepting any purported list of candidates submitted by the PDP for National Assembly elections.

In addition, Mr. Maduekwe, from Umudioka in Dunukofia Local Government Area, also sought "exemplary damages of N250 million" from the PDP which it accused of violating its electoral guidelines, pleading that the violation caused him "pain, hardship, and psychological trauma."

Given this situation many are worried if Emeakayi, who is known to be actively involved in the politics, as a factional leader, would be able to win the support of all.

Commenting on the situation, Dr Francis Madumere, a human rights activist and political commentator, said, "It all depends on Emeakayi's preparedness to forget the past, genuinely reach out to all the stakeholders. In Anambra State here, no candidate will emerge for that office that would not be traced to a faction or to one of the powerful godfathers. So, unifying Anambra PDP is a task someone must do. The lot is in the court of Emeakayi and his colleagues. What they make of the party now depends on them and their intentions."

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

POLITICS

Battle of Sarakis: Bukola, Gbemi yet to reconcile ENATE President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his younger sister, Gbemi, have not reconciled their differences contrary to reports, sources have disclosed. Sometime ago, there were unconfirmed reports that the revered Emirate in Ilorin, the siblings' hometown, had intervened in the feud and brokered a peace. But the two, it was learnt, have stuck to their guns and are not prepared to allow peace to reign.

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• Echocho

Kogi 2016: Echocho unsure of platform P

reparations for next year's governorship election in Kogi State are currently dominating discourse within the political circles in the state. And one politician whose name is on the lips of many people in the state as a frontrunner in the governorship race is Jibrin Isah Echocho.

The profile of the young politician has been on an upward swing in the last few months following pressures from concerned stakeholders in the state calling on him to contest for the exalted seat. But Echocho is in a dilemma of sort.

Sources say the former governorship aspirant who won the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in early 2007 before he was controversially replaced with the current governor, Idris Wada, is yet to decide on which political platform he would contest the governorship race.

As things stand today, the 2016 PDP ticket is Wada's to lose, a fact that is not lost on Echocho's supporters, some of whom are calling on him to seek his political fortune elsewhere.

• Shema

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risis is brewing in the Abia State House of Assembly following the suspension of its Minority Leader, Abraham Oba. The suspended lawmaker and 10 members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the House recently addressed a press conference where they disassociated themselves from approval of a N30 billion loan for the state government. Oba had explained that they withdrew their support for the loan facility "because members were deceived by the Speaker, Martins Azubuike, to support the decision."

Oba said the legislators were made to understand that the facility was a fresh loan, hence their decision to support it.

He disclosed that their decision to opt out of the deal was taken after Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's Economic Adviser, Obinna Oriaku, said the House "misconstrued" the loan to be a fresh facility. Oriaku had said in an interview that the loan was needed to cancel old debt incurred by the immediate past administration and not a fresh loan. Sources say APGA, which is the main opposition party in the state, has vowed to challenge the suspension of its lawmakers in court.

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• Gbemi

• Masari

Rumpus in Abia Assembly over N30b loan

Cabinet: Intense lobbying in Ogun

• Bukola

Masari, Shema at war

• Okezie Ikpeazu

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atsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, is poised to move against his predecessor, Ibrahim Shema, over allegation bordering on corruption, it was learnt. The bone of contention is not unconnected to the former governor's alleged diversion of over N7billion out of the close to N80billion the state reportedly earned from the Excess Crude Account.

Masari, it was gathered, has constituted a committee to ascertain the culpability of his predecessor on the allegation and consequently present the report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for possible prosecution of Shema.

HE need to put the finances of the state in a better shape is allegedly responsible for the delay in the constitution of a new cabinet in Ogun State, sources have disclosed. This development has, however, not deterred potential appointees in intensifying their lobby to make the list. Like other states in the country, Ogun is also seriously hit by a severe cash crunch resulting in a radical restructuring of its finances.

• Amosun

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

“Y

ES,” he began, his voice as strong and as quizzical as ever, “I am retired. I now live in my small flat or, if you like, call it a hut in Ijebu-Ijesha, Osun State. I get up in the morning, I go for my walk for one hour. Most people in my area call me Baba Soldier. The kids around call me Baba Soldier and I call them Baby Soldiers. Now I teach music and take myself away from trouble.”

At 85 years plus, Ajilo still strides about with unbridled agility typical of the life of a born entertainer. He still loves to sing and dance and play his favourite instrument which is the trumpet. Even though he stoops a bit, life to him is more meaningful if one does much to limit some excesses in life. However, he looked back and forth and took a swipe at the music and entertainment industry in Nigeria. “Oh music will always grow,” he enthused, smiling. “It is either going to the right or to the left. But I personally believe in good music. I was trained as a musician and I know how far, how difficult it is to be a professional musician.”

He then zeroed his attention to the present situation in the industry and said, “many people believe that music is an easy thing. You just know how to sing a song, and then you become a star. But I don’t believe in all that.

You have to learn music the proper way and that was the way we were taught. That is why I now have my typical school of music at IjebuIjesha. It is not an academy yet, but I pray it will get to that stage someday soon. But there are many schools today that they cannot even teach music as a subject. I am only lucky that I grew up in Lagos. I was born in Lagos and the school I went to, that is CMS Grammar School, Lagos, had a good music classes for students up to form three.”

So for three years, music was made compulsory in school. This situation offered many students the time to be exposed to music on time. That was how and where Ajilo’s love for and devotion to music began and he promptly decided to make it a career. “So that was the foundation we had. And you need such foundation even more now to build the music industry. It is on that sort of foundation that you can build and ensure that the younger ones get it right. That, indeed, is what has kept me going all these years,” he reminisced.

He still feels that the foundation of a good thing is the fundamental value for growth.

“A lot of the musicians we have now do not have the rudiment and that is why most of the lyrics and messages you have do not inspire the soul. And without that, without that foundation, what can you possibly be? You can’t build on anything. The music of today, they deal mainly on rhythm, but where they do not even deal on rhythm, they dwell on repetition. Many of their words are meaningless and they dwell so much on copying. So what do you say? You cannot compare what we had before with what obtains nowadays.

When you talk of highlife music, for instance, it is a music that has good lyrics, good danceable rhythm and it has a form. I was a producer, a staff producer at Polygram, the only one all over the world, for many years. I was the only one and with that I am still eager and interested in teaching people what is real music.”

He went on:”oh, highlife music is not dead and it cannot die. What is happening today is tit bits from here and there. And then they mix it up and call it something else. But highlife is our traditional music. In other words, the whole of West Africa, highlife is the music. Nobody can tell me it originated from Ghana or elsewhere or even from Cameroon. It is all African music which has been with us from time immemorial. And the main thing is the message, the music itself and the lyrics. However, you cannot have highlife in the calibre of the big names we had before. Why? This is so because the people we have today do not have the cognate foundation. Some of my students do well today because they took time to learn the rudiments. There was one of them who once lived in Ibadan, but today he has his own school of music in Kaduna. And he has been graduating other musicians. Today I have some of my students who are even playing in churches

At 85, Chris Ajilo still lives music

Chris Ajilo is no doubt one of the pioneers of highlife music in Nigeria. He was also involved in music productions and arrangement with the Polygram Records for a long time. For many years, from 1955 when he began his musical career, his voice resonated in many studios and radio stations across the globe. Today, he is retired but not tired as he told Edozie Udeze in this encounter which took place during one of his outings at Ikeja, Lagos all over the place. That is what we need, to expose these younger ones to this foundation right on time.”

With the name of his school as Chris Ajilo School of Music, he has taken it beyond the level of instructing only people within his area. “Oh, yes, people come from far and near to learn. It is located at Odo-Oja area of IjebuIjesha. It is in my own house. However, when it comes to having big recording companies in the league of what we need before… well, I was invited to work with Ponogram. In fact, before then, the first Philips recording studios was in Lagos. And the engineer who put it up for Philips, I was with him, assisting him to put it up. Then I had my own band. But what I am trying to say is that the first Philips actually opened doors for other recording companies like the Ponogram/Polygram in Nigeria. You see, if you are a trained musician, you are open to work in other departments of the entertainment industry. But if you don’t have, then your knowledge is limited. From 1979 up to 1996, I was with Polygram to produce a lot of musicians.”

Ajilo believes that if more schools offer to teach music it will help to develop the industry and offer more jobs to the youths. Yet, his greatest fear is that we do not have even enough music teachers to face the task. “All you can do for us is to propagate this idea. But who are those who are going to teach? Where are they? That, in itself, becomes a bigger challenge. So, what I am doing is building up gradually. And I will tell you today that by the grace of God, we will have an academy where we teach music in Ijebu-Ijesha.”

As a young man, Ajilo was billed to study Engineering at the Birmingham School of Technology. But while there, the natural lure for music took hold of him that even his mother told him that he may not amount to anything good. “I belonged to the youth club in England then and each time we had a programme all I was interested in was to watch the band play. Then, one day I decided I might as well go back to music. And I wrote to my mother and she screamed and said you want to leave engineering for music? Do you want to come back to become an Alagbe? Alagbe means I may be playing and put out a plate to solicit for money. For that alone, I never replied my mother for one solid year. And I went straight back to London into music school. Since then, there is going back. It was in August 1955, that I finally made up my mind to go into music full time. That was in Lagos but before then I was leading different bands in England.”

In his days, most of his contemporaries were known to be resident bands in hotels and brothels. But Ajilo disassociated himself from such. “Mine was different,” he opined confidently. “I was never resident in any big hotel. I was fond of going on tours round the country. My territory was not limited. I went

bers of radio and television people were working as salary earners with government. We musician were different and they withdrew our certificate. Few years later we came together to form what we have today as PMAN. It is called Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria. We were not then registered as a union but as an association… Thereafter, they gave us the acronym PMAN and dropped E. And that was how it came to be.

“Even though today I am 85 years •Ajilo up to the East, to the West, to the North, up to and seven months, my interest in music has Ghana, playing good music and getting good not waned. You see, in my school I even attention. But the only hotels where I ever have a 72-year-old man who is taking lecbecame resident were the Mainland hotel, and tures and he is also the owner of a private then Federal Palace hotel in Victoria Island. primary school. He even has his own chilDuring the Independence Day celebration, I dren in universities. That is the beauty of was leading the national band. The band was life. Never give up. What I am saying is that formed by our union. I was the president of if our musicians can put down their pride Nigerian Union of Musicians. It is PMAN to- and learn proper the rudiments and theories day. But how does it become PMAN today? of music, we will go a long way indeed.”

Yes, I will tell you.”

He is also a man who confessed that God He delved into the history of the musi- has been gracious to him. “God has been cian union at that point in time and why it good to me. I have two children; a boy and a finally came to be known as Performing Mu- girl. One is in the United States of America sicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN). “In with her family. Although she has the flair those days, even though people could form for music, she is not a musician. They have unions, but government at a point said, oh, their children. My son at the age of three we want industrial unions. And then the reg- picked up a trumpet and blew it. I never istrar of trade unions said the Musician Union forced them to take up music. My daughter of Nigeria should join with Radio and Televi- sings well but she is not a professional musision Union of Nigeria (RATAWO). The mem- cian.”

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY,

ARTS

AUGUST 2, 2015

Creative Station for children kicks off T

HE Management of the National Troupe of Nigeria has announced that it is ready to play host at th the 6 edition of its annual Creative Station Workshop for Children and Teens. The workshop was introduced in 2009 as a way of developing the imaginative skills of children and it has been held successfully since then.

In a statement to announce the commencement of preparation for this year’s edition, the Artistic Director and Chief Executive officer of the National Troupe, Mr. Akin Adejuwon, disclosed that this year’s edition would hold between July 27th and August 30, 2015 at the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos. ‘’Like the other editions, this edition is planned to hold during the long vacation/summer break and we consider this one of our flag ship programmes because it is in line with the Troupe’s objective of encouraging the development of Children Theatre and primarily, as a way of engaging the children creatively during their long holiday,’’ he said.

Coordinated by the director in charge of Drama of the National Troupe, Ms Josephine Igberaese, the Creative Station workshop, which

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OU just talked about the pure water strategy for book marketing.

Can you expatiate on this?

Basically, it comes from the saying that the more, the merrier.

How did you arrive at that?

I didn’t arrive at this strategy. It is a rule in business that says, the more clients you have for an affordable and beneficial product, the more you will have a positive and sustainable cashflow.

The pure water strategy is built on the acceptance and strength that “water is life”.

Everyone needs to drink water to survive. Being involved in this type of business where you are catering for the mass market provides a belief that success can be achieved by making your products attractive and affordable to the masses. This is when a business revolves around a game of numbers. The decision to provide drinking water in sachets is designed to target the mass market.

When you see a truck that is carrying pure water today, you don’t see it carrying one sachet of water, you see it carrying and conveying thousands of sachets. Several business decisions had been taken to arrive at this unique solution, the primary being how to reduce the business capital and operational overheads. A look at this business sees three key components; ahygienic flexible plastic sachet with printed inscriptions of the merchandise that is supplied in a continuous roll that is made up of several thousand sachets, a reliable source of clean and potable drinking mineral water and a sealing machine. The process involves each sachet being filled with the water and then being sealed.

Selling water for drinking in sachets is something; I never thought I would see in my lifetime.

The more you can capitalise a particular market, the more you are likely to increase your returns. Basically, if you have acheap and affordable

• Creative Station children performing on stage

By Edozie Udeze will close with a command performance on August 30, 2015 is also designed to prepare the children for a future career in the theatre by exposing them to storytelling, creative writing, singing, dancing, acting, voice training, puppetry, crea-

tive writing, pantomime and improvisational skills. Ms Igberaese explained that the fee-paying workshop is for children between the ages of 6 and 18. She further explained that the workshop was the troupe’s own intervention in terms of productively engaging the children

creatively during the long holiday. According to her, “we believe that by engaging them creatively, they will not only take their minds off certain known vices during the long holiday but they will be able to polish their individual creative talents.”

Speaking on the work-

shop, Mr. Adejuwon stated that the Troupe would engage experts in different areas of the theatre to complement the effort of the in-house professionals. “We have qualified staff in-house but because of the number of children that the workshop attracts, we will need more hands to instruct

them. I am more particular about the quality of instructions so that when their parents sit back to watch them on August 30, they will be proud of their children and wards,’’ he said.

In a related development, the National Troupe has moved forward its planned tour of Ghana to a later date.

The tour, which was originally scheduled to hold this July, was postponed because of the delay in the release of funds. The Artistic Director has however assured that the Troupe will embark on the tour as soon as funds are released.

In the meantime, the creative station has produced many young artistes who are doing well in their various areas. This means that the idea of the creative station meant to catch them young has been effective. Therefore, it is expected that government should come in to give necessary impetus and encouragement to the management of the Natiional Troupe of Nigeria to be able to go further than this.

This way, more young artistes will be discovered and given the necessary encouragement to do well in this area of endeavour.

Writers can adopt the pure water strategy You ran into Wenike Oruwariye at a book reading session at the Terra Kulture in Lagos recently. Wenike who is a book enthusiast is also the Chief Executive Officer at Impasse Technologies, an infrastructure development outfit that is based in Lagos. He is a writer and an engineer. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he talks about writing to inspire young people, especially young engineers and explains his understanding of adopting “a pure water” strategy to market books written by Nigerian authors product that could be in demand and it is promoted and advertised properly, you are likely to develop a market for this product.

How come our writers are not using this strategy?

Sometimes, you are locked in your own little world. A creative writer who is locked in his own little world,most times, can’t think outside his world of creativity. They require some inspirations which come as a prompt from an outsider or third party.

Our writers need to be enlightened as to how they can adopt this strategy in marketing. In the ideal world, the ultimate goal is to be able to provide education for all. Education involves tuition and tuition is mostly driven on the written material. Writers who create this written material need to embrace modern technologies that can enable a wider market.

Looking at the history of the telephone should illicit some thoughts. This device in the past was only affordable to the rich and affluent. Today, this has changed with the advent of mobile telephones.

These mobile telephones have now evolved to emulate mini computers and the emphasis on voice communications is fading with a steady shift and migration to data communications and the use of the Internet.

A version of “Encylopedia Brittanica” is now available on the internet. This is a technological advance where the entire content of these encyclopedia have been transformed from a paper medium to a digital one.

We have a lot of educated people in Nigeria and a young generation of creative thinkers who I feel, if challenged can design a migration from the

•Oruwariye traditional paper medium or format to digital medium and keep this in the affordable realms.

Could it be that this is because book writing is elitist?

Writing in the past was seen as elitist. Only properly educated people were trusted to produce written material. It was perceived elitist because writers associated their works with the celebrated academic writers. It was deemed appropriate to have this sort of association.

Today, as with most things, there have been major changes in the ways written material is crafted and assembled. It is no longer an elitist profession. The advent of technology has changed the way the people of the world communicate and the written word has followed this change always evolving.

Today, there are software applications that can capture the spoken word and interpret and convert this direct to a dig-

ital written script thus enabling just about anyone to become a writer.

Writers are a special breed of people who are gifted with being able use written words in various styles and techniques to communicate ideas.

Book writing is one thing, reading is another.

When you write, you have to keep your writing in line with your story. A good writer selects their words carefully. Words matter. Your words (what you say) and style (how you say it) are your most cherished (and undervalued) assets.

Do you think that the electronic media would help Nigeria achieve this kind of pure water strategy?

Yes, it can help.

You are an engineer, how did you get into the business of book writing and reading?

I write a few engineering journals and I use the electronic media to reach my target audience.My engineering journals are developed for young engineers who I feel need professional advice, enlightenment, directions and sometimes encouragement. These journals provide an engineering guide that is extracted from my life experiences.They all contain information on what I call; the three T’s – Tips, Tricks and Traps.

What is the inspiration behind this?

I have always been interested in imparting knowledge.

This stems from my upbringing where I became a repository of engineering information at an early age. This has impacted on my choices in life and has continued to influence a lot of my decisions.

As part of our business strategy, we used to operate an”incubator program” that involved young engineering students. These students were selected during a “milk round”.

The “milk round” involved trips to universities, colleges of education and polytechnics to seek out those students who were hoping to do their Industrial attachments and offering the most promising students a position in our organisation for this industrial attachment.

We had this running for about nine years and started with students from the University of Lagos. Our goal was to introduce and expose them to technologies that they would have had to experience over a 10 year period in a “fastrack” programme. We managed to offer this exposure to about ten sets. As the program progressed,it got so expensive to coordinate, operate and run that we realised that the class of students had degraded and were not even appreciating the exposure and training. Their only interest was to receive our participation acknowledgement. However, we did have some great achievements, the curriculum was right, the exposure was good and they (the students) were literarily sought after by blue-chip industries to work on and handle live projects. For most of them, this was something they never imagined would happen.

Where have you worked as an engineer?

I have worked in the United Kingdom, In Malta, Italy and France in Europe, In Libya in North Africa, Nigeria and Ghana. In Nigeria, we have an outfit called ImpasseTechnologies. Prior to this I had worked as a Senior Consultant at Resorcery Limited and prior to that, I was a partner with Spectrum Communications Systems in Apapa, a company of Telecommunications Engineers.

As a child, I was brought up in a family of four children.

Our father was a medical doctor and our mother, an English teacher. Dad was a medical doctor who had a great interest in African history, while my mother , who was of mixed descent, insisted on us speaking and writing Queens English. My dad was also very interested in technology and was surrounded by gadgets such as clocks, miniature cameras, reelto-reel tape recorders, all sorts of radios and his pride 8 & 35mm cinema cameras and projectors. He realised that we all had talents and to harness these; he set up engineering workshops for us at home.

These included metalwork, woodwork, electrical and mechanical workshops. We had teachers from each respective industry come to teach us at home. This early exposure gave us a foundation in our latter year studies and also galvanised our interest in engineering.

That exposure would have made you come out tops at school?

No, it didn’t turn out like that. We had to play it down.

We didn’t need to excel all the time, otherwise we would have been stigmatised. We were tactical with what we knew and had no academic problems. In fact we were sometimes asked to assist with practical explanations and in rare cases, we challenged our lecturers on their theoretical explanations.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

113 blacklisted vessels: The untold story

-- Page 53 ‘How technology has expanded the business space’

Page 58, 59

‘Banning of vessels didn’t follow due process’ •Omatseye

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•Barrow

GSK empowers pharmacists

By Omolewa Oshin

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•From left: Group President, Everyday Group of Companies, Dr. Charles Dinwobi, Executive Director, South-South, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs. Ibiye Ekong and Regional Manager, South-South 1, Skye Bank Plc, during the Skye Business Seminar, which took place at The Atrium Events Centre, Port Harcourt…recently

CBN: N2b spent on rebasing of economy HE Federal Government is said to have spent N2billion for the rebasing of the economy last year.

Mr. Moses Tule, the Director Monetary Policy of the CBN, made this disclosure at the 20th Seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors in Calabar, Cross River State.

This amount, he said, is different from what the federal government and other agencies contributed to the exercise.

In spite of these contributions, Tule noted that Ni-

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Stories by Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf geria’s economy is living on the illusion of being strong as some sectors considered informal were not captured in the rebasing exercise yet the country brags of being the largest economy in Africa.

Tule cautioned that “if we do not control our consumption pattern, we will not have a Naira, because you cannot plan on the volatility of the price of crude oil alone. We need change our structure of production to avoid a further forex crisis, and we need to be

very careful how we share money from Excess Crude Account (ECA).”

The CBN director also expressed concern that as the country approaches the end of 2015, there has not been any implementation of capital projects across the country noting that “when a government does not execute capital projects there is no future for the country. Execution of capital projects like hospitals, roads and bridges help to reflect the economy with the jobs they create and the opportunities they provide.”

Also speaking on the issue of funding statistical exercises, the former director of research of the CBN Mr. Charles Mordi lamented that “government does not spend enough money on statistical information, and has not investing enough in gathering or generating statistical information, which has lead to poor record keeping.” said Nigeria’s external reserve and foreign exchange rate crisis is tied to both resource and management problems as “resources are dwindling and management of these is not improving.”

N2trillion expended on subsidy in 2012 alone HE Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives, Lagos, Mr. Bismarck Rewane has revealed that the federal government had spent N2 trillion on subsidy overtime till 2012 for the importation of

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12-15 million litres of petroleum.

The naira, he said, is “technically undervalued” and one way to address this crisis is to “get rid of subsidy.”

The country, he said, “must align spending with

earnings and the right people should be put in place to execute this. If subsidies are not removed it will make the adjustment more painful.”

The CBN, he said, has to be independent and autonomous, and if faced with diffi-

cult situations that go against the grains of sound monetary policy the honorable thing for the CBN governor to do if his advice is not accepted is to quit, because the policy environment has to be consistent.

Policy on commodity trading underway HE Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa disclosed that the government has come up with a policy on the conduct of commodity trading both within and outside the country.

The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the deputy director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Ajia Mahman disclosed this at the launching and presentation of certificates of registration to three new na-

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From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja tional commodity associations in Abuja.

He said, The policy is to address the ugly development, by government setting up the export commodity coordinating committee to sanitise the system by organising the existing and yet to be established trade group into apex commodity association.

“The main trust of the policy was to ensure orderliness in the conduct of commodity trading within and

outside the country.

“The policy trust of the present administration in ensuring the diversification of the economy is to reduce over dependence on crude oil export.

“The intention of government is to create robust non oil export led economy by providing the enabling environment for achieving optimal result.

“In this regard I wish to assure players in the commodity sector of government support on the conviction that it is a path towards the realization of the vision 20-2020.

“The commodity sector has a myriad of challenges which must be addressed. You must ensure the competitiveness of your products in the market, through quality enhancement, improved yield, information gathering and exchange, increased land area.”

Abdulkadir lamented the handicap in the subsector as inability to gainfully process most of these commodities to add value. This he said is a challenge if wealth must be created out of this viable economic potential.

SK Consumer Nigeria Plc has demonstrated its strong resolve to fight product counterfeiting and help Nigerians especially at the grassroots with access to original products.

Speaking at the training programme organised annually in partnership with GSK and the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) to train and improve the practice of Patent Medicine Dealers and Patent Medicine Sellers in Nigeria, the Managing Director, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Mr. Dayanand Thandalam Sriram, said the reason for the programme is to engage with the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria and Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association because they are the ones who interact with the consumers every day.

According to him, there is a need to constantly get feedback from these Patent medicine dealers and sellers on what is working and the things that require further improvement.

All GSK products, GSK boss stressed, are backed by research and science hence the more they understand this science the better they can attend to consumer needs adequately.

Also speaking at the event, President, Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association (LSMDA), Chief Kewiwson Emeka Opara, said it was disheartening to note that people abuse pain-killers and other over the counter drugs.

“Most people venture into medicine vending just for the profit with no consideration for people’s health. Nigerians don’t care about the risk of consuming counterfeit products. Most times, they don’t care about the harmful or side effects it may have on the patients.”

According to the Marketing Manager, Wellness, GSK, Mr. Ogbemi Kesiena, “GSK in partnership with the PCN and LSMDA aims to add value to the practice of the Patent Medicine Sellers and vendors in different zones across Nigeria and to also educate them on drugs and medications so that they fully understand the science behind the drugs they administer to consumers.”

Expert charges youths on nation-building

By Adeola Ogunlade

HE National Director of Save The Children, Nigeria, Mr. Ben Foot has challenged Nigerian youths to rise to the task of rebuilding the ruins of the older generation with new skills, tact and moral lifestyle.

Foot gave this charge at the 2015 Global Day of Action organised by Save the Children in collaboration with ONE.Campiagn.org, The Future Project and Disability Advocacy Centre in Lagos.

According to him, the task of building a world fit for children is so urgent especially as the world continue to groan in war, epidemic and disasters.

He said: “We have failed this generation. The future is not violence, or in the hands of inhuman politicians but is in the hands of young people who will look at the problems around them and say enough is enough.”

Foot stressed that the new Sustainable Development Goals that would be decided upon by December by world leaders, is about children and they must be involved as they cannot be in the future they were never part of.

The Save The Children boss also hinted that a summit tagged: ‘Finance our Future’, aimed at providing countries with the opportunity to give the final push towards getting their policy makers, and key players in the economy to attend the Financing for Development (FFD) conference coming up in Addis-Ababa.

Echoing similar sentiment, Director of ONE Campaign.org, Edwin Ikhuoria said the commitments on international tax cooperation, development assistance and targeted spending toward those living in poverty are some of the issues that would be taken on board at the summit.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

BUSINESS

113 blacklisted vessels: The untold story Indications are rife that the decision by the federal government to ban some of the 113 shipping vessels from lifting crude from the 27 oil terminals within the length and breadth of Nigerian territorial waters may not have been justified, reports Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari had remarked in an interview during the heat of the political hustings last March that if we don’t kill corruption in Nigeria, corruption will kill us…

The import of that statement is beginning to manifest what with the stringent measures already been taken by the Buhari administration in recent times to rein in the •Emefiele monster called corruption, hydra-headed across all sectors, especially in the oil and gas industry considering the fact that the nation generates over 90 per cent of its revenue from the sector.

It would be recalled that President Buhari had met with the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Navy to emphasise the need for them to step up their processes to ensure close scrutiny of all NNPC’s operations at all terminals within the country’s territorial waters.

Tellingly, one of the steps towards addressing the intractable problem of corruption in the oil and gas sub-sector, informed sources revealed to The Nation, is the banning of 113 crude oil vessels from doing business in any of the 27 oil terminals within the length and breadth of the Nigerian territorial waters over illegal acts of economic sabotage.

The ban, The Nation gathered, followed a directive contained in a memo dated July 15, 2015 by the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Gbenga Komolafe, to all terminal operators.

Copies of the memo were also sent the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources; Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency, and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Cus-

Temisan Omatseye, former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), is the President African Shipowners Association, an umbrella body for shipowners across Africa with headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Omatseye in this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf speaks on the ban of 113 vessels by the federal government. Excerpts:

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HERE are feelers that the 113 shipping vessels banned by the federal government from lifting crude from the 27 oil terminals across the length and breadth of Nigerian territorial waters were indeed involved in act of economic sabotage. How will you react to this?

There are several versions of report on why the vessels were banned. Exactly what crime has been committed that led to this ban is still a subject of a major investiga-

•One of the vessels banned from Nigerian territorial waters (inset) the memo announcing the ban lenge of explaining huge differences between try. It should be trusted and supported to transtoms Service. the volume of crude oil lifted from Nigeria by form the industry and by extension the nation’s Affected vessels Some of the affected vessels include MV these vessels and what they actually delivered economy.”

Executive Director, Spaces for Change, Mrs. Eliza, with international maritime organisa- to customers abroad.

The source further disclosed that the deci- Victoria Ohaeri, a close watcher of developments tion registration, IMO, No. 9387578 with MV Happines, with IMO No. 9212905; MV Progress, sion may have been done hastily because it is in the industry, disclosed that the ban was in order if they were found to have been involved with IMO No. 9180152; MV New Harmony (No. already ruffling feathers.

“Publishing these guys name is affecting in illegal operations.

963207); MV Cosgrace Lake (No. 9294587) and “I strongly believe that the oil and gas intheir clientele abroad. So they want to clear MV Plata Glory (No. 9172674).

Others include MV Humanity (No. their names. These guys should be given a right dustry is important to many stakeholders, espe9180281); MV Scf Shanghai (No. 9325968); MV of defense, a fair hearing as it were. You claimed cially the oil companies and the Federal GovTenyo (No. 9222443); MV Astro Challenge (No. that the basis of publishing those names was ernment that needs to generate adequate funds 9237072); MV Maran Thetis (No. 94214427); MV based on investigation but nobody knows the for the implementation of its projects.”

“Consequently, it becomes imperative for BW Bauhinia (No. 9315070); MV Dream basis of that information,” the source said.

The source, who declined to mention the the government to bring about sanity in the in(No.9356893); MV Xin Dan Yag (No. 96140048) names of affected vessels, maintained that some dustry in order to prevent leakages and corrupand MV Desim (No. 9395305).

Although no official reason was stated in of them were fronted by politicians and did tion,” she maintained.

Findings by The Nation revealed that the glothe memo as to why the ban was imposed on not properly register for lifting crude oil. Group the affected vessels, The Nation was reliably in- General Manager, Group Public Affairs Divi- bal oil tanker industry association, formed that the NNPC got an intelligent re- sion of NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, could not be INTERTANKO is not happy with the decision of port and based on that, they published those reached for comments as at the time of going the federal government.

The Nation gathered that the association, in a to Press. names.

But another source in the Corporation said: letter of protest, demanded that the ban should The source, who pleaded not to be named, as he was not authorised to speak officially on “The President Buhari-led administration has be lifted immediately as no grounds had been the issue, said the NNPC had faced the chal- a clear insight into the workings of the indus- given for the measure.

‘Banning of vessels didn’t follow d tion by the African Shipowners Association of which I’m the president and the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) led by Aminu Umar.

As it were, we as ship owners in Africa also have relationship with international ship owners overseas. So, first of all, we need to really find out what actually happened because we’re hearing too many stories. So, we need to engage the Ministry of Petroleum and also the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to get the real information because the ship owners abroad are claiming they don’t know what is going on.

They don’t know why their vessels have been banned, what’s going on and all of that.

Some of them are even claiming some of the vessels on that list have never been to Africa. So there is a lot of confusion going on right now. But of course, we won’t be a party to or support any vessel engaged in any form of criminal activity whether illegal lifting of Nigerians crude oil. We would like a situation where the full weight of the law is visited upon such a person. But whatever the case may be, we the hope issues would be resolved.

The number 113 of those involved is actually huge much…

That’s the whole point we’re making.

There are a total of 3,000 tankers lifting crude oil all over the world and you’re banning five percent of that from lifting crude here. I

•Omatseye

know three people in Greece. Between the three of them they own 350 tankers. And you have many people who have just as many tankers. We have to be careful when we take some actions because at the end of the day, the rippled effect on the Nigerian economy will be more devastating than the action we’re trying to take. A situation where we did not involve the maritime administration, involve the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the World Tanker Body, or involve the African and Nigerian ship owners is not enough. Everybody should have been involved before the issue of ban. So for somebody to just get up and take such a unilateral decision, it’s not okay at all. That’s our position. So we must get to the root of the matter.

Are you optimistic that after a thorough investigation some of the names blacklisted would be vindicated?

I hope so. But I must tell you the truth, if they blacklist Nigeria from participating in the global economy for instance, are we going to be drinking our oil? You do not just ban 113 tankers and all of them are complaining. What that means is that you have not engaged them.

You don’t just look at your books and say so and so tankers are banned and then publish their names. Do you know the implications of that on their business? Most of them are quoted on New York Stock Exchange and

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015 INTERTANKO, whose independent members own the majority of the world’s tanker fleet, said in a letter to the NNPC, dated July 22, that there were no “evidence or grounds” given for the ban.

“INTERTANKO protests in the strongest possible way that these bans should be lifted with immediate effect until grounds and evidence for the ban have been given to each vessel and vessel owner/operator, and the owner/operator has had an opportunity to respond,” the association’s General Counsel, Michele White, wrote in the letter.

“The timing of the ban is clearly a political signal to show the Buhari administration is clamping down on oil theft,” said Alex Vines, head of the Africa Programme at Chatham House.

“The challenge now is for the Nigerian authorities to provide credible proof that these indexed vessels were engaged in illicit activities,” he added.

Meanwhile, a sample of 75 vessels on the list showed that only around 14 had been to Nigeria or neighbouring countries in the last 180 days.

White said the list of banned tankers was “not exhaustive and already further tankers are being added.”

The INTERTANKO general counsel said in a separate note to members, “Our current understanding is that these ships may have been targeted due to a failure to provide official outturn figures at their last call and/or commercial differences between load and discharge figures for cargo and free water.

“This may also, however, be part of a general crackdown by President Buhari on corruption in Nigeria’s maritime, oil and gas, financial services and security sectors, including illegal bunkering and fuel sales.”

Checks at the Ministry of Petroleum revealed that the international shipowners have perfected plans to visit Nigeria this week to state their case as they were not happy with the blanket ban by the federal government.

“I can confirm that the shipowners are making move to see officials at the Ministry of Petroleum just to be able to make representation to the government. That is fair enough because you can just place a ban without allowing right of response. It is against international diplomacy,” the source said.

BUSINESS

LCCI faults CBN’s decision on forex T HE dust raised by the Foreign Exchange (forex) policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which excluded 41 items from the foreign exchange market, has refused to settle. This time, the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN to maintain status quo on its policy stance has not gone down well with members of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) The MPC had after its meeting of July 23 and 24, 2015, decided to retain the current demand management model in the foreign exchange market.

However, after a review of the MPC’s decisions, LCCI said “this singular decision reflects an ominous indifference of the CBN to the plight of various stakeholders including manufacturers over its foreign exchange management strategy.”

The Chamber in a statement signed by its President Remi Bello, said it shared CBN’s concern that there are no easy choices given the dwindling crude oil price, dwindling accretion to reserves, weak fiscal position of government and the pressure on foreign reserves.

“We also share the submission of the apex bank that the Federal Government needs to unfold its economic agenda to boost investors’ confidence and reduce uncertainty in the economy.

“We support CBN’s position that monetary policy instruments need to be complemented with fiscal policies to achieve the desired economic

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

outcomes, as monetary policy has severe limitations in the present circumstances,” the statement said.

The LCCI however, argued that the present model, which is essentially an administrative allocation mechanism, has profound collateral consequences for the economy - the opaqueness of the foreign exchange management, vulnerability to corrupt practices and distortions in the economy.

LCCI noted that submissions by stakeholders in the economy to the CBN to review its list of items not valid for foreign exchange were completely ignored by the MPC, and that the matter was not even mentioned in the communiqué. “We are gravely disturbed by this disposition,” Bello said.

Bello further expressed the chamber’s worry on the apparent trivialisation by the CBN of developments in the parallel market segment of the foreign exchange market. “It is curious that the unprecedented disparity in the rates did not seem to bother the CBN,” he added.

He also affirmed that the widening disparity in rates has profound implications for the economy. “It is an incentive for round tripping. “It would create distortions in the economy, compromise the principle of level playing field in the economy, and make the management of the foreign exchange market vulnerable to all manner of sharp practices and corruption,” he added.

LCCI pointed out that the large informal sector of the economy is

fed largely from this segment of the market and that these are issues the CBN cannot afford to ignore.

He observed that fuel import exerts the highest pressure on the foreign exchange market and the country’s reserves.

While stating that the chamber expects this matter to be highlighted in the MPC communiqué, Bello called on President Muhammadu Buhari to do something urgently about these critical issues.

He said: “The protracted problem of excess liquidity should be addressed in a manner that would not persistently cause disruptions and dislocations in the economy. The therapy of interminable monetary tightening has really not worked.

The focus has been on tackling the symptoms, not the cause.”

Bello advised that fixing the problem through a root cause analysis will be more helpful to the economy.

“We note, for instance, that while the benchmark for Net Credit to the economy was 29.3 per cent for 2015, credit to Federal Government grew by 40 per cent as at June 2015. These are issues to worry about,” he said.

Bello also noted that the money supply impact of monetisation of oil revenue receipts, banking system credit to government, and the various intervention funds of the CBN need to be critically examined at this time.

According to him, the crisis of excess liquidity has done incalculable damage to the economy for many years. “There is a strong nexus between the crisis of liquidity, rising inflation; exchange rate depreciation,

Online payment challenge for Consumer Protection Council

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HE online marketing and payment system is posing a serious challenge to Nigerian consumers.

The Director General Consumer Protection Council, Dupe Atoki disclosed this at the 2015 Consumer Summit in Abuja, stating that emerging online markets and digital services come with issues that affect a number of consumer’s rights.

ow due process’ all of that. Do you know what that means to their reputation? Now they are running helter-skelter.

They don’t know what’s going on, they’re asking questions. There is need to properly arbitrate on this matter.

Could you let us in on the modus operandi involved in freight operation, especially with regards to shipping?

A vessel that comes to load a product, the captain has clear cut documents he has to fill whether he likes it or not, which shows the cargo, the quantity loaded such as the bill of lading, the log in, etc. The fact remains that what questions were been asked by NNPC? What was been requested from the ship owners? What was provided for them? Who were the owners of the products? Who were the trackers of the vessels? These are questions we need to know.

Because many times, the captain only follows directions being required of him through the owners. So these are the questions that need to be answered. Until we answer these questions, we cannot begin to point fingers.

But like I said, if at the end of the

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day it is discovered that if they’ve been using Nigerian ship owners to steal our crude oil, then they have to answer for their crimes.

Your organisation, African Shipowners Association, recently led a delegation to the African Union’s Head of State meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the Decade of African Maritime Development was launched. What really informed the formation of this body?

The African Shipowners Association, of which I’m the president was borne out of the realisation by members of the African Union that of all the ocean-borne freight that is being done in Africa, in terms of exports, African countries get back just 0.03% of that. So, what is happening now is that Africans want to be able to control the movement of goods and services within and across the continent. The only country in Africa that has been able to maximise her potential in terms of shipping is Ethiopia. For the first time, the African Union is considering the establishment of a maritime bank. Currently we have over seven member countries but the membership is open to all the countries across the continent.

From Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

She said, “With 120 million mobile phone subscriptions and 44 million internet users in Nigeria, the online markets and digital services are increasing becoming popular in the country.

“As the apex consumer protection agency of the federal government, the CPC is inundated with numerous consumer complaints about unsatisfactory services with numerous consumer complaints about unsatisfactory services being experienced in our digital economy.

“The digital economy in Nigeria has embraced mobile banking, POS, online payment and banking, automated teller machines and other payment platforms designed for consumers.

“Participants at the summit expressed concerns over poor online services offered by some organisations including cancellations of flights booked online without due process.”

The DG said companies and individuals must place priority on consumer rights and satisfaction in order to maintain scale of growth in the competitive business world.

weakening purchasing power and worsening poverty of citizens over the years. It is in fact the principal reason for the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty,” he pointed out.

The LCCI President disagreed with CBN that the factors driving inflation at this time are transient as suggested by the MPC. Rather, he observed that the continued depreciation of the currency and the structural issues are major factors putting pressures on prices, which needs to be tackled urgently.

Firm launches Achebe’s autobiographical essays

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IGERIAN readers and institutions now have opportunity to get a new feel of the great literary power of late Chinua Achebe with the arrival of a reprint of his autobiographical essays-‘The Education of a BritishProtected Child’ in the country.

Chief executive officer, TessyBiz Ventures, Nigeria’s distributor for the new ‘The Education of a British-Protected Child’, Mr. Cliff Onwudinjo, said the arrival of the autobiographical essays is timely as the collection provides an illuminating path for self discovery for the new Nigeria and invaluable guide for individuals, including parents.

Onwundinjo said the book has already been distributed widely to major bookstores, shopping malls and superstores urging institutions to take advantage of the bulkpurchase discounts to order for the book and stock their libraries.

In ‘The Education of a BritishProtected Child’, Achebe reflects on a wide-ranging lifetime issues including personal and collective identity, home and family, literature, parenthood, language and politics.

As noted by Amazon, Achebe painted a vivid, ironic and delicately nuanced portrait of growing up in colonial Nigeria and inhabiting its ‘middle ground’, interrogating both his happy memories of reading English adventure stories in secondary school and also the harsher truths of colonial rule.

Survey reveals Africa assets to rise by 2020

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NEW research from PwC has revealed that traditional assets under management (AuM) in 12 markets across Africa will rise to around $1,098 billion by 2020, from a 2008 total of $293 billion.

This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 9.6%.

Traditional asset management, in particular the mutual fund industry, is expanding aggressively across Africa.

This will largely be driven by a number of factors: economic growth and the subsequent rise in wealth will boost the demand for pensions and life insurance products, the demand for retail investment funds will consequently increase, and the widespread adoption of technology will make delivery of new products cheaper, bringing more consumers into the formal financial sector.

The report, Africa Asset Management 2020, is an in-depth study which examines the asset management industry across 12 African countries which have financial markets of vary-

ing levels of development. The countries, which represent a sample from Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Africa, were assessed by a range of relevant indicators in order to capture their true investment potential.

The countries were categorised into three groups: advancing markets, promising markets, and nascent markets.

Besides, the report outlines and analyses the future game changers for investment into Africa as a whole as well as addressing the impacts for these specific markets.

Ilse French, PwC Africa Asset Management Leader, says: “As Africa has entered the 21st century, economic growth has surpassed expectations and stimulated investor interest across a broad range of asset classes. Although the fund industry in Africa is, in most countries, still developing and has much to prove, global and local asset managers are likely to become more active as the industry continues to flourish.”

PwC also predicts that the global rise in the volume of investable as-

sets which has taken place over the last two or three decades is set to continue to increase in the future and investable assets are set to be significantly higher in 2020 than today.

Recent research conducted by PwC projects that global AuM will rise to around $101.7 trillion by 2020.

Although Africa is a small part of the global industry it is a region that is experiencing significant growth.

It is interesting to note that retail investors form a small proportion of investors in asset management in Africa.

However, the report suggests that the number of retail investors in these markets could be increased by way of education about products, encouragement of a savings and investment culture, and overall economic growth.

Banks have the best distribution network and they will likely remain the main distributors in the future.

The pension fund sector in the 12 countries in this study has grown steadily from 2006 to 2014 and is expected to continue to grow considerably.

BUSINESS

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015

OULD you take us through what project next level is all about?

Project Next Level is really about how we enable and inspire businesses in our communities to grow using technology.

This is a firm demonstration of MTN’s commitment to leading its customers in the delivery of a bold new digital world.

What has necessitated the focus on small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs)?

All over the world, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) are regarded as the engine room for growth within the economy. In Nigeria, we have seen a renewed and increased attention being paid to this critical sector in the last couple of years. And for us at MTN, we just want to be fully aligned to the government-led initiative aimed at strengthening SMEs. We believe SMEs play a unique role within our economy as they provide employment opportunities to keep our people fully engaged. Whether you are talking of the micro (small neighborhood shops) or to the next level of business, SMEs play a key role in our economy as they provide employment opportunities and opportunities to get people fully engaged.

One of the things people at that level require is technology.

What we currently see is that big technology decisions and processes required to drive businesses is well entrenched for the high value customers or for the big corporates, most of them have very well designed or established systems in place. Most of these companies have invested a lot of money in technology.

However, there is a gap because down below are the SMEs who do not have huge finances to invest or opportunities to share best practice across continents like the big multinationals have. Because of their pivotal role in our economy, it is key that we use technology to enable them, to help them manage their rising costs, to help them manage and drive better efficiencies in the way they do business and to make them effective and take them to the next level where they can compete with other businesses across the world and that’s what MTN next level is about. It is how we inspire and enable SMEs to grow.

Currently, there is a good feeling in the environment and it is a very optimistic feeling. There is no better time than now to compliment the optimism with a programme that further provides our SMEs much more hope going forward.

Still on the Next Level, are there individual components to the plan? For example, are we looking at cloud on one hand, access to ERP on another hand?

The foundation of the Next Level is built around the Y’ello Directory. The Y’ello Directory will be the platform by which all SMEs come on board the Next Level engagement, if we can get on board the over 17 million SMEs we are told are available in this country into the Y’ello Directory. The Y’ello Directory is a web-based page where we are able to create a community where SMEs are able to display their products, they get the right listing and they get visibility. We realise that one of the challenges SMEs face, unlike the big corporates, is that they are not able to advertise; marketing

more of a relationship. The use of our products and services would be from a consumption perspective rather than do one deal and walk away.

What kind of results have you seen in terms of your previous engagements with SMEs? It has been a big learning curve for us. We have had various interactions at different levels whether from a transactional or relationship perspective. We have been on this journey for quite some time and one of the things that has come out clearly is that SMEs are so diverse and fragmented. Their requirements differ from size to size. However, the two things that have come out very clearly are that SMEs require technology and access to funds to survive. If I may add, SMEs also require a lot of visibility to compete in the marketplace.

We have engaged SMEs from different perspectives. What the project Next Level does is that it brings it all together. It takes a view from our past learning to position us as a critical enabler, true to our vision of how we want to inspire SMEs which we believe are the critical growth drivers in our economy.

Are there any success stories you would like to share?

I wouldn’t want to name organisations for the purpose of privacy. We have partnered with a range of SMEs some of which had almost even gone into extinction that we brought back to life and put a fresh breath of life into them. They are doing very well.

In the next few weeks, we will run campaigns where we are going to get some of these SMEs to talk about their experience and how the relationship with MTN has been, and how MTN has partnered with them as well as the successes they have been able to achieve. I think they will be the true testimonials to make the story perfect going forward.

What are your hopes and aspirations with this project?

We have set some very lofty metrics for measuring how successful this initiative would be.

From the commercial perspective, we look forward to see a lot of benefits in the second half of the year by which time we would begin to reap the benefits of this relationship. What we are going to be doing in the next 100 days is to establish the required relationships, get as many SMEs on board the Y’ello Directory and we’ll begin to see a lot of traction going forward. We have a very clear picture of what success would be in terms of revenue, number of customers, reduced churn and product listings.

Lastly, if there is anything you’d want to say to players in the SME space, what would it be?

I would say to them that in everything they do, they should be guided by the evolving changes in technology. As an SME, embrace technology, as a regulator, be guided by technology and as a provider of funds, always be guided by the opportunities that technology present. It really is about technology and an SME has no choice but to embrace technology to have a key competitive advantage in the market space.

Even the people who sell food should embrace technology, like converting their websites into mobile applications to allow for a wider segment to reach them via their mobile phones. Everybody should embrace technology as it is really the key differentiator.

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C

•Barrow

‘How technology has expanded business space’ Omatsola Barrow is Acting Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer, MTN Nigeria with oversight function for MTN business to business arm that caters to corporate customers, small and medium scale enterprises, among others. In this interview with Bukola Aroloye he speaks about MTN Business plans to take SMEs to the next level. comes at a very high cost for them, creating the required awareness of their availability also comes at a high cost. The Y’ello Directory affords them an opportunity for visibility as well as awareness. It creates a community where people go to buy products and services from the SMEs. Beyond that, we begin to expose them to the cloud. Cloud is simply outsourcing various solutions whether payroll, inventory or HR solutions and gradually introduce them to other solutions such as CUGs, domain names or the internet. That is how the journey would be explored. In looking out for the SMEs, we are concerned about their profitability and sustainability. At the end of the day, we want to see SMEs that will outlive themselves, that can be passed from one generation to the other, enabled by technology with the sole purpose of being sustainable and making profit.

Still along these lines, MTN data centre has just been granted the Tier-3 accreditation for design. Are SMEs going to benefit from the data centre also?

Yes. We are confident that there are firms that can access this facility. In as much as we talk about small and micro, we also have middle sized SMEs who are at the borderline of being big. By the nature of their business, the data centre offers them the opportunities for co-hosting and co-location. Our data centre would be a big opportunity for SMEs who believe they have gotten to that size where they would require such services.

What is your plan for the sustainability of the project Next

Level?

Next Level is just the beginning of our journey with SMEs. It is our bold attempt to strike the right chord with these growth drivers of our economy. It is our intention to make the SMEs aware that MTN as a very successful business understands their pain and would want to partner with them using technology as a platform for enabling their growth. That ultimately takes us to the different level because like I said, the next level is just a journey and beyond the next level, the relationship with the SMEs will keep unfolding. I want to assure you that this is not a short term quick fix; it is going to be a relationship that will be sustainable and we believe would grow from stage to stage.

Talking about sustainability, the biggest challenges faced by SMEs is accessing finance. How affordable and pocket-friendly are the services you will be providing to SMEs? I think you hit it right on the head. For most SMEs, the biggest challenge they have is around funding. Thankfully, the government through a lot of intervention funds working with the Central Bank and other banks are making funding accessible to SMEs. The question is whether the SMEs are well placed to access these funds and this is where technology makes a difference.

Working with organisations such as SMEDAN, NASMI and the other various governmental and non-governmental organisations, we want to use technology to position the SMEs to make them criti-

cally fit to access these funds. You will agree with me that whether we like it or not, government or organisations are very careful about who they give their funds to and one of the things we are doing is working with these agencies and banks to ensure that these organisations are structurally and technologically fit to meet the required criteria to access funds. It is not really about buying products for the sake of buying our services, it is really about how we partner because beyond the technology is also the opportunity for funding which they require to do business and how to give the donors or lenders that comfort. The lenders want to believe that these businesses are not just viable but are structured in such a way that they are sustainable and that they have the right systems and processes and they have the right enablers to do business which is very critical for any lender of money to any SMEs. And that is why MTN wants to make the difference by partnering, not just seeing the SMEs as customers who we want to sell to, but more of partnering and hand-holding them till they succeed and have become sustainability enterprises. If all we set out to do is to just to sell a service to the SME and walk away, then we haven’t done the job. If you look at our model, it is built around strong association or partnerships with the enabling agencies that support SMEs. As long as the SME is growing and it is viable, our relationship with them will go beyond just doing business and it will go from being transactional to

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

‘Local poultry farmers can meet consumers’ demand’

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HE importation of frozen poultry was banned by the Federal Government but despite this ban since 2003, the smuggling has remained unabated. Recently however, considering the health issues arising from the consumption of the smuggled meat and the loss of revenue to the Government, Government through the National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control [NAFDAC] and the Nigerian Customs launched Operation Hawk Descend to combat the activities of these nefarious smugglers.

However, with the Operation Hawk Descend, the price of both the smuggled and indigenously produced poultry has gone almost beyond the reach of the average Nigerians. Many people are asking questions; With the large population of Nigeria, which is still increasing, Can the poultry farmers in Nigeria produce enough poultry to meet demand of consumers?, As the Government is enforcing this ban, what policies has it put in place to grow the Nigerian poultry?.

In this interview with Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, National President, Poultry Association Farmers of Nigeria, he tried to address these issues including the current price of poultry meat, the many challenges facing the poultry industry, how Government can grow the Agricultural sector through poultry and what is expected from consumers at this transitional period among many things.

There are so many speculations, we will like to know the exact annual demand of poultry meat in this country.

Local demand of poultry is about 1.5million metric tonnes, while Nigerian farmers can produce about 7001million metric tonnes but right now we are only producing about 300,000 metric tonnes.

So, do the poultry farmers in Nigeria have the capacity to feed the Nation.

Our capacity as it is, is between 7001 milliontonnes and we can grow that capacity quickly as the Government is willing to support, and determined to grow the poultry industry.

Our capacity utilization is about 46% but all that can increase within 2years.

Within that two years, how do you intend to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of poultry. As you said, the local demand is about 1.5million metric tonnes while local farmers

• DG of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii, Group Managing Director, NATNUDO Chicken Production Farm, Dr Ayoola Oduntan and a staff of NAFDAC when the DG led a delegation to NATNUDO Farm in Oyo...recently.

are producing 300,000 metric tonnes now, creating a shortfall of 1.2million metric tonnes of supply.

We shall activate all the abandoned farms, use the existing major players as hubs around which we would develop smaller farming groups. In the area of trainingwe shall mobilize organized knowledge sharing plateforms and Government will of course come in with infrastructural support targeted at farms. A situation where most farmers in this country are borrowing money at 20%-30% is not encouraging. In most places where Government is determined to turn Agriculture around, farmers borrow money at between 3%6%.More farmers should have access to development finance initiatives.

How can poultry industry grow other economies in the country?

Poultry Industry is so unique because it can stimulate other economies down the line. That is why many countries around the world will actively promote their Poultry Industries. In doing that Government will now need to focus on the activation of Maize, Rice, Soya, and Wheat, farms, Quarries, palm kernel and palmoil because all these industries feed the poultry industry thereby creating millions of jobs. So you can imagine how much jobs will be created if Government focuses on growing the industry.

Since the campaign of Operation Hawk Descendstarted, has the Government come up with new policies to support poultry farming.

The response from the Customs, NAFDAC and Ministry of Agriculture has been great. NAFDAC has

done a great job in identifying the fact that this imported poultry is in direct opposition to their mandate of safe guarding the health of the Nation.

But what more can Government do to encourage indigenous poultry farming Yes, there is so much more that can be done. Ministry of Information can launch a campaign encouraging the consumption of eggs. The Health Ministry should educate pregnant women on the impact of egg meals as they can get the needed Folic acid for the growth of the baby.

Ministries of Internal affairs, Education should insist that egg be inculcated in Government school meals. An egg a day is recommended in most countries as part of healthy nutritious diet. Government should use it’s propaganda machinery to increase and generate demands for our products. It will cost them nothing but the impact will be huge in the economy.

When you say an egg a day is recommend as part of a healthy diet, are you referring to children or adults.

For everybody. We all know that the egg is probably God’s best gift in terms of food for us because of the nutrient contents. We have one of the lowest per capita egg consumption in the world.

Maybe the cost is what is discouraging the consumption and the believe that it has high cholesterol content. An average sized egg sells between N25 to N30.

Egg is not expensive compared to other food items especially when you consider the nutritional contents. The wrong information from the Americans in the 70s that egg is high in cholesterol has been demystified by new scientific facts which says that the cholesterol in egg is the good and

healthy one and that there is no direct relationship between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol.

Since the recent enforce-

ment of the ban on imported frozen chicken, the prices of both the imported ones and the indigenously produced ones have gone up by about 50%.

The price of the locally produced chicken has not gone up.

No, from my research the price has gone up. The local producers are taking advantage of the shortage of the smuggled ones to fleece the public.

I have spoken to the Chief Executives of most of the farmers and we have agreed not to raise prices for now. It is the traders, the Channels that are raising the prices.

So how do you intend to monitor and control these traders.

Now that government policy is being enforced and is here to stay, any increase will just be for a while and supply will soon meet with the demand as much as pos-

sible. The increase will only be for a short while as a lot of supply will eventually come into the market.

When exactly should people expect this more supply.

Is a process and we need to remain committed. The demand for day old chicks has gone up and people have started talking to their banks about reactivating their abandoned farms again.

Why do you think that smuggled poultry has persisted despite previous efforts to stop it even with the health challenges Most people were ignorant of the health implications but now that they are realizing the negative health issues they will desist from patronizing it.

What parting words do you want to leave with the consumers .

Right now we have pride to consume made in Nigerian products that are good for our health and our economy and it should continue. What we are envisaging in the Poultry Industry now is only a transition that will stabilize in due course. People should not panic and take the wrong decision when the solution is just round the corner.

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

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THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

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t 60, how would you evaluate your life?

For me, it’s been a mixed bag of ups and downs. I have been here for 60 years and a man of my age must have gone through a lot. I have been through some bad, some good and the ugly realities of life.

There had been a few lifethreatening situations like sometimes ago when I took a flight from Abuja to Lagos.

We were about to land but it was raining terribly and the pilot actually said, ‘I’m sorry I’m not sure we are going to land safely anymore. Fast your seat belts because we are going to crash land.’ Everybody began to pray anyhow. Some people urinated that day. There was one too that I took from Abuja to Ibadan here sometimes ago.

We were prepared to land when the plane just started going up again. It went up and up until we didn’t see anything again. So, one had seen a few situations that will make one appreciate life the more. So, it’s been a mixed bag but there have been more good than bad.

Were you aware you were going to live this long?

There is a book I’m reading now by Billy Graham Nearly home. He’s almost 100.

When I read through it, I wondered if I would grow old as him. I have never really sat to think of how old I want I live.

It is only in recent times that I started thinking of living up to 80 because that is the promise of God to me.

Before now, I have been engrossed doing the will of God. When I had this horrible encounter with armed robbers some 12 years ago, God spoke to me towards the end that He preserved me for His purpose.

There were many instances during the period that I could have just died.

I realised that the older one gets, the more useful one becomes. When you are young, you make a lot of mistakes up

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HERE is hope for humanity despite the many challenges of life, the District Superintendent of the Apostolic Faith West and Central Africa, Rev Adebayo Adeniran, has stated.

Adeniran spoke at a briefing on the forthcoming Camp Meeting of the Apostolic Faith Church holding from 2nd23rd August at its international campground in Igbesa, Ogun State.

Giving a run down of activities during the programme, he said the convention will serve as a flagship of the end of its spiritual calender year.

The theme for this year is: “The Glory that awaits the righteous”.

He said: “As we retreat to God for three weeks in the serene green terrains, we shall fervently pray for our country for God’s intervention in the country’s transition agenda.

“As a people and nation,

INTERVIEW

‘My ups and downs at 60’ to the point of almost self-destruct. But as you get older, you are wiser and more useful. So, for that reason, I want to live up to 80.

Were there dreams you set for yourself that have been achieved?

Well, I don’t think I was as smart as children of today. As a young man, I wanted to be very rich. I wasn’t going to get married but have a number of children from different women. When I met the Lord, I changed all that. As an architect, I wanted to design the skyline of Marina in Lagos. I used to call myself God’s architect.

I wanted to be rich and support God’s works. I never wanted to be a pastor though I didn’t mind funding His works. However, God has bought me here and I have no regrets. I am very secured and fulfilled in what I am doing. I feel contented too. As for achievements, I will just say I am contented.

In your own eyes, how do you rate yourself?

I will say I am very, very successful in my own eyes. By the grace of God, I am doing what He wants me to do. In the early hours of today as I spoke to God, He made me see that He was happy with me.

He asked me what I wanted as a birthday present and I said I didn’t want anything personally. I asked Him to do certain things in the lives of my people. As for me, I am okay. I have enough investment financially.

I have landed properties; I could have more but they are not useful to me, except for my children.

How many foods can I eat?

How much clothes can I wear?

How many cars can I drive? I am so well funded and blessed.

But for the same of my chil-

dren, I have a few properties.

At 60, are you thinking of retirement?

Yes, I am. First, I am not going to ever resign or retire.

But my roles will change in the ministry. I can’t retire because there will never be a morning I will wake and wonder what to do. I have a private practice that is still on. I still get contracts while my boys handle the field works.

The church has so many branches and projects going on. But I don’t want to continue to do this resident pastor of a thing. I’m going to be more into training leaders and will have to get somebody to do what I am doing now. So, I won’t ever retire but my roles will change. I can’t leave architecture either.

I think I am engaged for life.

How did you meet your wife?

We were in UNILAG together. She was in palm wine drinkers club and I was in the palm wine drinkers club too. She was a Muslim. Then, we met again in fellowship and I thought it was a pure coincidence. I didn’t know how to present ‘my papers’ as we used to say. One day, I saw here speaking with a friend. He is Odusote while she was Akinsanya; so I thought it was just an Ijebu connection. The man joked that I should bring money. One day, I saw them talking and walked towards them. He already knew my intentions and left us alone. One thing led to the

The Senior Pastor of The Stone Church, Ibadan Oyo State, Pastor Alex Adegboye, who clocked 60 last week, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on his life, family and marriage.

Excerpts:

other and we have been married now for over 33 years.

Can you offer hint into how you raised your children?

All our children are married. They are all born again. I bought them up, not hitting them on the heads. I never sat them down to preach to them but I was a good example at home. I didn’t fight their mummy in their presence; keep a bottle of beer in the fridge but only prayed and read my bible at home as I would do in

NEWS

‘There is hope for a better world’

By Nneka Nwaneri

if we turn to God in genuine repentance and embrace righteousness as He did in Jonah 3:10, the Lord will surely intervene in our affairs and heal our land.”

The cleric added that for the country to experience real change, transformation and national development, holiness and godly living must be embraced across the land by both the led and leadership at all levels.

The high point of the ceremony will be performance by its 1,000 man choir and orchestra.

Delegates at the convention are expected from African counties Europe, America and other world countries.

By Olatunde Odebiyi

lieve in the Lord your God so shall you be established believe his prophet, so shall you prosper. Stay on the arms of grace.”

Jedafe added that Christians should make their pastors happy, while noting that “age mate” is not “grace mate”.

He also lamented the ongoing insurgency in the north, which has claimed lives and render millions homeless noting that their end is near.

He appealed to Nigerians to continue to pray for the new administration.

Hold on to God, cleric urges

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HE presiding Pastor of the Breath of Life Ministry, Pastor Samson Jedafe has urged Christians to cultivate the habit of sustaining God’s grace.

He said grace is the gift of God to man through Jesus Christ and it is the secret to breakthrough in life.

Jedafe, who spoke on “the Grace Cover”, noted that the basic way to sustain the grace of God is to have respect for spiritual authority.

He said there are authori-

ties at different levels.

According to him: “The authority of the church is the most important one and should be respected. The pastors, prophets, evangelists, teachers and apostles are the ministry gift to the body of Christ from Jesus Christ.

“The destiny of the state and the nation is in the hands of God through the church.

“The prophetic word of God for your next level is in the mouth of the men of God. Be-

the church. I was not a hypocrite.

They grew up in the UK and if they didn’t have a solid background, they would have faltered. They got saved on their own at the appropriate time. While they were here, I would always give altar call in the church and they would come out. One day, they stopped coming out. I asked them why and they said ‘I think I’m saved now’. It was something they decided on their own despite growing up in the Western world. Only one of them remains there.

I will give kudos to me and their mum. They saw good examples, not just talks.

Anybody can talk but can the kids look at you and realise you live what you profess?

They made their choices when it was time to get married. And

by God’s grace, they chose the flesh of their flesh.

What has kept your marriage together?

I will just say it’s the fear of God because anybody can do anything nasty at anytime.

Every one of us is capable of doing what is not right. I will confess that I have been tempted but the fear of God has been an anchor keeping us together.

Do you fight or have challenges?

We have had challenges.

Even now, there are still challenges. When you want to slap someone like this, you will remember the bible asks you never to do something like that. When we were younger,

I used to keep malice and still go to church. If I was upset, I would not talk to her and refuse to eat. I realised that was childish. Sometimes, we wake up at nights to talk over issues.

I tell people that the basic is deciding the marriage will work. I tell couples not to fight as if they will never settle. Anybody that says he does not have quarrels with his wife is not honest. The reason some of us stay married is because of the fear of God. God says He hates divorce. If He didn’t say that, few marriages will be left.

Will you kindly disclose what you asked God to do for your members as a birthday gift?

Okay, I will. Some very, very committed members of this church are very sick.

Some have terminal diseases while some have children who are very sick. So, I have a burden in my heart for them.

So, I asked the Lord to heal them all. As a pastor, my members are very dear to me.

They are all I have.

When I see them in a mess, I feel obliged to help them out. I don’t believe God is the only keeping them sick. So, I prayed for them that God will give them faith to access faith.

I believe that sickness can be as painful as poverty and viceversa. I believe not all of us will have a private jet or build a house in Lekki but we should all be healthy. So, I prayed that they will be in good health since Jesus already paid the price.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015

WORSHIP

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Philanthropist donates building to church

COLUMN

Living Faith

•Institutes foundation for widows, students

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BUSINESSMAN and philanthropist, Deacon Iyke Kalu, has donated a church building to ‘Behold He Cometh Pentecostal Church’.

The building included administrative block, ministers’ quarters as well as a church bus and generator.

Kalu also established a centre (Toks Foundation), which gives scholarship to students and free enterprise to widows.

Speaking at the dedication ceremony in Lagos, the philanthropist said the donation was to thank God for His goodness and mercies in his life and family.

He said all he has achieved in his life was by the grace of God. According to him: “First of all, there is no amount of resources you commit in

By Ambrose Nnaji

building house of God that is enough. We all own the totality of our lives to Him. “And what I did was to make sure that whatever I put in place for the house of God was the best and better than my own home, because God deserves the best, he stated.

He continued: “We have churches everywhere, but I have been affected by the gospel of this particular church. I received a miracle that turned my life and family life around here.”

Kalu said he is in love with the ministry because it is a place where unadulterated word of God is being preached.

He dismissed insinuations that he might leave Christ Royal Family Church, where

he currently worships as untrue.

He explained: “Christ Royal Family Church is my church, is where I belong, where I started as a Christian when I first came to Lagos. My vision is to invest and contribute to the kingdom of God without segregation.

“As long as this is the house of God and they need certain assistance which I can provide. I will gladly and unrelentingly do it for any church.

“I have helped so many churches in this country that I have never attended their service.”

The General Overseer, Behold He Cometh Pentecostal Church, Rev. Emmanuel Agwu, commended the businessman for his gesture.

•Front row from right: Pastors Musa Emmanuel, Babatunde Egbeyemi, David Omunagbe( Provincial Pastor); Yomi Olurinto (Asst Pastor- In- Charge, CSR); Adetunji and Seye Adeniyi (Asst Pastor in Charge, Admin) with other executive members(back row) at the Redeemers Men Fellowship convention of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Province 17... recently

Stop diversion of public funds, cleric urges politicians P

OLITICAL leaders have been urged to eschew corruption and inordinate diversion of public funds which have stifled the nation’s development.

The Pastor-in-charge of Province 9 the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Remi Oluboba, stated this at the July meeting of RCCG’s Christ Redeemers Friends International in Lagos.

Oluboba, who lamented how bitter jostle for power in the country, said Nigeria would be a better place to live if politicians across put the people first and seek power for the purpose of solving national challenges.

He called on politicians to play by the rule and eschew corruption if they ever wanted the nation to grow.

While speaking on work

By Adeyinka Aderibigbe

life balance for executives, the provincial pastor said all men must live by godly principles to ensure they balance the pressure of work and life’s challenges.

Expatiating on Ecclesiastes 3:1, Oluboba said though life is a bowl of conflicts and stress, the latter occurs when competing forces interfere with what man sets out to do.

To avoid the stress that attends the conflicts of life and work, all executives must keep track of their time, set prioritize, and always reevaluate them while always focuing on one thing at a time, he charged.

“Besides all of these, you must respect your private time, constantly examine your per-

sonal habits to remove negative habits, take a holiday, when you take your family out on holiday and set time apart for physical exercises,” he advised.

CRFI’s President Hon. Kayode Aremo said the association, which was an initiative of the RCCG General Overseer Enoch Adejare Adeboye is targeted at drawing the elites and captains of businesses to Christ.

He said the group, which has continued to deliver on its mandate, would keep drawing businessmen and women closer to God, using referrals from members who are encouraged to preach Christ while networking with their colleagues and fellow business associates.

School dedicates chapel in Ondo

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HE proprietor of Greater Tomorrow International College (GTIC), Agbaluku in Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, Chief James Lawal and his wife, Mojisola, have dedicated a 1,000 seater church auditorium.

Christened ‘Chapel of Praise’, the auditorium, which has offices was built in the school premises.

It was declared opened by the Bishop of Akoko Diocese Rt. Revd Gabriel Akinbiyi.

The cleric praised the couple for the edifice. He said build-

By Taiwo Abiodun

ing a place for God was always a right step in the right direction.

Lawal said the chapel is meant for everybody and not just for the school.

According to him: “I have been on this project since 2007 and I thank God He fulfilled His promises at last in seeing the project completed.”

He said the chapel would enable students and staff worship God better.

The chapel is besides a mosque for Muslim students to also worship.

Mrs. Lawal explained the reason behind the two worship centres.

According to her: “If you are a Christian, there is no need of going out of the school compound looking for where to worship.

“If you are a Muslim, you too don’t need to go out looking for where to pray.

“We have what it takes to succeed but one still need to put God first in everything. Morally, it would help the students to practice their religions and to be able to tolerate one another.”

By Dr. David Oyedepo

Experiencing the wonders in the word!

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ELCOME to August. The Wonders in God’s Word shall manifest in your life this month. You shall access them in Jesus’ Name!We understand from scriptures that God’s Word is loaded with wonders, but until our eyes are opened, we cannot access them. The encounters of the two disciples with Christ after His resurrection unveil this mystery. As it is written: “Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45; see also Psalm 119:18).

Again, it is written, “Arise and shine, because your light has come.” The effect of that light is what empowers us to outshine those around us, so that kings begin to come to the brightness of our rising. This is because revelation has the power to change the story of any man supernaturally (Isaiah 60:13,8,22) Furthermore, the Bible says: For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant (Job 14:79;see also:Isaiah 55:1, 11; Ephesians 5:26).

“Water” in the above scripture means the Word of God, as it is written:That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26). This helps to know that every encounter with God’s Word in a certain aspect of lives, springs up a new beginning in same.

Also, we must recognise that God’s Word is pregnant with wonders and this is why all miracles, signs and wonders are direct confirmations of the Word. For instance, the Centurion who came to Jesus saying: “I am not worthy for You to come to my house, just speak the Word ONLY and

my servant shall be healed.’ The Bible says that as the Word went forth, his servant was healed the selfsame hour. This validates the fact that God’s Word is truly pregnant with wonders (Matthew 8:8,10-13 Mark 16:20).

Therefore, Let us examine some of the Wonders imbedded in God’s Word.

The Word of God is the carrier of the Power of God: God’s Word carries the Spirit of Power; therefore, when we receive and believe the revealed Word, we are empowered to become what the Word says (Romans 1:16; John 1:12; Job 22:21-27).

The Word of God opens new chapters to our Destiny: The Word opens our lives to new levels, as in the case of Joseph when his word came, a new chapter was opened to him. The Word has power to spark up a new beginning in our lives, no matter how uncertain or unthinkable it may appear (Psalm 105:17-22; Job 14:7-9).

Supernatural Victory: When we are armed with what is written, we supernaturally gain command of the happenings around us. This is because the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, and no force in hell can withstand His authority. For instance, when Satan tempted Jesus, He fired back saying, “It is written” first, second and third time after which satan gave up. Supernatural victory is domiciled in the Word because God still upholds all things by the power of His Word till now(Ephesians 6:17; Mathew 4:1-14; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 21:44).

Supernatural Breakthrough: This is provoked by applied revelation. When we encounter the light of the Word, and walk in the same, we supernaturally dominate the powers of darkness which culminates in our supernatural breakthrough. When we put on the armour of light, we become the envy of the world around us as His glory continues to distinguish us empowering us for a colourful flight, turning a little one among us to a thousand and a small one, a strong nation.

It is interesting to know that everything we need is in the Bible; what we lack is the commitment to search them out (Isaiah 60:122; Matthew 21:24; Jeremiah 23:29; 1John 1:1-5,9).

Signs & Wonders: From the mystery of creation, we understand that God’s Word truly creates solutions supernaturally. This is why signs and wonders is all about creating supernatural solutions to the bugging questions of life (Genesis 1:1-3; Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3).

But, what does it takes to Access the Wonders in the Word? · First, one must be born again: “Wonders” here connote mysteries, and mysteries are God’s secrets imbedded in biblical stories. Everyone can understand the stories of scriptures but only the redeemed can access the mysteries thereof. The stories are made up of letters but the mysteries are made up of spirit and life (Mark 4:11; John 6: 63). · We must be filled with the Holy Ghost: The Holy Ghost is our access to the mysteries in the Word and we are limited in access without Him (John 16:1213; John 14:26; 1Corinthians 2:10).

We must engage in the study of the Word:We must get addicted to the study of the Word and make it our lifestyle by feeding on the Word daily in order to stay alive and well (2 Timothy 2:15; Jeremiah 15:16; Joshua 1:8).

Friend, access to the wonders of God’s Word is unlimited for the redeemed. You can accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord by saying this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. Today, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”

For further reading, please get my books: Maximized Destiny, Making Maximum Impact, All You Need To Have All Your Needs Met and Miracle seed. I will conclude this teaching next week.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, the covenant home of Winners.

We have four services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. respectively.

I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaan Land, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 7747546-8; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org

NEWS

Cleric task administrators on personal development HE Special Assistant to The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), Pastor Johnson Odesola, has challenged Christian workers to continue to develop themselves and brace up for new opportunities for growth within the body of Christ.

He spoke at the annual RCCG Region 1 Administrators Officers and Computer Secretaries’ conference in Lagos.

The conference tagged “Delivering value in a constrained work environment” featured seminar, bible teachings, interactive sessions and presentation of awards for

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By Adeola Ogunlade and Famuyiwa Damilare

outstanding pastors in the church who have distinguished themselves in the service of God. Odesola said that every organisation has its peculiar strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

“All we need to do is to learn how, practice what we learn and close our eyes to distractions,” he stated.

The Deputy Director, RCCG, Administration and Personnel, Pastor Olurotimi Adegborioye said that the church is going global and the only way to meet up with the demands of the time is to set standard that is based on competent, dependability, readiness to work without compro-

mise.

“We must be at the cutting edge of setting standard for the world that must be higher than the standard practice in the corporate world.

The God we serve is God of excellence and his children in any place they find themselves must toe the path of excellence”, he stressed.

The Personal Assistant to the Special Assistant to the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Bisi Akande who addressed participants on “essential skills for zonal administrators” stated that appearances, behavior, communication, conflict resolution, increasing problem solving capacity, amongst other things are necessary for administrators to succeed.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2015 CHANGE OF NAME CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to notify the general public that Temilade Anita Olugboju refers the same and person as Temilade Abiodun Olugboji.

Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public take note.

ADEBUSUYI Formerly addressed as Miss Adebusuyi Margaret, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Olowojesiku Margaret. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

OFOMA Formerly addressed as Miss Ifeoma Gold Ofoma, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ifeoma Gold Njoku. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AKINOLA Formerly addressed as Miss Akinola Arinola Janet, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Falade, Arinola Janet. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should take note.

OLUYEJU We Formerly bear SOYEJU as our surname. Henceforth we wish to be addressed as Olutoyin Oluyinka OLUYEJU, Esther Olayemi OLUYEJU, Christabel Ibukunoluwa OLUYEJU and Christine Ikeoluwa OLUYEJU. Former documents bearing the above names remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEOYE Formerly addressed as Adeoye Adetola Atinuke, now wish to be addressed as Akinbinu Adetola Atinuke. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AKINWUNMI Formerly addressed as Mufliat Temitope Akinwunmi, now wish to be addressed as Mufliat Temitope Balogun. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OKWUKAOGU Formerly addressed as Miss Ndidiamaka Okwukaogu, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ndidiamaka Ifeanyi. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

PREGEE Formerly addressed as Miss Blessing Ebika PreGee, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Blessing Ebika Olayisade.

Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADEYEMI Formerly addressed as Miss Adeyemi, Modupe Busayo, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Adelakun, Modupe Busayo. Former documents remain valid. Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State, NYSC and general public should take note.

NGWU Formerly addressed as Ikechukwu Ngwu, now wish to be addressed as Osmund Ikechukwu Tom. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

NWANKWO Formerly addressed as Miss Chioma Maureen Nwankwo, now wish to be addressed as Chioma Chekwas Nwaiga. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OMOTOSO Formerly addressed as Miss Omotoso, Oluwakemi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ebenezer Omokorede Oluwakemi. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AJAYI Formerly addressed as Ajayi, Oluwafemi Oluwasola, now wish to be addressed as Williams Oluwafemi Oluwasola. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLADEPO Formerly addressed as Oladepo D. Bukola, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Abdulsalam Bukola Zainab. Former documents remain valid. NYSC, Irepodun Local govt.,Omuaran, Kwara State and general public should take note.

ADEDAYO Formerly addressed as Victory Esther Arogundade, now wish to be addressed as Victory Esther Adedayo. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHANGE CHANGE OF OF NAME NAME OKONKWO Formerly addressed as Okonkwo Queenta Chinyere, now wish to be addressed as Chukwuemeka Chinyere Emmanuel. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLADIGBOLU Formerly addressed as Miss OLADIGBOLU MODINAT MOROLAYO, now addressed as Mrs. ABDULROUF, MODINAT MOROLAYO. Former documents remain valid. Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo and general public should take note.

AMUSAT Formerly addressed as Miss MONSURAT VICTORIA AMUSAT now wish to be addressed as Mrs. MONSURAT VICTORIA OBANLEOWO. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ELOHOR Formerly addressed as MISS ELOHOR LILIAN AYAYO now wish to be addressed as MRS. ELOHOR LILIAN CHIAWOLAMOKE. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ONYIA Formerly addressed as MISS ONYIA OBIANUJU OBIAJULU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NNABUIFE OBIANUJU OBIAJULU ONYIA. Former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, EMMANUEL EWUSONYE AGUMA and PETER AJUBO AGUMA refers to one and the same person. Now wish to be addressed as EMMANUEL EWUSONYE AGUMA. Former documents remain valid.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, LAWRENCE IBEH and LAWRENCE OBINNA refers to one and the same person. Now wish to be known and addressed as LAWRENCE IBEH. Former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public please take note.

MBAH Formerly addressed as MISS MBAH JECINTA NDIDIAMAKA now wish to be addressed as MISS MBAH AMAKA JESSICA. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ADENIYI Formerly addressed as Miss Florence Moradeke Adeniyi now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Akinyemi, Florence Moradeke.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Mrs Ogunrinde Ruth Olufunmilayo is the same person as Ogunrinde Ruth Oluwafunmilayo.

Former documents remain valid.

Oyo SUBEB, lbadan North L.G UBEA and all authorities concerned take note.

OYOR Formerly addressed as Miss OYOR DORATHY PETER, now wish to be known as Mrs. DORATHY AUGUSTUS NWOKE. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

ANYA Formerly addressed as Miss ANYA NMAH NGOZI BENEDICTA, now wish to be known as Mrs. AKALEME NGOZI BENEDICTA. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

BAMISAYI Formerly addressed as Miss BAMISAYI BOLAKALE GRACE, now wish to be known as Mrs. ONUORA BOLAKALE GRACE. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

NWAOKEABIA Formerly addressed as Miss ADAOBI IFUNANYA NWOKEABIA, now wish to be known as Mrs. ADAOBI IFUNANYA ONWUSIKA. Former documents remain valid Fed. Poly Oko and general public take note.

OWIRIWA Formerly addressed as Miss OLUCHI OWIRIWA, now wish to be known as Mrs. OLUCHI EMMANUEL CHIOMA. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

BANKOLE Formerly addressed as Bankole Olamide Omolola, now wish to be addressed as Adaramola Olamide Omolola. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

NWANEKEZIE Formerly addressed as Miss UCHECHI SUZAN NWANEKEZIE, now wish to be known as Mrs. UCHECHI SUZAN YAKUBLAWAL. Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

IDIMOGU Formerly addressed as Idimogu Chibuike, now wish to be addressed as Idimogu Chibuike Obidihe. Former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

IYIOLA Formerly addressed as Miss lyiola, Abimbola Balikis now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Abimbola Balikis Oladipo. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

ADEBAYO Formerly addressed as Miss Adebayo, Comfort Olanrewaju now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chibogwu, Comfort Olanrewaju.

Former documents remain valid, general public take note.

ABIODUN Formerly addressed as Abiodun, Olude Emmanuel, now wish to be addressed as Sanya-abiodun, Olude Emmanuel. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

65 CHANGE OF NAME KOLAWOLE Formerly addressed as Miss Kolawole, Abiodun Olufunso, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Lawal, Abiodun Olufunso. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NJOKU Formerly addressed as Miss Njoku Juliet Amarachi,now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chinonyerem Juliet Amarachi. Former documents remain valid. Imo State University, NYSC and the general public take note.

ISIOMA Formerly known as MISS JOY ISIOMA OBIAGELI EBEYE, now wish to be addressed as MRS. JOY ISHIOMA OBIAGELI AZAKA. Former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Moses Theophilus Oluwaseun is the same person as Abidogun Oluwarotimi Adewale. Former documents bearing above name remain valid. General public take note.

OLAWOYIN Formerly addressed as Miss Olawoyin, Esther Yetunde, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Osude, Esther Yetunde. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADENIYI Formerly addressed as Kehinde Kunle Adeniyi , now wish to be addressed as Adewunmi Adekunle Adeniyi. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I , Mrs. Akerele, Omobolanle Ajoke is the same person as Mrs Lawal-Akerele, Omobolanle Ajoke. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OBIEGBUNAM Formerly addressed as Miss Chika Olive Obiegbunam, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chika Olive Eze. Former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

OLASEHINDE Formerly addressed as Henrietta Chinyere Olasehinde, now wish to be addressed as Henrietta Chinyere Amaeshi. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SHOKEMU Formerly addressed as Shokenu Nimota Kikelomo, now wish to be addressed as Anisere Shokenu Nimota. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ABUBAKAR Formerly addressed as Yakubu Hasiya Abubakar, now wish to be addressed as Abu Hasiya Yakubu.

Former documents remain valid.

Lagos State University and general public take note.

MALEGHEMI Formerly addressed as Maleghemi Sara Ada, now wish to be addressed as Oyewole Sarah Ada. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

YUSUF Formerly addressed as Miss Yusuf, Moriam Abiola, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Akintayo, Moriam Abiola. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DARAMOLA Formerly addressed as Miss Daramola, Omotola Olamide, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ogundipe Omotola Olamide.

Former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

LAWAL Formerly addressed as Risikat Toyin Lawal, now wish to be addressed as Olori (Mrs.) Risikat Toyin Sowemimo. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADOGA Formerly addressed as Miss Elisheba Agbo Adoga, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Elisheba Agbo Apeji. Former documents remain valid. Ministry of Health, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Festus Uwadia Edenwobodo and Stephen Ejuwa Edenwobodo is the same and one person. Former documents bearing above name remain valid. First Bank of Nig. Ltd and general public take note.

AYENIOYE Formerly addressed as Miss Ololade Kemisola Ayenioye, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ololade Kemisola Olaofe. Former documents remain valid. Nig. Immigration Division, UK and general public take note.

ANAYO Formerly addressed as Miss Ajuonu Diamond Ann Anayo, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chigozie Diamond Ann Anayo.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWANKWO Formerly addressed as Miss Nwankwo, Uloaku Gladys, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Iloanya, Uloaku Gladys. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AHMED Formerly addressed as Rafiu Oluwatoyin Ahmed, now wish to be addressed as Luqman Adigun Babajide. Former documents remain valid. NIBBS and general public take note.

IROKANULO Formerly addressed as Miss Irokanulo Gloria kelechi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. chiagorom, Gloria kelechi. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AJANAH Formerly addressed as Miss Ajanah, Ebele Julie, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Adibe, Ebele Julie. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKPARA Formerly addressed as Mrs. Okpara, Rita Christiana Amaechi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Anuforo, Rita Christiana Amaechi.

Former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

OLATUBOSUN Formerly addressed as Miss Olatubosun Oluwaseun Janet, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Owoeye, Oluwaseun Janet. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AGBORO Formerly addressed as Miss Agboro, Modupe Labibat, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Onabajo, Agboro Modupe Labibat Former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ALLI Formerly addressed as Miss Alli, Rukayat Bose, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ogundare, Rukayat Bose. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IBEH Formerly addressed as Mrs. Rosemary Osemudiamen Ibeh, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Rosemary Osemudiamen Ibeawuchi. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UMOH Formerly addressed as Miss Nkaiso Francis Umoh, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Nkaiso Temitope Akanbi. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

LATEEF Formerly addressed as Miss Lateef, Taibat Mobola, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ojo, Taibat Mobola. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public please take note.

BALOGUN Formerly addressed as Miss Balogun, Yemisi Rebecca, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Akinlade, Yemisi Rebecca. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

REUBEN Formerly addressed as Mr. Inye Reuben, now wish to be addressed as Chief Inye R.A. Black Duke.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ALADESUYI Formerly addressed as Omowumi Elizabeth Aladesuyi, now wish to be addressed as Omowumi Elizabeth Fajemiroye. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

ADEDOKUN Formerly addressed as Miss Adedokun, Comfort Ibishade, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Fatoba, Comfort Ibishade. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AJAO Formerly addressed as Miss Ajao, Adeola Robiat, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Raheem, Adeola Robiat. Former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

OGUNSAKIN Formerly addressed as Ogunsakin, Eniola Theresa, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Aderiye, Eniola Theresa Foluso. Former documents remain valid. Ekiti Local govt. and general public take note.

AFOLAYAN Formerly addressed as Funmilayo Temitope Afolayan, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Asiya Funmilayo Temitope. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

NWOKONKO Formerly addressed as Miss Nwokonko Frances Ezinne, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Onwuadika Frances Ezinni. Former documents remain valid. Madonna University, MDCN, WAEC and general public please take note.

ADEBIYI Formerly addressed as Miss ADEBIYI, GANIYAT ADETORO, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. ADESINA, GANIYAT ADETORO. Former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ADENIRAN Formerly addressed as Mrs. Adeniran, Jumoke Ajuwon, now wish to be addressed as Miss Jumoke Ajuwon.

Former documents remain valid. Obafemi Awolowo University governing Council and general public take note.

JUDITH Formerly addressed as Miss Judith Chinyere, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Judith Chinyere Alaka.

Former documents remain valid.

Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

AYEGBUSI Formerly addressed as Miss Ayegbusi, Oyebola Comfort, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Adaramola, Oyebola Comfort.

Former documents remain valid.

Efon Local govt., Efon Alaaye and general public take note.

ENIBE Formerly addressed as Chimaluka Chineloromma Enibe, now wish to be addressed as Chimaluka Chineloromma Ajoke SamuelBaiyeri. Former documents remain valid. Efon Local govt., Efon Alaaye and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME DOCEMO Formerly addressed as Oluwakemi Morolahun Aramide Docemo, now wish to be addressed as Oluwakemi Aramide Olaniyan.

Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AMINU Formerly addressed as Mr. Aminu Azeez, now wish to be addressed as Alhaji Ameen Azeez Oke. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ONYEDIMMA Formerly addressed as Onyedimma Nwamuo, now wish to be addressed as Rufus Lizzy Nneoma. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

NWOGO Formerly addressed as Miss Ruth Ebiere Nwogo, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Ruth Ebiere Udochukwu. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AJAGUN Formerly addressed as Ajagun, Kudrah Omolola, now wish to be addressed as Ogunmuyiwa, Kudrah Omolola.

Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

RAHEEM Formerly addressed as Miss RAHEEM, MODINAT, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. RaheemSalman MODINAT. Former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

KOMOLAFE Formerly addressed as Miss ELIZABETH OLUWAKEMI YEROKUN, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. KOMOLAFE ELIZABETH OLUWAKEMI. Former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ADVERT: Simply produce your marriage certificate or sworn affidavit for a change of name publication, with just N4,500. The payment can be made through - FIRST BANK of Nigeria Plc. Account number - 2017220392 Account Name VINTAGE PRESS LIMITED Scan the details of your advert and teller to gbengaodejide @yahoo.com or thenation_advert @yahoo.com.

For enquiry please contact: Gbenga on 08052720421, 08161675390, E m a i l gbengaodejide@ yahoo.com or our offices nationwide.

Note this! Change of name is now published every Sundays, all materials should reach us two days before publication.

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Understanding the Centenary City project T

HERE have been several media comments on the Centenary City Project and we have deliberately refrained from responding to most of them. The reason is quite simple: some are outrightly mischievous, uninformed or speculative, while others, in countering the mischief, sought to advance public discourse. With both sides of he debate out in the public domain, our view was that truth would emerge in the course of the exchanges. But because many of the commentators are motivated by genuine patriotism and desire to place all the cards on the table, so that Nigerians would be better guided in their perceptions of, and comments, the management of Centenary City management has a duty to clarify the issues. One of the more sober comments came via a well-meaning editorial comment in Thisday newspaper of Monday, July 6, 2015. Our Board of Directors, led by General (rtd.) Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, GCFR, is convinced that what is at stake is of great important to our country and has urged management to respond only to informed and purposeful comments in the media. The Editorial under reference, and others like it, calls for information of the status of the project and the rights of original inhabitants, among others. Such interventions do not set out to undermine the project and thus damage the economic visibility of Nigeria as a favoured FDI destination.

I shall attempt to straighten the records in this response and give some details about the project and its development so far. The newspaper’s call on Nigerians to exercise the necessary vigilance, so that we get the best of this Centenary Legacy Project, which was initiated as part of the programmes and activities for Nigeria’s Centenary Celebration in 2014, is very apt. The Project set out to focus the attention of the investing world on Nigeria and trigger investment opportunities, the way cities like Dubai (UAE), Monaco (France), Shenzhen (China), Singapore (Singapore) and Songdo (South Korea); impacted the development of their respective nations.

Following the Concept Document for the City, an Investors Forum was held on the 5th of February 2013, after the successful flag-off of Nigeria’s Centenary Celebration the previous day by President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR. The Forum attracted one hundred and twenty four (124) potential investors and other professionals representing eleven (11) countries. At the end of the Investment Forum, twenty-nine (29) potential investors from nine countries (including Nigeria) expressed interest as “Promoter Investors”. To further expand the opportunities, advertorials were later placed in three (3) national newspapers, to enable those who did not have the opportunity to register their interest and commitment at the Investors Forum to express similar interest as

•Abuja Centenary City project model

By Ike Michaels Odenigwe, Jr.

Promoter Investors.

A meeting of interested parties was later called, where it was resolved that: (1) a company to promote the Centenary City be formed with potential investors as its Promoters; (2) Equity Call in the Company would be a minimum of US$250,000 and a maximum of US$5 Million (to forestall the possibility of any particular investor having overwhelming majority); (3) subscribers of up to US$5 Million were to constitute the Board and appoint a Chairman that may or may not be a subscriber; (4) the Company would be a Public Limited Liability Company whose stock would be quoted in both local and international stock exchanges in due course and (5)the Legal Adviser and Financial Advisers were to be appointed by the Promoters, to perfect the decisions reached in the meeting.

The Promoter Investors who confirmed their interest and commitment met on March 1, 2013 and agreed to appoint a Legal Adviser to incorporate the Company. They also agreed on the appointment of a Consulting Firm to work with the Legal Adviser to: (1) work out the Share Structure and Corporate Governance Framework of the Company (2) conduct Feasibility Studies for the Centenary City and (3) consider the Concept Master Plan for the Centenary City, in addition to any other business that may arose therefrom. The competitive presentations from invited professional firms at the above meeting led to the emergence of Sterling Partnership Legal Practitioners (“Sterling Partnership”) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) as Legal Adviser and Financial Advisers, respectively. They were to finalize the Company Registration, Share Structure and Corporate Governance Framework. The Capital Call of US$5,000,000 (maximum) and US$250,000 (minimum) was also restated at the meeting.

On 25th of March, 2013, another meeting of Promoter Investors was held, to re-confirm Capital Call com-

Appreciation service for Baptist cleric HE First Baptist Church, Festac will today hold a 15 th year appreciation service for its Senior Pastor, Rev (Dr) Victor Akerele.

Akerele is immediate past chairman of Pastors’ Fellowship of Lagos Central Baptist Conference.

He is currently the 1st ViceChairman of Lagos Central Baptist Conference; Moderator, Unity Baptist Association; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, FESTAC District.

The service will also witness the commissioning of the multi-

T

purpose building of the church by the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Dr Supo Ayokunle.

Akerele, a graduate of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, holds a Postgraduate Diploma Certificate in Education from Lagos State University, Ojo. He also attended the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso where he obtained degrees in Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry.

mitments and to deliberate on key issues to be included in the Shareholders Agreement. A draft discussion table provided at the meeting enabled Promoter Investors to discuss a number of issues from the Legal and Financial Advisers. The major milestones achieved within the intervening period (4th February 2013 to 19th May, 2015), include the registration of Centenary City Plc. with an authorized share capital of One Billion Naira by Registered Nominees of Sterling Partnership (First Limited and Basic Start Limited) with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) pending the finalisation of the Shareholders Agreement and the distribution of Shares to subscribing Promoter Investors.

The Company also received Capital commitments in excess of US$80,000,000 from forty (40) private sector Nigerian, UAE and USA Promoter Investors. The Board of Directors was elected and inaugurated, with General (rtd) Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, GCFR as Chairman; thus making Centenary City Plc. a 100% privately owned public limited liability company. The senior management reports to the Board and functions in accordance with the provisions of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

We have also since negotiated and executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Eagle Hills International Properties LLC (“Eagle Hills”), a UAE-government supported company based in Abu Dhabi, for 100% development of the Centenary City site at a development cost of US$18 Billion. This represents the single largest private Foreign Direct investment (FDI) in the history of Nigeria, with the capacity to create over 250,000 well-paying permanent jobs. Management and the Federal Capital Development Authority (“FCDA”) also delineated the Final Boundaries and Coordinates for Centenary City site and negotiated a modified Land Swap Agreement with the Federal Capital City Administration (“FCTA”). The Certificate of Occupancy is for 1,267 hectares of land issued to Centenary City Plc.,

with the FCTA holding a 5% Equity interest and a Board Seat.

Knowing the controversies that often trail land compensation in Nigeria, management worked closely with the FCDA and concluded the evaluation and payment of approximately N1,234,747,077 in compensation for Economic Trees and Crops to the Original Inhabitants and other Private Property interests at the site.

This is in addition to the on-going construction of 671 houses and engineering infrastructure, at a cost estimate of about N6,000,000,000 to resettle the Original Inhabitants. The cost is to be borne by the Company.

With the supervision of the FCDA, a 330 KVA High Tension Transmission Line crossing the Project site was relocated, at a cost of N984,462,583. The Company also completed a Master Plan, which has undergone four intensive Clarification Workshops with the FCDA, to make sure it meets the requirements of the Abuja Master Plan (sequel to a Final Engineering Master Plan), at a cost of N486,900,000. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Project has received an Initial Approval from the Federal Ministry of Environment (“FMEnv”) and we have helped Eagle Hills to construct the Access Road to their well-designed Showroom and Sales Center, at the Project site on Airport Road, Abuja at a cost of N110,000,000.

Centenary City Plc., at the request of (and in conjunction with) Eagle Hills, sought various incentives as Success Factors for the proposed Centenary City, such as Free Trade Zone. An application to the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) for the declaration of Centenary City as a Free Zone followed due process and met the requirements for a free zone. Mr. President’s approval was subsequently conveyed, making Centenary City site a Free Zone to be known as “Centenary Economic City” (CEC). It is one of four (4) free zones approved by Mr. President in 2014 including the Eko Atlantic City Free Zone in Lagos.

On June 24th, 2014, in the com-

pany of the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, and Chairperson of Eagle Hills, Sheikh Mohammed Alabbar, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, performed the official Groundbreaking Ceremony and Unveiling of the Centenary City. This was broadcast live on the international network of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). On December 2nd and 3rd 2014, Eagle Hills began clearing the Project site. It also officially launched the first project on site – The Address Villas & Apartments, which quickly sold out. It is a matter of record that no other Free Zone in Nigeria has attracted a better-financed foreign investor, nor achieved a faster movement to site, with over 150 well-paying permanent jobs already created!

On May 19th 2015, Centenary City Plc. held its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) to, among others, (1) verify deposits/contributions made by the Promoter Investors for Shares, (2) inaugurate its Statutory Audit Committee, (3) consider the 2013 and 2014 Audited Financial Statements by Akintola Williams Deloitte; and (4) approve the Shareholders Agreement; all of which would be updated shortly with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Let us note for the record that the major local and international drivers of Centenary City Plc. have been involved in private and public markets for more than 300 years. Their corporate governance and publicprivate company management credentials are impeccable. Thisday‘s concern regarding the fortunes of the Original Inhabitants of the site is already addressed in a two-pronged compensation package that covers payment for (1) crops/economic trees and (2) resettlement. Thisday may wish to confirm that no allegations of wrongdoing have been leveled against the Company or its Promoters by any government or regulatory agency anywhere in the world. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which has ranked Nigeria as the number one country for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, is being proven right by with the Centenary City Project.

The foregoing is the full story of The Centenary City Project, which is a worthy legacy of our attainment of 100 years as one nation.

We are convinced that the economic visibility of Nigeria as a favoured FDI destination is guaranteed by this Project. I urge the reading public to disregard the mischievous insinuations of those who fail to adopt the mature and nationalistic thrust of Thisday and who also do not investigate, educate, and inform themselves on the details of the Centenary City, so that their comments will improve national discourse.

•Dr. Odenigwe is a Managing Director, Centenary City Plc

Money laundering: CBN moves against banks

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has impressed the need on money deposit banks to discourage money laundering.

The apex bank, which has come hard against banks aiding high net worth individuals to launder money, yesterday reiterated its commitment to deal with any bank involved in such malfeasance.

In a statement by its Director, Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Mu’azu, the bank said following report by the Global Financial Integrity group, which ranks Nigeria as one of the 10 largest countries for illicit

By Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf financial flows in the world, with an about US$15.7 billion of illicit funds annually, it becomes imperative that banks should be on the alert.

It reads: “In the light of this avoidably negative commentary, we wish to draw the public’s attention to several protocols on illicit fund flows, money laundering and terrorism financing both in Nigeria and around the world and warn that the CBN will increase its vigilance to ensure that Nigerian banks are not used as conduits for illicit fund flows, especially

in foreign currencies.”

The CBN said it was however heartening to note that: “Nigerian banks have started to curtail the acceptance of foreign currency cash deposits, much the same way as customers in other countries cannot just walk into banks and make foreign currency cash deposits without proper documentation.”

The CBN, he stressed, “will continue to support the federal government’s fight against money laundering, corruption, and terrorism financing and will block any and every avenue that may be used for these purposes.

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SPORTS THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Nursing and Midwifery school games get date

HE 5th edition of N u r s i n g a n d Midwifery Games [NISONM] to be hosted by the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife is set to kick off on Tuesday August 4.

According to the Chief Medical Director of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife (OAUTHC) Prof. Victor Adebayo Adetiloye, at a press conference during the weekend, 5000 participants from ten nursing and midwifery school across the country ar expected the games competition.

He said the event holding at the sports Complex of the Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe would end on August 7.

Adetiloye said the aims of the competition is to foster unity among the schools and the students.

He said that seven games, including football, badminton, volley and basket balls among others will feature at the competition.

He said the event would also bring to the lime-light talents from the grassroots and assist in promoting sporting activities in the n a t i o n s r u r a l communities.

Juwon Oshaniwa joins Hearts

T

HE Super Eagles defender has been handed jersey No. 78 in Robbie Neilson's team having completing his move to the Scottish giants Nigeria international Juwon Oshaniwa has signed a three-year contract with Hearts after passing his medicals on Friday.

The 24-year-old, capped 17 times by the Super Eagles, left Ironi Ashdod after a disappointing season in the Israeli topflight where they got relegated to the second division.

The Tynecastle club have had to be patient as the dealings became twisted up in administration but Hearts manager Robbie Neilson believes the wait for the Nigerian international will be vindicated when he eventually plays his way into the team.

"It has been difficult because we had hoped to get him for pre-season so we could build through there with him but hopefully it will be worth the wait,” says Robbie Neilson.

"We did it last season with [Adam] Eckersley and [Miguel] Pallardo. They were guys who came in after we had started and it's just part of football and you just have to deal with it.

EXTRA

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AUGUST 2, 2015

MTN unveils 21 for football Scholarship

By Adeola Ogunlade

“

COMMUNITY SHIELD

Mourinho: History not a factor

C

HELSEA manager Jose Mourinho insists his personal 13-match unbeaten record against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal is irrelevant ahead of Sunday's Community Shield at Wembley.

Mourinho is adamant his focus is only on the future as the Premier League champions face the FA Cup winners in the season curtain raiser.

Yet he would be scratching his head and asking himself why it was happening if he had endured a winless run like Wenger's against a rival.

"I don't think about what happened before, I just think about the game," Mourinho said. For me, six, seven, eight or nine matches without losing makes (no) difference and I don't think affects this game.

"For me there is no

relation between one game and what happened before."

Look out for Price Boosts on the Community Shield!

Asked what he would be thinking if the roles were reversed, Mourinho said: "I think I would ask myself why. I would to try to answer but not because of a mental block but because I would want to try to find solutions to help my team to do it.

"Try to find a different

way, try to find the reasons why it goes all the time against my team. But just that."

Mourinho says he has never been on the wrong end of such a run, referencing only successive defeats against the same boss but different teams and in different seasons.

"I lost twice against Tony Pulis," said Mourinho, after pausing to think.

Premier League plans win or lose this weekend.

Chelsea boss Mourinho has accused Arsenal of trying to buy their way to the Premier League title, claiming totting up the Gunners' spending over the last two years leads to a "surprise".

Wenger attempted to downplay the pair's

simmering feud ahead of Sunday's meeting, but conceded the contest is bound to carry a level of spice."But you know in real life it is not like that.

New recruit Petr Cech is expected to start in goal on Sunday in a quick-fire showdown with former club Chelsea.

Wenger backed the 33year-old for a lengthy stint at the Emirates.

"He has an intimidating presence, that is for sure," said Wenger.

Returning to the weight carried by Sunday's Community Shield, Wenger continued: "It's a game that is important, but it's still preparation.

Wenger banks on Cech to beat Chelsea

W

ENGER accepted there would be few pleasantries when Arsenal face Chelsea in Sunday's Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

The Gunners' French manager is prepared for the "tribunal" of public scrutiny he believes follows every big clash in English football, vowing not to alter his

2016 RIO OLYMPICS

Siasia plans to score in Pointe Noire

N

IGERIA U-23 coach Samson Siasia has said his team cannot afford to miss chances when they face the Congo U-23 team in an African U-23 championship qualifier in Pointe Noire on Sunday.

The Nigerians created loads of chances in the first leg in Port Harcourt two weeks ago but only managed to score two and conceded one and Siasia, speaking on the backdrop of his team's display against the Congolese in the first leg two weeks ago, says they must convert the chances they create this time.

“We wasted a lot of

chances in the first leg and that is something we cannot afford to do this time,” Siasia said, “We have to take our chances and score goals because they will try to attack us and when they do that we have to take our chances.

“We have worked very hard and we have tried to make corrections from the lapses noticed in that first leg so we just have to keep our focus.”

The Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medal winning coach also acknowledged that his defense will come under attack and says his defense

can cope.

“Yes they will attack us but our defense line is playing very well, they just have to be confident and try to play from the back and we will hit them on the fast break,” Siasia added.

Nigeria have vowed to attack Congo Brazzaville in their Pointe-Noire fortress this weekend and move closer to a seventh Olympic Games football tournament appearance.

The West Africans take a fragile 2-1 lead into the second leg of a third-round qualifier for the 2016 Rio Games and coach Samson Siasia has revealed his game

plan.

“We will attack because we want to win in Congo -not avoid defeat," the 47year-old former national team striker told reporters.

A draw will suffice to take the 'Dream Team' to the final African qualification stage -an eight-nation tournament in Senegal with the top three finishers securing tickets to Brazil.

But Congo, guided by famed French coach Claude Le Roy, can eliminate Nigeria on away goals by winning 1-0 at Stade Municipal in the Atlantic oil hub.

I want to play for the Nigeria team which is ultimate for me even though I play for international football clubs, it will take a lot of hard work to wear the white-green shirt and am working at it with the support of MTN Football Scholarship Programme” These were the words of the captain of the Fifth Season of MTN Football Scholar, Abdsalam Oganla last weekend at a press conference to showcase 21 young Nigerians who are beneficiaries of the MTN Football Scholar at the Nigeria Institute of Sport Pitch, Lagos.

MTN Football Scholar is a youth soccer initiative that focuses equally on football and academics. It provides a platform for Nigeria's best studentathletes to gain scholarships into American Universities Oganla is one of the 21 beneficiaries of the MTN Football Scholar and is presently a Rising Senior student of Economics and Business and pioneer of the Knox Student's Award Group at the Knox College in Galesburg, Illnosis.

Mimiko for Ilerioluwa U-17 Cup Final

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NDO State have qualified in the both male and female categories for the final of the on-going national tournaments tagged 'Ilerioluwa national U-16 boys and girls' slated for Ore, Ondo State on Sunday Ondo boys defeated Delta State by two goals to nil the semi-final stage to confront Bauchi who edged-out Lagos via penalty shootout for the final match expected to be witness by Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Nana babes also representing Ondo in the female category of the national tourney bankrolled by Prophet Mamukuyomi Ilerioluwa, Shepherd-in-charge of Celestial Church of Christ, Ilerioluwa Parish Ore beat Edo State by3-1 to tackle Ekiti that defeated Ogun by 2-1 in the final.

The director, Ondo Football Agency Mr. Akin Akinbobola has thumpedup the organiser of the tourney, A Square Sports International for encouraging a good collaboration with his agency to help the growth of grassroots football in the state.

QUOTABLE “When the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, was appointed into the Jonathan Election Committee in 2015, did he resign his appointment as head of the agency, or did he automatically become a card-carrying member of the PDP?”

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL. 9, NO. 3295

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NYONE expecting the toxicity generated by the bitter general elections fight to dissipate would wait a little bit longer. All the indications are that partisan bickering is set to become a feature of our political life for the long term as the opposition mourns its loss and the new government attempts to uproot all vestiges of the old order.

It is shaping to be a bruising battle where reason and logic are early casualties, and posturing has replaced serious discussion of national issues.

This last week, we saw evidence that Nigeria is well and truly into her silly season when people in senior positions of political leadership, in furtherance of low partisan agendas, have been defending the indefensible.

It all began with the drama that attended the visit of Toyin, the wife of Senate President, Bukola Saraki to the offices of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to answer questions related to a petition linking her to money laundering when her husband was governor of Kwara State.

What should have been a routine appointment in response to law enforcement was turned into a circus with 10 senators, 20 representatives and other supporters of the lady invading the commission’s office to accuse officials of bias.

In the ensuing backlash, Senator Dino Melaye who has emerged as one of the Senate President’s most ardent supporters, said he joined the scrum of lawmakers, who escorted Mrs. Saraki in his capacity as a ‘private investigator’ and ‘anti-corruption crusader.’

Unfortunately, Melaye’s crusading zeal didn’t propel him to storm EFCC with observers when other high profile visitors like Stephen Oronsaye or former governors Sule Lamido and Murtala Nyako were being quizzed by the commission’s officials.

The subtle imputation hanging around Mrs. Saraki’s chat with the investigators was that it was the backlash from political foes still seething that her husband thumbed his nose at the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and grabbed the Senate Presidency for himself.

Who better to blame than former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, who supposedly had more of a stake in the National Assembly leadership contest than President Muhammadu and all of APC! Quick as a flash that other ‘private investigator’ former Senator Joseph Waku woke up with a start from long retirement to declare that Tinubu was the mastermind behind Mrs. Saraki’s woes.

Interestingly, a few weeks before this

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Nigeria’s silly season

•Saraki and entourage at EFCC

latest episode, Melaye who was facing a challenge to his seat at the election tribunal, suddenly cried out that the ubiquitous Tinubu was ganging up with his enemies to do him in because of his backing for Saraki, in the event the tribunal validated his victory in April. Unfortunately, the Appeal Court just overturned that ruling and ordered the case be retried. Surely, the vengeful Tinubu was one of the judges!

Let’s quickly point out that an invitation to attend the EFCC shouldn’t be overblown. It doesn’t amount to much since whatever is contained in the petitions remains in the realm of allegations until investigators establish there’s a case to answer. Mrs. Saraki like others hasn’t been formally charged and must be presumed innocent.

But if we make that allowance, we should also concede that the ongoing process could result in trials and convictions. That is why the conduct of those who overran the EFCC’s office as though the lady’s visit was a social event ought to hang their heads in shame. It can only happen in Nigeria!

Rules, what rules?

N Nigeria’s lawmaking chambers, rules are made to be broken. For instance, where the provision is that only ‘ranking’ senators are qualified to be selected as principal officers, the 8th Senate decided that what is written in Section 3(2) of its amended 2011 Standing Orders isn’t actually what it says.

That is why today, former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, a greenhorn in the chamber is Minority Leader.

He was chosen over several ranking senators from his South-South zone. Similarly, APC ignored the rule in picking Francis Alimekhena – another freshman – to fill the role of Chief Whip.

The provision in 3(2) states that nomination of senators to serve as presiding officers and appointment of principal officers and other officers of the Senate or any parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with ranking of senators.

By virtue of the amendment, senators are supposed to be ranked in line with the number of times re-elected; followed by senators who had been members of the House of Representatives; and senators elected for the first time in that order.

Incidentally, the rule isn’t a new one as it had existed in Section 97(1) and was only relocated to the new section in 2011 when

—Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, on PDP’s allegation that the new Director-General of the Department of Department of Security Service is a card-carrying member of the ruling party.

•Akpabio

senators amended the 2007 Standing Orders.

When the breach was brought up by Senator Kabiru Marafa, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu rather than address the principle that had been violated simply accused him of crying more than the bereaved.

My concern is that proper legislative traditions cannot take root in the Senate if its members cannot stand by their own rules for just one election cycle. Even worse, is the bad example they are setting. When lawmakers become lawbreakers, it is no surprise that the populace copies their example enthusiastically.

I try to picture a Labour Party stalwart accused of financial crimes storming the Serious Fraud Unit (SFU) in London with his supporters accusing Cameron’s Conservative Party administration of political persecution! Not very likely!

People should simply insist that the right thing be done and no one rushes to judgment until the accused have been afforded sufficient opportunities to clear their names.

I admit that Nigerians across the political divide are quick to howl ‘bias’ because former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s PDP government was repeatedly accused of using the EFCC to launch prosecutions largely against his foes.

But even if that were the case, it doesn’t eliminate the possibility that crimes may have been committed. If the ‘victims’ of the so-called ‘witch-hunt’ have done something wrong, should they just be released and sent home because the prosecution is now being carried out by the other side? Law enforcement cannot be suspended until we’ve agreed a national quota system for prosecution.

Or do we invite United Nations prosecutors to take up these local criminal cases before our politicians can accept that the process would be fair?

In any event, most ongoing prosecutions are products of petitions. If one side can author them, what stops the other from coming up with theirs?

But we’re not likely to see that happen in a hurry, because those who should be assisting the law are busy playing games. A few days ago, workers at the headquarters of the former ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) received sack notices. They reacted angrily by firing off a petition to the EFCC alleging massive corruption perpetrated by members of the National Working Committee (NWC). So how did the party leaders respond? Predictably! They accused APC of instigating the workers to destabilize PDP. Unfortunately for the nascent opposition its regular attempts at playing victim have been largely unconvincing. Take the whole brouhaha it triggered with allegations that the Acting Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Lawal Musa Daura, was an APC member. The allegations flow from actions taken by the service in response to election-related petitions in Akwa Ibom and Rivers which PDP adjudged as partisan.

Only those afflicted with a convenient strain of amnesia would be sympathetic. The former ruling party which perfected the art of using the DSS for partisan assignments under Jonathan now fears it would be on the receiving end.

Of greater significance, however, is the fact that PDP is accusing APC of something it did regularly whilst in power. Lt. General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd) was a member of the party and aspired to be its presidential candidate in 2011. He would later be appointed National Security Adviser (NSA)

by Jonathan. Back then, it was okay for a partisan to occupy this all-important security position!

It is the same ludicrous reasoning that would have Buhari abandon any attempt at examining the books he received from his predecessor if such a probe didn’t go right back to Lord Lugard’s time!

But as some have pointed out, Jonathan chose not to make waves because he found what Obasanjo and Umaru Yar’Adua turned over acceptable. Buhari doesn’t accept what went on under Jonathan and is within his rights to recover what has been lost and bring those who ripped off the country to book.

Of all the challenges confronting President Muhammadu Buhari, recovering billions of dollars stolen by public officials in the few years could turn out to be the simplest. His job is made easy because the structures of global finance make it easy to track cash flows – legitimate or suspicious.

But a bigger battle for the soul of Nigeria awaits because what has been lost in the area of values cannot be quantified.

We’ve lost a sense of shame, outrage or proportion. These days, we are quick to rationalise what would get people lined up and shot in other climes.

We hear stories of a minister who allegedly stole $6 billion dollars whilst serving in the last administration and instead of being outraged, some people dismiss the claims as politically-motivated lies because it involves someone from the fallen PDP. So far, the Americans have not denied the reports attributed to one of their officials

by Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

I also ask myself what would be the governor’s profit in making such an incendiary claim if it were false.

The PDP under whose watch these economic crimes allegedly happened has reacted defensively. In one breath, they claim to be supportive of efforts to hold people accountable, in another they angrily claim Buhari is the only saint in APC. Even if all members of APC are bandits, does it make the stealing of the country’s wealth by just one individual to the tune of $6 billion right? How much do you have to steal these days to shock Nigerians?

The challenge Buhari faces is that of pulling a heavy burden up the mountain side alone. It is daunting but not impossible. It would be easier if he had a significant position of the political elite buying into his vision. But that isn’t the case as many would prefer the old system. Still, one man’s iron will and example can change the culture in government.

Jonathan spent half of his time in office imagining that the whole country was conspiring against him. Even when allegations of sleaze were made against his ministers and associates, he would react defensively by dismissing the accusers as being even more corrupt. On many occasions, he was dragged - kicking and screaming – to move against those with very bad cases.

That legacy where anything went, where some special distinction had to be made between ‘corruption and stealing’ is partly the reason the lines between what is acceptable and what should shock are so blurred these days. The only way back is to begin a process of consistently celebrating what is right and ensuring that those who cross the line and break the rules receive their just deserts – even if it means being accused of ‘political lynching’ by those on the receiving end.

PALLADIUM IS ON VACATION

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Website: www.thenationonlineng.net ISSN: 115-5302 E-mail: sunday@thenationonlineng.net Editor: FESTUS ERIYE